Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 35 of Sparks Ignite! I want to keep this short because this ended up being a very long last chapter for book 1! So keep on reading! Just a reminder that this is not the end of the series! Just for book 1! As always, I do not own avatar or its characters. Onto the story!

Fate and Destiny are a funny thing. They are so permanent, but yet can be changed by the smallest thing. It can cause the moon and the sun to collide. Or the most opposite Sparks to Ignite.

Chapter 35: The Love that Saved Me

They all stood in shock for a moment, stunned that after all this time, it actually worked. Kiyi looked at her mother with sad, scared eyes, "Where's Mama…?"

Ikem let her down and kneeled down to her level, "Mama is the same beautiful lady she once was… She just looks a little different now… But ya know how you can tell who your mama is without even looking at her? Your mama will always hug the same. Why don't you go give her a hug and find out?" he suggested.

Kiyi looked from her father, then to her new mother and then walked over. Ursa looked down at her little girl as she wrapped her arms around her legs. She smiled and hugged her back tightly. Kiyi then looked at her and smiled, "Hi mama…"

Everyone let out a small laugh but there was not anymore time to waste. Ursa stood and looked over at Katara and Toph, "Let's go save my son…"

They all loaded up onto Appa and took off, hoping to get there as soon as possible. Ursa watched Katara as she focused on her task at hand. Ikem reached for her hand and grabbed it. She turned to him and gave him a smile and then turned back to the young waterbender. She looked forward to getting to know her. It was easy to tell how she cared for her son. She ran all the way across the fire nation for him. She went on a journey that could have been for nothing, just to save him.

"Are you alright my darling?" Ikem asked her. Ursa smiled and nodded, "I will be…"

Even before Zuko could see what was in front of him, he felt the sea mist against his face. He felt the warm sun beating on his skin. And when the world appeared before him, he saw the beaches of Ember Island.

"We're not in the palace?" he asked. Roku shook his head and spoke, "I thought this would be a good place to end your quest…"

Zuko could hear the sound of children laughing and turned around. He saw himself running after a little girl, only the age of 4 or 5. They played and splashed in the water. Even from here, Zuko could see her blue eyes and pale skin.

Katara came down the beach, holding a little boy in her arms. The boy saw his father and giggled with glee, reaching for him. Zuko ran to them and took him from Katara's arms, lightly tossing him into the air. Katara watched them with a smile, as Zuko came and placed a kiss on her cheek.

Zuko watched the whole scene with Roku next to him, with a smile on his face and tears going down his cheeks. Roku watched him, waiting for him to speak.

"This is everything I've ever wanted…" Zuko thought out loud. Roku smiled, "Just because your life to come will not be easy… It does not mean it won't all be worth it…"

Roku placed a hand on his shoulder and Zuko reluctantly followed him as he let the scene fade from view.

The sun was setting as the castle came into view. Ursa looked over the edge of the sky bison and let out a deep breath. Ikem squeezed her hand, "You're nervous…" he told her. She went to open her mouth to deny but he spoke first, "Your hands always get cold when you're scared… I used to hold them right before we went on stage… They were like ice cubes"

Ursa smiled at the memory, placing her hand on his cheek, "I'll be okay…" she turned and looked back at the palace below, "It's just been a long time…"

Iroh watched out Zuko's window. Everyone sat there with him, knowing that Zuko would most likely not make it through the night. Everyone wondered if Katara would even return at all, or if she would just disappear having failed her mission. Or maybe she would ride in at the last minute, with Zuko's mother in hand.

But that didn't stop Iroh's eyes from being trained to the window. He was afraid that if he looked away, then he would miss the flying bison come in from the distance. Sokka placed a hand on the older man's shoulder, "Iroh… Zuko would want you next to him… I'll watch the window…" he paused for a moment, "I won't miss them…"

But suddenly, Iroh stiffened for a moment, then a warm smile graced his features, "I don't think that will be necessary…"

Everyone stood and ran to the window, just in time to see the big sky bison come into view. They ran out into the big courtyard as Appa's feet touched the ground. As soon as Katara jumped down, Sokka and Aang were there to give her a big hug. "Did you find her?!" they asked, almost in unison.

Katara smiled and turned to back of Appa, where Ikem was helping Ursa down off the sky bison's back. Iroh immediately went to her and hugged her, "Welcome back my friend…"

Ursa smiled and hugged him tight, "It's good to be here with you… You always made the palace feel like home to me…" she paused, stepping away to look at him, "How is he?" she asked.

Everyone was silent for a moment, waiting to speak. "We don't have much time…" he spoke, in a grave voice.

Ursa nodded, not getting defeated, but instead determined, "Then we don't have time to waste.

When Zuko opened his eyes, he was back in the bright light. He looked around to see he was not alone. Both Lu Ten and Roku were in front of him.

"We're back here?" he asked them. Lu Ten was the first to speak, "It's time for you to choose… There are some people waiting for your decision…"

"I want to go back" he spoke, without a moment hesitation, "My work on earth isn't done yet"

The two in front of him smiled, Roku the first to speak, "You have chosen well my grandson…"

"Make me proud down there little one" Lu Ten said, pulling his little cousin in for a hug, "And tell my father that I'm okay… Tell him I'm happy…"

Zuko nodded, "Now what do I do?" he asked them. Roku gestured for him to follow as he began to move down a path that Zuko didn't even know was there. He was met with a cliffs edge

"You have the antidote?" Iroh said, showing Ursa into the hospital room. Ursa nodded, "I know it like the back of my hand… I've had to make it one too many times in my lifetime…"

She looked down at the boy before her, looking so much older than the boy she once knew. So much time had passed since then.

"Jump…" Roku told him. Zuko's eyes widened, "Are you sure?" he asked him. Lu Ten, "Life involves risks… This is just one of them"

Zuko gulped and nodded, looking into the black abyss of the cliffs edge.

"Here goes nothing…" Ursa spoke, taking the lid off of the vial. Katara stood behind her, leaning into Sokka for support. What if it didn't work? What if it was all for nothing?

She poured the antidote into his mouth and closed his lips. Katara could sense the liquid going down into his body and filling his blood. She could almost feel it in her mind.

Zuko took two steps forward, getting to the very edge of the cliff, so nothing but darkness was below him. He took a deep breath and spoke, "Here goes nothing…"

Before he leapt forward and felt himself falling into the pit of darkness.

Zuko gasped, falling down into the water and trying to hold onto the sides to keep himself afloat. He opened his eyes to see his mother and uncle staring back at him. He took deep breaths for the first time in a long time, as the color returned to his cheeks.

"Mom…" he spoke, in a hoarse, unused voice, "Uncle…" he smiled weakly at them. Ursa looked down at him, tears spilling from her cheeks, as her and Iroh held onto his hands, "Oh my darling boy… You're safe now…"

Katara watched them, her own tears running down her cheeks, but a smile on her face none the less. Everything seemed complete, like all the work meant so much more.

Zuko caught a glimpse of her over his mother's shoulder, "Katara…"

She looked at him, a look of surprise on her face, as she walked over to him. Ursa and Iroh made room for her next to his tub. Zuko looked at her and smiled, "Never leave me again…"

Katara giggled through her tears, "Never…", as she leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead.

In that moment, it felt as if everything was okay and that life held no worries. It was not one love that saved him that day.

But two.

Ta-Daaa! That was the end of Book 1 folks! And a very long chapter to close it! Book 2 will come out next chapter! Thank you guys so much for reading and stay tuned because the story is NOT over! Until next time!