A/N: Hello again, lovely readers. I (or we, because I'm cowriting with my sister, wickedelphie33) have a brand-new chapter for you to enjoy, obviously. This one involves the reunion of Katara and Kana, as well as the introduction of everyone's favorite scarred prince (Zuko Mobbers: Yay!). Also, in this chapter, there is a reference to (A)Zula. Zuko will refer to her as "Azula," since it's more formal and Zuko would naturally speak coldly of her. On we go!
Disclaimer: If we owned it, well... I dunno. I can't come up with something good for this 'un.
Chapter Three- Zuko's Decision
"Katara!" Kana yelled joyfully, in an echo that rang throughout the homes of the Northern Water Tribe. "You've come to see me!" Enveloping her granddaughter in a bear hug, Kana escorted Katara into the home she'd lived in for a year now. As Katara was shown all of the simple knickknacks that her beloved Gran- Gran had brought from the South Pole, she felt happy for the first time in months; everything was quiet (with the exception of her grandmother's incessant chatter), relaxed. Katara felt at home here.
It was a small house; obviously, it was small enough for just one person to live in. Katara smiled as Kana spun her around, saying, "And that's the grand tour!" As she finished, a loud knock on the door was heard. For some reason, even though Katara thought it was silly to try to distinguish a knocking sound, she knew it sounded familiar. The rap-tap-tapping was short, percussive, and resonant. As Kana raced to the door (Katara chuckled at the sight of her elderly grandmother running,) she followed her. The door opened, and Katara found herself looking into the face of a beaming Master Pakku.
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"Fire Lord Zuko, an envoy from the Northern Water Tribe will be coming to the palace at the end of the day, and he wishes to discuss the upcoming armistice with you."
Zuko sighed and drummed his fingers against the hard wooden table. "Send him in when he arrives," he said to the servant boy, who promptly left. As soon as the door clicked shut, Zuko's head fell on the table. He thought to himself, If I had known that being the successor to the last Fire Lord involved in the war would mean that I would be immersed in this many treaties and diplomats, I would have offered the task to Azula.
His uncle Iroh, who had constantly offered him support since his boyhood, came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Iroh had served as the regent Fire Lord after Ozai's reign, until Zuko turned eighteen and came to the throne; he was now Zuko's chief advisor and confidante. He whispered, "Prince Zuko- I mean, Your Highness- they should be coming back any moment now."
Zuko sat up and laughed heartily. "Uncle- Prince Zuko?"
The old man shrugged. "Some habits are hard to break, I suppose."
Zuko smiled, and so did Iroh in reply. The sullen young man had grown into a fine ruler, under the tutelage of the finest philosophers and scholars in the Fire Nation since his return to his homeland. He had regained some of the true happiness that Iroh had first seen in his personality as a child. No person should be without that happiness, he thought.
Zuko cocked his eyebrow; he said, "Is something the matter, Uncle?"
Iroh shook himself out of fantasy and stepped back as he heard footsteps; he murmured, "No, I was just thinking."
The child who had announced the arrival of the envoy before reentered the room, and after bowing, stated, "My Lord, the Northern Water Tribe's ship is caught in a storm off the islands once populated by the Air Nomads; the chief of the Northern Water Tribe asks that, if it is not too much trouble for you, to go with your esteemed advisor and negotiate the terms of the armistice personally."
Zuko was practically screaming at himself to go on the inside, but he remained composed in front of the servant. He paused and said, "Very well. I will go to the North Pole and meet with the chief of the Northern Water Tribe."