Chapter 7: Memories

"After I saved Katara from the Fueled Rage I brought her back to the palace to recuperate. She was out cold for months, we kept her in good health until she awoke. Ten months had passed before Katara would once again rejoin us. When she awoke she had no knowledge of you, Sokka, Toph or any of us, except for me. Our doctors believe that because I was there when she was knocked out that's why she retained memories of me. As she recovered she started water bending again and regained her strength. Even at that point I could tell she was interested in me. But I was with Mai and I was Fire Lord, I had no time for crushes."

"A year ago Mai and I were enjoying a stroll outside the palace, it was the day of are anniversary. My uncle had come to visit and decided to walk with us. "So Zuko, should I be expecting an little ones soon?" he chuckled. I of course lit up and got nervous. Mai just laughed, "No not yet Iroh, were going to wait a bit longer before we start doing that at least." My uncle let out a bellowing laugh and slapped me on the back, "I'm proud of you nephew." Uncle wanted to see the gardens so we headed up the stairs. As we were approaching the top one of my guards came running up the stairs in a pant, "Sir the palace is under attack you must get inside."

"Who would dare attack my palace?"

"It's the Fueled Rage sir."

"My fathers loyalists? How did they get so close to the palace?"

"They disguised themselves as soldiers and snuck in during the shift of the guard."

"Where are they now?"

"Before the guard could answer the question he was blown away in an inferno. His body lay lifeless in front of me. I looked up only to see the leader of Fueled Rage, D. "Prince Zuko, its been too long."

"Mai go and stay with Katara!" I screamed.

"Mai ran up to the palace and made it inside. Are you ready uncle? I think we can take him together."

"Let's do this nephew."

"My uncle and I attacked D furiously with flame punches and kicks. But no attack we made against him seemed to be effective. He eventually overpowered us and made his way into the palace. We quickly gathered what remaining guards there were and chased after D. He had made his way to royal chambers where Mai and Katara were. We had just made it in the knick of time. We confronted D again."

"You will no beat us this time D" I proclaimed.

"You really think you pathetic welps can defeat me?" D chuckled.

"As soon as he had finished uttering those words we all unleashed a massive wave of fire blasts directly at him. And when the smoke cleared, he was completely unharmed. D only laughed.

"Zuko there is only one thing left to do, and now is the time!" yelled my uncle.

"We both took position and launch lighting directly at D. But he redirected it right back at us. My uncle evaded his blast just in time. But I was not so lucky. I closed my eyes expecting the worst. But what I thought was the worst would never stack to what happened. Mai had jumped in front of the blast. I picked her up staring at her lifeless body. And then my body was completely taken over by rage. I attacked D head on with strength I never knew I had. I drove him out of the palace and with a massive fireball I sent him flying over the horizon."

"I quickly returned to the chambers only to find more despair. Katara had tried to heal Mai but to no avail. My uncle kneeled next to her and silently prayed. But my pain only intensified after that. Katara approached me and held me tight. When she let go she leaned up to my ear and whispered, "Im sorry Zuko, but she was expecting."

"My world came crashing down on me. Not only had my beloved wide died, but our unborn baby was killed in the crossfire."

Zuko began to break down in tears. "That's enough Zuko, I understand now," Aang said while comforting him.

"I know I shouldn't be sobbing about loss to you, your entire race was wiped out by my great-grandfather."

"No your loss was much greater than mine Zuko."

"How can you say that?"

"I loss my people, whom most of them I did not know. I did lose the ones I loved but the love that you lost is even more precious then love I lost."

Zuko wiped his eyes, "Thank you Aang, for understanding."

"Don't mention it, but I think we should both get to bed, we have a lot more to talk about tomorrow."

"Your right, good night Aang."

"Night Zuko."

Aang walked quietly back to his and Toph's room. So many things were running through his head. He sat down in the middle of the hallway and began to meditate, to clear his mind. After a few minutes he let out a deep breath and stood up. He continued to his room and opened the door. He walked in and closed the door and when he turned around he saw Toph laying silently in bed, exactly the way he left her. Aang undressed and layed next to her in bed and held her tight.

Toph rolled over and kissed him. "Are you okay Aang? Your heart is racing."

"I'm fine. Zuko just told me about what happened to Mai. And I don't want anything like that to happen to you."

"It won't, nothing could take me from you, and you know it."

Aang sighed, "You're right."

"Now that your back I can ask you this. Do you know how hard it is to sleep when you can't see anything?"

"Do you want to go and sleep outside?"

"No, because I thought of a better idea." Toph placed her feet on Aang's ankles. She gave him a kiss and flicked him the nose.

"Ow, what was that for."

" I can see you."

"O, Toph I love you."

"I love you to Aang."

Before they could start were they left off they fell asleep in each others arms.