A/N. So… Today and tomorrow is The Guru episode.
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender
Groaning, Katara fell down on her bed, feeling her head pound with an ache that was just not natural. Earthbenders were not just stubborn. They were outright stupid.
In the two days since Aang and Sokka had gone, Katara had only heard or talked about troop movements, supply chains and how in the Spirits names they were supposed to ferry ten thousand troops to the Fire Nation.
In boats you dumbasses.
That had been her days. Listening to the Council of Five arguing, waiting for the debates to die down, and the moment that General How suggested a simple, clear solution. That man was the only one that seemed capable. In the long sessions of military planning, Katara had learned that How was the man responsible for the only defeat the Fire Nation had suffered in years, before the siege of the North Pole. He had led his army against the colonies of the Fire Nation on the western coast, and had taken Yu Dao, before moving on. The general had understood that hunkering down in the face of a very mobile enemy was no good, and that they needed to apply the same tactics. So, after the storming of Yu Dao, he had moved his army immediately towards the communications towers of the Fire Nation military, disabling them.
Because of his successes, he had been promoted to be the commander of the whole army of the Earth Kingdom, but when he had moved to Ba Sing Se, Long Feng had restricted his actions, by sending contradicting orders in the name of King Kuei. So, often enough, commanders received an order to attack a town on the west coast, only to be ordered the next day to attack a regiment in the east. So, the military was a mess…
To her eternal relief, the meeting of today had been the last one of the initial planning. The Council of Five had given her a scroll with the first plans, to give to the Earth King. So, now, in the middle of the afternoon, they had given her leave to go.
Hearing some chittering above her, the waterbender moved her head up, to see the small lemur flying from one corner to the other. Momo had been a bit much to deal with alone. Katara had discovered that the lemur was accustomed to be constantly played with, or fed some sweet or nut by someone. And now that she was alone with him, he thought she would do all that, regularly.
"Just… Shut it, please Momo…" She groaned putting the pillow over her head to cancel out the noise.
Now that silence settled in, just a bit, her thoughts moved to the other thing on her mind since the departure of her friends.
Aang…
That night had been wonderful, and she knew that it had changed everything… Aang had tried to say something to her, before being interrupted by her brother. And she suspected that that sentence had been I love you.
She would have said it back, because it was true. But she also knew that would be the end of whatever was happening between them. The thrill of having something just for them, that no one knew about… It was just for them. For her and Aang.
The waterbender had also been given the air nomad chest for safe keeping. Throwing the pillow from her head, she sat up, and sat up from her bed, walking over to it. Opening it, she took the scroll with the Air Nomad words she had learnt.
Now that the Dai Li was no longer spying on them, she had picked it up again. It was still difficult, because it was so… well, the language was melodious, while the dialect of the Southern Water Tribe of the common language was more abrupt and direct. The Air Nomads had used expressions unfamiliar to her, and instead of just saying It is raining, they used some expression, that, if Aang was to be believed, translated to The sky is falling gently on us.
Just say it is raining.
Sighing, she began to write down the words Aang had used when they talked after the Earth King's party. Mero mana, timro ho, mero premakura
She didn't write the translation next to it, because she wanted the accurateterms. Aang had said it meant something akin to My heart belongs to you, my eternal love, my everything.
And… Well, it described what she felt rather perfectly. Katara didn't know how it happened or when exactly, but she had realized that she loved the airbender like that. Something so fundamental that she couldn't change it, even if she wanted to.
But that was a thing of the future. There were still at least twelve days before Aang and Sokka would come back. Katara actually began to worry a bit about Toph, because since the girl had gone to the Bei Fong mansion in the Upper Ring, she had not given any sign. The waterbender was hoping it meant she and her mother were having a good time.
Standing up, Katara managed to pick Momo out of the air, and make him sit on her shoulder.
"Come, if I promise to keep you entertained for an hour, will you please let me sleep tonight?" She spoke softly to the lemur, while walking out of their apartment. The animal wrapped his tail around her neck, and Katara took that as a yes.
While walking over the square in front of the Palace, she checked her bag. In it were two scrolls about the invasion plans, a small leather bag filled with coins and the necklace of Spirit Water Pakku had given her. She still didn't know its exact properties, but the master waterbender has said it was capable of healing anything. Picking it out of the back, she put it around her neck. She would not like it to break and spill all over the scrolls.
Arriving at the northern gate of the Palace, Katara turned to one of the guards.
"Excuse me, would you know about a restaurant or something that allows animals inside?" She asked, guessing that if the lemur was fed and happy, he would leave her alone for a moment.
"Certainly! There is a new tea shop that has opened just a few minutes from here. Just take that street, it's the building with the great patio in front of it." The guard answered, pointing the way he meant.
Walking towards that tea shop, she hoped it was affordable. They now had access to the whole Earth King's treasury, at the king's express order, but it still felt wrong to begin to waste money. Why pay a small fortune for a cup of tea? But then again… It was the Upper Ring, and nothing was "affordable".
Arriving in front of the building described by the guard, she took Momo from her shoulder, holding him in her arm.
"I'll drink tea, and you will get sweets, and probably the attention of every child in that place, alright? And then, we will go to see King Kuei. And after that, you are on your own for the night."
For onlookers she must have looked quite mad, talking to the lemur. But Katara had discovered long ago that Momo understood them perfectly well. And well, it had been boring without her friends or her brother. For the first time in her life, there was no one with her that was a friend or family. So, talking to Momo it was…
Katara entered the shop, and was greeted by two women, bowing politely.
"A table for two please."
One of the girls looked at her like she was mad to ask for two places, but Katara preferred a bigger table, because there were always people coming to look at Momo, an animal they had never seen. While the girl was leading her to one of the smaller tables, the waterbender heard someone call out behind a screen.
"Uncle! I need two jasmine, one green and one lychee!"
That voice… She knew that voice… But… That was impossible! It sounded very much like Prince Zuko, but the last time they saw them, was east of Goaling, in that abandoned village! It would be impossible for him to be here…
A young man appeared from behind the screen. He had a very different hairstyle then the prince, and Katara felt relief flew through her. Of course, it wasn't him. That was impossible!
But then, he turned around to look at the room. And her heart stopped.
Ember eyes… And one side of his face covered in a scar…
It was Zuko.
"I'm brewing as fast as I can nephew!"
Spirits… There was only one man calling the prince nephew… The Dragon of the West was in Ba Sing Se… Tui and La…
Katara didn't even stop to think, but just turned around, hoping the prince had not recognized her, and ran. Ran as fast as she could, towards the Palace, and to the king. As she passed the guards, Katara didn't stop to explain her behaviour. They would understand soon enough when the king would send them to arrest Zuko and Iroh.
Running up the stairs, Katara was thinking about the impact this had. The Fire Nation was inside Ba Sing Se! That meant that there was truly no safe haven anymore. Sure, it was just two disgraced princes, but still! It was probably a plot by the two of them to be able to return to the Fire Nation. Bringing the gift of the last stronghold against their nation. Yeah, that would probably give them their birthright back. Or maybe… Zuko was still chasing the Avatar, but was just doing it more subtle now?
Spirits, what a mess...
Running through the door of the throne room, she saw three girls sitting in front of an empty throne. Reconzing the face paint and the gold and green uniforms, Katara sighed in relief. Suki was here. And her warriors! Those could surely handle them!
"Thank goodness you are here Suki!" She came to a standstill just in front of the girls, and began the puff out, with her hand on her knees, "Something horrible is going on! The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city! I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle! Where is the king?"
Inhaling more slowly now, the waterbender straightened her back, and looked at the girls in front of her, who were also standing up.
Didn't Suki have auburn hair?
And the face paint was… Wrong…
When the middle girl stepped into the light, Katara realized… That was not Suki. Suki had blue eyes… Not ember.
Shit.
She tried to turn around, but immediately felt a pressure around her left shoulder. The world went dark, but she felt how she hit the floor. Hard.
Opening her eyes, Katara could feel the cold metal around her wrists and the numbing pain in her shoulders and at the base of her neck, where the chi-blocking girl had punched her. Groaning, she lifted her head, only to be greeted by an empty room. The green, gold and brown suggested she was still in the Earth King's Palace, but she didn't recognize the view from the window. Probably another wing, not the same where she had slept last night.
Looking around, she saw that her poach was gone, and there was no source of water in the room. Far away, she could feel the familiar pull to a large quantity of water, but she suspected it was too far to bend from here. Even if it had been closer, her hands were fixed to the wall, and she couldn't move them to make the forms…
The door opened slowly, and the three Fire Nation girls entered. First there was the Princess, wearing the green livery that some of the palace servants wore. Then came the other two. If Katara wasn't mistaken, the cheery and happy-looking girl was named Ty Lee. Looking at the girl, the waterbender was startled to see the same grey eyes as Aang… Last came the girl from Omashu.
"Ah, you're awake." Azula said, pulling a stool from under the table, and sitting down in front of Katara.
"So, the water wench." The voice of the princess sounded disgusted, as if she was trying very hard not to throw up as she was talking. Katara didn't answer, just looked away.
"Oh, don't worry, I already know most I need to know about you. Thanks to those nice letters Sokka wrote to the owner of the uniforms. You may want to say to him that his poetry is quite bad. But what can you expect from an uncivilized peasant?"
Oh Spirits… These girls had taken out Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors… And uncivilized? Sokka was a genius! He didn't act the part, but his ideas and plans had saved them more than once!
"So, if I'm not mistaken, your name is Katara. The Earth-filth girl is Toph. And the Avatar… His name is Aang. That sounds just wrong. A real Avatar should have a name that inspire fear and respect. Not something that sounds like a cough."
So Azula knew their names. But Sokka had been careful not to mention too much information about them in his letters to Suki. So that had to be alright. The princess didn't know about their personal matters. She didn't know about Aang.
"I have some questions." The Fire Nation princess looked in her eyes, and Katara looked away. Those piercing, ember-coloured eyes were too disturbing. As if beneath all the intelligence those eyes expressed, was something… meaner, and way more dangerous.
"What is the Avatar's plan?"
Katara didn't respond.
"Where has he gone, without you and the blind bitch?"
She kept her lips tightly sealed. Katara was not going to give them any information, and certainly not about the fact that Sokka and Aang were days away.
"It doesn't really matter, I am not planning on going after them. All my plans happen right here. Do you want to know about them? Maybe it will convince you to talk. If you can, that is." Azula smirked, and the look she was giving her made the waterbender shudder. Spirits, that girl was really crazy.
Leaning back, the princess gestured widely, to nothing in particular.
"For a century, my family has tried to conquer this city. My grandfather threw an army against it, and that army didn't come back. My idiotic uncle even managed to break through the Outer Wall! It did cost him his son, and because of that, he abandoned it. He stopped the assault, because of the loss of just one soldier!"
Katara was horrified. Iroh had seemed the nicer one in the family, even though she knew he was the Dragon of the West, an exceptional military commander. But to hear that he had lost a child to this war, that made her sad. Every nation suffered. Even the Fire Nation. And to hear Azula talk so casually about the death of her cousin, it was horrifying…
"Now, we are back, and we can't take the city just by force. So, here we are, to take it by stealth. I have studied the Air Nomads, and their disgusting ways. Those beings would have thrown themselves in front of danger for anyone. But certainly, for friends. So, that is where you come in." the princess grinned. It seemed so unnatural on her face.
"When dear Aang comes back from Agni knows where, he will look for you, of course. And if I have not already taken the city by then by other means, I will give you back. Make him hand over the city in exchange for his friend."
No. Katara would not allow that. Azula was right. Aang would throw everything away if it meant his friends were safe. But the princess was not taking into account one crucial thing. If Katara was hurt, he would be angry. Very angry. Avatar state angry. And even Azula was not capable of withstanding the full wrath of the airbender.
She made the mistake to chuckle at that. At once, loud clap could be heard. It was only mere seconds later, when Katara's cheek began to hurt, that she realized that Azula had slapped her. But that didn't stop her.
"You really think you can make Aang give up the Earth Kingdom, just by holding me prisoner?" the waterbender whispered. In her heart, she knew that it was exactly what the airbender would do… But Azula didn't need to know that.
"Oh, and we have some reports from… new friends." Azula smiled innocently at that, taking a scroll from her pocket.
"The Avatar and the waterbender visited the Lower Ring together…. Avatar and Water tribe girl went to a print shop… Water tribe and Avatar talked late into the night…" The princess's finger followed the list, and Katara's heart grew cold. Those would be the notes of the Dai Li… Oh Spirits… The Dai Li and Azula were working together.
"To answer your previous question. Yes. I believe that is exactly what he would do. For his bitch."
Katara gritted her teeth. This was no way to be talked to, but the princess didn't seem to care. She was used to be able to talk anyway she wanted about people. The waterbender hated it to be called that, because… Well, it debased her!
"So, for the time being, you are going to be our guest. Well, Ty Lee's guest. We need to have you watched and chi-blocked. And frankly, I would not have some peasant in my room." Azula waved, stood up and walked outside, followed by the gloomy girl, who had not said a word.
That left her with Ty Lee.
Glaring at the girl, Katara saw how the acrobat seemed to look at her with interest.
"I'm sorry about Azula… She can be nice, you know? But Fire Lord Ozai has ordered her to catch her traitor brother and uncle… So yeah… Here we are. I'm sorry about your situation."
"Then do something about it." Katara said it angrily. She knew that the girl would not free her. But if she was going to be here, why not at least try at be an irritation?
"I can't, but I really am sorry. I'll keep the chi blocking to a minimum, and I'll make sure you are decently treated." Ty Lee tried to smile, but apparently, whatever she saw in Katara's eyes made the grin falter.
"The Avatar has gone for at least two weeks, the king said that… So, you are going to be my roommate for the time being… So, my name is Ty Lee! What is yours?"
Great. Small talk with the enemy.
"Katara, as you know."
"Katara, it is great to meet you! Say, does your brother have a girlfriend?" The girl in front of her fell on her bed, letting her head hang from the side.
"You are wearing her uniform." The waterbender answered. She was not going to be nice about it. But she had to confess, it was nicer to talk to Ty Lee, who tried to treat her humanly. But she wasn't stupid. Of course Ty Lee was going to tell everything to Azula later. She was the good person, here to lure her into a false sense of comfort.
"Oh, the Kyoshi Warrior?" The younger girl pouted.
Katara remained silent.
"Oh well, nothing to be done about that! And the Avatar? He is also cute! I know Azula thinks you and him are together, but you never know!"
Mmm… If Ty Lee is going to tell everything to Azula… Why not mess with her opinions?
"No. We are not together." It wasn't really a lie. Just… Another kind of truth.
"Oh, splendid! Well, not really… But who knows! I wouldn't mind having him to myself for a time!" Ty Lee laughed, and hopped up, walking away, closing the door behind her.
Yeah, go tell Azula that she is wrong.
As soon as the door shut behind the bubbly girl, Katara began to pull at the chains on her wrists. Locked tight. And of course, there was no water! Not that she could bend at the moment… But maybe, just maybe… The girl would forget to Chi block her in time… And if she did, Katara was going to escape.
Escape. Find Toph, warn the Earth king. And throw Azula and that gloomy girl in the deepest dungeon they could find. Ty Lee would get a slightly better cell. But a cell nonetheless.
Answers :
CoyoteLemon : Yeah, that is coming… And I already wrote a part… It is heartbreaking.
Chinmay : Aang would do somethingrash like that, without a second thought, only to realize later that it had been a stupid plan. And I can understand Hakoda, the gu doesn't know Aang. And of course he would be like "Yeah, sure, I didn't get the answer I wanted, so you are wrong. Bye!"
Jjsmith103 : Yeah, it broke the tension alright, but it has set in motion a whole lot of other kinds of tension lol!