You're the only love I've ever known
But I hate you, I really hate you,
So much, I think it must be

TRUE LOVE.


"Eri!" Zhao barked. The girl propped herself on her elbows and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes father?"

"Get up, there's work to do," He spat. Then he stormed out. Eri sighed.


"Uncle, I want the repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his trail," Zuko said.

"You mean the avatar?" Iroh asked, clearly disinterested. Zuko turned around sharply to face Iroh as he slightly backed off.

"Don't mention his name on these docks!" Zuko gestured with wide arm movements. "Once word gets out that he's alive, every firebender will be out looking for him, and I don't want anyone getting in the way!"

"That would be a shame, Prince Zuko," A girl said. Zuko and Iroh faced her, wearing looks similar to shocked horror. She was pale, with warm brown hair in a ponytail and bright blue eyes. She wore all red with black combat boots, three golden bands on each bicep, thin gold belts, and thin gold belts that crossed over her chest three times. She glanced over Zuko's shoulder. "Careful, Zhao's coming."

"Who?" Zuko asked, confused since he didn't hear her. He turned to see Zhao walking towards them.

"Prince Zuko," Zhao acknowledged.

"Captain Zhao," Zuko replied with distaste. Zhao smirked.

"It's commander now and," He bowed slightly in Iroh's direction. "General Iroh. Great hero of our nation."

"Retired general," Iroh corrected with a bow in reply.

"And I see you've met my daughter, Eri," Zhao said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Eri bowed.

"It's a honor to meet you," She said, wearing a small smirk. Zuko was confused as to how she had blue eyes when she was clearly Fire Nation.

"Likewise, Eri. I wasn't aware you had a child, Commander Zhao," Iroh said. Zhao frowned.

"The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests anytime. What brings you to my harbor?" Zhao said, drastically changing topics. Eri looked away with a grim look. Zuko's curiosity spiked.

"Our ship is being repaired," Iroh said, gesturing towards the severely damaged ship.

"That's quite a bit of damage," Zhao said.

"Yes," Zuko said, holding up one finger, while Iroh stared disinterested in front of him. "You wouldn't believe what happened." Zuko glanced at his uncle, and angrily commanded him as he gestured at Zhao. "Uncle! Tell Commander Zhao what happened."

Yes. I will do that!" He said, eyes widening in surprise. Eri hid her laughter. Iroh happily held his hand up and relates enthusiastically. "It was incredible!" To Zuko, from the corner of his mouth in a confused tone, he added, "What? Did we crash or something?"

"Yes! Right into... an Earth Kingdom ship!" Zuko said, looking at his uncle, clearly uncomfortable.

"Really? You must regale me with all of the thrilling details." He said, disbelieving. He smirked while he got into Zuko's face. "Join me for a drink?"

"..." Eri threw a look to Zuko that said 'Leave while you can'. he averted his gaze and began walking away. "Sorry, but we have to go."

"Bye then!" Eri called. Zhao smiled evilly at him as he started to walk away, but after a few steps, Iroh placed his hand on his shoulder to hold him back. Eri sighed. So close.

"Prince Zuko, show Commander Zhao your respect," Iroh chided. He removed his hand from Zuko's shoulder as he faced Zhao while Zuko just slanted his eyes. "We would be honored to join you. Do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favorite."

Iroh and Zhao walked off. Zuko grunted in anger upon hearing Iroh's tea comment. He growled angrily and firebended a small arc out of annoyance as he turned to walk after them. Without meaning to, the fire got too close to Eri for comfort, and she reacted by bending a stream of water from the harbor to block the fire. Zuko stared at her, and she cleared her throat.

"Mixed heritage," She said quickly, turning and walking off. "Come on, your uncle and my father are waiting."


One of the bigger tents was being guarded by two Fire Nation soldiers. Zhao was inside the tent, standing in front of a large map of the Avatar World that was hung up on the wall. He held his hands behind his back. Zuko sat in a chair in front of a low table, and Eri sat in the back corner of the room. iroh stood in the other corner, looking at some weapons that were placed against the wall.

"...and by the year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule," Zhao finished. He turned. "The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war."

"If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool!" Zuko spat angrily. Eri raised her head to look at him curiously. Zhao merely smirked.

"Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue. So, how is your search for the Avatar going?" Zhao asked. Iroh knocked over a weapon display behind them. The weapons came crashing down with a lot of noise. The general cowered at the noise and the damage he wrecked. Zhao turned around looking annoyed.

"Eh... My fault, entirely," He said. Iroh placed his hands in his sleeves and walked away backward with a faint smile on his face.

"Eri, clean that," Zhao barked. Eri nodded and set to work fixing the rack. Zuko frowned at the sight.

"We haven't found him yet," Zuko said aggressively.

"Did you really expect to? The Avatar died a hundred years ago. Along with the rest of the airbenders." Zuko's eyes narrowed as Zhao's face contorted in an evil expression. "Unless you have found some evidence that the Avatar is alive?"

"No. Nothing," Zuko said clearly, glancing up at Zhao and then back in front of him. With an expression of disbelief on his face, Zhao rose from his chair.

"Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you found," Zhao said, leaning towards Zuko. Eri's hand hovered over the sword she was about to pick up, staring at the two men from the corner of her eyes. Her fingers were flexed, and she was ready to bend if it was necessary.

"I haven't found anything," He said angrily. His tone became softer, and slightly mocking. "It's like you said. The Avatar probably died a long time ago," He added. He stood. "Come on, Uncle, we're going."

As Zuko approached the door, the guards stopped him from leaving by crossing their spears while a third soldier entered the room. Said soldier approached Zhao.

"Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed Prince Zuko had the Avatar in custody, but let him escape," The soldier said. Eri picked up the sword and placed it back, and stood with a wary expression as her father smiled evilly.

"Now remind me," Zhao walked up to him and leaned over to talk into Zuko's ear. Zuko slanted his eyes. "How, exactly, was your ship damaged?"


Zuko was sitting in a chair in Zhao's tent, flanked by two Fire Nation soldiers while Zhao was pacing back and forth. Eri stood slightly behind Zuko with a blank expression, and Iroh sat in the corner with a pensive look.

"So a twelve year old boy bested you and your firebenders, "Zhao stopped pacing. "You're more pathetic than I thought."

"I underestimated him once, but it will not happen again!" Zuko said angrily.

"No it will not. Because you won't have a second chance," Zhao said aggressively. Zuko looked completely alarmed.

"Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for two years and I-" Zhao angrily turned around, spreading flames in an arc. Part of the tent caught flame and Eri bended the tea to put it out.

"And you failed!" Zhao roared. He walked intimidatingly up to Zuko. "Capturing the Avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now." Zuko's face contorted with anger and he jumped at Zhao. Before Zuko could reach the commander, however, he was held back by the two guards. "Keep them here."

Zhao walked away, leaving an angrily panting Zuko. Enraged, he kicked the table in front of Iroh, breaking it clean in two, sending the objects that were on it flying through the room. Eri yelped and caught most of the fragile objects before they could break. She threw a glare at Zuko.

"More tea please," Iroh said calmly. The soldiers left to stand outside and Eri slammed down the things she caught with a loud clang.

"What's wrong with you?! Do you even care what would happen to me if this stuff had broken?"

"What, are you go crying to your dad?" Zuko snapped. Eri slapped him, the sound echoing through the tent. Zuko became furious. "How dare you!"

"I've done nothing but help you since you showed up, and you repay me by digging my grave!" Eri exclaimed. Zuko was taken aback, his hands loosing their flame.

"How does breaking china kill you?" He asked. Eri looked away.

"It's not that," She said. She then walked out. Zuko looked to his uncle, who was frowning and looking at the spot where Eri had stood.

"Something isn't right between her and her father," Iroh said.

"She's a waterbender. She said she has mixed heritage," Zuko listed off, hoping to help his uncle figure it out.

"Her father is abusive, that much I can tell. I will have to look into her heritage."

"How, we are leaving," Zuko said firmly.

"And we are going to invite her to come with us. That is not up for discussion," Iroh said. Zuko grunted but didn't say anything.


Zhao pushed the cloths aside that served as tent doors and entered. Eri followed after. Iroh and Zuko, who were both sitting at the low table, frowned as they saw she had a split lip.

"My search party is ready. Once Eri and I are out to sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and," Zuko angrily looked down. "you'll be free to go."

"Why? Are you worried I'm going to try and stop you?" Zuko asked angrily. Zhao laughed.

"You? Stop me? Impossible," Zhao sneered. Zuko stood, enraged.

"Don't underestimate me Zhao! I will capture the Avatar before you!" Zuko yelled.

"Prince Zuko, that's enough," Iroh said sternly, standing too.

"You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of war ships under my command and you? You're just a banished prince. No home, no allies. Your own father doesn't even want you," Zhao taunted. Eri flinched. The words could also apply to her.

"You're wrong! Once I deliver the Avatar to my father he will welcome me home with honor, and restore my rightful place on the throne!" Zuko said. Zhao smirked.

"If your father really wanted you home, he would have let you return by now, Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation," Zhao spat.

"Father!" Eri said. Zhao shoved her away, and she fell forward. Zuko stood and caught her. He let her take his seat next to Iroh.

"That's not true," He said.

"You have the scar to prove it," Zhao said. With a cry of frustration, Zuko came face-to-face Zhao's face.

"Maybe you'd like one to match!" Zuko cried furiously.

"Is that a challenge?" Zhao asked mockingly.

"An Agni Kai. At sunset," Zuko said. Eri closed her eyes and sighed, clenching her fists.

"Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you," Zhao taunted. He turned to leave. "I guess your uncle will do."

"Why did you say yes?" Eri groaned once her father left, her head falling into her hands.

"Prince Zuko, have you forgotten what happened last time you dueled a master?" Iroh asked with worry.

"I'll never forget," Zuko said darkly.

"Please be careful," Eri said. Zuko threw her a look.

"Why do you care if I'm hurt?" He asked. Eri stood.

"Because I don't want my father to hurt anyone else," She said firmly.

"Your father is abusive, isn't he," Iroh asked rhetorically. She looked at him warily.

"I never said that."

"You've left quite a lot of hints. Your father wants you to journey with him. Would you to prefer to come with us?" Iroh asked. Eri's eyes widened.

"But... you hardly know me," She said. "Why would you help?"

"Are you coming with us or not?" Zuko asked gruffly. Eri looked to him and smiled.

"It would be an honor."


"Do it!" Zhao challenged. The Agni Kai was coming to an end, Zuko was obviously going to be the victor, and now all that had to be done was Zuko burning Zhao. Zuko grunted and thrusted his fist forward, emitting another fire blast. Smoke appeared and Zuko erected himself. There was a blackened spot on the ground, next to Zhao's face.

"That's it? Your father raised a coward," Zhao spat.

"Next time you get in my way, I promise, I won't hold back," Zuko threatened. Zuko turned his back to Zhao and started to walk away. Zhao erected himself in, his back facing Zuko. He suddenly turned around and aimed a powerful kick at Zuko, spreading his flames. Before Zuko noticed anything, however, Eri jumped in the way with a powerful wave of water. Zuko whipped around to see the girl growling at her father.

"You ungrateful brat, what are you doing?!" Zhao roared.

"Zuko won fair and square, father," Eri said.

"So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you," Iroh said. Zuko, surprised, looked to his uncle.

"Get out of my way, child," Zhao growled at Eri. She stood straighter.

"No. I'm done taking orders from you, Zhao. You were never a father to me, and you definitely aren't a person to look up to," She said.

"Are you looking to be killed?" Zhao snarled. Eri's lip quirked.

"No. But if you're asking for a fight, I'll will," Eri said.

"Eri, don't," Zuko said. She shooed him to the sidelines.

"This isn't an Agni Kai, alright? No bending. Just weapons like swords," Eri said. Zhao nodded and had a soldier hand him his weapon of choice: A sai with elongated prongs. Eri pulled the coil of metal from her belt and flicked out to reveal it was actually a whip.

The two stared at each other for a while, circling each other with wary looks. Zhao struck out first, blasting fire at her. Eri dodged with a growl.

"I said no bending!"

"You don't make the rules!" Zhao called back. He sent another blast, using his pair of sai as conductors. Eri weaved her way closer, until she was close enough to whip Zhao's feet. He jumped back, and Eri coiled the whip around his ankle. She tugged and his root was broken, and he fell on his back. Eri pulled on the whip and Zhao was dragged forward. Eri stared down at him with disgust.

"Is that all?" She taunted, turning his words against him. He grabbed his sai and with a enraged cry, lashed out. Eri cried out in pain as the three blades ripped across her right eye. She covered the wound with her hand

"Eri!" Zuko yelled. He jumped from the stand and ran to the girl as blood gushed through her fingers. She was screaming in agony by the time Zuko reached her. He picked her up as Iroh pointed towards the docks.

"Get her to the ship!" Iroh ordered. He rushed Eri away and Iroh glared at Zhao.

"You are disgusting," He spat, before turning and leaving.


Yay! A new character and I already had her get her eye torn out!

As you can from the story title, I was inspired by P!nk's True Love. Plus an abundance of other songs out there, but psh, I won't bore you with the details.

Btw, I chose the name Eri because it means Blessed Prize and she is pretty BAMF.

Disclaimer : I don't own ATLA or Zuzu or Iroh or Zhao, or any other character, only Eri.

Next chapter is The Warriors of Kyoshi, where Eri will be recovering in the infirmary for the most part, and talking to Iroh