Moon Magick

Summary: Katara is sick and tired of following Aang around, when Princess Yue visits her in a dream, Katara has a reason to leave. That reason is to aid Zuko in his mission to find his mother. What will happen when Katara and Zuko are thrown into situations they didn't prepare for? Will love blossom between the Firelord and the Master Waterbender?

Pairing: Zutara

Rating: M for later chapters. This chapter is PG.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, I also do not own any of the characters within this fic.

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The Vision

Firelord Zuko sat on his throne behind the wall of fire that masked him from his servants and the criminals attending petty court that day. This had to be his least favorite part of being Firelord. Petty court lasted for 2 hours of his day, to him, it seemed like it lasted 12 hours. Thieves were brought before him to plead for mercy, though, most had only stolen an apple or a cabbage. Other cases were of farmers arguing over whose land ended where. Zuko could not understand why he had to be the one to pass judgment on such cases. Surely there were other people who qualified for passing judgment on the ridiculous cases he had to listen to.

Halfway through petty court, the proceeding was interrupted, much to Zuko's pleasure. A guard rushed to the throne and knelt before the wall of fire. On his arm rested a messenger hawk. Zuko wondered why this messenger hawk was important enough to stop the petty trial. It was not until he looked more closely at the hawk that he realized the urgency. On the letter the hawk was holding was a blue insignia that belonged to the Southern Water Tribe. This insignia, though, was slightly different than the norm. It looked very much like the normal stamp, but on inspection it was obviously hand drawn. The Firelord motioned for the hawk to be sent to him. The hawk flew over the flames and landed on the post next to Zuko. He took the letter from the hawk and quickly opened it.

Zuko,

I am coming to see you immediately. I have information on the whereabouts of your mother. I cannot say more for fear this letter will be intercepted. Expect me in one weeks time. Today is the 16th day of summer.

Katara

Zuko reread the letter trying to find some hidden message in it. He found none, Katara was being very careful to be cryptic. Katara wrote the letter on the 16th day of summer, it was now the 22nd day of summer. Katara was going to be arriving tomorrow. Preparations needed to be made, and quickly.

"Court is adjourned for the day. Your cases will be heard on a later date." Firelord Zuko announced loudly before getting up and leaving his throne through a back door. He walked down a dark hall lit only by torches spread 10 feet apart from each other. The hall had various doors in it, all leading to other secret passages. Zuko opened one door and made his way down another hall until he reached the door he was looking for. Entering the dining hall, the Firelord pulled roughly on a rope hanging from the ceiling that rang a bell to call his servants to the room. Servants appeared in the room from secret passages and from known passages. All bowed to their master before lining themselves up to hear what he had to say. Once Zuko decided there were enough servants present he climbed onto the dining table to allow his voice to carry.

"I have received word that Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe will be arriving in the Fire Nation tomorrow. It is short notice but we must prepare none the less. We will need a welcoming feast for her. She will be staying in the Gold Room, near my chambers. Also, someone is going to need to wait for her at the port, whom ever takes on that responsibility will need to be perfectly presentable. Also, spread the word through the palace. Tell other servants and tell the guards. When Master Katara is here, two guards will be stationed outside her bedroom and one will be stationed beneath her window." Zuko paused and looked over his servants, trying to think of anything else that might be of importance. "Oh, yes, someone please inform Mai of the event. Tell her to dress appropriately please."

With that, the Firelord hopped down from the table and left the dining hall as his workers scattered, setting off to work. Zuko was not looking forward to dealing with Mai's reaction to Katara's visit. Though she would never admit it, Zuko suspected that Mai was jealous of his friendship with the Waterbending woman. Her reaction would not show until later when her passive aggressiveness kicked in. Zuko sighed and made his way toward his chambers, hoping to avoid everyone as much as possible.

When he reached his room, his hopes were lost as he spotted his depressing girlfriend sitting on the end of his bed. She was plucking apart a Fire Lily with her sharp nails. He entered his room and shut the heavy wood door behind him, waiting for Mai to speak. The silence between them stretched until Zuko's eye was in risk of twitching.

"I assume you've heard the news then." He said, happy that the silence was broken. Mai punctured a petal with her thumb nail and flicked it onto the floor. Zuko knelt and picked up the broken flower, tossing it in his trashcan.

"I heard you announce it, I was listening through the door." Mai replied, her voice bland. She picked at the part of the lily she still held in her hand.

"Oh, I see," The silence commenced once again. The couple sat awkwardly on the end of Zuko's massive bed. Minutes passed and the Firelord started to fidget. Breaking the silence once again, Zuko asked. "So, are you upset that she's coming here?"

"No, why would I be?" Mai replied, but gave away her anger as she crushed the flower in her hand until it was a crumpled mess.

"Mai, you hate it when I even stand in a room with another woman. Now, I'm throwing a party for one." Zuko pointed out, knowing it might cost him his head.

"It's not so much the party as the day." Mai replied. Zuko frowned trying to remember what day it was. It would not be her birthday, that was in the rainy season. There was no holiday either. He was at a loss.

"I don't know what day it is tomorrow." The Firelord admitted. Mai sighed and stood up.

"It's Azula's birthday, Zuko." Mai walked toward the window in the room. Zuko scoffed loudly and leaned back onto his bed.

"Why would I care about her birthday? She nearly killed me and various other important people. Hell, she would still kill me if given the chance."

"She's still your sister, and she's my best friend." Mai said, turning to look at Zuko with blank eyes.

"No, she was never my sister. Our blood tells us that we're related, but she was never my sister." Zuko glared at Mai, not believing that she would even attempt to call Azula his sister. "As for being your friend, you're a fool to still believe that she is interested in you."

"A fool? I'm the fool? You're the one who is inviting the enemy into the palace." Zuko's eyes widened. Mai never told him before that she still thought of the Waterbenders as the enemy.

"Katara is not the enemy. She saved my life. Without her, you'd be alone." Zuko growled, his anger beginning to boil.

"Am I not already alone, Zuko? You're never here. You touch me, you kiss me, hold me, have sex with me. But never are you here. You wish that you were still with the Avatar and his friends." Mai accused, her voice rising a few notes but staying dull.

"What else am I supposed to think about? You just lie there and wait for it to be over. Maybe you should have stayed a lesbian with Azula and Ty Lee. But then again, that's not proper is it?" Zuko stood, towering above Mai. He glared down at the girl whom he foolishly called his girlfriend. "You think it's fair that you drag me down to your pitiful level of existence? Do you enjoy the fact that I'm just as miserable as you? The only reason you're still here is because every day I hope that you'll discover that you have an inner fire, something that with heat your icy disposition. You do realize I don't have to wait for you, I could have any girl I want, I'm the Firelord, women would throw themselves at my feet to become my queen. I could be happy, but I can't let myself throw you out just because you make me want to slit my wrists just to have something to do!"

Zuko screamed his rant in Mai's face. The enter time she stayed perfectly blank and passive. It was as if his words meant nothing to her, like they didn't hurt in any way. When Zuko finished, Mai removed a jeweled bracelet from her wrist as well as a ruby pendent from her neck. She looked into the Firelord's eyes and dropped his gifts to her on the ground and she kicked them into his feet. The show of disrespect would have gotten her banished from the palace if anyone but him had seen it. Swiftly turning away, Mai left Zuko standing in his chambers with the jewelry at his feet.

-

Katara was exhausted. It had been 4 days since she acquired a boat on which to travel to the Fire Nation. She had been Waterbending non-stop the first day. That night she collapsed and prayed to the moon and water spirits to keep the ocean waters calm. Her prayers were answered, she assumed it was because she was on a mission given to her by Princess Yue, who was the moon spirit. Regardless of the reason, Katara was pleased. Her other days on the boat were more or less the same as the first day. She bended until her body could not manage it anymore. Again she would pray and the process would continue the next day. On the 23rd day of summer, Katara arrived in the Fire Nation. Her body ached, she badly needed a bath, and a good bed to sleep in. It was noon when Katara stumbled up onto the dock with her pack slung over her shoulder. Waiting for her by the gates to the royal city was one of Firelord Zuko's female servants. The woman was small with her black hair twisted up intricately on her head.

"Welcome, Master Katara!" The woman said cheerfully while bowing, trying not to show any reaction to the haggard appearance of the young Waterbender. Katara bowed back slightly and nodded at the servant. Her mouth was dry and her brain was not working properly, so she kept silent. The woman led Katara to a cart that was pulled by two Emu Horses. The woman got the creatures to move and take the woman to the Firelord's palace. Katara leaned her head against the side of the cart, barely noticing the curious faces looking at her as they passed. She hoped Zuko had kept her arrival party to a minimum. She knew he had to throw one, it was part of politics, but she wanted a small short party so that she could sleep.

The city was not decorated for festivities, which gave Katara hope that Zuko had kept the party small, though it could be held in the palace court yard. She doubted it. Zuko would want to hear about his mother as soon as he could. He would have a quick dinner with important people then he would talk to Katara alone to hear about Ursa. The cart arrived at the place and the servant woman kindly asked Katara to follow her so that she could get cleaned up before dinner.

The servant woman, whose name was Meilin, as Katara later discovered, lead the way through the palace to a large set of double doors. Opening them, Meilin shuffled Katara inside. The room was magnificent, decorated tastefully in gold with red and black accents. Before she could get a good look at her room, Katara was being disrobed by maids and was lead to a bath. Three women scrubbed her skin and washed her hair, while she grunted and struggled, trying to clean herself. One woman dunked her hand into the water and attempted to clean Katara's nether regions. With a shriek, Katara announced that she would clean that herself. Her face was flushed with embarrassment as she cleaned herself while the other women struggled to comb her hair.

Once clean and dried, Katara was dressed in a beautiful silk floor length dress. It was red with gold flowers threaded into the silk. One of the maids explained to Katara that it was traditional Fire Nation clothing, they had to use it instead of her clothes because her clothes were not formal and were very filthy. Katara nodded but was scolded by the woman doing her hair for moving her head. Once the maids finished their work, Katara could hardly recognize herself. Only her deep tanned skin and clear blue eyes gave her away as a foreigner. Meilin ushered her from the room and through the palace again. Katara hoped that she would have someone to take her back to her room the palace was so maze like, she would never find her way.

Meilin and Katara turned a hall that was full of noise. A man standing in a massive doorway smiled and turned into the room. In a booming voice he announced her arrival. Katara stepped through the doorway into the dining hall and was presented with many men and woman dressed regally all standing and clapping for her. At the head of the table stood Firelord Zuko. He gave her a welcoming smile that made his good eye squint. Katara was lead to the seat to Zuko's right, once she was seated all the other people attending the dinner party sat. Trying to recall political formalities, Katara turned to Zuko and bowed her head.

"Thank you, Firelord Zuko, for your wonderful hospitality. And thank you all for attending my welcoming party, I am honored by your presence here." Katara said in the most professional voice she could muster. Zuko's nostrils flared as he tried to hold his laughter, he could tell Katara really did not know if she was saying the right thing and she was very uncomfortable with the formality of the event.

Katara let out a sigh of relief as the guest accepted her small thank you speech. Zuko waved his hand and waiters flooded the room with platters of delicious smelling food. A plate was set before her that she assumed was a Bull Antelope steak. Vegetables and rice were also on her plate but she ignored those as she cut the steak and shoveled it into her mouth, hoping the guests would not be too disgusted with her lack of manners. Zuko watched the woman beside him in awe as she attacked her dinner. Mai never ate like that, no girl besides Toph ate like that actually. A man near Katara asked her a question in her pause to answer, half chewed steak fell from her mouth into her lap. She stared at it, mortified. Zuko on the other hand, burst into laughter. Katara blushed heavily and bowed her head, picking up the chewed meat with her napkin.

"Did you not eat well on your journey, Master Katara?" A woman asked, ignoring the Firelord's laughter and the horrified looks of the other guests. "The ships that sail here usually have a better supply of food."

"I didn't sail in a ship." Katara answered, recovering slightly. "I bought a boat and used Waterbending to get here. I just underestimated how much doing that would take out of me. I ran out of food a day ago."

The guests at the table murmured, some in sympathy, others were calling her crazy under their breath. Zuko stopped laughing and motioned for a waiter to come to him. He ordered more steak for Katara and asked for bowls of fruit to be put in her room. Katara smiled at her friend and ate more of her steak while making small talk with the kind woman who saved her from her humiliation. Dessert was served after an hour. Katara devoured her cake nearly as fast as her steak, gulping down water to keep her throat from clogging. Dessert finished and guest began to leave, bowing to their lord then to her.

When the last of the guests left, Zuko turned to Katara and pulled her into a tight hug, patting her back gently before pulling away. He smiled down at her. He desperately wanted to hear what she knew about his mother but held his questions at bay so he could focus on his friend.

"It's been a while, Katara." He said, resting his arm across her shoulders as he led her back to her room.

"A year, actually." She replied. "Last time we were here it was the peace conference between the nations."

"Oh yeah, that's when you fell asleep and started yelling about Hog Monkeys." Zuko grinned at the memory while Katara groaned.

"I'm never going to live that down. Though, Toph thinks it was one of my finer moments." The two laughed at the thought of their odd blind friend. They arrived at the Gold Room and Zuko held the door open for Katara. He closed the door after following her in and they sat down at a small table in the corner of the room. Zuko lit the candles around them so that they could see each other as they talked.

"I hate to seem like all I want to hear about is my mother, but I really would like to hear what you know." Zuko said, staring into Katara's face. The Master Waterbender nodded and began her story.

"I was taking a nap when Princess Yue visited me in a dream. She became the moon spirit after Admiral Zhao killed the physical body of the spirit. She told me that you needed my help to save your mother. She touched my forehead and gave me a vision. Your mother is in the mountains of the Earth Kingdom. She's living in a small town that is two days from Omashu. She's living under the name Lian. Soon, there will be a huge prison break at the Boiling Rock. All the men you had sent there after your father's defeat will band together and find her. They're planning to use her against you, to make you step down from your throne." Katara stared at her hands trying to think of a way to tell Zuko gently. "They may have already escaped. That's why I was afraid of my hawk being intercepted. In my vision they killed everyone who is loyal to you, so you wouldn't get word until it was too late. They're going to do horrible things to your mother, Zuko. They're going to torture her, and rape her. We have to save her before they decide she isn't useful anymore."

Katara went silent and waited for Zuko to react. He stayed quiet, his eyes were on her, but they were clouded and obviously, he was not seeing her. He was trying to place her words together, trying to make sense of them. Minutes passed and Katara reached out for his hand, worried that he had gone into shock. She touched his skin and he jumped, startling her as well. Staring wide-eyed at each other, the two friends did not know what to. Zuko bit his lip and slowly nodded.

"I will have my servants prepare for us to leave the day after tomorrow. You need to rest for now." Zuko stood abruptly, over turning his chair. Katara got up and set the chair up right. The Firelord looked at her, trying to guard his emotions. He should have known Katara would see through his mask, she was always good at that. She hugged him gently, trying to calm his tremors. When he continued to shake, she let him go, knowing nothing she could do would help him.

"Go sleep, Zuko." Katara ordered in a soft motherly tone. "Tomorrow you will know what needs to be done. We can get to her before they do, we'll save her. I promise."

Zuko nodded and left the room. Katara pulled off her borrowed clothes and climbed into the bed that was far to large for just her. She left the candles lit, hoping they would bring comfort to her while she fell asleep.

-

Yay! I finished chapter 2! I hope you all enjoyed it. I must say, writing as Mai is freakishly difficult.

Thank you so much to all my subscribers and reviewers, it makes me feel special. .

I'll update as soon as I can. The more reviews and subscribers I get the more motivated I get, so review please!!

Thanks so much!

Miss Naisa