Chapter Four:

UNWARY LOVE

Katara began to feel happy she had returned to Aang and Sokka after such a long time. But she knew the reunion couldn't last forever. Aang had to get on with his Earth Bending training, and Katara wanted to return to the North Pole as much as she wanted to stay with Aang and Sokka.

Zuko looked at Katara sitting on Appa. She was deep in thought. Zuko was beginning to have a strange feeling. A feeling he had never felt before… except for his family… before he was banished. Zuko knew what this feeling was. When he was little, Azuma had told him that it was called love, and in the Fire Nation Academy, it was all the older kids ever talked about. Zuko remembered that before he was banished, Azuma had always told him about how she felt strong love for Admiral Zhou. After he had killed him, Zuko felt a little bad about it, for his sister, but after what had happened today, he had lost that feeling of guiltiness.

Zuko felt he was sort of a "stranger" to this feeling called love. He liked this feeling, but at the same time hated it. It annoyed him, and it never stopped speaking to him. Zuko wanted to admit his feelings to Katara, but he knew he couldn't. Zuko knew you couldn't just marry whoever you wanted to, your partner had to be decided by your father. But Zuko was not going to return to his father ever, and this allowed him "free love". But that just didn't feel right. He finally decided what to do.

"Uncle Iroh," said Zuko as he walked over to the Fire Lord's brother, who was watching the passing clouds. "I must speak to you… in private."

"What is it my Prince?"

"Just… come here."

Zuko and Iroh sat down on Appa's furry back.

"Uncle…" said Zuko. "…now that I am not loyal to the Fire Nation or my father any longer, I need you to decide who I marry."

"But Prince Zuko, you…. you are not ready."

"I am. I have felt love… for the first time."

"Towards who?" questioned Zuko's Uncle.

Zuko looked down.

"Someone… not worthy of a Prince."

"If they are not worthy, why do you feel love for them?"

"As I said… not worthy of a Prince. I am a Prince no longer."

"Don't say that, Prince Zuko!"

"But it is true. I was banished and I hate the Fire Nation and my father. I am a Prince no longer," Zuko paused for a second and then whispered, "I have fallen in love with Katara."