First Mate Bato surveyed the prize, a sleek Fire Nation vessel which had been slightly damaged in the melee, but he knew that it would still fetch a handsome price. It had not been the first of its kind to stray into Water Tribe seas. His people had had rich pickings lately courtesy of the Fire Lord.
The Fire Nation cruiser should have fled the moment it had seen the Blood Crescent flag. It had been far enough away that it would have outrun the pirates despite not having the benefit of water benders. In their arrogance they had chosen to meet the pirates in battle.
The fight had been short; the Fire Nation crew were quickly overcome.
Pirates were swarming throughout the vessel, stripping it of cargo and supplies, except what was needed to sail the ship to the nearest Water Tribe Port. Loot was piled on the metal deck ready to be transported over to the pirate ship and safely stowed within its hold.
Bato turned to where the defeated crew, what was left of them anyway, had been corralled together. Now and then one let out an anguished cry of pain as he was tattooed with the Blood Crescent, marking him as a slave.
Two prisoners however had been singled out for their worth; the brother of the Fire Lord and his Son. They would fetch a pretty ransom for sure.
Bato smirked, thinking of the look on Captain Sokka's face when he realised his sister had captured such a prize. The rivalry between the two pirate captains was good natured though intense despite the fact what ever they won was shared within the tribe anyway.
Bato looked at the old man; he at least had had the sense to surrender when it was obvious the fight was lost. His nephew on the other hand, had to be subdued by five men and only stopped fighting because someone had the sense to knock him unconscious.
The First Mate grimaced at the gruesome burns on the pirates who lined up for healing. Many of them were the direct result of the Fire Nation Prince.
Bato knocked on the Captain's door.
"Enter."
The door swung open to reveal the Captain who did not look up from the scrolls and charts that she was perusing. Her cabin was opulent, thick furs carpeted the floor, her desk was of a rich, dark, wood and had come from a Fire Nation merchant ship. Art and artefacts from all over the world decorated the walls or hung from the ceiling.
"Captain, the Fire Nation cruiser is secure. Yaku and a skeleton crew will be sailing it to port. We've moved everything of worth into the hold including the slaves and the two special prisoners have been locked down."
Katara looked up and favoured her First Mate with a rare smile. "Excellent as always Bato. When we get back to port I will be personally recommending you to my father for promotion, though it will be a shame to lose such a valuable First Mate."
Katara dismissed the man and went back to the charts. This had been the fifth Fire Nation Navy vessel in two months, what could the Fire Lord be up to? In the hundred year war no Fire Lord had ever dared invade the Southern Water Tribes' territories. The Fire Nation navy would swiftly and mercilessly be crushed under the might of the Water Tribes of the South who would combine their might under such a threat. The sea was their domain. They were invincible upon their element. She would have to discuss it with her father as soon as they made it to port. In the meantime, she had two prisoners who might be willing after a bit of coercion to furnish her with some answers.
Zuko woke, his head throbbing, in fact he ached all over. Memories of his defeat came rushing back and he groaned. How was he ever to find the avatar now? Why hadn't he taken his Uncle's advice and fled as soon as he had seen the pirate ship on the horizon. Stupid pride.
"Good to hear that you are awake." His Uncle's voice carried from a cell down the corridor.
Zuko tried to get up, only to realise that he was securely bound at his wrists and ankles.
The prince sneered; these pirates were so primitive they didn't even have metal. He tried to summon heat, to smoulder the hemp into ash, but to his horror it was like grasping after smoke. He couldn't fire bend!
"They forced us to drink a kind of tea, it was quite nice but it has suppressed our abilities to bend our element." Iroh called out in his sedate way, knowing what Zuko would try to do first.
"This is outrageous! How dare they treat us like this! I demand to speak with the Captain! Hello! Can anyone hear me? I demand my right to speak with the Captain! I am Prince Zuko, heir to the throne of the Fire Nation!"
"Hey! Quit your yammering!" A pirate stalked down the narrow corridor toward him, "What's all the noise about?"
"I demand to speak with the Captain of this ship. Take me to him now!"
The pirate grinned at him with a wide smile. Carved bone earrings hung from his ears, savage looking tattoos curled around his face, "So you want to speak with the Captain do you? Well I will be sure to pass that along." He broke out into laughter as he retreated back down the way.
Eventually Zuko realised that the Captain wasn't coming. His anger was soon swamped by his despair and he retreated into silence, ignoring his Uncle's attempts at conversation.
He would never capture the avatar now. He would never regain his honour. Zhao would find him and all would be over. Zuko wondered darkly whether his father would even bother to pay his ransom. He wasn't sure what would be more shameful; his father leaving him to the mercy of the pirates or facing his father again after not only failing to capture the avatar but being captured himself.
From the small porthole, Zuko watched as the sun set turned the sky red.
He was woken from his stupor by the sounds of footsteps coming down the corridor. They stopped at his Uncle's cell and he heard his Uncle choking for a moment and then silence. Then the steps approached his own confinement. There were three pirates, two massively muscled ones and a younger one with long black hair tied into many braids. The two thugs unlocked his cell and hauled him up easily. Bound as he was he could offer no resistance. Zuko watched with horror as the younger pirate uncorked a dark green bottle and bent a globule of amber coloured liquid from it. The liquid snaked through the air as the two pirates beside him wrenched open his jaws and the amber stuff poured down his throat. It seemed ice-cold and he felt it course through him. Despite the indignity of the experience, at least it told him that this 'tea' that suppressed his bending only had a limited effect. He stored this information away, knowing that it would be useful for when he escaped.
The pirate with braids looked at him with a smirk, "you're ready to meet the Captain now."
Finally, thought Zuko as the bindings on his feet were loosened just enough so that he could walk. He tried to maintain a stately bearing despite the two massive water tribe pirates who walked beside him gripping each arm as he was led through the belly of the ship. He was brought out onto the deck, and he looked in dismay as he noticed his own vessel, sailing just behind. He burned with shame, knowing he had fallen into the hands of pirates. But he covered the shame with anger, anger always made him stronger.
He was led up some steps to the upper deck and he saw the door to the captain's cabin. He steeled himself.
The young water bender with the braided hair knocked on the door which swung open. Zuko found himself face to face with a tall and imposing man.
"Captain, I am Prince Zuko, son of the Fire Lord Ozai, heir to the throne of the Fire Nation. I demand that you release me and my crew and my ship. Do you really want to risk bringing the wrath of the Fire Lord down upon your tribe?" Zuko was surprised when the man only looked at him in amusement, and his anger increased at such mockery. He was about to speak again when to his displeasure, the man raised his hand to hush him.
"Prince Zuko, I'm afraid, you are mistaken. I am not the Captain of this ship, I am only the First Mate."
Zuko grimaced with frustration, "Then would you mind telling me who is?"
The first mate stepped aside to reveal a girl with a long brown braid sitting regally at the desk.
She looked at him, a smile playing about her face, "That would be me, Captain Katara, daughter of the Pirate King Hakoda of the Blood Crescent Water Tribe.