Life Never Ends

Chapter 2

133 AG, Year of the Pig

Kai

I looked around, gold eyes wide. My mother's closet was beautiful, all the pretty dresses... for a split second the thought of burning them all fluttered across my mind. I quickly repressed it. It wasn't my father's anger that bothered me, I really didn't care about that. It was my mother's calm and simple words. There was something in the way she spoke about how my actions disappointed her that held far more power than my father's anger.

My thoughts were distracted when I saw a scroll sticking out of a drawer in the bottom of the closet. I crept toward it and then pulled it out.

Day 10

I had a nightmare again. I suppose that necessity and exhaustion forced me to push the paranoia and fear to the back of my mind. Now though, the war is over, allowing the fears to return with vengeance.

I grimaced.

"Why is mom using such big words?" I muttered, running them through my head. Necessity... that was when you had to do something. Exhaustion, like exhausted? Paranoia... I had no idea what it meant but it had to be related to fear since my mom had used them both in the same sentence to show how she was feeling.

Vengeance didn't need any explanation.

I'm writing this by candlelight, Zuko is still asleep and I'll let him stay that way, he gets nightmares too. Druk is fascinated by the candle fire so I'll end this before the baby -

I blinked, the rest of the section was covered in the impression spilt ink and wax that had been scratched off the parchment. There were several distinct footprints, although they were a great deal smaller than I ever remembered them too be. It looked like the baby dragon had knocked over the candle after all.

Day 11

Today is our wedding day. I apologize if my writing is hard to read, my hand is shaking. I do not know if I'm more excited or nervous. I love Zuko but this is fast and I'm worried about what might happen. In this world divorce is not possible and the last thing I want is to grow to hate him. I don't have a choice though, neither of us do.

I glared at the word. What was a divorce? Another word I had no explanation for. Grumbling under my breath about stupid big words I moved on from that part of the passage.

The wedding 'dress' is a traditional kimono done in red and gold but I'm also going to be wearing my pendent over it. My headdress (a ridiculously heavy metal monster that is woven into my hair) is painted blue and was crafted under Sokka's supervision as I am legally part of the water tribe.

Later

Dignitaries from every nation arrived, including Yue herself. Sokka was delighted to see her. Suki... not so much. The two women were cordial with each other at least. The main event of the day though was Toph challenging Bumi to an earth bending battle when both were too drunk for their own good. For everyone's safety they were escorted out of the palace until they calmed down.

Yue suggested I use this 'diary' as a way to vent my feelings so I can keep up the appearance of a traditional fire lady. I will never be a traditional fire lady, however, I will end up using this book to vent. In other words no one else can see this. Last thing I need is some political-angry general to see this and use it as an excuse for something.

Day 12

Zuko has kept me... busy.

I recoiled. EW! I didn't want to hear my about her parents doing that. My brothers had already explained everything about that. I didn't need to know anything else, I had already decided that I would never become a mother because it was just too gross. I carefully scanned the rest of the scroll's section and sighed when I realized there were no details, not that I needed them. My brothers had relished filling me in on every part of how it worked.

Anyway, today the royal blimp was finished (Zuko told me not to call it that. Airship or Zeppelin is the 'proper' term but I will call it what I want in here). We are going on a tour, I suppose you could call it. We are visiting Su Sen's family as we were unable to be there when the body was delivered. We have two other stops planned, Song's village and Ba Sing Se where we will visit those who lost family and friends to Azula and try to figure out what to do with the Fire Nation colonies. The Earth King wants them all gone but I have my doubts about how that will work.

In other news Zuko had begun to practice the Sugi horn again. The other day he played a tune which nearly killed me as, if you added a drum and shaker, would sound almost identical to the ending credits for the Avatar: The Last Airbender episodes. Apparently it is a tune connected to Love Among the Dragons and is played when the Dragon Emperor walks on stage.

I stared at the last paragraph. Episodes? Avatar: The Last Airbender? What was my mother talking about? It made no sense, and what were credits? I continued to stare at the paragraph for a long time, I didn't know what it was about but I did know how I could find out. My parents wouldn't tell me willingly, I knew that, I would have to find a way to get them to reveal it unknowingly. Suddenly remembering, I looked back up to the previous entry. Had my mother honestly said this world? As in she was from another? I stared at the scroll in shock. Could there be much more to my mother's story then I had ever been told?

Druk has begun teething on everything and we can't stop him. Currently he is in the fire gnawing on a chunk of coal. Apparently this is normal... Do they sell dragon chew toys anywhere?

I barely paid any attention to the last bit, my head was spinning. I may have only been eight but I was intelligent, and I knew her mother wouldn't spend time making a lie in a private scroll. Which meant it had to be the truth. I carefully tucked the scroll back into its place, double checking to make sure that it didn't look any different from how I had found it. I moved to the front of the closet, planning to leave when I heard my father's voice.

"She's run off again? Thank you, I'll make sure to give her a stern talking-to."

Peering out of the crack in the door I saw me father, Fire Lord Zuko shake his head. Druk slithered into the room. The dragon was large, taller than myself, he stood taller than my father, but was still small enough to fit into my parent's bedroom. The red dragon sniffed the air.

"What is it Druk?" My father asked. The dragon ignored him and walked to the closet, sniffing at it. I winced, less than a second later my father opened the door and looked down at me. I gave a wide innocent smile. His eyes narrowed.

"Your tutors are looking for you." He stated. I nodded quickly. His hand landed on my shoulder.

"We'll be talking after your class." I nodded jerkily and rushed out of the room. I still had questions that needed answers but they could wait, the last thing I needed was to get into even more trouble.


101 AG, Year of the Rooster

Zuko

I was in trouble.

The thick shaft of earth stood out from where I had been standing. I stepped back as my guards leapt into action but as usual, they were too late and the assassin was gone. I grit my teeth in fury, my nails biting into my palms. This was the fourth time that someone attempted to assassinate me, and I was sick of it. I glared at the spike of earth that had come far to close to running me through. If this continued on I would eventually die. My guards were incompetent. I was beginning to wonder if this was another hired assassin, sent from the same stranger who had killed my father. I spat an order at a few of the guards and stormed my way into the palace.

Maddi met me inside, I could tell that she was scared, her old Kyoshi fan was held in her hand and her eyes were wide. When she saw me she relaxed.

"Another assassination attempt." She stated, declaring the obvious. It was grating on both of us. I could tell Maddi was tired of being scared for me, and I was tired of the incompetence of my guards. I nodded, not that she needed the confirmation. With a sigh she straightened, tucking her fan into her belt and smoothing back the strands of hair that had begun to run wild. Her hair was so thin and almost impossible to keep in check. I had recommended several oils to her to keep her hair weighed down but she had refused, apparently oily hair was looked down upon in her homeland.

"Do you think it is the same person who ordered Ozai killed?" She asked. I shrugged. If it was they were being clever and had hired a different assassin to kill me. Druk curled around my neck, tugging at my partially-melted ear with his teeth. I shooed his head away, grabbing a chunk of coal from my pocket. The little dragon contentedly took it, chewing on the rock happily.

"I could ask Nut for answers." Maddi suggested lightly. I paused then shook my head. This was our people, I didn't want to be indebted to a spirit.

We walked side by side deeper into the palace. Maddi was watching me carefully, she reached out, placing a single hand on my arm.

"What is bothering you Zuko?" She asked softly.

"If this person is trying to kill the royal family why has no one attacked you, or Azula?" I finally told her, turning so that we were staring into each other's eyes.

"I don't know. My knowledge of anything that happens after the comet is vague, besides with all the changes I can't be sure of anything anymore." She admitted.

"I think its time that we get some better guards to protect you." She stated loudly after I didn't reply. She turned then gave me a small smile to me over her shoulder.

"We're in this together Zuko."


"Suki, thank you for coming." Maddi thanked, her face alight. Suki just laughed.

"Its no problem, the girls and I will make sure that whoever is trying to kill Zuko are stopped for good this time." Suki stated. I could see that Maddi was relieved. I smiled. I had been tense the last few months, it was hard to relax when there was so much riding on me and my competence and the assassination attempts had done little to help with that. While Suki and her girls moved off to find a place for them to rest in the barracks. Once they were gone Maddi turned to me.

"Come on, you're exhausted. Go get some rest. I can take care of all the political debacle that needs to be done." She stated softly.

"I'm fine." I protested. Druk made a sound next to my ear. I sent the little dragon a glare. I didn't need him getting sassy with me. Maddi shook her head.

"No you're not, have you looked at yourself Zuko? You're running yourself ragged, no one will get past Suki and the girls and you need to sleep." I sighed but relented. I trusted Maddi, I wouldn't have married her if I hadn't... I wouldn't have been able to love her if I didn't trust her.

I was woken up several hours later, it was dark and Maddi was curled up beside me. There were shouts outside the door to our room. I flew out of bed, hurrying out of the room, vaguely aware of Maddi stirring behind me.

The kyoshi warriors were engaging in battle with a black-clad figure, my would-be-assassin. I joined in, throwing a blast of fire at them. This was the first time that they had ever come so close. I was not letting them get away this time. Startled by my appearance and attack the would-be-assassin darted backwards.

Suki and the girls had them under control in seconds.

"What were you thinking?" Suki barked at me, spinning. I pulled away, startled by the ferocity in her tone.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You risked your life back there and potentially our success by barging in. You are that woman's target. In other words, your arrival had a chance to end in your death. So next time we're trying to save your life don't get in the way." Suki barked. I felt a flash of anger rush through me. I had every right to join in, that assassin had tried to kill me five times now, I wasn't going to just wait around for someone else to stop her.

"What's going on here?" Maddi asked, stepping into the hall. Her eyes moved to Suki, myself and then past us to the assassin in black. She pulled herself up, the regal expression of Fire Lady Maddison falling onto her face like a mask. There were times when that mask had broken, slipped or even shattered completely but as the months had passed it had become far harder for her to lose it. It worried me, Fire Lady Maddison wasn't the girl I had fallen in love with, and I didn't want to lose Maddi to this other version.

Then again, stressed, tired and grumpy Fire Lord Zuko wasn't who Maddi had married either. Perhaps we both needed to reassess our behaviour. First things first though, my eyes quickly followed Maddi's to where the female assassin stood, glaring at me. One of the kyoshi warriors strode forward and lifted the hood off the girl's face.

She couldn't have been that much older than Katara. Brown hair and eyes, but her face had a distinct regality that I recognized as fire nation blood.

"Who are you?" Maddi asked, stepping forward, her eyes just as cold as the stranger's own.

"And why should I not kill you for this treason." I added, anger sparking through me. Maddi grabbed one of my arms. It slid down to my hand, she gently squeezed and after a second I returned the gesture.

"My family has been loyal to the royal family for generations, my name is Kori. My father is the mayor of Yu Dao." She snarled. Maddi stared at the girl and slowly I saw the mask fall away.

"Why were you trying to kill Zuko, Kori?" She asked, sounding tired. Kori looked surprised at Maddi's simple question. She quickly slipped out of it and glared at us both.

"For betraying his people!"

"I would never-!" I began only for Kori to interrupt me.

"You did the second you agreed to the Harmony Restoration Movement." She hissed the last three words as if they were a curse. I took a deep breath. I had to keep a calm head about me, despite how angry this situation was making me. I wasn't the angry boy I had been at the beginning of my journey. I needed to be reasonable about this. Noticing how I was calming myself Maddi smiled, squeezing my hand again.

"How does the Harmony Restoration Movement betray my people? I understand that it may be difficult moving from one country to another and that it would change your way of life but the Fire Nation can promise you a good life, just as good as the earth kingdom. As a mayor you won't lose your minor nobility."

"That's not the problem." She snarled, struggling against the warriors restraining her.

"Then tell us what is." Maddi stated. Kori glared at us.

"Come to Yu Dao and you'll see. Unless you're too much of a coward to do that." The last part of her sentence was directed at me. I felt my internal fire flare at her words. I forced them down. Keeping a cool head was a lot harder than I had ever thought.

"Fine. We will go tomorrow. Put her in jail for the night. I'll alert the generals that I will be gone for a day or so." Suki bowed. Three of her girls left with Kori to guide the girl to the jail. Once she was out of sight I turned to Maddi.

"I know it will put us further behind when it comes to the paperwork-" Maddi raised a hand.

"I'm sure the generals will survive a few more days without all the paperwork being completed." She told me, "There are some things more important, and if this girl was angry and betrayed enough to attempt assassination... there are others feeling similarly and we need to know why." She stated, looking troubled. I watched her carefully and after a moment realized that Maddi's appearance matched that of Kori's, the two easily could have been related.

He had never thought that anyone could look anything like Maddi, but Kori was living proof otherwise and it bothered him.

"Come on, if we're leaving early we're going to need our sleep." Maddi stated, taking her hand out of my own, and returning to the bedroom. I moved to follow her, only stopping for a split instant to make sure that the other Kyoshi warriors would still be there.

After these last two weeks of fear, no one could blame me for being cautious.


Mayor Morishita took one look at his daughter and embraced her. Maddi stood beside me, watching the reunion with careful eyes. We both had our 'Fire Lord/Lady' masks on, hiding our true emotions behind what was appropriate for others to see.

"Your mother and I were worried sick and... why are you in chains." He finally realized out loud. I nearly sighed, I understood that the man had been worried for his daughter, I really did, however he hadn't even noticed that his daughter's wrists were bound. He looked up at us for the first time, his eyes questioning.

"In the last two weeks your daughter has attempted to assassinate me five times, normally the punishment would be death, but I have decided to let her off with a warning." The mayor hit the floor, prostrating himself before us. Maddi twitched slightly, after months she still disliked this part of being royalty.

"Thank you for your mercy." He grovelled.

"Just don't let her do this again, or she will receive the punishment that the law dictates." I replied sharply.

"Then you might as well kill me now because until you stop the Harmony Restoration Movement I will not stop-"

"Kori." Her father barked, standing and grabbing his daughter's arms.

"No, I will not let them do this!" She snarled. My anger flared and this time I did not quell it.

"I am doing what I see is right for the Fire Nation and its people." I barked.

"What is right..." Mayor Morishita seemed to falter under those words. He turned to glare at me, a distinct change in his demeanour from earlier.

"How is letting the Avatar and the Earth King bully you right for the Fire Nation? Ozai would have never done such a cowardly act!" He barked. Anger burst through me again. This man was talking treason, no wonder his daughter had tried to assassinate me.

"Calm down, both of you." Both myself and the mayor stilled at Maddi's voice.

"Both of you, explain your reasoning. Mayor, would you care to start? Why do you think that Zuko has betrayed the Fire Nation? Why do you think that what he did was the coward's way out?" Say what you would about Maddi but she was a good mediator. She had a quick wit and mind, she was intelligent and she knew how to get both sides to talk. Most of the time it worked, although even her skills were far from perfect.

The mayor grit his teeth but then explained.

"Yu Dao and many of the other colonies left have been around for over a hundred years, the fire nation and earth kingdom people here have learned how to live as one. Together we are forming a better peace than what you ever could dream of. We are at peace together. Many of the fire nation people have married earth kingdom people and have had children. I myself have done just that." He replied. I stared in surprise. Maddi made a sound of understanding beside me.

"And only those of firenation bloodline are allowed to return. So Kori would be allowed but they'd turn your wife away at the port." She stated. Morishita nodded.

"That is simple enough to fix." I pointed out. Morishita shook his head.

"This is our home Fire Lord, we are not leaving. Stay, look around, you'll see what I mean. Yu Dao is at peace when two nations co-exist. Who is to say that we cannot be a pillar of hope for what the rest of the world could become?"

"One day can't hurt." Maddi suggested. She turned back.

"No matter what, I promise no families will be separated. You have my word for that amendment at the very least." Kori sniffed but Morishita bowed in thanks. I sighed and turned to walk away with my wife.

"So exploring Yu Dao it is then." She grinned at my words.

"I think it would be good, a day to relax and take in a city. At the very least nothing bad can come out of this."


A/N: Oh Zuko, you're dreaming if you think things are going to go smoothly from here...

Anyway what did everyone think of Kai? She is an OC child that I gave Maddi and Zuko and their youngest. I really love this character so much and I hope the rest of you will come to enjoy her as well.

Lastly I have officially decided that I will be making one more story for Maddi and it will be a Legend of Korra piece. I will do my best so those who do not know legend of Korra that well will be able to understand it.

Looking forward to hearing from you all and a happy (very late) Valentines day!

Princess Kassie Out.