This is a Zutara fic, it might just be a frienship but could be more..not sure yet. I have not long started my first fic and wanted to just do another in between. I will add a couple more chapters but if I don't get enough feedback I will discontinue this one. Anyway sorry if it starts off a bit slow at the start, i didn't think so lol but I dunno if you all will. So anyway please read, review and enjoy!


Imprisoned In Your Own Ship

The sun had just begun to rise; its light radiating off the blue-green water that sparkled magnificently. Dew still laid on the surface of the healthy grass and there was no wind at all. As one quarter of the sun could be seen over the horizon, he could already feel its warmth on his skin, soaking it in. It was impossible to sleep with images and flashbacks of his uncle in his mind playing over and over again continuously.

The water pushed and pulled, bringing along with it everything in its path, its calming and soothing sounds were the only noises to be heard. Small and subtle waves washed up on the shore, lightly touching his toes before being dragged back out again repeating itself. He had been so tensed up lately, and so he enjoyed the quiet mornings to himself, he had a chance to be alone and think without any distractions.

It was such a panoramic view, a picture perfect sight, perfect for a romantic meal on the beach. He couldn't take his eyes off the tranquil sight; its beauty was stunning, until he was snapped out of his thoughts from a familiar squawking sound of the hungry ratgulls, already waiting for a feast. Even though he was happy to be on Ember Island with his friends, it held a lot of forgotton memories.

A small but firm hand was placed on his shoulder reassuringly and he slightly jumped at the sudden appearance of another. But he melted into her soft touch on his skin and he relaxed once more, his skin prickling where the hand was placed. The slender girl sat next to him on the cool sand and comforted him just as a friend would. They needn't exchange a single word with each other, their demeanour said it all, smiling ear to ear at each others company and their eyes bore happiness and peacefulness. They had no worries in the world until…

The peace was interrupted, when suddenly two arrows were shot in unison at the couple on the beach who fell backwards onto the sand, and the ratgulls flew away squawking. Two Yu Yan archers revealed themselves from the shadows and picked the two teenagers up roughly, slinging them over their shoulders, one, having a little more trouble with the muscular boy. Their bodies lay limp and lifeless, their heads lightly tapping the Yu Yan archers in a type of rhythm every time they would take a step. They were not dead, just out cold. The Yu Yan archers were skilled in the art of archery and knew exactly where to hit a person with pin-point precision.

They loaded them off onto their ostrich horses, grunting with the sudden relief of extra weight. They jumped onto a creature each and gave them a small kick, and with a slight lurch they were heading back to their destination. It was a long, slow ride across the rough terrain, and yet the two kids lay unconsciousness for the remainder of the trek.

They had about a half hour of the journey left to go and so they decided they deserved a break, along with the ostrich horses who were exhausted. At the speed they were going it would be another hour to get to where they needed. They grabbed the kids and threw them to the ground with no sense of caring if they got hurt in the process, so that the ostrich horses could lie on the soft grass.

After ten minutes of resting they were ready to finish their journey. Reluctantly, they propped themselves up using their elbows and stood up slowly, stretching their legs as they stood up straight. Once again, they flung the unconscious teenagers onto the back of the ostrich horses and started off again, heading for the opposite side of the island.

After their estimated time of half an hour they arrived at the water's edge where a ship was docked, floating on the water. The size of the metal ship was intimidating as they stared up at it. This part of Ember Island was deserted, perfect for a quick get away. A part of the bow of the ship slowly lowered causing the Yu Yan archers to step backward a few paces. It let out a screeching sound and steam billowed from its sides. They left the ostrich horses behind as they carried the teenagers up the ramp and onto the deck.

They walked down the stairs so that they were below deck and shoved the two kids in a cabin, acting as their room for the rest of the time that they were imprisoned there. They handcuffed their hands behind their backs and left them on the ground, propped up against each other lazily. Just before they closed the door behind them, one of the Yu Yan archers sneered in a low, gruff voice, "Welcome home, Prince Zuko," spitting his title. The door was slammed shut and a lock was put in place and it was silent once more.

Hours had passed and the scarred boy awoke in the dank room, adjusting his eyes to the darkness. The first thing that hit him was the throbbing pain in his head; he had a terrible headache that pounded in his skull. He attempted to put his hand to his head but found that he couldn't. The next thing that struck him was the fact that his hands were tied...no handcuffed behind his back.

He looked to his left and found an unconscious girl lying next to him, her mouth hanging open. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed her inhaling and exhaling equal, soft breaths and her chest rising and falling slowly. She looked so peaceful and calm, but he figured that would change when she awoke from her deep sleep.

He got up a little awkwardly and wandered around the dark room. He found a wax candle and using his breath of fire lit it. It immediately extracted a sweet scent that wafted throughout the room and illuminated a small amount of light in the room. It was then that he realized where he was. My ship? They are on my ship?! Steam rose up from his body and he tried to calm himself down. He took in a few deep breaths and sat on the floor near the girl, he closed his eyes and attempted to meditate. After a few short moments the steam had vanished and he was relaxed again.

At this point the girl stirred and opened up her cerulean eyes that even he could see in the dim light. She sat up awkwardly due to her hands being bounded behind her back and blinked questionably. "Zuko?"

"Yeah Katara, it's me," he said softly unable to look into her eyes.

"W-What happened to us?"

"Well to my knowledge we got captured and they are now holding us on my ship," Zuko explained knowingly and a little irritated.

She gasped at the knowledge that she now possessed. How was it so easy for a master waterbender and one of the greatest firebenders to be captured whilst holidaying with our friends? Where are the rest of the gaang? D they already know we have been captured and are imprisoned on a ship, or are they yet to discover our disappearance, or worse, have they been captured as well? So many questions were buzzing in her mind but with little to no answers for them all. What is going to happen to us now?

"So what's our plan?" She asked seriously.

"Well first, let's work out a way to get out of these handcuffs," he responded while shaking his hands vigorously in frustration.

She nodded swiftly and an idea came to her head instantly. "Move towards the candle and turn around," she ordered.

He did so without question and Katara distinctively moved over to him and looked at his wrists that had already turned red due to lack of circulation because of the small cuffs. She felt a tingling sensation in her throat and knew she could do it. She breathed out cold air that froze on the lock of the handcuffs. She began to look around and discovered a bed...more of a mattress that was held up off the ground by four cylindrical, metal poles.

"Zuko, can you hit your handcuffs as hard as you can against that pole?"

He nodded and awkwardly moved over to the bed, shuffling his knees along the hard floor. When he was about a metre away from it, he turned around and pushed out his arms against the metal pole as hard as he could. There was a cracking sound and his handcuffs were spilt in two. He brought his hands around to the front and took off the two pieces of the cuffs, rubbing his sore wrists.

"Thanks, Katara," Zuko said relieved. "Now, how to get your cuffs off," he thought aloud, his eyebrows knitted together. He looked around the room and his eyes fell on an object. "The flag!" he blurted out making Katara jump.

"Zuko! You nearly gave me a heart attack," she shouted irritated.

"Oh, sorry Katara," he said with a goofy smile.

She returned the smile and inquired curiously, "What do you mean 'the flag'? That one on the wall?" She indicated to a red flag with the fire nation insignia woven into the fabric that hung on the wall.

"Yeah, but it's what's behind the flag that's important."

He stood up and strode over to the flag lifting it up and hid his face behind it as he opened a secret compartment and retrieved a small dagger. He closed the small door and walked back toward Katara. "Hold still."

She did as he said and he swiped at the cuffs with his dagger with one swift motion holding its black handle firmly. She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard her cuffs clatter to the ground and just like Zuko she rubbed her wrists.

"So, what now? Any secret exits in this room by any chance?" She asked a little hopefully, but knowing full well what the answer was going to be.

"I'm afraid not," he replied, turning the dagger around in his fingers absent-mindly. He looked into Katara's eyes for the first time since they had been in here, her eyes full of hope. "We're going to get out of here you know."

"Yeah, I know," she said smiling slightly.