"For my people and my love!" she yelled as she lifted her hands above her head and threw them in front of her, sending more fire at Zhao! "I will win!" and Zhao fell over again! He jumped back up and threw fire at her, but she jumped up and did a flip over it and landed in front of him! She kicked him in the jaw and he stumbled back. She threw more fire at him in the form of huge balls. She smiled as he evaded desperately from her blows. "Not good enough!" she yelled to him and threw her hands out, creating a swirling vertex of flames! "Dodge this!" and she sent it towards Zhao! He was engulfed in the fire and screamed for his life, but Aiori didn't give him any mercy. When she was satisfied that she had won, she dropped her arms and watched as the fire dissipated. Zhao lay on the ground with his chest burnt and embers still glowing in his hair. He looked up and saw Aiori standing above him. "I win." She said to him with a hateful grin. "Now you will suffer for the pain you caused my people." And she walked away knowing that she had the victory.

But she was wrong. Zhao jumped back up onto his feet and sent another raging flame at her back! "Aiori, watch out!" Prince Zuko yelled out to her! She did a split to duck and then spun around on the ground and tripped him! And as he fell, she threw a huge flame into his face as he came crashing down to her side! He yelled from pain and covered his face as the floor came up on him! Aiori stood back up and put a foot on his back.

"Stay down," she growled, "You disgraceful man. You don't deserve to live. I suggest you walk away with your life, before I take that and what little bit of dignity left as well." And she walked away, leaving Zhao's face scarred. Zuko and Iroh ran up to her and hugged her. She felt comfortable again, being in the arms of the people whom she could call her family. Zuko put a hand on her waist and the other on her cheek.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine. Are you okay?" she replied.

"I'm all right." He told her, "How did you do all of that?"

"I let my heart tell me what to do."

"But how did you manage to fire bend?"

"I let my emotion get the best of me. My anger fueled this feeling I couldn't explain. It happened when I saw you getting hurt."

"Now would be the best time, Prince Zuko." Iroh said to his nephew. Zuko cleared his throat and looked at his uncle.

"Best time for what?" she asked them. Iroh just winked and walked away. Zuko took a deep breath.
"Yeah…right." He told himself and took her hands in his. "Aiori…I care about you. And you know that. But it's reached another level. I more than care about you..." and he took another deep breath, "I love you." Aiori smiled.

"Oh Zuko," and she giggled, "I love you too." He smiled back at her and seemed to be relieved.

"I'm grateful to hear you say that, because I have something very important I want to ask you." And he gulped and reached into a pocket. He pulled out a small golden ring with a large red jewel in the middle. Aiori's eyes grew big and Zuko cleared his throat again. "Aiori, you're everything I could ever hope for. And you'd make a magnificent queen." He got down on one knee and bowed his head as he still held onto one of her hands. "I would be honored if you would take a place in the throne next to me. Aiori…will you marry me and be my queen?" he held up the ring. Aiori gasped and covered her mouth as tears gathered in her eyes.

"W-what did you say?"

"It would mean the world to me." And she smiled and sniffled back her tears.

"Prince Zuko…of course I will marry you." She replied. He stood up and slipped the ring onto her finger. She looked at it and the tears spilled against her will. They hugged each other tightly and she let the rest of her tears spill. General Iroh watched from behind and wiped a tear away.

"Congratulations you two." He told them, "You are the Fire Nation's next Lord and Lady. Unless you think you cannot handle being the Fire Lady, Aiori."

"I think I can handle it." She said and her and Prince Zuko kissed again. The painful journey was over, and the next chapter of her life was just beginning.