Author's note:

Hi-ho! my first Avatar fanfic! Woot! You usually find me writing in the Kim Possible section but I love this show way too much and the world of Avatar is filled with so much material its like a fan fiction gold rush. Wow...my very first one and boy did I took a challenge. I wanted to write a decent Ty Lee/Zuko. A very weird and if you ask me one of the more "feel so right" pairing. If you don't like it...well you don't have to appreciate the couple to think that they're kind of cute.

This will be the first chapter of what I feel are many to come. Its the prologue so its kind of short but I've already started on the next chapter and hope to upload that soon. Its a young Zuko and Ty Lee. I tried to get them as in character as I feel possible. Don't worry. We'll get to the Zuko and Ty Lee you all know and love.

Read, review, and enjoy.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

A dream that I once knew

Prologue: Childhood and beginnings

The rustling sounds of footsteps echoed long and hard into the night as a grand figure made his way towards his destination. It was late past the tiding of the full moon, the vast rooms and corridors of the Royal family's palace loomed with silence. He opened the door to one such room with caution. Taking off his helmet, he walked in gently and smiled as he marveled at the sight

A young woman lied in bed, exhaustion written all over her sweat glistened face. Yet no amount of sweat beads or unraveled wild hair could hide her beauty. She was breath taking.

"Iroh…" She smiled, Her voice as soft as a whisper.

"Lovely Ursa." He bent down, giving a gentle kiss on her brow. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. The war council went on a lot longer then I expected. Is that?…"

"Uh-huh." Ursa contently nodded. A tiny little thing moved slightly in her arms as she began to wrap the blankets around it tighter.

"What a lovely child." Iroh waved his finger in front of the baby, as if to say hello.

"He's asleep." She cooed, rocking the child back and forth.

"What is his name?"

The Princess looked at him for a second before returning her loving gaze back at her child.

"…Zuko."

The Dragon of the west could not have agreed more. "Zuko. Prince...Zuko. A strong name."

"A gentle name." Ursa added.

Iroh gave a hearty laugh. Somehow he was not surprise. He did not knew a single living soul who was kinder and gentler then Princess Ursa. "Yes, yes. A gentle name as well."

Silence fell before the two as they continued to watch the infant sleep.

"He's so beautiful." Ursa commented.

"He'll make a fine Prince." Iroh watched his newfound nephew intently.

"I can't believe I'm a mother now, Iroh. I'm…a mother. I…I have a son…a son Ozai always wanted."

The fire prince-successor hesitated for a moment at the mention of his brother's name. "I don't suppose Ozai came to see you lately?"

Princess Ursa shook her head slowly. "No. A messenger arrived last night. My lord husband is deeply entrenched in the south somewhere, overseeing some matters of the war effort. He sends his regards in his stead."

Iroh sighed disappointingly. "It is a sad day when a man cannot come home to see his own lovely wife. Especially when the day calls for him to be a father as well."

Ursa chuckled softly. "Oh Iroh…You know your brother by now. Ozai is…different."

"You could hardly tell the family resemblance." Iroh chided a joke, which brought a small smile to the princess's face. The two continued on the night with small talk and the minutes flew by.

Sensing it was about time to give the princess her rest, Iroh politely stood up. "It is late Ursa. A mother needs her sleep for the coming day ahead."

Ursa nodded, tired but happy.

As Iroh was making his way out the door she pleaded to him one last time.

"Yes?" He replied.

"Do you think Lu Ten will like Zuko?"

It gladdened his heart to hear Ursa say that. "My son would be honored. I'm sure they will be the best of friends."

"I'm…glad." Ursa closed her eyes and within moments joined her son in peaceful slumber.

Iroh shut the door behind him slowly. While weary and tired from his previous duties earlier, he felt strangely light and energized.

He was happy and it was perfectly justified.

After all, it was not everyday that one becomes an uncle.

Lao Shun was never a patient man. Never had, never will.

Time was a precious commodity that could never be bought or stocked, and as a successful merchant lord he knew such a thing was rare and precious and should be spent wisely. It had been his frugality and caution that earned him his success and elevated him into the nobleman status twelve years ago. Yet for all his success, he and wife were never blessed with an heir apparent. The gods saw fit to give him 6 daughters yet not a single son to succeed him. He would laugh at the irony of his success if he was not so embittered by it.

And now his wife was in labor again. Never having the stomach himself to watch such an event for the 7th time he opted to remove himself from the room and decided to wait outside.

For once and for all, he prayed for that son he never had.

"Daddy what are you doing?" A little girl came out to greet him sweetly. Her long cascade hair tied in a clean ponytail.

"Not now Shun. Daddy's a little preoccupied. Wheres your sister Liu? Go play with her." He said half heartedly.

"Ok." The little girl walked on back where she came from.

Shortly after another voice disturbed him from his anxious waiting. "Father! Mother told me to tell you you're a bastard for doing this to her...whatever that means."

"Watch your language Fen! and tell your mother she deserves it!" He puffed profusely on his pipe. Smoking always took out his edge. Living in a household full of women tended to drive you insane.

"Master Lao!" A lowly servant came up to him, bowing his head.

"The doctor told me to come and tell you that it is done sir."

"And?" Lao was tensing up.

"And congratulations sir..."

"YES!" The nobleman was ecstatic. Finally after all this time. It would seem his luck was beginning to change.

"...its a lovely girl."

"...what?" His joy ended too soon.

The servant paused slightly before saying it again. "I-its a beautiful baby girl sir."

"...whats your name?..."

"Who? me sir? Uh...Ping."

"You're fired."

"b-but...I don't even work for you sir!"

"You work for the doctor who works for me. Ergo...you work for me. You're fired."

"B-but sir!-"

Lao Shun quickly tuned him out as he had his guards take the man away. Another year, another daughter, another disappointment. What was the point of hoping anymore?

He sighed. Another daughter...he could barely remember the faces of of his already troublesome daughters. They almost all look alike.

"Maybe I'll give this one a unique name...Ty Lee or something...maybe...who cares..." Lao Shun's walk was slow and deliberate as he began to walk back to his wife and greet his newest disappointment.

"Guard!"

The faceless helmet of a fire nation soldier greeted the voice as the guard stiffened up and saluted him.

"Yes Prince Zuko."

"Have you seen my mother?"

"Princes Ursa is with the young princess Azula right now in the hanging gardens, continuing her lessons." The guard responded with no emotions.

"Oh." A young prince Zuko sighed. He knew better then to disturb his sister's royal lessons. He knew it only made father angry. He would wait to talk to his mother some other time.

"My Uncle?"

"The great general has left to go join the fire nation admirals to inspect the ships."

That was too bad. Zuko had hoped his uncle would have time to play with him. The funny old man always seemed to find a way to make Zuko laugh.

"And...my father?" He inquired last.

"Fire Prince Ozai is meeting with Fire Lord Azulong on war matters, my prince."

"I see..." in a way Zuko was glad. Part of him feared his father, although he never fully understood why. Mother always said that he loved him.

Being a prince of the fire nation was a great fortune, but it was quite lonesome for a nine year old boy. It wasn't always like that. He always had Lu Ten to play with. His fourteen year old cousin was his constant companion and playmate around the palace. He seemed to be like the big brother he never had. But ever since Lu Ten attended the fire nation academy he saw little of his cousin, who always seemed to be off touring the country or traveling with his father. That wasn't fair. He was playing soldier for real. While Zuko was stuck inside the palace walls with his wooden sword and straw dummies. "I want to fight too." He remembered himself saying that.

"When you're older cousin." Lu Ten always would always tell him.

"You always tell me that."

"And you would always sulk afterwards." Afterwards Lu Ten would give him a harsh slap on the back and the two would laugh and chase one another.

It had been a full season since their last game.

This year had not been so bad. He was finally old enough to learn their country's greatest gift and heritage.

The art of Fire Bending.

He remember the first time he saw the magical art performed in front of the royal family, as demonstrated by the country's greatest masters. The taming of the world's most wildest element had never been more beautiful and deadly. Like all children his age, he was captivated.

Still...it can get pretty lonely.

"Mom watch this!" She eagerly said as she carefully applied her weight to her hands and began to walk forward on her palms.

"Thats nice dear."

"...You're not even looking." Ty Lee whispered as she bounced right back on her feet.

"Uh-huh. Thats nice Min."

"...I'm Ty Lee." She replied in a weepy tone before walking off in a brisk pace. She never understood how her own mother could not differentiate her from her sisters.

She loved her family but at the same time it felt as if her family and their household seemed to regard her as no one in particular. As if she did not exist.

And that hurt deeply. Ty Lee thought that it would be a great idea to pick up a skill to differentiate her from the rest of her elder clones. She was always good with her body, but elder sister Mao already took dancing. Ty Lee really didn't know what she wanted. She was just trying something new in front of their mother, with no luck whatsoever.

"Hey Liu, Father is looking for you." One of her elder siblings called out to her as she was about to make it to her room.

She looked at her intently before speaking. "...Fen...Its Ty Lee."

"Oh." Her forgetful older sister paused. "Sorry Ty. I thought you were Liu. If you see your sister tell her Father was looking for her."

Ty Lee mumbled something silently, which Fen took as a sign of understanding and walked away.

She opened her screen door with much gusto and closed it with equal force. Sitting down in front of a mirror she began to unravel her hair tied in a pony tail. It was not quite nearly as long as she wanted but it was growing. She then looked at her face in the mirror quietly. "I'm me...I'm Ty Lee." She touched her reflection softly, afraid as if it would break if she touched it any deeper then that.

A young prince and a lonely girl made the same wish that night.

"I wish I had someone to talk with." Zuko looked up at the heavens.

"I wish someone would recognize me." Ty Lee bottled up her feelings.

"I wished I had a friend." They both wanted.