Hmm… rated T for violence and language. I don't own Avatar.
I guess I'll do a recap for the heck of it. Katara is the daughter of a. ex-war hero who just doesn't fit in. Despite being dressed up like a normal woman, she cannot change who she is. War with an insane invader threatens the land. Hakoda has been called to war once again. What is expendable, she asks the sky. And so a desperate girl takes fate into her own hands in order to keep that which she holds precious alive. Even if that means she won't be able to see the fruits of her labor.
Have you guys ever watched an anime called Gankutsuou? It'll freakin' mess with your head man. Anyway, that's kind of the reason that the recap sounds so weird. Go watch it on It's Japanese Count of Monte Cristo.
Anyone who knows me, knows I have a problem with loosing interest in my stories. That has not happened with this! This story is late because Okami the video game stole my soul! I've been playing nonstop, which is odd for me. So this will be a Saturday thing. Sorry! However, the game did give me an awesome idea for the fic. No Katara does not have the random ability to control the universe with a brush! But the gods inspired me a lot along with the deep Japanese mythology that this is soaked in.
If you want to know my reason for writing this fic, read my ending comments at the end of this chapter. Also, I took on the daunting task of copying and pasting a list of just about every Avatar character from every episode and writing people parts in my story. Not to mention I sat down and wrote a plot synopsis. Faints it took me a while.
Chapter Three
The Blue-Eyed GuardianThe first thing Katara did was walk calmly into her family shrine. There were many tombs seeming to sprout from one another, clambering to listen to the prayers being uttered, cried and spoken. Sitting at the feet of the largest tomb belonging to the first Hua was a cat. Every time she sat down to pray she found herself patting the thing on the head. It sat on it's hind legs it's paws before it; it's paws were where you placed the incense for prayer. When lit and place it looked as though the cat were offering the incense to the first ancestor. It's ears were tufted and it's tail bobbed, depicting the image of a lynx.
Quietly she stepped into the temple and sat down. She had no incense to offer and she was determined not to procrastinate. She bowed respectfully, touching her forehead to cold marble ground. Slowly she moved into a sitting position, "I am sorry, ancestors. But this is something I must do. I won't ask for your protection, but let this turn out…" she stopped, searching for the right word, "Right." She finished lamely. Quickly she stood and walked out. She felt like she didn't deserve to bow before her ancestors. She did however give the cat a farewell pat.
Outside the whole world seemed to be holding it's breath, though she hardly noticed. The rain had stopped, the air was disturbingly still and the stars were peering through the clouds, beholding the sights before them. Never before had this happened, they were fascinated.
No longer did she move slowly. She walked into the stables, waking Appa who nickered worriedly, and grabbed her saddlebags. Apologizing to her great horse she left the warm scent of hay and unconditional love and stole into her own house. She knew every location of every squeaky board and knew exactly how to open doors so that they didn't screech. First she went to her room. She packed away silk strips for binding her chest and cotton bandaging for monthly troubles. She only owned three sets of plain shirt and pants clothing; they would have to do her. Soon one pack was filled. The other was for armor. Most men had their armor fitted when they reach manhood. She felt bad about stealing her father's armor but knew she had no choice.
As she walked past her parent's room she set her bags on the floor and slid the door open. Her mother was positioned on one extreme side of the bed while her father lay on the other. She felt guilty for causing their fight, but something inside her rebelled against the guilt. Stepping forward confidently she bent down by her parents beside, they wouldn't wake up, they were hard sleepers. On the table by their bed was the transcription notice. To her wild imagination's eye it glowed with an evil light, but she quickly banished the image. She picked it up and replaced it with her wisteria hairpins. She'd been planning to take them with her, to remind herself, but this seemed more fitting.
It was hard leaving their room. She was dying to curl up in between them, as she had so often as a child, and forget all her problems. Instead she took off down the hallway, past Grangran's room, and into the formal dinging room. This is where they held ceremonies for the family; she should have been married in this room. Instead, she now faced a new destiny. She opened the cabinet against the wall and finally stopped for a moment. The armor was leather padding dyed deep green. Her father's trademark color; the helmet had a red plume on top. Lying on a decorative pillow was his sword. Her father was born in the year of the dragon, so his hilt was that of a golden dragon wrapping about the blade. She was almost afraid to grab the blade for fear of being cursed, but cast out such nonsense as superstition brought on by the situation. Reverently she took out the armor and put it away in her saddlebags. She would return the borrowed armor and sword. She just prayed that it wouldn't be something sent back as a notice of death.
Her saddlebags full, Katara walked back into her room as something else popped into her mind. Lying in his wicker cage, was Momo. Ever since she had gotten him a few weeks ago she'd been nothing but amazed at this animal's intelligence. He was quiet and trusted her enough to sit quietly on her shoulder while she did her chores. In fact she often had to pry him from his favorite place, in between her neck and hair, to get him into his cage at night. He hadn't been let out that day. Quietly she grabbed his cage and stole into the night. The cherry tree seemed to glow at her from the darkness, soon she was underneath it's eaves again. She set down her armful and hugged it's trunk. It felt silly and foolish, but necessary. After a moment passed she picked up Momo's cage and was surprised to see the monkey awake. His green eyes were looking straight into hers, seeming to understand the need for silence. The intelligence that flickered there banished all foolishness she felt.
"Momo, I'm leaving now. I'm going to leave your cage open here. If you want to stay with my family, just stay in the cage. If you want to be free, just leave." He blinked ever so slowly at her, "Just promise to do what makes you happy." She opened the door and set the cage on the ground. Then she stuck her finger inside and nuzzled his cheek as means of saying goodbye and walked into the stable. Inside was housed the family's cows, three pigs and Appa. The other animals ignored her, but Appa thundered noisily. He'd been pacing ever since Katara had come in for her saddlebags and the minutes had passed slowly. Katara shook her hands wildly, "Be quiet you great oaf!" she whispered loudly. Appa pranced and snorted for a moment longer before quieting down a little. Katara opened his stall and he rushed towards her, almost knocking her down. He sniffed her thoroughly, trying to find the source of her distress, and by association, his. But the scent that graced her person was foreign and stank of gods who were shoving their noses where they did not belong.
Katara leapt at her horse's momentary lapse in defense and threw his saddle on. They hardly ever used it and it shook him out of his quiet revelations. His twisted to look at her and they locked eyes, Katara summoned as much will into her eyes as she could dredge up from her worn spirit. He looked at her, trying to understand what was going on. Her blue eyes wobbled, "Please don't make me go alone." He had no idea what that meant, but her tone he understood clearly. He relaxed his muscles and turned to face forward. Katara sighed in relief and began to tighten straps and attach her saddlebags. She'd done her best to balance the weight of the bags, but when she tied on the bag with the armor and sword Appa staggered slightly before adjusting for the difference. Quickly he turned to glare at her, Katara smiled slightly and lead her horse outside.
The ground was churned and her house dark. The world was quiet and still, every star, every distant planet, and every Chinese god seemed to hold it's breath as they watched the small girl standing in her family's courtyard. She rocked back and forth between desire and duty. Forward towards her home, and backwards towards her fate. No one or thing could influence her now, it was all her. Only Katara could make this choice. She lifted her foot, and for a moment it looked as though she was going to change her mind. But then she turned a leapt onto her horse's back. Appa knew that if he didn't move fast enough that she would stop. He plunged forward, kicking open the gates, and galloped out of Muigi.
There was an almost audible release of breath as every spiritual witness relaxed.
As Katara made her way to the camp her father had been assigned to, something happened at home. Her family was still fast asleep, at least, her live ones were. Inside the family shrine, something was stirring. Though Katara had left over half an hour ago, her prayers seemed to ring about in the domed building.
I'm sorry
I must do this
Let this turn out right
It was as though the air was tasting her words, rolling them about on a nonexistent tongue. Slowly old prayers and burnt incense seemed to trail downwards and caress the smooth tombstones of the Hua family. The ethereal smoke traced the name on the largest marker, Hua Roku. The first and most powerful Hua ancestor. The markings glowed blue and the light leaked out of the stone and traveled up into the air. It congealed to form a man with intricately done hair and long beard. The smoke twirled around him and he held out a hand where it twined about his fingers. He studied it intensely before starting in surprise.
Glowing eyes switched their attention to the cat poised at his feet, "Awaken Toph." He said in a commanding voice that resonated within the confined space. No sound leaked into the human world. The stone cat's eyes were closed, but as the seconds passed the eyes snapped open and light blue eyes stared up at Roku. Granite turned to fur as the statue woke up. Soon the cat was stretching long unused muscles.
"Yes ancestor?" it's voice was that of a very sarcastic female. Roku held out the hand with the smoke and let her sniff it, "Interesting." She purred, "And you want me to go fetch her?"
Roku laughed loudly, "No dear Toph! I want you to awaken Hei-Bei. A low level guardian spirit such as yourself is not fit for this job at all! We need a real guardian." Toph's fur bristled and her eyes glowed brightly. But Roku's word was absolute. She could not go against him. Grumbling obscenities loudly she walked out of the shrine, dragging her paws to Katara's tree. There was a reason that Katara felt peaceful in the tree. Hiding within the wood was Hei-Bei, a very powerful entity even for a guardian spirit. Toph padded up and sat at the base of the tree.
She sighed, "Wake up…" she said unenthusiastically, "Waaake up… wake up." She lifted a paw to her eyes and examined the claws. Then she realized that Hei-Bei was not stirring, she glared at the tree before sinking in her claws and dragging them downward. Abruptly she was thrown back and the tree's dark wood glowed brightly.
"Do not take your anger out on me guardian." The voice was weedy and a little old and very sarcastic.
"Roku wants you to go fetch Katara." Toph said, ignoring the stab.
"Roku has no power over me." Said Hei-Bei. The great panda sat down and put a paw on his belly, "Do you have any idea how guardian spirits are created? Both the lower and higher?" Toph glared, she knew exactly how she'd been created, she still remembered it. But she knew that even if she interrupted him, he'd tell her anyway, "Every time woman marries, her husband's ancestors become her own. But her family's guardian spirit still exists It is bumped down in the ranks until it slips into obliteration. But I'm sure you know this. You too were once a powerful guardian spirit. Bout now you are a lowly messenger cat."
"I'm really not in the mood for this." Toph said through gritted teeth.
"You're never in the mood." Hei-Bei said lazily.
"So I am to understand that you want me to do your work?" she said as calmly as she could.
"Yes." He said as he lazily scratched is stomach, "Bad things happen when powerful guardian spirits leave their families too long. You should be fine though." And thus a battle of wills began. They stared at each other, their eyes growing in intensity as time passed. Then from inside the house came a cry of terror.
"KATARA!?" it was Kanata. She'd obviously found that Katara was not in the house. Frantically she ran out to the base of the cherry tree. She could not see the two spirits watching her. She gazed into the branches and ran to her husband who had come outside, "She's not there!" he was holding Katara's wisteria pins in his hands dumbly, as though he could not comprehend their importance. He took off at a shambling run towards the formal room. A few horrifying seconds passed before he let out an anguished cry.
"Will you really ignore them?" Hei-Bei asked.
"I cannot do this! You saw how every celestial being was watching her. This is something big! We low guardians do not do things like this! This is a job for you Hei-Bei, not me." Her voice was reaching a desperate level.
"So says you. But I have more power, I can command it." Toph looked at him in horror. Though the order was not spoken, it was powerful. She took off quickly, ignoring everything else around her. Including the little monkey who clung to her fur. Soon she found herself racing far away from her home in search of Katara.
The clearing was a good one she felt, quiet and secluded, but within sight of the camp. She'd stopped there last night after two days hard riding. Her muscles throbbed slightly, it had been a rather long time since she had ridden Appa with a saddle. But her body was not what was really bothering her. There was a sheen of sweat on her face that refused to go away, and she felt overwhelming fear in the pit of her stomach that refused to let her keep down any food. Appa was happier now that they had stopped running and that he had free access to the grass in the meadow. He was content to lay down and watch Katara pace nervously.
And pace she did, frantically. In twenty-four hours she would have to report to the camp. Around midday she began to practice speaking in a low voice, which was hard. Despite her efforts to act more masculine she was shaking her hands like a silly woman.
"Yes, I've come to sign in. My name is Katara." She said. But no matter who many different tones she used, Katara was a feminine name. She'd have to invent a new one. She sat and tried out many names of her ancestors, but none sounded good. Perhaps she could think of one before she had to leave in the morning. If she couldn't she'd use a sickeningly common name, like Ping or something. The shadows were beginning to lengthen and she was wasting time.
She got out her saddlebags and took out a fresh change of clothes and her breast bands. She was unsure of how to wrap the bands about her chest, and it was slightly painful. Definitely something she wasn't used to. In the end she bent a solid slab of ice and stood to the side so she could watch to make sure she got them flat enough. When she was done she undid them, then did them again for practice. For some reason bending felt nice. At home she was often scolded for bending. Sometimes she found that if she did not bend for a long amount of time that her arms would almost burn with desire. She loved to bend the most. Her earth bending skills were close to nonexistent, air bending was a little better. Fire she used sparingly, but always with fascination and respect. Water invoked in her a kind of awe that was hard to describe. She loved the way her body responded to the water, shifting and flowing steadily, never loosing speed. Ice bending was a simple matter of adding breath to the motions.
Soon her chest was at the appropriate flatness and she pulled on her clean clothes. The next part was hard. Many men wore their hair long, but not as long as hers. It waved down below her but and shone healthily. Hair was one of the few physical things about herself that she took much pride in. And now, she had to cut it.
Desperately she wished she had another blade beside the sword, it felt wrong to use it to cut her hair. But it had to be done. She unsheathed the sword and the metallic shing it gave out was ominous. Sitting in front of the mirror she sliced off a good two and a half feet from her hair. The tips barely brushed her shoulders in a depressed sort of way. She was very cruel to herself in not letting herself cry. She did however leave her trademark bags hanging in her face and tucked behind her ears. As she looked at her reflection she thought it didn't look too girly. If needed she'd come up with a spilt second explanation. She gathered all her murdered locks and tied them into a knot. Then she stood before the mirror and looked at herself. She looked more like a boy than a man, but she had a feeling she wouldn't be the only one looking too young.
She didn't try on the armor.
As day progressed into night Katara decided to build a fire. She gathered wood and ceremoniously she brought out her knotted hair for tinder. She felt horrible burning it, but it had to be done. As her fire smoked and crackled she noticed something across the fire from her. It was a cat. A big cat. With smoky brown fur and light blue eyes. It's tall ears were tufted and it's tail was short and bobbed. It was a lynx. The small big cats were known for their ferocity. A nervous smile twitched her lips, "Nice kitty."
"How expected. Well at least you didn't try and pet me like an idiot or anything." The cat said. Katara knew the cat said it. It's mouth moved as it formed words. They started at each other, Katara stupidly and Toph with growing irritation, "Trying to catch a fly are we?" Katara's jaw snapped shut.
"Are you a spirit?" Katara's hand went to her sword, though she had no idea what she was going to do with it.
"Now dummy, all us animals talk! Yes, I'm a spirit. I'm one of your family's guardian spirits." Katara stared at the cat for a second before her eyes lit with a flash of intuition.
"The incense cat!" she proclaimed.
"Very good." Toph said with true approval.
"Have you come to take me home?" Katara challenged.
"No." Toph said as she licked a paw of some invisible filth.
"Have you come to kill me for shaming the family?" Katara asked again, but a hint of a tremor in her voice. Toph laughed out loud.
"No. I'm here to guide you upon your quest." The cat spoke slowly and carefully, like someone speaking to a retard.
"Why?" Katara burst out, "I'm doing something very wrong! I thought guardian spirits were supposed to guide you a long the path of righteousness. Sure this is not pious in the gods' eyes?"
Toph sized her up, "I was told to do it." She said. Let the human assume she was told by a god. A lot of time passed in which Katara was completely silent. Toph didn't disturb her. She walked over to the horse Appa.
Are you willing to accompany your mistress on this journey? Toph asked through the power of her mind. Horses were intelligent enough to understand and answer.
Life at home is boring. I'd much rather do this than keep on pulling things. The horse shifted his attention to Toph's butt. Confused Toph turned to see a very small monkey attached to her fur.
"Vile creature! Let go of me! You mat the fur of a celestial guardian!" Momo raised his head slowly. The run from Muigi to this distant forest was long and hard. He was exhausted from hanging on, "Let go!" Toph cried again. She was about to reach back and make a snack out of him when Katara's dark hand gathered up the monkey.
"Momo? What are you doing here?" he squeaked at her faintly.
"He says you didn't give him enough options so he made a new one. He wanted to be with you." Toph translated his faint squeakings, "I didn't know I had a mortal passenger." She muttered to herself. Katara nuzzled the little monkey and cradled him in her hands.
"At least I will not be alone." Katara said quietly. The fire died down and she smothered the rest. Then she went to lay against Appa, using his saddle blanket to cover herself. Toph climbed onto the horses' back and curled up there and Momo nuzzled against Katara's stomach.
In the morning when she would walk to the camp she would do it in the company of a huge horse, a foreign monkey, and a guardian spirit in the form of a lynx.
I'm not entirely pleased with this chapter. Let me start with this. It's late because I've been uber busy. Plus, Okami is a hard game to put down. I'm trying to dig my soul back out of my PS2 and failing miserably. I'm almost done, I'll be back on a normal-ish schedule once I finish it. I got money for a Wii for Christmas, so I've been trying to track one down. Which isn't hard. My boyfriend works for Gamestop and all the guys there like me. I almost had one today, but it went to my boyfriend who hadn't gotten his yet…. I WANT MY FREAKIN' WII!
Anyway. The beginning was hard to write, the other stuff was more like, I knew it had to be put in this chapter so it was a matter of sitting down and writing it.
Also, here's my reason for writing this fic. If I get a hundred or more positive reviews on this fic I'm going to start writing my original story for the purpose of getting it published. It is nothing like anything I've ever written and I love everything about it. But I need the assurance that someone out there likes my writings. So I'm workin' hard for it. Don't worry though, I'm going to finish this before I start writing.
Hidden Stuff
When Katara complains about plain names she offers the name Ping. Which is the name Mulan chose in Mulan.
Hei-Bei is the panda spirit that Aang meets in the Winter Solstice and again in the Northern Water Tribe.
The stuff Hei-Bei says about spirits is something I totally bullshitted.
Katara's hair annoys the shit out of me in the show. She has it in the intricate bun, that looks like it's been wrapped several times and then it's braided. Even with all that it swings down around her butt. But when it's down it becomes… shorter? Yeah, Katara's hair should be to about her knees.
Toph is a lynx, which is in my mind a very good animal form for her. A dragon just didn't fit her and seemed a little too redundant. I really struggled with her eyes, but decided to go with light blue, like in the show. She can communicate with animals and has a few powers, which will be revealed later.
Here's to hoping that I can get the next one out on time. But please remember, I'm in college, so I've gotta sign up for spring classes and go to work. I'm not Wonder Woman… I'm Supergirl (That's one of my many nicknames)