Under the Cherry Blossom ↠ Zuko x OC ✔️

13 | Avatar Aang

The comet slowly flies off into the horizon, leaving the world. The fiery red sky fades to midday.

Zuko stands in his room, near the windows.
The noon sunlight streams in. He slips on a red robe with gold trimmed edges. The Prince, soon to be Fire Lord, sighs and looks out the window.

Arlington and Peanut quietly enter the room. She uses a crutch to walk. Upon seeing Zuko, Arlington smiles. She reflects on the first time she met him to now and how much he's changed.

Prince Zuko gets the feeling that someone's watching him. He quickly turns around, his shoulders tense. When he realizes it's just Arlington, his body immediately relaxes. Zuko walks closer to her.

The duo embrace each other in a hug. Zuko wraps his arms tightly around Arlington's shoulders, her head resting on his chest. Zuko buries his head in the crook of Arlington's neck and sighs. Arlington's hands play with Zuko's black hair, running her fingers through his locks.

"How are you feeling?" Arlington asks in a soft voice.
"Nervous. What if they don't accept me as their new Fire Lord?" Zuko questions.
"They will. And you're going to be the best Fire Lord the Fire Nation has ever had." Arlington moves her hands to Zuko's shoulders.

Zuko gently kisses Arlington's lips. He smiles into the kiss.
"I love you." Zuko rests his forehead against Arlington's.
"I love you too."

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Zuko walks down the hall that leads to the courtyard where he'll be coronated. He sees Aang meditating. Aang is wearing traditional airbender clothes and necklace.

"I can't believe a year ago my purpose in life was hunting you down, and now..." Zuko trails off.
"And now we're friends." Aang smiles.
"Yeah...we are friends." Zuko agrees.

"I can't believe a year ago I was still frozen in a block of ice. The world's so different now." Aang stands up and walks alongside with Zuko.
"And it's gonna be even more different, when we build it together." Zuko places his hand on Aang's shoulder.

They hug and separate as Zuko parts the curtains and walks through them. Aang follows shortly after. They stand in front of a large crowd that's separated into four groups: swampbenders, earthbenders, Water Tribe warriors and Fire Nation citizens. The crowd cheers.

"Please, the real hero is the Avatar." Zuko moves so Aang's at the center of attention.
"Today, this war is finally over. I promised my uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. A hundred years of fighting has left the world scarred and divided, but with the Avatar's help, we can get it back on the right path, and begin a new era of love and peace." Zuko declares.

Arlington focuses on Zuko. She smiles at him. 'I can't believe how far he's come. It honestly feels like yesterday when we first met on his ship near the Southern Water Tribe.' She claps for him along with everyone else.

A Fire Sage, holding the Fire Lord crown, walks onto the platform. Zuko kneels down.
"All hail Fire Lord Zuko!" The Fire Sage places the crown into Zuko's top not.

The crowd applauds and Arlington cheers loudly. "Yeah Zuko!" Even Peanut joins in by happily barking.

Zuko's golden eyes scan the crowd, searching for Arlington. When he finds her, their eyes lock and he smiles brighter than he has ever before. The duo's the happiest they've ever been.