The Trouble with Fire

Ch.3: Commander Zhao

Zuko X OC

disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. I own my OC

It had been two days since the guards had dug them out of the ice. The Avatar had done extensive damage to the ship and it would take several days to repair. Zuko had been in a bad mood since the day they had found the Avatar. She walked along side him and Iroh as they left the ship and headed for a small town that was going to be doing the repairs to the ship.

"Uncle, I want the repairs done as soon as possible. I don't want to stick around too long and risk loosing his trail.", Zuko ordered. Iroh crossed his arms over his chest. "You mean the Avatar?", Iroh asked, stroking his beard. "Don't mention his name on these docks! Once word gets out that he's alive... every fire bender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way.", Zuko said, turning to his uncle.

"Getting in the way of what... Prince Zuko?", a familiar voice asked. Fang bit her bottom lip. Captain Zhao... she hated him. His large form loomed over the three of them, his sideburns as prominent as ever. He had very little respect for the elements and always felt that fire bending was the only right way.

His practices to rid the people of the other elements was no different then genocide. Fang was disgusted by him, and even more so that he held the title of Captain. He did not deserve it in the least bit. He always had this creepy... evil aura around him. What was he doing here anyway?

Zuko crossed his arms over his chest. "Captain Zhao...", he said, a little surprised to see him there. Fang held onto Zuko's arm and took a step back, she didn't want to be close to this man. The Captain stopped very close to them and smirked. "It's Commander Zhao now.", he said, turning to Iroh and completely ignoring Zuko. Not even showing respect enough to bow his head to him. He bowed slightly to him.

"General Iroh. Great hero of our nation.", Zhao said, showing his respects. "Retired General.", Iroh stated, showing his respect back. Commander Zhao turned to Fang and bowed a little to her. "The beautiful Princess Fang, pleasure to see you as well.", Zhao greeted.

Despite the fact that Fang hated him greatly, she still had to show her respect to him as a good symbol of a princess. "The pleasure is all mine, Commander Zhao. Congratulations on your new rank. The Fire lord must have a lot of trust in you.", she answered back, bowing her head slightly.

"The Fire lord's brother, son and daughter-in-law are welcome guests anytime. What brings you to my harbor?", Zhao asked. Somehow Fang knew he was lying about them feeling welcome. "Our ship is being repaired.", Iroh said, pointing toward the ship. Indeed the ship had been damaged, large scratches and huge dents had damaged the ship till the point where the front looked mangled.

Zhao raised an eyebrow and turned to Zuko. "That's quite a bit of damage.", he said, still having his eyebrow raised. Fang hated the way he held a conversation, there was always the feeling that he was trying to get more information out of you. When he spoke it was as if a snake was coiling around her and wrapping around her neck, it always made her shiver.

"Yes... you wouldn't believe what happened.", Zuko said, trying to make up a story in his head. "Uncle! Tell Commander Zhao what happened.", he said, passing the burden onto Iroh. Iroh eyes widened a little. "Yes, I will do that! It was incredible...we"- Iroh was cut off by Zuko. "crashed into an earth kingdom ship.. Fang was nearly thrown from the ship", Zuko finished.

Commander Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Really? That must have been quite terrifying.", Zhao said, turning to her. Fang nodded her head. "Yes, terrifying.", she agreed. Zhao didn't seem very convinced with their story and instead turned to Zuko. "You must regale me with all the thrilling details. Won't you and your wife join me for a drink?", he asked.

Fang squeezed Zuko's arm, begging him silently to not accept the invitation though she knew what his answer must be. They had to accept no matter how badly they didn't want to join him. Zuko turned his head away from Zhao. "Sorry but we have to go.", he answered, surprising Fang a little.

Iroh grabbed Zuko's shoulder before he could get to far. "Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect. We would be honored to join you.", Iroh corrected, turning toward Zhao. Fang felt a pit in her stomach, she could only imagine the rest of the night they had in store for them.

Zhao had something up his sleeve and she just couldn't pinpoint it but she could feel this devious aura around him. "Do you have any tea?", Iroh asked, walking alongside Zhao, leaving Fang and Zuko. Fang frowned and turned to Zuko who growled angrily and breathed out a small breath of fire.

"We have no choice, my prince. Keep your guard up... I sense a devious aura around him. He's like a snake trying to coil around our throats.", Fang said, walking beside him. Zuko nodded slowly. "Let me do the talking, don't answer anything specific about the ship or how it got damaged.", he ordered her.

Fang nodded as they both followed after Iroh and Zhao. As they approached the red tent, two guards held open the tent flaps for Zuko and Fang. She smiled gently to them and entered the tent. That tent was decorated quite exquisitely, a large map of the world hung on one wall.

Zhao stood in front of it with both of his hands behind his back. Beautiful large vases sat in both corner of the tent. Spears, swords and pole arms were sitting against the west wall. Tables and chairs had been set for the three of them, almost as if Zhao knew that they would be attending.

Fang took her place near Zuko and started to pour all of them tea. "Please. You're a guest. One of my guards will do it.", Zhao said, motioning for her to sit down. Fang obliged and held the skirt of her robe as she sat down, fanning it out over the chair and floor.

"By years end the earth kingdom capital will be under our rule. The Firelord will finally claim victory in this war.", Zhao stated, as one of his guards set about pouring a cup for each of them. "If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly then he is a fool!", Zuko retorted back.

Fang could hear the anger he had inside him as he said the word "father". Fang's eyes traveled to Iroh who was admiring the weapons. "Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue. I thought your wife would have calmed you by now.", Zhao said, knowing he had hit a weak spot.

Fang closed her eyes and set her tea cup down. "My job as his wife is not to restraint him from being who he is, but more to follow and encourage him when I believe he has done the right thing.", Fang answered, a little irritated by what Zhao had said.

Zhao eyes turned towards her, their eyes meeting for just a moment before he switched onto a new topic. "So, how is your search for the Avatar going?", Zhao said, a smirk playing across his face. A loud crash came from behind both of them and Fang rubbed her forehead, Iroh had dropped all the weapons on the floor. "My fault! Entirely..", Iroh apologized. Zuko turned his head to Zhao slightly. "We haven't found him yet.", he answered. Zhao's smirk came back across his face.

"Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago, along with the rest of the air benders... Unless you found some evidence that the Avatar is alive..", Zhao said in a malicious tone. Fang knew Zhao had been trying to hide something up his sleeve and he had just revealed it. He must have known something or he wouldn't be asking these questions.

Fang felt his snake like aura crawling around at her feet, ready to bite her ankle. He was like a predator stalking his prey. She inhaled sharply and moved her gaze to the outside of the tent. She desperately wanted to be away from Zhao. "No... nothing.", Zuko answered, still keeping up with the lie. Zhao slowly stood and held his arms behind his back again.

"Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one that could stop the Fire Nation from winning this war.. if you have an ounce of loyalty left you'll tell me what you found.", Zhao said, his tone with more anger then before. Zuko's fists clenched as he started to get angrier.

"I haven't found anything. It's like you said... the Avatar probably died a long time ago.", he retorted back to him. Zuko stood from his chair and held his hand out to Fang. "Come on Uncle, we're going.", he said as Fang took his hand and stood from the chair.

Zuko and Fang slowly made their way to the opening of the tent but we're halted by two guards crossing their spears together. "Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. The confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody but let him escape.", one of the guards announced.

Fang felt her heart drop as he heard the words leave the guards mouth. Her mind raced around as fast as she could, trying to think of a way out of this situation. Zhao smirked and turned to Fang who was glaring at the guard. "Now remind me.. how exactly was your ship damaged?", Zhao asked.

Zuko turned around and was about to say something but Zhao interrupted and placed a hand on Fang's shoulder. "Please sit, I have a feeling you all are going to spending more time with me.", he said. Fang quickly took a step away, she did not want to be near this man let alone want to be touched by him.

Zuko angrily sat back down along with Fang who stayed completely quiet and only looked at the wall. Iroh sighed and sat down, he must have been thinking the same thing as Fang, trying to think of a way out of this mess. Zhao paced around the room with that horrible smirk across his face as Zuko began to tell the story.

"So a twelve year old boy bested you and your fire benders. You're more pathetic then I thought.", Zhao insulted. "I underestimated him once but it will not happen again!", Zuko retorted back. "No it will not because you won't have a second chance.", Zhao stated, making Fang move her eyes to him.

"Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I-" "And you failed!", Zhao interrupted, turning sharply toward Zuko. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in the hands of a teenager. He's mine now.", Zhao announced.

Zuko quickly got up and was about to charge at Zhao but was held back by two guards. A smirk spread across Zhao's face. "Keep them here.", he told his two guards and walked out of the tent. Fang felt her heart racing through her chest.

Her eyes turned to Iroh who looked moderately calm, he either had a plan or thought that there would be an opening later but it seemed that for now, there was nothing they could do. Fang sighed and placed a hand against her neck and rubbed it softly. She could feel the stress tensing her muscles.

Hours passed as they were held there like prisoners. Zhao entered suddenly and placed his hands behind his back once again. "My search party is ready. Once I am out to sea my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go.", Zhao announced.

Fang turned her head away from Zhao, she didn't want to even look at him. Her heart held such anger for him. "Why? Are you afraid that I am going to try and stop you?", Zuko asked, looking up. Zhao laughed and smirked again. "You stop me? Impossible.", Zhao retorted back, his tone full of arrogance. "Don't underestimate me Zhao! I will capture the Avatar before you!", Zuko yelled, standing up from his chair.

"Prince Zuko, that's enough!", Iroh said, standing up from his chair as well. Zhao laughed arrogantly again and crossed his arms over his chest. "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.", Zhao said, ridiculing Zuko.

Every word that came out of Zhao's mouth was making Fang more and more angry. "You're wrong! Once I deliver the Avatar to my father, he will welcome me home with honor and restore my rightful place on the throne.", Zuko corrected him.

Fang bit her lip, even if they did manage to capture the Avatar.. somehow she felt that his father would never welcome Zuko back. He was such a heartless man that she could see it happening. "If your father really wanted you home... he would 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 insulted back.

Her eyes remained closed as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. Fang hated to admit it but all of what Zhao had just said... was true. In her heart she truly felt that if the fire lord really loved Zuko.. he would have welcomed him back home many months ago. "That's not true.", Zuko angrily said. "You have the scar to prove it.", Zhao said, making Zuko even angrier.

"Maybe you'd like one to match!", Zuko yelled at him, getting close to Zhao. Fang opened her eyes quickly. What on earth was Zuko doing? "Is that a challenge?", Zhao asked, raising an eyebrow. "An Agni Kai. At sunset.", Zuko confirmed. Fang put a hand over her mouth, she could not believe that Zuko had just challenged Zhao to a duel.

She made a pleading face at Iroh but Iroh shook his head, there was nothing he could do. "Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do.", Zhao said, placing his hands behind his back and left the tent.

"Prince Zuko... have you forgotten what happened the last time you dueled a master?", Iroh asked in disbelief of what his nephew had done. "I will never forget.", Zuko answered. Fang slowly felt her nausea going away as Zhao left the tent but she shook her head. "Prince Zuko... I... can't believe you did that.", Fang whispered, placing her hands on her face.

Fang had never liked Agni Kai's... she found them crude and felt there was no need for violence. After Zuko had received that scar from his father, she really did not like Agni Kai's. She had refused to attend any of them as a child growing up.

Agni Kai's were an ancient Fire Nation tradition that was centuries old that settled disputes between both parties. The two combatants fought at sunset until one burned the other. When Fang was a child it was commonly not fought to the death.

There was honor in sparing your opponent but now, a new regimen had changed and now it was a sign of weakness that you sparred your partner. Fang's fears were skyrocketing as she thought of Zuko fighting to the death with Zhao. Zhao was a fire bending master and had years of training beyond what Zuko had.

Her heart was racing as she saw two guards come and escort the three of them out of the tent. It was time to get prepared for the Agni Kai. Her eyes gazed up at the sky as she exited the tent.

She prayed to the heavens to not have to take her husband back home in a body bag.

End of Ch.3

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