Time was of the essence, they had to travel hundreds of miles from the forest village all the way to crescent island. What's worse is that there's only 10 hours of sunlight on the winter solstice, so the pressure to get to Crescent Island is very high. They left the village while it was still dark outside heading towards the westernmost coastline of the earth kingdom continent. This being Zuko's first time being at the reins of Appa and steering the ten ton flying bison. Aang was seated just above him making sure Zuko knew what he was doing and wasn't going to stress out Appa due to the speed he's making him fly. The bison groans as they fly as if talking to his companion prompting Aang to respond to him.

"We're going to be landing soon buddy, I know you're not used to other people steering you around yet." Aang reassures running his hand through the shaggy and slightly coarse fur of the large animal. "How much further until the coast? You said you saw your ship when you were with Fang."

"We can see it now, the small ploom of smoke is my ship, so long as you guys are with me, my crew won't do anything. They're loyal to my uncle and I, and unless someone out ranks him, a general, they're not going to be ordered by anyone else." Zuko responds, pointing towards a small smoke cloud rising into the air a few miles ahead of them. "I hope Appa can fit in the hold of the ship. This plan is banking on us being able to sneak in. I'm still banished so I'm technically not allowed to go back to there."

"That begs the question though, how did you get banished?" Sokka questions, sharpening the edge of his whalebone sword preparing for a fight. "It had to have been bad if you're the crown prince and got banished by the Fire Lord."

"I'm... not ready to tell you that yet, but what I can tell you is that my scar has something to do with it." He scowls facing away from them, looking towards the horizon. "As I've told Katara, my father was the one who both banished me and gave me this scar."

"And the father of the year award goes to." Sokka replies sarcastically but doesn't get a response from Zuko, only a scowl. "Still not a fan of sarcasm are you? Aang doesn't understand it and my sister and you hate it."

"I don't hate it, it's just I've lived with you all our lives and it's kinda gotten old." Katara responds, causing her brother to deadpan.

"Thanks Katara." He says sarcastically.

"Aang how do you get him to descend? We're getting close." Zuko questions gaining the monk's attention.

"Pull back on the reins and let them go slack afterwards, he knows what it means. Though you could just ask him." After this statement, Appa lets out another one of his loud "MAaaaaawwww" groans before beginning to descend.

Zuko makes eye contact with the helmsman and lieutenant on deck running the crew through basic combat exercises prompting the officer to usher the men away. The large bison making a wide circle before coming in for a landing on the main deck. The ten ton beast causes the boat to rock in the water as he lands on the deck. Zuko is the first one to dismount Appa walking up to the lieutenant and greeting him.

"Lieutenant Jee." Zuko greets walking up to the officer prompting him to bow to the prince.

"Avatar Zuko." Jee responds pressing his fist to his palm and bowing to the avatar. "What brings you back so soon? Your uncle told us that you were going to be gone for a long while, potentially even years."

"Something came up and I need to get into the firenation. If we fly there we'll just get shot down by the blockade. We need to sneak in on my ship, while I am banished, my uncle and you all are not. Speaking of uncle, where is he?" Zuko asks, prompting the officer to point towards the main door of the bridge.

"Last I saw him he had just woken up, I'm pretty sure he's in the galley right now getting breakfast. Um, sir, may I ask what you wish for your companions to do?" Jee questions.

"Oh, they're allowed anywhere on the ship except for engineering since it's dangerous down there and they could break something important. I'm sure you all want some hot food, let's go find my uncle." Zuko leads, prompting the others to get off of Appa and head towards the galley.

Katara stayed close to Aang and Zuko as they walked through the metal hauls of the ship. Meanwhile Sokka had rushed ahead of them searching for the mess hall of the ship. The young prince took a deep breath, a slight sigh of relief being back to his 'home.' Pointing to the door leading to the mess hall prompting Sokka to run inside. As Aang, Katara and Zuko round the corner they see Sokka with a ceramic bowl already in front of the bar asking the cook for several different meats. Following in Sokka's example the three request their meal from the cook, Zuko opting for some of the local platypus-duck that the cook picked up that morning. Aang however requests a simple rice porridge with some soft boiled eggs with it. When asked about the eggs, Aang responds that his diet allows him to eat eggs, since they were not once living animals, and that one of his favorite treats is made with them in the form of custard. After getting their meal from the ship's cook, Zuko leads them over to where his uncle is seated playing Paisho against another one of the helmsman. Upon sitting across from Iroh, the old firebender wraps up his game with a single move causing the crewmember to begrudgingly hand over a small sack of coins to the general.

"Hello my nephew, what brings you back so soon? You've only been gone a couple of months. Surely you haven't mastered the elements that quickly." Iroh greets while collecting his pai sho tiles.

"I've started learning airbending and touched on earth bending. I only know 2 techniques, one to launch myself and the other to launch a rock at someone, but that's not why I'm here." Zuko begins before taking a bite of his breakfast and putting his chopsticks to the side. "I need to speak with Avatar Roku, and the only way I can do that is if we get to crescent island. I need your help uncle." Iroh scratches his beard in thought for a moment wondering how to respond.

"This is troublesome indeed my nephew, word has gotten around that the avatar has helped take down a firenation shipyard and, commander Zhao spoke to me about your confrontation with him at Kyoshi Island. It will be difficult to try to get you there. Why aren't you flying there on the young airbender's bison?" Iroh questions.

"There's a blockade and I don't want to risk them getting hurt just so I can talk with my predecessor avatar." Zuko responds, taking another bite of his food. "Sokka and I can disguise ourselves as soldiers in the crew but Aang and Katara will have to hide with Appa in the hold since Aang is too young to pass as a soldier and we have no female crew members assigned to my ship."

"If there's an admiral commanding the blockade there's a likely chance that they will stop and inspect us. Though it's rare for them to make the men take off their masks, normally just say their name and rank. I have not heard anything of Zhao but he is the one that makes all personnel remove their masks during inspection." Iroh responds before taking a deep breath and sipping his tea once more.

"If that happens, we'll get out of here on Appa and you could tell them that we stowed away on board. If they're as brainless as Zhao then we can sneak right on by. He still thinks Aang here is the avatar even after getting his butt whooped by Zuko." Sokka says in a boastful tone causing a few of the men to laugh at the commander's expense.

"Very well, if we leave now we'll make firenation waters before midday and then Crescent Island by the mid afternoon. Assuming if and or when they stop us the inspection is rather quick." Iroh explains before nodding to the other crew members. "Lieutenant, set a course for Crescent Island."

"Yes sir." Jee says with a bow before rushing up to the main control room of the bridge.

"I'd love to witness what you've learned my nephew, I never thought I'd get to witness an Avatar's abilities first hand. You too young Aang. I want to study the techniques you monks use to manipulate the air." Iroh coaxes, his bearded face forming a jolly smile.

"Can you make us some of that amazing tea again and teach Zuko how to before we leave?" Aang asks, causing the elder firebender to laugh in amusement at his enthusiasm.

Katara elected to remain silent as the crew left port, sitting next to her brother and Iroh as she watched Aang and Zuko go through some of the techniques of airbending. To help with being able to see the use of their bending, Sokka collected some of the ash from the cook and spread it about the deck so they can watch the two benders at work. The two stood facing each other with their hands cupped upwards. The master and student began walking about a circle staying in tandem with each other with each of their movements. With a wide sweeping motion the master and avatar break into a kata or pattern of techniques. Their movements are methodical and gentle, moving the breeze about them that is coming off the front of the ship. The ash laid about the deck is picked up and moved by the wind they are bending. The ash flows in large swirling circles and gentle streaks about the air as if sliding off their arms with each motion. Iroh watches in astonishment as the two practice, never having seen a bending style so elegant and gentle.

"Amazing." Iroh says under his breath, catching the attention of Katara. "I have never seen a bending discipline be so subtle yet move so much, be so elegant and free. In my journey I've studied the other bending styles but never have I seen anything like this."

"Studied them how? To gain a strategic advantage against them or something?" Sokka questions him, slightly wary of the brother of the firelord.

"No, in order to understand yourself and your element you need to understand others and the other elements." Iroh responds, his wisdom causing the water tribesman to go silent for a moment. "Are you a bender young lady?"

"Yes, I'm a waterbender but I'm not skilled enough to be Zuko's teacher. We're heading to the north pole so we both can learn." Katara responds, not looking away from Aang and Zuko as the pair go through another set of techniques.

"If you doubt your abilities, you will only hinder yourself. Water can be the strongest element of all, in the hands of the right user. Water is in every living thing, it is in the air, the plants and even the ground. While fire is the element of power and energy, water is that of change, as life cannot exist without water nor can it without fire." Iroh alludes his wisdom pointing up towards the sun. However he sighs slightly when switching subjects. "When you get to the north pole, they may not let Zuko train due to him being a firebender."
"What? He's the avatar, you know; the guy who's supposed to end all this crap, the war, the violence, the bloodshed. He's supposed to end it." Sokka responds bewildered as to why this may be the case.

"I said they May not, not that they Will not. In the case that they turn him away, I have something that may help with convincing someone there." Iroh continues, lifting his robed hand out to Katara. The water tribe girl extends her hand hesitantly to receive whatever Iroh is giving her. Plopping into her hand is a small perfectly round and lacquered Pai Sho tile. This one in particular being the lotus tile, both sides displaying a wide white lotus on it.

"A Pai Sho tile?" Katara questions thumbing over the small token in her palm. "What's a Pai Sho tile going to do to help us?"

"An old acquaintance of mine is a master waterbender, have Zuko challenge him to a game of Pai Sho then put that tile down first. My old friend will know what it means." Iroh says with a smile before going back to watching his nephew learn how to bend air.

Over the next few hours Aang and Zuko go through new styles and techniques of airbending. The young airbender even goes so far as to try to teach Zuko the air scooter, a technique that Aang invented personally. Though at first Zuko didn't see the point in such a thing, Aang being referred to as Sifu Aang, demanded that the avatar learn this before he gets to do anything else. Knowing that Aang was still a child and was impossible to argue with, Zuko reluctantly agreed. Sokka and a few of the members of the crew found it hilarious watching the avatar attempt to balance on a ball made of air. In retaliation for his uproarious laughter Zuko decided to have his own fun. Seeing the smirk on his face Katara hardly has time to duck as Zuko swipes his legs around creating a wave of air and tripping Sokka face first onto the deck. The avatar now being the one to laugh at Sokka as the water tribe warrior grumbles about being the victim of the other benders.

Their fun at Sokka's expense is halted by the helmsman calling out that he's spotted the blockade. The line of dozens if not hundreds of firenation war ships sailing around the territorial waters of the firenation homeland. Zuko orders the below deck crew to open the hold allowing Appa, Aang and Katara into the cargo well. Meanwhile Zuko leads Sokka to the below deck barracks. Rushing past several other engineers and seamen as they get below deck, the two enter the storage room and sift through the supplies finding additional sets of armor for them to wear. Zuko, knowing where the armor for the shorter soldiers is, immediately rips open a crate and gives Sokka a spare uniform and helmet. Zuko quickly switched out of the airbender attire that Aang had made for him and into the uniform. Once tying himself into the armor, he helps Sokka finish dawning the armor then the two put on their helmets.

"What do we do if we're found out?" Sokka whispers as he slides the skull like face plate over the helmet.

"Attack, shove the other soldiers into the water, make it clear that my crew looks innocent in harboring us. That also means putting some of my men in the water to fool whoever is stopping us into thinking that they had nothing to do with this. Agni forbid it's Zhao and he suspects them of assisting us, he'd have them torched for treason. If asked your name and rank, make something up and say you're a new enlisted man, the higher ups don't even bother learning names if they're lower than lieutenant."

Feeling the ship deploy its anchor, Sokka and Zuko take this as the sign to head above deck. This is furthered by the sound of a metal gangplank making contact with the steel deck above them, letting the two know that they have been boarded. As they walk topside Sokka pulls at the uncomfortable fabric as they walk back up stairs before being elbowed by Zuko. Over the echo comm system, Lieutenant Jee orders all personnel to the deck for inspection. Both Sokka and Zuko swallow a lump of anxiety in their throats hoping that their plan works. With the rhythmic stepping of boots behind them signifying the rest of the men headed topside, Zuko and Sokka exit the bridge and walk onto the steel deck. Upon getting outside, Zuko's heart drops in his chest upon seeing Commander Zhao standing on the deck and speaking with his uncle. He and the other soldiers walk up and behind Iroh before stopping and standing at attention in front of him.

"So this is the crew of the banished prince. Tell me why are you sailing in firenation waters?" Commander Zhao questions Jee as the lieutenant orders the men to stand in a relaxed position while awaiting inspection.

"Prince Zuko departed the vessel several weeks ago and we haven't seen him since. We've been unable to get our engine repaired in Yu Dao and are heading back to the port on the capital island for it to be repaired." Jee answers, a slight bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

"That would explain why you're moving slower than you should be. Do you mind if I inspect the men?" The muttonchop sporting commander asks, prompting Jee to salute and return to the line of men. "When prompted, tell me your name and rank then remove your face mask." This statement makes Zuko even more nervous, the prince being second to last in the formation. "What is your name and rank?"

"I am Lui Fu. Private first class." the first man in line says before removing the white skull like face plate revealing a middle aged man with a simple brown haired goatee and no other features of note about his face.

"Thank you Private." Zhao responds as he walks down to the next man. The commander repeats this process with the next 15 men in formation, then he comes to Sokka. "Name."

"Wang Fire sir." Sokka says improvising the name on the spot. This prompts Zhao to arch an eyebrow at the unusual surname.

"Your surname is fire?"

"Yes sir, I've been asked that many times." Sokka lies, continuing the ruse without issue.

"What is your rank?"

"Private sir, I just enlisted."

"Well then Private Fire, hopefully you can serve our country proudly during your military career. Maybe someday you'll become an officer." Zhao encourages before prompting him to remove his face plate. Thankfully, due to the fact that the first time they met, Sokka was wearing the kyoshi warrior makeup the commander doesn't recognise him. "Blue eyes, you must be from the colonies, it's very rare for that eye color to happen back with the motherland. It is primarily amber and brown."

"Thank you sir." Sokka lies before putting his face mask back on. Internally the water tribe warrior was panicking but he didn't dare let it show. It only got worse when Zhao got in front of Zuko.

"Name?"

"Lee Jin sir." Zuko responds by changing his voice as best he can.

"What is your rank?"

"Corporal, I was just transferred to this crew on request of General Iroh." Zuko is fighting the shakiness of his hands and legs as they tremble before Zhao hoping that his cover isn't blown.

"Remove your mask corporal." Zhao orders, Zuko takes a deep breath and reaches up for the faceplate of his helmet. Beside him Sokka is internally screaming for Zuko to just attack Zhao and send him overboard but he stops when Zuko is unable to remove the mask. "Damn these new style helmets. The face masks always get stuck, Corporal, just remove your helmet completely." Swallowing the fear in his chest, Zuko puts his hands on his helmet and begins to lift it off his head. "Well well well, what do we have here? The banished prince, reduced to a lowly stowaway impersonating a soldier. How far you have fallen." Zhao gloats upon seeing Zuko's face.

"Poor choice of words Zhao." Zuko says cryptically before suddenly raising his hands and shoving his helmet on Zhao's head backwards. Being unable to see, Zhao tries to grab at the helmet to lift it off of his head but is suddenly and violently thrown from the deck by a gust of wind directed at him by the avatar. "Sokka! Let's go now!" Zuko yells prompting Sokka to throw off his helmet then shoulder charge one of Zhao's men off the side of the ship and into the water.

As Sokka runs to Zuko's side the firebender defects an oncoming fireball sent from one of Zhao's men before sending a fireball of his own back at him. Rushing over to the grate over the cargo hold, Zuko kicks the latch causing both doors to open. "Appa! Yip Yip!" Zuko shouts into the hold prompting the bison to jump out of the cargo hold and onto the deck. There Aang and Katara are on his back prepared for a fight, the sister of Sokka having the foresight to collect their other clothes in case this may have happened. Grabbing Sokka by the collar of his armor, Zuko jumps off the deck using airbending and lands on Appa's back. Almost instantly the flying bison gets airborne and flies past the blockade before they have time to prime and fire their onboard catapults. By the time they were merely a spec on the horizon, the catapults had been swiveled around by the crews to fire upon them. They were long out of their range by then, leaving the soldiers to deal with Rescuing Zhao and the other men that were thrown overboard.

"Are you two okay?" Katara asks as Sokka throws the soldier's uniform into the ocean below and switches back into his regular clothing.

"Well that definitely could have gone better, but you should have seen the look on Zhao's face when Zuko shoved his helmet on him and threw that jerk overboard." Sokka laughs, throwing on his traditional watertribe clothing and chucking the last of the armor overboard.

"You could have saved that for me." Zuko comments watching the clothes fall pathetically into the water below.

"What the story or the clothes?"

"The clothes. I need more than just the airbending attire Aang makes me wear to train in, and the clothes I joined you wall with." Zuko deadpans.

"Well you have a new pair right now so it's not all bad. Besides, Aang wears the same pair of clothes every day and he never complains."

"Whatever, let's just continue east, we're still around a couple hundred miles from crescent island." Zuko slumps back against the saddle and rests his hand over his eyes to get some sleep before they get to crescent island.