Hola Avatar fandom! I'm here with an attempt at a chapter long fic! I'm most known for my incest stories here but... this one is actually not going to be based around incest. But there will be some in here. Along with homosexuality and a lot of other things Avatar would not have covered- so this is just a warning. Its a lot darker than most fics would imagine and I hope its a tad bit more original than the others.. because the characters wouldn't stay the same after ten years and you can't expect them all to last in fairtale happiness, so that would explain the slight OC.

But I hope it works....somewhat.


Symphony of Deliverance
Prologue

At times, Zuko wishes he could return to the days of when he was seventeen- when the world was simple and made so much more sense.

But those days have faded into charred memories of the 'Golden Era' of their former Lord Ozai and his destruction. Fire Lord Zuko became his title against the once shamed 'Banished Prince' and not it seemed more like an attainted dream which- when inspected- felt far emptier than the holes of the Underworld. Perhaps, it was another of his foolish dreams which kept him awake and Mai on edge each time he would awake in a terrified fervor that Azula had killed herself in the prison cell. To her, the former glory of the Fire Nation, this was a torturous hell in which she wanted to escape- Zuko knew this would any doubt in his mind that, if given the chance, her death would be the one thing she would ask for.

She does this, each time he visits and each time he clenches his eyes closed and bangs his fist against the metal door with a screaming 'NO'. She never replies afterwards and merely hangs her head in a passive aggression which she knows kills him on the inside that he cannot see her eyes- he cannot see the pain and the dishonor in her mind and it ruins him into shakes. Once he tried to hold her, he had opened the door and taken her into his arms but she had used it to shriek loudly and burn his arm- after that moment she was detained to harder chains where she could no longer move. Walk for two hours each day and she would be fed by the guards- never is her arms to be free.

Zuko could not seem weak before his subjects- and so he authorized it, Mai screaming at him that very night for his disgusting behavior at his sister. Not once would he lose his temper at her, he refused to argue back and merely took the onslaught of rage and humiliation with a bowed head.

At the age of twenty three, Zuko found out for the first time the feeling of a dropped heart. He felt so sick that he stumbled back into his bedroom before collapsing on the floor and retching back his large lunch and shaking above it. Azula had, during the darkened hours of the heartless night, bitten her tongue to die. Her suicide was successful due to the fact no one had found her until the morning and by then, hour had passed and the blood was all over her body and the chains. Gagging, the guards called for the doctors in hope- but her motionless body and the fact she wouldn't wake up after slaps and hits proved that there was nothing left.

Zuko brought his fingers to his lips before he felt the heat against his throat and his stomach tossing, once more he threw up any substances within his stomach onto the floor before he ended up coughing and hacking. It wasn't until Mai had arrived home from visiting a friend did she find her husband, sprawled on the floor near a puddle of vomit with an old faded picture in his shaking hand- she called for a servant to clean up the waste before asking a guard to help him to his bed. Once it was done, Mai left the room to attend to the children- unsure of what to do to make her husband better- and Zuko hadn't the heart to tell her the need he had for a semblance of affection, for ever time his mouth opened he felt the burning of his throat once again.

It was around that time, and months following, did the Fire Nation find itself facing difficulties. Famine, drought and unrest among the people due to their Fire Lord's weakened state- getting into slow contact with the Southern Water Tribe through his messengers he found out of melting ice and more natural unbalances within their area. Sokka, chief of the area, had already planned to visit and discuss it but the Avatar and his wife thought best they go- the soldier agreed and stayed to keep civil and morale hope among his people who became more and more dejected with the horrors.

The Earth Kingdom promised to send an ambassador- the prince, Lin, and his servants. The princes was a worthy adversary in Zuko's earlier days for training and practice until his visits became less and less along the years during the problems in Zuko's marriage. The man was able to rest calmly knowing he was to come yet the Northern Water Tribe refused to answer his call which was a grave insult. Sending another ship to knock on their waters for their reply, Zuko realized that someone ill was boding in the air.

Yet, it all started the day Azula passed away.

Months passed since that time, Zuko and Mai rarely spoke unless it regarded their children or the affairs of state- when he sleeps he feels nothing but Mai's hair against his face as her back is turned. She was never one to openly show her affection, neither was he- yet, it was blatantly obvious they both wanted to hold each other and cry. Yet, their pride made such an effort forbidden to them and so they merely would lay there and contemplate on the other without much warmth.

"Are you ever going to talk to me about it?"

Two years later, Zuko is shocked by this question as he turned to his wife sitting across from him on the dinner table. His son squirmed uncomfortably, already seven and understanding of the situation to a fair extent, he seemed to unconsciously feel the tension setting in on the group. Their daughter, only three, is far too spellbound by the food before her to even look up at the stares their parents are sharing.

The Fire Lord coughed before clearing his throat.

"Talk about what…Mai?"

He finally asks, yet knowing full well. Mai was not amused by these actions and merely glared at his question before taking another sip of her wine.

"We aren't the kids we were before, Zuko, I expect you to have learned that earlier on," she began with her gaze dropping to her children, "People change and I fear you haven't learned that lesson quiet well- your sister's suicide should have given you a wake up message at your own state."

Zuko slams his fork and knife onto the plate with a loud crash- this alerts the children to stare him in fright. His face as contorted into a sneer of hatred at Mai's words, partly of disgust at how she referred to his sister so casually after everything and another element of revulsion that she would dare do it before their children.

"Tai-Zhi," Zuko muttered darkly, turning to his son, "Take your sister and go to your rooms please."

Tai-Zhi bit his lip for a moment and shifted his gaze from his mother to his father for a few moments. He understood the importance of it in his own way before grabbing his sister's hand and tugging her away from the two adults who stood in union. Mai led him to their room before closing the door- they argued much like the other times before, yet this instance he fired back.

Zuko remembers this as the first time he has ever hit a woman in such a fit of rage.

Regrettably, Zuko went on his knees to beg for forgiveness as Mai's fingers felt the harshness of his callous imprint of the strike. They never spoke of it afterwards- even after Mai, after two more years, asked for a short term separation. She had said it quietly one night before they were going to bed- in the same stoic expression on her face before closing her eyes and listened to his silence.

Zuko was not surprised, yet he was insulted and disgusted.

Allowing it, he sent Mai in secret to her parent's home along with his children- Tai-Zhi clung to his father mercilessly before he had to go. Mai pulled him away into the cart before handing him two letters which arrived for him the day before. Letters dating the Avatar's arrival and one of the prince's slight delays but promises of arriving; Zuko thanked Mai for it before bowing his head. Leaping with an awkward hug, and a broken smile, Mai went into the carriage and told him that it would only before a few months but Zuko knew that those months would be a deciding factor which he would not control.

Control was something he hated to lack.

----

July 24th, 1543

Aang was not entirely sure what to prepare for during his journey.

Brushing his hand through his head, he fussed with the short pieces of brown in the small mirror Katara had provided. The dark skinned woman smiled at his antics before putting her hand through his hair and pushing some down and some up before pressing a kiss against his cheek.

"It looks fine the way it is," she said with a calming smile, "Perhaps you should remember that you are the Avatar and that it is fine to look the way you are."

Katara sighed before holding her stomach slightly, a bulge very obvious through her Water Tribe clothing, before shifting her sitting position to one of more comfort. Aang smiled shyly before rubbing the back of his head as the redness of the rocky hills began to fade from the moment they left the port.

"I know," he replied with a sheepish sigh, "But its been so long since Zuko has seen us and to drop in on such a depression note…"

"Its been long since Zuko has seen me!" Katara noted, lifting an eyebrow, "You used to come here once a year while I had to take care of the Water Tribe- off on your Avatar duties in the other countries. I'm going to be the shocker for Fire Lord Zuko, just look at this!"

Katara patted her stomach for emphasis before Aang frowned with a whining voice.

"I don't see why you pressed to come! I mean," he gulped at Katara's harsh glare, "the baby and your health on such a long distance ride-,"

"Are you saying I'm incapable?"

"I would never-,"

"Then you're saying I'm capable of doing this?"

Katara raised an eyebrow before Aang hung his head in defeat before letting out another droned out sigh. Pulling her fingers through her thick hair, she narrowed her eyes in thought of her brother's face the moment she had left the Southern Water Tribe with her husband to visit the Fire Nation- a look of false strength and a man who's world was crumbling on his shoulders.

She shook for a moment at the memory before she felt Aang hand upon her shoulder in a loving gesture. She smiled up weakly towards him before looking out the window as her eyes narrowed to the barren fields and the burning houses. Guards were stationed everywhere as the people of the nation seemed far more lean and diseased- the ground cracked in various places as dust kicked up in aroma of parched desert, the two found themselves unconsciously licking their lips.

"Such a hit," Katara mumbled looking at the people in pity, "The rivers have dried up and the ocean is not safe to drink so close to harbor, these people are all suffering-,"

Aang gripped his arms as they were folded before his chest.

"All starting after the suicide of Azula…" the Avatar mumbled slightly, narrowing his gaze.

Katara felt a small wind blow through her hair as she looked down towards the cracked roads and finally back up to see the vision of the Fire Lord's castle in sight- yet this time, we wasn't as tempted to run inside.


Review? :D