Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 21 of Sparks Ignite! Buckle up for a wild ride because here we go! I do know that I've disappeared once again. But get ready for a spam for this series cause I am super ahead on chapters for this series. I don't want to talk long so we can get right into it! As always, I do not own Avatar or its characters. Onto the story!
Fate and Destiny are a funny thing. They are so permanent, but yet can be changed by the smallest thing. It can cause the moon and the sun to collide. Or the most opposite Sparks to Ignite.
Chapter 21: The Party Part 1
Zuko opened his eyes to see the sunrise streaming through his window. He groaned, wishing he would have been able to sleep in, but the sun prevented him. He sat up, trying to rub his eyes awake. He looked out at the sunrise, stretching over the city and remembered that today was the day of the party, making him want to get up even less.
Today he would be surrounded by a bunch of girls who wanted to get to know him, but he could care less about knowing. There was only one girl he wanted by his side today.
He stood up and put on his training clothes, hoping to start his day off on a good note so he could continue without wanting to throw himself out of his bedroom window. Zuko made his way down to the training center, surprised to see Iroh already waiting for him.
Iroh looked up when he walked in, "I expected to see you here early this morning… I suspected that it might be best for a training session like the good times" he smiled at his nephew. Zuko nodded and smiled back, "Then let's get to work"
They spent a while, pushing Zuko to his limits of fire bending. He had grown so much, even since his Agni Kai with Azula. Iroh stopped him after a while, "I think it's time nephew that we begin to talk about the next process in your training…"
Zuko looked at him for a moment before understanding, "Am I ready?" he asked. Iroh smiled, "Just the fact that you are asking that question should give you an answer…" he paused for a moment before continuing, "Lightning is a skill not to be trifled with… One must first understand its power before they can master the skill…"
Zuko nodded, "So where do we begin?" he asked him.
Katara woke up, the sun having risen high into the sky and shining beams through the glass of her windows. It was something she loved about the room she was given here. She yawned, sitting up and looking around the room, when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in" she spoke softly. A woman walked through the door and bowed her head respectfully, "I come to bring your breakfast miss" she told her, setting it on her bedside table. Katara smiled at her, "Please call me Katara… What's your name?"
The woman looked up in surprised, to which surprised Katara, "I'm sorry, have I done something wrong?" Katara asked. The woman quickly shook her head, "No miss… It's just that I can see why you are Fire Lord Zuko's friend… You are kind as is he…"
Katara smiled at this, "Well it's only polite if I call by your proper name" she reasoned. The woman smiled, "My name is Mia, Miss Katara" she spoke. Katara nodded slightly, "Rohan's mother right?" she asked her. Mia smiled and nodded, "Yes miss… That's my boy"
Katara looked at the woman again for a moment. She expected Rohan's mother to look slightly older then the woman in front of her. Mia had to be not much older than her. Katara frowned slightly to herself, not letting the other woman see. She must have gone through so much. But Katara turned back to her and smiled, "Thank you Mia"
Mia smiled and nodded, bowing slightly before exiting the room.
"That will be enough today" Iroh told the young Fire Lord. Zuko frowned, "What do you mean? I haven't even tried to bend lightning yet?" he asked, his anger getting slightly the better of him. Iroh sighed but smiled slightly, "This will take time young Zuko…"
Zuko sighed and nodded, understanding. "Besides…" Iroh spoke, "It's about time you start to get ready for your party…" he gave him the Fire Lord a look. Zuko groaned slightly, "Don't remind me…"
Iroh chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder, "Just remember young one… the fruit of the tree cannot easily be found, even if it is right under our nose… But we should never stop reaching for it" Iroh gave him a look, understanding that right now he had no idea what that meant, but soon he would. Zuko sighed, nodding and looking down.
A few hours later, he looked at himself in the mirror. He was in full fire nation robes and armor. And on the inside, he hated it. But yet he couldn't tear his eyes from the mirror. A knock on the door turned his attention away. A servant walked in, "Sir your top knot still has to be done"
But Zuko turned back to the mirror, "No thank you. You may leave" he said sternly. The servant saw the anger inside him boiling up and left the room. All the servants knew not to disturb him when he got into this mood.
Katara walked towards the big banquet hall where the party was being held. It had just started, and she was a few minutes late, her hair having taking longer than anticipated. She fiddled with her dress slightly and peaked her head into the room.
"Miss Katara?" Katara heard from behind her and turned around. Mia stood behind her and bowed slightly to her, "Would you be able to go check on Fire Lord Zuko? One of the servants went to help him do his top knot but he refused… He seemed rather upset"
Katara frowned slightly and nodded, "Of course, I'll head there now"
After another moment, there was another knock at the door. He groaned slightly to himself, "I said I don't need my top knot done!" he yelled slightly. But Katara peaked her head around the door and smiled, "Do you have a second for me?" she asked.
Zuko saw her and his face fell a little, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you… I thought…" he began to tell her, but she shook her head. Zuko took the moment to look at her. She was wearing a red dress with long sleeves gold stitching that pictured flames coming from the bottom and a long slit going up the side. "You look beautiful…" he told her. Katara blushed and moved to stand behind him in the mirror, "So, would you like to tell me what's the matter?" she asked him.
Zuko sighed, looking into the mirror, "Can you promise me something?" he asked her. Katara nodded before he spoke again, "Never let me become like my father…" he told her. Katara shook her head, "That won't happen Zuko… You are nothing like your father"
But Zuko continued, "I always dreamed of wearing these robes… The robes of the Fire Lord… I couldn't wait until I could claim the throne… But now… After everything that's happened, it reminds me of him… I look like him…" he confessed to her.
Katara smiled sadly, "Sit…" she told him, gesturing to the vanity. Zuko sat down, looking at his reflection. Katara picked up the tie on the desk and began to pull his hair into a top knot, "You are kind… And self-less… And brave… And true… Everything your father wasn't…" she said as she ran her fingers through his hair. He kept it short, just long enough to put it into the top knot. It reminded her of his hair during the Agni Kai.
"You will not be anything like your father because you just don't have it in your soul… No matter what robes you wear or what crown is on your hair…" she said looking down at him as he looked back at her, "You won't become him… You're everything he is not Zuko…"
They both smiled at each other, lost in the moment. A knock on the door pulled them away, as a servant had warned them that the party had begun.
Katara placed one kiss on his forehead, "Escort me to the party Fire Lord?" she asked him.
He smiled, "It would be my honor Master Katara"
Ta-Daaa! I hope you guys enjoyed that chapter! In the next chapter, we'll get into the party! Until next time!