Author's Note: Thank you again for the reviews. I'm keeping your guys' suggestions in mind.
Kai, Zuko, and Iroh all stood together in a naval yard, looking over the damage done to Zuko's ship. It was much smaller than the other Fire Nation ships in the harbor and by far the worst for wear. The bow of the ship was bent out of shape and rips in the metal could be seen in multiple places.
"Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk loosing his trail," Zuko demanded.
"You mean the Avatar?" Iroh asked. Zuko turned on him angrily, causing him to step back in surprise.
"Don't mention his name on these docks! Once word gets out that he's alive every firebender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way."
"Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?"
All three firebenders turned in surprise at the voice, seeing the approaching figure of a man in his early forties.
"Captain Zhao," Zuko said with distaste.
"It's Commander now. And General Iroh," he said with a bow, "great hero of our nation."
"Retired general," Iroh corrected.
"In any case, the Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests any time," Zhao said, distinctly leaving Kai out of the welcome. "What brings to you to my harbors?"
"Our ship is being repaired," Iroh explained, gesturing toward Zuko's ship.
"That's quite a bit of damage," Zhao observed. Iroh and Zuko paled at the implied question and Kai sighed inwardly. Was she the only one who planned ahead for these things?
"Yes, we had an unfortunate run in with an iceberg," she smoothly covered. If there was one thing she had learned growing up in the palace, it was how to be a good liar.
"Really? And how did you come to running into an iceberg?" Zhao asked.
Kai barely faltered before quickly adding to her lie. "General Iroh wanted to show Prince Zuko and me the celestial lights."
"Yes. They truly are a beautiful sight," Iroh added for emphasis.
"Sadly, we didn't see them," Kai said, feigning disappointment.
Zhao narrowed his eyes, studying them a moment before speaking. "Well, it seems like quite an excursion just to see some lights in the sky."
"That's what I would think," Zuko muttered and Kai elbowed him sharply in the ribs. He shot her a glare but fell silent and she returned her blue eyes to the commander.
"It's been so long since I last saw you, General Iroh and Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me for a drink?" Zhao proposed, deliberately leaving Kai out again. She bit her cheek to keep herself from saying something rude and clasped her hands tightly behind her back.
"Sorry, but we have to go," Zuko replied, grabbing Kai's hand and beginning to lead her back toward the ship. Iroh's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect," he chastised, turning to Zhao. "We would be honored to join you. Do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favorite."
Zuko huffed in frustration and released Kai's hand, glancing down at her. "We'll return later. Mind the ship," he told her before following after Zhao and his uncle.
Kai scowled after him and turned on her heels, starting back toward the tent they had set up near the ship. Mind the ship? What was she, one of his soldiers? Why was he ordering her around like this? She paced angrily in front of the tent, a scowl on his face. Zuko's orders were starting to get on her nerves. And Zhao-gah! He was so infuriating! He barely acknowledged her and she was above him! Or...she was above him before she followed Zuko into his banishment. But how dare he treat her like some insignificant hand maid to the prince! She was raised by the great General Iroh, adopted into the royal family and treated as such in the palace. She knew there were citizens who didn't like her. She intimidated them with her exotic looks and some even feared her, but she still deserved his respect. She muttered angrily to herself, only stopping her internal rant when she noticed a group of armored men approaching the ship. They weren't any of the crew and it sparked her suspicion. She waited for them to board before following them on, hiding behind a barrel and spying as they rounded up the crew into a circle on the deck. "We have orders from Commander Zhao to interrogate you about the activity on this ship," one of the men announced, removing his helmet and fixing the group with a stern glance.
Kai frowned to herself. Zhao was having the ship interrogated? Then he hadn't bought her story.
"What do we have here?" a voice said abruptly from behind her, pulling her up roughly by the arm. She gasped and spun in her captor's grasp to find herself face to face with the ghoulish mask of a soldier. The group turned their attention to the interruption and the soldier pulled her over, roughly pushing her into the circle. A crewman grabbed her before she fell and she shot a glare at the ring leader of the whole operation. He chuckled humorlessly and crossed his arms.
"Now that we have the crew and General Iroh's cursed charity case, let's proceed with this interrogation. Did the prince find anything in the South Pole?"
The crew remained silent and Kai was relieved to see they were loyal to Zuko after two years with him. The lead soldier frowned momentarily before putting an obviously forced smile on.
"Gentlemen, it's a simple yes or no question. We wouldn't want to have to make threats, now would we?"
Still, he was greeted with silence and he grabbed Kai roughly by the arm, trapping her with an arm across her chest to restrain her and a flaming hand close to her neck.
"If the prince and general found out you let their precious jewel come to harm, I'm sure they would do much worse to you than we will. Answer. My. Question."
The crew shifted uncomfortably but their silence remained. They knew Kai could take care of herself.
"Very well th-AH!" he cried out as her head connected with his nose, a loud crack sounding. His grip slackened and she pulled out of his grasp, making a run for the prow of the ship. Before she got too far, two pairs of hands grabbed either arm and she was wrenched forcefully back. The leader had a hand to his bleeding nose and he gave her a look of pure rage.
"You insolent wench!" he growled, moving menacingly toward her. As he prepared to launch a burst of flame at her, she kicked out, sending a blast of white hot fire toward him. He dodged it and looked at her with eyes widened in surprise. Her flame was white! How was that even possible?
"Princess Azula isn't the only one who trains hard," she said with a smug smile. The soldier scowled at her but turned away, no longer set on revenge.
"Let's just get back to the interrogation." He angrily grabbed one of the scrawnier crewmen, a menacing look on his face. "I'm not afraid to kill you," he growled.
"H-he found the Avatar!" the man yelped. "But he escaped and ruined the ship."
The soldier gave him a sinister smile and pushed him away. "Good. That's all we needed to know. Thank you for your cooperation," he said in an even voice. He looked to his men and jerked his head toward the docks. "Let's go men. Commander Zhao will be happy with our discovery." He looked to the crew again. "You men should continue repairs on this ship and keep this to yourselves. Wouldn't want anyone to get in an accident," he threatened before leaving.
The soldiers holding Kai pushed her away forcefully, causing her to fall to the deck. She got up and dusted herself off, glaring after them with an angry scowl.
"Well that was fun," she noted with heavy sarcasm. She looked back to the gathered crewmen, her expression changing. "Get back to work. I'll go look for Prince Zuko and General Iroh."
She left the ship and followed the group of soldiers at a safe distance until they entered a tent. She slid into a hiding spot next to the tent, making sure this time she wouldn't be caught.
"My search party is ready. Once I'm out at sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go," she heard Zhao say.
"Why? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zuko said.
A harsh laugh sounded and Zhao spoke. "You? Stop me? Impossible."
The sound of a chair moving was muffled through the canvas of the tent. "Don't underestimate me, Zhao. I will capture the Avatar before you."
Another chair moved and Iroh's voice came through. "Prince Zuko, that's enough!"
"You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of warships under my command, and you're just a banished prince. No home. No allies. You're own father doesn't even want you."
Kai closed her eyes at the cruel words Zhao spoke, wishing she could comfort her prince.
"You're wrong. Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor and restore my rightful place on the throne."
If only it were that simple, she thought to herself.
"If your father really wanted you home, he'd have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar, but in his eyes you are a failure and disgrace to the Fire Nation."
Kai's fists clenched in anger. How dare he say that! It wasn't his place to tell Zuko the harsh truth and not like this.
"That's not true!"
"You have the scar to prove it."
A cry of anger came from Zuko and she had to force herself to stay hidden.
"Maybe you'd like one to match!"
"Is that a challenge?" She could just imagine Zhao narrowing his eyes in that calculating look she hated.
"An agni kai. At sunset." She sighed at the challenge, wishing not for the first time that he wasn't so rash.
"Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle and street rat girlfriend will do."
The sound of footsteps and the swish of the tent flaps signaled Zhao's retreat and she leapt to her feet, wanting to fry him in his tracks. Instead, she walked to the front of the tent and walked right in, much to the surprise of the guards. They moved to stop her, but she held her hands up.
"Just let me in. I'm with them," she said to them and they let her pass. The men imprisoned inside looked up and she gave them a weak smile. She could tell Zuko was seething inwardly and Iroh looked extremely disappointed. She took the few steps she needed to reach Zuko and wrapped her arms around him. He went tense for a moment and then she felt him relax into the hug, burying his face in her hair. She knew Zhao's words had hurt him and all she could offer him was this small comfort.
"Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you dueled a master?" Iroh asked in a tone of disbelief.
Zuko pulled away from Kai and gazed down at her with distant eyes that weren't really looking at her. "I will never forget."
At sunset, the three stood at the edge of a Fire Nation arena. Zuko was crouched before Iroh and Kai, his back to Zhao, who was in the same position on the other side. Kai looked up to the sky, painted in a glorious mixture of Fire Nation hues, silently asking the Spirits to help her Zuko.
"Remember your firebending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons," Iroh said, causing her too look back down at them.
"Come back," she told Zuko, a mixture of worry and fear in her blue eyes.
"I will always come back for you," he said, standing up. "I refuse to let him win."
He turned away from them at the same time as Zhao turned to face him.
"This will be over quickly," the older man said arrogantly.
A gong sounded and both men assumed firebending stances. Zuko fired the first shot, which passed harmlessly to the left of Zhao. He fired another and it did the same thing to the right. He fired several more, all missing except for the last, which Zhao expertly blocked. It was obvious Zuko was growing frustrated as he moved closer to Zhao, unleashing a large blast of fire toward him. Zhao blocked it and then crouched forward, shooting fire at the ground close in front of him.
"Basics Zuko! Break his root!" Iroh coached from the sideline. Kai wrapped her arms around herself nervously.
Zhao fired a multitude of volleys at Zuko, causing him to step back with each he blocked. Zhao sent a large blast forward, knocking Zuko to the ground and sending him skidding in the dirt. Kai gasped, her hands clenching into fists. If only she could help him! Zhao lunged at Zuko, and the young firebender attempted to get up. Instead, he had to roll out of the way. As he got up, he swept Zhao's feet out from under him. Zuko leapt forward and sent a blast of fire toward Zhao, forcing him flat on the ground. He took a few more steps, preparing to make the final blow.
"Do it!" Zhao shouted. Zuko released a blast of fire, but not at Zhao. Instead, it made a hole in the ground beside him. "That's it? Your father raised a coward."
"Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back."
Kai let out a sigh of relief as Zuko began to walk away. Zhao got up with a howl of anger and she saw the attack before it happened. She sprinted toward Zuko, reaching him just in time and pushing him out of the way. She had barely any time to put herself in the right stance as the whip of fire reached her, but she blocked it as best as she could. She cried out as the flames seared her arms, her bending weak from her bad position. Zuko was at her side in moments, inspecting the burns with worried golden eyes. He growled and began to move toward Zhao, but Kai stopped him.
"I'm okay. Don't taint your victory."
He sighed and looked back at where Iroh had pushed Zhao back down into the dirt.
"So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat. Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you. Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious," Iroh said, turning and walking to the couple. The trio exited through the gate, Zuko's arm around Kai as he gently led her back toward the ship.
"Did you really mean that, Uncle?" he asked.
"Of course. I told you ginseng tea is my favorite," Iroh replied with a sly smile, increasing his pace to leave the teenagers alone.
Zuko stopped in his tracks, causing Kai to look up at him. She gave him a small smile. "I told you so."
In a better mood, Zuko returned her smile, shaking his head.
"Come on. Let's get you bandaged up," he said, leading her back toward the ship once more.
A/N: R&R