Woot okay new chapter :3 and yes the bad guy is always more interesting XDDDD
This one is a bit longer than the others.
Read and Enjoy.
Katara's slate blue eyes perused the official document in front of her. A few key lines caused her to pause and reread them: Master Katara, Liaison of the Southern Water Tribe, and honored friend of FireLord Zuko-Your presence has been requested in the Fire Nation. She frowned. The Fire Nation? The Court ordered mandate for the Four Nation's assembly was not for a couple of months. What was so pressing that Zuko would summon her now? Her gaze narrowed at the document. At the behest of the Firelord I've been asked to inform you that the traitor Azula has awakened from her coma.
Katara inhaled sharply.
Azula….
She hadn't thought about the former princess in years. After the war Azula had been in critical condition. Her physical state was deplorable, and her mental state hadn't faired much better. The last time Katara had seen her she had been frothing at the mouth.
That was ten years ago.
Since then Katara had been assured that Azula was going to be locked away until the day she died, and that the former princess would be receiving help to heal her fractured mind. That suited her just fine. In the face of peace, in the new era of the Four Nations there were more problems to worry about than just Azula. Tenative alliances were hard to forge, and even harder to keep strong. Not to mention since Ozai's downfall, Katara had been charged with a plethora of new responsibilities. She was the spokeswoman for her people, and the Master water bender for her tribe.
She was solely responsible for training a new generation of water benders and healers in the South Pole. She received minimal help from her sister tribe in the North. They were reluctant to send out any of their benders to support her-so she surged forward on her own.
She rarely found a moment of peace.
However despite her tumultuous lifestyle and despite the fact she now rated sleep as a luxury Katara still tried to keep tabs on people.
Her friends especially. Well-what little of her friends remained. Her circle of friends had had diminished in number over the years. She rarely saw Aang anymore. The Avatar still traveled across the borders seeking out people in need. Zuko was preoccupied in keeping the Fire Nation safe. It was borderline obsession for him. Hs irrefutably the most stubborn person to walk the face of this earth- to the chagrin of his friends. Katara was even estranged from her own brother. Sokka was always busy running various errands around the tribe so he wouldn't have to think about the last five years.
The five years since The Purging…
In that time Toph had disappeared, and Suki-Sokka's future wife, had been found among the innumerous corpses of those who had fallen against the resistance. Over the course of the years several anarchy groups had surfaced, and raised havoc. Five years after the war began and those government ursurpers were realized as a threat-Suki became another fatality, another person to grieve for. In the eve of Mai's assassination, and Suki's murder a new resolve was made. Those unsettled by the new government had no right to kill innocent people. So a new approach was warranted-A more hand's on approach. The Four Nations agreed on a new radical idea-Zuko's idea, and they named it the Purging.
It systematically rooted out and disposed of all the bad seeds endangering the Four Nations.
Katara had never been so uncomfortable and yet relieved by a government edict.
On the one hand people were safe and secure.
On the other hand other people's lives were sacrificed to ensure that security.
Did the end justify the means?
She didn't know, but for now she was happy with the results. She finally felt like she could breathe again. Or she had until she received this letter. For the longest time Azula had been nothing but a memory-the monster lurking in her nightmares that left her alone when she was awake. Reading this letter now-was surreal. Rumors had filtered to her telling her that two years after the war's abrupt end, Azula fell into a coma.
Now she was awake…
Trembling, her eyes traced over the carefully scrawled words, her lips thinning into an unhappy line as she continued to read. Firelord Zuko has declared Azula an international war criminal. She is charged with treachery, murder, and unlawful actions in every Nation, and will be put on trial to determine the extent of her crimes. Your presence is requested as is every other representative of the Water, Earth, and Air Nations. Even though she is a Fire Nation citizen subject to Fire Nation law, and punishment, her status as an international criminal gives the other Nations leeway to determine what her sentence will be.
The messenger hawk will stay until you give a reply acknowledging this request.
~*Lucia Donaro*~
The FireLord's personal Scribe.
Katara blinked re-reading the letter several times before shakily placing the letter on the ice next to her. She bit her bottom lip anxiously, chewing until she tasted blood. The copper flavor steadied her and she released the captured lip, blowing out an exasperated puff of air that stymied into the air, swirling like an ice dragon.
Stiffly she stood up, her legs numb from sitting Indian style for the better part of an hour. She needed to tell Sokka about this, and make preparations to leave. She rolled up the official request, slipping it into her blue snow coat for safe keeping. Silently she shuffled out of her little shack, ducking past the narrowing opening to begin her search for her brother. He could be doing any number of little jobs around the camp.
She had hardly taken two steps when she was halted by a familiar voice.
"Master Katara! Master Katara!"
She turned, her lips tugging into a warm smile.
"Hello Aria."
She greeted her young student, bending down into a crouch so she was on the same eye level as the eight year old prodigy. Aria was the child of two North Pole benders that had transferred to the Southern Water Tribe. Katara had been coaching her in water bending for almost six months now, and Aria was flourishing under her guidance. She absorbed Katara's lessons with the same exuberance and enthusiasm that Aang used too.
"Master Katara-Look at what I can do!"
The eight year old fluidly slid into a stance, and her left arm curved in a grand sweeping motion. In conjunction with her hand a large pillar erupted from the snow spraying chips of ice everywhere. Katara lazily waved a hand so the ice was sent flying to the ground. She did want any stray bits of ice hitting her or Aria. A second later the little prodigy flew into a series of intricate punches and kicks, carving deep scars into the pillar. Katara watched with a curious eye as Aria flowed from one stance to another mirroring the moves Katara had taught her earlier.
When Aria finally stumbled to an uneasy stop, taking in huge lungfuls of air an ice penguin stood haloed in a mound of snow.
Katara wolf whistled lowly. "Wow Aria…that's amazing." She stood up mindful of the little girl's overjoyed expression and strode over to the figurine. Her eyes traced the smooth contours of the ice statue, and she couldn't help but admire the careful attention to detail, and proportion.
The girl had an eye for art.
Aria walked over to her, each step crunching loudly in the snow and tugged on her pant's leg silently asking what she was thinking.
Katara combed a hand through her student's hair, gently threading her fingers through the raven tresses and causing her to giggle. "You did well." She complimented her, smiling as the little girl's face lit up.
"Are you going to teach me something new today?"
Aria asked reverently, rubbing her gloved hands together to generate more warmth.
Katara had barely noticed the frigid weather. It hardly phased her anymore unless there was a blizzard. At her student's question she sighed despairingly, and slowly shook her head. "I can't…I just received a message and need to prepare to leave. I'm sorry Aria." She says gently, trying to soften the blow.
Aria pouted, her bottom lip trembling dangerously.
"When will you be back?"
"The Four Nation's representatives are being assembled so I won't be back for a few weeks…I need to go gather some things to get ready, and find Sokka before I leave though. Have you seen him?"
Aria's little brow furrowed and she hummed in thought. "I think I saw him by the lake. He was fishing." She reported dutifully.
Katara chuckled, and encircled the little girl in a grateful half hug. "Thank you." She said quietly. Aria happily returned the embrace, and for a second Katara believed this feeling justified all the purging in the world. To have kids like this safe, and not being groomed to pay for another war, or fight to stop their family's blood from staining the earth-was worth whatever price they had to pay.
Reluctantly she released Aria, and stood up brushing the snow off her blue overcoat.
"I'm gonna go find Sokka." She stated, turning on her heel to walk in the direction of the lake.
They had a lot to discuss.
The recurring nightmare that was Azula for example.
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She found her brother reclining languidly against the ice, his hood propped up over his face to protect him from the cold. In his frozen hands was a wooden fishing pole with a line, dipping into the small circular opening of the ice.
Sokka had grown over the years.
He no longer exuded the same boyish air of immaturity that had followed him all the way to the war. Now he joked sparingly and darkly, his voice a deeper timbre than even their fathers. His scrawny appearance had melted away replaced by broad shoulders, and toned wiry muscles. His top pony tail was gone, replaced by a short disheveled haircut and his mouth that used to have dimples from laughing too much now had deep worry lines from frowning far too often.
When Suki died, part of Sokka had followed her to the grave.
Katara was keenly aware of the grief her brother endured every day. He was terrible at hiding it. Half the time he didn't even bother guarding his feelings anymore. It appeared he was tired of pretending everything was okay.
It wasn't okay.
They had mourned their friends for a long time.
Preceding Suki's death Mai's assassination had unhinged the group, and following the loss of these friends, Toph's mysterious disappearance only cemented their anguish.
Now on the eve of peace, on the eve of reconciling their friend's deaths-the remaining members of the circle- Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko were disconnected on a scary level. They had all changed irrevocably, becoming less involved with each other. They didn't need each other anymore, because the world wasn't falling apart anymore.
Katara still wanted that companionship sometimes though.
She needed it, just like she needed her brother.
"Sokka." She said loudly to draw his attention away from the water and his miserable attempt at fishing.
He craned his head back to look at her, and quirked an eyebrow asking what she wanted without actually saying anything.
Katara took the summons out of her pocket, and unrolled the parchment holding it up so he could see.
"Zuko is asking us to come to the Fire Nation Capital."
Blunt and to the point.
"Why?" He asked shortly, slowly placing his fishing rod on the ground with a thud. Decked in standard tribe clothes and furs, he hardly made a sound as he climbed to his feet, and walked over to her. He snatched the paper out of her hand, his azure gaze skimming the official document. With every passing word a visible frown crept over his features. He threw the hood back so she could see his entire face, and she almost laughed at his incredulous expression.
"He can't be serious." He said finally.
Katara stuffed her hands in her coat pockets so she wouldn't fiddle with them awkwardly.
"He's very serious. Azula's awake and now she's an international war criminal going on trial and we get a say in how she's being sentenced."
Sokka reached up, fingers brushing thoughtfully over his five o clock shadow. "This could be fun. Although I don't know why he's assembling all of us-after all there's not much of a chance of her getting leniency." He smirked tiredly.
"True." Katara shrugged, shaking her head. Azula was widely disliked. The chance of someone advocating for her was slim.
"So as a representative are you coming with me?" She asked after a prolonged moment of silence.
"I'd be honored." Sokka murmured, a wicked smile gracing his features.
Of course her brother who had been skipping almost every meeting with the other Nations for some irrelevant reason, would have no problem attending this one. Sokka seemed to derive pleasure from slaying dragons-especially treacherous ones that ruined lives.
Azula was nothing, if not an unconquerable beast.
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Aang shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, his hands tightly gripping his wooden glider. He hated being underground. He hated tunnels. It always left him feeling suffocated when he traveled down here, and he traveled here every full moon with new supplies. Appa's saddle was heavy laden with necessites-fruits, vegetables, water, and herbs. It took an insufferable amount of time to gather all of them but if he didn't hundreds of people would die.
As he carefully tread over the rock's Appa's heavy steps echoing in the narrow cavern behind him he sucked in a shaky breath as they arrived at the entrance.
Simultaneously two guards erupted from the walls of the tunnel, earthbending a path towards him with large pillars of stone. They stopped a hairsbreadth from his face, jagged knives perched in the hollow of his throat.
Aang's adam apple bobbed under the pressure applied by the steel. If he was anyone else he would be dead right now.
"Ah, she said you'd be coming…Well you know how this works Avatar. Don't move and we will check your wares."
Aang nodded steadily. He was well aware of procedure. When he entered the tunnels, he immediately alerted the people lurking there of his presence. He always chose to enter through the secret passage so no one could easily follow him, and he always coaxed Appa into following him with his back full of supplies. In the confines of the earth, long below the surface a place full of life thrived, and these guards protected the entrance. Every time he entered and left he was thoroughly examined, and he never protested.
He had no room to object when they were just protecting their home.
After combing through all of the satchels, and checking the piles of food the second guard returned nodding curtly at his associate. "He's good." He said noncommittally.
The knife at his throat disappeared and Aang visibly relaxed.
"How's everything going?" He asked the guards who turned easy going smiles in his direction.
"Fine. She told us to say you needed to come see her when you arrived."
A small smile tugged at his lips, and he bended his knees his muscles coiling as he swept a gust of air beneath his boots so he floated easily onto Appa's head.
"I'll do that now."
The guards nodded gratefully at him, before turning their backs toward him. With practiced ease they slid into well anchored stance, spreading their legs apart and digging their heels into the earth. As one they pulled their arms back in quick precise movements and 4 tons of dirt moved away at their will, revealing a well hidden entrance.
Aang dipped his head in thanks like he always did.
"Appa yip yip." The large bison surged forward, slowly climbing into the hole. As soon the crossed the threshold the 4 tons of earth slid back into place, and Aaang fixed his gaze on the remote landscape before him. A majestic city, precariously built with stone and dirt lay hollowed out in a large trench before him. The buildings were laid out in a way that more square homes could always be improved on or expanded as the city grew. It reminded him of Omashu, and King Bumi's vicarious palace. It was as grand as his city.
In the centre of this underground kingdom was large imperative looking building. Aang glanced down at Appa, fisting his hands into the bison's thick fur. "Let's go Appa."
The bison grunted in agreement. The great hulking beast lurched off the overhang diving towards the city. As they flew over the masses and the buildings people yelled out a happy greeting, hailing his arrival. Appa ducked under a large vertical overhang swooping towards the intimidating structure they had seen when entering, and visited on several occasions. The bison hovered in the air for a second before sliding to a stop, his hefty bulk kneeling the ground so Aang wouldn't have to work as hard to leap off his head.
The Avatar chuckled, patting his traveling companion before gracefully leaping off his head. "Thanks boy, why don't you go to the market and deliver these goods? I need to go talk to her."
Appa bellowed, which Aang took for an okay, and the airbender hefted his glider over his shoulders. The entrance to the vast building was not even a door. It was simply a large square entrance, with stone engravings around the sides. There was no way to close it because it was always open-always inviting anyone in.
Aang strode hrough the door, making his way down the familiar hallways.
He circumvented the kitchen, and the library, heading straight for the personal quarters. This time where was a door, and he held up a fist to knock. He tilted his head to listen for any movement behind the stone, and was rewarded with a muffled-"Come in."
Aang blinked as the door croaked loudly and disappeared into the floor, evidence there was another earthbender nearby. He reluctantly crossed into the room, eyes flitting back and forth hunting for a familiar face. He found one sitting in the corner. The woman that summoned him-the monarch of all these vagrants sat at a desk, her face masked by a black cloth. Only her eyes, were visible, and tonight they were sharp and angry.
Not a good sign.
Sitting at her feet, looking far less menacing was a wolf-jaguar, a stunning creature with thick dark fur and elegant shapely limbs. Two long tails weaved lazily back and forth beneath the woman's boots, and the beast fixed him with a fanged smile revealing sharp vicious looking ivories. Movement in the corner of his vision revealed another person, this one who's face he was familiar with, but very rarely saw in the city anymore.
Another wolf-jaguar rested at her feet, boring holes into the side of his face.
"Hey ladies." He said uneasily, a small weak smile stretching over his features.
The masked one spoke first. "Hello Avatar-we've been expecting you."
"I heard…I brought supplies and one of the guards told me I should come see you." He addressed the masked woman respectfully in the same tone he always did. He had seen her face once. He knew who she was, but no one else in the city did. They allowed a stranger to rule them because she had taken the reigns unerringly from other anarchist groups, and ruled with a steady fair hand. No one cared who she was-they only cared that she offered freedom, and a safe haven for whoever needed it. As far as they were concerned she was a godsend.
She leveled him with her gaze.
"I did send for you, because my contacts have fed me an interesting bit of news."
Aang tilted his head to the side in curiosity, and expertly swung his staff so it was standing vertically against the ground. He rested it on his shoulder so he had something to lean against. "What news?" He had been traveling for days and the secret entrance to the city was obscure and purposefully hidden away from any city. He hadn't heard any news in a week.
"Princess Azula is awake, and going to be put on trial and the Firelord's going to summon you to help sentence her."
Aang's glider clattered to the floor and he gaped at her. "W-what?"
The wolf-jaguar at her feet sat up eyeing Aang curiously, with a look that screamed-Keep up you dull human creature. Aang resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at the beast, and slowly bent down to pick up his staff. Of all the things he had been expecting, that was not on the list at all.
Azula was awake?
Crazed amber eyes flashed across his minds eye and he shuddered at the memory.
Ten years after the war and he still winced at the mere mention of the princess. She represented at time he never wished to relive-her and Ozai still haunted him. They both did terrible things, and they both were paying for it.
"Avatar…they're going to kill her."
He frowned, hearing the underlying message in her words. The government he had helped institute, that he had helped create was executing another person. He had never supported the death penalty, for any of the people that had been sentenced, and he didn't support it now even if Azula was on the receiving end.
"I can't save her." He said quietly, shaking his head.
This was the impasse they reached every time. He was the sole representative of the Air Nation, but his status at the Avatar didn't give his vote any more power than the other representatives. They overruled, and outvoted him every single time, and he couldn't summon the nerve to fight them. They weren't just political allies. They were his friends.
He couldn't even imagine hurting Zuko, or Katara, or Sokka. They had endured too much already…
The clothed woman sighed, running a hand down the side of her face in exasperation. "So even now, after all this time you still don't know where you stand."
He cast his eyes to the floor remaining silent.
"The guards still check you at the gate, because you still don't know where your allegiance lies. You say what they're doing is wrong, but at the end of the day you still scramble back to them like a lost puppy. You help us out of pity, but your heart belongs them."
He shifted, his boot scraping against the floor. He didn't insult her intelligence by lying. Every word she said was true.
"When will you get tired of us I wonder, and let your friends persuade you we're enemies."
"That won't happen." He said quickly, his gaze shooting up to meet hers. He may be playing the fence, and trying to satisfy everyone, but he wasn't a traitor. He wouldn't reveal her secret or the location of her people. The thought alone made him physically ill.
The masked woman stood up, her armor clinking in the silence of the room. Along with the onyx mask hiding her face, she wore the crisp black cut off pants, which complimented her metal boots. A snug vest fitted over her muscle shirt hid a large assortment of scars, and a very lean frame. A steel plated shoulder pad protected the base of her neck down to her right shoulder. Her many folds of cloth rustled as she walked to the entrance brushing past him. "I hope you're right Avatar." She murmured as she left the room.
Following silently in her wake was the large wolf-jaguar who passed him a cold calculating look as he followed his master.
That left Aang alone with the woman known throughout the city as simply the General. She led the fighter's of the city in the comprehensive battle against the Four Nations, and handled the search and retrieval of people from the surface. She was the only person who was on the same level as the masked woman in the city.
He sighed softly and ambled over to the only available seat left behind, and made himself comfortable preparing for a long talk.
The General who, for the most part had said nothing since his arrival, smirked in his direction.
"Long time no see Twinkle Toes."
Okay some of the plot s getting revealed. But not a lot...The twists are still coming XD
What do you all think?