Author's Note: Not abandoning the other story, I just had the idea to write this one out of the blue and went for it. Just some things to get out of the way at the start. In this AU Zuko loses his memories after the Agni Kai, all because of the trauma it caused. So he's been living his life as the Blue Spirit for the past three years. So in this, he's never seen or met Aang, Sokka, or Katara, and because of the three years of activity his wanted poster is already prominent across the Earth Kingdom.

The only other thing to clear up without spoilers is the time placement of this fic. It takes place shortly after the Winter Solstice, and the reasoning for Katara's imprisonment will be brought up next chapter.

For now I hope you all enjoy!

The Girl With Blue Eyes


Destiny is a funny thing, it brings about the most radical of changes in an individual's life. It can bring two total strangers together in the most unlikely of circumstances, and intertwine their fates. The most humorous part of destiny? The fact that those who walk the paths laid out for them are often unaware they are doing so, to them, it's just another part of the lives they lead.

Nothing could be truer for one individual. A young man, cast aside by those who he had once known as family. Now hidden away from the world behind a mask, acting as a guardian for those who can't protect themselves. A faceless phantom, whose self appointed mission in life is to strike back against those who would bring harm to others. Both respected and hated by the people he defends, the young man could care less, for this is the life he has mad, the only life he knows, and the life he's happy leading.


To the far North-Western region of the Earth Kingdom, tucked away in the densest of forests, and far from most prying eyes, rests a home of sorts. Shrouded by the massive tree canopies shade, and hidden from all but the most eagle-eyed individuals. This abode is nothing special, a makeshift hut, rested in the crown of the largest, oldest tree. Made from parts scavenged from either traveling caravans, the occasional Fire Nation patrol or the natural surroundings.

On serene days like this, several of the smaller woodland creatures would loll about around the base of the tree. They felt truly safe near the home, the one who lived their brought a sense of security to even the wildlife. Very few larger predators or humans ventured that far into the forest, and he was the primary reason for that. The forest had attained infamy as being cursed, and any who entered with ill-intent in their hearts would be set upon by the forest's guardian. Those who passed through with pure intentions passed by without worry, and often left offerings along the main trail.

Yet no one knew the truth behind the specter that watched over the forest, only that in the black of night, his face was the last thing you would see before going unconscious. So where was this phantom if not in his home or watching over the path that runs through the woods? Perhaps stalking some unknowing prey, perhaps he was spying some hapless traveling, lost within the emerald groves, or, perhaps he was simply taking a bath.

Not far off from the treehouse that the "phantom" called home, concealed by the surrounding rocks, was a stream. A loud splash reverberate from the running water, too loud to be a stone, to quiet to be a collapsing tree, but just right for a young man wearing a mask. A drawn out sigh of relief came from the garmentless figure whose body rested peacefully in the water. The only thing on his person at the moment, the mask he wore on his face. A blue mask, shaped into the likeness of a wicked laughing spirit, it's darkened eyeholes, staring aimlessly at the water flowing around the owner's body.

" ...Days like this are the best...Just myself and a nice cold bath...just how you like it Zuko... " He mumbled contently to no one, living in isolation for so long, he had come to terms with only having himself to speak with.

Dunking his masked face into the water and holding it there for several seconds, he pondered how he would spend this seemingly uneventful day. He emerged with a small gasp for air, letting the water drain from within his mask. " I don't ever really get days like these...The patrols have been a lot more active lately...it's odd. " He had tried wrapping his around the idea for some time now, generally the Fire Nation patrols moved in a scheduled manner, every little movement was routine, and Zuko had come to memorize this routine.

So to see them moving so erratically, so dysfunctional, like possum-chickens with their heads cut off, perturbed the masked youth.

He shrugged he'd have plenty of time to ponder over it later. for now he would just enjoy the rare moment of tranquility. He lowered himself further in the water, leaving only the top half of his face the only part that wasn't submerged.

" Just gonna soak it in while I can… "

Zuko had plans made to travel to one of the closer villages, they were always the ones more threatened by the Fire Nation's presence. In his three years living under the mask, Zuko had come to understand that the soldiers of the Fire Nation preyed on the weaker, vulnerable villagers of the outer regions. They were furthest from any Earth Kingdom opposition, most, if not all capable earthbenders had gone off for the war effort, so they were easy pickings. It made them feel superior, stomping a helpless village under their soot covered heels just for the satisfaction of it.

But Zuko had also learned in his time that there were some good souls among the mass majority of pride and propaganda fueled soldiers. Individuals who genuinely wished to fight for the sake of their homeland, he only wished more could be like them, or better yet, wished they hadn't needed to fight at all.

The masked youth rose from the gentle flow of the water, stepping up the bank and collecting his garments. They were ragged black and green clothes, held together by poor stitching, but they served their purpose. Black and green were the colors he'd blended in with the most when he went out, so decaying or not, they worked as intended, and that;s all that mattered to Zuko.

Next he strapped his only other possessions to his back, a pair of dual dao blades, a weapon that he knew better than himself. Given to him by the man who had gifted him the mask. He didn't know the man's name, only that he had called himself Zuko's ally. Iroh was his name.

Zuko remembered the first encounter he had with the man vividly. He had woken up in a state of delirium, half conscious on a beach, with no recollection of any previous events in his life. His body had ached, no part more than his face and head, and sitting close to him on a piece of driftwood was a portly old man, wearing Fire Nation robes.

The man had called himself Iroh, his voice was soothing, but familiar, as if Zuko had heard it once before.

" Do not be afraid. I am not here to bring you harm. "

Those had been the first words out of his mouth. In all fairness, Zuko remembered locking up defensively upon seeing the stranger. Iroh had been lucky, if Zuko's body hadn't felt as if a komodo rhino stepped on it, then he would have surely attacked the elderly man out of confusion. Zuko gave a half-hearted chuckle as he replayed the memory in his head.

" That wouldn't have gone over well… " He learned almost immediately that Iroh was a firebender, and a good one. Zuko had watched him light a campfire with little more than a snap of his fingers. Thankfully Iroh had meant no harm to the boy, and had even been kind enough to tend to the various wounds Zuko had woken up with, wounds that had eventually developed into scars.

Scars. Zuko halted momentarily, almost as if instinctively, Zuko's hand moved towards his mask. His fingertips brushing ever so softly against the left side, an action he had developed a bad habit out of. He told himself once in the past that he would never touch his real face, that it didn't exist anymore. " ...Just ignore it Zuko… " He grumbled out, yanking his hand from his face, before stomping off through the brush.

The sun would be at it's highest soon, the time when the Fire Nation was most active. Using his athletically developed body, and his natural skill for climbing, Zuko made short work of reaching the highest branch he could of the nearest tree. Thankfully the winding path beneath the forest's canopy had been visible, so he had a perfect view from his perch. " Now we wait, " he muttered.

And wait he did, for almost half the day had gone by, and still nothing. The monotony of waiting for longer than he was used to had finally gotten to Zuko, who had dozed off. Sleep came differently ro Zuko than it had most others; his sleep was plagued with faces and voices he had no recollection of. Very rarely he would see Iroh in his dreams, he would occasionally be accompanied with a younger man, who's distorted features came with a jovial voice, other times he would be accompanied by him. A tall faceless figure whose voice haunted Zuko's nightmares, and each time he awoke, his hand had been found practically glued to the left side of his face.

Zuko had no dreams though, his brief sleep had been disturbed by sound he had grown quite familiar with. The sound of several footsteps moving in unison, the sound of armor clanking about as it's wearers walked, and the sound of a hulking creature hauling a rickety wagon behind it.

The sounds of the Fire Nation.

" It's about time… " He rose on his perch, cracking his neck left, then right, before walking towards the tip of the branch. His hawk-like eyes fell upon a convoy of troops passing along the wooded trail below. His brow furrowed, there were more than he was used to, far more for just supply delivery. " Something's not right… "

That's when he saw it. The wagon being hauled along by the komodo rhino, and more importantly, who, or what, was in the wagon. A girl, clad in all blue, with eyes as blue as the purest river. She had been bound within a wooden cage, her clothes and body covered in dirt and scrapes. Whoever she was, she held some significance to the Fire Nation, otherwise the caravan around her would have been many times smaller.

The frightened, exhausted look in her eyes, as they threatened to spill tears, stabbed at Zuko's heart. She was scared, terrified, by the looks of it she had tried to fight, and lost. Zuko's fist clenched tightly, he'd make those hog-monkeys regret what they were doing. But unfortunately, now wasn't the time.

It would seem that in his slumber, much of the daylight had passed by, and the sun had already begun to set. Fire Nation patrols typically set camp up as night fell, their bending lacked it's usual power, and in his forest, fear racked their minds. He would wait for now, and when the timing was right, he'd strike. " Don't you worry girl...I'll get you out of there… "


Nightfall had enshrouded the vast forest, bringing a totality of darkness with it. Amidst the void that the forest had become, was the only light for miles; the Fire Nation soldier's campfire. Their makeshift camp had been a last minute-decision, and a necessary one. The commanding officer had initially given the order to keep moving, believing they could reach their destination by sunrise if they kept at their current pace, but tensions had been running high since their entry of the forest, and the encroaching darkness had only worsened morale.

" This is insane… " One of two guardsmen muttered to his comrade. While everyone else got to sleep peacefully, the two unfortunate soldiers had been given the first watch shift; a task that any footsoldier dreaded in these parts.

" Keep it down...the captain will have us on rhino duty for a month if he hears you complaining… " The accompanying soldier scolded in a hushed tone.

" Why should I? He knows it's crazy too...he knows as well as anyone what lives in these woods. "

An audible groan escaped the second soldier. " You don't honestly believe those ridiculous stories do you? That the ghost of some soldier haunts these woods and attacks anyone who trespasses? " His companion remained silent. Figures. " You know what makes me nervous? The girl, you know who she was traveling with don't you? "

The first soldier scoffed. " So you'll believe that some brat from the south was traveling with the Avatar but not that this forest is cursed? "

" Maybe she was traveling with the Avatar, maybe she was traveling with a bald circus performer. All I know is she's nothing but trouble, and the sooner we're rid of her the be-

The sound of a twig snapping cut the soldier off. " Shh! You hear that..? " Both soldiers suddenly stood attentively; sweat dripped from their furrowed brows. Another snap, this time from their left.

" There's something out there...and I'm gonna find it. " He turned to his unnerved comrade and gestured with his head. " I'm gonna go take a look...you stay here and alert the captain if I find anything. "

" H-hey wait… " He tried to protest, holding his hand out to stop his fellow soldier, but he had already made headway into the pitch black forest. The only way he had been able to see his compatriot was the flicker of the miniscule light he had been producing with his bending.

The soldier who had gone out to inspect the noises had been confident at first, but the further he ventured into the unknown around him, the more his nerves started to give way. His sole focus at the moment had been keeping the flame in his hand alight. " O-ok...there's nobody out here...just me myself and-ack! "

The soldier had been plucked up into the trees, his voice muffled before vanishing completely. The poor watchman who had witnessed his allies disappearance froze up. He saw it. He saw the demonic, blue face staring at him from within the pitch-black forest. He wanted to scream, to alert the others, but his body went rigid with fear.

The seemingly floating face drew closer and closer to the horrified soldier. " St-stay away from me! " He hastily assumed his bending stance. Before he could release a single blast, a rope came flying out of the void, wrapping around the man, dragging him in.

Silence blanketed through the camp. The rest of the soldiers had managed to enter an uneasy sleep, but sleep nonetheless. Their hostage? She had been awake the whole time, and with fear in her eyes, watched as some unknown entity dragged off the watchmen. " ...Aang...Sokka..I wish you were here. " She curled up into a ball, as best as her restrained wrists would allow, clenching her eyes shut in hopes whatever was out there would pay her no mind.

The wagon her enclosure had been carried in creaked slightly, opting the water tribe girl to crack an eye open.

There she came face to face with a wicked blue face, the gleeful smile on it's face sending rattling her to core. Her mouth shot open to scream, but no noise had come it. The masked figures hand rested securely against her mouth, and holding a finger in front of his. " ...Be quiet… " His voice, though hushed, was grating with such a serious tone. She shakily nodded, gently moving her head back from his hand, eyes now glued on the masked man.

Zuko stood tall, pulling his swords from their sheathe, separating them in one fluent motion. " Two halves of the same whole. " A voice had always echoed within the back of his head when he used his blades. Whose voice was it? He had never been able to put a face on them, but deep down he knew they were the one responsible for teaching him how to use a blade. He watched the girl clench her eyes shut as he began swinging the swords about. A reasonable reaction to a masked stranger swinging sharp objects.

Two clean slices was all it had taken to cleave through the sturdy wooden cage. She glanced up at the man, he gestured with his head to follow him, silently. She had no reason to not follow him. It was certainly better than her alternative.

The whole thing had gone over smoothly, maybe even too smoothly All that changed when a single soldier woke from his slumber, and caught sight of that distinctive blue mask.

" IT'S THE BLUE SPIRIT! " The soldier shot up, firing a barrage of fireballs at the intruder.

Zuko grimaced under his mask. " Of course he had to be a firebender! " Not that it would have mattered if he were or not, that scream of his had already pulled his allies from their sleep. He glanced back at the girl, while knocking the fire blasts away with the sides of his swords. " Stay down and out of the way! "

" But if you just cu- "

" I said stay down! You'll be safer there! " Zuko suddenly rushed forward, weaving through the soldier's attacks, quickly slipping behind him, and striking him with the pommel of his left-handed sword. That was the easy part, then the other soldier's decide to jump in. " Just great! "

Blue eyes watched helplessly as the masked man practically danced through the hail of fire flying past him from each direction. The Water Tribe girl tugged at her bindings, she needed her hands free to reach her natural element. " H-hey! Get my hands free! "

Her cry went unheard, as Zuko spun his blades hypnotically, batting flames away and slicing the ones sending the flames. In the three years he had fought Fire Nation troops, Zuko had taught himself where to cut for a nonfatal blow. Killing wasn't something he relished in, and he had wanted to avoid that outcome at all cost, even if they were Fire Nation.

Iroh's words rang through his head as he fought against the onslaught around him.

" The human life is a fragile thing, but is something that should be cherished. Be they friend or foe, the choice to take a life, should always be one made as a last resort. "

Those words had stuck with him, burning themselves deep in his mind. " Even if they're the enemy… " He wordlessly reminded himself, gritting his teeth as more and more fire came his way. His swords could resist heat for a good while, but too much would eventually warp and then melt them.

" HEY! Can't you hear me! "

His ears perked up as best as they could given the situation. That girl was trying to get his attention. Now of all times?! " I thought I told you to stay down! "

" I can help you! Just get these off me! " She gestured to her wrist bindings.

Zuko wasn't sure how much use she could be, but a feeling in his gut told him to go for it. He'd need to be precise with the swing, otherwise he might miss, or worse, hit the girl. Another hail of fire and spear swings came his direction, he evaded quickly springing backwards, flipping towards the girl. Zuko used the momentum of his backflip, to come down on the steel shackles with enough force to slice right through them at the wrist, freeing them harmlessly.

" There you're free now girl. Whatever it is you're going to do you might as well do it. "

She glared at him, " My names not "girl" It's Katara! Now just let me concentrate! " She closed her eyes, using ehr bending to reach out and find the nearest liquid. Luckily enough that liquid had been a nice hot soup that had been left hanging over the campfire.

Through darkened eye holes Zuko watched the girl bend. She bent boiling hot soup around her as if it were any other water, knocking soldier after soldier down with the scalding liquid. Her technique was unrefined in all sense of the word. She must've still been learning, still, splashing people with hot soup hurt regardless of the use of technique or not.

Zuko had been so caught up watching the girl bend, he failed to notice the soldier coming up behind him. Katara looked back and her eyes widened, spotting the creeping soldier. " Hey watch out! " Without a second wasted, Katara swirled the soup around her, launching it forward, knocking the soldier and any others behind him to the ground.

A thumbs up was the thanks she received. In all honesty it was better than nothing, something she was used too when it came to her brother. The masked warrior suddenly dashed in her direction, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the middle of the camp. " H-Hey! What's the big idea! "

He had sheathed his swords and was now reaching for something behind his back. " You're out of soup, there's no water around, and my swords can't take much more heat! When we reach the campfire close your eyes! "

" Close my eyes?! Why?! "

" Gah! Can't you just follow orders?! Just get ready to close your eyes! "

" But I- "

" Just close them already! "

And she did. Katara clenched her eyes shut, catching a glimpse of a small sack he held high above their heads. Zuko closed his own eyes, slamming the small cloth sack down into the campfire. There was a bright flash, followed immediately by a deafening pop, blinding their attackers just long enough for the two to sprint off into the woods.

Katara's ears were ringing. She had kept her eyes closed through the whole thing, yet still felt disoriented. It felt like her feet were moving on their own, they just kept running. Her outstretched hand was still in the grasp of her masked savior, who blended in perfectly with the surrounding darkness, had it not been for his mask she would have thought a real spirit had been dragging her.

He glanced back at her. " H-y A- Yo- A-ight? " She couldn't understand him, not yet at least. The ringing had yet to cease, and only a fraction of what he said got through. He kept his "gaze" on her, and she had the sneaking suspicion that whoever was under the mask was grimacing at her.

He repeated himself. " I said, are you alright? " Ah, there it was. She heard everything that time, not that there was all that much to hear, just a simple question. Their pace slowed to an amble, he had been giving her a chance to catch her breath.

Katara gave a half-hearted nod. " Y-yeah...I should be… " In all honesty Katara was wiped. It had been well over forty-eight hours since she had a decent rest. Sleeping in the back of a wagon while imprisoned didn't exactly make for quality sleeping arrangements.

" Right. " Was the only thing he said. This stranger knew she was bluffing.

They continued their trek through the forest, with the masked man taking the lead. How he could see through this all baffled Katara, but what baffled her more was where exactly they were headed. " Where-where exactly are you taking me..? "

" Somewhere safe. "

He was a man of few words when he wasn't barking orders at her. Katara would make sure to keep that in mind. " ...How vague of you to answer… "

He brushed off her exhausted sarcasm, he can tell just by how she moves that she's in desperate need of rest. " Look... I'm sorry for shouting earlier. I shouldn't have done that, but you could've been hurt. " She didn't respond. Either she was just saving what little energy she had, or she was refusing his apology. " You said your name was Katara right? "

" I did. "

" It's a nice name. " He muttered just loud enough for her to hear.

Katara's cheeks became flushed, the only thing keeping the stranger from seeing was the shroud of night around them. " Th-thanks...I guess… "

Not another word was spoken throughout the entirety of the trip. Still, getting something out of the stranger was better than just having him stay quiet, so Katara adjusted her opinion of him. Opting to refer to him as "selectively silent" rather than "not much of a talker" which was still quieter than she was used too. Something else nagged at Katara's thoughts as they traversed the wooded area, the mask the stranger wore. She had seen it somewhere, but couldn't find in her memory where she had seen such a mask in her travels with Aang and Sokka.

The waterbender mulled over the thought of where she knew that "face" from, the entirety of the trek. Then, right as they had stepped towards the base of a massive tree in the middle of a small opening, it hit her like a stone from an earthbender.

" You're the Blue Spirit! " She leapt back, pointing a finger at her savior with shock in her eyes. She had remembered now, in one of the towns she and her companions had been passing through, a large board had been pinned up to the side of a building, and all across the board had been wanted posters for a man in a grinning blue mask. " You're one of the Fire Nation's most wanted… "

Zuko's shoulders went stiff. As often as he heard it, he truly despised that name. It reminded him of how he felt in his head; a spirit, with no recollection of life, set adrift in a wide blue ocean, searching for something that could never be found. And yet, this was the only name he had ever been referred to, it's all anyone would ever know him as, for a while it's all he had known himself as. Then Iroh came for a visit one day, he had no physical gift with him, what he had instead was something more symbolic in value. Zuko's name.

" I believe it is time I imparted this knowledge on you. I am sorry for withholding it for as long as I have...Three months is far too long to go without having a name to call yourself by. " The elder man wore an almost sad smile as he spoke to the masked boy. " I will tell you this now, but you must never tell anyone else, not until true trust is earned. Your name is Zuko...and no matter what anyone else chooses to call you, you must never forget your name...for it is a piece of who you truly are. "

He glanced back at the girl. She was more visible in the opening, as the moonlight poured in through the few spaces that weren't covered in canopy. She had been prattling on about everything she had heard about him, and how she knew who he was. He honestly didn't care. Recognition wasn't why he did what he does, he does it because he knows deep down what it's like to truly be helpless.

" So am I right, you are the real Blue Spirit aren't you? " He looked her in the face, it was hard to tell if he was even listening. You can't exactly see if you're being ignored if there's no expression to go off of.

" Don't call me that… " He said in a gruff mumble, turning to face her completely. " I have a name too you know… "

" And what would that be? "

He froze. Iroh's words rang through his head once more.

" You must never tell anyone else. "

A quick memory came to the rescue. One of the few moments in the past he had removed his mask. An experiment of sorts he had conducted, one to see how well he could blend in with others. The whole thing had racked thirteen-year-old Zuko with anxiety, an unpleasant memory for sure. But of all the things he got out of the visit, besides three sleepless nights, was an alisa. A fake name he had picked up from passing merchants, and a common one at that, not a thing to bat an eye at.

" Lee. "

" Huh? " Katara had to make sure she heard him right. She honestly hadn't expected a real answer from him, he had the "dark and mysterious vibe to him" not the type to just give away his name without some extra steps involved.

He groaned. " I said...My name is Lee. "

" Lee… " She mimicked. Short, sweet, simple, not the most befitting name for a masked swordsman, but it was his name nonetheless. Her expression shifted to that of a tired smile. " So Lee, I just have one last question for you. " Her mouth opened to finish, but mid sentence, a loud grumble emanated from her abdomen. She had almost forgotten just how hungry she had been, the Fire Nation doesn't exactly feed their prisoners well. " Uhh...do you have anything to eat by chance? " She smiled bashfully.

He let out another groan, grabbing the girls hand and walking towards the tree. " Just follow me inside… "