Chapter 1- Zuko


    “AH!”
    Zuko woke to a start in cold sweat. He breathed fast. This was the fifth night in a row he had dreams about his long হারিয়ে গেছে mother. He could still hear her voice ringing painfully in his ears from his dreams, “Zuko…help me Zuko…Where are you? Why haven’t আপনি searched for me?”
    “Because I don’t have the time,” Zuko ব্যক্ত aloud.
    He sat up in bed, close to tears. Ever since he became Firelord, he and অবতার Aang have been working for what seems like non-stop. He truly didn’t have the time to খুঁজুন for his mother, who he hadn’t seen since she was banished when he was ten.
    Zuko pushed away the silky, red বিছানা covers and put his feet on the floor. He slipped on his স্বর্ণ slippers, which were under him. He got up and walked over to his dresser, where his fancy পোশাক was located. He took the পোশাক and slipped it on. Without a lantern he walked out of his room and through the Royal Palace until he was outside on the large porch. He walked to the golden rail and leaned on it. Zuko looked up and saw all the stars in the night sky and the moon, which was bright and full. He breathed in taking in the crisp night air.
“Zuko, আপনি are so weird,” He heard suddenly from behind him. He turned around and saw that it was only Mai, his girlfriend who was sleeping over in the guestroom.
    “Expecting someone else?” Mai asked, obviously stunned that her boyfriend was shocked to see her.
    “No,” Zuko muttered.
    Mai walked up to him. Her dark hair nearly matched the sky. Zuko went back to leaning on the rail.
    “You are so strange,” Mai ব্যক্ত again, “out here with not even a lantern. Not to mention you’re still in your pajamas.”
    Zuko didn’t say anything.
    “I want to tell আপনি something,” Mai told him.
    He looked at her.
    “I’m going away for a while starting the night after tomorrow,” Mai said.
    “Where are আপনি going?” Zuko questioned.
    “Oh, just to the Earth Kingdom. I figured since you’re the Firelord now you’ll need some help,” Mai explained.
    “Thanks,” Zuko replied. “I want to tell আপনি something too.”
    “What is it?” Mai asked.
    “I think I’m going away for a long time too. I need to get away for a while,” Zuko answered.
    “Who’s going to look after the আগুন Nation?” Mai asked.
    “My Uncle Iroh. Even though he’s at his teashop in Ba Sing Se, he’ll come দ্বারা anyway. He’s always there when I needed him. He was always দ্বারা my side, thick through thin,” Zuko told her.
Mai took his hand.
    “I can be there for you, too. Only if আপনি let me…,” She said.
    She put her hand on his face and turned his head toward hers. She gave him a short চুম্বন on the lips.
    “I প্রণয় you,” She whispered. “Maybe one দিন I’ll rule the আগুন Nation with you, as your আগুন Lady.”
    Zuko was shocked. He never thought about getting married to Mai. She was old enough now for she was sixteen (and he was seventeen), but the thought frightened him.
    He took her hand and lowered it from his face. Then he turned away.
    “Is something wrong?” Mai asked.
    “I-I’m just tired. I’m going back to bed,” Zuko replied.
    Without another word, he walked back inside the Royal Palace.