Save Me From the Pirates

Hi. This is my first story uploaded, but I've fixed some errors in the first chapter. If you DO NOT like Zutara, well, you see that button up there? Underneath where it says File, Edit, View, and all that? It's an arrow pointing to the left, which is read by Westerners and several other people as BACK. Yep, it's the back button! Click to return to your previous page! Isn't it a great invention? Hahaha (sorry if that sounds mean, but I know a LOT of people do not ship Zutara) I'd appreciate it if you didn't take any offense seriously. I just have a different perspective and way of communicating with the world :)

Constructive criticism is welcome. Feel free to email me if you want, I do write stories upon request or for birthdays. :)

Flames feed the fire of my writing... possibly. Enjoy~!

Fire Lord Zuko sighed and looked up to the clear blue sky as if to call for help. Once again, Iroh had lost a Pai Sho white lotus tile, and was searching the entire ship for it.

"Nephew, maybe it is in your room!" Iroh said, and walked off toward Zuko's quarters. Zuko threw his hands up in the air and followed, annoyed that they were wasting time searching for a simple lotus tile. But, Iroh was his uncle, and when he was set on something, it was very difficult to change his mind without a good reason.

"Uncle, are you sure it's not in your sleeve like last time?" Iroh shook his head and continued searching. Then he got an idea.

"Captain, would you mind docking the ship at the nearest por t, please?" The captain nodded. "Yes, sir." Satisfied, the old general turned to his impatient nephew.

"Fire Lord Zuko, do you think you could find and buy another white lotus tile, please? Here's some money" he said.

Zuko, grumbling but glad that he would be on land for a few hours, accepted the money and offered a tiny smile at his uncle. He shook his head at his bodyguards, telling them that he wanted to go alone, but gave them permission to leave the ship for two hours. And with that, he left his ship.

The port was busy, with several stalls set up here and there, bustling with people who wanted to buy their merchandise. There were beautiful jewelry stalls, pottery stalls, food shops full of exotic fruits; it was a refreshing change to the iron grey, gold, and deep red of his ship. He searched for what seemed like hours, going to pretty much every store that would be likely to sell a Pai Sho tile, but could not find a single one. Frustrated, the Fire Lord turned to return to his ship, but then someone called out his title.

"Looking for something, your Highness?"

Zuko turned to the voice. He saw a thin, weasel-like shady man who was grinning. Zuko counted four gold teeth. He wore a ragged, red shirt, several pieces of gold jewelry, long black hair, old worn pants, a silk sash as a belt, and more than a few knives. Pirate, thought Zuko. He approached cautiously. The man seemed to notice his wariness, and shook his head, leering. "Your Highness, do not shy away! We will not kidnap or harm you, we would just like to show you some choice items that we have in stock today! Rest assured, you will walk free from this ship unharmed if you come in." What the heck, thought Zuko, there IS a small chance that they have a lotus tile… The pirate ushered the Fire Lord in, and showed him to the first lower deck. There were small trinkets, like rings and useless pretty items, shells, carved ornaments, and tiny statues. Zuko looked all over for a Pai Sho tile, but the pirate did not have any. He was shown to the second lower deck (after all, it was a large pirate ship), and saw clothes and expensive silks, ancient scrolls, and furniture. A few more pirates came out and tried to persuade him into buying something. Zuko cocked his head, and said no. Tired, he made to leave, but the first pirate blocked his way. "Your Highness, do not leave yet, we have one more thing we would like to show you." Seeing that it wasn't a question, Zuko sighed and nodded. The pirates smirked and led him down to the brig.

Zuko stiffened. The brig was filled (but not completely) with men, women, and children, manacled and gaunt, looking up at him with pleading eyes. The Fire Lord's minds raced. On one hand, he could attack the pirates and free all the people, but he had no idea how many pirates there were, and even if he did free the slaves, where would they live or take shelter? On the other, he could invade the ship with his men and force the pirates to return the people. He looked at all the people and turned to the pirates. "Would His Highness like to buy a slave?" the man asked, his eyes menacing. Never trust a pirate, never trust a pirate, never trust a pirate his mind screamed at him. Zuko opened his mouth to say no, but he saw a girl out of the corner of his eye. She was looking away from him, glaring at the pirates with ocean blue eyes. Her skin was dark, mocha colored, and she was wearing an increasingly familiar blue necklace…

"Katara?"

She looked up too fast and hurt her neck. Wincing, she lifted her hand up to her neck and rubbed it, and looked at the man who uttered her name. Katara's eyes went wide. Zuko pointed at her. "That one, and make it quick," he said in a cold voice. The pirates snickered.

"That 'un be a fierce 'un, Highness, ye sure?" snickered one of the older pirates. Zuko nodded and conjured a ball of fire in his hand, threatening them with it. The orange-yellow light burned brightly in the dank brig, and many of the chained people looked at it warily.

"I said, make it quick."

The pirates scampered, hurriedly unlocking the Waterbender's chains and leading her by a leash to Zuko, who paid them fifty gold coins. The pirates greedily snatched the money from him, grinning like drunken fools. The gold glittered in the fire's light. Zuko glared at them with disdain, and carried the girl to the top deck, and shot out a flame-signal, a billowing tower of blue-white flame reaching to the sky, narrowly missing the sails. Instantly, Fire Nation soldiers who had followed their Fire Lord just in case swarmed the ship, ready to attack. Zuko nodded a thank you at them and looked at the shocked pirates. "You know that the selling, buying, trading, and capturing of slaves is illegal! Therefore, as Fire Lord, I command you to return these people to their villages, towns, and cities, and never again deal in slavery! Damned pirates." He said, his voice dripping with contempt and anger at them. He turned to his men. "Make sure they are taken care of, please," he said. All of his soldiers saluted and set to work. They knew that Fire Lord Zuko was right and just. Zuko and Katara left the ship and made their way toward his, with Zuko carrying Katara, as she was too weak to walk.

"Thank you…" she managed to whisper, and lost consciousness.