AN: Welcome to the next fun filled chapter. I know there hasn't been much action but action without plot gets you a very bad story; in my opinion at least. For those who reviewed, thank you, for those of you just coming to this story, what took you so long? Well, here we go. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: It was on my list for Santa but I guess I was on the naughty list this year.
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"Where are we heading uncle?" It had been two days since Zhao's death and they were still floating on this Agni-forsaken raft.
"We are going back to the last port we were in. After your… um… death I told the crew to find a new ship. That we would need one when we returned."
"You told them? You told them I was alive? What if they told others?"
"Nephew, you need to learn to trust your crew. They are more than men who serve under you. They are family. Most of them think of you as a little brother; slightly annoying, intelligent, hardworking, stubborn, and someone to teach and protect. And someone to be proud of. These men are completely dedicated to you, Zuko. They've seen you fight, seen you put aside your own desires for their well being and they trust your decisions. Do not underestimate them."
"But uncle, what can an exile and a traitor do? Neither of us can go back home now." Iroh nodded slowly.
"But what about the Avatar, nephew? Are you abandoning your search?"
"No uncle. At least, not exactly. But I want to talk to the crew before I decide what to do. We'll need them to stand with us to succeed in my plan. Without them…"
Iroh reached over to pat Zuko's arm. "They will follow you, whatever you decide to do."
O.o.o.o.o.O
Five days later they arrived at the port. Docked there was a Fire Nation ship, one that had belonged to Zhao. "Now what do we do uncle? I'm no longer dead, the soldiers with Zhao at the oasis recognized me, and you're branded a traitor. It's not like we can just walk up to the ship."
"You worry too much nephew. We'll just go into town and see who we find." They made their way off the docks, being careful to avoid the notice of the Fire Nation ship.
"Prince Zuko!" Apparently, they weren't careful enough. Both men whirled to face their opponent, fire summoned to their hands. Lt. Jee stood before them, hands spread, waiting for them to recognize him. The fire left their hands immediately as they looked at their friend.
"Prince Zuko, General. Please, come aboard ship." He gestured behind him to the ship that was under Zhao's command. Iroh arched his eyebrows in question. Jee rushed to explain. "We remained in port, like you told us to do General, looking for a ship. A few days ago, this ship returned from the north. They had lost their officers and the crew was hysterical. They kept babbling about a giant spirit monster that attacked them. They were so terrified that they dropped anchor and left. 'Fighting the Avatar is one thing' they said 'but fighting the spirit world is different.' The ship was abandoned so we confiscated it. It was the least Zhao could do after he blew up our ship."
A tired, half smile touched Zuko's lips. "Excellent I want to meet with you and the other officers in the briefing room in fifteen minutes." Together they entered the ship and then went their separate ways. Jee went to gather the officers, Zuko and Iroh made their way to the briefing room. Fire Nation ships are enough alike in layout, no matter the size, to prevent them from getting lost.
"So what's your plan, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked as soon as they reached the room.
"Hold your questions uncle. I'd rather only go through this once. It will be difficult enough without saying it twice." Zuko sat at the head of the table and began to meditate; he would need all the control he could get.
Zuko stood as the men entered the room. Iroh came to stand behind his right shoulder in a visible show of support and respect. When all were seated he began the speech that he had prepared on the raft. "I've come to a realization about this war and about the Fire Lord. Before you stand two men, both branded as traitors for acting with honor, for trying to protect the Fire Nation and the world. If anyone is a traitor, it is the Fire Lord himself. In his lust for power he is destroying what we hold dear: home. I'm going to prevent this from happening. But I cannot do this alone. I've called you here to ask for your help."
An officer in the back stood up angrily. "You're asking us to forfeit our honor just like you did yours! Unlike you, Prince Zuko, none of us wish to live dishonorably." Zuko's hands clenched at his sides, smoking slightly. He was struggling to control the urge to attack the men when her words came back to him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
He looked the man straight in the eyes but his words were for everyone. "A very wise woman once asked me if it was more honorable to let the world suffer then to live with this scar. She also said that honor can never be taken from someone, that it is up to him to decide what to do with it. Now, I ask you, what will you do with your honor? Will you be like my uncle, who stood against Zhao in order to protect the balance of the world? Will you do the honorable thing, even though you will be punished for it? Or will you follow the Fire Lord blindly to the destruction of the world? I need your help to prevent that destruction but, I will do this alone if I must." Zuko sat down and waited for their decision.
At first they were silent, each waiting far another to speak first. Then Lt. Jee stood and bowed deeply to the Prince. "I will stand with you, my Prince, as a loyal son of the Fire Nation." One by one the rest of the men stood, bowed, and pledged their loyalty.
And, for a moment, Zuko was speechless. They're going to stand with me. Against the might of the Fire Nation, against the Fire Lord.
"What is your plan, Prince Zuko?" Zuko looked to his uncle who was, clearly, very pleased.
Zuko swallowed the lump in his throat and outlined his plan. "As it now stands, the fate of our world rests on a very green boy. He may be talented but he is still very inexperienced. Someday, he's going to face the Fire Lord who isn't going to care if he's young. He will show him no mercy." A few glances around the table came to rest on the Prince's scar.
Zuko ignored the stares and continued on. "The Avatar needs to be challenged. That is the only was he can improve his fighting skills. My fa… the Fire Lord will continue to send people after the Avatar to capture him. We will run interference for him, keep others from getting to him."
Jee looked at him confusedly. "But I thought you wanted him challenged?"
"I do and he will be, by us. Him and his companions. We will continue after them as we always have but it will be more of a mock battle. They will think its real but we will stop just shy of hurting them. The Avatar needs the practice fighting fire benders, the water tribe boy needs practice fighting anybody and the girl… she needs to sharpen her bending skills. They need to be able to protect themselves and the Avatar. So, are we agreed?"
A chorus of "Yes sir" rang through the room. "Then pull anchor. We have an Avatar to catch." The men rushed out, leaving only Lt. Jee and Iroh.
"Sir?" Jee approached Zuko. "Where are we headed?"
Zuko thought for a moment. "They'll need to find an Earth Master. Head towards the Earth Kingdom, the capital. That would be the most logical place." Jee saluted and left for the bridge.
"I am proud of you, nephew. Somewhat surprised, but very proud." Zuko turned to his uncle who was smiling broadly. "Now, about the girl… What are you going to do with her?"
"What do you mean, what am I going to do with her? I told you my plans."
Iroh sat across from his nephew, wincing slightly as his bones creaked. It was hard getting old. "She seems to be one of the few people you respect. I find that interesting. Especially considering that every time you meet you fight each other. Very interesting."
Zuko got up from the table, agitated. "There's nothing interesting about it, uncle. She's a capable fighter, that's all. Now, I'm going to get some sleep." He left the room, leaving behind a very pleased Iroh.
"That's all huh? Very interesting." He got up and followed his nephew's example. They were all going to be very busy soon, best to rest while he could.
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AN: Well that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Review please.