A/N: I think I'm biting off more then I can chew. I just had to get this out since I've been reading way to much Avatar fanfics, anyways this is a Toko story and it's unbetaed so if you catch any mistakes let me know. Read and Review!

-McFluffin

Chapter 1

*Fire Nation Palace*

It had been three months since he had become Fire Lord. Three months of assassination attempts and political plots against him. It had been two months since Mai had ended their relationship and one month since he finally found his mother, she had barely gotten out of the hospital where she was recovering from her long imprisonment and torture. He remembered her liberation quite clearly.

*Flashback*

Zuko approached the hidden Fire Nation compound, within it's walls was his mother. He turned towards his uncle and the Royal Guards he brought with him.

"When we get inside, I want you to capture everyone. If they fight back, use deadly force." he ordered them.

"Zuko, before we attack please promise you will not let your emotions cloud your judgment." Iroh asked of him.

"I promise nothing uncle, but I shall do my best." said Zuko.

"Then that is going to have to do." sighed Iroh.

"Attack!" ordered Zuko, his guards attacked the metal door blowing it inward crushing 3 unsuspecting guard underneath. Zuko ran in as the battle raged around him but all he wanted were answers, the sounds of people dying and groaning in pain did not bother him anymore he spotted the head guard and ran to him smashed a flaming fist into his unprotected face, he grabbed the burned, and confused man by the collar of his uniform.

"Where. Is. My. Mother." Zuko asked him slowly, the guard handed him a key ring and pointed to a door hidden in the shadows.

"In there! Please don't kill me!" he begged Zuko, the young Fire Lord punched the man knocking him unconscious.

Running towards the heavy metal door he could hear crying and a voice begging for whatever was happening to stop mixed with groans of pleasure, wasting no time Zuko opened the door and was shocked at what he saw. A guard was raping his mother, her tears pooled on the floor as she continued to beg him to stop. Zuko became enraged like never before and attacked the rapist, the man turned to Zuko and knew he would die that day.

"I am going to kill you! You sick son of a bitch!" Zuko yelled as he formed a pair of fire blades on the tips of his fingers and ran towards him. The man tried to dodge but was too slow and he soon found himself being sliced bit by bit by Zuko. When the battle outside had subsided Iroh went into the holding cell and found a crying Ursa and a weeping Zuko and the mangled body of a guard. Iroh was shocked at the brutality that his nephew could display but stayed quiet. The older man helped Ursa out into the light when Zuko approached.

"Mother, how many of these men did that to you? Whose orders did they follow?" he asked her gently.

"They followed Ozai's orders but when they heard about him getting overthrown they all took turns violating me..." she shuddered while Iroh held her up. Zuko nodded and nodded to the head of the Royal Guard and he took all the captured guards back into the prison.

"Zuko? What are you doing?" asked Iroh, unsure of what his nephew was doing.

"Paying them back for their betrayal, may Agni burn you as I have." said Zuko as he launched a massive wave of blue fire towards the prison, the sounds of the trapped guards burning to death could be heard for miles around. Zuko turned toward his uncle and mother and motioned them to follow. Iroh realized that Zuko had become hardened from all the repeated assassination attempts, the war, and seeing his mother being tortured and raped seemed to be the last straw. Iroh sighed sadly hoping his young nephew would be alright.

*Flahback*

Yes, Zuko remembered it well and the hate he harbored was as strong as ever. He hoped that today would help him relax since the Four Nations would finally get together to work out the peace treaty and officially end the century long war. Hakoda and Pakku would represent the Northern and Southern Water Tribes, King Bumi and two ambassadors would represent the Earth Kingdom, Aang would represent the Air Temples and act as a mediator. Zuko would represent the Fire Nation as Fire Lord and host the event.

A young servant girl, not much older then Zuko came into is throne room.

"My Lord, the foreign delegations have arrived." she said as she bowed.

"Thank you Su-Li. You may go." he told her as he stood and went to meet the delegation.

*Fire Nation Palace Balcony*

Zuko arrived at the main balcony overlooking the city, waiting for him was Aang, King Bumi, Hadoka, Pakku and the two ambassadors. He said nothing as he sat down and motioned for the parade to begin. Tanks and Airships went by in formation as they passed by and over the balcony, banners and flags flew everywhere as thousands of Fire Nation soldiers began to march down the main avenue to the beat of Fire Nation Military music and cheers of the civilians watching. Zuko smirked, all of this Pomp and Circumstance had an underlying objective. He had planned this to show the other nations that just because they had succeeded in overthrowing Ozai and ended the war that they had not truly lost, he still possessed the worlds strongest military and even though they had lost Omashu and Ba Sing Se they could easily retake them and begin the war anew.

Zuko looked around and saw Aang's confused expression, the Water Tribesman looked on impassively, King Bumi was smiling like a madman (he must have realized what he was up to), and the two Earth Kingdom ambassadors looked shocked at the strength that the Fire Nation still possessed. As the military march came to an end Zuko rose from his seat to give a short speech.

"Today marks a historic event. Today this war that has plagued our world for over a century will finally end. Today all four nations will unite to ensure that peace and tranquility will forever rule and that balance is returned to the nations of the world. May a new era of peace and prosperity begin!" he said as he finished and relished the cheers from the crowd and his soldiers. He turned around and motioned for the delegation to follow him.

*Meeting Room*

Zuko sat at the head of the table, to his left sat Hadoka and Pakku while to his right sat Aang and Bumi. At the end sat the remaining two ambassadors Chin Fu and Gu Cho.

"Alright my friends, as you know we are here so that we can somehow restore balance to the world. As you know now that military production has ground to a halt the Fire Nation economy had begun to suffer." said Zuko who received nods from all except the ambassadors who had smug grin on their face at the news.

"Now I have a modest proposal which I think if we do this that not only will our economy start to recover but it will increase the worlds quality of life. Now hear me out before you all begin to disagree. I propose that the colonies that have been under Fire Nation control over the last 100 years should be ceded from the Earth Kingdom and given to the Fire Nation." This statement caused an uproar from Chin Fu and Go Cho while Bumi stayed quiet and pondered.

"What? How can you even suggest that? The Fire Nation should be paying us reparations! You are insane Zuko! Just like the rest of your cursed family!" Yelled out Chin Fu, Zuko was about to rise up and attack the man for insulting him in such a manner during peace talks. Aang beat him to the punch and used Earthbending to trap the man from the mouth down in a marble cocoon.

"Quiet! First of all he asked for us to hear him out, Secondly where do you get off insulting him and his family during peace talks? Demanding they pay you? Seriously I can't believe you are so stupid! Did you not see the power they still wield? If Zuko wasn't the man he is, he would restart the war and crush you under his heel!" shouted Aang at the trapped man, Zuko was a bit stunned but recovered quickly.

"Thank you Avatar Aang. Now as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted" he said as he shot Chin Fu a glare "All the colonies that we have set up during the last hundred years be given to us, trade routes and ports shall remain open to Fire Nation ships to help stimulate trade between the nations and in return we shall dismantle 40% of our Army and Navy, We will then re-purpose most if not all of the dismantled Navy ships and turn them into merchant vessels which we will sell to all the nations at a very reduced price to get rid of the surplus ships. Think about it, I get the colonies and unlimited trade with all the nations and you will get a reduced military, ships, aid, and I'll even part with some of our technology to help improve farming." said Zuko as he finished and waited. Aang sat and meditated, his tattoos glowing as he conferred with the past Avatars, Bumi, Hadoka, and Pakku sat and where deep in thought while Go Cho sat quietly not wanting to anger the Fire Lord or Avatar like his companion did.

Aang came out of his meditative state and spoke up "While not the best deal, you do have the upper hand. If I may I would like to suggest that instead of 40% you make it a 50% reduction and 10% of the remaining military be deployed to help out areas in need and the remaining 40% stay in Fire Nation territory." he said and waited for a response.

Zuko sat and thought about it, he had seen that the rest of the ambassadors and even the Earth Kingdom pair nodded their head in acceptance. While not exactly what he wanted he found the deal would work out fine. "Alright my friend, I accept it." he said as he smiled a genuine smile.

For the next six hours the meeting continued and small details where worked out and at long last the peace treaty was signed.

"May this peace last." Zuko told them when all was said and done. They all nodded as they ate a late meal. Zuko looked up at Bumi and started to wonder why Bumi had come and not the Earth King.

"Bumi? Where is Kuei? Shouldn't he be king again?" he asked him.

"We tried to get him to come back but he enjoyed the life of a wanderer so much he refused to return and abandoned the throne." he told him as he ate his meat and rice revoltingly.

"I see...so who will take over?" he asked Bumi

"Well it's not official but most of the nobles stated that I shall be made king. I don't mind since it's for the good of the kingdom, I will miss Omashu though." he told him as he started to think about his beloved city.

Zuko quirked an eyebrow and smiled if he could do this right he would influence the Earth Kingdoms choice for an heir "So, who will take over when you step down or die? I mean you are one healthy 113 year old man but everyone has his limits." he told him.

"I got to agree with Zuko on this one Bumi, when you die who will rule?" asked Aang as he continued to eat.

"Hmmm I haven't really thought of that. Who do you suggest Fire Lord Zuko?" Bumi asked him and the ambassador's jaws dropped, their future king was basically going to ask the Fire Lord to pick his heir.

Zuko smirked "Well, this heir will have to be of noble blood that much is of sure." Bumi nodded his head "Also, this person should be an Earthbender. Who better to rule the Earth Kingdom then an Earthbender. They must be powerful thats a given, and they should understand the world and the plight of the commoners." he finished and heard Go Cho snort.

"And where will we find this person? Since when does a noble know about the commoners problems?" he told him condescendingly

"Well, I would Ambassador Cho. Now hold your tongue, this is a conversation between kings. Now I only know one person who can fulfill these criteria." he said and Aang got curious.

"Who Zuko? I mean to have a noble, earthbending, sympathetic heir would be great but I think he'll be hard to find." he told Zuko.

Zuko smirked at this "Who said it was a he? Haha I'm talking about Toph! She would be perfect for the job! Plus she is a war hero so it all just works in her favor." he told the group

"Zuko! That's great! Oh wait...what if she refuses." he asked him

"She won't trust me. She'll put up a fight at first but she'll eventually see that it's for the good of the kingdom." Zuko said sure that he was right.

"We'll see Fire Lord, we shall see." muttered Bumi as he continued to eat.