Chapter 16
Reading Katara's Journal
Zuko walked into his room and locked his door as he sat down on his bed and sat back into his pillows as he flipped to the first page and began reading,
'Dear Journal,
Aang still has to master waterbending, but he is getting better, we found an Earthbending teacher for Aang named Toph known as the Blind Bandit, she is rough but Aang getting used to it, she is blind same age of Aang. I think she likes Aang, but whatever.
We haven't seen Zuko for a while, I wonder what happened, all I know he escaped, I think he went after Admiral Zhao, well anyways it might be awhile before I write again see ya!
Love Katara'
Zuko flipped to the next page and began reading,
'I forgot to write this a few weeks ago, before we found Toph, we gotten trapped in a swamp, it was strange, we all got separated, and we all saw someone we thought we miss deep in our hearts.
Sokka saw Yue, Aang saw his Earthbending Teacher, and me, it was horrible, I saw my mother, she was crying out with joy, until when I tried to see her face she vanished in thin air…I can't write anymore, the memory hurts too much.'
Flipping to the next page Zuko began reading again,
'Dear Journal,
We were chased by Azula again, this time she had this mysterious machine, anyways we saw Zuko defending Aang from his wicked sister who teases him about his childhood nickname, Zuzu, it's cute for a kid, but it must be embarrassing to him. Iroh gotten shot by Azula, and I offered to heal him, but I couldn't because he didn't want anyone near his uncle, I wasn't surprise exactly, he was betrayed by his own Nation, I don't think he could trust anyone. I guess we have to gain his trust to help him, since we are all going for the same goal, well that's all for now.
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal,
We finally gained trust to Zuko after he found Appa with his uncle, we were grateful. Iroh told us more things…Oh crap people are waking up see ya!
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal we finally defeated the Fire Lord, Iroh is taking over, Zuko has his rights back, Toph is going back home, Aang going to the Northern Air Temple, Sokka is going to the Northern Water Tribe while I go back South to help them rebuild the village.
Well I have to go now, bye.
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal,
Made it back home but it wasn't like I was hoping.
There is an illness called the Frosted Flu, people are struggling to survive, oh crap I need to go!
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal,
I am going to head north, things are getting to dangerous here, and hopefully it will be a safe ride.
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal,
Day 5,
Sorry about not writing to you for the past three days, but things are starting to get bad, we had to stop because a helmsman suddenly died, which means the illness is on this ship.
Now I am keeping track of the deaths on this ship:
To begin with:
Soldiers: 250
Crew Men: 200
Passengers: 15000
Number of deaths since we left the Southern Water Tribe:
Soldiers: 150
Crew Men: 190
Passengers: 100
Now left alive:
Soldiers 100:
Crew Men: 10
Passengers: 14500
Many people are dying, it is getting creepy around here, being surrounded by ghost pale faces, dead bodies being burned then thrown over board, it makes me sick.
Someone coughed out blood, it was disgusting, I couldn't stand it, wait what am I talking about? I can't stand it! I need to break free, but I need to come up with a plan….
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal,
Day 7,
More and more people die by the minuet, I couldn't write for awhile because I was too busy thinking, I am no longer eating food now, because of the illness could've been spread by the food poison, when someone coughed on it, and I am not going to risk it.
Continuing my updates:
Number of Deaths since I last updated:
Soldiers: 100
Crew Men: 7
Passengers: 14000
Number of Survivors:
Soldiers: 50
Crew Men: 3
Passengers: 500
People are dying much faster now, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to avoid the illness.
Mental note: Make an escape plan!
Sweet Dreams,
Love Katara'
'Dear Journal,
Day 15,
Barely anymore people alive on this ship here are the latest updates:
Number of Deaths since the last update:
Soldiers: 45
Crew Men: 3
Passengers: 450
Number of Survivors:
Soldiers: 5
Crew Men: 1
Passengers: 50
I will be escaping tonight, everyone is dying, I won't be able to hold on for so much longer…
Love Katara'
'Dear Dairy,
Day 16,
The great escape,
I managed to escape from the ship, but I know that they are turning around; I overheard some people last night. Anyways, I am free from the illness for now, and here I am in the middle of the ocean, starving, it have been 15 days since I have eaten, I feel like I am committing suicide without knowing it. If only there were land somewhere near by, I would be able to catch some fish, then start a fire, and cook the tasty thing! But no, no food, no shelter, nothing, water, I don't think so, salt water yuck! But it would make me sick anyways from the dead bodies I saw that have been thrown over bored from the ship.
I have no idea where I am, I don't have a map, but I know I am heading north, since my ship was heading south. I hope Sokka, Gran-gran, and father are all well, I haven't contacted them in a long time, perhaps if I ever make it to a village, I could write a letter saying where I am, and what happened, I need to start writing letters to myself now, I am starting to feel so lonely.
Now my little money problem:
I am very poor,
I barely have any money; I am going to have to get a job or something like that as far as I know.
Anyways, not much to say no, drifting along the currents, the last thing I need to worry about a storm hitting me and dealing with the waves!
So anyways, I am going to have a quick nap, wish me good safety.
Love Katara.'
'Dear Mother,
Day 17,
Ocean travel, Day 2:
I am still in the middle of no where, I am begging to catch something far in the distance, so I am heading over that direction, Northern-West, I hope I make it to an Earth Nation territory, I am not really hoping for Fire Nation Territory, I think General Iroh have taken over from the fall of Ozai, and Prince Zuko, heir to the throne, I still remember him, I have to admit he is a powerful bender, he was the one who helped Aang defeat Ozai, but Zuko didn't want to kill his own father, so the Avatar spirit did it for him.
I wonder how those two are doing. I wonder how Toph and Aang are too, at first I thought that Toph had a crush on Aang, but Aang had a crush on me, and I had a crush on no one.
I am beginning to see land now, if I am lucky it will be land that has a village, where I could get a job, and make money and start a life there.
Anyways, time to write to Sokka.
Dear Sokka,
How are you? I am fine; well not really; I am here in the middle of the ocean, probably the only survivor left that was once on the ship, people died quickly, it made me sick seeing people vomit blood, sick indeed. Aang would've died just by seeing the illness. The illness was making people turn pale, ghost pale, dead pale! Yes dead pale! They were creeping me out.
As I was escaping to find a lifeboat I nearly jumped in one with a dead bloody, rotten body, oh it was just sick! Anyways I found a clean one, no dead body in it; hopefully there wasn't ever a dead body in it! Anyways, how is dad and everybody, I heard Master Pasku and Gran-gran were supposed to get married, is it true? Well not like you can tell me right away but anyways not much going on here, floating in the middle of no where, but I am begging to see land now, all there is left to do is hope.
Just to inform you I have no eaten in 17 days! I am starving, so when you eat, compare your hunger to mine! Got that, good, you better have, because the next time I hear you complain that you are, 'starving', get a life!
So nothing more to say Sokka, I'll see you soon, eventually!
Love your dear sister,
Katara
P.S: Say hi to everyone for me!'
'Dear Aang,
How is it back at home? How are the people treating you there? I hope you are fine, me, nothing much, sometimes I wish that Appa would suddenly appear and take me North, but hey, he is your pet, and I am in the middle of the ocean! Not much to do, but waterbend and think about food!
Have you heard about Toph lately? I am sure she is doing great, now since she has freedom since she proved her parents that she is more than capable to wipe out an enemy! HA! I miss her little nickname calling sometimes, she is really good at it, I mean Twinkle-toes suits you perfectly since you are and airbender! Sugar Queen, I don't know about my name, and Hot-head Zuko, remember how Iroh used to tease him about 'Zuzu' poor Zuko, old childhood nickname comes to haunt you! Well got to go, I am beginning to see land as I told Sokka in my other letter, well see you soon.
Your Friend,
Katara.'
Zuko flipped a few pages and noticed a three letters fell out and read,
'Dear Sweetest Katara,
We are glad you are able to contact us, and we are glad you are safe, dad, Gran-gran, and Master Pasku are happy that you notified us, Gran-gran said you might've been dead from the illness.
Anyways I am fine, I am planning to go back to Kyoshi Island to see Suki, anyways I have gotten replies from Aang and Toph lately, not much from Zuko and Iroh, the latest letter I saw that was signed by Zuko was that he wanted to say hi to you, ha I thought that was a joke but I think actually meant it, oh well Aang found some Airbenders which is good, oh and did I mention that Toph and Aang are more than friends? Yeah cool eh? It seems that what people say, opposite attracts, yep certainly makes sense.
Anyways I invented something new, I am going to send it to you for Christmas, I am not sure if it snows in certain areas in the fire Nation, since you down south still, it should be still cold, but it is only autumn so I doubt it snowed yet ha! Well anyways hope you are do fine, please don't reply until I send you another letter at Christmas because I'll be probably be in Kyoshi by then, well talk to later, oh and I hope the package dad sent you came with this letter, he thinks you'll like it alright, there is a letter with the package from him to let you know, well talk to you sis, bye!
Love your brilliant brother,
Sokka.'
Zuko noticed that the second letter had tears stains on it.
'Dear my sweet Katara,
This lovely dress once belonged to your mother, I know you are starting to look like her yourself, so that is why I am giving you her dress, like she was hoping to do eventually before she died, please enjoy. I am sure she is very proud of you, so am I, best wishes my angel.
I know you are a strong girl, you will look beautiful in the dress I am sure of it, let mother spirit bless you.
Mother blesses you,
Father.'
'Dear Katara,
Yo what's up? Nothing much, joking tones! Suki and I are finally dating, you should've seen her face when I came, she was thrilled. Anyways here is my new creation, I call them Skates, you wear them on ice. I think you would be great at it well Merry Christmas, bye for now!
Your coolest bro,
Sokka.
Zuko continued to read until there was a knock on his door, he slipped the journal under his pillows and opened the door and found his uncle there, "So Prince Zuko, get anything out of the girl?"
"Got plenty, found her journal, it has records of things in the past; it mentioned something about Frosted Flu, an illness that kills."
Iroh nodded and replied, "Yes, I heard about that, only few people made it to the Northern Water Tribe."
"But then there was a letter from her father saying about her mother, her mother wanting to give her a dress, I think it was the one she wore to the ball."
"The girl needs comfort; I would highly suggest her to go back to her brother at…"
"Kyoshi Island, he went to see a friend."
"I see, and then we have to worry about that young man, Jet, he could kill her anytime, she is depress as we can all see."
"But she mentioned something about last night that she didn't want to be found by whom?"
Iroh sighed and placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder and began, "She didn't want to be found by you."
"Why would she not want to be found by me?"
"I think that she is in love with you, but doesn't believe that you love her back."
Zuko eyed his uncle and asked, "Have you been speaking to the spirits again?"
"Actually, the spirit world allows me to talk to the spirits now since I helped end the war. I talk to Lee everyday and night. He happened to speak to Katara's mother and-"
"Whoa! WHAT? Uncle I think you need therapy!"
"No I do not my dear nephew, but thanks for caring, anyways she is going through a lot-"
"I know, 15000 passengers were ill on the ship she was using to head north, practically everyone died."
"Agni help the water tribe people!" exclaimed Iroh, "They could die out if this continues!"
"Exactly, Katara is having a major break down, her spirit lost hope for her people."
"That girl never loose hope, I know that, somewhere deep inside, the shadows of the darkness it blocking the light to release her hope like she did for the Avatar to return. Now maybe she can be stronger if you actually admit it that you are in love with her!"
"Uncle!"
"You do, you told me."
"Damn…"
"Well then go and find her!"
Zuko sighed and went back in his room and got her bag and journal and headed out.
Disclaimer: So he had a crush on her all long?