25. Light
Katara had a sinking suspicion that something was going to happen, something momentous and life-changing that gave her a churning sensation in her stomach, like moldy rice. Strangely, she shouldn't feel that way. Sokka found a master key that unlocked all the entrances for their escape plan, Kita is officially well and fever-free enough to walk without an escort, they've gained new resistance members—Suki (a secret Kyoshi warrior) and a surprisingly agile and quick twelve-year-old, the one who had commented on chai tea, Yue is going back home (briefly) to her father as a "treat for the Princess to report and encourage on progress," Zhao is holed up in his office with paperwork and Jee was his substitute, and Zuko has stopped trying to ask her to tea or even look at her. All of these things should be wonderful, but Katara, raised in paranoia and fear, is nervous. She can help feeling that something will go wrong soon, but everyone seems in high spirits. Even Hahn has stopped scowling.
She tried to talk to Sokka about it, but he was too excited about finding the master key and too anxious, trying to figure out how to smuggle over twenty children out of the school without being caught or followed. Yue is serene as ever and tries to offer reassurance, but it seems that her heart isn't really all into it as she packs for the long journey north. Suki begins to worry with her, so Katara stops telling her. The other resistance members are in the same state as Sokka.
The only one she could really get words from was the Blue Spirit, albeit in written form. He kept telling her to be cautious and stay out of trouble and perhaps not go to the meetings anymore. Katara refuses. How could she let everyone down when they've come so far to escape?
Two weeks have passed, and everything is in order. Yue won't leave yet until tomorrow, so she can help the others escape, and Sokka plans most everything, at the night of the full moon, where the Waterbenders are at their most powerful, and Firebenders are weaker. Some dare to smuggle their brothers or sisters or the small children along, confident of the plan. Katara notices Kita has managed to squirm her way in, and she vows to keep a close eye on her. Suki is nervous and keeps whispering to the twelve-year-old boy, Bumi, who is in the Earth House and is not a bender, but is able to scramble up he rooftops even better than the Blue Spirit.
Speaking of which, he was at her side as always, his emotions behind the mask, but Katara could sense that he was nervous.
Sokka unlatched the gate carefully, slowly, so it wouldn't creak. Everyone was leaning forward in anticipation.
"Earthbenders, your partners. Get underground as soon as you step out. You hear?" Everyone nods. They have a change of real Fire Nation clothes with other supplies, which they've sewed carefully through the late meetings or hidden in their cabins. Katara is ready.
The Duke is practically dancing in place with the other children, like Kita. Hahn has a hand on his club while keeping a close eye on his Earthbending partner. Yue is next to Sokka with a calm smile, helping him with the gate, her white hair glowing in the moonlight. Suki is fiddling with her makeshift replacement fans. Bumi is playing with his black hair and hat. Jin is trembling from head to foot right next to Teo.
Katara smells something—kerosene. They didn't have lanterns. There's something else, too, like something smoky...
Something isn't right.
She turns to ask Sokka if he smells it too, just as the heavy gate is finally forced open, and the first group is already plunging underground when the world explodes.
Katara doesn't remember screaming, but all she knows now is that she has dirt in her hair and skin, and she's facedown in the earth. The other students are good at keeping silent, but a few of the little ones whimper.
"What...what happened?" Suki coughs, wiping dirt from her eyes with a bit of a struggle.
Katara opens her mouth to reply that she doesn't know, then her eyes, as if guided, rest on Jin. She's staring tearfully at them, a spent firecracker on the ground near her, her hands coated in ash. But she's not looking at them, as a crowd, Katara realizes as she begins to pick herself up. She's looking at someone specifically—
She follows Jin's eyes and gasps.
It's the Blue Spirit, unmasked, hood down, golden eyes looking the same as when he hit her, but with a certain hardness to them.
"Please," Jin begs, falling onto the ground on her knees. "He threatened me, my mother, I had to—please."
Sokka doesn't give her a second glance. He's practical, mind shifting to the greater picture instead of the main problem.
"They'll be here soon. Get away, as much as you can! Under! Young kids first!"
Katara shoves Kita along with a pair of twin Earthbending boys as they begin to create a hole in the ground and turns with her water ready towards Prince Zuko. Sokka is ordering, gently soothing them. Yue pulls out her dagger and ties up Jin with strips of her own blue dress; the girl keeps shaking and sobbing so loudly that Yue gags her with her sash. The princess looks at her with remorse and sadness before running to help Katara.
Suki dances in, metal fans whirling, and she draws the first blood—nicking Zuko's knuckles as he punches forward with fire. She manages to dodge, her skirt flying gracefully, and fiercely charges.
Bumi, surprisingly, does the same.
"Bumi, no!" Katara screams. "You're only a kid! Get out of here!"
"No!" his gray eyes harden. "I owe it to all you to fight!"
Katara doesn't quite know what he means, but the second he manages to land Zuko flat on his back in a flash makes her decide that Bumi is pretty good.
Suddenly, the small flames from Jin's firecracker light on the grass among them. Or perhaps, Katara didn't price as she was trying to stab the man who betrayed everyone with he icicles. No point in hiding her abilities.
Fire causes panic, and it's all Sokka could do to motivate the frightened kids, some of the older ones losing their heads and yelling. They hear clanging of metal and running footsteps. Katara begins to panic. Guards. Zuko manages to leap out of of the way of a dagger, ten icicles, and kick while glaring at Sokka. "They're here."
She lashes at his throat, and he spins to get out of the way when a small army with guards not from the school approach, led by Zhao.
Katara curses. Yue is looking frightened, but resolute as she continues to swipe at the Prince with her dagger. Suki simply looks defiant, while Bumi turns pale. Katara nearly drops her waterskin.
Zuko turns to her. "I'm sorry."
"You liar!" she hits him with a water whip, surprised momentarily a the sharp smack it makes when in contact with his cheek. "You believe in all of this filthy propaganda, and—"
"Run!" Sokka yells. The escaping students are almost out. Jin is still tied near the gate, head hung. "Split up!"
Katara takes one look at Zuko, then another at the flaming fists of the guards and Zhao, then flees.
Katara forgets how fast of a runner she is. She sprints almost to the Water House before her mind catches up.
What will they do to me? To Sokka? To Dad?
Wait, can I go back into the cabin? Should I? Should I pretend this never happened?
No, Zuko would have told the identities.
It's not safe.
Where can I go?
She summons water from the nearby drinking trough, the metal ladle coming with it at a few of the guards, who immediately Firebend at it before being encased in ice. Katara knows they might melt it before long, so she runs—she doesn't know where, but she has to get away.
It is the first time she can use her powers to the fullest, and she doesn't hesitate to use them to shove away guards. She has to find her brother, her friends, someone.
Where would Sokka go? He's always been clever and tricky. He'd hide somewhere out of the way and quiet. But Yue is still out there. Sokka wouldn't leave her. He loves her.
Her mind assesses the situation. Suki favors high places, so she must be on the roof. She and Bumi are often close together, so Bumi might be with her. The guards can't climb the roofs with their heavy metal uniforms, and she's seen both of them, the Kyoshi Warrior and boy. They are fast. They can hide well. She has to find Sokka, then, because Yue isn't much of a climber, like her, and he wouldn't ever abandon her.
Katara ran, her ears and ears open. The fire was spreading, and the students in the cabins were peeking out the windows or rushing out of the doors, screaming.
Fire flashed before her eyes, and she dropped to the ground, right behind a cluster of bushes.
Zhao was standing before Yue, forced on her knees, her knife sticking erect into the ground, and held by two guards. Sokka was not there.
Where is he?
Yue's hair blew softly around her face. "You can't keep doing this, Zhao. This is not right."
Katara crawled closer, trying not to breathe.
Zhao raised his hand. "We've been after this foolish resistance for years. We will wipe out this idiotic endeavor of yours. The Fire Nation is strong."
"Strong in the wrong ways!" Yue shouted back, her eyes gleaming in the nearby firelight and full moon. Katara could hear something powerful, something royal in her voice as she continued, "You confuse the other elements as being weak, but it is not a question of strength in sheer power! I can tell you that earth can move mountains and entire cities, while water can wash away towns and carve a canyon from rock. It is our duty, as benders to create. Fire is good for lighting, cooking, and keeping warm, not just burning! You cannot do this!"
One of the guards riased his hand to cuff her face, but the headmaster shook his head and raised a palm calmly.
Zhao advanced on her. "I can."
"I...I am the Princess of the North!" Katara nearly jumped as Yue's voice seemed to pierce the sky, and the guards holding her were shrinking away. "My father will know, and he will retaliate! You do not understand the bonds of friendship and family, Zhao! If you destroy anyone, they will come! We will not break! That is one of our purposes in the Resistance!"
"Who is your leader? Where are the rest?"
Yue glared and raised her chin higher. "The Fire Nation preaches honor in every class. I will not dishonor myself by betrayal!"
Zhao laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'll even give you a full pardon, like the little Jin over by the gate."
Lies, Katara thought. Yue, however, seemed to hesitate, and Zhao leaned forward in anticipation.
The Princess seized her dagger by her teeth and threw it at his face, skimming his cheek with an angry tear. She then kicked the guards, who were stunned in silence, and they loosened their grip enough for her to run free.
"No!" Zhao roared, and fire sprang to life in his fists, a huge amount that was almost the size of the bushes Katara was in.
Yue spun around when she heard his angry snap and looked in horror as the wave of flames rushed towards her.
Sokka had given Yue training, because Yue had none as a typical Northern Water Tribe princess. Yue knew what to do: duck, fall flat on the ground, and roll.
She was one step too slow.
Her white hair caught on fire, along with her dress, and for one moment, she resembled a goddess, cloaked in dancing gold and yellow, fierce and lovely and powerful, her eyes standing out in half surprise, half defiance, flashing blue among all the warm colors. Then, everything closed in and burned.
Katara saw Yue's face changing into her mother's, and she was retching just like the day in Ms. Kwan's history class and now was gasping and shaking and not noticing the world turning black.