The Journey back begins

A Hero Always comes Home

Zuko grunted in response. Zoe walked towards Zuko and Katara. Katara was in awe. Zoe was a truly powerful bender. Then Aunt Wu's voice echoed in her head.

"You shall marry a very powerful bender." Katara shook that thought out of her head. That was really creepy. Zuko fell again. Zoe offered her hand. Zuko looked at it suspiciously and then after a moment took it. Zoe helped him up. Katara looked at Zoe. Why did she help him?

After a couple of moments of watching Zuko struggle, Zoe offered her hand. She felt a little bad about beating him up in front of a girl. After a moment she realized this wasZuko. She quickly pulled away. Zuko looked like he was about to fall. Zoe backed up. Katara helped Zuko start walking.

Zuko could not believe he was so helpless in front of Katara. Katara of all people had to see him at his worst moments.

Once again why do you care? The voice in the back of his head nagged. Zuko blushed.

Oh my God don't blush only girls do that. Zuko scolded himself.

Katara glanced at Zuko. He was blushing. Katara wondered if she was doing something wrong. She felt like she was being watched. Every little thing she did seemed too weird, too awkward. Then it hit her. She was being watched. By Zoe. She looked at Zoe, asking her if she was doing something wrong. Zoe shrugged.



Zoe shrugged. She didn't know anything about guys.

But you do. A voice in her head taunted. Zoe shook her head.

I'm not going to relive that. Oh God, don't make me relive that.

A young man about 13 or 14 stood before a 13 year old Zoe. He smiled a sad smile. Zoe eye's wear tearing up.

"This is my fault."

"No don't say that."

"If I haven't come here..."

"Then we wouldn't have the strength to fight back. Zoe, you gave us hope. The Avatar is going to defeat the Fire nation. And we're going to make it through."

"Let me fight. Let me make them regret ever coming here."

"You need to learn waterbending. So go. We'll hold them back. And when this is all over, I'll find you." Zoe hugged the young man.

"Please, don't do anything stupid when I'm gone."

"I promise Zoe. I love-" the man was cut off. Fire nation guards burst in. the young man created of wall of fire. Zoe studied the messy dark hair and the bright golden eyes. It was the last time she saw him. The fire separated them.

"Nate!" Zoe cried. She forced herself to run. As she ran she promised herself that she would help defeat the fire nation, even if it meant facing the firelord himself.

Zuko looked over at Zoe. Her blue eyes seemed fixed on something. They seemed a little gray.



"Zoe?" He asked. Zoe seemed to come back. She touched her necklace and closed her eyes. She opened them after a long moment. Then she continued to walk.

Zoe heard a voice calling her name. It was Zuko. She started walking. She watched Katara struggle to keep walking. Zoe walked over to them.

"Zuko lean on me."

"Wha- What?"

"I said lean on me. You're crushing Katara." Zuko hobbled over to Zoe. Zoe held herself and helped Zuko continue walking. Katara stared at Zoe for a moment.

What the heck? Why is she helping Zuko? The sun began to set. The trio hadn't covered enough ground. They were in the middle of a forest. Zoe helped Zuko sit down.

"We should make camp." Katara nodded. The two girls began to make a makeshift tent. Katara helped Zuko lie at the further end.

Zoe sat at the end of the tent. Katara made sure Zuko had fallen and went over to Zoe.

"Who were you thinking about? In the woods?" Katara asked. Zuko rolled over and opened his eyes. Katara and Zoe, completely unaware of this continued to talk.

"Oh, no one."

"Ok. I'm not Toph, but I know you're lying."

"Fine but this is a secret. You can't tell anyone."

"I promise."

"Ok. A waited until I was 11 to start training as Iroh's student. A year later I left to master waterbending. When I was 13 I stopped at a 

village. It was very small and just outside the Fire nation. There were a couple of rebel firebenders. I stayed there for a month."

"And..?"

"I met Nate. He was one of the rebel firebenders. Early in the month he taught me a couple of firebending techniques. I started to-" Zoe stopped herself, and started blushing.

"You fell in love with him?" Katara asked gently. She was having trouble believing that Zoe could blush.

"Yeah. One day, a couple of fire nation guards stormed the village. They had heard I was there and I was wanted for stealing. Well, I told Nate everything. He told me to go learn waterbending. And he stood there and fought them off. He told me to go. And I did. Then the guards came and I never… told him… I haven't seen him since." Zoe finished. Katara was filled with pity. Losing her family was enough, but her first boyfriend?

"How come you always touch your necklace?"

"I don't know. It helps me remember who I am, what I stand for. It reminds me of how I promised to never back down."

"Oh. If it makes you feel any better, Sokka's first girlfriend turned into the moon." Katara joked.

"Is he the perky fun-loving ponytail guy?"

"Yupp."

"You people have some weird adventures." Zuko closed his eyes. He felt bad for Zoe, but the throbbing all over his body canceled out the pity. He understood everyone had troubles and hardships. But Zoe had had it much worse.

"So how long have you liked Zuko?" Zoe teased.

"What?" Katara asked. Was it that obvious?



"Oh c'mon. I saw you blush when he covered your mouth." Katara's faced turned a deep shade of red.

"I won't tell him." Zoe promised.

Zuko felt swooping sensation. Then the voice in his head came back.

Looks like somebody's in L-O-V-E love! Zuko didn't bother making the voice shut up. He was too happy.