Avatar the Last Airbender: Hundred: Scenes

A/N: Hello again! I know its been a while (for my few, scant readers who have me alert –thank you!), so I'm posting this chapter rather than the chapter that I wanted to post. Anyways, this one is longer and doesn't need to re-edited like the other one does, so it gets posted first! It also exists rather ambiguously within the timeline, so I'm able to put it anywhere I want to within a reasonable time frame.

Please review if you like!

Hundred: Scenes

Arc I

The New Admiral

Lao Jee had only been to the Fire Nation capital three times before in his life.

The first time was when he had first signed on to the navy, having made the journey from his family's village on the most eastern island of the Fire Nation. At that time, he had only been fifteen, the age most soldiers were first recruited at, so when he had disembarked from the carrier he had taken he had stood in awe of the dormant volcano turned into a city.

At least, until he had taken his first deep breath and nearly gagged from the smell caused by the metal factory that was part of the harbor, the air rank with pollution and other foul smells he couldn't place.

It wasn't much later that it was explained that the nobles lived up in the volcano to avoid the smell while the soldiers and factory workers lived at the base of the volcano, unable to afford that privilege. He only remained in the capital city for two days before he was shipped off to the naval facility on the other side of the main island where he spent the next six months in training to serve his country.

After being assigned to his first ship, he spent the next three years in the ocean surrounding where the old Southern Air Temple had once been located. By then he earned his first promotion due to his skills as a firebender and ability to lead the other soldiers, moving him into the Western Fleet. It meant warmer weather so he didn't complain, even if the officers weren't the greatest to work under.

As the years went by, he slowly climbed his way up the ladder until he became a Commander, earning his own ship within the Western Fleet. It meant great honor for his family, who were poor farmers, to have him became a high-ranking officer, and it was an honor he carried with pride. The men under him respected him and listened to him, so he enjoyed his time in the Western Fleet.

At least, until the day that the Earth Nation attacked.

At the time he and several other Fire Nation battleships had been patrolling along the western coastline of the Earth Kingdom, under the collective command of Admiral Hyung. Rumors had been coming in from outposts amongst the colonies on the Earth Kingdom about enemy mobilization along the coastline, so their small selection of ships had been sent orders to go up and down the coast to find 's ship had been selected to serve as the Admiral's command base, something Jee looked upon with pride and thought of as a privilege to serve under a man who had given forty years to their country.

They had docked just a mile off the coastline for the night when the ship was attacked. In the dark of the night they couldn't see the boulders the earthbenders were shooting at the ships and several men of the one hundred crew battleship were killed before they could seek shelter. For years he was haunted by the events of that night, of the soldiers who were so cruelly killed.

Before long they were finally able to set up for a counterattack, but even then they were fighting a loosing battle. When it finally reached Jee that the Admiral had been wounded in one of the attacks and was no longer able to give orders he took charge, ordering the ship to fall out of range of the still falling boulders, the other ships around him falling back after seeing their movements.

In the end, the actions he took that night dictated how his future rolled out. In the end the admiral died from his wounds, his ribcage crushed from one of the boulders and puncturing one of his lungs so he ended up dying in his own fluids. The officer who should have taken over command after the admiral was a captain who had been asleep during a portion of the attack and then had gotten lost amongst the commotion of the attack, unable to stop the ships from falling back until it was too late. He and Jee had a tendency to butt heads over orders, so the captain hadn't wasted any time filing a report, saying Jee had ordered the ships back when they could have forced back the Earth Kingdom, a disgraceful act in the eye of the Fire Nation.

Before he realized what had happened, he had been demoted to Lieutenant. It would have been worse, he found out later on, but someone had stepped in on his behalf and rather than being discharged and tried for a heinous crime, he found himself in command of a war ship twenty years old and filled with crew members in situations not dissimilar to his own. Three days after stepping foot on his new ship, he was back in the capital for the second time in his life.

If anything the smell was worse than what he remembered, even at night when he would have thought the cooler temperatures would help with the smell. Docking his ship, he waited patiently on the forward deck while recalling the orders given to him as he had been striped of his honor and command.

Someone would be boarding his ship tonight and at that time, its occupants and his ship would become banned from re-entering Fire Nation waters, indefinitely.

The moon, half-full, had just been exposed by the clouds when he saw the group approached. Ten soldiers, neither the highest ranking nor the lowest, flanked two cloaked figures between them, the smaller of the two being supported by the other. In seconds they were on board and Jee made his way over to greet them when the smaller of the two cloaked figures roughly tore themselves from the grip of the other.

"Prince Zuko!" the taller one said and Jee's breath caught in his throat. Even during his trial he had heard about the events that had unfolded around the heir of the Fire Nation. Word had spread like wildfire amongst the soldiers about how he had begged his father for forgiveness in the Agni Kai, tarnishing one of the greatest and most revered traditions of their country.

Still, Jee couldn't help but feel sorry for the boy whose own father would mirthlessly attack him.

"You there!" Snapped from his thoughts at the young voice, Jee turned towards the prince, making sure not to wince when the hood that had been covering his face was thrown back, revealing the wound from the Agni Kai. Even covered by thick bandages, Jee had spent to many years at war to not know how severe the wound was and the scarring that would result. "Tell the captain of this ship to set sail for the Western Air Temple! Now!"

"Of course your highness," Jee said, not correcting the young prince who turned and stomped off into the ship where they could here a door slam close a few minutes later.

"My apologies Lieutenant Jee," the other figure said and Jee turned to blink in surprise before dipping into a low bow.

"General Iroh!" he breathed. He had never been able to meet the famous Dragon in person, but had been on one of the ships transporting the general and his men when they launched the attack against Ba Sing Se. There were rumors around him as well, for the reasons why the feared fighter would suddenly pull back just after breaking the outer wall of the impenetrable city. "Sir, I wasn't aware – "

"Oh, no need to fret over me being here. I have suddenly found myself in retirement and will be acting as guardian for my nephew," the general said as Jee finally straightened. "Now, it is late so if you excuse me, I will find my bunk."

"Of…of course, General," Jee said, watching the man disappear inside the ship as well. The soldiers who had accompanied the two royalty on board followed soon after and Jee quickly ordered the ship back into the waters. Their orders were to spend as little time necessary in the capital and suddenly he understood why.

Now, over four years after since his last arrival, Jee couldn't help but recall that fateful night. There was no denying traveling with the prince hadn't been difficult, chasing after what they all expected to be a ghost, yet Jee looked back on the memories with a certain resigned fondness. After all, who would have expected that banished prince to now be Fire Lord?

"We are here, um…sir," the soldier who had guided him up from the harbor said and Jee looked up to see that they had indeed arrived at the gates to the palace. The gates were open due to one of the doors being nothing more than burnt wooden fragments, destroyed during the battle between the Fire Lord and his sister, who hadn't been seen since their fight and her subsequent loss.

"Thank you," Jee said with a short bow and a smile.

In a small show of uncertainty, he tugged on the clothes that had been given to him, still adjusting to be back in a military uniform after being in the coarser clothing given to prisoners at the Boiling Rock for over six months. At the gate he was handed over to one of the palace guards who glanced over him, taking in the fact Jee was bare of any identification in terms of rank or fleet alliance with a quick flash of disdain. Still, he seemed to know where Jee was meant to be going and so the two made their way into the partially destroyed Fire Palace, neither willing to talk during the short distance.

"Please wait here," the guard said, showing Jee inside a room that was bare, but whole, surprising since on either side the two flanking rooms were half-demolished.

"Now that's a fight I would have like to seen," he muttered to himself as he stared at a spot on the wall that looked like it once carried a scroll from its discoloring.

"I assure you, it wasn't particularly fun from the participants' stand-point," a vaguely amused voice said and Jee turned only to sink to floor in a bow.

"Fire Lord Zuko!" he greeted, touching his forehead to the cold granite stone under him.

"Rise, please," the voice said and Jee quickly regained his feet, staring at the young boy across him. The scar was the same, it always would be, but the hair pulled back in a topknot was different from the long ponytail he had sported for the four years they had been together.

"My lord, what I just said – "

"I've heard worse comments," Zuko told him, flashing a small smile. "Come with me. I'll show you the rest."

"Uh…yes, my lord," Jee said as Zuko stepped out of the room. As the two walked down a corridor, four guards positioned themselves around them, two ahead and two behind, giving enough room to provide them some privacy while keeping the Fire Lord within a safe range of them should something happen. The corridor was filled with servants carrying rugs and vases around, though all took the time to bow to their Fire Lord before continuing on.

The two were silent before Zuko finally sighed softly, immediately gaining Jee's attention.

"My apologies about the delay in your release from the Boiling Rock," he said, stunning Jee.

He had been in the high security prison for over six months, since abandoning the siege of the Northern Water Tribe at the start of the year. He, unlike most of the men Admiral Zhao had grabbed, knew the risks of fighting the young Avatar and had so escaped with his crew before the end of the siege. Still, they had been picked up shortly after by the Eastern Fleet who had been coming as back-up for Zhao and were immediately thrown in the Boiling Rock under treason.

"It wasn't until recently that I was even aware that you were there. After hearing the crimes held against you, I've given pardon for you and your men," Zuko explained while Jee remained silent. "I apologize for Zhao pulling you into that mess."

"Fire Lord Zuko, you don't need to apologize!" Jee finally said, glancing around in surprise. "After all, we were part of the navy and therefore had to listen to orders."

"Yes…I suppose," Zuko finally said.

"I was there, when you escaped from the Boiling Rock," Jee finally said after a few moments of silence. When all Zuko did was raise his eyebrow in question, Jee gazed up at the ceiling as he recalled that day. "There had been rumors circulating after your capture, but it wasn't until the riot that I realized they were correct. I think the most surprising thing was that you were there with the Water Tribe boy who had been with the Avatar."

"Sokka. We were there trying to rescue his father," Zuko explained. "By that time I had joined the Avatar and had tagged along just to make sure he didn't die."

The news that the prince had joined up with the Avatar had come as a surprise to Jee. The soldiers that ran the Boiling Rock were forthcoming with all the latest changes in the war, so a few days after the solar eclipse when they announced the prince had attacked his father then ran off after the Avatar to join him had come as quite a shock to Jee.

"We could have used you. I wish I had known earlier that you were there."

"I offered what help I could to aid in your escape once I realized what was happening," Jee told him, earning a slightly surprised look from the young Fire Lord. "I made sure the riot continued so that not all the guards could chase after you, though I'm not sure how helpful it was in the end."

"I know it could have been worse, now," Zuko said, shaking his head. The two walked a little bit further before Zuko suddenly glanced up at the ceiling, a flash of irritation passing over his face before disappearing.

"My lord?" Jee asked in concern.

"Spies," Zuko told him lightly, shrugging as Jee was left speechless once again. "I would have them removed, but they would just be replaced by different ones and Uncle says it's better to know who the enemy is. Another thing I'm getting use to."

"Ah," Jee said, not quite sure how to respond. The navy rarely had to deal with spies and he was clueless when it came it came to the court, so he wasn't sure how to comment.

"I'm sorry, I'm taking a break to re-organize my thoughts," Zuko told him as they reached one of the open walkways at the palace. "Did you know that my uncle had requested you as the captain of my ship?"

"I had a feeling it had been him, my lord." After being onboard the ship with the General and their many conversations over the years, Jee had suspected it had been the General who had stepped in on his behalf during his trial.

"I got hold of your record and learned of how you came to be my captain," Zuko explained before turning to Jee. "My father and the men under his command may have punished you for your actions, but on behalf of the men you saved for your actions that night, thank you."

"My lord…I was doing nothing but what I thought right," Jee told him honestly.

"Hm," Zuko said, turning to stare at the burnt garden they had been walking around. "The Fire Nation has lost the sense of what is 'right' and 'wrong' over the years. I have seen first-hand how the men who had ruled this country before me, my own family, directed the people of this nation into a road that man-kind should never have traveled.

"Men like you, who still have a correct sense of 'right' are needed now," Zuko said, turning to Jee who was staring at him in surprise. "I love this country and I wish nothing but for it to prosper, under the correct way."

The boy in front of him had changed, he realized, no longer the angry prince. Rather, he had settled into a man who would do their country good, for the first time in a hundred years.

"Anything you ask of me, Fire Lord Zuko," Jee told him truthfully as he bowed. "I will serve you and this country."

"I was hoping you would say that," Zuko said with a smile. "First of all, the incident five years ago is stricken from your record as is your demotion. Looking at the fact that you were a commander at that time and the four years you spent with me, I would say you are due for a promotion."

"My lord – !"

"How does the Eastern Fleet sound, Admiral?" Zuko asked. "I'm pulling in all the remaining naval ships from foreign waters, against the advise of my father's old Admirals, and I can use you at the next meeting with them. Do I have your support?"

"Of course, my lord!" Jee said, bowing again.

"Great. We'll get your new commission set up immediately and you'll stay at the palace for a while. Also, your wife and daughter will be arriving within the week as well," Zuko told him and Jee felt his breath catch in his throat. He hadn't seen his wife and child since before his last deployment that that ended in disaster, over five years ago and the ability to pass on letters to them had been few and far between. "We will get you set up in a house as soon as we can, but until then you will remain here in the palace."

"Fire Lord Zuko..."

"It's a thank-you, for serving me so well over the years, Admiral Jee," Zuko told him before sighing. "Well, I'm needed for more meetings. Relax, and I'll see you tomorrow to go over my plans for the navy."

"Of course, my lord," Jee murmured as Zuko turned and headed back the way they came. One of the guards remained behind with him and it was for a few moments later that Jee finally found it in him to move.

"We'll see great things from that man," he told the guard who paused before also nodding.

"We will."

A/N: Anyways, I hope you enjoy hearing a little about Jee. I'm going to try and incorporate a few other minor characters, but they won't all be this length. Can anyone tell me what fleet Zhao would have been in charge of/part of? I want to say Northern since he went after the Northern Water Tribe, but seeing as how he was first seen in the Southern Ocean, then the Western Ocean, I'm a little confused

Rankings (naval) to be used in the story for officers: Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain, Admiral. These are generalized (for those of you who actually know naval ranks), otherwise there are four different type of Admirals and I so wasn't dealing with it.

Also, Jee referring to Zuko as "My lord". I know a lot of people would be more comfortable with Zuko being called "majesty", but since his official title is Fire Lord, that's how I would think the honorific he would be given. It conflicts with having the children being referred to as royalty (prince, princess, etc), but that's how it'll work. Of course, that means more work later on about how any other nobles I may introduce are to be referred to as. Joys!

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon and its creators.