Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 51 of Sparks Ignite! This is a chapter that is very interesting because it truly shows what Katara would be like as Fire Lady. It pushes our characters buttons and that's the whole point! So enjoy this one! 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 51: The Tattered Edges
The next night came and went without any more intruders. Zuko slept in Katara's room once again for both of their benefits. Katara knew she wouldn't sleep if she was alone, and Zuko wanted to be there to protect her.
But once again, he was gone before she awoke. She smiled at the thought of being able to wake up in his arms once this was all over. There would be no expectations or rules. There was nothing they had to follow, just what they both wanted, which was to be inseparable.
Katara looked out the window to see the sun already high in the sky, today's competition must not be until later in the day if they let her sleep in his long. She looked into her closet and tried to think of what to wear. Her mind fluttered to the task.
She needed to look strong, like a war leader. Today was the day that she was to give her opinion on battle plans and see how they accompany Zuko's. She needed to be fierce, like she wasn't afraid of challenge.
When she sorted through the small array of clothes in her closet, her eyes stopped on one outfit she hadn't seen in a long time. It sat at the back of her closet, tattered at the edges. It was the outfit she wore to face Azula.
She remembered that night like it was yesterday. She probably would always remember that night vividly. Maybe she would forget the details but hearing Zuko's scream and see the lightning coarse through his body is an image that she will never forget. It still haunted her in her nightmares.
She picked up the outfit and examined it. For having gone through a fierce battle, it was still in pretty decent shape. The edges were burnt and tattered but the outfit remained entirely intact. She slipped the outfit over her head and looked at herself in the mirror. If there was any way to look stronger and prouder, she would have liked to see it because she couldn't believe it.
After a couple hours, she was startled by a knock at the door. A guard arrived to escort her to the throne room for her next task. She couldn't help but roll her eyes, she could walk somewhere by herself.
The guards opened up the doors for her and ushered her in. The throne room looked different today, instead of the normal long flat table, a large map was etched over the top. It showed the whole world top to bottom. There was a marker for each of the important cities in the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. There was also markers in each country that she assumed to be troops from each nation
Zuko was not behind his fire today, instead he sat at the head of the table. Mai was already seated at his right, with a small smirk on his face knowing she got there first. The advisors had probably done it on purpose.
Katara took the seat at Zuko's left and graced him with a small smile, which he offered back.
A general at the other end of the table stood, "Good afternoon everyone… Today we will be discussing war strategies. As Fire Lady, it is your job to give a different perspective from the kingdom's point of view based on internal and external warfare. You will be given a scenario and then you will each receive time to deliberate your decision. Then you each will give your opinion, then Fire Lord Zuko will present his form of action. You each will be given a moment to rebuttal if you'd like"
The general paused, looking for clarification from the two women at the end of the table. After they both nodded, he began, "Earth Kingdom troops are invading our colonies from the eastern sea border. They are looking to run out our people and take the land back for the Earth Kingdom. Our people have been living here for almost a century and have developed their own culture here. Ladies, take a moment to deliberate your course of action"
Katara pondered this for a moment, but she already knew her plan because it was the plan that they had already come up with. Clearly the general wasn't aware that she was involved in the Republic City meetings and knew of the issues in the colonies. She smiled for a moment, waiting for him to continue.
"Lady Mai, your decision" he asked her. She sat up straight and spoke in a monotone voice, "Even though our people have been living there for centuries, the land was not granted to the Fire Nation in a time of peace, it was taken from them. So I would suggest we construct a land owned by no nation, where both of our peoples could live in harmony. Perhaps we could even include the water nations in this construction"
Katara's mouth fell agape slightly. She quickly realized that Mai was already aware of these questions. The advisors told her so she could prepare and say what they wanted her to say. Now if Katara said the same thing, she looked like a copycat.
"Lady Katara, your decision" he asked her. She cleared her throat and tried to will something to come out, "I had a similar decision to Lady Mai…" she paused for a moment, thinking, "As I am in fact involved in the current construction of Republic City"
The advisors looked around at each other, unaware of this fact. She continued, "In fact, I was the one who brought the idea to Fire Lord Zuko's attention… As a peaceful way to make do with the end of the war and a treaty among the nations"
Zuko smiled at her. He saw the same things she noticed and was impressed with her reaction. He began "Yes this is correct. Lady Katara and I were corresponding over this issue back when it presented itself. She gave me the idea and she was the only one who had come up with it at the time…" he looked around at his advisors, letting them know he knew what they had done, but let them continue none the less.
"Would either of you like to rebuttal Fire Lord Zuko's statement?" the general asked, but the two ladies were too busy glaring at each other to give him a decent response. The general nodded and continued, "As you both are aware, the fire nation is having issues with rebels trying to bring down Fire Lord Zuko's rule. What would be your course of action in this matter?" he asked them.
"Find them and destroy them to the ground" Mai spoke, firmer and with more life, then Katara had ever seen her.
"Finally something we can agree on" Katara told her.
Suddenly an advisor spoke up, "Just move on to the last scenario General… I do believe that this one is the most… important"
Zuko looked between the advisor and the general, trying to read their emotions. But as soon as he saw the generals stick move towards the water tribe troops, he knew immediately.
The general sighed and continued, "Next…" he took a deep breath before continuing, "The northern water tribe"
These words caught Katara's attention, and she almost didn't need to hear what he was going to say to know what was coming from his mouth.
"The northern water tribe has taken its sister tribe under its wing. They have provided them with better technology to rebel against the Fire Nation and their past grievances with the nation. They attack us from our northern border, going after our farms and our small villages. What should our course of action be?"
Zuko saw Katara's face grow redder by the minute, he tried to grab her hand to calm her but he knew it was already too late.
She stood and spoke, "I believe I don't need any time to think about this one. This so called scenario is highly illogical if I were to become Fire Lady. If a matrimony were to take place, we would be signing a treaty with my home tribe to prevent a situation such as this from happening. But if my own brother happened to break this treaty, I myself would travel to my home tribe to address these matters and have them reprimand any damages that they committed. But I assure you, it wouldn't get that far from my very own tribe"
Katara had tears in her eyes as she spoke. When she finished, she let out a breath and resumed her seat. Zuko cleared his throat, "I do believe there is no need for Lady Mai to offer her stance on this because this is exactly how I would handle this issue. Whether Katara was my wife or not, which I do intend for her to be, I would ask her to aid as a mediator for these issues"
The general cleared his throat as the advisors whispered amongst each other, saying words Katara couldn't make out. "Lady Mai, would you like to rebuttal?" the general asked her,
Mai stuck her nose back into the air, removing her look of shock from her face, "I would just like to say I hope that we would take a more affirmative course of action if this nation were trying to destroy our people"
"It wouldn't come to that" Katara spoke, firm and direct.
Zuko cleared his throat, "I do believe that is all General"
The general barely had time to respond before Katara stood, quickly bowing in order to follow royal law, and then fleeing the room.
Dun DUN DUUUNNN! What do you guys think? The advisors are trying to make it impossible for Katara to win! What do you think will happen next? Stay tuned! Until next time!
