set my heart on fire (slow updates)

The Storm: Part 2

Y/N's POV
Once the storm was underway, I followed Iroh down below deck, where the majority of the crew were complaining about Prince Zuko, and rightfully so.

"I'm sick of taking his orders, I'm tired of chasing his avatar. I mean, who does Zuko think he is!?"

Iroh responded, "do you really want to know?"

Lieutenant Jee cleared his throat and jumped up, "General Iroh, we were just-"

He held up his hand, "it's okay, may we join you?"

"Of course, sir."

I silently followed Iroh to join the rest of the crew around the fire place; he stroked his beard, as he usually does when he's retelling a story, "try to understand, my nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much."

Iroh then began to retell the horrors that I remember well, when Zuko was thirteen years old, he was desperate to join his father in a war meeting, but was refused entry. He pleaded to his uncle, saying that he wanted to begin learning as much as he could if he was to rule the Fire Nation one day- and so Iroh let him into the war meeting, on the condition that Zuko didn't speak, to avoid upsetting the older generals.

Once they were inside, one of the generals suggested a cruel battle strategy, one which I, to this day, would never agree to the employment of- he wanted to sacrifice an entire division of new recruits unnecessarily. In retaliation, young Zuko jumped up from his seat and spoke out against the plan, he argued that they couldn't sacrifice an entire division like that and that to do so would be betraying soldiers who love and protect their nation.

"Zuko was right, you see, but it was not his place to speak out and there were dire consequences. After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said that Zuko's challenge to the general was an act of complete disrespect. And there was only one way to resolve this."

Lieutenant Jee, deep in thought, concluded, "an Agni Kai. A fire duel."

Iroh nodded, "that's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood. When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the general. 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 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."

I remember this day well, Prince Zuko was on his hands and knees apologising to his father, but the Fire Lord demanded that Zuko would fight for his honour. Zuko continued to beg and plead, fear laced in his voice as he begged his father, but the Fire Lord continued to order him to get up and fight. Zuko refused to fight his father, he was on his hands and knees with tears steaming down his face as his father approached him.

It was heartbreaking.

Iroh sighed, "I looked away."

"I tried to, but I saw it. Every moment. And the horrors of that day will never escape my memory."

The lieutenant muttered, "I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident."

Iroh furrowed his eyebrows, "it was no accident. After the duel, the Fire Lord that said 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 honour."

Lieutenant Jee replied, "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 there important thing is, the avatar gives Zuko hope."

At that, the ship jolted and we heard a sudden crash, we all jumped up and I yelled, "we've been hit!"

Everyone ran up to the deck where Prince Zuko had just run out.

The waves were violently crashing into the boat from both sides, Zuko yelled past the thunder, "where were we hit!?"

The lieutenant replied, "I don't know!"

Iroh pointed up to the watch tower, "look!"

"The helmsman!"

The helmsman was dangling from one of the bars, trying to resist the harsh winds and impact of the waves. Before anybody else could react, the prince sprinted towards him as fast as he could.  He climbed the ladder, followed closely by the lieutenant, pulling himself up faster and faster.

I lost sight of them in the chaos, but a terrified yell from the direction of the watch tower pulled my attention back to them, I looked back up and saw that Prince Zuko had his grip on the helmsman's wrist, lowering him back towards the lieutenant.

When they reached the deck, I couldn't believe my eyes when Zuko exclaimed, "the avatar!", who had flown his giant bison straight over us.

The lieutenant asked, "what do you want to do, sir?"

"Let him go, we need to get this ship to safety."

Iroh nodded, "then we must head directly into the eye of the storm."

—

Once we had reached the eye of the storm, everything felt okay again, and there was nothing but a slight rainfall pattering on my head and a glimpse of sunshine just past the clouds.

A few meters away from me, Zuko stood with his uncle, looking out at the calmer waters, "uncle, I am sorry."

"Your apology is accepted."

I felt myself smile, he really is maturing.