Strong waves rocked the Fire Nation fleet as each dark ship sailed through the endless sea. The dark grey clouds hanging above them gave the scene a bleak look, like the attitudes of each sailor on board. The rain had stopped momentarily, but the wind was still gusty. Uncle Iroh looked around at the view from the deck of his nephew's ship. His frown was filled with many emotions and he desperately wished for a cup of hot tea. He made his way around watching sailors make repairs and execute their daily chores and tasks. He looked up and noticed a stationary soldier sitting in a more secluded part of the deck looking out at the angry ocean. He walked over and noticed a familiar face.
"Miss Kaida, I'm glad to see you are awake." He said, announcing his presence to the startled young girl.
"Lord Iroh!" She scrambled up awkwardly and bowed politely to the retired general, "Good morning sir."
He smiled at her manners, they were impeccable, unlike his nephew. But her timid attitude made her a disadvantaged fighter, she didn't seem as tough as she could be. She brushed a blonde bang from her face that was caught by the wind. She always smiled, it cheered Iroh up to see someone still filled with hope on such a discouraging trip. Her steel blue gaze matched the stormy sky above her.
"Sir, I was wondering if you have seen Prince Zuko this morning." She asked him.
He thought for a moment, "Well no, actually, I haven't. Perhaps you should check to see if he's wandering around below deck."
"I will sir." She bowed and made her way to the stairs and disappeared down them. She looked around the labyrinth of hallways and started down one, towards the galley. While gazing at her surroundings, she completely missed seeing someone walk around the corner she was about to pass and turned right into the person straight on. The two collided clumsily onto the hard floor. Kaida looked down to see who she had fallen on. Her cool, blue eyes met a pair of fierce, golden ones glaring back at her. She almost jumped seeing the prince's cross frown and immediately jumped up and began to apologize frantically.
"I'm sorry sir, I didn't see you and-" She started, but was interrupted.
"Watch where you are going next time," Zuko said in a flat tone, but for some reason added, "You could get hurt."
The remark caught Kaida as strange as it did to Zuko. What was he thinking? He shook his head trying to clear the confusion.
"Sir, I came to apologize for yesterday. I'm sorry I was unable to help." She said shyly.
"It's alright, I-" He caught himself before he could finish. What was wrong with him? What was with his sudden change in attitude? He sighed inwardly, feeling another chill run down his spine from the slight fever he had woken with. He noticed Kaida glancing at him in concern.
"Sir? Are you alright?" She asked quietly with slowly changing eyes. Their cold gray color was replaced by a vibrant sea green. Zuko was fascinated how quickly they had changed.
"Yeah, fine." He said quickly, then mentally slapped himself from his revere. He HAD to snap out of it. Zuko brushed by Kaida, making his way on deck to oversee the docking of the ship in the city of Jin Hai Wan. He reminded himself they were to dock, assist in running out the town, then advancing to set up a camp farther inland. He kept his thoughts on the assignment, keeping his mind from straying to the blonde girl.
He mounted the stairs up to the deck, which was still covered in seawater from the waves and rain. He looked over and watched the rest of the fleet sail alongside them. Zuko saw the gloomy shoreline draw closer as the fleet cut through the murky water. He noticed his uncle watching silently as well, studying Commander Zhao's ship, observing his orders and actions from the distance with a frown.
"Trying to capture the Earth Kingdom's capital is a foolish move," Iroh said blankly, "This will not end well." He for one knew the consequences from first hand experience.
The lieutenant's voice rang out over the deck, "Ready for docking!" The soldiers scrambled around grabbing their weapons, ropes, and other necessary items. Red helmets flew up everywhere. Kaida stepped on deck, noticing the new actions of the others. Bouts of seasickness that plagued some of the more unfortunate sailors began to ease as land came into view. The soldiers lined up as the grinding of sand and stone against metal announced the ship had been anchored and was ready to unleash the eager soldiers on the hostile territory.
Commander Zhao stepped out in front with his elite regiment, announcing orders just as an arrow whistled past his face, dangerously close, and lodged itself in a tree next to him. The men looked around for the source of the projectile and only saw the green trees swaying in the breeze. The silence was disturbing, like the eye of a hurricane. Zhao's angry frown reflected the surprise and intense anticipation that everyone was feeling with every rank.
The quiet was broken by a barrage of arrows and weapons raining down upon the Fire Nation soldiers. They scattered, unable to escape, and ran into a group of individuals weaving through the trees with swords and other weapons at the ready. Bursts of fire and parades of rocks were exchanging in the air, smoke was beginning to cloak the fight. The high pitched clang of swords meeting rang through the thick air over the grunts and cries of the men. Kaida walked around the edges of the fray, seeing the collecting smoke gather from various trees that have caught fire. She felt someone grab her by the neck.
Out of instinct she spun around as much as she could, letting a flaming trail flow from her hands. The Earthbender leapt back in pain and shock from the girl's outburst. Kaida took the moment to run from the man, blasting anyone in her way wearing anything other than the proud color of Fire Nation. She wove her way through the dust, noticing a sudden retreat of the Earth Kingdom attackers. The siege slowed as the Earthbenders disappeared.
Prince Zuko also noticed this, and was intently watching even as something sharply hit the side of his head. He blacked out before he hit the ground silently.
Kaida used her Airbending to blow parts of the thick smoke away from the area. Many soldiers were glad to be rid of the desolate cover that made it almost impossible to walk without crashing into something. She looked around and recoiled at the sight of the fallen men littering the ground. She wondered why the battle had ended so quickly...
Prince Zuko stirred from his forced sleep. He groaned at his aching body and felt his pulse throb in his temples. He couldn't move his arm to try and rub away the soreness in his head. He felt heavy chains holding him down, keeping him from sitting comfortably. He noticed a man in uniform sitting in front of him, his green eyes glaring. Zuko returned the glare and felt the cold metal slice into his wrists as he struggled to move.
"Have a nice nap?" The man inquired with a fake grin, pleased at the boy's annoyed grimace. "Welcome to Ba Sing Se, may I take your name?" The man voice was dripping with sarcastic pleasantness.
"What does it matter," Zuko hissed as he felt every nerve in his body burn from an invisible fire.
"Answer the question." The man glared coldly, his phony routine faded. Two guards stepped from behind him and moved towards Zuko.
"Zuko." He spat out his name, unable to bring himself to claim he was the once banished prince of Fire Nation. It would only worsen the situation.
"Now that wasn't so hard now was it? And how old are you, my boy?"
"Oh come on, you've got to be kidding-" Zuko rolled his eyes in agitation. He noticed the man's glare. "If you must know I'm sixteen." Idiot, he thought.
The smirk on the Earth Kingdom soldier's face told him he was in trouble. "Such a young boy, it's really too bad." The man signaled the men behind him. Zuko felt two strong arms hoist him up and carry him deeper into the labyrinth hallways of jail cells. Their sharp grips made him wince and they threw him cruelly into an empty cell and slammed the door shut behind them. Zuko struggled to sit up, which was difficult with his hands chained up. He moved his jaw, making sure it wasn't broken from the fall. He twisted upwards to sit up, feeling the soreness in his abdomen from the blows the guards used to keep him moving down the halls. Zuko could see his armor piled in a corner outside his cell, he felt so vulnerable in his uniform grey shirt and pants. He leaned back and closed his eyes, trying to somewhat meditate to calm down.
It wasn't long before the door opened again and blows rained down on him once more. Apparently he had made too much noise, according to the guard. Zuko glared, unable to fight back without hurting himself in the process. He kept silent, retaining his dignity. He didn't want to give the man the satisfaction he intended to receive. Prince Zuko kept his pride. That was all he left.