The sky was clear that morning, not a cloud in the sky as the sun shone brightly. Aang hoped it was a sign of happiness, that everything was finally where it should be. He hoped it was a sign of peace, now that the war was over. He hoped it was a sign of a new beginning, a new life. The world was at peace, Zuko was the Fire Lord, Katara was his girlfriend. This time, he promised himself he wouldn't mess it up. Then again, things never turn out exactly the way Aang wants them to. I mean, do you know how long he waited for Katara? But now Katara was his, and he was hers. He smiled to himself, remembering the night before. Even though Sokka interrupted, it was still the best kiss he and Katara had ever shared. Aang could only hope there would be more. Aang had lost count of the peace meeting he was assigned to attend, the ones he didn't want to attend. After all he was still a twelve year old boy, and sitting around in a room listening to old people talk did not sound like fun to him. But, he was still the Avatar. Unfortunately, he didn't have a choice. In fact, he remembered Zuko mentioning one scheduled for today at noon. Aang glanced at the candle at the table in his small but cozy room in the motel in Ba Sing Se he and the gang were staying at. Currently, it was nine-o-candle in the morning. So that means that in three hours he will have to be ready to meet Zuko at the council, along with many other representatives, to discuss their next strategy to remove the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom. And he still hadn't even had breakfast yet.
Aang sighed in exasperation. There was just so much to do to repair the world now that the war was over. He barely even had time to hang out with his friends in between his busy Avatar schedule, and he had a feeling he would be the only one to see Zuko for awhile, since he was the Fire Lord now. Aang grabbed his staff and walked out of his room and into the small living room of the cottage they were temporarily living in. Being the Avatar, Aang had to travel from place to place to keep peace. Ba Sing Se was merely a pit stop. Everyone was already there, even Mai who decided to stay and help with whatever they needed. She wasn't eager to go home. Besides, she couldn't leave Zuko. the gang sat cross-legged on the ground, surrounding a small table. All of them were eating breakfast, of what he wasn't sure. He caught sight of Katara, who was the first to notice his arrival. He smiled while she blushed. He noticed a seat saved for him right beside her to her right. He smiled wider at that. He would probably never get used to the fact that Katara was his girlfriend. He got warm inside just thinking about it. He made his way over to Katara's side, quietly taking a seat beside beside her.
"Good morning," she said quietly, where only he could here.
"It is now," he replied with a smile. She blushed a shade darker. She seemed to have finished eating, because she quietly laced her fingers through his. Aang studied the others' plates, trying to comprehend what exactly they were eating. Finally, he gave up. "Sokka, what is this stuff?"
"Meat!" Sokka replied immediately. "Platypus bear to be exact." Aang grimaced as he imagined a platypus bear, killed and cooked into a breakfast sausage. He pushed the thought away.
"And you didn't think to fix me anything?"
Sokka shrugged. "I figured you'd survive one morning. Beside, we needmeat. Well, at least I do." Katara rolled her eyes at her brother's idiocy.
"I made you some rice earlier. It isn't much but...it was all we had," she said with a shrug.
"That's okay," said Aang. "I'll survive." She smiled, and the room seemed to light up. She was wearing a light green dress with a pink carnation in her hair, as for Aang, he had changed into his orange toga, both from the night before. In fact, everyone seemed to be completely dressed, ready to tackle the day. With the exception of Toph, who was never eager to get dressed. She still had a bed head. Suki had even changed into her Kyoshi Warriors uniform. Aang couldn't imagine why.
"What time does the peace meeting begin?" asked Toph, her mouth full of platypus bear.
"Noon," Aang replied flatly.
"And when does it end...?"
"This evening, probably around seven," he replied.
"What?" Katara exclaimed. "But you'll miss lunch and dinner!"
"It's alright Katara," Aang assured her. "I'll be fine."
A silence passed over them before Katara muttered, "I should have made you more rice." Aang gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Of course, Aang knew he would eventually starve if he didn't eat something more than a bowl of rice all day, but he didn't want his friends to worry about him today. He would be fine.
"Speaking of which," said Katara. "I'll go get it." She dropped his hand and stood up, walking over to the small kitchen area consisting of a small iron, fire-heated stove, and a pipe snaking against the wall to a bucket filled with water. Beside the stove sat a table. Katara grabbed the sack of rice off of it , pouring the fine grain into a handmade bowl. Aang watched her graceful stride as she walked back to take a seat beside him, setting the bowl in front of him. "There you go."
"Thank you, Katara," he said, and then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Sokka made a gagging sound in response. Aang picked up the chopsticks that were already set on the table in front of him, and began picking up rice and shoving it into his mouth. It was still warm. "So Suki. Why are you dressed in your Kyoshi Warrior get-up?"
She shrugged. "I figured I'd go back to Kyoshi Island to visit the girls. Beside, I still need to train Ty Lee."
"What?!" Sokka exclaimed in protest. "You can't leave now!"
"Why not?" Suki replied. "The war is over, the world is saved. There couldn't be a better time than right now." Sokka groaned at her argument, but he was clearly beaten. Aang finished his rice quickly, he was hungrier than he thought, and stood up.
"Well, I guess I should go tot he council. Better to be early than to be late," he said as he walked to the door. Katara met him there.
"Hurry back," she whispered. He nodded. "And try not to fall asleep in the middle of the meeting."
Aang chuckled. "I can't make any promises," he said just before kissing her briefly on the lips. "You have no idea how happy I am that I'm able to do that."
She smiled. "I think I can relate. Now get outta here." She kissed him one last time on the cheek, and playfully shoved him out the door. She closed the door before he could say anything more, because she knew that if they kept talking, they would never be able to stop.
"I now call this meeting to order," Zuko announced, silencing the bickering crowd of representatives. "Our current situation are the Fire Nation colonies, and their removal from the Earth Kingdom. Specifically Yu Dao. They are very determined to stay in the Earth Kingdom, since they worked so hard to build it in the first place. I trust that all of you have some ideas." He looked around the long, mahogany table at the many faces watching his every move. They all nodded in agreement. "Which is why I trust you all to work this out without me." All eyes widened in surprise.
"Pardon me, Fire Lord," Hakoda started. He was just recently promoted to Head Representative of the Southern Water Tribe. "What do you mean? You won't be here for the removal of the colonies?"
Zuko shook his head. "No, Hakoda. I have my own personal issues to deal with." Unblinking, questioning eyes stared at him. "I'm going to find my mother." Surprised bickering washed over the council, but Zuko quickly silenced them. "The Avatar and his friends will be accompanying me. I trust that you all will do fine. Right Hakoda?"
"Of course, Fire Lord Zuko," he said nodding.
"Excellent. You have my permission to do anything reasonable, unless told otherwise by me. Hakoda will be in charge, since he is the most trusted. Meeting adjourned." Silent murmurs sounded as everyone stood up, bowed in respect, and left. Everyone but Aang and Zuko were gone.
"Zuko, are you sure this is a good idea? We don't even know where to start looking," said Aang.
"True, said Zuko. "But I know someone who might know."
"Who?"
"Azula."
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