Yo, my peeps, (lol im so corny) anyways, sorry for that little outburst.
Sorry it took me awhile to get this chapter up, its been a few days, And I might not have the next chapter up for another week cuz i have to go to arlington and i wont have a comp there
And then i have school and chores and stuff...my bro is not helping the situation either, but please, enjoy anyways!
Disclaimer!! I own nothing, no Avatar, nada, zip, im as usual, deprived
--All at Once
The next day the invitations were sent out all over the earth. About three ships were sent to deliver the messages to different nations and men on foot were sent over the fire nation. When people got their invitations (written by Katara herself) the people hurriedly came to the palace in an effort to be there first. And to please the bride to be. But it was weeks before anyone could get there. Meanwhile, as the palace was trying to get ready, many things had happened all at once.
Three Weeks Ago
It had been the day after Katara wrote and sent the invitations that things were not always what they seem to be. Even a few people were acting odd. Especially Iroh.
Every time Katara stepped one foot into a room that Zuko was in, Iroh would immediately come and start up a conversation where only Zuko and Katara knew what they were talking about.
After the last dinner party, Katara refused to drink, less she were too intoxicated and had to be brought up to her room again...By Zuko. The thought wasn't such a bad idea. But then there was Aang.
She made herself realize that Aang needed her. She could not let him down. They had decided on a winter wedding at the palace. Winter in the Fire Nation was beautiful, the windows would fog up and there was lots of rain.
If Katara couldn't have the ocean, she'd have the rain. If she couldn't have Zuko...she'd have Aang...
After the dinner party the other night, Katara had decided she was going to be herself. Katara had been wary of trying to become herself again, defend herself, defend others. Stick up for what she believed in. Never give up. Never give up without a fight. Protect your own.
All at once these thoughts decided to swarm in her head that gave her a migraine. She wanted to go back up in her room to drink the syrup that Chongde had given her. Katara halted in mid-step as she realized where she was. She was on the path to the gardens.
Looking around to see if she was alone, Katara walked over to the turtle-duck pond. A willow tree shaded the area. It all looked so pleasant. However there was nothing to sit on. Oh well, Katara shrugged and sat down underneath the willow. Not caring if her new silk red robe would get grass stains.
Baby turtle-ducks surrounded her the moment she sat down. They nipped slightly at her bitten fingernails, as if they too wanted to chew on something. A pleasant laugh filled the silence. The animals chirped happily and waddled closer to her. One baby turtle-duck tripped over a twig and started to wail. Katara picked the downy creature up and started to sing softly to calm its nerves and her own.
Come to the window,
My baby, with me,
And look at the stars
That shine on the sea!
There are two little stars
That play at bo-peep
With two little fish
Far down in the deep;
And two little frogs
Cry neap, neap, neap;
I see a dear baby
That should be asleep
Katara yawned as the little turtle-duck waddled away. She layed down in the grass and her eyes fluttered closed.
After about twenty minuets of watching Katara, Zuko made his way under the branch and leaves to lay down beside Katara. Katara had always been a light sleeper, so when she awoke she saw Zuko's lean form half hovering over her, Katara gave a light gasp of surprise.
"Shh..." Zuko had warned. She stared at his lips and nodded numbly.
He traced his fingers over her brow, jaw, nose. Then, finally, her lips. Katara's eyes fluttered once again, a silken sigh escaping her. The sounds she made were starting to hang around in Zuko's mind. Everything about her, Zuko kept locked in the secret passages of his heart.
As he touched her mouth with his fingers, Katara bent into his hand and kissed his palm. Now, a soft sigh escaped Zuko as well. Her eyes searched his, looking for answers. Even when she didn't know what exactly the question was.
"Why, Zuko?" Her question was filled with longing, an urgency so powerful, only one word could explain...'why'.
As usual, he kept his face hidden well, a certainty molding his features.
"I talked to Mai" As if that was supposed to make everything alright, as if telling Mai he wanted Katara and Mai had been alright with that. That was never going to happen.
Turning pessimistic, Katara wanted to believe that love could not conquer hate and jealousy. Katara knew otherwise. Tears welled up in her eyes as cold and forbidden as glaciers that inhabited the South Pole.
"Zuko, we're going to find a way."
Looking at her sadly, Katara knew that Zuko was having an inner battle as hard as she was, maybe harder.
"What did you talk to Mai about?" Her voice was urgent, desperate.
Suddenly his eyes erupted into flames. "About my plan to call off the wedding."
Hope fluttered into her heart, but it didn't last long as Zuko continued. "She agreed to a certain degree." Zuko's voice was hoarse, like he swallowed dust.
"She said if she was calling off the wedding, she'd call off yours too." The blue fire in Katara erupted into white hot flame.
"That's the point, Zuko! I'm not going to hurt anymore Zuko...I don't want to hurt anymore!" Flaming tears ran down her cheeks like lava erupting from a volcano.
She sat bolt upright, scrambling to get away from Zuko, trying even harder when he wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. Bringing her underneath him, with his arms still wrapped around her hips, gently but firmly.
His golden eyes blazed fiercely as well, "I never said I wanted to use you, especially if you did decide to marry Aang!", Zuko read her face like a book. "I love you for you, Katara! I never want you to hurt. It's your choice, just try not to hurt yourself along the way!"
Shocking Katara further by giving her a full kiss on the lips. It was Zuko's turn to search. To find their love in a simple act such as a kiss. But this kiss was notsimple in the slightest. It was perfect. Everything Katara was missing out on, she found in Zuko's kiss. It was bliss at its highest degree. Shakily, Katara surrendered to the power of his kiss. Her arms ended up around his neck.
And to surprise herself, Katara found herself kissing Zuko back. She wriggled beneath him a moment, but it was enough for Zuko to back off from her. A sting in the back of her eyes made Katara turn her head slightly away from her beloved. Zuko twisted away from her, taking deep breaths to calm the erratic beat of his heart. Jumping instantly to her feet, Katara bounded for the safety of the palace.
The nap, the conversation, all led up to Zuko's powerful kiss.
And it had happened to her all at once.
Two Weeks Ago
Iroh drank his tea in the candle light. He could feel the tension in the air. The tension grew until it was like fog, heavy and dark. Two very powerful benders sat with him, lost in troublesome thoughts.
It was a nightly ritual that Katara and Aang joined him for tea. His nephew had taken tea with him in the morning, while the noble, Lady Mai, refused to acknowledge him. It didn't bother Iroh, who always thought Mai was a bratty girl. Maybe that's why she had been such good friends with Azula.
Oh well...
Then Aang spoke to Katara, low and dangerous. "Whats wrong, Katara?"
Katara looked up at him then, her eyes frosted like the igloos st the South Pole. Her voice was like daggers too, "Nothing is wrong, Aang. Why would you assume that?" She came out harsher than she intended, but she couldn't help it.
She was very mad at Aang, he put her down and made her cry. How foolish am I?was the thought that rapidly raced through her brain. Aang's gray eyes bored into hers, his eyes were fogged up, like the searing tension.
Iroh knew better than to interfere. When, so many years ago, Ozai had fought with Ursa, he had to back down. Ursa was always able to take care of herself. Katara could do the same, if only Aang would give her some room to breathe first.
Aang stood up then. Glaring at Katara, he spoke in a terse tone, "Whats wrong with me, Katara? Huh? Am I so unworthy of your attention?!"
Dressed back in her blue attire, with her hair in a braid, Katara also stood, "There is nothing wrong with you Aang!"
Aang gave into pacing in front of the giant fire place, "There has to be something wrong with me or you would love me like you used to!" Katara never loved Aang like he thought she did. She cared for him, yes. But in a different way.
"Thats the thing, Aang," She said his name like it was a curse. "Your perfect Aang, everything I do can't compare to you. You need someone who shares your strengths, someone who isn't afraid to stand up to you. You need your opposite. Someone like Toph. You need someone like Toph..." Her last words came out in a whisper.
The adrenaline that had pumped through Katara's veins before had died out, leaving her weak and suddenly tearful. Aang stormed out of the room.
But Iroh had sat there. Offering Katara another cup of tea.
"I don't think I can go through with the wedding, Iroh." Her broken voice stated, though it was already clear to Iroh.
"My dear, I have already established that in my mind. What I do not know is what you are planning on doing now." A lone tear tracked down the side of her face. Iroh just pulled out his handkerchief and gave it to her with a forlorn smile.
"Suki is pregnant. My brother, Sokka, must be driving her crazy with his over-protectiveness." She sniffed, blew her nose, sniffed again and laughed a hollow laugh, then continued. "If they cannot make it to the fire nation because of Suki's condition, I will go there. And...And seclude myself." Casting her eyes downward, Katara waited for Iroh's cool reserve, a wise reply and another cup of tea.
Instead, he had stared at her form for long hard moments until Katara was brave enough to look him in the eyes. "You must write often." was his only reply, quiet and gruff. Katara took his aged hand in her smooth one.
Looking into his dark eyes, tears once again formed into her already bleary ones.
"I promise."
One Week Ago
It was a bright morning, full of sunshine with hardly any clouds covering the sky. But Iroh was smarter than that. The winds were in fact picking up. And there was a sudden chill to the air as winter was coming and fall was departing.
Iroh sipped his ginger tea while his nephew contemplated the story of what happened between Katara and Aang last week. Only Iroh left out the little detail about Katara leaving the Fire Nation. Perhaps she truly meant to leave, with nothing in her wake to remember her by. Or it was her nerves. Maybe she would come back one day. If she were to come back, Iroh knew his nephew would be with her.
After he decides to break off the ridiculous act of marrying Mai and going off to capture Katara's heart, of course.
Zuko lifted his head and stared into his Uncle's mysterious face. "If she feels like she is making the right decision." Iroh stared incredulously at his nephew, this couldn't be happening. It just wasn't possible.
"You are marrying Mai." It was a statement. According to Zuko's nod, it was now a fact. As Iroh held his coolng tea cup, the heat from his hands made it steam and boil.
"You are throwing away you're happiness for a worthless wench? A woman who is unfitting to be your bride!" Iroh's gruff voice held the power of a thousand lightening bolts.
"At least Mai won't run away if I try to kiss her!" Zuko retorted, instantly regretting every word he had blurtted out.
"Think of others besides yourself for once, Zuko." Came the rough timbre of Iroh's voice.
The Iroh left without so much as another word. Zuko sat with his head between his knees, hating himself and cursing his uncle for being right about Katara being the one of his dreams.
Present Day
Toph had arrived that day. Catching Katara off guard. Gasping when she saw her, Katara gave the blind earth bender a warm welcome. As Katara gave everyone else when everyone arrived later that day.
Toph had talked little, wanting to see Aang, which Katara didn't mind at all. (After all, Katara did want to push Aang in her direction.)
Toph had felt many vibrations around her since everyone was getting ready for the swarm of guests. But one vibration was always clear to her. She could feel Aang's vibrations within a five mile radius.
His feet were light, hardly touching the ground. It felt like the fluttering of a hummingbirds wings. And when she neared him, she just wanted to wrap her wholeself and cling to him. It had been an awfully long time since she had seen anyone.
Being cooped up in her parents' house for a whole year damaged the senses.
She finally found her home. If they said home was where the heart is, does that mean...that wherever Aang went, her heart would go with him? In a way, Toph thought it did.
"Toph?" Smirking, Toph knew exactly who's voice that was.
"Hey Twinkletoes." And they embraced each other, her heart fluttering and her mind reeling all at once.
A letter had arrived for Katara the same day. It was from General Jee, who had been sent around the Earth Kingdom, including Kyoshi Island. His eyes gave nothing away when he handed the scroll to her.
She unraveled in in front of the horde of people standing in the hallway. Reading it closely, she deciphered Sokka's chicken scrawl handwriting. Of course.
They weren't able to make it, Suki's condition was too fragile to be traveling anywhere. Katara gave the man a brisk nod of her head. She knew this would happen. Katara would be ready by dawn.
Katara entered her room before dinner. There would be another huge party, all for her and Aang. She smiled bitterly at the reminder.
When opening her door, she was surprised to see a old woman sitting in a chair before the hearth, conversing with Chongde. From the sound of their hushed voices, it sounded like they were gossiping.
"Gran Gran?" Katara's voice entered through their conversation and indeed, Katara's Gran was there, outstretching her arms for her granddaughter to claim in a hug. Chongde left the two to help with other ladies.
"Gran Gran, I've missed you so much! I'm so glad you came, but I'm afraid you're journey has been wasted." Katara sniffed, knowing at any second she would break down into a teary mess.
"Katara, tell me why. What is stopping you from marrying Aang?" Her dear grandmother inquired. Kanna was going to have a talk with Iroh later. And perhaps a meeting with the Fire Lord. Kanna reached to put a few stray locks away from Katara's sweet heart-shaped face.
"I don't want to marry Aang. I'm going tomorrow morning to help Suki with her birth." Thinking this over, Kanna looked in earnest to see if her only granddaughter knew what she was about to do.
"You're running away." A displeased look chased over whithered features.
"What about love, Katara?" Taking a deep breath, Katara continued.
"I have no romantic feelings for Aang. But Zuko..." Katara blushed. But her Gran Gran nudged her on.
"We have always loved each other, Gran Gran. But he was to marry Mai. I will not marry Aang. But I cannot take away Mai's birth given right either. The only solution is to help as best I can, by leaving."
In the fire light, Kanna wiped her granddaughters stray tears away.
"You are too brave, my love. Unfortunately, you are like me in most regard." Giving a small smile, Kanna continued, "Do what you think is right, child. But if you run too far, the whole world might not be able to catch up with you. Always remember, we love you. But trapping your heart is not healthy. Open your heart, one day, Katara, and you will see the changes inside of you."
Smiling bitterly, Katara retorted, "I tried that once, and it didn't work out." Kanna only shrugged and left her granddaughter to pack meager belongings...and to write a letter to the one who let Katara feel everything...all at once.
I hope it wasn't that repetitive...but then again, the chapter is called, All At Once...so
Oh, and by the way, I'm serious about not updating until I get 5 reviews. I dont wanna do the whole guilt trip thing, but hey its fair! (in a way)
Time for another fact..hmm...ummm...i'm a leo, but that's not the best part, my initials spell RAR. cool huh? I always thought so! thank you all, but i must say farewell, don't forget about those reviews, i want 5 and since I'm such a bad counter, you might get lucky and get another chapter if I only receive 3 reveiws...tootles!