Kinda short compared to the other chapters but enjoy.. Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, only Jang and a few other stuff....
The next morning I stood up from my spot on the grass. I saw Zuko sitting on the ground in front of Katara's tent, his legs pulled up to his chest his arms forming a pillow for his head. I watched as he raised his head as soon as the Water Tribe girl walked out of her tent.
From the distance I could see her yelling at him but she soon abruptly stopped when Zuko spoke. I saw her tense all the while Zuko spoke but in the end I saw her nod her head. She and Zuko walked towards Appa. I saw them stop to talk with Aang and Sokka near the flying bison. I walked towards them before anything important happened. I was lucky; I arrived in between an argument.
They were arguing about taking Appa to find the Southern Raiders. It seemed that the leader of the Southern Raiders killed the Water Tribe siblings' mother and Katara wanted revenge. The only problem was that Aang and Sokka didn't agree with Katara's way of revenge. Aang wanted Katara to try and forgive the man but Katara wouldn't hear it. It surprised me and the others to hear that Katara wanted to kill the soldier who took her mother's life away. It seems that Katara's violent side was not seen often. Katara soon saw that arguing with the young Airbender was useless so she stalked off with her fists clenched and went back to her tent. Zuko heaved an angry sigh and rolled his eyes in annoyance before he walked off to his tent.
It was late at night when Katara and Zuko tried to steal Appa. I was leaning against one of the rocks near the bison with my arms folded casually over my chest. My face had an amused expression on it. Sokka and Aang were hiding behind a rock that was next to Appa waiting for the two to come. As soon as Katara grabbed Appa's reigns the two younger boys jumped out from behind their hiding place. Aang said in a slightly hurt tone, "You were still going to steal Appa in the end?" Katara gave him a stiff nod but instead of getting angry Aang responded in a calm tone, "Don't worry about it Katara because I forgive you. Does that give you any ideas?"
Katara just shook her head and said, "I'm sorry Aang but nothing that you can do will stop me from looking for that man."
The Avatar took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. He looked over at me and begged with pleading eyes, "Jang, could you please talk to Katara and tell her that revenge isn't the answer to everything?"
Katara turned to me; her eyes were blue flames daring me to say something. I smirked and looked back at her with a cool and amused expression. I replied to Aang though my stare never left Katara's. "I don't think that I should be the person that you would want to ask that question. I'm not a good person, if I was in Katara's place, I would have already killed the man. Heck, even now, I'm still waiting for my revenge against my father. There is nothing in this world that I would want more. If anyone hurts me Aang, I will hurt back with no questions asked. Sorry."
The Water Tribe girl looked at me with grateful eyes as she mounted Appa with Zuko following suit. Before they flew off though, Aang said, "I can now see that this is a journey that you need to take Katara, and I just hope that you'll make the right choice in the end. Have a safe voyage."
Katara and Zuko hopped onto Appa with Katara in the front. We watched as Appa groaned and flew into the air. We stayed there until they were nothing more but specks in the sky. I looked over to Aang and saw that he had a troubled expression on his face. I gave him a small smile and briefly put my hand on his shoulder before I walked away.
The next morning after Katara and Zuko left, the others and I gathered all our stuff and walked across the strip of land and walked to the Fire Lord's home. Once we made it there, everyone got settled. The next couple of days since Katara and Zuko had left were uneventful. I helped Aang with his training and demonstrated some moves with him. Sokka and Suki were always in the courtyard catching up with one another and sometimes sparring. Toph lounged around, bored.
At dusk the third day, we saw a shadow in the horizon. They were back! Appa landed by the docks and the five of us watched as two figures jumped off the bison. One figure started moving alongside the bison and one sat on the docks, feet dangling in the water. As soon as Appa made it near us, we saw Zuko walking next to him. We all watched silently as he made his way towards us. Then Aang spoke in a hesitant and unsure tone. "So what happened?"
Zuko locked his gaze with his for a moment and then said to the others, his face passive. "We found the soldier that killed Katara's mother. He was retired and lived on Whale Tail Island and we went to him there. The two of us faced him as he was walking back from the market. As soon as Katara saw him, she snapped. It was scary. It was raining at the time and it was the perfect setting for her. She made icicles form and was about to kill him but before the points could puncture his skin, she stopped. I don't understand why she didn't kill him. It was so obvious that she hated him but she didn't do anything. We got on Appa and left him sitting in the rain. She was quiet the whole ride. So…."
As soon as the Fire Prince finished, Aang ran over to the docks with Zuko and me following behind. The others remained behind sensing that this was something that they shouldn't get involved in. The both of us arrived at the same time that Aang started talking to Katara. He said with admiration and pride in his voice, "Katara, we heard from Zuko. I'm very proud of you. You had the chance to take your revenge on the man but you didn't. You found the strength in yourself to forgive the man."
Katara stood up from the edge of the dock and turned around. She faced Aang but couldn't meet his eyes as she said, "That's the thing though, and I didn't forgive him. I can never forgive him. I don't know if I'm too weak or too strong to not do it. But I do know one person that I am ready to forgive." She walked up to Zuko and hugged him.
I looked at Zuko and saw surprise cross his features but he hugged back. After a few minutes, Katara walked away her gaze still not meeting Aang's. When Katara was a good distance away, Zuko turned to Aang and said, "You were right. Violence wasn't the answer for Katara. It's not her nature."
Aang smiled in Katara's direction and said, "Violence is never the answer to anything."
Zuko's face all the sudden turned solemn, "Then if that is the case, what are you going to do when you have to fight my father? He's many things; a power hungry leader, an excellent bender, and a horrible father but the thing that he is not is merciful. Whatever chance he will get to have you dead, there is no doubt that he will take it. I don't think there's anyway out but to use violence."
He gave Aang one more look before he shrugged his shoulders and walked back to the beach house. Aang stared out into the sea and watched the dying ray's of the sun disappear into the horizon. I walked up to him and put my hand on his shoulder. "Aang, for a kid of your age, you carry the responsibility, the weight of the world on shoulders. I won't lie and say I understand because nobody in this day and age can understand what you're going through." He turned and looked up at me, helplessness written all over his face. "Listen Aang, I'm not going to tell you what you should or should not do. Whether you decide to kill the Fire Lord or find another way, if there is one, to stop him then that's up to you. The whole point of this conversation is that I just want you to know where my loyalties lie. It's with you and you're entire purpose here."
I squeezed his shoulder slightly and nodded at him slightly before I walked away, leaving the boy to try and solve his problem.
A few days later, Zuko, Aang, and I were in the courtyard practicing some Firebending moves. Despite the fact that Katara had forgiven Zuko for what he did to Aang, she still kept a wary eye on the two of them. After our training session, Sokka came rushing out from one of the beach house's many rooms with Suki, both dressed in Fire Nation clothing. The four of us looked at him in confusion. Sokka was carrying a poster in one hand and while the other one was waving to try and get our attention. He then said excitedly, "Guys, guys check this out!"
Please read and review... I welcome constructive criticism whenever or wherever it is need throughout this entire story but please no flames... I can deal with them but seriously, how da heck am I supposed to learn anything if some of you just say that you out right hate it?
Representin' All Day