D/C: I own nothing.

Chaga Tea

May promote cognitive function, stimulate immune response, and has potential anti-inflammatory. It interacts with other medications; it is advised to console a doctor consuming this tea. It may cause kidney stones.

Zuko really hated having to wear the Fire Nation uniform. It felt stiff and out of place for him. He really wanted his Floating White Lotus uniform back on, but that would have to wait. Apparently, while in Omashu, Uncle had gotten in contact with someone that mentioned about a small settlement near the Mo Ce Sea shoreline…

The settlement was overrun by Fire Nation soldiers, and they took in anyone that was discovered to be an earth bender. This proved a problem for Zuko, as instead of arriving at the settlement as Zuko, the ever-worrying nephew of the head Tea Maker. He arrived as the banished Fire Prince that demanded to know if they knew anything on the whereabouts of the Avatar.

As Zuko did his thing, two of his men disguised themselves as the locals to infiltrate the settlement. All the while hiding supplies in locations that could be found by the locals and no one would be none the wiser or connect it back to him. As the men did this, they caught wind of certain people had arrived at the settlement and one of which was a water tribe girl… who was an earth bender.

Whatever else was part of the story, has Zuko wondering the sanity of his friends at that point in time. Why would they do something as crazy as to get captured by the Fire Nation? Oh… because they befriended one of the locals… Of course they did…

Once leaving the settlement, Zuko debated with himself if he should go find his friends or just go on his way. It was not his problem; he could easily rationalize that it's just some other random water tribe siblings and a kid with obviously identifiable air nomad tattoos…

"I can't believe I'm saying this…" Zuko sighed out in defeat as he got onto his ship with the others following behind him. He looked up to see Iroh looking out into the distance of where he assumed to be their next destination. "To the blasted prison rig…"

"You do realize the risks of doing so, Prince Zuko?" Jee spoke up, voicing his concerns. "If you get caught helping them, you will be executed, your friends will now be fully convinced you really are the banished Fire Prince, or… you epically fail at trying to help them."

"Thank you for your vote of confidence, Captain Jee." Zuko visibly rolled his eyes at the man, who had left everything behind to deal with a 'bratty' teen that was sent off on a complete mongoose lizard chase.

Whenever asked why he deals with the banished prince, Jee would always state that his loyalty is with the former General Iroh. Simply following someone he had followed for the longest of times. But Zuko knew, the main reason Jee is here with them, is that without the intervention of Zuko's outburst that resulted in his banishment saved the man's life. Jee was supposed to have gone on that last assignment but luckily, someone spread the word of what was expecting them and caused many to leave scatter. Luckily by then, the assignment was annexed before it even started.

Jee and several others that were supposed to be sent off on that suicide mission quickly joined Iroh who followed Zuko in his banishment. They owed the kid that much for speaking up for them. Through this time, Jee had been taken by Zuko and became a type of sec…thi… Ozai was never a father to him, Iroh had taken Zuko under his wing and whenever the teen can't talk to the old man about something, he'd go to Jee. This resulted with Jee becoming an accomplice to many… many… misadventures. Many of which resulted with making sure Iroh doesn't get into trouble or getting him out of trouble.

"Just… Let's just get my friends out of trouble. Again."

-.-

Zuko glared down at the warden that was sputtering out excuses onto the reason why all the prisoners had escaped. He simply kicked the man back into the ocean before he went to investigate the now destroyed prison rig. Ignoring the cries of help from the rig and how Jee is now yelling at the man to grab hold of the rope, Zuko looked around hoping to find any clue on his friends.

What he did find is a very familiar necklace…

Zuko took hold of the torn necklace, with a blank look. Oh, this was the confirmation he needed that his friends were here. Closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath, he stuffed the torn necklace into his person before turning back towards the ship. By this point, the Warden is now out of the water once again and trying to regain his breathe. Zuko grabbed hold of the Warden's collar and pulled him to his face level. "You mention to anyone about the Avatar, I will have you destroyed. Understood."

Zuko didn't need to have eyes in the back of his head to know Jee and Iroh were giving the Warden warning looks as well.

"Ye-YES! Understood!"

"Good." Zuko threw the man back into the water before boarding back into his ship. He needed a scalding hot bath and a change of clothes; he always did this after putting on the Fire Nation uniform and having to pretend to be someone who he once was. "Let's go. We are done here."

-.-

Zuko groaned into his hands, wondering why the universe is out to get him. This was not supposed to happen. He should not be making friends with people outside of the Fire Nation. He should not be helping the Earth and Water nations to the best of his abilities. There are so many other things he should not be doing and the main one… making friends with the Avatar.

The only thing he wanted to do, is to just serve tea with his Uncle and help others. Just to stay out of the war and nothing else. Zuko just wants to get away from it all. However… on the opposite of the coin, he knew he had to do something. He just cannot do nothing. Which was why he is helping everyone in the best of his abilities. Getting supplies for warriors that are going up against the Fire Nation, to those that are suffering of the war and offering a much-needed hot cup of tea. Then… there was that other thing too.

The whole… network Zuko had unknowingly created through his travels. Oh the network… an ever-growing group of followers that want to see the head of Fire Lord Ozai on a stick.

TBC.

R/R.