Authors note
I just started reading the Avatar Comics and was wondering if I could write a ONESHOT about what happened after the war.
Assumptions I took for this particular one-shot
-Everything in the show happened, except for the final kiss
-For some reason I cannot accept the fact that they are all little kids so lets just assume they are all a bit older.
-PAIRING(S) present: Kataang, hinted Maiko.
It was a soothing evening. The golden orb was slowly dipping down the curved horizon at Ba Sing Se. It filled the previously light blue sky in golden hue. Thin streaks of clouds drifted across. Just two days ago, the citizens were under the tyrannical control of the fire nation and today they were liberated. It was the mark of the beginning of a new era of peace and true prosperity. The Gaang was having a mini – celebration for the end of the hundred year war at the Jasmine Dragon. If there was a word to express their feeling, it was yet to be invented. Everyone was fine except for one person, Katara.
The girls were all sitting and talking about, what Sokka would call girly stuff, at the corner of the shop. Though everyone was happy and excited about the new beginning, Katara was more solemn than ever. Before the war, they knew they had a goal. They knew that they would have to fight the fire lord and end this war. However now that everything is over, there was no reason for them to stick together. It was obvious to everyone that eventually everyone would be off in his or her separate ways. It was not the separation from Suki, Zuko, or Toph that worried her, it was Aang. Memories that they shared sped past her mind. She suddenly realized a voice was calling out for her, shaking her out of her trance.
"Earth to Sugar queen. Are you in there?" Toph said knocking on Katara's head.
Katara who did not know what was going on blinked and asked in a wearily, "Uuh…what?"
"You have sat there for the past ten minutes not doing anything. Is something wrong?" Suki asked with a concerned face.
"Umm…nothing. Just… thinking about something." Katara answered with a wavering tone.
"What?" Mai asked glumly
"It is nothing. It's pretty silly" Katara hoping that they will change the topic.
Suki, who was obviously unsatisfied with the answer squawked, "Oh! Come on you can tell us anything it's not like we have anything left to talk about!"
Toph smirked, "Its Aang isn't it?"
Katara, who was surprised by her question, started fumbling, "yes…I mean no. why would I be thinking about him?"
Toph smiled evilly and said, "I maybe blind but your emotions are just too obvious that I can feel em. Come on spill it out what going on between you and Air boy?"
Katara's eyes widened as she shouted defensively, "Nothing's going on between me and Aang."
Toph scoffed, "Katara if you are going to lie to me can you at least put in some effort by lifting your feet off the ground."
The water tribe girl stood no chance in winning an argument against the blind bandit. She sighed as she hung her head low and spoke in defeat, "Oh alright…you got me Toph. You are right I am kind of in love…with Aang." She said hesitantly.
Mai who was watching this silently spoke, "Now that's a shock"
Toph laughed and asked, "So have you told him yet?" Katara looked down at the table and nervously shook her head.
Suki smiled and said, "What's the problem? Everything is over. Just go and tell him."
Katara raised her head and said in an exasperated tone, "That's the problem. Everything is normal and perfect now that I can't talk to him normally."
The three of them looked at her blankly in confusion.
Katara who understood their expressions and spoke, "I guess it would help if I talk it out" she slowly traced the intricate mahogany design on the table and began, "When we were at the Ember Island play, Aang kind of… confessed his love for me. Back then it seemed logical for me to dissuade him from having romantic feelings for me… but now…"
Toph who was drinking her cup of tea spat it out in disbelief, "Wait a minute! You mean twinkle toes confessed… and you rejected him! You are one heart breaker!"
"Well not exactly… I had no choice. If I had said yes he would not be able to focus on the war … he might have …died. That's the last thing I would want!" Katara let tears flow as she thought about what might have happened to him.
Suki placed her hand on Katara's shoulders reassuringly, "I understand Katara, just calm down. We have won the battle. Don't worry." Katara sniffled her sobs as memories of Azula shooting him down came back to her.
"I still don't see the problem in you telling him now? Just go and tell him now. I am pretty sure he would want to be with you." Mai said, slowly sharpening her stilettos
"I would be more than happy to do what you people said but what if he doesn't like me anymore." Katara said with irate annoyance.
Suki, who was clearly confused by her, spoke in defense for Aang, "Why would you say that? Aang is like the kindest person on the planet. What makes you think he doesn't like you?"
"He went into the Avatar State during the fight! That's why!" Katara bellowed furiously.
They scratched their heads in further perplexity. Toph snorted with mock assurance, "That made sense!"
Katara's face dropped on the table in frustration, "Uughhh! Why is it so hard to talk to you people?"
She took in a deep breath to prepare herself for the explanation, "Have you realized that ever since he was shot by Azula he has been unable to go into his Avatar state, till two days ago?"
The other three nodded in realization. "He was unable to go into the Avatar state not because of the lightning but because he was supposed to let go of all earthly attachments. For him to master the Avatar state he had to let go of everything he loves. However two days ago he managed to go into the avatar state."
The trio stared at her processing the information that they just received.
"So what you are trying to imply is that, he… let go of his emotions … for you … to master the avatar state during the last battle?" Suki clarified carefully phrasing her words to make sure it does not hurt her.
Katara nodded with tears welling up her eyes, "Every time I fall in love with someone I end up losing them. I lost my mother because she was taken away from me by the fire nation. Now I lost him and I can't blame anyone but myself. Maybe I am just not supposed to love anyone!" as she burst out in tears.
Suki sighed and patted her shoulders, "You haven't lost him Katara!" She thought for a while and continued, "If he truly loved you before I doubt if he got rid of you from his heart."
"Aang is the avatar. He is not that simple, he never is!" Katara bellowed lightly.
"What I am saying is that you should go and talk to him." Suki said giving her hand a light squeeze.
"Yeah you may never know how he reached the Avatar state." Toph trying to sound surprisingly optimistic.
Katara's eyes widened at the possibility of Aang retaining a place for her in his heart. Suki patted her shoulders and began, "Katara, when love is real it finds a way. (Said by Roku.) You will never lose by loving, but you will always lose by holding back. Just go out and tell him your true feelings. It either now or never. You know it very well. Good luck Kat…." However before she finished they were interrupted by Zuko shouting out from the back of the kitchen, "KATARA!"
Though the girls were startled by his tone, they were more interested to find out what Katara had done to Zuko. Toph gently nudged Katara, "Way to go sweetness! What did you do to the new fire lord?"
Katara shrugged, as she was just as curious as everyone else was in the room. Zuko came in charging through from the back of the kitchen to the girls table and started fuming. He took in a deep breath and barked, "Katara can I talk to you." He said waving a thin sheet of pink paper.
Katara knew that whatever was the cause for his anger it had something to do with the pink letter. She looked at the others and nodded hesitantly, slowly following him to the back of the kitchen.
Zuko took in a deep breath and asked in polite tone pacing up and down the kitchen floor, "Katara may I ask you a few questions before I get to the main issue?"
Katara rose her left eye brow in surprise and nodded, "yeah sure"
Zuko let out a short gush of wind escape his mouth as he continued, "Question Number one, can water and fire mix?"
Katara scratched her head and said, "Did you bring me here to play this weird game? Of course they don't. I am pretty sure you learnt this in your first fire bending lesson that water and fire are opposites... They are polar opposites. They do not compliment each other. That is why Firebenders and waterbenders are always trying to get on each other's throats. Even we tried to kill each other at first. As the new fire lord you should be pretty knowledgeable about this topic."
Zuko's eyebrows rose as though really impressed with the answer, "You seem to be aware of all the complication between our nations" he cleared his throat once again and continued, "Second question, who do I love in a girlfriend sort of way?" Zuko asked in a calm and resolved tone.
Katara giggled for a while and answered, "Isn't it obvious? You love Mai, and Mai loves you."
Zuko took a deep breath and sighed "Good at least you know that! One last question care to wait for a while…"
Katara nodded still clueless about what was happening. Zuko clenched his fist and faked a cough as he stopped pacing in front of her.
He took in a deep breath and bellowed, "If that's the case then…WHY ON EARTH DID YOU SEND ME A LOVE LETTER?!" unrolling the pink scroll in front of her.
Cliff hanger :p
I hope you guys like the twist at the end. I hope to finish of this story within the next chapter. Till then please continue to show me your support. Reviews / Comments would be very much appreciated.Thank you!