Hello! So I wrote some future chapters for this story (my method for writing stories is extremely nonlinear) and I got super excited about it, so I finished this chapter and decided to update! Things really start diverging from canon here, but I expect there will be references to some themes from the original story throughout.
I also got some reviews on this (Thank you so much!) and it inspired me to get this chapter up (:
FictionallyFun - thank you! I have always wanted to write a story that focuses largely on Katara's character development and her path to becoming a master waterbender.
This chapter was inspired by 'Blinding' from Florence + The Machine's 2009 album 'Lungs'.
Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA or Florence + The Machine!
Chapter 4: Blinding
...
No more dreaming like a girl so in love with the wrong world
...
And I could hear the thunder and see the lightning crack
And all around the world was waking, I never could go back
'Cause all the walls of dreaming, they were torn wide open
And finally it seemed that the spell was broken
...
And all my bones began to shake, my eyes flew open
...
The sun was peeking through the trees when Katara pulled her feet free of her bedroll. She had woken from a rather pleasant dream, which was a nice change. After realizing she had lost her necklace somewhere on Kyoshi Island, she had woken up every morning nursing a feeling of guilt and dejection from forgotten dreams of her mother. But her dream last night had been a happy one; she, Sokka, Suki, and Aang had returned to the South Pole to find both of her parents at home with Gran Gran. She knew upon waking that the dream was utter nonsense, but something about it still made her happy. One day when the war was over, she thought, they would return home and everything would be just like it was, but better. The others were still asleep around her. Sokka's snoring seemed to echo in the small clearing and she smiled, stretching out her arms and back as she stood. They were perhaps a day away from Omashu now; once the others woke up, they would be on their way.
Katara looked around the campsite and remembered they were running low on food; they had bought some supplies when they briefly stopped at Chin Village days ago. She knew there was a small town at the edge of the forest and decided now would be as good a time as any to stock up – they had a full day's ride to Omashu after all.
The town was not much larger than Kyoshi Village; it was a collection of stone buildings that covered two adjacent streets. There was a small inn, a couple storefronts, and two street vendors selling produce, but the large majority of buildings were houses. As she meandered down the main street, which was largely empty, she noticed a dark cloud on the horizon to the northwest. One of the street vendors had noticed it too and was shielding his eyes to view the rising plume, a solemn look on his face.
"Do you know what that is?" Katara approached him, pointing towards the cloud rising out of the Kolau Mountains to the northwest.
"That's Omashu," The man sighed, "The invasion is underway."
"The invasion? Of Omashu?" She stammered.
"The Fire Nation has been moving in on Omashu for months now," The vendor frowned at her like she should know this already, "They passed through the plains east of here almost two weeks ago. We were lucky that they accepted our supplies and wares for their army in exchange for our village, otherwise, they would have burnt it down like all of the other small towns in their path."
"And you think they will be able to take down Omashu?" She asked.
"I don't doubt it," He replied, casting a glance at her again, "The machines that the army came through here with… iron catapults, tanks, war balloons… Omashu's defenses are strong, but the Fire Nation is prepared. The city will fall if it hasn't already."
Katara bit her lip – the Fire Nation was attacking Omashu? This would make getting into the city much more difficult, if not impossible.
"I was going to Omashu," She mumbled, not sure if the vendor could hear at first, "I'm just passing through on my way there to visit my sister," The lie rolled off her tongue with ease.
The man was watching her, looking her up and down. She probably didn't look like someone from the Earth Kingdom, she realized. She was still wearing her Southern Water Tribe blues, though she had shed her parka to adjust to the change in climate.
At length, the man said, "Well, once the invasion is over, I'm sure they will still be taking in refugees. People have been fleeing the countryside to Omashu for months now. Even when the city is under Fire Nation control, they will need workers… and slaves." He eyed her again, pointing to the storefront across the street. "You should buy yourself some… nicer clothes if you want to get into Omashu to see your sister."
When Katara returned to their campsite not an hour later, everyone was up. Aang's face lit up when he saw her and he ran over.
"Katara! We were starting to get worried! We woke up and you were gone."
"Sorry, Aang," She smiled at the boy, "I made a trip into the village for some food since we're nearly out." Katara looked over to where Suki stood, stretching and laughing at something Sokka was saying. "I also bought these." She handed Aang a pile of green clothes that she had purchased from the town.
"Clothes? Why did you buy-"
"Apparently, Omashu is under attack," Katara said, quietly enough so Suki wouldn't be able to hear; she didn't want to break the news to her just yet, not until they knew for certain. "A vendor in town said we could probably still get into the city after the invasion, but we would need to look like Earth Kingdom refugees."
Aang's eyes widened and he, too, turned to look at Suki.
…
Zuko's back was stiff from sitting in the saddle all day.
They had followed the Avatar northward in his ship until they had lost him. The bison had flown straight into Earth Kingdom territory and Zuko cursed when he realized he would have to continue the pursuit over land. He had the Komodo rhinos saddled and gathered a small unit to join him, including his Uncle Iroh. That had been 6 days ago.
Since then, they had hardly stopped. They had passed through village after village, most of them burned and reeling from the Fire Nation Army. The people of those villages avoided him like the plague and when he did manage to speak to someone, no one had seen the Avatar or his friends. He was starting to lose hope when they came across a small village at the edge of a forest just southeast of Omashu.
Zuko knew the military was closing in on Omashu; during his brief meeting with Zhao, the Commander had told him of the plans to capture the city of Omashu and maintain it as a stronghold in the Southern Earth Kingdom. Once the city was captured, it would be an important foothold. The Fire Nation had maintained a presence in the Northwestern Earth Kingdom for the last 100 years after the initial invasion and creation of the colonies. The Western and Southern reaches of the kingdom, however, had fought and rebelled vehemently.
After the fall of the Northwest, the Earth King in Ba Sing Se issued a conscription, creating a standing army to protect the Earth Kingdom territories in the west and south from further invasions. The military base in the north was located somewhere in the Leng Bei Mountains, while Fong's Base operated in the south. Victory at Omashu could cut off the supply to Fong's Base and would effectively split the Earth Kingdom in two. After sweeping the southern countryside, there would be little left of the resistance from the south and the Fire Nation would advance northwards to Ba Sing Se, just as Zhao had planned. Omashu was the first step to the end of the war, according to Commander Zhao.
The rising smoke to the north indicated that the attack on Omashu was already underway as Zuko and his party neared the small town of stone. He could see the fear in the eyes of the townsfolk before they quickly bowed their heads and averted their gaze, moving quickly to get out of his way. Exhausted from his travels and annoyed with his foul luck, Zuko dismounted his rhino and handed the reins to one of his men, motioning his Uncle to do the same. He removed his helmet and unstrapped his armor.
"Prince Zuko," One of the soldiers said in surprise, "You will be vulnerable without your armor."
Zuko scoffed at the man stating the obvious, like he expected the prince to be an idiot. "That's the point, Corporal. I can't get any information if the people are too frightened to get near me. I'm not burning down any more villages – that's the Army's job."
Uncle Iroh smiled at him and the Corporal before following Zuko as he walked into the center of the village where a few storefronts and street vendors were selling their wares. Zuko made eye contact with one of the street vendors selling produce from a covered cart. The man quickly shifted his gaze to the other side of the street, but Zuko was already approaching him.
"Vendor," He addressed the man, "Have there been any visitors in this village recently? Travelers passing through?"
The man looked him up and down, then responded, "There may have been. What is it that you want to know?"
Zuko reached into his pocket and tossed the man a silver coin, "I am following a group of four traveling north through Earth Kingdom territory. Have you seen any travelers?"
The man caught the coin and examined it closely, as if it might be fake. When he decided it wasn't, he dropped the coin into his pocket and replied, "I saw a strange girl this morning, dark-haired and dark-skinned with blue eyes."
Zuko recognized this description as belonging to the waterbender.
"What was she wearing?"
"A blue tunic. Her hair was pulled back into a braid."
At this, he confirmed that the girl was indeed the waterbender, Katara. "And did she say where she was going?"
"Omashu."
"Even with the invasion?" Zuko questioned.
"She seemed intent on getting there – said she had a sister in the city."
Zuko frowned at his but he figured it must have been a lie she told. He didn't know why they were heading to Omashu, but it hardly mattered at this point. He would find them and he would capture the Avatar; their reasons didn't matter. Almost instinctively, he reached into his pocket and felt the pendant of the waterbender's necklace nestled in the fabric. He brushed his thumb over the ridges that had been carved into the stone, like it might help him find her.
…
They arrived outside Omashu at nightfall and, as the vendor had predicted, the city had fallen. A huge Fire Nation flag hung over the wall above the gate and fires were still being put out within the city, black smoke billowing up into the sky, obscuring the stars.
Katara felt Suki stiffen next to her in Appa's saddle and put an arm around the older girl. Suki hadn't wanted to believe the city was under attack, nor that it would fall so easily; her sister was there.
"How are we supposed to get in?" Sokka asked, "It looks like the city is on lockdown."
Katara sighed, "Maybe we will just have to wait-"
"I know another way in," Aang interrupted, much to Katara and Sokka's surprise.
"What? How?" Suki turned.
"I used to come here to visit my friend Bumi," The airbender explained, "I know the city like the back of my hand. Or… I did," He glanced over at the Fire Nation flag again. "There's a tunnel that lets out below the city. We can fly Appa down there when it's fully dark."
"I hope this tunnel isn't a sewer or something," Sokka groaned, crossing his arms.
When they reached the entrance to the tunnel an hour later, Sokka glared at Aang accusingly.
"I didn't say it wasn't a sewer, Sokka," the airbender said, his hands up as if to prove his innocence.
"Whatever," Suki interjected, waving her hand for them to follow, "This could be our only way into the city."
They trudged through the knee-high sewage in silence, each trying to hold their breath. Katara had packed their Earth Kingdom clothes into a sack that she carried over her shoulder so they would blend in once they were inside the city walls. She loved her blue tunic from home, but she had to admit that her, Aang, and Sokka stuck out in the sea of green that was the Earth Kingdom.
"It should be just up ahead here…" Aang said, having counted his steps. The tunnel was nearly pitch black but for the grates that opened to the city above, allowing the faintest moonlight to pass through into the darkness.
"Um, guys," Sokka whispered, "I think we have company."
"What do you mean we-" Aang was interrupted by the singing of metal as swords were unsheathed. Before any of them could say another word, Katara felt the cold steel of a blade graze her neck. She gasped but didn't move.
"You're coming with us." A gruff voice said from behind.
…
Zuko felt no pride when he saw Omashu; the Fire Nation symbol on the wall and the fires burning within the city left a foul taste in his mouth. This was war, he knew, but he had no taste for war. During his childhood, his royal tutors told him of the glory of war, the greatness of the Fire Nation military; for a long time he had believed them. His travels while searching for the Avatar had changed his mind. War was fire and blood, death and destruction; the strong preying on the weak and the poor.
There was no glory in killing unarmed people, in setting the countryside on fire, or in destroying a whole culture; there was only desolation and trauma. If he was going to bring the Fire Nation back to glory when he took the throne, he would have to mend all the wounds that his nation inflicted on the world – a task much easier said than done. But now, his only goal was to capture the Avatar and to accomplish that he would have to play along with the warmongers.
They approached the city gates, Zuko and Iroh leading the other six mounted soldiers, and were immediately recognized by the Fire Nation guards. Although Zuko had been banished, he was still a member of the Royal Family, as was Iroh, and that commanded respect from most Fire Nation citizens.
"Prince Zuko, General Iroh," The uniformed Sergeant bowed.
"Who was in charge of this invasion?" Zuko asked.
"General Chan and Governor Ukano, Your Highness," The Sergeant responded.
"Governor Ukano," Zuko repeated, "Take me to him."
…
"They don't look like Fire Nation, Sir," A voice came through the silence.
They had been blindfolded in the tunnel and led through the sewers. The groaning of rock was followed by a wave of warm air that smelled less like the sewage that they had been walking through.
A hand brushed against Katara's face and she flinched as the blindfold was removed. The room was small, lit by a couple candles in the center. They hadn't ascended in their journey, so Katara judged that they were still beneath the city. The men that stood around them were armed and dressed in green Earth Kingdom garb.
"We're not Fire Nation," Sokka said indignantly.
The men eyed them suspiciously.
"Then why are you here? What were you doing in the tunnels?" A large bearded man asked, stepping forward. He looked to be in his forties, Katara judged; his dark brown beard was peppered with gray hair and his forehead was wrinkled from years of frowning.
"I came looking for my sister," Suki answered, her tone level, "She came to Omashu as a refugee from the south."
"Likely story," One of the other men commented.
"It's true," Suki countered, "I came here from Kyoshi."
"And the rest of you?" The bearded man questioned.
"Well I'm the Av-" Aang started to say.
"We came along with her," Katara interrupted the airbender. These men appeared to be from the Earth Kingdom, but thus far she had no reason to trust them. Until the motives of their captors were clear, she thought it would be best to keep Aang's identity a secret. Sokka seemed to catch on, much to her relief.
"We heard of the invasion and didn't want to let Suki come on her own. The countryside is not safe for a woman traveling alone," Sokka chimed in.
One of the others behind the bearded man nodded.
"Now, who are you?" Sokka probed.
"We're what's left of the Omashu resistance." The bearded man responded, still eyeing them suspiciously. "We were forced underground after the invasion. The Fire Nation Army captured most of the surviving City Guard and a number of rebels when they took the city."
"The resistance," Sokka repeated out loud, "Well that's good, because this guy right here is the Avatar."
Katara nearly choked but maintained her composure; she had hoped to gather more information before revealing Aang as the Avatar to this group of rebels.
"That's impossible," One of the men said, "The Avatar hasn't been seen for 100 years."
"That's what I said too," Suki remarked, "But it's true. Show him, Aang."
Aang looked around the room as if unsure what to do, before he jumped and bent a ball of air underneath him. In no time, he was darting around the room and up the walls. The Earth Kingdom men were shocked into silence, watching the airbender.
"That doesn't prove he's the Avatar," One man grunted, "Just an airbender."
"No one has seen an airbender in 100 years, Jianjun," Another man said.
"Still doesn't prove he's the Avatar."
Aang stopped and dismounted his air scooter, rubbing his head.
"Well, I haven't really learned the other elements yet," He admitted, "We're heading to the North Pole so my friend and I can find a master to teach us waterbending." He gestured to her.
The men then looked to Katara, as if expecting her to say something, but she stood silent.
"A waterbender," The bearded man said, stepping towards her.
"Yes," Katara finally confirmed, "What of it?"
The faces of the other men lit up at her confession.
"Are you any good?" The bearded man asked.
"Not really," Katara admitted, shifting her gaze to the floor, "I'm still practicing."
The bearded man sighed, "I'm Guotin, the leader of the Omashu resistance – what's left of us, anyway. This is Jianjun, Gan, Yong, Zhiqiang, Feng, and Qiu," He pointed at the others and they each nodded. The others appeared to be in their twenties or thirties.
"I'm Aang," The Avatar smiled and turned to his companions, "And this is Sokka, Suki, and Katara."
"Would any of you happen to know a woman from Kyoshi named Sumi?" Suki asked, "Or, perhaps her husband, Huan?"
At the mention of Huan, a couple soldiers exchanged glances and surprised looks.
"Huan," Guotin repeated, "Wife named Sumi with a child named Yun?"
"Yes!" Suki responded, her face lighting up, "You know them?"
"I do," Guotin replied, frowning. "Huan joined the resistance the other day…" He paused for a moment, "Let's get them somewhere to stay for the night and we'll take them up in the morning," he said to his men.
They were led through more tunnels in silence. Katara learned that Jianjun, Gan, and Yong were earthbenders as they opened and closed passageways through the rock. Gan looked to be the youngest of the men – maybe twenty – and Katara couldn't help but watch him bend. She had never seen an earthbender before and she marveled at how different it looked to bending other elements. Earthbending movements were rigid and rooted to the ground, unlike the swift, smooth airbending that Aang practiced and the more rapid and mobile firebending she had seen from Zuko. The thought of the Prince made her scowl – he had appeared in a number of her dreams and nightmares lately, despite her efforts to forget about him.
After what seemed like nearly an hour, Gan and Yong opened a wall to reveal a room with shelves carved into the rock. They led them inside and Gan handed each of them a bedroll from the shelf.
"We'll be back for you in the morning," Yong told them, "You should get some rest."
And then they were gone, closing the wall behind them.
…
"Prince Zuko, I must say I am surprised to see you," Ukano bowed, "And General Iroh, I had not expected to encounter you here in the Earth Kingdom. I thought you were both hunting the Avatar."
Zuko forced himself not to grimace at the mention of the Avatar and maintained an impassive expression, "General Zhao has decided to try his hand. I am seeking other ways to bring glory to the Fire Nation until I may resume my search for the Avatar."
"We were in the Earth Kingdom and heard of the siege of Omashu," Iroh interjected, "Though, it was hardly much of a siege, I hear. What a great success to conquer Omashu so quickly. If only my siege of Ba Sing Se was met with such success." The old general smiled at Ukano, who hesitantly smiled back. "Prince Zuko thought to stop by and congratulate you."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Ukano bowed to Zuko, "I see that you have traveled a great distance. Is there anything I can get you and your men?"
"Some tea?" Iroh asked.
"I hoped to explore the city," Zuko replied, ignoring his Uncle's request, "I would like to see the plans for the reconstruction I have heard so much about."
"Of course," Ukano said, waving over a servant to fetch Iroh tea, "I can find you a room here at the palace to stay in for the night. Though, I should warn you that I haven't had the opportunity to redecorate."
"That would be much appreciated, Governor," Iroh thanked him.
Ukano turned to Zuko, "Mai will be visiting here once the reconstruction is under way, along with my wife Michi."
Zuko stared at him, his expression unchanged.
"I just thought you might be interested in seeing her, after so many years," The Governor suggested.
"I won't be staying for that long," Zuko responded curtly. Ukano had always pushed Mai on the Royal Family; before either of them were ten years old, Ukano was talking with the Fire Lord about their betrothal. He was incredibly loyal to Ozai and schemed to utilize his connections to bring his family up alongside the royals. Mai was a beauty, she always had been, but Zuko had no wish to see her. The girl was apathetic and entitled; she had grown up wealthy and sheltered. She believed what she was told about the war and the Fire Nation, and she never questioned anything. After years at sea, Zuko did not want to see Mai, he didn't want to face the life he was supposed to have. He wanted to capture the Avatar and he wouldn't loiter around in Omashu any longer than he had to.
…
The next morning, they were led by Guotin and Jianjun from their sleeping quarters and into the city. When the earth opened at the top of the stairs, Katara was blinded by the sunlight. They were in an alley somewhere near the center of the city. Suki was close behind her. Throughout the night Suki wondered what Guotin had been saying – it seemed like there was something he didn't want to tell her, she had said. Katara had a bad feeling about it, but didn't want to crush Suki's spirit; instead, she resigned to staying close and being a shoulder to cry on. She was certain Sokka had thought much the same.
The city was unlike anything Katara had ever seen: buildings in all directions, pressed up against each other, on top of each other, lining every street as they towered towards the sky. There were so many people – probably hundreds of thousands. It was so busy, it made her nervous at first. How easy it would be to get lost in such a place. She had heard of cities before but never imagined actually going to one. Frankly, she had never imagined leaving the South Pole until a couple months ago.
As they neared the outer wall that loomed over the buildings and entered into what Katara deemed to be the poorer areas where the refugees were housed, she started to see the scars of war. Buildings were crumbling and blackened from recent fires; refugees sat on the corners and in shaded alleyways, begging, their faces hollow and their eyes filled with pain. As they progressed, it only got worse; soldiers were cleaning up a street that had been entirely demolished. Blocking off the road at the top of the street was a giant boulder, at least two times the size of Appa. They ducked into an alleyway behind Guotin and Jianjun as soldiers passed by, wheeling a covered cart stacked with… the smell hit Katara suddenly and made her feel sick – bodies, burnt flesh.
The glamour and allure of the city was gone in an instant. Katara's fascination and trepidation mixed, leading her to the realization that cities were military targets – casualties from sieges on populous cities like Omashu probably numbered in the tens of thousands, if not more. She suddenly felt ill. The war had always seemed so far away to her. The Southern Water Tribe had been attacked a number of times during her youth, but by the time she reached ten, there was hardly anything left to attack – there were no more raids, just the rusting steamer that sat, stuck in the sea ice, on the other side of the ridge. It was a memorial to a history she had never truly known. It was something that her people tried to ignore, to pretend they had moved past in order to continue on with daily life, trying to survive in the frozen wilderness. Looking down at the street below that had been reduced to blackened rubble, she realized there was no more ignoring it now. There was no going back.
She felt guilty for being so enchanted and fascinated by the brilliance of the big city. It seemed like such a shallow, childish thing now. The spell had been broken, along with the outer wall that crumbled before them at the end of the street.
"I think it's this way," Guotin beckoned them down another alley.
They were approaching the outer wall now and Katara was filled with a sense of dread. She looked over to Suki, whose expression was blank. Did she already know?
"It's here, Guotin," Jianjun said, walking towards the end of the street where the crumbling wall had collapsed and reduced the buildings below to rubble.
Guotin sighed and turned to Suki, taking her shoulder in his hand, "This was where Huan and Sumi lived."
Suki looked up at him, her eyes widening. If she hadn't known before, it was clear now that she wouldn't find her sister in Omashu. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but only a tremulous gasp came out.
Guotin continued, "I met Huan a few weeks ago, not long before the invasion began. He expressed interest in joining the resistance, wanting to protect his family. Yesterday morning, just after the start of the invasion, some of my men had found him standing over there in front of that house, just staring like he was in a trance. When they tried to get him away from the crumbling wall, he ran into the rubble and started searching for something."
Tears were running down Suki's cheeks now; she knew where this was going and it seemed like she couldn't stifle her sobs. Guotin paused and looked down at her, waiting for her to say something.
"K-keep going," She sobbed, "I- I have to know."
Sokka wrapped his arm around Suki's shoulders and Katara reached for her hand. Aang was silent behind them, looking like he was in a trance himself. Katara wondered if he was thinking of the Air Temples.
"He told me the story when my men brought him in. He had been at the market and had left Sumi and Yun at home. When the siege began, he ran back towards the outer wall to get them. He could see the street when the wall was first hit. He… could only watch as it crumbled."
Suki's knees turned to liquid at this and she collapsed into Sokka, who caught her. Katara's heart ached for her friend and tears were running down her cheeks as she felt Suki's despair.
"I'm so sorry, Suki," Guotin mumbled, "I know this is not what you were expecting."
After a long silence that was only broken by Suki's occasional sobs, they started back up the street, away from the outer wall. Sokka was carrying Suki, now, and Katara was rubbing her shoulder; It was all they could do.
When they were back near where they had entered the city from below, Suki told Sokka to put her down. She turned to Guotin.
"You said that Huan told you this," She started, her voice still shaky, "Where is he now?"
"He told me he was going to fight, to avenge his wife and son. I sent him to the front gates along with many other rebels to support the City Guard. When the King surrendered, the Fire Nation arrested everyone defending the gates. They're locked up underneath the palace." Guotin sighed.
"So he's still alive?" She asked.
"I believe so."
"I never knew my brother-in-law very well," Suki mumbled, "We only met a couple times before they married and my sister moved to the mainland with him. I want to see him now."
"We've been trying to make a plan to break into the dungeons below the palace and release all the prisoners," Guotin said, rubbing his chin, "But the cells are made of metal – earthbenders can't break them without collapsing the earth to crush them... that would also crush anyone inside the cells."
Sokka looked to Guotin, rubbing his chin, "Are there locks on the cells?"
"There are," He responded, knowing exactly where Sokka was going.
"Well, what about a waterbender?" Her brother suggested, glancing at her.
"A waterbender might do," Guotin looked to Katara.
Before anyone else could say anything, before she could think, she was speaking. "I'll do it."
Sorry this chapter didn't contain any Zutara action! This is a sort of important chapter for the direction of the story and Katara's character development. But I promise, next chapter will have some Zuko and Katara interactions (they are both in Omashu!).
Please let me know what you think!
...
With love,
A Storm