Summary: Fire Nation!Katara AU After being kidnapped as a young child by the fire nation, Katara is raised by Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa as Princess Katara of the Fire Nation. Katara/?
ARC 2, CHAPTER SIX
Katara didn't sit in on Esoh Tan's trial. She didn't need to. She knew what was going to happen to him and very patiently she waited for the outcome. According to Azula, Father himself wiped out Esoh Tan. His family was disgraced. Katara didn't care what happened to his family so Azula spared her those details. She was stuck in the infirmary room, with different people going in and out, but Katara didn't care.
Her mind was constantly on her visit with her deceased grandparents. They knew something, something that was going to happen in the future and by the way they were acting, it was something bad and something soon. Katara wanted to know what that bad was. She needed to know. She had to protect her family, or what was left of it.
A couple days after the death of Esoh Tan, she got a visitor in the form of Eiji. He hadn't visited her yet and no one would tell her why. When he walked in, he wore all red and black and his hair was loose, falling around his shoulders. Katara smiled at him.
"Hi, Eiji." She whispered. There was a broken sort of look in his eyes. Katara didn't like that. "What's wrong?"
"I'm coming with you wherever you go." It wasn't an offer but a statement and by the look in his eyes, a very firm one. Katara sighed as he took a seat by her bed, staring at her with a hard look in his eyes.
"You don't need to," Katara sighed deeply.
"Obviously I do." Eiji rolled his eyes. "Look at you, Kat. I should have been there. I should have protected you." His face turned away and he gave a low scowl.
"Stop it." Katara said. "You couldn't have done anything." She dropped her head against the multitude of pillows behind her, tired of the conversation already. She was sick of people wanting to protect her when it was obvious she could protect herself. "You don't need to worry about me Eiji, I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." Eiji said seriously. "You could have died. The doctor said you were very close to death in the middle of the operation. Please, I need to make sure you're safe."
"I am, especially right now." Katara said dryly, looking across the pure white room in distaste. "I'm confined to my bed for the next couple weeks."
"That's for a reason, Katara." Eiji pointed out.
"A stupid one." Katara scoffed. "Esoh Tan couldn't handle the fact that I did not want to marry his idiot son so he sent two mercenary's after me and unforunately for him, it did not work because I am better than anyone sent after me. I will survive time after time because I am stronger and smarter and better than everyone else."
"That's a heavy statement." Eiji said, a dangerously cold look in his eyes.
"It's supposed to be," Katara sighed. "Please stop being upset. I'm alive for another day, and I know that you'll be by my side in the next fight."
"I will," Eiji said quietly.
"I know," Katara said softly. She squeezed her eyes shut. "I really can't wait to get out of this stupid room, though. There's not enough color, and it's way too clean for my tastes."
"It's an infirmary." Eiji shrugged. "Pretty sure it's meant to be that way." Katara rolled her eyes.
"Do you think Feng Tan will try something against me?" Katara asked him, giving him a curious glance. "Because of what happened with his father?"
"I doubt it," Eiji said, scratching his neck. "Firelord Ozai sent him to apprentice under one of the high ranking naval officers in the seas near the eastern border of the Earth Kingdom. Esoh Tan's wife has been banished to the Fire Nation colonies."
"Oh," Katara said, with a slow frown. "Esoh Tan made a regrettable mistake."
"He did," Eiji agreed, "And his son pays for his mistake. Feng Tan may be a stuck up idiot but that doesn't mean he deserved this fate because of his father." He paused, scratching his head again, and looked at her. "Your father is instigating changes within the capital."
"What sort of changes?" Katara asked, narrowing her eyes at Eiji.
"Well, for one, he found out from Esoh Tan that you can hire mercenaries at a series of bars in a back alley in the northern capital." Eiji said. "He's going to shut down all the bars and capture the mercenaries all in one night. He also changed the law that states if you're heard talking poorly of a member of the royal family, barring if one were to be banished, you are to be immediately killed. He's forcing noble families to publicly proclaim their loyalty to the royal family as well."
"Seems excessive." Katara sighed. "But I understand his thinking."
"I do as well." Eiji said. "If you're still against me guarding you, I'm going to request an apprenticeship under one of the guards. I'm hoping your father will allow it."
"I'm sure he will," Katara said gently. "Father likes you."
"I've known him my whole life." Eiji said. "I should hope he likes you." His eyes flitted to the door and Katara followed them. The unnamed doctor was standing there, watching Eiji with a strict nod. "Looks like my visitation is up. Goodbye, Katara."
"Bye, Eiji." Katara said softly. She watched a nurse direct him out of the room leaving her along with the doctor. The man closed the door behind him and moved to take Eiji's spot.
"Hello, Katara," The doctor said gently. Katara frowned lightly. His eyes weren't amber or brown like most of the citizens in the capital city but bright blue. "My name is Dr. Kulaq."
"That's not a Fire Nation name, is it?" Katara asked.
"No," The doctor laughed. "I'm afraid my mother descended from the Northern Watertribe. She met my father when he was a young soldier in the Earth Kingdom and they fell in love. Father was from a very high up noble family so when they moved here, most people ignored her...savage ancestry."
"I see," Katara fell back.
"Your wounds are quite extensive, Katara." Dr. Kulaq said. "You've gone through quite a traumatizing event."
"Traumatizing for some." Katara said. "I'm stronger than most."
"So I hear." Dr. Kulaq said in amusement. "You will have to stay in the infirmary for about a week and then we'll switch you to your bedroom where you must stay for two weeks. After that, we'll take a few tests and perhaps you can continue with your daily life."
"I hope so, doctor." Katara said, flicking her eyes to him. "This is becoming very boring."
"I'm sure." Dr. Kulaq chuckled. "Shall I have scrolls sent from the library?"
"That would be amazing." Katara said.
Dr. Kulaq nodded. "A servant will be here with your dinner in about an hour. For now, I want you to sleep. Do you understand?" Katara gave a short nod as he stood and began to walk away. She shut her eyes and hoped that in her dreams, she could meet Grandfather again. She had questions that needed answers.
Sokka twisted his spear, barely avoiding a sharp knife from his opponent. He enjoyed his sparring with his classmates, more than he could say in front of his friends. He ducked another attack and brought the dull side of the spear up, slamming it into his classmate's stomach. The boy stumbled back, disorientated enough for Sokka to kick him in the stomach. The knife clattered away from him and the boy gasped in pain, clutching his stomach.
There was a small roar of clapping and cheering as the boy stumbled away, off to find a healer. Sokka breathed a sigh of relief and turned towards the clapping. Sifu Yurak was smiling widely next to the chieftan, Yue and Sokka's mother. Kya looked better than usual, her face rosy and eyes bright with pride.
"Your father would be proud," Kya said, stepping forward to gently hug him. "I'm proud of you, Sokka."
"Thank you, Mom." Sokka said, burying his head in her chest.
"As am I, Sokka." Sifu Yurak said, sounding pleased. He turned to Kya, who released Sokka. "Your son is one of my best students. He's intelligent, hardworking, ambitious. I dare say, Sokka may become one of our best warriors, Kya."
"Just like his father," Kya said softly. She put a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "I'm very proud of my son, Yurak."
"You should be." Yurak said, giving her a short nod.
Sokka caught Yue's sharp glance and saw her lips slip into a bright smile, a smile with teeth and vigorous with pride. He smiled at her and nodded at her unheard statement. Yes, they would find Hahn later and tell him the news.
"We'll have a feast tonight, Kya," Arnook said, smiling broadly. "To celebrate Sokka's success. Finishing his intermediate exams at such a young age is so unheard of."
"That would be lovely," Kya smiled. "And perfect timing too. Shall we tell him?" She winked at Arnook. The man nodded, a sparkle in his eye.
"Wait what?" Sokka asked. "What's going on, Mom?" He scowled when Arnook and Kya looked at each other with a secret kind of look, one that adults had that children could never understand. "Mom." Sokka whined.
"Your father's coming here, sweetheart," Kya said gently, brushing back a stray hair. "To see us. He'll be here for a few days to restock on supplies then he'll be off again." Sokka's eyes widened and a bright smile burst forth from him.
"Really?" Sokka asked hopefully. Kya nodded, a smile on her lips. "Oh, this is great. Thank you, Mom!"
"Don't thank me," Kya said softly. "Thank you your father. He wanted to be here for your celebration." Sokka tightly hugged his mother, thanking the spirits silently that in the past days she seemed better than usual. Her mental state was still delicate, but now she seemed to be focusing on Sokka.
"It will be a grand celebration, Sokka." Arnook said. Sokka released his mother and turned to one of the father-figures he had in his life. The man's eyes were soft and kind whilst they looked at Sokka. "I'm very proud of you, Sokka. I'm glad to have you in my tribe."
"I'm glad to be here." Sokka bowed to him. Arnook simply chuckled and pulled Sokka into a "manly hug". Sokka smiled and accepted it. His eyes flitted over to Yue. Her smile was broad and proud and he really wished they could run off to find Hahn to have their own celebration.
"Go, boy." Arnook said nodding at Yue. "I know you want to find the third of your trio." Sokka grinned brightly, and taking Yue's hand, the two children ran off to go find Hahn to tell him the good news.
Hope everyone enjoyed the latest chapter of Push and Pull :D thank you to everyone who has been kindly reviewing and favoriting. It really brings me so much joy seeing everyone enjoy my story.
To Lsbookboy, if you would pm me so we can thoroughly discuss your OC, then we can figure out if I can squeeze her into this story or not. I'm not promising anything as most of Push and Pull has been planned out, but I do like the design and would love to discuss it with you.
- Soul-of-Cybertron