AN: Another long awaited chapter! Unless something changes, there are only be a couple chapters left! Vote for a sequel! VOTE VOTE!

RE: I don't own Avatar, or Collin Raye's 'Not That Different.' Even though it makes me cry every time I hear it.

'I laugh, I love, I hope, I try
I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry
And I know you do the same things too
So we're really not that different, me and you'

Chapter 18: Not That Different

Ozai was sitting on the deck as the doctor check the bandages on his broken arm.

"It's healing well Fire Lord. You should have use of your arm back in maybe a week."

He nodded to the doctor, who bowed and went below deck. Ozai looked up from his incapacitated arm to see those on the deck. The Water Tribe boy, Sokka, was training with Lieutenant Gi. Natalani was watching them, one arm around Anzha, the other on her swelling belly. She caught his gaze and smiled. He nodded to her, too worried to smile. As he brooded, she came over and sat next to him, comforting him with her presence. The sun was setting.

Zuko raced after Katara, his stamina much greater than hers. He noticed her slowing, and put on a burst of speed as they ran into their campsite and tackled her. She screamed as they fell to the ground together and rolled. He pinned her to the ground with his legs and began tickling her. She screamed again and squirmed, fighting him and laughing uncontrollably.

"Stop it Zuko! Stop! I can't breathe!"

Zuko laughed and started to let her up when something grabbed him by the neck and threw him backwards. He landed hard against a tree and slid to the ground. A man was standing there, in the blue of the Water Tribe. Zuko regained his footing and took a defensive stance, unwilling to fight one of Katara's Tribesmen.

The man, however; had no second thoughts about fighting him. He raised a club much like Sokka's and proceeded to bash Zuko's head with it. Zuko blocked the blow with an arm and pushed the man back and away by striking his chest with the heel of his hand.

Katara was too stunned to react. She knew how it must have looked to the Water Tribesmen, but her body wouldn't move.

More warriors poured from the trees and attacked Zuko. He fought desperately, still unwilling to hurt them, and for this reason one managed to bring him to the ground. He curled up in a ball to protect himself as they rained blows down on him.

Katara screamed when she saw Zuko fall. She forced her way through the group of warriors and threw herself over Zuko. The blows stopped. A man stepped away from the group.

"You defend the fire-bender who attacked you?" Her eyes danced with an anger that increased as she listened to Zuko's labored breathing.

"He wasn't attacking me you idiot! He was tickling me! We were playing, like friends do! He's my friend, and of course I'm defending him!"

But the experienced warrior wasn't perturbed. "I can guess that you two were stranded here together. What of before then? Was he your friend before you two were trapped here?"

Katara's eyes widened and she bit her lip. The man grinned evilly. "I thought so. And if you ever get off this island, will you let your friend return to his destructive ways?"

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "In the past few days, Zuko and I have helped each other despite our differences. I learned to see past the fire-bender and get to know the person within. I learned that fire-benders are people, just like us. I will not let you hurt him."

Katara stood and pulled Zuko to his feet. Despite a few cuts and bruises, he looked no worse for wear.

"Come on Zuko. We'll leave these men to their business." He nodded and followed her as she led him away from their former campsite. The Water Tribesmen let them go.

Katara and Zuko walked until they reached the beach. Zuko sat down on the sand, and Katara sat down right next to him, so they were practically touching. Katara sighed.

"I'm sorry about them, Zuko."

"Why are you apologizing for their actions?"

"Because they from my Tribe. I feel responsible." Zuko looked away from her, but not before Katara saw the sadness in his eyes. She still marveled at him showing any emotion other than anger.

"I suppose I should get used to it. Everyone is going to be like that, no matter where I go. 'Oh look, a big scary fire-bender is coming, better run away!'" Zuko grinned at her, but she saw right through the fake smile. The words were too true to be funny. She sighed.

"Not everyone is like that." He sighed and looked away again.

"Yes they are, Katara that is one thing I know."

"Well, I'm somebody, and I'm not like that." He smiled weakly.

"That's true." He paused. "Just to let you know, I'm not going to be after the Avatar anymore."

She stared at him, open-mouthed in shock.

"You're not?" He shook his head.

"No, there's no point now. With my father dead, the Fire Nation will accept me back whether I bring the Avatar or not. The only problem is Zhao."

Katara nodded, and sighed, grateful.

They were silent for a little longer, Katara watching Zuko and Zuko watching the rolling ocean waves. After several minutes, Zuko broke the dense silence.

"Thank you." She was startled.

"What?" Zuko played with the sand at his side, opposite Katara.

"Thank you for being my friend."

He laid his head on her shoulder and she wrapped her arms around him, tucking his head under her chin.

"You're very welcome."

They stayed in that position for a while, only shifting positions to lay down and fall asleep.

Later that night, Katara woke up to find a blanket draped across her and Zuko. She extricated herself from his arms and looked around to find the Water Tribe warriors a few feet away, gathered around a large fire.

Zuko sat up sleepily and regarded the Water Tribesmen cautiously, but Katara felt rebellious. She pulled Zuko to his feet and led him into the circle. They were regarded suspiciously, but one of the warriors handed them both something to eat. Two men came over to them as they ate and sat down, one on each side of the two friends.

"Perhaps you can tell us your names." Zuko glared at the man, but said nothing. Katara shrugged.

"I'm Katara of the Southern Water Tribe." The man smiled, and ignored Zuko briefly. He turned back to the group.

"Atilla, can you come here please?" An older man stood and came over to them. Katara's eyes went wide.

"Atilla, this is Katara of the Southern Water Tribe." The man's jaw dropped. He and Katara stared at each other, and then she leapt into his arms.

"Papa!"

Zuko watched the reunion with a sad heart. He was thinking of his own father. Katara turned from her father and pulled Zuko once again to his feet.

"Papa, this is Zuko. He's saved my life several times in the past few days." Zuko blushed.

"No more than you've saved mine." But Katara's father was unperturbed and he took Zuko's hand and shook it fervently.

"Any time is as good as any, young fire-bender, and I thank you. If my daughter trusts you, then I trust you." Zuko blushed once more and Katara laughed.

"Perhaps, Papa, you can loan Zuko a shirt. By the stars, he's getting a tan."

This caused uproarious laughter in all. When he quieted, they sat down, Atilla next to Katara and Zuko on her other side. Another warrior stood.

"We'll continue our night's festivities now, if you don't mind. We're celebrating another successful year of fighting the Fire Nation." The man turned to Zuko. "You may find some of our songs offensive."

Zuko shrugged. "As long as the person singing sounds better than my drunken crew on music night, I'll survive."

And so the festivities continued, and most of the songs were war songs about victories against the Fire Nation. Katara constantly kept glancing towards Zuko, but he didn't seem to be paying attention to the Water Tribesmen. At least until one stood up. All grew quiet, and his strong voice rang out over the sands.

A child of water stands waving good-bye to all he's ever known

He smiles as he waves, making promises with his eyes

He fights for home, he fights for love, he fights because they tell him to

She calls out to him desperately

Please come home soon

Katara drew a breath shakily, the song was well-known in the Water Tribes, and had always made her cry. The name was 'Not That Different,' but no one knew why. The verse sung was the only one usually sung. The man started to sit down, when another voice rang out.

It was Zuko. His eyes were closed, but tears ran down his cheeks. They all stared at him in wonder as he sang the next verse.

A child of fire stands with his back to all he's ever known

Pride stiffening his neck as pain reflects in his eyes

He fights for honor, he fights for strength, he fights because they tell him to

She calls out to him without warning

Please come home soon

And then, the warrior and Zuko finished the song together, alternating lines with their element. Fire and water merged, and the sound was beautiful.

A child of water, A child of fire, face each other on a field

Their elements before them they see the blow coming

'I fought for love,' 'I fought for honor,' 'I fought because they told me to'

'No don't take my last breath I promised

I'd come home soon'

The Water Tribesmen stared at Zuko as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The same warrior that had attacked Zuko earlier that day spoke out.

"How is it that you, a fire-bender, knows that song and is so affected?"

Zuko stared at the sand and didn't answer for several minutes.

"My mother used to sing it to me at night." He finally said, and Katara's breath caught in her throat. No wonder he'd cried. The song reminded him of his mother.

"She always used to tell me the war was silly, and that I should strive for peace."

The warrior smirked. "And how does she feel, seeing how you've turned out?"

Zuko's hands clenched into fists and Katara winced. Her look told the warrior he'd gone too far.

"I wouldn't know," Zuko hissed. "Because she was killed by Water Tribe soldiers when I was six. I was there, and I remember."

The Water Tribesmen froze, and no one said a word. There was nothing to say. After several tense moments, Zuko got up and walked away. Katara went with him. Atilla stared after his daughter for a few moments before turning back to the men.

"Men, do you understand? We all fight because the Fire Nation captured or killed someone we love. Is it so impossible that perhaps, some of the Fire Nation soldiers fight for the same reason? That boy has every reason to kill us all, but he tolerated our company, even as we threw insults in his face. Even today, when we fought, he could've killed us, but he didn't."

The skeptical warrior, the one who had started it all, nodded. "Perhaps it is wrong of me to place all fire-benders in the same boat."

It barely took a moment for the Water Tribesmen to all agree. Atilla and a few others headed off after Katara and Zuko.

Katara and Zuko had gone back to their original cave, and it took the warriors nearly an hour to find them. By this time, the two teenagers had fallen asleep. Atilla gathered Katara into his arms, and one of his companions handled Zuko. They took the teenagers back to the huts, placed them side by side, and covered them with blankets. Before he turned the burning lantern down, he looked at his only daughter and the friend she'd made. He smiled, knowing that of all the water-benders in the world, only Katara would've been able to befriend the Prince of the Fire Nation. Then, he turned and left.

Sokka watched Anzha sleep, his protective older brother syndrome kicking in. He thought of how he'd flat refused to trust Anzha, especially after finding out she was a fire-bender, but she'd proved him wrong. She'd broken every law he'd determined concerning fire-benders. Perhaps, after all, they weren't really that different. Perhaps, he could learn to be friends, even with a fire-bender. He pulled the blanket over Anzha down and pulled off her boots, which she'd mistakenly left on, as well as the dagger and Dao broadswords. Sokka mentally noted that she really must have been exhausted to have fallen asleep with all of her weaponry on. Once done, he pulled the blanket back over her shoulders, extinguished the lamp, and left.

I laugh, I love, I hope, I try
I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry
And I know you do the same things too
So we're really not that different
No we're really not that different, me and you

AN: The song sung by Zuko and the warrior is mine, I wrote it. Collin Raye's 'Not That Different' is not that song. The chorus from the beginning of the story and above is from his song.