This War of Ours
A/N: I think I'm overusing Mary Oliver's poems, but her imagery just fits so well. So, this chapter's title is from Little Owl Who Lives in the Orchard: "It's not size but surge that tells us when we're in touch with something real."
And to the Pinoy guest who reviewed on my last update, uy! Salamat! Sana nga rin maka-1k reviews ako. Pero mukhang malayo pa eh, hay. Abangan mo na lang Book Two nito haha. Sana ma-enjoy mo 'tong chapter na 'to!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or Harry Potter.
CHAPTER 11
not size but surge
"You've got to be kidding me."
It was all Sokka could do not to topple over as his sister pushed open the door he was listening at. She strode out of the arena with a fury that would put storms to shame, but Sokka was used to her anger, so he barreled through the crowd after her.
"Katara! Katara, wait!" He shouted over the heads of the other students, losing track of Katara's tiny frame. He whipped his head around, looking for Suki or Haru or Yue or Gumi.
Where's the backup when you need them?
He saw Suki waving at him urgently from the stairs, mouthing something about the training grounds, and Sokka nodded and pushed past the pressing bodies in the underground corridor.
He and the Kyoshi warrior emerged in the Great Hall just as Katara made her way to the Western Courtyard, unmindful of the rain. Sokka waited for Haru catch up with them— he'd passed by him when he'd cleared the stairs— before sprinting into the wet grounds after his sister.
He didn't know how Katara knew where the male waterbenders trained— he suspected Suki had something to do with that— but he followed her resolutely, undeterred by the slick stone steps carved onto the face of the cliff. He almost fell flat on his face at a sudden turn, stumbling into the shrubbery— he frowned at Suki as she nimbly jumped over him to get to the clearing.
"Show off!" He shouted at her back, but she just gave him an exasperated look. By the time he disentangled himself from the branches, Haru and some of the other Water Tribe kids were already making their way down the precarious cliffside.
"Where did Katara go? What is this place?" Gumi asked shrilly, the wind whipping her sodden hair in her face.
"It's our training grounds," Akkad answered from behind her, his tone suggesting some sort of exclusivity, as though the place was sacred and Katara had no right to go there.
Sokka bristled. "It's the waterbenders' training grounds, and my sister can use it if she wants, because she's a friggin' waterbender!"
The other boy approached him, steel in his eyes. "She can't go here, because she's a girl."
"So what?" Sokka puffed his chest up, staring down his friend. "She can fight! I bet she can clean these grounds with your butt!"
Akkad's fists clenched at his sides, but before he could do anything else, Sifu Pakku appeared at the top of the steps. Students flattened themselves against the wet cliff face to let him pass.
He walked to the training grounds, stiff-backed, face stony, hands tucked into his dripping sleeves.
"So, you decided to show up?" Katara called from the clearing, her figure so small against the open ocean behind her. Water sprayed over the edges of the outcropping, and for a second, Sokka didn't see his sister— he saw someone fierce and wild and unknown.
Please, Tui and La, please don't let her get hurt.
Sifu Pakku's lips pressed into a thin line and he picked his way down to the training grounds with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Sokka gulped and let the crowd's flow lead him to his sister.
"Well? Aren't you going to fight?" Katara was challenging Pakku by the time Sokka stumbled to Suki, who watched from the edge of the clearing.
Pakku didn't seem impressed by Katara's words.
"Go back to the healing hut with the other girls where you belong," he said in a clipped tone, already dismissing the sodden girl before him.
Somewhere near Sokka, Akkad grunted in agreement. Seething, Sokka stomped to the other boy— who does this jerk think he is— but then a gasp went through the crowd and he stopped in his tracks.
Katara had created two dirty water whips in her hands, glowering at the waterbending master's retreating back. From the two wet gashes in Pakku's robes, Sokka knew his sister had finally snapped and attacked.
Pakku froze where he stood, then whirled around with a speed that seemed impossible for someone his age. Streams of water rushed towards Katara, who jumped back clumsily.
"Fine. You want to learn to fight so bad?" Great rings of water separated the two benders from the crowd, and Pakku advanced, the circling water growing smaller as he did, forcing Katara into close range. "Study closely!"
Before he could do anything else, Katara broke the water ring and forced it all back on Pakku, who deftly transformed it into a shield of ice with a flick of his wrists— Katara slid up the ice wall with a small wave, but Pakku melted the ice as she gained height, forcing her to quickly skirt around him as the wave receded. She fell into stance and drew ice spears from the rain, sending them at her opponent with a shout. He reformed the spears into one powerful jet that knocked Katara off her feet.
"Katara!" Sokka found himself running to where his sister had fallen, but she cast him a fleeting glare and he felt ice clamp down on his ankles. "Dammit!"
Katara shook out her hair and charged, a whip in one hand and a spear in the other. Pakku erected another wall of ice and Katara liquefied it, summoning the water to her side and forming a pillar of ice. She flung ice disc after ice disc at Pakku, who broke each one almost carelessly— until one flew close, surprisingly close, to his face. His expression turned from disinterest to irritation.
"Well, I'm impressed," he said wryly, "You are an excellent waterbender."
Katara stood from her position on the soaked grounds, her breath coming in gasps. "But you still won't teach me, will you?"
Pakku's mouth twisted into a displeased frown.
"No."
With an indignant shout, Katara summoned her remaining strength and sent the murky waters from the stream towards the master. Pakku formed her wave into a pillar and almost immediately rode the surging tower of water to her, knocking her into the bank of the trickling stream. Without even waiting for her to regain her feet, he trapped her with sharp shards of ice.
Katara struggled to stand, grasping the bars of her frozen cage, willing them to melt faster, but her head was already spinning and her chest heaved with labored breaths. Pakku stood over her imposingly, robes barely muddied and hair barely ruffled.
"You have disrespected me, my teachings, and my entire culture," he told Katara, voice as cold as the ice surrounding her. "Repeat this little stunt, and even the headmaster will not be able to protect—"
A splash of water hit the back of Pakku's head.
He turned around, slowly, deliberately, and narrowed his eyes at the instigator.
"Gumi!"
Katara broke through one of the ice bars through sheer force, bending be damned, heart thumping in her throat as she watched her friend face off with the waterbending master.
Gumi's eyes were wide, as though she couldn't believe what she just did. Katara half-expected her to flee from fear, but when Pakku took a step forward, she stood her ground and glared at the old man.
"I'm proud of our culture in the North, Sifu Pakku," Gumi began, fists clenched at her sides, "But we have to stop pretending that girls can only learn healing and boys can only learn fighting. Times have changed."
Pakku paused and tensed, and Katara found herself squeezing through the small gap she created, afraid that he would attack her untrained friend.
But Gumi didn't seem afraid. Not anymore.
"We make ourselves weaker by hiding away half the population in the healing huts while the other half risks their lives," Gumi stuck her chin up defiantly. "We could protect ourselves so much better if all waterbenders knew how to fight and heal!"
"You are the daughter of Kitana and Nukilik, are you not?" Pakku asked, raising his chin as well and looking down at her sternly.
Gumi's brows furrowed. "Yes, Sifu."
Pakku smiled mockingly. "You would turn your back on the long line of healers you descended from?"
"No," Gumi glowered. "But I think it's about time I recognized the long line of warriors that I descended from. You share their blood, don't you, Sifu Pakku?"
The sifu tensed, as though taken aback, but the hard lines on his face betrayed no emotion.
"Very well." He turned sharply and stepped off the training grounds, hands tucked into his sleeves. "Choose to besmirch our traditions if you must, but do keep in mind that such transgressions come with a price. I expect both of you here at sunrise; do not be late."
He glanced over his shoulder at Katara, who stopped in her tracks as she was making her way to Gumi.
"I want to see you training hard, girl, or I may change my mind about punishing you."
Katara merely nodded curtly, jaw clenched. It was a victory, yes, but she knew she— and Gumi— still faced a long road ahead.
Students filed after Pakku, but a few Water Tribe children— and Suki and Haru— hung around, watching Katara and Gumi with varied expressions.
Sokka was the first to arrive by the two girls' side.
"That. Was. Awesome!" He crowed, pumping his fists in the air. He then cleared his throat and attempted to school his face into a stern expression. "And stupid. Katara, you could've been killed— or worse, expelled!"
"You need to sort out your priorities," Katara swatted her brother away and rushed to Gumi, hugging her tight.
"I can't believe you just did that, Gumi!" she gushed, and the other girl laughed weakly. "You were amazing!"
"Well, you were amazing, too," Gumi said, her usual cheeky smile back on her face. "You gave that old coot a run for his money!"
"Yeah, but you convinced him," Katara pointed out, grinning proudly. "I can't believe you never told us you were related to Pakku!"
"I'm not really," Gumi shrugged, tugging on her braid. "It's a far relation— his father was my great-grandpa's second cousin, I think? It doesn't really matter. Everyone's sort of related in the North Pole."
"Ugh. I can't imagine being related to that old sourpuss," Sokka shuddered, running his hands up and down his arms.
"Is it really okay that you fought him? He did say something about the consequences…" Katara bit her lip, only now realizing the full extent of what Gumi did— was the North secure enough to withstand the wrath of the Fire Nation? Pakku was Water Tribe, but did this count as an attack in the eyes of the Academy? Did Gumi even know how the Academy actually operated?
"Would your family be okay?" Katara asked, grasping Gumi's hands in both her own.
The Water Tribe girl shrugged blithely.
"I dunno. But I'm not just gonna stand around while—" Gumi suddenly hugged her arms to herself and pouted at the ground. "I don't know what the war would bring. If— if Aunt Wu's prediction comes true… I'm not just going to sit back and wait for it to happen."
It took Katara a moment to remember what Aunt Wu's prediction was— and flinched when she remembered Gumi's sobs after hearing about her father's possible death.
"I want to be strong enough," Gumi continued, meeting their eyes resolutely. "I want to fight with Dad to protect our tribe, not just wait around and see if he survives or not. I want to protect my family— I'm sure they'd understand that."
Katara placed a hand firmly on her shoulder. "You already are strong enough, Gumi. I'm sure they'll be proud."
"Mom wouldn't. She always prided herself on her healing— oh no!" She slapped her hands to her cheeks, eyes wide as saucers. "What would Mom think! She'll call me a fool for even believing Aunt Wu! She'll stick me in the healing huts all summer!"
"I'm sure she won't, Gumi," a gentle voice said from behind them. Yue smiled reassuringly at Gumi and picked her way around the puddles. "I know Healer Kitana, and she always says to follow your heart."
"Yeah, but I think she just meant that about boys," Gumi scratched her head. "I don't think 'following your heart' means I could be a warrior if I wanted to."
"If it helps…" Yue hesitated, fiddling with the embroidered hem of her sleeves. "I… I want to join you. The two of you."
"Really? Does that mean…?" Katara was almost too afraid to ask. Would the Northern Water Tribe princess really subvert tradition?
Yue nodded, and her eyes landed on Sokka briefly before flicking back to Katara. "I may be too old to learn most of the combative aspect of waterbending, but I want to try."
"Alright!" Gumi jumped up in the air. "Let's show 'em what 'fight like a girl' really means!"
Yue chuckled lightly behind her hand.
"I do hope to convince the others, as well," Yue admitted quietly, glancing at Baya and the twins, who stood impatiently by the steps back to the Academy. She sighed. "They were raised as proper ladies, and ladies do not fight. But if the princess joins…"
Katara laid a hand on her arm reassuringly. "I'm really glad you're on our side, Yue."
"Thank you, Katara." The princess regarded her for a moment with shining blue eyes. "You fought bravely earlier. I never thought combative waterbending could be so… hypnotic and mesmerizing. The way the women talked about it made it seem so gory compared to your performance."
"I'm sure it wasn't that good, but I hope I'll get better at it." Katara blushed and beamed as she hopped off the training grounds. Sokka, Suki, and Haru seemed to have left without her, but she did not mind. She allowed herself to revel in the fact that two Northern girls were willing to join her when all this time she thought they'd shun her.
"Katara, you are a talented bender. Tui and La would be proud that you are not wasting their gift." Yue followed her to the steps and brushed past Baya and the others. Gumi skipped after the princess and stuck her tongue out at the other girls, who looked simply horrified.
"I don't believe I ever told you this," Yue said, looping her hand through Katara's arm, "I wasn't sure if the Southern Water Tribe knew of Tui and La's story, but Sokka…"
She cleared her throat lightly, and Katara wondered what happened between the princess and her brother. She bit her tongue and let Yue continue.
"Long story short... I was a sickly child, and none of the healers could figure out what was wrong with me," she said, primly climbing up the cliffside with Katara in tow. "My father prayed and prayed to the spirits, and laid me down in the Spirit Oasis, hoping that Tui and La would listen— and they did.
"Tui gave me a fraction of his life. No matter how small or insignificant it was for him, I will not let it go to waste by not doing the right thing." Yue tugged on her snow white hair for a second, her thin fingers combing through the strands. "I will not live a life that the Father Moon will not be proud of."
Katara blinked at the princess, stunned at how close to the spirits the North was, awed that this girl touching her had direct contact with the first waterbenders, the spirits of the moon and the ocean.
"Well, I'm glad you want to make use of all the aspects of your bending," Katara said, drawing water out from her rain-soaked hair as they entered the Great Hall. "It's what Tui and La would've wanted. It's all about balance, right?"
"Yes, push and— oh!" Yue stopped abruptly and inclined her head after a pause. "Prince Zuko."
Katara froze, her eyes still fixed somewhere on the stone floor where she discarded the water from her hair. She kept her eyes resolutely on the droplets until she saw the Fire Prince's pointed boots pass by, presumably on the way to the Fire Nation table for dinner.
"Fire Nation royalty are really distant, huh, unlike you, Princess Yue," Gumi sidled up to them, clucking her tongue, and Katara allowed herself to be half-dragged to the Water Tribes' table. "Do you know him?"
Katara's head shot up in surprise and she opened her mouth to deny anything and everything, before she realized Gumi was talking to the Water Tribe princess.
Yue pursed her lips thoughtfully, and Katara tried to discreetly unknot the crick in her neck from her sudden movement.
"I think I have met him once, but maybe it was his cousin," she said, sitting herself down. Katara and Gumi followed suit, the former moving almost robotically despite her pricked ears. "I was a small child back then, but I do remember Fire Lord Azulon and his retinue visiting us for negotiations. I was so scared, I couldn't stop crying. Mother had me taken away from the dinner table."
"Wow, that bad, huh?" Katara ladled soup into her bowl, hands shaking— whether it was from the sudden, flaming rage that thundered in her veins or the icy nerves that pooled at the pit of her stomach, she did not want to know, so she dealt with it the only non-violent way she knew how. "What were the negotiations about? Sacrificing more waterbenders to the Sun God? Bleeding villages dry for power?"
Gumi choked on her seaweed noodles in poorly-disguised laughter. Yue deigned to ignore Katara's bitter barbs.
"I believe it was something to solidify the relationship between the Northern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation." Yue lifted one shoulder delicately. "Father did not agree to it, and when I asked about it when I was older… well, you know princesses aren't part of the decision-making process."
"Oh!" Gumi's eyes sparkled with mischief. "What if you were supposed to be betrothed to the Fire Prince instead of Hahn!"
This time, both Yue and Katara choked on their noodles.
"It… wouldn't be impossible," Yue said hesitantly, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, "Oh, just when I thought I'd never feel relieved that I was betrothed to Hahn…"
"Yeah!" Gumi chuckled. "Imagine having to marry a firebender. Ugh!"
"I suppose I should be glad," Yue mused, "At least I'm secure knowing Hahn would never hurt me."
"Not all firebenders want to hurt people," Katara blurted out. The Northern girls looked at her as though she'd declared she wanted to leave the Academy to sell cabbages in the Earth Kingdom. She cleared her throat of wayward noodles and frantically glanced around.
"I-I mean! Look at the headmaster!" She waved to the Head Table in panic, where Iroh's booming laughter could be heard. Yue acquiesced with a tilt of her head.
"That is true," the princess replied thoughtfully. "And Sifu Pakku is from the Northern Water Tribe and he nearly hurt you, had Headmaster Iroh not intervened."
The trio lapsed into silence. Katara found herself glancing over at the Fire Nation table, where Lee— Zuko— the Fire Prince— was seated away from his chattering peers, a scowl on his face as he ate, and Katara wondered if he really meant it when he said he never wanted to scar anyone.
He didn't see her fight.
The whole Academy— from the students to the sifus— was abuzz with how she fought, and he didn't see it.
He shouldn't want to see it— shouldn't want to see her— but his stupid, stupid brain seemed to be on heightened alert whenever he heard her name.
It was morbidly ironic, considering he'd only known her real name for one night— the one night she'd told him she trusted him, then turned away and left with fear in her eyes— now he was hearing it everywhere he went. Katara, Katara. Katara. How the spirits loved to toy with him.
"It was so beautiful!" Ty Lee gushed from his sister's side. Why the acrobat had taken to watching benders' battles was beyond Zuko, but it was from her that he'd heard the news.
"It was splashing water back and forth," Mai said tersely across Ty Lee, and Zuko found himself inching away guiltily, even though at least three students separated the two of them. He'd been so preoccupied with midnight training that he'd barely spared her a thought, but if she cared at all, she didn't bother to show it. As was typical.
"The Water Tribes really are as backwards as the stories go, huh? Not allowing girls to fight is just wrong," Ruon Jian commented, brushing his hair back. Zuko rolled his eyes at the teen's observation.
"Oh, Ruon Jian, it's just a different culture," Ty Lee pouted, her braid bouncing as she turned to face the boy. "I mean, there used to be a Royal Academy for Girls before Sozin's time, so we know that teaching girls in the Fire Nation goes way back, but I still think it's brave that Katara insisted that Water Tribe girls should be taught to fight, even though it's against their traditions, you know? Now she really stands out."
"You'd know all about standing out, don't you, Ty Lee?" Azula remarked, voice sweet but dripping with disdain. Ty Lee's shoulders slumped.
"I just think it was nice, what Katara did," muttered the girl, picking up a dumpling and shoving it into her mouth petulantly.
"However nice it was, Ty Lee, it doesn't quite matter," Azula said primly. "She will still be relegated to healing after she finishes her training, after all."
"How could you say that?" Ty Lee cried out, echoing the exact words in Zuko's head. "The Fire Nation would be so lucky to have her on our side!"
Azula's laugh was a little too mocking and a little too venomous.
"Oh, Ty Lee, your optimism is so admirable," she said, in a way that told the rest of the table that the acrobat was a simpleton, "Now that the Water Tribe peasant has revealed her… talent… and her apparent disregard for rules, do you honestly believe she will be allowed to fight in the frontlines? Where she could turn on us all?"
Ty Lee folded into herself a little. "I… I suppose not, Azula."
Zuko heard enough— he stood up and left the Great Hall, thoughts scrambling over one another in his head.
He wasn't exactly immune to Azula's words— frankly, he's still convinced that Agni himself created little sisters to torment their big brothers— but seeing her treat her so-called friends that way… it was oddly upsetting.
He wondered, not for the first time, how Mai could put up with his sister.
Mai could probably put up with his father for years on end and not even flinch. Somehow, the thought failed to comfort Zuko.
He stalked off to his uncle's chambers— he wasn't stupid, he knew Azula had been waiting for him to show up in the library ever since his failed reconciliation with Mai— and firmly shut the heavy doors behind him.
Ever since his midnight escapades ended, he'd taken to visiting his uncle more. Iroh had simply smiled and asked what tea he wanted when Zuko turned up at his office one morning before meditation. Whether or not the headmaster knew his underlying reasons— both for discontinuing their tea sessions and for restarting them seemingly out of the blue— he didn't press Zuko to tell him, and for that he was deeply grateful.
The doors to the headmaster's chambers opened, and Zuko was surprised that his uncle didn't enter alone.
"Ah, Prince Zuko," Zhao sneered, his armor clanging as he stepped through the threshold, "What brings you here?"
"I do not believe my nephew needs a reason to visit me, Commander Zhao," Zuko glanced at his uncle over Zhao's shoulder and saw his pinched, less-than-pleased features. "Whereas you…"
The commander ignored the thinly-veiled insinuation and sat before Iroh's desk uninvited. He appraised Zuko with a smirk.
"So, how is your search for the Avatar going?"
Zuko glared at him, fists clenched. "I haven't found him yet."
Zhao laughed humorlessly.
"Did you really expect to? Reading every single scroll in the Academy's library will do nothing for your mission," he said, mouth curled into a sneer. His following words dripped with false nonchalance. "Unless you have found some evidence that the Avatar is alive?"
"No," Zuko swallowed and averted his gaze. Truthfully, he hadn't been as consumed at finding the Avatar in months, and surprisingly, it hadn't bothered him. Until now. "I've found nothing."
Zhao huffed in disbelief.
"Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you found."
"Zhao, that is enough," Iroh commanded sharply, eyes narrowed and back straight. "Did you request a meeting just to insult your Crown Prince?"
"Of course not, General," Zhao's mouth curled into a mocking smile. "My loyalty is to the Crown."
Your loyalty is to yourself, Zuko thought bitterly.
"That is a relief to hear, Commander Zhao," Iroh replied in a tone that belied relief. He shuffled around his desk and picked up a teapot. "Would you care for some ginseng tea?"
"Oh, I am not here for tea, General Iroh. I merely wished to relay news for your ears only," Zhao glanced at Zuko from the corner of his eye and cleared his throat. The Fire Prince stiffened and glanced at his uncle.
Iroh pursed his lips and busied himself with making tea, saying seemingly offhandedly, "We have already established your loyalty to the Crown, Zhao. Don't let Prince Zuko's presence stop whatever you need to say."
"Very well." Zhao glanced at the Fire Prince and his lips twisted as though he tasted something disgusting. "I will be taking a leave of absence next term, as I have been tasked to lead an... expedition to the North Pole."
"An expedition? For whatever reason, Commander?" Iroh sat and poured himself a generous cup of ginseng, a picture of placidity, but Zuko could have sworn the temperature in the room cooled considerably.
"Why, to find the Avatar, of course. The Fire Lord trusts no one else," Zhao smiled cruelly in Zuko's direction, "Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar, Prince Zuko."
"You…" Jaw and fists clenched, Zuko strode until he was nose to nose with the military man, ready to roast him in his stupid armor and roast his stupid sideburns off—
Iroh cleared his throat and stood, hands still cradling his dainty porcelain teacup. Zuko remembered himself and stood back, still breathing heavily. His uncle smiled thinly at him before addressing Zhao, who had an all-too pleased look on his face.
"Very well. I will speak with Sifu Jeong Jeong and see if he would be willing to take the advanced classes as well." The old man took a sip of his tea and glanced at Zhao over the rim of his cup. "Is there anything else?"
"No," Zhao straightened up and exhaled disdainfully. "That will be all, General."
As soon as the sound of Zhao's metal boots clicked down the hallway, Zuko turned to Iroh angrily.
"Uncle! How could you!"
Iroh merely raised his bushy brows and sat back down.
"How could I do what, nephew?"
"Capturing the Avatar is the only way I could regain my honor!" Zuko started to pace agitatedly, steam rising from his nostrils with each heavy breath. "How could you let Zhao leave!"
"You and I both know nothing could be done to change Ozai's mind, nephew," Iroh bowed his head over the steam wafting from his cup and inhaled deeply. "And how exactly were you planning to capture the Avatar while you are still in school, Prince Zuko?"
Zuko stopped halfway through a stomp. He gulped.
"I've been reading up on places where Air Nomad Avatars were trained…" he began, but he did not really know where he was going.
"Am I right to assume you are thinking of dropping out of the Academy?" His uncle continued for him in a light, casual tone.
"Oh," said Zuko. "Well, yeah. Once I have enough information to go by."
"May I ask why you are abandoning your education?" asked Iroh gently.
"Uncle." The Fire Prince sighed and slumped into the chair across the desk, running a hand down his face. "You know why. Going out there is the only way I can regain my honor."
"Nephew, please do not put me in such a terrible position." Iroh set his cup down delicately on the wooden table. "You know what happens to those who leave the Academy before completing the required tour of duty. Besides, honor is—"
"You don't understand, Uncle!" Zuko shot to his feet with a snarl. "This is my birthright, and I will fight for it, unlike you!"
He immediately regretted the words as soon as they slipped out of his mouth. His uncle's widened in surprise, then turned downcast.
"Courage is an admirable quality, Prince Zuko, but we must choose carefully which things we fight for," Iroh said levelly. "There is a fine line between bravery and recklessness."
"I'm not being reckless," Zuko muttered, trying to drown out his uncle's previous advice to think things through. He headed for the door. "I'm going to the library."
"If you want to take a walk later, Sifu Zei has told me of a blooming white jade bush in the Academy grounds—"
Zuko slammed the door shut behind him.
A/N: Whew, the Katara-Pakku match was a hefty chunk of writing, but I especially found the double Zhao-Azula combo in one chapter especially taxing. So much so that you can blame them for this delayed chapter. More Zutara in the next one! Please tell me what you think of this chapter!