The life of a young Fire Lord is a chapter story;
All the stories are about fragments out of Zuko's life.

Zuko wakes up next to his love, he hopes this happiness will never end. The boy prepares on his first meeting together with Aang, he learns step by step how to become a good Fire Lord. Zuko asks his Uncle advice about his father.

Iroh is sixty-five,
Ozai is forty-four,
Zuko is sixteen,
Sokka is fifteen,
Katara is fourteen,
Aang is twelve,
Mai is fifteen.

The life of a young Fire Lord,
Chapter 3: First duties.

The first morning rays entered through the dark red curtains inside the Royal private chamber, Zuko rubbed his eyes gently as it began to sting. The boy opened his both eyes slowly as his eyelids started to irritate by the strong sunlight, his head felt as light as a feather.

He inhaled deep and shocked slightly as he heard a soft moan which came from near his belly. Mai's long hair was spread over his bare chest; she held his sturdy body firmly into her arms as she gently rubbed her left cheek over his soft stomach.

The young Fire Lord blinked his tired eyes and realized that his beautiful dreams proved to be reality. He stroked his fingers through her long soft hair with satisfaction; he had a great time yesterday.

"Good morning, sweety." Zuko whispered as he tickled Mai's nose, the girl pressed her lips onto the boy his awful scar and kissed it loving. She moved her eyes upwards, and stared at the overjoyed boy. "Have you slept well?"

The girl smiled wide as her boyfriend asked her that, she crawled up and lay next to him. "I had the best night ever…" She replied soft as she rubbed her fingers over his cheek and leaned in for their first morning kiss.

Zuko cuddled her lovingly and knew she was the woman of his life. "I hope that from now on each day will be like this."

"We can try, as long we never forget to love each other."

The boy placed his head closer and knew his wise girlfriend was right. "I hope to never become like dad, mother always seemed so unhappy..."

Mai pressed herself deeper into his arms. "You and your father are too different from each other, Zuko. But I'll promise you, I will warn you if you ever change into something bad."

"Never hold back if I hurt you or one of our kids, you have the right to end me if I become a danger."

"I know…" The girl whispered with closed eyes, Zuko had told her that about a hundred times but she somehow knew he would never change into such monster. He wasn't like Ozai and Azula. "Would you be so nice to grab my clothes?"

"Of course… let's see where those had landed."

Meanwhile, Iroh closed his eyes as he enjoyed the delicious perfume of his morning tea; the aroma relaxed his old muscles. Tea had always had a magical effect on his mood and especially now when he had noticed his nephew was late for breakfast.

He was almost sure, Zuko hadn't spent the night alone and that fact made the old man curious. He loved to hear how the boy his first time had went and he hoped Zuko had done well. Iroh chuckled as he remembered his first time; it was so awkward and clumsy. A boy's first time was always terribly bad but it stayed a whole experience.

The man placed his cup back onto the table as he heard the large door of the dining room, his young nephew entered the room uncomfortably together with his girlfriend. Now Iroh was more than sure, Mai had stayed here for the night.

"Good morning, Uncle…" The boy whispered calmly as he held the girl her hand tight. "Hi…" The girl whispered silently.

Iroh smiled wide towards the youth. "Good morning! Sit down and enjoy this hearty meal, you'll both need it."

The young girl sat down next to her boyfriend and stared over the table in silence, she seemed to avoid a talk. Iroh didn't really matter; Mai seemed to need some more time to get used to people. She seemed to have some problems with trusting, he didn't knew for sure but he knew he would get another chance to learn more about her. This was still pretty new for her.

"Nervous for your first meeting?" Iroh asked calmly as he glared over a fast eating Zuko.

The boy looked up with wide eyes. "Yeah,… I hope they all will accept me."

"I'm sure they will."

"That General will be there… from the Agni Kai…" Zuko sighed as he spoke those words, he didn't knew what would happen if he saw that man.

Iroh crossed his arms and knew this man could cause Zuko some small problems; he hopefully forgave Zuko's excesses. "You're his higher now, so hopefully he will respect you."

"You have fought the Agni Kai ... why should he do silly? That problem is history." Mai whispered fast as she poked her chopsticks in her food.

"Yeah, that's true but still we don't know how that General his mind works." The boy replied back, Mai had a calm nature which had a very positive effect on his temper and nerves. "What are you going to do when I'm at the meeting?"

Mai looked up as she placed the chopsticks onto the table. "Go home; take a look if my parents didn't write a letter."

"They'll hopefully return home soon?" Iroh asked fast, he took the chance to start a conversation between them.

"Yeah, it's been six months since I've seen them for the last time and my little brother's birthday is coming up."

The man smiled tenderly as he noticed the emptiness in her eyes, he recognized that gaze, Zuko had the same as he talked about his parents. He knew something was wrong in the relationship between Mai and her parents too. "You missed them?"

The girl chuckled a bit. "I don't know really. Perhaps…"

"Mai has some problems with understanding the relationship with her parents." Zuko whispered as he held her hand and smiled loving to the girl. Mai raised her other hand and stroked his scar. Iroh understood, they have much more in common than others would ever knew.

Some hours later.

The first meeting had gone very smoothly, Avatar Aang had listened with much enthusiasm to Zuko's exciting speech and to his new brilliant ideas. The old Generals had accepted with all the new objectives for a young and innovative Fire Nation, a thriving economy becomes now the first necessity. The Fire Lord and his staff had to find some new profit ideas which will come instead of the old weapon industries.

Aang hadn't a clue that being a Fire Lord brought so much work and worries on your shoulders, it seemed the same as being an Avatar and it felt awkward to see how young Fire Lord Zuko still was. He was only sixteen and stuck to his obligations just like Aang. As a Prince, Zuko probably never had the chance to be a real child.

Avatar Aang shock out of his thoughts as all the Generals instantly stood up; the boy hurried and did the same. The meeting was probably over; Aang bowed his head as the Fire Lord began to leave his throne.

Fire Lord Zuko had earned the respect from the elderly today and it made him feel great, Zuko nodded friendly to Aang. The boy could follow him outside. "You did great." Aang whispered.

"Thanks Aang… but I still need to work some more things out." The boy replied as he walked further and waved towards the girl who rested against one of the dark pillars.

"Hi, how was your meeting?" Mai asked as she rubbed her hand over his nice uniform.

Zuko rolled his eyes with a smirk. "It was … reasonable."

Aang bumped his elbow against the Fire Lord his side as he shook his head, he couldn't believe his ears. Why did Zuko always had the need to bring himself down? "He did a fantastic job!"

"I knew you would…" The girl whispered proud, her boyfriends was made for this job. "I have some good news too; my parents have sent a letter. They'll return to the Fire Nation within three weeks."

"That's great news." Zuko grabbed his girlfriend her hands and couldn't hide his joy. "This becomes a good opportunity for a fresh start."

A tender smile appeared on Aang's face as he noticed the softness between Zuko and Mai, they seemed so different now. The young boy hoped to once have such bound with Katara.

"I hope my parents will arrive on time, so you can meet them."

Zuko bit his lower lip, her parents would arrive the Fire Nation when he leaves for his visit to King Kuei."Yeah, I hope so. Otherwise I'll meet them when I'm back from Ba-Sing-Se."

"Oh… Wouldn't your Uncle return to Ba-Sing-Se too?" Aang asked with crossed arms, he remembered Iroh had told him something about reopening his tea shop.

"Yeah, he has an appointment tomorrow with sir Quon. He leaves within a few hours."

"Wouldn't you better go and enjoy some time with him?" Mai whispered softly, Zuko looked up with a tender smile and kissed her. She knew what he needed the most; the young boy left his friends and sought companionship with his uncle.

Uncle Iroh enjoyed the last hours here in the Fire Nation together with his beloved nephew. He knew there wasn't much time left and he had so much to say. The old man glared over the young handsome boy and knew Zuko had all the capacity to become a great Fire Lord.

Iroh hoped his nephew would use all his talent to do what was needed but he was still very young and truly alone as Iroh returned back to Ba-Sing-Se but Iroh knew their wasn't another option, he had to leave. Zuko is at his best when he is alone and nobody influences him.

Zuko chuckled as he noticed his Uncle's strange behavior; the man studied him in silence. The boy stroked his uncle's arm with a wide grin. "Hey? Stop worrying."

"It's not that, my nephew. It's… I'm truly proud of what became of you." The man whispered as he patted the boy his shoulder. "Never forget to stay true to yourself, that's the most important thing for you."

"I know, mom told me that…" The boy whispered and hoped to never forget that fact, he didn't want to lose his identity once again. "I guess the first years will be the most difficult?"

Iroh frowned a bit. "Why do you think so?"

"I thought everything would be over once the war would be over… but … I realized … nothing really changed."

"What do you mean?"

"Seeing Azula ... suffering, ... she seemed so lost ... it hurts. Knowing that father is in prison, … doesn't care about us … still hurts. But not knowing were mom is, it is … unbearable."

Iroh sighed deep as he placed his chin on his fists, he knew Zuko was right. Peace couldn't heal all the wounds; this was probably a part of Zuko's life which would never heal. "I can't refuse you from seeing your family. As thought it isn't very wise, but if you do listen carefully to what the doctors tells you my nephew. Hopefully at one day Azula and your father will heal, and hopefully the mystery around Ursa will once reveal its dark secrets."

"The only person who knows those secrets is father."

Uncle Iroh patted the boy his shoulder as he stood up, it was time for him to go. Zuko followed the man and hugged him firmly, he knew he needed his uncle's support badly but he couldn't ask. His uncle disserved this new life and Zuko certainly didn't want to ruin it.

Capital Prison.

All the inhabitants of the Fire nation were still celebrating except for one man, Ozai. He could not adjourn the sounds of joy. The prisoner peeked to his metal prison door as it opened fast, he couldn't believe his son was here. "I should count myself lucky… The new Fire Lord has graced me with his presence in my lowly cell."

Zuko stopped before the bars and glared over the mess of dirt. This man was his father and seeing him felt truly awkward. "You should count yourself lucky that the Avatar chose to spare you. Banishing me was the best thing you could have done for my life. Maybe your time in here can do the same for you."

Ozai lowered his head; those weren't the words he wanted to hear. "Why are you really here?"

"Because you're going to tell me something. Where is my mother?"

Beautiful words penetrated Ozai's brain, Zuko hadn't changed at all. He knew he could manipulate him, like his stupid sister. He knew he still had that power. "You ought to bring me some tea, Zuko. We'll talk while sipping from steaming little cups, much like you did with my traitorous brother. I'll give you advice on how to be a good Fire Lord. Wouldn't that be nice? Perhaps even the subject of your mother will come up."

Zuko gritted his teeth. "I don't need this."

"Do you think being Fire Lord is easy? The throne comes with many pressures, and those pressures will change you! But if you can stand the heat, you'll become something more. Of all the people in the world, I have the wisdom you need, the wisdom of experience!" Ozai grinned as Zuko started to leave but he knew his son was listening, he always would. "Be honest with yourself, Zuko. Do you really believe you can handle it all on your own?"

"You'll be back. And I'll be here waiting for you, son."