Author's Note: I'm not going to lie, I'm really not sure where I'm taking this right now, so If you guys have any ideas let me know! I have a rough idea in my head, but I'm struggling getting it onto paper. Anyway, let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own ALTA or any of the characters. All rights to their owners.
KATARA
"What do you mean you have to go right now?" I said, my voice slightly irritated. "I thought you were supposed to leave after the coronation."
"I was, but the other Elders decided that I needed to go down to the South Pole sooner than I thought, so I have to leave now." Sokka replied. "I don't want to miss your coronation Katara, but I do have to go."
"Please don't." I said, my voice soft. "Aang left last night, Toph is leaving this morning to attempt to reconcile with her parents, and Suki already returned to the Kyoshi Warriors. You and Zuko are all I have today." I could hear the slight whine in my voice.
"It's not like it will be forever, little sister." He said, his voice soft.
I felt a smile flirt with the corner of my lips, despite the fear and frustration that bubbled very near the surface. "You say little like I'm not only 11 months younger than you. I know we'll see each other again soon, I'm just a little nervous about all of this. I'll be all alone in the Fire Nation."
"You'll never be all alone, Katara." His voice was soft and his words had a sort of wisdom to them that made me realize that he had grown up more in the last year than I'd noticed. The man standing in front of me wasn't the same dorky, want-to-be warrior with a ponytail and wobbly handed war paint that he'd been when the Fire Nation vessel had met our shores a year ago.
His eyes, blue like mine, had a level of maturity I'd never taken notice of before. The long years of worry showed in the ocean blue swirls, and each time I met his gaze I felt like I could see the countless sleepless nights and the hint of lingering fear under his lashes.
"You'll always have me." he continued wrapping me in a tight hug. I felt comforted as his arms closed around me. "Plus, you'll have Zuko. I'm sure he'd rather chew off his own arm than cause you any more distress at this point. I'll see you soon. And we'll write while I'm gone. I promise." He turned and shrugged his shoulders. Before descending the grand staircase adorning the entrance of the palace, he turned and tossed over his shoulder, "Besides, if there's anyone in the world that can take on this responsibility it's you, Katara. Don't doubt yourself. I don't."
With those final words, I watched his back retreat slowly down the staircase toward the beaches where my father's, now his, boat was waiting to take him back to the South Pole.
I sucked in a deep breath and turned to head back into the palace. Here goes nothing, I thought to myself as the gold adorned doors swung slowly closed behind me.
"Good afternoon." Zuko said from behind me. He was descending from the second floor of the palace, his melted amber eyes focused on me. "Sokka?" He asked at last approaching me. The rest of his question hung heavily in the space between us, unasked. I answered with a small nod, my eyes falling to my hands.
"I'm sorry, Katara." He said softly, his voice dripping with guilt. I glanced up at him, my eyes meeting his gaze. I studied his face and found a thousand more unspoken words built up behind his eyes. Even still, I was unsure what he was apologizing for. The fact that our little group had broken up to do their part in our new post-war world? The ball of anxiety that settled heavily in my stomach? The agony the Fire Nation inflicted on the world causing all of this to be happening? Simply existing as the crowned Fire Lord?
I smiled, hoping to settle the nerves jittering through me and ease his guilt. "It's okay," I said, my tone more convincing than I thought it would be. I stepped a little closer to him, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes. "I can do this, with or without Sokka. We can do this."
A few hours later, I sat in front of a gold adorned looking glass staring at my reflection as handmaidens brushed my hair, painted my nails, and brushed makeup artistically onto my face. The girl staring back at me looked unfamiliar in her red velvet robe and her unruly curls being worked into a sleek half up, half down top-knot.
I studied my face, searching the eyes staring back at me for someone I recognized. Everything, even the paint on my face was bizarre. The only thing that looked familiar was the blue ribbon of my mother's necklace barely poking out above my robes.
"Is everything satisfactory, my lady?" one of the handmaidens, Hui I think, asked.
I ran my fingers gingerly over my necklace, which looked completely out of place among my new Fire Nation wardrobe. I imagine how I must have looked out of place among the halls of the great palace. A watertribe "peasant", as Azula had once called me, seeking to belong among the Fire Nation nobles.
"My Lady?" She asked again, shaking me out of my thoughts. I realized I had never answered her question and I'd been staring at my reflection blank faced as she awaited a response.
"Oh, um," I paused, unsure of how much of my sense of loss of identity to share. Pressing the feeling down, I opted for the peaceful route of agreement. "Yes. Everything is great. Thank you" I said finally, hoping I sounded more convincing than I felt.
Each of them bowed their heads, curtsied, and excused themselves from my chambers. Sitting in front of the looking glass, hair pinned perfectly into place and makeup done, I couldn't help but feel dread settling heavily into the pit of my stomach. Even though everyone else seemed to have faith that I'd be able to make it through coronation and settle into my new role with sophistication and grace, I wasn't entirely convinced.
I hated the internal battle; it was one I'd never faced before. One half of my heart telling me that I made the right decision for myself and for my people, telling me that I could in fact do this, and that I had no reason to doubt myself. After all, I'd risen to the challenge on more than one occasion, especially in the last year.
The other half told the opposite tale. I'd made a horrible mistake, one that couldn't be undone now. I would never be able to fill the shoes that I needed so desperately to fill. I wouldn't rise to the challenge, instead I would fail, coming up short when my people needed me the most.
"You're being too hard on yourself, my sweet girl." Her voice popped into my head clear as day. It sounded like she was standing there, watching over my shoulder, whispering in my ear. Her voice sounded the same way it had years ago, before I'd lost her.
"Mom?" I asked, my voice crackly. I felt the tears prick the corners of my eyes as I spun around to look around the empty room. I sucked in a deep breath, convinced that I was going crazy.
"Katara, listen to me." Her voice was soft and barely audible, but I was sure it was there despite being the only one in the room. "You can do this. You've always been so strong, even when you shouldn't have had to be. Your brother was right, if anyone can do this, it's you sweet girl."
The tears fell, streaking my freshy powdered cheeks, as a newfound confidence surged through me. I was sure that hearing her voice was just a figment of my imagination, something my mind conjured to help get me out of my robe and into the royal garments I was expected to wear.
"Thank you," I whispered to no one as I changed out of my red velvet and into the formal garnet silk dress. I inhaled deeply, trying once more to settle my nerves as I prepared to leave my chambers. With one last glance in the mirror, I touched my mother's necklace again, happy to have a small part of her with me today.
The sky was painted with streaks of red and orange laced through the darkening blanket of the evening blue. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen such a beautiful sunset. I kneeled in front of the people of the Fire Nation, ready to be crowned the new Fire Lady.
"All hail Fire Lady, Katara." Cheers from the crowd greeted me as I felt the royal headpiece slip into my hair. I stood as they clapped. My cheeks flushed as I looked over at Zuko who was perched to my right, watching me intently.
"Thank you," I said loudly, my voice barely carrying over the noise of the crowd. Zuko stepped up beside me, taking my hand in his. The audience bowed gracefully as Zuko and I stood in front of them hand in hand. We turned our backs on them slowly as Lo and Li, both honored mentors to the Fire Nation royal family, stepped up to address them.
Once safely behind the palace doors, I slipped my hand gently out of Zuko's grasp and turned to hug him. "Thank you." I whispered, my voice barely audible despite being the only ones in the quiet room.
"For what?" He asked, his voice also whisper-soft. I felt his knuckles graze the bottom of my chin as he urged my face up to look him in the eyes.
"For being there for me today." I said, this time my voice a little louder. A smile flirted with the corner of my lips as I studied his amber colored eyes. "So I guess I'm officially a member of the Royal family now, huh?" I was trying to lighten the mood, and lift some of the awkwardness out of the air.
"That you are." He replied, his voice still quiet. "I know how overwhelming that can be. But I promise I'll be here with you every step of the way." He paused, bending to press his lips softly to my already blushing cheek. "Thank you again Katara. For everything you're about to do for me, and for everything you've already done."
"Never thought we'd end up here." I said softly. "I mean a year ago, whenever I pictured the person I hated most in the world, it was your face I saw." I reached up to touch his cheek gently. "Now, not only are you one of my very best friends, but I owe my life to you." I said, recalling the day of Sozin's Comet and his Agni-Kai with Azula. "Now when I think about the people I care about most in this world, yours is one of the faces I see."
My eyes watered, and I tried to blink back the tears. Noticing I was about to cry, he wiped his thumb gently across my cheek, catching the tear that had managed to slip past my lashes. "You've had a long day." He said, his voice gentle. "Let me walk you to your room, so you can get some sleep. I'm sure we'll have some long days coming up."
I nodded and walked with him, and I even let him kiss me goodnight before I slipped quietly into my dimly lit room.
Candles burned low, almost ready to be changed for fresh ones. The tiny flames barely flickered above the golden wax. I stepped over to blow them out, but stopped.
"I figured you'd wind up back here." The unfamiliar voice caught me off guard. "It's about time."
Well that's it for this chapter. I actually had a lot of fun writing this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please let me know what you think.