Chapter 2

Katara

Katara slammed the door to her home open and stomped in. Sayuri was following close behind. She noted how the ice seemed to shiver and quake in response to Katara's anger. If Katara managed to destroy this house then there were no guarantees everyone would make it out unharmed. "Captain, you need to calm down!"

"I can't believe they wanted to send me to him!" Katara roared.

"They weren't sending you to him specifically. Just Fire Nation royalty in general," Sayuri said as an attempt to calm her. It was in fact true.

"He's the crown prince, Sayuri! Of course he's going to be there!"

"What's all the shouting for?" Sokka asked poking his head into the room. Sayuri audibly sighed in relief. Sokka could save her.

"The captain's a little upset-"

Sokka raised an eyebrow, "A little? Was I the only one that felt that housequake?"

Sayuri's brow twitched. "Alright then! Captain Katara's on the verge of a massacuring all the representatives and other seven division captains! Now do something!" She waved her arms in a sweeping motion towards Katara who at the moment was forming water and ice into dangerous objects with a malicious gleam in her eyes.

"I'm not the one that needs fixing," Katara seethed as the water solidified into a kunai. Sokka gulped. The term fix and sharp objects together usually didn't end well for males like himself. Warily, he approached her.

"Now now, Katara. Let's not go overboard," he said making calming gestures with his hands.

He flinched when she spun around, kunai still floating in midair.

"I'm not going to see Zuko. Oh wait, my mistake, it's Prince Zuko."

"So let me get this straight. They've seen this," Sokka pointed to Katara and her now senbon, "and they're still sending her to meet the Fire Nation royalty?"

"Of course not! Katara reacted so violently that they backed down and have instead given her the task of meeting lesser Fire Nation nobles to discuss trade and border agreements." Sayuri gave Sokka a look that could kill, to a lesser extent of Katara's. Who was Sokka, the Southern Tribe's king of comic relief, to underestimate the intelligence of the people at these meetings?

"I don't see what the big deal is then. It is a little strange that there are so many Fire Nation meetings going on around the same time though," Sokka pondered outloud. "Is Aang going on this trip with you, Katara?"

Katara returned her water weapon to the pot she pulled it from, "Of course. It's his duty to go to this meeting both as the Avatar and as my fiancée. We're leaving tomorrow morning."

"You don't have to worry about anything then." Katara gave Sokka a what are you talking about look so he explained further. "With Fire Benders listed as a possible threat to our people there's no chance they'd send the Avatar into their hands. He's our most powerful asset right now."

"I guess you're right, Sokka."

"Everyone should just listen to Sokka from the start. He's always right in the end," Sokka said. He turned to the doorway to the room he came from. "Hey Aang!"

"What is it now, Sokka?" Aang called back. Going by how tired Aang sounded, Katara guessed her brother had been bored while everyone was gone.

"Go pack your things. We're going on a trip tomorrow morning."

Aang seemed to bounce back into the room like his battery had been recharged. "Really? Where are we going?"

"To the Fire Nation. Katara has some business to take care of and we're finding you a firebending teacher," Sokka patted Aang's head as he walked past him through the door to their main room.

"I'm supposed to learn firebending last. I still have to master water and earth bender," Aang said.

"War's brewing, Aang. Our contact in the Earth Kingdom hasn't answered our requests for an earthbending teacher," Katara explained. Aang understood what she didn't say. The earthbenders had lain and embargo on the training of the Avatar. It was their punishment to the Air Nomads for refusing to back them in war.

"I guess we'll have to figure out that one later. My waterbending training is going to be done on the road?"

"That's right. Everyone believes that staying in a fixed location is safe for you but they also believe that constantly moving will make it harder for earth, and possibly firebenders, to capture you."

"Makes sense," Aang said looking to the kitchen. "Sokka! Those are the last of my snacks from the Air Temples!" Then he ran to save his food from Sokka.

Sayuri bowed to Katara. "I'll be taking my leave. The division will be in good hands while you're gone, Captain. I assure you this."

"I know it will. Thank you." Katara returned Sayuri's bow. Once she was out the door a penny dropped in Katara's head.

"Sokka! You knew what the topics for today's gathering were! You knew they were going to ask me to see him the whole time!" Katara shrieked and stomped into the main room where the two boys were sitting.

"I didn't, Katara! Would I lie to you? My own flesh and blood?"

"Well, actaully, Sokka you lied just yesterday when you said you cleaned the sheets," Aang pointed out.

"Who's side are you on? Don't answer that. Obviously your fellow men don't rank as high as the fiancée," Sokka mocked and accused.

"Sokka!" Katara and Aang both shouted.

The brisk wind blew off the ocean and filtered into the Southern Water Tribe. The tallest hill in the tribe blocked the wind and trapped it at the bottom of the valley it created. The sun was too weak to keep this wind from chilling Katara to the bone. She didn't notice when chills ran down her spine. At the time her mind was in a place far from that moment.

She could still sense everything about that moment. The smell of her mother as she burned alive for the lives of her children; for Katara. Katara could hear her mother's scream of pain as the flames consumed untouched skin. The two slithered and curled through the air and bound Katara. They found a niche deep inside her to rest in and torture her from then until forever.

The sounds of rushing flames and the splash of water played along side the scream. What if her father was hit by one of those fireballs too? The thought knocked the air out of Katara. The smell compounded and burned at her eyes until they pricked with tears. Her parents weren't supposed to leave her yet! Her mom still had to go through things like her first period with her and her dad had to be there to disapprove of any boy that may look at Katara in the 'wrong way'.

Her body could feel the heat radiating from the black form that was once her mom. The smoke pooling away from it stung Katara's eyes in a different way. They felt like they were going to become ashes themselves. Still, Katara reached out desperatley, her brother holding her firm to his side. Just one touch to prove this would all go away. That's all she wanted; it was all she needed.

Instead of reaching the flames a ball bounced at her fingertips and children with smiles on their faces came running to get it. It was when they apologized and they ran off to continue their game that Katara realized it was over. Peace, innocence, everything. Her mom was gone and she wasn't coming back.

The wind blew from the ocean again and this time Katara felt the chills as they ran their marathon. Yet when she turned to face away from the large hill she could hear and feel the battle again. The Fire Nation soldier who struck her mother's final blow stood there with mirth in his eyes and behind him in the distance Zuko and Iroh continued to run. They ran just like they always did. It was a dance they performed day after day never once turning around to see the pain they'd brought upon her.

Katara was jolted in her saddle by her ostrich-horse when it jumped over a hole in the road. She was on the edge as it was and the holes in the road weren't helping. Even though her nation and the Fire Nation were at peace being so far into their territory made her uneasy. She might have felt better if they were traveling on their own without guards.

There were six guards in total, two for Aang, two for herself, and two for Sokka. Traditionally when out of the Southern Water Tribe the guards would sit on either side of them in an ostrich-horse drawn carriage but luckily one of the guards had been with them the last time they went on a political mission and remembered the panic attack Sokka had faked once inside the carriage. They didn't want to go through that again and opted for the open air riding.

That was just as well. Neither the water siblings nor the avatar were accustomed to the carriages and preferred feeling the sun on their skin rather than sitting in almost complete darkness.

Katara couldn't wait until they reached the meeting place. It was a quiet rural town near a river. The town was home to a lord for the area which meant a stricter military rule and less crime. Katara's guards would have no reason to follow her around everywhere in a place like that. She didn't mind the guards, Katara couldn't remember a time when she didn't have people protecting her, but she still preferred to have time alone and not have her every action watched. She may be from one of the four noble houses of the Southern Tribe but she and most members of her family were perfectly capable of taking care of themselves.

"Hey, Katara, how much longer 'til we get there?" Aang asked.

"Not much longer; about an hour if Sokka's map is right."

"We could have gotten there faster if we took Appa," the Avatar grumbled.

"You know we can't do that, Aang," Sokka said. "The Earth and Fire Nations are both looking for the Avatar. They know war is coming between them and they know whichever side has you will win." Sokka started animating his speech with his hands, "If we just swoop in on a flying bison, I'm pretty sure your cover would be blown."

"I know. I know but still…" Aang trailed off.

Silence fell upon them for a minute. The break in conversation left Katara noticing little things that didn't matter like the way her braid swung in rhythm to her ostrich-horse's step; the way Sokka kept fidgeting on his ride and how their bodyguards hadn't said anything for quite sometime now.

Out of the corner of her eye, Katara watched Aang open his mouth to say something but quickly close it and shake his head. Katara saw the mental debate and let out an exasperated sigh. "What is it, Aang?"

He hesitated for a second and went over the chances that what he was going to ask would upset Katara. Thinking back to when Sokka asked the same thing an hour ealier the chances were high. When Aang felt Katara gaze move to him he knew he had no choice but to say it. "It's just that I'm not used to riding one of these," he gestured to his ostrich-horse, " and it's really making my legs sore. So I was wondering, could we take a break?" Aang flinched and Sokka gave Aang a what-are-you-thinking look.

"I have no problem with taking a break, Aang, but the village isn't much further. Taking a break would only stretch the trip out further, is that alright?" Katara said. Aang relaxed when he heard that response. Sokka, on the other hand, voiced his offense at that decision.

He let go of the reins and started waving his arms over his head. "Aang wants to rest and it's 'That'd be fine but we're so close to the village that there's no point in stopping,' but Sokka asks and it's a water whip to the kidneys!"

Katara rode close him and jabbed her brother in the chest with her finger. "You took my hairbrush out of my bag before we left home! I haven't brushed my hair because of that for three days now!" The water in Katara's water skin violently pushed against its container. "It'll take at least an hour to get this all untangled! I'll be lucky if I don't have to cut my hair!"

Sokka glanced at Katara's hair and he had to admit that she had a point. Katara's hair was puffier than usual. The long braid wasn't doing much to conceal the unruly jungle her hair was becoming.

Sokka looked around and struggled to find an argument that could defend him. None of the one's he thought of really saved him. "Hey, it's not my fault you didn't go through your bag to make sure everything you needed was in there before we left," he said trying to sound aloof.

Katara ground her teeth. "I shouldn't have had to look."

Aang rode up to the arguing siblings cautiously, "Now, now you two. There's no need to fight about this…again."

Katara her body around to Aang and shouted angrily, "Who asked you? Just because you're the Avatar doesn't mean you can poke your nose in everyone else's business?" Aang cringed in fear at Katara's outburst. He wasn't used to receiving the full force of her anger and he was disappointed in himself for making Katara so angry. He couldn't help the shine that came to his eyes and slowed his ride to near stop without noticing.

Katara's eyes widened in shock once she realized what she had said. " Oh, Aang, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout."

"I-It's alright. Let's just get going. I think everyone could use a break from traveling," Aang said shakily. He kept his eyes down to the hardened dirt path while he rode past the water tribe siblings. He wondered absently if someone's heart had to harden in order to stand strong as stone under a person's worst rage or hatred.

"She isn't well! She needs someone to talk to!" Gran-Gran argued with Bato.

"I understand what you're saying but this is Katara we're talking about. You know as well as I do that she's a strong child and easily has just as much pride as yourself, myself, even Pakku!" Bato argued back.

"I understand that but still…" Gran-Gran said quietly. "I think we need to do something to help her through this." The grief at losing her daughter was showing on Kanna's face. She had always been told by her elders and her mother that losing a child was the worst pain that a parent could feel but had never believed it was as bad as it turned out to be. Now her granddaughter was all she had left to remember her daughter by.

"An outlet," Pakku said.

"A what?" Gran-Gran asked.

"Your granddaughter needs an outlet. A way for her to channel and vent emotions such as sorrow and frustration. Water bending could do that for Katara. She already is showing signs of strength and connection with her element."

"That's an excellent idea," Bato said. "Pakku, I know it's a lot to ask of you but could you be the one to oversee her training? You're one of the few people she'll open up all her emotions to judging by all the yelling and accidental water attacks directed at you in the past."

There was a slight chuckle from Kanna and Pakku cleared his throat. "If you wish for Katara to be put under my care then I will accept."

Sokka gently pushed away from the door and turned towards his sister sitting next to the doorframe. She was huddled up with her knees into her chest and her arms wrapped around her. There was no emotion on her face. Sokka had become used to this face. Since their mother had been killed Katara would put on a cheerful face in front of the Southern Tribe then often revert to this position and wear that exact expression. "What? You don't have any objections to being watched like a hawk or put through seeing Pakku the Waterbending Teacher of Psychology?" Sokka asked pointing at the door.

Katara lifted her head and shot him a small smile. "They're just worried. If it makes them feel better then I'll do what they want without complaint. Maybe it will help me feel better. Besides, who am I to refuse as much waterbending practice and lessons as I want or feel I need?"

Sokka chuckled. "Good point. Just don't go thinking you can kick my butt because of those lessons. My boomarang has powers beyond your imagination."

Katara laughed and rolled her eyes. "That little piece of metal. Please Sokka, give me some credit."

The Fire Nation nobles for the meeting hadn't arrived yet and it irritated Katara. They were the ones who arranged to meet with members from the Southern Water Tribe and yet they weren't there to meet them.

Katara sighed and picked up another comb from the store and examined it. Maybe she was being too critical. Fire Nation customs were different from the Water Tribes' so they didn't have any obligation to be there to greet the guests to their nation. Still, she thought, it would be nice if they would try to make us feel at home by expressing some of our customs.

A shine out of the corner of her eye caught Katara's attention. It was a beautiful silver comb. The spine was carved into what looked like waves flowing towards a blossom. She guessed it was the blossom of a popular or traditional fruit in the Fire Nation. What captivated her most about the comb was how when she moved it in the light different colours were visible. At first there was red and blue then adjusted the comb's position a little. She smiled eagerly as she was able to pick out yellow and green as well.

"Are you going to get that comb, Katara?" Aang asked. He was the only one out of the boys to come without complaint. Sokka, who was walking back from a stall with some sort of jerky, had only come because Katara threatened him. He was to pay for the new comb since he was the reason she was without one.

Katara looked at the price of the comb and shook her head sadly. "I can't, Aang. It's too expensive." She couldn't stand to put the comb down yet though. They didn't have things quite like that back in the tribe. The engagement necklaces were basically the only things made of such a beautiful raw material. You didn't need beautiful accessories where you wore parkas most of the time.

"Too bad. It suits you. You could even stick in your hair as a decoration." Aang opened his hand and Katara placed the comb in his hand. He went behind Katara and curled her braid so it became a loop. A section of the loop was visible looking at Katara's face. Aang grinned because she was so pretty. The way the red and yellow shining from the comb complimented her hair and skin and how the blue brought out her eyes left Aang breathless.

Katara looked in a mirror. When she couldn't see the back of her head very well the shopkeeper used a second mirror to make the back of Katara's head easy to see. Katara's reflection disappointed her. She'd hoped it wouldn't look good but the comb really did make a good hair decoration.

"Have you bought a new comb or brush yet?" Sokka asked wandering over. He wanted to go home like a flying lemur liked wild nuts and berries.

"Just about, Sokka."

The crowd suddenly began to move towards the village entrance. There were some who made their way towards their houses. The number of those people seemed to increase. When she noticed this, Katara turned to see what was causing that commotion. As soon as she did, she wished she hadn't turned. There was a carriage entering the town 'and flying above it was the emblem of Fire Nation royalty.

All her hopes were shattered when not the princess stepped out but the prince. Prince Zuko. Her eyes were frozen wide in shock and horror. Her tribe had tricked her. They'd made her face the one person she wished off the planet. The pain stabbed at her heart.

His eyes scanned the crowd and Katara nearly started hyperventilating when his gaze met hers. His eyes had been cold and seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there. When he saw Katara, they widened in shock. Something in his face made it seem like he was fighting an internal war.

She didn't want to deal with that. She ripped her gaze from Zuko's and placed the comb back in its place in the store. "I've got to go now, Aang, Sokka. I'll see you back in the palace," she said before rushing off. Katara needed to get herself together. If she was going to be at political meetings with him then she would need to control herself. Killing the prince was not a good thing to do. There would be plenty of time for that later.