Zuko

I woke early – with the sun – like always. I'd had a hard time sleeping the previous night, worrying something else would happen. I felt uncomfortable leaving Sam to do my morning training exercises so I decided to do some meditation today instead. Although training always included meditation, I settled on just that for today. I had some candles burning in front of me. As I breathed, the flames reacted to each breath. When I breathed in, the flames would shrink. When I breathed out, they would grow.

I wasn't sure how long I'd been doing it for but I finally opened my eyes and to my surprise a pair were watching me.

"Good morning, Sam," I said, going back to my breathing.

"I don't think you realize how mesmerizing your firebending is. I love watching you." She paused for a moment, I assumed she was deciding if she should say what she wanted to.

"But?" I asked, urging her to continue.

"No buts." she said, "I just. You were really…impressive yesterday. You had the dagger like fire coming from your hands then that ball of fire with…all of the colors. I'd never seen fire like that."

I smiled at the memory of the first time I'd seen it as well, "It's dragon fire. A technique I learned from the dragons themselves."

"DRAGONS?!" Sam shouted. It startled me more than it should have.

"Yes. Everyone thinks there extinct but, some still live secretly."

"I never knew they EVER existed! I always thought they were only in fiction!" her eyes were dancing with interest and excitement. She looked like a child in wonder, "what are they like?! Do they fly? How big are they? Are they scary or are they beautiful? What do you mean dragon fire? What makes it different besides the color?" She showered me with questions.

"Woah! Slow down!" I laughed. "Had I known you would be so intrigued I would have shown it to you before." I stood up and walked over to her, sitting on the bed. I held my hand up like I had last evening, my brows furrowing briefly at the memory. I lit the dragon fire in my hand holding it away from her so she wouldn't get burned. "it burns brighter and hotter than any other fire known to man."

"Ohh. Zuko, it's beautiful." she said almost in a trance. "Is that what you were doing with the candles?"

"No," I said simply. "That was meditation. Bending requires a certain amount of spiritual connection and meditating helps me to maintain that connection."

She sat in consternation until she finally asked me what was on her mind. "Zuko, what is the avatar?"

I was taken aback by her question. Was she serious? Everyone knows about the avatar. Then I remembered who I was talking to – an "outsider".

"Master of all four elements." She shifted her body, almost self-consciously. I wasn't sure why but I did find it peculiar.

"Really? So he…or she…can control them all?"

"He, yes. His name is Aang."

"Do you know him?" she asked me, genuinely curious. I chuckled.

"Yes, I know him. He is a good friend of mine, actually."

"Really? Will I ever get to meet him?"

"Yes, he will be invited to the celebration. Him and his wife, Katara."

"Katara? Who is she? Does she bend all the elements too?"

"No, she is a waterbender. There is only one avatar." There it was again. Her nervous movement. Although I noticed it and didn't understand it, I didn't mention or acknowledge it.

"Oh, like some of your guards yesterday. I wanted to ask you about that. I was surprised to see other element benders in your employ. I thought it was just firebenders here."

"Well, my reign was the first one to hire benders of the other elements. When Aang and the rest of us ended the 100 Year War, I wanted to show good faith to the other nations and sent requests to all of the leaders of the other nations to send anyone who might be interested in working here. It was slow at first but as word spread that it wasn't so bad, more people came. Now I'd say about a third of my guards and staff are water and earth benders."

"Why not airbenders?" I stiffened at this. This was part of my ancestry I hated and didn't like talking about.

"Well, Aang is the last airbender."

"What? Why? What happened?"

"My great grandfather, Sozin happened." She looked confused, "When one avatar dies, they are reincarnated into someone from the next element in the cycle—Air, Water, Earth, Fire. The previous avatar had been Roku of the Fire Nation, and my other great grandfather. After he died, Sozin knew the next nation he would be born into was the air nomads. So in an effort to snuff out the avatar…he killed them all."

"What?! ALL of them? Who would do such a thing?!"

"Exactly. And yes, all of them. Men, women, children—even babies. Only Aang wasn't at any of the air temples – where they live" I added when I saw she was going to ask. "he ended up being trapped in ice for 100 years."

"So that's why the war went on for so long. I didn't actually think the war was 100 years. I thought it was just a hyperbole. That's why it was such a big deal that you ended the war." I could see she was piecing everything together. "And that's why your father sent you to find him. He didn't think you ever would and you would search for him forever and, therefore, never return home." Her eyes darkened at this thought. She was smart.

"Yes." I said simply.

She didn't ask anymore questions, probably realizing we had gone into territory that was painful for me.

"So, is this what you do every morning?"

"Yes and no. I usually practice firebending and sword fighting."

"You know how to use swords?"

"Yes. When I was little, my parents weren't sure I even was a firebender. And growing up, I struggled with it." she looked quizzically at me and I realized she didn't believe me, "I got better" I added, "but because I lacked in bending, I trained with using dual broad swords." Her eyes lit up with realization.

"The swords from your ship. Those weren't just decor."

"No, they are not."

"Please, let me watch you when you train?"

"I get up at daybreak."

"Then I will too." I looked down at her lifting one eye brow, "seriously. Tomorrow, wake me up when you get up."

I shrugged and nodded in agreement, "Alright. Actually, I was going to wait to tell you this but since it came up," she watched me with anticipation, "once you get settled in to life here, I am going to have you start attending my council meetings. You will be a ruler here too, ruling beside me, you will need to know the goings on. I assume you would like to since you like to be hands on." I'd learned that much about her already.

"Yes, very much so. And like I said before, I like to hit the ground running. I would like to start attending the meetings as soon as you are ready for me to."

She started to get up. "What are you doing?"

"Why not start today?"

Sam

I got dressed and joined Zuko for breakfast. The first time I had since we got to the Fire Nation, I had realized. I was flattered and honored that Zuko wanted me to be part of the council meetings. It was important to me to work for my people.

I was a bit nervous about seeing Councilman Chong again. He had been so blatantly rude to me yesterday, I was surprised Zuko didn't just reach down his throat and rip his lungs out. Give it time I thought wryly.

I was surprised that Zuko did not dress formally today except for his Fire Lord hairpiece in his topknot. I asked him about it.

"I don't dress formally unless it is official. Any other day, I dress for comfort." I liked that. I knew from the get-go he was not full of himself.

We entered the council chamber and all the same faces were there. Chong front and center. Fantastic. I thought dryly. They all looked at Zuko inquisitively.

"Sam will be joining us for all of our meetings from now on." I could have heard a pin drop. "is that a problem?" Zuko challenged. Murmurs in the negative followed his question. "Good."

"Have you had a chance to review my proposal, Fire Lord?" Chong asked.

"About the renovations in your province? Yes, I have and the answer is no."

"Why not, Fire Lord? We need it! Some of the housing is in such disrepair they should be condemned!" Zuko closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed.

"I am aware of your dilemma, Councilman Chong. But were you or were you not granted funds last year to rectify the housing problems?"

"Yes, Fire Lord, but we had to use them for other pressing matters."

"What pressing matters, Councilman?" I was starting to really get to know Zuko and I could tell he knew the answer already but wanted the man to say it.

"We…had to put it to the schools in the province in order to make them safe for the children."

Zuko smirked. "You put the funds towards the schools? What exactly did you do to the schools? Because I have received several complaints from the teachers and parents that the schools are also in disrepair. So, I will ask you again, Councilman. Where did the funds go you were granted last year?"

Chong glared at Zuko. These men did not like being challenged and Zuko was not afraid to.

"Other necessities." he murmured under his breath.

"Other necessities?" Zuko said exasperated. "Since you seem to have a lapse in memory, allow me to remind you. After the funds were granted, I made some inquiries and found out that no schools were updated and no housing was renovated. Well, that isn't entirely true. One house was renovated. Yours, Councilman." His eyes flew open and looked at Zuko shocked, silently wondering how Zuko knew.

"W-what?! That is preposterous! Wherever did you hear that?"

"My sources shall remain anonymous. If my information is incorrect then you can show me proof the funds went to the schools then? Or towards suitable housing? You would have had contracts signed in order to perform the renovations."

"No, sir. I do not."

"So then, tell me Councilman. Why would I grant you more funds for you to put towards your own selfish funding? Since we now have established that you are not using the funds for which they were granted. After I found out about this atrocity, I considered having you removed from your post. Shall I take that into consideration again?"

"No, your majesty."

"Good, then it's settled." Zuko said making it clear the discussion was over. "Next?"

"Speaking of schools, your majesty, were you able to review my proposal?" another man asked. Zuko, to my surprise, smiled.

"Yes, I did, Councilmen Sho and I approve of the funding. I will have the funds allocated to your province immediately in order for you to bring the school curriculum up to date. In addition to the funding, I will be sending some people who have show exemplary knowledge and skill in education in order to help you achieve your goal. Thank you for the proposal and your dedication to your province." Zuko complimented the man. The man smiled and bowed his head to Zuko in respect.

"Of course, Fire Lord. Thank you for the funding and help we so desperately need."

I liked this man. I could tell Zuko did too.

I sat silently listening to their back and forth. The proposals. Zuko's rebuttals and approvals. It was really a wonder watching him work. I could see why he didn't trust his councilmen. A shame really. They could do great things if they only thought of their charges.

We convened for lunch and Zuko and I sat and talked about our meeting.

"Zuko, do you meet with them every day?" I asked.

"Well, it's summer time so there is a lot of things going on. I usually meet with them every day for a week just a few times a year." he explained. I nodded in understanding. I wanted to ask Zuko a question about the housing but didn't know how to ask it. I said as much.

"Just ask it." he said simply. I hesitated.

"I don't want to overstep."

"You're the Fire Lady, Sam. You won't overstep. I want to know. Ask me." he encouraged. He really had a knack for making me feel comfortable.

"I realize that Chong did not use the funding for what they were intended but…"

"But?" Zuko asked raising his eyebrows in interest.

"Is it really fair to punish the people for his selfishness? I mean, not giving them funding for the renovations because he used it before for his own selfish purposes. That hardly seems fair." Zuko sat back and deliberated a moment.

"What do you propose we do?"

"What if you sent in a team of your own that you select to renovate the housing for you're and cut Chong out of the equation. Appoint one person who will oversee it and report back to you everything that transpires. Then it will get done and it will be out of Chong's control." I said. Zuko looked to be deliberating, "plus it will really piss him off."

Zuko laughed. "Ah so your true intentions come out I see!" I laughed with him. He regained his seriousness quickly, "That…is actually an excellent idea. I would like for you to announce it at our meeting tomorrow."

I was shocked. "Me?! But they don't even respect me."

"And what better way to show them you deserve it than demonstrating your knack for being Fire Lady? Besides, I'll be there with you." he said. That did reassure me.

"Ok. I will. Thank you, Zuko."

"For what?"

"For valuing my opinion. For not expecting me to just be an arm ornament. For believing in me. For respecting. For allowing me to feel useful."

"Of course. Anything for you." he said and he cupped my face with his and to which I turned and kissed his palm.

I think this arrangement might work after all.