Dear Diary,
It's been over three years since the passing of Sozin's Comet and I still find it hard to believe at the number of changes that awakened after the Day of the Black Sun. Let me recall how the world endured Ozai's rule when we desperately waited for the Avatar. Perhaps the Avatar truly is dead because he has not shown up at all.
Ozai was victorious at obstructing the tactics of the Waterbenders at the North Pole as Sozin's Comet approached. All he had left to do was to conquer the Earth Kingdom within the time frame of the Comet. He set out to demolish the entire Earth Kingdom in his Fire Nation air ship, and the rumors said that he ruthlessly drenched the soil with his unholy fire. He thought himself victorious, inexpugnable and unstoppable, but how wrong he was. He deemed himself a force that could not be prevented in the absence of the Avatar, but he failed to remember Nature that first created the balance in our world.
You see Diary, the four nations lived isolated from amongst each other, unbeknownst to each other's existence, yet they lived in incorrigible harmony. Ozai and his predecessors were disrupting this balance for over a hundred years but Nature has a mysterious way of getting revenge. When the world was bathed in crimson, Ozai soared the heavens, destroying what remained of the Earth Kingdom. He did not even care about the Fire Nation colonies and his forsaken recruits that rotted beneath. He wanted ultimate power and he destroyed anything that stood in his way, just like Sozin did when he eliminated the entire race of Airbenders.
Strangely enough, karma has a bizarre way of striking back, and I heard that a portal from the Spirit World was torn open due to the mass number of souls that were entering the Sacred Realm all at once. It was said that those souls poured out at Ozai, striking him down. Their cries were so full of ire that they echoed beyond the Earth Kingdom. I remember hearing their muffled voices roll across the wintry skies, above my deteriorating village as my brother protected me in his arms. The whole world came to a conclusion: The murdered souls were fighting back, despite the fact that the Avatar was still lying dormant somewhere unreachable.
The astonished Firelord was forced to crouch in front of the very people that he had killed. The soldiers on his airship were shivering in fright, watching their once powerful ruler submit to the force of lost souls. Witnesses declared they observed soldiers running off the edge of the air ship and ironically, the damned Firebenders found solace in their earthy graves. The Firelord could not take the pain and humiliation anymore so he too rolled off the magnificent air ship.
There are many things that I find hard to believe. The most obvious is that the Avatar has not been found. According to the Avatar cycle, the next Avatar will appear in one of the Water Tribes. However, there are no signs of multiple benders! This could only mean that the rumors of the Avatar sleeping somewhere far beyond our reach must be true. The other event that I find hard to understand is the fact that the demonic Firelord survived his fall…It was as if fate wanted to mock the survivors of Ozai's tyranny!
Surprisingly, Ozai had a change of heart...Or so they say. The Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe nations were too feeble and famished to prevent further attacks from the Fire nation. Therefore, they agreed to sign The Treaty of the Phoenix, where each nation is to be controlled by the Firelord but we do not lose our rights to practice our culture and bending.
To add another topping of drama, the Firelord declared that any earth or water benders (or non-bending children with expertise in combat) that display unnatural talent with their abilities must attend the University of Firelord Ozai for two years and serve the Fire Nation military for an extra year. Anyone who opposes to do so...Well, I am sure you will know the consequences for that.
Three years have passed since Sozin's Comet and Ozai's fall from the heavens. Two years before, I tearfully watched the Fire Nation take my brother away. Father could only stand and watch with sadness in his eyes. His tired face left my poor heart wringing with ire at the demonic Firebenders. My brother, Sokka, led a rebellion against the Firebending troops that had invaded our tribe before Sozin's Comet. Due to his wit and talent at combat and military techniques, he was forced to leave us and sail off to the Fire Nation Capital, where he studied military combat in the University of Firelord Ozai.
I used to be the sole waterbender in our tribe until the Northern Water Tribe sent recruits and master benders to help our population thrive and grow. Unfortunately, my waterbending has aroused the curiosity of the damned Fire Nation.
Diary, I am now writing with tears in my eyes. It's only four months away till I turn nineteen but I am on the ship to the Fire Nation Capital. The ship has now reached land but the pain and dread in my heart is more unbearable than the scorching heat of the sun. I could only think of how my father restrained himself from hiding me away and my mother, who sacrificed herself a long time ago to keep me safe.
How cruel is my life? I must study waterbending under Hama, a woman who recently swore her allegiance to the Firelord and two years from now, I must aid the Fire Nation army to quench any rebellions that are still ongoing. How could I aid the nation that destroyed my life and took my mother away from me?
Some people claim that Firelord Ozai is being kind to us. I believe otherwise. I am sure that he is scheming something dark and ominous in his lair of hell. He is waiting for something...For someone to show up. Who that person is – We could only guess...
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"Hey kid! The others have left this ship," the captain of the ship said, his shadow looming over Katara as she hurriedly tucked her diary into her backpack.
"I was just about to leave," Katara admitted, standing on her feet and wiping the sweat away from her brow.
The captain rolled his eyes and thought otherwise. He gestured Katara off the ship, almost pushing her down to the dock. Katara huffed at him angrily and looked over her shoulder to give him her meanest glare. The luminous sun brightened her view until she could see the captain no more.
Irked, thirsty, annoyed and tired, Katara trudged her way down the harbor docks. Her cotton blue shirt dress and loose navy pants were drenched in sweat. Her hair was also disheveled, wet from her sweat and coming undone behind her waist. She prayed that Sokka had some silk dresses ready for her at her new house because she underestimated the heat of the Fire Nation.
The afternoon sun glared down at the swarming crowd that departed the docks. Katara stood on her toes to search for her brother but there was no hint of blue eyes anywhere. Sokka promised her in his letter over a month ago that he will be adorned in the traditional Water Tribe attire but the azure colours were nowhere in Katara's sight. Instead, she caught flashes of wine red, soft crimson and faded pink of the Fire Nation, as well as, jaded yellow, emerald green and mossy brown of the Earth Kingdom. The sun's luminous rays blurred her vision as she squinted through the merge of colours.
Sighing in defeat, Katara sank into a nearby bench and threw her heavy rucksack across the wooden furniture.
She knew Sokka was busy preparing for his imminent graduation ceremony but she was angry that he wasn't by the harbor to pick her up. The foreign scent and atmosphere of her new home was not welcoming and sent shivers down her spine. She was aware that her feet were standing on the soil of murderers and tyrants. The very thought caused her to sneer in disgust.
A few individuals passing by took second glances towards her. Katara glared at them when she caught them looking, especially if they were Fire Nation citizens. She must have been quite the sight for them since people of the Water Tribe rarely left their homeland. With her tanned skin and large blue eyes, she was unforgettable in their perspective. Despite their curiosity, they didn't express any attempts to communicate with her. Never the less, Katara would involuntarily clutch at the water pouch around her waist in case they did.
The minutes turned into an hour and the young water bender decided that it was best for her to leave. After all, she had her first water bending lesson that night. The summer heat cast a heavy weariness over her. Katara stifled a yawn. She stood from the bench, stretching her arms and rehearsing the sharp words she would throw at Sokka when she found him. Knitting her eyebrows in anger, she grabbed her bag roughly and rubbed down the stray strands on her head.
"Hey, are you Katara?"
Katara screamed when she heard the unexpected, foreign male voice. In a swift motion, she uncapped her pouch and slapped a thin swirl of water at the intruder. As soon as the stranger staggered back in surprise, the waterbender took advantage of his drenched clothes. Her arms circled in a smooth motion before she lifted them slightly towards the sky. The water on the man's garments froze to ice, immobilizing him completely.
"Who are you? How do you know my name!?" Katara demanded; her arms poised to waterbend.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed that the man was young, no older than her and dressed in Earth Kingdom garments. His wet brown hair travelled past his shoulder and a green bandanna kept his front locks from falling into his peridot eyes. There was something familiar about his appearance yet Katara was too cautious to recall.
"I'm s-sorry for frightening you," the young man stammered in apology and fear.
"You didn't answer my question!" the distraught waterbender reminded him.
She noticed a crowd forming around them, forcing her to let go of her hostile stance.
"Did she just bend water?"
"She's very pretty…"
"Why did she attack that poor man? Is she insane?"
"Hmph. Just another punk rubbing her dirty feet into our homeland."
The whispers among the crowd forced a timid blush to dance across Katara's cheek.
"I will answer once you restrain me from this…Ice," the stranger said, his voice bringing her back from her thoughts.
Muttering an apology, Katara allowed the ice to melt, earning more gasps and awes from the crowd around her.
The green-eyed man shivered, his clothes once again wet. He looked up at Katara with a weak smile.
"My sincerest apologies Katara. I am Haru, Sokka's friend. I thought he mentioned that I will pick you up from the harbor since he is busy finishing up with Master Piandao," he told her.
Katara blinked absurdly and remembered that Sokka indeed mentioned that he had an earthbending friend called Haru. They were enrolled around the same time in the University of Firelord Ozai and quickly became good friends. She had completely forgotten that Haru would be picking her up although Sokka's description of him wasn't very accurate.
"I thought…I thought you had a moustache?" she said in a small voice, clearly embarrassed about the whole situation.
Haru raised an eyebrow awkwardly. "I…Shaved it off, I guess?"
"Ha...Listen, I'm really sorry about that."
"No problem. I was like that too when I first stepped into the Fire Nation Capital."
His humble comment enlightened Katara's heart. She held her hand out for him. He hesitated before looking into her eyes to find that her gesture of kindness was genuine. Returning the smile, he took her hand as she helped him stand back on his feet.
Haru led her away from the docks. To Katara's surprise, the young man was pleasant company. She quickly learnt that they both had much in common. He hated the Fire Nation just as much as she did. His father was imprisoned for over five years and Haru's mother had to work hard to pay off ridiculous amount of tax. Haru had to refrain himself from earthbending but he secretly perfected his techniques, away from the prying eyes of the Fire Nation soldiers. However, he was turned in by a villager. He learnt to earthbend sand and coal during his imprisonment, ultimately aiding his fellow earthbenders to escape. He later aided other rebels in liberating Ba Sing Se but was unsuccessful during Sozin's Comet. Instead of killing him for his 'crimes', Haru was forced to attend the University of Firelord Ozai and serve the Firelord.
Katara found it hard to believe that someone as gentle and humble as Haru could even enter a rebellion. The determination that emanated from his forest green eyes was enough to help her distinguish Haru's courage from his timidity. He was also handsome, but Katara didn't have time to register this since she was weary of her current surroundings.
"Here's the Capital," Haru droned, outstretching his hand at the view before him.
Katara's eyes widened like saucers. She had never seen such sophisticated buildings before. They were painted in autumn colours with people bustling about their business. Those who were rich had crimson carriages for transport. Others took the newly built tram that passed through the magnificent city. The place was a great contrast to the igloos and the harsh tundra she was used to back in the Southern pole. Her homeland was tranquil and quiet with the lack of human settlements. The Fire Nation capital was bursting with life, laughter and merriment, although she was not part of this insouciance.
The city was so busy that Katara had to push through bodies using her shoulders. She was glad that Haru towered over others; otherwise she wouldn't be able to spot him through the busy crowd. However, the clustered bodies were suffocating her. She felt as if she was drowning in the autumn colours, never to find her way out of here.
"Haru! Wait!" She cried.
She struggled to catch her breath as she forced her way through the sea of people. A large hand held her wrist and she looked up to see Haru eyeing her with concern. He pulled her over to the side and Katara noticed the houses were beginning to look less lavish as the previous ones. She also took hint of less red attire and more green and blue clad individuals.
"You okay?" Haru asked.
"Yeah, just got caught in a Fire Nation stampede," Katara replied, realizing that her wrist was still trapped in his hand.
Haru followed her gaze before yelping and releasing her, stammering an apology. She brushed off the matter. They resumed their walk to their destination. Suddenly, the city was filled with more scanty houses and forests.
"As you can see, anyone who is not Fire Nation is told to live in the less sophisticated side of town," Haru spoke darkly with narrowed eyes.
Katara frowned upon this revelation. How rude and malicious of the Fire Nation! They feigned peace yet treated the other races as if they were dirt between their toes. These monsters will never understand the meaning of humanity. Her hands clawed into fists as she focused on the road ahead.
"I'm guessing you and Sokka live here? Isn't it dangerous?" she questioned her companion, gazing at two Water Tribe women who dug up rotten vegetables in their small field nearby.
A glint of misery formed on Haru's face. He rubbed the back of his head, pondering over her words.
"Well, the Fire Nation people living in the countryside don't see a problem to raid our homes now and then. This place is getting crowded with all the immigration and people are contracting diseases. There aren't any medical practitioners nearby either, only a few healers from the Water Tribes."
Katara's heart sank like a rock upon hearing his words. The only thing satisfying about the place was the massive trees that blocked the scorching rays of the sun.
To think that Sokka endured such lousy residential conditions made her insides wrench with anger. She never had respect for the Fire Nation but her hate expanded more and more until it was a balloon waiting to explode.
"I share a small apartment with Sokka. Most students stay there so our area is not as dangerous. Sokka may be moving to the city if he is located to serve the Firelord here," Haru continued, "If you're lucky, you might be allowed to stay with him."
Katara stared at her shoes. "What's so lucky about living in the city? Those Fire Nation demons would taunt us and make our lives more miserable than if we were to stay here."
Haru was taken aback by her response. "Not necessarily. I heard the middle class citizens are not as bad as the upper class."
"I hope you're right," the waterbender sighed.
A sudden thought bounced in her mind.
"Haru, you said you're staying with Sokka? Where will I be staying?"
She glanced at him, mortified if another man should stay with them.
Her realization prompted her take in her current status. She was drenched in sweat, her hair was dirty and she was sure she smelled worse than an onion. Her eyebrows were like bird nests due to months on the ship with no mirror. She gasped inwardly. Why didn't this occur to her before? She was walking around with a nice, good looking, tall, dark and handsome man yet she must have looked like a lion-turtle before him.
To her dismay, Haru chuckled at her reaction. "I'll be moving out soon, Katara. The graduation is in a few days and my parents are sending me money to move into the center of town."
Katara huffed with relief.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The apartment had two rooms and one toilet. The kitchen and the main hallway were merged together. The stink of sweat, rust and petrol filled her nostrils as soon as she stepped in, although the earthy scent of soil lingered in Haru's room, now to be her room. She was not astonished to find clothes and papers strewn across Sokka's room. A low table was set apart from the kitchen, with a painting of cherry blossoms hanging above it on the wall. The table setting was the only opulent structure in the apartment. Still, the apartment sadly lacked a female's touch.
She smirked at the thought. It was all about to change, now that she arrived.
Haru offered to cook her dinner while she was to get ready for her first lesson at the University. Katara silently thanked the spirits that Sokka met a friend like Haru. She was sure the gentle boy ran the house and the expenses. She inwardly snorted, thinking how wife-like Haru must have been while her rowdy brother only helped with eating dinner.
Katara was relieved to find that Sokka bought blue and red silk dresses for her. She immediately entered the toilet and filled her tub with warm water. She was glad to find that the boys at least kept soap in the bathroom. Ridding herself of her rancid garments, she sighed in content as soon as her body was surrounded by the water, her sweat washed away with her stress.
She must have taken a long time in the bathroom because she heard Haru's voice calling her. With a languid flick of her wrist, she was dry.
The evening sun poured in through the window, caressing the bland walls with streaks of pink and gold. She adorned herself in a short-sleeved silk blue dress shirt and soft navy leggings. The light clothing and silk soothed her from the burning heat. She kept her infamous loops and braided her long brown hair into a traditional Water Tribe plait. Unlike the sleek black hair of the Fire Nation ladies, Katara's dark brown hair was wild and thick.
Gazing into the mirror, Katara carefully shaped her eyebrows with thread until they neatly lined her forehead. She smiled contentedly at her now feminine appearance. At least she didn't feel like a lion-turtle anymore.
Katara stepped outside and was swayed by the scent of food from the kitchen. Her stomach growled and she blushed, hoping that Haru didn't hear it. To her dismay, Haru was in the hallway close to her. However, He made no intention whether he heard her rumbling stomach.
He led her into the dining room and she knelt down opposite the table. Haru sat across from her and poured noodle soup into her dish, adding pieces of chicken and a plethora of chopped vegetables also. Katara's eyes widened at the food and she hungrily gulped it down.
"Your appetite is much like Sokka's," Haru chuckled.
"W-what?" Katara stammered, realizing how true he was. "Forgive me, I forgot my manners."
Her cheeks glowed and she giggled nervously. She didn't have authentic food in a long time so her manners were dormant along with her confused mind. She always considered herself more conscious than her brother but maybe some family traits stayed the same.
"I'm only teasing you Katara," her green-eyed companion admitted with guilt, "When you are finished, we can head off to university."
The waterbender munched a carrot but she was too enwrapped in her thoughts of her first lesson to notice the lovely taste of the vegetable. What was Hama like? Was she really a good bender? Thanks to Master Pakku and his attempts at reviving waterbending culture in the South Pole, Katara trained under him for a few months. She wondered if Hama was just as skilled as Master Pakku.
Still, the University of Firelord Ozai had many firebenders and others from the Fire Nation attending there. Her heart beat rapidly at this realization. How would she react when around Fire Nation students? She hated everything about the Fire Nation. If she had a choice, she wouldn't even attend their university and stay content in the lonely wilderness of her icy homeland. Oh, how unfair it all was.
"How was your time at the university?" she asked Haru curiously.
The latter let out a disappointed sigh. "It was okay. People who are not Fire Nation tend to stick together."
"Was it helpful?"
"I was trained by Master Yu. He is paid a high sum for training earth benders but in my opinion, he is a traitor. I prefer enhancing the techniques my father taught me back in my village." Katara didn't miss the gleam of nostalgia in Haru's eyes.
She stared at her wavy reflection in the soup. "You must really miss your home, huh?" she said dejectedly.
"I do…Most of us do but I miss my parents more than anything," Haru almost whispered, his shoulders sagging, "I fear for their safety all the time."
Katara glanced back at him, her heart reaching out him. "If…If only the Avatar would show up! I am sure everything would be fine."
Haru's brow quivered and he spoke sardonically, "The Avatar? Katara, I'm dead sure the Avatar is no more. If he wanted to show up, he could have done so before Sozin's Comet, before half of the Earth Kingdom was destroyed and the Northern Water Tribe was weakened."
"But don't you have hope?" she rebuked, slamming her chopsticks lightly on the table, "I believe that justice does prevail in the end."
He beamed at her. "I hope you are right."
Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and glanced around his shoulders. Katara sensed an ominous presence in the atmosphere. Haru leaned over the table.
"You must not tell anyone this. What I'm about to tell you is only speculation," he said.
"What- what is it?" the waterbender murmured, placing a hand over her heart to steady it's drumming.
"You must first promise not to say anything Katara! If a Fire Nation soldier hears you mention anything, you will be imprisoned immediately. Promise me!" Haru implored.
"I promise." Katara nodded, her hair loops shaking in the action; dread and excitement filling her at the same time.
"There's a rogue in the city. He steals from the rich and gives to the needy, and he kills Fire Nation guards."
"Say what!?" Katara squealed but Haru placed a finger on his lips.
His solemn expression intensified his words. "The Fire Lord isn't too keen on catching the rogue. He is too concerned with the rebellion outside his kingdom."
"But how long has this guy tormented the local guards?" she enquired.
"About a couple of months now. He doesn't appear frequently, only when there's commotion in the city. The Fire Nation citizens nickname him the Phoenix Hunter."
"No way…So this 'Phoenix Hunter' has been killing local guards and the Fire Lord doesn't care?"
"No, he does not. As I said, he has only showed up a few times. The higher ranked soldiers think he will be caught soon or that he'll give up his little heist."
"And do you think that's possible?"
"I cannot say. I haven't seen him fight before."
"Have you heard about anything else, like what he looks like? Is he a bender?"
"No, I am not sure, we are forbidden to say anything lest we are criticized for aiding him. All I know is that he wears a mask."
"A mask!?" Katara gasped.
Her heart was racing with excitement. There was an insurgent right inside the Fire Nation capital yet the Fire Lord took the matter lightly. Whoever this Phoenix Hunter was, she wished him luck and good health.
Spirits, be with him!
Haru let go of his chopsticks and stared at her with a newfound expression. His eyes sparkled with determination that Katara hadn't noticed before.
"Katara, now that you mention hope, I…" he paused, swallowing his thoughts but Katara reached her hand out and over his. She was surprised at how much Haru told her, despite only knowing him for a few hours.
The earthbender gave her a soft smile. "I think the Phoenix Hunter may be the Avatar.
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Haru and Katara took the tram to the city. The earthbender mentioned that the tram was the fastest, but not the cheapest, way to the university. Since they needed to get to class before the sun sunk into the horizon, they had to take the tram. Otherwise, Katara was shocked to know that it took Haru and Sokka over an hour to walk to the university in desperate times.
As they gathered inside the tram, Katara's mind replayed her previous conversation with Haru. She found it supercilious that the Phoenix Hunter should be the Avatar. If he was, the Fire Lord would not be so ignorant of his recent attacks. None the less, a tugging in her heartstrings told her the Avatar was somewhere in the world, walking, smiling, chatting and plotting means to restore harmony and balance.
The tram had luxurious velvet red seats that were occupied by higher class citizens. Haru and Katara stood in the middle, holding onto the metal red bars on the ceiling for balance. The fiery glow of twilight seeped in through the glass panes, casting a crimson sheen over the sedentary bodies' of the passengers.
"Why didn't you guys just save money for the tram? Boys don't need anything else other food and clean clothes," Katara queried. Her eyes fell upon the moving background as the tram took off.
"Tell that to Sokka," her friend complained, rolling his eyes, "He has the appetite of a flying bison."
Katara smirked. She saw a few of the nobles stealing glances at their blue and green clad figures. In return, she sent them fierce glowers. They immediately gazed back out to the sunset or else to their news scrolls.
"For a lean man, Sokka's appetite amazes me," Haru continued with a wave of his hand.
"You should have seen him at home," the waterbender giggled, "He could eat a buffalo yak whole!"
She missed her brother dearly and her heart leapt with joy upon knowing that they'd be reuniting soon. Sokka was dear to her and she had mothering him often in their earlier days. Ever since her mother had passed away, Katara took on the responsibility of running the household to the point where she provided maternal affection for her brother and father.
"I can't wait to tease Sokka about that!" Haru grinned.
"Just make sure you give me credit for his embarrassment." Katara smirked again, albeit more mysteriously.
The journey took half an hour. When they stepped outside, the first stars mottled the faded pink and dusky yellow sky. Ahead, a long, twisted road led to a large building with massive trees surrounding it. She could only make out the tiled roof of the university amongst the large pillars and trees that marked the entrance. Only a few scattered shops were in sight. A couple of stragglers waited for the tram and others walked around the shops, clearly students.
"Here we are," Haru emphasized.
"It's so…Typical Fire Nation," Katara groaned, not willing to take another step forward. She knew that once she was to enter the ominous building, her destiny was entwined with the fire nation.
"Hey, do not worry. Hama is a waterbender and I heard she is a good one. Water Tribe people are a lot more sympathetic towards non-Fire Nation citizens," the earthbender reassured, placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort.
"Yes, but that's just one waterbender. I'll have to get used to bumping into nasty firebenders while I'm at it. Tui and La, help me," she sighed, staring at crescent moon for guidance.
"Katara, I have a training session to attend outside the city. Will you be okay on your own from here?"
She glanced back at Haru. "I can take it from here, Haru. I'll see you after the class."
"Take care, Katara. I would have walked you uphill but I must catch the next tram back. Sokka will come to collect you after the lesson."
"It's no bother."
They exchanged their goodbyes. When she saw his emerald eyes leave her view, a sense of distress engulfed her. She surveyed her surroundings while walking up the hill to the university. There was a noodle bar to her left, filled with youthful faces. A few tailor shops appeared in line, their stalls empty and closed for the night. The only merchants still around were those selling their food stock.
The student village slipped behind as she picked up pace. The road was inconspicuous without the warm lanterns of the shops. She squinted in the dark, passing large scattered trees. A dip in the road made her halt.
There was a puddle of water sitting in the fissure. Katara bent over and stared at the puddle, remembering that the raining season had just past. The puddle must have survived the sun due to shelter from the trees. The flora around the university was so dense and thick, she often wondered if any suspicious being lurked amongst the semi-darkness.
Instantly, her ears heard a whinny nearby. She stood in haste and whipped around to notice a lavish burgundy carriage storming towards her, carried by a hybrid horse. It was obvious that the owner of the carriage belonged to an upper class Fire Nation citizen. Katara yelped as she rolled to the side, the wooden wheels of the carriage stomping over the watery puddle, which sprayed over her garments.
Getting back to her feet, the waterbender's eyebrows knitted at a sharp angle above her nose. She clawed her fingers, the water floating in full speed at her command. She moved her arms, the water wrapped around one of the carriage wheels, solidifying to ice. Katara grinned when the wheel shattered and the carriage swiveled before crashing into a tree.
Stupid Fire Nation person! He deserved this!
Content with herself Katara made sure her clothes were dry and strutted ahead. She saw a young man climb out of the carriage, followed by a stout, older one.
Without scrutinizing them, she walked ahead.
"Uncle, what the heck happened!?" the raspy voice of the young man cried, "The lumber of the wheels just shattered like glass!"
"Calm down nephew," the old, yet jovial voice of the second individual reassured, "We have feet to walk. Let's use them."
"No, you don't understand! I thought I could beat Azula by taking this road and it's not like father will appreciate the loss of this expensive carriage," the nephew retorted, his tone filled with rage and burning ire.
Though she knew she should be joyous, Katara couldn't push aside the guilt constricting her chest.
"Hey! You there! Snow peasant! Stop right there!"
Her guilt instantly melted and in its place was pure anger. She spun on her heel, wearing her meanest glare. The young man was pointing rudely at her. His dark, messy locks whipped about in the nightly wind. However, Katara noticed the salient scar on his face. Her eyes found his gold gaze; the prominent scar covered the right side of his face. The ugly, thick skin wound its way across his sharp cheekbones, swallowing his eyelids and crawling to his right ear. The hideous scar marred his otherwise regal features.
"Who are you to call me a peasant?" she yelled, walking up to the man and slapping his finger aside.
He gritted her teeth, her actions took him by surprise but he was adamant to get his point across. "You are the one behind the wreck of my carriage, aren't you? You used waterbending to disrupt our journey!"
"So what if I did?" Katara stated, her arms akimbo, "Your stupid carriage nearly knocked me down."
"You peasants should know better than walking on our roads!"
"How dare you!?" Katara raised her hand; the water in her pouch released at her command and spiraled underneath her fingers. She twisted the water with a graceful movement of her hands, elongating the liquid until it resembled a whip.
The man's good eye widened in shock and Katara felt victorious. However, it was her turn to gasp in surprise when he leaned back, arms extending like a snake ready to pounce. A burst of fire erupted from his hands, sitting on his palms. He was twice her size and she debated whether it was wise sparring with a firebender when her waterbending skills were still tarnished.
"Now, now, Zuko, where did your manners go?" the old man intervened, stepping in the middle between them both, "I won't let you act like that with this lovely lady."
The old man turned to Katara, his face sagging in a plethora of wrinkles and he grinned widely at her. The waterbender was surprised to see a set of pearly white teeth in that aged body. She sensed no malice from him so she allowed her water to return to her pouch. Zuko quit his hostile stance, hands now by his sides, eyes glaring at her with rage.
"She started it, uncle!" he pointed at her again but she slapped his finger away once more.
"No, you started it," the waterbender told him, a vicious frown on her face.
"I am sorry to say this Zuko, but the lovely lady is right. You need to control your tongue before you speak," Uncle chuckled, hands holding his pot belly.
Zuko's mouth waddled hopelessly.
"You're siding with her?" he exclaimed, stamping a foot to the ground.
Katara never sensed such anger from an individual before. Zuko was worse than Sokka during fishing season. She rolled her eyes and muttered something on the lines of drama queens.
"No, I am siding with the truth," Uncle explained, the gleam of mischievous insouciance scintillated in his eyes, "As should you, Prince Zuko."
"Prince?" Katara gasped, her gaze falling back on the unruly and irked young man.
This wasn't Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, was it? Why was he attending the University? Was he not banished a long time ago on a quest unknown to the other nations? Zuko's features contorted with rage, angry and worn from years of abandonment. The years must have hardened his heart and left his emotions swirling in a soup of utmost anger. Katara, however, did not sympathize with him. He was no different in his intentions as other Fire Nation brats.
"Yes, that's right," Zuko reiterated with a glowering, pointed look, "Which is why peasants like you should learn to watch your tongue!"
"Excuse me? Just because you are the son of the infamous Fire Lord, doesn't mean you have the right to look down on others. Besides," Katara said wryly, "The other nations know what the Fire Lord truly thinks of his prodigal son."
"Stop! Do not drag my father's relationship with me into this!"
"Oh, did I hurt a sore spot?" the waterbender cooed, enjoying the obvious hurt across the prince's face.
She found it amusing how the spoiled brat only cared about his own needs. An image of her bereft mother appeared in her mind before dissipating to the depths of her conscious. Her hatred for the Fire Nation skewed back to the surface of her thoughts and she wanted nothing more than to torment the son of the Fire Lord.
"I did, didn't I?" she said darkly, "Everyone knows, heck even a 'snow peasant' like I, knows that your father banished you from your homeland! Isn't it clear that he's ashamed of you? I even heard that he favors your prodigious sister over you!"
"I said shut up!" Zuko cried.
Her mother's face, the blood oozing from her neck, blinded Katara's vision. Her determination to mentally scar the damned prince bolstered.
"You are nothing but scum underneath your father's feet. Isn't it obvious that he hates you? You are an embarrassment to his tyrannical honor!"
"No!"
Zuko howled at her ostracizing accusation, leaping towards her only to be pulled back by his uncle. The latter glanced at Katara apologetically. Zuko thrashed about in his uncle's grasp but Katara had a whip of water rolling around her hands in case the crazy prince was to break free.
She knew she spoke out of line, especially since the person she was patronizing was part of the royal family but her intuition insisted that how she treated the prince will not stir trouble in the royal palace.
"Zuko, remember your meditation mantra. Just breathe and let go of the anger," Uncle reminded the boy who fell on his knees, surprising Katara when his eyes bore a glazed sheen as he breathed deeply.
"Young lady, I apologize on my nephew's behalf. He is still learning to take control of his temper. Please leave," the old man pleaded; his voice devoid of any hospitality.
Katara didn't know why her heart drummed inside her. She walked hastily up the road, wiping the tears that slid down her cheeks.
She was surprised to hear soft, broken sobs as she left.
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The university inside was more magnificent than its exterior. Glossy marble tiles decorated the floor. Fire Nation flags hung like curtains across the pillared hall. A large statue of Ozai stood arrogantly above a fountain of fish. White cherry blossoms floated on the water. The corridors were lit with fire lanterns which spew red and orange shadows across the hall.
A few students walked about, some rushing to their night classes and others sighing with fatigue as they headed home. A lone couple sat at the edge of the fountain, their arms tangled around each other's red garments and heads locked together.
Katara stood in the hallway, feeling uneasy about her encounter with the Fire Prince. She almost felt sorry for him when she departed for the university. The anger she had felt since she was a child had unleashed. Every fire nation citizen evoked the memories of her mother and she was filled with nothing but blind hate.
"Katara?"
She flinched and looked towards the voice. An old woman with long, strangled gray hair approached her. She was so aged, that her back was crooked with her many years of wisdom yet she walked with an air of dignity. Her eyes, nose and mouth were swallowed by infinite wrinkles. She donned blue robes, which gave away her identity.
"Are you Master Hama?" Katara asked bowing at the woman.
"Yes, and I knew you were my student as soon as I saw your clothes," the woman said with a sweet smile.
"I apologize for coming late here. I ran into…unexpected circumstances." The young waterbender stared at her shoes as her encounter with the temperamental prince replayed in her mind.
"Oh, I know what happened!" Hama laughed.
"W-what?"
"I was just walking past when I saw you giving the Fire Nation Prince a taste of his own medicine." Hama's laugh cackled against the hollow walls, sending a shiver down Katara's spine.
"I know…I went too far."
"And I think you did a brilliant job. Well done Katara, you will make a fine warrior one day."
The ominous twinkle in Hama's eyes faded as soon as it appeared.
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