"I have a proposition for you."
Katara looks skeptically at the princess as she runs through the situation in her head. Everything inside her is screaming at her to walk away- this is the girl who brutally beat Katara every week and then sabotaged her training so that she would keep losing. Before today, Azula had never treated Katara as anything other than subhuman, and one minimally decent act wouldn't fix that.
Katara tries to snatch her hand away, but Azula simply tightens her grip and Katara can feel Azula's nails digging into her wrist. "You'll want to hear me out," Azula whispers, her tone sending shivers down Katara's spine.
"Fine," Katara hisses back. "What do you want?"
Azula lets out an exaggerated sigh. "It's not always about what I want. Let's talk about what you want." Katara gives the princess an exasperated look of disbelief, which Azula ignores.
"Correct me if I'm wrong," she continues, "but what you want is to be more than a glorified prisoner. You want the freedoms of a Fire Nation citizen without having to swear allegiance."
"And finally," she finishes, "you want to be able to return home."
A glimmer of hope crosses Katara's mind, before she remembers who she is talking to. "Yeah, and what? You are just going to give those to me?" she snorts.
"Of course not," Azula replies, her tone derisive. "You are going to have to work for it."
"Well, get to the point then," Katara shoots back. "What is it you want me to do?"
"My, my, you shouldn't be so testy," Azula smirks. "I'm doing you a favor. Anyways, all that has to happen for you to get what you want is that you become a Fire Nation princess."
This is all a practical joke, Katara thinks. Her, a princess of the Fire Nation? Azula is the last person Katara sees as being willing to support such a notion. "I'm not playing this game," Katara says, moving to leave.
Once again, Azula's grip tightens, and Katara cannot shake herself loose. "Trust me, this is no game," Azula sneers. "It's easier than you think. How close are you with my brother?"
Katara's thoughts fly to her nighttime sparring sessions with Zuko. Does Azula know about them? She can't know... can she? "Um, we get along, I guess?" she answers, not committing in either direction.
It seems to be the right answer for the princess. Azula's mouth forms a wide grin, and she exclaims, "Great! So all you will have to do is win his affection! Get him to fall so much in love with you that he wants to take you as his bride."
"No way!" Katara protests. "How would that even work? Wouldn't I just be a concubine or something? Isn't that how it works here?"
"That all falls on you," Azula explains. "Zuko, despite all his effort winning his father's approval, still hates our father. He would marry someone like you just to spite our father. So all that needs to happen is that Zuko would want to marry you."
"Now, since you two get along already," Azula continues, "you simply need to continue to get closer to him. You may bond about how much better I am than you two, and how you can't stand my father. Draw him into conversations about family and honor and romance and all that nonsense. You're a pretty girl and he's a young boy- trust me, it will work."
"And if I refuse?"
Azula shrugs. "Why don't you give it a try? It's not like you have anything to lose if it doesn't work out."
…
Katara cannot get to sleep that night. She knows full well that she cannot trust anything that comes out of Azula's mouth, but the princess' silken tongue still manages to instill doubt in Katara's mind. Would it really be possible to become princess? Imagine what she could accomplish from that position!
Why is she even considering this? Why is she even considering anything suggested by Azula?
She remembers Chang's words to her yesterday- by impressing Ozai, she might win some liberties. But how plausible is that really? For all she knows, Ozai would just make her schedule even more tight now. The thoughts and logic of the royalty here are simply way too strange for Katara to make a good guess. And the extent of those liberties certainly would not include her return home.
Uncertainty plagues her. What happens to her tomorrow? What happens to her in the near future? Would she and Zuko even work out? Sure, they've shared a few smiles, but nothing else to suggest anything more. And most importantly, what does Azula stand to gain from this?
Katara pounds her first into the bed and growls in frustration. The Fire Nation is just so messed up...
…
It takes hours for Katara to finally get to sleep, so Chang finds her out cold when he brings in breakfast the next morning. Chang rouses her gently, teasing her about another late night with the prince. Katara replies that it was actually the princess who was on her mind last night, and tells Chang about her encounter with Azula the night before.
Once Chang hears the story, he tells her unequivocally to avoid the princess' games. "That girl is nothing but trouble," Chang says, "her mind is cunning and her motivations are unclear, which means that you must move with extreme caution."
Chang is called away before he can say anything more, which leaves Katara to contemplate his words in silence. Chang's advice mirrors her own wariness about the the princess, but if Azula is as much danger as they believe, then refusing her might also invite trouble.
Katara decides to shelve away those thoughts for later. If there is to be any change in her situation, then she would likely learn about it at her training session, which means she probably shouldn't skip today.
…
If there is a change, then her trainers don't know. In fact, they act as if she hadn't skipped practice the entire week before and as if she hadn't shown massive improvement. As a result, Katara decides to take the afternoon off.
On her way back to her room after lunch, Katara happens to see Zuko heading down a hallway she has never used before. Katara internally debates whether or not to follow the prince, before eventually deciding to go through with it. 'It's not like you have anything to lose if it doesn't work out,' Azula's voice tells her.
Tiptoeing down the hallway, Katara comes upon a beautiful courtyard. In front of her is Zuko, kneeling before a grave, his eyes closed. 'Here lies Ursa,' it reads, 'beloved mother and beloved wife.'
As she approaches, Katara accidentally kicks over a stone, causing Zuko to turn around and glare at her. "What are you doing here?" he asks.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," Katara lies. "I was taking a walk and stumbled upon this garden. It's gorgeous."
"Yeah, I suppose it is," Zuko says. "Shouldn't you be at training right now?"
"You know as well as I do that I don't train during the day now," Katara remarks, earning a slight grin from Zuko.
'Draw him into conversations about family and honor and romance and all that nonsense.'
"Forgive my asking," Katara continues, "but is that your mother? I can't help but notice that, um, Ozai doesn't seem to have a wife."
Zuko nods. "Yes it is," he says. "She died when I was very young. I don't remember much, but from my limited memory and from what the servants have told me, she was kind and generous and a pleasure to know. If she were still here, she probably would have given you a better welcome than we did."
'You may bond about how much better I am than you two, and how you can't stand my father.'
"Well, all things considered, I'd say your welcome was fine, especially compared to your sister," Katara replies.
Zuko lets out a deep sigh. "They say Azula looks like my mother, but I just don't believe it it. She's everything my mother wasn't, and I hate it."
"Yeah, she drives me crazy too," Katara chimes in.
"That's why I like to come here," Zuko says. "I just feel so at peace when I'm here. Everywhere else, it just feels like I'm treading water, trying not to drown. Father wants to be Fire Lord, Azula wants everyone to think she's better than me, and I'm just here trying to be me. Being in this family is like being forced to play a game that I don't want any part of."
"You should be glad," Zuko finishes, "that you don't have to deal with any of this."
…
Katara returns to her room to find Azula casually lounging on her bed, a bowl of cherries next to her. "Well, how did it go with my brother?" she asks.
"I'm not going to do it!" Katara announces. "I figured out your plan. You just want me to distract Zuko away from his training so you can beat him. I won't play your game."
A tense silence falls between the two. Katara can see the wheels turning in the princess' head, and she wonders what the consequences for refusing her will be. Finally, Azula plasters on a cheerful face and says, "Oh well! I guess it just wasn't meant to be!"
Katara barely reigns in her surprise at the unexpected reaction. Azula chuckles, rising off the bed and standing face to face with Katara. "I can already beat him," Azula says. "So I'm afraid you have the wrong answer. Good guess though."
Azula turns around to pick up her cherries, and accidentally drops a popped cherry onto Katara's bed. The two girls watch as the red color spreads over the sheets, and Azula says, "Sorry about that. I'm sure we can get your manservant to clean it up for us. As for you... we train tomorrow morning."
As the princess exits the room, Katara cannot help but feel that a more hostile response would have been preferable. As it stands now, Katara cannot tell how sincere Azula is.
…
Katara arrives at the training area the next morning to find many practice dummies set up. Azula is sitting in the middle of them in a meditative pose, but cracks an eye when she hears Katara approach. "Ah, you made it!" she says. "Come here!"
Katara hesitates a little, to which Azula says, "Don't worry, we're working on your offense! I'm not going to be attacking you at all today!" Azula slides up next to Katara, and points to one of the practice dummies. "Let me see your attack," she says.
Katara obeys and sends a shower of ice at the dummy. Azula nods approvingly as she inspects the impaled dummy, before saying, "now a whip." Katara rears back her arm to attack, but Azula suddenly yells, "stop!"
Katara looks at Azula in confusion. The princess moves behind Katara and takes her wrists in either hand, shifting them into different positions. "This form is better," she explains. "You use less strength, but strike out with more force. Try it now."
Apparently the princess knows what she is talking about- Katara attacks, and can immediately feel the difference. She turns around to flash Azula a grin, and notices Zuko watching from a balcony behind them. Azula follows Katara's gaze, then tells her, "don't worry about him. You two can work out your own practice schedule. I wouldn't recommend it though- you are already so much better than my brother is."
As the day goes on, Azula continues to be surprisingly helpful. Her constructive tips about posture and tactics are far more useful than forcing Katara to repeat the same motion for hours. Finally, lunchtime arrives, and Azula is called away to meet with her tutors. Before she leaves, Katara asks, "you aren't being nice to me just to get me to agree with your plan, are you?"
"Of course not."
…
"What's your game, Azula?"
"Why must there be a game, Zuzu?"
"We both know it's not like you to be so nice to someone like her."
"Oh fine, you caught me. If you must know, I'm making sure she beats you the next time she fights you. Imagine what father would think when that happens."
...
Zuko flags Katara down shortly after she finishes her lunch. "Hey," he says, "do you want to train tonight at our usual spot?" Katara can't think of any reason to say no, so she replies in the affirmative.
"Great! I saw you training today, and you looked like you've improved a lot! Oh, one more thing: I think it would be good if you brought water with you this time, just to make it more realistic."
…
Chang sneaks her a small tub of water to bring to her session with Zuko after the other servants have gone to sleep. Katara makes her way to the courtyard as quietly as she can, being careful not to spill any of the water. As a result, it takes her longer than usual to get here- however, Zuko is still not there when she arrives.
…
"Fancy seeing you wandering the halls at this time of night, dear brother."
…
Katara waits for ten minutes, before concluding that Zuko has stood her up. She's about to leave when fire erupts around her on all sides. "Sieze her!" she hears. As Katara is grabbed from behind, she looks up to see Zuko's face hidden in darkness. Katara cannot hide her shock as Zuko quickly turns away and leaves.
…
Katara spends the night in a filthy dungeon. It all reminds her of when she was first captured and brought to the Fire Nation- the soldiers wielding fire, the chains, the hopelessness. So many questions- did Zuko sell her out? If not, who did? Or was it an accident? What happens to her now?
When morning arrives, she is thrown down in front of Prince Ozai, who looks furious. "You stand accused of attempted assassination, the punishment for which is death," declares the guard captain. "You, a waterbender, obtained a large portion of water in the middle the night, and were apprehended a short distance away from the Fire Lord's chambers. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Katara considers her options carefully. If she were to try and tell the truth, could she trust Zuko to corroborate her story? If Zuko had set her up, then he would deny her story, and everyone would take his word over her's. But what lie would she tell? She was just out training in the middle of the night? Who would believe that?
"I hardly think assassination was on her mind," says a voice behind her.
Katara snaps her head back to look at her defender, but truthfully she can already tell who it is from the voice. Azula walks to the center of the room, and continues, "she was caught with an unwieldy container of water. If murder was her intent, then why would she not utilize a much more portable vessel? A waterskin, for example? If it were an assassination, then it is poorly planned; therefore we must conclude that this was not an assassination."
"Then what would be your explanation for her behavior, my daughter?" Ozai asks.
"It's simple," Azula offers. "Perhaps she, as a waterbender, simply wanted to practice under the moon in the same way we firebenders practice under the sun. Honestly, I think it shows initiative, and she should not be punished for it."
Ozai seems to consider it for a moment, before agreeing. "Very well. You are dismissed."
Katara feels a tug at her wrist, and Azula whispers, "let's get out of here."
…
Katara runs into Zuko in the hallways outside. The prince vehemently denies having any part to do with her fiasco, explaining that he was held up because he had run into his sister. Katara simply walks past him, not wanting to deal with him right now.
Katara breathes a huge sigh of relief as she gets back to her room, slumping down against the wall. She stays there for the better part of an hour, until her heart rate settles back to normal. How fortunate, she thinks, that Azula was there to bail her out.
She thinks back to Zuko's words. 'It just feels like I'm treading water, trying not to drown...Being in this family is like being forced to play a game that I don't want any part of. You should be glad that you don't have to deal with any of this.' Well, like it or not, it feels like Katara has been dragged into this game, and she's losing by a lot already.
Chang would be able to offer some insight, she thinks. So all she has to do is wait for him to bring dinner, as he always does.
…
It's a different servant this time. "Here's your dinner," says the man gruffly, setting the tray down before turning away. Katara just stares dumbly at the food, before chasing after the servant. "Where is Chang? He usually brings me my meals."
The servant shrugs her off, saying, "he was executed this morning. Leave me alone."
Katara's heart skips a beat, and she leans against the wall, feeling weak. Chang...executed...? Why?
Azula would know.
Katara sprints down the halls towards Azula's chambers, pounding on the door when she gets there. "Azula! Please, open the door!"
Katara hears a book close and footsteps approach the door. It opens, and Azula peers through the crack. "What's wrong?" she asks, concern in her voice.
"It's Chang!" Katara exclaims. "A servant just told me he was executed! Why would they do such a thing?"
"I suppose you should sit down for this," Azula says, ushering Katara inside. The princess' room is much larger than Katara's is, but Katara is too frantic to really notice.
"Your friend was brought in for questioning about the... incident," Azula begins. "It is, of course, quite negligent to supply a waterbender with water in the middle of the night."
"But I wasn't punished for that!" Katara protests. "And that's hardly grounds for a death sentence!"
"You are right," Azula agrees, "but that's not the whole story. Soldiers searched his chambers, and found a hidden compartment under his floorboards. Coded messages written on sealskin and Earth Kingdom parchment. Do you know what this means?"
Chang has explained the word once to her... "Espionage," Katara says.
Azula nods. "Yes, he was found guilty of espionage. We believe he was in league with our enemies, but we don't know to what extent because we cannot decode the messages."
"B-b-but he seemed so friendly!" Katara cries. "Why would he be involved in something like that?"
"We believe he was just trying to get close to you so that he could use you as an asset," Azula explains. "But don't worry, you won't be implicated with anything he's done."
Katara cannot contain her tears any more, and breaks out sobbing. Her only friend here was just using her? But he truly seemed so sincere- their conversations, his invitations, his advice.
Azula envelops her in a hug, patting her back and murmuring, "don't worry. It will all be okay. You don't need him. I'll be your friend now."
A/N:
Chang had a target on his back the second I gave him a name instead of him just being "nameless servant #4". I don't usually like OCs, but here it was the best way to get the initial plot development going.
Not super happy with this chapter- I don't think I balanced showing what Katara sees and dropping hints about what actually happened that well. I might edit this chapter sometime in the future.
Next chapter: Iroh returns, and Katara recieves another proposition.