XIX/ Prince's concerns

Zuko sat cross-legged in his dimly lit quarters, the flickering flames before him casting soft, shifting shadows across his scarred face. He struggled to center himself, the memories of his latest near-capture of the Avatar on Kyoshi Island weighing heavily on his mind. He was wondering where the Avatar could be and whether that mysterious light-skinned waterbender was still with him. The calm flow of the fire he had summoned for his meditation barely managed to soothe his frustration.

As he took a deep breath, the familiar sound of footsteps approached. Zuko tensed, recognizing the deliberate pace of his uncle. As the older man even entered the room, he spoke without turning. "Uncle, if you're here, it must be to tell me we've arrived."

Iroh's voice was calm and grave as he entered the room. "Yes, Prince Zuko, we have. But you need to see this for yourself."

Zuko's eyes snapped open, his focus immediately shifting to Iroh's uncharacteristically serious tone. Rising swiftly, he followed his uncle to the deck. The ship's crew stood in various states of disbelief and concern, all eyes fixed on the horizon. Zuko pushed through them, coming to a halt as he beheld the sight of the Mo Ce Sea Prison.

The rig, once a formidable symbol of Fire Nation control, now stood as a frozen monument. Its icy exterior shimmered under the sun, jagged cracks etched across the structure, groaning ominously under the immense weight of the ice. The entire rig was encased in a thick layer of frozen water, its once imposing silhouette now fractured and crumbling under the weight of the ice. Some parts of the construction were already collapsing into the sea.

Zuko's expression hardened as he glanced at his crew, noting the mixture of fear and awe in their eyes. He turned back to Iroh, who had joined him on the deck, his wise face thoughtful. "What happened here?" he demanded, his voice laced with disbelief.

Iroh stroked his beard, his eyes reflecting his inner contemplation. "I cannot say for certain, but I have my suspicions."

Zuko clenched his fists, a mix of frustration and anticipation bubbling within him. "Do you think the Avatar did this?"

Iroh hesitated, his gaze shifting back to the frozen prison rig. "It's possible," he admitted, his tone somber. "But I feel there's something else..."

The prince's thoughts raced as he considered his uncle's words. His mind wandered back to his encounter with the mysterious waterbender on Kyoshi Island, the display of power and control she had exhibited leaving a lasting impression on him.

Could it be her? Zuko wondered, the disbelief of such a possibility washing over him. The thought of facing someone with such extraordinary abilities filled him with a mixture of fear and determination.

"I think who might be behind it, uncle," he said in a wary voice, his eyes narrowed on the sight before him.

Iroh looked at his nephew with intrigued eyes. "Really?"

"Yes," Zuko answered in a coarse voice. "That's that strange waterbender I fought on Kyoshi island."

Iroh's expression shifted, a mix of concern and realization crossing his features. "Ah," he murmured, nodding slowly. "It seems she is far more formidable than we initially thought."

Zuko's brows furrowed as he processed his uncle's words. "But how could she have done this?" he questioned, his mind racing with possibilities.

Iroh turned to face him fully, his gaze serious. "Indeed, nephew," he began, his voice low. "It truly take a powerful waterbender to freeze an entire prison rig like this. Perhaps even the most powerful one in the world."

Zuko's eyes widened at the magnitude of his uncle's statement. "The most powerful?" he repeated, a note of disbelief in his voice.

Iroh nodded gravely. "Indeed. We must not underestimate her abilities, Prince Zuko. She has displayed a level of mastery over her bending that is... unprecedented."

Zuko clenched his fists, his determination resurfacing despite the weight of the situation. "Then we must be prepared," he declared, his jaw set in determination. "I won't let her stand in the way of capturing the Avatar."

Iroh placed a reassuring hand on his nephew's shoulder, his gaze steady. "Patience, Prince Zuko," he advised, his voice calm yet firm. "We must tread carefully. This waterbender is not to be taken lightly."

Zuko nodded, acknowledging his uncle's wisdom. "I know, Uncle," he replied, his tone resolute. "We'll proceed with caution."

Iroh offered a small smile of approval before turning his attention back to the frozen prison rig, his mind undoubtedly already formulating a plan. Zuko followed suit, his eyes fixed on the eerie sight before him, a silent testament to the power of their mysterious adversary.

"We need to investigate," he declared, his voice firm.

"Are you sure?" his uncle asked. "We have obvious clues that the Avatar went by this place."

The prince looked at his uncle with a determined glint. "I have to. If I want to defeat this waterbender to capture the Avatar, I had to see by myself how powerful she is."

Iroh looked at him with a concerned and wary eye before sighing. "As you wish, Prince Zuko."

Zuko then turned his eyes to his crew. "Prepare to approach the prison," he commanded.

Lieutenant Jee stepped forward, his concern evident. "Is that wise, Prince Zuko? The structure looks unstable, and the ice..."

"That's enough, Lieutenant!" Zuko snapped, his temper flaring. "We need to understand what we're dealing with."

Iroh placed a calming hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Peace, nephew. Lieutenant Jee raises a valid point. We must approach with caution."

Zuko took a deep breath, reigning in his temper as he considered his uncle's words. "Fine. We'll approach slowly and send a small team to investigate. Prepare the men."

The crew, now steeled by Zuko's determination, moved to comply with his orders. As they neared the rig, the groans of the frozen metal grew louder, an eerie symphony of impending collapse. Zuko couldn't shake the image of the girl from his mind, her icy powers and determination.

As the ship inched closer, the crew readied ropes and grappling hooks. Zuko stood at the bow, his eyes fixed on the prison rig. He couldn't afford to let any lead slip through his fingers, not when he was so close to capturing the Avatar and regaining his honor.

As they neared the rig, the groans of the frozen metal grew louder, an eerie symphony of impending collapse. Zuko couldn't shake the image of the girl from his mind, her icy powers and determination.

The ship came to a stop near the closest deck, the icy tendrils of the prison rig looming ominously in the distance. Zuko noticed several figures huddled together, their postures defeated and their uniforms plastered to their shivering forms. Recognition jolted him—these were the once-proud guards now reduced to pitiful wrecks. They stood on the dock line, their gazes fixed on the approaching ship with a mixture of relief and trepidation.

"Lieutenant Jee," he called out, his voice steady. "Prepare a team to board the rig. We'll assess the situation and gather any information we can."

Lieutenant Jee saluted briskly. "Yes, Prince Zuko."

Iroh approached Zuko, his breath visible in the freezing air. "Remember, nephew, the cold will affect our firebending. We must be cautious."

Zuko nodded, thinking back to the times spent at the South Pole during his previous stops there in his quest to find the Avatar. He then noticed the way Iroh occasionally exhaled a controlled breath of fire to keep warm. The freezing temperature gnawed at his own ability to generate fire, a stark reminder of their vulnerability. Among them, Zuko recognized the warden, his expression a mixture of fear and relief.

"Uncle, what's that you're doing with your breath?" he asked with intrigue.

Iroh exhaled another breath of fire before looking at his nephew. "I'm using the breath of fire technique to keep myself warm and maintain my bending abilities. Remember nephew, the fire comes from our breath, not our mucles."

Zuko nodded to his uncle but clenched his fists, a mix of frustration and awe at the power the mysterious waterbender wielded. "How cruel," he thought, "to leave Firebenders in such a state."

Iroh pointed towards the stranded men. "They must be the men keeping the prison. They'll be glad to be rescued. And I'm sure they'll provide valuable information about what happened here."

Zuko acquiesced in agreement, as he was determined to find more clues about the Avatar's passage but also concerned for his countrymen's wellbein. He turned to Lieutenant Jee as he ordered, "Prepare the crew to board. We'll rescue the firebenders and find out what they know."

Lieutenant Jee saluted again. "Understood, Prince Zuko."

As the ship stopped near the closest deck, Zuko, Iroh, and a small team landed on the icy platform. Zuko immediately noticed the warden and his men approaching, their faces etched with relief at the sight of a Fire Nation ship.

The warden's face twisted in recognition. "Prince Zuko," he said, his voice strained.

Zuko's eyes hardened. "Warden," he replied coolly. "What happened here?"

The warden hesitated, clearly shaken by the sight of Zuko, torn between the condescending and proud demeanour he would have and the dire situation he was dealing with.

"It was an uprising," he finally said, his voice quivering slightly. "The prisoners, they... they overpowered us."

Zuko's temper flared. "How did you let this happen?" he demanded, stepping forward, his fists clenched.

Iroh intervened, placing a calming hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Peace, nephew," he urged gently. "Let him speak."

The warden took a deep breath, his eyes darting between Zuko and Iroh. "Three persons infiltrated the prison, likely to find one of the prisoners or to provoke an uprising."

Zuko asked with an impatient tone, "How did they manage to infiltrate it? I thought this place was guarded against such kind of actions."

"The previous night, I've been told of a flying buffalo or a fly bison flying by and I suspected there was something amiss."

Zuko narrowed his eyes, having another confirmation this was the Avatar's group that went here.

"This morning," the warden continued, his voice gaining strength as he recounted the events. "we found the intruders, two young boys and a woman unlike anyone in the world. And somehow, they managed to rise the prisoners in using the coal of this place. And while I was trying to bring order back, that woman, that freak, was using ice and snow with such ease it made my men disorganized. I tried to stop them, but they escaped and dumped my men and I into the ocean. And I saw my prison turned into an ice cube. That is an insult to my honour and the Fire Nation."

Zuko's mind raced, his thoughts immediately. The tale certified that the Avatar and his allies stopped by this place, freed the prisoners, and destroyed it. But he needed to be certain.

"Describe the waterbender," he pressed, his voice low and intense.

The warden hesitated, recalling the encounter vividly. "Light skin, platinum-blonde hair," he replied, his voice tinged with unease. "She was powerful, prince Zuko. She didn't need water to create her ice."

Zuko and his crew exchanged glances, realization dawning upon them. Lieutenant Jee and his men exchanged uneasy looks, remembering the fight on Kyoshi island.

Meanwhile, Iroh surveyed the frozen prison rig with a mixture of awe and concern. He knew they needed to tread carefully; the cold was affecting their firebending, making them vulnerable.

"Uncle," Zuko began, turning to his uncle. "We should inspect the prison, gather what information we can."

Iroh placed a calming hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Nephew, the danger here is real. The structure is unstable."

Zuko clenched his fists in frustration, torn between his desire for information and the practicality of the situation. "But we need to know more," he insisted, glancing back at the frozen rig.

Iroh's expression softened, understanding Zuko's conflict. "Prince Zuko, we have everything we need right now. Our priority should be the safety of our crew and of the warden's men."

Reluctantly, Zuko relented, knowing his uncle was right. "Lieutenant Jee," he addressed briskly, turning to the crew. "Prepare the ship for departure. Help the guards and the warden aboard."

Lieutenant Jee saluted. "Understood, Prince Zuko."

The lieutenant was about to leave but stopped and looked back at the prince. "But... Where shall we find coal to refuel?"

Zuko's jaw tightened at the reminder of their current predicament. "There should be enough on the rig," he replied tersely, still smarting from their missed opportunity to capture the Avatar once more and conflicted over Elsa's involvement.

Iroh stepped in smoothly, diverting attention. "We'll make sure everything is settled, Lieutenant Jee. Prepare to depart."

As they made their way back to the ship, Zuko stole one last glance at the frozen prison rig. The sight filled him with conflicting emotions—frustration at yet another missed opportunity to capture the Avatar, respect for the power of this mysterious woman, and a gnawing sense of unease about what lay ahead in his quest.

On the riverboat back to his ship, Iroh spoke gently to the warden and his men. "You'll be safe once we reach the next colony," he assured them. "I'll prepare some Jasmine tea for all of us."

The warden and his men exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of defeat and humiliation still fresh on their faces. They were eager to leave this frozen prison behind, their wounded pride palpable. But the offer of warmth and comfort was tempting, especially after the ordeal they had just endured.

"I... suppose that would be appreciated," the warden replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Thank you, General Iroh."

Iroh nodded graciously, his smile unwavering. "It is my pleasure. When in trouble, always drink a cup of tea."

Zuko rolled his eyes in hearing his uncle saying this, but was still focused on the ruined prison rig, realizing more and more how powerful the mysterious waterbender he encountered on Kyoshi Island was. He thought about what her move implied for the war, for the Fire Nation, and for their enemies. The Mo Ce prison was not only meant to imprison earthbenders but also to allow the Fire Nation navy to resupply in the southern seas. It was a symbol of Fire Nation domination. The destruction of the prison rig was more than just a setback—it was a direct challenge to Fire Nation authority, a brazen display of defiance that could not be ignored.

He wasn't the only one to think that as he heard the warden asking, "What should we report to the Fire Lord Ozai?"

Zuko turned to face them, his expression serious. Honour told him he should report this situation or let the warden doing it. But as much as he wanted to warn his father of a big threat like nothing he had heard of before, would his father listen when he hadn't captured the Avatar yet? Would he even believe that a waterbender or whatever this woman was to be more powerful than any bender, especially the Firebenders? He felt torn, but decided that discretion was more important, especially as he suspected such information would bring Zhao to relent. And it was his mission. He shouldn't let anyone else intervene.

But as Zuko was about to answer, Iroh intervened, "If you were to report to my brother, tell him that the Avatar helped the Earthbenders to escape and to destroy that place."

Zuko's eyes flashed with frustration at being cut off but he also recognized the practicality of Iroh's answer. The warden and his men stiffened, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. One of the guards, his face pale from the cold and shock, asked, "Do you mean that the woman was the Avatar, General Iroh?"

Zuko's frustration flared, his jaw tightening. He was incredulous that some would assume this waterbender witch to be the Avatar. Even when he was chasing him for all those years, he didn't assume him to be a waterbender or an earthbender. He opened his mouth to lash out the guard on his stupidity, but Iroh raised a calming hand.

"No, the Avatar is a young airbender, one of the boys that helped the prisoners escape the place," he said smoothly, his voice carrying a weight of authority. "My nephew and I had the misfortune of encountering his ability to freeze objects when he damaged our ship at the South Pole."

Zuko's eyes narrowed slightly, remembering the avalanche that buried their ship. He knew it wasn't the case and that the Avatar only used his airbending to block his uncle and his fireblasts against the sky bison. He wondered what his uncle was planning, why he would bring up that particular incident, especially in a lie.

The warden and his men exchanged disbelieving looks. "A child?" the warden asked incredulously. "The Avatar is a child?"

"Yes," Iroh confirmed, his tone patient. "A child with incredible power, as you have seen here. The woman you described must be another ally of the Avatar's, possibly from the Water Tribe."

The warden frowned, clearly struggling with the idea. "But this woman... her power is unlike anything I've ever seen."

Iroh nodded, his expression grave. "Indeed, she is powerful. But have you seen her freezing the prison?"

The warden was hesitant. "No, but…"

Iroh interrupted in a serious and firm demeanour. "Then where's the matter? The Avatar helped your prisoners to escape the prison and then destroyed the place. Nothing more. Reporting the presence of a mysterious woman you don't even know if she had frozen or not the prison would only cause confusion and alarm without more information. And we all know my brother doesn't love incomplete information or rumours."

The warden and his men hesitated, the weight of their predicament evident in their expressions. They didn't like the idea of withholding information from Fire Lord Ozai, but they couldn't ignore the wisdom in Iroh's words, especially if the Fire Lord was asking for more information they wouldn't be able to present.

The warden blanched at the perspective of facing the Firelord to explain his failure and facing his wrath because of an information his liege would possibly dismiss. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Very well. We will report the Avatar's involvement."

Iroh smiled, his demeanor once again calm and reassuring. "Thank you. Now, let's ensure everyone's safe and get back to the ship."

As they made their way back, Zuko watched his uncle, a mix of frustration and admiration brewing within him. Iroh had deftly navigated a potential disaster, maintaining control of the narrative and protecting their mission. Zuko clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his uncle's wisdom and his own impatience. He had much to learn, but the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty and danger.

Pondering on how his uncle presented the matter made Zuko uneasy and unsettled as it was againt what he believed in, he realized it meant his chances to find the Avatar and to return home remained still strong as before. The last thing he needed was to see Zhao having more reason to chase the Avatar with another target to hunt down. Thinking of the commander made Zuko scoff, as he knew that the latter would likely use such opportunity to prevent him to achieve his mission.

The riverboat reached Zuko's ship, where Lieutenant Jee and his crew were already preparing for departure and helped the warden and his guards to join the ship. As they boarded, Zuko's conflicted thoughts lingered on the mysterious woman and her connection to the Avatar. She was not just a threat but a vital part of Aang's group now, and Zuko knew they would meet again.

"Let's go," Zuko said quietly to himself, steeling his resolve. "There's still much to do."

As they sailed away, Zuko looked back one last time. The prison rig stood as a silent sentinel, its fate sealed by its icy touch—an ominous reminder of the challenges ahead in his quest for honor and redemption.

"We'll find them," Zuko vowed quietly, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "And this time, we won't let them slip away."

Iroh placed a reassuring hand on Zuko's shoulder, silently offering his support. "Patience and strategy, nephew," he reminded gently. "They will reveal themselves again in due time."

Zuko nodded, his resolve hardening once more. "Prepare the crew," he instructed Lieutenant Jee, his voice steadier now. "And make sure our guests are comfortable."

Lieutenant Jee saluted again, executing Zuko's orders with practiced efficiency. As the ship started to sail away, Zuko focused on the path ahead, realizing the challenges and hurdles he was now facing between Zhao on the one hand who was using big resources to find the Avatar and preventing him from achieving his destiny, and this mysterious and powerful waterbender on the other. The fate of the Fire Nation hung in the balance, and Zuko knew he had to tread carefully if he were to restore his honour and reclaim his rightful place as heir to the throne.