A/N: I've always wanted to write a Zutara fanfic, but just never got around to it. Today was my day off, so I decided; why not? This will be a bit of slow burn, so I hope you bear with me haha. I'm just trying my best to do justice to the characters, and keep them realistic. I hope that you enjoy it, and are at least a bit intrigued at the possible adventures between these two very dynamic characters. Thanks for reading!

Fire Nation, 1 EP

- Autumn -

[]

Routine.

It was a tedious practice for the young Fire Lord, but he stayed consistent. He could ill afford to waste another day on daydreams. Straightening his back through a stretch, he bent over to touch the tips of his toes. Every muscle felt well rested and recovered, since the battle that ensued yesterday. It was a run of the mill issue, thankfully, that was resolved quickly. Some thought it odd that a Fire Lord would attend to such a small matter. To involve himself with the troubles of his lowly subjects. But he never viewed them as such.

Zuko, the firstborn son of the disgraced Fire Lord Ozai, was offered anything but a smooth transition when he stepped forward to accept leadership of his nation - and the title that came with it. Not only were other nations wary of his family's history, and the young man's own personal history, they regarded him too inexperienced to handle the lofty responsibility. Many nations demanded reparations for the damage the Fire Nation inflicted. But with the expenses Ozai had accumulated in his rise to Phoenix King, reparations were just not realistic.

Stability had only recently been "achieved", due in large part to the help of Avatar Aang, yet still there was an air of uneasiness that threatened to suffocate Zuko.

The firebending master stood at the mirror in his bath room, and stared. Unlike so many times previous, he felt proud looking into the mirror. Proud of everything he had accomplished, and still there was an...emptiness. He hung his head, and splashed water on his face, rubbing in the cold to his warm cheeks, feeling refreshed. The razor felt sharp to his face, and bristles rough to his teeth. Just as he finished rinsing, the door to his chambers creaked open.

"My lord, the council awaits."

Zuko raised a brow. "Send an envoy next time. You're no messenger, Admiral Jee."

A grey haired man with a pencil thin mustache, dressed in the regal clothing, bowed at the entrance. The former Fire Navy lieutenant had exchanged his battle bracers for the gowns of a politician following the end of the war. He was now in command of the Navy he once fought manny battles under. Weary and weathered — but boasting a service record longer than all the other council members combined — he had firmly established himself as Zuko's right hand. A position many considered him the perfect fit for.

"Forgive me, Lord Zuko," he said through a chuckle.

"Also, don't call me by titles in private. It's just a little condescending."

Despite his good nature, Zuko still maintained a commanding presence. He has done well enough to receive no resistance from the council, Jee mused.

Zuko sat in a iron chair, padded with hard red cushions. "I will be there in a moment. Thank you for informing me," he said cooly, as he pulled on his left boot. Along the ridge, a speck of mud stood out. Zuko quickly brushed it away.

"We will be waiting for you," Jee said with a smile, before taking his leave.

Before he donned the traditional robes of the Fire Lord, Zuko dropped to the floor and performed fifty consecutive pushups. Even if he wasn't required to, it never hurt to stay in fighting shape. Discipline, he said to himself repeatedly. Something I'm lacking? Is this why the Fire Nation seems so troubled? Shaking his head clear of doubt, Zuko opened his chamber doors and strode down the hall, not knowing what the future had in store.

The young master tried to discern what his instincts were trying to tell him. Yet, all he could set apart was genuine confusion — was, strangely enough — impending danger.

Southern Water Tribe, 1 EP

- Autumn -

))

"No, no, no! I wanted the sculpture modeled after a wolf — not a cat! What's with the round face?! Sharper! I want fangs, people! FANGS!"

Construction was underway for the new barracks located on the ridge where a young boy's watchtower once stood. This was where the Southern Water Tribe would begin training a new military, and Sokka was far from happy. As his sister looked on in amusement, he threw his arms up in frustration. His vision was being crushed before his eyes. The heir-apparent to the Water Tribe was a perfectionist, and anything less than the best would not be tolerated. Spirits help the man or woman who tries to attack the Southern Water Tribe next, his sister grinned.

Katara, now a influential international ambassador - and still one of the most powerful benders in the world - was now more content to find pleasure in the simple things. Since the end of the war, it felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted. Zuko was Fire Lord. Sokka was a self proclaimed construction tycoon. Toph was...well, Toph. And Aang was all over the world, fulfilling a promise he had made to himself to restore the Air Nomad Temples. The White Lotus had been kind enough to provide him complete support, and were travelling alongside him as apart of his entourage along with Appa and Momo.

Everything had seemed to be like a dream. Negotiations with the Northern Water Tribe had been cordial, despite the obvious strain that existed due to unresolved feelings of abandonment by the Southerners. Katara played the mediator, and successfully brought both tribes together, calling for unity.

It was a new feeling for those of the Southern Water Tribe, who had known nothing but despair since Fire Lord Sozin declared supremacy over the other three nations. The people were happy - the women specifically. In the past year, Northern Water tribe men and others from the Earth Kingdom had emigrated, making the once barren tundra a fully functional metropolis to rival large and well established cities like Omashu.

"Sokka, take it easy, will you? Let them do their jobs," Katara scolded.

Her brother whipped around, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Baby sister, leave any and all things construction related to me," he said pridefully. "Besides, don't you have artisans to organize or something? Maybe if you were training them better, we wouldn't have these kinds of mistakes being made."

Katara's jaw dropped in appallment.

"Don't make me stuff your clothes with snow again, jerk!"

Sokka simply laughed her threat off, and returned to shouting. Despite their constant headbutting, she loved her brother dearly. "Be safe, you stubborn oaf!"

Without turning around, he waved, barely acknowledging he had heard her. So inconsiderate, Katara thought.

With a roll of her eyes, she turned away, and made her way to the Ice Gardens, the new main keep where all council meetings were being held. When they returned from the war, The Ice Gardens were the siblings first major project that they developed. Sokka handled the engineering, and Katara the design. As a blessing, and as a testament to the good faith between the two tribes, Master Pakku brought an ancient material that would ensure that the ice used to build the palace would never melt - and never feel truly cold. When Katara curiously inquired what the material was, the older waterbender simply smiled and said: "Trade secret."

While the non-answer was frustrating, Katara simply chalked it up to some sort of ancient trickery. And if there was a true secret, she would discover it eventually. And she'd do it on her own.

As she entered the open roofed Great Hall, the floor layered with fresh fallen snow, she found that the four key members of the council - Sakon; a white haired man from the Northern Tribe, Bato, Lyra; a middle aged Southern native who was once Kataras babysitter, and the current Chief; her father, Hakoda - had already gathered, and were dressed to set sail.

"What's going on?" Katara asked with a raised eyebrow. It wasn't unusual for members to take off as they pleased. Affairs both domestic and international had to be taken care of after all.

The four older members glanced at each other briefly before Hakoda addressed Katara directly.

"Sakon and Lyra are headed northeast to Ba Sing Se. The Earth King has requested Water Tribe presence at a conference reviewing foreign relations and economic structure. I believe we can learn a great deal from the rock lovers." Bato did his best to suppress a laugh.

Katara continued to prod for details. "And you and Bato?"

Hakoda exhaled, and his brows furrowed. He turned away from his daughter, and made his way to the nearest window. His held his arms behind his back in a posture that gave away his obvious discomfort. The other three council members hung their heads.

"We are headed west."

This new piece of information made the young waterbender perk up. "The Fire Nation?" she asked in an innocent tone.

"Yes."

Katara was no fool. She had been aware that not everyone would be so quick to rush to the Fire Nation as an ally. Communications had been fairly decent, all things considered.

"What for?"

Bato, who was seething anger, spoke up. "Because those damned child murderers and their cowardly excuse for a 'Lord' refuse to comply wit-"

"Bato," Hakoda interrupted, his voice gruff. "That's enough."

Katara had flinched when Bato mentioned her former ally. The other council members were all aware of her longstanding friendship with the young man who sat atop the Fire Nation throne.

"So...you're going to strongarm the Fire Nation?" Katara asked with a skeptical look.

"Not strongarm. Request an audience with Fire Lord Zuko. He has not been responding to our letters. If he should deny us...well, let's just say it won't be good news for anyone."

Politics was a sure fire way to ruin anything. Katara hated it. She could feel her cheeks starting to get hot, and her eyes began to well up. So much had been sacrificed in order to attain peace. Many gave up limbs - and many others their lives - all in the name of a better tomorrow. She was reminded of the large scar that the Fire Lord wore on his chest.

"This isn't right!" she shouted defiantly, causing her elders to take a step back. "This is a step towards war. Something I thought we were all done with! What we would do anyway?! Ally with the Earth Kingdom and decimate our 'common' enemy?! We are becoming what we swore we'd never be!"

The room fell silent. A passionate tear fell to the floor. A quiet breeze filled the silence.

Hakoda's eyes met his daughters. "We are simply going to negotiate. All we are hoping for is a meeting. It doesn't matter if we're met with hostility. Of course, peace is the priority. But I will not entertain the ideal solution if it means our people get hurt."

"What do you mean? How are our people being hurt?"

For a moment, it seemed as though she wasn't going to get an answer. But then Bato stepped forward and spoke. "She has a right to know Hakoda."

The chief hesitated. Keeping secrets from a council member - namely his daughter - did seem...unethical. "Fine," he settled. "I am trusting that you will receive this news with a cool head."

Katara simply nodded, and shook off Bato's hand.

With a deep and serious tone, Hakoda spoke clearly. "Two weeks ago, one of our whaling crews was attacked. There were no survivors. Aboard the ship were manifests detailing every single one of our ships carrying oil. Nearly ship, save a handful that we kept secret, were intercepted. This time the shipbcrews were left alive, and the ships undamaged. But every drop of oil was drained."

The Water Tribe depended on that oil to keep their fires lit. Of course, they had survived without it for centuries, but it was a resource that was important to the advancement of the tribe.

"And what makes you think that the Fire Nation is involved?" Katara asked softly.

"How else? The survivors spoke of them in great detail," her father answered.

"Did they firebend?"

"I didn't ask."

"So we're jumping to conclusions, then."

"No. Just remembering what the Fire Nation was responsible for not more than a year ago. New leadership doesn't change years of atrocious crimes."

Father and daughter were locked in a staredown that made Sakon and Lyra nervous, and made Bato smile.

"I'm going with you," Katara said. Her eyes were cold and resolute.

"You know how highly I value your advice," Hakoda started. "But you will not be traveling with us." His voice was stern. "I need you here. Looking after our people. Continuing to build on the solid foundation you and your brother have built. You're safe here."

"Dad!" Katara objected.

"I will hear no more. We depart within the hour." And with that, the council left. Their footsteps echoed through the halls at a steady pace. And Katara stood alone. Confusion consumed her. She tried to find an explanation. The Fire Nation could not afford any slip ups, sure - but other nations seemed all too willing to jump on their backs and throw around accusations as if they were useless old cabbages. It made her sad that the first time she'd be seeing Zuko in over a year would under these conditions.

But she was also as determined as she'd ever been.

The Fire Lord would answer to her.

A/N: So I added a small detail that I feel is integral to the advancement of this story haha.

The new age should start off right. So instead of AG (After Genocide) which is just a bit too harsh on the ears, I'd imagine Aang, being the forgiving person he naturally is, would refer to this as the Era of Peace, so therefore I feel EP is just a tad more appropriate. (Of course when characters make historical references they will use the AG mark).

I hope that this was not too short! I wanted to include more, but I also wanted to leave it on an interesting 'open-ended' note. Any and all comments are appreciated, as always :)

In the next chapter; Katara arrives in the Fire Nation!

Thanks so much for reading!