Fire Princess

I literally bumped into her.

She stumbled backwards, taking an extra step to create some distance. "HEY WATCH WHERE YOU'RE-" Her rant died in her throat as she looked at me. "Oh! My sincerest apologies, My Lord!"

I rolled my eyes. "Lizzie, How many times have I asked you to just call me Zuko?" I smiled what I hoped to be a warming smile at her, and she flashed me a row of pearly whites in return.

I then looked at her. My playmate since childhood had grown up. She was wearing a purple dress, with black shoes, and a pair of black boots. Her laces matched her dress, as they always did, and Her jacket was in Fire Nation Red, an emblem embroidered on the back. Her hair was the color of crow's feathers, Matte black. Her bangs were cropped, making her violet eyes look wider, more innocent. Her mouth was pouty, and currently moving.

"What?" I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "I am sorry. I spaced out. You were saying?"

She shook her head at him and said, "I was saying, Do you remember when we ran away to this place?"

I hadn't realized that I was moving, but now I looked around. It was the forgotten garden of the Fire Lady. Ursa, My mother, was the last one to come here. I remember, she came here for solace, for silence. I smirked, "Yeah. We were what…13? I told you that…" My mind was swimming with memories.

Zuko splashed Lizzie with a handful of water from the pond. "Zuko!" She exclaimed out loud, then threw a handful of grass at him. He laughed, like a child who had forgotten how. He then flopped down on the grass, his youthful arms going up over his head. Lizzie laughed, and laid her head on his chest, listening to the sounds of  his heart.

"I am going to be the best Fire Lord there ever was." Zuko exclaimed, his hands playing with a strand of her hair. "I will go to the war meeting tomorrow and learn from my father what it takes to be a true man."

Lizzie turned her face up towards him, the sound of his heartbeat merely echoing in her mind. "So what do you think it takes to be a true man?"

Zuko looked down at her, both of his amber eyes shining, "My uncle Iroh said it was his wife. She made him a better man."  He looked down at her and smiled. She looked up and said, "Well, then I guess you have to find yourself a fire princess, now don't you?"

She sat up and held up a single hand, and a small jet of purple flames shot out. She started to laugh, but his hand found the back of her neck. Surprise danced like flames in her eyes, but she didn't pull away. He leaned forward, and pressed a firm yet supple kiss to her lips.

"You are my fire princess." He said. She just smiled.

"Zuko! Zuko!" Lizzie waved a hand in front of his face. He blinked, and smiled, "That was a wonderful day. The day after though…"

Lizzie reached a single hand up and stroked the rough and reddened skin around his eye. "I wish that I could have saved you. I was there. I watched the Agni Kai. Your father is a monster. You are right you know. You are a far better man than he ever was." Lizzie smiled, then turned to walk away.

Zuko grabbed her wrist. Just like the day before his childhood ended, he placed his hands on the back of her neck. Her mouth opened slightly, and a gasp of surprise escaped her. Her eyes danced with the same violet flames they had before. He kissed her then, not as a child, but like a man. A man with a fire in his heart, finally, a purpose.

"Make this garden whole again. Marry Me?" He asked. Lizzie just smiled. She nodded.