CHAPTER 21- What Now?
The gang slept in the morning after the gala. The past couple of weeks had really taken a toll on them. When everyone finally woke up for breakfast, they found the king waiting expectantly for them in the dining hall, breakfast being laid out.
"Sorry we slept in so late," Aang started.
"Don't worry about it," Kuei assured them all. "Please, sit, relax and eat."
Sokka immediately sat down and started stuffing his face as if he'd never seen food before in his life. Katara pulled his head up by his ponytail.
"Breathe Sokka!" She chided him.
"Can't talk, must eat," he replied.
As they all sat down, Katara wondered why Sokka hadn't started in on her and Zuko this morning. He wasn't giving her the cold shoulder either. He was acting as if nothing had happened last night. He just ignored her in his brotherly way. Everything seemed normal to Sokka. Seeing that he hadn't said anything about the previous night's events, the rest of the group stared at him, save for Zuko and Kuei. Sokka finally took a breather.
"Why are you all staring at me?" He asked them, oblivious.
Toph didn't beat around the bush. "Last night you were going crazy because you found out that your sister's dating a Firebender. You stayed in your room for the rest of the party. Then you come in here today like nothing happened. You haven't yelled or tried to kill Zuko. We're all trying to figure out what happened," she lectured.
Everyone looked on expectantly. Zuko continued eating. Katara noticed and prodded him with her finger.
"What happened?" Katara whispered.
"It's not my position to explain," he whispered back, maintaining a neutral expression.
Katara looked back at her brother, confused.
"Sokka, what did happen?" Aang asked.
"Do I really have to answer this? I'm trying to eat," he said, trying to change the subject. He felt that telling everyone that he'd had a 'feelings' conversation with Zuko was embarrassing.
"Well, considering what happened yesterday, an explanation might be nice," Katara countered.
Sokka just dug back into his food. Seeing that he wasn't going to crack during breakfast, the group backed off.
"So, did everyone have a good time at the party?" Kuei asked, breaking the silence.
"I think so! It was magnificent!" Iroh said chuckling.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves," the king nodded. "It was the least I could do. Now, once we're done breakfast, I have a few things to take care of. So, feel free to wander around. But please meet me in the throne room in an hour."
Once everyone was done, Katara was the first one out. She found an empty room in the hall and waited for everyone to file past the opening. She readied herself and grabbed Zuko and Sokka at the last second. Katara yanked them into the room by the arms.
"Katara, what are you doing?" Sokka asked.
"I want to know what happened with you guys. You're both acting really weird this morning," Katara told them.
"We're acting like we normally do," Sokka said, sitting on a plush chair. "How is that weird?"
Katara walked over to Zuko and rested her hand on his arm. "Please, I just want to find out why you aren't killing each other."
Zuko and Sokka exchanged glances.
"Come on," Zuko said. "She has the right to know."
Sokka sagged his shoulders, seeing no end to this discussion. "Fine. Zuko came to my room last night and we talked. It's all better. We good now?"
"What about?" Katara pried.
"We talked about you guys," Sokka said. "I'm not going into detail after that. But just so you know there will be no assassination attempts on Zuko's life from me."
"Does that mean-?" Katara stopped.
"Yeah, it does. I can live with it. I told him I don't have to like it, but I can accept it for your sake."
"Oh, Sokka!" Katara cried, tackling her brother off the chair in a bear hug.
"Okay, okay, I get it Katara," Sokka said, trying to free himself from her arms.
"You don't know how much this means Sokka," she said, releasing him.
"I can guess," Sokka replied. "Can we be done with this sappy stuff now? I wanted to check out the guards' armory."
"Go," Katara said with a grin.
Sokka dashed out the door. Katara turned to Zuko.
"You risked going into his room and getting punched for me?" Katara asked.
Zuko nodded. "I can see your brother doesn't like things hidden from him. I think a punch in the face may have been worth it. Come on, lets go kill what's left of this hour," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder to lead her out of the room.
Toph and Aang were Earthbending. They'd found the place the guards used to train and were taking advantage of it. Aang had just missed landing a hit on her.
"Come on Twinkle Toes!" Toph grinned. "You can do better than that!"
Meanwhile, Zuko and Katara were taking a walk through the palace gardens. They say at the edge of a pond and watched some fish swimming back and forth.
"These gardens kind of remind me of the palace where I used to live. All that's missing are the turtle ducks," Zuko said.
"If the Fire Nation palace is anything like this, I think I'd like it," Katara mused.
"Maybe," he replied. "Though, the Fire Lord being within your view might obscure the perfection a bit."
Katara laughed. "I know I don't have to describe what my home looks like."
"Lots of snow and ice. I remember it like it was yesterday. How can you stand being so cold?" Zuko asked.
"You get used to it, I guess. When you live there your whole life you don't realize the temperature," Katara said.
"Good point," he conceded.
"Hey, as much as I'd love to stay here, we have to head inside. The king will be expecting us soon," Katara said, making to get up.
"He can wait a few minutes," Zuko said, pulling her back and kissing her.
Once everyone was assembled in the throne room, the king said a lot was going on.
"If we are to proceed with the invasion of the Fire Nation, we have a lot of planning to do. I'm assigning a few of you some special jobs to help out. Sokka and Aang, you'll meet with the Council and finish planning the invasion. Zuko and Iroh, please go with them. I think you'll both be able to help us figure out the best route to take. When you're through, bring the plans here to receive my seal. Ty Lee, I'd like you to show your technique to some of my men. They'll be going to the Fire Nation and they could use the jitsu very well.
"Katara, I'd like your help with a letter or two, if you wouldn't mind. Ursa, Mai, Toph, feel free to do what you please. Relax and enjoy the peace of the palace."
At that notion everyone dispersed. Toph went back outside to practice. Mai headed for the palace library. Ursa went to the king's tea house for some tea. Aang, Sokka, Zuko and Iroh headed out to meet the Council of Five. Katara and Kuei stayed behind.
"What letters do need my help with, Your Majesty?" Katara asked.
"These have to do with the impending invasion of the Fire Nation," he said.
"What do you mean?" She asked, her curiosity growing.
"I know you can read, so I'm going to assume you've learned to write. Am I correct?"
"Yes, I can write as well."
"I was hoping you could compose some letters for me. Does that sound like something you're interested in?" Kuei questioned her.
Katara nodded. "It'd be my pleasure to help you write these letters."
"Very good. If you'll follow me into my private studies, we can begin," the king said, gesturing to his right.
In the war chamber, the five generals sat around the map. Sokka, Zuko, Iroh and Aang sat on the other side.
"So, as we planned, the army and navy will invade the Fire Nation on August first, the Day of Black Sun," General How began. "Invading on the day of the eclipse is of prime importance. If we fail to do this, the Fire Nation will be almost unstoppable, their power only growing until Sozin's Comet arrives. Stopping the Fire Nation is a matter of life and death."
"General Iroh, do you have any input on the best path into the heart of the Fire Nation?" One of the other generals asked.
Iroh stood and peered over the map. He pointed to Ba Sing Se and began to trace out a route. "I'm sure Fire Lord Ozai has been informed of the impending invasion. The good news is the Firebenders will be powerless, but the Fire Nation will be more secure then ever. I feel the safest and shortest route would be this. If we move out of Ba Sing Se, we can head out through this waterway that connects to the ocean. If we cling to the coast of the North Eastern Earth Kingdom, we are still safe in those waters. We would be able to cut through the ocean and head through to the capitol in the center of the archipelago."
The others considered this. They knew that Iroh, with his military knowledge and Fire Nation heredity was the perfect person to plan the route. To follow the plan, they'd have to leave in about a week and a half to arrive in time for the Day of Black Sun.
"Avatar Aang, what do you think of this idea?" One of the generals asked.
"I don't know anything about trying to invade the Fire Nation, but I think Iroh's plan is the safest way in," Aang told them.
The generals discussed this plan and agreed upon it. They continued to talk about troops and precautions and plans until Sokka and Aang were sure they'd fall asleep. Zuko didn't say a word the whole time. After the consequences of speaking out in his father's war room, Zuko was afraid to say anything at this meeting, even though he knew he wouldn't receive a punishment if he did.
Katara had followed Kuei into his study. He sat at his large earthen desk with Bosco at his feet and gestured for Katara to sit in the chair next to him. In front of her he placed a few scrolls of parchment, some sable brushes, and an inkwell. Katara looked at the assortment of items on his desk. He had stamps and seals in every size and shape. Scrolls sat in a neat pile at one corner and a cup full of brushes sat next to it. Dozens of other items littered the desk.
"So, um, what do you want me to write, exactly?" Katara asked.
"I have a few letters I'd like you to write. One is to go to the North Pole. One to the South. A letter will be sent to Kyoshi Island. And one is going to Chameleon Bay. I was hoping you would write these for me. You'll be acting as a dignitary of sorts. I had a feeling you know the people in charge. If I advise you on what to discuss, do you think you can compose them?"
"I'd be honored," Katara said, her excitement growing.
"Wonderful. The first one shall be to the North Pole."
A few hours later, everyone met to have lunch. They immediately began discussing what they'd been doing. Katara told them all how she'd written letters Chief Arnook, Gran Gran, Oyaji and her and Sokka's father. Hakoda was still stationed at Chameleon Bay with the rest of the Southern Water tribe warriors. Once everyone else had shared their doings, Aang asked Kuei if there was anything else they could do to prepare for the invasion. He told them that they could only wait for responses to the letters and begin to prepare themselves for the Fire Nation. With only about a week and a half before they needed to leave, they had a lot to be ready for.