Author's Note:Thank you all for your reviews, favourites, and follows. I honestly am relieved and excited to see this story has been well received so far. I have also decided to start posting chapters a low more frequently. Hopefully every day, or every other day, and if I am feeling ambitions I might post two in one day. I basically decided that if even one person wants to read my story, wants to binge it, and I want to post it and share it, then I should. Doesn't matter if this becomes my 'big' story. The fact that more than one person does want to read this will always just be the cherry on top. I will keep posting, I will also do my best to respond to reviews. So, without wasting anymore time, please enjoy chapter 3, and if I finish editing it, maybe even chapter 4 next later tonight.
~Chapter 3 Start~
We were back at sea just before dusk fell. I could feel the ocean spray hitting my face as I let out a sigh. Naia would have loved this. She always wanted to travel, see the world and what relics of the past it still held. Seeing a historical boat like this would have made her whole year.
Of course this train of thought did nothing to make me feel better. It was a bittersweet reminder that all I had left of her were my memories. All the pictures and messages I had left of her were taken from me when Sadar and his men had taken all of my belongings. I was left with nothing but the thin clothing on my back, for all the good that did me. My boots were already long lost to moisture and the salty sea air. Nothing I still owned was well equipped for my new life. So I donned new shoes, new clothes, new weapons, and a new persona.
Mira, the orphaned firebender, not Mira the future Avatar.
The air was becoming colder now as we pressed forward through the burgeoning night. I could help but be reminded of what Zhao had said. Zuko was banished, hated even by his own people it seemed. He was even scarred for it, a painful 'lesson' for sure. He was still just a teenager, how could anyone have placed such a burden on a child?
"Guess you're a night hawk too." I heard Zuko sigh from behind me.
I turned around and saw him standing profile, the moonlight hitting his unscarred face in a way that reminded me of Phantom of the Opera. He was frowning, his arms at his sides, but otherwise seemed calm. He looked kind of beautiful in this light, almost softer.
"Uh, yeah. I'm not used to sleeping on a boat full of virtual strangers so..." I muttered, my hands clenching the metal rail tightly.
"Yeah, it wasn't easy for me at first. The only person I initially knew was my Uncle when I first set out to find the Avatar." Zuko said, his voice sounding almost beautiful when it wasn't full of anger.
"Must have been hard, how old were you?" I asked, staring out into the rolling sea.
"Thirteen." Zuko answered after a moment of silence.
"Five years is a long time to be away from home, are you ever worried things might have changed?" I asked, turning to look at him now.
"Things always change. I'm more worried about being accepted back than anything else." Zuko responded curtly.
"Wow, Zuko. That almost sounded optimistic of you." I grinned.
Zuko let out a snort at that as he folded his arms on the railing and leaned his chin on them.
"Are you worried about things changing too much when you get home?" Zuko asked without looking at me.
"No, guess not...I just miss it." I sighed with an unhelpful shrug.
"What do you miss the most?" Zuko asked, changing the subject from his own pain to my own.
"My best friend, I guess. I keep thinking about how she would have loved to sail the world like this." I said, turning to look at the stars now, the only familiarity I had left.
All I had was change, it was pretty easy to adapt once you stopped fighting it.
"What was her name?" Zuko asked, probing further.
"Naia." I smiled as I breathed her name out.
It didn't occur to me until later that evening that Zuko was trying to make me feel more comfortable by at least letting me get to know him a little bit. In his own way he was accepting of my presence.
~Break~
"Ok, I'm ready for my lesson." I greeted Iroh as I came up on deck.
"I can see that, but first we need to start with the basics." He motioned for me to take a seat next to him where he had set up a small table with tea on it.
"Tea?" I asked, confused as I stared at what Iroh was doing.
"Yes, tea can do many things. One of which is helping us relax. Here." He handed me a cup of steaming tea before taking his own.
I took a sip feeling the heat filled my mouth. I smiled at the strong jasmine scent and took another sip.
"Good, next I want you to boil this pot of water." He handed me a cool metal pot which I assumed was filled with water.
I held it in my lap as I gave him a funny look.
"And the metal won't...burn me?" I asked, staring at the pot unconvinced about this task.
"No my dear, it won't. I want you to focus on keeping a steady heat until the water boils." He smiled once more before taking another sip of his tea.
"Ok, sure, making tea is firebending training. Makes sense..." I grumbled as I held the pot in front of me focused on heating the pot.
However, instead of warming the pot, fire shot out instead and I let out a yelp, the pot clattering to the ground.
"Yes, control is very important when it comes to firebending. Try again." Iroh instructed as he retrieved the pot and refilled it with water.
"This is going to be harder than I thought, isn't it?" I sighed as I tried once again.
~Break~
I found dinner to be exceptionally hard and lonely. Everyone seemed to already know one another and the people I did know, Zuko and Iroh, were often too busy, or crabby, to be my company. The other reason I grew to hate it was the fact that spending twenty-four seven at sea wasn't great for my motion sickness. I found often by dinner time my stomach was ready to protest food for the next week.
So I usually sat in the corner, bracing myself against the wall as the waves rolled. I sometimes had some tea and bread, maybe some soup. Almost always had a piece of hard stale crackers to nibble on as I got lost in my thoughts. Which is what I was doing currently when the sound of someone's plate being set down startled me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. You looked a little under the weather so I figured you could use the company, and maybe this." The man said with a large smile.
I took a moment to look at him from his small dark eyes framed with laugh lines to his good natured almost paternal smile. He was the soldier who had helped me out with my armor I realized as I recognized where I had seen him before.
Looking down I noticed he was holding out a small pale yellowish piece of what looked like dried fruit. I could make out the crystallized pieces of sugar coating the outside. Plucking the fruit from the man's calloused hands, I popped it into my mouth and made a face when I tasted something both familiar and intense. My eyes watered as I felt the burn crawl up and into my nose.
"It's ginger to help with your sea sickness." He chuckled as I swallowed the dried ginger as tears hit the corner of my eyes.
"No kidding," I coughed, downing my cup of water. "Warn a girl next time."
"What, and deprive myself of that reaction?" The man grinned.
"The name's Mira, if you didn't already know." I smiled, sticking my hand out.
"My name is Jee." He smiled back warmly, his larger hand encasing my own.
~Break~
"Ugh, Prince Zuko is going to lose it." Jee grumbled.
"What do you mean?" I asked from where I was napping on the deck.
"We still have no idea where the Avatar is. His 'Highness' isn't going to be happy about that." Jee answered with a roll of his eyes.
"Aww, Pumpkin." I mockingly pouted as I stood up.
"You'll see, he always does something drastic and stupid whenever he's upset." Jee laughed as he walked off with the soldier he had been talking to.
Ok, so I hadn't learned everyone's name yet, but I was working on it.
"That's it, we are docking at the nearest port and asking around!" I heard Zuko boom as he stomped onto the deck.
"Excellent, I could use a proper meal." Iroh agreed as he rubbed his stomach.
"Wait, we're going onto land, like not some military base or port, but an actual town?" I asked as I rushed towards them.
"It's not so much an actual town, as it is a place for Fire Nation soldiers to rest, get supplies, and contact their families. Basically a Port Of Call." Iroh explained.
"Doesn't matter, count me in for dinner." I said, waving Iroh off.
"We aren't docking so you two can have dinner, we are docking to collect intel!" Zuko fumed.
"Yeah yeah, you collect intel, Iroh and I will have dinner." I cheekily replied.
Thank god Iroh was still fast in his old age, or a flaming kick to my head would have been Zuko's response.
~Break~
"The Avatar's on Kyoshi Island?" Zuko spoke as he stood from the table.
"You just had to say something and ruin a perfectly good dinner, didn't you?" I said as I glowered at our waiter.
"For the last time we aren't here for dinner!" Zuko shouted at me.
"And yet, we find ourselves here, having dinner." I smiled as Iroh shot me a disapproving look.
"I don't have time for your shenanigans, Uncle, ready the rhinos. He's not getting away from me this time." Zuko growled out as he moved to walk away.
"Are you going to finish that?" Iroh asked as he pointed at the food we had just been served.
"I was going to save it for later!" Zuko answered as he snatched the plate Iroh was pointing at and walked away.
"Rude..." I grumbled as I grabbed my own plate, and Zuko's rice for good measure, and followed the pissed off prince.
~Break~
The ship was heading for an island, Kyoshi Island apparently, at full speed, the waves crashing harsh against the bow of the ship.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." I muttered as Iroh squeezed my shoulder.
"Don't worry, we'll watch out for you." He spoke with a kind tone.
"You, you mean you will watch out for me..." I grumbled as I looked out into the water.
"When it comes down to it, my nephew will too, trust me," Iroh smiled sagely as he let go of my shoulder, a twinkle in his eye. "And don't think I forgot about your blooming friendship with Jee."
"Whatever you say...oh god was that a sea serpent?" I cried as I saw a giant fin disappear under the water.
"No, that must have been an Elephant Koi." Iroh answered, stroking his beard.
"Excuse me, an Elephant what?"
Iroh never got the chance to answer as we docked onto the island and everyone began to pile out in a uniform fashion. They were already mounted on their Rhinos, me staying behind with Iroh to watch the ship.
"I want the Avatar alive." Zuko ordered as he departed the ship.
I couldn't help the uncomfortable shiver that ran up my spine.
~Break~
"So we each get twelve tiles to start?" I asked as I sat with Iroh playing some game called 'Pai Sho'.
"Correct." Iroh nodded.
"And we move around the board." I tentatively spoke.
"Correct again." Iroh affirmed, his eyes gazing down warmly.
"But it's not like Go, and the goal isn't to make it to the other side of the board?" I was beginning to confuse myself now.
"Calm now, my nephew is fine, he is a skilled warrior, now I'll explain the rules again." Iroh smiled as he reset the tiles on the board.
"It's not him I'm worried about..." I muttered to myself as I missed the first half of Iroh's explanation once more. \
~Break~
Sunset was just starting when Zuko and his men returned, sopping wet. Zuko, the least soaked of the group, stomped up the ramp and past me and Iroh. I could feel the heat radiating off his armor despite being a few feet away.
Guess his rage was good for something, kind of.
"Wow, did you get the Avatar?" I smirked.
"I don't want to talk about it!" Zuko shot back as he stomped past me and went into the ship.
"What? Was it something I said?" I asked as I turned around to grin at Jee.
"Kid, you are going to run out of luck sometime, so stop testing it." He ruffled my hair with his wet hand and I yelped.
"Also, why are you wet?" I asked, smoothing down my damp hair.
"Giant serpent shot water at us." Jee shrugged simply as he headed into the ship as well.
"Told you." I snidely remarked at Iroh who only let out a sigh and shook his head.
~Break~
"You must remember that your sword is an extension of yourself. You must move with it as if you were one." Zuko droned on as I held a saber in my hand.
To be honest I was a little bit done with his lecture. Sure he had no idea what I knew, but I did tell him and Iroh I was trained in using a saber. Yet, here we were starting at the basics. I stifled a yawn and shifted from one foot to the other. I was struggling to pay attention and focused on Zuko's scar instead. The way the almost wax-like skin was pulled taut along his cheekbone and how the place where he would normally have laugh-lines was uneven and bumpy from whatever damage he had sustained.
I soon found myself lost in the thoughts on how he got the scar in the first place. I wasn't about to ask of course, it was already considered rude to do in my time before taking his thorny disposition into account.
"Make sure you keep your shoulders down and extend your forearm before striking. Hold up your sword." Zuko instructed as he readied himself.
I followed suit with a sigh and idly wondered if Zuko assumed I would be as bad at sword fighting as I was at firebending. That thought churned my stomach and reminded me of all the times I had to constantly prove my metal even within my own inclusive school.
Zuko struck first and I blocked his strike at the same speed he was going. He reset and I followed suit as he motioned for me to attack next. I extended my forearms and angled my blade, striking down as Zuko blocked me in turn. We continued to send and receive blows for about ten to fifteen minutes to warm up.
"Not bad, now, let's move onto different strikes and work our way through them." Zuko declared as he motioned for me to move through each strike.
I gave him a confused look when he didn't show me what he wanted this time, but didn't miss the arrogant smirk on his face. With a small frown I clutched the hilt of my sword and flipped it around as if it were a rapier cutting down an opponent's sword, Ferro would have been proud. It managed to take the look off Zuko's face causing him to replace his defiance with crossed arms. He was making it clear while he accepted my presence he did not agree with teaching me anything.
My brows pinched as I moved through the different strikes, I kept the movements fluid and controlled, allowing Zuko to see every small twitch in my muscles. Once I was done I stepped back and awaited his appraisal.
He stepped towards me and allowed his arms to uncross as he moved to speak.
"It wasn't bad, but I'm not entirely sure where you learned as some of your transitions between strikes looked sloppy. Go through them again," Zuko explained as he moved to stand behind me. "When you transition to your second strike you aren't extending your arm through the movement and following your blade, instead you are rolling your shoulder to compensate. If you want to end up seriously injured in a fight that's the way to do it. Next, loosen up your hips. You do need a strong base but you need a fast and nimble one as well."
Zuko pressed his hand against my shoulder forcing it to lower as I followed his instructions. His other remained on my waist where he helped guide me through the motions. I found myself resisting at first until he corrected my forearms movement and I allowed my muscles to carry the weapon into the next strike as opposed to my strained shoulder.
"Oh, wow, that was loads easier on my shoulder, felt better too." I smiled, turning to give Zuko a proud look.
"Don't get too proud of yourself, you still haven't managed to do any of these strikes successfully in combat yet." Zuko said, walking to stand before me again. " We will work on your strikes and transitions until you can do them from muscle memory alone. Continue."
I did as Zuko instructed, albeit begrudgingly. I was going to hurt like hell tomorrow.
~Break~
Entering the galley I found it busy despite how late I was to dinner. Almost all the men who had the night off were seated at one of the larger tables talking boisterously together. Walking closer I found them to be playing some sort of game with a deck of cards, gambling if I had to bet.
It must have been later than I thought as most were drinking and betting small amounts of coin. Grabbing myself a bowl of stew I wandered towards their table, standing behind Jee as I looked over his shoulder.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked as I took a mouthful of stew.
"Betting, do they not gamble where you are from?" Jee asked as he tossed two coins into the pot.
"Hmm they do, I just wasn't sure if you were allowed to gamble while on active duty." I said with a shrug.
"It can sometimes be frowned upon, but who is going to know?" Jee grinned as he placed down his cards.
I sat down to his left and looked at the rest of the soldiers in various states of undress. Taking a sip from Jee's glass I blanched.
"Little early for the hooch isn't it?" I coughed as I handed the glass back to a disapproving Jee.
"One, I'm off duty, and two, I didn't ask you to drink it." He frowned with a shake of his head.
"Noted." I muttered, taking a deep sip of water from the glass handed to me.
"Want to join us?" The soldier to my right asked, I think his name was n?
"Sure, why the hell not." I grinned.
~Break~
In the end the game they were playing was eerily similar to poker. Some of the rules were different, and the winning hands were very different, but otherwise it was virtually the same.
It was nice to find something familiar.
In the end I had transitioned the game from what they were playing to blackjack and eventually once everyone was liquored up enough, started teaching them the rules to Bullshit. I was shuffling the cards eying up the suddenly eager players. I had a feeling none of them would normally swear upon a royal vessel, but that logic was two drinks ago.
"The rules are simple, boys. As long as you know how to count you will be fine. Whatever number is flipped over at the start you can only go one digit above or below. You can place however many of that card you wish. For example if it's a three you can use only twos or fours. You place the card or cards face down on the previously played card when you declare what number you are playing and how many. You do not have to play twos or fours, you can lie and put down whatever cards you want instead.
"However, anyone else here can call your bluff and shout bullshit, then we flip the cards that were just played and if the person who called bullshit is right the liar has to take the whole pot into their hand. If the person who called bullshit was wrong, they must take the pot. You can also opt to draw a single card instead of playing a card if you have no viable options and don't want to take the gamble. The first person to empty their hand wins." I explained as I dolled out everyone's hand.
"Seems simple enough. Jee grumbled as he grabbed his cards and took a look.
I grinned and flipped a card showing a five.
"Gentlemen first." I motioned as Jee went to play first.
~Break~
"BULLSHIT!" Shen shouted at Jee who stared at him smugly.
"Go ahead and take a look." Jee spoke, his tone cold and daring.
Shen stared at the pot wondering if what he had just proclaimed was even a good idea or not.
"Erm...can I take my bullshit back?" Shen asked as I shrugged.
"Go ahead."
"I rescind my declaration of bullshit." Shen grumbled.
"Good, cause I lied." Jee grinned as he leaned over the table.
"You son of a bitch!"
Needless to say no other game of bullshit was ever had aboard the ship again after Shen exploded two tables as Jee escaped cackling.
It seemed Prince Zuko wasn't the only volatile one aboard.
~Break~
The sun was shining, the sea was calm, even the chaos of last night couldn't damper my mood. I was going to absolutely slay today's sword lessons with Zuko and finally, finally, have a date with my bed.
"...you need to make sure your sword is angled correctly to avoid any accidents such as losing your grip, or worse, your fingers..."
And what a glorious sleep that would be. Not that the excitement of bonding with my peers was problematic, no, quite the opposite. It was rather exciting, if not a tad too exciting.
"...unless your opponent of course corners you, then it is important to remember your basics, You can still push your opponent back if you remember these important steps..."
All I had to do was make it through my training with Zuko in one piece. Which I had a good chance at, his mood was somehow better today. He didn't seem as irritated with teaching me anymore, he was even, dare I say it, enjoyable.
"...once you have them reeling it is important you follow through, do not relinquish the small amount of control you've gained. Continue striking until either you are free or..."
Maybe I could survive the seafaring life after all. It was getting easier and easier living on a veritable rocking horse. It had become slowly soothing for me now. The ebb and flow of the waves had become an integral part of living.
"And you aren't even listening to me." Zuko glowered, smacking his sword against mine to startle me from my thoughts.
"Hey!" I shrieked, jumping about a foot into the air.
"Don't 'hey' me, you were the one ignoring my lecture." Zuko huffed.
"Was not." I whined back.
"Okay, then prove it. What did I say?" Zuko said with a smug look on his stupid face.
"Something about beating your opponent into submission in a hallway." I waved off with a bored expression.
"Not quite." Zuko smirked.
"How so? Was it not about beating your opponent into submission in a hallway?" I asked, sticking my hip out in defiance, hands placed arrogantly upon them.
"Well, yes, but there was more to it then th—" Zuko started to say, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Uh-uh, you asked what you said, not everything you said. So I'm right." I huffed, crossing my arms.
"That is not what I said!" Zuko glowered at me.
"But you just admitted it, case closed." I smirked.
"You are the most infuriating woman I have ever met!" Zuko growled as his fingers threaded through his hair.
"Glad to leave a lasting impression." I grinned.
"Just..." Zuko took two steadying breaths before eyeing me. "Just get into your stance and we will go through your blows."
Throughout the rest of our practice his cheeks were tinged red as he continued glowering at me. At more than one point I thought he was trying to explode me with his stare alone.
Boy, I really did have a talent for making the prince mad. At least I was talented at something.
~Break~
It had been almost a week since the serpent incident at Kiyoshi island. Zuko had managed to keep his temper in check, sticking to brooding as he came up with other plans. I was currently having dinner with Iroh when Zuko burst into the room.
"I found the peasant girl's necklace!" Zuko shouted as he slammed something down onto the table.
"Excuse me, we are trying to have dinner here." I said through a mouth full of food.
"Charming." Zuko spoke with a disgusted tone.
I raised an eyebrow at his comment, before glowering and going to open my mouth to retort.
"Enough you two, what do you mean you have the girl's necklace?" Iroh asked as he put down his chopsticks.
"I found it after the Avatar escaped today, perhaps we can use it to lure them to us." Zuko thought as he picked up and clenched the necklace in his hand.
"Or, we could use it to track her scent?" I offered after swallowing my food.
I did remember a podcast about tracking dogs once, they were pretty badass.
"Don't be absurd, they are capable of traveling in the air, I doubt tracking some peasant girl's scent could help us much, but the significance to the jewelry may make her force them to come to us." Zuko hissed as he stomped off.
"Is anyone going to tell him that she has no way of knowing he has the necklace?" I asked as Iroh chuckled and shook his head.
"You both have a point, but after years of nothing, a necklace is at least something." Iroh responded, staying neutral as usual.
~Break~
Today was my training day with Iroh. Since I was still learning the basics, as well as control, I wasn't able to join Zuko in his lessons yet. I had graduated from heating up a pot and was now holding a small flame in my hand keeping it both lit, and small. I was finding it easier as the days went by to keep control of my firebending. Beaming with a bit of pride, I turned to give Iroh a pleased look, no longer needing to stare at the flame to keep it contained.
"Good job, you are getting much better at summoning fire and keeping it controlled." Iroh praised me as I smiled like some dopey eyed child.
"I can't believe it, it's like magic! I wonder what it's like to bend the others..." I spoke without thinking.
"I often wonder that myself, sadly, we will never get to know, in this life anyway." Iroh laughed, not at all bothered by my comment.
"Yeah, but still." I smiled brightly as I turned my gaze toward the fire.
"Now, let us move on towards hand to hand." Iroh moved into position and motioned for me to follow suit.
I let out a calming breath and put the fire out before standing before Iroh, mirroring his stance.
"Ok, at least go easy on me this time?" I asked.
"Not a chance." Iroh smirked.
~Break~
I continued to train for the rest of the week with Iroh. He had been giving me a lot of theory and fireless fighting, but today he was finally letting me use my fire with my attacks.
"Go through the movements as we have practiced, but this time summon your fire. Allow it to travel along your skin and gather at your fingertips. Do not fear the heat, the fire will not harm you." Iroh explained as he took his own defensive stance before me.
I took a steadying breath and moved my arms from my center and towards Iroh with my fist extended. I stepped forward, pivoting on my back leg as a long stream of fire shot out. I stared at it in awe as Iroh deflected the blast, diffusing it into nothing but warm air.
As the colours faded I stared at Iroh with a wide toothy smile.
"Good job, go through the rest of the strikes and keep your fire strong and controlled." He smiled motioning for me to continue.
I moved towards the rest of my strikes, extending my fists outwards, powering my fire just enough to reach past Iroh. Each time he diffused them with ease. I moved towards my kicks and on my third strike I lost my footing and the fire dissipated before hitting Iroh.
"Oww..." I muttered as I landed painfully on my rump.
"That was very good, Mira. The kicks are often some of the hardest strikes for firebenders to learn, even Zuko struggled with them." Iroh said as he extended a hand towards me.
I grabbed it and allowed Iroh to effortlessly pull me to my feet. I rubbed my butt with a small frown and got back into my stance.
"Did he really?" I asked, not feeling convinced.
"Really, it took him a lot of practice to do it so effortlessly. So practice is what we will do." Iroh nodded as he raised a hand and motioned for me to continue.
I started at the beginning of my kicks, this time staying upright. But the fire was harder to control from my feet. It seemed so effortless whenever Zuko shot out fire at every tinge of emotion. But, sure enough, as we continued it did get easier.
~Break~
Today was my day off, after days of intense training, Iroh had finally given me the day to myself to rest.
I was lazing about on my bed, stretching out my sore muscles as I hummed a tune. Aang had been pretty quiet lately, which was actually nice.
I was finally all by myself.
"Uncle Ir-oh, it's just you." Zuko sighed as he came into my room looking almost lost.
"Why would your uncle be in my room?" I asked with a raised brow.
"He's often training you and I couldn't find him anywhere else." Zuko huffed, his cheeks dusting red.
"Well, lucky for you he said he was going to check out some of the natural hot springs in the area." I answered as I stood up and dusted my pants off.
"Good, I'll be waiting on deck for you to take me to him." Zuko declared as he turned and left my room.
"I wasn't offering to take you." I whined to my now empty room.
~Break~
"I thought you knew where he was." Zuko huffed as I looked at the map for the sixth time in the past ten minutes.
"I only repeated what I had heard him say, not that I knew where exactly..." I grumbled as I turned the map over again and sighed.
"Give me that. Honestly, how have you survived this long without being able to read a map?" Zuko sighed as he took the map from my fingers and righted it.
"Well, we didn't need them where I'm from..." I grumbled as I followed after Zuko who had figured out what direction we needed to head.
"Didn't need a map? Did you live on a small island?" Zuko inquired.
"No...nothing like that, we just had other ways of getting around." I grumbled, feeling embarrassed by how little I knew.
"What on earth could you have used, other than a map and compass?" Zuko scoffed with a roll of his eyes.
"Just, other things. Shut up and show me how to read the damn thing!" I shouted, grabbing onto one side of the map.
My face was once again pink as I leaned in close. Zuko began to explain the directions and how to use them to travel on the map. I wasn't sure if I really understood, but I assumed practice would help.
Just my luck, I was spoiled by my GPS. I wasn't sure how to read a map that didn't tell me exactly where I was all the time.
~Break~
"Uncle!" Zuko called out as he moved the brush out of his way. "It's time to leave, where are you?"
"God this has to be the fourth spring we've tried..." I grumbled as a stray branch thwacked me in the face.
I rubbed the reddening mark with irritation as Zuko kept stomping forward. I clicked my tongue ring in irritation and followed the pissy prince.
"Uncle Iroh!" Zuko continued.
"Maybe he's already back at the boat?" I offered as I brushed the pine needles from my hair.
"No he's not, he's right here, being lazy as usual." Zuko retorted as I came to stand beside him.
Zuko was indeed correct, he had found Iroh. Unfortunately for me, he had found Iroh bathing.
"Oh gees! A little warning next time?!" I cried, blushing like a tomato and hiding my face.
There Iroh was, in his naked bathing glory, seating happily in a natural hot spring. The water was unfortunately crisp and clear.
"What? You don't fancy seeing my Uncle bathing?" Zuko asked with amusement in his voice.
"Keep talking and you'll end up in the bath with him." I hissed.
"I'd like to see you try." Zuko said, leaning in close as he issued his threat.
"Ahh if it isn't my nephew and favourite pupil, how are you guys doing?" Iroh asked, breaking the growing tension with a grin.
His arms were outstretched alongside the rim of the springs. He was the epitome of relaxed and I almost hated him for it. My muscles ached from our regular training, and I really didn't enjoy having my only day off interrupted to find him.
"Looking for you, we need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail, and I don't want to lose him." Zuko answered.
"You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?" Iroh offered as he raised his hands, letting the water cascade through his fingertips.
"My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!" Zuko growled.
"I'm not sure there's enough water in the world to wash them away." I scoffed, my back still turned to Iroh.
I peered lightly over my shoulder to check on the no doubt fuming Zuko and found him looking at Iroh through the gaps of his fingers.
"You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little, you too Mira. The temperatures just right, I heated it myself." Iroh continued, not at all bothered by Zuko's outburst.
Iroh placed his hands together and let out a deep steaming breath which caused the surrounding air to become muggy.
"Whoa, hey now, let's not get carried away and start adding me into this." I waved my hands as Zuko glowered at me even harder.
"Enough!" Zuko said as he waved the steam away, "We need to leave now! Get out of the water!"
"Very well." Iroh sighed as he stood up.
I let out a squeak and turned around as Zuko let out a disgusted noise and turned away himself.
"On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes, but be back at the ship in half an hour, or I'm leaving without you! Come on Mira." Zuko declared as he covered his eyes with his hands and got his bearings.
I followed after Zuko, letting out a breath of relief as I tried, and failed, to force my cheeks to cool.
~Break~
Iroh hadn't made it back yet and the deck was a flurry of activity with Zuko at the centre of it. His brows were tightly knitted together as he yelled at the men.
I rushed up to him with questioning eyes as I attempted to figure out what was going on. He wasn't actually going to set sail, was he?
"You're not actually going to leave him are you?" I asked as a few of the soldiers appeared to our right.
"No, of course not, we are going to go get him." Zuko declared as he grabbed my bicep and pulled me towards the ramp that led off the ship.
"We? What do you mean we? There's no we here." I narrowed my eyes as I waited for his reply.
"Yes we. Your training has to be good for something, consider this practice since your last stint during your lesson." He hissed as he threw me towards the ramp and started leading the soldiers off it.
Oh goody, he was still holding a grudge for that. I let out a sigh and followed after him, guessing it was no time like the present. Hopefully I wouldn't fuck anything up.
~Break~
"Uncle? Uncle, where are you?" Zuko shouted as he moved past the brush towards the hot springs we had left Iroh in, only to find it empty. The ground was covered with fresh leaves and bent branches. I picked one up, inspecting it to find nothing else amiss.
Well, except for a bunch of jutting rocks that were now inside the pool of water where Iroh had once been.
"Sir, maybe he thought you left without him." One of the soldiers responded.
"Something's not right here." Zuko answered back as he mulled over the soldiers' words.
"No kidding, look at the pointy rocks, they weren't there before." I added with a small wave towards them.
"She's right, that pile of rocks." Zuko said as he moved towards them and leaned down.
"It looks like there's been a landslide, sir." The same soldier from before explained.
"Land doesn't slide uphill," Zuko retorted, "Those rocks didn't move naturally. My uncle's been captured by earthbenders!"
"Well shit." I said as I went to stand beside him to get a good look at the rocks.
"Hmm, a mystery is afoot!" Aang laughed as I turned to give him a small glare. "Sorry, this is all new for me, I never did get to see what happened to you before we joined up."
Of course he chose now to appear. Not when I needed him or anything.
"Let's go." Zuko ordered as he turned away without a look back.
We all turned and followed Zuko's lead to look for Iroh.
I just hoped he was ok, wherever he was.
~Break~
It was morning now and I was beyond tired. Zuko was moving as if nothing bothered him at all, and for that I wanted to kick him in the shin.
It was not fair that someone could have so much energy during a time without coffee. Well, at least any coffee I had found.
We had split up earlier, Zuko deciding we could cover more land that way. I was of course stuck with his princely pain-in-my-ass because, as Iroh had predicted, he felt responsible for me so we buddied up.
Why couldn't chivalry be dead just this once so I could go to bed?
Zuko stopped during my thoughts, and bent over to retrieve a sandal. He took a small sniff before pulling away in disgust.
"Is it Iroh's?" I asked hopefully.
"Yeah, it's his alright." Zuko answered as he stood up and mounted his Rhino.
I honestly had no idea it actually was, it didn't remind me of the Rhino's in my time, but at least it was easier than riding a horse, which I did in fact know how to do!
Ok I only knew because of sword fighting, but whatever, the point was that I was comfortable riding.
We continued on as I glared at the bald portion of his head.
Dear god he was too chipper to be doing this on no sleep.
~Break~
"The Avatar." Zuko gasped as he turned his head to look at the sky.
I almost jumped out of my skin at his comment almost thinking he had mean't me as I had been, admittedly, dozing off.
"Wha-ho-huh?" I stumbled out as I took notice of where Zuko was actually looking.
I turned to look as well, and sure enough, there was Aang's Sky Bison.
"In the sky." Zuko answered as he pointed towards the large beast.
"What do you want to do?" I asked, turning back to look at him.
He made a move to follow, but then cast a stray look at the footprints we had been following and stopped.
I could hear the blood pounding in my ears as I waited for his response. I wasn't sure what he would choose, and for a moment, I panicked at the idea that I'd be made to choose between Iroh and Zuko.
"We go after my uncle." Zuko finalized as he turned to follow the bird-like footprints.
That startled me. I had expected him to not give a damn in his pursuit for the Avatar. But here he was, choosing family over his supposed honor.
I wasn't quite sure what to think of the prince anymore.
~Break~
It was nightfall by the time we had found Iroh. He was in a pit, surrounded by earthbenders as he lay chained across a bolder, his body taught like a bowstring. One of the earthbenders was raising a large rock above Iroh's bound hands.
"Oh my god, I think they are going to crush his hands! We have to do something!" I hissed at Zuko.
"Be quiet or we won't be able to help anyone." He hissed back as he dismounted and crouched near the edge of the pit.
We crept down towards them and suddenly just as the boulder was about to drop, Zuko jumped the rest of the way down, landing in a small crouch before leaping towards Iroh, knocking the boulder away as if it weighed nothing.
I ran towards them after jumping the rest of the way into the pit, kicking out a soldier's legs as I went and skidded towards Zuko in a crouch, my knee brushing against the dirt as my balance faltered and I winced.
"Oh dear lord that hurts a lot when you do it for real, and on the ground." I quickly rubbed my knee where I had landed, and stood up to join Zuko.
Zuko let out a shout as he slammed his heel down on the shackles holding Iroh against the rock, freeing him. Iroh took that moment to straighten his back and ready the chains he had still attached to his wrists.
"Excellent form, Prince Zuko, Mira." Iroh complimented as I let out a wide smile.
"Thanks!" I shouted as I got ready for the, no doubt, angry earthbenders.
"You taught me well." Zuko said as he began to circle in front of Iroh, my footsteps following to match his as I covered any weak spot I could.
"Surrender yourselves. It's five against three, you're clearly outnumbered." One of them boasted.
"Ah, that's true, but you are clearly outmatched." Iroh answered, the chains on his wrists swaying lightly.
The same earthbender who had yelled at us slammed his foot into the earth sending out a barrage of rocks towards us. The other four shot out more boulders and the fight was on.
I ducked out of the way of two of the boulders, as Zuko and Iroh evaded the barrage of rocks barrelling towards them.
I felt shards of stone fall into my hair, but I didn't have any time to dwell as I dodged another projectile and shuddered from the loud crushing impact it made to the wall of the pit.
Iroh began to swing the chain around hitting the other two boulders, as Zuko kicked fire out at the fifth, sending him flying back, before he kicked out another that was aiming for me.
I quickly moved, rushing the one before me and with a skilled uppercut, I evaded his own punch and sent fire spouting out of my fist sending him skittering back.
"Holy crap it worked!" I cheered as I stared at my own fist.
It may not have been my first successful firebending move, but it was certainly the first one I used in a real fight.
Iroh caught another boulder with his chain whip, and swung it around before sending it flying back at one of the remaining earthbenders, sending him soaring into a rock wall where he landed in a crumpled heap.
The one remaining earthbender was then joined by the one Zuko had previously kicked over, and they sent out another barrage of rocks.
Zuko dodged with ease, before letting out a frenzy of kicks and punches, shooting fire out at each movement.
The remaining earthbender dodge and raised his hands around his body, before pushing towards the ground and then lifting two waterfalls of earth, rising tall above us.
"Holy crap." I gapped.
Iroh, quick on his feet, took the time it took for the earthbending move to send out his chains, wrapped them around his ankles and pulled. The earthbender landed with a surprised yelp, hard on the ground as the rocks he was previously controlling fell on top of him.
"Now would you please put on some clothes?" Zuko and I spoke at the same time.
Iroh began to laugh at that, clapping us both on the back as he went to retrieve his clothes.
"Jinx you owe me a coke?" I quickly spluttered as I rushed off to mount my Rhino.
"I owe you a what?" Zuko shouted after me.
~Break~
"Ugh, what are we doing now? It's been like two days!" I whined as Zuko led us down a dirt path towards a run down town.
"I saw the Avatar heading over this way, I can't waste anymore time on foolish errands." Zuko growled as he clicked his heels against his mount and ran off leaving me without a rebuttal.
"Fucking rude..." I grumbled as I flicked the reins and squeezed my heels to follow after him.
I passed through the gates as I heard Zuko yelling at someone.
"Having trouble sleeping?" He asked as I heard someone getting tossed into what I could only assume was furniture, maybe a wall. "Seen the Avatar lately?"
"Whoa..." I hissed as I jumped off my own mount and rushed towards Zuko. "Is all of this really necessary?" I asked as I placed my hand on his arm.
"Do not touch me." He growled as he pulled his arm away and stomped into the man's home.
"Try not to take it personally, today hasn't been a good day." Iroh chidded as I turned to give him a tight smile.
"Still doesn't make the violence ok, or necessary..." I grumbled as I went to wait by my own mount.
"He won't hurt the man, merely scare him." Iroh hummed as I tapped my fingers against my saddle.
"If you say so..." I mumbled as I turned to look anywhere but at the house Zuko was inside.
I caught sight of Aang and blinked.
"Iroh really is right, Zuko won't harm the man." He was smiling at the comment, almost fondly.
"I'm really starting to question your insistence that I travel with them..." I grumbled.
~Chapter 3 End~