A/N: Thanks for waiting guys. This chapter is loosely inspired by The Beach-because really, I had to write a chapter at Ember Island. ) It also takes place almost two months after the last chapter. So Katara is still 15, Zuko 17, at the end of her summer visit. Enjoy!
"The truth is hiding in your eyes
And it's hanging on your tongue." - Decode, Paramore
Chapter 7 - Queen of Water
"This is so exciting!" Ty Lee squealed. "Ember Island for an entire weekend with all my friends."
"I can't believe our mother sent us on a forced vacation." Zuko's harsh voice cut through the humid air. He crossed his arms and glared out over the ocean. "There's a war still going on and we're supposed to what, play in the sand?"
Katara tried to mentally picture Zuko, at any age, playing in sand, and couldn't, and started to laugh at the thought. He shot her an icy look and she bit her lip until she tasted blood. "Sorry, I just don't see why you're making it a big deal," she said to him.
"You just want to go to the beach," Zuko argued.
"So what if I do?" Katara stood, moving toward the edge of the small ship. "I've only been to Ember Island to go to the theater. We've never actually stayed longer than a day and well—" She shrugged. "We don't have beaches at the South Pole."
"Things must be getting really serious if they're sending us all away," said Azula. She stood at the edge of the rail, arms behind her back, staring out over the water.
"Can't be that serious or they'd make me stay behind," Lu Ten added. He looked amused at the whole situation, lounging against the rail.
"Maybe you're not as important as you think." Katara gave him a toothy grin. "You're stuck with babysitting duty."
"At least we'll get to see the Fire Festival," Aang piped in happily. "I missed the last one."
"Don't get too excited, Twinkletoes," said Toph, waving a hand lazily in his direction from her spot on the floor. "This is strictly a training weekend for you."
Aang groaned.
When the ship finally made port, the group was greeted with two identical old ladies. Their skin was leathery, sagging and overlapping. They both wore matching beach outfits, all pink, and ridiculously large hats. They stood inhumanly still as the group approached.
"Welcome to Ember Island," they chorused together.
"We will show you to the royal quarters," one of them said.
"—Where you will be staying for the weekend," the other added.
Toph whispered something under her breath and followed behind Azula, the rest of the group trailing after. Katara stared after them for second before a nudge from behind snapped her into her senses. Zuko brushed past her and hesitated, turning around.
"Coming?" he asked.
"Who are those ladies?" Katara asked, reaching down and attempting to grab hold of her heavy satchel with difficulty. Honestly, she should have never let Ty Lee pack her things to begin with.
"Li and Lo," Zuko answered. He walked over and batted her hands away, wordlessly swinging her satchel over his shoulder with ease. "Azula's mentors."
"Mentors?"
"Firebending instructors," Zuko clarified. "The ones who work with her when she's not at school."
Katara followed him, staring after Li and Lo in bewilderment. She was sure she'd never seen two least likely Firebenders in her life. "They know how to Firebend?"
"I don't know," Zuko replied. "I've never been around for Azula's lessons. But it doesn't really matter if they can or not."
"What do you mean?"
He gave her a sidelong glance, the corners of his mouth itching into a smirk. "Look at you—you learned most of your Waterbending from Firebenders. As long as you know the proper techniques, you can teach them."
He had a point.
The Fire Lady's royal estate was larger than Katara expected. A large stone courtyard resting in the middle of an enormous house that overlooked the ocean. The familiar smell of sweetness and salt filtered the air, a sort of warm spice Katara was learning to associate with the Fire Nation.
She and Zuko were the last to arrive inside the house, and Lu Ten informed them that since they were indeed last, they got last choice in rooms. Katara didn't really care where she slept and had a feeling Zuko would get whatever room he wanted anyway.
"You can stay with me, Sugar Queen," Toph called, poking her head out from a door in one of the hallways. "There are two beds in this room."
Katara nodded and turned, prepared to grab her belongings from Zuko, but he simply carried them silently to her room and dropped the satchel on one of the beds. He nodded once, dismissing himself, and exited the room.
That was…nice of him.
"Is this your first time going to a beach?" Katara asked, rummaging through her belongings.
"Yeah, and I already hate it," said Toph, throwing herself on her bed and resting her hands behind her head.
Katara turned. "Why?"
"The sand—it makes it harder for me to see, since it's so shifty."
"Maybe it won't be so bad once you get used to it," Katara offered, shrugging. "Besides, it's my birthday in two days and I won't let you sulk up in here and miss all the fun."
"Joy," Toph drawled, throwing a pillow over her face.
Later in the day, Lu Ten led them toward what he claimed the "life" of the beach, away from the private area that was strictly for the Fire Nation royalty. This part of the beach was crowded, packed with teenagers and families. Blankets and umbrellas scattered the sand, small children building sand castles and teens playing some game with a ball and a net. The ocean was full of people too—some doing what Katara thought was surfing on the water, if that was possible.
Ty Lee cartwheel through the sand, gaining the attention of almost every male specimen on the beach. She found a large open area and signaled for everyone to follow.
"So much for laying low," Katara murmured.
"She's really pretty, isn't she?" Toph asked, inclining her head in Ty Lee's direction.
Katara glanced at Ty Lee in her tight white two-piece as she instructed a random guy laying down her towel. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a braid, her grey eyes large and inviting. She was curvy and fit, her toned muscles perfectly sculpted. She smiled at her helper, the guy who laid down the towel, a smile that reflected the sun with its brightness.
"Yeah." Katara sighed. "Very."
Lu Ten shrugged off a shirt, revealing chiseled abs and cut arms that made Katara blush and glance away. "I'm going to get drinks," he announced, also gaining attention, but from a group of giggling girls that seemed to recognize him.
"Make it something strong," Toph called after him.
"Wanna get in the water, Toph?" Aang asked, seeming to appear out of thin air. He wore a simple pair of crimson trunks, his arrows completely exposed. If people hadn't been staring before, they certainly were now. And whispering. And pointing.
"Yeah, I don't think so." Toph waved a hand. "I'm already blinded by this sand."
"You're blind anyway," Zuko pointed out. He stood with his arms crossed next to Azula, both seeming to be surveying the beach.
"No, really?" Toph waved a hand in front of her face. "I didn't notice."
"Come on!" Aang pulled Toph to her feet before she could stop him. "You said I had the day off—let's go swimming."
"No!" Toph kicked at the sand and it sprayed against Aang, knocking him backwards.
"I thought you couldn't bend!" Aang exclaimed, spitting sand from his mouth.
"I'm not completely crippled from sand, you know." Toph crossed her arms.
"I'll go with you, Aang." Katara threw her towel and bag in the sand. "I want to learn how to do that." She pointed toward a group of kids surfing the waves.
"No." Azula's voice was commanding and her gaze was narrowed at a group of boys playing a game by the nets. "We're going to play kuia ball."
"Count me out," said Toph, plopping back down on the ground.
Azula's smile was piercing. "I already did." She snapped her attention to the rest of the group. "Avatar, you'll only draw attention to yourself. You stay—everyone else, let's go."
"But I don't know how to play," Katara bristled, throwing a save me now look back at Aang and Toph as Ty Lee dragged her away.
"Lu Ten!" Azula called, ignoring the Waterbender, as her cousin approached with several small glasses filled with a pink colored liquid. "You're needed at the kuai net."
"But —"
"Now!"
Katara followed behind the princess, slightly terrified by her competitive nature. Whenever something drove Azula a certain direction, it was best to go with it rather than try to stop it. Lu Ten didn't seem as bothered by this behavior, but rather dropped off the drinks with Aang and Toph before hurrying over to them.
The boys at the kuai net paused their game, Azula demanding their attention by her mere presence. It was obvious they didn't know who she really was because they didn't bow, but they appeared to sense her importance and power.
"How about a game?" Azula asked, though it was a bit too demanding to constitute as an actual question. "Five against five."
The boy holding a dark red ball shrugged delicately and loose curls fell in waves across his forehead. He was very handsome, Katara thought. Angular cheekbones, striking gold eyes, rippled muscles and lean body. He stared at Azula for a moment, and then his eyes landed on Zuko. Recognition dawned on him, and his eyes widened.
"Aren't you all, royalty?" Murmurs broke through the court. Katara shifted uncomfortably, and the boy broke out into a lazy grin. "Should I bow to you, princess?"
He had a mouth on him, Katara thought. And was very stupid, playing with fire.
Azula smiled cruelly, not at all fazed by his snide remark. "You will bow once you accept your defeat."
"We'll see about that." The boy's grin grew. "We'll serve first."
"Excellent," Azula purred, just like the predator she was.
When she gathered everone in a small circle, Katara could barely get her words out fast enough,
"I don't know what I'm doing!"
"Relax," said Azula. "The rules are simple. You can only use your feet and you don't want the ball to hit the ground on our side." She threw a glance over her shoulder, eyeing the group of boys. "The skinny one favors his left ankle, probably a childhood injury. The large boy keeps turning his head completely when someone speaks to him, no doubt partial deafness in his right ear. Play to his weakness. Pretty boy isn't nearly as good as he thinks he is. He won't be able to stop your spike, Zuko."
Katara stared at her, unable to believe the princess could gather that much in so little time. When they broke from their circle, she took her place in the back row, wishing she had a little more instruction. Someone shouted her name and she glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the voices.
Aang and Toph, waving from the side of the court.
Past them was the group of kids in the water, surfing the waves. Katara longed to be in the water, to learn how to ride the waves. But instead she was stuck here, playing kuai ball, the hot sand scorching her feet.
Ugh.
She turned just in time to see the handsome boy that had spoken to Azula throw up the ball without warning, and the game began.
"Just sit still."
"I can't! That stings!"
"If you sat still, it wouldn't hurt as much!"
"Well maybe if you had blocked the shot like you said you would, it wouldn't hurt at all!"
Zuko glared daggers and threw the damp towel in Katara's face. She shrieked, grabbed it firmly and threw it back at him with just as much force, nailing him in the chest. She was back at the house, sitting on the floor in the kitchen, with Zuko kneeling in front of her. They stared at each other coldly, scowling, both refusing to be the first to glance away.
"If you don't properly clean the burn, it'll never heal with your water," Zuko told her calmly, breathing hard through his nose.
"I know," Katara replied, begrudgingly. She threw him another menacing glare and snatched the towel, pressing it gently to her face. She winced. "I told you guys I didn't know how to play."
"You did fine." Zuko was still kneeling in front of her, and his breath was warm against her face. "You even scored a two points. And we won, so stop worrying about it."
"Yeah but I'm the only one who got nailed in the face." Katara shot him another glare, as though he was the one who had caused her pain.
"You're not the only one who's been nailed in the face."
Katara's anger faded and she immediately wished she could take back her words, realizing how petty and childish she sounded. So she had gotten hit with a ball in the face, while playing a game—who really cares? Zuko went to stand up but Katara's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down. He looked at her, startled.
"I'm sorry," she breathed in a rush. For my behavior and for what I said, she added in her head.
Zuko stared at her for a moment with a strange expression before he moved a hand to her face, the one that wasn't trapped in her hold. Ever so softly, so much softer than she thought him possible of, he brought the towel down from her face and ran a finger along her cheek, caressing the minor burn. Her cheek was scorching hot under his touch, and she briefly wondered if that was because of the injury or something else.
The sky was dark and the only light in the kitchen was a hanging lantern, catching the warm gold of Zuko's eyes. He looked dangerously illuminated by the light, a black and gold silhouette. For some reason Katara just realized he still wore no shirt, sweat dripping down his hardened muscles. His dark hair fell across his eyes, shielding most of his scar. His face was very, very close to hers. Katara swallowed, hard.
"Where is everyone else?" she asked, surprised and relieved her voice didn't shake.
"At the festival." Zuko drew back, his expression guarded again. He peered at Katara through his long lashes. "Want to go?"
"With you?" She sounded horrified, despite her own chagrin. Mentally, she banged her head against the wall.
"Yeah," Zuko drawled, rising to his feet. "And Lu Ten, and Azula, and everyone else that's there."
Katara laughed and let him pull her upward. "Let me finish cleaning this burn first."
Thirty minutes later, the two stepped into a crowded square at the heart of Ember Island. Candles and fire flickered around, illuminating a soft glow around the square. Small stands were crowded with customers, children running wildly around. An enormous fountain stood in the middle, white stone carved in the shape of a dragon, water squirting from its mouth like liquid fire. A man swallowed a sword, a clapping audience surrounding him. A woman dressed in heavy shawls and bangles danced across hot coals. Salt and savory smells wafted in the air, mixed with a touch of sweetness from the small food stands.
"Sokka would love this," Katara mused, eyeing a meat cart a few feet away. "I wish he was here."
"Maybe he'll surprise you for your birthday."
Katara was secretly impressed, and surprised, that Zuko remembered her birthday coming up. "I doubt it," she said. "We usually celebrate my birthday when I get back at the end of summer."
"But it's your sixteenth," Zuko pointed out. They started moving through the crowded square. "Isn't that a big deal in your culture?"
"It's the age girls are allowed to get married." Katara snorted. "I've already got that covered."
Zuko was silent for a moment, and Katara felt her face blush, though she wasn't sure why. She allowed herself to peek at him. He wore a long cloak, the hood covering his face, hiding his expression.
"Except we're not married yet." His voice was a deep, quiet sound against the music and loudness of the crowd.
"Not yet."
They walked awhile in silence, simply being tourists and taking in the festivities. No one recognized them, probably because Zuko's hood covered his scar, but for once he didn't seem to care. He wasn't even wearing his armor, but a dark maroon tunic. For a moment, Katara forgot he was a prince. He looked so ordinary, so normal, just like another teenager that didn't have to rule a country some day.
Later in the evening, Zuko bought them an enormous shank of meat, simply because Katara had burst out laughing when she saw it, saying Sokka would die for something so juicy. They managed to eat a little more than half, and Katara was already starting to feel sick.
"I can't eat anymore." She was in a fit of giggles. "I'm going to throw up."
"I thought you peasants ate like barbarians," Zuko teased, tossing the shank into a bin. But Katara wasn't listening, her eyes set on a game booth.
"Oh, look!" She pointed toward a small red tent. "Let's play. I'm good at this game."
"But —"
"Come on!" Katara grabbed Zuko by the wrist and tugged him toward the booth, silencing his protests.
The man at the booth glanced up and smiled warmly, his eyes the shade of honey. He wore a tiny hat that sat lazily on his head, patchy grey hair poking out. His beard was long and pointed, passing below the table and out of view.
"Ten bronze pieces, if you want to play," he said to them, a slow drawl to his voice. "You win, you get ten more. I win, you lose your ten."
Zuko frowned and pulled out his money, tossing ten bronze pieces onto the table that clanged against the wood. He looked at Katara pointedly. "You better win."
"Oh I will." She sat on the stool across from the dealer, eyes focused and ready. "I have a quick eye."
The man regarded her thoughtfully and held out a deck of cards. "Swords of Earth, Hearts of Fire, Cups of Water, and Diamonds of Air. Those are the cards we're playing with. Pick a card."
Katara reached for one in the middle. Zuko crossed his arms and watched silently from behind. She handed the chosen card to the dealer.
"Knight of Earth." The dealer placed it on the table, face up, and had her draw two more cards—the Knight of Fire, and the Four of Air. "Your card is the first one you chose, the Knight of Earth. Follow it wherever I move it, and you win."
Katara nodded, her eyes set on the Knight of Earth. The knight wore black armor, sheathing two silver swords. The man flipped the cards over and started to switch them around. His hands moved fast, faster than she anticipated for such an elder man. Her eyes darted back and forth, this way and that way, until her head nearly spun.
Finally, the man lifted his hands. "Now, my lady, point to your knight."
Katara lifted her hand, and then hesitated. It was the middle one, she thought. Right? Wait, maybe it was the one on the far left. Not the right, definitely not. With an aggravated sigh, she pointed toward the card on the left.
The man flipped the card over, and Katara's heart sank. It was the Knight of Fire.
She cursed under her breath when the man revealed the middle card as the Knight of Earth. "That was my initial guess," she mused.
"Never doubt your instincts," the man said wisely, pocketing Zuko's bronze pieces. "Your gut feeling is almost always the right one."
Katara nodded, still feeling a little put out, not really wanting to hear Zuko complain that she had lost his money. As though he didn't have enough to begin with…
"My turn." Zuko slid into her seat just as she stood up, tossing ten more bronze pieces on the table and looking determined.
"Of course," said the man, holding out the deck and letting Zuko draw out one, two, three cards. Katara peered over his shoulder and watched with interest.
"Ah, this should be simple," the man mused. "Three ladies. The Queen of Fire, the Queen of Water, and the Queen of Earth. You drew the Queen of Fire first—that's your card."
Zuko nodded once, eyes narrowed in concentration. The Queen of Fire was cloaked in wild flames, resting against a large red heart that nearly covered the entire card.
"Just follow the heart," the dealer instructed, flipping the cards over. He began sliding them around just like before, and Katara fought to keep her eyes on the right card. She was sure she lost it when the dealer drew his hands back.
"Now, son, which one is your queen?"
Zuko stared at the cards for a long moment, deep in thought. Then he raised a finger and tapped the card on the right.
"Are you sure?" the man asked.
Zuko nodded once and rose from his seat. "Positive." He left the booth before the man could turn over the card.
"Zuko!" Katara called after him, bewildered, unsure whether she should follow him or stay. Didn't he care about winning or losing the money? She turned back to the dealer. "Was he right?"
The man shrugged and pointed toward the upsidedown cards. "He seems to think so."
Katara flipped over the card on the right, the one Zuko had pointed to, expecting to see the Queen of Fire. She frowned.
It was the Queen of Water.
A/N: Yeah, totally made up those cards, lol. Just go with it. ;) Thank you for reading guys! Your reviews are always appreciated. Now to respond to a few reviews:
Cee-Waterbender: "It would be nice to hear from Zuko's pov if he thinks Katara has changed for the better, too." - It would be nice, but I like the readers to go through the chapters with the main character-in this case, Katara. If she doesn't know what Zuko is thinking, the readers won't either. I find it a bit boring to know what both characters are thinking because in real life, it doesn't really work that way.
: "i kinda feel like when katara goes back, her and aang should run away to try and save the world. and have zuko follow them." - Haha there's an idea! But then I'd have to make this even longer! I'm already surpassing my intitial idea of five chapters. /fail
LookMeInTheStars: "I am so glad that you are not rushing Zuko and Katara's relationship." - Thank you! With their personalities, AU or not, I don't think you can rush the romance and make it realistic at the same time. That's what's most important to me-sticking as close to the characters as possible, given the "world" I placed them in. (And the rest of your review was so sweet and nice. Thank you!)
Sumata: "I was wondering, are u gonna have katara travel with Aang?" - No, most likely not. *sighs* Actually Aang doesn't really have to travel. Now that he has Toph, and he's in the Fire Nation with Firebenders, he'll be able to learn all the elements. This story really wasn't supposed to be as deep as it's going. It was supposed to be a fun, simple fic. And look what happened, haha. But no, this fic won't turn into an epic adventure/saving the world. Got too much going on for that. ;)
MadGirl03: "Is Azula evil or just kinda mean?" - She's just a little mean. She's a lot like she is in the show, just not crazy and evil, lol. She received that love from her mom, what she was missing in the show, and I believe that alters her character from what we saw.
