AN: Thank you to all who left reviews. You make me very happy. Also, Zutara week is coming soon! I'm so excited!
Letters pt 2
I see everything you can be
I see the beauty that you can't see
On the nights you feel outnumbered
I'll be out there somewhere
- "Outnumbered" by Dermot Kennedy
Dear Zuko,
How are you!?
The blizzards have finally lessened a bit so I can write to you again!
Gran Gran and Pakku got married yesterday, on the night of the first full moon that marks the end of the blizzard months! The whole Water Tribe celebrated, and it was so much fun. Also, Sokka finished his betrothal necklace for Suki! It actually looks pretty good! Is has a wave and a fan design together. If you're done borrowing Suki, can you send her back to me, please?
How's everyone doing?
I miss you! Stay safe!
- Love, Katara
. . .
/
Katara,
I've missed you too.
Suki has been a great help. I think the worst of the riots here are over, and Omashu has agreed to help with the food shortages, so things are looking better. As much as I dislike losing my best guards, I sent Suki and the Kyoshi girls home. Suki was sad to leave. She's grown very fond of Fire Nation brandy.
I'm doing well.
Uncle came to visit last week. He's lost all the muscle he built up during the war. Now he's back to his chubby old self. It's pretty funny. His business is booming, and he has this insane theory that he might be able to open even more tea shops. I think he's being too ambitious.
Things are going well in the Fire Nation. A lot of the industries that focused on making products for the war have shifted focus to making things for daily life. It's leading to some unbelievable changes here. Last month I went on a tour of a facility that uses modified Air Nomad gliders fitted with engines to fly! They're called airplanes. I've already established airplane routes worldwide for faster mail delivery. Now that your blizzards are done, I'll establish one from the capital to the South Pole too. I think it has potential, and it made me realize, maybe the war wasn't all bad. Maybe it can be good for the world too.
My advisors have been pressuring me to consider an arranged marriage. They say it would be politically wise. I am currently not in the mood to get married.
In other news, I heard that Aang and his Acolytes are at Yu Dao with Toph right now. Hear anything from him?
How's the South Pole?
- Yours, Zuko
. . .
/
Zuko,
Those airplanes have started landing at the Academy here and they're amazing! With this we can send each other letters within days! It's funny to think the war is what made this possible. I think you're right, though. Maybe the war wasn't all bad if we look for the positives that came from it.
If you don't want to marry anyone, don't marry! You're the Fire Lord! You can do what you want, ya know.
In other news . . . I saw Aang.
He hasn't spoken to me in months and then he suddenly showed up today with a bunch of Air Acolytes. He's taking them to see the Southern Air Temple and they stopped by the South Pole to say hi. When he saw me he hugged me, and he wasn't angry or anything, but you know that cheerfulness he always has? It was gone. He says he's found enlightenment. He's still the same, but somehow really different too. It's like his mind isn't really here.
I know I broke up with him, but . . . it just breaks my heart to see him like this because of me. I have this intense urge to hug him and feed him custard tarts until he gets happier, but I can't go back to what we used to be. I haven't told him any of this. I don't know how. I'm so confused.
Spirits, what should I do?
By the way, Aang didn't say anything about Yu Dao when Sokka asked, except that he wants you to remove the colony and restore harmony peacefully or he will intervene.
How are things in the capital? My offer to come visit still stands!
- Love, Katara
. . .
/
Katara,
You can't come to the capital. It's not that I don't want you here, it's just too dangerous. I can't even feel safe in my own house. Do you know how much more worried I'd be if you were here too? I know you can take care of yourself, but I'd still be worried sick.
As for what you said about Aang . . . I shouldn't make judgments. In the end it's between you and him. I can't help you figure out your feelings, but I can give you this advice. A certain waterbender told me this a long time ago, when I was having trouble with Mai. Have you tried talking to Aang? He won't know what you think unless you tell him, Katara.
As for Yu Dao, I'll try my best to keep it peaceful. I'm having doubts about what the word harmony means, though. My trip to Yu Dao last year really opened my eyes.
There are families there that are half-Fire and half-Earth, Katara. The Fire Colonials and the native Earth citizens have been living, eating, and working together for generations, to the point where there isn't even a line between colonial and native, or between Fire and Earth, anymore.
If that isn't harmony, what is?
I hope you're well! How's the teaching going?
- Yours, Zuko
. . .
/
Zuko,
I actually laughed. Thanks for giving my own advice back to me.
I'll talk to Aang sometime, when he comes to the South Pole. Teaching is going great. We have dozens of students now! Sokka and Suki have gone to Yu Dao again, to help Toph with keeping the peace. Everyone is doing big things, Zuko. It made me realize . . . I've been in the South Pole for half a year.
I've spent enough time here. The world needs me.
So I talked to my dad last week about what I could do. Pakku will take over teaching at the Academy. I'll be going to Ba Sing Se for a while, as an ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe and an advisor to King Kuei. Aang has offered to give me a ride on Appa, so I'll be in Ba Sing Se by next week.
Is Uncle Iroh there? Or is he at the capital?
What you said about Yu Dao does seem like harmony. Two completely different cultures living together . . . maybe this is just how the world is after the war, Zuko. I know the nations are supposed to stay separate, but . . . it gives me hope. Maybe we can all coexist. Not just existing separately, but living together, you know?
How are you? I miss you tons.
- Love, Katara
. . .
/
Katara,
I miss you too.
I've sent this letter to King Kuei to ensure that you get it.
I'm glad you're out in the world again! Politics sounds like something you'd be good at. Much better than I am, anyway. There are a lot of people in Ba Sing Se who could use your skills. I suggest looking into the quality of life in the Lower Ring.
Unfortunately, you won't find Uncle at Ba Sing Se. He's in Omashu running his third Jasmine Dragon. He has plans to open a fourth on Ember Island! Can you believe it? How can he possibly manage them all? I find it kind of funny that Uncle is treating the tea business like a general would treat a war.
I'm exhausted. Drowning in work, especially education reforms here. I've been so busy with dismantling the military and cleaning up the government that I forgot about education. But now I think it should have been the first thing to be reformed. Those kids are the future of the Fire Nation, and the culture in our schools needs to change if we want to restore harmony.
I think you're right about the future of the nations. The lines are beginning to blur. Maybe it's time we stopped thinking of them as separate peoples. Speaking of blurred cultures, I'm still waiting on Suki and Sokka's wedding invitation! What's taking them so long? It's almost spring already!
In my spare moments I've been trying to find my mother, but everything I've tried leads to dead ends. I think it might be wisest to give up. I'm not at that point yet though.
Good luck with your work!
- Yours, Zuko
. . .
/
Zuko,
You were right. The Lower Ring is a mess.
Ba Sing Se has been really eye-opening for me. There's still so much poverty, so much inequality, so much violence. I'm starting to remember how badly the world is still out of balance, and how much we all need to do.
I started as an ambassador, but now I'm not sure what I am. Social activist? Politician? Public figure? Anyway, I've started pushing for change. The people in the Lower Ring have nothing, nothing compared to the nobles of the Upper Ring. All the times I was here, I only lived in the Upper Ring, so I never understood how wasteful the wealthy are here, while the poor and the middle class suffer. It's disgusting. These walls dividing Ba Sing Se, they need to come down. Aang was being a little conservative and going on about how the walls are ancient history, but I've convinced him that people are more important than tradition.
King Kuei is being stubborn, but I intend to win this argument. I've moved to a house in the Lower Ring just to annoy him.
In other news, it's rainy season over here and I love it! So much water! My hair is all frizzy though. Although, Sokka's hair was way worse. I wish you could have seen it! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Sokka and Suki came to visit me yesterday! They're going back to Yu Dao tomorrow. They seem really worried about the situation there.
Don't lose hope, Zuko. You'll find your mom somehow! There has to be another way. I know you'll think of something. Just don't give up, okay?
How are things there?
- Love, Katara
. . .
/
Katara,
It's dry season here, but monsoon season is only three months from now.
There has been growing unrest in the Fire Nation lately. The One Year Pact in Yu Dao is nearing its end, and still no agreement between the mayor and King Kuei. Some people in the Fire Nation are worried, because they have family in the Colonies. A lot of people blame me for being too soft on Kuei. I hope this doesn't escalate into violence. If it does, I'll be the first target.
In other news, I might have found a way to track down my mother. Smell! Jun's shirshu! I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. The problem is I don't know what to use for her scent! Ozai had all her belongings destroyed when he banished her.
If only I could get him to talk . . . I'll figure something out.
I hope you're doing well!
- Yours, Zuko
. . .
/
Zuko,
I've been thinking it over. You need me.
I'll do it. I'll bloodbend Ozai.
Hopefully that will make him talk and we can find something of your mother's to track her scent. I'll be leaving for the Fire Nation as soon as I can. That is, if you want me to? I'll wait for a letter in reply before I set off. Don't do anything stupid, okay?
See you soon!
- Love, Katara
. . .
/
Dear Lady Katara,
The spring equinox is coming, I would advise you go visit your family! Give them my regards! I have sent along some of my finest jasmine tea as a gift.
My nephew is not here. I imagine you can already guess why he left. He has asked me to run the nation in his stead. The last letter I've received from him simply states, Raikiri Mountain. It is the southernmost major island in the Fire Nation. I believe he will find the answers he is looking for there.
I appreciate everything you do for Zuko. You mean more to him than you know. But this journey . . . he needs to do this alone.
Thank you, Katara, for giving my nephew everything that I could not.
Best wishes,
Iroh
. . .