DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender...yet (evil laughter heard in the backround)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello fanfiction-ites! This is my first addition to fanfiction, and I intend to write more. This is pretty much an after math of Sozin's Comet, where Zuko finds an old friend who unexcpectedly changes his life forever. This will be a kind of introduction to a trilogy I am writing on Zuko's children.

CHAPTER 1

Paper work. That's all Zuko ever did anymore was paper work. Fire Lord, sign this. Fire Lord, read that, it could drive a man insane. Oddly, he thought that the life of a Fire Lord would be a bit more glamourous. It had been a few months since Fire Lord Ozahi was defeated. The world wasn't perfect, but there seemed to be more of a shine to the sun. The gang had split up almost as quickly as they had come together. Aang and Katara went off to the Earth Kingdom to help those who were injured or left homeless by the attack on the day of Sozin's Comet, which had come to be known as The Night of Fire by historians. Sokka took Suki to the Southern Water Tribe, where his family was. He intended on helping rebuild his home, but he wanted to take a break first. Toph was with Iroh, for all Zuko knew. She had kind of vanished after the corination. Ty Lee joined the Kyoshi Warriors and had gone with them. Finally, she could put her talents to good use. Far away from Zuko. Azula was put into a far too elaborate mental insanity in the mountains of the Fire Nation. The effects that the years of bottling up her sadness and fear finally drove her over. Zuko wanted to keep her in someplace quiet and nice, where she could maybe become his little sister again. Maybe. Ozahi was kept in a prison, secluded from everyone. He was treated much better than any of the other prisnors held there, and he was given anything he asked for, but he still shot away anyone who dared speak to him. Especially Zuko. Mai stayed with Zuko, and had become almost a consort to the Fire Lord if you asked any of the nobles. Everyone knew that they were going to marry sometime, so why not start now. Mai didn't seem to mind, but, Mai didn't seem to mind anything. Zuko had grown tired of the harassing questions and considered cutting it with Mai just to silence the peanut gallery, but he wouldn't do that, though. He cared for Mai, deeply, and he didn't intend on losing her love again.

Then there was Jasmine. Her deep, brown eyes and long raven hair still caught Zuko off guard. Jasmine probably wouldn't be mentioned in the stories and histories that would be published long after he was dead, but he remembered her. He would always remember her. Jasmine was born a servant of the palace, and had been given to him as a playmate when he was a child. She grew to be his best friend. When Zuko was banished, Jasmine was sent with him. She had followed him through anything and everything, and had almost lost her life countless times, but she never faltered from him. Except on the day Aang was hit by Azula in Ba Seng Se. He had never seen her so mad before. Mad at him. She fought against him, and was arrested, sent to the Boiling Rock like a common theif. Zuko would never forgive himself for that. He should have done something to help her, if no one else. She forgave him, but he never understood why. When Zuko and Sokka infiltrated the Boiling Rock prision, they didn't just brek out Suki and Hakoda. Zuko made a side trip to break out Jasmine as well. She forgave him, very slowly, but forgave him. She also joined Aang and his friends, something she had been wanting to to do since the start. On the Night of Fire, she helped free Ba Seng Se with the White Lotus Society. Zuko was never told about what happened on that night. Frankly, he didn't want to. She disappered after their reuinion in Ba Seng Se. He missed her, more than anything. He needed to find her. Find Jasmine, daughter of Roso, a girl who had grown up in a family of rebels and spies? Yeah, that would be easy.

Zuko was six when she was brought to his door. She was thin, almost too thin, and her dark hair was combed so straight, there was swelling at the roots for the hair was pulled so hard. She wore the simple red garb of the servants of the palace. But, unlike the other servants, she looked directly into Zuko's eyes, almost defiantly. Her mother was Fire Lady Ursa's head servant, who was treated as a lady's maid. Lady Ursa had met Jasmine before, and thought that she would be a perfect friend for the young, quiet Zuko.

He didn't really know what expect from the girl. Even at such a young age, he knew a fire cracker when he saw one. They were left alone in his room, him sitting in a chair, she sitting on the floor. Her eyes never left his.

"So, what's your name?" asked Zuko.

"Jasmine. My parents call me Jazz, though, unless their mad at me. What's your name?" she asked. Her voice was like silk.

"Zuko."

"Zuko? That's a silly name. Hey, you wanna play a game?"

"Um, sure."

"Great!" Before the young Zuko could object, he was being dragged away but his new playmate, who would end up being one of his closest friends.

"I need you to find me someone." said Zuko as he paced around his study. His valet, Lee, stood near by, ready to answer to his lord's needs.

"Yes, Fire Lord?" Zuko returned to his desk, and dug through a certain drawer in his desk. A drawer that remained locked, with only one key. Zuko pulled put a picture of a girl. Her face was chisled and strong, her large eyes pericing whoever dared to look. Her hair fell around her face, obviously not cared for because of the large amount of it. The thing that stuck out in the picture though was her smile. She was smiling. When the people of the Fire Nation had their portraits done, they didn't smile. Ever. Zuko handed the picture to Lee.

"This is Jasmine daughter of Roso. She's probably still in the Fire Nation, she wouldn't leave her parents for long. Find her, and then report back to me. Just, be quiet about it. If word gets to her that she's being looked for, she'll vanish. I need this information soon."

"Yes, Fire Lord." Said Lee as he backed out of the room. Zuko didn't turn, he just stared into the roaring fire, his mind lost in the past.

Jasmine was ten, Zuko was eleven. Things had changed since they were children. Zuko was taller, and muscle was starting to form from his constant training. Jasmine was also taller, and her eyes were now just the right size for her head. They still acted like children, though.

"Come on, Zuko!" yelled Jasmine as she ran through the halls of the Fire Nation Royal Palace. Zuko ran behind her, struggling to keep up with the overly energetic girl.

"I'm not coming on, you just need to slow down! What do you have to show me?"

"You'll see!"

Jasmine sped around a corner, the skid marks from her shows making a sharp curve. Zuko tried the same trick, but just ended up slipping. Jasmine looked back, laughing heartily, until she ran into the happy, yet slightly bewildered, Fire Lady Ursa. Jasmine was knocked back onto the floor by the impact, even with her cat like reflexis.

"Fire Lady Ursa, oh please forgive me, I wasn't looking where I was going." Said Jasmine as she knelt low onto the ground, her forehead touching the cold, black marble. The Fire Lady smiled, and bid Jasmine to stand.

"Please, think nothing of it. You were having fun, just like all children should. And, I'm sure my son is close by." Just as she said this, Zuko ran directly into the back of Jasmine, knocking them both over. Zuko rose he head some, and blushed, finding Jasmine buried under him. She smiled, slightly pushing him in the chest, incouraging him to get up. He quickly rose, straighting his robes, while Jasmine rose, but kept her head down.

"Good morning, mother." Said Zuko, embarrassed.

"Good morning, Zuko. Where are you two headed?" Zuko immediately perked up at this.

"Jazz says she has something to show me." He said, nudging her in the shoulder.

"I do." She smirked.

"But, she won't tell me."

"I won't." Lady Ursa smiled, slightly shaking her head.

"Well then, it's best you get going!" Zuko smiled, speeding off past his mother. Jasmine went slower, though, making sure to not make eye contact with her surperior, but once she was a few feet away, she turned and ran after Zuko. Lady Ursa smiled at the two friends. Soon Jasmine would be grown up, and so would Zuko. Things would begin to get more. Complicated.

They ran through the palace courtyard, the dust skipping up at their heels. Jasmine agiley jumped onto a crate, then climbed onto the roof of the palace. Zuko looked up at her, shaking his head. Jasmine smiled at him, then climbed up higher onto the roof. Zuko followed. For a moment, he lost sight of Jasmine, and feared that she had fallen off, but as he climbed higher, he found her perched on the highest bit of the palace. The morning sun washed over them both, the fire within them awakening. Zuko sat next to her, looking out over the capitol city. She sat so still, Zuko was almost afraid to speak.

"What are you looking at?" he asked, in a whisper.

"The city. Isn't it beautiful?" she asked, still looking forward. Zuko looked over the capitol city, and had to admit that it was beautiful. The spirit of the people was so bountiful, it seemed to rise up into the sky. Zuko smiled, and leaned back, enjoying the view. They sat there for some time, not worrying about anything else.

It usually took Lee a day to find people for Zuko. It took him two days to find Jasmine. He said that she was known for hanging out at a gym, dueling almost everyday. Zuko smiled at hearing this. Jasmine could never not firebend for long. Zuko decided to go see Jasmine for himself, instead of having her escorted. Most of his best soilders probably wouldn't make it back. Zuko threw his robe over his shoulders, preparing to pull the hood over his head, he heard light footsteps at the door. Being used to ambushes, he turned quickly, taking a fighting stance. He calmed when he met the stern eyes of Mai.

"Oh, hi Mai. What's up?"

"Where are you going?" she asked, completely ignoring his question.

"Well…um…" He faltered, leaning onto a pile of scrolls. Mai didn't seem to notice. "I'm just going to visit an old friend."

"What friend?"

"You remember Jasmine, don't you?" Mai's eyes widened if only for a second when she heard this, but she quickly settled. "Do you mean that servant girl?"

"Mai..."

"No, go ahead, have fun." She said in a complete monotone, but a bit os spite on her tounge. Before Zuko could even stop her, she was gone. Zuko considered delaying Jasmine, and going after Mai instead, but, at the moment, Jasmine seemed more interesting.

The streets of the lower places of the capitol city were filled with people, and Zuko had to pull the hood closer to his face to keep from being recognized. Finally, he comes to the gym that Lee had pointed him to. It had no name, just the emblem of a dragon wrapped around a flame over the door. It seemed like someplace Jasmine would go. Zuko took one step for the door, but was met back a man flying out of it. Zuko ducked just in time to miss the poor man's exit. He landed roughly in the street, groaning, but not getting up. Zuko, hesitantly, stuck his head into the gym. Jasmine was fighting a man who, by the looks of the scars and burns on his body, was losing. She jumped up, spinning, a wave of fire landing on the poor man. Jasmine grunted and stomped her foot.

" Come on! Is there anyone left in the Fire Nation who can truly firebend anymore? Sure, we lost the war, but that doesn't mean you have to lose all backbone!" shouted Jasmine. Even in her tight midrift and unkept hair, she still looked very intimidating. The men in the room who could still stand backed into the wall.

"I'll take you." Said Zuko in a low voice, attempting to hide it. Jasmine turned towards the voice, and quickly glanced over the unknown figure.

"You intend on fighting me in a robe? Wow, this will be short." Said Jasmine, crossing her arms.

"Don't worry, baby, you'll get your work out." said Zuko, knowing that calling her baby would light her flame. Her eyes widened, and a trail of smoke escaped from her nose. Suddenly, Zuko was met with a ball of flame directed at his head. He bent backword, the flames so close that they actually singed the tip of his hair. He quickly came back up into a standing position. Jasmine was already coming at him, her arms circling her body so fast, the fire almost ingulfed her completely. Zuko swiftly moved out of the way of an ark of fire that would have cut him in two. He quickly brought his hand up, defending another attack where Jasmine jutted out with her foot, but was not quick enough, and was knocked back a few feet. He grunted as he hit the hard floor. Jasmine was either better than he thought, or he needed to shape up.

Jasmine stood infront of him, her hands resting comfortably on her hips.

"Ah, you know, you're right. I am getting a work out."

Zuko smiled and rose slowly. "You are way too confidant." Jasmine slightly smiled, and took a fighting stance, finally interested.

Jasmine was eleven when she was taken away. Zuko complained for days about how unfair it was, and how he demanded that he, as prince of the Fire Nation, have her back. Others assured him that Jasmine would only be gone for a year, and then she would be right back. He was told that Jasmine had to leave because she was having something called a "rising". All girls went through some sort of puberty, but firebending girls, especially the powerful ones, went through something larger. Zuko wasn't there when Azula went through her "rising", but he could understand the results. Firebending women mutured during their "rising". Their bodies matured, their powers matured, and their minds. Later in life, Jasmine would avoid the subject of her "rising", saying that it was too traumatizing to talk about. He didn't want to push her, but still, he was curious.

It was a fairly sunny day, the sun sitting perfectly in the sky. Zuko sat, reading, under a shady tree, while Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai played near by. Zuko pretended to ignore Azula's taunts when it came to him and Mai. He could almost feel Mai blushing as Azula shouted why "they wouldn't just make out already and get it over with". Zuko looked up when he heard the soft brush of feet on the grass. He smiled when he saw his uncle, Iroh, smiling at him. Even with the loss of his son, he looked as if he had never been happier.

"Uncle, how are things?" asked Zuko as he stood. Azula and her entourage had stopped their playing to watch the proceedings. Zuko didn't notice at first the young girl that stood behind Iroh.

"Fine, Prince Zuko, perfectly fine, but I didn't come to speak to you. I found this young girl wandering around the palace, and she said she was looking for you. Come here, my dear, and let the prince see your face." Zuko rose an eyebrow as the girl came forward. When she raised her head, his mind immediatly forgot how to work. He was staring into Jasmine's warm, brown eyes. But, she was different. She was taller, just a few inches shorter than him, and there were parts of her body that he swore weren't there before. She had a certain air about her, too. It was as if you could see the flames that rested inside that small frame rising out of her. It was amazing.

Jasmine smiled, knowing that her change was a definite suprise to Zuko. She smiled kindly, tilting her head at an angle, and said, "Hello, Prince Zuko."

Zuko was immeditly knocked out of his former trance, and looked into the eyes of not just a beautiful girl, but his friend. Without thinking, he pulled the suprised servant into a tight hug. Jasmine was momentarily stunned, knowing that such contact was forbidden between a member of the royal family and a servant, but, as his hug grew tighter, she gave in and wrapped her arms around his back. Iroh smiled a small, irrelevant smile, but on the inside, he was jumping like a child.

Azula crossed her arms, and scowled, not approving of the hug between prince and servant at all while Ty Lee just giggled at the exchange between old friends. But Mai. Mai's eyes were so dark, they made a moonless night look bright. It was so small an quick, no one would have noticed, but one tear was running down her pale cheek. She quietly backed into the shadows and struggled to lock her fiery emotions inside, like she had trained herself to do.

A bead of sweat rolled down Jasmine's cheek.She was actually getting tired. That was impossible. She trained for hours everyday to make sure she was strong enough not to get tired this quickly. She could tell her hidden opponent was getting tired, as well. He was bent over slightly, his knees almost shaking. If he just took off that robe, he would be fine, Jasmine thought to herself. That was it! He was hiding his identity for a reason. She needed to know why. She immediatly took on offensive role, and charged towards Zuko. He saw her coming, and immediatly knew her aim. He sidestepped her quickly, but Jasmine had anticipated that trick, and she quickly turned, remaining infront of him. She reached up for the hood of his robe, but Zuko quickly grabbed her wrist and jutted it to the side. She spun around to where her back was to him, and jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow. Zuko doubled over in pain, and Jasmine took advantage of that, and drew her leg up into an ark, and jabbed her heel into his back. The force knocked him down, his face colliding with the wood floors. Jasmine stood over him, and turned him over onto his back. She lit a small flame in her hand, just incase he was someone she didn't wish to meet again, and threw back his hood.

Her eyes widened as she stared into golden eyes. Royal eyes. She quickly, almost stumbled, off of the defeated Fire Lord, and bent down onto her knees, along with her other victims who had stayed and watched the fight. Jasmine really had grown in her hand-to-hand combat skills, he thought to himself. He winced as he wrapped his arm around his chest. She would hit the wound from Azula's lightning. It just wouldn't be Jasmine if she didn't. He looked up, glancing around the room, seeing all of the regular members of the gym on their knees.

"Please, stand." he said, smiling to them all. They all stood hesitantly, even though Jasmine stayed down.

"Fire Lord Zuko, it is an honor to have you at my gym." said the gym owner as he shuffled up to Zuko. Zuko smiled and nodded, having learned that if you just smile and nod, they'll go away.

"It is an honor to be at a gym of this...um...magnitude. I am greatly impressed with the array of members you have collected, but, I must ask if you all could leave my opponent and I alone for a moment?" The gym was immediatly empty. Zuko raised an eyebrow and smiled to himself. It was good to be the Fire Lord. He walked over to a still kneeling Jasmine, and bent down, balancing on the balls of his feet. He smiled a warm, sincre smile that would stop a baby's crying.

"Hello, Jasmine."

"Fire Lord Zuko, please forgive me.Ihadnoideawhoyouwere,andIwasjusttryingtodefendmyself,andIwouldnever..." mumbled Jasmine at about one hundred miles an hour.

"Jazz, Jazz, please, stop." Zuko couldn't help but laugh at Jasmine in her nervous state. It was just too good. She slowly rose her head, and he could see in her eyes worry, and happiness.

"I really am sorry, Zuko. But I must admit, I totally whiped your Fire Lord butt!" said Jasmine, a smile from ear to ear gracing her face. Zuko's eyes widened for a moment, suprised by her sudden outburst, but he then calmed, and cocked an eybrow at her.

"My butt? Oh no, Firebird. It was your butt that was whiped." Jasmine smirked. "Okay, my butt might have been whiped a bit more than yours." They both laughed as they pulled eachother into a tight, long awaited hug.

"So, Zuko, Fire Lord of the Fire Nation, Emperor of the Red Islands, what has brought you to the Dragon Flame Gym?" asked Jasmine as she settled into an "Indian style" sitting position.

"Believe it or not, I came looking for you." Jasmine's face dropped for a moment.

"Me? Why?"

"No reason really. I just, I don't know, missed you. It has been a while since the comet, and I haven't seen you since then. You're one of my best friends, after all." said Zuko as he lifted her chin so her eyes were looking into his. Jasmine blushed slightly at his words, and action, and smiled up at him.

"I missed you, too." Zuko smiled, then stood quickly.

"You're leaving? Now?" she asked, both sarcasem and sadness ligering on her tounge.

"Well, yeah," said Zuko as he threw his robe on, "but you're coming with me."