D/C: I Own Nothing.

Shout-out to ProudGeek4Ever! Thank you so much for beta reading the Floating White Lotus!

Plum Tea

It is used to maintain healthy bones. Could help with restoring lost bone density and protecting the body against age-related impairments. The coppar in plums are essential for nerve health and also acts as an antioxidant. Helpful for anemia-like blood-related diseases. (Gran-Gran loves plum tea. Jee hates it.)

Sokka resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the young monk. "You mastered airbending and that only took you a hundred and twelve years. I'm sure you can master three more elements by next summer." Aang had been pacing in Appa's saddle for what seemed like forever while going on about how he needed to learn the rest of the elements. The deadline didn't help. "I'm sure Katara could teach you some waterbending."

Katara nodded and reached over to put a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. We'll work it out."

Aang sighed and sat down.

"Sokka has a point. I can probably teach you the stuff I know." Katara tried her best to cheer him up.

"You'd do that?"

Sokka ignored them from then on and pulled out the scroll he took from Shyu. The content had him wondering about Zuko's past. The older teen had to know certain information to get in contact with the only Fire Sage who still was an ally of the Avatar. Zuko sometimes gave backhanded facts about himself. Now Sokka was asking himself just how many of those were true.

Fact One: Zuko is from the Fire Nation. That much had to be true since the guy was a firebender.

Fact Two: Zuko came from a high standing family with connections. How else would he know as much as he did? He'd probably had tutors.

Fact Three: He knew Fire Nation tactics and strategies. Sokka could easily recall all the things Zuko had taught him. How to fight and avoid the Fire Nation had been one of the first lessons they'd had.

Fact Four: Zuko didn't like the royal family. He'd never said it out loud, but it was obvious if one focused on the little things. Comments made in passing by and gestures he thought no one saw at the mention of the royal family.

The fourth fact was the one that boggled him and he didn't know why. It wasn't unusual to dislike the royalties of the Fire Nation. Most of the members of their tribe didn't like them either. Zuko was different though. It felt personal and he just didn't understand. It wasn't just Zuko. The rest of the ship's crew obviously shared the same kind of views.

Iroh would always look at Zuko's face when the topic came up. Well, more like his scar.

It didn't make sense. It wasn't like the Fire Lord personally burned him.

Katara waved a hand in front of his face and brought him out of his thoughts. "We need to find a good water source."

-.-

Zuko didn't know if he should be annoyed or resigned at his uncle's antics at this point in his life. The man had changed their course completely because of a missing lotus tile. That's why they were currently at a random port. Of course, his uncle needed to find a new lotus tile. It was always about the lotus tile. They really should just get several of them to prevent this from happening again.

At least they could pick up some supplies.

Zuko heaved up the giant wicker basket. They had ended up finding more than a few good bargains. It thankfully kept his mind occupied by other things than idiotic pai sho tiles.

Well, it did until an overly familiar voice called his name. It was impossible. The universe couldn't hate him that much. Zuko did his best to ignore it all. He wanted to get back to his shopping and ge out of here. He definitely didn't need to get dragged into whatever mess they'd gotten themselves into this time. He was not prepared to deal with this today.

Zuko hummed happily as he caught sight of a stunning tea set. He had been meaning to get a new one. He did his best to forget the fact that his friends were being chased around by a band of pirates in the corner of his eye. It was not his problem.

It was getting increasingly difficult to convince himself of that.

"Are you not going to help your friends?"

Zuko took a deep breath before facing Iroh and Jee. They were both giving him identical stares. "No, I am no-"

-.-

"-are you not going to help your friends?" Zuko cursed under his breath. The Iguana Parrot had been following him so he hid behind a tree shake it off his trail. Against his better judgement, he went after his friends to figure out why they were being chased by pirates. At least it wasn't Zhao. That was the last thing he needed right now.

When Zuko finally lost the pesky creature he could continue on his way through the forest. He suspected the Gaang as Sokka named them had gone for a water source. So there he was looking for large bodies of water. Luckily he had a map and a general idea of where to go.

He kept going further into the forest and cursed his inability to stay out of his friends' business. He would much have preferred to run off and forget, but his stupid moral code wouldn't allow it. His friends needed him to get them out of trouble. Again.

The sound of running water brought Zuko relief. When he got closer to the water he heard curing that made him pause. He recognized those curses. A short distance from him Katara was hopelessly trying to waterbend.

-.-

"Hey, Sokka! Sokka... Sokka..." Aang poked Sokka in a desperate move to gain his attention. "Sokka."

Sokka opened his eyes slowly. A grimace overtook his face as he felt the poking. Aang still didn't stop. "What?"

Pause.

Aang bashfully looked away from him which caused him to sit up. The airbender scooted away. Katara was nowhere to be seen. Of course... Sokka wouldn't be surprised if she had gone off somewhere to practice those waterbending moves in the scroll she'd stolen from the pirates. "It's night, Aang. That's when people sleep."

"I can't sleep." He moved so that he was sitting next to Sokka.

Sokka grumbled. "Of course you can't." He let out a yawn and plopped down on his back to look up at the starry sky. He motioned for Aang to do the same. "Still wondering about Zuko?"

Aang let the question sink in before answering. Zuko was the reason he couldn't sleep. He had to get Zuko to teach him firebending, but how? Especially now when Roku had given such a warning. He needed to master all elements before the end of summer and he was nowhere near ready...

Sokka finally interrupted Aang's worries. "Zuko hates using his firebending. He once mentioned that his sister was better and even went as far as to call her a prodigy. Apparently, his father favored her and didn't bother hiding it."

"What about-" Aang covered the left side of his face with his hand.

"Not my story to tell." Sokka shrugged. "Zuko may be a firebender, but it's clear that he understands the destruction it brings along. You should have seen how the tribe reacted when we saw him bend that first time to save Gran-Gran. It's hard to say who was most terrified, us or him."

Silence fell before them once more.

"We may be in a hurry, but give it some time." Sokka turned his head to look at the younger boy. "If worst comes to shove we'll just kidnap him. I talked with Iroh and agreed with the plan."

"HE AGREED TO WHAT!"

-.-

Zuko wanted more than anything to get away from Katara's never-ending question or more accurately demands answers about his reservations of teaching Aang firebending. He did everything he could think of to avoid answering. At last, he had enough and went to Sokka.

Sokka understood why he was holding back some information and didn't want to open up old wounds.

"Why can't you help train Aang?" Katara asked for the second time in less than five minutes. They were standing at a river and she was unintentionally waterbending. Her emotions were quite clearly out of control.

"Look." Zuko ran his fingers through his hair as he considered his next words. "I can't do it, but you could try to find my old master. If he believes Aang is ready to learn then I'll teach him. Otherwise, I won't until I'm sure he's ready."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Zuko agreed and reached over to pluck the scroll from Katara's hands. She yelled out but stopped when he shot her a glare. "You are not only risking your life for a scroll, but also your brother's and Aang's."

Katara huffed and crossed her arms. "I never had anyone to teach me how to bend properly and Aang needs to start learning."

"There you are!"

Katara and Zuko turned to see the pirates coming towards them. Katara prepared to go on the offense.

"How much?" Zuko held up the infamous scroll.

"What make you th-" One of the pirates started to say but was cut off when the Captain smacked him to shut up.

"300 gold pieces." The captain gave him a devious smirk.

"It was 200 gold pieces!" Katara spluttered.

"350." The smirk only seemed to grow.

Everyone watched as Zuko bartered for both the scroll and the freedom of the Gaang. She had to give it to Zuko. He had skills. He and the captain kept trying to outdo each other.

"150! That is my final offer!"

"Make it 200 and you'll leave my friends alone."

"DEAL!"

-.-

"This is mine now. Mine. I am going- didn't you learn anything? Don't steal!"

TBC.

It came to a massive writer's block with this chapter. My dog decided it would be a good idea to chew up my usb and well... My mind wasn't working at that time as I mourned all my works... Yeah. R/R.