Book 1: Water

Chapter 3: The Southern Air Temple

A/N : Voila! I slaved all night to write this one for you guys(not really):) Hope you like it! If anything is not written here, then it is canon and it doesn't need to be changed


Zuko, Emi and Uncle walked down the ship's bridge to the port they had landed at moments before. They had just come in from the South Pole, and the damage to their ship was extensive. Casting a glance back at it, Emi flinched when she saw the cracked and scratched metal and the oh so obvious hole near the top.

"Uncle, I want the repairs done right away. We can't risk losing his trail." Zuko commanded

"You mean the avatar." Uncle stated a bit too loudly. Zuko rounded on him and spoke in a hushed tone.

"Don't mention his name on these docks. Once word gets out that he's alive, every firebender in the world will be out looking for him."

"And more than likely, the non-benders too." Emi added. Although it was true that she wasn't dead set on capturing the avatar like Zuko was, she had promised him that she would stick with him, and she wasn't one to break a promise. Zuko nodded in agreement.

"I don't want anyone getting in the way." He said.

"Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?" The three whirled to see admiral Zhao headed towards him. None of them missed the way he sneered out Zuko's title.

"Captain Zhao." Emi greeted coolly.

"It's commander now, Lady Emi." Zhao said in a voice much too cocky for his own good. "And General Iroh, the great…hero of our nation." He added, bowing slightly.

"Retired General." Uncle corrected, bowing in return.

"The Fire-lord's brother and son are always welcome guests, as well as someone as high ranked in our nation as you, Lady Emi." Commander Zhao said. "What brings you to my harbor?"

"Our ship needs to be repaired." Iroh said, indicating to their beaten and battered ship. Zhao's eyes widened in shock before narrowing in suspicion.

"That's quite a bit of damage." He said

"Yes…you wouldn't believe what happened!" Zuko said nervously. He seemed lost as to what to tell Zhao; so naturally, he pawned that duty off to Iroh. "Uncle! Tell commander Zhao what happened."

"Ah y-yes." Uncle started slowly. "It…was amazing, incredible…uhm we…uh crashed, right?"

Emi sighed. Uncle was good at many things, but coming up with a lie on the spot was clearly not one of them. "Of course we crashed, Uncle! Right into an earth kingdom ship." She supplied easily, almost sighing in relief when Zhao looked like he believed her.

"Well you must tell me all the…thrilling details." Zhao said. "Join me for a drink?" He asked, leaning in towards Zuko rather threateningly.

"Sorry, but we have to go." Zuko answered stiffly. He began to walk away, but Iroh's hand landed on his shoulder, holding him in place.

"Prince Zuko, show commander Zhao your respect." He said. Emi nodded.

"We would be honored to join you." She told Zhao, her voice coldly polite. "Do you have any Ginseng tea? It's Uncle's favorite." She told Zhao, walking alongside him. Zuko could vaguely hear Zhao answer "Yes, of course, Lady Emi," and Uncle saying "You have Jasmine too, yes? Emi likes that best," before growling angrily and following them, fire searing out of his palms as he turned.

"And by summer's end, the earth kingdom capital shall be under our control." Emi sat quietly as Zhao droned on and on about his simply brilliant plans. She sighed silently as he, yet again, continued. "The fire lord will finally claim victory in this war." Zuko snorted lightly.

"If my father believes this world will follow him willingly, he is mistaken." He snapped. Zhao looked at him disapprovingly, clearly disgruntled at Zuko's words.

"I see two years at sea has done nothing to temper your tongue." He sneered. His expression suddenly turned smug. "So…how is your search for the avatar going?" he asked mockingly. Iroh seemed surprised at the question, because he succeeded in knocking over a few of Zhao's antique fire nation weapons, causing Zhao and Zuko to whirl around to look at him and Emi to practically jump out of her seat.

Iroh looked at them sheepishly. "My fault, entirely." He said, backing away from the fallen spears.

"We haven't found him yet." Emi said quietly, casting her eyes downwards as she answered his previous question.

"Did you expect to? The avatar has been dead for a hundred years. He died along with the other nomads." He said, looking suspicious when Zuko averted his eyes at his words. "Unless…" he said slowly. " You have found evidence of his whereabouts?"

"No. We have found nothing." Zuko lied. Emi was proud of the bit of despair that he added to his voice; it made him much more believable.

"Prince Zuko, Lady Emi, the avatar is the only threat to the fire nation. If you have any loyalty remaining for your country, your homeland, you will tell me where he is." He snarled.

"We don't know where he is. It's like you said; he probably died a long time ago." Zuko said, looking Zhao in the eye. Emi stood and Zuko followed her lead, making Zhao back up as they almost went eye to eye.

"Come on Uncle, we really should be going." Emi said, walking towards the exit. Before she could open the door, the two men standing guard lowered their spears and blocked her way.

"Commander Zhao," a nameless solider began "We questioned their crew like you asked. They said that they did indeed have the avatar in custody, and that he escaped." Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration and Emi hung her head.

"I cannot believe we forgot to tell the crew not to say anything." She said quietly. She heard Zhao walk up behind him.

"Now tell me," he said, leaning in over Zuko's shoulder "how exactly did your ship get damaged?"

Iroh and Zuko sat quietly in chairs facing each other. Zuko looked angry and Iroh looked relaxed but uncomfortable. Emi was pacing around the room, wringing her hands anxiously as they all awaited Zhao's return.

"Emi, maybe you should sit." Uncle suggested, offering his seat. Emi shook her head fiercely and waved her hand, indicating that he should sit again.

"I can't" she said stiffly, glancing at the door again. Uncle sighed and sat down, looking pointedly at Zuko. But Zuko didn't need the hint from Iroh apparently, because he stood and gently laid his hand on her shoulder. Emi looked up at him with her clear blue eyes and took a deep breath, shaking her hands as if to get rid of the jitters and relaxing. "Thanks." She said softly. Zuko nodded in response.

Just then the tent flap opened to reveal Commander Zhao. "My search party is ready." He informed them. "My men will keep you here until I have departed, and then you are free to leave."

"Why?" Zuko asked harshly, his grip on Emi's shoulder tightening a bit. "Are you afraid I'm going to try to stop you?"

Zhao laughed. "You? Stop me? Impossible." He laughed again. Zuko started towards him angrily.

"Don't underestimate me Zhao." He snarled. Emi placed her hand on top of his where it rested on her shoulder, holding him in place so he didn't leap at the high ranking solider. "I will capture the avatar before you!"

"Zuko, enough!" Iroh snapped, stepping in to the fray. Zhao completely ignored him and continued talking.

"How could you possibly hope to compete with me? I have hundreds of war ships and thousands of soliders behind me. You are nothing but a banished prince, with no home or allies to speak of. Your own father doesn't even want you."

"That's a lie." Zuko said fiercely. "Once I capture the avatar, he will welcome me home and restore my rightful place on the throne and my honor."

"Your father sees you as nothing but a failure and a disgrace to the fire nation. If he had wanted you home he would have welcomed you already, avatar or no avatar." He said rudely. "You even have the scar to prove it." he added. Emi glared at him furiously while Zuko let out an angry cry and got in Zhao's face.

"Maybe you would like one to match!" He yelled.

"Is that a challenge." Zhao said dangerously.

"Agni Kai, sunset."

"Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch you get humiliated…I guess your Uncle and Lady Emi will do."

"Zuko, have you forgotten what happened the last time you dueled a master." Iroh said, his voice disapproving.

"I will never forget." He choked out, shutting his eyes. Iroh sighed and gripped Zuko's shoulder in a vain attempt to comfort him before exiting, and leaving Emi and Zuko alone. He still looked rather frazzled, so she placed her hands on either side of his face. His eyes flicked open and focused on her face.

"You're sure?" she asked quietly. He gave one short nod. "It's not true, you know. What he said about your scar." She added in a small voice. His gaze turned distressed and she quickly brought him into a tight hug. "We'll catch him, and bring him home." She said confidently. They stood like that for a few moments before she pulled back, running her thumb over his scar as she did so. "Come on, let's go practice before tonight." Zuko followed eagerly. Fighting he could do.

The setting sun looked beautiful. It didn't seem like the kind of scene where one could find two angry firebenders about to fight it out. Emi and Uncle stood near Zuko, who was kneeling and doing several breathing exercises. Zhao kneeled across the way, and Emi could tell by the movement of his shoulders that he was in the same boat as Zuko.

"Remember your basics, Zuko. They are your greatest ally." Iroh reminded him.

"I refuse to let him win." Zuko said determinedly. Emi said nothing as he stood and shook of his loose vest. Zhao followed his movements. At the sound of the gong, the fighting began. Fire was volleyed back and forth between the two, sometimes lending the lead to one bender before switching at the drop of a hat and putting the other on top. Emi watched with frightened eyes as Zhao looked down at Zuko, who was lying on his back, and then ruthlessly sent a missile of fire at him. Suddenly Zuko tripped Zhao's legs out from under him and kept him off balance until he crashed to the ground. Zhao was defenseless as Zuko glared down at him. But instead of scaring him as he had once threatened, he sent a fire blast to the side of Zhao's head, not harming him.

Emi bristled when Zhao called him weak, especially because she was proud he decided to be the bigger person. She let out a horrified gasp when Zhao stood and fired at Zuko's retreating back, but Iroh beat her to him, snatching his foot out of the air and shoving him backwards. Zuko started towards him angrily, but Iroh held him back.

"No, Prince Zuko, do not ruin your victory." He said before turning to Zhao. "So this is how the great commander Zhao acts in defeat." He sounded disgusted. "Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you." Zuko's lip turned up at the edges as he turned to follow Uncle.

"Did you really mean that Uncle?" he asked.

"Of course." He answered as if it was obvious…It kind of was.

"Well done Zuko." Emi said, smiling up at him. He smiled back at her.

"Thanks." He said

"Of course." She answered happily.


A/N: Ta da! I kinda really like this one:) So that little scene between Zuko and Emi wasn't originally going to be there, but I couldn't help adding it in...I just find it soo cute:) So, make sure you all review and tell me what you think because I'm dying to know! I also have Emi's whole back story figured out, which I wanted to get out of the way before I continued, so hopefully (fingers crossed) updates will come more often. Thanks everyone!

Much love,

Em3