Now EDITED AND REPOSTED and RENAMED. Formerly named "My Bluetara".

We've all heard the fairytales where the prince falls in love with the lady as soon as he sees her. Then he saves her from the bad guys and they live happily ever after... right? Well, the happily ever after isn't always the case. If you don't like instant love or a tragic ending, then this story is not for you, so please don't read it or you won't be a happy camper.

This chapter takes place towards the end of the episode The Blue Spirit, in Book 1. Think of it as a slightly twisted fairytale.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender or any of its characters. Any original characters and story lines, however, I do own.

1. The Fortress by the Mountain

Aang could feel how tense the masked man was as they backed away from the fortress.

The young Avatar kept note of where the blades of the broad swords were around his neck and how tightly they were pressed up against his skin. Although the blades were dangerously close to his throat, Aang knew that the masked man wasn't really going to hurt him.

It's just an act so that we can get away, he told himself.

They were a fair distance from the fortress now and Aang was starting to relax.

Suddenly, the faint twang of a bow releasing an arrow could be heard in the direction of one of the watchtowers of the fortress, and the whoosh of a flying arrow was audible.

In a split second, Aang saw the deadly arrow flying straight towards them.

One of the archers must have been intending to shoot the masked man.

It was going to hit! But no, something else was wrong. The arrow was flying to low. It was going to hit, but not its intended target.

It was going to hit Aang.

And it did.

Aang gasped in pain as the pointed tip of the arrow thudded into his lower rib cage.

"Aang!" a muffled voice called from behind the blue mask.

The swords were drawn away from his throat as he stumbled backwards.

He felt strong arms catch him as he fell.

The last thing Aang heard before darkness overtook him was the sound of two swords being slid back into their sheath.

Zuko swore under his breath from behind his mask as the young Avatar became limp in his arms.

He could hear voices and footsteps approaching from the direction of the fortress. Quickly, he scooped the young boy into his arms and then darted into the forest.

Zuko ran as fast as he could and didn't stop for what felt like an eternity.

When he finally heard the footsteps behind him fading, he let out a sigh of relief, but he kept running.

He waited a few minutes after the footsteps had completely gone before he stopped.

When he was sure they were safe he lay Aang down against a tree trunk.

He ripped some material off the bottom of his shirt before quickly but gently removing the arrow form Aang's solar-plexus.

As he had expected, once the arrow was removed, Aang started bleeding heavily. Using the material he had ripped from his shirt, Zuko made a bandage and wrapped it around the boys wound.

When he was sure the bandage was secure and Aang wasn't about to start bleeding again, the masked Prince scooped the Avatar up into his arms again and started heading in the direction of the swamp and mountain.

When he reached the swamp, he picked up four frozen frogs and stuffed them in his pockets.

He continued up the mountain as fast as he could. By the time he reached the top of the mountain it was dawn.

Appa gave a worried grunt as the masked figure laid his unconscious master on his tail. He kept a close eye on the beast as he moved over to the dazed water siblings.

The masked man knelt down and stuck two frozen frogs in Sokka's mouth.

"Is this stuff home made?" the boy asked stupidly as Zuko got up.

He walked over to where Katara lay.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Just a friend," Zuko replied. "You need to suck on these."

And before Katara could react, the masked man stuck two frozen frogs into her mouth.

The girl didn't seem to acknowledge what had just happened – she simply rolled over and dozed off.

You're kinda cute, Zuko thought as he watched the girl sleep, you are cute.

Zuko mentally kicked himself.

What are you on about? She's a Water Tribe peasant and she's traveling with the Avatar!

But it's true; she's cute.

So? She's not for you, there are plenty of better girls for you to choose from, ones that are Fire noble ladies.

I don't care, I want her.

Zuko couldn't believe the argument going on inside his head.

But he knew it was true. He didn't know how long for, but he knew he was in love with Katara.

Katara…he thought, a pretty name for a pretty girl.

Zuko wasn't sure what had gotten into him, but he didn't care. He was in love, so why should he?

Uncle always said I'd find love in an unlikely place.

He reached out with one hand and stroked the girl's head.

He stared at her in a daydream.

Suddenly a moan and someone moving brought him back to reality.

He looked over, towards Appa, to see that Aang had regained consciousness and was looking around the cave, confused.

Finally, his gaze rested on Zuko, who was still wearing his mask.

Understanding dawned on the Avatar.

"Thank you," he whispered, "you saved me and my friends." He looked at Katara and Sokka. "Thank you."

Zuko nodded in acceptance to the boy's thanks.

Now Aang sat up. Clutching the bandages over his wound, he asked, "Who are you?"

"I am the Blue Spirit," Zuko replied, keeping his voice soft in the hope that Aang would not recognize it.

Aang opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off by a scream.

Aang and the Blue Spirit turned to see Sokka ripping the two now unfrozen frogs from his mouth and gagging and spitting and coughing everywhere.

Within seconds, Katara had woken up too. But after giving her own cry of shock and disgust, she simply raised her hands to her mouth and slipped the frogs out and propped them on the floor. After this she turned and spat all of the saliva out of her mouth.

Time to go, Zuko thought.

And with that, the Blue Spirit got up and left, leaving the Avatar to explain to his friends why they had been sucking on frogs.

But as he left, he could feel Katara's curious eyes following him until he was out of sight.

So, what did you think? Tell me in your reviews. And before anyone says anything about it moving to fast, it's a fairy tale setting! It's supposed to be instant love, so don't both pointing that out! Anyways, review! XD!