A/N: I have no excuse except laziness this time. I truly am sorry for getting this out so late but stuff happens.
Special thank you to Reviewers: Aradien, lava, Mei121197, Chelsea (glad this extremely unusual pairing caught your interest. I hope you continue to love all that I add to my fun, little story here.), takara410, Ofwindandwhispers, brainfear, Crazy Cutie 01, LadyoftheHouseofMoon, Shantih707, Black391, Luna-Cat-Kitty, and Taiyamar.
There's been a new record of reviews per chapter. Twelve reviews for chapter nine! Awesome work, guys! Keep it up! :D
Special thank you to those who Favorited/Story Alerted: Aradien, Calista Suxen, Celestella, coyote black, Crazy Cutie 01, Hakurou Hanuel, Holy Star, Ofwindandwhispers, PrincessOfBoredness, RoseOfSilence13, takara410, .A.F., brainfear, KrisDawnRulez, LordAnubis485, and yami-of-the-darkness.
IMPORTANT! Just thought I'd let everyone know that Mei121197 has offered to translate this story into Russian (I believe) for the site Hogwartsnet. I'll let you all know more information about that as it happens, and I just want to say that I am extremely excited about it! Thank you once again, Mei, for doing this. It truly humbles me.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I'm really glad I'm not M. Night Shyamalan right now. HE DUN GOOFED!
Chapter 10: Cascades
There had been nothing but panic and chaos at the Fire Nation capital for the past seventy-two hours, but if the pandemonium was impressive in the city, it was nothing compared to the situation at the palace.
The streets of the Crater were littered with whispers and covert glances from the public; every Fire Nation citizen had something to fear if the rumors were true. The Steward of the Throne and Dragon of the West, Iroh, and the nobility were giving no answers at this time, but if it was true that their former Fire Lord Ozai had escaped from the Prison Tower... It meant that all of the Fire Nation, as well as the rest of the world, could be in danger, the Fire Nation for readily turning their backs on their past Lord's ideals and the other nations simply for being his enemies.
Some argued that the entire situation was being taken out of proportion. Yes, there had been a prison break, and a prominent criminal had escaped. Based on how calmly their rulers were behaving, though, it was unlikely that the ex-Fire Lord was the one who'd made the jailbreak. Wouldn't they be acting a little more urgent and inform the people about it if that was the situation? It sounded extremely logical to most people.
Others, however, weren't so swayed. The government was being too silent about what was happening, or at least too arrogant, but the latter didn't fit right. The people had long since known that arrogance wasn't Iroh's tune, and he wouldn't be playing it now. There was something suspicious going on, something that the government didn't want to let the people know too early on. And who could blame them? If this kind of behavior–paranoia, fear, uneasiness–could break out over a simple rumor, how badly would everyone react if it was to be confirmed as the truth?
So daily life continued, business as usual, for the citizens of the Fire Nation, though rumors and speculations abounded. As for the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes, each were blissfully unaware of the Fire Nation capital's troubles, all except for those foreigners working within the palace walls.
And the palace did appear tranquil, as magnificent and fortifying as it always had, but only on the outside. Inside the crimson giant, well-hidden from the public, was a flurry of activity ranging from determination to desperation, from the servants all the way up to Iroh himself. It had all started three nights ago and hadn't halted since.
Iroh had been awakened from an early night in by poundings on his door. He knew instantly that it wasn't a servant who had the audacity to do such a thing. Combined with the sickening feeling of something gone horribly wrong when he awoke, he also knew that what greeted him at the door wouldn't be pleasant, though at the time he had no inkling of just how terrible it would all become.
Flinging off his bedcovers, he didn't bother to put on any slippers in his haste to open the door; it definitely had to be something serious if whoever was on the other side had bypassed his personal servants and guards and made it into his innermost quarters. What greeted him when he wrenched open the door was an overwhelming sight combined with a wave of noise that broke the sound barrier. Sokka, hysterical and shouting incoherently, hurled himself at Iroh while Suki wrapped her arms around Sokka's waist and tried to pry him away unsuccessfully. Ty Lee hovered just behind their struggling forms, sobbing noisily as Mai, looking uncharacteristically worried, tried to comfort her. Toph was standing the farthest away, unnervingly still and silent with her hands clenched at her sides. Her dark hair hung over her face, shielding her expression from Iroh, and it was Mai and Toph's behavior that chilled Iroh the most. After sending the contrite, pleading servants and guards away with an understanding look and a wave of his hand, Iroh quickly took control of the situation.
"Alright, alright, enough!" the veteran Firebender yelled over the din. "I can't make out anything you all are saying with all this racket. Please, let us move to the sitting room and have a nice, calming cup of tea while we talk this out," he said soothingly before adding as an afterthought, "now, where is Katara when I need a level head?"
"That's just what we've been trying to tell you!" Sokka screeched out. "Katara is MISSING!"
"What?" Iroh said, shocked. He suddenly felt a queasy feeling in his gut, his senses becoming slightly dulled as if he had just been suspended into a tank of water. Everything had quickly become so thick and unfocused, making it hard for the wise, former General to grasp what Sokka was telling him. This was the very last thing he had expected to hear this night or any other night. "What do you mean 'Katara is missing'?"
"Just what I said!" Sokka yelled back, fear for his sister overriding the sense of respect he had for the Dragon of the West. "She was supposed to be back from playing servant to your deranged brother an hour ago, but no one in the palace has seen her since supper! We've looked everywhere–her rooms, the stables, the gardens, the library, the kitchens, the medical wing, everywhere–and we've asked everyone we've met along the way, and we haven't found a trace of her!"
Iroh winced as Sokka's shouts became louder with every word. "I understand your concern for your sister, Sokka, but I ask that you calm yourself. We must be rational about this. Now," he trailed off, motioning for the group to follow him down the hallway and towards the sitting room, his mind and senses finally clearing enough for him to think the situation through logically, "are you sure you've looked everywhere for her?"
"Yes!" Sokka exclaimed, annoyed but he kept his voice at a more reasonable level. "We've looked everywhere! Do I need to run through it again? Her rooms, the stables, the gardens, the-"
"So you have searched around the palace," Iroh concluded, effectively cutting Sokka off mid-rant. "Has anyone checked where she was last known to be located? The Prison Tower?"
An awkward silence greeted him for a beat before Suki spoke up, bereft of her Kiyoshi Warrior make-up and uniform and wearing a simple green robe instead.
"Well, no, Iroh–sir, we haven't. We just didn't think about it because we couldn't imagine why she'd still be there, after all this time. From the way she talked about her visits to Ozai, she hated every minute of it. Why would she stay there longer than she had to?"
"That's precisely what we need to find out, if that's the case before us," Iroh replied gravely.
Was this it? Was this the moment that Iroh had secretly dreaded for months? Would this be the pivotal moment that his brother finally made his move?
"All of you, come with me," declared Iroh, who was all seriousness now and not even daring to hope that this was all a false alarm. "We're going to pay my brother a visit and get to the bottom of this."
Iroh had just gotten a servant to fetch him a suitable Fire Nation robe to wear outside when the hell he had been fearing finally broke loose. The group was about to leave when a commotion was heard right outside the front door.
"Hold it, soldier! No one is to bother Lord Iroh at this time," one of the guards from before barked out in a muffled voice, trying to make up for his allowing a bunch of kids to bother Iroh so late at night, even if they were the Avatar's bunch.
"What! No, you don't understand! I have to see him! You fools have no idea how dire of a situation we're in!" a familiar voice called out, though it was so dulled because of the barrier of the door that no one in the group could determine who it was.
A brief scuffle was heard outside while the other guard began to intervene. "Stand down, soldier! You will follow our orders; they come straight from our Lord Iroh himself–"
"Oh, I don't have time for this, you idiots!"
Faster than any of them could process, two grunts of pain resounded from outside, immediately followed by the door bursting open as a figure dashed through it.
"My Lord!" Yutakira gasped out, breathless as he kneeled respectfully before Iroh. Beads of sweat were steadily dripping down his face, his breathing was slightly labored, and Iroh had a feeling that it wasn't all because of the slight encounter that had occurred outside.
The two guards staggered in, their pride more wounded than their bodies.
"We apologize that this whelp is bothering you, my Lord!"
"We'll escort him out. This will not happen again!"
Before they could grab Yutakira, Iroh ordered them to stand down. "No. It is alright. This young man has something important to tell me, and I believe it would be in all of our best interests if he was able to do so."
"Thank you, my Lord," Yutakira said, relieved, though it was short-lived. "But–no, no, it's terrible! Lord Iroh! It's your brother Ozai! I went to take over the night shift from the guard taking up post there, but he was nowhere on the hall. No one was on the hall, no other guards or anything. I went inside Ozai's cell to investigate and–and he wasn't there! All of the guards were dead inside the room but he wasn't there! He's escaped!"
Fear and shock tore around the room at Yutakira's proclamation. Ozai... He was loose? Granted, he isn't nearly as strong as he once was with his bending taken away from him, but he's still a formidable and cunning opponent as a man and a military specialist. If he wasn't apprehended soon, he could do some real damage. Iroh was no fool; there were still many Ozai sympathizers who still believed that the Fire Nation was the superior country and that the war's conclusion after the capture of Ba Sing Se demonstrated that fact. If Ozai could find these supporters, he would suddenly become much more difficult to find.
"Yutakira!" Sokka suddenly cried out, moving to crouch down next to Yutakira and grabbing his shoulders to get the Fire Nation soldier's attention. "Katara! What about my sister Katara! She was supposed to have come back long before this, from seeing him! You've seen her. Please tell me you've seen her!" Sokka shouted the last part so desperately that even Yutakira was taken-aback for a moment. The entire gathering watched as Yutakira took on a look of loathing at the answer he was about to give.
"No, Sokka, I'm sorry," he began remorsefully, "I haven't seen her since dinner this evening. We usually cross paths at some point, but we didn't this time. I'd assumed that I was running late getting to my post tonight, but..."
Recognition slowly entered Yutakira's eyes, giving everyone who saw it a glimmer of hope about their dear friend's fate, but it was not the kind of recognition that was welcome.
"My Lord," Yutakira stated slowly, a hollow tone to his voice, "I don't really know how to say what I'm about to say. I can't even believe it myself, but... The bars. From what I observed before I came to report to you, Ozai didn't escape through the cell door. No one let him out using a key. Sire, the bars had been cut into! I remember seeing them laying on the floor in pieces now, and I know enough about war and the abilities of many weapons to know that it would take a special blade to cut through bars like that, a blade that Ozai wouldn't have been able to get his hands on. The only thing that comes close to that is..."
"Waterbending," Iroh whispered, disbelieving of the conclusion he'd just come to discover. There was no way... Katara wouldn't have betrayed them for Ozai of all people. Something didn't add up, and Iroh was determined to finding out the truth.
"You two," he directed to the two guards listening with twin stunned looks on their faces, which were visible through their helmets, "gather our forces and order an island-wide search for our ex-Fire Lord. If you find him or any trace of him, you will report back to me immediately. We must correct this and find him before he leaves the capital, if he hasn't already. Though... I now fear that he has. My brother is nothing else if not resourceful. Also, be on the lookout for Katara of the Water Tribe. My orders are the same for her as they are for my brother, except... I want Katara to be brought back unharmed. As for Ozai, use any force necessary to restrain him and return him to a cell but do not kill him. I wish to question him for myself. Is that understood?"
At their affirmation, Iroh sent them on their way with their orders.
"Now, Yutakira, you imply a very serious accusation against Katara if what you have said is true," stated the retired General. "We must all see for ourselves what you have seen and try to piece together the truth. Please, lead us to the Prison Tower."
It took a lot more effort than Iroh had expected to get everyone to the Prison Tower in a calm but briskly manner. He repeatedly had to tell Sokka to slow down and quit giving Yutakira death glares for the information he'd brought them. If the public found out about this too soon or grew even the slightest bit suspicious, it would make it all the more harder to locate Ozai. The quieter this affair was kept, the less likely it would be that Ozai would become privy to their movements and be able to react to them. And if Katara was with him, public knowledge of his escape could make him feel pressured, and in his desperation to remain a free man, Katara's life would be in great jeopardy. Iroh could see him having no qualms about using the girl as a bargaining tool. There were no doubts that it would be effective, either.
As soon as the group made it inside the closed-off walls of the tower, Sokka launched himself as rapidly as he could up the stairs, Yutakira matching him step for step to show him where to go. It was unnecessary, for as the others kept up with Sokka's furious strides, they could only watch as he instinctively knew where to go. Because of this, the Water Tribe warrior was the first to round off the stairs into the long, empty, and silent hallway and burst through the half-opened door of Ozai's cell block to see the horrors within.
Sokka let out a sound of disgust and alarm at the sight of the dead, bloodied soldiers laying crumpled on the dirty, stone floor. Suki gasped loudly while a small whimper escaped from Ty Lee. Mai remained stonily silent but a hard, cold look entered her golden eyes as she and Iroh shared matching glances. Toph was, not for the first time, extremely thankful for being blind. She could feel that there were human bodies strewn about the cell, but that was only because of how they were situated and how the vibrations bounced around them. They matched her friends in that respect except for one crucial thing; there was no signs of detectable life coming from them, no muscle spasms, no breathing, and not even a heartbeat. The young Earthbender could only imagine what these poor souls looked like.
Iroh cast one more shadowed look around the cell before turning to address the others.
"I must ask that you all stand to the side for a moment while Yutakira and I examine the cell. We need to try and make a few discoveries before one of you accidently contaminates or alters the scene."
Grimly, they each complied with Iroh's wishes, some keeping their eyes glued on Iroh instead of looking at the bloody mess around them, while others gave the cell their own vulture-eyed sweep to see if they could determine anything for themselves.
Yutakira led Iroh over to the bars first, showing him where the barred wall was cut as well as each sliced piece of the bars that were laying criss-crossed here and there on the floor. The General's sharp, molten eyes scanned every inch of the bars as long as he could without touching them to learn as much as possible. Finally, after picking up one bar off the floor, then another, and another, he settled on a conclusion.
"I have studied Waterbending for many years to learn how the element contrasts and behaves so differently from its opposite and my own element, fire. Water is the element of tolerance and change; Waterbenders are renowned for reacting and adapting to change quickly in order to survive. Studying this element was how I was able to create the technique to redirect lightning, an ability that would have been impossible to accomplish without Waterbending's steady hand. I have also watched Katara Waterbend frequently since she came to be here so many months ago. It is a rare thing to see a Master Waterbender in action, and Katara has a style that is unique and excruciatingly precise. It's what set her on her path to become a Master at such an early age with so little experience under her belt. I will always remember her style; I'd recognize it anywhere."
Iroh paused for a moment, letting everyone absorb his words and to prepare themselves for what he was about to declare. "That being said, Yutakira...was correct. These bars were cut by a Waterbender, and the only person we can suspect at this point is Katara."
Iroh expected Sokka's expression of outrage and cut him off with a wave of his hand before he went too far with his anger.
"No, Sokka! Please, let me finish because I am sure you will want to hear my next conclusion," said Iroh, lowering his hand as Sokka's rage subsided. The gray-haired Firebender glanced at each person in the room before stating with confidence, "As I said before, Waterbending is known as a precise art, and Katara's is one of the most exact and punishing that I've ever seen. If Azula is the prodigy of Firebending, then I would have to say that, if she had had formal instruction at an early age, Katara would be the prodigy of Waterbending, no question. But, after examining each of these bars, I've noticed one thing they all share: they have each been sloppily cut. See here."
The group surged forward as Iroh pointed at the barred cell, which now had a gaping hole of missing bars beside the locked cell door.
"If Katara had been at all focused, I know that these bars would have been cut in a straight line parallel to the floor. But, look, the cut is diagonal and it is not a straight line but is all jagged instead."
"What are you saying, my Lord?" Yutakira breathed, secretly amazed at Iroh noticing a detail even he had missed while also loathing him for it at the same time.
"I'm saying that, while I do believe Katara freed Ozai, I do not believe she was behaving as she normally would. I think that it is entirely possible that she was forced into doing this and that Ozai, through his meetings with her over the last weeks, found out a way he could."
"But, how, my Lord?" Yutakira asked, worried now. There was no way an old fool like Iroh could know about the Baetyl...could he?
"That," Iroh sighed, "I do not know. Katara doesn't seem the type to have something an enemy could blackmail her with."
"Are you kidding?" Sokka said, serious and tensed. "There's no reason to even remotely suspect her of having something fit enough for blackmail. My sister's as clean as the white snow that constantly falls back home. Besides, even if she did, no matter what it could be, she'd rather let herself go down than free a scumbag like him! Katara puts everyone else first and herself last. Always. Protecting others is more important to her than anything else, even her own well being."
"That could be the answer then," Mai pipped up, her signature bland voice firmly in place. "Ozai could have used us to threaten Katara. He could have said any number of things in here that would slowly convince her that our lives would be in danger if she didn't help him. We all know Ozai still has allies floating around. Katara may have figured that by doing this, she'd be saving us for a bit longer. It sounds like something that sobbing heart would do."
"Why didn't she say anything, though?" Suki said. "She could have come to us and told us that he was making threats but she didn't. We survived one of the greatest wars this world has ever seen, and suddenly, she thinks we can't protect ourselves? I don't know. Something about this still doesn't make sense."
"What, you're not actually accusing my sister of willing helping that bastard escape, are you?" Sokka growled, moving to glare right into Suki's face. "Are you?"
"Wha–?" Suki staggered back slightly, taken completely by surprise at Sokka's sudden verbal attack. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't keep the hurt out of her voice as she said, "Sokka, how could you even think that? I wasn't saying that at all! I know without a doubt that Katara would never betray us! Her mom was killed because of this crazy war! How could she ever help the one person who was partially responsible for that? I was just saying that, while Mai brought up a good point, there's still something about this whole thing that doesn't sit right!"
Sokka backed off, looking ashamed and guilt-ridden.
"Oh, God, Suki... I'm sorry. I'm just so confused and stressed and–the ex-Fire Lord has taken my sister captive. I don't even know what to think right now! We've never been separated like this before! There's always been a plan, but now–"
A choked sob escaped him as his voice finally broke and his emotions overpowered him. The Water Tribe warrior stumbled away from the group, suddenly looking more vulnerable and younger than any of them had ever seen him.
Golden eyes filled with remorse and sympathy followed Sokka as Iroh looked upon him. Gently, he said, "My orders from earlier still stand. The island will be searched for Ozai and Katara, thoroughly but quietly. Katara will be returned to us unharmed since she is but a captive, as far as we have been able to determine. If he cannot be found here, then we will continue our search around the Fire Nation until we find him. I would like you all to join the search party and sweep through the islands to find them, if you are all willing, of course."
"What? Do you even have to ask?" Suki exclaimed.
"Yeah, of course we'll do it!" Ty Lee said. "No way I'm gonna leave Katara at the hands of Zuko's tyrant of a father. If he's anything like Azula, that'll only quicken my search."
"To be quite honest with you, Uncle Iroh," Mai stated, examining one of her stiletto knives with great interest, "I was going to go after them whether you asked us to or not. In fact, I don't care if both you and Zuko had ordered me to stay here. I know how cold and unfeeling Ozai can get, and Katara shouldn't have been put through this."
Toph punched her fist into her hand, cracking her knuckles as she declared, "That Loser Lord is gonna experience what cold and unfeeling really means if he so much as touches Katara. I'll stone him to death. No one messes with Madame Fussy Britches except me. And well, the rest of you, too, I guess."
"Why wait?" Sokka turned back to the gang, composed once again. "I say we leave now!"
"I wish you could, Sokka, but you cannot go yet. Things have to be settled a bit here before I can just let our greatest defenses leave. Allow my soldiers to search the Capital, and if they come up with nothing, you can all leave immediately. In the meantime, I will send messages to Aang and my nephew, telling them to return here at once. I cannot tell them the reason why in case the messages are intercepted, but I am sure they will return here swiftly, though you all will probably be out searching long before that.
"Yutakira, please see that these men get a proper burial and that their families are informed, but you must keep how these men died quiet. They were killed with Waterbending, but again, the wounds are incredibly sloppy, not to mention that Katara would never kill anyone so meaninglessly unless she were forced. All the same, if word gets out that she was the one to do it..."
"I understand, my Lord." Yutakira bowed respectfully.
"Good," said Iroh, "as for the rest of you, follow me. An emergency meeting must be called."
They filed out of the cell, determination lacing their shoulders as they each mentally prepared themselves for what was to come. Iroh watched the young warriors as they left, his eyes showing a myriad of emotions as he grasped how painful this would become for them all. Setting his jaw, the wizened General gave Yutakira a sharp nod before following them outside.
Catching up to Sokka, who was hovering at the back of the party, Iroh placed a firm hand on the Water Tribe boy's soldier, stopping him in his tracks.
"I need to speak with you while we have this brief moment to ourselves, Sokka," Iroh began in a gentle but firm tone. "You and I have much that we need to talk about since both of our siblings are involved in this mess. Besides, you look like you really need someone to just yell at."
"It's okay," Sokka replied, turning to look at Iroh, eyes set and clear. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not, my boy."
Sokka broke eye contact, finding great interest in the cracks on the stone floor. "Alright, maybe not. Maybe I feel like ripping my hair out, I've never been so lost before. Maybe I want to rip your brother apart instead for even daring to do this, but I can't! I just feel so helpless. And Dad! What am I supposed to tell Dad? How can I look at him and say that I let Katara get captured by the ex-Fire Lord when I was supposed to protect her? Some warrior I am. Dad will never forgive me for this."
"Now, Sokka, you need to stop thinking like this," Iroh admonished. "I understand why you feel guilty and even responsible for this happening, but you need to get into your head right now that none of this was your fault. No one could have predicted this could happen, and it is foolish to keep blaming yourself for something you had no control over. It won't help you, and it certainly won't help your sister."
Iroh watched as Sokka thought about what he said, almost seeing the gears starting to turn in his head. After Sokka nodded in acceptance and looked back up at the Dragon of the West again, Iroh sent the young man a warm smile.
"As for Hakoda, don't distress yourself any further. I will tell your father myself what has happened. A missive will be sent out to him to return to the palace along with the Avatar and my nephew."
"Thanks."
Sokka supplied nothing else as the two resumed walking towards the stairs. Iroh could tell that there were still many demons plaguing Sokka's mind.
"I cannot promise that Katara will remain unharmed around my brother. He is a hard and ruthless man. As a military strategist, he will do whatever it takes to reach the goal he lusts after, even if it means sacrificing something or someone in order to obtain it. He is not known to be forgiving, compassionate, or trusting. I don't recall ever hearing him say he was sorry for anything he's done. I'm only telling you this to prepare you. Before all of this is over, the situation could become dire for us, things could turn very ugly for Katara and even my brother."
Sokka's voice shook slightly as he mumbled, "I know. I get that and I'm glad you're not sugar-coating it. Really, thanks for being honest with me. And, while you are, do you think... Would he..."
"Ask, Sokka. You need to get this out."
"Is Ozai the type of man who'd force Katara?" he rushed out, his face paling slightly in disgust. "Would he hurt her sexually in order to manipulate her into doing what he wants?"
"I'm sorry, Sokka," Iroh began gravelly, "but I don't really know. He courted several girls before he married Ursa, who I know he stayed faithful to until a few months before he banished her. I've never known him to mistreat any woman he's been with, and I know that, during the raids on the Southern Water Tribe, he forbade his soldiers to rape any of the women and those who went against his degree were punished severely."
"R-really?" Sokka asked, surprised. "He always seemed like such a monster; you'd think that he would encourage that behavior in his soldiers."
"I believe it was less an attempt to remain honorable and more a belief that Water Tribe women are unfit to mate with Fire Nation men. Plus, the idea of a bunch of illegitimate offspring with the potential to be Firebenders didn't appeal too much to Ozai. It would be a disgrace to have a generation of Firebenders raised with Waterbending ideals, a generation of his own people raised to oppose him."
Sokka snorted. "Yeah, that sounds more like him."
"Yes. All we can do at this point is hope that my brother doesn't change his beliefs before we can find them. Come, let's catch up with the others. The sooner this meeting gets started, the sooner you all can make enough of an appearance and leave. Politics... They accomplish nothing."
And so it was, for the rest of the night and all through the next day and night, the nobility, the Aang Gang, and Iroh were consumed in one big meeting with a few rest breaks here and there to inform the council members of Ozai's escape and the delicate situation they and their favorite Waterbender had found themselves in. When it was confirmed the third morning by the Fire Nation Capital's top guards that neither Ozai nor Katara were found and that a local fisherman had reported his boat stolen the morning after Ozai escaped, Iroh instructed the Aang Gang to rest up and prepare themselves to join in the search. Iroh split them into teams based on their past performances with each other: Mai and Ty Lee would lead one unit to Crescent Island and Roku's Island, Suki and Sokka would lead another to Shu Jing, the home of Sokka's sword master Piandao, and Toph with her Master Earthbending and "seeing" skills would lead her own team around as many islands near the Crater as quickly as she could. Once Zuko and Aang arrived back, they would be sent to Ember Island, where everyone would eventually convene to share any information they may have found on Ozai and Katara's location.
Unbeknownst to Iroh, this was information that a certain Firebending rogue absorbed with great interest.
Even though each of them were desperate to leave and go after Katara, they made the private concession that going almost three days without sufficient rest would help Ozai more than it ever would Katara. Thus, on the third night, they slept, some so exhausted they laid peacefully while others tossed and turned with dreams of failure all night. The next morning would be the beginning of everything; either they would be successful and find Katara before anything too bad happened, or they would fail and...
Failure wasn't a scenario in any of their minds.
The fourth day would begin everything, with the events that would soon follow cascading into a conspiracy that absolutely none of them could have anticipated.
Katara was getting beyond restless. She had never been this worried before and part of it was due to her own thoughts of what Ozai's plans could possibly be rather than anything he'd done or said to her thus far. It was the fact that he hadn't let slip anything of what he was planning that was making her so agitated. All she was left to do all day was wonder and think and guess what he was up to, and the absolute unknown of it was driving her mad.
She had put the robe incident of three days ago out of her mind. However, she was getting more and more tempted to think about it simply to have something to occupy her thoughts. For the past couple of days, Ozai had done nothing but order her around–having her fix his meals, draw his baths, wash his clothes, clean the dishes–throwing a few taunts at her if he felt so inclined. Afterwards, he'd simply leave her to her own devices while he receded back into his wing of the family house.
Katara kept herself in what she'd identified as what was once Ursa's wing, when she wasn't too busy trying to defy the Baetyl and escape. Unfortunately, no matter how many times she tried to crawl out of the various windows of the estate or walk out any doors leading to the outside, she would be flung back inside the house. Finally, she had to concede that the Baetyl's control was absolute. That didn't mean, though, that she was going to give up. It had to have at least one weakness, and she would find it.
The Waterbender sighed as she roamed Ursa's wing for the umpteenth time since arriving. This family house had been much more entertaining when Aang, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph were here. Thinking of her friends again shot a pang of excitement and fear through her heart. There was no doubt that they would have noticed her missing by now; Sokka would have certainly been the one to sound the alarm. It was only a matter of time before they found her and, in turn, find Ozai. But the fear came because of the unknown purpose of Ozai's escape. He had already proved his craftiness and ambitiousness with the Baetyl of Control; that along with this mysterious plot of his could prove it difficult for her friends to discover their location. There was the slightest possibility that he would succeed before the others found her.
No, don't think like that! She scolded herself, her ocean-blue eyes flashing. They had all been through worse things than this little hostage situation. There really was no reason to doubt them. Still, that nagging feeling of uneasiness wouldn't leave her alone for long.
Another piece of doubt was slowly eating away at her, an idea that had been planted in her head by her captor... Aang. She still didn't regret their breakup, but she kept tearing herself up over how hurt she had left him. She was looking forward to trying to patch things up with him eventually, so they could at least be friends again. Her life wouldn't be the same without Aang in it in some way. She needed him, she admitted it, but only as a friend or a brother-figure. But she wasn't so sure that he needed her anymore. Katara had cut him deeply, but would that really be enough for him to not come after her, to rescue her one more time? On their travels, she had been very independent, but she accepted Aang, Sokka, and Toph's help when she truly needed it. Surely, one final helping hand wasn't too much to ask for? At the same time, if Aang decided to forsake her, if he decided to let her try and save herself, she wouldn't blame him any. He was well within his rights to do so, after all.
She fiddled with her braid, her hair loopies falling in her face, as she walked back into Ursa's room to hang up some clean clothes she'd borrowed the day before. She was back in her now thoroughly dried Water Tribe garb and intended for it to stay that way for awhile. Opening the wardrobe, she grabbed an empty hanger and placed the summer dress on it with care before placing the whole ensemble in an empty space between the rest of the clothes. She couldn't help the grimace that formed on her face as she spotted the sleeve of that misleadingly risque robe peaking out of the corner of the wardrobe. Closing the doors without a second glance, she turned briskly and left the room in what she knew was an unnecessarily huffy pace. It was all she could do in order to escape the embarrassment that would undoubtedly follow. Already, she could feel her face starting to burn with it.
Her hurried path took her into the spacious bathroom. Being the neat and orderly person she was, her attention was immediately drawn to the hair brushes, combs, hand mirrors, and other personal items that laid scattered around the counter. Katara scowled at her actions. This was no way to treat a person's things, Ursa's things. She thought she'd had more respect for the woman. Without wasting another thought, she gathered the items carefully in her arms and started to put them back in their proper places. Most of them she was able to leave in the cabinets and closets in the bathroom until she was left with only a customized, delicate-looking hand mirror and a whale bone comb. She had found these two in Ursa's private chambers after looking for something to use to see and get to the various knots found in her hair after she washed it.
She returned once more into Ursa's room with the items in hand, trying to remember where she'd found them. Rounding the canopy bed, she spotted a little dresser that held nothing but a small lantern and a box of matches upon its dusty surface. As she studied it, recognition sparked in her head. She'd remarked on its small size before when she'd found the comb and mirror; it was easily the smallest piece of furniture in the house let alone the room. It was easily overlooked if you weren't looking for it.
Reaching a hand out, she tried to pull its only shelf, miniscule in size, only for it to refuse to open. Katara gave it a few more gentle tugs, confused. It felt like it was catching on something. Sighing, she placed the fragile items upon the bed, freeing both of her hands. She wanted to try to pry open the shelf without damaging the dresser if she could help it. Crouching down so she could see better, she tugged once, twice more and yielded no result. The Waterbender fell backward on her backside, resting her hands behind her with her knees bent in front of her as she studied the annoying thing and tried to pinpoint what was wrong. Her eyes scanned it from the top of the lantern, down to the shelf, before following its four, curvy, wooden legs that primly touched the ground. Following its rear legs back up, she almost missed it. Belatedly, her sharp, azure gaze snapped back to the bottom of the dresser. There was something sticking out from the back, something anyone would miss if they were standing or even crouching at it.
Katara leaned forward, reaching out with her right hand to feel what it was. It was the corner of something she couldn't identify, but whatever it was, it was made of what felt like leather. Slowly, she tried to pull it out from the back only for it to not budge an inch. She paused, getting another idea. Scrunching up her fingers, she slowly began to push the object back into the drawer, finding that this was the successful route to go. It didn't take long for the unknown item to snap back into the drawer, allowing for the shelf to open up again.
Excited to discover whatever this thing was, she snapped open the drawer to reveal...nothing. Katara visibly deflated. Talk about anticlimactic. Had it just been part of the shelf the whole time? She stopped to think about that. Another approach was called for. Placing her hands inside the shelf, she felt around the smooth wooden edges, her nails able to squeeze between the cracks. She pulled up, and yes! The thin slab of wood gave way to reveal a hidden bottom and...a book? A tanned hand steadily grasped what was confirmed to be a red leather binding and withdrew the work from the real bottom of the shelf. Katara's brow was scrunched in confusion as she replaced the fake bottom and studied the book with curiosity.
It was thin, looking barely to hold eighty pages, and up close, she could see how the leather was starting to crack and wear out. Whether this was from use or neglect was unknowable at this point, though there was a thick layer of dust on the cover. After sweeping off what her fingers had failed to remove when she first touched it, Katara unsnapped the golden, sun-shaped clasp that bound the book together. The first page to greet her was woefully blank but made out of a fine yet sturdy parchment. Flicking through the next two pages revealed nothing until she spotted on the fourth page some scrunched up but neat writing in the bottom right corner. Squinting in the dim light of the room, Katara gradually made out:
Before you scold me harshly on this dismal excuse for a wedding present, dear friend, allow me to present my reasoning to you first lest you have your revenge on me by giving me some cheap, tacky amulet or whatever nonsense on my own wedding day. Think of this not as a diary or some other unfavorable word of sorry, sentimental worth, but treasure it during the times where you feel your mind has stretched beyond its limits to where it can no longer hold your own thoughts, much less anyone else's. Writing has always been a commodity of release for me, and I was only born the daughter of a governor, as you well know. As the newest Fire Princess, you'll no doubt be put through far worse and tedious affairs than I have been. Treasure this in the fact that you have at least some form of escape, no matter how small it is. I know you've never been the venting sort, but you'll see time changes everyone eventually. Take care, my dear Ursa. I fear you'll no longer have as much time with your closest friend as you once did. I am saddened by this, but I sleep happy in the knowledge that you will be taken care of. True love is a rare find in this war-torn world, but I believe you've found it with Ozai. (If not, I'm sure you'll change your tune when the kiddies arrive! Haha!) Look at this journal and remember me, for I will always remember and be grateful for the time we had together.
Your dearest friend and confidant,
Rylia
P.S. Seriously, though, no tacky amulets on my wedding day, or I won't be your friend! Haha!
Katara allowed the book, no, journal, to fall back into her lap, stunned. This was, this was Ursa's private journal! The Water Tribe girl couldn't believe it. Dazed, she flipped through the diary, finding quite a few entries written in a flowing, elegant script within the crisp, tanned pages, though it wasn't filled even to the halfway mark.
Katara let the book close with a soft thump! There was no denying that she definitely wanted to read these pages, no matter how personal they were. There would be no other book like it in the world; these were words straight from a Fire Princess as she saw the world and her life. However, as deep as the desire was to read each entry, the Waterbender struggled with herself. Reading a person's innermost thoughts without their permission was wrong and selfish. There must be a reason why Ursa went through so much trouble to hide her journal from prying eyes, after all.
Or maybe, a voice whispered traitorously to Katara, she meant to hide it from a specific set of prying eyes.
Unbidden, an image of long, obsidian hair, golden eyes, and a regal face flashed before her eyes.
It could help you, the voice continued temptingly, Ursa's words, straight from the dead, could help you against him!
Yes, yes, they could if they were the right words, the right kind of knowledge. But this was private, private! She respected Ursa. She wouldn't dare...
Wouldn't you?
Katara fought against the temptation honorably, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She opened the book and brought it back towards her face, pausing only to strike a match to turn on the lantern by the bedside.
Yes, I would. To defeat him, I'd dare anything.
Without stopping to ponder another thought about the ethics of what she was doing, she turned the pages until she reached the first entry and reverently began to read.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed that. Sorry about the distinct lack of Ozai/Katara interaction, but we really needed to see what was going on with the others before we get back to that. Expect it in the next chapter, though! Until then, please don't be shy! Tell me what you think thus far! Any and all suggestions, questions, and comments are welcome. All you gotta do is review! :)