The fire lord let out a groan as he started to wake up. It felt like his bones were crushed while fighting against a wild beast to survive. His body was stiff and sitting alone was a struggle for him. As his memory became clearer, he remembered how his ship lost the war against the raging sea. Being the responsible king he is, he made sure that everyone got in the emergency boats first. No one dared to oppose their king and tell him to get in first especially in such a dire situation. He got thrown out into the wild sea when he was hit by a barrel that fell as the ship was sinking. He hoped that everyone else had made it save. It was miracle that he survived. He doesn't know how it happened that last thing he remembers that he felt himself being lift up and dragged as his conscious faded.

Deciding that resting was over, he had to find a way back home. The kingdom needed him. However, something caught his attention. There was something red in the water near where he was laying. His heart fell to the pit of his stomach thinking someone might be injured and already dead. Immediately, his body gathered all of the strength he had lost and ran. The red spot was behind a huge rock where the water reached his knees. Kneeling and getting the person out of water. He couldn't believe what he just saw. It wasn't blood, it was a woman's hair, fiery red hair the same color of his element. He has never knew that a human so colorful existed. She was extraordinarily beautiful too while just lying there conscious, he couldn't imagine how beautiful she must be awake. He was so taken by her that he didn't notice her lower half until he decided to pull her out of water.

His breathing stopped for a second as he realized why she looked different. Of course there was no such colorful human, she was mermaid. It all started making sense now. Only a sea creature would be able to save him from an angry sea. It was those delicate hands of her that he felt as he lost conscious. Poor thing, she must be more exhausted than him, no matter what you were fighting against the stormy sea is tremendous. But should he pull out a creature of the sea out of the sea? His was confused about what to do when she started moving in his arms. He found eyes as blue as the sea staring at him. She tried to get out of his arms but she hissed and looked in pain. Something was wrong and she was afraid of him as it seems. "Don't worry, I won't harm you in any way." She looked skeptically but didn't resist when he grabbed her. He carried her in his strong but tired arms and placed her on the rock near them.

Now, he could have a better look at her. He felt both taken back by her beauty and guilty as soon as he did "Did you get injured because of me?" She could see and hear guilt evident on his being. Even if it was too early to judge, this was an indicator that he won't harm her at least. "No, it was my own decision." He was surprised by her response that didn't even blame him "But it was when you rescued me, wasn't it?" She couldn't find a reply that wouldn't put the blame on him and it did seem that no matter what she said he would blame himself.

He sat next to her on the rock and asked "Are you able to go back with you injury?" She didn't want to increase his guilt but there was no way around it "I think it will take a few days to get back." He seemed to reach a resolution as soon as she finished talking, with determination in his eyes he said "Then, I will stay with you to protect you until you get better." His words were absolute. She never expected this. Honestly she was afraid of the all possible outcomes of her having to stay her alone "Some humans can be very nasty and harm you greatly. I am a man of honor and I owe you my life. This is the least I could do." He continued and she couldn't help but smile at him. "I don't wish to be burden you but I can't deny that I am not afraid, Thank you." He gave a small smile and replied "Thank you too."

Then he looked back to the wound wondering "How should this be treated? Should it be treated?". "Ah, yes it should" She continued answering the question in his eyes "A friend of mine will help us.." She looked around while calling "Flounder.." Then she spotted something and hissed as she moved instinctively "Flounder!". "Don't move" Zuko didn't grasp what was happening but he knew she shouldn't move. "I will get you what you want". Panic took over her as she pointed her hands toward a spot near them. He glanced there then looked back at her and she nodded frantically. He found a something yellow that turned out to be a fish laying down in the ground. "The fish?" It took him a moment to understand that a fish would be important to mermaids.. May be like a pet? He didn't understand but she replied affirmatively so be it. As soon as he grabbed the fish it started moving out of his grasp and he was trying to hold it. It was a comical fight that would have made Sokka burst out laughing and make fun of him, thank God he wasn't there. "Flounder!" The resisting fish got out of his grasp to where she was. He was annoyed but the goal was achieved in the end.

She seemed to communicate well with the fish. He has no idea why but the conversation seemed one sided for him as he could understand her. May be it had to do with her being half human. Even if he couldn't understand but Eyes were a universal language. The fish was eyeing him was fear and suspicion. He tried to be threatening but failed miserably. The mermaid laughed as she noticed and reprimanded softly that he's a good human and would help her out. This was definitely a sight that wasn't seen everyday.

"Remember ask someone who won't say anything. Be careful on your way back and rest as much as you can." With those final words she bid farewell to her.. whatever it was. "So.." he didn't know what to say and thanked God that she interrupted him "Yeah, it's kinda solved out.. and Oh, I told him to bring us some food too" She's clever and thinks ahead too. "We can eat fruits from the trees ahead of us or f.." A fish just helped them and seemed deer to her. Fishing doesn't seem like an option. She looked at him waiting for him to continue "..Nothing, fruits are good."

"It would nice to try human food" She said with a smile and excitement on her face. He couldn't help but smile too as he replied "I guess it's a first for you then." She nodded with enthusiasm.

"By the way, I am Ariel"

"And I am Zuko"

tbc

A/N: I intended for this to be a much longer oneshot but here we are having a multi chapter instead. I know I am not the best writer out there but I love this pairing and there is only one fan fiction about them. I have watched avatar years ago and there are things that I will forget and some characters might be out of character So please tell me if that happens.

There is more to this so I will update when ever I have the energy to write.

Hope you would like it