Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of its characters.

AN: This is my first Zutara fanfic and it's called At Sundown. Seeing as I like reading them so much, I decided to write one of my own, if it sucks let me know and I'll stop writing it. Oh forgive the grammar and spelling.

Chapter One:

Zuko stared at the ceiling, thinking of all the wrong decisions he had made in his life. He wondered what he would be like today if he never did those things, never said those things. Maybe he wouldn't be a Prince but that might have been better than what he was right now: a traitor. Sure he didn't betray his own nation but he did betray the whole world and that in itself was a horrible feeling. Zuko thought back to a few weeks ago in Ba Sing Se when he betrayed his uncle, the avatar and the waterbender. A rush of shame flooded over him: he left them to die and it was eating at his conscience.

I'm such an idiot. How did it come to this... Zuko thought

He sighed as he sat up and took the crown piece out of his hair. Zuko looked at it blankly, and then frowned. This stupid crown... this tiny piece of metal is keeping me from my freedom. The freedom to do and go anywhere I want, instead of sitting around pretending to be the perfect prince while Azula rubs it in my face.

Zuko threw the golden crown around, like it was a piece of junk, as he walked out to his balcony. His father's land was spread out as far as he could see, but Zuko wasn't proud of it at all. This isn't right. I don't want the same things I used to. I hate this war and I hate myself for hurting the people trying to stop it...

Zuko started to shake, the anger was bubbling inside him. When he finally reached boiling point, he shot out fire over the balcony causing a few people to stare. They can judge all they want, I'm not the person my father wants me to be. Zuko's fist to stung with pain. When he looked down he remembered the crown that was in his hand. Before the priceless air loom was 

in perfect shape, but now its disfigured and melted. Firelord Ozai's going to murder me for that. Then he realised,

He didn't care.

He really didn't care!

He no longer cared what his father did to him or thought of him.

Zuko smiled to himself and threw the dented crown up and down twice before throwing it as far and as hard as he could off the balcony and into the darkness. Feeling freer than he ever had in his life Zuko ran back inside his bedroom and started to pack his things. He knew what he had to do.

--

Katara looked behind her, it was almost sundown and they were nearly inside enemy lines. What they were attempting was dangerous and crazy but they had to try.

"Katara, are you okay?" Aang asked.

Katara snapped out of her thoughts and smiled warmly at the young air bender.

"Yes Aang, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Come on let's keep going."

"Ok- "

Sokka, who was walking ahead of them, noticed a bright light coming from a building not too far away from them. He turned around quickly and put his finger to his to his lips indicating Katara and Aang to be quiet. They stopped walking and waited. After a few moments of silence, Sokka grunted quietly and rubbed his head looking around.

"What's wrong Sokka? Did you walk into a tree again?" Katara said as if talking to a young child.

"No. Something hit me on the head!" Sokka replied defensively.

"Probably just a rock." Aang suggested.

"Yeah, probably..." Muttered Sokka as he turned his attention back to the plan and continued to walk through the Fire nation garden.

Katara and Aang looked at each other and shrugged. Aang ran after Sokka who was now metres in front of them and Katara lagged behind. She walked over where Sokka was hit and accidently stepped on something hard. Slightly confused, Katara bent down and searched in the darkness. When her hand brushed over the cool metal object she picked it up and held it high, trying to use the little daylight that was left to see what it was. In her hand was what looked like a deformed crown and after Katara examined it further she found a tiny fire nation symbol on it. And then it hit her.

"No, it couldn't be... " she breathed.

Sokka, noticing his younger sister was no longer with him and Aang, turned around and saw her standing a few metres behind.

"Katara? Hurry up we're almost inside the palace." Sokka said and kept walking.

Katara looked at her brother and then put the crown into her bag for safe keeping.

"I'm coming." Katara said slightly annoyed as she hurried after her brother.

--

"Where do you think you're going?"

Zuko stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face his sister. Azula had an evil smirk on her face as she inspected her nails. Zuko said nothing and continued putting his clothes in a bag. Azula, angry about being ignored, kept talking.

"Father was wondering what all the noise was. You interrupted his daily meditation."

"I don't care."

Azula smiled "Fine, I let him know then." Then she left the room.

Zuko flinched. He knew it was now or never. His father would definitely get angry by what he said so leaving now would probably be best. After Zuko put his swords away, he wrote a letter to his uncle saying that he was sorry and that he knows that what he's doing now is right. He left the letter on his bed and looked back one last time at his old life before walking out the room.

As soon as I get out of this hell hole I'll be free. Zuko thought.

And then he heard voices echoing in the hallway.

--

CRASH!

"Okay, that wasn't exactly how I planned on getting inside,"

"Oh shut up Sokka! We got inside didn't we?"

"Yeah but everyone in the palace probably heard us!"

"No... Just me." Zuko said coolly as he lent against the door frame.

--

Sokka, Katara and Aang all got into their fighting stances preparing to fight Zuko but he just shook his head and dropped his weapons.

"Look, I don't want to fight you- "

"Do you really think we're that stupid?" Aang said.

"It doesn't even matter," Sokka continued ignoring Zuko, who started to protest. "You're coming with us and seriously, you're making it easier for us by not fighting."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your uncle Iroh sent us," Aang started. "He told us to come and get you."

"Uncle sent you? I thought he was still in prison. How?"

"Stop asking stupid questions," Sokka snapped. "Look we don't exactly know why and we aren't happy about it either!"

Zuko just stared blankly at Sokka and tried to understand what was going on. He looked from Sokka to Aang to... the waterbender? What's she doing here? Zuko thought.

He must have been staring a little too long at her because Sokka freaked out.

"Oi, ash brain," Zuko looked over at Sokka. "Stop looking at my sister like that!"

Katara finally spoke for the first time since Zuko entered the room,

"Sokka, I can take care of myself." Katara said rolling her eyes. Sokka nodded and tilted his head in the direction of Zuko. Katara glared at her brother then started walking towards Zuko.

Oh god, she's coming this way. Zuko thought. I hope she's not one of those girls that have a temper.

Katara smiled politely at Zuko so he returned the smile and slightly relieved but then she started yelling at him and poking him hard in the chest.

"LISTEN, I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE BUT IF YOU EVER TRY THAT AGAIN, I WILL FREEZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY SO YOU WALK AROUND LIKE A HUMAN POP-CICLE!"

Zuko stood there blinking and as pale as ghost gapping as she stormed away from him angrily and left out the window. Zuko turned and looked at Aang and Sokka.

"And then you have me to deal with as well, so you can just get that thought out of your head." Sokka added.

"But..." started Zuko but he was quickly cut off by Aang who was tying up his hands.

"Just let it go."

No, no, no, they couldn't possibly think that I... no, that's definitely the last thing on my mind right now. Zuko thought as he was pulled along by Sokka and Aang guarding him from behind. Where are the guards, I'm sure I wasn't the only one that heard them come in.

--

Sokka, Aang and Zuko were only half way out the window when three guards busted through door and ran after them. Having no time to spare, Sokka and Aang jumped off the ledge pulling Zuko with them. They managed landed on soft grass but Zuko fell out the widow and clumsily fell on top of a Katara. Just my luck. Katara thought as she tried to push him off her now squashed body.

"Sorry..." Zuko muttered to Katara as she gave him an icy stare.

"Get off her!" Sokka growled as he pulled him off Katara.

Aang was already running because packs of the fire nation soldiers were closing in on them. Using his air bending, Aang blew the soldiers to the side as they tried running to a clearing.

"Aang, call Appa now!" yelled Katara over the noise.

The soldiers were getting closer every second they waited for the giant bison to land. A moment later a grunt came from distance and Appa landed beside them. Sokka helped his sister on to the saddle strapped to Appa's back then pushed Zuko on too.

Arrows started shooting from all directions as Appa lifted from the ground and into the air. Aang couldn't deflect all the arrows by himself so Zuko joined him by burning the ones coming towards him and Katara. With the fire bending from his feet he easily stopped them and then burned the rope around his hands.

Katara looked at Zuko wide eyed as he kept stopping the arrows from getting to them. He just saved my life. Maybe he is part human after all. Katara thought to herself as she stayed very low.

Sokka took over the steering for Aang so that he could help stop the fire nation's attacks.

Sokka turn Appa left, right, up and down making Katara feel sick. After a while she didn't know how much longer she could hold on. Her hands were hurting and she was slowly losing her grip on Appa's saddle. As Sokka did another flip to get away from the attacks, Katara closed her eyes and found herself slipping and letting go.



At that moment time stopped. Falling to her death wasn't how she imagined it. It didn't hurt, it wasn't painful and she didn't see any light. Scared to open her eyes, Katara asked,

"What's going on?"

A warm hand held her had tightly.

"I've got you, don't worry."

Katara slowly opened her eyes and saw Zuko staring back at her. He held her firmly and stared into her crystal blue eyes refusing to move. He wanted that moment to last forever.

"Zuko, look out!" Katara screamed.

Zuko turned around in just in time to shoot fire at ten arrows that were heading towards them but was too late to stop the other two arrows. The deadly arrows hit him in his back and leg. Zuko slowly lowered Katara down safely before laying down in agony.

Katara looked down at Zuko whose breathing had become very heavy and his blood was everywhere. Katara felt helpless. Here was the man that saved her life twice and she couldn't do anything to help him.

"Aang, Zuko's hurt, we need to get to water." Katara said quietly.

Aang nodded and flew down with his glider, took the reins from Sokka and flew Appa down into a forest near a flowing stream.