Chapter 1: Tides of Change
Notes:
And I can go anywhere I want
Anywhere I want, just not home
"my tears ricochet" - Taylor Swift
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The vast ocean was the only thing in sight for miles around. Waves reached past the horizon, desperately searching for something beyond the limited range of human vision.
Katara was well accustomed to the surroundings after spending much of her childhood canoeing through the icy waters of the South, fishing with Sokka and testing the occasional waterbending move on her unsuspecting guinea pig of a brother. She could feel the temperature drop as the Earth Kingdom breeze made way for the harsher wind currents of the South Pole. Her heart raced as she and Aang flew, the sea dotted with ice floes pointing towards the direction of home.
She squinted at a form in the distance, making out sprawling lights against the snowy landscape. Could that be it? The Southern Water Tribe she left behind was a sparse collection of igloos enclosed in a ring of snow she could hardly call a wall. To her, this settlement was nearly unrecognizable. It barely registered that this was the same village she grew up in until she spotted the shadow of the Fire Nation shipwreck in the distance, still a grave reminder of the Hundred-Year War three years after the peace treaties were signed.
A familiar shout in the distance interrupted Katara’s thoughts. She glanced over at an unmistakable figure clad in blue running towards them waving around a boomerang.
“Sokka!” Katara raced across the snow towards her brother, “It’s been forever!”
“Yeah, just about one year, three months, and twenty-nine days. But who’s counting anyway!” Sokka beamed, patting her on the back, “Thought you’d forgotten about your dear old brother by now.” Katara just rolled her eyes, typical Sokka. Internally, however, she winced. She had been gone for far too long.
“Nice to see nothing’s changed with you after, what was it? One year, three months and twenty-nine days?” Katara quipped.
“Oh, come on, give me a little credit. If you come closer, you can see my beard coming in!” Sokka announced proudly. Katara looked closer at her brother’s chin and laughed. There were hardly three hairs growing on his so-called “beard,” all peach fuzz and delusion.
“Maybe in your dreams, Sokka,” she chuckled. “How’s Suki doing?”
“Oh same old, same old. Being part of the Fire Lord’s imperial guard, leading the Kyoshi warriors, being the most amazing girlfriend.”
Slowly, he pulled out a green band with a blue stone pendant in the middle, similar to the one Katara’s mother had passed down to her. She barely held back a gasp. The stone at the center of the betrothal necklace had a rough sketching of a fan, the symbol of Kyoshi Island, as well as a drawing of a boomerang, a symbol of the one thing Sokka loved most in this world, other than Suki.
“Oh my spirits, Sokka? I’m so excited for you two!”
“I know, I know. It’s a huge step for us, but I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. I really can’t picture a future for myself without Suki in it.” Sokka paused for a moment, and then looked at her as if contemplating what to say next. “Here’s a piece of advice for you, Katara. You’ve got to get that feeling when you’re with someone and you realize there’s no one else who challenges you to be the most honest version of yourself, someone who enables you to embrace the good and the bad parts.”
“Alright, thanks for that, oh great and powerful Relationship Guru,” Katara rolled her eyes at her brother. “But seriously, this is really thoughtful. I know Suki’s going to love it.”
Aang jumped down from Appa after securing their sparse belongings.
“Sokka!” He practically glided across the snow. “How’s it going out here?”
“Pretty good, if you like the freezing cold,” Sokka gestured towards the large new buildings sitting beyond the gates. “We’ve done a bit of renovation since you two visited. I’ll show you around if you’re not too exhausted from your trip.”
As Sokka led them through the gates, Katara couldn’t help but notice the way the dynamic of the Southern Water Tribe had changed. The last time they had been to the South Pole, the “capital city” had been a homey collection of igloos and tents, albeit sparsely scattered with the beginnings of construction throughout the tribe. But the city she was walking into seemed nearly alien. It felt as if she were nothing more than a mere visitor to one of the towns she and Aang had been traveling to.
“... And this, of course, is my watchtower!” her brother beamed. Of course Sokka would have the makeshift snow structure he created at fourteen rebuilt after the war. The tower stood a good 20 meters above ground, complete with a functioning clock. It was beautiful, but nonetheless a jutting emblem of just how different Katara’s world had become.
They continued to wander the paved ice streets, past buildings reminiscent of the ones at the Northern Water Tribe. The city felt so rigid and controlled. New multi-storied structures, equipped with their arched windows and connecting bridges were all too similar to the ones in their sister tribe. Katara couldn’t help but wonder about the extent of Northern influence during the Reconstruction movement when Sokka pointed to the center of the settlement, towards a massive construction project with dozens of architects and waterbenders gathered around the site.
“That huge section over there is the beginnings of the Royal Palace,” Sokka explained, rushing to grab the nearest piece of parchment and sketch out the plans. “That’s going to be where all the diplomatic-whatever stuff is going to go on, this is the wing where the big important guests will stay, this is gonna be the negotiation room for summits and conferences and stuff…”
He droned on about how large and lively the palace would be as Aang intently nodded along, but Katara needed time to process her new surroundings. Everything about the settlement was so opulent, so cosmopolitan, so shockingly different from what she remembered. Despite living in the South Pole during her entire childhood, for the first time she could truly feel the chill of her surroundings sink in. For a brief moment, she felt at home again in the familiar polar terrain. But now it seemed like the world she once knew had transformed into a rigid city of frozen buildings and ice, void of the humble igloos and soft mounds of snow she knew from her childhood.
Sokka was in the middle of explaining his theory about the “ethos of architecture” to Aang when Katara interrupted, “Where are Dad and Gran-Gran? I haven’t seen any sign of them since we arrived.”
“Well, Dad’s been pretty busy with the whole Chief-of-the-entire-Southern-Tribe thing, but Gran-Gran’s probably in the old village.”
The old village. Her heart leapt with hope.
“Take me there. I need to see them,” she insisted.
“Okay then, I guess we can put a pause on the tour,” Sokka said, a little off-put by the sudden urgency in his sister’s voice.
The buildings seemed to get less modern and more similar to the simple ice structures of her youth as they neared the site of the old encampment. Katara stood in shock for a couple seconds, because even the collection of homes and tents she once lived in had been deserted, barely reduced to a smattering of ice bricks and whalebone. None of the vitality of the tribe remained on those snowy grounds.
Katara spotted her father facing the remains of an igloo in the village center among the remnants of old tents scattered haphazardly on the ice. He knelt in front of the ruins of their old home, the chief of the Water Tribe paying his respects to the roots of their nation.
“Dad!” Katara yelled as she raced across the old village. Her father’s stoic figure whipped around at the sound of her voice, eyes brimming with tears.
“Welcome home, Katara,” Hakoda said, and his words were like a warm embrace, a bonfire in the middle of winter.
Home. She hadn’t heard that in a while.
Of course, the Southern Water Tribe would always be Katara’s home. But after years of traveling, she hardly had the right to call a single place home any longer. They never stayed at a single town for more than a week at a time, spending more time flying on Appa than on land. It was a blessing that Katara had been all over the world, from the swamps of the Earth Kingdom, to the island villages of the Fire Nation, and even the peculiar settlement within the Northern Air Temple. For the past three years it seemed as though she had been everywhere. Everywhere except the land that raised her.
After strolling among the unfamiliar canals and ice structures, she realized just how foolish it was to think that her home would remain exactly as she left it. She was a shade of the past standing below the looming shadow of the future, desperately finding a reason to keep everything exactly the way it was. The world moved on, growing and expanding to adapt to the changing times. All this time, Katara remained stuck in her own recollection of the South Pole before the war. She replayed a fragment of a memory in which she was still eight years old, listening to her mother spin centuries-old tales in the safety of their family home, illuminated by only the flickering warmth of a seal blubber candle. But she forgot that the very nature of the Southern Water Tribe was to adapt and flow, and the tides of change would not cease for one girl.
In spite of this, seeing her father filled her with a sense of relief. He was the only familiar thing left in the remnants of her old village.
“What happened?” Katara asked. “Everything is so…”
“Different? Modern?” Hakoda suggested.
“Unfamiliar,” she decided.
“Well, we have the Restoration to thank for that. We’ve made so much progress since the war, but it’s still truly a shame that much of the old tribe has been removed,” Hakoda said, pensively gazing over the ruins. “Just look at Wolf Cove. For years, we built our villages far from the coast out of fear of the Fire Navy, but now we’re placing our palace right at the water’s edge–a way to welcome the new era of nations.”
“But these buildings, the people, even our old home. They’re all being torn apart and I just– I feel like there’s nothing left for me here.”
“Katara, you have to understand. This is all for the greater good of our nation. With the war over, the Southern Water Tribe has been given the chance to establish itself on a greater scale. If we want to collaborate with other nations, we need to display ourselves as equal partners.”
“By destroying our tribe’s history? Our foundations?” Katara argued. “We don't need to prove ourselves to these other nations. The Southern Water Tribe has been a sovereign state for decades. For Tui’s sake, why should we have to be the ones to turn our whole culture around just because some washed-up bureaucrats think their traditions are so much better than ours.”
“Katara, you don’t…” Her father began.
“What? I don’t understand?”
“No, that’s not what I was–”
“I’ve seen for myself exactly what this war has done to people all across the world, and I think I understand more than anyone else what needs to be done. I need to take a walk,” she said brusquely. “It was nice to see you again, Dad.”
Sokka and Aang were at the edge of the “old village,” engaged in some continuation of their discussion about buildings, or architecture, or Tui knows what. Katara trudged past them, huffing.
“Katara? You good there?” Sokka asked, starting after her.
“Don’t follow me,” she snapped, waving a flurry of snow in his direction.
“Woah, who spat in her sea prunes?” he quipped.
“Is she okay? I haven't seen her act like this around your dad in a while,” Aang said.
“Eh, it’s best to just let her cool off,” he replied.
“Don’t forget the bonfire tonight!” Sokka yelled after Katara, now nearly 50 paces away from them. She ignored him, still fuming from her argument with their father. The village had been his home as well, so how could he be so insensitive?
She tried to imagine what Aang would say about it all. He probably would’ve spouted some Air Nomad proverb about being more understanding, or told her to let her father play his role as chief and focus on her own role instead. Easy to say as someone whose destiny had been laid out for him since birth. But Katara’s own destiny had never taken a definitive path.
When her mother died, she felt like she lost a part of herself. She didn’t know who she was meant to become. But when she and Sokka discovered Aang, their whole lives were transformed by the boy in the iceberg. For months, her “destiny” revolved around Aang, training him in waterbending while they prepared to fight Zuko’s father. After they won the war, she stuck with him as his girlfriend and traveled the world at his side ever since.
As Katara wandered the unfamiliar town, she couldn’t help but wonder: Who would she be without Aang?
What did she want for herself? So much of her life had been spent worrying about other people. She became a caretaker for her family after her mother died and naturally assumed the nurturing, “motherly” role in their group of friends. Now, she was still following Aang across land and sea, assisting him in everything he needed to do. After all, his burden was a heavy one, maintaining harmony across the four nations and bridging the gap between the Spirit world and the mortal realm.
The young girl within her was so tired.
Katara slumped down on the side of a bridge, utterly overwhelmed from the events of the day. She didn’t realize she was crying until she tasted the saltiness on her tongue, watching tears freeze on contact with the icy ground. It must have been late by then, even though the sky was still bright. In the height of summer in the South Pole, the Sun would bask in the daytime for drawn-out periods of time, refusing to concede to the night. Thus, it was the season Katara was at her weakest, her waterbending exhausted from the moon’s withdrawal.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
Thankfully, Hakoda’s “bonfire” to welcome Katara and Aang didn’t involve the traditional lengthy guest list of most Water Tribe festivities. Instead, the gathering was more personal, a family honoring the return of their daughter. Gran-Gran was delighted to share her recent marriage to Master Pakku. After over 50 years of being separated, it warmed Katara’s heart to see the two elders rekindle their old connection.
“Katara,” her father’s voice behind her interrupted her thoughts. She avoided his gaze, her mind still dazed from their argument earlier that afternoon.
“Katara, please,” she looked him in the eye this time. “Please listen to me. I’m sorry for underestimating you. I was wrong.”
Her father, the chief and general who had weathered the Hundred-Year War, was yielding to her. Despite her earlier exasperation, she couldn’t deny her intrigue.
“What is it?”
“As you know, every year since the end of the war, as part of the Restoration movement, representatives from each of the nations meet in Ba Sing Se for the Dao Summit,” Hakoda begins.
“I’ve heard of it, but Aang’s always the one who deals with all the events.” Though she had never attended, Katara was acquainted with the Summit, largely thanks to Toph’s endless complaints, typically a barrage of colorful language about the mind-numbing conferences and the ‘stuffy assholes’ who attended them. She always looked forward to her increasingly rare meetings with the gruff earthbender during their visits to the Earth Kingdom.
“So you’re aware that the Southern Water Tribe sends a diplomat to the Summit. Normally, it’s Bato, but due to his recent injury from ice dodging with his son, he’s out of commission for the foreseeable future. Given the circumstances, we’re in need of someone to stand in his place. Katara, you have the firsthand experience and knowledge of the other nations that are essential to a good diplomat. You are more than capable for this task, if you choose to accept.”
“Dad…” she begins, feeling the weight of responsibility being placed on her shoulders. “It would be an honor, but I think I need some time to consider it.”
“I know it’s a lot to ask of you, but time is of the essence. You’ll need to leave five days from now, at the latest.”
“That’s so soon, why? The Summit isn’t for at least a month.”
“You’ll need to cover all of Bato’s duties, including his role as the ambassador to the Fire Nation. You’ll need to represent our tribe at their gathering of statesmen in Caldera City prior to the Summit. The Fire Nation ambassadors begin to meet shortly after the officials return from their spring recess, which should be around a week from today.”
“I understand.”
Katara’s thoughts raced like wild currents. She could imagine herself stepping into the role of an ambassador. It was a chance for her to shape the future, to advocate for the change to benefit even the poorest of citizens. She could be at the center of it all, working to champion causes close to her heart and bridge the gap between nations. Images flashed through her mind as she recalled her travels to the Fire Nation before Sozin’s Comet, the vibrant markets and bustling streets filled with people. In those moments, they had been young and full of hope, their spirits unburdened by the weight of destiny and duty.
Amidst the allure of her new path, doubt gnawed at her. The journey of an ambassador would be filled with challenges and uncertainties, a devotion not only to people within the Southern Water Tribe, but to the rest of the world as well.
What would happen to the life she had now?
Reluctantly, she recalled her duty. She couldn’t ignore her existing obligations to the world, nor her commitment to Aang. How could she abandon it all? How could she explain to him that she would leave it all behind for something entirely new? She had just arrived back home, yet the prospect of upheaval cast a shadow over the fragile sense of stability she managed to create over the past few years.
“I’m not sure, Dad. With Aang and all the traveling, I don’t know if I can make the space for a whole new role–”
Before she could finish articulating her thoughts, she was interrupted by two loud crunches of snow. Sokka and Aang had arrived, albeit uncharacteristically late.
“Sokka!” their father exclaimed. “What took you so long? You’re not one to miss a bonfire, we nearly thought you’d been mauled to death by a polar orca!”
“Come on, Dad. Even if I was bleeding out in the middle of a blizzard, there’s no way I would miss an opportunity to try Gran Gran’s new batch of seal jerky!”
“I’m sorry we were late,” Aang says. “Sokka and I were… talking through some things.”
Sokka eyed him apprehensively, as if holding back his unease.
Slowly, Aang’s hand drifted to his pocket. His trembling gaze fell on Katara.
“Katara, I can’t keep it in any longer,” the boy blurted, his voice quivering. “These past few years have been incredible. I’ve never met anyone who knows me better and I’ve loved every moment we shared. You’ve always been there for me when I needed it, and there’s no one I’d rather spend the rest of my life traveling the world with.”
With a shaky hand, Aang revealed the betrothal necklace in his hand, nearly identical to the one Katara’s mother had given her, save for the carving in the middle on orange and blue marble stone depicting the symbols of the Water Tribe and Air Nation. Her breath hitched as she froze in place, desperately trying to make sense of what was going on.
“Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, will you accept my hand in marriage?”
The room immediately fell into a hushed silence, all the attention on him. Yet nobody seemed to pay mind to Katara’s discomfort, pressed up against the icy wall. They were focused on Aang and his thoughts. Suddenly, it dawned on her. Was this how she was meant to live the rest of her life? Forever overshadowed, her own feelings overlooked in favor of her Avatar boyfriend? Why hadn't she noticed before?
But after all, Aang would be just fine on his own.
Of course. He was the Tui-forsaken Avatar, the Savior of the World and Bridge Between Realms. His image would forever be immortalized, with hundreds of statues built in his honor and thousands of legends told of his feats. In the grand scheme of things, Avatar Aang’s name would go down for centuries while hers would be lost to the turmoil of time, diminished to nothing more than a footnote in his narrative.
So what did she want?
Sokka’s words from that morning replayed in her mind.
You realize there’s no one else who challenges you to be the most honest version of yourself .
How could she be honest with herself?
“Aang…” Katara scrambled to find the words to describe the overwhelming wave of emotion. She contemplated saying yes, but she recalled the fantastic vision of her life as an ambassador, just barely within her grasp, and watched the dream crumble to dust. She looked back at Aang, his eyes pleading and wide, the face of a boy who had convinced himself that she was the love of his life. Was this it? The most honest version of herself? The girl who would live forever at his side, unwavering and sweet and silent , till death do them part?
No.
The thought reverberated through her mind.
No. No. No.
“Katara?” He asked. A twinge of guilt ran through her as she heard the youthfulness in his voice, the uncertainty.
Something deep inside her clawed its way through, tearing past layers of self-doubt and fear. A long-suppressed sliver of selfishness surged to the surface, screaming for recognition. In that moment, Katara realized she wanted–no, she needed –to be remembered. Not for who she married, but for who she was.
“I can’t,” she finally choked out, and almost instantly she could feel the relief coursing through her veins. “Please, Aang. I just can’t be the person you want me to be.”
“But I…”
“You’re the Avatar. You’ll be happy and loved wherever you go because that’s just who you were meant to be,” Katara could barely believe she was allowing herself to say this. “But I don’t know if being the person at your side is who I’m meant to be. We have our whole lives ahead of us, our own destinies to fulfill.”
“Katara, my destiny is you. I wouldn’t be here without you,” Aang strained.
“Aang, stop it. I’m sorry,” she said.
“Alright then,” His voice turned meek and quiet. “I’m sorry too.”
His eyes were red-rimmed as he muttered the words. Katara understood him well enough to know he was doing everything to hold back his tears. But she turned away, waiting for the sound of his footsteps to get further and further until all she could hear was the howl of the southern winds, icy and unforgiving.
Katara didn’t sleep that night. It was so, so cold, and she couldn't move away from the bonfire, hyper-focused on the flickering tongues of flame. Had she just made an unthinkable mistake? She recalled the disappointment in Aang’s eyes and tried to scrape up the decency to feel any remorse for what she had done. But she couldn’t. All she felt was relief and lightness. Closure, as though she had been lugging a sling of rocks over her shoulder for the past three years and it had finally been cut loose.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
Daybreak came early in the Southern summer, but Katara was solely focused on the dark expanse of ocean. With each movement, she danced through her waterbending forms in a vain attempt to distract herself from the tumultuous events of the night before. She ignored the sweat beading on her brow, clinging to her hair and skin before crystallizing in the freezing air. She was restless, unleashing torrents of water against nearby glaciers, relishing in the sheer pleasure of watching the ice shatter under the pressure. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean mirrored the tide of her breathing as the waves bowed to her will. Lost in her sleep-deprived haze, she scarcely registered the sound of her father’s footsteps crunching in the snow behind her.
“Katara,” he said sternly. She whipped around, stunned out of her fixated state.
“Sokka filled me in on what happened. I thought you were about to cause the next natural disaster out here,” her father chuckled, paying no mind to her frazzled hair and bloodshot eyes. “I just wanted to ask if you had made a decision.”
A decision.
It all came flowing back into her brain. An ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe. The first female diplomat since the start of the war. The power to enact change, to leave her mark on the world, just within reach. Katara imagined her whole life ahead of her, a landscape of opportunity. Yet, her exhilaration mingled with a wave of apprehension in the face of the unknown.
Everything becomes unfamiliar at some point.
She recalled the old village with its essence stripped away, foundations bare against the frozen expanse, void of the life and warmth it once held. But she refused to linger and wallow over what was lost. Instead of fear or regret, she was filled with a surge of excitement. The future was a blank canvas stretched before her, promising its endless possibilities. Picturing the ruins once more, she silently vowed to herself she would rise and make this change, this life, her own.
“Yes. I’ll do it. I’ll become an ambassador.”
“Absolutely sure? That was quicker than I expected.”
“A thousand times, yes. And It hasn’t been quick. I think I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time, I just didn’t know it yet.”
“I’m proud of you, Katara. And I know your mother would have been as well,” Hakoda smiled. “You're going to do amazing things.”
And there it was, the promise of greatness, her chance to forge her own legacy. Katara closed her eyes to relish the thought as she inhaled the brisk air, allowing it to fill up her lungs and invigorate her senses. She savored the sunrise over the horizon, pink and orange and lilac, the watercolor skies painted with hope and possibility as far as her eyes could see.
Notes:
I know there’s a lot of inner monologue in this chapter but I swear it won’t be as much in the future! Right before everything changes for her, I really just wanted to emphasize the little details behind Katara’s decisions and really dive into her character. I really didn’t want the Kataang breakup to seem unnatural or forced or end up mischaracterizing Aang. Additionally, I’m still in school, so it’s pretty busy but I’ll try my best to update as regularly as possible!
A huge shoutout to my beta readers for making sure everything’s in order! Comments are always welcome, thanks so much for giving this fic a shot, until next time!!
Chapter 2: Up in Flames
Summary:
You were born reaching for your mother’s hands
Victim of your father’s plans to rule the world
“BLUE” - Billie Eilish
Notes:
A glimpse into Zuko's perspective as he manages the world of Fire Nation politics, his relationships, and a strange change to his powers. I used some scenes/details from the ATLA comics in this, specifically from The Promise. Even though I don't necessarily love what the comics did with the characters and the storyline I think that they did a great job of capturing Zuko’s inner conflict as a young ruler!
I have a playlist with songs that inspire me while writing, so feel free to check it out!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Zuko rose with the sun. For as long as he could remember, he would always be awake by dawn, just early enough to watch the lingering hints of purple fade from the horizon. After all, there were only two things constant in his life: the rising of the sun in the east and its setting in the west. Everything else was determined by the tangled strings of fate.
But that wouldn’t stop him from performing his daily rituals, a habit drilled into him during his days in exile. As Uncle used to tell him, his personal routine was the one thing he could rely upon to give him the momentum to move forward. Now, amidst the barrage of diplomats and advisors reminding him of the upcoming summit, Zuko found his sparse moments of solace practicing the rhythmic movements of his firebending forms.
It was a comforting outlet. After his exile, his uncle took Zuko, still an angst-ridden teenager, to the deck of their weathered cruiser to drill his forms.
You have so much energy stored within you, Uncle Iroh used to say. Yet, you allow it to fester. You must harness your emotions, Prince Zuko. Use them to fuel your inner flame.
Every morning, Zuko heeded his uncle’s wisdom, drawing upon the raw intensity of his darkest memories to stoke the flames of his inner strength. Through each practiced punch and kick, he channeled his frustration and fears, transforming them into a blazing inferno.
Zuko unleashed a set of fire punches at a column, flames searing the marble surface to blackened soot. He couldn’t help but reflect upon his tumultuous relationship with his sister. He conjured images of Azula, her once-proud spirit shattered by her own relentless descent into madness. When he was younger, he resented Azula, the firebending prodigy, his father’s golden child. But now, all that remained was the realization that they were both victims of their father’s twisted ambitions. The burden of guilt and pity weighed heavily on him, a testament to the tangled web of scars etched deep within his family by his father’s cruelty.
But no matter how he tried to chase them out, Ozai’s words reverberated in his mind, a relentless echo threatening to suffocate him. Zuko recalled the last time he spoke to his father, before he joined the Avatar on the Day of Black Sun. The weight of his father’s question hung heavy in the air, hounding him with guilt and uncertainty.
Don’t you want to know what happened to your mother?
His focus returned to his training, yet as he steadied his stance, An unsettling sensation gripped him. A turbulent current disturbed the flow of his chi, twisting within him like a restless serpent. He struggled to channel the fire, feeling the energy coil and writhe, resisting his command to unleash.
His mother.
With a furrowed brow, he was ready to repeat the form as he thrust his fist at the nearest training dummy, the movement a testament to his resolve. Yet, to his bewilderment, the energy refused to unleash, constricted at his fingertips like a caged beast.
His mother.
The air crackled with anticipation, charged with raw power and frustration. He took a deep, shaky breath and aimed once more, mustering up every bit of force and fire he had within. His head reeled from the exertion, pent-up energy rushing to the surface.
His mother.
With a fierce cry that echoed through the area, the full force of his power surged forth, engulfing the training courtyard in a raging inferno. Propelled backward by the force of the explosion, he collided into the unforgiving stone wall, his vision swimming and senses clouded by the acrid fumes. As he drifted into unconsciousness, the only thing he could discern were the swirling tendrils of smoke and flame.
⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽⟡˙⋆
“Zuko,” A voice above him called.
“Zuko, can you hear me? Get up!”
“Zuko, what the hell happened?”
He was jolted awake by a swift jab to his side. He opened his eyes to the familiar face of a Kyoshi warrior glaring down at him.
“Agni, Suki!” he groaned. “What’s going on?”
“You caused an explosion and passed out in the middle of training, and you’re trying to ask me what’s going on?”
“Woah, no need to yell, I’m alright. Don’t worry.”
“I’m the head of your guard, remember? It is quite literally my job to worry about what you’re doing.”
“Well, I’m fine. It was nothing.”
“It’s not ‘nothing.’ Just look at you!”
Zuko’s hands were covered in a mixture of ash and his own blood. He winced in pain as he tried to get up, his back scraped and sore from the impact.
“I told you so…”
“Alright then. Take me to the infirmary,” he finally conceded.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Zuko just rolled his eyes.
The treatment was quick, bandages and burn balms were always readily available in a country full of firebenders. He placed a hand on the left side of his face, rough and wrinkled. It served as a reminder that after all, Zuko had endured much worse burns.
“Suki, what happened to me?” he asked.
“Well, I told you. There was an explosion in the courtyard, so the warriors and I rushed there as soon as we could. We found you unconscious, looking like a barbecued skewer, but there were no signs of an intruder. Turns out it was just you being a reckless idiot.” At that, he glared at her.
“I am not an–”
“Well, one of us here smells like a beach bonfire, and it’s not me, so let’s just agree to disagree. But honestly, I’m relieved. Ty Lee and I were so panicked, we thought another incident had happened.”
An incident.
“Right, that.”
Zuko recalled a night just a few months prior. Nobody expected the attack. If not for the Kyoshi warriors’ quick response, Zuko would have become another name in the long list of assassinated Fire Lords. He chose not to inform Iroh. He understood the weight of responsibility that rested upon his shoulders as the nation’s leader, and he knew better than to burden his uncle with concerns about his ability to keep himself safe.
“It’s a good thing the only person involved in the incident was a vigilante,” Suki said, still attempting to lighten the mood. “We would’ve had a much bigger problem on our hands if there had been a whole conspiracy involved with it.”
“Yes,” Zuko said, trailing off. His hands trembled from the memory, but he clenched his fists, not letting his reactions betray his true feelings.
“Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I received this while you were getting patched up.” Suki said on his way out, beaming. She waved a scroll written in hasty, scrawling script that could only belong to a certain boomerang-wielding Water Tribesman.
“Sokka’s coming to visit? That’s great, it’s been forever!” he said, eager to see his old friend again. Sokka’s visits were few and far between, but Zuko could always count on him to laugh with and confide in.
“Oh no! apparently Bato got into a boating accident, so he’s out of commission for the next few weeks,” Suki read off the parchment. “And he’s bringing Katara as the replacement ambassador?”
“Katara? I thought she was still traveling with Aang.”
“Apparently not anymore,” Suki said.
“Wow. Well, I didn’t know she had such an interest in politics.”
“Sokka says he didn’t either,” Suki shrugged. “Well, Katara’s a girl of many talents, and I’m sure she has her reasons. I’m just glad Sokka’s finally coming back to visit.”
“By the way, how are you two doing?” Zuko asked. “You two have gotten along so well for years, I don’t know how you do it.”
“Honestly, I don’t know either,” Suki said. “At first, we were so nervous about keeping in contact, living in different countries and all. But after a few months, we realized it wasn’t the end. We still see each other often enough, and we’re always writing letters. So even though we’re on opposite ends of the world, he’s the one person I know I can trust and confide in no matter what.”
“Trust,” Zuko said. “I see.”
“It’s a lot to put all of your faith in someone. But Sokka and I understand that to make this work, we both have to be the most honest version of ourselves with each other.”
“That’s really wise, Suki. And you’re right about the whole honesty thing. I don’t think Mai and I ever trusted each other enough to have that.”
⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽⟡˙⋆
That afternoon, Zuko found himself zoning out in the council chamber, still somewhat distracted by the events of the morning.
“Your Majesty?” A voice called, shaking him from his stupor.
“Yes, Minister Chu?”
“Your Majesty, what are your opinions on this?”
“Can you clarify?” Zuko said, trying to mask his distraction.
“We must discuss the issue of, er, the incident,” the minister lowered his voice. “It is, after all, of the utmost importance that the council knows that there is no threat in terms of your security.”
“I see,” Zuko contemplated for a moment. “I believe we should address the uprisings in the colonies. They do not need the details regarding the incident.”
“Of course, my lord,” Chu said. “As for the final item on our agenda, as you all may well know, our colonies in the Earth Kingdom have been growing unstable,” one of his advisors informed him. “Ever since the vigilante attack, the anti-Fire Nation sentiment has only grown. I’ve received reports that they’ve gathered to protest the Harmony Restoration movement.”
“I see, Minister Chu. Why would they rebel against a means to peace? It’s counterintuitive, considering the long history of conflict between the Fire Nation colonists and Earth Kingdom dwellers. The Restoration treaty included provisions for the colony to once again become an Earth Kingdom city. The Fire Nation citizens who Now that we offer them an incentive to live their separate ways, they refuse it?” Zuko said.
“Yes, my lord. Yu Dao is our oldest colony, the first of many established by your great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, prior to the Air Nomad genocide. It appears that the colonists have grown fond of their integrated lives. After a hundred years, many Fire Nation colonials have even intermarried with the people of the Earth Kingdom.”
“I see. Ensure that a representative from Yu Dao is present at the upcoming Caldera Conference to share their perspectives. I plan to negotiate a proposal with the Earth King at the Dao Summit to settle this once and for all.”
“Very wise indeed, Fire Lord,” a patronizing voice called from the other end of the room. “As if anything has come of those negotiations in the past. I propose that we ought to annex Yu Dao. We need to take action to show that the Fire Nation will not fade into insignificance.” The only person in the meeting hall who possessed the audacity to speak out that way was Taku, the ambitious son of a former general who had attended the Royal Academy alongside Zuko when they were children. Powerful and aggressively traditional, Taku’s father had remained a steadfast supporter of Ozai’s regime until its bitter downfall. It was evident from Taku’s sharp retaliation to the peace negotiations that the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.
“I believe you forget that the whole mission of the Restoration is to reestablish the Fire Nation’s position in the world,” another minister said. “To regain the respect of the rest of the nations, we must show our ability to negotiate, rather than dominate.”
“Very shrewd,” Taku conceded. At least he knew when to hold his tongue when needed. Zuko couldn’t handle any more imbalance. With the morning’s explosive incident still fresh in his mind and the approaching diplomatic season looming ahead, it was crucial to uphold order in the council chambers.
“Then it is settled,” Zuko declared. “We will summon a delegate from the Yu Dao colony to address the Caldera Conference. Hopefully, their insights will prove invaluable for the upcoming Dao Summit. This council is adjourned.”
This was his reality now, the journey of a nation’s leader. Every decision teetered on the rickety balance between order and liberty, and it was up to him to bear the weight of their consequences. He missed his uncle’s wisdom. Despite his occasional corniness, Uncle Iroh always seemed to possess the perfect solutions. But now, what options did he have? He understood this was a path he needed to tread alone.
⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽⟡˙⋆
Zuko was in his study, poring over texts detailing the information about the issues to be addressed at the upcoming Caldera Conference when he was summoned to the throne room. The Water Tribe envoys had arrived earlier that afternoon.
“Sokka!” Zuko said, pulling his old friend in for an embrace.
“How are you, man? It’s been so long,” Sokka said.
“I mean, I’ve been pretty stressed with the whole Caldera Conference and the Dao Summit coming up, but other than that, it’s been alright.”
“Yeah, all that Fire Lord business has gotta be pretty tough. I’ve been helping my dad out with the whole Restoration back in the South and it has not been easy,” Sokka continued. “But if there’s anyone I trust to run a country, it’s gotta be you.”
“Appreciate it, man.”
“How’s Mai?” Sokka asked. At that, Zuko froze up the slightest bit.
“Engaged,” he said curtly.
“Shit, don’t tell me…”
“Yup.”
“That guy from the flower shop? Seriously?”
“Yeah…”
“Wow, that’s rough buddy,” Sokka quipped. Zuko punched his arm. Mai and Zuko ended their relationship around a year after the war’s end. She found someone to replace him shortly afterward, Kei Lo, an associate of her father’s whom she met at the flower shop her mother owned.
“Well, Suki probably already told you this, but I’m not just here on my regular visit,” Sokka continued. “Bato got injured out on the ice, so he’s gonna be out for a while. I’m accompanying my sister here as his replacement.”
“I see. We’ll be getting started on all the negotiations tomorrow, so there have been a lot of ambassadors and representatives arriving lately,” Zuko explained. “Is she here?”
“Yeah, I think she was just settling in. She’s probably just outside, I can let her know you’re ready to see her.”
Ready to see her? Zuko felt as if he was meeting with just another one of the foreign emissaries rather than an old friend. It had been a long time, there was no denying it.
Katara.
More than a year had passed since he had seen her at the last Dao Summit. Amidst the whirlwind of diplomatic affairs and official engagements, Zuko barely crossed paths with the waterbender. Despite Katara’s pivotal role in bringing an end to the war, she had remained conspicuously absent from the diplomatic meetings concerning her tribe. In fact, Zuko realized he hadn’t had a genuine conversation with her since the treaties were signed.
Up close, she looked older and more weathered. After his own years in exile, Zuko understood all too well the toll that years of travel could take on a person’s spirit. Yet despite the weariness etched into her features, Katara’s blue eyes still gleamed with unyielding brilliance, sparkling like sapphires against the flickering light of the throne room. She still wore the same look of determination, the resolve of someone who had faced down some of the most formidable benders of their time and emerged victorious.
Zuko’s gaze lingered a second too long.
“Master Katara,” he finally acknowledged, breaking the brief silence. She hesitated momentarily, as if weighing her words.
“Your Majesty,” Katara replied tersely. Her address had none of the familiarity it once held. Perhaps it was better that way, Zuko contemplated. They were about to begin negotiations for the Caldera Conference soon anyway. She was a delegate now, and he was her Fire Lord.
With a curt nod, Katara offered a brief bow before briskly exiting the throne room, her hurried footsteps echoing against the marble walls.
“Don’t mind her,” Sokka said. “It’s been a pretty long journey.”
“I’m sure it has been. She’ll receive a more formal welcome with the rest of the ambassadors during our first conference tomorrow, so you have no need to worry about anything.”
“Of course. If you don’t mind, I gotta head out now,” Sokka smirked. “I’m meeting Suki for some-”
“Ohh-kay buddy, you can stop there,” Zuko interrupted. “No need to share the details.” He had heard more than enough of the details of Sokka and Suki’s love life to last him a hundred years.
As the doors closed behind Sokka, the throne room fell into silence, leaving Zuko alone, accompanied by nothing but the wall of fire. His thoughts drifted to a story his uncle had once shared with him about the origins of the Fire Lord’s throne room. It was Fire Lord Sozin who had expanded the throne room, adorning it with pillars of deep red marble and the ever-present flames flanking the throne. Sozin’s intent was clear: to showcase the monarch’s authority in all its grandeur.
Zuko loathed it.
What did those flames symbolize if not the egotistical, brutal legacy of his nation? Sozin’s lust for power had driven the Fire Nation into a brutal war with the rest of the world, disregarding the harmony among the four nations. Surveying the opulent hall, Zuko realized he couldn’t escape the weight of his lineage. Every ruler before him had lived in the same palace, sat upon the same throne, and worn the same crown–Sozin, his grandfather, his father. It was a legacy he inherited, whether he desired it or not.
With a huff of frustration, Zuko attempted to extinguish the wall of fire, to no avail. The flames persisted, their dancing shadows taunting him in the dimly lit chamber, reminding him of his peculiar loss of power. Was this it? He hadn’t been able to bend since the training accident that morning. Suddenly, realization struck him.
He just needed Suki’s map of the prison.
Zuko rushed across the throne room in search of his bodyguard, but he halted before he entered the hall, listening to the hushed whispers from within.
“I’m worried about her, Suki,” he heard Sokka’s voice.
“She’s going to be alright. Katara’s a lot tougher than you think.”
“It’s just… With her whole breakup with Aang and her outburst at Dad when she got back, I’m worried about her. Especially leaving her all alone here. You should’ve been there, Suki. I’ve never seen her like that before. The morning after the bonfire, half the village thought they woke up to a tsunami, but it was just Katara bending. She almost split a glacier in two. It was somehow awesome and terrifying at the same time.”
“Sokka, you know I’ll be here for her if she ever needs someone,” Suki whispered.
“Suki, can I tell you something?” Sokka lowered his voice.
“Of course.”
“I think…” he trailed off. “I think Dad sent Katara here on purpose.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, she was so opposed to the Restoration in the South. It was obvious that if she stayed any longer, she’d have torn apart everything we built over the past three years.”
“What? Why do you think that?”
“Katara’s been gone for too long. She doesn’t understand what it’s been like to get the tribe back on its feet after decades of war,” Sokka continued. “I love her more than anything, but if I’m gonna be honest, Dad and I and the rest of the tribe have been working endlessly to get this whole Restoration thing off the ground. I think traveling with Aang made her so disconnected from our nation and our problems that she doesn’t know what it’s like to be home anymore.”
“Wow,” Suki paused for a couple moments. “I always thought she and Aang were so close, is she doing okay after the breakup?”
“Hey, Suki. Could I talk to you?” Zuko knocked on the door sharply, not wanting to eavesdrop on more of Katara’s personal life. Their encounter in the throne room had been awkward enough, and he had no intention of overstepping boundaries by intruding into conversations about her personal life without her knowledge.
Suki hastily opened the door.
“Oh! Zuko, did you need something?”
“Yes, I’ve been thinking about everything. I’m going to see my father,” he said.
“Wait, what?” Sokka asked. “ Your father? Am I hearing that right? The all powerful Phoenix King himself? Your no-good, no-bending, rotting-in-prison father?”
“There’s a few things I wanted to ask him about the colonies before our conferences this week,” Zuko said.
“Yeah, yeah. Real convincing, buddy,” Sokka rolled his eyes. “Come on, there’s no way you’re visiting your insane, evil father just for political tips. We know you better than that. There’s gotta be something else going on.”
“Zuko, does this have anything to do with your accident this morning?” Suki asked.
“What accident?”
“No, it wasn’t anything–” Zuko started.
“Yes it was! This morning, the warriors and I woke up to the sound of a huge explosion in the East Wing. When we ran to see what happened, Ty Lee and I found him passed out in the training center courtyard covered in soot and his own blood.”
“Oh my spirits, Zuko?” Sokka’s mouth gaped open. “How are you alive right now?”
“I didn’t want to ask you earlier while you were still in shock from the injury, but what really happened?” Suki said.
Zuko stayed silent.
“Come on buddy, it’s just us.”
Zuko took a deep breath.
“It’s my mother.”
“Hold on, what?” Suki asked. “I thought your mother was dead.”
“I thought so too,” Zuko continued. “Do you remember the Day of Black Sun?”
“How could I forget?” Sokka sighed.
“During the eclipse, I faced my father for the last time. It went pretty much the way I expected. He called me a traitor and a failure, but while I tried to leave, he asked me if I wanted to know what happened to my mother.”
“What did he say?”
“He said it had something to do with keeping me alive. The night before she left, I remember Azula came into my room and told me that our grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, had ordered my father to kill me. I thought she was lying, but the morning after, my mother was gone and my grandfather was dead,” Zuko explained.
“Hold on, I’m sorry, what?” Sokka exclaimed. “Your grandpa told your dad to kill you? Was this just a regular Tuesday for you people?”
“My father told me she had done treasonous things that night, and was banished for it. I don’t know anything other than that, and he hasn’t said anything to me since.”
“So that means your mother’s alive? Zuko, that’s amazing!” Suki said, ever the optimist. “I mean, aside from the whole treason and banishment part.”
“I guess so,” he continued. “But the thing is, even if she is alive, I’d have to search the whole world for her. I have no clue where she would go. That’s why I need to see my father. He has something to do with her disappearance, and I’m going to find out what.”
His gaze drifted downwards.
“But that’s not all, is it?” Sokka said.
“No, it’s not.” Zuko said. “It’s my bending.”
“Does that have something to do with the explosion this morning?” Suki asked.
“Yeah. I was training like usual, doing all the same forms and the same routine, but suddenly my bending wasn’t working. I kept trying, then it all just blew up in my face. I was knocked out by the explosion and the next thing I knew, the entire courtyard was up in flames.”
“Were you distracted while practicing?” Sokka asked. “Usually, when Katara was upset about something, she would meditate for a few minutes to clear her head. She told me the water flowed easier that way. Maybe it’s the same for you.”
“I mean, I bend just fine when I’m angry or emotional. My uncle always used to say that it helped to harness my emotions to fuel my fire,” Zuko said. “But I guess I was distracted this morning. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. About her, my mother.”
“Oh, Zuko,” Suki said. “You deserve to know what happened to her.”
“That's why I need to speak to my father.”
⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽⟡˙⋆
In the depths of a prison on the outskirts of Caldera City, Zuko navigated the labyrinthine passages, each footfall reverberating through the dank metal. As he neared the highest-security cell, the air grew tense with the reminder of his burden.
Ozai’s once-regal face was gaunt, bearing the unmistakable imprint of his sins. Yet, despite the toll of confinement, the former Fire Lord’s eyes still burned with cruel intensity. Those amber eyes, a chilling reflection of Zuko’s own, gleamed with malice against the dimly-lit prison cell.
“What brings the great Fire Lord to my lowly prison cell?” Ozai sneered.
“I’m here because you’re going to tell me something.”
“Oh yes? And what could I possibly have left to offer you?”
“You know exactly what,” Zuko demanded. “ Where is my mother? ”
“Still searching for her, are you? I can’t say I’m surprised. You never were one to do something efficiently, not even when it’s about finding your poor, dear mother,” Ozai let out a grating laugh.
“Enough!” Zuko snarled. “Answer my question.”
“Anyways,” the former Fire Lord ignored him. “Look at you. You’re a mess. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were one of the washed-up scrubs groveling outside the palace walls for scraps of food.”
It was true. Zuko’s hair was haphazardly slipping from his normally neat top knot, his robes wrinkled from disregard. The past two months of paranoia from the attempt on his life, the stress of the upcoming negotiations, and the loss of his bending became a weight on his soul, mental exhaustion showing signs on his physical appearance.
Ozai sighed a raspy breath against the dank stone.
“I always knew this would be a problem,” he said. “You’re weak.”
Zuko’s eyes widened. Somehow, even after being stripped of all his dignity and titles, Ozai kept the same condescending tone he used to speak to his son.
“Don’t waste my time with baseless insults,” Zuko said. “Give me the answers I need.”
“Listen to me, Zuko. Do you recall our visits to Ember Island when you and Azula were children? Once, we saw a hawk attacking a turtle-crab at the shore. You couldn’t have been any older than three years old, but you ran across the beach as fast as you could to save that little turtle-crab. Even then, you held an odd affinity for the weak. But once you had the creature in your arms, that hawk looked at you with hungry eyes, and you realized you had condemned it to starve,” Ozai paused, calculating eyes boring into Zuko’s. “You didn’t know whether to side with the hawk or the turtle-crab. But before you could decide, you were swept into the ocean by a tidal wave.”
“How does an old childhood story connect to any of this?” Zuko asked. “Are you trying to say that the reason I failed at the beach was due to my inability to choose between protecting the turtle-crab or letting nature take its course? I don't see the point. Obviously, you wanted me to side with the hawk. It was like the Fire Nation, strong–and therefore worthy of its meal.”
“You’re partially correct, your inability to choose is what led to your failure. It’s what is keeping you from accessing your power. But you’re wrong about the hawk.” Ozai said.
“What? Are you saying I should have sided with the weaker of the two? That contradicts everything you’ve ever told me.”
“What I’m saying is that it’s not about what I believe. Ultimately, you are the Fire Lord, therefore anything you choose is what is right. At the end of the day, whichever choice you made would have been right. If you wish to strengthen the nation and honor the legacy of your forefathers, so be it. If you wish to prance around with the Avatar playing heroes, so be it. Agni, if you wanted to make your generals join the circus and do tricks on a tightrope, then so be it. My point is that there are boundless possibilities for what power can do for you.”
“That’s not right. That’s not what power is meant for. Right and wrong are beyond what any single person can determine. Not me, not you, not even the Agni-forsaken Avatar! ”
“I made my decision. I ruled this nation with an iron fist, and it served me well,” Ozai shrugged. “I maintained order throughout the world. The citizens obeyed and the other nations bowed to our will.”
“You ruled through fear and intimidation,” Zuko scoffed. “What you had was not ‘order,’ it was tyranny.”
“Whether the results I achieved were borne from fear or respect didn’t matter,” Ozai continued. “I used my power quickly and decisively, as a ruler must. That is where we differ. You hold all the power, yet you’re hesitant to do anything with it. Look at you, a Fire Lord still crying for his mother."
“What you must understand, Zuko, is that people are born weak and you are no exception. You think yourself strong? Because of what, the crown you wear and your shiny new title? None of it changes the fact that you are a traitor and a fraud, nothing more than a boy playing king. From the moment you were born, I tried to instill strength and power into you. Yet you refused it,” Ozai spat, his cruel features twisted up into a sneer.
Nothing more than a boy playing king.
“You are a coward, just like your mother.”
Zuko’s vision turned red.
“How dare you speak about my mother?” His rage echoed through the dank confines of the cell as he confronted his father’s cruelty calling upon the burning fury within him. As he tried once more to release fire, his bending failed, yielding only a sputtering of ash betraying his powerlessness.
“What now?” Ozai leered, his words a venomous mock. “No bending?”
In the suffocating silence of the prison corridor, Zuko slammed the door shut, a final barrier against Ozai’s knowing taunts from within. Yet, desperation clawed at him, a raging inferno unable to find release.
Zuko extended his fists once more, praying to every spirit he barely believed in to miraculously summon his firebending. But to his dismay, he was met with nothing more than mere whispers of smoke.
Notes:
As always, thanks so much to my beta readers for helping me out with this! <33
Gonna be so honest, the whole switching POVs business is pretty tricky, so let me know how I did. If you have any comments or feedback, please feel free to share! I loved hearing everything you all had to say in the last chapter, your comments truly keep me going! I’m still learning how this whole thing works, so everything is appreciated!
A bit late, but I finished the ATLA live action! It was pretty enjoyable, but I gotta say I’m kinda disappointed they cut out so many of the iconic Zutara moments (“You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun,” “I’ll save you from the pirates,” etc.). However, they did serve us that scarf scene. It was like 10 seconds long but I’ll take whatever crumbs we can get!
Thanks so much for giving this fic a shot! Until next time :))
Chapter 3: Cracks in the Ice
Notes:
Flashes of the battle come back to me in a blur
All that bloodshed, crimson clover
“The Great War” - Taylor Swift
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Everything was red. That was all Katara could think as she walked down the ancient halls of the Fire Nation royal palace. The columns, curtains, and walls blazed with varying, but equally vibrant, shades of scarlet. Clad in her deep blue Water Tribe robes, Katara stuck out like a sore thumb against the backdrop.
She recalled the last time she was here, three years ago at Zuko’s coronation. They had been so full of hope and promise, ready to embrace a new era after the war. Yet as she walked, it was not celebration of the war’s end that passed through her mind. The shades of red around her began to swirl into unwelcome memories of the fire that once consumed that same courtyard all those years ago.
—
“Agni Kai!”
Azula’s lightning crackled through the air, tendrils dancing with ferocity against the darkened sky. Her eyes blazed with manic intensity as they swept across the crumbling courtyard, finally fixating on Katara’s shocked face. Even in the haze of the comet, she could make out every detail of Azula’s crazed expression. Katara watched in horror as the other girl’s widened, bloodshot eyes twitched, altering the aim of her lightning from Zuko to her. Katara felt the world around her slow down. Her breath caught in her throat as her heart pounded with a deafening rhythm. Every instinct, every nerve in her body screamed at her to run, to flee, to escape before she became an electrified crisp.
—
“Katara?” The sound of her brother’s voice shook her from her thoughts. “Hello? Earth to Katara?”
“Huh?”
“What are you staring at?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just remembering some stuff.”
“Well, can you try and remember what we’re here for? It’s not every day someone becomes an ambassador to the Fire Nation.”
Katara took a deep breath in an effort to calm the raging currents of emotion running through her.
“You might be right, Sokka. And a fresh start is just what I need anyway,” she recalled the night she broke off her relationship with Aang. They hadn’t seen one another since then, likely due to Katara pouring herself into preparing for the upcoming negotiations.
“That’s the spirit!” he said. “It’ll be good for you to take a break from all that traveling and settle down for a bit. Not that the life of a diplomat is settled , by any means. Actually, you might even travel more than what you’re used to. Oh, what am I saying? There’s no way anything’s more than how you and Aang traveled.”
“You’re rambling again, Sokka.”
“I guess so,” he chuckled. “To be honest, I’m a little nervous, leaving my little sister all alone in a foreign country.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay here,” she said. “And I won’t be alone. I’ll have-”
“Suki!” Sokka exclaimed, running to the girl guarding the entrance to the throne room.
“Sokka!” The warrior pulled him in for a quick hug before turning her attention over to Katara. “How have you been? It feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“It’s been alright. Tiring, I guess,” Katara started. “I need to catch up with you sometime soon. Maybe once I finish settling in.”
“I was just about to say the same thing! I missed you, Katara. Really,” Suki said. “Anyways, Zuko–I mean, the Fire Lord–is ready to see you now.”
“I’ve got so much to talk to him about,” Sokka said animatedly, immediately walking into the throne room. “Are you gonna join us, Katara?”
“Yeah, but I think I just need a moment first. I’ll see you inside.”
Katara hesitated before stepping in. Was she truly prepared for this new life?
The first thing that struck her was the wall of flames flanking the throne, creating a formidable barrier between the Fire Lord and anyone who sought an audience. The display of power was clearly intended to instill fear in the nation’s subjects, which was the last thing Katara would have expected, especially from him.
Zuko.
—
She was nearly hyperventilating as she sprinted to his side, her body trembling from exhaustion after her battle against Azula. She willed herself to stay calm with each ragged breath. A lightning bolt. He took a lightning bolt to the chest. Katara had healed countless wounds, but never anything this fatal. Summoning the nearest source of water, she watched as it glowed softly under her touch, reflecting the desperation in her eyes as she examined his battered form. By some stroke of luck or fate, he was alive, but his ribs were broken and his breaths were shallow and labored.
—
Her eyes focused back on the young man in front of her. His face was illuminated in the flickering light of the flames, casting sharp shadows that accentuated every crease and contour of his features. Zuko’s countenance appeared unchanged since they last spoke – the same hair pulled into its familiar topknot, the same piercing gaze, and the same unmistakable scar etched upon the left side of his face. Yet, as Katara looked at him, she sensed a subtle shift in the way he carried himself, an air of regality mingled with an underlying weariness that hadn’t been there before.
“Master Katara,” he addressed her cordially. Even his voice seemed different than what she remembered, echoing through the throne room with a newfound tone of authority.
—
‘Thank you, Katara,’ Zuko rasped as she finished her healing.
Slowly, she watched as his eyes fluttered open, a startlingly intense shade of amber, shimmering with gratitude. He had just risked everything for her, throwing himself in front of his sister’s deadly attack to protect her. He saved her life, yet here he was, expressing thanks? As her tears welled in her eyes, he held her gaze, silently acknowledging the bond they shared and the sacrifice he made.
‘I think I’m the one who should be thanking you.’
—
She cast a lingering glance back at the Fire Lord, searching for any trace of the boy who once saved her. After three years, the warmth that once shone in his eyes seemed all but extinguished, replaced by the formality demanded by their new roles in the world.
“Your Majesty,” she decided. If they were to collaborate with one another during the upcoming diplomatic proceedings, she may as well get used to the icy, professional air.
His calculating gaze seemed to size her up and down as she bowed and exited the throne room. Their exchange was courteous enough. However, she knew to maintain their proper boundaries, especially now that she was to serve as an ambassador in the upcoming negotiations. She couldn’t risk even the slightest rumor that she was leveraging her former association with Zuko to gain political power.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
The Water Tribe ambassador’s quarters were decorated with the traditional furs and soothing blue hues reminiscent of the South. Clearly a gesture of goodwill from the Fire Nation to their negotiation partners, the room provided her a welcome respite from the bold, overpowering reds that covered the rest of the palace. The room itself was spacious, with wide windows offering a panoramic view of the capital city below. The architects of the palace, as she read in her brief study of the Fire Nation, deliberately created windows facing the east, where the sun rose. Unlike the majority of the other rooms in the palace, her windows faced the west. As a result, her room was located on the furthest edge of the west wing, oriented in the direction of the sunset and moonrise. Despite its isolation from the other visitors’ quarters, she found solace in it, appreciating the serenity far from the rest of the bustling activity elsewhere in the palace.
Katara explored her room more, namely the large wardrobe that took up most of the space from the edge of her bed to the wall. It was largely empty, save for a few garments likely left behind by Bato. She unpacked her sparse belongings – after the past few years of travel, her personal items were limited to nothing more than a couple tunics and her water flask. It was more convenient most of the time, but Katara’s typical Water Tribe garb of sealskin and fur didn’t fare well against the sweltering heat of the Fire Nation. She would need to find new clothes, and soon.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a quick knock on the door.
“Hey, Katara, it’s me,” Sokka said, muffled by the wood. She welcomed him in.
“Sokka, what are you doing here? I thought you’d still be with Suki by now,” she said.
“Yeah, we talked for a bit after you left.”
“Oh? That’s good, it’s been a while since the two of you have seen one another.”
“Katara, I’m worried,” Sokka admitted. “About you.”
“What? Why would you be?”
“It’s just this whole thing. Leaving you in the Fire Nation, in the middle of political negotiations too.”
“And? Do you think I won’t be able to do it?”
“No, no. That’s not what I meant. I was just worried because of, well-”
“Well, what?”
“You were really upset after you got back to the tribe, after your breakup. I don’t want to leave you alone. It’ll be weeks before we all meet again at the Dao Summit.”
“I see,” Katara said. “But trust me, I’ll be okay. This won’t be the first time I’ve had to fend for myself, and it definitely won’t be the last.”
“Just be careful, there are some real jerks in those negotiations,” Sokka said.
“Can’t be any worse than the jerks I already know,” she joked, rolling her eyes at him.
“Hey!”
“Don’t worry about me, Sokka. I can handle myself.”
“Okay, I trust you, then. I’ll see you in Ba Sing Se, Katara.”
“See you in Ba Sing Se.”
As the door closed behind him, she felt the soft thud reverberate in her room, amplifying the sudden silence. She stood still for a moment, the weight of her new reality settling in.
I’m on my own now. On my own.
The thought echoed in her head, at first daunting, but gradually becoming more alluring as she rolled it back and forth through her mind. She recalled that morning on the edge of the cliff, when she stared out over the vast, shimmering expanse of ocean and dared herself to dream. This was it, staring her in the face. She was at the mercy of her own decisions now. Her chance to make a change, to carve out her own path. And she was determined to seize it with both hands.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
Firebenders really do rise with the sun, Katara thought in her groggy morning stupor. The negotiations started shortly after dawn in a conference hall nearly as opulent as the Fire Lord’s throne room. Rows of dignitaries, foreign and Fire Nation alike, filled the room. There must have been over a hundred of them, mostly men, mostly older, and most likely much more experienced than Katara was. She was soon hit with a jolt of self-consciousness.
She looked to the front of the room where Zuko was seated, presiding over the entire affair. One of the ministers seated near him stood to begin his announcement.
“As the rest of you know, as a part of the peace treaties, the Dao Summit was established. Every year, a select number of representatives from every nation gather in Ba Sing Se in order to discuss international issues. As preparation for the Dao Summit, our very own Fire Lord Zuko began the Caldera Conference, an avenue for a discussion of relevant Fire Nation topics,” he declared.
“Every year since its founding, we have welcomed both representatives from our own nation in addition to foreign representatives. It is my honor to present the delegates of the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdom who will be joining us for the rest of these negotiations prior to the Dao Summit,” the minister, who seemed to be facilitating most of the forum, gestured to the side of the hall where Katara and the others were seated. “On behalf of Fire Lord Zuko and the rest of the committee, I welcome you all to the third annual Caldera Conference.”
They received polite applause from the Fire Nation representatives before the minister proceeded to outline the day’s agenda. The topics slated for discussion included trade, internal affairs, and the Restoration movement.
As Katara listened to the seasoned delegates discuss these various topics, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being underprepared for what lay ahead. While she considered herself quite knowledgeable when it came to her own country’s affairs, she quickly realized that the Fire Nation operated under its own distinct, complex political customs.
“Our next issue for discussion revolves around the recent tropical storms that have hit the province of Jang Hui over the past few weeks,” the minister announced.
Jang Hui. The name sat at the tip of her tongue, so strangely familiar. Where had she heard it before?
“Typically, a smaller village like this would be able to rebuild itself with their own resources. However, this case is quite unique. The town is built entirely on the water, so the storms have not only destroyed the surroundings, but the very infrastructure of the village itself. Thus, we must open the floor to the delegation to decide.”
Jang Hui. The town that was built on the river. Katara recalled the few days she spent there during the war, in that quaint, yet impoverished village. Her heart ached for the townspeople, remembering their warmth and gratitude after her attempts to help them out as the Painted Lady. They deserved to have their homes back.
“Pardon me,” Katara started somewhat shakily. She could feel the eyes of the entire room watching her, gauging her abilities. “I believe that the town of Jang Hui would greatly benefit from a donation from the Capital. Perhaps we ought to use the excess money being used to renovate parts of Caldera City. There are so many places that need it more than they do.”
“That would be such a perfect solution,” a voice called from the opposite side of the room, mocking her tone. “While we’re at it, perhaps we should even reverse three decades of trade negotiations across regional borders all for the sake of a single precious province.”
His remark was accompanied by snickers from the same corner of the hall, likely coming from the rest of his faction. Katara’s cheeks burned a shade of crimson red that nearly matched the shade of the walls around her.
“Lord Taku, this is a reminder to keep our discussion civil,” Minister Chu called sharply.
“Minister, forgive my colleague’s brashness, but he does have a point,” another voice called. “If we were to directly fund the rebuilding of the town, we would lose out on major support from our political allies. The Qins and the Hans, namely, would retract the rest of their infrastructure funding if we were to redirect any more of the budget from renovating parts of the Capital City that were damaged in the war.”
“That’s true. Furthermore, what would the other provinces think if they saw the Capital providing specific funding to a single town. They would demand the same level of involvement! Every little village would start demanding our support after every rainstorm and would all fall into chaos.”
She zoned out for the rest of the session, only briefly participating when the subject of trade with the Southern Water Tribe came up. That was the only thing she had been versed in, anyway. She efficiently wrapped up the discussions, securing a new deal between her tribe and the Fire Nation. At least her father back in the South would be happy about that.
After hours of negotiations, the meeting finally came to a close.
“Delegates, thank you for your time,” Minister Chu announced. “This session is now adjourned. We will see you all again in two days’ time for our next round of negotiations.”
Katara exited the hall with the swarm of delegates, ready to be done with the exhausting spectacle. She no longer took time to appreciate the grandiosity of the palace as she trudged back to the western wing. Though she was in an entirely new country, she was as isolated as she had been on the edge of that glacier, the creeping feeling of doubt haunting her thoughts.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
Katara decided to explore the area around the conference hall on her own. She had never received a formal tour of this wing of the palace before being thrust into the lion’s den of negotiations. Ornate tapestries and intricate carvings of red jade adorned the walls, each a testament to the Fire Nation’s long history. As she wandered through the opulent halls, hushed voices from a small room next to the conference hall caught her attention, pulling her closer.
“... I knew the Water Tribes were desperate, but to send a girl as young and inexperienced as she into our negotiations? My lord, you must see the issue we face here,” she heard one voice hiss.
“Well, she is not entirely inexperienced, is she?” another voice interjected. “She was one of your companions at the war’s end, was she not, my lord?”
“She was,” Zuko’s response was short and dismissive.
“With all due respect, however, that does not make her one of us,” the first voice said. “I believe my associate, Lord Taku, was entirely within his means to call out her ignorance. She ought to understand the norms of our great nation.”
“Surely you do not condone this behavior.”
“I am simply saying that the boy’s sentiment came from the right place. As for his delivery of the message…”
“He must know that his outburst reflected poorly on the entire Fire Nation delegation, not only your faction.”
“Let us hear what he has to say for himself. Why did you react in that way to Master Katara’s remark?”
“Sure, she’s pretty, but I just don’t see any other reason why we even let a backwater upstart from the South join us in the first place,” a familiar, drawling voice said. Taku. The one who had mocked her during the conference. “She clearly doesn’t belong here, and I had to be the one to let her know. Is ‘ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe’ even a real role? Agni, the things we’ve done for these barbarians–”
Katara ripped her ear from the doorway, slumping against the wall to try and recollect herself. She felt her head start to spin from the shock of what she heard in the room.
She was at a loss for words. She spent hours studying and understood the trade routes and policies that concerned the Southern Water Tribe. However, the pamphlets she leafed through to prepare for her new role hardly prepared her for the complexities of Fire Nation politics.
For so long, she believed battles of the elements were the hardest fought. This was both so similar to, yet nothing like, wielding water and ice. On one hand, like summoning a tidal wave, politics required such intense concentration. On the other hand, every one of her movements was scrutinized by a room filled with opponents ready to pounce on a single verbal fumble. The conference had none of the flow or adaptability of her element. It was as if she were thrown into a maze composed of unspoken rules and political nuances that had taken years to establish.
It all felt like a bitter reminder that she was, once again, stuck in a place where she didn’t belong. What had she expected by coming here? She was but a naïve girl among seasoned diplomats, people whose lives revolved around the intricate policies they discussed with ease and authority.
But Zuko’s silence stung most of all.
She had clung onto the hope that, even after all these years, he would still be the same person she knew at the end of the war. The thought of finding her old friend in the Fire Lord seemed more and more like a fantasy. The realization left an ache in her chest, a mix of disappointment and loneliness. The boy who had once risked everything to save her seemed lost behind the veil of duty.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” A sharp voice rang out behind her suddenly, startling Katara.
As she whipped around, she came face to face with the delegate who had mocked her in the hall.
Backwater upstart. She could still hear his grating tone echoing in her mind.
“What are you talking about?” she retorted, standing her ground. “The last time I checked, there were no restrictions on where delegates could roam within the conference wing of the palace.”
“Well, you shouldn’t be here,” he said indignantly, his posture rigid with self-importance.
“And who are you to tell me that?”
“We all saw you in that conference hall earlier. It’s clear you have much to learn about our political landscape,” he said with a dismissive sneer. “A piece of advice: it would help to actually know what you’re talking about before opening your mouth in a hall full of delegates.”
“I see,” Katara forced through her clenched teeth, still shocked by his sheer audacity.
“Indeed. I guess I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt since you’re new to this. After all, you could use some guidance. And with my experience, I could surely offer you that.” He smirked sleazily as if granting her the offer of a lifetime. It took everything in her not to roll her eyes. If she didn’t know any better, she would think that in his own ridiculous, presumptuous way, this jerk was trying to hit on her.
“Well, thank you for the offer. But I really don’t think that someone as… distinguished as you are would have much to show me,” Katara said, barely concealing her insult.
“Surely not,” he continued, unfazed. “However, I could be a great ally to you. I know the inner workings of this council. I could show you so many things.” He licked his lips, looking her up and down as if she were a mere object of curiosity.
Suddenly, she understood what he was trying to do. He had no respect for her as a woman, much less as a diplomat. That had been clear enough from the start. There was no point in trying to be civil with him if he couldn’t pick up on her disdain.
“Let me make myself more clear,” she said, her lip curling in disgust. “I don’t want any part of what you’re offering me, and I never will.”
“You would be wise to listen to what I have to say, Master Katara,” Taku sneered, spitting out her title like a curse. “I have connections all throughout the Fire Nation. You wouldn’t want to regret any of these choices in the future.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Of course not,” he replied smoothly, his eyes glinting with a hint of malice.
“I assure you, I am fully capable of handling myself. In more ways than one,” she turned away and started down the hallway.
Katara’s nails dug deeper into her palms as she bit back her tongue. While she may not have been as familiar with the intricacies of Fire Nation politics as he was, she possessed enough knowledge of strategy to know when to hold her ground and when to strike. She’d show him, show anyone who had underestimated her. She would show each and every one of them exactly what this backwater upstart was capable of.
Notes:
Poor Katara can’t seem to catch a break! This chapter is a lot less eventful than the others in terms of the plot, but it’s a set-up for what’s coming.
Also, I'm so sorry for going MIA for the past two months, I promise I’ll make it up to you guys! I went and got my car hit twice in two weeks... Then, if that wasn't enough, I was hit with wave after wave of final exams. But hey, I graduated! I’m heading off to my dream school next year, so maybe it’s not all bad. Now I’ve got more time to work on this passion project too! I’ve got a LOT more in store in the next chapters, will try to update as soon as I can ;)
Comments are ALWAYS welcome, I love hearing what you guys have to say! As always, endless thanks to my wonderful beta readers for their help and for being so patient with me!
Chapter 4: Rum on the Fire
Summary:
But a woman is a changeling, always shifting shape
Just when you think you have it figured out
Something new begins to take
“King” - Florence + The Machine
Notes:
So I haven't been able to walk for a few months but here’s the chapter!
Here's the fic playlist , feel free to check it out!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Katara’s eyelids drooped with exhaustion as she pored over what felt like her hundredth policy article of the night. The night before, she combed through the palace’s expansive library for more information about the topics of negotiation. At the end of her search, she hauled back armfuls of parchment up to the west tower. Now, she sat by the open window without a wink of sleep, soaking in the morning sunlight, surrounded by dozens of unfurled scrolls strewn haphazardly across her floor.
“Katara!” A voice suddenly called from outside her door. “Come on, you can’t just lock yourself in here all day.”
“Please open up, it’s just me!” Suki knocked some more. Katara finally gave in and begrudgingly opened the door to reveal the mess of her room.
“Oh my spirits, Katara,” Suki gasped as she stepped into a pile of discarded reading material. “What happened here? A tornado?”
“I searched the library for anything remotely relevant until they finally kicked me out. I hauled all this back to the west wing last night,” she nodded towards the stacks of parchment scattered across her desk, the floor, and even her bed. “And I haven’t slept since. I need to review all this before the next leg of the conference.”
Suki scanned the mess with a furrowed brow. “Clearly, what you really need is a break. There are always plenty of new ambassadors who go through the same thing every year. You can’t expect to keep up with people who have been doing this their whole lives, especially not during your very first conference.”
“Honestly, I’d rather work myself to the bone than face that negotiation hall again unprepared,” Katara shook her head and let out a tired sigh. “All the studying I did beforehand might as well have been for nothing. It’s like we’re playing a game that everyone else already knows the rules to. And I’m sitting here, completely clueless, while they all talk circles around me.”
“I see,” Suki’s eyes softened with understanding.
“I came here ready to negotiate trade terms for the Southern Water Tribe,” Katara continued, her frustration bubbling to the surface, “but it turns out there’s so much more to Fire Nation politics than I expected: contemporary history, recent reports, peace treaties. These are the things I need to know to keep up with the delegates, to ensure that the Southern Water Tribe can stay on par with the rest of the world. That’s what people care about, not obscure trading routes or the prices of sea prunes and ocean kumquats,” Katara’s brow furrowed deeper. “They made a mockery of me last time. I contributed, and because it didn’t align with their policy proposal, some delegate from one of the factions started blatantly taunting me. I just… froze. I had no idea what to say.”
“Oh, Katara…” Suki pulled her in for a hug. “You’re balancing so much right now.”
“It was my fault,” Katara said quietly, guilt creeping into her voice. “I shouldn’t have spoken without knowing enough about the topic.”
“No,” Suki pulled back slightly and looked her directly in the eyes. “You’re learning, and you have every right as a delegate to use your voice. Don’t let them make you feel otherwise.”
“But that’s not even the end of it,” Katara continued, her frustration building. “A little while after the meeting ended, I walked past one of the rooms near the conference hall while I was exploring the palace. I overheard some of Zuko’s council talking about me–questioning my place here.” She paused, recounting the strange encounter with the arrogant dignitary outside the conference wing.
Suki’s eyes narrowed. “Who said that to you? Want me to beat them up?” she asked, only half-joking. “I knew some of the delegates were a bit stuck in their ways, but I didn’t think they would’ve pulled something as unprofessional as this.”
“They called him Lord Taku. He’s the same one who started making fun of me in the conference to begin with.”
“Ugh, I know exactly who you’re talking about,” Suki groaned and rolled her eyes. “He’s such a pompous jerk. Everyone here knows it. He doesn’t have respect for anyone who disagrees with his messed-up beliefs. I can’t believe you had to deal with him. You should hear some of the stories Zuko’s told us about that guy.”
Katara fell quiet, her gaze dropping to the floor at the mention of Zuko’s name. The weight of it all pressed heavily on her, forming a knot in her throat that made it difficult to speak.
“Katara? Are you alright?” Suki asked gently.
Katara hesitated as her voice caught in her throat. “When I said I overheard Zuko’s council, I meant all of them. Zuko included.”
“Oh,” Suki’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh, Katara…”
“I can’t believe it, Suki! We’ve known each other for years, I thought we were friends!” Katara’s voice cracked, the hurt clear in her tone. He just sat there. Silent. His advisors tore apart everything–my statements, my tribe, all of it. We’ve known each other for years, but he didn’t defend me, he didn’t even say a word against them. I can’t understand it.”
Suki’s brow furrowed, a mix of disbelief and concern on her face.
“Katara, I had no idea, I’m so sorry. That doesn’t sound like him at all. He’s… well,” Suki trailed off, as if weighing her words carefully. “I know he’s been going through a lot right now, but you’re right. He didn’t have any right to let his advisors speak about a delegate that way. Especially not you, one of his closest friends.”
“It’s so tiring to keep up with everything. I had just gotten back to the Southern Water Tribe after three years of traveling, and instead of welcoming me back, they sent me away again,” she said as tears welled in her eyes. “This new role, this new life. I know there’s a reason for me to be here, but it’s all so sudden and I’m trying my best to cope.”
“Katara, it’s okay to be frustrated. You’ve been through so much change. Maybe it’s time to take things slow.”
Katara nodded, but there was a heaviness in her tone.
“I know deep down that what I needed more than anything was a fresh start. There’s no way I could’ve kept living that way.”
“That’s true,” Suki replied. “I was so worried about you every time you’d come to visit us, Katara. I’d never seen you like that, so dull and drained–like half your spirit was gone.”
“I was so, so exhausted, Suki,” Katara’s voice cracked as she let herself break down. “I spent years trying to be the perfect person for Aang… and somewhere along the way, I think I lost sight of myself.”
“Oh, Katara…” Suki said nothing else and simply pulled Katara into a tight embrace, holding her as close as she could while her muffled sobs shook them both.
“I realized the night that I came back to the South Pole that I couldn’t do it anymore. He asked me to marry him, Suki,” she choked out through the tears spilling down her cheeks. “Yes, I loved him, but at that moment I just knew it would never be the same as the kind of love he had for me. I always tried so hard to be the perfect person he believed I was, that flawless jewel of a girl that he held on such a high pedestal. I was terrified of slipping up and shattering his image of me, so I forced myself to be nothing but patient, unwavering, and endlessly supportive. But I was exhausted from constantly denying the most honest version of myself–one with deep flaws and emotions, just like everyone else.”
Katara dropped her head into her hands. “Spirits, Suki, I’m just trying to find my way out here!”
“You’re doing the best you can, probably better than anyone else could in your situation. I know you might not see it right now, but I truly believe you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Figuring out what you really need for yourself isn’t easy,” Suki squeezed her tighter, offering what little comfort she could in the storm of her sorrow. Katara rested her head on the warrior’s shoulder as tears streamed down her face. They stayed that way for a few minutes, swaying gently back and forth as Katara allowed her pent-up grief to flow free.
Long after Katara’s sobs died down, Suki gently shook her up, a coy smile painting her features.
“I just had an amazing idea! You know what’ll make this better?”
“What is it?” Katara asked cautiously.
“A shopping trip!” Suki exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You need a way to take your mind off all the heavy stuff and unwind. Trust me, after living here for the past few months, I know all the spots where you can get a great deal on some fabulous outfits.”
“Suki, I don’t know. I mean, I’m here on business…”
“Oh come on Katara, live a little! You’re on your own now, in a brand-new city in a whole different country. You said it yourself–this is a fresh start. And what’s better for a new beginning than some new clothes?”
“Alright, maybe.” A smile slowly crept onto her face while she wiped her tears, “I just need a couple more hours to review this material.”
“A couple hours? Katara, this is pretty urgent stuff. After all, you’re forgetting one very important thing,” Suki teased as she scanned through Katara’s wardrobe. “You’re missing an essential item every diplomat needs for these negotiations.”
“What?”
“You don’t have an outfit for the gala!”
“Gala? Suki, what are you–”
“Oh my spirits, there’s no way! Your brother didn’t tell you?” Suki shook her head in mock disappointment. “At the end of every Caldera Conference, the palace hosts a huge gala for all the diplomats before they head off to Ba Sing Se. They call it the Fire Lily Festival and it’s one of the biggest events of the year here in the capital city–maybe even the entire country! Everybody who’s anybody in the Fire Nation shows up: aristocrats, officers, socialites, you name it.”
“Alright, you’ve got me. I suppose this shopping trip really must be urgent,” she conceded with a reluctant smile. “It’s way too hot here for most of my usual outfits, anyway. Plus, I was planning to buy some more formal clothes for the Dao Summit and the rest of the negotiations.”
Suki’s face beamed with excitement as she grabbed Katara’s arm and practically dragged her towards the door.
“You won’t believe the amazing things we’ll find in the market! This is going to be so much fun, you’ll feel like a whole new person!” Katara couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anticipation as Suki led her out of the hallway.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
If the palace represented the head of the Fire Nation, then the marketplace in Caldera City was its beating heart. The bustling streets were lined with endless rows of vibrant, rust-colored tents, each one promising treasures from every corner of the nation. Shoppers jostled for space on the crowded walkways, hauling large bags of goods. Merchants flocked to sell anything under the sun, offering everything from freshly caught fish, to fire flakes, to feathers of rare birds. The air was thick with the mouth-watering aroma of sizzling meats and fragrant spices, mingling with the enthusiastic shouts of vendors proudly proclaiming their noodles as the best in the Four Nations.
Distracted by the endless offerings, Katara was momentarily caught in between a group of hagglers engaged in a heated debate over a discounted set of teacups. Just in time, Suki managed to pull her out of the chaos just before the shoppers broke out into a fight.
“Stick with me,” she said. “It’s absolutely cutthroat out there.”
“I didn’t know people could be so intense about their tea sets.”
“It’s the Fire Nation. People here are intense about absolutely everything. Ty Lee once chi-blocked a girl for snatching up the last pink sarong before our beach trip.”
“Woah,” Katara shuddered at the thought of Suki’s fellow warrior. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Katara, come over here!” Suki squealed as she gestured animatedly at a section of the market.
As Katara turned the corner, she found herself at the entrance of a vibrant tunnel of silks. Fabrics in every shade and pattern she could fathom draped the narrow streets, enveloping the market in a dazzling array of colors. Suki flitted between vendors as she eagerly explored the endless selection of rich textiles. Merchants called after her, proudly showcasing hand-woven silks imported from the most fashionable boutiques of Ba Sing Se’s upper ring.
Katara paused in front of a row of dresses, each adorned with embroidered threads that shimmered like spun jade in the sunlight. Just a few steps further, she came across a stall brimming with the loose pants and lightweight flowing skirts typical of the Fire Nation. She ran her fingers over the sleek, billowy fabric, marveling at the way it remained opaque despite being thinner than parchment.
“They’ve got everything here,” Katara said as she turned to Suki, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
“If you think this is nice, just until we get to the next place I’m going to show you. They have the most amazing designs, you’ll see.”
Suki guided her through the swarms of customers until they reached a stand nestled at the edge of the street. At first glance, it appeared similar to the rest of the market, but as Katara walked further into the tent, she gasped in awe at the delicately crafted outfits around her.
“Amazing, right?” Suki asked.
“Absolutely! I didn’t think it was possible to create clothes like these,” Katara exclaimed, her gaze drawn to a Kyoshi-style yukata crafted from what looked like sealskin from the South Pole.
Each outfit in the boutique was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, a fusion of colors that left Katara breathless. Earth Kingdom embroidery adorned sheer layers of Fire Nation skirts, making the intricate patterns appear to float. Elegant silhouettes inspired by Ba Sing Se were enhanced with fur trimmings reminiscent of Water Tribe garments. Everywhere she looked, a vibrant array of designs greeted her, each an inimitable union of tradition and innovation reflecting the interwoven tapestry of their world.
“Stay with me here, Katara. Everybody’s going to be dressed to the nines, but my goal is to make you a perfect ten. For an ambassador, there’s no better choice for the gala than an outfit that incorporates styles from different nations,” Suki said, scrutinizing the options as she handed Katara one outfit after another. “Let’s start with this one. And how about this one? It totally brings out your eyes. How do you feel about this two-piece?”
“Wow, I didn’t know members of the Imperial Guard had such a flair for fashion behind those uniforms,” Katara quipped, poking her head out from the mound of dresses Suki had piled into her arms.
“Hey, I may be a warrior, but I’m a girl too,” Suki replied with a grin. “When the guards and I aren’t on duty, we love coming here to splurge on some things for ourselves.”
“Of course, you guys deserve it more than anyone. I can’t imagine how stressful it must be to guard the royal palace.”
“Speak for yourself! Remember, we’re here to help you blow off a bit of steam before you head back into the lion’s den,” Suki said as she guided Katara to try the clothes they had picked out. “Just step out whenever you’re ready.”
Katara went through countless outfits as she swam through the delicate linens and silks. She lifted a bright orange dress against herself, its vibrant hue catching the light beautifully, but ultimately placed it down. The next garment, a flowing gown adorned with intricate patterns, felt too heavy against her frame. Each piece was exquisite in its own right, but something was still missing.
“We’re not going to stop until we find the perfect one,” Suki declared, determination in her eyes. “Trust me, I’ve got all day.”
After several more rounds of trying on dresses, Katara finally unearthed one near the bottom of the pile. The fabric shimmered like moonlight as it slipped between her fingers. She watched the delicate layers bloom around her as she spun in the mirror.
“This,” she breathed. “This is the one.”
“That dress is made of one of my favorite fabrics from the Fire Nation,” Suki’s face lit up in approval as she nodded enthusiastically. “It looks absolutely stunning on you. The people at the gala won’t know what hit them.”
Katara gazed at her reflection, a wave of excitement coursing through her. “Suki, I’m so glad you brought me out here. I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Of course, Katara. You’re one of my best friends, I couldn’t just let you isolate yourself in the west wing and sulk all day. Besides, you’re not the only person who found a perfect fit,” she grinned, proudly showing her bags overflowing with new clothing.
As they finished their purchase and stepped out of the boutique, a sudden clamoring erupted from across the street. Katara's attention focused on a small crowd gathering around one of the food stalls. A shopkeeper, red-faced and furious, gripped a small child by the collar of his tattered shirt.
“I caught this little urchin trying to steal my rice cakes!” he shouted, a vein throbbing in his forehead as he shook the boy, who couldn’t have been any older than six.
Without a second thought, Katara pushed her way through the growing crowd to confront the man.
“Let him go!” she exclaimed.
“And why should I? This pest is a thief!” The shopkeeper tightened his grip as the child squirmed in the air, tears brimming in his wide eyes.
“Put the child down,” Suki commanded, tone shifting to one of authority, emphasized by her Kyoshi warrior attire.
The man narrowed his eyes, but begrudgingly released the boy. As soon as he was free, the child snatched a rice cake from the stall and bolted down the marketplace, disappearing into an alleyway in the distance.
“Damn beggars!” The shopkeeper yelled after him as he ran past into an alleyway just past the edge of the market. “Get away and stay away, you runt!”
“Come on, it was a single rice cake,” Katara told the man. “He was only a child, he couldn’t possibly have known any better.”
The vendor scoffed, “If I gave out bits of food to every hungry urchin in Caldera City, there’d be nothing left for my customers, and my entire business would collapse. Believe me, miss, I don’t enjoy seeing these children starve any more than you do.”
“Fine then, I’ll cover the cost of the items he stole. Heck, throw in enough of those to fill that bag,” she said, gesturing to the food on display.
“Katara, what are you doing?” Suki asked.
“That child was clearly starving. I have to find him and the rest of those ‘urchins’ the vendor was talking about. I can’t just stand by and let them go hungry.”
With that, Katara grabbed her bag of food and sprinted off in the direction the boy had fled.
Around the corner, she spotted the child rushing over to a hunched figure, shaking her up and offering the rice cake he had taken from the stall before darting away again.
“Hey! Wait!” Katara called, hurrying over with her bags until she crouched in front of him.
“Hello there, I’m Katara,” she spoke gently to the little boy, who had crouched timidly against the wall. “These are for you and your friends to share.”
The child cautiously peeked into Katara’s bag, and beamed in disbelief upon seeing it filled to the brim with an array of food that seemed almost too good to be true.
“Mama! Mama!” he shouted and dashed towards the hunched figure leaning against the stone wall for support. His mother looked up, relief and gratitude etched on her frail features as he and Katara approached her with the bag of food.
“Thank you for watching over Tai,” she said softly. “He told me you helped him escape from that vendor.” Up close, Katara noticed that the woman couldn’t have been more than a few years older than she, yet her face was wrought with the heavy marks of toil and sorrow.
“Of course, ma’am,” Katara replied, with warmth in her voice. “He was only getting food to feed himself. I paid for what he took, so you don’t have to worry about anything else.”
“That’s a beautiful choice, by the way,” the woman added, glancing at the dress peeking from the bag over Katara’s shoulder. The child poked his head out from behind his mother, curiosity bright in his eyes.
“I’m sorry?”
“That fabric,” she pointed at the dress. “It looks familiar. I was once a seamstress for that shop–at least, before I lost control of my hands.” She held up her trembling fingers for Katara to see.
“I’m so sorry,” Katara wrapped her own hands over the woman’s in firm comfort.
“Could you show the rest of it to me?”
Katara gently pulled the slippery fabric from her bag. The woman’s eyes widened in recognition as she ran her shaky hands across the length of the dress.
“Of course,” she whispered.
“What is it?” Katara prompted.
The woman’s eyes welled with tears, “This was my last creation. I adored that boutique; every piece we crafted was a tribute to the harmony of nations.”
“Your work must have been absolutely beautiful.”
“That job was the last connection I had to my home, Yu Dao,” the woman said, her face stricken with grief. “My son and I were among the first sent back to the Fire Nation after the peace treaty was signed. We were torn from my husband and older daughter, who remained in the colony because they’re both earthbenders.”
Katara was struck with a deep pang of empathy, all too familiar with the pain of a family being torn apart.
“I still remember the last thing he told me before they took me back here,” the woman continued, tears streaming down her face as her memories flooded back. “‘Ria, never forget who you are. I promise I’ll find you again someday.’ That was the first time I ever saw him cry.”
Katara searched for the right words, but nothing came to her. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Ria, offering solace in the silence.
“We in the capital are the lucky ones,” Ria rasped. “At least, that’s what I used to tell myself when we were first sent back here. Before we arrived, I heard stories about those who were sent back to the provinces. They told us tales of famine ravaging villages that were unable to grow food and plagues sweeping through the countryside.”
“That’s terrible,” Katara replied, her heart aching. “Ria, I’m an ambassador, and I want to do everything I can to help you and the other refugees from the colonies.”
“You have a beautiful soul, miss,” Ria said, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you again for looking after Tai and for providing us with this food.”
“Of course, Ria,” Katara gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “I promise I’ll do anything in my power to make some change. I hope to see you again.” She embraced Ria and her son one last time before turning back in the direction she had come.
As she weaved through the bustling market to find Suki, a single thought began to echo in her mind–a whisper from the person she once was. Gradually, it grew louder and louder, taking up more space until it rang clear and powerful at the forefront of her mind.
I will never turn my back on people who need me.
⋆˖⁺‧☽𖤓☾‧⁺˖⋆
The following afternoon, the delegates reconvened to finish off the negotiations. This time, Katara held her head high, projecting an air of determination to signal that she refused to be torn down. As they entered the hall, she passed by Taku, who sneered down at her with a look of disdain.
“What, are you back for another round of humiliation?”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Katara said, brushing past him.
“You Water Tribe peasants never know when to stop, do you?” Taku called after her. Katara shook off his insults and settled into her seat with the rest of the foreign dignitaries as she prepared for the conference to begin.
“For our final gathering, we shall discuss the topic of the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom, particularly Yu Dao,” Minister Chu announced. “Most of the colonials in the newer settlements were happy to accept the terms of the Restoration treaty offering them a place to return to their lives in the Fire Nation. However, as an extension of our country for over a hundred years, its people have become integrated, in a sense, with the culture and peoples of the Earth Kingdom. Without further ado, I present Mayor Morishita of the Yu Dao colony to present his people’s stance.”
“Thank you, Minister Chu,” a large man’s voice rang out across the chamber. His attire caught Katara’s attention–much like the dresses from the market, his robes weren’t distinctly Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom, but rather an unusual fusion of both.
“Yu Dao is a unique place, as I believe you are all aware,” Mayor Morishita began. “My family, along with many other Fire Nation citizens, were among the first settlers of the colony over a hundred years ago, back when it was merely a tiny village nestled at the base of a valley. Over the course of the war, we forged a lasting relationship with the Earth Kingdom people. Today, a majority of families in Yu Dao are blended, with both firebending and earthbending children–my own wife and daughter are earthbenders. Furthermore, our primary export of metalwork has thrived due to the collaboration of expert knowledge from both nations. Both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation citizens share equally in the prosperity gained from our thriving industry, which has led Yu Dao to become one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world. Unfortunately, sending the Fire Nation people back to the home country would completely dismantle the hybrid society we have formed. We respectfully request that you provide an exception for our colony and allow Yu Dao to remain as it is.”
“I agree with Mayor Morishita,” a delegate spoke up. “The influx of refugees is overcrowding the provinces. Food and resources were already scarce before the treaty was enacted, and now those of us in the countryside are burdened with thousands more mouths to feed.”
“I dissent,” another delegate said, rising from her seat. “The terms of the treaty were made clear, and every region was given ample time and resources by the palace to prepare for the arrival of the former colonists.”
“Have you considered the rate of colonist relocation over the past few years?” someone else questioned. “It has been impossible for our farmers to keep up with the demand for extra food in such a short time!”
“Colonists have been moving in and out of the provinces for decades. Why are we only hearing of your struggles now?
“What are you trying to imply?” the first delegate demanded.
“I simply wish to point out how awfully convenient it is that your ‘concerns’ about not having enough resources to feed your province have arisen only after your constituents accused you of embezzling the funds allocated for farming.” The two delegates entered a heated debate, hurling offenses at one another.
“Well, I for one, am simply appalled by the rampant intermarriage between our people and those dirty Earth Kingdom peasants,” Taku’s sarcastic drawl rang through the hall amidst the chaos. He settled back into his seat with a smug look as his remark escalated the debate into all-out fracas amongst the various factions.
“Attention!” Zuko’s commanding voice cut through the chaos, instantly bringing the clamor to a silence. “Thank you for your proposal, Mayor. As the Fire Nation’s first colony in the Earth Kingdom, Yu Dao is certainly a unique place. However, in accordance with the terms of the Harmony Restoration Treaty, our nation cannot continue to occupy another. Allowing Fire Nation colonists to remain in the Earth Kingdom would jeopardize the rapport we have formed with King Kuei and the government in Ba Sing Se. We will continue to work with you to find a solution to present at the Dao Summit.”
“So you truly believe that separating our nations will bring peace?” Katara suddenly interjected. For a split second, a hush fell through the hall.
“If that is what is necessary to return our nations to their natural balance,” Zuko said apathetically.
“You say this, yet you actively join trade deals and form alliances that only serve to further intertwine our countries,” Katara continued. “Fire Lord, keeping the four nations apart may have been feasible before the war started, but it’s simply not possible to return to that after a hundred years.”
“Master Katara, allow me to remind you that the whole purpose of the Harmony Restoration Movement is to return the world to a fully balanced state. Every world leader signed a treaty promising to collaborate and create a solution for true peace. That means restoring the natural state of every nation. Do you mean to tell me that we ought to throw three years of negotiations away just because of one colony’s demands?” Zuko’s jaw tensed.
“What if the colony of Yu Dao wasn’t the exception, but the norm? We ought to foster this unique cross-cultural connection and see what it will yield instead of stifling it.” Katara ignored the whispers coming from the opposite end of the hall. “You ought to preserve Yu Dao’s society by allowing the colonists to stay.”
“Then I raise you this. The people of Yu Dao are Fire Nation citizens, are they not?” He challenged.
“Yes, they are.”
“Precisely. As citizens of this nation, they ought to be back in their home country, not occupying a city that never belonged to our nation in the first place.”
“The Fire Nation hasn’t been their home for nearly a hundred years–”
“For nearly a hundred years, there has been constant infighting between these colonists and the citizens of the Earth Kingdom, whose land had been invaded by my ancestors. It is my duty to undo the damage caused to the Earth Kingdom and make things right.”
“And what about your duty to your own citizens, Fire Lord ?” she said almost mockingly, drawing out the syllables of his title. “The ones who have lived here all their lives? What happens to them when you direct even more of your resources to this movement instead of addressing the problems that this nation has been facing for years?”
“What of them, Master Katara? The very citizens whose affairs I have presided over since the end of the war? The people I have lived amongst for my entire life?”
“Living amongst them is quite the statement,” Katara scoffed. “If you would only take a stroll in the outskirts of Caldera City, or even take a step outside of these walls, perhaps then you would understand.”
“Understand?” he said indignantly. “I am afraid it is you who does not understand.”
Katara shook her head and continued. She recalled Ria and Tai’s hollow faces, barely surviving on the streets, living in squalor only a few miles from the palace.
“Your people are starving and ill. Your provinces are riddled with plague. The individuals in the poorest half of this country can barely survive on their own,” she raised her voice and directed attention to the grand red marble pillars of the vast hall. “You sit here, worrying yourself with arbitrary matters of colonies and tariffs. Meanwhile, you have neglected the heart and backbone of your nation. You have done nothing to address the needs of the common people.”
“You overstep yourself,” his voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Remember your place at this table. I would think twice before speaking any further.”
An attendant rushed over and hurriedly whispered something into Zuko’s ear. The Fire Lord and a few other delegates resumed the discussion with Mayor Morishita as if nothing had happened. But for Katara, the rest of the conference was a haze. Rage and humiliation swirled inside her, clouding her thoughts.
“...I believe that is all we had to discuss in preparation for the Dao Summit,” Zuko’s announcement reverberated through the hall. “The final session of our conference is now officially concluded. On behalf of the Fire Nation, I extend my gratitude for your invaluable contributions to its success. Tomorrow evening, before we depart to Ba Sing Se for the commencement of the Dao Summit, we shall gather once more for the Fire Lily Festival. It is my honor to invite each of you, as esteemed guests of the palace, to witness the yearly blooming of the fire lilies and celebrate this occasion together.
The dignitaries murmured amongst themselves as they filed out through the towering doors of the conference hall, leaving Katara alone, frozen at the edge of her seat. She shook herself out of her daze and started towards the door.
“Katara, stay,” Zuko’s voice rang out, breaking through the silence of the now-empty chamber.
She froze mid-step but refused to turn and face him.
“What? The conference is over. I don’t have any other reason to be here.”
“That was an order, Katara. We need to talk.”
An order? She stiffened, her disbelief morphing into anger.
“About what, Fire Lord ?” she spat, his title slipping from her lips with a sharp edge. “What more could we possibly have to discuss?”
“I want to know what you’re doing here as a diplomat. Was the Water Tribe unable to find any eligible representatives? Or did they just decide they couldn’t deal with your irrational temper anymore?” Zuko’s gaze burned into her back, his words slicing into her deepest insecurities.
She hesitated for a moment too long before she finally spun around to face him.
“What, are you finally at a loss for words?” his words stung like smoke against her skin as he smoldered above her. “Ironic, considering it seems to me that you were sent here because you had too much to say.”
“Allow me to remind you, Fire Lord,” she spat, her voice laced with venom, “that you are the one who asked to speak with me in the first place. I am here temporarily as an ambassador, and that’s all you need to concern yourself with. Or is there more that you wanted to hear from this Southern upstart?” She drew out the insult, mocking the very words used against her and took a step closer, challenging him.
For the briefest moment, Zuko’s face flashed in surprise at her comment before the impassive mask slipped over his features again.
“What exactly did you call me here for?” she pressed. “Do you have an actual issue with my presence, or are you just upset at the fact that I am able to form opinions that seem to upset your precious advisors?”
Zuko narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze sharp and unyielding, daring her to back down. Katara was now close enough to see the whiteness of his knuckles as he gripped his fists, and decided to persist with her questioning. His carefully composed superiority was a brittle facade, and she would keep pushing until she could see it crack.
“What was it Taku called me?” her voice trembled with fury. “A ‘backwater Southern upstart?’”
Zuko’s expression froze in shock for the briefest moment.
Katara stepped even closer, still refusing to retreat. The words hung in the air like a weapon she refused to lower.
Your move.
Zuko’s jaw clenched, a crack in his collected exterior, but he remained stoic and kept his amber eyes locked on hers.
“So this is why you’re upset,” he scoffed. “You were eavesdropping.”
“Well, it was pretty hard not to, with your advisors demeaning me loudly enough for the entire diplomatic wing to hear.” She glared up at him. “I mean, what kind of leader enables this? No wonder this country is so dysfunctional, you can’t even get your own advisors under control! You’re just a boy playing king–”
“You had no right!” Zuko suddenly snapped, his chest heaving with every furious, ragged breath. “You had absolutely no business listening in on a private meeting between myself and my advisors. Did you even consider that, or were you too busy nursing your wounded ego from that failure of a proposition? And by the way, I never– ”
“You never spoke up against Taku, that’s what. Or any of them, for that matter. You sat there while they all belittled me, my ideas, my tribe, and said nothing. And here I thought we were friends,” Katara’s words dripped with vitriol. “You Fire Nation snobs could at least pretend to give a crap about the people from the countries you’re negotiating with.”
“Just face it, Katara. You’re outclassed,” he shook his head bitterly. “Just look at the other nations, these diplomats have been working for years to negotiate this peace.”
“And that is what makes my contribution insignificant? Because I’m not some well-connected aristocrat who happened to be born in the right place at the right time? I thought the position of ‘Ambassador to the Fire Nation’ was a real role, not part of some vanity project where you pretend to give a damn about ‘peace’ and ‘harmony’ or whatever else you’ve told the other nations.”
“Perhaps it would be a real role if your tribe cared enough about this conference to send a real diplomat to represent themselves,” he snarled.
A real diplomat? How dare he?
“What is your problem?” Katara asked. “You, of all people, should know how hard I’ve worked, how much I’ve sacrificed to end this war that your family started. Let me remind you, it wasn’t those stuck-up delegates who brought peace to the world!”
“Katara, I’m not here to undermine what you’ve done to help end the war, or say that you don't belong at these negotiations,” his expression faltered for a moment. “I know what you’ve sacrificed.”
“Then what, Fire Lord?” she demanded sharply. “You knew damn well what you meant. Why else would you sit there and say nothing while they mocked my tribe and belittled everything I stand for? Is this your idea of diplomacy? Is this how you treat your friends?”
“You can’t stand there accusing me of these things,” Zuko hissed, his voice tense with frustration. “You, of all people, should know me better than that. I am not my father.”
For a fleeting moment of vulnerability, his fierce expression softened. Katara caught a glimpse of something familiar–something buried deep beneath years of distance and duty. His amber eyes, one side spotless, the other forever scarred, pulled her back into a memory she thought she had left behind long ago. It was as if she were back in the cavern beneath Ba Sing Se, with nothing but the green glow of crystals flickering around them. She could almost feel the roughness of his skin under her fingertips when she made the promise to heal him.
Her hand moved instinctively, slowly reaching for the left side of his face. Almost imperceptibly, he leaned forward, as if welcoming her touch. She felt the faint warmth of his breath brush her skin, and for a fleeting heartbeat, the world seemed to fall still. But then, like a wave crashing against the shore, reality rushed in. The air became stifling, suddenly too heavy to breathe, and the space between them felt dangerously small. Just before her fingertips grazed his skin, Katara jerked her hand back as if burned. She stepped away quickly, steadying herself as she shook off the haze of the moment. Instantly, their eyes darted away, focusing on anything in the room except each other.
A sharp reminder echoed in her mind. The man standing before her was not the same boy she once knew. They were no longer children bound by the deluded hope that they could fix each other’s wounds. She clenched her fists at her sides, refusing to let memories of a better time cloud her judgment. He was the Fire Lord, after all, a seasoned head of state who had grown into his role, who now valued his power over his past, who had let his advisors tear her down without so much as a word in her defense.
“Know you?” Katara’s voice was a low, dangerous whisper, each word laced with bitterness as she locked her icy gaze onto his. “You have no right to say that–not after everything that’s happened over the past weeks.”
She paused momentarily as her mind raced to catch up with the torrent of anger roaring within her.
“I don’t know you . Not anymore," she shook her head. "The Zuko I knew would have done anything to defend his friends. I can’t recognize this person you’ve become. Look at you, sitting so high and mighty on your golden throne, with those ridiculous flames separating you from the rest of the world as if you’re some untouchable ruler."
“Face it, Fire Lord. You look exactly like your father.”
Without waiting for a response, Katara turned on her heel and stormed out of the hall, her final words hanging heavy as they echoed against the crimson columns.
Notes:
So sorry for not updating for a while but I really hope the wait was worth it! I got into an accident a couple months ago and I’ve been recovering from surgery for the past several weeks… a girls shopping trip would do wonders for me right now. I think we all need a friend like Suki in our lives.
This was honestly my favorite chapter to write so far and it ended up taking MUCH longer than I had planned. But that’s only because I really needed to do my idea justice. I’ve been so excited to get to Z and K clashing and I have A LOT more planned for the fic soon! Who do you think is in the right, Zuko or Katara? Honestly, I'm still going back and forth myself. Comments are very welcome, hearing your feedback about the chapter always makes my day! And a huge thank you to my wonderful beta readers!!
Until next time :))