The ship was almost at the Fire Nation now. Katalina and Zuko's first trip was just about over. And the time spent between just the two of them wasn't as awkward as she feared it would have been. It was actually close to be just like old times.

But now she was standing at the bow of the show, looking toward her so-called home nation. She closed her eyes, sighing.

"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, coming up beside her.

"This is the one place I swore I would never return to," she answered. "I promised myself I would stay away from here." She opened her eyes. "And now here I am, not even a year later. Not even half a year later."

"Well, it's not like you came back here on your own. You came back here because I asked you to come with me."

"That doesn't matter. I still come back."

He paused. "Hopefully it won't take long."

"No kidding."

He chuckled a bit. "C'mon, the ship will be docking soon."

"Okay."

The two of them made their way to where the ship's gangplank would be lowered. Fire Nation citizens were all lined up on the left and right sides of the ground.

"Zuko, what if they all get the impression that we're a couple?" she asked him quietly.

"Let them think whatever they want," he whispered back. He then held his arm out for her.

Smiling it, Katalina took it. And together they walked down the gangplank. As they walked past the two lines, the citizens bowed for them.

"This is kinda weird," she admitted, still speaking with a low voice.

"Yeah, I'm not even used to it," he replied. "And I pretty much grew up with this behaviour."

She laughed to herself and they continued along.

"All right," Zuko started once they were away from everyone else, "what do we do first?"

"We find a group of rioters," Katalina decided. "We'll pose as two of them and find out what the problem is."

"That doesn't sound very smart. What if someone recognises us?"

"Then we'll cover our faces."

"Lina, I don't know—"

"Zuko, shut up." She laughed out loud. "To understand the people, you need to be the people. You need to walk among then, not just watch them from your stupid throne."

"See? You're already better at this than I am."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not. I just have a good few years of noting all of Ozai's mistakes as Fire Lord. So I know the right thing to do and the wrong thing to do when in power."

"Hands down, you are the best friend ever."

"Shut up," she repeated. She turned away from him, hiding her reddening cheeks. "Now, let's go find us a riot."

"Where should we look for one?" he questioned.

"They'll most likely be near the palace," she answered. "I just don't remember which direction that's in."

"This way." He pointed to their left. "That I know for sure. I remember the long walk Uncle and I took after I was banished." He took a deep breath.

She nodded her head once in reply. "Let's get moving." She then started to their left.

Zuko swiftly followed after her. "Why in such a hurry?" he asked her. "You're practically running."

"Don't you wanna get this done and over with, too?"

"I guess, but—"

"Then we'll be quick about it," she decided. "Or at least we'll be as quick as we possibly can be."

They continued towards the palace. Soon enough, they came across a large group of angry Fire Nation citizens.

"Here's our target," Katalina stated. "You ready for this?"

"What happened to the idea of covering our faces?"

"While on our way here I decided that we actually shouldn't do that." She faced him. "That'll only make you look like a coward for hiding among your own people and not just walking with them freely. And you are not a coward, Zuko." She turned away from him. "Your father was the coward." She looked back at him, but only turned her head. "So," she smiled, "are you ready?"

He nodded. "Let's do this."

With that said, they entered the group of rioters. They asked around for the one leading the riot and soon found the person. The lead rioter was a man a couple decades older than them.

"Excuse me, sir!" Katalina called over to him.

"What is it, young lady?"

"I have a question for you."

"Yes?"

"Why are we rioting again? I mean, I know we're rioting against the new Fire Lord and his ways, but why? What don't we like about him?"

"Yeah, Zuko continued. "The only thing he's done is end the war, which the world needed. So what's so bad about that? And what more do you have to hold against him?"

"He doesn't even live here in the Fire Nation!" the man replied. "Instead he lives over in Ba Sing Se!"

"I don't see a problem in that," she denied.

"If there's a problem here that needs fixing, then he'll always be at least a couple weeks away from being able to resolve it!"

"It's a temporary arrangement," Zuko stated. "Besides, that only gives us more freedom for the time being," he then pointed out. "He's not constantly watching over us. He's letting us live and he's staying out of our personal lives and giving us time to adjust to the change."

"Fire Lord Zuko is a good man," she concluded. "Why can't you see that?"

The man eyed the two of them skeptically. Then he gasped. "You!" he yelled. "You are the new Fire Lord!"

All of the rioters turned to face Katalina and Zuko. They were now literally in the middle of the situation.

"Before this gets out of hand," Katalina began again, "just listen to what he has to say." And she stepped down.

"Look," Zuko took over, raising his voice, "I know this may seem like prying, but I was only trying to figure out why you are rioting against me. And so far, it seems that you're only angry with me because I don't live here in the Fire Nation. Like I said, though, it's only temporary. I'm living in Ba Sing Se until the Avatar and I can decide what to do about the Colonies there. Once that's all settled, I'll be back here for good. Just because I'm not here now, though, doesn't mean I'm clueless. And I wanna be the best Fire Lord I can be, so if you have any complaints, please just come and talk with me directly. And while I'm not here, send a letter to Ba Sing Se and I will jump on a ship to come here right away. I want everything to be sorted lout and I want everyone to be satisfied. So please, talk to me because I am more than willing to listen."

There was a silence among the rioters, but soon they all broke out into a loud applause.

Katalina smiled at this and walked up to Zuko. "See? You're a natural." She turned towards the rioters. "Excuse me!" she yelled over the ongoing applause. They all put their eyes on her now. "Fire Lord Zuko still needs to take care of the other riot groups. Could you help him find them and get them settled down?" Everyone cheered their answers. She smiled again. "Great!" She faced Zuko again. "As for me, I have somewhere else I need to be."

"Where could that be?" he wondered.

"Don't worry about it," she replied. "I'll meet up with you later."