The Fire Within - an atla fanfic (Zuko x OC)

To Me

My goodbyes were all so bitterweet. Filled of 'I'll be back in no time!'s and 'I'll miss you!'s. It would take a long time to go over all of them.

After we went to Ba Sing Se with everyone to Uncle's tea shop, Zuko, Gaku, and I went to the South Pole, to where it all began.

I watched in excitement as we crossed the waves in a ship, giving me such a sense of deja vu. I crouched next to Gaku as he watched in wonder.

"You ever seen the ocean?" I asked.

"Not like this." He replied with a grin.

"When we get there, you're gonna see the biggest buildings ever, I know one even has a hundred floors."

"A hundred floors?" Gaku's eyes widened in surprise.

I smiled and gave him a pat on the back. I heard Zuko walking towards us and stood up. "Gaku, go get your bag, we are almost there."

Gaku ran off in excitement. I turned to Zuko and flashed a sad smile.

"I have all of your things." Zuko said as he handed me a couple bags. I threw them on my shoulders and watched as he handed me my walkman slowly. My gaze shot up in surprise.

"You still have that?" I asked. "I thought I lost it."

"No, I've been keeping it." He said shyly.

I smiled and grabbed it, then stared down at it for a moment. I looked up and handed it back to him. "Keep it."

"Why? It's yours." He replied.

"Keep it to remind yourself of me." I said with a small smile. "Theres always more walkmans where I come from."

"Really? But didn't your mom give this to you?" Zuko asked, unsure.

"Maybe she'll give me her iPod when I get back." I said sarcastically. "Just keep it. Besides, I know you love it."

He smiled back at me and brushed my cheek. "I'm going to miss you so much. I don't know what I'm going to do for the next six months."

"Plan what we'll do when I get back." I replied, a tiny smirk on my face. "Perhaps the biggest 'welcome back' party to ever exist."

"I already have a few ideas." Zuko replied with a wink, although it kinda just looked like a blink due to his messed up eye.

"Fire Lord, we are at the location you gave us." Lieutenant Jee told us as I felt the ship go to a stop.

"Thanks, Jee." Zuko said as he waved him away. Jee was the same man who was Zuko's second in command all that time ago on his ship when Zuko was banished. He was now a trusted friend, who was to keep the secret of the two colliding worlds. No one was to know of what we were up to. I was afraid that if anyone knew, it would only cause corruption like my father.

"I also just recieved word from a messenger bird. Princess Azula escaped." Jee said, looking at me in the corner of his eye.

"It's been one week." Zuko said in frustration.

"Better up that security while I'm gone." I said with an awkward smile.

Zuko sighed and waved Jee off. "I'll deal with it later."

Jee glanced at me and walked away. Im glad hes not a snitch.

"Well, I guess this is it." Zuko said with a tiny sigh, turning back to me.

I put my hand on his neck and gave him a reassuring smile. "It isn't it at all. I'll see you in six months."

"I can't wait to meet your mom and Ben when you come back with them." Zuko replied.

"I'll tell them all about what we've done. When I'm back, I hope to hear about all the stories of the best Fire Lord ever." I said softly as my eyes started to well with tears.

"You said you wouldn't cry." Zuko said as his started to water with mine.

"You said you wouldn't either." I made a tiny smile as the tears dripped down my face.

"You started it." He huffed. He leaned in as I initiated a long kiss, followed by an even longer hug.

Gaku came back with his things and pulled at the bottom of my shirt. "Let's go! Let's go!" He said eagerly.

"I think he wants to go." I said sarcastically.

Zuko crouched down and ruffled Gaku's hair a bit. "See you later, buddy."

Gaku gave Zuko a short hug and went back to his business of wanting to leave.

I didn't know what to say.

I turned my head and jerked it back as I felt Zuko take my hand.

"Thank you for the best six months of my life." Zuko choked out.

The corner of my mouth raised slightly, and I brushed my thumb over his. "Thank you for changing my life."

I slid my hand out from his gently, and picked up my things. Walking over to the edge of the ship, I watched the circling water foaming around the front of the ship. "When we jump in, hold your breath." I warned Gaku.

He gave me a determined nod and we got on the edge of the ship together. I took one last look at Zuko.

"Love you, Ash." Zuko mouthed as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Always, my Lord." I replied with a hint of mischief. Before he could respond, I grabbed Gaku's hand and we jumped.

I held him close and forced my mouth from letting out a gasp as the cold water nearly went to my bones. I felt a heavy current drag us through the water, twirling us in the water like an ember on the air.

And just like that, I was home.

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a/n- thank you guys for everything. ive been spreading thanks through multiple chapters, so i'll just leave it at that. I already have the next book posted, feel free to start reading it!

if u dont feel like it thats ok!

now for some statistics. I counted every single word in every chapter and it added up to a total of 156,231 words. WHAT? so just to put that in comparison, i looked it up and the average page has 300 words in a normal book. That means mine would around 520 pages... yikes. I don't blame anyone for dropping this for being too long. I didn't realize lol. I also averaged every harry potter book, and on average, they have 154000 words, so pretty close. The fact like I fr wrote a whole book is crazy to me.

I'll end by just saying thank you again. I started writing this book almost 2 1/2 years ago, and for the people who have waited and been patient all that time, I thank you, because I could never wait that long lol. Really though, this has been my outlet for all that time, so I can't wait to continue. I already have several chapters ready to be posted, so expect that soon in the new book: Within the Fire.

-aluckyone