Chapter 6
Too Much Information
Katara was fully immersed in the lush comfort of full boisterous pillows, cool silk sheets, a feathered quilt, and the thickest, warmest comforter she had ever had the pleasure of snuggling into. In all the many things that concerned her about living in the fire nation, the comfort of her bed wasn't one of them. The very first day of their arrival Aang, Sokka, Suki, and Toph had claimed Aang's room for a full out pillow fight. Bouncing on the beds in childish glee they had battered each other in a senseless joy. It wasn't until Zuko stood in the doorway staring at them as if they were crazed delinquents that they had considered the foolishness of it all. That of course didn't put an end to their play, Toph launched a pillow at Zuko's frozen form and after a moment's hesitation the ruckus started up again with Zuko this time. They'd burst numerous pillows littering the room, their clothes, and their hair with feathers.
Katara grinned into her pillow as warm memories circulated her dreams. Sighing she turned over, hair wild, arms splayed, basking in the comfort of her warm bed. She had been wrong before, this was perfect. This was peace. She needed nothing more than the birds chirping and a warm bed.
Zzzzzziiinnnnggggg!
Katara gave a surprised cross between a gasp and a groan as a burst of sunlight attacked her face.
"Time to get up!" The intruders voices filled the room, an added grievance to the fact that they had just ripped open her curtains.
"Wha..? What time is it?" Katara groaned as she buried her head under her pillows trying to escape the sudden light. 'Gah, it burns!' She thought, hiding her eyes and pulling the pillow down over her head to block out the voices.
"We're not really sure what time it is…" Lo laughed pulling the covers off the bed. Katara yelped, drawing her legs up closer to her body trying to escapes the two old women.
"We are fire nation. We rise with the sun…" Li smiled removing the pillow fortress Katara had build around herself.
"And so should you!" The two finished in unison, prying the last pillow from Katara's finger tips.
"But I'm from the Southern Water Tribe." Katara whined scrabbling for the nearest pillow.
Lo and Li simply laughed as they tugged the struggling girl out of bed and dragged her to the bathroom. Katara had previously been astonished the sheer size and finery of the bathroom and now she was beginning to understand why it was so big as her eyes went from sleepy slits to wide eyes of shock. Her bathroom was crawling with servant carrying towels, brushes, bath soaps, and all sorts of things. She opened her mouth to ask what the heck everyone was doing in her bathroom with a large irritated looking woman approached her. She scowled up and down Katara's form and then turned to Lo and Li.
"So this is the water tribe girl they expect me to work with?" She asked them before lifting bunches of Katara's hair inspecting it, her skin, her face, everything her beady eyes could see. "Well, I suppose I've seen worse."
Katara frowned at this and was about to retort with the woman turned abruptly from her and clapped her hands gathering the attention of the other servants. "This little mouse is our girl. So it's up to us to turn this child into a lady worth representing our country."
With that said she stripped Katara of her pajamas and dumped her unceremoniously into a cold tub of water. Katara usually found joy in her element but today she shrieked as she battled her way back up to the surface shivering.
"It's freezing!" She cried.
"It would have been warm if you were on time." The woman informed her. "And by the way you can call me mother matron, I'm your royal dresser."
"On time?" Katara asked confused.
"You slept well past the rising of the sun, little Katara." Lo smiled.
"We were generous." Li added.
Katara sighed in defeat as she sank down into the water. A giggling servant dipped her hand into the water from far across the pool sized tub and raised the temperature with a little fire bending.
"Oh wow, I didn't know you could do that." Katara gasped.
"We, firebenders, can do many things that do not require fire, it's a matter of temperature and heat really." The girl smiled. "My name is Akira. I am your first bathing assistant. This is Natsumi and Nodoka. They are your other two bathing assistant."
Katara stared in horror as the two other girls approached and bowed to her. She didn't need help bathing. She was almost sixteen; this was ridiculous. She looked around for Lo, Li, or Mother Matron but all three had significantly disappeared. She turned shaking her head at the girls as they approached her with soaps, shampoos, and strange brushes.
"Your appearance is very important. Your image will transcend time as the first none firebender to rule the fire nation. You will be more than a Fire Lady but the entire world's symbol of hope and peace." Akira stated.
"Er, yeah, about that. I'm really sorry. I know the fire nation is big on tradition and honestly it doesn't matter to me what they call me so I'm sorry to kind of trounce upon the tradition." Katara apologized.
"There is no need to apologize, Lady Katara. I think it would be more insulting to have to call you Fire Lady when you haven't an ounce of fire nation blood in you. Now we don't actually have to claim you if things don't work out, if that's not too forward of me to say." Natsumi blushed at the harsh look Akira gave her.
"Oh no, it's not too forward at all. In fact, I suppose your honesty is a good thing since I guess I'll need to learn a lot about the fire nation and how will I know what everyone is thinking if no one will tell me, right?" Katara smiled.
"I think we are going to like you, Lady Katara." Nodoka smiled, before squirting a large dollop of shampoo onto of Katara's head.
"I can do that you know." Katara pointed out as Nodoka began to massage her scalp.
"I'm sure you can." Nodoka laughed.
"But we're better at it." Natsumin joined in. "It's what we've been trained to do."
"And there is so much to do." Akira frowned looking at a list Mother Matron had made her.
"Really?" Katara asked, secretly attempting to inspect herself. What was wrong with her?
"Mmhmm." Akira mummured, scanning the list. "There's exfoliating, waxing, a bit of work on the eyebrows, a couple of facials…"
"Some serious taming of this hair." Nodoka joined in as she grabbed a comb and began trying to work out the knots.
"Manicure, pedicure, make up…" Natsumi continued.
"And that's just the stuff we do." Akira announced.
"But you just wait and see, when we're through the boys will be going crazy for you. You'll have beautiful skin and a great hair-do to top it off." Natsumi smiled.
"What else is there?" Katara asked, half curious, half dreading the answer.
"Well from here, you'll meet with the royal dressers and I'm sure a seamstress will be in to take your measurements. They will teach you how to dress what accessories to wear with what. They'll also teach you when it's appropriate to wear the crown jewels and when it's not." Nodoka mused.
"You'll also probably have a movement teacher to work on your posture and your walk. You'll have to learn our traditional dances as well." Akira added.
"But not all your lessons will require this much hassle. You'll probably be able to relax in the courtyard as you are taught the most important moments in fire nation history. I suspect you'll also have to memorize the names and titles of the nobles in our courts as well as the royals of all the other nations' courts." Natsumi threw in.
"You'll have weapons lessons as well. Everyone in the fire nation must learn at least one basic weapon for self defense in the event that they are not a bender or their out of their element." Akira informed her.
"And that's about it. Well, besides the normal domestic qualities noble women have to learn, like throwing banquets, and starting charities." Nodoka said.
'Oh great. Now I know I'm in way over my head.' Katara sighed as she allowed herself to sink down into the water until only her nose and up was visible. Her three attendant giggle, unperturbed by her attempt to disappear.
- -
Toph sat between Teo and Haru listening to the two talk about everything and nothing. It was fortunate that they were here so she could hang around people who weren't going crazy over this whole peace treaty thing. Everyone was definitely over reacting. They'd even forgotten about the beach party they'd been planning, in all their huffing and puffing about how unfair everything was. Sometimes life sucked, they'd all just have to grow up and deal with it.
"It seems such a shame all those plans had to go to waste. I was actually looking forward to the sand sculpting competition." Toph yawned.
"Yeah." Haru grinned. "I've been working on my sand bending and while I'm sure I'm not as good as you yet, Toph, I'd have liked the chance to show my work."
"So why don't we still have the party?" Teo asked. "We have all the notes and plans."
"Do you think they'd still go?" Haru asked.
"Of course they'd go. Everyone loves a good party." Toph smiled. "Hey, we can even make it an engagement party for Katara and Zuko so they can have at least one good memory from all this."
"Yeah, that's a great idea, Toph!" Teo exclaimed holding up his hand to high five her. When she didn't move he blushed bashfully as it occurred to him that she couldn't see his hand.
"Sorry… I forgot." Teo blushed, beginning to lower his hand, when suddenly Toph smacked her palm against his.
"I felt you move, I just wanted to make you sweat." Toph laughed.
- -
Alarm coursed through Katara as she stared at her stinging skin. She had been scrubbed to within an inch of her life, she was sure of it. Everything hurt from the plucking to the yanking on her hair, she didn't even want to think about the hot wax. How could anyone willing do that do themselves? She shuddered at the memory and waddled painfully over to the chair set before her vanity table. She'd had a moment to breath and now she was pounced upon by a hair stylist. Combs and brushes of every caliber were rolled out before her, all types of scissors lined the table, and many more strange devices that they explained were for curling and straightening. In her tribe they had always let their hair take it's natural course but according to the stylist it was amazing what you could do once you add a little heat.
"Here in the fire nation a girl can bring great honor to her family in one way, by striking a good match." Her stylist informed her. "This is also quite possibly why we prefer male children here."
She stared at him slightly worried as he tested out a pair of scissors above her head. After selecting a few more items, he turned her chair so that she was facing into the room and she cringed as Akira, Natsumi, and Nodoka returned with foot scrubs, nail varnish, hand creams, and all sorts of other things Katara felt were unnecessary. As they all set to work on her, Mother Matron reappeared with a woman Katara assumed was the seamstress by all the fabrics she was carting with her. She approached Katara holding up different shades of red next to her skin, humming and clucking as she assessed each tone.
"Men want girls with good taste, they must be calm, obedient, and work fast pace on top of maintaining your looks. I'm not sure how things are done in the water tribes but we will tolerate not barbarism here, it is key that you are submissive to your husband and in now way disrespectful, as a public insult could cost you your life." Mother Matron glowered at her. Katara frowned, hoping the woman was just trying to scare her and wasn't actually serious. Katara simply didn't do submissive. She had no intention of insulting Zuko but she wasn't going to be pushed around in this marriage either. After all, she'd been chose for her opinions and the fact that she wasn't a push over.
- -
Zuko held a small flame in his hand as he made a slow trek down damp stares. The poorly lit corridor had a chilling effect as he pondered what he was doing. This was crazy. Why did he always come down here? Why did he care? If the positions had been in reverse she would have gladly let him rot? In fact, she'd have probably tortured him herself but Zuko sighed as he thought of his sister. For all the terrible things she had done to him, a lingering concern always drew him down to her cell to watch her sleep or talk to herself, or scream at the walls, whatever mood struck her. He almost felt guilty keeping her caged up but the girl was crazy and probably couldn't be trusted. She never noticed his visits but the guards said she seemed different when he was there, less crazed maybe.
The guards bowed low to him as he entered the lone prison room in this wing of the palace. They had drugged Azula to sleep when they moved her from the grates she'd been changed to, to her cell beneath the palace. Aang had done her the favor of taking away her firebending so she couldn't hurt herself or others. Due to this Zuko hadn't seen any reason not to allow his sister some small comforts. She had a vanity table whose mirror had been smashed out not long after Azula woke up. The chair that had accompanied the table was half way across the room, she'd thrown it in a random fit not too long ago. He'd seen to it that her bed was as comfortable as possible because despite everything he couldn't bear to see her suffer in her already crazed state. It wasn't her fault she was raised by a cruel and twisted man. Perhaps in time with the right help she could maybe regain her sanity and then they could figure things out. Could she really still want to kill him and be Fire Lord after the kindness he had shown her?
Today when he entered, she looked up. He briefly wondered what she had been doing that had left her on the floor, sitting on all fours panting. Judging by the rent pillows and comforter, he'd say she'd had another fit and had simply tired herself of destroying her surrounding.
He said nothing to the guards as he cautiously approached the steel bars that separated Azula from freedom. He felt pity for his little sister as he slowly knelt to her level from his side of the bars.
"What are you doing here?" She scoffed. Zuko raised an eyebrow, not only had she noticed him but she was speaking to him today. This was a new and rather unexpected development.
"I don't know." He answered honestly. Her crazed, sadistic laughter echoed throughout the chamber and Zuko wondered half heartedly what was so funny but decided it was probably better not to ask.
"I suppose I should be honored by your pathetic presence." She scowled.
"No."
"Then what do you want?" Azula shouted.
"I don't know, Azula. I just came to see you. Is that such a crime?" Zuko snapped.
"Don't pretend you care about me. No one cares about me. Everyone just leaves me, mother, you, Mai, Ty Lee, everyone, everyone but father. You're a traitor. You're a traitor to your family and nation. You're just here to mock me aren't you. The crazy princess. I used to be great you know. I was going to make this nation great but you ruined it. You always ruin it. You stole everything from me. I hate you. I hate you."
"Azula calm don't. I'm not here to mock you."
"No. No, I won't be calm. I can't trust you. I don't believe you. You've made a fool of me. How could you win. You're nothing. You don't have my skill, my flawless technique. I was always better than you. It was that water peasant. She ruined everything. I had you. I had you." Azula's broken sobs were seriously unnerving him. He'd never seen his sister like this and it pained him. It broke his heart to see her like this, he almost missed the evil Azula he felt no pity for her but this girl. This broken shell of the girl who was once his sister, broke his heart.
"Azula, I want to help you. Do you want me to help you?"
"Help me? What could you possibly help me with. You've failed everything. You were nothing like the prince daddy wanted you to be. You made us look bad, over and over again. You ruin everything Zuzu, everything."
Zuko sighed and sat down leaning away from the bars, while he did feel bad for his sister, he was getting fed up with her hostilities. He remained silent as her eyes seemed to go unfocused again and she looked around as if lost. She crawled over to the other side of her cell and hugged her knees to her chest, rocking.
"Azula, what are you doing?" Zuko asked after watching her for a while. Her head whipped around to his direction.
"You! What are you doing here?" She sneered.
"I already told you, I don't know. I just want to help you somehow." Zuko replied. Again, she gave a shout of crazed sadistic laughter and Zuko frowned.
"I suppose I should be honored by your pathetic presence." She continued.
Zuko's frown grew deeper. He got up slowly and approached his sister cautiously. He stared at her for a moment before slowly repeating his answer of before but his time as more of a question and a test. "No."
"Then what do you want?" Azula screamed, clutching her head.
"Azula we've already had this conversation." Zuko told her.
"Don't pretend you care about me. No one cares about me. Everyone just leaves me, mother, you, Mai, Ty Lee, everyone, everyone but father. You're a traitor. You're a traitor to your family and nation. You're just…"
Zuko shook his head as she continued to repeat exactly what she had said before. 'She doesn't remember we just had this conversation. Oh no, Azula. What on earth is going on with you?' Zuko's eyes took on a new sadness that he had not thought possible to feel for his sister. 'Her poor mind is completely shattered, isn't it? And it's a shame too because she had such a beautiful mind, evil, but still a beautiful mind.' Shaking his head sadly, Zuko couldn't bear to deal with the fact that his sister was quite possibly beyond his help. He made his way, dazed, back up into the main sectors of the palace and slumped against a random wall to trying to think of what to do and decide how to feel.
- -
"How does this dress feel?" Purya, the seamstress, asked Katara as she pulled tightly on the obi around her waist.
"Am I supposed to be able to breath in this?" Katara joked.
"Doesn't particularly matter to me whether you can breath or not." Purya responded, her face completely serious. Katara stared at her speechless. "A tiny waste is key in this nation. You'll have to watch your figure from now on."
"What?" Katara coughed.
"You still haven't answered my question."
"Well, apart from the restricted air flow, I guess it's fine."
"Good, now to find you some shoes. Go sit over there and get your face painted while I look for something suitable."
Katara glared at the persnickety old woman behind her back and then did her best to toddle back to her vanity table for round three with Akira, Nodoka, and Natsumi.
"When we are through you will be as beautiful as a perfect porcelain doll." Akira smiled.
"Only not nearly as pale. Your skin is so dark, there's nothing we can do about that." Natsumi frowned.
"I think you have lovely skin. We won't put any white powder on your face. That would just look ridiculous and hide your natural beauty." Nodoka cut in pinching Katara's cheeks and then giving them a soft smack to bring out the natural color so that she could properly assess how much rouge to add. Akira hummed as she mixed berry colored paints for her lips and Natsumi chiseled away at the tip of a piece of charcoal that would darken her eyebrows.
"If nothing else, you'll certainly look the part." Mother Matron pronounced as she appeared before Katara akimbo. "My girls have done an excellent job, yet again."
"Um, how many girls have you done this for?" Katara asked.
"Well, I dressed Fire Lady Ursa, Princess Azula, Lady Mai and Ty Lee when they were little and used to join Azula for her lessons and of course I have dressed everyone of the past Fire Lord's concubines." Mother Matron listed.
"Concubines?" Katara breathed.
"Well you don't really expect men of such great power to really be satisfied by just one woman for all their lives. Men get bored, very easily. I'm sure you'll learn this soon enough. If Mai weren't so proud she could be Fire Lord Zuko's head mistress." Mother Matron tutted crossing her arms clearly disappointed with Mai's decision to not take up this title. "It's not like she's got many other suitors. She's put them all off to be with him for several years. Now she'll just become another spinster."
Katara frowned and drew her knees up to her chest, she hadn't really thought that far ahead. Honestly she hadn't considered anything past the wedding itself and in reality she had hardly had enough time to imagine the wedding. She bit her lip, which earned her quite a tongue lashing from Akira who had already announced she was determined to break her of the 'filthy habit'. Suddenly this whole marriage things seemed ten times more difficult and insane than it had this morning. Katara wished she had never woken up.
A/N: I am a Disney fanatic and would like to thank and give credit to the creators and song writers of Mulan, whose song "Honor to Us All" was the basis for Katara's rude awakening.