Ok so this is my first fanfiction and its Zutara. Here goes nothing hope you guys like it :)

Chapter 1

Katara's P.O.V

Me, Aang, Sokka, and Toph have just arrived at a small Fire Nation town. You know, for such an evil nation, it's kinda nice here. Sure it sometimes gets really hot here, but there are many different kinds of beautiful flowers and you should just see some of the beaches here. How can it be so pretty and peaceful here?

"You guys we need to stop at the market to by food, we're really low." Aang told everyone.

"What?! We're out of food!? " Sokka practically yelled at Aang.

"Yea we can't be out of food. Didn't we buy some a few days ago?" Toph asked us.

I sighed "We did but you guys ate it all remember? For real, we will all starve if we let you two handle the food." I told them. They both eat like there is no tomorrow, granted that could be true with a war going on but still. Unlike them, however, Aang and I atleast try to conserve some food. Ugh we have to go bach to the market, it wouldn't have been that bad if we aren't were we are. We could get caught any minute and then we would be all doomed.

"Relax Katara, you worry too much. Look, Aang even has hair now! And he'll just use that headband of his to cover up the rest of his arrow" Sokka explained.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. No one will recognize us, especially with these disguises" Aang said gesturing to the Fire Nation clothes we stole "And, um, you look really nice in yours Katara" Aang told me.

Awe isn't he sweet. We have always been there for each other, we have even kissed a few times, but with the war going on I don't think we can be together yet. He needs to focus on learning firebending and I don't want to be a distraction. But Aang's a really sweet kid.

"I guess." I said sighing.

I was about to mention that my skin color was diferent than everyone else's and so is Sokka's, but Sokka's a guy, it's more acceptable that he would be a little tanned, but what about me? I have the same complexion as Sokka but very I'm different from the other Fire Nation girls here. Everyone else here are just so pale with the exception of a few people, who are mostly guys, and even they are not as tanned as Sokka and I are, I feel as if I stick out more with my caramel color skin . But I let it go. They're right I do worry too much sometimes, I need to learn to relax more I mean who would notice right?

" Come on people I'm in the mood to scam some more fire-idiots out if their money" Toph said with a wicked grin on her face and I just rolled my eyes at her even though she can't see me.

When we went back to the market everything seems okay. I mean there are some suspisious glances in our direction and some lingering eyes on us, but that was pretty much it, no one yelling "hey look it's that Avatar and his friends, get them!" so that's good. And I tried not to notice the people staring at us but I so badly wanted to snap at them and ask what are they looking at.

" Hey, why don't we split? we can get more stuff that way." Aang suggested. That didn't sound so bad and I'm sure we'll blend in more if we're not always constantly together.

"Yeah good idea Aang plus we can all take care of ourselves so no need for anyone to worry." Sokka said looking at me while he said that.

" For your information, I was actually going to agree. No need to look at me, I'm not going to object'' I told him.

"Okay then, since Sugar Queen is on board and no one else is going to say anything can we go now? I want to go have some fun" Of coarse. All Toph wants to do is scam people out of their money. How many times do I have to tell her to stop doing that, she doesn't listen me. You know, I don't really care right now, I just want to go buy some food and maybe look at some of the shops. They have many silks, tread, jewelry, and many more stuff that look nice.

I wonder if I have enough money to buy something else besides fruit.

I walked over to a stand where there was an old lady seeling some fruit. Ew! Papaya, I hate papaya. Oh, but they have moon peaches and it looks like she has mangos too, man I love mangos they're so good.

"Excuse me miss, how much for the moon peaches? On and for a mango?" I asked her. When she looked up she smiled a little.

"That would be one copper coin each."After she said it I looked down at the amount of money I had. I decided to buy three, two moon peaches and one mango, I can still buy more but I want to see what the other stands have. And besides, Toph was probably out there tricking people out of their money so we'll have a bit more to spend later. Even though I don't agree with her scamming people, what can I say? We need the money to buy necessities.

"Thank you" I told the old lady before I left to check out other items. When I was walking by, I saw something that caught my eye, it was a necklace. It had two dragons on it that latch onto each other in an eternal dance yearning to be closer together. One was scarlet red that reflected the color of the sun and the other one reminds me of the bluest ocean and in the space between them, they breathed a thin line of smoke that had red, blue, and violet mixed together, intertwined that formed a heart. It looked so beautiful I just had to ask maybe I had enough for it, I hope I do. There was a middle-aged women wearing many bracelets and a pair of big loopy earrings sitting on a chair behind the counter.

"Uh, excuse me. How much does this necklace cost?" I asked hoping the price wasn't too high. She looked at it for a few seconds before she spoke.

" Thats a good one. Not many people notice or care too much about that it.." she said.

"Really? But it's so pretty." I can't imagine anyone not liking it.

"That will be... about... 40 gold coins." She said.

"What?! But you just said not many people even want it." I couldn't believe it! It can't cost that much.

" Yeah not many people usually want it, but look at the texture and material it's made of. I'm sorry hun, but that's the cheapest I can go. It used to cost more." She told me. I thanked her before I left even though I didn't get it.

I really wanted that necklace and I don't even know why. Something about it just seemed to draw me in. Maybe it's just that it reminds me of my mother's necklace, but I don't think that's it and the collar was longer too. Besides, nothing can replace my mother's necklace and though I don't have it on now I miss it, but it's too risky if someone sees it. No there's something else about that necklace and I can't place my finger on it, I just really want it for some reason. But nothing I can do now, unless I can somehow get my hands on 40 gold coins, no I should just try and forget about it.

After I went down a few more stalls and bought a few more fruits and vegitables, I thought I saw the red armor of a guards uniform. I froze in my tracks. After I discreetly looked around, I just saw regular people going on about their day. Maybe I'm being paronoid, and besides there is so much red here that I must have mistaken it for a guard. And if there is, so what right? Doesn't necessarily mean they know who I am.

I should just keep going get whatever else I need and head back to camp. The towm isn't that bad, but now that I'm by myself more people are starting to stare. I can hear some of the girls that look my age whispering when I pass by, and some of the guys are staring at me too. If they don't stop I am seriously considering freezing their mouths shut.

I think I have enough food to head back to the group now, but really I just want to leave the people here are really starting to bother me. I was leaving the market and already was a good portion into the woods when all of a sudden there is a huge hand on my shoulder. As I slowly turned around I hoped and prayed it wasn't who I thought it was, but when I looked up to the person who stopped me, I was right. There was a Fire Nation guard behind me with his hand on my shoulder.

"Not so fast little missy." He said in a deep voice. He was older than me, maybe by a few years. I was ready to attack, but he didn't seem to know who I really was so I stoped myself before I really blew my cover in case he didn't know. The problem if he does know or if he finds out, I have little water to protect myself with.

"I-is something wrong?" I studdered.

"I just wanted to know what a pretty young lady is doing all by herself near a forest." He said with a nefarious look on his face that made my skin crawl. He is still touching me and I don't like it.

"I was just out buying some fruit that I need, but now I'm done. I have everything I need and should be heading back to my friends so if you would excuse me..." I stepped back making his hand drop to his side and tried to leave but he wouldn't let me.

" I'm sure they can wait a little longer. Why don't you come with me and we can... talk about a few things?" He asked me and I really didn't like where this was going.

"No thank you and really I must be going. It's getting kinda late." I tried to leave again but this time instead of just speaking he grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go when I tried to free myself.

"I insist on you staying awhile." He said in a meanacing voice.

"Let go of me!" I yelled at him. I was just about to fight him by summoning all the water I could when a voice spoke out. One that I have heard before and one that I never want to hear again.

"Unhand her!" Yelled none other than the spoiled Fire Nation prince himself.

Prince Zuko.

What is he doing here? Shouldn't he have better things to do than hang out in a small town when he has a huge palce he could be in. And what was he doing telling the guard to let go of me, I would have thought he'd be laughing at me or telling the guard to hand me over to him. What was he up to? He must be up to something.

He was dressed in a deep red cloak but I could still see his royal robes underneath and it looked like he had a few guards with him but they were a few yards away from him keeping their distance. He had his hood on before he took it off to talk to the guard so it was clear that he didn't want to be reconized, but that's a little hard to do with his own small army following him and not to mention that scar of his that covers nearly half his face.

"Prince Zuko-what an honor to be in your presence." He bowed, but still didn't let go of my arm.

" I said unhand her!" Zuko repeated to the guard. He looked from Zuko to me before letting me go, rather reluctantly if I may add.

"Apologies my prince I was just having a chat with this young lady." The guard told him. That liar!

"Yeah I'm sure you were" Zuko said sarcasticelly " You may leave and get back to work" he said as he dismissed the guard who bowed before he left, but when he turned around to leave he gave me a look that said we're not done here. Once the guard left I turned my attention back to Zuko and his palace guards.

I quickly made a water whip to attack him with using the water from the nearby tree, but he doged right before it could hit him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked me but I didn't answer him I just kept striking at him. His guards were about to step in but Zuko held up his hand to stop. After continuously striking and him dodging, I finally got him and he fell on his back on the ground. When he got back up he looked annoyed and finally stared firebending at me. About time to. What? Did he think he can defeat me by hand? HA! He can't even get me with his bending.

"Look I don't want to hurt you." He said. He is kidding right? He has to be kidding. I started laughing at him.

" Really? Than you should have thought about that before you betrayed me back in Ba Sing Se!" I spat at him. Does he honestly believe I will fall for his little act again, how dumb does he think I am?

"I'm serious Katara, I don't so please don't make me. I don't want to do that again." He said. He sounded honest and sincere when he said that. I had water around me in a small shield and was debating what I should do because if he's lying and I drop the water I will be captured in an instant.

Wait-did he just say my name? I didn't even know he knew my name since he would just say waterbender or peasant all the time.

"So let me get this straight, if I stop you'll let me go? Pretend you never saw me? Like I was never here?" Disbelief clear in my voice.

"Your highness, if I may, I don't think that wood be a good idea. She's a waterbender who is disguised as a Fire Nation citizen plus, she just attacked you. I don't think the Fire Lord would be too happy if he ever found out we had a spy like her in one of our towns." A guard spoke out.

"Hey-isn't Katara the name of the name of that waterbender that travels with the Avatar?" Another guard asked. Oh no, this isn't good.

" I guess it's true what they say, you are an exotic beauty." One guard said while looking me over. Ew.

"And if she's here then the Avatar must be here with her too!" A guard realized. Oh no. No, no, no. They figured it out, they figured who I am and that Aang is here. I have to do something to leave them off their trail.

So I started laughing.

"Really? Do you honestly think we're that stupid?!" When he didn't say anything I pretended to be insulted.

"You do don't you! We would never bring Aang to the Fire Nation, somewhere where he can get captured any minute. Where it's too dangerous. No, Aang is currently somewhere far, far away where you won't be able to get him. He's somewhere safe were you'll never find him." I tried to look Zuko in the eye when saying it and crossed my arms to make it more believable and I think it worked. I sure hope it did.

The all of a sudden I felt heat coming toward me and if I made that I ice wall a second too late then I would have burned to a crisp.

"Doesn't matter if she's with the Avatar or not, she still knows where he is." A guard told the rest if them.

Then all the guard took a step toward me and since Zuko didn't stop them it sort of signaled that it was okay to attack. I dodged and fought back as hard as I could. But the problem was that they were circling around me and I don't know if its my imagination or what but it seems like there are more guards now than before. I pulled out the water whip hitting any guard that came close to me but I didn't have unlimited water at my disposal. How I wish I had a stream or river here but instead I used the next best thing and took all the water in the nearby trees and grass. I had a good amount but there were too many guards. I need more water.

At first I froze some of them to the ground but they just melted the water and kept going. I did my octopus form so it would be easier to try and defeat a guard at any position they were because they were coming from all different directions. After awhile of nonstop fighting, turning, and dodging I became really tired. I started panting, and my arms became tired too. But I'm not giving up, not yet, I will fight until I can't fight anymore. I made ice claws and threw them at someone, anyone that I saw coming toward me. I was able to knock out some guards and other seemed a little too injured to keep fighting. I felt an unbearable heat on my calf and realized a guard from behind burned my leg and the fire was burning my right pant leg. I fell to my knees and groaned as the fire felt like it was burning a hole straight threw my leg. I used some of the water to extinguish the fire that was still burning my leg and I was able to stand back up but I tried to keep as little weight on that foot as possible. I so wanted to heal it but I'd have to get out if here first.

When I got back to my feet I only had a handful of guards left and I saw Zuko far back just watching the whole scene. Yeah, no he didn't want to hurt me but he has no problem letting his guards do all of the dirty work.

I wasn't the only one getting tired though it was clear some of the guards were too, but I was still outnumbered by many. This time when I froze one of them to a tree he stayed there and I also started flinging them far away from here. I like hearing their screams become quieter as they get farther away from me.

I felt something hit my back and stumbled forward onto my knees again, my hands on the dirt. Get back up, come on I told myself. But as soon as I got back up an extra big guard came running towards me with a hand lit up with fire. I cried out on pain as my arm got engulfed in the flames, also burning the ends of my hair. I got water as soon as I could but wasn't quick enough to stop a guard from kicking me in the side. I fell on the ground but got back on my feet. Come on Katara, there aren't that many guards left I can make a run for it, I already taken down plenty of guards, I can do it. I started running deeper to the forest but because of my leg and all the energy I used I was too slow and a guard a few inches taller then me stopped me before I could get any further. He puled my hair then grabbed me from behind.

"where do you think your going? Trying to leave so soon?" He asked as I struggled to get free. I made an ice knife and sent it to his foot. He let go of me then and grabbed his foot in his hand and started hopping around one leg while letting out a grunt of pain.

I slowly brought the water around again making a shield because I just can't take much more fighting. They easily got through and one of them punched me in the jaw so hard I saw stars. I fell to the floor again with a thud and could feel the blood trickling down. I tried to get back up and almost did but a guard got to me first and kicked me in the stomach. He was able to knock all the wind out of me with that kick .When I fell back down I willed myself to stand but couldn't, I was too tired and beaten down to get back up. I could feel unconsciousness wanting to take over and my eyes became very heavy.

I was on my side when I saw red and black boots coming towards me. They kicked me, twice, and was about to again when Zuko finally spoke up. The last thing I heard before my body shut down was his voice and he said :

" That's enough. Don't hurt her anymore, you've already done plenty of damage, stop now. Let's go and be careful with her while going to the palace."

So what do you guys think? I know, I know this was an extremely long chapter and don't worry if you want me to split it I will. I was thinking of doing it, but since it's my first story I guess I just got really into it.

And so there isn't any confusion, Zuko was accepted back by his father but they all know that the Avatar isn't really dead and that he survived the lightning that Azula shot him with. And I know that Katara hated when Toph scammed people but eh. Oh and I'm not sure if I should change Katara to 16, we'll see. Because I haven't seen Avatar in a long time it might be little different so sorry about that too. And I guess you can say this is slightly AU.

Again I apologize for the length of the chapter. I originally had it shorter but then some of it got deleted because of my computer, twice! I think the first time I wrote it was best but what can you do right? Yeah, this time I was like I don't really care now and just kept on writing but I still hope you guys like it.

So if you have happened to stumble upon my story please review and don't be afraid to criticize, oh and don't be shy to correct any spelling mistakes I made.

So please review, comment, favorite, and whatever else XD.