DISCLAIMER : I do not own avatar the last airbender.
Note : This chapter will have some mild "tensions" here. This story is rated M, just to remind you again, but I would still keep it low for now.
CHAPTER 10 – A Scar for A Life
Another year has passed, and Katara began to wonder where would her life truly be. She's now 16 years old and soon enough she'll turn into a young lady. She knew that she couldn't keep on living like this in the fire nation. She had to start forming a plan. It's been 4 years, and Katara had not opened Kana's private box yet.
Katara never thought that she would ever see Zuko, in a more different "perspective" so soon. Zuko was now 18 years old, and he's started to grow even more. His body was tall and lean, his hair was shaggy and reached his shoulder, his perfect chiseled abs was formed. Katara had noticed that Zuko had grown into a powerful bender, even though not as powerful as Azula.
Azula was always a step ahead from Zuko. She even learned how to produce lighting, a very difficult firebending technique. Zuko had tried, but failed every time. He always had problems controlling his emotions, and it's said that his emotions were the problem. Yet still, Katara felt so proud for Zuko. It's weird that sometimes Katara acted all motherly towards Zuko. Most of time, Zuko just let her be that way even thought it got really annoying.
One particular moment, Katara was surprised to see Zuko coming to her room with his left cheek all red. When Katara inspected closer, she saw a little bruise forming on his cheekbone. She immediately healed his bruise before asking anything.
"Oh Agni! Zuko, what the hell happened to you?! Did you fall and hit yourself or something?" Katara asked with worry in her eyes, as she healed Zuko's bruise.
Zuko sighed deeply and closed his eyes, "I talked to dad. Apparently I angered him and… and well, he… he strike me"
Katara's eyes widened in shock, "HE WHAT?! No way, Zuko! How could he? And what were you both talking about?"
Tears started to form in Zuko's eyes, "I remember that one day, I heard him w-with… some women in his room, I don't know who a-and so, it reminded me of mom. The next day, I-I… I asked about mom, and… h-he didn't want to talk. He didn't say anything about her. He just… changed the topic and…"
"Zuko…" Katara slowly pulled Zuko into a tight hug.
"I kept pushing him to tell what happened those years ago. Ugh, I just miss her a lot, tara"
"I know, I know. Me too..."
Katara had always known that Ozai never was a kind person. Even when Katara was young, she already felt that Ozai never had compassion in his heart, let alone love. She kept trying to believe that he cared for his family at least, but he never showed any sign of caring, or even sadness. All Ozai did was compliment his kids whenever he approved of something, and that was it. He would then dismiss them again.
"Ok, wooh. Today, I'm gonna go train earlier. I wanna try some other techniques" Katara said to herself as she's getting ready, "So hard when you have no one better then you, to train you, hah" she said with a smirk.
Oh geez… for a sec, why did I kind of sound like Azula? Haha, oh well nevermind. Katara thought to herself. She walked through the long hallways to the training room with confidence. When she got there, she saw Zuko meditating alone. As Katara got closer, Zuko slowly opened his eyes as he heard Katara's footsteps.
"Oh, whoops. Sorry, Zuko… didn't mean to interrupt you" Katara apologized as she took a seat next to Zuko.
Zuko smiled warmly at Katara, "It's okay. I just wanted to relax a bit before training" he then slowly furrowed his eyebrows, "You're pretty early today"
Katara rolled her eyes, "Could say the same to you"
Zuko smirked and looked away, "Yeah… Guang got ill, he can't teach for a while now. I don't know what happened to him though"
"Mhmm, I see…" Katara nodded her head mindlessly.
"Oh and, Azula's not coming. She said she's 'busy' with something, a bit unusual for her" Zuko added.
"Huh, that's weird. She's always punctual about her training, oh well…" Katara just shrugged it off. "I'm here early because I wanted to try something different by the way. And well, I just thought that… maybe I need some more time to meditate as well"
"Ah, I see…" Zuko suddenly stood up and looked down at Katara, "You know what, I'm kind of bored actually. I want to try something different as well. Say… we spar?" he grinned.
Katara's eyes widened for a moment, then she smirked and looked up at Zuko from behind her eyebrows. "Ahaa, I see then… a challenge. I gladly accept!"
"Nah, not a challenge" Zuko waved his right hand, "Just wanted to see how 'good' you are, 'master' Katara" Zuko said as he quickly stepped back, knowing that Katara might hit him on the shoulder like she used to.
"OH! It's on!"
Katara and Zuko both stood facing each other, few meters away. They both took their stance. Zuko had counted to three, and they both immediately began attacking each other. They both fought with the same level of power, techniques, and stealthiness.
Katara had been creating water spikes out of thin air with no difficulties, and Zuko had attacked Katara several times with his fire whips. They both able to defend themselves and eluded each other's attacks.
"Huh, you're not so bad after all Zu-zu" Katara taunted with a smirk on her face. She was now sweating a lot, and breathing heavily.
Zuko panted and re-took his stance, "Don't call me that"
Zuko summoned some fire from a scone nearby, behind Katara. Before it hit her, Katara took notice of this and turned her back quickly to put the fire out with freezing water. Zuko smirked to himself, as he knew that his trick might work after all. Right after Katara had dissipated the fire, Zuko quickly summoned another fire out of Katara's view, and sent it to her lower pants. Katara swing and tripped on her right foot, which sent her falling to the floor on her back.
"Argh, fuck!" Katara yelped as she hit her head on the floor.
"Haha, whoops sorry" Zuko walked quickly to stand in front of Katara, "Guess I win then" he winked, as he stretched out his arm to help Katara up.
Katara thought fast as how to trick Zuko back, and win the fight. She quickly planned a move, and tried her best to focus on forming water out of thin air. It was pretty hard as she's still dizzy from the hit. "Huh, whatever…" she said as she tentatively reached out her arm to grab Zuko's.
Right before Katara grabbed Zuko's hand, she felt her element nearby and decided to quickly extract it. "But you know…" she said with a smirk, "I don't think so". Katara quickly summoned her element and sent it hard to Zuko's head.
"Ouch!" Zuko went flying to the side and fell hard on his bottom. "Fuck! That's not fair at all!" he said as he flipped his wet front bangs.
"Could say the same to you, flameo boy" Katara grinned and pulled herself up.
"Tch, stop calling me that, seriously…" Zuko slowly stood up and wiped his face, "Damn it, look what you've done to me. I'm all wet and sticky"
Katara giggled, "wet and sticky, huh"
Zuko furrowed his eyebrows, then slowly looked up at Katara, "Wait, what did you say?"
Katara's eyes widened as she blushed, "I-uh, never mind um" she quickly looked away, and scratched her elbows in nervousness.
Zuko scratched his head, "Uhmm, anyway… I-wait. Wait a minute. I don't… I don't remember that plant over there all dried up before. I think it was perfectly normal just before we started training" he said as he pointed to a pot nearby.
Katara slowly trailed her eyes to where Zuko was pointing, and stared at the pot. She felt as if her jaw had fell to the floor, "Oh, my, Agni. I swear, I-I…"
"Katara. Don't tell me that…"
"I can't believe I could even do it, I don't… understand" Katara then stared at her palms, "It seems that in time of 'need' and sudden, I had summoned water from a… a plant. I sucked it all dry! No wonder why I felt a bit weird when I did that. It's something like…"
"Sucking a life out of something" Zuko added. "This is something Katara. This is the talent that you have"
"You know… I don't know what to feel. I don't know if it's good or not. Ah, never mind. Anyway, I'm gonna go take a bath and relax. I'm tired" Katara said as she walked towards the door to leave.
"Um, okay… I-uh gotta go too. See ya later then, tara" Zuko waved Katara goodbye.
"I can't believe I'm able to do it… I didn't know that's even possible" Katara whispered to herself while she's scrubbing her legs. She slowly submerged herself deeper into the water until it reached her nose. She blew some bubbles and giggled to herself. Katara sat up straight again, and sighed heavily, "Talent, huh? That might be true but… is it even a good thing?"
Katara stared at her own hands under the water, "Even though it's just a plant, but still, I sucked a life out of something that's living" she then slowly laid her back to the bathtub's edge, "ah to hell with it, maybe I'm thinking too much about it. Maybe it's nothing… Oh, Kana… how I really wish you were here now. I hope that you're okay out there. I hope that you're united with your family"
Wait a minute, maybe I could find some books about ancient waterbending. Or maybe anything that's related to waterbending. Katara thought to herself. Besides, I think I need to know more about my real tribe… my real people. I still can't forget the fact that I'm a water tribe girl. Geez, what's with the fire nation and it's war and not appreciating other nations? They even forbid me to learn too much about my own people. But then Katara realized, which were her real people? She got frustrated, knowing that the fire nation had never been her real home.
"Okay, time to go to the library then…" Katara stood up and dried herself, "But I doubt there would be any books that mentioned any serious ancient water stuffs"
Katara combed her hair and put her fire nation crown into her topknot, "Any bit of description or history could help probably… Ugh, I really hope so"
As Katara got into the library, she immediately searched for any books related to the water tribe. It felt like hours, and she still hadn't found anything. The whole room was spacious with so many books covering the entire walls, some even reached to the ceiling. "My god! How the hell am I suppose to find it?! This is crazy!" Katara shouted as she's getting even more frustrated with her situation.
Then, Katara noticed some books that looked a bit different and peculiar than the others. It sat on the edge row, three levels of shelves from the very top. She squinted her eyes to get a better look and saw three books, which were yellow, green, and blue. "Huh, maybe I should check the blue one…" Katara looked to the left then to the right to find a ladder. "Ah, there it is!" She grabbed the ladder and pulled it to where she saw the books.
Katara felt her feet wobbled a bit as she's now three steps on the ladder, "Whoah, this ladder seems pretty old. I hope it won't break" she whispered to herself. Katara looked up and sighed sadly, "Oh man, that is so far up…"
For what felt like forever, Katara had finally reached the row of books she wanted to check. "Eugh, so dusty" she wiped some dusts from the books' side, and read the titles slowly.
"My, my! These are histories and legends of the earth kingdom, air temples, and… and water tribe!" Katara's eyes widened in amazement. She grabbed the water tribe book, and blew off the dusts, "Okay, water tribe… here it is"
Katara held the book tightly as she slowly descended the ladder. On her midway through, she heard the ladder cracked and her legs wobbled, "Oh n-no. No. NO! AHH!"
"Kataraa!"
"OUCH!"
Katara had landed on her back, but strangely, she didn't hurt and felt something soft behind her. Her head felt a bit dizzy from the impact, then she slowly turned around, "Wha-what…?" Katara realized that she had fell and landed on Zuko. Her eyes widened in realization that she's sitting on top of him now, "Oh, Agni! Zuko?!"
"Ughh…." Zuko grunted in pain, "My head…" he slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Katara, "Ka-Katara? Are you okay?"
"Wha-I-I'm okay! I'm okay, oh gosh I'm the one who should ask you if you're okay. Oh my god, I'm so sorry Zuko… Here, let me heal you" Katara's eyebrows furrowed in worry and guilt.
Zuko scratched his head, and slowly sat up with his elbows, "Na-nah… It's okay, I'm good" he squinted his eyes at Katara, "What… the hell… were you doing?"
"I-uh, I was trying to find a book about waterbending or something. Anything that I could find to know more about-um, about my… bending abilities" Katara spoke a bit too fast, and lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Ah, I see…" Zuko furrowed his eyebrows, then softly touched his forehead with his palm.
Katara bit her lower lip, "D-does it still hurts? Is it your head? Please, let me heal you. Don't want to have any scars right? It'll make you fe-"
Zuko chuckled lowly, "It's okay Katara. Really, I'm fine. Thanks though… Guess I came here right on time haha" Zuko smiled warmly, "Besides, if I have a scar from falling, then what? A scar for a life, right?" he smirked.
Katara smiled shyly and looked away, "Oh j-just shut it, Zuko…"
Zuko stared at Katara's eyes. "Don't move" he said, as he slowly reached out his right hand towards Katara's face.
"What? Is there something on my face? On my hair? Oh my god, don't tell me it's a bug!" Katara spoke quickly.
"Geez Katara, relax" Zuko softly brushed his knuckles on Katara's cheek, as he flicked some hair strands and tucked it behind her left ear, "There. Just some loose hair from your topknot. You better fix it soon before your crown falls off, princess" Zuko smirked.
Katara blinked her eyes several times then blushed heavily. She looked away and hoped with all her might, that Zuko didn't see her blushing. Katara slowly turned her head back to see Zuko, and flinched in shock when Zuko bent his body closer to her.
Katara suddenly realized that she's still sitting on Zuko's hip, and her legs kneeling around Zuko's legs. Katara blushed even more and her eyes widened in utter embarrassment, "Oh, Agni. I'm so sorry! I-uh" Katara tried to stand up but she felt her legs cramped, and fell on between Zuko's legs.
"Whoah there, are you… okay, Katara?"
"Ow, m-my legs g-got cramped. Um-uh, I-sorry again" Katara stumbled upon her words, and felt her face heating. Katara blinked her eyes as she suddenly felt something else 'down' there, on where she's sitting. She slowly looked up, trying to find Zuko's face and saw that he's looking straight at her intensely. Katara noticed that Zuko had a different, weird expression. His eyes pupil slowly grew larger, and for a second, he glanced down and looked back up at Katara again.
Katara blushed heavily as she realized what it had meant. Ignoring the dizziness, Katara suddenly stood up and grabbed the book that had fell nearby, "I-I'm going now, se-see ya later!" she quickly walked towards the door, tripping a little.
"H-hey! Wait, Katara! Wha-"
Without looking back, Katara immediately shut the door and ran as fast as she could to her bedroom. When she got there, she was panting heavily. Still clutching the book to her chest, she slowly walked and plopped to her bed, "Fuck my life. That… was so awkward"
When Zuko got to his bedroom, he quickly walked towards his bed while disrobing himself. He pulled his pants' knots impatiently. "Fuck, fuck!" he grunted in frustration. He kept trying to loosen the knot, but it just got tighter. "To hell with it!" he quickly burned his pants as he lost his patience. Thinking that he wore his everyday informal pants, he had nothing to worry about losing one.
Zuko hopped onto his bed, and quickly got under the sheets. He breathed heavily as he started to have with his way, "Fuck, Katara…" he panted.
Katara stared at herself in the mirror with a grim expression, "Today is a new day. I should feel confident but… ugh" Katara closed her eyes and pinched her nose bridge, "I can't help it but feel… feel so grim today"
Katara opened her eyes and grabbed a comb. I can't help it but feel as if something really bad is going to happen today. What is this ominous feeling? She thought to herself as she slowly combed her hair. No, No. I should stop thinking negatively. I must start the day with an upbeat attitude.
When Katara got out of the bathroom, she heard someone's knocking on her bedroom door. "Hm, who could that be?"
Another knocking on the door, which was louder and quicker than before. "Ugh, so impatient…" Katara grumbled to herself under her breath. She quickly slipped into her sandals and walked towards the door, "Yess! I'm coming!"
"Kataraa!"
Shit, it's Zuko! Damn it. Katara felt a bit nervous as she reached the door handle, and slowly turned it, "Yes…?" she poked her head out.
"H-hi, Katara…" Zuko said.
"Um-hi, Zuko. What's up?" Katara opened the door wider, and gestured Zuko to come in. Katara noticed that Zuko was blushing a little, and he avoided eye contact several times. Hmm, I wonder what's with him now… she wondered.
Zuko calmed himself down and breathed deeply. "Okay, phew. Katara, I got something to tell you. Since I was-like you-know, um-like eighteen years old already… now I'm able-to-go-" Zuko talked quickly as if he's so nervous about something.
"Wow, wow, Zuko… what?"
"Okay, okay…" Zuko took a deep breath and exhaled, "Since I'm already eight teen years old, dad told me that I'm old enough to attend private war meetings! Dad also said that it's time for me, t-to finally… you know, to be trained. To be the next Fire Lord!"
"Oh-my-agni, really?! That's so cool! Wow, Zuko. Congrats! I bet you'll learn well in no time!" Katara happily exclaimed.
Zuko chuckled, "Haha, yeap! I'm so excited, tara! Dad told me to attend a war meeting in just an hour. So I gotta go and get ready now"
Katara smiled warmly, "I'm sooo happy and proud of you, Zuko! Good luck" Katara pulled Zuko into a tight hug.
Zuko flinched in surprise and blushed heavily. He then slowly returned the hug and buried his head to Katara's shoulder. "Thanks a lot, tara. That means a lot to me" he slowly pulled away and smiled, "I'll see you this evening, okay?"
"Yes, I agree with General Li here. We must attack the Earth Kingdom at their what-so-ever festival day. They wouldn't suspect an attack from the fire nation" exclaimed General Hong.
"Thank you, General Hong. That is correct, they wouldn't suspect a thing. We'll surprise them alright. But what about the other group that will sneak into the King's palace? We need another group to distract the soldiers" General Li said, as he scratched his chin.
"And the Dai Li" General Iroh added. He closed his eyes and slowly opened them again, and looked up at the other generals. "Do not forget about the Dai Li as well. They are very powerful and talented benders. They are very very loyal to their king"
"Tch, no doubt about that" General Hong stuck his nose up in the air. "Your highness, Fire Lord Ozai. What do you think of this plan?"
Fire Lord Ozai stared at the audience of generals and also his son, prince Zuko, from behind the flames around his throne. He nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, I agree. We must distract the other soldiers, and also the Dai Li. Especially, the Dai Li"
General Li exhaled and smiled proudly, "Then we will choose a group of firebenders to attack the other side of the palace. We must make sure that the elite group could sneak into the King's Palace"
"I sure hope that the plan would work. I do believe that some of the other Dai Li must be with the King. There is no way that the King would be completely alone" Zuko added.
"Agree, prince Zuko" General Li said. He then turned to face the Fire Lord, and bowed, "With your permission, Fire Lord Ozai. I will choose a small troop for distraction. I will choose some mere firebenders, as it would be such a 'waste' to send off some talented benders"
"I giv-"
Ozai was cut off as Zuko suddenly shouted, "What?!" Zuko glared at General Li, "Wait a minute, did you say 'waste'? What did you mean by that?"
General Li sighed, "With all due respect, my prince. We can't obviously send talented firebenders as baits right?"
Zuko's eyes widened in shock and disbelieve, "Yo-you're crazy!"
Everyone in the room flinched, as they were taken aback by what Zuko had spoken. Iroh's eyes widened in shock and fear, as he realized what his nephew had done. Iroh had whispered to himself 'no' twice.
"As bait? You're sending your own people as baits?! They're going into a suicide mission and they won't know it! They have families!" Zuko clenched his fists.
General Li furrowed his eyebrows in anger and frustration, "They exist to serve us, and they know it. You should've learned more about our war, 'prince'. This is the real world, this is the real war!"
Iroh tried his best to signal Zuko. Zuko took notice of this and saw that his uncle looked at him with fear, and shook his head. Iroh had formed the word 'no' and 'please'. Zuko understood and decided to give up this time.
Zuko clenched his fists under the table, and glared at General Li from behind his eyebrows, "You are right, General Li. I misunderstood"
General Li just nodded and looked away.
General Hong cleared his throat, "Eherm, also… your highness. We really do need a 'healer' for this particular plan. And since Kana is um…"
Ozai grinned maliciously, "Ah yess, you are right. My daughter… Katara"
Zuko's eyes widened and quickly looked up at his father.
"Ah yes! princess Katara. She's a great healer indeed, and also very talented. Guang had told me about her bending abilities, a natural talent" General Li added. He then turned again to look up at Ozai, "With all due respect, your highness. May I ask, that it's possible for princess Katara to join this war?"
"NO!" Zuko suddenly stood up and pointed at General Li. "You might be crazy before, but now I'm sure that you're insane! You are in no right to ask for this!"
"Zuko, silence!" Ozai growled lowly.
Ignoring his father, Zuko kept starring at General Li with anger, "I will NOT let you take and use m-my, sister. She's only 16 years old now, and even then… I will NOT let her go into a war!"
"This meeting is dismissed!" Ozai growled, as the flames around him grew higher and hotter. Everyone expect Zuko, immediately stood up and walked away. Knowing not to further anger the Fire Lord.
Zuko turned around to look up at his father on the throne, "H-how could you let him?! You can't-"
"Silence, Zuko! That, is enough!"
Hmm, never thought that war meetings would take so long. I wonder what Zuko's been talking about. I wonder if he's bored. Katara chuckled as she thought to herself. She's been starring at the evening sky at her balcony. The moon is so bright and full now… Are you there, Tui and La?
Creek… BAM!
Katara whipped her head back, as she heard a loud bang on her door. "Wha-Zuko?" her eyes widened in confusion. "What are you doing here? Wait, is the meeting ov-"
"I can't believe it! This is fucking BULLSHIT!" Zuko yelled as he stomped his way towards Katara, fists clenched on his sides.
"Whoah, whoah… calm down, Zuko. Tell me wha-"
"They're fucking stupid! You know? Stupid and ignorant!" Zuko growled in anger and shot a stream of fire into the night sky. Katara yelped in surprised, and stepped back to keep a safe distance. She knew how Zuko's like when he's really angry, and it's best to keep a few distances away from him. But she knew that she had always been the only one that could calm him down.
Katara sighed, "Zuko… just, tell me what happened, okay? Calm down, please" Zuko just clenched his jaw and stared into the city far below him. "Okay, you know what? Let's go inside. I'll make you some chamomile tea. Or maybe, Quan Yin tea? You're favorite?" Katara smiled warmly, while she slowly walked closer towards Zuko.
Zuko sighed then slowly turned to look at Katara. "Y-yes… sure, thanks Katara" he smiled. Katara grabbed Zuko's arm and pulled him inside.
"Come, let's sit by the fire…"
Zuko plopped down onto one of the love sofa in front of the fireplace. He stared into the fire mindlessly, "I just… Gah, you won't believe it. They were planning to attack the earth kingdom, especially the King of course. General Li suggested sending some… 'mere' firebenders as baits"
Katara turned back to look at Zuko with confusion, "Wait, don't tell me…"
"Yeah, it's kind of a suicide mission. Which, the soldiers won't even know about" Zuko sighed and untied his topknot. He held his crown in his hand and stared at it. The crown reflected the light from the fireplace, and created a shimmering glow of gold. "But what's worst about it… was that, they planned another move. Which… I could never, ever… allow to"
"Here is your tea" Katara offered Zuko a teacup, and took a seat next to Zuko. "Tell me about it"
"Thanks, tara. And well, they-no, specifically General Li… and of course, dad. Agreed to take y-" Zuko looked at Katara and stared into her deep blue eyes. He decided that it's best not to tell her about it. "Nevermind, it's not that important"
Katara nodded and looked away, "Okay... but, you know you cou-"
Knock-Knock-Knock!
"Oh, someone's at the door" Katara stood up and walked towards the door.
Zuko huffed in annoyance, "Ugh, fucking shit…"
As Katara got to the door, she turned the handle and opened it, "Oh my, uncle?!" Katara gasped in surprise as she saw Iroh standing in front of her room. Iroh looked so tired and… sad somehow.
"Wait, is it uncle Iroh?" Zuko shouted from inside Katara's room.
Katara answered Zuko, then gestured for Iroh to come in. Iroh sighed and walked towards where Zuko was sitting. "Thought I'd find you here, nephew"
Zuko raised an eyebrow, "What the hell does that mean?"
Iroh sighed heavily and looked at Katara, then Zuko. "Zuko… you must prepare yourself for another hour"
Zuko, realizing the seriousness in Iroh's tone, slowly stood up and furrowed his eyebrows. "Wh-why?"
Iroh stared straight into Zuko, and simply said, "Agni Kai"
Katara kept biting her lower lip, clenched her fists, and ruffled her sleeves. She was so nervous and scared for Zuko. She can't even believe that this was happening. She kept wondering what Zuko had said that could possibly offend the general that much, that they both must duel in an agni kai.
Katara was now standing in a spacious hall, with many pillars and torches around. There was a long marble stage in the middle of the room. She thought that it must be where Zuko and General Li would duel. More people were still coming into the hall room. They were all generals, ministers, commanders, top elite soldiers, and even the fire sages.
Katara stood close to Iroh the whole time. Iroh was also nervous, but he calmed Katara down several times. Katara kept pulling her sleeve's hems, until there were strings coming out of it. Katara huffed, "I can't believe this is happening, oh god…" she whispered to herself. Katara looked up at Iroh, "Is this really necessary, uncle?"
Iroh closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He opened his eyes slowly, then turned to look at Katara with such sadness in his eyes, "I'm afraid yes, Katara. This tradition is in our culture, and it's been going on for many generations. You can't back down an agni kai, especially for nobles. It would be such a disgrace, shame, and humiliation"
Katara huffed and stomped her feet, "Well, that's a stupid tradition then" she crossed her arms to her chest, "I wonder what in the world had Zuko done or said. Why won't you tell me, uncle?"
Iroh slowly put his left arm around Katara's shoulder, "It's best to cheer and hope for Zuko right now, okay? In time, you'll know what happened and why, but… it's not really that necessary or important. Just… have faith in him, okay?"
Katara nodded and smiled sadly, "Okay, uncle"
Iroh chuckled a little, "Hehe, that's my beautiful niece…"
"Oh, stop it uncle" Katara waved her right hand. She then remembered moments ago, when she had saw Zuko again while he's preparing for the duel.
"H-hey, Zuko?" Katara poked her head into Zuko's room.
Zuko turned his head around to look at Katara, "Ohey, Katara! Just come in" he said while he put gold bands around his upper arm.
Katara walked slowly towards Zuko, "Wow, this seems really serious. You even have to change to some, special-agni-kai-uniform"
Zuko laughed lowly, "Yeah, it's in the tradition. Just the formality though…"
Katara sighed, then stood in front of Zuko, "Sure you can take him?"
Zuko raised an eyebrow then rolled his eyes, "Oh please, Katara. You know I'm better than him. I know how General Li fights. He's slower than me, sometimes a bit clumsy, and he has weakness in his left eye"
"Damn it, Zuko. What in the world did you say towards General Li? I know that you didn't agree with the plan, but c'mon… what really happened there? Please tell me" Katara looked up at Zuko with pleading eyes.
Zuko stared back deeply, "I-well…" he then sighed and looked away, "Never mind about that. Seriously, it's not that important. Even if I tell you, you might not understand it anyway"
Katara thought that it's best not to push the subject for now. She just nodded and put her hands on Zuko's shoulders, "B-but, just, be careful… okay? Please? I don't want you to get hurt"
Zuko looked down at her and smirked, "Relax, I'll be fine"
"Well, well, well… look what our idiotic brother got himself into" Azula snickered.
"Azula!" Katara turned her head to the left, to see Azula walked closer towards her. Azula stood next to Katara, and turned around to face the stage.
"Wh-where have you been the whole day? I haven't seen you" Katara asked in hush tones. The whole room was now crowded, and somehow Katara didn't want anyone near to hear her talk.
Azula looked at Katara from her right eye's corner, "Well, now you do, sister" she sighed and smirked a little, "I was 'busy' with important stuffs. Helping dad this and that, and what not"
Katara breathed in deeply and sighed, "I just wish Zuko would win this duel"
"Well, it was his fault in the first place to speak against the 'plan' anyway. He knew not to do that" Azula said, as she waved her right hand.
"Y-yeah, I know that but… he told me that he just disagreed with the general. And besides, Zuko is the 'prince'. Why was he the one that offended the general?"
Azula shook her head, "Oh, my naïve little sister. You just don't get it, do you? All these years living in the fire nation, and you still don't understand just how our people are. Especially, how Zuko is…"
Katara bent her head back, and furrowed her eyebrows, "Huh? What does tha-" Katara was cut off as one of the fire sage suddenly stood on the stage, and announced the agni kai will be starting in a minute.
Katara looked up and saw Zuko stepped up onto the stage, with a red fire nation blanket covering his shoulders. Other than that, he wore nothing but a simple red pants and gold bands around his upper arm. Katara felt her heartbeat quicken, and her stomach felt a bit sick. She knew that the agni kai is not just any ordinary duel. It's about 'burning' your opponent to win the duel. Sometimes you may kill your opponent, sometimes you don't. But on this special occasion, Katara knew they wouldn't be killing each other because they were both very important people.
"I'm ready! Now come and face me!" Zuko shouted, as he took his stance and let the blanket fell off his shoulder. Zuko squinted his eyes to see a tall and lean figure walking slowly towards him.
"Fa-father…?" Zuko's eyes widened in shock and disbelieve, as he saw his opponent was none other than his own father, Fire Lord Ozai.
"You have disagreed and embarrassed yourself. I've never felt such shame, you have disrespected your father!" Ozai spoke lowly.
Zuko gasped and slowly kneeled down to bow to his father, "P-please, father. I had meant you no disrespect. I am nothing but your humble son"
Ozai looked down at Zuko with anger and disgust, "Do not embarrass yourself and your FATHER anymore, Zuko. Stand up and fight!"
Zuko bent his head up to look at his father with pleading eyes, "Please father… please, I-I don't want to fight you" he shivered, as a tear fell down from his left cheek.
"You're such a disgrace!" Ozai shouted, while he clenched his fists.
"Father, please… I-"
"You will learn respect! And suffering will be your teacher!" Ozai shouted as he shot a jet stream of fire, and burned his own son in front of many people.
Katara couldn't look at it. She just couldn't. All she could do was close her eyes, and tried to block her ears from that agonizing scream.
Tears flooded her eyes, she couldn't help it. She just couldn't. How is it possible for a father to be so cruel and sadistic towards his own son? But then, what could she expect? What could she expect from the fire nation? War, greed, and hatred had always run through their blood.
Yet, the other horrifying thing wasn't just that Ozai had burned his son. But rather… the fact that the whole crowd cheered. At least, expect for General Iroh, who had been closing his eyes as well.
How could these people be so cruel? So evil? Even Azula cheered. She couldn't believe this. How does one cheered when her own brother got burned? Katara knew that Azula and Zuko never had a smooth relationship, but this had just crossed the line.
Katara could somehow feel Azula's presence coming closer to her, even though she was still closing her eyes with her hands. Then, Katara heard Azula spoke calmly, "Aww, too weak to open your eyes and look at the truth, Katara? Ahahahah what a pity. You should know that Zuko had always been weak. Even when he's strong, he's weak"
Katara slowly opened her eyes, and looked at Azula with tearful eyes. Azula smirked then continued, "Even I would ask you, why do you still befriend with 'our' pathetic brother here. I can't believe I'm saying this but for a waterbender, you have the strength of a firebender. You should just leave him to rot!"
Azula turned on her heels and walked away. Katara had noticed that Iroh wasn't beside her anymore. Katara turned around to face the stage and looked up, as she heard a thud on the stage. Her eyes immediately went wide. The view in front of her just made her sick to the stomach. She could also smell the stench of burning flesh in the air. She wanted to puke, wanted to scream, but she couldn't.
Ozai was still standing on top of an unconscious Zuko. He glared at the crowd around him, then slowly turned his head towards Katara. Ozai stared right through Katara maliciously, and Katara flinched in fear. Under his breath, Ozai said lowly, "A scar, for a life". Even though the stage were few meters away from Katara, she heard what Ozai had said, and somehow she knew that it was meant for her. Ozai turned around and slowly walked to leave the hall room.
The crowd began to decrease slowly. Katara was still frozen to her feet, she wanted to do something but she didn't know what. And finally, a tiny voice from her mouth slipped, "Zuko…?"
Author's note : The special iconic chapter finally happened! Please send some reviews/opinions. The more reviews, the faster I'll update! :p