Book I: Water

Chapter VII: Preparation for War

Part I: Realizations

Kuzon's Quarters, Daqqaq Forward Base, Southern Water Tribe

Kuzon let out a sigh as he twirled his father's knife. The burning sensation from the scar that Zuko had given him was driving him mad with pain. He had been trying his best to just handle the pain as best he could but it was becoming unbearable.

Katara poked her head in excitedly. "Hey! How are you.." Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the flaming red scar on his arm. It was the first time she was seeing it up close. The skin was still badly burnt and had turned a dark red color. It didn't cover the whole arm. It was more a set of jagged lines that ran across his arm. The waterbender cringed a bit. "Does..it hurt?"

Kuzon annoyingly sighed and ran his head through his hair. "If you must know..it does."

Katara just nodded. "Let me see what I can do."

Kuzon shook his head. "Katara.." Katara crossed her arms at him. "Hey. I'm serious. I see this burn is causing you pain. Are you seriously going to try and tell me I'm wrong? "

Kuzon then went silent. He blushed, averted her eyes and grumbled. "Seriously..it doesn't hurt. It's just tingling a bit."

Katara nodded and just shrugged. I know he's hurting but I'm not going to do anything until he asks. He's going to have to overcome that pride of his. "Okay then. I'll just go." She then got up and began walking out of Kuzon's tent.

The burn then flared up again.

Kuzon tried to bite his lip to contain the pain. It began to bleed. "Damn it!" There's no way I can use this arm if it's hurting this bad. I need her help. As much as I hate to admit it. The firebender let out a frustrated sigh. "Katara..wait"

The waterbender turned towards him with a knowing smile on her face. "Yes?"

Kuzon groaned in frustration. "I..I lied okay? I feel like my arm is on fire. Please just...help me.

Katara turned to him with an adoring smile. She then got on her knees across from him and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh Kuzu. My sweet firebender. You can be so stubborn sometimes. All you had to do was ask."

She then sat down across from him with a sweet look in her eyes. "Give me your arm."

Kuzon blushed, averted her eyes, and did so.

Katara then pulled out her medkit and looked it over. She sighed. "Zuko really did a number on you." She then let out a chuckle and smirked playfully. "Luckily for you, I'm the best healer in the world." She then took out some healing ointment and bent it out of the flask.

Kuzon glanced at it. "What is that?" "It's called healing ointment. It is used to heal burns." She then began spreading the ointment all over the burn.

Kuzon closed his eyes as the pain started to go away. "That..ah..feels wonderful."

Katara shyly smiled up at him and blushed. "Um..thanks." As she worked on his arm, a bit of guilt washed over her. His screams of pain as Zuko burned him rang in her ears. She then glanced at him with an apologetic look in her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't get there in time to stop him from doing this to you."

Kuzon shook his head. "Hey it's not your fault. He got the better of me...momentarily. That's all."

Katara glanced at him surprised. Her face reddened. He's taking all this so well. He's so brave and strong-willed. He was willing to endure all that pain just to keep us all safe. He was even willing to bear all the pain alone until I stepped in to help. It makes me kind of admire him. Maybe even fall in love. I know he's had his heartbroken but I can put it back together. I can be what he needs. She absentmindedly intertwined her hands with his and stared at them.

Kuzon glanced at her confused."Katara?" Katara blinked for a moment. She then realized she was staring off into space.

Kuzon was staring at her rather nervously. "Uh...you can let go of my hand now."

Katara looked down and saw Kuzon's hand intertwined with hers. She then gasped. "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I just got lost in the moment! I didn't make you uncomfortable did I?" She then quickly retracted her hands from his. What am I doing? I'm supposed to be healing him! Now is not the time to be thinking about that! Come on Katara!

Kuzon just nodded, trying to keep his cool. "It's f-fine. Don't worry about it."

Katara let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I'd never want you to feel uncomfortable around me." She then dressed up the burn and wrapped it in cloth wrappings. "I don't know how effective the healing creams will be against a burn this severe but I've done what I can. I'm sorry I can't do more right now."

Kuzon put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. Don't stress about it. You've done more than enough. Thank you."

The firebender then stood up and hugged Katara. The girl had a sweet scent that helped relax him.

the waterbender gasped in shock but felt herself melt in his arms. She reciprocated the hug.

Sokka then walked in. His eyes widened in surprise. He then eyed the firebender suspiciously. What is this? He then cleared his throat. The two then turned to look at him.

Both went red in the face and quickly separated from one another.

Katara averted Kuzon's eyes, played nervously with one of her braids, and began twiddling with her fingers. "Oh. Hi Sokka."

Kuzon rubbed the back of his head nervously. Uh..hey Sokka. What's up?"

Sokka sighed and glanced toward Katara. "Dad wants to speak with you in private."

Katara's expression immediately turned from one of embarrassment to anger. She turned her back to her brother. "I'm not speaking with him right now."

Sokka facepalmed. "Katara be practical. I mean we can't honestly have expected Dad to just warm up to Kuzon right away. Our people have been fighting the Fire Nation for years. You can't really blame him for being hostile. Every firebender who has stepped on our homeland has done nothing but try to burn it to the ground." He then glanced at Kuzon. "Present company excluded. No offense Kuzon."

Kuzon just crossed his arms and shrugged. "None taken Sokka."

Katara sighed. "This isn't just about how he treated Kuzon Sokka. This about Dad thinking that he can just reason his way out of this by stating that 'it was for our own protection.'

Sokka put a hand on her shoulder. "That's because it was Katara. He left to go fight for us. He left to ensure that we would be safe."

Katara then turned to him with angry tears. "And were we safe Sokka? The Fire Lord's children came to our village and almost burnt it down."

Kuzon glanced at her sympathetically. This is all my fault. Maybe if I can explain that to them…Katara won't feel as sad. I..hate seeing her sad. He then reasoned. "That was on me Katara. Zuko only wanted the Avatar. If you guys hadn't found me…maybe your village wouldn't have been in the crosshairs."

Katara then turned her frustrations on him. "No. They would have come anyway. They did so before on the day my mother was killed. The only difference between then and now is that we had you and Aang to help us fight back. Don't you dare try to pin all this on you!"

Kuzon backed away a bit with fear in how eyes. "Hey. Alright. You don't have to yell at me. I get it. I'm just trying to help."

Katara then glared at him. "Did I ask for your help ashmaker? No! How about you just go?"

Kuzon raised an eyebrow. "Did you just call me an ashmaker?"

Katara just nodded. "That I did!" Kuzon did not know why he took it so personally.

Sokka felt his jaw drop. Did she just call him an ashmaker? I know she's upset about everything but damn that is harsh.

Kuzon darkly chuckled. "You know I understood it when your father used that slur but I never imagined it would come from you. I've had it." The venom could be heard in his voice. "I'm gone." He then stormed out. It was at that moment that the waterbender realized just how unhinged her emotions had made her. I..I can't believe I did that. Kuzu… What have I done?

Sokka just sighed. Her temper always was her worst attribute. "Listen sis. I get it. Really I do. I'm mad too. But we have got to work together on this if we are to beat the Fire Nation. Dad was torn at your reaction. I know it hurt him deeply. I'm not saying you have to forgive him. I'm saying you at least have to try to talk with him. He and Gran-Gran are the only family we have left alive. Are you really so angry at him you'd just forgo that fact."

Katara fell to her knees and started crying "No..I'm just hurt about everything. Mom's death…Dad leaving us behind…I kept it all in because I knew we had to be strong and lead the tribe onwards from there." Her cries turn to sobs. "Now he's back in our lives and I..just reacted."

Sokka then pulled her into a hug. "Shh. I know sis. I understand that. Dad does too. That's why he wants to make up for it however he can. I'm asking you to give him that chance."

Katara just nodded. "Okay..I'll go talk to him at least."

Sokka let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." He then playfully patted her on the head with a smile on his face. "I love you sis. You know that right?"

Katara just nodded. "I love you too, Sokka."

She then sighed. "I'm going to apologize to Kuzon."

Outside Kuzon's tent, Daqqaq Forward Base, Southern Water Tribe

Kuzon was walking around the base trying to cool off. He felt tears come out of his eyes. He was smart enough to know that the word ashmaker was a slur often directed at firebenders or those hailing from the Fire Nation. The thing was, he may have denounced his nation but its culture still ran its way in his veins. He was secretly very proud of being part of the Sho family. The Fire Nation was his blood and livelihood. He just wasn't supportive of his nation's goals. Katara had, in her own way, rather indirectly insulted that heritage. He was honestly hurt by her words and her actions. He was wiping the tears from his eyes. He then felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and met Katara's eyes.

She smiled with desperate relief in he eyes. "Oh! I'm relieved I found you so quickly!" She moved to hug him but he pushed her away. "Just go away."

Katara felt like her heart was going to tear in two. Her whole body seized up with anxiety and lip started to tremble. "Kuzu..please…"

Kuzon turned to her and glared. "Don't even use that honorific. You've lost the privilege." He growled in frustration. "How can you do that? How can you compare me to any typical firebender when you know what my own people did to me? I thought you actually cared about me. I guess I was wrong. You were only pretending to care. You were only lying to me when you said we had a connection."

Katara got a fearful look in her eyes. "No! We do! I wasn't lying about any of that!"

Kuzon sighed angrily and looked her in the eyes. "Then why did you call me that?"

Katara sighed and looked him in the eyes. "Because I knew it would hurt you deeply. I knew that using a slur like that would anger you. At that moment, I wanted to hurt you."

Kuzon nodded. "I see. Goodbye then."

Katara shook her head and pleaded. "No! Wait! Please just hear me out!" The waterbender then stared into his eyes pleadingly. "Please.."

Kuzon sighed. As angry as he was, he couldn't deny the girl her request. She held a soft spot in his heart. One he couldn't deny. He grumbled and shook his head. "Alright fine."

Katara let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I..realize that was wrong of me to say. I realize that now. I realized it when I saw the pain in your eyes. I realized how deeply my words wounded you." She then took his hands in hers. "That moment made me realize that I still held some prejudice against the Fire Nation for what they have done to me. I..never wanted that hate to bleed over into what you and I have. That was never the intention." She then hugged him as tightly as she could. "You are precious to me. I could never hate you. I'm sure we may argue or fight but that is it. I swear." Tears came flowing down her face. "Please don't go! I need you! I need you more than you could ever understand!" The girl then began crying and sobbing on his shoulder.

Kuzon closed his eyes and sighed. The wave of anger slowly dissipated. In its place was a sense of longing. He realized that he hated seeing Katara cry or be upset. He could forgive her for this. She was upset and still held some anger towards his people. She let her emotions get the better of her. He then gently stroked the girl's hair and sighed. "Look you were upset at your father. I should have read the room better than I did. We both made some mistakes. I'll choose to let this go. You are forgiven."

Katara got the biggest smile on her face." She wiped a tear from her eye and gazed up at him with hope in her eyes. "You..you really mean it?"

Kuzon offered her a rare smile. "Yeah." The waterbender's lip trembled a bit. She laid her head on his chest. "Oh thank you! Thank you! I was so worried I'd lost the bond we cultivated for so long! I'll never use that awful word again! I swear on it!" She then separated from him and nervously cleared her throat. "Now I have to go and talk to my father. I..hope things go well." She mumbled those last words.

Kuzon put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "Hey. It will be alright. I'm sure he wants nothing more than to make up for lost time."

Katara nodded. "Yeah. You are probably right." She then softly pressed her lips against his cheek and took his hands in hers. "Thank you..for everything.." She then walked off towards the Chief's tent. "

Kuzon felt his face redden.. "Y..Yeah. No problem!" He then ran off to find Aang.

The Chief's Quarters, Daqqaq Forward Base, Southern Water Tribe

As soon as they saw Katara running towards men, the two guards guarding the Chef's quarters immediately sheathed their swords and stepped to the side in respect.

Katara gave both of them a quick nod before walking in.

Hakoda was dressed in a neatly pressed blue and light blue Water Tribe tunic. It was far less bulky and stuffy than his chieftain outfit. It had a black line that ran all across the stitching of the outfit. Katara glanced at her father, unsure of what to say or do. "Uh..Hi Dad."

Hakoda let out a deep sigh and turned towards her. "Katara. I'm glad you came." The man had a hopeful smile on his face.

Katara just downtrodingly nodded.

Hakoda then gestured to the pillow across from his. "Please sit."

Katara did so. The guilt and remorse was boiling up inside of her. "I..talked to Sokka earlier. I..just wanted to say that I'm sorry. It wasn't right of me to just insult you like that."

Hakoda took his hands in to hers. "Katara..no." You have every right to be angry with me. I left you and your brother behind to fight in the War. I look back at it now. It wasn't too long after your mother died. I suspected that you would harbor some anger towards me. You were so young when I last saw you."

Katara just nodded blankly, unsure of what to say.

Hakoda sighed.. "I want you to know that both you and your brother were the first thing I thought about when I woke up each morning. You two were also the last thing on my mind when I went to sleep. I never forgot about you both. Leaving you two behind was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make as a father."

Katara looked up at him. "Really?"

Hakoda nodded. "Yes. I wanted to stay but I knew that if we didn't keep the war going against the Fire Nation…they would come to our village again. I had already lost your mother to them. I couldn't lose you two." He then let out a rueful sigh. "At least out here…I could keep the war safe from our home. You understand all that right?

Katara nodded and wiped a tear from her eye. "I do. I just don't know if I forgive you for it yet. I cried myself to sleep at night begging you to come back home. I'm so mad at you. I..I don't want to be. But I am."

Hakoda nodded understandingly. "That is completely understandable. I accept that it will take time for you to forgive me. I'm just asking you to give me a chance. Please Katara. You and Sokka are all I have left. I'm a strong war chief but a man like myself is nothing without the love of his family."

Katara nodded. She knew it would take time to forgive him but she also didn't want to leave home on a bad note. Besides Sokka and Gran-Gran, Hakoda was the only family the girl had left. No amount of bitterness was worth severing that connection. The young girl then stood up and hugged her father.

Hakoda then hugged her back. The older man smiled and a tear ran down his eye. The man was visibly shaken. Hakoda himself was a strong man both emotionally and physically. The war had toughened his heart to a lot of pain and suffering. However, he couldn't help but cry when he held his only daughter close to him. There was a time in the man's life where he honestly thought he'd never see her again. After a while, he kissed her on the top of her head and chuckled. "Maybe I don't have the privilege anymore to say this but...I love you Katara."

The girl smiled through tears. "I..love you too Dad." The father and daughter then separated.

Hakoda sighed with guilt in his eyes. I need to set things right with the Avatar. He deserves a second chance. "Would you mind asking Kuzon to come by? I'd like to talk with him as well. I don't believe we got on the right foot."

Katara nodded. "Of course Dad!" She then walked out of the room. The guilt and anger surrounding her heart began to recede a bit. The girl began to feel hope fill her heart once again.

Kuzon's Tent, Daqqaq Forward Base, Southern Water Tribe

Kuzon was busy practicing his swordsmanship on a makeshift dummy he constructed out of ice.

Sokka was coaching him. He struck at it one and sliced a bit off the top. Nice. I'm getting better.

Sokka crossed his arms and chuckled. "Not bad. You, my fearless firebender, may become a competent swordsman one day."

Kuzon turned to him and chuckled. "I already am Sokka! I kicked your ass didn't I?"

Sokka blushed and waggled a finger at the firebender. "Hey that was luck!"

Aang, who was watching them both, chuckled. "Not from what I heard!"

Sokka then glared at him. "Hey! Stay out of this!"

Kuzon just slyly smirked at Aang. Heh. Nice one brother.

Katara walked up to the three of them.

Sokka turned to her surprised. "So..did you patch things up with Dad?"

Katara half-smirked at him. "Eh. Partially. It'll take time for things to go back to the way they were."

Aang let out a sigh of relief. "What matters is that you attempted to find harmony with yourself. That is half the battle."

Katara chuckled and gave him a nod. "Thanks Aang. The support is appreciated."

The airbender bowed in respect. "Of course. Katara then cleared her throat. "Anyways…Dad wants to see Kuzon."

Kuzon sheathed the sword into its scabbard and eyed her nervously. "Why would your father want to see me?"

Katara beamed at him. "He thinks the two of you got on the wrong foot. I think he wants to show you that he isn't as biased against you as he seems."

Kuzon immediately sweatdropped and let out an awkward laughed. "Ah..well. I mean I guess so. We are allies and all. A meeting couldn't hurt."

Katara, however, could sense the Avatar's change in tone. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey…it will be alright. I know he was hostile towards you initially…but that was only because he worried about the safety of the Tribe. I'm sure things will be different now."

Sokka chimed in. "Yeah Dad is a cool guy when you really get to know him. Maybe he'll even tell you a war story or two. You also kicked his butt in combat. He has to respect that."

Kuzon nodded at both of them. "Well okay then. I guess I'm going then." He then started walking towards the Chief's tent.

Chief's Tent, Daqqaq Forward Base, Southern Water Tribe

As Kuzon walked in, he found the chief looking over a small picture frame.

Hakoda immediately sensed the firebender's presence. "Welcome to my tent Avatar Kuzon. I'm pleased you could come in so quickly."

Kuzon was unsure of how to respond. He was sweatdropping a bit. He decided to bow respectively. "I appreciate the offer Chief Hakoda. I'm..thankful to be considere\d an ally."

Chief Hakoda laughed. "As you should be. The alternative would be becoming one of our enemies. We people of the Southern Water Tribe don't show mercy on those we consider enemies."

Kuzon stuttered. "Y..Yes sir."

Chief Hakoda then turned to him with a big smile on his face. "Ah but please. Don't let me ruin the mood. Tonight is a festive night." He then sighed. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Hakoda. I'm Katara and Sokka's father. I'm also the current Chief of the Southern Tribe. My position is similar to that of a Fire Lord except I was elected into the position."

Kuzon just nodded. "So the Water Tribes are a democracy then?"

Hakoda chuckled. He gave the young boy a knowing smile. "Well at least us Southerners are. The Northerners are more of a monarchy." He then stopped himself. "But we can discuss Water Tribe politics another time. I'd like to hear more about you and why you desire to bring down the Fire Nation. It is...rare to find an ashma...ah...firebender willing to go against the will of the Fire Lord. Most of your people are almost religiously devoted to the Fire Lord. What made you switch sides?"

Kuzon sighed. "When I was just around three...my abilities as the Avatar made themselves known." He could feel his temper rising and he continued talking. "Fire Lord Sozin, Ozai's grandfather, was Fire Lord then. He wanted to start a war that would make the entire world bow to the might of the Fire Nation. Nobody in the world could stop him. Nobody except…"

Hakoda caught on to the Avatar's meaning. "You."

Kuzon nodded. "My family caught on and fled as fast as we could before he could capture or kill us. We ended up somewhere near the Southern Air Temple."

Hakoda nodded. "That must be where you met Aang."

Kuzon just nodded. "Yes. The Elders took all of us in and nursed us back to health. We lived in harmony with them for a while. But then…"

Hakoda eyed the boy sympathetically. "They found out where you were hiding didn't they?"

Kuzon stifled a bit of a sob. "Yes. They came and destroyed the temple. They razed it to the ground. Both my grandfather and father died defending it. They also slaughtered every airbender they could get their hands on. Because of them...I lost the only girl I ever loved."

Hakoda just nodded. "I see. I can relate. I lost Katara and Sokka's mother to a raid by the Southern Raiders." Kuzon gasped. "Who were the Southern Raiders?" Hakoda spoke with bitterness in his tone. "A special unit in the Fire Army dedicated to exterminating the Southern Tribe. They killed my wife in cold blood when she wouldn't out Katara as the last Southern waterbender. I've fought every day since then." He then continued. I can't say I'm surprised by their brutality at the Southern Air Temple. The Nomads had no standing military with which to defend themselves. The Fire Lord isn't one to be merciful. I've learned that from experience."

Kuzon stared at him in shock. "You..met Sozin?'

Hakoda shook his head. "No. But I watched as his grandson murdered my brothers and sisters in the First War."

He then shot the boy a sympathetic look. "I am, however, shocked a Fire Lord would attack his own people though."

Kuzon shook his head with anger in his eyes. "The Fire Lord only cares to use his subjects as pawns for his own gain." He then looked Hakoda in the eyes. "That's why my destiny is clear. I have to bring him down no matter the cost. The spirits of my dead family call for vengeance."

Hakoda nodded in agreement. A small smile graced his face. "Well, maybe your Nation and my Tribe have more in common than I thought."

The older man then extended a hand. "If there is anything me and my men can do to assist you in your destiny...please don't hesitate to ask. We may be from different nations but we have a common goal. The destruction of the Fire Empire."

Kuzon then shook the man's hand with a determined look in his eyes. He then bowed in respect. "Yes Chief Hakoda."

Hakoda then sighed and glanced at him with a serious look in his eyes."Now onto what I also wanted to ask you. What is your relationship with my daughter?"

Kuzon gasped and felt his jaw drop for a minute. "I..uh..don't know what you mean sir."

Hakoda then sighed and narrowed his eyes at the man. "You know I can tell when you are lying. She seemed awfully close to you. Now..out with it! I took you to be an honest man. Was I wrong?"

Kuzon then calmed himself. "No sir!" Okay. Stay calm. Control yourself. If he sees you freaking out...he'll only prod into the matter more. Hmm I can't tell him I love her. I'm not even sure of that yet. But I can't say everything either. He then looked the man in his eyes and bowed. "Katara is just a good friend to me. She had saved my life on multiple occasions. That's all there is to it sir."

Hakoda nodded. "Are you sure about that?" There was a hint of menace in the man's tone. Kuzon spoke with as much conviction as he could muster. "I am."

Hakoda then let out a sigh of relief. "I'm relieved to hear that. I trust you as an ally and friend Avatar Kuzon but Katara is still my daughter. There is no way I am allowing her to marry a foreigner. Even if that foreigner is the most powerful man in the world."

Kuzon nodded and saluted the man. "Understood sir!"

An uncomfortable silence fell about the tent.

Kuzon shifted uncomfortably in his parka. "Will that be all Chief Hakoda?"

Hakoda then smiled at the young firebender and bowed. "Yes thank you for granting me your time Avatar Kuzon. I look forward to the fight ahead. Together with the Northerners...you and I will score a great blow against the Fire Nation!"

Kuzon saluted Chief Hakoda. "Yes sir. May I go now?"

Hakoda nodded. "You may." Kuzon traditionally bowed and slowly walked out of the tent.

Kuzon's Tent, Daqqaq Village, Southern Water Tribe

Kuzon found the others waiting outside his tent.

Sokka was grinning at him with his arms crossed. Looks like it went well.

Aang just nodded in approval. I'm glad things went well. I was worried.

Kuzon was sweating underneath his parka. How do I explain things if Katara asks me? I don't want to lie to her but I'd rather not be responsible for her having yet another issue with her father.

Katara was resting against the tent with a knowing smile. The waterbender was eager to her how Kuzon's audience with her father went. "So how did it go?"

Kuzon managed to regain control of his emotional state and cleared his throat. He averted the hopeful look in Katara's eyes. "The Chief has agreed to assist us in defending the Northern Tribe. He also wanted to ask about my reasons for my vendetta against the Fire Nation."

Katara eyed the firebender suspiciously. Something about the rigidity and the matter-of-fact nature of his speech set off alarm bells in her head. "Are you sure that is all he told you?"

Kuzon turned to her and forced a smile. "Yeah. That was everything." He then went inside the tent, desperate to avoid any future questioning from the firebender.

Katara shook her head, still not satisfied with his answer. I don't know what happened to Kuzu when he talked with my father but I am going to find out..one way or another.