The big day is here! *wedding march music plays* *sobs* This is the happiest moment of my life! *blows nose loudly in hankey*
disclaimer - I don't own atla otherwise Zutara would have happened, Yue and Jet would be alive, and the foamy mouth guy would have made an appearance at the end of Aang and Ozai's battle
Zuko, in red robes, stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom getting himself ready for the wedding. He was trying to flatten his shaggy hair but gave up when he decided he was fighting a losing battle. He heard a soft knock on his door. It opened and Ty Lee stepped in. She was wearing a cloak over her purple silk robes.
"Zuko," she said, "It's time."
Zuko took a deep breath, put on his cloak, and followed Ty Lee out of his room.
"Mai, Katara, and Yuki are going to meet us in your Uncle's cell." she informed him quietly.
Zuko said nothing. He just nodded. When Katara told him that Mai and Ty Lee were going to be part of the wedding, he felt uneasy about it. He trusted Ty Lee since she and Katara were becoming fast friends but he didn't know if he could trust Mai. But he trusted Ty Lee's judgement and went along with it.
The two Fire Nation teens continued their journey to the prison in silence. They were both on their guard, their eyes searched for any type of movement and their ears strained for any sounds. The prison guards Zuko and Ty Lee passed did nothing but distance themselves when they recognized the Fire Nation prince. Zuko stopped in front of a door.
"You go on." he told Ty Lee, "I have to do something."
Ty Lee continued on without question but not before giving him a confused look. Zuko turned to the door and opened it.
Katara paced back and forth nervously in the cell. She hadn't taken off her cloak because she didn't want to risk being recognized by a guard if one came in. Mai was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Yuki was keeping watch at the door. Iroh was sitting patiently on the floor with his back facing the girls.
"Will you stop worrying?" Mai asked after enduring several minutes of the waterbenders nervous pacing, "He's gonna get here."
Katara didn't cease her pacing. "I'm not worried about that." she said, "I'm worried that we might get caught or that someone might find out about this."
"Who's going to find out? The only people that know about this are in this room."
"Not all of them." Katara corrected her, thinking of her other bridesmaid and the groom
"Someone's coming!" Yuki warned them. Katara gasped and quickly pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. Yuki and Mai did the same.
They heard soft footsteps and a soft knock on the door.
"It's me."
Yuki opened the door to let Ty Lee in and quickly closed it again.
Katara lowered her hood. "Where's Zuko?" she asked
"He's coming." said Ty Lee, "He told me that he had to do something first."
"I hope he's okay."
Iroh stood up and turned to look at the waterbender.
"You must relax, Katara." he said gently. "My nephew will be here safely. He is very strong and determined."
"He's right." said Ty Lee, "This is Zuko we're talking about here. He can take down anybody in a fight."
"Except Azula." said Mai.
"Thanks Mai." said Katara sarcastically, "That's really reassuring."
The knife thrower shrugged.
"Glad I could help."
Katara opened her mouth to tell Mai off when Yuki said, "Two people are coming."
Katara, Mai, Ty Lee, and Iroh stiffened when they heard the footsteps. One of the owners of the footsteps knocked on the door.
"It's me guys."
Katara smiled when she recognized the voice and opened the door to let Zuko in. He wasn't alone.
"Shyu?"
"Hello Katara." replied the sage. He looked older since the last time he and Katara had seen each other and his beard was longer and thicker. She was sad to see the prison rags he wore.
"I'm so sorry that you got caught." she said. "We should have taken you with us-" Shyu raised a hand to silence the waterbender
"Do not feel bad for me." he said, "No matter what happens to me, I will never regret helping the Avatar."
"What are you doing here?"
"Prince Zuko has given me the honor of performing his marriage. Congratulations for this special occasion."
"I couldn't think of any other sages that would be trustworthy enough to do this and keep it a secret." explained Zuko, "Then I thought 'Which sage would be better than one Katara had already met and befriended?'"
Katara embraced Zuko.
"Thank you." she murmured. "Where will you go after this?" she added to Shyu.
Shyu looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Are you going to stay in the Fire Nation or are you going to the Earth Kingdom?"
"Katara, Shyu's still a prisoner here." said Zuko, "He's only out of his cell to perform our marriage."
"Prince Zuko offered to set me free but I declined the offer. It would be too much of a risk."
Sadness and guilt began to fill Katara "So you're not free?"
"Not now," said Zuko, "But once the war is over, I promise he will be free."
Reassured, Katara nodded but still looked sad.
"Shall we begin?" asked Shyu.
The teens nodded and prepared themselves. Yuki, Ty Lee, and Mai removed their cloaks to reveal their purple silk robes. Yuki's had pink trim since she was the Maid of Honor. Katara took off her cloak to reveal her long flowing red dress. Her red engagement necklace was around her neck. Her hair was down but she had a fire lilly in it.
"You look beautiful." Zuko said softly to Katara who blushed at the compliment.
"I'm glad you kept your hair down." she said, "I think you look more handsome this way."
They held onto each other's hands and turned to Shyu.
"We are gathered here today to unite Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation and Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe..."
While Shyu spoke Zuko looked at Katara. She was still blushing but she looked beautiful when she did it. A small smile was formed on her face. The light make up on her face brought out her large blue eyes which were slightly filled with tears of happiness. He looked back at his uncle. Iroh watched the ceremony with a small smile on his face. Zuko was glad that his uncle had agreed to see his wedding, especially after what happened in Ba Sing Se.
"Place your marks on each other." Shyu instructed Zuko and Katara.
Zuko and Katara turned to face each other. Zuko took out a piece of paper and burned it. He pressed his thumb into his handful of ashes and wiped it across Katara's forehead.
"By the flames of the dragons, I be wed." he said.
Katara took out the flask of water she took with her and poured the liquid on her thumb. She wiped her wet thumb across Zuko's forehead.
"And by the Spirits of the moon and ocean, I be wed." she said.
"By the power of the fire spirit Agni and the moon and ocean spirits Tui and La, you are now husband and wife. You may now seal this unity with a kiss."
The newly weds kissed passionately. They turned to their witnesses.
"I now present you Prince Zuko and Princess Katara of the Fire Nation."
Yuki, Iroh, Ty Lee, and Mai clapped quietly for the couple.
Zuko stood by his bed waiting for Katara to come out of the bathroom. He was out of his formal robes and was now only wearing his sleeping pants. Katara left the bathroom, twirling the sash keeping her robe closed. She walked over to Zuko, intying the sash to her kimono as she did so. When she was right in front of him, she removed her kimono completely, revealing her undergarments. She dropped her kimono on the floor and got close to Zuko until her chest touched Zuko's.
"Are you sure?" he asked her softly.
Katara answered him with a kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist. Katara released her hold on Zuko and went to the bed where she laid back on the covers. Zuko crawled on the bed after her and leaned over her.
"Are you nervous?" he asked her. He ran his hand along Katara's face gently.
She shook her head and Zuko leaned forward to kiss.
I'm just gonna give the happy couple their privacy. If you guys were expecting lemon sorry to disappoint you. Also remember that this story is rated T which means major details of lemon is a big no no.