Destiny is Calling
Prologue: The Moment Everything Changed
Katara sat on her haunches, the water that covered her hand still glowing with her healing powers, and looked down at Zuko with tear filled blue eyes.
"Thank Tui you're all right. I thought for a minute that I was too late, that you were already dead." With a graceful motion, she returned the liquid to its water skin and placed a gentle hand on his chest. She could feel his heart trembling beneath her searching fingertips and thanked the spirits once again, this time silently.
"Th, thank you, Katara," Zuko replied weakly. "You saved my life. How can I ever repay you?" The prince, soon to be the new Fire Lord, struggled to sit up.
"We're friends." The word felt strange on Katara's tongue suddenly. As she looked down at Zuko, into his warm gold eyes, something in her ignited. 'Friend' didn't seem to fit anymore. She wondered how that had happened, where the feeling had come from and immediately a hot flash of guilt surged through her body. Gathering her composure she continued. "Friends help each other out. You're part of our group now, Zuko. You're every bit as important as the rest of us and don't you forget it." She swatted him playfully on the arm and he flashed a shy smile at her.
"Friends; I like the sound of that." He thought for a moment about how rich his life had become since joining Aang as his friends. His life at the palace had been so shallow and meaningless, a series of days spent doing nothing, sitting idle, bemoaning his situation. Everything was so much better now and Katara was such a huge part of that. She was a girl with so much heart, so much compassion and so much courage. Sometimes it was overwhelming, but the more time Zuko spent with her, the more he liked it. Could his feelings for the Water Tribe girl be changing? Did she mean more to him now than 'friend'? He quickly thought of Mai, how different his 'girlfriend' was from Katara, how much dimmer her light burned than the light of the girl in front of him. His cheeks grew pink and he turned his head away.
Katara didn't notice. Her attention had been drawn back to the screaming, ranting princess behind them, chained and broken. Still watching Azula, she put her hand down to help Zuko stand. He took it willingly, holding on a little longer than was necessary, enjoying the coolness of her light brown skin.
They stood together in silence, Katara's hand on Zuko's shoulder a show of solidarity. They had fought this battle together, though it hadn't begun that way, and the battle had changed them both forever. Zuko would bear the physical scar for the rest of his life. Katara could do nothing about that. It didn't really matter anyway. She didn't even see the scar on his face anymore. All she saw now was a handsome, brave young man who was about to take on a great burden.
As they watched Azula, a mixture of pity and triumph warring within each of them, Katara and Zuko both felt something that they were afraid to name. But, they had friends and family to worry about. This confusing emotion, this something new that now existed between them would have to be defined later.
The sky was still that eerie red and the buildings around them burned, testament to the power of the comet and the firebenders who had used its strength. Aside from Azula's frenzied howling, there was silence, as if the world were holding its breath, waiting to see who would win the war between good and evil.
Katara and Zuko looked up at the sky, waiting for a sign.