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This art is owned by [link] It's such a beautiful picture! you can find it here [link] She has a contest and while this one isn't the one I'm entering in the contest but I wanted to make a story that was inspired by this picture and so I colored it four times. Each of the pictures will carry with it an installment of the story.

This picture is of them in Fire Lord Zuko's room. I colored it pencils and chalk.

I'll have the next chapter out later today.

here is the original scan [link]

Here is the first installment of the story.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Avatar: The Last Air-bender, the very talented team of Mike and Brain own the show and characters. The rating maybe wrong but I did try to get it right.

By: year of the snake (at fanfiction) aka. crescent moon (at mediaminer). And now Opal-Dreams on DeviantArt.

TENDERNESS - Autumn

Being Fire Lord isn’t always pleasant. Fire Lord Zuko had recently found that out. It was just three years after the war was ended by his ascension to the Fire Nation Thrown. While working on extending treaties between his land and the other nations a point he hadn’t counted on was brought up. The point was solidifying the treaties with blood. Or more accurately with blood lines.

“Fire Lord Zuko,” began the Earth Kingdom ambassador, Ling Bei Fong, older cousin to his beloved friend Toph Bei Fong, “the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom have come to an agreement. We have decided we will not trust the Fire Nation without a marriage treaty.”

“What!?!” That hit Zuko like Sokka’s boomerang had the first time they had met.

“A marriage treaty,” said the Northern Water Tribe ambassador, Kinid Lowun, “being royalty I have no doubt you know what that is.”

Zuko looked away from the two men in shock. A few of the other ambassadors nodded their agreement. Even his closest Fire Nation ambassador nodded. He couldn’t believe Iroh was also in favor of this marriage. He wished that the Air Nomad ambassador was here, Avatar Aang wouldn’t agree to this as the fifteen year old was a romantic boy. It was unfortunate for the Fire lord that his young friend had Avatar duties and couldn’t attend.

Iroh added his voice to the conversation, hoping to soothe his nephew’s stricken feelings. “Surely you can’t have any objections nephew; after all you haven’t had a lady friend for nearing three years when Mai left.” Iroh paused and hoped he hadn’t said the wrong thing.

Mai was his first and last girlfriend. They had been engaged to be married not two days after he had been crowned Fire Lord. Their common friend Ty Lee talked to Mai about how she didn’t think it was ‘healthy’ for her to marry when she had always suppressed herself for her parents’ wishes. Ty Lee convinced her she should run off and do something completely different, do something that liberated her soul before she tied herself down. Mai agreed to ease Ty Lee’s worry. Mai followed Ty Lee’s footsteps and joined the Fire Nation Circus. She was the dagger thrower.

Ty Lee had been right.

A few months later Mai sent a note to Zuko here is some of what it said;

I have realized something since I’ve been here. I am sorry to tell you this but I must say it. Zuko while I don’t hate you, I don’t love you. There are two reasons I once thought I did.

The first was that I had built you up while you were gone, that I was in love with you, the unreal you. I loved a you that I created by not letting go of the childhood crush I had for you.

The second was that I wanted my parents’ approval. What better way to do that then to marry the Fire Lord?

I should also tell you this. I’m going to marry the ringleader’s son. He’s a good man and I love him. I haven’t had the chance to build him up in my mind. So I know this must be the real thing. Right now he’s the animal caretaker but when his father retires he will take over as the ringleader.

I’m sorry.

Goodbye, I hope you can forgive me.

He had found out that she now had one baby and was three months along with the next. He let her go, but he wasn’t quite over her yet. He tried to be happy for her and to not blame Ty Lee and most days he succeeded. But this day he was upset by it. And he wanted to deck Ty Lee. This marriage treaty proposal would be kaput if he had married Mai like they had planned before she left.

Now he was sitting in a room that was a mixture of old and young ambassadors, mostly men, who unanimously wanted him to marry to set in stone a treaty.

“What exactly are you proposing?” he asked.

“We’re saying that you should marry an Earth or Water Nation Princess before the end of Autumn or the treaty is off and we will be bringing war to your soil.” ex-general Dinfi Longisy of the Earth Kingdom stood to say.

Both Zuko and Iroh stiffened at the obvious threat. “Allow me to confer with my councilor for a moment please.” Zuko stood up and Iroh followed him into the hall.

“Uncle what do you make of this?”

“They are serious I’m afraid. Zuko This wont be so bad. You will grow to care for the girl. And this will be good for all of our nations.”

“You sound like you want me to just give in and marry one of their princesses, a girl I’ve never met!”

“I never knew you were such a romantic.” Iroh poked him playfully to lighten the mood unsuccessfully. When Zuko glared at him he answered, “Yes I do. You belong to the people of the Fire Nation and must do what is best for them. Do you think they would be happy with you if they found out you could have prevented war from coming to their home and did nothing? How many people will die just because you won’t marry a foreign girl?”

That last question injected the ice of practicality into Zuko’s fire filled brain. He wasn’t happy with it but he knew his answer to the proposal of a marriage treaty. They walked back into the meeting and sat in their respective seats.

Fire Lord Zuko spoke to the waiting room, “We have come to a decision… I will go along with this marriage treaty. Tell me now of the princesses and I will even decide as so as possible.”

“Um…” That caught the ambassadors off guard. Zuko was glad to return the favor.

An eighty-seven year old man from Ba Sing Se stood. He was stooped and wrinkled. “Fire Lord Zuko I am Bonzu Sing-li ambassador sent by the Earth King. I can tell you how many princesses there are in the Earth Kingdom and even most of their names if you will allow me to.”

Zuko nodded at the man.

“There are thirty-six princesses in the earth kingdom, and only twenty-seven of marrying age. Only twenty-four still young enough to bear children. Those princesses are…” He listed all twenty-four and their ages. Many of the people were surprised that such an old man could remember all of this. But the other Earth ambassadors couldn’t even call him on getting one of the girl’s ages wrong. It was amazing. His old voice cracked and fell and rose in a way only a mature man’s could which kept it interesting.

Then a Northern Water Tribe ambassador stood, she was around thirty-four. “Fire Lord I am Amiya of the Northern Water Tribe. There are six princesses in our care.” She named them with their ages as closely as she could figure.

An ambassador from the Foggy Swam Tribe stood, he said, “Fire Lord, I am Gu from the Foggy Swamp and we have three princesses.”

Another Foggy Swamp man corrected him, “We only have two now Gu. Oilaha ran off to marry that Earth Kingdom boy remember?”

“Oh right.” Gu turned back to the Fire Lord and named the twin Princesses of the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

There was no ambassador from the Southern Water Tribe as they had recently been attacked by renegade fire-benders and were in the mist of rebuilding their ice homes.

An old man from the Northern Tribe stood up on their behalf. “I am Funsik of the Northern Water Tribe and I will speak on behalf of the Southern Water Tribe. They have few people and have only one princess. I know not her name but she is of marrying age.” The old man wheezed. Then he started to cough. Some of his neighbors helped him sit down.

After the coughing stopped Zuko stood and closed the meeting. “I thank you. It seems I have much to think on. We will adjourn for the day. Please enjoy the meal that is awaiting you in the dining hall.” Zuko left the room followed by his uncle.

“Zuko are you sure you want to do this?’

“Uncle you wanted me to do this. Have you changed your mind so soon?”

“No. Then I was talking as a counselor now I am speaking as your uncle.”

“I have made my decision. Would you like to help me choose my bride?”

Iroh paused. Then he went after Zuko again. “I wouldn’t miss it. Plus you will need it.”

They got a copy of the minutes of the meeting from the scribe and had their dinners sent to Zuko’s rooms.

They started by eliminating anyone who there was a five or more year difference between them. Then they took off anyone who lived in an area that Zuko particularly hated when he passed through. Following that they took off all the girls from the North Pole as Zuko just knew that every time he looked at them he would see the raid on the North Pole and feel guilty because he had done nothing to stop it. He took off the princesses from Ba Sing Se for similar reasons. He took off the Swamp Princesses because he couldn’t see marrying a lady from a swamp. The thought made him convulse. Each time he came to the bottom of the page where the unnamed princess’s lot was Zuko put the pen to paper to cross it out then decided to leave it on from one more round.

After those initial eliminations Zuko was left with the unlucky number of thirteen names.

They stopped for some tea and the finish what little they hadn’t eaten while going through the names.

While sipping his tea Zuko looked down at the paper and said “You know I really should just mark off the Southern Water Tribe princess, after all we know nothing about her.”

“Aww! That would be a shame! Southern Water Tribe girls are so pretty in that exotic way!” Iroh cried just because he could.

“And who have you met from the Southern Water Tribe Uncle?”

He named a few people Zuko didn’t know and wasn’t even sure existed. Then he named two people Zuko did know. “Katara and Sokka are from the Southern Water Tribe too. I’m sure they would be happy if you married their princess.”

Zuko thought back on the Water Tribe siblings and made his decision on what he knew of them. “I’m definitely crossing their princess out.” He scribbled out that princess so much that it looked like he spilled ink right the in that little area and then tried to scoop up the ink with his quill.

Iroh laughed at his nephew’s antics. “Only twelve left nephew and they’re all Earth Kingdom girls.”

“Good. Water and fire don’t mix well any way.” he justified himself.

The next day after sleeping or in Zuko’s case pacing, he and his uncle then went to find out about the few girls left on the list.

Five were engaged or betrothed and so they were crossed off. Four were likely to kill him on their wedding night, and were crossed out. And to Zuko’s horror he found that two of the remaining three were his uncle’s friend, King Bumi’s, granddaughters. He tore their names from the page leaving Iroh to wonder why there were suddenly holes in the page.

The final one they could find out nothing wrong with so at the dinner that night Zuko announced his intention to marry Princess Doa of the newly rebuilt Taku.

A messenger was sent to Taku immediately to inform them of the honor they were about to receive. Princess Doa would have the honor of becoming the first Earth Kingdom girl to become the Fire Queen in the history of the world. And as King Fuko, the king of Taku was one of the kings the ambassadors visited and signed that if the Fire Lord wanted his daughter that he would marry her to him.

The Fire Palace began to prepare for the wedding. In less than five months Zuko would be a married man. Zuko would have to go in for measurements in a few weeks so that the seamstresses could have his fancy wedding clothes made in time.

When after three months Zuko got an anonymous letter saying that his princess ran away with her guard when she found out that her father was going to marry her off to the Fire Lord, Zuko had a panic attack. What would he do? He had to be married in less than two months.

After the primary shock of the letter he calmed down and sent a spy to the Taku king’s castle to seek out if it was true. It was and he only had a month left by the time the spy got back with that information to find a bride. What princess could or would even try to be ready in that time frame?

Fire Lord Zuko dug through the drawers in his private study to find that list. He almost gave up on finding the list but said to himself ‘Just one more drawer.’ And he was lucky he did. In that drawer was the list. He opened it and looked at the long list of names.

‘Now,’ he thought, ‘who on this list would be ready to marry in time?’ He almost cried when he thought ‘The only ones would be King Bumi’s granddaughters.’ he grabbed those two strips of paper from the drawer. ‘Who’s it going to be? Hadani age twenty-two or Flowerin age seventeen?’

Desperately Zuko scanned the list hoping to find a name that stood out that it might be willing and able to marry him and save him from the fate of Bumi’s granddaughters. But he got to the bottom with nothing but the smudge at the bottom drawing his attention. He didn’t even know why the smudge was there.

Iroh soon found out about Princess Doa and tracked Zuko down to help the poor nineteen year old. As soon as he entered Zuko exclaimed, “What am I going to do uncle!?!”

“First you’re going to calm down and then we will find a reasonable princess for you to marry. After all life is like the clouds one may pass you by but there is sure to be another.” Iroh tried to pacify the Fire Lord.

The Fire Lord gave him a twitching glare in return. Then he returned, “I will calm when I have averted this crisis.”

Iroh was doubtful but agreed to help anyway.

They looked over the list together. Iroh said, “I don’t see any I think would be likely to take this easily. Or get ready in time.” he looked at the smeared ink at the bottom of the page. “What about the Southern Water Tribe Princess.”

“I don’t see any Southern Water Tribe Princess on here.”

“She’s under this stain. Remember you crossed her out because you didn’t know anything about her. But aren’t you curious. And the Southern Water Tribe is so simple in their wedding dress that I bet that they could have her ready in time.”

“I suppose I could send a message and see what their answer is; it has to better then the last resort.”

“What’s the last resort?” Iroh asked.

“King Bumi’s kin.”

Iroh laughed at that. He was good friends with King Bumi but he had to admit crazy was a so beneath him that it looked normal. Even Azula looked almost normal most times compared to Bumi.

They sent the message the quickest way they could and a few days later it returned with ‘She will be proud to marry you.’ as the only thing written. That in Zuko’s opinion made this princess even more mysterious.

Skipping ahead to just a two days before the wedding date the bride arrived on her ship along with most all her tribe in tow. The royalty were put up in the Fire Nation Palace along with royalty from other parts of the world and all the inns were quickly filled. Tents were pitched outside the city, and in parks. There were more people crowding in every day. The city got so full that even though it was nearing the end of autumn body heat caused it to feel like summer in the streets.

All the Southern Water Tribe ‘royalty’ avoided the royalty of the Fire Nation as was tradition in the Southern Water Tribe. It was traditional that once the engagement was made they families had as little contact with each other as possible. Zuko did his best to accept and abide by their tradition. But he really hated it.

When he went to have a next to final fitting he found that the clothes were all red and gold. For some reason he felt he had to do something to let his bride know that he accepted her heritage. So he told them to make some of the suit blue. The seamstresses fussed saying that blue and red clashed terribly. They said they wouldn’t do it.

“I didn’t say it had to be a lot it can just be accents.”

One of the seamstresses threw a huge fit about that and cut up the clothes they had spent nearly five months on.

After Zuko had a fit of rage over that, and fired the girl, he brought in one of his nicest ‘talk to the rich people’ outfits and had the seamstresses refit it to look more little wedding material. The seamstresses spent so much time on that that they could only add small accents at the collar of blue and on his topknot holder.

The day of the wedding came upon him quickly, to swiftly for his liking. Insecurities popped up for him by the minute. What did he know about this girl except that she was from the Southern Water Tribe and she was a princess? Nothing.

Avatar Aang showed up as he was getting ready for the wedding in a few hours. “Hey Sifu Hotman. I hear you’re marrying the Southern Water Tribe princess. Good for you!” Aang smiled at him while sitting in his window sill.

“Aang! Thank goodness! You’ve met her right! I mean she’s a good person right?” Zuko rushed over to him.

Aang looked at him confused. “You mean you don’t know who it is?”

“No. I don’t. All I know is that she is from the Southern Water Tribe. Is she crazy?”

“Yes I’ve met her. Yes, she’s a good person. As for if she’s crazy? Well she’s a girl. So sometimes she’s crazy.” Aang decided to keep her identity a secret. He would let Zuko be surprised.

“Is she good looking, I mean beautiful?” Zuko was talking fast.

“Yes. She is very beautiful. And I will only tell you one thing more; she has recently had her heart broken. Just six months ago to be more precise. The boy she loved left her for someone else. So be kind to her Zuko, she deserves it.” Then Aang took off out the window.

Tears fell from soft hearted Aang’s eyes as he flew around to escape the guilt he felt.

The time came for the Fire Lord to light his lantern and walk to the house or in this case to the Water Tribe area of his home with his entourage of friends and his uncle. He carried the lantern and led the people who waited to travel with him to the bride’s quarters.

When he knocked on the door where his bride was waiting the door opened and out stepped her kin, eldest first. There was an old man and woman he recognized vaguely. Then came a younger man than the first and then an even younger man they also seemed very familiar. The last two men reached in the room they left and lifted a young woman out of the room and set her in front of the groom.

She had her head bowed and a piece of long light blue fabric resting on her head with two inches of lace blocking any of her face that he might have seen even with it bowed. The only bit of her skin he could see was her hands and he could see a few strands of he hair that fell beside her face pass the end of the lace. He skin was the beautiful tan color he thought of whenever he thought of the Water people and her hair was wonderfully dark, almost black in its brown.

‘Uncle was right about her being exotic looking, I wonder is she as beautiful as the Avatar said?’ Zuko thought. He shifted the lantern and took her left hand in his right. Her hand was cool and delicate. It was soft and callused, not the hands he thought of in royalty but he knew that Southern Water Tribe royalty worked along side their people so he didn’t think much of it. He let her hand slip into the crook of his arm and they moved down the hall to the balcony where they would be wed. The couple was followed by both of their people.

Out where Zuko had his coronation he and his bride stood before the Fire Sages and all the people who gathered to see this landmark wedding. Zuko could feel the hand on his arm trembling. Then the hand squeezed his arm and stopped shaking.

After the vows were said and the promises were made they shared a drink affectionately called the Red Lady, a nickname for Dreamitra the daughter of Agni the Fire God and his wife Honi the Water Goddess. Dreamitra is the protector of marriage and childbirth thus her drink was traditional among all nations. He gave her some of the drink for the first time seeing the bottom part of her face and then she gave him some of the drink.

Following that ritual Zuko took hold of the ‘veil’ at both sides of her face and pushed it away then pulled it behind him. And the shock of his life greeted him. The avatar was right when he said she was very beautiful. But that was no shock to him Aang did have an eye for beautiful women. No the shock was that he knew who this woman was. The gorgeous seventeen year old bride before him was Katara. ‘Katara’s a princess?’ His brain shut down. After a second it started up again only long enough to think, ‘Katara’s my bride?’

He was so shaken that he forgot to finish this final part of ceremony. The Fire Sage had to nudge his foot three times to get him to respond.

Zuko numbly drew his cape off and wrapped it around her shoulders, a representation that he would always care for her needs. Then as he was supposed to he drew her close using the cape ends and pushed his lips to hers. Like the lightening he had once been hit with he suddenly felt charged with life and energy. The numbness fled faster then a cheetah-hawk.

After the kiss she blinked at him with eyes to innocent to know the two distinct shocks she’d just put him through. Both of them got a little red when they heard the crowd’s deafening cheer. They turned to the crowd and Katara moved to kneel at the edge of the podium. The Fire Sage then showily stuck the Fire Queen crown in her topknot. Zuko watched. The light glittered off the blue stones that decorated her dark hair. He then noted the little bit of red at her collar and then a flash of it at her ear. A larger blue stone dangled from the small red stone there. She was beautiful.

When Zuko helped her up Katara looked up at him, his hair had some red sheen to the blackness. It was up in a topknot and probably longer then she last saw it, though she hoped not, she had liked it at the length she’s seen it as last. His scar was dynamic, that was not something she ever thought of a scar before, but he really wore it well. She wanted to reach up and touch it, but she didn’t instead she turned to greet the crowd as the new Fire Lady. A spark of blue caught her attention and she secretly moved her eyes to catch what it was. It was a little blue drop on Zuko’s collar. She smiled and the crowd that had been calm roared to an unbelievable vigor. Yet she could still hear two voices above all. Sokka the load mouth he was and the muscled voice of Toph.

She looked over at Toph she hadn’t seen the girl in years she was becoming a beautiful woman. Fifteen and drawing as much attention as Katara did at that age. Katara smiled happily at her. Toph winked then send a boulder into the sky above the palace. She exploded the boulder and controlled the dust to make it land on all the guests except herself. Then she laughed loudly

Katara hid her snicker behind her hand. Zuko had to look away so he didn’t lose face in front of his people.

Aang felt obliged to clean the guests with a huge gust of wind.

Sokka’s hair came out of its hold and puffed like crazy. And that caused Katara to lose the little hold she had on her laughter. Zuko began to chuckle heartily. Everyone but Sokka looked as they had before Toph’s surprise. And that just made it funnier.

That night Katara was whisked away to get prepared to meet her husband in the Fire Lord Suite an hour before the party would be over for the guests. They took the blood red cape from her shoulders and placed it in the closet. They redid her hair so it looked fresh and her makeup was reapplied not that you could tell with how lightly she insisted it be done. She believed makeup should accent not change a persons looks so it was just enough to add unnoticeable color and sparkle. She found that guys liked it better than gobs of makeup and she never changed that idea. Even after she stopped wanting to impress guys she kept the same makeup technique.

They made sure a hundred times that Katara’s dress was arranged perfectly on the bed as she kneeled there near its center. Her clothes were two shades of blue and held some red to them as well. The dark blue represented where she came from and the Red represented whom she married. It was another tradition of her people to wear something that that told of home and family, the new family and herself thus the colors came together. Dark blue was home and family, light blue was herself, and red was her husband. She told the maids that as they fussed over how beautiful her simple wedding clothes were.

The maids escaped just minutes before the Fire Lord entered the hall to retire to his room. Iroh’s words a few hours earlier echoed in his head.

“Zuko I know that this is hard for you but never forget that this has to be hard for her as well. You will always have me and others who care for you close by but her family will have to return home soon. She is probably scared under that smile. Katara is a strong woman but remember she is still a woman and is still delicate for all her strength. She is like a fruit tree, can be hard and strong but can also be soft and blooming. And with tender care will bare the fruit of love, devotion and compassion for you.” Iroh waxed philosophical, or tried to.

As Zuko walked down the hall he thought, ‘I think I may actually understand that… Then again I’m probably taking it to mean something it doesn’t.’

A servant that had walked behind him whipped foreword and opened the door to his chamber for him. Zuko nodded to him and entered his room. The door shut behind him. Fire Lord Zuko started at seeing his bride kneeling on his bed her dress spread over it in a modest fashion. But he recalled that she was supposed to be here. He saw her blue eyes that looked at him with traces of nervousness. The very color of her eyes was piercing.

He walked over to her and sat near her on the bed. He didn’t know he sat on some of her dress as that thought was lost when he met her eyes. When he placed his hand on her arm she closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly. He realized that she was scared and was only so complacent because she was following where duty called her. He closed his eyes to that picture of her. Placing his other hand to her cheek he whispered against her forehead, “I will never force you to do something that scares you.” Truth be told he was nervous too. He kissed her forehead.

Zuko stood and walked away. He sat himself next to his window.

Katara lifted her gaze to him and thanked him with a small, delicate smile. She was a little embarrassed by his insight into her but was thankful for his tenderness.

Zuko looked at his bride one last time when he said that she could have the bed. Then he closed his eyes so he wouldn’t see his beautiful bride or the bed she was laying on.

“Goodnight,” she called softly after she believed he was asleep.

END CHAPTER 1

Anyway I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of it's characters Avatar: the Last Airbender (c) Mike, Brian, Nick, ect. [link] owns the lineart I used for this.

Description
This art is owned by [link] It's such a beautiful picture! you can find it here [link] She has a contest and while this one isn't the one I'm entering in the contest but I wanted to make a story that was inspired by this picture and so I colored it four times. Each of the pictures will carry with it an installment of the story.

This picture is of them in Fire Lord Zuko's room. I colored it pencils and chalk.

I'll have the next chapter out later today.

here is the original scan [link]

Here is the first installment of the story.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Avatar: The Last Air-bender, the very talented team of Mike and Brain own the show and characters. The rating maybe wrong but I did try to get it right.

By: year of the snake (at fanfiction) aka. crescent moon (at mediaminer). And now Opal-Dreams on DeviantArt.

TENDERNESS - Autumn

Being Fire Lord isn’t always pleasant. Fire Lord Zuko had recently found that out. It was just three years after the war was ended by his ascension to the Fire Nation Thrown. While working on extending treaties between his land and the other nations a point he hadn’t counted on was brought up. The point was solidifying the treaties with blood. Or more accurately with blood lines.

“Fire Lord Zuko,” began the Earth Kingdom ambassador, Ling Bei Fong, older cousin to his beloved friend Toph Bei Fong, “the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom have come to an agreement. We have decided we will not trust the Fire Nation without a marriage treaty.”

“What!?!” That hit Zuko like Sokka’s boomerang had the first time they had met.

“A marriage treaty,” said the Northern Water Tribe ambassador, Kinid Lowun, “being royalty I have no doubt you know what that is.”

Zuko looked away from the two men in shock. A few of the other ambassadors nodded their agreement. Even his closest Fire Nation ambassador nodded. He couldn’t believe Iroh was also in favor of this marriage. He wished that the Air Nomad ambassador was here, Avatar Aang wouldn’t agree to this as the fifteen year old was a romantic boy. It was unfortunate for the Fire lord that his young friend had Avatar duties and couldn’t attend.

Iroh added his voice to the conversation, hoping to soothe his nephew’s stricken feelings. “Surely you can’t have any objections nephew; after all you haven’t had a lady friend for nearing three years when Mai left.” Iroh paused and hoped he hadn’t said the wrong thing.

Mai was his first and last girlfriend. They had been engaged to be married not two days after he had been crowned Fire Lord. Their common friend Ty Lee talked to Mai about how she didn’t think it was ‘healthy’ for her to marry when she had always suppressed herself for her parents’ wishes. Ty Lee convinced her she should run off and do something completely different, do something that liberated her soul before she tied herself down. Mai agreed to ease Ty Lee’s worry. Mai followed Ty Lee’s footsteps and joined the Fire Nation Circus. She was the dagger thrower.

Ty Lee had been right.

A few months later Mai sent a note to Zuko here is some of what it said;

I have realized something since I’ve been here. I am sorry to tell you this but I must say it. Zuko while I don’t hate you, I don’t love you. There are two reasons I once thought I did.

The first was that I had built you up while you were gone, that I was in love with you, the unreal you. I loved a you that I created by not letting go of the childhood crush I had for you.

The second was that I wanted my parents’ approval. What better way to do that then to marry the Fire Lord?

I should also tell you this. I’m going to marry the ringleader’s son. He’s a good man and I love him. I haven’t had the chance to build him up in my mind. So I know this must be the real thing. Right now he’s the animal caretaker but when his father retires he will take over as the ringleader.

I’m sorry.

Goodbye, I hope you can forgive me.

He had found out that she now had one baby and was three months along with the next. He let her go, but he wasn’t quite over her yet. He tried to be happy for her and to not blame Ty Lee and most days he succeeded. But this day he was upset by it. And he wanted to deck Ty Lee. This marriage treaty proposal would be kaput if he had married Mai like they had planned before she left.

Now he was sitting in a room that was a mixture of old and young ambassadors, mostly men, who unanimously wanted him to marry to set in stone a treaty.

“What exactly are you proposing?” he asked.

“We’re saying that you should marry an Earth or Water Nation Princess before the end of Autumn or the treaty is off and we will be bringing war to your soil.” ex-general Dinfi Longisy of the Earth Kingdom stood to say.

Both Zuko and Iroh stiffened at the obvious threat. “Allow me to confer with my councilor for a moment please.” Zuko stood up and Iroh followed him into the hall.

“Uncle what do you make of this?”

“They are serious I’m afraid. Zuko This wont be so bad. You will grow to care for the girl. And this will be good for all of our nations.”

“You sound like you want me to just give in and marry one of their princesses, a girl I’ve never met!”

“I never knew you were such a romantic.” Iroh poked him playfully to lighten the mood unsuccessfully. When Zuko glared at him he answered, “Yes I do. You belong to the people of the Fire Nation and must do what is best for them. Do you think they would be happy with you if they found out you could have prevented war from coming to their home and did nothing? How many people will die just because you won’t marry a foreign girl?”

That last question injected the ice of practicality into Zuko’s fire filled brain. He wasn’t happy with it but he knew his answer to the proposal of a marriage treaty. They walked back into the meeting and sat in their respective seats.

Fire Lord Zuko spoke to the waiting room, “We have come to a decision… I will go along with this marriage treaty. Tell me now of the princesses and I will even decide as so as possible.”

“Um…” That caught the ambassadors off guard. Zuko was glad to return the favor.

An eighty-seven year old man from Ba Sing Se stood. He was stooped and wrinkled. “Fire Lord Zuko I am Bonzu Sing-li ambassador sent by the Earth King. I can tell you how many princesses there are in the Earth Kingdom and even most of their names if you will allow me to.”

Zuko nodded at the man.

“There are thirty-six princesses in the earth kingdom, and only twenty-seven of marrying age. Only twenty-four still young enough to bear children. Those princesses are…” He listed all twenty-four and their ages. Many of the people were surprised that such an old man could remember all of this. But the other Earth ambassadors couldn’t even call him on getting one of the girl’s ages wrong. It was amazing. His old voice cracked and fell and rose in a way only a mature man’s could which kept it interesting.

Then a Northern Water Tribe ambassador stood, she was around thirty-four. “Fire Lord I am Amiya of the Northern Water Tribe. There are six princesses in our care.” She named them with their ages as closely as she could figure.

An ambassador from the Foggy Swam Tribe stood, he said, “Fire Lord, I am Gu from the Foggy Swamp and we have three princesses.”

Another Foggy Swamp man corrected him, “We only have two now Gu. Oilaha ran off to marry that Earth Kingdom boy remember?”

“Oh right.” Gu turned back to the Fire Lord and named the twin Princesses of the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

There was no ambassador from the Southern Water Tribe as they had recently been attacked by renegade fire-benders and were in the mist of rebuilding their ice homes.

An old man from the Northern Tribe stood up on their behalf. “I am Funsik of the Northern Water Tribe and I will speak on behalf of the Southern Water Tribe. They have few people and have only one princess. I know not her name but she is of marrying age.” The old man wheezed. Then he started to cough. Some of his neighbors helped him sit down.

After the coughing stopped Zuko stood and closed the meeting. “I thank you. It seems I have much to think on. We will adjourn for the day. Please enjoy the meal that is awaiting you in the dining hall.” Zuko left the room followed by his uncle.

“Zuko are you sure you want to do this?’

“Uncle you wanted me to do this. Have you changed your mind so soon?”

“No. Then I was talking as a counselor now I am speaking as your uncle.”

“I have made my decision. Would you like to help me choose my bride?”

Iroh paused. Then he went after Zuko again. “I wouldn’t miss it. Plus you will need it.”

They got a copy of the minutes of the meeting from the scribe and had their dinners sent to Zuko’s rooms.

They started by eliminating anyone who there was a five or more year difference between them. Then they took off anyone who lived in an area that Zuko particularly hated when he passed through. Following that they took off all the girls from the North Pole as Zuko just knew that every time he looked at them he would see the raid on the North Pole and feel guilty because he had done nothing to stop it. He took off the princesses from Ba Sing Se for similar reasons. He took off the Swamp Princesses because he couldn’t see marrying a lady from a swamp. The thought made him convulse. Each time he came to the bottom of the page where the unnamed princess’s lot was Zuko put the pen to paper to cross it out then decided to leave it on from one more round.

After those initial eliminations Zuko was left with the unlucky number of thirteen names.

They stopped for some tea and the finish what little they hadn’t eaten while going through the names.

While sipping his tea Zuko looked down at the paper and said “You know I really should just mark off the Southern Water Tribe princess, after all we know nothing about her.”

“Aww! That would be a shame! Southern Water Tribe girls are so pretty in that exotic way!” Iroh cried just because he could.

“And who have you met from the Southern Water Tribe Uncle?”

He named a few people Zuko didn’t know and wasn’t even sure existed. Then he named two people Zuko did know. “Katara and Sokka are from the Southern Water Tribe too. I’m sure they would be happy if you married their princess.”

Zuko thought back on the Water Tribe siblings and made his decision on what he knew of them. “I’m definitely crossing their princess out.” He scribbled out that princess so much that it looked like he spilled ink right the in that little area and then tried to scoop up the ink with his quill.

Iroh laughed at his nephew’s antics. “Only twelve left nephew and they’re all Earth Kingdom girls.”

“Good. Water and fire don’t mix well any way.” he justified himself.

The next day after sleeping or in Zuko’s case pacing, he and his uncle then went to find out about the few girls left on the list.

Five were engaged or betrothed and so they were crossed off. Four were likely to kill him on their wedding night, and were crossed out. And to Zuko’s horror he found that two of the remaining three were his uncle’s friend, King Bumi’s, granddaughters. He tore their names from the page leaving Iroh to wonder why there were suddenly holes in the page.

The final one they could find out nothing wrong with so at the dinner that night Zuko announced his intention to marry Princess Doa of the newly rebuilt Taku.

A messenger was sent to Taku immediately to inform them of the honor they were about to receive. Princess Doa would have the honor of becoming the first Earth Kingdom girl to become the Fire Queen in the history of the world. And as King Fuko, the king of Taku was one of the kings the ambassadors visited and signed that if the Fire Lord wanted his daughter that he would marry her to him.

The Fire Palace began to prepare for the wedding. In less than five months Zuko would be a married man. Zuko would have to go in for measurements in a few weeks so that the seamstresses could have his fancy wedding clothes made in time.

When after three months Zuko got an anonymous letter saying that his princess ran away with her guard when she found out that her father was going to marry her off to the Fire Lord, Zuko had a panic attack. What would he do? He had to be married in less than two months.

After the primary shock of the letter he calmed down and sent a spy to the Taku king’s castle to seek out if it was true. It was and he only had a month left by the time the spy got back with that information to find a bride. What princess could or would even try to be ready in that time frame?

Fire Lord Zuko dug through the drawers in his private study to find that list. He almost gave up on finding the list but said to himself ‘Just one more drawer.’ And he was lucky he did. In that drawer was the list. He opened it and looked at the long list of names.

‘Now,’ he thought, ‘who on this list would be ready to marry in time?’ He almost cried when he thought ‘The only ones would be King Bumi’s granddaughters.’ he grabbed those two strips of paper from the drawer. ‘Who’s it going to be? Hadani age twenty-two or Flowerin age seventeen?’

Desperately Zuko scanned the list hoping to find a name that stood out that it might be willing and able to marry him and save him from the fate of Bumi’s granddaughters. But he got to the bottom with nothing but the smudge at the bottom drawing his attention. He didn’t even know why the smudge was there.

Iroh soon found out about Princess Doa and tracked Zuko down to help the poor nineteen year old. As soon as he entered Zuko exclaimed, “What am I going to do uncle!?!”

“First you’re going to calm down and then we will find a reasonable princess for you to marry. After all life is like the clouds one may pass you by but there is sure to be another.” Iroh tried to pacify the Fire Lord.

The Fire Lord gave him a twitching glare in return. Then he returned, “I will calm when I have averted this crisis.”

Iroh was doubtful but agreed to help anyway.

They looked over the list together. Iroh said, “I don’t see any I think would be likely to take this easily. Or get ready in time.” he looked at the smeared ink at the bottom of the page. “What about the Southern Water Tribe Princess.”

“I don’t see any Southern Water Tribe Princess on here.”

“She’s under this stain. Remember you crossed her out because you didn’t know anything about her. But aren’t you curious. And the Southern Water Tribe is so simple in their wedding dress that I bet that they could have her ready in time.”

“I suppose I could send a message and see what their answer is; it has to better then the last resort.”

“What’s the last resort?” Iroh asked.

“King Bumi’s kin.”

Iroh laughed at that. He was good friends with King Bumi but he had to admit crazy was a so beneath him that it looked normal. Even Azula looked almost normal most times compared to Bumi.

They sent the message the quickest way they could and a few days later it returned with ‘She will be proud to marry you.’ as the only thing written. That in Zuko’s opinion made this princess even more mysterious.

Skipping ahead to just a two days before the wedding date the bride arrived on her ship along with most all her tribe in tow. The royalty were put up in the Fire Nation Palace along with royalty from other parts of the world and all the inns were quickly filled. Tents were pitched outside the city, and in parks. There were more people crowding in every day. The city got so full that even though it was nearing the end of autumn body heat caused it to feel like summer in the streets.

All the Southern Water Tribe ‘royalty’ avoided the royalty of the Fire Nation as was tradition in the Southern Water Tribe. It was traditional that once the engagement was made they families had as little contact with each other as possible. Zuko did his best to accept and abide by their tradition. But he really hated it.

When he went to have a next to final fitting he found that the clothes were all red and gold. For some reason he felt he had to do something to let his bride know that he accepted her heritage. So he told them to make some of the suit blue. The seamstresses fussed saying that blue and red clashed terribly. They said they wouldn’t do it.

“I didn’t say it had to be a lot it can just be accents.”

One of the seamstresses threw a huge fit about that and cut up the clothes they had spent nearly five months on.

After Zuko had a fit of rage over that, and fired the girl, he brought in one of his nicest ‘talk to the rich people’ outfits and had the seamstresses refit it to look more little wedding material. The seamstresses spent so much time on that that they could only add small accents at the collar of blue and on his topknot holder.

The day of the wedding came upon him quickly, to swiftly for his liking. Insecurities popped up for him by the minute. What did he know about this girl except that she was from the Southern Water Tribe and she was a princess? Nothing.

Avatar Aang showed up as he was getting ready for the wedding in a few hours. “Hey Sifu Hotman. I hear you’re marrying the Southern Water Tribe princess. Good for you!” Aang smiled at him while sitting in his window sill.

“Aang! Thank goodness! You’ve met her right! I mean she’s a good person right?” Zuko rushed over to him.

Aang looked at him confused. “You mean you don’t know who it is?”

“No. I don’t. All I know is that she is from the Southern Water Tribe. Is she crazy?”

“Yes I’ve met her. Yes, she’s a good person. As for if she’s crazy? Well she’s a girl. So sometimes she’s crazy.” Aang decided to keep her identity a secret. He would let Zuko be surprised.

“Is she good looking, I mean beautiful?” Zuko was talking fast.

“Yes. She is very beautiful. And I will only tell you one thing more; she has recently had her heart broken. Just six months ago to be more precise. The boy she loved left her for someone else. So be kind to her Zuko, she deserves it.” Then Aang took off out the window.

Tears fell from soft hearted Aang’s eyes as he flew around to escape the guilt he felt.

The time came for the Fire Lord to light his lantern and walk to the house or in this case to the Water Tribe area of his home with his entourage of friends and his uncle. He carried the lantern and led the people who waited to travel with him to the bride’s quarters.

When he knocked on the door where his bride was waiting the door opened and out stepped her kin, eldest first. There was an old man and woman he recognized vaguely. Then came a younger man than the first and then an even younger man they also seemed very familiar. The last two men reached in the room they left and lifted a young woman out of the room and set her in front of the groom.

She had her head bowed and a piece of long light blue fabric resting on her head with two inches of lace blocking any of her face that he might have seen even with it bowed. The only bit of her skin he could see was her hands and he could see a few strands of he hair that fell beside her face pass the end of the lace. He skin was the beautiful tan color he thought of whenever he thought of the Water people and her hair was wonderfully dark, almost black in its brown.

‘Uncle was right about her being exotic looking, I wonder is she as beautiful as the Avatar said?’ Zuko thought. He shifted the lantern and took her left hand in his right. Her hand was cool and delicate. It was soft and callused, not the hands he thought of in royalty but he knew that Southern Water Tribe royalty worked along side their people so he didn’t think much of it. He let her hand slip into the crook of his arm and they moved down the hall to the balcony where they would be wed. The couple was followed by both of their people.

Out where Zuko had his coronation he and his bride stood before the Fire Sages and all the people who gathered to see this landmark wedding. Zuko could feel the hand on his arm trembling. Then the hand squeezed his arm and stopped shaking.

After the vows were said and the promises were made they shared a drink affectionately called the Red Lady, a nickname for Dreamitra the daughter of Agni the Fire God and his wife Honi the Water Goddess. Dreamitra is the protector of marriage and childbirth thus her drink was traditional among all nations. He gave her some of the drink for the first time seeing the bottom part of her face and then she gave him some of the drink.

Following that ritual Zuko took hold of the ‘veil’ at both sides of her face and pushed it away then pulled it behind him. And the shock of his life greeted him. The avatar was right when he said she was very beautiful. But that was no shock to him Aang did have an eye for beautiful women. No the shock was that he knew who this woman was. The gorgeous seventeen year old bride before him was Katara. ‘Katara’s a princess?’ His brain shut down. After a second it started up again only long enough to think, ‘Katara’s my bride?’

He was so shaken that he forgot to finish this final part of ceremony. The Fire Sage had to nudge his foot three times to get him to respond.

Zuko numbly drew his cape off and wrapped it around her shoulders, a representation that he would always care for her needs. Then as he was supposed to he drew her close using the cape ends and pushed his lips to hers. Like the lightening he had once been hit with he suddenly felt charged with life and energy. The numbness fled faster then a cheetah-hawk.

After the kiss she blinked at him with eyes to innocent to know the two distinct shocks she’d just put him through. Both of them got a little red when they heard the crowd’s deafening cheer. They turned to the crowd and Katara moved to kneel at the edge of the podium. The Fire Sage then showily stuck the Fire Queen crown in her topknot. Zuko watched. The light glittered off the blue stones that decorated her dark hair. He then noted the little bit of red at her collar and then a flash of it at her ear. A larger blue stone dangled from the small red stone there. She was beautiful.

When Zuko helped her up Katara looked up at him, his hair had some red sheen to the blackness. It was up in a topknot and probably longer then she last saw it, though she hoped not, she had liked it at the length she’s seen it as last. His scar was dynamic, that was not something she ever thought of a scar before, but he really wore it well. She wanted to reach up and touch it, but she didn’t instead she turned to greet the crowd as the new Fire Lady. A spark of blue caught her attention and she secretly moved her eyes to catch what it was. It was a little blue drop on Zuko’s collar. She smiled and the crowd that had been calm roared to an unbelievable vigor. Yet she could still hear two voices above all. Sokka the load mouth he was and the muscled voice of Toph.

She looked over at Toph she hadn’t seen the girl in years she was becoming a beautiful woman. Fifteen and drawing as much attention as Katara did at that age. Katara smiled happily at her. Toph winked then send a boulder into the sky above the palace. She exploded the boulder and controlled the dust to make it land on all the guests except herself. Then she laughed loudly

Katara hid her snicker behind her hand. Zuko had to look away so he didn’t lose face in front of his people.

Aang felt obliged to clean the guests with a huge gust of wind.

Sokka’s hair came out of its hold and puffed like crazy. And that caused Katara to lose the little hold she had on her laughter. Zuko began to chuckle heartily. Everyone but Sokka looked as they had before Toph’s surprise. And that just made it funnier.

That night Katara was whisked away to get prepared to meet her husband in the Fire Lord Suite an hour before the party would be over for the guests. They took the blood red cape from her shoulders and placed it in the closet. They redid her hair so it looked fresh and her makeup was reapplied not that you could tell with how lightly she insisted it be done. She believed makeup should accent not change a persons looks so it was just enough to add unnoticeable color and sparkle. She found that guys liked it better than gobs of makeup and she never changed that idea. Even after she stopped wanting to impress guys she kept the same makeup technique.

They made sure a hundred times that Katara’s dress was arranged perfectly on the bed as she kneeled there near its center. Her clothes were two shades of blue and held some red to them as well. The dark blue represented where she came from and the Red represented whom she married. It was another tradition of her people to wear something that that told of home and family, the new family and herself thus the colors came together. Dark blue was home and family, light blue was herself, and red was her husband. She told the maids that as they fussed over how beautiful her simple wedding clothes were.

The maids escaped just minutes before the Fire Lord entered the hall to retire to his room. Iroh’s words a few hours earlier echoed in his head.

“Zuko I know that this is hard for you but never forget that this has to be hard for her as well. You will always have me and others who care for you close by but her family will have to return home soon. She is probably scared under that smile. Katara is a strong woman but remember she is still a woman and is still delicate for all her strength. She is like a fruit tree, can be hard and strong but can also be soft and blooming. And with tender care will bare the fruit of love, devotion and compassion for you.” Iroh waxed philosophical, or tried to.

As Zuko walked down the hall he thought, ‘I think I may actually understand that… Then again I’m probably taking it to mean something it doesn’t.’

A servant that had walked behind him whipped foreword and opened the door to his chamber for him. Zuko nodded to him and entered his room. The door shut behind him. Fire Lord Zuko started at seeing his bride kneeling on his bed her dress spread over it in a modest fashion. But he recalled that she was supposed to be here. He saw her blue eyes that looked at him with traces of nervousness. The very color of her eyes was piercing.

He walked over to her and sat near her on the bed. He didn’t know he sat on some of her dress as that thought was lost when he met her eyes. When he placed his hand on her arm she closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly. He realized that she was scared and was only so complacent because she was following where duty called her. He closed his eyes to that picture of her. Placing his other hand to her cheek he whispered against her forehead, “I will never force you to do something that scares you.” Truth be told he was nervous too. He kissed her forehead.

Zuko stood and walked away. He sat himself next to his window.

Katara lifted her gaze to him and thanked him with a small, delicate smile. She was a little embarrassed by his insight into her but was thankful for his tenderness.

Zuko looked at his bride one last time when he said that she could have the bed. Then he closed his eyes so he wouldn’t see his beautiful bride or the bed she was laying on.

“Goodnight,” she called softly after she believed he was asleep.

END CHAPTER 1

Anyway I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of it's characters Avatar: the Last Airbender (c) Mike, Brian, Nick, ect. [link] owns the lineart I used for this.