Steam: An Avatar Story

Chapter 8

Zuko knocked on Katara's door the next morning. There was no answer, so he attempted to open it, but something was blocking the way.

"Katara?" He called through the door, knocking again.

"Go away Zuko," Came her voice from inside. Confused, he tried the door again.

"Come on Katara, let me in," he tried again.

"N-no," she stammered. She sounded scared and sad.

"Katara!" He yelled. "Come on!" No answer. "Katara, so help me I will break down this door if you don't let me in!" He threatened. A few moments passed, then the door opened. Zuko looked her over. Her usually bright blue eyes were dull and lifeless, and her clothes and hair was rumpled, like she slept on the floor.

"Just go Zuko," her voice was hollow.

"Katara, what's wrong?" He asked worriedly.

"Everything," she turned away and walked to her couch, sitting down and hugging her knees. Zuko closed the door behind him and went over to her. Ren nudged at his hand, looking for pets.

"Katara, what happened last night? Are you sick? We don't have to go to Earthbending today." Her lip quivered, and suddenly she threw herself into his arms, crying on his chest.

There was another knock on the door a few moments later. "My dear you have Earthbending lessons in five minutes," came Uncle Iroh's voice.

"She's not going today." Zuko called back. If Iroh was suprised to hear Zuko, he didn't show it. There was a beat of silence, and then he called again.

"May I come in?" There was no answer, which Iroh took for a yes. He let himself in, shutting the door behind him, and taking a seat on the chair across from the two young benders.

"My dear, what seems to be the problem?" Iroh asked kindly. Katara sniffed and looked over at Iroh. She felt such compassion coming from the two firebenders that she sighed. They deserve to know. They deserve to know the filth that she is.

"I'm not Fire Nation," she whispered. "I never have been."

"Are you crazy? You're as much Fire Nation as I am Katara. You're a Fire Nation Princess!" Zuko exclaimed. His hands curled into a fist, like he was ready to punch out anyone who says otherwise.

"I'm not," Katara whispered. "I'm the enemy,"

"What?" Zuko exclaimed, utterly confused. He glanced over at his Uncle, hoping to see that he felt the same way about Katara that Zuko did, but his head was down, eyes closed. He looked like a man who had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Uncle..?" Zuko asked, worried. Iroh heaved a sigh.

"She is Water Tribe." Zuko's mouth opened, and he slid to the end of the couch. His movement caused a fresh wave of tears to pour out of Katara's eyes.

"I'm so sorry Zuko, Uncle," she whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Iroh said. Zuko was still dumbstruck.

"I'm the enemy, I'm Water Tribe." Katara said.

"You are not the enemy." Iroh said firmly.

"But wait, if you were Water Tribe, you would've waterbent first. You must be Fire Nation," Zuko finally spoke. Katara raised her head, hopeful. It was an empty hope however, she could feel it inside of her, she was a member of the Water Tribe, and she was stolen from her home.

"Not necessarily Nephew," Iroh said softly. "Katara was not surrounded by ice and snow while she grew up here, she was surrounded by heat and fire. It is natural that the first element she learned was firebending, even while her waterbending abilities laid dormant.