A/N: Wow. It took me a lot of time (and a lot of ice cream-but mostly time) To get through this one! I'm not sure how I feel about it, I think it turned out good (And I proof read it this time YAY!) but it took me a while to work through it- and FEELS ugh why? I'm no good at angst-like I get too depressed and and just start going "Ok, time to make this happy" Then I turn it around and it just don't work- I did break a little outta my comfort zone for this one (Like all good writers should!) and like I said- I think it turned out ok. But you guys are the ones taking it all in, So let me know what you think! Thank you for the constructive reveiws I have been getting! You guys are great, and your advice really does help, so keep it up! I'll stop rambling now!
DISCLAIMER: YOU KNEW THE DRILL- I OWN NOTHING!
Chapter 15: All's Fair (In Play And Practice)
It was all Sokka's idea.
Ever since the Boiling Rock prison break, he had been itching to hone his skills.
His father and Chit Zang had been up for three hours by the time the teens all woke up. They were off in another building scattered through out the upside down city of air. As Katara bent water into a pot for boiling, she could hear the two grown men grunting each time a hit fell. She could see them clearly, just one building over. Her father had the upper hand, holding Chit Zang in a head-lock, waiting for the bigger man to tap out. When he finally did, he turned around and the two shook hands, ready for another round.
Azula streached her arms up above her head as she made her way over to Katara.
"Morning." She said through a yawn.
Katara giggled at how un-lady like the princess was at that moment. She was glad though, it showed Azula was opening up around them. "Morning, could you light this?" Katara absentmindedly gestured to the stack of kindling and leaves Zuko and Sokka had brought back minutes before hand.
Azula did as asked without much thought, as her eyes too were now on the men across the way. The only difference being that Sokka and Zuko had joined with their swords, obviously ready to warm up with a little swordsmenship practice before the real sparring came after breakfast.
It was all well and fine, she watched the two boys unsheath their swords, all good.
You know, that is until Sokka decided to rip his shirt off.
Now, Azula was not one to be easily swayed when it came to the male department. In fact, most men cowered in fear at the sight of her-or, at least they used to.
But you would have to be blinder then Toph to not see that this boy was attractive. He was hot with his shirt on as it was- but off?
Azula had to look away quickly, the sight having caught her off guard. She cleared her throat as she desperately tried to look at anything in the room to get her mind off that course.
"Azula? Are you ok? Your cheeks are really red." Katara asked with that motherly concern of hers.
The firebending prodigy desperately tried to say something intelligent, but she was too slow and the next thing she knew, Katara was at her side, putting a hand to her forehead.
"Hmm, you don't seem warm…" The healer muttered as Azula yelped and backed away, still not 100% used to open physical contact from others.
"Um…I'm fine!" she said, shaking her head vigorously.
Katara looked at her in slight confusion, then past her to where the boys were still getting ready for their sword fight.
She noted Sokka's lack of attire and smirked.
"Huh…See something interesting, Azula?" The waterbender teased her friend, watching in mirth as she turned a shade darker.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She said pointedly, keeping her back to the men.
"Oh really? Because I thi-eep!" Katara let out a yelp herself when she saw that now, not only had Sokka shed his outter layers, but Zuko had also.
She may have still hated him, but that didn't mean she never noticed his…assets.
Azula saw the other girl's reaction and cautiously turned around. She deliberately kept her eyes away from the young Water Tribesmen and glanced around. Only to find her brother, Also shirtless.
"Huh." She said, turning back with a smirk to the now red Katara, "See something interesting, Katara?"
The master waterbender turned a fierce glare on the girl "Shut up."
"No no no. Save that fire for the battle field. Something tells me we'll need it." Azula said, glancing back at the boys, now engaged in a battle.
"Oh, are you intimidated?" Katara asked, playfully flicking water at Azula. Azula flinched slightly-once more caught off guard, and scowled half-heartedly at the mini-attack.
"Hardly. I just know that no one will be holding back today."
"Well," Katara said slowly, as she threw ingredients into the now simmering water, "I just hope no one will get distracted by certain… battle attire. You know, my brother trains shirtless quite a bit."
Katara had to hold back a snicker as Azula gasped.
Azula caught herself, though and smirked, putting one hand on her hip while she examined the nails of the other nonchalantly. "Yeah, ZuZu does too. He doesn't like when it sticks to him when he's sweaty."
Azula had no idea if that was true, but it was worth it to see Katara trying to hide a blush behind the food she bent out of the bowl, stirred and put back again.
"Well, good for him." She said lamely, glaring into the pot as Azula failed at snuffling a giggle.
The Princess sobered up quickly though, and looked at Katara with curiosity. "What is it with you two anyway?"
Katara's head snapped up and she stared at Azula in confusion for a moment. "With your brother?" The Fire Nation girl nodded and Katara glowered off to the side.
"It's nothing."
"Well, obviously it's something. You treat him coldly, even for my standards. I just don't understand, you've forgiven me-which I'm thankful for, but why not him?"
Katara sighed. "It wouldn't make sense if I told you." She said with a hint of finality, stiring around whatever was in the pot some more- probably with a bit more force then necessary.
"Try me." Azula said, hands returning to her hips.
Katara huffed, considering her options, A) Tell Azula she doesn't like her brother because she was starting to feel for him- risk the possibility that she will report back to said brother about the gathered information, or B) Try to brush it off and possibly risk Azula feeling as though she is not trusted.
She wanted Azula to know she was trusted. Because she did trust her! She just didn't trust that the girl would try to medel in her relationships for a kick-much like Toph.
Though, if she wanted to medel in Katara's relationships, something told her that Azula would find another way to do it if not like this.
She made her decision, but with conditions, "Fine. But if I tell you, you can't tell your brother."
She felt like a small child asking her best friend not to tattle tale on her, but she went along with it nonetheless.
"I won't." Azula said. Something about her tone and the way she smirked told Katara otherwise. Oh yes, she and Toph had defienatly been over this.
Katara rolled her eyes but related the story anyway. "When we were imprisoned together in Ba Sing Se-Thank you for that, by the way." She said, sending a pointed look in Azula's direction.
Azula looked away. "Sorry about that... Continue."
"Anyway, we both told each other some…pretty heavy stuff."
"About our mother I assume." Azula said point blank, Katara looked at her in surprise. "What? I knew he wouldn't talk about his banishment with anyone, that was more a personal vendetta he had against our father- or he took it as a challenge, whatever- and you perhaps already knew about it- oh no? Oh well, anyway, it was either that, or Our mother. Wild guess." Azula said, answering when the Water Tribe girl had shaken her head no, she did not know the story behind the banishment.
"Well, it doesn't matter about what-but, He got me feeling sorry for him, and…I offered to heal his scar-"
"You what!?"
"I know, it was stupid-"
"No. not really. He must have been greatful for that. I don't think anyone besides our uncle has cared enough about him to do something like that." Azula said, glancing back at the boys, still locked in fierce combat.
"Well, he had an awful way of showing it. I had thought he changed-"
"I know, I heard you yelling at him."
"Okay, if you want to hear the story, stop interrupting," she chastised lightly. Azula nodded and Katara went on, "I thought he had changed. I had given him a piece of my background that I haven't really disclosed to anyone else. When he did the same, I…after that, he chose to side with you. I felt… cheated, somehow. He betrayed us. Betrayed me." She said the last part quietly- almost to herself, but Azula caught it.
She stayed quiet as Katara finished, her voice slightly thick. "I don't want to let him in again- just for him to do the same thing. I think it would hurt a lot more this time around…"
Azula glanced over to where her brother was using his discarded shirt as a towel, drying his face. Azula knew for a fact that her brother had changed for the better. He never was one to backstab. She was sure the only reason he had in Ba Sing Se was because he was offered what he had so desperately wanted for years. It would be hard for anyone to say no to that.
But if she herself had changed, how much more so would Zuko have? He had always been the better of the two of them- though she hated to admit it.
She turned her attention back to the girl that was still stiring the food. If Katara trusted her of all people, Why not her brother? Even when they were children, Azula had admired his bright kindness- the kind that only their mother could bring out. The kind that their father found foolish. He still had that in him. If she could see it, Why couldn't Katara?
She sighed. "Look, If it makes you feel any better, why don't I talk to him for you?"
Katara's head snapped up, her blue eyes resting on Azula's gold ones. "That is the exact opposite of what I would like you to do."
"Well, I can tell you one thing for sure. He was always the…nicer, of the two of us. Wouldn't it be logical- forgiving him? Because you forgave me, even though I've done worse things then him."
Katara shook her head, Stirring the food around some more.
"Look, I know this is hard for you to understand-you don't really strike me as someone to act on her emotions- but this involves a lot more then just the logical side of things."
"Well… Maybe today will change some things between the two of you."
Katara snorted, looking back up to Azula, "I don't see how."
"One thing I have learned is that many things bring people together. Believe it or not, I have had people who were close to me… one thing that bonds people in trust and…friendship, is training together. You both see you are working towards a common goal." Azula stated, punctuating it by bringing her fist down into her other hand.
Katara just looked at the boys again, whom were getting ready for yet another round. She sighed. Who knows, maybe her ex-nemises was right about her ex-nemises.
"Breakfast is ready!"
Everyone began gathering into the room they had been using as a common area. Katara went to work, dishing up portions of food into bowls, handing them off one by one to her little patch-up family.
"This looks great! What is it?" Aang asked as he sttled down next to Toph.
Katara smiled, "Just some vegatables we had left." She answered, blindly handing off the last dish.
"Thank you." Her smile fell at the sound of Zuko's raspy voice.
She turned to him, ready to glare at him just for good mesure, only to find she couldn't.
Because he was just standing there, unabashed and shirtless as they come.
She felt her cheeks heat up aginst her will as he turned away to go sit somewhere.
NO! BAD! You don't like him- no matter how attractive he is shirtless. With his abs and his…NO!
Katara shook her head, sitting down next to Aang. She was about to say something- anything- to get her mind off of the shirtless Prince sitting across from her, but Toph beat her to it.
"So, what's the plan for this 'all out spar day'?"
Sokka swallowed the mound of food he had shovled into his mouth before answering.
"It's simple. The rules are- Every man for himself, team ups are allowed, but only one person can remain standing by the end of the match. We might have multiple rounds, depending on how quickly everyone is eliminated,"
"And how do you get eliminated?" Katara asked, moving her food around her plate with little interest. To her surprise and distatse, Zuko answered.
"There are different ways. You could be entrapped by another…player, or backed into some place that does not have your element- leaving you unable to bend. Ultimately, if you can't fight back, you're out."
"Sounds exciting. What are the boundries?" Azula asked, taking another bite of her breakfast.
"You have to stay on temple grounds. You can use the outside to your advantage, but you can't go any further then the edge of the woods. If you step outside that- immediate elimination." Sokka replied.
"So, if someone were to drive you out, you would be eliminated?" Aang asked, already forming a game plan, not that anyone would expect that of him.
"Exactly! Oh, and if you try to sneak back into the game, you will be punished after dinner." Sokka grinned, obviously he had come up with that.
"The punishment being what? No meat for a week?" Toph asked, snickering when Sokka made a sound that resembled a fish flopping out of water.
"Never! No, you get to clean all the dishes."
"Oh," Katara smiled, "I look forward to handing the task off for the night."
"What does the winner get?" Azula asked, thinking of the important thing.
Sokka shrugged, "Bragging rights?"
The group just rolled their eyes. At least everyone would get a chance to train today.
"Strap up. We start in ten minutes." Zuko said as he rose.
"Who put you in charge?" Katara asked, getting in that glare she missed earlier.
"I did. Now let's go, I'm ready to win!" Sokka said, going to stand also.
Toph jutted a fist out, smaking Sokka with a slab of rock so hard, he flew back about ten feet.
"Oh look, you lost!" The small bender grinned, ignoring his shouts of indignation.
This was going to be fun.
Within 10 minutes, everyone was gathered around the fire pit, various wepons strapped to their backs and ready to bend their elements.
Haru, Teo and The Duke had chosen to sit this one out, deciding to be referees stationed at different points around the Air temple, in case any arguments about who was out of the game arose.
Hakoda and Chit Zang also decided to step out, wanting to watch the young ones express their skill in a relaxed atmosphere for once.
That narrowed it down quite a bit, leaving only the Fire Nation siblings, the Water tribe siblings, the Avatar and the Greatest Earthbender Alive all standing around the fire pit, going over the guidelines one last time.
"If you use any potentially life-threatining blows, aim to injure, not to kill." Sokka insited, pointedly looking at Azula, who scowled in return. She wasn't going to kill her friends!
"A-aim to injure? Are you sure about that?" Aang asked, glancing at all the stronger, and remarkably larger teens around him. Sure, he was the Avatar- but he was still a kid, and not as advanced as some of the fighters here.
Sokka nodded. "Yes, Katara would be happy to patch us up afterward." Sokka said, as if it were a done deal.
"Would I now?" His sister asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Heh.. I-I mean, could you?"
"That's better… Don't worry Aang, no one will get seriously hurt." Katara reassured, resting a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"Speak for yourself- I hope to leave you dudnder-heads unable to walk for weeks after this!" Toph said, cracking her knuckles.
"Toph, if you did that, we wouldn't be able to fight off actual enimes of ours." Azula pointed out. While she was trusting of Katara's healing capabilities, she wasn't sure she would be able to heal someone if Toph broke every bone in their body.
"Buzzkill."
"Alright, we're ready." Zuko said, moving back from the group, keeping his eyes trained on everyone, as if he expected them to start attacking already.
"Everyone move out, I'll give Teo the cue to sound the 'Appa'!" Aang said, referring to the sound Appa would make to signal the start of the game.
Everyone fled to a part of the air temple, no alliances yet made. Aang waved at Teo, who rubbed Appa's head. The large Bison groaned- the sound reverberating through out the entire revine.
It was on!
Katara had immediately ran to one of the bathing pools that were littered around the temple. Apparently people used to spend multiple days at a time there, obviously a need for bathing pools was in order.
She was as quiet as she could be, her Painted Lady skills kicking in.
Too bad she never learned to listen for others trying to be sneaky.
Within 13 seconds of entering the giant wash hall, she bumbed into someone from the back.
She whirled around, and… Of course it was Zuko.
"What are you doing here?!" She asked angrily.
He just raised an eyebrow, pulling a flame into the plam of his hand-indicating he was ready to take her on if need be.
Oh, right. They were supposed to be sparring.
"Why aren't you attacking?" She asked, proving there was always something she could use aginst him.
"Why aren't you?" He countered. She was in a place filled with water, of course she had sparring in mind. He wasn't even sure why he came in here- he knew it would be the perfect place for her hideout.
Because you wanted to be near the object of your affection. A voice-that sounded suspiciously like his uncle- said in the back of his mind. He ignored it.
Katara would have responded, but a voice cut her short.
"Well, your guys' loss for not attacking, guess it's up to me!"
Toph had been standing behind a large pillar. Now making herself known, she pushed her hands out in front of her and lifted them upward.
Katara and Zuko would have attacked-seriously, they would've!- If not for the fact that the attack came from their blind spots, directly behind them. Two tall slabs of earth jutted up from the ground and shoved the two together, leaving them stuck pressed against one another.
"Wh-Toph! Let us go!" Katara yelled, wiggling against Zuko, trying to break free.
Toph doubled over, laughing. "Have fun getting out of that one! I'll see you after I win!"
With that she ran off to go find Aang-her next target- leaving the two teachers behind. Azula would be porud when she told her.
"Um…so.." Zuko started awkwardly.
Katara was in no mood to talk. Her back was pressed against the wall behind her, her right arm was pinned to her side, her left between her and Zuko's shirtless torso, her face was nearly smushed up against his rib cage. Her legs were twisted with his in the most uncomfortable position imaginable, legs between thighs and knees digging into the wall behind Zuko.
She noted with some mesure of relief that the dirt used to make the slabs of earth was not packed very tightly. Maybe if she used enough water, she could turn it all to mud.
The only hard part would be moving her arms.
"Hold still for a minute. I'm going to try something." She stated, leaving no room for argument.
"Please do." Zuko said. He had no way of getting them out. He could char the dirt, causing it to crumble- but that would risk burning Katara or himself.
So he just sat patiently. Well as patiently as he could- the strange position he was in cuasing his mucles to start aching.
His arms were bent, his forearms reating on eaither side of Katara's head, his back flush against the earth behind him. One leg was bent at a 90 degree angle, inbetween two of Katara's. the other was keeping him balanced somewhat.
He had to remind himself to breathe as Katara moved against him. He also had to desperatly ignore the fact that they were half naked-as she had donned her training outfit, the one that exposed much more skin then necessary- and the fact that they were flush aginst one another.
All thanks to a conniving little raven-haired girl dressed in green.
Needless to say, it was getting hard to think straight.
Katara was working on freeing her arm, she moved it around a bit, trying not to focus on how she was rubbing up against Zuko's bare abs.
Finally, with a grunt of success, she freed her trapped arm, able to move it around a bit.
She called water over to them, trying to bend as much of it as possible with just one arm. Once she got all she could she muttered a "hold your breath" to Zuko.
The next thing he knew, water was dropped on top of them.
Katara worked on weaving the water in and out of the earth around them, making the dirt muddy.
Once moist enough, they pushed free, backing away from each other as quickly as possible.
Zuko looked at the mound of mud now covering the dirt floor. "Nice work…" He said, turning back to Katara.
Only to freeze when he took in what he saw.
Katara was soaked from head to toe, covered in mud, in a white outfit.
It took them both all of half a second to figure out what had happened as Katara yelped and called up some water to shield herself.
Zuko stammered out some nonsense as he hastily made his way to the door. Once he was there, he threw a quick "sorry" and sprinted down the hall. He made his way to his room and quickly got changed, trying to throw away some very inappropriate thoughts from his mind.
Despite being a 16 year old prince, he had rarely seen anything like…that. Sure, he and Mai had gone the whole way, but she never looked anything as exotic as-
NO! No no no no no no no! NO! Bad Zuko! Back to sparring, NO!
Zuko threw a shirt on over his head, still wiping mud off his arms, and made his way back out.
He was so done for.
Katara bent herself dry, brushing the dirt from her skin.
She was fuming.
But had no time to think of it, all she could do was throw her tunic over her head and get revenge on Toph later.
She had a sparring match to win.
After about a minute, Sokka cautiously made his way from his stronghold, using light steps to carry him through the halls. He stopped when he heard whispering.
Peering around a large coloum in one hall, he took note of Aang whispering to Momo.
Sokka shook his head. Newbie.
He carefully un-tucked his boomerang from behind his back, preparing to strike.
"SNEAK ATTACK!" He yelled at the top of his lungs as her charged at Aang.
The younger boy startled for a moment, then regained his senses. He wasted no time in using a blast of air to propel the worrior back a few feet.
Sokka was expecting this, so he threw his boomerang with expert aim just before the blast hit.
It glided through the air, coming close to Aang's head, missing only by about three inches.
Forgetting the nature of boomerangs briefly, Aang pointed at Sokka and laughed. "Ha! You missed!"
Sokka, picking himself up from the ground, smirked and said, "Did I though?"
"Huh?" Aang asked intelligently just as the wepon came back, full force and hit him over the head.
"OW!" He yelped as he fell face first onto the dusty floor.
"Haha! Point one Sokka!" The older boy said, jumping up in the air a little ways.
His momentary victory was cut short as another blast hit, this time accompanied by a small tremor in the earth, throwing his butt out into the courtyard.
Toph moved from the shadows, her arms held at an odd angle, ready to strike again.
"Wow. Does this mean we're on the same team now?" Aang asked hopefully.
"Hardly." She smirked, stomping her foot into the ground, launching her friend into the air and out next to Sokka.
Both boys sat up, rubbing their heads.
Sokka was quicker and got up to his feet. He pulled out Space Sword and pointed it at Aang's head.
"HA! Cornered!" He said, looking down on the younger boy.
Siad boy just smiled sweetly as Sokka was again launched into the air.
"I don't think so Captian Boomerang!" Toph shouted, turning to Aang.
"Thanks! But I take it we still aren't a team?" He asked. She just smiled.
"Nope!"
He sighed dramticaly. "Well then. I'm sorry it had to come to this." Quickly, so she wouldn't be able to react, He lifted himself using his bending. When he got far up enough, He grabbed her with a pocket of air, lifting her.
"Hey! Wh- TWINKLE TOES! PUT ME DOWN! I CAN'T SEE!"
"Sorry, Toph, that's the point!" He giggled as he- gently, he wasn't out to hurt her- tossed her a few feet away.
And directly over the edge of the woods.
Her outraged scream was overshadowed by loud groaning of Appa, indicating that someone was out.
"Already?" Katara muttered to herself as she stealthily made her way to one of the fountains in an upper hall near the front of the air temple.
She had spent a few minutes checking if the coast was clear before leaving the bathing hall. She was not about to loose this thing. Not yet, she still had to get revenge on both Zuko adnToph.
Zuko-admiditly- did nothing wrong. He had been quick to shield his eyes and run. What a gentleman. But she still didn't like him, so why not take out her frustrations on him?
She settled on the side of the fountain, staring down into the water. Sighing, she twirled her fingers around, calling the water to them. She watched as the small streams danced around at her command, smiling.
She was entirely unaware of the tall, lean form lurking behind a near-by pillar.
Zuko watched as the mocha-skinned girl absentmindedly bent her element. Such ease and grace. It was gorgeous.
He huffed and slumped against the pillar. He was getting in deep. And the picture of her in nothing but her bending outfit did nothing to help him.
"Spying again ZuZu?" Zuko jumped a good distance into the air- nearly blowing his cover- at his sister's voice.
"…Shouldn't you be attaking me right now?" He asked after steadying himself.
"Shouldn't you? Or are you too busy drooling over our waterbender?"
Our? Zuko shook his head. "I wasn't drooling."
"Sure." Azula said sarcastically, also looking around the pillar to Katara. She was still sitting, but now had her attention directed at the entrance of the hall, awaiting an attack.
"Here is what we are going to do," Azula started in a no-nonsense tone, pulling her brother's attention back to her. "We are going to go out there and act like we teamed up. I will try to get us into a compromising position where you will have to choose between siding with me or Katara. Choose Katara."
Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Why? You would be out. Why do it?" He was obviously skeptical.
Azula glanced back at Katara, thinking of how she had been entrusted with how the waterbender felt about Zuko. She was not about to go back on that trust. So, instead of giving the real reason why, Azula just said, "Because I would love to see you two getting along! Now get moving." She directed, pointing towards Katara.
Yeah, getting along. That would be great! Zuko thought sarcastically- still blocking out certain images from his mind.
The two left the cover of the pillar.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?" Azula said, causing Katara to whip around in surprise.
The master waterbender would be lying if she said it was not un-nerving to see the two siblings slowly making their way over to her, ready to fight.
Just like old times.
Katara took a steadying breath before smirking, looking away from Zuko. She started drawing water up around her arms.
"Finally, the re-match I've been waiting for."
Meanwhile, back where Sokka lay, dazed after being tossed around so much, Aang approached him.
The Water Tribesman sat up, shaking his head. His Space Sword lay a few inches from him. Aang noticed and shot it into the air using a spiked up piece of earth forming directly under it.
It landed about three feet behind him. He glanced back at it before turning back to Sokka.
He smiled. "Well, looks like you're defensless."
Sokka laughed. "I always come back," He discreetly reached behind him, grabbing hold of his wepon, "Like my BOOMERANG!" He shouted, standing and flinging it at Aang.
This time, however, the Avatar was ready. He swiftly turned and caught the Boomerang on it's back-track using a sphere of air.
Sokka blanched as he realized he was done for.
Aang wasted no time in flicking his wrists, sending the angled wepon directly at Sokka.
Aang had expected it to hit him in the face, but at the last second, Sokka ducked out of the way. He then rolled to the side, sprung up, and sprinted past Aang. As he passed it, he grabbed his Space Sword. He turned just in time to see his boomerang hit a distracted Aang squarely in the back of the head.
Aang stood for a moment, swayed, then dropped like a rag-doll.
"Sorry buddy," Sokka said, leaning down and grabbing his boomerang,"All's fair in love and war!"
He ran off towards the air temple, hearing as Appa groaned, signaling another fallen player.
"Two down, Three to go." Azula said, slinking closer to Katara, her finger tips raised and ready to strike.
Zuko followed- a bit more hesitantly.
Katara scowled, ready for whatever came her way.
Azula took a breath, quickly turned around herself and shot a long, wide stream of fire into the air. Without stalling, she brought it down where Katara had been standing moments before.
The waterbender had rolled to the side, water still coating her arms.
As soon as she found her footing, she launched into two separate attacks at once, sending one blast of water at Zuko and one at Azula.
Azula doged, backflipping over herself-thank you Ty-Lee- and landing in time to see her brother get knocked to his butt.
He shook the water from his hair before leaping up, punching out a fist, and sending a stream of fire at Katara, similar to her own attack.
Azula was trying to find an opening as her brother and the girl she wanted as a sister-in-law went at it.
Thankfully, one was provided.
Just as Katara hefted a large spike made of ice in the Prince's direction-Holy dragons she was trying to kill him- A streak of blue rammed into Zuko, full force, knocking him to the ground.
Sokka was in the house.
The two boys rolled around and over one another a few times before coming to a stop.
Sokka had Zuko pinned beneath him, his space sword pointed at the Prince's throat.
"Ha! Trapped ya!"
Zuko said nothing as he slowly raised his body heat. A trick he had learned from his uncle. While he could tolerate it, anyone in direct contact with him would be burned if he let it get high enough.
And that is exactly what he did.
After about a minute and a half of Sokka just sitting there, wondering why on earth Zuko was getting progressively warmer, it bacme painfully clear when every part of his body that was touching Zuko, started to burn.
Even his shirt started smoaking.
"AHHH!" The worrior yelped as he lept off the Prince as quickly as he could, allowing Zuko to rise.
"Hey," Sokka said, pointing his sword at the Prince, still patting down his shirt, "Not fair, I didn' know you could do that!"
"All's fair." Zuko said simply, turning back to the cat fight that had been taking place while he was pinned under Sokka.
As soon as Sokka had rolled in, Katara had turned her attention to Azula.
She recalled all the water to her, sending out mini spikes towards the Princess.
Azula doged, on some occasions she melted the ice bullets head on using nothing but her breath.
When Katara grew tired of the spikes, she jumped onto the edge of the fountain. She took a deep breath and directed it at the ground. It resulted in a slippery surface, cuasing Azula to slide around.
Katara lept from her perch, having no trouble navigating the ice, and began to duel with Azula, hand combat style.
The firebender grit her teeth as she tried not to fall. She threw a glance at the boys when she heard Sokka yelp, her attention momentarily caught as she watched him hop around, frantically pating his chest.
Was he ok?
Katara took advantage of the other girl's momentary lapse, jabbing her fingers into Azula's neck like Ty-Lee had done to her.
Apparently she didn't do it just rght, because Azula just turned back to her with an affronted look on her face.
"Did youo just try to Chi block me?" She asked, genuine curiosity lacing her tone. If the answer was yes, Azula was impressed at her willingness to try something she had never learned before.
"Um…Yes?"
Azula smirked. She had caught Katara off guard, as predicted.
She swept her feet underneath the girl, knocking her to the ground.
Katara yelped as she went down. Before hitting, however, she bent up some water from the ice beneath them, shooting it directly into Azula's face and freezing it in place.
Muffled sounds of shock were heard from the girl as she stumbled back. She somehow managed to keep her balance, and grounded herself long enough to melt the ice off her face.
When she looked around, she saw Sokka, Katara and Zuko all aiming at her, ready with differing attack methods.
Azula glanced around the group, much like she had when they had cornered her back in that abandoned Earth Kingdom town.
She briefly locked gazes with her brother, hoping to relay what she was going to do through her eyes.
Apparently he understood, as he nodded his head marginaly.
Azula looked to Katara, held her gaze and simotenously sent a small wave of fire at Sokka's feet.
The boy's had moved onto the ice, so when Azula did this, Sokka yelped, jumped up and landed, only to have his feet nearly fly out from underneath him.
He struggled to regain his footing, in the process, putting a large amount of distance between him and the others. In one last attempt to get back to his feet, he pitched himself forwars, hoping to compensate the unbalance. All he accomplished was falling flat on his face as his feet slipped out from beneath him.
Both his wepons went sliding in different directions as he slid to the far wall, coming to a stop with a pout on his face. He knew from experience that there was no way he was getting up from this without a fight. One that could lead to him being knocked unconscious. He had no choice but to wait for Katara to melt the ice.
Word must have gotten round to the referees, because a few seconds later, Appa groaned once more. Three down.
Two to go.
Katara and Zuko were still keeping Azula in her spot. Zuko was glancing at Katara, then to his sister, then back again.
Azula smirked. Time to accomplish her mission.
"You have a choice here, ZuZu." She said sweetly, looking from Katara to her brother. "Who are you siding with this time?"
He looked back.
A sick feeling coiled inside him as they re-enacted what had happened in Ba Sing Se. he clenched his jaw as he looked to Katara. She was pointedly ignoring him, looking only at Azula.
He knew siding with her wouldn't matter. They weren't in a real fight, he could call it quits right now if he really wanted too. It's not like he would be betraying Katara again.
Zuko understood- somewhat- where Azula was coming from with this.
It was a test for him. To show Katara that he was sorry and wanted to change. It wouldn't make any real difference who he chose to follow this time. They were all on the same side.
But it was what his choice symbolized that counted.
He looked between the two girls.
His mind, he realized, had been made up a long time ago.
With one more glance thrown at Katara, he turned to his sister.
He shouted as he threw a fist forward, fire following obediently. Azula-to her credit- did try to deflect the blow, she had been expecting it after all. She just wasn't expecting it to be as powerful as it was.
She was knocked back, head over heels. She landed with a 'thud' and slid back, over by Sokka, it was clear that she was in no condition to get to her feet again.
When Zuko had aimed for his sister, Katara had to keep herself from gasping. Did that really just happen?
She was trying to figure out why Zuko would choose her, when it hit her.
This set up was disgustingly framiliar. Katara watched as Azula slid back over by Sokka. Only one word went through her mind as she realized that the only way this would have happened-this playing out almost exactly as it had in Ba Sing Se- was if Azula had asked her brother to go along with it. One word.
Traitor.
Katara glanced back at Zuko. He had been watching as his sister came to a stop. When he looked back, he was expecting to see Katara standing there.
Instead, he got a face full of water.
The hit was so strong it lifted him off the ground and sent him flying into the fountain he had found Katara on.
Two more groans were sounded as Katara was the last one left standing.
She huffed angrily and stormed over to Azula as Zuko lifted his head up from the fountain, spiting water out of his mouth.
Katara bent the water up from the ground, relieving it of the ice, freeing Sokka-who ran off, presumably to go check on the unconscious Avatar- and held the water over her head threateningly.
She loomed over the other girl, who sat up, shaking her head.
"Azula." Katara growled.
When she heard her name, she looked up and blanched slightly.
"I thought we were finished?"
"And I thought I could trust you. I guess I was wrong. I seem to make that mistake a lot when it comes to your family." Katara spat coldly. Without waiting for the princess to respond, she chilled the water considerably, then dropped it on Azula.
The firebender yelled out, watching as Katara stalked off.
Zuko had extracted himself from the fountain and made his way over to his sister.
"What was that about?" He asked as he helped her up.
She stood and looked at the retreating form of her new friend. She sighed in frustration. "Something I need to fix." She said, walking away and drying herself with her bending as she went.
She didn't expect Zuko to grab her shoulder, stopping her.
"Let me."
"No offence Zuko, but she likes me a bit more then you right now." Azula stated bluntly, turning to walk after her again.
Zuko just brushed past her and followed after the waterbender quicker then his sister.
Azula shook her head.
"What happened? I thought Katara would be happy she won?" Sokka's voice carried over.
Azula glanced back at him. "I think I messed up." She said, walking over to him.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I've been on the receiving end of her anger multiple times, she never stays mad for long."
"Yes, well, she's probably never felt that you betrayed her trust." Azula admitted, looking down at her feet.
"Actually…I have before." When Azula looked at him, he continued, "Back when we were kids, we got in and out of trouble a lot. For stupid kid stuff, mostly. One day though, she broke a family heirloom." He smiled, the memory being made funny with time, "She begged me not to tell, I promised I wouldn't. But when our parents intterogated us about it, I cracked. She wouldn't talk to me for days." He laughed a little, but sobered up when he saw Azula still looking solem.
He rested a hand on her shoulder-ignoring the way she stiffened a little- and said, "Look, the point is, she might seem mad now, but trust me when I say she won't stay mad forever, it's not in her nature. Aang would eat meat sonner then she would learn how to hold a grudge."
Azula smirked at that. "Thank you, Sokka. Although, I should go explain myself." She said, looking back towards the direction Katara had stormed off in.
Sokka nodded. "When you find her- send her to our dad, I wanna see what he thought. Then maybe we can all go for round two!" Sokka ran off, pumping a fist in the air.
Azula caught herself smiling after him. She shook her head then turned to go after his sister. Hopefully she would hear her out.
Zuko ran after Katara. Having lost her visually, he just followed the sound of angry splashing coming from a nearby inner chamber.
Peeking in, he watched as Katara aggressively bent some water around, forming it into ice, forcefully smashing it on the ground, watching it scatter in millions of pieces, calling it back as melted water and repeating the process a few times.
Not really knowing what to do, he awkwardly cleared his throat.
Katara whipped around, water at the ready.
She had no clue why she hesitated. He deserved to be water whipped back to the Fire Nation.
He disregarded the threatning amount of water she had ready to cast in his direction, and said, "Um…are you ok?"
She scowled deeply, but let the water fall to the ground. "Why do you care?"
"It's just… You and my sister seemed to be getting along…"
"Oh, what? Are you jealous? Upset I trust her more then you?"
"What?" Zuko shook his head. "No. I just don't understand why you blew up at her like that."
Katara glared at him, "Because, I made the same mistake with her as I did with you. I let you in and I got hurt because of it!" She huffed, turning away from him. "I should have known you two are just the same. Blood is thicker then water I guess." She spat, refusing to look back at him.
Zuko glanced away from her, not wanting to know what she meant when she said 'I let you in." So he instead, addressed the other issue,"Look, I don't know what she did, but I can tell you we aren't the same."
"Oh really! So you both don't come from Fire Nation royalty? You both haven't hunted the Avatar? You both haven't taken advantage of me trusting you?"
She was beyond angry. Zuko knew that the only way to get through to her would be to work through her thinking with her. Reasoning with her.
"Mind if I ask what she did that was so bad?" He asked carefully, not wanting to incur anymore of her wrath.
She whipped around to face him. "It doesn't matter."
Of course she would be stubborn about it.
"It does to me." That must have caught her off guard, at least a little, because she stilled for a moment. She shook her head. "I told her something, something I didn't want her sharing with you, and it turns out she did anyway. That's what Azula did wrong."
Zuko thought back. The only time he and Azula had spoken between breakfast and the spar match was when she caught him watching Katara. She hadn't told him anything.
But the plan she came up with. Katara only seemed mad at Azula after their plan was enacted. Maybe it had something to do with that?
They way things played out had seemed horribly similar to what happened between the three of them in Ba Sing Se. But all Azula had said was to choose Katara.
"She didn't tell me anything. We only had a chance to talk right before we caught you." Zuko explained, hoping to find some way through her never-ending anger.
Katara seemed to consider things for a moment before asking, in a dangerously quiet voice, "What did she say?"
Zuko shrugged, all to happy to share this information with Katara of it would help her to see Azula had done nothing wrong. Well, not as far as he was concerned anyway, "All she said was that she would make it to where you and I cornered her, so that we could team up aginast her."
Katara was quiet. Then, "That's all she said." She wouldn't put it past Zuko to lie, but something about his tone, his willingness to tell her this, told her he was being honest.
"Yes."
Katara took a breath. Maybe she had overreacted after all. Azula had told him nothing about why Katara still didn't trust him. She had just told him to play along with a plan. A plan that seemed to scream at her that Zuko had changed. Unless-
"I should go check on the others." He had decided not to ask what it was she had told Azula not to tell him. Maybe she would come forward about that in her own time. He wasn't about to push it.
"Zuko."
He turned back at the sound of his name. She wasn't looking at him. She seemed to struggle with herself for a moment before speaking.
"If Azula hadn't said anything…Would your choice have been the same?"
He looked at her, hearing the underlaying question, would you still have chosen me?
He considered things for a minute. Would he have chosen differently? Practicaly betrayed her again?
Would he make the right choice for himself this time? Choosing good, even if it didn't make sense to him? The answer was as clear to him now as it was back in Ba Sing Se, the one he should have listened to.
He looked into her bright blue eyes, she looked right back.
"Yes."
With that he left, leaving a partialy dumbfounded Katara in his wake.
She didn't have much time to consider what he answered, because at that moment Azula walked in.
"Before you say anything-"
They both started at the same time. Katara smiled softly, "Go ahead."
"The lack of ice spears pointed at my chest tells me he explained things to you." Azula asked, jerking her thumb in Zuko's direction.
Katara nodded. "Sorry for jumping to conclusions. I'm just… having some trouble with trust these days I guess."
"I don't think you are," Azula said, moving into the room. She leaned aginast the doorframe, "You were in your right mind to be angry, it's natural. You obviously recognized how I had things playing out. The only logical answer being that I told Zuko what you asked me not to in order to get him to play along."
Katara shook her head, "You keep talking about logic. Like I said, there's more to it then that. You work with your mind a lot, you know the in's and out's of every person you come up against. With me it's more emotional. I'm not saying one is better then the other, I'm just saying… Maybe I need to look at the logical side of things more." Katara admitted, glancing at the girl before her.
"Well, perhaps I should start looking at the more emotional side of things." Azula agreed, a certain member of the Water Tribe coming to mind.
Which reminds her, "Sokka said to meet up with your father, he wanted to see what everyone thought of the sparring match.
Katara smirked as she moved to follow Azula out of the room.
"Sokka, huh?" She snickered as Azula elbowed her.
"Stop it!"
Both girls left the room laughing. Ready to go meet up with everyone else.
"I think that this first round went well." Hakoda said, looking over the group of roughed up teens.
"First round?" Aang asked, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head.
He was glad Toph had come back to find him-even after he knocked her out of the game- she had found him half-awake where Sokka had left him. They both waited it out until Sokka found them after the match.
Hakoda smiled, "Aw 'cmon now, you didn't think that was it did you? We all have a lot to do to get ready for the comet."
"Maybe we can just take a short break?"
Toph snorted at Aang's lack of enthusiasim. "A break? You spent this round taking a nap Twinkle Toes!"
"What?" Katara asked, looking between the two youngest in the group.
"I did not! Sokka knocked me unconscious with his boomerang!" The Avatar shouted indigantly.
"No matter. Now, Katara, you won this last round, so you get to choose the theme of the next round." Hakoda said, turning to his daughter.
She smiled mischiviously. "Hide and Seek?"
"How is that a theme?" Her brother asked.
"You have the element of surprise on you, and this way, if your caught, you get to team up with the seeker to find everyone else. Last one hiding wins." Katara explained, already moving to a nearby fountain.
"Sounds like a plan. Who's first?" Azula asked.
"OOH! ME!" Aang yelled, covering his eyes and beginning to count.
After all the matches, and everyone tiring out, the teens made their way to their bed rolls with much to contemplate about the day.
One thing they all knew for sure, they would definetly be sore tomorrow morning.
A/N: Yep, there it is, please tell me what you think! I love hearing from you guys- I literally fan girl over the comments that's how happy I get! Let me know if in the future you guys want more filler/fluff chapters like this to moderate the pace a bit? I personally love them-but that's just me, give me a heads up! I'll catch you on the next one!
Writer out ~0-0~