No one had warned Katara about the motion sickness involved with pregnancy. She thought being a healer she knew everything about being with child, but nothing could have prepared her for being on a ship in the open sea. The rolling waves amplified her morning sickness causing severe nausea. Which often led to a severe headache that lasted until early afternoon.
Over the last few days, with the help of Ursa and her blend of herbs, the waterbender had done her best to hide her condition. However, this morning, regardless of how much of the herb tea she drank, nothing could quell her queasiness. So she stood on the empty deck, in the dim morning sunlight, with her face over the side of the ship.
As she stared down into the ocean, she wished she could bend the waves to be still. Yet, the sea was too vast to be truly quieted, not to mention, that would greatly slow down the crew's progress.
"My mother said to bring this to you."
Katara looked up and saw Zuko with a ceramic teacup in his hand. His eyebrows knitted with worry.
"I've already had a lot." Katara groaned out attempting to stand up straight.
"She said it was stronger than the last blend."
The waterbender nodded, then greedily chugged the hot tea. Not caring it burned her tongue. She just wanted the relief.
"Thank you," Katara said handing the now empty cup back to Zuko who looked more alarmed than before.
"I don't want to pry, but are you okay?" He asked running his hand through his hair. Looking more like his unsure, 18-year-old self - than the current Fire Lord.
Katara considered her friend for a minute, as the effect of the strong herbs took hold. Zuko was one of her oldest friends. He was also the least likely to tell anyone her secret without her permission.
"I'm pregnant." The waterbender stated matter of factly.
Zuko appeared dazed for a moment but shook off the shock. "Um, is it appropriate for me to congratulate you?"
Katara broke into a laugh and Zuko looked bewildered.
After a minute, she calmed herself down. "To be honest, I don't know? I haven't really told anyone. Except for your mom. She guessed."
A cool wind tussled Zuko's black hair as he looked at his friend. Her cheeks still pink with amusement, "She has a way of knowing these things."
Katara gave a small nod and they looked out at the rising sun. In the growing light, they could make out the dark outline of the Southern Air Temple. In only a few hours they would be at their destination.
"You know I'm here if you need anything," Zuko said, still looking off into the distance.
"I appreciate that."
—
Katara stuck close to Ursa as they departed the ship for the funeral. Her presence provided support as the waterbender was bombarded with the first wave of mourners.
So many faces melted together. They all repeated the variation on the same mantra. The rhythm of "I am so sorry," "Our condolences," "He was a great man" - didn't anger Katara. It just lodged her in her grief more, knowing so many other people hurt from Aang's murder. This wasn't a private mourning like when mom or Gran Gran died, this was a collective grief. He was the sign of hope for so many. His unexpected end shook so many.
Katara and Ursa, trailed by Zuko, walked up a tree-lined path to a clearing with air balloons emblazoned with the Air Nation emblem. Next to the balloons laid a defeated-looking Appa. Katara let out a ragged breath seeing the air bison's eyes so laced with sadness.
"Do you need to take a moment?" Ursa softly asked. Her hand calmly at Katara's elbow, as if holding her up. The waterbending master shook her head shoving the rise of tears down and continued down the path.
The walk seemed to stretch on forever, but at the end, they were greeted by Sokka and Toph next to Appa. The air bison's eyes brightened ever so slightly as Katara approached and placed a hand on his dry nose. Ursa touched the younger woman's elbow lightly and bowed her head slightly. The older woman then walked over to one of the air balloons where Hakoda was standing. Zuko went to follow his mother.
"Where are you going Sparky?" Toph questioned. "You get to ride on Appa with us."
Zuko uncharacteristically didn't protest and just nodded. The gang briefly gave each other hugs and lamented the fact it had been so long since they were all together.
As most of the air balloons began to rise towards the blue spires of the temple, the four of them followed suit. They climbed on Appa, and with a moan, ascended to the ceremonial platform. The tone becoming increasingly somber between the four friends.
They could make out a circle of Air Acolytes in their orange and yellow garb as they drew closer. Dots of color on the pale stone clearing. The Acolytes surrounded a body-sized, wooden box, but Katara knew Aang's body wasn't there. Her stomach churned thinking about how his remains were still with the group who had murdered him. After a few more quiet minutes, Appa finally landed.
Uncle Iroh, wearing his long White Lotus robe, met the group on the platform. He first clapped a hand on Zuko's shoulder. Then he turned to face Katara. He said nothing, but his face was the picture of peacefulness. He then took Katara's hand. The warmth and softness continued to steady her as she forced herself to stay composed. He then led her to the circle of Acolytes, putting her in the place of honor at the head of the empty coffin.
Despite the sad occasion, it was a beautiful, summer day. The sky was crystalline and the wind was heavy with the scent of summer fruits. Aang would have enjoyed this day. The waterbender looked around as people from all nations continued to get situated. Her body numbed, as the sound of a gong rang in the distance. The brassy tone repeated seven times. Each hit layering on top of the previous one, creating an ethereal wave of sound, dousing the mourners. As the seventh note of the gong faded, the Air Acolytes crouched down in eerie unison and lit sticks of incense at their feet. The gray wisps began ascending into the burning, late afternoon sun, and a woodsy smell lulled the mourners into a mediative state.
Iroh's gravelly voice broke the silence, "We light this lantern to represent Avatar Aang's ascension into the Spirit World."
The Grand Lotus then bent a small spark of fire into a cream-colored paper lantern. His face still the embodiment of peace as he let it float into the sky. Katara's throat constricted as she watched the light lift into the wind.
"We light this lantern to…" Began another White Lotus member, when a scream from Katara's left rang out. Many of the people on the platform were season warriors and benders - and immediately jumped to find the source. A small explosion rang in front of Katara. Followed by another one. Then she saw it. People clothed in black and forest green with covered faces climbing onto the platform. They held swords and something else she had never seen before. But the unknown equipment was the source of the explosions when the attackers pulled a trigger.
The unknown assailants began confronting anyone in sight. Katara uncorked the small pouch of water she had concealed in her dark blue funeral robes and pulled more liquid from the air. She bent a sharp whip and began striking at the raiders inching closer. Even in the confusion, it appeared their efforts were concentrated on getting to her.
Zuko and her father must have noticed as they flanked her, defending her back.
"We have to get you out of here." The Fire Lord said surveying the chaos. Various diplomats and air acolytes were fleeing the scene. This only left a small number of benders on the platform to fend off what seemed to be a never-ending wave of attackers.
"No, I won't leave anyone," Katara said as she took out three masked assailants. The familiar hum of adrenaline flowed through her veins. Then another explosion whizzed past her ear and hit her father's shoulder. Hakoda cried out in pain. Blood immediately began blossoming from the impact site.
"Were outnumbered, Katara," Zuko replied. An edge of worry laced his usually cool tone, as the Southern Tribes Chief leaned against him for support.
"Okay," Katara said her voice strained. She could not deny their terrible odds as she looked around the platform. The blood also poured from her father's shoulder at an alarming rate.
The trio ran to Appa. Katara fended off random attacks as Zuko helped the injured Hakoda climb onto the air bison. Before they took off, the waterbender looked around but didn't see Sokka, Toph, or Ursa. She prayed they were already in an air balloon.
With a 'yip-yip' the air bison quickly launched off the platform. The small explosions still rang behind them.
—
"We have to go after them!" Toph yelled above the fray.
"We don't even know who these people are! Let alone what they want!" Quipped a Northern Water Tribe delegate.
Katara felt the burn of anger as she looked around the war room on the Fire Nation ship. Many of the attendees of the funeral regrouped on Zuko's ship since it had the biggest medical bay. The room was the familiar scene of disagreement and anger. Each leader trying to do what they thought best for their nation. Even though this appeared to be a threat that superseded borders. Logically, she understood their anger. It was fueled by fear.
"I agree with Toph," Katara inserted, her voice steady. The waterbender hoped to help the various nations come to a common conclusion. "They will continue this terror if we don't fight back."
"Why should we listen to you? You're the one who suggested having the funeral in a strategically vulnerable place. Now, look at where we are!" An Earth Kingdom delegate Katara recognized from Zuko's study argued.
"Exactly, you are obviously not in your right mind with all the grief." Stated Ting, an advisor to King Kuei. Katara tensed at what felt like Ting's betrayal. She had always considered the advisor a friend on diplomatic missions, and they often shared the same opinions.
Katara crossed her arms and glared at the room, "Do you actually believe I would purposefully put any of you in harm's way! Especially at the funeral of my husband?"
"That's not what I'm saying!" Ting argued mirroring the water bender's defensive stance. "I am saying that you may not be thinking strategically at this moment. That is okay. You need time to grieve. But now may not be the time for you to make big decisions."
The room silenced momentarily, then erupted into a frenzy once again. Katara felt her heart racing. She needed to calm down before she said something detrimental, so she excused her from the room. The waterbending master followed the gray, metal twists of the ship to the infirmary - taking deep breaths are she went.
The infirmary was largely quiet now. Ursa, who had made it back unscathed, and a Northern Healer were gently tending to the wounded. Many of which were sleeping. Iroh was in the back of the room dressing the dead for transport. Including his friend and fellow White Lotus member, Master Piandao. There were ten seriously injured from the attack and seven dead. Five people were missing including Sokka, but Katara pushed down any thoughts of what may be happening to her brother. She had to keep a clear head.
Although her entire family laid on the cusp of complete tragedy, she numbed herself as she moved to her father's side. She looked down at her at the sleeping Hakoda. His face, even in rest, was twisted in pain. The healer plunged her hand in the bowl of water on the side table. It created a glowing sheath around her hand as she laid her hand on her dad's injured shoulder.
It took longer than usual for her to ease his pain. This type of wound was foreign to her. As they had fled on Appa, Katara had fished out the main metal projectile from the shoulder, but multiple smaller ones had lodged themselves into his muscle. Neither she nor the doctor had been able to fish them out. It astounded her that such small pieces of metal could shatter bone and split muscle. Yet, what worried her the most was the loss of blood from the wound. That amount of loss was hard to come back from even with an expert healer's help.
After few long moments, her father's face finally relaxed and Katara tiredly collapsed into a chair nearby. She rubbed her hand over her sweaty face and hair, trying to compose herself.
"I'll make sure to give your father an extra dose of pain killer when he wakes." Ursa kindly said. Her motherly hand rested atop the water bender's head and she relaxed into the touch.
"I appreciate that," Katara responded as she forced herself to sit up straight and roll her shoulders back. A wave of determination and adrenaline pulsed through her body. She knew what she must do next. "Can you also ensure he makes it on a transport back to the South Pole?"
Ursa tilted her head but didn't question Katara. She just nodded and murmured, "Be safe."
The waterbender offered her a sad smile and left the room.
—
The night mellowed the smell of the ocean. Just a hint of salt hung in the air as Katara gathered her bag to leave the Fire Nation ship. Her crew was already on her father's much smaller Southern Tribe cruiser. They had pulled the boat flush against the larger ship and waited for her. The waterbender's leg was thrown over the side of the rail, and onto a rope ladder, when the sight of Zuko and Toph approaching made her freeze.
"What are you doing?" The Fire Lord asked. The full moon made his pale skin look fluorescent.
"What does it look like?"
"Well, I can't see, but I had to guess, it appears you're jumping ship to try and save the day by yourself." Katara's jaw clenched. She bit back a scathing retort. Toph continued, "Also you probably shouldn't be putting yourself in harm's way - considering twinkle toes' baby may be the last airbender."
Katara's eyes widened as her anger morphed into surprise. She was about to berate Zuko for telling the earthbender, but it hit her. Toph didn't need anyone to tell her she was pregnant.
"Katara," Zuko started. He walked cautiously towards her as if he was scared she would bolt away. "Why don't you come back to the Fire Nation with me? You were planning to come for two months anyway, to work on the reparations package. We can come up with a better plan there, and we can keep you protected."
"And twinkle toes junior," Toph added bluntly.
Katara wanted to scream. Her husband was dead. Her brother was missing. Her father on the verge of death. They couldn't understand the need she harbored to go after the perpetrators. There was no longer grief. She was enraged.
"I am not fragile. I do not need to be protected." Katara bristled as she threw her other leg over the side of the railing.
"We know that, but I'm worried for your safety. The assailants were obviously after you at the funeral." Zuko said his tone surprisingly soft, as he made it to the railing. But the waterbender didn't listen and instead climbed down the ladder. Her rage keeping her focused and narrow-minded on her goal.
Katara finally made it to the deck of her ship with a thud. Then ordered her crew to sail towards the Southern Air Temple islands. She didn't dare look up at her friends watching her from the desk. As they sailed into the darkness, she touched her mother's necklace and the prayer beads Aang had added to the band before their wedding - praying she would find a lead.