NOTE-My fan-fic is a sort of alterna-world.So I have used actual scenes from the show.
No copyright infringement intended.The Lone Earthbender
Chapter 2
Xemone got up out of the snow and responded to the scarred firebender saying in a monotone voice "Observing the Avatar...."
The firebender replied "For what purpose?!Who are you?!"
"You yell a lot...I'm called 'Xemone' and my reasons for observing the Avatar are none of your concern."
"It IS my concern since you're stowing away on MY ship!!"
"I'm going to leave the instant you hit shore anyway.I'm not going to waste energy bending that far.You won't notice I'm here"
"THAT IS NOT THE POINT!Which nation are you from?!"
"I was born in the earth kingdom but I'm a rogue.I was banished from the earth kingdom...I'm not sided with any nation if that's what you think."
"Uncle,I think we have a spy on my ship"
The older firebender responded saying "If she is a spy why would she let us catch her?Let alone why would she introduce herself?"
The younger firebender said "Spies are clever con artists when they're caught.Besides if you're not a spy then what are you doing here!?"
"Calm down...I already said why.I was observing the Avatar.That battle was pathetic by the way..."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!Take her to the brig!"
As soon as the soldiers tried to apprehend her Xemone sandbended a ring of sand around her and expanded it to knock the soldiers away.
"I said I wouldn't cause trouble,but if you insist on making trouble for me I have no second thoughts against blowing all these excuses for benders off the ship and driving myself"
The young firebender paused then said angrily "Fine!You can stay!But only until we hit land and only if you stay out of my way!
"...Fine then,....What is your name anyway?"
"Not that I should bother telling YOU but I am Prince Zuko of the fire nation"
Zuko's uncle responded cheerfully "And I'm his amazing Uncle Iroh.Pleasure to meet you Xemone"
"...Hmph....'Prince'..."
Xemone then walked to the bow of the ship and leaned against the guard rails.
"Hmph...Whatever...We must make repairs to the ship anyway.Set sail for land."
Zuko then walked to his quarters and they sailed to land.
Still leaning on the bow,Xemone noticed they hit land.
Zuko shouted "Earthbender!We've hit land so get off my ship!"
Zuko was in a hurry so he got off first with Uncle Iroh and Xemone followed.
Zuko noticed her behind them and said "Why are you following us?!"
"Because you can provide me with valuable information on the Avatar and you can provide me with transportation so I won't waste valuable energy"
"YOU SAID YOU'D ONLY RIDE UNTIL WE HIT LAND!"
"I DID ride until we hit land....then I got off and followed you....then I'm gonna get BACK on the ship..."
"THAT IS NOT WHAT WE AGREED!
"Yes,we agreed that I could stay on the boat until we hit land and as long as I stay out of your way....well we're on land...and I'm behind you so..."
Zuko had a baffled look on his face followed by Iroh saying "You know she has a point.You did say she could stay until we hit land and as long as she stayed out of your way"
Zuko started getting extremely angry and shouted "FINE!!I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" and walked off with Iroh and Xemone following.
"Uncle I want the repairs done as soon as possible.I don't want to risk staying too long and losing his trail"
Iroh replied "You mean the Avatar."
Zuko whisper-shouted "Don't say his name on these docks.Once word gets out that he's alive every firebender in the world will be after him and I don't want anyone getting in the way."
A mans voice then said "Getting in the way of what,Prince Zuko?"
An older firebender with odd sideburns then walked up to Zuko,Iroh and Xemone.
Zuko said "Captain Zhao..."
"It's 'Commander' now.General Iroh,great hero of our nation."
"RETIRED general"
Zhao then looked behind them and said "Is...that an earthbender?"
Zuko paniked and said "Uhhh...Yes.We picked her up along our last trip....She's our mehchanic.She's very poor so she begged for a job with us and we took pity upon her."
Xemone snarled.
Zhao was suspicious but brushed it off and said "Taking in homeless earthbender teens as your crew now Zuko?...I believe you're the one who needs pity..."
Zuko got a bit angry,but kept his anger underwraps.
Zhao then said "The Fire Lords brother and son are welcome guests anytime.What brings you to my harbor?"
Iroh said "Our ship is being repaired"
Zhao turned his attention to the terribly damaged ship,covered in ice.
"That's quite a bit of damage" said Zhao with a suspicious tone.
Zuko then got nervous and said "Yes you wouldn't believe what happened....UNCLE...tell Commander Zhao what happened."
"Uh...yes I will do that..It was incredible...what did we crash or something?"
Zuko got more nervous and said "Yes...right into an earth kingdom ship."
Zhao replied with the same suspicious tone "Really?You must regail me with all the thrilling details....Join me for a drink?"
"Sorry but we have to go..." said Zuko.
"Zuko!...Show commander Zhao your respect.We would be honored to join you.Do you have any ginseng tea?It's my favorite." replied Iroh cheerfully.
Zuko got frustrated and blew fire in anger and started to walk off with Xemone behind him and then he stopped.
"No you can't come!
Stay beside the ship,put your giant sand jar thing inside the ship so you won't be as noticable and DO NOT MOVE!We will be back later.and don't talk to ANYONE!"
Zuko then walked off and Xemone huffed and thought
Geez,Princey thinks he rules the world.Bossing me around like he owns me.Xemone was about the enter the ships corridors when she thought
It's going to be very boring just waiting for them...She then sandbended some sand from her gourd under her feet and placed the gourd inside a closet and said "I think I'll see what the Fire nation is really like" and flew off on top of the sand.
Meanwhile,at Commander Zhaos headquarters"...And by years end the earth kingdom capitol will be under our rule.The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war."
"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly then he is a fool" Said Zuko.
"2 Years at sea have done little to temper your tongue.So,How's your search for the Avatar going?" Said Zhao with an attitude.
Iroh then knocked over a few spears that were hanging off the wall and said "My fault entirely!" and backed away.
Zuko said "We haven't found him yet."
"Did you really expect to?"Replied Zhao."The Avatar died 100 years ago.Along with the rest of the airbenders.Unless you've found some evidence that the Avatar is alive.."
"No...Nothing"
"Prince Zuko,the Avatar is the only one who can stop the fire nation from winning this war,If you have an ounce of loyalty left,you'll tell me what you've found."
"I haven't found anything.It's like you said,the Avatar probably died a long time ago."
Zuko got up from his chair and said "Come on Uncle.We're going."
Zuko was stopped by Zhaos guards as they crossed their spears in front of him.
Zhaos guard then said "Commander Zhao,we interrogated the crew as you instructed.They confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody,but let him escape."
"Now remind me...how exactly was your ship damaged?"
Xemone kept sneaking around and thought
This place is boring and sneaking around is no fun...Hmph...Might as well see what the Prince and his Uncle are doing.Xemone then went off in the direction Zuko and Iroh went.
"So a 12 year old boy bested you and your firebenders?You're more pathetic then I thought." Said Zhao
"I underestamated him once but it will not happen again." Replied Zuko.
"No it will not,because you won't have a second chance."
"Commander Zhao!I've been hunting the Avatar for 2 years and I--"
Zuko was interrupted by Zhao firebending and shouting "AND YOU FAILED!Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenagers hands.He's mine now."
Zuko became agitated and tried to attack Zhao,only to be stopped by Zhaos guards.
"Keep them here"
As Zhao left Zuko kicked over the table Iroh was drinking tea off of.
Iroh said "More tea please!"
Xemone the arrived at the tent Zuko and Iroh were in but still kept out of sight due to not wanting to cause trouble.
Instead she earthbended herself underground and peeked her eyes under the floor.
Hmm...someones coming."My search party is ready.Once I'm out to sea my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go."
Zuko replied with a suspicious tone "Why?Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?"
Zhao laughed and said "You?Stop me?Impossible."
"Don't underestimate me Zhao!I will capture the Avatar before you!"
Iroh intervened and said "Prince Zuko,that's enough!"
"You can't compete with me.I have hundreds of warships under my command and you...You're just a banished prince.No home.No allies.Your own father doesn't even want you."
Xemone thought
Well now....doesn't that all sound familiar?....Zuko replied to Zhao "You're wrong!Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor!And restore my rightful place on the throne!"
"If you're father really wanted you home,he would've let you return by now.Avatar or no Avatar,but in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the fire nation."
"That's not true!"
"You have the scar to prove it."
Zuko jumped forward and yelled "MAYBE YOU'D LIKE ONE TO MATCH!"
"Is that a challenge?"
"YES!An Agni kai.At sunset"
"Very well.It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you.I guess your uncle will do."and with that Zhao walked off.
Iroh said "Prince Zuko,have you forgotten the last time you dueled a master?"
"I will never forget..."
Xemone then earthbended out and thought
Well...I certainly can't miss this....besides this will help me learn of firebender fighting techniques...She then earthbended underground again and headed for the battle arena.
*At sunset*
Xemone climbed on top of the walls of the arena and hid herself behind a torch to watch the battle between the Prince and the Commander.
"Remember your firebending basics,Prince Zuko.They are your greatest weapons." said Iroh as he readied Zuko for the duel.
"I refuse to let him win." Replied Zuko
"This will be over quickly" said Zhao smugly.
Xemone took note of the battle stances and prepared to study the fight.
Zuko and Zhao started the duel.
Zuko attacked full on first with an all-out assault and Zhao easily defending but Zuko wouldn't give up.He fire-kicked towards Zhao but he just kept defending.Zhao finally attacked and pushed Zuko back with huge fire blasts,With one huge blast Zuko was down.
Zhao then jumped up in front of the fallen Prince and prepared a final attack.
Xemone watched and thought
Over already?Zhao then launched his attack but then Zuko lifted himself up and spin-kicked the attack away,while at the same time,tripping the Commander.
With Zuko in command now he kicked up numerous fire attacks at Zhao who was now sloppily trying to defend.
Xemone smirked and said quietly "Well...looks like the Prince CAN hold his own..."
Zuko then kicked Zhao down and prepared a final attack of his own.
Zhao shouted "DO IT!"
Zuko shot the fire blast but aimed it to hit right by Zhao's face.So's to scare him but not kill him.
Xemone saw this and said "Hmm..."
"That's it?Your father raised a coward."
"Next time you get in my way I promise....I won't hold back"
Zuko then turned his back and walked away.
Zhao quietly got up and attacked while Zuko had his back turned but the attack was negated by Iroh who grabbed Zhaos foot and threw him back.Zuko then tried to attack Zhao again but was also stopped my Iroh.
"No Prince Zuko.Do not taint your victory.So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat?...Disgraceful...even in exile my nephew is more honorable than you.Thanks again for the tea...It was delicious..." Said Iroh.Iroh and Zuko then walked out of the battle arena.
Xemone stood beside the torch with an inquisitive look on her face but then realized she had to get back to the ship and earthbended underground and quickly tunneled back.
*A little while later*
Zuko and Iroh returned to the ship.
Zuko then spotted Xemone and said "Oh yeah.You,I forgot you were still here."
"You were sure gone for a long time..." Said Xemone as she acted like she had never left the ship.
"I presume you didn't cause me any trouble while we were away...I've been meaning to ask...what do you want with the Avatar?"
"My reasons for following the Avatar are none of your concern,Prince.If the time ever arises when you need to know I'll tell you,but for now let's just leave it as....the Avatar is my enemy..."
"....Hmm...Fair enough I suppose.I don't care either way as long as you don't try to take him before me."
Xemone then walked to the bow again and leaned against the guard rails.
"I'm fine sleeping on the bow in the open so no need to do anything for me."
"Good because I wasn't planning to." snapped Zuko.
"...but be warned that if I wake up in a jail cell that the damage I'll do to this ship will make what the Avatar did pale in comparison...."
Zuko huffed at her "threat".
Xemone then grabbed her gourd from the closet and wrapped herself in the sand on the bow.She then laid down and tried to fall asleep.
Zuko and Iroh went to their seperate chambers and the ship set sail.....