As you might have/might have not noticed by now, these chapters are based on Episodes...with Salo and her shenanigans thrown in there at certain places.

We pulled into a fire nation port the next day. I was completely thawed out by then, but I still shivered every once in a while, my cheek had a bad scrape on it, and my lips were a deep purple. Prince Zuko, General Iroh and I disembarked to take a walk while repairs were being made. We just got off the ship and turned right when I heard an awfully familiar voice. I slowly turned around along with Zuko and Uncle.

"Well, well, well. The banished prince, the retired general, and the orphan girl. My lucky day. Let's catch up over a pot of tea?" I grit my teeth. "Commander Zhou." I muttered under my breathe. Zuko stepped forward.

"We don't have time for tea," he spat. General Iroh took a hold of his shoulder.

"Zuko! Where are your manners!" he turned to Commander Zhou. "Of course! We would love to talk over a cup of tea." He followed him to his tent. I laid a hand on Zuko's arm, who looked like he was about to burst with rage. He groaned loudly, but we followed the others. We sat at a short table in Zhou's tent, and Uncle poured us tea. Zhou paced before speaking.

"Well, Prince Zuko, I noticed your ship. How did you manage to get that much damage done to it?" he looked at us expectantly, and I could have sworn I saw an evil glint in his eye. Zuko for once looked speechless, and not in the good way.

"We, um…we…"

I set down my tea and looked Zhou in the eye.

"We hit an iceberg, Commander."

I snuck a glance at Zuko, who shot me a 'thank you' look. I smiled briefly and took a sip of my tea. Zhou did the same. With his tea, I mean.

"An iceberg, interesting. I had gotten word that you were in possession on the Avatar, is this true?" he asked. I exchanged a look with Zuko and Uncle. Zuko stood up.

"Well you heard wrong. We never had the Avatar." I had to keep myself from beaming. I was so proud of him. Strange as it were, since I am a year younger than him, but the way he looked Zhou in the eye and didn't waver when telling a lie, I just felt like leaping up and squeezing him. But then Zhou wouldn't believe Zuko for a minute and Zuko would never speak to me again, and I'd be thoroughly embarrassed so I clicked back to the scene before me and sipped my tea with anxiety. Zhou looked at Zuko with the same expression.

"That's not what my guards told me." He sipped his tea and turned to two men standing by. "Search the vessel." I set my cup down with a bang. Accidentally, of course. Everyone looked at me, and I gave them my innocent look. Zuko sat down, his expression still hard, but there was a hint of defeat. There was a period of awkward silence, which seemed to stretch on forever; but all too soon the men came back and reported that there was evidence the Avatar had been in our possession. Zhou turned to us and smirked.

"Well, well, well Prince Zuko. Looks like you had a run in with a very special iceberg." He sipped his tea. Zuko gripped the armrests of his chair so hard I thought they were going to shatter. I cringed and looked down at my tea. Or my cup, rather. I held it upside down, and shook it, empty. I peeked in the pot, empty. Zuko stood up and faced Zhou, who smirked.

"Oh Zuko. You poor little boy. You really think your father would have had you back even if you captured the Avatar? If you were really that important to him, he would have had turned Princess Azula out at you. If you ever got back to him with the Avatar, he'd only lock you up where he can hide you, and not be humiliated by you any further." Zuko looked as if he would hit him. I couldn't take it any more. I know he wasn't insulting me directly, but I cared about Zuko. He was important to me and it hurt to see someone I love insulted so cruelly like that. I locked gazes with Zhou, and before he had a chance to speak again, I stood up and dropped the teapot onto the floor. The shatter seemed to echo off the walls and reached out far away. I narrowed my eyes at Zhou, who raised an eyebrow at me in a quizzical manner. Everyone, even the guards, looked at me.

"Oops," I said through gritted teeth. "It slipped."

Zhou chuckled.

"You have a beautiful girl there, Prince Zuko." He walked toward me and tilted my chin up. I pulled away and bit at his finger, sadly, he got away too soon. Zhou laughed again. "And fiery." He turned grim again and set his tea down. He turned to Zuko.

"You are no longer allowed to pursue the Avatar; I am taking up that task." Zuko stepped forward and glared at him.

"You can't do that! I was sent to capture the Avatar!" he yelled. Uncle Iroh and I shared a look. "I challenge you, Agni-Kai at sunset!" I was caught completely off guard at this, and pretty much just fell over. There, I sat on the floor, watching everything. Soon there wasn't much to watch, Zhou accepted Zuko's challenge, of course, and since it was almost sunset, it was time Zuko and I had a little talk. Uncle left the tent to go get more tea, after reminding Zuko what happened last time he challenged a master. I looked over at Zuko, sitting in his chair, frowning. I sighed and walked over to him. He didn't look up.

"Um…Zuko…"

"What?" he snapped. "You here to try and talk me out of it? Forget it." He slunk into his seat. I knelt down and rested my chin and arms on the armrest of his chair.

"No, I know from experience that doesn't work." I reached out to try and touch him, he swatted my hand away. He still didn't look at me. I sighed and stood up.

"Zuko…" I paused, searching his face. He cocked an eyebrow expectantly. I bit my lip, feeling about to cry. He never knew I loved him. The sad part is I still do. I flung my arms around his neck and squeezed my eyes shut, willing the tears not to come. I could feel his surprise and I knew he would be blushing. I pulled back and looked him in the eyes.

"Please be careful," I said. I hugged him again, and this time, he hugged me back. We separated, and he smiled at me. Then he left. I collapsed in his chair, and I just let the tears come. I curled up into a ball and sat there, and soon I couldn't cry anymore.

Uncle Iroh came in and told me it was time for the match. I walked out of the tent with him, my hands in my pockets, biting my lip. We entered the edge of the arena, and by now I was so full of anxiety I had bitten all the nails on my left hand except the thumb, which I was working on now. Uncle Iroh stood in front of a kneeling Zuko, and I could feel my stomach flutter. I've known Zuko all my life, and I still get butterflies when I see him shirtless. Those darn feelings were butting into the middle of things again...

Iroh placed his hands on Zuko's shoulders and had a short pep talk. I could see Zhou at the other end of the arena, talking with his old master.

The gong sounded, and the opponents stood up. Before Zuko turned around he looked at me, and the corner of his mouth twitched up a bit. I felt my face turning red, but then it turned white again. Zuko and Zhou met each other in the middle and circled each other in ready position. Zuko shot a fire-punch at Zhou, who blocked. Zuko did it again, Zhou blocked. I was biting my thumb so hard it started bleeding. I tried to calm myself down, Uncle Iroh was completely calm, or so he looked like it. I took a few breathes and put my hands down by my side and watched. Zuko lunged an attack on Zhou, and he was flung backwards. I silently cheered. Zhou stood up and shot blasts of fire at Zuko, one after another. I swore I was going to faint. I settled onto the dirt and leaned against the wall. This banter went on for about ten minutes, they were both tiring. Even I could see that. Zuko finally delivered the final blow to Zhou and he shot backwards into the dirt. Zuko stood above him, glaring and smirking at the same time. Shou grumbled and swore. Zuko turned to come back to us, but I saw something. Zhou stood up and was getting ready to blast at Zuko. Before I could say anything, Uncle Iroh was there and blocked it just as he shot, sending Shou into the dirt again. Zuko turned and realized what Zhou had been planning to do. I ran over there as fast as I could. Uncle Iroh stood above Zhou in a defiant manner.

"Is this how the famous Commander Zhou reacts to defeat?" Zhou just glared and grumbled.

"Even with banishment, my nephew has more honor than you." I saw Zuko stiffen. I smiled to myself. Uncle Iroh bowed to Zhou out of respect. "Thank you for the tea, it was delicious."

As we were walking towards the ship, Zuko turned to his uncle.

"Did you really mean that Uncle?" The retired general and I shared a smile.

"Of course." He said. "Jasmine tea is my favorite." I chuckled and hugged Zuko quickly from the side. Then I took off and ran up the gangplank to out ship.