Thank you ALL so much for the wonderful reviews! I hope you like the story so far. If any one seems out of character, PLEASE let me know!

Thanks again,

Kai

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Zuko

It was three years after I stole the kiss from Katara, the day the comet passed, and the day I became Firelord. Then, the world was on it's knees; people were dying everywhere. Money was short, taxes were high, and the Fire Nation insignia was everywhere. Then, everyone hated us.

So much has changed.

Now, everyone has a clean slate. Prisoners of war that were not a threat to the public were let out of prison, taxes were dropped dramatically, the populations flourished, crime was at an all time low, and the world was at peace.

The day Aang defeated my father, I locked Ozai in the highest security prison in my nation. Where he could never hurt anyone ever again.

I admitted Azula to the best mental institute for fire benders in the world. She could get the help she needed there, and she was doing amazing. She wasn't all there, but she knew what had happened. She knew of our Agni Kai, and how she had lost. And she thought nothing of it. She was happy to finally be free.

Ozai's tyranny had finally ended.

The palace staff was reinstated, no questions asked, by Uncle. They picked up where they had left off, as if Azula had never banished them.

Ba Sing Se's wall was repaired, at the expense of the Fire Nation, seeing as we did the damage. I also helped with the reconstruction of the South Pole. The men returned home, only to find their very small village even smaller. So I journeyed to the South Pole, and with the help of several very skilled water benders, the South Pole became much like it's Northern sister's. It also helped that a quarter of the Northern tribe's population moved south. Soon, the small speck of a village became a city of ice, complete with a small palace and wall.

Aang now traveled the world, keeping the peace and solving disputes between people. Toph's parent's eventually caught up with her and hauled her back to the Earth Kingdom. Chief Hakkoda became "king" of the Northern water tribe, making Sokka and Katara prince and princess. Suki returned to Kyoshi, much to Sokka's distress as he had to return to the South pole for a time. Ty Lee returned to the circus, overjoyed (which would be regular joy for her, seeing as she's that peppy about everything) that the universe had given her signs for a career change.

Katara, she returned home as well, breaking off all contact with me and Aang.

The day I asked my father of my mother, he gave me the worst news I could imagine, that she was dead. He had had her killed a little while after her banishment. I didn't want to believe him, so I sent out men to every corner of the globe to try and find her. After two years of nothing, I gave up.

Mai and I kept on together for a while, but my heart wasn't in it. And as time went on, she lost interest as well. At least in me anyway, she stuck by to keep her hand on my title.

I think she expected me to marry her.

Ha, like I would do that when I loved someone else? Bull.

Uncle and I stayed at the palace together, and he slid easily into the role as my advisor. I, on the other hand, struggle to keep my head above all the paperwork. It was a hard thing, ruling a nation. Most kings and queens make it seem simple. But in truth, it's a load of paperwork, public appearances, banquets, national holidays, celebrations, and stupid nobles who know nothing of the lives the under classes lead trying to make things easier on themselves. All of it's enough to make you explode, which I have done on several occasions.

Not to mention, trying to slowly let down a clingy girlfriend, practicing my bending, training, and keeping in touch with people across the planet.

Aang sent me messages about every other week, detailing the animals he was riding and how Momo and Appa were getting along with the locals, often times commenting on a new food he had tried. He sometimes threw in how he was going about keeping the peace and a dispute between people. It was obvious that he wanted to settle down somewhere and just be a kid, but, being the Avatar, that was impossible.

I heard from Sokka more often, just about twice a week. You could tell he was thoroughly bored and missed Suki. One week he sent me news of Katara, knowing that I didn't hear from her. He assured me that she was doing fine, training the young water benders and teaching healing. Sokka informed me that she had been attracting the eyes of many of the young men in their village.

I thought it was a good time to pay the Southern Water Tribe a visit.

I sent Sokka a letter telling him that I would be coming by sometime soon, and that I planned on stopping in the Earth Kingdom to pick up Toph and at Kyoshi to get Suki. If I ran into Aang sometime in that window, I'd be sure to invite him, albeit begrudgingly.

And so I planned.

About a month after receiving the message from Sokka about Katara, I set off. In the middle of the night I left, leaving Uncle to hold the reigns of my Nation whilst I was gone. I left Mai no explanation of my leaving, and told Uncle to be prepared to deal with her wrath when she discovered where I had gone.

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I sailed east, making good time to the Earth Kingdom. After about three weeks we pulled into port, and I stepped off the metal gangway to immediately be punched in the arm by a very disguised Toph.

"Ow!" I exclaimed, only to see her grin. I rubbed my arm where she had hit me, how such a small girl could muster such a force was a mystery to me.

"Hey there, Sparky. What's happenin'?" Her cloudy green eyes were focused on nothing as she readjusted her hood.

"Haha, good to see you too, Toph. Not much, I came to rescue you." I laughed when she immediately perked up.

"Really?" she sounded elated.

I laughed again, "Yeah, you really think I'd just leave you here when I was on my way to go see the gang? No way! But how did you know I was coming?" We walked toward the market place in town, where the men from my ship were restocking on supplies before we headed out for Kyoshi that night.

"I may be blind, but that doesn't keep me from eavesdropping on my parents. I heard them talking about a fire nation ship coming into port late last night and figured it had to be you." She grinned again, "I just knew you were coming to rescue me!" she clasped her hands together over her heart and looked up at me, before laughing hysterically.

I joined in her laughter, "Well, we pull out tonight, so we'd better get you home before your parents notice you're gone and place you under even tighter house arrest."

She scoffed, "Like that would stop me." But she obediently returned to her home, climbing in through the window to her room as I made my way back to my ship.

Later that night, after word had gotten around town that I was there, I paid her family a visit. They quickly invited me to stay for dinner, and Toph merely grinned when I said that I'd be delighted.

We spent most of the meal flicking things at each other, enjoying trying to keep her parents from noticing our conspiratory glances at one another.

The meal was simple, chicken and rice, but Toph and I both left with bits of it in our hair and on our robes. She ran off to change when her mother scolded her and told her to do so, and I excused myself to the restroom to clean up.

Upon returning, the conversation became awkward. It was as if Toph's parents realized that I planned on stealing her away that night.

It became incredibly awkward when they inquired about marriage.

"So, Lord Zuko, tell me; is your being here tonight a sign that you would like my daughter's hand in marriage?" Lord Bei Fong asked simply.

I nearly choked on my drink, Toph had not yet returned but that didn't mean she wasn't listening to every word.

"Uhm, no sir. Toph is a very good friend of mine, we traveled together for a time as you probably recall." her father's face darkened at the mention of her time with the gang, "But I have no intention of marrying any time soon, not that she wouldn't make a wonderful wife."

He nodded slowly, but I could tell that he was relieved that someone like me, Fire Nation, took no interest in taking his daughter away.

Toph couldn't return fast enough after that.

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I took my leave a little after dark, but not before letting Toph know to be ready by one. She nodded, quickly and ran off to her rooms, leaving her parents with puzzled expressions on their faces.

I smiled politely and we exchanged the formal pleasantries of leaving. We bowed to one another, and I took my leave.

Soon enough, I was back on my ship. And by midnight, I was dressed in my Blue Spirit garb, minus the mask, and ready to go get Toph.

I slid through town, falling easily back into the role of a burglar. It felt all too natural to have my Dao swords strapped to my back once more and the collar of my shirt pulled up to conceal my face. I let my still short hair (I liked it short, and shaggy. When it was long I looked like my father) fall into my face, covering most of my scar.

Within twenty minutes I was at Toph's window. I almost laughed when I saw her sitting on her windowsill, patiently waiting for me and swinging her legs in the light of the almost full moon.

"Took you long enough, Sparky. I've been waiting since you left." she spoke with humor in her tone, but it disappeared with her next words, "Could you do me a favor?"

I nodded quickly before realizing she couldn't see me, "Yeah, sure. What do you need?"

She slid back into her room and retrieved a piece of paper and ink, "Could you say goodbye?" she held them out to me, a sincere look upon her face.

I took them from her, and smiled, "Of course, just tell me what you want me to write."

She grinned, "Thanks Sparky. Can you write, 'Mom and Dad, I'm leaving. I might be back sooner or later, but don't count on it. I'm safe so don't worry. Toph.'" Short, sweet, and to the point.

I finished writing with a final flourish of the brush, and, hearing me stop, Toph said, "Can we go know? I wanna see Snoozles' face when we show up on his doorstep. Haha."

I chuckled with her, careful to keep my voice down for fear of waking her parents, "Yeah, let's hid the water."

We slid back through town as only a vibration-knowing earth bender can, and we made it without incident.

The ship pulled out at high tide.

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Kyoshi island hadn't changed much since my last trip there. But then I had been bent on trying to find and capture Aang, not take in the sights and sounds of everyday village life.

The population was still miraculously large for a small fishing town, and the warriors greeted me in their face paint and green robes. Their fans were not in their hands, but I knew how fast they could be drawn.

I waved my arm over my head toward their leader, who wore her once short red hair up in a fancy headpiece like the rest of the girls. Toph stood beside me on deck, and waved in the direction my vibrations were pointing. I knew Toph could see well on a metal ship like the one we were currently on, but she was always more "in her element" on land.

As soon as we docked, Toph ran off the ship into a big mud puddle. She coated her feet and lower legs in mud, then earth bended some into a medium sized mud ball, and threw it at me. I dodged, laughing, knowing she had let it miss me on purpose.

Suki laughed with me as the mud ball splattered against the hull of my ship, "Hi, Toph! Zuko," she nodded respectfully, "What's going on?"

"Suki," I returned her bow, "I was on my way to the South pole to visit, and figured it'd be fun to get the gang back together so, - what's the matter?" a distressed look came over her face, she bit her lip and looked down.

"You came to see if I wanted to go see Sokka, yes?" She refused to meet my gaze, and kept her eyes on the ground. Her hands were behind her back and she rubbed the toe of her boot in the dirt.

I nodded.

"Well, I do want to but-"

"Spit it out, I can tell you're hiding something." Toph cut across her.

Suki almost sent her a glare before realizing she couldn't see it, she sighed, "The thing is, I- I'm engaged."

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Whoot, this was fun. I hope you all like my cliff hanger!