Howdy! New fic for my lovelies! Titled after the song from "Brave". A precautionary note: later in this fic, there WILL BE AN M RATED SCENE! Don't worry though, I will give fair warning before hand. I really hope you enjoy this one. I know I had a heck of a time writing it. AH so much fun!

Into the Open Air

Part 1: Arrival

"Fire Lord," said the chief Fire Nation councilman, "by avoiding this matter you are neglecting your duty to the Fire Nation!"

"After all I have done for my country," Zuko stood, slamming his fists on the table top, "how dare you say I neglect it!" Ten years had passed since Zuko had taken his throne and still he struggled to gain the full alliance of the Council. Many still saw him as a traitor.

"Just recently, my lord, was your twenty-seventh birthday; yet,you remain unmarried and there is no heir! I do not disregard the prosperity you and the Avatar have brought to the world, but the succession of the throne, the future of the Fire Nation, is at stake."

Zuko knew the councilman was right. He was the last Fire Lord. Since Azula's arrest, she had been stripped of her right to rule, and his only cousin, Lu Ten, had left this world when Zuko was just a boy. Now, Uncle Iroh was gone...

The young Fire Lord sat back down, the fire in his blood reducing to a simmer, wishing he could discuss the matter over a cup of tea with his uncle rather than over an obtusely large table with the Council. He loved his country, but unfortunately he was more devoted to the Fire Nation than he had been to any woman. Mai, even, was to soon be married to another man from New Ozai; and Zuko could not create an heir on his own. There was truth in what the council said. A well-organized coup, a skilled assassin, an unexpected illness could so easily end Zuko's reign and leave the Fire Nation without a ruler. What would happen then? Political discourse? Despotism? Another War? The peace he had fought for would die with him.

"I understand."

"Good," the councilman stood and gathered his scrolls. "We will begin our search for a suitable bride and arrange the marriage." Zuko can only nod as the Council left the room.

Nanami hummed to herself to ward off restlessness. For far too long she had been cramped in this ship. There was no room to dance or run in the steerage of the ocean liner, and the voyage from the Northern Water Tribe had taken what seemed like years. At least, she thought to herself, it will be warm when they reached the Fire Nation. She hated the constant chill of steel beneath her bare feet. She pined for grass in her toes and air that did not smell of fish.

As she worked on the jewelry she was making, Nanami thought of the festival. Excitement bubbled beneath her skin and she grew more impatient, but she could not help herself. Usually, she and her fellow travelers, the troubadour Shinjiru gypsies, spent the summer in Ba Sing Se where they could make enough money entertaining to feed themselves. This year, however, would be different. After a hundred years of war, the world finally knew peace. In honor of the decade had passed since the restoration of balance and harmony, the young heroes, among them the Avatar, were hosting a three-day festival at the Fire Nation capital city. Naturally, as soon as they had gotten word of the celebration, the Shinjiru had made way.

Suddenly, commotion erupted on the ship. Nanami shot to her feet and raced to the top deck. The passengers had all gathered, whooping and cheering around the edges. She climbed atop a stack of supply crates to see for herself, letting out her out shout as the vessel passed through the great gates of Azulon.

Finally.

Zuko, after the Council meeting, walked through the garden courtyard of the palace, stopping to watch the turtleducks. Reminded of his mother, he wondered who would be the next Fire Lady. The Council would choose wisely, he knew. Like in a game of pai sho, Zuko's marriage will be a neat political move. Of course, she would be of noble blood, but Zuko could only hope she would be more than that. The Fire Lady should be more than a bearer of children. She should sit at the Fire Lord's side, advise him in an infallible system of checks and balances. He watched the mother turtleduck lead her chicks around the pond.

For twenty-seven years he had not questioned the traditions of marriage. The match between his mother and father had been arranged. Yet, now that he was in the throes of the same process, he found it caustic and unnatural. If Zuko had the mindset of the exiled prince he once was, he knew he would not feel such dissatisfaction. His time traveling the world with his Uncle and Aang had changed him.

Who are you? Iroh's voice rang in his ears. And what do you want? Was Zuko wrong to want more than a bride?

"My Lord," a messenger servant interrupted Zuko's thoughts.

"What is it?"

"The Avatar's ship has arrived."

A smile turned up the edge of his lips. At least, he would be seeing his friends again.

Toph was the first one off the ship. She sprinted down the ramp, then dropped to her hands and knees.

"Sweet, sweet dirt,"

"Hello, Toph," Zuko laughed and her head tilted at the sound of his voice and she stood. It seemed every time he saw her, Toph became more of a woman and less and less the child bandit he had met during the war.

"Hey, Sparky." She punched him in the arm and Zuko winced at her display of affection. At least, some things never change.

Next off of the boat, was Sokka.

"How ya' doing, Fire Lord?" Sokka wrapped his arms around Zuko.

"Fine. How was the city?"

"You should see it." He told him. Over Sokka's shoulder, Zuko saw the last of his guests slowly, arm-in-arm-make their way towards him.

"Zuko!" Aang smiled his ear-wide smile. Though he was now an inch or two taller than Zuko, Aang still seemed a boy on the inside. The two men embraced.

"It's good to see you," Zuko said, "Nice beard." The Avatar ran his hand over the line of dark hair on his chin.

"You should grow one too."

"Maybe someday," The Fire Lord chuckled. "Hello, Katara."

"Hi, Zuko," she smiled her motherly smile. She seemed to sense something was troubling his mind. Later, his smile said back to her.

"So," said Sokka, noticing a band of gypsies disembarking from steerage, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to party."

"There you go," Nanami pulled the lead off of one of the gypsies' zebramules and patted its withers as it dropped its head to graze. She took a deep breath. All around her tents were being pitched and fires, lit. The noises of Ginji tuning his erhu rose above the cacophony of camp life.

The band of gypsies had set up camp in a field outside of the city. From her spot where the zebramules grazed, Nanami could see the streets below her. A man was stringing lanterns across the street and vendors were constructing their stalls. Everyone was preparing for the festival that would begin at dusk.

Everyone, including her. She reminded herself she had to talk with Ginji about the music for her performance later. She started down the hill into camp when a small voice called out for her.

"Nanami! Nanami!" A young boy, charged toward her, startling the zebramules.

"Kito!" she cried, scooping him up in her arms. "Where is your father?"

"He just finished with our tent. He was calling for you."

"Well, let's go find him." She set the boy down and took his hand, not letting him see the distaste she held for his father.

As they walked through the camp, the jingling of the bangles around her ankles alerted the other gypsy children of her presence. They surrounded her as she walked, waiting for a dance. As she approached the largest tent in the camp, however, she knew this was not the time for dancing.

"Nanami," Boshko, Kito's father and the leader of the Shinjiru clan, greeted her as she approached him. She noticed that Kito had let go of her hand and stepped back a few feet. The other children did the same.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I have something for you. Come inside." He pulled back the flap and they entered. "I take it you are prepared for the festival tonight."

"I was just on my way to talk with Gingji." Nanami watched him as he pulled a bundle from one of his trunks.

"Good." He handed it to her, "I want you to wear this." Nanami opened the bag and pulled out a violet dancer's outfit. It consisted of considerably less fabric than her usual clothes and she inwardly cringed. Boshko continued speaking, "The Fire Lord and Water Tribe Chief will be there tonight, you need to grab their attention...and their yuans."

"Boshko," she began, "isn't this a bit extreme? There's nothing to these clothes. I might as well go out there naked!"

"Listen, if you want to feed all of those kids that follow you around like turtleducklings, then you are going to have to bring in more revenue." The way he spoke about her dancing disgusted her, so much like business. She felt like his pet, no more than a colorful show bird. She danced to express her self in a form of art not to take the money of drooling men; but, she bowed her head and nodded. She had to think of the children.

Ah, so the first chapter was SOOOOO hard to get out. ACK! Thankfully, I finally managed to fall into a rhythm. More soon!