Unexpected, an A:tLA fanfic by Tsunami Storm
Chapter 9: The Southern Raiders
Morning came early for the members of Team Avatar, but two of the team were more exhausted than the others. They had secretly undertaken a daring rescue mission to the Boiling Rock in order to rescue Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe. The impromptu quest had taken three whole days without sleep, and this had taken a toll on the two oldest human members of the group, not counting the 113-year old Avatar.
However, not all missions go exactly as planned, and this escapade was no exception. Sokka and Zuko had indeed rescued the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, but he wasn't their only new companion. Gansu and Sensu of the Earth Kingdom were set free, as was Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors- much to Sokka's delight. To everyone but Zuko's surprise, Mai was also one of the newest additions to the ever growing Gaang- though she didn't say much, preferring to stand silently at Zuko's side while he explained her situation. She was now a fugitive just like them, having betrayed her best friend Azula in favor of helping the man she loved. Zuko insisted that she meant no harm to any member of the group, and could be counted on to be just as loyal to the team as was he himself. Understandably, his declaration was met with a few raised eyebrows, but everyone could see how happy the young Fire Prince was at her mere presence. So they said nothing.
Shifting slightly on the thin blanket that was meant to be a bed, Zuko rose with the sun just as a rooster-pig snorted and crowed from somewhere nearby. Stretching silently to restore feeling to his limbs, Zuko opened his golden eyes to a surprising- yet adorable- sight. Apparently Momo had decided the crook of his arm was the warmest place to sleep last night, and so had curled up right next to the Fire Prince's face and fallen asleep, gently curling his long tail around the Firebender's wrist without waking him up. This surprised Zuko. He was normally a very light sleeper. He must've been more exhausted than he'd thought.
"Well good morning, my furry little friend." Zuko smiled gently, stroking the lemur's down-like ears like he would pet a panther-cat. "Nice and warm? Well, I hate to take away a pleasant dream, but I gotta get up and get ready for the day. You never know what's gonna happen next around here."
At his words, Momo decided that it was time to get up too, then yawned hugely and stretched just like a panther-cat would. That made Zuko smile. At least I get along with the animals of the group. Now I just gotta convince all the humans of my good intentions. Especially Katara. I hope she doesn't still hate me after all this. I mean, I did rescue her father- with Sokka's help. Okay, it was his idea, but he never would've made it without me. He allowed, scratching his head absently and breathing in deeply the crisp morning air around the ancient Western Air Temple.
Zuko sighed in a state of near-contentment, or as close to happiness as a banished traitor Prince of the Fire Nation could get. His biggest worry right now was what his crazed sister would do, now that they'd escaped from the Fire Nation's highest security prison with a couple extra guests. One of which was the Fire Princess' former best friend.
Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Zuko thought. It's gonna take a while for them to get a whole new airship to the Boiling Rock and then all the way here to the Western Air Temple. Good thing Sensu and I destroyed the ship that Azula used. That should delay her for at least a little while.
Suddenly a small oblong shape came spinning up through the cloud layer, and Zuko groaned, recognizing it immediately. Or not. He thought dejectedly as he shot a fire-fist at it to detonate the bomb prematurely. Then he sprinted over to the rest of the group, yelling at the top of his voice, "Take cover! We're under attack!"
That woke everyone up. Thinking quickly, Aang swung a slice of air at the giant blast shutters, closing them just as Zuko rejoined the group.
"What's going on?!" Sokka cried. "Are they throwing bombs at us?!"
"Yup. That's my former homeland for ya." Zuko growled dejectedly. He looked over at the canyon wall that doubled as a wall of the temple, and then looked to the four Earthbenders of the group, the youngest in particular. "Toph, could you-"
"You got it, Sparky." Toph interrupted, anticipating his words and Earthbending a tunnel straight into the wall of the canyon. Without a word, most of the older members of the group filed into the new cavern, along with Téo, The Duke, Haru, and Sensu- after Katara had healed his injuries. The young Waterbender was visibly upset that the Water Tribe siblings would have to say goodbye to their father again so soon. "They can't separate our family again! We just got you back!"
"It'll be okay. It's not forever. You kids should escape on Appa together." Hakoda suggested, getting a little teary himself.
Sokka embraced his father, sniffing, "Bye, Dad. We won't be apart for too long this time. I promise."
"You should probably go with them too, Mai." Zuko suggested, though there were tears in his eyes. "It's too danger-"
"Don't even think about finishing that sentence, Zuko. I pretty much signed my own death warrant when I left the Boiling Rock with you. I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not. Besides, your friend Sokka's girlfriend is coming, so why not me?" Mai reasoned, crossing her arms and glaring at her boyfriend, daring him to challenge her.
Zuko smirked sheepishly. "Good point. You win. I should've known you wouldn't budge. You're just as stubborn as I am." He teased with a grin. Mai winked at him in a rare moment of mischief and jogged over to Appa, waiting for her newest friends to follow suit.
"Thanks again, Zuko." Gansu smiled, clapping a grateful hand on the Fire Prince's shoulder. "We owe you so much. When all this war business is over, you should visit again. I'm sure Lee would love it."
Zuko grimaced, remembering the disastrous reveal of his identity and the resulting parting. Shaking his head sharply to change the topic, Zuko smiled- though it still looked a bit strained. "Maybe. You guys should go on home. You've been away for too long. Heh. Sela and Lee are gonna flip." He snickered.
Sensu laughed too. "Probably. Literally in Lee's case. He's got so much energy. You should've seen him with my old Dao swords."
"I saw him with mine. I showed him a few tricks." Zuko smirked, unconsciously grabbing the hilts of his own blades over his shoulder.
"Ha! Typical Lee." Sensu laughed, shaking his head.
Suddenly another bomb blast shook the temple, and Téo growled, "Okay, this is bad. We gotta go!" as some of the ancient supports crumbled and partially blocked their way.
Toph put a hand on some of the rubble and remarked brightly, "I can clear that away and we can get out through there!" oddly cheery about the whole situation. Maybe she was the type that thrived on adrenaline and potentially dangerous situations.
Yet another bomb quake shook the temple as half of Team Avatar split off from the group and disappeared into the tunnel, and Zuko tackled Katara to the ground to shield her from falling masonry with a "Watch out!" The two master benders rolled a few times, then Katara growled, "What are you doing?" seeming ungrateful for the save at all- even though she was.
"Keeping rocks from crushing you." Zuko growled back tensely. He only wanted to help. Couldn't she see that?
"Okay. I'm not crushed. You can get off me now." She frowned, shoving the young man off her a bit more forcefully than necessary so she could get up.
Zuko made a face at that. Looks like she's still steamed. Sigh. "I'll take that as a 'thank-you'."
"What is that? It's like thunder or something." Toph grimaced, covering her sensitive ears against the new sound assaulting their aural senses.
You're not far off. Zuko thought. "Close. It's the Fire Nation. They found us. And worse, I think this is a family visit."
"Oh great." Sokka groused, and Zuko smirked at him. "Exactly. But you don't have to worry. I'll handle Azula. You guys get away on Appa. That includes you, Mai."
"We're not leaving you behind, Zuko." Aang frowned at what the Prince was implying and crossed his arms. "Not only do we never leave a friend behind if we can help it, but you're our only proficient Firebender at the moment. I still have a lot to learn. We'll stick around in case things get hairy and you need help."
Zuko looked up, surprised that he'd been found out so quickly, slightly guilty for suggesting that they abandon him and save themselves, and grateful for their loyalty. "Thanks, Aang. You're a good friend. I wish I'd joined you sooner, like when I rescued you from Zhao's prison. It would've saved me a lot of trouble." He gave a brave smile to the rest of the group, then with a cheery "I'll be right back", sprinted up the side of a falling pillar and vaulted into the airspace between the temple and the attacking flagship aircraft, the balcony of which was occupied by his sister- wearing the smuggest of triumphant grins on her face.
"What are you doing here, Azula? We already beat you at the Boiling Rock! Just give up already!" Zuko called from the top of the blimp.
"You mean it's not obvious yet?! I'm about to celebrate becoming an only child!" Azula exclaimed joyfully, her golden eyes gleaming with blue fire and excitement.
"I guess you need another lesson. The villains never win. You'll never be a true leader until you learn some compassion. And our father should learn that lesson too, but he's probably too far gone. There's still hope for you, though. Please, don't do this. I don't want to hurt you." Zuko pleaded, the beginnings of tears in his eyes. She was his baby sister! Older siblings were supposed to protect the younger, not harm them!
"Well, that makes one of us." Azula sneered. "Didn't you hear the Fire Lord during the Eclipse? You are no longer his son, blood-ties or no. I shall take great pleasure in removing your disgraceful stain from our illustrious family tree. Just- like- Mother!" She fired a volleyball-sized fireball at Zuko, who simply smacked it out of the way with his open palm as if it were a pesky mosquito.
"I tried, Azula." Zuko breathed sadly. "I'm sorry." Then he returned fire with a blast of his own, this one twice the size of his sister's.
"Whoa. This is intense!" Sokka called as Appa deftly dodged an errant fireball that Zuko had deflected in his battle.
"You're telling me! I don't have a clue what's happening, but it's so hot over there that I feel like I'm sitting an inch from a bonfire!" Toph gasped, putting a hand in front of her face in an effort to block her delicate skin from the blistering heat.
Katara was studying the siblings' battle with rapt attention, sitting on the edge of her seat and leaning on the 'rail' of the saddle. Despite her enduring anger at the Prince, she couldn't help but feel fearful for his safety. Toph was right. Zuko had been nothing but a good friend to all of them over the past few weeks, and she had still treated him like the enemy, never even giving him a chance to explain himself or apologize. Her guilt was still roaring in her heart like an angry moose-lion, but she savagely tamped it down stubbornly. She'd trusted him! And he'd betrayed her! Betrayed all of them, even his own uncle!
But then something happened. Something that sent her anger and hurt feelings flying right out the nearest window, figuratively speaking. An enormous explosion erupted between the two Firebenders, and both siblings were sent flying in opposite directions off the airship and into the abyss below. "Oh Spirits! Look!" Katara cried out in terror.
"I see him! Appa!" Aang yelled, and the Sky Bison shot off toward the boy who had freed him from prison with a powerful flick of his large, flat tail. Skillfully maneuvering through the air so that Zuko would land right on his back, Appa rumbled proudly as Katara of all people grabbed Zuko's outstretched arm and pulled him to the safety of the saddle.
As soon as he was securely seated on the bison's back, Zuko looked back to where Azula was still falling and spinning toward the cloud layer below the temple. "She's- not gonna make it." He realized, a sad expression on his face that he couldn't quite explain. She was one of the group's most dangerous adversaries, but she was still his little sister. Then Azula managed to angle herself so that she was aligned with the canyon wall and shot two fire-blasts out of her feet to propel herself forward. Retrieving a hairpin of all things from her standard Fire Nation topknot, she gouged it into the rock face and eventually ground to a stop, watching the retreating Gaang escape into the unknown with a manic grin on her face. At least for now. They'd be back.
"Of course she did." Zuko sighed with equal parts relief and dread of what she would do next. You never knew with someone like her.
"Wow, camping… it really seems like old times again, doesn't it?" Aang asked rhetorically as he unpacked a knapsack from Appa's saddle and placed it behind him to act as a makeshift back brace at the campfire that Zuko had started for everyone. It really felt nice to have a master bender from all four tribes in their group now, though Katara still seemed hostile toward the newest member of their team.
"If you really want it to feel like old times, I could- ah… chase you around a while and try to capture you." Zuko teased good-naturedly as he glanced sideways at the young Avatar, aiming to get a laugh out of the last Airbender. It worked, and almost everyone around the campfire chuckled, appreciating the young Prince's sense of humor.
All except one. "Ha, ha." Katara answered darkly, but no one else heard it except for Zuko. He looked down at his feet in shame, wondering if there would ever be any way to redeem himself in her eyes.
Then Sokka held out his cup of water that he'd been enjoying. "To Zuko! Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?" He toasted, grinning at the surprised Firebender, whose eyes opened wider when almost everyone else answered, "Hear! Hear!" Then he grinned somewhat sheepishly as he received a manly mock-punch on one arm from Toph and a gentle elbow from Aang.
"I'm touched." Zuko smiled shyly, but then his grin disappeared. "I don't deserve this."
"Yeah. No kidding." Katara huffed- still unable to let go of her anger- and this time, Sokka heard his sister as well. Then the young Waterbending master got up and walked off in a huff to sit alone for a while.
"What's with her?" Sokka asked in confusion, looking after his sister as she stalked off, grabbing a stick from beside the fire pit and skewering a bit of meat on the end to roast it.
Zuko got to his feet with a sigh. "I wish I knew." He answered his friend, slowly following in the direction in which Katara had gone.
Oblivious to the mood as he always was, Sokka queried, "What's with him?"
Zuko found Katara at the edge of the nearby cliff, just sitting on a rock near the ledge and staring out to the endless ocean before her, the waxing gibbous moon in the sky seeming to be making a disapproving face at the two master benders. As Zuko drew nearer, Katara sensed his presence and stood to move further away from the Fire Prince. "This isn't fair! Everyone else seems to trust me now. What is it with you?" Zuko began, but Katara cut him off.
"Oh, everyone trusts you now? I was the first person to trust you! Remember? Back in Ba Sing Se. And you turned around and betrayed me! Betrayed all of us!" Katara spat, venom dripping from her words and fury burning in her eyes.
Zuko looked down. Not this again. He'd thought she'd gotten all of it out of her system when she'd ambushed him above the Air temple, just before he and Sokka had staged their daring rescue of Suki, Mai, Hakoda, Gansu and Sensu from the Boiling Rock. "What can I do to make it up to you?" He asked, not a trace of malice or vengeance in his voice. In fact, he sounded almost defeated.
"You really want to know?" Katara huffed, too angry to think rationally. "Hmm, maybe you could reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King! Or, I know, you could bring my mother back!" She shouted, angry tears spilling over her eyelids and running down her face as she pushed past him back to the campsite to turn in for the night.
Zuko raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, confused that she would bring up that subject again. Then a thought struck him like lightning. I get it. Zuko realized. Her mother was taken by a Firebender when the South Pole was attacked. Somehow, she's connected her anger at that with her anger at me. That's what must have happened. I'm not saying it's rational, but I kinda understand her reasoning. Now all I have to do is redeem myself in her eyes. But how? Zuko mused, cupping his chin with a fist and pacing back and forth near the edge of the cliff.
A few minutes later, Zuko made his way back to the campsite. If Katara wasn't comfortable with talking about it, then he'd ask someone else who was close to the situation: her brother Sokka. This was going to be one awkward conversation. I hope this doesn't jeopardize our friendship. I really value Sokka's input, and if this conversation goes south, I might end up losing the first friend I've had in a long time.
Walking around the side of the tent to find the opening, Zuko was surprised to encounter Suki sneaking around from the opposite side of the tent. The Kyoshi Warrior started, surprised that she'd been discovered and blushed slightly, as did Zuko.
"Oops! Wrong tent!" She covered quickly, unable to even meet the eyes of her unexpected companion.
"Sorry. Do you need to talk to Sokka too?" Zuko apologized just as quickly, gesturing to the doorway as an invitation to go in, just as a gentleman would.
"Nope, not me!" She denied, turning and walking back the way she came with an embarrassed look on her face. That was awkward.
Zuko cocked his head in confusion, wondering what had gotten into the young woman. Everyone knew that she and Sokka had feelings for each other, so why was she hiding it? Zuko shrugged and entered the tent, but the sight that met his eyes was nothing short of emotionally scarring.
Sokka was laying on his stomach with his feet up and holding a red rose between his teeth. The border of the tent was surrounded by lit candles, and a soft mat protected any occupants from sitting on the cold, hard ground of the cliffside where their Team Avatar was camping that night. All in all, it looked like it would have been a very romantic setting, had it been Suki that had entered the tent. But for Sokka and Zuko, it was nothing short of mortifying.
"Well, hello-!" Sokka began as he turned seductively to who he thought was the object of his affection, but at the sight of his visitor abruptly changed tack as his eyes grew wide as golf balls. Zuko was the last person he'd have expected to walk into his tent this late in the evening. Quickly sucking the rose into his mouth to hide it from view, Sokka stammered, "Uh, Zuko! Yes, w-why would I be expecting anyone different?" He painfully swallowed the rose, thorns and all as Zuko sat cross-legged on the mat a few feet away from him, carefully composed face all business and trying very hard to not think about what he'd just witnessed. "So what's on your mind?" Sokka asked, the very picture of nonchalance.
"Your sister. She hates me! And I don't know why, but I do care what she thinks of me." Zuko began, hanging his head a bit in shame. He actually did have an idea why she felt such animosity toward him, but he didn't want to bring it up if he didn't have to.
Sokka frowned dismissively. "Nah, she doesn't hate you. Katara doesn't hate anyone. Except maybe some people in the Fire Nation." His eyes widened as he realized his mistake. "No, I mean- uh- not people who are good but used to be bad. I mean bad people. Fire Nation people who are still bad, who've never been good and probably won't be, ever-!"
Zuko interrupted, uncomfortable. It looked like he was going to have to bite the bullet and say it. "Stop. Okay, listen. I know this may seem out of nowhere, but I want you to tell me what happened to your mother."
Sokka was taken aback, all humor gone from his face and replaced with confusion and hurt. This was something one never got over, no matter how many years passed. "What? Why would you want to know that?"
Zuko sighed. "Katara mentioned it before when we were imprisoned together in Ba Sing Se, and again just now when she was yelling at me. I think somehow she's connected her anger at that to her anger at me."
Sokka looked down sadly. "It's not a day I like to remember."
Katara and Sokka, both five and six years old respectively, were having fun with an epic snowball fight in the frozen South Pole. Sokka peered over a snow wall and prepared to throw a projectile at his opponent, only to be smacked in the face by a missile thrown by Katara. Katara put both mittened hands over her mouth and giggled joyfully, proud of herself that she'd managed to disarm her big brother. Sokka, trying to reclaim his honor, climbed over the snow wall with a snow-boulder about the size of his torso over his head, intending to bury his impudent sister in fluffy, white, frozen water droplets. However, the 'snowlder' never reached its intended target, as Sokka dropped it when he saw blackened snow falling from the sky. Snow mixed with soot could only mean one thing, and it wasn't good.
Katara was scared. She knew what it meant too. "I'm going to find Mom!" Then she ran off toward the village.
Sokka narrated the scenario for his companion, listening patiently and hanging on every word. "Many of the warriors had seen the black snow before, and they knew what it meant: a Fire Nation raid." Within the memory, Sokka described Fire Nation soldiers with strange helmets attacking the men of the Water Tribe, fire blasts and flame daggers against whale-bone spears and shark-tooth knives.
"We were badly outnumbered, but somehow, we managed to drive them off. As quickly as they came, they just left." Young Sokka ran after the retreating raiders and threw his small boomerang as hard as he could at their backs.
"I was so relieved when it was over, but that's because I didn't know yet what had happened. I didn't know we had lost our mother." Sokka finished sadly, hanging his head.
A memory sparked in Zuko's consciousness. Something about that scenario sounded familiar. "Wait. Can you remember any details about the soldiers who raided your village? Like what the lead ship looked like?"
"Yeah… sea ravens." In his mind's eye, Sokka remembered a scene of a ship waving three red flags blowing in the breeze, bearing a crest of black sea ravens. "The main ship had flags with sea ravens on them."
Zuko nodded in comprehension. He knew what that meant. "The symbol of the Southern Raiders. Thanks, Sokka."
Sokka seemed to be in a hurry all of a sudden, as he practically pushed his friend out the tent door. "No problem. Thanks for stoppin' by!" Zuko took the hint and exited the tent, a strange look on his face. Sokka sighed with relief. "I'd thought he'd never leave." Suddenly excited, he poked his head out of the tent door and whispered loudly, "Suki!"
Unfortunately for him, Zuko had barely taken two steps away from the tent and looked back at Sokka with a curious expression. Sokka hastily pretended to be completely oblivious and whistled awkwardly. Rolling his eyes slightly and shaking his head, Zuko walked off. That was the king of all awkward conversations he'd ever had in his life. Now he had to prepare himself for the queen: talking to Katara about it. This was going to be fun.
The next morning, Katara rose slightly earlier than usual, having not slept well due to her uncomfortable 'conversation' with Zuko the previous night. She opened the door to her tent, comb in hand in preparation to get ready for the day, but froze in her tracks when she spotted the object of her ire sitting on a half-buried boulder just outside her tent. Frowning at the young man, she huffed angrily, "You look terrible."
Zuko looked up, nothing but apology in his golden eyes. "I waited out here all night."
Brushing her hair with her special whale-bone comb that she'd inherited from her mother, Katara wasn't exactly sympathetic to the young Prince's plight. "What do you want?"
Then Zuko dropped the bomb, never one to beat around the bush. "I know who killed your mother-" causing Katara to freeze in her tracks, "-and I'm going to help you find him."
Katara turned abruptly to finally face the young man, her face bearing a look of shock, which then turned to one of hurt and anger.
Later that day, Aang was feeding his biggest friend some hay that they had purchased from a local farmer and Sokka was busy weaving a necklace of flowers- presumably for his girlfriend Suki. Katara and Zuko walked up to join the group, Zuko carrying a good-size sack over his shoulder. Katara still seemed pretty steamed from their conversation earlier, so her tone was a little more clipped than she probably intended when she addressed her best friend the Avatar. "I need to borrow Appa." She announced curtly. Zuko just waited patiently behind her.
Aang grinned almost knowingly. "Why? Is it your turn to take a little field trip with Zuko?" He joked. "Yes. It is." Katara huffed, no trace of humor in her voice. Yep. She was definitely still angry. Suddenly serious, Aang looked slightly surprised. "Oh. What's going on?" Katara frowned, her normally lovely face a mask of determination, barely concealing a sea of hatred boiling just under the surface. "We're going to find the man who took my mother from me."
At his sister's words, Sokka paused in his necklace-weaving and stood up, surprised. So that was what his and Zuko's talk last night was about. As a confirmation, Zuko elaborated. "Sokka told me the story of what happened. I know who did it, and I know how to find him." Aang wasn't too optimistic, surprising, considering his generally sunny disposition. "Um… and what exactly do you think this will accomplish?" He asked, concerned for the young woman for whom he cared deeply.
Katara shook her head in dismay. "Ugh, I knew you wouldn't understand." She turned to walk away from the gathering. Aang backpedaled. "Wait! Stop! I do understand. You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. How do you think I felt about the Sandbenders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?"
"She needs this, Aang. This is about getting closure, and justice." Zuko put in, trying to show his support for the young Waterbender, and possibly placate some of her anger toward him. The Avatar, however, disagreed. "I don't think so. I think it's about getting revenge." Aang argued. Katara frowned angrily. "Fine, maybe it is! Maybe that's what I need! Maybe that's what he deserves!" Aang frowned in concern. "Katara, you sound like Jet."
"It's not the same! Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he's a monster." Sokka interjected then, concerned for his little sister. "Katara, she was my mother too, but I think Aang might be right." Katara was beyond reason, too angry to think about her words and how they would affect their recipient. "Then you didn't love her the way I did!" Sokka looked like she'd just slapped him with a water whip. "Katara!"
Then Aang tried a different tactic. If she didn't listen to his words, maybe some pearls of wisdom from the past would get through to her. "The monks used to say that 'revenge is like a two-headed rat viper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself.' I know it feels like you don't have a choice, but you do. You always have a choice: Forgiveness."
"That's the same as doing nothing!" Zuko argued.
"No, it's not." Aang countered. "It's easy to do nothing, but it's hard to forgive."
"It's not just hard. It's impossible." Katara fumed as she walked away, Zuko following close behind.
That night, Katara and Zuko were both dressed in black cloaks, and Katara was tying her hair back in a tight ponytail. She didn't want her long hair blowing in her face at the worst possible moment. Aang and Sokka emerged from behind a rock just as Zuko threw a knapsack up into the saddle on Appa's back.
"So you were just gonna take Appa anyway?" Aang accused, and Sokka looked disappointed at his sister's actions. "Yes." Katara huffed, not even apologetic, so deep was her anger. But Aang just smiled. "It's okay, because I forgive you." He paused, his expression turning hopeful. "That give you any ideas?"
"Don't try to stop us." Katara warned, throwing her own bag up into the saddle as Zuko waited.
"I wasn't planning to." Aang answered, resolute and calm. "This is a journey you need to take. You need to face this man." Katara silently climbed onto Appa's head and took the reins. "But when you do, please don't choose revenge. Let your anger out, and then let it go. Forgive him."
Zuko rolled his eyes, making a sarcastic face. "Okay, we'll be sure to do that, Guru Goody-goody." as he climbed up into the saddle.
Katara gave a strained smile to her boyfriend. "Thanks for understanding, Aang." Then to their two-ton transportation: "Yip yip." Then the Sky Bison took off, leaving Aang and Sokka to watch as the three members of Team Avatar took off into the moonlight.
After a few hours of flying, and after the two masters had broken into the communication tower for the Fire Navy and stolen the information they needed through some clever uses of Waterbending, Katara and Zuko were on their way to Whaletail Island, where the Southern Raiders were on patrol. Zuko sat up from the saddle and looked to Katara, who had been guiding Appa all night. And it showed. There were very pronounced dark circles under her eyes.
"You should get some rest. We'll be there in a few hours. You'll need all your strength." Zuko suggested in concern.
"Oh, don't you worry about my strength. I have plenty. I'm not the helpless little girl I was when they came." Katara growled, reluctantly reliving the terrible tale for her companion, just as a way to pass the time and distract herself from how tired she really was.
After her tale, both benders looked heartbroken, and Katara was fighting back tears. "Your mother was a brave woman." Zuko breathed, impressed and sympathetic toward his fellow master bender who was really only a few years younger than he was.
"I know." Katara breathed shakily, putting a hand to her necklace, her last memento of her mother.
Hours later, Katara and Zuko found the lead ship of the Southern Raiders. Zuko had finally convinced Katara to get some sleep, so he was sitting on Appa's head as the bison approached the vessel. Zuko almost felt bad for the crew. They never stood a chance against the wrath of Katara. They swiftly ran down a corridor, Zuko quickly disarming an attacking guard and shoving him back into the room with a well-timed hip-shot. Coming to the end of the hallway, Zuko turned to his young friend. "This is it, Katara. Are you ready to face him?"
For an answer, Katara pulled down her mask and let out a vicious war cry as she sent a powerful stream of water toward the door, knocking it down and ripping it right off its hinges from the impact. The commander attempted to attack Zuko, who was closer, but he deflected all of his Firebending attacks with some skillful moves of his own.
"Who're you?" The commander demanded harshly.
"You don't remember her? You will soon, trust me." Zuko growled back, confused at the man's apparent memory loss. He was the leader of the Southern Raiders. He would have to remember the raids on the Southern Water Tribe. Still, something seemed off. Wouldn't the commander look a little older than this man? If the incident occurred over ten years ago?
He wasn't given much of a chance to think more about this, as the commander tried to attack him again. Zuko prepared to defend himself, but he never needed to do so. Without warning, a stream of freezing water suddenly shot out of nowhere and wrapped itself tightly around the man's neck. Slightly horrified, Zuko turned to Katara, who was indeed choking the enemy commander, pure rage and fury burning in her stormy blue eyes. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: when she's mad, she's just as scary as Azula.
However, something in the man's eyes caused Katara's expression to change from one of hatred to one of shock. "It's not him." She slowly released the man from her grip, causing him to collapse to his hands and breathe heavily. "He's not the man."
"What? What do you mean he's not? He's the leader of the Southern Raiders! He has to be the guy!" Zuko gasped, incredulous. As Katara turned back toward the doorway to leave the ship, Zuko frowned and grabbed the weak commander by the collar and pinned him to the wall. "If you're not the man we're looking for, who is?" He demanded harshly, perhaps a bit more ruthless than necessary. The poor man had just been attacked by an enraged master Waterbender, and Zuko knew firsthand how that felt.
"You must be looking for Yon Rha. He retired four years ago." The commander gasped, barely able to breathe after being nearly choked to death and now pinned against the wall by a surprisingly strong young man who couldn't be much older than sixteen. Meanwhile, Katara continued down the hallway, her blue eyes filled with tears.
"She lied to you!" Katara hissed venomously, turning away from Yon Rha as she closed her eyes sadly. "She was protecting the last Waterbender!"
Yon Rha looked shocked. "What? Who?" He demanded.
Katara whipped back around as she opened her eyes and glared furiously at the murderer. "ME!" Suddenly she held both her arms out, halting the falling raindrops and creating a shield above the three of them. Zuko removed his mask, grateful to be out of the rain. Understandably, as a Firebender, he didn't really like getting wet. After a few moments, she sent a forceful stream of water directly at Yon Rha, transforming the stream into a flurry of ice daggers midway through her attack. The cowardly man crouched and covered his face in fear, preparing to feel the sting of the sharp ice any moment. But when the attack never connected, he looked up to see the ice daggers floating in midair. Some of the projectiles had buried themselves in the ground, and surrounded the man like the bars of a prison. Katara's expression inexplicably softened and she allowed the daggers to liquefy and splash to the ground, surrounding the three benders with a slurry of mud.
Yon Rha bowed on his hands and knees, hanging his head. "I did a bad thing! I know I did! And you deserve revenge. So why don't you take my mother? That would be fair!"
Katara frowned in disappointment. This man was pitiful. "I always wondered what kind of person could do such a thing, but now that I see you, I think I understand. There's just- nothing inside you. Nothing at all. You're pathetic and sad and empty."
"Please, spare me!" He whimpered pathetically, crying.
Katara closed her eyes. "But as much as I hate you- I just can't do it." She lowered her head and turned, walking away with an unreadable expression on her face. Zuko looked from Katara to Yon Rha, shooting the latter a last dirty look before following his friend, leaving Yon Rha to continue crying and shivering in the rain.
Hours later, Katara was sitting on the edge of a boardwalk, looking out over the ocean, her eyes closed and gently paddling the water with her feet. She opened her eyes sadly as Zuko and Aang walked up.
"Katara? Are you okay?" Aang asked in concern, and the young Waterbender nodded. "I'm doing fine."
"Zuko told me what you did. Or what you didn't do, I guess. I'm proud of you." Aang smiled.
"I wanted to do it. I wanted to take out all my anger at him, but I couldn't. I don't know if it's because I'm too weak to do it, or because I'm strong enough not to." Katara admitted, ashamed of herself.
"You did the right thing. Forgiveness is the first step you have to take in order to begin healing." Aang reassured her proudly.
Katara stood up from the boardwalk. "But I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him." Then she did the last thing anyone present expected. She smiled at Zuko, and walked up to him. "But I am ready to forgive you."
She quickly hugged the master Firebender, and he returned the embrace gratefully. Finally. It was all over. No more fearing for his life around the young Waterbender, just because of a few mistakes in his past. Granted, he had done some pretty awful things, but thankfully it hadn't been anything this bad. Then Katara left the boardwalk to return to the others.
Zuko turned to Aang, who was still smiling at his girlfriend's retreating back. "You were right about what Katara needed. Violence wasn't the answer."
"It never is." The Avatar answered sagely.
"Then I have a question for you:" He turned fully to look at the barely teenaged master bender. "What are you gonna do when you face my father?"
Aang couldn't answer his friend, his proud expression turning to one of worry as he looked down at his feet. What would he do when it came time to face the Fire Lord?
End of Chapter 9
Next chapter teaser: The Ember Island Players
GAAH! That took forever again! I am so sorry! Would I be a terrible person if I had to admit that Life got in the way and I lost all inspiration for this story? I keep writing myself into a corner.
So, the wakeup scene was from a picture on Deviantart that I thought was adorable. If you want to see it for yourselves, it's 'ATLA-Warmth-' by 'Krimzon-1'
That's about all I can think of at the moment. See you next chapter!
God Bless!
Tsunami Storm