A/N  The stories about Taiyo and Agni are based on the Japanese myths of Amaterasu and Susanoo with a little of the Greek myth of Prometheus.

https://youtu.be/0QJg16IST5o

https://youtu.be/9uA537ljbLM

When Zuko and Azula were little, their mother used to tuck them in at bedtime and tell them the story of sun goddess Taiyo.
"Every morning, Taiyo leaves her sacred cave," Lady Ursa would say. "And she wears splendid new silk robes woven for her the night before. If Taiyo's robes are brightly colored, then there'll be sunshine and warmth, but if they're dark and drab, well, that's an omen of bleak weather."
"Father says that we're descended from Taiyo," Azula said with her nose so far up in the air that if it rained, she would drown. "I should have new clothes every day too."
Even at age six, Azula had been insufferably haughty and vain. A true daughter of Taiyo, who loved to preen about wearing fancy silk robes.
"What do you think, Zuzu?" Azula was standing in front of a bronze mirror that a maid held up for her.  The twelve heavy layers of her formal junihitoe fell in a gradient from deep red to dark purple to black. If Azula were Taiyo herself, these colors would foretell nasty weather.

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Why does it matter?" How like Azula to fuss over what she was going to wear at a time like this. She was going to an Agni Kai, not a court festival.
"You have no taste, anyway." Azula tutted. "Mai, what do you think?"
Mai opened her mouth to be the voice of reason, but nothing came out. "Agni Kais are moronic and barbaric " was all she could manage.

A/N This is a rip-off of the quote "Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how." from Pride and Prejudice. The way I see Mai is similar to the way Mary Bennet is characterized in Pride and Prejudice: both are really insecure and deal with it by sitting in the corner being pretentious and judgmental. 

"I meant about my robes."
"Zuko was right. He could die in tomorrow and you're worried about being the belle of the ball."
Azula smirked and tossed her head. "She'd never be the belle of the ball."
"Azula, please." Ty Lee placed a hand on Azula's shoulder.
"She's how old and still the wallflower?" At seventeen, Mai was the oldest of the four gathered in Azula's chambers. "Her parents should have named her December instead of Mai."
Mai's expression remained marble-like and unreadable. "I should go get Katara," she said.
Zuko had picked up that Azula targeted her spite at Mai more often than she did Ty Lee. Whereas Mai was all hard shell, Ty Lee was all soft underbelly: much too easy to poke. But Azula never seemed to get to Mai, who rarely let her emotions show. This was Mai's strength. If you made yourself stone, then no one could break you.
"Good idea, Mai," Ty Lee chimed in. She turned to follow Mai out the door. But, before crossing the threshold, she looked back at Zuko. "Don't worry, we'll take good care of Katara."
Katara was to stay in Mai and Ty Lee's cabin for a "girl's night," as Ty Lee put it. Both girls had eagerly stepped in to help look after Katara.
Zuko hugged the little pink-clad acrobat. "Katara's lucky to have you as a friend." He looked up at Mai, who was still hovering outside the door. "Thanks."
A ghost of a smile crossed Mai's face.

An Agni Kai wasn't just a duel but a sacred rite that traced its origins all the way back to the gods. Taiyo, goddess of the sun, and her brother Agni, god of fire, invented the art of fire bending. But, though Taiyo and Agni were close, they often butted heads. Taiyo thought that fire bending was dangerous and needed to be kept from mankind, but Agni believed that such a gift should be shared. Agni enjoyed spending time on earth among humans, while Taiyo preferred to remain aloof in her heavenly cave. When Taiyo found out that her brother had not only shared the gift of fire bending with humanity but had also created a race of dragons who might threaten the gods, she had Agni banished from the divine realm until he found some way to make amends.
The most fearsome of the dragons was an eight-headed beast called Kai, and Kai terrorized a kingdom in the lands that would one day become the Fire Nation. This kingdom's king and queen had been blessed with eight daughters, each lovelier and purer than the last, but to appease Kai's rath, they had to sacrifice one of their beloved children each year on the autumn equinox. When the king and queen were down to their youngest daughter, who far surpassed her seven sisters, Agni came across the family weeping in despair.  Agni pitied the aged parents for having to give up such a pearl of a child and fell instantly in love with the beautiful princess. He offered to slay the dragon Kai in exchange for the princess becoming his wife. The princess and her parents quickly agreed to these terms, for what girl wouldn't choose marriage to a handsome and powerful god over being devoured by a dragon.
Kai's only known weakness was sake. Disguised as a lowly peasant, Agni presented Kai with eight barrels of the stuff, one for each of the dragon's heads. Agni revealed his true form when Kai was drunk and had let his guard down and defeated Kai in the first-ever fire bending duel, or Agni-Kai as it came to be known. Because of Kai's foolishness, drinking alcohol or engaging in any other kind of indulgence before an Agni-Kai was considered bad luck.
"My Lord..." Zuko blinked. A steward holding a tray teetered over the mat where Zuko was meditating. "General Iroh asked me to bring you this."
A bowl of miso soup sat on the steward's tray. Zuko smiled. Uncle knew that miso soup was his favorite comfort food.

The steward bowed after placing the tray on a low table. "He said: fasting doesn't mean starvation."
"Tell him: thanks," Zuko replied.
"I will, My Lord." The steward bowed again. "And, would it be insolent of me to wish you luck for tomorrow?"
"No, it wouldn't." I need all the luck I can get.
Bowing again, the steward backed away to leave."Then good luck tomorrow."
Zuko pulled the table closer. After hours of fasting, the rumbling of his stomach was so loud that he couldn't concentrate on his meditation. The first spoonful of miso soup tasted like a hug, but it wasn't enough to bring Zuko much comfort. Meditating had done nothing to calm the storm raging inside of him.
Outside of the porthole, the full moon glowed red: an appropriately ill omen. Katara had said that blood moons foretold disaster in the Water Tribes. But, Agni-willing, that disaster would be Zhao's.
Zuko raised his soup bowl in a mock salute. I hope you're ready to meet your maker tomorrow, ass-hole.

https://youtu.be/4YlTUDnsWMo

During the long years of his exile, the only thing Zuko had to keep him going was the thought of one day returning home, honor restored, to reclaim his birthright. Later came the added promise of having Katara by his side when he did so. Zhao threatened to fuck all this up, to take everything from him: his honor, his life, possibly, and his girl (he couldn't tell which emotion was stronger: concern for Katara, falling into the hands of a viper-rat like Zhao, or fury with Zhao for daring to try and take her away). The only way Zhao would get any of this was to walk over Zuko's charred remains.
Zuko slurped down the dregs of his soup, put the bowl down, then plopped onto the mat like a ragdoll. Zhao's actions were not only insulting but treasonous, and Zuko couldn't let him get away with it. No one respected a Fire Lord who let people walk all over him.  The last thing Zuko wanted to be was a bloody tyrant like his father but, if he had to kill Zhao, so be it.  It was either Zhao or him.

https://youtu.be/A3nx3xp8drU

"So, here you are." Katara stood in the cabin's doorway.  Her hair was loose, and she wore a simple blue-grey kimono. She'd never looked more beautiful.

Zuko shot up to a sitting position. "What are you doing here?" he said. Katara was supposed to be with Mai and Ty Lee.
"Mai and Ty Lee are asleep. Ty Lee's snoring is so loud that no one could hear me sneak out."
Zuko turned away from her. "You should go back before they realize you're gone."
"Why don't I make some tea." She knelt by Zuko's side and put a hand on her shoulder. "We haven't had tea together in forever and as your uncle says: if there's a problem that a cup of tea can't solve, I hope I never have to go through it."
"I don't think tea will help here."
Katara smiled. "But it couldn't hurt."
She extended a hand to help Zuko off the mat. He accepted it. A break from all his brooding sounded nice.
They relocated closer to the hearth. Zuko stoked the fire while Katara set out the sitting cushions. Her knee brushed against his thigh as she prepared the tea.
"You didn't just come here to make tea for me," Zuko said.
Katara's face looked pale. Her eyes drooped, and her mouth quivered. "I understand why you're going to fight Zhao." A tear slid down her cheek.
Zuko reached over and dried her face with his sleeve. "But...?"
The boiling kettle prevented her from responding right away. "I'm scared about what's going to happen." Katara put in the tea leaves to steep. Licorice by the smell of it.
"So am I," Zuko said. "Scared" was such a weak way of describing how he felt.
"The Great Lord Zuko, scared?" Katara poured tea into one of the little black lacquered bowls. The long sleeve of her robe fell back, exposing a glimpse of her bare wrist when she handed it to him. Zuko felt flushed at such a tantalizing display. "I don't believe it."
Once the tea was served, Zuko moved his mat close to Katara's. She rested her head in the crook of Zuko's shoulder. Zuko put his arm around Katara and pulled her to his side. Her hair and skin smelt of jasmine; she must have just gone to the baths. The warmth of Katara's body next to his did more to comfort Zuko than the tea had. Tonight could very well be his last, and this was a much more pleasant way to spend it than fasting and meditating.
Katara met Zuko's gaze with a pair of big, pleading eyes. "Do you think you'll survive tomorrow?"
This was the question Zuko had been avoiding all day.
"If Agni wills it so." He took a sip of his tea.
"Would you come back alive," Katara's cheeks went bright pink. "If I... If I gave myself to you?"
"Yes," was all Zuko could manage in response. Had he fallen asleep during his meditation and was now dreaming?
Katara undid her kimono's belt. "Then I'll be yours." She let the kimono fall from her shoulders, then leaned forward, throwing her arms around Zuko's neck and pressing her lips to his. Zuko supported her by placing his hands on the small of her back.
The night before an Agni Kai was supposed to be devoted to spiritual matters, but Zuko couldn't think of anything more spiritual than going to heaven in the arms of an angel.
Their foreheads bumped against each other as they pulled away. Katara's hand cupped Zuko's scarred cheek. Zuko caressed her lips with his thumb.
"Are you sure?" he said.
"Yes." She removed the sheer linen robe she wore as a second layer under her kimono.

Zuko slid off his outermost robe as he rose to add some more fuel to the fire. A pleasant blaze crackled on the hearth and cast a bronze-colored glow over the room's glass and mirrors.
When Zuko turned around, Katara was already sitting on the bed, taking off her next layer of clothing.
Zuko sat down next to her. "Allow me," he said. He pulled the under tunic off her as eagerly as a child unwrapping a present.

The scars on Katara's arms from when Zuko had burned her had healed. She still trembled but no longer from fear.
Katara giggled. "Eager, aren't we?"
"I've wanted this since the moment I saw you."  Zuko kissed her forehead before starting on the cloth bands which bound up her breasts. "And you?"

He needed to know that she wanted this every bit as much as he did.
Katara blushed and avoided his gaze. The knots of her breast bands were small, tight, and a challenge to undo. She clutched the fabric to her chest to cover herself when the final knot came undone.
"Katara?" Zuko said.
He expected her to back out at any moment. Getting this far was too good to be true.
"I wanted this too." Katara let the breast band fall away. "Only I didn't know it then."
Let Zhao kill him tomorrow; even if Zuko lived as long as Avatar Kyoshi, he would never know a happier moment.
Katara fell back onto the pillows. Her naked breasts looked as dainty and mouth-watering as two pastries and Zuko couldn't resist nibbling at them. He started a trail of kisses from her chest to where her wrap-around underskirt tied around her waist.

"May I?" he said.
She kissed his forehead and stroked his hair. He took this as an encouragement to continue.
The belt of her underskirt was much easier to undo than her breast bands. After a few seconds of effort, and Zuko was able to continue his trail of kisses and love bites down her belly. It ended at the nest of curls between her thighs.
"Open your legs," Zuko said. Like a good little girl, Katara did as she was told.
Zuko had heard that it sometimes hurt a girl her first time, but this was often because of an inexperienced, unskilled, or inattentive lover. "Tell me if you don't like something."
Katara nodded.
He kissed her ankle, then her knee, then her inner thigh, and finally the precious pearl between her legs. Katara was already wet for him. Her womanhood was as sweet and juicy as a peach. One of Zuko's hands massaged her thigh while the other slid a finger inside her.
Katara winced and whimpered.
"Are you alright?" Zuko said.
She squeezed his free hand. "You may continue."
Zuko slid a second finger inside and fiddled with her precious pearl. Katara bucked her hips, and Zuko had to hold her down to slip in a third finger.
As Zuko continued his tender ministrations, Katara's eyes rolled back, and her fingers gripped the sheets. Her moans were the sweetest thing Zuko had ever heard. Along with other things, his pride swelled at the thought of being the first man to listen to these exquisite sounds. Agni willing, he'd be the only man who ever would.
A gasp that vaguely sounded like Zuko's name fell from Katara's lips when he pulled his fingers out.
Zuko wiped a tear from her cheek. "You liked that, didn't you, peasant?" He kissed her. "Now it's my turn."
Loosening his belt,  he let his trousers slide around his hips. He guided Katara's hand down his pants and showed her how and where to rub and stroke him. Katara's touch was hesitant, uncertain, but curious as it made Zuko fully aroused and brought him to the point of groaning in frustrated desire.
"Stop," Zuko said.
Katara blushed. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No." She'd been doing it all too well. "I just don't want to finish yet."
She blinked at him and let go. Zuko let his trousers fall off, freeing Katara's hand.
Katara helped him remove his kimono. "Now we're even," she said.

"See something you like, Water Tribe?" Judging by her maidenly blush and how she avoided his gaze, Katara was trying to hide the fact that she'd been ogling him. Instead of answering his question, she just giggled.
Zuko positioned himself above Katara and kissed her neck. She spread her legs further apart so that he could cradle his hips between her thighs.
"Zuko?"
"Yes?" Zuko pulled away from her. Had she changed her mind?
"Promise me you'll beat Zhao tomorrow and live to tell about it." Katara gripped his biceps. "Promise you'll keep me safe."
At this moment, Zuko would have gladly given her the sun, moon, and stars had she asked for them. "I promise."
Katara kissed him and stroked his scarred cheek. Zuko fell back on top of her.  In his dreams, he'd imagined this moment countless times. Now that it was finally here, Zuko could hardly believe he wasn't still dreaming. But Katara's fingernails digging into his arms as he entered her and met with resistance from her maidenhead felt too real.
Katara winced and tensed up. Zuko soothed her with a kiss. "Almost there, sweetheart," he said.
Wanting to get this part over with, Zuko went forward with breaking down the barrier to her pink gate. Katara let out a cry that either sounded like she was being ripped in two or ascending to Nirvana.  Zuko felt a rush of smugness at being the one to claim her virtue for himself.
You're mine now.
"The worst is over."  Zuko stroked Katara's hair and gave her a moment to adjust to the new sensation of having him inside her.
Katara smiled. "I'm alright now," she said.
Zuko continued with a few tentative thrusts. Her exquisitely tight walls embraced him. It took all his willpower to go slowly and gently. Then, between their two bodies, he slid his hand so he could rub her pearl and make this as pleasurable for her as it was for him. Katara threw her head back and moaned like a soul in paradise. Zuko gradually increased the rhythm until they both reached the crescendo.
"Let it out, Peasant," he said. "Let the entire ship hear you."

The first rays of sunlight crept through the bedroom curtains. Zuko sat up and rubbed his eyes. Katara rolled over in the bed next to him.
"What are you doing up so early?" she said.
"You rise with the moon." Zuko reached down to grab his robe off the floor. "I rise with the sun."
All too soon, he would have to face Zhao.
Zuko got out of bed, put on his robe, and went to answer a knock at the door. Katara covered her naked chest by pulling the sheet up to her chin. "Who's that?"
"Probably Mai and Ty Lee." He picked up her underskirt and undershirt off the floor. "Get dressed."
"Why?" Katara pouted and curled up under the covers.
"You're going home."
Yesterday, after he'd dropped Katara off at their cabin, Zuko asked Mai and Ty Lee to bring her back to her village at sunrise the following morning before anyone noticed she was gone. Mai and Ty Lee were the only two people he could trust with this mission.
Katara furrowed her brow. "You mean back with Mai and Ty Lee?"
"No."  Zuko squeezed Katara's hand. "Last night, I swore I would keep you safe. I don't know what will happen today, and I'd feel like I kept that promise if you were back with your family. They'll be able to protect you better than I can at this point."
Katara's expression was blank. Then, without reacting, she just climbed out of bed and got dressed. What would have been worse: her making a fuss about leaving or her being all too eager to go?
Zuko helped Katara into her kimono. "You don't want to keep Mai and Ty Lee waiting."
Those big, pleading eyes of hers returned.
"Don't worry, Peasant. Now that I have you, I'm not letting you go without a fight. I'll be back for you as soon as I can."
Katara perked up a little.
Zuko wasn't lying to her. He wanted what he'd said to be true and fully intended to make it so, but fate often had a way of making things difficult.