To Hades and Back
By Karatelover
Prologue
Once there were four nations. The fire nation, the earth nation, the air nation, and the water nation. But this story is mostly about the fire and water nation. The ruler of the fire nation was Fire Lord Zuko. He had a burnt scar over his left eye. Now how did Zuko become the Fire Lord of the fire nation? Simple. The day that he and his uncle were about to be executed, luckily a group of assassins came up with the idea of over throwing the cruel Fire Lord Oazi. After they found out that their kind, beloved prince was about to be executed out of jealousy of his father, they had had it with Fire Lord Oazi.
So Oazi was poisoned. They had him cremated a few days later. And then Zuko and Iroh were let out of jail. Everyone liked Zuko so much that they just made him Fire Lord, well he was a prince, but Azula, Zuko's sister was very jealous, she was supposed to be next in line. Since Azula was more faithful to Oazi than Zuko, Zuko somehow became more bossy of her. After he became the Fire Lord, he sometimes even forced her to make him laugh. But let's face it, Azula wasn't known for making people laugh.
Anyway, getting back to the present, Fire Lord Zuko was sitting on his thrown with his faithful friend and uncle Iroh. Zuko looked very depressed, and Iroh turned to him and asked, "What's wrong Zuko?"
Zuko looked up, "Oh nothing Uncle, I'm fine."
"Don't try to hide it I can tell that something is wrong. You seem more depressed lately then usual. I thought you being a king would make you happy?" said Iroh.
"It's not that, it's just that….." "Yes, Zuko?" "Well you see, I was talking to this girl the other day, and I asked what she thought of me as a person. So she says I'm very kind hearted, but complicated. So everything is going fine, and then she says, "I'm afraid I don't love you in that kind of way." I asked her why not, and she said it…" Zuko then fell silent.
Iroh curious about what Zuko was about to say then said, "What, what was she about to say?"
"She said that she loves men without scars on their faces. She loves handsome men, tell me uncle am I handsome?" Zuko asked almost with tears in his eyes.
Iroh then smiled and said, "You have a very charming personally Zuko, as long as they love you for who you are and not for your looks, then I'm sure that you'd make a fine boyfriend or husband. But it's about the right time for you to start looking for a wife. After all if you don't have any heirs then your bloodline with fall." Iroh said.
Azula overhearing what Iroh and Zuko were talking about, then came into the room.
"Azula what are you doing here. I haven't told you to come in!" Zuko said.
Azula then smirked and put her hand over her eye and then said, "I haven't told you to come in!" she then laughed.
"Don't pay any attention to her Zuko, she's just jealous that she would make a horrible ruler just like your father did." Iroh said.
Azula then stopped laughing and became angry, "You wouldn't know how to rule a kingdom even if you tried! And no woman on earth would want to be with a hideous boy such as yourself! You look like a burn victim to me! You don't look like a prince!"
Zuko was about to run over to her and beat the crap out of her, then Iroh held him down. "King Zuko! A good king would not react to such shame that comes out of one's mouth! Instead he would brush it off like it was nothing at all." Iroh said.
"Ok you're right uncle. Azula go get me a glass of wine and make it snappy!" Zuko said clapping his hands.
Iroh then smiled and said, "Yes and bring me some Oolong tea!"
"Honestly what is with you and tea uncle?" Zuko asked.
Azula then gapsed and said, "Do I look like your slave?!"
"Do you want to be?!" Zuko asked.
Azula then snorted and said, "Yes your highness!" she stalked out of the room and then said under her breath, "Men are such pigs! Someday I'll overthrow you for making me sleep in the stables!"
After Azula bought Zuko and Iroh their drinks she went to her stables and slammed the door shut. "Oh my God if I have to serve that spoiled, burned brat ever again, I'll kill myself! Wait a minuet I have an idea of how to overthrow him!"
Later on she got the soothsayer into her room. He was a short man, who wore red and had long fingernails. And everyone just called him Soothsayer. Azula smiled at him. "So Soothsayer, I have a question, how would you like to make me happy?" she asked smiling.
Now the Soothsayer had a serious crush on Azula, the poor guy was so naïve that he could hardly tell if she was using him or not. He then got down on his knees and then said, "Anything for you my queen!" said immediately blushing.
"Ok here is the plan, I overheard him talking to Iroh about being rejected by a girl. And Iroh said that he needed to find a queen soon. So here is the deal, I want you to look into your magic crystal ball and find the most beautiful girl in the world. And when Zuko takes her prisoner, he'll be so in love with her that he'll forget all about ruling the kingdom and try to impress her." She said smiling diabolically.
"But what if it doesn't work, I mean anyone can be the most beautiful thing in the world, it's like the old saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or in Zuko's case, beauty is only skin deep. And I must say that you're the most attractive woman I've ever laid my eyes on."
"Yes I suppose that my beauty is only skin deep after all. But there's a catch, ugly goes clear to the bone. But anyways moving on, I want the crystal ball to show the most beautiful woman in his eyes then." Azula said.
"I'm kind of new to fortune telling, I'll have to get my distant cousin to help out. She's here on a visit. Oh by the way Azula, if you do in fact become queen of the fire nation, can I be your king?" ask Soothsayer blushing deeply.
"We'll see about that," she said chuckling evilly as she walked out of the room. "God what a moron, you're the last man I'd marry on earth." She said.
Later on Zuko and Iroh were sitting down on their thrown. Then Azula came into the room. "Hey Zuko I want to apologize for being so mean earlier." She said looking innocent.
"Why are you being so nice to me all of the sudden?" he asked.
"I think I may have found you a wife." She said.
"Well she better like me! Or else I don't want her!" Zuko said.
"I think you'll love this one. In fact you'll love her so much that you probably would like to steal her away from her home." Said Azula.
"Doesn't that sound kind of barbaric? I'm a Fire Lord not a barbarian." Said Zuko.
Iroh looked at Azula suspiciously. "Zuko I don't think we could really depend on Azula to find you a bride. I just have a bad feeling about this." Said Iroh.
"Oh nonsense Uncle!" Zuko said waving his hand to Iroh like he wasn't interested in what he had to say. After all, Zuko was at least in his early twenties or late teens. He was also very lonely, he did want a wife. All the sudden Aunt Woo came into the room. "Who is that?" asked Zuko.
"This is Aunt Woo my distant cousin." Said Soothsayer.
"I'm having her tell your future instead of me, because I'm new at this, and I need a demonstration."
Aunt Woo then took out a box of chocolates. Zuko looked at the chocolates, "What's this?" he asked.
"This is my new recipe. I made them myself." Said Aunt Woo.
Iroh seemed to take notice of her. "I wouldn't mind having some of your chocolates!" he said. She giggled, Zuko looked at Iroh like he just committed a murder or something.
"I'll have some chocolates too!" said Zuko.
"Don't spoil your appetite Zuko, you have to eat dinner later on." Said Iroh.
"Oh put a sock in it Uncle!" he said taking a chocolate.
Then as Zuko started hogging all the chocolates, Soothsayer bought his crystal ball in and put it down for Aunt Woo. But then he sat down on the floor and waved his hands over the crystal ball. "Oh magic crystal ball, tell me who will I marry in the future?" The image of Azula appeared in it. "Oh sorry that's my future, but at least I know who my future wife will be." He said.
"Actually I don't think that Azula is the least bit interested in you cousin. The only reason why it says that Azula is going to be your wife, is because your own mind put the image in the crystal ball. It doesn't work that way." Said Aunt Woo.
"Are you going to waste Zuko's time or are you going to show him his future wife?!" Azula asked impatient.
"Sorry Azula. Anyways, who will be Zuko's future wife?" he waved his hands over the crystal ball again, then an image of a young looking girl appeared in the crystal ball. Zuko looked at the girl, and nearly chocked on his peace of chocolate. For she was perhaps the most beautiful girl he'd ever laid his eyes on.
She was short about 5'6 or 5'4 at least. She had dark blue eyes, and dark skin. She had dark brown hair which flowed in the wind. She had pink flowers decorated in her hair. She wore blue, she was a water bender. Her lips were perfect looking and full. She was thin, but not to thin. She had such a beautiful looking face and body.
"Wow who is that girl?!" Zuko asked.
"I'm afraid that I don't know her name." said Soothsayer.
"Forget her name, I want to marry her! She's the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on!" Zuko said.
"Fire Lord Zuko are you out of your mind, you don't even know her!" said Iroh. "I don't care, I didn't believe in love at first sight until now! I'm going out for a little while!" Zuko said heading for the door.
"Zuko think about what you're doing!" Iroh said.
"Yes go and get her Zuko she's waiting for you!" said Azula encouraging him.
"I'm leaving!" Zuko then ran outside and went to the stables and got on a komodo-rhino and took off. Iroh ran outside after him, but it was too late.
"Zuko you never think before you do something!" Iroh said shaking his head in disappointment.
Meanwhile back in the palace, Azula walked up to Soothsayer. He snickered and so did Azula. He leaded closer to Azula. He tried to kiss her lips, but she pushed him to the ground. "Maybe some other time Soothsayer!" she walked out of the room.
"What a woman!" Soothsayer yelled, he then growled lustfully as he watched Azula walk down the hall. How he wanted to be near that beautiful but manipulative woman.
Meanwhile somewhere in the water kingdom, at the South Pole, the young woman, whose name was Katara, was on a vacation with her family. She and her brother were outside. Her father was out fishing and her grandmother was knitting in the warm igloo. Katara even bought some friends along too. They were all around the forest, making snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other. Sokka her brother, was very kind, but sarcastic too. He stared at himself in the mirror, just because he liked himself with a mustache.
"Sokka will you quit looking at yourself in the mirror?!" Katara asked.
"Sorry sis, but I just like my new mustache it just grew on me!" he said. Katara then threw a snowball at Sokka and laughed.
"Oh yah we'll see about that!" She then waterbended and poor Sokka slipped and fell. "I'm going to take a walk." Said Katara.
"Wait, before you go walking by yourself, I think you need to be escorted!" said Sokka.
"Oh Sokka I'm a grown woman I can take care of myself!" she said.
"Whatever!" said Sokka.
Katara went out walking, but soon she heard a noise. It was the noise that the komodo-rhino made. She then saw Fire Lord Zuko on his komodo-rhino. He rode up to her and smiled. "Hello there!" he said. Frightened of his scar, or so he thoughts, she tried to run away, but Zuko grabbed her.
"Help me!" she yelled. Immediately Katara's friends, brother and grandmother came running over to her and Zuko.
"Nobody come near us or you die!" Zuko said holding a fireball in his hand. Everyone was too scared to react. So Zuko threw Katara on his komodo-rhino and it ran off. Back to the ship, which Zuko got out onto land. Everyone then started crying, there was nothing they could have done. Well maybe, but they didn't want to get burned, which was pretty understandable.
About a few days later, Zuko returned home with his new fiancé on his komodo-rhino. Katara was crying with tears in her eyes. "I want to go home!" she yelled.
"Quiet winch!" he yelled. As Zuko came to the palace, Iroh ran out of the palace and he saw Katara with tears in her eyes.
"Fire Lord Zuko what have you done?!" Iroh gasped in horror.
"I've found myself a new bride!" he said.
"What kind of a Fire Lord would take a helpless woman from her home! From her friends and family! It's insane!" said Iroh.
"I didn't take her from her home, she was on vacation." Said Zuko.
"I don't care if she was out in the middle of no-where! What you did was wrong! There is no worst crime then kidnapping a woman against her will!" Iroh said with compassion in his eyes. "Do you at least show any remorse for taking her?!" asked Iroh.
"Nope!" said Zuko. Katara sobbed even more.
"It's ok I won't harm you, my nephew is a very stubborn young man. I'll make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep tonight." Said Iroh.
Zuko looked at the girl crying. He may have felt a little bit sorry for her. "I'm sorry Miss, I'll escort you to your room." He said.
"You've done enough! Come on, I promise you he won't hurt you again." Iroh said walking into the palace with Katara walking beside him. So Iroh took Katara to a nice guest room.
"Why don't you stay in here for now. If there is anything you need don't hesitate to tell me ok?" said Iroh.
"Yes sir." She said.
She sat down at the desk crying her eyes out. Iroh was outside the room. "What's going on?" asked Aunt Woo.
When Iroh saw Aunt Woo he licked his hand and wetted his hair back. "How are you doing?" he asked. "Oh and Zuko kidnapped the girl that was supposed to marry him." Said Iroh.
"I at least hope she's all right." Said Aunt Woo.
"Oh well she's….. she's alive if that's what you mean." Said Iroh.
All the sudden Zuko came into the hallway and was about to go into the room. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you." Said Iroh.
"Save your breath uncle." Said Zuko. He went into the room, then Katara saw him and got angry at him.
"You, you bought me here! I don't want you near me!" she said.
"Look I'm sorry I kidnapped you, but I was wondering if you're not doing anything later on I could….." before Zuko finished, Katara threw an expensive glass at him, but she missed.
"Just get out of here!" she yelled.
"Ok fine I'm going! I'll talk to you when you're more calm!" he then walked out of the room and slammed the door shut.
"How's your fiancé doing?" asked Iroh.
"God she's so complicated!" said Zuko.
"I told you not to go in there didn't I?" asked Iroh.
"She's supposed to be my wife, not my enemy!" said Zuko.
"Well that's what you get for trying to go to love, you should have let it come to you first." Said Iroh.
"I don't need your lessons in wisdom right now Uncle! I just want her to love me!" said Zuko.
"Then leave her alone and she'll come to you, when she's ready that is." Said Iroh.
"I'm going to bed, nobody bother me!" said Zuko and he walked down the hallway.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Aunt Woo.
"Oh he's very stubborn and young. I was that young once, I used to think that the whole world was against me. I used to want to rule the world, like the stereotypical teenager. But sooner or later, Zuko is going to have to let these feelings go." Said Iroh.
"I know what you mean. So if you're not doing anything later, would you like to go to a tea shop, if they even have one here?" asked Aunt Woo.
"No way I love tea! Do you love tea?!" asked Iroh.
"Yes I do, very much so." Said Aunt Woo.
"Let's stop talking and let's get going!" said Iroh. "May I escort you my dear?" he said with his arm out.
"I'd be delighted." Said Aunt Woo. She then wrapped her arm around his and they walked out of the palace and into the tea shop together.