Tides Of Flame : Avatar The Last Airbender

The Fire Nation ship sliced through the ocean, steady and silent except for the hum of its engines. Soldiers moved with routine precision, but today there was a shift in their rhythm. Whispers traveled among them, trailing behind the blindfolded boy walking beside General Iroh and Prince Zuko.

"That's him," one soldier murmured. "The blind one. I heard that he beat a firebender in the Colosseum without even seeing him."

"Did you know General Iroh treats him like a equal," another said. "Drinks tea with him. Plays games with him like old friends. I am telling you something shady is going on."

Alec walked calmly beside Iroh, his wrapped fan secured at his back. He heard the whispers. He didn't react. Zuko followed close behind, his arms crossed, scowl intact.

Below deck, Iroh led them into his quarters. A simple table waited with a steaming pot of jasmine tea and two cups. A compact Pai Sho board lay between them.

"Let's have a game," Iroh said warmly. "We'll speak our moves out loud."

Alec sat opposite him, folding his legs. "Alright. You first."

"White Lotus to Three Rivers," Iroh said.

Alec reached forward carefully. "Jasmine Vine to South Path."

The game began. They spoke each move, sipping tea between turns. The ship swayed gently under them, the steady creak of wood and metal forming a rhythm.

Iroh smiled as he played. "Your style is unpredictable, but deliberate."

"So is war," Alec replied.

The door opened suddenly. Zuko stepped inside with another man in red armor.

"We need to talk," Zuko said without greeting.

"About the Avatar," added the commander.

Iroh gestured to the wall map. "Let's hear it."

Zuko pointed at the eastern islands. "I say we search these places next. The Northern Temple is already destroyed, it will give us nothing. Maybe the Avatar fled across sea routes."

The commander folded his arms. "The Southern Water Tribe is another option. Old rumors say that's where he vanished a hundred years ago."

Alec took a slow sip of tea. "You're going to waste weeks sailing in circles."

Zuko turned toward him. "You have a better idea?"

"We should head to the Fire Temple," Alec said calmly.

Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Why there?"

"Because it's sacred. Because if I were the Avatar, I'd go there to learn about my past, may be we can learn more about him or his past there and if you've forgotten its been 98 years since he disappeared maybe he is already dead" Alec said, covering his real reason. "The monks may still hold some connection to him."

The commander looked skeptical. "And you just know this?"

Alec shrugged. "Call it instinct."

Zuko scoffed. "Instinct won't find the Avatar."

"Neither will guessing."

Iroh poured himself more tea. "Perhaps both instinct and strategy have their place. But let's not argue."

The soldiers outside kept whispering. Stories of Alec spread across the ship.

"They say he doesn't sleep. I bet he doesn't even have qualification to be on this ship."

"He's not even soldier. Maybe he's something else."

Zuko heard it all. His frustration built until he stormed to the training deck. There, he found Alec practicing with slow, controlled movements.

"You're making people talk," Zuko snapped.

"Let them," Alec replied, not turning.

Zuko walked closer. "You act like you don't care, but I know you do. "

That night, the moon rose full and white over black seas.

The deck was quiet except for the occasional patrol. Alec stood alone near the railing, shirt off, bandages wrapped around his ribs where Grokk had landed a blow days ago. The salt air stung, but he welcomed it.

Behind him, footsteps approached. Heavy. Familiar.

Zuko.

"I don't like the way they talk about you," Zuko said, standing beside him.

Alec exhaled slowly. "Then don't think like them."

Zuko's fists clenched. "I'm trying. But they're wrong. And I can't ignore it."

"Then lead," Alec said. "Lead like a king. Not like a teenager."

Zuko turned to him. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to answer to a father who—"

Alec cut him off. "Who burns everything that disappoints him?"

Zuko blinked. Silence.

"Sometimes," Alec added, "to quench thirst, water is not as effective as fire."

Iroh, who had appeared silently behind them with more tea, chuckled. "Wise words, Alec."

Zuko gave a faint smile. "Alright then. Let's see how wise you are… in a fight."

The arena was the deck itself, cleared under moonlight. Two torches marked the bounds. A few curious crewmen watched from above, whispering.

Alec stepped forward slowly, fan in hand. Zuko tightened the wraps on his forearms.

No referee. No rules. Just a simple fight.

Zuko struck first — fast, aggressive. Twin arcs of flame burst from his fists, forcing Alec to dodge into a low roll. The heat scorched the air. Alec spun up, using the fan to deflect and dissipate the trail of fire.

"You've improved," Zuko said, circling.

"Still blind," Alec replied, "but not defenseless."

He lunged, striking with a swift feint, drawing Zuko's block. Then, Alec dropped low and swept with a blazing arc from his fan — not fire, but heat — enough to blister.

Zuko jumped back, but not far enough. The edge singed his boot. He grinned.

"Good."

He countered with a breath of flame from his foot, forcing Alec to cover his face. The blindfold steamed from the proximity.

Alec twisted around him — fluid, calculated. He dropped the temperature near Zuko's arm, forcing a misfire. Zuko grunted.

"Heat drain," Alec muttered.

Zuko didn't respond. He attacked again, this time with spinning kicks, trailing fire like a whip.

Alec blocked one. Took a second across the ribs. He staggered.

Zuko pressed forward — fists like burning pistons. Alec dodged, but one fire punch landed square on his shoulder, knocking him to the ground.

The crew above gasped. Alec lay still.

But only for a moment.

With a sudden burst, Alec rolled to his knees, kicked Zuko's leg out, and released a pulse of scalding air along with bright flame from his fan — not enough to burn, but enough to blind.

Zuko stumbled. Alec followed up with a lash toward his back. Zuko turned midair, catching the blow with a fire burst that scattered sparks in a wide arc.

The two backed off.

Breathing heavy.

Sweat mingled with steam.

Then, both charged at the same time — Zuko cloaked in fire, Alec calm and calculating. Their blows met in the center — fan to fist, heat to flame.

A thunderous clap of energy burst between them.

Both fighters staggered back.

And stood still as if wait for opponents move to end the fight.

Zuko raised a fist again. Alec drew up his fan.

But Iroh's voice cut through the tension: "Enough, boys."

Both turned.

"Victory is not always about striking last," the old general said.

Alec exhaled and lowered his weapon. Zuko nodded slowly.

"Draw?" Alec asked.

Zuko smiled faintly. "For now."

The crew watching began to applaud, not raucously, but with respect.

Later, Alec sat near his cot, bandaging his ribs again. Zuko walked in and tossed him a jar.

"Ointment," he said. "Iroh sent it for you. He makes these himself."

Alec opened it, sniffed. "Lavender and ginseng."

Zuko shrugged. "It works at least better than previous ones."

"Thanks" Alec said.

Zuko turned to leave. "We'll reach Crescent Island by morning."

"I'll be ready by then." Alec replied.

The door closed.

And in the soft quiet of metal walls and ocean hum, Alec stared at the bandages across his hands.

Suddenly Alec heard some heavy footstep from behind, he turn toward it ."General Iroh ? "he said quite puzzled.

"I am retired, child. And I know you are not really blind as you pretend" Iroh said affirmatively.

Alec looked at him in silence and exhaled a deep breadth with a sigh.