Iroh and I stand on deck with Zuko, who's looking through a spyglass behind us. As the flight of birds passes over Iroh's head in the distance, he sniffs the air and Zuko lowers the spyglass to turn to his uncle.
"There is a storm coming. A big one." Iroh informs Zuko.
"You're out of your mind, Uncle." Zuko tells Iroh and walks up to him. "The weather's perfect. There's not a cloud in sight."
"A storm is approaching from the north." Iroh turns to face his nephew. "I suggest we alter our course and head southwest." he advised.
"I agree with Iroh, Zuko. We need to go in the opposite direction so that we won't head into the storm." I say to the Prince.
Zuko takes a few steps in our direction, pointing briefly northward. "We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same."
"Prince Zuko, consider the safety of the crew." Iroh tells him sternly.
Zuko angrily walks to his uncle. "The safety of the crew doesn't matter!" he claims.
Is he's willing to risk our safety by going through a storm just to follow the Avatar's direction?
Behind us, Lieutenant Jee walks onto deck, inadvertently overhearing the conversation. As Zuko realizes Jee is behind him and turns to face him, his expression briefly loses its raging intensity. He struts up to him, dominantly looking him right in the eyes from a close distance.
"Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety." Zuko tells the Lieutenant.
He walks away and Jee glares after him. Zuko leaves the deck through the door at the base of the superstructure. I walk over to a slightly enraged Jee.
"He doesn't mean that. He's just all worked up." I reassured, almost as if I don't believe what the Prince said.
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Later on, a massive bank of darkened clouds appear in the sky. Me, Lieutenant Jee, and other soldiers stare at the dark gray clouds. Zuko walks in the foreground, regarding the clouds as we turn to face him. Iroh walks between Zuko and Jee as the latter taunts the former.
"Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all." Jee sneers at Zuko.
"Lucky guess." Iroh tells him pleasantly.
Zuko whirls around and walking toward Jee; angry. "Lieutenant! You'd better learn some respect," He jabs his index and middle finger into Jee's chest. "– or I will teach it to you.
Zuko begins to walk away from Jee, who follows Zuko with his eyes, continuing his taunting after a short pause.
"What do you know about respect?" Jee asks him. Iroh's expression turns to panic and he makes a cutting motion at his throat with his hand, trying to signal him to stop. Zuko stops walking, listening to Jee's words.
"The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard-working crew to your esteemed uncle, shows you know nothing about respect!" Iroh gasps slightly, reaching out a hand in desperation before moving it to his forehead in resignation, believing Jee has gone too far. Zuko's face contorted with rage.
"You don't care about anyone but yourself! Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?"
Zuko turns around and extends his right arm as if he's preparing to firebend. Lieutenant Jee does the same.
"Hey! Settle down!" I shout at them.
Both of them wrist-block each other's arm; smoke rises from a furious Zuko's hand. Interrupting the staredown, Iroh extends an arm and pulls theirs apart; the smoke fades. "Enough! We're all a bit tired from being at sea so long. I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better." he suggests to them.
Lieutenant Jee walks away.
"I don't need your help keeping order on my ship." Zuko tells Iroh angrily.
Iroh puts his hand on Zuko's right shoulder to comfort him, but Zuko shrugs it off and walks to the front of the bow to gaze out over the stormy waters ahead of us.
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Me, Lieutenant Jee, and a couple other men are inside the ship, with a fire in the middle to keep us warm. Jee is still angry over the argument he had with Zuko earlier and almost fighting him in an Agni Kai.
"I'm sick of taking his orders! I'm tired of chasing his Avatar! I mean, who does Zuko think he is?" Jee yells at/asks us furiously.
"Do you really want to know?" Iroh asks him from behind.
Jee stands up at the sound of his voice.
"General Iroh. We were just-" Iroh cuts him off.
"It's okay. May I join you?" he asks us.
"Of course, sir." Jee permits.
Iroh sits down, massaging his beard. "Try to understand. My nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much. And so has Akira." he tells the others.
They look in confusion. Jee turns his head to me. "Is this true Akira?" he asks me.
I close my eyes and lower my head in sadness. I nod.
"You will all understand soon." Iroh tells them.
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Flashback 2nd Pov (Point of View)
Zuko walks up to the curtains to get in the war room, but the guard on the left moves in front of the curtain to stop him.
"Let me in!" he demands.
Iroh and Akira walk up to him. Iroh places his hands on Zuko's shoulder
"Zuko, what's wrong?" Akira asks him in concern.
"I want to go into the war chamber," He points to the guard. "but the guard won't let me pass!"
Iroh leads Zuko away with his left hand still on his shoulder. I follow them "You're not missing anything, trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring."
"If I'm going to rule this nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can?" Zuko asks Iroh determinedly.
"Very well. But you must promise not to speak." Iroh tells Zuko as another elder soldier walks by them into the war chamber. "These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?"
"And Akira, you must make sure that you also don't speak out in this meeting." He cautions Akira.
"I will." Akira says to him.
Zuko bows to Iroh. "Thank you Uncle."
Zuko, Iroh, and Akira walk into the war room. The meeting starts.
"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here." General Bujing shows the place on the map. "A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the forty-first division."
"But the forty-first is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" an elder soldier asks him.
"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?" General Bujung tells them with a dark smirk.
Akira eyes widen at hearing this plan while remaining in her spot.
Zuko stands up angrily. "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?
Everyone in the war room staring at Zuko, save for Iroh, who is kneeling behind his nephew.
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"Zuko was right, you see," Iroh explains as he massages his beard again. "but it was not his place to speak out. And there were dire consequences." He slightly bows his head.
"After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said the challenge against the general was an act of complete disrespect! And there was only one way to resolve this." Iroh tells us darkly.
"Agni Kai. A fire duel." Jee sa
"That's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood."
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In the chamber, Zuko preparing for the Agni Kai.
[Iroh; voice over] "When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the general."
The tippet that was on Zuko's shoulders fall down to the ground.
[Iroh; voice over.] "Zuko had spoken out against the general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected."
Zuko's expression of bravery quickly changes to one of fear. "Zuko would have to duel his own father."
[Iroh; voice over] "When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he begged for mercy.
In the Agni Kai chamber, The Fire Lord advances on Zuko.
"Please, Father. I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" Zuko pleads and lowers his head slightly.
The Fire Lord continues to walk towards Zuko.
"You will fight for your honor." He tells him furiously.
Zuko kneels on his knees and forearms, while looking at the floor. "I meant you no disrespect." He gazes up at his father, tears shimmering in his eyes as his voice starts to waver. "I am your loyal son."
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" he orders
The Fire Lord reaches Zuko, who lowers his head to the floor again.
"I won't fight you." he tells his father.
"You will learn respect," Zuko pushes himself up on his knees and hands. He starts to shake. "and suffering will be your teacher Zuko looks up at his father, tears streaming down his face.
Zhao, Iroh, Akira, and another girl with raven-black hair tied into a bun are in the crowd. Iroh clenches his teeth and looks fearful and worried on Zuko's behalf. Akira covers her mouth with her hands, preventing herself from saying anything. Her eyes began to water. Zhao looks on with a smirk on his face, while the black-haired girl smiles evilly and raises her left fist in front of her chest in anticipation.
Iroh closes his eyes and averts his head to the left. Akira closes her eyes as well, tears falling on her face. She keeps her head in place.
[Iroh; Voice-over] "We looked away.
As the sound of a fire blast is heard, Zuko is screaming "no", which echoes. While the faces of the spectators are brightened by the flames, the camera slowly zooms in on Iroh's averted face. The scene switches from the past to the present, where Iroh is sitting in the same manner.
Jee
I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident.
Iroh
It was no accident. After the duel, the Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness. As punishment, he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he return with his honor.
Jee
So that's why he's so obsessed. Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal.
Iroh
Things will never return to normal. But the important thing is the Avatar gives Zuko hope.
Suddenly, the ship moves violently and we run out the vessel.
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We arrived at the deck with Zuko on it.
"Where were we hit?" hd asks Jee
"I don't know!" he responds.
I noticed a figure holding onto the ladder for dear life. "Look!" I shout, pointing at the man in danger
"The Helmsman!" Zuko cries out.
He and Lieutenant Jee are shown climb up the ladder to help the Helmsman, who is about to fall.
Lightning goes down to the middle of the ship, where Iroh and I are. I gasp in horror, attempting to shield myself with my arms. Before the lighting could strike us, Iroh uses redirection. He directs the lighting into the ocean.
Zuko pulls the Helmsman to safety and spots the horned creature with the trio on it's saddle.
"The Avatar!" he yells.
"What do you want to do, sir?" Jeep asks him
"Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety." Zuko replies, acknowledging that our safety comes first.
"Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm." Iroh declares.
The Helmsman runs into the tower and turns the ship's direct to the middle of the storm.
Once we got to the storm's center, it calms down.
Zuko turns to Iroh and Me, his face filled with remorse. "Uncle, Akira, I'm sorry. I was so focused on following the Avatar, I risked the crews safety and nearly got us killed. I let my anger cloud my judgment."
"Your apology is accepted." Iroh tells him.
"Same with me." I tell Zuko, putting my hand on his shoulder.
"What matters is that we're still alive" he smiles.
"Does this mean we'll remain friends?" Zuko asks me.
"Yes." He and I embraces each other.
Iroh smiles behind us, happy that we didn't break our friendship.
I think Zuko and I are just more than close friends.