Disclaimer: don't own it, but soon will! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Congradulations to:
Mew Kelcita for answering my riddle correctly...she is to live- for now, BWAHAHAHA-
Viewers: THAT'S ENOUGH EVIL LAUGHING!
anyway, I dub thee Mew Kelcita, the One Smarter Than Me.
Katara gaped at her. This was the notorious Princess Zula? Known for her escapades with death, brutality, and dances of stealth? The infamous Zula saved the Princess of the Southern Water Tribe from certain death! Katara couldn't believe it, so she continued o stare at her with dumb ludicrous. Seemingly very agitated, the fire princess snapped, "What are you gawking at?" Yep, that settles it.
"It seems your temper runs in the family." Katara noted flatly. Zula looked at her curiously.
"It admittedly surprises me that you would take note of my brother's behavior when others just see him and flee without a second thought." She said at last, seeing with satisfactory as Katara began to get irritated at her delay in answering.
Katara looked at her in astonishment. Slowly, she supplied, "It's kind of difficult to ignore your brother's temper." Zula snorted in amusement and appeared startled at the sound.
Eyeing her critically, she responded, "Something about you is unsettling." She concluded, looking back at the fire.
"Will you care to elaborate? It's not every day I make masters of fire unsettled."
Zula, still not looking directly into her eyes, said, "On impulse I saved you. If anyone else had talked to me like you did, they would've had third degree burns, that's why no one does." She paused and sighed longingly, still continuing to gaze steadily at the flame. "I guess that's why I like you so much. You have the temper and boldness of a fire bender." She looked at Katara squarely in the eyes. Katara, captivated by the eyes that looked so much like her secret love, said softly,
"Ever since I first saw him, I thought, 'Damn! Was he always this determined?' Then as the months passed, you could say I grew on him. My thoughts of hatred turned into an infatuation. Then, I guess a day ago, I found out my best friend was engaged to him. And on top of that, I was just crowned and was recently asked to marry the Prince of the Earth Nation. I don't love him…If I do marry him, it would only be for my people." As Katara talked, her voice turned, to where it sounded as if she was more or less talking to herself, but Zula listened.
Still looking her in the eyes, she replied, "And who is this man you are infatuated with and who is his betrothal?" As Zuko once said, Zula instinctively turned on her 'Charm' whatever she asked, gazing earnestly into the eyes of the portrayer, she got an honest answer.
"I can't tell you!" She said, aghast. Then, something compelling in Zula's eyes flared. "Prince Zuko and Princess Yue." She said simply, immediately biting her lip, knowing that she just told the executioner she was guilty.
Zula's eyes widened, for once in seven years, she showed utter shock. Then, startling them both, she laughed. At first, it came out rusty and unused, then gradually, it curved into the sound of silver bells. "Never, in all my life since Zuko's scarring, heard a girl admit she was attracted to him." Her laughs died down softly. "He is worthy of your attraction, as you are his if he is. That was the first time since my mother died I laughed." She looked out at the snow at the maw of the cave.
"My mother died too." Katara replied in a sympathetic tone.
Zula instantly flared, rounding on her, her golden eyes intense, she spat, "I don't need your pity! Did your own father kill your mother in one of his many drunken rages while she was trying to protect you? Did your brother hate the world, hate you, when you went to your father for protection, instead of him? Are you the one controlling the prideful flame?" she sank into a broodingly silence, old memories flashing clearly across her eyes. Katara remained silent, jerked ruthlessly into her own memories.
"No, but my mother died protecting me and Sokka during a fire nation raid, died right in front of my eyes. Died because of me." She said bitterly. "I led your army to my village. It's my fault my mother died. All the able men were at war, leaving my brother as the oldest male. My mother, the lone water bender of the tribe, stood in between us and the flame I brought to them." She stopped abruptly. Standing up suddenly, she walked over to the mouth of the cave, vehemently hating the heat the fire, that so mercilessly killed her mother, gave off to keep her alive.
Twirling a stream of snow, she raised a wall of ice, slowly carving her hearts longing.
"Sokka, you have to come out for your Crowning, it's what Katara would have wanted." Princess Yue said softly, her voice muffled behind the door. Sokka's temper blazed.
"Why? I lost everything that was meant anything to me! Katara's dead! My mother's dead! My father's dead! My Gran-Gran is dead! And the one girl I love is dead to me, unable to actually love her!" Sokka cried. Yue burst into the room, tears filling her eyes.
"Sokka uth Mere! You know I do not willingly chose to marry some guy I don't even know! You should know by now that I love you!" She cried, glaring accusingly at him. Realizing what she had just said, she instantly cast her eyes down to the polished floor of Katara's room. Sokka had refused to sleep in his, choosing to sleep in his deceased sister's.
"The man you are to marry, the prince of the fire Nation? Do you know his name?" Sokka asked quietly, tears streaming silently down his face. She shook her head. "Prince Zuko is the name of your betrothal. Your marrying a bastard. Congratulations." Sokka finished bitterly, refusing to leave his sister's room, he laid on her bed. A clear sign the conversation was over.
"You should know by now that I love you!" His daughter's voice rang hauntingly inside his head, halting any chance of sleep in its tracks. The Water Lord sat on his throne, deeply troubled. He hated himself for once again setting a marriage for his only daughter, but it had to be done. As he walked past Katara's bedchambers, he heard his daughter and Sokka quarreling passionately, and nearly fainted when Sokka told Yue who she was to wed. She would come storming into the throne room any minute now demanding an answer, only to be deprived of one, on account of the who would answer wouldn't be there. As if on cue, right after her father had left, Yue stalked into the room.
"Sokka, we need to talk." A deep male voice rumbled from the door way. Sokka, sitting up, saw indirectly, that the source of the voice was Yue's father. Relieved, he showed him his face and the Water Lord gasped. His eyes were red and swollen from crying, cheeks glistening from tears. Never, in the history of the Lord's life, had he seen anyone cry so freely.
"My daughter loves you, and I know you love her. Why do you torment her so?" He asked. Sokka winced at his bluntness. "Now, I'd rather her marry you than Fire Filth, but I signed a treaty, one I can't undo unless…." He pondered, and then his face brightened considerably. "Sokka, I order you on a mission."
Zula walked hesitantly to Katara's sleeping form. After hours of carving, Katara finally slept. Zula, unable to withstand her curiosity any longer, stared in awe at Katara's carving. Made of ice that no fire could melt, the wall had detailed designs of roses, flames, water, and in the midst of the breath-taking artwork, two hands. One was in the position of gently dropping something, while the other was in the arrangement of catching it. Looped lightly around the lower hand was a thin, chin-linked bracelet, so delicate and life like, Zula had the urge to see if she could slip it off on clasp it on her wrist. The bracelet didn't have an amulet in sight, but in its place was a burst of light, a burst of life.
Katara sat in front of a warm fire, arms clasped lovingly around her waist. She gazed fondly at the couple across from her, her brother and Princess Yue, in the same pose as she was.
Switching her gaze, she watched warmly as Zula and Aang debated the war tactics of the earth nation. Off to her left, she saw Suki and Haru, looking tenderly into each other's eyes. Sighing, Katara settled back against a firm chest, feeling solace engulf her, she dozed off.
"Katara, wake up sweet ice." Called a soothing voice. Katara lazily opened her eyes to see her mother, gazing at her with such affection, it made her heart break. "There is much you need to know." She warned, unable to see her only daughter go threw any more heartbreaks. Katara looked around to see everyone else stirring, along with the solid form wrapped possessively around her.
"What is it, mama?" she asked, snuggling closer to the form. Her mother smiled, her gaze lingering warmly on the loving couple.
"Your brother believes you are dead, and he has gone on a mission to get Yue for his love. You must get back to the palace for war is brewing, betrayal will rise once more. Be on your guard, Atara, you are the reason for this madness. A conflict will be wrought for your love. Many will die for you, many will want you to die. Know this with emphasis, there will be true love in your future, a true love the world hasn't foreseen in a long while." She paused, staring pointedly at the man behind her. Katara dare not turn away from her mother yet. "Stay true to the ones around the fire, for those who aren't, have doubted you. Your father has passed over, along with your Gran-Gran, but you, my Atara, will live to see more days than any have imagined. Stay true to yourself, for I will be watching." With that, she left, a wisp of rose petal fragrance floating softly around her.
Katara, feeling consciousness seep through her, shifted her weight to catch a glimpse of the one who held her.
Golden eyes.
Katara jerked awake, startling Zula out of her reservoir. Katara reached up to her neck, longing to feel the comfort of her mother once more. Her mother's necklace rested peacefully on her collarbone, along with another necklace. Hastily, Katara yanked it off. On a silver chain, as fine and delicate as the one she carved, was a diamond so pure, it glowed like a light of life. Gasping, Katara dropped it like it was hot.
"Where did you get that?" Zula asked urgently, scooping up the necklace and holding it close to examine it.
"I…I- I don't know! It was just...there!" Katara stuttered, staring wide-eyed into space. Something at the edge of her mind was tugging on some forgotten memory. Katara tried intensely to remember, but it kept fading through her grasp, like smoke.
"Do you know what this is girl?" She asked sharply. "This is the necklace of Neelam, lover of Agni. It hasn't been seen in over a millennia." She paused and once again, eyed her dubiously. "Do you know what this means? It means that you are to be protected. There is going to be a war over you." Something sparked in her mind. "A conflict will be wrought for your love." Her mother had said in her dream. The same line she had said to Katara when she was a girl, playing princess. Did her mother have the gift of Foresight? Surely not. Shaking her head, Katara accepted the necklace and clasped it around her neck, serenity flowing through her frantic flowing veins. "What is your name girl? And what is your lineage?"
"Katara uth Mere, daughter of Hakoda uth Mere and Hana uth Matar of the Southern Water tribe. Granddaughter of Kana auth Atari of the Northern Water Kingdom. Why do you ask?"
"Because you could be the descendant of Neelam herself." Zula said plainly.
"And once more the unelaborated Zula strikes." Katara muttered. Her thoughts drifting off, she whispered, "I wish I could see Sokka." A blinding flash blackened Katara's vision, no matter that it was light. In front of her was an orb of water, unadulterated and translucent. Upon closer inspection, Katara could see pictures flashing across the surface. Staring at it intensely, Katara saw her brother reading many scrolls, his brow furrowed, eyes red from exhaustion and grief. His cheeks were still streaked with tears as he held a scroll up to the light. Katara caught the title, Prophecies. She watched, extremely interested as he read aloud:
"In the years of three past the return of the Avatar, a new hero will rise, borne of the daughter of a run-away Northern Water Tribe Princess , sister of a warrior and future Princess of the Southern Water Tribe and Fire Nation , her Water bending powers will encompass the Avatar's powers of four." He paused, his brow furrowing even more, resembling a uni-brow. "Three years after the return of the Avatar…Aang….born of the daughter of a run-away Northern Water Tribe Princess…future princess of…KATARA!" He gasped. "She's alive!" jumping out of his seat, his face of pure joy, he ran out of the room.
Before he left, Katara caught her brother whisper, "I love you, Atara."
"Atara, eh? Nice name. I can honestly say it fits you better than Katara." Zula murmured. Katara hadn't been aware of her kneeling beside her. "Come, I think it's time you met a friend of mine."
Katara and Zula had walked for miles until the came to a large alcove on the shore. In theniche was a Fire Nation Ship. Katara gasped. "How could this go unnoticed by my people?"
"Because they see what they want to see, and disregard what they do see. Common flaw in humans, but not you." Zula said grimly, gazing at Katara quizzically. As they boarded the ship, Katara took note that no one was about. They walked further into the bowls of the ship when Katara finally heard the tell-tale noise of life. "Ah, here we are." Zula said, stopping abruptly at a large, undoubtedly thick door. Pushing it open with ease, Katara was bathed with the light and sound of a party.
Zula led her threw crowds of the Fire Nation and to a shadowy recess. Scintillating golden eyes stared at them intensely, by far encompassing Zula's.
"Katara, I want you to meet my brother, Prince Zuko." Zula said; her eyes full of mischief. Stepping out of the shadows, warm light fell upon the man of Katara's dreams.
"Hello, Princess Katara. I see your still wearing the ring I gave you. Good, that means no Natas have been attacking you lately."
Yes, I know, still not that long! UGH! CURSE MY DAMN IMPATIENCE! I don't think any of you have noticed, but Natas spelled backwards is Satan…. Also, in my second chapter, it mentioned her savior placing a necklace around her neck and a ring on her finger…sorry I didn't mention it in earlier chapters……
NEW RIDDLE:
What is your's but is used more by other's?