Chapter 2: Short Fuses

Dear Diary,

It's me, Jade again.

I would ask how you are doing but seeing that you're just an inanimate book that would be pointless and stupid.

Rather like the goddamn prince I have to deal with.

I tell you diary I have had it with his childish idiocy. If I have to listen to him throw a hissy fit one more time I'm going to chuck him overboard myself!

Seriously the way he talks to me it's like I'm something nasty stuck to his shoe.

Well whatever! I don't care what father says anymore. Prince or no prince I'm going to treat that jerk the same way I'd treat any other jerk on this ship. It's high time he was given a taste of his own medicine and –

"Psst! Jade!" a voice whispered and Jade looked up from her journal to see her brother Shen's sleepy but still very anxious face poke through the door. "The deck is deserted. Father told me to tell you that he wants you to get dressed and come up quickly for training"

"Training? Aww yesss!" Jade hissed in victory only for her brother to snigger and shake his head fondly as he slipped out of the door.

"Hurry up! You've got two minutes"

"HYA!"

"Good Jade. Your blocks are improving. But now try and time them with your breaths"

"Hya! Hya!"

"Even more in time. Same goes for your sais."

"HA! HA!"

"That's the spirit! Now give me one more big strike!"

"HAYYYAA!"

The kiai that was unleashed from the mouth of the small girl was so loud and so fierce as she struck her sai out in a forward thrust, that her father jumped back in surprise.

"Sorry father" Jade panted. Her brow was so drenched with sweat that her now mussed up brown hair was sticking to it even as she made to finish her kata with a deep inhale.

As she straightened up she caught sight of her father's furrowed brow and flushed.

"I got it right that time didn't I?" She quirked a brow up at him and he quickly nodded.

"yes you did…it's just that…" but then he caught her eye and coughed "never mind it's nothing"

"Father please" Jade puffed as she wiped at her brow with the back of her hand, being careful not to point the tip of her sharp weapon close to her face. "just tell me what I did wrong?"

But that only seemed to make her father look more uncomfortable. Nonetheless he silently gave a very pointed glance to the tea set that he had on a tray at his feet. One of the clay cups was laying on the metal in splinters and the teapot had a giant crack running down the side.

"Damn it" Jade hissed to herself, swinging her arms down and slashing at the air beside her with her sais. Naturally with her much smaller build than most of the men aboard the ship, such an action would barely even cause a scratch. However even as the tip of one of her hands finally reached the lowest point the other unbroken teacup rose a foot up off the ground before quickly crashing down with a loud smash.

Her father's eyes softened as he walked towards her but she just turned her face to the ground in shame.

"I know. I should've had it under control by now. I'm sorry I know it's pathetic! I swear it won't happen again-"

"Jade. Look at me" her father put his hands on her shoulders "It's alright! I know its difficult holding a gift like this in. But no matter what you're still my daughter and neither me nor your brother will ever stop loving you or not help you further your talents."

"Sorry…" she mumbled as she peeked up through her lashes, her mouth set in a small sad pout.

"That's alright. It wasn't a good pot anyway"

"I wasn't talking about the teapot" Jade snorted as she glanced over to the ceramics.

Her father chuckled.

"I know"

In spite of herself Jade felt her mouth twitch upwards into a small smile as her father reached up to gently brush away her long messy locks from her green eyes. His own brown ones were warm with affection even as he stroked her cheek with his thumb as she murmured.

"…thanks father"

She leaned forwards into his touch and shut her eyes, enjoying the feel of the warm yellow gold sun as it steadily rose just over the horizon line.

However the moment was short lived when a metal door banged open and a voice barked out.

"Come on hurry up uncle."

You've got to be kidding me?!

Jade groaned in dismay as she caught sight of prince Zuko's distinct scarred face ascend up from below deck along with two fully armed guards and a very tired Iroh in toe.

"Zuko" the older man yawned wide "Whilst I admire your enthusiasm for your training. Don't you think it's a tad extreme to wake up so early on such a peaceful morning?"

"Uncle we're this close to closing in on the Avatar" Zuko snapped as he tugged on the last tie to his own armour's shoulder pads "if I'm going to capture him I'm going to need to work harder on my fire bending"

"More like jerk bending" Jade muttered aloud much to her father's exasperation.

"Jade!" he hissed warningly but unfortunately for him, Zuko's sharp ears caught his daughter's words and his head quickly snapped to glare at her.

"What are you doing here?" he spat fiercely.

"Training" Jade replied coolly holding up her sai's for all to see. "What are you doing?"

"Training" Zuko sneered in mockery of her own cold tones, though his eyes were quick to wander over the weapons in her hands with faint surprise. Jade caught sight of his gaze and her eyes narrowed.

"What's the matter prince Zuko? Never seen a girl carrying weapons?"

"I have. But I have seen many amateurs who can hold a sai better than that"

"Oh really?" Jade rolled her eyes her grip on her weapons tightening considerably "Then it shouldn't be difficult for you to take this amateur on in a fight?"

"Jade" Jade's father pinched the bridge of his nose as Zuko snarled, incensed by the girl's defiance.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Tch! Obviously" Jade didn't even flinch even as the scarred prince took a menacing step forwards.

"You want a fight? Then I challenge you to an Agni Kai!"

"Sorry not a fire-bender" Jade smirked at the flicker of surprise over her adversary's face.

But Zuko was quick to parry almost at once.

"Then we go hand to hand!"

"fine by me!"

"After you then!"

"Ladies first princess!"

"AGH!"

"Zuko" Iroh barked from the sideline's all tiredness forgotten but both teenagers paid no heed to him or indeed to any of the other adults present.

Without a second thought both Zuko and Jade lunged at one another. The prince being the taller and heavier of the two was quick to bowl the young kitchen maid off her feet and roll with her half way over the deck.

However he underestimated his adversary's resourcefulness for even as they rolled she managed to slip her feet under his stomach and push him over onto his back.

Neither could throw a punch or strike for both of their hands were pushing against each other's, both of them shaking from the force each one was trying to exert over the other as they wrestled.

She's strong…

Zuko could not help but be surprised even as he mimicked her earlier move and managed to shove her off him. This time however instead of just rolling to the side Jade leapt up to her feet and held her hands up in a defensive position.

"Yielding already?" Zuko smirked as he too got to his feet.

"Like hell I am!" Jade snapped only to quickly duck under a punching arm aimed for her head.

Quickly she aimed a jab at the prince's ribs and was pleased to hear him grunt as her fingers dug painfully into his sides.

But her victory was short lived when her hand was grabbed suddenly in his and twisted roughly.

Jade hissed in pain as her whole body had to warp, her elbow and arm locking itself behind her back as Zuko added more strain to her limb.

"hmph! That was too easy" the hissed as he tugged her to stand so that his front was close to her back, his head leaning over her shoulder so that he could whisper in her ear. "Now will you yield?"

"nope! Sorry your highness?" Jade spat as she swiftly swept her foot up before bringing it crashing down hard on the prince's foot.

Zuko cursed in pain and released her arm at once to hop away. Her feet though bare, felt to have almost smashed his foot even through his boot. He could swear to the spirits that at least two of his toes were broken already.

Jade had to laugh at the sight. There he was, the great fire nation prince hopping about on one foot like a child playing hopscotch over hot coals.

But if she thought her battle was won then she had another thing coming.

She yelped in surprise as Zuko now threw himself at her once more, this time managing to pin her down by hovering over her on all fours.

"Gotcha!" he panted into her face, only to pause for a moment.

They were really close, their faces barely inches apart.

Zuko stiffened a little as he looked down on his pinned opponent. There was something about the way the green eyes shone, almost as if they had a spark of energy. It was such a bright spark that it made him pause in his tracks.

He'd only seen such a trait manifest itself in few people he had met and fought. The spark of a bender.

But Jade wasn't a bender. Her father and brother were, but she wasn't.

Maybe it's just her eyes.

He reasoned in his head. After all they both were an unusual shade of green.

Unusual…

Well that was one word to describe her.

His brow furrowed deeply even as he fixed his own gaze into hers.

As for Jade, she could see every detail of burnt skin in the large scar over the prince's face. It was a fairly hideous mark from a distance, but up close it actually wasn't so bad. The skin was red and in a couple of spots raw, but overall it had mostly healed. The pigmentation was the only thing that truly had been damaged beyond repair.

But what got to Jade most were the eyes, a shade of brown with vibrant amber rings about the centre. Each eye was so bright it was as if there were sparks, as if of fireworks or flame, ignited in each iris…

Must be because he's a fire bender

She reasoned. Her father and brother both had a similar spark.

But but even as she continued looking something in her peripheral seemed to streak up brightly and hotly like a fireball before exploding in the distance.

Zuko glimpsed it too, for he was quick to wrench himself away to look up at the sky.

"A flare? But there aren't any other ships about here…" he muttered scrambling to his feet so that he could dash over to the side of the ship as soon as he was there he bellowed.

"Ruishi quick hand me your telescope!"

Jade looked up to see her father sigh softly, his face a scowl. But nonetheless he obeyed the prince's command.

"What is it?" Jade muttered with a quirked brow as she stood to her feet to run to the prince's side. Zuko didn't answer at once. He just gazed through her father's telescope angling it steadily as if tracking something in its gaze.

"The last air bender" he murmured finally not looking away from his prize. "quite agile for his old age."

"what?" Jade blinked only to suddenly find her father's telescope thrust right before her eye.

"He's right there" Zuko muttered almost shoving the eyepiece into the girl's eye socket as he maneuvered it into the right position.

Jade shut one eye and squinted through the telescope until-

She gasped softly.

There on a frozen block of snow covered land, two figures were walking. One was dressed in the blue furs and garments of the water tribes and the other was dressed in strange yellow and orange clothing. It was this figure that she focused most on.

Even from this distance she could tell they were bald and that his clothing, though flamboyant in colour, was definitely similar to that of a monk's.

"I don't believe it…" she breathed "he's real…"

"Yes he's real" Zuko smirked his face a mask of derisive triumph even as he looked out over the frozen lands before them. "and so is his hiding place. Uncle send a message to the helmsman! Tell him to steer towards the water tribe village. Everyone else get ready for battle. We take them out and then wait for the Avatar to come crawling back."

"the village?!" Jade spluttered as she wrenched the telescope from her eyes. "but he's clearly heading away from them. Why go there?!"

"Because they helped him" Zuko narrowed his fierce amber eyes down to meet her widening green ones.

"So because of that you're going to attack them? Even though they are most likely not a threat?"

"And how would you know if they are not a threat?" Zuko spat with a sneer. "you've barely left the kitchens for the past two years. What would someone like you know about battle tactics? Or about the enemy?"

"Not much" Jade admitted though she still glowered up mulishly at him. "But I know enough to know that what someone like you is doing is morally wrong! That village is so small I'm willing to bet that there are barely or any warriors left in it! You'll just be attacking innocent civilians."

"They are the enemy! And as such I will deal with them as I see fit" Zuko began hotly but Jade's yell rang out loudest of all.

"Then you are no better than your monster of a father!"

…

…

…

Everything stood still.

All breaths were caught in their respective owner's chests as all eyes swivelled to Zuko, whose face, Jade noticed with mounting dread, was a mask of absolute fury.

"If that's how you truly feel then so be it. Guards. Take this kitchen maid to the prison hold and lock her in there until she learns to hold her tongue"

"No…no wait please! Prince Zuko- I'm sure Jade didn't mean" Jade saw her father began to splutter but Zuko just shot the older man a glare.

"Stay out of this Ruishi! That's an order. Just be happy I'm not sending her overboard to freeze to death!" he snapped before turning back to the two stunned guards behind him.

"Well what are you waiting for" he yelled "take her down now"

"No Prince Zuko-" Ruishi reached out to grab hold of the Prince's shoulder.

However before he could touch him he felt a smaller hand grab at his arm gently and pull it down.

"Father…don't" Jade murmured softly "it's ok. I'll go."

"Jade-" Ruishi looked down at his daughter, and Zuko was surprised to see the genuine dejection in the man's brown eyes even as his daughter shook her head.

"You keep saying that one day I'm going to have to learn to face the consequences for my actions. Well now I will."

She turned to Zuko and the guards, her face set in a mask of steely determination. But even as he watched the prince could see deep in her eyes that she was terrified.

She knew that she had crossed a line, and she knew what that meant for her future.

His brow furrowed in confusion as she held up her wrists together towards him.

Even though she's scared…she's still going to go through with this? Just how crazy can this girl be?

He grit his teeth as one of the guards stepped forwards, a pair of cuffs open and ready in his hands.

"Sorry kid. I hope they're not too tight" the guard muttered as he made to take the girl's wrists. His grip though firm was gentle albeit a bit shaky and reluctant.

Zuko frowned at this.

She was just a kitchen maid and yet even his own guards respected her more than they did him.

But even as he caught sight of Ruishi's forlorn expression he remembered the events in the mess hall the previous night.

No. His crew were not just respectful of this girl, they were fond of her. And they were also irritated with him. So irritated that they all were glad to seek refuge away from his presence.

"Tensions on the ship are bound to run high and some people's patience will begin to crack if the wrong buttons are pushed."

His uncle's voice reverberated off the walls of his head much to his chagrin.

"Agh! Wait!" he growled softly pinching the bridge of his nose.

There was a moment's pause in which all looked at him in surprise. Jade herself was blinking confusedly between the guard that almost had her cuffed and the prince that was currently looking very frustrated even as he glowered at her.

"Take the cuffs off."

Jade's heart almost stopped in her chest.

"y-your highness?" the guard before her stuttered.

"You heard me" Zuko snapped still not taking his eyes from Jade's face "take the cuffs off."

The guard was quick in his job of removing the metal bands and hurriedly stepped away just as Zuko stormed up into Jade's face.

"You really have a nerve to insult my father" he hissed, his tones almost venomous, though they were only low enough for only her to hear "But for this one time I'll let it slide. However if you step out of line once more I will not hesitate to lock you up for good. Or if possible throw you overboard myself. Are we clear?"

"As crystal" Jade almost had to bite down on her own tongue to stop herself from spitting the words out in his face.

"good" Zuko straightened up and it took all Jade had not to punch the smug smirk straight off his scarred face as he barked "Now go to the kitchen's and start your chores"

Jade nodded silently though she looked if possible even angrier than before.

Though not as angry as her father who just strode over to her and grabbed her by the shoulder.

His face was the stoniest she had ever seen it.

"Sorry Prince Zuko but her chores are going to have to wait." He turned his head down to his daughter "It's time we had a talk young lady"

"But-" Jade opened her mouth but flinched as her father growled dangerously over the top of her.

"No Jade. A talk. Now"

Oh snap...

Jade gulped as she was steered away from the deck.

…I'm so screwed.

She shut her eyes tight, completely missing the heavy sigh from Iroh as he shook his head sadly.

"I knew it was a bad idea to wake up early" He muttered to himself.

Crash!

Zuko and the two remaining guards all jumped and wheeled about quickly to see the clay teapot that had just been sitting there on the tray, laying shattered on the ground.

Though no one had been standing anywhere near it.

"Oh Lucky-Jade~! What's this I hear about you and Prince Zuko have suddenly become sparring partners on the deck?"

"Shen not now" Jade mumbled softly.

It was midday and she was in the kitchens doing a last minute clean-up of all the crockery before the ship's lunch rush. Dango was down in the pantry, gathering supplies for the meals, leaving her alone to scrub hard at slightly greasy dishes from breakfast.

Or at least she was alone until her brother Shen decided to show up.

He was now currently snatching wet but clean plates from the rack and drying them off with many an exaggerated flourish.

"Hey! Look! The Avatar is over there! And he's air-bending!" He grinned as he flicked out the towel to whack lightly against his sister's backside, only for his face to fall when he received no response.

"Hey…hey what's up?" he leaned down to peer at her face.

It was full of tears.

"Jade…"

"I was so close Shen" Jade snivelled wiping her wet eyes on her sleeve "The teapot…the clay one, it was right there, I could almost feel it. I almost shot it at him"

"At dad?"

"No! At prince douche-bag you idiot!" Jade snapped, so harshly that her brother actually jumped away from her. "I almost Earth-bended and insulted the one ass that can totally screw me over and lock me up for the rest of my life or worse and-"

"Ok! Ok! I get it! Stop shouting!" Shen hissed in a panic as he quickly clapped a hand over his sister's mouth. Swiftly he chanced a glance back at the closed kitchen doors, but thankfully it seemed it was shut tight.

He turned his head towards the door that led down to the pantry. It was shut tight too.

"gmpht ymmm hmmd oof umhee muph!"

"huh?" Shen blinked and turned back to Jade who was now giving him a tearful glower as she wrenched his hand from her mouth.

"I said" she rasped as fresh air flooded into her mouth "Get your hand off my mouth"

"oh sorry" Shen muttered before grabbing onto her shoulders gently.

"Jade listen to me. Even if Prince Zuko or his uncle find out about your bending, Father will not let anything happen to you, and neither will I. I promise."

Jade however shook her head.

"But that's the problem Shen. You've already both got a lot on your plates and the last thing I want is for either of you to get in trouble, especially because of me"

"And we won't." Shen rubbed her arms soothingly. "I know it's tough but you're going to be fine. I promise…now come here you little rock-head"

Jade snivelled and shut her eyes as she felt her brother's arms surround her and pull her in tight and close, only to quickly jump back as the door to the kitchens opened carefully

"Oh…I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Lord Iroh" Jade and Shen both spluttered with small bows but Iroh just put his hands up peacefully.

"Oh no! it's quite alright. Please don't mind me. I'm was just going to get myself some tea"

"Oh…well…I've got a fresh pot of ginseng ready on the stove if you would like?" Jade gave a small tremulous smile.

Ginseng tea was always the old General's favourite so it came as no surprise that when he replied it was with a wide hearty grin.

"I'd love some"

Jade nodded meekly as she put down the wet plate in her hands into the sink just as her brother made to mumble.

"Um…I'll just um…excuse me." He was quick to sidle out the door timidly much to his sister's faint amusement.

Iroh's eyes softened with pity as he caught sight of the young girl's slumped shoulders and red eyes as she passed him on the way to the stove.

As she made to place the teapot on a tray he spoke quietly and gently.

"I am sorry about my nephew's earlier behaviour. I know he's not the easiest person to get along with. His struggles and his pain causes him to be bitter and prickly towards others. And it was unfortunate that he had to take out his anger on you."

"Yeah well he's not the only one that's got issues to deal with" Jade muttered more to herself than to anyone else.

She turned round with the tray and saw Iroh standing there a small sad frown on his face.

"Sorry…that was uncalled for" she mumbled.

"It's quite alright." Iroh assured her gently before adding with a small chuckle "besides I think it's safe to say that we've all had a pretty hectic day"

"You can say that again" Jade couldn't help but giggle as Iroh held his hands for the tray.

The old general smiled as he inhaled the curling steaming fumes of the teapot.

Ahh…Now that's some good Ginseng!

"Prince Zuko"

Zuko's head rose as he turned to look back at his uncle Iroh, who was standing alone in the doorway to the prince's room holding a tray of tea.

"She deserved it" Zuko muttered before the older man could open his mouth.

"Oh really?" Iroh's voice was light but his face was uncharacteristically grim even as he closed the door with one hand balancing the tray. "Prince Zuko do you honestly believe a loyal crewmate like Jade deserves to be treated like a criminal for speaking up for what she believed in?"

"What she believes is wrong." Zuko spat turning his head away to avoid Iroh's disappointed sigh.

"No Prince Zuko. What Jade said about you was wrong. But I don't think for one moment that she really thinks that of you."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I have known Jade and her family for a very long time. And I can tell you that none of them, Jade included, are hateful people. They might be very stubborn and a bit hard-headed at times. But not hateful."

"Pff! Yeah right. Because her comment was so not hateful." Zuko sneered "My father is not a monster…and neither am I. Besides what's it to her if we attack the village?"

"Because they are also people. People with lives" Iroh began but his nephew just snorted.

"They're enemies of the fire nation and they must be treated as such"

Iroh shut his eyes and shook his head.

"Prince Zuko, I understand you are still very upset by your fight, but take it from an old general. Letting your anger guide you on your mission will only lead to disastrous consequences, especially if you know that the one you must face is a powerful opponent like the Avatar. If he truly has returned, and should you face him, he will not hesitate to use your anger to his advantage. So before you set forth to go to the village perhaps you should take the time to calm yourself down."

The old general was pleased to see his nephew's shoulder's sag as he gave a heavy sigh.

"Fine"

"Good" Iroh smiled warmly as he strode over to sit cross legged by the low table. "Now why don't you come sit."

Zuko nodded silently, a grumpy pout gracing his features even as he flumped down to sit opposite his uncle and take the cup of tea offered to him.

But he didn't drink at once.

Instead he asked quietly.

"Uncle do you think we'll need many troops?"

"Troops for what?" Iroh blinked in surprise over his cup of tea.

"To capture the avatar" Zuko gripped his cup tighter in his hands "he is after all one of the most powerful beings on the earth. And he can bend all four elements. But the village he was hiding in is small and from the looks of it we won't need much fire-power to take it down"

"So what do you think should be done?" Iroh quirked a brow and Zuko bit his lip as he thought to himself quietly.

"I don't know…" the prince admitted softly and Iroh was surprised to see his nephew's very nervous expression on his face as he quietly asked. "What would you do if you were in my position?"

"If I were in your position?" Iroh's brow furrowed in thought "I would only take a small but skilled group of fire benders down to the village and keep the rest of the troops on board the deck and on hand just in case. But most importantly and before anything else" he added with a small chortle to himself "I would drink a nice cup of Ginseng tea."

Zuko rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help the way the corners of his mouth twitched upwards in faint amusement at his uncle's antics. He was quick to bring his still warm cup up for a sip.

At first he grimaced at the slightly bitter after taste on his tongue, but after chancing a glance at his watchful uncle he quickly drained it in a few gulps.

"It's good isn't it" Iroh smiled knowingly.

"Umhmm" Zuko's nodded only to stiffen as he caught sight of a small mischievous twinkle in his uncle's eyes.

He paused and looked down at the cup in his hand.

"She made this didn't she?"

Iroh didn't reply. He only smiled wider and took another sip from his cup.

Zuko groaned loudly.

"Agh! You've got to be kidding me"

Not that he could blame him. It was a very good brew after all.

Iroh smirked softly to himself as he made to drain his own cup.

"It was good of you not to lock her up."

"I didn't do it for her" Zuko snapped moodily. "I just did it to keep the crew happy. Though I don't know why they care so much. She's just one girl"

"Ah yes she is one girl" Iroh nodded quietly "But she is a girl with a big heart and a warm kind smile. Something I hope you get to see for yourself before long."

"tch! Like I want to see it" Zuko scoffed irritably.

Iroh just smiled.

"You know Prince Zuko. Destiny is a funny thing. You never know how things are going to work out. Maybe one day you and Jade might be the best of friends. Who can tell?"

"Mmph! Whatever" Zuko mumbled under his breath folded his arms with a scowl and turned away from his uncle, but that didn't do much to hide the small flush of pink that had crept over his ears.

Friends? With a kitchen maid? Yeah right! Like that could ever happen.

Ok so that was chapter 2.

Yeah so Jade has a few secrets of her own. An earth-bender aboard a fire nation ship, that's not going to be easy. don't worry all will be revealed in time ;)

lol! writing grumpy Zuko is so much fun XD

I hope you enjoyed. The next chapter is the big one!

keep reading and reviewing for more