Hello again and thank you very much to all the gorgeous people who left me nice comments on chapters 1-4. I'm really enjoying reading your thoughts.
Today, I'll be doing something a little different from previous entries. While I usually try to subvert expectations a little bit with how I fulfill the prompts, today's story straight-up takes the prompt and runs with it. (Literally.)
Without further ado, let's jump right into Day 5!
Day Five
Runaway
(My answer to the comics.)
Katara tightened the cord on her bag with a swift tug. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure the young man sleeping in the pallet nearby didn't wake at her shuffling about, she slung the pack across her back and stood. She took a moment to say a silent apology to her boyfriend of two years. He was going to be devastated tomorrow morning when he realized what she'd done, but she couldn't put this off any longer. She needed to leave. She couldn't stand to be bound to his way of life anymore. She hadn't travelled the world—become a master waterbender—to be kept like a cute little wife.
Strengthening her resolve, Katara stepped quietly out of the room and closed the door behind her.
o0o
Being on the road by herself was freeing in a way Katara could hardly have imagined. For the first time, she could go anywhere, do anything. The night air was crisp and chilly on her skin but she felt warm in her heart for the first time in months. The whole open world was spread out before her and with so many possibilities her only obstacle was deciding what to do first.
She didn't think for long. The tropical southern winds beckoned her with summer-sweet kisses and she set a course for the Foggy Swamp.
Months passed. Katara let the wind be her guide as she travelled across the Earth Kingdom from swamp to desert, highland to lowland—usually on foot, but sometimes with the aid of a boat or ostrich-horse. When she tired of the Earth Kingdom, she moved on to the Air Temples where she met with scholars attempting to preserve the Air Nomad culture. Each town, city, and village she visited, she checked in with local officials to make sure they were thriving as best they could in the wake of the war's end. She made the money she needed by using her waterbending to round up bandits and drive off dangerous beasts. Eventually, she got in touch with Sokka and with his permission she began the long work of negotiating trade deals between Earth Kingdom merchants and the Southern Water Tribe.
Soon, a year passed. Katara made a name for herself as something of a nomadic ambassador. Her sphere of influence expanded from the Southern Water Tribe and she began making deals on the behalf of Earth Kingdom leaders as well. With her reputation as the Avatar's waterbending teacher, she was in the unique position of being able to walk freely between the courts of kings and the hovels of peasants and she made good use of her fame.
Throughout her journey, she made sure to send periodic updates to her friends via various message carriers. Her nomadic lifestyle made it difficult for them to reply but they would occasionally leave letters with Bumi or Kuei—people she visited often in her trade. Even Aang left letters for her which she read with fondness. She could tell that she'd hurt him by leaving so suddenly, but he was doing his best to be understanding. It was more than she deserved, honestly.
Her favorite messages, though, were undoubtedly Zuko's. The bond she and Zuko had formed during the war had persisted, even after so long without contact, and when she'd begun writing to him he'd written back eagerly. His missives were short but contained a surprising wit that never failed to lift her spirits.
Katara,
I talked to Governor Tseng about Sokka's iron deal. He's willing to supply for an additional seven units of sea-prunes. I'm unsure if he requires the prunes for eating or punishing his enemies. Also, thank you for the complimentary shipment of sea-urchin genitals. I hate them.
Katara sniggered as she closed Zuko's note and slipped it into the drawer with the rest. Her favorite part of visiting the Earth Palace was finding Zuko's notes on her bed. She took a few minutes to scribble a reply at her writing desk before blowing out the lamp and settling down for the night. She had a million and one things to do tomorrow before she set out for the Northern Water Tribe.
Another half a year passed without much to report. Katara continued to travel, helping the locals and making deals. Her life was full in a way that sent her to bed content each night. She still hadn't met with Aang again since she left him in Ba Sing Se, but her travels were far from lonely. She continued to meet with old friends regularly and everywhere she went she found a familiar face. And, of course, there were the letters from Zuko.
Katara,
We've been seeing a huge influx of Earth Kingdom merchants to our markets. I suppose you had something to do with that. Our economy has seen a sizable boost because of it but I'm busier than ever. Every day I get to listen to vendors squabble in my throne room. Seriously thinking about hiring someone else to listen to them for me. Strongly considering Toph for the position.
Katara,
Have you seen the Ember Island Players' newest production? They're doing another story about us. I was socially obligated to go and watch it as Fire Lord and it was awful. For some reason play-me made Aang promise to kill him if he started to act like Ozai and then the story went through this whole contrived plot about me fighting with the Earth King over whether or not our colonies should be abolished. Aang had this persistent fan club and I had a weird romantic subplot with Suki and you were pretty much just you from the first play but with fewer lines. It was the most bizarre thing I've ever watched. Seriously, who comes up with this stuff? The worst part is I've heard they're planning a sequel.
Katara,
Sokka and Suki saw the play. Suki won't stop teasing me about needing a bodyguard. Sokka told me to hurry up and get back together with Mai and keep my "emo mitts" off his girlfriend. A bunch of people seem to be taking the play seriously and I've received a number of letters offering support. How do I tell my nation that I'm not an anxious wreck about to crumble at the barest breeze?
Katara,
A new cake shop opened in the Caldera. I haven't been able to go myself but the owner delivered some cakes to the palace and they were delicious. Maybe the next time you come to visit we can go together. It would be more fun to go with company and I know how much you like sweets.
Katara,
Fire Nation's hot.
Every day I sweat a lot.
Get me out of here.
As time continued to pass, Katara found herself returning to Ba Sing Se more and more frequently. It was difficult to focus on her travels when there was a large part of her that just wanted to rush back to the Earth Palace to see if Zuko had responded yet. Without her even realizing it, their letter exchange had become a driving force in Katara's life. She hurried to complete deals so that she could return to Ba Sing Se.
Katara,
Your presence here is sorely missed. It's dull as ditchwater around here without you. Is it bad that I'm actually considering letting Azula out so that I'll have someone worthwhile to spar with? I won't do that, of course, but I do really need something to distract me from all this work. The other day I repainted two of the rooms in the East wing just for a change of pace. I envy you being able to go wherever you want whenever you want.
Katara,
Sometimes I wonder if I'm really cut out for the job of Fire Lord. My advisors say I just need to find someone to share the load. I know they're urging me to take a bride. I understand where they're coming from, but it's not like you can just drop any frilly noble girl into the position of Fire Lady. I won't resign any girl to the position who without first being sure she can handle it. The Fire Nation doesn't need two bumbling idiots running things.
Katara,
Remember four years ago when you and I were captured by Azula and locked up under the Earth Palace together? That was the first time we really talked—like, actually talked. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I keep wondering how things would be different today if Aang and Uncle had showed up just a few minutes later. Back then I really did want to let go of my desire to return home, but I wasn't strong enough. You held out a hand to me that day and if I'd taken it I'd probably be out there with you right now instead of inside this stuffy office trying not to lose my head amidst stacks of musty scrolls. Would trading being Fire Lord be worth doing the kind of work you do? It seems like I'm always juggling my responsibilities with my own desires.
Katara's heart skipped a beat as she traced her fingertips down the page. Zuko's neat scrawl was the same as ever but she could feel a different weight from this letter. She'd always known that Zuko's responsibilities as Fire Lord weighed heavily on him, but lately his letters seemed lonelier to her. She particularly didn't like how he talked about marriage—as if it were merely part of his job. Zuko's letters always filled her with warmth and joy and she hated thinking that he was feeling alone and constrained holed up in his palace day in and day out. Wasn't that precisely why she'd left Aang? She'd felt alone and constrained in a relationship with him, so she'd ended it. She ran away to do something that brought her joy. Zuko couldn't do that. He had the least amount of freedom of any of them.
Setting her brow into a determined frown, Katara made a decision. She was going to the Fire Nation.
o0o
At eighteen years old, Katara thought she'd finally found her place in the world. She was free, successful, and able to pursue her passion of helping others. But when she arrived in the Fire Nation and Zuko—dazzling, handsome, kind, and surprisingly witty Zuko—enfolded her in his embrace, she wanted to leave it all behind.
"Katara," he breathed her name into her hair. "I missed you."
Maybe it was her nature as a waterbender to drift without warning from one desire to the next. Or perhaps she'd simply had her fill of wandering. Whatever the case, Katara sank into Zuko's arms like a piece of driftwood sinking into the sand after a very long time at sea.
"I'm thinking of staying a while," she told his shoulder.
She felt Zuko smile. "I'd like that."
oO0Oo
I suppose this story is somewhat of a spiritual successor to yesterday's. We all know that Katara and Zuko groove together so I believe that if Katara were free to pursue her own goals she would naturally gravitate back to him.
I wanted this story to be about choice. It might look like Katara is giving up her freedom again to be with Zuko at the end, but the key difference here is that Katara chose for herself to go to the Fire Nation. Where Aang is shown to be possessive and controlling, Zuko has, throughout the course of the series, left behind his selfishness and learned to respect the wishes of others. He won't try to set the path of Katara's life for her. Katara knows this. She knows Zuko will be her rock without trying to become her anchor. I think this is what Katara needs. She's a free spirit who doesn't want to be locked down. That was the whole idea behind her going to the North to learn waterbending and why she fought Pakku to prove herself. Taking away her agency was the absolute worst thing the comics did to her.
Sorry, I'm ranting. I hope you enjoyed the story! See you again tomorrow for Royal Affairs~!
