Two Months Later
Katara
"So is your mom coming?" I ask as we pack for our trip to the South Pole.
"Yes," Zuko says. "She's a part of the surprise."
I have been pondering the mystery of what the surprise Zuko has in mind for me for the past two months. But thankfully, all Zuko does when I pester him about it is chuckle, shake his head, and tells me to wait. He doesn't get angry, like he would were it anyone else.
"Uh, you think that would do in the South Pole?" I ask Zuko accusingly, pointing at the garment in his hand that he's trying to put in his bag. "You think that will keep you warm in the freezing temperatures of where we're going?"
"What?" he asks.
"Here," I say, going over to my dresser and retrieving a red parka. "I had this made for you. The stylist called me crazy. She didn't think temperatures could get cold enough where we'd need such a thick piece of clothing. I had it made with a hood, and also a pair of gloves, thick pants, and boots made for you," I tell him.
"Thank you, Katara," he says.
"You can bring that shirt, but I just wanted to give you the parka so you'll be warmer."
"Thanks," Zuko says.
"You're welcome," I say. "Now come on. The airship is waiting."
"Eager to leave are we?" Zuko asks.
"More than you know." I smirk at him and kiss his cheek before closing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
Zuko finishes packing, and then he does the same before we leave the palace. We've gotten Lu Chen to fill in for us while we're gone; with the promise that he'll write to us about what is going on. Iroh was unfortunately unable to fill in for Zuko, so we were thankful to have Lu Chen do it instead. We make our way out to where the airship is waiting for us, and we board it.
"How long will it take us to get there?" I ask.
"About three days," Zuko says. "This is the fastest mode of transportation available."
"Three days? Compared to two weeks by boat, that's pretty fast," I say. "So what's the purpose of this trip?"
"I've told you this before. I wanted you to see your brother get married," he says.
The ship begins its ascent into the air, and also its journey to where we need to go.
"More than anything," I say. "And I'm glad they get to meet you again as my soul mate, and not my enemy."
Zuko chuckles nervously. "Yeah. Sorry about that, by the way."
"Don't worry about it," I say. "You've apologized for it enough. And believe me; you've regained your honor and then some."
He smiles and kisses my head before hugging me tightly. "I hope so."
We look out at the city and just talk for quite some time. Though the following three days are so boring, that by the time we get close the South Pole, I'm ready to tear my hair out.
"How do I look, Katara?" Zuko asks, coming up to me in his new clothes shortly after we start seeing icebergs.
I burst out laughing, and Zuko, who is starting to get flustered, walks a little closer. "What?"
"You look so different!" I exclaim.
"I don't look bad, though, do I?" he asks.
"Not at all," I say as I slowly start to regain my composure. "I'm just not used to seeing you in blue."
"Well get used to it," he says. "This is how I'll be dressed for the next six weeks."
"Not tomorrow," I say. "The wedding is tomorrow. Speaking of that, I hope you brought formal clothes."
"I did. I brought my finest set of robes, which are plenty warm, trust me," Zuko says.
"Good," I say.
The Southern Water Tribe, with help from its sister tribe, the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, has prospered into almost as big of a city as the Northern Water Tribe. There is a town center, where the wedding will be held. It's not a big building, but it is of good size for the small wedding that will be held there. Aang and Zuko will be standing beside Sokka at the wedding, and Toph and I will be standing beside Suki. My dad will be the one to deem Sokka and Suki husband and wife.
"Are you two lovebirds ready?" Ursa asks.
"Yes," I say.
The airship lands at the newly installed docks, and we get off with our stuff slung across our backs.
"So glad you made it, guys!" Sokka says as he runs up to us.
"Good to see you again, Sokka," I say, giving my big brother a hug. "It's been so long since I've been home."
"I know. Gran-Gran and Master Pakku have missed you a lot," Sokka says.
"I can't wait to see them again. Where will Zuko, Ursa, and I be staying?" I ask.
"Same place Iroh is," Sokka says.
"Iroh is here?" I ask.
"Yeah," Sokka says. "He's been here for a day or two. He doesn't like the cold that much, though. But I'm sure his beard keeps him plenty warm."
Sokka and Zuko chuckle and I roll my eyes.
"That's very kind of you, Sokka," Ursa says as she comes up to us. "Please show us where we will be staying."
"As per tradition, Zuko, Ursa, and Iroh won't be staying at my house," Sokka says. "We're all staying at an inn.
According to Water Tribe tradition, the husband is not allowed to stay at the house the week before the wedding due to the requirement that the bride must use that time to make the house a home. Only the bride and the women that are to accompany her at the altar are allowed in the house. So Suki, Toph, and I are staying at the house together.
It's then that Suki comes up to us and hugs me.
"Katara!" she exclaims. "I missed you! Come on, Toph arrived earlier this morning."
"See you tomorrow, Zuko!" I shout as I'm dragged away by the Kyoshi warrior.
Zuko
I shake my head and chuckle as Katara is taken hostage by Suki.
"Hey, Sokka, when are we going to meet up with your dad?" I ask.
"He's gonna meet us at the hotel," he says. "Why?"
"Well, I was going to ask his permission to marry her, just as now I am asking yours," I tell him.
"You're going to do what?!" Sokka asks.
"I want to marry your sister. I love her more than I've ever loved anyone," I say. "I think she is the most beautiful person ever, and I would gladly give it all up for her should the need present itself."
"Do you have a necklace made for her?" he asks.
"Yeah," I tell him as I dig through my pocket to find the necklace.
It's a red silk necklace with the depiction of a field of fire lilies carved in intense detail into it. I'd taken the past two months trying to get it right.
"What do you think, Lady Ursa?" Sokka asks after stopping our journey to the inn to observe my handiwork.
"Well, you know what I think," my mother says. "I think that Katara and Zuko are perfect for each other, and deserve to be happy. Plus, Zuko spent a great deal of time carving the necklace he plans to give for her. I can tell just by looking into Katara's eyes when she looks at him that she loves my son more than anything. Despite only being together romantically for the short time they were, I think their marriage would be a good thing.
"It would be good not only for them, too. Their marriage would unite the Fire Nation and Water Tribes, just as your wedding will unite the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. I think that both of your unisons would do the world good."
"She has a point," I tell Sokka as we start walking again. "My marriage to Katara would not only be a unison for love and devotion, but also for diplomacy. She's a master waterbender, an envoy to the Southern Water Tribe, and the perfect addition to my council. I foresee people not liking the marriage, but I also foresee people rejoicing at the fact that two people, complete opposite in elements, fell in love and got married."
"Well, I think you'd be good for her," Sokka finally says with a sigh. "I knew this day would come sometime. I guess I had to face it eventually. Zuko, you've got my permission."
He hugs me and it takes me a bit to return the hug. "Thanks, Sokka."
"It's no problem. My dad likes you, so it probably won't take as much to convince him that you marrying Katara is a good thing for us, and the world," Sokka says. "This means she'll be Fire Lady, right?"
"Yeah. Why?" I ask.
"Well, treat her like the queen she will be, or else," Sokka warns.
"She hasn't said yes yet," I tell him. "But thanks."
"Not a problem," he says. "Now, we're here. Zuko, you've got Room 211, and Ursa, you've got the room directly across from it. General Iroh is in Room 104. I'm in Room 208 if you need me, but for right now, I've got to help get things ready for the wedding," Sokka tells my mother and I. "Tell the innkeeper, Kona, who you are, and she'll give you the keys to your rooms."
"Wait! Sokka!" I exclaim as he starts to leave. "You have to take me to your father. I plan on proposing tomorrow during your reception."
"Easy there, Sparky," Sokka says. "Get settled in, and just ask Kona where the wedding is. She'll be able to tell you. Meet me there."
Before I can protest, he runs the opposite direction. I check in with the innkeeper before heading up the stairs to my room. I set my stuff down, and get set up in my room that I'm soon to share with Katara, and then tell my mother goodbye before heading down the stairs.
"Where is the town center?" I ask the innkeeper.
"Go right when you leave the inn, and take the first right and keep going straight until you see the building. It should be clearly labeled," Kona says.
I bow to the young innkeeper. "Thank you, Kona."
She returns the bow. "My pleasure, Fire Lord Zuko."
I keep a brisk pace when I walk to the town center. When I get there, I'm slightly out of breath. I find Sokka shortly after.
"Hey, Zuko," he says. "Would you mind hanging this wreath over there?" he says, pointing to a pole a short distance away and handing me a hammer, nail, and flowered wreath.
I accomplish the task quickly and then walk over to Sokka. "Where's your father?"
"I'm right here." I turn around to see Hakoda smiling broadly at me.
"Oh! Hakoda! I've been looking for you," I say.
"So I've heard. Now what do you want to ask me, my boy?" he asks.
"I wanted to ask your permission to marry your daughter," I tell him.
"Have you made a necklace for her?" Hakoda asks.
"Yes," I say, pulling out the necklace I made for her.
"It's very beautiful," Hakoda says. "Do your customs include something like this?"
"Kind of. In the Fire Nation, a firebender proposes by showing the woman he's proposing to a demonstration of his firebending, and if the woman likes it, she agrees. If he isn't a firebender, he gives her a ring. I plan on doing what a nonbender does. Just so I don't hurt anyone. I plan on proposing at the reception after all," I explain to him. "So what do you say?"
"I wasn't ready for Sokka to get married, and I'm definitely not ready for Katara to get married. I'm not ready for her to grow up just yet. But I know that she needs to sometime," Hakoda tells me. "She left the nest many years ago, and now it's time to make a nest of her own. With you, Zuko. As a friend, as a queen, and as the love of your life. Treat her as such, and you've got my blessing."
"Thank you, sir," I say, bowing to him.
He hugs me tightly and claps my back. "Welcome to the family, son."
"Thank you, Hakoda," I say. "Your blessing is greatly appreciated."
"It's greatly appreciated that you think fondly enough of my daughter to want to spend the rest of your life with her," Hakoda says with a laugh. "That is, if you can tell me exactly why you plan on doing so."
"Katara is probably the most amazing woman I have ever met," I begin. "She's compassionate, beautiful, fun, and an endless stream of other positive adjectives. I love her more than I've ever loved anyone. I would give my throne, my power, my life for her."
"Well then, I hope you and her will stay happy, and prosper well together," Hakoda tells me.
"We will," I say. "Thank you."
"It's not a problem, son. As long as you love her unconditionally for the rest of your lives, you have my blessing to wed. Good luck, son."
He walks away and I feel like the happiest man in the world. I help Sokka and the rest of the people in the town center with decorating for the wedding, and then finally retreat back to my hotel room.
"Come on, Zuko!" Sokka says as he bangs on the door. The groom has to take a few guys out to celebrate the night before the wedding. You, Iroh, Aang, and my dad are all coming with me to go out to eat."
I grunt as I get up, and open the door to find Iroh, Aang, Sokka, and his father all waiting for me. I follow them out of the hotel to a restaurant down the street. We sit down, and the waiter takes our food and drink orders.
"Cheers to the soon-to-be newlywed!" Aang says after a few drinks.
"Cheers!" we all repeat.
"You know, I normally don't drink, but this is an occasion to where it's pretty necessary," Aang says, slurring slightly.
I take another drink of the strong Water Tribe whiskey I've been drinking. "Yeah kind of."
Soon enough, we're all laughing and joking around as the alcohol infiltrates our systems. It's not until late that night that we get back to the hotel, drunk off our asses, and happier than we'd all been in a long time, thanks to the alcohol-induced stupor we've put ourselves in.
The Next Day
Zuko
I rise the next morning feeling better than I thought I would, and I begin to get ready. I start of by bathing, and then putting on my formal clothes. The wedding is to be held in just an hour, but we were told to be there early. Katara and I will be walking down the aisle together, followed by Aang and Toph, then finally, by Suki.
I hope this won't be the only time she walks down the aisle, I think to myself. I prepare her necklace by wrapping it in blue silk, then putting it in a small leather pouch. I put the ring in the same pouch, and then prepare for the cold. I put on the red gloves Katara got for me to match my robes, and then exit my room. I knock on my mother's door, and she opens the door.
"Good morning, love. Are you ready?" she asks.
"Yes," I say. "Are you?"
"Yes," she says. "Come on. Let's meet Aang and Iroh. I spoke with Iroh last night and he said that he and Avatar Aang would meet us down in the lobby of the hotel this morning."
I follow her down the stairs, where we meet up with Aang and my uncle.
"Nephew! It is so nice to see you!" my uncle exclaims as he hugs me.
"It's nice to see you, too, Uncle," I tell him. "Now come on. We can't be late. Sokka would kill us."
"You just want to see your lovely lady," Iroh says. "Ursa tells me you're going to propose to her with both a ring and a necklace."
"Congratulations, Zuko!" Aang exclaims. "Is that why you're staying so long? So you can get married here?"
"Yeah, actually," I say as we walk. "But speak none of this to Katara."
"Our lips are sealed," my mom tells me with a wink.
We walk the rest of the way to the town center in silence. When we get there, I immediately begin looking for Katara.
"She's probably helping the bride get ready," my mom says, answering my thoughts. "That's probably where I'm wanted as well. See you when you walk down the aisle, Zuko."
We spend the next hour helping guests find their seats. When I finally see Katara, I hug her tightly to me. She's wearing a long, green gown and she has a beautiful pink flower in her hair and a bouquet of pink flowers in her hands. I kiss her forehead and she giggles.
"Miss me?" she asks.
"That's kind of a dumb question, isn't it?" I say.
"True." She laughs.
"So when is this thing supposed to start?" I hear Toph ask.
Aang and I both have our jaws on the floor at what we're seeing. Toph looks so… different. She has makeup on and a flower similar to Katara's in her raven hair.
"What?" Toph asks. "You guys feel like you just saw a ghost."
"You're just so…" Aang can't even finish the thought.
"Different? Yeah. Katara and Ursa took me hostage," Toph says, punching a smug-looking Katara in the arm.
Katara rubs her arm, but still has that look of smugness on her face.
"Alright, everybody," Hakoda says as he comes up to us. "The wedding is starting."
We get in our places as the music starts, and Katara links her arm through mine, before the music starts. A young girl, presumably the child of a friend of Suki's, begins spreading flower petals across the aisle. Katara and I are the next to walk down the aisle. When I get to the aisle, I stand next to Sokka, and Aang follows suit. Sokka's smile widens when he sees his bride walk down the aisle.
"This," he whispers to Aang and I, "is why I live. For moments like these, and for her."
I look at him and smile slightly. "I know the feeling."
"You should," Sokka says. "Because I'll beat you to a pulp if you even start to think otherwise."
The service begins, and soon enough, Sokka and Suki are married and are running down the aisle together as flower petals are thrown up into the air and cheering is heard throughout the room.
The reception comes sooner than I'd like it to. I find myself dancing with Katara, and getting closer with her with every step. I nod at the band after one of the songs is over with, and the band begins playing the Water Tribe lullaby she loves so much.
"Did you do this, Zuko?" Katara asks.
"Yes," I say, pressing my forehead against hers.
People begin backing away from us, and Katara looks around questioningly. "What…?"
"I have something for you," I tell her, my heart racing faster than it has before.
I reach into my pocket and pull out the pouch. I hand it to her and she opens it. She digs through the blue silk until she finds the ring.
"Wait… is this...?"
"There's more. Look a little deeper," I say.
When she finds the necklace, she gasps, and I get down on one knee. "Master Katara, envoy to the Southern Water Tribe, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you, no, need you to be the one who I see walking down the aisle as my bride."
"I don't know what to say…" Katara tells me.
"Say yes, Sugar Queen!" I hear Toph yell from the crowd.
Soon, the crowd begins chanting, "Say yes" over and over again as the musicians keep playing the lullaby.
"Yes," Katara says. "I would love to become your bride."
I get up and she jumps into my arms as cheering is heard throughout the room as I spin her around in my arms. I am the happiest man on this planet. No words can describe how happy I am when she kisses my lips over and over again and weeps on my shoulder.
The musicians stop playing and we are met with words of congratulations, hugs, and tears from the congregation.
"Didn't mean to steal your thunder, Sokka," I tell him after he hugs me.
"Nah. This is just what this wedding needed," he says with a shrug. "So do you plan on having the wedding here in the South Pole?"
"Yes," I say, looking at Katara. "I gave us enough time so we could do all of that here. That's why we're staying so long."
"Makes sense," Sokka says. "If you really wanted to give her the wedding she's always dreamed of, you would have it here."
"And that's my exact thinking," I tell him. "Then when we return to the Fire Nation, the coronation will be held."
"Good idea," Sokka says. "Band! Play something upbeat! My wife is pregnant, and my sister is getting married!"
"Sokka!" Suki screeches. "We were supposed to keep that a secret until after our honeymoon!"
Katara and I laugh, along with the rest of the congregation.
"Come on! I'm just happy!" Sokka says.
Soon, the reception has ended, and Katara has promised to meet me at my room in the hotel as soon as she grabs her stuff from Sokka and Suki's house.
Part two of this chapter will be out soon. I had to cut it off, or else it would be around 4,000 words. Love you lots!
-Symphonic Madness
