It took three days for Katara's wounds to heal. Thanks to Tylee, she couldn't use her waterbending, so her wounds had taken longer to mend. At that moment, she was changing clothes with the help of a young woman who had become her lady-in-waiting since she arrived in that room. Ayu assisted her in dressing and bathing, as Katara had initially been too weak to do it herself.
As Katara removed her clothing, she looked at herself in the mirror. When she turned around, she saw the scars from her torture. She felt upset; if she had her waterbending, all traces of those wounds would have vanished. For now, she would have to settle for the fact that they had healed a little. At least they no longer hurt as much as they had in the first few days.
Ayu applied ointment to the wounds and then covered them with bandages, repeating the process for her wrists. When she finished, she dressed Katara in a typical Fire Nation outfit, but the colors were not the usual shades of red; instead, they were shades of blue and turquoise. Since arriving, Katara had not worn anything that represented the Fire Nation, which felt extremely strange to her. Even her room was not as she had expected. It was luxurious and ostentatious, yet devoid of red or the emblem of the nation, save for the bars that served as a constant reminder that it was a prison. It was full of comforts, which felt unsettling to her. Something was wrong with all of this.
"Ayu, do you know why they have me here?" Katara asked.
"I think the Fire Lord already knows your identity," Ayu whispered as she finished fixing Katara's hair.
"That could be a problem."
"I think it's for the best. Otherwise, I would still be in that dungeon, suffering, or worse, dead," the young woman said, unable to hold back her tears.
Ayu and Katara were the same age, and although Ayu was from the Fire Nation, she had earned the waterbender's trust. She was, in a way, an ally.
"No, Ayu, don't complain. If they have me here, and if it is as you say because they already know who I am, it means they're either going to kill me later or take advantage of my position." In a lower tone, Katara asked, "What do you know about them?"
"Everything is ready, but the date is still pending," Ayu replied with the same caution that Katara had shown.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, startling them both. For a moment, they breathed nervously. Did they hear her? Katara instructed Ayu to open the door, and she complied. A soldier stood outside.
"The Fire Lord wishes to see you," he announced.
Katara took a deep breath; it would be the first time she would see the Fire Lord.
In a separate building made of stone and rock, a cloaked stranger walked through the dimly lit hallways illuminated by torches.
"Who's there?" a guard ordered.
The stranger merely raised his head to be acknowledged.
"Prince Zuko."
Immediately, the guard grabbed the prince by the neck, slamming him against the wall. "I want to see a prisoner. You will tell me where he is and you will not say anything to anyone."
The guard led the prince to the location of the man he sought. The iron door opened, revealing another cage made of bars and metal within the same prison. There sat the man Zuko was looking for.
"Uncle," Zuko said, leaning down to examine the decrepit appearance of the man he once admired. "I brought you some plum bread. I know it's not your favorite, but it's better than the food here." He placed a small wrapped basket between the bars, bringing it closer to the man. "I know I have everything I longed for, but I don't feel safe; no, I don't feel the satisfaction I should feel. I think the Avatar is alive, but that woman hasn't told me anything. I think I'm going crazy. Please, Uncle, I need your advice," Zuko shouted desperately, but the only response he received was the man turning his back on him.
"FINE!" he shouted. "If that's what you want, then stay here forever, you decrepit old man! You could have come back with me as a hero. Why didn't you take my side? Now you'll stay here to rot!"
With that final cry, he left the cell, furious with himself and with his uncle. He convinced himself that his uncle was to blame for his predicament, not him, even though deep down he could not bear the guilt.
Zuko exited the basement as if he were being chased, taking a different path to enter the palace. Before leaving, he removed his cloak and placed it where he always did, applying pressure in the right spot before leaving the dark passage. He walked as if nothing had happened until he was intercepted by a guard.
"Your Highness, Prince Zuko."
Zuko turned around.
"You are expected in the Fire Hall."
Leaving behind the despair he carried, he headed to his father's chamber.
Zuko was shocked; it had been a long time since he had been in that place. The last time he had been marked, and now he was called to be there. He touched his scar.
Inside, generals and high-ranking officers of the army sat alongside powerful nobles. At the head of the table was the Fire Lord. Zuko took his place at his father's right side, with Azula at his left. Once everyone was present, the Fire Lord spoke.
"As many of you know, the Avatar is dead. There are no more obstacles in our paths, and with the fall of Ba Sing Se, there is no doubt that we will rule the three nations completely."
"There are still cities to conquer," one of the generals declared. "Not everything in the Earth Kingdom belongs to us."
"That will be fixed soon enough," Azula exclaimed. "When the Great Comet arrives, we will harness its power and destroy everything in our path. What better way to build a new nation from the ashes?"
Ozai felt proud of his daughter; he had supported her opinion from the beginning.
"The North Pole is still there. They weren't very successful with the conquest last time," another general pointed out.
"They are a tough group to beat. Even with the power of the comet, that does not guarantee our success."
"But we have something that can give us the advantage. A few days ago, when my sons returned, they brought with them a prisoner."
Zuko paid close attention to his father's words.
"She was one of the Avatar's companions. We know there are resistance groups, and we thought we could get information from her, but as you know, they are quite stubborn," the Fire Lord exclaimed with amusement. "Even so, I learned that she, in particular, is a key piece to achieving victory in this war."
Leaving everyone in uncertainty, the Fire Lord continued. "I present to you the princess of the Southern Water Tribe." He extended his hand toward the entrance door, and everyone turned to look.
The doors swung open, and Katara stood in the doorway. She wore a dress resembling those of the Fire Nation, but in blue tones. Unlike other dresses, this one featured details of flowers and petals in lighter shades than the fabric, and it had a wider skirt. Her loose hair was adorned with brooches of white and blue flowers arranged on one side of her face. Light makeup and pink lips completed the appearance of the young princess.
As she entered, Katara truly caught the attention of everyone present. They gazed at her in amazement. Though she was only fifteen years old, it was clear that she was dazzlingly beautiful and that she would be even more so in the future.
Zuko couldn't believe his eyes. He had fought her for a long time, and they had faced each other countless times, but now she was unrecognizable. After getting over the shock, he began to understand his father's earlier words. Was she really a princess?
Katara felt all eyes on her. Though uncomfortable, she held her head high as she walked to the seat designated for her at the head of the table. She had listened to the Fire Lord's introduction. For a long time, she and her friends had been pursued by the Fire Nation, and now she found herself in front of the leaders of that nation. She looked at Ozai with barely concealed contempt. Her gaze also fell on the prince. In the end, she had achieved what she wanted, she thought to herself. Then she turned to Azula.
No one spoke. It was the Fire Lord who broke the silence. "Welcome to the Fire Nation, Princess," Ozai proclaimed.
Katara didn't respond. Was he joking? He was welcoming her so politely after everything she had endured at his hands just days ago. This only made her angrier.
"Many do not know this, but the princess is a waterbender," the Fire Lord continued.
"I didn't know there were waterbenders," said a man. "As far as I know, only men can become waterbenders."
Katara was surprised they were aware of that fact.
"That only increases her value," another man said.
"What good does that do us?" Zuko exclaimed. "Whether she's a teacher or not, that won't give us the key to winning over the North Pole. She's from the South; you said it yourself, Father."
"My father hasn't told us the best part yet," Azula said. "The princess is the fiancée of the leader of the North Pole's son; she will become the next queen."
Zuko didn't know what to say after hearing his sister. It was all very revealing to him. He, who had spent so much time behind her, had never known. But did he need to know? He had only focused on capturing the Avatar, not on the identities of his companions; he only knew they were from the Water Tribe, and that was it.
"If you plan to use me to force the North Pole to surrender, you'd better kill me now, because you won't succeed," Katara said confidently.
"It's not just surrender we can get from you, princess," Azula replied. "You are a symbol of our victory. If it becomes known that we have captured you, it will only mean that the Water Tribe will suffer the same fate as you. There will be no hope left for anyone—even if you were to die," she added, finally looking at Zuko. He held her gaze, knowing his sister's intentions.
Katara glared at the Fire Princess, already knowing they would try to use her. For a long time, she had hated being treated that way, but in this particular case, she hated it even more.
Her presentation concluded, she was sent back to her room. Upon arriving, she let out a scream of fury. She truly hated everything that was happening. Even if she didn't want to admit it, the Fire Nation was growing stronger, and there really didn't seem to be any hope left. Her chest tightened at the thought of Aang.
"Aang, I really hope you didn't die." Unable to control herself, she let a few tears fall.
"Princess…" Ayu approached her. "Please don't cry."
"I'm sorry, Ayu." She wiped her tears. "I didn't mean to worry you."
"Princess… is it true? Is it true that the Avatar died? That Prince Zuko killed him?"
Katara was shocked. Zuko killed the Avatar? That was a lie.
"Ayu, who said Prince Zuko killed the Avatar?"
"Everyone has been saying that since he arrived. That's why he was able to return—because he had killed him. Is that true, princess? Is the Avatar really dead?"
"I don't know, Ayu, but we mustn't lose hope. I know I saved him that day, but I'm not sure."
The young woman seemed to hold onto a little more hope. But Katara couldn't understand why they were saying Zuko had killed him when it was Azula who had actually done it.
In the Fire Lord's hall, they were still planning the attack and what to do with the princess.
"The best thing would be to exhibit her," proposed one of the generals. "That way, everyone would know that we possess the princess of the Water Tribe. The rumors would spread, and they would soon reach the ears of the Water Masters, and from there, everything would be easy."
"You are absolutely right," another supported. "We will show the world that we have not only defeated the last free city of the Earth Kingdom but also that we have the Water Princess, sealing its fate."
"In that case, we will hold a dance in your honor," assured the Fire Lord.
"Those from the Water Tribe will have no choice but to surrender."
"And if they don't?" Zuko commented. "If it's as the princess said, they won't mind sacrificing her just for the well-being of everyone."
"The Avatar has fallen; it's only a matter of time before everyone becomes part of the Fire Nation. We will offer them a deal they can't refuse: their surrender and the promise that we won't destroy their country in exchange for the safety and well-being of the princess," Ozai assured.
"But if she dies…" Azula added, "it will only be the trigger for war. We will show that we are not merciful and that anyone who does not wish to cooperate with us will face the same fate. We must not show compassion, Father."
"Yes, I understand, but she is very valuable, Azula—a jewel to be treasured."
The Fire Lord's gaze did not go unnoticed by the young prince. Azula looked at her brother with amusement.
"Would you mind if I kept her, my lord?" a man asked, capturing everyone's attention. "Just as you said, she is a very valuable jewel, and you won't mind if others also 'value' her."
The double intentions were easily noticeable, not only to the Fire Lord but also to the others present.
"I think it wouldn't be fair for only you to 'value' her, General Hiug," another commented.
"It seems that you also want her, Commander Feng," another one faced him.
"Who would have thought the princess would become so popular?" Azula added with indifference and amusement.
"Everyone wants her, huh?" said the Fire Lord.
"I love her."
They turned to see who had spoken.
"You too, Zuko," Azula said. "I didn't think you had such tastes."
"I was the one who killed the Avatar and brought her to the Fire Nation," Zuko replied confidently, facing his sister. "I deserve her."
No one could object to the prince. The Fire Lord saw the determination in his son and couldn't help but feel proud.
Azula noticed that her lie was benefiting her brother far too much, but she didn't give it much thought; she could keep a dirty waterbender.
"Well, I think you've earned it," Ozai finally declared.
That topic was not brought up again, and only trivial matters remained. When they finished, everyone stood up. As the Fire Lord left, he called for his son. Zuko approached his father, and they walked through the palace halls together.
"The determination you showed just now is the right one, son. Just learn to use it correctly."
The prince couldn't believe it—his own father was flattering him?
"I didn't want to give the princess to anyone, but I can't create favoritism among my generals by giving her to just one. But as you said, she belongs to you by right. You've earned her."
Zuko laughed to himself at that comment. He didn't want anything from her; it disgusted him to know the intentions of those men. Besides, he hadn't been thinking when he said that; it had been an impulse.
"She will be in your care," the Fire Lord continued. After that, he consulted with Zuko about the decisions made in the hall a moment ago, and Zuko offered his honest opinion.
In the prison, a man entered to deliver dinner to one of the most important prisoners. When he opened the door, he saw the old man, disheveled and with a blank look on his face.
"Look at you. You were once the great general, the Dragon of the West—one of the most respected and feared in the Fire Nation." He dropped the tray of food, watching in amusement as the once-great general scrambled for scraps on the floor. "Now you are a nobody."
He left the small prison. The prisoner, now alone, removed the top of his garment, revealing not the body of an old man but a mature and muscular chest. He gripped one of the bars of his cage and began to raise and lower his body weight, alternating hands after a while. The Dragon of the West was returning.
Zuko had gotten what he wanted; during the meeting, he had been listened to and taken into account. What more could he say when he proclaimed the Water Tribe princess as his own? For a moment, he felt like the perfect prince—the son his father would be proud of—but deep down, he questioned whether this was truly what he wanted.
He spent the rest of the afternoon lost in those thoughts.
"You look tired."
He turned to see who was speaking. It was Mai.
"You should take some time off, don't you think?"
Zuko sighed; he knew Mai was interested in him, but he wasn't interested in her.
"I can help you relax," she said, approaching him. When she got close, she kissed him.
He didn't push her away. Perhaps he did want some relaxation after all. Mai began to caress him, her hands moving to his chest and then lower. Zuko reacted at that moment, pulling away from her. His body was tired, but that wasn't how he wanted to relax. At least, not with her.
"Sorry, Mai… I'm not in the mood for this."
He turned around, leaving her with a bewildered expression and words unspoken. It was the second time she had been rejected, and it felt humiliating.
Zuko didn't want to give Mai's crush any leeway. Though she had offered comfort, he knew it wouldn't go any further. Unknowingly, he found himself approaching the chambers of the Water Tribe princess. He moved quietly, so the guards didn't notice him, allowing him to overhear a conversation they were having.
"She is very beautiful."
"Don't even say it."
"Do you think the Fire Lord will make her his concubine?"
"You have many to choose from."
"But not one from the Water Nation."
"Very tempting, right?"
"If they hadn't moved her, maybe other men would have already touched her."
"Princess Azula had given us permission to do whatever we wanted with her, but that same night she was taken away from there. We could have enjoyed her," the guards smiled maliciously.
Zuko, who had overheard everything, angrily marched toward the guards. Upon seeing him, they stood up straight and bowed.
Yes, I understand, but she is very valuable, Azula, a jewel to be valued.
The Fire Lord's gaze did not go unnoticed by the young prince. Azula looked at her brother with amusement.
"Would you mind if I could keep it, my lord?" A man who made that comment caught everyone's attention. "Just as you said, it is a very valuable jewel."
The double intentions were easily noticeable, not only by the Fire Lord but also by the others present.
"I think it would not be fair that only you 'value' her, General Hiug," commented another.
"It seems that you also want her, Commander Feng," another one faced him.
"Who would have thought that the princess would become so popular?" Azula added with indifference and amusement.
"Everyone wants her, huh?" said the Fire Lord.
"I love her."
They turned to see the owner of those words.
"You too, Zuko," Azula said. "I didn't think you had such tastes."
"I was the one who captured the avatar and brought her to the Fire Nation," he faced his sister confidently. "I deserve her."
No one could object to the prince; the Fire Lord saw the determination in his son and felt a surge of pride.
Azula saw that her lie was benefiting her brother too much. But she didn't give it much importance; she could keep a dirty waterbender.
"Well, I think you've earned it," Ozai finally declared.
That topic was not brought up again, and only trivial matters remained. When they finished, everyone stood up. When the Fire Lord left, he called his son. Zuko approached his father, and they walked through the halls of the palace.
"The determination you showed just now is the right one, son. Just learn to use it correctly."
The prince couldn't believe it; his own father was flattering him?
"I didn't want to give the princess to anyone, but I can't create favoritism among my generals by giving her to just one. But as you said, she belongs to you by right. You've earned her."
Zuko laughed to himself at that comment. He didn't want anything from her; it disgusted him to know the intentions of those men. Besides, he wasn't thinking when he said that; it was just on impulse.
"She will be in your care," the Fire Lord continued speaking. After that, he consulted with him about the decisions made in the hall a moment ago, and Zuko gave his honest opinion.
In the prison, a man came in to give dinner to one of the most important prisoners. When he opened the door, he saw the old man, disheveled and with a blank look on his face.
"Look at you, before you were the great general, the Dragon of the West, one of the most respected and feared in the Fire Nation," he dropped the tray with the food, watching amused as the once great general approached it desperately and took some of the food from the floor. "Now you are a nobody."
He left the small prison. The prisoner, seeing himself alone, took off the top of his garment, revealing not the body of an old man but a mature and muscular chest. With one hand he held onto one of the bars of his cage and began to raise and lower the weight of his body, exchanging hands after a while. The Dragon of the West was returning.
Zuko had gotten what he wanted. During the meeting, he had been listened to and taken into account. What more could he say when he proclaimed the princess of the Water Tribe as his own? For a moment he felt like the perfect prince, the son his father would be proud of. But was everything he fought for really what he wanted?
He spent the rest of the afternoon wandering in those thoughts.
"You look tired."
He turned to see who was speaking to him. It was Mai.
"You should take some time off, don't you think?"
Zuko sighed; he knew Mai was after him, but he wasn't interested in her.
"I can help you relax," she approached him, leaning in closer.
He didn't push her away, but he realized he wasn't in the mood for that.
"Sorry, Mai... I'm not in the mood for this."
He turned around, leaving the girl with a bewildered expression. For the second time, she had been rejected, and it was humiliating.
Without realizing it, he found himself approaching the chambers of the Water Tribe princess. He crept close enough to overhear a conversation the guards were having.
"She is very beautiful."
"Don't even say it."
"Do you think the Fire Lord will make her his concubine?"
"You have many to choose from."
"But not one from the Water Nation."
"Very tempting, right?"
Zuko, who had heard everything, angrily arrived at the guards' post. Upon seeing him, they stood up properly and bowed.
"You two will be dismissed immediately! Call other guards to take your place," the prince ordered with obvious annoyance. Then he entered the girl's room.
The guards were stunned by the prince's order.
When he entered, he didn't find the waterbender. Alarmed, he wondered if she had escaped. How had she managed it? He wanted to call the guards but remembered he had just removed them from their post. He cursed his decision and searched the entire room for clues. He approached the window, but everything seemed in order.
Then he noticed something he had overlooked. Behind a screen, with clothes hanging from it, there was an entrance covered by a curtain of thick threads. He approached and peeked inside.
What he saw made him stop in the doorway.
Her hair was up, her body was wet, and she was dressed in a robe that hung loosely over her shoulders. The steam from the hot water surrounded her, creating a hazy image.
The sound of wood hitting as he entered made Katara turn around.
"You came back soon, Ayu," she said, only to find Prince Zuko, shock and surprise evident on both their faces.
"I'm... sorry, I didn't know," Zuko excused himself, turning red and looking at the floor. Suddenly, a soap dish hit him in the face.
"HOW DARE YOU!?" Katara shouted furiously as she finished putting on her robe.
"It was an accident! I didn't mean to—" Zuko began, but another item flew toward him, causing him to dodge.
"You're nothing but a—!"
Before she could finish, Zuko lunged forward.
Their confrontation turned chaotic, as they both struggled. Zuko tried to explain while Katara defended herself.
Eventually, the commotion led to a moment where Zuko caught Katara's wrist, but she quickly retaliated. In a flurry of movement, they both ended up in an awkward position, leaving them momentarily stunned.
"Listen, I didn't mean to invade your space," Zuko said, his voice more serious now.
"Then what were you doing here?" Katara shot back.
He took a deep breath. "I thought you were in danger."
The tension shifted, and Katara felt the heat of the moment.
"Just stay away from me," she said, her tone softer but still fierce.
Zuko stepped back, recognizing the situation had escalated too far.
"What just happened?" Zuko asked, confusion washing over him as he realized how close they had come to crossing a line neither of them intended to.
Katara mirrored his confusion. "I... I don't know."
They stood there, both unsure of what to say next, the air thick with unspoken words.
[T/N: I will only post one chapter on here a week because I have a Job that takes up a lot of my time, thought I will try to get a backlog over on a Patreon for you guys. If enough people join then maybe I will be able to afford taking fewer hours at work so that I can spend more time doing this. If you liked this chapter then leave a comment, drop some stones, and write a review. If you find any mistakes please point them out, I did this late at night so my mind isn't that sharp. If you want to read up to 3 chapters ahead for just $3 then check out my Patreon. ]
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