Book 5 Thunder: Chapter 15 Fire on the Sea

Bookshelves everywhere as the fire grew burning a warming color. A raven blowing on a bubble pipe sat in the chair by the fire.

"We know of the where abouts of Miss Mandy and the Grim Reaper," The raven crowed. "But what of Billy. Where has this lad gone to? I not he same universe or another?"

The raven stopped because of a knock on the study door.

"Come in," he blew more bubbles as the door was blasted down.

"A talking raven with a bubble pipe?!" a man with white hair in a Sedian armor led the way in. "Blasphemy! I will not tolerate such a chaotic being!"

"Gah!" the raven jumped off the chair when one of the other guards swept at him only to be caught by another. "Unhand me, you fools! I speak nothing but of literature-!"

The raven's cries were muffled out then was carried out of the study. The apparent leader picked up the book next to the chair.

"Chaos will be eliminated," he spoke under breath and stormed out with the book inn hand.

Back to where it makes sense...

"Anyone else get that feeling that something bad's about to happen?" Fayt sighed.

"Besides the current situation?" Hiei snapped.

They were tied to chairs in a ship's hull. Their chairs were back to back: Fayt to Hiei, Eclipse to Ara, and Billy by himself. Their captors appeared to be a teenaged boy with his hair in a ponytail with the skin around the left eye burned. And the other was a man sitting in the corner drinking tea.

"Prince Zuko," the man set the cup down. "Release these people they know nothing of the Avatar."

"How else would they come out of the sky like that, Uncle?" Zuko spoke with a rasping lisp.

Billy began to giggle. "You talk funny."

"It won't be a laughing matter when you're being tortured," Zuko snapped.

"Hey, Hiei," Fayt nudged him. "I think we found your long lost twin brother."

Hiei nudged back, only harder.

"Tell me what you know!" Zuko demanded.

"I don't like your attitude," Ara kicked Zuko in the shin.

"Listen woman," Zuko came inches away from her face. "You don't want to mess with me right now."

"Need help finishing your Human Torch costume?" she smirked.

"I request a seat change!" Eclipse felt the fires of battle start up behind her.

"I don't blame you," the uncle got up and began to untie her.

"What are you doing?!" Zuko raged.

"Letting her change her seat," he picked up her chair and set it behind Billy's. "Your chair, miss-"

Eclipse had not followed her seat but went to the tea pot. "Is this ging-sing?"

"Quite a knowledge of tea," the uncle noted.

"Uncle!!" Zuko growled.

"Prince Zuko," the helmsman appeared in the doorway. "We need to confirm a course set."

"I'll be back," he growled again. "And when I do, I want the truth."

"You can't handle the truth!" Fayt's answer was replied with the door slamming shut on them.

"You must excuse my nephew," the uncle began as he untied Billy. "He is going through a difficult time right now."

"He's going through puberty?" Billy jumped off the chair.

The uncle laughed. "No, no," He wiped his eyes on his sleeve. "My name is Iroh."

"We don't need your name old man," Hiei snapped growing impatient.

"Very well," Iroh let the ropes fall off Ara. "I supposed then you don't need untying as well."

Hiei tried to come up with a retort but couldn't.

"So, what's his problem?" Fayt asked when it was her turn to be untied.

"Rough childhood, I imagine," Iroh walked back to his tea. "Now the question of the hour, how did you five get here anyways?"

"Through the power of a golden, glowing apple," Billy perked up.

There was a silence.

"Sounds logical to me," Iroh chuckled.

"UNCLE!!" Zuko was quick down the stairs. "You untied the prisoners?!"

"Not all of them," Iroh pointed out Hiei.

"We don't even know what kind of benders they are!" Zuko tried to remain calm.

"That's easy," Ara crossed her arms. "I'm Fire and so is the bound one."

"I'm Wind!" Eclipse nodded.

"There is only one air bender and he is the Avatar," Zuko snapped.

"Fine then. I'm a Bender-Bender."

"What the hell is a Bender-Bender?"

"Come here and I'll show you."

"I've had enough of this," Zuko saw Fayt sitting there calmly. "Then what are you?"

"I'm a Thunder bender!" Fayt calmly exclaimed.

"You mean Fire? My sister knows of those techniques."

"No, Thunder bender!"

"There are no such things as Thunder benders!!" Zuko glared.

"Yes, there are!" Fayt stood up to him.

"No, there's not," Zuko clenched his fist.

"Are too!" (F)

"Are not!"(Z)

"Are too!" (F)

"Are not!"(Z)

"Are not!" (F)

"Are too!"(Z)

"Are-"(F)

"There are such things as Lightning benders," Zuko triumphed. "What I say goes!"

"Alright," Fayt sat back down with a smirk.

"Wait-" Zuko was confused.

"I don't know what kind I am," Billy became uneasy being in a room full of benders.

"Not to worry," Iroh patted his back. "There are tests."

"What kind of tests?" Billy sat his tea cup down in a scholar sort of way.

"Simple," Iroh pointed out. "We see how you defend yourself when attacked."

"That sounds fun!"

"Come now, Prince Zuko," Iroh got up, joints creaking, and patted his still confused nephew's back. "Let's go see what kind of bender the boy is."

Iroh lead Zuko up the stairs onto the deck. Ara, Billy, Eclipse, and Fayt followed.

"Hey!" Hiei called after them. There was no reply. "Crap."

Book 5 Thunder Chapter 15: Fire on the Sea Fin.

Sorry about the delay!