Day 11: Dragon

"Zuko, I don't think that this is a good idea." Katara worriedly said as she and Zuko made it to the top of the mountain.

"Did you or did you not say that you wanted to know about all of the elements?" Zuko turned to grab Katara's hand to pull her up over the summit.

Katara wobbled and fell into Zuko with a thud. She pushed herself off of him and adjusted her clothing.

Since she had taken on the role of President of Republic University, she had set out to know more about each of the elements and the cultures of each nation. If she were to promote peace and harmony amongst the nations, she needed to know as much as she could. When Zuko had heard about her plans, he wanted to take her to where fire bending started and one of the most sacred spots to a fire bender and even non-benders in the Fire Nation.

Zuko was going to take her to the dragons. Ran and Shaw, the last living dragons and the last symbols of the Fire Nation.

Katara was worried what the dragons would think of a water bender in their midst. She didn't think of herself as threatening but fire was threatened by water. Would the dragons sense that or was she thinking too poetically? Katara took a deep breath and looked around and she saw nothing.

"Zuko," Katara asked as she looked around, "where are the dragons?"

Zuko took a hold of Katara's hand, "I don't know but stay close. Dragons much like fire benders tend to have a mind of their own and don't take too kindly to strangers."

"Is this something I should remember when taking in the new Fire Nation students at RU?" Katara smirked.

"Actually," Zuko turned to face Katara, "you should."

Katara gave a short nod, letting Zuko know that she understood.

Zuko released Katara's hand as he began to slowly inch towards Ran and Shaw's cave. He thought by now that they would have heard him and Katara making their way to the top of the mountain and talking. But they were nowhere to be found. He walked closer and closer and still there was nothing.

"Zuko," Katara called after Zuko, "what are you doing?"

"Shh," Zuko held his finger to his lips.

"Well excuse me." Katara crossed her arms.

Soon, with a roar, Zuko ran back to Katara to pull them both to the ground avoiding the sharp wings of a great red dragon. Zuko covered Katara's head and held her close, protecting her in case anything were to happen.

Zuko looked up as he felt the dragon's shadow covering them, meaning that it was high in the sky. He pulled away from Katara and slowly stood to his feet. Looking up, he saw the large red dragon soaring in the air.

"Katara," Zuko whispered, "stand up."

"I am quite fine down here." Katara replied, her voice trembling.

"It's fine," Katara looked up to see Zuko standing above her with an outstretched hand and a rare smile on his face, "trust me."

Katara reached for Zuko's hand and he pulled her to her feet. He brought her into his arms, still feeling the urge to protect her...just in case.

She looked up and saw the great red dragon flying in the sky, its body weaving through the clouds. It glided effortlessly through the air and it looked as though it were dancing.

"Beautiful." Katara gasped. "Is the red one Ran or Shaw."

"You know," Zuko looked down at Katara, "I don't really know."

Katara rolled her eyes at the response and returned her attention to the dragon.

"You know," Zuko continued, "I don't really think it matters which one is which, just that it is and what it is is strong and beautiful."

"Where is the other dragon, Zuko?" Katara asked.

It never really occurred to Zuko that there was only one dragon in their midst. Where was the blue one?

"I don't know, surely it is around here somewhere. Maybe still in the cave?"

Zuko once again walked to the cave when he was stopped in his tracks when the great red dragon swooped down from the sky and landed right in his path. Zuko jumped back and quickly held out his hands, showing that he meant no harm.

"Where is your partner?" Zuko asked the red dragon, hoping that the dragon would give any indication of where the other was, that is if the dragon could understand him.

To Zuko and Katara's surprise, the red dragon nodded their head towards the entrance of the cave behind it. Zuko looked behind the dragon and heard the faint growls of the blue dragon.

"Is everything alright?" Zuko asked.

The dragon held its head low.

"Are they hurt?" Zuko questioned, urgency and worry in his voice.

The red dragon's head still hung low.

Zuko heard footsteps behind him and noticed that Katara was moving forward. The red dragon let out a growl, wary of the stranger approaching.

"Do not be afraid, Katara is a friend." Zuko smiled at the dragon. Zuko turned to face Katara, "What are you doing?"

"If the dragon is hurt, I want to help." Katara snapped.

"I don't think that would be a great idea."

"And why not? I have healed plenty in my time." Katara held up her head and crossed her arms.

"You have never healed a dragon. Much less seen one until a minute ago."

"I will be fine and do my best. What is the worst that could happen?" Katara shrugged.

"You could be burned alive." Zuko scoffed.

Katara ignored Zuko's warning and stepped closer to the red dragon.

"I understand that your partner is hurt. I believe that I could be of assistance." Katara smiled.

The dragon groaned and turned away from Katara.

"I understand your partner is blue," Katara called out to the dragon, "See, I am blue too and my partner is red like you." Katara pointed to Zuko. "Just as you are the last dragons in the world, I was the last of my kind where I am from. I don't know what I would do without my partner. We are similar, your partner and I. I was in danger until my partner helped save me."

Zuko smiled at Katara and never realized how parallel their stories were.

The dragon turned to face Katara, it let out a low moan and moved its tail from blocking the entrance of the cave, letting Katara pass. Katara walked into the cave and saw the blue scales of the dragon reflecting the light. The dragon let out a deep huff as Katara approached.

"I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help." Katara looked at the weakened blue dragon and wondered what could have brought the blue dragon to appear so worried.

Katara reached the large blue dragon and she opened her canteen of water. She poured out the clear liquid over her hands and channeled her energy, her hands glowing as a result.

Her hands hovered over the large blue dragon and felt that there was no wound but something else. Something that wasn't supposed to be there, close to the abdomen. It was not in the dragon's abdomen but near it. Whatever it was, it was causing the dragon great stress and discomfort. Katara had to find out what it was.

Katara heard footsteps and turned to see Zuko entering the dark cave.

"Do you know what is wrong with the great blue dragon?" Zuko asked as he watched Katara walk towards the front of the dragon with great concern.

"No," Katara replied, "but whatever it is, it's not doing this dragon any good."

Katara walked around to the front of the dragon and noticed something large near the abdomen of the dragon.

"Zuko," Katara called out, "come here and give me some light to see what is going on."

Zuko ignited the palm of one of his hands and made his way to Katara. As the light moved closer to the dragon, Zuko and Katara jumped back to see what it was that was causing harm to the dragon.

"Is that," Katara stammered, "what I think it is?"

Zuko blinked, hoping that his brain was not playing a trick on him. He looked down again and saw what he and Katara saw before. A small pile of hard white pieces of eggshell and nestled under the blue dragon was another dragon. Red and large, yet smaller than Ran and Shaw.

"A...another dragon. A descendant from The Masters." Zuko answered in disbelief as he looked at the red dragon.

The smaller red dragon slowly came to its legs and spread its wings. Zuko and Katara marveled at the size. Zuko reckoned that it had to be about the size of a wartime airship. Katara could only say that it was definitely bigger than a polar bear dog.

With a flap of its wings, the smaller red dragon flew outside of the cave, leaving behind the blue dragon. With a bow, Katara and Zuko left the presence of the great blue dragon and rejoined the great red dragon and the new addition.

"I can't believe it." Zuko awed, looking up at the sky and seeing the two red dragons gracefully move their bodies with the wind.

"I can't either." Katara turned to look at Zuko. "But I take it as a sign of prosperity and growth. A new time for the Fire Nation. Soon the ways of old will be gone and a new era must begin. Ran and Shaw knew this."

Zuko wrapped his arm around Katara as they watched the dragon's fly. Soon, the blue dragon moved out of the cave and took flight. The three dragons bobbed and weaved through the sky in almost a dance.

"What are you going to tell people?" Katara asked Zuko.

"What do you mean?" Zuko looked down at Katara.

"Are you going to tell the people of the world that another dragon has been born?"

"Of course, I am not my great-grandfather. I am not Sozin, I will not let harm come to the heart of the Fire Nation. I will make a law that bans the hunting of dragons." Zuko exclaimed passionately.

Katara came onto her toes and placed a kiss on Zuko's cheek.

Blushing, Zuko looked at Katara, "What was that for?"

"Because I like it when you are passionate. And as your girlfriend," Katara grabbed Zuko's collar, "I will kiss you whenever I want."

"Yes, Ma'am." Zuko smiled at Katara and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

The two were only broken apart when they felt the ground shake as the newest dark red dragon landed.

Zuko turned to look at the young dragon as it came up to Zuko. Zuko's eyes went wide when he noticed the young dragon getting closer and closer.

He made eye contact with the dark red dragon and slowly held up his hand. Katara gripped his arm, afraid of what might happen, but Zuko remained calm. Slowly but surely, the dragon placed its snout in the palm of Zuko's hand.

"Hello, girl." Zuko smiled.

The dragon gave an angry snort.

"Oh, I apologize, sir." Zuko rolled his eyes.

Zuko's arm became more relaxed and he tested his luck as he began to rub the rough scales of the dragon. He brought his arm around to the dragon's large teeth, careful to avoid the mouth. Zuko stepped closer and began to pet more amiably.

"Can my friend get to know you, too?" Zuko asked. He smiled down at Katara and the look of terror was etched across her face.

The dragon gave a low moan and Zuko's smile grew.

"I think that it is okay." Zuko said.

"I don't think that I want to ruin a moment between a Fire Lord and a dragon." Katara held up her hands in protest. She really wanted to touch a dragon, the first water bender ever to do so, but she had to admit that she was terrified.

"Oh come on, he won't bite." Zuko pouted as he brought his other hand up to the dragon so now each hand was on each cheek.

"He's a dragon, Zuko." Katara answered flatly.

"Suit yourself."

Zuko walked around to the side of the dragon to examine his wings. He marveled at the size and stroked the webbing that felt velvety to the touch.

"You are beautiful." Zuko whispered as he ran his fingers along the grooves between the spaces of the scales.

Katara remarked at how happy Zuko looked. She hadn't seen him that happy in a long time. Not even when he was crowned Fire Lord. He looked at peace. She smiled at the young dragon, without words letting the dragon know how much he meant to Zuko.

She stepped forward and placed a hesitant hand onto the dragon, scared what it might think being touched by someone who didn't have its power running through her veins. To her surprise, the dragon accepted her touch. Katara silently let out her pent up nervousness and apprehension with a laugh.

"I told you he doesn't bite."

"Not me but it can." Katara narrowed her eyes at Zuko.

"Come here, Katara." Zuko instructed.

Katara sighed and walked to the side of the dragon.

"What do you wa-" Katara went silent as she saw Zuko on the back of the red dragon. "Zuko, what do you think you are doing? Get down!"

"You know I can't do that, Katara. It's in my blood." Zuko shrugged.

"Come on, Zuko, I fear that your luck might run out at any moment."

"It isn't luck, Katara. I think that we have a special bond." Zuko smiled.

"Well, you better get down soon because I don't know how to get this mountain by myself."

"Or..." Zuko reached down and grabbed Katara under the shoulder and brought her up to sit beside him on the dragon.

"Zuko, what are you doing?!"

"Getting off of this mountain."

Zuko smiled as he wrapped his arms around Katara as the dragon ran, its body rocking the young couple back and forth. Zuko beamed as the dragon took his last step and spread its wings, slowly taking flight. Katara held her head down and shut her eyes.

"Katara look!" Zuko exclaimed.

"I would rather not." Katara snapped back, her eyes still firmly shut and her body tense against Zuko's.

"It's just like riding Appa but better!"

Katara slowly brought up her head and opened her eyes. She felt the cool air hit her face and watched as the clouds floated by. She smiled, remembering how it was like to fly.

"I can't believe it." Katara whispered.

"Isn't it amazing?" Zuko placed his head on Katara's shoulder as he held her closer.

Katara chuckled to herself, "Sokka is not going to believe that I rode a dragon."

Zuko laughed before placing a kiss on Katara's cheek.

"What was that for?" Katara blushed.

"Because I am your boyfriend and I can kiss you whenever I want." Zuko smirked.

"Yes, sir."