Description: Hello! This story's whole beginning was inspired by this picture: ( So, here's the loooow-down. It's set five years in the future making, on average, Zuko 21, Katara 19, Sokka 21, Aang, 17, Toph 16, etc! And, here's what's going on. Because I'm UNCREATIVE, Fire Lord Ozai kicked the bucket, Azula's MIA, and now Iroh's in charge, with Zuko ready in waiting. So, this is the story of a world's attempt to heal after great battle, and Iroh trying to rebuild all those burned bridges.

Oh, and, OBVIOUSLY it's going to be Katara based, as it is I love her desperately. Zutara? Kataang? Jetara?(You could always tell me what you'd prefer!) Who knows!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, I just love it.

The scarred prince stalked down one darkly lit hall to the next, adjusting his finest tunic as he walked on, making sure his top-knot stayed perfectly still in it's place. The ball had started much earlier in the evening with the arrival of nearly every diplomat, and noble of the Earth Nation.

The whole idea had disgusted him. Allowing those peasants from other nations to grace his divine domain. To step upon Fire Nation land. It was utterly absurd, but Zuko kept these thoughts to himself. After all, the summit of four nations had been his uncle's idea, and though he didn't like it, he respected it.

A gentle clearing of the throat had stopped him in his tracks, ever cautious as he was and those amber eyes shot about to locate the owner of that small sound, "Mai."

"Fire-lord Iroh's asking for you. He's been asking for you." She said with utter adoration in her voice.

Zuko grimaced. Mai. His soon to be wife. Another idea of his Uncle's that he didn't like, but dutifully accepted and respected, "I was just on my way now." He offered her his arm out of courtesy and the two began their decent down the gilded staircase that led to the grand chamber of the ballroom.

"This is surreal, isn't it?" Her stoic voice had chimed.

"What do you mean?" Zuko quirked a brow, as if truly interested, but he knew exactly what it was she meant.

"This. This whole evening. It wasn't too long ago your father and Azula sought to control all four nations, and since his passing and her self-imposed exile, things seem so strangely calm. Fire-lord Iroh seems to be wise in his rulings."

Zuko nodded but kept still his lips. It was true. He was the returned prince of the Fire Nation, waiting to claim his place under his uncle as his successor who had put a quick end to the war a near five years ago. No one had been quite sure how it came, his father's passing, but Azula had lost her touch after his death, and with the fall of the war, she was no where to be found. Ty Lee had returned to the circus, and now Mai stood on his arm, ready and willing to be his bride.

Yes. Surreal was an understatement.

Katara blustered. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be here. Yet, here she was.

Tentatively gloved fingers held fast to a golden sealed invitation, sneering slightly at the prospect of soon joining those frilling, whirling nobles and diplomats of both Fire and Earth Nation, and not to mention having to stand in this ridiculous line! Having to wait to have her arrival announced irked her in all kinds of ways she couldn't even describe.

On the other hand, Aang beamed at her side, dressed in his finest attire to represent the very best side of the avatar, and of course, getting to hang on Katara's arm as her date helped his spirits.

"Come on, Katara, this won't be sooo bad," Aang spoke gently, tugging on her arm which lay looped about his.

The water princess cast her glance up towards the young man who in return gave a sweet, child's grin and nervous chuckle. It all seemed so long ago, now, when they were fighting to stay out of Fire Nation Territory, when they were all so young, and innocent, and it never stopped being odd to her how very tall Aang had gotten. It was strange having him tower over her by a near foot. She scarcely felt older, these days.

"I wonder if Toph and Sokka are here yet?" Aang tried desperately to pry anything from Katara that wasn't a hiss, but all he got was a pompous 'hmph' and then it was their turn to be announced.

Zuko sat perched beside his uncle in a great, golden receiving chair, nodding to each guest as they approached the end of the long, wine colored carpet and bowed with reverence to their hosts, and Mai rested perfectly still with a stoic smile on her lips. The exact image of a quiet, obedient, and respectful woman of the fire nation.

"Announcing, Avatar Aang and Escort: Ambassador Katara of the Southern and Northern Water Tribes!"

The prince's ears perked, tired glance running down the length of that long rug with a sincere glare prepared for the Avatar, but his features twisted in sort of shock when he took note of the 'water peasant' on Aang's arm.

It'd been years since he'd seen her, and still, he could remember her face like it was yesterday, even if her eyes were reflecting pools of utter disdain, and her lips were harshly pursed in gentle, false smile. He could especially remember her attitude like yesterday. The spirit of a Fire Nation warrior, but he bit his thoughts away as her glance caught his, and it took him a moment of reeling to realize how much lovelier she was now than his memory served.

She approached with careful stride, dressed fancily in azure silks and clean, white furs that drooped longingly over her shoulders, but wrapped tightly about thin midsection, belling out over her hips and training after her. Her chestnut hair was down, which was something that threw him entirely, and the spirited waves of its rolling tresses dripped over her shoulders, and dangled down the small of her back, with only but two pulled braids to restrain the wild mess that was, without any hesitation on his part to admit, beautiful.

Katara, he realized, carried a mysterious air that he found dangerous to a betrothed man such as himself.

A/N: I hope the prolougue was okay, and I hope you all can excuse my poor grammar. I'm still not completely fluent in English. If anyone notices any serious errors in my sentence structure or spelling I would appreciate you letting me know. Also, please review! It gives me the fuel to write. Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoyed the prologue!