Chapter 1

The light of an almost full moon shone brightly, illuminating most of the balcony in what he had come to consider a comforting blanket of white, blue and gray hues.

Sighing, Zuko lazily let his eyes roam over the courtyard below. He hoped for a distraction, something to occupy his mind, for it was always when the moon was high in the night sky that the palpitations were at their worst. They weren't very painful, but impossible to ignore. His hand wandered from the banister to the scar between his heart and navel. For a firebender, the solar plexus chakra is where their chi first pools and builds in the body. Since his agni kai at the end of the war, whenever it was late at night, the scar and chakra almost seemed to pulse beneath his fingers. Wincing in discomfort, he instead tried to focus his mind on the unavoidable responsibilities forthcoming in the next few days; it would be the first anniversary of the end of the war.

Sokka, Suki, Ty Lee, and some of the Kiyoshi warriors had made it safely to the palace yesterday. Tomorrow, Master Paaku and several waterbenders of varying aptitudes from the Northern Water Tribe, Chief Hakoda and his warriors of the Southern Water Tribe and…

Katara…

…. Would arrive.

His eyes turned back upward to the moon at thinking her name. He and Katara had barely communicated after his coronation. Her departure had left their, acquaintanceship, in an awkward place. With the other teens, he had at least had more time to engage and bond. Aang, Toph, Sokka and Suki had stayed an extra few weeks before they each left to their own corners of the world, both excited and nervous at beginning their first attempts at normalcy since the end of the war.

Breathing deeply to abate the increase in the pulsing beneath his scar, Zuko's mind wandered to other recent discomfort…..other times that still tore at his heart.

He told himself it was all understandable: being Fire Lord is something no teen is prepared for, and he certainly wasn't an exception. Nonetheless, he couldn't deny his feelings of dedication – a passionate desire to restore balance to the world. As a descendant of both Fire Lord Sozin and Avatar Roku, he decided that it truly was his responsibility, no, his destiny to pour his mind and soul into molding the Fire Nation into a society worthy of admiration rather than hate and fear. This of course left little room in his life for everything he had come to know in his time of banishment: intrigue, exploration, enrichment…. Love….

Mai…. His Mai. Though noble-born herself and familiar with all its trappings, she nonetheless fought for a normal relationship with the young leader. She was patient and loyal, but was also no fool. What she had fought so valiantly against simply could not be beaten. Zuko's dedication to his new title meant what she had feared since the day of his coronation: developing and building a loving relationship while Zuko also poured himself into his newfound responsibilities wouldn't just be difficult – it would be impossible. There would always be something for the new Fire Lord of a fledgling government and society to handle that he wouldn't be able to pass on to the council or other advisors. And while Mai found it wholly admirable, she couldn't deny that it was also completely detrimental to the spontaneity and excitement of a blossoming love. Mai could live with that. But she wouldn't. Just the idea of it exhausted her. As she started to mature herself, and finally free of Azula's manipulation and threats, she found that in being completely honest with herself, it was Zuko the young man she grew up with that held her heart, not Zuko the ambitious Fire Lord.

Since she had pointedly told Zuko to never break up with her again, and since she held her own hopes deep in her heart that they may still have a future together, she took her time and carefully worded a note to her beloved.

"I'm not going to simply stop loving you, jerk. Love doesn't work like that. However, I can see how complicated your life has become, and I know it will remain so for probably a long time. If at any time you find yourself able to escape the torturous world of politics without feelings of irresponsibility, guilt, or neglect, or are at least find a healthier balance than your current overzealousness, please come find me. I love you. Mai."

Upon leaving the note tacked to the Fire Lord's bedchamber door, Mai left to seek out the master swordsman Piandao. The last he had heard, the master had taken Mai as his student – his first female student.

Potential masters deserve the best teachers he thought to himself.

And so he was alone again.

… And so remains.

His reverie was broken by a sudden shock of pain under his scar. Hissing in a sharp breath, Zuko pressed hard against the pink blotch. The pain decreased; his pulse was unusually strong and deep.

Whenever the moon was large, and his newest scar burned and pulsed, he remembered his last Agni-Kai. Every strike that he had countered, every breath that he heaved… it was all so vivid still. And yet in the end, he owed his life to the miracle prowess of someone he'd hunted, captured, betrayed….

…But somehow befriended.

Turning his back to the courtyard, Zuko retreated into the foyer leading to his bedroom, his mind awash with the anticipation of the days to come. The day after next, the Avatar would arrive with master earth-benders Toph Bei Fong and King Bumi of Omashu. They would be joined by the Earth Kingdom King of Ba Sing Se and his court, as well as warriors that had participated in the invasion on the day of black sun. Such a grand reunion weighed heavily on his mind, along with what was to be expected of not just him but his own court for the celebration of the end of the war. He and Aang would address an estimated 250,000 citizens gathered from all corners of the world. They would be followed by Iroh and a council of representatives from all nations. It would be a daunting task to not only meet with and discuss the celebration with all the representatives, but also figure out how to wrap it all into a powerful and inspiring presentation that would encourage and inspire.

His scar pulsed.

Zuko sighed while opening the door to his chambers.

It was going to be a long week.