Author Note: Back after God knows how long of a hiatus. Ended up having to completely whip my laptop and everything I've worked on is now kept on a little flash drive that I'm praying I do not lose before I get around to backing it up. I've got a working laptop now, so that's a much better situation then what I was working with prior – which means it should hopefully not burst into flames.

With that in mind, hopefully I'll be back to getting to write some more – good news for anyone who actually missed the crap I write. If you didn't miss me, or didn't notice my absence, that's pretty understandable. But I'm back, and here's hoping I can get back in the swing of things. Please enjoy. Let me know your thoughts if you have a chance.

Before we get on with it, just stating that I don't own anything or any characters involved in this piece. Hope you enjoy, it's been fun to write.

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Being at sea had always had a calming effect on Zuko. It was something about the gentle rocking of the waves against the steel ship that had the young child so calm. He leaned against the wall, letting his golden gaze settle along the fish that swam at pace with them. The urge to reach into the water and touch the marvelous creatures nearly took the eight year old over the side of the ship.

A warm hand placed itself on his shoulder. "If you look out towards your left, you can see a school of dolphin-sharks."

"A school?" Zuko glanced up at his mother.

"It's what we call a group of fish. Now, look out. You can watch them breach the water's edge."

Zuko looked out into the sea, watching as a set of dolphin-sharks leapt from the water. They seemed to fly for a moment, before nose diving back into the sea. The pattern continued, the creatures enjoying their freedom. Zuko watched them longingly.

At his side, Azula appeared, letting her gaze travel to match theirs. She frowned at the creatures. "Why do they do that?"

"I don't know," Ursa answered. She shifted her gaze to her husband coming out from below deck. Ozai's gaze traveled to them, before he turned his attention to one of the soldiers on deck. She knew his attention would be elsewhere for some time. It had been hard enough to get him to relax and spend time with his family during their trip to Ember Island, it would be near impossible now that they were heading home.

It didn't matter though, when she turned her attention back to her children. Both of them were watching the dolphin-sharks with fascination, laughing and jumping as the sea creatures breached the sea line. They were smiling wide, lost in a moment of childhood innocence that they were often not granted. It warmed her heart to see her children enjoying themselves. Her joy faded as she returned her gaze to the horizon.

The dolphin-sharks had disappeared.

A deep fog had taken over the horizon.

The sea was flat and calm behind them. It wouldn't stay that way.

"There's a ship!" Azula shouted, spotting what her mother had already seen.

"Ozai!" Ursa shouted, gaining the attention of her husband and the solider beside him. The men turned towards the sight recognizing the set of black flags that were quickly gaining. Two more ships appeared with the others.

The captain let a curse slip through his teeth. "Pirates!"

Ozai was beside her in a moment, his grip tight around her arm. "Take the children below deck. Lock the doors. Do not come out."

She didn't need to be told twice, quickly grabbing both her children's hands and kneeling before them. Ozai was shooting orders, the soldiers moving quickly. "Mommy needs you two to come with me. We're going to go below deck."

Zuko and Azula nodded, quickly recognizing the tension that set over the boat. She followed their mother, but not before glancing at the ships quickly overtaking them. Deep black flags waving in the breeze was the last thing Zuko saw before he was dragged below deck, the heavy steel door closed and locked behind them. The trio went deeper into the ship, being ushered into their parent's room. A set of soldiers remained outside the door, another in the room with them.

"It will be alright, Lady Ursa." The young soldier's back was ridged as the ship rocked roughly to the side. She kept her eyes on the door, ready to defend the members of the royal family if need be. Ursa brought her children to the corner of the room, sliding a knife from the draw into her sleeve.

An echo traveled through the ship as an explosion rocked around them. Zuko let out a startled scream, wrapping his arms around his sister. Azula was trying desperately to keep a stoic expression on her face, but failed as screams bounced through the haul of the ship. Ursa was beside her children, wrapping the pair in her arms and pressing them under her chin.

"I've got you, my loves," she whispered, holding them tighter. The walls of the ship rattled. Screams and grunts grew louder from the other side of the door.

A thud bounced off the door. The soldier with them shifted into a fighting pose, removing the sweat from her brow. A second thud raced around them. Zuko gave a startled cry, pulling Azula closer to him. The young girl was biting her lip, her eyes narrowed towards the door. A prayer fell quickly from Ursa's lips as the door bent at the hinges.

A large, black clad man stepped into the room, only to be shot back by the soldier protecting them. She lit her fists, and charged at the next set of men. Ursa shielded her children, doing her best to keep them from the flames dancing around the room. The soldier with them gave a scream as she was slammed against the wall. She slumped to the ground, her arm twisted behind her.

"Come now, my lady." The voice was gruff behind her. "Let's not make this more difficult."

"Don't let go of your sister." Ursa made sure her children her children had a hold of one another before she rose slicing the jagged knife through the air. She was not a fighter, was never raised to be one. Her attack was wild, but still sliced through deep brown skin. The man stepped back, looking with almost amusement at the cut in his arm.

"I don't want to hurt you my lady," he spoke. Behind him, four more men entered the tiny room. "You're really not the one we're after."

The man's eyes went to the child as his companions moved towards them. Ursa lunged, finding her knifed knocked from her hand. Her arm was drawn up her back, securing her. Zuko shot a weak flame at their attacker. It did little to stop them as he was grabbed and thrown over a burly man's shoulder. Following her brother's lead, Azula kicked out, unstable fire lacing around her. The attack did not prevent herself from being secured under the man's arm.

Ursa watched with sheer fear as the pair was carried out of the room. She was pushed behind them, trying desperately to reach her children as they were brought up on deck. The deck was littered with bodies. It was still, and smelled of smoke and burnt flesh. Her eyes scanned the area, quickly spotting Ozai. He was leaning against the wall of the ship, holding his side. His eyes hardened as he spotted his captured children.

"Please," Ursa pleaded. "They're just children."

She got no response as they were dragged to where her husband stood. Ursa was thrown into him. He caught her, hissing as he put weight on his leg. Zuko and Azula were still held by their attackers.

"Let me go you idiot!" Azula was letting out screams, fire sprouting from her teeth. Zuko was ridged in the man's arm. He had gone still the moment he'd been grabbed. His eyes were wide.

"Release them!" Ozai growled, eyes flaring.

"I don't think so, your highness." The man holding Azula responded. He was doing well to ignore the fighting five year old under his scarred arm. "You and your children are far too valuable targets. Now, what's say you corporate and we all be civil about this."

Before anyone could respond, Azula had shifted enough to sink her teeth into the man's flesh. Her mouth filled with flames as she bite down. With a scream, the man dropped her to her hands and knees. The pirate held his burnt arm, eyes drifting to the child. With a snarl, he brought his leg forward, catching the girl in the stomach.

Azula cried out at the assault. She was quickly brought into Ursa's arm as she cradled her. Tears rested on the corners of Azula's eyes as she sunk into her mother's chest, the fight having left her.

"You little bitch." The pirate took a step close to the trio. He drew a blade from his belt.

"Leave her alone!"

The ship gave a sharp shift to the side, causing them to tumble. Waves rose over the side of the ship with a furious cry. It was matched by the whipping wind that howled around them. The pirate's ships surrounding them rocked in the rough waters, crashing against the side of the Fire Nation ship.

"What the hell?" The pirates back away as young Zuko was dropped onto the deck. He rose slowly, the air seemed to move around him, his eyes glowing a startling blue. His face was contoured with rage; his snarl far darker than anything a child should possess.

His arm moved sharp, one rising above his head, the other with palm facing down. With startling speed, he brought his arm around his head, palm facing the pirate. A tendril of water escaped from the wave, traveling along Zuko's outstretched arm. It crashed into the pirate, sending him tumbling off the edge of the ship.

Zuko turned his attention towards the remainder of the pirates. They began to back away as water rose higher. It crashed onto the deck, dragging the pirates into the sea below. Fire danced between his fingers as he tore the last of the attackers from the desk.

"Zuko," Ursa whispered, moving towards her son. He paid her no mind as he walked to the gang plank. His steps echoed across the steel. Fire Nation soldiers left alive were scrambling to remove themselves from the boy's path. He reached the edge, arms raised. Inhaling sharply, he let out a deep breath of wind, shooting the sails of the ships and tipping them into the water. He knelt at the edge of the ship, palms flat on the deck, freezing for a moment. With a sharp hiss, Zuko rose, his arms lifted to his chest. The ocean moved to his call, rising around the ship like a wall. It crashed back down as the boy lowered his arm, sending their attackers far from the ship.

With the threat subsided, Zuko began to sway. His mother was at his side in a moment, her hands gripping her son's shoulders. "Zuko? Zuko. Please. Come back to me sweetheart."

Zuko's gaze shifted onto his mother. He still held the tight frown on his lips. When Ursa placed a soft hand on his cheek, his face relaxed. The blue glow of his eyes began to fade. His eyes closed and he breathed deep. When his eyes opened again, Ursa was greeted to the familiar deep gold.

"Mom?" He spoke in a small voice, clearly exhausted from the endeavor. He looked around at the body filled deck. The soldiers left alive stared at him with awe and fear. He turned his attention to the rest of his family. Azula had tears dried in her eyes, and she looked at her brother with an expression he couldn't name. His father however looked at him with a strange gleam in his eyes.

Ursa ran a hand over Zuko's face, trying to make sense of what had happened. He was only seven years old. Far too young for such a destiny to be placed on his shoulder. As she drew the boy in, running a hand through his hair, she prayed to Agni that this wasn't true.

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Thank you for reading. Hopefully you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it… was very stressful to write. God, am I out of practice at this. I couldn't remember words. I may continue this Zuko as the Avatar thing as a series of oneshots. I might not. Probably will though. Give a reason to write again.

Side note… while uploading this I had to take a moment because I forgot what to do. I haven't been able to upload from my laptop for so long. Last time I wrote something I had to DropBox it to my phone, and copy and paste into doc manager from there. Ah. I'm so glad to have a working computer again.