Since the summary didn't seem to give much info, let me spell it out for you: This multi-chapter story is going to tell the tale of Katara's hatred towards Zuko and the journey she goes through before she finally comes to accept him into the group. This is going to a be a little side-project going on alongside "A Lifetime Of Love", and I'll alternate everyday between writing chapters for each. I've always enjoyed writing emotional works, and I'm looking forward to writing this whole story. So anyways...I hope you enjoy this first chapter, and please review! :D
NOTE: This is SO not going to be a Zutara story, so don't get excited Zutarians. :P
ADDITIONAL NOTE: The bold AND italic words (example) are representing Katara's inner self. It's like a tiny voice in the back of her head that she's not aware of, but sometimes she will be able to hear it. It's kind of like what her heart is trying to say to her, but most of the time her hatred towards Zuko drowns it out.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. The show and its characters belong to Mike and Bryan, the brillant geniuses behind one of the greatest cartoon shows in the history of cartoons. Their work is legendary, and I salute them for it.
On Pain Of Death
How can they all trust that monster? angrily thought Katara to herself as she walked through the halls of the Western Air Temple. The banished Fire Nation Prince had just been accepted into their group, although she wasn't happy about it. She was only willing to go along with their decision because Aang needed a Firebending teacher so that he could defeat the Fire Lord. If she had her way, she would have sent Zuko away without a second thought. She stopped and punched the wall as she grunted, gritting her teeth in rage. After all he's done to us, they welcome him with open arms just because they think he's 'changed'!
Perhaps he has, said a little voice inside of her, a sound that was drowned out immediately by her raging river of anger. Her heart had been tricked once by the Firebender, and she was determined to let the ocean inside of her quench the flames of the object of her hate.
Her eyebrow twitched as she thought, But I know what that boy-no, snake is capable of…I know he hasn't changed, not after what he did in Ba Sing Se. Her heart ached as she remembered how Zuko betrayed her and Aang to Azula in the Crystal Catacombs. It's because of his actions that Aang nearly died…I will never forgive him for that. Ever since the Avatar had nearly died, she had grown more protective of him. She even felt something else for him, a feeling that she cared for Aang on a far deeper level than in all the time she had known him in their travels. Perhaps it was love, perhaps it wasn't…But I will not lose Aang again, she thought to herself. He's the last hope for the entire world…and for me.
How is he your last hope? asked the voice. Is he the last hope for your home, or is he the last hope for your heart? He has always been there for you and has never betrayed you…unlike Jet and Zuko. You've changed in how you see him…remember the kiss? He obviously cares about you and maybe even loves you, but what about you? Do you love him?
She dropped her arm by her side as she continued walking on, thinking to herself, Zuko may think he's fooled everyone else, but I see through his veil of lies and deceit. She furrowed her eyebrows angrily as she thought, And if he thinks that he's safe from me, he's got another thing coming. I will defend my friends with my life, especially Aang. She smiled deviously as she thought, I think it's time I gave Zuko a little message…my own sort of 'welcome' into my family. When I'm through with him, he'll know his place…and I know just where to find him. She made her way to the spare bedroom where she knew that Zuko would be staying at, and she heard Aang and Sokka walk away. Perfect timing, she thought to herself, and she made her way to open doorway.
As she stood there, she saw him turn to face her. She narrowed her eyes at his face, letting all her anger at the Prince burst out of her heart like a massive tidal wave. Look at you, making yourself comfortable, she thought mockingly. You may be all warm and fuzzy to everyone else, but sooner or later you're going to explode and burn someone…like Aang. Her cold blue eyes sent a silent message of hate to his hot amber eyes, her soul completely frozen over with rage and anger.
She said in a seething tone, "You might have everyone else here buying your…transformation." She spat out the word as if it were a deadly poison, one that she had been affected by in Ba Sing Se.
My heart is completely frozen to you, an iceberg that you can never melt with your warm words of fake friendship. You may have lost your honor, but I've lost something more important…my own mother. I can never forgive you or your evil Nation for what happened that day.
It wasn't his fault that your mother died. He wasn't the one who burned her lungs, causing her blood to spill on the frozen floor of your beloved home.He didn't make you cry for days afterwards as you mourned for your dead mother. But she couldn't hear the voice over the roaring and thrashing of her sea of emotions.
She stepped forward and said, "But you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past."
Just like in Ba Sing Se. You fooled me into thinking you had changed your ways, into thinking that there was an actual person behind that horrible scar…but I was wrong. Because of you, I lost someone else dear to my heart…Aang. I will never lose the people I love to a fiery death ever again.
She walked up, getting in his face as she viciously hissed, "So let me tell you something right now."
Never again…never again will I trust you around my family. I absolutely hate you, you deceitful, traitorous, ungrateful snake!
But he left his own home to fight by Aang's side, to teach him the ways of Firebending. He is doing what his heart feels is right, just like he did in Ba Sing Se. But his mind was clouded then by the lies of his sister then…now he sees clearly, now he sees the right path. Why can't you see that, child?
She could see the fear on his face, and she thought, Good. You should fear me. I'm not that little girl anymore…the little girl who couldn't save her own mother from your Nation. She let her anger and hatred impregnate her voice as she snarled, "You make one step backward, one slip up…give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang…and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore."
Now I have the power to defend those I love…now I can protect them from you. I loved my mother, and she was killed! I love Aang, and you will not take him from me again! My heart would completely shatter if something happened to him…I care about him with all my being, and I will not lose him again.
She narrowed her eyes as she said, "Because I'll make sure your destiny ends…right then and there…" He wore his fear on his scarred face, and she reveled in his terror. She enjoyed having this power over her hated enemy, and it brought forth a darker side of her…one that made her river of hatred flow with all the force of a rogue wave.
What if Aang saw you now? What do you think he would say about you threatening Zuko's life in this way?
Her voice goes deathly soft, and a chill penetrated the tense air as she whispered, "Permanently." She saw his eyes widen as he got the message, and she sadistically smiled inwards. She turned and walked out of the room, firmly closing the door behind her. The final image of Zuko's fear-filled face was imprinted in her vision, and she enjoyed every second that it lasted.
I will not be the fool again and let my heart trust him. If he hurts Aang in even the slightest, I swear I'll freeze his blood so fast he'll have icicles sticking out of every orifice in his body! I might even Bloodbend him! I HATE HIM!
You fear what he will do to your friends, and that is causing you to become angry at him. Your raging anger is now becoming a great and terrible hatred. If you do not learn to control your hatred towards Zuko, you will not only cause him to suffer…but also yourself.
