Ira glanced around on the ship it was small yet sturdy enough to make the quarter mile journey to the ship were she would be working as a servant for general Iroh and a spy for lord Ozia.

She knew it wasn't the most noble of occupations but the fire lord hadn't given her a choice it was either be a spy or well die

The ship anchored near the base of the ship and a ladder flew down to allow the newly recruited servant to climb up unto the ship which she did it was very rocky and she was semi afraid of heights.

when she finally made it she was met by the head servant he was to interview her on her past experience as a servant and she was to clean one room serve one meal and sweep three floors and during the whole time the head servant whose name was Akyim took notes on her performance she could tell be his flabbergasted face that she was doing well and her point was proven when akyim finally told her that she would be working as prince Zuko's private servant she was to bring him his morning meals and she would wait on him at dinner .

The moment akyim said prince Zuko her mouth nearly dropped open in surprise and akyim said with a critical raise of his eyebrow yes this is prince Zuko's ship and then continued telling her duties, she listened and didn't speak again until akyim said you will also assist him in his training

"What! But I'm not good at firebending" which was a lie she was a master firebender but it was all part of her cover

"yes you will be assisting him and you won't necessarily have to be a firebender for this job all you have to do is well do what he tells you to"

I shut up after that and akyim then took me to Zuko to introduce me more likely to sign me death warrant I nearly muttered but akyim had ears like a rabbits and he never missed anything so instead I asked him how Zuko acted and what his favorite dishes were, even though I already knew the answers to both of those questions and to which akyim just replied you'll find out.

When we finally got to Zuko's room I decided that I did not like akyim and to avoid him in the future. Akyim knocked on Zuko's door which opened after a few seconds.

I looked down quickly but not quickly enough because I saw Zuko's face I barely recognized him his face was hardened and cold his head was shaved except for a small pony tail on the back of his head, also he had outgrown me by about 2 inches

"what is it" he asked in a cold voice akyim bowed and I followed his example " pardon me sir but this girl has just arrived from the village and was one of those few selected to work as servants aboard this ship I believe that she will be a good personal servant I have over seen her work and have found her to be quite expectable."

Zuko looked me over up and down I kept my eyes down cast and Zuko turned once more akyim "what is her name" akyim paused for a moment in all the hustle before hand he had never asked for my name so I spoke for him.

"it is Mira your highness" Zuko then nodded to akyim she will do and then he dismissed akyim with a wave of his hand I almost didn't want him to go and leave me alone with Zuko I watched him go and then I turned to face Zuko who turned and walked away but first he said one simple word "come" and I of course obeyed.

he led me onto the deck and up to the control room sir named the sun room for it's many windows he walked up to a plump aged man playing pi chio surrounded by crew men who were all teaming up against the man who I realized must be the retired general Iroh and he was apparently slaughtering any resistance his opponents put up.

Zuko walked up to Iroh and demanded that they have their training session now seeing as he wanted to see how I would do Iroh sighed and stood up and left his game and turned it over to a solider by the name of lei and left the room after Zuko. On the way to the deck he winked at me and whispered "don't be alarmed by Zuko his bark is worse than his bite".

and then continued after Zuko who flung open the door Zuko walked over to a small shed like thing that was positioned on the deck were he entered and shut the door he came out a few seconds later with a vest like shirt on instead of armor he then started barking out order first he asked me if I was a firebender I said that I was intermediate firebender but a low intermediate bender.

Which was yet another lie but hey my job at the moment is to make him believe I'm a servant.

He seemed to except that answer and Iroh took over from then he had me stand at the edge of the ship and face Zuko who was about ten feet away Iroh told me that he wanted me to defend myself against Zuko's attacks I nodded and turned and bowed to Zuko who took up a fighting stance and so did I.

Zuko attacked first sending bolt of fire straight at me and I blocked, maneuvering the fire off to one side and turning the motion into a simple attack that Zuko easily blocked he did a small jump and kick sending a large fireball at my head.

I bended my knees even more and held my hand straight out and the fire fanned out onto either sides of me leaving me unscathed but the next attack followed so quickly after the last one that I hardly had time to block it.

it was a large fire ball and had a lot speed I hastily backed up until I was against the edge of the railing I did my best to block it with an intermediate level block I could have blocked it well enough with one of the advanced ones but that would give myself away and when the fireball hit it sent me sprawling backwards.

my block had stopped me from getting burned but I had the wind knocked out of me and I flew back straight over the rail and hit the water some 40 feet below.

the water was cold and I hit it hard I passed out after a minute or two but I stayed conscious long enough to see Zuko and Iroh worried faces peering over the railing.

I felt my simple servants outfit growing heavy and it was becoming hard to float seeing as how I had never had swimming lessons and so I began to sink I fought it at first and by the time Zuko and Iroh acutely did something I was unconscious and was beginning to slip below the surface of the water.

I woke up on the deck a few minutes later I was coughing hard and most of what I coughed up was water salt water to be exact I gagged and looked around Zuko was leaning up against the rail dripping wet I looked around a little more and then saw a small glass holding water which I drank greedily.

Zuko smirked you know if you can't swim you really shouldn't go swimming I've heard it's bad for your health"

I looked up at him he was scowling like he always was but I laughed I laughed softly and threw a dishtowel at him "You're hilarious" I said sarcastically.

Zuko caught it and threw it back at me both of his eyebrows raised quizzically "here you need it more than I do" and it was only then that I looked at myself my hair waist length hair was stringy and matted my clothes were soaked and clung to me, next I looked at my hands which were a whitish color I realized that I must look like a ghost.

I turned to Zuko and asked if there was anywhere I could clean up. Zuko turned slightly and pointed towards door in the steel frame of the ship "just go in that door and 2 flights of stairs down as its the 5th door on your left and that's the showers" he said calmly.

I looked at him horrified he raised his eyebrows don't worry there are "separators and curtains" the showers have the utmost privacy"

Just then Iroh flung open the door and handed a towel to each of us and to me he also handed a dress apron and a pair of shoes then he said to both of us now go wash off Zuko headed towards his quarters and Iroh led me to the showers.

No one was in there and I had Iroh get someone to watch the door to make sure it stayed that way too and by dinner my hair was dry with all the salt washed off of me and my hair was clean tangle free and pulled back into a pony tail and I was ready for dinner which was supposed to be spent waiting on Zuko oh how fun I could hardly wait.