Hey Readers... So college has taken up a lot of my time... I'm trying really hard not to put this book on hiatus... I really want to write more. However, my priority right now is college so updates are going to take a while. Anyway... Just to give you all something here is a very small chapter. I am working on the next one which will definitely be longer. Please be patient with me and I will do my best to update when I can. Thanks!

Chapter 36: Dawn

Amara POV

When I woke up in the morning, the atmosphere felt… light. Iroh was still asleep, but I saw Zuko petting Yuna by a small fire he had started for breakfast. Yuna purred and pressed against his hand in return. Getting up, I walked over to him and saw he was cooking some eggs on an iron skillet. I assumed this was one of the many things stolen in the days Iroh and Zuko were first in the Earth Kingdom. I didn't question him.

He looked over at me when he heard me approach and smiled. "Hey… Did you sleep okay?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a tad embarrassed by my mood before bed. "Yes… sorry… about last night… I just had a lot I needed to get off my chest…"

He was surprised by my apology. "Don't be sorry. You had every right to feel that way, Amara." His statement puzzled me. Before I could ask he slipped a fried egg onto a wooden plate with chopsticks and handed it over. "Eat something. We have more traveling to do today. Last thing we need is you passing out. You didn't eat much last night."

Taking a seat, I continued to stare at him in confusion as I took the plate. He just seemed… different…

"Are… you okay?"

He smiled again and met my eyes with sincerity. "I'm better than I've been in years."

I was even more confused. The other day he was so upset and conflicted. I couldn't even imagine how frustrated he was with me after talking about how much I hated the war last night. I didn't understand why he was so… composed.

"You're not mad… about what I said last night…?"

"No…" He spoke softly. "Actually… I thought about what you said most of the night. I also had a talk with Uncle and got some clarity."

He looked back at the fire and his smile dropped.

"I thought about my mom… my cousin Lu Ten. All of the people in the Earth Kingdom I've met who have been hurt by this war… I thought about Fire Nation soldiers who have died trying to accomplish what my Great-Grandfather Sozin started. I thought about the Avatar… a boy who lost his whole nation to this war, yet saved my life even after what my forefathers did… he even considered the possibility of us becoming friends. Then I thought about you…"

He met my gaze again. I felt my heart flutter.

"You've lost sixteen years of your life because of what your Fire Nation family did to you. Your mother was killed and you were left to suffer all because of this war… and you still suffer today just because you're of two opposing nations. You have to live in constant fear that you will lose your family and friends, or will be captured again…" He shut his eyes. "I hate that you have to worry about possibly being a prisoner again. I hate that so many are still after you, and now it's because of my family. I finally realized last night… If there's one thing I desire more than anything, it's to protect you and make you happy. I know I will lose you if I continue trying to capture the Avatar… if I continue to support the Fire Lord... I don't want that to happen." He let out a heavy breath. "I don't want to choose a path where I will be alone and live in regret."

He met my eyes once more.

"You make me happy, Amara… you and uncle make me feel loved… and I will do everything in my power to protect you both. The best way to do that is to restore peace and balance. I'm going to help defeat the Fire Lord and restore the Fire Nation to its former glory. Right the wrongs of my ancestors… I'm choosing the right path at last."

His words stunned me. I couldn't find my voice at first. Finally, I asked softly, "You would really do that… turn against the Fire Lord? Turn against your father? You'd help Aang and my family?"

Zuko moved closer to me and cupped my cheek. "You were right yesterday, Amara… the Fire Lord isn't my father. You finally helped me realize that after three years. I also realized that my desire to go home… my desire to be Fire Lord… Those would be meaningless without you. I want you by my side when I do those things, and I know that won't ever be possible with Fire Lord Ozai on the throne. I don't see a future where I can be happy without you. And I won't hurt you anymore by trying to capture someone you care about. I'll end this war… give you a better life. I love you, Amara. Your happiness is my new mission."

I felt a tear fall. "You… really mean that? You'll stop trying to capture Aang… you'll really help us…?"

He brushed my tear. His eyes watered too. "It's my destiny. To right the wrongs of my Great-Grandfather Sozin… and to restore peace like my great-grandfather Roku wanted."

My eyes widened. His words raced through my head. "Avatar… Roku…?"

He nodded. "Turns out… the Avatar and I are connected. My mother was chosen to marry my father because she was a direct descendant of Roku. If helping the Avatar is the way to honor my mom and her family, I'll do just that."

"That's a big step," I whispered. "Becoming a traitor…"

He moved in so he was closer to my face. "I was a traitor the day I spoke out against my father. I understand now… I was already against the Fire Lord and this war. It just took a dualbender named Amara to finally open my eyes."

I placed my plate down, and then put my hand over his, pressing his warmth closer to my cheek. "You don't know what this means to me, Zuko… I've always feared that our paths would never unite and I would have to turn against you one day. This means that there truly is a way we can be with one another… and you being related to Avatar Roku… this will help convince the others that you do have good in you."

He rested his forehead on my own. "When we find the Avatar and your family again, that will definitely be the hardest part. But I'll have to face that challenge… and I'm ready to when the time comes. Because I love you and can't lose you again..."

Another tear fell. This one was from joy. "I love you too, Zuko."

I moved in and he met my intention. Our lips pressed to one another, and my heart felt light as my worries faded.

During the time I had been with my family, I had feared that joining the right side of the war would only create a greater divide between Zuko and I. But destiny finally gave us a way. Zuko was the Great-Grandson of Avatar Roku, and he finally realized his path was to help the Avatar restore balance.

I felt like there was finally hope…

Plus, Aang needed a Fire Nation teacher… with Zuko joining the team, he would have one.

There was a chance… there was a possibility that this war would finally end… There was hope that my mother's people would be safe at last…. There was hope that I could finally find a place where I belonged.

After hearing Zuko's sincerity, he explained to me once we broke apart that Uncle had connections that would be able to help us find my family. He told me that once we did, he would apologize and do his best to gain their trust. I didn't know where my family was headed after we split, but I had a feeling they were still in the Earth Kingdom. I let him know when we caught up I'd do my best to convince them too.

I knew Zuko was telling the truth. I heard his honesty. I could see his determination. He was ready to stop the Fire Lord. He was ready to reclaim his honor.