A/N: Hi, it's been a hot minute! I'm just throwing the final two chapters out here, I'm working on an epilogue too which should be up soon. Enjoy! I've been notified by multiple people that the layout is messed up, sorry about that. I actually really, really hate the way works, so I recommend you check out my AO3, you can find me as Silver Sphere or amoris_amoris: /users/amoris_amoris/pseuds/Silver
I won't be uploading new works to , but I do have a couple of WIPS that will probably end up at AO3 at some point. So if you liked this and you're okay with super irregular updates, come over :)
Peace
On the morning of the festival, Sokka and Zuko were late for breakfast. Covered in sweat, wearing only training pants and their swords strapped to their backs, they made their way through the garden from the dojo back to the palace.
"Aah, it's too hot!" Sokka exclaimed. "Unfair advantage for a firebender! You should come to the South Pole. I'm sure I'll beat you in a colder climate."
"I kicked your ass in the snow before and I'll do it again," Zuko taunted. "You won't have the chance to let that space sword go rusty."
Sokka patted his dark blade affectionately. "I'd never let you go rusty," he assured it. Then he turned back to his opponent.
"I mean it though. Why don't you come? You must want to go with Katara."
"I can't just leave the country. Getting out of the capital is already almost impossible, let alone a foreign trip."
"Nonsense. You need to reconnect a bit with the other nations. Ambassadors can only do so much, it's good for a leader to show his own face now and then."
"You might be right," Zuko smiled.
"I know I am! Take Hanabi with you, and come when it's snowing. She'll love it."
"Yeah, she'd love snow. I'll think about it."
Sokka was satisfied with that answer. They entered the breakfast parlor and were met with a chorus of: "There you are!"
Suki, completely decked out in her uniform and face-paint already, shook her head.
"While you two have been playing outside, Katara and I have prepared everything for the ceremony."
Sokka didn't seem impressed by her stern look. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her painted cheek.
"We'd be absolutely lost without you," he said. She smiled but pushed him away.
"You're sweaty. Eat first, then hurry up to bathe and get dressed."
She didn't have to urge him to eat twice. He and Zuko sat down to wolf down the fruit and congee. Meanwhile Katara was checking a list, tapping her charcoal pen against her lip. Zuko had become familiar with that gesture during their many Council meetings in the past month and glanced at her affectionately. Katara put down the list and looked back at him.
"I think we're complete," she said. He smiled. "Wonderful."
He emptied his bowl, stood up and nudged Sokka.
"Come, let's get dressed quickly," he said. "I don't know about your ceremonial clothes but mine take ages to get on."
Sokka blew out through puffed cheeks. "I'm mostly worried about wearing fur in this heat," he said. Katara, who would be joining the Water Tribe side during the festivities, nodded in agreement. "It's only for the ceremony though. We can take it off as soon as the real festival begins."
"Now hurry," Suki urged, waving at them with her fans. "You too Katara!"
Sokka had been right, the fur and leather clothes were unbearably warm. Nevertheless Katara was elated to be wearing them again. She helped Sokka put on his wolf-like mantle and leather armor, then strapped on her own beaded and embroidered jewelry. She'd had to do her own hair, because Sen the chambermaid only knew Fire Nation styles. It was now in three thick braids that descended from a low bun, with double loopies richly adorned with beads framing both sides of her face. She wore a large headpiece in the shape of a rising crescent moon. Sokka, too, wore beads in his usual wolf-tail hairstyle.
Clad in blue wool and black fur and leather the two of them walked down to the plaza. They contrasted with the gold and red halls of the palace, and the colour combination became even more diverse when they were joined by Suki in her Kyoshi Warrior's uniform, and Sir Jian in light green, yellow and white silk robes in the Ba Sing Se style.
At the plaza, a stage was set up. Traditional Fire Nation music was playing now, but after the ceremony the nomadic musicians would give a show. Hundreds of people had gathered on the wide, flat terrain, and Katara suspected they were more interested in a reprise of 'Secret Tunnel' than in the ritual exchange of gifts and vows. But before the actual festival could begin, the envoys of all four nations gathered in a circle on the stage. Zuko, in his long mantle and gold embroidered shoulderpieces, with the crown proudly in his topknot, led the ceremony. To his right stood Iroh, who had changed his commoner's clothes for royal robes once more and made an impressive sight. Next to him stood Suki and Sir Jian as representatives of the Earth Kingdom, then came Sokka and Katara for the Water Tribes. The Air Nomads were represented by two people from the Temples. One of them was Feng, the first discovered airbending child after the war, who was seventeen years old now and had received her tattoos a few years ago. Her hair was still short, but she had grown a lot taller since Katara had last seen her. She knew her well from her years of training with Aang before she had moved back to the Northern Air Temple, where her family was originally from. The girl smiled at her a little shyly. It hadn't been easy for her to grow up as an anomaly, -airbenders were still extremely scarce-, but she had embraced her identity eventually and wore the Master's tattoos proudly. Now she was training to become a monk. An older woman, a non-bending Acolyte from the Western Temple, accompanied her.
Zuko started the ceremony by igniting the candles on the stage with a single flick of his hand. The guards in the audience all moved at the same time and fired candles around the rest of the plaza.
Zuko stepped forward and the people cheered. He raised his hand to quiet them.
"Words cannot express how grateful I am to stand here today with all of you, and to be able to celebrate thirteen years of peace," he started. He was interrupted by more loud cheering. A smile played on his lips.
"Nothing gives me greater joy than the knowledge that all over the world, people are celebrating the same at this very moment. Fire Nation ambassadors have travelled to Ba Sing Se and Omashu, to the Air Temples and the Water Tribes, and are joined by other representatives of other nations. We are all united in our gratefulness for thirteen years of peace and prosperity."
The people cheered again.
"Our happiness comes at a price. We appreciate our freedom now, because we all know how different it has been. I know it's a painful memory for many of you, but I request you to close your eyes for a moment and think back on the war. Think of the fear and uncertainty we lived in. Think of the cruelties we committed. Remember the innocent people who suffered and died. Think of the loved ones we've lost. Honour their memory."
He closed his eyes and hung his head. The representatives on the stage followed his example, as did the people on the plaza. Everybody was silent.
After a minute or so, Zuko began to speak again.
"To make sure that this will never happen again, we must continue to strive for peace, freedom and prosperity for everyone. This may be difficult sometimes, but we know how much it's worth. Never forget! Never again!"
"Never forget! Never again!" the people repeated. The words echoed against the palace walls that magnified the hundreds of voices even more. Katara, too, let the mantra pass her lips. That sentence had been repeated over and over again after the war. To how many ceremonies had she accompanied Aang? Impossible to count.
"Now let's vow our unwavering dedication to peace," Zuko said, and turned back to the representatives of the other nations.
Feng stepped forwards first. Her face was tight from the nerves, but her voice was firm.
"We vow to recreate what was lost."
She placed an offering of incense on the altar in the middle of the stage. She folded her hands together and bowed. Her orange robes swayed in the breeze that came from the sea and brought some coolness to the sweltering city. After she stepped back, it was Jian's turn. He placed an armful of flowers on the altar and said:
"We vow to repair what was damaged."
He bowed too, and then Sokka took his place. Sweat trickled from under his heavy fur mantle, but he kept his back straight and approached the altar with a serious face. The Water Tribe gave an offering of wine.
"We vow to teach what was forgotten," he said.
Finally Zuko stepped forward and placed a candle on the altar.
"We vow to protect what is vulnerable."
All representatives kneeled, closed their eyes and bowed their heads. While the whole plaza seemed to hold their breath, they prayed in silence. Then they stood up again. Tradition dictated that the offerings should be burned to reach the Spirits- at least in the Fire Nation custom. Katara expected Zuko to set the altar on fire, but instead he gestured to someone behind the Fire Sages. To her surprise, Hanabi came forward. She was dressed in her white mourning robe, but with the wide red skirt of a Fire Sage priestess, and the golden shoulderpieces of the royal family. Her kris hung at her side and a crown that Katara hadn't seen before enclasped her topknot. Two rounded flames on either side, with a pin going through them. No, she had seen that crown before. It had once been Fire Lord Sozin's when he was still prince, then it had been Avatar Roku's, and she had last seen it in Zuko's hands- although he had never worn it. The crown of the Heir of Fire. The girl that stepped forward to face the people she would one day rule seemed very different from the girl that had cried at her mother's funeral only a month or two ago. This was a true Crown Princess, and the people gaped at her in appropriate awe.
She bit her lip with a serious look and spread her legs widely into a horse stance. Her fist shot forward, and fire burst from it. The altar lit up in flames.
A collective gasp went through the audience. Besides her, Katara heard Sokka and Suki gasp as well. She realised that only Zuko, Iroh and herself had known about Hanabi's bending ability before. She looked at Hanabi's proud face, enlightened by the fire she had just produced, and smiled. Typically Zuko, to announce his daughter's talent to the world in such a theatrical way. But it suited her. Petals of the burning flowers fluttered around her on the sweet-smelling smoke, mimicking her name. Flower of Fire, heir to the throne. Katara felt her heart surging with pride, and when she glanced at Zuko she saw the same look on his face.
"So the jerkbender's kid is a jerkbender too," she heard Sokka say quietly. "Figures." He and Zuko exchanged grins. Hanabi bowed to the altar, to the cheering people, and lastly to her father. Then she ran across the stage to Katara and threw her arms around her legs. She looked up to her with gleaming eyes. "Did you see me, auntie?" Katara knelt down, trying to ignore the stares from the audience. She hugged her and whispered: "I did! Well done!" Hanabi blushed. For the rest of the ceremony, she kept holding her hand.
After the Fire Sages had closed the official peace-sealing ceremony, it was time for the musicians to climb the stage. The representatives of the Nations descended the stage at the backside. Sokka threw off his wolf-fur mantle with a loud groan. Katara, too, unbuckled her stole and shrugged off her thick outer robe. Under it she wore the light cotton dress in summersky blue that had been her go-to the last few weeks. Sokka also stripped down to his sleeveless wrapped shirt and even Suki took off her armor.
"Aren't you warm?" Katara asked Hanabi. The girl shook her head.
"I like warm!" she said. She pointed at her topknot. "Do you like my new crown, auntie? Daddy gave it to me yesterday."
"It looks very beautiful on you."
Sokka clapped Zuko on his back. "That was a great speech once again, my brother," he said. "Now come on, take off that mantle and crown, and come drinking with me."
Zuko grinned and shook his head. "I can't be seen getting drunk, Sokka…"
"What do you care about who sees you? You're Fire Lord, you can do whatever you want!"
"Just wait until you are chief," Suki said. Sokka shrugged.
"If it's up to Dad, I still have a while."
"Just change your clothes, wear your hair loose and go to the cheaper inns," Katara said. "There are more people with scars there, and they won't ever have seen their Fire Lord up close."
Zuko smiled at her. "Will you come with us?" he asked. She shook her head. "I'll come find you later. I want to walk around the festival with Hanabi a bit first."
The plaza filled with loud music and dancing people. Katara was happily surprised to see dark-skinned Water Tribe people, green-eyed Earth Kingdom citizens and even a handful of Air Acolytes with shaved heads among the crowd. No one paid attention to her in her simple dress, and with Hanabi's hand in hers she weaved through the masses. They were just two other people celebrating the festival. Happy excitement filled her stomach.
"Fire flakes?" she asked Hanabi, who nodded enthusiastically. At the stall she was joined by Suki, who had washed her face and wore her casual dark green tunic again. Iroh, changed back into his look of retired scholar, pushed her hand away when she wanted to pay and handed the vendor a few coins instead.
They danced to the nomads' music for a while. When Hanabi got out of breath, the five of them retreated to the quieter alleys in the old city center. They drank some water from a fountain. The smell of incense engulfed them as they passed a large temple. Iroh cleared his throat.
"This is the temple dedicated to the souls who have passed to the Spirit World," he said. "I'd like a moment here, if you don't mind."
"We'll join you," Katara said.
"I'll wait outside," Suki said, subconsciously placing a protective hand on her belly. Kyoshi Island had a strong belief of death contamination, and she did not want to trigger bad luck for her baby.
As she followed Iroh in, Katara was reminded of the temple at Mai's parents' estate. Large red-lacquered beams of wood supported the high roof, and candles cast a low light over the many, many wooden nameplates that hung on the walls. Fresh flowers adorned the altar and were left here and there in front of names. Hanabi must also have felt the similarity, maybe just by the oppressing atmosphere, because she became quiet suddenly. She grabbed Katara's hand and held it tightly.
Iroh slowly walked purposefully to a corner, a little aside to the main altar. The nameplates were gold here, some inlaid with rubies, others covered with fine filigrain. Katara recognized the herald of the royal family and stepped back to give Iroh privacy. Turning her back to the kneeling old man, she led Hanabi to the opposite corner, away from the other visitors. Hanabi gave her a questioning look and Katara knelt down beside her.
"This is a place to remember people we have lost," she whispered. Hanabi's quick mind had already figured that out.
"Like mommy," she said, her lip trembling. Katara nodded, and caressed the side of her head. Seeing the tears well up in the girl's eyes, she quickly suggested:
"Do you want to pray for her? Come, we can do it together."
Hanabi sniffed and nodded. She sat down on her knees next to Katara and imitated her folded hands and closed eyes.
Grief tore at her heart like a beast, and anger and regret also flared up, making her feel the hot sparks that usually preceded her uncontrolled firebending. But she breathed deeply, the way her father had taught her, and managed to tame the beasts. Underneath the raw sadness, she tried to remember her mother before her sickness. Beautiful, stern, but she had also often seemed sad. Hanabi suddenly remembered details that had never seemed that important before. The lips, that had so often pressed together in disapproval, smiling when she had written her mother's name for the first time. The slender cold hands that used to berate her, tucking her in at night.
Her tears were still hot, but she was quiet and composed as they rolled slowly down her cheeks.
Meanwhile Katara bowed into the direction of the altar, so deep that her forehead touched the cool tiles of the floor.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Hanabi heard her whisper. Then she felt Iroh's hand on her shoulder, and looked up. He helped her to her feet and handed her a small candle.
"Here, you can go put this on the altar," he said. She solemnly took the candle from his hands and walked over.
Iroh carefully lowered himself to the floor next to Katara, groaning as his knees creaked.
Katara came up from her kow-tow, her face pale.
"I know what you're thinking," Iroh said. "But isn't the fact that we'll all be dead one day all the more reason to celebrate life?"
"Life just seems to slip away between my fingers," Katara said. "Even my own."
She shook her head. "I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself in a place like this. But realizing how quickly everything can be over... I feel like I wasted my youth chasing an illusion."
Iroh gave her an ironic smile. "You are still so young, Katara. Your best years haven't even started yet. I hadn't even seen a real battlefield when I was your age, and I was still convinced of our Nation's glory. Be glad that you have gathered so much wisdom already."
"But I only left unhappiness in my wake, and I can't even be happy myself."
"Both are untrue. We all get thrown misfortunes at us, but it is up to ourselves how we deal with them. Happiness you can only build yourself. Look at Aang," he said, ignoring Katara's pained expression. "He lost his friends and family, but he gathered a new family around him. The world was torn in war, so he set out to change it. He thought the love of his life had left him, but he found happiness with someone he would otherwise never have given that chance. Learn from him, Katara. Let the dead rest, and don't let the past tug too heavily at you."
Katara groaned. "Why are you so wise?!"
Iroh laughed quietly. "It comes with experience, and sometimes at great cost. Come, help your old uncle to his feet," he said. "I'm done with being wise for today." Katara quickly stood up to give him a hand. Hanabi came back to them after having lit her candle, a serious but calm look in her eyes.
Back in the sunlight they reunited with Suki, and continued their way down the street. As they passed a small tea shop, Iroh halted and cast a look inside. Half in the shadows, an elderly lady was bent over a pai sho board. She raised her eyebrows at the group, and slid a single tile forward.
Iroh looked at his companions. "How about some tea here, ladies? Or some refreshing cold wine?" Suki and Katara glanced at each other, then both shrugged.
"Sure!"
"Another one?" Sokka nudged his elbow just a little too hard in Zuko's side. "Come on, I'm paying."
"Nonsense," Zuko protested as he pushed his friend's hand away from his purse. "The Fire Nation hasn't raided the Water Tribes for all those years to expect them to pay for my ale now!"
He took a string of copper coins from his sleeve and put it on the bar before them.
"A bottle of your best firewhiskey, good man," he said to the innkeeper. The man scratched his stomach and narrowed his eyes at Zuko, wondering where he had seen that scarred face, half-hidden under unruly hair, before. He shrugged. Countless ex-soldiers frequented his establishment, situated conveniently close to the dance halls. Plenty of them had burn scars. And good copper didn't smell. He grabbed the money and turned around to reach up the shelves with glassware. He pulled the cork from a dusty bottle, placed it in front of the two shabby-looking men and gave them two cups.
"Enjoy, gentlemen," he said as he took their empty ale jugs away. They looked like vagrants, but their coins were shiny and their shoulders a little too broad to argue with, so he decided to just leave them alone.
Zuko poured a cup for his guest, which Sokka emptied in one gulp. He grimaced.
"I can't believe you people drink your alcohol from these tiny tea cups! Just let me have it straight from the bottle," he said. Zuko shook his head.
"Haven't you peasants learned civilization yet?" They both roared with laughter.
Sokka wiped his face and, still chuckling, poured a cup for Zuko.
"I'm glad to see you can still laugh," he said. Zuko's face quickly changed, his expression becoming more solemn.
"It's strange. I knew it was coming, so in a way it was almost a relief… One moment I'll be consumed with sadness and feel like the world can never be the same, but the next moment something mundane will bring me back to earth and I seem to manage just fine."
"Mourning is weird," Sokka agreed. "I'm not sure if I've ever really gotten over Yue, but somehow that feeling is just a part of my life now."
"We learn how to cope with it, I guess. I'm so used to the feeling of loss from losing my mother that I almost can't imagine not having it."
"Yeah, exactly. I had the same when my mom passed away, though I guess I was lucky to have Katara."
Zuko gave a lopsided smile. "Anyone would be lucky to have Katara."
Sokka put down his cup and gave his friend a long hard stare.
"You really love her, don't you?" It wasn't a question. Zuko's cheeks became red with guilt, but Sokka was quick to pat his shoulder.
"She already told me. Don't worry, I support you two."
His friend let out a sigh in relief. "Thanks, that means a lot. I do love her, I have loved her for a long time. It's just… so confusing."
"I totally understand, brother," Sokka said, pouring Zuko another cup before taking a sip straight from the bottle himself. "I used to be confused too. How can I deal with my feelings for Yue, honour her memory, and yet be happy with Suki? It felt like I was in love with two persons at the same time, which I guess is possible. But nonetheless I couldn't compare them at all. Yue had always been unattainable. I knew I would never be able to be with her from the moment I saw her. That made it a little easier."
"I see what you mean… But if, hypothetically, Yue would suddenly come back to life? What would you do then?"
Sokka stared at the table, then took another swig. He shrugged. "I don't know. Guess I'd be in trouble then. But I've built my life with Suki, and honestly… My love for Yue feels more like the memory of a dream now. We only knew each other for such a short time, and we were so young. Maybe it wouldn't even have worked."
Zuko slowly nodded.
"I see what you're getting at," Sokka continued. "But you and Katara know each other much better. It's not like she's been dead for the last fifteen years." He took another sip and passed the bottle on to his friend, who followed his example. "It's pretty simple, really. Katara loves you and you love her. What happened in the past ultimately doesn't matter. It's gone. You have to look towards the future."
Zuko's face remained solemn for another second, but then he broke out into a smile.
"I'll toast to that. To the future!"
Their cups clinked together again, and the innkeeper gave them another suspicious look from the corner of his eye, concerned about his glassware.
