Finding a Fire lady

"Prince Zuko do you know what my greatest mistake was?

"Convincing cousin Lu Ten to join the Army?"

"No although I regret that now. My greatest mistake was not treating my wife as I should have. When you find a women that you care enough about to marry, treat her like she's made of gold. As a man you will not realized everything she is giving up when she agrees and most of the time she will not remind you of the sacrifice."

"What sacrifices Uncle? She would be moving to the grand palace. She would never have to cook or clean or do any kinda or housework again!"

"Yes but she will have given up many things for a life of luxury. She will have left her family and her home to be your wife. She will go through the struggles of having children then she will give them your name. She will be under constant watch from the public eye, just as you are."

He stood in what I perceived as silent shock.

"You are right Uncle, I have never thought of it like that before. What I don't understand is why you are speaking of this when I don't even have a girlfriend much less a fiancé?"

"I have ask the fire sages to grant an exception to an old rule. Many times when a new Fire lord is crowned, he must pick a girl to marry and be the Fire lady if he is not already married."

"What?! That's crazy! Surely they are not serious?!"

"I am afraid so, they said they would give a ruling the morning of your crowning." I gave him the news I had been dreading to tell.

"My crowning is two weeks away... An arranged marriage is my only option! Uncle what can I do?! I can't get married to a girl I don't even know! What if she's a freak, or crazy or or... what if she hates me?!" He began to panic, pacing the floor.

I just stood and watched his mini freak out for a minute.

"Prince Zuko, you should make a list of all the girls you would like to marry and go from there. Besides we don't know if you even have to get married yet! Just calm down we will find a way out of this I'm sure. You have been betrothed before, you can do it again if it comes down to it."

"I have NEVER been betrothed!" He shouted.

"You have you just didn't realize it."

"Who?" He asked looking me straight in the eye.

"As soon as Mai's parents noticed her interest in you as children, they went to your father and ask for a betrothal. Your mom accepted because she noticed you liked her too. Your father was okay with it because she was from a high-class fire nation family. Ursa wanted you to be happy so she wrote in that if you showed no desire in marrying her as the Fire lord the betrothal would be void."

He smiled his mom was always looking out for him. He would never want to marry Mai, she was boring and besides they used to fight all the time.

Zuko's POV

I thought about Uncle's suggestion of making a list. I have never had to think about marriage before. Who would even be willing to be my wife? I told my uncle I needed to start that list.

I sat down at my desk and got out my writing brush. I started to think about all the girls I have know that I have ever liked besides Mai...

Jin- she was a sweet girl I don't know if she could handle being Fire lady... oh right she thinks I'm Lee. Well that could be a problem...

I kept trying to think of someone else. I didn't really didn't have many opportunities to date when I was hunting the Avatar. I kept thinking, there has to be more than just Jin!

I wrote the name before I thought about it

Katara

I was just about to scratch out when I started to think about it. Really she would be a good choice, she is strong enough to hold up to people's criticism. She's smart and she knows how to handle unwanted guests gracefully. She definitely wouldn't be afraid to voice her opinion.

The only problem would be she would have to marry me. She would never and I would be lucky to tell Sokka before he would slice me in half with his space sword. Besides she is the leader of the Southern Water Tribe. I don't think a Waterbender could ever be Fire lady.

I got up from my desk to find my Uncle. I needed to ask him about my choices...

"Zuko, it has never been done! Both are very good girls but neither are from the Fire Nation! What would people say if our Fire lady wasn't even born from our homeland!"

"It seems to me the Fire nation does not raise peaceful leaders."

"This is important Zuko, this is your wife!"

"That's another thing, do we have to be married or can she just help me lead?"

"I can ask the Fire sages..."

"Tell them I need an answer before the end of this week."

"Okay Prince Zuko"

Hey guys! This is my first try at Avatar the Last Airbender Fanfiction, so I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews are always welcome and I'm grateful for them :) Thanks for reading! -Outsidersfanlovesdally