AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 44

Athlea sighed, turning around to Katara, a smile adorning her lips. "Wanna get an insight of a daily Royal's duty?" she asked, a soft laugh escaping her lips.

Katara let out a soft laugh herself. "Sure," she said softly. "Not that I'm very interesting." She smiled genuinely. "Even though I could go back and rule the Southern North Pole, I'm just not very... interested." She shrugged. "But let's see what you do!"

Athlea giggled and looked at the girl with a nod. "Today things are calm," she admitted with a shrug. She started leading Katara toward the square, just outside of the Palace gate. "Usually it's paper work, which I hate," she added. The school she was bringing them to was very close, and as they headed inside, away from the many, many people that were greeting them, it appeared that lessons were occurring. "We changed a lot for the schools here. The history and everything was taught very wrong and we made sure to change that," she said, smiling. "And we usually visit once in a while to see how things are." She looked at Katara, and then back forward as they walked through the hallway of the school.

Katara followed after her, listening with a pleasant expression on her face. "Cool!" she responded happily. Katara nodded with understanding. "I bet. They probably taught that every Tribe and Nation was against the firebenders." She nodded in understanding.

Athlea nodded as she looked. "They were twisting the history to make it seem that the Fire Nation was the greatest, and the others were an opposing threat, and blah, blah," she said with a soft giggle. "Basically brainwashing people. So Zuko and I changed it and made it how it is supposed to be." She then stopped in front of a door of a classroom, looking through the window. "Kids deserve a good education, one that will talk to them about real facts that take place, and not fake ones to brainwash them," she admitted and looked at Katara.

Katara nodded. "That's what I guessed. Did you include all the nasty stuff that happened?" She tilted her head a bit to the side. Katara leaned forward, looking into the classroom, her eyes bright.

"I wouldn't want the kids traumatized, now, would I?" Athlea laughed, shaking her head softly. "They are young, so they learn the basics--truthful basics--and as they get older, they get more details, finding out more. Step by step, you get it? There are other Nations, different types of bending, not only fire." The Fire Lady proceeded once more down the hallways.

"Of course," Katara agreed. "Even if it is hard to hear, they need to know." She nodded.

It didn't take long before they were headed back toward the Palace, returning to the office so that Athlea could start to work on hiring new guards. Katara followed her. The office was large and somewhat messy with papers, but Katara assumed that Athlea was secretly very organized. She walked down a shelf as Athlea began making calls, running her finger down the spines of the books before selecting one to read. She sat in a chair, looking it over: 'The History of Fire Nation Lords and Ladies.'

Athlea's attention turned to Katara. "You picked an interesting book," she said, turning back to sign papers. "I remember when I was crowned and had to go through training. I had to learn that book cover to cover. I hated it and never touched it after," she admitted, giggling softly.

Katara nodded and looked up from her book. "Makes sense. It looks interesting."

Athlea shrugged. "Yeah, it is interesting. Unless you're forced to learn everything on it." She set aside a thin stack of papers.

She tilted her head a bit. "What did you do about all the books that the Fire Nation had fake information in? Did you have to burn them?"

Athlea's eyes moved over to one of the scrolls, raising an eyebrow and opening it; reading through it. Her attention though turned to Katara as she set down the scroll on her desk. "Well, we had to."

Katara smiled. "Yeah, makes sense." She leaned back into the chair to read while the queen worked.

And speaking of that..." Athlea smiled. "I'm going to open a new library, open to anyone from anywhere in the world." She stood. "I want it to have unlimited books to read, from children's books, to educational books, to bending techniques--everything!" Her eyes gleamed.

Katara sat up straight. "That's great!" she agreed, eyes shining. "We have so many scrolls that we could start one for sure. Just promise you won't let a giant owl guard it and force it underground any time someone misuses information?"

Athlea looked at her and raised an eyebrow, giggling. "Oh please," she said. "It's going to be open to everyone. Everyone who seeks knowledge."

Katara scratched the back of her head. "Oh, right. You weren't with us for that one."

Athlea leaned against the desk, her arms crossed, smiling. She thought for a moment, her smile growing larger, and then she turned back to Katara. "I'll have to see it through with Zuko and get his opinion too," she said with a nod.

Katara laughed with Athlea. "Great!" She threw her legs over the side of the chair. "Of course Zuko will let you do whatever you want. And only you." Her eyes lit up and she sat up straight. "Oh! Aang and I are officially together." She looked down at the book, smiling.

"Are you going to stay here? I have to get back. My Followers are probably looking for me," Athlea said.

"Yes, I can stay here. Maybe I'll go clean up in your giant bathtub, or go hang out with Toph." Katara hopped to her feet, sliding the book back into the shelf.

"Great." The women split ways, Katara going to Toph's bedroom, and Athlea walking peacefully down the hall toward the throne room.

"Fire Lady!"

Her peace was quickly interrupted and she sighed, stopping and turning around. "Yes?"

It was her right-hand and Helper, Seo. She had black hair and a very narrow chin, and she wore a lavender robe with gold embellishments. "We were looking for you."

Athlea's other Helper, MyungJong, was at Seo's side. MyongJong's robe had a white top with a red skirt and teal sleeves, her features round and soft. "Where are you off to?"

Athlea turned, continuing making her way to the throne room. "It's time for some new plans."

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A/N i really like Katara and Athlea together?! anyways Athlea is such a business woman