"Lady friend?!"

In the end, it was her uncle that had suddenly found his arms full of the waterbending peasant of course, in fact, the old man had been the only contender for the job he hadn't been aware he was applying for, though Honora had no doubt that he'd slip into his role well from experience alone. Now, you must understand that the Princess was many things...a monster, a dark creation of spite and fire, merely self destruction waiting to happen as the flames of hell licked at her heel...but she wasn't that cruel, and she wasn't about to leave a helpless girl to fend to herself on a ship full of men without at least some form of burning protection.

However, the princess truly wished that she hadn't even bothered to force herself awake that very morning, because perhaps if she hadn't, she wouldn't have to listen to the argument currently bleeding her eardrums dry. Her uncle had taken his role of babysitter far to seriously, far more than she had expected, so much so that she was almost genuinely concerned the man was about to adopt their prisoner into the royal family, as dysfunctional and banished as they may be, as she leant back against the ship wall and watched as her uncle engaged in battle with his nephew, flickering her gaze right to left and back again.

"The water-tribe peasant isn't coming with us for repairs uncle, for all we know it's a trick, a trap for us to let our guard down and-"

"A trap Prince Zuko? How on earth could she have orchestrated such a thing, it was my idea for the poor girl to come with us to stretch her legs-"

"Her legs? Her legs!? I don't care about her legs I care about capturing the Avatar!" Zuko shouted, spit flying and his upper lip curled into absolute displeasure at his uncle who was oh so carefully avoiding his eyes to give a encouraging thumbs up to the waterbender. And spirits above the boy was quite literally, trembling with a rage that was very unbecoming, his teeth bared and hands clenched into tight fists at his side, all anger and sickness that had made a home inside of him, all for the sake of some lost honor, that he still had yet to realise, was never his father's to take away.

But it was then that Honora finally decided that she'd had enough, truly unable to listen to the two squabble amongst each other like bastard children for a moment longer in fear that she'd just give into temptation and throw herself into the murky waters below the deck to spare herself the headache, as she kicked herself from the wall with a dark scowl. "Enough, both of you. It's a short trip out, brother mine, and if she were to try to run, she'd find herself back in that cell instead of the rooms we so kindly bestowed to her. And of course, if she were to scream and try to get help...well, I'm sure she wouldn't want innocent blood on her hands, would she?"

She shot a deadly smile down at Katara who lingered behind the comforting heat of the old firebender, all shiny white teeth that looked absolutely blinding and ever so sharp in the flickering light, and pretend to ignore the girl sticking out her tongue in return. Immature brat. But her attention was stolen rather swiftly by her brother as his face flushed, a vein bulging in his pale neck as he glared up at her in obvious frustration. "Who's side are you even on?"

"My own. Either let the water-bender come or don't, I truly don't care as long as she doesn't get in my way." Because you see, there was, in fact, a reason she handed the girl off to her uncle, and that was the fact that she didn't want  her anywhere in her general vicinity. But currently, Honora just wanted this outing to be as quick as possible, she had no desire to linger upon the port, to feel that careful scrutiny of people passing her by that set her ever hungry teeth on edge. Somehow being lost at sea for three years had left her even less sociable than before, and she was in no rush to try and rectify that by spending time around those lesser than her in every sense of the word.

"Trust me, I don't want to be anywhere near you." Katara said quietly, nothing more than a near silent mutter under her breath...obviously not realising that the princess in front of her was many, many, many things and unfortunately, deaf wasn't one of them as she snarled, spinning upon her pointed heel to look down at the water-bender, resisting the very urge to snarl and snap her jaw quite like some sort of feral animal. The absolute audacity, the absolute nerve almost striking the fire-bender mute for half a second before she regained her ability to function, blue currents winding around her fingers like hissing snakes of fury and just as vengeful.

"Neither do I with your unbearable stench-"

"Maybe it's your own breath wafting back at you!"

"I'm going to burn you alive, you insufferable little brat-"

"Honora! Enough! Come now, you were raised better than this. Can't we all just simply get along?" Much to the suprise of no one, Iroh decided to throw himself into the fray, rather literally as he leapt between the two benders who had drifted closer in their rage, dark amber gaze burning with disappointment as he looked upon his niece, as if begging her to see sense, to see reason, or to just stop being such a bloody monster in his eyes.

I was raised to be much worse dear uncle, the thought came swiftly, clawing to the front of her mind and desperate to be spilled from blood red lips, to be left to fester put into the open air, to simply speak one word of the whole affair of her torturous childhood. But, as per usual, the princess simply swallowed that need and moved forward with a scowl of golden eyes that scorched those in her path as she scoffed darkly, brushing past the water-bender without a backward glance as she felt the ship lurch to a stop beneath her, heard the bow opening, and finally let the golden light of the sun smooth over the pale skin littered with ruin and chaos.

The market was indeed busy, just as her brother had predicted, and she thanked whatever spirit that was listening that Zuko hadn't made her wait too long before deciding to join her...with the water-bender and their uncle in tow, much to her own displeasure, though it seemed that they both had the sense to wander behind her, though unfortunately...her brother had no such sense of boundary as he strolled up beside her. "I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his trail."

For some odd reason, he was talking out of the corner of his mouth as he glanced around at all the people strolling on past them, looking far more suspicious than anything anyone else could be doing as they walked around the harbour carefully...of course, there was bound to be strangers giving them some odd looks, especially considering Honora wasn't exactly unrecognisable because of the myths that surrounded her, and her uncle was somewhat of a war hero...and their prisoner was obviously not from around here, the point only further proven considering she seemed to have an interest in everything green and lively.

"You mean the Avatar?" Iroh said rather innocently as he looked at all the stalls around him, greedy fingers just itching to start having a look at all the goods there, not picking up on the fact his nephew was a nervous wreak as the princess hid her smirk with a well timed cough as her brother spun on his heel to glare at the old man, glancing down to her side where she found Katara glaring at the two, obviously displeased at the conversation...but her expression only soured further when she felt that golden gaze that burned like the scorching heat of the sun against her flesh, forcing her to turn her head to the side with a dramatic huff.

"Don't mention his name on these docks! One word gets out that he's alive every firebender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way."

"Getting in the way of what, Prince Zuko?"

And then all at once that amusement that had been pooling in Honora's gut dried like the desert and let fiery loating taking its place to swallow her whole as someone decided to risk their bared throat to her ever sharp and hungry mouth to interrupt them most foolishly. And ever so slowly, dangerously did she allow her golden eyes to shift to where such a voice had cursed her with its sneer where she scorned at the sight of Zhao who seemed purposely ignorant of her as he looked upon her brother...perhaps because the last time the two had been face to face...it had also been the last time his brother had been alive before she'd let her ivory flame consume him all to prove a point.

"Well, well, well Captain, isn't this a pleasure." The princess called dully, upper lip curling into a grinning snarl that was all teeth and threat, dragging her tongue across the bottom row while forcing the water-bender to move closer, burning fingers curling around her sleeve to pull her towards the royal trio while her uncle was swift to usher her behind them all with a kind smile, though there didn't truly seem to be a point of it all considering the girl stuck out like a sore thumb painted in hues of blue. Honestly, she truly did have no clue why Iroh seemed the think this was a good idea...she supposed the only good thing was that the peasant knew when to keep her mouth shut.

However, it appeared that Zhao had finally swallowed his pride as she addressed him, something dark twisting at his features as he bowed as lightly as he could, grinding his own teeth all the while that her sharp ears were swift to pick up as she bit back another smile that would be all chaos. "Princess Honora, it is so good to see you again, and it's all my pleasure to inform you that it's Commander now...though I must say, I'm quite suprised you hadn't heard, you just always seemed to know everything."

"Only of the things I would deam important, Commander."

And the likes of you don't make the cut, the rest of the words went unsaid of course, but they were heard all the same as his face soured grotesquely, glaring at her with a hatred that she most definitely deserved. She had been playing the game of royalty and power since she had been twelve, and so she knew all of the the plays, the delicate cruelty of polite conversation filled with dark intention and bitter promises in the heat of the flames better than anyone...because her father had taught her that it was all well and good being his weapon that she was with dragon fire for hands, but to be a Princess? Well, that was a far more difficult duty for her tongue dripping gold.

Unfortunately, she had known of Zhao for a long time after all, mainly because it had been his very mother that had trained her the basics when she was younger, when she had just started to let the flames curl instead of hide them in fear of what she could do. But then again, she had technically trained her for all of two years before Honora needed someone of a more...advanced palette, of course, though that hadn't stopped the woman from dropping down once or twice for a good old fashioned spar...bringing with her two sons who had tried to scoff at the odd hellfire of her flames...only to be left with burns that would never heal for their disrespect.

"I see." The Commader scowled, taking that vile venom of hers on his chin with some mocking humility that was almost believable if it wasn't for the way frustration practically bleeding out of him at the seams, so thick that she could taste it as she tilted her head to the size, letting the cool brush of her hair caress her jaw with that dark gaze of hers empty and dead as she watched him like a hollow corpse...even as Zhao cleared his throat and finally forced himself to look away. "Oh, General Iroh, please forgive me for the late greeting to the great hero of our nation, retired as you may be...and may I ask who is the girl that you all seem so intent on hiding away from me?"

The water-bender startled suddenly, blue eyes blown wide as she frantically glanced over to the Princess and her uncle and brother and then back again in quick succession with her face twisted into a panicked grimace, awkwardly searching for some kind of help, some kind of salvation so she wasn't in the limelight of his rather terrifying attention that felt blistering, that felt so very disgusting as she eventually scowled up at him with her arms crossing over her chest in stubborn defiance. "My name is Katara-"

Only to find herself swiftly interrupted as a rather sweaty looking Iroh, who had leapt in front of her quite like a spring, wrapping a comforting arm around the girls shoulder as he tugged her further into the royal trio's unconscious formation...before practically launching her into Honora's side who caught her with a grunt, ignoring the way the peasant appeared to spring away from her like she was diseased, all the while her uncle grinned a grin that was far too large to be true. "Ah! Yes, this is- well, this is my nieces lady friend who has decided on joining us on our journey...after all, there are truly many beautiful sights at sea."

Oh, how Honora wished she was an orphan.

Her brow twitched, pale fingers clenching by her side for half a moment as she battled the urge to drown her uncle in the harbour for such a comment, keeping her ever sharp features neutral against the harsh heat, betraying nothing but the air she breathed while inside a burning inferno of rage festered inside of her like a pit of disaster, of despair where the rest of her damned emotions lay dormant...especially as once more, all eyes were on her as the Commander clicked his tongue with false concern that was agonising.

"Another lady friend, Princess? I must admit, I'm suprised...after the punishment your father gave you after he caught you with that serving girl, we all seemed to think that...affliction of yours, was over."

Now wasn't that a low blow, Honora thought, ignoring the flash of pain that maimed her, that made something in her chest crumble, feeling the abrupt panic in the air, the terror as her uncle and brother snapped their heads over to her like she was a bomb about to blow and take the whole world with her...before she suddenly chuckled lowly, a rich and haunting sound, glancing down at the soft grass beneath her feet blackening with soot, and then back up again with a grin sharper than any mere blade. "Your mother never seemed to mind my affiliation...though I suppose that's because we we usually far to busy training."

Now, did she just insinuate that his mother and herself were fucking? Yes, yes she did. Was it incredibly immature and childish and most definitely the opposite of what she had been taught in the lessons of barbed venom hidden under pretentious words? Also yes...but was it incredibly satisfying to watch as the buffons face bloomed purple, veins bulging inside their vessels and his whole body seeming to quake with a hatred that was absolute humiliation? Of course it was, which was why she didn't even flinch as he stormed towards her like a raging bull, welcoming him to try as he came toe to toe with a monster, forgetting his place with the rest of the wretched world...below her.

"Why you little-"

The Princess was swift to laugh quietly as he finally came within spitting distance, rolling her tongue over her ever sharp teeth sinfully slow, not tearing her golden gaze away for even a moment as the world came to come to a standstill on bated breath, the air alight with heat, tempting the rumbling thunder that would follow her sparking fingertips when lightning would bend to her divine will like a sinner to their destructive god. "Oh temper, temper Zhao, how very unbecoming of a Commander. You know, your brother picked a fight he had no chance of winning long ago, didn't he?...And I'd hate to give your father another son to mourn because you have yet to learn from his mistakes."

Perhaps Honora truly was as monstrous as the tales surrounding her birth made her out to be for her lack of remorse, her lack of guilt for the blood on her hands stained deep into her hollow flesh...but it had not been she that had demanded the Agni Kai in a jealous fit of rage, it hadn't been she who had forced her own hand by threatening to drift ever closer with dark intentions to one of the few things everyone knew she held dear, who'd let their flames get far too close to her sister to tempt the violence, to bring forth the hellfire.

But in the end, she had been the one to ensure that the whole of the firenation, no, the whole if the world would know what would happen when they taunted the dragon within...they burned.

And then just like that, a ruin of emotions passed over Zhao's face like the five stages of grief, that hatred, that putrid horror as he stared down at the girl that was as merciless as the spirits themselves and just as bloodthirsty, wanting to risk it, wanting to scratch and bite that smug look on her face, wanted to feel that hellfire against his skin once more and get his pound of flesh...but the man was many things, and stupid wasn't one of them as he took a breath and let it go, uncurling his fist from where it had clenched at his side and forcing himself to step back from where he had invaded that sharp space of hers with ease.

"Fine. Then may I ask just what are you doing upon my harbour?"

It was Iroh that jumped back into the conversation once more, seemingly done trying to hide the water-bender behind his back in some protective embrace away from the rotting death about to take place, relief seeping out of his every pore as he took his nieces place in that rather dangerous questioning. Not that he was good at lying by any means, he had the transparency of glass, however, something told him that if his niece had to talk with the man any longer, then there was a very large chance that they would be leaving the harbour with bodies left in their wake.

"Well, as you can see, our ship is needing to be repaired...just a few uh, scratches that need to be buffed out? Those damn icebergs are just- awful."

Well, technically in a way, it hadn't exactly been a lie considering the Avatar had well and truly did some damage, bending the ice and waves to his vengeful will, attempting to tear the ship apart and plunge the Firebenders into the freezing depths in retribution for their sins. But of course, Zhao didn't look moved in the slightest at such a tale as he hummed thoughtfully, glancing towards the scratches on the hull paved deep into the structure with a quirked brow that was full of an accusation. "They seem to be rather deep looking to just be from icebergs, General, I must confess...but anyway, you must regale me from the thrilling details of your adventures for the past two years."

"Of course, it would be our honor to join you- do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favourite."

And before Honora could even attempt to stop him, Iroh was waddling away with the commander in tow, strolling down the harbour and leaving the three teens standing frozen, one filled a twisted confusion while the other two merely boiled in their own frustration, watching as he became but a dot in the distance as more people began to obscure their vision by simply going on with their day to day lives...and the Princess was genuinely debating whether it was worth it to just start burning everything down to cause a scene so they could leave very quickly. "If we are caught out because of that mans stomach, I hope you realise I will have the crew leave him here."

"I'd let you." Zuko grumbled, trembling hands wound tight by his sides as he glared off into the horizon, up into the bright sky as if praying for some power to strike him down before he set off after them, complaining under his breath all the while as she watched him go, her hand resting on her hips and shifting on her feet into something that Azula had once rather rudely called the mom stance as she sighed thinly and blew smoke into the open air...and then she slowly turned to where the water-bender stood who was swift to disguise the fact that she had definitely been trying to sneak away and instead crossed her arms rather snootily with a deep scowl of frustration.

"Let me guess, 'not a word until you're back on the ship peasant', right? We wouldn't want your big secret coming out, would we?"

Honestly, Honora was almost offended that that was what the peasant through she sounded like as she openly mocked her, her voice less silky sin that was an ominous and sultry lullaby and more old bastard with a smokers cough and some kind of lung disease as she glared down at the girl hauntingly. "Oh no, blue-eyes, it's not me that should be worried about the news of Avatar coming out...it's you. After all, unlike Iroh and Zuko, the rest of my nation will be far less gentle in their approach to capture him...now, be a good girl and come along, it appears we have a drink to get through without anyone killing each other."

"Impossible." Katara muttered quietly, barely even heard over the rumble of thunder that passed harmlessly over head quite suddenly, sulking along as the firebender pinched at the bridge of her nose to calm the headache forming, counting to ten in the hopes it would stop the lightning from curling around her fingers in dangerous sparks that numbed the flesh it found there, something in the very depths of her gut aching, an echo of ruin that seemed to twist with unease...following after her even after she started moving, howling in her ear like a haunting banshee trying to warn her of the death and destruction that bowed to her terrible will.

They really should of left the water-tribe peasant on the ship.
_________________________________________________

Of course, like many things in Honora's life...everything had turned to shit rather swiftly the moment Zuko decided to go off the script of royal etiquette by challenging his fathers ideals to his Commander's face who had been so kindly explaining their plans for forcing the Earth Kingdom to crumble to damnation. And then it was Katara, going off on some jumbled rant of justice about how it was war the firenation started and that the rest of the kingdoms and tribes were merely fighting for survival and not power like the greedy nation of ash...and that coupled in with Iroh almost destroying a rack of weapons after hearing Zhao mention the Avatar, it had truly been productive.

Once again, the Princess had found herself wishing she had left them all on the ship where they couldn't embarrass her or themselves because this would of all been solved in minutes if she had been on her own with only her vile tongue and reputation to accompany her...and it was most definitely a feeling that was amplified when one of Zhao's men came into the tent and finally proved the real reason they had been invited in for some pleasant conversation...all so his men could interrogate their crew to confirm that Katara was a prisoner and most importantly...

That she was a friend of the Avatar that they had let escape.

Which lead her to where she stood now in a rather tense standstill, her brother and uncle in front of the pacing commander and the prisoner hovering in the corner, her arms crossed protectively over her chest and trying desperately to swallow the fear maiming her...while Honora was faced with the rather pathetic assumption that five rather large guards that were somehow even taller than her that were crowding around her were enough to stop her from absolute annihilation if she so wished it as she stared up lifelessly and fuming at every single one of them, fingers sparking and wanting as she waited for her chance to blow.

"A twelve year old boy bested you and your Firebenders...and most shockingly of all your sister? You are far more pathetic than I thought." Zhao spat, face twisted in a grotesque snarl that made him look more animal than human, pressing his hands against his desk and leaving burning palm prints in his wake as he looked down his nose at the boy sitting in front of him...the boy prince who commanded a devastating weapons loyalty, her devotion, her needed fire and legend and for what?

For a mere teenager that didn't deserve such an devastation for a protector, her lucky little brother who had no clue of the power he could weild in his hands if he pushed her just so like their father had...if he let the monster within her go.

Strike one, Honora thought darkly, shifting her gaze and zeroing it upon the old bastard with the weight of the ferocious sun condemning him with her hatred, baring her teeth at his anger, his goddamn audacity to speak so callously to her brother who was miraculously taking it upon the chin. It felt like their roles had switched, had reversed with her absorbing his rage to let it fester like a disease that pulled the rot from her mortal body forth...while Zuko kept some kind of mocking level head, disguising his hatred with venemous words and false bravo, finally acting like prince that she had tried to teach him to be for his own good as he levelled the Commanders glare with his own.

"I underestimated him once and it won't happen again...I guess it's easy for you to judge, Commander, considering you have yet to face him."

Atta' boy, she thought as soon as that polished dig left his lips, grinning a rather dangerous looking smile that showcased her ever sharp teeth that had the men in front of her shifting with unease at such an unnatural look that pulled at her gaunt features. She was being far too quiet, barely even moving or breathing and the terror that evoked was absolutely delicious as she stood amongst the flickering lights of the lanterns like a mere apparition of all things dark and unholy...fear was a far more powerful ally than aggression, she had learned that through experience and through her fathers vile teaching and she was just waiting for the right moment to show them all.

"You're right, Prince Zuko...you won't because you won't have a second chance. You have been hunting the Avatar for two years and you have failed. Capturing him is far too important to be left in your hands, he is mine now." The Commander snarled as if his word was gospel, staring down at the boy in smug glory, before his eyes suddenly drifted to the side, passing over the princess purposely and then landing upon where the water-bender stood, still trying to hide in the shadows as he smirked darkly. "And as is the girl."

It was Iroh, of course, that was the first to his feet, enraged and furious at the very demand that felt so dehumanizing and wrong, swift to argue that the girl was a person and under their protection...but it appeared that Zhao didn't even hear a word of his protests, or more importantly, he didn't care as he waved the old general off, stalking past him and towards the peasant to take her roughly by the arm, bruising and burning the skin as she cried out, the air suddenly becoming alight with something powerful as he looked down at Katara like a disgusting leech. "Perhaps I'll see why you keep her as your lady friend, Princess."

Strike two.

Kicking at his knees and clawing at the hand holding her, it was obvious that the water-bender most definitely despised that idea as she struggled, desperate and panicked pants slipping through her lips as she tried to tear her arm away from him, fruitlessly tugging at the grip as he practically lifted her onto her very tip toes to take a closer look at her pretty face all the while she glared up at him, all fire and spite and hatred...and when the stupid man pushed his own face too close to her own...Katara was quick to let the saliva that had been pooling upon her tongue be spat against his cheek with an audible thwap that was no doubt humiliating as she scowled.

"I'd rather die then touch a creepy, old slime-ball like you!"

Yet she had barely got the sentence out before the Commander lashed out, swinging his free hand and slapping her across the base of her skull with such a force it had her screaming, fighting furiously against him with her blue eyes aching with the weight of her unurshed tears, wondering just when the white-fire bending psycho that had captured her became such a good option in the face of the man that was snarling orders at her like a rabid dog about to be put down...which, in a way, was almost true...because everyone had been so focused watching the spectacle in front of them...no one seen the lightning dancing around Honora's fingertips until it had been far too late.

Strike three.

And then before anyone could even blink...Princess Honora of the firenation screamed with her voice a dragons roar, devastating flame streaming out out of her mouth and consuming the guard that had foolishly stood in front of her into ash as his haunting yell of anguish died as he did...but she had already moved onto the next without a backward glance at the soot stained floor left behind in her wake as she leapt into the air and slammed her knee against anothers jaw, feeling the bones shatter as his face caved in beneath her, teeth bared and bloody and grinning as lightning danced it's way through her very veins like an embrace as she stood on steady legs.

Because when she let it go...the effects were nothing short of devastating as the lightning seared it's way right through the final guards as they convulsed, choking upon their own bubbling sin before exploding all around the tent in a burst of burned guts and human meat...as Honora slowly turned to the Commander, dragging her tongue against her lips to scoop up a a splatter of blood and swallowing it down in an unhurried threat. No sign of mercy in those empty eyes, just a hollow nothingness of old, a hungry dragon in red clothing...a warning for things to come.

And Zhao wisely finally decided on letting the girl go as Katara ran to what she prayed to be the lesser of two evils and leapt behind her tall shadow that seemed to scorch the earth, that stretched around her like an embrace, a horror story to hide behind for her own salvation.

Blood, blood, blood and death, it was everywhere, staining the ground, staining their pale flesh in horrendous splatters, an eyeball looking the Prince right in the eye, innards looping over the wooden structure that held the tent up landing onto the floor with a grotesque noise...and it was that that had finally had someone moving from the frozen standstill as Iroh abruptly fell to his knees and began throwing up his lovely dinner and tea, drenched with the evidence of the monster within as the Princess grinned ever so sharply, looking absolutely delighted and sated...but always hungry for more.

"Now, look at what you've done Commander...you've made my poor uncle go and lose his appetite."

DISCLAIMER;
Hello all! Sorry for such the long wait, however I am currently at university which means that updating my stories are somewhat the last thing on my mind lmao. However, I will try and update when I can but for now, please be patient, but I promise this story as well as all my others are definitely not discounted!