READ THE ZUTARA CAVE REWRITE INSTEAD!!!

Important Author's Note: Instead of reading this version of the Zutara Cave, you should read my rewrite of it. If you were to choose only one to read, I would recommend reading the REWRITE. If you wish to read both, then I recommend reading this one first and then reading the rewritten version to see the obvious difference. In this ORIGINAL version, Zuko appears to be more pleading and weak before Katara, but in my REWRITTEN version, Zuko is stronger and angrier and more like himself. Plus I've written more on the thoughts going through his head. But it is up to you! Take your pick. Personally, I recommend the REWRITE, but maybe you'll like the ORIGINAL better. Either way, I welcome REVIEWS! So thanks for reading! And ENJOY!

Zutara: (Part 1) Our Bond

Written by Katie Jo aka AVidZktjo

It took a while for the feeling in Katara's body to come back, and the pain at being thrown down into the lighted cavern only made it take longer. But once she could sit up, she looked around the rather large cave and was fascinated by the glowing rocks overhead and the green crystals that covered every wall and crevice. If she had not just been thrown into this makeshift prison, she would have delighted in the beauty that this cave had to offer. But her mind was focused on only one thing. Escaping.

Katara massaged her legs, trying to pump the life back into them, while scanning her surroundings for any sign of weakness. Unfortunately, the cave walls stood strong, and she couldn't see any place that she could possibly break through. Her hand instinctively went to where her water pouch should have been, but just as she suspected, Azula had taken it from her upon her capture. Looking down at her legs, Katara folded them underneath her and then feebly stood to her feet. She forced herself to walk even though her limbs profusely protested against her movements.

As she continued to walk around the cave, she checked the walls, any crevice that might have a break in it, but everything was immovable. And then the realization finally hit her that she was trapped, and her anger began to boil over. It was all Zuko's fault. If she hadn't spotted the banished prince, she would have never been captured. Why was he even here in Ba Sing Se? She figured that he must be involved in some sort of plot with Azula, both of them taking on fronts as friends with the Earth Kingdom, but why? So they could take down the only remaining Earth Kingdom city, wreaking even more havoc on an already traumatized world? The anger in Katara continued to rise as she began to pace around the cavern. What were they up to? What damage would Zuko do now?

But as her thoughts began to turn to the foul firebender and his vile sister, the top of the cavern was thrust open by two of the Dai Li, and one of them said, "You've got company," as a man was rolled down into the cave. Katara's first instinct was to help the young man to his feet as he came to a stop in front of her. But when he put his hands on his knees and brought his eyes up to meet hers, Katara stared down at him in shock. "Zuko," she spoke his name before narrowing her eyes at him in disgust. As the Dai Li closed the top of the cavern to secure them both in there, Katara couldn't help but wonder what sort of trap she had found herself in the middle of now.

Zuko couldn't believe his luck. Of all the people Azula could have thrown him in with, she had to imprison him with this waterbending peasant. He could tell from her greeting that she was not going to be an easy cellmate. Her anger was already illuminating the fire in her eyes. So as soon as the light from the tunnel disappeared, Zuko rose to his feet and without taking heed to her sudden change of stance, he moved to the left side of the cavern and sat down, facing away from her.

Katara stepped back into a fighting position as Zuko rose to his feet, but when he moved away and to his left, she loosened her stance and stared at his back in confusion. She continued to watch him for several moments before finally blurting out, "Why did they throw you in here?"

Katara paused for a second, waiting for some sort of response. But when Zuko remained still, she continued on in anger as she paced around the room. "Oh wait. Let me guess. It's a trap. So that when Aang shows up to help me, you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches," she lashed out, curling her hands into claws as she taunted him.

For a brief moment, Zuko wanted to reply so he turned his head ever so slightly to get a glimpse of the furious waterbender. But upon seeing her distraught expression, his gaze returned to the hands that were folded in his lap. It was best to let her vent, he thought. No sense in explaining it to her when she'd rather not hear that he'd changed. But had he really changed? The sudden mention of the Avatar had his heart racing. What if he did show up to rescue his loud waterbending friend? Would there be any chance of capturing him? Should he even try to capture him? Katara's continued ranting gave him the answer.

"You're a terrible person, you know that! Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace!" Zuko knew she was right. He had done terrible things in the past, but wasn't he a changed man now? He'd set the Avatar's bison free? Could he let Aang go free as well?

"But what do you care?" she continued on, her voice dropping in tone and hardening with a deep anger that stung like fire. "You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood."

All the while that she spoke, Zuko couldn't help but agree with her. She was right. He was just like his father, doing everything in his power to get what he wanted. And yet…the image of his Uncle suddenly swam before his mind's eye. No, he would no longer be that man. He had changed. He did care. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't!? How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me personally!" Katara's anger suddenly turned to sorrow and Zuko could hear the tears in her voice as clearly as her rage. His eyes shifted, and in his peripheral vision he could see Katara with her back to him, kneeling on the ground. "The Fire Nation took my mother away from me," she added as the sobs began to rake through her body.

Zuko could hear his heart break at her revelation. Images of his own mother being taken from him bombarded his thoughts, and he freely gave Katara the one thing he'd wished he'd been given when his mother had disappeared. Compassion. "I'm sorry." Turning to face her shuddering form, he added, "That's something we have in common."

Katara looked up then, wiping the tears from her eyes, and slowly turned to face him. His eyes were locked onto hers and in them she saw a sorrow as deep as the ocean. This was no trick. He was telling the truth. His eyes quickly fell to his lap at her penetrating gaze, but Katara didn't let it faze her. "What happened to her?" she quietly asked, the tears still choking up her voice.

Zuko let the memories of his mother flood in. He could remember the night she had left, the way she had begged him to always remember who he was. He cringed outwardly at the thought. How many times had he let her down? Never forget who you are. The words weren't just a furtive plea from her lips anymore but a constant companion in his everyday life. His Uncle Iroh had been telling him the same thing for months. How had he come to this? How had he forgotten who he was?

Looking back up at the waterbender, he thought to himself, I must change. I must do this for her. For my mother. "I don't know," he finally replied to Katara's question.

Katara gazed upon Zuko with a puzzled expression. "How do you not know? Did she die?"

The thought of his mother's death had always plagued his mind. Had she died? He couldn't know for sure. "I'm not sure. She left one night a long time ago. I've never seen her since."

Katara cleared her throat and wiped away the remaining tears from her eyes. How could he not know? "So what happened? Why did she leave?" Katara continued to question him, curiosity eating away at her.

Zuko sighed, pulling his knees up to his chest and resting his chin upon his knees. "I know it was of my father's doing, but I've never asked him about it. I don't want to know the truth. I don't want to know what…" – Zuko covered up his face with his arms – "…what he did to her."

Katara could sense that there was much more to the story than what Zuko was telling her. A darker story. An evil story. One worse than hers perhaps. What did Firelord Ozai do to Zuko's mother? Had she been banished? Or worse? Had he murdered his own wife? Katara shuddered at the thought. The Fire Nation Prince was in even more pain than she was. Though a tear never fell from his eyes, she knew he was concealing a great sorrow, one that perhaps ran deeper than her own.

"I'm sorry, Zuko," she said with as much compassion as he'd shown her. Zuko lifted his eyes, looking back into hers, and Katara couldn't help but smile just a little. Zuko's eyes brightened in return but his countenance remained even. Without a word, he stood and Katara was quick to follow his actions.

Putting her hands behind her back and her feet together in a shameful stance, Katara apologized for her anger. "I'm sorry I yelled at you before."

"It doesn't matter," Zuko was quick to reply, his eyes averted from hers once again.

Katara looked towards him. It did matter. She could see it in his eyes. He was hurting. "It's just that for so long now, whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy, it was your face."

Zuko knew that sentiment all too well. "My face. I see," he whispered, touching his scar.

"No, no, that's not what I meant," Katara was quick to say, taking a few steps closer to Zuko.

"It's ok." Zuko turned from Katara, removing his hand from his face. "I used to think this scar marked me, the mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark."

In the presence of this waterbender, Zuko could feel his old resolve slipping away. It seemed like a lifetime had passed while the mission of restoring his honor had consumed him. And yet now that lifetime seemed so far away. His Uncle and his mother were right. It was time for him to start anew, to find a new destiny, to remember who he was, and to be free of the curse that had left a mark on his face. But how could he ever escape it? How would the nightmare ever end?

"Maybe you could be free of it."

"What?" he said in disbelief as Katara's soft reply broke through his thoughts.

"I have healing abilities," she added.

As quickly as the hope had sprung, it soon died within him. "It's a scar. It can't be healed."

Without even a cursory thought about what he'd said, Katara reached into her robe and pulled out an intricate, blue vial that had hung from around her neck. Zuko stared after her in amazement as she explained the contents of the crystal case to him. "This is water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties, so I have been saving it for something important." Katara walked closer to Zuko, stopping in front of him. "I don't know if it would work, but…" She let the thought trail off as she looked up into Zuko's golden eyes.

For the space of a heartbeat, they looked into each other's souls. Katara saw in him a hope for change, a hope for a greater destiny, and a hurting man who needed her help. And in turn, Zuko saw in her the help he longed for, the catalyst for change, and the greater destiny that had been yearning to break forth for many years. But could one simple act of kindness from this waterbender break through years of sorrow and pain? Could her healing touch truly break him out of his quest for honor and change him into the man he so desperately wanted to become?

Zuko could feel his heartbeat quicken at the possibility. With one last glance at the waterbender, he closed his eyes, and within seconds he could feel a warm hand upon the left side of his face, gently caressing the rough edges of his scar. Her touch sent a shiver down his spine. He could almost feel his destiny changing at that very moment. He could see the new path that was set before him, the good he would finally be able to do, the obstacles he would finally overcome.

But all that changed the minute the Avatar burst through the back wall. Katara swiftly ran into the kid's arms while Uncle Iroh threw himself into Zuko's cold embrace. His Uncle's grip on him didn't even register with Zuko for his eyes were locked onto the Avatar's, and the new path he had seen only moments ago immediately shifted back into the old one. His greater destiny dissolved as his old resolve regained its strength.

As soon as Uncle Iroh released him, Zuko was pointing an accusatory finger in Aang's direction. "Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?"

"Saving you, that's what," was Aang's quick rebuttal.

Zuko could feel the old anger he'd been trying to suppress for months rising up within him, and his instincts compelled him to take a threatening step towards the object of his sudden rage. Fortunately, his Uncle was there to stop him. "Prince Zuko," his mentor said, putting a hand on Zuko's chest and pulling him back. "It's time we talked." And then his uncle looked towards the Avatar. "Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you."

Zuko stared after Aang, an old fire blazing in his chest, as he fled the room. But before the anger could consume him, Katara's eyes caught his and a sudden wave of longing washed over him. As she slowly walked away, he could see his own thoughts mirrored in her eyes. She wished she could stay. He wished she could, too. She had hoped to heal him. He had hoped for the same. And now her eyes looked back into his, asking the same question his uncle, his mother, and even he himself had asked. Will you choose the path set out for you or will you walk the path of a greater destiny? As Katara disappeared into the shadows, that question haunted the fallen prince. Would he choose the right path this time? Or would he turn back to his old ways?

Uncle Iroh presented Zuko with the path of change, but the untimely arrival of Azula brought out the old resolve in him. As he listened to the two voices around him, he could feel the war raging within himself. Which path? Which destiny? Which was the right way to go? Azula's words began to sink in, plunging deeper into his soul than his Uncle's wisdom, and Zuko's decision took form. But unexpectedly, a sudden flash of blazing watery eyes came into his vision. The bond would be broken just as quickly as it had formed. He knew that. He understood that. And yet his heart ached at the thought. But just as quickly as compassion had taken ahold of him, the old anger and rage filled his body and he pushed the image aside, choosing instead to listen to the blue dragon. So with the unexpected friendship forgotten, Zuko walked through the cave entrance, away from change, away from his greater destiny, and away from the newfound bond with the fiery waterbender.

ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S NOTES

Awww, yes, the point where it all began. This was after all the point when the bond was first formed. I'd always wanted to write a version of the Zutara Cave that delved more into the background of the moment, and now I have! I had just put this up yesterday, and after looking it over again, I was determined to finish it. So I did! I spent the better part of my day writing this final story in my OUR BOND series, so now the whole thing is complete! I'm so excited about that! I haven't touched this series in many many months, so to come back to it was a blessing. I enjoyed finishing it, and I enjoyed delving back into the Zutara/Avatar world again. So I hope you enjoy reading it! And thanks for the reviews!

AVidZktjo