Chapter Text
Chapter 1
5 years have passed since Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang came together and announced an era of peace. With the help of Uncle Iroh and other fire nation leaders on his council, Zuko tries to deal with the aftermath of the 100-year war; it is not easy.
“Sure, the Earth Kingdom can get more money,” Zuko says reluctantly while resting his tired head in his hand. He knows he has to pay for the dues of his Father’s war, but who knew keeping the peace would be this political.
“I’ll take this to the Earth Kingdom and see what they think. Thank you Fire Lord Zuko.” An Earth Kingdom ambassador respectfully bows while taking the scroll Zuko hands him.
“What about the Water Tribes?” A northern water tribe ambassador shouts.
Zuko’s assistant cuts off the northern ambassador with, “Fire Lord Zuko, it’s 5 o’clock. You need to head to your next meeting.”
“Thank you,” Zuko whispers. “I appreciate you all coming today to further discuss the status of your nations. But as fate would have it, I have to honor my Fire Lord obligations and head to my next meeting. Thank you, I’ll meet with you all next week.”
There is a murmuring among the ambassadors for being cut off so abruptly. Especially after so little was accomplished in the meeting.
Zuko heads to his next meeting, which is coincidentally a date with Mai.
“Hey. Excited for our ‘meeting.’” Mai says to Zuko.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Zuko responds while Mai gives him a kiss. “I missed you.”
“Me too. Wanna get out of here?” Mai says while their fingers interlock together as they walk away from the palace.
Within the week, word of Zuko’s negligence to the Water Tribe gets back to Hakoda and the other Water Tribe ambassadors. Tensions among their people are already running high. With that said, the Northern Water Tribe ambassador from the meeting wrote a letter to the Water Tribe council.
“Dear Water Tribe council,
I come to you with updated news of Fire Lord Zuko and the status of the promises he made us. Fire Lord Zuko continues to favor the Earth Kingdom over us, giving them land and money. How many Fire Nation islands are now the Earth Kingdom? Five. How much territory have the Water Tribes been given? None. He has repeatedly accepted the request and blatantly given money to the Earth Kingdom. Yet, Fire Lord Zuko continues to push our needs aside. We do not have the money or resources to rebuild what the Fire Nation broke. I ask you, what has he done for the Water Tribes? He constantly ignores the burning needs of our people, who are hungry and mad. Must we remember it was the Fire Nation who took our water benders from the South Pole? It was the Fire Nation who almost killed Tui and La and had Princess Yue sacrifice herself to save the balance of the world. Must we remember that it was our very own Master Katara who was attacked by the Fire Lord Zuko to capture Avatar Aang who was trying to stop the Fire Nation? We have tried to put this all aside but Fire Lord Zuko has pushed us aside for the last time. He consistently favors his girlfriend Mai to our meeting requests. With this disrespect, I urge the Water Tribes to come together and demand the recognition we deserve; or else Fire Lord Zuko will rue the day he separated us from his world.”
“How could Zuko do this?” Sokka began to question Zuko’s loyalty to his best friend’s tribe. “I always thought we could trust him, but this is utter carelessness.”
“Well, apparently Zuko thought others were more important.” Katara scoffs. It had been a while since the war officially ended, and here the Water Tribe siblings were foes of Zuko; just like they were all those years ago when they discovered the Avatar.
“Well, he can’t just toss us aside like this. Dad, what are we going to do?” Sokka asked Hakoda.
“You two have a long and windy road ahead of you. Sokka, Katara, I gave you seats on the council of the Water Tribe as soon as you turned 18.” Hakoda looked at his children longingly.
“Yea, I was so jealous of Sokka when he appointed a council position before me. We all know I am much more mature.” Katara argued.
“Says the girl who still got a council position the same age I did and is still complaining about it months later.” Sokka reminded her. Katara thought it was weird how much Sokka had grown up. She thought back about the time they first left the South Pole. Little did they know that because Sokka was annoying his sister, it would change the course of the world forever. For what it’s worth, Sokka is much less annoying now.
Hakoda smiled upon their so-called bickering. He was so delighted in their progression and the strength they both had, not only because they saved the world, but because they were his children.
After Hakoda was taking in his fleeting time with his children, he continued, “You two will have to work together with the other council members and me to come up with a solution. Sokka, Katara, we should have a plan before the meeting. What do you propose we do?”
While sitting in silence thinking of ways they could win their people over with the trust of the fire nation. In their expedition, Katara and Sokka realized the fire nation was not all that bad, just had some bad people in charge; just like now. Sokka was more forgiving of Zuko, but Katara’s blood boiled as she thought of her friend disregarding her once more.
Katara finally broke the silence, “We should threaten something, something that matters to them.”
“What do you suppose?” Hakoda returned her recommendation.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Dad, you can’t be serious that after a few years of peace we are going to threaten the fire nation? Are you guys insane?” Sokka argued.
“I’m just hearing what she has to say.”
“Well, obviously something isn’t working with the way we are being treated. We have tried reminders, peace, and negotiation for, as you said Sokka, years now, and nothing has changed. If we threaten something, maybe ‘Fire Lord Zuko’ will change his mind.”
“Let’s talk to the council about this. Katara, Sokka, keep this information quiet. We don’t want another riot.”
“Yes, Dad.” They both said agreeing. Well, kind of. That obviously didn’t include Suki or Aang.
Aang was waiting for Katara outside her father’s house.
“How much did you hear?” Katara asks Aang.
“Not much.” Aang was lying.
“Oh really?” Katara teased.
“Well, just a lot about how Zuko has changed; and apparently you,” Aang said quietly. Katara’s smile faded.
Aang and Katara’s relationship was as good as ever. They could talk about anything. If something was on their mind, they could tell what it was and they would respectfully address it.
“I haven’t changed!” Katara said loudly.
“Threatening the Fire Nation? That doesn’t sound very Katara-like to me.”
“I am just protecting my people. Now that I am on the council, I need to take action and Zuko needs to take responsibility for his actions.” Katara was now getting defensive. “Besides, we aren’t actually going to threaten him, it was just a suggestion.”
“Oh really?” Aang teased knowing Katara was lying.
“Haha, I’m serious.”
“Ok.” Aang said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” He whispered. He always knew Katara to be stubborn about protecting the people she loves. He also knew her to be serious.
“So you think Katara’s threatening proposition is going to work?” Suki asked.
“I don’t know, but I also don’t know what else to do,” Sokka answered.
As they sat there contemplating what to say next, Katara burst through their door. “Sokka, come quick, there is an emergency council meeting.”
“I’ll be right there.” Sokka says and Katara exits. “Well looks like I have to go. Love you.” Sokka gives Suki and kiss as he departs.
When Katara and Sokka get to the meeting the council members are already shouting. The siblings quietly take their seats as the discussion continued.
“If we threaten the fire nation, we should expect retaliation. Fire Lord Zuko is half Ozai, and Ozai retaliated. Not only that, he evoked violence.” One council member loudly said from across the room.
As the room was getting louder and louder, Katara finally raised her voice above the others. “Listen, everyone! I know Fire Lord Zuko as well as anyone. He chased me around the world to capture the Avatar, and after he was done throwing his hissy fit, he joined our team to fight Fire Lord Ozai and Azula. Fire Lord Zuko risked his life for me and I know he would do it again. That doesn’t mean he makes mistakes. His mistakes are becoming a habit that is hurting our people. We need to take action. I know Fire Lord Zuko will not retaliate, but he needs to be put into his place and know the Water Tribes are not to be messed with.”
For a few seconds, the room went quiet. Sokka quickly stood up and started to clap. Others followed. Everyone was in agreement with Katara that it was safe to threaten because Zuko is too kind and afraid to be like his father to retaliate. Everyone liked this idea, except for Hakoda, the one who pushed Katara to be bold and hear what she had to say.
Hakoda knew once Katara was in one of her stubborn moods, she was not to get out of it; just like Kya. He quickly grabbed the paper, ink, and a pen and started writing.
“Katara, you were awesome!” Sokka exclaimed to his younger sister.
“Thanks. I just hope Aang isn’t mad at me.”
“Why would he be mad?”
“He’s the Avatar, master of all elements and master of peace. Remember when he lied to the Earth Kingdom tribes in the gorge about their origin hatred story being a game to simply avoid contention?” Katara reminded Sokka.
“Yeah, yeah I do.” Sokka reminisced on the past and contemplated what he was going to say next. “I don’t think he’ll be mad, he just might need you to explain your feelings.”
“Yeah Yeah.” Katara chuckled. “But, you’re right. Thanks, Sokka.” Katara says and she runs away.
“Wow. Words I never thought I’d hear from my sister.” Sokka laughs to himself.
Later, once Katara expresses her feelings of loyalty to her people to Aang, they are seen holding hands while walking around the South Pole.
“Hey! Want to do an activity together?” Aang asks.
“Sure. What activity?” Katara is reminded of their time at the North Pole when Sokka asked Yue the same question.
“Oh, I don’t know. Penguin sledding?” Aang teases.
Katara laughs and remembers the first time they went together. How young and innocent they were. “I would love to go penguin sledding with you. Race you there!”