Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 56 of Sparks Ignite! This chapter is from Katara's point of view and we get to see more of her take on the whole situation. Things are very complicated and confusing and she is trying to grabble with that! So keep on reading! 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 56: The Blue Covered Walls
The next few days passed in utter chaos.
Zuko spent more time in the throne room arguing with his advisors then working on nation affairs. Katara would walk past and hear the fire roaring and him yelling at his advisors. But every time he tried to announce his authority and overrule him, they threatened with impeachment, which would be worse for the country overall, since the only other choices for rulers in the royal family were Ozai and Azula.
He went to bed early often, defeated from the day of battling. He felt more exhausted then when they were traveling on Appa every day. He barely ate, his figure slimming by the minute. But still when he wasn't arguing with the advisors, he was in the arena.
Iroh saw the old bitter Zuko all over again. As if the past 3 years had never happened, and he was back chasing the Avatar across the sea. Zuko asked his Uncle every day to work on lightning, but every day he said the same thing.
"Your emotions are in turmoil nephew… This is when lightning hurts someone… Maybe even yourself"
And every time the Fire Lord groaned, turning back to his sparring partner and forgetting every ounce of technique he ever learned. Iroh would sigh and shake his head, asking him to do it again and focus. Eventually, after Iroh would correct him, he would catch back on, and Iroh could see a glimpse of the man that he had grown to become.
Katara spent the majority of her time in her room. The water tribe blues that she had decorated it with were comforting to her. She felt at home there, even when the water tribe seas were many miles away.
Today, she sat staring at her window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the air bison flying through the sky. Today was Aang's birthday.
He was turning 15, a long ways away from the little 12 year old boy she found so long ago. A small part of her hoped he would respond to the letter and gift she sent. But she waited days for a response that never came.
With Zuko gone often, and them unable to express anything towards each other, she got lonely often. She missed her friends and wrote to them often, waiting anxiously for their responses.
Her eyes lit up at a hawk flying towards the window, recognizing it immediately as Sokka's bird. She stood and grabbed the letter from its claws, feeding it a treat that she kept on her night stand. By now, the bird knew to stay and wait for her response, especially since she wrote them immediately now.
Katara tore open the letter and began to read.
Katara,
Those advisors don't know what the hell they are talking about! They're lucky I don't come there myself and give them a piece of my mind!
What do you want me to do? Suki is due very soon and isn't able to travel but I can send a boat to come and get you? I can try to contact Toph to see if Aang can come pick you up? He hasn't responded to any of my letters recently.
Katara practically cringed at this. She hadn't told her brother about the other boy's reaction, afraid of what he might say about her. She still felt incredibly guilty, and a part of her always would. She just tried to speed through any notice of Aang as quickly as possible.
I wish there was more I could do. Dad is desperate to see you. He's angry with Zuko and the whole fire nation at this point. He's about ready to take siege. But don't worry I won't let that happen.
You asked for better news, so Suki is as round as a snow ball right now. Gran Gran is convinced it's a boy but Suki is convinced it's a little girl. I'm trying to be supportive of Suki, but between me and you, I'm hoping for a little boy. Can you imagine I'm going to be a dad soon? We never expected it to happen this quickly. Suki is kicking me for not being as careful. Whoops.
But I can't wait for you to meet him. He's a little fighter this one. He's giving Suki hell, up all hours kicking her to death. But I think he'll be a great warrior.
We're missing you lots. Send the word and I'll have a ship there in a week to pick you up.
Sokka
Katara let out a breath, trying not to let her tears fall at her brothers letter. She desperately wanted to go home. She often wondered if it was better that way. But she knew how that would hurt Zuko, and hurt herself in the process.
But all of this made her miss home even more. She felt more like a foreigner then she ever had. Her only comfort was her blue covered walls. It made her feel some comfort when she was in a sea of red and gold.
She sat at her desk and pulled out a piece of parchment. She had a pen in her hand, about to put ink to paper when her door flung open.
Katara turned sharply, out of surprise. In walked both Mai and Mia. Mia had her hands folded in front of her and was looking to the floor, ashamed at having to follow orders. But Mai had her finger to her chin, looking around the room.
"Hmm… Nope this won't do. I want the whole room redecorated" Mai spoke, pointing around the room.
Katara flared with anger, standing and crossing her arms, "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Mai looked at her with mocking surprise, "What? Zuko didn't tell you? I'm redecorating!"
"And that involves my room why?" Katara asked her, her fists clenching.
Mai chuckled, "Well you see, this room is the closest to the Fire Lords so I decided to take this room for myself" she turned away from her, turning back to the room, "We'll repaint it a burgundy red, with gold trim, only the most expensive gold in the land" she smiled to herself before spitting out, "I hope you're writing all this down servant girl!" she yelled at her.
Mia gulped and nodded, "Yes your majesty"
Katara scoffed to herself, "You're having them call you your majesty? Seems a bit premature don't you think?" she asked the other girl, trying to stand tall.
She whipped around to look at the water bender and cleared her throat, composing herself, "Well it is going to be reality very soon. Zuko is announcing our engagement in 3 weeks?"
Her eyes widened, "3 weeks? But I thought…"
"You thought we were supposed to court for a few months? Yes well the court decided to push things along…" Mai laughed to herself for a moment, "Before you know it we'll be trying to make an heir" she laughed again, as if the thought was amusing to her.
Katara held back tears but stood tall in front of her, "You know what… you want the throne so bad? Fine"
She pushed past the woman and moved out the door. She couldn't do this anymore, she couldn't be in the fire nation anymore.
Katara knew what she had to do.
Dun DUN DUUUNNN! What do you guys think? Poor Katara! She's heart broken and Mai is trying to rub it into her face! Let me know what you guys think! What's gonna happen next? Until next time!
