A/N: Chapter 2 is finally here! I know it's a very short chapter and I meant it to be short… so no flames! There's nothing wrong with a short chapter. Once you have finished please review because I need the feed back! Like if a character is not consistent or something tell me. But REVIEW! …please.

Chapter 2: Lightning

Aang maneuvered Appa towards the island below. Clouds from apparently nowhere had blocked out the sun's brilliant rays. Leaving the sky above their heads dark and ominous. Raindrops began to fall. At first softly like a mist, then faster and heavier as the sky darkened. Katara and Sokka pulled their hoods up. The rain continued, beating faster and faster until it was like being under a waterfall. Everything appeared only as shapes through dense rain. There was a flash of jagged lighting, cracking the sky in half. A roll of trembling thunder briefly followed. "Aang? How long till we can land?" Katara yelled through the rain.

"I'm right below! Yip yip!" Aang yelled as he slapped the reins. Appa began to dive when a flash of brilliant light shot past. Appa swerved, giving a groan. "Come on Appa! That was just lighting." Aang shouted trying to keep a hold on Appas' wet reigns as they began to slip through his fingers. Appa tossed his head violently as another flash erupted past. All three of them screamed as Appa began to roll, duck and spiral out of control.

"Aang keep your bison under control!" Sokka shouted, hanging on to the saddle. Momo slid down Appa's tail and hung to only a couple hairs.

"I'm trying!" Appa gave another groan, "It's those flashes! From the trees!" Aang shouted back over a sudden roll of more thunder.

"What do you mean from the…" Sokka didn't finish his sentence because a blinding, sharp beam of light thrust itself at them from below. For a brief moment the air around heated and the falling rain instantly turned to whispy steam for only a blink of an eye. But none of them noticed as they screamed when Appa, temporarily blinded dived sharply down to the trees below with the rain following closely behind.

Fire nation guards ran around the deck wildly as Prince Zuko furiously shouted orders. His uncle, shielding his head from the pelting rain ran out onto the slippery deck. Along side his nephew he grabbed the railing as the ship rocked back and forth from the rough waves. "Prince Zuko, turn back now. We won't be able to make any progress in a storm like this." A wave crashed onto the deck as the ship gave a sickening lunge. Zuko watched his men slip and scramble up. The rain began coming down harder, making if feel more like it was hailing then raining. Lightning fluttered across the sky. Thunder boomed immediately after.

"No, not when I'm so close." Zuko said, wiping water off his face. Both braced as the ship gave another sway from the fierce waves below.

"Zuko if you persue any further in this weather. The ship will sink." His uncle shouted over the thunder. "The ship can't survive this storm for very long. The crew in the boiler room say the engine will brake down any second." Another giant waver splashed across the deck.

"Tell them to keep it running."

"I told you. They can't. The ship will capsize!" Zuko had had enough right now of his uncle's foretelling of doom. It was the last thing he needed right now, not in this storm with the Avatar nearly right in front of them.

"No matter what you say, I'm not turning around!" Zuko yelled. Another wave splashed onboard. Some of his men screamed as they where nearly dragged over into the raging sea.

"It's not worth the lives." Hi uncle yelled back.

"I can't when the Avatar is so close!" Zuko shot back.

"Well…" His uncle stuttered. It then dawned on Zuko.

"This really about that curse isn't it? Is that really why you want me to turn back?" Zuko's uncle remained silent, standing steadfast, staring him straight the eye. "Do you?" Zuko shouted. For a brief pause in time, there seemed to be a still silence.

Without warning the ship gave a tremendous lurch forwards and screeched to a sudden halt. Zuko gritted his teeth, as he prevented himself form falling over the rail.

"Man over board!" Someone called. Both Zuko and his Uncle rushed to the look over the side. In the water one of the men was floundering in the water, his armor was weighing him down.

"Help! I can't swim!" He shouted as he was tossed by the waves. Zuko ordered his men to get a rope to throw out to him, but his uncle said.

"That won't be necessary." He cupped his hands over his mouth and called out. "Just stand up!" the floundering man must have listened because he stopped thrashing and now stood with the water only coming up to his elbows and looking very confused and embarrassed. Zuko turned to his uncle in shock. "We hit the sand bank." Was his uncle's reply.

A/N: Don't forget to review. Chapter 3 will be coming soon.