CHAPTER 23

ZUKOS POV

It had been two weeks of heavy drinking for Zuko. Two weeks of putting on a front before his advisors to make it seem like he was making an earnest effort to select a new wife. Two weeks of high born females doing whatever it took to gain his attention. It had started with the tea time event two weeks ago, hosted in the palace's largest garden in the west wing. This was the Fire Lady's wing where most of the courting events were supposed to take place. They had placed small decorative white iron tables around the clearing next to the grand fountain where the ladies sat to drink tea. Zuko had his own seat towards the front near the moon lavender.

Each lady would get a chance to sit at his table and chat with him. From that conversation alone he was to eliminate one of them. Zuko had to be honest, none of them had caught his attention. They were all beautiful, of course, but none of them were memorable. Maybe if he hadn't had the experience of Katara he would have been impressed with these women, but all he could think of was her during these conversations.

He was almost done by the time the afternoon was beginning to roll around, finally getting to the eighth girl. She was wearing black, immediately peaking Zuko's interest. It was the middle of summer and black was usually a color reserved for winter. Traditionally it was also a color synonymous with power. She had slender curves beneath her thin dress and her skin was as pale as freshly poured milk. Her pin strait onyx hair flowed down past her waist shinning in the midday sun. She observed him with a controlled coolness in her slanted brown eyes. Her eyes were the color of fall leaves; too dark to be of royal blood but light enough to consider her of high birth. Sharp bangs covered her forehead, accentuating her high cheek bones and small pouty lips.

"My Lord" she said, her voice airy and almost too raspy to hear. It sent a pang through Zuko's heart. She bowed low in front of him, waiting patiently for his command to rise.

"Please sit" he said plainly, gesturing to the seat in front of him. She rose gracefully from her bow, curtseyed before she sat down across from him.

"What is your name?" Zuko started. The same way he had began every conversation thus far.

"Mai Sazuki Sato."

Zuko raised a brow. The Sato family was known to be very influential. If he remembered correctly she was the daughter of the governor of Yama, a beautiful province just north of Caldera filled with mountains, lakes, and rice fields.

"Are you governor Ukano's daughter?" he asked. She nodded her head.

"Yes, he is my father. I'm surprised you don't remember me" she rasped. His eyes widened suddenly in recognition.

"You were Azula's friend when we were little" he smiled "you were always nice to me." Her pale cheeks turned crimson before she looked away.

"I always hoped I could be friends with you instead of Azula. She was cruel even back then. But you were…different from the rest of your family" she said.

"I suppose I was" he echoed really getting a good look at her. Her lashes were dark, long, and straight, and her lips the color of raspberries. She was a Fire Nation pure bread through and through. She was the easy choice. She could make his life simpler. If he chose her his advisors would be more than happy about how pure the bloodline would be kept.

Mai also held an attentive coldness in her gaze that attracted Zuko. It reflected the darkness he felt inside of himself. The pain.

So it went on like that for several weeks. The palace continued to host events tailored for Zuko to bond with the girls and Zuko selected who would move on. They were now narrowed down to three women, the process slowing down. There was enough space in the west wing for three girls to live comfortably therefore his advisors had decided they would stay for another month. This was to ensure that Zuko had adequate time to select the right choice. He also had the option of taking up to three wives, but only one could be Fire Lady. The other two wives would only have the title but none of the government jurisdiction.

Zuko didn't like the idea of this but he did not argue against the advisors. He was just happy that he could buy more time. He had narrowed it down to Mai, Ty Lee, and Jin. All three girls were of high birth and were beautiful. Mai had a quiet broodiness that in company with his own darkness made for a peaceful existence. He had kept Ty Lee around because she had been the only girl out of the ten to make him laugh, her high spirit reminding him of what it meant to feel alive. And lastly Jin was just an angel. The Earth Kingdom girl had done extensive work to combat homelessness in her city, which had impressed Zuko greatly making him think that her spirit for service could make her a good Fire Lady.

In the early morning of week three Zuko found himself destroying his study from top to bottom in a sudden fit of rage and anxiety. He was coming back from a meeting with his advisors where they had reminded him that he must select at least one of the women as his Queen by the end of the week. Flames licked at his fingertips as he tore down every book shelf, desk lamp, and picture on the wall. Suki rushed in within minutes grabbing his shoulder.

"Zuko! Zuko stop it!" she cried trying to restrain him. He pushed against her before punching a hole in the wall with a flaming fist. He beat on his desk with his bare knuckles causing the wood to splinter. Once his rage had been completely spent he paused his actions, breathing heavily.

"I don't want to do this anymore Suki…" he fumed, turning around to face her, his eyes brimmed red.

"Do what?"

"I'm already married…"he said pulling at his hair in distress "I can't do this…"

His head hung in defeat. Suki sighed, walking up to him slowly. She placed a comforting palm on his shoulder.

"Zuko it's okay to still grieve her…no one is asking you to fall in love again over night. This is just duty. And as your friend I just ask that you try to find some happiness within it" she encouraged him softly. He nodded weakly before dropping his head and covering his eyes with his forearm. He tried hard to hide the tears from Suki but she had caught them before he had a chance to cover his face.

"Come here" Suki whispered, holding her arms out for him. He stepped into her hold accepting her comforting embrace.

Later that night Zuko found himself returning to his quarters for a late dinner. He didn't bother eating with the ladies in the west wing. It had been a while sense all three Queen consorts moved into the palace and Zuko had barely spent any time with them. He knew that his advisors were probably starting to get suspicious but he couldn't bring himself to care. He walked into his bedchambers passing through the waiting chamber and into the primary suite. He sighed deeply making his way to his personal bar. He uncorked his favorite fire whiskey taking a deep pull. He was about five shots in when he heard a knock at his door. He put the bottle down not bothering to put another shirt on. He opened the door in his drunken haze before shock froze on his face as he registered the sight in front of him.

Ty Lee stood there in a pink silk night robe, her brown usually pony tailed hair down and flowing to her knees. Her ample cleavage was emphasized by the tightly sinched sash at her waist. The bubbly girl was holding the end of a chained leash, the other end tied to a black leather collar that, to Zuko's surprise, was wrapped around Mai's slender neck. The normally broody girl was sporting a deep blush, her body language submissive and soft. Zuko's drunken blood flared with heat. Mai was wearing a black sheer robe that flowed down to her feet and depending on how she shifted showed the lacey lingerie she wore underneath. Zuko's breath caught in his throat as Ty Lee pulled at Mai's leash gently, eliciting a soft gasp from the other girl.

"We haven't seen you in nearly a week your Grace and thought you may be in dire need of company" Ty Lee said innocently. Zuko swallowed.

"Uh-"

"May we come in your Grace? It's awfully cold in the hallway" she interrupted. He stood to the side and watched as the petite Ty Lee lead Mai into his chambers by her chains. Zuko followed them silently, his mind not catching up to what was actually happening. When they reached his bedroom Ty Lee turned, her brown eyes appraising him hungrily. His heart nearly jumped from his chest as she untied her sash letting her robe completely slip from her body. Underneath she wore pink lacey underwear which left nothing to the imagination, her smooth olive skin on full display. Zuko's mouth sagged open as she approached him jerking Mai along with her. She was now so close to him he could feel the body heat radiating off of her. The small girl's soft breasts brushed against his rib cage sending sparks of electricity straight to his groin. Zuko was so drunk he hadn't even fully registered that this was not a dream. Ty Lee grabbed his hand, placing the end of Mai's leash firmly into his palm and helping him close his fist around it.

"Good thing you can take more than one wife your Grace" Ty Lee's soft voice whispered as the light of the flickering flames of his fire place danced across her curves. Something inside of him cracked as he flexed his grip on Mai's leash experimentally. She had not said a word this entire time, her blush only deepening as his gaze flitted back and forth between her and Ty Lee. He tugged downward, pulling her down to her knees in front of him. He gripped the leash against him, bringing her closer. He could feel the heat of her breath through his trousers.

"Lady Mai" he rasped.

"Yes your Grace?"

"What do you want?" his voice was strained. He needed her consent.

"To serve you my Lord" she said, her slanted eyes looking up at him finally. He hissed yanking her leash to bring her flush against his manhood. She braced herself against his hips making quick work of his sleep trousers and pulling them down around his ankles. Ty Lee dropped beside Mai to help her remove her robe revealing the black lace that adorned the dark haired beauty. Ty Lee looked up at him with those doe eyes of hers smiling as Mai grasped his hardened member in her slender hands. Zuko groaned loudly. He hadn't been touched in nearly half a year and his body yearned for even a drop of affection. Mai licked at him experimentally while Ty Lee studied his reactions with rapt attention. The petit girl stood up again grasping his other hand and bringing it up to her ample chest. Ty Lee had some of the largest breasts he'd ever seen and he squeezed them languidly enjoying the overflow. Her pink lacey bralette bunched to the side with Zuko's rough treatment, revealing her rosy nipple. Zuko bent down to take it into his mouth sucking hungrily. Ty Lee moaned into the space between them, sending shock waves to his cock. Mai had finally decided to take his length into her mouth, not letting him forget about her down there. He moaned around Ty Lee's breast as Mai sucked him slowly. He brought his head up cupping Ty's jaw before kissing her greedily. He bit at her full bottom lip before wrapping his free hand around her throat and squeezing lightly, at the same time tugging Mai's leash. She whimpered into his mouth submitting to his aggression. He broke their kiss before looking down at Mai who was trying her hardest to fit all of him down her throat. He tugged at her leash gently, encouraging her to go deeper. He reveled in her gags, loving how her throat contracted around him.

"Fuck…" he gasped as Ty began leaving open mouthed kisses down his neck. Zuko's soul almost left his body when she joined Mai on the ground again selfishly popping his member out of Mai's mouth and into her own. Her warm cavern enveloped him as she moaned sending vibrations up his spine. Mai's face was still crimson, saliva leaving a glossy sheen on her lips. But despite her shyness impatience crept onto her face the longer Ty pleasured him. Mai coaxed his member from the other girl's mouth licking the bottom of his shaft as her hand pumped him. Ty decided to suckle at his tip while Mai worked the base of him. Zuko's eyes nearly got caught in the back of his head. He shook his head looking back down at the girls beneath him. But suddenly their eyes were blue, and their skin was brown. He reached forward to bury his hand into a tumble of chocolate curls. Stormy cerulean irises stared back at him as he felt his climax approaching.

"Ka-Katara" he choked out.

Abruptly the pleasure stopped and he looked down in confusion blinking as his mind returned back to reality. Both girls looked up at him blinking in perplexity.

"Who's Katara?" Mai asked. Zuko cleared his throat, pulling away from them and quickly pulling his trousers back over his hips.

"You ladies should go"

"But your Gra-" Ty tried to protest.

"Go" he said firmly. Both girls redressed quickly scurrying out of his chambers. He did not relax until he heard the door click, collapsing onto his bed in frustration.

KATARA'S POV

It had been a few weeks sense the festival and Katara had had time to process the information that Zuko was not only alive but he was the Fire Lord…and currently looking for another wife. She sat by the pond, silently watching her son rip up the grass in his tiny fists. The turtle ducks were out, looking much more adult than she remembered them being last summer. She looked over the horizon solemnly watching the rice fields flow slowly in the wind. Her friends had not visited her today therefore she got the chance to be alone with her child. Now that all of the noise had died down she was finally able to sit in her emotions.

In one breath she was relieved that he was alive and well, and that he clearly had not been in the palace when it was blown up despite what the guards had told her. In another breath she was completely devastated. Her worst fear had manifested into reality. Zuko evidently did not want to seek them out and was currently looking for a new wife. He clearly had no interest in their family and hadn't even tried to look for them after the war was won. She couldn't wrap her head around it. Why had he gone through the trouble of marrying her just to find a Fire Nation wife in the end anyway?

Her friends had been trying to convince her for the past few days to go to Caldera and confront him. But Katara would have none of it…one may call it pride but she would never be able to bare the embarrassment and shame. She imagined herself showing up at the Fire Palace with a baby in tow claiming that it was Zuko's. She would be lucky if they didn't hang her for falsely pinning a bastard child on their King. Her heart would shatter even more if he denied them. She would not allow herself to go through that nor would she put her child through it. Katara knew that Salai would have to carry that shame for the rest of his life. Maybe it was best if she just returned to the South Pole.

"You are a strong boy" Katara whispered as she scooped the golden eyed baby up into her arms "but I suppose you've had no choice. I marched with you in my belly for leagues across the entire Earth Kingdom…you were born to be a warrior."

Salai looked up at her curiously babbling and trying to grab her braid. Katara smiled softly down at him grazing his large cheeks with the pad of her thumb. She undid her braid letting her hair flow freely in the mild winds.

Just then a large shadow blocked out the sun shrouding them in darkness. Thinking it was a storm cloud Katara looked up only to find a familiar silhouette flying across the sky, hundreds of feet in the air.

"Druk?"

The massive dragon circled around, remaining above them. She squinted trying to see if Zuko was up there as well, her heart racing in anticipation. Finally Druk decided to land, descending on the clearing across from the pond. She looked at his reptilian golden eyes not understanding why he was there. She looked down at Salai who was staring at the dragon curiously. Despite his menacing form her son did not cry or seem scared. Druk bent forward, his head resting in a downward motion, revealing that he had no rider.

ZUKOS POV

Zuko sat alone in his mother's old garden in the west wing of the palace. The turtle duck pond had been filled with all sorts of beautiful koi fish and lily pads yet no turtle ducks had come to occupy the small oasis. Maybe it was because no joy had lived in this palace for decades. The Fire Lord had not spent much time in this wing for fear of running into one of his potential wives, but today he had the urge to feel close to his mother. He still remembered the day he had been told about her death like it was yesterday. She had been banished from Caldera when Zuko was just eight years old. Still to this day it was unclear why she had been banished, his father only telling them that she had committed treason against his grandfather Azulon who had been Fire Lord at the time. He was an senile tyrant by then, and everyone knew that Ozai was really the one pulling the strings. He remembered that Ozai had stepped a little too far out of line one day and had angered his grandfather. He had gotten too cocky and requested to be made heir over his older brother Iroh. His father's reasoning being that his first born son Lu Ten had passed away fighting on the front lines and Iroh no longer had an heir. Everyone knew that Iroh was opposed to re-marrying after his wife had died of a progressive illness therefore Ozai had thought it wise to snatch the crown from him. This had infuriated Azulon, prompting him to punish Ozai by making him kill his own first born son to understand the pain. Zuko remembered being terrified. His own grandfather had wanted him to die by his father's hands as punishment. Azula had come into his room that night taunting him about how brutally he would be murdered. That same night his mother visited him while he was sleeping, whispering how much she loved him. To this day Zuko regretted that he had not woken up to say goodbye to her…all he had left was the hazy memory of her sitting on his bed as she brushed back his unruly hair with her delicate fingers. The next morning his grandfather was dead and he was told that Ursa had been exiled to the outskirts of the Fire Nation, never to be seen again. Years later Ozai had ordered her death after he became Fire Lord. He had sent spies to go find her, only to discover that she had remarried. His father was not happy about this fact and sent a hit man to murder her in her sleep. Zuko had been twelve when it happened.

"Do you mind if I join you my Lord?"

Zuko snapped out of his reverie looking up to find Jin staring down at him, two cups of water in her hand. He nodded absently allowing her to sit beside him on the warm grass. She handed him the cool glass with a smile that Zuko did not see. He was too busy staring ahead at the empty koi pond.

"How are you today your Grace?"

"Zuko"

"I'm sorry yo-?"

"Call me Zuko"

"Oh well how are you your G-Z-Zuko" she stuttered. He chuckled dryly at her nervous demeaner. Out of all the girls he'd interviewed she was the most like Katara. It wasn't that they physically resembled, but her need to help others reminded him so much of his water bender. She was selfless just like her. He knew he'd never find love again…but at least he could surround himself with things that reminded him of Katara.

"I am well, and you?" he said dryly. There was no feeling in his voice…no warmth.

"You do not seem well yo-Lord Zuko" she said timidly.

He felt annoyance flair in his gut at her prodding. She was not here to get to know him. She was here to give the Fire Nation an heir.

"Do not presume to know me Lady Jin" he stated, restoring the conversation's formalities. He was still staring ahead, unable to see the redness underneath her skin flood her neck and face.

"My apologies your Grace I was only trying to-"

He stood abruptly turning to look down at her finally. Her hazel eyes looked up at him cautiously waiting for his backlash. He simply turned from her, walking briskly back up the cobblestoned bridge separating the garden from the main castle grounds.

Zuko had nothing in particular to do since his advisors had taken up so many of his responsibilities in an effort to free up his schedule to entertain his competing Queen consorts. But he refused to engage with them therefore he found himself wondering to the south wing of the palace. This wing was where his father used to dwell the most. It was dark on this side, most windows blocked with heavily dimmed curtains. He walked into what used to be Ozai's study, calmly approaching the deceased man's desk. Zuko took a deep inhale of breath before completely unleashing all the anger in his body into pounding the wooden desk with his fists. Zuko beat the poor piece of furniture until the bottoms of his hands bled from the splintering wood. He breathed out a deep scream of fire spewing from his lips in a deadly stream.

'Zuko'

His hands stopped immediately as he felt Druk enter his consciousness.

'Could you sense my distress?' Zuko replied dryly, unphased by his dragon's uncanny ability to catch him in his most vulnerable moments.

'I wanted to tell you about the dream I had last night'

'Right now?' Zuko asked in annoyance.

'I had a dream about a cottage' he pressed on anyway 'It was on a farm in the Earth kingdom in the middle of a rural town. I kept seeing you there, coming in and out of the house. I woke up and our spirit told me to go there. I think I found it!'

Zuko's heart began to speed up as he felt his eyes roll into the back of his skull. When he reopened them he knew they were glowing gold, and he could now see through Druk's eyes.

He took in the clear blue skies surrounding him before Druk looked down revealing Zuko's farm in Chao. His acres of land had been well kept, and the sun shone down on the farm against all the beautiful produce. But something at the edge of his vision caught his eye. Over near the pond just behind the berry trees it looked like a small person was sitting in the grass. Druk approached circling above them. The closer they got the more Zuko could tell it was a woman and small child. The young maiden looked up, squinting her clear blue eyes at the blacked out sun.

Zuko's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. It was Katara. He felt his knees go weak and he knelt on the ground, his breath completely leaving him. He put a fist to his chest, fighting the faint feeling rushing over him.

Druk landed across the pond from them. Zuko could see the look of curiosity on her beautiful face. She wasn't dead. She was alive. She was alive and beautiful and real and breathing. Zuko felt Druk relinquish all control over his body allowing the young King to take over all of the dragon's senses. Zuko could now feel the scorched breeze blowing across his scales, and hear the hooves of their horse's feet in the stables adjacent to them. Katara stood up, her eyes locked on Druk's form from across the pond. Her curly hair flowed freely down to her waist. Zuko studied her as she bent down picking up a small bundle from the blanket. Zuko's heart lurched in his chest as she turned him in her arms revealing his son to him. He couldn't help himself from leaping with a slight beat of his wings to cross the pond over to them.

His son had his family's golden eyes, but somehow they looked even more vibrant and beautiful…the most lovely shade of gold he'd ever seen, his skin the color of honey that had been left out in the sun all day. Shocks of wavy dark hair covered his little round head in an adorable heap. Katara stepped closer to him coming to a stop when she was a mere one foot away. Zuko could smell her now, the soft hint of lavender and tea tree with an undertone of pure sweetness. Katara reached up prompting Zuko to bend his head toward her reach. She rested her delicate hand on his nose sending shock waves through his spine. He'd never though that he would see or be able to touch her again. He had thought she had been burned at the stake by his horrendous father, their child gone and burned with her. But here they were. He could really see and feel them. He needed to see them in his own body, and fast.

'Come get me' Zuko commanded suddenly relinquishing control of Druk's form.

Zuko felt his consciousness return to his human body as he knelt on the floor of his father's study in shock.

KATARAS POV

Katara stood there a moment watching Druk turn from her abruptly and take off into the sky, his massive wings beating against the wind. The water bender stared as his form grew smaller and smaller until he was just a dot in the open sky.

She looked down at Salai sighing deeply. She wondered why Zuko's dragon was wondering around the Earth Kingdom, and how he found her. She silently wondered if Zuko had seen her just now through Druk's eyes. She had seen them share consciousness a few times before.

She dismissed her thoughts turning to grab the basket she had brought out with her, placing the blanket and food bowls she had eaten fruit from inside. She walked towards the stables before harnessing Salai to her back in a tight sling. She mounted her black mare Nalu in one swift motion.

Katara was heading to May and Haru's house for dinner, the couple living on the outskirts of the town's square. The water bender still remembered that fateful night giving birth to Salai there. She had barely made it to their door step in her agony.

She rode at a leisurely pace making it to the modest abode just before sunset.

"Right on time Katara! May just took the duck out the oven" Haru beamed as he opened the door for her and Salai. She returned his smile, the smell of roasted meat hitting her as she stepped through the door. She immediately headed to the kitchen greeting a busy May.

"Need help with anything?" Katara asked.

"Could you chop the green onion?" she asked as she pecked the water bender on the cheek.

"Of course" she said stepping in with Saila still at her back.

"Why don't I relieve some of that extra weight?" Haru said stepping in as he pointed to her babbling son.

"I'm sure he'd rather be playing with Uncle Haru anyway" Katara laughed untying his sling. Haru took him into his arms, exiting the kitchen with the baby.

"I think he's got baby fever now" May said narrowing her eyes at the now empty kitchen entrance.

"Will you give him one?" she prodded elbowing her friend while she chopped.

May blushed deeply shaking her head.

"N-no…well not yet at least" she whispered.

"Take your time…don't rush into anything you aren't ready for."

May took the advice soundly.

Dinner was spent at the couple's round oak table, raucous laughter filling the room. Family stories were shared, along with their most embarrassing moments. Eventually the moon ruled over the sky signaling just how late it really was. After dinner they had made their way into the living room area. Salai lay asleep in her arms as she lounged across from them on their loveseat.

"It's late Katara, you should spend the night" May suggested. Katara offered no protest, accepting the extra sleep clothes blankets and pillows offered to her.

"Goodnight Tara" May called as she moved to snuff the candles.

"Wait I almost forgot!" Haru called from down the hall in their bedroom. He emerged back to the living room with two narrow slips of paper in his hands.

"These are for you" he said handing them over.

She took them carefully turning them around to read the text. They were two one way boat tickets to the South Pole. Katara felt tears well in her eyes. She could finally return home where she belonged.

END CHAPTER 23