Butterflies and Hurricanes
Chapter Twenty-Six
"Will the councillors be able to do this, Uncle? They don't exactly look up to the task."
The group was moving through the servants' passages once more, Iroh had been very happy with the revelation they may just be able to sneak in.
"They were part of Ozai's inner circle for a reason, Zuko. They may be old men, but appearances can be deceiving after all."
Katara and Zuko were leading the procession, with Iroh in the middle and Jeong-Jeong bringing up the rear.. The plan was to enter the Royal Tower via these passages and then hopefully remain undetected as they tried to gain access to Ozai's quarters.
Their steps were hurried yet tempered, and this self-restraint was why Zuko came to a sudden stop, flinging his arm out in front of Katara, his Uncle bumping in to his back.
"Wha-?"
"Shh!" He cut off the question sharply and pointed to the corner just ahead of them.
The group stared intently, wondering what Zuko had seen. Just when Katara was about to turn and repeat her question, a flickering shadow caught her eye.
Someone was coming down the next corridor and, from the shape of the army helmet in the shadow, it wasn't a servant.
Zuko pointed over Jeong-Jeong's shoulder, gesturing for the man to retreat. The quartet moved backwards carefully, their footsteps making no sound on the stone floor.
Katara kept her eyes fixed on the shadow, growing more distinct as the man came closer to the wall.
A hand grasped her around the elbow and tugged her into a small side-passage. Zuko prompted her to crouch low to the floor and she went along with it without hesitation. Through the glow she could just about make out the figures of Iroh and Jeong-Jeong, pressed tightly into a second, small corridor across from them. The sound of the guard's feet became louder as he turned into their corridor.
Katara and Zuko shuffled back further into the shadows and held their breath.
A guard passed their way, face covered with the typical grey plate, and Katara thought that may have been the only thing that saved them. If he were to glance around... Katara shuddered. Not a pretty thought. The guard passed by without so much as a pause in his steps, and the group relaxed minutely.
They listened carefully until the footsteps faded to nothing before slipping back in to the main passage.
"My brother seems to have covered all his bases. We will not be able to stay here. If we are cornered in such a narrow place, there will little we can do."
The others nodded in the darkness and Zuko began to lead them once more.
"Oh no," Katara hissed, hand groping at her side.
"What's wrong?" Zuko and Iroh looked at her.
Katara looked up and bit at her lip in worry. "My water pouch. I think I left it in the kitchen. I was going to borrow one from Jiaying, I've left it by the sink." Katara looked towards the window they were passing. It was still raining quite heavily, but that wouldn't be much help when she was inside the tower.
Zuko looked over her head, in the direction they had just come from. "Do you want to run back?"
"No," she shook her head. "We don't have the time. I'll just keep a look out for something I can store rainwater in. Do the guards carry hip flasks?"
"It's not unheard of," Iroh replied. "But that would mean getting close enough to steal it."
Katara nodded. "Let's just focus on being stealthy for a little while longer."
"Good idea."
The foursome travelled down the hallway, wide and impressive as most Fire Nation architecture. They were getting close to the inner gardens, and then it would be an almost uncovered dash to the Royal Tower. They had been relying on the servant's passages, but Ozai had apparently thought of everything.
Jeong-Jeong peered around the next doorway, seeing that the next stretch of hallway was also empty and they made their way through it, Zuko and Katara bringing up the rear. A shiver shot up Katara's spine and she paused at the threshold, Zuko carrying on, not realising she had stopped.
Just as Katara was about to turn around and see what had made her stop, a blinding streak of lightening sailed over her head and hit the wall above the doorway. There was a great groaning of rock cracking before the marble of the wall caved inwards and collapsed, blocking the way forward for Katara and the way back for the others.
Katara's heart pounded, her hair standing on end from the electricity passing so close to her, as she turned around. Azula stood at the end of the hallway, a sinister smile on her face, hands relaxed and seemingly unthreatening at her sides.
Katara could hear the frantic shouts of the others and the quiet skittering of marble upon marble as they tried to dig their way through.
"I'm okay." She called back, her eyes fixed on the princess. "Just hurry and go on. I'll catch up."
Their protests were muffled, but Katara tuned them out, watching warily as Azula stalked forwards. Katara chanced a glance at the windows and was horrified to see the rain had started to slow to a mere trickle.
"Looks like it will be a nice day after all," Azula smirked, coming to pause a little ways from Katara. "I'm glad. I do so hate water."
Katara fought the urge to step backwards, listening as the scuffling behind the rubble slowed before stopping completely.
She smiled grimly. "Your Uncle and brother are gone, they'll stop Ozai."
Azula's lip sneered. "You're a fool if you believe that. I have no idea how you got out of the dining room, but regardless, you have no Waterbending and no chance." Katara kept her face neutral as she realised Azula did not know about the resistance they had so hastily built up.
"So you're going to fight someone who has no way to defend themself?"
"Oh please," Azula scoffed. "It will hardly be a fight."
Katara's eyes slipped to Azula's hands as they lit with flames and she staggered backwards. She brought her hand up quickly and gathered what she could from the trickling rain water, snapping it out in a thin whip, leaving a bloody line on Azula's cheek.
The Princess looked surprised as she brought her hand to her cheek, rubbing the redness between her fingers. "Well, well, well. Somebody didn't eat their dinner."
Katara pulled more drizzle from the air, though not ideal, it was better than nothing.
Azula slid in to a fighting stance. "All the better. I won't feel so bad when I destroy you now." She paused and regarded Katara, a false look of concern passing over her face. "But oh, it seems as though you are running low on water. What are you going to do now?"
The water suspended over her palms was a rather puny amount and Katara knew she was fast running out of options. The wide hallway left nowhere to hide and the only way out was behind Azula.
Azula lit a fire dagger in her hand and regarded Katara coolly. "Since you seem to be so fond of my brother, how would you like a matching scar?"
Katara readied her stance in response, prepared to go down with a fight, when the cavalry (of a sort) arrived.
"Katara!"
Azula whipped around just in time to see a skein of water fly past her head, and the one who threw it was the little kitchen rat who she had tricked in to fighting her brother.
Katara caught the gourd of water instinctively, staring in shock at her saviour. "Renshu? What are you -?"
"Now what kind of Waterbender heads off to overthrow a diabolical Fire Lord without her trusty supply of water?" Renshu grinned.
"Enough!" Azula looked livid. "You think now is a time for laughter? I assure you if you are still alive by the end of the night, your lives will be so miserable you may never laugh again."
Katara would never understand how Renshu could be smiling at that moment, but it truly was him, down to a tee. The weight of the water pouch was comforting in her hands and Katara withdrew a sizeable amount of liquid. Azula turned her attention back to Katara but kept one ear turned towards Renshu.
"All rats move together I suppose. No matter, who will be first?"
Katara gritted her teeth and lashed out with the water. The Princess was quick however and flipped backwards, landing next to Renshu. Her hands pushed out towards his chest and the man staggered to the floor, only saved from Azula's flaming hands by a disk of ice Katara placed between them.
Katara sent another barrage of ice razors, all of which were melted with no apparent effort by Azula. Katara's breath was harsh and her knees weak as she tried to keep her gaze on Azula. She was ridiculously fast, covering the length of the hall within seconds and grasping Katara by the wrist.
The skin on Katara's arm blistered as Azula twisted her arm, forcing her to her knees.
Azula sneered down at her. "Truly pathetic."
Katara gritted her teeth against the pain and scrambled for her water pouch which had landed several feet away. Azula gave another harsh twist and Katara gasped as her shoulder pulled. She looked up at the evil yellow eyes and the fire dagger reflected in them and felt anger at herself for being so weak.
The heat of the flame made her eyes water when Azula screeched suddenly and released her grip. Katara forced her misty eyes to focus and stared dumbfounded at the scene before her. Renshu had the Princess' hair in one hand, gripping harshly close to the roots, and the other around her body, trying to pin her arms to her sides.
The pair struggled for a moment before Azula regained control. She tried to buck the taller man from her back but he held steadfast. Katara scrambled to her feet, reaching for her water pouch, but a stream of fire shot past her fingers. Her eyes flicked up and she saw that Azula had lit fire beneath her feet and was catapulting both her and Renshu back.
Katara abandoned the pouch and rushed after the other two.
Her friend's green eyes widened in surprise and Katara noticed Azula's skin steaming. Renshu was forced to let her go as his skin began to burn, and the momentum from Azula's feet carried him backwards.
"No!" Katara lurched forwards, horrified at what was about to happen. Her fingertips brushed Renshu's tunic as the man tumbled backwards – straight in to the display of ceremonial weapons.
There was a horrible silence as Renshu's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze sliding down to the blade that had run him through.
Katara went cold with shock, her eyes following the steady flow of blood spreading from his chest.
Even Azula looked surprised for a moment before a smile twisted her lips. "Ah well, I guess I won't get to fry him after all." She moved down the corridor towards the only exit, her back to the frozen Katara. "I'll leave you say your goodbyes, I have somewhere to be."
She was gone, just like that. No further gloating and no attempt to attack Katara, leaving the two friends alone and with no idea what to do.
Katara took an unsteady step forward, and the another and another, until she was next to Renshu.
The man was gasping for breath now, the dark shine of blood visible in his mouth as he tried to pull in air. He grimaced in pain and Katara grasped his hands tightly.
"It'll be okay. I can fix this, just… I need my water." Panicking, Katara cast her eyes towards her abandoned water skin. She saw it in the corner and turned back to Renshu, stroking his cheek comfortingly. "Hang on, I'll be right back."
She made to turn from Renshu but her gripped her hand stubbornly. She looked at him, her eyes a mix of confusion and panic and he smiled. "I've always loved you, you know."
Katara's eyes spilled over and she brought his hands to her lips and placed a gentle kiss there. "Shh. We'll talk when I've healed you."
Renshu nodded stiffly and Katara covered the distance to the water pouch at a run. The water was still drizzling, but she tried to gather what she could to add to the rather empty pouch. She skidded to a stop in front of Renshu but her stomach lurched horribly when she saw his head had dropped forward so that his chin met his chest.
"Oh no. Oh no no no. Please."
She held her ear to his lips but neither felt nor heard any puff of air. Looking in to his face she saw that Renshu's eyes were half-lidded and lifeless, unfocused and terrifyingly vacant.
Katara bent her knees, trying to support the weight of her friend's body as she removed him from the blade that had impaled him. Lowering him to the marble floor, she crouched besides him and gathered water to surround her palm. It glowed blue as she placed it over the wound in his chest and she kept her eyes fixed on Renshu's face.
"Come on, Renshu, you're getting out of here, remember? When all this is over you've got a ride back to the Earth Kingdom with my family." The tears fell faster as she raised her voice in frustration. "Damn it! Don't do this… please." Her voice trailed to a whisper as she looked down at Renshu's chest. Despite her attempts the wound had not closed at all. Katara knew that this was proof that life had completely vacated his body, but she held her hand there for a long moment after.
"Katara!" Zuko pushed against the fallen wall blocking him, coughing against the dust that was still clouding the air. He had no idea what had just caused the wall to come down but he knew that it wasn't good. Growling in frustration, he threw his weight against the tumbled rocks until his shoulder began to ache.
He heard Katara assuring him she was okay but he ignored her. Iroh grabbed his shoulder and gave a gentle tug. "It's no good Zuko, we'll have to find another way around."
"But-"
"I know," Iroh cut him off. "That it is hard but it will be quicker to find another route. There is no way to dig through the rubble and you will just waste time trying."
Zuko cast a long look at the pile of debris before nodding and allowing his Uncle to tug him down the passageway.
Katara had no idea how much time had passed, but when she finally came back to herself she vaguely registered distant sounds of battle. She stared at Renshu's face and gently ran her hands over his eyes, closing the lids fully. This is how she wished to remember him, a slight smile on his lips and looking truly at peace. She brought a bit of water up to his lips and washed the blood away – she could almost imagine he was sleeping.
She stood stiffly, keeping her eyes away Renshu's chest and looked around. She did not want to leave him here, did not want to abandon him. Her eyes passed over the blades on the wall, one sheathed in blood and Katara felt the first fingers on anger reaching over the sadness. Azula.
With determination, Katara moved Renshu to the side of the wide hallway, propping him up against the wall. She knelt in front of him and kissed his forehead. "I'll come back for you." She promised. "I'll make sure you get home."
Katara stumbled from the main palace, emerging in to the moonlit inner garden. The trees were beautiful, their trunks tinted silver in the moonlight, and the light rain gave a haze to the air.
It was lost on Katara. Her eyes stayed focused on the floor as she moved – justgetawayfromtheregetaway – Renshu's lifeless eyes burned in to her mind. She tripped as she veered off the path and on to the grass, her anguished mind not keeping her under cover as it should have. She caught herself on her hands and knees and she gasped.
Her hands were stained with blood, so dark and shining in the star shine, and she felt bile in her throat, the anger previously crawling up her throat shrivelling and turning to ice.
Looking up, she spotted the ornamental pond where Zuko had found her Waterbending so long ago, and she scrambled, half walking, half crawling toward it. She fell to her knees at the edge, pushing her hands in the water and scrubbing. A family of turtle-ducks that had bedded down amongst the reeds were startled by her presence and scurried away from the pond, quaking indignantly.
The blood washed from her skin and disappeared to nothing in the water.
Katara tried to steady her breath, the panic still gripping her and prayed that she would find this to be a bad dream.
"Out for a midnight stroll?"
Katara didn't react to the voice. Though she had only heard it once before, she would never forget the sheer malice it portrayed.
"It has not been a very good night for you, has it? I mean, here you are, with your family once more and yet you find yourself trapped in this palace again. Perhaps it is where you're meant to be."
Katara let the words glance off her. She felt oddly calm. The anger over Renshu's fate had faded and she seemed to be left with an odd sense of clarity – she wasn't afraid of the Firebender stood to her back. She wasn't a scared little girl anymore. She had seen terrible things since he had baited her as a child.
"I just saw Azula." Katara stiffened as he spoke the name. "She told me about how she exterminated one palace rat... I wonder why she didn't do the same for you."
It was too raw... too soon for the slur on her friend's name and Katara let out a sudden scream of anger, bringing the water of the pond and throwing it into Zhao.
He had not been expecting it and, by the time he was back on his feet, Katara was on hers, water swirling around her and a fierce look on her face.
"A Waterbender?" Zhao smirked. "This will make it all the sweeter. I am to be the one who will lead the troops to the Water Tribe in the North. I can start the cull with you."
Katara narrowed her eyes and waited.
She didn't have to wait for long, Zhao lunged at her, hands full of fire, and she barely had time to bring up the water to protect her face.
"You are such a foolish girl. You think you will be able to save anyone? The Fire Lord has a power you will never comprehend."
"He has fear." Katara scoffed, keeping on the defensive. "His people aren't happy so they will rebel eventually." She jumped backwards, feet slipping on the bank of the pond and was forced on to one knee. She pulled up a barrier of ice and struggled to hold it against Zhao's assault. "Why do you think the Fire Nation is superior? Why should other people die for you?"
Zhao's flames grew to a staggering size and Katara rolled backwards, in to the empty crater of the pond. Her feet slipped on the damp rocks at the bottom and by the time she had regained her equilibrium, Zhao was stood at the cusp of the pond, a menacing fire dagger in his hand.
The pond water Katara had previously utilised had fallen from her control as she tumbled and soaked uselessly in to the grass. She considered the water pouch at her hip but knew Zhao would reduce it to steam before she could blink.
"We are superior," Zhao smirked, watching the girl sat before him. "If you had felt the power the comet granted us two years ago you would not question it either. The universe favours fire."
He raised his arm to strike but paused as Katara spoke. "You're wrong. No element is better than any other. Without one everything dies. Fire provides warmth and life, but burns everything to ash without temperance."
Zhao regarded her with a sneer. "Pitiful words."
Katara looked him in the eye, aware this moment was her last. "You will find out how far fire takes you Zhao."
"But first it will take your life."
Katara closed her eyes and said a silent farewell to Zuko when something amazing happened.
A great crack of lightening shot down from the sky and struck the tree next to where Zhao stood. At first Katara thought it was Azula or another Firebender but, as the rain became a torrent, she realised that the storm had picked up again.
Zhao had been forced to the side by the explosion and was dazed. Katara scrambled to her feet, having been protected from the blast by the pond, and let the heavy rain wash over her. While Zhao was on the floor, Katara directed the water around him, freezing it layer upon layer. Zhao's skin began to steam as he tried to melt the bonds but Katara froze more water for every droplet he evaporated, climbing from the pond and approaching curiously.
Zhao's struggling lessened a little as he looked at the Water Tribe girl stood over him. He raised his chin defiantly. "If you are going to kill me, then do it."
Katara observed him sadly. "I'm not like you, Zhao. I don't see death as a good solution."
"Then you are too weak for a world such as this." Zhao spat.
"Perhaps," Katara sighed, moving around Zhao. "But I want no part in the world you and Ozai desire." She glanced at the palace briefly, knowing that she should catch up with Zuko and Iroh, but also aware that she couldn't leave Zhao conscious as he would melt his bonds soon enough and then come after her again.
Her moment of indecision cost her however, as Zhao let out a great bellow and engulfed his body in flames. Katara tumbled backwards, away from the heat and Zhao's now approaching form.
Her body acted on instinct.
Her footing faltered once more, but as she fell backwards, her hand tightened in to a fist and the the rainwater hardened into ice, thin and fragile, and yet sharp and needle-like.
Katara watched, horrified, as the thin daggers hit Zhao's skin, peppering him with cuts and causing him to scream out in pain. It was when one of the ice needles struck her in the shoulder, that Katara snapped out of her panic and relaxed her hand.
The water turned back to rain and Zhao fell to his knees with it. It looked as though he was unharmed but, looking closer, tiny dots of red peppered his exposed skin and blood began to bubble up.
Katara stepped backwards as he slumped forward and turned away.
How much more had to happen tonight before they could attain peace?
Katara's footsteps were shaky as she approached the royal tower, gathering rain water in to her pouch as she went. She kept her mind from drifting back to Zhao, face down in the dirt behind her.
She wasn't sure even he deserved it.
Looks like the fuzzy times are over for the time being.
Poor Renshu, but unfortunately for him, his days were numbered ever since the author (such a mean person she is) thought him up.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, I'm excited to be coming towards the end of the story. The Chapter 30 is written… best finish of the next three too I suppose.
A big thank you to the people who are still reviewing the story, it really pushes me to find time to write when I get such lovely comments.
One quick point that someone asked about last chapter – there will be no Bloodbending I'm afraid. Just for the fact that Katara is not aware of it in this story and the need for a full moon etc. Katara is going to have rely on good old fashioned Water.