1Uh...none of you are right. Though they do sem like good ideas! I don't see how anyone in the Avatar world besides Aang would come back from the dead.

Also, Zuko and Aang are not going to sing, but they will be quoting from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita. So...yeah.

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Chapter 18: The Coronation

Over the next week, Zuko hired someone to write his acceptance speech for him. He memorized the entire speech word for word and practiced over and over again. He rehearsed in front of a few sages, because he wanted the speech to be a surprise for his friends and family.

Since the coronation will be at Ozai's funeral, Zuko will give his acceptance speech at the Fire Nation Plaza. Both invasion forces were attending as well as citizens around the Fire Nation, and some from the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom.

Zuko, Ursa, Aang, and Toph blindfolded Iroh and took him to his new tea shop as part of the surprise.

"Zuko, what is going on? I think I've had enough surprises this summer." Iroh asked his nephew.

Zuko smiled. "True, but one more surprise can't hurt." They got out of the carriage. Zuko took the blindfold off of Iroh.

Iroh gasped in surprise at what he saw. The group was standing in front of a building that looked almost exactly like the Jasmine Dragon in Ba Sing Se. "A tea shop?"

"Not a tea shop." Zuko gave Iroh a key. "Your tea shop."

Iroh was speechless. He took the key and stared at it. "Why?"

"I feel responsible for ruining your dream of owning your own tea shop earlier this year. I wanted to make it up to you." Zuko explained. "This way, you'll be close to home and make a living."

"Toph and I fixed it up." Aang stepped in. "I never got a chance to thank you for protecting me and Katara back in Ba Sing Se."

Iroh smiled. "Thank you...all of you. I don't know what to say."

"We're glad you love it, Uncle. You deserve it." Zuko smiled.

"Yeah." Ursa included. "You really do."

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The day of the funeral and coronation came. Fire Nation citizens all dressed in white and gatherd in the funeral parlor. A sage stood in front of Ozai's and Azula's coffins. Zuko, Ursa and Iroh stood off to the side.

"This is a rare occurrence that two members of the royal family pass on at the same time." The sage began. "So we will proceed in alphabetical order. Azula. Princess of our nation for fifteen years. You were the conquerer of the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se. You were sister of Zuko, daughter of Ursa, daughter of Ozai- now passed. Cousin of Lu Ten- now passed. Niece of Iroh. Friend of Mai and Ty Lee. May the nation honor your great defeat of Ba Sing Se."

Four firebenders stood on each side of Azula's coffin and set it on fire. Zuko blinked away unshed tears. They had a bad relationship, but Azula was still Zuko's sister. The sages moved the pile of ashes to make way for Ozai's coffin. The sage presiding over the funeral began again.

"Ozai. Fire Lord of our nation for five years. You were the brave conquerer of several Earth Kingdom villages. You were an excellent war strategist. You were son of Azulon and Ila, both now passed. Husband of Ursa, brother of Iroh, uncle of Lu Ten, now passed. Father of Azula, now passed. Father of Zuko. You will be succeeded by your first born son." The sage nodded to Zuko, who took a deep breath and walked in front of the sage. The firebenders lit the coffin, and the sage placed the Fire Lord's crown on Zuko's head. "Hail Fire Lord Zuko!"

Zuko smiled at his subjects as they bowed before him. He caught Mai's eyes in the front row. Mai looked happy for her boyfriend, and she was. Zuko wasn't sue how to react to everyone bowing to him. He didn't want to appear too prideful, but he was content and happy to change the world back to the way it was before the war.

XXX

After the double-funeral, it was customary in the Fire Nation for the guests to approach the family of the deceased and give their condolences. Ursa, Zuko, and Iroh stood in a line in the foyer of the funeral plaza.

"Princess Ursa, I'm so very sorry about your loss! Your husband and your daughter in one day!"

"Oh, General Iroh, you must be devastated to lose so many family members in you lifetime."

"Fire Lord Zuko, my condolences. You and your sister were always such a handful when you were children."

After two hours, the royal family were able to relax. Zuko and his friends sat around the sitting room of the palace.

"So, Fire Lord Zuko, what will your official act as Fire Lord be?" Aang asked.

"Well, technically, my acceptance speech is my first official act." Zuko replied. "My second would be figuring out what to do about the comet."

"And signing a peace treaty with the other nation's leaders." Mai put in.

Zuko nodded. "Yes, that. And giving Omashu back to King Bumi; and Ba Sing Se back to the Earth King."

"So, the war is officially over now?" Katara asked, hopefully.

"I'm going to declare it over after Zuko gives his speech." Aang told her. "I can't tell you how happy I will be when I do."

"Me too." Sokka agreed. "And I can't wait to return home to the South Pole. I really miss Gran Gran and our tribe."

Katara nodded in agreement. "You know, since Master Pakku is there, I wonder if he and Gran Gran made up."

"I think those two are a little too old to date at this point, don't you?" Sokka rolled his eyes.

"Hey, you're never too old to date!" Katara exclaimed.

Toph chuckled. "Or too young, right, Sugar Queen?"

Katara blushed. "Oh, hush." Her friends laughed.

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Later that evening, people from all over the world gathered in front of the royal plaza near the harbor of the Fire Nation capital. Lo and Li were positioned on either side of the balcony. Zuko was instantly reminded of his and Azula's homecoming.

"Your Fire Lord Zuko, brave and handsome, joined the avatar to end the tyranny of Fire Lord Ozai.. They formed a rebellion and invaded the Fire Nation capital, and together, they faced the Fire Lord. Ozai fell, and Zuko became Fire Lord. The Avatar and the Fire Lord victoriously ended the war of a hundred years! Your Fire Lord, Zuko!" Everyone cheered as Zuko stepped out onto the balcony. He smiled and looked over his audience. Lo and Li continued. "And after a hundred years, your Avatar has returned. Aang!" Aang stepped out onto the balcony and stood at Zuko's side. They smiled at each other. Zuko turned back to the still cheering audience and raised his hand to silence them.

"I never thought I would get this far for a very long time." Zuko began. "And I can tell you, it won't be easy, and you'll think it's strange when I try to explain how I feel. I still need your love after all that I've done. You probably won't believe me. All you will see is a boy you once knew although he's dressed up to the nines at sixes and sevens with you. I had to let it happen. I had to change. I couldn't let my father's tyranny destroy the world. So I chose to join the Avatar in defeating my father. Three years ago, I never would have expected it. I don't want pity I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me. The truth is, I never left the Fire Nation. All through my banishment and this summer...I stayed loyal to the Fire Nation, but not to my father. As for fortune and fame, I never invited them in. Even though it seemed to the world they were all I desired. They are illusions. They're not the solutions they promise to be. The answer was here all the time. I love you and hope you love me. With the avatar's help, I want to recreate a new era of the Fire nation. Restore honor, dignity, and our pride. During my reign, I promise things will be back to the way things were before the war. Have I said too much? There is nothing more I can think of to say to you. But all you have to do is look at me to know that every word is true."

Zuko inhaled and exhaled. He stepped away from the balcony to let the audience know his speech was finished. The audience cheered loudly. Aang and Zuko exchanged glances. Aang turned to the audience and raised his hand to silence them.

"I am only a simple monk. As your Avatar, I live to assist Fire Lord Zuko and the other nation's leaders in keeping peace and balance to the world." Aang began. "I promise you this: Fire Lord Zuko will give you the respect and love you deserve. He loves you, understands you, and is one of you. He lives for your problems, and shares your ideas and your dreams. Now, as your Avatar, I officially declare the century long war over! And it's not over for just the Fire Lord, but for all of us!"

The audience cheered even louder for Aang. Aamg sighed in relief and gestured for Zuko to stand besides him. The two smiled and waved to the audience members. They did it. The war was over.

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I wanted to make this chapter longer, but it's getting late. So, the surprise will be in the next chapter.