Fading Ignorance
"Y-you're Zuko's aunt?" Katara sputtered, surprised. Brenda nodded as she leaned back, proud of herself.
"Yes. He's my precious little nephew." Brenda glanced over at Zuko while she spoke, making the teenager roll his eyes and causing Iroh to laugh.
"Brenda is the youngest of the three of us." Iroh told Katara after his laughter died down. Upon hearing this, the Admiral smirked and used the table to prop up her arm and hold her head up as she closed her eyes.
"True. But I could have taken the title of the Fire Lady if I challenged Ozai. Yet I prefer the battlefield. I always try to give it an artistic flare. Something much needed in war." Brenda opened her eyes and looked over at Zuko lazily. "Not to mention that Ozai has Zuko. Since I have no child, nor do I intend to have children, it would be wise for me to avoid the throne. After all, why bother trying to get another heir when we already have one." Sipping her chamomile tea again, she turned her attention to Iroh. "Besides, our dear brother would fight to the death for the throne." Nodding, Iroh agreed with Brenda.
"This is true. Our brother is known to be the most stubborn of the three of us." After Iroh made his statement, Zuko looked down at his tea and stared into before he spoke.
"He just knows what's right!" Zuko snapped as he stood up. "He has to do what's best for the Fire Nation!" With that said, Zuko turned and stormed out of the room. Brenda closed her eyes and sighed while Iroh's eyes softened. Katara stood up.
"I'll go talk to him." She muttered before disappearing after Zuko. The female admiral opened hr eyes briefly to watch Katara chase after her nephew. Closing her eyes once more, Brenda shook her head.
"It's a shame. He should have been your son, Iroh."
- - - - -
"Zuko wait!" Katara called out as she followed Zuko into his mediation room. Spinning around, Zuko glared at Katara.
"What, are you going to tell me how I'm wrong for defending him! He has to do what's best for the Fire Nation." Katara narrowed her eyes, sparks flying from her crystal blue eyes.
"He's not doing what's right!" Zuko felt his temper flare as she met his glare.
"Yes he is!" Insisted the fire prince. He had to be doing what's best. What's right. He had to.
"What makes you say that!" Katara demanded. She had to make him see. Make him see that his father wasn't right. She had to get through to him.
"Because I am loyal to the Fire Nation!" Zuko justified. He had done everything the Fire Nation asked of him. Everything.
"That doesn't mean you have to be loyal to a tyrant!" Countered the young waterbender.
"He's not a tyrant!" Zuko shook his head as he yelled at her.
"Ozai is cruel! He's ruthless! He doesn't care about the Fire Nation's citizens!"
"That's not true!" He shouted. It wasn't true. It can't be true. His father had to love the Fire Nation. He was Fire Lord.
"Then why did he scar you!"
- - - - -
"I know, sister." Iroh sighed heavily before he took a sip of tea. "I told Katara that once. When I was trying to get her to better understand Prince Zuko." Putting down his tea, Iroh smiled bitterly. "I want her to be the one. But I don't know if Zuko could handle it." Brenda opened her eyes and glanced at Iroh before taking a sip of her tea.
"I know what you mean. I doubt I'd be able to handle it if it was me." Shaking his head at the thought of Zuko, Iroh spoke up again.
"That boy is too loyal to his father. It will destroy any relationship he has if he does not realize that. Ozai was wrong in his actions. He's too stubborn. Once Prince Zuko realizes that, once he is free of his father's influence, then the boy will be truly happy." Brenda snorted at the thought.
"That boy will never disagree with his father." She muttered before she took another sip of her tea. Her older brother raised an eyebrow.
"And why do you say that?" She looked at Iroh, straight in the eye.
"Because it would mean his father was wrong. Wrong to scar him. Wrong to throw him side. Wrong to deny him love." She looked off in the direction Katara had followed the fire prince after he stormed off. "I don't know if anyone can save him from the devastation of realizing that."
"I believe that Katara can save him." Brenda snapped her attention back to her older brother.
"Your belief isn't enough, dear brother." The way she spoke, it was as if they were talking about someone else. Someone other than Prince Zuko. Angered, Iroh slammed his fist down on the table.
"She will be the one Brenda!" Narrowing her eyes, the female firebender retorted quickly.
"And what if she's not!" She demanded, her normally calm demeanor fading. "You expect me to put my faith in some child I've just met!"
"Yes!" Iroh snapped before he realized his temper was getting the best of him. "Yes." He repeated softer. "She is a good child at heart. And she loves the Prince. True, she doesn't know how deep that love is yet, but I suspect it to be true. She doesn't back down like other people do. She's caring. And patient. She's a smart child. And she cares deeply for his highness." Brenda's eyes softened and closed at her brother spoke. After listening to him she sighed and shook her head.
"You always were the wise one, old man." Iroh smiled softly at his younger sister.
"You aren't so young yourself."
"I'm still younger than you."
- - - - -
"HOW DARE YOU!" Zuko roared as his temper started to cloud his vision. Katara felt no fear. She knew that even though Zuko become lost in his temper, he would not hit her. He had more honor than that. However, before he became lost to his anger, Katara's hand cut through the air and slapped him. Stunned, Zuko held a hand to his cheek.
"Grow up Zuko!" The waterbender snapped, trying not to hold her stinging hand. Glaring at her and turning his back, Zuko closed his eyes.
"You know nothing." He growled. Annoyed at his stubbornness, Katara crossed her arms.
"I know enough. He's not your father." Surprised, Zuko turned and looked at Katara.
"What are you talking about?" Zuko demanded, confused. Letting out a soft sigh, Katara explained herself.
"He may be the man whose blood runs through your veins, but that does not make him a father. A father is kind. A father is caring. He would be proud of you no matter what. A father lifts you up when you fall down. A father protects you. Has he done any of that? Has he ever?" Zuko narrowed his eyes at Katara's words and once more turned his back on her.
"My father is the Fire Lord. He has too protect the Fire Nation. He has to do what's best." Before Katara could stop herself, she hugged him from behind. Tensing, Zuko felt his eyes widening as she held him tight.
"But has he done that? He is trying to wipe out the other nations. He's alienated his siblings. He threw out his only heir . . . . he scarred you . . . ." Even though she was holding him, Zuko did not turn around to face Katara.
"But . . . he has to have had a good reason."
- - - - -
Ceres nearly pulled out her hair in anger. Nothing made sense. There were no more celestial maidens, the last one on Earth had died awhile ago. The current Avatar does not know firebending. It couldn't be the Fire Gods . . . then who? All that was left was someone new or a last defense Senku set up. The ancient demon felt like pounding her head against the wall. It would certainly help distract her. Glancing back over at the servant, Ceres felt her temper rise even more. Who did Zhao think he was? Having her followed! How dare he! It wasn't right! She was suppose to be one of the most feared creatures of all time! She had caused a type of terror never seen before! And there he was, a mortal, who thought he could control her. Her word may be her bond, but that didn't mean she couldn't scare the hell out of him! Without pause, Ceres hurried to her room and slammed the door shut in the poor servant's face. Once the door was locked, Ceres took out her crystal dagger and traced a large circle around her.
"Demonic powers within me . . . ." She hissed as she sat on the ground and rested her hands on her knees. "Come forth and reign free . . ." The dagger glowed. "Come out and do my bidding . . . ." A small ball of light left the dagger. "Do what I have not been forbidding!"
- - - - -
Zuko pulled himself out Katara's grip.
"Leave me be." Shaking her head, Katara refused.
"No. I'm not leaving you. You're in pain. I won't leave you in pain." Zuko looked back at Katara and smiled bitterly.
"You're too sweet for your own good." Zuko shook his head to clear out his thoughts. "But I can not. I . . . . just need time to myself. I have to sort this out." Katara's eyes softened, she understood. The waterbender nodded and kissed Zuko on the cheek before leaving. She closed the door quietly behind her as Zuko lit the candles to begin his mediation. Slowly the young woman walked towards the room she had left Brenda and Iroh in. Upon reaching it, she sat down and looked up at the two siblings.
". . . . how is he?" Asked the older brother. Sighing, Katara shifted in her seat.
"He needs time to think." Brenda watched Katara carefully.
"Katara . . . ." Said person looked over at the admiral. ". . . I would like to speak with you later. Girl talk." She clarified upon the look Iroh shot her. 'I'm sorry brother . . . . but I have to see for myself if she's up to pulling Zuko from his father's grasp . . . . .'
- - - - -
Wow! Chapter 21 already. And Ceres seems mad. Don't worry, soon enough I will reveal what blocked Ceres. Not only that, but there might be a few more twists and turns in my story. I don't know if I'll be able to keep this pace up. I doubt it. Oh well, maybe I'll still be able to get chapter out fast. I hope so. Sorry if my grammar is messy. I'm not too good at grammar. Anyways, please review. I'd like to know if there are any problems. And I like to know whether or not you like the story so far. Review and thanks!