Most of these next few chapters will probably just have spell check and grammar edits. I have finally caught up to the chapters that are closest to my style of writing today. It is nice to read these chapters though and be enjoying the story myself. I've never read from start to my current spot so it's good to see the story is pretty good and I didn't butcher anything too much (I'm a self critic. Lol)

Chapter 47: Team Avatar

(Crystal POV)

The ship creaked and swayed as I stepped down the long dim hallway. The sound of my boots hitting the steel floor echoed around me. Others slept in the cabins surrounding me, while a few warriors stood on deck for night watch above. I'd been asleep in the cabin I was sharing with Katara, but waking from a nightmare had me restless and unable to return to my dream world.

The nightmare had been one of those that started as just a bunch of silly images and events, but then turned into something horrible. At some point in my dream, I was back on the ship that Zhao had held me prisoner on. Zhao was there, alive and as sadistic as ever. He dragged me down a dark hallway that seemed endless, and then jerked open a door that led to a large cell. Inside the cell, the sight before me was horrifying as I saw Iroh's limp body chained to a chair that was bolted to the floor.

"Iroh!" I cried out, but it seemed he didn't hear me. Blood caked his face from scratches on his lips and a broken nose. His gray hair was messy and covered parts of his face.

"The great Dragon of the West… Now he's no more than a bloody worm," Zhao hissed, shoving me into the room.

Falling on the floor, I'd quickly scrambled to my feet and raced over to him. "Iroh!"

He looked up at me with glazed gold eyes, but then dropped his head again. "Leave…" He ordered with a broken voice. "Get out of here, Crystal."

"No… I won't leave you," I cried, trying to pull at the chains around his wrists.

"Pity," Azula suddenly chimed from behind. Shivers raced through my spine, and I turned my gaze to see her standing in the spot Zhao had been. "You can die with him then." She grinned and grabbed the steel door. Then she shut it and darkness fell over us.

"NO!" I raced forward, but fire suddenly shot up in my path and I was forced back. Iroh's scream from behind caused me to turn back towards him only to see his whole body was surrounded by fire. "IROH!"

The agonizing scream of Iroh was what woke me from my horrible dream. After laying on my cot for a while to catch my breath, I finally decided the room I was in was too cramped and I needed air. With careful movement, I made my escape without waking Katara.

As I reached the stairwell that led up on deck, I clutched the metal rail in confliction. We'd been aboard the Fire Nation vessel my father and his men had apprehended for a week now. Being on the ship brought back memories about my time with Iroh and Zuko back on their own vessel. As I moved along the similarly structured hallways, and felt a sense of Deja vu, the memories turned into nightmares the closer we got to the Fire Nation.

Heading up the stairs, I pushed open the steel door and felt a blast of cool air hit my face. Stepping onto the deck of the ship, I saw stars surround us as we pushed through the ocean's waters. Walking over to the ship's rail, I clutched the steel frame and shut my eyes as sea mist brushed against my face. My heart ached though as images from my dream replayed in my head.

Everything had happened so fast after Ba Sing Se, but there was always a part of my mind that kept aware of Iroh's situation. Iroh had sacrificed himself to help us escape that night, and I knew there was no way he'd defeated all of Azula's followers on his own. He was most definitely apprehended and being carted back to the Fire Nation. I feared what the Fire Lord would do to him once he was brought within the walls of the palace. Iroh had always been so kind and caring towards me, and the moment he needed me the most I could do nothing to help him.

Grabbing my hair, I felt tears escape my eyes as my heart was heavy with concern. "Iroh… I'm sorry…"

A memory fell over me of our time together long ago, just a few weeks after Zuko had captured me from my home. I remember sitting with Iroh up on deck as we watched Zuko practice his firebending with another member of the crew. We were sipping on some tea, courtesy of Jiho the ship cook, and Iroh seemed at peace as his nephew grunted and yelled from the attacks he sent towards his opponent.

"Does he ever stop training?"

Iroh pulled his cup from his lips and smiled. "Being on this ship can be rather boring for our young prince. He finds he can pass time by throwing around his arms and legs."

I shook my head. "He needs a better hobby in my opinion."

"To be honest, Crystal," Iroh suddenly stated. "He has found another hobby. He enjoys hanging out with you during the day."

I scoffed. "Doubtful. He told me this morning that I was 'frustrating' when I begged him to let me come watch him train."

Iroh shook his head. "He says things, but they're meaningless." He placed his cup on the tray in front of us and then met my gaze. "Honestly… I've never seen such life on this ship in all the time we've been journeying to find the Avatar. The crew and I like the spirit you've brought on board. I feel as though my nephew does as well. He talks about you often. Surprisingly more so than he does the Avatar."

I blushed a bit at Iroh's reveal. "I'm sure he just talks about how thrilled he is to have a waterbender as his prisoner."

Iroh smiled. "You'd be surprised how intrigued he is by you." Iroh picked up his cup again. "I sense something is brewing in my nephew that he will not understand for a while."

My gaze became perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

"You'll understand soon too." He sipped his tea, but a mischievous twinkle shined in his eye. When he pulled away again, he placed his cup down once more. He then took my hand comfortingly and calmly said, "You've become like a daughter to me over the time you've been with us. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask."

My strength gave out and I fell on my knees. Tears slid down my cheeks as I hugged myself for comfort. My heart hurt, and I knew it was because I feared my dream would come true, or that it had already happened. I had no way of knowing the fate of Iroh. For all I knew, he was killed or being tortured mercilessly as I helplessly cried for him.

"Crystal?"

My father's questioning voice came from somewhere nearby, but I turned my head to hide the pain I was certain he'd already seen.

"What on earth happened?"

He stepped over to me and knelt beside me. His hand pressed to my shoulder and I shook my head to refuse his comfort.

"Talk to me," he begged. Then he jumped to the conclusion I knew he would. "Was it Zuko? Did he hurt you?!"

"I'm fine," I mumbled. "Stop blaming Zuko... " I jerked from his hand and stood. My hands found the rail to grip onto for support, and I hung my head to let my hair hide my face still. "I just had a bad dream."

He sighed heavily, sounding relieved. "That must've been some dream. I haven't seen you this shaken up before."

Frowning, I muttered, "That's because you were never around to see it." I pulled from the rail and went to step away from him. He grabbed my arm to stop me though. Tears continued to fall as I spoke softly, "Let me go... I just want to be alone..."

"Crystal..." My father got a grip on my other arm and forced me to face him. "Stop… Talk to me..."

Shaking my head, I tried to pull from him. "You wouldn't understand... You'd have no empathy towards him..."

"What on earth are you talking about? Who?"

I shot my gaze up at my father's bewildered expression which was vaguely lit by the moonlight. "Azula has Iroh... He's probably being tortured or killed…" I shut my eyes, feeling my heart sting. "He shouldn't have been captured like that. We should've gone back to save him." As my emotions escaped me, I moved against my father's body grabbing on to his shirt as I hid my face in the fabric. "Why is it that the moment the people I love need me the most, I'm too weak to save them? I hate feeling so weak... I hate losing people..."

I cried into the fabric of his shirt letting my tears soak away. My father let out a deep breath and placed a hand behind my head to stroke my hair comfortingly.

"Your brother told me about Iroh… What happens to the Fire Lord's brother is not your concern. All that matters is you made it ou-"

I shook my head against him. "I knew you wouldn't understand. All you see Iroh as is the enemy… But he was a father to me these last few months... He cared about me like I was his own..." I pressed my face harder to his shirt. "There's no telling what Azula is doing to him… He's such a kind man…" My voice broke off. "He doesn't deserve to be a prisoner."

Father let out a deep breath. "Crystal… There's nothing we can do for him now. There's no need to be this upset over your prior captor."

I calmed my tears enough to be coherent again. "Iroh was never my captor, dad… He was the first man to show me kindness on that ship." I pushed from my father's hold and turned back towards the ocean wiping my eyes with my shirt sleeve. "I owe him for the kindness he showed me… The moments I felt alone and scared he'd find a way to bring a smile to my face…" Hanging my head again, I gripped the rail tight for support. "I should've stayed behind to help him."

A silence fell between us and part of me wanted my father to walk away. He hadn't been there to comfort me since mom died, so the last thing I wanted was him to try and comfort me now.

"You and the Avatar were both injured and completely surrounded… The man knew what he was doing when he told you all to go." My father rested his hand on my shoulder. "I know you daughter, even if you don't believe me. You always place blame on your shoulders for the situation of others. You have nothing to feel guilt over though. From the stories I've heard of General Iroh, that man is more than capable of surviving imprisonment."

Surprisingly, my father's words did comfort me. Looking up at the stars, I was relieved the tears had stopped but my heart was still heavy with worry.

"I guess you're right…" I followed the constellations just as Hul had shown me to do so long ago. "He wouldn't be happy with me if he saw me so upset over his capture…"

My father stepped up beside me then and leaned forward against the rail. As his arms rested on the metal, his eyes looked out towards the horizon. The moon hovered over the water sending shimmering light around us. We both stood beside each other, lost to our thoughts for a moment. After a brief pause, my father let out a deep breath.

"You must've gone through so much these last few months… Your brother and sister only gave me the details they knew, but I'm certain you suffered more than you let out. I see the scars that decorate your skin, and I know that look in your eye. You've seen things that none of us could fathom."

My thoughts went back to everything I'd been through. The images raced through my mind as good and bad experiences resurfaced.

"One thing I need to understand through all of this though, is why you never told any of us you were a waterbender… What were you so afraid of? You saw the way the tribe treated Katara. We encouraged her skills and training. You would've been supported as well."

Shutting my eyes, I let the cool sea air hit my face as I felt the water move around us. "I didn't find out I was a waterbender until after mom died… As much as waterbending distracted me from the memories and made me grow stronger, part of me was ashamed that I could waterbend. It made me hate myself for not being able to save mom… If I had known I could bend all along, I would've been able to fight against the monsters that came that day." Opening my eyes, I stared down at the dark waters with pain. "But I couldn't protect her."

"Crystal… You were nine… Even if you could waterbend, you wouldn't have been able to save her. Those men who came that day came with the intent to kill." My father's finger suddenly brushed against the line of my scar on my cheekbone. "You were an innocent child, and they left you to rot over your mother's body… If anyone should've been there that day to fight off those monsters it should've been me. I was too busy playing chief when I should've been by you and your mother's side."

Grabbing his hand, I didn't push it away but held it for comfort. "I don't think you could've done anything… That man… He…" I tightened my grip and shut my eyes harder as the memories tried to come back. My voice cut off as I was still unable to tell my father about that horrible night. The story had come easily to me when it came to Zuko and Iroh, but perhaps that was because I knew the story wouldn't burden them as much as it would my father and family.

My father suddenly pulled me into a hug again. "It's okay… You don't have to say anything else."

I nodded, glad he understood.

"I'm so proud of you, Crystal…" I was surprised by the words he'd just spoken. He continued. "After everything you've been through and survived, you are definitely one of the strongest people I know."

I smiled weakly, looking up at my dad. "I didn't survive alone… I had a lot of help along the way. Being among Zuko's crew, I met so many kind men on board that ship. I made some friendships I'll never forget. Even though there are evil men and women in the Fire Nation, there are also kind and compassionate people who just want to take care of those they love… Over the months I've journeyed across the world, I've learned not to judge someone for the place they come from."

My words sunk into my father slowly. He then placed his hands on my shoulders and looked down at me. "You sound so much like your mother when you speak like that." He kissed me on the forehead and brushed his thumb against my scar again. "I'm so lucky to have a daughter like you."

He stepped back again, and then looked at the moon lowering in the sky.

"Try to get some more rest," he spoke finally. "We'll be entering Fire Nation waters soon, and I need you ready for anything."

I nodded, saying softly, "Okay… I'll try." As I turned to head back to the room I was sharing with Katara, I only made it a few steps before I stopped. Turning, I rushed back over to my dad and hugged him again. He was surprised by my action, but hugged me back. "Thanks dad… I've missed you."

He sighed. "I've missed you too."

Third Person POV

The sun rose on the horizon as Zuko stepped out on deck. He ran a hand through his hair to get the knots out. His hair had gotten longer over his time in the Earth Kingdom. While he liked the feeling of it no longer being constricted by that damn ponytail, he was constantly having to fight the strands apart.

"Prince Zuko," a voice spoke from behind him suddenly, and he turned with a start. He was immediately nerve wracked as Chief Hakoda came towards him, dressed in the Fire Nation armor that he'd borrowed from below. He was only wearing the upper armor pieces, just in case a Fire Nation ship came by and saw them. "May I have a word with you?"

The very fact that Hakoda was asking Zuko instead of ordering him threw the young prince off guard. Zuko nodded however and turned his attention to the man. Hakoda stepped past him and up to the rail of the ship. He held his hands behind his back as he looked out towards the sunrise. Zuko hesitantly stepped up beside him keeping a little distance in case the man decided to throw him overboard.

"I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to say to you these last few days." He kept his eyes on the space ahead while Zuko watched him with uncertainty. "As much as I keep hoping this whole thing is a joke, I can see my daughter is sincere when she tells me that her heart is yours." He looked over at him by the corner of his eyes. "So now I want to see your sincerity. What are your intentions with my daughter, Prince Zuko? You could have any other girl if you were back at the Fire Nation, so why her?"

As much as Zuko hated being put on the spot so early in the morning, he was ready to defend his honor. "Your right, Chief Hakoda," he began, standing tall and hiding the angst he felt because of the man before him. "As a prince, I could have any girl in the Fire Nation. I could've chosen to return home back in Ba Sing Se and marry some Nobel Man's daughter to please my father." Zuko kept composed and sincere. "But that isn't what I want. I admit to you that there are many things I put your daughter through I wish I could take back every day. There was once a time where my heart was hardened and I would lose my temper against anything that stood in my way. It tears me up inside for each tear I caused her to shed back on my ship." I frowned. "The fact that she forgave me for everything I put her through… I'll never understand it…"

Zuko fell silent for a moment, recalling the fights they'd had. He recalled the times he'd thrown her in a cell, shot fire at her, grabbed and restrained her, and yelled at her for trying to protect her family and the Avatar.

"Over the time I was with her though, she found ways to break down my walls and get into my heart. She wanted to learn about me… not the prince me, but the young man I was… She found the good in me and helped me find it as well. She taught me about friendship, laughter, and love. Things I'd become hardened to and had forgotten about since my father banished me from my home. Even though I fought her and hurt her so much in the past, she always hoped I'd choose the right path in the end." He looked at Chief Hakoda with intensity and honesty. "I love your daughter, Chief Hakoda. I would do anything for her. If that means turning against my father, my nation, and my birthright to stay by her side then I gladly accept the path I've chosen."

Hakoda was astounded by the young man's words, and the truth he found within them. He stared at the prince in bewilderment, and tried to wrack his brain around a response. Zuko spoke again, seeing the chief was tongue-tied.

"I don't expect to earn your trust or your approval, Chief Hakoda. I've struggled for too long to earn my own father's acceptance and have finally found that I don't need it to be happy. All I ask is that, when the time comes, don't let your hate towards me hurt her. She deserves to choose for herself."

Hakoda stared at Zuko for a long time, letting everything the young man had spoken sink into his mind. He then took in a deep breath, and finally spoke. "Never in my life would I have imagined one of my children would fall in love with someone outside of our own... But from what I understand, my son is in love with a Kyoshi warrior and my youngest daughter has taken a liking to the Avatar. So the fact that Crystal is head over heels for you shouldn't surprise me with this turn of events." He shook his head. "I will probably never be able to understand the bond between you both, but these last few days of watching you interact with my children has shown me you do have good in you. As much as I wish things were different, if you make my little girl happy then I know I need to step back." He stepped forward then, pointing at Zuko's chest to intimidate him. "If I find out you hurt Crystal again though, I'll make sure your pain is twice as much. Got it, boy?"

Zuko flinched from Hakoda's threat, and nodded to let him know he understood. Hakoda smiled with satisfaction, seeing he had intimidated the young man before him. Hakoda turned once he was done with his fatherly spill and headed back across the deck towards the ship's helm, saying as he went, "I'll be keeping an eye on you, Prince Zuko."

Once Hakoda was at a distance, Zuko let out a deep breath of relief and dropped his hands to the rail for support.

Only a brief minute passed, and he heard behind him, "Well… He didn't throw you overboard, so that's progress."

Zuko turned his gaze over to Crystal who was smiling weakly from where she'd been standing in the shadow of the ship. She'd come up on deck and stopped when she saw her father and Zuko standing by the rail together. She quickly hid behind a crate to observe and be ready if she needed to intervene. When she saw her father walk away, she let out a sigh of relief and showed herself.

"Yeah," Zuko said with a grimace. "I was a little worried."

She headed over while asking, "Anything in particular he needed to discuss with you?"

Zuko smiled weakly. "Nah… It was pretty general. No need to worry."

"If you say so…" Stepping up to Zuko, she placed her arms on the rail and stared off into the distance. "You know… I've kind of missed this… Being on a ship with you…" She frowned. "I wish Iroh were here too."

Zuko rested his elbows against the rail and cupped his hands together as he leaned forward. The thought of his Uncle had been consistent since he'd left Ba Sing Se with the others. He knew his Uncle would be okay though. He had to believe Azula and his father wouldn't have him killed.

"Yeah… But Uncle will be alright. He knows how to handle himself."

She nodded, but Zuko could see she was disturbed. He took her hand reassuringly. "Hey… he'll be fine. I'm worried too, but that man has connections. I'm certain he'll be out of whatever prison he's been taken to in no time."

She gave a sad smile. "Yeah… I guess you're right."

He squeezed her hand. "Your dad's a good man, by the way." He wanted to change the subject to get her mind off of his Uncle. He was worried as well, but he hated seeing Crystal tear herself up over it. "I can see where Sokka gets his overprotectiveness from."

She blushed in disbelief. "I can't believe he had a civil talk with you."

"He cares about you," Zuko reassured. "As long as I behave and keep in line, he'll leave me alone."

She shook her head. "So he threatened you."

He smirked. "Nah… It was more so a firm talking to. He's a wise leader." He looked down at the water. "And a good father." His voice trailed at the end of his statement, and Crystal knew why. Zuko had started to think about his own father.

She squeezed his hand this time to comfort him. "I think him and Iroh would get along."

Zuko was comforted by the meaning behind her words. He knew what she was saying, and he nodded to let her know he agreed. His father for the last three years had been his Uncle, no matter how blind he'd been to that truth. Iroh had taken him in as a son when the Fire Lord had shoved him out of the door in disgust.

He recalled what Iroh had told him once, long ago. He'd been about to sneak into the Northern Water Tribe and get to the Avatar when his Uncle found him preparing to leave Zhao's ship. Iroh had shown worry for him, and had said, "I'm sorry, I just nag you because, well, ever since I lost my son… I think of you as my own." Zuko knew his Uncle meant every word, and he wished more than anything he could tell Iroh that he saw him as a father.

"There you two are!" Toph stepped over from where she'd emerged from down below. "It's your kitchen duty today, Princess! You're slacking with breakfast."

Crystal rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that because you like my cooking more than Sokka's."

She crossed her arms. "Well do you blame me. The dude served us nuts one morning!"

Zuko smiled. "For some reason that doesn't surprise me."

Crystal sighed. "Alright Toph… I'm coming." The three of them made their way back to the door that led below. As they went, Crystal took Zuko's hand for the familiar touch she loved.

From the stairwell that led up to the helm, Hakoda looked down at the three figures heading below. His comrade, Bato, stood at the top of the stairs in disbelief. "I don't get what she sees in that firebender," Bato muttered.

Hakoda gave a small smile. "There's some things I'll never understand about my daughter… But if Prince Zuko makes her happy, then I'm willing to let this take its own course."

Bato shook his head and said as he walked off towards the control room of the ship, "Everyone in this world is going insane."

The Chief watched as the door closed behind the three young fighters, and then he looked out towards the sea. "Our kids are all grown up, Kya… I know you're just as proud as I am..."

Crystal POV

Walking along the dark hallway of the ship, I balanced the tray of soup in my hands as I headed to Aang's room. It had been a little under three weeks since we left Ba Sing Se, and although I was glad we were able to keep Aang alive, I feared he'd never wake up by the time we reached the meeting place where the other warriors would be. We'd stopped a few days ago at a trading port to resupply and gather news about the war. The port was a Fire Nation colony, and to our relief they didn't suspect us or our stolen ship.

From the port, we learned that news had gotten out about Ba Sing Se being taken by the Fire Nation. The Avatar was believed to be dead. The Fire Lord's brother was being held at the Fire Nation Capital Prison to stand trial for crimes against the Fire Lord. And Zuko… Zuko was a traitor who was wanted for crimes against the Fire Nation. Thankfully, there were no posters of what Zuko looked like so people in the port didn't recognize him under the Fire Nation armor he'd worn.

Stopping in the hallway, I looked down at the food in front of me with dismay. Aang had yet to regain full consciousness, and although he was able to keep food down, he was still far from us. Katara was super depressed from his state, and it took all I could to get her to eat and sleep. Momo and Appa, who spent most of their time chilling out on deck, were also down due to their friend's absence. Sokka and Toph tried to keep everyone's spirits up with their nonsense, but in truth we were all worried.

Sighing heavily, I headed forward again and turned on the hall where Aang's room was. When I got to the room though, I was surprised to find the door was already open. Deciding maybe someone had just come to visit him and forgot to shut it, I made my way over and to the entrance not thinking much of it. However, when I got to the doorway and looked inside I was shocked. The blanket was thrown off the bed, and both Aang and his staff were gone.

"He's awake!"

Pipsqueak's call echoed from another hall. In shock and worry, I put the tray down spilling soup contents in the process. Then I took off down the hall in the direction the noise came from.

Aang was awake! He had woken up! That, or he was captured by someone who swam to the boat. I highly doubted my second thought.

As I ran around a corner, I saw Aang staggering up the stairs to the door that led up on deck. He wore his pants and the bandages around his chest. His dark hair that had grown over the weeks looked so strange on his conscious self. Pipsqueak and The Duke were on the floor in a daze wearing full blown body armor that weighed them down as I approached.

Racing around the two kids in my path, I shouted up the stairs, "Aang!"

He didn't hear me as he shoved through the door and stumbled outside. Racing up the stairs, I arrived to find he had fallen on his way out and landed on his stomach. His staff traveled a few yards away. Rushing beside him, I got to my knees and placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Aang… It's okay," I promised. "You're safe… I'm here."

My voice must've been what he needed to come out of his panic. With my help, he managed to move from his stomach onto his knees. When he was up, he looked over at me with a dazed expression. "Crys… Wha-"

A chirp from Momo sounded, and Aang looked over at the little guy who was perched on my father's shoulder. My dad was wearing Fire Nation armor from head to toe, along with Bato, Zuko, and Sokka. Zuko and Sokka had started to talk often with one another, and I was relieved to see they were getting along so well as the days passed. They'd even started having daily training sessions with swords together.

"Momo?" Aang was bewildered to see Momo perched on the armor my father wore. His tired voice was music to my ears. He moved to stand, and I helped him to his feet. Momo flew over and landed on Aang's shoulder with cheer, licking his cheek to welcome him back.

"Twinkletoes! That's got to be you!"

Toph and Katara rushed over from where they'd been lingering, while Pipsqueak and The Duke came up the stairs and inched their way around Aang. As everyone inched towards Aang, he looked around the group in great confusion.

Katara beamed with delight. "Aang, you're awake!"

Aang rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "Are you sure? I feel like I'm dreaming."

Katara cut him off, rushing forward and throwing her arms around him. I stepped back to give her some space, glad to see her so elated. Tears of joy slid from her eyes. "You're not dreaming. You're finally awake..."

Sokka stepped forward grabbing him into a hug also. He backed up then saying through his Fire Nation helmet, "Aang, good to see you back with the living, buddy."

Aang looked at him in confusion. "Sokka?"

Zuko took off his helmet and smiled. "Welcome back, Aang."

Looking between Zuko and Sokka, then over at Katara and Toph, he finally glanced back at me. His eyes rolled back then.

"Uh-oh! Somebody catch him, he's gonna…" Toph didn't have to say anything, because I knew exactly what was about to happen. Right before he collapsed, I rushed in front of him. His body fell into me and we both collapsed onto the deck. As much as the impact caused my muscles to protest, I was relieved to have cushioned his fall. Zuko and Katara were on both sides of him then, and they helped to pull him off.

"Let's get him out of the sun," Katara suggested.

Her and Zuko managed to get him over to where some crates were, while Toph walked over to grab his staff and Sokka helped me up. Once I was back to my feet, I left the group to go find some water from below for Aang. I knew he would be thirsty. As I headed down below, I felt relief knowing he'd woken up. Although he was unconscious again, I wasn't worried about him going into another coma. He was finally back to the land of the living just as Sokka said.

By the time I got back up, someone had placed a robe on Aang and they were crowded around him. He was awake again, although he still looked pale from passing out. Walking over, I caught their conversation as my dad introduced himself to Aang, saying, "We didn't get to properly meet a few weeks ago. I'm Chief Hakoda."

Aang nodded to acknowledge my father, while he took the canteen of water from me with gratitude. Once he had a good amount, he handed it back to me and then held his hand out towards my dad from where he sat on the floor. "Nice to officially meet you, Chief Hakoda."

My father returned his gesture by grabbing his arm with respect. "It's an honor to meet you, Avatar Aang."

"Great, great. Now you guys have finally met, so would you mind giving us a little privacy?"

Both father and I were surprised by her attitude, seeing as she'd been fine with him the last two weeks. Sokka was even startled as well, and shot me a puzzled look. I shrugged, not sure what was going on.

My father looked at her for a moment in disbelief, but stated softly, "Of course." He turned and headed back over to where Bato and a few other warriors stood. Zuko and Toph observed from where they leaned against a crate, taken a bit off guard by Katara's coldness to dad also.

"Are you mad at your dad or something?"

Katara looked at Aang in confusion, as if she didn't realize her mood. "What? Not at all, why would you say that?"

Aang shrugged in response, but immediately regretted it when the movement aggravated his wound. Katara noted his discomfort and immediately wanted to give him a healing session. As he was helped back down the ship stairs to his room, I had to ask once she was out of hearing distance.

"What's up with her and dad?"

Sokka rubbed his neck with a shrug. "I don't know. She was fine with him yesterday. She's been sour with him since this morning though."

Zuko nodded. "I noticed that at breakfast. She's been snapping at him."

Toph added, "Maybe she was upset with him before, and now it's just finally surfaced. She could've been distracted by Twinkletoes."

I sighed. "Well… I can't say I blame her. He left us to take care of the village on our own. I'm sure you have a little bit of anger from that too, Sokka."

Sokka frowned. "I was mad at him for leaving us, but I know why he did. I guess I'm better at letting it go and moving on than she is… She'll get over it eventually." He shut his eyes. "Besides… I've lost too much these last few months to be mad at dad."

I frowned knowing the meaning behind his words. Hugging him, I said, "Suki is going to be okay… We're going to defeat the Fire Lord and get her back. Azula told Katara that she carted the Kyoshi warriors off to a prison. She's alive… We'll save her."

Sokka hugged me back, glad to hear my words. "I know… I just can't lose her…"

Pulling away slightly, I smiled reassuringly. "She's one of the strongest fighters I've met. She can and will survive."

Zuko spoke up to offer his own words of comfort. "My sister is psychotic and deceitful, Sokka, but she was truthful about your warrior friends. They have most likely been taken to an Earth Kingdom prison near the colonies. They should be okay."

Sokka nodded. "Yeah… I know."

Toph smirked. "Besides… Any girl who likes you isn't normal anyway. So I'm sure any Fire Nation soldier will steer clear of her."

I rolled my eyes. "Interesting words of comfort Toph."

She shrugged. "I try."

A few hours later we were all gathered on deck again for some dinner. Aang had gotten some rest and decided to rejoin us after his energy was restored. Appa and Momo were thrilled their buddy was back, while Aang was still very confused as to why he was on a Fire Nation ship in the middle of nowhere. Sokka enthusiastically retold the last few weeks in great detail, adding in the duel that Zuko got himself into with Areto. Aang was relieved to find out that the engagement between Areto and I had been abandoned.

"Since then, we've been traveling west," Sokka continued, pulling a map out from his armor and pointing down at it. "We crossed through The Serpent's Pass a few days ago. We've seen a few Fire Nation ships, but none have bothered us."

Aang nodded, following his finger. "So, what now?"

My dad had been standing aside with Bato, Pipsqueak, and The Duke, listening to our conversation. He spoke up to answer Aang's question. "We've been working on a modified version of the invasion plan."

Katara muttered, " It's Sokka's invasion plan."

Her irritation was noted again by each of us, and my father grimaced. "Yes, Sokka's plan... We won't be able to mount a massive invasion without the Earth King's armies, but the solar eclipse will still leave the Fire Nation vulnerable."

Sokka beamed. "So we're planning a smaller invasion. Just a ragtag team of our friends and allies from around the Earth Kingdom. We already ran into Pipsqueak and The Duke!"

Pipsqueak nodded in acknowledgment as he chowed down on some stew the rest of us were eating. "Good to see you again, Aang."

Sokka leaned forward. "And the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage. We have a secret." He looked around dramatically, and I rolled my eyes. Zuko shook his head in disbelief at my brother's frivolous act. "You!"

Aang looked at the finger that was pointing towards his face in shock. "Me?"

Sokka nodded. "Yep, the whole world thinks you're dead!" He jumped up with triumph. "Isn't that great?!"

Aang's eyes widened in horror, and he grabbed his hair in a panic. " The world thinks I'm dead? How is that good news? That's terrible!"

Sokka shook his head. "No, it's great. It means the Fire Nation won't be hunting us anymore. And even better, they won't expect you on The Day of Black Sun."

Aang shook his head. "No, no, no, no, no. You have no idea. This is so messed up!"

I knew why he was so upset, and knelt beside him putting my hand on his shoulder. "Aang… It's only for now. Once we invade the Fire Nation the world will know the truth and everything will be set right."

He shoved my hand off. "Right?! This is wrong! If people think I'm dead then they'll lose hope! If hope is lost then the Fire Nation will definitely win!"

Zuko shook his head. "You were gone for a hundred years, Aang. If people were going to lose hope they would've a long time ago and my grandfather would have conquered the world."

Aang shut his eyes in frustration. He didn't respond to Zuko's statement.

The sound of a ship horn blared from the distance, and we all gasped peeking over the crate we were nearby. A giant Fire Nation vessel loomed over the rail of the ship, heading straight towards us. Aang seemed to be without reason as he stood with his staff and snapped, "I'll handle this! The Avatar is back!" He snapped his glider open, and tried to grab onto the ends of the orange wings that spread behind him. He flinched from the pain but seemed determined.

"Aang, wait!" Katara intervened. "Remember, they don't know we're not Fire Nation."

Dad and Bato put their Fire Nation helmets on. My father then stated, "Everyone stay calm. Bato and I will handle this."

The next steps were a routine for us. The Duke rushed over to Appa with Pipsqueak to pull a large tarp over his body, while Momo hid under the tarp with him. Once that was covered, the other six warriors with us moved into the shadows in case they needed to fight. The rest of us hid in the stairwell leading below deck, with Aang pouting in defeat.

"I hate not being able to do anything," Aang muttered as he peeked through the doorway.

Toph, who was sitting on a step, stated, "Hopefully you won't have to."

Zuko ran a hand through his hair. "It's probably just a routine check. They're frequent over in these waters. As long as Chief Hakoda and Bato play the part they shouldn't get suspicious."

My heart pounded heavily in my chest as fear coursed through me. Sitting on a step, I balled my hands into fists on my lap in anticipation. If we were caught, we would most likely be imprisoned. And this time Zuko wouldn't be able to protect me from monsters like Zhao.

"Princess," Toph whispered from above me. "Chill before you lose it. Your heart is giving me a migraine."

I said a soft sorry, and took in a deep breath. My heart did calm, and I tried to focus on what was happening outside. After a moment, I could make out that my father was speaking to someone. What they were saying I wasn't sure, but the doorway above me was too crowded to try and take a peek.

It seemed like the longest three minutes ever, and I shut my eyes hoping everything went smooth. Unfortunately, my hope wasn't enough.

A gasp escaped Toph as she heard what the enemy said through the metal vibrations of the ship. She had revealed to me she was a metal bender back at the Water Tribe camp, and I was bewildered by her discovery. Standing from her step, she raced up shoving through the group gathered at the doorway. As she raced past them, she slammed the slightly ajar door open and shouted, "They know!"

She slammed her hand down and a rumble was heard. Then only seconds later, shouts rang out and there were splashes. Katara shouted, "Let's go! Sokka, keep Aang safe!"

As we rushed out to fight, we found that the enemy ship was pulled up alongside our own. The Fire Nation soldiers had dropped a rope ladder to the water below to help the men who fell into the sea back onboard. Fire started to shoot towards us from the firebenders who stood at their own ship railing.

Katara thought fast and lifted a wave from between our ships that pushed the enemy away from us. While she did so, my father bellowed up at the control room to Tonto who was steering the ship, "Retreat!"

Our ship moved again away from the enemy, who quickly started to tail us from behind. As they followed, fireballs were launched at us from one of their catapults. The first attack missed us by a hair, and we were relieved. Zuko, Katara, and I were too far out of range to help fight off the enemy and instead tried to keep our balance as the ship rocked like crazy. As another fireball was launched, we hoped it would miss like the first. Unfortunately, it hit the hull of the ship and shook the vessel violently. We all gasped to regain balance.

"Load the Toph!"

Looking over in surprise, I saw the Duke struggle as he carried over a large metal disk and set it in front of her. I was bewildered by the kids strength, and even more so when Toph shot the disk at the enemy hitting the catapult directly and destroying it. The Duke placed another disk in front of her, and she shot it again as another catapult on the enemy ship was launched. Her disk hit the coming fireball straight through, causing an explosion in the air.

"I'm going to run to the engine room and give us more speed," Zuko stated.

Katara nodded. "Good idea. Crystal and I will work on getting us some cover."

As Katara headed to the stern, I looked over at Zuko as he ran off towards the stairwell where Aang and Sokka were. As he disappeared below, I told myself he would be fine. After everything I'd been through though, there was a part of me that would always worry something would go wrong.

Approaching the rail where Katara stood, we both started to make a cloud of fog to shield our ship from the enemy that was gaining on us. As if the enemy knew we were trying to gain the advantage, a projectile was shot at us through the mist and pierced into the hull of the ship. As it dug into the metal, we all stumbled from the quake of the ship. The projectile was ripped back then, and I sensed the water start to fill the hull of the ship.

I gasped. "They're trying to sink us!"

Katara was as worried as I. "We need to freeze up that hole before we take on too much water."

Nodding, I looked down at the hole where water was spilling in. "I'll push the water out! You focus on giving us cover."

I took off towards the stairs in the direction that Zuko had gone only moments before. As I reached the doorway, Aang eagerly asked, "What can I help with?"

I stopped in my step and looked at him. Glancing over at Sokka who shook his head in disbelief, I looked back at Aang. "You can help by keeping an eye on Sokka." I turned before he could protest and rushed down the stairs. Racing through the halls, and further down below the ship, I arrived at a large metal door that led into the hull. The hall was vaguely lit around me by some torches and the air was cold. Grabbing the door latch, I yanked it up and pulled it open.

Heading down the stairs, I gasped as I found myself knee deep in water. Looking through the dim room, I saw the water was starting to rise as it poured in from the large hole that had been formed in the metal of the ship. Shutting my eyes, I felt the water pushing around me and lifted each particle from below. Then with as much force as I could, I shoved the water back towards the hole pushing the liquid out of the ship back into the sea. Once the last of the water hit the hole, I froze a thick layer of ice to plug up the damage. Once the hole was plugged, I turned to head back to the others. However, the sound of ice cracking stopped me, and I looked back in shock.

The water was too warm for the ice, and the cracking barrier broke up causing water to pour into the ship again. I couldn't believe my luck. "You've got to be kidding me!"

As the water started to fill up again, I pushed it back out desperate to keep our ship going. Something hit against the ship though, causing me to lose concentration and fall into the water that was starting to rise. Trying to catch my breath, I knew I couldn't give up.

Standing once more, I looked at the hole where the projectile had torn through, and tried to use my head. For some reason, the thought 'what would Sokka do?' raced through me. Stepping up to the hole where water was steadily pouring in, I examined the sides of it that were jutting out in four different ways. Picking up some water from around me, I moved the element above the bent metal and froze it into a firm ball of ice.

Please work…

With as much force as I could muster, I slammed the ice down hard on the metal. The force of my element against the bent out frame caused it to bend back slightly towards its original position. As I hammered my ice against the metal repeatedly, I watched with thrill as my method was working. Moving my arms up and down rapidly to keep the ice pounding against the metal was hard work, but after a good ten minutes I had the top of the hole back to its shape.

Pushing the water out again, I froze the outside of the hole long enough for me to pound at the metal that still needed to be bent back. Getting a ball of ice once more, I smashed against the last of the bent out metal hitting it back into position. There were still cracks in the wall after I was done from where the metal was broken up, so a small amount of water was still leaking through. However, the hull wasn't filling as rapidly as it had been.

"Wow… That was impressive," Zuko's voice spoke from the doorway. Turning, I saw him at the top of the stairs with an expression of astonishment. My brother and Aang stood behind him in surprise too.

I was shocked to see the three of them. "How long have you been standing there?"

My brother looked at my work, and then smirked, "Long enough to see how damn clever you are!"

Zuko rolled his eyes as he stepped over to me. He then looked at the water that slightly trickled through the cracks of the metal. "I can weld the pieces together if you push the remaining water out."

Although I was exhausted, I knew this part would be a piece of cake. Pushing the water back up the wall and out into the sea that rested behind, Zuko shot fire at the cracks at the same time. As his fire trailed along the cracks the metal melted together while cooling at the same time from the water behind it. When he was done, a glowing 'x' was left on the wall before us and started to fade as it cooled. To our relief, the hole was sealed and the water stopped.

With exhaustion, I fell back against the opposite wall wiping the sweat from my forehead. Aang commented from where he stood, "You and Sokka definitely think alike, Crys."

I caught my breath, saying in between, "I don't know if that's a good thing."

"On the plus side," Sokka began. "A giant sea monster just took out the enemy ship, so we don't have much to worry about!"

I smiled weakly. Giant sea monsters didn't surprise me anymore after all we'd been through. "So our luck is starting to turn."

Aang and I met one another's gaze for a moment, and I saw something flash through his eyes. Confliction? Worry? Frustration? Whatever it was, I knew he had a thousand thoughts racing through him at the moment.

Zuko, who was exhausted from his own task of speeding up the ship in the boiler room, said, "We should head back up to make sure everyone is okay." As he and Sokka started to head up the stairs, Aang stepped aside to let them go. With a heavy sigh, I pulled from the wall and started to follow. My body ached, and the healing flesh on my back was aggravated from the strain on my body. I knew getting up to some fresh air would help.

As I went to step past Aang, he angled his staff in my path to block my exit. I looked at him with confusion. He dropped his gaze as he spoke, "You know… I may not remember much when Azula struck me with lightning, but I do remember the events leading up to it." He looked at me with an intense gaze. "You were injured that day too… I heard your scream when I was at the Eastern Air Temple in a vision. You're still not a hundred percent either. How bad were you hurt that day?"

Looking at Aang, I knew why he was so upset... He blamed himself for not being able to protect me from Azula just as Zuko had. Placing a hand on Aang's shoulder, I lied to give him some comfort. He hadn't seen my back, so he didn't need to know the truth. "Just some bruised ribs and a few cuts. It's nothing to worry about. It feels better as the days go by, so no need to beat yourself up." I squeezed his shoulder. "I'm just glad you're back, Aang. I missed you. We all did."

He nodded slowly, pulling his staff back to let me go. As I headed through the doorway to get back on deck, I heard Aang sigh heavily from behind and follow.

A few days later, we arrived at a merchant's pier to restock again and also make repairs to some of the damage on deck. As my father and Bato headed into town to negotiate for equipment and goods, the others wanted to head on land for some stable ground and a change of scenery. Zuko wanted to stay back, worried someone would recognize him, but Sokka threw a cape over him and yanked the hood up saying, "There! Problem solved."

Aang decided to stay on the ship when we told him our plans of heading into town for dinner. When Sokka handed him a gray headband to cover up the arrow that peaked below his hairline, Aang turned sour and pouted. Katara stayed back to talk to him for a moment, while the rest of us headed up on deck and waited for her. When she reemerged, she seemed downhearted and worried.

I stepped over to her placing my hand gently on her arm. "Everything alright?"

She shook her head. "He's upset… I don't know if we should leave him down there alone…"

Looking over at the town, and then back at my disheartened sister, I gave a small smile, "You know, I could actually use this time to wash up a little. I'll go give Aang company when I'm done. Bring me back some dinner."

The group was surprised. "Are you sure? We may not hit land again for another day or so," Sokka commented.

Katara shook her head. "You don't have to do that, Crys… He'll probably be fine… I just worry."

Putting my hand to her back, I nudged her towards the group. "I'll be fine. You're right. It's not fair to leave Aang here while the rest of us go explore. I've seen my share of merchant towns."

Zuko stepped over with uncertainty. "I can stay too if-"

I cut him off. "We need to test your disguise for when we get deeper into the Fire Nation. These ports know about you, so it's the perfect opportunity to make sure we won't be found out."

Toph spoke up from where she stood with Pipsqueak and the Duke. "Yeah, Sparky. Princess will be fine with Twinkletoes for a few hours. You two could use some space from each other. Your lovey dovey stuff is making me more seasick than I already am."

Zuko and I both glared at her, and she smirked sensing our irritation. Then turning my attention back to Zuko, I put my arms around his neck and got on my tiptoes to kiss him on the lips. He kissed me back with a smile, getting that I was just messing with Toph.

Toph made a gag sound when we pulled apart, and then snapped while pointing at us, "I think we need a six inch rule! Sokka, isn't there any Southern Water Tribe rules about engaged couples having to behave before their wedding?"

Katara giggled. "Not really Toph. When you're engaged in the South Pole, usually you're married a few days later."

Toph groaned. "Well I think Mr. Brother over here needs to make some boundaries!"

Sokka tapped his chin. "Hm… Yes. I guess you're right." He held up a finger as a thought hit him. "I got it. From now on you're only allowed one kiss a day!"

I rolled my eyes, while Zuko snapped, "We don't even kiss every day!"

"Keep it that way!" Toph turned and headed towards the gangplank. "If you don't I'm locking you both in seperate cells!"

Zuko kissed me on the cheek then, saying, "We'll be back soon."

I nodded. "I know. You all have fun."

Katara hugged me suddenly, saying, "Thanks sis."

I hugged her back. "I'll keep an eye on him."

The group left then, and I sighed heading back down into the ship. Stopping at Aang's door, I saw he was still pouting on his bed. "Hey… I'm just going down to my room for a few minutes. If you need anything let me know."

He looked at me from where he was sitting cross legged. "You didn't go with the others?"

Shaking my head, I leaned against the door frame crossing my arms. "I was worried you'd be lonely. I'll be back in a few minutes. Maybe we can play Pai Sho. I think I saw a board in the chest in my room." He nodded but didn't respond. "By the way... " I smiled reassuringly. "This isn't forever, Aang… The world will know about you very soon. So try to cheer up… I miss your carefree self."

He hung his head, but gave a small nod. I took the hint he needed a moment to himself.

Heading down the hall, I reached my room and shut the door behind. A deep sigh escaped me as Aang's down heartened face lingered in my memory. I couldn't imagine how much burden he was putting on his shoulders.

Walking over to the basin in the corner of the room, I lifted my shirt up and over my head so I had access to my back. Turning my body, I saw my reflection in the thin glass and grimaced when I saw the scabbed skin of my injury. The mark stretched from the bend of my back as if I had a red flower the size of a hand sprouting from my spine. The dead skin had started to heal, but the red tint would stay forever. The only thing that drove me insane was how much it itched as it healed, but I was able to hide my discomfort.

Turning, I grabbed the rag from the basin and pushed the lever on the spout to get some water to flow into the bowl. Dipping the rag, I went to press it to my back but stopped when I heard a gasp. Looking up, I saw Aang in the mirror from the doorway. His eyes were wide as he stared at my back from where he stood. Turning, I dropped the rag in shock. "Aang!"

He narrowed his eyes. "You lied to me! You were injured much worse than you said!"

I grabbed my shirt to throw it back on, but Aang was already in front of me. He grabbed my wrist causing me to drop the shirt in shock. "Let me see it!"

His order was surprising. Being older than Aang, and seeing such maturity in his expression, I wasn't sure how to respond to such a demand. I tried to pull from him while I did my best to reassure him. "Aang... I'm sorry I lied, but this is not your concern… What happened to me has nothing to do with you. Azula has wanted to hurt me since she learned of my relationship with Zuko. This is a family matter… It has nothing to do with the war..."

His grip didn't waver, and I knew he wasn't letting it go. "Seriously Aang," I turned so he could see it. "It's healing. There's nothing to be so worried about." He let my hand go as he examined the raw flesh that was turning into a scar.

He stared at my back for a moment, which made me cross my arms self-consciously. "Nothing, huh…" His voice finally sounded behind me, and I turned to face him. His eyes were shut as great confliction took him over. "You would've never been in this situation if I never came into your life… I've brought this on all of you… Katara was burned because of me. Sokka lost Yue because of me. Toph had to betray her family because of me. The Fire Nation destroyed my people because of me!" He snapped his eyes open with tears falling. "Everything leading up to now would've never happened if I didn't run away a hundred years ago and let the world down!"

His eyes scanned the room suddenly, and I looked at him with question. He walked over to the chest in the room and started to rummage through. "Aang? What are you doing?" I pulled my shirt back on finally, and stepped over to get a look, but by that point he was pulling out some long strands of cloth that Katara had been planning to use as fresh bandages for his wound.

"I'm sorry…" Aang said softly. " I can't let you or the others get into trouble again. You all want to help me defeat the Fire Lord, but I can't let anyone else get hurt. I have to finish this war on my own."

"What?!" I was horrified. "That's nonsense! You don't know what you're saying. We can take care of ourselves Aang. We know what we can handle, and we want to help you!"

He shook his head, keeping his back to me. "I know you do. But I can't forgive myself if anything else happens to you all. You're the only family I have left… I can't lose anyone else."

"You won't!" I stepped forward ready to comfort him. "We want to help you, Aang."

His shoulders tensed. "I know… And that's why I need to go now before the others get back and try to stop me."

The sincerity in his words caused me to grow anxious. "Go… Go where?"

"To the Fire Nation Capital. I'm facing the Fire Lord alone."

My heart accelerated as worry overcame me. "Aang! Don't be ridiculous! You're injured! There's no way I'm letting you go anywhere alone in your condition! Especially not the Fire Nation Capital!"

He let out a deep sigh. "I knew you'd react this way. And I'm sorry about this Crystal… I have no choice though… The others will be back soon. I'll leave a note for them to let them know you're in here."

My eyes widened as I realized what was going on. "Aang…" I backed up, trying to feel for the water in the basin near me. "Stop. Don't do this…"

He let out a heavy breath as he turned and met my gaze with determination. "I can't let you stop me. I know you'll try to follow, so this is the only solution."

I reached back to grab the water, but he was one step ahead of me. His hand shot forward suddenly and wind smashed into me sending me flying back against the wall. My body dropped immediately from the impact, and I tried to regain my senses as my whole body vibrated in pain. Before I could get my grounding, Aang was behind me and grabbed my hands with streams of water pushing them together behind my back. He froze them together then, and wrapped the long cloth around my wrists so even if I bent the water off of me I would still be restrained. Once my wrists were tied, he moved to my ankles.

"AANG! STOP IT!" I struggled, but he froze my legs together also, long enough to get the bandages tied around my ankles. "Please! Don't do this! You're going to get yourself killed!" Tears formed in my eyes as I tried to pull myself free from the restraints.

Once I was tied up, he pulled my body into a sitting position so my back was against the wall. Through watery eyes, I saw his guilt ridden expression as he saw my hurt and frustration.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," he spoke softly and sincerely. His eyes watered too. "You've been a great sister to me, Crystal… That's why I have to go. I can't forgive myself if anything else happens to you." He stood and stepped away. "Take care of everyone for me. Especially Katara." He turned then, heading towards the doorway.

"Aang! No! Please!" I squirmed in my binds, trying to escape so I could stop him from his foolish act.

He stepped out, grabbing the door to close it.

"Stop! This is madness! We all want to help you! We're a team!"

He gripped the door. "I'm the Avatar… Ending the war is a duty I must complete on my own, no matter the price I must pay to do it." He looked back at me with resolve. "I must regain my honor, and I can't let you stop me." He shut the door then, and I was left in the room in horror.

"AANG! No!"

My voice echoed through the room, and I stared at the shut door in shock and agony. Katara had been right to worry. Aang had completely lost it. I knew I had to get out of my restraints. I had to get to him before he left. Squirming as much as I could, I felt the ice crack as it melted from my body heat. Once my hands and ankles were no longer frozen, I worked on trying to pull out of my cloth restraints. Aang knew what he was doing though, and the restraints were too tight for me to fight through. Pulling against the fabric made my skin raw, and I grimaced as the friction started to burn.

I shut my eyes in defeat as tears fell, and dropped my head back against the wall. Taking in a few deep breaths, I felt every bit of my heart ache as I feared the worst. Aang was going to get himself killed. At the thought, I struggled again to break through my restraints only to tighten the bandage. "Damnit!"

It seemed like I struggled for a good hour, trying to find any nook and cranny in the room I could use to slice at the bandage. I realized then, after a moment of struggle, that my knife was in the room at the bottom of my bag. I had managed to roll across the room to the bag, but having my hands tied behind me made it the hardest thing in the world to untie the bag's clasp and open it. Giving up on the knife, I tried to find another way.

I was in the process of trying to use the sharp corner of the chest in the room to cut at the bandage when the door opened again. Toph and Zuko rushed in and immediately saw me.

"I knew Princess was in here!" Toph pointed at me as Zuko rushed over.

"Katara found Aang's note," Zuko said. "We came here as fast as we could. Are you hurt?"

My eyes met his, and then I shut them in agony. "No… Just frustrated with myself… I couldn't stop him."

Zuko moved behind me and started to work on the knot Aang had tied. As he attempted to free me from my restraints, Toph let out a deep sigh. "Did you really expect to stop him? He's the Avatar. If the Fire Nation couldn't capture Twinkletoes after months of chasing him across the Earth Kingdom, what makes you think you'd be able to stop him from leaving the ship? You were no match for that kid no matter how hard you tried."

Looking over at Toph, I watched her step over to the bag I'd tried to open before. Opening it with ease, she felt inside and pulled the knife out. Walking over to Zuko, she handed it down to him. I felt the flat side of the blade only a moment later and then the bonds were cut free. After my wrists and ankles were freed, Toph helped me up while Zuko returned the knife to its original place.

"So he just attacked you? That doesn't seem like something he'd do." Zuko asked this as we left the room to join the others up on deck.

I frowned, crossing my arms. "He saw my burn on my back and cracked. He said he didn't want to be the cause for any of us getting hurt again. When I caught on to his intentions, he knew I was going to stop him. He didn't want to hurt me, but he was determined to go."

"It's not your fault," Zuko reassured me softly. "The letter said he needs to regain his honor… Once that gets in a person's head it's hard to get through to them. You remember how it was for me..."

Toph nodded. "Yeah Princess… He's been pouting for days. This was sure to happen. We'll get him back."

I hung my head. "Yeah… I know…"

Eventually we got back on deck, and when we did we were surprised to see Katara in father's embrace. Sokka busily prepared Appa for flight, securing the saddle that the warriors had made over the last few weeks on his back. As he did so, The Duke and Pipsqueak helped load supplies onto the saddle.

"Crys!" Katara pulled from dad and rushed over with worry. "Are you alright?"

I smiled weakly, "No damage… Aang wasn't too rough. I'll live."

Father met my gaze and said, "You all should prepare to head out. I've already discussed with Sokka the new plan. You five will go after Aang, and the rest of us will continue west. We'll meet you at the rendezvous spot right before the eclipse."

As Zuko, Toph, and Katara headed off to gather their belongings, I stayed back to speak to my father.

"You all be careful and take care of each other," dad begged, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I know you kids will be just fine, but I still worry."

Throwing my arms around his waist, he hugged me to him in return as we shared our good-bye. "We'll take care of each other. Promise. Be careful, dad. We'll see you soon."

He pressed a hand to the back of my head and kissed my forehead. Pulling away, he brushed a finger across the outline of my scar. "I'm so proud of you, daughter." His hand then moved down to the necklace Zuko gave me, and he lifted it up to examine it. "This gem reminds me of the crystal cave your mother and I were engaged in." He stopped and shut his eyes as the painful memory came over him.

I placed my hand over his and squeezed it for comfort. "There's a lot I still can't tell you about that day so long ago, but I will say this dad..." I smiled. "When the Fire Nation invaded our shores, mom had only one desire and that was to protect all of us." I shut my eyes as tears threatened to spill. "Her love saved the tribe that day…"

His hand shook as he took in my words. He nodded though. "You're so much like her. Zuko is a lucky man to have won your heart." I was surprised by his statement, and looked up at him in question. He brushed a strand of hair back behind my ear. "If Zuko makes you happy, daughter, then I give you my blessing. Just promise me you'll never forget your people."

Meeting his eyes with sincerity, I promised, "No matter where my future takes me, my blood will always be tied to the Water Tribe."

A few minutes later we were on Appa, and after we took off towards the sky having waved goodbye to the group who had gathered on deck below, I looked over at Zuko who was directing Sokka on where we should go. He looked ahead with determination, ready to help us get Aang back and continue on with the plan. His transformation over the last few months was more than I could've ever imagined possible. The angry and cold banished Prince I had met on the snow of the South Pole had melted away to a caring and understanding man.

Fate was finally working in my favor it seemed.

After what felt like a good hour of flying across the ocean, we heard Katara shout from where she was looking down on the opposite end of the saddle, "There! I see him!"

At her call, Zuko and I left Toph's side to rush to her end of the saddle. Looking down, I was concerned when I saw Aang's body laying on the cracked layer of what used to be lava. The whole island was the leftover remnants of a volcanic eruption. The same eruption my family and Zuko had almost been caught in so long ago.

"Wow… Roku's temple is completely gone," Zuko stated in bewilderment.

"Yeah… Lava does that to things," Sokka commented as he guided Appa down towards Aang. We landed a moment later on the cooled magma and rushed across the uneven surface to where Aang had washed up on shore. Momo raced ahead and jumped onto his stomach, licking his cheek which helped bring him back to consciousness. As Aang came to his senses, Katara rushed to his side with relief.

"H-how did you find me?" He sat up looking at all of us with bewilderment.

Toph pointed to Zuko. "Sparky had an idea of which direction you were headed. That's probably why he was so good at following you all back when he was trying to capture you."

Zuko shrugged. "I knew you were headed west, so I just kept us on course."

Katara helped Aang up then, and Toph and Sokka rushed in for a group hug with Momo on Aang's shoulder. When they pulled away, Aang hung his head in shame. "I have so much I need to do."

My sister placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I know. But you'll have our help."

Toph pounded her knuckles to her palm. "You didn't think you could get out of training just by coming to the Fire Nation, did you?"

Aang smiled weakly, and then asked, "What about the invasion?"

"We'll join up with my dad and the invasion force on the day of the eclipse," Sokka answered.

As he spoke, Zuko had walked over to Aang's staff which was burnt and busted. Once he had the useless glider in his hands, he came back over to Aang with sympathy. "Sorry, Aang. Looks like your staff has seen its last days."

He sighed, taking the object from him. "No… It's okay. If someone saw it then it would give my identity away. It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive." He jumped away from us then using a sharp burst of air. Landing up on a higher elevated section of the small island, he slammed the glider down and a moment later it burst to flames. As his glider became nothing more than ash, he returned to us with relief. "I'm glad you guys came… It took a storm for me to realize going in as a team is definitely the right path."

Sokka pulled Aang into a playful chokehold, rubbing his knuckles against the top of his head. "At a boy, Aang! Team Avatar all the way!"

Aang shoved him off, while Toph asked, "Team Avatar? What happened to changing it to the Gaang?"

"It's still a work in progress," Katara commented. "Come on, everyone. Let's get off this island before it explodes again."

As everyone started to walk off, Aang grabbed my arm to stop me. I felt my heart ache as I remembered the last few hours. "Crys… I'm sorry for what happened back on the ship. I hope I didn't hurt you. I was an id-"

Turning, I threw my arms around Aang pulling him into a hug and cutting him off. Tears fell from my eyes as I voiced my thoughts. "Idiot. Don't ever do that again. I was worried sick! I've lost too much in the past. I can't lose you too." I pulled away slightly, meeting his astonished gaze.

"Y-you're not mad?"

I smiled. "You're a brother to me, Aang. I wasn't thrilled you knocked me against a wall and tied me up, but seeing you're okay and back with us makes me relieved." I moved my hand to the sea water and snaked a stream above Aang's head. He looked up at the last second and gasped when I dropped a shower of water on him. As he stood in front of me drenched again from head to toe, I stated, "But now we're even."

He looked at me with shock, but then smiled and broke into laughter. I laughed too, throwing an arm across his shoulders and leading him back towards Appa and the others.

Third Person POV

The double doors opened, causing a cast of light to fill the dim fire lit room of the Fire Nation Palace. The room had an elevated platform where a large throne was placed in the middle. Walls of blue fire shot on both sides of the platform, and a shadowed figure sat at the center on the throne. As a heavy metal object stomped against the stone of the throne room floor, Azula sat back against the throne watching curiously.

The heavy sounds stopped as a giant man with a bald head came to a halt in front of the throne. Azula looked over the man with inquisitive eyes, and then grinned with pleasure. "My, my… You are much taller than I imagined." She stood from the throne and stepped forward to the edge of the platform. "I've heard about you and your… accomplishments… I have a proposition for you."

The man said nothing, standing firm to the ground. His metal boot looked large compared to the rest of his giant body. His third eye, which was tattooed on his forehead, seemed to stare into Princess Azula's soul.

"I'm willing to offer you a handsome sum of money. In return, I want you to find someone for me." She looked down at her nails as she spoke. "My brother has switched sides, and I fear he will be coming here very soon to dethrone my father and I. Therefore, I want you to help me remind him of his place in this world." She smiled. "I want you to take away the thing he loves most. He needs to be punished for his actions." She looked into the eyes of the man before her. "Kill that Water Tribe wench with the scar, bring me her necklace as proof, and you will be paid fully for your service."

The man with the eye tattoo and metal boot was approached a moment later by a Dai Li officer, who handed him a small bag of coins and a scroll.

"This is ten percent of your payment. Complete the job, and the rest is yours," Azula stated. She then turned and sat back down on the throne. "And no tricks. I want her dead. You are dismissed."

The man said nothing as he turned and left the throne room. Once the double doors shut behind him, Azula leaned back on the chair with a grin. "You should've taken my advice and come home, brother. You've made your last mistake."