The Southern Air Temple

Sky's POV

I woke up naked beside my beloved husband Zuko who was still sleeping peacefully. I tried to get up without waking him up. I got dress and I was about to leave for breakfast when Zuko started to stir wake, moan and groaning as he did, then said, "Come back to bed, my fire Lilly. I know you are just as tried as I am. So, come back to bed." I replied with, "No. We need to get up before Iroh comes after us. We also need to get the ship fixed before we can look for Aan- I mean the Avatar." Zuko didn't notice my little slip up luckily. I watched him get up and dressed then we went off to get breakfast.

~This time skip is brought to you by prickle snake's in Sokka's sleeping bag~

Still Sky's POV

We were in a Fire Nation naval yard. There were tents and buildings line and a ships line and what looked like a railroad line that ran down the middle. Our ship is much smaller than the other Fire Nation ships. The prow of our ship had been opened, its spout lied on the floor of the navy yard. Zuko, Iroh and I entering the naval yard itself. "Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his trail." Zuko said. Iroh replied with, "You mean the Avatar?" Zuko turned to his uncle angrily and said, "Don't mention his name on these docks! Once word gets out that he's alive every firebender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way." I then Heard Zhao's voices and it said, "Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?" Me, Iroh and Zuko turned to face Zhao with somewhat surprised expressions. Zhao approached us, still speaking. Zhao's hands were clasped behind his back authoritatively. Zuko then said with distaste, "Captain Zhao." "It's Commander now. And General Iroh- (he bows to Iroh) -great hero of our nation." Zhao relied. "Retired general." Iroh stated. "The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests any time. What brings you to my harbour?" Zhao asked. Iroh answered with, "Our ship is being repaired." Iroh gestured at the heavily damaged bow of our ship. "That's quite a bit of damage." Zhao said. "Yes... you wouldn't believe what happened." Zuko said as he gave his uncle a sideways glance and immediately passed the buck, "Uncle! Tell Commander Zhao what happened." Iroh's eyes widen as he blinks in response to the burden Zuko has just placed on him. "Yes, I will do that. It was incredible." He leant over and whispered to Zuko, "What... did we crash or something?" Iroh asked. Zuko uncomfortably replied, "Uh, yes! Right into an Earth Kingdom ship." "Really? You must regale me with all the thrilling details." Zhao said. He smiled and put his face right up to Zuko's in an obvious challenge. "Join me for a drink?" He then asked. "Sorry, but we have to go." Zuko answered. Zuko turned to leave, dragging me by my arm, but Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him. "Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect. " Iroh said turning to Zhao, "We would be honoured to join you. Do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favourite." Zuko growled in frustration and released fire from his fists angrily as he turned to follow Zhao and Iroh down the dock dragging me with him.

~This time skip is brought to up by Iroh's love of ginseng tea~

Still Sky's POV

We were in a big firenation tent with Commander Zhao who was inspecting a large map of the world that was upon the wall. " And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule." Zhao said. Iroh was inspecting a stand of weapons and Zuko sat in one of two chairs in front of Zhao with me in other one, holding Zuko's hand. Zhao turned to Zuko and said, "The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war." Zuko replied, "If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool." Zhao pulled his chair to sit next to Zuko, then said, "Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue. (he then paused) So, how is your search for the Avatar going?" Iroh tipped over the stand of weapons he had been examining in the background. The commotion brought the conversation to a halt. Iroh cringed at the mess he has just made. Iroh then said embarrassed, "My fault entirely." He sheepishly walked backwards to the left. Zhao watches him move off. "We haven't found him yet." Zuko said as I nodded my head in agreement. Zhao freaks me. Whenever he looks at me it's like he is eye raping me. Disgusting. I was brought out of that thought by Zhao who said, "Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago, along with the rest of the airbenders." Zuko averts his eyes guiltily, I moved to sit on his lap and I hugged him. I looked over to Zhao to see he had an eager look on his face. "Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is alive." Zhao. Zuko answered still looking away, "No. Nothing." Then Zhao said, rising from his chair, "Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce- (he leaned his face into Zuko's) -of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you've found." "I haven't found anything. It's like you said. The Avatar probably died a long time ago. Come on, Uncle, we're going." Zuko replied. Zuko then got up and tried to exit dragging me with him, but he is blocked by the guards as they crossed their spears in front of him. Another guard approached Zhao to deliver his report, "Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody, but let him escape." " Now, remind me...," he said as he walked over to stand behind me and Zuko, " ... how exactly was your ship damaged?" Zuko looked down in defeat.

Zhao's guards forced me and Zuko to sit in front of his desk. Zhao crossed in front of a seated and clearly unhappy Prince Zuko. A pair of guards stood behind the young prince. "So, a twelve-year-old boy bested you and your firebenders You're more pathetic than I thought." Zhao said. "I underestimated him once, but it will not happen again." Zuko stated. "No, it will not, because you won't have a second chance." Zhao said. Then Zuko said in alarm, "Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I..." Zhao turned on him angrily, flames erupted from his hand as he swept it in an arc from left to right. Zhao then screamed, " And you failed!" Zhao's face towered over Zuko. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now." Zhao said. Zuko launched himself at Zhao in frustration and anger, but he is restrained by the two guards standing behind his chair and me trying to protect him. Zhao then said to the guards as he turned to leave, "Keep them here." Zuko in a further act of frustration kicked over a small table that had been sitting near Iroh. It broke into pieces. Iroh watched the scene calmly and said, " More tea please?" I rushed over to him trying to calm him down. I said, "Hey, it's okay. we will be okay. We will get to go home eventually." "No, we won't! We will never get to go home without that Avatar!" Zuko screamed. "Well... then I guess we will have to settle somewhere...start a family somewhere and make an honest living somehow." I said. "I DON'T WANT THAT! I WANT TO GO HOME!" Zuko screamed at me. Tears started to slip from my eyes as I hung my head. When saw this they anger left his face and his eyes softened. "I'm sorry Sky. I'm j-just very stressed right now," he sighed and walked over to me. He pulled me into his arms and I cried into his shoulder.

~This time skip is brought to you by Sokka drooling over a lemur for dinner~

Still Sky's POV

"My search party is ready." Zhao stated. Iroh, Zuko and I were in a semi-circle sitting in chairs facing each other. "Once I'm out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go." Zhao finished. "Why? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zuko said. Zhao started to laugh then said, "You? Stop me? Impossible." Zuko stood in defiance and said, "Don't underestimate me, Zhao. I will capture the Avatar before you." Iroh then stood also and said, "Prince Zuko, that's enough!" Zhao said, "You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you... you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. Your own father doesn't even want you." "You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honour and restore my rightful place on the throne." Zuko stated. "If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar, but in his eyes, you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." Zhao said. "That's not true." Zuko said. "You have the scar to prove it." Zhao stated. With a cry of indignation, Zuko launched himself to his feet, bringing his face within inches of Zhao's and said, "Maybe you'd like one to match!" To which Zhao asked, "Is that a challenge?" " An Agni Kai. At sunset." Zuko planned. "Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do. But If I win the lovely lady Sky here will come with me instead of leaving with you" Zhao said. Zhao turned and walked back out of the tent. I was in a state of shock. "Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you duelled a master?" Iroh said. Zuko replied with, "I will never forget." "I can't believe if you lose we will be forced to part for who know how long." I said starting tear up. Zuko Pulled me into his chest and said, "I won't let that happen. You are the best thing that has happened in my life and I will not let anyone take you away from me." I just sighed and buried my head further into his chest.

~This time skip is brought to you by Zhao's side burns~

Still Sky's POV

We were in a simple four-walled structure with watch fires on the four towers at each corner. There was one large open gate. The sunset was a glorious mixture of Fire Nation hues: red, orange, and yellow. Zhao and Zuko kneeled, preparing for battle, Zhao with four of his men in attendance, Zuko with his uncle and I. "Remember your firebending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons." Iroh advised. Then Zuko said standing up, "I refuse to let him win." His shoulder wrap fell to the ground ceremoniously. Zhao stood and turned, his shoulder wrap fell to the ground, as well then said, "his will be over quickly." Atop the gate a gong sounds. Both men faced each other and assumed firebending stances. Zuko fired the first shot which passed harmlessly to Zhao's left. He fired again; this time it passed without effect to Zhao's right. Zuko fired several more, the last of which Zhao blocked, satisfaction was evident on his face. Frustrated and losing control of his breath, Zuko moved towards his opponent, unleashing more fire from both his hands and feet. Zhao dodged or blocked them all. Zhao then crouched forward and shoots flame at a point on the ground close in front of him. Iroh and I were watching anxiously. "Basics, Zuko! Break his root!" Iroh shouted out to him.

Zhao fired many volleys of flame, alternating between his fists. Zuko blocked each, but is slowly forced back. On the last volley Zhao used both hands, knocking Zuko over and sending him skidding backwards in the dirt. Zhao took a flying jump at him. Zhao landed as Zuko tried to get up, but he isn't fast enough. Zhao fired right at him. I put my face into Iroh's shoulder, scared to look. Zuko rolled out of the way just in time, and as he is getting up swept Zhao's feet out from under him. Zuko lands on his feet. On Zuko's face, a slight smile appeared. Zuko is advanced towards Zhao, using his feet to produce small waves of flame that rush toward his opponent. Zhao was caught off balance and wobbled slowly backward. Iroh's fists clenched in an expression of hope, a smile beginning to spread over his face. I still couldn't look at what was going on, I couldn't watch Zuko get hurt. Zuko finally laid Zhao out flat on the ground with a blast of fire. Zuko rushed up to him, prepared to deal the final blow. Zuko had a decision he had to face. "Do it!" Zhao shouted.

Zuko released a blast. He stood erect, dropping his fighting stance. There was a smoking hole in the ground, Zhao, clearly was very much unharmed, next to the hole. "That's it? Your father raised a coward." Zhao said. "Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back." Zuko stated. Zuko turned his back and began to walk away. Zhao got up and, with a howl of anger, unleashed a whip of flame at Zuko. The flame itself rushed toward Zuko's back. Zhao had his outstretched foot, wreathed in the fire it has just released. The flame is extinguished, however, as a hand closed over the foot. Iroh had moved between them to stop the dishonourable attack. They remain frozen for a moment before Iroh hurls Zhao back into the dirt with little effort. Zuko rushed to avenge the insult, but is stopped by his uncle. "No, Prince Zuko. Do not taint your victory." Iroh said. Iroh turned to face Zhao, a look of condescension on his face.

"So, this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat. Disgraceful." Said Iroh. He then continued, "Even in exile my nephew is more honourable than you. (Zuko looked at his uncle in surprise at this comment.) Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious." Iroh moved to leave and Zuko followed close behind. With subdued anger, Zhao watched them exit the gate of the arena. Outside, Zuko and Iroh talked. Zuko quietly said, "Did you really mean that, Uncle?" Iroh then slyly said, "Of course. I told you ginseng tea is my favourite." "Well I think that it's true. Always have always will." I said. Once I finished speaking Zuko smashed his lips onto mine. Once he took his lips from mine we were both panting for breath, smiling at each other with our foreheads against each other's. "I love you." Zuko said. "I love you too my precious prince." I said.