Sunrise and Hope
Chapter I: The Crowning
By Hesse Cassel.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender. All rights belong to Nick and the creators of an awesome show.
Author notes: Hi and welcome to my first ever Avatar fic. I plan on writing about the lives of Zuko and Katara and the rest of the Gaang after the war, but I will focus on Zuko and Katara. This will be Zutara so if you don't like this ship feel free to click back right now.
"Arise and let me present the new Fire Lord! Fire Lord Zuko!"
Zuko stood up and had a hint of a smile pass over him. He had never thought this was possible even as recently as a week ago. He knew that for a few years he was a traitor and the banished prince and there were times that he had given hope up but that was all in the past. This is really happening right now and this is good, but I have a lot of work to do to restore my people and prove them worthy of placing faith in me that I'm not like my father. He rose up as he was thinking and smiled and started to speak. "People of the Fire Nation, my new friends, and the people of the world, it is a pleasure to stand in front of you on this most historic day. I know that we as a people have been through a lot these past 100 years. "
Katara was standing just behind Zuko along with the rest of the Gaang. She had fought so hard against the Fire Nation and never thought she was going to be friends with the man who had made her life miserable for the past year. She couldn't help but think, Zuko is such a good guy and I somehow feel something about him.
Zuko continued to speak. "My great-grandfather Sozin started this war. I always thought as a kid that we were the greatest people on earth and that the other nations would fall before us and we would lead an era of prosperity. I was wrong. I wish I had known the truth about what my father was doing, but I thought I was the perfect son but when I spoke up in that war meeting I knew that after I was banished that I would have to restore my honor. And that meant capturing the Avatar."
Aang was standing behind Zuko. He was a living history relic, the last of his kind. But he had a hint of a smile along with a serious look. Sure, he was always going to be a happy go lucky type. But he had gone through things that no person should ever have to. He knew that he had a tough task ahead but not as much as Zuko. He smiled and thought, It's so nice that Zuko is there and willing to work with me. I hope that I can convince people to trust him.
Zuko smiled at the end of his speech. He listened to the applause and knew he had won the trust of his people. But the thing was, he was not happy because he regretted what he did in the catacombs to Katara. Because he knew that she would make a great Fire Lady if he made a move.
Zuko walked back to his friends and hugged Katara. He smiled from ear to ear and took a good long look at her. And he walked back to his chambers slowly knowing he had some thinking to do.