"Prince Zuko, Admiral Zhao is taking all of the crew. Even the cook!" Uncle said, sad and defeated. The admiral grinned widely.

"What? Why? You can't do this!" Zuko yelled.

"Why not? I bought them," Zhao said coyly.

"When?"

"Just now. They quit when I offered them more money, and better treatment," he added, "I'll pay their worth to you now." Three Fire Nation guards approached the prince and laid bags of gold at his feet. "It's a shame you and your Uncle won't join us. We would make a good team, hunting the avatar."

This angered Zuko. "You will never catch the avatar before me! And we would never help you find him in a thousand years!"

The older man chuckled. "Suit yourself." Something caught his eye as he scanned the walls of the room: two broadswords. His expression changed sharply. "Prince Zuko, I never knew you were skilled with broadswords."

Zuko realized what Zhao was thinking. "No, I'm not. They're antiques, simply there for display."

"I see." Zhao was making all the connections Zuko didn't want him ever to figure out. "Are you two familiar with the Blue Spirit? Quite common appearance these days, don't you say?" he asked casually.

"I'm not sure it's even real," Uncle said honestly, who didn't know Zuko's secret.

"Oh he's real. I've seen him myself. Cost me the avatar once actually," Zhao said loudly, staring but not looking at Zuko.

"Interesting. You have what you want, now leave," ordered Zuko, pointing to the door.

"Alright, I'm going," he said, walking slowly to the door. "Good luck finding the avatar, Zuko."

Zuko was silent, glaring back. Uncle jabbed him hard in the ribs. "You too," Zuko added, painfully. The admiral smiled darkly, and left the boat with his troops and our crew. Only the three of us remained: a prince, a general and a slave.

"Oh well," Uncle sighed, "I hated that cook's food anyways."

Zuko bellowed and threw himself on his bed like a spoiled little boy who didn't get what he wanted. Uncle gave me a knowing look, and together we left the room to go sit by the fire. After a few minutes in silence, the old man began, "It is too beautiful out to be sitting, pouting, on our empty ship. Care to take a walk with me?"

"If Zuko comes, otherwise I'll just stay here," I replied.

"I guess that means no," he said sadly. "If you change your mind, I'll be heading through the town." He stood up and calmly left the ship. I added more tinder to the fire, and sat down again beside it. It was very peaceful; everyone was asleep at the docks, and the only noises around me were the crackling of the fire and the slap of the tides against the vessel. I closed my eyes, and focused on my breathing.

My meditation was interrupted by the sound of something hitting the deck in different places. I jumped to my feet, but it was too dark to see anything. I panicked and stumbled towards Zuko's door. Suddenly, a strong hard arm yanked me to the ground. I yelped, and yelled once for the prince. Before I knew it, my mouth was covered, and my hands were tied. I was being carried by a strong man, and my eyes were almost completely adapted to the dark.

I peered around; a dozen men were on deck scurrying about. Several ran below deck, one carried a torch, and two others silently carried barrels down below deck. I was confused. Then a call came out, and everyone raced off the ship, including the man who carried me. I heard a cracking and snapping as we ran away. Some men covered their ears as they sprinted away. I was confused but then I realized what was happening. I panicked and began working the rope out of my mouth that kept me silent, and struggled to free my hands. I grew more and more desperate as I realized the fate of my Master. I wiggled the rope out of my mouth, and started screaming as loud as I could for the prince. The man carrying me couldn't decide whether he should run or try to shut me up. In the disorder, I managed to twist myself out of his arms and I hit the ground hard on my side. I struggled to get up without the use of my arms, but when I did I raced back towards the ship, still yelling.

I could hear my captor pounding down behind me, but I pushed on, praying I could get there in time. Before I even reached the dock, however, an explosion went off on our ship and the whole thing burst into flames. Pieces of the ship flew off in every direction, and I could hear the man chasing me yell in pain as something struck him hard to the ground. I started crying, and ran even faster to the boat. I dashed up the loading plank and reached the top deck.

There was a huge hole in the floor where the bomb went off, and there was only one route to Zuko's room. Carefully I made my way to the prince's quarters. The door was blown off, but the rest of the room was fairly in tact, although smoke was beginning to fill the room. I coughed and started looking hastily around for Zuko. He was not there, but neither were his clothes and weaponry. He must have escaped! I imagined hopefully. Before I left, I cut the bounds that held my hands together, and then I raced out to the deck. I frantically began looking for the prince, calling his name. I got the idea that perhaps he jumped overboard to avoid the flame, and I ran to the edge of the boat. I grew worried when I saw nothing but waves and burning debris.

But then I looked towards the town, and at the edge of the water, I saw one large shape pulling something out of the water. "Uncle Iroh!" I yelled.

"Sing, get off of that boat!" he yelled in reply, dragging an unconscious Zuko onto dry land.

"Men are after me! They tried to kill Zuko, you must hide!" I yelled, remembering my peril.

"Sing, we are going to the North Pole. You must get there in four days, I will find you," Uncle said slowly, making sure I understood.

"The North Pole? How?"

"Just be there!"

"I will! Is he---" I was interrupted by a bag over my head and two pairs of strong arms wrestling me into submission. They dragged me off the boat; I could feel them passing me dangerously close to large flames. I didn't know where we were going, but I could hear them talking to other men. I felt myself being lead up a wooden plank, one that led us on the deck of a new boat. It smelt terrible, of mold and algae.