𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐒 // zuko

The Ship to Ba Sing Se

the ship to ba sing se

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-SARIA'S POV-

"Where do you think you'll go now?" 

I sat in my temporary room on Kyoshi Island, staring out of the small window. Next to me sat the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, Suki, whom I had quickly become close friends with. I sighed with uncertainty in response to her question.

My real mother was dead, killed by the Fire Nation just after I was born. As a result, I was sent to the same nation that was responsible for her murder, and was raised under their conditions, morals and laws.

I couldn't say I was sad, for I hadn't known of my true mother's existence until recently. If anything, I was angry. Angry that I had been lied to my entire life and almost died without knowing the truth.

"I'm not sure. I'll have to leave soon, though. I need to find Zuk- uh, the Avatar." 

Suki's expression changed, furrowing her eyebrows at the mention of the Avatar.

"Aang? You know him?" 

I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. I had to steer away from this topic. It was bad enough that I was from the Fire Nation, even unwillingly, let alone being friends with the prince who almost burned down their whole town.

"I guess you could say that. I've ran into him and his friends a few times, but I doubt they're very fond of me." 

Suki chuckled. "Yeah, Sokka and Katara aren't one for Fire Nation citizens. Well, who is at this point, no offence." 

I shook my head and chuckled in response, agreeing with her.

"You know them? The Avatar and his friends?" 

The warriors' cheeks grew a faint red, her glance shifting to the floor in front of her with a smile. I guess that answers my question.

"Let me guess... Sokka?" I tilted my head, a smug look on my face whilst hers grew red.

"How'd you know?"

"Aang doesn't really seem your type, neither does Katara. So, that leaves Mr Boomerang." 

Suki and I sat in my room until nightfall. She spoke about Sokka, and how devastating it was when Zuko's appearance forced him to leave. It was easy to talk to Suki. Finally, I felt like I had a girl friend my age that I could talk about anything with. 

Well, almost anything.

"What about Ba Sing Se?" She said, after I told her about my trip from the Northern Water Tribe to the island. I decided to leave out the part that I was part Earth spirit, and instead told her that a waterbender mistook me for Kyouko, leading me here. 

"What do you mean?"

"Well, since you can't go back to the Fire Nation, there might be an opportunity for you in the great city! Of course, you're welcome to stay here as long as you like, but the girls and I are heading to the docks a few days from now. We can organise a ticket for you!" Suki gave me a warm smile. 

"Seriously? That would be amazing, thank you so much." 

And so, after a few days had passed of me training with the Kyoshi Warriors and learning about my ancestor's history, the girls and I headed off towards the city of Ba Sing Se.

We spent the travel to the docks talking, and I found myself fascinated by their culture, wishing I had gotten the opportunity to grow up alongside them. 

-

"Who would have thought, after all these years I'd return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace... As a tourist!" 

Zuko ignored his uncle he stared out into the ocean, a frown resting on his face. 

"Look around. We're not tourists, we're refugees." He took a sip from the bowl in his hand, only to spit it out immediately. "Ugh, I'm sick of eating rotten food! I'm tired of living like this."

It was then that Zuko heard a laugh from behind him. One that made him turn his body freeze. It was the same laugh he had been dreaming about since he left her in the Northern Water Tribe.

Zuko turned his body instantly, his eyes wide as they searched for the familiar brown hair. His gaze fell onto a girl with her back facing him, her shoulders moving with laughter. The boy could feel his heart begin to race. 

"Saria?" Zuko moved towards the girl, placing his hand on her shoulder. His breath hitched as she turned to face him, and his heart dropped.

"I thought you were someone else..." He muttered before turning back towards his uncle, ignoring the burn of the girls gaze as he left. Zuko couldn't deny the fact that he was missing his childhood friend more than ever, and he hated it. He hated relying on others to feel at peace, yet he felt so lost without her. 

Meanwhile...

After saying goodbye to the Kyoshi Warriors, Saria embarked on her trip to Ba Sing Se. As she entered the ship, she saw her old friends immediately. Her face lit up with a smile as she approached them, their backs turned away from her. 

"Seems like I caught up with you, Jet."

The Freedom Fighters jumped as they turned, smiles growing on their faces as soon as they saw their old friend. 

"Saria! You're here!"

Smellerbee and The Duke were the first to approach her, a chuckle escaping Saria's lips as they embraced. Once they let her go, the girl greeted the others before going up to Jet. Immediately, with a sigh of relief, Jet wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, making her laugh even more. 

"It's so good to see you guys!"

As the ship departed for Ba Sing Se, Saria and the Freedom Fighters sat with each other, unaware of the fiery prince on the other side of the ship.

That night, Zuko's patience grew thin and he escaped from his uncle, putting on the infamous Blue Spirit mask. He snuck into the captains chambers undetected, taking all the food he could see whilst his stomach grumbled. The Blue Spirit left the chambers, a smirk on his face underneath the mask as he begun to carry the food back towards his uncle.

On his way back, the masked boy looked at the people around him, at the starving children and elders. For the first time, Zuko's eyes were open to the damage the Fire Nation inflicted on the rest of the world, whilst he lived in royalty. He glanced down at the bag he held, and ignored the rumbling in his stomach. 

Keeping the mask on his face, the boy went around the ship, passing food to the refugees who all thanked him with a kind smile. Those who recognised the mask from wanted posters thanked him further for saving the Avatar, their only hope. The Blue Spirit stayed silent, only nodding when spoken to.

He travelled further along the ship, offering food to those around him. Once he got to the other side, however, the bag fell out of his grasp when he caught the brown-eyes of the girl he had been longing for for weeks, the girl he was forced to leave behind. 

The two stared at each other, familiarity sending shivers down their spines.

Leaving the bag of food, the Blue Spirit sprinted the other way, breathless from his heart beating profusely. She found him, just like his Uncle said she would. Yet she was unaware that it was Zuko underneath the mask. 

Saria only saw him as the Blue Spirit, the one who had held a knife to her throat when escaping the Pohuai Stronghold all those months ago.

But, Zuko didn't care about that. She found him. He found her