The burning of candles

Hilda had been blind folded once on the ship. She was lead through alot of halls and through many doors. All the while thinking. She had done what was for the best, she couldnt keep fighting. There were too many soldiers to keep fighting. She knew that she had to leave Zuko for him to be alright. She acknowledged that Zuko would take care of her little sisters. Even though he annoyed her, she knew that he was actually a nice person. She was pushed into a room and to the bed, which she fell onto. She took off her blind fold and looked around. A fancy room with a huge fluffy bed, The room was painted a gold color with lots of red furns. Hilda lie on the bed and staired at the celing. This was a good time to sort out all that was in her head. The first thought that came to her head, Zuko. She knew that he would find her, he would bring her back to the ship. She felt so helpless. Like, a new born kitten without its eyes even open yet thrown against a wall. She now, just wanted to yell at Zuko. Not because she was angry. But because if she was yelling at Zuko, she was back with him. Back with her sisters and Zuko's uncle. Back to everyone she knows and cares about. It was all because she had to survive on the streets that she is here. She knew she had to take her punishment. Marrage to someone she doesnt even know. It broke her heart to think about it. This was the first time that she cried. She was always so strong. She always looked on the bright side, but this had no bright side to look at. She felt the tears roll down her cheek. She curled up on the bed and cried. She sat back up and placed her hands together. To pray for help. Zuko...please find me. Please. I don't know what to do. Im so scared Zuko. I want you to help me. Please. She pleaded. She felt a choke come to her throat. Hurry Zuko. Before Im married off. Her prayer leangerd in her head as she staired up at the red celing of the ship. She couldnt feel the waves cradle the ship like she could on Zuko's ship. Even though she hated him with all her heart, she still missed him. She still missed thier arguments and thier understnading moments. Which were rare. She missed the fights and the taunts, everything that they went through. Hilda wanted nothing more but to have Zuko burst through the doors to save her. She felt so weak and afraid. She had never felt this before.

"Today, because it started to rain,

breaking my promise, I was at home, mmm.

Sorry, it's not that I hate you.

I don't know why I wanted to do that.

I tried decorating with a single blossom,

which a tear-like drop quietly trickled down.

I'm glad I'm not a red poppy;

I don't feel like blooming innocently.

That insignificant flower is like me.

Silently, I pray alone.You know, when we join both hands, it's selfish to think of God, mmm.

But, he should explain to me at least the reason for this misery.If I were reborn as a flower,

I'd prefer canary yellow petals.Being a red poppy up on the hill,I'd gaze at the wind and chat.

Leaving my sigh that day to the stars,like a child,

I want to bloom.I'm glad I'm not a red poppy;

I don't feel like blooming innocently. That insignificant flower is like me. Silently, I pray alone." Hilda sang to herself. As I probably mentioned before, that always made her feel better during times of crisis. Although it hardly helped at all.

Violet and Ashli got an explination from Iroh. Zuko, he couldnt take knowing he wont be able to enjoy any more of Hilda's woundeful food. He wont be able to see her woundeful face smiling with her sisters and glaring at him. Even the words they said were precious to him. He snuck off to her cell and staired at all her belongings. Her guitar stayed proped up against the wall. He could still hear the strumming of the strings in his head. He could hear her voice singing. He wished he could just get her back. He didnt care if she would be angry with him for something he didnt do, he knew he was falling behind the other ship. He hated himself for losing her. When Violet and Ashli approched Zuko, they had tears in their eyes. Zuko could tell they were hurt, So he bent down to them and they dove into hug him. They were hurting just about as much as Zuko was. They had never trusted Zuko enough to hug him. But Iroh had told them what Hilda had told Zuko. That he would be their new care taker untill she returned. That is, if she returned. That "If" Stabbed Zuko's heart. If...that doesnt mean that she will definitly.All three of them, Violet, Zuko, and Ashli all choked on the "If" word. Who knew that two little letters could hurt someone so badly. Even Iroh could understand Zuko's niceness to the little girls. They felt alone. Their parents had died and now their big sister was taken away. It felt to them like no one was ever going to take care of them. Zuko gave them light assurance that they would be okay. He told them that Hilda was going to be okay as well. But he himself wasnt sure. He too, needed assurance.

"Why does everyone say that?" Violet hissed, backing away from Zuko and Ashli. "Everyone says she will be fine! That she is strong and can take care of herself! Look what happend! She can't take care of herself! You dumbass!" Violet ran into the cell and locked the door. Leaving Zuko and Ashli outside to hear her cries. Zuko just sat beside the cell. She could hear him talking if he spoke loud enough.

"Violet..she really is strong. She'll be okay. She is an excellent earth bender-" But he was interruped by the youngest, grabbing onto his hand. Tears streaming from her eyes. Zuko sighed in fustraiton, was this what Hilda had to deal with for ten years? Her sisters crying. Having to hold it all in herself so that her sisters could be happy. Zuko wiped the youngest's tears from her eyes and tried to comfert both sisters at the same time. Both in diffrent rooms. One was quiet, and one was angry. This was all so hard for Zuko. How could he make sure that both sisters were okay when one locked herself in the cell and refused to come out. He did the only way he knew how. "Fine Violet. Stay in there." With that, he took Ashli to the deck and tried his best to comfert one of the siblings. Unsure of what he did to Violet was correct. But that is what he did. Ashli was silent. She was the quiet, obeying sister. But oh if they could only tell what was in this little girl's head.

"Prince Zuko." A soldier said, running to Zuko.

"Yes?" Zuko awncerd, having Ashli stand beside him.

"we lost sight of the ship." The soldier told him. A bit ashamed that he had lost the ship that Zuko had told him to keep track of. "Its going too fast for us to keep up." Before Zuko could say anything, he glanced down at Ashli, whom was standing thier silently. He could tell that the words that the soldier said had stabbed Ashli in the heart.

"Okay." Zuko said bitterly. "Keep looking for it." Ashli began to walk away from Zuko. She kept her head hung low. Zuko saw how sad she was, he decided to follow the youngest. "Ashli.."

"Why Prince Zuko?" Ashli asked. Zuko was silent. "Why did you let her go?"

"I didn't- They wouldn't-" But Ashli was already crying.

"She's gone and is never going to come back. At least, now I know what happend to someone I care about. Mom and Dad died when I was too little to remember. " Ashli told him. Walking down to her sister's cell and knocking on it. Violet allowed her in but closed and locked the cell before Zuko could follow her. The sisters cried together. Zuko didnt know what else to do. This was all so new to him. He just walked onto the deck. Being met by his uncle half way up.

"Prince Zuko. What are you going to do? It looks like both of Hilda's little sisters have rejected you for the time being." Iroh said to him. Zuko was silent.

"Hell if I know." Zuko mumbled. He really had no idea what he should do. They don't know where that ship is, he doesnt know what to do about Hilda's little sisters, and he didnt know what to do period.

"You have to do something. Those little girls have been through alot." Iroh said to Zuko. He staired out over the ship tword the horizon. The sun was about to set. This all happend within the day. Three people had gotten their hearts broken all in one day. A great majority of the day was spent fighting. Iroh had left Zuko there to linger in his own thoughts.

Red Poppie---Ranma 1/2