Hey everybody- so I've actually already written this story (don't go read it or else you'll spoil it for yourself!) but I was 15 when I wrote it, possibly even 14...and well, now I'm going on 19. I think I can write it better- because I loved that story so much. Therefore! The story that lots of people loved is back! I give you, FORBIDDEN LOVE (oh yes, the title is cheesy, but I was 14, give me a break).

Quick little summary of this… It takes place in the very first book- you just have your main characters. For the most part, this is about Zuko, Zhao, Uncle Iroh, and then some characters that I develop. Keep all that in mind. I'm a huge Zuko fan, always have been, and I don't really like who he ended up with, so I just created my own character. And places. And everything really. Forget the summary- you'll hopefully love it. So…enjoy! Read away my lovely reader J

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Chapter One : Overboard

Flames trickled down the walls, bursting from Zuko's clenched fists. His knuckles were white as he paced back and forth in the small, metal room, mouth in a grimace.

"Prince Zuko, will you calm down," Uncle Iroh said, glancing at his nephew and taking a sip of tea.

Zuko turned on his heel, eyes wide as he exclaimed at his uncle, "Calm down? You want me to calm down after he was invited to stay on my ship?!"

"By he, do you mean Zhao?" Uncle Iroh shrugged his shoulders gently. "And yes, we are giving him a ride to the capital of a captured Earth village. Nothing to worry about, so sit down and have some tea,"

Zuko's nostrils flared, a thin puff of smoke raising into the air as he yelled, "I will not have tea!" He turned around quickly. "I'm going for a walk!"

Uncle Iroh raised an eyebrow, his cup half way to his mouth. "But it's late. Must be past midnight,"

"I don't care!" Zuko exclaimed, heading for the door. What did Uncle know about these matters? It didn't matter that they were giving Zhao a ride to the Earth village- what mattered was that Zhao being on his ship picked at his pride. Zhao was not a friend, he was not someone to help. He was someone who flaunted the fact that Zuko couldn't return home- and he probably immensely enjoyed that fact.

Uncle Iroh watched his nephew throw open the heavy door. "Well," he called, "Would you like me to save you some tea?"

Zuko paused for a moment and glanced back at his uncle, still filled with anger. "…Yes, yes I would," He stormed out of the room, leaving his uncle chuckling.

The night air met him, a cool breeze sweeping over his warm skin. It was calming outside- he could think more clearly and focus on his thoughts. Going over to the railing, Zuko looked up at the sky, closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. He hated that man so much- General Zhao. Stretching out his hands, Zuko grasped the railing. There was nothing more that he wanted in life but to go home. To see his room again…the hallways…even such minuscule things like the paintings that hung on the walls. He needed to be home, to belong somewhere and out at sea…he didn't belong anywhere. He was homeless and unwanted. That is, until he found the one thing his father desired…

It was just then that a sudden force interrupted his thoughts- there was no time to react. He felt the five fingers spread out on his back and then he was falling. The calming water below was suddenly rushing up to greet him, swallowing him as if he was nothing but a mere insect.

Up on the railing, a man smirked to himself.

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Nothing looked right underwater. Things were blurry and fuzzy and his eyes stung from the salt water. For a moment, he surfaced, gasping for a breath of air and preparing to let out a yell when a wave struck him, pulling him back under. The sea was rough on him, tossing him and turning him over and over. His body was exhausted as he tried to pull his way towards anything; he could feel himself weakening. Before he knew it, everything went black.

After what felt like an eternity, Zuko groaned. His head was aching; it felt as though a thousand of the avatar's flying bison had just sat on him. He opened his eyes slowly, thankful that the sky was still dark, although the sun was just peaking up above the waterline. Slowly, and cautiously, he tested his body- first he moved his toes, then his feet. He spread out his fingers- was that sand beneath them? He had washed up somewhere then; he supposed that was good, at least he was on land.

Bending his elbows with a groan, Zuko managed to sit up. His entire body felt like it was quivering, he felt so weak.

There was a sound to his right. "Hey!"

He turned his head in the direction of the sound but couldn't make out the figure it belonged to. It was a pretty voice though. Slowly he got to his feet, stumbling slightly as he did so, a hand going up to his head. His hands shook and his knees wouldn't be able to hold him up much longer.

"Hey! You! Look at me!"

That voice again… Zuko stared at the approaching figure, blinking a few times to focus his eyes. It was…a girl? Yes, it was a girl, she had to be about his age. Her hair was long and black with braids and beads woven into it in random places. Her skin was tan, the kind of tan that a person gets from staying out in the sun to long, and she wore a long, thin, flowing skirt. Her entire outfit was flowing in the breeze- even her white, short sleeved shirt. She was without a doubt, one of the strangest girl's Zuko had ever seen before in his life. Something about her just radiated freedom and a sort of wildness that he had never encountered before. She looked beautiful and untamed- and after a moment he noticed, very angry.

"Look at me!" She exclaimed, coming closer to him, though still a good distance away. Waves lapped up against the beach, playing at her bare feet.

"Wha…" Zuko managed to whisper- his throat felt like sandpaper, he couldn't speak to save his life.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The girl snapped, coming to a stop and putting her hands on her hips.

Zuko stared at her, opening his mouth to speak and then shutting it, a sudden wave of nausea hitting him. He felt horrible, like he was going to collapse any moment.

"You're standing all over my garden!" The girl yelled, motioning wildly to the bits of grass mixed into the sand that was scattered beneath him. "It took me a year to make all that grow and you're ruining it!"

The girl stared at Zuko, her eyes crazed and she let out an exasperated gasp, throwing up her hands and turned away. Just at that moment, Zuko felt all the energy in him die out and he fell to the sand with a loud thump.

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Zuko stirred a little in bed, pressing his eyes with his fingertips. Oh, Uncle was going to love to hear about this dream. It was just crazy enough to be up his alley. Floating at sea…washing up on a beach…a crazy girl with a garden that was probably just a bunch of sea weed…

"Stop moving, kay?"

Zuko's eyes sprung open and he sat up quickly, which was a horrible mistake as his stomach clenched and he doubled over with a gasp. He stared at the girl, the same girl as before, who was sitting in a chair that rest against the wall. She smiled at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Told you so," she said with a shrug. She stood up slowly, coming over to where he lay and reached across him to grab a wash cloth from a table. She dipped it in a bowl that sat on a table on the other side of him and wrung it out. "I'm sorry about before, I didn't realize that you were hurt,"

"I'm fine," Zuko rasped out, trying to straighten himself out so he could sit right, but his stomach clenched again.

The girl looked at him for a moment, her eyes dubious, and she set the cloth down. Placing a hand on the back of his neck and the other on the front of his chest, she smiled. "Let me help, kay?" She pushed slightly, helping him to lay back in bed. Zuko stared at her, letting out a breath. This girl, he didn't know who she was or if she could even be trusted, but she did save his life so he owed her at least that much gratitude.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

The girl smiled, glanced at him, and then turned her attention to the wash cloth. "Well, I wasn't about to let you become fertilizer for my garden, now was I…?" She glanced upwards, as if to think about what she just said, and then burst out laughing, dipping the cloth in the bowl of water. Zuko stared at her, his eyes widening just a tad in surprise. She was insane, there was no other explanation.

Without asking, she dabbed his forehead with the wash cloth- Zuko didn't pull away, honestly the cool cloth felt good against his warm skin. He didn't feel quite as exhausted as he had before, and the shaking had stopped for what he could tell. He took this moment to glance around the small room. The walls were made up of logs pulled and tied together. It was a dull room, a quaint one that obviously didn't care much for décor.

His eyes slid to the girl, who was dipping the cloth in the bowl again. "Where am I?" he asked.

The girl grinned widely, glancing at him- her brown eyes were so deep, they sparkled from his question. "Buitenbeentje Island," she said with a laugh. At his expression, she grinned even wider. "I know what you're thinking, but yes, it's real."

Zuko stared at her. There was no way he could be on The Island of the Misfits. He had heard stories of it from other travelers- people knew it was real, it's just that it was so very hard to find. There were tales that the only people who could find it were those who needed somewhere to go- which is why most of it's inhabitants were wanders, the poor, lost folk, and people looking to escape.

"We're very happy that you're here; sometimes we get new folks but nobody ever comes in such a dramatic way like you did," She laughed again and the beads in her hair clinked together. Suddenly she looked at him, tilting her head to the side. "Say, what's your name, stranger?"

Zuko paused for a moment. Here he was on a strange island with people he didn't know. He didn't know if they supported the fire nation or if they completely despised it. If they did despise it, then he would be a prisoner for these people and the chances that they would treat him nicely were slim. He swallowed his pride and offered up the only possible solution- the safest.

"Teken," he lied, "My name is Teken,"

The girl smiled softly, patting the cloth against Zuko's forehead again in a soothing way. "Teken…" she murmured, "What a nice name… My name's Kaori, I'm glad to meet you Teken,"

And with that, she let out another laugh, put the cloth down and left the room with a little wave. Zuko stared after her, unsure whether or not she was sane. He knew though that he had to get off his island as soon as possible. To many things were waiting for him out in the world, to many things needed to be done. He couldn't stay at The Island of the Misfits- after all, he had a home. He just had to get there.

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So, that's the first chapter, I hope you like it. The words Teken and Buitenbeentje are both Dutch words- they mean "Mark" and "Misfit" Sooo….basically this is Misfit Island- I like to think of it as like the land of the lost toys. I hope you enjoyed that- let me know. J

-Emma