Okay, here it is folks! The 6th chapter to the story.
I wanted to take a break from the fan fiction during holiday week, to let ideas simmer and what not. I think this is the biggest chapter so far. Top part of chapter is Katara's POV, bottom part is Aang's POV. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
Today is the day that I would leave the Southern Water Tribe, for about a few weeks. I'm going to deeply miss Gran-Gran, Master Pakku and many of my students that I taught my waterbending knowledge to. Of course, my father and Sokka were coming with me, so I wouldn't be alone on the way to the Fire Nation.
It was the morning, and I could smell the breakfast. I got up from my bed and walked into the kitchen to see who was cooking.
"Good morning, Katara! You've got a big day ahead of you, so I thought I would make breakfast for today." Gran-Gran said with a smile.
"Thanks Gran-Gran, that's really kind of you." Katara smiled back.
After breakfast, I took a bath and got dressed in my favorite blue kimono outfit. I gathered my belongings, including dresses that I would wear to Zuko and Mai's wedding reception. I needed the most of what would be a few weeks at the Fire Nation, and then return back to my responsibilities here at the Southern Water Tribe.
As I finished up packing, I heard a knock on my door. It was my brother calling my name.
"Katara, are you almost ready? We're about to leave fairly soon for the Fire Nation."
Katara hastened her packing "Yes, Sokka! I'm almost done packing. I just need to pack a few more things!" Katara looked for her favorite comb and seaweed lotion.
Katara opened the door after she packed the last few items "I'm done packing, now let's say goodbye to Gran-Gran and Pakku before we leave."
Sokka sighed "I know, but let's not make it too long. We have a long trip ahead of us."
Sokka and I looked around the village for dad, which we found him talking to Gran-Gran and Master Pakku.
"Well, it looks like you all have a long journey ahead of you. Send your friends our best wishes." Katara hugged each Gran-Gran and Pakku.
"Do not worry, Katara. Your students are in the best of hands." Pakku said with a wink, awfully proud that he was the one who taught Katara.
"Have a safe trip." Katara, Sokka and Hakoda smiled in return.
"Goodluck, Master Katara! Have a safe ride home!" Katara's students waved to her, it made her blush.
We took a boat that the Fire Nation supplied to us, after all their ships were much more advanced that our Water Tribe vessels. It would be a few days until we arrived into the bay of the Fire Nation, at this point it was just a matter of waiting.
Being on a metallic ship wasn't exactly a great place to practice Waterbending, and so attempting to practice was entirely useless. The only thing I could do to spend my time was playing Pai Sho with my brother, or sharing stories with my family and the crew. That's what I did for the next couple of days, well except getting a lot of rest.
Come to think of it, I didn't realize I tired I was. It seems my body was worn out from teaching students from the past. Perhaps I'm all work and no play, like my brother and father say.
The last time I had fun was when we were traveling together, with Aang. He showed me how to have fun, how to be a kid and how to laugh again. But things haven't been the same since the war ended, we all have split up to do our duties. But, I miss Aang… I…
I heard a knock on the door of my quarters accompanied by a familiar voice "Katara, honey? I brought you something to eat." it was my father.
Katara sat up from the bed "Sure, come in!"
Hakoda came into her room and was holding a tray of food including rice, sea prunes and tea. He placed it on the table, and handed her the tea.
"Thanks dad." Katara said with a smile.
"You're welcome, Katara."
There were several moments of silence, while father and daughter sipped each of their cups of tea. "With the Fire Lord getting married with Lady Mai and Sokka having a girlfriend, it has made me wonder something. I raised a very beautiful young daughter, and you're still without a special someone, why is that?" Hakoda asked.
"I've just been busy, I guess it's never crossed my mind…" Katara averted her eyes, her father easily picked up.
"But years ago… I did care about someone, a lot. It's just that, we haven't seem each other in a while…" katara wrapped herself further in her blanket, she was shivering.
Hakoda saw his daughter's distress, and tried to cradle her "My question is, why?"
"He asked me if I had feelings for him, I told him I was confused. At the time, I just never bothered to define my feelings for him, but he took it the wrong way." Katara said.
"It seems the boy had his heart broken." Hakoda said.
Katara at last discovered the truths of the last four years, and buried her face into her arms while whimpering "I'm such a horrible person!"
"Maybe I don't deserve him after all…" Katara thought.
"Katara do not doubt yourself, if he truly loves you… both of you shall make amends." Hakoda said.
Katara wiped her tear stained cheeks and smiled with renewed optimism "I hope so too, dad."
Hakoda and Katara embraced each other in a hug "That's my girl."
*Aang's point of view*
In the Fire Nation capitol, many have taken part in preparations for Fire Lord Zuko's wedding. Avatar Aang was one of the first guests to arrive, with him being a good friend of the royal family. After all, Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang were a lot like brothers.
At this point, Zuko is busy trying on garments that he would conceivably wear at his wedding. "I wonder what Aang thinks…" Zuko said looking in the mirror.
Moments later, the 17 year old Air Nomad Avatar whispered the Fire Lord's name "Hey, Zuko! Are you fully clothed? Can I come in?" Aang said cautiously, he didn't want to walk into seeing Zuko without clothes.
"Don't worry, Aang. I'm fully clothed."
Aang came into Zuko's bedroom, where he was facing a mirror. He could see that Zuko was wearing a white variant of his traditional royal garments. It was very elegant looking. "Wow, you look really fancy!" Aang said.
"Well, obviously. It's my wedding, airhead." Zuko deadpanned.
"Heh, yeah… I figured that." Aang rubbed his neck nervously.
Aang sat on a couch by the window of Zuko's room, and clasped his hands together. One of Zuko's royal guards stepped into the room "My Lord, we have confirmation of the Southern Water Tribe's sea vessel entering our harbor."
"It must be Katara, Sokka and their father." Aang thought.
"Excellent, have servants and escorts sent for our guests immediately." Zuko commanded.
The guard bowed before him "It shall be done, my Lord." And then the royal guard left.
"It has been a while since I've seen them, since I've seen her." Aang thought, Zuko could see something deeply troubled the 17 year old Avatar.
Aang, is something wrong?"
Aang shook his head "What? No, I'm okay."
Zuko was concerned about Aang "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine. "
It all came rushing back to me, traveling together and all of the times we shared together to save the world. The time we shared together, as best friends. Living, dying and then reawakening.
I was reliving the memory when I finally discovered the true feelings inside of me, that it was stronger than just a childhood crush. The moment I saw Katara's face when she broke me out of the iceberg, I would have never thought that I would develop strong feelings for her.
When I kissed Katara, it was the most wonderful feeling in the entire universe. But I never thought it would complicate things between us. I never would have thought it would destroy our amazing friendship. I feel like I ruined it, and it's my fault. If I wasn't so stupid when I was a child, I wouldn't have ever considered it. I guess we all do stupid things when we are kids, spirits that would be the biggest one. What I would do to take it back, just to be close to her again. Just to be her friend again.
But I realized one thing, when she didn't want to be together after the invasion it made me realize something very important. That no matter if I survived or not, that I had to resist being together with her. I just could not do that to her, and her family. Being with the Avatar and the worlds last Airbender comes with great responsibility and commitment, and leaders around the world remind me of this all the time. How important birthing Airbending offspring is to keeping the Avatar legend alive.
I decided that she's better off without me, she deserves someone better than what I can give. But it hurts thinking that some other man would be her lover, but I have no right to complain. A very beautiful, smart and talented woman will likely find a suitor, when another doesn't realize what he has in front of him. I guess that's me.
What's important to me is that Katara finds happiness. As I thought about this, I meditated in my room.
A few days have passed, and Fire Lord Zuko and Lady Mai's wedding ceremony had finally arrived. All of the invited guests which included family members, friends and world leaders. It was an historical day in Fire Nation history, and among the four nations. It was a day that would continue the chapter in freedom and harmony. With Zuko coming to his senses a few years ago, that Aang didn't have to make the promise Zuko made him do. Now Fire Lord Zuko and soon to be Fire Lady Mai, would potentially make the future heirs to the throne.
Every one of the guests gathered outside of the Fire Nation palace, as the head Fire Sage stood before Fire Lord Zuko and Lady Mai. "Ladies and Gentleman, we are gathered here today to bear witness to Fire Lord Zuko and Lady Mai's spirits becoming intertwined with another as one."
"May the power of Agni bless these two spirits that they shall unite in both body and spirit!" the Fire Sage continued, Zuko looked lovingly at his soon-to-be-wife, whom was wearing a beautiful gold and black dress, and a golden hair ornament the shape of a flame. Mai and Zuko held each others hands.
The Fire Sage turned to Zuko "Firelord Zuko, do you promise to honor, protect and love Lady Mai as your Fire Lady and wife?"
"I, Firelord Zuko, as husband to Fire Lady Mai, promise to love and protect Mai."
Now the Fire Sage turned to Mai "Lady Mai, do you accept the responsibilities as Fire Lady but still promise to love and cherish Firelord Zuko as your beloved husband?"
Mai looked deeply into Zuko's eyes "I, Mai, as Fire Lady, wife of Firelord Zuko, promise to love and protect Zuko."
"Now, would Avatar Aang please step forward to give the final blessing?" The Fire Sage directed, and Aang stepped forward from the crowd of guests.
Aang came before Zuko and Mai, and placed his hand on the intertwined fingers of Zuko and Mai "As Avatar and bridge between worlds, I hereby give my blessing upon these two spirits. May they live together in harmony as husband and wife."
Then the head Fire Sage spoke "I close this ceremony, by pronouncing you Fire Lord and Fire Lady, man and wife. Fire Lord Zuko, you may now kiss your Fire Lady." The ceremony closed with a passionate kiss, between Fire Lady Mai and Fire Lord Zuko. The crowd cheered in approval.
After the ceremony, Sokka, Suki, Toph and Katara went up to greet Aang, Zuko and his wife Mai. It wasn't too hard to find them, as all of them were at the front of the palace.
"Congrats, sparky! Can't wait for the honeymoon retreat?" Toph punched Zuko playfully in the arm, some habits die hard.
Zuko rubbed his arm "Uh, that's none of your business..." Mai blushed.
Sokka wanted to congratulate Zuko and Mai, but he wanted to greet an old friend "Hey, Aang! It's so great to see you after 4 years, man!" Sokka said.
"You too Sokka! I'm sorry I couldn't come visit you guys, I got a little side tracked over the last couple of years..." Aang nervously rubbed the back of his neck, which he has been doing alot of lately.
"Hey, don't worry about that. But uh, I think you've got some explaining to do with a certain someone..." Sokka whispered to Aang, hoping a certain someone didn't hear it.
Aang found himself in a difficult position, as he chuckled at himself nervously "Uh... I..."
"Hello, Aang." what Aang was afraid of appeared before him, but it was a incredibly beautiful fear. It came in the form of luscious dark brown wavy locks, sensuous breasts and hips, caramel skin and wonderful blue eyes. It was Katara, in the form of 19 years of age, Aang thought how well puberty treated her. He remembered that she was very beautiful, but now... she became even more so. Aang silently asked to himself why the spirits continue to torment him, after all that he has done to save the world.
"I... uh, h-hey Katara. Long time, no see... r-right?" Aang gingerly waved at her, and he couldn't help but laugh at himself. Aang may have grown into a man, but he still was an incredibly nervous 12 year old at heart. Some things never change.
To be continued...