A BOY AND HIS DRAGON
Chapter one
"Good job, but your accuracy was off." Aang lowered his head in disappointment. Zuko continued to speak to the young avatar, saying "Now all you need to do is straiten your back a little bit more and you'll have it." Aang ran the sequence again and straitened his back as Zuko had instructed and the fire that left his fists was perfectly on the target. "Well done." Aang lowered his hands and smiled that goofy smile of his and Zuko smiled back.
"BOYS, IT LUCH TIME!" Katara yelled at them from the center of the temple. Aang and Zuko bowed to each other before the airbender ran off to meet Katara. Zuko decided to walk. When he reached his destination he heard the young avatar talking to the listening crowd.
"I finally master that technique that I couldn't get for the life of me," Aang looked at Zuko for encouragement "Right Zuko?" Zuko nodded with a smile and the airbender moved his hands and the air around him turned into a ball that he rode around the area laughing his head off.
Next to Zuko, Katara was handing out lunch bowls. The waterbender watched Aang ride (what he called the 'air scooter') and said (more to herself then to Zuko) "I don't know where he gets all that energy from."
Zuko smiled and nodded his head saying "No kidding." Katara looked down at him and smiled with a chuckle to agree with him. She then preceded to hand the rest of the bowls out as Zuko thought to himself 'well at least she doesn't absolutely hate me now.' All eleven of them sat and eat their lunch with laughs and smiles.
..::-::..
"When all others are gone, I am here.
When the darkness makes you scared, I will be near.
When you feel you are weak, I will be strong.
When you have know where to turn, I will not make you wait for long."
"Did-did you hear a song, or was that just me?" Toph asked the group.
They all looked at her and Zuko nodded saying "Yeah, I thought I heard something too."
Sokka spoke up next to Suki "Really, I didn't hear anything."
Katara looked at him and said "I didn't really hear anything like a song, although it sounded like someone said 'I will be here.'"
"I didn't hear anything." Aang declared and Suki, Hakoda, Jit Sang, Haru, Teo, and The Duke all nodded their agreement. Just then Zuko heard a 'AAAAAAAAAAAA' and they all looked at the left side of the temple where Zuko and Aang did their firebending training. "Now I definitely heard that."
Zuko, Katara, Aang, Toph, Sokka, Suki, and Hakoda got up and raced towards where the scream had erupted. Once they got to the spot, they saw a young women hanging off the side of the temple. Zuko and Sokka both ran up to pull her over and once they did she popped up and wiped the fake sweat off her forehead dramatically. "Fooweou! That Would've been ugly." she looked at them all then bent down to brush herself off. She connected her gaze with Zuko's and the fire nation prince thought she looked familiar. "Thanks a ton for saving me! I really do appreciate it!" she smiled a big and warm smile that made Zuko want to smile back, like it was contagious. "Wow! There are a lot more people here then I originally expected. My name is Ying." (Ying means melody in Chinese.) Ying bowed a fire nation bow to them in her greeting and at that all of them got into a ready stance to fight, but the girl just smiled at them. "Sorry if I startled you. I was sent here by the masters."
"'The Masters'?" Katara asked still ready to fight. Then it hit Zuko like, when Aang sent his first fireball in training and it hit Zuko square in the face.
"You-you're a Sun Warrior aren't you?" Zuko asked and everybody who knew what he was talking bout gasped as she nodded. Know wonder she looked familiar, she was dressed in sun warrior attire only slightly different. "How did you find us and why were you sent by the masters?"
Ying yawned big and smiled a tired smile at the group. Tears were at the rim of her eyes as she said "Well I'm not opposed to telling you anything and I don't want to be rude, but I am really tired and I would like to rest for a little bit. Once I'm done I will give it to you and be on my way."
Before Zuko could say anything Hakoda pulled Aang and himself from the rest of the group. "Is she some one we can trust?" Aang and Zuko shared a glance then looked at Hakoda nodding. The old warrior sighed and said a little louder "Ying, you are welcome to stay here if you tell us your purpose in coming."
Ying smiled at him and said "I wouldn't have it any other way."
..::-::..
Zuko watched the young Sun Warrior's, Ying, chest rise and fall in a steady beat as she slept. Aang was off training with Toph and Sokka, Suki, and Hakoda were catching up on training as well. The man named Jit Sang, who had helped them escape from the fire nation prison the Boiling Rock, was out fishing…or at least that's what he said. Only Zuko and Katara were left with the new arrival. The firebender heard foot steps behind him and turned around to see two ocean blue orbs staring back at him. "So, she's a Sun Warrior?" Katara asked sitting down next to him. He nodded as she spoke again "I wonder what she is here for."
Zuko shrugged and turned his attention back to Ying. After a few moments he finally said something to Katara. "She said that she was here to drop off something. I'm not all that worried about why she's here so much as the fact she is here." the waterbender made a confused face and he sighed rotating his body so that they were facing each other. "What I mean is, how did she know where we were. Aang and I never said a thing to any of the Sun Warriors about where we were staying. I know that they wouldn't tell anyone about us for our safety and theirs. That's why it bothers me that she's here." Katara hugged her legs and put her chin on her knees sighing.
Ying yawned and sat up rubbing her eyes. Zuko and Katara looked at her as she said "You guys together?" Zuko's eyes widened as he looked over at Katara. She looked at him and he could see her face becoming redder. They broke eye contact almost immediately. "You don't have to be embarrassed. You're already going out. Besides you look good together. You look natural."
Before Zuko could explain Katara was on her feet in an instant yelling at Ying. "WE ARE NOT GOING OUT! AND WE DON'T LOOK GOOD TOGETHER!" Zuko was surprised the most by Katara's reaction. Sure, she had just gotten over not completely hating him, but there was no reason for her to act like that.
Ying looked taken back for a moment then relaxed and started to laugh. Her laugh was soft and heartfelt. "Okay, okay!" she said through her laughs "You don't have to get so worked up over something so little, Katara. When you freak out over something that you say isn't true, it just makes it seem more true." Katara's face started to redden and not from embarrassment, (that's what Zuko thought) but from anger. Katara opened her mouth to yell at Ying some more, when the firebender held up her hand to stop her. "I'm not calling you a liar. If you say there is nothing going on, then there is nothing going on." Ying put on a big warm smile and Katara relaxed and sat down again. Ying grabbed the bag she had from earlier and put it in between her crossed legs and looked down at it.
Zuko knew those eyes, they were the same eyes his mother used to give him. The eyes of a mother who loved her children very much. "So what did you want to give us?" Katara asked her.
Ying looked up at her a little startled and said "Huh?" Katara repeated the question. At first Ying looked confused then smiled. 'That must be her favorite thing to do, smile.' Zuko thought. "I'm not giving you anything." Katara and Zuko looked at each other.
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked her perplexed, "You said you had something to give us." Ying smiled mischievously, yet it was still warm.
"I did say that." she nodded once.
"Then what-"
"I have a gift for you Prince Zuko." Ying said cutting Katara off. Zuko and Katara exchanged glances again.
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked, liking that someone still thought of him as the Crown Prince. "What gi-"
"Oh hush!" Ying snapped. Zuko and Katara moved back a bit, involuntarily. She was looking at her bag. "I was just getting to that."
"Wha-" he started to ask, but she interrupted him again.
"If you don't pipe down I won't let you meet him again!"
"Meet who? What are you talking about?" Zuko asked her agitated.
She looked up at the angry Zuko and the confused Katara saying "Huh?" she thought for a minute then said "Oh I wasn't talking to you. Sorry if I was rude."
"If you weren't talking to us then who were you talking to?" Katara asked.
"I was talking to Prince Zuko's gift." Ying answered with not a hint of sarcasm. "It's in my bag and Zuko, if you can here what it's saying then I'll show you."
What?! Here an inanimate object! She must be joking! "You're kidding, right?" he asked her and she shook her head with a confident smile.
"Go ahead, talk to him…he'll here you believe in him." Ying said to her bag in a softer reassuring tone.
Zuko looked next to him and Katara was watching him, waiting for him to do something. He looked at Ying again and saw her eyes. She was serious. She believed in him and that thing that was in her bag. She was waiting patiently for him, just like Katara. Zuko started to get frustrated. "What am I supposed to do?!" Ying smiled at him. Her smile calmed him and he didn't know why. He looked into her eyes and they said to him "Be calm, my Prince. Listen to your inner fire." 'Okay,' he thought. 'I'll try.'
Zuko breathed deeply, then let it out with his breath of fire. He did as Ying instructed and listened. He heard the 'thump-thump, thump-thump' of his heart and felt it beat against his chest. Zuko felt his soul fill up with heat from his inner fire. He saw the flames flicker, calm, yet ready to fight and defend. He saw them rise and fall with his breath, his heartbeat. Then he saw something he hadn't seen before. He saw someone running towards him. He saw his flame grow higher with anticipation of seeing this person, of holding them. As the person neared he saw something else, something that was closer. He watched it come and then he heard a faint '…can't…me.' he wanted to see who the person was, but the voice sounded like it was sad, so he listened harder. As he did the person went away and the voice became louder. 'He can't hear me!' it cried 'Ying, you were wrong! He can't hear me after all! I knew he wouldn't, but still I don't want to be alone. Ying please hold me.' "Be patient, little one." Zuko heard Ying's voice ring clear and he was back in the Air temple. He looked at Ying and she was smiling at her bag. "Call him again, little one. He'll hear you." 'Okay,' it sobbed 'Please My Prince, please tell me you can hear me! Please!' it begged him.
"I can hear you." Zuko said looking at the bag. Then he heard the crying stop and the thing said 'You can?!' "Yeah." he stated. He looked at Ying and she smiled happy he heard…what ever it was.
"Hey guys, what're you up to?" Zuko turned around to see everyone returning from their training.
"Zuko's talking to Ying's bag." Katara answered him pointing her thumb at Zuko. They all laughed, but Zuko ignored her.
"What's in the bag, Ying." he asked her and she moved forward to grab the bag from it's resting place. Ying pulled out a very familiar looking golden egg.
His eyes widened as realization hit him. Behind him Aang was saying "Hey, that's that glowing egg thing!" he then quickly explained what he was talking about to the rest of the group.
Ying smiled at Zuko and said "Now do you know what this is?"
"I think so." Zuko answered.
"I don't, what is it?" Aang said running up next to Zuko then plopping himself down on the ground.
Ying smiled and explained what the egg really was "This is the master's, Ran and Cha's egg." everyone's eyes widened as the realization hit them. "Yes," said Ying "this is a dragon's egg." Zuko waited patiently for Ying to tell him why he could hear what it was saying and why she was showing this to him while everyone else gathered around and sat in a circle waiting for Ying to continue. Katara sat down next to him again and he wondered why. "This is Prince Zuko's gift."
"What?!" they all said at the same time. "Why are you giving me the very last dragon egg?" Zuko asked her. 'Ying, he doesn't want me?! I thought he liked me, Ying! Why doesn't he like me?!' Zuko heard the pathetic little thing cry and he couldn't help but say out loud "No! That's not it at all! It's not that I don't want you, I just don't know what to do with you."
Zuko then realized what he just did and Katara leaned in a little bit saying "Zuko, who are you talking to?"
"His partner." Ying answered for him and they all looked at her again. The young Sun Warrior got up and walked over to Zuko. Once there, she placed the egg into his hands and he felt the creature come to life. Just like the first time he had held it. The golden egg then began to shake and a big hunk of golden shell broke off the side and flew all the way across the circle and hit Sokka square in the face. They were all to preoccupied to notice. Another piece of gold flew off the other side and Momo caught it.
"Two little purple paws?" Katara asked him and he just shrugged. Soon enough the whole egg shell was all over the ground and a little purple dragon was stretching and opening it's mouth showing it's tinny teeth and little pink tong. "Awwwww, it's so cute!" Katara squealed.
"What are you going to call her, Zuko?" Ying asked him.
"Her?" Zuko asked Ying and she nodded. The fire nation prince thought a while before he said "Niu."(Means girl in Chinese)
They all looked at him and all the men (plus Toph) said "Cool" or "Good name" Katara and Suki on the other hand, had another idea. Suki rolled her eyes as Katara took the little dragon from Zuko's hand and said "Her name can't be Niu."
Zuko looked at Katara "Why not?" he was never good at giving out names, but Niu was a girl name and the dragon was a girl. What was wrong with it?
Katara rolled her eyes "When you name someone, that is how they will be known for the rest of their life. Think about it Zuko, would you want to be called 'boy' for rest of your life?" Katara didn't give him a chance to answer before she continued "A name is something special. You have to put love and feeling into it." the waterbender looked back at the little dragon and smiled saying "You're more of an…" the purple dragon squeaked and it looked like she was smiling too. "Ai."
"Love?" Zuko asked Katara and they both looked at each other. Ai started to squeak and Zuko looked at her when she said to him 'I like it, I like it! My Prince, she's really pretty and she's smart too! You like her don't you?' "What?!" he said to the now laughing dragon "No I don't!" he looked at Katara and she was looking away from him. Did she hear what Ai had said?
Ai opened her little mouth and stretched her wings. She started to flap them when Ying jumped up from her seat saying "Ai!" Ai stopped moving and shrunk back down under the force of Ying's tone. "You are not old enough to fly yet. Your wings are too small and too weak to carry your body. You just hatched, you can't just start flying any where you want to." Ai put her head down then hopped off of Katara's hands. They all watched the little dragon walk over to Zuko then squeak. Zuko assumed that to everyone else Ai's voice was just a bunch of squeaks, but he and apparently Ying could hear what she was saying. 'the more you yell the more it seams to be true, right Ying?'
Ai looked at Ying and she said "Sadly Prince Zuko, I have to agree with her." they both started to laugh.
"Zuko," Katara asked him and he averted his eyes to Ai and Ying to look at her. "Is that dragon talking to you and Ying?"
Ai started to laugh and walk over to Katara again when she sneezed and fire came out of her nose. Zuko moved his hands over her face just in time to stop the fire from burning Katara. "Thanks." Katara said to him and he nodded.
"Hey everybody. I got brought back lots of fish. So who's hungry?" they turned to see Jit Sang walking up to them with a lot of fish. At that moment Ai started to snarl and bite and charge at Jit Sang.
Zuko caught her just before she was out of their reach. "What's the matter Ai?" Ying asked her, but Ai was not responding to her. Zuko felt rage coming of the little dragon in waves and he was sure that something was not right with her.
Zuko picked her up forcing his anger down for some reason he started to get mad too and he didn't know why. He held her in place in his hands looking into her eyes he saw that they were glazed over like she was in a trance. So he said firmly to her "Ai!" the purple dragon stopped struggling and looked into his eyes. "What is the matter with you?!" she looked at him like she was scared of something 'He…I don't rust that guy, My Prince. He makes me really mad. And something just doesn't feel right.' Zuko nodded at the young dragon and let her down cautiously saying "You might feel that way, but you can't attack him. He is our friend and he is helping us. You have to learn how to control your anger." Was he really saying that? "And one more thing call me Zuko." she nodded and sat down next to him.
"Did Zuko really just say that? " Sokka asked and they all laughed.
"I think he did." said Aang.
"Awww," Katara cooed "Zuko playing daddy. I never thought I'd see the day that would happen."
They all laughed as Zuko glared at Katara saying "What, you want to be the mommy?"
Katara stopped laughing and her face went red as she yelled back "NO!" they all laughed at him and Katara while Ai was saying 'Daddy Zuko, mommy Katara. Daddy Zuko, mommy Katara.' over and over again. She was prancing around the circle and Ying was laughing. Zuko assumed that the rest of the groupguessed what Ai was saying because they were laughing as well. Katara was silent as Zuko got up to catch the little dragon, but Ai heard him coming and zoomed off in the other direction. Ai was pretty fast for something so small.
"Well I should be on my way." Ying said getting up and Zuko stopped chasing Ai. Both the fire nation prince and the dragon looked at her.
"Why?" Katara asked her.
"My job was to bring Ai to Prince Zuko. Now that, that job is done there is no need for me to stay. I have to get back to the masters. They'll need me. They're not as young as they once were." Ying gathered her bag and slung it over her shoulders. Ai ran over to Ying with sad eyes and Zuko heard her start to whimper 'Ying don't go! Don't leave! I won't know what to do without you! How will I learn to firebend without you? How will I lean how to fly? Ying please don't go! I'll miss you too much!' Ying smiled at Ai and picked her up. She hugged the little dragon then said to her "I have to go. Your mom and dad need me. Don't worry about anything. You will know what to do without me, Ai. Besides Prince Zuko is teaching the Avatar how to firebend I'm sure he'll teach you as well. And when the time comes for you to learn how to fly you could just ask the Avatar, Appa, or Momo. I'm sure if you ask nicely they would teach you too. You and Zuko are partners now, you need to learn how to rely on each other." she hugged the little dragon and both of them had tears in their eyes. "I'll miss you too, Ai. But when you get older and can fly on your own you can come and visit me and your parents. Remember this Ai, once you become someone's friend, they will be with you forever. Goodbye little dragon." Ying set Ai down on the ground and started to leave.
"Wait," Zuko called after he and she turned around "Thank you Ying, for everything. If there is ever anything that you need I will try my hardest to help you with it." then a thought accrued to him "You can come and visit Ai any time you want." Ying smiled and nodded her head accepting his thanks. She turned and left the way that she had came. They all watched the Sun Warrior leave until she was out of sight then Zuko turned to Ai and said "I think we need to get to know each other better." the little dragon jumped up onto Zuko's head and started to cry. He took her of his head and held her in his arms for a bit before Teo, Haru, and The Duke got up.
"Where are you guys headed?" Katara asked them.
"I want to go and explore the forest some more before the sun sets." The Duke answered. "And Haru promised he'd show me some more of his earthbending."
"I want to go and watch." Teo put in and the three of them left.
As they were running Katara called after them "Don't wonder to far." The Duke gave her a thumbs up before the trio disappeared. Hakoda stood and Sokka followed suit.
"Well I'm going to go practice. I want to redo everything before dinner so that I really have it down." Hakoda turned to his son "Would you like to come with me, Sokka?" the warrior nodded and they both set out to go train. "Oh," Hakoda turned around and faced Jit Sang "Would you like to come along?" Jit Sang nodded as well and ran to catch up to them.
"I guess I'll start cooking the fish Jit Sang caught." said Suki getting up from her position on the ground. "Aang could you gather some firewood?" the airbender nodded and went to grab his glider. Aang took off towards the forest and a gust of wind followed him. Toph bended some rocks around her so that they supported her like a cushion as she laid on the ground. Aang was back with wood for the fire and was about to light it when Zuko stopped him.
"What's wrong, Zuko?" Aang asked his master and Zuko shook his head.
"Nothing's wrong I just thought that maybe Ai could try and light it." he set his partner on the ground and they all looked at her. She looked up at him with wide, worried eyes. 'I can't do that! Zuko smiled and kneeled down at her. He put a hand on her head and said "Yes you can Ai."'I've never used fire before. What if something goes wrong?' "Nothing is going to go wrong. And besides, you have to start sometime."
Ai still looked unconvinced, so Katara interjected "Zuko's right, Ai, you can do it. Dragons were the original firebenders. It's in your nature, you'll get it." at that Ai looked more confident and Zuko shot a thankful glance at Katara who in turn smiled back at him. The little purple dragon strolled over to the fire pit and opened her mouth only to close it again confused.
Zuko walked up to her and kneeled down saying "What's wrong?" 'I've never done this before. I don't know how to firebend.' she answered never looking away from the fire pit. Zuko chuckled a little and sat down next to her. "Ai," she looked up at him and Zuko produced a small flame in the palm of his hand. He then lit the wood seeing Suki's impatient face. Ai gapped at it in wonder. "Firebenders and dragons alike have an inner flame that they draw their firebending from. In order to firebend, you have to be in tune with that inner flame. Once you are in tune with it you have to let it come to the surface. And the moment it does you produce fire." he lit his other palm on fire as well. "The art of firebending." Ai made a confused face again 'I understand everything you said except the inner flame. I know what you need it for, but what is it?' "Well," Zuko rubbed the back of his head not knowing what to say. Suki was getting dinner ready and Toph was testing Aang on something before he went to practice with Katara. "it's hard to explain. Your inner fire is like…it's like…"
"It's your soul." Zuko and Ai looked at Katara. The waterbender had it right on. He nodded his thanks to her and she smiled at him.
"Yeah, it's your soul." 'Your soul? What's a soul?' Ai caught him with another difficult question. Zuko wished Katara could hear what she was saying so that anything he didn't know how to answer she could. "A soul? Well a soul is…"
"You better let me handle this, Zuko." Katara got up and sat down next to him and Ai. "A soul is the thing that makes you, you and me, me. Everyone has a soul. It's what makes them their own person. You can't live without it." 'Do you have one, mommy Katara?' Ai asked the waterbender and Zuko looked at the little dragon in amazement. Ai wasn't kidding when she called Katara mommy. 'Great' he thought 'now she's going to grow up thinking Katara is the mom and I'm the dad.'
"She wants to know if you have a soul too." Zuko said for his purple partner.
Katara laughed "Of course I do. You have one too, Ai."
Ai smiled and Zuko said to her "Now try and firebend for us." Ai nodded and turned her attention away from everyone so that she didn't burn them. She opened her mouth and after a few huffs of trying to get the fire to produce it finally did. 'I DID IT!' she roared triumphantly. Zuko smiled at her.
"Well done Ai! You just firebended!" Katara reached forward and grabbed the little dragon. The waterbender hugged her tightly praising her just like a mother would. Zuko reached out his hand and put on top of Ai's head with a smile. Katara and Zuko locked gazes and both smiled at each other. Katara let Ai down and stood up "Well Aang we should probably go start water bending now." the Avatar looked over at her and nodded. He waved a goodbye to Toph and ran off with Katara.
Zuko looked down at Ai "Well do you want to learn more firebending?" Ai nodded and he led the way away from the working Suki and lounging Toph. Once he and Ai got to the training area that he and Aang used Zuko started to teach her more about the art of firebending.
..::-::..
"She what?!" Katara laughed at him as he sat down next to her.
"She set the side of the temple on fire." Zuko said annoyed. Suki handed him his dinner bowl and he nodded his thanks. They were all sitting down enjoying the fish that Jing Sang had caught and Suki had prepared so well. It had been an hour since he started teaching Ai how to control her breath of fire and she had set some of the overgrowth on fire in the process of learning it. When Zuko had tried to put it out she hiccupped causing another fireball to zoom past his head just singeing some of his over grown hair off. When he had returned he had told the interested group the story only to hear a laughing Katara when he was done.
Katara laughed again patting Ai on the head as the little dragon ate her fish "Good job Ai, he needed a hair cut anyway." they all laughed and Zuko forced himself to be calm by blowing steam out of his nose. Ai looked up at the prince with puppy eyes 'I'm really sorry, Zuko. I didn't mean too. Honest!'
Zuko shook his head "It's okay Ai, I know you didn't mean too." Ai smiled up at him her thanks and then shoved her face into her dinner bowl. Once they were done Ai asked him where she was going to sleep and he led her to his room. She plopped herself onto his bed and curled into a safe little ball. After a few minutes Ai lifted her head and looked at him 'You can sing now.' "What?" Zuko asked her confused. 'I said you can sing now.' "Sing what…and I don't sing." Ai looked disappointed for a moment then said 'I know you heard Ying sing the song to me before you meet her. I know you heard it!' Zuko thought back to when the little dragon might be talking about.
He smacked his fist in the palm of his other hand saying "Oh yeah! I remember what your talking about…" Ai looked hopeful "but I don't remember how it goes and I don't sing." her hopeful face was swept away. "Why do you need to hear that song anyway?" 'Ying said it helps our bond grow and it helps me sleep better.' she answered him. They were both silent for a minute or two before Zuko spoke again "How does it go again?" Ai smile beamed up at him and she started to sing 'When all others are gone, I am here.' Zuko repeated what she sang to him. 'When the darkness makes you scared, I will be near.' again Zuko sung to her. 'When you feel you are weak, I will be strong. When you have know where to turn, I will not make you wait for long.'
The firebender finished the song when he heard footsteps behind him. "Nice." he turned to see Katara standing in his doorway (much like she had done when he first arrived at the temple). "Who knew you could sing so…"
She trailed off not knowing what to say so Zuko finished for her "Terrible?"
Katara smiled at him "More or less." Zuko smiled back at her then turned to Ai. The sleeping dragon's chest moved up and down rhythmically and the fire nation prince couldn't help but pet her head lightly. Ai smiled at the comfort she was receiving and growled/purred (or whatever dragons do) deep in her throat. Katara watched the exchange and despite herself went in and sat down next to Zuko. Zuko looked up at the waterbender surprised that she was so, what was the word, nice, kind, not about to rip his head off? Oh who cares, whatever it was Zuko liked it. "That song you just sang to Ai," Zuko looked up at Katara "I didn't hear all of it, I just heard parts of it, but I was just wondering what it was."
Zuko thought about this for a minute then looked down at Ai, "I'm not really all that sure myself, but Ai said that when some one sings that song it helps your bond grow with that person you're singing to…and it helps her sleep." Katara laughed at that last part and this time Zuko liked her laugh. It was sweet and gentle not annoying and mean hearted.
The two were quiet for what seamed to be a long time then Katara stood up saying "Well it's getting late, I better go." she headed to the door then stopped "Goodnight… Zuko."
Katara didn't turn around to say this, so Zuko smiled at her "Goodnight, Katara."