Chapter One: Rebuilding

I do not own Avatar or anything of the characters and places.

This story takes place exactly where book 3 left off. This scene immediately follows the Kataang kiss. Please review. I want to stay as true to the original Avatar as possible so please tell me if I spelled something wrong or if I forget something. Thanks


Zuko averted his eyes as Katara and Aang came back into the room blushing.

"Where have you guys been?" Sokka asked, "Zuko's uncle has been making us serve tea all afternoon and you two haven't done a thing".

"Sokka!" Suki exclaimed as she walked by with a tray in her hands.

"I am just asking!" Sokka protested. Suki kicked his shin as she walked back into the kitchen.

"Well…." said Aang scratching his head, " Katara and I were just helping out with the post-war cleanup in the neighborhood. There is still a lot of work to be done."

Toph started to snicker.

"You guys do know that I can- Hey!!" Toph exclaimed as the cup she had been holding suddenly spilt its water all over her front.

"Clumsy", Katara smiled, "I'll get that". She walked over and, with her water bending, pulled the stain out of Toph clothes and lured it with her fingers back into the cup. Toph's eyes and hers locked for a moment. She glared.

" There you go", Katara said, " Try it be less careless". Toph was silent.

"Did you tell them?" Suki asked, walking in and sitting down.

"Not yet", Toph answered. Everyone stopped and listened. Toph took a deep breath.

" I was hoping you would let me take Appa, Aang," she started, "Now that the war is over, I really want to see my parents. I want them to know that I am okay and I want them to know the part I have played in ending the war. Its time they see the real me."

" But didn't you try that already?" Katara asked, " Last time you showed them the real you they tried to keep you locked up away from the world, and when you ran away they sent those men after you".

" Things are different now", Toph replied, "The war is over and they've had a lot of time to think about everything. Besides, I can metal bend now. If my parents try anything I can just bust my way out."

" I don't know", Aang said, " I am still not sure it is safe. The war may be over, but there are still soldiers out there loyal to Ozai and Azula."

"That's why she is taking me", Suki said, "Between the two of us, we should be perfectly fine."

" Wait!" said Sokka choking on his tea, " You were going to take me, right?"

"Sorry, Sokka, but your foot needs time to heal", Suki said gently, " Besides, we will only be gone for about a week if everything goes well".

"That's what I am worried about", Sokka said, "What if everything doesn't go well? What if something happened to you two?"

"At least take the Kyoshi warriors", Zuko interjected.

" No", Suki said, "You need them here to help rebuild and they'll weigh down Appa".

" We can manage fine without all them", Zuko assured , " Take three of them and it shouldn't be a problem for Appa".

" Well alright", Suki agreed.

" When will you be leaving?" Katara asked

" We were hoping to go tomorrow morning." Toph answered.

Katara nodded. " We'll be there to see you off."

Just then a messenger dressed in earth kingdom colors walks in and knelt before Zuko.

" Fire Lord Zuko", the messenger bowed.

"Rise", Zuko ordered

"Thank you, Sire" he continued, "The Earth King requests your presence as well as the Avatar's at a council meeting tonight. I am to return with your replies". The messenger bowed once more.

Aang smiled to himself. After the war had ended, he and his gang had been able to find the Earth King and convince him to once more fulfill his right position as ruler in Ba Sing Se.

" Tell him, we'll be there", Zuko answered, " But there is something I have to do first."

...

Zuko and Mai walked down a narrow street of Ba Sing Se with their arms linked and heads touching. They were escorted by a guard of five fire benders. As they walked on the houses around them got smaller and smaller, and dirtier and dirtier. Soon the street they were walking on had shrunk to a alleyway and only two people could walk abreast.

" Part of me still can't believe it", Zuko whispered, " She was here the whole time. If I had just been less focused on my honor and the Avatar… It's all my fault. I should have been looking a long time ago. I don't deserve it to be called her my- "

"Hey", interrupted Mai.

She reached for his face and turned his head so he was looking at her, "You're here now and if things hadn't been the way they were then we wouldn't be together".

She smiled in the corners of her mouth as he embraced her. He allowed himself to smile too.

" You're right, of course", he whispered.

"Here, your Highness", a guard said, " The house is right there". The guard pointed down a branch-off of the main alley. The road was only dirt and laundry blocked most of Zuko's view.

" You and your men stay here", Zuko ordered, " I'll be able to take care of myself'.

" Would you like me to come?" Mai asked.

" No", Zuko answered, " I need to do this on my own".

Zuko walked into the dark alley. An hour ago, he had had a million questions, but now that he was almost there he suddenly couldn't remember any of them. A hundred things he could say flashes through his mind. One by one, he discarded all of them. It had been so long. Would she even recognize him?

He pushed aside a sheet hanging on a clothing line and saw a open space where a women in her mid forties knelt scrubbing laundry in a washing bin. She was beautiful and the only thing the betray her real age was the slight wrinkles that traced her forehead and mouth. When he stepped into the light she stopped what she was doing to and froze. For a moment, it was exactly what he was afraid would happen. She was afraid of him. Then, their eyes locked and her expression changed.

"Zuko?" she asked slowly rising to her feet.

" Mother", he confirmed.

" Oh, Zuko!" she said dropped the laundry and running towards him. They embraced.

"I am so sorry, Zuko" she poured out, crying, "I am so sorry for leaving you and for everything. I wasn't there to protect and guide you. Oh Zuko!"

" No mother", Zuko said, " I know now why you left, and you did it for me." Tears were flowing down Zuko's face too. "I am the one who should be sorry. But why mother, why didn't you come out of hiding". She held his face in her hands and looked up at him. Tears were welled up in her eyes.

"Because,", she answered, " I didn't know if you were still the son I knew or if you had somehow turned into your father. But I see now the person you have become, Zuko, and I am proud. I am so proud of you.

They held each other and wept.

...

Katara and Sokka sat together in a room above the new Jasmine Dragon. Sokka was polishing his new armor and Katara was brushing out her hair in a mirror. Sokka looked up and watched her.

" You know, Katara", Sokka said, " Since we got to Ba Sing Se I really haven't been seeing a lot of either you or Aang. Is there something you guys are keeping for me?"

" Well, Sokka…..", Katara started

" I mean, I totally understand if you two have a lot of work to do, rebuilding and all", Sokka continued, " Especially with Aang having defeated the Fire Lord and you having been the one to capture Azula. It's just that I don't like being kept out of the loop and I would really appreciate it if you guys would just tell me if you are working on some secret project together'.

" Sokka, I", Katara exclaimed.

" Don't get me wrong, you don't have to tell me what it is. " Sokka interrupted, "Just knowing that this isn't about me is enough'.

"Sokka, let me finish already!" Katara scolded. She continued with a more gentle tone. " I don't quite know how to tell you this, Sokka, but Aang and I are kinda…..well, together".

Sokka's jaw dropped open. "You mean like Suki and me?" he asked.

"No quite like Suki and you', Katara said sounding confused, " Well actually , yes. I don't know."

" I never would have guessed….", Sokka said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" Katara demanded.

"Don't freak out", Sokka said sarcastically, " It's just that I never knew that you two felt that way for each other".

" Well why wouldn't I?" Katara challenged, " Aang and I have been through a lot together. If it weren't for him we would probably both still be sitting back at our tribe, waiting for the Fire Nation to come finish us off. The world would still be at war, or worse, the very ground you are sitting would be nothing but a pile of ash. The world owes Aang a lot" She continued on in a softer voice, "We owe Aang a lot".

"Wow, Katara", Sokka said continuing to polish his armor, "It really wasn't necessary to convince me".

"I'm sorry", Katara said turning away, " I didn't mean to get angry". She rested her hand on the window sill and stared out at the King's Palace in the distance.

...

Meanwhile, the council was at mid session underneath the Earth Place. Torchlight flickered precariously on the faces of those gathered around the table. Zuko sat directly across from the Earth king, dressed in his fire armor and red cloak, while Aang sat crossed legged off to the side in his yellow air bender robes.

"Right now, our main concern is this", Beng Shi, the new earth general, said pointing at a region of the map stretch across the table, " We have received reports of fire bender still loyal to the last Lord Ozai pillaging and burning the villages along this river."

"What do they hope to accomplish?" Zuko asked solemnly.

"As far as we can tell", Beng Shi continued, "Their only motive is to stir up trouble. "

" I see", Zuko replied, "I am guessing that they have not encountered any of our soldiers since the war ended".

"Yes, Sir", Beng Shi answered.

"Then I will send out a battalion of my men to meet them, offering a chance to surrender", Zuko decided, " After they see that they have a chance to regain their old lives and to return to their homes to their families without fear of prosecution, they will most likely surrender. If not, my men will handle it. That is, your Majesty, only if this plan suits you as well?"

"Of course", the Earth King answered, " I have no objection".

Aang was glad everything was going as well as if was. At lease of the surface of things, there were no hard feelings between the members of the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. Aang had not said much throughout the entire meeting, but that was okay with him. He was glad they were managing without his help. He watched them go over their rebuilding plans. It looked as if everything would be back to normal within ten years. Well, almost back to normal, he thought to himself as he stared at the part of the map that used to belong to the Air Nomads. Some things would also always be different.

During a pause in the dialogue, a messenger scampered in a ran to Zuko's ear.

"My lord", Aang overheard him whispering, "Urgent news that attention just arrived from the Fire Nation by hawk and demands your immediate attention".

"You may say it now", Zuko declared standing up, "For I have no secrets among friends".

"Very well", the messenger agreed reluctantly. He turned so he was facing the whole of the council.

"A three nights ago, your sister Azula escaped for her cell and so far they have had no luck tracking her".

Zuko sat back down in his chair and covered his face with his hand.

"Shall I order your war balloon to prepare for departure?" Zuko's captain asked.

" No", Zuko answered after a pause, " I am needed here. Tell them to devote one or two battalions of men to finding her, but no more than that. We can't spare any more. Right now the world has bigger problems than Azula".

...

The dawn colored the roof tops all across Ba Sing Se a honey-amber shade. Up until a few minutes ago the world had been only gray. Appa roared contently as the sun's light warmed his white fur.

The gang was gathered in the court yard outside the Jasmine Dragon to see Toph and Suki off. The only one who had been unable to make it was Zuko.

"I'll miss you", Mai told Ty-lee, one of the Kyoshi warriors chosen to go.

Katara and Aang stood back a little, holding hands, as Sokka said goodbye to Suki

"I want you to be extra careful, Suki", Sokka ordered as he balance with the help of his cane, "Azula could be anywhere, and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you"

Suki reached over and kissed him on the cheek, "We'll be fine".

"Take care of yourself", Katara said stepping forward and kneeling to embrace Toph, "I hope things go well with your parents".

"And don't worry", Toph assured, turning to Aang, " I'll take good care of Appa".

"I know you will", Aang smiled.

"I hate to ruin the moment", Iroh said, "But the sun is rising and you are losing precious time".

"It's alright, Iroh", Toph giggled. The three of there of them crawled up onto Appa's saddle to join the other two Kyoshi warrior.

"Yip Yip, Appa", Suki ordered.

With one sweep of his tail, Appa was airborne and soaring over the city of Ba Sing Se. The part of the gang that had stayed behind stood outside waving until the air bison was over the horizon.