sry for the lack of updates, i've been at cheerleading practice...so to make it up to you, i will post 2 chappies!
Aiori, Zuko and Iroh ran up to the deck and looked as all the men on the crew readied the catapults! Many ships surrounded theirs, and the biggest one in front of them had Zhao standing facing them. He smiled as he saw the men scrambling for their lives! Firearms were going off everywhere! "Ready the cannons! Load the catapults!" Zuko commanded as he ran off to help! Iroh did the same, but Aiori walked to the front of the boat. She saw Zhao's eyes land on her and he scowled. He realized it was her, that she hadn't died. She grinned with iniquity and waved at him. As if rubbing it in his face that she was still alive. Zhao yelled to his men to fire and they did, sending ammo at the smaller ship! It hit the side, causing a crashing sound and knocking a man overboard! This exchange of fire went on forever, until Aiori had enough!
"You tried to kill me, you tried to kill Zuko and you destroyed my village." She growled through clenched teeth and balled her fists. "Irashimu is gone thanks to you, so it's time I repaid the favor!" and she ran forward and jumped off the edge of the boat and into the water with a splash!
"Aiori!" Zuko called out for her!
Under the waves, Aiori looked up at Zhao's boat and glared. She created a vortex that sent the boats surrounding Zuko's into a spinning motion! Staying in the middle of the whirlpool, she clapped her hands together and pushed the water underneath her, sending her flying up above the surface and into the air! She took a deep breath and screamed as she threw her arms out to her side, creating a huge water shield that covered Zuko's ship! The men on the ship were in awe as she landed on her feet back on the boat! The artillery couldn't penetrate the shield, and went sliding off into the ocean below! Zuko looked at the huge water dome that Aiori had created! How was she doing that? She stepped forward, throwing out her fists, sending the dome of water surging out, creating a title wave that went out in all directions! They knocked back the other ships and engulfed them into the mighty sea water! All the ships were now gone, and Zuko's was untouched.
Aiori brought her hands back together in a praying motion and the water settled back into tranquility. There was utter silence, not a scream or a firing of a weapon. She sighed and dropped her hands to her sides. The ship exploded with cheers of victory! Aiori looked down at the water and saw Zhao's flag riding the waves and smiled to herself. That should teach him! The crew ran over and picked her up, lifting her into the air above their heads and cheered her name! "Aiori! Aiori! Aiori!" she giggled with her arms up in the air! They set her down and Zuko ran over and took her in his arms, spinning her in the air! "You did it, Aiori! You beat Zhao!" he laughed with happiness. Iroh clapped his hands and was doing some silly victory dance! "How did you do it?" he asked.
"I-I really haven't a clue!" she said, "Something just clicked!"
"This calls for a celebration! Sushi, sweet rolls and tea for everyone!" Iroh yelled out and the men cheered! "Ziyro, strike up the band!"
Later, everyone was in a glorious state of partying! Some men were drunken sick, but most of them jumped around and danced like fools! The best part was when General Iroh got down and started doing push ups! "I feel twenty years younger!" he said. Then another man began to sing a silly song about their triumph.
"We picked up a princess, we don't know how, everything's great, but then comes Zhao! He came with his fleet and we got wet feet! Here comes the princess who used her bending instead, she sent a wave, causing Zhao to cave and now his fleet is dead!" and all the men laughed loudly.
Over at the railing, Zuko was standing with Aiori.
"You're a hero…again." He told her. She shrugged.
"All in a day's work."
"You do realize we would have won anyway, don't you?" he joked.
"Stop bluffing!" she said and he chuckled.
"So I suppose it's your turn to brag."
"Nope, I don't beg."
"We owe you one."
"Actually two." She corrected him with a grin. He just smiled and took her hands in his to face her. "Zhao is gone, for now, and the sharks are feeding on his men. Everything is good, except one thing."
"What's that?"
"You forgot where we left off earlier didn't you?" she asked with a smirk. Zuko smiled and they walked into each other's arms and then planted a soft kiss on her lips like he would have before. It was his first kiss, it was their first kiss! They pulled away and smiled at each other.
"That's more like it."
"How was that?" he asked. Then fireworks were sent off from the other side of the ship. Everyone was ooh-ing and aw-ing at the display.
"I'm seeing fireworks." She said with a giggle. The band began to play again.
"Shall we dance?" he asked and held out a hand. "It would be an honor to with the great Princess of Irashimu." She smirked and took his hand.
"I accept, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation." And they began to dance under the fireworks.