𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐒 // zuko

The Blockade

the blockade

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The next morning, Saria woke abruptly to a loud knock on her door. She stood and opened it quickly, revealing her father with his hands behind his back. 

"The Avatar is heading this way. Get ready." Just as quickly as he arrived, Zhao left swiftly.

"'Good morning, Saria'." She mocked before changing into her Fire Nation robes and headed towards the front of the ship. Zhao, Aiko and numerous guards were gathered next to a large catapult that sat on the middle of the deck.

As Saria approached them, Zhao was gazing through a telescope, exploring the sky.

"The Avatar." He lowered the lens, now looking directly ahead. "And the banished prince. This must be my lucky day."

Saria's eyes widened at the mention of her former friend. Though she knew that she would see him eventually, she did not expect it to be so soon. Her heart began to pound in her chest.

"Commander Zhao. What are your orders?" The captain of the ship spoke behind Saria.

"Shoot the bison down, Captain."

Both Saria and the captain's faces shot up with surprise.

"But there's a Fire Navy ship out there, sir! One of our own! What if it's hit?"

"So be it. It belongs to a traitor." The captain complied with his orders hesitantly. Saria looked over towards Zhao in shock. There was no way he would try to kill Zuko!

However, Saria's doubt's were soon dismissed as her father raised his arm in order.

"Ignite!"

"Father! No!" Zhao ignored his daughter's cries.

"Launch!"

As he called out his order, flaming fireballs were shot from every ship along the blockade. Saria's mouth hung with fear as she watched Zuko's ship, which was being covered in crashing waves, knocking out a few guards on deck. The girl shrieked as one of the fireballs struck the back of his ship, and she began to pray that Zuko will make it out of this safely. 

'That must have done a lot of damage. Please, Zuko, turn back.' She thought worryingly. But Zuko did not stop, and neither did her father.

"Launch!" Zhao commanded again.

Saria shifted her gaze towards their target, who had flown above the clouds while they were being shot at. Suddenly, one of the Avatar's friends began to fall from the sky, heading straight towards the water below them. The girl winced as he grew closer towards the surface, until what looked like a flying bison flew down and caught him just before he hit the ocean. Saria let out a sigh of relief and looked closer at the large animal that was approaching Zhao's ship.

She had read about the monks at the Air Temples and how they were generally accompanied by flying bison. It used to be the only way to the temples until the Fire Nation figured out how to do it without them. 

Much like the Avatar, this bison was left to be the only one of its kind.

"Ready..." The commander held his hand up, waiting for the right moment to take down the bison. Tension grew as the large beast travelled closer. "FIRE!"

Another fireball shot from the catapult behind Saria and her brother, heading straight towards the Avatar. Saria was sure it was going to hit them. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting to hear the collision.