It had been about two years since the family had moved from the southern water tribe to begin a new life in an Earth Kingdom city. The three were adjusting quite well to their new life. Every day after school Katara would drag Sokka around to different beaches, shops, or caves. Occasionally, they would make a visit to the firenation island to visit the different tropical places. One day while exploring the island, Katara and Sokka got separated from each other. He was distracted by circus performers dancing in the street and she took off toward a section of the beach they hadn't seen yet. Katara slipped into her white under clothes and swam in the warm water full of fish and tropical plants until her eyes stung with salt. She loved the warmth that filled every place here on the island. It was the total opposite of the white block of ice they grew up on. Every now and then they became homesick or missed their friends and family, but they had made so many new friends here too. The only thing that killed her, was not being able to water bend. She longed for more time to herself in the beautiful cave where she could comply to the strange pull of the glowing pool and bend without fear of being caught. Katara finally climbed out of the water and realized that her brother hadn't followed her. He usually sat on the beach and defended sandcastles from the "invading fire nation crabs", but he was no where in sight. Katara turned frantically, hoping he wasn't lost when a familiar figure caught her eye. The boy was about as tall as she was and wore expensive red robes. His long black hair was pulled into a tight ponytail on the top of his head and he kept glaring at a crab that crept closer and closer to his foot. Could it really be him? He appeared to be with his mother, a beautiful woman who had a soft face and long black hair that cascaded down her back in waves. At that moment, Zuko looked up and met eyes with Katara. Recognition, then shock passed across his face. She panicked, not knowing whether he had informed anyone of her bending abilities. Should she tell her father Zuko was here on the island? Would they have to move again? Katara turned on her heel and began to sprint away from the beach; she had to find Sokka and get off this island. Hundreds of questions popped into her head at once. Why was he here? Should she have talked to him? Could he possibly live here without her noticing for two years? Had they just moved here? Of course he couldn't live here; the prince was supposed to live in the castle with the Fire Lord and Lady. Her bare feet pounded the stones in the market place as she turned down every alley looking for her brother. After nearly twenty minutes of searching, she spotted his tiny ponytail, bobbing around in a crowd. He was still watching street dancers; what a goofball. She started to make her way towards the crowd when someone grabbed the sleeve of her jacket. Katara whirled around, ready to take on her attacker when a voice stopped her.
"What are you doing here, Katara?" Katara looked around nervously; Zuko understood immediately and steered her through the market and into an abandoned alley.
"You first," she demanded, " why are you here on this island?" Zuko told her about his family's yearly vacations and how they stay in a giant beach house at the top of the island.
"Now you," he inquired. Katara started at the beginning, explaining why they had to move to the Earth Kingdom City and about her weekly visits to the island.
"You havn't actually told anyone about my water bending, have you?" Zuko shook his head, still in disbelief that she was actually standing in front of him. He hadn't expected to ever see her again after leaving the South Pole. "We should meet whenever you're here on the island!" Katara said suddenly, completely over the shock of seeing him and back to her outgoing self. The pair agreed to exchange letters during the year and meet up when his family took their vacations on the island. Katara pulled a surprised Zuko into a hug before skipping off happily to retrieve her brother; he had just noticed her absence and was spinning in circles, frantically searching the crowd for his little sister. It was only then that Zuko noticed he had been smiling and immediately wiped the silly grin from his face.
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