A loud gasp snapped her eyes opened. She looked at the hammock that hung above hers and she saw Aang waking up and walking on deck. She would normally wake up to follow him but she saw Katara following from behind.
"Nightmare, again?" Katara asked whispering slipping her gaze from Iris's back to Aang's figure that walked away.
"Seems so," Iris answered. Before she was able to wake up and follow her brother, Katara stopped her.
"You need to rest, I'll go check on him," Katara said and with no longer arguments, she walked on deck as well.
Iris knew that Aang would appreciate it more if Katara checked on him and she just lied back on her hammock. They've been traveling in a Northern Water Tribe ship with Pakku and some of the healers and benders. They would return back to the Southern Tribe and they would leave the Avatar and the Defender to an Earth Kingdom base close to Omashu where King Bumi would teach them earth bending.
Every night they spent since the siege, she would lie awake missing him. Missing him so much. Regretting everything she had said and done. But she only did what she had to protect him.
She was a danger... at least that was what she thought of herself. She had yet to tell Aang and Katara about her decease and she was surprised and relieved to see that she hadn't gone through it again since the North Pole. At least Zuko would be safe without her and that was enough...
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"Katara, Iris, I want you to have these," Pakku said taking out from his bag two small bottles wrapped on a thread "Those two contain water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties, don't lose it," Pakku said and Katara with Iris took them from his hand.
"Thank you, Master Pakku," Katara said hugging the old man briefly.
"Thanks for everything," Iris said bowing.
"Aang, these scrolls will help you master water bending, but remember they are no substitute for a real master," Pakku said giving him the scrolls and glaring over at Katara and Iris who had already gotten on Appa.
Aang took the scrolls and he bowed returning back to Appa.
Now it was Sokka's turn. He eagerly walked towards the old master waiting for his present "Sokka... take care, son," Pakku said tapping Sokka's shoulder as he frowned. "Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here, General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu," Pakku said "There you'll be safe to begin your earth bending training with Bumi,"
"Yip-Yip!" Aang said shaking Appa's reins as they started flying away.
"Say hi to Gran-Gran for me!"
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"I see, it's the anniversary, isn't it?" Iroh asked sitting cross-legged beside Zuko.
"Three years ago today, I was banished, I lost it all, I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my throne, I want my father not to think I'm worthless," I want Iris back... He thought bitterly turning away.
"I'm sure he doesn't. Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" Iroh asked trying to cheer his nephew until he realized that it didn't actually hear the way he expected it and Zuko started walking away. "That came out wrong, didn't it?"
It wasn't just that. Zuko found himself more upset about what happened in the North Pole than the anniversary.
"No... no, Zuko, stay back!"
YOU ARE READING
When Hatred turned to Love (ATLA Zuko x OC)
Fanfiction***CURRENTLY UNDER EDITING*** Broken, filled with loss, pain, and anger of her people's death... she could only hope she had died with them. An Air Bender from the Western Air Temple never having the chance to find balance within. She never knew...
