Title- Diplomacy
Author- Melon
Rating- T for violence and non-graphic sexuality
Genre(s)- Drama/Action/Romance and if there were a separate subgenre exclusively for political power-play, that would be a huge one
Characters/Pairings- Katara, Zuko, Azula, Aang, and On Ji are the principal characters, but everyone has their role to play. Shipping is a big complicated mess.
Summary- AU, no war. Katara travels to the Fire Palace as part of a Water Tribe diplomatic party, and finds herself both frustrated and intrigued by Firelord Zuko. But even as the two become closer and a tentative romance blossoms, tensions rise between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, and Princess Azula is holding all the cards. And when the Avatar pays a visit to the Fire Palace, all hell breaks loose. Very literally.

A/N- I'm ordinarily not a fan of major AUs of this nature. Usually because they tend to run more toward the "Zuko and Katara get together and that's all the story is really about" and I'm not interested in that for a couple of reasons. But this idea struck and I had to write it. So I want to say a few things right now.

First- This is plot-driven. The romance is a very important subplot and will be featured heavily, but it is not the sole focus. If you're looking for twenty chapters of raw fluff/drama, you're in the wrong place. Expect politics, scheming, and a nice dose of action on the side. I like romance, I like shipping, and I'm not ashamed of that. It's definitely a big part of this fic. But the romance is meant to enhance the story, not become the story (do you now understand the first statement I made in this note?).

Second- Speaking of romance... this story will feature elements of both Zutara and Kataang. I'm not even saying which couple is endgame. If that puts you off, well... I guess I'm sorry to have lost your readership, but I have a plan and I'm sticking to it. I hope those of you willing to bear with me will enjoy the ride.

Third- Ages. This is AU. These are not kids. Zuko and Suki are 23. Katara and Azula are 21. Mai is 24. Aang is 19. On Ji and Toph are both 18. Iroh is old.

Finally- Fireflight is still my primary focus, fic-wise. This is a shorter story (somewhere between 20 and 30 chapters), and one that I'm excited about, but it is nonetheless a side project. Fireflight gets first priority, so updates here may be slow. I have this work all mapped out by chapter and I know exactly what's going to happen, but I haven't got it written yet. I'd like to thank you for your patience on this one.

Diplomacy

"Diplomats are just as essential to starting a war as soldiers are for finishing it...
You take diplomacy out of war, and the thing would fall flat in a week."
-Will Rogers

~Prologue~
~Letter~

Dear Sokka,

I'm glad to hear you're well. Before your last letter arrived, we had received word of the continued unrest in the Earth Kingdom's western provinces, and I was worried for you. Just because you're all grown up now doesn't mean I won't fret. You know how I am. Going off on some noble quest to lend your aid to King Kuei's peacekeeping efforts won't change the fact that you'll always be my little-big brother.

Your tale of the skirmish outside Gaoling is certainly a strange one! I can't decide whether to be frightened for you or to laugh, and I certainly can't decide if you are joking or not. I've heard many strange things in my life, but never once have I heard a story of the very ground itself turning against a party of earthbenders. It's almost too absurd to be true. If you are not lying to me, I think you and your company must have received some help from the spirits that day!

And as for you, yourself... you are being an awful tease! You mention this Kimiko in every letter, yet you never say a word about her beyond dropping her name! Who is she? How did you meet? Are you pining away, devastated by unrequited love for her?

No, I know you too well to suppose that's true. The ladies may swoon for Sokka, son of Hakoda, but he never returns the favor! (I am joking, of course... mostly.) Still, you're being very mysterious about all this, and I must admit, I'm curious. Maybe you're doing that intentionally. You always did like to be dramatic, and it would be just like you to keep us all hanging, waiting to find out who this girl you're so often mentioning might be.

As for myself, I have some upsetting news. Perhaps you've already heard, but Bato has died.

It is not exactly a surprise. He has not been strong since his battle with the spotted fever three winters ago. I still can't believe it, though. Even though he's been gone to the Fire Nation half the year for as long as I can remember, it still felt like he would just always be there.

Dad is devastated. He's been so strong about it (you know how he is), but I can see how much he's hurting. Bato was his best friend in the whole world, and to lose him not even six years after losing Mom is hard on him. But he keeps his head up, and Gran-Gran and I help with what we can. In my case, "helping with what I can" has taken on a new meaning, though.

As you know, with Bato gone, we have lost our ambassador to the Fire Nation. And with the current political climate, it is not a good idea to go unrepresented in the foreign courts (but you knew that). Obviously a new ambassador had to be appointed. But you will never guess who Dad has chosen! He wants me, of all people, to be the tribe's ambassador to the Fire Nation.

I can't believe it. And I admit, I'm very nervous. I'm a waterbender, not a diplomat! But Dad says that's why he chose me, of all people. He thinks "some fresh perspective needs to be brought into the international conversation." I've no idea what he means by that, but I guess he has a point. I'm a healer and, regardless of what our backwards elders would like to think, I am a warrior. Maybe that combination, that way of thinking, can do some good. Things can't continue the way they have been for much longer, with the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation at loggerheads and the whole world sitting on edge, just waiting for one of them to declare war. Do you know that even the Air Nomads don't travel as freely as they used to? It's not good (but again, you knew that). Maybe in my own small way, I can help make things better. I hope so. It will be difficult, but I really think I can change things. I'm not the Avatar and I'm not a king, but maybe I can make a difference anyway.

I will be traveling in the Fire Nation and acquainting myself with its people for a short while before I take up my new post as ambassador, so you may not hear from me for a month or so, but don't worry. We can start writing again just as soon as I am settled in at the Fire Palace. At least, as long as you actually remember to send your hawks to the Fire Nation and not the South Pole!

Until then, stay safe. Don't do anything stupid. Give Kimiko, whoever she may be, my greetings (and my best wishes that she survives spending time with you with her sanity intact).

Your loving sister,

Katara