I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender, nor its characters.

Chapter One

Frantically pressing the button for the lift Zuko was close to have a heart attack. He could not be late. He just couldn't afford being late.

"Come on," he hissed, feeling drops of sweat on his forehead.

The lift finally arrived and he rushed in, searching for a tissue to dry his skin. Still panting a bit he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Everything had been totally fine when he had left his apartment. He had had enough time. But traffic jam, heavy rain and the oldest taxi driver the world had ever seen, had made him late.

But he could still make it. In three minutes just going onto the tenth floor, to the hall and take his seat on stage.

Oh no, who was he kidding? He was so going to be late! His father would kill him!

Not right now in front of all the people, but definitely later.

Quickly he pulled his phone out of his pocket and called his mother to tell her that he was going to be late. But she was not answering the phone.

"Urgh!" He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and glared at the display which showed that he had just passed the sixth floor.

This was immensely important. It was his father's first appearance on TV after he had announced his run for president. He had to make a good image and with a son coming late everything would look really bad. Zuko could not afford embarrassing his father again.

Once the lift's doors opened he rushed out, running as fast and quietly as he could toward the back entrance of the hall and nearly colliding with a stage worker as he wanted to open the door.

"Sorry!" he exclaimed and jumped over loose cables which were lying on the ground. He took a sharp turn left, threw his bag on a chair and blinked into the blazing spotlight.

Narrowing his eyes Zuko quickly tried to look as composed and calm as possible. He straightened his jackett and walked slowly to his chair next to his sister as if everything was okay.

It hadn't begun yet, so everything was okay. Zuko couldn't see the audience, but he knew they had seen him.

"What happened?" Azula whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

Zuko looked at the other seat next to him, on which his father sat, and opened his mouth to answer, but Ozai laid a hand on Zuko's leg and Zuko remained silent, only clearing his throat.

The next second the TV moderator mounted the stage and greeted the audience and the people in front of their TVs.

Zuko raised his eyebrows in surprise, since the moderator didn't look one bit like a normal TV moderator, but that was because he normally wasn't.

Chit Sang was a famous actor and boxer. He was a personal friend to his father and very popular.

Of course, Zuko thought. Leave it to dad to find a normally inappropriate guy for something, but who will do his job so well that everyone will love it even more.

"Good evening, Elementia! My name is Chit Sang and it is my great pleasure to guide you through the evening tonight! As you all know we will hold the presidential elections again in twelve months! And tonight! Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we all have the great pleasure to meet one of the candidates! You all probably know him! He is smart, successful and a family person. I'm talking about Kasaishi Ozai! You all know him as the leader of the Kasai company. Kasaishi is a really good business man, but since when is he into politics? Even I didn't know."

The audience laughed, when Chit Sang chuckled a bit.

Zuko looked tentatively at his father who smiled slightly.

"But I guess I've done enough talking now. It is Kasaishi who this show is about, after all. Now let's all greet him together! Kasaishi Ozai! Come on guys, some applause!"

The audience clapped their hands and cheered a bit. Zuko did even hear some "Wuhoo"s and whistles.

Ozai stood up and waved a bit at the audience, walking forward to stand next to Chit Sang who patted Ozai on the back.

"Ozai, it is great having you here."

"It is great being here, Chit Sang," Ozai replied.

"Now if you don't mind I'd like to start with a rather important question." Chit Sang looked deep into Ozai's eyes.

"Of course," Ozai said smiling.

"Why do you want to become president?"

It was dead quiet in the room, so quiet that one could hear the air conditioner.

Ozai left a dramatic pause, then cleared his throat and put his hands behind his back. "My ancestors founded this country. It is thanks to them that we're all living here. Nevertheless they were greedy and cruel people, which were rightly dethroned. Now I've seen this country stumbling and suffering a lot. I think it is time for my family to fulfill our duty again. Being in politics will give us the chance to help Elementia. We'll finally be able to right the wrongs our ancestors did. And as president I would have the chance to do so."

Chit Sang took a deep breath. "Wow. That sounds very honorable of you, Ozai. Standing up for the mistakes of your ancestors like that..."

Ozai shrugged. "You are right. I wasn't there, so these were not my crimes and mistakes, but ancestors are family. And in our family this is more important than anything else. It is time that we liberate us from the crimes of the past."

Zuko resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew his father felt bad for the crimes of their ancestors, but certainly not enough to want to become president. This was just an excuse.

Chit Sang nodded, putting a hand on Ozai's shoulders. "There you hear it! Family is more important than anything else!"

The audience cheered and clapped again.

Zuko's chest tightened.

"As we all can see," Chit Sang continued, "you have brought your family with you today, Ozai. Are they more important to you than anything else?"

Ozai smiled the smile he always used on his wife, when he wanted her to believe that there was nothing more dear to him than her. It was sweet and warm. "Of course they are."

"When one looks at your family, one could think that you are a perfect family, don't you think? A successful husband, a lovely wife, two good looking and also successful children as I heard. Would you agree?"

Ozai continued to smile, although it did kind of hurt his cheeks. "Not perfect, since no one is perfect, but to me, I'd say they are. I am immensely proud of my children."

To Zuko's horror his cheeks heated up and he felt like grinning like an idiot. His father was still proud of him! Well, he kind of had to say that, since he was on television, but still! All Zuko had ever wished for, came true. Hearing his father say that still had a great effect on him.

"This is good to hear, Ozai. But now, let us finally come to the exciting questions! What do you want to do as our president? What are your goals and what do you want to change? Is there maybe even something you want to remove?" Chit Sang asked with a bit of exaggeration.

"In fact, Chit Sang, there are such things, but most of them I am keeping for my speech for my party's first TV appearance with their new candidates," Ozai said with the perfect amount of sorrow, but without feeling sorry at all. He even shrugged.

"Aw, come on, Ozai! One thing! Just tell us one thing! I mean, you do want votes, don't you? So the people have to know what you want to do! Who else wants to know more about Kasaishi's election program?!" Chit Sang shouted, waving at the crowd as if he were a rapper.

The audience's answer was immediate. They really seemed to love Chti Sang.

"Okay, okay," Ozai agreed smiling. "We have a lot of problems inside our country. Poverty, even famine and health care is also not as good as it could be. The education system is not in every province as good as here in the capital. These are topics which I want to change, when I become president."

Cheerful applause answered Ozai, the audience whistling and shouting "Kasaishi!".

Zuko flinched, when his father said "when" instead of "if". Wow, he seemed to be pretty sure of himself.

oOo

Anger rushed through Katara, as she turned off the TV. How could this person even think about becoming a president?

Muttering to herself she continued to store her kitchen items in a carton.

Kasaishi Ozai for president?! Never! The people hadn't got rid of the kings one century ago, only so that their descendant could rule Elementia again! Who did he think he was? His family had nearly made sure that Katara's people, the southern province, and all the people living in the mountains had become extinct. They looked different from the people in the capital province, the Western or Eastern province, but they had been hunted for beliefs in spirits and apparent witchcraft. But that was nonsense, there was no such thing as witchcraft or sorcery.

The bell rang and Katara quickly made it to the entrance to open the door. She smiled when she saw who was standing in front of it.

"Toph! It's so good to see you!" she exclaimed and hugged the girl fiercely.

Toph relaxed into her friend's hug and sighed. "I missed you, too!"

Katara pulled back and pulled Toph into the apartment. "Oh Toph, you cannot believe how happy I am to see you!" Tears actually filled her eyes, since she hadn't seen her friend in years now and had really worried for her safety. "Come on, I'll make us coffee and I have chocolate cookies!"

Toph's grin spread wide. "Now that sounds good! I haven't drunk coffee for ages! All I had the last years was tea and more tea!"

"You have to tell me everything!" Katara guided Toph into the kitchen to a chair and busied herself with making coffee. She had known that Toph was back and wanted to visit her, but she had thought that she would have more time for that. Time to pack all her things and move out.

While making coffee Katara tried not to touch any of the cartons, since that made a unique sound and her blind friend had really good hearing. When she brought Toph coffee the smaller girl took a deep breath and sighed. "Ah! How I missed the smell of coffee! Thanks, Sugar Queen!"

"No problem, Toph! Now tell me, where have you been, what have you done?"

Toph frowned. "I called you every month and told you precisely what I have done. Have you forgotten about that already?"

Katara blushed and shook her head. "No, it's just..."

"Let me ask you something. Did you seriously break up with Aang?"

Uh oh. She said his real name. That meant that she was serious.

"Yes," Katara said firmly.

"And why?" Toph asked curiously. "You don't love someone else, do you?"

"No!" Katara shouted. "Of course not! I'd never do that to Aang! But... I don't know. I just couldn't picture myself with him in a few years..."

Toph snorted. "That's a dumb reason."

Anger rushed through Katara. "It's not like I wanted to hurt him! I struggled with that decision for a long time now! And would you rather I'd lie to him for the next years?!"

Toph shook her head. "No, of course not. But I still don't get it. You were so disgustingly happy."

"Yeah, we were," Katara sighed and buried her face in her hands. "Toph, stop it! You're making me questioning all that. And even if it hurt I'm pretty sure that I did the right thing. I mean Aang is great and sweet, but I had the feeling he didn't take my career as seriously as his own. He never actually said it, but to me it felt as if he would expect me to stay at home if we ever had kids!"

"Well, then he's just stupid!" Toph leaned back and crossed her arms, blowing her bangs out of her face. "Okay, listen. Aang ist my best friend and I want him to be happy, but you're my best female friend and if you say that it's better this way, I'll have to trust you. Aang will eventually come around."

Katara sighed. "I really hope so. I never wanted him to get hurt."

Toph inclined her head. "Please tell me that this is not the reason you agreed to go out with him in the first place."

Katara quickly shook her head. "No of course not! I was really in love with him!"

Toph nodded. "Allright. Then it's okay. So, what are you doing now? Moving out?"

Katara flinched. "You noticed that?"

Toph shurgged. "It's kind of obvious. You can't keep living here, after you broke up with him. And I smell cartons. A lot cartons."

"Yeah, I am packing. But I cannot afford an apartment on my own, so I'm moving into the student dorm at the university."

"Ah!" Toph grinned. "Well, there you'll have lots of opportunities to party! And to meet some handsome boys!"

Katara rolled her eyes. "Even if, I don't want boys anymore. I'm turning twenty-one in two months! I'm ready to date a man!"

Toph cackled hysterically, which caused Katara to cross her arms and frown at her friend. "Yeah yeah, you can laugh..."

"A man? Katara, wow! I'm sorry, but you seem to have some kind of idealistic view of the other sex! If you want a man, marry a boy, have some kids with him and wait until he accepted the fact that he's getting older. In his sixties you'll have a man then."

Katara rolled her eyes. "I'm not saying that I don't want them to have fun or be a little childish sometimes, but only in appropriate situations! They could also focus on the important things in life!"

"And Aang didn't?"

Katara blushed. "Well... No, he did. But maybe a little too much. He was just so fast in our relationship. I mean, first I was okay with that. But when we moved back into the city and after I've talked to other students and saw other couples I just realised that I was not ready yet."

"Hm. Well, as long as both of you are happy in the end," Toph said, the topic apparently finished for her. "Do you know yet who you're going to vote for president?"

Katara groaned. "No! But certainly not this Kasaishi! I don't get how he thinks he is going to get the votes! Almost everyone hates him!"

Toph raised her eyebrows. "You mean everyone you know. The wealthy people from here like him."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Well, it's a good thing then that we're the majority!"

"Yeah, I mean it is awful what his ancestors have done, but you can't judge a person by their family's history."

Katara narrowed her eyes, not liking it that Toph was not on her side. "Still."

"Or do you think that Zuko and Azula would do this to your people, too?"

Katara frowned, wondering why Toph was mentioning those two now. Since they graduated Katara had never even thought about them. "What do they have to do with this?"

Toph raised both her eyebrows. "You're joking, right?"

"No."

"Their family name is Kasaishi!"

Katara's eyes widened. Of course! How could she not have seen that? They were Kasaishi Ozai's children! Well, that was typical. They had gotten along with everyone at school, just picking at Sokka, Aang and her. Maybe repulsion against Southerners or Mountainers ran in the family. "Oh, right. I don't like it when wealthy people think they must rule a country. It's too much power for one person!"

"That's why we don't have king's anymore and a parliament, Katara," Toph explained in a teacher tone and Katara rolled her eyes.

oOo

After hearing "Come in!" Zuko opened the door to his father's study. "Father? You wanted to talk to me?"

Ozai folded a few papers and put them aside. "Yes, come, sit down!"

Zuko walked over to Ozai's desk and sat down in front of it on the small chair.

"Do you know which citizens would vote for me?" Ozai started.

Zuko frowned. "People who like Kasai Industries. Conservative people and old royalists, I guess."

Ozai nodded. "That is quite right. But those people unfortunately don't form the majority of our country." He stroked his chin thoughtfully, but Zuko knew this was just show. The fact that Ozai had asked him to come here showed him that his father already knew how to change that.

"So how are you going to win the other side of the population over?" Zuko asked tentatively.

Ozai smiled and took a sip of his drink. "People who are at the bottom of society, people from the south or the mountains. It's mostly these people who won't vote for me. I've got a few plans to win them over, actually. One never suffices." He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk and his fingertips touching, forming a tent. "Zuko, my son. There is something you will have to do for me."

Zuko nodded immediately. "Of course. What is it, father?"

"I want you to get a girlfriend."

Surprise was something Zuko rarely felt while dealing with his father. Why on earth should he get a girlfriend?

"I've shown today that family is very important to me. Partners of my children are family, too. You see, the girlfriend I want you to get has to be from the southern province or the mountains. With her being part of our family there's nothing that will stop these people from voting for me. They'll think that I support poorer people and don't share the beliefs of our ancestors," Ozai explained.

Zuko kind of understood, but why was it him who had to get a partner? Couldn't Azula try to get a boyfriend?

"The normal people love tragic love stories with somehow opposed main characters, don't they? They will be blinded by the sweet love and think that they should vote for me!" Ozai's smile grew wider and he felt again proud about how good his plan was.

Zuko just stared at his father, not saying a word.

Ozai sighed. "What, son? Was this too complicated for you?"

Zuko blinked and quickly shook his head. "No! No, I totally understand where you're coming from. But why me? Why not Azula?"

Ozai shrugged. "I did a bit of research and for some reason people seem to prefer rich men with poor girls and not the other way around. I guess the people still prefer men in higher positions than women."

Zuko's brow furrowed. "I understand. I will do as you ask, father."

A pleased expression appeared on Ozai's features. "Very good, son. There are some other things you should care about when picking this girlfriend." He shoved a paper over the desk to Zuko. "I found out what kind of girl would be most popular with the people and what character the people like the most."

Zuko's eyebrows rose as he saw the list with the title: Zuko's Useful Girlfriend. Although the situation was highly weird he was kind of curious for which kind of girl he should start looking.

Pretty, but not too beautiful. She must not look like a model, not even have the body of a model. She should be lean, but with womanly curves. Also not too tall.

Intelligent, should study something difficult (e.g. law, medicine, physics) or do something else useful and practical. Should not be a model. Should not be a singer or actress either.

Will have to show the people that she is kind, generous and a feminist. But not too feminist!

Should have a clear past, NO embarrassing pictures on social medias and no embarrassing social media account. NO arrests.

Cannot have posted something hostile about our family on social medias.

Should not come from a rich family. Average family and the girl has to be a family person. But she could also be an orphan. Tragic family past is always appreciated. She should not be interested in money.

How would Zuko ever find a girl like that? He couldn't just cast them and ask them everything on this list! Besides, he didn't even know any girls from the southern province or the mountains!

"This girl will open the majority's hearts and make them vote for me. If I weren't married, I'd try to find someone like that for me. But there's still you, my son." Ozai's voice became more stern and Zuko tensed unconsciously.

"Do not screw this up, Zuko. My victory might depend on that girl, but if you choose wrongly, this girl might even worsen my reputation. So do not choose wrongly!"

/

This fic will have shorter chapters, but I hope that therefore I'll be able to update it often.

The family name I gave to Zuko's family is a compound of two Japanese words: "kasai" meaning "fire" and "shi" meaning "lord". I know, this is not really crearive. I have actually no idea if this compound would work in Japanese, since "shi" also means other things. But since the Fire Nation always appeared rather Japanese to me I decided on that laanguage. In Japanese the family name is also mentioned before the first name and only people who are really close to one would call one by his/her first name.

I always found it strange that Toph was the only person from ATLA with a last name which was not invented. How could the royal familes not have a last name? Yue, Kuei, Zuko... How do the people keep families apart then? Anyway, I'll pick a last name for everyone and will probably just google what "icy valleys" and "light-footed" means in Chinese. Or "healer" and "nomad", I'm not quite sure yet.

I also wanted to explain that I didn't make a nice guy out of Ozai, but I figured that he could play any roll to get what he wants. I imagine him being a good actor and liar, just like Azula, so he actually can appear nice if it helps him somehow. And to be elected president of a country which hadn't been at war for the last hundred years he has to become popular and has to adapt to the things the people like. Which he will do with ease, because he's cunning like that.

Actually I can't imagine Chit Sang to be friends with Ozai, but he was the only Fire Nation person who is not related to Ozai, who I could imagine to be funny and entertaining somehow.