Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. If I did, I would have convinced my parents to adopt Aang as my little brother…
CHAPTER 2: South Pole FrenziesKatara sat stiffly on her high-backed wooden chair, on her face an expression of severity and officiousness. Her hands were placed gracefully on her lap and her eyes shone with an intense fire, one that bespoke her fiery nature and gentle heart. She was alone in her room, staring at the window that showed her the small but thriving tribe she had governed for a while now.
It's been a year since the hundred-year war had ended, all thanks to a young Avatar named Aang. Once the world was put back into its former peace and glory, Katara, Sokka, and Aang went back to the South Water Tribe at the South Pole, living as a happy family. Sokka was appointed as the new chieftain (as their father wasn't found yet), an honor which he took seriously and in a few months' time since the bestowing of his title, he made the tribe prosperous, having an uncanny knack for trade and business. He opened ports and gave way to merchants from the other three kingdoms. Always by his side were Katara, who managed most of the negotiations, and Aang, who advised him in manners of tribe laws and regulations.
A few months ago, Aang felt that he needed to train some more, as there are many techniques of bending he had not yet mastered and needed to do so, being the Avatar. Sokka and Katara were aghast when he said that he had to leave, not wanting their friend go away just after a few months of staying with them.
But another blow came to Katara's life a few days later. Sokka said that he also needed to sharpen his skills as a warrior and therefore, go with Aang on his journey. He needed to learn more, so as to serve their tribe better. At first, Katara also wanted to go with them, but they needed someone to take care of the tribe while they were gone and who better to protect the tribe than an accomplished Waterbender? Katara was adamant about not wanting to let go of the two, but after days of trying to convince her, Aang and Sokka packed up and left the tribe, riding on the back of Appa and vanishing as a distant twinkle in the sky.
Not wanting to disappoint the two most important men in her life, Katara accepted all the responsibilities as the new temporary chieftess and went about her work rigorously, stopping at nothing to achieve what's best for her people. Due to her very busy schedule and moments of stress, Katara almost forgot her loneliness, although there were times that she wanted to cry when she saw just how many negotiation scrolls were piled at her desk everyday.
But Katara kept strong and went about business as usual as if she was used to stress and pressure all her life…which is partly true.
"Katara," a frail old voice said from behind the thick blue curtain that served as the entrance to her room. "The negotiation ship from the Fire Nation has arrived. They will dock here shortly. Would you like to come and welcome them at the port?"
"Yes, Gran Gran," Katara said, injecting some strength in her voice, not wanting her grandmother to notice her sadness of missing Aang and Sokka so much. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Please tell Lynn to prepare some tea for our guests as we will go straight here when they've docked."
"Of course, my dear."
Katara heard the shuffling of footsteps, signaling that her grandmother had just left to do what was asked of her. Katara sighed and approached the mirror hanging by her vanity.
She expected a young girl, a few months shy of her fifteenth birthday to stare back at her from the mirror, but found otherwise. A blossoming young woman of fifteen stared right back at her with cerulean eyes that shone brightly. No longer was she a peasant from a Water Tribe from the South Pole who wore frayed clothing and other old garments. She sported a light blue silk robe tied at the waist by a white silk ribbon imported from the Earth Nation. On her hair were no longer peasant beads, but pearl combs from far away territories of the Water Nation.
She had gone a long way from being a simple peasant to being the most powerful and most influential person on the South Pole.
And such a long way it was, she thought glumly.
After making sure that she was presentable enough for their guests, she proceeded outside to the port, grabbing her thick blue parka by a nearby chair and donning it on before stepping outside in the freezing temperature. Thank goodness, though, that the sun was up and no blizzard threatened to visit them.
Katara joined up with her grandmother and her advisor, Jing outside the chieftess' personal home and office and walked with them to the port, along with some guards.
"So, what are you going to do about their negotiations?" asked the wizened old Jing, who had been a family friend since she could remember. Her father trusted him a lot, and so did she and Sokka.
"Well, they have asked me if they could offer up a trade between our tribe and their Nation," answered Katara slowly. "They want those rare ice gems we have—I heard it's become a trend in the Fire Nation."
"Those little sparkly things we couldn't care less about?" clarified Gran Gran.
"Yes, I believe that they have never seen anything like it before and would like it if we opened up a trade between them for the gems."
"The revenue for this exportation will help the tribe a lot," said Jing, nodding, then coming to an abrupt halt—they had arrived at the port and were staring at a huge steam engine ship painted in red.
"Why only one ship?" asked Gran Gran.
"It's just for negotiations, so I don't think they need more ships for that task," replied Jing.
The huge ship finally reached port and dropped its anchor on the waters. A ramp was slowly lowered and crewmen—mostly guards—came down the ramp, forming a line at either side of the ramp. One guard shouted, "All hail the mighty Fire Lord Zuko and General Iroh!"
"Fire Lord Zuko?" Katara raised an eyebrow. "But I thought that he himself doesn't like boring stuff like this?"
"A change of heart, maybe," mused Jing with a twinkle in his eyes.
Fire Lord Zuko, resplendent in an armor of red and orange under a thick red parka came down the ramp with as much authority and military regalia as he could muster as he was already having a cold because of the cold weather he was very much unaccustomed to. His Uncle Iroh was following him, his huge tummy full of ginseng tea still as noticeable since Katara first saw him.
"Welcome to our humble tribe, Fire Lord Zuko and General Iroh," Katara bowed slightly, showing proper decorum to a Lord of a Nation and his relative. "I trust that your journey here was not bothersome."
"Oh, yes, my dear, it's been quite fun," Iroh said merrily before Zuko could say anything. "Zuko here is quite new to this weather of yours and he's already having a cold."
"That must be fixed," said Jing, also smiling at the general who he has met a few times. "Let's all go back to the house and have a nice cup of tea. That will clear your cold in an instant, Your Highness."
Zuko nodded, forcing himself not to sniffle.
Zuko, Katara, Iroh, Jing and Gran Gran headed to the house, with the two teenagers bringing up the rear. Guards were in front and behind them, making sure that their leaders won't get attacked while walking through the village.
"So what do you want to do?" asked Katara, taking off her parka when they were inside the building.
"Iroh here says that he has found a new strategy to beat me at Pai Sho!" answered Jing. "I want to see what this new strategy is."
"I promise you, my friend, that I will beat your sorry butt this time," said Iroh.
"Hah! You said that last time and the only thing you didn't lose to me were the clothes on your back! Gran Gran," he said, turning to Katara's grandmother, "please bring us some ginseng tea, okay?"
"Of course," the old woman nodded. "Will I also send some to you and Fire Lord Zuko, Katara?"
"Please, Gran Gran, as His Highness needs it."
As Jing, Iroh and Gran Gran disappeared to do their own affairs, Zuko and Katara headed for Katara's office located at a warmer part of the building. The room was fairly large and simply furnished. At a corner sat a large wooden desk that was bare except for a bottle of ink, a pen and a few pieces of papers; at the other corner was a soft-looking blue lounge; floor-to-ceilings shelves lined with books and scrolls was behind the lounge and in the middle of the room sat a circular table with four chairs. A fire cracked cheerily on the fireplace, giving the two teens a feeling of relief from the harsh cold.
Katara lead Zuko to sit on the table as a servant girl came in, bearing a tray. The servant placed the tray on the table and after bowing respectfully to the two leaders, left.
Katara poured them both some tea as idle talk began between the two teens.
"How is your tea?" said Katara, wanting to make polite conversation.
"Good," replied Zuko, who still haven't removed his parka. "This damn weather is driving me nuts! I don't know how you guys can stand living in conditions like this!"
"It takes a little bit of getting used to." Katara smiled gently. "And if you don't like the weather here, why have you come here? You could have just sent someone as your representative."
Zuko put down his cup and Katara refilled it.
"I wanted to see what this place looked like. And besides, I was bored with all those stupid meetings and trips they're always forcing me to. I wanted a change of scenery."
Katara nodded; true, it would be the first time Zuko came to their village.
"They told me that your people lived in teepees or some kind of tents, but all I see are concrete houses," remarked Zuko absently, trying to ease the tension between them. Zuko and Katara felt an air of awkwardness around them for the last time they saw each other was as enemies, and not as two leaders negotiating for the export of ice gems.
"Yes, we have lived that way before, but ever since Sokka became chief and the war had ended, our lives have improved greatly."
"Speaking of that brother of yours, how's he and the Avatar?" Zuko was really trying to keep things friendly, as it was his job to make sure that everything for his nation goes right as he is the Fire Lord.
"I just got a letter from them a few days ago. They said that they're somewhere in the Fire Nation, travelling like a couple of buffoons. I just wish I could see them, struggling on how to cook a decent meal," Katara added, laughing softly.
"I saw the Avatar and your brother as well, though it was a few months ago. They told me how hard up they were without you there to even budget their expenses, wash their clothes and such."
"Yes, they mentioned meeting you. What do they look like?"
"Your brother and the Avatar looked like they haven't eaten in days (and ate like it, too) but they've gotten much stronger, especially the Avatar. I challenged him and it was a tie. Your brother's no longer the bumbling idiot of a warrior he was before."
"True, Sokka has changed a lot."
Then Katara noticed the slight swaying of Zuko in his seat.
"What's wrong, Your Highness?" she asked, worried at what had happened to him.
"The damn cold is really bothering me," he said with a slight slur in his voice.
"But we're already in the warmest room of the house and the fire is blazing."
"I feel so light-headed…and dizzy…."
Katara stood up quickly and caught the Fire Lord before his head even banged on the table. She yelled for anyone to help her and Jing, Iroh and Gran Gran quickly came to her aide.
"What's happened?" Iroh stared at his nephew worriedly.
"He's got a fever," said Katara grimly. "Uncle Jing, help me carry him to the lounge. Gran Gran, please give me some thick blankets and Uncle Iroh, forgive me, but I will have to ask you to bring me some water."
"No need, dear, I'll go get it now."
With the help of Jing, Katara was able to carry Zuko to the lounge and have him lie there completely still. Gran Gran came a few moments later, carrying fur blankets, which Katara hastily wrapped around the ailing King. Iroh arrived with a pitcher of water and Katara used it to perform basic water-healing techniques.
Katara bended the water so that it flowed to her hands and fit her hand like a glove. She ran her water-gloved hand to Zuko's forehead and let him absorb the water to cool down his temperature. She succeeded and everyone heaved a sigh of relief when Zuko stopped his shivering and his temperature lowered.
"Katara, you really are an angel," said Iroh. "What if you weren't here and this had happened?"
"Well, I'm here and he's safe, so no need to worry. We'll have to get him to a larger bed soon, though."
"Let him move to your room, Katara, as your bed is much more comfortable than ours'," said Gran Gran, "and we have no more rooms to spare here."
"Of course. Mr. Jing, please call the guards and ask them to help us move him in my room. You and Uncle Iroh can continue your Pai Sho; I'll take care of him."
Iroh stood up and took her hands in his own.
"You really are heaven-sent, Katara," he said with much emotion. "There's no use in staying here any longer as there is already an angel guarding over my nephew. I'm sure he'll be safe. Come on, Jing, I was almost beating you!"
When Jing and Iroh left, Katara turned to her grandmother.
"Gran Gran, you better have some rest. You look tired. I'll take care of him; I'll be okay."
The old woman nodded and also left.
Katara brought her chair closer to the sleeping form of the Fire Lord and stared at his face intensely.
Several months ago, I was ready to kill you to protect Aang and Sokka, and now, I'm saving your life. What a weird world this is. Katara shook her head slowly, not believing the situation she was placed into.
All right, another chapter is done! I hope you liked this one! This is dedicated to the people who have read and reviewed my story! Keep those reviews coming; I love them all! I'll update faster when I get many reviews…
Rienne ;p