Avatar the Last Airbender: The Admiral's Daughter Zuko and OC

The Boy in the Iceberg

Three years later

It had been three long years since I had left the fire nation, and as far as I was concerned they were the best three years of my life. I hadn't had any friends in all the time I had lived on the streets of the fire nation, but now I had Zuko and Iroh, and I was even friends with one or two of the guards. Plus now I didn't have to hunt for scraps to eat to survive, I had food brought to me by the guards every day. The only bad thing about this life was that Zuko hadn't been successful in his search for the avatar.

Over the years Zuko had become anything but himself, in his search for the avatar he had lost more than his honor, he had lost himself. I didn't really care about finding the avatar, but I would do whatever it took to help Zuko because he was my friend and I would do anything for him.

I was sitting on deck with Iroh playing a game, and at the same time watching Zuko train when we first saw a hint that the avatar was alive. We had found no evidence of the avatar since our journey started and I had watched helplessly as Zuko lost hope. But it all changed on that one fateful day.

I was the first one to see it, a bright beam of light shot up into the sky, I shouted to Zuko, "Zuko look!" They were all mesmerized for a quick second before Zuko broke the moment.

"Finally!" Zuko said, turning to Iroh. "Uncle, do you realize what this means?!"

"I won't get to finish my game?" Iroh asked. I hid my laugh through coughing.

"It means my search is about to come to an end," Zuko said. It hurt me when I heard the hope in Zuko's voice, I didn't want him to be disappointed by yet another failure.

Iroh sighed and continued to play, I on the other hand looked at Zuko sympathetically.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source!" Zuko said fiercely, the light dwindled and disappeared. "It has to be him!"

"Or it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko," Iroh said, sighing. "I don't want you to get too excited over nothing."

I nodded at Iroh's advice.

"Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming Jasmine tea?" Iroh said pleasantly.

"I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar!" Zuko shouted angrily. "Helmsman, head a course for the light!" Zuko ordered pointing at the spot where the light had been.

Zuko stomped off to the other side of the ship.

"You'd better follow him, I'm afraid I may have upset him," Iroh said, sighing. "But hurry back, I want to finish our game."

I nodded, "Alright, but please, next time don't offer him tea, that never ends well," I said good naturedly.

Iroh chuckled and I followed Zuko to the front of the ship.

"Hey," I said gently, putting a hand on Zuko's back. "Are you okay?"

Zuko shook me off, "I'm fine," he said coldly.

I sighed. "Zuko listen to me, I know that this might actually be him this time but don't get too excited, you remember last time and-"

"I know," Zuko said in a gentler tone. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I just- I have to go home, I can't live like this forever, I don't want to be a failure, I need to regain my honor."

"And you will, when the time comes you will, you just have to be patient. In the meantime you have Iroh and I, we're here for you," I said, putting my hand in Zuko's.

This time Zuko didn't resist the physical contact, he held my hand back.

Later Zuko had convinced me to watch his firebending training with Iroh. I didn't like watching much but it was something to do.