literature

Fireflies and Bluedamsels Ch.1

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Katara

April 6th, 1760

'Sun…Moon…Earth…Sky…

We've long abandoned these words. Dearest mother, it's truly heart wrenching to try and explain what has happened to the world since you've been gone. Once we could look up and see the brightest shades of blue and white, you and I would watch the clouds play along the horizon for hours.

Now…all I see is smoke…thick…looming. Our once beautiful snow has been littered with soot, and the summer rains stings my skin like acid.

Our once flourishing nations have shriveled into despair, and benders, who were once our bravest and most noble warriors, were killed or vanished along with our nation's prosperity. The younger children of our village think of bending as some sort of fairytale.

Our world has turned their backs upon what our Earth had given us and instead resorted to weapons…machines…something that the fire nation has specialized in.

And yet I travel one knapsack on my side, to the source of all this pollution; to the country in which it had all begun, all for the sake of my brother, your son, who requires my assistance in his business. He's mailed me many times, telling of his success in the fire nations flourishing economy. Dad became ill recently you see, and we had to find some way of paying his medical bills.

Sokka offered to travel and send money home. Alas…it was all for nothing. Father's gone. Now, there is no one to send letters home to…

Ever since father's passing Sokka has been adamant that I come and stay with him, I have refused for as long as I can, but work is scarce in the water tribe, and the last of my money has slowly but surely run dry.

Mother, I've not yet even entered the cities borders and already my knowledge of the world I came from becomes dim. Tall brick buildings block my view of the sun and earnest sky, the city is so noisy and full of inhabitants I can hardly hear myself think. Even the women are hidden under unfamiliar looking dress.

My home is far away now, and though I know I cannot return, my heart yearns for the sight of something familiar; something natural in this industrial wonderland…'

Katara's hand slammed against the page messily as the wagon she was traveling in went over a rather nasty bump. Her body was moved into the air and she tumbled with a plop back upon its hay ridden interior. She moaned softly and rubbed her back.

There was a clatter of wooden wheels turning against cobble stone streets as a hay filled wagon pranced down a nearly empty alley. A flicker of candle light from the street lamps crossed across her gentle face. The driver was a middle aged man dressed in worn and tired farmer's clothes. He pushed down his straw hat and looked over his shoulder.

"Well, this is as far as I can take ya unfortunately." His voice had a mature and friendly ring to her ears as she sat up, hay covering her tired body as she yawned. With a soft breath she nodded and climbed out of her wooden steed. Her tan arms extended toward the sky as she yawned.

"Are ya sure you're gonna be alright be yourself?" He asked from his seat. Katara nodded, brushing the stray feed from her long and tidy braid. Her long and graceful fingers extended into her purse, shuffling around for a few moments before holding up two pieces of copper.

"Here, for your trouble." She said with a gentle smile. The man held up his hand, shaking his head quickly.

"No mam, twas no trouble at all. You should use that to get yourself some new garbs, you're a rather odd pepper in such robes after all." The farmer motioned towards the rather simple blue dress that fell against her body. She looked down at herself, pulling at it gently before laughing.

"I suppose peasant isn't in this year is it?" She asked under her breath. Katara had already seen some of the fashions that women wore in this part of the country, long flowing gowns, lace adorning the fringes, intricate designs sewn into the soft fabric. Katara squished up her face feeling the cotton fabric she was wearing.

The man smiled before grabbing a hold of the reins. The horse whined and pulled, wanting to get a move on with the route. He glanced once more down at the small woman before nudging his head backwards.

"There's a thrift store a few blocks back, you should be able to find something there. Though, for the record, I like your clothes, it's a nice change from the hootenanny of corsets and bloomers they got running around here." The man stated with a teasing laugh. Katara blinked in surprise at his comment. Her cheeks became red as she blushed and giggled, nodding quickly.

"Thank you sir, I'll keep that in mind." The horse whinnied, pulling quickly at the kart. The man was thrust forward as he forced his feet onto the wooden plank to keep him steady. The farmer laughed before nodding his head down to the woman.

"Well I should get going-" He mumbled a bit awkwardly. Katara just laughed however and nodded bashfully, her fingers playing with one another to ease the tension of the night air.

"Oh yes of course, thank you again…you really saved me back there." She nodded softly to herself before taking in a long breath. The air was thick and hard to take in, no doubt an effect of all the smoke in the air. Katara bit her lip, just one more price she had to pay for entering a fire country. She could hardly take a whole breath in when the man called out again.

"Now you have a place to stay, aint gonna be wandering the streets are ya?" He asked kindly, genuine concern shining in his green orbs. Katara nodded quickly to ease his worry.

"Yes, I'll be staying with my brother; his home isn't far from here." She rolled her hand out and down the street. The farmer nodded knowingly. They stood, eye to eye for a moment, neither one of them moving. Katara coughed softly into her hand, glancing away.

"Ah-ah I'm sorry." The farmer laughed and rubbed his head. "It's just, you have the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen, we don't see too many girls like you around here- I suppose I was just a bit star struck."

The woman blushed before giggling gently under her breath. The way he spoke was like that of a young bachelor, though the wrinkles on his face could have proven him to be an old man. He had faced a hard life, that much she could see.

"It was very nice meeting you…and thank you again; really, it's so nice to see a kind face on such a long journey." The woman whispered. He laughed at that and gave her a small compassionate smile before holding out his hand.

"Well it was nice meeting you miss…." He slurred out his words, realizing that he didn't know her name. She took this gracefully however and gave a small curtsy.

"…Katara. And, you, Mr….?" She raised a brow as his lips turned in a gentle smirk.

"Haru."

The horse had enough of their flirting and started off without his master's command. Haru yelped and grabbed onto the reins. He quickly turned and waved to Katara as the wagon clopped out of sight.

"I hope we meet again Miss Katara!" He yelled. Katara giggled and shook her head before taking her bag in her hand. She threw it over her shoulders and scanned her surroundings. Her shoulders her back and her legs all ached from her ride to 'the city'. With a soft mumble she cracked her neck and fingers and headed off towards her brother's apartment.

Her bright blue eyes wandered the street as she placed one tired foot in front of the other. Not much of the scenery had changed since she had fallen asleep. There was just more buildings and less people, a scary combination in the young girl's eyes.

She sighed heavily and poked her head about a few different alley ways. How was anyone supposed to find their way around this maze anyways?

ooooooooooooooooooooo

"Katara? …Is that really you baby sister?" Katara had heard the voice coming from this man's mouth, but it was hard to believe that the tall, slim, well groomed gentleman standing in front of her was really in fact- Sokka. He had cut his hair since she'd last seen him, gotten rid of the warriors style and replaced it with that of a gentleman, though a short ponytail still stuck out of the back of his head. He'd moved on from water tribe robes and was instead wearing a soft blue jacket with gold trimming at the top, a ruffle of silk protruding from the opening at his chest. He laughed heartily and held out his arms.

"Look at you!" He proclaimed happily. "God, you've gotten so big!" He laughed out.

Katara felt herself shaking, she bit her lip as her face squished up in a mixture of happiness and anguish. She hiccuped and rubbed her now watering eyes quickly as she jumped into her brothers waiting arms. He laughed softly as she sobbed into his chest, her fingers clinging into his back as she cried.

"Sokka! Sokka it's really you!" She whimpered.

"I missed you….I missed you so much…" Katara held back harsh sobs as Sokka picked up her frail body, holding her against him like a small child as he dug his head into her shoulder, his eyes closing tightly while he held back his own sorrow.

"I missed you too Katara." Sokka's voice wavered as he spoke making Katara flinch. She sniffed and held onto him childishly, her head nuzzling into his warm body. Sokka gently placed Katara back on the ground, so softly that she thought he might have mistaken her for a porcelain doll.

"Katara…there's…there's someone I'd like you to meet." Sokka whispered lowly to her. He turned on his heel, offering out a kind hand towards her. Katara blinked for a few moments but took her brothers hand in her own and followed obediently.

"Sokka? I'm really tired, can this wait?" Katara asked softly. Sokka opened his mouth, as if thinking about the answer, but shook his head just as quickly.

"Ah…no, I'd like to get this over with while you're still unable to freeze me to a wall." Sokka muttered quickly. Katara raised a brow as her brother opened up one of the wooden door ways. His house was fairly larger than she expected, three stories, all furnished very nicely from what she could see.

"Are you decent?" Sokka asked lowly as he moved his head into the door. Katara could have sworn she heard a giggle as Sokka pulled back, taking in a quick bracing breath. He threw open the door and pushed his younger sister inside.

"…Katara…I'd like you to meet Yue..."

Katara raised a brow at her brother before moving her bright eyes to where he had been so gentlemanly pointing. She gasped and threw her hands over her lips. The most beautiful of flowers stood before her with hair as white as snow, eyes a crystal blue, and skin glowing in the sunlight. She wore her hair up in a bun while two long strands of hair fell over her perfect face.

Even her clothing was beautiful, with ruffles and frills, a silk rose pinned to her curved side. Katara couldn't take her eyes off of her.

"…Oh my gosh Sokka…" She whispered lowly. "…Is she a princess?"

The question came out of her mouth before she could stop it. Sokka immediately laughed, mockingly of course, and russled up her already tangled hair. Katara pouted and watched as he walked over to his 'princess', she was flustered from the comment but gave a gentle giggle, her cheeks red.

"That's so sweet of you Katara…you really are as kind as your brothers described." She whispered.

Katara blushed again, even her voice was perfect. Like a bird humming a low lullaby.

Her eyes suddenly found themselves attached to the choker on the girl's neck, shining with the water nation's emblem. She hadn't seen it worn so proudly in years. Katara laughed softly, moving her fingers over her own in remembrance. A betrothal necklace, just one of the many now outdated rituals her people left behind.

"So, whose the lucky guy?" Katara asked jokingly. Sokka seemed to break into a cold sweat as Yue blushed looking away.

"Uh…well…."

"WHAT?" Katara's scream was so loud that Sokka had to throw his hands over her mouth to keep the neighbors from calling the cops. Still she continued, wide eyed with two clenched fist, punching at the air as she fumed. Yue hid her face in her hands, seemingly embarrassed as Sokka tried to calm his sister down.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU GOT ENGAGED WITHOUT TELLING ME?" Katara screamed out, her hair falling from her braid as she shook her head. Sokka placed a hand over his ear, mumbling a 'ow' before pressing his hands down on Katara's shoulders.

"Listen, it's really not that big of a deal, we're not even engaged technically." Sokka mumbled quickly. Katara didn't seem to care however.

"How could you not tell me you were so serious with someone?" Katara was grinding her teeth, obviously trying to keep face in front of the rather scared Yue. She held nothing against the girl, it was her brother that she wanted to pummel into a thousand pieces.

"Ah- Katara. I asked Sokka not to tell you." Yue called out quietly. She looked down, her brows knitting together sadly as she twisted her fingers into her long blue dress.

"I was just, scared…Sokka and I…well, were starting to get serious about one another when your father passed, I didn't want you to think I was taking your brother away from you when you needed him so desperately." Yue answered out pleadingly.

Katara shifted her eyes between Yue an Sokka, something of a mix between awe and horror crossing her face. Finally she crossed her arms, the small pout still evident on her lips as she stared across the wall bashfully.

"…Well…I suppose this isn't the stupidest thing you've done…." Katara muttered. Yue giggled, throwing her hands into the air before letting them fall around Katara's neck, hugging her closely. Katara gasped and blinked for a few moments before hugging the girl in return.

"Oh thank you Katara…your blessing means the world to us…" She whispered lowly. Despite herself Katara smiled, her eyes traveling to her brother.

"So- when's the wedding?"

Sokka sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well…that's the problem."
Reuploading with changed text and title, the title seemed to be misleading and I didn't like the flow of the original text. I like this version much better.

So as some of you may have guessed this is not set in the usual Avatar universe. While is is similar to Victorian era I do want to put right away that this is not a period piece, the similarities on that end are simply something of their culture, not of a direct link to our own world.

Now that that's out of the way I hope you enjoy the first chapter, not much happens, sorry bout that, but I think I've got enough in for at least an introduction. As such we meet Katara, Sokka, and Princess Yue. Next chapter we'll be switching points of view to see what Toph and Aang have been up to!
© 2010 - 2024 AmeliaParker
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Batz108's avatar
Hmm, I think I'm gonna like this story:)
btw, did you draw the picture at the top? I really love it.:love: