Iroh stands on the deck as Zuko looks through a spyglass behind him. As the flight of birds passes over Iroh's head in the distance, he sniffs the air and Zuko lowers the spyglass to turn to his uncle, who speaks.

"There is a storm coming. A big one." he tells him

"You're out of your mind, Uncle" Zuko walks over to Iroh "The weather's perfect. There's not a cloud in sight"

"A storm is approaching from the north" Iroh turns to face Zuko "I suggest we alter our course and head southwest"

"We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same" Zuko commanded

"Prince Zuko, consider the safety of the crew" Iroh says

"The safety of the crew doesn't matter!" Zuko shouts

Behind them, Lieutenant Jee walks onto deck, inadvertently overhearing the conversation. As Zuko realizes Jee is behind him and turns to face him, his expression briefly loses its raging intensity. Zuko, addressing Jee directly, struts up to him, dominantly looking him right in the eyes from a close distance as he finishes speaking.

"Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety" Zuko says before walking away

As Zuko walks away, Jee glares after him. Iroh walks over to Jee.

"He doesn't mean that. He's just all worked up" Iroh says reassuringly, a twinge of uncertainty in his voice, almost as if he does not fully believe what he is saying

A massive bank of darkening clouds, having appeared seemingly out of nowhere, rolls into view, looming in front of the ship. On the deck, Lieutenant Jee and several other soldiers stand there staring at the clouds. Zuko walks into the foreground, regarding the clouds as Jee and the others turn to face him. Iroh walks between Zuko and Jee as the latter taunts the former

"Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all" Jee comments

"Lucky guess" Iroh says pleasantly

Zuko walks toward Jee angrily "Lieutenant! You'd better learn some respect" he jabs two fingers into Jee's chest "-or I will teach it to you" he begins to walk away from Jee, who follows Zuko with his eyes, continuing his taunting after a short pause.

"What do you know about respect?" Behind Jee, Iroh's expression turns to panic and he makes a cutting motion at his throat with his hand, trying to signal Lieutenant Jee to stop. Zuko stops walking. "The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard-working crew to your esteemed uncle and Lady Kira, shows you know nothing about respect!" Iroh gasps slightly, reaching out a hand in desperation before moving it to his forehead in resignation, believing Jee has gone too far "You don't care about anyone but yourself! Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?"

Zuko turns around and extends his right arm as if preparing to firebend. Lieutenant Jee does the same.

"Easy now" Iroh says, both Zuko and Jee wrist-block the other's arm; smoke rises from a furious Zuko's hand. Interrupting the staredown, Iroh extends an arm and pulls theirs apart; the smoke fades "Enough! We're all a bit tired from being at sea so long. I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better"

Lieutenant Jee walks away.

"I don't need your help keeping order on my ship!" Zuko shouts at Iroh

Iroh puts a comforting hand on Zuko's right shoulder, but Zuko shrugs it off.

"I'm going to see Kira" Zuko says and walks away.

Zuko opens up his bedroom door to see Kira still asleep in bed. He walks over and sits on the bed next to her. He sighs and rubs her head.

"You're the only one who can keep me sane" Zuko says staring down at her as he moved her hair out of her face

-

In a room, Jee is talking about Zuko to a couple other men "I'm sick of taking his orders! I'm tired of chasing his Avatar! I mean, who does Zuko think he is?"

"Do you really want to know?" Iroh asks walking in

"General Iroh. We were just-"

Iroh cuts him off "It's okay. May I join you?"

"Of course sir"

Iroh massages his beard "Try to understand. My nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much"

~flashback~

Zuko walks up to the curtains to get in the war room, but the guard on the left moves in front of the curtain to stop him.

"Let me in!" young Zuko shouts

"Zuko" Young Kira said worriedly from behind him "Come on just forget it"

"No!" young Zuko shouts

Iroh arrives and places his hands on Zuko's shoulders "Prince Zuko, what's wrong?"

"I want to go into the war chamber" young Zuko points to the guard "but the guard won't let me pass!"

Iroh leads Zuko and Kira away "You're not missing anything, trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring. You two just run along and play"

"But If me and Kira are going to rule this nation one day, don't you think we need to start learning as much as we can?" Zuko asks

"You two really won't go anywhere without each other will you?" Iroh questions chuckling

Zuko and Kira looked at each other and blushed

Iroh smiled "Very well. But you must promise not to speak, these old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?"

Kira and Zuko bows to Iroh "Thank you, Uncle"

Zuko, Kira, and Iroh walk into the war room. The meeting starts.

"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here" Bujing shows the place on the map "A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the forty-first division"

"But the forty-first is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" A soldier asks

"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?" Bujing replies

Zuko stands up "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?"

"Zuko" Kira says worriedly grabbing onto his sleeve

Everyone in the war room stared at Zuko, except for Iroh, who is kneeling behind his nephew

~End~

"After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him He said the challenge against the general was an act of complete disrespect! And there was only one way to resolve this" Iroh says

"Agni Kai. A fire duel." Jee replies

"That's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood" Flashback shows an overview of the chamber, Zuko prepares for the Agni Kai "When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the general" Flashback shows the tippet that was on Zuko's shoulders fall down to the ground

"Zuko had spoken out against the general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected" Zuko's expression changes to one of fear "Zuko would have to duel his own father. When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he begged for mercy."

~Flashback~

"Please, Father. I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn" young Zuko slightly lowers his head

"You will fight for your honor" Ozai says

Young Zuko kneels on his knees and forearms, while looking at the floor. "I meant you no disrespect" he gazes up at his father, tears shimmering in his eyes as his voice starts to waiver "I am your loyal son"

"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" Ozai shouts

Ozai reaches Zuko who lowers his head to the floor again.

"I won't fight you." Zuko refuses

"You will learn respect!" Zuko pushes himself up on his knees and hands as he starts to shake "and suffering will be your" Zuko looks up at Ozai, tears streaming down his face "teacher"

"Zuko!" Kira shouts, Iroh grabs her gently and covers her eyes

While Iroh clenches his teeth and looks away, Zhao looks on with a smirk on his face, while Azula smiles and raises her left fist in front of her chest in anticipation. As the sound of a fire blast is heard, Zuko is screaming "no", which echoes. While the faces of the spectators are brightened by the flames

~end~

"I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident" Jee says

"It was no accident. After the duel, the Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness. As punishment, he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he return with his honor." Iroh explains

Jee sighs "So that's why he's so obsessed. Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal"

"Things will never return to normal. But the important thing is the Avatar gives Zuko hope" Iroh says

Back in his room, Zuko had fallen asleep next to Kira. He's awoken by a hit on the ship, he looks over to see Kira waking up as well. Zuko helps her up and they run onto the deck together.

"Where were we hit?" Zuko asks worried

"I don't know!" Jee shouts

"Zuko the helmsman!" Kira shouted pointing up

Zuko and Lieutenant Jee climb up a ladder to help a man who is about to fall. Lightning goes down to the middle of the ship, where Iroh is. He uses redirection so it does not damage the ship.

After heading back down Zuko spots Appa "The Avatar!"

"What do you want to do, sir?" Jee asks

"Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety." Zuko commands

"Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm" Iroh instructed

Once in the eye of the storm the boat was safe and the waters were calm.

"Uncle, I'm sorry" Zuko apologized

Iroh smiled "your apology is accepted"

"Kira, thank you" Zuko says hugging her "for always being here"

"...what happened while I was asleep?" Kira asked

"Nothing for you to worry about" Zuko replies "I'm just happy you're here"