Chapter 7

The next few months were spent at sea for Katara. They landed a few times, but as they were going to different parts of the world that Katara was not familiar with, she did not stray far from the pirates, as they were careful to protect her. She became well-acquainted with them, and befriended most of them. Those she hadn't befriended were not her enemies; just ones that she did not know too well.

Katara had some disapproval for Azula, whose tasks when they landed sometimes had her doing things that supported the war. Katara was always careful to stay out of this whole war mess, as she hated it all. It had ultimately been the war that had destroyed her family the way it did, and so Katara had a deep grudge against it.

Katara's 14th birthday (according to her [correct] calculations) though, was spent at the Western Air Temple. The previous months of traveling had taken them the long way around the Earth Kingdom, hitting ports on its east coast, and making a couple of stops in Eastern Air Nomad lands, including the Eastern Air Temple. They traveled all the way around the enormous Earth Kingdom continent hitting various places including the Northern Water Tribe, the Northern Air Temple, and there was an extended "raid" of some sort that involved Ba Sing Se.

Ultimately, by the age of 14, the only lands Katara hadn't been into yet were the Southern Air Temple and the Fire Nation, though, knowing this band of pirates, who claimed to travel the world, she knew it would be only a matter of time before she saw those places.

The stay at the Western Air Temple was a long one, which Katara found strange, as her stays at the Eastern and Northern Air Temples had both been very short. The Air Nomads had stayed out of the war, and, living the humble lifestyles that they did, stealing things from them was not very profitable, and apparently, Tenoko, Azula, and the others had some sort of ethics, namely, not to steal form pacifists.

"So what are we doing here," Katara asked curiously after their first day there. This was the evening before her birthday. By this time, she had calmed down a bit, though was still prone to her freaky mood swings.

"Well," said Azula in response, Captain Dragmire said she wanted to do something special for you tomorrow."

"What," Katara exclaimed, "what's so special about tomorrow?"

"Your birthday of course," Azula replied, "granted, it's not going to be some lavish festival or anything, but—"

"How did you all learn my birthday?" Katara snapped,

"whoa now," said Azula, holding out her arms as if she was going to push Katara back should she try to strike, "calm down, kid. We know because everyone knows. Why do you think the world is after you? Everyone knows who you are, and a lot about you."

Katara grumbled.

"Nothing is sacred anymore," she sighed.

"People don't care about whom other people really are," Azula replied, reaching into her bag, "all they care about is if someone is there and if they can be used for their own gain—I'm not exempt."

"You're not overpowered though," Katara exclaimed, "are you?"

"No," Azula replied, "but people thought that they would be able to use me to rid the world of you."

Katara gasped, and stepped back, looking hurt, angry, and insulted.

"WHAT," she barked, "you were going to do WHAT with me?"

"Nothing," Azula replied, "though I was offered a shot at killing you, and the bounty could have taken me out of piracy for life."

She showed Katara the poster she had in her back.

"I'm a mercenary," Azula replied, "I work for the highest bidder. You though, Katara—you're too young. When I first received the summary of who my target was, they never told me it was a teenage girl. I thought you would be a grown woman or something."

"I'm obviously not," Katara replied, "I'm only 14 tomorrow."

"I know," Azula replied, "and I overlooked that part. I can kill just about anyone, but I can't bring myself to kill children. You're far too young to be a target like this, Katara."

"I'm not afraid of death," Katara declared, "I have two years left to live anyways. The thing that angers me is that they want to use me—that now I know people want me dead just because I'm different—just because I have more power than I can control. I'd like to see them—or anyone for that matter; go a day with as much power as I have. I want to see how well THEY can control it. Surely no one is foolish enough to think that a teenage girl should be able to harness that much energy without having a mishap? What am I supposed to do?"

"You need to stand firm and not be afraid," Azula replied, "fear rules only those weak enough to accept it. Let fate decide what will happen."

"I just want to see my family again," Katara sighed, "I miss them all so much. I wish I could be back in my daddy's arms again."

Azula frowned.

"You were a daddy's girl, weren't you?" she remarked,

Katara closed her eyes and nodded silently.

"I was born in the Southern Water Tribe," she replied, "and with all of my recent travels, the only places I haven't been are the Southern Air Temple and the Fire Nation."

"How peculiar," Azula remarked, "a firebender who has never been to the Fire Nation. Well, we'll rectify that sooner or later when it shows up on our schedule. For now though, enjoy the realm that I grew up in. Welcome, Katara, to the Western Air Temple."

"Wait," Katara paused, "why did you grow up here?"

"Because this was the only way I cold escape the rampant prejudice," Azula replied, "my parents named me Azula because of hatred. They abandoned me in the Fire Nation, where I was persecuted in my early childhood. I was adopted several times, but my name always brought me a bad reputation. Some say it's a curse or something from the spirits. I know the truth about it though—like any other name, 'Azula' is just a name—it's just another group of letters."

"Over a name," Katara exclaimed, "that's ridiculous."

"Over power," Azula exclaimed, "that's ridiculous as well, Katara. People these days are heartless. I'm on the same page as you, kid. But aye, it was over my bloody name. Apparently there hasn't been an Azula that hasn't done damage to the world—it's no wonder people didn't trust me. The only ones who understood me were the Air Nomads of this Temple, [though I probably could have gone to one of the others—but this was the closest one to the Fire Nation]."

"I hate when people get after other people over things they can't control," Katara replied, "you didn't choose to be named Azula, and I didn't choose to have so much power that it's gonna kill me."

"That," Azula remarked, "and my family's name wasn't the purest either. Regardless, it's in the past."

"So," Katara asked curiously, "what was Tenoko going to do for me tomorrow? You said she had something planned."

"Aye," Azula replied, "she does. However, shouldn't you be asking HER about that, since it's her that has something planned?"

Katara couldn't really argue with Azula's logic, and so she went to find Tenoko. The Air Nomads were all very friendly, and Katara enjoyed her time there with them.

Eventually, she stumbled into Tenoko, and when she did, her blunt nature took over and asked her the question.

"We noticed that during out travels, you enjoyed the sanctuary of the Air Temples more than anywhere else. You may not have said anything to us, but we observed it from your actions. You just seemed happier there. Why exactly is that?"

"Because of the Air Nomads," Katara replied, "they're the smart ones for staying out of this war. Their neutrality and lack of prejudice is what I like about them. They're some of the few people who see me for what I am—I'm just a girl. I'm not a weapon, I'm not a freak. I just have more power than I can control. It's not something I am in charge of. Trust me, I don't want this power. If I could get rid of it, I would."

"Katara," Tenoko remarked, "if we didn't understand that fat, we would be treating you still as a prisoner, instead of as a friend. The war has done damage to all of us. We want it over just like you do."

"I want to see my family more than anything," Katara replied, "even more than I want this war over."

"And you deserve to see them," Tenoko replied, "by all means. It saddens me that I can do nothing for you in that regard. What I can do though is prolong our stay here. Kick back and enjoy yourself. It's not every day that a girl turns 14, you know."

Katara smiled—a genuine smile. "So you're disrupting all your plans just because I had a birthday?" she asked curiously,

"Well," Tenoko replied, "that among a few other things. That boy you have a crush on seems to like you back too."

"He... he-d... what;" Katara stammered, "I... I don't have a crush on... I'm only... he... me... I like what?"

Tenoko laughed.

"He's waiting for you," she replied, and pointed in Rafai's direction. He wasn't visible, but Tenoko knew where he was. Katara may not have admitted it, and neither did Rafai, but they had sort of been eyeing each other for a little while. While neither one thought about a further relationship, they did enjoy a little interaction with each other.

Apparently Katara had taken a little too much time, for Rafai came looking for her, and they ran into each other. There was a moment of awkwardness, and it was eventually Rafai who broke it.

"Hey," he remarked, smiling, and Katara smiled back.

"Hi," she said, blushing, "nice day, isn't it?"

Rafai looked up at the sky from the upside-down hanging structures that were the Western Air Temple. Katara was right, though of course, this was only intended as small talk.

"I... um... I got something for you," Rafai stammered,

"Oh?" Katara exclaimed, her tan-skinned face going slightly pink,

"Aye," Rafai replied, "come here and I'll show you."

"Try it on," was all he said after he took her to the room he had been talking about. He closed to door to give her privacy, and Katara was alone. The room was just another bedroom of sorts, but in front of Katara was an elaborate outfit that looked like it was probably worth a lot of money. Clearly it had likely been stolen among other things, for Rafai, Tenoko, Azula, and their bunch were all pirates. Nevertheless, Katara figured that pirates will be pirates, and so she didn't feel too guilty about now owning "stolen property".

Katara got completely changed into it, and looked her self over. Everything about it felt so light. Despite the shirt being long-sleeved and the dress going to her ankles, she felt very comfortable in it. her shoes were much less massive than the huge boots she was used to wearing, but altogether, without the heavy gear-like clothing she was used to wearing, this was actually a pleasant change.

She smiled, turning slightly pink. As with any gift, she always had the curious urge to ask where the person giving it to her got it from, and unfortunately, she let this slip as she stepped out to "flaunt" herself.

Rafai blushed slightly, knowing the truth.

"Well," he replied, deciding to take it bluntly, "it was stolen, like most of our things were. Either way, you look pretty cute in it—though it looks a tiny bit big on you."

"Aye," Katara replied, "but either way... I... um, I like it."

"I'm glad you do," he replied, blushing. He didn't tell them that it had actually been Azula who had properly stolen it, but he was trying to 'impress' her, and, incidentally, Katara didn't ask if he had actually stolen it or not. Regardless, she assumed she knew why he had given it to her today of all times.

"So what's this for," she asked curiously as the two of them started walking, "I mean, is there an occasion?"

"Other than your birthday," Rafai replied, "not really. You're our friend though, Katara. Remember—we're on your side."

"I know," Katara replied, "I've just got a few problems of my own that I need to work on."

"Don't we all," Rafai replied, "either way, happy birthday."

Katara smiled. At least she was going to have one good day for the first time in a while...