Burning Pile (Prince Zuko Book 1)

*three*

"You should stay on board, Miss Aurora..." Iroh said standing next to her as he watched the sea. Aurora looked over to him. "But I could help, I promised Zuko- Excuse me... prince Zuko I would help him find the avatar and now that we're close maybe I could help?" Her sentence came out more like a question than a statement.

"Aurora." A voice behind her made her turn around a small smile on her face as she bowed slightly. "Prince Zuko..." She could feel him roll his eyes and tried not to break into a grin. "It's better if you stay on board. You can't help and would probably ruin the plan." His harsh words hurt her again.

"Of course, my prince... whatever you say." She started walking to her room. Of course he was right, she wasn't able to fight nor was she a firebender, but maybe she could've calmly explained to the avatar why he needed to join them? Aurora cringed at her own thought. That sounded even more stupid then it was supposed too. Maybe Zuko is right, she probably would ruin his plan. As she sat on her bed she heard a knock on her door.

She quickly got up opening the door, a gasps leaving her lips at the sight of prince Zuko. "You're going to come with me, get ready to leave the ship." He said coldly before continuing to walk to the main deck. "Prince Zuko! I don't have anything to wear for a situation like that..." She doesn't own any armor to protect her. He stopped walking not turning around. "You won't need it, I promised you my protection on this ship." His harsh words seeming a bit too kind. "Like I did to the rest of the crew." With that he continued walking.

Aurora giggled to herself and walked to her closet taking out some pants to change into, since she normally would wear her long shirt combined with some skirt, that's what she felt the most comfortable in. As she looked herself in the mirror she nodded to herself and put her hair up into a bun. She quickly hurried down the hall to the main deck just to find everyone waiting for her.

"Didn't I tell you to hurry up?" Zuko sounded annoyed with her which made her giggle. "No, actually you did not." She replied standing behind him nervously. Iron gave her a soft smile to ease her nerves, which she gladly returned.

She didn't know what would happen the moment they'd leave the ship but she knew that she needed to help Zuko get the Avatar. It was all he wanted and if he got him then maybe... just maybe... everything could go back to how it was. But deep down Aurora knew that nothing would be like it used to be, they wouldn't feed the turtle ducks like they did when they were younger. He would probably never even talk to her again. So that one part, that one selfish part didn't want Zuko to get to the Avatar.

As they got off of the ship everyone looked at them in fear and hatred. Aurora hated to be looked at like that... She hated how the fire nation made everyone fear them. Zuko enjoyed it, she knew he enjoyed it by how he pushed the water tribe boy away. Aurora looked down. "Where is he?" Zuko demanded an answer as the water tribe boy came running back, but she paid no attention to it. She should've stayed up on the ship with Iroh, there she wouldn't feel like she was hurting someone, but standing here next to Zuko made her realize how bad the fire nation hurt the people.

She couldn't stand it, nor could she stand him in this situation so she walked back up to the main deck.