RedHannedJill44: Well Hiya everybody! We are so glad you decied to humor us and read our story. Yes 'our story'. I am proud to introduce my co-writer....
JessiSparks2315: Me! This is RHJill and i's first fanfic... and we'll not ask you to be kind, we love the flames just as equally as the compliments. (We're an equal opportunity writing pair, after all.)
RHJ: We even did an "Eenie Meenie Miney Mo" to see who would take control of the story.... and yes, we actually did that.
JS: It's true.
RHJ: So this is our version of what happens after the Hundred-Year War. Zuko hasn't been crowned Fire Lord yet and no one is paired off.... yet ; )
JS: This is mainly because Miss RHJ is a Zutara shipper...
RHJ: And because Miss JS is a Maiko shipper...
JS: So we decided to be amicable and not pair him off yet. (WHICH IS TOTALLY NON-CANON, RHJ!)
RHJ: Hey, this story isn't cannon to begin with! All the characters and places belong to Nickelodeon.... we own nothing. Oh and be rest assured all you Maiko and Zutara fans, there will be pairings later on. But not now, so be patient.
JS: But not without a good round of eenie meenie miney mo! In any case, without further ado... our story!
It was not yet noon and already the Fire Prince was wishing for the setting of the sun. The war had not yet been over six months and already the duties of the Fire Lord were a burden on his shoulders. Pulling troops and civilians out of the colonies, rebuilding cities, rebuilding lives and making amends was just a small list of duties thrown into Prince Zuko's hands, left over from his father's gruesome war.
It had been a long several months, and a long several years seemed to stretch out before him, their courses laden with council meetings, diplomatic journeys, and the ever increasing task of hunting down the last few cells of firebenders who wished to keep the war burning.
The letter in his hand was from Aang and Sokka, who were doing just that; chasing down a band of rebels somewhere south, near Kyoshi Island. It described the group's movements, behaviors, patterns, and occasionally Sokka's dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of food on their vessel. So far the group seemed more concerned with getting out of the reach of the Avatar than teaching a lesson, but Agni knew, their attitude would likely change if they chanced upon hostages. Zuko sighed heavily and rested his head on his hand, leaning against his desk. This was just one more thing to think about in the growing stack of papers, calls, requests, and duties piled up in his queue. A small portion of his brain wanted nothing more than to just torch the lot of it. He barely refrained. Just barely.
He was so focused on the letter that he didn't notice Mai's entrance until she was right over his shoulder.
"Hey, Zuko," she said in her signature drone. "Sick of papers yet?"
He jerked, startled, and turned to look at her, leaning on the back of the chair with her chin on her hands. "Mai," he said, "You startled me."
"Somehow that doesn't answer my question."
He shrugged. "It's necessary."
Mai rolled her eyes. "Necessary doesn't *necessarily* mean do it all now. Come on, Zuko... let's walk."
:~:
"What in Yue's name is taking him so long?!"
It was rare that a raised voice was ever heard outside of the Fire Lord's private offices. Such a tone had not been heard in the great iron halls since Ozai's reign, so when servants saw the regally dressed young woman pacing like a moose-lion, they instinctively kept their distance.
"Do you know where he is?" she demanded of a pair of valets as they tried in vain to elude her. With wide eyes, they shook their heads and then bolted out of sight.
With an exasperated sigh, Katara plopped down on a chair. "Maybe if I'm sitting, they won't run...." she murmured.
Her hands dropped to her side and fingered the leather satchel slung over her shoulder. Quickly she felt its sides to be sure that its contents were still secure. When she felt the scroll, her posture relaxed and for the first time in nearly a fortnight, she was able to breathe freely. She had gotten it to the Palace and if it was not safe here, then where could it be?
"My lady?"
Katara quickly stood, resisting the urge to strike up a waterbending pose in response to the surprise, as was her reflex after many years at war. "Yes?"
"The Fire Prince has returned. He is ready to see you now."
Katara bowed her head in thanks and gathered her skirts as she prepared to enter the offices and face the future Fire Lord... and an old friend.
"Mai," Zuko protested as she pulled him out of his chair. "The ambassador from the water tribes is here and I-"
She shushed him."Then we'll just have to be quiet about getting out of here, won't we?" He sighed resignedly. She was in one of those moods, and there was no arguing with her, no matter how deadpan she was, in that mood.
He allowed her to pull him by the hand to the side door of the chamber and out into the hall, where she pulled him into a silent run toward the gardens. Glancing back, he only caught a glimpse of the back of the ambassador - formally dressed, vaguely familiar- before she pulled him around the corner and into sunlight.
Katara had to count her breaths as the servant went ahead of her to open the great doors. She shook her head. Apparently firebending was the only way to get anything unlocked in this place...
She looked down at her hands and suddenly realized they were trembling. She chided herself mentally. It had only been what... six, seven months since she had last seen Prince Zuko? And despite their extremely rough start, they had quickly become fast friends. She shouldn't be this nervous. No, I can't be this nervous... not this time.
It had been nearly seven months to the day since Aang defeated Fire Lord Ozai. Right after that, the leaders of the Four Nations met together on Kyoshi Island and began to negotiate their plans to bring peace back to the world. One of the demands was that each Nation was required to host ambassadors from each of the other Nations. Katara had been one of the three chosen by Chief Hakoda and Chief Arnook to represent the Water Tribes and was given the task of being the mediator to the Fire Nation.
Traveling with the Avatar, the one person who can bring peace to a world at war, should have been enough practice to prepare her for her duties. Then why am i so nervous?!?!
Finally, the doors opened and Katara was finally admitted into the offices, and she immediately noticed that something was not right. Not right at all.
The Fire Prince was missing.
She sighed and slumped against a wall, fingering her satchel. "Of course Zuko," she muttered. "Just make me wait a little longer.... Why am I not surprised?"
:~:
Mai was being impersonal as ever, face blank and composed, arms tucked into her sleeves. It was chilly, at least for the Fire Nation, and she had only donned her light robe and a picking of knives. Perhaps the paranoia was fading, but she didn't think so - it took a lot for her not to look for Azula around every corner these days. The Fire Princess' disappearance two months earlier had stuck a new level of preparedness into her and Ty Lee's hearts.
You miscalculated, Azula. I love Zuko more than I fear you.
Those words echoed in her ears every time she remembered the cruel girl. Words that were to be punished, words that severed her pretended loyalty and bound her irrevocably, at least in Azula's eyes, to the little brother who had stolen her throne. No, Azula did not forgive easily.
But Mai did not bow so easily these days, either.
Zuko walked beside her contemplatively, wondering why she seemed to be constantly asking him to walk with her... and then saying so little. It was as if she wanted a bodyguard, not a companion, but he knew her too well for that. This was Mai's vulnerability. He just couldn't figure out *why*.
He finally cleared his throat as the walked the path on top of the palace walls. She cast a sidelong glance at him. Hurrying her again. Very unwise.
Then, surprisingly, she spoke. "Any news on the pirates?"
Zuko stopped in his tracks.
"Did you bring me halfway across the palace, away from official business, to ask about a letter that I just read... in my office?
She tilted an eyebrow at him. "I believe it was once called casual conversation, Prince Zuko." He didn't back down. Her face finally softened. "Alright. I just wanted some company. You can go back to the stuffy foreign minister if you like."
:~:
"My Lady Katara, may I present to you the Fire Prince and Future Fire Lord, Prince Zuko."
Quickly the ambassador stood at attention and wished that she had decided to bring the aides that her father had recommended. But unfortunately she decided not to listen to him that particular day and on this particular day she was on her own.
She bowed her head in acknowledgment; and then had to smile as she raised her head and saw Zuko's wide-eyed wonder at her standing in his offices.
"Katara....?"
She nodded and a smile came across her face. "Well, is this the greeting that you give a friend? Or has seven months on the job already turned you into a stingy old man who is bound by law and tradition?"
"Well no.... I mean, uh..." Zuko looked around, lost and then finally settled his gaze on the Waterbender. "Why are you here?"
Katara nearly laughed at the poor puzzled and confused look on the prince's face. "The Water Tribe's ambassador to the Fire Nation at your service," she replied with a curtsy. "Which reminds me. This is for you, from my Father and Chief Arnook. It outlines the Water Tribe's commitments in the Reconstruction. I am here to negotiate any disagreements or discontent you may have with the plan."
Zuko blinked at the sudden change in personality. "Very well." He took the scroll from Katara's hand. "This shall be taken care of with the utmost priority." He set the scroll on his desk and then turned to the ambassador. "Now is that how you greet a friend?"
Katara smiled as she shared a hug with the Fire Prince. They broke away. "Its good to see you again Zuko."
"Its good to see you too." He smiled. "Are you staying at the palace?"
She nodded. "Yeah, as an ambassador, its kinda required."
"Oh yeah... right..." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Just let me know if you need anything."
"Of course Your Highness." Katara turned to leave the room. She saw an attendant standing in the corner. She got the feeling it was time to leave her friend alone. "See you around Sparky..."
Zuko couldn't help but smiled at the use of Toph's name for him, and laugh at Mai's brief but obvious look of confusion as she stepped out of the corner in which she had been lurking.
"Sparky?" she murmured.
He gazed past her for a moment, remembering. "It's something an old friend used to call me."
Had it really been that long?