WARNING;; way too much OC, bad humor, obnoxiously overused idea that isn't even awesome anymore, possible OOC! BEWARRRRE.
disclaimer;; you're so mean, suggesting that.
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throw the stars in the sky
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The sun beats onto the snow and blinds her — blue eyes the color of the avatar's tattoos blinking — as she tromps toward the shore. The ocean opens up in front of her — her refuge, her salvation, her kingdom — and she smothers a grin.
"I am not supposed to be alive," she whisper-shouts towards the endless waves. "Katara is not supposed to be alive, and I am not supposed to be alive!" A laugh rings, holding for a beat, and then stops. "We are waterbenders!" She whispers, as if it is a secret. "And the Fire Nation did not find us."
She turns on her heel, thin strands of water wrapping around her as she walks proudly back to her home.
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Words echo across the blue expanse of water — "I am not supposed to be alive!"
Somewhere on a Fire Nation ship, a pale young man stops in the middle of a firebending stance.
"Uncle? Did you hear that?"
"What, Prince Zuko?" The older man turns toward his nephew. "I heard nothing."
The Prince shakes his head and resumes training, fire engulfing his movements.
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Ichi is there when Katara and Sokka come back with a boy named Aang. He has blue arrows tattooed on his bald head and his arms, and gray, naive eyes.
She is horribly aware that he is the world's last salvation — a twelve year old who is blissfully unaware.
Katara comes over to her, whispering, "Isn't he wonderful? Look at him — he's an airbender."
"Yes," Ichi says bitterly. "I noticed."
Katara looks at her with a question on her lips, but the pale girl had already left.
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"How can they not see?" Ichi hisses, obscenities screaming through her mind. "How can they not see that our only hope is so obviously not —"
She is cut off by the sound of a ship crashing through ice and her natural response — after years and years of training and training and training — is to create a current so strong that the ship is propelled backwards.
It doesn't take long before the tall young man on the deck looks in her direction.
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Zuko's eye catches on a silhouette, obviously in a bending stance, and orders a few soldiers to go and imprison the person who was opposing the Fire Nation Prince.
He is surprised when they bring back a girl his age — if not a bit younger — with a calm, calm face, with pale skin to rival his, and livid blue eyes.
"Who are you," Zuko begins, his own anger bubbling up, "to go against the prince of the Fire Nation?"
"Who are you," the girl mocks, "to ask me such a question before introducing yourself?"
"I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. I order you to answer my question."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Your Highness. Let me introduce myself. It is a courtesy, after all —"
"Get on with it!"
The brunette bows, still mocking, "The name is Ichi. I happen to be a waterbender."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really. And I'm damn proud of it, too."
"It's not like a lady to be so crass." Zuko taunts.
"Well, that's a shame. I suppose you'll have to put me in a cell now, seeing as I 'went against the holy Fire Nation's Prince,' or whatever."
He rolls his eyes. "I suppose so."
He smirks at her back as she is escorted to her jail cell.
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A few minutes later, there is a loud exclamation coming from the general direction of the cells.
"What—!"
Somehow, Zuko is not surprised when the girl bursts through the door leading towards her supposed prison. He smirks. She grins wickedly.
"You're at a horrible disadvantage, being in my domain." She drawls, relaxing into bending stance.
His smirk grows wider. "Oh, but the sun is high in the sky — that doesn't help you too much, now does it?" Zuko throws back, ready for anything she'll throw at him.
Water surrounds her, and he knows he'll get a good fight.
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He makes the first move, sending fireballs towards her. She jumps up onto the railing of the ship, and water drenches him from all sides, quickly freezing. Zuko heats up his hands and melts the ice, before opting for fist to fist action and rushing up to Ichi with clenched fists. She dodges his punches easily, and brings her leg around for a roundhouse kick. He jumps over it and sends fire from his feet. One hits, and she winces momentarily before summoning a water whip and wrapping it around his ankle.
She flicks a wrist, and he is thrown against the railing. She smirks, certain of victory, and turns on her heel.
But —
"Stupid. Never turn your back on an enemy unless you're absolutely positive you've won." He breathes in her ear.
Sapphire eyes widen, and he knocks her out with one smooth blow.
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She wakes up, dreary and unsure of her surroundings. The first sight she is aware of is a brooding young man — Prince Zuko, right? Her mind registers — and an older, concerned face. She starts at the rich colors of the room, and is confused — why is she not in a cell?
"Ah! She is awake! ...Ichi, is it? I am Prince Zuko's Uncle, Iroh. I apologize for my nephew's behavior earlier. I hope you will join us for some tea."
"Uncle! We didn't agree this! The girl —"
"Ichi, Prince Zuko. Her name is Ichi."
Zuko rolls his eyes and continues, "— fine, Ichi is to be taken to the cells immediately! She went against me and even fought me —"
"Zuko."
"— so how could you even consider having her for some tea!"
"Zuko. You will have tea with us, and you will not argue. Ichi is our esteemed guest." Iroh seems terribly certain of this fact, and Zuko shuts up. "Ichi, this will be your room for a while, and there should be some appropriate dresses for a young lady like you in the wardrobe over there."
"Thank you, ah — how should I address you?"
"Just Iroh will be fine."
"Well, then, thank you, Iroh." There is a pause, and, hesitantly, she adds, "And you too, Prince Zuko."
"You're very welcome. Come, Zuko."
The Prince is not in a good mood as he leaves the room.
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Ichi stands in front of the wardrobe, rich silks of burgundy and blood red staring her down.
What is this? Her mind screams. Why am I here, compliant and polite, these people who are my damn enemies!
"Whatever." She grumbles, and grabs a crimson dress with a slight wrap feel to it. But honestly, she pays little attention to the robes she's donning and more attention to the face in her mind.
His face is so sharp, she ponders. And that scar — no, that burn —, I wonder where it came from. He obviously doesn't trust easily. But those eyes —
Her train of thought is cut off by a few sharp knocks, and Zuko's voice floats in.
"Uncle says I'm to escort you. Hurry up."
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Zuko is not happy. Firstly, he has to treat the girl who attacked him as an esteemed guest. Secondly, he has to escort said girl to tea because his Uncle told him to. Not to mention —
Wow. Zuko curses his evil mind for betraying him and thinking something like that. That damn girl doesn't look that good! Okay, she does, but —
Oh, crap. She's glaring.
"What're you looking at?" She asks, her voice suspicious.
"Nothing." He gulps. "Let's go." He offers his arm, and she looks at is as if it's poisonous. "I'm trying to be a gentleman."
"Uh, right." She smiles sheepishly and takes his arm.
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"Oh, there you are! I was worried the tea was going to go cold!" Iroh chuckles. "You look stunning, Ichi. I do hope my nephew was a good escort?"
"He was a perfectly fine escort. I'm sure I would've been hopelessly lost if it wasn't for him." Ichi smiles.
Why is she so polite with him? Zuko wonders.
"Please, sit down." Iroh gestures to the two seats across the table from him.
Zuko nods, and the two sit awkwardly.
"Uh, well —"
"Prince Zuko! It's Zhao!"
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a/n;; Well, this is odd of me. I just decided to write a multi-chaptered Zuko/OC story randomly. Uhm, what?
OH GOD, IS ICHI MARY-SUE? PLEASE SAY NO! PLEASE! Please…?
Constructive criticism is appreciated.