Previously…
They were to stop on the northern end of the next island, a small 'x' marked on where the town of Shu Jing lay. Next, they bypassed what Katara assumed housed the prison and stopped at the western end of the next island, Shuhon. The path continued, veering north before passing through the beginning of the main island. Red fire was depicted further down, the Great Gates of Azulon written beside it.
It dawned on her she hadn't the slightest idea as to when her and Zuko would go their separate ways, or how that would even work if he wanted to help Aang. She gnawed her lip uncertainly, still staring at the map.
"Don't worry my dear!" Gin cut through her thoughts. "We'll make it safely to Caldera before you know it!"
"I don't see the village," Katara commented, almost to herself.
The sun peaked high above the ship, the lush green landscape, covered with rolling mountains slowly grew closer.
"It's a bit further in the mountains," Zuko said from beside her, and she startled. "We'll probably dock at the shore and then have to trek up to Shu Jing."
Katara looked over to Zuko, who'd taken up post leaning on the rail.
"How far is it?"
He shrugged, still peering out over the vibrant green. "Not far."
Thirty minutes later, a bead of sweat dripped off Katara's brow.
"Not far," she grumbled, their path no more then a winding dirt trail up the steep hillside.
They'd been walking for nearly ten minutes and had yet to crest the hill.
The sun beat down on the trio, the slight breeze doing little more then pushing warm air onto their faces. Katara was thankful she'd left her belongings, only wearing her water skin out of habit.
A few more minutes past and they finally, miraculously, came to halt at the crest.
If Katara hadn't already been out of breath from the incline, the scenery ahead would have done it.
The massive green mountain range ahead absolutely dwarfed the clusters of red-roofed buildings speckled beneath it. The red contrasted beautifully against the countryside, like red berries on a green summer bush. A chasm ran parallel to the mountain range to the right of the town, countless waterfalls spilling out from cracks in the cliff walls.
A massive home - no, castle - sat behind the village, nestled in the mountainside. A steep winding path cut up through the green towards it.
Matching striking red roofs sat atop tall, white stone walls.
"Wow," she breathed, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Gin echoed her amazement, a smile on his face.
As usual, Zuko looked disinterested, hand on the strap over his shoulder. "Let's get what we need so we can get back."
Gin shot Zuko a dubious look before shrugging, picking up pace to lead the way.
"Has it changed?" She asked, falling back to walk beside Zuko. "Since you were last here?"
Zuko gazed ahead, thinking.
Pebbles crunched beneath their feet.
"No," he said. "Not at all."
"It's beautiful." Katara mused. "I wonder who lives up in the mansion…"
"Piandao," Zuko said after a while. "The view up there is even better than this one."
She raised a brow, smiling. "Your sword master?"
He nodded in response.
If this Piandao is good enough to train the crown prince of the Fire Nation, she thought, perhaps he trained the Blue Spirit as well…
They arrived in the bustling city some time later, Gin breaking away from the pair and requesting that they meet back at the ship no later than sunset.
Katara promised that they would before darting off into the streets to explore.
"C'mon!" Katara said to Zuko after they finished their hearty lunch in a local restaurant. "I at least want to go up there to see the view!"
He scowled, this being the third time she'd brought it up that day.
"Spirits sake, Katara!"
She reddened and stared indignantly at Zuko. "What?"
Zuko facepalmed in response and groaned.
"It's not like you have to even knock on the door or talk to him!" She said innocently. "Besides, you trained with him before you got the scar, right?" They stepped out onto the busy street. "He may not even remember you."
This elicited another unhappy noise from the fire bender, though he willingly trailed behind her, weaving through busy streets.
"Oh cool!" Katara stopped mid-stride, Zuko nearly crashing into the back of her with a yelp. "A weapons shop! Sokka would love this!"
The store boasted countless displays of weapons and armor, aisles organized by type.
Katara eagerly went inside, missing the once familiar feeling of excitement of checking out new places. Zuko's generally grumpy demeanor may not be as fun to explore with as Aang or Sokka's childish ones, but she wouldn't let him dull the fun.
The shop had an entire aisle for spears and similar staff-like weapons, another for nunchucks, shurikens and a variety of throwing daggers.
Creepy looking armor lined a side wall, the designs overly extravagant with large metal spikes or skulls coming out of various protection pieces. Further down the design seemed to mellow out, the composition being simple chest-pieces fashioned out of solid plates of steel or chain mail.
Helmets sat on the base deck beneath it all, some resembling the heads of dragons, while others offered standard head and neck protection.
"You have a good eye," a new voice said behind her.
Katara turned around to look in the direction of the voice, seeing a man standing behind her friend.
Zuko stood before a rack of swords, each various lengths. But that didn't seem to be what he was interested is, his gaze directed up towards the ornate frame, a sheath beautifully engraved with fire and dragonesque motifs.
He cleared his throat, hands casually slipping in his pockets.
"It's beautiful." He said huskily.
"That's an original from Piandao, the greatest sword master and maker in Fire Nation history."
The shopkeeper bore a striking resemblance to Iroh, the elder man's stature and facial hair nearly the same.
Zuko nodded in agreement.
"Are you journeying to see him?" The man asked, gesturing to the sword on Zuko's back.
"No," Zuko said, the same time Katara said, "Yes."
The owner spun around to see Katara, chuckling, eyes crinkling.
"Okay then. Well, regardless, he lives in the big castle up the road from here. The view from up there is fantastic at sunset."
He winked at Katara before returning to a broom in the corner.
~0~
They reached the edge of Piandao's property, the high walls running nearly the entirety of the top of the mountain.
Two massive crimson doors sat at the entrance, a golden lotus flower design in the middle.
"A lotus flower!" She whispered to Zuko. "You think he knows whatever is going on with your uncle?"
Zuko frowned, eyeing the flower uncertainly.
"Maybe." His eyes trailed down the length of the walls. "I can't remember if that was here before."
The doors creaked open and an elegantly dressed man opened the door, shoving a younger boy out into the street.
"If Master Piandao said no, there's nothing more I can do son. Sorry."
The younger brunette boy staggered forward, whining.
"Awww, c'mon man!"
The man turned to stare questioningly at Katara and Zuko, his thick eyebrows raising slightly.
"Let me guess. Another group of pupils here to prove their worth to the master?"
"We sure are!" Katara chirped, nudging her friend before he could open his mouth. She smiled innocently, ignoring his annoyed look.
The butler sighed dryly. "Let's get this over with."
He stepped to the side to allow them in. Katara had an inkling that hopeful newcomers were a daily occurrence for him.
Zuko didn't move, feet glued to the path beneath him.
"Well?" The butler stared expectantly.
Katara looped her arm in Zuko's, flashing him a pointed gaze. "Sorry, he's a bit shy."
She drug him forward, Zuko eventually yanking his arm free to stride ahead with a scowl.
The doorway opened up into a massive light-brown stone courtyard. The home, which was most definitely a castle, stood impressively in front of the trio. The main building lay ahead of them. A path led between it and the connected building to the left, presumably leading up to the massive tower behind the main building. Another section sat to the right, with archways on either side leading further into the complex. Greenery poked up from behind the archway.
The butler took them through the front door and down a long hallway before letting them into a large room.
The massive, floor to ceiling windows flooded the space with soft sunlight, the view beyond anything Katara had ever seen from the ground. Rolling deep green mountains kissed the cloud filled sky.
You can see for miles, Katara thought, eyes drinking in the splendor of the room.
Two massive displays of candles sat on either side of the main window.
A broad shouldered man with a head of salt and pepper hair sat in front of the middle window, overlooking the view. His hands flowed gracefully over something, not bothering to turn at the group's arrival.
"Two more, sir." The butler, a man named Fat, announced.
Piandao, Katara assumed, turned slightly, dipping a brush into something before holding his sleeve and returning to whatever was in front of him.
"Let me guess," Piandao mused. "You have traveled hundreds of miles from your village - where you're the best swordsman, and you think you deserve to learn from the master."
"Not exactly, sir." Zuko replied, voice taking on a rather diplomatic tone she'd not heard before.
Piandao turned, eyebrow raised. He was a handsome man for his age, the same salt and pepper color on his goatee, gray eyes and a strong jaw.
"No?"
Zuko bowed his head, letting hair fall over his face.
"I have been all over the world, but a wise man once taught me it is important to draw wisdom from different places. When taken from one place, it can become rigid and stale."
The man hummed in response, getting to his feet.
His eyes skimmed over Katara. Without another word, he went to a door on the right and went outside. The same rage she felt when her grandfather would not train her in the Northern Water Tribe rose up at the dismissal.
Easy, Katara. She told herself. You're here for Zuko.
The duo shared a glance before joining him outside.
Two young men dueled, while a third worked his way through katas.
He pulled the latter to the side, instructing him to stand in the middle of the spar pad.
"I will allow you to observe my teachings." Piandao said to Zuko. "Then, decide if you are worthy."
He moved to stand across from the young pupil.
"The first thing you must learn," he unsheathed the sword, performing a series of swipes and precise footwork. "Is that your weapon is an extension of yourself."
He whipped it around himself, the sword audibly slicing through the air. "You must think of it as another part of your own body."
The black-haired boy bobbed his head enthusiastically.
"Yes, Master."
Piandao cocked an eyebrow at him, silently saying he didn't want nor need a response.
"The sword is a simple tool, but in the hands of a master, it becomes the most versatile of weapons."
The low-light of the factory from nights ago flashed through her mind. Piandao momentarily morphed into the Blue Spirit, the style near identical.
"Just as the imagination is limitless," he continued, his motions fluid. "So too are the possibilities of the sword."
He sheathed the weapon back, staring intensely at the boy. Piandao's face returned. "Are you ready to learn?"
The boy's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Piandao clapped his hands once, and one of the other pupils, a huge youth, stopped their duel and came over. Seconds later, Fat appeared in the doorway and tossed another wooden sword to the youth and instructed them to begin fighting.
The third, an older lean boy that briefly reminded Katara of her brother, looked expectantly to Piandao.
While observing the match, Katara's mind whirled, mentally comparing her masked friend to the various techniques the master taught his students.
Katara and Zuko followed Piandao for the next two hours, watching him teach the students about calligraphy, landscape painting, and sword making.
"The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp and fluid," Piandao had instructed his student, and the look on Zuko's face made Katara think that that wasn't the first time he'd heard such advice.
The landscape painting portion easily became Katara's favorite moment of her day. They journeyed a ways from the castle to perch atop a cliff, the roaring waterfalls and lush green mountains picturesquely filling the horizon as far as she could see.
Then, it was back to more battling and, surprisingly enough, rock gardening before moving onto sword making.
She remained quiet the duration of their observation, letting Zuko lead the day.
He could have insisted that they leave and she wouldn't have protested one bit - but, she wasn't going to tell him that.
After the sword making lesson was over, they were back in the arena, now watching two of the students fight.
The one resembling Sokka lost and yielded, bowing to his opponent before facing Piandao.
~0~
"Give him your sword," Piandao said to the victor, the larger boy.
Zuko's gaze hardened, eyes going from the sword master to the student.
He wanted him to battle this kid?
The victor hesitated momentarily, before striding over to Zuko and presenting him the wooden handle with a flourish.
It hung in the air for a long second before his fingers reached out to curl around the hilt.
Stepping away from Katara on the outskirts, he moved to the middle of the sparring pad. He weighed the wooden piece in his hand, attempting to accurately judge the weight and the corresponding force that would be required.
Too little, and he'd be knocked back. Too much, and he would not only break the sword, but tire himself out in the process.
The lean student stood across from him, readjusting his chest piece and helmet before raising his sword. In a blink, the student charged forward, slashing at his opponent.
Zuko shuffled backward, meeting the attack with his own sword.
Zuko glanced at Katara, having noticed how each of his parries elicited a gasp or grunt of anticipation from the girl.
Did she expect him to let this absolute novice beat him?
The boy tucked his arm behind his back, a lazy and arrogant expression on his face.
Show off. Zuko thought, meeting a few more brazen slashes and stabs with ease.
He grew tired of their dance, eventually feigning around to the backside of the boy and sending him to the ground with a kick.
Piandao shifted in place from the sidelines, shoving his arms into his sleeves.
He nodded in approval to Zuko, humming to himself.
The last student, the one who'd won prior, stepped forward.
That match was no different from the other, the elder swiftly besting the younger.
Katara whooped from the sidelines, clapping her hands and leaping into the air with glee.
Piandao regarded Zuko, gray eyes capturing and holding his amber ones.
"You requested training," the master mused, stepping into the sparring court. "Yet you best both of my students… with my own moves."
Silence hung in the air, neither moving.
Then, like uncaging a wild animal, Piandao's unsheathed his sword and attacked, slashing straight through the wooden piece Zuko held up to defend himself.
Wide eyed, Zuko took his chance to roll as Piandao recoiled from the force of the blow.
"Katara!" He shouted, and the brunette threw his scabbard towards him.
He met the next strike with ease, his sword's familiar weight in his grasp.
"Don't-" he said to Katara, who'd uncapped her water skin at her hip. "This is my fight."
She searched his eyes for the briefest of second before Piandao was upon him again, stabbing.
The sword master continued on the offense, forcing Zuko to block his way down the steps to the rock garden below.
Katara rushed after the pair, watching on with a mixture of terror and awe.
Zuko feigned an attack, using the momentary distraction to vault up onto the wall of the stairs and fly over Piandao's head. He met the master's blade mid air.
"Excellent use of the terrain at hand!" Piandao exclaimed.
The battle raged on, neither opponent seeming to gain the upper hand.
He grunted against what felt like the millionth blow, putting space between them before detaching the second sword from it's mate.
His fighting style as the Blue Spirit kicked in, his brain not even registering Katara, both his and Blue's friend, standing feet away.
The master merely raised an eyebrow, lips pressed together in a slight smirk.
That surely made the battle a bit more interesting, the elder having to now fight twice as hard to keep up with the extra blade.
"Enough," Zuko growled, sweat dripping down his back as he sheathed his twin swords.
Piandao lowered his own, a smile breaking across his face.
"I am glad to see your uncle finally was able to break through that thick skull of yours, Prince Zuko."
~0~
Equal amounts of relief and surprise flicked across the fire bender's face.
"So you do know who I am."
The sword master chuckled. "Zuko...you have always been one of my best pupils."
Katara's eyes widened, not finding the comment hard to believe. The fire bender took no issue meeting and countering every move the master threw at him.
"And," Piandao continued. "One does not easily forget the prince of his nation."
A pleased smile appeared on Piandao's face.
The girl figured Zuko was experienced at a variety of things as the crown prince - he said as much - but she hadn't seen such expertise from him before.
Katara hadn't even seen him use the sword, until now, and the proficiency in which he wielded it…and the style…it was so familiar.
Blue's masked face and lean, toned body slashing and dancing around the soldiers flicked again in her mind - it was the only other instance of such expertise.
It couldn't be him…
Could it?
Zuko bowed lowly to Piandao, a small smile spreading across his face.
The style is Piandao's, she thought.
Not Blue's.
Not Zuko's.
Just because Blue's fighting style resembled his doesn't mean that Zuko is Blue. Piandao has trained hundred of people. Piandao could just as easily be Blue.
Her teeth scraped her bottom lip, mind racing.
They talked amongst themselves, neither noticing Katara's faraway look. The two walked side by side back towards the room they'd first entered.
Piandao's stature did not match up with Blue's at all, she noticed, trailing behind them.
He's too old to be Blue…her mind whispered. The height is all wrong…
Hearing her name pulled her from her reverie, the trio now back inside.
"Huh?" She queried blankly.
Piandao's eyes crinkled. "I said, you must be Katara."
Blue eyes blinked in surprise, darting to Zuko and back to Piandao.
Piandao laughed. "I was telling your friend here that you two have stirred up quite the ruckus over the past couple of months."
"Oh." She blushed. "Yeah. I guess so."
Piandao led them back down the main hall into a dining room.
They took a seat at the dark wood, skillfully carved chairs matching the legs of the table.
A servant hustled into the room, dropping off a teapot and three teacups, each decorated with the same signature lotus motif.
After the tea was poured, Zuko gazed at the cup for a long moment.
He took a sip, gingerly holding the porcelain in his hand.
"I see you favor the white lotus," he said carefully, hoping this would signal he was safe. "My uncle always said those who do can always find a friend."
The cup clinked against the saucer as he set it back down.
Zuko fished the tile out of his pocket and placed it on the table.
Katara studied the two, closely watching Piandao for any sort of reaction.
His face remained neutral, the tanned skin of his forehead and cheeks not crinkling in the slightest.
"Indeed." Piandao took a sip of his tea, eyes sparkling. "Your uncle is a wise man."
"How did you come to meet Iroh?" Katara piped up.
The grandfather clock in the far corner ticked, filling the silence.
Tick. Tick.
"We met a long time ago."
"That's not what she asked." Zuko said dryly, staring at the man.
Tick. Tick.
Katara could practically see the aggravation he'd displayed on the river a few nights before rising up.
"We met during a game of Pai Sho," Piandao held his gaze. "Iroh and I bonded over our love for philosophy and knowledge."
Amber eyes narrowed, a memory floating across his mind. "The white lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets," he quoted. "I take it you both know her secrets."
The quote elicited a smile from Piandao, who scooped up the tile with calloused fingertips.
His thumb absentmindedly brushed over the engraving.
"Where is your uncle now?"
Katara's lips pressed together, feeling the tension in the room grow.
"Azula caught up with us when we were in Jang Hui."
"And you managed to evade her?"
"I-i wasn't there…we'd argued and I..I left."
"That's why were here," Katara explained. "We're on our way to Caldera, to the prison."
Piandao nodded solemnly. "Your uncle is a strong man. He will not let your sister or the prison break him easily."
Katara turned to stare out the window. The sun had already dipped low into the sky, the evening almost upon them.
"It-it's almost sunset." She exclaimed, looking to her friend. "We need to get back."
Zuko pushed his chair back and stood, bowing deeply to his old master.
"It has been good to see you, Prince Zuko." He returned the bow. "I have a feeling we will cross paths again before the year is over." He smiled knowingly, beginning to lead them to out the front door. "You both have quiet the hike back. Would you like an ostrich-horse?"
"How would we get it back to you?" Katara asked.
"As I said," Piandao motioned to Fat. "I have a feeling we will cross paths again. You may return her then."
Zuko gazed curiously at his master. "It's been good to see you as well, Master." He smiled. "I'm glad to see you're just as hard on your current pupils as you were with me."
Fat came into the courtyard, ostrich-horse in tow. A sack of hay hung off one side, a sword and scabbard on the other.
"A gift for you as well," Piandao gestured to the sword before handing Zuko back the white lotus tile. "May we meet again."
Piandao gave them one more mysterious smile before departing, leaving them to get set up with their new companion, a stern looking ostrich-horse named Yujo.
~0~
They spent far too much time bickering outside Piandao's mansion. The sun set even lower in the sky before they departed.
Katara didn't know which would be worse - sitting in front of Zuko with his body pressed against her back, or sitting behind him and having to hold onto him for dear life. In the end, he persuaded her that he was the more experienced rider and therefore needed to be in front to have complete control of the creature.
Zuko climbed aboard the creature first, offering his hand down to Katara.
She took his hand with a slight hop, Zuko easily hoisting her up to swing her leg over Yujo's back.
Katara mumbled apologies to Yujo, the animal squawking and fidgeting at her weight.
Her hands had remained draped gently on the tops of her thighs, determined to not cling onto Zuko like some sort of child.
There was enough space between the two of them where she didn't feel like she was smothering his back, thank spirits.
Yujo eased off into a trot down the hill and she quickly rethought her prior decision, squeaking under the jolting ride. Leaning forward, she snaked his arms around his waist, torso solid and warm beneath her fingertips.
Whispers of a chuckle reached Katara over the breeze and she reddened.
"I never knew you were so good at sword fighting," Katara said later, staring out over the hillside.
Zuko led Yujo around a boulder, his muscles flexing beneath her fingertips as they activated.
"You never asked." He rasped.
She hummed, silently saying 'fair enough' and the trio continued their trek, now halfway down the mountain path from the sword master's.
"Did you enjoy seeing him again?" She asked.
He shrugged, the movement moving her too.
"It was a relief he didn't turn us in."
Katara wished she could see Zuko's expression.
"I don't think he would, not after seeing that lotus flower at least." She mused. "I don't know much about all that, but there has to be something going on."
"Yeah. There's something going on alright." The path they'd been directed to take bypassed the town to the north, the trail widening as they began their ascent up the final hill before the sea. "I just wish someone would tell me what."
"Seems like Iroh has friends nearly everywhere," she turned her head to gaze at the village behind them. "And the thing they always have in common is Pai Sho."
The sea rose from behind the mountain, Yujo cresting the hill. The sky framed the ship beautifully, the sunset rosy red and burnt orange.
"Maybe it's some sort of club," she continued, almost to herself.
~0~
Katara gasped, a multitude of bright lights shooting across the starry night sky, Shu Jing shrinking on the horizon behind them.
They'd spent some time helping Gin unpack supplies and setting up Yujo in the animal pen down below before they set sail once more.
"Zuko!" She exclaimed, finger flinging to point to the sky. "Look!"
The fire bender looked up.
"A meteor shower!" Her head shot up, eyes tracking each ball of light as it flew across.
Asteroids began to rain across the dark sky, little shooting stars twinkling as they broke up in the atmosphere.
A light twinkled higher up, growing larger and larger as it barreled above them.
The fiery blue meteorite whizzed high over the ship, now easily the size of four Appas.
Katara's head craned up and over, following the path from her spot on the helm's balcony.
"It's headed straight for the island!" Gin exclaimed from inside.
The girl strode through the door and to the side windows, squinting to see it disappear right on the island's mass.
A few moments later, a plume of smoke barreled up.
"Do you think the town is okay?" She asked, eyes wide.
Zuko stared towards the smoke rising from behind the mountain.
"I don't know."
In the distance, from the far side of the island, a small speck of white flew through the sky.
Appa bellowed as Aang, Sokka and Toph charged towards the fire, unaware of how frustratingly close they were to their lost friend.
From the ship, Katara frowned, the smoke billowing high in the sky.