childofgod: Okay, you can fill in the blank here, gotcha... read on! Godsspiker

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last airbender.

Chapter Seven: The Makings of Cinderella

The Admiral looked over the open ocean, knowing he was backed by another two enormous Fire Navy ships. His chest puffed with pride. A messenger came up beside him with a hawk on his shoulder.

"Tell me, has it spotted anything." he asked, not turning.

"Yes. To the north west." he answered. He showed the Admiral a light blonde hair tangled with a short jet black hair. Admiral Zhao raised his eyebrow with amusement. Interesting. he thought to himself, snatching the hairs from the messengers hand. He made a quick decision.

"Turn the ship in that direction and go full steam ahead." he said, eyeing the horizon. I would love to see the woman the Prince has decided to marry.

Amber landed on her back with a thud as Zuko lodged himself atop her. Her hands were in death grips with his, sweat rolling down her forhead. She gritted her teeth as Prince Zuko's smirking face moved even closer to her and groaned, then she worked all of her strength up and managed to slide her knees under his chest and push her legs into his abdomen. Prince Zuko went flying forward and sprawled onto the deck. She rolled up off her back and took another defensive firebending stance. Uncle Iroh laughed and clapped his hands.

"It looks like she has truly become the higher pupil!" he exclaimed as Zuko got up and threw a firey glare in his direction.

"Once more!" he demanded. Poor Amber almost dropped.

"No more!" she moaned, sinking back onto the deck in a fake faint. "Please, Uncle, I beg you, show mercy!" Iroh laughed at her overdramatization.

"She needs a break. She has not been trained in stamina as long as you have, and she has done well for a beginner." Prince Zuko was still angry. She had won all three of there spars. By luck! his mind scoffed. He noticed as she walked below deck that she had lost quite a bit of weight, or appeared slimmer than when she got on the ship.

Aang was in the market with Katara with a map in his hands. His blue tattoos were covered with a large hat he had purchased long ago in Kyoshi.

"Please, can you tell me if a Fire Nation ship has passed through here?" he asked a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper rudely slammed the door in Aang's face.

"There are no firenation soldiers here!" a muffled shout came back. Aang looked frustrated. He turned to Katara who was waiting for him out in the street.

"Are you sure about the girl?" he asked. Katara glared daggers at him, and he raised his hands and lowered his head in pathetic surrender.

"Okay! Okay!" he laughed

"Ahoy!" a crew member suddenly shouted. His mind automatically thought of the Avatar.

"What is it!" he shouted.

"'Nother ship, Prince Zuko! Looks like Fire Navy, sire!" he answered. Prince Zuko cursed out loud. Admiral Zhao... His thoughts suddenly flew to the two girls on his ship. He ordered his crew to prepare for a boarding, which Zhao would problably do. Prince Zuko sucked in another breath before he could spit another foul word out. He would need to prepare himself. The Prince sent out messagers to be sure he would keep the girls a secret, otherwise Zhao would have a field day with them. Both of them, no matter how hard they fought. He thought of Amber and her desperate attempt to get away from him at the port.

Amber was showering when she felt the ship shake. Stumbling forward she held her breath, wondering if Aang and his crew was finally coming to save her. Afraid he was in danger she rushed the rest of her shower and threw on the overdress that Iroh had bought her. She ran down the hall, dodging the arms of guards that rushed at her.

Prince Zuko had sat down with Admiral Zhao for tea with the retired General Iroh.

"Welcome." General Iroh said, spreading his arms across the table, then resting them on his large belly.

"So, Prince Zuko," Zhao began, saying the title with humor, " How are you?"

"Fine." Zuko answered curtly. He kept the sneer off his face. Zhao leaned lazily back in his chair.

"I hope you won't mind if we stay afloat with you for a while." he said as Iroh smiled too sweetly at him. "I need a break from Avatar hunting."

The Prince ground his teeth, making the muscles in his cheek tense in annoyance. Knowing he had sparked the Prince's anger, the Admiral decided to jump right into it.

"You wouldn't happen to have any women on board this ship, would you?" he asked casually. "I haven't been with, much less seen one in months. I could use an escort." The Prince hid it easily.

"What makes you think I have women aboard a ship of men, Zhao?" he spat in disgust. "They are a waste of my time!" Zhao pulled the hair from a pouch in his bag, making Zuko even angrier.

"How could you even know that's my hair!" he demanded, standing abruptly. Admiral Zhao didn't look frazzled.

"I like to keep an eye on you, Prince." he answered coyly. Zuko took a step forward and was stopped by his uncle's gentle voice. He took a deep breath and sat back down.

"I don't appreciate you invading my privacy, Admiral." he said tonelessly. There was a sudden clatter in the hall, and a person with long dark hair blurred by. Admiral Zhao looked at the open doorway and stood quickly to catch up with the gaurds that had run after the person. Prince Zuko tried not to let his cool slip when he realized that the person was in fact on of his female captives. He went after Zhao, leaving Iroh to wonder what had just happened.

Amber ran up to the deck, and when she realized it was empty and noticed the huge ships to the right of Zuko's, she knew this was most likely the worst place to be. She turned to go back below deck and hide in her cell but ran into someone.

"I beg your pardon miss." a deep voice suddenly said. Looking up, she found the handsome face of Admiral Zhao, Prince Zuko's worst enemy and a nightmare of a temper. She cleared her throat.

"You are pardoned." she said, trying to slide by him. Her attempt was foiled as Admiral Zhao's arm got in her way. She turned and decided not to mince words.

"Can I help you?" she asked, folding her arms.

The girl that the Prince was trying to hide from him was not blonde. In fact, she had the exact opposite color of that of the hairs that the hawk had picked up. The young woman's hair was still slightly damp from a shower, but complimented her icy blue eyes. Her face was a perfect shade of peach, with small brown flecks every now and then. Her lips were delicately formed, the upper lip being well formed and lower lip being a soft yet plump looking support for the upper lip. The firey red overdress she wore looked a little loose on her, as if it were bought too big, but it draped over lucious curves that his eyes hungrily devoured.

"What's the commotion?" said another feminine voice behind him. Admiral Zhao spun in surprise to find another young woman. Her blonde hair was pulled up tightly and her overdress had been hemmed by hand into a very small dress that went all the way to her midthighs and slit an inch up the sides. It was purple silk with red outlining, and made her brown eyes pop out. But in Zhao's eyes, it made much more that just her eyes pop.

"Prince Zuko," he said with a little admiration in his voice, "You really should let me take one of these lovely young women with me. You certainly don't need two women on your ship."

Prince Zuko rubbed his right temple.

"Fine. Tonight is music night though, and Uncle Iroh wants them both to sing. Then you can take your pick and get one of them off my hands. Prefferably the blonde. But if you like a fight, pick the dark one. She enjoys a good spar." He said with a snicker at Amber's dark look. She suddenly shoved Admiral Zhao out of the way and came up to him. He was surprised as she stuck her face into his.

"Don't you dare." she hissed angrily. He smirked down at her.

"And what are you going to do about it." he whispered.

"This." she said, bringing her fist up into his jaw. He stumbled a bit, but his pride stung even more as Zhao laughed.

"Perhaps I should take the dark haired one. She seems like too much for you to handle." He said with a grin on his hard features. Prince Zuko grabbed her by the wrists and pulled them up behind her back so all she could do was try to wriggle away. He grabbed her stomach and heaved her over his shoulder as he carried her down the stairs with peels of laughter from Zhao following close behind. Once he arrived at Amber's cell he threw her to the floor and pinned her there.

"I won't have you humiliate me again." he roared. She began to laugh.

"What?" he asked, extricating himself from her.
"Sorry, I just remembered that time I threw the penny at you.. That was so funny!" she said with a giggle. Prince Zuko looked confused.

"Wait, what was...?" Amber laughed.

"Oh that? That was just for show." she noticed a bit of a bruise forming on his chin and sucked in a breath. "Gee, I didn't mean to hit you that hard."

She touched it gently, making him start, but allowing her to examine it. Her fingertips gently massaged the bruise. He closed his eyes in pleasure, the simple gesture comfortingly soft. They were simply together at the moment until Zuko realized what was happening. He was losing control. Zuko suddenly got angry with his emotions. To hades with them, he decided. He enjoyed her touch right now, and he would relish it.

"There." she said, taking her fingers away from his chin.

"So why did you cry after laughing that first escape attempt?" Zuko asked. He noticed her blush.
"I don't know. Just alot on my mind then." she answered. Then she turned. "You might want to leave now, Zhao will wonder what happened. That's why I did that to you. I knew what your reaction would be, so hurry up. I don't want him to take me."

Zuko blinked. Am I really that predictable? he wondered.

"Fine. But you will have to preform when My Uncle sends for you." He said, closing the steel door behind him.

It was about two hours later when Unlce Iroh finally sent for Amber. She was pacing her cell as the guards came up to open it. She allowed herself to be escorted down the hall, but when Admiral Zhao appeared and waved the gaurds off, she grew nervous and tense.

"So, you don't like Prince Zuko much is the word on the ship." He said, arms folded behind his back.

"Do you always talk like a gossiping girl, or do you ever find out yourself." she shot back quietly. She was a pistol, this one. the Admiral thought to himself.

"Why would I be asking." he answered. She gave him a dirty look and stopped.

"What are my benefits if I go with you?" she asked bluntly. He stepped forward and leaned down, leaving his face inches from hers.

"I'll let you live." he hissed. Amber almost choked on his breath. She snorted and moved back, starting off again. This would be a very long night.

Author's Note: Okay, now you know the relationship between Cassy and Fire Prince Zuko raises brows once twice to get desired effect he he he.. I am horrible! Okay, I can't say I wanted my story to go this way, but I had to get the relationship off the ground... Okay, digital cookie for ONE of the last questions goes tooo...

Vangaurd Ziggy- Yes! It is Quenya, High Elvish language! And YES! IT DOES MEAN GO KISS AN ORC! Another little ditty I know is Lasta lalaithamin(Translate that one sucka) And the other digital cookie goes to