Author's Second Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. And if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Winter Rose Alchemist. She is my buddy, a sister-figure, and a great person to talk to. This story is for you, WRA (a.k.a. Winter Rose Alchemist)! And to all my reviewers and Audrey!
- The Suitor's Rose -
The Avatar and her friends stopped in a forest, by a lake. It had been straight two days of flying, everyone wanted a vacation. Anduril and Appa rested on one side of the lake, while Artymis, Sokka, Katara, and Momo were on the other. The teens sat in the sand and smelled the fresh morning air. Well, the girls were. Sokka and Momo were sprawled on the sand, staring up at the sky - bored to death.
"Soak," Artymis called out, seeing him being bored. "Smell the fresh air! Good for your health!"
"Yeah!" Katara agreed.
Sokka groaned. "We should keep moving. The Fire Nation might catch us."
Artymis shook her head. "Nope. You see they don't expect us to sit here and enjoy life for a while. They expect us to be running to the North Pole for dear life."
Sokka groaned in response.
"Lighten up!" Katara said, smiling. She then indicated the two large animals across the lake, sleeping. "Besides, Anduril and Appa could use the break. Plus we need to gather supplies, let's put our legs into use."
"Good idea!" Artymis said, siding with Katara. "I think I saw a village about a mile from here, luckily they didn't see Anduril and Appa because of how thick and tall the trees are."
Sokka thought about it for a moment, though he didn't need to since what they said was true: their supplies were nearly non-existant. "You guys are right, let's go."
"Come on Momo!" Artymis extended out an arm to Momo as they started out. Momo crawled up her arm and perched himself on her shoulder. "Off we are!"
Where are you lot going? came Anduril's sleeply voice. Artymis looked over to him, he had one large eye open, staring at her.
We need supplies, be right back! Artymis answered and hopped away.
Be careful...I MEAN IT, he said with a strong foce at the 'I MEAN IT' part.
We will! See ya later big brother! Artymis met up with Katara and Sokka, who waited for. They knew Anduril was questioning their motives for leaving. All three smiled when reunited. They set off together, walking and talking as a group of old friends.
They reached the village in about an hour. Immediately, they separated and agreed they would mean at the entrance of the village an hour before sunset. Katara would get food, Sokka would find a map and find out as much as he could where Prince Zuko was, and Artymis would get extra blankets since they would need them in the cold nights - especially when they'll in the North Pole.
Artymis let Momo wandered but warned him about strangers like a mother would. He sped off and she was alone in the scattered crowd. Artymis bought three not so thick or thin blankets for only five coins, she had fifteen. After paying the nice shopkeeper, something in the shop caught her eye.
A dress was displayed on a wall. The dress was a lovely light lavender color. It was long, most likely to trail behind the wearer, it had a kimono top with white thick lining fabric at the edges. The sleeves were long and dangling. A white silk fabric was wrapped around the waist and was tied in the back, the bow in the shape of a flower. There were beautiful white roses painted over the lavender fabric. This silk dress was fit for a geisha, a beautiful one.
Artymis instantly fell in love with the dress. She was staring at it, when the shopkeeper asked her "You want to buy that, ma'am?"
The teenage girl shook her head, "No, I can't. But, out of curiousity, how much is it?"
The shopkeeper answered her, "Oh, it's about more than 5,000 gold coins."
"What!" Artymis looked shocked, then remembered only the loveliest dresses were expensive.
"Sorry, wish I could lower the price, but the maker of that dress won't let me." The shopkeeper apologized.
"No, it's ok." Artymis said cheerfully and bid good-bye to him. She turned around to bump into somebody. The blankets fell from her hands. "I'm so sorry!" She said, bending down and picking the blankets up, she had not even look at the person she had bumped into. Artymis realized a couple of eyes were staring down upon her, when she looked up, her eyes widen.
The man she had bumped into, had a strong face and had dark grey hair and golden eyes. He was elderly looking, but the Avatar guessed he was in his late thirties or something. She had not realize he was wearing a Fire Nation commander uniform. Her eyes were focused on his eyes, which bore down upon her. This scare Artymis in particular.
"Um...did I hurt you, sir?" Artymis asked weakly.
The man smiled in an uneasy way, "No you have not, young lady."
"I'm glad!" Artymis responded, standing up, making sure the blankets wouldn't fall from her arms. She exited out of the store with one last "Sorry", the blankets tucked under her arm. A minute later, she was in a quiet and not-so-crowded part of the village.
Commander Zhao watched the young girl hurried away. He had a sense of this young lady, she seemed to be unsteady with herself.
"She dresses all in white." The Fire Lord's brother, Iroh, echoed in his mind.
So that was the avatar. Zhao thought to himself, describing the Avatar's appearences in his mind. What did the useless prince say about her name? Her name Artymis? And emerald eyes?
"Young man," The commander turned to the shopkeeper, who immediately straighten up.
"Yes, sir?" The shopkeeper asked, nervously.
"What had that young woman desired?" Zhao asked, with a smile on his face.
"I believe it was that kimono, sir." The shopkeeper pointed to the beauitful silk kimono that the girl had been looking at.
The Avatar will be in my grasp now. After all, all young grils like a dress, especially from their Prince Charming. Zhao though with a smirk and a plan forming in his mind.
Artymis was about to turn to a path that led to the village's entrance when a strong hand grabbed her arm. She turned around to see the same man she had bumped into not ten minutes ago.
"What is your name, miss?" He asked out of the blue.
"My name?" Artymis repeated, "It's Artymis." She answered, forgetting Anduril's warning.
"Artymis?" The man's eyes seemed to widen, then they narrowed a bit. "That name is quite rare, I might say."
"Um, I guess." Artymis then turned away, "I have to go now!"
"Wait!" He said feircely, Artymis was too afraid not to obey him, she turned around. "Did I not see the look of admiration on your pretty face when you saw the dress?"
"Um, I did like it..." Are you kidding? I loved it!
"May I buy that dress for you, as an apology from bumping into you and dropping your supplies?" He asked, kindness in his eyes and voice.
"But, I really don't need -" Artymis saw him present a wide, but thin white box to her. With her free hand, she opened it, and saw the beautiful kimono she saw in the store. "...it?" She finished her last word of her sentence with confusion.
The man laughed and introduced himself, "I am Zhao, Lady Artymis."
"Well, thank you Zhao!" Artymis said, feeling herself blush slightly that someone bought her a dress. "I really didn't need it though."
"Of coarse you did." Zhao said, "This dress is fit for a geisha or a princess - such as youself."
Artymis was taken back and met Zhao's gaze. She smiled and bowed her head. "This is very kind of you sir, how much do I exactly owe you?"
Zhao laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder, "None at all, just a walk with me." He requested.
"A walk?" Artymis repeated, "Um, I suppose." With the white box and the blankets in hand, Artymis followed Zhao out of the village and onto the edge of a woods. She heard him speak of how bad the supplies are running for the village they were just in.
"Why is that?" She asked, watching the ocean.
Zhao sighed, "A certain Firebender is let loose and stealing every village supplies he could grasp."
"Who?" Artymis asked, turning her gaze from the sea to her companion.
"A certain banished and ungrateful prince." Zhao had his face turned from her, and smirked. "Prince Zuko."
"Prince Zuko?" Artymis was taken back and she looked at Zhao, who no longer held his smirk. "What has he ever done?"
"He tried to murder his own father. Got away after failing, he also took a small army of Firebenders with him. He has attacked everything and everybody in his anger that he had failed to murder his father." Zhao looked at her, "The people of this world think this is the Fire Nation's doing. They believe we are heartless. We are acussed of destroying lives."
Artymis felt pity for Zhao. Was this why everyone thought the Fire Nation was going berserk? "And what are you trying to do now?" She asked.
"We are trying to find the prince and reclaim our honor back."
"Why murder his own father though?" Artymis needed to know. She knew there was a reason.
"Zuko believed a new, strong leader was needed." Zhao answered.
"And he thought it oughta be him?" Artymis, didn't know, but she was falling for a lie.
"Yes." Zhao replied, a hint of grief in his voice.
"I wish I could do something."
Zhao detected sadness in her voice as she gave him her pity. They had stopped walking and stood infront of each other now. Zhao lifted her chin up to him and said, "You need only to shine bright."
"And stop Prince Zuko." Artymis added, looking in Zhao's golden eyes. Zhao's eyes had a strange emotion that she could not recognize, Artymis realized Zhao was looking at her lovingly.
He's too old for you! the Avatar's voice pointed out in her mind, You're in your teens while he's, what, in his thirties or early forties!
He's sweet though, buying me a dress, another voice argued.
No, he's not!
Yes, he is!
SHUT UP! Artymis' feirce, third voice shouted in her confused mind. Artymis still stared up into Zhao's eyes. She stood still as Zhao stare down upon her. She felt herself blush and she immiediately turned away.
I've made her blush - excellent. Zhao thought as his planned took place into step three.
"Um, I should probably be going back now." Artymis pointed out.
"Just let me ask you something." Zhao said.
"Yes?" Artymis asked him, surprised.
"Will you take this rose?" Zhao presented her yet another gift.
It was a rose. The rose was light lavender, a very calming and pretty color. It was in full blossom. A golden ring was wrapped around the stem with a white ribbon. The golden ring had a beautiful ruby, with two smaller ones on the sides.
Artymis stared at it, taken back. She carefully reached for it and held it in her hand. She looked up at Zhao in confusion, who smiled at her in a way that made her blush lightly. She lowered her eyes and lifted them up to Zhao.
"Art! Artymis!" The distant voice of Sokka was heard.
"Artymis!" Katara's worried voice yelled out, nearby.
It was already sunset. Artymis was brought back to reality as she backed away from Zhao. "Um, they're calling me. I better..." Her voice drifted off as Zhao nodded.
"But of coarse, one such as yourself would have loving friends." Zhao said, staring at her. He took the rose from her and placed it gently in her dark hair.
Artymis felt her cheeks grow warm at this. She looked up at him and bid him farewell. Artymis bowed her head and ran from Zhao, who smiled at her. She could still feel her cheeks growing warm as she ran to her friends who were at the village's edge. Artymis smiled weakly as she saw her friends' stern faces. "What?" she asked as she covered a part of the white box with the blankets, fortunately they didn't seem to notice.
"You're over an hour late." Sokka answered, in an angry voice.
"So?" Artymis asked. "No big deal!"
"No big deal?" Katara repeated, her eyes flashing. "Artymis, what if you were captured by the Fire Nation? You could've been hauled off to the Fire Lord himself!"
Artymis blinked and shook her head, a smile on her face. "But I wasn't was I?"
Katara hugged her freinds and said, "We were just worried!"
"I'm fine, no one is hauling me off to some Fire Lord." Artymis hugged her back.
If what you say it's true about the Fire Nation, then what does Zhao mean now? Was he lying or telling the truth?
Artymis didn't day anything but walked with her three friends as they walked around the village and back to the lake. Sokka turned to say something to Artymis, when he noticed her cheeks were a very light shade of red.
"Art?" He called out.,
"Yeah?" Artymis turned her face at him.
"Why you blushing?" He asked. "And where'd you get that flower?"
Artymis touched her cheek and still felt some warmth, she turned her face away and answered only one question, "I found the rose on the ground."
"Art?" Sokka said, "Art? I know you're lying."
"Artymis?" Katara tried to see her friend's face, who kept it hidden from her, but managed to see her cheeks bright red. "Why are you blushing?"
"N -nothing!" Artymis stuttered. She had not planned on telling anyone her encounter with Zhao.
"Why you blushing?" Katara asked, amusement in her eyes.
"I told you nothing!" Artymis answered, as they reached the lake.
"Art!" Sokka teased.
Artymis was chased by Katara and Sokka as they splashed eachother with water, as the brother and sister tried to find the Avatar's blushing reason.
Zhao returned to his ship, a picture of the blushing and smiling Avatar in his mind. His plan had begin to take form: get the Avatar to think Prince Zuko was the cause of the war, pretend to care for her, and trick her into going before the Fire Lord. Then boom. Avatar is imprisoned.
Everything is going according to plan, he thought as he entered the deck with a smirk on his face.
Zuko was once again kneeling on the glass floor, he looked up. The dark and shadowy figure of his father came, slowly walking towards him. Zuko looked up at his father as hundreds of eyes stared upon him. Tears burned the prince's eyes.
"Get up and fight me." His father's deep, and frieghtenung voice send a chill down Zuko's spine.
"I will not fight you." Zuko defended.
"GET UP!" The voice of his father gave Zuko a fright.
"I can't." He said, looking up, asking for mercy and forgivness.
"So be it." The Fire Lord shouted. He waved his hand up and the fire began to burn brightly around his hand.
"No!" A voice called out.
Zuko looked up to see the figure of the female Avatar blocking him from his father. Her arms outstretched as her hair flew back by the burning flames around them.
"You dare intrude?" The Fire Lord asked, his voice frightening then ever.
"This isn't right!" Artymis shouted, her voice full of courage. "To punish your son like this? I'll intrude no matter what!"
Zuko was taken back. He watched as his father rose his hand higher, and the flame burned brighter. Zuko knew what was too come. But he had not realized it went by so fast.
"SO BE IT AVATAR ARTYMIS!" The Fire Lord waved his hand down and the fire hurled fast towards it's target.
"Artymis!" Zuko cried out.
There was a bright light and then the next mintue he knew, Artymis was lying in his arms. She was cradled up in his protective arms. Zuko stared at the young woman, his eyes laid on the burn on her left cheek, which was exposed to everyone in the room. Laughter rang out in the room. Zuko held Artymis tighter to him and felt more tears burning.
"Coward." His father whispered, "You need a woman to be your sheild for you? How pathetic!"
Zuko softly shook Artymis, "Artymis? Artymis?" All he heard was her rasp breathing.
"Zuzu needs a woman to protect him!" Zuko heard his sister shout, laughter in her comment.
"Artymis!" The prince shouted her name out...
"Artymis? Artymis!" Zuko started to yell out in fear, his arms waving everywhere.
Iroh came in, opening the door with a creak. "Zuko?"
"Artymis?" Zuko muttered, covered in sweat. "Artymis?"
"Zuko?" Iroh softly shook his nephew. "Zuko, wake up."
"Artymis!" Zuko sat up, panting.
"Zuko?" Iroh placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder.
"What?" The prince asked. "News on the Avatar?"
"No.." Iroh said, "Only that you were saying the Avatar's name over and over in your sleep..."
"No I wasn't!" Zuko said defensively.
Iroh shook his head and asked, "That dream again?"
Zuko nodded his head, glad that the subject on the Avatar was gone - well, barely.
"Zuko, I am worried about you." Iroh said, in a fatherly way.
"You don't need to be." Zuko said.
Iroh shook his head and bid him good-night. The moment Zuko couldn't hear his uncle's footsteps, he got out of bed and dressed. He wandered out of his room, out of the ship, and entered the forest.
I need to be alone, he thought.
Artymis sat up from her nightmare. She panted and placed her hands on the cheeks, and immeidiately regretted it. She winced and mouthed a scream. She drew her hand away from her left cheek, where a scar was.
"Stupid Sokka!" She muttered.
Earlier that evening, the three were playing when Sokka decided to find out why Artymis was blushing once and for all. He got a sharp twig of a tree and was going to poke her and ask her about it, when she moved and he made a scar on her left cheek. And the water didn't help at all.
Artymis shut her eyes in pain and thought: Sokka's gonna get it!
She smiled evilly and quietly walked out of their campsite and towards the river with an evil plan in mind.
"Sokka is gonna get it, no matter what." She muttered.
Zuko was walking up to the calm river. He sat infront of it and listened to the sounds of the still forest. He closed his eyes and just listened. He had realized he was not alone. He looked across and down at the otherside of the river, where he saw a familair figure in white clothing. He realized it was the Avatar, Artymis. He started to smile until he noticed a flower in her hair. Normally, as far as he was concerned, when a girl had a flower (especially a rose with a ribbon), it meant she had a suitor.
Zuko felt his hands balled into fists.
Looks like you have some competiton, a little voice in Zuko's head said.
Zuko walked across the water and onto the grass and head towards Artymis.
Why am I so mad? he thought. It does look that way, but...why do I feel... jealous?
Artymis filled a bag up with water from the river, added with mud from nearby, and a few large rocks.
"I'm gonna get Sokka this time!" She muttered, a mischievious smile on her face. "So I tie it there..." She repeated the plan of her revenge.
She tied the bag and laughed softly to herself. She was about to straighten up and walk back to the campsite, when she heard foorsteps. Very familiar footsteps. She groaned dramatically, stood up, and turned around without even looking at the intruder.
"Listen," Artymis said, filled with annoyance as it was obvious in her voice. "I'm in no mood to fight you. Besides, you'll loose to me."
"Now, now." She heard Zuko say with sarcasm. "No need to be fiesty. I just came to talk."
"Talk, why would you only want to - " Artymis kept blabbering on.
Zuko rolled his eyes. He noticed a scar on her left cheek, coincendently the same as in his dream. "Where'd this come from?" He asked, reaching out a hand to touch her scarred cheek.
Artymis snapped out of it and slapped his hand away. "Don't you ever touch me!" She shouted with anger.
"What?" Zuko was dumbfounded. He hadn't even touched her!
Artymis turned around and shouted to him over her shoulder, "I know what you did to your father!"
Zuko froze right there, it seemed time had been stopped. She knew. She knew his banishment. But why did she look so angry though? All he spoke out was that it wasn't fair or right to sacrifice soldiers as bait.
"And good-bye!" Artymis was about to storm off, forgetting her revenge plan for Sokka. She had just walked two feet, when she heard Zuko say in a soft, but sad voice:
"I see the rose. Who gave it to you?"
Artymis turned around and saw him leave already. She stood there and, for some reason, wanted him to stay longer.
"Fine! Just leave me like this!" She shouted, tears started to blur her vision. Artymis turned around and ran off, crying.
Zuko heard her last shout, and the hurt in her voice. He turned around and was about to say something, but instead, he had watched her run off. He felt sad for some reason, as he walked back to his ship.
Who gave her the rose? The suitor's rose?
When he was on the deck of the ship, his uncle came.
"Zuko, where have you been?" Iroh asked.
"No where." Zuko walked past him.
"You have been gone for a while." Iroh said, then grasped his nephew's hand. "And you have scratches on your hand - nail scratches." Iroh pointed to his nephew's hand, which had red nail marks.
Zuko's eyes widen. "I don't know. A tree branch." He claimed his hand back.
Iroh sighed. "Whatever you say."
(Next Morning)
Artymis woke up and stretched out. She sat up and yawned. She saw Katara and Sokka cooking breakfast. Anduril was staring coldly at Artymis.
What? she asked.
You're wearing a rose - a suitor's rose. Anduril sighed.
A what-what rose? Artymis asked him, telepathecly.
Who gave it to you? Anduril asked.
Somebody, Artymis played.
Who? Anduril's voice was getting hard.
Just somebody, big brother. Artymis teased.
Anduril growled. Artymis...
What? she asked, as she washed her face with water from the lake, her scar wasn't hurting as much. How can you tell it's a suitor rose, anyways? What if it was a friendly token?
Artymis, Anduril explained. A rose with a ribbon and a ring means a man has his eyes on you. Excepting it, means you allow him to be your suitor and will flirt. Why'd you even take it?
I told you, Artymis walked over to Sokka and Katara. A friendly token. Gotta go!
Artymis!
Artymis sat next to her friends and smiled.
"You're not mad?" Sokka asked, nervously.
Artymis shook her head. "I'll get back at you someday and somehow, Soak."
"Yeah, whatever you say, Art." Sokka smiled.
Katara served fish for everyone. Everyone munched it down with a smile.
"Where are we headed today?" Sokka asked, after eating.
"Omashu." Artymis answered cheerfully.
"Why there?" Sokka asked.
"I want to see how much changed since I've been gone." Artymis said, then closed her eyes. "I really wish, my old friend was there though..."
"So!" Sokka said, changing the subject quickly. "Let's head out for Omashu!"
Katara and Sokka refilled the watersackets up, while Artymis hid her white box that held her kimono, inside blankets. She set it aside and had to look everytime to see if Anduril was watching. He wasn't. Artymis decided to ride on Appa with Katara and Sokka, since she and Anduril had that little episode in the morning.
The group rode peacefully on Appa's back with Anduril watching them, having a good time, not knowing they were being followed by a certain someone.
Author's Note: This chapter got done and put up WAY faster than I expected. I have so many ideas, but 50 of the credit goes to a friend of mine who helped me out. Just to let you know, I feel supported by my reviews. You help me! cries Ok, I'm a drama queen, yes. But thank you so much!
PrincessZula24400: Thank you for the spelling and small errors from time to time. Thanks for reviewing first!
flamekurama'sbloodrose: Thank you for adding me to your fav. lists, I feel confident now. Thanks!
Firework: Yeah, Zuko was referring to Artymis when he and his Uncle Iroh had the conversation and Iroh was talking about tea! It was funny, to me at least. And I was intending Zuko's last sentence to be vague, 'cause he doesn't really know his feeling for Artymis and it's to keep the intensity up.
Audrey: ...uh, publisher? Ok. But thanks for your support...I think lol