The Fire Lord's Bride

Katara could not help a cry of dismay from escaping her lips when she saw Toph's condition. The Earthbender tried to put up a brave face about it and smirked at her. "Pfft! This is nothing! Except for the horrible pain everywhere, I feel fine." However, Katara just shushed her friend and quickly went about healing Toph's injuries. Zuko then received word that the different missions he had sent his soldiers on had been successful. The conspirators in the military had been identified and captured after a brief fight, and all the ships in the Fire Nation navy had been secured. Iroh also sent a report saying that the nobles who had plotted against Zuko were now all in prison where they would await their trials for treason.

It took a few more days before their group of companions could be reunited in the Palace. In the meantime, Zuko had the unpleasant task of releasing Lord Jiro from the dungeon where the conspirators had kept him after he was falsely accused of plotting against the Fire Nation. The old man had wept when he learned what had happened to his daughter, how she had been an innocent victim in the plots and intrigues of a few. He had not directly blamed Zuko for Lady Ayumi's death, but the look of hatred in his eyes when he finally sailed back home to the Earth Kingdom deeply unsettled the Fire Lord and only increased his guilt about the loss of her life.

Once everything had been put back into order as best as could be, and Toph was healed enough to stand again without aid, a feast was held along with a ceremony where Zuko honored those who had done their part to prevent another great war. It was also during this feast that he made the formal announcement of his marriage to Lady Toph Bei Fong of the Earth Kingdom, a piece of news that became quite a scandal across the land and even beyond the seas. However, one scandal that didn't break out was the fact that Princess Ursa had come back to the Fire Nation—because she had left again as soon as Azula was buried.

"But why?" Zuko had demanded to know when she had told him about her plans to return to Lo-Man. "Why can't you stay?"

"I have a duty there," she had said to him. "And this isn't really my home anymore. I still committed treason against the Fire Nation, and if you want me to stay, then you would also have to put me to trial."

"No." He shook his head. "If I can only make a single mistake as the Fire Lord, then let it be this one. I won't punish you for that crime, Mother, not when I understand why you did what you did."

"Then embrace me and say goodbye, my son." They bid each other farewell and made a promise that it would not be forever.

He had a lot of work to do now in order to repair the damage the conspirators had done. He often stayed up late into the night conferring and making plans with his ministers so they could gain the trust of the other nations again. At the end of a particularly long day when he had had to witness the sentencing of all the people who had participated in the plot against the throne, he went home to the Palace and immediately sought out his wife. He found her in the gardens having late afternoon tea with his Uncle and her friends.

He didn't say anything and he merely nodded to everyone as he sat down beside Toph. She quietly handed him a cup of tea and some dumplings while Aang, Katara, and Sokka watched the two of them closely. Iroh just smiled pleasantly at his nephew and niece-by-marriage, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

Presently, Sokka shook his head in wonder. "I see it, but I still don't believe it. You two really intend to stick to this whole marriage thing, don't you?"

"Up to and including crowning me as the Fire Lady next week, after a royal wedding ceremony to satisfy those grumpy Fire Sages," Toph said. "Then he'll be stuck with me for the rest of his life! Good luck to the Fire Nation!"

"Oh, I think the Fire Nation is lucky to have you as its Lady, Toph," Aang commented with a smile. "You'll certainly keep everyone here in line."

"Yeah, especially Zuko," Katara snickered.

"Hey." He frowned at the Waterbender, but Toph only laughed. He forgot all about Katara's teasing when his wife ruffled his hair with affection and said, smiling, "Oh, yeah. So who's the big bad Fire Lord, huh?"

"I am," he replied, then proceeded to kiss her laughter into silence.

"Ugh. Eewww." Sokka made gagging sounds and covered his eyes. "That's just wrong. Please stop. Not in front of food, by all that's holy. Aang, make them stop!" he pleaded. "I still hear slurping noises."

Iroh put down his cup of tea, chuckling. "Oh, that was just me." Aang and Katara both guffawed.

Sokka glared at everyone around the table. "What do the two of you even see in each other?" he wanted to know as he looked at Toph and Zuko again. "I just don't get the attraction. I can already see the future. You're going to have Firebender and Earthbender kids, and they're going to be insufferable. I'm letting you know right now that I'm not going to babysit."

"Like I'd ever trust any of my children with you!" Toph stopped kissing her husband long enough to get into an argument with Sokka about babies and how her future children would be able to beat his future kids. Of course, Aang and Katara had to jump in at that point and declare that their offspring would trounce all the competition in any bending battle they could name.

As he listened to them bicker and tease one another with the familiarity of old friends, Zuko smiled and sipped his tea. It had turned out to be a beautiful day, after all.

The End

oOo

Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story. It took a while, but it finally got finished. I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I had fun writing it. Thanks again.

See you all in Republic City!