Hi friends! Here's another chapter...my school holidays start next week so I will be able to upload more frequently and work on more chapters! Anyways, sorry if this chapter is very jumpy, there's quite a few POV changes, so please bear with me for now. Anyways, hope you like it! Also, I started an ao3 account, (user: aleas) and am uploading this story as well. I've hit a sort of obstacle on the progress of chapter 10, but I hope that I'll be able to finish it by the time it comes to post!
Ominous07: Thank you for your review, again! I'm glad you liked it. I agree, it is a bit weird seeing Katara so cruel, but I'm hoping that today's chapter sheds a bit more light on her character. I tried to manipulate her canon personality to become more evil, but still retaining the same values (familial love, etc) To me, Sokka is like our Zuko in this fic, so we will see how it goes...hmmm...Sokka alone is an interesting concept - he's hardly ever protrayed w/o someone in the TV series. Hope you like this chapter!
LuminousMoonRay: Thank you for the review! Maybe we will, maybe we wont, but it sure would be fun to have that combo of happy Zuko and moody Aang. And yes, I am trying to rewrite the timeline, as realistically as possible, so some familiar scenes will be included, but not in the chronological order of the show. (E.g. Sun Warriors, Battle Ba Sing Se happened early on in the fic, while they happened later on in the TV series). Also, Zuko is not burned right now! He has no scar. Whether he gets in the end one remains to be told.
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Chapter 7
100 AG
4th Day of the 8th Month - The Day After The Defeat at Ba Sing Se
Sokka woke up early that morning, while the sun was still hidden and the moon still showed its face. He sat by the fire, his sack already packed with his essentials, his boomerang and club strapped firmly into their holsters. He remembered every single bit of the battle yesterday – he still felt as dazed as he did when it had happened. He remembered the screaming, the pain, the anger that had emanated around him, and all he could think of was how it was because of him. Because the Water Tribe wanted to devour the land like it was their prey. But they had been kept out, so now he was sitting by a fire, staring in the embers, remembering the man who Katara had killed yesterday, and his distraught father, and the arm which looked so much like the embers crackling and disintegrating in the fire. Sokka remembered Toph Bei Fong standing over him, shackling him to the ground, and wondered why it meant so much when she was barely an acquaintance. Perhaps it was a realization – that a kid could fight another kid and not feel any wrong doing – because for once it was the right thing to do. Because they had to. Sokka knew what he thought of doing yesterday. He decided then and there, staring into the flames while the ghosts of his memories picked him out from the inside.
Sokka slipped away considerably quietly, and went completely unnoticed, just as the sun peeked around the horizon. Later in the morning, now with the sun a sweltering orb suspended in the sky, Katara would discover his note:
Dear Katara and Dad,
I am leaving. I no longer want to be here anymore. The war has done many horrible things, and I never expect the world to forgive us. But we should at least redeem ourselves. I am off to find some way of bringing honor to the Water Tribe, and whatever you do, you can't stop I'm really serious about this. And also, no, I won't tell you where I'm going. What we are doing. It isn't bring glory to anything but suffering.
I love you,
Sokka
And she would go into a considerable rage which would last for the remainder of the day. He says he loved us, but obviously not enough for him to stay. Hakoda merely looked sad, and a little disappointed, Bato was expressionless and Arrluk was furious. He had ranted for the days after this about the nerve of a sixteen-year-old boy, and the treason Sokka had committed, and the dishonor of the boy's actions. After her own anger, came sadness for Katara, since after all, she had lost her brother. She wondered for hours on end whether she would ever see him again.
P.S. We'll see each other soon.
Well, that answered her question.
"Zukooooooo," Aang moaned. "How are you doing that?"
"Doing what?" Zuko asked, as he delivered another swift kick and looked impassively at the flame which shot from the ball of his feet.
"Spirits, now you're just teasing me." The airbender pointed at the space where the flame had just disappeared. "That!" Aang copied Zuko's movements, but only with a considerably smaller, flame.
"I don't know." Zuko shrugged, suddenly awkward. "I just…do it."
Aang grumbled loudly. "That's no help. You said you'd help me out!"
"I won't be your teacher if you aren't serious about it!" Zuko shouted.
"But just a little bit!"
Zuko pouted. "Whatever. If you want to learn Firebending so bad, there's the Sun Warriors here that can help you. They're the Masters, not me."
Aang shook his head. "You're supposed to teach me, not them. I can feel it. You are my master."
Zuko felt a sliver of triumph. The Avatar was starting to show through the twelve-year-old. But he was still dumbfounded. "No wonder you can't learn Firebending, you only want to be taught by someone who barely even knows how!"
"Zuko, you're not that bad."
"I'm pretty bad compared to my father."
"Then if it helps, you're pretty good compared to me."
"Wow, thanks Aang. I feel better already."
"That's actually a pretty flattering comparison."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "What an honor."
Aang's eyes turned serious. "But really. I really, really, really, really, want to learn Firebending."
Zuko shot another quick blast of flame, making no reply. Aang shrugged and copied Zuko's stance. Zuko nodded stiffly after giving Aang a once-over.
"Your chi will act as a source for your bending." Zuko started confidently. He remembered this from Uncle's lessons. "And we Firebenders draw power from the sun." Zuko breathed in and out, almost feeling the sun invigorate him with its rays. "Think of the chi flowing through your body and coming out as fire." Zuko performed a spin, then a smart kick. Fire shot out of his foot in a huge blast.
Aang nodded. He repeated Zuko's action, and at the end, though he did manage to produce a good fire blast, it lacked the energy. Zuko couldn't hear the crackling, or feel the white-hot heat.
"That was fun!"
"Not really. But it was okay." Zuko nodded. "Just remember, the sun is your power. And Firebending is offensive. We fight with Firebending. Detact yourself from whatever is holding you back Aang. In Firebending, there is no hesitation." Zuko was struggling to remember what the Uncle had taught him and Azula in the few sessions he managed to conduct with them.
Zuko could tell that Aang was somewhat uncomfortable at these words.
"Try again."
Aang kicked forwards, and a fire blast, similar to the one before it, was produced. Again. Zuko forced himself to remain calm.
"Offensive, Aang. Don't go easy. Firebenders go hard. Think offensive. Be aggressive."
This situation repeated itself several times over the rest of the morning, each punctuated with groans from a grumbly Fire Prince. "AANG!" Zuko practically screamed. "AGGRESSIVE OFFENSIVE!"
"Yes, Sifu Hotman," Aang said meekly.
"And don't call me that!" Zuko fired back. Aang gave him a sheepish smile. Zuko's nose wrinkled.
Aang tried again. Another bad one. Zuko decided to calm down for this confrontation. "Aang. Firebending is powerful, it's offensive. We do not defend, we attack. You got it? I need to see that fire in your bending."
At this point, Aang was starting to get a little grumpy about Zuko's constant berating. "And how do you know that? You said it yourself that you're barely even a Firebending Master."
"Well, you said it yourself that I was better than you so you'd better listen."
Aang's lip curled, but he went back into a stance, resolved to do it right.
"Prince Zuko is right."
Zuko looked up. That's a first. The Chief of the Sun Warriors stood there; amusement was written all over his face. "Avatar Aang, Firebending draws its power to the Sun. We only have Firebending because the Sun is there. So on the Day of Black Sun, Firebenders lose their bending for that period of time, and on the day of Sozin's comet, our Firebending is enhanced." The Chief formed a circle of fire with sweeping arm and hand motions. "Firebending deals with two ideals – life and energy. The fire comes from within us, and before we can Firebend, we must find our own inner fire. Find something that will drive you. A reason which will last throughout the years. That will fuel your inner fire."
Aang thought for a moment. "I'm not sure."
The Chief frowned. "You will find one eventually. Just keep practicing."
Aang repeated his forms. It was similar to the previous ones, large but unsubstantial, and it flickered away too quickly, so the Chief seemed unimpressed. "Good job, but you lack the inner fire. Also, you are too hesitant. In firebending, our forms are quick, and most deal with consecutive kicks and punches, one after the other. One moment of hesitation could mean death. Remember Avatar Aang, whatever is holding you back, let go to Firebend."
Aang looked nervous. "It's just that my culture; we never believed in war and fighting and hurting other people. And Firebending is so… aggressive, and wild, and painful, I just feel like I'm going against everything I've been taught."
The Chief's eyes softened. "You looked into Ran and Shaw's fire, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you probably saw that fire is not at all wild. Like every other element, fire can be controlled. You are only going against your culture if you use Firebending to hurt someone on purpose. Training in Firebending does not suggest ignorance of Air Nomad culture. Do not worry, Avatar Aang. Yes, Fire is aggressive, and painful, but the same can be said about other elements, in some cases. Earth, Water, Fire, Air. All elements are the same, but only become certain things when used a certain way."
Aang remained silent for a moment.
"Try again."
Aang repeated his stance. Zuko, standing a few meters away, could feel the heat of his fire right after that. The Chief smiled.
"Don't let anything hold you back, Avatar. Fire Prince Zuko is correct – a moment's hesitation could be your downfall." The Chief stopped talking for a moment, before a smile flashed across his face. "And do not worry about your sky bison, Avatar Aang, we have it in our stables. Feel free to take him out and keep him with you." Then the Chief walked away. Aang turned to Zuko immediately when he was out of earshot.
"Why'd he wait until now to tell me that they had Appa?" His jaw was hanging open.
Zuko bit back a chuckle. "It's probably to force you to stay."
100 AG
9th Day of the 8th Month
Five days later
A Water Tribe girl sat on an ostrich horse, her hair cropped to her shoulders and her Water Tribe clothes discarded for Earth Kingdom ones. The injury on her back was bandaged up, but it still stung. Her father's words rung in her ear. Go to Omashu. Begin the Seige. Redeem the Water Tribe for your brother. Do not fail us like Sokka did.
Okay, she had said.
I won't fail them like Sokka did. It's easy. Just don't run away. She turned back to look at where she had come from, where Bato and Arrluk and her Father walked in the other direction. They needed her. She never turned her back on people who needed her.
100 AG
18th Day of the 8th Month
In the two weeks after Aang formed his first proper flame, nothing much changed other than the fact Aang could form decent fire. But under the guidance of the Chief, Zuko had trained ten times as hard. So by the time Zuko had mastered the basics, Aang was still working on sustaining a flame in a moderately-sized flame. Needless to say, Aang wasn't a natural, and honestly, he wasn't nearly as serious as Zuko. Zuko, on the other hand, felt a little bit more comfortable towards the element, thus he had managed to get through the practices and drills with relative ease and understanding.
Zuko was always comforted by the presence of these people. They no longer judged him by his title, and he had met a few nice people he enjoyed talking to. They called him Zuko with a hint of friendliness, not the Fire Prince with a tinge of disdain, and he liked that. Back at home, he was always "Fire Prince" and "Sir" and "Prince Zuko" and "Zu-zu" from Azula but here with Aang and everyone else it was Zuko. It made him feel normal, like he wasn't going to rule the Fire Nation one day. He was just a seventeen-year-old kid who wanted to learn Firebending. And that felt good. Every night he would stay up chatting with Aang as they lay on their bedrolls. Aang had so many stories, and Zuko shared his own, of his mother, of Azula, of Ty Lee and Mai. Zuko had asked Aang one night, how he liked it here. Aang replied that he liked the food. The Sun Warriors had specially amended their recipes so that the vegetarian Aang wouldn't have to scavenge of berries, so Aang often sat at the table munching happily on a bowl of rice with a vegetable stew and a fruit pie nearby.
Zuko sometimes forgot that the entire war was at war, but it always came back to him whenever they started training sessions again. Firebending – it reminded him of what he was fighting for, and it always brought him a sense of pride to know that he was doing to do it with the Avatar.
While the pair trained, another person (someone who could have also been called a Prince, at one point) trudged through Earth Kingdom country-side. His blue clothes had been traded for a simple green tunic, cream pants, and covered leather sandals. The only piece of Water-Tribe memorabilia was his weapons. The Water Prince was pretty sure a peasant eye could recognize a Water Tribe weapon that easily – honestly, other than the blue hues, they were pretty ordinary looking. A boomerang? Hah! Obviously anyone could own one. And a club – well, that was a pretty basic weapon to have. A sword though, that was quite the standout, and it didn't help that it had had the Water Tribe insignia carved into its hilt.
So, that sword was ditched right next to his old clothes, albeit a heavy heart.
Now, he regretted it. Ugh, why didn't I just sell it and buy an ostrich-horse? He grumbled in his mind. Then there was a pang in his heart, because he remembered none of this ever would have happened if he hadn't left. Shut up, Sokka. Remember, you need to find the Avatar to regain the Water Tribe's honor! That felt a little bit better, but thinking of his family always made him feel like he should have stayed.
So the Water Tribe runaway continued skirting the outside of a farm, but inside he started to wonder how in the name of Tui and La he was going to find the Avatar, anyways. It wasn't like he could just rock up someplace and the Avatar would be there. He would have to start at the nearest village. The Avatar should be a Waterbender after the Air Nomad Genocide. But it had been almost a hundred years after the Genocide, so maybe the Avatar was an Earthbender? Suppose it's kinda good that I'm in the Earth Kingdom after all. He would start at the nearest village. He looked at his map. Zuzhou Village. That sounded like a start. He headed to the south. He could hear the faint rushing of a river. He moved faster. He started to notice the moon starting to fade into the sky. Then sun was casting pink hues across the sky. He would camp by the river.
100 AG
19th Day of the 8th Month
Katara woke up again to a damp bedroll and tear-stained cheeks. Her Father seemed to have accepted Sokka's betrayal at least a week ago, but honestly, she could see through the façade. Chief Hakoda wasn't a heartless bastard. He had loved Sokka, and his son's actions had hurt him more that words could say.
But Katara, she was angry. They needed Sokka there, she needed Sokka there and he left them, he took his weapons and left them behind, with just a note as a comfort for losing a family member. Now he was out there alone, and by himself, and they'd never find him. Something must have happened that would have made Sokka do that, but what had been so special about the Battle of Ba Sing Se to make him leave? They had been doing what they always did – fight for self and country. The week or so of travelling had resolved her – she had to find Sokka, and she would have to convince him to come back home. Tui and La, I'm the younger one and I have more sense than him. Katara thought grouchily. She wrapped herself in a soft beige cloak and stepped out of her room. She was met with a blast of wind, which carried the damp, and it stuck uncomfortably to her skin. She rubbed the cloak into her arms, trying to wipe off the sweat which was already beading at her skin. She stuck her feet into a pair of slippers by her bed side, tightened her grip, and looked around her room, like it was the first time she had woken up here – it was. It was plain, with off white walls and cracked furniture. Her belongings were stowed in a cabinet, and her ostrich-horse was downstairs. Her fake name, identity and history was scribbled on a piece of paper nearby. She had had it tucked deep in her boot ever since her father had written and given it to her. She picked it up and unfurled it, scrunching up her nose at the sour smell. But she read on, squinting to read the close, angled letters written in the special code the Water Tribe had devised.
Name: Kanna
Identity: Earth Kingdom refugee.
History: Ran away from my village after the Water Tribe took my parents from me. Mother was a Waterbender, but she betrayed them and was murdered in cold blood with my father. I am alone now. I came to Omashu for a better life and a new beginning. I was born fifteen years ago. I have no siblings. Looking for honest work, will do anything for money.
Katara, still reading and memorizing the paper let the robe drop, wrapped her tunic around her, and tied her hair up into a simple ponytail, complete with her loopies. Her necklace came last. She hid it under her collar. No one had to see that – its touch was all she needed to get her through today. Her water skin laid warmly against her hip – it felt good to know of the power it held, and the things it meant she could do. She twisted the water around in the water skin, before relinquishing her grip, letting only a small drop ease its way out. She placed the paper on the table, and splashed the water on the paper, repeating its contents in her head over and over again. The paper disintegrated as the water seeped through it. She swept its remains onto the ground and pressed her heel on it. She replaced the water back into where it came from.
The necklace still sat snug against the curve of her neck. It was like a mother's hug, so it gave her comfort; and it always helped – because what she needed most comforting about was Sokka – and she couldn't let it get in the way of her mission. She relished her mother's hug.
Hope you liked it! Wasn't sure on how to end the chapter, but I will update as soon as possible! (in a week?) Thank you to all those who favourite, follow and review! I appreciate it all :'-)
-Cass
