set my heart on fire (slow updates)

The Earth Kingdom

Y/N's POV
"Well, well, the banished prince and the Dragon of the West. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Prince Zuko scoffed as General Iroh bowed to greet me, "you have grown much since the last time I saw you, I trust you've been keeping well."

I bowed back, leading them into the town, "I'm doing well, General Han sends me here and there to help keep the colonies in line. You know how it is, Earth Kingdom resistance and all..."

"Ah, so you've joined the military?"

"Yep, youngest captain there's ever been! Father pulled some strings with the General, I hope that I'll be able to become a general myself by time I'm twenty if I keep up the hard work."

He smiled, "and you'll make a fine general yet!"

"Ugh! We don't have time this! Just hurry up and find out what she knows so we can get out of here!"

I raised an eyebrow, "it's lovely to see you, too, Prince Zuko."

He scoffed, "Y/N."

I hummed, "actually, it's Captain Y/N, now!"

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as I led the two of them into the house I was currently living in, "I can have my chef bring you food, if you'd like."

Iroh grinned, "sounds amazing!"

"Sounds like a waste of time."

I turned to Prince Zuko, "Hm, I don't recall you being so pessimistic, did the real world hit you that hard, your highness?"

"Tch."

Once my chef had brought food out for my guests, I sat down with them and asked, "so, what is it that you wanted to find out from me?"

Iroh sighed, "It's about the avatar."

"Oh, he was sighted on Kyoshi Island, right?"

Iroh nodded, "we're trying to track him down before anybody else does, so we came in search of assistance outside of the Fire Nation."

I placed my hand on my chin, "oh, right, you can't go past the border... well, if you're asking if I've seen him, I haven't."

"I told you asking her would be a waste of time!"

"I wasn't finished speaking, Prince Zuko. Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted, I haven't seen him, but I've finished my work here and should be moving onto the other colonies... I can afford to take a small detour to track him down for you if you don't mind dropping me off afterwards."

Iroh smiled, "we would greatly appreciate the help, thank you, Captain Y/N."

—

Once they had told me everything they knew about the avatar and the people he was travelling with, I began speculating about what routes he could've taken to lead him to the Northern Water Tribe.

During the time I was mapping out the different routes I had thought of, a letter arrived for me from one of our shipyard prisons built for earth benders.

"Prince Zuko, General Iroh!"

They both turned to me as I burst into my living room where they were sat talking.

"I think I have an idea on where the avatar might be."

My military squad and I boarded their ship and set off with them towards the shipyard that very same day.

"Captain Y/N, might I speak with you?"

"Yes?"

The soldier looked down at his feet as he began, "it isn't me who thinks this way at all, but some of the other guys in the squad... they were asking if the Fire Lord would be okay with you assisting the banished prince."

"Prince Zuko and General Iroh are members of the royal family. Is it not our duty as soldiers and citizens of the Fire Nation to protect and serve the royal family in every way we can?"

"Well... yes, Captain but-"

"And is it not in the best interest of the Fire Nation to have the avatar apprehended?"

"... yes, Captain."

"So, I do not see where there is room for doubt in this situation. Unless you do not hold the Fire Nation's best interest at heart."

"I do, Captain!"

"Very well, then I believe your concerns have been put at ease."

"Right! Uh- yes, Captain. Thank you, ma'am."

I nodded as he scurried back off to find the rest of the squad.

"They're scared of you."

I turned to Prince Zuko who stood behind me, "I believe you're confused. My squad do not fear me, they respect me."

"They respect you because they're scared of you"

I sighed, "indeed, Prince Zuko, but some of these men are my father's age, how else do you suppose I'd get them to show respect to a sixteen-year-old girl?"

He didn't respond for a few moments before he finally spoke, "you've changed"

I turned back to face the ocean, my posture straight and my hands behind my back, "no, Prince Zuko, I grew up"