Quick Authors note! I'll post this in chapter 5 as well. So I had honestly forgotten about this story, which, shame on me. Just got a new follower and got a notification about it, and then it just made me feel terrible. So I'm going to keep this up until the weekend or so and then delete it before I move it over to my new account and re-post it there. I know there are some people still finding this story (which is crazy! This is from 3 years ago now!) but I feel like I owe it to you and to myself to actually get this finished. I've been on a HUGE Avatar kick lately, and I feel like this will help it not to get too out of hand. Anyway, thanks for reading, and sort of putting up with me. Look for this to be posted again in about a week under my new penname: Nessarose21.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar:The Last Air Bender. I make no profit from writing/posting this. Characters and the world of Avatar belong to Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Plot is my own.
Summary: Because I was left with more questions than answers... and not being a big fan of Kataang, this popped into my head one day...Picks up where the finale left off. The gang have overthrown Fire Lord Ozai... which now begs the question 'What next?' Follow everyone as they journey to find new adventures and danger. Zuko is determined to find and rescue his mother, but knows he won't be able to do it alone, will he get the support he needs or will he be on the outs with the gang once more. Aang has his own idea with what to do in this post war world, but so does everyone else.
A/N: This will be an eventual Zutara story. This will also be a bit of a slow boil, so stay patient with me, I'm going to try to stay as true to charachters as I can here. Also, this is the first thing I've written in about 5 years, so I'm pretty rusty, but I'm hoping it will work itself out. I have no beta as of yet, so any gramatical and spelling errors are all mine, and please point them out, I've re-read this mumerous times, but its always harder to find your own mistakes. Constructive criticisim is always welcome, flaming is not. If you don't like it... please don't read it. Seriously.
Ok, and since I've kept you all waiting quite long enough...
Zuko walked the long path the the Capital City Prison alone. He had important business to attend to there. Upon his arrival the guards were rushing around in a frenzy making sure their newest Fire Lord was accommodated. Trays of food and drink were presented to him, but he merely waved them away.
He turned to the warden with a grim expression. "I'm here to see my father."
"Of course Sir!" the burly man said with a nod, snapping his fingers. Quickly a boy who looked to be no older that Zuko himself stepped forward and bowed low to the two men. "My Lord, this is Ako." The warden said before turning to the young man. "Ako, please escort the Fire Lord to cell 22-78-A."
Ako nodded and bowed once again to Zuko, Zuko inclined his head and the boy took off into the deep recesses of the prison, leaving the Fire Lord to hurry after him.
When they arrived at the passageway where the previous Fire Lord was now housed Ako stopped and clasped his hands behind his back. "I'll wait here to escort you back when you are finished Lord Zuko."
Zuko nodded and leisurely walked the rest of the way to his fathers cell alone.
Throwing open the door he stepped inside and looked down at his father who was hunched over on the ground, his completion sallow and his hair hanging limp around his face. Zuko could feel a sneer forming on his lips.
"I should count myself lucky... the new Fire Lord has graces me with his presence in my lonely prison cell." Ozai spoke in a hushed, annoyed tone.
"You should count yourself lucky that the Avatar spared your life. "Zuko said harshly, to which his fathers only reply was a short noncommittal chuckle. Zuko ignored him and continued on. "Banishing me was the best thing you could have done for my life. It put me on the right path. Perhaps your time in here could do the same for you."
"Why are you really here?"
"Because you're going to tell me something," Zuko said before kneeling down to look his father in the eye, "Where... is … my mother?" He demanded.
Ozai finally looked up at his son, a cold glint in his eyes. "You want to know where your mother is?" He asked slowly, when Zuko's stare didn't flicker he let out a cold, hard laugh. "I had her killed." he said darkly.
"Liar!" Zuko shouted, shooting a blast of heat through the bars. "I remember the way things used to be," he said harshly, "I remember how happy we had once been, you loved her too much to do that."
Ozai laughed again. "Relying on your deluded childhood memories now? Surely what you think you can remember is what you've been telling yourself over and over for so long that you think it is now the truth."
Zuko narrowed his eyes. "I will get the truth from you father." he said darkly.
Ozai was up and gripping the bars in a flash. "If you don't believe the truth I've already told you, than you are still the fool I've always known you to be. "He laughed. "Whatever torture tactics you have planned... do your worst, because nothing can feel as terrible as having such power as I had stripped away from me. Death would be welcome."
Zuko turned his back on his father and took a deep breath. "Death would be the easy way out wouldn't it? No, I'll be sure that doesn't happen." he growled, a smirk forming on his lips. Turning back around he locked eyes with his father. "I shall see you again soon." He sent a quick blast of fire forward and heated the bars. He laughed quietly as his father yelped and jumped away from them, blowing on his hands where nasty blisters were now forming.
Turning, Zuko strode from the cell, closed the heavy metal door and walked to where Ako stood waiting for him. "Let's leave." he said with out stopping, leaving the young guard to quickly get in front of him to lead him out of the maze-like prison.
Upon arriving back at the warden's quarters Zuko bowed slightly to the man. "I must take my leave no, but I will be writing soon with orders on what to do with my father."
The warden bowed low and nodded, "Of course, it will be our honor to do as you ask."
Zuko nodded grimly and left the prison to start the long walk back into town and the palace.
On his walk back he contemplated what to do. He had just been crowned the newest Fire Lord and vowed to bring peace back to a world that had been scarred by a way lasting 100 years. If he left his post, even to just look for his mother he had no doubts that riots would break out and that some who were opposed to the war ending would try to put an usurper on the throne and restart the war, and all of their struggles would have been for naught.
He didn't trust any of his advisers half as far as he could throw them, and knew that there were probably silent, sympathetic supporters of his father and sister out there still. How he wished his Uncle would have taken the throne instead of opening up his tea shop again. Then, at least he could be free to search for his mother.
At least he had some time to figure out what he should do. He knew his father would be difficult to break, but he knew it could be done. If only he could ask Aang to rule in his stead for a while, but he knew the Avatar would have a lot on his plate in the coming months. Maybe his Uncle could be convinved eventually. After all he has been a respected general of the Fire Nation, he still commanded repsect and if things got ugly he would have the Order of the White Lotus and the Avatar behind him.
Zuko sighed heavily, these were problems to worry about another day.
Arriving back in town he was greeted by a cacophony of noise. People were out in the streets everywhere. They were celebrating in numerous ways – dancing, singing, hugging one another, eating and drinking. The mood in the Fire Nation this evening was joyous. He had been crowned that morning and had no doubts that the celebrations would last for several weeks.
Reaching up he untied his hair and pocketed his insignia crown. Running a hand through his hair to rough it up be passed quickly through the streets going mostly unnoticed. He stopped to chat briefly with the few that did recognize him though. He was even stopped by a young girl who couldn't have been more that four that gave him a bouquet of fire-posies.
The sun was starting to set by the time he stepped through the palace courtyard gates. Servant were rushing everywhere doing the last minute set up for the coronation banquet that would be taking place within the hours. Passing through quickly, Zuko was in the palace in moments and calling for a vase for the posies, which he left in the receiving hall before retreating to his room to get ready.
Please feel free to let me know what you all think, and you know... if i made some horrid grammar mistakes :D Thanks for reading!