Braking Through

Brenda chuckled as Katara stared at her.

"So . . . that whole thing that just happened . . . . . it was an act?" The female admiral nodded with a small smirk on her face while she rested a hand on her sword hilt.

"Yes." Iroh sent Brenda an annoyed look when Brenda answered Katara's question.

"You can be quite bothersome sister." Shaking his head, Iroh sighed heavily before he continued. "I suppose you think that was the only way to test Katara?" Her smirk grew as she responded to Iroh.

"Anyone can talk big. However, to fight me for Prince Zuko . . . . even though she knew I was a firebender . . . . that takes guts. So I guess that she is worthy of his highness." Katara glared at Brenda. Though she was Zuko's aunt, she had attacked her.

"What would have happened had she back down?" Iroh asked with a serious note in his voice. He had a feeling that he already knew the answer. A sadistic glint shown in Brenda's eyes.

"Simple brother. I would have killed her."

- - - - -

A soft humming entered his ears. He smiled softly to himself as he bathed in the warm that the voice provided. The person hummed softly as the left side of his face was caressed gently. He did not become startled. Something in the way the person touched his scar. There was something about it. It was gentle. It was caring. It was loving. Warmth radiated off of the hand as it began to stroke his head. The softness under his head shifted slightly. His body felt heavy. Heavier than it ever felt. But that did not bother him. He just listened quietly as the voice hummed to him while its hand caressed his head gently. There was something familiar about it. Something that tugged at his heart. That begged for it never to end. There was a longing in his heart as he listened to the humming. The humming slowly stopped and a soft voice entered his ears.

". . . . Zuko . . . ." Zuko scrunched up his brow in confusion. It didn't make sense. There was only one person with that voice. Only one person with a voice that soft. Only one person who said his name like that. And she was gone. ". . . . Zuko . . . ." It couldn't be true. No. There was no way it was true. She couldn't be there. She was gone. He had lost her a long time ago. ". . . . my special little boy . . ." Zuko opened his eyes only to be greeted by the face of a woman he had lost long ago. Her hair was pulled back into a bun. Out of the bun a pony trail poured down to the ground. She wore black turtleneck dress with a red robe over it. A large golden sash wrapped around her waist, keeping the robe from flapping all around. Soft golden eyes stared down into Zuko's eyes. Her skin was porcelain white. A soft red paint was on her full lips. A fine red powder adorn her eyelids. Golden earrings trickled down from her ears. Two golden bracelets jingled on each wrist. Zuko could only stare at her. His mouth felt dry and refused to work. She smiled softly at Zuko and gently stroked the side of his face. The side with the scar.

- - - - -

It was warm. More importantly, it was a warm presence. He held it in his arms and the warmth spread through his whole body. Sighing contently, he pulled the warmth closer. His keen ears picked up a soft breathing and he knew instantly what the warmth was. Too tired to even smile, Zuko only snuggled closer to the warmth.

"Well . . ." His eyes snapped open at the voice. With the tiredness that had been blocking consciousness, his face turned beat red. ". . . I don't think that she'll be gone if you let go." Horror was etched on his face as he slowly turned his head to face her. She stood beside Iroh in her usual attire and a hand resting on her sword. Admiral Brenda smirked as she looked down at Zuko as he held a sleeping Katara to his chest. Turning her eyes to Iroh, Brenda spoke again. "I dare say that this is an unexpected moment. Especially for his highness." Zuko felt his face redden. While he was not one to blush, when his aunt was around poking fun at him, he tended to get rather embarrassed.

"Now, now, Brenda," Iroh began but was cut off by Zuko.

"What the hell are you two doing in my room?" He hissed, trying not to wake the sleeping Katara. Brenda raised an eyebrow before turning back to Iroh.

"Is he always this temperamental?"

"Answer the damn question!" Zuko snapped, his temper making his face redder.

"You overslept, my dear Prince." The admiral explained while she leaned forward with a sadistic smirk. "Now, what caused you to oversleep?" Zuko was about to reply when a familiar voice beat him to it.

"Nothing happened." Katara muttered as she peered over at Brenda before closing her eyes and trying to go back to sleep. Walking to the foot of the bed, Brenda grabbed the sheets and yanked them back as hard as she could, leaving the two benders unprotected as the cold morning air surrounded them. Sighing wearily, Zuko reluctantly let go of Katara and rolled out of bed while Katara did the same. Iroh grabbed Brenda and pulled her away for the two to change with as little awkwardness as possible.

- - - - -

"Brenda . . . ." Iroh began as the two sat down for tea. She turned her gold eyes to him with an eyebrow raised.

"What is it brother?" The retired general stared deep into his sister's eyes, trying to find the right words. "Brother?"

". . . . why did you come here? Surely your need to fulfill your curiosity was not the only reason. Lord Ozai does not consider Ceres a threat so he wouldn't send you." Scoffing, the admiral looked down at her tea.

"Lord Ozai, Lady Leila, Prince Zuko, retired general Iroh . . . it is rather tiresome how we refer to our own family with such formal titles. My own nephew calls me 'Admiral' instead of aunt. You are the only one he does not talk to so formally. Are we that distant as a family?" She gripped the tea cup hard. "Sometimes I despise the fact that we are royalty." The admiral looked up at her older brother.

"You are avoiding the question." Brenda stood up, leaving her tea on the table.

"I do not fancy this conversation."

"Sit down, sister." Iroh commanded and his little sister fidgeted under her stern gaze. "Sit down." He repeated this time with more force. With an indignant huff she sat down and looked away with her arms crossed. "You know you can tell me anything. You've always known that." Brenda reached forward and took the tea cup.

"You've known that ever since I was little I dreamed of having glorious battles." Iroh nodded with a faint smile as he remembered her as a child.

"Yes. You often sacrifice efficiency for an artistic flare. Your sword is an example of that. It is more artistic than efficient for battle." Nodding absentmindedly, Brenda stirred her tea.

". . . . life will be boring once we win the war." She leaned back slightly, looking up at the ceiling. ". . . but life is boring right now. Ozai has me doing small tasks such as patrolling waters that have long been conquered." She turned her attention back to her oldest brother. "I wish to serve under Zuko." Iroh watched her steadily.

"Yet you've never shown interest in helping Prince Zuko in his banishment before." Brenda slammed her fist onto the table.

"He had you! You, one of the greatest generals our nation has ever known! And he was on a wild goose chase!" Iroh narrowed his eyes at her.

"What about when the Avatar was discovered to be alive!" He snapped, his temper flaring for once. Brenda's eyes widened at his tone and she looked away before speaking to him, quietly.

". . . I did not want to steal his fame. The Avatar was his. And he would never allow me to capture the Avatar for him. Nor would he except my help." Brenda looked back up at Iroh to find her older brother smiling softly at her.

"You will have to speak with our nephew and make sure he is alright with you joining us in fighting Ceres. He does not want anything out of pity." Brenda smirked as she looked down at her tea.

"This is true. The Avatar does need Fire Masters to teach him firebending." Iroh's eyes narrowed sharply as he gazed at his sister.

"What are you talking about sister?" Brenda looked up at Iroh with a smug smirk.

"I'm not stupid, Iroh. A waterbender is said to travel with the child Avatar. And who in their right mind would allow their nephew to go near the Black Lava Lands unless they were chasing something and it was of the utmost importance? And why was the child waterbender on the Black Lava Lands? How, more importantly, would she get to the Black Lava Lands? Few know the way to safely navigate through the dangerous waters. I doubt she could do it all by herself. Also, why would Zuko not be hunting down the Avatar, putting off his search to protect someone? He could do both at once. Putting two and two together is not that hard."

"What you speak of . . . . Prince Zuko helping the Avatar . . . . that is treason." The admiral tilted her head slightly.

"That may be true, but Zuko is exiled. Our laws no longer apply to him. For me, it is treason. For him? No."

"What do you want Brenda?" Iroh asked quietly, his tone serious. Brenda raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you assume I have some ulterior motive? I come to serve the prince." Closing his eyes, Iroh took a sip of his tea before looking back to the female admiral.

"You were always cunning Brenda. And you did not come to Prince Zuko before. What do you really want? No lies. Should you lie to me I will have you thrown off this ship." Glaring at Iroh she stood once more. "Are you so cowardly that you'll storm off at the slightest challenge? I thought the great Black Rose of the West was stronger than that." Brenda gritted her tea and looked down at her brother.

"How dare you!"

"Tell me the truth." Begrudgingly, Brenda sat down again.

"You always were able to make me feel inferior. I would except nothing less from the famed Dragon of the West."

"Now, why are you here? I know you do want to serve under Prince Zuko, that is sincere. But the reason you gave me . . . those aren't the only ones." Once again Brenda slammed her fist on the table.

"Dammit brother! Can you not look a gift horse in the mouth!"

"Gift? I doubt it. You have never done anything for free." Iroh replied, calm.

"Even I know that." Brenda turned around to see Zuko enter the room along with Katara.

"How long-" Brenda was cut off by Zuko as he watched Katara pour herself some tea.

"Long enough." Zuko turned his attention to his aunt. "Now, why do you really want to serve me?" Brenda tightened her fist before release the fist and sighing.

"It appears I am backed into a corner." She sat down and looked at her tea before looking at her two relatives. "I grow bore with this war. Ozai-" She glanced to Zuko to see his reaction at her informal address of his father. He did not react. His face was stoic and calm as he gazed over at her. "would like nothing more than to see me dead. I am too much of a threat to him. But he knows that he cannot outright kill me. And he knows that I will only gain more fame should he put me in battle. So for now, he is resigned to giving me menial tasks." She sipped her tea before she continued. "Since he cannot kill me without reason, he decides to get as far away from him as he can without letting me fight." Iroh looked over at Zuko and waited for his reaction.

"Should you abandon the Fire Lord, you will be considered a traitor. Though you may be willing to risk death, your crew might not." Brenda looked at Zuko, right in the eyes before she spoke.

"I have already discussed this with my crew. All are willing to follow me. From the most decorated officer to the simplest cook. Everyone wants to serve you, Prince Zuko. You are the rightful heir to the throne, no matter how much your father tries to deny it." Admiral Brenda stood up and bowed to her nephew. "Your father no longer serves the Fire Nation as he should. Rather, Ozai has the Fire Nation serving him. That is treason. So I have decided to do what is right. The Phantom Flame is at your disposal." Zuko was silent as the three other benders stared at him. Watching him. Trying to judge his reaction. The prince of fire opened his mouth to speak.