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Zuko ~ Out of The Ice

*** Zuko's P.O.V.***

It was just another lousy day out a sea. My uncle and I have been empty-handed for the past six years. We are in southern waters and there is nothing but glaciers. My uncle was teaching me basic training sets and I was getting frustrated. I already knew this, but he refused to let me continue on to the advanced set.

"UGH! Uncle please I don't understand why you are having me go over this! You had me run this set for the past week now! I am ready," I exclaimed. My uncle just shook his head.

"You are not ready! Power comes from the breath, not the muscle! And until you learn this, we will keep running this set until you get it right. Again," He demanded as he took a seat after pacing. I groaned and shot fire at a glacier that drifted beside the boat. After the flame touched the ice, the ship rocked. The troops and I fell as the ship continued to rock. Once it stopped, I realized that we had stopped moving altogether.

"Why have we stopped moving," I asked once I was able to stand.

"It appears that we are stuck in between glaciers sir. The men are already on their way to get us moving again," the captain informed me. I nodded my head to him.

"Let me know the progress in five hours," I said. he bowed to me before walking off. My uncle was at the nose of the boat and he was staring with amazement.

"Nephew, come and take a look at this," he said as he beckoned me to his side. I sighed and walked over to him.

"What is it?"

"Look." He pointed out a short distance in front of us there was a large round glacier that was bobbing in the water. My eyes widened. I don't normally explore around places that I am unfamiliar with, but there was something out there. It was almost like it was calling me.

"Uncle, I'll be right back," I said as I climbed over the edge of the boat and slid onto the ice.

"Where do you think you are going Prince Zuko?"

"I have to go check something out. I'll be back," I replied as I started on my way. I barely got a foot away from the ship when I heard a loud thud and a scream come from behind me. My uncle slid down the side of the boat and landed on his rear end. It took everything in me to not start laughing. "What are you doing," I asked as I helped him up.

"You aren't going out there on your own. Welp, come on then. That orb glacier isn't going to explore itself," he said as he started walking in front of me. I chuckled to myself.

"Crazy old man," I mumbled.

"I heard that," he said from in front of me. I grinned to myself and just started walking. We walked for what felt like 20 minutes until we finally made it to the glacier. I put my hands on the ice and it seemed like it was glowing on the inside.

"Uncle Iroh are you seeing this," I asked as I walked around the ice.

"Zuko. I think you might want to see this," he said. He almost sounded mortified. Like there was something inside the ice. I hurried around and looked at what my uncle was referring to.

"Is that..." I didn't finish as I looked at my uncle.

"It looks like a young girl," my uncle said as he put a hand on the ice. As soon as he did, her eyes shot open. They glowed white which looked light blue in the ice. We gasped.

"She's... she's still alive," I gasped. I got this sudden tingling in my stomach. My instincts kicked in and I started to try to melt the ice. "Help me, Uncle! We have to get her out of there." My uncle started to help me melt down the ice. We were able to melt it just enough to where one hit would crack it. I grabbed the closest thing that came to a baton and hit the ice. The ice cracked and split down the middle releasing pressurized air. It was like we punctured an air pocket. The glacier crumbled off to the side and I tackled my uncle out of the way. Then a figure stood at the top of the opening. Her eyes were glowing along with the tattoos that ran down her arms.

"Magnificent," my uncle said as we both stood. I nodded my head, too mesmerized for words. Then the glow stopped and she collapsed; almost like her knees gave out. I ran to her and caught her, falling to my knees as she landed in my arms. I laid her down on the ice as my uncle gave her his cloak. I brushed the hair from her face as her eyes slowly opened. When she opened them, her eyes were the color of crystals. She didn't say a word to me. She just smiled. I smiled back as I spoke.

"Do you have a name," I asked?

"Y/n."

"I am Zuko. This is my uncle Iroh," I replied as I introduced my uncle.

"It is a pleasure meeting you Y/n. Please rest. We will take you back to our ship so you can be warm," my uncle offered. She nodded her head before closing her eyes again.

"Promise me you won't leave this spot? I don't want to leave Yin." I looked over my shoulder at my uncle and he shrugged.

"You have our word, my dear. Rest now," my uncle reassured her. I picked her up in my arms and stood up. After thanking my uncle, she shut her eyes and seemed to fall asleep. "You do realize what this means Nephew? Do you realize who you have in your arms," My uncle asked me softly as we made our way back to the ship.

"All I'm concerned about is getting her someplace warm and safe."

"So the fact that she is a 16-year-old Air Nomad means nothing to you," he asked. I shook my head.

"That doesn't matter right now. Come on Uncle. Let's just get her someplace warm."

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 Might do a part two to this one, but I don't know yet. Should I do a part two? Let me know what you think.