"Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel, you can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place."

-Iroh

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The crown was lowered onto Zuko's head. I started clapping, leaping up and down in the audience. Next to me, Katara clasped her hands as Aang walked out, all air nomad-y with the necklaces and the long thobe type thing.

"The real hero was the Avatar," Zuko said with a smile, and they embraced.

"This is so exciting," I whispered. Suki and Ty Lee, covered Kyoshi Warrior clothes and makeup, stood behind us, talking to Sokka who suddenly looked so much older I suddenly realized how much he'd grown up. I gave him a smile, taking his hand in mine.

The audience cheered as Zuko was crowned. I waved a Fire Nation flag, holding a Water Nation one in my other hand.

"I will restore peace to this world," Zuko announced. "And do everything in my power to fix the damage the previous Fire Lords have done. The Hundred Year War is officially over."

When the coronation part was over and everyone was partying outside, I escaped, trying to get to Zuko's room to congratulate it. I bumped into Zian on the way, who was talking to Toph. I looked between them.

"Hey," Zian said. "How are you feeling?"

"Great," I said. "What's up?"

"Nothing. I was just, you know, getting to know Toph." I looked at her. Her ears turned pink. I smiled slyly.

"Weeell okay. Have fun," I said, patting his back.

I stood outside of Zuko's room, when Katara came into view, holding a hairbrush in her hand.

"That's my hairbrush," I said to Katara. She rolled her eyes.

"You've got like, three more. And I was returning it anyway."

I stuck out my tongue. "Aren't you supposed to be some place?"

Katara gave me a sly smile. "Why, what are you planning to do?"

"Nothing."

She giggled. "C'mon. Tell me."

"Nothing! Go hang out with Aang or something," I blushed, opening the door and walking inside. "Bye." I sat down on a comfy chair.

"Tell me one thing you want to do now that all this is over," Zuko said as we sat alone in his old room in the palace.

"Why?" I asked, brushing the knots out of my hair, feeling at peace for once. I'd taken a warm bath, fixed my hair, and scrubbed away any signs of the past year. My wounds had started to heal. Everything slowly started to fade. Except for that burn.

Katara called it a 'battle scar'. "It's to remind you how brave you were. Whenever you feel like you can't do something, look down at it."

"Just tell me," he said, adjusting the bandages on his stomach where Azula had gotten him.

"Uh," I said, setting the hairbrush down, "definitely meet my grandma now. I haven't talked to her for over a year."

Zuko stood up. "Let's go."

"Excuse me?" my eyes widened. "Where are you going?"

"Let's meet your grandma," he said, reaching his hand out. I stood up.

"No way, Zu." I put my hands on my hips. "Look at yourself. You need to rest."

He lifted my hand, brushing his thumb over my battle scar. "I'll be fine if you're with me. Now let's go. You can't say no to the Fire Lord," he cracked a smile.

"Fine." I hid my red face. "But we have to hurry."

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When I saw the Northern Water Tribe, I got emotional. Tears filled my eyes and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Oh, God," I wiped my eyes, a cloud of vapor forming from my lips as my warm breath met the freezing air. "I'm home."

Zuko handed me a pair of gloves, huddled up himself. I chose to wear blue, even though he wore red for the Fire Nation. I smiled at him thankfully, taking the gloves and slipping them on.

"Where does she live?" he asked.

"I'll tell you that when we get off," I nudged him. "I feel like I'm going to see her after a million years."

"She took care of you when your parents died, right?"

"Yeah. When my mom did. I don't even know what happened to my dad," I said as the ship came to a stop. "Wow. I forgot how chilly it is." We took a step down. "Take your time, Zuko." I took his hand, helping him carefully.

"I can get off by myself. It's okay." Zuko was still recovering, even after months of healing. I didn't understand if it was because he was truly still hurt or if he was just afraid to see what would happen if he went back to his full potential. But in his eyes, I saw pain with every step. And I wasn't about to let him go through all of it alone. Lightning was dangerous, and it had his aftereffects. Aang had healed fast because of Katara's spirit water.

I greeted everyone after ages, receiving hugs from people I barely knew. "We heard you left to assist the Avatar?" they said excitedly.

"I did." I nodded, wanting to walk right through. "I'm kind of in a hurry."

"Of course, of course," a woman said, and suddenly her daughter came dashing out and grabbing my legs.

"You're so cool. Can you really bend two elements?" she asked.

"Yeah," I gave her a nervous smile. "I can."

"What else can you do? Did you meet the Fire Lord?" Questions came flying out of everywhere. I knew all of these people, yet they treated me like I was someone they'd never seen before.

"Did you really fight the Fire Lord?"

"You're so cool!"

"You can go in the Spirit World?" How did they know that?

"She needs to meet her grandmother. Please excuse us," Zuko said from behind me, and the crowd immediately parted.

"Is that the prince?"

"Actually," I said with a laugh, feeling confident, "That is the new Fire Lord. And he's with me." Zuko slid his arm around my waist; to support himself or to claim his property, I didn't know.

The crowd bowed in respect as I made my way to my old home. I raised my fist to knock on the door.

"Ready?" Zuko asked.

"Ready." But my fist hit air as the door swung open.

"Why is there so much commotion? I always said I hate . . ."

"Hullabaloo," I finished for her. "I know, Gran."

Shock, followed by surprise followed by confusion passed her wrinkled face. "Ayame? Oh, dear. Oh, dear oh dear, dear," she said, her face changing, filling with emotion, her arms grabbing my arm, "Come inside!"

I sat on the chair, taking in my surroundings. It was my house, but I felt out of place. "It hasn't changed at all."

She set a cup of tea in front of my face. "Are you crazy? Why would I change it after you left?"

"Because I haven't said a thing to you for over a year."

"I knew you were going to be back. Now sit down. Your face is so skinny. Have you been eating?" Gran scolded.

"Grandma, I missed you so much."

"Tell me everything," she said, her gold eyes shimmering. "From the day you left." And I told her everything. And I do mean everything.

"So," she whispered after I'd finished, putting a hand on my hand, "you accomplished your goal. You know what happened to your mother. You helped the Avatar, and you know how you came to be a dual bender," she said. "I'm so glad I let you leave," she said tearfully.

"Grammy," I threw my arms around her neck over the table. "I love you to death."

She laughed. "I know." As I pulled away, she looked at me with a strange look in her eyes. "Sweetheart, are you staying here now?"

"Actually . . . " I trailed off, "Grandma, there's someone I'd like you to meet." I turned towards the door. "Zuko, come in please."

"Who is this?" She asked as Zuko shuffled into the kitchen.

"Is this where you lived?" Zuko asked, his eyes lighting up. "It looks so . . . Cozy."

"Another word for tight and small," Grandma chuckled. "Are you the Prince?"

"Actually, he's the Fire Lord now," I said. "And," I said, reaching out to hold my grandma's hand, "I'm probably going to stay at the palace for a while. The Avatar and his friends probably need me, and I have some catching up to do with my siblings," I said.

"Wait a minute," she grabbed my hand. "What is that?" She lifted it up, to see the glinting ring on my ring finger. "Oh, dear," she laughed in disbelief, my granddaughter is engaged?"

I blushed. "It all happened really fast, Grandma. I forgot it was even there."

"That feels great to know," Zuko said gruffly.

The truth suddenly dawned over her. I saw the sudden change in her face. "To the Fire Lord?" Gran almost shrieked. There it was. "I mean, I love this, but you're only what, sixteen?"

"Seventeen," I corrected. "My birthday was yesterday."

"You two are way too young to be . . ." She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Oh, my, God.

"Before you say anything," I stood up, planting my palms down on the table, "there is more than one room in a palace." I heard Zuko begin laughing behind me. He just kept laughing until I saw tears brim his eyes. I had never, ever seen Zuko laugh that hard. Seeing him smile was rare, imagine how I felt when he started guffawing. So I continued as if nothing happened. "I came here to bring you with me. Please grandma. I need you there."

She stood up, coming around to stand in front of me. "I can't."

My heart dropped. "Why?"

"This is my home," she said with a sad smile. " I love you, and you're old enough to take care of yourself. Don't get the wrong idea darling. I'd love to go with you, but my place is here. Invite me to the wedding, though. And," she added with a wide grin, "I'd love to meet my other grandchildren. And maybe my other grand-son-in-law." She was referring to Katara and her husband to be, who, I desperately hoped, was going to be Aang. But marriage wasn't a main focus of ours, with all the reconstruction going on for the past few months. There was a lot of work to be done and relationships weren't nearly as important at the moment.

She walked over to Zuko, wrapping him in a warm, motherly hug. His eyes widened in surprise. "Take care of my baby," she said to him, gently patting his back. She looked at me again. "You've grown so much, Ayame."

My eyes flooded with tears as she whispered, "I'm so proud of you. So, so proud." And handed me a little baby shoe.

"What is this?" I asked, looking up at her old, wrinkled face.

"It's your shoe. Look inside when you get back to your ship."

"But I can't leave so quicky!"

"I love you. We all do. Your parents, your grandfather, your other family, your fiancé. Please always remember that."

I swallowed back the lump in my throat. "I'll see you soon, Gran."

"Goodbye, love."

As I walked back to the ship, I held up the baby shoe. Inside was a slip of paper. I pulled it out, and began to read, uncovering long lost secrets, hidden information, and a letter from my mother.

And even though some of it hurt, at the end, I was left smiling. And that really was all that mattered. I was back where I started, and I was starting again.

"You okay?" Zuko asked me with a bright smile on his face.

I frowned. "You know, that was the first time I heard you laugh like that. You should do it more often."

"I thought your comment was silly," he said with a shrug. "More than one room in a palace," he mocked in a deeper voice than usual. I punched him. "I'm just kidding," he laughed. "I missed your abusiveness towards me, by the way."

I smirked. "Thanks for reminding me." And then I stood up on my tippytoes, wrapping my arms around his neck and I kissed him. After that, I swatted his arm, leaving him grinning, and looked back at my home, the sea pushing us further and further away.

After all of this, I don't know what to think. As the Northern Water Tribe gets and smaller until it's only a tiny dot, I grip the rails.

This isn't over. I know it isn't. This is just the beginning.

My name is Ayame. I am a dual bender, and this?

This is my story.