Whispers of the Blue Flame

Chapter Two: Of Waves & Greeting

"Katara, I think it's time you stopped. We're about to arrive any time now. You've exerted yourself too much," Bato huffed. He watched as Katara moved her arms in time with the waves. She was at the quarterdeck, pushing the ship along with the current generated by her bending. Sweat coated her determined face, but she stood resolute in her stance.

"Bato, we both know I will only stop once the Great Gates of Azulon are in my sights," Katara proclaimed with a smile on her face. Throughout the journey from Wolf Cove in the Southern Water Tribe to Royal Caldera City of the Fire Nation, Katara had periodically urged the ships along in her haste to reach the Fire Nation. She couldn't help it; she was excited about this new adventure as Ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe to the Fire Nation. It wouldn't be her first foray into politics; in fact, she relished the challenge.

Once the Hundred Year War ended, Katara returned home with her kin to rebuild her fledgling motherland. She threw herself into the work: reintegrating the prisoners of war Zuko released into society, rebuilding the infrastructure of the villages in the pre-war southern style, and resolving tensions between the southern natives and northern migrants. It was hard work, especially considering the chauvinist nature of the Water Tribes; she had been belittled, disregarded, and marginalized. She expected such behavior from the Northern Water Tribe, who prohibited women from learning any form of bending except healing, but even some of her southern kinfolk voiced concerns about her being too wild for her father, Chief Hakoda, to control. It hurt that her paramount role in ending the war was downplayed in part due to her being a woman and the Avatar's "Forever Girl." Well, being his "forever girl" lasted only one cycle around the sun before it was mutually ended by the teens, who realized they were way in over their heads, too young for that type of commitment, and too busy with their respective responsibilities to have a worthwhile relationship.

After Aang, Katara casually dated Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe boys who aided in the Southern Restoration Project. However, those relationships soon ended due to her busy schedule. When she passed her sixteenth birthday without accepting any of the marriage proposals thrown her way, many wrote her off as a spinster, and she was happy with that. It allowed her the freedom to explore her philanthropy. After her third year home, she grew stifled by the lack of serious challenges, as much of the heavy lifting in the restoration was completed or moving far along. Sokka joked that she could head north to convince their sister tribe to allow women to fight, and she took that as an invitation to do just that. She spent two years campaigning for equality, advancing her healing abilities, and secretly training anyone who asked. In the end, the council of elders allowed only a select group of women to be formally trained by her and Master Pakku. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Now, here she was, about to embark on yet another adventure.

"The gates are up ahead!" someone loudly exclaimed from the bow of the ship.

Bato folded his tanned arms and commented, "It seems the gates are now in view. Go to your cabin, rest, and make yourself presentable."

Katara went below deck, enthusiastic about what was to come. It might seem juvenile to many, but she really believed she could better the world one step at a time. This latest appointment of hers as ambassador was just further proof that she was doing the right thing. Her new mission was to further strengthen ties between the Fire Nation and the Southern Water Tribe. Plus, seeing an old friend wouldn't hurt.