The tension aboard the ships was palpable as they watched fireball after fireball land against the wall to the north. The great water and moon seal breaking and crumbling far too quickly. Zuko bristled and the crew cursed and muttered and swung their swords at the mast.

They had done their part. There were twenty three less ships out there adding to the assault because of the efforts of Zuko's crew. But what was twenty three less ships when there were still 130 out there?

The Avatar met several head on. Over the course of two hours he matched and slightly overtook the number that Zuko's team had decommissioned.

Zuko wanted to be out there, helping! But he had to stay with his crew. He had to lead by example, and he had no intentions of implying they should die to fight this fight for the Water Tribe.

Della, Don, and Dai were all fairly tired after using their waterbending to race them ahead of the fleet, but they each took turns now meditating and keeping the waters around the three ships relatively calm. They kept glaciers between themselves and the fleet, which would be horrifying if it weren't for the benders.

Uncle was pensive. He rarely spoke, just scrutinized the efforts made by the fleet. The Water Tribe had yet to retaliate, obviously waiting until they were breached and mounting what defenses they could as they waited. But something was still…wrong.

"What is it, Uncle?"

"I am not sure, Nephew."

Night fell and they watched the Fire Nation ships drop their anchors to wait out the night.

"Mmm. Predictable," Uncle said. "The waterbenders have the advantage at night."

Zuko waited and Uncle stroked his beard.

"Zhao cannot be simply attacking the North," he finally said, brow still furrowed as he considered all the pieces in front of him. "I do not know what he has planned, Nephew, but it cannot be good."

"What do I do?"

Uncle looked at him in slight surprise. Zuko often deferred to his wisdom, but rarely outright asked for it.

"You do what you are good at, Zuko. You get into somewhere you have no place being," he smiled fondly and looked towards the great wall. "It will not be easy to gain access in the middle of a siege, but I know you are capable. Though, do not take unnecessary risk. I cannot stress that enough."

"And when I'm in?"

"You will inform the chief of the waiting supplies. You will insist that Zhao's assault is not what it seems. And you will be careful."

Zuko smiled at his uncle. Always so worried.

"You should take someone with you."

Zuko pursed his lips and scowled.

"I don't normally do infiltrations with others. Besides, I'm trying to avoid letting the crew take on unnecessary risk."

"Then pick someone-well, I would suggest two, but I know how you are loath to take any-who will not obstruct your methods."

Zuko growled and considered who was on his three ships.

.

"This is dumb."

"They have to come up for air somewhere," Zuko growled.

"You don't know how long they can hold their breath!" Aseri hissed.

"We have a waterbender," he growled, already annoyed at their presence.

"I ben' wadder! I can' 'reate a'r w'il we'r un'er!" Don's unusual accent was exponentially more difficult to translate through the chattering of his teeth in the cold. Zuko sighed a hot breath of fire and ignored their further protests as he plunged into the water after the turtle seals.

.

They sat shivering in the pipeline as Don bent the freezing water out of their clothes and Zuko ran his warmed hands over each of them in turn, trying to return feeling to their appendages. Aseri just shot glares at him despite her chattering teeth.

Once satisfied that hypothermia was staved off for the moment, Zuko stood and took stock of their surroundings. The palace seemed as good a place to start as any.

.

No matter how silent Aseri and Don were, they felt noisy beside the captain as they crept through the darkened sidewalks by the waterways. He was like a specter in the night, making no sound and blending in with every shadow despite his white clothes.

It grated on her nerves.

She remembered instinctively blocking a bucket being thrown at her head and then being strung up by her ankles with a blistering hot fireflack shoved in her mouth. The spices had burned her nostrils and she cried out in pain, only to lure her comrades in to the Blue Spirit's trap. No one had even realized they were under attack.

She huffed as he slid into the next shadow ahead of her.

.

"Well," a feminine voice cut through the air and Zuko signaled the others to pause and listen, "I think I can help with that. But we need to get my father's permission. Come on, follow me."

Peeking around the corner, Zuko spotted a girl in elaborate furs and a purple parka leading the Avatar and his waterbender friend.

Taking a centering breath, he reminded himself that their names were Aang and Katara. He needed to be civil and not just think of them as pawns in his father's war. He wanted to help and losing his temper at someone who really didn't deserve it would not benefit anyone.

.

"-know the Spirit Oasis is off limits, but considering the Avatar's connection to the spirits-"

"Yue. I think it is an excellent idea. I don't want you anywhere in the open where the invaders may find you, so I'd like you to accompany him."

Comments of gratitude and assurances of safety were passed around as Aseri followed the captain through an open window and into the open, ornate room the Avatar was in. Zuko finally stepped out of the shadows and cleared his throat.

The reaction was immediate. Globes of water were pulled at the ready by five waterbenders, and any tribesmen not commanding the element had a weapon in hand pointed at them. Only the three they'd been following and the one she assumed was the chief didn't move.

Zuko bowed in a neutral fashion and then kept his hands aloft in a placating manner. She and Don followed suit.

"I've come with a warning," he began. Several of the warriors shifted their stance, more ready to attack, but the Avatar stepped forward.

"It's okay. He's a friend…I think."

The girl in blue bit her lip, but nodded at a few of the waterbenders who relaxed their stance, but kept their water at the ready.

"Why is it you've come here? How did you get in?" the chief asked as he stepped towards them.

"I do my best to stay informed of the Fire Nation's movements. When I heard of their planned invasion I had a portion of my fleet readied and we brought relief supplies. I'm not sure of what use they are now, but we will be here to trade with fairly when the time comes."

The chief opened his mouth to say something, but the girl in blue cut him off. It seemed whatever peace she was assuring the waterbenders of had been quickly forgotten.

"You have your fleet here and you're asking to trade?" she spit out. The chief looked surprised and a little alarmed at her words and vehemence as she stepped around him to properly glare at Zuko.

Zuko's fingers barely twitched as he visibly prepared himself to keep his voice even.

"A portion of my fleet, yes. And we have supplies."

"Supplies won't keep the Fire Nation from tearing down the gate! Supplies won't keep civilians out of harm's way when they break through!"

"You're right. But when my people said they wanted to help against the invasion I set up parameters for their safety. Us killing ourselves won't save you."

"Your people wanted to help? Well, I'm sure your six or seven deserters feel entirely redeemed by providing supplies."

Zuko scoffed, steam and a puff of flame escaping his nostrils, as he took a step forward and pointed menacingly at the girl.

"Make that six or seven hundred, and they are people who wanted to help you. So be a little more respectful!"

"Hundreds of people?! You could have done something! You could do something! Where are they now? Where are they when the Fire Nation is on our doorstep? When your people are on our doorstep?" Zuko clenched his fists and audibly snarled when she called the Fire Nation his people. "But thank you so much for the supplies you're providing for a fair price," she seethed sarcastically.

Aseri did her best not to smirk as she just tilted her head back and waited for the girl's words to implode.

"You're welcome, for the supplies. And you are welcome for the two dozen ships that failed to descend on your position. You are welcome that we are here to offer advanced warning. And you are welcome that I don't fry you where you stand for disrespecting An Yu's memory.

"You have my condolences for those you have lost and will likely lose in the coming battles, but I considered what your people needed, what my people wanted, and how best to save as many lives as possible. I will not apologize for being responsible for the lives of my crew."

"Hey!" the Avatar jumped in front of the girl, staff outstretched. "You can't talk to her like that!" A gust of wind accompanied his angry gesture and words. Zuko inclined his head to regard him for a moment, but the purple girl, Yue, stepped between them before any more heated words could be exchanged, slowing the Avatar's defensive anger with a look.

"I'd love to just let you kids settle this," the chief cut in, "but we have a battle to prepare for. I am grateful for whatever relief you can provide, but how can I trust you?"

Zuko straightened his posture and folded his hands together as if expecting loose sleeves to engulf them. His voice and dialect changed along with his demeanor, and Aseri could see the kid for the high bred noble he was.

"My word is my bond. I have no credit here, but we will honor any contract that we enter."

"What does a firebender know about honor?" the girl in blue grumbled.

"Nothing I suppose," he answered loftily. "I lost my honor three years ago and the Fire Lord burnt off half my face so everyone would know."

Everything froze. The air was still. Not a single person made a sound. Each cloudy breath was silent.

"Please accept my apology," she spoke evenly, each word measured carefully and her gaze scrutinizing his scar as he glared at her, waiting for her to continue. "I didn't mean to disrespect…An Yu?" She cocked her head, asking if the name was correct. He stiffly nodded. "And I had no right to hold your choices as a leader to my standards of… of near self-destructive morals." She held her proud posture through the apology, but when she finally admitted that her expectations had been unrealistic she could no longer hold his gaze. The apology was obviously genuine, no matter how difficult to give.

"Katara, you don't-"

Both the captain and the girl turned sharp glares on the Avatar and he visibly swallowed and shut his mouth with slumped shoulders.

"I accept your apology," Zuko said with a hard edge to his voice.

"May I ask how she died?"

Zuko huffed, "Stories can wait until the battle is over."

She pursed her lips but nodded, then allowed the girl in purple to lead her and the Avatar from the audience chamber.

Once the distraction was gone, Zuko explained where the supply ships were, and that he had every intention of tracking down Zhao himself. He planned to plant himself in the path most likely to be taken by the admiral and made it very obvious he was not asking permission, just being courteous by explaining beforehand.

Don cursed under his breath and Aseri groaned, rubbing her forehead. She was certain Iroh was aboard the Foxhole having a heart attack. This was not part of their mission.