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zukozukozuko · 5 years ago

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chapter one: embracing the contrast

Amaka sighed as she led her ostrich horse and cart down the road. She had just started to like the little village she had been staying in when someone had told a Fire Nation soldier a waterbender was hiding in the village. She then packed up her stuff and began traveling the Earth kingdom again.

A pair of figures showed up in the distant desert road before Amaka, moving slowly down the path. Amaka furrowed her brows and tried to make out if they were friendly or not. Of course, she would heal them no matter which side they were on, because if she didn’t the Fire Nation soldiers would keep her captive.

Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening, and she dropped the reins to her ostrich horse and ran to help the pair.

“Are you okay? I’m a healer, I can help!” Amaka held her hands up in a way to show she was harmless as she glanced over the elder gentleman, whose chest was covered in makeshift bandages. The younger boy looked at Amaka with an angry expression before nodding to her.

The boy helped the man to the side of the road while Amaka ran to her cart to grab water and supplies. She began mixing some herbs together to form a paste. Obviously she could heal the man with water, but she wasn’t sure she was willing to use her bending with these strangers. Amaka’s lips turned down slowly as she unwrapped the man’s bandages.

“What? What is it?” The boy snapped at her. “Why are you making that face?!”

“I’m sorry it’s just… These burns aren’t healing well. They’re very infected. I can heal them but…”

“But what? Just heal them. Whatever it takes,” the boy’s voice wavered ever so slightly, and with that show of emotion, Amaka closed her eyes and bended water from the jug next to her, putting her hands on the mans wounds. As her hands glowed and began to heal the old man, a slight smile came to his face.

“I always admired a waterbender’s ability to use water to heal,” the old man softly stated.

“Uncle! Are you okay?” The younger boy hugged the older man as Amaka pulled her hands away, bending the water back into the jug.

“Yes nephew, but if you put on some tea to boil, I would be very appreciative.”

Amaka couldn’t help but smile, putting aside the feeling that this man felt familiar.

“So, Amaka, tell us how you came to be in the Earth kingdom. I recognize your healing from my time in the Northern Water Tribe, is that correct?” The old man asked Amaka as he sipped his tea. He had mentioned his name was Mushi.

“Yes, I grew up in the Northern tribe. I… well during the siege between my people and the Fire Nation, my closest friend sacrificed her life to protect her people. I just didn’t think it fair that it had to be her and didn’t want to stay in a place that would remind me of my losses.” Amaka didn’t like talking about that night, but also knew that in order to heal from her past, she has to face it.

“Your friend made a great sacrifice because she loved her people. It may hurt to remember, but you are stronger because of your friendship with her. I have been trying to tell my nephew, sometimes losing something you held so highly in your life is a way to start over,” Mushi glanced over at his nephew, who stared down at his tea.

Amaka smiled and also glanced over at the boy, who had introduced himself earlier as Lee.

“Your uncle gives great advice,” she smiled warmly at him, and he continued to look at his tea. “But what about you? Those burns were different than other fire burns I’ve healed.”

“We had a run in with a powerful firebender on our way to Ba Sing Se. Fortunately my nephew was able to hold me together until we came across you!” Mushi laughed heartily, making Amaka smile and blush. “Are you heading to Ba Sing Se as well?”

“I didn’t have plans to… But I didn’t have a general idea of where I was heading to next anyway. I have to travel often because of the Fire Nation rounding up waterbenders. It’s not safe for me to heal openly but I sometimes have to if the case is bad. Some people can keep secrets, but not everyone.”

“Well you should join us on our way to Ba Sing Se! We’re heading to the refugee ship ourselves. We would be grateful for your company and your healing abilities.”

And of course, Amaka accepted Mushi’s offer. They made plans to head out after their morning tea.

“Look! A camp up ahead. We can stay there for the night before… Oh…” Amaka had pointed to the campfire smoke she thought she was seeing, before getting closer and seeing that it was a small group of Fire Nation soldiers camping along the route.

“Stay calm. We can pass quietly and they won’t know about your bending. We can make camp further along the road,” Mushi glanced down at Amaka from his perch on her ostrich horse.

Amaka nervously looked at Lee, who seemed to share her nerves and hard feelings towards the soldiers. The trio kept along the road with their heads down. They were close to the end of the Fire Nation camp when Amaka saw a soldier notice the group.

“Hey! Stop! Stop your cart!” The soldier yelled as Amaka jumped and quickly forced the ostrich horse and cart to stop. “Show us your passes. This is now territory of the Fire Nation and Firelord Ozai.”

Lee’s hands went into fists by his sides, causing Amaka to become even more tense.

“We didn’t know passes were needed. Maybe if you point us to where we can get some-“ Mushi started but was interrupted by the soldier, who had been joined by a couple others from their camp.

“I recognize you! You’re General Iroh… and you…” The soldier’s eyes made their way to Lee. “Prince Zuko,” Amaka’s mouth dropped open, realizing that was why Mushi seemed so familiar. He was there when Yue sacrificed herself.

The soldiers all took up a fighting stance, causing Prince Zuko to do the same. Amaka looked between Iroh and Zuko and back at the soldiers.

“Please! Just let us pass, they weren’t hurting anybody!” Amaka yelled and stepped in front of Mushi.

“So you’re going to defend these traitors? Take them! We can bring them as prisoners to Lord Ozai!” The soldier yelled as another soldier shot fire at the trio.

Before Zuko could redirect it, Amaka exploded one of her water jugs and slung the water at the fire to stop its path. She and Zuko looked at each other before pairing off to fight the soliders.

Amaka fought off two soldiers while Zuko pushed back their leader. After sending a wave at the men she was fighting, and successfully stunning them, Amaka turned her head wildly to find General Iroh. She knew he was a powerful bender but with his wounds still healing she worried he would get more hurt. She saw him heading towards another soldier and raising his arms to join the fight.

“General Iroh! No! Stay back- AH!” Amaka gasped as she was hit with fire across her shoulder, sending her flying backwards into a tree. Her head hit a branch and she saw Zuko knock out the soldiers with a blast of fire before running towards her. Her vision went blank as she slid down to the ground.

“Mmmm…” Amaka groaned as her eyes fluttered open. Iroh and Zuko her leaning over her.

“You’ll have to forgive us for our healing, Amaka, for we aren’t as gifted as you,” Iroh smiled warmly at Amaka and helped her sit up. A pain went through her shoulder and she winced.

“What happened?” She peeled back the bandages to heal herself as Iroh explained to her what happened.

“…And Zuko saw them hit you and ran over to help you. After that, we quickly got you on the cart and came here to hide,” Iroh gestured to the cave they were currently in, your ostrich horse grazing outside.

“Thank you, Zuko. And you Iroh. If you two have to run to avoid the soldiers I understand,” Amaka looked between the two firebenders. She only met Iroh that one time, and had mostly heard stories about them, but she never thought she would’ve fought by their side.

“Nonsense! You’re still weak and we can’t leave you alone. We can head to Ba Sing Se again tomorrow,” Iroh passed Amaka a cup of tea, and she took it silently.

She looked over at Zuko who was also quietly sipping his tea. He must’ve felt her gaze because he looked up and returned her gaze. Amaka smiled at him, which caused him to blush and put all of his focus back into his tea.

He didn’t seem like the strong, intimidating Fire Nation prince she had heard stories about.

#zuko x oc #zuko fanfic #zuko #prince zuko #general iroh #fire nation #atla #atla fanfic #lok #the last airbender #firebender #waterbender #water tribe #northern water tribe #southern water tribe

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zukozukozuko · 5 years ago

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prologue: embracing the contrast

Amaka smiled slightly and nodded as Yue answered Amaka’s question perfectly. She was so proud of the princess for how far she had come in her studies, even though she knew Yue wouldn’t have a problem learning Amaka’s craft.

Amaka had been orphaned at a young age, and had been raised in the orphanage with the other young kids who had lost their parents to war. When she became old enough she began following the healers around and learning everything she could about healing with water. At 12, she had already mastered enough of the craft to start healing on her own. It helped she had been sneaking into the library to read the ancient Water Tribe texts, learning more about the element of water than many waterbender’s ever do.

Since she and Yue were close in age, she had been brought into the palace at 13 to study with the princess. They started meeting only three times a week, but enjoyed each others company so much that they began meeting everyday.

Amaka and Yue were 15 now, and Amaka had been teaching Yue the properties of the moon that even Yue’s parents weren’t familiar with. Since Yue was heir to the Northern Water Tribe, and especially since the Moon Spirit had given some of its life to Yue at her birth, Amaka knew how important it was for Yue to fully understand Tui’s importance.

“...so, that’s how spirit’s can transfer life sources to us. Amaka, are we done yet? I can’t focus today! My birthday is tomorrow and the Avatar-” Yue excitedly started before Amaka cut her off.

“Yue, I know you’re excited about the celebration but your parents would be so mad if we cut off lessons early. I mean it’s only been... 30 minutes! We haven’t even started on different ways that we can use the moon’s energy for bending and more!” Amaka knew she would get Yue to focus by bringing up her royal duties but the truth is she was excited too. The Avatar had arrived yesterday and had obviously caused excitement in the tribe.

“Please? 30 more minutes then can we go see the preparations?” Yue smiled innocently at Amaka, who smiled and gave into the princess’s request.

“Yue, please! Don’t do this!” Amaka yelled to the princess as Yue began to reach her hands towards General Iroh to take Tui from him. She knew that only Yue could help Tui, and worse still she knew that she was the one who gave Yue the knowledge to understand why.

“Amaka, you know I have to do this. Thank you for being my friend,” Yue held onto Tui and closed her eyes.

Amaka and the others watched as Yue gave her life force back to the Spirit who had given her life in the first place. And at that moment, Amaka knew that the Northern Water Tribe could no longer be her home.

#northern water tribe #water tribe #waterbender #katara #aang #sokka #yue #princess yue #imagine #atla fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #zuko #zuko x oc #oc #atla #the last airbender #zuko fanfic #zuko imagine

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