Chapter 9
4 Years after the Hundred Year War
Harbor Town, Western Earth Kingdom
For once, something on their journey to Ba Sing Se went according to the plan, with Katara and Azula reaching the Harbor Town by sunset. While puny in size and barely deserving to be called a town, the settlement still had a somewhat reputable looking inn, and despite the lateness of the hour, they had been able to rent a room with a pair of single beds. After an entire day of exhausting walking, they both had collapsed in their respective beds and fallen asleep almost instantly, waking up late the next morning.
First thing on Azula's mind as she woke up was to make use of the rudimentary but adequate bathing facilities of the inn. She did not think to complain, having spent the past four years of her life stuck between various prisons and mental wards. While Zuko had made sure that the hospitals had suitable conditions for someone of the royal blood, when she landed herself in prison following one of her many escapes, she had to endure many a humiliating hardship.
Once Katara had taken her own quick shower, the waterbender had joined Azula at the breakfast table and they had formulated their plan for the day over a nourishing meal. Considering that they had slept in, and there was still shopping to be done, they had agreed to spend the rest of the day in the Harbor Town, head to bed early and start out again on the next day with the break of dawn. That suited Azula just fine. She wanted to get to Ba Sing Se as soon as possible, but she didn't see the need to overexert herself. If the Dai Li were to ambush them again, Azula wanted to be as close to her best as she could.
Following breakfast, Katara had handed her a few coins from her money belt and they had parted to do each their own shopping. It had taken Azula a while to track down a merchant who was peddling the wares she was looking for, bare necessities such as hair brushes and a mirror. The female shopkeeper also had some very basic cosmetics on offer, and appalled by the paltry selection, Azula had simply bought everything in the merchant's stock, from foundation to eye shadow and lipstick. If they were to take the route running north of the Serpent's Pass, they would most likely never come across a settlement larger than this town before reaching Ba Sing Se, and Azula was unlikely to get ahold of a better selection of cosmetics.
There was one purchase in particular that Azula was very happy to have secured, and that was a collection of Fire Nation spices. This bland Earth Kingdom food was driving her up the wall, and she relished the thought of being able to make it more palatable with a few pinches of spices that reminded her of the far more refined cuisine of her homeland.
With her shopping done, Azula went for a short walk along the pier, then settling down on a nearby bench, basking in the warm afternoon sun as she finally took the time to think more in detail about everything that had happened as of late. In truth, Azula was surprised about her feelings regarding the situation she found herself in. She had been convinced that this journey with Katara watching her like a hawk would be insufferable and torturous, but if she was completely honest with herself... she was not having a bad time at all. The only thing Azula was uncertain of was Katara trying to fill her head with confounding and uncomfortable thoughts.
Still, nobody would dare to call Azula a coward, and she would never let some uncomfortable thoughts unsettle her. No, she would face them head on... such as Katara's ridiculous idea that Azula could be anything else but the supreme ruler of the Fire Nation. What else could she be? A baker? A seamstress? Some worthless menial worker? It was ridiculous, she was born into power, born to hold power over those less worthy. Of course, according to Katara, by believing this, she was blindly accepting a path that somebody else had laid out for her, she was not making her own choices.
But what other choices did she have, really? It was so confusing. What if Katara was right, and the people of Fire Nation didn't want her as their ruler? Azula wanted to dismiss this notion as a ridiculous one, but... something at the back of her mind whispered insistently that she was deluding herself. She had already admitted to herself that her first stint as the reigning Fire Lord had been an utter disaster. Was it really any wonder that the people felt conflicted about having her assume the mantle of their sovereign yet again? It absolutely gutted her pride to admit it, but... Zuko had been ruling for four straight years by now, and... the Fire Nation was at peace, and according to what she had heard, the fortunes of her homeland were gradually improving. Everyone seemed more or less happy with the work that Zuko had done. It was so irritating to admit, but her awkward turtle duck of a brother was succeeding where she had failed so miserably, and the realization of it all made Azula want to scream in frustration.
Damn the waterbender, but she was right. There would not be a Fire Lord Azula, she had to face the bitter truth. And that brought her back to the question of what else was there for her. Katara had told Azula that more choices would eventually present themselves to her in time, and that she would help Azula spot them. At this point, Azula actually felt grateful for the offer and willing to take the waterbender up on it.
"The strangest thing just happened," speaking of the waterbender, Azula's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Katara as she placed two heavy backpacks on the bench next to Azula. "I wanted to buy some eye shadow at the store, but the shopkeeper told me that she had already sold everything she had to a rather rude and stuck-up young woman. You wouldn't know anything about that, Azula?" Katara gave her a meaningful stare.
"Maybe..." Azula flashed her a particularly smug grin.
"Just as I thought," Katara laughed. "You will be sharing those supplies."
"What? In your dreams, Katara," Azula shook her head. "You're not touching my stuff with your dirty little fingers. I'm surprised that a savage like you even knows how to apply makeup."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Katara sighed, plopping down on the bench next to her. "Besides, it's all bought with the money I gave you, so technically, that's all my stuff and I'm just letting you use it. So there," she stuck out her tongue at Azula.
"Right, whatever," Azula rolled her eyes. "So, what's all that?" she asked, pointing at the two sizeable backpacks that Katara had brought over.
"Oh, just some supplies," Katara replied. "Food, blankets, cooking utensils, things like that, basic adventuring kit," she smiled. "Also, I went and bought us a tent. I know you made a big fuss about it earlier, but..."
"But if we're taking that northern path around the big lake, then we'll probably have to camp in the wilderness, so... I guess a tent is a good idea," Azula nodded in realization. She supposed she could suffer one more indignity, squeezing in tightly with the waterbender inside a small tent, sleeping side by side. For some reason, she felt her cheeks warming slightly, Azula frowning and pushing the thoughts about sharing a tent with Katara well away. "Of course, you'll be the one carrying the tent," she said quickly.
"That's fine," Katara replied with a smile. "And it means you're carrying the other bag."
Azula frowned and reached over to lift both backpacks in turn. The bag containing the food and other supplies was much heavier. "You know what, I'll take the tent after all," the princess decided quickly.
"Too late!" Katara announced with a smug grin on her lips.
"Ugh... we'll see about that," Azula grumbled, bristling at having been outwitted by the waterbender. This was yet another thing that Azula was having to reevaluate as she continued traveling with Katara. Earlier, she had arrogantly dismissed Katara as an uneducated savage who knew nothing, and while it was true that Katara lacked the kind of education that a Crown Princess had enjoyed, it didn't mean that the waterbender was stupid, far from it. Azula had to admit that Katara was actually quite clever, quick witted and wise in the ways of the world, and she never backed down when Azula challenged her.
Azula only knew and accepted one response to her challenging someone, and it was for the other person to roll over and do as they were told. However, Katara would have none of it, and Azula figured that such impertinence would make her angry beyond belief, but now... now Azula had to admit that she actually enjoyed being challenged. There was something refreshing and exciting in Katara's misguided belief that they were equals, and it all surprised Azula a great deal.
"Too bad you're not more like Ty Lee," Azula sighed wistfully. "I could always force her to carry all my stuff."
"You were so awful towards that poor, sweet girl, taking advantage of her feelings for you like that," Katara glared at the princess. "I wish she would have kicked your ass."
"Well... she did, actually," Azula frowned. "She chi-blocked me that one time on the Boiling Rock. That was very unpleasant."
"I'm sure you deserved it," Katara smirked at her.
"What, for punishing a traitor? Whatever," Azula shrugged. "Anyway, shall we decide on a route for tomorrow?" she asked, pulling out the map and spreading it out in her lap, Katara leaning closer to take a better look at it. As Katara did so, the scent of her hit Azula's nostrils, the subtle pine aroma from the soap she had used back at the inn. It was... crude, perhaps, but... Azula still found herself thinking that it smelled very nice and suited Katara perfectly.
"Alright, so we are here?" Katara pointed at the Harbor Town on the map.
"That's right," Azula nodded. "We have two options. We can circle around all these mountains to the east by taking a detour to the south."
"It's going to cost us a lot of time, won't it?" Katara asked. "Why don't we cut across the mountains here?" she pointed at the landscape directly to their east. "I know there are at least a few passes through the mountains that we could take."
"Yes, that's our other option, and honestly... I would prefer the harder but shorter path," Azula said. "We'll be well rested by tomorrow."
"Agreed," Katara nodded. "I actually know this area... somewhat. Those are the ruins of Taku, if I'm not mistaken," she pointed at another marker on the map, on the other side of the mountains.
"That's right," Azula said, a little surprised. "You've been there before?"
"It's not a happy memory, and I don't remember much," Katara replied. "My brother and I both went down with some kind of illness, and it knocked us out for days. I just know that eventually Aang cured us by making us suck on some frozen frogs from the nearby swamp."
"That is absolutely disgusting," Azula made a face.
"I could not agree more," Katara nodded emphatically. "I was still a little delirious from the fever when we left, so I'm afraid I don't remember much about the ruins. But I remember this little town quite well," Katara sighed in contentment as she leaned against the backrest of the bench, enjoying the afternoon sun. "We needed supplies, but we were also out of money, so Sokka... my brother, he took a job helping a local fisherman. They got into a huge storm and almost perished... would have perished if Aang hadn't saved them at the last moment."
"I've always thought that your brother was rather stupid," Azula remarked.
Katara glanced at her, Azula expecting the waterbender to launch into an angry and passionate defense of her brother, but instead Katara simply chuckled softly and shook her head. "I suppose he can be a bit of a doofus now and then, but I love him all the same," she said wistfully. "His heart has always been in the right place."
"Ugh," Azula grunted, feeling her annoyance levels rising. "How can you be like that? It can't be real!"
"I beg your pardon, Azula?" Katara looked at her with wide-eyed surprise.
"Such a goody-goody, never a single bad word about anyone!" Azula exclaimed in frustration. "Always the selfless and helpful do-gooder, asking for nothing in return, so desperate to do the right thing! Admit it, you're fake like everyone else, you have to be!"
"Ah," Katara smiled knowingly, which only irritated Azula further. "It's not an act, I can assure you, but then again, I think you already know that. But if you're asking why I am the way I am, I think I have an answer for you, and it all has to do with our background and our upbringing."
"Explain," Azula snapped.
"Have you ever been to either of the Poles, Azula?" she asked. The princess shook her head in denial. "I thought so. See, you don't know what it means to grow up at the South Pole. Among the tribe, self-centered people have no future, Azula. There is no going at it alone, no matter how strong willed you are, because in those harsh conditions, our people can survive only by cooperating and relying on each other. Most of the tasks we undertake must be done together with someone, you cannot stray far from the village on your own, or you risk being lost forever to the treacherous weather or changing terrain."
"That sounds absolutely horrid," Azula shuddered. "Why would anyone get the idea to live in such conditions I will never understand."
"You can get used to practically anything," Katara smiled. "But I hope that it explains my attitude. I have been taught from an early age to help and support others, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it would help me survive and that in turn would benefit the tribe."
"Hmm, I suppose that does make sense," Azula admitted. "My upbringing could not have been more different from yours."
"No, I suppose not," Katara chuckled. "You were born into royalty and never had to worry about the lack for anything. Where I had to fight for survival daily, you could instead focus on scheming, court politics and various plays for power."
"That sounds far more enjoyable than what you had to deal with," Azula smirked.
"I'm sure it was more enjoyable, but it also explains why our attitudes are so different, princess," Katara smiled at her. "When we are confronted with a new situation, my first instinct is to think how I can help, while your first instinct is to think how to use the situation to your advantage."
"That seems about right," Azula shrugged. "I'm sure there's a lecture incoming about why my way of doing things is awful and how I'm a horrible person because of it."
"I would never say that, Azula," Katara's smile seemed to become particularly soft and soothing. "I know that it is incredibly hard to escape and break free from your upbringing. Perhaps it is even impossible... and unhealthy. But... that doesn't mean you can't grow beyond what you are taught to be, Azula." She reached out and touched Azula's hand ever so gently. "That's what I would like to show you, Azula. Now, go on, snap at me that what I'm saying is stupid and ridiculous. I know you need to get that out of your system."
Azula swallowed heavily. She wanted to be angry, she wanted to snap at Katara. She wanted to push Katara's hand away, to be rid of that distracting feather-light touch... but she couldn't. "No," she ground out. "I'm not going to say that it's stupid."
"Well, then..." Katara looked surprised beyond belief, but also very pleased as she squeezed her hand before releasing it. "I'm very happy to hear that, princess," she said, as they continued to enjoy the warm afternoon sun in comforting, soothing silence.