A/N: Sorry it took so long! Don't kill me! It's the last week of school and finals are coming up! So more updates soon, I promise! Thanks people who actually read my work! It means so much! Thanks!
Prince Zuko was awoken even before the sun had risen, which was a hint to a problem or situation that would follow as soon as he made he way to an officer, or his father. He was quickly rushed through morning rituals and was instantly tied into his armor and suited up for battle, to his confusion. Zuko did not remember any orders called the night before. He was pushed along until he had reached a group of captains and Commander Zhao, who gave a smug grin. They were assembled upon the docks in the harbor, where Zuko and Kaida had discovered the strange calendar the night before. Commander Zhao stepped forward to speak to the young man standing restlessly before him.
"Your father has ordered a raid on the cities on the border around the harbors of Ba Sing Se. We are to leave at once." His words were sharp, still remembering the happenings of last night. He watched the prince give the proper bow of agreement stiffly. The commander walked off with his group of officers to ready their warships. Zhao gave one last grin of hatred towards the young man, who was fuming as he stalked off to his ship wordlessly, afraid any more misbehavior and he would become an exiled outcast once more.
Zuko made his way to the bow of his own ship and rested against the sides with his elbows propping him up. He sighed, wishing he was still in bed. He hated raids, all they did was cause more chaos to an already crumbling world. He stood deep in thought when his uncle made his way on board. He felt the usual embarrassment as Uncle Iroh laughed a bit as he clapped him on the shoulder.
"Looks like Ba Sing Se is going to have the Dragon of the West on their tail again, eh? Maybe they'll call you the Little Dragon of the West!" He laughed at his nephew's scowl. His face straightened, still smiling, "So that's not funny to you? Alright, my nephew, it isn't funny." He grinned wider as he walked back to the boarding lines. "Hm. Seems there's a new regiment on board." Inside his mind, he gravely thought of what was to come as the army commenced their new raid against the Earth Kingdom city.
Zuko didn't bother turning around. He shrugged and continued to stare, half asleep, at the sun beginning to poke at the edge of the ocean.
"Prince Zuko," said a lower ranked captain, he saluted as he approached with extreme caution, "Commander Zhao wishes for you to call your regiment to order and set sail upon signal."
The prince turned, causing the captain to flinch and back up. Zuko walked by the man, paying no attention, simply walking towards the rowdy soldiers on deck. He stood still for a moment, taking in the new regiment's behavior. "Attention company!"
The men froze and formed lines as they learned in military training. They probably weren't used to the commands just yet. They obviously weren't used to Zuko's glare either.
Prince Zuko walked along the deck, giving a cold look at his new troops. He noticed one on the end who looked rather odd. He made his way over, and almost flew backwards from shock.
"Kaida!" He managed to stammer the words out, confusing the new sailors. He didn't care about that for the moment, all he was curious of was why this sixteen year old girl was wearing a Fire Navy uniform. Her long hair was pulled into the traditional bun, except her bangs still fell in her face as usual. She was saluting like all of the others, holding his gaze with lime green eyes.
"S-sir yes sir?" She even talked like a privet, clearly not even having proper military training she was pretty convincing. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to a private part of the deck and looked her straight in the eye.
"What are you doing?" He burst out after reassuring himself no one was around.
"Your father wanted me to be of assistance to you. Commander Zhao trained me for the last two days." Her voice was quiet as usual, and filed with question. She kept staring right into his gold eyes as if she were studying each glint of light reflected in them from the newly shining sun just off the horizon. She felt him let go of her wrist and saw his eyes break the gaze they held for a few endless moments.
"So, you've met our newest privet." Uncle Iroh seemed to pop out of nowhere, causing Zuko and Kaida to jump in surprise. He smiled as he made his way over. "If you ask me, she looks better in the uniform than you do!" He laughed loudly, ignoring the grimace his nephew gave him.
Uncle Iroh's chuckles were interrupted by a young sailor announcing Commander Zhao had given the order to set sail. Zuko was already becoming irritated and the day had barely begun. The whole ship began to get to work, people bustling about doing chores and daily tasks. The day dragged on like the scenery around them.
Uncle Iroh had grown tired of watching the workers and calming his nephew's temper several times. He decided to retire to his bunk for a quick nap. He curled under the covers and fell asleep in a flash, snoring loudly. As he slept, his brain decided to send him a dream that would haunt him once more…
Iroh stepped into the main courtyard of Lord Shaiming, the lord of the lower regions of Fire Nation. The sunlight poured into the open room in the heat of mid morning. Iroh and Shaiming talked heartily as Li Na, the Lord's mistress, walked into the room, greeting Iroh warmly.
"We honor your decision for you to choose your nephew's betrothed from our family. We are deeply honored." She said as they talked of the occasion of Prince Zuko's recent birthday.
"Li Na, please call our girls here, if you will." Lord Shaiming asked his wife kindly. He was always a gentle man, and loved speaking with Iroh and playing games. They both shared a love of ginseng tea and knew each other from their roles in the war.
The dark haired woman exited into the garden and called out for her daughters, two of which were fanning themselves while watching their brothers play with their other sister. The girls entered with their fans out and backs straight. The last one entered a little quickly, but caught her awkward approach with a hidden graceful act of reaching for her fan from her dress and opening it with a poised flick of her wrist her sisters could not match. They simply glared at her in hatred, both of which were by far older.
"Lord Iroh, allow me to introduce Jia Li," Lady Li Na waved her hand to the tallest girl in the pink dress. She was the oldest and had short black hair and dull orange eyes shining in the sunlight. "And Lian," she gestured to the second girl wearing a pale yellow dress with the same looks as her older sister, "And Kaida." The last one was just about Zuko's own age, and had looks nowhere near what her father, mother, sisters, or brothers possessed. She had long, shiny blonde hair with streaks of red showing in the morning light. Her eyes were two captivating pools of ocean blue, innocently hiding behind her red fan. Her dress was red, the royal color of Fire Nation, and she timidly stood next to her sisters' pale attires which made her stand out more than she wanted to.
"I was hoping to choose a girl around my nephew's age. Perhaps the little one, Kaida, was it?" Iroh liked how the little girl stood with flawless innocence. She was proper and quiet, but looked like she would be fun to talk to, if she ever did.
"Kaida? Are you sure Iroh?" Lord Shaiming loved his daughter, but she was beyond different.
"Yes, quite sure." Iroh turned back from observing the small girl to talk to her parents more, leaving the children to go back to their past games. Kaida watched them walk down the long hallway, still watching Iroh, who looked back at the shy child's face. She smiled to him, and he had to remember that lovely smile she revealed from the shadow of her face. She smiled and hurried off in a flash.
The next morning however, when the sun reached a point just about the horizon, Iroh went to visit again. When he reached the home of Lord Shaiming, he saw but a charred array of destruction. He walked the remains, in utter shock, and saw the bodies of the people he spoke with the very day before. He never found the body of the little girl, but he assumed she was dead as well. Later, he found out the family had been attacked by a group of Firebenders, thinking they were helping the enemy. Iroh knew they were all loyal to Fire Nation, and was too upset to speak with anyone for days. He would remember their pale faces staring back at him, as if they were pleading to live again. The faces of the innocent children would chill his blood as he continued his death march. He would never forget what he saw that day…
Iroh sat up in his bunk, narrowly missing the one above his head. He could still see the images of the burned home and the lifeless bodies on the ground. He shook his head to clear it, but one thought remained. The little girl, the one he met the day before the massacre, was aboard the very ship he sat upon alive and well. He didn't remember the little girl's name until now, and the one on board looked exactly like the one from six years ago. The Stormbender above deck had to be the little daughter of Lord Shaiming from those years ago, there was no doubt in Iroh's mind. He was ripped from his thoughts as the dinner call was made to all sailors. He solemnly rose from his bunk, yet again narrowly missing the one above him, and made his way to try and enjoy the last calm night he would see for days.