"Good," Iroh said as he watched his nephew practice his firebending. Zuko kyied as he shot a wave of fire at one of the soldiers. "More power, Prince Zuko. Draw your power from your breath." The soldier shot two simultaneous fire blasts at Zuko. Zuko ducked out of the way of the first. Standing up, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness overcome him. He blinked and then was hit with the second blast. He flew backward and fell onto his back.

"Prince Zuko! Sorry sir," the soldier exclaimed running up.

"It's okay, Li," Zuko said sitting up. Iroh raised an eyebrow at this. Zuko would have yelled at the soldier to be more careful and would never use their first names. "You can go back to your duties," Zuko said waving him off.

Iroh walked up to his nephew and asked, "Are you alright, Prince Zuko?"

"I'm fine. Why do you ask," Zuko asked as he rose to his feet.

"You did not avoid the second blast. You are usually agile. Is something troubling you?"

The dizziness returned and Zuko tried to push it out of his mind. "I'm fine," he lied, looking out at the sea. "I must've gotten up to fast, that's all." Iroh looked at Zuko, concern never leaving his face. Zuko turned back and faced Iroh. "I'm going to go to my quarters. Notify me when you hear any news about the Avatar." Iroh nodded and Zuko walked off the deck. He walked down a corridor and turned to the right. He headed down another corridor and stopped midway. Zuko opened the hatch to his room, entered and closed the door. He leaned his back against the door and closed his eyes. Still feeling dizzy, Zuko stumbled toward his desk. Suddenly the room began to spin. Zuko swayed and then fell forward onto the deck.

The captain stood in the tower and peered out through the large, glass window. He yawned and the turned to the helmsman. "Turn five degrees to starboard," the captain ordered.

"Aye sir," the helmsman answered as he turned the wheel slightly to the right.

The captain turned back to the window and sighed. He then spotted the Avatar's Sky Bison on the horizon. "Helmsman! Maintain the current heading," the captain directed, and then turned to Li, "you inform Prince Zuko that we've found the Avatar."

Li nodded and left the bridge. He headed down the stairs and walked don the corridor. He stopped by Zuko's room and knocked lightly on the bulkhead door. When he got no answer he hesitantly knocked again. Getting no response, Li took a deep breath and opened the door. Li peered inside and gasped. Zuko was lying face down on the floor. Li ran over to him and shook him. "Prince Zuko?" When Zuko didn't stir, Li ran out into the corridor and ran down it. Turning the corner, he banged into Iroh. "General Iroh!"

Iroh looked at Li with a raised eyebrow, "Why are you running?"

"It's Prince Zuko, sir. There's something wrong with him!"

Iroh saw the distraught look on Li's face and his heart leapt into his throat, as he ran toward Zuko's room. He ran into the room and saw him on the floor. "Zuko," Iroh exclaimed as he ran to his nephew's side. Zuko groaned as Iroh rolled him onto his back, but did not stir. Iroh then noticed that Zuko was sweating and deathly pale. He put his hand to Zuko's forehead and quickly pulled it back.

"Is he alright, sir," Li asked from the door way.

"He has an intense fever. Help me get his armour off," Iroh said as he sat him up. After they removed his armour and shirt, they laid him down on his bed. Iroh covered him and turned to Li. "I need some fresh water and a towel." Li nodded and hurried out.

"Uncle?"

Iroh turned to see Zuko looking up at him with dull, fevered eyes. Iroh looked down at him concerned and asked, "Why didn't you tell me that you weren't feeling well?"

"I thought it was nothing," Zuko said and then sat up and started coughing into his fist.

"It doesn't sound like nothing to me," Iroh said uneasily, "you sound terrible!"

When the coughing fit subsided, Zuko laid back down and shivered. "Can I have a warmer blanket, uncle?"

Iroh regarded his nephew with sudden alarm. He already was covered in sheets and a heavy comforter. "You are still cold?" Zuko nodded. Iroh walked over to the closet and grabbed another blanket.

"Thanks, uncle," Zuko said as Iroh draped the blanket over him. Zuko shut his eyes and shivered slightly.

Li returned, accompanied by another soldier. "Here sir," Li said as he placed the basin on the night stand table. "Being as it's breakfast time, I had the cook make a bowl of soup," Li said, "I hope that it helps."

Iroh smiled and said, "That was very thoughtful, thank you." The other soldier handed the bowl to Iroh.

"I hope the Prince gets well soon," Li said as he and the other soldier turned and left.

'So do I,' Iroh thought to himself. "Zuko," Iroh said, gently shaking his nephew. Zuko opened his eyes and Iroh helped him sit up. "Try to eat something. It will keep up your strength," Iroh said. Iroh pulled over the stool by the desk and fed him the soup.

After a couple of spoons, Zuko said, "I can't eat anymore."

'He hardly ate anything,' Iroh thought as he looked down in the bowl. He placed it aside and said, "I'll save it in case you want it later."

"Thanks uncle," Zuko said as he laid back down.

Iroh grabbed the hand towel and dipped it into the water. He wrung it out and then placed it to Zuko's forehead. "Get some rest." Zuko closed his eyes and then wave of nausea hit him full force. His stomach began to turn into knots. Zuko clenched his teeth, knowing what was coming. He then sat up suddenly, startling Iroh. "Zuko? What the matter," Iroh asked startled.

"I don't feel well," Zuko said and then threw off the covers and ran out of the room. Iroh rose from the stool and ran after him. He found Zuko across the corridor in the bathroom. He was kneeling, bent over one of the toilets, vomiting. Iroh rubbed Zuko's back in soothing circles as he continued to retch.

When Zuko had finished, he flushed the toilet and leaned his head on the lid. Iroh walked over to the sink and grabbed a hand towel. He ran it under cool water from the sink and wrung it out. He returned to Zuko's side and wiped his face and mouth. He then helped him to his feet. "Come on. You should lie down."

"I'm sorry uncle," Zuko murmured, leaning shakily against his uncle.

"For what," Iroh asked supporting his nephew.

"I'm just a burden. No wonder why my father hates me."

"You are not a burden, Zuko. Why would you think that," Iroh asked as they started for the door.

"I love you Uncle Iroh," Zuko said and then his body slumped forward.

Iroh's heart skipped a beat as he gently laid his nephew onto the floor. "Zuko! Can you hear me? Zuko," Iroh exclaimed shaking him.

Getting no response, Iroh laid his head to his chest. Suddenly a soldier walked by and stopped, looking in the door way. "General Iroh? What-"

"He's alive,' Iroh said more to himself then quickly said, "help me get him back to his quarters."

After they had gotten Zuko back into bed, Iroh covered him and turned to the soldier. "He needs a doctor. Where's the closest place?"

"We are coming up on a small Earth Kingdom island, but I doubt they'll help the Fire Nation."

"Are there any Fire Nation territories nearby?"

"No sir. The nearest one is three days away. We could get to the Earth Kingdom island in two hours."

Iroh sighed and looked at his unconscious nephew. "Make for the Earth kingdom island. He may not survive the three day trip."

The soldier looked at Iroh shocked and the said, "Yes sir," the soldier said as he bowed and left.

Iroh sat next to his nephew and said quietly, "I love you too, Zuko." He then bowed his head and sobbed.