Ukano, Mai's father, slept soundly in his bed when a voice began calling his name. He awoke and stared up at a familiar spirit.
  "You are a failure, Ukano!" the spirit spat out angrily.
  "It can't be!"
  "You have failed as the governor of New Ozai. But we offer you a chance at redemption."
  "You're the Kemurikage!" Ukano said, shakily. "You're not supposed to be real!"
  "Safety is born of strength. As long as that weakling holds the throne alongside the enemy, neither your nation nor your family is not safe!" the Kemurikage spat. "Act now. Depose the threat. Redeem yourself. Or suffer."
Ukano continued rambling. "You're a fable, an old wives tale, a lie parents tell their children to get them to behave."
  "No." the Kemurikage argued. "We are the truth."
  That said, Ukano blinked and the spirit was gone.
                             * * * * *
  "My fellow patriots of the New Ozai society," Ukano addressed his people, "we have been patient, haven't we?" The group shouted their agreement. "You and I have longed for the glory days of Ozai's rule, when the Fire Nation was the strongest and safest of the realms. Aside from perhaps the Aether Realm. No outside threat stood a chance against us.
  "Little did we know we would be undone from within by our own crown prince Zuko and his infatuation with the enemy." The group booed and hissed. "Believers like us had to go underground, we worked long and hard, preparing for the day we could finally remove that imposter.
   "We've been patient, my dear society, and our patience is about to be rewarded. My spies report that the "Fire Lord" will return to our shores tomorrow. He'll have with him a small group of companions, including the Avatar and his mother, the traitor, Ursa."
   More boos.
  "During his journey from Harbor City to the royal palace, Zuko will be vulnerable for long stretches. So tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow we remove Zuko not only from the throne butthe face of the earth, only with our enemy, the Avatar. Tomorrow, we restore the Fire Nation to glory! Tomorrow, we attack!"
   The crowd cheered.
                         * * * * *
   ***SMUT WARNING (mostly fluff though)****
  "So...how do I look?" Rose asked, stepping out of the aether.
  Zuko turned and his mouth dropped open at the vision of his soulmate in a red and black dress robe, her hair pinned up in a fancy half up and half down hairdo. The innocent look on her face made her even more desirable than usual.

  She bit her lip and he cleared his throat a few times before answering: "You look beautiful. You always do."
  As he expected, his lovely lady rolled her eyes. "I tried to pick something somewhere between both our kingdoms in your colors by the way."
   Zuko grinned. "As much as I love the effort and the reasoning behind it," he said, flattered that she was trying to get used to the culture and dress she would have to adopt following their wedding, "I much prefer you out of it."
  "Of course you do." She teased.
She moved forward and pressed her lips against his. His hands moved to her hips and he paused there for but a moment before he lifted her into the air. Rose wrapped her legs around him and Zuko carried her the short distance to their bed on the ship they'd boarded to head back to the Fire Nation.
   He parted from her momentarily, his gaze intense. "Zuko?"
   Zuko took her left hand, stroking a finger over the mark that bonded them for life. "You're mine." He marvelled.
  "Forever." She promised.
  "I'd like to know about the other ones." Zuko commanded more than suggested. He pushed one of her sleeves back, revealing a brilliant blue rose. "This one?" He asked as he traced the pattern of it.
  "That one was for my name day." She breathed. "On the day that a royal or noble family decides the name of their child is very special. There's a ceremony, they officially name the child, and they are gifted a mark that symbolizes their name. Since my nickname or preferred name is Rose, I got a rose."
   "Makes sense."
   He pulled up her other sleeve and she explained each of her tattoos there, including a black tattoo of a sword that symbolized her father's death and a black airbender tattoo that symbolized Monk Gyatso's death.
   Zuko sighed. "I'm sorry for everything you went through. I wish I could make it right."
   "You didn't cause this." Rose breathed, her lips moving sympathetically, peppering his face with gentle kisses.
   He ran his fingers over the tie of the robe dress and pulled it loose. It opened and he began stroking across her skin again, tracing the mark of her becoming Avatar before kissing each mark.
   She continued explaining them, smiling when he paused at a specific one--a heart with his name across her left breast. "This one?" He looked up, his eyes wide, innocent, and vulnerable, something he didn't show often.
   "When we became soul bound. That was to show I'm all yours."
   Zuko stared at her in wonder. "So I'm literally written on your heart?" Rose smiled. "Pretty much." She giggled.
   "How do you get these exactly? Because sometimes it seems like they just appear, like a brand almost."
   "Sometimes they do." Rose explained. "Usually we--people of the Aether Realm--have someone mark the skin during a celebration but some memories are so strong, they appear on their own, like a branding almost. That doesn't mean I wouldn't go back and have someone go over them again to make it more official...if I could."
   Zuko sighed. "I'm sorry you can't go back. I feel like I keep taking things from you."
   Rose cocked her head to the side. "Why are you to blame? It was my destiny to leave and it wasn't to go back. That destiny would've happened with or without you and, honestly, I'm glad I have you. I'd prefer being with my soulmate than being alone."
   He stroked her face gently. "You continue to amaze me with your love."    He kissed her cheek and sighed.
   He wanted to say something more but forced it out of his mind. Now was the time for play and love making, not feeling sad. So he continued his worship of her body, learning more about her tattoos as he ran his fingers over each, followed by his lips.
   Rose moaned as his lips sucked in a nipple, his fingers breaching her most sacred spot. He moved further down, his tongue tracing a trail down her stomach, past a mark that she revealed was made when they saved the world.
Finally, his lips encircled her sweet jewel and he nipped at it playfully, his fingers continuing to thrust into her sweet pussy. Her hand shot out and plummeted into his pants, stroking along his cock. He groaned in pleasure, now biting across her thighs, leaving marks of his passion across them.
She continued her assault, stroking along his staff, forcing him to remove his fingers and lips from her so he could pull open his pants and drop them off. His shirt followed and he moved over top of her again, his lips now leaving marks along her neck.
   Rose's free hand moved to his neck and pulled his face to hers, enveloping his lips in hers. The kiss was passionate and full of unconditional love. It made them both dizzy and took their breath away.
   Eventually, one of them parted for air and Rose smirked. "Have I answered enough questions yet? Because I'm craving my husband now and I'm not a patient woman." She pointed at him and he chuckled.
   "I guess my curiosity has been satiated for now."
   Zuko removed his underwear, tossed her dress robe to the side, and gripped her hips in his hands. With one smooth movement, he filled her up, stopping for a moment to enjoy the heightened pleasure due to their bond, before he began thrusting. His hands moved to hers and he kissed the mark on her finger that told the world she belonged to him.
    That night was a long one, continuing for hours as they lost themselves in the feeling of each other.
                   **End of smut***
   The next morning, Aang was playing with Kiyi and the dolphin fishes in the sea. Sokka declined the offer to join, being licked by Appa. Will and Catie had jumped onto a hippocampus and were riding alongside the others.
   "The captain says we're only a day away from the main island." Zuko said, entering the room with Rose and Ursa on his heels. "So much has changed, mother." Zuko addressed Ursa with a smile. "I can't wait to show you around."
   "And maybe sometime during the grand tour we can get married?" Rose suggested with a smile.
   Zuko smirked, grabbing his wife into his arms. "That, my love," he answered, "is absolutely a must."
   Ophelia joined the group then.   "Wonderful!" She said. "Hopefully, we can get things prepared when we get back so you can make an honest woman out of my daughter."
   Ursa chuckled. "I have to agree. I'm excited to have another daughter...well daughters and sons." She gestured to Will, Catie, and Aang. "Where's your other brother and future sister by marriage?"
   "Jasper and Aurora are having some alone time." Rose giggled. "I swear they're worse than Zuko and me."
   "Hmm...I believe uncle started calling them Jasrora." Zuko said. At his mother's bewildered expression, he explained, "Uncle came up with a new thing where he meshes people's names together. He calls it shipping. He calls me and Rose Ruko and Will and Catie Watie."
   Ursa laughed. "That is so Iroh!"
   "He's been shipping me and Rose together since long before we realized what we meant to each other." He looked at Rose. "Ever since we met the pirates."
   Rose shook her head, amused. "Of course."
   "You still get that sparkle in your eyes when you're excited or happy, Zuko, ever since you were little."
   "Mom!" Zuko called out, embarrassed. "I'm the Fire Lord now."
   "Of course. Sorry." Ursa said with a smile. "I'm just glad to see you so happy. It's all I ever wanted for you, Zuko."
   "It'll be so good to finally have you home again. Not to mention, great for you to be at our wedding."
   Zuko took Rose's hand and they walked off to check on their friends. Ikem looked to Ursa in concern. "Ursa, are you ok?"
   "Why wouldn't I be?"
   "Whenever you're scared, your hands get cold. We used to hold hands before performances, remember? On opening nights, it felt like holding a block of ice."
   "It's just been a long time since I've been in that place." Ursa shuddered. "I'll be fine."
   At the sight of Kiyi out on the water, Ursa panicked. Ikem took Kiyi downstairs while Ursa tried to calm down. Moments later, Jasper and Aurora came up the stairs.
                           * * * * *
   Mai's mother looked up as Ty Lee walked in the door. "Ty Lee, it's wonderful to see you again."
   Ty Lee smiled. "It's good to see you and Tom Tom again too. Is Master Ukano here as well?"
   She shook her head. "The end of the war was hard on him--on all of us really--but he crossed the line. I realized then that he cares about politics more than his own children's safety. So we're here now on our own."
   "I'm so sorry."
   "Don't be. Living with Mura is wonderful." She gestured to the old woman running the flower shop.
   Suddenly, Mai appeared from out the back. "I thought I heard your voice." She said flatly.
   "Mai!" Ty Lee ran over to her old friend, hugging her tight. "I missed you so so so much!"
   "I know it's been awhile but I'm still not a fan of hugging, Ty Lee."
   Ty Lee grabbed Mai's hand and dragged her out the shop, shouting that they'd be at the tea shop. Once there, Ty Lee confided in Mai about what Zuko had done.
   "He let that lunatic out? He's really turning into his father." Mai worried.
   "I don't think it's like that but I haven't had a peaceful aura since then." Ty Lee worried. "You don't think she'll--"
   "Try to punish us for betraying her?" Mai guessed.
   "Something like that." Ty Lee shuddered. "Let's talk about something else. So you seeing anyone new?"
   Mai shrugged. "I did meet this guy, Kei Lo."
   She explained how he'd come into the shop to buy some flowers then gave them to her.
   "How romantic! Is he cute?"
   "I guess....for a patsy. Turns out he was working for my father." She shook her head. "My dad's been running this secret society of nutjobs trying to overthrow Zuko. They call themselves the New Ozai society."
   Ty Lee gasped.
   "My father sent Kei Lo to recruit me. I didn't go for it, of course. When I told mom, she left him. He was endangering all of us including Tom Tom. But there's more. For the last couple of weeks, Kei Lo's been visiting me in secret."
   "So you two are dating?"
   "No. Patsies aren't my type. But maybe I can use him to stop my father."
   "And save Zuko?"
   "Just doing my duty as a Fire Nation citizen." Mai shrugged.
   "Have you talked to him lately?" Ty Lee asked. "To Zuko?"
   "Not really. Last I heard, he and Rose had performed some type of ceremony rare in her culture, like a wedding or something. They're technically married right now but are having an official ceremony when they get back. I believe they're supposed to get back tomorrow.
   "Anyway, Kei Lo says the New Ozai society have plans for him tomorrow. That's why I asked you here. I need you to get a read on him."
   At that moment, he walked in the door. "Hey, babe! Meet my friend, Ty Lee."
   Mai acted happy the whole time and, when the guy left, she turned her head and went back to her usual blank look. "So what do you think?"
   "I think he has a good aura."
                            * * * * *
    Rose and Zuko stood on the deck of the ship, saying goodbye to their friends. "Are you sure you want to leave right now? You can stay."
   "You need time alone with your family." Katara explained.
   "Besides, we have to get back to the Aether Realm." Jasper said.
   "And we have to get back to the North Pole." Will added.
   "But we'll be coming to visit to help with the wedding plans and we'll all be back for the wedding itself." Catie said, kindly.
   "I'll stay." Ophelia said. "I believe it'll be good for you to get to know both of your mothers." She gestured to Zuko. "Besides, I want to help get everything prepared for the wedding."
   Ursa giggled. "And I'm glad you're around to help me adjust. It'll be nice to get to know my future daughter in law and her family."
   The pair of mothers smiled at each other. Zuko went to the edge of the boat and waved. "You're lucky to have such good friends." Ursa told him.
   "I am." Zuko smiled, pulling Rose closer to him.
   They began discussing the awkward situation with Kiyi now that Ursa no longer looked like her mother. Ursa then added, "I was actually thinking about my other daughter, Azula. Do you think she's alright? Safe and happy?"
   "We searched Forgetful Valley for weeks." Rose said, softly. "She's gone missing."
   "She's safe." Zuko quickly added. "If nothing else, she knows how to survive. But happy? I don't know what that would even mean for her."
   Just then, a messenger hawk landed on the boat with a message from the Kyoshi Warriors. When asked about it, Zuko played it off. "It's nothing I can't handle."
   He urged his mother to bed.
   Rose grabbed Zuko's hand. "Why did you lie to her?"
   "I don't want to worry her. You either. Trust me. I have a plan."
   "If you're sure."
   The next morning, the group surveyed their course. "Zuko, are you sure we're going to right way?"
   "Change of plans. We're meeting some friends."
   A submarine rose from out the water. Zuko explained that it was something Sokka had invented. From out the sub popped Iroh. As he and Zuko embraced, Zuko thanked Iroh for taking care of the Fire Nation while he was gone.
   "Seeing that your trip was successful is thanks enough."
   Iroh and Ursa embraced. As Iroh apologized on behalf of his brother, Ursa simply replied, "What are you apologizing for, Iroh? Your presence always gave me a sense of hope."
   They reunited with Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors. The plan was to send Zuko and company through a secret passageway while Iroh would follow the normal pathway as a decoy.
   "No offense, Uncle, but we look nothing alike."
   "They won't see my face, only my hand." He demonstrated. "What do you think? Angsty enough? I've been practicing all morning."
   Rose burst out laughing. "You definitely play the part of Zuko well."
   Zuko turned to his wife in surprise. "Do I really seem that angsty?"
   She laughed. "When we first met, you were the poster child for angsty teen."
   He raised an eyebrow. "And now?"
   "Well you can still be a little angsty at times but you're happy."
   "That's because I have you." He kissed her.
   "So, Iroh, who's going to pretend to be me?"
   "That would be me." Ophelia said, stepping forward.
   Iroh smiled. "It would be an honor to be accompanied by such a lovely lady." He kissed her hand.
   "Ew, uncle! That's my mother-in-law!" Zuko said.
   Rose smiled. "I think it's sweet."
   The two groups split up to get into two separate carriages. Rose, Zuko, and his family got into one that pulled off early, joined by some of the Kyoshi Warriors. The other stayed aboard the ship until it docked. Then Iroh and Ophelia's carriage pulled out with the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors and Mai.
   Iroh frowned as he waved and Ophelia giggled. "Quite the method actor, aren't you?"
   "I find it is the easiest way for me."    Ophelia smiled, waving her own hand.    
   "I can see that you are a lot like your daughter." Iroh observed.
   "And you are a lot like Zuko." Ophelia observed. "No offense but your brother is a horrible person."
   "Ozai is not a good man. But he did not have the opportunity to grow like I did. The Fire Nation has spent too long thinking ourselves above the other nations. We must be more like your realm, the Aether Realm, humble, kind, peaceful. That is a lesson I had to learn the hard way and one I wanted to teach Zuko as well. I'm only sorry I could not do the same for my brother and niece." He looked into her eyes. "I am sorry for what Ozai did to your home...and I apologize on his behalf for the loss of your husband."
   She looked up at him with teary eyes. "Thank you but you have nothing to apologize for. You are a kind man...one I'm honored to have the chance to know."
   "If it isn't too bold of me, your highness, I'd like the chance to get to know you better. Might I convince you to stay in the Fire Nation a bit longer?"
   Ophelia blushed. "I can stay for my daughter's wedding but I still have many duties to the Aether Realm until my son and daughter by marriage can take over. But...perhaps you might visit me?"
   Iroh brightened. "I've always wanted to see the Aether Realm for myself. It would be my honor to escort you there when next you leave."
   Ophelia smiled. "I think this could be the start of something beautiful."
   "I couldn't agree more."
   As Mai and Ty Lee argued over whether or not they'd be attacked, the New Ozai Society did indeed attack. Iroh excitedly jumped out of the carriage, ready to fight, only to find that the girls had already beat them.
   Meanwhile, Rose, Zuko, his family, ajd the majority of the Kyoshi Warriors were suddenly attacked by the rest. They threatened Zuko: "If you renounce your throne, no harm will come to your family."
   Zuko smirked as he stepped out of the carriage, followed by Rose. "You think you're going to bully me into doing what you want? Actually it's quite the opposite." He sent a fireblast their way.
   "And no one threatens our family." Rose earthbended the ground beneath their feet, knocking the men off balance.
   As a fight broke out, Suki yelled, "Great display of power you guys but we need backup!"
   "No argument there!" The lovers shouted as they fought with their bending.
   Suki sent out the signal to the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors. Kei Lo joined the fight alongside Zuko. "Why are you helping?"
   "Let's just say we have a mutual friend--her!"
   That's when Mai, the Kyoshi Warriors, Iroh, and Ophelia showed up. "Yea! The Dragon of the West is ready for action!" Iroh began firebending out of his mouth while Ophelia dual bended, fighting together, back to back.
   Rose and Zuko continued to fight the people attacking them. A group of firebenders attempted to firebend at the couple but, like when they were judged by the Masters, the fire didn't touch them.
   Ophelia moved forward and did something no one expected: she began to bloodbend, causing all the soldiers to surrender.
   "Mother?"
   As the fight was going on, Ukano told his daughter that Zuko was a traitor to his people. Mai let him go but refused to help him.
   With the fight over, the group headed back to the Fire Nation. Kiyi began fawning over the palace.
   Rose turned her attention to Ophelia. "Mother...we need to talk about what happened."
   "I never wanted you to know I could bloodbend. It's not a skill I'm proud of."
   "How...I thought your parents were from the Aether Realm?"
   "My mother was from the Aether Realm and she had family that goes back as far as time has been recorded. My father, however, had family all over the world. He'd travelled much during his long life. His father...I don't know much about. But his mother was a waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe. She invented bloodbending. Her name was..."
   "Hama." They said in unison.
   "I've met her."
   "You've met your great grandmother?"
Rose told her mother the story of how her and the rest of the gang met Hama and how she had taught Katara bloodbending.
   "So she taught Katara as well." Ophelia pondered. "She always spoke of wanting to create a legacy for herself. She taught me when I was very young, just after my father died."
   "What are you thinking, mother?"
   "I'm thinking after the wedding, I'll invite Katara to the Aether Realm. I think I can help her."
   Rose smiled. "You were always too kind for your own good."
   "It's a mother's job, Ro."
   They hugged.
   "Kiyi, you should rest. We've all had a long day."
   "No I knew Zuzu and Ro would keep us safe." Kiyi said, excitedly.
   "Oh she picked up on my nickname, how cute!" Rose said.
   Zuko looked shocked. "Zuzu? Where'd she pick that up?"
   "I don't know."
   "Well it sounds a lot nicer coming from her than Azula."
   Ursa left, heading for one of the guest rooms. "Do you think she'll be ok?"
   "Time heals all wounds."
   "But it's not just her I'm worried about. It's the New Ozai Society. I think...well I'll need help."
   "You're getting very wise, nephew."
   "Because I'm acting more like you?"
   "Well yes."
   The group laughed. Zuko sighed and took Rose's hand. "You know what this means, right?" She nodded. "We need to call in everyone to help with this problem."

To be continued....