The ship had set sail a week ago and Leiko was getting to know the crew. All of the crew was men, but they were led by Sienna, the empress of the ship. Leiko enjoyed sparring and joking with the members of the crew, even though they were a bit obnoxious and rowdy…just like Zuko's crew. It was raining out. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the ocean seemed to bellow back at the dark sky. Leiko, Sienna and the rest of the crew were below deck.

"So talk to me." Sienna began as she sipped from a cup, "I haven't heard much about you."

"Well, what would you like to know, captain?" Leiko asked.

"Just tell me a bit about yourself."

"How about you start?"

"Okay." And she took a breath, "My father was a captain. He wanted a strong son to take his place but my mother had many miscarriages and finally had me. I was all he had, and so he handed it down to me. This fleet has been mine for five years now, and I was training for much longer than that. I'm the only woman captain in Kyoshi and possibly the Earth Kingdom. It's a great honor. I value my job, not many women have my position."

"You must be very proud."

"I'm sure not as proud as you are." Sienna said as she turned and faced Leiko. "Now tell me about yourself."

"Well, I was born in the fire nation. Admiral Zhao is my father, and my mother died when I was born, so I don't remember her. My father treated me more like one of his soldiers than his daughter. I trained everyday. He'd even beat me daily. He said it would make me tough and stronger. And that being a girl was a disgrace." Leiko sighed and continued. "He trained me to be his assassin. And I'd kill people by his command, just to stay alive. I have the mark on the ankle." Leiko said, referring to the two permanent squiggly lines on her ankle. "There was only one real bright memory of my childhood…and that was Zuko." Leiko rested her head on her fist and sniffled; tears now coming to her eyes. "He was my best friend, and he'd take care of me when I was sick or injured…he took much better care of me than my own father. He was always there when I needed him. And then he was banished. I'll never forget the day that he was banished. I believe it's my fault to this very day. He disrespected his own father to help me. I didn't see him for two years. Then we met again when my father sent me to kill him. But I betrayed him and took refuge on Zuko's ship instead. We grew close, and we had many adventured together…and then we got married. And we adopted a baby girl named Reina. Now…now I have nothing."

"You're a strong girl, Leiko Sikari. Zuko would be proud of you." Sienna said.

"I know he is." Leiko replied and wiped away a tear. "He was everything to me."

"You must have loved him very much." And Leiko nodded.

"Captain!" a man burst from the deck and ran up to Sienna and Leiko, dripping wet and scared. "The mast is breaking! And the sails are tearing off!" Sienna stood up.

"Tie down the mast! Close the sails! Bunker down!" Sienna commanded and she ran up on deck with him. Leiko followed.

The battering rain hit her face and soaked her the second she made it to the deck. Thunder deafened her ears and the lightning blinded her. Her ponytail began to stick to her and her clothes clung to her body. The deck was flooded, and men were using buckets to try and get rid of the water on the deck. Sienna began to tie down the mast with large ropes with the rest of the crew. Lightning struck the crow's nest and severed the ladder! The ladder fell down onto the deck, just missing the crew members who were scattered about! "WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE SAILS!" Sienna screamed over the thunder.

"BUT THE LADDER BROKE!" a man yelled back. Leiko looked up at the flailing, white sail. It would be dangerous to go up there and close it manually.

"I'LL GO!" Leiko told them and she ran over to the mast. She took some rope and tied it around her waist and the mast. And slowly she began to climb up it, hugging it tight and scooting herself up.

The beating rain and wind tried to force her down, but she kept moving. She closed her eyes to keep the water out and hugged the large pole. Lightning flashed just as soon as she opened her eyes and blinded her! It took her a second to get her vision back, and then loud thunder followed. She could feel the vibrations on the wood she clung too. She looked down from where she was and saw Sienna and her crew looking up at her, waiting to see if she would make it, or try and catch her if she fell. Leiko didn't look back down; instead she pushed herself up further, straining the muscles in her body. She kept pushing herself up higher until she reached the sail.

The large white sheet of fabric was being beaten and worn by the battering wind that threatened to tear it off. Leiko reached out one hand and grabbed a corner of it! She tugged at it as hard as she could against the wind. She pulled it in and wrapped it around the mast. She finished by tying it. Lightning flashed again, just to her left! She lost the sight in her left eye for a moment, but continued. She maneuvered herself around the pole until she was on the other side, and she gripped onto the other corner of the sail and did the same as before. She was successful.

Both flailing corners of the sail were tied down securely and the crew below her cheered! Leiko smiled to herself, out of breath from the riveting experience. She went to slide down, but as she did, something unexpected occurred. Lightning flashed again, but this time it struck her! "LEIKO!" Sienna cried out from below! Leiko felt a sharp pain and tingling course through her entire body, and then she let go of the mast! Her body went plummeting down, and all she saw was darkness…