Author's 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 my: readers, reviewers, and friends.
-Haunted-
Artymis smiled as she rode on Anduril. She looked at the blue sky, the sun shining on her and Anduril. Artymis patted his back.
I wish this moment will last forever, Anduril, she told him silently.
I do as well, he responded.
Artymis closed her eyes and felt the gently breeze sooth her face and hair. But when she opened her eyes, the sky was no longer a bright blue, and the sun was gone. All she saw was a dark and fast-moving cloud heading for her and Anduril. A storm.
Anduril, watch out! she warned him, but was distracted by a ghostly figure made in front of her.
"Artymis," Monk Gyatso said softly, "why did you runaway?"
"Gyatso...?" Artymis was close to tears. "I didn't mean to, father." She reached out to him with a shaky hand but he became dust. "No, wait!" Artymis pleaded.
Lightning flashed. Artymis soon found herself in a horrible memory, that night when she ran away. She felt herself in the water now, falling deeper and deeper. She tried to reach for something, but she couldn't find anything. Artymis felt the oxygen fade quickly in her lungs.
Anduril? she called out.
Artymis was surrounded by darkness, but then a hand grabbed her wrist and she opened her eyes and saw fire all around her. She slowly felt the shadowed man let go of her and let her drown in the water. It was growing darker and darker...
Artymis woke up with a scream. She gasped for air.
"Artymis!" Katara woke up beside her, "You alright?"
"Art, what's wrong?" Sokka sat up.
Artymis? Anduril's worried voice brought Artymis back to earth.
"Huh? Oh, it was just a dream." Artymis laid back down, her back to Katara and Sokka.
"You sure you don't wanna talk?" Katara asked her.
"I'll be fine." Artymis lied.
"Alright," Katara said, "you know I'll be here for you."
"Have a good sleep, everyone." Sokka announced and laid back down as well as Katara.
Artymis? Anduril called her out. He brought his face close to hers.
I'm alright, just a bad dream. Artymis said, she touched him with a pale hand and closed her eyes. Why am I still haunted?
"You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher." The voice of Fire Lord Ozai sent a chill to Zuko.
Zuko bowed down and said, "I won't fight you, father."
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko." His father commanded, "Fight for your honor."
"Father, please!" Zuko begged, "Please!"
"Now, you will learn respect through pain and suffering." His father announced.
Zuko looked up with teary eyes and saw fire. He screamed.
Zuko woke from his dream. He sat up and sighed. "It was just a dream," He whispered, "It was all a dream." Why do I keep having these dreams though?
(The Next Morning)
"You feel better now?" Katara asked Artymis when they were tidying up camp.
"Yeah, I think so." Artymis answered as she got an empty bag. "We're out of food."
"What?" Sokka's expression was panic. "I - I - I can't go on without food!"
"Relax, Anduril and I saw a market not too off." Artymis explained as she saddled herself on Appa.
"Food! Food! Food!" Sokka waved his arms over his head in joy.
"Calm down!" Artymis joked as they set off.
Prince Zuko looked through the long telescope. "Looks like a perfect day for sailing." He muttered.
Uncle Iroh looked uneasy, "I am not sure, Prince Zuko. I feel a storm is coming, a terrible one too."
"You're crazy." Zuko looked to his uncle, "The weather is fine!"
"No, the sky will darken, clouds are coming," Iroh pressed the matter. "A storm is coming, we should head southwest."
"Not a chance," Zuko said, "the Lady Avatar is heading north, we head north."
"Prince Zuko," Iroh said, his tone changing, "think of the crew's safety."
"The safety of the crew doesn't matter to me!" Zuko yelled.
"What a spoiled prince," The captain muttered, hearing Zuko's rude comment.
Zuko turned to him and walked up to him, "You better learn respect, captain. I won't handle disrespectful behavior towards me." He began to walk away.
"Like you know respect?" The captain said out loud, "I have never met a spoiled, bratty, and disrespectful child like yourself. Then again, what do I expect from a prince like you?"
Uncle Iroh slapped his hand over his face, Oh dear... Zuko and the captain faced each other and were about to strike, but Iroh stepped in. "Enough." He said in a commanding voice, "We are all tired from sailing on sea for too long."
The captain turned around and walked away.
"Don't turn your back on me!" Zuko yelled.
The captain kept walking, and exited from the deck.
Zuko groaned and turned to the open sea with an angry face. His fists balled into fists. Zuko felt a hand lay on his shoulder, he looked over his shoulder to see Uncle Iroh giving him a sympathy look. Zuko suddenly had the image of Artymis' face in his mind, a face when she was giving him sympathy. Zuko shoved his uncle away and walked to the head of the deck and stared down at the sea. "Land at that port!" He commanded.
I need to take a walk.
The group started out for their market trip, the sky looked perfect for a day of flying. Anduril and Appa once again stayed behind once they were close to the market. The group started to do their errors. Artymis helped Katara pick out some fruit.
"Psst!" Sokka whispered to them, "Did it occur to you that we have no - zero - money?"
"Uh, sorry?" Artymis gave the saleslady the fruit back.
The group sighed and walked around.
"Sokka, has it ever occur to you to get a job?" Katara asked.
Artymis laughed, "Good one, Katara."
"Ha ha!" Sokka said with sour sarcasm, "Very funny!"
"My bones tell me there's gonna be a storm - a really bad one too!" An old woman pleaded an old man, the group assumed it was her husband. "Please, don't go out. The fishes can wait."
"Look, lady," He replied, "my brains against your bones? Hmm. Oh, my brain tells me since the sky is clear, there'll be no storm!"
"Find yourself another worker, 'cause I ain't going!" The old woman yelled.
"Fine!" Her husband said, "I'll pay my next worker double what I pay you!"
"I'll work!" Sokka stepped up.
"You're hired!" The old man didn't even look at Sokka.
"At least Sokka is trying." Katara muttered.
Artymis grinned and whispered, "Of coarse, we don't want him to think so hard that it'll do brain damage." The girls giggled.
"I'll be off!" Sokka said, turning to them with a huge grin.
"Finally!" Katara muttered.
"Uh, you're really going?" Artymis asked, "Despite the woman's warning?"
Sokka frowned, "You told me to get a job!"
"Uh-huh." Katara muttered.
The girls watched Sokka help the old fisherman pack a few things onto his boat.
"I don't know," Artymis told Katara, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Will ya shut it, girl?" The fisherman looked up at Artymis.
"Hey!" Katara stepped up, "That's no way to talk to my friend!"
"Why not?" He asked, peering at Artymis, "She ain't the Avatar."
"Um, actually, I am, sir." Artymis muttered lowly.
"Oh, you are, huh?" He, unfortunately, heard her. "So, you finally came back? After a hundred years of war!" He seemed really angry now.
"I'm sorry." Artymis apologized, "I know you have every right to be mad at me, but I'm here now. And I'm trying to help."
"You disappeared!" The fisherman pointed at her, his eyes hard. "You turned your back on the world! You abandon us all!"
"Leave her alone!" Katara stepped in between Artymis and the fisherman, "Artymis didn't disappear!"
"Oh, yes she did!" The fisherman yelled, "Unless I imagine, as everybody else, the hundred years of war, pain, and suffering!"
"Artymis is a very caring person." Katara said defining, "She will never turn her back on a suffering person. She always helps in whatever she can. She has become little children's big sister already!"
"Sure, she is!" He yelled, "I believe she thinks that one little good thing she does, will make up for everything!"
Artymis lowered her head and stared at the ground. She looked up and back away slowly.
"Artymis?" Katara turned around to her, "You ok?"
Artymis turn around and started running.
"Go ahead!" The fisherman yelled after Artymis, "Turn your back to the world! One less person to worry about!"
"You're horrible!" Katara insulted him and tried to catch up to Artymis, "Art, wait!"
Artymis ran faster and shut her eyes, tears started to burn her eyes. I have to talk to someone! Someone who'll understand and had felt this way! She opened her eyes only a little, to see a familiar person up ahead. It can't be... Artymis could've sworn she was seeing Kuzon. Kuzon! she didn't care if it was impossible. She needed someone's shoulder to cry on. She started running to him. Kuzon turned around and Artymis flung her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.
"Kuzon!" She whispered, sobbing.
Prince Zuko barely turned around when a pair of arms flung around him and held him tight, as the owner buried her face in his chest. He threw a disgusted look at the crying girl. He grabbed her upper arms and pushed her away. "Woman, what makes you think you can walk up to the Prince of the Fire Nation and - " He stopped in the middle of his sentence. He stared at the girl he had just pushed away, Artymis. Her eyes were a bit puffy, and red from crying. Her cheeks were streaked with tears. "Artymis?" Zuko whispered.
She looked up at him with watery red eyes. "Kuzon!" She sobbed, and held onto to him again, and cried on his shoulder.
"Kuzon?" Zuko repeated with confusion. "I'm not Kuzon, if you haven't looked. I'm the guy you loathe, Zuko."
Artymis pulled away and looked up at him. She realized she somehow mistaken Zuko with Kuzon. "Zuko...?" Artymis embraced him again. "Zuko!"
"Um..." Zuko froze there.
"Zuko, I feel like an outcast!" Artymis sobbed, "I don't wanna do this anymore! I wanna talk to someone!" Artymis didn't know why, but she wanted to talk to him, someone who would understand.
Zuko stared down at Artymis. She actually wanted to talk to him? "I can't - " He started, but was interrupted.
"I don't really wanna fight your father!" Artymis admitted, "I feel awful turning my back on the world when it needed me the most!" She clung onto him tighter. "I don't want anyone to suffer because of me!"
Zuko pushed her away, he was getting angry. "Pull yourself, together!" He yelled at her.
Artymis' shoulders shook and she kept crying. "I can't!" She sobbed and buried her face in her hands. "I can't stop crying!"
Zuko soften a bit at the sight of her crying uncontrollably. He brought her close and wrapped his arms around her, "Quiet," He said softly to her, "stop crying, Artymis." Artymis was shaking and sobbing in Zuko's chest. Zuko smoothed her wavy hair out, which was a little longer than her shoulders and not in three layers anymore. "Shh, don't cry." He whispered to her.
Why does Zuko comfort me? Artymis thought once she calmed down. Maybe he feels for me? Something lifted in her heart, like hope on wings, I think I do... She looked up at him and stood on her tip-toes. Artymis pressed her lips gently against Zuko's cheek. "Thanks, Zuko." She whispered. Artymis buried her head back in his chest. Zuko made a soft smile.
"Artymis!" Artymis didn't hear her name being called out, but Zuko did.
Zuko frowned and looked down at Artymis. "Artymis?" She lifted her face up to him, "Why don't we take a walk and you tell me everything?" He asked.
Artymis blinked, remembering her own and his hatred for each other. "You won't capture me or anything?" She asked, predicting the answer.
Zuko looked at her for a moment. "No, I won't, not this time." He said.
Artymis watch him pull away and hold her hand. Zuko began to lead her through some streets and slowed down. He began to walk by her and waited for Artymis to say something. "Do you want to tell me why you feel it's your fault that my nation began to attack?" He asked her.
Artymis nodded, "But," she started, "I'm not saying that everyone from the Fire Nation is bad. Some people I knew from there were kind and gentle."
"Kuzon?" Zuko guessed.
Artymis nodded, "Kuzon was my best friend. If I couldn't talk to Anduril or my guardian, Gyatso, I could always go to him. He was a very close, and dear friend. I lay my life down for him if it came to that." She noticed Zuko was now moving uneasily, she looked up to him, "Is something wrong?"
"No," Zuko lied. Truth was: was that he thought Artymis had felt for Kuzon, the way she talked about him. He hoped she didn't.
Artymis smiled for some unknown reason and embraced him gently, "Zuko, for some reason, I want to talk to you about all this. I don't know why, but I do. Maybe, it's because you and I know each other a bit or something?" She guessed.
"I think so." Zuko agreed.
They continued walking, Artymis held Zuko's hand and walked side-by-side with him. She felt Zuko lightly squeeze her hand once or twice. She smiled and felt a good feeling about it. Zuko led her to his ship, he looked around as if to see if someone was watching. Artymis followed Zuko up to his ship and into his room.
"I also have to talk to someone." Zuko said as they entered his room.
Artymis smiled and laid a hand on Zuko's shoulder, causing him to look at her. "I'm here for you." She said. Artymis never felt this affectionate about anyone, least of all, Prince Zuko.
Zuko nodded and said back to her, "I'll listen to you first."
"Anduril, any luck?" Katara asked Anduril, when she entered the cave.
Anduril shook his head.
Katara sighed. She looked outside the cave, "I hope Artymis is alright." Appa growled lowly and Anduril gently moved her arm in an act of comfort. "Thanks, Anduril." Katara petted him. Momo, Katara saw, was fast asleep. She smiled. Katara looked outside again, I hope Art is alright.
Katara, there's something you should know about Artymis, Katara heard an unfamiliar voice in her head, she looked around with panicked eyes.
"Who's there?" She called out, careful not to get too close to the fire when she backed up.
It's me, Anduril, don't panic.
"Anduril?" Katara turn to him, and realized it was him. "I thought you could only talk to Artymis."
I can talk to very close people to Artymis, ones she cares for. Otherwise, I must find a weak spot in peoples' minds to enter their mind and speak to them. It takes up much of my energy, so I don't do it. Anduril explained.
"Oh." Katara sat down, "What did you want to talk about Artymis?" She asked.
Anduril sighed, Artymis is complicated and stubborn. You see, the day she found out she was the Avatar...
"Great, I thought I was getting a double paycheck." Sokka muttered angrily, as he threw a fishing net overboard. I do hope the girls are doing better than me!
"Prince Zuko is a young man of difficulties." Iroh began to explain to some of the crewmen, who questioned of the prince's behavior. "When he was fourteen, he asked me to allow him to enter the Fire Lord's war room. I did. I told him not to speak..."
"You first." Zuko said, sitting next to Artymis on the bed.
Artymis nodded and there was a very short pause, "I was raised in the Southern Air Temple, my guardian was Monk Gyatso." She smiled softly, remembering her father-figure. "He was very kind, and gentle, and always took good care of me. I never knew a father-figure like him, he was so kind. He taught me many things, and much more than I needed to. Although I was taught much more than the other kids, he always had time to play a few games with me." Artymis laughed very softly, "I remember he always made me look the other way, and cheat. But, it always me laugh."
Zuko looked at her and realized her relationship with her father-figure was much more than he and his own father. Artymis, though the Monk Gyatso wasn't her biological father, had a father-daughter relationship with him. Zuko, on the other hand, though he had his real father, had nothing of that sort. He waited for Artymis.
"Then, one day when I turned fifteen, the Monks of the Temple called for me. I, at first, thought I was in trouble." Artymis continued, staring at the ground. "That was when they told me I was the Avatar."
"What made them think that," Zuko asked, "you're the Avatar?"
Artymis touched her necklace with her right index finger. "Apparently, all female Avatars had this necklace. Some of them hid it, while others exposed it." Artymis looked to Zuko, "They said that the necklace glowed when I was born, and the eyes of the Avatar statues in the temple glowed. So, that gave it away that I was the next Avatar." A pause. Artymis continued, "When they told me I was the Avatar, they said I had to learn the elements quicker. Because I was suppose to start and be told who I was, when I was eighteen."
"Why did they tell you sooner?"
Artymis remembered what they said. "Because they said there were storms gathering, and there was trouble brewing. The Monks told me they believed a war was going to start."
"The war my great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, started." Zuko muttered.
Artymis nodded, "Yes, and the Monks said I was no longer to interact with my other friends from the other nations. Though they had strong feelings that one of the nations would be the first to turn. Last time I saw Kuzon, a Fire Nation citizen, was on my fifteenth birthday, before the Monks forbid me to see him. Saying good-bye to Bumi, a citizen from the Earth Kingdom, was just hard enough. Both of them were very dear and close to me."
"So, you never said good-bye to your friend from the Fire Nation, Kuzon?" Zuko asked.
Artymis shook her head, "Never said good-bye."
Zuko then asked, "But, that was a hundred years ago, right?"
Artymis nodded.
"Then, you be - "Zuko stopped.
Artymis cut in when she realized he didn't want to finish his sentence, "I ran away a week after that day. Everyone, including the kids around my age, treated me different. I became an outcast." She close her eyes, remembering the kids saying to her she couldn't play because she was the Avatar, and it wouldn't be fair. "Only ones I could count that were my friends, now that I couldn't speak to my other ones, were Gyatso and Anduril." She looked to Zuko, "In case you're wondering, I couldn't find a bison to be my animal guide when I was young. I then found a dragon egg, and it hatched for me, so the silver dragon inside became more than my animal guide - he became my big brother."
"Yeah, I figured he was your big brother," Zuko gulped nervously, "I had the pleasure of meeting him a few days ago."
Artymis laughed, Zuko stared at her. "I'm sorry," She said, stopping her laughter. "I couldn't help it."
Zuko smiled at her, "It's alright."
Artymis continued talking about the main subject, "Then, I overheard the Monks deciding that I should be separated from Gyatso, because he was so easy on me. They thought he looked at me as his own daughter, more than his student. So, they were going to send me to the North Pole, to a waterbending master. Then, to the Earth Kingdom, then, finally to the Fire Nation. All without Gyatso, and even without Anduril. They knew Anduril and I had a strong brother-sister bond, so they thought I would be distracted. Basically, they wanted me separated from everyone I loved and knew." Artymis turned her face away from Zuko, a tear rolled down her cheek. "So, the night before they sent away, I ran away with Anduril. That was the last time I saw Gyatso, and everyone else." A pause, "But there was a terrible storm that night. Anduril and I were right in the middle of it. The sea consumed us and we almost drowned. Because I had strong feelings to survive, I clapped my hands together and Anduril and I were trapped in a ball of ice." Artymis sighed, "When the iceberg melted, I hadn't realized a hundred years passed by. Next thing I knew, I met Katara and Sokka." Artymis lowered her face and started to sob quietly. It was too much for her.
There was a pause and Zuko could hear Artymis cry softly. He brought an arm around her shaking shoulders and held her close.
Artymis said in a monotone voice, "Then, when I found out the Fire Nation attacked my temple, I broke down. I wasn't there to protect my people. I wasn't there even when the world needed me." She pulled away and her hands balled into fists, "I just turned me back, like a little girl who was afraid of spiders!" She was now standing up, her fists shaking with anger and sadness.
"Artymis!" Zuko jumped to his feet and turned her around to face him. "You're being to hard on yourself, you were afraid, anyone would be." Zuko told him, "It's not your fault that you ran away, it's nobody's fault." He cupped her face and lifted her face up to him, "The important thing is that you're here right now, and you're willing to fight for the world."
"But, I came too late." Artymis argued, "I wasn't there to help Gyatso, I wasn't there to protect children, I wasn't there to - "
"Stop it!" Zuko hissed at her, "It was never, and never will, l be your fault!"
"But, Zuko - " Artymis protested.
"No 'buts'!" Zuko said, "Stop blaming yourself! It's not a sin to be afraid!"
"Why are you saying this?" Artymis asked him, glaring up at him. "Why isn't it my fault? Why isn't it bad that I came a hundred years late? Hmm? Tell me why!"
Zuko's eyes soften and he turned his face away as he answered her in a mutter, "Because I wouldn't have met you."
Artymis was taken back. She embraced Zuko tightly, "I'm sorry." She whispered.
Zuko hugged her back, "The fault is really my family. My great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, and...me." He whispered back.
"Don't say that." Artymis said, "It's not your fault."
"But it is." Zuko protested, "If I wasn't banished, I could've stopped this war and - "
"Don't start that!" Artymis said, "Please don't."
Zuko let go of her and sat back on the bed.
"...Zuko was right, but it was not right for him to speak out in that war chamber." Iroh sighed, "There were dire consequences that needed to be paid..."
"So, that's what happened?" Katara said softly, staring into the flames of the fireplace.
Yes, Anduril replied. That was the last we saw of Monk Gyatso, and everyone. Now, Artymis feels its her fault that she left...
Artymis looked at Zuko with sympathy. He heard me, now I need to hear him, she thought. She walked over to Zuko and sat next to him, "Zuko, tell me what happened to you?" She looked at his "flame" scar, "How did you get this scar?"
Zuko sighed, "I received this scar when I was fourteen. I was very curious and I wanted to enter my father's war chamber. At first, the guards wouldn't let me in. My Uncle Iroh came along and I asked him if I could. Finally, he let me. But I was to promise him not to speak a word in that war chamber."
"Let me guess," Artymis said softly, "you did?"
Zuko nodded, "Yes, I did." He continued, "When I entered and the other generals seated down. One of the generals was allowed to speak and propose his plan to my father and the other generals. A plan to break down the Earth Kingdom capital barriers and overcome it. He wanted to put the forty-first army division in danger, it was a new division with inexperienced fighters. He basically wanted to sacrifice them."
"That's not right." Artymis said.
Zuko shook his head, "It wasn't. And because I felt so strongly about it, I rose up and spoke out. Saying it wasn't right to sacrifice soldiers who love and defend out nation with every last breath. I was foolish. I hadn't realized I did an act of disrespect, but my father made it clear as I looked up to him. He said I disrespected them. So, I was to pay the price and accept the consequences."
There was a short pause, "What were..." Artymis felt too afraid to asked, she was afraid of what the answer might be.
"The consequences?" Zuko finished for her, he closed his eyes. "An Agni Kagni."
Artymis looked at Zuko, she knew what that was: a fire duel. "What happened at the Agni Kagni?" She asked, her voice slightly shaky.
"I thought I was going to fight the general whose plan I spoke out against." Zuko remembered how shock he was when he turned around in the Agni Kagni, to find someone else. "I was to duel with my own father. I realized I did speak out against the general's plan, but I disrespect my father. When I rose and turned around to see him, ready to fight me, I begged for mercy. I apologized over and over again, saying I was sorry that I disrespect him. I told him I do anything to not duel with him." His hands balled into fists as Zuko remembered the pain. "He said that I had to fight for my honor, and that pain would teach me."
"Zuko?" Artymis called him out softly, seeing Zuko shutting his eyes and his fists shaking.
"He started to attack me." Zuko hissed, "He burned my face and said my punishment was not yet over. He burned me!"
Artymis saw that the candles that were lit, the flame burned and were raise almost to the ceiling. Artymis gasped and the candle close to the bed grew big. Artymis jumped to her feet and backed away. "Zuko, control your firebending!" Artymis begged, she could feel the heat around them.
Zuko didn't seemed to hear her, "Then, he told me I was banished. And the only way I could return home with my honor back, was to find and capture the Avatar! He disowned me!" He was on the verge of shouting, "I spent two long years trying to find the Avatar - all I wanted was my father's love and approval!"
Artymis felt shaken now, she ran to Zuko and flung her arms around him, "Zuko!" She buried her face in his shoulder, "Please, stop it!" She begged him.
Zuko stared down at her.
"Zuko, I'm so sorry if it happened! But you're scaring me!" Artymis hugged him tighter, "But, you're here right now! Here with me!"
"Artymis?" Zuko was confused.
"Zuko, please, just think about right now!" Artymis begged him, "About your present, your uncle, your crew - me!"
Zuko fists relaxed and he gently pulled Artymis away, he stared at her. "Artymis?" He asked.
Artymis said quickly, "Just think about your present self, your uncle, your - "
"No." Zuko shook his head, "You said to think about you. Artymis?"
Artymis hadn't realized what she had just said, she pulled away far from him, and turned her back on him. Artymis didn't know why she said it, or why she even cared. "Zuko, I think I need to go now."
Zuko jumped to his feet and walked up to her, "No, don't go, please."
Artymis tried to shut his voice out of her mind, but she found it was hard to resist. She felt Zuko right behind her. "Zuko..."
"Artymis..." Zuko gently brought his arms around her and gently held her. "Don't go, please."
Artymis felt him bury his face softly in her hair. She breathed slowly, and closed her eyes. "Zuko, I..." Artymis stopped herself and let herself enjoy the moment.
The two teenagers didn't realize that there was a storm outside or that the ship was moving in the middle of it. That's how peaceful the two teens were in their short moment that felt like an eternity. Zuko felt his anger go away and calmness claimed him. Artymis no longer felt regretful as she had earlier, instead she felt peaceful. Whatever they were feeling, both of them could feel their hearts beating faster and louder, and that their breaths was cut short. Both of them finally opened their eyes.
Zuko lifted his face from Artymis' hair and whispered in her ear, "Thank you, Artymis."
Artymis smiled and lifted a hand to hold Zuko's, "Zuko, I... I..." How can I say this? To a man who can't possibly feel the same? What do I say? "I... I..."
There was a loud crash.
Artymis and Zuko were separated and fell to their knees. Artymis looked up and saw a flash of lightning from outside. Zuko heard it and felt it hit his ship. He got up and helped Artymis up. Both of them stared at each other. Artymis felt butterflies in her stomach as she stared up in Zuko's golden eyes. Zuko felt heat rise in himself as he held onto Artymis' hand.
"I hope to see you sometime." Zuko whispered to her.
Artymis smiled softly, she tip-toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you." She whispered.
Zuko smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
Both of them stopped. Artymis lifted her face the second Zuko kissed her forehead, he looked down at her. He lowered his face and placed his hands on Artymis' upper arms. Artymis placed her hands on his shoulders and tried to tip-toe. Both of them smiled and their lips were a centimeter away when there was another flash and crash of lightning.
"Help me!" A voice cried outside.
Zuko immediately ran out of his room and up to the deck. Artymis stood alone in the room.
"What's going on!" Zuko yelled.
"It's the helmsman, Prince Zuko!" Iroh came up to him.
Zuko looked up to the towers of his ship and saw a man hanging from it, the man who cried out for help earlier. Zuko rushed to the ladder and started climbing it to aid the helmsman. The captain on his trail. Zuko almost reached to the top...
Artymis stood in the room alone. She looked around in the room, she walked over to a table and saw something bright. Artymis took a closer look, it was her lavender suitor's rose. Artymis looked back at the door, she looked back at the rose and saw something next to it. She picked up the notebook and realized it was Zuko's diary or journal. She looked back at the doorway to see of anyone was coming. She opened it up to the last few entries and read on...
"Head this ship to safety." Zuko commanded.
Iroh nodded and said, "Head to the eye of the storm."
The crew left to the ship, leaving Zuko alone. Iroh looked back at Zuko, wondering what caused him to save the helmsman and to head the ship to safety. He shrugged and followed the crewmen.
After a few minutes, Zuko looked over his shoulder and saw Artymis on the deck. He smiled, and turned around, "Artymis." He said in an excited whisper.
Artymis backed away, her expression full or fear and worry. Zuko stared at her in confusion. He extended out a hand towards her. She shook her head. Zuko stepped towards her, but with every step he took, she backed away. He stopped and stared at her. Artymis felt her eyes start to burn and water.
"Artymis?" Zuko called her out.
Artymis shook her head many times.
"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, walking up to her slowly and carefully.
Artymis lifted her eyes and backed away to her right, towards the deck's rail. She felt herself up against the rail.
"Artymis?" Zuko seemed very worried.
"I honestly thought..." Artymis whispered angrily, as angry tears escaped from her eyes. "I honestly thought I... I... I..."
"Artymis?" Zuko called out again.
Artymis shut her eyes and shook her head.
"What is it?" He asked. "What's wrong?"
"You." Artymis whispered back.
Zuko stared at her.
Artymis stared at him and sensed a familiar presence nearby. She closed her eyes and felt Anduril's claws carefully enclose around her and lift her from Zuko's deck. She felt herself carefully be seated by Katara. Artymis opened her eyes and avoided Katara's.
"Artymis, we need to find Sokka." Katara said in a low whisper. "He hasn't returned yet with the old man. I'm worried."
Artymis heard her, but looked over her shoulder to see Zuko. She stared at him as he stared up at her.
"I know." Artymis said, one last tear rolled down her cheek.
Author's Note: This chapter was a bit shorter than I intended it to be. Don't worry, they save Sokka in the next chapter where the Blue Spirit comes out... again. But while I was writing this chapter, I was listening to "Final Famtasy X" Piano Collections, the "Zanarakand" and "Ending Theme" tracks. And that hug between Zuko and Artymis after they discussed their past is like that hug that Yuna and Tidus had at the end of "Final Fantasy X". I wasn't kidding when I said I get story ideas from music and games. -lol- I hope you all like this chapter. And please, give me some ideas, I love to hear them. Thanks to my reviewers:
Firework: Yeah, I will redo that "Jet" episode/chapter, but nothing major will happen. Thanks for reviewing.
0kitten0lemonade0: Don't worry, I edited chapter four, I can't believe I put it in there, then again, a friend begged me. Kissing is the closet thing Artymis and Zuko will get in romantic moments. I hate flufffiness too. Especially that scene in "Underworld 2: Evolution"! Thanks for your support and hope this chapter is alright with you!
webdog177: I'm glad my writing impressed you. I thought it was kinda sucky at first. But I grew confeidence with reviews like yours. I do hope this chapter is a little bit impressive as well. Thank youfor your nice comments.