Disclaimer: I don't own the books or the movie. I do hope that they will make Book 4.
Note: This chapter is a flash back that might explain things in the earlier two chapters. It wouldn't have been needed, but re-reading the other chapters I realized that some points are missing. ;)
"A Promise Kept"
Chapter Three
Katara watched as the young Avatar walked away, she watched as he turned once to give her a brief wave, before disappearing inside the palace through the large wooden doors. As she watched all this, she could not help but think of another time. Another memory of when Aang had chosen her over the world.
* * *
The wind was icy cold, the scenery was pure white. Twenty-four domed houses lined the perimeter. A single circular ice brink wall protected the villagers from possible intruders. In it's centre lay three slightly larger ice buildings. One was the chiefs house, the next was the chiefs hall, where meetings, discussions and special events took place. The third, perhaps the largest of the three was the feasting hall, where people gathered to eat nightly meals. Inside sitting on chairs bu tables sat entire village, a few outsiders and the most important person, the birthday girl.
Katara sat on a secluded table up the front, all eyes were on their chief, her father Hakoda, as he made his debut speech. Sitting, surrounding their friend were Fire Lord Zuko, Sokka, Suki, Tylee, Mai, Toph Bei Fong and Avatar Aang. They were sampling South Pole the delicacies, much to the distaste of the outsiders. The Avatar was aswell with Toph were desperately trying to steer away from the stewed Sea Prunes.
"We have gathered here today in honer of peace and my daughters sixteenth birthday." Hakoda's loud voice paused as he eyed the village for a moment, who in return looked intently back, their blue eyes wide with interest. "Looking at how beautiful and caring she has become. Her mother would be so proud, as I know I am." The chief smiled proudly and raised his drinking mug, the rest of the village complied and turned their attention to Katara, who blushed and smiled shyly.
"To my sister." Sokka called out. "The greatest Water Bender in one-hundred years." The village cheered.
"By Tui and La, may they grant their children with a prosperous year." Pakku yelled, feeling the need to be included.
"To the Avatar's Water Bending teacher." Fire Lord Zuko yelled as he gulped the remains of his drink with the villagers echoed his words.
"To a great friend." Toph said almost softly, their friends spoke their agreements and Katara blushed even more.
The villagers ate, drank and cheered. It wasn't until late in the night, after many were partied out and the children asleep did the chief call it quits. "Tonight we must sleep. For tomorrow we feast again." Hakoda yelled heartily, he was half drunk and half asleep.
Katara, Sokka and the gang followed in haste to the chiefs house. Hakoda, Kana and Pakku had kindly vacated the ice block for the younger generation so they could catch up and be alone. The only condition was that the males shared one room while the females shared the other. There were to be no swapping at anytime or else Pakku and Kana would move back in. Katara shuddered at the thought of her old masters snoring, it was louder than Seal Lions singing under the full moon.
* * *
Toph stretched out in her sleeping bag and muttered "bed, sweet sleep." before turning over to find a more comfortable position and was quickly snoring softly.
"She's soo cute when she's sleeping." Tylee exclaimed while bending over to examine the sleeping form of the Blind Bandit.
"I heard that." Toph mumbled from beneath her warm covers, Tylee jumped back eight feet in fright and squealed as she hit the ice wall.
Suki and Katara giggled in response. "Don't let innocents be deceiving. Toph might be small, but it won't stop her from going after large things." Katara said as she watched Tylee rub her head and grimaced when she touched a tender spot. "Do you need me to heal anything?" She offered.
Tylee shook her head. "I'm tough. The pain will subside in a few moments."
Mai looked up from her sharp nails that she was admiring in the corner of the room. "A lot of people are considered more deadlier than they look." She said. Suki rolled her eyes and Katara tried to hide a smirk.
"Mai you look so beautiful in your blue parka." Tylee complemented, while searching for her own that she had hastily thrown down after the feast.
"I feel like a pigeon rat." Mai retorted and went back to sulking. Because of the Fire Nation woman's height, she'd had to wear one of Sokka's old anorak's. Tylee, because of her similar body shape to Katara's, was wearing a hand-me-down. While Suki because of her frequent visits to the South Pole had her own.
"The Avatar will be leaving soon." Tylee commented, she had found her anorak and was now wriggling her way back into it. "Are you going to miss him?" Her voice sounded muffled from behind the thick fur.
Three pairs of eager eyes fell on Katara, one grey, one brown and one gold, who was trying to show as little interest as possible. Katara shook her head and tried to focus on something that wasn't human. "He won't go." She murmured sadly.
"But the colonies are rebuking order." Suki exclaimed in dismay. "If he doesn't settle for peace there could be an uprising!" Katara spared a glance towards her friends and read their fears. "Immature Avatar." Mai hissed.
"I know!" Katara cried out. "But he's been stubborn. He says that my sixteenth is an important moment for Water Tribe women. So he won't leave." Tylee moved closer and placed an arm around her friend and felt her move in.
Suki sensed her friends depressed mood and quickly changed the subject. "The Kyoshi worriers are training well. Katara do you want to learn a few moves?" Katara looked up into her friends eyes and nodded enthusiastically. "Sure."
Suki giggled and rummaged through her bag before producing a small package. "Happy Birthday." She said and offered the green package to Katara, who took it with great interest. Tylee bounded over and peered over Katara's shoulder, Mai strode over, revealing curiosity was to great. The Water Bender tore open the material and threw it to the floor, inside was a box. "Be careful." Suki warned, Katara flashed her a confused glance but opened the box with more care.
"Suki. There lovely!" Katara exclaimed as she pulled out two objects and examined them. Suki had given Katara two fans with the colours red, green, blue and orange carefully woven in to look like waves of water meshing together to create harmony.
"They symbolise the four nations." Suki explained. "Each colour represents a nation that you have visited, helped save and who you have befriended." Katara handed the fans to Tylee and throw her arms around the Kyoshi warrior. "Thanks Suki." She whispered in her friends ear, Suki blushed.
"You an honorary Kyoshi Warrior now." Suki said as Katara pulled back and took her fans from Tylee. "There's an engraving." Suki added. Katara looked and read it aloud once she'd found it. "Be all that you can be." "And it means what...?" Mai asked.
"It means." Tylee put in. "That Katara should always try her best."
"How boring." Mai responded. Katara nearly poked her tongue out at the dull girl, but decided that a sixteen year old women should behave better, so instead she turned her frustration to another outlet. "Could you teach me some moves tonight Suki? Tylee?" She asked.
Both Kyoshi members nodded."We need a large room to practise in. We don't want to break anything." Suki said.
"How about the Chief's hall?" Katara suggest after a moment of thinking.
"Perfect." Tylee chipped in. "Should we get changed?" She asked, and shivered at the thought of the freezing ice and show.
"NO!" Suki and Katara yelled in unison. Toph stirred, but quickly went back to sleep.
"Lets go." Katara whispered, she didn't want to disturb her best friend again, living on ice made Toph blind and it took a lot more energy for the Earth Bender to keep warm. The two girls followed Katara out, Tylee stopped at the door, "Are you coming Mai?" she asked, turning her attention to the silent figure.
"I'm going to bed." Mai complained and dramatically yawned.
"Okay. But if you change your mind, you know where to find us." Tylee whispered before disappearing into the night.
* * *
"What's with the girls this morning?" Sokka asked as he received his third evil eye glare for the morning from his sister.
"I don't know." Zuko replied. He took another bite from his tasteless meed and tried to keep his head down. "The Water Tribes should really learn how to make a better breakfast." He thought as he took another bite, its sour and blandness filled his mouth until he almost gagged.
"All I did was say 'Hi' to Katara this morning. And she water whipped me." Aang exclaimed and chewed a piece of meed thoughtfully, the bland taste didn't offer the young Avatar the same taste as it did his older friend. "Do you think its.....the time?" He asked carefully.
Sokka deliberates this thought for a second before his eyes opened wider as he realized what his friend meant. "Aang, I don't want to know about that stuff....about my own baby sister and my girlfriend."The worrier exclaimed in disgust.
"They were up most of the night practising fighting stances and Kyoshi worrier moves." Zuki said plainly. Aang and Sokka looked at him in shock, Sokka's hand was on the Avatars head and Aang's hands were on the Water Tribe warrior's nose and chest as they faught. "How did you know?" Sokka asked in shock.
"I heard the girls sneaking out, so I decided to follow them." Zuko replied and returned to his eating. Aang and Sokka only gaped.
* * *
"I'm so tired." Katara complained later on that day. She, Aang, Zuko and Tylee were going penguin sledding. Suki and Sokka had claimed that they needed to 'practise' their fighting together, while Toph had said that the snow made her feel weak and helpless, Mai had just given the Water Tribe woman a blank look and went back to her book when she had asked.
"Their soo cute." Tylee exclaimed upon seeing a dozen. She jumped up and down and clapped her hands together.
Zuko glared at his friend. "There just furry beasts." He complained. "How do you catch one?" He asked turning to Katara, the supposed expert.
"Well Master Fire Lord...." Katara said giggling, she was interrupted by a 'Yahoooo' and Tylee yelling excitedly. She turned her attention and saw the young Avatar riding on the back of a very inexperienced Penguin with Tylee sliding down on her stomach not far behind him.
"Aang!" Katara yelled desperately. "Get off it. The penguin's aiming for the ice water." She started to run after them, but felt Zuko's hot hand beneath her anorak. "Don't" He warned when she looked at him questioningly.
"Why not? He could get hurt. Badly!" She asked and tried to pull the Fire Bender towards their friends.
"Because." Zuko started, "Because I like the feelings you give me when we're alone together." Instead he said. "Because Aang is the Avatar, he needs to learn to handle situations on his own and not to rely on you so much."
Katara nodded slowly, she wasn't fond of Zuko's logic, but somehow she agreed with him. "I just hope nothing happens!" She said and took Zuko's gloved hand for support.
Aang barely heard his girlfriends voice, the beloved sound of the rushing air was filling ears and senses the adrenalin rushed threw his blood and his heart sped up. "This is living." He thought. "No responsibilities, no Avatar duties. Just me and Katara watching." He smiled and felt his eyes well with tears from the speed he was travelling at.
"Hey there!" Tylee said as she sped up next to him. Aang turned in surprise, he saw Tylee on her stomach with a wooden board beneath her body.
"Tylee, how are you doing that?" He yelled.
"What?" She yelled back, the wind was taking both their voices far away from each others.
"Aang look out!" Katara yelled again, this time Aang didn't need to hear the voice to see the looming dangers of the South Poles icy waters. Using Air Bending quickly he propelled himself up into the air and quickly made a ramp for Tylee to slowly stop. As he landed Katara reached his side.
"When will you grow up?" She snapped angrily taking hold of his wrist and spinning him towards her, Aang saw her blue eyes blazing.
"When we did it, you made it look so easy Katara." He exclaimed.
"You have to learn about the penguins before you can just ride any random one." She replied bitterly, ZUko had approached them now and was watching in questioning.
"Anyway aren't you meant to be in the Earth Kingdom?" She questioned, changing the subject. Aang looked away and closed his eyes.
"Yes." He admitted softy
"Hey Katara, Zuko." Tylee waved cheerfully. Katara shot her a dark look for interrupting her conversation.
"Why aren't you going?' She questioned her boyfriend, ignoring the outside world and the chatter of the penguins.
The Avatar couldn't meet her piercing blue eyes, so he looked at his feet. "Because." He mumbled. "I over heard your father telling Gran Gran that when you get married your going to need a man who will be there for you. One who will over look your faults and beauty and see the real you." He paused to meet her shocked eyes. "Then Gran Gran said that you needed a husband who was strong and who would grow with you, not away with you." When he had finished he looked to Tylee, who gave him a comforting smile.
Katara stood in shock, her father was already planning her wedding? Aang put the duty of the world behind him so he would look like the best candidate? With her mouth opening and shutting like a Topaz fish, Katara spun on her heal and grabbed Zuko's hand. "Maybe with you being Fire Lord." She snapped. "Maybe you could talk sense into my father." Zuko nodded once and followed Katara up the snow covered mound they had just descended from, leaving Tylee and Aang alone in each own thoughts.
* * *
"I am happy that Aang is growing up." Katara murmured, Then why can't I help feel responsible about this mess? It was my fault that Aang didn't help them the first time, now he's going to risk his life to prove something that doesn't need to be done. "I wish I could be with him, to protect him." Katara thought as she wiped anther tear from her eyes.
Mai came up from behind her un-sworn rival, daggers ready in her sleeves. "What's happening with the Avatar?" She asked boredly.
Katara bit her tongue and gripped her hands, Mai might be better in hand combat, but Katara was better with bending. "Nothing." She retorted."But I do have something to say to you, Mai." Katara said sternly, turning her blue eyes to the Fire nation Noble.
"And whats that?" Mai asked, her face betrayed no emotion, but her eyes registered fear for the briefest of seconds.
"In future, instead of spying on Zuko. Maybe you should join him like he invites you?" Katara snapped and looked passed the other women to see Tylee waving madly."I have to go." Katara said before Mai could respond. "Some how I think Tylee wants to talk about Haru?"
Mai stood in wonder, what was happening to her world? In every story they had heard as a child, the women who gave her heart to the Fire Lord would have the happy ending. No more problems. Yet it seemed to Mai, every time she tried to pull closer to Zuko, he had another matter to attend to, such as keeping the piece in the Earth Kingdom, setting up trading in the Water Tribes for fuel to the ships. Keeping his friends close and in other nations so if needed they would be close for the call of help.
But their romance was nothing compared to when it had first started out. She was dating the second most powerful man in all the lands, one of those heroes who had helped restore peace to a broken world and all she, Mai had was a stupid promise. A promise that maybe one day she could be more to the world.
Mai retracted five daggers and threw them at the weeping tree. They formed the shape of a heart. She had to do something before her world crumbled from beneath her own feet.
Chapter three, finally. Sorry about the wait. My new puppy decided that it loved my computer a little to much, so I had to wait a few days for the stench to ware off. Safe Travels. ;)