A Conspiracy Discovered

Sixteen years have past since Ozai's defeat. Fire Lord Zuko and his wife have been living in the palace peacefully with their sixteen year old son, Shang, and their twelve year old daughter, Renzu.

It was a nice day so Fire Lady Mai decided to go for an afternoon walk through the garden. She was walking around when a knife flew by, barely missing, her face. That was when her instincts kicked in and she sent a knife right back at the assassin pinning him to the wall.

Mai walked right up to the assassin and said "I'm pretty sure my husband is going to have your ass, whoever you are, for tryin to kill me."

The royal guards came and took the assassin into custody for Fire Lord Zuko to interrogate.

"You have a deadly vistor in a holding cell waiting for interrogation." Mai said and explained the attempt on her life.

Zuko kinda laughed and said "Either he didn't know what he was trying to kill or he's one dumb basterd."

They both laughed a bit. "I don't know why we're laughin'. We're probably going to have a rebellion on our hands." Zuko said through giggles.

"As long as I don't lose you to a bunch of rebels."

"I'd never leave you. Or our kids." Zuko managed to say before a sweet kiss on the lips. Followed by Shang saying "Whoa, what did I miss?"

"You'll get it when you're married with kids." said a smirking Zuko.

"Ya know what? I am going out to the court yard to practice firebending." Shang said as if at an awkward moment.

"You do that. I now have a prisoner to interrogate. See you later." Zuko said kissing Mai on the forehead and left before their daughter, Renzu came around the corner.

"Mom, could you teach me shruiken-jutsu today? I really want to do all that fancy knife throwing you do." Renzu pleaded.

"Really? Well I don't see why not. You just can't use it on your brother."

"Even when he's bein' a pain?"

"Even when he's bein' a pain."

"Dang it."

"Come on. I thought you would want to learn one day." laughed Mai. "So."

"So?" Renzu questioned.

"So, I already got you something."

Mai said that and Renzu's face lit up. It lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw the brand new, never before used shruikens,daggers, and darts.

Zuko was furious when he entered the interrogation room.

"What took you so long, Zuko?"

"None of your damn buisness, thats what. Now, who hired you?"

"Well you're just straight to the point, aren't you? Some nobleman, didn't catch his name. He did say something that told me he knows Fire Lady Mai, though."

"What did he say?"

"He said 'Be careful. She throws knives back.' I thoght he was joking, but ,so I've found out, she is quite accurate."

"I'll be right back." Zuko said as he left and brought back a portrait of Mai's father, the only nobleman besides Zuko who would know about Mai's knife throwing.

"Is this him?" Zuko asked.

The assassin took a good look at the portrait and said "Yeah, thats him."

"That son of a -" Zuko whispered but was cut off by the assassin, "You know him?" The assassin asked.

"Yes. You were sent to kill us by Mai's father." Zuko said putting the assassin in aw. Zuko slammed his fist against the table and left with clenched teeth and flames dancing on his finger tips.

Zuko stormed into Mai's training room. "Mai, could I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course. Renzu, keep going, I have to talk to your dad." Mai turned to Zuko.

"Your father!" Zuko said through clenched teeth.

"What did he do now?"

"He sent that assassin to kill us. Would you like to talk to him or should I?"

"I think neither. He'll just deny everything probably. I'd talk to my brother, Tom. Tom wouldn't try or even know to hide anything." Mai explained.

"Ecspecially from his sister." Zuko continued "If I talk to him, he'll think something's up. We both know he trusts you."

"So you want me to ask Tom if he's noticed anything different among our parents, specifically father." Mai confirmed.

"Yes that would be correct."

"You can expect your 'testimony' tomarrow night. Tom will be visiting the palace tomarrow while you're in your meeting."

"Well, that was really all I needed. How's Renzu doing with those knives?"

"Very good. She's already better than I was at her age. I was pretty dang good."

"I bet. I think I'll sit and watch for a while."

"That sounds good plus, I think Renzu would appreciate something we never got, support from her parents." Mai said approvingly.

Zuko smiled as he sat to watch his daughter throw the last of her knives.

"How'd I do, Mom?" the girl asked.

"I'd say you're as good as I was when I was seventeen."

"And how good was that."

"What, your father didn't tell you about the Boiling Rock?" Mai asked

"No, what is it?"

"My uncle's prison where I pinned at least half of the prison guards. Let me tell you, you should've seen the look on your aunt's face after that." Mai explained.

"Dang!"

"Well, why don't you go put away your knives so we can get your brother and we'll all go to supper." Zuko implied.

Renzu pranced away. Mai leaned into Zuko and whispered "Azula was pissed."

The pair just laughed.

Next day

Mai was just waking up but Zuko had been up for hours. Mai rolled over and put her hand on his chest.

"What's on your mind?" Mai asked the Fire Lord.

"Nothing."

"Zuko, I know better. I could feel you tossing and turning all night."

"It's nothing. Just forget it, okay. I'm fine."

"Okay, but just remember I'm always here for you if you need to talk." Mai said.

"I know."

"I'm going to get the kids up and get us some breakfast. Do you want to come or sit here and continue your thinking?"

"I think I'll come, I could use some breakfast." he said as he got out of bed and got dressed with his wife.

They were soon down the hallway to their kids' rooms. Mai went to wake Renzu, Zuko to wake Shang.

All was well and good untill Zuko pulled back Shang's sheets and no Shang.

"Mai, we've got a problem. Shang's missing." Zuko said to his wife waiting in the hallway.

"What do mean 'He's missing'?"

"I mean he's nowhere to be found."

"Let's check the city before we say that."

"But where would he go?"

Mai thought and smiled. "He has a girlfriend and if he's anything like his father I know where he is."

"You're a genius. Should we bring Renzu?"

"I'd say yes, show her what could happen if she sneeks out to see a boy."

Zuko turned to his daughter still in her pajamas. "Get dressed, we're going into town." he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"We're going to find your brother." Zuko answered.

"Shang got caught, didn't he?"

"Yep. Wait, he's done this before?"

"He's been sneeking out for like a week or two now."

"Now, he's in even bigger trouble. Let's go get him." Zuko said before Renzu got dressed and they left the palace.

They arrived at the house and Zuko knocked on the door. A woman answered the door.

"Fire Lord Zuko, to what do I owe this welcomed visit?"

"Is Ming home?" Zuko asked the woman.

"She hasn't got out of bed yet."

"Well, we are looking for our son. I went to wake him and he wasn't there. We knew that Shang was dating Ming. Would you mind waking her?" Zuko said making his way into the house and following the woman to Ming's bedroom. She opened the bedroom door and there sat Shang and Ming making-out on her bed. Ming's mom was shocked. Mai sent a knife pinning her son to the wall. Zuko walked over, grabbed his son by the shirt, took the knife out and dragged Shang out of the house.

"Shang, Prince Shang, what were you thinking? Tell me what you did!" Zuko yelled.

"We're two sixteen year olds, alone. What do you think we did? We kissed, that kiss, well, went alot farther. I wanted to surprize her for our one year anniversary a week ago. She said I could keep coming back if I wanted to untill somthing happened like we might get caught."

"Shang. When I was your age I did the same thing for your mom on our sixth month of dating, you can ask your mother, but just because I did it don't mean you should. Get her pregnant and I better be planning a damn wedding. Is there anything else you might want to tell me?"

"No."

"Good, now you get to have a guard with you at all times for a week."

"But Dad!"

"No buts. Because of your little stunt, you're not going anywhere outside the palace. Now, let's get back to the palace so I'm not late for my meeting."

They left and got back to the palace just before Tom arrived and Zuko left.

"Tom, have you noticed anything different around Dad lately?" Mai asked her brother.

"He has had an awfully lot of people to the house, sometimes I listen in and they would talk about gathering men or when and how to attack. I heard him sneek out the night before last." Tom explained.

"Well, what a quencidence. Yesterday, I was almost killed by an assassin. The best part, he was sent by Dad. This is deffinently sounding bad for the royal family. Do not tell Mom or Dad about this." Mai said.

"Don't worry. My lips are sealed."

"Good. We have had some difficulty with Shang's behavior."

"What did he do?" Tom said with a smile.

"He snuck out and 'spent the night' with his girlfriend if you know what I mean."

"At least when I did that, I didn't get caught."

"You have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"Why didn't I get to meet her?"

"Quite frankly, because you've been raising two kids while being the wife of the Fire Lord."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"What I'm saying is that you've been busy."

"Like you said, I'm the wife of the Fire Lord. I can make time."

"Okay, how about tommarrow?"

"That'll work. How about for lunch?"

"That'll work, too. She is going to be so excited that she's invited to the palace let alone dinner in the palace."

"Can I at least know her name?"

"Ira. She's quite a beauty and exceptional cook."

"Remind me why you don't just move in with her."

"I'm working on it. I'm packed, just have to get my stuff there."

With that, they both laughed.

That night.

"How was your meeting?" Mai asked her husband.

"The economy needs work. Younger people need to be trying to get jobs, the unemployed rate among job eligable people have been higher than usual." Zuko said tiredly.

"Sounds like you've had quite a day. I talked to Tom today."

"And?"

"My dad's had alot of people at the house. Tom has heard them talk about gathering men as well as when and how to attack. By the sound of it, my dad is the leader."

As soon as Mai finished her statement there was an urgent knock at the door which Zuko answered to find their Earth Kingdom friend, Toph.

"I need help. I've been traveling ever since the war ended and I finally decided to go home. I get there and my parents introduce me to this guy and say I'm gonna marry him. I forced them to read me this agreement which I did bring." Toph explained almost out of breath.

"How about you sit and let me see that marriage agreement." Zuko said and Toph handed him the agreement.

Zuko quickly read the agreement and looked up at Toph and Mai.

"I'm no expert on Earth Kingdom law, but I'd say this is no longer valid." Zuko announced.

"Okay, Why don't you tell them that?" Toph asked pointing out the door at the angry looking Earth Kingdom nobility.

"Sir, can I ask you why you felt the need to brake into the Fire Nation Palace?" Zuko asked the what seemed to be the leader.

"I came here to claim what's mine."

"Which would be?"

"That girl." the man said pointing to Toph. Mai had already had enough of the man.

"That girl is our friend. That girl is the greatest earthbender in the world. She's not your's, she's not anybody's. Now, how about you march your ass out of here before I have guards drag you out of here and into a damn prison cell." Mai yelled.

"Is that a threat? Do you even do anything besides sit and look pretty for the Fire Lord?" the man said clearly questioning Mai's authority.

"Ha, funny. You try being a mother of two teenagers and a provider of a peacful home for the most known politician in the Fire Nation. You can ask my family, I'm more than just the pretty face by the Fire Lord."

"Well, I've had about enough of you." the man said as he started walking towards Mai while pulling a knife. Before the man was half way across the room, he was pinned by a knife to the wall behind him.

"Guards! Arrest that man for assulting the royal family!" Zuko said.

"I guess the never was wedding's off." Toph said as guards took the man away. "Well, that was all I needed." Toph said before thanking them and turning to leave.

"Wait a second. You don't have to go back there if you don't want to. If you want, you can stay here." Zuko implied.

Toph stopped in the door way. "You'd do that for me?"

"You bet cha, I would. It's what friends do."

"I don't know what I'd do without you guys."