The Prince was awestruck.

He stared at the girl, is this the same girl that invited him to play tag oh so many years ago?

The General's daughter?

The girl who once hung out with him, hiding from their fathers?

Y/n L/n?

The girl whom he lost communication with as soon as he left the fire nation, in search for the Avatar?

That Y/n L/n?

Her laugh brought him out of his thoughts.

"It's been way too long" she said to the both of them.

"I could say the same, Y/n!" His uncle said embracing the girl in a hug, "oh, it seems like just yesterday you and Prince Zuko were running around playing tag" he let go and looked at the Prince.

Zuko cleared his throat, "yeah I haven't seen you in forever" he internally debated whether or not to also give a hug, but seems like she wasn't waiting for him.

"Tea?" She said tucking her helmet under her arm and extending a hand to a tent, "I'll fill you in on the Fire Lord's plan"

"Oh yes tea sounds spectacular right now" the old man said.

"Excellent, I'll send a crew to repair your ship" she looked at Zuko, "It looks like it took on quite the damage, hope I get to hear the story of how it came to be"

She smiled at them leading them to her tent.

"So what, you got promoted to Commander now?" Zuko asked as she held the tent's curtain open for them and dismissed the guards outside her tent.

"Yes, around a year ago, I've been stationed here for a couple of months now" she said, "please take a seat"

"Congratulations, Y/n!" Iroh said cheerfully, "one step closer to being General!"

She took off her gloves taking a pot full of water, "Thanks" she smiled at the kind man while easily bringing a tea pot to a boil by simply placing her hand at the bottom and casting a small, but hot fire.

"Is this my father's plan?" The Prince said while examining a map that hung against the wall of the tent.

"Yes, silly isn't it?" She replied now pouring the hot water into three tea cups, "is ginseng alright?" the question was more directed to Iroh as she new how much he liked tea.

"It's my favorite!" He said as the girl handed him a cup.

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly then he is a fool!" Zuko states angrily as Y/n handed him the cup of tea.

"Tell me something I don't know... ZuZu" she smirked and took a sip of the hot tea, "it's been three years, any luck finding the--"

A loud crash was heard making their heads turn to it. Iroh had knocked over Y/n's set of weapons.

"Uh... my fault entirely" Iroh said starting to pick up the tools he dropped.

A laugh escaped her lips, setting her cup down on the table and walked over to pick up her favorite spear, "it's alright Iroh, why don't you take a seat" she sat at the table with them, setting her spear next to her and picking up the cup of tea again, raising an eyebrow looking at Zuko for her answer.

"Does it look like I've got him?" He snapped back.

"Three years, nothing's changed your temper huh ZuZu?" She smirked again taking another sip of tea.

"Yeah and your more sarcastic than I remember, what's the military done to you, Y/n?" He replied back.

"All jokes aside," she said now speaking to both of them, "I've heard all the Airbenders died one hundred years ago, and I haven't seen any myself. You think he's still alive?"

It's been a long time since they've seen each other, but Y/n felt like Zuko was more angry than he was three years ago.

"That's a lie Y/n!" He slammed his hand on the table making his tea spill a little, "of course he's still alive!"

"Not so loud Prince Zuko" Iroh shushed him.

"So you've seen him?" She said leaning in, interested in what he had to say.

"I've captured him!" He said smugly, sitting up straight.

"Then where is he?"

His ego deflated as he sunk in his chair a little, "He escaped" his voice was bitter.

The curtains opened harshly letting sunlight fill the tent as Zhao barged inside with two soliders.

Y/n quickly changed the subject, "oh that's some brutal stuff there, Prince, no wonder your ship is totally wrecked" she looked at Zhao, "you know it's rude to come in uninvited, especially in your Comman--"

"And how did the ship get damaged?" He interrupted Y/n.

"You should have been here to hear the tale" she shrugged getting up and taking her spear, "now get out of my tent you nosy--"

"Well I just interrogated the crew" he said smugly.

"I never gave that order!" She said angrily through gritted teeth, approaching Zhao, spear in hand, "disobedience awards you with punishment--"

He interrupted her once again, "they informed me that Prince Zuko" he looked at him and Zuko glared back, "had the Avatar in custody... but let him escape" he smirked, "now let's hear that tale of how your ship got damaged"

"ENOUGH!" She shouted, bringing the spear under Zhao's chin, "you bloody nosey bastard! How dare you go against my word! I should have you thrown overboard!"

"Except your father would probably throw you to the overboard if you did" that stupid smirk never left his face as the spear left his chin, he turned to speak to Zuko, "so it's true, a twelve year old boy bestest you and your fire benders." Then he added, "You're more pathetic than I thought"

"GET OUT!" She threatened Zhao with the spear again as Zuko got out of his seat but the two guards held him back.

Y/n sent a glare at them, the spear never leaving Zhao, "all of you! Get out!"

The two soliders scurried out the tent, but Zhao stayed in place.

"If I were Commander I wouldn't give you a second chance" he said walking over to The Prince, Y/n's spear lowered as he looked at her, "two years and he's turned up empty handed--"

"I've underestimated him once, it will not happen again, Commander" he looked at her, afraid she'll give the job to Zhao.

"Capturing the avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands" he still spoke to Y/n, a glanced at Zuko, then he continued to ask the girl, "Please, Commander, let me take a search party to bring back the Avatar. I will not fail to capture him" he looked at Zuko.

Zuko looked at him with pure hated and then at Y/n as he waited for her answer.

"Teh, if The Prince couldn't capture the Avatar, what makes you think you can?" Was her reply.

They both looked at her in disbelief. Both had been offended, but Zuko was also a bit embarrassed as he didn't want her to think so low of him.

"You should let him go, Commander, but I will be the one to bring him back first!" He got out of his seat.

Zhao let out a laugh, "you can't compete with me!"

"It's not a race"

But they ignored her as the conversation was now between Zuko and Zhao.

"I am a highly respected member of the fire nation's army, and you? You're just a banished Prince. No home. No allies." He glanced at Y/n, "your own father doesn't even want you"

Y/n opened her mouth to speak but was Zuko interrupted her, "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"

About to speak, Y/n was once again interrupted by Zhao, "if your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar"

"Zhao--"

"But in his eyes you are a failure!" He raised his voice, cutting off Y/n, "and a disgrace to the fire nation!"

"That's enough you two!" She was finally able to get words in, "and that's not true, Zhao!"

"He has the scar to prove it!" He signed at Zuko's left eye.

"Maybe you'd like one to match!" Zuko shouted at him.

"Is that a challenge?" Zhao questioned, once again leaving Y/n out of the conversation.

"An Angi Kai, at sunset" Zuko said looking her, "Commander?"

"Uh, I don't think that's a good idea" she said.

"Even the Commander doesn't think you can beat me!" Zhao sneered.

"Please Commander, let me beat this guys ass" he said through gritted teeth.

Y/n thought for a second, "Zhao get out, I'd like a word with the Prince"

"Commander please let us have the Angi Kai!" He said once Zhao was out of the tent.

"Have you forgotten what happened last time you dueled a master?" She said, "you think I'll let you do it again?"

"I'll never forget," he said, "but you have to grant us permission, as Commander only you can to grant us permiss--"

"Yes I know what I can do" Y/n interrupted.

"Then do it! Make the Angi Kai happen!" He said, "don't hold back, I can take him on! Or do you not think I can beat him?"

"What I want is to not see you get hurt again!" She said.

"Please do this for me Commander, I promise I won't get hurt" he said.

His eyes were full of determination, Y/n felt like granting him this would make him happy and make him feel like he's redeemed himself from his last Angi Kai.

Y/n looked at his begging golden eyes again and bit her lip in temptation of saying no, "ugh... fine!"

His golden eyes lit up, "t-thank you Commander!" He pulled her in for a hug, "I promise I won't be defeated"

She nodded her head and they left her tent to notify Zhao.