Author'sNote: Oh I know. It has been FAR too long since my last update, and I swear it was because of a bad internet connection (alright, I was making a few art pieces as well, but it was just to pass the time between being able to type and having absolutely no connection at all) I really want to thank the following people for their support.
Dragon's Maiden Slave, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Squirrelrock, Kat, Jen, storyoftheunknownfangirl, and Sokka AKA Wang Fire.
Their reviews made my days so much better. Ta, mates ;)
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Sokka stared at Azula, dumbstruck. What did she just say? He felt all the bones and muscles in his body turn to jelly as her words started to sink in.
She was pregnant...Azula was pregnant. With HIS child. Wait a minute.
"Woah...woah woah. One minute, I see you curled up on your bed in agony, looking like you're about to die at any second. And the next thing I know, you're pregnant!"
Azula crossed her arms over her chest, setting a stern face. Typical male.
"Yea I wasn't exactly expecting it either. I was taking precautions."
Sokka looked at her quizzically, "Precautions? I mean, obviously, there's no questioning that it happened," he smirked, grinning to himself, "but, how could you take precautions?"
Azula rolled her eyes at him and sighed up to the ceiling, "Well, I WAS taking a special tea that many women take in order to prevent situations like this." She narrowed her eyes and looked away angrily, "But somehow...it didn't work."
The Fire Princess wouldn't face admitting she could be wrong. It just had to have been the tea!
Sokka reclined further onto the pillows, setting his legs up on the bed and crossed his feet over each other. He looked at the girl beside him who still faced away moodily. Though it was all a big shock, he couldn't help but feel a little pride in his chest. The warrior grinned and drew circles in the silk sheets, trying to distract himself from looking at her. What was it about a woman that made her glow so brightly at times like these?
Oh right, she was a fire bender, she had a natural glow.
It then occured to him that his child, son or daughter, might end up a fire bender as well! His face lit up at the thought and he leaned over to put a comforting arm around her shoulders, drawing her close in to his chest. Azula thought about fighting and pushing him away, but a feeling deep down yearned for the contact. She rested, thought hesitantly, against his lean chest and sighed in annoyance.
"You know, this isn't such a bad thing. Not at all, actually. It'll have my good looks, our intelligence and your awesome power. It's gonna be one gifted kid."
Azula felt her skin begin to crawl the more he spoke about it. Katara's intial offer was starting to sound better and better. But she would wait it out a little while longer before she made any final decisions.
Besides, she was one of the most powerful Fire Benders in the world, and her own brother was just revealed as the MOST Powerful bender of all time. At least her offspring with Sokka wouldn't be a total loss.
She gazed back at the tribesman, who was grinning like a slapped fool. She lazily rolled her eyes and shook her head. Do I really have that much patience?
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Katara watched as Zuko's skin flashed repeatedly from pale to red and back again. Smoke and steam billowed from his nose and his eyes glowed vibrantly, his pupils reflecting green and blue. All in all, she thought he was going to spontaneously combust.
"Zuko?...sweetie, maybe you need to calm down a bit?"
He gripped his fists, arms straight at his sides. Fire suddenly started licking up from his hands and feet, yet Katara could distinctly feel the hallway getting colder and colder.
Sure enough, the walls and ceiling had become coated in ice and frost. It would only be a matter of time before an earthquake and a hurricane blasted through the room. She grabbed Zuko's hand, careful to coat her own in a freezing glove of water that she had remembered to bring along in the skein she retrieved from her house. The water sizzled upon contact with his skin, just as she thought.
"Zuko."
Gold eyes were slowly darkening to a honeyed amber.
"Zuko?"
A reddish tinge glazed his irises and Katara knew she needed to do something quick. She grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him down to eye level with her, eyes stern and commanding.
'ZUKO! Stop! Right now! Look what you are doing!"
The intensity in his eyes faded as he looked at her, fires vanishing and the ice on the walls evaporating. He took his face from her hands and shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
"I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me."
Katara smiled at him and gave him a hug, "I think you were having big-brother issues?"
"Issues? What, for Azula? No, she can take care of herself. There's no reason for me to react like that."
The water bender took her arms from his waist and put her hands at her hips, "No reason? Zuko, this is sort've a BIG DEAL. You were acting like any good brother would act...Well, maybe a little over the top, but still. You care more for your sister than what you want to admit."
Zuko thought back over the past few months since they had arrived on the island. At first, the animosity was just as strong as ever. But after Azula met Sokka and Katara and Altjira came into his life, the sibling rivalry was tense at best. Even the ride home today was placid. Azula was ALWAYS better than him, and yet, after she found out about his power, she wasn't as infuriated as he would have expected. Or, at least, she wasn't going to show how furious she might have been.
Perhaps it was the hormones?
Zuko looked to his left and down the hall. A sleek shape was gliding in to him and he turned his left side to it as Altjira landed on his shoulder. Katara looked at the dragon on its perch, curiously smaller than she had seen it earlier today, always wondering how Zuko seemed to know where it was or when it was near.
"I didn't hear a thing. How did you know Altjira was flying in?"
Zuko smiled and winked at her, "A little birdy told me."
She gave a look that made him chuckle. He looked up at Altjira, who had turned it's head to him. They both turned to her as she raised her right eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.
"If you really want to know, then you can ask Altjira." he gestured up to the little dragon.
Katara rolled her eyes and sighed up to the ceiling, "Really? You want me to ask your pet dragon-lizard? You can't just tell me you have a whistle or something?"
"Not a pet. I don't come to whistles any more than you do..."
Katara's eyes grew wide and her arms uncrossed slowly as she looked back at Altjira. It was partially leaning down Zuko's upraised left arm and was reaching out to her with it's snout. She gasped as it's lips parted and two distinct voices sounded in unison.
"And I'm not a Lizard. I doubt a lizard could have saved your life today."
Katara's hands shot up to cover her mouth as she stared at Altjira, and then at Zuko, who was smirking. She couldn't believe what she had just seen and heard. Her first instinct was to turn and flee, but she stood her ground, acknowledging that it was still only Zuko and Altjira. Altjira who could talk. She did wince however, as it spoke again.
"You're Welcome, by-the-way."
The water bender steadied herself and lowered her hands from her face. She was acting silly, she knew. All day today, it was surprise after surprise after surprise. What was one more? She looked between the two, noticing their identical glowing eyes again. It was starting to make sense.
"Yes. We share many more things than just our eyes. Our minds, our powers, our souls, Zuko and I are one in the same. You'll understand better later on. But right now,"
The dragon launched itself from Zuko's arm, flew down the hall and out of sight as the handle on the door to Azula's room began to turn.
The door opened and Azula and Sokka stepped out. At first, Zuko managed a slight smile and acknowledge the warrior. But a quick glance from Azula, filled with contempt and malice, made a rush of aggression flow down his spine. He was certain, somewhere in the house, Altjira's spinal spikes were standing rigid.
Two pairs of yellow eyes locked onto each other, set apart only by intensity and a unique glowing light. It was obvious she didn't want to share the news with her brother, and he was more than sure he didn't want to hear it from her. Regardless of how his sister felt, how Katara felt, and how HE felt, he was ready to incinerate Sokka.
He turned to the tribesman, who grinned half-heartedly. The Fire Prince advanced angrily at him, arms clutching for Sokka. Before he could grab him, both Katara and Azula shielded Sokka, pushing him behind their bodies and away from Zuko's crushing hands.
The three younger benders yelled out and jumped back as Zuko's entire body engulfed into flames, a blinding white light piercing through the darkness of hallway. And as suddenly as it was there, it vanished, imploding in on itself. The fire, and Zuko, were completely gone, not a trace of singed carpet or soot any where.
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"Zuko! Altjira? Where are you?! Please, come back, Zuko! Please!"
Katara ran out the doors and into the vast backyard of the estate, slipping in through the trees of the forest. If she could find one of them, the other was sure to be somewhere close by. She kept up her pace for a while more, but the exhaustion of the day was beginning to take effect.
The water bender halted in a large clearing, bending forward to rest her arms on her knees and gasping in life-giving oxygen. When she caught enough air, she stood and looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her fiancé or a wingbeat of the dragon.
The eerie silence if the woods around was broken as she called out again.
"Zuko! Altjira! ZUUuKO! Please Come Back!"
She didn't hear a sound, but rather, felt the presence of something coming towards her and turned to see Altjira gliding gracefully in. Like earlier, the dragon was again larger than she had ever seen it. But this time, as it landed and stood on four legs, it's head was easily the same height off the ground as a large ostrich-horse.
"Katara, what are you doing this far out? You should be back at the estate with the others."
instead of being frightened like she was the first time it spoke, Katara walked up to the dragon and placed her arms around it's neck, hugging up to the smoothe scales. Warmth engulfed her, easing her exhaustion and calming her nerves.
"Zuko was upset. He just...I don't know, disappeared. So I ran out here to try to find him and I hoped that, maybe if I found you, he would be with you. Where is he?"
Altjira stepped into the hug, knowing she would need the comfort. A soothing hum vibrated throughout it's throat, but other than that, the dragon remained silent.
"So, just because my wife-to-be is in such an emotional state, that meant you could steal her away from me?"
The unmistakably deep and rasping voice made Katara turn and immediately rush to waiting arms. She held him for a moment before breaking away to retort.
"Zuko! I know you were angry but that was NO reason to disappear like that!"
Despite the fact that he knew she was upset with him, he still couldn't help but smile at her. With her angrily flashing eyes and pouting lips, she was just too gorgeous to take seriously right now. He reached out to her and pulled her in again for another hug.
"I'm sorry, Katara. I really thought I could handle that situation but I didn't, so instead if destroying your brother, I came out here. I swear I was going to be right back in once I controlled my temper."
His sweet smile and loving embrace caught her off guard, and she lost all train of thought, anger fading away. Though she still gave him a mock glare and turned away, arms crossing over her chest.
"Well, you should know by now that you can't just leave me behind and think you can get away. You're mine and there is nothing you can do to change that."
Zuko grinned and leaned beside her, trying to look her in the eye.
"Can't you forgive me? Isn't there anything I could do to gain your forgiveness?"
She held her chin up and closed her eyes, "Oh there are plenty of things. And it is going to take all of them for me to forgive you. I suggest you start now."
The prince slipped his arms around her waist and pressed his body up against hers, running his hands across her abdomen and down the sides of her hips. He kissed the left side of her neck, eliciting a shudder from her.
"Well, I think all of those could be managed, but so that we can validate this forgiveness" he kissed up to her jaw and nuzzled her ear, whispering to her, "I believe a marriage at the end of two weeks and another week of uninterrupted you-and-me time should be more than enough to make the score even."
Katara smiled and laced her hands with his, turning her face to kiss him, "Make it a marriage at the end of next week and another two weeks of uninterrupted you-and-me time, and that should make it just about square."
"It's a deal."
"Then. Under the eye of Altjira, we have a deal."
Both the dragon and the prince lighted simultaneously on her comment, him smiling brightly and Altjira thrumming loudly.
The couple embraced and kissed deeply, visions running full tilt in Zuko's head making his heart race with anticipation.
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Aang watched as huge, green eyes slowly opened against a dark grey face, blinking dazedly. The lemur was finally starting to come around and it chirruped quietly as the air bender placed the last bits of fruit he could find near it. When it finally came to, it jumped up with a frightened squeal, ducking into the nearest tree and out of sight.
"Hey wait! It's alright little guy! It's only me out here, that nasty flying lizard is gone. He won't bother you any more."
The Avatar tried to sound as nurturing and calming as possible, staying sitting by the rock face where the little animal was laying. Eventually, after smelling the sweet scent of fruit, the lemur poked it's face out of the shrubs, nervously watching the sky. Aang cautiously grabbed a piece of fruit and held it out to it, smiling cheerfully.
"Here you go! You can have some, it's good!"
He took a bite and offered it again, this time, getting the reaction he wanted. The lemur jumped out and landed close sniffing at his hand. After shifting around a few more times and scanning the clouds, it snatched the offering from Aang's hand and began to eat heartily.
"See buddy, it's alright. Nothing is going to hurt you now. I promise."
The air bender sat with the lemur, talking to it reassuringly. After a time, the animal became comfortable enough to sit with Aang, listening to him explain his current situation and voicing his opinion about the "New Avatar."
"I don't understand. I didn't ever really know anything about the Avatar, but what I did know was that the Avatar was the one person who could master all four elements," he looked into the twinkling green eyes staring up at him from his lap.
"And that's just it...the Avatar is the ONE person. There can't be two of us."
The lemur chirruped a few times before pushing it's snout up to his face and sniffing him curiously. It smelled of peaches and even had a bit of residue smeared around it's muzzle and the sides of it's face. Aang smiled and patted it gently.
"You know. You need a name. How about..." He picked the bits of fruit from the lemur's fur and chuckled.
"Momo. I'll call you, Momo."
In answer, the lemur gurgled out a series of chirps and bounded up from Aang's lap, searching for more fruit.
The Avatar watched him for a few minutes before a tingling sensation began working it's way up his spine. Momo seemed to sense it as well and stood still, looking up towards the sky for predators. Even though he saw nothing, the lemur screeched and vanished into the bushes.
"Hey! Wait! Where are you..." Aang jumped up to follow his companion, but what suddenly halted.
Two individual shapes were manifesting right in front of him, their bodies transparent but solid at the same time, like smoke. Eventually, two distinguished men came into view, similar in appearance, with one being far more ancient than the other. They wore matching robes and had their hair pulled up in a top knot.
The younger of the two stepped forward, his burly brow arched menacingly, though he bowed in respect.
"Avatar Aang. It is an honour to finally meet you. My name is Sozin, and his is Azulon."
The other spirit nodded in greeting, but stayed silent. Aang cautiously bowed at the two, unsure of how to react. Sozin hid a smirk and continued talking, careful not to look directly into Aang's eyes.
"We understand that you are having some trouble here in this world. We feel your angst, your frustrations, all the sorrows you are experiencing. Azulon and I are offering our services, to help you with what ever is ailing your...heart."
The young airbender thought about it, his heart still aching from everything he has gone through. Zuko had taken everything.
"How could you help me with my problems?"
Aang eye'd them curiously, almost in disbelief that two spirits could help solve his issues.
Sozin smiled, narrowing his eyes, "It is quite simple. You need to get rid of the issue completely. Better yourself, Avatar, and defeat your opponent. Then everything that was...taken, shall become yours once more."
Aang tilted his head to the left and cupped his chin between his left thumb and index finger. Defeat Zuko? Was it possible?
"So you're saying I should become a better Avatar, and that would help me?"
"Yes. We will help you train to become a more powerful Avatar. THE Avatar. Once you become who the world expects you to be, and better, then nothing will stand in your way. People will respect you. And those who did not think you worthy, will bow down to you."
The monk lingered on his words. The entire reason he was out here now was because someone called him an imposter. And the reason someone called him an imposter was because of Zuko. If he could show them that he was just as great as Zuko, or even better, then people wouldn't judge him so offhandedly. But would Katara like him?
Well, she did seem to like him more when he showed off his skills...
"Fine. When do we start?"
The two spirits seem to swell, their smoky haze swirling around them faster. Sozin tilted his head slightly, smiling.
"We will gather our knowledge and find you. Just be ready at any time."
With that, they vanished, leaving behind a confused, but anticipating Avatar.
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"So, quite the eventful day."
Sokka was seated next to Azula on the big lounge chair in the front room. Night had fallen and everyone had met up back at the estate. Everyone except Aang. No one knew where he was but they understood he could take care of himself.
Toph reclined on chair a diagonal to the couple on the sofa, her back to the arm rest and legs draped over the other, chuckling to herself.
"Boy. You Water Tribe sure know how to get things done, don't you?"
She chuckled again, shaking her head. Amala smiled from the seat beside Toph, inclining her head to them.
"Well, I think you two will make wonderful parents. I don't believe either of you have the ability to be anything but wonderful."
Azula raised her brow to the young air bender. She certainly knew the right words to say, didn't she?
She sighed. How much longer was it going to be? They were all waiting for Zuko and Katara to get back. The Fire Prince had gone off to meet with the Fire Sages and arrange their wedding. Though Azula never cared for such celebrations, or festivities in general, she agreed to stand at Katara's side. And the look that her brother gave her also meant that Katara would be doing to same for her. Ugh...Marriage.
She looked back at Sokka, annoyance starting to build. If anyone wore the pants in the relationship, it was Azula, and the longer she looked at her boyfriend, the less and less she began to like it.
The fire bender got up and walked out the room, trying to stabilize her mind. She was the coldest, most ruthless person in the world. She couldn't be doing this. She gave Sokka a look that turned his blood to ice when he tried to stand up and follow her. Right now, all she wanted to do was be alone.
Walking out to the back yard, past her training area, and into the vast expanse of the Estate ground, she stood in the moonlight, sighing out and attempting to free her mind. This entire situation was regrettably more than she could handle. And, as far as Azula knew, she could handle anything.
The deep red silk of her tunic gleamed purple as she sat on the ground, sighing out slowly. How could she turn back time and make it all go away? Make everything go back to normal and settle the disturbances in her mind?
"I could. Everything you want, I could make it all go away instantly."
Azula peered out into the darkness, illuminated only by the light of a half filled moon. A dark mass was a few metres away and directly in front of her. But it only looked like a mound of leaves on the ground, no real shape to it. The odd voices sounded out in the night again and she listened intently, rather than in fear.
"If it is your absolute wish, then I can grant you that peace of mind. But it will be at a cost. The entire reason you feel the way you do is because of what is growing inside. I believe that now is not the right time for you, and that being lifted of it would only ease your discomfort. But I know how you feel about it, as most mother's do. It is an ingrained instinct."
The fire bender narrowed her eyes and tried to focus on the location of the voice, but only found the mound. There was no harrowing feeling or anxiety, just the calmness of the night and what ever it was that spoke to her. She decided to humour it.
"And how exactly could you do that? The water peasant said she could but, I didn't exactly feel like being probed by my brother's girlfriend any more than what I already endured. And how do you know about this?"
The voice carried to her ears like a parent speaking to it's child, reassuring.
"You won't have to endure any discomfort from me. I only want to help. I know far more than what you could deem possible and because you are of a relation so dear to Zuko, I offer you my service. The instability in your mind would only cause you and everyone else more harm, let me take it from you. Have the child at a later time, when you are ready. But not Now."
Azula didn't question any of the things she heard, but took her time deciding on her choice. What ever the voice was, if it could grant her this one favour, why not take it? What is the worst that could happen? It play a trick on her? In that case, she could just destroy it.
"Show yourself and we'll talk face to face. Show me how you can make it all go away, and then I'll make my decision."
The Princess watched as the mound in front of her began to shift. She heard rustling, like heavy leather being rubbed together and what sounded like tendons snapping. Before she could fully understand, a beast stood in front of her, golden eyes glowing in the dark.
Zuko's dragon.
"You! You're that thing that flies around my brother. What are you!"
Altjira crawled closer to Azula, it's low, groveling movements appearing sinister. Had it been drooling from the mouth and snarling, Azula would've run away in fear rather than try to face it. It spoke again as it moved closer.
"What I am does not matter. I have seen your future and it is grim. What lies ahead of you is wrought with hatred, anger, utter destruction, and chaos. What ever you decide tonight, will affect you and everything around you. Including Zuko. Which is why I am here. If you choose my assistance tonight, then you may have avoided the first series of things to come."
Altjira craned it's neck off the ground, looking straight at her with it's piercing stare.
"However, I am afraid to say that, despite being able to alleviate some of your discomfort, and a major factor in your decisions to come, I cannot say that your future will be any better. Only you can decide how to act accordingly. I can just tell you now that, if you decide to keep your child's life...you may later lose not only it, but your own life as well. I will give you time."
The dragon stood up and unfolded it's wings. It took off silently, gliding gracefully only a few feet about the ground. Azula lost sight of it after a moment and was left with the grave decision. She wrapped her arms around her body and pulled her knees close. Either way, her future was dim as best. But all she had to do was make a decision and hope for the best.
She closed her eyes and concentrated, hoping to find the answer deep inside herself, searching like she always had to, all alone.
The image of her brother appeared behind her eyes. All those years of different favouritism. Mother always loved him best. And father only loved me because I am a prodigy.
But could he help me now?
She stood and walked back towards her house, hoping to make sense of the situation and the decision at hand.
Either way, someone had to die.
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A warm light flooded the room, pinks, whites and soft oranges washing the walls. A light haze hung in the calm afternoon air, tiny particles shimmering in the rays of sunshine. Inside and to the right wall lay a crib made out of intricate woodwork. The colour was peach suffused with red streaks trimming the edges. She felt herself walking in, smelling the sweet scents of eucalyptus and santalum.
An urge to see what lay in the tiny bed made her entre and cross the room in a few strides, stopping short and looking at the bed. Through the rails, and partially covered, a small, dark haired form lay sleeping on it's stomach.
She smiled, feeling anxious to hold it.
chack...chack...chack
A scraping sound echoed around the room, disturbing the silence of the afternoon. Azula turned to see what it was, anger eminent on her face. Any moment now and the sound would wake the slumbering infant. She was going to destroy whatever was causing the racket.
But when she opened her arms out and tried to summon a flame, nothing happened. Not even a hint of smoke appeared from her palms.
She turned back to the bed, wanting to hold her child protectively in her arms, but she halted before she could take a step closer.
A little green eye was peeking out at her through the wooden rails, the tiny black pupil edged in emerald. It stared unblinking at her as the form began to sit up and rise to look over the top of the crib.
Two flesh coloured, long and pointed ears emerged first, followed by dark, ruffled hair. The face that was finally uncovered nearly made Azula scream out.
It was horribly disfigured, a mix of human and something else. The eyes were identical in shape to hers, but the rest of the face was unlike anything horrific she had ever seen before. It's snout was long and narrow, ending in a flattened, human-like nose. The lips underneath were smiling slightly, reminiscent of a camel's snout.
Two small hands rose to grasp the wooden rails, quite human, but the fingers were long and pointed, with small white claws curving out the tips. The index finger of it's right hand was scraping the hooked nail along the wood, gouging out yellowed marks and making the ominous sound.
chack...chack...chack
Azula tried hard not to scream as the infant pulled back it's head, mouth splitting open to reveal rows on nasty looking teeth, most pointing and hooking back, some square and human-like. It let out a vicious scream, tongue lolling out and drooling everywhere.
Azula thrashed about, kicking and punching. Her foot collided with the soft center of Sokka, who sat up in pain, only to be kicked again in the side of the face. He fell to his left and tumbled off the bed, holding his head and stomach.
"Azula! Wake up please!"
The Princess heard herself yell out at the same time Sokka did, sitting up and breathing hard. Her eyes were wild with fear and she grasped the bed sheets around her. Though he was still in pain, Sokka got up and hurried to her, putting a comforting arm around her and holding her close.
"Everything is ok, Azula. You were just having a nightmare. Everything is fine."
He rubbed her back, trying to calm her down and it seemed to work, as she leaned into his arms and buried her face in his neck. She didn't cry, but couldn't shake the feeling of the dream, how horrible it was. And the creatures voice echoing through her mind.
I could make it all go away.
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The days were passing quicker and quicker each time. Zuko proposed they got married and agreed to a wedding in nine days. Now the wedding was tomorrow. His anticipation was through the roof, but he was glad things had turned out the way they did.
Uncle let slip to Ursa of the events, and though he had feared the worst from her, he was ultimately surprised that she found the event beyond exciting. She was happy for her son. She loved her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. But she did express her concern in the serious of the situation. Ozai would no be so lenient to their marriage.
"Well. When we go home at the end of the year, then he and I will just have a nice heart-to-heart conversation about it."
Zuko smiled charmingly, but to his uncle and mother, who saw the glint in his eye, knew it would not be such a pleasant event when the Fire a Lord found out.
"But, as long as he doesn't find out about it until we're already home, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about."
They each agreed and decided to keep it a private celebration. Only the Royal Family and their personal friends would be present. Though Toph would have to agree she didn't care for formal parties.
No one had been able to talk to Aang. Though they had seen him numerous times in school, he elected to begin his Avatar Training with the Elders and couldn't be interrupted. Though most of the time, he left school to train exclusively with his new spiritual mentors. Everyone who did manage to see him had to agree that his bending prowess had become more advanced, even learning to earth bend within the week.
Sozin and Azulon knew it would only be a matter of time.
So Avatar Aang would not be attending the wedding. Zuko silently thanked the luck. He honestly didn't want him there anyway. He knew how the boy felt about Katara and knew it would be only trouble if he was there.
He stood with Sokka at the Tailor's building, watching the woman fuss over the tribesman. Though it would have been better to immediately have gone to buy their Formal Suits the day after he proposed, he found himself here, one day left, frantically trying to find the right measurements for his friend.
"It really isn't my fault. The Professors have me on a tight schedule. And then the Sergeants are constantly nagging me to concentrate on my blueprints and mechanics. And then, when I finally get out of class, I'm running rampant with Azula's errands. I have to make her happy, you know?"
Zuko nodded and smiled when Sokka yelled out, a pain in his backside causing him to jump.
"Stop MOVING I say! How do you expect me to make a Formal Suit for him when this oaf can't sit still?! It was a miracle already that I managed to put together his Formal Robes!"
Sokka gave Zuko an angry look, pursing his lips together to keep from speaking his mind. The Prinice simply shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to think if some thing that could bribe his friend to stand still long enough to get his suit done.
"You know, Sokka. If you can sit still long enough to get this done, I know a Restaurant with a buffet right around the block."
The mention of food triggered an immediate response in the warrior, making him stand stock still. After another fifteen minutes, the hemming was done and they were out the door.
In twenty-four hours, they would be sitting in the Fire Sage's Temple. Sokka would be giving away his sister to Zuko.