Arrival

Disembarking off from the fire nation ship, Bo looked around at the bustling military port of the strongest nation in the world.

Everywhere there were signs of industrialization and innovation, making it clear that the fire nation stood at the forefront of the world's technological tree.

Waiting for them we're a small army of elite fire nation soldiers and two old ladies who looked identical.

'They're even creepier in person…' Bo thought, remembering how grossed out by them he was as a kid.

When the sibling royalty stepped off the ramp and onto the port, the two old ladies spoke in unison, "Welcome back to your homeland Prince Zuko!"

Zuko looked at the two old ladies uncomfortably but still nodded back in respect.

They then greeted Azula who frankly couldn't care less about formalities and signaled for the group to get going to the fire nation capital, Imperial City.

Ty Lee complained about not getting to explore the port city which Azula responded with, "We don't have time to waste with nonsense, everyday father waits for our return is a waste of time."

Zuko seemed to agree with his sister for once, and just like that the group got into a large blimp which yet again culture shocked Bo on the sheer difference between the earth nation which still lived in shacks, and the fire nation.

Don't let the maps fool you, the fire nation 'island' is a continent of its own.

The airship floated along the skies of the fire nation for days on end heading towards the capital: Imperial City.

The initial awe of the airship quickly went away and was replaced by boredom. Bo decided that since he was going to spend some time with the princes, he might as well use that to his advantage.

Thus that led him to stand in a dueling stance opposite Zuko. They were in a training room that was built inside the massive blimp with safety in mind after all fire was no good on airborne objects.

"Are you sure about this?" Bo asked with a grin as he adjusted into his battle stance opposite Zuko.

Zuko just scoffed, "Don't forget you approached me! and this time you won't catch me off guard…"

Ty Lee and Mai stood off to the side watching the duo with interest. "My bets on Bo! Zuko gets too worked up for his own good." Ty Lee said slyly to Mai who reacted with a frown.

"Don't underestimate Zuko, he may surprise you," Mai said with a loving gaze toward the prince. Ty Lee just grinned and returned her attention to the duo.

As Zuko and Bo stood opposite each other, Ty Lee grabbed the mallet that lay beside a gong and with practiced expertise used her feet to wack the wooden mallet against the large gong resulting in a loud crashing sound.

Immediately after the gong sounded, signaling the beginning of the duel, Zuko rushed towards Bo with his fists flashing in sparks.

Bo activated his Sharingan and immediately saw through Zukos movements.

'He's going to go for a left hook then jab, by the density of the flames in his hands their just a bluff.'

Quickly analyzing the situation in moments, Bo amply reacted by dodging Zukos hook and ducking under his jab.

His pupils shifting rapidly to the change in perspective, Bo slammed his left palm into Zukos outreaching arm causing Zuko to jerk in pain and jump back.

"Argh!"

Grabbing onto his arm in pain, Zuko glared at Bo vehemently. Though it hurt, the damage wasn't heavy and after a few moments, Zuko got back into a fighting stance.

Bo had also resumed his fighting stance and with a flex of his grip, caused an uproar of flames to passively emit outside of his palms.

In response, Zuko tightened his fists and a torrent of flames engulfed them.

Having memorized and analyzed Zukos techniques, Bo thought 'The style of the fire nation is very rigid yet that doesn't mean it's horrible. What it lacks in versatility it makes up for in brute strength…'

Realizing that Bo began to wonder how he could implement the fire nation's techniques and strengths into his own style and shed its weaknesses.

However, he didn't have the luxury to think for long as Zuko let out a frustrated yell and rushed in with flames pouring out of his fists.

Deciding to go on the offense as well, Bo counter-charged.

As the duo charged each other with a wave of flames about to collide and explode, an individual jumped in between them.

Unable to stop, Bo and Zuko could only collide with the intruder.

With an explosion of flames engulfing the training room, the two sides crashed.

"Woooahh!" Ty Lee yelled as she took cover behind the gong with Mai.

Mai yelled over the sounds of explosions, "Told you Zukos no pushover!"

As the dust settles Bo got a look at what got in the way.

It was Azula.

She had grabbed Zukos fist with one hand and my palm with another.

While Bo and Zuko looked at her in shock, Azula said with a grin, "You call that fire bending! Pathetic!"

Zuko snatched his hand out of her grip and yelled angrily, "Why did you interrupt us!"

Azula looked at her brother with indifference, "Because, even if those flames were weak it would be a nuisance if the airship blew up."

Hearing that Bo looked around. Even after Azula absorbed the brunt of the impact the entire training room was in ashes.

Had it been any bigger, the explosion could have damaged the airship and killed them all.

Realizing this, Bo met Azulas eyes and nodded in thanks which caused Azula to lightly nod back.

Bo then said with a grin, "Uhm, can I have my hand back?"

Azula then realized that she was still gripping onto Bo's hand from the explosion. In a rush, she quickly let go of his hand and shot Bo a glare.

Bo adopted an 'What I do?' expression and could only watch as Azula seemed to glow red in anger and emit some blue sparks from her hands.

However, before Bo could contemplate his life choices Ty Lee and Mai emerged from their cover to save his life.

"Azula! Thank goodness your here!" Ty Lee yelled happily.

"Did you see those explosions?! It was amazing!" Ty Lee went on with excitement.

Azulas sparking flames cooled down and her attention was turned elsewhere.

'Thank the lord' Bo thought as he felt like he just dodged a bullet.

With the girls walking off to who knows where, Bo walked up to Zuko and said good-naturedly, "It was a good duel, next time I hope it won't be cut short."

Zuko just glared back, but after his glare was met by Bo's unwavering stare he faltered and then his glare disappeared into a sigh. "I guess it was a decent fight… what's with your eyes?"

Smiling at seeing he got some of the emo princes' trust Bo said, "They're genetic so I guess they come from my pops. They basically just help me read people's movements."

Zuko nodded his head in understanding, "Yeah I sort of figured that. Fighting you feels like fighting someone who can always see one step ahead."

Bo just shrugged and put his hands behind his head, "Enough about that, so how far have you gone with Mai?"

"…"

And just like that the days passed, and soon after 4 days of travel the airship arrived at the capital of the Fire Nation, Imperial City.