A.N Hello everyone and welcome to the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it and sorry I didn't get it out last week. My holiday weekend ended up being less productive than I thought it would be but it was still a blast. I will say that in general I don't expect to be posting chapters every week but I'm hoping maybe every three weeks or something like that. Last thing is I finally broke some write block for the next couple chapters and I am looking forward to writing them.

Once we we were back on the ship we convened on the bridge to discuss our plans. It seems during my time asleep there were reports of a flying bison flying towardds the Southren Air Temple. I was not surprised by the news and we decided to head straigh to the temple.
"Only a few days travel, Lee. Then we can finally capture the Avatar and go home." Zuko stated with a hint of excitment. I nodded in agreement but I did not feel happy by the news. Zuko started to explain plans with Iroh and the crew. I ended up loosing focus and was consumed by my own thoughts.
Did i really want to capture the Avatar? And what about going back to the FIre Nation? If i had to be honest I had no desire to see the Fire Nation. There wasn't much of anythng there for me. The only reason I would go back is if Zuko and Iroh went back. They were my only family now though I wouldn't say that aloud to either of them.
I began to think what the Fire Nation had to offer. I did have a couple friends there like Ty lee. Also there is some beatiful places like the beaches. I then started to think of ZHao and the other admirals and generals like him. They wanted the war to continue on and had no care what it was doing to the common people. They cared even less for the destruction and fear they brought on the other nations.
A flash of the girl from the Southren Water Tribe came to mind. I had caused the same fear to her as Zhao. I felt ashmed. How would I feel if that was my mother or Pakkku? Maybe the bullies in the north were right about me. Maybe being part Fire Nation made me part evil like Zhao.
No! I am not that. Those bullies were wrong and look at them. They attacked my brother and me for doing nothing wrong but be born. They drove us away. Compared to Zhao the bullies were not that bad but still they showed that both sides had those who would make the world a worse place. Though they both had people who made things better like mother and Iroh.
"Lee? You okay?" Zuko probed. I snapped back from my thoughts to the metting.
"Um..yeah. I'm fine." I muttered.
"Well you shouldn't space out during meetings. It's disrespectful" Zuko asserted looking at the crew ehn he said this. It didn't take much to set of Zuko especially with the crew around. He always made sure to show his authority in front of the crew to remind them that despite his age he was in charge. It looked likje Zuko was gettinbg ready to lecture me about respect and proper meeting etiquette. Before the crew and I were tortured Iroh set in. My hero.
"Prince Zuko, it is getting late. Maybe we should resume this meeting in the morning so we are all well rested. Lee looks like he could use some more rest for his injury. There isn't much that will change from now and morning anyways." Iroh was not wrong. The ship was already heading towards the Southren Air Temple which was days away. Also despite being up for an hour or so I did feel exhausted already. I guess I still was 100%.
"Hmph... fine but be ready good and early tomorrow. We are too colse to capturing the Avatar and now we have a rival to contend with." With that Zuko stormed out. I gave a quick thanks to Iroh and made my way back to my quarters.

The next few days were very trying for everyone. Zuko was barking orders left and right well more than usual. We would get tips and information from different ships, boats and ports about possible Avatar/flying bison sitings. Unfortunately this wasn't as useful as one might think. We could tell by the sitings that the Avatar was heading north but besides that he was all over the map.
"He must be some tactical genius," Zuko stated while hovering over a map of the region. I held back from saying that he was likely lost. As much as I wanted to make the little jest Zuko was clearing not in the mood. Zuko was high strung and easliy agitated so it wouldn't be good for anyone to jest around him. One had to be careful around Zuko in this mood. If you did something to set him off he was likely to take it out on someone.
I didn't have to worry about Zuko picking me even if it was me making the comment. He usually knew better. Yelling didn't work with me since I usually had to hold back laughter which made things worse. Usually he would just take out his anger with firebending. He use to challenge me when I made him angry but after losing too many times Zuko found dueling me wasn't help with the angrier. That's when he started to duel others on the ship which made it so I had to be careful with pissing off Zuko.
See if the crew knew it was my fault that they had to firebend Zuko they would get back at me. Sometimes my stuff would go "missing" or maybe a leak happens in my room. In the end it wasn't worth the trouble so I would leave Zuko be.
I decided to leave the bridge while Zuko poured over his maps. I headed to the bow of the tended to be a nice peaceful spot away from the crew. Despite liking the crew there were times when I needed to be by myself and living on a ship made me appricated the moments when they happened.
I decided to sit and begin to mediate. I needed to reflect on the last week and some of the thoughts that came up. The most pressing was the Avatar. Before I saw him I never thought we would find him. I didn't think there would even be an Avatar to find. I saw our exile as a permenant living. I had hoped Zuko would eventually feel this way and that we could settle somewhere in the territories or Eath Kingdom far away from the mainland Fire Nation.
Unfortunately Zuko is one stubborn guy and he just kept searching. I did admire that about him. When Zuko decided to do something he doesn't quit. He will do all he can to get it done. In this case though I couldn't understand why he tried so hard to return to the Fire Nation. All that was left there is his psycho father who scared and exiled him plus his crazy sister. Maybe if his mother was still around I would understand but the only family that cared for Zuko was Iroh who is with him now. I guess Zuko may be holding onto the idea that he may inherit the crown but I don't think Ozai lett5ing Zuko have it even if he did bring the Avatar.
Now that the Avatar has finally shown himself Zuko will be even more determined. I wonder if the Avatar is ready for the chase. As long as the two are alive Zuko will chase the Avatar to the end of the world to try to capture him.
Then what? What happens if Zuko did capture the Avatar? This was something knawing at me for awhile. If we caught the Avatar and brought him to Ozai what would he do? I guess we would no longer be exiled. And what of the Avater? Ozai would likely execute him or maybe have Zuko do it.
I started to feel uneasy. The Avatar looked to be a child probably a few years younger than Zuko and I. It seemed wrong to me. "Enemy" or not, I don't think any child should be put to that fate.
"Stop! You promised Zuko! You said you would help him get home." I whispered aloud unable to keep the words inside. I did promise him but I never thought we would actually find the Avatar. If i helped capture him I would be giving the one thing the world need to stop the FIre Nation. My loyalties were to just my friends and family which was very few. I wanted Zuko to be happy but if the Avatar was caught this could bring a quick end to the war. There would finally be peace but would the lives of the other nations be able to go back to normal. It was unlikely especially benders.
I heard rumors of Fire Nation soldiers rounding up other benders and putting them in prisons. For the earthbenders, they were put on metal islands in the middle of the sea. To keep them away from their element. A shiver ran down my spine. I couldn't imagine being seperated from fire or water. I then began to think of Uncle Pakku and what kind a prison a waterbnder would have to face.
"Lee," a crew member interrupted my thoughts. "Prince Zuko request you join him for lunch on the bridge."
"I will be right up. Thank you." I began wishing I didn't have the alone time as my thoughts were making me very upset and unsure. Lunch seemed like a b lessing since it would keep my distracted for a time.
I made my way to the bridge for lunch. Usually it was in the lunch but Zuko likely didn't want to leave his maps. He likely wouldn't leave the amps until he had something. One thing Zuko didn't lack it was determination. Good trait for one to have unless you took it too far. Early on during our exile Zuko spent all his time on the bridge or training. He even slept there. It took weeks for Iroh and I to convince him to use his personal quarters.
Upon reaching the bridge I made a quick knock on the door.
"Enter," shortly followed and I procceded into the room. The first thing I noticed was that the main table had many different mades scattered across it. There was one large one in the middle with scribblings likely Avatar sitings and the rest must have been more detailed maps.
Next to the main tasble was a chabudai detup for lunch. This is where Iroh and Zuko were having tea. I made my way to the table and sat across from Zuko. As i did I saw Zuko take a sip from the tea cup. As soon as the drink reached his lips he made a face of dislike. I couldn't help but smirk at my friend's disconmfort. Zuko noticed," Uncle, you should have Lee try your new brew of tea." Iroh beamed with excitment upon hearing this. I had to act fast because I hated tea. Both Zuko and I couldn't wrap our heads around why people enjoyed hot leafy juice.
"Oh, Iroh, um.. you don't have to share the new brew. I'd hate to have you run out of it for you and Zuko to enjoy." I stammered.
"Nonsense, if we run out I can brew more plus it is always better to share what you have with friends." and with that Iroh poured me a cup of tea. I got a smirk from Zuko. Happy to see that I had to suffer. The smirk was gone when I brought up the tea cup up. "To friends," I toasted and the both of us took a drink.
Thankfully lunch was about to be served which meant we could get the tea taste out of our mouths. Knock, knock, knock. "Enter," Zuko commanded. A few soldiers walked into the room with a middle aged man I had never seen before. He was likely Earth Kingdom with his green eyes and olive skin. "What is this?" asked Zuko.
The soldiers bowed, "Your royal highness pardon us for interrupting your meal but this merchant has important information you should hear."
"Well, speak peasant." Zuko stood up. The soldiers pushed the merchant forward.
The merchant stammered out," Y-y-your royal highness. T-heres been rumors that.. um the Avatar is on Kyoshi island."
"Helsman," Zuko shouted,"Plot a course for Kyoshi island."

P.S Thank you for reading and hope you have a great few weeks. Until next time!