Boredom
Admiral Brenda stepped onto her bridge with her hand resting on her sword.
"Commander Raymond." Her second in command turned to her and saluted quickly. "Do you know how much longer until we reach the Prince?" Raymond quickly calculated the time.
"Of course Admiral Brenda. This is the fastest ship in the Fire Nation fleet and we were close to Prince Zuko's ship to begin with. Not only that, but-"
"Enough." Brenda sat down in her chair and crossed her legs while resting her head against her propped up arm. "All that stuff is boring. All I wanted to know was how long. Can you tell me that?" Raymond blushed faintly at his mistake and nodded.
"A few more hours." Brenda nodded and yawned into her free hand.
"I can't wait to see the Prince again."
- - - -
Zuko stood beside Katara at the railing of the ship. The back of their hands brushed when Katara moved to turn to Zuko, causing Katara to blush.
"Zuko . . ." Zuko smiled gently at Katara as she spoke.
"Yes?"
". . . . thank you . . . ." Raising his eyebrow, Zuko looked at Katara confused as she bowed slightly.
"For what?"
"For everything. But mostly," Katara blushed deeper as she glanced at Iroh who was standing off, out of earshot. "for caring about me." Zuko smiled and cupped her cheek, surprising Katara with his boldness.
"That," He whispered as he pulled her close to him. "is something I need no thanks for. Because it's too hard not to."
- - - - -
Admiral Brenda sighed as she swung her leg back and forth.
"This is boring." Raymond fought back a sigh himself at her statement.
'Does she always have to have things exciting?' He thought to himself.
"Aren't there any pirates around to do battle with?"
"I'm sorry Admiral, but no." Brenda looked at Raymond after he spoke.
"Tell me, Ray," He tensed as she used the nickname. "how beautiful do you think battle is?"
'Great. Now she'll tease me if I answer wrong. But she'll know if I lie.'
"I . . . think battle has its own unique beauty. I also think beauty is difficult to measure." The admiral smirked at his response before she responded her self.
"Nice save." She closed her eyes and sighed. "But I suppose you're right. Beauty is difficult to measure. For example, the nations."
"The nations, Admiral?" Raymond repeated, confused. Nodding with her eyes still closed, Brenda continued.
"Yes. The Fire Nation has pale skin, dark colored hair, and golden, gray, or even brown eyes." Opening her eyes, Brenda turned her attention to Raymond. She let her golden eyes examined him. "You yourself have black hair and gray eyes." Closing her eyes again, the admiral sighed. "And the Water Nation has tan skin, light colored eyes, and usually brown hair. The Earth Nation has green or brown eyes, sometimes hazel. Their coloring is tan enough, but not like the Water Nation. And their hair colors are red and brown, maybe black on some rare occasions. And the Air Nation . . ." She trailed off, thinking.
"The Air Nation, Admiral?" Her commander asked, surprised. "The Air Nation was wiped out." Snapping her eyes open, she tapped the hilt of her sword as she spoke to him.
"There is one left, that we know of. And more than could have gone into hiding if they tried hard enough." Raymond stiffened under her hardened tone of voice.
"I'm sorry, Admiral. Please, continue."
"The Air Nation consisted of monks." She glared out ahead of her. "Even the women shaved their heads. So who knows what their hair color was. They had soft colored eyes, and lightly tanned skin. So you see, each Nation has its own beauty." She smirked as she stood up and stroked the braid hanging over her shoulder. She walked over to a window and peered out of it. "Nothing but water." She sighed and shook her head. "I can't wait until we go home."
"Why not send in a request to return home?" Raymond asked his senior officer, causing her to look back at him.
"No. The Fire Lord is keeping us out at sea, out of the way, as long as he can. So that I will be no threat to him." She walked back to her chair and sat down. "But Prince Zuko is a threat, no matter how far he is sent away. The people love the Prince, more than the Fire Lord after he was scarred for standing up against the slaughter of a brand new unit. And not only that, but the most powerful of the three royal siblings has been teaching him firebending." Admiral Brenda smirked. "When the late Fire Lady passed away, the Prince was loved even more, for it was he who was with her at the time of her death. The Fire Lord was rumored to not even visit his sick wife." The female admiral crossed her legs. "And she was loved by all." Looking over at Commander Raymond, she asked him a question. "Do you know what will happen once this whole Ceres incident is over with?" Raymond thought for a moment before answering.
"Because Prince Zuko protected the prey of Ceres, and kept the world safe by doing so, the people will love him even more." Admiral Brenda nodded.
"Exactly. He could step off his ship and onto Fire Nation land and the people would be ecstatic. They would demand that his banishment be revoked." With a smirk she continued. "Hell, he could marry a waterbender and the people would not care. As long as their prince is happy after so much pain. And, of course, that there is a firebending heir to the throne."
- - - - -
Ceres yanked on a black kimono with a red obi. She pulled her hair back into a bun. Walking out the door, Ceres nearly ran into Zhao.
"Admiral." Ceres growled. Zhao looked at Ceres with curiosity.
"What causes you to be in such a bad moon, Lady Lilith?" Closing her eyes, Ceres 'hmphed' and looked away.
"You could do something about my situation by finding my . . . . friend, Katara." The Admiral scoffed at that.
"We have to wait until the right time to find her. After all, you would not stand a chance against Prince Zuko until after the comet arrives." Ceres growled at him before spinning around and storming away from him.
'I will not last that long, Zhao. My body is almost too weak, especially after that fire blast. Whoever it was will pay.'
- - - - -
"Raymond?"
"Yes Admiral?" The woman glanced at Raymond out of the corner of her eye as she sat with her legs crossed and fighting back a yawn.
"Before you knew who I was, how old did you think I was?" Raymond started at the question. It was so off topic.
"I don't see the point." Frowning at her officer, Brenda gave into the yawn.
"I'm bored. That's the point." Was her reply to his question.
"Well . . . . I'd say about twenty two. You still don't look much older than that." His answer caused Admiral Brenda to smile.
"You are kind. But yes, I agree, I do look young for thirty two." She tapped her chin in thought. "I was sixteen when my beloved nephew was born. I had just entered the military. Father said I would have to have military experience before I took over the . . . family business." Once more the Admiral stood up. "I wanted one of my brothers to run the family business. I wanted to see battle. Now all I do is sit around, doing nothing but patrolling. How boring."
"Admiral!" Brenda snapped her attention to the soldier coming up to her. "We have caught sight of Prince Zuko's ship."
"Excellent." She smirked. "Things are about to get a lot more interesting."
- - - - -
"Prince Zuko, sir!" Zuko looked up from the map he had been looking at with one of the crew members when a soldier came up to him. Katara, who had been play Pai Chow with Iroh, looked up as well. "The Phantom Flame has been spotted. It looks as though they are on an intersect course with us."
"How long until they intersect us?" Zuko asked as Iroh stood
"Two hours." Zuko nodded to himself, thinking. Iroh, seeing his nephew thinking, smiled. Katara caught his smile and watched Iroh carefully. There was something important about this 'Phantom Flame'.
"Brenda is coming? How nice!" Iroh exclaimed while making his way over to Zuko.
"So, it appears Admiral Brenda has heard the news about Katara." Zuko mused out loud. "But why would she come? Uncle, you know her far better than I. What do you think she is planning?" He turned to his elder and waited for a response.
"Prince Zuko," Iroh smiled as he explained. "Brenda is well known for two reasons. One is that she would do whatever it takes not to be bored." Zuko sighed and nodded once more.
"Yes. You're right. Well, we'll use those two hours to prepare for her. Lord knows we'll need them." Zuko turned and walked off. He paused beside Katara and smiled softly. "You don't have to met Admiral Brenda." Katara shook her head.
"No, I don't mind." Zuko nodded and motioned her to follow him.
- - - - -
Yay! I got out a chapter right before school starts! I didn't think I'd be able to type that fast. Nothing to say, really. I was asked when I start school. I start school this monday. As Brenda would say, it's quite boring. Hmm . . . who is Brenda, really? And who blocked Ceres? These are all good question I bet you're wondering. Well, I'll reveal one thing next chapter. But I won't tell you what that one thing is! Mwahahahaha! people staring and awkward pause Anyway . . . please review! It always makes my day.