DISCLAIMER: don't own AVATAR.
Okey dokey. This will be updated. I will get this finished!
WOOT! long chappie!
5 Masters and Mistress
That was it. From then on, I woke up at 5 AM, put on my servant's uniform (a crimson dress that went to my ankles and had bell sleeves, a golden apron, and silk slippers) went into the servants' hall, and my breakfast of green tea and some sort of mush I was too afraid to ask what was (but it was warm and tasted like cinnamon), then delivered my new Master his morning meal.
There were three other personal servants on the ship. One was Zuko's old personal servant, the other was Iroh's personal servant (we all envied her, for Iroh was a good, merciful man), and the third, she was the Captain's servant. That man was heartless and brutalized his servant, and every night, I would heal the girl's bruises while the other two helped her wash the seed off her legs and help her back to her room.
I picked up the platter that was heavy with my Master's breakfast, and began the damned walk up three extremely long flights of stairs (for the servants slept and ate near the bottom of the ship) before I reached Zuko's room.
Steadying the platter against my shoulder, I rapped against my Master's door, waiting for permission to enter.
"Come in." Carefully, I opened the door, then carrying the platter in front of me, I shut the heavy door by pushing my back against it, then gave my Master a small bow.
"Good morning, Sierra." Zuko said with a smirk, sitting at his table.
"Good morning, Master Zuko. I trust you slept well?" I asked as I set down the platter, making sure to avoid his eyes. I was not in the mood (I hadn't been for the two weeks I had served Zuko) to see what he was thinking.
"Yes. You did an excellent job of fluffing my mattress yesterday." I didn't smile in gratitude, for he did not give me a 'thank you'. I picked up the platter and tucked it under my arm.
"Is this all you need, Master Zuko?" I asked. Zuko shook his head. I fought back a groan. Now what did he want?
"We have three new prisoners down in the brig. I want you to bring them their three meals, along with mine. Understand?" I nodded.
"Yes, Master Zuko." I bowed, and left the room.
I tried to gather up my emotions and plaster a smile on my face for my new Masters. I just didn't want to seem like a depressed, hopeless girl. Despite the fact that was what I was.
I heard three voices, one of them a girl's. Masters and Mistress? I liked that even better. Perhaps I had a reason to smile now.
"Good evening, Masters, Mistress!" I said cheerily as I entered my new Masters' and Mistress's cell. One of them, a boy in blue with a ponytail, grunted. I frowned at him as I set the three bowls of mush (the same that I ate) and three cups of water onto the floor for them. I noted how they were all chained to the wall like I had been. I made sure to move their food closer to them.
"Good sir, I have brought you your dinner! Be grateful Master Zuko has allowed you to eat at all!" I said sternly, glaring at the boy. He looked up at me, and I stared into his eyes, seeing why he was being so distasteful. He hated the Fire Nation. Pure and simple.
"Master Sokka, look at me. Do I look like one of Agni's children?" I snapped harshly, and moved towards the light, allowing him to see my dark skin and blue eyes. He still grunted.
"You betrayed us. You joined them." I growled, and my other Master and Mistress backed away from their cups of water unsurely as they began to rattle.
"I never had a say in the matter!" I cried, feeling tears in my eyes. I looked to my Master and Mistress. The Avatar and friends? Master Zuko was sentencing the world to its doom!
I glared at Master Sokka, then looked to Master Aang and Mistress Katara.
"Good evening Master Aang and Mistress Katara." I said, bowed, and left.
"Aang, how'd she learn our names?" I smiled at Mistress Katara's question.
The next morning when I brought my Masters and Mistress their breakfast, I said not a word to Master Sokka. I immediately went to Master Aang.
"You need a waterbending teacher." I stated, looking straight into his eyes. His grey eyes brightened as he smiled and nodded.
"Yah. How'd you know?" I gave him a cryptic smile.
"I have my ways. And, Master Aang, I can teach you." Mistress Katara angrily stood up.
"I'm his teacher." She said defiantly. I looked up into her eyes.
"You are in need of a teacher also. You are struggling with the basics." Mistress Katara's eyes blazed angrily.
"You want to see how good I am? You want to see that I am the only choice for Master Aang now?" I hissed. I stood up, and my hands began to grope in the air. Mistress Katara and Master Aang watched curiously. I didn't notice Master Sokka watching me out of the corner of his eye.
I felt for the moisture, I was looking for it, gathering it out of nowhere, where no one could see it, too small for human eyes, calling it to me until…
"That's amazing!" Master Aang cried as I made a ball of water appear out of nowhere. I smiled.
"How do you do that? How did you learn?" He asked excitedly. I smiled.
"I watched my previous Master bend fire. I watched how he pulled the fire out of nowhere, and I copied his stance and hand motions. Searching for the water, pulling it out of nowhere. At least, people think I pull it from nowhere." I kneeled in front of Master Aang.
"I found out that there's water in the air." I whispered my eyes bright as I shared my secret. Master Aang gave me a nervous smile, and my face fell.
"Your old Master, he didn't give you a proper education, did he?" I felt ashamed of myself by his question. Everyone knew there was water in the air, and I thought I was the only one who knew. I felt so embarrassed. But I shook my head for my Master's answer.
"I was told only to cook and clean, and be a good little servant." I spat out harshly. I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder. I looked up and was surprised to see Master Sokka.
"You were never given a proper education," Master Sokka started. I waited for the insult.
"but you're very intelligent." I looked up at Master Sokka, tears of gratefulness streaming down my cheeks. He had complimented me. Only one other person had complimented me, and now, he was more like my enemy.
"Thank you, Master Sokka." I whispered. He nodded and gave me a warm smile.
That night, as I left with my Masters' and Mistress's dirty dishes, Master Sokka asked me a question.
"What's your name?" I turned and faced Master Sokka. I smiled.
"My name is Sierra." Master Sokka smiled.
"Nice name." I bowed to Master Sokka, and as I left their cell:
"Thank you, Master Sokka."
Things changed after Master Sokka asked for my name. And Master Zuko noticed. My smiles were genuine smiles, and there was a slight spring in my step. It made me begin to realize that even after Zuko had treated me so cruelly for the past few months, I still didn't hate him. I wasn't capable of hating him. Quite frankly, I still loved him.
One night, Master Aang and Mistress Katara fell asleep after eating. Master Sokka, as I left the cell, told me to stay.
"So, is it really hot in the Fire Nation?" He asked.
"Yes. Sometimes, it got so hot that I would sneak glasses of wine to drink for myself." I said.
"But you're underage, aren't you?" I smiled, sat down, and nodded.
"What does wine taste like?" That night, I enjoyed a long conversation with Master Sokka about myself, and himself.
"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! GREAT AGNI ABOVE, WAKE UP!" Someone yelled as they shook me fiercely. I groaned and opened my eyes. It was Zuko's previous personal servant, and she looked hysterical.
"Hurry up! You're suppose to be delivering Zuko his breakfast in 15 minutes!" I squealed in terror, and bounded out of Master Sokka's cell. Dammit, I had fallen asleep in his cell!
Once I reached the servant's hall, I frantically tried to clean and iron my dress, eat some breakfast, and find Zuko's platter at the same time. I was in a mess, when Zuko's previous personal servant laid her hand on my shoulder.
"I can deliver his Royal Pain his breakfast. I'm sure you would like a little peace of mind?" I smiled, and nodded. She smiled back and went to get Zuko's breakfast platter.
"Thanks." I said as she left.
"No problem."
Five minutes later, I was sitting down to eat breakfast in my now clean dress, when Zuko's previous personal servant came rushing down. She pointed to me.
"YOU! GET UP TO ZUKO'S ROOM! HE'S GONE INSANE!" The girl screeched. I was on my feet in an instant, sprinting up to Zuko's room.
When I got there, furniture kept flying out of the door. I had to dodge a flying chair.
"MASTER ZUKO!" I cried. The Prince turned to face me. I gasped. His eyes were narrow and were full of rage and a dark, possessive flame of jealousy. Zuko was hysteric!
"YOU!" He roared. He rushed forward, grabbed me by my wrist, and pulled me up till my feet just barely touched the floor.
"WHERE WERE YOU! YOU WERE WITH THE PRISONERS, WEREN'T YOU! WITH HIM? WHICH ONE WAS IT?" I tried to calm Zuko, tears running furiously down my cheeks.
"No, Master Zuko! I would never try to betray you! I wasn't with the prisoners! I live to serve you!" But Zuko didn't seem to hear me.
"I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WOULD HAPPEN! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WOULD BETRAY ME AND FRATERNIZE WITH THE ENEMY! I SHOULD HAVE JUST KEPT YOU IN YOUR CELL!"
That night, my screams of pain were heard throughout the ship, and haunted all who heard them's dreams.
For the next three weeks, I walked around with my right arm in a sling.
Finished! Woo! I feel so proud of myself:) now u're all going to be upset with me, aren't you?
INSANITY AT ITS FINEST
LONG LIVE THE HIPPIES!
Zukoscute2