Disclaimer: They belong to Nick and company.

A/N: Hey everyone! It looks like I forgot to update on time. . . oh well. . . It's still the 9th somewhere, right? Anyway, it's time for capter four and Zuko's turn in the limelight. I hope everyone enjoys it and you all know what you have to do to let me know.

Thanks: Here's thanks to my reviewers! chikendog, Iced Tea, Dreams of Eternity, and Veglma! Special thanks to my Beta Erin!

Chapter Four: Could Have Been Worse

To Zuko, the days seemed to drag on. A week had almost passed and he remained in the body of his enemy. He wondered how much longer it would take to return.

While thinking of returning to his body, Zuko had tried making the best out of his situation just once so far. Being this close to the Avatar did have its silver lining, or at least it did for a little while. Every time Zuko had tried setting a trap the Avatar's little pets would do something to keep from whatever was supposed to happen from happening. Of course the bison was not so little, but he had is way of messing things up. And the 'flying rat' as Zuko had dubbed it, was always around him keeping an eye out.

Perhaps they're not as dense as others. The former Firebender thought, then looked to his new companions. They were currently discussing matters of what inn to stay for the night.

"But, Sokka, they don't have room for Appa." Aang began walking off toward another place he had spotted upon arriving to the town.

"They give free breakfast!" The water tribe boy whined.

"Appa can't stay here."

"The food smells so good."

"Enough." Zuko tried to keep a headache from progressing that was quickly forming right between his eyes. Stress was a horrible thing.

"Appa will get lonely."

"Momo can keep him company."

"Enough." Zuko's patience was thinning, quickly. Neither boys heard their third companion as they just continued back and forth with cries of "Food. . ." or "Appa. . ."

"Agh! Enough!" Zuko came between the two. "We sleep outside. We need to save money not waste it on meaningless things!"

-----

The venders were out to get what last sales and deals they could make before the market closed for the night. With the increasing activity of Fire Nation soldiers throughout the world, the people had grown much more suspicious. While still welcoming travelers, they were wary of their movements.

Zuko could feel many pairs of eyes following him as he made a path searching for any supplies that would be useful for a long journey. He had accepted the fact that he was stuck with what ever had happened to him. He was not, however, going to refrain from capturing the Avatar when things were normal once again; no matter how 'human' the child seemed to be.

The former prince had discovered during his first few days within the body of the female Waterbender, of the events that lead up to the boy's revival. The water tribe boy had many of his own points to throw in occasionally. Many of them which Zuko thought to be false.

"Tha'll be fi' coppers." The Waterbender gathered up the foods including fruits of many varieties and a second waterskin. He had found one placed at his waist not long after waking up the first time. Placing the five coins in the merchant's hand, he made way to the next stall searching for any long lasting foods.

Zuko had somehow become the one to keep the money. If either the water tribe boy or the Avatar were to take the money, they would either end up with nothing but junk foods and meat or useless nick-nacks

There was something else that caught his eye nearby. Gleaming off to the side of a table, a simple silver dagger sat. The crimson hilt was the only decoration noticeable. It would be excellent for any surprise attacks.

Zuko had not really learned much in the way of Waterbending other than a ripple or so. He decided to buy it. There was still more than enough money left over for other supplies.

The remainder of the shopping had taken around ten minutes. Along with the food and dagger, Zuko had bought first aid supplies and blankets. The winter months were long and it would only get colder before it grew warmer.

It was recent that Zuko was somewhat glad of his uncle's little shopping sprees. His uncle knew how to shop for the right price and get the most for the value of money.

I'll thank him later. . . perhaps in a few years.

-----

"Katara doesn't seem like herself, do you think?" Aang asked while he and Sokka gathered wood for the night's fire.

"She lost her memories to that jerk Zuko, how do you think she would react?" The young warrior was still irritated at having to spend the night outside when there was a nice warm bed just calling for him only a short walking distance away.

"I don't know. It just seems different to me." Gathering enough branches and twigs, the two headed back to camp.

"Whatever, Aang. I just know not to push too far when she's in one of her moods."

"Maybe there's something I can do to help. . ."

"Just leave her alone for now." Camp came into sight when Sokka saw the white fur of the flying bison.

"I know! I'll teach her to Waterbend again!"

-----

Sokka had cooked dinner yet again. It seemed that when Katara lost her memories, she lost her ability to cook as well. One evening, she had become so irritated with the two boys that she burnt the food by letting the fire grow to an overwhelming size.

Tonight, with the fruits and bread that she had bought at the market, they were having fish. Of course, Aang had refused to eat the fish, but there had been more than enough fruit to go around with leftovers.

On one side of camp, Momo was sneaking bites from Sokka's plate whenever Aang would drop a twig down the back of his shirt. When Sokka noticed what had really been going on, he moved to the other side of Appa. Aang could not hold his laughter in any longer. Along with the high squeaks of Momo, they laughed while they ate.

Zuko looked annoyed. They were acting like fools! How could they have avoided the Fire Nation for so long? They were a bunch of clowns! Most of them. . .

He thought of whose body he now lived in. He had never seen the girl act anything but serious. Of course, every time he had seen her, she was fighting for her life and the safety of her fool of a brother and the Avatar.

The girl, Katara, he thought. Her name was Katara. He should have known it, considering it was now his name. . . but that was something he did not wish to think about.

Katara was a worthy opponent. Zuko could say the same for the Avatar, but the child was hardly ever serious about anything. This was perhaps what made the former prince furious the most. A child could defeat him with hardly any effort at all, it seemed.

No, the Waterbender would be someone who he could face and fight honorably. He could feel as on equal grounds. She was skillful. . . but she was nothing more than a water peasant. She would always remain as such. He would still refuse to lose to her because of that reason.

Without saying a word, Zuko stood and walked into the forest away from the campsite. Clearing his mind would be easier without the antics of those two idiots around.

-----

Katara was right where he thought she would be. The rivers always seemed to draw her to them. Even the loss of memories did not affect her sense of comfort.

Aang had hoped for her to be a little more cheerful after eating, but with her abrupt departure it was highly unlikely. There must have been so many things on her mind for her to just leave without even a word.

Aang thought of the situation once more before approaching her. It was just like meeting a stranger; like he had never known her before. The only thing that was different from this moment and from when he had really first met her, was the air about her. Back then, she had been concerned for him. Now, she seemed as if to want nothing to do with either him or her own brother. It was as if she did not want to remember.

Remember what? Aang thought watching her. What was so bad that she would push even her friends away?

"What is it, Avatar?" There was a deep coldness in the voice that came from Katara; it caused Aang to step back for a second. She did not even turn to face him.

"You know you can call me Aang." There was a bit of hope in his voice of her remembering anything from their past friendship.

"Why would I want to do that?" The same cold voice spoke out.

"Because. . . we're friends."

"Sorry, I just don't 'remember' it." Katara finally turned to face him. Her eyes were hard and unwilling to let any light show.

"Maybe. . . " Aang began to remember some of the things that Katara had told him when they first met; when he had discovered the fate of the Airbenders. "Maybe. . . it's not that you can't or don't, it's that you won't. There's something in your past that you want to leave alone."

"What would you know of my past?" The Waterbender all but shouted this reply.

-----

Zuko stood up. He had been thinking of past events, but there was absolutely no reason to speak his troubles to his enemy, his way of returning home. He would not weaken to become the friend of a child and a low-class warrior.

He could afford no more thoughts of any form of weakness. They were what had led to his loss of honor those two--almost three--years ago. He would not let it happen again.

"I know what happened to you mother. What you told me about her when we first met." Aang looked sad. But this was lost on Zuko as he forgot who he was.

"How could you-!" He stopped himself short. He reminded himself that it was Katara not himself that the Avatar was speaking to. "Never mind."

He was curious now, though. What had happened to the girl's mother? Why was he even bothered with wanting to know?

-----

"I know what'll make you feel better!" Aang became anxious at the thought. "Waterbending used to always calm you down. Maybe you want to remember how again?"

Without much of a reply other than a quick glance, Aang took it as a signal to begin. He brought up the water in a small ball forming his fingers firmly but still able to change to any direction he willed the water to flow. His wrists were relaxed, able to move to his will at any split second. Water was just an extension of the body, just as any other element of any other bender.

"Push and pull." Aang recited the same words that Katara had used when she had been teaching him the basics of Waterbending. "You just have to get the movement in your wrists. That's the hard part. . ."

Katara was not even watching. Aang released the water from his grasp. He did not know why it hurt like it did. All the Avatar knew was that the girl before him was not the same person as before. Was not a person more innocent without the memories from the past to hold them down? Then why was she so different from that?

"Are you finished?" The Waterbender looked out over the running water. "Good. Now why don't you go play with your little pets?"

Aang remained at his place by the river as he sadly watched Katara stand and walk further into the darkening forest. ". . . maybe. . . Sokka was right. . ."

-----

Because. . . we're friends.

"Friends, right." Zuko had not had 'friends' since he had been a child. The closest thing he had to any real companionship were his uncle and the small crew of his ship. They had remained by his side though his endless search for the Avatar. Now that he thought on it, Zuko was amazed they had. It was one thing for the crew to follow under orders of his exile from the throne, but now he was branded a traitor. He and his uncle Iroh had acted against the Fire Nation directly and assisted in the escape of the Avatar. . . Aang; or, that is how every person loyal to Fire Lord Ozai viewed it.

In fact, that is exactly what happened, however . . . Aang's escape had not mattered at the time. There were more things at stake than winning the war or regaining lost honor.

"Push. . . and pull. . ." There had not been anything else to keep him occupied, so why not make use of the body he was in? Zuko found that it might have been useful to learn another way of defense if his knife were to ever fail him. But it'll take more than a simple interest for me to get the Ava- agh! . . . Aang to help.

"I must be going soft." Zuko did not understand anything that was going on. During his life at sea with a handful of men and his uncle, there had been no need for such thoughts or actions. The continuous search for the Avatar had been well worth the exceeded effort. Now that Zuko had the opportunity--and there were many--he simply did not see the reason to do so anymore.

What he felt toward the child was a sort of growing--never would the words come to mind together again--companionship; friendship. No matter how he pushed the Airbender or the water tribe boy away, they seemed to return with that much more effort.

They truly believed it was all for the girl Katara.

If only they knew. Zuko smirked to himself and continued with the movements he had seen the girl accomplish during their many encounters. The flicking of the wrist. . . it was a different style from Firebending. There was still some difficulty, but like all bending arts, one just needs to imagine the element as an extension of one's self; water more than most, perhaps even fire.

Water was cool, calming, and could heal; while fire was destructive, powerful, and generally not put together with many of the positive things out there. However, both elements were different from their usefulness in the war. Water could strike up waves large enough to capsize the strongest ship in the Fire Navy; fire could keep warmth and give life to the sick.

Nothing every really was all that it seemed. There was always something else there, hidden beneath the shadows. Another use, another purpose.

-----

"Sokka, take your sister and hide." An older man hurried the children from the small hut and out into the cold morning air.

"But, Dad! I can fight too!" The little boy stood his ground.

"No, you're too young. I need you to look after you sister." The man pushed the two hurriedly toward the outer wall of the village. "Now go! Find the other children. They're your responsibility."

Reluctantly, the two ran for the escape holes scattered throughout the outer wall. There was a safe place not far from the farthest hole. That was the meeting place for the children and others unable to fight.

Firebenders had been seen not an hours journey off the coast. They would soon be upon the small water tribe. The South Pole was finally completely in the war now. There was nothing left but to fight.

"Sokka." A small voice called out when the brother and sister reached the escape hole.

"Not now, Katara. We have to leave." The young Sokka went to gather his sister up and pass her through the wall, but she pulled back. "Katara, we don't have time for this!"

"But what about Mamma?" Little Katara turned to walk back toward her home.

"She'll be fine. Dad's still here, he'll look after her. Now come on!" He grabbed for her again, but she ran off. "Katara! Get back here!"

"I'm gonna find Mamma!" Suddenly, she was pulled to a stop. Sokka had caught up to her. "Let me go! I have to find her!"

"No, we have to leave-"

"I have that bad thing again. . ." She jumped down from his arms. "Remember when Seal was sick? It's like that. We have to find her."

Sokka remembered when Seal had been alive. He had been the best pet they could have ever wanted. One day though, he grew sick. Katara was the first to notice. She said that she had felt something. No one had paid any attention though. . . and Seal had died for it.

"Alright, but as soon as we find her, we're leaving. Dad will kill me if anything happens to either of us." Before another word was said, Katara was running through the streets.

The Firebenders had arrived in the village sooner than anyone had thought. Now, flames were blazing across the sky. The icy walls of the village were melting, allowing more soldiers to make their way in.

"Momma!"

There was a woman fending off three Fire Nation soldiers just around the corner of where Sokka was holding Katara.

"Let me go! She needs help!" The little girl cried as Sokka held on tighter.

"No! You could be killed!" That's when Sokka felt a sharp pain in his arm. He instinctively removed his arm from the cause of the pain. Looking up, he saw his sister running for their mother. "She bit me!"

"Momma!" Katara ran right into the middle of an attack from the Firebender soldiers. For a split second, they faltered in their reign, but immediately fell through with a second attack.

"Katara, get away!" The mother jumped in front of her daughter bringing up a wall of ice before them.

"You shouldn't be here. Where's your brother?" The woman took a stance as the three Firebenders melted through the layer of frozen water. "You must leave, Katara. Find your brother and escape!"

"I'm not leaving without you, Momma . . .!" The little girl hung onto her mother's thick parka. "I can help."

"Katara, move!" The child was pushed to the ground roughly as an enormous blaze of fire flew over her. As she landed on the snow covered ground, she could hear the most horrible sound she had ever heard.

It was her mother's scream of agony.

Hours later, the Fire Nation was driven from the village with the help of a scouting party sent to observe the movement of other Fire Navy fleets. Hours later, a little girl was found trying desperately to wake her mother up.

"Momma, please! Wake up. . . I'm sorry I didn't listen!" She cried shaking her mother's body as Sokka tried to pull her away while hiding his own tears. She ignored him completely. "I promise I'll be good. . . please, wake up. . ."

"Katara . . . she can't. . ."

-----

Zuko sprung up from his spot close to the fire. Breathing heavily, he looked around him. Everything was covered in frost. As were his two companions who were looking at him with concern.

Concern for Katara.

Then he felt something strange. Reaching up to his cheek, he felt a slight dampness. That's when he realized it; he was crying. For what reason he did not know and could not understand. He had not cried in years. . . many years. The dream meant nothing to him. . . did it? Then why did he feel this way?

A/N: That made me sad. . .okay, my wonderful readers. How about letting me know what you thought about the chapter? Bad, good, it just needs to stop? Feedback is good even if the feedback itself isn't. Anyway, since it's now almost 12:30 in the morning, I guess I'd better get some sleep. I have my last final and I have to get up in a few hours to study some more. I hope to see you all in the next chapter, good night!