Chapter Nine:
Aang was grateful that they hadn't settled down completely here on Ember Island. It was so easy for the group to become used to the luxuries the royal family's holiday home had to offer – soft beds, advanced plumbing, incredible kitchen tools, large tables, parchment and ink… but, as a monk, Aang tried not to rely on these comforts. His teachings from a young age had taught him that one should never be overly obsessed with material possessions. He was happiest sleeping whilst lying on the earth, using his airbending to warm him instead of goose feather mattresses and fur blankest. He was indeed grateful, but he was pleased that being exposed to such indulgences for the first time had not changed him or his core beliefs. Now he was to set out on yet another journey, where he and Toph would not have much. This excited him greatly.
As such, it meant packing for the journey took mere minutes. The gang had always ensured that Appa's saddle was fully stocked in case of emergencies, so they already had a week's worth of food (to feed all six of them) rationed aside. Since staying at Ember Island meant beds for everyone and a fantastic set of kitchen utensils, all their sleeping mats, blankets and a small kitchen set were also packed with Appa's saddle. Toph had two sets of fire nation friendly clothing, as did Aang, so this took no time at all to gather. In truth, the reason packing for a journey often took a while was because of Sokka's penchant for knick-knacks. And Toph's reluctance to do anything. Not to mention, quite often Sokka and Suki or Katara would quibble over which trinkets were truly necessary, so it repeatedly would add hours to their work. In any case, the duo was finished preparing for their journey much earlier than anticipated. Both had hoped that the day would be taken up by this task, meaning time would have flown and they would have been on their way…
Trying to ease the anxious energy in the air, Aang started chatting.
"You know, it was pretty amazing having Katara dance with me. She was a natural! I guess she's been watching me and Zuko."
"Mmm."
"I really hope we find the answers we're looking for at the Eastern Air Temple. I don't know if I want everyone to stay like this, or for it to be reversed. I mean, it's got to feel terrible, but we'll have a better chance winning the war if Ozai can't bend fire."
"Yep."
"It also means I don't have to work so hard on my firebending. I'm only thirteen for goodness sake's! Most avatars don't learn about their avatar-ness until they are sixteen – then they spend years perfecting the other elements. I've had a few months for them all!"
"Mmmhmmm." Toph laid on the bed, her unseeing eyes glaring into the ceiling. She hadn't said much at all. Not discouraged by her lack of engagement, Aang continued.
"I gotta ask… did screaming work?" It was a question that had been bubbling on his lips since their departure this morning, but he was afraid to ask what her tears meant. But, he couldn't let his friend lay there in such melancholy without trying to fix it.
"Actually… I think it did. I wasn't joking when I said I thought I might be able to airbend now. When I screamed, it was like I could feel the vibrations in the air – just like I used to with my feet. The way the sound bounced off you all gave me a mental image of what I could see. Which is bizarre, you know, since I could never see. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe I didn't." She shrugged, trying to sound non-committal.
"Well, we've got lots of flying ahead of us, and maybe you coming along to the air temples is a better idea than we thought."
"I'm blind, Twinkletoes, not an idiot. Quite the contrary – I'm a genius!" She laughed, in the way only a self-conscious pre-teen trying to build her self-esteem up could. "I bet I'll be able to see without screaming by tomorrow. I won't just be the greatest earthbender ever, or just the creator of metal bending – I'll be the first blind airbender to see! And I won't even have to be on the ground!"
"Yep, you're definitely something Toph!" He smiled happily, glad for the change in her demeanour. A happy, cocky Toph was nicer than a brooding, distraught Toph. He hoped he could keep her this jovial.
And he thought mastering the elements was tough.
/
Suki had abandoned Sokka for the afternoon, insisting that she be in charge of the shop today, as Sokka had already spent too much of their gold paying for drinks yesterday. He whined and argued, but it was pointless. Instead, he sought out his sister. He found her, rummaging through the draws of his room.
Interesting.
"Um, Katara?" She jumped up in the air, her arms mechanically placed by her side. He knew his sister well, and knew she didn't intend to be caught prying. "Whatcha dooooooing?"
"I-I- oh hi Sokka! Um! I just…" she groaned, knowing fully well that she wouldn't be able to worm her way out of this. "I just got insanely curious about Azula's room. She's a princess. Sure, she hasn't been here a few years, but…" Sokka looked at her sternly, before breaking out into a goofy grin.
"Snooping! Love it! What've you found?" She sighed in relief, grateful her brother didn't lecture her. In all honesty, it was usually her lecturing him about snooping and privacy, so she shouldn't've been so surprised.
"Nothing so far. Just clothes and perfumes." Sokka sat down with his little sister, and opened another draw. It was full of scrolls – exactly the kind of thing Sokka was hoping to find. He would much rather snoop through her literature collection than her wardrobe. As they unfolded scrolls and assorted trinkets, the siblings made small talk. They debated the use of several knives found, used as placeholders in text, and questioned the contents of several small vials of clear liquid, deciding it best to not open any. They placed bets on whether Toph was an airbender, with Katara believing that she was. Sokka wasn't so sure, and counter-bet that Aang would have resolved this whole mix up before Toph could even unlock her potential. Their conversation transitioned into one about the bender swap, and how it was uncertain if it was a blessing or a curse.
"I was always thankful for my gift, to the point where I relied on it heavily. Now that it's gone… I almost with I never had it in the first place. I wish I had learn to fight, like you and Suki. I would be so much more useful that way."
"Don't say that sis." Sokka laid his palm on her shoulder. "We couldn't have made it this far without you. Aang wouldn't have been able to learn waterbending – no, he wouldn't even be here! It's okay." She shrugged him off, and smiled in quiet thanks.
"I think we'll have to teach you the most hand-to-hand combat – Zuko's really good with those dao blades, and when he was the Blue Spirit, he never bent."
"Wait – Zuko was the Blue Spirit?" She was taken aback.
"Oh, yeah. I'm not sure if that was a secret or not… he told me during our flight back from the Boiling Rock. Anyway, dude's talented. We learnt from the same master, so you'd kinda hope so." Sokka shrugged nonchalantly.
"Wow." Katara muttered under her breath, unsure how to process this information. She supposed it best to ask Zuko about it, seeing as Sokka appeared uninterested on dwelling on the topic further. Luckily, a distraction appeared before her. A portrait, hidden amongst Azula's many parchments. "Look! It's little Zuko!"
"Are you sure this time? That was awfully embarrassing when you got Ozai…"
"It is! Look!" Katara grinned, shoving the parchment in Sokka's arms. When he unrolled it, he was first amazed at the quality of the ink, and the intensity of the reds. The fire nation did a good red, after all. After he quietened the aspiring artist fangirl within him, he stared into the eyes of the people portrayed before him. There was a woman, a kind twinkle in her eyes captured masterfully by the artist. Her face had a softness to it, a familiarity Sokka later realised to the same softness General Iroh had in his. At her side was a toddler, no older than five, his golden eyes recognisable instantly. In the woman's arms was a baby, her features not clear. The parchment was worn over the baby's face, as if its owner had attempted to erase it. He wondered if it was Azula who did this – wanting to erase traces of her past innocence. The thought chilled him.
"I guess this is his mother." Katara softly said, her fingertips gently tracing over the woman's face. "She's beautiful."
"She really was." Zuko appeared in the doorway, his good eye admiring the portrait from the askew doorway.
"People around here really need to stop lurking and scaring the spirits out of me!" Katara exclaimed, clutching at her chest. "Seriously! I'm sick of being snuck up on!"
Zuko laughed, a sound that was once rarely heard by anyone… a sound he now made often, thanks to his friends.
"I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not apologising for being who I am."
"That's… very insightful, of you."
"Why are you going through Azula's draws?" Zuko asked, suddenly acknowledging the mess surrounding the water tribe siblings. Clothes were flung in piles – likely organised somehow by Katara – and parchment was littered about. Sokka appeared to be hoarding a small pile of baubles.
The siblings looked at one another, and sheepishly smiled in synchrony. As if they had planned it, they shrugged unceremoniously in unison, creepily reminding the fire prince of Li and Lo. He couldn't imagine ever being as in tune with his sister as Sokka was with Katara. The thought frightened him.
"Well… whatever you say. I was just here to see if Sokka wanted to spar."
"Oh boy would I ever!" Filled with excitement, the water warrior sprang to his feet, swiftly pocketing several small trinkets as he leapt. "You're on!"
/
Another filler chapter, of sorts. I feel that many a Zutara fic (or, any pairing fic for that matter) tends to ignore the other characters, and their own relations. I find Katara and Sokka's relationship to be a very adorable one, and I love how it is portrayed in the series. The fluff is coming, seriously, but I just want to flesh the story out and not be like "they decided to leave, and the day passed and they did" - not that there's anything wrong with doing so! I just don't want to this time :)
Honestly, this story is writing itself. I haven't planned many chapters at all so far... they just happen. How lame is that?!
Oh, before I forget, I have aged everyone up a year - I know canonically Aang and Toph are 12, Sokka and Zuko 16, Katara 14 etc., but I feel like it would be more realistic for a year to have passed from season 1 to season 3. Honestly, I would have preferred it if Zuko/Sokka/Suki were 18 or 19, Katara 17, Aang/Toph 15... but that's just me.
I tend to leave you guys on small cliffs, but no major cliff-hangers. Maybe I will one day - so be prepared!
Also, for transparency's sake, every time I upload a chapter, it's because another one is banked - so when you're reading this, Chapter 10 is already done and uploaded, waiting for publishing. I'll try keep this a habit. There's no particular reason for it, I just like knowing I'm a little ahead... I don't think I'm making any sense anymore, it's 0030 now and I should be asleep!
Until the next chapter!
