A/N: This is based on a dream I had last night! It's a Zutara fic!
It's modern day AU and I'm not sure whether the characters will have bending abilities or not. Please note that Zuko isn't banished, and the war that is going on is not against the Firenation, as the world isn't divided among the elements in this fic. Zuko and Azula are the prince and princess of the country Katara lives in.
This was what Alien Roxi wrote when she started this fic. I think it's fair to add that this was originally her story! The first 6 chapters belong to her. I haven't changed them! But after then I'm happy to say that I adopted the story since she couldn't continue. I hope you will all like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
'We regret to inform you, Katara Milakan, that you have not been accepted into Greening Academy'.
My hands trembled as I read the first line of my tenth rejection letter. Not bothering to continue reading past that point, I slowly tore the fancy letterhead into shreds and let them fall to the ground, piece by piece. I hardly felt anything at all. I was beyond sad…I was almost beyond feeling.
"Don't worry Katara. One of them is bound to accept you!" An arm snaked around my shoulders, and my brother's face suddenly loomed in front of mine. "You graduated top of your class, how could any of those schools not want you?" He was trying his best to be reassuring, but I'd heard it all before.
"Sokka, we're poor. They look at our income too," I sighed in disgust.
Greening Academy had been my fall-back plan. I had been absolutely certain that they would accept me, heck, it seemed like they accepted everyone! Now that they hadn't, I was doomed to be unable to continue my education. My teachers had all supported me and suggested I attend a private high school when I graduated from ninth grade (the highest grade schools go up to in my area). However, it had been over a year and none of the schools I had applied to wanted me. They only seemed to care about money and donations, not brains or talent.
"I'm sure that's not it. I mean, come on…someone will take you. I can't believe you want to keep going to school anyway," Sokka crossed his eyes, making me laugh a little. "There. Now, come in and have some supper. Gran Gran is waiting." I smiled sadly and shrugged, allowing him to pull me away from the mailbox and towards our shabby little house.
Our grandmother was waiting patiently, sitting at the head of the table. A pot of freshly cooked stew served as the centerpiece and there were steaming hot bowls waiting at our seats. It sure smelled delicious, but I was in no mood to eat. In fact, Sokka managed to slurp down three bowls before I had even lifted my spoon. Unfortunately for me, Gran Gran noticed. She's big on making sure we eat, says we need to keep up our strength. I don't really know what for, but Sokka's never had a problem with that rule.
"What's wrong, Katara dear?" she asked in her soft, gentle voice.
"She just got another evil letter from some school," Sokka answered for me. "Hey, can I have your stew?" He reached for my bowl so I pushed it towards him. Before he could dig in, Gran Gran hit him with her wooden spoon and snatched it back. "Hey!" he cried out.
"You've already had three bowls, leave some for the rest of us," she snapped back. Sokka grumbled under his breath and stuck out his tongue, but then, sensing that Gran Gran wanted to talk to me alone, he slunk off towards his room.
"Now then, what's this about an evil school?" Gran Gran fixed her eyes on me.
"Greening Academy didn't accept me," I said, sighing.
"Oh dear…" she paused. "I'm really sorry honey, but just you wait, any day now you're going to get an acceptance letter. Don't lose hope."
She enveloped me in her arms, and I got a whiff of her perfume. Smelling it always reminded me of my mother—they both loved the scent of Seafoam Passions. Sometimes the smell comforts me, but other times it just makes me feel sad.
You see, my mother died when I was six years old. She had been in an explosion at work. I usually can't remember much about her—I remember the smell of her perfume, the way I felt like nothing could ever hurt me while I was in her embrace, but nothing really substantial. Sokka remembers more than me, and sometimes he tells me stories about her…so does Gran Gran. If you're wondering about my dad, well, he was sent to war a few short weeks before my mom's death. A telegraph had been sent to him about her death, but a reply never came. I remember less about him than I do about my mother, but I can only hope he didn't take his life to be with her.
Ever since our mom died, Sokka and I have lived with our grandmother. She's a kindly woman, but she's getting older, and lately it's been showing a lot more than usual. I'm not sure how much longer she'll be around, and I'm determined to find a way for Sokka and me to be okay once she's gone. Having a good education and career is the best way I know how to do that.
"I won't lose hope, Gran Gran," I told her, hugging back. But I wasn't exactly sure how true that statement was…I think I already had.
A/N: Okay, there's chapter one of my new fic! I'll try to write longer chapters after this one, it was basically an introduction. Now, what are you waiting for, review!