The Blue Flame

Chapter 1

Zuko

The one hundred year war is finally over. Zuko was presenting Avatar Aang, his best friend, to all four nations inside the fire nation palace. His father, Ozai, is in prison and his sister, Azula, is gone to a mental institution where she will be for a very long time. Zuko's relationship with Mai is stronger than ever and Team Avatar is reunited once again. Everything is perfect.

"Zuko? You okay?" Aang asked Zuko. Zuko got distracted at the end of his speech, daydreaming about how perfect everything will become.

"Yeah." he tells Aang and gives him a small smile.

After the inauguration, team Avatar all got on Appa and flew to Ba Sing Se to visit Uncle Iroh's tea shop The Jasmine Dragon for some tea. Uncle Iroh, Aang, Sokka, Katara, Toph, Suki, Mai, Ty Lee, Zuko, and of course Appa and Momo are all crammed together in Uncle's tea shop. Uncle Iroh is giving out his famous Jasmine tea to everyone while Sokka is drawing a picture of the gang. Of course it's awful, but Zuko won't tell him that.

Everything was perfect.

... a year later ...

A very loud knock comes from the big doors of Zuko's office at the fire nation palace. Probably Uncle Iroh giving him more paperwork to do. Being the Fire Lord turned out to be a lot harder than Zuko imagined.

"Come in." Zuko says being as professional as he can be.

To Zuko's surprise, it's Aang.

"Aang?" Zuko sprung up from his chair to greet Aang and gives him a hug.

"Hi Zuko! The gang decided to stop by before heading to some Earth Kingdom villages for a few days. Katara insisted that I go help the villages in need." As Aang was explaining his visit some familiar faces swarmed into Zuko's office. Many of which he hasn't seen in a long time.

"Katara, Sokka, Toph. Thank you for stopping by. I miss seeing you guys." Zuko says as he walks over to the rest of the gang.

Katara gives Zuko a big hug. "Oh Zuko, it's lovely to see you. Working hard?" Katara teases him.

"You know it." Zuko replies.

"Zuko! Listen, it's been a long trip. Do you think your Uncle could whip me up some tea?" Sokka asks. Katara nudges his ribs making him gasp. "Ouch!"

Zuko chuckles. "I'm sure Uncle would love to make you tea. It's his favorite pass time." Sokka silently say "yes" and runs towards Uncle Iroh's quarters.

Toph gives Zuko a small hug. "Hiya Sparky. Have time to spar with me?" Toph asks nudging Zuko.

Zuko laughs once again, but this time it's more of a sad laugh. "As much as I would love to spar with you Toph, being Fire Lord means I don't get many breaks. It's harder than I expected. Uncle has been helping me a lot though. It's like I can never get a break. Plus it's been hard trying to gain the trust of the other three nations." Zuko walks back over to his desk to sit down. He looks at his friends and takes them in. It will be a long time until he sees them again.

"Well no one expects you to get the hang of it right away. It takes time. Ruling a whole nation is hard, but you'll get the hang of it." Katara say reassuringly.

"Yeah, I had to learn all four elements in less than a year and I'm still not that good at all of them. It took me forever to start earthbending, but now I feel like I'm pretty good." Aang says trying help.

"You aren't that good, Twinkle Toes." Toph chuckles.

Sometimes Katara's and Aang's advice are much needed. Without his friends and Uncle's advice, he knew he would be so lost.

"Thanks guys." Zuko tells them and meaning it.

"Well Sifu Hotman, we will leave you to your Fire Lord duties. Come see us when you are done. We will most likely be in the lounge or the courtyard." Aang says as they leave Zuko alone in his office once again. Zuko sighs and begins to work on the Earth Kingdom treaties and papers.

Just as Zuko was about to get focused on his work again, a small knock sounds at his door. This time, Zuko stands up to open the door. It's Mai.

"Zuko."

"Mai."

They embrace each other and give each other a fruitful kiss on the lips. Zuko had been dying to see her all day. It's been meeting after meeting. Once they finished their kiss, she sits down with Zuko at his desk to help file papers. Mai usually comes in once in a while to help Zuko with his work. Zuko doesn't tell Mai just how much she means to him. He loves her with every fiber of his being even if they have a few rocks in the road.