The Flaming Diamond

Book 4: Air

Chapter 1: The Flaming Diamond

Night had come to the whole Fire Nation. It seemed that everyone was sleeping; even the animals closed their eyes.
But one person was not.
Zuko was sitting in front of a big table covered with red material. The table was full of parchment and paper scrolls. He had let his servants to go away a long time ago. Zuko didn't like their company. Actually, he didn't like anyone's company. His eyes also were closing and he was fighting with weariness. Suddenly a big drop of ink fell on an important letter.
A small flame appeared in Zuko's hand and burned the letter.
He was tired. But he was the Fire Lord.
Zuko put his face into his hands. One of them touched his scar. His skin was strange there, feeling like thin paper. He didn't allow anyone to touch it.
He was almost overcome with sleep, when he recalled that someone had broken this rule. In the cave under Ba Sing Se, almost two years ago, when he didn't know yet which way he would go. He had to retrieve his honor by capturing the Avatar, but some part of him already knew that that way wasn't right. And then, in that cave, a girl from the Southern Water Tribe believed in him. She had water from the Northern Water Tribe. With that water, any waterbender could help him. And she was a waterbender. She touched him. She confided in him.
And he betrayed her, choosing a comfortable life, where he was the Fire Nation's prince, beside his cruel father Ozai and sister Azula.
Katara…
Then he thought about the rest of group.
Sokka. Toph. Aang.
And then the end of the good years. His coronation two years ago… Two years ago? Time was passing so fast…
He fell asleep.


Katara slowly opened her eyes. She didn't feel good. She didn't like this day.
- At last, you woke up!- said Hakoda. He smiled.- Happy Birthday, Katara. Today is your sixteenth birthday. You're an adult now.
- Did you have to remind me about that?- Katara hid under her blankets.
But it was too late. Into her room came her older brother, Sokka.
-Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…- he sang, smiling- Happy…
Katara quickly moved her hand, and a glass of water doused Sokka.
-Why did you do that?!- he asked.
-To shut you up- she said.
-Let's leave her alone- Hakoda laughed. He took his son's hand and they went out.
Katara got up and ate her breakfast. She would have a long day. Women from the Southern Water Tribe took care of her looks. But she wasn't smiling.
The celebration of Katara's birthday was planned in a big tent, built specially for this occasion. All of her guests were standing in front of that blue tent. She saw Toph and Aang. Her brother and his girlfriend Suki were standing near them.
Aang smiled at her. So many changes from his duel with the Fire Lord Ozai! He was looking older and taller, but for her, Aang would always be a fourteen-year-old kid with an arrow on his head. They were together for two years, but even now it was hard to think of him as the Avatar, the most powerful bender in all the world.
Katara's dad took her inside the tent. There, on a special throne, was sitting Zuko, the Fire Lord, her friend, formerly her enemy.
He looked tired. Katara saw that he hadn't brought Mai. So they really aren't together now, thought Katara. It happened not so long ago, and all the Fire Nation was talking about it. Everyone thought that she would be the Fire Lord's wife.
It was very quiet in the tent. Everyone was looking at Hakoda.
-It's a very important day for the Southern Water Tribe- he started.- Katara, our only waterbender and my daughter has her sixteenth birthday today. This means that she can get married now!
Everyone was clapping their hands, but Katara wasn't happy. She was looking sadder than she had ten minutes ago.
-Our tribe is still united, although we have been in exile for two years. But soon we'll return!
The rest of his words were stopped by loud applause from his people. A few minutes later Hakoda could resume his speech.
- Our village has been turned into a palace! The Fire Lord will lend us some ships so we can return in a few months!
Another loud round of applause silenced him, but this time it was dedicated to Zuko. He smiled for a while. He felt silly. It was Katara's day, the Southern Water Tribe's day, not his.
The official part of the celebration was over. Now the guests came out and began eating the food prepared for this occasion.
-Two years in the Fire Nation! Two years away from our village! And now a palace! I can't believe it!-said someone. Other people agreed with him, still eating.
Now everyone wanted to give Katara a birthday gift. They formed a big queue in front of her. She saw Aang and Toph somewhere in the middle. And Zuko. He was standing at the end, still alone, still not believing that he was part of the group. The Avatar's group.
At last, he came up to Katara.
-Hm… Happy birthday… Katara- he said, giving her a little box.
-Thank you- she said, opening it. Everyone fell silent at that moment and looked at her.
Katara took out a necklace. There was a red, heavy diamond on it.
-The flaming diamond- said someone. People were indignant as they looked at the diamond, in the core of which was burning a red, unquenchable flame.
-Only the person who got it, and the one who gave it, can touch it. Everyone else will be burned. Do you like it?
-It's beautiful, Zuko- she said.- But…
-Our traditions say that giving a necklace to a girl who is sixteen years old, or more, means that the person who gave it wants to stay with that girl for their whole lives.- said Sokka, getting red in the face.
Zuko was surprised. He felt stupid. Very stupid.
-Oh… It's not like that… I didn't want to…
Katara felt sad for him. He was the Fire Lord, and he was being intimidated in front of her like a small child.
-I'll take it- said Katara, very loudly, so everyone could hear her.- Zuko, would you help me put it on?
-Wait a minute!- said Hakoda.- Katara, you know what that means. I won't agree to it!
-Father! It's only a gift! You can't…
Hakoda jumped at her and tried to tear the necklace from Katara's neck, but he got burned. People started to shout.
-It's an attack! An attack on our leader! It was a trick to steal our only waterbender!
Zuko didn't know what to do. People who were cheering him earlier were trying to fight with him now.
-Leave me alone!- he shouted.- I don't want to hurt you!
-Leave him!- Katara was shouting, too, but nobody listened to her.- Aang! Help me! Where's Aang?
-He ran away! I'll help you!- said Toph. She made a wall between Zuko and Katara's people.
-It's an attack!- shouted all the people from the tribe, running to their houses. The rest of them lifted Hakoda from the floor.
-I'll heal him- said Katara, but her people pushed her back.
-You're infected! Marked by the flame!
Katara started to cry. She stepped back and turned away from her people.
-I'll help you carry him!- said Toph, making a path for Hakoda. –I'll take care of him, Katara- she promised her friend. Then she disappeared with the crowd. The square was empty now. Katara saw only footprints and overturned tables.
She was all in tears. She was crying very loudly. She was walking, but she didn't know where. And she was headed straight towards a hole in the ground, made by Toph. Thanks goodness there was another person in the square.
-Katara!
Zuko ran to her and caught her before she fell into the hole. Katara looked at him. At his scar. Her crying turned into sobbing. She hugged him like he was the only thing that she had left. Surprised Zuko hugged her back. He didn't know how to console her. And he didn't know how to apologize.
-Leave me alone!- she shouted suddenly, pushing him back.- It's all your fault!
Her tears became weapons, as she attacked him. Zuko rolled over, but he didn't try to stand up.
Katara was still sobbing. For a while she wanted to take off her necklace, but she changed her mind.
But Zuko didn't follow her. When Katara left, he started to burn everything around him, including the tent.