So "Family" was a little late, but whatev. It was only a day. XD

Here's "Change". It took me a while to come up with a good idea that I could actually WRITE about…I had some other ones floating around, but they would look better drawn instead of written (picture's worth a thousand words, yo). Sadly, I cannot draw. *sob*

Anyway, you know the drill, Disclaimer: I don't own, you don't sue (trust me, don't waste the effort).


Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything…Understanding the other elements, the other nations, will help you become whole.


"Ah…sorry to bother Your Majesty, but the Fire Lady has requested your audience in the ballroom."

Zuko sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. What now? he thought as he waved the servant away. Making his way to his 'beloved' wife, he hoped whatever she wanted wouldn't take long—he had a meeting to attend in half an hour.

As he neared the ballroom doors, he noticed a chill drifting from inside and the two servants standing outside looking pale and scared. Zuko inwardly groaned as the servants opened the doors for him.

"Katara? What do you wa—" His curt question was cut short as something hit him in the face. Something cold. Something white. Something...like a snowball.

Zuko seethed as he heard infuriating giggles coming from several feet away. Brushing the snow off his face, he immediately addressed the problem.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"

The giggles turned into full blown laughs. "Aw, come on, ZuZu! Don't you like it?"

"My ballroom transformed into an ICY WASTELAND? WHO WOULD LIKE THAT?"

"I would, of course. And come on, don't you want me to 'adapt' to the Fire Nation? Don't you want me to be comfortable here?"

"Arrrgh…*grumble*…This isn't what I had in mind!"

The eloquent Fire Lord, after conversing with his loving wife, found himself facefirst into the snow.


"Ah…I apologize profusely for disturbing Your Majesty, but it seems there is a situation in the kitchen that needs your attention right away."

"It has to do with that infernal woman, doesn't it?" Zuko asked, not bothering to look up from the papers on his desk. Without looking, he knew the servant had a horrified expression.

"…The Fire Lady, your beloved wife…yes."

Zuko sighed. "I'll take care of it right away. Thank you for informing me." The servant bowed and left. The Fire Lord groaned softly and buried his head in his arms.

I'm not in the mood for this today…

After a few minutes cursing his marriage, his wife, and his hormones, the firebender finally stood and headed to the kitchen.

Flustered servants bowed as he approached, and he beckoned one to him. The young man came forward and raised his head slightly.

"What's going on in there?" Zuko asked, sniffing the…interesting smells coming from the kitchen warily.

"My lord…it seems the lady has been cooking Water Tribe foods…The cooks don't know what to do! The Fire Lady shouldn't be doing such humble things such as cooking, but it would be most disrespectful to stop her…"

Zuko sighed again. "Leave it to me." The servant bowed and stepped aside to let Zuko walk in. Katara was standing over the stove, stirring some unknown contents in an iron pot. When her husband walked in, she glanced up for a second, but soon returned her attention to her cooking.

"Katara? I understand you may be homesick, but you should really let the cooks do their work. We do have cooks that can make Water Tribe foods, you know."

The Fire Lady sighed. "I know…but it just doesn't seem the same." She paused to add some sort of spice, then continued stirring.

Zuko kept back a smile. "What are you cooking?"

"Why don't you see for yourself?" With a grin, Katara shoved a spoonful of mysterious looking stew into his mouth.

Immediately, Zuko's eyes started watering as his taste buds screamed in agony.

"Like it? I made stewed sea prunes! They're considered a delicacy in the South Pole!"

I just stepped into Hell's kitchen…


"*cough* Your Majesty—"

"What is it now? Is there a waterfall in the South Wing? An ocean in the North? Has the kitchen been set on fire?" Zuko really wasn't in the best of moods.

The servant paused, a bit confused. "Uh…No, my lord. But the lady does request your opinion on her appearance."

Zuko blinked. "Oh. Well. All right, thank you. You are dismissed." The servant bowed and hurried off, making a note to talk to the royal physician about his lord's health.

While walking over to the waterbender's dressing room, he realized how many times he'd been forced to go to her. That needs to be resolved…

Reaching the door, he knocked, noting the lack of servants.

"If it's Zuko, it took you long enough and get your butt in here. If not…please do not disturb me."

Zuko rolled his eyes. That was his wife all right. He opened the door and stepped in. Or tried to. There were piles and piles of clothes as far as the eye could see. All kinds of colors, but mostly red. Shades and shades of red. And there was a big pile right in front of the door. Zuko sighed, and maneuvered his way around.

"Katara? Where are you?"

"Um…I think I'm in the far right corner? Where the mirror is?"

"…You 'think'?"

"Well you don't know where I am either!"

"Exactly. What's with all the clothes? Don't tell me you bought all of this."

"Euh…"

"Katara! Just because you're the Fire Lady does not mean you can spend half the treasury on clothes!"

"Ah, don't worry about it! We're not going to go bankrupt. It wasn't even half of the treasury!" When she heard Zuko's threatening growl, she hurried her next words. "Anyway, I didn't summon you here to listen to your complaints. I want to know if this dress looks good, because if it does I'll wear it to the party celebrating the anniversary of the end of the war."

Another pile avoided and Zuko finally found Katara. And was speechless. She was wearing what appeared to be a cross between a kimono and a dress that was blood red in most places, with little designs of fire on the sleeves and skirt. It had no collar and showed off her bare shoulders but was pretty conservative when it came to cleavage, showing just enough to leave one's mind wandering. The skirt reached all the way to the ground, a waterfall of red. What Zuko liked the most, however, was the shockingly bright blue belt tied around her waist, with designs of swirling water on it.

He smiled.

"So you like it?" Katara asked, uncertain. Zuko chuckled and walked over, drawing her close.

"I love it. Glad to see you haven't changed completely Fire Nation."

"Of course not! Your country isn't that amazing!"


Actually finished this one on time…Yes! So I can work with deadlines! XD REVIEW NOW you've made it this far. I really liked this one, had lots of fun writing it. Looks like Katara's having a great time 'adapting' to the palace, no? Thank you Iroh, for that amazing quote. :D