TOPH POV
Our secret meetings had, unfortunately, come to a blinding halt. Literally.
Technically, Zuko shouldn't have been able to date me. He was supposed to marry someone from the fire nation, at least that was the word so far. Zuko with his power, Katara with her wit, and even Aang with his outstanding status had been debating with the elders for our right to be together, but yet to no avail.
The scene flashed through my head once more.
We met in a small forest near the beach. Right in the middle of our kiss, I felt someone coming, but I couldn't pull away in time to warn him. I felt the hot flash as a fireball flew past me and hit him. I heard him yell, I heard him fall, but before I could run to his aid, several people picked me up from behind, holding my arms and legs so I couldn't fight back, and my mouth so I couldn't yell for help.
When they finally sat me back down I was in this horrible room, made completely of wood. Whoever they were, they had planned this and they knew they were after me.
ZUKO POV
That was the day. The day I was going to tell her. We were going to run away, to be happy, but just before I could muster the courage it became too late.
I knew. I knew they were after her, but I didn't tell her in time. I could've stopped them, but I didn't… I couldn't. I was too weak.
The fireball hit me, my eyes closed so I couldn't stop it in time. I was knocked back, but fortunately not burned. By the time I managed to stand up, they'd already dragged her onto their ship and they were closing the door.
I ran. I ran as fast as I could, but a well-aimed bolt of lightning caught me off guard, and I dove into the sand to dodge it.
When I looked back up it was already too late, the ship was sailing away. I punched the sand, cursing. Who was that person? Someone who could shoot lightning meant it could only be Azula, who was still in prison, or Shan Nin, the leader of the Fire Pirates.
Shan Nin was one of the most infamous firebenders ever. He was best known for having found a small fragment of Sozin's comet in his back yard, which he fashioned into a necklace and wore around his neck. It was small, but it still granted him ten times his usual power. He started the somewhat poorly-named Fire Pirates shortly after.
However, he was best known by sailors as "Death by Lightning" because he could make it appear to rain lighting, destroying any ship on the spot. The red flag with two crossed pirate swords over a fire symbol was the stuff of legend, as well as nightmares.
I bit my lip. I had to save her. Even if I couldn't have her, even if I had to marry someone I had no feelings for, I would never rest easy until I knew she was safe.
Having come to a decision, I stood up and rushed inside.