(A/N Hello! We're skirting over several episodes in this chapter. If the time skips feel too disjointed, let me know I'll see if I can think of a way to smooth them over, but like I said in the last note I'm mainly focusing on what is different here.

There's a good bit of exposition here. Originally I wanted to write that part out as part of the story...but I'm pretty sure it would end up taking a life of its own if I went back and did that. [Actually, I have another WIP that has a similar premise where I focus on the build up rather than the outcome but that is on the backburner.]

I hope you enjoy! Reviews are always welcome!)

We're Smarter Than This

Sokka looked at the wanted posters as they entered the town. A festival was going on and Katara and Aang were excited to try to attend, but Sokka was more than a little wary. There were three bounties posted and Aang was one of them. The other two posters sported an aged firebender and the face of a spooky blue demon. The 'Blue Spirit' poster was several layers deep, and as Sokka pulled them up to look at what they covered he discovered that the Blue Spirit had been posted as wanted for some time and at least four times the Fire Nation had increased the bounty.

There was also a notice that any known conspirators with pirates would be arrested for treason. That particular notice was old, weather worn, and had kids' graffiti on it. It brought their encounters with pirates a few weeks ago to mind.

He tried to draw attention to the fact they should not be going into the town because Aang had wanted posters of him on display and the kid was pretty noticeable! Instead, Aang and Katara both stared at the Blue Spirit poster.

"What?" he asked, annoyed.

Both blushed and stuttered and generally acted suspicious.

"Something bad happened. Tell me. I won't get mad." Katara raised an eyebrow, recognizing Grangran's words and knowing that there was an undefined limit to what someone could 'not get mad' at. Aang however started babbling out a story quicker than the air on his scooter.

"-and then those crazy archers that got me to begin with shot at us over the distance and he almost got hit but he deflected it when it was like an inch from his face and he even nicked my nose but he had to let me go to do that so I kicked up a bunch of dirt and we ran while they couldn't see us and he wouldn't help me get frogs for you guys but he gave me a copy of that wanted poster" (Aang pointed to the poster of himself) "and what information he had about me from the Fire Nation so that I knew what they knew about me but he never spoke a word just gave me these documents from outposts and I tried to get him to come with me but he wouldn't and I think he's an ally but he likes sticking to the shadows or at least I think so because why else would he help me escape and then not come with us and-"

"Okay!" He cut him off. "Okay. It looks like he had a reputation with the Fire Nation before that, but your little escapade boosted his bounty considerably."

"Aang," Katara cut in. "You should have told us you were in danger!"

"You were sick. It wasn't like you could have done anything. And by the time you were better it was all over."

"What if the archers came after us again," she pointed out. "Sokka and I would be at a disadvantage for not knowing about them ahead of time."

Aang sulked a little, and Katara was right, but…

"And how do you know the Blue Spirit?" Sokka turned on her. Her face lit up bright red.

"I- Well, I don't. But…his silhouette is familiar…"

"Familiar how?"

"Well," she glanced at Aang and bit her lip before setting her shoulders and glaring at Sokka. "He looks like the guy who saved me from the pirates."

"The pirates?" Aang asked, confused. Sokka was a little confused too, until he remembered something odd from that particular stop.

"You mean when you were looking for moon pickles?!"

She gave him a sheepish look.

"You were captured by pirates and you didn't tell us?!"

"It turned out okay…"

"No. No, absolutely not. You could have-" Sokka cut himself off with a strangled breath. From the look on her face she knew exactly how it could have gone wrong. "Katara," he sighed, rubbing his knuckles to his forehead.

"I'm okay, Sokka. You're right, I almost wasn't. But I didn't want to alarm you once the danger had passed."

"Isn't that what I did?"

"No, Aang," Sokka answered, suddenly very tired. "The archers could be a continued threat. The pirates stopped being a threat as soon as we left the waters' edge and we already knew they were after us. Or at least Katara, if we're to believe the jerkbender."

"But we're beside a river again now," he pointed out.

Sokka just rubbed his temples.

"I'm hungry," he sighed and led the other two into the festival.

.

Zuko was proud of his operation. He reminded himself of this as he waited for the last one of his ships to arrive. He'd gotten the information he needed to address his people, now he just needed all his people in the same place.

Not for the first time he wondered if their base of operations at the bottom of the world was a good location.

About a day south of GaoLing they had created a huge operation in the inlet of their island. It was a large enough island that he didn't have to worry about where to build new homes too much. It wasn't as mountainous as its neighbors, but still had enough hills that sailorbys couldn't see their infrastructure without purposely investigating. The soil was so rich, they could cultivate nearly anything. He refused to allow his people to create a monoculture, and instead they built from what grew naturally on the island. Planting compliments and things that would cross breed.

Right now, Zuko was walking down the path from his stationary home to the harbor, and he could pick ripe berries from the vines dangling overhead that were supported by the not yet ripened banana ash trees. The ground was covered in mosses and clovers and many of the children enjoyed hunting for sweet wildberries underfoot.

Zuko smiled at what he and his uncle had built.

And his crew. It would not be possible if the crew hadn't taken it upon themselves to free their families and fellow soldiers as the opportunities arose.

They started on just the two ships. Civilians on the Jasmine Dragon and sailors on the Ember. They took odd jobs to keep everyone fed, but after a little antsy pestering from his crew, and a few empty bellies all around, Zuko found an inlet for the Jasmine Dragon to hide while the Ember took on a Fire Nation supply shipment.

That was their first act of piracy, and they found they were good at it.

It was also the first time Jee approached him about 'recruits.' His crew had done their best to limit casualties (and they continued to do so even to this day) and Jee thought several had seemed defeated. More than defeated in battle…just defeated. Worn.

So, they had taken a few prisoners. Some spat and cried out about how horrible deserters were and how Zuko's crew deserved every awful fate. Others sat quietly in their cells. Zuko and his crew always treated the prisoners well, even when tempers flared and the prisoners were terrible 'guests,' they were treated with respect. Eventually, they started asking why. That's when they learned what spurred the crew to desert. Some were from the crew assigned to Zuko, some were from the 41st division, and a few were from the seasoned warriors expected to gain the offensive after the 41st's sacrifice, but all of them were tired of the death and destruction brought on by the line of Sozin. No one could say what purpose the war served anymore.

We are bringing our greatness to the world!

Right. Zuko would drop them into the nearest Fire Nation controlled town. The oppression was disgusting.

That's just one town!

The Ember's next raid would be on slavers that actively traded with the Fire Nation and the prisoners would 'accidentally' be left on deck to watch.

Each excuse they could come up with Zuko could counter with somber evidence. The same evidence he's slowly faced after turning away from his father… Then his grandfather… Then Sozin's war entirely.

Once, while skirting the coast north of Ba Sing Se, he even questioned Uncle. That was the only time he willingly talked about his trip to the Spirit World without a heavy dose of vagity.

When the 'prisoners' stopped offering excuses for the war, Zuko would offer them a choice.

Some went home, and he made sure they got there unobstructed. Some went to begin lives in the Earth Kingdom and he checked if they wanted their family to go with them. Some stayed. Some brought their families aboard the Jasmine Dragon.

And Zuko's fleet grew. Over and over, every deserter was welcome. Until they couldn't sustain themselves from hard-fought-for supplies off Imperial shipments.

They started at the Eastern Air Temple. It proved too close to the acolytes when they made a close sweep of the area. They combed every island on the chain, all the way to the Southern Air Temple, but settled on their central inlet.

Uncle affectionately called it the Nest.

As their numbers grew, so did their renown. Several Earth Kingdom runaways joined his crew. A few earthbenders who didn't mind being isolated from their element for periods of time, but mainly nonbenders. A tiny sailboat had found one of his ships near Chin. It'd been full of oddly dressed waterbenders who declared they wanted to see the world. They had a strange accent, were very spiritually aware, and possessed no social skills whatsoever.

They fit right in.

Most people didn't know Zuko's background. Some of the higher ranking deserters had their guesses, but 'Zuko,' while not a common name, didn't immediately give away his identity. Even the events behind his scar had been seemingly forgotten in the capital by everyone who wasn't present for it. When they asked why someone so young was the captain, Uncle would point out that 'We should all allow the innocence of youth to lead us to the correct path at times.'

Honestly, he had a proverb for everything.

The Ember sank a year ago. It was hard on Zuko, but they pulled through. He was a survivor, and he led his people to survival too. Most of them, at least.

Stepping onto the dock he brought his thoughts back to the present. He was waiting to tell his people about the Avatar.

The Avatar. And Zhao.

And Zhao's coming attack on the North Pole.

The North Pole, that was literally on the other side of the world.

He sighed and ran some numbers in his head. Regardless of how the people voted, he'd need at least two, probably three, ships filled with relief supplies. There was always a deal to be made after a battle. If they voted against helping, he'd put that job up to Foxhole, Ebony and the Lantern. If they did want to fight…

He sighed again and ran his hand down his face, children's laughter reaching his ears and making his mood all the more sober.

He'd just have to convince them not to. The Avatar wasn't worth it.

.

"Captain!"

Cheers went up as Zuko entered the mess hall. He scoffed and chuckled, rolling his eyes at the antics. He wanted to be more annoyed, he'd planned on calling a meeting as soon as everyone was together, but Foxhole's crew needed the rest after just arriving. Now, most everyone was at the bottom of their cups and he'd be a fool to bring anything serious to their attention.

Rounds of affection surrounded him. People clapping him on the shoulder, clinking their mug with his and then not waiting to see if he drank too, gripping his shoulders in a side hug and then stumbling off to the next person. It was chaotic, but everyone was so happy. It was strange to think that a war was going on outside their harbor. Odd to consider that each and every member of this found family had hit rock bottom and starving at some point.

The Avatar was going to break that happiness.

Or spread it to the rest of the world.

He scowled and threw back his mug, letting the warmth of his drink chase away the cold thoughts of the Avatar.

He should really send someone to the Shadow to let the acolytes know about Aang. They'd be really excited.

Capture the Avatar to restore your honor.

Zuko chased the memory away with another drink.

A shanty picked up through the crowd, and as it swelled Haru jumped atop a table to lead it, but Zuko had a sneaky suspicion that Uncle was the one who had started the song. Cheers and laughter and music flowed freely and Zuko drank into the night.

.

The captain was twitchy. He'd made it obvious that he had no desire to involve himself directly in the war, and yet here he was, sailing into the cool waters north of the Western Air Temple in an effort to cut off the Fire Navy that was coming up from the inland waterways. All so that he could honor the choices of his people.

She still hadn't decided if he avoided the war out of a lingering sense of loyalty to the Fire Nation or an overprotectiveness of his ever growing crew.

Probably both since Zuko traded with civilians of all nations, and maintained the idealism of causing as few casualties as possible during supply raids.

Aseri sighed and looked around at the crew around her. The captain was twitchy, but everyone else was somber and still. Her armor was hung on her frame. The same armor she had been glad to never have to wear again.

She'd only been with Zuko's crew for the last six months, but she had quickly found a home among the deserters. They spread the warmth of a hearth, rather than the rage of a forest fire. It was a welcome change of pace, and she was still able to provide for her family. Aseri didn't feel like a deserter. Not really. She felt like she was helping save Fire Nation citizens from the Fire Lord.

It was odd taking orders from someone over ten years her junior, but she quickly learned he was a good commander. He had good tactics, knew when to ask others for assistance or insight, adapted quickly, and valued saving lives above just about everything else. Sure, he had a temper that was bad even for his age, but he handled it well enough by directing his frustration at something productive.

He wasn't handling it well now. He was pacing and muttering and snapping at anyone who addressed him.

Aseri understood why. She asked An Yu to cinch her armor and despaired at how her posture immediately snapped to attention when her uniform was settled. No one was comfortable in the Agni forsaken armor and what it represented. What it represented to the world and to their personal pasts.

The captain in particular was loath to put it on. He still wore his dark tunic that the armor would sit over, but he only glared at his armor that was settled on his desk. She half thought he'd set it on fire before putting it on.

Idly, she wondered if the ruse would work if he wore his Blue Spirit mask. Most of the crew knew he was the mischievous masquerader. He was a teenager and couldn't be a stoic captain responsible for scores of families at all times. It was a good way for him to focus and direct his frustrations away from the ship.

He was also unreasonably good at being unnoticed and doing recon. Honestly, she'd been on the other end of his stalking and it was baffling how discrete he was.

But the Blue Spirit wouldn't blend in on a Fire Navy ship. He couldn't sneak into a boiler room, or a command deck, or to the hydraulics controlling the rudder. It would take a loyal soldier of the Fire Nation to do that.

The thought made her sick as she fastened her hair so that her helmet would lay straight.

"There are only 8 of us," the captain's steady voice was barely more than a whisper, but it carried through the deadened silence. "We stay in teams of two. Entry points will be the window ports on the stern. Everyone can scale to that?" He scanned the faces, though they all already knew the answers. This question is what took their sabotage unit from 36 down to 13. "Once aboard no one can know you're out of commission. Every protocol must be followed and every mannerism must be believable." His lip curled and he tilted his chin. The ranks held line as if waiting for their commander's orders, rather than their captain's approval. Four of the volunteers had been rejected for lack of discretion. "I don't-" Zuko looked away before glaring back at them. "I don't want any of you to do this. You don't have to. If you don't-" he took another steadying breath.

"Captain?" Yuro stepped forward. He'd always been a voice of reason, bridging intentions and words back and forth between captain and crew. "We want to fight. We would bombard their ships with our own and have our fire and steel ring against them in a moment. But you value our lives more than that and gave us a better way to fight. We fight both for the world and our lives."

Zuko gave his signature little smirk. "Doesn't mean I like it."

"You don't have to go, Captain," a voice called out.

"I will not allow my crew to do something that I am not willing to do myself," he growled, earning snickers. They all knew how to rile up the youngster. At their reaction to his response, he harrumphed and started biting out orders that they each followed to a T.

It seemed like no time at all until their destination was on the horizon. Don and Dai, odd little turdleducks that they were, were in charge of transporting them from the ship to the fleet in the long boats during the dead of night. Then they would return to the ship and help Della weave the currents to push the three supply ships around the Fire Navy fleet so that they reached the North Pole at about the same time.

The eight saboteurs would either reach the pole or not. The goal was to take down as many ships as possible in their pairs without getting caught. However, if sabotage was discovered it would become more difficult to switch ships and they would have to stick to whatever ship they were on, whether it was dead on the water or on its way to the siege. If they did make it to the north, they planned on setting fire to all the long boats besides the ones they would use to escape to their ships.

It was a rocky plan to begin with, but when Aseri saw the size of the fleet on the horizon, she couldn't help the sweat that began rolling down her spine.

.

Five rendezvoused with the ship. With Zemo, Zuko had taken out nine ships. Each sabotage expertly covered with a plausible malfunction. He noticed fouteen other ships stall, and it wasn't until the last one's engine cleanly exploded that their efforts were called into question. Ru and Yaro were aboard a stalled ship falling behind as the flare went up and all ships were stopped and searched. Most of the others had just managed to make it onto a running ship directly before the explosion.

An Yu and Lee were aboard the flaming ship, its crew being ushered onto a safer vessel. The crew was asked to remove their helmets for inspection and questioning. Lee was spotted and hidden by a cousin, who Zuko noted would likely be a new recruit. An Yu, was spotted and recognized by a member of her old outfit.

She was magnificent, dropping into Zuko's dual bladed ready stance, offering a mocking grin, and taunting the Admiral that his quarry would always elude him. Zhao immediately pegged her as the Blue Spirit, just as she had wanted. No one would question that the Blue Spirit could sabotage 23 ships in a fleet; they'd been efficiently subverting the Fire Nation for years.

There was only one quick cry of pain before the execution fire consumed her.

No one was looking for more insurgents after the great victory of finally ridding the Fire Nation of such a thorn in its side.

Zuko tried to prevent death, but as he did his best to reign in his temper he swore Zhao would die before the week was spent.