Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or any of the characters from the series.
Chapter 24
After a month with the soldiers, Zuko, Katara, and their team left the camp. She never found out what Zuko had decided to tell the soldiers to do, but, she thought, some questions were better left unasked.
While they were in the Earth Kingdom, Zuko decided to take a tour of the Fire Nation's colonies. He arranged for the other healers to return to the capital, and tried to convince Katara to go with them, but she was adamant. There were a few things she'd like to discuss with him about the colonies…
One at a time, each colony was explored. Zuko requested reports on the economic status, the ratio of fire to earth people living there, and how well the two peoples got along. Both Katara and Zuko were surprised but pleased to see that in some of the oldest colonies, they lived together peacefully. The soldiers were more like peacekeepers; the people did not discriminate against each other based on nationality.
Other colonies, however, were not as peaceful. Katara remembered one in particular. She had been there once before, on a training mission with the Kyoshi warriors. She befriended a young man, Haru, before he was arrested and imprisoned on a metal island out in the water where all the earthbenders in the colony were kept.
Once again, Zuko was surprised by the state of his colony. This time, the surprise was not pleasant. Katara convinced him to walk among the earthbenders. While he spoke to the leaders of the inmates, Katara sought out Haru.
She found him alone near the edge of the ship, looking at the shoreline, avoiding the Fire Nation visitors.
"Haru," she called. He turned, with a look of surprise, then confusion, and finally recognition.
"Lina? Or is it Katara?" He asked, using first the pseudonym she'd used on that mission so long ago, and then the name she'd given him once she had entrusted him (unwisely, perhaps) with her secret.
"Katara. I go by Katara these days." Haru nodded, and then studied her. She suddenly felt self-conscious of the red silks and gold jewelry.
"Well. What happened to the green-clad peasant I remember? You look like a Fire Nation princess," he teased, but she detected a note of resentment under his light tone.
"That was a long time ago. Another lifetime, it seems," she emphasized. Realization and relief flashed in his eyes and he grinned. Haru knew she was on another mission.
"And how is this life treating you? Has it been a long one?"
"I have found much success in this life. It has been long, and I expect I have many years yet to live." Haru nodded. He could guess why a mission involving the Fire Lord would take many years.
"I wish you the best of success and happiness in your new life, then. Just don't forget about the people you have met in the last one."
"Why do you think I am here? I am trying to persuade Lord Zuko to end this awful imprisonment." She explained that Zuko has lived in the Earth Kingdom before, and that they have seen earth and fire people living harmoniously together. Haru was amazed by the news.
After a little more discussion, they turned to lighter, friendlier conversation. Banter and witty humor flew back and forth between the two. They relaxed and even laughed a little.
Zuko's attention was caught by the sound of Katara's laughter. It was so out of place here in the oppressive prison. He turned and saw her talking to a young man clad in the prisoner's tunic and pants. With a flash of jealousy, he saw how effortlessly they reached out to each other, emotionally and physically. He glared when the earthbender reached out and pulled Katara into a tight hug. 'Who is this man, and how does he know Katara?'
Schooling his expression, he turned back to the middle-aged man he was talking to. A wise leader, the man had done his best to keep his people alive. Zuko respected him for that.
By sundown, Zuko and Tyro had come to an agreement. Unwilling to leave before it was official, Zuko ordered a table, lamps, scrolls, and ink to be brought to him.
Zuko dictated the terms of the agreement to two soldiers- one to write in the script of official court business, and one in a script that the earthbenders could read.
The earthbenders would be released back to their homes, and the Fire Nation soldiers would help them rebuild their town. In return, the earth people would take an oath of peace, forbidding them from revolting or overthrowing the Fire Nation's control. Zuko hoped it would not be long before he could remove the cruel warden and appoint a tolerant governor. He would see to it as soon as he was back in the capital.
When they camped outside the town for the evening, Katara approached the Fire Lord. She sat down next to him beside the cooking fire, and put her hand on his arm to catch his attention.
"Thank you. You have done a wonderful thing for these people- for my friend. You worked very quickly for such an important agreement, and you did well by it."
Again Zuko wondered how she had met the earthbender. Bu there was plenty of time for that later; he was tired now.
"The credit is yours- I have learned much about other peoples from you. You were the one who made me look at the world from another point of view." He leaned down and kissed her cheek before returning to his tent. Katara sat down in his place and watched the fire, mulling over how much her life had changed since the elders proposed this plot.
She pulled out her journal and began writing down the date. It made her pause. Forgetting everything else, she wrote down three sentences, ripped out the page, and tossed it into the fire. When she was sure the paper was burned to ash, she stood up and went into her own tent.
Month 30, day 4: Eight days from now is the first winter solstice after my twentieth birthday. If I were still in the Southern Water Tribe, tonight would be celebrated as my coming of age ceremony and Father would be approached for permission to court me. That will never happen now.