Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 24 of Sparks Ignite! I hope you guys liked that last chapter! And I know, four chapters in one day. Well they're still coming. I have written all the way up to chapter 42 currently so I'm going to post a couple tonight and then start posting more frequently over the next few weeks. So I hope you guys liked 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 24: The Ink
It seemed like eternity before the doctor stepped out. When he did, everyone sat up straight, eager to hear what he had to say. Iroh was the first to speak, "Doctor Hin… Please tell me good news…" he begged of him. Hin sighed, "Unfortunately it's not great Iroh…"
Iroh sighed, "Then give us whatever news you can" he asked of him. Hin began to speak, "I studied the poison… and I have narrowed it down to one possibility…" he paused for one moment before speaking, "It was a mixture of Jimsonweed and Lady's glove…" Iroh eyes widened slightly, looking down.
The doctor sighed, "I know… There's only one cure…" and Iroh finished his sentence, "And only one person has ever had it…" he spoke, closing his eyes. "Who?" Sokka asked.
"Zuko's mother…"
Everyone was quiet, knowing that Zuko hadn't gotten any ground on finding her. They had no idea where she might be. Was there any hope of saving him?
"Katara… does she…" Sokka drifted off, knowing the impact the news might have on his sister. The doctor shook his head, "I had a feeling the news may come better from one of you…" he told them. Sokka nodded and went to walk into the room, the others following behind him.
Katara had not moved from where she stood next to Zuko. Her arms mimicked the same movement, back and forth, push and pull. Sokka placed a hand on her shoulder, "Katara…" she didn't look away or indicate she was listening. It was as if she were lost into space.
"There's something you need to hear…" Sokka continued. There was a moment's pause before she spoke, "Well? Let's hear it…" her voice hard and firm. Sokka sighed, "The poison… The only cure for it is lost…"
Katara stopped dead at this and turned, "What do you mean lost?" she asked him, her tone raising. Sokka took his hand off of her shoulder, "The last seen person who had the cure was Zuko's mother… No one else knows or has a cure…"
"Don't say what I think you're saying…" Katara shook her head as she turned towards him, refusing to accept the fact that was being presented. Sokka sighed, wishing he could help her through this in a better way, but there was none, "You have to let him go sis…"
Katara looked back at him, tears developing in her eyes, "No…" she said, her heart breaking inside her chest. Sokka tried to come closer to her, to hug her and comfort her, but she stepped away, "I know you want to save him… And I know why… But I don't think you can this time Katara…"
Tears fell down her cheeks, "No!" she yelled, "I won't! No!" she yelled as she ran from the room. Sokka went to go after her, but Iroh put a hand up to stop him, "I know you want to protect your sister… But this is something you can not protect her from… I feel it's best you let me handle this…"
Sokka sighed then nodded, understanding the older man's point. If Zuko does die, the only one that it will hit harder then Katara will be Iroh. Everyone will hurt, but they were the closest to him in more ways than one. They both needed to support each other through this. As much as he wanted to tell her everything would be okay, he couldn't. She just wouldn't understand.
Katara ran to the Fire Lady's garden. It was the only space where she knew she would not be disturbed. She fell to her knees in front of the pond and sobbed. After everything they had been through, after how far they had come, this was how it all ended? There was no happy ending or fairy tale picture. Just poison and death…
Katara barely heard Iroh come up behind her and kneel next to her. He placed his arm around her, "There there young one… Everything is going to be alright…" he told her. Katara sniffed and looked at him, "How could you say that?" she asked him.
Iroh smiled slightly, "Don't give up until it's over young Katara… Just because the world tells you something cannot be done… Doesn't mean you can't do it…" he stood and reached for her hand, "Let me show you something…"
Katara looked at his hand, then him, reaching for his hand. He pulled her up and they both walked to Zuko's study. Katara had only been in here a few times, but she still didn't understand the significance to it. She opened her mouth to speak but Iroh put a finger to his lips, indicting her to be quiet.
He walked to the bookcase and pushed aside a few books to reveal a metal fire nation insignia engraved to the wall. Iroh lit a hand and pressed it to the metal. A sound of rock being creaked open, startled Katara, causing her to whip herself around. But the rock opened itself up into a doorway. "After you…" Iroh said, gesturing to the door.
Katara walked through and looked around the room. The room was small with very little furniture. The only thing in the room was two chairs and a small table, but across the walls were posters and maps with lines drawn on them and letters. But everything had a common theme, Zuko's mother.
"What is this place?" she asked him. Iroh began, "Zuko wanted to keep his search for his mother a secret… If her identity was discovered before he could find her… She may be kidnapped or killed to spite him. He wanted everyone in the kingdom to still believe she was dead until he found her…"
"So, no one could use her against him…" Katara finished for him. Iroh nodded, "Precisely…" he continued, "These were all the clues he had…"
Katara looked through all of Zuko's notes, recognizing his handwriting within seconds. She then turned to Iroh, "What do I need to do?" her determination had begun to be restored. She had to save him.
Iroh smiled, "Zuko recently believes that his mother never left the Fire Nation… At the time, if she was discovered in another nation, she would be put in jail… He searched through all earth kingdom jails"
"That's why he was so invested in getting all fire nation personnel out of prisons of war" Katara inferred. Iroh nodded again, proving her theory, then continued, "That narrowed it down to one nation… But if she was discovered in the Fire Nation, she would have been killed… Unless she was being hidden…"
Katara nodded, digesting all of the information, "But where do I start? The fire nation is huge… She could be anywhere…"
Iroh turned from her and picked up a piece of paper. It was clearly worn and old, and it was clear ink splattered on through the words, making it difficult to read. "Zuko found this the night his mother left" Iroh gave it to her.
Katara picked up the paper and tried to read the words.
Mydiary is hidden in the place I value most. Only when youare pure of heart will you be able to retrieve it. It will give you the answersyou hold most dear.
Never forget who you are myson.
She groaned, trying to put together the missing pieces but not seeming to know how. Iroh sighed, "We have studied this since he became Fire Lord… But we can't seem to figure out what it says…"
Katara sighed, thinking for a moment before gasping. She set the paper on the table and took a deep breath. She focused and slowly separated the ink she wanted to remove from the ink she didn't and pulled it from the paper.
She opened her eyes and quickly looked down at the paper.
My diary is hidden in the place I value most. Only when you are pure of heart will you be able to retrieve it. It will give you the answers you hold most dear.
Never forget who you are my son.
Iroh looked down at the paper in shock, "Brilliant Master Katara!" he exclaimed. Katara turned to him and smiled, then turned back at the paper, "The place I value most…" she read out loud.
Her eyes looked ahead, thinking out the words in her head, trying to come up with an explanation.
Suddenly, it hit her.
"Iroh, we have to hurry. Follow me"
Ta-Daaa! The hunt for Ursa begins! In the next chapter, we will see more inside Ursa and what will happen in the next few chapters! Until next time!