A/N: Okay totallystellar, this is for you. First of all, I did not steal anyone's fanfiction. In case you don't already know, Persistence of Memory is the name of a famous painting by Salvador Dali. You've probably seen it; it's the one with all the melted clocks. And, as much as I love Harry Potter, I don't read HP fanfiction. "Neutral" and I apparently just thought Persistence of Memory was a good title. I did not take the plot or title from Neutral. We both took the title from Salvador Dali.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence.

Chapter Ten: Battle

Your face, it haunts my once pleasant dreams…

Your voice, it chased away all the sanity in me…

The candle flames pulsed brightly in front of Katara. She sat at a low table in her room, meditating in front of the flames. They were the only light in the room and cast an eerie glow on the girl's face. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as she tried to clear her mind.

Although she couldn't fire bend, Zuko had told her it would be a good idea to meditate. Especially after a long day's training. Katara had welcomed the idea, thinking it might help her stop having those awful dreams. In the back of her mind, however, a voice was saying, "Are you sure you want them to stop?"

This constant turmoil inside her was making it increasingly difficult to meditate. When she told Zuko about the trouble she was having, he told her, "You're concentrating too hard on concentrating on nothing." Katara gave him a confused look. Zuko sighed. "Why don't you try focusing all your thoughts on one thing? Like an object or person. Or you might try concentrating on one of the moves you have yet to master."

Obviously, Prince Zuko thought she should try his last suggestion. But, Katara had something much more important to meditate on…

Okay… Zuko said meditating helps us access parts of our mind that we normally couldn't. If I'm dreaming about this boy, then I must know what he looks like, and more importantly, who he is, somewhere. Just concentrate on the boy… Katara thought.

Breathing rhythmically, Katara conjured up the clouded image of her mysterious shadow. He replayed his voice over and over again in her head.

000

Katara sighed bitterly as she got into bed. "Nothing," she spat, "Absolutely nothing."

Although the meditating did help to calm her, Katara had gotten nothing about her mysterious person.

Mysterious person… thought Katara as she pulled the blanket up around her. He needs a name… That's what I'll call him… Kaijin… (Kaijin means "mysterious person").

Katara wan agitated that she hadn't managed to learn anything new. And being agitated pretty much rendered all that calmness she had achieved useless. Katara sighed and closed her eyes, welcoming the break from reality.

000

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Katara asked Zuko cheerfully the next morning. She had slept wonderfully (and dreamlessly) last night. She felt completely refreshed that morning.

"There was a rumor the Avatar was on Jishin Island. We're going to be stopping there," replied Zuko. He knew the Avatar was supposed to come to him, but he was getting sick of waiting around. What was taking him so long? When Zuko heard this rumor, he couldn't help but look into it.

Katara nodded. "Tell me again, why we need to capture the Avatar?" she asked.

Zuko sighed and gritted his teeth. "Because the Avatar poses a great threat to the Fire Nation. He wants to kill my father."

Katara didn't reply. She wasn't the Fire lord's biggest fan after she found out what he did to Zuko. But, she still found herself unable to wish him death. If Zuko still wanted his father's love and acceptance so badly, she couldn't say anything against him.

Katara looked out across the horizon. "Is that the island there?" she asked. A bumpy mound could just be seen on the edge of the horizon.

Zuko nodded. "We'll be there shortly. You should get ready."

Katara nodded and walked off.

Zuko was nervous about this. What if the Avatar really was there? Would Katara recognize him? And god only knew what they would say to her. But then again, she had seen the Avatar's wanted poster with no recognition, so maybe nothing would go wrong. Maybe he would finally capture the Avatar, with Katara's help.

Zuko smiled at the thought.

000

The tall door of Prince Zuko's ship lowered down slowly on the shore. The fire benders (and of course, one water bender) emerged from the ship, with Zuko in the lead. There was nobody to be seen. Zuko stopped and looked around. There was a port not too far away and he could see smoke from a village not too far away. But where were the people?

Zuko had brought fifteen soldiers with him, not including Katara and Iroh. He pointed to five of them. "You go with my uncle to the port. Question any civilians you see. If you find anything, report to me immediately. If not, meet back here in two hours."

The guards bowed left, Iroh following sullenly behind. He'd rather be on the ship drinking tea.

Zuko tuned to Katara "Are you ready? Remember, if we find the Avatar, extreme caution must be taken. He is a formidable opponent. He is also an air bender. That means he will use a lot of evasive maneuvers before striking back. There is also a Water Tribe boy with him, but he is a fool and will pose no threat. He is mostly just a nuisance."

Katara nodded seriously and said, "I'm ready."

Zuko nodded, gave her one last look and turned around to begin the walk to the Earth Kingdom village.

000

Katara followed Zuko through the deep woods towards the smoke from the village. Walking at a brisk pace, her black pants swished against her skin and her deep red top blew lightly in the breeze. She was lost in her own thoughts. Was she ready for this? Would the Avatar even be here? It was only a rumor after all…

The woods ended very abruptly. They were in the village. Again, there were no people to be seen.

"They may be hiding him in one of these houses," said Prince Zuko. He walked up to a door and banged on it. There was no answer.

Just as Zuko was about to break the door down, something went whizzing trough the air. He narrowly avoided it by ducking his head. He whipped around, scanning the terrain for the source. Katara was suddenly on edge. She stood perfectly still and silent, listening.

Zuko glanced down to see what had almost hit him. It was a rock.

"We're not alone."

Suddenly, they could see people emerging from the shadows of the forest. Katara turned around. There were more. Zuko swore under his breath when he realized they had been fooled. They were surrounded. Both Katara and Zuko knew these people were earth benders.

One man came to the front of the ambush. He appeared to be their leader. He was in his mid-thirties with short brown hair. He stood tall and proudly, never letting his gaze waver. "The Fire Nation is not welcome here. Leave our island and we will not attack you."

Prince Zuko, decked out in his full armor (except his helmet) moved closer to the man, with an equally defiant glare. They both look pretty menacing, thought Katara.

"We have business here. We will not leave," he replied.

The man looked him up and down. "And what business would a teenage fire bender have on our island? Jishin Island has fought of the oppression of the Fire Nation for a hundred years. We will not submit to you now!"

"We have no business with you or your village. Unless…" Zuko took a menacing step towards the man, "you have information about the Avatar."

The earth benders tensed, preparing for battle. Zuko's men tensed also. Katara took a small step forward. Be careful Zuko… she silently warned him.

The earth bender leader took a step towards Zuko. "You must be Zuko, the banished prince of the Fire Nation," he said with a smirk. "The Avatar is long gone. You won't find him."

"Why should I believe you?" Zuko hissed at him.

"Because the Avatar and his friend were here not too long ago. Looking for you in fact." The man peered over Zuko's shoulder and his eyes widened. "That's the girl," he hissed at Zuko, hatred clear in his voice. Katara could no longer hear what they were saying. "That's the girl you kidnapped!"

Zuko snarled at him.

"The Avatar told us all about it," he spat. "You monster. We can't let you leave now. We have to send word to the Avatar and her brother that you're here. I've no idea what you've done to that girl, but it ends now."

Zuko glared at him and raised a flaming fist. "You think you can keep us here?"

"Let's find out."

With the slash of his arm, the man signaled his earth benders. At once, they all raised giant boulders into the air.

"Take out the fire benders, but don't hurt the girl," he instructed, never turning around.

And the battle was on.

The earth benders launched their boulders at the Fire Nation troop. The fire benders were quick on their feet though and dodged them. Zuko was engaged in battle with the leader. Katara concentrated on helping the other soldiers. They didn't seem to be attacking her…

Zuko shot a stream of fire at the earth bender, but he raised a wall of earth to block it. He then lifted it up higher with the intention to crush Zuko. Zuko swept his feet around, causing the earth bender to lose his balance. It appeared Zuko had the upper hand when Katara noticed the man behind him. He lifted up a huge rock and it was just about to slam into Zuko's skull when Katara leapt up and kicked it out of the way with.

The earth bender looked surprised. She had just saved the Fire Prince! Katara took advantage of his momentary surprise and aimed a hard kick at his side and he fell to the ground. Katara turned around and was back-to-back with Zuko. They were surrounded by earth benders. "I guess training's over," she said to him.

The Earth Kingdom village was a barrage of fire blasts and dust. The dirt kicked up by the earth benders made it difficult to see. Despite being outnumbered though, Katara, Zuko and the soldiers were winning the battle. Prince Zuko had done a good job of training Katara.

"Sir," said one of the earth benders to the leader, "We have to fight the girl! She's taking out too many of our soldiers! I thought you said she is his prisoner!" The soldiers had in fact disobeyed their leader's order not to fight Katara from the very beginning. The recognized a threat when they saw one.

"I know. I just don't understand it…" he replied

000

"How many seriously injured?" asked Prince Zuko.

"Three," Katara replied, "They should make it though. Nothing too life threatening."

Zuko nodded.

The battle was over. Or so they thought.

Katara was putting a tourniquet on a soldier's wound. Katara smiled. "It seems every time I see you're somehow injured, Kyo," she said to him.

Kyo laughed. "Twice now you've treated my wounds. How am I going to repay that debt?"

Katara smiled and shook her head. "Really, it's noth-" Katara broke off. She noticed something glint in the trees. She stood up and squinted to see what it was.

"Lady Katara?" Kyo asked.

That looks like… Katara gasped. An archer. She looked over and realized Zuko was the intended target.

"Zuko! Look out!" Katara cried as she ran over to him to push him out of the way. She was just a bit too slow.

Katara cried out in pain as the arrow pierced stomach.

"Katara!" Zuko gasped from the ground.

Katara fell, pouring crimson on the dirt floor.