A torrent of water sprayed Azula's bowl, washing grease and food fragments from the wood. A puff of steam followed a woosh of heat. Azula set the dried bowl in a small pile beside her on the deck. The half-moon since her capture had turned monotonous after the first two days. Azula squeezed what time she could after sunrise, when only one or two men handled the wheel, to perform her katas. Afterward, she completed her chores - like a good, obedient peasant. Azula scowled.

The Avatar had been lowered to using her pristine bending ability for menial labor. I am Avatar Azula, the master of all four stupid chores. She glared and slammed a bowl down harder than she meant to, drawing curious looks from Uruk and Sangok. She smiled, showing her teeth, and they swiftly looked elsewhere, suddenly finding their labor fascinating. Sangok returned to his bowl, which smelled of sea prunes. Azula gagged at the scent.

In her short time aboard, she learned that the Southern barbarians had an affinity - most of them at least - for poor culinary taste. Unfortunately, she discovered that after they had bought supplies from an Earth Kingdom fishing hamlet, three suns after they captured her. Azula had no opportunity to judge their cooking before that since they ate the stolen scraps from the sunken cruiser. That night, she suggested that their cook consider adding a little spice to his food, which offended his sensibilities. In his anger, Sangok challenged her to cook in addition to the other undesirable chores. She had accepted the offer, but Hakoda intervened, talking Sangok down from his ire, which she found hilarious.

Azula could cook up something far better than his slop, and she had said as much. Unfortunately, Hakoda had turned on her, sending her down to her cot without supper like she was some child. Azula fought the punishment at first. Then, he had threatened to turn the boat around and return her to the fishing hamlet. After the first night, she gathered that traveling the Earth Kingdom alone was risky. Her father would have the whole of the Fire Nation Army searching for her by now. His icy blue eyes had warred with her golden ones. Shamefully, her resolve broke then. Azula had erred on the side of 'not bluffing.'

Further, the warriors onboard believed the fire nation prepared for an assault on Omashu to the South of their location soon. And prodigious firebender that she was - one girl could not outrun the well-oiled war machine. So, she acquiesced to their wishes - no matter how asinine.

This left her trapped and unable to pursue her own goals. Fortunately, life on the ship was more secure than at the palace since her existence was no longer under threat. Finally away from the fire nation vessel, Azula no longer had to sleep with one eye open, searching in the shadows. So, she seized the opportunity and attempted to meditate for the first time since her departure. She was desperate to purge the knots from her stomach and the ache from her head. Turbulent thoughts trampled the empty space that her mind created in meditation.

Coward. Her breath had hitched then. You're all alone now, monster. The little lantern in the back of the deck had flared hot, too hot, and nearly spread to the vulnerable wooden belly of the ship. A disaster of a meditation session. When they had made port, she had asked to go with them into the town to be free from the ship's confines. The wary glance between Hakoda and Bato answered her question before their mouths had even opened. Why don't you wait on board this time? We will be quick. Kota! Come show Ty Mai... how to fish. Once Bato and Hakoda departed, she told Kota she would string him on the line if he tried to teach her fishing.

So, Azula used her little freedom to gain information, resorting to eavesdropping when she could, hiding behind the chief's cabin door. Knowledge is a form of power. She'd learned that Hakoda wanted to sail home. He missed his family. The Earth King had deceived them. Azula remembered the first mate, Bato, speaking to him of duty. What would a savage know of duty and honor?

"I know. I know. This is... the most responsibility we have had in a long time. The world's weight is being held up by our backs. What if-" Hakoda trailed off not finishing the thought.

"Chief, this was meant to be. We prayed to the moon and ocean when our voyage began for a purposeful journey. I think they answered."

"How are we going to find her an airbending teacher? It's all I can think about." The chief had paused and taken a deep breath. "She is a child. Yet, we need to prepare her to end the war."

"We'll find a way, Hakoda. We will. Have you decided to gather the rest of the fleet?"

"No. We need to remain separated. The rest of the fleet will continue to help the Earth Kingdom until we finish our new mission. Our combined presence would draw too much attention from the fire nation. We can't risk it. Not with the Avatar here."

"She could fight if we are attacked."

"She's a child." Azula was nearly twelve, she was not a child. "I don't want her to fight any more than I do Sokka or Katara." Azula had almost blown her cover, laughing at that. She was obligated to protect herself and this vessel from capture if they were attacked. Her life came first, even before the fire nation.

"And yet, she must. She's the Avatar. She was born for this. It's her destiny. She's going to have to kill the Firelord, eventually." Azula scowled. No, she would not fight Father. She couldn't.

"I also don't want to reveal her existence to the Earth Kingdom and their King. I'm unsure of what game they play, but I want no part in their politics."

Footsteps had alerted her then, so she left them alone. Azula doubted her captors - or rescuers, depending on perspective - solved the problem since she had listened in. The solution was lost to her as well. She vaguely recalled Iroh's story about the library in the Si-Wong desert. It would undoubtedly have airbending scrolls if it existed. Even if the story, on its face, seemed like a myth. Often, things that sounded too good to be true were. Besides, Azula would not subject herself to searching the shifting sands, hoping to find an ancient library. Especially not with these specimens. She doubted the men of the water tribe would be helpful to her in the desert, out of their element. Agni, recalling the men seeking refuge from the sun's heat in the shade of their ship's sails. Azula had no doubt that the desert would doom them.

Whaleskin boots thumped on the wooden deck, landing next to her.

"Ty Mai, try these on." The voice of the chief came from behind her. She set her final, cleaned bowl aside, examining the peasant boots. They were smaller than the crews and unblemished.

"Did you make these?" She picked them up, testing their weight.

"Pohu did. We aren't sure that your shoes are fit for sailing." Pohu made them? Azula looked down at her pointed-toed Komodo shoes.

"Why not?"

"They won't protect your feet if we take on water. The material will fall apart. These boots will also help keep you on the deck in a storm." Azula frowned, looking down at her shoes. She didn't see why it mattered. They traveled after sunset anyway, now that they were close to land, ducking the small vessel into marshes, hiding in the coastline during the day, hunting, fishing, or gathering what they could. She mostly slept when they traveled. Sleep came in fits, and she woke to the ship's swaying. Azula supposed that the man had a point if a storm found them, or if they were attacked at night. If she went overboard in the dark, she was lost at sea - simple as that.

"Well, I'll wear them if a storm passes through." Azula conceded. Hakoda sighed - a frustrated sound forced through the teeth. She expected him to leave her be as the others often did. However, the chief was tenacious. With the others, Azula kept her head down and avoided unnecessary talk. She didn't see why that should change now. The looks Azula received from the other men told her that they felt the same. Azula turned to him, waiting for another question. What information did he want to extract?

"I heard that you have been firebending in the mornings." His words were measured. Azula swallowed, looking down at her new boots.

"Is that a problem?" The chief took a knee before her, matching her gaze. An unexpected warmth there reminded Azula of how Iroh would look when he taught her. Azula felt unnerved.

"It is alarming to some of the crewmembers onboard." He admitted. Azula clenched her fists. This was unfair. Her outrage erupted in a heated whisper.

"Maybe if they stopped being craven cowards-" Hakoda held up a hand and cut her off.

"I'm going to stop you right there. You are not making any allies on this ship, acting like this." Azula scoffed.

"I'm not here to make friends. They mistrust me." Hakoda opened his mouth, but Azula continued, "Don't lie. I see it in their eyes. They see me as an outsider - the enemy." The chief squeezed his eyes shut.

"Kota could be your friend if you let him." He said and opened his eyes, shaking his head. Azula saw his gaze was not entirely focused, looking past her at the painted blue boots. "It is difficult for the men onboard. You are from the fire nation, which doesn't sit well with them. Everyone onboard has lost someone to the war."

"Is that why you are asking me to stop bending?"

"In part, yes. This is also a wooden ship. Fire spreads quickly here." If said by someone who knew her, the implication would have been an insult.

"I have excellent control over my fire; that won't happen."

"I've seen men much older than you be unable to control their fire."

"Well, they weren't me. And there are no firebenders like me." The savage dared to laugh at her. Azula glared balefully. She could smell smoke from her hands. "That's funny to you?" His eyes widened in surprise.

"You are very confident for a young girl. At your age, I suppose you don't know any better." Azula decided to drop the conversation, bordering on rage.

"Fine. I won't firebend onboard anymore. Happy?"

"We find a way for you to bend. Perhaps when we stop again in a few days for more supplies, you can go ashore. We can find a space for you to practice then." A space where no one will have to see you. Azula understood.

"Alright." She picked up her shoes and stomped under the deck, dropping the boots onto her hammock. She swallowed, jumped into her swinging bed, and opened her silk bag, reaching for one item. Her hairpiece fell into her lap, and she cradled it. Home. Azula closed her eyes, pressing her head to the golden ornament. She smelled ginseng tea, saw a pink and red blur rotating in a cartwheel, and heard a soft, distant laugh. Her head snapped to her left at Kota's hammock, where his impish blue eyes peeked at her. In her short time onboard, she noticed that privacy was a modesty this ship sorely lacked.

"Whatcha got there?" Azula slid the Royal headpiece back into her silk bag.

"None of your business." she hissed, dragging the rough, fur blanket over her shoulders and rolling over. Tonaq stood with his arms crossed on the other side, and Azula groaned. He had been especially curious about her bag since she had arrived.

"Leave me alone." Tonaq did not heed her demand.

"You're always hiding something. It's weird." Tonaq's accusation prompted a hard grind of her teeth.

"No more weird than usual." Kota chimed in.

"I want to sleep. You both are making that difficult." She snapped.

"Show me what you were looking at." Azula tensed at the suspicion in Tonaq's eyes. He had grown more bold. Azula didn't like that. He would find that she did not back down, though.

"No." He narrowed his eyes and huffed, walking out without another word. Azula would need to be more careful with her headpiece. It was the one thing that could identify her as royalty.

"You're awfully protective over your stuff," Kota mumbled.

"Isn't everyone?" She could hear him rolling around in his hammock.

"It's a little different in the Southern Water Tribe. We share a lot of things."

"I have watched you share your food. It is disgusting."

"It's actually nice. Sharing makes you feel closer. It helps build a sense of community." Azula stared at the wooden wall, rocking back and forth, hoping for the end of the conversation. Kota was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again.

"What was your home like?" Azula tightened the blanket around her, remaining quiet. No one had bothered to ask. Home seemed so far away. Memories faded faster than she realized. The palace halls shimmered in her dreams now, distorted and faint. Even her father's face was a shadow in her mind.

"You, uh, don't have to say anything. It's alright. I get it. I miss my home too." Azula's brow furrowed. Why was he saying this? She tried to recall what Hakoda mentioned earlier but failed to.

"It was... warm, and -" Her thoughts trailed off. What was home? She drifted to thoughts of training with Father and Iroh and her cartwheels in the gardens with Mai and Ty Lee. "-empty." She finished.

"Empty?"

"There's nothing for me there." Mai had left to see the colonies with her family. Zuko and Iroh hunted for her somewhere. Father... She swallowed, banishing the thought. Only, Ty Lee remained. She wondered if the girl had finally spilled her secret. Maybe the fire nation was hunting her as the Avatar instead of searching for the Princess - not that she would know aboard this forsaken vessel.

"Oh. Is that because - you know - Avatar stuff?"

"I suppose."

"That makes sense." He paused, and Azula closed her eyes, hoping his curiosity was sated.

"Did you finish your chores?"

"Yes." She grit out.

"That's good. I probably should get started." He jumped out of his hammock, and Azula faded from the waking world. She dreamt of training. A red dragon materialized from mist, echoing in the dreams. Better, but not good enough. I expect more. I only want you to be perfect, Azula. Her skin blistered from missed blocks and bad timing. The beast's fire was intense and the hottest she had ever felt. Her surroundings melted like candle wax. A grey face rolled before her and cartwheeled away, balancing precariously on a lit rope. Love and respect are empty promises. Fear is the only way to get what you want. Other means are unreliable. A blue dragon swooped from the peripheral and engaged the red dragon with its own fire. Do not listen to him. Fear is not the only way. When the fear fades, what are you left with? The dragons flew away, tangled together in a battle for dominance. Tanned, dark faces with blue eyes drifted in a field of fire. The red dragon scorched them all. Azula sat up, panting, covered in sweat. Darkness shrouded the underdeck.

She climbed the stairs to see men sitting around in a circle around a fire, safely contained in a large iron cooking pit. The sun hung over the horizon, dipping below distant waves. This time, the doctor, Pohu, steered the wheel. Sea prune stew was being ladled into bowls again. Azula's stomach heaved with revulsion. The coming darkness would hide her displeasure. She scooped as much as her honor forced her to and moved to her place on the stairs away from the men who chattered and laughed, joking and sharing stories of their homes.

Azula choked down some of the salty stew, half listening, half mindlessly staring into the setting sun. What stories did she know? Ty Mai had to have stories. Perhaps, before the stories came a more important question: who was Ty Mai? What was her family like? She was born to a powerful, affluent father. That had been established. She'd indicated a fear of him days ago, but perhaps that wasn't all he was. Instead, she could pretend he was a powerful man hiding his power in the Firelord's court. Ty Mai would describe him as kind, gentle, even. Ty Mai remembered that they used to play pai-sho together and make small talk over tea. That was before she had to hide her secret. What about a mother? What should she say about her mother if they asked? Everyone else had a mother, didn't they? Perhaps Ty Mai's mother loved her. Ty Mai couldn't remember. Her mom had died giving birth to her younger brother. This younger brother missed her and looked up to her, of course. He wanted her home, but his big sister could not return. Duty came before family. What a fantasy.

"Ty Mai." She snapped to attention. Two weeks had quickened her response to the false name. Ty Mai tilted her head obediently - like a good peasant.

"Yes?"

"Why don't you come and sit with us?" Azula blinked slowly, now unsure if her grogginess had worn off. Hakoda's eyes were a little wary, the others even more so. Yet, her feet carried her to the circle. Azula looked at each of their faces as she hovered, deciding sitting next to the chief would be the safest seat. Uruk exchanged a glance with Tonaq once she crossed her legs, settling in. Tonaq watched her, narrowing his eyes and shifting uncomfortably.

"Bato was just telling one of his famous ghost stories." Hakoda's wry smile and Bato's surprised glance told her that was, in fact, not at all what had been happening. Bato fixed Hakoda with a look that promised some payback.

"We await your fantastic tale, Bato." Kota egged them on, drawing a deep laugh from Hakoda.

"Well, I must remember where I was in the story," Bato said, pretending to look far off in thought. Azula was unamused. Suddenly, the barbarian's eyes shone with dangerous intent.

"Actually, I have a great story. One my old man once told me." He leaned forward with a savage smile. The fire cast high shadows on his face. The shade made his eye sockets appear hollow and challenging to see beyond the flame. Azula was reminded of her lessons in the Fire Nation Academy. If that face had been her first encounter with the tribe, she would have believed the propaganda about their people. Fortunately, Iroh's description of them had been much closer to the truth. Bato began to weave his tale.

"Years and years ago, even before the hundred-year war, there was a season of dark and cold, unlike anything the Southern Tribe had seen. The elders prayed and offered a hunt to the spirits, wondering what they had done to anger them. A blizzard answered their sacrifice. One man had been left behind, now thought to be lost to the blizzard. Back in the village, members of the tribe began to disappear. The moon remained clouded night after night, and on each occasion someone would vanish. After three nights and three takings, the chief of the tribe, brave and strong, assembled six of his strongest warriors. They waited for the beast to come on the night of the full moon. The men held fast, staying alert, even as the moon remained shrouded in a dark omen. There was stillness for hours as the village slept. Then, as some of the men drifted off, a shriek cut the silence. The chief believed such a sound could not have come from anything human. The men rushed into battle, but it was difficult to see past falling snow blankets. The chief and his men followed its sounds around the village in the dark as it hunted."

Bato paused for effect, looking at his listeners. Even Azula found herself leaning forward with morbid curiosity. She caught Tonaq shifting, bouncing his knee, watching her.

"A scream, this one human, alerted them. Another victim had been chosen. The men trudged through the snow as fast as they could, following cries of man and beast. The chief prayed for guidance. Suddenly, the blizzard gave way under the full moon's light, illuminating the men and revealing a bloody trail. They followed the crimson path until they came upon its den - a dark, frozen cave. The men entered, leaving the moon behind, shining through the open hole. First, they found the empty parkas of their lost villagers. Then, they stumbled upon a clearing, finding soft grass beneath their boots. Finally, a shriek, the same one from the village, pierced their souls. The beast swung sharp, elongated claws and collapsed the entrance to the cave, leaving the men in total darkness. The chief heard his men fall one by one, but his faith did not waver. He prayed to the moon once again, offering anything to save his village from this monster. Light poured in as the roof caved before the power of Tui. The beast stepped forward, revealing its form in all its horror. Twisted elk antlers protruded from the head of a polar bear dog atop the emaciated body of a half-man half-animal. Its claws were longer than an artic leopard fox. It stalked toward the chief, who tried to run into the protective moonlight, but not before the beast struck a deadly blow."

Kota, the fool, let out a gasp.

"The chief tumbled with four long gashes on his chest into the moon's pale light. The monster stepped forward but found itself burned by the pure rays of the moon, crippling the beast. It lay at the edge, now, burning in agony. Tui protected the chief, seeing his heart was true. The chief noticed the torn parka covering the beast's body and realized the monster had once been the lost man from the elder's hunt. The chief bowed and begged to know what had been done to turn this man into a spirit of darkness. The spirit of the grove appeared before him, angry but respectful, knowing he was under the moon's watchful eye. The spirit explained that men from the chief's tribe had killed the animals under its protection, violating its sacred land. The chief fell before the spirit, proclaiming such offenses would never happen again. The spirit responded with scorn, telling the chief that it had heard the lies of treacherous humans before and that it would not be swayed. The chief decided, then, to make an offer: His life for the survival of the village. The chief would remain in the grove. He would become a guardian against those who tried to disturb the lands of the spirit in exchange for the lives of his people. The spirit found itself shocked by the heart of this chief. In a gesture of forgiveness, the spirit freed the soul of the man trapped in the terrible creature, ordering him to return to the village and tell them to never return. Angered and deeply distressed by what he had done, the man thought to strike the spirit down. But his chief, wise and gentle, ordered him to do as the spirit wished. Once the man had left, the spirit disappeared into the grove, and the chief found himself alone. Tui, the powerful spirit of the moon, felt great compassion for her warrior and granted him peace, freezing him as he slept under her light in an act of mercy. It is said that the chief remains there to this day, frozen and ready to defend the grove should the promise be broken."

Bato finished and looked around. The men began to hoot and clap. Azula found herself smiling and joined in. Bato took an exaggerated bow and thanked them. Azula noticed Tonaq's disengaged, half-hearted applause, and frowned. The hair on her neck tingled with suspicion.

"Ty Mai, do you have any stories to tell?" Hakoda's question directed every pair of eyes at her. Azula found it doubly discomforting considering the question was asked after such a tale.

"Stories?" The stall tactic let her think.

"Yes, folktales from the firenation? Legends? Myths?" Ah, right, not a story about me. Azula's shoulders loosened. The chief appeared to notice but thankfully let it go. The men drifted off into their own conversations, uninterested in firenation culture. How dare they? Azula turned her nose up at them, now considering the most exciting stories. The blue spirit and the golden dragon? Perhaps. The warrior and the barbarian queen? Too shallow. A soft scrape sound alerted her. Azula watched Tonaq rise from his barrel and slip away below the deck. She stood to follow.

"Ty Mai?" The confusion in Hakoda's voice made her pause. Tonaq looked at her strangely, hadn't he? Or had she created Tonaq's suspicion of her in her mind? Was he bouncing his knee because he was tired - Or because he was anxious? Ty Mai made up her mind.

"I'll think of one in a moment. I'll be right back." The men continued to talk behind her. By the time she reached the stairs, Hakoda had joined their conversation. Azula increased her peace and lit a small azure flame in her hand. Tonaq stood over her hammock, tossing the blanket into the air. His hands groped around in the dark, fumbling through the blanket until he lifted something small and round. I knew it.

"Put that down." Surprise flashed on his face. The blue fire illuminated the room in flickers, and the shadows of the shifting hammocks looked like ghosts in the pale blue light. Tonaq appeared unnerved. His face appeared deathly pale before the cerulean flame.

"You should put that out. You could start a fire." Azula stepped forward, ignoring him.

"I'll put it out once you give me my things." Her tone was low and dangerous.

"Why is your fire blue?" Azula stepped forward again.

"Again, I'll tell you as soon you hand over my bag." There was a moment where Azula believed he would act against his ignorant, barbaric nature. Then, his mouth fitted into a stubborn frown.

"You're hiding something." Another step.

"I'm not. There are valuable things inside the bag that could easily break if you don't handle it gently." The lie rolled off of her tongue quickly. It wasn't a good one. I can't be losing my edge. The boy's boldness caught her off-guard. He opened the bag. The fire, still curled in her palm, brightened dangerously, reflecting in Azula's eyes.

"I don't trust you." He barely finished the sentence before she took a final step and seized the bag with her empty hand.

"I'll warn you one more time. Let go." He pulled on the delicate silk. She tugged it back. The bag tore, and the Royal golden hairpiece fell from the bag. Azula's eyes widened with fear. Suddenly, hot, blue flames surged toward Tonaq, and he dropped the bag, pushing a useless hand between them to block the rush of heat. Azula extinguished the blaze, but it was too late. Tonaq screamed.

Pohu bandaged Tonaq's blistered, swollen hand and arm. Red and raw tissue poked out from seared skin.

"This will certainly scar." Tonaq snapped his hand back, uttering a cry of shock. "Stop moving; you're making this difficult."

"It hurts!" Tonaq cried out. Pohu sighed, steadying Tonaq's shaking body.

"Chief, grab some of that vial there." Hakoda raised a brow.

"Alright."

"Swallow this." Pohu uncapped it. Tonaq sniffed it and made a face. Hakoda could almost hear his teeth grind.

"Uruk said this stuff made him ... loose." He hissed through pressed lips.

"It will dull your senses and hopefully make you stop moving so that I can prevent this from festering." Tonaq downed the liquid in a gulp. "When that settles, we will finish this." Tonaq nodded and leaned against the ship's hull, beading with sweat. His face contorted in agony. Pohu squared his shoulders to Hakoda's, an unimpressed look on his face.

"The Avatar did this?"

"She did." Unfortunately. Hakoda wasn't sure why she had done it, but she had. Tonaq had screamed and run from the underdeck, cradling his arm like it was burned. Which, of course, it had been. Hakoda had jumped into action, steering the boy over to Pohu, who took him back under the deck and across the bunks to his collection of medicines. The men wanted to rush down, knowing what had happened. Hakoda had forbade them. Their tempers were more dangerous than the girl's fire with one of their own hurt. Hakoda knew from experience that a hurt member of the tribe equaled a hurt family member. And his men were always ready to get even with those who hurt their families. The ship could burn down with their blood running hot, and the Avatar threatened. Hakoda had grasped the girl and asked her why she did it - perhaps, he had shaken her; the smell of burnt flesh had awakened something primal in them. Her eyes were a moose-elk's when it had been hit by a stray arrow, hurt and confused.

"I don't know what happened. I've never lost control. How did I lose control?" He'd almost snapped then at her frantic mumbling. By Tui, he had the patience to order her to wait in his quarters. That way, he watched the door while they bandaged Tonaq. She was also removed from the room. He and Pohu could speak more freely.

"I know she is a young girl, Hakoda, but she must go. Little more than a half-moon's time onboard the ship, and she's already scarred one of us? You know how Sangok and Uruk will feel about this, not including the others! Even yourself, think of Kya!" Hakoda's muscles went rigid. Pohu shrunk a little, then he sighed, lowering his voice. "That was unkind of me. Still, she is dangerous. Tonaq said she burned him with blue fire. It's much hotter than an imperial bender. Even a little more of it and Tonaq may not have been able to use that hand." Blue fire? What kind of omen was that? Hakoda considered the problem carefully, pinching the bridge of his nose. Avatar or the crew? Is our ship truly too small for both?

"She didn't use much." Tonaq's voice acquired a new slur like someone deep in their cups. "But it hurt. It was only there for a second, though. It was barely a - poof." Tonaq giggled a little at his noise.

"A little longer, and the medicine will have fully been ingested," Pohu explained.

"We cannot leave the Avatar in the hands of random Earth Kingdom citizens.

"No, we cannot. I was thinking of the Army. They would take her." And run into the same troubles, no doubt with worse results.

"She needs discipline," Hakoda admitted.

"The Earth Kingdom Army would teach her that in spades. The Avatar requires the type of discipline that tempers and forges unrefined ore into swords." Hakoda believed that would do more harm than good. He remained wary of the intentions of the Earth King after discovering their lie.

"That is not the kind of discipline I speak of."

"What other kind is there?"

"The one that guides, like reins on a tamed-polar bear dog." Pohu crossed his arms at those words.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"The crew will want her gone." Pohu was not wrong, but Hakoda would not abandon the girl yet.

"We can think it over at the next town. Besides, we won't sail into Earth Kingdom-controlled territory until the end of summer. So unless we want to hand her over to the fire nation, She is stuck with us at least until Omashu." Pohu looked like he wanted to counter the argument, but Tonaq groaned. "Wowww thiss isss iiiced." A relieved smile broke on Pohu's face.

"I'll fix him up. By Tui and La, we can hope the wound won't fester. Regardless, Tonaq won't be able to lend a hand around the ship until he's recovered." Hakoda had a solution and said as much. Pohu turned to Tonaq - who was far calmer now, maybe a little too quiet - and began dressing the burn on his hand. Hakoda took his time, as much as he could in the short distance, walking to his cabin. Ty Mai was a problematic child, to say the least. Hakoda surmised she must have grown up very privileged from watching her. He remembered how she grimaced at their simple meals and considered the fine clothing she wore - tattered and dirty though it was. Hakoda had no experience with spoiled children - at least to her degree. The southern tribe had a few fussy toddlers, sure, but nothing like this. They did not have the resources to foster the attitude. Especially, not a beast who could bend blue fire. Hakoda had never heard of, let alone seen, such a thing. His hand grasped the iron handle to his quarters when he heard whispers from behind the wooden door.

"-I couldn't. It just happened!" A pause. "I'm no better than Zuzu, now." Zuzu? What is that? Hakoda cracked the open the door then. Ty Mai sat alone on his bed, her hands pressed to her face. His eyes scanned from his small table to his trunk. Nothing amiss. The creaking of the door alerted Ty Mai to his presence. She rubbed at her eyes and leaned back.

"I'm going away, aren't I?" Hakoda didn't answer, stepping in and gently closing the door behind him. He sat on the other end of the bed, half facing her.

"You might be." Ty Mai sucked in a sharp breath.

"You think I'm a monster. Don't you- Don't the other men think it?" The bitterness was a surprise, but the lack of genuine remorse - so far - worried him.

"I don't. I think you're a child, a fireben- the Avatar. Accidents can happen. I said as much to you this afternoon. The crew may be able to forgive an accident. As long as the appropriate actions are taken to remedy it." Unless it was no accident.

"I-" She looked at her hands- the weapons that got her into trouble. "I lost control."

"You've said that," Hakoda responded, careful to let her talk now while he assessed. Ty Mai's eyes were wild, searching.

"You believe me? Don't you?" Hakoda didn't know what to say.

"I'm not sure yet, Ty Mai." Hakoda watched her struggle with her words for another moment before he made an offer, "Why don't you tell me how this... incident happened? That would help me understand." He couldn't tell if she was remorseful or afraid yet.

"I've been trying to tell you-" She sucked another breath, flexing her fingers. "Tonaq was looking at my stuff. I told him not to touch my things, and he didn't listen. I went to grab my bag, and something fell out. Then, I don't know. He ran away, screaming." Hakoda closed his eyes. This would be a short conversation.

"So you burned him?"

"I- Yes."

"To make him release your things." She growled.

"Yes- No- I wanted to scare him. I lost control; that is all it was."

"You keep saying that as if it means something here."

"It means everything!" Ty Mai stood up.

"It means only the difference between this being intentional or an accident." He snapped, raising his voice but remaining seated. He remained calm, explaining, "You burned Tonaq. That is what matters." She angled her face away from the lamplight. A shield of black hair obscured Hakoda's attempts to read her face.

"You don't understand. I have nothing here. I have no control over anything in my life. I'm supposed to be better." A candle lit in Hakoda's mind, illuminating another facet of this mysterious girl.

"Ah. Because you are the Avatar." The lamplight flickered in the silence.

"Yes." Hakoda assumed it was a half-truth. He didn't know much about her, but he knew she could hide the truth well - too well for her age. He supposed that came from years of hiding among the enemy. Ty Mai spoke again. "My... teacher. He drilled me until I became perfect at fire bending." She explained. There was another pause. "He told me I could be the best in a generation. Now, I've burned someone by accident, no less. He would think it's pathetic." Hakoda bit his tongue. He felt in over his head.

"Do you feel apologetic about what you did?" Ty Mai faced him, golden eyes glowing in the dim light.

"What?" Her question prompted a weary sigh. Tui and La. Hakoda wondered if anyone in the Fire Nation nobility ever uttered, "I'm sorry." Thinking about the history of the war, he doubted it, but if he met one who could say it, he would share a drink with them.

"This is what matters to me and the crew." He began. "Are you remorseful for your actions?" Ty Mai blinked.

"I am." The words were flat, unconvincing. She lowered her hands, moving down into a bow, hurrying her words, pressing her head to the floor. "Please forgive me. I'll have the crew's best interests at heart moving forward. I meant no harm." Hakoda found it to be a strange, exaggerated display, like watching his tribe reenact a story. Hakoda doubted there was any sincerity behind it. He shook his head, beginning to speak, when she lifted her head.

"I- I truly did not mean to burn him. I will apologize to Tonaq personally. There was no honor in what I did." Her face was red now, and her gaze held his. There was something genuine there, though.

"You will not apologize to him."

"Why not?" She squawked.

"Because of the burns, Tonaq will be unable to use that arm. You will do his chores for him and serve him his food." Ty Mai looked confused.

"Is... that all?"

"No. There will be more, but after he recovers. If Tonaq falls ill, you will be at his bedside, helping Pohu care for him. The burn is rough, but I have seen worse. You two will be bound at the hip most of the day while he explains his tasks. You also should stand; we don't do that, the bowing, here. If the crew saw that, they may have laughed you off the ship." Ty Mai's face turned redder than her national banner as she rose and patted dirt and dust off her knees. She mumbled something about decorum and honor to herself.

"Ty Mai, this is how we expect you to make amends here in the South. Anyone can say the words 'I'm sorry'. Not everyone can perform the actions to begin real healing." Her eyes flashed, and a small smile inched onto her face.

"You have something to say?"

"You reminded me of- never mind. I'll do it." She fiddled with her fingers. "Will there be more for me to do in the future?"

"If the crew thinks you are worth keeping around," Hakoda admitted. The bluntness sobered her, and she dropped her smile. Hakoda wanted to add more but felt that was sufficient for now.

"Yes, of course..." Hakoda sensed she had more to say. Ty Mai's fingers ran through the fur blanket on his cot.

"Would they get rid of me before we reach the air temples?" Hakoda hoped not. He could be satisfied if they found her an air master. He answered her honestly.

"I don't know."

"How far away are we from the temples?"

"At the rate we travel, we will make it there by winter." Hopefully sooner, if they left fire nation-controlled waters soon. Constant vigilance took its toll. Hakoda believed Ty Mai understood that more than she should. His answers did not please her, but she looked toward the door. A worn look etched on her face. Hakoda realized she waited for his permission. Warmth, unexpected but not unwelcome, seeped into his chest.

"You may go, Ty Mai, but remain your bunk. I will explain the situation to the men. You will stay here until our meal is over and we retire for the night." She nodded, and Hakoda opened the door for her. Her petite frame leaped into the hammock, swaddling into the fur blanket. Hakoda braced himself and went above deck.

The men circled around him before he made it up the steps, swarming with questions.

"What did she do?" Sangok's face was thunderous.

"She and Tonaq had an argument. She burned him by mistake." There were angry, vengeful cries from the men. Their frustrations crested, wave after wave, one after the other.

"How could she?" Kota despaired. Uruk followed with an angry shout.

"I knew that she was a weapon!"

"Should have put her on a raft and let her sail home!" Sangok agreed.

Bato remained silent. His eyes bore naked disappointment. Hakoda waited for the fires of outrage to simmer. As if waiting for the silence, Bato finally spoke.

"I heard Tonaq say her fire was blue." Hakoda nodded. Cerulean flames. Is it an omen? A sign? Hakoda had considered it since it was the color of their tribe. He could see Bato also thinking it, but nothing further came from his mouth. There are no firebenders like me. The words were like a jolt. She hadn't been overestimating herself, then. At least, not her power. Hakoda reasoned, thinking Ty Mai certainly inflated her control.

"What is her punishment?" Pohu asked.

"She will care for Tonaq, personally. Her work has doubled. There will be more in the future." His answer didn't satisfy the men, who grumbled lowly. Pohu raised a brow.

"Pohu, Sangok, and I think she must go." Uruk's graven voice silenced everyone. "She is too dangerous. There is no approaching this for her benefit. If she burned Tonaq on purpose, she would be no better than her nation and a danger to everyone on board. If she burned him by accident, then she could lose control at any moment and burn one of us or the ship. She's dangerous, and this is too much for our ship."

"Do you doubt our capabilities?" The admonishment was also an honest question. The reprimand reigned in Uruk's anger.

"No. I did not mean it that way."

"I believe we can take care of her until we find her an airbending master. I don't see any other viable choice. However, we will vote on it once we reach Omashu. We can leave her with General Fong of the Earth Kingdom." Despite my misgivings. The discontentment dissipated.

"Alright." Uruk grasped Hakoda's forearm, and they shook. "I'm sorry again, chief. I know that this is not an easy choice." Hakoda understood, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to fix this. The more Hakoda thought about her blue fire, the more he believed it was a sign from the spirits. Of what, he was uncertain. He only knew that their destinies were now intertwined.

Azula waited until the men fell asleep. They'd had no kind words for her that night. Not that the tribe had any before, but at least Kota would speak to her. Now, he slept with his back to her. Azula found herself unable to sleep. I lost control. I lost it. The words played over and over in her head. Is it possible to get control back? She looked at her silk satchel, frayed and singed. Her thoughts drifted to Ember Island, running aside Zuko to find the best shells in the sea. No, forget Ember Island. Forget Zuko. Forget the throne. She reached into the bag, clutching her royal headpiece in a vice. Had she been in control at the palace? Vases of water used to explode around her when she was young, alone and emotional. Am I only unraveling further, then?

She gently twisted out of the hammock and left her bag behind, tip-toeing to the deck. Azula was careful to remain below the helm, where Bato's watchful eyes steered the ship. The waning moon dimly lit a path to the boat's edge, where security collided with the chaos of the open ocean. Azula closed her eyes and pressed the headpiece to her forehead. The waves lapped hungrily at the ship's hull, awaiting her offering. She uttered a short prayer to Agni and an apology to her nation. Her palms unfolded, surrendering the headpiece to the dark void. The gold shimmered, splashing the water and sinking to the ocean's depths. It's okay. The Princess had to go. Azula crept back to her bed, wiping away cold tears from her cheeks.

Strangely, her thoughts were absent for the first time since she'd left home. She gazed into the darkness, thoughtless, and kept awake by the gentle sway of her hammock. She decided to try meditating again in the newfound silence. Azula closed her eyes and felt the air tickle her nostrils, focusing on the soft sensation. She finally settled into a rhythm, eventually drifting off to sleep. She dreamt of home and warmth.

"Why are we doing this?" Azula's irritation only seemed to encourage Iroh.

"To deepen your connection to the spirit world." He explained, offering her a tea. She grimaced, pushing his hand away not too gently.

"I don't want to deepen my connection with them. If anything, I want to sever it." A frown creased Iroh's wrinkles.

"Why in Agni's name would you want to do that?" His disbelief drew a throaty, aggravated sound from deep within her.

"Because," She began as if explaining a complex concept to Ty Lee, "They tell me horrible things and give me awful dreams. I want it to stop, so I sought you out." Iroh's frown deepened.

"Your duty as Avatar-" Iroh began. Azula immediately interrupted him.

"I don't care about that right now." Iroh pressed on as though he hadn't heard her.

"-Is also to be the bridge between the spirit world and ours. There are many disrupted spirits in the four nations right now. The world is out of balance." Balance. It always came down to balance. Why didn't it ever boil down to what she wanted?

"I had hoped this wouldn't waste my time, but I should expect this from you." Iroh raised a brow at her clipped tone.

"You weren't opposed to my ways last night when you asked me to teach you."

"Yes, I had no idea how obtuse you could be."

"Me, obtuse?" His voice held a hint of humor that Azula did not like. Azula hated not being taken seriously more than she hated being told what to do.

"Yes, like an otter-sloth." The insinuation rolled off Iroh's shoulders with a laugh. Azula hoped the guards were far away. Her loud-mouth Uncle could get them caught.

"I think that is the first time I have been compared to an otter sloth." Iroh chuckled quietly. Azula hadn't expected mirth to come from her insult. Otter sloths were notoriously slow and chubby creatures. She would have to try harder.

"Just teach me to waterbend." Iroh finished chuckling and grew serious.

"I will, but first, you must learn to meditate and breathe." Azula blew a little smoke from her nose while he explained. "Meditation can have a calming effect on the mind if performed routinely for some time. It may help you to connect with the spirits more constructively - in a way where you have much more control." Why hadn't Iroh said that from the start? Azula hoped she could handle this roundabout teaching method while he taught her to waterbend.

"Is that so?" Iroh nodded as if he were some fire sage. Despite how long he took to arrive at his answer, Uncle did have some wisdom to give.

"It is. It is how I was able to travel to the spirit world." Azula held back her surprise. Never mind, Uncle was cooky .

"Oh." Azula was at a loss for words.

"A story for another time. Now, cross your legs." Azula did as she was told. "Close your eyes and focus on your breathing." Azula tried. Her mind wandered in ways she did not want it to. 'What if we get caught? What if Iroh turns me in? How is this going to help me with water bending?'

"You're thinking. Let the thoughts pass. Imagine them as ripples in a lake on a windless day. Eventually, they will smoothen, and the lake's water will calm." Azula clenched her jaw.

After a few breaths, her uncle spoke again. "Relax, niece. Observe the thoughts for what they are and draw your focus back to the breath. I try to focus on where the air meets my nose." Iroh repeated the advice to her every several breaths. Azula's mind buzzed pleasantly despite the occasional intrusions of her thoughts.

Then, sooner than she expected, Iroh spoke something different, "Now, open your eyes." She obeyed with great confusion.

"Why? That felt fast." Iroh looked at a tall, dim candle. The wick had burned halfway through.

"It was longer than you think." He explained. Azula stretched her muscles, noticing the new tension and ache. She felt the need to stand and move.

"Impressive trick, Uncle." His grin annoyed her.

"Wait until you see my Pai-Sho game. Then you will see real tricks. Do you want to play a game before we start?" Azula scoffed.

"Absolutely not. I'm not here to drink tea and play some dusty old game. Teach me something useful, old man." Iroh's bemused smile widened, and Azula's brow twitched.

"Very well, but you are missing out. It's a very strategic game. You may enjoy it." Azula raised her arms and gestured at the water bowl with flat, open palms.

"We don't have all night, Uncle." His knees popped as he rose.

"You are correct; you are correct." He unrolled the scroll that she had brought. Formerly his, he allowed her to keep it for studying.

"Let us begin your first lesson," Azula smirked.

"Finally."

Azula rolled in her hammock, snoring softly, blissfully ignorant of the brewing storm in the waking world.

Captain Zhao stared at a sealed scroll - a letter bearing the Firelord's seal, a personal touch - in the privacy of his quarters onboard his cruiser, the Yofune. Zhao knew his earlier missive to the Firelord would pay its dues, but not so soon. The messenger hawk's arrival had shocked him - even that was an understatement. Zhao told the Firelord a half-truth in his letter. Men didn't rise in the ranks by holding onto their honor as if they could not breathe without it. Zhao, however, thrived on men like that. Inferior men like Commander Chen. Not long ago, Zhao intercepted a scout report about two vessels sunk off the Earth Kingdom coast, costing the fire nation only minor losses. The sunken ships were only on supply runs to Omashu headed by Lieutenants. We churn more bright-eyed recruits than we know what to do with.

Zhao knew that one could be an accident, but two seemed like the start of a pattern. However, Zhao decided that those incidents didn't warrant a warning to the revered Commander Chen. Zhao told Ozai - long after Chen departed, naturally - that he feared for the area's security due to reports that men under his command gathered, of course, proposing to secure the area himself. Now, Chen had gone missing, and the commander was presumed dead. Finally, the fruits of his labor would be harvested.

He broke the seal, eagerly taking in the contents of the letter. Firelord Ozai had given him three orders? The Princess had gone missing? Moons ago? Zhao's brow furrowed, no longer sure about what to expect. His eyes greedily inched further down the rice paper. First, he would be reassigned, patrolling the colonies and securing the surrounding waters. He read more, and a wicked laugh erupted from his mouth. The Firelord and War Council wanted him to recruit fire benders from the colonies? The homeland wanted half-breeds who looked Earth Kingdom and knew the culture well but were loyal to the Fire Nation. Await further orders. Why? Zhao frowned, considering what the Firelord would use them for. Finally, the Firelord assigned him to discreetly dispatch information regarding the missing Princess as acting Captain. His smirk grew into a feverish grin, and his eyes widened, sparking with naked ambition. No, not as acting Captain. Due to the recent opening, Commander Zhao would assist in securing the coastline from Omashu to the Pohaui Stronghold and alerting the Admiral in the area to the missing Princess. Discretion of the matter is the utmost priority. Zhao's finger tapped the table in rhythm as he finished the letter. One step closer to Admiral.

A small flame bloomed in his hand, touching the end of the letter and burning the information on the floor behind him. Zhao wondered who else knew about the missing Princess as he left his cabin, strolling to the Yofune's bridge. Clearly, the Firelord's daughter was not being ransomed or held captive somewhere. The Firelord would have mentioned such a crime. And if she was dead, no one found a body. What, then? Her father didn't want the wind of this to reach the Earth kingdom. He was down two heirs now, both with the potential risk for capture. A dangerous game. This could be a secret only he possessed - like the knowledge of the moon and the ocean spirits. He smiled victoriously and opened the door to the helm, startling the helmsman and navigator.

"Change of plans. We don't need to go any further South. Set a course eastward for the Earth Kingdom." The helmsman sputtered.

"But Captain Zhao, our orders-"

"Silence." Zhao snapped and stalked forward, leaning over the small man. His fists smoked at his sides.

"It's Commander Zhao, now. Our orders have changed. Unless you want to end up like our former prince, you should chart a new course immediately." The men began scrambling to plot the fastest course. Zhao ignored them, missing their uneasy glances as he marched past them to look at the open ocean. Whatever Earth Kingdom vessel sunk Commander Chen's cruiser would find that Commander Zhao would not go down as easily.

AN: Action and plot get rolling in the next chapter. We're gonna have a more cunning, underhanded and capable Commander Zhao. Buckle up. Edits, significant edits, Have been made to first three chapters. (Its a bad habit of mine to go back and edit things) Please re-read (if you so choose) and comment!