Zuko x OC : The Phoenix Princess

Chapter 16

'This is bad, this is so bad' was the first thought that came to Aria's mind as she saw Azula and Ty Lee making their way to the gondola.

"I've been wainting for a rematch" said Suki 

"Me too" Zuko agreed with her, getting on the roof, followed by Sokka and Suki

Aria decided to follow them so she can help them in any way she can, but by the time she got on top of the roof one thing was for sure. She was teriffied. She wasn't sure if it was from the fact that there was boiling water underneath them or the fact that a crazy powerful royal was on her merry way to kill them. 

"Aria look out!" she heard Suki yell as she saw a blue fireball coming towards her in an alarming speed. Before she had any time to process what was happening, she saw Zuko's back in front of her, blocking his sister's attack.

"Are you ok?" Zuko asked Aria without looking at her, hie eyes never leaving Azula's movements

"Ooohh, seems like little servant over there can't even defend herself from a measly fireball. I really wonder how you stayed alive for this long on your own" Azula said with a sick grin on her face.

Zuko attacked her and then Sokka took his turn in an attempt to harm her with his sword. Aria watched them fight despite Azula's comments and her attacks which were becoming more and more ferocious by the minute. And Aria was angry with herself. Not only was she frozen on her spot, standing and not moving a muscle, she let Azula get under her skin and now she was too scared and too timid to fight her. 'What the hell are you doing Aria?! Pull yourself together!' Aria tried to snap herself out of her fear.

"They are cutting the line!" Ty Lee yelled to Azula

The two of them jumped to the other gondola that was coming down, letting all of them be, without making any attempt to throw them to the boiling water, knowing that they don't really need to to do anything since any minute now the line was about to be cut. So, Aria run to the edge to see the two soldiers trying to cut the rope that was holding the gondola up. Aria tried to aim to one of the soldiers. 'If I get at least one of them, then it should buy us some time to get to safety. But they are so far away, I don't know if I will hit them or the rope. And if I hit the later we are certainly done for.' Aria thought, while she was trying to aim at the two guards

"Can you make the shot Aria?" asked Sokka catching on what Aria was trying to do

"It's too risky, I might hit the rope and cut the line completely" Aria said

"Ok then, it's best to get back inside again, we have to figure out what our next move will be and quickly" Sokka said and all of them followed him in.

As they all got in the gondola again, chief Hakoda pointed at one of the windows at asked 

"Who is that?" as he pointed to a girl fighting the soldiers and starting the line again, so they could escape.

"That's Mai!" Zuko said 

'Mai, right' Aria thought as she remembered her being one of Azula's friends and the one who had a crush on Zuko. But why was she helping them? 

They reached the top of the mountain making Aria forget any kind if thoughts that did not involve around their escape. They decided to use Azula's ship to travel to the Western Air Temple which Aria learned later by Sokka that this where her friends were currently staying. She saw Suki sitting down on the ship's floor with a big sigh of relief and Aria had to admit that she was jealous of her. She wanted to feel relief and safety too but her mind and body did not let her. Not until she was with the rest of the group, so instead, she walked back and forth trying to calm her nerves. 

In the late afternoon the royal ship reached the Western Air Temple allowing Aria and the rest of the group to reunite after months. 

"It's good to see that you are ok Aria." Katara said to her  

"It's good to be here" Aria smiled at her, something that she hadn't done properly in months, and proceeded to hug the rest of her friends

Later that night Aria had taken a hot proper bath and took care of her wounds with the help of Katara's healing abilities. She was, now, resting in her room that Aang gave her and she had to admit that it had a wonderful view. As she was sitting on the window looking at the view, feeling the gentle warm breeze, she finally felt herself relax. After a few moments of silnce she heard a knock on her door. 

"Come in " she said

The door opened revealing Aang, Katara, Toph and Sokka. Aria smiled at them and invited them to sit around her bed. They all proceeded to ask her how she was, if she was hurt or for any other discomfort that she might be feeling to which Aria answered negatively. 

"Where is Sukki?" Aria asked 

"She fell asleep in my room and she seemed tired so we didn't bother her" Sokka said

 Aria smiled at that, at least some of them were resting 

"What about you Aria? Why aren't you asleep yet?" Toph asked her 

"Just a lot on my mind. By the way , I wanted to ask you something. What is Zuko doing with you?" Aria asked with geniune worry and confusion 

"Oh that..." Aang trailed of scraching nervously the back of his head, having an equal nervous smile on his face. 

Sokka smiled nervously too and Katara had an annoyed expression on her face

"Aang needs a firebending teacher and he is the only one who is willing to do it" Toph explained 

"Oh right" Aria said with a surprised reaction, she hadn't even thought of that

"Yeah, unfortunately he is the only one" Katara said with a bitter tone

Her friends then proceeded to tell Aria what happened while she was gone. Aria was extremely surprised by all of it, especially about the revolution during the eclipse. She was so mad when Aang told her that he didn't find the Firelord in his palace. They were so close to victory and yet they couldn't reach it. 

Eventually, they all departed in their rooms leaving Aria to get some real rest after all this time and decided that it would be best to continue in the morning.

And with that Aria closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her sences.