This will be my third Avatar: The Last Airbender story I have written so far.
I decided to go back into the series, rather unexpectedly farther than my previous stories based after the defeat of Ozai. This story will be set during the war of the series around the time the last invasion failed on Black Sun.
First and foremost, it will be mainly be one-sided Kataang and then Zutara. So please no bashing or flames.
Like my previous stories, I plan to make this as realistic as possible from both the timeline of the event right after the Western Air Temple episode.
Don't forget to review and comment about what you think of my story and if I should continue. Thank you for reading, and enjoy!
*Disclaimer* I do not own any characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Each character respectfully belongs to creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
"Embers and Sea Foam"
Chapter One
Nostalgic
The sight of the spire downward towers came into the view of the ancient air nomad temple.
The wind carried a balmy ambience as a light breeze flowed through the hollow crevasses and out of the empty passageways inside the vast chambers.
The scene then focused on the pillars with long vines that climbed up and inside the cracks. Small buds of clematises were seen scattered, covering the gray cantera stone.
Just then a flash of blue walked by the scene as a trail of dark brown hair tossed behind the figure. The sight of the Master waterbender came into view as she appeared rather flustered.
Katara couldn't believe that she allowed Prince Zuko to join their group. At the time, she was thinking about what was best for Aang. He needed a firebending teacher and the chances of finding one was near impossible. Now with the fire prince among the group, Katara couldn't help but to have past feelings rise up again. Thoughts of the young man filled her mind. How he used her mother's necklace to bribe her into telling him where Aang was. Remembering such events continued to fuel a boiling rage inside her heart as Katara recalled his sly heart-felt words during their imprisonment under the catacombs in Ba Sing Se. How he was talking about his mother and acting like he had real feelings like a human being.
'And, I felt for it…' Katara said to herself as she remembered that terrible day when Aang nearly died and Ba Sing Se fell under Fire Nation rule.
Katara entered into the hallway where she found the last bed chamber by the end of the temple. It seems the prince has isolated himself from the group, making the waterbender even more suspicious and unyielding of his motives.
Stepping in front of the open doorway, Katara saw the young man sitting on the stone bed. His eyes were closed and appeared to be thinking deeply.
Katara clenched her jaw as her eyes closed momentary while she tried to restrain herself from retorting angrily at the fire prince.
'Look at him…He's probably scheming something devious right now.' Katara thought as she folded her arms over her chest and gave a cold glare.
Zuko felt so grateful that the Avatar and his friends accepted him into their group. He finally felt like he was doing something right in his life. His heart swelled with reassurance as he wondered if his uncle might be proud of him. He was sure of it.
Feeling a strange presence as though someone was watching him, Zuko opened his eyes and turned to the doorway.
It was the waterbender girl leaning against the stone frame. Surprised to see her, Zuko without realizing gave a small smile as he stood up to greet her. But his reaction to speak was cut off by her darkening glare as she spoke with a harsh tone.
"You might have everyone else buying your 'transformation', but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past." Katara said as she stepped forth and faced Zuko head on.
Never once dimming the raging storm in her ocean blue eyes, Katara continue to speak, her voice hinted a tone of anger and deep bitterness.
"So let me tell you something right now." Katara said as Zuko instinctively stepped back slightly, both astonished and alarmed by the young woman's fierce eyes that bore into him.
"You make one step backward, one slip up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang…" the girl said with a protective pitch as she continued her scolding threat.
"…and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore, because I'll make sure your destiny ends, right then and there. Permanently." Katara said ending her words laced with a poison more deadly than a spidersnake's venom which caused a shiver down Zuko's spine.
Zuko was stunned as he watched the girl turn quickly and stomped out of the room before slamming the door behind her.
The prince's shoulders then slumped as the girl's harsh words sunk in.
'I guess it's to be expected.' Zuko thought as clenched his fists.
He felt so injudicious to think that she would have forgiven him so easily. Of course she allowed him into the group.
'She did it for the Avatar.' Zuko thought as he shut his eyes. He knew Katara's approval was going to be a challenge to win over. Yet, he felt it was going to be worth it in the end. He wanted to make things right.
The scene zoomed out passed the prince and over to the small windows of tarnished glass.
Entering onto the temple grounds, Katara's temper lessened as she walked up to the large fountain where the sight of girl clad in green was seen with her bare feet soaking into the cool water.
Toph turned slightly as she blinked, her hands felt the side of the stone fountain unsure of the settled vibrations coming her way, "Hey, is that you Sugar Queen? It sucks not being able to 'see' you." Toph said with a tone of annoyance as she leaned against the stone sill of the fountain.
Katara gave a weak smile as she responded to the blind earthbender. "Yea, it's me." The girl said as she sat beside Toph to inspect her still burnt feet.
Toph closed her eyes as a light smirked crossed her features. "Don't worry about Prince Hotman. I'll give him payback for what he did." Toph said with a smug tone as Katara's eyes closed briefly as she gave a snort.
Toph lowered her head lightly as her suspicion was confirmed by the waterbender's reaction.
Toph knew Katara held some grudge over the fire prince. Though she wasn't sure why, she knew that the waterbender was still fuming and constantly on edge.
"Hmm…Your feet still need some more healing sessions." Katara said with concern as she tried to change the subject.
Toph cringed, she hated the last time Katara tended to her feet. Peeling away the dead skin from her heels and rubbing them with nasty smelling oil that smelt of a combination of peanut and garlic.
"Argh, why can't you just splash some healing water on them and get it over with." Toph whined as Katara lifted the blind girl's right ankle and traced her fingers along the rough skin.
"Because, water alone won't restore the dead tissue or cleanse away possible infection." Katara said as a reverential healer in her own right.
Toph gave a displeased look across her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't looking forward to this.
It was bad enough she can't see well and has to endure these treatments, but at least the pain decreased to a mere aggravation than the throbbing sting she experienced last night.
"Can I just sit here for a while before you do your session on me? The water feels nice right now." Toph said hoping the waterbender will give in and allow her a moment to relax.
Katara gave a light sigh and agreed, "Fine…I suppose I'll start dinner then. I'll be close by if you need anything." The young woman said as she stood up and walked to the small camp fire where the group usual has their meals.
Opening a sack nearby the cooking pot, Katara frown at the small amount of rice inside. They're running out of supplies fast. Katara then turned another bag that had their 'hard earned money' courtesy of Toph Bei Fong, from her oh-so brilliant money scams that lead them in trouble with Combustion man while hiding away in the Fire Nation.
'She was so careless…'
Katara thought sarcastically with a groan before slightly frowning. Yet, she still hasn't forgotten how dangerous it was and immature she felt to allow it to happen. Along with actually forming the biggest scam of them all and partaking in it no less!
Ever since then, Katara has been very protective of the group. Now with four more members tagging along, Katara's maternal instincts were on overdrive.
Brushing her concerns aside, Katara returned to the sack containing the golden and bronze coins.
Opening the bag, a weak twitch jerked across Katara's lips as she gazed down into the bag.
Just two silver coins and one bent copper piece were seen inside.
'No…That can't be all!' Katara thought in panic as she dug into the brown bag only to poke her fingers out an unseen hole on the bottom.
"Ah! This can't be!" Katara cried out as Sokka stepped into the scene.
"What's wrong?" Sokka questioned as Katara lowered her head.
"It's gone…" Katara whispered faintly as her brother gave a confused look across his face.
"What's gone?" Sokka asked as Katara lifted her head.
"Our money…" Katara said as she stood up and held the small change in her palms.
Sokka narrowed his eyes seriously before simply shrugging it off, "No big deal. I'll just hunt and bring us some meat." The young water tribesman said as he secretly felt satisfied he'll be able to use his hunting skills once more. He missed the thrill of taking on the quest and being the alpha male of his team. At least that's how he saw it along with his clever competence of maps and strategy; it was all he had to offer.
Katara lowered her head, thinking lightly before her lips parted, "B-But what about Aang? He's a vegetarian."
"Who cares about plants…? He needs some meat! Have you seen his arms lately? They're like twigs." Sokka mocked as he grew tired of Aang's special treatments for food. If Aang wanted to take on the Fire Lord, he needs some serious protein.
"Sokka…" Katara said in a slight tone that sounded like both aggravation and firmness.
"What?" Sokka defended as he thought his statement was logical enough.
Katara gave a stern look as she placed her hands on her hips, "Aang's culture is at sake, Sokka. We can't ignore his lifestyle. It's not fair." Katara said defending the young airbender nomad.
Before the sibling's argument intensified, Haru stepped in. "I know a few plants that are edible. It's possible they are in some of these parts." The earthbender kindly said as the two siblings blinked and looked at the young man. Sokka smirked as he then turned to his sister, "Ah, you see? Haru will come with me on the mission. So, then Aang will get some greenies. Now get off my back, woman!" Sokka cried out in attempt to get the last word. Katara simply gave her brother a cold glare causing the young man to back off slightly in a defensive stance.
Haru smiled at the scene of the two siblings, he always wondered what it would be like to have a brother or sister. Frankly those two offered him some insight and he found it quite amusing.
"Prepare whatever we have and save the rest for later." Sokka said in a serious tone, closing the argument off with his decision.
Katara simply crossed her arms over her chest and huffed at her brother's dominating role in the group.
Turning back to the earthbender, Katara thanked Haru graciously. Haru then gave a small smile and rubbed the back of his head telling the waterbender it was not trouble.
"I'm happy to help." Haru said warmly as he then turned to Sokka and asked when they should head out.
The water tribesman then looked out along the cliff side, the rolling fog glazed over the trench. Sokka narrowed his eyes as he planned out his plan of where the best hunting grounds could be along the area. He would probably have to take Appa in flight over the region to the forest. Yet it could risk, a potential problem if any firebender's are searching for them.
They could hike, but that would take hours, wasting day light. Finally, Sokka formed a perfect plan. But he needed an extra hand to help set traps and carry any catch they might get after the hunt. Looking around, Sokka frowned to see not everyone was present in the courtyard.
"Where is he?" Sokka asked as Haru asked who.
"The kid with the helmet…Oh what's his name?" Sokka said as he rubbed his chin.
"You mean Duke?" Katara said as Sokka snapped his fingers. "Yea, Duke!" Sokka said as he then called out for the boy.
Just then the sound of children laughing came out of one of the chamber hallways. The sight of Aang chasing the small boy with Teo racing in his wheelchair behind them was seen. As the three children came up to the courtyard by the fountain, Sokka called out to the boy.
"Duke! You're coming with me and Haru on a hunting mission." Sokka said in a firm tone as the young boy turned to the young man and then whined out.
"It's The Duke! How many times do I have to say it?!" the boy complained as Haru gave an odd expression.
"Why do we need him on our mission?" Haru asked questioning the young child's abilities.
Sokka gave a confident smile as he explained the boy's previous wits and skills as one of the members of the Freedom Fighters.
"He's perfect to help us catch game. Besides we need all the hands we can get. Come on, come with me to my room and let's prepare the route." Sokka said as Haru and The Duke followed while the scene focused in on Katara.
Sighing lightly, Katara then gathered water from the fountain and poured it into the cooking pot to steam the rice. Bending over, Katara tried to light the collected wood and sticks in the fire pit. The flint rocks would spark but the wood wouldn't catch flame. The young woman continued to hit the rocks together hoping it would work. Growing frustrated, Katara grumbled lightly.
Without noticing, a figure stepped forth and had been watching the girl struggle. Zuko shook his head lightly as he then snapped his fingers igniting the wood pile. Katara gave a slight smirk of satisfaction, believing she managed to light the fire herself.
Blowing lightly into the fire pit, the flames grow higher as she then sat up and prepared the meal. Looking up, Katara then sensed someone watching her. Yet she saw no one close by. Shrugging it off, the waterbender continued her preparations for dinner.
Nearby Zuko stood behind one of the pillars and sighed.
He didn't know why he helped her, especially after the fact that she threatened to ended him. Thus any contact with her could be a death sentence. Yet he couldn't help it. Perhaps it was the overwhelming feeling to do good that brings him to do such things. The fire prince thought to himself as he realized that could be the only reason to explain his risky approach.
Still, he knew he would have to face her sooner or later.
Closing his eyes, Zuko retreated back to his room as the scene then zoomed in on a pale girl's face with a pink smile across her face.
I hope you all liked it so far. Please review and comment. Tell me what you think and if I should continue this story.
Small information on some things I've used in this chapter:
Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of Neem, an evergreen tree which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is perhaps the most important of the commercially available products of neem for organic farming and medicines. Neem oil is generally light to dark brown, bitter and has a rather strong odor that is said to combine the odors of peanut and garlic.