It has been a few days since we've left Zhao's harbor. So far, the trip is okay. Zuko and I do have our ups and downs, now and then, but usually we stay out of each others way. Iroh and I get along though, especially him and Kai. We spend our days drinking tea and playing Pai Sho. Some times I have days for myself, so I either meditate, practice fighting or airbending, play with Kai, or draw.

Right now, I was trying to draw a picture of Kai, but he was very playful today and was jumping around, making it hard for me to draw him. "Hold still Kai!" I said as I tried to draw him, but the second I draw him standing, he lies down. And when I take a new paper and draw him lying down, he sits up. Almost at the end of the day, my room was covered with paper that had half drawn fire ferrets on them. "Seriously Kai!" I exclaimed annoyed as I took a new sheet of paper.

"If you have just stayed still for like 5 minutes, I would have had your body outlined already! But you keep moving every time before I even start with the tail!" I chunter as I threw my pencil, giving up. I groaned in frustration and started picking up the papers laying around the room. Kai was chirping innocently, but I saw that mischief look in his eyes so clearly. "Oh don't you dare act innocent!" I said with a glare. He just chirped again and turned his head, looking at me with puppy eyes.

I growled to myself and started going through the drawings. Some only had ears, some only had the tail, some only had the back or front legs, and some only had one leg. Some had a body and some had a head. As I look through them, I put some to the side and took one of the drawings that already had both ears, trying again. Only this time, I'm using the drawings to help and not Kai.

I took one of the drawings that had a head, and started drawing one under the ears, connecting them with the head. I soon had the outline of the head finished, and started adding in the nose. The nose and eyes usually isn't hard to draw. If you have the head outlined and everything, it is easy to add in the eyes and nose. But if you draw them first and then the head, well... you might either get a small head with big, uneven eyes and a misshape nose.

The nose was finished and I started adding the eyes. I already had the shape, but I did look up at Kai now and then to see the shape of his eyes and the position of them. After I finished the eyes, I started adding the front legs and some of the body before fulling in more details in the face. Not long after, I started adding the rest of the body, along with the back legs and tail. I sighed and silently cheered to myself when I finally had the full body outline of a fire ferret and started fulling in the details.

While I was busy shading in the tail, a knock sounded on my door. "Come in!" I said without looking up, it's probable Iroh anyway. The door opened slowly while I continued shading in. Kai chirped excitedly when he saw who was at the door and ran over to the person. Yep! It's Iroh! I thought with a smile as I continued with my drawing. "Hello my little friend!" Iroh said with a bright smile, opening his arms for Kai to jump in.

Kai chirped happily and jumped into the retired general's arms. Iroh laughed and hugged the fire ferret close to him. "He likes you more than me!" I said with a laugh. "I might get jealous." I joked as I finally finished my drawing and looked up. Iroh just laughed and walked over to me as he scratched Kai behind the ear. "I think it's more the lychee tea I make for him!" He said as he walked over and stood next to my bed. He then looked down and saw my drawing.

"Ooh! What a handsome drawing of Kai!" Iroh said as he looked down at my drawing in awe. "Thank you!" I said as I stood up from my bed and held the drawing up. "Although it did take me a while to get it done." I admitted and started putting my drawing, or drawings, most of them half drawn, away. "Every master piece takes time. Time and hard work." Iroh said with a wise smile. I smiled back at closed the drawer that had my art supply in it.

"We're about to have dinner." Iroh said, laughing softly as I gasped in surprise and looked out the window. As I looked out, I saw dark skies with stars slowly starting to light it up. "It's night already?" I asked, more to myself, in surprise. "Well, from the looks of all those drawings, I think you lost track of time." Iroh said, chuckling at me as I scratched my head with a frown. "I was in my room all day?" I said in confusion. "Seems like it." Iroh said with a laugh, looking down at me with a pointed look.

My frown deepened and looked down before gasping in realization. I was still wearing my pajamas! I didn't change this morning. My stomach suddenly rumbled loud, making me blush as Iroh laughed in amusement. "That explains why I'm so hungry." I said as I wrapped my arms around my stomach as it growled again. "Well come along then!" Iroh said as he put Kai on his shoulder. "Let's get you something to eat!" He said and walked out of the room, me following soon behind.

We entered the dining room and sat down at the table. Zuko was already here, and was sitting at the table, with his usual glare stuck on his face. I mentally rolled my eyes as I sat down at the table, facing him. Iroh sat down at the head of the table and looked at me with a smile. "Tea?" He asked as he lifted the teapot. "Yes please!" I said as I took my cup and held it over to him as he poured the tea in. Iroh then offered to Zuko, who just nodded yes.

Iroh poured a cup of tea for Zuko and then poured himself one. Kai chirped from Iroh's shoulder and looked at the retired general with puppy eyes. Iroh laughed and poured tea in a smaller cup. "Here you go my little friend!" He said as he put down the small cup of tea on the table. Kai excitedly chirped and walked down Iroh's arm, onto the table and over to the small cup of tea. I giggled softly at Kai's new love for tea and took a sip of my tea.

Our food came soon later and we started to eat. While we were eating, the cook came out again with three small bowls. He came over and placed them in front of Kai. One the one bowl was lychees, in the other was fire flakes, and the last one had small dumplings. Kai yipped in excitement when he saw the three bowls of his favorite food and immediately dig in. Both Iroh and I laughed at him, while Zuko just continued eating and drinking his tea.

Zuko finished before us and left the dining room after telling his uncle that he's going to go meditate. Iroh and I continued eating with our tea. A crew member came in and walked over to Iroh. He whispered something into Iroh's ear and handed a scroll over to him. Iroh's expression turned into worry for a second before sighing in defeat. "He's not going to like that. Thank you." Iroh said to the crew member before dismissing him.

Iroh sighed again and started playing with his beard, in thought. "Is everything alright?" I asked the retired general. "Everything is quite alright, dear Asami." Iroh answered with a gentle smile. "I'm afraid it's just news that Prince Zuko won't like." He sighed and stood up. "Might as well get it over with." He muttered and left the dining room. I frowned slightly as I watched him leave.

Curiosity getting the best of me, I stood up and followed after him. Kai chirped at me when I stood up, before jumping down and running after me. When we got to Zuko's room, I stopped and picked Kai up. I placed him on my shoulder and walked over to Iroh as he opened the door. As the door opened, I saw Zuko sitting crossed leg in front of four lid candles. The four small flames increasing and decreasing with the rhythm of Zuko's breath.

"The only reason you should be interrupting me, is if you have news about the Avatar." Zuko said as his eyes opened after he heard his door open. "Well there is news Prince Zuko, but you might not like it." Iroh said as he opened the door wider and walked in. "Don't get too upset!" Iroh quickly added as he stared at his nephew in cautious. Uh oh... I thought as I slowly walked closer and stood next to the door.

"Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader." Zuko said calmly as he continued staring at the four burning candles. "Now whatever you have to say, I'm sure that I can take it." He added, without looking away from the flames. Iroh nervously looked over his shoulder at me before he started playing with his beard. "Okay then... we have no idea where he is." Iroh quickly said.

The flames of the four candles burst, and grew up straight up to the ceiling. Iroh and I quickly shielded our faces while Kai squeaked in fear at the flames and berried his head into my lose hair, trying to hide. "WHAT!?!" Zuko yelled out in rage as he flew op from his chair. Iroh took out his fan and waved the smoke away. "You should really open a window in here!" He said as he waved the fan. I nodded in agreement before airbending around the smoke and pushed it out of the window.

Zuko was to busy glaring at his uncle to notice me and grabbed the scroll from Iroh. "Give me the map!" He snapped and opened the scroll, that was a map. "Uh! There has been multiple sightings of the Avatar! But he is impossible to track down." Iroh said as he started waving his fan at himself. "How am I going to find him Uncle?" Zuko asked as he looked at the map. "He's clearly a master of evasive maneuvering." He said as he glared in frustration.

I tried to hold it in, but I couldn't help it and burst into laughter. The two firebenders looked up from the map and stared at me with frowns. Iroh was frowning in confusion, along with Zuko, before the prince started glaring again. "What's so funny?" Zuko asked as he glared at me, but I just continued laughing. "Aang, my 12 year old brother, is a master evasive maneuvering?" I asked after calming down a bit, but giggle now and then.

"Well then how do explain this then?" Zuko asked as he pointed at the map. "I don't know, maybe he's lost and doesn't know where he's going?" I suggested as I crossed my arms and shrugged. "Honestly, my brother couldn't read a map to save his life!" I laughed as our trips around the world came to mind. "When we traveled to new places, I had to read the map to get us there. Aang memorized the way there and back." I said, smiling as I thought of those memories.

"So, either you're brother is lost, or he's just going to the places he knows." Zuko said as a thought came to mind. He looked down at the map again for a minute before shoving it to me. "Show me all the places you and your brother visited!" Zuko demanded with a glare. I looked up at him with wide eyes before scoffing in disbelief. "You can't be serious!" I said as I shook my head, but Zuko's glare said how serious he really is, making me scoff again.

Sensing the tension, Kai yipped and jumped off my shoulder and run over to Iroh, jumping into his arms before climbing up on his shoulder. But Zuko and I ignored it and continued glaring at each other. "Aang and I visited thousand places! And I don't remember them all! Only Aang does!" I exclaimed in frustration. "Besides! Even if I remembered, there's no way I would tell you!" I snapped as I looked down at the map. But my glare soon disappeared as I frowned when I saw the suppose Avatar sightings.

"Wait a minute! These are the sightings?" I asked as I inspected the map with a frown. "Yes." Iroh answered as he continued waving his fan, petting Kai now and then. I rolled my eyes and mentally started scolding my brother. "Of coarse they are!" I muttered in annoyance as I shook my head. Seriously Aang?!? You're suppose to go to the North Pole and learn waterbending! "Why? What's at those sightings?" Zuko asked. I sighed softly before lifting the map, and started pointing at the one sighting to another.

"Hopping Llamas. Hog Monkeys. Elephant Koi Fish." I answered before looking back at the map in thought. "Although, the elephant koi wouldn't be there this time of year." I said to myself in thought. "What's so special about those animals?" Zuko asked with a frown, while Iroh started playing with his beard in thought. "My brother is a kid who loves having fun and animals. Also doing crazy things, especially crazy things!" I said as I handed the map back to Zuko. "So, what? He went to play with these animals?" Zuko asked with a confused frown. "No, he went to ride them." I corrected as I crossed my arms.

"How in blazes do you ride a hog monkey?" Iroh asked as he scratched his head in confusion. "Trust me, I ask Aang that every time he went to ride one." I said, shaking my head as I remembered Aang riding them. "I always thought hog monkeys were hard to tame." Iroh muttered with a frown. "Oh, they don't like people riding them! But apparently that's what makes it fun." I said with a shrug, remembering what Aang said about riding hog monkeys.

Zuko and Iroh stared at me with wide eyes, before Zuko shook his head and looked down at the map again. He inspected the map with a thoughtful look. "Elephant koi... does he ride them as well?" Zuko asked me without looking up from the map. "They're actually his favorite animal to ride, apart from Appa of coarse." I answered truthfully, shrugging in the end. "And you said that they won't be here?" Zuko asked as he looked up at me and pointed at one of the sighting marks close to water.

"Not this time of year. The would have traveled up North to small islands for breeding." I answered as I took the map from him again. "Which islands?" Zuko asked as he looked at the map over my shoulder. I looked up to him and raised my eyebrow at him before rolling my eyes. "Don't know actually." I said and handed the map back. "I only know of the one island they go to for breeding, I don't know the rest." I continued, expressionless, but feeling lots of mixed feelings when that island came to mind. "Okay then, which island is that then?" Zuko asked after sighing in frustration.

My eyes widen at the question. Even though I doubt that Aang would go to that island, if I tell Zuko the name of the island, he will go there to search. And I don't think I'm ready to go there, not now, and to be honest, I don't think I'll ever be ready to go there ever again. It holds to many memories, for both Aang and I. I shook my head, wrapping my arms around me for self comfort, and tighten them slightly. Iroh looked worriedly at me, but Zuko continued staring at me, expectedly.

"I'm sorry, but no." I finally answered as I eyed the ground. Zuko's eyes widen in surprise before he started glaring again. "What do you mean no?!?" He exclaimed in anger. But I just continued eyeing the ground as I held myself. "I can't." I simply said without looking up. "Can't or won't?" Zuko asked with a death glare, while Iroh looked at me with eyes full of concern. I looked up slightly, expressionless, and looked right into his glaring golden eyes with my grey eyes. "Both." I said without showing any emotion.

Zuko growled and marched right into my face, but I just stared at him, unaffected. "Which. Island?" He asked through gritted teeth. "It wouldn't matter if I told you." I said without breaking eye contact with him, face still neutral. "Aang wouldn't go to that island even if he knew that the elephant koi are there." I said and walked over to Iroh who still had Kai on his shoulder. I took Kai from him and held the fire ferret close to me as I spoke again. "Besides, even if Aang was there, I still wouldn't tell you." I said and walked out of his room.

"The Avatar's safety comes first."

***

I was sleeping peacefully until I got woken up from a knock. I groaned tiredly, along with Kai who was still sleeping on the spare pillow next to me, and stood up. I tiredly walked over to the door, yawning before opening the door. "Oh, sorry Asami, I did not know you were still sleeping." Iroh apologized with a small guilty smile. I returned the smile before yawning again. "No... it's okay." I answered before yawning in mid sentence again.

Iroh smiled gently before speaking. "We're about to have breakfast." I blinked a few times before nodding. "Oh, yeah, sure!" I quickly said before yawning again. I shook my head and smiled at Iroh. "I'm just going to get dressed first." I said after shaking the sleep away. Iroh nodded and left after I closed my door. I yawned one last time before shaking my head to shake the sleep away. I seriously need to wake up.

I walked over to the chest and took out a red dress. It had no sleeves, and had gold patterns on it. The back was covered but the dress stopped at my knees, showing off my legs. I was on the ship, so I didn't put on any gloves or boots to cover my tattoos. I putted on pumps instead of my knee high black boots. I walked over to the mirror and started brushing my long, brown hair. After brushing my hair, I inspected myself before deciding to wear my hair down instead of my usual braid.

I walked over to Kai and softly shook him awake. Kai groaned quietly as I shook him awake, making me laugh softly and picked him up. "Come on Kai." I said as I held him in my arms and left the room. Kai yawned as I walked towards the dining room and snuggled into my hair. "Hey, come on. Wake up." I laughed softly and shook him. Kai groaned before yawning again and shook his head. He chirped at me and licked my cheek.

"Good morning to you too!" I giggled and put him on my shoulder. Kai laid down on my shoulder and started grooming himself. We soon got to the dining room and sat down at the table. Iroh and Zuko was already at the table. Iroh smiled brightly when he saw us, and poured me a cup of tea. He already knew that I would say yes, and handed over my tea to me. "Thank you Iroh!" I said with a smile and took a sip. He nodded with a kind smile and then poured tea in a smaller cup for Kai.

"Here you go Kai." Iroh said as he placed the cup on the table. But Kai was to busy grooming himself, and didn't even hear, see or smell the cup of tea. I giggled at the two firebenders shocked expressions. "He's not noticing the tea!" Zuko said shocked while Iroh frowned and took a sip of his tea, tasting it. "Did I forget something?" Iroh asked to himself as he scratched his head before taking another sip to taste. I laughed again and just shook my head.

"No, you didn't forget anything Iroh." I said to the retired general with a chuckle. "Kai just woke up." I said as I smiled up at Kai on my shoulder, who's still busy grooming himself. "He always grooms himself after waking up. Just give him a minute and he'll be finished. Then he'll notice the tea." I said and took a sip of my tea. Iroh sighed in relief before smiling bright again and continued drinking his tea. Zuko just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Not a minute later, Kai finished grooming himself and saw the small cup of tea. He yipped in excitement and jumped down on to the table. Both Iroh and I laughed at the fire ferret's excitement and watched him drink his tea eagerly. "See?" I asked with a laugh. Iroh just nodded to me while he continued laughing. Zuko just rolled his eyes again and drank his tea.

The cook entered the dining room and placed our breakfast in front of us. He went back to the kitchen and came back with Kai's food, which was the same food as last night. I thanked him for both my and Kai's food and started eating. Iroh and Zuko nodded their thanks and started eating as well. It was total silence in the dining room, except for the sound of chopsticks and Kai chirping now and then. Zuko looked up now and then at me, but when I looked up, he would quickly looked back down at his food.

This continued for while until Iroh broke the silence by clearing his throat. "So did you sleep well Asami?" He asked with a gentle smile. I smiled back at him and nodded. "Yes I did Iroh, thank you." I answered him. Iroh nodded back and full my cup again with tea. "Call me Uncle Iroh!" Iroh said with a kind smile. I looked up at him in shock, before smiling happily at him. "Okay," I said as I picked up my cup. "Uncle Iroh." I said and took a sip of my tea. Iroh laughed and drank his tea as well.

Zuko scoffed, irritated, and stood up. "We leave in ten minutes." He said to his uncle, getting a nod before leaving. I frowned in confusion at the prince as he left and looked to Iroh. "Are we at a harbor?" I asked as Iroh continued eating. "Yes, we have way anchor at an island early this morning." Iroh answered after shallowing and took another bite. "Oh..." I said as I played with my chopsticks in thought. "Which island?" I asked.

"Whale Tail Island."

***

Saying that I was shocked and surprise was an understatement. As the Avatar's Protector, I was trained to prepare myself for anything. But finding out that I'm on the island where my wedding was suppose to be... I didn't know how to prepare myself for this, this time. This island was the place where Zian and I were going to get married. And after finding out what today's date was, was an even bigger punch in the face. Today's date, is the date of my wedding.

I have arrived to Whale Tail Island on the day of my wedding, I'm just 100 years late.

After finding out that we're on Whale Tail Island, I lost my appetite and excused myself before I left to my room. For the last five minutes, I was in my room, taking deep breaths as I tried not to cry. Memories of Zian starting coming up, and was getting harder for me not to cry. But when I saw on the calendar today's date, was when I started to cry in heartbreak. Of coarse I'm on the island of my wedding venue on the date of my wedding!

I sighed softly in sadness and tried to stop crying for almost three minutes. A part of me just wanted to lay on my bed and cry my heart out, and never leave the room. But the other part reminded me that Aang might be on the island and I needed to get to him and get out of here before Zuko captures him or both of us. I needed to be strong and go on that island.

Having two/three minutes left, I took in a deep breath and wiped away my tears. I walked over to the bathroom and washed my face. My eyes was still red, but was luckily not swollen anymore. I walked over to my chest and took out a pair of red fingerless gloves that had red flower forms on it. I put the gloves on after taking off my pumps and putting on my knee high black boots. Before leaving my room, I washed my face one last time and left after drying off.

I went outside and stood at the ship's railing as I looked out at the island. Whale Tail Island was a beautiful island, and from what I can see from here, it doesn't seem like it has changed over the years. I only hope that things didn't change to much on the island when we start walking around. Iroh came outside with Kai on his shoulder and walked over to me. When he saw my red eyes, he gasped with wide eyes before bringing me into a hug.

I hugged back and waited for him to ask me what's wrong, but that question never came. Iroh just continued holding me and gently patted my back as he comforted me. I was grateful that he didn't ask me what's wrong, and tighten the hug as he started humming as he patted my back. "Thank you Uncle Iroh." I muttered into his chest without breaking the hug. Iroh looked down at me with a fatherly smile and gave me one last big hug. "Come along now, dear Asami." He said gently and started pulling me with him.

Kai climbed down on Iroh's arm that was around my shoulder and got on my shoulder. I petted him softly behind the ears, and smiled as he chirped and licked my cheek to cheer me up, snuggling into my hair that laid lose. Besides my ring and picture of us, Kai is the only thing I have left of Zian. If I lost any of those three, I don't know what I would do. My picture of Zian and I is in my bag, and my bag is with Aang. I know that it is save with Aang, but I still wish that I had it with me.

Iroh and I got off the ship and walked into the harbor. We soon got to Zuko and he was glaring his usual glare. When he saw us, he open his mouth to most probable scream at us again, but stopped when his eyes connected with mine for a split second. Zuko frowned for a moment before glaring again. "I told you that we leave in 10 minutes! Not 15! You're late!" Zuko snapped at Iroh, but his uncle just ignored him by walking past him.

I looked up at Iroh with wide eyes, but he was just kept smiling as he looked around the island. Zuko growled in anger after we walked right past him and stormed after us. We got out of the harbor soon and was walking around the shopping stalls. Zuko left us and started asking around about Aang, while Iroh walked over to one of the shopping stalls that sell herbs. I stayed with him as Iroh walked from shop to shop, looking at items and buying things. Kai was chirping at the scenery around him, while I looked around to see what changes happened over the past 100 years.

We moved to the shops closer to the beach. One of the shops was selling seashell jewelry. They were all beautiful, but there was one necklace that caught my attention. It was a red teardrop with a yellow starfish in it. I picked the necklace up and help but be memorized by it. The shop owner asked if I wanted it, but I didn't have any money and I didn't want to ask Iroh to buy it for me. I shook my head to the owner and put the necklace back on it's place.

I moved away from the seashell jewelry stand and walked over to the next shopping stand. I was about to go to the next one when Kai suddenly yipped from on my shoulder. Before anything else could happen, Kai started tapping me repeatedly on the head to get my attention. I looked up at him with a frown and saw him looking at something. I looked over to where he was looking and that's when I saw them.

Elephant koi.

I gasped when I saw the giant fish and run over, down to the beach. I watched the elephant koi jump out of the water as I stopped on the beach sand. Kai chirped in excitement and jumped down from my shoulder. But the second he felt the sand, he started playing in it as if it's snow. I giggled down at him in amusement before sitting down on a rock. I continued watching the giant koi with a smile before my smile slowly disappeared as I started thinking of Zian.

One of the reasons why we chose this island and today's date was because of the elephant koi. One of our favorite legends is how a koi fish becomes a dragon. The legend goes how a koi fish will swim up a waterfall, never giving up no matter how strong the waterfall is or how many times it falls down. When the koi finally reaches the top of the waterfall, for its courage and bravery, the spirits turn the koi fish into a beautiful dragon.

We both saw our love as the legend. Zian and I were the koi fish, and the waterfall was the monks who tried to keep us from being together. The top of the waterfall was my freedom and Zian, and for Zian, it was me. Our dragons was us being together and getting married. Only problem was, my koi got in an iceberg before she could become a dragon and spread her wings.

"You just had to choose Whale Tail Island." I said without looking behind me, already knowing who was standing behind me. Without saying anything, Zuko just walked over and sat down next to me, watching the elephant koi with me. "Nobody has seen the Avatar here, and there's no signs of him anywhere." Zuko said, crossing his arms as he watched the elephant koi jumping out of the water. "I figured, Aang didn't know that elephant koi comes here. And even if he did, he wouldn't come here. This island holds way to many memories for the both of us." I answered.

"Something happened here?" Zuko asked as he turned to face me. I huffed as I crossed my arms. "More like what didn't happen." I said and looked down at my left hand. Zuko looked down as well and his eyes widen in realize when he saw my engagement ring. "Your wedding..." He said as he looked up at me, getting a slow nod from me. "Yep." I answered and looked back at the elephant koi. "He didn't show up did he?" Zuko asked, but I just sighed softly and shook my head.

"No... I didn't show up." I answered in sadness. Zuko's eyes widen in shock but I just stared at the sea and the elephant koi. "Why?" He asked me after a moment of silence. "I couldn't make it." I simply answered with a shrug. "What happened?" Zuko asked slowly, making me sigh. "I got frozen in ice for a hundred years." I answered, making the Fire Nation Prince stare at me with wide, surprise eyes. "Wait, what? How?" Zuko asked me in shock. "Believe me, I ask that to myself everyday." I said.

Zuko furrowed his eyebrows as he frown in confusion. But I played no mind to him as I watch the sea and the elephant koi, looking to the side now and then to check on Kai, making sure he's okay. "Wait, you're a 100 years old?" Zuko asked with a frown. "A 116 actually." I corrected before smiling when I saw Kai playing with a seashell. Zuko stared at me for a long moment before asking questions again. "So, you and your brother were frozen in ice for a hundred years, and that's why you didn't know about your people or the war?"

"Yeah, that pretty much sums it." I answered before looking back to the elephant koi. "That explains a lot actually." Zuko muttered to himself, making me chuckle slightly. "What happened? How did you get frozen?" He asked after a moment, curious. I stared in front of me for a while before sighing as I tighten my arms around me. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked next to me. It was Zuko's hand, and when I looked up to him, he was smiling a small reassuring smile. I smile back slightly, before sighing when Zuko nodded to me an 'it's okay' nod and gently squeezed my shoulder.

"It was a storm." I started as I looked back in front of me, the memory of that day coming to mind. "It was a few days before the wedding, and Aang and I were on our way to Whale Tail Island when it happened." I spoke, that day slowly playing in my head as if it's happening at this moment. "But, just out of the blue, a huge storm just suddenly came upon us." I said as flashes of the storm came to mind. "Aang tried to steer Appa in it, but it was to strong." I continued as my eyes widen slightly as I saw the lightning strikes in my head.

"The wind was to strong and the waves was to big!" I said and started breathing deeply to calm myself down. Kai sensed my sudden destress and run over to me, yipping in worry. But I was so deep in my flashback, I didn't even hear him. I just kept hearing the wind in my head, just kept seeing the lightning strikes, and felt the cold rain drops that fell so hard on my skin, it almost felt like knives. "The rain was so cold..." I whimpered as I tighten my arms around me, for comfort and warmth. I was literally reliving that day in my head.

My body was shaking, from distress and the cold I felt in my mind. Kai continually yipped at me in worry, and jumped onto my lap and tried to calm me down, but I was to deep in my flashback. "Everything just happened so fast!" I said as I saw the huge wave that crashed into us, and made us crash into the ocean. "The wave... it was so big... it came out of nowhere!" In my mind, the scene played of that day as if it was happing right now. It was the wave and it was getting bigger and bigger, and getting closer and closer.

Before the wave crashed, I was suddenly snapped out of my flashback when a pair of warm arms wrapped around me. My body slowly stopped shaking and I looked up to see Zuko, staring at me in worry. I took a deep breath as I calmed down, looking down to my waist and saw that it was Zuko's arms wrapped around me. Before I could say anything, Kai jumped up from my lap and onto my shoulder. He chirped worriedly at me and started rubbing his cheek against mine, comforting me and himself. I released a breath as Kai comforted us both, and scratched him behind the ear.

"It's okay Kai." I said softly before looking back to Zuko, who was looking at me with eyes full of worry. "I'm okay." I answered his silent question and looked down to my lap. I stayed like that while Zuko continued holding me in his arms and Kai continued rubbing his cheek against mine. "The wave crashed into us..." I started talking again without looking up from my lap. "We crashed right into the ocean. It's the last thing I remember." I said as I took Kai and held him close to me after Zuko removed his arms from around me.

"I blacked out the second we crashed. I don't know how we survived, or how we got in the ice. All I remember was that storm, and crashing into the sea." Zuko hummed softly as he listened my story. "When I woke up, I was confused for a sec before remembering what happened. I was relieved that we survived!" I said as the tears started forming in my eyes, scoffing to myself before shaking my head. "We both thought that we were only in the ice for a few days. I actually thought that we didn't miss the wedding!"

"Of coarse, it didn't take long before we found out about the war that has been going on for a 100 years!" I exclaimed, shaking my head as I glared down at the ground. Kai chirped softly to me in sadness and licked my chin, making my smile slightly. "I'm sorry." Zuko said softly, making me surprise, but I didn't look to him as I petted Kai. "It's okay, you didn't know that Whale Tail Island was my wedding venue or that today was the wedding date." Zuko's eyes widen in shock, but I just kept looking down as I petted Kai.

"I'm so sorry Asami! If I have known..." Zuko started as he stared at me with sad eyes. I just shrugged and put Kai back on my shoulder. I crossed my arms and huffed a laugh. "Well I made it to Whale Tail Island on my wedding date! I'm just a 100 years late!" I laughed, but it only made me more sad, and Zuko noticed it as well. Knowing that I needed it, Zuko pulled me back into his arms and hugged me. I was caught by surprise at first, but I quickly accepted the hug and wrapped my arms around him as well. We stayed like that for a while and just stared at the open wide sea, while elephant koi jumped out of the water now and then.

Zuko pulled away and stood up. "Come on." He said as he offered his hand to me. "Uncle is probable waiting for us." I laid my hand in his as he spoke and pulled my up on to my feet. I looked back at the elephant koi one last time and walked back to the shops, following behind Zuko. We got to the shopping stands and started searching for Iroh. After not finding the retired general, Zuko suggested we split up and find him.

We split up and continued searching for Iroh. I walked to every shopping stall and asked if they saw Iroh. Most of them said what an amazing customer he was and pointed for me the direction Iroh left. It wasn't long until I found the retired general and surprise, surprise, he was busy at a shopping stall. I physically and mentally rolled my eyes at the old man's shopping addiction. I swear he shops more than a rich woman. No offense to all rich and successful people of the world.

Iroh looked over to me and smiled brightly when he noticed me. "Asami!" He called out excitedly and picked up the item he was busy observing. "Look at this beautiful dress!" It was a beautiful orange dress. It was sleeveless and backless, and what I could see, if I wore it, it would stop at my knees. This dress was the perfect dress for an airbender. The second I saw the dress, I fell in love with it. But Iroh has already bought so much for me, I couldn't let him spend more.

"It's the perfect dress for you!" Iroh exclaimed with the biggest smile ever and handed it over to me. As he handed the dress over, Kai jumped over to Iroh and sat on his shoulder. Iroh looked up to him with a joyful smile, and looked back to the shopping stand. "Now we just need the gloves and scarf to match it with!" He said and started going through the gloves, one by one. "Iroh- I mean, Uncle Iroh! You don't have to buy me this dress!" I quickly said as I watched him go over to the scarves. "Of coarse I can! I insist!" Iroh said, his smile not breaking for a second and picked up a two pairs of gloves. "This one or this one?" He asked as he showed them to me. Kai chirped to gloves in Iroh's left hand, making Iroh lift it up higher. "I like these too!" He said to Kai and looked back to me, wanting my opinion.

I sighed softly, not answering him and placed the dress back on its place. Iroh frowned in confusion and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "You don't like the dress?" He asked as his frown deepen in confusion. "No, I like the dress, I really do! But I have enough dresses back on the ship. You have already bought to much for me! I really appreciate it, and I love the clothing you bought for me. But I can't let you spend anymore money on me. Thank you for offering! But I'm not letting you buy that dress for me." I said to him, smiling gently, hoping that I didn't hurt his feelings. "Asami, I like buying dresses for you! It doesn't bother me at all!" Iroh said, but I just shook my head.

"It's your money, Uncle Iroh. You should be spending it on yourself, not on me." Iroh's frown only deepened more. I just smiled softly to him and locked my arm with his. "Come on. Zuko is looking for you and is probable already waiting for us at the ship." I told him and pulled him along with me, heading towards the harbor. Iroh pouted slightly at me, but I just chuckled at him. He's done enough shopping for today, and he has defiantly done enough shopping for me for a life time. I don't like people spending their money on me.

*Zuko's P.O.V*

After Asami and I split up to search for Uncle Iroh, I made a quick detour towards a shopping stand that sell seashell jewelry. Before I went to the beach and sat down next to Asami, I saw her standing at the shopping stand and holding one of the necklaces. I don't know why, but after what Asami told me, I wanted to make it up to her somehow. So, I decided to buy her that necklace she held. It's the least I can do after what I put her through today. I know that I didn't know that her wedding was suppose to happen here, or that she missed her own wedding, or that today is her wedding date! But I still feel bad!

Anyway, I went to the shopping stand and bought the red teardrop necklace with the yellow starfish inside. It's not much, but it's at least something. I left after paying and started searching for my uncle again. "Zuko!" I turned around when I heard my name and saw my uncle coming towards me. Uncle Iroh walked towards me with a worried look and stopped in front of me. "Have you seen Asami? I seem to have lost her, and I can't find her anywhere!" He spoke quickly and started looking around him, probable looking for Asami.

"Yeah, I did. We were actually looking for you. We split ways not to long ago to search for you." Uncle Iroh sighed in relief as I spoke and smiled. But before he could say anything, I started talking about what I found out today. "Asami's wedding venue was here." Uncle Iroh's eyes widen in shocked, his mouth soon joining as I continued talking. "And today's the wedding date." "The poor girl! It's her wedding anniversary and she's spending it alone!" I sighed slightly and shook my head at Uncle Iroh's response. "Uncle, she missed her wedding."

Total silence. Uncle Iroh just froze and stared at me in total silence. Slowly, slowly, his eyes widen in shock and realize. "That's why she was crying today." He muttered to himself, while I frowned, remembering Asami's red eyes after she got off the ship. The last time I saw her cry, was when I told her about her people. So far, it seems like I only bring bad news to her. First, I told her people are dead, then I take her to the island where her wedding, which she unfortunately missed, was. And to top it of, I brought her on the day she was suppose to marry.

"I'm going to get her something to help cheer her up!" Uncle Iroh said suddenly and stormed away. My eyes widen and I quickly run after him. "Wait! Uncle-" I started calling, but it was to late, he was already at a shopping stand. I groaned in irritation and marched over to him. But before I got to him, I heard a familiar yip. I looked over where the sound came from and saw Asami. Uncle Iroh must have heard Kai as well, because he looked up and saw them. "Asami! Look at this beautiful dress!" He called out to her as she walked towards him and lifted up a orange dress. "It's the perfect dress for you!" Uncle Iroh exclaimed with the biggest smile ever and handed over the dress to her.

He was right. It is the perfect dress for her. Not only is the dress the color of her nation, but the dress will fit her perfectly and show off her tattoos. It was the perfect dress for her to wear her tattoos proudly. And she'll look beautiful in that dress...

I shook my head as the those thought came to mind, and looked back to the retired general and airbender. When I looked back, I noticed Asami's fire ferret, Kai, was now on my uncle's soldier. Another thing I also noticed, was the look of awe Asami gave to the dress in her arms. It was clear that she loves the dress, but I could also it clearly that she didn't want Uncle Iroh to buy the dress for her. "Now we just need the gloves and scarf to match it with!" Uncle Iroh said and started going through the gloves, while Asami tried to stop him.. "Iroh- I mean, Uncle Iroh! You don't have to buy me this dress!"

"Of coarse I can! I insist!" My uncle said, smiling brightly and picked up a two pairs of gloves before showing them to Asami. "This one or this one?" He asked her as he showed the pair of orange gloves to her. "I like these too!" Uncle Iroh said to Kai, who chirped to gloves in Uncle Iroh's left hand, and held the pair of gloves over to Asami, waiting for her opinion. But Asami just sighed and put the dress back. My uncle was surprise at her for putting the dress back, but even though I don't know Asami that well, I know her well enough to know that she doesn't like people buying her things. So I wasn't surprised she put the dress back.

"You don't like the dress?" Uncle Iroh asked her as he frowned in confusion. "No, I like the dress, I really do! But I have enough dresses back on the ship. You have already bought to much for me! I really appreciate it, and I love the clothing you bought for me. But I can't let you spend anymore money on me. Thank you for offering! But I'm not letting you buy that dress for me." Asami quickly said to him, smiling gently as she tried not to hurt my uncle's feelings. "Asami, I like buying dresses for you! It doesn't bother me at all!" My uncle said, but Asami just shook her head. "It's your money, Uncle Iroh. You should be spending it on yourself, not on me."

I couldn't help but shake my head. Anyone could see that she likes the dress. Although I sort of understand Asami's point of view, but should probable understand that money isn't a problem for us royals. We won't be wasting our money on her. I know for a fact, that if she had her own money, she would have bought the dress. Like my uncle said before, that orange dress is perfect for her.

"Come on. Zuko is looking for you and is probable already waiting for us at the ship." Asami said to Uncle Iroh after she locked her arm with his and started pulling him with her towards the harbor. My uncle pouted at her, but she just laughed softly as they head back to the ship. When they got out of my sight, I went over to the stand and picked up the orange dress. "How much for the dress?" I asked the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper was an old woman, and she was smiling knowingly at me the second she noticed that I'm Fire Nation.

She named the price and took the dress from me. She put it in a bag and handed it over after I paid her. "She's a beautiful woman." She said to me as she nodded over to the direction where Asami and Uncle Iroh left. "She will love this gift very much!" She added as she continued smiling at me with a knowing look. I knew from her look, she probable thought that Asami and I are together, or that I have probable have feelings for her. But I do agree with her though, Asami is beautiful.

Before I could correct her, the shopkeeper lady picked up the pair of gloves Uncle Iroh had picked out, along with the scarf he put to the side. She got out a bag and put the two items in it. "I won't be taking those." I said before she could hand the bag to me or give the price. The shopkeeper lady frown at me in confusion, but I ignored her as I took the necklace I bought earlier out of my pocket and place in the bag with the dress. I looked down at the dress and necklace in thought before smiling slightly to myself.

"She won't be wearing gloves or a scarf with this dress."

*Asami's P.O.V.*

It was night again, and we were in the dining room, waiting for our dinner. Iroh poured for us all some tea and we drank some as we waited for our food. Not long, the cook came into the room, and placed our dinner in front of us. Cooked fish for us, fire flakes and dumplings for Kai. I thank the cook and started eating. Before anyone ask, yes I do eat meat, I'm not a vegetarian. I used to be one, but after doing some Protector training in Earth Kingdom, I slowly, slowly tasted meat.

After the cook gave our food, he walked over to Zuko and whispered something to him. "The Avatar's on Kyoshi Island?" Zuko exclaimed as he flew up from his chair. Wait a minute! Aang is on Kyoshi Island? Why would he be on Kyoshi? What's he doing there? "Uncle!" I snapped out of my thought when I heard Zuko's voice and looked up. "Ready the rhinos! He's not getting away from me this time!" Zuko ordered as he started marching out of the dining room.

"Are you going to finish that?" Iroh asked as he pointed at Zuko's cooked fish. Zuko quickly turned around and came back into the dining room. "I was going to save it for later!" Zuko snapped as he grabbed his plate and stormed out of the room again. I blinked a few times, the information still slowly busy forming in my mind. But I soon snapped out of it and giggled when Iroh started pouting and crossed his arms.

***

It was the next day and we were on our way to Kyoshi Island. Kai and I were in komodo rhino's enclosure, and I was busy petting one of the rhinos. I giggled now and then when the rhino snorted and bumped my hand with his nose, asking me to continue petting him. These animals may look big and scary, but they can be real teddy bears when you just give them nose scratches. It continued on like that until Iroh came in and started saddling up the rhinos. "He really seems to like you." Iroh said as he nodded over me as I petted the rhino.

I smiled slightly with a shrug. "It's just the nose scratches." I said before giggling again when the rhino snorted again and bumped my hand. Iroh laughed as well and continued saddling the rhinos up. "And can I just say how beautiful you look today!" I laughed softly at his comment and blushed. I was wearing an open back, light pink sleeveless shirt with cherry blossoms on it. Along with the shirt, I wore long black pants with my boots. "Thank you." I said shyly. "The shirt is perfect for showing off your back and arm tattoos." Iroh said, which I nodded to in agreement. Because we were still on the boat, I didn't put on any gloves or a scarf. But when we get to Kyoshi, I will be putting on rock pink fingerless gloves, along with a cherry pink shoulder scarf.

It wasn't long when Iroh finished saddling the rhinos and came over to saddle the rhino I was busy petting. When Kai saw his favorite firebender, he chirped in excitement and jumped over to Iroh's shoulder. The retired general laughed and scratched behind Kai's ear before he started saddling the rhino. "Zuko told me about your wedding." I sighed softly and looked down. "I'm terrible sorry." Iroh said as he frowned at me in sadness. I just shrugged and continued petting the rhino. "It's not your fault." "Yes, that is true, but it does help a little to say it." Iroh said and smiled a small, comforting smile.

"If you ever want to talk, about anything, I'm here for you." I smiled softly and looked up to Iroh. "Thank you Uncle Iroh." I said and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him and hugged him. Iroh chuckled softly and hugged me back. Kai yipped and wrapped his front legs around my neck and his tail around Iroh's neck, hugging us both. Iroh and I laughed at Kai's way of group hugging, but Kai just continued hugging us. We hugged each other for a minute longer and pulled away. Iroh finished saddling up the rhino while I went back to pet the rhino.

"Protector Asami!" A crew member called out as he came into the room. "Prince Zuko is asking for you." Before I could ask what Zuko wanted, the crew member turned around and left the room. I frowned in confusion and looked to Iroh for answers, but he was frowning with much confusion as I am. "Why would Zuko want to see me?" I asked Iroh and myself. The retired general shrugged with a 'no idea' look. I shrugged as well and left the room, heading towards Zuko's room.

I got to his room and saw that the door was open, and that the room was empty as well. I frowned in confusion and entered into the room. "Zuko?" I called as I search the room for him. "I'm sorry." I frowned when I heard the sudden voice, before quickly turning around with a gasp when I heard the door slam shut. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" I muttered repeatedly as I run over to the door and tried to open it. "No!" I screamed as I realized that it's locked and started banging on the door. "Let out!" "I'm sorry..." I gasped in surprise when I heard Zuko's voice before I started glaring at him through the door. "Zuko! Let me out of here!"

"I can't! I'm not going to let you get in my way from capturing the Avatar!" Zuko exclaimed from the other side. I cried in frustration and started kicking at the door as he continued speaking. "And I can't let you escape with him!" He exclaimed, and from the sound of it, started moving away from the door. "I can't lose you." I heard him mutter, which made me frown for a moment in confusion before I started screaming at him again. "No! Let me out of here! Zuko! Let me out!" I yelled repeatedly, before the tears started to form when the events before the storm started coming to mind.

"You're no better than the monks Zuko!" I screamed as the tears rolled down my cheeks as I continued banging and kicking the door. "Locking me up and taking away my freedom just like them!" I cried as my hands slowly started forming bruises as I continued slamming my fist against the metal door. But I didn't stop slamming until my hand started bleeding slowly. I huffed in frustration and started looking around the room for something that could help get the door open. As I looked around, I found something that might help. It wasn't a key, but it was my staff.

I stood in front of the door again and started blasting strong blasts of air at it, hoping it would open like it did before when Zuko and Aang fought in here. But as I shot a blast air, I noticed that the door didn't even budge like last time. I inspected the door and realized that the door was replaced with stronger metal. I growled in both frustration and anger and shot air at it again, not giving up. But as I was about to shoot again, I stopped when I felt my left ear itch and when I heard, what sounded like the roar of the unagi. "Aang..." I muttered to myself with wide eyes when I realized that Aang's in trouble.

I repeatedly started shooting air blast at the door as I tried even harder this time to get out. Aang was in trouble, and from how crazy my left ear itch was driving me, I'll say big trouble. I continued shooting until I felt that my ear wasn't itching anymore and when I felt the ship coming to a stop. "I want the Avatar alive!" I heard Zuko ordered as he and his soldiers rode off the ship with their rhinos. "Prince Zuko, what about Protector Asami?" One of the soldiers asked as I listened to them. It was quiet for a moment until Zuko spoke again. "She won't be going anywhere soon."

I growled in anger at the prince's comment and started blasting air again. This went on until I suddenly heard the door unlock. I frowned at the door for a second before slowly opening it. When I opened the door, my frowned deepened when I saw nobody standing there. I looked down when I heard a familiar chirp and saw Kai sitting there with a pair of keys in his mouth. Kai chirped when he saw me look down at him and dropped the keys. He then turned behind him for a moment before turning back to me with a pair of pink gloves in his mouth. I sighed softly to him, full of gratefulness, and took the gloves from him.

"Thanks Kai!" I said as I put the gloves on. Kai yipped and then turned around again before looking back with my pink scarf in his mouth. I huffed a laugh and took the scarf from him and quickly put it on. "Come on!" I said as I grabbed my staff and picked him up. "We gotta save Aang!" I exclaimed and started running down the hallway. It wasn't long until we got on the top deck and I opened my glider before jumping off the ship and flew towards the village. Luckily, I got there quick, unfortunately, Zuko's soldiers has already started burning down houses.

As we flew closer, I saw Zuko getting surrounded by Kyoshi Warriors. When I saw the warriors, my heard filled with pride. During my Protector training, I was send to Kyoshi Island for training. You could say I'm a fully trained Kyoshi Warrior actually! And seeing that there's still some of my sisters left, makes me proud. Kai and I flew closer to the prince and warriors, but my proud smile soon left when I saw Zuko knocking each one off their feet. "Nice try Avatar! But these little girls can't save you!" Zuko exclaimed as he stood in the middle of the town.

"Hey! Over here!" Zuko quickly turned around and saw Aang glaring at him with his staff ready. "Finally!" Zuko said and started shooting fireballs at Aang. Aang quickly blocked and reflected them away, but Zuko was sending too much fire at Aang to handle. Zuko formed one of the biggest fireballs yet and shot it at Aang. Before it could hit him, I landed in front of Aang and airbended the air away from the fireball, killing it instantly. Both Zuko and Aang gasped in surprise when they saw me, but I just twirled my staff and stood in battle stance. "Asami!?!" Both them exclaimed in shocked, but I just handed Kai over to Aang and charged at Zuko.

I cried a battle cry as I charged at him and raised my staff up, ready to strike him. Zuko quickly shook out of his shock expression and soon started glaring at me as he charged as well. I swiped my staff at him, but he blocked it with his leg before it could touch him. I twirled my staff as I span away from him before he could hit me and went back to strike again. But Zuko used both firebending and his leg to kick my staff out of my hand. I gasped in surprise and quickly jumped away from him. As I landed, I noticed a pair of fans next to me and picked them up by using airbending.

I looked up at Zuko with a death glare and stood up in battle stance with them. Zuko returned the glare and started charging again at me. As he charged, I took a deep breath spinning around slightly before using airbending to send a strong blast of air at him. With the help of the fans, the blast was stronger and it send the Fire Nation Prince straight into the house behind him. Zuko cried out in surprise as the air hit him and soon groan when he crashed into the house. "Asami!" I turned around when I heard my name and was soon tackled into a tight hug.

"You're okay!" Aang exclaimed as he tightened his arms around me. I smiled down to my little brother and returned the hug. We hugged for a moment before pulling away and smiling at each other. "Let me guess... Elephant Koi riding?" I asked with a knowing smirk. Aang's eyes widen in surprise before he started giggling nervously as he rubbed behind his neck. I shook my head with a huff before hugging him again. "I'm just glad that you're okay!" I said and held onto him tight, which he returned. But our happy moment was soon ruined when a prince stood up from his crash. I glared at him as I pushed Aang behind me and picked up my staff that was lying at my feet.

"Get out of here!" I said to Aang without looking away from Zuko. "But Asami-!" Aang started to protest but stopped when I glared at him over my shoulder. "Now Aang!" Aang sighed in defeat at me and started running before opening his glider with a throw and flew away from Zuko and I. I looked up at Aang as he flew and turned back to Zuko who was glaring at me in anger and frustration. Both he and his soldiers was about to charge at me, but his soldiers was suddenly knocked down by the Kyoshi warriors sneak attacking on them. Zuko got caught in surprise from the warriors, so I took the chance to attack him.

Zuko got knocked down by my sneak attack and glare at me from the ground. He growled in anger and jumped back on his feet in battle stance. "How did you escape?" "Wouldn't you like to know!" I replied with a growl and charged. Zuko quickly dodged and blocked my attacks and started fighting back with his firebending. I quickly either blocked, reflected or air-killed the fireballs send at me. While fighting, my scarf came lose and fell off without me even realizing it. I was to busy fighting with Zuko. "I can't believe you did that to me!" I shouted at him after back flipping away from one of his blasts. "I can't believe you locked me up in your room!" I shouted and shot a strong blast of air at him.

Zuko quickly rolled out of the way before the air could hit him and looked back to me with his everyday glare. "You would have left the second we got on land!" Zuko shouted back and stood back up. "You would have gotten in my way from capturing the Avatar!" He shouted and kicked a blast of fire at me, which I quickly reflected away from me. "You would have stopped me from regaining my honor!" He continued and punched a fireball towards me, but I quickly dodged it. "To return home!" He shouted out and shot fire at me with both arms.

I quickly bended the air away from the fire to kill it before it could hit me and shot my own air blast at Zuko, who quickly jumped away from it. "I would have just left!" I exclaimed at him in frustration and shot another blast at him. "I actually wanted to help you find a different way to regain your honor!" I admitted to him as my glare deepened and kicked an air blast at him. "But you went and locked me up in your room!" I shouted as my anger and frustration got stronger. "Just like the monks did!" I growled through gritted teeth. Zuko frowned at my last comment before dodging the air I shot at him.

"You tried to take away my freedom!" I shouted as I charged at him with my staff and went to strike him. Zuko quickly blocked my staff with his arm and went to kick me, but I quickly back flipped away. "You actually started burning this town just to get my brother!" I exclaimed at him in out raged and went to strike at his feet with my staff. Zuko quickly jumped up before the staff could trip him and went in for a punch, which I quickly blocked. I locked his arm with my staff before he could pull away and kicked him in the chest. Zuko groaned as he fell down, but his glare never left me. "You could have hurt Aang!" I exclaimed as I stepped forward towards him.

Zuko quickly jumped up on his hands and span around them as he used his legs to trip me the same way he did with Zhao. I groaned as my back hit the hard ground. Before I could get back up again, Zuko came over and kicked my staff away from me. I looked up at the scar prince with a glare, which he returned as he raised his fist up, readying to strike. But before Zuko could, one of the Kyoshi Warriors tackled him. "Asami!" I turned to the voice that called my name and saw a Kyoshi Warrior with a warrior wolf tail. "Sokka!?!" I exclaimed in shock when I realized that the Kyoshi Warrior was my Water Tribe friend.

"Come on!" Sokka exclaimed as he grabbed my arm and help me back on my feet. "Aang and Katara is already on Appa waiting for us!" He said as he pulled me behind a house to hide from Zuko and his soldiers. "We need to go now!" Instead of following him back to Appa, I stayed behind the house in thought. Realizing that I'm not following him, Sokka stopped and turned back around to face me. He must have noticed what I was thinking, because his eyes widen when he saw my expression and shook his head. "Na huh! No! No way!" Sokka exclaimed as he threw is arms in a 'no way' manner as he repeatedly shook his head.

"We're not leaving you behind again!" Sokka exclaimed clearly as he stared at me in frustration. "You're not staying behind again!" I rolled my eyes as Sokka continued lecturing me before grabbing him by the shoulders, getting his attention back and looked him right in the eye. "Sokka! I need to stay behind!" "No you don't! The Kyoshi Warriors are keeping Zuko and his soldiers busy! They're holding them off until we escape!" Sokka exclaimed but I just shook my head at him. "The second Zuko sees I'm not fighting him with the Kyoshi Warriors, he'll realize that we escaped!" I exclaimed at the Water Tribe boy. "The second he realizes that, he'll charge right at us! He and his men will shoot fire at us to bring us down!"

"You and Aang can just reflect the fire away from us! Or can you use that killing fire airbending move of yours!" Sokka exclaimed at me as if he's stating the obvious. I rolled my eyes again at his comments and stared at him in annoyance and frustration. "I'm good, but I'm not that good!" I exclaimed as I hold myself back from slapping him behind the head. "Stopping one big fireball is one thing! But stopping a few dozen another!" "But we can't just leave you here! Aang won't allow it! Not again!" Sokka exclaimed, but I just sighed softly before looking back into his eyes. "Just tell him it's for both his and the towns safety for me to stay behind and fight Zuko."

Sokka just stared at me for a long moment before groaning in frustration. "I'm never going to hear the end of this!" He exclaimed as he grabbed behind his head in frustration and annoyance. "Here!" He said as he put a pair of fans in my hands. "You're going to need them." Sokka said as he looked at the fans in my hand and back to me. "Be save." I quickly nodded to him and opened the fans. "I will! Now get out of here!" I exclaimed and run back to where Zuko and his soldiers were busy fight with Kyoshi Warriors. I did a front flip and an air twirl before using the fans and airbending to shoot a strong air blast at Zuko and his men, knocking them off their feet.

Zuko looked up and growled at me before getting back on his feet and shot fire at me. I quickly blocked the fire by using the fans and started fighting back by using the fans, only airbending here and there. Suddenly, Appa's groan was heard above us, which made both Zuko and I look up. Zuko's eyes widen when he saw the Sky Bison and looked back at me with a glare when he saw me smirking. He growled in anger and grabbed my arm as he started pulling me with him towards a komodo rhino. "Back to the ship!" Zuko ordered to his guards as he run, pulling me with him. "Don't lose sight of them!"

Zuko stopped next to the rhino and released his grip from my arm. Instead of climbing up first like I suspected he would, Zuko put his hands on my waist and lifted me up onto the komodo rhino. I cried out in surprise when he lifted me up and quickly held onto the saddle before I could fall off. Before I could snap or do anything, Zuko jumped on and sat behind me. He grabbed the reins with the one hand while his free arm wrapped around my waist and held me tight against him. Even though I'm annoyed at him, I couldn't help but blush when Zuko wrapped his arm around me and held me tight against him.

Before anything else could happen, Zuko whipped the reins and tightened his hold around me as the rhino bolted and started running towards the ship. As we rode towards the ship, I looked up towards the sky and spotted Appa. I sighed softly in relief when I saw them and knew that they would be safe for the time being. But as I continued staring at them flying away, I frowned when I saw one of them standing up and jumping off Appa. "What the-!" I exclaimed in shocked. Zuko stopped his rhino when he heard me and looked towards were I looked before gasping in shock as well.

Not a moment later after seeing the person jump, I felt my left ear itch. My eyes widen in realize when I figured out who jumped and tried to jump off the rhino to go and save him. But Zuko just tightened his hold around me and held me back. "No! Aang!" I exclaimed as I tried harder to get out of his strong hold on, but Zuko only wrapped his other arm around me as well and held me tighter. It wasn't long until I heard a splash in the water and looked towards the water with mixed emotions. Not a moment later, the unagi came out of the water with Aang on top of his head.

My eyes widen in both shock and fear when I saw my little brother on top of the sea monster. The more I looked, the more I realized that Aang was holding onto the unagi's whiskers. As I watched, I realized that my brother is riding the unagi! Before I could get a heart attack for my brother's actions, Aang pulled the unagi's whiskers and made the sea monster shoot water at the town. I soon started smiling in pride at my brother when I realized he was busy putting out the fire and saving the town. But as the unagi shot water out, some of the water came towards us. Seeing the water coming towards us, I quickly made an airball above me, using it as an umbrella.

The water fell onto us, and I didn't get a drop of it on me with the help of the airball. Meanwhile, Zuko and his soldiers were soaked from the water. When I saw the wet Fire Nation members behind and around me, I couldn't help but start laughing at their pouting faces. After killing the fire, the unagi flicked Aang off his head and dived back into the water. As Aang flew up into the air, Appa flew down and grabbed Aang before gravity could pull him back own, and flew away from the island. My smiled brightened as I watched them fly away before sending a silent goodbye to them.

Before we started riding back to the ship again, a sudden yip caught our attention. I looked towards the sound and saw Kai running towards me. "Kai!" I called out in relief and jumped down from the rhino, opening my arms for the fire ferret to jump in. I continued hugging Kai until I looked up when Zuko called my name. "We need to get back to the ship." Zuko said, a bit impatiently, and offered me his hand to help pull me back up on the komodo rhino. I stood up and walked back over to Zuko and his komodo rhino, but stopped when Kai yipped and jumped out of my arms.

Kai landed back on the ground and run over to a bush before came back, pulling something in the his mouth. I frowned in confusion before I gasped when I saw my pink shoulder scarf in his mouth. What surprised me even more, was that my bag I left with Aang was on the scarf as well. Kai must have gotten it from Appa before they left. "I didn't even realize that my scarf fell off!" I laughed as I petted my thanks to Kai before taking my bag off the scarf. I picked the scarf up and wrapped it around my back before picking Kai back up, along with my bag. I walked back over to Zuko, who offered his hand again, put I just ignored it and airbended myself back onto the saddle, in front of Zuko.

Zuko sighed softly from behind me before wrapping his arm around me again, and started riding back to the ship with his soldiers behind him. Through the whole ride back to the ship, was total silence. The only sounds we heard were the rhinos stomping the ground and the oceans waves. I knew the soldiers could tell that there is tension between Zuko and I, but I just ignored them and their prince all together. It wasn't long until we got to the ship, and Iroh was already standing outside waiting for us. Before Iroh or Zuko could say anything to me or each other, I removed Zuko's arm from my waist and jumped off the rhino.

"I'll be in my room if you need me." I said to Iroh before putting Kai on my shoulder and went into the ship, ignoring Zuko. "What did you do this time?" I heard Iroh ask, which I presume is Zuko, but I was already aboard the ship before I could hear Zuko answer his uncle. I got to my room soon and started taking off my gloves and scarf. After putting away the clothing items, along with my bag that Kai brought back for me, I decided to go to bed early. Today was a long and exhausting day! And from the looks of it, not just for me, because Kai past out the second he laid down on the pillow.

I got my pajamas out of my chest and headed to my bathroom. I took a nice, long hot shower to help relax my tensed muscles before getting dressed in my red pajamas. After my relaxing shower and getting dressed, I took my hairbrush and started brushing my long, brown hair after making it lose from its braid. While brushing my hair, I heard somebody enter into my room. I froze in mid brush when I heard the foot steps and waited for whoever it was to call out for me. But as soon as the foot steps entered, it exited as well. I waited for a minute or two before I put my brush away and opened my bathroom door.

I looked around my room and saw nobody there. I frowned slightly in confusion before shrugging it off as probable my imagination. I walked over to my bed and was about to get in, but stopped when something on my bed got my attention. On my bed, was a box that was wrapped up with red paper and a golden ribbon. A present... I frowned at the present on my bed before picking it up as I sat down on the bed. I pulled the ribbon lose and unwrapped the red paper around the box. Not even a minute later, and the box was free from it's paper prison. I put my hand on the lid and slowly started opening the box before gasping in surprise.

In the box, was the orange dress Iroh wanted to buy for me. The orange dress I fell in love with... I can't believe he went and bought it! Even though I told him not to buy it for me, I couldn't help but smile down at the dress as I lifted it up, out of the box. But as I took the dress out, I noticed something at the bottom of the box. When I looked back in the box, I gasped again surprise when I saw it. It was the red teardrop necklace with the orange starfish in it! The same necklace I admired before I went to the beach! But how did he know that I liked this necklace? I thought to myself with a frown.

Iroh probable saw me with it, or when he saw it he thought about me. I have to remember to thank the retired general tomorrow for my new dress and necklace. I took the dress and necklace and placed them into my chest. But as I put them away, I realized that I didn't have any gloves or scarves to go with the dress. I picked the box up again to see if I might have miss look them, but I didn't. There wasn't a pair of gloves or scarf in the box. I sighed slightly when I didn't find the two pieces of clothing to complete my outfit and put the box away.

But when I looked down at my bed again, I saw a piece of paper with writing on it. I picked the paper up and read it. As I read it, a small smile formed on my face, getting bigger and bigger as I continued the read the words on the piece of paper in my hand. Now I really need to thank Iroh tomorrow! I hugged the paper close to my heart before reading it one last time before getting back in bed.

'This dress is the perfect dress for an airbender. And as an Airbender and Protector, you need to wear your tattoos with pride and honor. You won't be needing gloves or scarves with this dress. Wear the dress like the proud Airbender you are, and show off your tattoos pride.
Be yourself in this dress.'