At a very young age a baby girl had been given up as an offering to appease the reigning Lord of the fire nation. It was the only thing a small village of aging water benders could do to protect their village. Within the past three years, the fire nation had wiped out a majority of their kind. Last they had heard, even the Northern water tribe's stronghold was beginning to weaken. The fire nation attacked strategically and relentlessly, leaving no survivors.
"They burn down our trees, taint our rivers with the same blackness that tarnish their hearts, and bring about devastation everywhere they go. They use their machines for destruction and consume everything in their path." The old man walked up to a young woman who cradled a bundle in her arms, and patted her shoulder. "I wish that...it did not have to come down to this, my daughter," he began, looking around at the forlorn faces of his people, "but she is our saving grace."
The woman was silent.
"Ah...I have received word from our scouts that they are here, and will arrive to meet with you soon." She closed her eyes painfully, holding back tears as she rocked herself back and forth. The air felt heavy in her lungs, and breathing became difficult.
The old man hesitated, perhaps thinking of something reassuring to say to calm his daughter, but decided against it. As he walked out of the igloo, everyone else followed in quietude, looking down at their mud-covered boots. No one dared to look at the woman, for guilt would eat away at their hearts. The guilt of being powerless, for not being strong enough to fight, for not having the will power to fight... For allowing an innocent child to fall into the hands of their enemies. They were all afraid, helpless, and desperate.
A fleet of gold and a sea of red surfaced from the trees, the old man drew in a breath and prepared himself for the ordeal to come. He watched as the sun rose behind the army, casting a growing shadow that began to engulf the earth beneath his feet. Consumed in blackness...
A middle-aged man came up to him and greeted him with a small smile. He didn't return it.
"I've come to discuss the agreement."
"...yes."
"The terms."
"We will give your our last water bender child and promise to never start a rebellion against your Fire Lord..."
"May I see the child?"
The old man pointed to the biggest igloo and watched as a series of foreign, red-uniformed men walked past him. One slammed into his shoulder and didn't so much as give him an apology.
The young woman looked up to see a flurry of fire nation soldiers enter her sanctuary. She held back her tears as she watched in shock as a middle-aged man, who seemed to be their captain, come towards her. "The deal," he calmly began and sighed, kneeling before her, "I really wish things hadn't come down to this but...Considering the amount of my troops your people have killed, this seems like a more than compromising deal for your people." His eyes were wise, and contained an expression the young woman couldn't decipher. Was it understanding?
Unable to utter a coherent word, the man gently seized the quiet child and looked her over. The woman watched as a man she did not know held her baby, scrutinizing it as if it were some kind of alien. Her arms suddenly felt cold, so she rubbed her hands together to create warmth, and clenched her teeth in acrimony.
"She's beautiful," he finally spoke, giving her a small smile. "You have my word that she will be taken care of. I have a nephew back at home about her age, so she's blessed to grow up with a playmate." He paused, returning to his previous serious countenance. "...But we will raise her as our own-as a fire bender."
Taking her silence as a complaisant reply to their agreement, he closed his eyes and breathed out a heavy sigh.
"We'll be taking our leave then, miss... I am truly sorry." He bowed. Just as he turned around, the woman leapt towards him, a blue dagger in her hand. His men behind him unleashed fires so hot; the man felt the ice beneath his feet melt.
"Katara! Katara! Don't...! NO!"
A woman's desperate screams were heard. Battle cries were sung, and everything was enveloped in fire. A bright crimson filled the sky that night. The moon turned scarlet with anger as she silently watched her people swirl into a tornado of blood, fire, and the passion of unheard cries.
That was truly the end of their kind-the water benders. ...Except for the one child who was sacrificed for her clan...a clan that no longer existed.
Chapter 1: Children
She was not told of her heritage. After all, she didn't need to know. General Iroh was surprised when he first unraveled the cloth surrounding the precious child to find that she had a puzzling skin tone of porcelain. Many of the water benders he had met had had dark, tanned skin, and yet this child had been born with a light one. Perhaps he might question another water ben-oh right, he mused, his unit had stupidly lashed out and destroyed their remaining population. All but one.
Katara, as her mother had called out through that night, had a pair of wide, innocent blue eyes. Her face was pale, and it greatly complimented with her dark, ebony hair.
It had been approximately 4 months since his raid and the little water tribe girl was still fast asleep, wrapped up warm and safe in soft layers of cloth. "Tomorrow we arrive home little one," the man whispered silently to a pair of closed ears. He walked towards the door, a pained look on his face, and disappeared into the dark corridors.
The next day, the ship finally docked. A many people were awaiting their beloved soldiers return and cheers and screams of pure happiness filled the deep blue skies.
"Commander Iroh, your brother has been awaiting your safe return," a soldier began, "oh and may I say that the young prince Zuko has also been anxiously awaiting for your to return to the palace..." the soldier was interrupted by a young boy, around the age of two, who came up behind him and hugged the commanders right leg with great enthusiasm.
"ANH KAL!" the little toddler cheered, running around in a perfect figure eight between the man's legs. "HI! HI!"
"Oh my Zuko, is that you? Why, you've grown so much already! Hello there!" he bent down with a smile, "I missed you too!" He embraced the young boy affectionately. And both parties were truly happy to be reunited with each other.
The young boy just flashed his uncle a huge grin. "Papa," he said and pointed to the direction of the castle. Commander Iroh looked towards the castle with an indescribable expression.
"Come on Zuko," he said ushering the young boy along, "we should hurry back to your father. I'm sure he's awaiting our return." Zuko looked up and smiled, forming an 'ok' sign with his thumb and pointer finger.
Commander Iroh looked back towards the guard behind him holding a strange bundle and motioned for him to come forward. "Uhhh...Sir?"
"The child, please," he said, a friendly smile graced his face as he peered down at the face of the sleeping baby girl in his arms. Children, he thought, looking between the faces of Zuko and Katara, are really the only things that help reassure us grown-ups that innocence still exists in this godforsaken world...
"Why brother," the Fire Lord said, his arms wide with a smile that literally permeated the room with pride, "welcome home. I have heard of your great success wiping out the last remaining rebels of that damned water tribe."
Commander Iroh merely bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Yes, well, I nearly had myself incapacitated from underestimating their women," he lamely joked. His brother just raised a brow. Obviously he had lost some sense of humor being the great ruler of a powerful nation Iroh mused bitterly.
"By the way," the Fire Lord took a step closer, "what is that in those filthy cloths?" Before Iroh could react, the Fire Lord had pulled back the folds that encased the baby's face. "Iroh, brother...Just what is this?"
Iroh swallowed, but his brother hadn't noticed. "It's a girl, do not fear brother. I found her on the way here; she's not a misplaced water bender tribe babe if you're wondering. Her skin's not like theirs, but she does have confusing blue eyes."
"Brother. You're getting soft. You just picked up a random dirty child on your way here? Do what you want," he said walking back to sit upon his throne of gold. "Call it...you're reward for wiping out the last of my enemies from that good-for-nothing clan." He turned to his son who seemed to be interested in all the hullabaloo. "With the right training and upbringing she may prove to become a sparring partner for Zuko. The boy does need to toughen up," he frowned, watching as his son hugged Iroh's legs, smiling down at the sleeping baby. "What pathetic behavior for a young prince...soon he'll be prancing around like a woman, leaping like a butterfly and talking about absolutely nothing but nonsense..." he said in a hushed tone so only he could hear.
"Zuko, come, let us set her down so she can rest." Iroh said after bowing to take his leave.
Zuko just nodded and followed his uncle out of the chambers obediently.
"Zuko," Iroh began as he gently set the child down in the middle of his bed, scooping up the sheets to form a circle around her. "Tomorrow let's have a little match. Show how much you've improved on your fire bending," he finished with a grin.
The young boy grinned and raised a red, glowing hand in response.
Katara: 5 years old
Zuko: 7 years old
Katara, being an adopted child, had never been raised with as much tender and care as the other fire nation girls. She neither had the grace nor manner to be called a noblewoman despite being raised within the palace. Of course, that was to expect from being raised by the Commander Iroh while growing up near the ever-blossoming young prince Zuko. Tomboy is what some would describe her as; girly was out of the question. She even had short hair, but that was because Zuko complained that her long hair always whipped him in the eyes. She was a warrior, strong at heart and mind. What else was there to expect from the young prince Zuko's personal sparring partner and best friend?
"Zuko! Here I go! Prepare yourself!" Katara warned, getting herself into the typical fire nation offensive pose. Her hands were relaxed and outstretched; her legs were wide apart, grounded in the ground for balance. Then she leapt towards him in a flash.
Zuko smirked, moving his head to the left, just in time to dodge her attack. He turned around, catching her other fist mid-way through a retaliation strike and grinned, "caught ya." He let her go and punched her in the stomach. He watched as she fell to the ground, seething in pain.
"You didn't have to be so rough!" she spat, holding her stomach as she tapped her head against the cold mattress.
He scoffed, "Well if you hadn't announced when you were about to attack, maybe I wouldn't have been on guard."
She frowned, "mind helping me up then?"
Zuko rolled his eyes and offered his hand down to her, "next time don't be so-"
Katara grabbed his hand and shoved him down next to her. "Stupid?" she finished, sticking out her tongue at him before breaking out into laughter at the expression on his face-utter shock and embarrassment, then a devilish smirk.
"Oh hoh, so you think it's nice to betray my trust hm?" he asked as he rolled on top of her and began to tickle her.
Katara screamed with laughter, "ahahahahaha! No! Stop! Ahahahhahahahah! That...that tickles!"
Zuko laughed as well, "of course it does dummy! I know all your weak spots!"
Then his hand slipped and his eyes went wide-he made a mistake, and as soon as he had realized it, he was the on the ground, two arms pinned up and rendered helpless. He was now the victim being tickled. "Katara! No! I am the-ahahahahhahahahaha!"
Katara stuck her tongue out at him again, "never underestimate the power of a girl." She stopped tickling him and slapped him hard on the head. She heard him yelp in pain and almost felt sorry for him. "That'll teach ya. I've been having training sessions with Uncle Iroh," she grinned.
He frowned, "so have I!" he stood up and crossed his arms, "just admit it, you can't win without cheating! Remember that time when we were playing hide and seek and you stopped counting after 7 and found me while I was still looking for a hiding place?"
"Can't help it if you're slow."
He ignored her, "Or the time when you ate all of my meatballs by saying 'look over there! Is that a flying dog?' to distract me?"
She made a face and shrugged, "can't help it if you're gullible."
"And when you-" he was interrupted by the large twin doors opening.
"Uncle!" Katara greeted.
"Uncle!" Zuko repeated, his face bright with happiness, following Katara to embrace Iroh's leg.
"We missed you!" they said harmoniously. Iroh laughed and hugged them back. "I hope you two have been nice to each other."
Zuko pinched Katara's arm. Katara punched him back. Zuko winced, and Katara grinned back triumphantly.
"Anyway Uncle, I've been trying to teach her fire bending but she just can't do it." She sent him a glare, and he glared back. "I don't know what's wrong."
Iroh scratched the back of his neck. Oh boy...he thought. He smiled once more, looking back and forth between Zuko and Katara, "all in due time."
Zuko stared, "meaning..."
"You're a fast bloomer, my dear nephew." Zuko puffed up his chest. That's right, who had bragging rights now? "But you, Katara, are a late bloomer, it will come soon enough. Don't worry about it." Katara shot him back a wide grin.
Iroh ruffled their hair affectionately, "uncle's tired, you two keep sparring." He walked out the door without a second glance. Silence crept back into the room.
"Wanna go to the market? I think uncle needs tea. He looked tired!"
"Well duh," Zuko said, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his arm. "He just came back from raid."
"What kind of raid? Oh! I know! A panty raid right? No wonder he was so tired!"
"And just what the heck is a panty raid?"
She snorted, "like I'd know. I heard a few of uncle's soldiers talking about one before they left."
Zuko rolled his eyes, "well whatever, let's ask him later." He walked towards the exit and turned, "ready to go?"
She grinned, "most definitely!"
"So...just where are we going to buy this tea?"
Katara looked around, "you know, I'm not too sure."
And thus, the two children walked around the outskirts of the market, searching for this magical drink called, 'tea,' in order to help cure Iroh's tiredness.
Katara bumped into someone. "Owwww," she said, rubbing her forehead. Seeing this, Zuko hurried to her and hid her behind his back.
A tall, large woman turned around, a piece of brown licorice in her mouth. "Oh my, I'm so sorry little one," she said, bending down looking apologetic.
Katara nodded and whispered a soft sorry. The woman smiled and looked at Zuko.
"Are you her older brother?" she chuckled as the young boy began to open his mouth. She ruffled his hair, "what a fine brother you are too, sticking up for your sister," she continued, not allowing him to speak. "Tell you what, I just opened this here trading shop. You two can be my first customers! Oh my, wouldn't that just be grand?"
The woman went to open a small chest, "since you two are my first customers, here's a piece of ginseng, free of charge!" She handed Zuko the small root and watched as he looked at it with a hint of disgust. Katara on the other hand, merely smiled gratefully. It seemed that a little explanation was in order, the woman thought. "That, my child, is called ginseng. It's a rare item to find, especially here in fire bender territory! It helps to create only the best of bestest teas in the world! Soothes tiredness, pain, anxiety, and also helps with digestion."
Katara looked at Zuko, excitement danced in her eyes. "We found it!" she shouted, hugging him. "The tea! We found it!"
Zuko nodded and held onto the ginseng with much care. He turned to he woman and bowed in respect, "thank you very much for the...uhhh..." he raised the root in his hands, letting his action speak for him.
The woman nodded happily, "be sure to come back sweeties! Every month we restock, so I'll have something new just for you!"
Katara and Zuko bowed again and began to leave. Katara didn't feel right just taking without giving, so she reached into her pocket and took out three gold coins she had received from Iroh for her success during their training sessions. "Thank you miss!" she said, laying down the coins on the small box that had contained he strange root. She turned around and began running to catch up with her friend.
The woman shook her head, "I even said that it was free of charge..." Then she picked up the coins and noticed the seal-only palace people, or those born of noble families had coins as valuable as this. The amount was well worth over at least 600! She quickly turned to the direction the children had run off in. Just who were they...
"Hey! Zuko! Wait for me!" She heard the young girl cry.
Zuko? As in the Fire Lord's young son? Prince Zuko? She had heard rumors of the existence of a girl who had been raised along with him like family. She put two and two together and chuckled.
"Honey! We're having a good dinner tonight!" She ran into the rundown shop, heading for the kitchen before she stopped and continued, "And we gotta make sure we get the best of the best of the neatest, most awesomest, most eccentric, rare items we can get!" She smiled to herself, knowing all too well that she'd just landed the best customers ever!
The two children ran into the palace, Katara holding the ginseng close to her chest, following closely behind Zuko as noblemen and women hurried out of the way. "We need to head to the kitchen! I'm sure that the woman who brings Uncle his tea will know how to take this...thing," he said, taking the oddly shaped root to examine it, "and somehow turn it into tea."
Katara nodded, determination burning in her eyes. "Okay! Let's do that!"
And together they busted through the magnificent double doors that lead into the royal kitchen. Many people were scrambling about, carrying pots and pans back and forth through the many cooking aisles. Zuko cleared his throat, "EXCUSE ME! IS THE WOMAN WHO MAKES MY UNCLE'S TEA HERE?" he bellowed. Everyone halted their actions and turned to face the two children.
"P-prince Zuko!" exclaimed a cook, "what are you doing here alone?" Zuko looked beside him, and seeing nothing, moved aside lazily, allowing a confused Katara to appear before them. "Oh my, forgive me for not seeing you here Ms Katara," the cook laughed. He smiled at them again before snapping his head behind him, "now the rest of you-back to work!" The room became busy once more as the man's thundering voice imitated a cracking whip. He turned back to the children and pointed to a door with a poster of two dragons, one blue and the other red, coiling together as if in an everlasting battle to be king of the sky.
"Commander Iroh's tea maker is in that room. She has all the equipment needed to ground that ginseng into tea." He began to take his leave and then stopped. How had two children managed to get their hands on a rare root such as ginseng? He waved it off and returned to his work, leaving the two children to themselves.
Zuko began walking and whispered, "weird poster, yeah?" Katara didn't answer- the question had simply been rhetorical. She nodded in agreement.
"Hey Zuko, how did that man know what that thing was?"
"Don't know, don't matter," was his swift reply.
She shrugged her shoulders in compliance, "ehhh, true."
A/N: Lots of talking, I know. Sorry, I couldn't help it. So I haven't watched the entire avatar TV series, so I am really sorry if I got personalities, titles, and names fucked up. To clear up some things I know that Katara indeed has dark skin, but for the sake of this fanfiction I'm going to say that she's light skinned just because there would be no story if the Fire Lord had killed her on the spot. This story will jump through their ages, but their childhood together is important so I won't skip through a big portion of it. … And thus the merchant makes her appearance. No, she has nothing to do with Katara or Zuko if any of you are interested. I hope you all will enjoy the 'rare items' the lady will provide them. She's an oc just an FYI, well, if you hadn't figured that out by now.