Chapter 34: The Last Straw

Pain…she could feel pain…

All over her back.

Her sides…

Her head-oh how her head throbbed.

"Jade!" a voice was calling but it felt distant, like she was hearing an echo from miles away.

She could feel something cool suddenly press down against her side and noticed for the first time just how sticky and strangely slick that spot felt as something warm oozed from her body.

The hand (for now she could discern the feeling of fingers), over her side pressed down even harder onto the spot releasing another terrible jolt of pain through her body.

The shock of the sting gave her the energy she needed to open her mouth and suck in a much-needed gasp of air…and then a whimper.

"That's it Jade, just breathe! Breathe! You're going to be okay, just keep breathing-HELP! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY! HELP! HELP!"

Lord Iroh had never known time to move so slow in his life, but it was doing so now, even as he watched young Shen Shi pace up and down the length of the medical room on the large war-ship chewing his thumb nail, whilst his father Ruishi just sat silently in a chair, his face in his hands.

The minutes crawled by, each one only interrupted by the occasional grunt of breath or the sniffing of a nose as Ruishi scrubbed at his very red eyes.

"oh please Lien let her be alright. Please I beg you let our little one be alright." he mumbled quietly shaking his head as he prayed to the heavens up above.

Not that Iroh could blame him…not when he too felt the same worry in his own bones for his nephew...his nephew…who had not been seen or heard of since the ship exploded…

A white curtain a few empty beds away opened and a helmeted and masked guard stepped through.

"I've come to deliver a message from Admiral Zhao to Lord Iroh" the guard said stiffly and all eyes swivelled to the older lord.

He sighed heavily, letting his grief wash over him for a second before inhaling deeply and rising to his feet. He could not, no, he would not allow himself to fall to despair just yet. Just because Zuko hadn't been found, didn't mean he was dead.

"Well? What is this message? What does the Admiral want with me?" he scowled as he was led outside to the side of the room and into the corridor by the younger man who turned sharply round to face him, his hand slipping off the metal plate that fit into the front of his helmet.

Lord Iroh's jaw dropped. There standing before him, his face scarred and marked by bruises and cuts was his nephew.

"Z-Zuko! What on earth-h-how?"

"Shh! Quiet uncle" Zuko hissed glancing about worriedly to check around them.

No one was there.

He turned back to his uncle just in time to feel his arms pull him into a close and very tight squeeze.

"Uncle" the prince muttered, his scarred face flushing beet red with embarrassment as Iroh let him go, his amber eyes over bright as he patted his nephew down.

"My dear nephew I was so worried. I had feared the worst when the scouts didn't find you-"

"I'm fine. I hid out of the way of the scouts when they came around. But that doesn't matter, where's Jade? Is she alright? Please tell me she's alright!" Zuko growled his eyes flashing with fear.

Lord Iroh sighed.

"Jade's alive…but she's been hurt, badly. Chan's tending to her as we speak,"

"but she's going to be okay?" Zuko hissed gripping his uncle's shoulders tight.

But Iroh just shook his head.

"We don't know yet Zuko. He hasn't come out yet and from what we've been able to see or hear so far from inside it's been very touch and go."

Even in the dim light, Iroh could see Zuko's face pale to the colour of parchment.

"But he can fix it" his voice shook as did his hands on his uncle's shoulders "Chan can fix it. He's dealt with worse cases before-"

"Yes. But even then Zuko we must be prepared.… That wound on her side was …"

Now Iroh could see the tears threatening to fall from his nephew's eyes as he glared down at him. So much fear…so much anger…to everyone…but mostly to himself.

"She can't die" Zuko snarled under his breath. "She won't. She's strong. Stronger than everyone thinks she is. And Zhao's a fool to-"

"No Zuko. Zhao is not a fool…or at least not a complete fool" Iroh cut across him quietly, his voice uncharacteristically stern. "I've been hearing rumours from around the camp. Before he left for the Northern Air Temple, Lord Ryutaro has offered Ruishi, Shen and Jade the opportunity to return back to the Shi Clan, an offer that Zhao was pushing forwards quite directly. Yes, he most likely sent those pirates to kill you, and yes he let Jade go back to you. But she was never supposed to get hurt. In fact, she was never supposed to reach the ship before the explosion. She was supposed to reach afterwards, when you were supposed to be dead, that way she would see the consequences of her actions"

"consequences? Jade's done nothing to Zhao to deserve the treatment he's given her! She's been more loyal to the fire nation than he has! In spite of everything he's put her through" Zuko hissed but his gut still fell like a stone as his uncle sighed heavily.

"Yes she has, but Zhao doesn't care. As far as Jade's concerned she's never truly been fire nation. In fact, I'd go so far as to say he's never even seen her as anything more than a scapegoat for all his failings." Iroh gave a small but grim smirk. "a scapegoat who's the daughter of one of the fire nation's greatest enemies, one who the Fire Lord would do anything to see wiped off the face of the planet. And a scapegoat who can be used to control the one man that is Zhao's greatest threat"

"Ruishi" Zuko growled.

"yes" Iroh nodded.

Zuko let his uncle go and took a step back, breathing hard as he tried to clear his head.

"I need to see her" he murmured "I need to tell her-it's my fault. I got her involved with Zhao-I should've not let her get back on the ship! She should've just stayed away and she would've been fine"

"No. She wouldn't have" Iroh shook his head "And she won't be safe if you come back to her now. Zhao's already declared you dead and if you reappeared now suspicion would fall heavily upon him and I fear what he will do to both you and Jade when he's backed into a corner like that"

"So what I'm supposed to just sit and watch him lord it over her. After all he's done-"

"What you're supposed to do is keep a low profile" Iroh cut across his nephew firmly "and don't worry. Like you said Jade's a strong person. It will take a lot more than Zhao's bullying to break her spirit. Also, you forget Ruishi. True Jade's position makes him vulnerable, but he is still not a fool to be trifled with. If anything, this incident has rather backfired upon Zhao quite spectacularly, because it has now put his brother back in the spotlight. From what I can understand, the other Admirals and Captains are not too pleased with Zhao's leadership skills and would be more than happy for his brother to take command. Ruishi's reputation as a great tactician and fire-bending prodigy is still held in high regard by many, and I daresay his being the first-born son of the Shi Clan would still hold some sway over them, even though he has been disowned."

Zuko straightened up, his jaw set tensely as his ears picked up the sounds of a patrol passing by their hiding spot.

"I should go. Before I'm spotted" he murmured slipping the metal plate of his helmet back in front of his face.

"Yes you should" Lord Iroh nodded, only to catch his nephew by the shoulder before he could move away. "Perhaps you should go to my quarters and wait. That way if anything happens I could…"

He trailed off unable to finish the sentence, but Zuko understood.

With a silent nod, he walked away into the dark, only glancing back to see his uncle disappear into the room…the room where a girl was still struggling to survive.

The shadow on the hill sighed heavily as he watched the group of scouts scour the blackened misshapen remains of what once had been a metal ship.

So…someone else got there before me…I wonder whom?

His lips pursed as he watched the men rushing about searching for something…or rather someone.

"Prince ZUKO!"

"Your highness"

Ah…so the dear prince is missing, is he? Either he's dead and they're looking for a body, or they're looking for a survivor who doesn't want to be found.

The shadow on the hill's lips curled.

Now won't this be fun…

When Jade Shi opened her eyes, she was met with a sea of red.

Not blood, not guts, not even a canopy of red autumn leaves or fire burning, but just simply red light flickering over a dark ceiling stretching high above her head.

A ship…

Her brain just managed to compute.

I'm inside a ship-ow!

She winced as her body throbbed horribly, her ribs especially.

"Ah Jade you're awake" A familiar crisp voice suddenly piped up from her side.

Jade turned her head slowly, cringing as her entire body ached with the effort, only to see the relieved face of a very tired and very much relieved older man with dark hair and moustache streaked with grey.

"Ch-Chan?" she murmured her voice hoarse and scratchy as the physician made to peer down at her, his hand holding open one of her eyelids.

"How many fingers am I holding-"

"One" Jade rasped. "Wha-What happened? Where…where am I?"

"You're in a medical ward" Chan gave her a small gentle smile as he reached down to her neck with two fingers and held them there, checking at her pulse.

"Hmm…seems steady. You've been out of it for a few hours." he added in response to her confusion as he gently pushed her to lie back on the bed. "stay still, you've been through a lot and you still need to rest. I've sent word to your father and brother so they should be on their way-"

"Where's Zuko?"

Chan gulped as a hand grabbed his sleeve and pair of green eyes stared up at him, wide and terrified, but he steadied himself quickly as he pressed a gentle hand against her brow.

"Jade, please stay still. You've been through a terrible ordeal and your body needs all the rest it can get-"

"But Zuko-"

"I wouldn't be worrying about the prince right now" a voice sneered to her right.

Jade turned her head just as Chan wheeled around to glare at his patient's new visitor.

"Admiral Zhao, what-"

"Leave us" Zhao snapped, but a small smirk played on his lips as he beheld Jade's pale frightened face.

Chan saw it too and his blood boiled as he made to stand in the Admiral's way arms folded.

"Admiral please, with all due respect this girl needs to go back to sleep and rest, she's still-"

"That wasn't a request doctor"

There was a clicking of fingers and two burly guards strode in from the sides of the far away door and grabbed the doctor hard by the arms, only to have him shove them off.

"Very well. But if you need anything I will be brewing a sleeping draft next door" he added with a reassuring nod to Jade who was looking at him fearfully.

"Of course. Now OUT!" Zhao snapped, a smirk flickering onto his face as the old doctor marched off out a door nearby followed closely by the pair of guards.

Jade couldn't help but shudder as the last of the trio shut the door behind themselves with a loud snap, one that echoed eerily throughout the empty medical ward.

Trapped…

She gulped as her uncle made to sit on the edge of her bed, his face looming over her in a triumphant sneer.

"It's good to see you up my dear. Your father and I feared for the worst when we saw the explosion. You can only imagine our relief when the search parties found you on the be-"

"Where is Zuko!"

Zhao stared down to the girl in the bed. Her pale face, once fearful, was now glaring up at him, fists trembling.

Then his smirk returned full force.

It was a horrifying sight, but not as horrifying as the next words that came out of his mouth in a snake like hiss.

"Your dear Zuko I'm afraid. Is dead"

Jade froze. It wasn't a freezing of fear or anger, surprise, or indeed of any emotion at all. She just froze to the point where every single cell in her body was as still and as cold as stone.

She couldn't even hear anything…save for one word that pounded and rattled around the insides of her head.

Dead…Dead…

She saw Zhao's lips curl wickedly above her, but it was almost through a blur. Even his words seemed a little garbled, as if she were trying to hear them from underneath deep water.

"Yes. He is dead. Killed in the explosion. We haven't yet found a body, though I think it is highly unlikely that we ever will considering the magnitude of the blast."

Jade's mouth opened and shut, no sound managing to come out. But Zhao ploughed on mercilessly, eyes shining with victory as he placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned down to whisper:

"I did warn you, didn't I. Not to cross me. But of course, like any other stupid brat you just had to go right ahead and break the rules without any consideration for anyone except for yourself. And now look. Look at the results. Your boyfriend is dead, your home gone. And it's all your fault"

"N-No. Y-you're lying-no…" Jade whispered her fists shaking, though from fear, anger or from the pain that suddenly shot from where a bandage had been wrapped over her upper arm she could not tell. All she knew was that this man-no- this monster was lying to her when he said the prince was…was…

There was a click and a creak as the door to the ward opened.

"Zhao" a familiar voice rumbled.

"Brother, you are just in time. Dear Jade was just asking for you." Zhao stood up watching sharply as Ruishi Shi and his son Shen, strode inside, the latter swiftly usurping his uncle's position by the young girl's side.

"Shh, it's okay" he gently soothed his sister's hair from her face, but Jade kept her wide eyes fixed on Zhao who smirked as he passed his brother's side.

"Your daughter is quite lucky to have survived. I wish I could say the same for her poor prince. Such a tragedy that he should be snatched from life at such a young-"

"ARAGH!"

"Jade No!" Shen reached out, his hands grabbing his sister's shoulders as she all but launched her aching hands forwards. Not that she noticed, not when one of the small clay jars filled with medical herbs suddenly lifted off the small side table and shot forwards towards a stunned Zhao's face.

He stumbled back ducking just in time before the small projectile hit him, only for it to smash against the wall spilling pungent crushed plant debris all over the floor.

"little brat, how dare you-" Zhao growled, fire beginning to spark off his clenched knuckles only to cry out in pain as a large hand grabbed his wrist

"I think you should leave brother" Ruishi's voice was as cold as ice as he twisted his brother's wrist painfully. But his tone was nothing compared to the deadly gleam in his eye.

Despite his mounting fury, Zhao couldn't help but gulp as he wrenched himself out of the grip that held him.

"Very well then. If that is how it's going to be" he growled under his breath only to wince as Ruishi barked.

"Leave! Now"

With a grumble Zhao shuffled out of the room, nursing his bruised wrist and shooting many a glance at Jade, who had stopped struggling and was returning his glare with interest.

Only when the door was shut did she stop moving and fall back into her brother's arms, her body aching and exhausted. But not too exhausted to face her father and whimper.

"Father…Please…it's not true…is it? Tell me it's not true…"

Ruishi opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he shut his eyes and shook his head sadly.

Jade was barely aware of the tears that had begun streaming down her cheeks from her wide eyes as she sank to the ground on her knees, her wail of despair echoing loudly around the small ward.

The shadow smirked from where he stood in the hallway as the soft cries echoed down it from the room just ahead.

He almost would've felt pity for the poor girl to whom they belonged, had the poor girl not been the source of the pain in his left leg.

He cringed as he prized himself from the wall, his weight settling uncomfortably as he hobbled down the corridor and towards another small door that opened onto an empty private ward.

Once he was safely inside, he shut the door and sighed, his behind heavily thudding down on the small nearby cot. And not a moment too soon, for as he made to pull his left leg out from his boot, so did the hard sand within began to spill out onto the floor.

Damn that girl!

He grunted as he looked down to the heavily scarred and bandaged stump that was his remaining leg.

It wasn't the first time he'd used his earth-bending to enhancement parts of his body, but those parts usually tended to be small and unimportant, namely fingers and toes that had accidentally disappeared during his missions.

To replace a whole lower leg and foot was an entirely different matter.

He hissed as he made to rub a cream from his belt over the blistering burns doing his best not to make a noise as he accidentally rubbed the sandy residue of his earthly prosthetic into the wound.

At least it lasted an hour longer than last time.

He grimaced, only to scowl as he looked down to the empty space. He was no stranger to the phantom pains of lost limbs, but that still didn't lessen the irritation he felt when he looked down and didn't see his toes curling like they usually would've done when he was in pain.

He could only hope his quarry was worth all this effort. After all, Kira, Golem of the East, did not just lose his left leg for just any mission.

Just you wait little girl, you may be safe now. But your luck will run out soon. And when it does, I'll be waiting for you with open arms…

Lord Iroh wasn't a person to be taken lightly. Whilst to many others he seemed carefree and relaxed on the outside, on the inside was a shrewd, keen and especially observant mind.

It was with such a gaze that he kept watch as Admiral Zhao poured him a cup of tea in his quarters.

"I'm just devastated to hear about Prince Zuko. Just devastated" though the tone suggested remorse and sympathy, Iroh could see the small upwards twitch in the Admiral's mouth as he did his best to subdue his smirk of triumph.

Had the older general been a younger man he might have wiped the expression right off the other man's face in a heartbeat. Instead he opted to take a deep calming breath and slip on a stern mask as he took a sip of his tea.

"The Fire Lord will not be pleased when he learns who was responsible"

"Then you know…who was behind the attack?" Zhao's brow furrowed, and Iroh was pleased to see a small flicker of anxiousness in the cold brown eyes as his own eyes narrowed gravely

"Yes…pirates! We had a run in with them a while back. They wanted revenge"

There was no mistaking it now. Even as he had lifted the cup to his lips, Zhao had smirked smugly and it was with far more relaxed shoulders that he made to ask quietly.

"So have you reconsidered my offer?"

"Yes I accept" Iroh bowed his head low in respectable fashion, even though it almost killed him to do it, just as it almost made him physically sick to say his next words "It will be an honour to serve as your general. To the Fire Nation"

"To victory" Zhao declared as he lifted his cup to meet the old general's.

There was a silence as both men took large swigs of their tea, though one was certainly drunk with more gusto whilst the other was more a timid sip.

It was Iroh who was first to surface, his voice stiff but calm.

"I heard Jade has finally awoken"

"yes indeed" Zhao didn't even bother to hide his smirk this time as he set his cup on the table. "I just saw her as a matter of fact. She was simply just devastated when she heard about the Prince's demise. From what I have seen of the two of them, I can only assume they were both very close."

"They were indeed" Iroh nodded, draining the last of his cup and standing up.

"Now if you will excuse me, I must go rest. This day has been a trying to say the least"

"Of course General. Of course," Zhao nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on the older lord as he exited the room quietly.

As soon as he exited his shoulders drooped tiredly and he allowed himself a heavy sigh.

"What a day-hmm?"

He paused as an armoured guard strode around the corner. An armoured guard with a very familiar walk.

With several quick strides, Lord Iroh followed the figure out of sight only stopping when he was sure they were both completely alone. Then they both stopped.

"Our plan is working perfectly; Zhao doesn't suspect a thing" Iroh hissed quietly just as the figure slipped off a metal mask from his helmet.

"you didn't have to do this" The scarred and bruised face of Prince Zuko whispered back, golden amber eyes never stopping in their scanning of every single inch of the space around them.

"No nephew of mine is going to stowaway aboard a ship without some backup" Iroh murmured firmly much to his nephew's relief.

"thank you uncle…. How is she?"

"awake but if Zhao is to be believed, she is far too upset to see anyone now" Iroh shut his eyes sadly as he caught the stricken look flash over Zuko's face.

However, it was quick to vanish as the thudding of footsteps suddenly echoed from some way ahead of them down an adjacent corridor.

"Someone's coming. Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours good luck" Iroh hissed but already his nephew had slid the mask back into place and was striding away from him. And not a moment too soon, for just as he vanished from sight, so did several rowdy Lieutenants drunkenly sway towards the old General who quickly stood to the side to let them pass.

"To the Fire Nation!"

"Yeah! Screw those Water-fluid Bending uh-whatchamacallits"

"Benders?"

"Thazzright!"

Iroh shook his head.

Poor Men…they had no idea what they had signed up for did they?

Shen Shi sighed heavily as he looked down upon his little sister's face. She'd only just fallen asleep after the toll of her injuries and grief had finally exhausted her.

But even then, she had tears streaming down her face, and her face scrunched in pain as she shifted where she lay.

"You should get some sleep" a voice spoke up behind him. Shen turned around fast, only to groan in relief.

"oh hey Chan. You here for a check-up?"

"That and I promised your father I'd make sure you got some rest"

"How is he?"

"He's fast asleep in the ward next door. I gave him a sleeping draft, which I will force feed you if you don't get some sleep in a proper bed."

"But Jade-"

"Will be fine. I will be keeping watch over her till you and your father finish resting. Now off with you"

Shen hesitated for a minute, but when Chan just stood there with a quirked brow and folded arms he once again sighed and stood to his feet.

"Alright I'll get to bed. But if something happens wake me up at once"

"But of course" Chan nodded, his eyes as sharp as a hawk as he all but shoved the young man out of the door and into the room next door.

As soon as that door was shut, he turned around and rolled his eyes.

"Just so you know your highness, there is no use hiding from me. I may be old but my ears are as sharp as ever"

He turned and was not even phased as a guard stepped out of the shadows, pulling off the small metal mask that covered his face.

Zuko scowled at the older man, but kept his temper in check behind the already thin barrier in his head as he followed him into the room.

"I take it my uncle told you I'd be coming" he muttered as he shut the door behind him.

"No. Not really" Chan shrugged as he made his way over to a small table, on which was a small mortar already half full of powdered and crushed herbs. "But I figured you would come eventually. Unlike many of those dullards they sent to search the ship, I don't believe a person is dead until I see an actual cadaver right in front of me."

Zuko didn't know whether he should feel comforted or disturbed by the doctor's bluntness. Not that it mattered much as he made to sit by Jade's side.

He'd thought she looked terrible when she'd had the fever, but boy was he wrong. He could see the tear tracks marking her cheeks, the sweat over her brow as it scrunched up in pain.

"I've given her a rather potent sleeping draft. She should remain quiet, but if by some chance she does wake up, she will be too disoriented to remember anything when it wears off."

Zuko nodded quietly barely listening to the rest of the doctor's words as he made to quietly shuffle towards a small storeroom door.

No all the disguised prince could focus on now, was the way his stomach broiled with guilt as he reached down to stroke her brown hair from her face.

"I don't know whether you can hear me right now" he murmured softly as he smoothed a thumb over her cheek. "but I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got you caught up in this mess. I'm sorry I let him hurt you like this. It's not your fault. And I'll do anything and everything I can to make it up to you. I swear on the sacred fire, I will capture the Avatar from beneath Zhao's nose with my own two hands, regain my honour and no-one will ever, EVER, hurt you again. I promise…just trust me okay?"

He was glad that she slept so she wouldn't be able to see the murderous fire that roared in his gut and glowed in his eyes.

"I swear, I'll make Zhao pay for what he's done"

He geared himself to stand up, only to stop as he felt something grab his fingers.

"Zu-Zuko…" A small voice whispered breathlessly and he turned in surprise to see a pair of green eyes staring dazedly up at him.

He felt his heart freeze, despite the way his brain urged him to remember Chan's earlier words.

She won't remember anything…she'll be too disoriented…

"Zuko…you're here….b-but you're…you're…it can't be…"

"Shh…" Zuko whispered as he leaned in, brushing his thumb against her cheek. "…Jade it's okay."

"No-no it's not, Zhao said you-the explosion-"

"Zhao's not here now. Just shut your eyes. That's it" he breathed as he watched her eyelids begin to droop heavily despite their owner's reluctance.

"No…Zuko-" she slurred but already she was beginning to slip back into darkness.

The last thing she was aware of was something warm pressing gently against her forehead and a raspy voice whispering softly.

"I'm sorry Jade"

Dear Diary,

…

…

Jade stared at the page before her hands shaking. Her brother had brought it to her just an hour ago. Apparently, she had left Zhao's carriage in such a rush that she'd forgotten to take it back with her to the ship before it exploded.

Not that it mattered now.

Not when…

Her fingers trembled around her pen, a dot of black ink dropping and staining the page below.

But she couldn't be bothered to try to clean it up.

What would be the point?

She couldn't write in it in the first place.

No…she wouldn't write in it.

She didn't want to write at all.

Mom…Mom…if only you were here…

She bit her lip as tears began to fall down her cheeks.

There was a loud creak to her side.

Quickly she looked up and her heart sank as she saw who it was.

"Lord Iroh…"

"Hello Jade" Lord Iroh's smile was both tender and sad as he looked upon the young girl before him, whose tears had now returned full force despite the way she tried to stifle her sniffles.

"Sir…I'm…I'm so…I'm so sorry. It's all my fault-"

"Oh my dear girl don't be sorry" Iroh reached out and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It wasn't your fault"

"Yes it was!" she cried out, half angry half sobbing. "You don't…Zhao…he warned me about what would happen if I…and now Zuko is-he is-"

"Jade enough" Iroh's voice was firm but calm as he held her steady. "I already told you, I don't blame you. What happened to Zuko was the result of the ambitions of a power-hungry man. A man who has proven he will stop at no one and nothing until he gets what he wants"

Jade's lips trembled as she met the steady gaze of the older lord.

"He…he just looked so happy when I came back." She mumbled softly. "I never thought he'd look so happy like that. And before when we were together…I know we had our differences in the past but…but he was so brave…and sweet, and-and kind in his own clumsy gruff kinda way, like a bull-pig in a china shop" she added with a hiccup "and now he's gone…it's just…so unfair"

"Yes…yes it is unfair" Iroh murmured, his small smile returning as she looked up at him in surprise "But even so, I am glad he knew what it felt like to be loved by someone so wholly before he went."

Jade opened her mouth to speak, but found all the sound stuck in her throat.

Had she loved Zuko?

Was he the love of her life? Her soulmate? The one whom she would've wanted to spend the rest of her life with?

That she honestly did not know.

All she did know, was that at this moment in time she cared for him more than any other living soul she had ever known, and that someone had taken that from her.

Someone whom she had once called Uncle.

Dear Diary,

I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to write in you. So much has happened that I can barely process it all.

I'm not sure I'm ready to write it all down yet. It just hurts too much to do so.

All I can say, is that Zhao is going to pay for what he did, and I'm going to be the one that makes him pay.

How you might ask?

Simple.

I'm going to finish the job my mother started.

That's right diary.

I'm going to join the Avatar at the North Pole and help him defeat the Fire Nation.

Once and for all.

Yours faithfully,

Jade, no cross that out.

The Lucky Jade

Hey Guys i'm ba~ck!

Sorry for the long wait. I had a lot of work to do over the past couple of weeks and everything all kinda snowballed. Hopefully this makes up for my absence.

A big thanks to all that have faved and reviewed, it really helped during this hectic time.

So yeah, Everything is building up towards the End of Book 1. *squeals* XD so excited. Zuko's going to try to capture the avatar, Zhao's going to invade the north pole and Jade's going to try to stop him somehow (i don't know how yet so don't ask) yes everything is going to get pretty crazy.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed and keep reading and reviewing for more.