𝙄𝙉 𝙀𝙓𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀 ⤁ prince zuko

eight | not what they seem

That morning, Mari had packed her bags and was waiting for Zuko to finish his. She felt awful for leaving Iroh behind, but she knew she had to go to the fire nation with Zuko. "Are you ready?" She asked as he threw his bag over his shoulder. Zuko nodded and they walked out the door.

The two walked in silence down the steep steps do the shore where a fire nation ship was docked, waiting for them. Mari didn't know what to say, neither did Zuko. "You should give Iroh more credit. He really does care about you Zuko." She spoke up.

"I don't need anymore lectures." Zuko said not looking at her.

Mari looked at him, dissapointed. Iroh was always there for him, no matter what and he was treating him like a pest. Zuko must've realized this as well because he sighed.

"I know he cares about me." Zuko whispered slightly, as is regretting leaving Iroh.

"Wait! Don't leave without me." Said a fimilair voice.

Zuko and Mari turned around to see Iroh chasing after them.

"Uncle, you've changed your mind!" Zuko said, his voice slightly happier than normal.

"Family sticks together, right?" He said with a chuckle placing his hand on his shoulder. Zuko smiled for the first time in a while, causing Mari to do the same.

"We're finally going home." Zuko said as he looked at the ship in the distance. He the turned to Mari standing awkwardly behind them. "And you'll finally see your mother." He said again, promisingly.

The three made their way down to the dock and walked passed fire nation guards escorting them onto the ship. On the deck stood Azula, a smirk playing at her lips.

Iroh looked around suspiciously, causing Mari to do the same.

"Brother, Uncle, Whoever you are. Welcome." She said with open arms. "I'm so glad you decided to come.

"Are we ready to depart, You Highness?" Said the captain.

"Set our course for home, Captain." Azula said.

"Home" Zuko repeated softly.

"You heard the princess. Raise the anchors." Shouted the captain. "We're taking the prisoners home." He said before covering his mouth realizing what he had said.

Prisoners

Mari felt sick. It was a trap.

Immediately Iroh began to fight the guards behind them, without even needing to use his bending.

"You lied to me!" Mari head Zuko shout as he ran up to the dock

"Zuko, no!" Mari called out.

"Like I've never done that before." Azula said with a laugh.

Mari ran down the dock to help Iroh fight off the other guards.

"Zuko, lets go!" Iroh yelled.

Mari continued fighting off the guards until she saw a flash of blue fire come from the deck. "Iroh!" She called out pointing to Azula.

"Stay here." Iroh said before running up the ship.

Mari watched as Zuko was on the ground, exhausted. Azula began to bend something much stronger than fire. Lightning.

Her heart dropped as Azula aimed the lightning towards Zuko but just in time, Iroh was able to re direct it towards the cliff on the shore before throwing Azula into the water.

"We need to get out of here. Iroh said grabbing Mari's hand, along with Zuko's. The three ran like maniacs through the resort, and out through the entrance until they were in the forest. They kept running until Mari felt as is she would pass out. The feeling was mutual because all three of them collapsed to the forest floor near a stream.

Gasping for breath, Mari turned herself over looking at Zuko and Iroh. "I think we're safe here." Iroh said panting.

Zuko pulled a dagger from his robe and looked at his reflection in it. With a deep breath, he held it to his pony tail and cut it off, leaving only a small patch of hair left on his bald head.He then passed it to Iroh who cut of the small bun on his head. Iroh then passed it to Mari who eyed it suspiciously. "What's cutting my hair shorter going to do?" She said sarcastically.

The top not and ponytail was a symbol of symbol of honor and high status in the fire nation. There was no doubt Azula would have many people looking for the three and wearing a signature fire nation hairstyle would definitely make you stick out. But this however didn't apply to Mari because she wasn't fire nation.

"Just do it and move along." Zuko said staring at his pony tail.

Mari rolled her eyes and took a deep breath in before slicing through her hair with the blade. Her once mid-back length hair was now cut to just below her shoulders. She didn't want to look, knowing it probably looked terrible, but the look Zuko gave her suggested otherwise.

He cleared his throat before getting up. "Let's go." He said as he threw his ponytail in the stream.