Yes. This is a Zutara fic, but I'm trying to keep this as canon as possible, so there will be canon pairings to start with. Although I will be ignoring any information released about The Legend of Korra, because that ruins my fun. Also, I don't actually ship ANY pairings. It's just that this idea came to me and I had to write it. Comments on the chapter at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender, any of the characters here or the scenes referenced, especially the dream contents. I'm not that awesome


As soon as Appa landed in the Fire Nation's Palace courtyard, Katara felt uneasy. With most of it's occupants absent due to Ozai's planned comet-empowered attack on the Earth Kingdom, entering the Fire Nation and it's Palace had been child's play. They had successfully interrupted Azula's coronation. Yet something felt wrong about it all. The smallest worry tugged at her racing heart.

"Sorry, but you're not going to become Fire Lord today," Zuko called to Azula, jumping down from Appa and standing strong and tall. "I am." The pure confidence in his words allowed the Master Water bender to push back that small wave of doubt and climb down from Appa herself. Even as Azula cackled with a crazed amusement.

"You're hilarious…" The Fire Princess' tone only angered Katara further as she moved to stand at Zuko's side. The calm blue of her traditional Water Tribe robes both harmonised and contrasted with the deep crimson of Zuko's royal Fire Nation attire. The perfect symbol of the peaceful future they were fighting for.

"And you're going down," Katara threatened, glaring at their opponent.

Ignoring that their Princess' coronation had been challenged, the fire sages attempted to continue the ceremony, one of them moving to place the royal crown -which looked more like a decorative hair piece- on her head. Azula held up a hand to stop him, surprising the old men. Perhaps they had not expected her to react to a traitor and a Water Tribe peasant.

"Wait!" Azula demanded, getting to her feet, the blood red royal cloak swishing about her feet. "You want to be Fire Lord… Fine! Let's settle this, just you and me, brother. The showdown that was always meant to be. Agni Kai!" The malevolence on her face increased with every word. She was eager to start this battle.

"You're on." Zuko's words were so firm and calm that Katara looked at him in shock. Was he insane? He couldn't fight Azula alone. Just the idea of it brought out a ranged mixture of emotions inside of her. Surprise. Confusion. Concern. Anger. Worry. Fear. That wave of doubt came crashing down on her with a vengeance. She had to say something!

"What are you doing? She's playing you. She knows she can't take us both, so she's trying to separate us." She cast a worried glance across the courtyard, but Azula seemed content to let them debate.

"I know, but I can take her this time," Zuko said, his confidence still unwavering. His determined gaze still set upon is sister. This time however, it did nothing to settle Katara's nerves.

"But, even you admitted to your Uncle that you would need help facing Azula…"

"There's something off about her. I can't explain it, but she's slipping." Katara didn't know Azula as anything but someone that had always been trying to either capture or kill them all, a snide and powerful Fire bender. Yet, even she had to admit that the Fire Princess was giving off a different vibe than usual. And it wasn't just because of the new uneven haircut. "And this way…" Here Zuko turned to look at her and she was surprised by the warm and soft concern in his amber eyes. Eyes that had once been so cold. "…no one else has to get hurt."

Katara was about to give a small nod of agreement when the crackle of lightning split through the air. Before her eyes, Zuko was struck down. The Agni Kai had not even officially begun and now it was over. Azula had used the distraction of their conference to strike first. Zuko's dark hair fell over his face as he hit the ground hard and he stared at her through the eye that had been hurt in his first Agni Kai. The injury she had once offered to heal. She reached for him now, but a flash of blue fire separated them, knocking her back. She was forced to watched her friend burn…


"ZUKO!" Katara clamped her hand over her mouth as she sat bolt upright in bed. She breathed heavily as if she had ran across the enormous Earth Kingdom, the sweat that ran down her face mingled with the tears. She gripped her red sheets tightly, reminding herself that it wasn't real. They hadn't lost. Azula had been defeated and was contained. Zuko was alive. She hadn't failed him. She hadn't failed anyone.

"The dreams always tell lies… The dreams always tell lies… The dreams always tell lies…" This was not the first night Katara continuously mumbled those words to herself, like a chant, trying to reassure her subconscious of the truth she knew in her heart. This was not the first time she had dreamt that she had failed. It was never the same. Yet in some way, the nightmares always made them lose the battle. As her breathing and the rapid beating of her heart settled down, she looked around her room for further reassurance. She was still in the Fire Nation palace. Not as an prisoner, but as a guest. Thankfully the bedrooms were the furthest from the courtyard that had been set ablaze. The décor was still varying shades of red, her curtains still hung open so that she could see the moon in the clear starry sky. The bucket of water she had requested still sat on the floor beside her bed. With her water bending skills, Katara used a little portion of it to cool and wash her face.

It had only been two weeks since they had won the war. So much had happened in that time. There had been little time to socialise. Aang and the others had travelled over from the Earth Kingdom, after defeating Ozai and his fleet. First to see if she and Zuko had succeeded, then to help with the consequences and preparations. Zuko and Aang had to declare the war officially over and begin withdrawing the troops, assigning ambassadors, writing up peace treaties and arranging meetings. Along with dealing with every little treachery, fear, opposition and small battle that reared it's ugly head. The conflict and distrust from the hundred year war would not disappear so easily. Just yesterday was Zuko's coronation. It had been a grand day. More Fire Nation citizens than expected were happy with their new Fire Lord and they let it be known. With fireworks and banquets across the nation. Even those that could not attend were celebrating in their homes. Mai had been released from prison and had returned to Zuko's side. And although most of the Order of the White Lotus remained in Ba Sing Se, Uncle Iroh had left to attend the coronation.

It was with him that the Avatar, the new Fire Lord and the rest of the gang of heroes sat down to drink tea after the ceremony, telling everyone what had happened to them in their part of the final battle. When they were asked about the battle with Azula, Zuko gave the details. He explained how he had had the upper hand in the battle, but Azula still managed to strike him down. He told them that it was Katara that had chained Azula down and then rushed over to heal him. Everyone had praised her and her skills, while she merely stared down into her lap.

"So you owe Katara your life, Zuko!" Aang had announced, always quick to praise the Water bender. She opened her mouth to correct him, but Zuko spoke first.

"Yes, I do. Without her, I wouldn't be here and you would all be facing Fire Lord Azula." Katara had simply stared at him, her mouth hanging open. Why didn't he tell them that it was the other way around? That he had only gotten so badly hurt because he had taken the blow for her, because HE had saved HER life. That she owed him much more than she could give. Instead he had only made everyone launch into another round of praise. Except for Toph, who sat still with a puzzled expression.

Katara sighed as she remembered that. They believed she was a huge hero for defeating Azula and healing Zuko. Yet she knew otherwise. If she had acted earlier. If she had moved herself. If she had struck back. Then Zuko would never have been hurt in the first place. Perhaps that was why the nightmares plagued her. She felt guilty that they respected her for something they shouldn't. Yet she didn't tell them the truth. Zuko had chosen not to and she would follow his lead until he told her to do otherwise.

Zuko. She needed to see him. She needed to be sure that he was alive and well. But it was still the middle of the night. She clambered out of bed and started pacing her room, the panic from her dream still lingering. The Fire Lord's chamber was just down the hall. She could creep out and just peek though the door to make sure he was okay. Nobody would know. Of course they wouldn't. Everyone else would be asleep. She could check he was sleeping soundly and then return to her room and do the same.

That decided, she stepped out into the dark corridor, lit only by the moon outside the windows, closing the door as quietly as she could. She tiptoed through the dim light, the soft carpet helping to silence her steps. Reaching Zuko's chamber, she slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open slightly. Peering through the gap, she could just about see him lying in his bed. He mumbled something and rolled over in his sleep. He was fine. He was alive. He was healthy. Just as she knew he was. She smiled gently to herself and pulled the door shut.

"Spying on the Fire Lord, Sugar Queen?"

Katara jumped and spun around, her hair hitting her in the face. There was no denying her surprise in finding Toph standing right behind her. The young, blind Earth bender certainly had better senses than she did. To some, blindness was a hindrance, but Toph had turned it into an asset. She saw with her feet and it had made her the greatest Master Earth bender of their time. Perhaps of any time, since she was solely responsible for the invention of Metal bending.

"Toph… what are…?"

"Firstly, how could you think screaming Zuko's name as loudly as you did wouldn't wake anyone up? Secondly, did you really think you could make such a fuss in your room and then sneak out when your room is right next to mine?" She shook her head and folded her arms across her chest, as if disappointed in Katara's lack of judgement.

"Shh!" Katara hushed, glancing worriedly at the door behind her. She grabbed Toph's arm and started leading her back to her room. "Let's not talk here." Thankfully there was no argument and they made it to Katara's room in silence. The Water bender sat on her bed, embarrassed at being caught.

"Alright Katara. I want answers. And don't lie, because I will know." Katara sighed. She knew that was true. Her friend had learned that particular skill through Earth bending. She also knew Toph wouldn't let her get away with it if she tried lying anyway.

"I was just checking up on him… I had a nightmare… that he died in the battle with Azula," she explained. She was reluctant to show her childishness, since she was usually the one mothering everyone, but it felt good to talk to someone. "I just wanted to show myself that Zuko is alive and well. Is that so wrong?" Instead of answering, Toph focused on something else.

"You've been having these nightmares often, haven't you?"

"Increasingly… How did you know?"

"I can feel you tossing and turning in your sleep. It's been rather distracting…" she mused. "Is it always Zuko? Do you dream about the rest of us?

"No… just him… It's always that battle. It's never the same, but somehow, Zuko always dies, Azula always wins and there's nothing I can do…" Feeling the tears well up in her eyes again, Katara hid her face in her hands. Not that there was any point where Toph was concerned. She couldn't see the tears anyway, but she'd sense them. The younger girl surprised Katara by sitting beside her and putting her arm around her shoulders. Toph usually only showed affection through punches.

"It's alright, Katara. It's probably just this place. You haven't gotten any closure from the battle," Toph reasoned. "Don't worry, we're leaving for Ba Sing Se tomorrow. Once you're back in the fresh air of the Earth Kingdom, you'll forget all about these nightmares." She grinned widely. Katara could only assume the expression was for her, as Toph had always made her dislike of the huge city very clear. Putting on a smile, she leaned against her friend.

"Thanks Toph. I hope you're right…"


And the hinting begins! I really don't take credit for the dream at the start. That piece of mastery comes from Book Three, Episode 20, Sozin's Comet Part 3: Into the Inferno. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this! This is just the prologue, but I will try to make the other chapters longer!