Yo, yo, yo.
To address a couple of things before we begin:
-I swear this isn't Zutara (though your doubts make me giggle 3). Cross my heart and hope to become a Hufflepuff.
-I couldn't help but pull a "Bella" it just seemed like the right thing to do.
-Not "Yu-key-ah" but "Yu-ky-ah".
That is all dear ones. :D
And thank you so much, those who review. It makes me happy when you do that.
Several things happened to Katara at her guest's news. Her spine stiffened and her skin grew cold, colder than what the freezing temperatures usually made it. For a moment she felt sick to her stomach and had to push away the bowl of stew that she had been nibbling at.
Azula, the Princess Royale of the Fire Nation, was loose. She had been the driving force of her father's desire to eliminate the Avatar. To eliminate Aang. The thought sent warmth rushing through the Waterbender's face and chest. Her pulse raced in response.
"Will she be after, Aang?" Katara asked through clenched teeth.
Zuko was startled by how quickly the young woman's dread had become rage.
"We're not sure. No one expected Azula to escape her prison." The Fire Lord released a long, tired breath. "She's insane. She's vengeful. She'll want to take the throne from me. My answer to your question will be yes, Katara. She'll go after Aang, but she won't do so until she gathers supports. Strong, useful support."
"Mai is on your side, right?"
"Yes. Mai swore her loyalty to me years ago. She can be cold, but she'd die before she went back on her word. Especially for my sister. Azula destroyed whatever lingering affection Mai could have had for her when they were still girls."
Katara's brow furrowed. "And what about the other one, Ty Lee?"
"The last we heard, she was still with the Kyoshi Warriors, but that was years ago."
"And your father?"
Zuko frowned and stared at the chunks of meat floating in his bowl. "The former Lord Ozai has been relocated. Only Uncle Iroh and I know where he is now. Not even his guards know where they are stationed at."
At that, Katara relaxed the tiniest bit. If Azula and Ozai joined their powers, they would be near impossible to defeat. If they joined their powers with others of considerable strength…Katara shuddered at the idea.
"Aang can stop her," she said softly. "He's the Avatar."
"As were all the others when they were alive. Avatar or not, Aang is human first. He can die just as easily as anyone else."
"The world would stand up to defend him."
"Two and a half nations," Zuko replied, just as soft. "The Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Nation is still divided."
Her dark eyes widened in surprise. "Zuko?"
"Azula has more support than we could ever have imagined, but it's mostly among exiled nobles and peasantry."
Katara scowled at him.
"I'm sorry; the less financially inclined."
Her scowl vanished, but the crease in her brow was still evident.
"So you have half a nation standing behind you."
He nodded. "There are still those who believe I'm unfit to lead because of my compassion and repeated failings as a prince."
"Despite all the good he's done as the Fire Lord," chimed one of guards.
Katara and Zuko looked to the man before he continued eating.
Silence enveloped them again, the only noise being that of the gentle slosh of stew caused by the guards' spoons. Katara bit lightly on her lower lip, worry clouding her eyes.
Zuko looked from her to his own stew and took in a deep breath to force his shoulders to untense.
"Katara, I need a favor from you," he said.
She gave a dry laugh. "Odd time to ask favors, don't you think, Zuko?"
Zuko looked up to her again, his amber eyes focusing on hers. It made her sober instantly.
"Would you be opposed to sending a message to your brother?" the Fire Lord asked. "We're going to need all the forces we had the first time to find Azula."
The Waterbender frowned. "I'll send him the message. Getting him to join us is going to be the difficult part. I haven't seen in him in about five years. He's adamant about staying with the tribe."
"And Suki?"
"And their kids. His oldest girl is here with me, but he has two more in the South and one on the way."
Zuko's eyes widened. "Stays busy, huh?"
"I try not to think about it. That's my brother."
They laughed softly in unison.
"Why is his eldest here?" Zuko inquired after a moment. He was glad to have his current troubles diverted with news of his old friends.
"She's a Waterbender. Or will be."
"How old is she?"
"Twelve."
Again, Zuko laughed softly. It was a wistful sort of laugh. He had hoped to have children with Mai, but the dream was never realized. It was part of why his position of Fire Lord was so unstable; He had no wife and no heir.
"She's wants to be a healer," Katara continued. She rose to her feet to collect the empty bowls of the guards. Zuko handed her his bowl as well. Taking them into the kitchen, she cleaned up quickly. When she was finished, she walked into the foyer instead of the dining room.
Zuko watched as she shrugged on her thick coat and pulled on her mittens.
"Where are you going, Katara?" he asked, brow furrowed in confusion.
"I need to ask Yugoda to take care of Yukya for a little while. I'm going wherever you're going."
"Yukya?"
"My niece."
"Aunt Katara, you don't have to do that!"
The guards were on their feet and at the Fire Lord's side in a moment. Katara started at the high, girly voice and turned quickly to find out who had spoken. Her expression was one of annoyance and affection as she watched a young girl race from her hiding place at the top of the stairs.
"Yukya," Katara chided firmly. "How long have you been here?"
Yukya stood proudly in the center of the living room, her jaw set and chin lifted in the air defiantly. There was no doubt in Zuko's mind of who her father was, just by how she held herself. In appearance she was a slight child with ebony hair tied back from her face in a simple braid and dark brown eyes that were vivacious and intelligent.
"I stayed home from lessons today," she admitted to her elder with respect, but no remorse.
"Why?"
"Black snow."
Zuko was puzzled. "Black snow?"
"Soot from Fire Nation warships stain the snow," Katara explained. "That doesn't excuse your behavior though, Yukya."
Yukya ignored the comment and rushed to her aunt's side. Grabbing Katara's mittened hand, the young girl tugged it gently. "Aunt Katara, please let me go with you. I'm a big girl. I won't get in the way, I promise. And I'll practice my Waterbending in every spare moment I have."
Katara's face screwed up in indecision. She looked to Zuko in silent askance.
"Let the girl come, Katara," the Fire Lord said with a gentle smile. "I'm going to the Earth Kingdom. To find Aang."
"Please, Aunt Katara? The Fire Lord even said it was okay."
A loving laugh escaped Katara's lips as she patted her niece's hand.
"Go pack your things then, Yukya. We'll be leaving shortly."
Zuko could not help but smile as the girl gave a great whoop of excitement and rushed back up the stairs she had rushed down earlier.
"Easy to please, isn't she." Zuko still chuckled.
Katara shook her head and smiled. "She is her father's daughter."
The dark-haired man stood up and pushed his chair back to the table. If they were going to hunt down Azula, they needed to be leaving as soon as possible. He joined Katara in the foyer and slipped on his own coat. His guards followed his lead.
Katara left them to follow Yukya upstairs so she could pack as well. Less than a quarter hour later, both females returned, each with a simple leather satchel filled with the things they needed.
"We're ready, Zuko," Katara said. She looked from her niece to her friend. "Lead the way."
The guards exited first, then Yukya and Zuko. Katara lingered long enough to write a letter to the Chief. Along the trip back to the boat, she stopped at a small hut owned by an elderly woman and gave her message to deliver.
Zuko helped the females into the boat before he climbed in himself. The guards kicked off from the dock and rowed through the gate Katara had opened. Yukya all smiles during the short trip to the warship and retained her elation as she stood on the wide deck.
She was an enchanting child and endlessly amusing. In a lot of ways, she reminded him of Aang. The thought of the Avatar made Zuko's stomach churn restlessly.
He hoped to the heavens that they reached him before Azula, and whatever army she had mustered, did.