Hello again! So, here's my own take on absense makes the heart grow fonder. Hope you guys like this one! At least there'll be some Zutara...

Dear Zuko,

I guess you'll have reached Yu Dao by the time this letter reaches you. I'm so sorry to hear about how Poppy acted. I really thought her parents were ready to accept her. You asked for advice on how to help her, but I don't think I'm the best to ask about that. I tend to over coddle her, which makes her lash out. So, don't do that. Maybe give her a project and some people to bully. That might work.

How are the colonies receiving you? I hope they realize your intentions and that they're being civil. I hope you are doing ok! I know it must be tiring to be traveling so much and meeting so many people. Keep up your pleasant self and they'll all love you. You even managed to change my opinion of you!

I'm waiting for all the representatives to get to the capital, so it's fairly boring here. The thing is that I'm enjoying the boredom. I get to sleep in and I teach a couple of classes with Master Pakku. Sometimes I help Gran Gran in the kitchen. I'm just living my life.

Sokka is having the time of his life. All the soldiers worship him and he gets to follow my dad like a puppy. All he's ever wanted was a hero's fame and now he has it. People follow me too, but I'm not as good a storyteller and they lose attention pretty fast. People will not leave him alone and he's basking in the attention.

I miss you a lot. I think I had actually forgotten what it felt like to feel cold. It's always so warm around you. Anyways, a hug for you and let Toph know that I miss her too. Aang and Suki should be there by now, so say hi to them. I have to go now. My class starts in negative five minutes!

Love,

Katara

P.S. Did I mention that it's COLD here?

Zuko read over Katara's letter and while trying to ignore Aang whining that he didn't get a letter. The letter had reached his camp a week ago and he kept it on his desk and read over it at least once a day. He picked up his quill and started his reply.

Dear Katara,

I took your advice with Toph. I put her in charge of helping the colonies rebuilding their armies. She's very enthusiastic about her jobs. I just feel really bad for all the recruits. She is really channeling her Melon Lord personna.

Aang and Suki are with us and they both miss you and Sokka a lot. I think Aang might cry if you don't send him a message soon. Sukki sends her love to Sokka and she wants to make sure that Sokka keeps his fangirls at a distance.

Don't worry about my reception. All the Earth Kingdom representatives have been very welcoming and trusting. I'm actually more nervous about my standing with my advisors. They doubt my loyalties. All my decisions are considered with what the right thing is, but I am giving up a lot of land and wealth that belonged to the Fire Nation. They don't really see how helping the other nations will help us in the long run. Hopefully, I'll be able to change their impressions of me. I know that I can make life better for Fire Nation citizens. I just know it.

I'm so sorry that you're so cold. You're kind of scaring me off of visiting the North Pole. I don't really think I could carry off the fur look. Anyway, I don't think they'll want to see me anytime soon. My first visit there wasn't very pleasant and I doubt they'll want me back again.

We're leaving Yu Dao today and then just one more stop before this tour is over. I'm leaving the rest of colonies to some representatives. They'll go around and escort my troops out of the colonies. There are a lot of fire nation citizens who are choosing to stay in the colonies under Earth Kingdom rule. They have to reapply for possession of their lands and a lot of them will be losing money in this transition. Katara, they've built LIVES here. They have families and their children are firebenders and earthbenders and they live together. They are the greatest proof that the harmony I'm working for is possible. I'm so proud of them and I am in such awe of the love they have for each other.

That was a bit of a tangent. Anyways, the decolonization is going really well. I'm looking forward to finishing this tour. I really want to save these poor recruits from the Melon Lord. I have to go and deal with some barrack redistributions. Hope to hear back from you soon.

Your friend,

Zuko

Katara looked over the stack of letters in the small wooden box. They were all stamped with the symbol of the the fire nation royal family. They had all been read multiple times and she knew most of them by heart. There were a few letters from Suki and one or two that Toph had dictated. There was an entire drawer of letters from Aang in the bottom of her desk, but Zuko's letters had a place of honor on her little desk in her little desk in the palace. It had been two months since she had seen him and the letters had slowly built up. She picked up her little pen and placed it on her parchment.

Hi Zuko,

Remember when I like the boredom? The boredom that means the end of the war is so over. All I do all day is sit in meetings. I'm not even able to teach classes anymore. My dad and I were just appointed the official representatives of the South Pole for the unification of our tribes. People keep shoving propositions in my face and I have to sit through so many meetings. SO MANY MEETINGS.

It's so nice to hear about you guys. I wish I could just be there with you, Suki, Toph, and Aang. I hardly ever see from Sokka. He got into the official military academy. He's always either in training or out on the town with his friends. I was just making friends with Pakku's students, but now the dumb council is taking all my attention.

What are you doing? I feel like I'm living through you. I'm so happy that you found the Earth Kingdom. Give Bosco a huge hug from me. Suki said that you were receiving the Kyoshi Warriors this week? You get to deal with Tai Li! You get to deal with Tai Li surrounded with all of her friends at a big party. Best of luck with that.

Did I mention the weather? I have gotten over the cold, but you know what's really getting me down? I forgot about the sunlight. Sun all the time. There are 12 hours of sun. 12! You'd probably like it… I DON'T! Soon, the sun will be here all the time and I will cry.

Please reply with something that will cheer me up please!

Your desolate friend,

Katara

Zuko was sitting in an advisor meeting, when the hawk arrived. A servant bowed before his chair and handed him the roll of parchment tied with a blue ribbon and stamped with Katara's necklace.

"So, now that decolonization has been accomplished we'll be returning home, soon. Now, the water tribes are meeting at the North Pole. Perhaps we ought to send an ambassador to the meeting and extend our good wishes."

There was a chorus of agreement as Zuko unrolled the parchment. Discussion on who to send broke out as he began reading the letter. He began reading with excitement, but the unhappy tone of the authoress soon brought his mood plummeting down. He rolled the letter back up just as his council looked back to him.

"My Lord, do you have a preference on who we send North?"

"Yes, I do. We will be leaving for the fire nation now. I will stay there for a week and then I will be leaving for the North Pole.

Ok, that's it! Please review! I want to know what you guys like and what you don't! I love hearing from all of you! I just feel like Katara would be the kind of person that would sign off their letters with love without thinking about it.