Growing Pains (Zuko/OC)

Chapter 6: Doubt

Only a few miles to the east of where the captured Iroh was found was the small village of Senlin. It didn't take long for Zuko to prod information out of the locals, and soon we were on the hunt once more.

Apparently the Avatar was heading to Crescent Island to commune with Avatar Roku on the Winter Solstice. According to the villagers, the Winter Solstice was important because the bridge between worlds was much smaller than normal, but Kona wasn't all that convinced. She knew very little of the spirit world let alone how it interacted with theirs, but it sounded a bit fantastical.

Regardless, the new direction was helpful enough, as the small crew aboard Prince Zuko's ship rarely had more than rumors to follow. Well, it was helpful until they remembered where Crescent Island was.

"Sailing into Fire Nation waters," Iroh ranted. "Of all the foolish things you've done in your sixteen years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish!" Master Iroh was furious, more furious than Kona had seen him in years. She had never seen him speak out against Prince Zuko so boldly in front of the crew, let alone practically insult him.

Prince Zuko sighed. His uncle's complaints were all he had been hearing for the last couple of hours, and it was starting to really grate on his nerves. "I have no choice, Uncle."

"Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?" Iroh nearly yelled before taking a deep breath and pausing. Yelling would do nothing. He knew that. "What if you're caught?" He implored, not quite being able to keep the fear out of his tone.

Kona worried her lip from her position too far away. She looked through the telescope and searched the horizon for Appa, just as she had been doing for the last hour. She blinked the fatigue from her eyes and rolled her neck slightly, but never faltered from her position.

The prince had stationed her near his side since run-ins with the Avatar were so frequent, and because of this, she had had a front row seat to this debate for as long as it had been occuring. She was conflicted between her want for Zuko's redemption and her fear for his safety. Entering Fire Nation waters could so easily go wrong, and she doubted the Fire Lord would be lenient if the crew got captured with no Avatar in custody. Kona was also certain that if they managed to capture the Avatar first, the trespassing would be forgiven if not forgotten entirely. Her chest twinged with discomfort from just trying to formulate an opinion on it.

"I'm chasing the Avatar," the prince argued. "My father will understand why I am returning home."
"You give him too much credit," his uncle said, eyes downcast. "My brother is not the understanding type."

Thankfully, at that moment, Kona saw movement on the horizon.

"Prince Zuko!" She called, tossing him the spyglass and indicating the direction.

"There they are! Helmsman, full steam ahead!"

Kona's heart leapt. This was their chance. If they could catch him before they entered Fire Nation waters, they would be in the clear. "My prince, perhaps we could load the catapult," Kona suggested.

"Men, raise the catapult, prepare to fire!"

Behind them, the ship hissed as the platform with the catapult slowly rose through the deck of the ship. Within a minute of the platform locking into place, the catapult was prepared for launch and the projectile was lit aflame.

On his command, the ship opened fire, causing the flying bison and its passengers to zigzag across the sky as they took evasive maneuvers. The smell of the burning projectiles filled the air causing Iroh to complain playfully but the teens were too focused on the battle in front of them. The victory was so close they could almost taste it.