AN-I've been getting requests for longer chapters, and I'm sorry but it's really hard. You see, I wrote these chaptera a long time ago on Microsoft Word and each chapter took up 3 pages, which I thought was a good amount for a chapter. So I am very sorry that they are so short. Also, I onlu update after theprevuous chapterhas 25 hits, so that's why there has been a lack of updates. Nobody is really reading my story. So once again, sorry for the confusion an enjoy! ;)

The following day was a mess. Storm clouds gathered and blanketed the sun, making everything seem dark, cold and eerie. There wad a lingering haze in the morning, but it didn't stop Leiko from going out onto the deck and practicing. Through the fog her flames shot out and roared from her hands, cutting through the thickness like a hot knife. After, the fog continued to cling to everything, and it made a settle mood, allowing Leiko some good time to meditate. The rest of the day was cold and rainy. The rain drops felt like ice to the skin and thunder rumbles up inside the clouds. Whoever was outside was accompanied by their own little cloud of breath every time they respired. Leiko expected the day to stay the same and decided to join the crew in the boiler room as they tried to stay warm. Iroh was taking a nap in his chair and Prince Zuko was nowhere to be found. Out of curiosity a crewmember brought up Leiko's pet, Tila.

"I've had Tila since I was very young." She explained. "She has been my companion and my best friend through everything. Zuko was there to see her hatch. In fact she hatched in his hands, and I was the first thing she saw. She's never detached herself from me ever since." Leiko looked at her bird that rested on her shoulder. It was true; Tila almost never left Leiko's side, unless Leiko instructed her to. "Tila is a common bird from the Fire Nation, but she is one in a million. She's very intelligent and can do almost anything you tell her to do. I'd be devastated if something happened to her."

Everyone was interrupted when a man came in and took a seat among them. He was dripping wet and breathed upon his hands to warm up. "It's a nightmare out there." He said. "The weather is getting worse and turning into a powerful storm. The Helmsman will have a hard time steering the ship."

"Any sign of Zuko?" Leiko inquired.

"Last time I checked he was with the Lieutenant, discussing the Avatar." Leiko sighed at that note and turned away.

"That's all he ever thinks about." She added. It wasn't fair, she was losing her best friend to someone she didn't even know. Something in her felt a twinge of jealousy. Zuko never thought about her a million time a day, but she did of him.

"Leiko," a man spoke up and she turned to him. "What was Zuko like…before all of this?" he asked. Leiko smiled and sat up straight.

"He was a wonderful and amazing boy who wanted nothing more than to please the people of his nation. No matter the case, he'd want to help fix it. He had the biggest heart anyone could contain. But then the incident happened and he was sent to catch the Avatar…now that's his obsession. Zuko didn't have a care in the world until now. I remember him more than anything. He was my best friend in the world. He always told me that no matter how bad things got I could count on him to make it better. And he said that when he became the Fire Lord he would grant me anything I wanted to make up for my terrible past. And I believed him. He was my hero. Zhao would knock me down and Zuko would just pick me back up. I used to live for him." And there was silence. "Now there's nothing."

"That's not true." A man spoke up.

"It certainly feels like it." And then another man burst in and startled them all.

"The storm!" he bellowed, "It's tearing apart the ship! We need all men on deck!" he called out. Everyone stood up and rushed up on deck.

The sky was pitch black with the exception of the flashing lightning. Waves swept up onto the deck, making it almost impossible to keep footing. The ocean battered the ship mercilessly over and over again. Thunder crashed and deafened every other noise. The men scattered and grabbed the ropes of the catapults and tried to hold them down. Still, one managed to get loose and it dragged the men down the deck with it. "Lean into it!" Leiko yelled over the thunder to the man next to her. He leaned back with her and put their weight on their heels. But the catapult slid further away. "We've got to tie them down tighter!" Leiko commanded. Prince Zuko ran up to her; his face dripping wet and his hair clinging to his head. Leiko turned and looked at him, pulling back some of her wet hair from her face. "Zuko," and he helped her tie down the rope, which was made more difficult with the pouring rain. "We need to get out of the storm!" And then lightning struck the sea water next to the boat, illuminating everything! Leiko looked at Zuko and frowned. "Step out of the way." She said and walked past him.

The rain beat down on her unbreakably, soaking her to the bone. The rest of the men watched as Leiko outstretched both arms together into the air and stood there. Then, a string of lightning flew out from the clouds, striking her arms! The lightning that would have killed her gathered on her body, making her look alienated, sparking as she outstretched one arm to her side and let the lightning slide off her body and crash into the water. Zuko looked in astonishment as she did it again, saving everyone on the ship from certain death. It was a skill he didn't even master; bending lightning. She emerged from her placing without a scratch or scar and walked up to Zuko briskly. "We have to get these men to safety." She told him.

"But there's nowhere to go." He answered. Leiko looked back around and ran over to another catapult to help some crewmembers tie it down. She struggled with them until her attention was distracted…

A huge tidal wave lifted over the ship and everyone screamed! "EVERYBODY HOLD ON!" Leiko yelled out and hugged the catapult with everything she had, and holding onto Tila. The wave crashed over, swallowing everything on the boat and putting everything under water! Eventually the water rushed over and everybody gasped for air as their head emerged! Leiko let go and turned to face Iroh who ran out to the side of the ship and yelled into the water.

"Oh no!" he said under the thunder. Leiko rushed over and saw the most terrible sight. Zuko had been swept overboard and was fighting the waves, and losing. The water gobbled him up as he reached for help!

"ZUKO!" she called out to him! He was taken under water.

"He cannot swim!" Iroh yelled to Leiko.

"What?" she was shocked. Zuko was a goner for sure! The rest of the crew ran over and watched as the ocean carried away their captain! "ZUKO!"

Leiko looked on, crying out to her friend who was being battered by the waves. There was only one thing she could do, and without thinking, she did it. She ran over to a catapult and snatched off the rope, and then tossed one end to the Lieutenant. The other end she tied around her waist. "I'm going in!" she told them.

"WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY?" he barked back.

"He would do the same for me!" she told him and then took a few steps back. She charged forward and jumped over the edge of the ship and dove into the water with a splash! The cold water whipped her face and made it hard to open her eyes. So she swam to the surface, but she had to move violently against the strong waves and the iciness! It burned her skin as she kicked away from the ship. She went back under water and opened her eyes. She spotted Zuko and swam towards him as fast as she could. The waves pushed her back with every inch, but she continued. He sank deeper, faster and faster, his body going limp. Leiko was losing her breath, but she had to keep going. If she caught a breath she would lose her friend forever. I won't let you die! And she swam down deeper, resisting the urge to swim to the surface. She swam deeper and deeper until she grabbed Zuko's wrist and pulled him close to her. She began to weaken and sink with the extra weight on her. No, don't give up! And she pushed herself to the surface, not letting go of Zuko until her head broke the surface and she gasped for air! She felt the rope being pulled and then she felt herself being hauled into the air by her waist, still she refused to let go of Zuko. Within seconds she was back on the ship…and Zuko was safe. But he wasn't moving.

Leiko crawled over to Zuko's wilted body and propped herself up over him. "Zuko…Zuko!" and she shook him. "Please wake up!" she begged of him. Water droplets dropped from her hair and nose onto his face. Tears gathered in her eyes as he failed to awaken. "Zuko…please…come back." She whispered. And she rested her head on his chest, "Don't leave me alone again." And then his body jerked up and he coughed violently! "ZUKO!" she cheered happily. He sat up and coughed up the water in his lungs. "Zuko, you're alive!" she threw herself onto him and wrapped him up in her arms. What a scare.

"Leiko…" he spoke up and then he smiled. "You…saved me."

"Returning one of the many favors." She replied and hugged him again.

"How did you get so brave?"

"It wasn't bravery that made me go after you." She smiled.