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Bitter Alliance	By : Looneyluna Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Katara/Zuko Views: 31138 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Act II

Chapter Six –

The more I think of that nightmare, the more ensnared I become in the mysticism Mahari has fostered among her followers. I call them that because they do not question her.

I do not believe in prophecy or predestination. Her actions, or more appropriately inactions, are responsible for my current circumstances. The resistance could have rescued Katara at any time. They could have prevented her suffering, but Mahari would not order the resistance to help. She wanted to make sure Katara was pregnant before she committed the resources.

I remember a time when Mahari used to give me hope. That hope is laced with the seeds of distrust now. I am stronger. I do not rely on hope to guide or influence me.

The dream was too real -- the feel of Katara’s body around mine a blissful agony. I could feel her raw power surge around me as she attacked my father with her ice daggers. That and the abrupt ending of the dream led me to believe that it may have been more than nightmare.

As I make my way through the tunnels, I feel the stares of those I pass watch me. Mahari’s teachings have cast me in the role of “savior.” I hear them whisper the word and it sends a shiver coursing through me. Part of me shuns the title, while my other half embraces it.

“The savior shall deliver us from tyranny,” their hopeful voices murmur as I search for our charismatic seer. I can only assume that they refer to my desire to kill my father. After all, he is the tyrant. That is my destiny. That is what I must realize before I meet my end. By killing my father, I will free so many…including my children and Katara.

Mahari steps from the shadows, unperturbed when the children run up to her and touch her robes. Her warm eyes meet mine and she motions for me to approach her.

I do so reluctantly, but I have too many questions that only she can answer. Out of respect, I bow.

She shoos the children away and returns my bow with one of her own, quickly turning and walking away from me. “You have questions,” she states simply.

“Yes,” I reply, following her through the groaning cavern of phosphorescent tunnels.

“I serve you,” she says in a conciliatory tone. “You have but to ask.”

She tries to placate me, but it only serves to widen the gap of distrust between us. “Is it possible to enter another person’s dreams?”

She stops in her tracks and takes in my appearance as if seeing me for the first time. “You’ve been visited.”

“What do you mean?” I question the seer.

Looking away, she begins to walk again and I follow her. “Tell me,” she says encouragingly. “What was the dream about? What were you doing? How did you feel?”

“How did I feel? How did I feel?” My voice is filled with rage and echoes through the cave. “I was raping Katara! She begged me to stop! How do you think I felt?”

“Was anyone there?” She takes hold of my shoulders. For a moment, I feel as though she is going to offer me comfort, but she merely stares into my eyes. “Tell me about your dream. Do not leave any details out, not matter how small.”

My stomach clenches with the memory, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “The Fire Sages and my father were there, watching as I…as I –”

“Say no more.” Mahari places a finger over my lips to silence me. “I didn’t realize they had grown so strong.”

I turn away from her, crossing my arms over my chest, warding off the chill that clings to me like a second skin. “Who?”

“The Fire Sages,” she answers softly. “I knew they were searching for the way, but didn’t realize they had found it. Ozai’s strength feeds them. It’s probably a symbiotic relationship for I doubt your father can maintain his focus long enough to find you in dreams.”

Her words make little sense to me.

Stepping in front of me, she puts her finger under my chin and lifts my head. “Everything is connected,” she tries to explain. “The elements…dreams…the Spirit World. The Avatar maintains the balance between them all. I have traveled to the Spirit World and searched for Avatar Aang. He is not there.”

“Then how can you think that one of my children is the Avatar?” I snap. The flawed logic irritates me.

“Legend says that the cycle will be broken if the Avatar is killed while in the Avatar state,” Mahari continues. “It says that the cycle will end and that the Avatar will cease to exist. As I traveled from dream to spirit world, I had a vision of the continuous spiral of the cycle. The elements came in the order we have always learned, but when I got to the end of it, I saw two Air Nomads standing next to one another. I think a new cycle is beginning.”

“There was more to my dream.” I shudder as I recall my father holding my daughter.

“Tell me,” she insists.

“Ozai…” my voice turns into a strangled whispered. “He was holding my daughter and telling me how he had killed my son.”

Mahari’s eyes widened. “They know!”

“What, Mahari. They know what?” I feel the strain of this conversation wearing on my strength.

Soulful brown eyes peer into mine. “Your daughter is the Avatar, not your son.”

--

I haven’t slept in days, the whisper of nightmares warning me to never close my eyes. I watch the horizon constantly, waiting for what I do not know.

Kaya and Iroh laugh in the distance as Sokka lets them ride him like an ostrich-horse. My three guardians and the healer stand nearby.

“You’ve got to get some rest, Katara,” Song says soothingly. “I know the nightmares are bad, but –”

I make a strangled noise of despair in the back of my throat. I know she means well. I can’t even tell them what the dreams are about. I just remember bits and pieces and the overlying theme of Zuko’s betrayal. “I can’t,” I whisper.

“You must,” she insists sternly. “What if… What if they come?”

I hear the desperation in her voice and I turn to study her. She is always so calm. To hear such fear in her voice is uncommon. It is then I realize the price every one has paid. They volunteered to follow me into the desert. They volunteered to protect the children and me. This has not been easy on them. I should be grateful for their companionship, but the fear that feeds my every waking moment blocks any rational thought.

“I won’t go to sleep,” I affirm, looking back to the sand for any signs of danger.

Song sighs. “Then you leave me no choice. Do it.”

The earth bucks beneath my feet, breaking my determined stance, but it doesn’t stop there as it wraps around me and holds me down. I am on the ground, feeling the stab of betrayal more deeply than anything I’ve imagined with Zuko. I hear the children squeal in the background. The sound is jovial. They are paying no mind to the attack on their mother. The probably think Toph is just messing around.

“I’m sorry Katara,” Song says as she presses a cloth over my mouth. I try to turn my head, but an earthen band holds it in place. The noxious fumes gag me and my empty stomach roils in protest. I’d curse them, but my words and thoughts are slurred and blurry. A dark oblivion opens wide before me.

--

TBC

A/N – I do apologize for this chapter being so short, but my hands are worse and I must take more breaks than usual. The good news is that my insurance approved the trip to the hand specialist and I have an appointment with her next Friday.

I’d like to thank Moncapitan for smacking my muse around and keeping it on track. He really is a Godsend. Thanks to all who have reviewed. I try o answer all reviews, but can’t to all. Some of you ask for me to send you notices of updates, but I don’t have your email address. Please email me and I will put you on the list. Thanks again, everybody!
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Bitter Alliance