Conspiracy

by Hallucinating Fire Lord

Following the events after the war, Zuko starts having more and more opposition to his rule, and the attempts on his life start getting worse, but he tries to tough it out to keep order. Seeing the strain this is putting on his psyche and well-being, Aang and Katara work to investigate, and they find a greater threat to the Royal Family lineage within the ranks of the FN. Kataang

1. Beginnings

Aang and Katara woke up from one of the longest sleeps either of them has had in days since Ozai's trial, enjoying the comfort of the Fire Nation's royal furnishing.

They were finally here for the great meeting between the Fire Nation and the Southern Water Tribe, but, honestly to them, it was more like going to see two friends they haven't seen in a while.

"These beds are amazing" Aang said ecstatically as he rose to practice some Qigong to get his muscles going.

"Yeah, I don't think we have any animals as comfortable as that at the Southern Water Tribe" gleamed Katara as she pounced on Aang from behind, sending them both to the floor in each other's grasp.

Things have been slow and complicated for the Fire Nation and its' citizens these past couple of weeks since the war ended, Aang thought, soldiers struggling to find employment amidst an economy that's getting drained from recession and inflation, colonists who've had to move into the islands due to all of the territory feuds from the Earth Kingdom feuding with mainland citizens who view them as a burden, and a whole host of other mess he's still working with the Harmony Restoration Movement to sort out.

"Let's get dressed, Zuko's waiting for us." Aang stated, air-juggling his clothes and stacking them on his body like boxes.

"Wish I could get dressed that fast."

"Fast? Trust me, compared to Sokka and his hour-long ponytail comb sessions, you're a speed demon."

Katara laughed as she puts on her mother's necklace while Aang nearly fell of the chair he was sitting in laughing at his own joke.

"So," Aang said as he jumped to Katara, "You ready to get out and negotiate, ambassador of the SWT?"

"I'm ready, Avatar Aang," Katara says as she jokingly bows to him, the both of them getting up to get to the Royal Palace.

"Ah! there you are! I was worried you two had gotten lost in this maze of a palace!" Iroh shouted as he hugged the Avatar and the Ambassador entering the main hall. Everything was set to negotiate the terms of reparations between the SWT and the FN; this was an especially crucial day for Katara, as it could get her Tribe some dire resources their in need of and help her people heal from the systematic wounds of the FN, and with Aang on her side, she has the upmost confidence in this plan.

"Is Zuko here?" Aang asked, looking around to spot the young Fire Lord in a sea of council members, generals, and politicians to no avail.

"He's coming, he's just been going through some troubles lately" Iroh stated solemnly towards Katara and Aang.

They knew what Iroh was talking about when he told them that, but before they could discuss it, Zuko came in and things had to get started from there.