Zutara - Things Have Changed

Hello everyone!

First of all, I want to apologize for not submitting anything in what seemed longer than forever. It’s just a lot of stuff has been going on and getting back into the swing of college is something to get used to. But, I’m starting to get used to it and I’m ready to get back on the ball and put up some new Zutara art.

New Updates:

San Diego Comic Con – I’M GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m sorry. I am just SO excited! I can’t wait! Also, if anyone is going that I don’t know about, PLEASE let me know so we can all hang out at Comic Con and start a little Zutarian group and cause some ruckus. LOL! Just kidding. We can have some serious fun though. Also, I am going to submit a picture on DA of myself *shudders* so when you guys go, you could recognize me. Well, if you don’t recognize the Zutarian shirt with SetoAngel01 on the back of it. Well, that’s if I don’t decide to cosplay by then, but we’ll see. For whoever is going and wants to meet up with me, I’m most likely going to be there on Friday or Saturday, and if I get lucky, I’ll be there both days. So, leave a comment or send me a note and let me know if you’re gonna be there and let’s get ready for July because not only are we going to an awesome Comic Con, but we’ll be that much closer to the finale and the Zutara we’ve all been waiting for!

As for this picture, this has been sitting in the wings for quite awhile and I have no idea why it took my so long to finish. I’m just lazy I guess. O____o But, here it is. Also, this is a companion picture to my previous one.

Plot –

The soft murmuring of the characters on stage played in front of the small group sitting atop in the balcony. It had been a very long play about all of their journeys and was more about well-established humor than the entire story behind it. The actor/actress choices have been iffy, but as much as everyone hated to admit it, they picked up the personality of the people they were playing very well.

Katara took a deep sigh as she slouched down deeper into the firm seat she was sitting on. Her back ached as she began to watch their final day in Ba Sing Sei play out. It seemed so long ago that all of this happened, and Katara had to keep reminding herself that it was only months since the day that everything changed. Katara grumbled when she listened to the loud snoring of her brother from behind her and she listened to Suki slapping Sokka to try to wake him up with no avail.

Katara rolled her eyes and leaned forward, looking over Zuko, to see Aang leaning deeply into his seat with his ridiculous hat pulled down over his eyes. His breathing was slow, so she knew that he must have fallen asleep quite a long time ago. Toph hadn’t laughed manically for a while, so Katara just suspected the Earth Kingdom girl was most likely sleeping or lost her voice from laughing so much.

A few minutes passed in total silence as Katara had to fight the sleep in her eyes. That’s when she saw it. Her eyes flew open as she looked intently on the scene playing in front of her. Something she had never forgotten and had caused her so much confusion and pain that it nearly drove her mad. It was the very talk between her and her former enemy, Prince Zuko, when they were alone in the glowing caves under the city of Ba Sing Sei.

Katara quickly turned her face over to her left to look at Zuko who seemed to be shocked as well. She quickly looked around panicked hoping all her friends were asleep so they wouldn’t hear or see what had taken place inside the caves so many months ago. To her relief, she saw most of them leaned back in their seats and in a deep sleep. Katara sighed swiftly before her eyes were averted to the small stage. Word for word, that moment she had kept such a personal secret was revealed to the entire auditorium.

It showed the anger she released to the Prince when he first fell into the caves with her. It showed her yelling against his seated form. It was hard to hear the words she spoke to him because of how much things have changed between them. Now he was a part of their group and fighting on their side as if he was meant to be there all along. He was a completely different person than the one she met on the small Southern Pole so long ago.

Katara smiled as she recalled the past few days and how close they had become. They were good friends now and she blushed softly as she recalled her hugging him. Suddenly, she remembered a few small moments of their talks, the occasional accidental brushing of their hands, their back to back fighting, his laughter, his smile. If you told her that this is how it could be when he joined their group, she would have thought you were insane, but it was the truth. They had gotten close.

“lease! I’ve changed! You have to believe me!” the character playing Zuko tried to reason the back of the actress playing Katara.

“NO! I’ll never believe you after everything you’ve done!” the actress playing Katara replied with the anger very apparent in her voice.

Katara looked upon the scene in confusion knowing she never said those words to him. This is when she realized that it was only her and Zuko who knew what truly happened in the caves, but the words she said would come later on when he was begging for the group to forgive him. It hurt to think about the harsh threats and words she spoke to him on many occasions.

A few seconds into the angered words still being spoken by the actress, Katara heard Zuko let out a saddened sigh. Katara’s ears perked to the noise before she looked at him. His eyes were downcast and his eyebrows furrowed as he seemed dismayed by the direction this play had turned. It hurt her even worse to see Zuko this way now. He seemed to be just as affected by the words as much as she was. She didn’t want him to think that she still felt that way, so without hesitation, she placed her hand over his arm.

Zuko was shocked at first as his eyes immediately perked up and he quickly turned his head toward her. The confusion in his eyes was apparent in his slightly agape mouth as he looked at her. All Katara could do was smile in reassurance. “It’s okay… I don’t feel that way anymore. So many things have changed--” Katara whispered as she looked into his golden eyes.

Katara felt the heat rising to her cheeks as she scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist as her head comfortably rested under his chin. Zuko smiled at her sudden affection as she whispered, “Especially between us…”

--

Okay, so let me all know who’s going and PLEASE tell me when you’re going to be there and if you guys would like to have a little gathering of Zutarians to hang out at the convention and cause some ruckus. Also, Avatar is continuing to air on Nickelodeon on Monday July 14th, and as always, Zutara Forever!