A/N:
Back with more Last Serenade
Chapter 1:
Atsou thought it was cute, the little happiness Ozai and Katara created for themselves in the illusion. He had anticipated as much and even through a few moments of conflict in there to see how they'd respond. The two were definitely devoted and loyal to one another. Nothing proved to be too much for them. Nothing. Which served as a problem for Atsou. He needed Ozai's will to live to fade. He needed the man to die and stay dead, his heart had to break beyond repair in order for this to work. Ozai needed to be crushed, him and his hopes and dreams. Atsou needed him to surrender his life or else when the time came for consummation, Ozai would fight for control and likely win. Because nothing was stronger than a man's will to live.
"Atsou, are you sure about this?" Lao asked his adoptive grandson.
Nodding his head, "The Future has changed. The illusion is not enough. Besides, I can spare another decade."
Lao sighed and gave the order for Ozai and Katara to be released. Atsou would allow the pair to remain together in order to break Ozai's will to live and strengthening Katara's. From the shadows, Atsou would orchestrate more misfortune for them both but he'd allow them to build their happiness up just like in the illusion.
…..
It was hot as hell and there wasn't as much as a piece of fabric touching his skin, except around his waist. Ozai felt like shaking Katara awake as she was just cozied up against a rock while they were in the middle of the fucking desert with the sun beating down on their small spot of shade. Her ass was in full nude and he was a bit surprised to see so much hair in certain places on her body. They must have been in those damn tubes for months because it was full bush down th-
"What the fuck?!" Katara woke up abruptly and looked around to see they were in the middle of nowhere.
"My sentiments exactly." Ozai replied as he lazily flopped down beside her, trying to get under the shade with her. "Now, here's a question I'm sure you're searching for the answer to. Where the hell do we go?"
"Where the hell did we come from?" Katara sat up and curled up, covering herself with her hair.
Ozai sighed and told her the entire story of the illusion chambers and how they ended up here. Surprisingly, they were let go of and pushed through a portal that landed them right here. Atsou was likely up to something wickedly devious if he was just sending them on their way like that. But he didn't have much concern for that at the moment. He was trying to get them out of here but the problem was, his bending didn't work. Apparently, his chi was off and he couldn't open a random portal back home. He figured Katara would likely have the same issue as they were both kept in tubes for what might have been months that probably cut off their circulation of chi. Whatever it was, their bending wouldn't work, so they'd have to do some serious walking in whatever direction they decided. From the look of the sun, it was high noon and it would be a few hours before it visiblely fell over in the west, giving them a clue as to where they should walk. South.
"So, it wasn't real? None of that?" Katara felt a bit disappointed.
"It was a shit ending but now, we're back to reality. No point in dwelling on it." Ozai stood back up and stared at the sky, trying to figure out if he could get some sort of clue from the sun where it would fall.
Pulling her knees to her chest, Katara rested her chin there and stared at the sandy ground. "Well, it was still a nice dream, I guess."
Ozai glanced down at where Katara was sulking, "Don't start getting all sad on me now, Katara. We've got an objective to clear. One that is dire. We're stuck in the middle of the gods damn desert with no food or water, you're naked, and I'm about to pull my hair out. Now, stop sulking over some stupid dream world that wasn't even real! I need your mind to focus on a plan here. Okay?"
Katara sulked some more as she was slowly sinking into a depression. That dream world was lovely. A perfect little paradise compared to her actual life. Tui and La, she wanted to go back so badly. They were both happy. Ozai must have just been upset about the reality of the situation, is what she told herself. Maybe he wished it was real just like her.
But he was right. At the moment, they had a more pressing issue to concern themselves with. How were they getting out of the desert?
Four hours walking in a random direction was Katara's best piece of advice and fortunately, turned out they were headed west, which meant they'd hit the ocean or a village soon. Ozai was grumpy the entire time and didn't seem to much give a fuck for conversing as Katara did. She had a lot to say. Mostly about their dream world and how she felt about it. However, as they spotted a desert village, Ozai sighed in relief as they hopefully could find an inn to rest in. He was tired and hungry and annoyed. He needed a safe place to just let it all exist without the sun beating down on him and Katara talking his head off.
They didn't fault the people for staring so hard. How often did anyone see a half naked man and naked woman just stroll into town?
"Sorry, our things were stolen by bandits and we're down on our luck. Would you be so kind as to allow us a place to lay our head?" Katara asked the innkeeper at the only inn in town.
"Beat it! No money, no service!"
Ozai was not surprised when he watched Katara be kicked out of the inn. They were lucky someone took pity on her and offered her a dress to wear but luck only came around once. They were on their own.
"Why aren't people charitable?" Katara sighed as she plopped down on the low stone wall where Ozai sat under a tree.
"To be fair, I'd be the same." Ozai folded his arms and shrugged.
"Well, that's no surprise." Katara snorted. "But at least we're in a village and know where we are. A few more days or weeks, if we take our bending doesn't return soon, and we'll be home."
"Home?" Ozai scoffed. "So, you're coming back with me, are you?"
Katara looked up at him, "Yeah, where else would I go?"
Ozai could think of several but he kept the comment to himself as he didn't want to further rain on her parade. If she wanted to come back with him, fine but he just didn't want any drama from her. He was already irritated.
As the two sat there in the hot sun, watching the village people flat out ignore them, Ozai spotted and old man pulling a wagon full of rocks behind him and decided to help him. He didn't know what compelled him but his feet started moving before he could will himself to stop. Fortunately, the kind gesture returned an equally kind gesture. The old man offered to let them stay a while at his farm if they were willing to help out, he'd even throw in an ostrich-horse if they were any good at farm work. Ozai accepted.
The old farmer introduced them to his elderly wife and showed them to the spare room that had a single bed and dresser in it. He welcomed them to have dinner with them tonight and Katara was all too happy to accept.
While settling into the room, Katara watched Ozai change into one of the yukatas from the dresser and smiled at him. He raised a brow at her and she giggled.
"What's funny?"
"Nothing. You just look cute."
Ozai eyed her and realized that they might need to have a conversation about things because he felt she and him were in two different head spaces. He was sure she was being heavily influenced by their time in the dream world and felt clingy and affectionate towards him because of it. But he, he was able to separate the illusion from reality. Things were different in reality. In reality, they had died because she turned into a scoipathic villianous hellbent on his misery. In reality, they were not friendly with each other, they were fighting nonstop. And in reality, he didn't know if he could stomach them ever getting back together after the shit she pulled in Ba Seng Sei. However, Katara was pleasant right now and he didn't want to ruin it. So he just didn't reply.
Dinner time rolled around and the elderly couple was happy to have their guests join them. The two had questions for them and the younger two felt it was best to pose as a couple too.
"You two make an odd pair." The old man said. "A waterbender and firebender. Is that even heard of?"
Katara nodded, "Well, I heard ever since the Phoenix King married that waterbender lady, there's been a spike in couples like them all over." She chuckled.
"That makes sense." The elderly woman giggled cheerfully. "I heard they both died certainly. Some tragic fight that destroyed the palace in Ba Seng Sei."
The old man scoffed, "Yeah, well, they were both evil. Glad they're both gone now. The world can go back to being a little safer with those freaks gone."
Ozai was unphased as Katara felt a bit uncomfortable.
When it came time to go to bed, Katara sat on the edge of the bed and sighed.
"Ozai, do you think the world is better without us in it?" She asked.
Snorting, "I don't give a fuck. The world can go fuck itself."
"Seriously, Ozai." Katara gave him that look that she really needed a sincere answer.
Eyeing her as he sighed and looked away, "What should either of us care about what the world wants or thinks. No one really knows us better than we know each other. So, why care?"
Katara laid herself down in bed and stared at Ozai as he laid down with his arm over his face.
"Want to cuddle?" She asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Too hot."
"Says the firebender." Katara giggled.
Ozai sighed and rolled over on his side, "Good night, Katara."
…..
They had been working for several days on the elderly couple's farm and earning their keep. Ozai did pretty much all the physical labor while Katara helped cook, clean, and harvest some of the crops for the couple. At the moment, the two were washing up for dinner and Katara kept sneaking peeks at Ozai. She felt he was acting a little off. He didn't seem interested talking with her much or looking her in the eyes. He was annoyed and irritable nonstop. Not to mention, he got angry at her for kissing him one morning and stormed off. She didn't know what she did but he didn't seem to like her very much at the moment.
Sensing Katara eyeing him from behind, Ozai mentally begrudged that he hadn't worked up to telling her that he wasn't interested in the two of them getting back together. He knew he should probably say something but he just didn't want to break her spirit. He kept trying to find the right words to use as to not hurt her feelings but none of it felt right. Maybe there was simply no easy way to say he wanted them to move on from each other. And it didn't have to be that way forever. He still loved her but they had things to work out and deal with before it could ever be a real relationship between them like it was in that illusion.
"So...I was thinking that we should probably not be so quick to tell the kids about us." Katara started up out of the blue as she was drying her hair. "I think you and I need to work some things out first and see where that takes us."
Ozai sighed as he wrapped a towel around himself, "Couldn't agree more."
"I mean, I think we should acknowledge that the illusion was nice and we definitely have the potential to be like that here, we just have to make it work, ya know?"
"Sure."
"Cause let's face it, this life sucks ass compared to all the cool things in the future. You think maybe Atsou was able to see the future and placed us in what the future us would look like?"
"Maybe."
"Tui and La, I can't wait for that to happen!" Katara gleefully said as she wrapped her arms around Ozai's middle and pressed her face to his back. "Oh, Ozai, can we please just cuddle a little tonight?"
Maybe it was the guilt talking or maybe he really did just want to have what they had in the illusion in reality but Ozai didn't much hesitate to turn around and kiss her. She returned the kiss as he picked her up and carried her off to bed.
In the morning, Ozai woke to Katara resting against his chest, clingily wrapping her arm around his middle like she was afraid to let go. Maybe Katara really did just want to be with him now. Maybe she really wanted this all along. But then again….She killed us. Not to mention, she went crazy for a great bit of time. Just violent and crazy. Spoiling his mood, Ozai pulled her off of him and got up.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ozai heard Katara stir awake and yawn.
"You okay?" She asked as she stretched in bed, wiggling around in the sheets.
Sweeping his hair back from his face, "Yes."
Sitting up, "Your hair is growing back." Katara smiled, reaching over to gather the end of it into her hands.
"We should get going." Ozai told her, getting up and walking over to where his clothes were tossed.
Katara sat in bed and eyed him, "Is something wrong, Ozai? You don't seem like yourself."
Sighing as he knew he needed to go ahead and talk to her, Ozai opened his mouth to tell her what was on his mind but as soon as he looked at her sitting up in bed, he paused. Those big sapphire eyes of hers were bright and had him speechless. The flawless way her hair cascade over her mahogany skin set a blaze in his chest and he remembered why he loved her so dearly for all these years. She was beautiful and not just in an exotic way but in a way that melted his heart. She was precious to him and he couldn't risk losing her again. Not when it finally seemed like she wanted to be here with him. Finally, they were together….this is what he wanted more than anything for years and she was right here, in bed with worry on her brows.
Finding it in him to give her a reassuring smile, Ozai's mind was a little more at ease when he watched her eyes light up as she smiled back.
"I love you." He told her.
Giggling, "I love you too."
"Thank you both for everything!" The elderly couple waved at them as they were on an ostrich-horse carrying some supplies and food.
Four hours into heading south, the couple stopped just as they made it into the swamplands. Katara warned Ozai that the swamps were dangerous and they needed to wait till morning before navigating the territory. They set up camp on the dry base of a fallen tree stump and made a small fire.
"We'll probably need to strip down to lesser clothes in order to keep cool." Katara suggested.
Snorting, "You just want to get me naked."
Katara rolled her eyes.
The couple huddled up in their sleeping bags that the elderly farmer couple packed for them and shut their eyes for bed. However, as Katara was about to drift off, she suddenly felt the warmth of Ozai's larger body leave her. Her eyes snapped open and she saw that he was gone. Panic rose in her chest as she quickly climbed to her feet and looked around. The fire was put out somehow and Ozai was nowhere to be seen. She knew immediately that it was the swamp's doing. This place was very much alive. Just like before.
….
Katara spent all night searching for Ozai and now, at the early hours of sunrise, she had completely lost where their campsite was.
"DAMN IT!" She screamed in frustration. She couldn't Ozai and she couldn't find her way back to camp. She was screwed.
Plopping down into the shallow swamp water, Katara grumpily glared at the small fish swimming around her. She flicked one of them and then watched the fish swim back to her.
"You know, if I had my bending, I'd find him in no time." She talked to herself or more so to the fish. "Maybe you could show me to him, hmmm?" She snorted a small laugh at how ridiculous this all was.
The fish swam around her hand as if to get her attention. She tilted her head in curiosity and asked if it knew where Ozai was. The fish, of course, couldn't speak but it gestured its movements in a direction, making Katara believe that maybe, just maybe, the fish understood her.
"Take me to him, little guy." She said.
Katara followed the fish as swam under vines, through hollow trunks, over murk lagoons, and towards what looks like a giant willow tree with a face. The fish then swam in circles as if it had reached its destination. Feeling totally foolish for leaving it to a fish to take her to Ozai, Katara straight up kicked the little guy and shouted.
"That's what I get for trusting a fish to do a person's job." Katara sulked as she folded herself forward in complete dread of her situation.
"Young Siren woman, what brings you back to this place?" A voice appear from out of nowhere.
Katara frozen and then looked up, frantically searching for the direction the voice was coming from.
"Right in front of you, sweetheart." the voice spoke again.
Katara looked up at the willow tree and saw that it was smiling at her. She could do nothing but scream in terror of the frightening realization that the tree was talking to her. Her scream did not last long as the vines dangling from the tree wrapped around her mouth to hush her up.
"Enough of that, child. You were brought to me because you are in search for something. What do you wish to find, siren child of the ocean?"
The vine loosened up from around her mouth and she slowly felt herself calm down as this wasn't the freakiest thing she's witnessed.
Clearing her throat, "A someone, actually. His name is Ozai. He went missing last night and I'm searching for him."
"Ozai…" The tree said his name. "The phoenix, the bird of fire, a dangerous one at that. What does your kind care for a creature like him?"
Chuckling awkwardly, "Well, he's kind of my ex-husband. Well, not kinda, he is and we're just trying to get home to our children. I need to find him. Please help me if you can." Katara pleaded.
"Hmm, a siren and a phoenix….odd pair but understandable. Both are tremendously powerful. Why 'ex' husband?"
"It's complicated." Katara shrugged.
"As are all things, child." The tree laughed. "I will have my friend Toto take you to him."
Katara suddenly saw the little fishy return to her and circle around her. So, you really did understand me.
…..
"Come on, little guy, he can't be that far." Katara pouted as she was growing tired from walking all day.
Eventually the fishy brought her to another hollow trunk with vines dangling over the opening and circled around.
"Is he through here?"
The fishy jumped from the water and back in.
"Awesome!" Katara said happily. "Thanks Toto, you've been a great help."
The waterbender crouched down to the shallow water and caressed the little fish, thanking him for his help. As the fishy swam off, completing his task, Katara took a deep breath and pulled back the vines as she entered through the hollow trunk's opening.
On the other side, she saw an entire swamp village just bustling with not a single care that an outsider had just stumbled across their humble abode.
"Na'an, we've got another." A woman laughed as she looked to Katara from her place on a nearby stump.
Katara awkwardly waved her hand, "Hi."
"The mother must have brought you here. Did she have Toto escort you?" The woman asked Katara.
Nodding.
"So what brings you here, stranger?"
"My friend, he went missing last night and Toto was to bring me to where he was. Have you seen him?"
"Tall, grumpy fella with terrible language and a resting bitch face."
"So, he's here?" Katara smiled, feeling victorious that she had finally found Ozai.
Jumping down from her stump, "Come this way."
Katara followed the swamp woman that was clad in the giant leaf attire she remember they wore here. The woman brought them to a raft and had her climb aboard as she then navigated them through the swamp village. A few children were playing out in the water with a ball while the adults all went about their day. Katara forgot how mystical this place looked compared to the rest of the world. It was so different and full of magic and wonder.
Reaching their destination, Katara was led to the steps of a treehouse and taken up the stairs. At the top, the woman let Katara through the door and the first thing she saw was Ozai, tied up and gagged with a vine. He was up and alert, glaring daggers at the man tightening the vines on him using plant bending.
"Ozai!" Katara was relieved to see him.
Shifting his gaze to the sound of Katara's voice, Ozai eyed her to get him out of the vines before he did something to these strange country bumckin waterbenders. She rushed over to him and knelt in front of him, pulling on the vines to set him free. However, they didn't budge.
"This guy her friend?" The man keeping watch of Ozai asked.
"Yes, Lu." The woman rolled her eyes. "They clearly know each other."
Lu used his bending to unwrap the man and release him.
Throwing her arms around Ozai, Katara pressed her face against his forehead as she held to him. "I've been up all night looking for you. Why did you leave?"
"Leave?! This asshats snatched me out of my sleep and brought me here!" Ozai shouted as he glared at the two swamp people.
"Yer man here is a dangerous firebender. Worse, he's a fire bird. A threat to the ecosystem here." Lu explained as he folded his arms and glared back at Ozai.
Katara turned to plead with the man, "Ozai isn't bad. Not anymore, at least. And we're just passing through. We mean no harm."
"I'm going to kill these people." Ozai mumbled under his breath and Katara elbowed him in the face.
Seeing the odd pair, Lu noticed this woman was a siren and smiled. "You a Siren?"
Katara nodded.
"So you can talk to fish and grow a fishtail?" Lu asked.
Furrowing her brows, "I only just talked to a fish today and it brought me here."
Ozai looked at her like she was crazy, "You talked to a fish."
"Yeah, his name was Toto." Katara said, ignoring the look Ozai was giving her. "And no, I can't grow a fishtail."
Lu eyed the woman strangely. "All sirens have fishtails. I wanna see yours."
Katara was forced to her feet and yanked through the door.
"Come, we're gonna see your fishtail!"
Ozai really didn't even know how to respond to the craziness in front of him. The swamp woman offered her hand to him.
"Wanna see your friend grow a fishtail?"
Just kill me already.
…
"I don't have a fishtail!" Katara shouted as a group of people surrounded the edge of the swamp water she had been thrown in.
"Sirens have fishtails! See!" Lu pointed at the woman that swam up to Katara.
Katara eyed the woman in disbelief as she had an entire fishtail as the lower half of her body. She was speechless and here, she thought she knew everything about being a siren. But as a few more women with fishtails swam up, Katara was curious, could she grow a fishtail too?
Ozai was disgusted by the half-fish women. What the hell was this? Were they still in the illusion? Had to be. This shit was unreal.
"I want a fishtail. How do you do it?"
"No!" Ozai told Katara. "Don't! You don't need a fishtail!"
"But I want one!" Katara pouted.
"Get out of the water or I'm leaving you here."
Katara sighed and climbed out the water as the swamp people booed Ozai for stopping the new siren from transforming. As she went to Ozai's side, Lu approached them.
"If you two are really just passing through the swamp, we can take you to the edge of the swamp in a few days during our hunting." Lu offered. "Until then, please stay and rest."
The two agreed and were escorted to a treehouse to stay in. They were given clothes to dress in for the humid climate as well as food and drink to have for the night. As they were left alone, Ozai scoffed and started removing his clothes.
"I wish I had known the swamp was full of crazy people, I would have taken another route." Ozai hissed between his teeth.
Katara sighed and also began removing her clothes, changing into the leafy attire they were given. She then tied her hair up into a high single braid and turned to Ozai, who was struggling to change into his clothes. Helping him, she managed to get him to place the large leafy loin cloth on and tie his hair away from his face, leaving a single lock out in the front of his face.
"There," She smiled at him. "You look handsome."
"Well, I feel like shit." Ozai groaned as he sat down on the rock chair covered in decayed vines.
Sitting beside him, Katara rested her head against his bare shoulder and shut her eyes. "We'll be home soon. Let's not sweat it."
Ozai tried not to be so frustrated with this whole situation but it was difficult. He just wanted to soak in his clean, warm bath with a glass of wine and something that wasn't aged old dried meat jerky. Or whatever the hell these people gave them to eat. As he heard Katara's soft snores, Ozai picked her up and laid her in the bed to rest. He watched over her for a moment and felt a little calmer. She had really been herself again as of late. No longer forced to follow the command of Atsou or be forced into captivity by someone else. She was free and she freely chose his side to stand beside. It made him feel at ease. Everything was finally coming together.
In the morning, Ozai woke to Katara no longer being beside him and a dreadful feeling came over him. He sat up and looked around, finding no trace of her anywhere. It only made him feel sicker to his stomach. It was like she just disappeared and he couldn't deal with that. Not now. Not again.
"Like this." A woman told Katara as the waterbender was in the swamp water trying to learn how to get a tail.
Katara watched as the woman bended water around her lower half causing a small swirl before her feet merged into a scaly tail much like a fish's. It was beautiful. The different colors of each woman's tail. Katara couldn't wait to have her own tail like them. If she learned this, she'd teach her daughters so that they could have a nice swim with her one day.
"Now, focus and picture you're tail in your head. I'll do it for you the first time since your chi is off." The woman offered.
Excited, Katara closed her eyes and focused on what her tail would look like as the swamp woman had a the water swirl around her lower half. As she opened her eyes, the water siren looked down tosee she had a fishtail. In a fit of excitement and joy, Katara splashed around with her new tail and shrieked as it was beautiful. A bright blue body with a sliver of gold and a mystically purple fin.
"Oh my Tui and La! This is amazing!"
"Now, come on! Let's put that tail to good use!"
The other siren women swam off and Katara was about to do the same when she was stopped by Ozai. He caught her hair just as she was about to splash away.
"What is this?" He pulled away as he saw her tail.
Katara beamed up at him happily, "I have a tail now! Isn't it beautiful?!"
Ozai made a face that seemed a bit freaked out. As pretty and magical her tail looked, it was strange to him. How was he supposed to bone a fish lady?
"When I called you a fish, I was only kidding. I didn't mean you could turn into a fish!"
Giggling, "I'll chat with you later, I just want to swim with the other ladies." Katara told him.
Seeing how happy and full of warmth her smile was, Ozai could only nod and watch her struggle to swim with her new tail. He just hoped she could turn back to normal, they needed to get home soon. There was no telling how long they had been out of commission but they needed to make sure all hell didn't break loose with their family. But, he'd let Katara have her fun with other sirens like her. She seemed to finally make friends.
It was night when Ozai finally saw Katara return with her new fish friends. He had to say, he didn't enjoy her taking up the whole day when they needed to discuss so much. But he wouldn't fault her. She was having some innocent fun and he knew how much she needed to be carefree for a time.
Crouching down on the tree branch that bridged over the swamp canal system, Ozai saw Katara looked up at him from the water and wave her webbed hands at him. He smirked.
"So you're officially a fish now."
Giggling, "I'm a siren. Apparently, all sirens can do this." Katara said as she reached up for him to pull her out.
Ozai pulled her up to him and had her bridalstyle in his arms, her and her fishtail. "I think I'll really have to get you a fishtank."
"A big one." she laughed.
"You can invite your fish friends." Ozai told her.
"I'd like that."
The hunt was on and the couple was about to part with the swamp. Katara hugged her friends goodbye and promised to come back. Ozai was so happy to be leaving. They were only two days from Omashu and he really couldn't wait to be back home.
"Katara, I've been meaning to discuss our relationship." Ozai started as they walked side by side through the woodlands of the Phoenix Empire.
The waterbender nodded, "I know." She replied as she stayed focus on the path ahead. "You're not ready for us to be together again, are you?"
"So, you knew?"
"I know you, Ozai." Katara paused and looked up at him with a gentle gaze. "I just want you to know that I love you more than anything and I can wait."
Ozai pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard. When they parted, he caressed the side of her face and sighed as he stared into her eyes lovingly. "I love you more than life itself, Katara, but I don't trust you."
"I know." She held his hand to her face. "I'll work to gain your trust back, Ozai. I promise."
Kissing her again, "Let's get home and make sure the kids haven't burned the place down."
"Knowing them, the whole city might catch fire."
"Let's hurry then."
…
A/N:
The pair are on their way home!