Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 45 of Sparks Ignite! I am very sorry for being away for a little bit. I had a death in my close family and its been very difficult. Uploads may be scarce for a little bit but I'm trying my best to get back into the swing of things. But here's the next chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it! As always, I do not own avatar or its characters!
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 45: The Apology
Katara sat up in bed, twiddling her thumbs. She was getting antsy, it felt like ages since Uncle had left to go get the firebender. She tried to look out the window to distract herself but even that let her mind wander.
She tried not to think about Aang, what he may be doing or thinking at the moment. She tried to calm her racing thoughts but realized very quickly that wasn't going to happen. She finally willed herself from the bed and to the desk next to her. She grabbed a piece of parchment and a pen and began to write.
Dear Aang,
I hope you are alright. This is never what I wanted and never how I wanted you to find out. I tried to tell you so many times but every time I was scared of this. I never wanted to hurt you.
Even though things may be different, you are still so important to me. You have and always will hold a special place in my heart. I tried every day to feel the same way as you do but I couldn't pretend anymore. I love you, that was never a lie. I just can't love you the way you want me to.
I'm sorry for how this has happened. I hope that one day you can forgive me and Zuko. I want you in my life the way that you always have been. I want you around and I want to see you grow up. I hope that one day we can go back to the way things once were.
The door is always open if you want to start over. We can go back to being best friends again. And I will be here whenever that day comes.
Love always,
Katara
As she signed her name, she heard a knock at the door. She turned and saw Zuko standing there, still in his Fire Nation robes.
"You shouldn't be out of bed…" he told her, moving to sit down at the edge of the mattress. She shook her head, standing up, "I couldn't sit there any longer… 4 days is long enough…"
He gave her a shy smile and sighed, "You could've killed yourself Katara…" she looked down as he paused for a moment. They both knew that he was talking about more than one instance. The firebender looked at her then continued, "Why didn't you tell me? There was so many times that…" he trailed off, unable to finish.
"I wanted to…" she told him, "So many times… but I didn't want you to worry about it, especially when you were sick. And then I was gonna tell you once you started feeling better, but then Aang became an issue and I was trying to figure out how to tell him, while also worrying about Ozai and how the mission would go"
Zuko listened to her as she rambled on for a moment, then when she stopped and caught her breath, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap. As she sat down, a small blush crept to her cheeks. They had hugged and kissed, but she had never been close to him in this way.
She knew how the fire nation felt about those body parts and sex, but she couldn't help but be reminded of her own tribe, where sitting in a man's lap, who wasn't your father, before marriage was looked down upon.
"I want us to tell each other everything… No matter how scary or bad it may be. We tell each other everything, got it?" he told her. She nodded her head and rested it in the crook of his neck. He pulled her in close and let out a breath.
He saw the letter on the table and didn't even have to ask who it was for. Uncle had told him that she was feeling guilty for hurting the air bender. But he didn't know what to say.
As guilty as he felt for hurting Aang, a part of him was filled with glee at the thought of not hiding Katara anymore. He remembered all the hidden looks and stolen moments and how he didn't have to do that anymore. Well, he hoped anyway.
"There is one more thing we need to discuss…" he told her, pulling away slightly to look down at her. Katara gave him a frown and nodded, "What is it?"
He sighed and closed his eyes, not wanting to look at her when he said it, "The advisors came to a decision"
Her heart fell at his reaction, "They said no…" she told him. But he shook his head, turning towards the ground, "They want to do a test… A competition between you and Mai…"
Katara frowned again, "Okay that isn't so bad right?" she asked him, hesitantly.
"Sort of… It gives us a fighting chance… But they gave you two weeks to prepare… 5 days ago" he told her. Her mouth opened for a moment, before closing again, juggling with this.
"They won't push it back?" she asked him. Zuko shook his head again, "I've been arguing with them since we returned, and they refuse. They want Mai to win. And they're trying to give her the best chance"
Katara let out a breath, "Well I guess I'm just gonna have to work really hard then" she spoke, standing up, "Where do I start?"
Zuko looked up at her and smiled, his heart bursting with pride for her.
They wasted no time and starting her training. The only upside to this whole test was that Zuko was allowed some input in the tasks. He knew how to play to Katara's strengths and tried his best to sway the advisors into tasks that were at least fair.
But even that was proving to be difficult. It was clear who they wanted to win, and they were trying to make it almost impossible for Katara to win. When Zuko suggested a duel, to show strength, they suggested a fight with knives. When Zuko suggested a tea ceremony, knowing that the southern water tribe's traditions of tea ceremonies, they would suggest the most obscure fire nation tea ceremony. Every step forward he took, he was pushed 3 steps back.
Katara spent every single moment she could in the library. Zuko had advised one of the royal assistants to help her study and learn everything she could. Together, they went over everything, from the birth of the fire nation, to the geography of the nation, to the duties of a Fire Lady. It was entirely overwhelming.
Every once and a while, Katara would look out the window and take a deep breath. She had to remind herself everything she was doing this for. She had to remember why she wanted this so badly. But as soon as Zuko's face appeared in her mind, all of her worries washed away like the tide on warm sand.
Zuko had promised her a vacation as soon as this was over, making her smile like a small child.
She was holding him to that.
Ta-Daaa! What do you guys think? What do you think the tasks will be? Stay tuned to find out! Until next time!
