A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first Avatar fanfic, and I'm nervous about the reaction. I've never really liked Mai, so I've made up my own OC to replace her as Zuko's love interest. I hope you enjoy it. I'm already writing the sequel, as I've finished writing this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Nikelodeon or A:TLA.
Alright, where do I begin? Well, the beginning was a good place to start. My name is Alea-Hope. My parents died when I was little and I had been placed in the foster system.
A good man took me in for few years. He taught me to defend myself, no matter the cost. I was taught archery, jujitsu, kung Fu, broadswords, and taught how to shoot. When he died he left me a beautiful pair of twin blades. I never showed them to anyone and it was hard on me when he passed. I was 2 years from being free to make my own decisions, still in the foster home. Yet, I had my traveling backpack stuffed with everything I owned and I was planning on taking off.
So, I was minding my own business, talking a walk in the woods after school when suddenly I fell in a hole. It was difficult to explain, as it wasn't a normal hole in the ground. Next thing I know I'm falling, for like an hour. I was getting really bored of being freaked out, so I listened to my music and dreamed about when I would finally land. I knew I was a goner at this rate, but I tried not to think about that.
And without any warning, thump. I wanted to groan in pain but the wind was knocked out of me.
"Why?" I wheezed out.
I heard someone running towards me, and I didn't bother to see who it was.
"Miss, are you alright?" A man said, kneeling beside me.
"Yeah, nothing broken that I can feel." I said, cautiously moving my limbs. As I opened my eyes I was surprised at how familiar the old man looked.
"Do I know you?" I asked, sitting up slowly.
"I do not know. Have we met before? My name is Iroh."
Iroh… I know I've heard that name before…. Wait a second.
"Oh," I said, taking in my surroundings a bit more. It didn't have a cartoon quality to it like I would have imagined, and I was surprised at the beauty everything held.
"I'm in a TV Show…. This can't be happening. I'm dreaming, yeah that's it! Nope, pinching definitely hurts and I am not dreaming. Crap…." I thought to myself.
"I've heard of you, actually. A retired General for the… Fire Nation." I said, testing out how it sounded.
"Ah, now do not fear me young one. Contrary to belief, I do not hold the same views as my brother." He said, holding up his hands as a sign of peace.
"I believe you." I said smiling.
"General Iroh, would you believe me if I told you I'm not from around here." I said, standing up as he did.
He scrutinized my clothes and nodded, "I have never seen such clothes in all my travels, and what are those things dangling from that cord?"
"Oh, well I have a device that sits in my pocket and plays music. And these send the music to little speakers that I put in my ears." I said demonstrating with my iPhone.
"Interesting. You must come with me young one. I wouldn't want you wandering the streets, as night is coming." He said turning and walking down the path he came from.
"Where will you take me?" I asked, still trying to come to grips with being sent here. I wondered if I would meet the Aang, and the gang. I was excited to see the world I had loved on TV, now being able to explore it myself.
"My nephew's ship is docked at port. We will give you a place to rest for the night." He said smiling.
"Tell me young one, what is your name?"
"Alea-Hope. I don't know how to thank you. I have no money or goods to trade for this kind gesture." I said, not wanting to offend him.
"Nonsense, I would not accept. You will be my guest." He said smiling at me.
"How did you fall out of the sky? There was no trees on that path and I would have remembered seeing a falling figure from the sky."
"I'm not sure. One moment I'm falling down a hole in the woods, for almost an hour, and then I landed here. I knew that had it been the distance I thought it was, I was never going to walk away from that fall. This is not my… world." I said, looking back at the place I had fallen.
"Well, I have never heard of such things happening, but I am glad you survived Alea."
"I am too." I said running a hand through my brown hair. I attempted to put it up in a ponytail, but found it too difficult, as it was terribly wind blown from the fall. Digging through my book bag I found a small hairbrush and began to groom myself.
"How old are you young one?" Iroh asked, as he walked ahead of me slightly.
"I'll be 17 in a month." I said, putting the brush away, and choosing to leave my hair how it was.
"Not much older than my nephew." He said smiling back at me. I was reminded of where I was and who I was going to meet.
"Prince Zuko," I said quietly.
"Yes. My nephew is a troubled young man, but I'm sure having a pretty girl around will help him loosen up." He laughed.
"I don't think he will appreciate me being on board tonight." I said, apprehensively.
"I am still his elder and I get away with a lot of mischief on that ship." He said winking.
"Ah, here we are." He said as we approached a seaside village, showing a beautiful array of colors as the sun began to set.
"It's beautiful." I said breathlessly.
"I agree young one. Now, let us join my nephew and the crew." He said walking towards the lowered gangplank. I took in Zuko's ship, amazed at how everything looked here. It did not look like a cartoon at all. Everything had such detail, and it was memorizing compared to take in.
"Uncle, you were supposed to return half an hour ago. Where have you been?" I heard. Okay, I know this was weird and out of the ordinary, but the voice was exactly like in the show.
"I made a friend and she needed help." Iroh said, stepping aside. I wanted to stay hiding behind him because as soon as I saw Zuko, I was doomed. He was beyond handsome and I always liked him, even when it was just a show. His eyes landed on mine and I was a goner.
"Who is she?" He asked, his face contorted in confusion.
"She can speak for herself." I said, narrowing my eyes at him. And then I remembered why I hated him in the first season.
"My name is Alea-Hope. You wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I am having a really weird day." I said holding onto the strap of my laptop bag.
"Why are you here?" He asked with a snarl.
"She is my guest. She is not from around here and has no money. She has nowhere to stay and I did not wish her to sleep in the forest." Iroh said, with a stern voice.
"So we are taking in strays now?" Zuko roared.
"Okay, that's it. Thank you for your offer Iroh, but I would rather sleep on the ground for a year than deal with his attitude." I said turning around.
"Alea, wait." Iroh said gently.
"Zuko, she is staying. You do not have any right to treat her like you are. She does not belong to any of the four nations." He said, leading me to the deck.
"How is that possible? You either are from the Water tribes, the Fire Nation or the Earth kingdom. There is no way she can't belong to any of them!" Zuko yelled.
"Would you like some proof?" I asked, pulling out my Macbook and sitting down on the deck.
"What is that?" He asked, clearly confused.
"Okay, the simplest explanation I can give is a power based typewriter. But I can look up information like you would in a library, and I can play music." I said, playing some music.
"Okay, as long as you turn it off!" Zuko said, obviously annoyed by the techno I blasted.
"Believe me now?" I asked, folding my arms.
"Not really. If you are lying, I will throw you in the brig. Or overboard." He said as I closed my laptop.
"You've got yourself a deal." I said, standing beside Iroh, as Zuko stalked off.
"As I've said before, he is troubled."
"I already know his story." I whispered, shocking Iroh.
"I know exactly how he got his scar and that he is searching for the Avatar to seek his father's approval. I know what happens, how the war ends." I said, before closing my mouth. I gave away too much.
"I see." Iroh said leading me to the door where we would enter the ship. I was directed to a room, where there was running water.
"Tomorrow we shall purchase you new clothes, as not to draw attention to yourself." He said, before adding, "I will keep your secret. I believe you have much to tell me."
With that, I was left alone. The bed was decent, and I was able to clean my face a bit. But the whole time I was alone, I was trying to think how everything would play out. Had I changed something by simply being here?
Iroh had graciously given me refuge on the ship and I was grateful for it. I helped in the kitchens to be helpful and helped the cook purchase food for the crew at each port. Iroh agreed to my terms to let me work for my food, but drew the line at anything more. He understood my work ethic and how I bartered, but refused to let his guest be without clothes and shelter. Iroh brought me into one ports himself and purchased clothes for me. I wasn't opposed to fire nation clothes but when I could, I wore the clothes I brought from my world.
"You must blend in, if you are to not attract attention to yourself." Iroh said from outside the curtained off changing room. I adored how light and flexible the crop pants were, but the shoes weren't the most comfortable. The tunics were light and breathable. I enjoyed how free I felt in these clothes, and found a crop halter-top similar to that Katara wore in the Fire Nation in Season 3. I knew it was a little bit more risqué, but it showed of my stomach quite nicely.
"You look beautiful my dear." Iroh said with a small bow.
"Thank you Uncle Iroh… I mean er-" I said halfway through returning the bow.
Iroh laughed and said, "I believe we need a cover story for you my dear. I believe we can say you are my ward, so you may call me Uncle."
"That seems fair." I laughed in return.
A/N: Let me know what you thought, and I'll update soon!