The Walls Between Us (Zuko Love Story)

Chapter 1: The Avatar

Chapter 1: The Avatar

Nami stood on the ship with Zuko just wandering aimlessly at sea trying to hunt down the avatar. The ship had entered the coldest waters in the South a few weeks ago and had used the stars to help guide them along the way. This was a tactic that Iroh had suggested to Zuko since the avatar would be a wise 100-year-old who was clearly a master of hiding. Using the methods of past avatar hunters, such as marking an x on a map, clearly wasn't the answer.

Nami wrapped her fur shawl around her shoulders tighter as she felt a gust of cold air. Iroh noticed and handed her a cup of hot tea. Nami thanked him as she allowed the warm liquid to run down her throat. Nami appreciated how Iroh always seemed to look after her, she always saw Iroh as though he was the uncle that wished hers would be. Iroh always treated Nami as if she was part of the family. When she was younger, he would send her gifts from his travels whenever he sent some to Zuko and Azula.

Suddenly, a beacon of a blue light shot up in the sky ahead of the ship. Nami almost dropped her cup of tea in awe. After a long search, they had reached another clue to the whereabouts of the avatar.

"Finally," Zuko lets out in a relieved tone. Nami glances at him out the corner of her eye and smiles. The blue beacon is a means of hope that Zuko may return to the fire nation once he captures the avatar.

"It is so beautiful," Nami says to herself as she stares at the beacon. Something inside of Nami begins to feel warm inside her even though she was shivering moments earlier.

Zuko heard her comment and couldn't help but to agree.

"Uncle, do you realize what this means?" Zuko turns to look at Iroh who is drinking tea and playing his game.

"I won't get to finish my game?" Iroh says indifferently. Nami cannot help but smile. Iroh purposely riles up Zuko sometimes, but she found his humor to be amusing.

"It means my search is about to come to an end," Zuko snaps as his eyes stare into the beacon once more.

"You know he only meant it as a joke, Iroh knows how important this search is to you," Nami spoke to Zuko softly as she placed a hand encouragingly onto his shoulder. Behind them, they heard Iroh sigh which only fueled Zuko's frustration more.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him." Zuko states, saying it as though he is trying to convince himself of it too.

"Or it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?" Iroh spoke in a calming voice trying to get Zuko see the possibility of it being just a light. A few months back they had followed the celestial lights because Zuko was so sure it was the avatar. This time though, Nami felt as though the beacon was different. She felt power and beauty radiating off of it.

"I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the avatar!" Zuko yelled. Nami decided to step in again to help calm Zuko.

"Zuko, just take a few deep breaths and calm down. Hunting the avatar with anger and frustration will not help you. We need to have our heads focused on the task at hand," Zuko sighed and did what Nami instructed, "Now do you feel any better?" Nami asked him. He nodded before giving out the order to move ahead.

"Helmsman, head a course for the light."

Nami stood by Zuko's side as they neared the light, eventually it dimmed into nothing and Zuko sighed, "Hey, we know he has to be nearby. We are closer than we ever have been before." Nami encouraged.

"Closer doesn't mean we have the avatar captured, Nami. I just want to go home again with my honor," Zuko started to get angry again.

"I know, but Zuko, we have to see the positive in the situation," Nami pushed her loose strands of hair behind her ears as she said, "If we only focus on the negatives in life then that will be a lonely and miserable way of living."