Avatar; The Royal Firebender.

The Winter Solstice pt 3. Running the Blockade.

Time was of the essence, they had to travel hundreds of miles from the forest village all the way to crescent island. What's worse is that there's only 10 hours of sunlight on the winter solstice, so the pressure to get to Crescent Island is very high. They left the village while it was still dark outside heading towards the westernmost coastline of the earth kingdom continent. This being Zuko's first time being at the reins of Appa and steering the ten ton flying bison. Aang was seated just above him making sure Zuko knew what he was doing and wasn't going to stress out Appa due to the speed he's making him fly. The bison groans as they fly as if talking to his companion prompting Aang to respond to him.

"We're going to be landing soon buddy, I know you're not used to other people steering you around yet." Aang reassures running his hand through the shaggy and slightly coarse fur of the large animal. "How much further until the coast? You said you saw your ship when you were with Fang."

"We can see it now, the small ploom of smoke is my ship, so long as you guys are with me, my crew won't do anything. They're loyal to my uncle and I, and unless someone out ranks him, a general, they're not going to be ordered by anyone else." Zuko responds, pointing towards a small smoke cloud rising into the air a few miles ahead of them. "I hope Appa can fit in the hold of the ship. This plan is banking on us being able to sneak in. I'm still banished so I'm technically not allowed to go back to there."

"That begs the question though, how did you get banished?" Sokka questions, sharpening the edge of his whalebone sword preparing for a fight. "It had to have been bad if you're the crown prince and got banished by the Fire Lord."

"I'm... not ready to tell you that yet, but what I can tell you is that my scar has something to do with it." He scowls facing away from them, looking towards the horizon. "As I've told Katara, my father was the one who both banished me and gave me this scar."

"And the father of the year award goes to." Sokka replies sarcastically but doesn't get a response from Zuko, only a scowl. "Still not a fan of sarcasm are you? Aang doesn't understand it and my sister and you hate it."

"I don't hate it, it's just I've lived with you all our lives and it's kinda gotten old." Katara responds, causing her brother to deadpan.

"Thanks Katara." He says sarcastically.

"Aang how do you get him to descend? We're getting close." Zuko questions gaining the monk's attention.

"Pull back on the reins and let them go slack afterwards, he knows what it means. Though you could just ask him." After this statement, Appa lets out another one of his loud "MAaaaaawwww" groans before beginning to descend.

Zuko makes eye contact with the helmsman and lieutenant on deck running the crew through basic combat exercises prompting the officer to usher the men away. The large bison making a wide circle before coming in for a landing on the main deck. The ten ton beast causes the boat to rock in the water as he lands on the deck. Zuko is the first one to dismount Appa walking up to the lieutenant and greeting him.

"Lieutenant Jee." Zuko greets walking up to the officer prompting him to bow to the prince.

"Avatar Zuko." Jee responds pressing his fist to his palm and bowing to the avatar. "What brings you back so soon? Your uncle told us that you were going to be gone for a long while, potentially even years."

"Something came up and I need to get into the firenation. If we fly there we'll just get shot down by the blockade. We need to sneak in on my ship, while I am banished, my uncle and you all are not. Speaking of uncle, where is he?" Zuko asks, prompting the officer to point towards the main door of the bridge.

"Last I saw him he had just woken up, I'm pretty sure he's in the galley right now getting breakfast. Um, sir, may I ask what you wish for your companions to do?" Jee questions.