So, the new picture thing is really cool! As you can see, Emiko with her short hair is ballin' in the pic. If anyone wants to draw me something, I would also consider using it for my cover!

Disclaimer: I don't own A:tLA.

Family

Zuko

Zuko had never seen a more beautiful sight. Iroh, completely alive and well. Not imprisoned. Well-fed and fit! Iroh had never looked better...and Zuko had never felt worse. The old man was asleep on his pallet in his own White Lotus tent. Zuko knelt next to him, his head bowed as he thought of all he had done to deserve immortal hatred from the man he thought of as a real father.

Suddenly Iroh started to yawn and stretch. Zuko contemplated leaving before the old man woke, but it was too late as he turned to look at Zuko with drowsy eyes. Those Fire Nation eyes, so similar to Zuko's, widened before Iroh turned his head to the side, completely ignoring the prince.

How could I be so stupid? Zuko wondered, tears brimming in his eyes. He closed them to keep them from falling. "I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know, I'm so, so sorry, Uncle. I'm so sorry and ashamed of what I did." He couldn't help it anymore. Tears ran down his face and his shoulders shuddered. "I don't know how I can ever make it up to you, you or Emiko, but I'll—"

Suddenly Iroh pulled him in, wrapping his arms around the younger man and holding him. Zuko had never felt so loved. The warm embrace of his Uncle made him feel wanted...it also made him feel even worse about how he had treated the wise old man. "I thought you would have been furious with me...Emiko still is, she...I...how can you forgive me so easily?"

"I was never angry with you," Iroh said in that low, rumbling voice of his. It was music to Zuko's ears. "I was sad because I was afraid you lost your way."

"I did," Zuko said simply, frowning as he wiped the tears away from his face. "I left you both alone. Emiko was so scared, and you, you were tortured and imprisoned. I'm so sorry, Uncle!"

Iroh's eyes looked both sad and proud at the same time. "But you found your way again and that is what matters. And you did it by yourself."

Zuko couldn't take the credit. "I had Emiko, Uncle. And I ruined it all."

"Where is she now, my son?" Iroh's eyes looked pained and empty as he asked this question. Zuko knew how much his Uncle loved Emiko, how much he wanted her to be safe and have a normal life. As soon as this war was over...he would make things right.

Zuko stood up and pulled open the side curtain. "Right there." She was training with Jeong-Jeong and Aang, a serious look on her pale, beautiful face. She'd lost so much weight—she looked hawk-like, predatory, with narrowed yellow eyes, thin eyebrows, and her short hair. It had grown out over her forehead and she swept it to the side.

She was wearing a White Lotus uniform, similar to the older men's but without the white collar. Instead, a sash was across her shoulders with a white flame printed on it. It was long and blue on her frame, a grey sash around her waist. The uniform had a slit up the side so that she could move easier. Zuko knew that she was partially spiritual...was that the reason she was a member?

"She's beautiful," Iroh breathed, his eyes watering as he smiled in pride. But then he became confused and he grabbed his chest, right over his heart. "The baby...?"

Zuko's heart panged as well and he shook his head, closing his eyes. Iroh just groaned and placed his head in his hands.

Emiko

I felt like every set of eyes in the encampment were on me, burning through the fabric of my tent. I hadn't spoken to the Gaang since what I was now calling "the incident." Secretly, I was fuming. And I was scared. Who did that man think he was? It wasn't like some old guy could just waltz up to me and declare that he was my grandfather.

Where had he been all my life? When my mother had died, my life suddenly had belonged to

Koh. He could have come and found me. He could have set things straight then. Maybe nothing would have turned out the way it was now.

I sighed and shifted in my meditating position, ignoring the sound of Aang practicing outside with Jeong-Jeong, as if my and Zuko's teaching skills hadn't been enough. I felt as though I was in another cage set by my father, but now he was older...with a beard.

How did someone react to something like that? "Oh, I'm your grandfather. You now must do everything I say because we are related and you know nothing of Firebending! Nothing!" Well, I had something to say to him!

Once again, I fidgeted, unable to continue my train of thought. It wasn't fair to him, what I was thinking. He'd lost his daughter, his career, and his Nation all in the same time frame. While he had been mourning, he had also been deserting the Fire Nation and its military. It wasn't his fault.

But still, couldn't he have sought me out? I was his only grandchild...as far as I knew. Actually, I wasn't even sure if my mother had siblings.

That made me groan and fall backward, throwing my hands over my face. None of this was helping me concentrate. We would have to face the Fire Lord all too soon and I was still dealing with my own personal baggage.

How did one go up to their long-lost grandfather, I wondered. Did I walk up and give him a hug and ask for candy? Did I expect a hand on the back for all I've accomplished? Actually, from what I'd seen so far of the old man, all I really expected was a few condescending words and a 'lesson' in Firebending.

"What do I do?" I asked aloud, scrubbing my face with my hands. I was an adult, a full-grown adult with Firebending powers from the spirits and a temper to match, and yet I couldn't face an old man with greying hair.

I decided to get up, get over it, and go outside to see if my...grandfather...needed help training Aang. Pulling apart the curtain of the tent I'd been given, sunlight shined over me. I felt slightly strengthened and empowered from the fire. In front of me was my grandfather on the ground, trying to sweep the Avatar's feet out from under him.

Aang jumped in the air, using his bending to evade the gouts of fire. Jeong-Jeong leapt up and performed two spinning Firebending kicks, which Aang blocked with two arms suddenly covered in a protective rock coating. The older man then followed up with two Firebending punches, but missed as Aang sped around the old man, keeping the Avatar out of the old man's reach.

I continued watching in amazement as the two masters traded shots. Neither of them lost focus, neither lost their cool. Every time Jeong-Jeong missed, he wouldn't even flinch or put anger into his punch. This went on for a while until finally Aang ended up with his fist at Jeong-Jeong's throat.

"Very good, Avatar," he said simply, returning to the first stance. Then he said no more as he started in basic Firebending moves, flowing through them almost as if he were Waterbending. Aang followed up behind him.

Seeing the way that they both moved together made me feel almost inadequate. I had been training in Firebending for almost fifteen years. Aang had only been training one, and yet he was almost better than I was. I felt the sudden urge to join them.

I then stepped in behind my grandfather. Aang didn't look too surprised, but my grandfather stopped for a moment. He didn't say anything as he stopped and stood with both fists clenched. His eyes roamed me from head to toe. I suddenly felt self-conscious about my short hair and my White Lotus robes.

He then turned his nose in the air and kept practicing, ignoring my presence. My face flaming, I set into the first stance and flowed with both the Avatar and my grandfather, never feeling the two sets of eyes that stared at me from behind.

"You are very powerful for your age," Jeong-Jeong said a much longer time later, moving right beside me. Aang had long since left to practice the other elements. His familiar Fire Nation eyes wouldn't meet mine, but I looked at his haggard face and tried to find a trace of my mother in his face. "Your mother...she was never forced to learn at a fast pace as you have had to. She also had your grandmother, Spirits rest her soul, and myself to learn from."

Tears pricked my eyes, but I turned my face away and extended my arms, following his motions step for step. "I don't remember much of her. I was so young when..."

"When the white fire took her from this world," he said softly, simply, his face holding a far-off look. We were both silent for a moment as we thought this over. I wondered if he knew that it had been my fault my mother had been killed. I decided not to bring it up at the moment. "She was beautiful. Head-strong. Stubborn."

I couldn't help a watery smile. "Sounds familiar."

"She had a weak spot for people who needed...fixing. Thus explaining your father." He sounded bitter on this last part, making me stop and turn to look the old man in the face. I thought that I had seen a piece of my mother in him, but not anymore.

My teeth hurt from grinding them in anger. "Don't speak ill of my father or the dead. He was a wonderful father when it counted. He took care of three children in my mother's stead. Where were you, I wonder? Where were you when everything fell apart and I needed guidance!"

He smirked in a way that suggested he thought me simple. Like he wanted to pat me on the head and explain things slowly. "You know nothing, Emiko."

"I know that I had no clue who or what I was, Jeong-Jeong." I couldn't bring myself to call him 'grandfather' yet. There was something about him that reminded me of my father, the bad side of my father. "I know that I was left alone on multiple occasions, scared and alone at this power coursing through my veins. You were the only family who really knew what I was going through and I never even knew you existed! Mother never spoke of you, Father never mentioned you, how was I supposed to know anything?"

Jeong-Jeong stopped moving as well, looking at me curiously. His momentary confusion made me growl and breathe fire from my nose, trying to let off steam. I suddenly felt confined in my new uniform, in this camp, and I wanted to bend until I couldn't anymore. His eyes suddenly widened in confirmation. "The comet is close."

"You're telling me this now?" I asked with a laugh, starting to move again, faster, using harder techniques and hotter fire. "I know. My blood is boiling. I'm ready."

His hand was suddenly on my shoulder, holding me still and making me shudder from anger, agony, and everything in between. "You are your mother's daughter, your grandmother's granddaughter... Of course you are ready." I wanted to push off his hand, but I couldn't find the energy to do it. "I am...sorry...that I was not there for you when I could be. I am thankful that Iroh was."

I knew that I needed to face Iroh. I just wasn't sure that I could. I missed him fiercely and I wanted to hug him and never let him go. But I didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes now that I was no longer with Zuko...now that I had lost my baby.

"You need to go see him," Jeong-Jeong said softly, not meeting my eyes when I turned to look at him. He did remove his hand, though, and looked rather uncomfortable.

I nodded and then as a second thought bowed respectfully. "Thank you...Grandfather."

Now, finally, he looked at me. I saw a small speck of wonder in his eyes before he coughed to hold back a smile. "Good. Now, go. I must meditate."

"Can I join you later?"

He looked a little rattled that I'd asked him this. "It is called meditation, girl! I cannot have a child interrupting me!"

I smiled at his frazzled-ness and shook my head. I may never be close to my grandfather, but I knew that we could eventually get along. "Of course. I'll be there later, anyway."

Iroh

She was such a beautiful sight. He had never been more proud than to see her in her honorary White Lotus uniform, meant only for the Sun Spirit. Yue had obtained one as well, for the Moon Spirit, but had passed before she was able to wear it. They were the only known Spirits on the ground, and thus were members automatically.

But seeing Emiko actually wearing the uniform, looking healthy, if not a bit skinny, was a sight for his sore eyes. At the moment she was sitting next to him, not willing to interrupt his meditation. Instead, she joined him. Half of the candles around him had turned a bluish-white from her presence, growing to three times their heights.

"Time is growing close, my child," Iroh said after a few moments of silence. He couldn't open his eyes in fear that he would cry. This girl had lost a child, and by doing so, so had Iroh.

The temperature rose by many degrees as she took a deep breath and released it. "I know. I can feel the power burning in me each day we move toward the day of the comet. I don't know what to do with all of this energy. I haven't slept in days, but I'm not tired. I keep practicing...it helps, but I can't get rid of this burning."

Iroh nodded, his face solemn. "You are becoming closer to the Spirits. They are filling you with power. Not only is the comet giving you power, because every Firebender can feel it approaching, but as the Sun Spirit, you are given much more than that."

She was silent for a moment, the only sound in the tent being that of the crackling candles and their flames. "Uncle...will I see my mother when the time comes?"

"Maybe. You may see older reincarnations. This has happened for generations, Emiko. And it will continue to happen until the end of time or until the world is cut off from the Spirits indefinitely."

Emiko took another deep breath, smoke falling from her nose as she fidgeted. "I cannot sit still, anymore, Uncle. I feel as though I'm going to explode!"

Iroh finally opened his eyes and turned to look at her. Emiko's eyes were glowing almost white, looking almost uncomfortable as she shifted in her seat. "You will be leaving soon enough, unless you want to stay and help the Order."

She stared straight ahead, into the fire, still not looking at him. Her body was tense all over as she fought to control something. "I think I will stay, Uncle. I can't do anything else for the Avatar."

Iroh reached for her hand. Even though all Firebenders had higher temperatures than most, he almost pulled away from how scalding her hand was. "I will be honored to have you fight at my side."

Finally her blazing eyes turned to his. She was unbelievably pale, but a glow was starting underneath her skin. "And I will be honored to be there."

"I have missed you, Emiko."

She was silent for a moment, turning her eyes away. She did not release his hand. Rather, she tightened her grip. "Uncle...I'm very sorry for everything that has happened. I have missed you too. I wish I could have protected you, Zuko, Aang..." She suddenly put a hand on her stomach, her eyes squinting as if she were about to cry. "Everyone."

Iroh then wrapped one arm around her shoulder, putting his other hand on hers that was lying on her stomach. He felt a lump in his throat as he thought of the child she would have had—boy or girl, it would have been beautiful. "It was not your fault. The Day of Black Sun was difficult for every Firebender, moreso to you. We were all trying to save ourselves."

"I am living with the pain," she said simply, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I don't know how, but I am."

"That's all we can do at times." Just having her in his arms made him feel complete again. He knew that she had a long few days ahead of her and that nothing would ever be the same again. All the same, he would never change Emiko. Losing the child had changed her. Whether for good or bad, she would always be the girl he wanted her to be.

Emiko

The night had been long. For the second week in a row, I hadn't been able to sleep. I'd eventually gone for a run, trying not to wake anyone up. I'd run for miles and miles, not caring about where I was going or what I was doing. By the time I'd returned, I wasn't out of breath or even sweaty. In fact, I was perfectly fine.

But the power was still there.

It was driving me crazy. I felt like flames were licking at every part of my body. I was tingling with power, making me itch and paranoid. I then realized that I hadn't eaten in two days and I wasn't hungry. What was this comet doing to me?

The camp was having breakfast when I returned. None of the Order looked at me strangely as I came back in just a black breast-wrap and black, baggy training pants. I almost wanted to run around naked...why was I so warm?

I walked onto the Gaang having breakfast with Iroh. I started pacing around the campfire, watching it react to my presence. I frowned and ignored the strange looks that my companions were giving me.

"Emiko," Sokka said slowly, his eyes wide with confusion, "you're...glowing."

"Am I?" I asked with a slightly crazed laugh. "I didn't notice." I was too busy burning up from the inside-out. "Zuko, do you feel as though you are about to burn to a crisp?"

He nodded solemnly, barely touching his food. "It's the comet." That was all he said, but I could see that this was bothering him as well. Had he slept at all? Or was it just me that was completely psychotic?

Aang reached for me, but I flinched away from his grasp. "Emiko, you've got to calm yourself."

I couldn't have him touch me. I knew that just one touch from him while I was in this state would send me back to the Spirit World...and I so didn't need that. "If you were in my shoes, you would understand. I feel as though hundreds of thousands of fires are being put to every part of my skin, my insides, my brain..." I then screamed and sent a stream of fire from my mouth into the air.

Everyone looked to Iroh and asked if I would be okay. I didn't listen to their fears, I just kept pacing, not being able to stop. "She will be fine as soon as the comet gets here. Until then..."

"I'm going to be uncomfortable and feel as though I'm being cooked alive?" I asked, not expecting an answer. I saw it in his eyes.

Zuko sighed and ran both hands through his hair. "Emiko, you're our secret weapon. But will it be enough? Will you be able to fight when the time comes?"

Fire instantly appeared on my arms, licking up my body and almost cooling my inflamed skin. "Koh, yes. I will be."

"Would you be able to face Ozai?"

Looking at Zuko's face, my own burning with my flames, set the hatred for Ozai even deeper in my soul. That man had burned him. He had beaten and abused Zuko, not only physically but mentally as well. Zuko was nothing to that man. Even though we were in a fight at the moment, I knew that I would do anything for this man. My voice didn't sound my own when I said, "Yes."

He nodded, not looking surprised at my flame-covered body. Everyone else looked panicked as the Prince said, "Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Fire Lord. We need you to come with us."

Obviously Uncle hadn't told Zuko that I wasn't going with the Gaang. I was staying with Uncle and the Order, and Uncle wasn't going with the Avatar.

The old man set his bowl down, obviously also not able to finish his food. I could sense the fire building within every Firebender in the camp. "I cannot."

"What?" his nephew asked, suddenly sitting straighter. Fire burned in his topaz eyes. "What do you mean you can't come with us! Aang refuses to kill him. You and Emiko can beat him and we will be there to help!"

Suddenly, I felt as if I were not in my own body anymore. I couldn't speak, but someone was speaking for me. "I cannot risk this weak, mortal body," a voice, such like my own but not quite, said as I continued to burn. "And Iroh cannot kill his brother. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord." Agni, I couldn't move! Give me back my body! For a moment I could move again and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Iroh shook his head. "No matter how horrid my brother was, I do not think I could kill him. And the Spirit is correct. Emiko cannot face Ozai and I cannot come with you. She cannot face Ozai without fear of her body being destroyed."

"Then, though," Zuko said softly, leaning down and clasping his hands together, "then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?"

I'd completely forgotten about the throne. Who would take Ozai's place when all of this was done? Zuko had been gone so long, and Iroh was so old...would either of them work on the throne?

"No." Zuko looked up in shock, his eyes wide as he was momentarily stunned by his uncle's words. "Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko."

He shook his head, saying 'no' over and over again. "I've made too many mistakes."

"Yes, you have," I said simply, stopping my pacing for a moment. The fire finally went out on my body, making the Gaang look relieved. "But you will be the best choice to help restore the Fire Nation. You just need a little help."

Iroh nodded. "I will be glad to be your adviser, my nephew."

I also looked him straight in the eye, not letting him look away. He didn't look able to move his eyes from mine. "The Sun Spirit will also be in her rightful place...in the Fire Nation."

"I'll...I'll try, Emiko. I'll try, Uncle." His face was so sincere...I knew that I had to help him. And I would. How could I stay away from the man I loved? He'd grown so much. He'd learned over the two years we'd known each other.

Sokka cleared his throat, making Zuko and I break eye contact. He looked downtrodden...and I felt upset for hurting him. I'd promised Katara that I wouldn't. But I didn't love Sokka. He was a very good friend...he just wasn't my destiny. "What if Aang doesn't come back?"

My Uncle stood, silent for a moment, and looked over the group standing before him. "Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

"The Order of the White Lotus has been gathered to take back Ba Sing Se," I said simply, lacking in my garb but feeling rather important as I stood before them. "I will be accompanying them."

"No," Zuko said simply, also standing up. He once again held my gaze. "I need someone to return with me to the Fire Nation. Azula will be waiting...and I want you to be there to help me put her in her place."

He moved closer, making me unsure of myself. "I can't. Azula is so strong, Zuko...I can't lose my mortal body."

One of his hands came up and cupped the side of my face. I put my hand over his and leaned into his touch. "I will be there to protect you. I need you there, Emiko."

I then leaned out of his touch and looked to Uncle, asking his permission. With a nod, he dismissed me from the Order of the White Lotus. Suddenly I felt empowered as I smiled at Zuko. "I would like nothing more than to take down that bitch for what she did to me...and what she has done to you."

"What about us?" Sokka asked, gesturing to himself, Katara, and Toph. "What's our destiny today."

"That," came a familiar female voice, "is whatever you think it is." Everyone turned to see Naomi and Ryuu walk up, packs in hand as they made their way towards the group.

"Ryuu!" I cried, pushing away from the group and running to tackle him in a hug. He must have been suffocating from my heat, but I didn't care. I held him close and hugged him tight. "What are you doing here? Where are the babies? How did you get here? Why are you— We have a grandfather!"

He laughed and nudged me to shut me up. "The babies are with the Swamp people. We were hesitant to leave them at first, but they've raised plenty of kids. Besides, we couldn't let you have all the fun. And what's this about a grandfather?"

Toph and Naomi had instantly gotten together, smiling and talking about exactly how they would Earthbend the nearest Firebenders around them. Everyone seemed rather happy to see them. Ryuu had been surprised that Jeong-Jeong was our grandfather, but he seemed relatively happy to meet the man. Now I could see the resemblance of our families.

It didn't last long until we had to continue our conversation. "So, what you're saying," Sokka said, rubbing his chin, "is that even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."

Naomi nodded, her green eyes flashing mischievously. "And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us." Both Earthbenders looked at each other and bumped fists together.

"You'll need rides," Iroh said innocently, a bit of a sparkle in his eyes.

oOoOo

"Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel-hound." Standing in front of me were many long, green, slimy animals big enough to ride on. I'd ridden on a Shirshu...but dang! Piando handed Sokka a roll of paper which I knew to be a map. "The airship base is on a small island just off the Earth Kingdom shore. You should be able to intercept the fleet within a day's journey."

Sokka nodded, Katara sitting behind him, and bowed his head to the older man. "Thank you, Master."

I nodded solemnly to my brother, feeling the fire burning higher within him. Naomi and he were seated on their own hound. Toph, on the ground, was traveling by Earthbending. I watched them all drive off and sighed, bowing my head to pray to the Spirits just for a moment.

Iroh was then next to me, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Keep the Spirits at bay for as long as possible. And whatever you do, do not let Azula harm your mortal vessel."

The fire burned too high in me once more. My body was taken over shortly as the Spirit within me said, "Of course, Dragon. Obviously I need this body. I'm a little...attached." So, the Spirit was sarcastic. Great.

I came back to myself in time to give Iroh a hug, squeezing his no-longer-chubby midsection. "I'm going to miss you, Uncle."

"It will not be for long. I will see you again soon." He kissed me on my forehead before giving me a boost up onto Appa. "Goodbye. Today, destiny is our friend...I know it."

So, I know I've been gone...but I'm so close to the end that I can taste it! Keep in tune for the next episode of DotS! Thank you to everyone who has kept up with this story. Not only am I over 100 reviews, but I am also over 200,000 words! Thanks, everyone!