Diclaimer: I don't own it and am not affiliated with A:TLA or Nickelodeon Studios in anyway.

yay random zutara-ness. It is a little crack-y later on, but not to bad...

The Bachelor- Fire Nation Version

Zuko slouched down into the over-stuffed chair in his study. His body crumpled into the soft fluffy warmth of the chair and he closed his eyes. He rubbed the bridge of his nose in a vain attempt to fend off the headache that was coming on. The darkness of the room that was unlit by anything but candle sunk in and he began to finally feel the kinks in his shoulders smooth out. As the muscles relaxed Zuko sighed contentedly.

Since his father's fall four years ago there had been no brake for anyone involved in fire nation politics. Iroh had immediately taken the throne as Fire Lord and had shouldered some pretty big responsibilities. Technically it should be Zuko's position but the prince was not to be crowned Lord until he married. It was a long standing law that the Fire Lord had to be or had to have been married at some point. This ruled Zuko out. The fire prince wasn't sure he was ready to take the throne. He wasn't sure he wanted to be ready either. However Iroh was adamant. It was Zuko's right from birth! He must take the throne immediately, or at least as soon as possible. At first he had insisted that they abolish the law and just crown the young prince anyway. There had been much debate on the subject and it had caused discourse among the council members. To have fighting among the prominent members who were loyal to the new reign when so many were ready for a rebellion was not something that pleased Iroh. Even though the war was done, many people, especially those in the fire nation, were still loyal to the regime that Azula and Ozai had established. There was a constant struggle for power and rebellion whispered through the streets like a dark cold breeze. Iroh was concerned about maintaining order should that whisper become a yell or worse a battle cry. He had 'a fledgling government based on ideals that many people thought were treason in it's worst from' Iroh explained to Zuko one day. It was on that day that he also asked that Zuko not ask for the throne directly after the war. Sure it was no longer really considered 'directly' but it was close enough that people were still skeptical of the stability of the nation. They needed to appear solid, like they really could pull themselves back together. Zuko was not saddened as his uncle might have thought; instead he was more than happy not to choose a bride at the moment. The idea of marrying was not something that really appealed to him. Not at all in fact. So that is how Zuko came to be sitting in his study as the Royal Prince of the Fire Nation four years later.

Just as Zuko was about to slip into blissful oblivion a sharp rapping came at the door. He suppressed a groan and shrank further into his chair. Maybe if he pretended to be asleep they would leave him alone. He hadn't slept in 36 hours after all. Zuko started to wonder when he would start hallucinating.

"My Prince!" The voice carried through the door and there would be no convincing it he was asleep. However Zuko ignored it at first thinking it was some silly question like what flower should go where. (they had recently started renovating the gardens) There was a serious of muttering to low for Zuko to hear and honestly he was too tired to care much. He heard boots click down the hallway and fade into the further parts of the palace. The messenger had left, and presumably who ever he was muttering to had gone with him. He smiled, and started back again into the beautiful black.



The door opened quietly. Now he was awake. Zuko instinctively reached for the broad swords he wore at his side. He cracked one eye open to see a familiar pudgy figure sneaking through the room. He relaxed. It was only Iroh. He heard tea being poured. Not a nig surprise there.

"Zuko, there is a matter I need to speak to you about." Iroh was calm, but after spending so much time together Zuko could hear the underlying apprehension in his tone, and he knew that this could not be good. He warily righted himself in his chair and faced his uncle.

"Okay, please go ahead." He exercised the manners he had learned recently and Zuko tried to keep the weary annoyance out of his voice, but from the brief look of regret that passed over Iroh's face he knew he had failed. Iroh was always regretting the pressure being put on Zuko. He wished that he might grow like any of the previous fire princes, and not have to deal with regaining trust and public opinion during his formative years. He wished he might find some nice young girl that he honestly loved to settle down with, and mostly he wished that he would find happiness. Sadly happiness did not run in his blood and apparently neither did luck.

"Zuko…" Iroh hesitated. The unusual waver in Iroh's confidence drew Zuko's attention and his eyes snapped to his uncles sitting form. Something was wrong. Something was very very wrong.

"Uncle, what is it?" Zuko sat up in his chair and eyed his uncle carefully.

"Nephew, you see… I'm not…" he sighed and averted his eyes for a second before looking back at his nephew "You know what I've always wanted to do? I want to see the five best tea-shops in each nation. I always have, but it would take too much time. I simply can't be away for months or even years right now." He went on about tea while Zuko shot him a very quizzical look.

"Uncle, I'm not sure where you are trying to go with this…" Zuko tried to help his uncle out.

"Zuko," Once again there was hesitation, even regret in his eyes. "I'm not getting any younger. In fact I am getting older. I'm getting older everyday my nephew. I am also getting weaker, yes Zuko, even I must circum to the great circle of life, and I don't know how much longer I can hold out. I want to be here to mentor you, and help you take the throne. And, and… I want to see my grandchildren. I want to hear their laughter, and more than anything I want to see them grow up. I want to see you in love and happy." A tear coursed down Iroh's cheek and he looked away. "I fear … I shall pass before any of that happens."

Zuko was silent. He was in shock. He knew that it worked that way. People were born, they lived their lives, and then they died. He never imagined that this applied to Iroh thought… well he knew it applied, but dying wasn't something he could think about. His mind wasn't sound enough to take that kind of blow. He needed Iroh, he needed him more than anyone or anything else in the world.



"I'll take the throne." Zuko declared. "Today even." Zuko's voice was rough with emotion, he didn't want the throne, but he would take it. He would take it for Iroh. He would do anything to keep him happy… he gulped at the thought… to keep him alive. He needed to make a plan "I'll… I'll…" Zuko stopped short his fervor to help his uncle only got him that far. What would he do? What could he do? How does one just take a fire nation thrown? Zuko ran his hand through his hair as he realized the enormity of the problem he had just accepted.

"Quiet nephew." Iroh had stopped the tear, and was back to his normal self, pouring tea. "Have some calming tea." He handed Zuko the cup. Usually the prince would have refused the drink, but tonight he took the cup and sipped it dutifully. "Don't worry. I shall take care of everything. You're haste is not needed. Leave the marriage and dating part to me. I will come up with a way to suit you and the court. Mark my words. Though you will need to take a more active role in the political aspect to be truly able to take the throne. There is a meeting tomorrow about the unfilled position of the Earth King along with some other minor things. Seven AM sharp. You will need to be there." Iroh sipped his tea and mumbled something about more jasmine.

"Okay 7 AM and thank you." Zuko mumbled as he slipped into a sleep like stupor.

"Tea works every time." Iroh grinned at his now snoring nephew as he trotted over to the door to fetch a guard to take Zuko back to his room. Zuko needed his sleep; he had a daunting task laying ahead of him now. One that he would have to shoulder with very little help. However Iroh was confident, he would do just fine.

!!

The sun peaked over the window edge and spilled into the room. It tickled Zuko's eyelids and poked him until he woke up. He groaned and flopped over so that his eyes were buried into pillows and he drifted back to sleep. Nice lovely sleep where there were no problems. Suddenly a sharp knock sounded at the door. Zuko groaned.

"What!?" He barked at the completely innocent door, and the not so innocent messenger on the other side.

"Nephew, it's six-thirty! You have half an hour, shouldn't you be up?" Zuko listened to his uncle's voice and took a moment to process the information. Half an hour… crap! Zuko lunched himself out of bed and started to bound across the floor only to step precariously on the area rug, go flying, grab onto the curtains to stop his rather unplanned catapult across the room, rip the curtain, and bring down two lamps, a dresser and a vase of flowers on the way. He hit the floor eventually with a rather loud thwomp.

"I see... er hear you are now awake." Iroh chuckled from the other side of the doors. "Half an hour." He reminded his nephew.

"Uggg." Zuko merely groaned in response.



!!

"Nice to see that you made it on time." Iroh commented dryly as Zuko came running into the meeting room hair a mess and clothing barely on at six-fifty nine. He skidded into his chair and shot Iroh a dirty look, while fixing his still rather rumpled looking shirt. It didn't do any good.

"I made it didn't I?" He tried to reign in his stubborn locks, and failed miserably. Iroh chuckled again, and attempted to turn it into a cough. He too failed miserably. If the meeting went half as bad as their recent attempts had, things were going to be a little messy….

The doors swung open and a royal caller sauntered into the room looking very proud all bedecked in his read silks and velvets. He cleared his throat and pulled out a ridiculously heavy scroll. Another man also dressed in incredibly amusing puffy pants and a tasseled hat glided into the room to stand beside his compatriot. He carried a trumpet, and was called the royal trumpeter. He stood proud and tall dwarfing the announcer. Iroh made a mental note to get him a stool…

"We shall begin if it pleases his Royal Flame-ness and the Prince." He addressed Iroh and Zuko with a low bow and enough flourishes to decorate another full palace.

"Please begin." Iroh waved his hand and the short man unrolled the scroll while the other brought his trumpet to his lips. The puffed out their chests and signaled for the procession to start. More people than either Zuko or Iroh wanted to count were about to enter the room and they had to somehow remember every one of their names. This was going to be fun.

"Now announcing, his royal highness of the land of Hinajk in the Earth Kingdom, Jiudsk Iuhsa, uncle of UIoth Nabheg, brother of Juthuer AIdgud, Son of Qwary Hyuyt ruler of Ifasku." A man walked into the room looking as pompous as a cat with six, no, seven mice. He bowed and Iroh signaled for him to take his seat. Zuko had already forgotten his name. The man did as Iroh bayed him and sat. It started all over again.

"Now announcing…" The caller cried. This pattern was repeated over and over again. Every man who walked in looked as though he was the king of the Earth Kingdom, rather than just a part of the council. After a time they all looked about the same. The faces blurred until one name and one particularly short stature and rude attitude caught his attention.

"Now announcing, recently Miss as she was lately awarded her own Lady-ship for her work in the war, Lady Toph Bei-Fong. Daughter of Lord and Lady Bei-Fong of Gaoling, cousin of..."

"Can it Poofy-Ass." Toph snapped. She had grown in four years; she now stood at what would be her full adult height. The earth-bender was not tall, but she made up for that with her presence. The way she stood made every one in the room look at her. It helped that she wasn't unpleasant to look at. She wore a formal green ambassador gown, and also her let her hair hang down her back in silky waves. She had filled out in other areas too, and no one would think 

that she was just a skinny boy in lose clothing anymore. Toph had become a beautiful young woman, and Zuko wondered how he had missed this and wondered what else he might have missed.

"Hey Sparky, long time no see." Toph greeted Zuko in the same way she always had. This didn't surprise Zuko, who rose.

"Hey pebbles-for-brains, it has been a while." It was a bad insult. Zuko knew it. Toph knew it. Both appreciated it.

"Never was one for insults." She commented wearily. She had also matured in mind and spirit. Tired lines criss-crossed her face and bags hung low beneath her non-seeing eyes.

"It's good to see you Toph." He walked over and embraced her. She hugged back fiercely. By the end of the war Zuko was like an older brother to her. Toph was like the younger sister he never had. They were each others family when they had none, and those ties held over.

"It's good to see you too Zuko. Let's get this over with." Toph rolled her eyes.

"Please." He whispered.

The two old comrades walked back to their seats and waited for the others to come. After another excruciating hour of names and titles, they finally were all there. Every last one. Hakoda had come in later and greeted Zuko a little more formally than Toph had, though still with a friendly air. Katara and Sokka were not with him. Zuko had momentarily wondered why, but had not given it much thought once the deluge of names started again. Toph sat directly to Zuko's right and Hakoda one seat to her right.

"Let the meeting commence." No sooner than Iroh had spoken the words than the door bang open and Aang come zooming in. He still had his smile, though now you could see the clearly chiseled muscles under his orange robe. He was strong and tall, in spirit and in physical form. He also looked tired. Why must the young be so burdened Iroh thought.

"Hey!" Apparently, though he was bigger physically, he was still the same bubbly boy at heart. "Sorry I'm late!" He smiled sheepishly. "Sifu Hotman!" He walked over and smacked Zuko on the back. "Chief Hakoda." He respectfully bowed. Then he walked over to Toph and kissed her on the lips. She kissed him and then pulled back.

"Hey twinkles! You're late." She smiled though.

"Yes I am. Hey babe." He whispered the second part; it wasn't a teasing nickname but an affectionate one. Iroh was grinning from ear to ear, and Zuko's eyes were nearly popping out of his skull. WHEN HAD THIS HAPPENED? WHAT ELSE HAD HE MISSED? Aang took his seat at the head of the table, between Iroh on his left, and Zuko on his right.



"Now we will start." No one burst through the door this time and the meeting commenced.

!!

"So now we have heard every proposal for who should be the new Earth King." Iroh sounded as tired as everyone else was feeling. It had been hours of people talking about themselves. They had blabbered on and on about themselves and how special they were or some such nonsense. Zuko would have stabbed himself with a chopstick if it would have gotten him out of any part of it. Sadly that would have only made it painful physically as well as mentally.

"Let's conduct a blind vote for who should be the next King. Three quarters at least for a consensus." Iroh announced the first vote, and everyone was relieved, they just had to vote and then they would be free. How long could that take right?

!!

Six votes and another few hours later there was not a consensus.

"We should hear more arguments." One man argued.

"We should vote again!" Another shouted.

"We should establish a Bi-Party Democracy where the people have the right to vote for their King!" One shouted.

Zuko looked around at the power hungry people vying for this position. These hooligans would never do. If they were this desperate for power now, what would they do with the power? The answer was: go after more of the same. Power-hungry rulers were a pattern they had seen too much of recently. It was time for a change. They needed someone who would be a good king on the throne. Someone who would care and take time to listen to the earth people, but still do what they thought was best. Wait! Listen to the earth. An idea struck Zuko so hard that it nearly knocked the breath out of him. It was the right thing and he knew it.

"I have a new proposal." Zuko's voice boomed with new purpose. "I propose that Lady Toph Bei-Fong be named Earth Queen. She is stable, and proven in battle. She knows how to make hard decisions and when to ask others for help. Most of all though, she loves the earth, and she listens, really listens to the earth. She is perfect for the job. She traveled with the Avatar so she has seen the world and its high points and low points. Toph stood up for what was right against all odds as a mere powerless child. Imagine what good she could do with power as an adult." Toph, who had been quiet, not jockeying for power or trying to assert herself, stood.

"I would be honored." That was all she said. There was no argument. No "I am BORN to be Queen" speech. She said nothing but that it would be an honor, and at that moment, after all the argument that had been heard, it was the perfect thing to say. Zuko looked around. There was a look in the eyes of the men. A respect. An admiration. They saw what Zuko had hoped they 

would. They saw a leader standing tall and confident, but they also saw a girl who would identify with commoners and other world leaders alike. They saw a Queen. The meeting was finished in everyone's mind. Zuko saw that and he knew that Toph, blind little Toph who ran from the power of her family and the ways of court before, would be Queen.

!!

Another vote was cast and counted, and this one offered results. It was a unanimous outcome in favor of a young blind earth bender. Now truly Toph was royalty.

"Friends," Iroh addressed the newly invigorated nobles. "I have one last vote to offer. As you know every nation has a ruler, someone to keep peace and regulate international affairs. Their job is exactly the same whether they be of earth, water, fire or air. However not every nation has a king. It seems unjust to allow rulers who work just as hard for their people to not be of the same status as other rulers. I now vote to put into act a new law to make Chiefs Hakoda and Arnook into joint kings of the Water tribes, making their children Princes and Princesses of course." Iroh finished his proposal. Arguments were heard, and people were angered, but nobody really had a problem with crowning the water chieftains, so thus when it came to vote, it passed unanimously too that it should be so.

The meeting was disbanded to wait for further problems or questions to arise. For now all was solved.

!!

Three months later, after the lavish coronation of the new Earth Queen, Toph approached Iroh. She fiddled with the small bronze thread that she had chosen as a crown.

"Iroh," She started. "Can I ask you a question?" Toph asked tentatively.

"Of course dear." Iroh answered, unchanged in his approach to Toph by her recent elevation.

"How do you deal with it? There are so many courtiers at the palace! All they care about is power and they would do anything to get it. I'm a single Queen, so more men than I can count would lick my feet to be in favor with me. I would swear they're rabid!" Instead of answering the question, Iroh merely looked about. An idea dawned on him and understanding lit his eyes. He became giddy and started to giggle and bounce back and forth on his feet.

"I may get my vacation yet!" He declared to no one in particular and jovially waddled off to find the coordinator of court activities and nobles. Toph stood there wondering what vacation, why Iroh hadn't answered her question and much else besides. She sighed and sat down. It was going to be a long night.

A/N: first chapter. longer than i expected. review if u want me to continue, because reviews are like kitties. They're nice but when u dont listen to them they get annoying and force u to do something like write another chapter!