Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for clicking on this story! This is an idea I've had floating around in my head for quite some time. I'm finally getting around to getting it out into he world and written down. Please let me know what you think. Reviews definitely help with the writing process so please let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions! Enjoy the story.

Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of the characters. All rights belong to their owners.

Chapter One: A New Beginning

Zuko

The light was blinding as I stepped out of the palace into the sunlight. The cheers of the crowd greeted my ears as I took my place in front of them. My heart hammered painfully in my chest as I looked out at each of the faces before me. Hundreds of people from the nations across the world were gathered here to celebrate the end of a century long war and a new world.

I raised my hand shakily, "Please, the real hero is the Avatar." I motioned behind me as he walked out to the shouts and cheers of the crowd. "Today, this war is finally over. I promised my Uncle I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. One hundred years of fighting has left the world scarred and divided. But with the Avatar's help we can get it back on the right path and begin a new era of love and peace."

Slowly, I knelt down and as the fire sage stepped up behind me. "All hail Firelord Zuko." Newly crowned, and officially coronated, I stood up to the cheers of the crowd. Aang and I stepped out and studied each face, some familiar and some people that we had never before met.

"This begins a new world." I said, my voice more powerful now than when I had begun. The mass of people erupted into more loud cheers as I turned to head back into the palace as the new Firelord. Suddenly feeling very overwhelmed as I stepped back inside, I thought about the many things that needed my attention today. Efforts to begin healing the other nations had already begun, however, much more work needed to be done.

The war prisoners had been released from the Fire Nation prisons. The Fire Nation soldiers that remained loyal to my father and the way of war were locked securely away where they could do no harm to the rest of the world. The Fire Nation soldiers that once terrorized the people of the Water tribes and the Earth Kingdom were now back home with their families in the Fire Nation. Despite these efforts that had already been made, I knew that the other nations were apprehensive to trust that I was committed to helping the Avatar repair the damage the last one hundred years had done.

"Do you really think that we can do this?" Aang asked quietly stepping up beside me. "Do you really think that this world can be repaired?"

Together, we walked down the hall toward what used to be the notorious Fire Nation War Room to prepare for a strategy meeting with the fire sages and the leaders from the other nations.

"I don't know what to think," I said honestly. "But we have to try. We can't let the world stay broken." We stepped up to the huge metal doors. "Your destiny is to fix the world. Mine is to help you."

"I want you in here with me," I said motioning to the doors. Those doors that I'd once longed to walk through with the leaders of the fire nation army, those doors that I now dreaded walking through to face the leaders of the nations that had been hurt by the army I once admired.

Aang nodded as I pushed open the doors scanning the faces of the people already seated in the room. I knew that I was supposed to feel powerful and in control walking into this room, but facing all these people I couldn't help but feeling small.

I watched as all the eyes in the room fell to me. Suddenly the headpiece I was wearing felt incredibly heavy as I walked to the head of the room. "Where should we begin?" I asked informally as I scanned the room, connecting eyes with each individual person.

"While we appreciate the efforts that have been made since the Avatar effectively ended the war, we feel as though more can be done to assure us that we no longer have need to worry about the motive of the fire nation," Chief Unalaq of the Northern Water Tribe said, his voice powerful as it filled the room.

After the last century of war, I could understand the apprehension to trust the Fire Nation. After all, it was my great grandfather that started the war on the other nations by utilizing the comet to wipe out the Air Nomads.

I could understand having second thoughts when trusting me. Two years ago, my purpose in life was to be the perfect crowned prince of the Fire Nation. I was taught that the needs of my nation were to be put above any other; it was the only way of life that I had known. A year ago, my only purpose was to track down the Avatar and destroy him. My goal was to help my father obliterate another nation completely, and with the Avatar out of the way, he would have been able to do so.

This day, my only goal was to instill trust for the Fire Nation in the people sitting before me. When Aang and I made a commitment to restoring the world after the war, we both knew it would come with its own set of challenges.

I heard the murmurs of agreement throughout the rest of the room. "The Fire Nation kidnapped and tortured hundreds of water benders from the Southern Water Tribe. The southern benders were nearly wiped out of existence. We need some assurance." Chief Unalaq said.

"There is still a Southern bender, yes?" One of the Fire Sages piped in. "As an assurance perhaps she could live here in the palace with Fire Lord Zuko?"

"Katara?" Aang and I asked at the same time, our eyes meeting across the room.

"That would make us a little less uneasy regarding your motives Fire Lord Zuko. However, we would want her involved in parliamentary decisions. This young water bender would have to be included in your plan to restore balance between the nations." Chief Unalaq said.

"That's impossible," I whispered.

"The only way the young water tribe girl would be able to be involved in parliamentary decisions would be if she was part of the royal family. The only way that she would be able to be part of the royal family is by marriage." One of the Fire Sages chimed in.

"That is what we expect." Chief Unalaq said firmly. "As the Chief of the Northern Water Tribe, I expect that you create unbreakable ties with our sister tribe. Otherwise, there will be no way for us to ever trust the motives of the Fire Nation."

I listened to the murmurs of agreement uneasily. "Then we shall form those unbreakable ties with the Southern Water Tribe." I said, hating that my voice wavered. I could feel everyone's eyes on me almost waiting for me to slip up. I knew that most of these people had seen the worst of the war and that the war had been going on for most of their lives. I also knew that they were afraid to think that anything could change because of how scarred the world had become. "What's next on the agenda?" I asked, hoping to address more of their concerns before I had to speak to Katara about the wishes of the Water Tribes.

Well, what do you think? It's a work in progress, and I'm hoping to have the next chapter up soon. Let me know what you think!