Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Prophesied ❯ Let Me Teach You ( Chapter 13 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 13: Let Me Teach You

The sun should've been setting but Ursa could not see it through the rain. It didn't matter thought, she had the Prophecy. So much rested on what was written here.

As she opened the scroll, the man's neat handwriting was easy to discern, but it was still written in the language of the ancients.Ursa nearly laughed, had she really expected a commoner like him to be schooled in a language she barely knew herself?

However, she knew enough to be able to translate the Prophecy and she settled down to work. It took her nearly three hours, and it was well into the night when she finished.

Sitting back, she began to read what she had written without a second thought. She'd waited so long.

Dream for one forgotten

Open to the light

Take what must be taken

Deny not the truth

Hold not to the times

Fear not the passage

Hold back not the rage

Pray for one whose time has come

Give not what cannot be lost

Ursa stared at the paper, tears filling her eyes. That just couldn't be it…it just couldn't. It didn't name the Four, and it didn't even mention the Son of Agni. All this time, wasted, and then hersobs caught in her throat as her heart remembered.

…Be strong when faced with Fate…

She had a letter to write and quickly cleared the desk of every paper save the Prophecy. She needed help.

Katara carefully cleaned the fish with Zuko's knife while he heated the water to cook it. She brought the fish to him where he knelt by the fire and he expertly carved the meat from the tiny bones, placed it in the small gourd they used, and added a few spices he'd procured from the land around them.

While Zuko was doing this, Katara cleaned the knife and then sat down near him beside the fire. She bit her lip, but she wanted to know, and the only way to know is to ask.

“Zuko…”

He glanced at her and then returned his gaze to what he was doing and she knew she could continue.

“How does capturing Aang restore your honor?”

“You already asked me that.”

“And you said you'd tell me later. Will you tell me now?”

He sighed, added something to the gourd and sat back on his heels, letting his hands rest relaxed on his thighs. His gaze turned upward, and then he closed his eyes. For a moment, she believed he wouldn't tell her; postpone it a little while longer.

“I will tell you, but you must not say anything until I am done.” He drew a shuddering breath. “The answer to your question is coupled with another event that pains me even to think about, so I must finish unhindered or I won't be able to.”

She nodded, and it was as if he had seen her, for he began.

“When I was fourteen, I joined my uncle in a war chamber as my father and several of his generals were discussing the next move in the war. One of the generals wanted to use a new regiment to distract the Earth Kingdom's main force while our best moved in. I thought this was wrong, to sacrifice these warriors, and I spoke out against his plan, but it was not my place to speak. In doing this, I disrespected the general and the only way to solve this was an Agni Kai, a Fire Duel.”

Zuko straightened as he sat, and Katara waited breathlessly for him to continue.

“I looked at the general and declared that I was not afraid. I wasn't, but what I did not understand was that by speaking out in the Fire Lord's chamber that I had not disrespected the general but the Fire Lord himself…”

Zuko took another breath to steady his reserve. Katara stared at him wide-eyes, unable to believe until he said it.

“I would have to duel my own father.”

It was several minutes before Zuko continued, and when he did, his voice had a tremble to it that told Katara just how much it was taking for him to tell her the next part.

“No one told me that I was going to duel my father, and I didn't know until I turned around and saw him. I couldn't even move; I couldn't fight him, I just couldn't. I tried everything I knew, I apologized, I begged for mercy, I…”

He turned his head. “It did nothing. He said…He said…'You will learn respect and suffering will be your teacher.' Then…he…”

Zuko raised a hand and touched his scar, and Katara gasped.

“No,” she couldn't help it, it slipped out. “Not your own father…”

He nodded and then continued. “That was the last time I saw my father. When I was laying in the healer's wing, in shock and in pain, a soldier, a soldier, came and told me that by refusing to fight I had shown great weakness and I was banished forthwith from the Fire Nation. I could only return if I captured the Avatar. If I returned without him, I would be arrested and executed as a traitor.”

This came out in a rush, as if Zuko just didn't want to think about it. Slow tears cascaded their way from Katara's sapphire eyes.

“You see Katara, capturing the Avatar is all I have left.”

“No!” She nearly shouted it and Zuko looked at her. “There's another way!”

Katara had been thinking about it since Shasa had first told her that she would marry Zuko.

“You could join us!”

He gaped at her. “What? Has the heat gotten to you?”

“No,” she shook her head. “It could work. I always knew you had a good heart and you just confirmed it. You could join us, teach Aang fire-bending, and when he defeats Ozai, you'll be Fire Lord. You're the heir! The Fire Nation would have to…”

He rested his elbow on his knee and then his head on his hand. “Not really. My sister could take the throne.”

Katara sat back. “From what I've seen of the Fire Nation, would they really pick a princess over a prince?”

He smirked. “It's doubtful.”

“See?”

Zuko said nothing but returned to the fish.

Nothing more was said as they ate and eventually they bedded down together in the hut. Zuko sat with his back against the wall, prepared to sleep that way when Katara took up the tiger-skin blanket and lay down next to him.

She drew the blanket around them both as he watched her, wide-eyed, and she rested her head against his shoulder, letting her eyes drift shut. Slowly, ever so slowly, he placed an arm around her, drawing her closer, and she didn't mind.

The silence drew out, and she was more afraid to break it than she was to let it go.

“Katara?”

She let out a slow breath. “Yes?”

“Before…you said you would never leave me…”

She smiled, he'd been listening. “Yes, I did, and I won't. That's what…”

She paused. She had been going to say friends, but really, was he her friend? This was Zuko! But then again, he'd been so different since they'd come here.

“That's what friends do Zuko.”

Zuko's eyes snapped open from where they had rested moments before.

She couldn't have said that! His mind screamed, and yet she had.

“Friends?”

She nodded against him. “Friends, just friends mind you, despite what Agni and Shasa said.”

I love Aang…

He very nearly laughed. “I agree.”

This was said in a rush as if he'd wanted to say it for a while; Katara smiled and was very nearly gone when a few minutes later, just as she drifted off to sleep, she heard Zuko whisper, his voice sleep-laden.

“Friends.”

Mika got up and curled up in the small space between them on top of the blanket. Zuko placed a hand on the young tiger cub's back, and soon they were all asleep.

Stars danced across the sky in their own shimmering light, responding to the movements of their mistress. Keilantra moved across the fathomless depths of the sky in nothing more than ecstasy. She loved her world and every part of it.

She saw a bison soaring beneath her, and transformed into a black hawk the size of a dragon and flew down to investigate. In the saddle of the bison was a young Water Tribe boy who kept muttering in his sleep and a young Air Nomad with the traditional blue tattoos evident on his hands, head, and feet.

Instead of bothering those sleeping, she moved to the head of the bison and landed next to a girl who appeared to be a mixture of Earth and Air Nations. The girl smiled at her when she landed.

“Hello Keilantra.”

She nodded to the young Kioko before winging on her way. Kioko smiled as she watched the black hawk disappear into the night then returned to guiding Appa to her home.

It wouldn't be much longer, and then she could see her father again. Kioko urged Appa on, excited. It had been so long since she'd seen her father.

Suddenly, she felt something in her heart, a plaintive cry.

“The dragons!” she cried out.

Aang sat up when Kioko cried out. “Kioko! What's wrong?”

“The dragons!” she shouted again and she pulled on the reins. Instantly the huge bison turned and began to fly directly towards the rising sun.

“Dragons?” Sokka woke up shouting.

“I thought we were looking for your village!”

Kioko turned around and glared at Sokka. “If the dragons get loose this whole world will be in trouble!”

Aang stared at her. “What are you talking about? Avatar Roku had a dragon and it wasn't a problem.”

Kioko flinched.

“You don't understand! Dragons don't like to be used. Once they would form mutual bonds with benders, but then Solzen used those in his army that were bonded to reach the Air Temples and wipe out the Nomads. Dragons sought a way to get away from the humans, for they could not stand the slaughter, but they were dependent upon us. They were dying, killing themselves rather than killing others. But Agni stepped in and saved several hatches of eggs before the adults could kill them. He took them to his home and raised them and they live in a place that no one without a deep affiliation with the Spirit World can reach. Right now, they're in trouble, I don't know why, but I know who will!”

And so Aang allowed her to guide Appa towards the rising sun. He didn't know what she was doing or why, but the Kioko he'd known for the past few days was no longer there. She sat on the bison's head, glaring forward, undaunted by the growing rays.

He couldn't see it, but the emerald on her ring had begun to glow sharply as they grew closer to the sun.

“Hold on to something!” she cried.

The world grew in front of them grew fuzzy, as if a heat wave were passing, and it was believable given their proximity to the sun, but then before them, through the wave, appeared a huge golden palace which Kioko was flying them directly towards.

Spires of crystal rose into the sky against a clear background, the sun that shouldn't been directly behind them appeared far away, and the searing heat of moments before now felt like mid-spring. They landed on a patch of grass in front of the palace that didn't seem to have any support to it, and the cascades of a waterfall disappeared into nothingness.

Sokka and Aang looked around in awe while Kioko was already halfway up the steps.

“How is this possible?” The young Avatar inquired.

Kioko smiled. “We are on the border of the Spirit World and Aye, in the palace of Agni. We are inside the sun.”

Katara woke and walked out to find Zuko calmly sitting, watching the sun rise. She yawned and stretched before going to sit beside him.

“Sleep well?”

He nodded. “You?”

She smiled in surprise. “Yes, you have a very comfortable shoulder.”

He smiled sheepishly, his face still turned towards the sun, and she laughed.

“All right. Take off your pants.”

Zuko's jaw dropped and he stared at her. Katara reviewed what she had just said and burst into laughter.

“Not what I meant! I'm going to do laundry today.”

Zuko laughed. “Oh. For a moment there…”

She nodded, still laughing and walked over to the stream. There she shed her outer tunic, skirt, and leggings. She knelt by the river in nothing but her underclothes and felt extremely self-conscious, though she tried not to show it.

Folding her clothes carefully to make it easier to wash them, she was surprised when Zuko sat down next to her. He also was wearing only his underclothes and she took the black pants from him and folded them with her own.

“Anything I can do?”

She glanced up, he was just looking at her, meeting her gaze rather than looking at her body, and she smiled.

“Could you heat the water for me?”

He smiled and placed a hand in the water. A moment later steam rose from the stream. Katara smiled as she went to work. She slipped her whole body into the stream, welcoming the warm water, and scrubbed the clothes against a rock. Zuko sat by the stream and watched her, saying nothing.

Kioko led the way through the palace while Sokka and Aang tried to take in the whole place and keep up with her at the same time.

“Agni! Agni where are you?”

Kioko paused before racing up a staircase.

“How can you be asleep? The dragons are calling!”

She plunged through a golden ornately carved and Aang, who'd left Sokka far behind in his efforts to keep up with Kioko, was astonished to find that they'd just barreled into the Fire God's bedroom.

Luckily enough, it was empty.

“Agni!”

Kioko crossed her arms over her chest and glared about the room.

“Where is he?”

“Kioko?”

The voice was familiar to Aang and distinctly female. Kioko was a green blur as she flew past him and into the arms of a blue clad woman standing in the doorway who knelt to receive her.

“Kioko, what are you doing here?”

“The dragons are calling Shasa. Where's Agni?”

Tears shone in Shasa's eyes. “He can't return even this close to Aye. The others forbid it.”

Kioko gave a short cry and slammed her fist against the Water Goddess's shoulder, but the goddess didn't even flinch.

“It's not fair! The dragons need him!”

Sokka, meanwhile, had been randomly opening doors which usually just showed the usual junk, empty rooms, or portals that seemed to lead to different parts of the Fire Nation. But one door opened to reveal a grassy plain.

He couldn't help it, he stepped through, careful to leave the door partially open. Walking through the grass, the plain appeared deserted. Sokka hoped it wasn't somewhere in the Fire Nation like all the others were. That would be a bit hard to explain if he was caught by Fire Nation soldiers.

As he walked around, he got the distinct impression that he was being watched, but when he looked around there was no one. Once he saw a faint rustle in the trees above him, but it didn't seem dangerous. In fact, the entire place had a calming atmosphere.

Suddenly, Sokka nearly stumbled over a blue-tinted opaque rock. On closer inspection, it didn't seem to be a rock at all. He picked it up and turned it over in hands. It was cold, and for some reason he wrapped his arms around it and held it close to his chest.

The Water Tribe boy nearly jumped ten feet into the air when he felt something gnawing on his pocket. He turned around and at his feet was a small crimson dragon. It looked at him with large golden eyes; it couldn't have been much bigger than a large cat. Sokka reached into his pocket and pulled out the seal jerky that had been in his pocket and broke off a piece which he then offered to the dragon who took it eagerly.

Instantly Sokka was surrounded by dragons of all sizes. He passed out the jerky until he had no more and then they didn't seem to mind. Some of the smaller ones seemed intent of pulling him into a game he didn't understand, visions of color and emotion dancing through his head.

“Sokka!”

He turned around to see Kioko, Aang, and a woman he recognized as the goddess Shasa coming up the hill towards him. The dragons swarmed around them as Kioko and Shasa passed out bits of meat to them.

A loud crack resounded around him but the three now feeding the dragons didn't seem to notice. Sokka looked down at the blue stone he was holding and now realized what it was as a large section of it was forced from the rest and a miniscule head popped out.

A tiny blue dragon had just hatched in his hands. Their eyes met and suddenly Sokka felt complete, like everything in the world would go right from here on out. The dragon pulled itself from the rest of the shell with his help and then curled up against him.

Kioko walked up and smiled. “Well, Sokka, looks like you now have a newborn dragon to take care of.”

Sokka could only smile.

When she was done, she laid the clothes out on the rocks to dry. Katara turned to find Zuko watching her. Glancing down at herself, she couldn't figure out why, so she just shrugged.

“C'mon Zuko! The water's great!” She splashed him for emphasis, but he just shook the water from his hair and frowned.

“I don't like water.”

Katara frowned. “Why not?”

“Because I can't swim.” She smiled.

“Then I'll teach you.”

She walked out of the water and led the way upstream to where the water gathered in a pool beneath the waterfall. She waded into the pool and tested the depth, which was about neck deep on her. In the center she treaded water. Zuko stood on the shore.

For a moment, Katara forgot all about the swimming lesson and could only admire the prince's physique. His body was muscular, but not overly so. There was a small white scar on his right shoulder, but other than that and the scar over his eye, his body was unblemished.

Katara blushed and looked away. Slowly, she took out her braid and shook her hair loose.

Zuko gaped. He'd never seen the girl with her hair down, and even before he'd believed she was beautiful, but now she truly looked like the daughter of a goddess.

“Come on in Zuko.”

He flinched and shook his head. Katara dove underwater and when she surfaced, her loose hair clung to her body even as she shook the water from her eyes. She waded over and took his hands in her own, slowly leading him into the water, and he found it hard to resist her calming touch.

It wasn't until he was waist deep in the water that he pulled away. Katara put her hands on her hips.

“Zuko, you can't learn to swim in water this shallow.”

“Shallow! Who said I wanted to learn to swim anyway?”

She grabbed his hand again. “It could save your life one day.”

Zuko thought back to that day when Agni had to save him from the unforgiving ocean and reluctantly followed Katara into the deeper water.

They spent an hour, with Zuko floundering about and Katara often having to water-bend around him to make him feel secure. Eventually, she got Zuko to be comfortable in the water. He treaded water mostly, but when he did swim, his strokes were smoothing out, rather than being desperate as they were when they began.

Katara and Zuko crawled out of the water and sat on the sandy shore, allowing the sun to dry them.

Zuko smiled. “That was…fun…I think.”

Katara nodded. “It was. It was lots of fun.”

She looked at him, the sun was reflecting off the water that still clung to his near-naked body, and she felt the water running in rivulets down her back from her still-wet hair.

“If you joined us, we could do this every day.”

Zuko's eyes softened but his smile disappeared. “Must you push that?”

“Zuko, I just want to help you.”

“Capturing the Avatar is the only way my father will ever look at me straight again!”

Katara leaned towards Zuko, tears forming in her eyes.

“Zuko, your father does not love you!”

He turned and stared at her open-mouthed. Tears cascaded down her face.

“I hate to say it Zuko but you know it is true. And you can't make him love you!”

“I can try Katara!” His voice softened as his own tears tried to fall. “I can try…”

She grasped his hand. “Zuko, I care about you. Aang has told us several times about how he believes you have a good heart and you confirmed it in my eyes last night. Please…let me help you…”

Zuko stood and walked a little ways away.

“You don't understand Katara. What I do…what I've done…who I am…It's all I know how to do. From the time I was three I was raised to be a great warrior, learning how to use different weapons, practicing my bending, studying military strategy and reviewing history so I don't repeat it.”

She stood and walked over to him and when she placed a hand on his shoulder, he didn't pull away.

“Katara…I don't know how to be who you want me to be.”

She walked around to stand in front of him and slowly hugged him. After a moment, he returned the embrace.

“Then let me teach you.”

Katara leaned back and looked up, only then realizing just how close they were. Zuko's eyes were shining particularly brightly, and the scar which had once frightened her only evoked sympathy and a strong want to help. Could she save that heart within him?

“Let me teach you…” she repeated, barely above a whisper.

His arms tightened around her, not clinging or threatening, and she placed her hands on his shoulders. The water ran off them both, tiny glistening drops clinging to the short growth that now covered his head and dripping from her long locks. Their faces were almost touching, and the sunlight reflected off his golden eyes.

“Never leave me…”

It was a question, not a statement, and she smiled. Slowly, very slowly, she reached a hand up and caressed his scarred cheek. His eyes softened, shimmering with unshed tears.

Yes Zuko, someone cares about you.

“Never…”

They drew closer, if that was possible. Her lips were barely an inch from his, and she didn't care.

“Teach me…” he whispered, his lips barely moving.

Katara no! He's Prince Zuko! Listen to your head girl!

She blinked. My head…my head says to think of Aang…

“Teach me…”

But Katara, what does your heart say?

“Teach me…” his eyes closed.

My heart says to kiss Zuko…

They drew closer.

The town was buzzing with excitement as always, buyers and sellers all bargaining as always. No one even noticed the two men that came in. They were both about the same height, but one had very dark brown hair, dark skin, and brilliant green eyes while the other was light-skinned, but not quite so as the Fire Nation, and had gray eyes and brilliantly silver hair.

Mamoru and Samir walked together through the market-place, the sights and sounds a great deal for the two gods and new friends to handle all at once.

“No wonder Agni loves it here so much.”

Mamoru nodded. “Yes, it's amazing.”

A thick smell of delicious foods wafted through the air. Both of them stopped dead.

“How much money do we have?” Samir whispered.

“Enough.” Mamoru replied.

Instantly they both rushed into the nearby inn. The maids couldn't serve them fast enough as they tasted real food for the first time. It was about a half hour before either of them spoke again.

Samir looked at Mamoru over the table. “I can't believe I've never eaten before.”

Mamoru nodded with a smile. “Back to business. Agni wants us to find Zuko.”

Samir nodded. “And we have to find my son. Somehow.”

“Well, what do we know?”

Samir stared at the Earth God with skeptical eyes. “That he is within 11 and 17 years of age, and he's not Air or Fire Nation.”

Mamoru gaped. “That's it?”

Samir nodded.

“Damn lecher.” Mamoru muttered under his breath and the next thing he knew he had a face full of plum pudding.

“I heard that!”

Soon, both gods were laughing, and the maids smiled, sharing in their mirth for the simple fact that happiness was so rare.

They drew closer, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Within her the battle still raged, but neither side knew that Katara had already made her decision.

“Teach me…” It was barely audible, a desperate plea that she heard with her heart rather than her ears.

“Yes Zuko.”

He pressed his lips to her, sending a course of flames through them both, the likes of which neither had ever experienced.

Katara would not have been surprised if steam was rising from her body and she didn't care. What elated her most was the hindered passion she felt in his kiss. While Aang's kiss had been tender and happy, Zuko's was filled with raw need and insecurity as he pulled her close and held her, his arms like steel around her, and yet gentle, treating her as a delicate flower.

For Zuko, the world around them had ceased to exist. In one instant he forgot the pain and frustration that he had lived in for the past three years and sought the comfort she offered in her embrace. Her taste was something he'd never dreamed of experiencing let alone come into contact with. One arm snaked around her bare waist while his other hand cradled her head, he would never let her go.

She responded to his advances likewise, tangling her hands in his hair and pulling his head down, deepening the kiss. His tongue brushed her bottom lip and she parted her lips willingly, welcoming him. He touched a part of her spirit never before awakened…

Suddenly, it began to rain, and lightning cracked across the sky.

They broke apart and both looked up at the sky as torrents poured from the sky. Katara returned her gaze to Zuko as he looked up at the sky. He was smiling, his eyes closed, letting the rain falling over them. Slowly, he lowered his head and their gaze met once more.

Only then did Katara register what had just happened, but what was strange was that she just didn't mind his arms wrapped around her, she'd face the world tomorrow, but now there was only Zuko.

His lips descended on hers once more and nothing else in the world mattered.