**So I told myself I wouldn't fall asleep until I got this chapter out, and it is currently 8 something in the morning, and chapter 20 was posted around 6 last night. I was, of course, distracting myself with this or that, BUT! I finished it without falling asleep! Now, this is my own personal challenge that I want to complete. I will finish this story before Tuesday. There is no maybe about it. I WILL. So, as much as it pains me to say this, expect the last three chapters today and tomorrow. Anywho! I really hope you enjoy this chapter. PLEASE let me know what you think!**
Katara was sleeping peacefully in Zuko's arms; Her head laying on his bare chest, an arm wrapped around his stomach, one leg nestled in between his. It was a beautiful sight- two lovers sleeping in each other's arms. The sun was just rising, its gentle orange glow slowly filtering in through the curtain.
The door was thrown open, the loud thump of it hitting the wall waking the two lovers abruptly. The sound of heavy boots hitting the floor echoed in Katara's groggy head, and suddenly she was ripped from Zuko's arms and from the bed by a large guard. Two more yanked Zuko out of his bed and held him as he struggled. Three more were standing near the doorway, weapons drawn and ready for a fight.
Katara tried to pull her hands free to at least cover her nudity, but the guard holding her only tightened his grip into a painful hold.
Zuko struggled in the hands of the two guards, seemingly not to care about his own nudity but only about getting to Katara. "What do you think you are doing? Let me go! I command you-"
"You are in no place to command anyone, Zuko." Ozai walked in, a sadistic look of joy on his face. "You just can't listen to what is told to you, can you?"
"Prince Zuko, are you being charged with treason and attempted assassination of the Fire Lord. You are also being charged with aiding in a prison escape." Huan, Ozai's advisor, was standing beside the Fire Lord. "Katara of the Water Tribe, you are being charge with rebellion- trying to raise an army of slaves to overthrow the Fire Lord- and accessory to treason. Your day before the Court will be in three days time."
The robe Katara had been wearing the previous night was tugged forcibly on her frame and the guard tugged her out of the room, dragging her down the hall as she fought and struggled against his grip.
Katara screamed out, shouted, trying to get the attention of anyone, but those in the hall had their heads downwards, not daring to step in to interfere. As the guard was about to pull Katara around a corner, her eyes caught sight of a feminine form standing beside Ozai once he stepped out into the hall. When her eyes adjusted, Katara's breath left her as she saw Mai standing there, her dark golden eyes full of betrayal as she watched three guards struggle to pull Zuko down the hall in the same direction as Katara was being dragged.
Now… Now it made sense… Katara had gotten up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, and she saw her necklace laying on the floor in front of the door. She didn't know how it had ended up there… Now she knew. It must have fallen out of her pocket in Mai's room, and Mai must have come to Zuko's chambres to return it… and she stumbled upon the two of them in bed.
Tears began to overwhelm Katara as she went limp, allowing the guard to roughly pull her. Mai had a right to be upset and angry about a betrayal such as this… but to turn them into the Fire Lord? How could she? Katara didn't know all that much about the Fire Nation and their lifestyles and beliefs, but she was learning more and more from Zuko. She did know that allegations of treason was immediate death at the hands of the Fire Lord. No day in Court. No chance at redemption. No Agni Kai. Death. So why had Huan told her and Zuko their day in Court was in three days?
*.*
"Ow!" Katara glared up at the guard from the ground. "That hurt." She growled, blue eyes swirling with anger.
The guard scoffed and turned his back to her, only after the cell door was slammed closed. He stood there, back turned to Katara…
Katara was contemplating creating an ice dagger from the water in the air, but before she could move her hand she heard Zuko's shouts.
"Let me go! I am your Prince!"
The cell door opened, and Zuko was thrown in beside Katara. All of his anger, all of his determination left once he saw Katara. "Katara!" He pulled her tightly to his chest, "You're okay…"
"For now…" Her eyes slowly looked up at Zuko, "… We're going to be killed."
Zuko shook his head, "Don't think that way… We'll… We'll think of something. We always do, right?" Zuko pressed his unusually cold lips to Katara's.
Katara turned her head the moment his lips touched hers, "Zuko… People spend their days wandering between work and home, never finding true joy and happiness. They think their ambitions and dreams will bring them happiness… but when they are laying in their death beds, or their lives are flashing before their eyes… they won't know true happiness and a complete life without love. Those who have love in their lives… those are the ones who die happy. If I have to die at the hands of your father… I'm going to be dying happy, because I love you, and you love me. We have something between us not many people can find, and even the ones who have found love, or will find love… it isn't as strong as ours. We may be two different elements, but I am the fuel that keeps your fire burning, and you are the tide that keeps bringing water back to me. We are infinite, eternal, and so is our love. It will cross through lifetimes to bring us back together. Zuko, I love you."
Zuko's warm hands cupped her cheeks, wiping away the tears that she didn't try to stop. His own tears were threatening to spill. "Katara… I love you."
No more words were spoken between the two as they laid against the cold floor and wall, holding each other tightly and lovingly. Kisses and gentle caresses passed through them, but no words. No words were needed to be spoken now. Everything that needed to be said has been said in one way or another… Now all the two lovers had to do was wait…
*.*
The cell door creaked open, causing Katara to wake. Zuko had already been awake, stroking her tangled hair.
"They're ready for you…" Azula stood before them, her attire different. It was more of armor than traditional Royal Family clothes. Her demeanor… Zuko had never seen his sister like this before. Her face expressionless, her eyes were empty and void of any emotion, but her voice… her voice is what gave away a slight hint of the emotions swirling inside of her heart. Grief. Guilt.
Zuko stood, helping Katara to rise unsteadily to her feet. "How long has it been?" The first words Zuko has spoken since he last told Katara he loved her…
"A day. He had Court look over all the trials for today and tomorrow yesterday so that they could get your trail in quicker." Azula stepped forwards, "Zuko… I know I've never said this before… but I'm glad you're my older brother, and I'm proud of you. Katara… Thank you. Without you talking to me and comforting me… I'm sure I'd be much worse now. I'm so sorry for everything I put you through when you were traveling with the Avatar, and Zuko… I'm sorry for everything."
"And I'm sorry too…" Mai stepped forwards, her eyes red as she struggled to fight away the tears. "I didn't mean to go to the Fire Lord… I was just so angry and jealous… and betrayed… I knew all along, though. That you loved someone else." Mai's pale hand raised up to touch Zuko's stubbly cheek. "I didn't want to admit it to myself because I was being selfish… I'm so sorry…" Her eyes turned to Katara, "Katara… I wasn't angry at you like I should have been. I knew in my heart that the two of… it was destiny… but I just… I was upset. That doesn't excuse what I've done, and I-"
Katara ran forwards, her arms wrapping around Mai, "I forgive you."
Mai blinked, somewhat caught off guard, but soon her arms wrapped around Katara and she sobbed quietly, "I wish there was something I could do to take it all back…"
"What's done is done. It's in the hands of the Spirits now…" Katara said softly. She pulled away, wiping a stray tear before grabbing Zuko's hand. "Let's face this… shall we?"
*.*
Standing before the Court was… intimidating to say the least. The Fire Lord was sitting in the middle of a long steel table, the rest of the Court members stretching out from his sides. Katara mentally counted each of the wrinkled, or wrinkling face of the men of Court. Sixteen… The only females were Azula, who was sitting beside her father, and Mai, who sat at the end of the left side of the table. Nineteen in all… One missing… Zuko…
Beside Katara stood Zuko. One would never have guessed he was on trial with the way he stood tall, his face hard with a sense of superiority.
"Prince Zuko," An aged man with an equally aged voice began to speak, "You are here with the charges of treason, attempted assassination, and aiding in a prison break. Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, you are being charged with rebellion and accessory to treason. Today we will hear your testimonies that will aid in our decision of deeming you guilty or not guilty of these heinous crimes committed against the Fire Lord and the Fire Nation."
"Prince Zuko, since your word is more favorable than that of a slave's, you will begin." Another man said.
It was clear the members of Court still saw Zuko as their Prince by the way they titled him.
Zuko stepped forwards, his eyes darting from one member to the next. He took in a deep breath, and cleared his mind, thinking of only what his uncle would tell him to do and say in a situation like this. Stay calm, be persuasive, do not try to anger anyone…"Men of the Fire Nation Court. I have one simple question for you; What is wrong with a man loving a woman? What is so wrong with two people being in love? Is it frightening? What is so wrong for the Fire Nation Prince to fall in love with the Southern Water Tribe Gongzhu? There was once a time when the elements mixed; a Water Tribesmen with an Earth Kingdom citizen. An Air Nomad with a Fire Nation noble. That time, however, came to an end when a man named Sozin came to power in the Fire Nation. He plotted to rule the world, have each Nation in his hands. No, he only wanted there to be one Nation; The Fire Nation. When he passed, his son, Azulon, took the throne and continued his father's reign of terror and destruction. When Azulon passed… Ozai took the throne, and he is doing more damage now than Sozin had ever done, or ever dreamed of doing.
"The man before you is a murderer, and murder is a serious crime in the Fire Nation. He has brought grief and destruction to many villages, towns, cities. He destroyed the Southern Water Tribe, forcing the remaining Tribesmen to either rebuild their homes in separate small tribes, or relocate to the Northern Water Tribe. He has destroyed a powerful city, Ba Sing Se, and has overrun their trade with his own business, seeing to it that the city, now under his command, has lost their main income.
"Not only is murder a terrible crime to commit… but rape is worse. No, incestuous rape is the worst crime I can think of." Zuko's eyes narrowed at his father, "This man who you hold so high and dearly spent his nights creeping into his own daughter's room and forcing himself between her legs… when she was at the fragile age of nine. When her mother wasn't around to tuck her in at night, to check on her throughout the night, when her mother was gone, this man went into her room and abused her. Sexually. Physically. Mentally. How can you allow someone like that to be your Fire Lord? How can you allow yourself to have respect for a man like him?"
The Court men seemed shocked and disgusted at this revelation. One turned his attention to Azula who had abruptly stood at the end of Zuko's speech to leave before they all saw the tears in her eyes, "Princess? Are these accusations true?"
Azula looked at her father, his cold eyes glaring at her, threatening her to tell the truth so he can punish her. "Yes… Yes they are…" Azula held her head high, the tears in her eyes slipping down her cheeks, "My father would come into my bedroom at night and rape me, telling me he was going to make me perfect just like him."
The mumbles of the men of Court slowly grew louder. One man signaled for a guard to step forwards. The guard hesitated, but walked up behind the Fire Lord.
"Fire Lord Ozai, you are being charged with treason and incestuous rape. You will receive no trial, and your title as Fire Lord is hereby stripped. You have committed heinous crimes against the Fire Nation and the Royal Family."
"Watch your tongue, Huan. I am your Fire Lord." Ozai howled as the guard tightened metal around his wrists.
"You are not our Fire Lord anymore." Huan pulled the fire emblem comb from Ozai's hair then turned to face Zuko, "Prince Zuko, you are now our Fire Lord. A proper coronation will be planned and carried out as soon as possible."
Zuko stood there, staring at the golden comb that represented the Fire Lord crown in Huan's hands. Was this really happening?
"Zuko…" Katara gently grabbed his arm in a reassuring grip, her voice barely containing the joy that bubbled inside her.
Zuko looked at Huan, nodding his acceptance of his new title as Fire Lord. As the older man stepped forwards to place the comb into Zuko's top knot a loud yell echoed through the room.
"That's my crown!"
Flames burst from Ozai's fists and mouth, burning those unlucky members and guard who was in the pathway of the flames.
Zuko was quick to get into an offensive stance, ready to attack his father. At his sides Mai drew her throwing knives, Azula hesitated but fell into a stance matching Zuko's. Katara drew water from the glasses the Court members had been drinking from and readied a long water whip.
The Court members all hurried out of the room, fearful of Ozai.
"Four against one? I'll take it easy on you, how about that?" Ozai shot a flame wall towards the teenagers, and Azula and Zuko raised one of their own to protect them from Ozai's wrath.
"Four? Try nine you silly old man."
Katara's water whip lost its form for a moment when she heard Ty Lee's voice. Her eyes darted towards the door and saw Ty Lee standing tall and proud, running into the room was Aang… Sokka… Toph… and Suki. Katara's heart clenched at the sight of her friends, but she remembered that they were currently facing a deranged ex-Fire Lord and returned her attention to him.
"No." Zuko lowered his fire wall and stood straight. "This is my battle. I have to bring peace to the Fire Nation."
"And I have to bring peace to the world." Aang chimed in. "This is our battle. Now you all leave so you don't get hurt."
Katara glared at the two of them, "But Aang-"
Ozai yelled as he punched the air, and endless wave of fire hurling towards them. Aang used his air bending to block the fire, "Go! We'll be okay!"
Katara knew there was no time for it, but she leaned up and kissed Zuko, "Fight for us." Her hand lingered on his cheek before she ran out with the others.
"Katara!" Sokka pulled her towards him when the doors to the Court room had closed. "Oh, Katara. I was worried sick…" He held her out at an arm's distance and his soft face turned into a hard glare, "Why were you kissing Zuko?"
"… Now isn't the time, Sokka." Katara said quietly. Her eyes looked from Toph to Suki to Ty Lee and back at Sokka, "It's so good to see you all again. How did you…?"
"Well we've been in the Fire Nation for some time now." Toph began, "We lived under the guise that Sokka and Suki had eloped from some small Fire Nation village, and I was Suki's younger sister who tagged along. We found Aang just yesterday at a tea shop, and well… Ty Lee found us as well."
"I was looking for Aang, but I was so thrilled when I came upon you all as well! Oh, Katara, you'll be so proud of me when you hear this! Azula came looking for me yesterday. I don't know how she found me, but she did! She told me what had happened to you two, that you were being charged with treason and such. Azula wanted me to track down the Avatar and tell him to come help you guys. Azula did her own helping by having her father move the trial two days up."
"The sooner you two stood before the Court, the sooner the truth would come out…" Azula said softly.
"I found Aang and friends at the tea shop, and told them everything. Naturally they didn't believe me and thought it was some excuse for me to make them fall into a trap, but Aang told them I was probably speaking the truth. So, when Azula sent word to me this morning about your trial being today, we snuck into the Palace with Mai's help and waited!" Ty Lee was smiling brightly.
"Wow, guys…" Katara was at a loss for words. Here were her friends willingly working with their former enemies to save Katara and Zuko…
"I still want to know why you kissed Zuko." Sokka grumbled.
"I love him, Sokka." Katara said, a smile tugging at her lips.
*.*
Zuko was panting, parts of his skin screaming due to burns Ozai had inflicted upon him. He would not stop to take a quick breath, hesitate for a moment and let Ozai get the upper hand. As he sent a stream of fire towards his father, his eyes flicked to Aang for a fleeting moment. The young boy was keeping up nicely. Of course he was the Avatar, but he was still young.
Ozai lost his footing when he raised his arms to block his son's attack, and he fell to the ground, his back pressing against the stone floor.
This was the moment. All the suffering and pain would end. The world will be in balance once more in this moment.
Zuko let out a loud yell, his arms moving in the way his uncle had taught him all those months ago. Blue lightning shot from his fingertips and made their way straight into his father's chest.
The man writhed on the floor, and only when Zuko pulled his arm away, ending the bolt of lightning, Ozai lay still on the floor.
A haunting silence fell in the large room. Aang slowly walked towards the man on the ground. "Is he…?"
"Yes, he is." Zuko had barely gotten the words out before he fell to the ground unconscious.
"Zuko!" Aang rushed over to him, his yell alerting the woman who stood outside the door waiting for her love to exit the room.
The doors opened, and Katara ran in, "Zuko?!"
*.*
It had been a week since the battle with Ozai, and Zuko had recovered fully. Katara had spent hours healing him each day, and in the end she was able to seal all his wounds, and in their wake were scars that told the story of how Zuko finally faced his father.
Within the week since Ozai's fall, Azula had been speaking to a private physiatrist, and everyone around her saw the change slowly becoming stronger. Ty Lee was back in the Fire Nation Palace, running around in clothing that Katara still thought shouldn't be worn outside of the privacy of Ty Lee's bedroom. Mai had taken the place as the Head of Court and was currently pressing laws and addressing issues that needed to be taken care of. The slaves, every last one of them, had been given their freedom. Not only did Zuko give them their freedom, but each of them received a bag of gold coins and new, proper clothing. For those who didn't have homes Zuko agreed to pay for a room at any hotel until they could get back on their feet again. Kya had remained in the Palace to stay with her daughter. Sokka too had his own room in the Palace until he was ready to leave, and had finally come to terms to the fact that his baby sister was in love with the soon to be crowned Fire Lord. Suki had gone back to Kyoshi Island to help oversee repairs and rebuilding their community's heart after the Fire Nation troops left, but she had just come back to the Fire Nation earlier in the day. Aang had been writing up plans to go over with Zuko once he was up to it. Toph was enjoying the perks of staying in a Palace and using the new, paid servants as much as possible. And lastly, Iroh. Zuko's uncle had praised him the moment he saw him, telling him that he had finally let go of his old self, his fears and inner conflict, and taken control of his life and destiny. He was now living in Ba Sing Se, the Jasmine Dragon back into his possession. Just like Suki, he was in the Fire Nation and had arrive the day before.
Katara was walking towards the kitchens, making sure everything was planned the way it should be.
"Hello, My Lady."
"Oh, hush, Jiang. You know not to address me in such a manner." Katara smiled at Jiang as she walked into the kitchens, seeing a few servants hustling around to make last minute touches to the food. "How is everything?"
"Perfect. Zuko's Coronation Feast will be the yummiest in history, and if our calculations are correct there will be plenty leftovers to send throughout the city." Jiang was adding seasonings to one of the platters of meat.
"Great. He's finally walking around with being in pain. Huan told him that the Coronation can be put off for another few days, but he refused to put it off any longer." Katara leaned against the counter.
"The Fire Nation can not be without their Fire Lord. And soon they'll have their Fire Lady as well." Jiang gave Katara a smirk.
"I don't think so. Zuko has so much to worry about now, marriage is nowhere in his plans, at least not anytime soon." Katara's eyes traveled to the sun outside, and she gasped, "I'm late! It's nearing sunset and I'm not even ready!"
*.*
"You look beautiful, Katara!" Ty Lee stepped back from Katara and looked over her dress.
Katara turned to look at herself in the mirror and smiled. She wore a white cheongsam that was lined with a beautiful ocean blue. Her hair was styled up in a traditional Fire Nation bun with a small fire emblem comb holding her hair in place. She saw Zuko walk up behind her in the mirror and smiled when he kissed her neck.
"You look beautiful."
"So do you." Katara looked at his white, layered robes. His hair was pulled up in a top knot, held together by a red ribbon. Soon the Fire Lord crown- comb would be placed into his hair, and he would be the official new reigning Fire Lord.
"White signifies a blank page, a new start. You can take white and turn it to any color you want. This is our white blank page. Our new start, Zuko. A new start for the Fire Nation and the entire world." Her lips gently touched his in a loving kiss.
On this day, Zuko was crowned as Fire Lord, and he promised not only his subjects but every living person throughout the world that a time for change had finally come. A time for peace was finally here. They would work together to rebuild the world and establish the peace that no one knew of. They would build a new world for themselves, a world where every bender was equal, every non-bender was equal, everyone was equal. Equality and peace had finally shown their lights over the three Nations, and Zuko knew it was his destiny to ensure those lights never faded. With the help of Katara, the Avatar, his new friends, his uncle, they would rebuild the world and restore peace and bring about equality.