Chapter 14
Katara eventually escaped from Auka's 'grasp; but a bit of her dignity and innocence had been left there [though her chastity was still intact]. Using her firebending prowess to her advantage, she had made her escape. She was not sure that Auka had survived her attack, but based on how powerful it was, she doubted that he did. Regardless, she didn't care. She was angry, and she wanted to be left alone. She started walking—with no particular destination in mind—she just wanted to walk.
She did stop by Zak's house, and was very pleased to find no one there. She used this as an opportunity to change back into her original clothes, but after that, she just grabbed her things and started walking.
Once again, Katara was bound to learn the hard way that getting angry and storming off almost always got her into trouble. This time though, she got all the way out of the city with no trouble. She walked through the uninhabited areas all the way down to the beach, where she just continued walking as if she was looking for something. All she could see, however, was the sunset.
Eventually, Katara realized that she had lots of excess Chi energy, and so she figured letting some of it out was never a period wasted, and so she did, but she kept walking, only stopping periodically.
To her surprise though, she found Zak practicing bending a ways down the beach. She was more surprised than anything, especially because she was seeing Zak bending all four elements as opposed to just one. Zak was the avatar.
Incidentally, Zak looked a bit surprised with Katara appearing as well.
"What are you doing here," they both asked almost simultaneously, and similarly, they both answered the same way.
"Bending," they both replied; "how did you get here?"
"I just wandered in," Katara replied,
"I always come here," Zak replied, "it's away from everyone else, and I can use my bending moves without people knowing that I'm the avatar."
"Wait," Katara remarked, "if you don't want people to know you're the avatar, then why did you just tell me?"
"'coz I trust you," Zak replied, "and you don't seem like the type who would blab it out—unless you were bribed with being returned to your family or something."
Katara didn't reply because she knew Zak was right. She decided to change the subject slightly though.
"Is your name really Zak," Katara asked,
"Sort of," Zak replied, "real name's Zakura; Zakura Ishiko. A lot of people call me Zak for short though."
"Oh," Katara replied, "I never really liked nicknames. It was just never my thing—I always loved my name."
"It IS a nice name," Zakura replied, "it's the same name that one of my past incarnation's companions once had."
"And it's my mother's name," Katara added, "but it was my dad that gave it to me. That's why it's special to me—it's the one thing I have of his that I can never lose."
"There are a lot of things I can't lose," Zakura remarked, chuckling, "fights are one of them, my awesomeness is another..."
"Shut up." Katara remarked, though she cracked a smile.
"Hey," Zakura remarked, "just because I named a few perks about being the avatar doesn't mean that it's all fun and games."
"Aye," Katara remarked, "I understand what you mean. It must be so frustrating to be so misunderstood; to be away from your family for whatever reason; to have had so many hardships growing up; for no one else to realize what kind of power you have; to have to disguise yourself, be it in name or appearance, in order to not get caught—"
She paused, and Zakura simply smiled.
"It seems that we have a lot more in common than first meets the eye, Katara Altina II," she remarked, "look at your life: you were separated from your family; you're misunderstood; you've clearly had a hard life; no one else, not even the avatar herself, can quite comprehend just what kind of power you deal with, or how much even; you've had to disguise yourself even amongst other firebenders even."
She paused and then chuckled.
"Though I will admit," she remarked, "that you look cute in that Fire Nation outfit."
"Well," Katara replied, "I did kind of like it; but I think it shows off a little too much skin."
"Well," Zakura shrugged, "it's not like anyone is forcing you to wear it or anything. If you don't like it, don't wear it. It's a simple concept."
"It just..." Katara stammered, "It just doesn't feel right—nothing in my life does any more."
"Katara," Zakura replied, "right and wrong are only illusions of the mind. Don't ever let people decide what you can and can't do. Besides, this is the Fire Nation. It's not like there's anything out of the ordinary with it. Heck, even you wearing the clothes you are now aren't THAT unusual. Aye, they might be better for a guy, but who's here to care about that sort of thing? It's trivial. As the avatar and one of the most powerful benders in the world, you and I have more important things to worry about."
"Like what," Katara asked, "and I'm definitely not one of the most powerful benders in the world—I've got no control."
"I never said you were one of "the best" though," Zakura replied, "I said you are among the most powerful, because you are. Skilled or unskilled, you are still incredibly powerful; gifted too, I might add."
"I just want to be left alone," Katara remarked, "I don't know how many times I need to say it—it's my goal though."
"Mine as well," Zakura replied, "but The Order is relentless, as you've surely noticed by now."
"Aye," Katara replied, "The Order of the Avatar Slayer is a very well-organized group with a solid intention, and good means of doing what they do. They're strong, they're effective, and they're generally smart as well. That is the issue at hand."
"I couldn't have said it better myself," Zakura replied, "and so, what we need to do is get you a mode of transportation that does not need other people—something you could operate on your own."
"Like what," Katara asked, "I might be named after a legendary waterbender, but I'm no waterbender myself. I'm terrified of it."
"Like a war balloon or something," Zakura chuckled, "you use fire to operate it, and most of them aren't designed for more than 1 or 2 people anyways. The only issue is that I know you're afraid of heights."
"And yet, I'm not afraid of death," Katara remarked, "so if someone DID shoot me down or something I'd deal with it. Heck, I've broken myself so many times over falling. My hatred of heights should be no surprise."
Zakura smiled wider this time and looked at Katara. Naturally, Katara looked down, as she never looked anyone straight in the eyes, but Zakura was undeterred.
"See," she remarked, "I knew you were more mature than your old self; its better when you're not getting angry and throwing fire at everything. You're a nice person deep down, Katara. If someone as rough and indifferent as my self can see it, it should be obvious."
"I like talking with you, Zakura," Katara remarked, "you're one of the few people who can understand the things I'm going through—the stress it brings me; that sort of thing."
"Its part of what I'm here for," Zakura replied, "ultimately, my goal as Avatar will be to bring justice back into the world. The only way I'll be able to stand up to the might of Xin Shing and his minions is if I'm strong enough. You came here for the same reason I did, Katara—to train. What do you say we have a little game or two?"
"You should know me by now," Katara smiled, "I'm always up for anything that can help me unload some of this chi energy."
And with that, the avatar and the firebender commenced their spar. All in all, it was a very intense match, as Zakura was powerful and hit hard, but Katara was swift and had amazing reflexes. Combined with her massive power, she put up a decent fight against Zakura except when her lack of control got in the way. This, combined with Zakura's age, experience, and bending disciplines, was what led her to "defeating" Katara, but for a 14-year-old girl, Katara did pretty well.
Hoisting Katara into her arms, Zakura began swiftly making her way back to her home. Katara was barely conscious, and looked like if anything, that she was going to fall asleep.
Upon their return, Katara had in fact fallen asleep. Zakura left her alone, and went out into the town. She intended to get Katara a means of transportation, like she promised she would. Why the avatar would randomly decide to do this for a girl she didn't know too well, was unknown. Zakura's intentions were never clear, but she seemed to always know what she was doing.
As a result, when Katara woke up, Zakura was waiting for him.
"Sleep well," she asked,
"Aye," Katara replied, and then sort of just glanced at Zakura. She wasn't sure why she was sitting there as if she was waiting for Katara.
"Umm," she stammered, "did you need me for something?"
"Aye, in a way," Zakura replied, "you know how I was talking about getting you a war balloon for seemingly no good reason?"
"You said that," Katara chuckled,
"Well, in a way I did," Zakura replied, "but aye, I did say I would get you one, and I did. I guess what I really need to do is tell you why."
"Alright," Katara shrugged, never really being too involved, "why?"
"Because war is coming," Zakura replied, "and Tenoko isn't going to be here to take you somewhere else."
"Where will she be?"
"She'll likely be fighting in the war or finding out what has become of Azula and her gang."
"Azula and her gang are gone? What happened?"
"I'm not sure. Tenoko is still looking in on it. To make a long story short though, there are people in this approaching army looking for you. You need to get out of here."
"I don't want to run," Katara declared, "I want to fight them off."
"Katara," Zakura warned, "I'm the avatar. I'm an expert at detecting people's chi flows and the likes. You're not ready to face them unless you want to face defeat. You're technically much too young to be fighting anyways, and you know it, I know it, and so do they."
"Where do I go then," Katara sighed, accepting the truth, "I don't want to have to keep running. I hate this war, and I want to do whatever it takes to end it."
"Make for the City of the Red Maiden," Zakura replied, "its east of here."
"But what will I do from there," Katara asked, "I don't have anyone there. I don't have any money."
"Luckily," Zakura smiled, "I've got more money than I'd ever need. Take this, use it well."
Zakura handed Katara a huge sack of coins. She knew that Katara had never had much money, so she figured that Katara would in fact spend it wisely, and figured correctly.
"Of course, they've got some good arenas down in that area as well," Zakura added, "and they pay well. You would do well in some of them I think; you're talented, and an excellent fighter. You're just too young. No girl your age should be forced to fight a battle."
Katara looked at Zakura in the eye for a moment before she turned away shyly, as she always did.
"Alright," she stammered, "I—I trust you."
"I have a thing for children," Zakura replied, "and I hate when people try to exploit them. That's why for now, Katara, I want you far away from this war. In the meantime, I'm going to try and find your brother."
"You know where he is?" Katara exclaimed, her face lighting up,
"Not entirely," Zakura replied, "but I have an idea, and I think he might be in the middle of a battle."
Katara didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry, Katara." Zakura said,
"It's not your fault," Katara replied, "It's mine. All of this was my fault. If I had been normal, my family wouldn't have been ripped apart in the first place. If I had been normal, we'd still be living happily back at the Water Tribe. If I had been normal, DADDY WOULDN'T BE DEAD!!"
Zakura noticed Katara's anger rapidly build up to the point where she broke down in frustration, and was soon sobbing.
"Katara," said Zakura, putting her arms around Katara, "this may kill me in the process, but damn it, we're going to get you and your family back together. I swear it."
Katara was still crying. She didn't know what else to do or say.