Thanks for the reviews :D. I LOVE YOU GUYS. Katsumara, Kimjuni2 and ProudOtaku...I voted in your poll :D Anyway...I figured I'd go ahead and post the next oneshot while I had the chance and didn't have any studying to do. And as long as I had it typed up, no problem! My college schedule is amazing and so different from high school. I seriously came home after my two morning classes took a shower, got on Facebook, watched Avatar and chilled for two hours before going to lunch and then going to my last class of the day. IT WAS AWESOME.

So anyway, this is one of the darker oneshots...

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Changed Item 2: Use of Throne Room

"I hate this place." Zuko sighed. It was late at night as he and Mai took a stroll around the palace. There were a few guards scattered around the deserted palace. The two of them stood in the throne room. The flames dimly flickered in the dark room. The usual war assembly table had been removed from the throne room and the room had been returned to its original state of just a throne room. Still, Zuko disliked the room. "Everyone expects me to sit up there and be the figure in the shadows behind the flames." Zuko stared at the throne elevated above the rest of the room. "I can't. Every time I look up there I see my father or my grandfather. And I'm not them. I feel if I sit up there, I'll turn into the same mysterious dark figure." Zuko sighed.

"A ruler is not required to literally sit upon his throne to rule his nation." Mai muttered to him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and rested her head on his back. "No matter what you do, you will never turn into your father." Zuko slowly walked towards the throne and Mai took her head off of his back.

"I haven't been up there once since I took the throne." Zuko sighed.

"It's been a hectic couple of months." Mai smiled. "No one can blame you."

"I think…I'm scared of getting up there." Zuko sighed turning away from the throne.

"Oh, Zuko. It's not that bad. I'll show you." Mai headed towards the stairs that led up to the throne. She climbed up to the throne. Zuko sighed. "It's not so bad…" Mai lightly smiled. Zuko kneeled before the throne.

"I'm sorry…" Zuko sighed, not meeting her gaze.

"Zuko, come up here." Mai commanded him in a stern voice. It was not a suggestion. His legs pulled his weight upwards as he also made his way to the stairs. He was slow but he eventually met Mai at the throne. She took his hand and pushed it against her lips. "Look out to your throne room…it's your palace now. Not your fathers. It's your nation." Mai smiled. Zuko stared at the empty dark room before snapping his eyes shut. "Zuko…" Mai muttered comfortingly. She pulled him down into a kneeling position next to the throne. He stared at the floor beneath him. She touched her warm hand to his pale face.

"Why am I here? Why am I Fire Lord? Uncle isn't even here to help me. He's in Ba Sing Se with his teashop. No one's here to help me." Zuko sighed. "I don't know how to run a nation. Especially one recovering from war."

"That's why they needed you Zuko. They needed a fresh start. And you forget…you have me. And if you need we can bring the Avatar here at anytime." Mai told him. Zuko pressed his lips against hers and she kissed back passionately.

"Thank you, Mai." Zuko mumbled.

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So a little on the short side.

Also, probably not implied that well, but I wanted to convey that the change Zuko wanted to make was the Throne room in general. Maybe doing some nice renovation/restoration to something like when Sozin was Fire Lord. Remember in 3x06, "The Avatar and the Fire Lord"? Sozin's Throne Room was certainly a different room. And I threw in a tiny bit of fluff for good measure.

I've been tempted to draw fanart of this, (is it totally lame to draw fanart of your own fanfiction?) but I don't want to totally skew my vision for this scene...hahaha ;D

Erm...I think that's about it...THANKS FOR READING :D