All right. This is my newest fanfic, and sequel to Ocean Fire. A little background…Zuko and Katara had a thing (and they were like two years older than they are in the show), but separated after the Fire Nation was defeated to fulfill their duties to their people. And there was something else, too…I strongly recommend you at least skim Ocean Fire, as this has a few tie-ins…

Well, here we go…introducing, Molten Seas…

disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Sorry.

Prologue: The Hunt

She had been adopted by the Northern Water Tribe and named Princess of the Southern Water Tribe but no one had seen Katara in over four years. Where had she gone? What was she doing?

Zuko sighed and tore his eyes from the sight of the full moon. It was times like theses that rendered him nearly useless. When the sun and moon shared the sky, he could do no other than stare at the moon and wonder about her, remember her laugh, her smile…her sapphire eyes. It was on days like these that he couldn't help but hate her.

For Four long years he had searched, had sent men the world over to look for her. They had yet to find her. And once, two years before, Zuko had even swallowed his pride and asked the Avatar about her whereabouts. But the bald airbender had not known. It was as if she knew. Knew he was looking for her and didn't want to be found.

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"Where is she? Where is she hiding?" He demanded, barging into the temple's inner sanctum. He and Katara had once shared so many memories here…now it was only an empty, painful reminder of what might have been.

Three people lifted their heads and looked at Zuko. The two women moved to leave the room, though both glanced back at the fuming fire bender, one with sorrow and the other with empathy glowing in their golden eyes. And then they were gone.

The young man looked up at Zuko, his gray eyes calm when the Fire Lord was caught in a maelstrom of emotions.

"Tell me!" Zuko stepped closer, desperate.

"I can't," Aang stated simply.

"Why not? Just tell me where she is! Please!"

The Avatar sighed and stood. "I don't know, Zuko."

"What?" He couldn't believe it. "But you're the Avatar!"

"I know," Aang said softly. "But I don't know where she is." The teen shrugged and looked away. "It's like she doesn't want to be found."

"I don't believe this," Zuko growled. He turned and stalked off.

Just as the fire bender reached the door, however, Aang called out, "Maybe Sokka knows."

Zuko said nothing, merely stalked from the chamber. He's find her. And he'd find her without her brother's help.

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They had shared one night. One night when they should have had a lifetime. Where did she go?

"Nephew."

Zuko turned from the window to face his uncle. If it had been anyone else, he might have hidden his pain, but Iroh had the unique ability to see right through the young Fire Lord.

"Hello, Uncle," Zuko said wanly.

Iroh frowned at the pain and bitterness in his nephew's voice and eyes. It was an all-too-familiar occurrence, one he had anticipated. That, however, was what made him nervous. He had many things he needed to tell, one of which could be potentially dangerous. For everyone.

"Nephew, there is something I must discuss with you."

Another sigh escaped Zuko and he gestured towards a chair. "Of course, Uncle." When the older man was seated, Zuko took a seat across from him. "Tea, Uncle?"

"Yes. Thank-you, Zuko."

When he had taken a sip of his ginseng tea, Iroh asked softly, "Tell me, how are you feeling?"

Zuko debated with himself for a moment and then sighed, placing his own cup of tea on the table between them. "I can't sleep, Uncle," he confessed in a low voice. "And when I do, I dream of her."

They didn't need to say out loud to whom Zuko was referring; the name, by now, was all-too-familiar.

"This is troubling, Lord Zuko," Iroh said. "It has been four years and still you cannot move on."

Zuko abruptly stood. "I can't, Uncle, don't you understand?" He began to pace. "She's like an obsession; she's in my blood. I close my eyes and I can see her! Every time it rains, every time I'm near the water, I hear her, feel her! Uncle, I can't simply move on!" The young man sank back into his chair and buried his head in his hands. "I can't."

Knowing it was pointless to argue with him in this state, Iroh handed his Nephew a fresh cup of tea. "Here, Zuko. Drink; you will feel much better."

Zuko took the drink obediently. "Thank you, Uncle."

After a few moments, Zuko was calm again. Iroh smiled. Zuko had changed from the angry young man he had once been, and mainly because of the young Katara. Though Zuko still dwelled on Katara, at least the Fire Lord hadn't gone back to the way he was.

Zuko looked up and smiled wanly at his uncle. "So what did you want to discuss with me, Uncle?" he asked.

Iroh, suddenly nervous, cleared his throat.

"Uncle?"

"Let an old man gather his thoughts, Nephew." Zuko subsided and Iroh took another sip of tea. Gaining strength from the soothing beverage, he decided the best course was simply to get to the point…but not without a few opening steps. Bad news first. Potentially explosive news after.

"Nephew, as you know, I have recently returned from a meeting with the other ambassadors and we have all noticed tensions gathering between the nations." He cleared his throat again. "Which is why we've unanimously agreed to this next course of action."

When Iroh paused, Zuko encouraged him to go on.

Iroh nodded. "We have decided that a union between the Fire Nation and another nation is needed to help bridge this burgeoning gap."

Zuko sat straighter, feeling a sudden tension growing in him. He was not going to like where this was going. "Uncle…what is this about?"

"You…will be wed to a bride of your choosing from any of the other nations," Iroh finished.

Zuko sat still, trying to process what he had just heard. And then he stood, shaking with pent-up emotions. "I wish to wed Katara," he stated firmly, without inflection. "And I will not marry until she is found!" By the time he was finished, Zuko was yelling, the air around him becoming blisteringly hot. Abruptly, he turned away from his uncle and stormed towards the door.

"Which brings me to my next bit of news," Iroh said softly, stopping Zuko cold. The young man's shoulders shook violently but he was listening.

"What is it, Uncle?" he asked, hardly daring to breathe for fear he might break the moment.

Iroh took a deep, steadying breath and then let loose. "We've found her."

How'd you like it? I know it's short, and there seems to be more angst and whatnot…sooo! Tell me what you think! Please review!