The next day after the Avatar State thing, I got the thought in my head. Maybe Zuko would get me a sword! As seen as I got the thought in my head I went over to his room.

And yet when I got there I froze, my hands started shaking and my heart beat like the flash. I took a few deep breaths and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Hearing Zuko's beautiful voice didn't help my fright. I wish we could text.

I walked in, he was doing that thing were he sat in front of candles and breathed. "Well I was thinking maybe I could get a sword." I fished, hoping I didn't say it too soon.

"Why do you need a sword?" He stood up and turned to me, I was starting to sweat.

"Last time we were in a fight I was defenseless. And I'm guessing you're not going to stop chasing that bald guy... so maybe I could do my part." I wanted to take a few steps back but then he'd know he had the upper hand.

"There is no 'We.' I can have you kicked off this ship when every I please." Zuko said, stepping closer with a proud stature.

"Well then why don't you?" I asked without realizing that I got closer myself.

Usually I wouldn't do something thing daring but I almost didn't even have control.

Zuko seemed a little rattled by my question.

"Prince Zuko, we are boring the docks." A soldier said at just the right time. Zuko quickly followed him.
                       _________________

"Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay here and risk losing his trail." Zuko said, as we walked onto the docks. I was a little surprised he didn't tell me to leave.

"You mean the Avatar?"

"Don't mention his name on these docks, once word gets out that he is alive every fire bender will be out looking for him. And I don't want anyone getting in the way." Zuko got right in Iroh's face, trying to make sure no one else heard him.

"Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?" As I heard the voice of Zhao I stood up straight and I began to grin.

"Captain Zhao." Zuko stated with a questionable tone.

"It's commander now. And general Iroh, great hero of the Fire Nation." He bowed and Iroh bowed back.

"Retired general."

"The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests anytime. What brings you to my harbor." Zhao looked at me with bitterness, I suddenly felt completely out of place.

"Our ship is being repaired." As Iroh said this Zhao looked up to see Zuko's small ship badly damaged.

"That's quite a bit of damage." Zhao stated.

"Yes, you wouldn't believe what happened. Uncle, tell Commander Zhao what happened." Zuko mugged at Iroh who looked just as clueless of what to say.

"Yes, I will do that. It was incredible...—"

I knew I had to intervene no matter how charming the scene was. "If you don't mind me cutting in. We were attacked by a Water Tribe ship. Just off the coast of the Southern Water Tribes." Zhao looked at me like I was foreign and I could see in his eyes that he already didn't like me.

"Yes. A Water Tribe ship." Zuko added making it sound made up.

"Really? you must regale me with all the thrilling details. Join me for a drink?"

"Sorry, but we have to go."

"Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect. We would be honored to join you. Do you have any Ginseng Tea? It's my favorite." As Iroh said this and walked with Zhao, Zuko growled and threw fire out of his hands.

                            _______________

"And by years end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule. The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war." Zhao said, as he looked at the map on the wall.

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, than he is a fool." Zuko looked on the ground as he sat down. He said it like he was angry but he wasn't angry at anyone. He was just frustrated.

"Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue. So how's your search for the Avatar?" I could see that comment really bother Zuko, he hated Zhao.

Since there was no place for me to sit down I was looking at the weapons on the wall. I picked the skumitar and started messing with it when I accidentally hit the other weapons and causing a chain reaction.

Zhao and Zuko looked at me with glares, and it was enough to get me scared. I just gave off a sorry smile and started picking it up again.

"We haven't found him yet." Zuko said, still looking down, he was lying but he was fooling Zhao.

"Did you really expect too? The Avatar died a hundred years ago, along with the rest of the air benders." Zuko looked the other way, he knew he was alive and well. That was all Zhao needed to know Zuko was lying. "Unless you've found some evidence that the Avatar is alive?"

"No. Nothing."

"Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you've found." Zhao started to really push, Zuko started showing more that he was lying.

"I haven't found anything! It's like you said the Avatar probably died along time ago. Come on, Mia, Come on, Uncle, we're going." Zuko got up and started to go to the door but the guards blocked his path.

"Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed they confirmed prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody but let him escape."

Zuko hissed and clenched his fists, he knew he couldn't talk Zhao down now. If he ever could.

"Now remind me, how exactly was your ship damaged?"
                        ________________

"So a twelve year old boy bested you and your fire benders. Your more pathetic than I thought." Zhao scoffed with his back to Zuko.

"I underestimated him once but it will not happen again." Zuko quickly replied with anger in his voice.

"No it will not. Because you won't have a second chance."

"Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I-"

"Failed! Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He is mine now." Zhao turned to say it in his face. "Keep them here. And arrest the Earth Kingdom girl."

Right when he said it I didn't know what to do. This wasn't in the show! What if he actually does take me to prison. I couldn't go there, not to mention I'd miss the whole show. "No!" I shouted as two guards grabbed my arms.

Zhao smirked at my struggles and useless efforts to free myself.

Zuko tried to get off his chair but the other guards pushed him back down. Zuko yelled in anger and kicked the table in front of him.

"More tea please." Iroh saying that would have been funny if I wasn't going to be put in jail.

"Come on, please, Zuko. you have to help me!" I shouted at him, but I could see in his eyes he didn't know if he could do anything.

Only a few weeks ago he wanted me gone, and I was begging him to help me stay out of prison. I didn't even know if he really cared about me, even if he becomes a good guy.

                      _________________

"My search party is ready, once I'm out to sea my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go. Well, almost all of you." Zhao looked at me with a smirk. He loved seeing anyone from the Earth Kingdom being taken to jail.

"Let her go, Zhao!" Zuko ordered in almost a shouting tone.

Zhao wasn't surprised one bit. "Why? She's Earth Kingdom, if you're attached to her your loyalty to the Fire Nation has sorely fanished." Zuko frowned and he wanted to attack Zhao right there.

"I'm not even an earth bender, I'm from the colonies!" I tried to plead, I really don't know why.

"Quite." A guard said to me, at the same time hitting me in the gut.

"You know nothing of my loyalty." Zuko got closer to Zhao, Zhao didn't move one bit.

"I don't do I? you're a banished prince. Your own father doesn't even want you." He mocked and it got to Zuko.

"You're wrong! Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor. And restore my rightful place on the throne." Everyone but Iroh felt the tension in the room.

"If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now. Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." Zuko grew even more furious, he feared that was how his father looked at him.

"That's not true." He snarled back.

"You have the scar to prove it." Zhao replied, knowing he was hitting all Zuko's points.

"Maybe you'd like one to match!" Zuko shouted, getting within an inch of his face.

"Is that a challenge?" Zhao sounded like he was going to scoff again.

"An Agni Kai, at sunset. If I win she goes free." I was a little stunned he'd do it for me. Even if I knew they would already fight.

"Very well. It's a shame you're father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do." Zhao said, before walking out.

"Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you dueled a master?" Iroh asked, I just had to ask.

"Why what happened?"

"Something I will never forget." Zuko closed his eyes on remembering the scaring day. (I had to say it.)

                       _________________

At sunset I watched in an excitement of what was about to happen. "And remember your fire bending basics, Prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons." Iroh warned Zuko as he turned to face Zhao.

"I refuse to let him win."

They took they're robes, (I don't know what to call it.) off and took fighting positions.

Zuko's shirtless body was distracting but not as much of the fact that I could go to jail If he lost. I didn't know why but I was afraid, I knew who was going to win.

"This will be over quickly." Zhao said, turning to face him.

Zuko threw a fire ball at him, Zhao quickly broke it and sent one of his own. Zuko deflected it to the side and kicked another fire ball at him. Zhao kicked it aside and put his hands to together and made a fire wall reeling at Zuko. He sheathed it off himself as it hit.

Zhao made the same attack two more times. Zuko was now breathing heavy, blocking wasn't his best suit. Zuko kicked a fire blast at him, Zhao dodged it and sent another fire wall at him.

"Basics Zuko, break his root." Iroh shouted as he slid another fire wall off himself.

He had to much and the fire was blocking his sight when it almost consumed him. He cleared his view to see Zhao jumping towards him to knock him out.

Zuko rolled over as Zhao hit the floor. Zhao went to kick fire at him, But Zuko spin kicked fire at him. Zhao lost balance and fell over as Zuko kicked more fire at him.

He rolled over and threw a fire ball but Zuko usually blocked it. Zuko threw more and more, Zhao was defenseless.

"Do it!" Zhao shouted, as Zuko was about to give Zhao the same scar.

But Zuko didn't have a reason to, he clearly won. He threw a fire ball right next to his head but made sure it didn't hit him.

"That's it? Your father raised a coward."

"Next time you get in my way I promise I won't hold back." As Zuko started walking away, Zhao got up and kicked fire at him.

Out of nowhere Iroh came and grabbed Zhao's foot and threw him back down. Zuko was about to finish Zhao but Iroh held him back.

"No Prince Zuko, do not taint your victory. So this is how the great commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile my nephew is more honorable then you. Thanks again for the tea, it was delicious." We started walking off, I looked back to see Zhao laying on the ground in defeat.

"Did you really mean that uncle?" Zuko asked as we headed to the ship.

"Of course I told you Ginseng tea was my favorite." Iroh replied with a huge smile.

"Thanks Zuko, you didn't have to do that." I said, focusing on his face. Which was distracting just the same.

"No I did." Zuko replied, and if I was imagining I think I saw a slight grin. I knew Zuko was never gonna leave me on some port.