"So what if everything that you ever loved more than anything was killing you this slow?" - Blur, Make Do And Mend
Fire Fountain City
One thing Zuko had always appreciated about living in the Fire Nation was the weather during the colder seasons. It was winter, but you would never be able to tell from the hot sun that was currently blazing down on the trios backsides. Ursa was navigating them through the streets of the city, but the more distance they put between themselves and the fire fountain, he realized he had absolutely no idea where they were headed. They walked through the lower ring, the middle ring, and took a sharp left right before the gates to the upper ring. As they approached two tall—seemingly endless—iron gates, they stopped.
"I'm the Fire Lord of this nation and I have never seen this part of this city before." Zuko commented, looking at his mother in confusion.
"It's been constructed for about a year," Ursa explained. "I'm not surprised that you're unfamiliar with it. I don't think you thoroughly focus on the details of every document you sign." Zuko stayed silent. His mother had him there.
There was a watchtower on either side of the gates, and upon recognizing Ursa, they slowly opened for the three of them.
The Fire Fountain Abbey was a small, secluded island that connected to Fire Fountain City by a white concrete bridge. They were a secret society—people were approached by the sisters—and they considered themselves a rehabilitating center. The abbey itself was a tall, pointed building that was sectioned off in wings. Ursa explained that they had originally been established in the Earth Kingdom—since she was banished until the fall of Fire Lord Ozai—and once her son took the throne, she had convinced them to relocate in the Fire Nation. She knew that her son would eventually come looking for her, and she didn't want to be too far away. Although she was bound to her sisters, she knew that one day she would return to the royal palace.
Halfway across the bridge, Zuko stopped when a sudden question entered his brain. It took a few moments before Ursa and Katara realized he was no longer following them.
Ursa broke the silence asking, "Yes, Zuko?"
"Are you the person who Uncle told me he wrote to?" He asked in a controlled voice. He was feeling warring emotions, and did not want to let himself feel betrayed if it were unnecessary. If he knew where she was, he thought, he would have told you.
"No," she shook her head. "A fellow sister in our abbey is an old friend of Iroh's. She helped guide him on his journey to the Spirit World all those years ago."
"Why did they send you as our guide?" He asked, starting to walk again.
"The abbey is only a short distance away," she said. "I will answer all your questions once we are situated."
They finished the remainder of their walk in silence.
"Let me see if I've got this right," Zuko said as he looked at his mother. "You were wandering the Earth Kingdom looking for shelter when a woman named Destiny approached you. She said she knew about your ability, and that she knew of a place where you could help others. So they took you in, fed you, and that's where you've been ever since?" Ursa nodded.
"This healing ability...is it like mine?" Katara asked, shifting next to Zuko on her sitting mat. They were in Ursa's personal quarters of the abbey.
"I've known many waterbenders in my life, and not one has been able to do what I can. That's what I do around here - I heal. I'm able to make a madman sane again, or retrieve what has been lost. Like you, Katara, I could bring back your memories."
"Katara-" Zuko started, seeing the surprised expression on her face.
"Pardon me, my son," Ursa apologized, bowing her head. "I do not mean to be so forward, but while you are here, if you decide you would like back what you have lost...all you have to do is ask."
"T-Thank you..." Katara whispered. Zuko frowned as he studied her face.
"Katara, are you all right? You look...pale."
She laughed. "I'm fine, Zuko. That's just...that's...amazing. I never thought I would hear those words."
"You would help Katara, but not your own daughter?" Zuko asked in a sudden outburst. His thoughts sidetracked from Katara's wellbeing to his sister's.
Ursa frowned. "Zuko, please try and understand. It is not that I would not like to help Azula, I would. I love my daughter. But I am bound to the abbey. They only way I could return to the capital is if you invited me back with you. Also, helping Azula...it's a bit more complicated. This has been a longtime coming - her fall into madness. It's something she has to overcome on her own."
"It never would have happened if you didn't shun her away as a child! You made it perfectly clear that you loved and favored me," Zuko snapped. "I am the only one who has seen her in the hospital, and I know all she wanted as a child was the love of her own mother. I might not have known back then, but I understand with perfect clarity now."
"Zuko!" Katara gaped. He ignored the disapproving look on her face.
Ursa was quiet for several moments. When he didn't think she was going to answer, she said, "My son, please understand that it was never my intention to hurt Azula. Ozai openly favored her once he learned she was a prodigy. You saw this, and you didn't understand why your father would not look at you the same way since you were also a firebender. He outright shunned you, his only son. I didn't want you to be hurt by your father, so I made sure you knew how much you were loved. In time, I have learned that I was no better than Ozai. In letting you know how wonderful I thought you were, I let Azula be swept away into Ozai's false affections. He used her as a pawn in his sick, twisted game that was his rise to power. She would have done anything for your father because she believed he actually loved her."
A gnawing guilt ate at Zuko as he looked away from either of the woman in the room. His eyes were coated with tears before he could stop them, and felt a single tear roll down the unmarked side of his face. Taking a silent deep breath, he willed away the tears and looked back up at his mother.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."
"It's quite all right. Both you and your sister are long overdue for an explanation."
"If you came back to the capital with us after this…would you see her?" He asked, hopeful. "She might think you're a hallucination, but after enough visits, you could probably pull her out of her stupor."
Ursa smiled. "Of course, my son, I would love to help Azula."
A sudden sob came from Zuko's right side and Katara crumpled into the floor. Zuko was beside her in a second, a hand cupping her cheek; he brushed a few loose strands away from her face, and leaned down so his mouth was next to her ear.
"What's wrong?" His voice was a soft murmur.
She sniffled. "I…I remember Azula crying. I had chained her to a water grate, and she was crying. It feels devastating." At this, Zuko quirked is brow.
"You…remember how it felt?" He asked, letting go of her face and leaning back onto his calves. Ursa stood up and walked to a retired teapot on a shelf behind her desk. Katara nodded, sitting back on her calves as well. Her eyes were puffy and red; Zuko's heart ached.
"It's happened before. It's usually the more emotional memories," She explained, wiping her eye with the back of her hand. "The two of us were just standing there, and it was really heart wrenching."
Zuko nodded. "Yeah, it was."
"Katara, sweetheart, would you like some tea?" Ursa asked, turning to look at the two young adults.
"Yes, please. I could use a cup of calming-"
"-jasmine tea?" She asked, smiling.
"Jasmine tea," Katara finished.
"Iroh has taught her well, Zuko." Ursa commented before turning back toward the teapot.
"Not even that," he said. "Both of their favorite flavors are ginseng, and she will play Pai Sho with him." For the first time since they had met up with Ursa, Zuko smiled. When they were together, Iroh was continuously raving about how much of a catch Katara was.
"I knew how to play Pai Sho?" Katara asked, stunned.
"Yes, and you were actually very good. I believe uncle taught you when we were traveling back to the Fire Nation after a visit with the Earth King." Zuko explained as Ursa came back to the sitting area with three steaming cups of tea.
Katara pondered this forgotten information for a moment before asking, "Were we dating?"
Zuko nearly spit out his tea. "Yes."
"Tell me," Ursa said as she smiled at her son. "How did you ask this lovely woman to be your girlfriend, Zuko?"
"Yeah, Zuko, do tell." Katara joked, bumping his arm with her elbow. Zuko resisted the urge let out an audible groan. Whenever their eyes locked, however, Zuko's face softened considerably. She really wants to know, he realized.
"Well, you and I used to spar quite a bit. One day while we were feeding the turtleducks, you wanted to spar, but with a twist. You said if you won, I had to take you out on a date. But if I won, I said I got to ask you out without the date," Zuko explained with a genuine smile of his face. "Needless to say, I won."
"You probably cheated." She muttered.
"Why wouldn't you want to take a lovely woman such as Katara out on a date?" Ursa asked, taking a sip of her tea. If Zuko didn't know any better, he would think she was scolding him.
"We did go out on a date," he defended. "I didn't cheat, either. Determination goes a long way." Katara's mouth hung slightly open before turning into a small smile.
"You're a dork." She whispered, bringing her tea cup to her mouth. She struggled to take a drink, though, since her smile was unwavering.
He shrugged. "You liked it."
"I like it." She corrected, sending a sideways glance. Zuko felt his heart flutter.
Ursa smiled. "I think it's time for you to meet Fate."
"I'm nervous." Katara whispered as they followed a few feet behind Ursa. Zuko, feeling obligated, offered out his hand. Their fingers intertwined in silence, and he felt the fire within him heat up.
"There's nothing to be nervous about," he said. "We're just going to learn more about this prophecy."
"I know, but don't you feel like all of this is crazy? There is actually a foreseen prophecy about us."
Zuko chuckled. "Of course I do! But I can't complain because it means that I get to be beside you again."
Zuko watched out of the corner of his eye as Katara looked down at their locked hands and blushed. He let himself smirk at this; he knew she could still feel the bond they once shared – no matter how faint.
Ursa stopped at an open door and knocked twice before moving aside, letting them enter. Sitting behind a desk was a woman writing in a feverish manner. Her chocolate brown hair was tied back in a bun, and she wore standard Fire Nation robes. Upon hearing the third knock, she looked up and smiled.
"Ursa, you brought them! Thank you!" The woman said happily, standing up from her chair in a swift manner. She let the ink brush drop from her hand and she made her way toward them.
"You're welcome, Fate. I think they're both anxious to hear what you have to say." Ursa smiled, patting Zuko on the back.
"Well, come in, come in!" She urged, waving them over to a sitting area similar to Ursa's. Katara glanced at Zuko once before retiring to a sitting mat. Ursa cleared her throat as she gave Zuko a gentle nudge.
Once sitting, he asked, "Are you Fate?"
The woman smiled. "Ah, yes, formalities! I shouldn't expect anything less from the Fire Lord, should I? Yes, I am Fate. It's a pleasure to meet you, Fire Lord Zuko," she fixed her gaze on Katara. "Lady Katara,"
"I am Fate, but this body is merely a vessel. My sisters and I are centuries old, and we continue to live through human offerings. Eventually we took our gifts and starting helping people: the hurt, the lost, the good, and the evil. We help them discover their proper path in life, and that is why I have called you out here. I am sure you are familiar with the dreams?"
"Yes, we are," said Katara. "Well, what we thought were dreams."
"They are glimpses into your future. Before the very first Fire Lord, it was foreseen that the youngest Fire Lord would collide with last waterbender and fight side-by-side to defeat a great evil. In your time together, a great love would spark, and together you two would bare the blue-eyed firebender. They will be the greatest ruler the world has ever seen—all because of your legacy—Lord Zuko."
"Excuse me, but I am not the last waterbender." Katara explained.
Fate smiled. "But you were the last waterbender of your tribe, weren't you? There had not been one for generations."
"That is because Fire Lord Sozin rounded them up to be kept locked away like animals." She hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"But alas, you were the last waterbender," Fate concluded. "It was quite unfortunate to hear of your accident, Lady Katara. I am very sorry you had to experience such a twist of fate. If you had never fallen overboard, I can assure you that you would already be fulfilling this prophecy."
"Are you expecting us to procreate now that we've heard about the prophecy?" Katara asked defiantly. "I'll have you know that I am engaged to marry, thank you very much." Zuko visibly winced at her words.
Fate smiled. "No, Lady Katara, I am not. I know you will. It's just a matter of time."
"If this is true…do you know when?" Zuko asked.
"Zuko!" Katara cried, breaking her defiant stance.
"I'm not asking for that reason!" he yelled. "I'm just curious if she can predict the exact moment."
"Well, no," Fate said. "I don't foresee the exact time of events. I only know things that will happen."
"Have you ever been wrong?" Katara asked curiously.
"No,"
Katara huffed.
"There was one more thing I wanted to say. As you are aware, the New Year is upon us in three days' time. On behalf of the entire abbey, I would like to extend an invitation offering you to stay and celebrate with us. Fire Fountain City is the most exciting place to celebrate the New Year, and this year it falls on the night of a full moon." Fate smirked as Katara rolled her eyes.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Zuko asked.
"Katara will be feeling very…good."
"Oh."
Katara groaned.
"I can't believe your mother could restore my memories if I asked." Katara said that night as they stood on the bridge that connected the island to the city. She had wanted to go stargazing, but so far this was the only place he knew how to find. Nevertheless, he was happy to have some alone time with her.
"Is that something you want?" He asked, shifting uncomfortably. He made a mental note to send a letter to Sokka at the possibility that his sister might be getting her memory back. If that happened, they would have a lot to answer for. He suppressed the urge to shutter at the wrath of Katara that would unfold. It had also dawned on him that their current second chance at love would be completely shattered.
"I don't know yet. It is still kind of surreal information, you know? But I'm sure there are some profound moments of my life I would like to remember."
"I can think of one right now." Zuko said.
"Oh? What would that be?" She asked curiously.
"Instead of telling you, how about we reenact a part of it?" A mischievous smile appeared of his lips. Katara eyed him warily.
"If you're trying to kiss me…"
"No," he held up his hands innocently. "Not yet."
She rolled her eyes. "Okay then. What do we have to do?"
"You'll see. Come on, we have to change." He held out his hand as he pushed off the railing he had been leaning against.
Hesitantly, she took his hand.
A/N: Hm...I wonder what memory he's about to help her remember? Anyway, the whole Fate / Destiny being "real" people is probably the craziest aspect of this story, but hopefully it doesn't make you like it any less. Thanks for reading! You guys are awesome :)