Of Firelords and Birthday Cakes (Zutara)

Traditions (Swimming)

"What's next?" Zuko stood up to face his Uncle, who unfolded his hands from inside his robe. 

"Yeah, what else is there to this traditions thing?" Toph shifted her foot in the dirt. 

Iroh smiled, "Swimming." 

We all looked at each other. Sokka and I exchanged a happy glance. Yay! Water. 

Zuko looked less than pleased, "Now?" he looked at the sky which was getting darker by the minute, "Shouldn't we do it tomorrow?" 

"No." Iroh stood up, placing his hands on his knees as he did so, "It must be done all within the night."

Zuko's shoulders fell, but Aang perked up, "Alright! I've always wanted to go swimming in the dark!" 

Iroh stopped by a small pool next to a bank that lead out to a much larger lake. 

Sokka was already in the process of taking his shirt off when Uncle stopped him, "You must leave all your clothes on." 

"Huh?" Suki, Aang, and Sokka all asked at once. 

"Whew." Toph plopped down and crossed her legs in the short grass, "So no swimming?" 

Iroh chuckled, then promptly shoved Zuko into the water. He let out a hoarse cry of panic before he landed in the water with a splash. 

We all laughed as he propped himself on his arms, his new robe soaking wet, and his black hair hanging almost to his shoulders. 

"My turn!" Sokka jumped in after Zuko, landing with a much larger splash, with soaked him even more. 

I felt giddiness rise up into my chest as I ran towards the water, "Whooohoo!" 

Not even caring that I had just showered this morning, and that my shoes would definitely get ruined, I jumped as high as I could. 

I aimed at Sokka, who was helping Zuko to his feet, "Look out!" 

Both boys screamed as I landed between them, spraying water everywhere, then as I lost my balance, I screamed myself as I landed on my backside. I went under for a moment, then came back up, gasping for breath, "Got ya!" 

Zuko and Sokka were now thoroughly soaked from the water, and my brother glared at me, "You just couldn't pass it up could you?" 

Suki came next, doing a flip before landing at Sokka's feet, getting water in his eyes.

"Hey!" he yelled, splashing her back, as she sat up, laughing. 

Aang jumped on his air scooter with no more delay, and dropped himself right next to me, "This is great."

"Come on Toph!" Sokka called from the water, and I looked up to see her still on land, her eyes wide.

"Oh no. I'll take my sweet old time." she felt for the edge of the water, then shuddered as her hand went in the water, "It's freezing!" 

I hadn't noticed. Sitting up on my knees, I noticed that Suki, Zuko, and Aang were not enjoying the cold water as much as us watertribe people. Water was our element, not theirs. 

Zuko was sitting up, holding his arms and shivering. Suki was tenderly walking around in an effort to keep warm. Aang was trying to blow warm puffs of air. 

"Toph's right." Zuko's raspy voice said, "It's really cold!" 

Sokka plopped down next to him, "Get used to it buddy. Water isn't always so warm. This is actually warmer than some baths we used to take back at home." my brother untied his hair to let it down, "You climb into the freezing cold water, sit there, and shiver your brains out until the dirtiness on you just freezes off." 

"Gross." Suki said. 

"It's true." I supported Sokka as I waterbended some of the liquid around me to form a sphere. 

Zuko solemnly stood up, then as we watched, he clasped his hands together and gestured at the water. Instantly the water got so warm, I was sure my skin had just been roasted. 

"Oh, this is nice." Suki sat down in the circle of heat Zuko had created.

Aang sat down as well, and I crossed my arms over my chest as the Fire Lord sat down in the now warm water, smiling. 

Toph, feeling the change, finally entered the river, then sighing, sat down next to Aang, "See, this is much better." 

"It's not gonna last like that forever." Sokka told them as he stood up to exit the warm circle. 

I wasn't going to protest, but still sat where I was looking at all of them.

Zuko was the most wet out of the group, his black hair still dripping, and his wet robe clinging to his skin. I quickly averted my eyes as his gold glance fell on me, hoping he would take my flushed complexion as the heat of the water. 

Iroh still sat on the bank, watching us all. 

I motioned to him, "Come in Uncle!" 

He shook his head, his grey hair shifting over his shoulders, "I will join you when we go to the sauna." 

"Sauna?" almost everyone asked. 

Toph instantly stood up, "Why didn't we go there instead?" 

Iroh simply chuckled. 

Everyone sighed as they got up out of the water, dripping wet as they walked back to the grass. Dipping my head under the water one last time, I came back up, then got out of my position. To step towards them.

As everyone started ringing out their clothes, I took a breath, then grabbing all the water from their clothes, brought it into one big stream and slid it back into the water. 

"Hey thanks Katara." Aang gave me a big smile. 

"No problem." I gave them all a grin back, before taking my hands over my own head to get rid of my own water. 

(A/N: sorry this is so long. I had to split it up into two chapters so It wouldn't take up so much room. Next part very soon. :D)