So, it was kind of difficult writing in the first person. I'm going to move to the third person POV, hopefully that doesn't confuse anyone. Sorry!
So what do you guys think about length? Should the chapters be a bit longer? I'm really doing this to practice my writing, so PLEASE let me know what you think about this fic.
Again, I definitely don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender.
Zuko woke up early the next morning. He had always been an early riser. He looked around the room, his room. He had been a different person the last time he had slept in this room. Zuko got out of bed and padded down the stairs. Guards flanked him. When he entered the family parlor he found breakfast set out for him. A servant came forward and handed him a letter.
It was from his uncle, Iroh. Iroh had claimed Ba Sing Se and was trying to deal with the after effects of the battle. He was asking for news and trying to make sure that Zuko was alright. The results of the battle hadn't reached him quite yet. Iroh seemed frantic. Zuko immediately penned a letter in response. He looked up, when he heard someone entering the room. Katara was standing in the doorway and she was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"I'm going into the city today. I need to go meet up with my dad and help for your coronation preparations," she murmured as she grabbed a pastry from breakfast table. "I'm probably going to grab everyone else and drag the with me. You and Aang probably have some things to work through." She grinned at him. "It's strange that I'm so happy that you are going to become the Fire Lord. Six months ago I would be trying to tear you down."
"I don't think it's really hit me yet." Zuko waved the letter in front of her. "My uncle isn't going to make it. He has his work set for him. He's trying to find the Earth King too. You aren't usually awake this early…"
"It's an important day! I want to make sure that the Earth and Water kingdoms do something impressive today. We have to make sure that everyone knows that we support you." She grabbed a tray of pastries and a few flasks of juice before heading for the door. "I'm taking these with me. If you hear any screaming it's just me dragging Sokka out of bed or maybe me after Toph attacks me for waking her up." Zuko watched her walk away with an absent-minded smile playing on his lips.
Katara ran about the palace courtyard. Toph was in the front of the space erecting the stage. Sokka was in charge of the food and Sukki was decorating the large room with large tapestries and lovely lights. Katara had spent the entire morning rounding up guests and finding decorations and caterers. They were borrowing a lot from the remains of Azula's coronation and trying to put together a small intimate coronation that would seem too out of taste after the long war. Reporters had poured into the city all morning and they had hounded everyone who had fought the day before. Katara was glad that Zuko and Aang hadn't come outside.
Katara was also hoping that she could help sooth any tensions in the city. She didn't want the people here to see Zuko as a traitor or invader. He was their true leader, returned.
"Katara, don't you think we need musicians? You were talking about dancing…"
"Of course Sukki! I'll go get the musicians from the Ember Island Players. At least we know they'll sound decent." Katara set off and found the city streets calm after the chose of the coronation hall. After a few blocks she finally realized that the city shouldn't be so quiet. Windows were closed and many of the people on the street turned away from her. The ones who did meet her eyes looked haunted and angry.
She rushed towards the theater and refused to look to either side. She again reminded that she didn't belong in this city, she didn't belong in the fire nation.
"Prince Zuko. Avatar Aang. May I present the Ladies Mai and Tai Lee."
"One moment, Zai," Zuko said. "Aang will you let me do this alone." Aang nodded and his eyes were wide with surprise. "And Zai, can let them in and order us some tea." Aang rushed out the back door as Zai bowed back out to get the girls. Tai Li walked in first and bowed low in front of Zuko. She was in full Kyoshi get up and when she looked up she was grinning. She flounced over and threw her arms around Zuko.
"Welcome home, Zuzu!"
"Thank, Tai. You look… different," Zuko said, looking her up and down.
"Do you like it? The girls and I kind of bonded in jail and they got Suki to approve me this morning. I'm officially a Kyoshi warrior!"
"That's great! I'm sorry about everything happened with Azula."
"She was hurting, Zuko. I just wish we could have helped her." Zuko saw Mai enter the room slowly and gracefully.
"Hi Zuko," she drawled. "I saw your friends setting up for your coronation." Zuko glanced at her noble face. She had always been so beautiful. Her beauty paired with her somber attitude had made her the perfect partner to the angst-ridden teen he had been. He couldn't imagine being with her now. When he imagined his perfect partner his mind conjured blue eyes and dark wavy hair. He shook his head to clear it.
"Welcome home, Mai." All three of them fell silent after that. None of them knew what to say.
"AHHH, I'm so tired!" Katara strolled into the room and then froze. "Um, hi." Zuko jumped to his feet.
"Katara! How are the preparations going."
"It's going pretty well. I just got the Ember Island Musicians to play for us. They were practically crying when they found out that you saw "The Boy in the Iceberg". I'm so sorry, I thought you were talking to Aang. I never would have barged in like that sorry." Mai's eyes bounced between Zuko and Katara. She could feel a smirk creep over her face. Katara bowed to Mai and Tai Lee. "I'm so glad to see that you guys are out! I'm was so grateful that you helped Zuko and Sokka get out of that prison. I… umm will you be joining us for the coronation today? I'll get you guys some invites." She glanced at Tai Li. "Of course, the Kyoshi warriors were given an open invite." Katara hadn't stopped fidgeting with her belt and Zuko still hadn't sat back down. "I'll get out of you way now. I hope I'll see you at the ceremony. We have a shocking lack of fire nation attendees." She stumbled out of the room and almost tripped over the threshold. Mai's smirk grew wider and she turned to Zuko.
"You need to prepare for you coronation. We'll see you this evening."