Zuko angrily tapped his foot on the floor of the docks as he waited and waited for the last passenger along with Lt. Jee. Everything else had been prepared and ready to go. Coal reserves had been prepared and seen to, food and water sealed and preserved, and weapons and ammunition prepared to fend off any enemy forces. The crew manifest included the standard complement of sailors required for operating a Vanguard Class Light Cruiser, two squadrons of marines, and of course "diplomatic attaches" as Prince Zuko and General Iroh were so graciously referred to as. Under normal circumstances the term "Prince of the Blood" would be used for both Zuko and Iroh under official documents, but this was not a normal circumstance.

If they had to wait any longer they would run the risk of running into seasonal storms during their journeys to the Air Temples. Even with all the technological mastery the Fire Nation had, the seas were still not their domain. Storms could drown a vessel beneath the waves or throw a ship so off course that the crew could starve in the time it took to regain their navigational bearings. There was never a season where Naval Ministers in the Fire Nation did not curse the fact that there would always be some convoy ships lost at sea with all hands and supplies lost to the waves. Zuko had a lot of ground to cover. Each Air Temple was separated by vast distances and there would be very few friendly refueling stations along the way. Leaving now would be paramount to ensuring an overall safe journey considering the magnitude of the search.

Zuko was about to consider ordering the final preparations for cast off. Yet just as he was about to turn to Lt. Jee and order cast off, a figure appeared off the horizon. Finally, it looked like Uncle Iroh had arrived. Zuko wondered if perhaps his illness had finally receded after the weeks Uncle had spent in bed, but as the man drew closer and closer Zuko could see that was probably not the case.

For one thing the man on the horizon had black hair in comparison to his uncle's gray, and his beard was a full thing covering his whole face. Zuko knew only one person close to his uncle who dressed himself like that, and that person was Cao Cao. Or was it Cao Mengde? Zuko only knew that apparently in Cao Cao's country a man took on a second name when he reached adulthood. Zuko had only rarely seen his uncle's constant guest, but it seemed he was here now in place of his uncle.

"Greetings and salutations, Prince Zuko," Cao Cao said and bowed once he was close enough to speak.

"What are you doing here, has my uncle sent you?" The burned man asked suspiciously

"Your gracious uncle asked me to deliver this letter to you," Cao Cao handed Zuko the scroll and the prince tore it open furiously.

Zuko,

As I write this I can only reflect on how much I would rather be talking to you in person. My illness has taken to the point that I would only be a burden to you on your quest to capture the Avatar. I will join you as soon as I am able, and look forward to reading your reports on your journey across the world. Remember that while you journey on a mission, take time to consider the lands you are traveling through. Send letters as often as you can.

Best to you,

Your Uncle Iroh

Zuko carefully folded the letter and sighed, another member of the family who had to leave. At least Uncle had an explanation for why he wasn't around. Zuko had done his best to try and care for him from time to time, but he didn't know the first thing about medicine or how to heal. Best to just hope that Uncle could recover with time.

"You've delivered my uncle's letter, you can leave now. We have to cast off now," Zuko turned his back to Cao Cao and began to walk towards his ship.

"My prince, a moment if you would?" Cao Cao did not turn around but instead kept his gaze even.

"What is it?" Zuko grunted irritably as this stranger continued to take up more of his time.

"I am a man of little talent and no great means, but I would offer my own services to aid you during your travels," Cao Cao offered with a self-deprecating smile.

"I don't see how you can help me," Zuko said as he narrowed his good eye and even his scared one seemed to be smaller, "You're no firebender or soldier and every person on my ship has to serve a role."

Lt. Jee seemed to raise his eyebrow at that comment but held his tongue. Technically the ship was his uncle's and technically Jee was listed as Captain on the manifest. Though everyone knew that this was Prince Zuko's mission, the rules of the sea were something every sailor respected.

"I may not be able to teach you anything regarding the art of fire, but as a Prince there is more to learn than the business of martial arts," As Cao Cao spoke his voice seemed to take on an air of authority that seemed almost out of place from a man with no past, "There is the art of governance, the work of discerning the hearts of men, the task of guiding the people, and the cultivation of ones academic and literary abilities"

"None of that will matter if I can't capture the Avatar!" Zuko spat as he fumed at the lecturing tone that the older man took up, "What good is learning any of those things if I'll never be around to use them?"

"Then you have given up already!" Cao Cao uttered to the shock of the assembled crew, "You're right! Why learn more than firebending if a hunter is all you will be? But if you believe that one day you will sit upon the throne and return in triumph, you must take every opportunity to grow all aspects of your character. Do you plan to succeed?"

"I will return! Even if I have to scour the world from Pole to Pole I'll find them!" If there was one thing that could be discerned about Prince Zuko from this exchange, it was that he was a passionate young man.

"Even if generations have failed to find the Avatar? Even if people say there is no hope?" Cao Cao taunted now, leaning forward as if daring the prince to strike him.

"Those people had a choice to stop looking, I don't!" Zuko tensed up but held his self control, "If you have so little faith in me then stay here. Be another one of my uncle's pai sho partners for all I care."

Then came a sound that the prince did not expect. Laughter and clapping came from the strange man. Cao Cao leaned back and then bowed deeply with folded hands.

"There is no need for that, your highness," Cao Cao said as he once again made eye contact, "You are right in fact. It is said in my country that if soldiers cannot retreat, then they must make their stand with all that they have. If we apply this to your hunt for the Avatar, then there can be no doubt your search shall be the most dogged of them all."

A hard look from the Prince tested the resolve of both men, until the young man simply huffed and turned his back.

"Fine, come aboard then. Since you're a friend of my uncle's you can have the second officer's cabin," Zuko harrumphed and began walking onto the ship.

A mind filled with dark thoughts stepped aboard the FNS Taira as the crew on deck watched the prince walk up the gangplank. Despite Zuko's status as an exile the crew knew well enough to stand at attention when a prince was on deck. The uniforms of the men were all barely hanging together by the flimsiest sets of thread and needle, but at the very least Zuko observed that their weapons and tools appeared clean. Lt. Jee was technically Ship Captain so it was up to him to give the final orders to cast off, but apparently he was busy talking to Uncle's "esteemed friend."

Zuko knew almost nothing about Cao Mengde. He only recalled that the man had been brought to court by his uncle some years ago just after coming back from the Siege of Ba Sing Se. He had no family, was no fire bender, and barely seemed to have a job other than as a hanger-on around Uncle Iroh. Zuko could barely fathom why Uncle thought this man of all people would be useful to him in his search for the Avatar. For a moment the young prince bitterly cursed at his uncle for not being able to come with him like he had tried to promise. Those thoughts were unworthy however, and so Zuko pushed them down. Consumption was a terrible disease that could come and go. It wasn't in Uncle's power to determine when he would be able to travel. It was Heaven's will that the seasons and the tides worked against Uncle Iroh's wishes.

While Zuko continued to examine the ship and crew he heard footsteps following up the gangplank. As he turned around he saw Lt. Jee and Cao Cao step aboard deck to the attention of the bosun who hollered-

"Captain on deck!"

Evidently even among a group of men on a desperate mission naval traditions prevailed. It was at this moment Zuko wondered why a man of Jee's age was still a lieutenant while so many younger officers had been promoted through the ranks as far as captain or major. Perhaps he was some kind of troublemaker and Zuko was saddled with him as another part of his father's punishment. That hardly mattered, as long as he was willing to do whatever it took to help him capture the Avatar. Zuko could hardly expect anything approaching the creme of the crop considering the circumstances.

"Weigh anchor, stoke the boilers, we sail with the tide!" Lt. Jee gave sharp and clear commands and the crew rushed to obey.

"What is our first heading, your highness?" Lt. Jee used the honorific despite everything, well that was something at least.

"We sail for the Western Air Temple, put us forward with everything we have!" Zuko commanded.

The lieutenant (Captain?) nodded briskly before heading towards the helm, presumably to have the course laid in. Zuko was left standing on the main deck again watching the crew scramble to make all the final preparations to sail. A Vanguard Class like the Taira was damn near ancient, but somehow Zuko still felt a strange sense of anticipation as it creaked and groaned off of the docks. This was the first time Zuko had ever left the Fire Nation, and though he had been on boats before the sea now was nothing like it had ever been before.

Ahead it loomed, along with the wider world, and hopefully the location of the Avatar. Behind him was everything else, the world and the people the prince had known all his life. Uncle, Father, Azula, he found himself thinking about the family he might never see again, and strangely he also couldn't stop thinking about Mai and her sour frown either. Zuko could not afford to look back at his homeland anymore than he could go back in time to change what had happened. He pushed aside those thoughts of family and friends just as he pushed away those questions of what happened to his mother after she left all those years ago.

"It is magnificent is it not?" Zuko's thoughts were interrupted by the deep tones of Cao Cao, "I had never thought much of the sea in my younger days, but now I cannot help but respect it."

"The sea is like any obstacle. The Fire Nation conquered it with with technology and skill," Zuko affirmed, "If the Fire Lords can conquer the seas then their heir can find and capture the Avatar!"

"Is that determination, pride, or foolishness in your voice?" Cao Cao asked with far too much informality, "I suppose it does not matter, those things are determined by how far you can take yourself with them."

"If you continue to speak with that kind of attitude I can always drop you off on the nearest barren rock we find," Zuko huffed irritably.

"Apologies your highness, I am only your humble servant," Cao Cao genuflected with surprising grace considering they were on a moving ship

Dear Spirits, this was going to be a long trip if Cao Mengde was going to be with him the whole way.