Wedding Day

The wedding nuptuals took place at the ceremony hall in the Fire Nation palace. There was a small turnout, but that was by design. This was an intimate affair, the guests having come by invitation only.

The Gaang was reunited. They were chatting up affectionately when they were approached by a lovely, proper, well-dressed woman in her early 20's and a small, pretty lady, also finely dressed. "You must be the Avatar and his friends," the younger woman said pleasantly.

"If we must, we must," Sokka quipped.

"No, no," the young lady said, laughing, "I'm serious. Azula and Masa have told me a lot about you."

"You have the advantage of us, then," Suki said pointedly.

"Oh, my manners." She bowed gracefully. "I'm Kuma, Masa's cousin. And this-"

"It's okay, dear," the older woman said. "I'm Suri Sun. I'm Masa's mother."

"We're honored to meet you. I'm Katara, and this is my brother, Sokka."

"Yes," Suri replied. "The chief's children."

"We are," Sokka said proudly.

"And you're the Avatar. The arrow gave it away."

Aang chuckled. "I'm Aang. Your son is a good friend, Mrs. Sun."

"Yes, he is," Sokka stated.

"That means you must be Suki," Suri continued, "the Kiyoshi leader." Suri smiled. "You're even prettier than Masa said you were."

"Oh. Um, thank you." Suki was taken aback.

"Hey, I think she's blushing," Toph said, teasing.

"Which would make you Toph," Kuma said.

"That's me," the earthbender said nonchalantly.

"It's nice to be taller than someone else," Suri quipped. Sokka laughed at that. "My son thinks the very world or all of you."

"We're pretty sweet on him, too," Katara said.

In the groom's chamber-

"Uncle, I'm really glad you're with me."

"I am honored that you would think so highly of me." He took a sip of tea, then became serious. "Are you nervous?"

"If I said I wasn't, you'd know I was lying."

"Here, have a drink of tea."

"Thank you. I will." Iroh poured for Masanori to drink. The tea did its trick. "How do I look?"

Iroh sized up the young man. Masanori was wearing an ornate red suit highlighted with black and gold. A short red cape completed his wedding suit. "Like I prince," Iroh said with a smile. "Which you will be after today."

"More importanly," the young man said, returning to his mirror, "I'll be a husband." He paused. "If I can ever get this sash tied."

"So," Aang said without guile, "you must know Azula pretty well, Kuma."

Kuma made a thoughtful face. "I think I do. She and I..."

"Yes," Katara said simply. That one word told a story.

"I can talk about Masa, though." Kuma's face wore a sly expression. "When he was a small boy, he used to imagine slaying dragons. We never thought he'd marry one."

"I don't get it," Toph said. "He's such a lamb-puppy. Not the type I'd imagine for Zappy."

"Who could be better for her, Toph?" Everyone pondered Aang's question.

"Aunt Suri, I'm going to track down Mom and Dad."

In the bridal chamber-

"Girls," Azula said, looking into the mirror, "I don't understand it."

"What's that?" Mai asked, bored nearly to tears.

"Today began like any normal day: I woke up, ate breakfast, got dressed...but it's not a normal day."

"No," Ty Lee said brightly, "it's your wedding day."

"So why did it begin like any other day?"

"Everything begins normally, Azula."

The princess examined that for a moment. It made no sense to her, but it worked. "I'm glad you're with me, the both of you."

"Wouldn't miss it," the acrobat chirped.

"Mm," the assassin mused, "just don't kill Masa, okay?"

"Mai!"

"It's all right, Ty Lee. She's just joking."

"Yeah," Mai said absently. "I'm glad you went this way. Tradition bores me to death."

There was a knock at the door. Ty Lee opened it and said, "Hello, Ursa."

"Girls." The lady came into the room. "I'll just be a minute." She walked over to Azula. "You look wonderful, baby."

"Thank you, Mother."

"I just came to wish you a final good luck and tell you I love you." Ursa kissed her oldest daughter's forehead.

"I love you, Mama."

Ursa smiled. "Amaya wanted me to say she loves you, too. Everyone here is here because they love you, in their own ways. Especially me. Good luck." Ursa left the room.

"You," Sanda Sun said, "have the makings of an excellent dancer."

"Really?" Aang said.

"Yes. Very light on your feet."

"Comes with the arrow."

Into the ceremony hall strode Zuko, fully dressed in his royal regalia. He approached Katara first, but that surprised nobody. "I knew you'd make it." He took a hug from Katara. "All of you."

"It's the food." Everyone laughed at Sokka's joke.

When Zuko saw Suri bow the knee, he took her hand and helped her up. "I should bow to you, Suri. I'm honored to know your son, and the amazing things he can do."

It took Suri a moment to find her voice. "You...You're everything my Masa says, your lordship."

"Please call me Zuko. Today, Masa becomes my brother."

"I will if you call me 'Mother.'"

Zuko smiled. "I will." He took a deep breath. "It's time. Everyone! Please take positions."

The seats filled up. Zuko took his place at the altar, flanked by two Fire Sages.

"I wonder how different Fire nation weddings are from the last one I attended," Aang whispered. "The groom usually comes first."

The musicians played a low tune, carried primarily by the sungi horn. Iroh walked down the aisle to the altar. "I am Iroh," he said. "I present Masanori Sun to be married."

Masanori strode to the altar confidently. He bowed with a Fire Nation gesture, then turned to wait beside Iroh.

"He looks good," Suki whispered.

The music changed to pipe and bell. Mai and Ty Lee made their way to the altar, side by side.

"Azula went with two honor girls instead of one," Aang whispered.

"I'm actually glad they're friends again," Suki replied.

"I am Ty Lee."

"I'm Mai."

"We present Azula to be married."

Everyone turned to see the bride walk the aisle. Azula looked radiant in her flowing red and gold dress and ornate headdress with attached veil. Presently, she stood at the altar.

Zuko spoke. "It is my honor and pleasure to join this young man and young woman as husband and wife. The bracelets, please." Iroh produced two golden bracelets from his pocket. Zuko took the bracelets and held them up. "These gold circles represent endless love. Let these two be bound. Hold out your arms." He slipped the hoops onto Masanori's right arm and Azula's left arm.

"Wow," Toph whispered, "Sparky's eating it up."

"The chalice please." A Fire Sage handed Zuko a large gold cup. "In the presence of Agni and the assembled well-wishers, pledge yourselves to each other."

"Watch," Aang whispered. "When they each drink from the cup three times, they'll be married."

Masanori took the cup with both hands. He turned to his bride. "Azula, my love for you is eternal. I Agni's name, I promise myself to you now and forever." He drank three times.

Azula lifted her veil and took the cup. "Masanori Sun, my love for you is eternal. In Agni's name, I promise myself to you now and forever." She drank once. Twice. She stopped. Her hands trembled. Tears rolled down her cheeks. But Masanori gently-as was his way-brushed the tears from her face. As if receiving permission, the Fire Princess took the final drink. Everyone was relieved.

"By my authority and in the name of Agni, the Mother Sun, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Neither needed any prompting. When they kissed, everyone stood and cheered.

Iroh was overcome with emotion, and making quite a noise. "Uncle, please," Zuko said gently. The young Fire Lord gestured for quiet. When the sound abated, Zuko faced the young couple and drew a crown from his robe. "This crown belonged to our great-grandfather, Avatar Roku. It was given to him by our other great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin. It is a testament to the uniting of two great bloodlines. Masanori, kneel please." Masanori took the knee. "By royal right, both mine and yours, I proclaim you prince of the Fire Nation." Zuko leaned forward to place the crown on Masanori's head, then pulled back. "Perhaps your wife should perform the honor."

Azula took the crown. "Wife. I like the sound of that." She pinned the crown into Masanori's topknot. He rose, beaming through joyous tears.

Suri Sun rushed forward to embrace her son and her new daughter. "I'm so proud of you. Of both of you."

"We all are," Iroh said.

Mai was hugging Ty Le, mostly to contain the acrobat's wailing. "She made it, Ty Lee."

"Greet your people," Zuko told the newlyweds.

"Not yet, Zuzu. Mother. Amaya. Pai. Come here, please."

Amaya nearly pulled her parents forward to the young couple. "We're here, Sister Dragon."

Azula faced all three. "Please accept your new son...as I finally accept you all. Mother, Father and Sister."

Ursa immediately took her oldst daughter and new son into her arms.