Bujing bowed to Zuko, admitting defeat. As he did, he whispered, "I looked on in horror when your father gave you that scar." When he stood, he said in a normal tone of voice, "well fought, Prince Zuko."

Fire Lord Ozai stood, drawing everyone's attention. "It seems my son, and official heir, has learned to be a powerful bender."

Zuko couldn't help himself. He was instantly smiling, and his eyes went right to Katara's, and her evident joy made the announcement even better. She went running up to Zuko and, crashing into him, kissed him passionately. He let his hormones and joy take over. He knew his father wouldn't mind a bit of a show. He grabbed her ass in both hands, fisting the perfect globes, and rocked his hard cock against her core. When they eventually disengaged from the heated embrace, he pinched her tit. "The whole fucking palace is going to be hearing you screaming in pleasure."

He heard his father chuckling, and he turned to face him and bowed respectfully. "It is my strongest hope to become a Fire Lord like you." He almost laughed that his father reacted to that subtle threat that he wanted to kill him with a smile.

Ten minutes later, Zuko was leading Katara to his office. When they walked in, Katara stripped off her dress and bent over the desk, and Zuko pulled his pants down. He then thrust into her wet pussy; he loved that she was always wet for him, and reached around and grabbed her bare breasts. He whispered, "scream for me. I'm going to wreck your sweet pussy." He then rutted into her hard, and she bounced on his cock as their skin slapped together, setting a fast pace, and she was screaming out in pleasure.

She was meeting his thrusts wildly, and he moved one hand and spanked her ass, and she shrieked out an orgasm. "One," he grunted out and grabbed her breast again, not pausing or letting up on her. "I'm not going to let you rest."

She was panting for breath, lying on the desk and loving the feeling of the fucking. Once she caught her breath, she was back to being a full participant again, riding him as he pounded into her. He chuckled, "I love the sound of our skin slapping together." He moved his hand again, and this time it went to her clit, and he flicked her and had her loudly orgasming again. "Two," he said simply. "Number three is with me –understand?" She nodded.

He changed the angle standing up more and resting his hands on her ass as he took her. He loved watching his cock pounding into her. He felt his orgasm approaching, and he chased his release. Right before he came, he spanked her again, and they orgasmed together. His seed rushed out, shooting into her as her walls fluttered, milking him and Katara collapsing on the deck, panting for breath.

She chuckled, "my voice feels raw. I don't even remember yelling, I felt so wild."

He smiled as he pulled out and said, "you were. Loudly."

She stood and kissed him. "You have such a cocky look on your face."

"I earned it –three times."

"Not a record either."

He held her and said, "it's the first time you had sex with the official heir to the throne."

Katara was soaking in the hot spring in the harem, chatting with the women there, including Aya. There was nothing left for her to do until she had to dress for the Ball; all of her part was done.

"Prince Zuko was amazing today," one woman said. "I heard that a lot of the older Generals are terrified of him picking them to spar against." Katara just smiled; she had heard that too.

Katara shifted and groaned, stretching a sore muscle. Aya giggled and then said, "you should get a massage. I'm sure Zuko worked you hard after that victory."

"So hard," Katara replied.

One of the other women in the hot spring said, "if Fire Lord Ozai was smart, he'd let his son marry you." She slapped her hands over her own mouth and had a look of horror on her face. "I didn't mean… I shouldn't have said…"

Another woman laughed, "you said what we were all thinking. No one will tell on you. Calm down. Plus, trust me, honey, even the councilmen see she's what made the difference in him. He's a man, now, and not because of the sex." She turned to Katara and said, "but hot-damn it's a lot of sex!"

"It's why the wives have started to like her," another said. "Their husbands would much prefer Zuko to Azula. She's… unpredictable, and that makes them nervous. And now Zuko is showing he can lead."

Katara was gratified. She laughed and said, "the Fire Lord would be horrified to know how many secrets come out from his men during pillow talk."

Aya shrugged, "still, it's handy. You know I'm not going to share, but does anyone else want to?"

"The Avatar left his home, slipping the watch that the Fire Lord had on him. He's pissed." They all turned as one to look at the woman who had spoken. She shrugged, "I won't say who, but one of the guys gets off having sex with me in dangerous places. Yesterday it was in Ozai's office. He doesn't know I can read."

And that was when Katara realized she was in Ozai's harem in the middle of the heart of the power of the Fire Nation, and the woman there were actively participating in sedition. Openly. For her benefit. She smiled, "I love you girls."

"Because we're awesome? Or because we are helping you?"

"I vow to you it's both, and it won't go unrecognized."

Zuko walked into the room to escort Katara to the ball, and he was instantly choking on his shock. "Hot-fuck do you look sexy!" She was wearing a sheath dress that was covered in beads in reds, yellows, and oranges. It looked like fire was crawling up her body. Then she moved, and his eyes popped wide. It had a slit so high on the right that it was gratifyingly indecent. And it would make it easier to fuck her in the dress later. Her hair was styled in the Fire Nation style with a huge; exotic red flower tucked behind her ear. She was also wearing the gold dragon bracelets.

He held out a box to her and said, "here. Although you couldn't look any better."

She had loved his reaction and the raw, animalistic desire she had seen in his eyes. She opened the box and smiled wide. "Perfect."

As she turned, Zuko pulled the necklace out and placed it around her neck. It was a golden dragon, made to look like it was draped around her neck. The scales were individually made and shimmered as she moved. It was heavy, and it had to have cost a fortune.

She turned back to him. "Will I do?"

"You look exactly like we needed you to. You look like a Fire Lady. And I know you're joking, but Katara, you're more than enough and more than what I deserve." He caressed her cheek. "And so fucking hot."

She laughed. "From what some little birdies told me, many of the councilmen think you deserve me. In fact, they wish we could marry. It helps that Azula's unpredictable. And I'm guessing it helps that Mai is hard to warm up to."

"My father would be so mad to know what his men are saying."

"The girls all agree and don't care. They are purposely telling me things. Including the fact that the Avatar is on the move and your father doesn't know where he is anymore."

He held out his hand and pulled her with him. "Let's go dance, and then tomorrow, we can come up with a plan. Tonight is about dancing, and then me getting you alone, and showing you how sexy you look."

Katara walked into the Ball, and Ozai was livid. He had three sexy, barely dressed women, and still, it was Katara that was drawing everyone's attention. In a fit of spite and fury, he walked up to Zuko and Katara and put out his hand. "I get the first dance with you." He shot his son a look of triumph and then walked off, knowing Zuko would hate seeing her in his arms.

He held her close as they danced and smiled at his son whenever he was in sight. The whole room was staring, and he was thrilled. He had everyone's attention. Even the servants were staring at him dancing with her.

When the song ended, he left his hand on her right hip and caressed her leg through the slit in her dress. "You look a treat, Katara."

She smiled up at him. "And you're an excellent dancer, Fire Lord." And because she couldn't help herself and the girl from the beginning who spit in his face was still in her, she said, "I am humbled and deeply honored that you opened the Ball by dancing with me. You have given me much consequence." She then bowed low and respectfully and walked toward a smiling Zuko. He was furious again.

The Ball had lost all enjoyment for him now. That had backfired, and the Avatar was missing. The only good thing he had was that his son had stopped being such a little shit and manned up. He gloried in watching his son, his seed, kicking ass at firebending. He was becoming so much more like his father, and that pleased him on a primal level.

He walked over to his mistresses and bit one on the breast. "You're first." He then turned and strode out of the room with them trailing him. He was done with the party. He wouldn't be made a fool of again. He would remove his presence from her Ball and withdraw his acceptance.

"I need to stop drinking."

The man next to her chucked. "I never thought I'd hear that from you."

She laughed and said, "I want to remember this. I actually like Katara. She's getting my husband fucked."

"Ah yes, my brother said he's greatly enjoying her. He's making her his mistress."

"Good. I like her. We had lunch together yesterday. She's sweet. I'm planning on making her my friend. That way, if we leave and go back home, we can both get good use out of her."

"My brother is a lucky man. He can have a young hot side-fuck, and you're thrilled."

She smiled at him and replied, "I'm spiteful too. So don't get ahead of yourself. I don't even really like you, but you're the only one I could have sex with that would piss him off."

He laughed. "Works for me. I enjoy you sexually, and you don't hang around and get clingy. And I like it when you call me daddy."

She smiled and took a sip of her wine and then grumbled and handed the glass to him. "I need to stop drinking. I can't get black-out drunk like I planned. I want to remember seeing the Fire Lord treating Katara like she is the Fire Lady."

He took a sip from the glass. "If Zuko has any sense, he'll find a way to marry her. She had Azula's cunning and none of the depravity." He then smiled and raked his eyes over the woman next to him. "Speaking of depravity. If you manage to stay even somewhat sober, show up tonight in my room. Daddy thinks you've been a bad girl and that you need to be punished."

Aya smiled up at Haru as he danced with her. It was the first Ball she ever attended, and deep in her grateful heart, she knew that by the next one, she would be his wife. They had talked and they knew Zuko would marry first. They would soon follow. His speech about making sure she was honored and respected brought tears to her eyes.

"Ozai fucked that one up. I think he's slipping," Haru commented.

Aya smiled. "Or Katara is just too cunning for him. Everyone sees it. I bet by the end of the night; the councilmen are trying to figure out how Zuko can legally marry her. The next meeting will be interesting."

"They're terrified of him, and she can control him. Of course, they are."

He spun her and pulled her in close. "And soon we will get on a ship together. We will be away from palace rules, and you will be able to be treated with more respect."

Aya rolled her eyes, "you've always respected me."

"I mean by others." He kneaded her hip. "I fell in love with you at first sight. You liked me because I wasn't harsh, but I adored you. I was selfish in bed before I laid eyes on you. Suddenly I needed you to want to be with me. Your eyes hold a depth I'm still finding new facets to."

"And before Katara, I lived in fear of your mother making you marry. Now, I believe your mother will be glad when you marry me. After all, I'm Katara's closest friend."

Haru smiled down at her. "My mother loves power and me. She will be thrilled. And she will ask you for an introduction to the Fire Lady."

"Done. I will do anything that makes her happy. I know she's insisting you marry, but she is a good mother, and you love her. It makes me love her too."

Katara danced with Zuko. She loved being in his arms, and he looked at her with adoration. "You are a force of nature," he said, complimenting her.

"No. I'm a determined woman."

He smiled. "That's what I said."

"He touched me," she grumbled. "It was gross."

He raised a non-scared eyebrow at her. "And you won."

"True." She smiled. "And then he left. Idiot. Leaving the new heir to the throne here to work the crowd."

He dipped her and then asked, "who do I talk to first?" Her toned right leg was fully on display.

"Shinu, he's your father's man, but your father isn't here. I have discovered his sexual preferences. I can be of help."

He laughed and pulled her with him. The dance had finished, and they found Shinu waiting for them. He didn't even pretend disinterest.

He asked excitedly, "tonight?"

"What?" Zuko asked, confused.

Katara smiled and said, "big hips and likes spankings?"

"Yes!"

"Tonight," Katara replied. She smiled and added, "she likes to be dominated, and she will be thrilled by the size of you. The word around the harem is that you're huge."

"They are all trained to lie."

Katara laughed. "Not to me. Your youngest brother isn't only a weakling; he has the smallest penis." She laughed, knowing she pleased him and how much he hated the man. "Speculation is that he's not a full brother. None of the women believe he could be fully related to you."

Katara won the night. Zuko had been more than impressive that morning, and Bujing kept talking about the battle and how skilled Zuko was to anyone who would listen.

Katara had her oddest treat prepared for him. His wife was being liquored up and told how to beg for his cock. She was frigid typically, but Bujing adored her. The Madam was prepared to explain what he wanted in great detail –she did.

When his wife was promised she could please him more than any woman from the harem, she was thrilled. She was old in her mind, and that messed with her. But the idea that she could be sexually pleasing to her husband excited her.

Bujing got his ass kicked that day but got enthusiastically fucked by the woman he adored –his precious wife. He was thankful for Zuko and deeply appreciated Katara.

Zuko slammed the door to their room closed, spun Katara, and shoved her up against the wall. He pressed his body to hers but pulled back at the waist so he could frantically yank his pants down. Once his cock was free, he pressed his hands against the wall on either side of her head and kissed her hard and desperately. He thrust his tongue in her mouth and devoured her. He wasn't the least bit gentle. He didn't have it in him to be.

When he pulled back, he said, "I haven't decided to reward the designer for that dress or have her executed for torturing me."

Katara chuckled, "I designed it."

Zuko gave her a searing look that excited her. "Then reward it is."

He shifted her dress to the side at the slit and thrust his cock into her. He leaned in and whispered into her ear, "all mine."

He then set a rapid pace and began flicking her clit, wanting to get her off quickly. He was sure with, as keyed up as he had been all night, that he wouldn't last long. He heard her screaming and the scratching of the beading of her dress against the wall. He didn't let up and kept taking her hard, and when she orgasmed, he whispered, "fuck yeah." And then came in her immediately.

He pulled out and backed up, and flopped on the bed. "I needed that so badly."

She chuckled and then frowned when she stepped forward, and beads crunched under her feet. "It will need to be repaired."

"Hell no!" he said, raising his head and glaring at her. "I can't survive that dress twice. Wear that again, and it will involve a massive scene of public indecency, and everyone will get to see you fall apart on my cock."

She laughed and removed her dress, and hung it up. She then crawled into bed next to her partially dressed prince. "This is a look," she said, indicating his pants hanging off one ankle and his shirt still on.

"I designed it," he sassed. "I call it 'desperation.'

Katara giggled. "Well, tonight was a huge success. I even drove you as crazy as I was hoping."

He looked over at her and smiled. "You're wicked."

"Yup," Katara replied.

Then she rolled on her side and propped her head on her hand. "They respect you."

He laughed, "no, they respect you and your brilliant mind."

"You're a powerful bender. They respect you. It's too bad your father would flip if you spoke up at the council meetings. The others would at least listen to you."

He shrugged, "I'm not going for a little bit of power. I'm going for the throne."

"True. It's selfish of me in a way. I just want you acknowledged by those men."

He kissed her nose and laid back down. "You're too perfect. We're going to be gone in a few days anyway. We're taking quite the group with us. I think it's time we meet with everyone and let them in: your guards, Kei, Nozomu, my secretary, Haru, and Aya."

"On the whole plan?"

"Yeah, Uncle and Sokka know, and Haru and Aya suspect it, but I'm thinking of forming a group to help us plan. Having Kei in on things will help with a set of eyes and ears in places many don't or can't go. She has access to the kitchen even because of her mother."

"You trust Nozomu?"

"He's a bit of a wild card, but he would become the secretary for the Fire Lord. I think that's reason enough to trust him."

"Or wildly wealthy by reporting to your father," Katara replied.

"Or that."

She laughed and shook her head. "The risks make me nervous, but I get why it's necessary. He has too much access to you and your correspondence."

"Yes. Any secretary would need to be included if it wasn't him; it would be someone else."

He then rolled over and had Katara on her back, and his body was covering hers. He looked her in the eyes and said, "I love you."

"And I love you."

He caressed her cheek and said, "your mind is amazing, and I love learning from you. My father shouldn't have made you my mistress; he should have made you a general."

She giggled, "except we don't want Fire Nation to conquer the whole world. And I could do just that."

He kissed her cheek and said, "good point. But you will be on the council."

"Anything to serve you, my love."