On the Morning of Zuko's Coronation

A total of ten whole days had passed, since Avatar Aang had defeated the former Fire Lord, Ozai. The White Lotus had set the Earth Kingdom free from the Fire Nation's control. The Fire Nation fleet whom had followed Ozai to the Earth Kingdom and had attempted to burn and destroy multiple Earth Kingdom colonies were defeated and Zuko had earned the right to become the next Fire Lord and Azula was taken to a mental facility.

The sky was blue and clear. Zuko was currently dressing and within his royal robes. White bandages were wrapped around his torso and right shoulder. He groaned from the pain as he had just survived his duel of Agni Kai against his sister, Azula. He suffered a critical wound to his lower torso and barely survived, thanks to Katara. He groaned as he placed one sleeve over his shoulder.

"Feeling any better?"

Zuko gasped when he heard a familiar voice that came behind him. He quickly turned his head back and saw Mai, just leaning on the wall. Watching him dress. "Mai..."

Mai had walked toward Zuko in an attempt to help him with his robe.

"Nah, it's okay. I got it, this time." Zuko said in a nice tone.

Mai had stopped for a second and watched Zuko put on his robe by himself. "Okay, then." She had then thought of another topic to talk about. "Listen. I came here, because there's something that I want to discuss. You see, that letter you wrote..."

Zuko gasped as he quickly remembered the letter he wrote during the Solar Eclipse. "I'm sorry. About everything."

Mai raised her right hand forward. "No. Don't be. I understand why you did what you did and why you wrote it. You didn't want to drag me down with you within your mess-assuming that I could be a suspect for your betrayal, right?"

"Uh..." Zuko hesitated for a moment. "Yeah. That's the reason." Zuko had nodded.

"When I first read that letter, I was crushed. You didn't tell me that you were leaving-nor did you ever look me in the eyes when you did it."

Zuko sighed, quietly. "Mai. I was just-"

Mai quickly shushed Zuko by placing her right index over Zuko's mouth. "I know what you're about to say. "I was just following my own heart." Mai had guessed what Zuko was about to tell her. "Right?" Mai asked, then removed her right index from Zuko's lips.

Zuko had slowly nodded.

"I thought so."

"Mai, if you hate me-"

"I'm not done." Mai had cut Zuko off then turned her back. "At first, I didn't understand why you left us. I thought you were being selfish and self-centered, then. I thought to myself, "Did I do something wrong?"

Zuko frowned as he listened to Mai's speech.

"But after Ty Lee had left us to join you..." Mai had then turned to Zuko. "I later came to realize that you were looking at the bigger picture this whole time. You were looking at the state of the Fire Nation. It's corruption." Mai said.

"Yeah." Zuko said.

"For a while, before the solar eclipse-I personally knew that Azula and the former Fire Lord Ozai couldn't be trusted-especially Azula." Mai said.

Flashback

"Are you saying that there's a chance that Zuko might usurp the throne from you, Fire Lord Azula?" Mai asked. She had continued bowing to Azula by kneeling before her.

"Precisely. Other than me, my older brother also has the right to fight for the title of Fire Lord. I assume that he-and our "traitorous friend", Ty Lee might be coming here, when the comet arrives." Azula said.

Mai had thought of her ex-boyfriend, Zuko. "What shall we do about them?"

"Isn't it obvious, Mai?" Azula had stood on her feet. "I'm going to crush their spirits by having them tortured-both physically and mentally. Then, when they beg for the torturing to stop..." Azula had then walked to the left side of the throne. "I'm going to deliver more torture to them-just to set an example. In case anyone decides to rise against me."

"Forgive me, Fire Lord Azula. But..." Mai asked.

Azula, whom stood on the burning throne had looked to Mai.

"Don't you think that's... going a bit extreme?" Mai had asked in concern.

"What are you getting at, Mai?" Azula had asked.

"Nothing. I was honestly hoping to question Zuko on why he did what he did, before you..."

A firefly had suddenly appeared over Azula's head. "Ah... you're still upset about Zuko dumping you. Well, if I'm being honest, that kind of makes you both even-since you dumped him, first."

Mai had remained silent as she knew what Azula said was true.

"Fine. I shall let you deal with Zuko-as soon as I defeat him in Agni Kai." Azula told Mai.

"But as for Ty Lee... I will come up with a proper punishment for her, myself." Azula said as she thought about Ty Lee.

Mai's eyes had widened an inch as she thought of her childhood friend, Ty Lee. She feared for Ty Lee for a second.

End Flashback

"So, that's what Azula was planning..." Zuko said after listening to Mai.

"Yes. And to be honest, I had no intentions of helping you after what you did. I was only concerned for Ty Lee's safety." Mai told Zuko. She then sighed. "But then..."

Brief Flashback

Within the Agni Kai arena... as Zuko had approached Azula, he suddenly spotted Mai standing next to Azula. He saw that Mai was staring at him. His eyes widened a bit as he stared at her, temporarily.

Mai's eyes had widened an inch as she realized he was looking at her.

End Brief Flashback

"You looked me in my eyes, just weeks after the Eclipse. And at that moment, I decided that you weren't that big of a jerk that I had previously thought. That you had good intentions. And when Azula had struck you down, I knew that I couldn't let Azula cut both you and Ty Lee down." Mai said.

"Oh. Thanks, Mai."

Mai said with a mild smile.

"So, what now? Do... you hate me or...?" Zuko asked.

Mai sighed and gave the question some thought. "No. I don't hate you. But, I do think that we should just stay as friends."

"Oh. I understand." Zuko said as he looked at Mai, normally.

"It's not what you think, Zuko. I forgive you for dumping me. But, I just need time to myself. I need to figure out what I want for myself, instead of what people want for me." Mai said as she turned her back, again.

"I get it." Zuko said as he stared at Mai's backside.

"And also...Ty Lee had told me that you and her had already hooked up, while you were on your little field trip." Mai had mentioned.

Zuko remained silent as he knew what Mai said was true. He did start a relationship with Ty Lee and that he's developed feelings for her.

"I wouldn't blame you." Mai said, which made Zuko look to her. "She maybe be bubbly and cheerful, but... she's more positive and caring than I am. You would make a cuter couple with her, than you did with me." Mai said.

"So, is this goodbye?" Zuko asked.

"For now. But as friends." Mai said.

The two then shared a hug for at least nine seconds, before the hug had broken. Mai had parted ways with the Prince-soon to be Fire Lord, Zuko.

Zuko smiled watched her leave. He learned Mai didn't hate him as they respectfully parted ways. He then stared at the windows and saw nothing but the view outside of the palace. He had noticed the sun was still shining.

One Minute Later...

"So, how did it go?"

Zuko heard another feminine voice that he was familiar with. He looked back to see his girlfriend, Ty Lee. Dressed in a full Kyoshi Warrior outfit. He smiled at her. "Ty Lee. Everything went well. Mai and I stayed as friends."

"I'm glad." Ty Lee chuckled as she walked toward him.

Zuko stared at the makeup on Ty Lee's face. "I see that Suki let you join the Kyoshi Warriors, then?"

"Mm-hmm." Ty Lee happily nodded. "Suki allowed me to join as long as I give the other girls Chi Blocking lessons."

"That's great." Zuko smiled.

"So, are you ready for your coronation-my Fire Lord?" Ty Lee joked and chuckled.

"Yeah. But first, there's something I have to do first, before taking the throne." Zuko said as he smiled at her.

"Hm? What is it?" Ty Lee asked.

Zuko had then gently grabbed Ty Lee by her shoulders and leaned his head down toward Ty Lee. He then pressed his lips against Ty Lee. Surprising her a bit as he then let his tongue roam inside her mouth.

Ty Lee was a bit surprised when Zuko kissed her. After a few seconds, she was no longer surprised as she felt his warm breath and his tongue roaming inside her mouth. She then kissed him back, compassionately. Connecting their tongues and locking their lips. They had continued this for a total of one-sixth of a minute. Ten seconds. After the kiss broken, Zuko and Ty Lee had blushed and smiled at each other, lovingly.

"I love you." Ty Lee said.

"I love you, too, Ty Lee." Zuko replied. He then opened his arms.

Ty Lee had willingly moved into Zuko's arms and embraced the soon-to-be Fire Lord, Zuko. They happily embraced each other. "Hugs and kisses are nice." Ty Lee said.

"Yeah." Zuko replied as he kept embracing Ty Lee.

Author's Note: The next chapter will be the final chapter. Wish me luck! :)