Aang: Oh! I know this one! I woke up in the fi-

Shhhhhhh! Don't spoil it! There might be readers that didn't even watched Avatar!

Aang: Okay okay, sorry.

Ahem, so, hope you guys enjoy this show.

...

Three days have pass since the incident with the pirates and in those three days all was quiet; a little too quiet for the former royal family member of the Fire Nation. As he stood near the bow of the ship watching the water chop up against the steel beast.
Zuko looks onward toward the sky as he watches the moon slowly move across the sky. Zuko heard the metal clanks from behind him indicating that someone was near. He turn his head to see Hakoda walking towards him with a cloak in his hand. Zuko turned his attention back out toward the sea.

"You cold Prince Zuko?" he heard him ask. Zuko turn to face him.

"No thank you, and please just Zuko."

Hakoda nodded, "Fair enough," he started.

"I know that fire benders can control their own inner fire to keep them warm, but even some of your other fire benders require cloaks on nights like this."

Zuko nodded, "Well once you swam in artic water underneath the frozen ice city of the northern water tribe and push your way through a blizzard while carry the unconscious Avatar on your back, just a few days after you've gotten blown out of your ship, you just don't get cold like everyone else does," Zuko says with a smirk. Hakoda looks at the young man and gives a small laugh.

"My kids were right you really are determined to get things done."

Zuko shrugs, "I suppose."

"From what I've heard from my kids is that no matter the odds or the situation they could always count on you being somewhere near them. Whether it was hunting them down or protecting them from an electrical storm in the middle of nowhere. They told me that they can always count on you being there," Hakoda said.
Zuko looked from him back toward the sea.

"That's good to know?" he says not sure if that's good or bad. Hakoda just nodded and went back toward the middle of the deck talking to Bato. Zuko turned to see mostly everyone out on the deck talking or looking out toward the sea.

...

Aang awoke with a stinging pain arising from his back. Slowly rising from his bed to only to feel a new wave of pain greet him. His vision fuzzy from the new pain he felt.

"What happened?" he asked himself taking in his surroundings. To his horror he sees the Fire nation emblem on all the walls.

"Oh no," he said raising up from the bed. Grabbing his staff he made his way out into the hall. Slowly so he doesn't fall as he could feel his muscles tensing up from beneath him. He sees two guards up ahead. Taking a deep breath he swung his staff hitting them with a weak gust of air.
He heard them shouting something but he didn't pay attention as he struggled to run up the stairs only to see two fire nation soldiers petting Momo.

"Momo?" he asked as said creature came and licked him on the face.

"Twinkletoes? That's got to be you," Toph shouted with glee.

"Aang you're awake," Katara shouted with glee as well.
Aang stood there confused as hell at what's going on.

"Are you sure I feel like this is a dream."

Katara rushed up and encircled Aang in a hug, "You're not dreaming. You're finally awake."

"Welcome back to the land of the living," a soldier with a skull helmet said.

"Sokka?" Aang said. Just then a new wave of nausea hit the young Avatar as he started to feel his legs give out.

"Huh-oh someone catch him he's gonna-" Toph shouted just as Aang fell backwards. But they never heard his body hit the ground instead they head a small thud of a body hitting armor.

"Don't worry I got him," Zuko said coming up from behind.

"Hey Zuko," Sokka shouted taking his helmet off.

"Looks like you've finial caught the Avatar."

Hakoda started laughing with his son as everyone just looked on with annoyance. Everyone heard Bato murmured.

"He really is his father's son."

...

After a few moments Aang re-awoke to find himself in the same place. As he opens his eyes he sees Prince Zuko back when he still had the ponytail.

"Ah!" Aang yelled closing his eyes and preparing himself for an attack.

"Umm Aang?" Zuko asked. As Aang open his eyes he sees Zuko that he knew back in Ba Sing Se.

"Zuko you have hair," Aang said. Zuko raised his good eyebrow.

"Yeah… so do you."

Aangs eyes widen, "I have hair?!" he shouted.

"I think it looks nice," Katara said. Aang had a hint of a blush coming to his cheeks. Zuko turned back to Katara.

"Katara you should fill him in. Also his bandages must have come loose when he was running so you should reapply them."

Katara nodded, "Will you help me get him back?" she asked. Zuko nodded and helped Aang up. Along the way Katara filled him in on what has been going on in the last few weeks. As she removed the bandages to reveal the scar in the center of his back Zuko couldn't help but think back to when he gotten his scar. He could still feel the heat of the blast but then nothing but a cold numbness. He was brought out of his trance when he heard Aang talk.

"How bad is it?"

Zuko looked at him, "It could be worse and luckily you have a healer here or else you would've been in more pain, trust me."

Zuko looked back at Katara, "I'll be on the bridge if you need me."
Katara nodded and Zuko walked out and started heading down the hall. Along the way he caught up with Hakoda.

"Is Katara still in there?" he asked. Zuko nodded.

"She's healing him right now so I would wait a few minutes."

Hakoda nodded and went on his way.

...

After leaving Aang to rest Katara made her way to her room deciding to get some rest herself. She found herself on her way as she passed the bridge and like the last time heard whispering.

"The Avatar's awake now," she heard one of them say.

"I don't care the plan still stands."

' That sounded like Zuko,' she thought as she listen.

"But we might not even need them anymore," another man said.

"I know but still just to be sure," she heard Zuko say.

' What are they talking about,' she thought.

"Let's talk about this more later, it's getting late," another suggested.

"Agreed," she heard Zuko say.
Before she could be discovered she hid in her corner and watch all the men leave the room. She saw Zuko come out and stop in the middle of the hallway. He looks around and she thought that he spotted her but instead shrugs his shoulders and walks towards his room. Making sure no one was around she emerged from her hiding spot looking at where the prince once stood.

' What are you up to?' she thought.

...

The next morning Zuko watched from the observation deck as Sokka been filling in Aang about all that has happened in the last few weeks and the plan. Zuko decided to go down and see how he's taking the news.

"How am I being dead good news?" Aang shouted.

' Better than expected,' Zuko thought to himself. Before Zuko could cut in the sound of a horn got his attention.

"Shit," he said to himself as he grabs the nearest helmet with the skull face mask.

"Get him out of sight," Zuko ordered as him, Bato, and Hakoda made their way to the left side of the deck. Zuko just stood there not paying attention to the conversation between the Captain and Hakoda. As Hakoda and Bato turned away Zuko heard one of the men whisper,

"…away on Ember Island." Zuko tapped his heel against the deck two times singling Toph to be ready. Toph using her hearing heard the rest of the conversation.

"They know!" she shouted slamming her hand against the deck using her metal bending to destroy the ramp way. Zuko turned and kicked a wave of fire at the other deck distracting the men watching, while Katara jumped from behind him creating a wave and pushing the other ship away from them.
Zuko turned to the deck and signal Jee full speed. With that the ship lurched forward with speed. Zuko kept looking back to see that the ship was still following them.

"This feels familiar," Zuko thought to himself as he sees a giant fire ball hurtling right at them.

"Incoming," Zuko shouted. The Fire ball grazed the side of the ship as another came towards them.

"Toph!" Zuko yelled.

"I'm on it!" she yelled back.

"Load the Toph," she said as Pipsqueak grabbed a rock and put it in front of her. She launched it toward the ship thanks to The Duke guiding her. The next rock hit the incoming fire ball dead on. As the next fire ball came closer Zuko blasted it out of the air with his own fire causing little fire rocks to fall on the deck. When Zuko looked back he saw the chain firing toward the bottom of the ship. He could feel the chain slowly dragging out of the ship. Luckily Katara was quick and sealed the hole.

"I'm giving us cover!" she shouted creating fog to cover them up. Zuko stood there waiting for the next move to come and just when he thought they were in the clear more fire balls came at them.

"Head's up!" he shouted starting to blast them out of the sky. Unfortunately he missed one and it crashed into the pile of rocks for Toph. Zuko turned to see Aang running out.

"Aang get inside!" Zuko shouted running towards the communication device.

"Zuko to engineer. Can't this thing go any faster?" he shouted into the device.

"I'm giving it all she's got captain!" he shouted. Zuko shouted in anger as he heard another fire ball hit the deck.

"How we doing?" he heard Toph say.

"Things couldn't get much-" Sokka started but was cut off.

"Don't even finish that sentence," Zuko gritted.

"Worse," Sokka said without thinking. Just then the Serpent from Serpent pass emerged from the sea.

"The universe just loves proving me wrong doesn't it," he said sadly.

"You make it too easy," Toph snickered. Zuko kept looking at the serpent.

"I'm having the oddest sense of déjà vu right now," he said to himself. Just as the serpent was about to attack and Zuko was about to fry dinner for tonight a fire ball from the other ship made contact with the beast head. The serpent decide to change ships and started attacking the enemy ship. They all stood there watching the serpent wrap around the ship.

"Thank you the universe," Sokka said with glee.

"Alright Katara see if anyone's hurt, Hakoda tell Jee to take us to the nearest port, Sokka you take some of the men and get rid of the water that got in, Toph go and seal that hole for me will yeah," Zuko ordered to which all nodded their heads as he made his way to the front of the ship to check the damage.

...

After docking at the nearest port Zuko was assessing the damage that was done and decided that the ship is still good for sailing. He notice that Sokka and Toph left a few minutes ago claiming to get food and thought nothing of it until Katara came out with a sad look upon her face.

"Something wrong?" he asked her.

"It's just Aang he's having trouble dealing with being hidden. He thinks he failed the world," she said quietly. Zuko nodded his head.

"How bad is it?" he asked.

"He says he lost his honor."

"You want me to talk to him?" he asked. Katara shook her head.

"No he just needs time."

"To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping," Zuko started.

"While it's nice to be alone with your thoughts sometimes others need to help on the journey."

"Thanks Zuko," Katara said turning around to catch up with the others.

"Hey," Zuko said while Katara came to a stop to look at him.

"Yeah?" she said.

"Anything else troubling you?" he asked. Katara raised her eyebrow.

"Like what?" she asked.

"I notice a little tension between you and your father."

Katara was about to answer but Zuko cut her off, "Look I don't know what your relationship is with your father and I know I am probably the last guy you should be talking to about family problems; but just know if you need someone to talk to about these things don't hesitate to ask."

Katara smiled, "Thanks."

Zuko nodded and went back to work.

...

All seemed normal as they left the port Zuko stood looking at the map of the fire nation in front of him. That is until Katara and Hakoda barged in.

"What's going on?" Zuko said looking away from the map.

"It's Aang he left," she said.

"What!" Zuko shouted.

"When?" he asked.

"He probably left sometime after we left the port," Hakoda said.
Zuko rubbed his head with his hands trying to sooth the head he was sure to get.

"Go get Jee, Sokka and Toph would you?" he asked not specifically to one person. Hakoda went and got them.
As they all entered they started to talk about what to do next. They agree that it was for the best to separate and keep Aang on the move rather than keep him on the ship.

"Zuko are you coming with us?" Toph asked. Zuko thought on what he should do.

"Well someone has to go with you who knows the lands, also I suppose this is a good time as any to teach him the way of fire."
They all decided and made their way to Appa before Zuko mounted the beast he turned to Jee. Katara strained her ears to hear what they are whispering to each other.

"Keep working on the plan," Zuko whispered to Jee. Jee bowed and turn to return to the bridge. Once Zuko was on they began soaring through the air.

...

The sun began to rise as they came across the volcano island noticing Momo diving toward the island. Sokka steered Appa after Momo. As they landed they see Aang laying there on the shore as the waves came and go. Zuko saw how they all rushed toward the young boy and he decided to casually walk towards them as they see they are in the middle of a group hug.

"What about the invasion?" Aang asked.

"We'll meet up with them the day of the eclipse, but for now we're just gather Intel along the way."

"Zuko what are you doing here?" Aang asked.

"Someone has to make sure you guys don't get in trouble. Also in time we'll begin working on your fire bending," Zuko said. Aang put on a nervous smile when Zuko mentioned fire bending but before he could question it Toph spoke up.

"Hey what's-," she said grabbing a piece of wood.

"Oh it's your glider."

"It's okay if someone saw this it would give away my identity. It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive," Aang said with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Zuko watched as Aang leapt to the nearest rock and planted the broken staff in the earth. Zuko turned to Katara.

"Like I said one step at a time."

Katara nodded. They all watched as the staff caught on fire and slowly burned away. As they all saddle up on Appa with Zuko at the reins he looks back at everyone.

"Be prepared," he said looking at all of them.

"We going into the heart of the fire."

...

And that's about it! Hope you guys enjoyed it!

Aang: Sorry I almost spoil the story.

It's okay, just don't do it again. See you soon!