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. Oh, 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.
-A Promise of Eternal Love-
Artymis closed her eyes and felt herself being lowered. She opened her eyes, but had an unfocused vision. She saw a pair of golden eyes, and she thought it was Zuko. Artymis blinked, "Zuko?" She whispered. Her vision came in focus and she gasped. "Not you again!" Artymis stood up and backed away from Zhao.
"Yes, me." Zhao said, standing up. "Your precious Zuko isn't here to save you, though."
"The Moon Spirit is back." Artymis pointed out, she moved her gaze from Zhao to the moon.
Zhao followed her gaze and his eyes widen in shock. "The moon? That's impossible!" He turned around and gripped Artymis' wrist.
"Let go!" Artymis demanded, trying to pry his cold fingers off her wrist. Zhao was dragging her over a bridge. "I said let go!"
"Oh, I will," Zhao said, looking over his shoulder to her, "once you are in Fire Lord Ozai's grasp."
Artymis looked up at him in fear. She was forced to walk behind him as she tried to escape. "You're a cruel old man! Let go of me!" A fireball was thrown in front of Zhao. He stopped in his tracks and looked up. Another one passed by between him and Artymis, he let go of her wrist. She backed away and turned around to see Zuko. She threw her arms around him and held him tightly. "Zuko!" Artymis whispered as he embraced her.
"The two lovers are back in each other's arms." Zhao said, looking at them, "But not for long."
"You leave her alone!" Zuko stepped in front of Artymis.
"I see you are alive and well." Zhao said, "I heard you were dead."
"You planned my death!" Zuko accused.
"You're the Blue Spirit - the enemy against the Fire Nation!" Zhao said, "You should've let yourself died when your honor was taken and you were disowned. You should've accepted it!"
"He has more honor than you!" Artymis shouted, she placed a hand on Zuko's arm and stood close behind him.
"Shut it, little girl!" Zhao barked at her with angry eyes, "Like him, you should've given yourself up to the Fire Nation. You have no home to go to, no people to return to, no honor left. You're just as pathetic!" He then smirked, "But so easily to fool with a dress and suitor's rose."
Artymis was about to charge towards Zhao after that comment. She wanted to wipe that smirk off his face, but when she took a step forth. But Zuko extended an arm in front of her and looked at her, "He is mine to fight." He said to her. Artymis lowered her eyes and nodded her head, feeling like a coward. Zuko took a few steps forward and glared at Zhao, "Come and fight me."
"Gladly."
Zhao said, he was the first to move. Zhao threw his fists forward and sent fireballs to Zuko. Zuko dodged and mocked his move while charging forward. Artymis drew back to the bottom of the bridge, she watched the fight proceed in front of her. She felt her heart beat faster and her palms sweat. Zuko fell to the ice ground of the bridge and immediately recovered. He kicked and sent a fire wave at Zhao. Flames were thrown everywhere. Artymis saw something fall from Zuko. She lifted herself up and saw her necklace that Monk Gyatso had given her. She quickly ran to it and had her right hand over it, when a cold hand gripped her right arm and forced her on her feet. Artymis looked up into Zhao's unreadable golden eyes. His eyes moved from her own to the golden ring on her right hand, then back to her.
"I see you still have the ring I gave you." He said, "I suppose Zuko is jealous."
"Let her go!" Zuko shouted.
Zhao let Artymis go and she retrieved her necklace, and backed away. She tied her necklace around her neck and watched the fight go on. Artymis gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth when Zuko laid on the ground and Zhao had his fists out as a mean to attack Zuko right on the spot. Zuko looked up to Zhao and thought, I'm never going to give Artymis the one thing I wanted to give her. He narrowed his eyes and Zhao smirked.
"I suppose life doesn't last, like love." Zhao said.
"No!" Artymis shrieked. She ran and held onto Zuko with shaking hands. She lifted her pleading eyes to Zhao, "Please, don't. Please, Zhao, don't." She pleaded. Artymis didn't want to loose Zuko.
"At least, you have him in your arms the minute before he dies." Zhao said, ignoring the plead in her voice and eyes. Artymis held onto Zuko tighter now, she looked to him. Zuko looked back at her and held her hand securely and firmly. He gave her a look that told her to not be scared. Artymis lowered her face. Zhao couldn't stand it any longer. "Enough of this." He muttered, he rose his fist and a flame enclosed it.
The two teenagers shut their eyes, waiting for the flame to come for them. It never did. They both looked up when they heard Zhao yell. Zhao was picked up by a large hand made of water, the Ocean Spirit. Zuko jumped to his feet and he ran to the rail of the bridge, he extended a hand out to Zhao. "Take my hand!" He yelled to him. Artymis rose and stood behind Zuko, her hand on his arm. She looked up at Zhao, he was about to take Zuko's hand. But when he saw her, he took his hand back and just glared at the two teenagers. Both of them watched the Ocean Spirit drag Zhao underwater. Artymis stepped away from Zuko and looked down at the water. She looked down at her right hand and fingered the gold ring for a second. She slipped it off and gently tossed it in the water. Zuko stood by her and looked at her. Artymis turned to him and she buried her face in his shoulder. Zuko placed an arm around her shoulders. For a moment, they stayed like that. Artymis lifted her face and looked at Zuko.
"Are you alright?" Zuko asked her.
Artymis nodded, "I just thought I lost you for a moment back there." She said.
Zuko turned his body to her and he caressed her cheeks, "I thought I lost you." He looked at her lips and back in her eyes. He neared his face to hers. Artymis gently flung her arms around him. She then pulled away before their lips met. "Artymis?"
"I have to go, Zuko. My friends will be looking for me, and seeing me with you will put them in an... awkward position." She said. She began to turn and walk away, when Zuko held her hand and pulled her back to him. Artymis was two feet away from him. She looked up at him. "Zuko..." She said. Zuko pressed a finger to her lips. He walked a step or two back and pulled Artymis with him. "What is it?" Artymis asked with concern.
"I wanted to give you something." Zuko said, digging his hand in his pocket. He grew nervous and more nervous by the second. Artymis gave him a peculiar look. Zuko took his hand out of his pocket and held up the item he had showed Iroh earlier. It was a rose. The full-bloom rose was red with a black ribbon tied to it. Artymis stared at it and looked at Zuko. "Will you accept my suitor's rose, Artymis?" Zuko asked, holding the rose with slightly shaking fingers. He didn't know if she accept it or not, but he hoped she would.
Artymis' expression was obvious with shock and she blinked. She then looked up at him with joyful green eyes and gave him a warm smile. She wrapped her fingers around the suitor's rose, her fingers overlapping Zuko's. "I do." She whispered.
Zuko smiled, a rare smile. He still held the red rose and felt heat rise in him the longer Artymis' fingers overlapped his own. He looked at her and felt himself become breathless. He felt something like fire burned inside of him as he took a step towards her. Artymis looked up in his golden eyes. The golden eyes that made her knees weak and made her run out of breath, his mesmerizing eyes. She gulped when Zuko took a step closer to her. She moved a step closer to him and kept staring at his lips and his eyes. Artymis press her free left hand against his right cheek. She brought his face down gently towards hers. Zuko realized she wanted to kiss him. He put his left hand on her back and brought her a bit closer. Artymis tip-toed slightly and her face was close enough to Zuko's. Zuko stared in her eyes and slowly came closer to her.
Both of the teenagers closed their eyes when they both felt their lips press against each others. Artymis felt her heart stop when she felt Zuko kiss her, she suddenly felt inexperienced and helpless love burst in her chest. Zuko never felt this strong and weak emotion at the same time. He loosen his grip on his suitor's rose to her, and placed both hands on Artymis' waist. He brought her closer and he went deeper in the kiss. Artymis gripped her rose to her chest and felt the kiss go deeper. She kissed Zuko back with gentleness and she didn't want to part. The teenager's first kiss was soft, gentle, but with a rare passion for their love. It was an eternity before their lips parted, but barely an inch away. Artymis lifted a finger and softly touched Zuko's lips. Zuko gently pressed his forehead against hers. He smiled and she did too. Artymis removed her finger from his lips. She placed her hand over her heart, which was beating at a fast speed. Zuko looked at her.
"I have something for you, too, Zuko." Artymis whispered. She softly gripped her Ying and Yang necklace. She somehow managed to separate the black and white part apart, but leaving both pieces smooth and perfect. She gave Zuko the dark piece with the white dot.
Zuko carefully took it from her hand and looked at her. He looked at his piece of the necklace and looked back at her, "You're my sunlight, I rise with you." He muttered, staring down in her eyes.
Artymis wrapped her fingers over her white piece with the black dot, the piece still around her neck. "You're my heart, my reason to live." Artymis muttered back, looking up in his eyes, their foreheads touching again.
Zuko once again kissed her with gentleness. Artymis lifted a hand and pressed it against his cheek. When Zuko knew he had to go, he tried to part but Artymis kept kissing him back, not wanting him to go. Zuko put a hand on her upper arm and gently pulled his lips away from her. Artymis opened her eyes and looked at him. She understood and nodded her head, understanding he had to go. She moved her hand from his cheek to his hand on her arm.
"We'll meet again, I promise." Zuko muttered to her.
"I love you." Artymis whispered to him.
Zuko made a small smile, "I love you too."
He slowly stepped away, his hand still holding onto Artymis' hand firmly. He let go and ran from the bridge. Artymis watched him go, her heart already pleading Zuko to return. She looked down at her red rose with it's black ribbon. She smiled and then softly fingered her piece of the necklace. She made a small smile and didn't feel her heart slow down.
Once he was far away from the bridge Artymis was still standing on, Zuko leaned against an ice building. He breathed and a small smile came on his lips. He had kissed Artymis and he felt his heart racing. Zuko was recalling his kiss with Artymis when he heard footsteps. He didn't look up though when Uncle Iroh came.
"Prince Zuko, where have you been?" Iroh asked, his expression with worry. "We must leave!" Iroh's voice drowned when he saw the prince's expression, it was one that Zuko never had before. "Zuko?" Iroh called out to him.
Zuko didn't respond, a rare smile on his face and his eyes were distant.
"Zuko." Iroh shook him softly by the shoulder.
"Hm? Uncle?" Zuko looked up at his uncle.
"I said we must leave." Iroh answered, "The moon has returned and the Waterbenders will not hesitate to attack when they see two Firebenders in their land." He paused and gave Zuko a peculiar look, "Did something happen that I should know about?" He asked.
"Zhao was killed." Zuko answered, "The ocean claimed him."
"I did not mean that." Iroh said, "I meant about what you had decided to do."
Zuko paused, and was about to answer, but heard distant footsteps. "We need to go." he said, he and his uncle fled the city. Zuko clutching the piece of Artymis' Ying and Yang necklace in his hand. He looked to the light blue sky for a moment and thought, She's my sun, and I raise with her light... her love.
Sokka stood with Chief Arnook, feeling the pain his heart grow deeper. He looked up at the sky, and found the moon. But since day had come, the moon could be hardly seen. "I'm sorry," Sokka whispered.
Chief Arnook sighed, "No, don't be, Sokka. I knew this day would come, I just never thought so soon." He paused, "When Yue was born, the spirits gave me a vision: I saw a beautiful and brave young woman become the Moon Spirit."
"You must be very proud." Sokka said, holding back the tears at the mention of Yue's name.
"Yes, so proud..." Arnook said, a tear escaped from his eyes. "... And yet, so sad."
Artymis stood in front of the grand hall. She was staring out in the horizon, watching the sun rise higher and higher. She still wore her blue kimono and still held the red rose close to her. Artymis felt her heart slowed down, but hardly. She suddenly had a mean to do something outrageous, but held herself back. She touched her white piece of the necklace and remembered what Zuko had said to her, about she being his sunlight and that he rose with her. Artymis closed her eyes and remembered their first kiss, it was something she had never expected to do. She lifted her gaze and opened her eyes, when Anduril came and stood by her side. He took notice of the red rose.
Did Zuko give you that rose? Anduril asked.
Artymis nodded, she looked at him and saw there was joy in his eyes. You're not mad?
Why should I be? he asked, As long as you're happy and follow your heart, I am happy. You're my little sister.
Artymis made a small smile and continued to stare out in the horizon. Anduril, I love Zuko with all my heart. I kissed him, and I gave him my love.
Zuko was on a wooden raft with his uncle. He stood and stared down at the water, still remembering the night on the bridge with Artymis that had ended not too soon ago. He lifted his hand and opened it, to see his piece. A hand laid on his shoulder. He knew it was Iroh. "Uncle," He muttered, "I kissed Artymis, and gave her my heart." He remembered how their kiss was, he remembered seeing the joy in her eyes.
Iroh made a warm smile, "It fills me with joy that you have found happiness, Prince Zuko."
"I feel so weak, and yet strong at the same time... I can't explain." Zuko muttered.
"A man needs his rest." Iroh said, "I am sure you will see Avatar Artymis once again."
Zuko knew he was tired, and he laid back on the raft. He blinked and listened to his uncle's plans to go to an Earth Kingdom, but wasn't really paying attention. He closed his eyes and his thoughts drifted off to Artymis. When will I see her again?
Katara came to stand by Artymis' side, "You ok?" She asked.
Artymis nodded, "I heard about Yue."
"I've never seen Sokka in pain before." Katara said.
"Love lasts forever, so as long as Sokka loves Yue, she'll forever be by his side." Artymis commented.
Katara rose and eyebrow and gave her a mocking smile, "Since when have you been an expert on love?" She asked.
Artymis giggled slightly, and stared down at her red suitor's rose. "I guess... I've always felt it."
Katara saw the rose and asked, "Is there someone?" Artymis nodded. "Who?" Katara asked, trying to drift the subject of Sokka's heartbreak.
Artymis hesitated to answer. She, instead, asked Katara, "Will you keep it a secret?"
Katara nodded, "Yeah, why?" She looked to Anduril.
"Anduril knows, he's known for a sometime now, but I hadn't told you because I didn't know how you take it... And if you still accept me as a friend." Artymis explained.
"Well, I'll take it as fine as I can." Katara promised.
Artymis breathed and said, "It was Zuko." She looked at Katara's, expression. She only found her friend hiding a smirk. "Why are you smirking?" Artymis asked, confused.
"I had a feeling you liked him." Katara revealed, "Ever since you blew him that kiss, I had a feeling. Then, when you refused you leave him in the blizzard, I knew. I was uncomfortable at first, you know, him always constantly trying to kill us. But, I saw he didn't kill you and that he gave you a suitor's rose." She paused and asked, "There was another one, a lavender one. What happen to it?"
"It wasn't really one. It was a friendly token." Artymis said, it was true in a way.
"Hey," Sokka came over. The conversation of Zuko was immediately turned off.
"You ok?" Artymis asked, when he took a stand by Katara.
"Yeah," Sokka lied. Momo suddenly jumped on his head, but only made a small laugh. the first in the short amount of time since Yue died. The girls made soft laughs. "So, I guess to Ba-Sing-Se?" Sokka asked.
Artymis looked up to Anduril, who looked down at her. "Yeah, I guess so." She said, and smiled. "Time for the next chapter."
"Next chapter?" Katara turned to her. "You mean, there's chapters in our journey?"
Artymis shrugged, "To me: yeah. I mean, the first chapter started when you found me, and ends here. The second chapter comes in."
The Avatar looked across the horizon with her friends. They heard Appa growl and lay down by Sokka. Artymis knew she had disobeyed the laws of the being an Avatar, yet she didn't care. All she knew was that she and her friends were taking the second step in their journey. A step closer to saving the world, a closer step to end all the suffering, a closer step to love. She made a small smile when a slight breeze pass her, and thought:
The first chapter is completed, and another one has yet to be written... This is my story.
To Be Continued...