SORRY!! I do so hate writer's block :(
Haven't updated in forever, I know, I know! But I gave you a good, long chapter
been feeling inspired by the new episodes, even though youtube keep deleting them :(
SOoo, here's a very good chapter, I think you'll enjoy it! It's pretty long, very satisfying, and gives you a drop of sweet, sweet revenge before plunging you into a world of horror and pity ENJOY!!
Katara made her way shakily to her room. It was getting darker, and rainier, and that was good. The moon has half-full, her waterbending would be strong, but not at its peak ferocity.
She let her hair down, the waves rippling down her back. She braided it quickly, and wrapped it around the top of her head, held in place with a fire symbol pin. She changed her clothes from the heavy dress to a lighter, freer knee-length shift, with her battle bandaging wrapped carefully around her thighs and upper arms to ease tension. Her feet and hands were bare.
She let out a wavering sigh and sat down in front of her mirror. It was good to see that she looked much more like her usual self. Suddenly, her door swung open, and Suzu walked in, humming softly and holding a large pile of hot towels.
"Miss?" she said, surprised, as she laid the towels on the bed. "Where are you going? And what are you wearing?"
Katara grimaced. She had almost forgotten about Suzu, whose eyes looked accusing, worried, like a younger sister not completely sure of the mischief intended of her older sibling. Katara felt very guilty.
"I'm just going out for a walk," she said quickly, "this is the style I used to wear before I moved into the palace. I like remembering a bit from my home sometimes." Her lie was as easy as all the others. It didn't even hurt any more. But even that was a lie; she loved Suzu, the only real friend she had in this place of awe and wonder. The trickery and backstabbing made her fearful to befriend anyone else.
"I understand," laughed Suzu, picking the towels up again. "I do the same thing sometimes. Enjoy your walk, but do be careful. It's dark out, and it's going to get cold."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about me, I'll just be in the...around the...palace," she finished awkwardly, remembering just in time not to reveal where she was going. Suzu nodded, but eyed the growing storm.
"Alright...but do be careful, and I wish you would bring a coat!" she called behind her, as she walked away. Katara chuckled. Suzu was getting more likeable and more outspoken than ever; she was even ordering her mistress around.
"I will."
Katara strolled along the path, loving the feel of the rain on her exposed skin. The stone under her feet was solid and slippery, just how she liked it. The trees were dark and forbidding, but since when had she been afraid of the unknown?
She wandered to a secluded area, hidden by bushes and darkened by trees. A stream murmured by, and all was silent. She took a breath and sat, closing her eyes to relax. She, after all, had nothing to worry about.
Rin picked through the bushes and trees, frowning as a fat drop of water struck her between the eyes. Stupid rain! It didn't hinder her firepower, but it sure didn't help. She was confident, though, that the hot fury of her fire could evaporate any water withing yards. She was an excellent firebender; much better than any other girls in the palace, save Fire Princess Azula. Even then, she believed herself a worthy match.
'I don't know why the fire bitch hangs around,' she thought to herself, 'it's clear she isn't wanted, and all she does is laze about while her noble, handsome brother throws her parties. He only feels sorry for her. When I'm Fire Lady, Azula will have to be expelled. I don't want her getting in my way.'
She clenched her fists in righteous fury, a proud smile spreading across her face. Oh, the fire-bitch's reaction when she would take the throne! She would have to leave, of course, along with her dingbat friends, Mai and Ty Lee. And Ara, of course. Ara would be taken from the dancers, but not expunged. Perhaps she could remain and be a maid or a servant girl, simply to be in awe of her glorious power. Her jealousy and humiliation would encompass any revenge she would have planned, and she would have to bow down to the unbreakable power of the Fire Lady, standing beside her competent, and ever-handsome, Fire Lord.
Rin smiled at the thought, the rain swept from her mind as she fantasized about future decrees, the love and admiration of her awe-inspired husband, and that bender-bitch, kneeling at her feet in humble shame.
Zuko wandered around the halls, reading the elegant tapestry stories as he walked slowly. Ara wasn't anywhere to be found, and he was sure that she was furious with him. It was getting late, and guilt gnawed at his insides. Should he have snapped like that? And what of his vague implication at their last encounter?
His ears burned. It had slipped out...he couldn't control it. Her wit far surpassed even his, and he felt he had to outwit her, no matter the cost. Even his royal dignity had been at stake, but he couldn't let it pass. The words had escaped him before he could stop himself. Without even thinking of where he was going, he meandered into the dancer's quarters.
It was like walking into a crowd of pygmy pumas while covered in bacon.
Immediately, a hundred girls leapt to his side, gasping and squealing like children. Some even screamed and dashed away, horrified at being caught without their makeup on. The dozens upon dozens of excited females seemed to pile up, until he barely knew where to turn.
"Fire Lord! What an honor, what an honor, I do hope you plan to stay!"
"Zu-zu, it's good to see you! What have you been up to?"
"Fire Lord Zuko! Oh, my hair looks a mess, don't look at me!!"
"Are you still looking for a wife?"
"Come to pay me a visit?"
"I know you've come to see me, look, I did my hair special for you!"
"Zuko!"
"Fire Lord!"
"Lord Zuko!"
"Zu-zu!"
"Fire Lord Zuko!"
"ENOUGH!" he roared, when he felt he had stored up enough air to breath. He panted, and the girls fell silent, their eyes wide with beautiful distress. More calmly, "I want to know where Ara is."
It had the exact effect of dumping vinegar-pickle juice over the bacon. They snarled and stalked away. Only one remained. He recognized her immediately.
"You! You're Ara's slave, aren't you?" he demanded, towering over her. She was small, and very young. She trembled, and couldn't speak for fear. He sighed and knelt. She was now a head taller than he, and much less afraid. He even smiled kindly.
"Where is Ara?" he asked softly. She swallowed several times.
"A-ara said she was going out for a walk, about half an hour ago," she whispered, and Zuko furrowed his brow. Half an hour ago? What was she doing out this late? Hadn't she learned how dangerous it was outside at night? Suddenly, his stomach dropped.
She was going because of him! He knew Ara; she was strong and independent, and couldn't stand being ordered around by him, couldn't stand feeling like a helpless woman. She was capable, certainly, but that didn't mean throwing yourself into the risk of the night. He felt the guilt piling up even more.
"We have to find her," he decided, standing, and the girl flinched. Zuko sighed. How unlike Ara she was, how timid and fearful. Ara was brave, strong, rebellious.
"What is your name?" he asked, and she swallowed again.
"Suzu," she murmured, and he put his hand on her shoulder.
"Suzu, will you help me find Ara?"
Katara waited. She had time. This definitely wouldn't take long. After a short while, she heard grunting and the sound of smashing leaves. Rin had arrived, and right on time. Taking a deep breath, Katara stood and turned, facing her enemy. The rain pounded reassuringly against her face, and promised her the advantage.
"You were a fool to come," she said quietly, her bright blue eyes darkening with anger. Rin smirked, but couldn't quench the feeling that something was terribly wrong. But, she remembered, she knew something that 'Ara' was afraid of; she knew the ugly, heinous, monstrous secret that Ara hid deep inside. The shame...Rin laughed.
"You were a fool to ever enter Gi-chen Ka," she snarled, widening her stance and placing her hands on her hips, an aggressive posture that left her ready to leap at any second. She wasn't idiot enough to leave herself defenseless.
"I know what you are. You're a weak, ugly, selfish, greedy, conspiring, pathetic, desperate, slutty WATERBENDER!" she shrieked, and Katara whipped her lean body into fighting stance. Her eyes fairly glowed in the moon, and the rain only grew stronger. A flash of lightning illuminated the delicate outline of Katara's face.
"You're right," she said softly, raising her hands; water from the stream rose with them, gleaming eerily in the darkness. "I am conspiring, I am desperate, and I am an assassin."
She launched herself sideways, slicing a hand across her chest. A streak of knife-sharp water slashed parallel to her hand, straight across Rin, sending the firebender flying backwards into the trees and the darkness. But Rin wasn't naive; she was on her feet again in a matter of seconds. But she was out of breath already, while Katara could fight for hours. Rin didn't stand a chance against a waterbending master.
"I am conspiring to bring your nation down," she snarled, leaping high and landing a well-placed kick in Rin's stomach. Rin wasn't quick enough, and gasped, falling backwards. She bounced straight back up, shooting flames at her enemy, but her stance was off and they were desperate shots. Rin was frightened, and it fed Katara's anger. She was furious that Rin wouldn't put up a better fight.
Katara dodged the first two, and was scalded by their toxic heat. The third was extinguished easily in a smooth sheet of water.
"I am desperate to free the Avatar," she yelled, leaping sideways and sending an enormous wave of cold water at Rin, gathered from the falling rain. Rin covered her face with her hands, trying to summon enough fire to evaporate the water, but it was futile. She was completely and utterly drenched. Katara raised her hands, and breathed, performing her most passive, but her deadliest, form of waterbending.
The dreaded, undefeatable ice crept up Rin's legs, trapping the girl. Before anything could be done, Rin was frozen solid to the shoulders, shivering and struggling to free herself. Katara took deep breaths, calming her beating heart, thanking Tui and La for her success. Now for the final, heartbreaking touch. She walked straight up to Rin.
"And I am an assassin. I will kill your Fire Lord."
Suzu ran, the Fire Lord nearly on her heels. Nervous, she prayed that she wouldn't stumble, with him so close on her heels.
'Ara, where are you?' she thought worriedly, as they traveled deeper and deeper into the forest. She was out of breath, as the Fire Lord had refused to take horses; they might miss her. The downpour of rain certainly didn't help at all.
Up ahead, they heard a commotion. Casting worried glances at each other, they slowed their pace, not wishing to be caught by spies or worse. Zuko was a powerful bender, but if they stumbled upon an Earth battalion...
"I am conspiring to bring your nation down."
A grunt and a thud followed, and the hot flash of fire. A strange hiss interrupted the flames, and it went dark again.
"I am desperate to free the Avatar."
Suzu felt the Fire Lord go cold. Something was wrong here.
"And I am an assassin. I will kill your Fire Lord."
Everything went quiet.
Katara stood, breathless and triumphant, over her defeated enemy. Tears ran down Rin's cheeks, and the girl bawled like a baby. It probably wasn't because Katara was a waterbender, and it likely wasn't because she was planning the death of Fire Lord Zuko. Rin had been defeated, humiliated, and her pride couldn't take it.
Katara walked closer, ready to gut her pride of any remains. She leaned over the trapped girl, her face stony and her voice low and threatening.
"If you tell anyone, ANYONE, of what happened tonight, I will freeze you solid and leave you here for the bandits," she whispered fiercely, her blue eyes cold. Suddenly, there was a noise behind her, and she whipped around.
NO.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," said Zuko softly, raising his fists.
NO.
She was stumbling backwards, blind to her surroundings, deaf to Rin's choking laugh, numb to Suzu's accusing eyes and hoarse cry, devoid to everything except for a single thought. Escape.
She turned and ran, harder and faster than she ever had in her entire life. Branches scraped her arms, roots lifted themselves to catch her feet, and all she was aware of was the heat growing behind her, of the thundering footsteps paced with her own light feet.
She had failed. She had revealed herself, for her foolish pride and her unnatural hatred. She was worse than Rin; she was stupider than Rin; she had to get away.
Why was she running? It was night, the moon was high, and her own element surrounded her, leaving her in power and Zuko weak compared to her superior circumstances. He still stood a strong chance of defeating her, but she had always faced him before. She had never backed down, never let him win. He could hurt her mind, her body, but he would never break her. But...why was she running? There was nothing for her out here.
She had destroyed any hope of rescuing Aang. It would be impossible to get back into the palace. She would never see Zuko again...
Katara shook her head as she ran, tears flying. She didn't care about him! He was selfish, destructive, violent! He tackled her, careless of the twigs than drew blood, careless of the scorching heat of his anger that burned her body, careless of the painful cry she gave that admitted a broken wrist.
Then why did she enjoy the feel of him, steady above her, holding her firmly, his own breath tickling her ear?
He had never felt such horror. Here...she was here, the clever, conniving, stunningly beautiful waterbender that had once been named Ara. He had never felt so violated, so...betrayed. He had liked her. He liked her difference, her recklessness, her soft, warm skin, her lovely laugh that he wanted to hear every day for the rest of his life, till they lay together on the deathbed.
But...it was her. Friend of the Avatar. And his assassin. This strong, independent, painfully lovely girl was to kill him, by her own choice he was sure. He felt terribly ashamed. How could he have not seen this? Here he was, on watch for any conspirers, and one had crept in right under his nose, dismissed because she was female. It was an ameteur mistake. He should have known better than to underestimate females. Look at Azula!
How could he have missed her blue eyes, her olive skin, her thick brown hair? She looked the same, she acted the same, why couldn't he see her? But...her skin was lighter, her eyes also seemed lighter, and even her hair was different, released in a wave of luxurious softness, leaving the aromatic scent of roses and citrus fruits wherever she walked. She was...different.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, she ran, leaving him far behind as she struggled to escape from the burning rage building within him. What could he do? He chased after her.
Anger rose with every step. She couldn't even face him, as she had done every other time they had met. Even as a weak novice, she still stood against him, protecting those she loved with a fierceness he had admired, even as her sworn enemy, murderer of her nations. Now, as a coward, she ran. Why had she changed?
Anger at her fear, anger at the Avatar, and anger with himself all seemed to collide and form one enormous, beastly hate, that festered inside of him as he ran harder than he ever had. It might have been better had she turned and fought. Was she ashamed of what she had become...or could she not fight someone she loved?
Did she love him? It seemed she didn't, as she proclaimed herself his assassin merely minutes ago. And yet...why did she run?
He leapt, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, taking her down onto the sharp twigs, the hard ground, feeling his sorrow grow with every scratch these horrid sticks gave her.
She screamed, and he knew her wrist was broken.
I'm sorry.
But the beast in his heart was furious, and would let no such weak words be spoken. She had made a fool of him; she deserved everything she was getting. And he knew exactly what to do with her.
I DO SO LOVE REVIEWS!!
Next chapter updated SOON, I promise
It might take a week or two, lots of homework and other distractions, but I promise I'll get another chapter up. I'm trying to keep up with the endless information I've been getting from the episodes, like Toph's metal-bending, Katara's blood-bending, and Sokka's sword skills (though I did like his boomerang) :(
So, update soon, please review, and have a nice day