Chapter 45

Five months later at the Fire Nation capital, Aang and Iroh looked up from their sixth game of Pai Sho to see Katara enter the room, tired but smiling.

"Well?" Iroh asked nervously.

"Mother and baby are resting comfortably. Dad is beside himself with joy. Iroh, you have a healthy grand nephew," Katara declared, patting the old Fire Lord on the shoulder.

Iroh grabbed Aang up in a bearhug that threatened to crack ribs, grinning from ear to ear.

"If every mother could see their babies like Toph can, the world would be a better place. She knew just how he was doing at all times," Katara stated gladly as she sat down on a sofa, clearly exhausted. "I wish she'd been there with Suki. Getting little Aiko and Hasue into the world was a challenge. I'm just glad Toph saw there were two of them back at Jet and Mai's wedding."

"When can I go up and see them?" Iroh asked anxiously.

"Go on up. Just don't be surprised if Toph is sound asleep," Katara replied.

Upstairs, Zuko watched as his wife slept peacefully. The last 24 hours had been the most nerve-wracking time of his life. First of all, it had nearly killed him to see Toph in so much pain. He'd been a wreck with worry.

But Toph had been a rock until the moment when the baby's heart rate had started to fall. He'd never seen her so terrified in her life.

Even though Katara and the other midwives couldn't tell anything was wrong, they shifted her position in the huge bed, and to Toph and Zuko's relief, the baby's heartrate began to climb again.

It hadn't been much later that his son had come into the world, pink and squalling, with a head full of black hair. His eyes were a greenish gold and he was strong. Zuko looked down at the little bundle in his arms, still a little afraid to hold him. The baby made little sucking motions with his mouth.

"Hungry, huh?" Zuko asked him in a quiet whisper. "Give her just a little while, son. You were tough on her."

Outside, the afternoon sun shone brightly on the capital. Summer was well on its way and the days were warm and balmy. A dragon banner fluttered brightly in the breeze on a tower across the courtyard and Zuko remembered his promise.

"I'm going to take you to see the dragons," he declared to the baby in his arms.

Just then a quiet knock came at the door and Iroh entered the room, carefully easing his head in for permission.

"Come see him," Zuko called in a quiet voice. He didn't want to disturb Toph.

Iroh joined him at the huge window overlooking the courtyard and gardens below.

"He's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen," Iroh sighed, his voice a little shaky. He reached to touch a little hand, delighting in the way the baby gripped his finger.

"Do you want to hold him?" Zuko asked, holding his son out to him.

But Iroh backed away. "Not yet. We'll let him get just a little bigger first," he replied with a laugh.

"There's nothing to be scared of, Uncle. He won't break," Zuko assured the older man. But Iroh would not be moved and contented himself with stroking those tiny fingers.

"How old does he need to be to visit the dragons?" Zuko asked after a few moments. "I want him to see them. I want the dragons to meet him and help him understand who he is as a firebender, who he'll be as Fire Lord one day."

Iroh looked at Zuko and smiled wistfully. "Long ago, before Sozin's comet, he would have only had to look out his window to see a dragon. Each Crown Prince was visited by the dragons at birth. The dragon that would be their companion when they came of age would come to them at that time."

"Aang said there used to be lots of dragons. He said that Roku had a dragon and so did Sozin," Zuko sighed. "What happened to them?"

"On the day that Sozin betrayed Roku and left him and Fang to die, Sozin's dragon carried him back to the capital and left him. Azulon's dragon left the same day," Iroh began.

"I wasn't yet born, but I have been told of how furious my father was at what he saw as a betrayal of him and of the Fire Nation. In his eyes, the dragon had belonged to him," Iroh sighed sadly. "This was his error. He belonged to the dragon and the dragon was the spirit of the Fire Nation."

Iroh walked out onto the balcony and looked out over the bright blue empty skies of the capital. Zuko followed, making sure the baby was still warm. The air was very pleasant, however, and he knew there was no need to worry.

A few scattered white clouds soared overhead as Iroh continued his story in a sad voice. "Azulon was so angry that he vowed to hunt down his dragon in repayment for the betrayal. When he did, all the other dragons in the nation abandoned us as well, going back to their mountain caves. One by one, he saw that the dragons were wiped out."

"No more dragons came to the capital. Not for me, not for your father, not for you," Iroh sighed. They stood there on the balcony for a moment in silence. Then Iroh shook himself and asked brightly, "So what's this young man's name?"

"We decided to name him after my great-grandfather and my father," Zuko declared proudly.

"Sozin and Ozai? Sozai?" Iroh asked in disbelief.

"I have more than one great-grandfather. You taught me that," Zuko retorted merrily. Then he turned to his uncle with a proud smile. "His name is Rokiroh."

Iroh just looked back at him in shock. "You said your father, Zuko. I am your uncle."

"You are my father," Zuko replied. "And this--" he gently placed the baby into Iroh's arms, "is your grandson."

Big tears rolled down Iroh's cheeks as he looked down at his little grandson. "Rokiroh," he said to himself. "I think that's a wonderful name."

A commotion at the door woke Toph, and Zuko immediately went to see who was disturbing his wife's rest.

Aang and Katara burst into the room, their eyes flashing in excitement. "Zuko, you have got to come see this!" Aang declared firmly. "Everybody has got to see this! Hurry!"

Aang went to the bed to help Toph, but Zuko stepped in front of him. "I've got Toph," he declared firmly. "You help Iroh with the baby."

Swiftly, Zuko wrapped Toph in her robe and picked her up.

"What is going on?" she asked sleepily. "Is the baby okay?"

"He's just fine," Zuko said as they followed Aang down the hall and down the stairs. "Aang's got something he wants us to see."

Zuko became aware that the house staff was also running to the windows, peering out in amazement.

Aang dashed ahead of them on a puff of air and threw open the palace's huge front doors that opened onto the main courtyard.

Silhouetted against the blue sky were at least a dozen huge, colorful dragons. They soared and dipped with the air currents as they winged their way toward the courtyard.

Toph could feel his intake of breath but couldn't see a thing. "What is it?" she asked, but Zuko couldn't say a word.

Iroh also stood there, dumbfounded as the gigantic creatures approached. Crowds began to gather on the edges of the courtyard.

Toph could hear their cries and murmurs, but had no idea what was happening. "Sparky! Sparky, talk to me," she demanded. "What's going on?"

Then the first of the huge, majestic creatures touched down in the courtyard.

"Oh!" was all Toph could say as she felt that massive taloned foot make contact with the earth.

Zuko recognized the red and blue dragons who touched down first as Ran and Shao—the firebending masters. His arms held Toph tightly as he gazed around him in wonder.

"I thought dragons only came in red and blue," he stated in amazement as he took in the rainbow of colors before him.

In answer to that question, a large gold dragon settled to the ground before him.

"I have to get closer," he said quietly to Toph. "Do you want to come?"

Toph couldn't answer, but Zuko didn't want to let her go, so he walked toward the dragon with her still in his arms.

The dragon towered over him, spreading its wings and stretching up its neck proudly. Then it leaned forward until Zuko could feel its breath hot against his face.

"Can you stand?" he asked Toph in a whisper.

"I think so," she replied, just as quietly. Carefully he put her down and pushed her behind him.

The dragon cocked his head as if to ask what he was doing. "She's not a firebender," Zuko explained aloud. "I don't want her to get burned accidentally."

Sunlight glinted off the dragon's gold scales as it dipped its head as if in agreement. Then it leaned its broad muzzle forward and touched it to Zuko's forehead.

Heat rolled off the golden dragon as it stood there for a long moment. Heat rolled off Zuko as well to the point that Toph had to take a few steps backward. Iroh walked up to her, passed her little Rokiroh, and helped her back toward the crowd.

"What's going on?" she asked Aang as she watched Zuko stand there, motionless with the dragon's sharp teeth inches from his face.

"You'll see," Aang replied with a huge grin.

Then Zuko reached out to touch the dragon's huge head, scratching it between the eyes. Toph could hear and feel the rumble of pleasure that came from the massive animal—almost like a cat purring. A very big cat.

Zuko turned to them and she could see the look of amazed joy on his face. "They're back," he said. "This is Blaze—actually his name is a lot longer than that—but I think he's here for me."

"For you how, Sparky?" Toph asked nervously. She did not want her husband leaving on some kind of firebending spiritual journey of discovery right that moment. She'd just had a baby.

As if on cue, Rokiroh began to fret in her arms. The golden dragon—Blaze--she reminded herself—looked at her and the baby when he heard the sound.

"Come here," Zuko said, walking back to her. "I want him to see this." Then he reached out and took the fretting baby in his arms, escorting her closer again. Toph watched the way her husband held him and soothed him. The way her son looked up at his father and calmed at the sound of his voice.

"Blaze, this is my son Rokiroh," Zuko stated proudly. "And this is my wife, Crown Princess Toph. She's an earthbender, so be careful of the heat around her."

Blaze looked down at them a moment. Toph couldn't believe the majesty that seemed to fill the air around him. "Blaze told me that he came to me late because I came to them late," Zuko explained, a touch of confusion in his voice. "I think he might mean when Aang and I went to see the firebending masters."

Zuko stood there as if listening to an inaudible voice, then added, "He wants us to step back a moment, sweetie." Then he led her back several steps as Blaze also moved back to make room.

Zuko looked up to see another dragon circling overhead, coming closer. But this one was very small in comparison to the others.

When it touched down, Toph could feel that it was only the size of a small hut rather than the size of a giant barn. It was just a baby, she thought to herself as it walked a little awkwardly toward them.

Zuko took a few steps ahead, some instinct driving him. Toph could see a new wonder of realization cross his face as he held Rokiroh out to it, close enough to touch.

Toph held her breath as the big, lumbering baby dragon reached its muzzle out toward her infant son. She sure hoped Zuko knew what he was doing. After a long moment, the dragon took a few steps back from them, shook its head, then yawned and sneezed. To her surprise, Rokiroh also yawned and sneezed a tiny first baby sneeze of his own.

Then the baby dragon took to the air again, joining the others. The flight of dragons circled the palace, banking and rolling gracefully in the air to the ahhs of the crowds gathered below. Then they silently flew away.

Blaze alone stayed in the court, finding a place in the full open sun to stretch out and warm himself.

Zuko walked back to Toph with a look on his face she'd never seen before. Then she realized he was crying.

He walked straight to her and leaned his head against hers, little Rokiroh in his arms between them. "They came back," he whispered in amazement, his cheeks glistening with tears. "And the little dragon will return for our son when he comes of age."

"The honor of the Fire Nation has been restored in the eyes of the dragons," came Iroh's voice behind them. Iroh stood there, wiping tears from his face. Aang and Katara moved closer as well.

Then Iroh turned to face the crowd, but spoke to Zuko. "It is time for the throne to go back to them," he declared. "It is time for Fire Lord Zuko to take his rightful place." Behind him, Aang nodded wisely.

"No, Uncle, I can't do that," Zuko retorted firmly. "You are Fire Lord."

"Zuko, I have only been holding this throne until you were ready. You are more than ready," Iroh stated just as firmly, gripping Zuko's arm tightly. "And the dragons have spoken. You are their choice to rule."

"And they don't have a problem that I'm Earth Kingdom?" Toph asked a little anxiously. Deep inside she'd always wondered if her earth bending would cause trouble for her children.

"Didn't you see the color of the dragon that came to Rokiroh?" Zuko asked her, still overwhelmed by the events of the day.

"Baby, think," she replied patiently, passing her hand over her eyes.

Zuko shook his head, angry with himself, she was certain. But he looked at her intently and continued, "It was Earth Kingdom green, Toph. The exact color of the banners in Omashu and Ba Sing Se." He reached out to stroke her cheek, leaning in toward her. "I don't think the dragons mind," he said reassuringly.

Then he kissed her, careful of the little one between them who began to fret again. "I think he's hungry," Zuko offered, passing the baby back to her.

"Then let's go back inside and feed him. He's got to grow up big and strong if he's going to ride a dragon one day," she said, half speaking to her husband and half to her son.

Zuko turned back for a moment to Blaze, who lifted his head sleepily, then lay down again with a little snort of flame. "He's going to take a nap himself," Zuko translated for them. "It was a long flight from the mountain where the masters live."

"Where did all those other dragons come from?" Katara asked as they walked back inside.

"I think they were hatched after Ozai's fall," Zuko replied. "They were all fairly small for dragons."

Toph took a deep breath. If Blaze got much bigger, she didn't know where he'd sleep.

"Aang, I want to proceed with the coronation as soon as possible," Iroh announced. "We'll meet with the Fire Council tomorrow about it."

"There's no rush to do this, Uncle," Zuko interjected.

"Yes, it's time," Iroh said firmly. "Besides, I've got big plans. I'm going to open a tea shop in Ba Sing Se—or maybe Omashu. And there was this woman who lives in the swamp that I met years ago. I'd like to pay her a visit."

Zuko, Toph, Aang, and Katara looked at each other. Then in unison they shouted a resounding, "No!"

THE END

(AN: Well, folks, that's it! Boy, it's been loads of fun to write. Big ol' thanks to Sakura Taichou for first of all requesting Land of Fire and Stone, then following up with a request for a sequel. Daisy Snapdragon keeps telling me she knows there will be a third. Who knows? Right now I've got to work on some stuff that pays. I hope.

Many thanks and much much love to all those reviewers who've stuck with me through the end. There are too many of you to name, and I wouldn't want to leave anybody out, but know that I do so appreciate your input and your faithfulness. It was so easy to keep writing when I knew you guys were reading. You mean the world to me!!

And to all the lurkers out there reading and not reviewing—come on, guys, drop me at least one to let me know you were there. It means a lot. And I do truly appreciate you too and hope you've enjoyed it.

And if you're reading after this has long been completed—I don't care if its ten years later!--still review! Trust me, I love getting feedback no matter how long its been since it was posted.

Feel free to recommend this to others. I love readers.

My absolute best to all of you!

Arcole

John 3:16-17