#and iroh trying to support the one thing his nephew has expressed any interest in in the past 3 years that isnt the avatar

[gascreates]

when teenaged rebellion goes too far

[zi-i-think]

2 | You’d be an Idiot

Pairing: Zuko x Ama (OC)

Word Count: 6600+

.☽☼☾.

          With Aang gone missing, the Gaang was left with little to no options. Having to ask Jun and her shirshu to help and still given no help with where he was, Zuko asked to find his uncle; their only hope to take down Fire Lord Ozai.

         "We're going to Ba Sing Se?" Zuko sounded disappointed when they landed by the outer wall of the great city that fell to the Fire Nation.

         "Your uncle's somewhere beyond the wall." Jun told him while the shirshu scratched at the fallen rocks. "Nyla's getting twitchy so he can't be too far. Good luck." And with that, she ran off, leaving the group to find him.

         Zuko looked a little annoyed that this was all the help she could give them, but shrugged it off. "It's been a long day. Let's camp and start our search again at dawn."

         No one bothered to set up camp. They were too tired. Instead they snuggled into Appa's fur. All except for Toph who easily set up an earth tent. But the earthbender jolted awake, removing her tent just as the group became surrounded by fire, keeping them from escaping. The rest of the group immediately woke up and looked around.

         Just then, 4 people appeared at the top of the rubble in white and blue uniforms. But not just any people. Old mentors and friends. Piandao, Jeong Jeong, Pakku and Bumi all stood at the top of the wall's rubble, and looked down at them.

         "Well, look who's here." Bumi snorted and laughed.

         Sokka, Katara and Ama were originally worried, but a smile of relief replaced that look and they turned to look at each other. Suki, Toph and Zuko look at the siblings with puzzled expressions.

         "What's going on?" Toph wondered. "We're surrounded by old people."

         "Not just any old people." Katara responded, walking toward Pakku with Ama by her side. "These are great masters and friends of ours. Pakku." She greeted her waterbending master and she and Ama bowed to him.

         "It is respectful to bow to an old master," He bowed in return. "but how about a hug for your new grandfather?" He held open his arms for a hug. The Water Tribe siblings were a bit dumbfounded at first, but Ama and Katara quickly changed to an expression of happiness.

         "That's so exciting." Ama exclaimed and the sisters embraced the old man. "You and Gran Gran must be so happy to have found each other again."

         "I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything." Pakku said proudly, lightly touching his neck.

         "Welcome to the family Gramp Gramp." Sokka excitedly wrapped his arms around the old man's neck.

         "You can still just call me Pakku." The old man pushed the boy off.

         "How about Grand Pakku?" Sokka asked. Determined to have some nickname for him.

         "No." Pakku said simply and Sokka look disappointedly.

         "And this was Aang's first firebending teacher." Ama introduced Zuko to Jeong Jeong.

         "Jeong Jeong." The old firebender bowed and introduced.

         "Master Piandao." Sokka respectfully bowed to his teacher.

         "Hello, Sokka." Piandao greeted back.

         "So wait, how do you all know each other?" Suki stepped forward to ask the question.

         "All old people know each other, don't you know that?" Bumi joked with a laugh.

         "We're all part of the same ancient secret society. A group that transcends the divisions of the 4 nations." Piandao answered more seriously than the cooks earthbender.

         "The Order of the White Lotus." Zuko put together.

         "That's the one." Bumi pointed.

         "The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty and truth." Jeong Jeong explained. "About a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important."

         "It came from a Grand Lotus, your Uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation." Pakku told Zuko, who smiled at the information.

         "Well that's who we're looking for." Toph spoke up.

         "Then we'll take you to him." Piando said.

         "Wait, someone's missing from your group." Bumi pushed himself between Piando and Jeong Jeong and looked between the teens skeptically. "Someone very important. Where's Momo?" He pressed his face close to Sokka's

         "He's gone." Sokka said. "And so is Aang."

         "Oh well, so long as they have each other I'm sure we have nothing to worry about." Bumi brushed it off. "Let's go." Bumi slammed his hand against the ground and earth bent a tall column of earth to propelled himself over the gap in the outer wall, laughing maniacally at the same time.

.☽☼☾.

         "So Bumi, how did you end up escaping your imprisonment in Omashu?" Sokka asked the Earthbender while they were walking to the campsite.

         "Escape? I didn't escape, everybody else escaped." He said and started to tell his story. "There I was, back in Omashu, waiting for just the right moment. I didn't know what or when but I knew I'd know it when I knew it..." The old man told the teens his story of how he escaped during the eclipse. Basically just, causing chaos and scaring all of the soldiers out of the city.

         "Wow, you took back your whole city all by yourself." Suki spoke in awe.

         "So what about you guys? Did you do anything interesting on the day of the eclipse?" Bumi asked the teens walking beside him. Zuko and Sokka glanced at each other.

         "Nah." The fire prince said.

         "No, not really." Sokka added.

         At the inner wall of Ba Sing Se they finally arrived at the campsite with sheltered tents everywhere. Bumi earth bent a section of the camp's wall to let them in. "Well, here we are. Welcome to old people camp."

         "Where... where is he?" Zuko had a disappointed tone as he looked around.

         "Your Uncle's in there, Prince Zuko." Piandao pointed at one of the larger tents.

         Zuko looked a little nervous at he walked over to it. Stopping a few feet from the door and sat down.

         "Are you okay?" Ama asked him, standing next to him.

         "No, I'm not okay." The prince responded and Ama lowered herself to the ground. "My Uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"

         "Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?" Ama asked him, already knowing his response.

         "More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life." He looked down regrettably.

         "Then he'll forgive you." Ama told him and Zuko turned to look at her. "He will."

         He smiled at her softly and then leaned in, pressing a quick and soft kiss on her lips. Then he stood up, walked to the entrance and entered. Ama smiled proudly and went off to find her siblings.

.☽☼☾.

         The next day, everyone was up bright and early. Ama was outside, practicing her waterbending with Katara before they'd eat.

         "Hey, waterlily." The girl suddenly heard and two arms wrapped around her waist.

          "Woah." The girl giggled with surprise. She turned around to look at her boyfriend. "I take it things went well with your uncle."

         "They did." He chuckled, cupping her cheek. "We'll be speaking with him at breakfast now." He told her, slowly leaning down to kiss her.

         "Good." Ama said, noticing how close he was getting. "Cause I'm starving." Moving quickly to dodge the kiss, the girl laughed at his pouty face. "You're too easy to tease." Pressing a kiss to his cheek, she grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the food.

         They walked to the spot where Iroh already was seated. When he saw the teens walking over, he stood up to greet them.

         "Good morning. Please have a seat." He walked to stand in front of Ama and immediately wrapped his arms around her. The waterbender was surprised at first, but happily hugged the man back. "I am glad to see that my nephew has finally come to his senses." He chuckled when he pulled away. "He's been enamored with you for such a long time."

         "Uncle." Zuko grumbled, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

         "It's great to see you, Iroh." Ama smiled at the man.

         "You can call me uncle." Iroh told her before walking back to his original spot on the floor. Ama looked over at the fire prince, who was blushing a deep red. She giggled at him before pulling his arm to sit down. Filling their bowls with the breakfast soup, everyone sat in a circle.

         "Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord." Zuko started to get down to business.

         "You mean the Fire Lord." Toph pointed her chopsticks as she corrected him.

         "That's what I just said." Zuko responded.

         "No it's not." Ama agreed with Toph in a sing-song voice.

         "We need you to come with us." Zuko insisted, ignoring the girls who where correcting him.

         "No, Zuko. It won't turn out well." Iroh refused.

         "You can beat him and we'll be there to help." The firebender tried to persuade him.

         "Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could. It will be the wrong way to end the war." Iroh responded. "History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

         "And then... then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko wondered.

         "No." Iroh said and looked at his nephew. "Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko."

         "Unquestionable honor?" Zuko repeated in disbelief. "But I've made so many mistakes."

         "Yes, you have." Iroh said. "You struggled, you suffered but you have always followed your own path, you restored your own honor. And only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."

         "I'll try, Uncle." Zuko responded, but he didn't seem too sure of himself. Ama saw this and reached over to place her hand on top of his.

         "Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asked.

         "Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us." Iroh told them. "Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

         "That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus." Suki pieced together.

         "Yes." Iroh replied then turned back to look at Zuko. "Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there, waiting for you."

         "I can handle Azula." Zuko said confidently

         "Not alone." Iroh disagreed. "You'll need help."

         "You're right." Zuko agreed and looked at his girlfriend. "Ama, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?" It might have seemed like her was asking Ama specifically because of their relationship status, but no one could argue that the two fought well as a pair.

         "You don't even have to ask." Ama scoffed and swatted her hand at the air. "I've been waiting to do that since day one."

         "What about us?" Sokka wondered, referring to the remainder of the group. "What's our destiny today?"

         "What do you think it is?" Iroh asked them.

         "I think that even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet." Sokka slammed his left fist into his right palm.

         "And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us." Toph smacked her fists together.

         Iroh smiled proudly. Feeling confident and assured that the group in front of him would be successful. But also feared the worst.

.☽☼☾.

        Sokka and Suki were put on one giant eel-hound and Katara and Toph were on another. Zuko and Ama were going to travel on Appa. The waterbender sat in the saddle while Zuko took the reigns.

        "So if I'm going to be Fire Lord after the war is over, what are you going to do?" Zuko asked his uncle.

        "After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to reconquer my tea shop," Iroh flipped the white lotus Pai Sho piece. "and I'm going to play Pai Sho everyday."

        The teens gave each other one final look. This was it. They had to stop the fire nation from destroying everything. Splitting up wasn't ideal. But it was what had to be done.

        "Goodbye, Gen-" Ama stopped herself before she called him General Iroh. "Uncle Iroh." She corrected.

        The old man smiled at her and then turned to look at his nephew. "Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it."

        And with that, the giant eel-hounds took off running, and Appa flew up. The start of a long journey for a tiring fight.

.☽☼☾.

        The sky had turned orange and red showing that the comet was arriving. And somewhere during the journey, Ama had made her way to sit next to Zuko, taking the reins in her hand. He in turn had his arm around her shoulder, with an anxious expression.

        "Zuko, don't worry, we can take Azula." Ama assured him with determination.

        "I'm not worried about her, I'm worried about Aang." Zuko responded. "What if he doesn't have the guts to take out my Father? What if he loses?"

        "Aang won't lose." Ama responded with a serious tone, but knowing that there wasn't certainty in what she was saying. "He's gonna come back. He has to."

        Just as the two were arriving, the fire sages were about to place the Fire Lord headpiece on Azula. But they stopped short, seeing Appa fly down and land in the courtyard. Zuko stood on Appa's head, ready to face his sister.

        "Sorry, but you're not going to become Fire Lord today." Zuko announced and jumped off of Appa. "I am."

        Azula found that funny and laughed. "You're hilarious."

        "And you're going down." Ama added, walking to stand beside the fire prince.

        The Fire Sage motions to crown Azula, but she raises her hand, signaling him to stop. "Wait. You want to be Fire Lord. Fine. Let's settle this." The princess challenged. "Just you and me, brother. The showdown that was always meant to be. Agni Kai!"

        "You're on." Zuko accepted.

        Ama gave him a surprised look. "What are you doing?" She whispered to him. "She's playing you. She knows she can't take us both so she is trying to separate us."

        "I know. But I can take her this time." Zuko claimed.

        "But even you admitted to your Uncle that you would need help facing Azula." She pointed out.

        "There's something off about her, I can't explain it but she's slipping." He noted, observing the crooked and manic manner of Azula. Then he looked at the waterbender, giving her an assuring smile. "And this way, no one else has to get hurt."

        Ama huffed and crossed her arms. "I'm perfectly capable of fighting Azula." She grumbled.

        "I know." He told her. A tiny smile on his lips when he saw her frown, finding it adorable. "But, this is between me and her." Ama lowered her head. She knew he was right. But that didn't stop her worry.

        The two siblings went to opposite sides of the courtyard. Zuko kneeling on the right end and Azula kneeling on the left end. While Ama stood off to the side. Zuko rose and turned around first, then Azula did to face each other.

        "I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother." Azula faked an apology, taking off the Fire Lord robe.

        "No, you're not." Zuko said, already in a fighting stance.

        Azula just smiled deviously, but standing awkwardly. She then spun and thrust her palm out, shooting a blast of blue flame at her brother. Zuko brought his hands up, jumped forward, and brought his arms down in front of him, bending two waves of flame in each hand that came together and shot forward.

        The blue and orange flames collided into a wall of fire. When the flames dissipated, Azula leaped forward shooting a blast of fire. She then sent out a wave of fire towards Zuko with three spin kicks.

        Ama stood by, watching this all take place. Her eyes reflected the fire. Her heart thumped loudly with every blast.

        Zuko punched forwards, releasing a powerful stream of fire and it collided with a stream of blue fire from Azula. Both attacks pushed against each other for a moment before slipping to one side.

        Then, both Azula and Zuko stopped their attacks. Azula looked back at the plaza behind her, which had caught on fire from Zuko's attack. She turned back to Zuko, both anger and fear in her eyes. She charged forward and leaped upward on a blast of fire, which she swung down at Zuko. Zuko spun his body in a circle and thrust his palms out to the sides, creating a wall of flame that split the blue fire in half.

        Zuko punched forward with his fist, and two immense fireballs were launched at Azula, spiraling and intertwining to create one massive fireball. Azula dodged to the right on a jet of blue fire, just narrowly avoiding the fireball. Thrusting herself forward while in the air, Azula punched forward three times, launching two huge blue fire blasts.

        Zuko placed his hands near the ground and shot a blast of fire, thrusting himself into the air, avoiding Azula's first attack. He spun around in mid air and swung his heel downward, which created an arc of flame that blocks the second fire blast. And as Zuko felt back down, he swung his arms down, creating a blast of fire that destroyed a third blue blast of fire.

        As Azula shot fire to flew herself around on blue fire, Zuko created a large flame, following her trail. Spinning on the ground, the flame created hit her. Azula's fire kept her from getting burned, but she was thrown to the ground.

        Her own momentum rolled her onto the ground. But she wasn't a quitter. Azula picked herself up, breathing heavily and hunched over. Ama thought that things were starting to end, running on the courtyard, but still kept at a distance behind Zuko.

        "No lightning, today?" Zuko challenged with a shout. "What's the matter? Afraid I'll re-direct it?"

        "Oh, I'll show you lightning!" Azula shouted and proceeded to wave her fingertips around in arcs to generate the lightning, but her motions were far more dramatic and irregular than usual. Zuko breathed in and out deeply as he entered his stance and extended his palms out to receive the lightning.

        When Azula finished her motions and positioned herself, she glanced at Ama. The waterbender glared at the princess and had a fighting stance. Azula, still positioned to strike, smirked briefly and then extended her arm and finger tip to Zuko's right, releasing the lighting at Ama.

        No one expected it. Ama froze at the speed of the lightning. Her blue eyes widened in horror, reflecting the sparks of the blue light. It was like she couldn't move. Or waterbend. Or do anything.

        But Zuko reacted quickly. His eyes widened in shock and fear as he sprinted to jump between his sister's attack and the girl he loved.

        "No!" He shouted. His left hand was extended in front of him, absorbing the lighting mid-leap. Ama gasped, still in a state of shock. As Zuko hit the ground the lightning escaped from his other arm, shooting into the sky.

        Still lying on the ground, Zuko twitched as electricity surged through his body. He groaned as he rolled onto his back, holding his chest. Parts of his shirt were burned by the lighting, showing a scar that had been left on his chest.

        Finally regaining her sense, Ama shouted in fear and anticipation. "Zuko!" She ran forward to get to him, but a bolt of lighting struck the ground in front of her and stopped her.

        Azula, hunched over and swaying from side to side, laughed maniacally. She then rushed at Ama. But Ama was more concerned with the fire prince, still in pain and badly hurt. Zuko groaned, trying to get up. Ama gasped and started to run over again. Seeing Azula shoot fire, Ama blocked it with her waterbending.

        Azula laughed hysterically and charged up with lightning. Ama ran off quickly to try to escape Azula's attack and to try and strategize an attack back. Zuko, still on the ground, attempted to get up and stretched his arms out helplessly. Desperate to regain his energy and continue to fight off his sister.

        Ama ran around the perimeter of the plaza, narrowly missing Azula's lighting with a somersault. Azula firebent herself onto the roof and began charging up with lightning.

        "I'd really rather our family physician look after little Zuzu if you don't mind!" She called to Ama, and shot a bolt of lightning at her.

        Ama, again, barely missed the shots of lighting and Azula shot a blast of fire in her direction. Ama ran to hide behind a pillar. Another fire blast hits the pillar and the waterbender cringed with her hands over her head. Standing back up, she looked around the pillar.

        "Zuzu, you don't look so good!" Azula taunted Ama to come out of hiding.

        It worked, because Ama poked her head out more. Azula shot lightning at Ama's pillar. The waterbender ran to hide behind another pillar as the lightning made contact with the previous one. Finally deciding enough was enough, Ama bent the water from a nearby fountain and shot it towards the roof that Azula was on.

        But Azula wasn't on the roof. Instead the princess flew behind Ama, cashing her out into the courtyard. Ama bent a wave of water, surfing on top of it and turning it to ice with Azula closely behind her with her jets of fire.

        Ama escaped inside the plaza, where some drains were. She noticed the drains and then some chains by the door, and started to hatch a plan. Quickly grabbing the metal chain, Azula entered the plaza, leaning on a pillar.

        "There you are, filthy peasant!" Azula insulted, stepping forward.

        Ama stood her ground. Her eyes full of determination and Azula's full of hate. Ama acted first, sending streams of water towards Azula. The firebender dodged them and rolled across the drain.

        Ama walked closer to Azula while she stood up and pointed her fingers at Ama. Seeing this as her chance, the waterbender lurched backwards, bending the water in the drain and freezing it into an ice prison. Keeping her and Azula frozen in their movements.

        Azula's eyes darted around but she was unable to move. Azula's fingers inches away from Ama's face. The waterbender exhaled and the ice around her body melted into water as she proceeded to chain Azula's arms behind her back.

        The area with Ama and Azula turned to water so the Water Tribe girl brought Azula to her knees as she floated behind her. Ama wrapped the chains around the drain gratings before waterbending the water back to the drain.

        The girls coughed and gasped for air as soon as they could. Ama grabbed the chains behind the very annoyed Azula, tightening them. Once knowing the chains were secure, Ama ran off.

        Zuko moaned in pain as Ama skidded next to him. She turned him over so the lightning wound was facing her. She brought up a water gloved hand and pressed it on the wound and it spread out with a blue glow. Zuko grimaced at the feeling before relaxing and opening his eyes.

        Ama focused on healing the wound before looking over at him. Seeing that he was okay, the girl let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

        "Thanks, waterlily." His voice was raspy and tired.

        "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you." Ama teared up, her hand cupping his cheek. "I'm so sorry, I should have moved out of the way faster."

        "Hey, it's okay." He assured her, slowly sitting up with her help. "I'd do it again."

        Ama chuckled lightly. "Well then in that case you'd be an idiot." She still had tears dripping down her face.

        Zuko used his thumb to move aside the tears and placed a short kiss on her lips. "Well then in that case, I'd be an idiot in love." Ama's heart skipped a beat and she froze. "I love you, Ama."

        "I love you, too. Zuko." Ama said back, leaning in again and kissing him. It was filled with passion and kindness and happiness. Pulling away, Ama had the largest smile. For a moment, she forgot that the courtyard was still burning and that his insane sister was just a few meters away.

        She helped him stand up, his arm around her shoulder to lean on her. They turned to see Azula. She was hyperventilating in anger that she lost and firebent out from her mouth. The princess struggled against the chains and continued to firebend at the drain. Realizing that there was no escape she broke down into tears.

        Zuko looked at his sister expressionlessly. Like it was wrong to express emotion to his sister who had tried to kill them moments ago. Ama had a look of relief. Azula wouldn't be a problem anymore.

        But she still felt some sympathy for the girl. She didn't really know what the source of her pain was from. Why she felt such a need for power and to be feared. Still, Ama reminded herself that Azula wasn't going to change. Not like her brother.

.☽☼☾.

        It wasn't until later that night, once the comet had passed, that the other met at the Fire Nation Palace. Seeing her siblings safe, Ama jumped to hug them. Both Katara and Sokka also ran to her to embrace their sister. Well, in Sokka's case he hopped on his right foot.

        "Oh thank the spirits you're all alright." Ama exhaled gratefully, hugging both Katara and Sokka at the same time.

        "Other than Sokka's injured leg." Katara giggled as they pulled away. "What about you, are you guys okay?"

        "Perfectly fine." Ama grinned as Zuko walked over to the group. His injury kept him from running.

        "Zuko!" Sokka shouted, hugging the firebender, but pulled away when Zuko grunt in pain.

        "Well, except Zuko did get shot by lightning." Ama added, forgetting the one little detail.

        "So I assume you did it." Zuko looked at Aang.

        "Nope." Aang shook his head. Ama and Zuko both looked confused, wondering how they won if Fire Lord Ozai wasn't dead. "I took away his bending." Aang said proudly.

        "Wow." Ama gave a surprised look. "Remind me never to piss you off." She said, throwing her arm around the bald boy's shoulders.

        "What about you Sifu Hotman?" Aang asked Zuko. "You Fire Lord yet?"

        Zuko grumbled at the nickname, but still chose to ignore it. "The coronation is in a few days. I want you all to be there." He told everyone in the circle.

        "I don't know, a coronation sounds kinda boring." Toph crossed her arms as she quipped.

.☽☼☾.

        And just as planned, the coronation day arrived. People from all nations arrived. Even people from the Foggy Swamp came. Ama went out into the crowd with her siblings. Sokka using a crutch to support his injured leg. The three scanned the crowd for their dad. Excited to see him.

        "Dad!" Sokka spotted him first, talking to Bato. With the widest smiled, the Water Tribe siblings ran to him.

        Hakoda held his arms out to embrace his kids. "I heard what you three did. I am the proudest father in the world. And your mother would be proud too." Katara lightly touched the necklace passed down from their mother and Ama smiled.

        Suki stepped towards them, dressed in her Kyoshi uniform with four others flanked behind her.

        "There's my favorite warriors." Sokka greeted them. "I have to admit, I kind of missed the face paint. How does it feel to be back in uniform again?"

        "It feels great!" Ty Lee, one of Azula's friends that assisted in hunting down the Gaang, said happily. Her hands intertwined together as she jumped beside Suki.

        A shocked look came upon Sokka's face and he stepped between Suki and Ty Lee, pointing his crutch towards the girl. "Careful Suki! Ty Lee is pretending to be a Kyoshi Warrior again."

        "It's ok." Suki assured him and Sokka relaxed. "She's one of us now."

        "Yeah, the girls and I really bonded in prison. And after a few Chi blocking lessons, they said I could join their group." Ty Lee explained and stood in between 2 warriors, placing her arms around their shoulders. "We're going to be best friends forever."

        Ama chuckled at the scene and Katara leaned her arm on her sisters shoulder. "So, since you're the almost Fire Lord's girlfriend, what are you guys planning to do?"

        "What!?" Hakoda's shocked voice kept Ama from responding. Both the girls jolted in surprise, forgetting that their dad had no idea about Ama and Zuko's relationship.

        "Hehe," Ama, rubbed the back of her neck as she looked at her father. "So, Zuko and I are kinda dating."

        His expression was both a bit confused and shocked, making Katara chuckle. Hakoda took a moment to process it before he smiled at her. "As long as you're happy, I'm happy." He hugging his oldest daughter. "But, Fire Lord or not, I still need to have a talk with him." Ama laughed as she pulled away.

        As the time neared for the coronation, the crowd had arranged into groups based on their nation. Swamp benders, earth benders, Water Tribe warriors and Fire Nation citizens. One of the Fire Sages sounded a gong 3 times and Zuko walked forward as the crowd cheered.

        The firebender raised his arm. "Please, the real hero is the Avatar." He moved aside, revealing Aang as he stepped forward as well in orange robes and a traditional Airbender necklace. Everyone cheered again as Aang scanned the crowd. Catching eyes with Katara. Ama saw how her sister looked at him and nudged her lightly. Getting the young waterbender to blush.

        "Today, this war is finally over." Zuko announced. "I promised my Uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. A hundred years of fighting has left the world scarred and divided. But with the Avatar's help, we can get it back on the right path, and begin a new era of love and peace."

        The Fire Sage holding the Fire Lord diadem in his hand stepped forward towards the new Fire Lord. Zuko kneeled down to accept the crown.

        "All hail Fire Lord Zuko!" The Fire Sage proclaimed, placing the diadem into Zuko's top knot.

        The crowd cheered and Zuko lifted his head up as the Fire Sage dismissed himself, keeping his head bowed. Zuko stood back up and walked forward. He urged for Aang to join him up front and the two stood before the crowd proudly.

.☽☼☾.

        Back in Ba Sing Se, the Gaang met up at Iroh's tea shop for a celebration. Iroh played the sungi horn inside the shop with Appa looking at him through the window. Iroh only stopped when Zuko placed a cup of tea beside him. The Fire Lord went around the room, giving everyone their tea. Toph was relaxing with her feat on the table, Aang played with Momo, and Ama and Suki were busy playing a game of Pai Sho while Katara watched.

        "Zuko, stop moving!" Sokka ordered loudly, making everyone stop what they were doing to look at him. "I'm trying to capture the moment." He said with a sophisticated tone before getting back to his ink and water with a soft expression. "I wanted to do a painting, so we always remember the good times together."

        "That's very thoughtful of you Sokka." Katara said sweetly as she and Ama went over to have a look. Katara gave a deadpanned look when she saw the paper and Ama burst out laughing.

        "Wow, Sokka. Next world renowned painter right here." She joked.

        "Why did you give me Momo ear's?" Katara asked, pointing at the painting..

        "Those are you hair-loopies." Sokka justified with an offended tone.

        "Why are my legs so large?" Ama in turn asked, humor in her voice.

        "You wear large pants." Sokka shrugged. That wasn't necessary true. Her pants were as big as Katara's the only difference was that her kimono wasn't long enough to cover up the pants.

        Zuko and Suki went over to the table to check out his drawing, looking unamused. "At least you don't look like a boar-q-pine." Zuko complained, his painting having very large and spiky hair. "My hair's not that spiky!"

        "And why did you paint me firebending?" Suki wondered, her portrayal holding a fan in one hand and a stream of fire from the other.

        "I thought it looked more exciting that way." Momo jumped onto the table and made some animal sounds. "Oh, you think you can do a better job, Momo?" Sokka got offended by the animal's noises.

        "Hey, for all you know, Momo could be complimenting you." Ama quipped, giving a firm slap on her brother's back.

        "Hey, my belly's not that big anymore. I've really trimmed down." Iroh looked at it.

        "Well, I think you all look perfect!" Toph raised her arms into the air. While everyone chuckled, Sokka gave a frustrated grumble.

        Katara looked over at the entrance where Aang just walked out. Ama noticed her sister's look and nudged her. Katara gave her a confused expression.

        "Go get him." She urged her with a soft smile. Katara said nothing, but gave Ama a thankful smile and went out after Aang. Zuko walked over his girlfriend as she watched her sister go out. He wrapped his arms from behind her and placing his head on her shoulder. "Ah, young love." She said dreamily as he chuckled.

        "Yeah." He agreed, drawing her closer to him. His soft smile turned into a frown and he groaned. "Damn it, because of them we're missing the sunset."

        Ama laughed at his reaction. "Oh calm down, dragonfly. There's a sunset every evening. Beside," She placed her hand on his cheek, turned her head, and placed a kiss on his cheek. "We still have the fireworks tonight."

        "Bleh!" Sokka loudly disturbed their moment. Ama and Zuko turned to look at the boy, and also seeing that everyone had turned their attention to the couple. But that was probably just because Sokka had to make it obvious. "Honestly, sis. You're giving me the oogies."

        Ama scoffed. "I give you the oogies? I never complained about you and Suki!"

        Sokka looked like he was backed into a corner with both my comment and Suki's playful glare, but he just waved it off. "Whatever, I'm going to go get Katara and Aang."

        "Should we tell him that-" Zuko whispered in her ear as Sokka walked outside.

        "Oh no," Ama chuckled and shook her head. "let him figure it out." As if on cue, they heard Sokka's shriek. "Serves him right." The girl laughed.

.☽☼☾.

        The thrilled and excited shouts of the group was almost unheard by the citizens of Ba Sing Se as Appa soared straight down. Ama held onto Zuko's arm tightly, laughing with adrenaline and some fear of falling off the bison.

        The animal flew into a curve, leveling out in the sky. "Ha ha! Let's go again!" Aang shouted happily.

        "Wait, guys! The fireworks are starting!" Suki pointed at the sky.

        And sure enough the sky started to be filled in colorful explosions and the booming sounds filling the air. The sparks of purple, yellow, and all the other colors fell slowly from the sky when they were done like embers from a flame.

        "Wow, the view is amazing!" Katara awed.

        "It is! Thanks buddy!" Aang agreed with Katara then thanked Appa for the ride into the sky. The citizens of the Earth Kingdom below them cheered loudly and the Gaang looked down. "Sounds like the Earth King just announced the Harmony Restoration Movement."

        The Harmony Restoration Movement. A new agreement between Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei to get all of the Fire Nation citizens back to the Fire Nation. Removing all the colonies.

        "Hey, wanna know what fireworks are like for me?" Toph asked Sokka. "Close your eyes." The boy listened to her and closed his eye, not really questioning anything. "BOOM!"

        Sokka screeched at the shout in his ear and fell to the ground with his hands covering his ears. The others laughed, not at Sokka's pain, but at how he didn't see it coming. "Oh, Toph! Don't be such a grump!" Katara hugged the young girl. "You're out with friends on a beautiful night, celebrating the fact that the we saved the world!"

        "True." Toph grumbled.

        Ama grinned happily and turned to her boyfriend. The boy had a serious look on his face, like he was in deep thought. "You, too, your new majesty Fire Lord Zuko sir!" Aang joke and put a large grin on his own face. "Turn that frown upside down! It's happy time!" Zuko turned back, with his somber expression. "Zuko?"

        "I visited my father in prison the other day..." He started seriously. "I've been meaning to ask you for a favor, Aang."

        "Sure. Anything." Aang told him, wondering what could be so important that he had to say in the moment.

        "If you see me turning into my father, I want you to..." He paused. "I want you to end me."

        "What?!" Aang asked. Ama gasped and looked over at Katara, who was just as surprised as her.

        "Even now, after everything that's happened, my family's legacy is still a part of me." He explained. "That's why it's my duty to heal the scars that the Fire Nation has left on the world. But the Fire Lord's throne comes with a lot of pressures. And if I'm honest with myself..."

        "I need a safety net. The world needs a safety net. That's what I need you to be, Aang. The safety net." Ama couldn't believe what she was hearing. After all he'd been through to go against what he was taught, he still believed he would be a danger to the world.

        "Zuko, you're not your dad!" Aang told him. "And you're my friend! How can you expect me-"

        "As your friend, I'm asking you. If you ever see me go bad, end me." Zuko said firmly. Every word he was saying was like a stab at Ama's heart.

        Aang hesitated, lowering his head regrettably. "Fine. I promise."

        "You're never going to need to uphold to that." Ama told Aang with determination. Her blue eyes turned to stare into Zuko's gold one. "Because you won't turn into your father. I don't know how you can even think that." Her tone was angry and hurt.

        Zuko looked at her sadly, pulling her into him for a hug. "Just a safety net." He repeated.

        Ama looked up into the sky, the fireworks seemed to have just a little less color in the now gloomy atmosphere.

.☽☼☾.

Please be patient with me, my editing, the writing. I'm doing the best I can and most of my creativity hits at like midnight.

Love you all! Hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼