Zuko was on his way to the Grand Council. He was proud of his accomplishments and he was glad that Katara and Mei were moving with him.
Meanwhile
Azula was in the infirmary with Mai and Ty Lee by her side.
"Mai, make sure Zuko gets you for a bride. He may be Fire Lord, but without his precious sweetheart, he'll be a lot more miserable." said Azula.
"What shall I do Azula?" asked Ty Lee.
"Make sure you distract Katara until Mai's task is done." said Azula.
Mai looked to the side and smiled.
'Finally, Zuko is now mine.' she thought.
Azula looked at her and smirked.
"Thinking Mai?" asked Azula.
Mai jumped.
"I'm thinking about nothing." said Mai.
"Well Azula, you should get some rest." said Ty Lee.
"Make sure everything goes perfectly." said Azula.
Mai left the infirmary, followed by Ty Lee.
Meanwhile
Zuko was about to enter the Grand Council when someone called out his name.
"Zuko!"
Zuko smiled. "Katara!"
"I came to see you for your coronation." said Katara.
"I'm glad you came, because I want to show everyone my new bride." said Zuko.
They both entered the Grand Council.
Mai walked out from behind the pilar and smirked.
'I shall be his bride you water tribe peasant. Not you.'
Grand Council
"Zuko, congratualations on winning the Agni Kai." said the Cheif of the Grand Council. "Our decision is final, but have you chosen a bride?"
"Yes I have." said Zuko. "I have chosen a Water Tribe girl from the South Pole."
Zuko held Katara's hand.
"Zuko, I'm afraid this isn't acceptional." said the Cheif.
"Why not?" asked Zuko.
"She's not from the Fire Nation. She is an outsider." said the Cheif.
"Sir, the Avatar put the world to peace. Her nation won't wreck havoc on our nation." said Zuko.
"I know Zuko, but I don't think your father wouldn't approve your decision to marry a Water Tribe girl." said the Cheif.
"My father is dead! He wouldn't care." said Zuko. "If only my mother was here, she would approve."
"Your mother has been missing for years Zuko. Ofcourse your father would care. Zuko, you must marry someone from our nation, otherwise you can't be Fire Lord." said the Cheif.
"Then I refuse to be Fire Lord. I love this woman with my heart and soul. We have a child." said Zuko.
The Council began to whisper.
"You had a child with an outsider?" asked the Cheif.
"Yes." said Zuko. "If I can't be Fire Lord, then you might aswell take Zhao back. "
"He has been banned from this Nation." said the Cheif. "We have no other person we can turn to. You are the only son of Fire Lord Ozai, therefore, you must be Fire Lord."
"I'm sorry, but I refuse. I cannot be Fire Lord without Katara." said Zuko.
Ty Lee walked in.
"Ty Lee, what brings you here?" asked the Cheif.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know there was an important meeting. I'll leave." said Ty Lee.
"Wait, please take the water tribe girl with you. We have to speak to Zuko alone." said the Cheif.
"Will you be okay?" asked Katara.
"I'll be fine." said Zuko.
Katara and Ty Lee left the Grand Council.
"Zuko should marry my daughter Mai." said the Governor.
"That's a good idea." said the Cheif.
"I won't marry your daughter governor. I'm sorry, but I love Katara and I love my daughter Mei." said Zuko.
The door opened.
"Father, i'm sorry-"
"It's okay Mai, please take a seat." said the Governor.
Mai took a seat next to Zuko.
"You must marry the Governor's daughter Zuko. Please do it for the sake of our nation." said the Cheif.
Zuko stood up.
"I have to think about this first." said Zuko, and he walked out of the Grand Council.
Meanwhile
"So, did everything go well?" asked Aang.
"No. Everything went wrong. The Grand Council won't let me marry Zuko because i'm not from the Fire Nation." said Katara. "He has to marry someone that is from the Fire Nation."
"What? That's stupid of them to say that." said Sokka. "Katara, you love Zuko a lot. "
"I know, but he's trying to find a way so that the council will approve our marriage." said Katara.
Meanwhile
"Did the plan go well?" asked Azula.
"Almost." said Mai. "That brother of yours is very stubborn. He loves that Water Tribe peasant a lot."
"He'll make up his mind." said Azula. "I know my brother already."
Meanwhile Zuko entered the room.
"Daddy!" said Mei as she ran towards him.
Zuko bent down and picked her up.
"Did you make it as Fire Lord?" asked Mei.
Zuko handed Mei to Aang.
"I need to talk to Katara alone." said Zuko.
"Okay." said Aang.
"You better not do anything to hurt her Zuko." said Sokka.
Aang, Sokka and Mei left the room.
Katara walked toward Zuko and sat down beside him.
"Katara, I love you and I love Mei." said Zuko. "But, I love my Nation too."
"Do what is right Zuko." said Katara. "Rule your country."
"Why are you letting go so sudden?" asked Zuko.
"I'm not letting go Zuko. I know what you have to do, and the Grand Council needs you to become the new Fire Lord." said Katara. "No matter what you do, no matter where you are, I will always love you."
Katara began to cry as she kissed Zuko. Zuko looked at her and placed his hand upon her cheek.
"I'm not letting you go." said Zuko, as he wiped her tears.
"I know." said Katara. "I'll wait for you, even if it takes forever."
"I won't let you wait forever. I will return for you. I promise that after 4 years of ruling the Fire Nation, I'll return for you and Mei." said Zuko.
Katara smiled.
"You promise?" asked Katara.
Zuko handed her a silver ring and placed it on her left finger.
"I promise." said Zuko.
Zuko placed a gold ring on a silver chain and placed it around his neck.
Zuko kissed Katara one last time.
"I love you Katara." said Zuko, and he walked out of the room.
"I love you too Zuko." whispered Katara.
Katara buried her face in her hands and cried softly.
Aang and Sokka entered the room.
"Katara are you okay?" asked Aang.
"Where is he? Where's Zuko? I'll teach him a lesson for hurting you!" yelled Sokka.
"No, don't Sokka. I let him go, but he promised me that he would return for me." said Katara.
"Does that mean we're going back home?" asked Mei.
"Yes Mei, but your father will return for us soon. I promise." said Katara.
End of Chapter 17
Don't worry, this isn't the end of the story. There's 3 more chapters left.