Chapter 2

The Fire Lord's Palace

Ihro knelt in front of the wall of flames that separated him from his father,

"Yes, Lord?"

"I understand your grief and hurt because of the loss of your son.", The Fire Lord said. Ihro had already heard this from his father but said nothing. Changing the subject the Fire Lord moved on, "I see that Zhou was successful in capturing the last Waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe."

"He was, Lord" Ihro responded trying to keep his sadness to himself.

"Good, I am making the Waterbender your responsibility. You will raise her and teach her and maybe someday she will become a Fire Nation soldier, Understood?"

"Understood, Lord." Ihro said now happy that the Fire Lord had placed the girl in his care.

"Also if she shows even one sign of betrayal of our nation… Get rid of her." This made Ihro's heart sink a bit but he was determined.

"Understood, Lord."

"Wonderful, Now on your way out send your brother in. He has asked to meet me."

"Yes, Thank you, Lord.", Ihro sighed while getting up and turning to leave. On Ihro's way out he spotted his Brother Ozai, Ozai's wife Ursa, and his two nephews Zuko, and Azula. Ihro stopped in front of Ozai saying in his gentle wise voice, "The Fire Lord will see you now.", Ozai bowed and lightly stepped in, not saying a word to his brother. Ursa followed Ozai giving Ihro a look of sympathy and so he bowed slightly to her in return. Following Ursa were Zuko and Azula who was last. Zuko beamed up at Ihro as Ihro patted his head. Azula wouldn't even look at Ihro. She was ashamed that her powerful uncle would lose even if he had lost a son. So Ihro ignored her and waited until the gates to the Fire Lord's room had closed before leaving to go see the little Waterbender.

Ihro stepped into the dimly lit red chamber, the small waterbender was sitting in the corner, he knelt down and smiled at the girl, whose eyes widened. He quietly asked,

"What's your name?" She shook and whispered back,

"Katara."

"Well, Katara, my name is Ihro and I will be looking after you." Katara relaxed, this man was kind, she could see it in his eyes. Ihro was calm and slightly sad, to tear such a young child from her home and family was such a crime. At least he had a hope of protecting her. He was determined to teach her to master her skill, and still be faithful enough to deflect any suspicion or harm.

Katara was raised with enough love to allow loyalty and enough discipline to not get in trouble with anyone but Ihro. At the age of ten, it was her job to deliver foods to the various nobility of the fire nation while they stayed at the lavish red palace.

One day, she was carrying a tray of tea that was just barely too heavy for her young arms, she stumbled and collapsed to her knees and the tea washed down the polished wood floor. Thinking she was alone, Katara used her bending ability to ease the tea back into the pot. Ihro was teaching her how to bend, though fire and water were natural opposites to a true master it was a matter of control. Katara felt the sweet pleasure of her bending, she paused for a moment to savor the fluid grace, then she hefted the tray once more and proceded through the maze of halls, unaware of the young Fire Nation prince watching her.

Zuko reeled back from his corner hiding place, he had only learned about the waterbenders through his tutors in the palace. He had never imagined that someone that was so different could be so similar. As the young prince turned to go to the courtyard, he ran into his uncle, a rush of affection filled the prince, his uncle smiled down,

"That is Katara" The 12 year old tilted his head, looking at where the girl left, eyebrows furrowed in confusion fascination. Ihro looked down at his nephew and wondered what may happen next. His gaze followed the sway of Zuko's ponytail as he left to the courtyard, where Mai Tai-Lee and Azula were, he was that bored.

When Mai saw Zuko round the corner, her heart did a little backflip, Tai-lee smiled at Zuko who looked sullen. Azula smiled maliciously at her brother, a spark flashing in her amber eyes.

A few weeks passed before Zuko saw Katara again, it was when his Uncle told him he could come with to meet Katara. Zuko didn't know if he should be excited or nervous. She was an outsider, but she was being raised by his uncle, so he wasn't sure what to think. When he stepped into the dim room behind his uncle, Zuko took a steadying breath. Katara looked up, smiling at Ihro's shining face happy to see him again. Ihro was the only thing Katara thought was special in the Fire Nation. Katara rose from what she was doing to greet Ihro at her doorway. The girl suddenly stopped once she noticed Zuko standing behind Ihro. The sight of Zuko scared her, she had seen him a few times around the palace but they had never spoken so seeing someone other that Ihro in her room was strange.

Katara politely bowed to the small boy and proceeded to grab Ihro's sleeve dragging him to show him what she had been working on.

"I decided to make a scroll on all the waterbending moves I've been able to perfect!" Katara declared excitedly.

"I think it's wonderful!" Ihro laughed happily. Zuko didn't know what to do so he was pretending to do something at the front of the room awkwardly, Ihro noticing this waved him over to also see Katara's messy drawings.

"I know they are kind of messy but they're not as bad as my brother's…" Katara's speech faded into silence at the memory of her old family.

Zuko not wanting Katara and his first meeting to be like this quickly changed the subject, "Uncle you told me we would be having tea and a lovely conversation. Should I go grab the tea?" Ihro smiled at Zuko knowing exactly what he was doing laughed and told them he would grab the tea as long as Zuko heated the water. Zuko grabbed the kettle that had been stashed on the top shelf of a book stand that was in the corner of the room. Surprisingly it was already full of water. Katara watched as Zuko firebent under the kettle to heat the water. Zuko felt strange being in another girl's room other than his sister's. Once the water was boiled Zuko gently placed it on the small table in the middle of the room being careful not to spill any which turned out to be a failure. Just as the pot was carefully placed Zuko accidentally bumped the kettle burning his arm. He jumped back startling Katara as she quickly stood up.

"Are you ok?" Katara questioned as she ran to Zuko's side.

"Yeah, Yeah it's just a little burn." Zuko lied while internally screaming. "It's fine!" he said a soft look on his face smiling he gazed at her.

"No it's not!" Katara shouted which startled Zuko. The girl rushed over to her bed grabbing her water pouch off the small bed.

"No! really I'm ok! it won't kill me." Zuko started saying as Katara grabbed his arm.

"Don't say that." The girl sternly lectured, "One day you might be dying and you'll say 'I'm fine' and won't let anyone help you then you'll die a sad and lonely life with no friends." Zuko couldn't come up with a comeback to this so he let her do what she wanted to do. Seeing Zuko wouldn't say anything more she continued on what she was doing in the first place. Gently, Katara rose the water out of the pouch it had been in. The water the way she bent it looked like a thrilled snake that had just been released by a small child. Slowly she bent the water onto Zuko's burn causing him to flinch but still he didn't pull back. He couldn't pull back anyway, Katara was holding his arm so tightly it was causing more harm that the burn was. Katara started on her healing technique as Zuko stared in wonder. Once Katara looked up at Zuko hoping he was impressed he immediately changed his look to a moderate look and acted unimpressed. Seeing this Katara pouted and finished healing the burn.

Ihro still hadn't returned by the time Katara had put away her bending water so they both got bored. Zuko tried for conversation,

"So Katara, huh?" The girl tilted her head and nodded, Zuko noticed how expressive her eyes were, and a pretty gemlike blue, he looked down, embarrassed. Katara narrowed her eyes at the Fire Nation prince, he was just a person she decided, a very nice looking person. The thought trailed off and she mentally slapped herself as Ihro arrived.

After that first meeting, Zuko came back weekly, then daily, they became good friends, despite the walls of element difference. They enjoyed each others' company, it was simple as that. However on the year Zuko turned thirteen, he messed up. In challenging the firelord's plan he was forced to duel his father, and he lost. He was banished, forced to find the avatar to regain his honor. Zuko stood in the entryway, looking at Katara. She was shorter than him, and her eyes glittered with unshed tears, she reached out a hand and brushed the burn that she had been forbidden to heal. Zuko moved his head slightly into her hand and her lips quirked in a ghost of the smile that made Zuko's heart lurch,

"I'm sorry." Zuko almost flinched, her voice was so gentle it hurt,

"I'll come back." Katara nodded, although she was unconvinced. Tears spilled from her eyes and Zuko wiped one off her cheek as Katara reached back and undid her necklace. It was the one memento of her old home and life, what had been stolen and what she missed, she handed it to the Fire Nation prince,

"Write." was the one word she said as the delicately carved necklace was enclosed by Zuko's gentle hand. He nodded and looked at the waterbender and felt his entire being explode into hopeless yearning,

"I Promise." That was when he turned and walked toward his ship where his uncle was waiting, he looked back to see Katara glowing in the crimson sunset. As his ship left the harbor, he looked down at her necklace and gingerly placed it in a soft red satchel, and hung it over his heart.