Chapter 2

By the Ocean Coast, Decisions and Flash Backs

Somewhere in the Fire Nation….

"Uncle?"

"Yes Lady Azula?"

"Call me Azula." replied Azula with a weak smile.

"Alright Azula, your brother came down to give you some unpleasant information." began Iroh.

"Let me guess, there is chaos down south of the Fire Capital." She sighed looking at her nails.

"Actually no, about the raid of the Southern Water Tribe."

"WHAT?"

"Yes, they defeated us."

"Damn, oh well sounds interesting about such a small tribe defeating us."

"Actually, it was mostly the one girl who I fought."

"Zuko!" exclaimed Azula.

Zuko furrowed his eyebrow and continued, "The girl I recognize from somewhere, I seen her before, I am sure of it. So anyways you have been defeated by a peasant."

"WHAT?" screeched Azula as she stood up from her throne and gasped, "How was it possible?"

"She led a small army as far as I know, they must had noticed the soot in the air." Scowled Zuko, "They aren't stupid you know."

"Yes I know brother dear, but; I can't believe I am saying it, but being the leader of a country is difficult."

"Because you just got on the throne to end the war, very difficult indeed." thought Iroh aloud.

The two teenagers sighed heavily as Azula began, "I would be more than happy to give you your place on the throne that really belongs to you, you defeated father with the Avatar, but you have to get married in order to get the throne unfortunately."

"Well what is the plan then?" asked Iroh.

Zuko scowled, "There will be no plan, and the idea is to find a wife."

"Of course but about that girl who wiped out the Navy…how did you survive Zuko?"

"You think I am stupid enough to remain on the commander's ship after she created the wave? I had to abandon my amour so I wouldn't sink in that fucking freezing water!"

"Well good thing you survived."

"I used Firebending to stay alive until I made it to shore, I had to steal a damn canoe from the Water Tribe waterbenders that were by the coast." He scowled angrily as he tightened his ponytail and continued, "And how are we supposed to approach the Water Tribe without being killed?"

"We don't go to them." began Azula, "They come to us, we are going to send an invitation to the soldiers and their commander for a peace celebration and try to gain peace, I am not willing for another war, and it's too much work!"

"I don't blame you." chuckled their uncle as he sipped his one and only ginseng tea.

"Well what are we waiting for? Get the letter written and send the invitation, the ball will be on Friday, five days from now." Exclaimed Azula, "The sooner Zuko gets married, the sooner I get freedom!"

Zuko shook his head at his sister exclamation as he left the throne room and walked towards his room until a soldier ran up to him and gasped, "Prince Zuko, you have two guests."

Zuko followed his soldier and gasped as he was greeted with a big hug and pushed his guest off and gasped, "Aang, Toph; what are you doing here?"

"Came down to drop by, so have Azula finally ended the war for good?"

"Well, I am going to get crowned as soon as I get married if that ever happens."

"Don't worry I am sure you are going to get married soon, hey have you heard anything from Katara? Sokka got married to Suki a few months ago, so Katara is all alone back at the Southern Water Tribe, oh and guess what…OW!"

"Enough blabbering Twinkle Toes let me talk for once! Anyways what Aang was about to tell you was that Katara is leading the waterbenders army. Pretty cool eh?"

Zuko's jaw practically dropped open and returned to reality with a serious face, "You got to be kidding me."

Aang and Toph looked at each other and nodded, "No."

"Oh shitt…" he gasped as he hurried down the halls and Aang and Toph exchanged glances, "What's with the hurry with him?"

Zuko ran down the halls and found Azula and gasped, "Azula, please tell me that you haven't sent the invitations yet…"

"Oh Zuko, you are just on time; I sent the letters a few minuets ago, I…ZUKO WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Zuko finished slammed his head against the wall and growled, "Guess who that commander was Azula that wiped out our men?"

"Who?"

"Katara, the avatar just told me she leads the army."

Azula gasped and laughed, "HA! I JUST INVITED YOUR CRUSH!"

Zuko felt his cheeks burn up as he yelled, "I DO NOT!"

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too!'

"DO NOT!"

"DO TOO!"

"DO NOT!"

"DO TOO!"

"DO NOT OF THE WORLD!"

"DO TOO OF THE UNIVERSE!"

"DO NOT IN THE UNIVERSE GALAXY!"

"What is a galaxy?"

Zuko shrugged as they continued their argument until…

"Anyone want some tea?"

"DO NOT!"

"DO TOO!"

"Oh good Azula, I'll go and fetch you a cup!"

"NO! I DO NOT WANT TEA!" exclaimed Azula with panic and ran after her uncle as Zuko laughed his head off at her reaction when she accidentally said yes for tea…

Back at the Southern Water Tribe

Katara walked along the beach as she had her flash backs about her and Haroka…

Flash Back…

Katara was 6 and Haroka was 8 as they walked along the beach that night…

"And then Sokka lost his jerky!" laughed Haroka.

Katara giggled as Haroka took her hand as they walked down the beach as she blushed freely as Haroka noticed and grinned, "You know your blushes are really cute, it make you look like an adorable plushie doll!"

Katara blushed even more as she giggled and whispered, "Yeah, I guess…"

She sighed as they looked at the full moon and breathed, "Don't you think the full moon is beautiful?"

"Yeah, it matches your eyes." He smiled as they were about to kiss but then Sokka came running up to them and laughed, "MOM WANTS YOU HOME KATARA!"

Katara scowled and looked at Haroka and blushed, "Well, uh…I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Definitely!" he laughed as he ran off and Sokka began teasing her, "Ooooh! Katara got a crush on Haroka…I CAN'T BELIEVE I RUINED YOUR CLOSE TO BE FIRST KISS! MWUAHAHA!"

Katara scowled and ran up to her mom and scowled, "You just had to call me home!"

"I didn't call you home honey dear…"

Sokka burst out laughing and earned a waterwhip from Katara and screamed, "OW, OW, OW!"

"Sokka, Katara, that is enough; Sokka you shouldn't bother your sister when she was on a date."

"I WAS NOT ON A DATE!" scowled Katara as she stomped her foot.

Her mother laughed as she picked her up and held her and continued, "Nah, you are too young for a date, either way it is late, and both of you need to get to bed now."

"Aw…" groaned the two siblings as they went to bed as her mother tucked her in Katara asked, "Mommy? Can I ask you something?"

"Anything dear."

"What are first kiss supposed to feel like?"

Her mother was silent for a moment and laughed, "Enchanting, magical feelings that you never felt before, trust me you'll find out as you grow older when you eventually get your first kiss." Her mother smiled and kissed her good night and went to bed herself.

End of flash back.

Katara touched both necklaces as she whispered, "I miss you both very much…."

Katara walked down the beach as she spotted a fire Nation ship and saw a white flag and waterbended herself over as the ship stopped and scowled, "What do you want, if you are planning to attack again, trust me, I'll send a Tsunami and wipe out your hold nation!"

The messenger shuddered as he thrown her the bag of invitations and a scroll and bowed, "From the Fire Lady."

"Azula." growled Katara as she paid the messenger and waterbended herself back to the village and called a meeting to her soldiers and began, "The Fire Lady sent us all something."

The soldiers took the scrolls and read it and asked, "Katara aren't you going to read it?"

"Yes." She opened her letter and read,

"Dear Commander and Soldiers of the Southern Water Tribe,

I am disappointed that I was not successful, but since you won victory with such a tiny army, I admire that, I would like to invite you to my last ball; and I am sure you will be more than happy to hear that I am dropping down from the throne and handing it over to my brother as you all know well, or should know well, Prince Zuko. Just to inform you if you have any interest, in order for my brother to get the throne he must get married first, but he isn't too happy with the idea either way, anyways back to the topic, the ball will be held on Friday, please come if you wish, it would be an honour if you came.

Fire Lady Azula of the Fire Nation,

PS: Just to warn you, if my uncle offers you tea, don't accept it because he'll be blabbering away about his favourites!"

PSS: Just inform your soldiers that they are welcomed to bring their families or girlfriends, or boyfriends.

Katara crumbled the letter as her soldiers looked at her and asked, "So we guess you aren't coming are we right?"

"No, I am coming, I am pleased that she is stepping down from the throne, but I will not be pleased seeing Prince Zuko, after all; I fought him and I am surprised that he managed to survive." Scoffed Katara as she walked out of the hut and a soldier ran up to her and began, "Well, uh Katara; do we start packing?"

"Yes, it takes us three days to get to the Fire Nation; we will have to leave by sun rise tomorrow morning."

The soldier nodded as the others went to pack up as Katara looked at the crumpled letter again and sighed, "I don't want to go without you Haroka, it just I want to make sure that my soldiers will be alright."

Flash back…

Katara 12, Haroka 14:

"Hey Katara, uh… I was wondering, would you like to dance?"

"Uh sure…" she blushed as she took his hand and began dancing as Haroka began, "You are a great dancer you know that eh?"

Katara blushed deeper red and stuttered, "Thanks…"

They danced as Katara watched her brother dance with his girlfriend as they had a quick peck and continued dancing.

Haroka noticed this and leaned in to kiss her as Sokka and his girlfriend danced over and began, "Hey Katara, want to have a dancing partner contest?"

"You're on!"

Sokka and his girlfriend laughed as they danced in circles as Katara and Haroka did a slow dance so Katara wouldn't trip and fall because of her slightly over sized dress.

Katara tripped as Haroka caught her as she giggled nervously and blushed madly.

Haroka laughed as she scowled and stomped off and heard Sokka and his girlfriend laughing at Katara's hissy attitude as she sat down and sulked as she crossed her arms across her chest and crossed her leg over the other.

"Aw come on Katara, don't become one of the party sulkers." Taunted Haroka.

"Oh give me a break Haroka, I totally screwed up!" she scowled angrily.

"Come on Katara, how about we go for a quick walk?"

"Oh alright." She sighed as she took his hand as they walked down the market place as Haroka began, "Hey Katara, I wanted to tell you something, I really wanted to…"

"Katara dear, sorry Haroka; Katara has to come home now." Interrupted Gran-gran as she dragged Katara away and laughed, "Come on dear, it is late, past your bed time."

Katara looked over at Haroka as she was dragged away and gave him a weak smile as she watched him fade and followed his own mother as she entered her hut.

End of flash back.

Katara held her necklace close and cried, "I never got to hear what you wanted to say, you just had to die; you could've lived…"

Another Flash back…

17 years old Katara and 19 years old Haroka

"Katara, quick come over here!"

Katara ran over to Haroka as they giggled and ran into a cave as Haroka began, "Now, no one can interrupt us again!"

"So you wanted to tell me something?" asked Katara as she blushed a bit.

Haroka started blushing himself and began, "Katara, I wanted to tell you this for a while now and I would like you to know…"

"Come on spit it out." Joked Katara as she looked at Haroka.

He took a deep breath and began, "Katara, I really, really, really like you, I think I am in love with you."

"What?" she stuttered but was cut off with a kiss as Haroka held her head as gave her a kiss as she blushed madly as they broke apart to take a breath as Katara smiled and whispered, "I like you too." And kissed him on the cheek and continued, "But right now; Gran-gran needs me to help her around, her bones are growing frail."

Haroka nodded as they left the cave and walked back to the village happily.

End of flash back…

"Well, at least my first kiss was with you." She whispered as she looked at his grave and put down a flower and knelt down and whispered, "I would've accepted your hand in marriage."

Walking back to the village she wiped her tears away and walked into her hut and began packing to head to the Fire Nation the next day….

But she knew somewhere up in the spirit world two figures watched her and smiled, and was glad she was alive and safe…

Disclaimer: Katara is still in her tragedy moments sorry! So, Zuko was the one who fought her? Luckily he survived, but why, why did Haroka had to die? Oh well I bet Zutara Fans are more than pleased, REVIEW PLEASE!