A Mermaid's Tale.
Warning: Rated MA for violence, swearing and plenty of sexual content.
Disclaimer: do not own, if I did the story would go with how it ORIGINALLY was. With Zutara.
Note: Aang is just a air-bender, there is no war, people are at peace, even working together... for now...
'Katara's thoughts'
Making a good first impression.
Soft lips were pursed with concentration, eyes focused on her target. The girl's dark brown locks streamed around her like a silk blanket, with her hair loopies stringed with pearls, a golden crown perched on her head. In her hand she held a spear with a diamond tip, blue scaled tail shimmered behind her. Her matching cerulean orbs burned with the fire of a challenge as she stalked her pray. It was a two meter long tiger-shark. It swam around the sea-weeds with shifty eyes and teeth on show, hunting for it's own pray, unaware of the little mermaid lurking behind coral reefs. When the creature stopped moving, assumingly finding it's own meal, Katara's concentrated expression broke as a wicked smirk tilted her lips. Her eyes blazed and her fingers flared as she dropped her spear.
Instantly the shark was frozen, it dropped to the bottom of the sea gently. Katara swam towards it and, with a flick of her wrist, she melted the ice just above it's heart. The mermaid retook her spear and stabbed clean through the tough exterior. She then unfroze the rest of the fish. The light of life in it's eyes had died moments ago and Katara sang a small funeral hymn. Her voice was soft yet it carried through the waves and echoed off the coral reefs. She then opened her mouth wide and let out a piercing scream, causing water to ripple around her. Instantly her brother came to her side. His chest was bare, unlike her's which had her breasts wrapped with a dark blue cloth, shimmering with the dust of ground sapphires. His own brown hair was tied up in a bun at the back of his head, like most of the other mermen. A shark-tooth necklace hung around his neck, the stark white standing out against his milk chocolate skin.
"Hey Katara you caught it! Good job little sis. Hey guys, over here!" A bunch of mermen swam to them. They instantly started tying rope around the dead fish and three hauled it in.
"I told you I could." Katara hmphed, crossing her arms. In the sea, women were thought of as weak, and so she held a bet with her brother to prove him wrong. Her late master Hama had taught her how to water bend when she was thirteen, she was now sixteen, her master dying only a year ago due to unknown circumstances. "And I didn't need your men to do it... unlike some people."
"Alright alright, but I still think you should stay a healer." Sokka pouted at her superior expression. There it was, the most important reason mermaid water-benders were not allowed to battle. No merman could heal. Katara scoffed.
"I can do both you know." she glared at him darkly.
"Yeah but... I say stick to what you know." Sokka ruffled her hair and swam passed her towards her kill.
"Hmph, men!" Katara threw her hands up in exasperation. She then swam away, her tail swishing violently behind her. "Let's just go home!" She could hear the warriors snickering behind her. She spun around and pinned them with a glare. They froze mid-chuckle and then coughed and tried to regain their composure. She smirked and swam back to the palace. 'Wooses' When she got there she felt something small and soft tackle her.
"Kya!" she squealed, hugging her beloved pet-seal (A/N: Sorry, it's name is Kya not Kana). "How are you cutie?" she cooed, stroking it's tiny head with her thumb. The creature was named after her deceased mother, who was taken away from her by humans with fish nets. They were from the Fire Nation. Her blood boiled just thinking of those barbarians... but then she forced herself to be calm... after all, she would have to work with them soon... 'For Aang, you're doing this for Aang, you owe him this much...' she scolded herself, schooling her enraged expression.
"And where have you two been? Do you know that you have approximately thirty minutes to pack and go to the surface!?" The irate voice could belong to no one other than their father. He was absolutely livid and both kids winced as his voice reverberated through the marble and coral walls.
"Dad..." Sokka's face was etched with nervousness. "You're daughter made her first kill today." he smiled, hoping that that would alleviate the king's anger a little. It worked. Hakoda's eyes lit up in delight and he turned to look at his daughter. She was now beaming full force.
"I finally did it daddy!" she cheered, barreling into her father's awaiting arms.
"I didn't doubt you for a second!" Hakoda nodded, setting aside his trident for the moment. The entire weapon was made of diamond. (A/N: Cause in the sea there is sure to be ship-wreck treasure and presious stones. No one knows :/)
"Er-hem. Sire, the mission." Hakoda's adviser reminded him. The king's eyes lit up and then hardened. He distanced himself away from his children and looked them both square in the eye.
"Kids, I have no doubt of your abilities on this mission, however, Sokka, please take care of your sister, never get separated from each other, am I understood?" Both children listened, straight backed. Sokka and Katara nodded once firmly. "Katara... try not to get into too much trouble while you're away." The king new all too well of his daughter's curiosity...and smart mouth.
"Yes dad." Katara rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless.
"Also, stay with your brother, what he says goes." Katara opened her mouth to disagree but Hakoda would have none of it. "I will not hear it. He is your older brother and you will do as he says!"
Katara's mouth shut with a click as her teeth hit each other, lips pinched in barely contained rage. "Fine." Katara bit out. Sokka shot her a smug look, but she just stuck her tongue out at him and swam to her room, too ready herself.
"Kids." Hakoda sighed as Sokka pulled a face, swimming to his own wing. He blew out a breath and went back to the throne room. "I need a vacation." he mumbled, hand rubbing over his tired face.
~ . ~
There it was. A ship. Katara gasped, eyes widening. Having never seen one before, she was quite amazed. As they neared the hull, Katara heard someone speaking. "Yes...nice...you..." The voice was smooth and husky, like gravel on a velvet bed. Her tail worked faster in order to get closer to the electrifying sound. When she reached the ship, her hand grabbed hold of the ladder on the side and she pulled herself up. She felt slightly disorientated for she had never transformed. No mer-person had been on any type of land in centuries, there was simply no need. Finally she climbed to the top and the words became clear. "My name is prince Zuko, of the fire-nation." Katara gasped and her eyes shot towards the figure standing tall as she felt her heart drop. "My sister, Azula, and I, are honored to be with you all on this voyage." Azula flashed a smirk at everyone.
Katara glanced warily at the girl. 'She looks like bad news.' A shiver ran through her spine at the cold and calculating look. Hate instantly burned in her chest at the raven haired party (plus the brunette) in front of her. Katara forced aside an indescribable and unwanted feeling as she glared holes into the prince and his companions.
"I understand that none of us are on the...best of terms." his voice carried a hint of sarcasm to which everyone chuckled along; Katara just sneered. "But I think we can at least act...civilized, until the end of this mission. Right?" he raised a brow and looked at each person individually - even the crewmen. That's when his eyes landed on Katara, all the way at the back crowd. And thank god for that. His jaw dropped off it's hinges for a second before he collected himself. 'Does she know that she's...' A quick glance around the room confirmed that no one else had seen her yet. He swallowed thickly and breathed deeply in order to center his mind. He then steadily marched his way to her, pushing through the crowd, taking off his cloak in the process. He splayed it wide so that no curious eyes could see in front of him and covered her swiftly.
"What are you-" Katara started to speak as her eyes watched him come towards her at a speedy pace; but Zuko cut her off.
The prince felt a shiver run down his spine at the hypnotic sound of her voice. Zuko forced himself to shake the feeling off quickly. "I don't know if you know this but-" his voice tickled her ear, sending pleasant tingles to ripple through her body and her fine hairs stood on end. "-you're naked." Was it just her, or did he just lower his tone? Katara felt her mind become heady and her muscles loosened slightly, causing her to lean into his hold. That's when she truly felt the strong, toned arms wrapped around her, warmth seeping through the cloak.
"Huh?" she mumbled unintelligibly.
"You have no clothes on." he explained further, voice going to a soft husk as he wrapped the cloth more securely around her body. Then Katara snapped out of her daze and promptly pushed away from him, as if he burned her. She scrambled to her feet, holding the material closer to her body. But then her legs gave way; she wasn't exactly used to standing. She fell. Zuko got over his initial shock and instantly caught her, cradling her disorientated form to his chest. Katara frowned and shook her head, trying to shake off her dizzy spell. This was not how she wanted to make a first impression.
Well, finally, here's a proper chappy up for consumption. Did you like the little twist I put in there? I thought I should add bits of elements from all of the mermaid shows I know, mostly the little mermaid. Plus it's a tasty zutara moment and will trigger some heavy scenes later in the fic xD hope you enjoyed~! Lemme know what you think ne?