The only thing I own is the plot on your screen. If you plan to take my ideas and put them into your own fanfic, claiming to be your own mind that thought them up, get a hobby. Plagiarism is wrong, don't do it!
Throughout the following month, a lot of healing took place. After Katara recuperated from her concussion, the Palace healer finally consented to her healing the Fire Lord with her waterbending. With the advantage of that innate power she was able to take away most of her husband and daughter's severe burns, but everything that had to do from internal bleeding to broken bones were left up to time and medicine to cure.
After two weeks of being in the quiet infirmary, the Fire Lord was allowed to retreat to his bedroom where the Lady would take care of him. Unfortunately, Luna was to remain at the infirmary with the healer until she could breathe without being under constant watch. The healer had solemnly informed both parents that the ash from the fire had really affected her delicate lungs, causing her breathing to be slow and forced, and that the chances that she would survive were slim.
But she had survived despite the odds. "A true miracle," the healer had said one night as he watched Katara look into her child's crib, a proud smile on her face.
Luna was returned to her nursery where a trusted duenna was there day and night, watching over her. The careless guards that used to guard the Princess's nursery were fired and replaced by two royal Fire Nation elite soldiers that took a vow that if anything were to happen to the Princess, they would pay with their very own lives.
It was not until a month later that things began to get back to normal. The healed Fire Lord and Lady returned to their position on the throne. The Princess, who still remained a bit sick, returned to her usually cheerful self, her mind seemingly erased of all the painful things she had gone through.
It was reported that Zula died in the explosion. Her body was found with the remains of the shack, charred and cut, but it was said by a physician that her face seemed to have held a calm expression throughout the entire thing.
Jet's body, on the other hand, was not found. In fact, none of his Freedom Fighters were. After the incident, every man and boy leaving for the Earth Kingdom by ship was inspected. No signs of any of them. Wanted posters were put up everywhere with a picture of Jet, the Duke, Pipsqueak, and Long Shot.
But all in all, everyone's attempts to find the criminals were made in vain. They were never found.
Zuko awoke first, his body naturally feeling the sun rise over the horizon, and turned his head to see his wife sleeping peacefully beside him, a faint smile on her beautiful face. He sighed deeply and looked over to the window where he saw soft yellow beams of light shine through the thin red curtains. The Fire Lord allowed a small smile to slip onto his face upon noticing that even through the glass window, the birds could be heard singing their morning songs; the parents were probably waking up their children, preparing them for the long day ahead.
He heard the quiet yawn and groggy movements of a waking woman beside him, her mouth making small noises as she stretched. Zuko turned his head to see her face staring up at the ceiling as though in thought, her blue eyes closing for a long period of time before opening again. She yawned once more, a slender hand going over her mouth.
"Tired?" Zuko asked quietly and smirked upon seeing Katara jump at the sound of his voice.
The Waterbender's face turned to look at him, her brow furrowed in annoyance. "Don't do that to me," she said and weakly slapped his arm as she turned on her side. "I thought you were asleep."
He chuckled softly and shook his head. "Three years of marriage, Katara, three--"
"Actually, it's going to be four in two months," she corrected and smiled teasingly at her husband, who had given her a surprised face. "But please, continue with what you were saying."
"You should know well that when the sun rises, I do too."
Katara laughed. "Well, I thought today would be an exception." She placed her arm over his bare chest, indulging in his body heat as she moved closer to him. "Since…you know…"
"You thought I'd be tired out?" he asked sensually and neared his face to hers, his golden eyes locked on her blue ones.
The Lady kissed her husband's lips lightly, her hand traveling from his chest to his face. "Well, it seemed like you were last night," she answered between kisses. "I just thought…" She felt his hands slide over her waist, caressing her skin tenderly as one of their kisses began to deepen.
He slowly began to straddle her as they remained in their passionate kiss, her thin arms wrapping around his muscular body and her lips fervently kissing his own. She moaned into him upon feeling his tongue passing itself over her teeth.
"My Lord!" a loud voice yelled urgently through the bedroom door, interrupting the couple's loving moment. "My Lord, you are needed in the war chamber immediately!"
Zuko reluctantly pulled himself from his wife's kiss, an exasperated sigh escaping the both of them. "They're kidding me, right?"
She giggled softly and briefly pecked his lips. "Go see what it is," Katara whispered and nudged him on. "Come on."
"I'm sorry," the Fire Lord apologized and removed himself from over her, a hand passing itself over his face in obvious frustration as he sat down on the edge of the mattress. "I'm awake, soldier, you may leave!" Zuko yelled, trying to sound calm. He heard the footsteps of the guard fade away and began to get up until he felt two warm hands gently fall on his shoulders, massaging them gently.
"Relax before you get out there," Katara whispered into his ear, concern written in her voice. "You don't want them to think something else is wrong." She watched her husband nod and sigh as he stood up, her hands sliding down his back. He looked over at her momentarily, a soft smile on his face and headed toward the lavatory to change into his robes.
She entered her daughter's nursery, her yellow robes sweeping the marble floor softly and a warm smile on her face upon seeing the old duenna playing with her child on the floor.
"Hello, Kina," Katara greeted quietly and bowed her head.
The woman stood from her place and bowed graciously. "Good day, Lady Katara," she whispered and held her wrinkled hands in front of her.
"How has the Princess been?" the royal Waterbender asked and picked up her lively daughter, smiling when she gave her a small kiss.
"Oh, she's been fine. Been playing the whole day with her dolls. Though, she's taken a liking to playing with water; spent a whole hour bathing. She refused to get out; wanted to play in the 'wawa' she claimed." The old woman's eyes flickered between the Lady's and the Princess's blue eyes and smiled. "Must be the Water Tribe blood in her."
Katara smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Must be." She looked at the toys scattered carelessly on the floor before glancing at the door. "I'll stay with her, Kina. You may leave."
"Are you sure, my Lady?"
The Water Tribe girl nodded. "Yes. Go to your family, I'll stay here with mine." She watched a look of complete joy and gratitude cross the woman's face before she heard a content "Thank you, Your Highness" pass the duenna's lips.
Katara watched the woman leave, pausing for a moment at the door to bow one last time. "Well, it's just you and me today," the young mother whispered and set her child down on the ground. After clearing a small space on the floor with her foot, she took a seat next to her.
Luna lifted a small wooden rhino from her pile of toys and handed it to her mother. "Baba!" she yelled excitedly and grabbed a small rag doll. "Neh li yi."
The Lady gently grabbed the Princess's toy and observed the intricate details engraved on its face. It was a Komodo Rhino carved out of wood, its surface sanded perfectly. "Where do you get such wonderful things?" she asked her playing daughter, the rag doll in her small hand.
"Beh beh!" the Princess ordered incoherently, ignoring her mother's query. "Shi ba yo hi!" She picked up another doll--this one made of the finest china--and shoved it into her mother's lap. "Meh?" she asked and cocked her head to the side.
"Yes, Luna, of course."
Luna nodded her head sternly, as though in agreement, and returned to her various toys. "La la la," she hummed and picked up random knickknacks, which she later tossed aside after finding one that either looked better or did more things.
"You know, when I was your age, the only thing I had for a toy was a doll made of scraps of wood. Its clothes were made of pieces of cloth that my mom didn't use." Katara lifted the rhino in her hand and examined it more, her fingers gently caressing it. "You are a lucky little girl, Luna, and I hope you never take any of these things for granted."
A soft creaking sound filled the room as the door to the nursery opened slowly. Both mother and daughter looked up to see the Fire Lord under the doorframe, a warm smile on his face.
"Da!" the Princess shrieked happily and began to lift herself from the floor, her legs wobbling slightly as she tried to find her balance. She got up and allowed a few seconds to pass before walking carefully towards her father, her small feet crisscrossing each other every few steps (a drunk man's walk, Iroh would sometimes say).
Zuko took two steps and swiftly picked up his daughter, placing her on his hip. "Hey kid," he said and closed his eyes affectionately upon feeling wet lips plant themselves on his marred cheek.
"How was the meeting?" the Lady asked and got up, the rhino still in her grasp.
"A waste of time," he replied after a brief scoff. "Apparently, 'recent events' have given some of the Generals of the Fire Nation reason to 'search the country for any conspirers'. They want to literally exterminate fascists or communists that want to take me off the throne. They're suggesting that I increase our militia in case war breaks out. They wanted my permission to draft more men into the Army. Some even agreed that our Navy could use more help."
"War?"
A long silence fell between the two Royals before Zuko nodded. "Yes."
"I--but Fire Lord Ozai--I thought it was over."
"It is. Uncle says that they just want to start something with the other nations; he says that they want to take advantage of my 'inexperience' and try taking over the other nations again." He sighed heavily and set his daughter down after hearing her whine softly. "Don't worry about it, Katara. I'm not stupid." He watched his wife cross her arms and smirk and added quite ominously, "Don't, Katara."
"What? I wasn't going to say anything… smarty."
"There you are!" a cheerful voice declared. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Katara look past her husband and smiled. "Good day, Iroh."
The old General bowed his head respectfully before picking up the young Princess, who had been playing quietly on the floor while her parents conversed. "My sweet, what are you doing in this room on such a nice day? You should be playing outside in the gardens like normal children." He chuckled and kissed Luna on the forehead, avoiding his nephew's mildly annoyed expression.
"Neh li ooti?" the child asked, her blues eyes bright with joy and her arms wrapping themselves around her great uncle's neck.
"Of course dear!" Iroh agreed excitedly and began walking out of the nursery after giving Katara a questioning glance. "We can…ooti everyday!" The Princess squealed joyfully and waved goodbye to her parents as she left the room.
"Be careful!" the Lady yelled worriedly and sighed upon not hearing a response from Iroh but laughter from her daughter.
"What's an 'ooti'?" Zuko said suddenly, directing his wife's attention toward him.
"…What?" Katara asked questioningly, her clear eyes falling on her husband once more. "Oh! I don't know, but Kina says that at Luna's age, children begin to want to talk more so they make up their own words."
"Oh, well, has she said any new real words?"
Katara frowned. "I heard her say 'peasant' the other day…or at least attempting to."
"Katara, I swear that--"
"I know, Zuko. I'm thinking that she picked it up from your sister."
"Could be."
"She's also been saying 'wawa'…"
The Fire Lord smiled, crossing his arms. "Figures."
"Excuse me?"
"Well," he began to reason, "you are a Wawabender."
Katara laughed and began to walk out of the nursery. "Good point, genius."
It was around midday when Aang and Sokka finished packing up their things, fastening them on the flying bison's vast back. Appa just sat silently on the grass, unaware of the little girl who had crawled onto his thick tail and fallen asleep.
"Everything set?" Aang asked, looking over the fastened bags.
Sokka laughed. "Almost." He pointed downward, a soft smile on his face. "I think we should give the Princess back to her parents before they start thinking she was kid--"
"Luna! Luna! Where are you, child!"
"Too late." Sokka jumped down Appa's side and picked up his dormant niece from the bison's tail. "Over here, General Iroh!" he said and shook his head knowingly upon seeing the old man sigh in relief.
"Ah, there you are!" A bright smile crawled onto the old man's face as his sleeping granddaughter was handed to him. "Gave me a scare for a moment." Iroh looked at the Water Tribe warrior and laughed nervously. "You won't mention this to--"
"Don't worry," Sokka said. "We're leaving right now and I already said my goodbyes to my sister and Zuko."
"Ah, well, I hope you have a safe trip then." He bowed his head and managed to wave at the Avatar atop the flying bison without dropping the Princess. "Safe traveling, Aang."
"Thank you, Gene--er…Iroh," the young Avatar answered back, a twisted smile on his face. "Now, c'mon Sokka, if we want to get there by tonight, we need to leave now."
The warrior nodded and said goodbye to his in-law before climbing up Appa's white fur and onto his leather saddle.
"Yip yip!" Aang commanded cheerfully and waved at the Dragon of the West and the Princess as they took off. They ascended quickly into the air, the palace shrinking in size and the Fire Nation land expanding greatly below them. The pale yellow wheat fields waved to them in the distance as a soft zephyr passed them by.
"I'm going to miss them," Sokka said glumly.
"Me, too, Sokka. Me, too."
A/N- I know, I know, I fail at life for taking so long. Forgive me.
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