Midsummer Madness Chapter 25: The Engagement, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

Title: Midsummer Madness

Author: Burning_Ice

Rating: R

Summary: Katara learns that there are both advantages and drawbacks to being a female water bending master, and pays back a favor to an old friend.

…

Disclaimer: I totally had a class on copyrights today, and while I don't own Avatar, the Last Airbender, I do own every picture on my camera. Even the ones that I didn't take.

I think.

I slept through some of it.

Anyways, on to the chapter!!

Chapter 25:

…

"Toph, stop tugging on your cloths." Katara whispered as she walked with her blind friend down the hallway. They were both walking behind the steward, who had his head raised proudly, as though leading the Fire Lord's date to the throne room was a rare treat.

"They feel funky . . . they're making me sweat!"

"It's silk, get used to it." Katara patted her reassuringly, "We're all wearing it."

"Everything is blurry with these shoes and there are so many people making vibrations, I smell food though . . ."

"We're almost at the back of the throne room. They have set out a bunch of tables and stools, and I think that there is even supposed to be a dance floor, but everyone is avoiding it like the plague." Katara peered through the columns as they passed, "Aang and Sokka are over in the corner, Sokka is . . . uuugh, Sokka! He is stuffing his face! He is such a pig sometimes . . ."

"Are we both still mad at him for fighting with Suki?"

"Yes."

As they walked through the shadows, Aang looked up his eyes widening, and he raised his hand in a sort of stunned, mindless, idiotic wave. Katara was surprised, it wasn't her that he was looking at, it was Toph.

"Ok, there's Sparky . . . I think." Toph muttered as they turned the corner, and Katara couldn't help but gasp.

She had always considered him effortlessly handsome, and the sight of him after hours of meticulous primping was exhilarating. She felt her stomach turn over, and her heart began to gallop in her chest like a stampeding ostrich horse. The robes, the ceremonial drape, the top knot, the jewelry . . . if it wasn't for the slightly too pale shade of his skin, and panic in his eyes, she would have found him flawless.

"Katara, why are you staring at my date?" Toph teased.

"Why was my date staring at you?" Katara shot back.

"Keep it in your pants, Sugar queen." Toph whispered, "The pants that YOU get to wear!"

Is she still bitter about the pants thing? Katara rolled her eyes.

"Toph, your language." She reminded her comrade as they stopped in front of the Fire Lord. He was staring at her as well with undisguised lust smoldering behind his eyes. She blushed and looked away. The man had seen her in a ninja cat suit, her underwear, snakeskin, and nothing at all, and it was Fire Nation formal dress that turned him on? Men were weird.

"Your Lordship, Master Earth Bender Toph Bei Fong, and Master Water Bender Katara." He bowed deeply, "Will there be anything else?"

"No, thank you, Manu. That will be all." Zuko mumbled.

"Hello, Sparky," Toph said, braking the thick silence, and Katara hurriedly gave Toph's hand over to him, she felt like Toph's father giving her away on her wedding day. "Tell me honestly, do these shoes go with this hair clip?" the Earth Bender teased, and the Fire Lord grudgingly tore his eyes away from Katara to look at her.

"They look great," he replied, "You both are very pretty . . . Toph, we have to make an entrance, we'll be watching the party proceedings from the dais until the speeches start.

"Speeches?"

"Yes, the two families will give some speeches, then I am supposed to propose a toast to honor the betrothed. Earth King Should be making an entrance soon, I am not sure though, he may not show since I refused to let the bear into my throne room."

"I bet he didn't like that . . ."

"No, he threw a fit and threatened to back out of the marriage." Zuko rubbed his temples, "Luckily, I told him Aang would not be allowed to bring his pets either, and that he was being very mature about it, and that made him start acting his age. Now I want you both to be on guard, I haven't heard any word on my sister's whereabouts. If anyone asks, say that it is being taken care of, don't give details."

"You don't think she'll start anything tonight?"

"I don't know, so keep your eyes open, eyes and toes, both of you. Katara, would you mind reminding your brother and Aang not to bring it up?"

"Sure,"

"Come on Toph, we need to take our place on the dais, behind the fire until the ritual starts."

"Kneeling behind a fire? You owe me so bad, Sugar Queen, that naked central square thing is going down."

"Naked thing?" Zuko asked, clearly intrigued with whatever his imagination had conjured.

"Alright, well, I'm going to go find Aang and Sokka," Katara cut in hurriedly. She stepped forward on impulse, as though to kiss him on the cheek, and then thought better of it. There were too many people around, and she didn't have a reasonable excuse.

Toph and Zuko watched her go, each in their own way, and then Toph patted his arm.

"The nerve, trying to kiss my date right in front of me!"

"Yes." Zuko blushed in the most masculine way possible.

"You ready to forge a lasting alliance with the Earth Kingdom?" She asked sweetly.

"I'm nervous."

"Yea? Me too, I think it's because neither of us are wearing pants."

"Don't say it like that! It reminds me of this nightmare I had last night . . ."

...

"Hey guys." Katara walked over to her brother and the Avatar. They were both inspecting the buffet, Sokka with a bit more enthusiasm. Aang grinned at her and held out his plate.

"Look, they made a bunch of vegetarian dishes, just for me!"

"It's a travesty . . ." Sokka replied, clearly upset by the lack of meat in some of the foods. After all, they were taking up valuable buffet space that could have been piled high with more meat.

"I think they're going to start playing music after the formal stuff, you'll dance with me, wont you Katara? It'll be like the dance in the cave all over again!!"

"Of course Aang," Katara promised, glad that Toph was on the other side of a fire pit, and wouldn't be able to accuse her of lying.

"Zuko wanted me to remind you both not to talk about his sister . . . Sokka, where is Suki?"

"I don't know . . ."

"Sokka!"

"She hasn't been talking to me! Why do you think I am making Aang hang out with me by the food?"

Why, indeed.

Suki was sulking in the corner, her arms crossed, she was trying hard to look like she was enjoying herself, but her tense posture betrayed her. Making her way across the floor crowded with aristocrats from all three nations, Katara sat down next to her friend.

"Are you still looking for someone to date your boyfriend, because I changed my mind."

"So, what did my idiot brother do?" She asked conversationally, bypassing all pleasantries.

"Nothing." Suki muttered.

"You don't strike me as the kind of girl who would start a fight over 'nothing'." Katara snagged two goblets of fire wine off of one of the servant's trays and handed her friend one, "That's something immature girls do when they're bored and want to spice up the relationship with some drama."

As if on cue, Ty Lee spotted them from across the room where she hung on Jeong Jeong's arm. She blew them a kiss and then waved before turning back and pretending to look interested in what Piandao and General Fong were saying.

Suki blinked several times, "We got into a fight about our future." She said finally, "I really don't want to live the rest of my life on the ice in the south . . . not that your home isn't as nice as an Icy tundra could be, but I have responsibilities of my own too, he seems to think that because he is a man, I'm the one that has to drop everything."

Katara thought about it, there didn't seem to be any good answer, "But you guys don't have to worry about it for a while right?"

"That's why we haven't really talked about it . . ."

"Katara!! Suki!!"

Sokka ran over, completely elated, "Dad's here!! He just arrived with Arnook and some Water Benders!! I can't believe Zuko didn't tell us!!"

Katara followed her brother's finger to where he was pointing. Indeed, Hakoda, Pakku, Arnook, a number of other tribesmen elders and several pupils she recognized from her lessons were walking in, clad in their furs even in the summer heat. They were a sight for sore eyes, and Katara felt a sudden pang of homesickness. Aang had walked over and was bowing to them, probably politely asking them how the journey was.

"Let's go!" Sokka grabbed her arm and dragged her away from Suki, "Dad! Dad! What are you doing here?"

Hakoda clasped his son's forearm warmly, and then gave his daughter a hug, followed by an almost imperceptible flinch as he looked her up and down. Katara smiled but tugged her pants and skirt up a bit more. She suddenly desperately wished she was wearing more conservative cloths and NOT carrying a goblet of alcohol.

"Well, Zuko sent word that our elders should be present to witness the engagement of the Earth King and one of Zuko's relatives. Since his uncle also mentioned that you were traveling with him, both Pakku and I decided to come along."

"Where is Gran Gran? Why didn't she come?" Sokka peered around.

"She is acting as Chief and elder while we are away." Hakoda explained, "She misses you both terribly."

"I miss her too," Katara sighed wistfully. As she looked around, she saw a number of other familiar faces, King Bumi was off in the corner talking up a tall, red veiled Fire Nation girl that Katara realized with a start was the bride. Haru stood nearby in a page's uniform and gave her a tentative wave and smile when he noticed her looking at him, she returned it without hesitation. Aunt Wu and her lanky assistant were standing with the guru Aang had met, she appeared to be reading his palm. Teo and his father were visiting from the Northern Air Temple, they were showing the blueprints of something to Lieutenant Jee, and a representative with the Bei Fong crest of a winged pig. It seemed even Toph's family had sent an ambassador.

"When are you returning home?" Hakoda put a hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention back to him, "You don't have to go gallivanting off across the four nations anymore, you could come home and help Gran Gran and me with the rebuilding."

"I will be home soon. There is someone that I have to find first."

"Yes, the Fire Lord's Uncle sent word that you were going looking for his mother, the Fire Lady." Hakoda reasoned, "But it's been over two months of running around, maybe you should think about coming home, and let the Fire Lord hire a bounty hunter or something to find her."

"No." Katara replied firmly, "It has to be me." It was true, too, she had never really thought about it, but there was nobody else. Their mothers were the first thing that had sparked their mutual understanding of each other, and it was what had brought them together. No matter what, there was no one the world over that Zuko could do this with but her.

"Katara and Zuko have become quite good friends." Sokka put in, his voice sharp.

"Yea," Aang agreed, oblivious, "They are always going on field trips . . ."

"That's sweet, I hope you find the Fire Lady, Now Sokka, where is that lovely girlfriend of yours?" Hakoda did not seem to catch what his son was implying, and after ruffling his daughter's hair once, he let her go. Katara turned, not wanting to be a part of that awkward conversation. She bowed her head to Pakku, which he returned.

"I see you brought a bunch of your students." She tried to strike up the conversation, but Arnook interrupted.

"Yes, he did, I thought they might enjoy seeing a bit of the world . . . Katara, this is Sangok, he is my nephew, do you remember him?" Arnook had pulled a clearly scared boy from the crowd, and paraded him in front of her.

"No?" Katara lied. She remembered him very well, he was a terrible bender, and had struck her as a bit of a coward. He always held back because she was a girl whenever she had had to spar with him, and that had annoyed her greatly, she didn't need special treatment. She could have kicked his ass anyway, it had made her respect Zuko more that fight at the Oasis, he hadn't held back. He never did.

"No?! Didn't you both study under Pakku together?" Arnook looked at the pupil, questioningly.

"Yes, Sir, we did, Master Katara locked me in a pillar of ice on several occasions."

"That's because you foolishly would hold back." Pakku snapped at him, echoing Katara's thoughts, "Unnecessarily too, my step granddaughter had surpassed most of the class in a matter of weeks."

"A man's worth is not measured by his bending ability!" Arnook snapped back.

They glared at each other, both had jaws clenched, and Katara took a step back, wondering if she would need to freeze them both in fire wine until they cooled off. Then she remembered that alcohol didn't freeze no matter how much she willed it to, so she glanced around for an escape.

"Well, I'm going to go get some food . . ." Katara flicked a hair loop out of her face, "Thank you, Chief Arnook, Master Pakku, Sangok." She was careful to say their names in the order of their status, then fled.

The food was all very traditionally Fire Nation, which meant that it was very very spicy. Katara found that she could only take a bite or two without having to take a swig of the spiced wine to cool her mouth off. That meant that in order to finish her plate, she was pretty much guaranteeing that she would also be hopelessly sloshed. If it was just a quiet evening in her room with the girls, this would not be a problem, however, she refused to risk embarrassing herself in front of all those important people.

"Here, try this, it's not spicy." She had not noticed Aang walk up to her, and his sudden appearance made her jump.

"What is it?" It looked like some sort of grey custard in a lumpy baked cup. It did not look appetizing.

"I promise, it's good," Aang grinned and stretched up to his full height proudly, "It's an Air Torte, I used to eat them when I was little . . . though, these are a little different, lumpier. Pretty good for a first try though."

Katara sighed and took one of the offered delicacies from his plate, if Zuko could eat bugs in the swamp for her, she could eat grey matter for Aang. As she chewed, there was a sounding of trumpets, and one of the guards shouted that the Earth King was arriving. Looking sour, the twenty three year old glided across the room, flanked by four dai li, and settled in a throne of his own that had been set up and draped with Ba Sing Se banners.

"We haven't really gotten a chance to spend time together lately, have we?" Aang scuffed his feet together, looking sheepish.

"No, not really." Katara confessed. It was true though, it was like their destinies which had been so intertwined for so long had finally separated.

"I thought it would be nice if tomorrow we took a ride on Appa . . . we could go see that crazy innkeeper Hama like you were planning, do you want to?"

Katara shifted back and forth. It was not like she or Zuko could do anything at the moment about Ursa. They had lost all their leads. He needed to concentrate on finding Azula, and she needed to figure out what these damn illuminati women were up to. If they were going to try something with her lover, she wanted to know about it.

"Yea, that would be great, it's not the full moon, so she shouldn't be able to blood bend. We could take her, easy." They would have to do it in the morning though, by the evening, she would have lost her bending. Somehow, she figured Hama would be too old for the four beats of bending dance, and wouldn't be affected by the new moon.

"So . . . she tell you where she was?"

Katara all but smacked her forehead, she hadn't the faintest idea. "No . . . I guess we could start in the village jail where they took her."

"That sounds good, and Katara-"

Before he could finish though, the fires along the dais catwalk had parted, and what Katara could only assume was the Fire Nation herald had stepped up in front of the Fire Lord and his date. Katara stole a glance at him now that he was no longer obscured by the flames, and blushed when she saw he was staring back.

Toph elbowed him and said something, and he smiled a small, conspiring smile.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, Warriors, and Tribesmen, may I have your attention please?"

The room had fallen silent, and both Aang and Katara pushed their way to the front of the gathering crowd to get a good view.

"Wow, Toph looks really pretty," Aang whispered, admiring her now that she was no longer obscured by the flames. Katara studied him for a minute, surprised, Aang didn't really notice things like that unless . . . .

Could he have a crush? She wondered.

"As you all know," The man went on, "We are gathered here tonight to commemorate a breakthrough for peace that has been a hundred years overdue. Today, we celebrate the betrothal of his Majesty the Forty Seventh Earth King, once named Kuei and her most honorable ladyship, the Duchess Zela. Here tonight to witness, is his highness Fire Lord Zuko, the Avatar Aang, Master of the four elements, last of the Air Nomads, the most revered Chieftains of the Water Tribe, Chief Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe and Chief Hakoda from the Southern Water Tribe, and his Majesty King Bumi of Omashu. Would the scribes bring forth the contract?"

Two men stepped up to join him, one carrying a unrolled scroll on a stone plate, and the other a quill and dish of ink. As they watched, the noblewoman and what Katara assumed was her father walked the long length of the room and she signed her name onto the paper. There was a round of applause, and even a few hoots from the more inebriated partygoers.

Then the Earth King stood, closed the distance to his bride to be, took the quill from her and signed his own name onto the scroll.

"I hope she can compete with a bear." Sokka muttered somewhere to her left, and she elbowed blindly, trying to shut him up.

When the young man finished the complicated flourish of his title, the room erupted in cheers.

"Th- Thank you all for coming, I would like to be the first to congratulate the Earth King and cousin Zela, may your triumphs be great, and your passions never die!" Everyone raised their goblets, and repeated Zuko's final statement in the toast.

"Here here!!" Then, in a rather uncharacteristic show of gentlemanliness, the Earth King took his betrothed's hand and brought it to his lips. Katara wondered how long it had taken for his advisors to show the animal obsessed boy how to pull that little maneuver off. Several other couples had leaned in to kiss, and glancing over her shoulder, she saw Suki lean in and give Sokka a grudging kiss on the cheek.

She turned back to Aang, and leaned down to whisper . . . before she was quite sure how, the Avatar hand leaned up, grabbed her, and kissed her. Katara briefly wondered why she had not developed some sort of defense for this sort of thing, Aang did it often enough, when she heard some people cry out.

Wrenching away, she saw that the fire pits along the dais had jumped up to three times their normal size, and wave after wave of heat was radiating off them and into the aristocrats and nobility. Zuko was staring at Aang, anger in his eyes, and as she watched, Toph grabbed his arm and shook it, snapping the fire lord back to attention. He recovered nicely, and stood, drawing the earth bender up with him.

"Please continue." She heard Zuko stammer out, clearly shaken, allowing Toph to drag him off the stage.

"Aang!" She turned angrily to her slightly perplexed companion, "Don't do that!!"

Taking a step back, Aang looked sheepish, "but everyone else was kissing . . ."

Opening her mouth and yelling at him right then was very tempting, but she didn't want to make a scene, so instead, Katara whirled and went looking for Zuko. She sighed, there would probably be groveling involved.

"Katara!" Aang grabbed her arm, and held on, ignoring her efforts to pull away.

"Aang, let me go this instant!!" Katara used her most motherly, commanding voice.

"But Katara, I thought that-"

"Avatar Aang!" Pakku's hand came down heavily on the boy's shoulder, "I believe that my granddaughter has asked you to let her go."

That made Aang hesitate, and he looked back and forth between her and the older man questioningly. Pakku's face was contorting further and further into a scowl so sour it could curdle milk.

"Yes, Sir." Aang replied meekly, and let go.

"We'll talk later Aang." Katara shot a quick, grateful smile at her step grandfather, and slipped off towards where she had last seen Zuko and Toph.

...

...
"Calm down Sparky, I'm sure it's not what it looked like!" Toph hissed as the Fire Lord paced back and forth in the hallway.

"You sure? Because YOU didn't see it!" Zuko tried to run his fingers though his hair nervously, but couldn't because of his topknot, "She leaned over and kissed him!!"

"She look, she is coming over," Toph grabbed him and forced him to stand still, "maybe you should take a few deep breaths and count to ten."

"I'm Not ANGRY!!" Zuko yelled each word louder than the previous.

"Zuko?"

Zuko turned, forcing his face into an expressionless mask. Nervous, Katara shifted from foot to foot.

"It wasn't anything, I swear, I'm so sorry!"

Toph pressed her fingers into the stone column so she could see better, the soles of her shoes were making the world blurry.

"Katara, I saw you, you leaned down and kissed him!"

"No, I leaned down to whisper something to him! I wasn't expecting it!! I wont get mad if you kiss a girl, if it will make you feel better."

"Truth."

"Toph!!" Zuko pinched his nose.

"Just trying to help." Toph seemed almost amused.

"Okay, well, we'll talk about this later, we all have facades to maintain, so let's just try to get through the evening without any more kissing."

"Can do!" Toph smiled happily, "After that thing with Suki, I have been being a whole lot more careful . . ."

"Yea, Sokka still talks about how hot it . . . never mind . . ." Zuko muttered, holding out his arm to the Earth Bender.

Katara stood, watching them go, then backed into the shadows where the red curtains met a column. Leaning her cheek against the silk, she took several deep breaths. Her dad and Pakku were back in the party, and she did want to see them, unfortunately, so was Aang, and he would probably want an explanation. Would he still want to go to see Hama? Should she go with him? Maybe not if Zuko was still angry, maybe if she took Suki with her to "chaperone".

Pressing her back into the column, Katara sank down to the floor, wedging herself between the pillar and the wall. She rested her chin onto her knees, and chewed her lip. Lost in thought, she failed to notice the two girls walking down the hallway towards her.

". . . couldn't believe it either! That she would dare come here after all that!! She kept asking about Katara!!"

Katara raised her head, this was no simple stupid court gossip. This was simple stupid court gossip about HER!!

"Lyire, Did you send word? Our ranking must be informed, she may strike again?"

"Not yet, I haven't had a chance to with all the- Shhh! Did you hear something?"

Katara held her breath.

"No."

"Well, I haven't had a chance to with all the running around cook is making us do for the party, I'll have to do it late tonight after the nobles have passed out." She recognized this voice, she was one of the servants that would scuttle about, usually doing menial labor like scrubbing the floors or fetching things. The other voice was unfamiliar, all Katara could tell was that it was a very sharp voice.

"I could slip away and send it for you, what exactly happened?"

"I don't know . . ."

"If she has gone rogue, again, and is going to meddle, again, we must write at once." The one with the sharp voice said poetically.

"I know . . ."

Something was up, they were going to do something to Zuko, and that didn't fly as far as Katara was concerned. Risking a small peek, Katara saw one of the servant girls talking to an earth kingdom noble woman. The woman's back was to her, and it didn't look as though she would turn her head, so Katara pulled her head back. Better not to risk them spotting her.

"We're pending failure, and all you can think about, are lashings from 'Cook'?"

"Easy for you to say! You've never taken a beating in your life!!" The servant hissed back, and Katara was surprised the older noblewoman did not rebuke her for speaking out of line to her betters. "Okay . . ."

Katara heard them ducking into the shadows as well, and she pulled the curtain over herself to maintain her hiding spot.

"I was picking berries in the far field, I turn around and there is some lady there, I ask her what I can do for her, all polite, and then Whoosh, she throws off her cloak and honest to the spirits it's Ursa. In the fucking flesh."

Katara clasped her hands over her mouth to keep from squeaking.

"And she is totally pushy, she kept asking about that tramp Katara, seems she figured out what we were supposed to do, but she thought that that 'painted woman' was the one that was supposed to seduce him, not you."

"But that is good news, it means she'll target the brat, instead of us two."

"Well, It would have been, but . . . I tried to lie to her, I really really did, but she has that . . . gaze, I don't know. I told her the truth, that Katara loves him and as far as I know has no affiliation with us."

"I can not-"

"Will you stop that already? It's annoying."

"Remember your place! I-"

"All you have to do is charm your way into his bed. I'm the one doing all the work! I'm the one who's limbs are at risk of being amputated!!" The servant hissed.

"Fine. I will send word about Ursa, YOU keep your eyes peeled, I will see what I can do about the smitten Fire Lord. Men are stupid, young men especially, usually all it takes is a hiked up hem line and they forget all about their commitments."

"Yea, you wish, this one is honorable and actually in love." Katara heard the footsteps recede in opposite directions, and she counted to one hundred before peeking out again. The hallway was deserted. She wished she had gotten a better look at the Earth Kingdom girl that was supposed to seduce and destroy her lover, because she would just plain old destroy her if she got within ten feet of Zuko.

Adjusting her skirt and gaucho pants, she started off down the hallway back towards the noise and festivities. Ty Lee and Suki were sitting together off in a corner, Aang was talking to Haru and Bumi, and Zuko was standing with the Earth King and Toph, probably talking shop.

Before she could cross the room to tell him the news and search out the femme fatal looking to score with him, Arnook put his hand on her shoulder.

"Why did you run off Master Katara?"

"Oh, just wanted some air . . ."

Arnook looked pleased, "The Avatar was most upset that you did not return his sentiments."

"Well, him and I have not been exactly seeing eye to eye on certain matters lately." Katara tried to stay vague, word spread like wildfire, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to-"

"Nonsense! Whatever it is, it can wait; you must come sit with us and tell us about your adventures searching for Fire Ladies past." Leading her by the arm, he sat her down between her father and Sangok, "My nephew is most anxious to hear about the water benders you met in the swamp. Sokka said you spent nearly a month studying with them."

"Yes, the women there, they're amazing benders,"

"A tribe of warrior women living in a marshy jungle?" Pakku scoffed, "It sounds absurd,"

"No, they're great, they taught me a new technique," She turned and glared at her step grandfather, "And filled me in on some vital details about women and bending that you failed to cover in your lectures."

Pakku cleared his throat but didn't argue. Clearly uncomfortable.

"What was the new technique?"

"Mind reading."

"What?!" Hakoda leaned in, "You can . . . do that?"

"It's not pleasant for either participant, and it is exhausting . . . and like bl- I mean, You have to do it during the full moon, or another time of power." Stretching up straight in her seat, she looked across the room to Zuko, who was diligently ignoring her. Idiot.

"So . . . I'm thinking of a number . . . between one and ten."

"It doesn't work like that." Katara rolled her eyes, "You should go ask Aunt Wu though, that woman over there in the red, she could tell you."

"The woman talking to Fire Lord Zuko?"

Katara stood, trying to pry herself away, "Yes, please, I actually have something important to tell her, I'll be back though, I promise."

They watched as she trotted off, and Sangok shook his head, "Well, she seems preoccupied . . ."

"You're just not trying hard enough," Arnook scolded, "You'd think you never wooed a woman in your life, stop being so shy and go ask her to dance."

Pakku grunted, "If my start pupil is not interested, she is not interested, if you try to push her into a marriage she doesn't want, she'll run away. She is very much her Grandmother's Granddaughter."

"We won't push her, Master Pakku, stop fretting about it," Hakoda said, "but she seems to have fallen out of love with the Avatar, and she is fifteen and a half and it's high time she started considering her suitors."

The men sat in silence for a minute, cogitating this prospect, then Arnook gave his nephew a shove, "What are you waiting for."

...

...
Ursa pulled her ostrich horse to a stop.

"There is an inn near here, it used to be owned by the puppet master, I think one of the local women took it over after she was imprisoned. We should stay there for the night."

"Yea, THAT'S a great idea, I thought you had instructions not to mess around."

"She was thrown in jail, then she broke out and disappeared, we're actually going the last place on earth we would expect to find her."

"Why do you really want to go there?"

Ursa shrugged, "I stayed there for a while after I lost my son, I liked her, you know her real name was Hama? She was from the Southern Water Tribe."

"Oh, I see, you want to snoop and see if you can find anything out about this Katara girl."

"No." Yes.

"Fine, we can go check her out, but might I remind you that we're supposed to be tailing your daughter, not playing detective with your son's courtesans."

The inn was small and cozy, Nyla had plenty of room to stretch out in the stable out back, and she only paralyzed the stable boys once as they untacked her. The food was hot and delicious, and the ale was strong, and June, in spite of herself, was grateful they had stopped. Even in the heat of the summer, it was still nice to be in a soft bed for once, especially a free soft bed.

Ursa didn't relax much that night, after a short bath, she dragged the bounty hunter down to the common room to scrounge up some food and information.

"Oh yes, there was a big incident!" The innkeeper told her as he set a plate down in front of Ursa, "People were disappearing, turned out the woman had gone batty in her old age, she was a water bender you know, learned how to bend the blood in people's bodies."

"I never heard of such a thing. Can all water benders do that?"

"Yes, apparently they can when the moon is full, luckily the disguised Avatar and Master Water Bender Katara were here to take her down, other wise she could have taken out the whole village."

"Wait, Katara? Like, THE Katara?"

"Yup, though she was undercover at the time." The innkeeper straightened proudly, "'Stayed in this very inn, they did."

So much for loyalty to her tribe. Ursa was liking this girl less and less.

"Don't worry about it, she was cool." June told her from where she hunched over her plate, shoveling food into her mouth, "I heard rumors that she took out a whole Fire Nation war factory."

"That isn't exactly comforting."

"She was so cute, like, you could literally see the sparks fly, but they kept denying it. I bet they still do . . ." June grinned.

"You met Master Katara?" the innkeeper leaned in, coaxing gossip.

"I had a bounty for her a year or so back, used her necklace to find her."

"She just doesn't seem like a nice girl . . ."

"Well, what makes a 'nice girl'? What kind of girl would you want your son with?" June asked, sardonically, "Some Academy bred Ember Island twig that can't lift a dress, never worked a day in her life, never fought for something she believed in, and never disobeyed her parents?"

"I don't know . . ."

"'Round here the villagers have nothing but good things to say bout that girl, she healed the sick, fed the hungry, even taught some kids to dance." The man scratched his beard thoughtfully.

"It's not your place, let it go. Anyways, I would bet the whole bounty that that girl has nothing to do with US." It was clear by 'us' June meant the sirens.

"Well, that's the whole idea, right? To be innocent, nobody thought I was dangerous either."

"Ha! You're the most dangerous person on the planet!!" June told her, "Like mother like daughter."

Ursa cringed.

"Well," The innkeeper was lost by then, but refilled their mugs with ale and forged on, "Sure wish that water bender was here when Hama broke out."

"What happened to her?" June asked taking a long drag from her tankard.

"Next full moon she broke out and ran off into the mountains, seems she has had some experience breakin out of prison, if y'all know what I mean."

Ursa chewed on her lip.

"We're not going on a wild goose chase through the mountains." June stated before she could even ask.

"But . . ."

"You're supposed to be finding your daughter. No wonder she has a vendetta against you if you're constantly ditching her for her brother."

Ursa cringed again. June never did pull her punches.

"Anyways, We aint got anything with her smell on it."

"Oh, I do!" The innkeeper volunteered, "This place is full of her stuff, puppets, blankets, cloths, she even left this rather pretty comb . . ."

"It won't take long."

June shrugged, "It's your funeral."

...

...
"You really do remind me of one of my assistants." Aunt Wu told Toph, "You sure you are an only child?"

"Yes, very."

"Very strange." Aunt Wu seemed to dismiss it, "Now Fire Lord, I am quite sure that you invited me for reasons other than my status as the elder of my village."

"Katara and Aang talked about you sometimes in the Western Air Temple, they said you could read futures."

"Yes, I can. Would you like to hear yours?"

"No, I wanted to know if you could tell me where my mother is."

A shadow crossed Aunt Wu's features, and she hesitated, "I could, but not here, I would need my bones and talismans."

"Cant you read my palm or something?"

"Not with complicated information like that, especially since it does not involve you directly." Aunt Wu took a sip from her goblet.

"I could arrange for replacement artifacts."

"That would do."

"So you can really read fortunes?" Toph asked skeptically and held out her hand to the woman, "So, what do you see?"

"Yes, Master Toph," Aunt Wu studied her palm, peering over her, "You have very rough palms, my dear, you must always be fighting . . . I see that you will live a long life, full of happiness. I see you inheriting your family's power and position, marrying the most powerful bender in the world, and children. Your life will be calm, but not dull, and you will never want for anything."

Toph made a face, "That's pretty general."

"You will share your first kiss with a boy, in two weeks, well, three weeks from tomorrow." Aunt Wu told her with a wink.

"Okay, I guess that wasn't vague." Toph took her hand back, tracing her fingers over the lines, probably trying to imagine what they looked like. As she looked, Katara came over to them after wriggling her way out of a conversation with the tribesmen.

"Zuko." Katara cut in, then bowed her head respectively, "Hello Aunt Wu, nice to see you again after so long, Zuko, we need to talk."

"Again?"

"It has been a while," Aunt Wu smiled, "You have become quite a grown up since I read you."

"You read S . . . Katara?" Toph seemed interested, "What did she say? Is it true?"

"It hasn't happened yet, Toph, but Zuko-"

"So, what did she say?"

"She told me about what I should eat for breakfast, Zuko, please It's very important."

"It can wait until tomorrow morning." His voice plainly stated that he was still annoyed with her, and didn't want to talk.

"No, it can't," Katara fought back, rooting around her brain for weapons to use against the grumpy Fire Lord, "Tomorrow morning Aang and I are going to go see Hama."

"Then it can wait until you get back." Zuko dismissed.

"It's about Ursa!"

Zuko stiffened, then bowed to Aunt Wu, "Excuse me for a minute." He took Katara's arm and dragger her over to the side, "What about her?"

Dislodging her arm from his grip, Katara checked behind the pillars, then leaned in, "Two women were talking about her in the hallway, they said that she was here, on the palace grounds. One was a servant, and the other was a noblewoman, I didn't see her face though, but I think I could recognize her voice again if I heard it, I-"

"Katara? What are you doing back here?" Sangok stepped awkwardly into the shadows to join them.

"Just, you know . . ." Katara trailed off, luckily the water tribe boy did not seem to notice the lack of response.

"Would you er, do me the honor of, um joining me for the next dance?" he asked as though he had memorized it and was reciting it.

She wanted to bend all the water from the immediate area and throw down, she was getting that annoyed, but she forced a smile.

"Perhaps later."

"Umm . . . . . . . . okay." He turned and fled.

"Who is that, your fiancé?" Zuko asked jealously as the boy scurried back to the safety of the water tribe men.

"What?!" Katara would not have been surprised if her jaw hit the floor.

"Your fiancé, in the Foggy Swamp, your brother said Chief Arnook was trying to get you betrothed to someone. Is that him? You have a boyfriend, now a fiancé, and a secret lover, what other suitors are you going to pick up 'tara?"

Several seconds passed and Katara realized she had forgotten to close her mouth, and she hurriedly did so with a click of her teeth.

"Are they?" She managed to stammer out, then huffed and tramped over to her father. Zuko trailed behind, probably saying something calming and rational, luckily, she blocked it out.

"Dad! Sokka!!" Katara put her hands on her hips, "What is going on here?"

Hakoda looked at his daughter, paling a little, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not marrying anyone!!" Katara pointed at Sangok, "Especially not him!!"

"'Tara, maybe you should calm down and . . . sober up?" Zuko suggested, putting a hand on her shoulder. He hadn't exactly planned for her to throw a tantrum, though the situation was clearly tantrum-worthy.

"He doesn't know me, he doesn't respect me, he isn't even a good bender!!"

"That's what I said!" Pakku agreed smugly.

"Only the bit about the bending." Sokka argued.

"Katara, people are starting to stare!" Hakoda remarked, standing and patting his daughter's hair.

"Maybe I will go live with the amazons in the swamp! At least I'm respected there!" she stalked off and spent most of the rest of the evening sitting with Suki, talking about how much men sucked.

...
...

...

Okay, so I have been getting a bunch of questions that I thought I would try to answer, I know one has to read between the lines a bit to catch all of what is going on, and I also understand that this isn't English class . . .

Is Ursa a water bender? Is Ursa ½ god/spirit?

No, nobody knows exactly what her parentage is, there are a lot of strange, sentient critters in the ocean, Aang himself met one in the finale, and signs point to it being some sort of sea person. She has no gills, bending, or healing abilities she does seem to inherit their voice. Whatever was her father was was flesh and blood, not a god, just not, technically human either.

You know, if platypi and bears can crossbreed in Avatarverse, so can humans and fish!!

Neither Zuko nor Azula have their mother's talents of persuasion, but both have inherited a pretty singing voice from her, a slightly transparent, slightly otherworldly pale skin tone, . . . and perhaps a longing for the ocean that manifests itself in their choices of lovers.

Did the Sirens send someone to take control of Zuko, or does Ursa suspect that someone is going to?

Yes, Ursa is very suspicious that someone is supposed to 'seduce and destroy' her son, in fact, she is 99.9% sure someone will, it's just a question of who.

She suspects Katara. She may "take matters into her own hands" (again) if she thinks Katara is a threat. Ursa has gone rogue before, and she'll do it again.

We all know it is NOT Katara, so that means that there will be someone else chasing Zuko in the near future, and that does not bode well for anyone.

Shouldn't Katara be able to heal her soreness?

Katara mentioned in earlier chapters that she couldn't heal "natural" pains. She couldn't heal Toph's blindness, she couldn't ease womanly cramps, she couldn't mend a deformity that someone was born with. She cant heal anything pre-programmed or naturally occurring.

Luckily for her she has a sexy fire bender with warm massaging hands to help her.

I thought the letter was talking about Azula. Didn't Iroh get hit in the chest by Azula, too?

Iroh was speaking in a riddle . . . or a metaphor. an 'old flame' hints that maybe there was a love triangle between him, Ursa, and Ozai, Ursa plainly loved him for years.

'Burn' could refer to either a 'burning feeling'(of love?) or a hurt she caused him (disappearing suddenly). 'Chest ache' might mean 'heart ache' he might be alluding to the fact that he is depressed, he might be drawing a parallel between Him and Ursa and Katara and Zuko with talk of burns and chests.

Katara and Zuko know he is talking in riddles, they just haven't worked out what it is yet. As is the nature of riddles, they probably won't until it's too late.

Katara's going to get pregnant?

I promise there will be some Katara/children action, but I am not saying whose they are.

What are the chances that Azula is going to get at least a slightly happy ending?

As for Azula's ending, all I will say is that there was foreshadowing of it. Specifically in something Ty Lee said.

Dusk blooming choke vines... do my eyes detect a shout out to Patricia C. Wrede?

Yes, mainly because Cimorene and Katara remind me of each other so freakin much. You could totally see Katara getting bored and running off to be a Dragon's princess, taking down Wizards and pushy Knights.

Why doesn't Sokka just tell Aang about Katara?

He doesn't want to be the one to break it to him, he has been wavering though, and hinting about it.

...

Is anyone else having trouble figuring out these new graphs? I am, it used to be so easy to figure out how many views I am getting and the ratio of reviews to views. Now it's just confusing . . . any of you authors getting that too? . . . so sorry for the delays.

...

So, In addition to fanart and fanfiction, I am now accepting an oral presentation on the Fauvists as a chapter bribe. Or you could go the old fashioned way and leave reviews.

Lots and lots of delicious reviews.