AN: If you have any ideas for a title for this story, please leave your idea in a review.

DISCLAIMER: Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Mike and Bryan and Nick.

c h a p t e r 01 - the w e d d i n g

The Grand Hall connected to the throne room of the Fire Nation palace was decorated to the vaulted, ashen ceilings with traditional streamers and bouquets and lanterns, giving it that curious air of something important on the tip of the scuttling crowd's minds. The menservants and ladies-in-waiting wore simple, elegant gowns and suits made of silk, dyed with every shade of red and brown. These skilled helpers managed to stay looking fresh while still putting the finishing touches on the blood red ensemble that was the decorations for a wedding; a wedding built on an unending wealth, as could be gathered by the extravagant nature of the materials and it's being held in the palace.

The soft light that spilled down from the red-shaded lanterns created the most dark and yet romantic atmosphere. As the last pieces of fine furniture were being arranged, another room began to fill with the various guests that were to attend this union. People from all the nations were present, even an ancient guru from the Air Temples had arrived, wearing a billowing suit of yellow and beige, his bald head shined to a perfect sheen and whiskers groomed.

As the servants left the main hall to tend to those who were to be wed, a young Fire Nation girl, bedecked in a sheer, magenta gown drifted into the waiting guests and introduced her bubbling self to them as Ty Lee and offered to show them to the seats they had been given. It was no surprise that the wealthiest and most influential people had earned seats nearest to where the couple would be exchanging vows and the lesser crowd had been offered seats nearest the back of the room. Soon, every seat was filled, save for six in a front row. One of these was for Ty Lee, who had come back to the palace to attend this wedding, at her good friend's behest.

In another part of the palace, a pale girl with black hair and relaxed eyes sat at her vanity, looking into the ornate mirror opposite her. The glass had a red tinge to it. Mai had her long hair pulled into a graceful, modest bun, leaving only pieces of her locks hanging and her face wore a minimal amount of makeup; just enough to bring some color to her cheeks. A long-fingered hand stroked a hairless feline in her lap, her dearest and most personal pet. The cat's name was Jimmu and she had rescued him from a gang of Pygmy Panthers in Ba-Sing-Se, piercing some of the marauding beasts with her smaller weapons. His hairless body was strange and the little creature's lack of normalcy was appealing to the girl who showed no emotion.

Her ladies-in-waiting brought brushes to her feet and massaged her with sweet smelling oils until her skin was soft and stained with the perfume. They put files to her fingertips and carried on with putting touch after touch to her hair and face. In the dark background of the room, a plump figure stood, shadowed by the light around Mai. Mai didn't acknowledge this figure. She simply continued to stroke her pet and let her servants finish this arduous task. After a few moments the figure came closer. It was a woman, much older than the other women in the room, but she had the same stony expression as her daughter. The woman planted a small kiss on Mai's cheek and then left the room without a sound or ever having come into the light.

The bride-to-be sighed and waved her help away. One girl stayed and slipped the black slippers onto Mai's feet, before going away herself, on her knees, head bowed. The time was so close now. She had dreamed of this day ever since Zuko had made it clear that he wanted her to be his Queen. When she and Zuko had first begun to see each other romantically, this had never crossed her mind and she hadn't expected the relationship would last. She hadn't even expected Zuko to still be alive for this day. Maybe she could finally rest easy and she could confidently tell herself that Zuko would never leave her another ominous letter and be gone. The cat hissed and left her lap in a shot, bringing her back to the shadey room, where all the light was focused on her corner.

A heavy knock upon the sumptuously crafted iron door seemed to concentrate all the energy in the room to that one spot. A handmaiden materialized from the shadows of the room and released the loud locks on the door to let a tall, tapered woman into the red washed dormitory. She wore an equally long dress, embroidered with gold and red, her hands hidden in the extravagant sleeves. A thinly boned hand slid out of one sleeve and beckoned Mai to come forth. She left her seat and took the hand and was guided out of the prepping chamber into a brighter, narrow hallway.

A young man of about 17 sat on a plush cushion, wearing the garb of Fire Nation royalty. An aged man sat on a similar cushion in front of him, his face showing a happiness that not many of the Fire Nation could know, not too long ago. He wore a pointed hat and simple crimson robes. He was the Master Sage and a key advisor to Fire Lord Zuko. Zuko wore his growing hair in a formal knot at the top of his head and a neutral expression on his face, though his insides were taking the brunt of his nerves. He was glad to finally be marrying Mai but the fact remained that this was a huge step in reuniting the nations. This marriage was a sign of stability in the world he had helped create.

"The nation is jubilant today. It has been many years since there was a mother-queen beside the Fire Lord." the Sage said, his aged eyes also shining jubilantly.

It was true. His nation's people had been uproariously happy when the engagement was announced a month ago. Zuko nodded at the old man's observation, quietly reflecting on the memory of his mother, the last Queen. He still had not managed to extract her whereabouts from his imprisoned father. The Sage saw the pain in Zuko's eyes and placed a strong hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Today is a happy day. Your mother would be proud of you for assuming this responsibility so eagerly. Not every man is so willing to do the right thing for his nation. Marrying Lady Mai can only bring good fortune." he smiled, trying to ease Zuko's worries.

Zuko nodded, but going through with this union was far from a duty. He loved her and knew that he would be miserable with anybody else. The Sage gave his shoulder one last encouraging squeeze and he left the Fire Lord to his own devices. Attendants flew to Zuko's sides and finished primping, as they like to do, before Zuko gave them an annoyed glance and they trickled away. His nails were flawless and his hair untouched, as well as his Lordly robes not having a single crease or wrinkle. The only thing that marred his appearance was the defining scar over his left eye. A memento he could not imagine life without now.

Rising from his cushion and leaving his tea untouched, he walked to the door. His attendants filed in behind him and the room was left a shell.

Hushed voices filled the large room until all of them formed a loud murmur throughout the hall. As often happens, each nation had it's own corner of the hall and were mingling amongst their own kind. It was nearly a year after Ozai's fall and the nations were still divided and harbored negative feelings about the other sects. Before the Fire Nation began conquering every corner of the world, the nations knew no boundaries and business and friendship was not governed by what element you bend or where your loyalties lied. Unfortunately the factions had been forced to separate themselves in the name of survival. After 100 years these practices were still strong and would take many years to overcome.

A voice of the court asked the people to take their seats. The empty chairs in the first row were miraculously filled with the faces of this new world's heroes. Avatar Aang was in the first seat and the guru from the Air Temples took his seat beside him. Southern Water Tribe Ambassadress Katara sat on his other side and General Sokka beside her. Kyoshi Warrior Suki sat beside him, wearing her traditional armor and face paint for the occasion and Co-Regent of Omashu, Toph, sat beside her, with King Bumi on the right. The quintet had earned a high place in a new society for their bravery and tonight's guests had certainly noticed them.

All five had matured, however slightly, and wore humble expressions befitting their new roles. The General, wearing his black and red Fire Nation uniform, however, was finding it difficult to keep his eyes open in this dark, soothing light and Suki worked to keep him focused. Aang held Katara's hand lovingly in his grip, their formal wear contrasting like their personalities. He wore his yellow suit and rosary beads around his neck and she dawned a thin blue gown trimmed in silver fur, a gift from her most recent visit to the Northern Water Tribe.

Aang talked to the Guru and Toph and Bumi played a game with their hands they had invented and was fast becoming popular in the Earth Kingdom. Katara watched the old man and little girl challenge each other as equals and smiled at the childish green pair. She felt a squeeze to her hand and met eyes with Aang, but the light dimmed all around them until the only light was that over the ceremonial stage ahead of them. No one could see anything until carefully placed torches were alight around the room and it was suddenly brighter than it had been since the guests arrived.

For a moment the room was deathly still and the only sound was the crackling of the flames. Nothing seemed to be happening until two figures started from the back of the hall and followed the pillared walls forward. It was the bride and groom. Lady Mai was followed by two maidens and veiled in a sheer material but you could still see all of her simple beauty beneath the covering. Her dress was marvelously sewn with jewels encrusting almost every inch. It was a deep red with white embroidery and the audiences breath was momentarily taken away. It was the same dress that had been worn by Princess Ursa and it had not been seen in over a few decades.

The Fire Lord was preceded by two sages and followed by two more, all chanting a prayer. The Master Sage waited on the stage to accept and wed them. The Sages' chanting was entrancing and beautiful. Katara wondered what they could be saying but she couldn't make out a word of the foreboding but well-meaning prayer. Suki was taken by the beauty that Mai could be, in light of her brutal weaponry skills. Toph was quiet and observant but couldn't see why Mai looked so forlorn and sad. She tugged on Bumi's sleeve.

"Why is she unhappy?" she whispered, so that only she and Bumi were in the conversation.

"It is considered proper for a bride to be modest and contained. She will be leaving her family now and she is expected to be sad." Bumi said, highlighting one of his rare moments of seriousness.

Toph huffed and was silent. The pair finally reached the podium and the Master Sage lowered them to their knees, facing each other. He placed their hands together and began reciting the vows that they were to uphold in matrimony. His words were brief, but specific and meaningful. Some of the older women in the crowd could recite these vows by heart and mouthed them with the Sage. Finally, Fire Lord Zuko lifted Lady Mai's veil and kissed her on both cheeks. The newly weds rose to their feet and were escorted by their sages and maidens out of the hall. The room was silent for a beat and the lights shown brighter.

Suddenly, everyone was on their feet, whooping and celebrating and people from all nations came together and cheered, until the ground rumbled with praise. Katara was shocked by this sudden change in atmosphere. Are all Fire Nation weddings this way? she wondered. She looked at her comrades' faces and saw they were as taken as her but the others had begun to join the party immediately. She looked around and saw that long tables of food had appeared and a group of musicians were playing a melody that a few brave souls were dancing to. Toph and Bumi were doing an awkward little jig in the middle of the room, completely okay with everyone laughing at their antics and good time. She almost forgot that dancing in the Fire Nation was illegal at one time.

Aang was still holding her hand and he led her to a table with cushions on the floor for seats. He sat, his robes falling all around him like a big yellow blanket, and pulled her down with him, kissing her on the cheek.

"We've come so far, Aang! Aren't you proud of Zuko?! I can't believe they are married and I can't believe all of this! Have you ever seen so many Nations in one room, getting along no less? This would have been all a dream a few months ago." she half shouted over the ruckus of the music and other guests. Aang smiled at his Katara. She hasn't changed at all, still finding the greatest joy in things gone well.

The music stopped and the people quieted as Zuko and Mai re-entered the room in new, slightly less formal but by no means less exquisite clothes. Zuko led Mai by the hand into the middle of the hall.

"I want to thank you all for being here this evening to bear witness to my marriage to Lady Mai." he said, raising their entangled fingers slightly. The room applauded gingerly. In his other hand he held a goblet of wine.

"Let us toast to continuing good fortune and an eternal peacetime between the nations."

The room cheered and roared in agreement, chugging their own wines and clapping vigorously. Zuko was amazed by how easily he could pull a positive reaction from this mob a nobles, when a year ago all he received was sneers and snickering. Perhaps he had finally gained their confidence in his Lordship.

Katara's face was one of disbelief. The once hot-headed prince had transitioned into a mannerly leader with only intelligent things to say. Aang only gave her a knowing grin. Aang, no doubt, had helped Zuko manage his demons by introducing him to the Air Nomad's way of life. Of course, Zuko would never abandon the way of fire, but being knowledgeable of all the customs and beliefs would only make him a stronger Fire Lord. Zuko was smart enough to see that and Aang was wise enough to show him.

Aang turned away from Katara, seemingly interested in the people's dance in that direction. Only, his grin was gone and his features had sunk. This was the first time he had seen Katara in weeks, with her being away in the Northern Water Tribe and he being in the Fire Nation, aiding Zuko in the wearing chores of re-uniting the kingdoms. And he couldn't even have a proper conversation with her. He felt a nudge to his shoulder.

"Aang! I just realized who that Master Sage was. He helped us on Crescent Island! Remember?" she was positively glowing.

"Yeah, I saw. I remember..." he tried to sound enthusiastic, but the teen savior had never been one to hide his feelings, wearing his heart on his sleeve, so to speak. He looked sullen, until a strangely strong hand yanked him from his seat and he was being dragged across the dark, wooden floor. Katara waved him off with a giggle. Toph and Bumi had wrenched him away from his pleasantly soft cushion to dance with them. And he did find himself moving to the beat with his old friends, his dark, lonely thoughts lifting, somewhat.

On the other side of the spacious Grand Hall, Suki and Sokka sat arm to arm on a ridiculously over-designed sofa with all manner of Fire Nation carvings in the semi-precious wood frame. Wearing her warrior armor dutifully, she snuggled as close as she could to Sokka, his own armor making it hard to be closer. Though they were close enough to carry on a secret conversation, one giving the other serious and playful looks.

Until the green-laden girl backhanded Sokka with one of her golden fans. The water tribe man was left dumbfounded as his love stomped away, with Kyoshi weapons hidden in her suit, that she was planning to use on him later. His comical face was soon stricken with fear. None of this entertaining, little scene was lost on Sokka's sister's part. Her stuffy mothering told her to find Suki and save her brother a good thrashing.

Soon, Aang felt that he was done dancing and that he craved a drink. At the food court he filled a finely crafted cup of silver with water, which was a kind of cold he didn't expect. The bartender explained that the precious water had been imported from the South Pole. He vaguely remembered going to the south with Katara to discuss ways the tribes could become more involved in international trade and what they had to offer. Of course, water this cold was commodity and was sought after eagerly, the Fire Nation being their biggest customer.

Aang sighed. It seemed that all he and his friends ever did now was attend diplomatic meetings and make plans to re-build what had been destroyed. After the commotion of the wedding, he thought it would be good for him and Katara to get away, if only for a few days. If only for a few hours...

Where was she?

The evening drew on into night and the guests had no intention of slowing down. Zuko and Mai patiently talked with everyone they could, trying to please the gaggles that seemed to form a wall around them wherever they went in the hall. Zuko could feel tiredness slowly slipping into his mind and darkening his mood, though he never released Mai's hand.

A gong sounded from somewhere high above the assembly but nothing was there. Nonetheless, it was the signal that the night's procession was over and all forms of transportation were waiting outside the palace to take their passengers home. The first thing Aang saw was Toph's pale eyes and Bumi sweeping him into a powerful hug.

"We'll be going back to Ba-Sing-Se in the morning. It was awesome to see you again, friend!" he rasped, a gapped smile spread wide on his wrinkled face.

"Where will you be staying tonight then?" Aang asked, as he was released and able to breath once again.

"Here. Duh. But we'll be leaving early and probably won't see you again. So we came to say goodbye." said Toph, not withholding how pointless she thought that question was, but Aang didn't let it bother him. That's the way she is. Aang patted her appreciatively, a bit of dust falling from her earthy gown, similar to the noble dresses she wore before they had met. Toph and Bumi waved one more time and were ushered by a cheerful maiden to their transports.

Aang grabbed his neck and gave a huge sigh of relief, feeling the raised skin where his blue arrow had been applied over a century ago. He still felt a deep pain for his people, but he knew that they didn't perish in vain, now that the war was through.

A girl, looking very much like the other handmaids approached him, and bowing, gave him a small scroll with the seal of the Eastern Air Temple stamped in the ring that kept it rolled. He knew who the sender was and gently placed the message into one of the folds of his robes, to be read later in privacy. The sender must have already departed the palace and was in transit back to the temple. The temple would be a good place to take the vacation he had been dreaming of.

So much was happening around him. The hall was a blur of comings and goings and the music still played to a sleepy gathering. He still could not see Katara or her blue gown. This night was fast becoming worrisome and all he wanted was to find the Waterbender and be left in peace in his room. There was still much to get used to within these royal walls. He often found himself yearning for the simple life of a monk and to travel the world again. But he was the Avatar...

A hand found his shoulder. Looking at it and then to the one connected to it, he found himself looking at Zuko, with a tired and serious look on his face. Aang bowed to the Fire Lord, one fist into his other palm, the traditional Fire Nation show of respect. The boy, now a man, of seventeen years waved away the younger's bow, only to drape an arm over his shoulders and lead him into a stroll out of the hall and into a private garden.

"Lord Zuko..." he began, but was swiftly shushed.

"Please, Aang. We are equals." said Zuko, one hand of silence raised and lowered assertively.

"Yes, right. You need me for something?" Aang was no longer a child and was more wise than some men of greater years, but he had only begun to test the waters of politics and the image he was meant to uphold was still fuzzy. Thus, being subtle when addressing someone was not among his talents.

"Mmh. Yes, well, I was summoned by the Court of the Dragon, so I will be traveling to an island off the main coast. All the arrangements have been made. I only want to remind you that you'll be traveling to the Earth Kingdom capital to manage the new treaty being drawn up as to what will be done with the remaining Air Temples. Be prepared for chaos. Bickering ambassadors and royalty from all the nations will be there and agreeing on a plan of action won't be simple." he gave Aang a reassuring look. Aang nodded in understanding.

"What does the court need with you? I've never heard of it."

"It only assembles when there is a new Fire Lord. It will be my coronation, of sorts. I've been deemed the Fire Lord, but have not been given the information I need to really be effective. Now I'm going to my quarters and goodnight." he folded his hands back into his sleeves and walked back into the hall to be escorted to his chambers. Short and sweet, the way he wants it, thought Aang.

Looking up to the sky, he found the stars were blotted out with thick clouds of smog. One of the biggest refineries was a few miles from here. With a sweep of his hand, cool air pushed the clouds away and a flood of moonlight fell into the garden. The flowers were sleeping and the fireflies had retired, too. Aang closed his eyes and a warm breeze moved his clothes about him. He hadn't felt the wind in a long time.

"Aang?" Katara was standing in an archway filled with light from inside the palace. Perhaps she had been looking for him, too? He opened his eyes to see her silhouette, which had become more womanly every day.

"Yeah?"

"Everyone's leaving. Maybe we should...rest, too?"

Aang could sense that she was aware of his thoughts. Maybe not the exact nature of them, but that they were deep and personal and might require some solitude for thinking.

"I can go..."

"No, it's fine. I am tired and..." he met her in the archway and took her by one hand, embracing her with his other arm, "...I missed you."