The guest suite Zuko showed Katara too was large and opulent. The furniture, draperies and rugs were all made of shiny ebony wood, overpriced gold and the finest silks. Regardless of how often Katara visted the Fire Nation she would never get used to the almost hedonistic décor. Everything was made to pleasure the senses, from sweet smelling incense to rich color schemes. The Southern Water Tribe was much more simplistic; if it couldn't be made from ice, snow or animal hides and bone it wasn't an option.

"I'll let you settle in for the night," Zuko said. "We can catch-up over breakfast?"

Katara nodded and Zuko left. Walking around the bed Katara found her trunks of clothes and other belongings arranged next to the bedside table. Opening the smallest trunk, she retrieved a small leather pouch and walked over to the small vanity in the corner of the room. Sitting on the cushioned stool, Katara removed the seal bone sticks from her hair and let her long tresses cascade around her head. She then started the arduous process of removing the blue jade beads from her hair. Since she would not be continuing her travels for some time there was no reason for it to be beaded and kept out of the way—at least not to such an extreme.

After removing the beads from most of her hair and depositing them in her small pouch, (she kept the front ones in since they signified her place in the Southern Water Tribe and the ones near her ears as they signified her as a Priestess) Katara walked over to the small bathing room and washed up from her journey. Under normal circumstances she would soak in a long, hot bath, but Fire Nation winters were far too warm to warrant that (in her opinion) so she opted to wash herself with a small amount of cool water, some soap and her bending abilities. After she was sufficiently dry Katara approached her largest trunk and pulled out her light cotton nightgown and pants. Turning around, she studied her reflection in the mirror. Katara still couldn't believe she was a woman; her small buds had swollen to full breasts, her hips had rounded out and her baby fat had fallen away revealing high cheekbones, a long neck and bow shaped lips. It seemed like only yesterday she was riding Appa into the Northern Water Tribe, excited to finally meet her sister tribe and learn Waterbending. Now she was twenty, she was a priestess, mother and adult.

Adult.

It was an odd thought to her, especially since Katara had always felt like she was born in her forties. But while she had always had more responsibility than any other young girl in the tribe, Katara now knew there were things about being grown that she hadn't understood until recently.

Shaking her head, Katara came back to Earth and put her pants and nightgown on. The pants were a tailored fit and the nightgown had a slit all the way up to her thigh, the top was secured across the shoulder with intricately sewn frog buttons. The cotton was brushed and dyed light blue with dark blue needlework. It was beautifully made and one of her greatest accomplishments with a needle and thread.

She sat down at the vanity again, brushed out her long, wet hair, did her nightly skin ritual with her seaweed lotions and assorted scrubs from her tribe. It was a ritual the nuns at the temple looked down upon because they insisted it removed the simplicity of natural beauty, though Katara always suspected they were jealous of how much clearer and even her skin was compared to theirs. Exhausted, she crawled into the large, soft bed, blew out the lamp and fell into a much needed (and deserved) slumber.

For the first time in over a year Katara got out of bed at her own leisure. Living at the Air Temple meant bells tolling at dawn and morning exercises; sleeping in was not tolerated. The strict routine was something Katara was always curious about: if the Air Nomads gave up all earthly attachments, wouldn't that include schedules? But living at the Air Temple had also taught Katara that Air Nomads were just like their element, flighty and prone to sudden changes if it suited their purpose. Not that she hadn't enjoyed her time with Aang, of everyone she had ever known. Aang knew how to enjoy life more than anyone.

Katara got out of bed, washed up, brushed her hair, did her make-up and chose an outfit she had made specifically for travels in the Fire Nation. It was an odd combination of her Water Tribe robes and the Fire Nation clothing she had worn when she was traveling in secret during the war. It was made of light blue silk and showed off her stomach, the top was sleeveless with a hood attached to it, the skirt had tribal symbols on it and flowed around her legs. After she was dressed, Katara left the bedroom of the suite and found one of Zuko's foreign ministers in the small sitting room; he was perched on the couch, fidgeting impatiently.

"I didn't know you were here." Katara said, obviously surprised. "How long have you been waiting?"

"Long enough." He said "In the Fire Nation we rise when the sun does."

"I thought that was just your benders." Katara said, challenging this proud man's logic.

"Since there are so many benders, much more here than anywhere else, we accustom ourselves to them."

"So if someone's not a bender they aren't worth consideration?"

"Not just a bender," the man's eyes narrowed and his face became a mask of undeserved pride, "Firebenders."

"If only Firebenders are deserving of consideration than why did you wait for me?" Katara inquired, refusing to back down. "Why not just walk in and wake me up?"

"This way!" the man barked as he stood up and opened the door, "Firelord Zuko is waiting for you."

"Did you just snap an order at me?" Katara said, her annoyance reaching anger "Or did you forget who I am?"

The man gripped the door handle firmly, the metal turned red hot under his hand and steam started to rise.

"I'm sorry, Priestess Katara," He said as he bowed respectfully. "Firelord Zuko is awaiting you, he would like you to join him for breakfast."

"Thank you." Katara said as she walked past him into the hallway, her head held high.

As the minister led Katara down the hallway of the palace, she couldn't help but smile at the previous exchange. Katara not only stood her ground she had done so without completely losing her temper; it reminded her of the previous night's thought about becoming an adult. She had certainly come a long way.