Tears of Joy

A Hero Always Comes Home

Nate looked up weakly. He guessed it was about two weeks since the Comet. He was getting pretty close to breaking his promise. Nate groaned. The shackles cut into his skin. His dark blonde hair was in his eyes. He looked at the cage he was in. He groaned again. Then he decided to do something stupid. He threw his back and fell unconscious. At last. Sleep.

"I killed Ozai." Aang mumbled. Toph blew her bangs out of her eyes.

"Aang…. He needed to die. You did the right thing." Toph muttered. Aang smiled.

"Really?" Aang asked, daring to hope that what he had done was alright.

"Yupp." Toph got up. "Now I got to go torment Lord Hot Head. Since Zoe's not helping me, I have to do twice the work." Aang chuckled. Toph smiled and walked back to Zuko's room. She tiptoed in. He was sleeping. Perfect. She stomped down. Zuko went flying in the air. He hit the ceiling. Zuko rubbed his eyes.

"TOPH!" Zuko yelled. Toph stomped again. Zuko jumped out of the way. Toph smiled wickedly.

"At your service Lord Hot Head." Toph mocked. Zuko glared at her.

"Don't call me that." Zuko grumbled. Toph's smiled grew even wider.

"Yes Lord Hot Head."

"What do you want?"

"What's wrong with Zoe?" Toph sat down and crossed her legs. She wasn't going anywhere until she figured out what was going on.

Suki watched as Sokka practiced.

"Sokka it's getting late. Go to bed."

"You're not my mom."

"I can't sleep knowing that once I leave you'll probably do something stupid and hurt yourself." Sokka smiled and then turned red.

"Hey!" Suki smiled.

"I heard about Katara and Zuko." Suki smiled. Those two were meant for each other. It was so cute.

"He better stay away from her."

"Or maybe you should give her some space." Suki suggested. Sokka raised his eyebrows.

"And leave them alone?!" Suki laughed.

"Katara's been a mom all her life. Let her have some fun." Suki smiled. Sokka grunted.

"Why are you always right?"

"Why are you always wrong?" Suki smiled as she went in to kiss him. Suki kissed him and then turned away. She was tired. Getting an idea through Sokka's thick head was hard work.

Zoe felt the hot tears run down her cheeks. She wiped them away.

"Nate…." Zoe whispered. She looked up into the sky.

"Where are you?" Zoe refused to believe he was dead. It wasn't fair. After all she had been through she deserved a happy ending. It wasn't fair.

Zuko woke up to find Toph sitting on the foot of his bed.

"Toph?"

"Lord Hot Head."

"What?" Zuko groaned. Toph stomped her foot. Zuko narrowly missed a boulder.

"What's wrong with Zoe?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"You stink, you know that?" Zuko muttered.

"What's wrong with Zoe?" Toph asked again.

"I'm not sure."

"Ugh." Toph groaned.

"I'm going to sleep. Then I'm gonna figure out going is going on here." Toph stomped out of the room.

"I HATE not knowing stuff."

Zoe suddenly felt someone watching her. She glanced at her window. She quietly opened it and climbed out of the window. She slowly climbed her way to one of the tallest towers.

"That's our star. If we get separated then you keep looking at that star until I come find you."

"Even if it meant swimming the ocean?"

"Even if it meant swimming the ocean." Zoe smiled sadly. She stood up. She wobbled and looked down. The height wad dizzying. She sat back down. She searched the sky for the one star. It wasn't there. A tear rolled down Zoe's cheek. She climbed back down into her room. Nate wouldn't come for her. Zoe walked into the hall.

Katara heard a knock at her door. Katara bolted upright and rubbed her eyes. She stumbled to her door and opened it. Zoe was standing there, tears rolling down her cheeks. Katara stood there shocked for a moment.

"Zoe?" Zoe nodded, the tears streaming down her face. Katara hugged Zoe.

"You want to talk?" Katara asked. Zoe nodded again. Katara led Zoe into her room. Zoe sat down on the foot of Katara's bed. Katara hugged Zoe. Zoe was sobbing.

"What's wrong?" Katara whispered.

"Nate. He's de-dead." Zoe sobbed. Katara hugged her tightly.

Suddenly the cloud moved, and Nate and Zoe's star shone brighter than all of the stars.

"Oh no. Zoe." Katara whispered, her voice full of pity. Zoe wiped her eyes.

"He died in the war." Zoe whispered. She had stopped crying. She was angry. Zoe suddenly punched the wall. It burst into flames. Katara quickly put it out. Zoe fell to the ground. She screamed. Katara sat there watching her scream. She started sobbing again. Katara hugged her.

"Zoe….. It's going to be okay. We'll make it through." Zoe looked up.

"I can't live in a world without him." Zoe whispered, her voice strained. Katara felt a surge of pity. Zoe stood up.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Listening." Zoe said quietly her voice lower than a whisper. She turned around and walked out of the door. Katara felt tears streaming down her cheeks.

Zoe woke up to find a chubby man standing in her doorway. Zoe sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her head was pounding.

"Iroh!" Zoe yelled. Zoe ran up to Iroh and hugged him.

"Hello Zoe." Iroh smiled.

Nate grumbled as he was pushed onto the deck. He was bound to a rock. The rock dragged behind him. Nate squinted his eyes. It was sunrise. A man dressed in fine clothes was looking him up and down.

"He'll be a strong worker." The man said. Nate pretended to faint to the side. The pirate captain moved towards. Nate suddenly jumped off the side. The man and the Captain looked over the side.

"What is he doing?"

"Crazy lad." The pirate grumbled.

"Must be one special girl." The pirate chuckled. That boy had talked about some girl with a beautiful necklace, and some promise, and swimming the ocean.

Nate sank to the bottom. He saw some coral. Thinking quickly he rubbed against the coral. The rope was instantly cut. He smiled and started swimming to the surface.

Zuko smiled as Zoe ran to Iroh. He walked down to breakfast, knowing that things would start to get back to normal.

Zoe stepped back.

"My child." Iroh smiled. Zoe looked up, shocked. Iroh smiled warmly.

"Come child, let's eat." Zoe nodded and followed him to the table. Zoe sat down to eat. Mai was sitting opposite to her. Everyone was uneasy. Mai smirked when she saw Zoe's face, tear streaked and sad. Zoe glared at her. Iroh saw the growing tension between the two girls.

"Who wants tea?" Mai smirked and went to pour some tea. Then she went to pour Zoe's tea, and "accidently" spilled the scalding hot tea onto Zoe. Zoe stood up. Mai smirk grew even wider. Zuko instantly stood up, and meant to come between the two girls. He never got the chance.

Nate gasped for air. He saw land on the horizon. He started swimming. He was tired and thought about giving up but then Zoe's voice rang in his head.

"Nate!" She was laughing.

He remembered when they first met.

A girl with black hair was running from someone. She jumped over a barrel or two, fleeing something. Nate dropped what he was doing and ran over to her.

"Are you okay?" The girl turned around. She had bright blue eyes. Various twigs and leaves were entangled in her hair.

"I'm-I'm fine. But now I have to go." The girl said quickly, and then she looked behind her. Fire Nation Guards were approaching. The girl's eyes widened. Nate looked at her.

"Hide behind the barrel. Now." The girl opened her mouth to protest but then nodded and hid. The Guards ran to Nate.

"Have you seen this girl?" They held up a poster.

"She just left on a ship heading to the Earth Kingdom." Nate said. The guard nodded and ran to the docks.

"You can come out now." Nate smiled. The girl came out of hiding.

"Thanks." The girl said. Nate nodded.

"Why are they after you?" Nate asked. The girl looked like a caged puppy, longing to get out.

"It's a long story."

"Try me."

"I have to leave…. But thank you." Nate grabbed the girl's arm.

"Why don't you come eat dinner?" Nate asked. The girl glanced at the horizon.

"Okay." The girl smiled, and followed Nate.

"Oops. Sorry." Mai smirked. Zoe was furious.

"What was that for?" she asked angrily. Mai smirked.

"For making sure I can't sleep. Do you hear yourself at night? Oh Nate Oh Nate!" Mai mocked. Zoe turned red.

"Shut up!" Zoe growled.

"You want to make me?" Mai taunted. Zoe bended the scalding water onto Mai. Mai shrieked and suddenly ran outside. Zoe realized what Mai wanted. She wants a good long butt whooping. And she was about to get one. Zoe followed her, dodging knives right and left.

Iroh frowned.

"Nate?" Katara looked away.

"Katara who's Nate?" Suki asked. Katara stood up.

"well….." She began. Suddenly she heard a scream.

"I hope it's Mai." Toph smirked. Katara gasped.

"Toph!?"

"What? I can't stand that girl." Toph suddenly paused. "Crap! Now The Dai Lee are fighting too!" Toph ran to go help Zoe.

Zoe climbed on to the roof. She raised her hands and the sea rose to meet her. Zoe spun around and pointed her hands at Mai. Zoe did a tumble to avoid a large boulder.

Nate felt the ocean pulling him. What the heck? He tried to resist, but only wore himself out. He let his thoughts wander back to Zoe.

"Zoe?" Nate asked, knocking on her window. Zoe opened her window.

"Nate!"Zoe exclaimed. Zoe was living at the local inn.

"Come outside."

"Why?" Zoe's eyebrows were raised.

"Please?" Nate offered his hand. Zoe thought for a moment, and then climbed out of her window. She took Nate's hand and ran, following him. The moon had been high in the sky. Zoe held Nate's and for a while they gazed in each other's eyes. Then they kissed. But Zoe quickly pulled away.

Zoe was getting tired. She had been at this for an hour. She hadn't gotten any sleep. Suddenly the roof caved in beneath her.

Katara and everyone ran outside. Toph was trying very hard to keep the Dai Lee away from Zoe.

Nate remembered when Zoe left. Because of Lee.

Nate climbed into Zoe's room.

"Zoe?"

"He called the Fire Nation Soldiers."

"No." Nate gasped.

"He said I'm an outcast." Zoe sniffled. Nate hugged Zoe tightly.

"We're going to be separated."

"I promise I'll find you when this all over." Zoe hugged Nate and buried her face in his collarbone.

Then the guards had forced Zoe to flee. Then Nate saw the Fire Nation Palace. He saw a girl dangling from the roof. He swam as fast as he could to get to the girl.

Katara suddenly saw a young man run towards Zoe. She instantly recognized him as Nate.

Mai looked down at Zoe.

"Aw, poor Zoe." Mai smirked. Zoe grunted and tried to pull herself up.

"here why don't I help you?" Mai's smirk grew even wider. Zoe looked down. Everyone was small dots, like ants. Zoe gulped.

Katara squeezed Zuko's hand.

"Oh my God." Katara whispered. "She's going to fall."

Zoe tried again to pull herself up. Mai's smirk grew a mile wide. Zoe struggled to pull herself up in vain. Mai stomped her foot, crushing Zoe's hand. Zoe refused to let go. Mai knelt down. A look of pure hatred coursed between the two girls.

"You're finally gonna meet Nate." Mai smiled cruelly and pulled out a knife. She stabbed Zoe's hand. The poison began seeping into Zoe's blood. Zoe suddenly gasped and let go. Zoe freefell to the ground. Her hair flew about, and she fell like a rag doll.

Nate ran to catch the falling girl. He saw three boys, three girls, a girl on top of the roof, and an old man. He ran towards the falling girl. As she came closer he saw a ying yang necklace.

He caught the girl. He slowly lowered her to the ground. He felt the side of her neck. She was alive. He brushed the hair out of her face.

"Zoe."Nate whispered. Tears of Joy ran down his face.

Zuko ran towards Zoe. Some man was lowering her on the ground. Katara and everyone else ran to Zoe.

Zoe knelt down and began to heal Zoe. Nate looked at Katara.

"Who are you?" He looked prepared to fight.

"A better question is who are you?" Zuko asked. Nate stood up.

"I'm Nate. Who are you?"

"Zuko." Katara looked up at Zuko.

"Someone please hold her-" Nate was already on the ground, holding Zoe's wrists. He was gentle with her. Katara nodded her thanks as she pulled out the poison dagger.

Iroh smiled at the way Nate looked at Zoe.

"Can someone carry her back into her room?" Katara asked. Nate picked Zoe up, careful not to hurt her.

"Will she be okay?" Nate asked his eyes full of worry.

"Yes. She'll be fine." Katara smiled. Nate nodded.

Katara watched Nate tuck Zoe into bed. She chuckled.

"Looks like Zoe's going to have her fairytale ending after all."