If the mood of this switches part way through the story, it's probably because I don't plan to write all of this in one sitting. This MUST be a long chapter! I shall force myself to make it one! The sooner i get through it, the sooner i can kill off Zhao! AND somebody else! OOOOOH! I don't know if ne body is interested, but I can try this. How about, the first person to guess who dies, besides Zhao and Ozai, will get... something, but i not sure wat quite yet... Oh, yeah, and I skipped the rest of their honeymoon. Srry, but I didn't FEEL like writing it... had to move on. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the perfect example of how I have the attention span of a squirrel!

And on another note: From the first chapter, I said that Katara had been allowed to heal Zuko's scar... well, forget about that one. I changed my mind. I don't know how it was healed, but Katara didn't do it. She's going to find out about it in this chapter, though. Oh, and suddenly Trinity is back! I know I kind of abandoned the thought of her after the first chapter, but she's back! I talk too much. And this chapter goes really fast. Because I'm impatient.

Kianna watched as Katara scanned the ocean for any sight of land; specifically the Fire Nation's capital's harbor. The mage laughed and walked over to her sister in law, shaking her head playfully. "Yes, Katara, it's comming. The dreaded capital." Kianna joked, nudging Katara gently. The younger girl laughed at her own foolishness, looking away from the horizon.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be disrespectful..." She murmured, hoping Kianna hadn't taken offence from her dread of the approaching shoreline.

"Heh, no worries. You're not being any more disrespectful than I always am to this place and the people who run it. I hate my father, and with a burning passion, too. This war... I hate it so much... and him for continuing it. I wish we didn't have to come here, personally. I don't want Zuko near that bastard,... but... it must be done. I just hope the Lord Of The Idiots knows that I won't let my baby brother get hurt. Not ever, ever again." Kianna seemed distant as she gazed across the sparkling ocean.

"What do you mean by... again?" Katara looked at her sister in law, puzzled.

Kianna sighed and closed her eyes, leaning into the wind. She truly looked beautiful, with the sun's golden light shimmering in her chestnut brown hair, the wind making it dance behind her. "Never, ever again..." She whispered quietly, shaking her head. "Do you know why Zuko had that scar? Why he wanted so badly to capture the Avatar... why he was living on a ship? It's not that he wanted to be out here. No, Zuko wanted to be at home. But... sometimes, things happen. Sometimes, people make mistakes that can cost them something they couldn't imagine being without. For Zuko, it was his home... his honor...

"It was when he was fourteen. I wasn't there... I was out leading a group of freedom fighters, now known as the Phoenix Gang.

Zuko was attending a battle meeting... basically a place where the top leaders of the war gathered and, under my father's supervision, discussed war strategies. Zuko disaggreed with one of them, and spoke out against it... well... maybe it would be better if you saw... saw for yourself."

Kianna opened her eyes and turned to Katara, placing a hand on her forehead. A sudden flash of white errupted before Katara's eyes and she closed them, feeling her body fall and spin. Finally, she felt her feet hit solid ground, and she opened her eyes only to find herself in the Fire Nation palace, watching Zuko enter the meeting.

Katara watched with concern as Zuko spoke out against the General, yet mentally agreed with what he said. Suddenly the scene shifted, and Zuko was standing on a stage, turning... facing his opponent.

Horror raced through Katara's body, and hot streams of tears flowed down her cheeks as she saw Zuko on his knees... crying... begging for forgiveness. The girl cried out at the same time he did, watching and screaming as the blast of fire hit Zuko square in the face. Everything around her went dark... she heard voices...

"Shhhh... calm down, Zuko... Shhh... it's okay, the healer is here... calm down..." She heard the voice and reconized it as Iroh's... she also figured out that the uncontrollable, pained sobs that she heard were comming from the fourteen year old Zuko...

She winced when she heard him cry out when the aloe was applied to the still burning wound, making it sting even more.

End Katara's BackFlash Movie

Katara blinked when she was once again at Kianna's side, standing at the bow of the ship, the Fire Nation capital very close now. Tears were still running from her eyes, and Kianna looked at her with a gentle expression.

"Imagine how I felt when I heard about this... that I had left, but I could've been there... I could've stopped it..." Katara wiped her eyes, nodding. Kianna felt a lot of guilt, and was prepared to defend Zuko with her life. Katara understood that as much as someone could be expected to.

With a wave of her hand, Kianna brought the tears from Katara's eyes, making the girl look as if she hadn't been crying. Just in time, too, as Zuko walked out onto the ship, wrapping his arms around Katara's waist and kissing her neck lovingly.

"You look beautiful..." He whispered in her ear, adoring Katara's black and sapphire gown. Katara smiled and turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back.

"Thank you... and you look pretty good yourself, Zuko..." Katara nuzzled against his chest, sighing. At least he was here now... safe, and hers.

Katara felt as if she were walking in a grave yard. What would be considered normal, and even expected, noises from a major harbor were not heard at this port. Katara gulped and tightened her grip on Zuko's arm, gazing among the crowded town warily. Everybody was dressed in red and black, and everybody looked, for the most part, orderly and... blank. It was as if they were the living dead.

Zuko sensed Katara's uneasiness and kissed the top of her head gently, wanting to calm her. He himself had never liked how cold this town had always seemed. Even every one of the children were behaved; none were playing, only following their parents and not saying a word. One child, about three years old at the most, The abnormalty of that was enough to make Katara wonder if all of these people were zombies.

Kianna shook her head and quickened her pace, not wanting to stick around too long. This place always sent shivers racing up and down her spine, and she could only imagine how awful it was for Katara.

"Let's hurry up. The palace is still a good way's off and if we stick around too long we'll get caught by the venders and be late." Kianna knew that her statement wasn't entirely accurate, and she also knew that Zuko would probably catch it. But it didn't matter. Even being in the palace was better than watching their people go on with their lives just for the purpose of living; showing no emotions and only doing what they had to do to survive. It was scary.

"Are you feeling alright?" Zuko asked, worried, when Katara seemed to sway a bit. She nodded and forced a small smile, trying to get the sense of dizziness out of her head. "Okay, well... if you're not feeling well, just let me know, okay?" Katara nodded again, resting her head on Zuko's shoulder and closing her eyes.

After almost two hours, the party arrived at the palace. Katara didn't bother look around; she was afraid of the effect it might have on her. Instead she just kept looking ahead, her stride matching surprisingly easily with her husband's.

The second the three walked in the door, a group of maids and servants rushed up to help them with their shoes and belongings. Zuko rolled his eyes, annoyed. They were perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, afterall. Katara tried to keep her balance, then noticed Trinity walk in along with Bella, Kianna's servant. Katara blinked, surprised to see the two. Why were they there, again?

The girls simply walked to their mistresses and followed them through the rooms, not saying a word. Almost like the children from the town. Katara was a bit unnerved by Trinity's sudden ability to bite her tongue and act properly. Trinity could never keep her thoughts to herself, let alone stay quiet.

The group entered the throne room, Katara simply following Zuko, not letting go of his arm. She wasn't going to let go of him at all in this palace, not on her life, not in a million, billion-

Zuko was called over to his father. Katara had to let go. She let her arms drop from his and she quickly went to Kianna's side, feeling slightly alone without him.

Zuko bowed down respectfully to his father, down on one knee and keeping his gaze on the floor. Katara didn't like seeing Zuko like that. Seeing him bow down to anyone made her feel strange. Everything in this nation made her feel strange... it was all so different.

Kianna touched Katara's hand gently and Katara looked up, seeing Kianna smile at her reassuringly. Katara smiled back a little, looking forward once again and taking a deep breath to steady herself. Everything would be okay. Then she heard HIS voice.

"Well, Zuko, welcome home." Katara shivered at the voice. It was deep, gravelly... hollow. She hated it.

"It is good to be home, father." Kianna nodded slightly, approving of Zuko's calm and unpertubed tone.

"I trust that you had a pleasant journey?" Kianna was disgusted. Her father acted as if he'd never banished and scared Zuko. As if what he'd done was perfectly normal and easily forgiven. Like he'd done nothing horrible. And Zuko was forced to accept it.

"Yes."

"And what of your new wife? Are you going to introduce me to my new daughter in law?"

Oh great. Katara felt her stomach rattle against her ribcage. The devil reincarnate wanted to meet her. Wonderful. And the way he said it... there was a sort of dark amusement in his voice. Kianna had noticed it as well. Their father was going to toy with the Water Princess. Wasn't this just the perfect way to start the prince and princess' lives together.

Zuko paused, but looked over in Katara's direction, standing up and holding out a hand. As in, he wanted her to come to him. Katara stared at the hand for a moment, gulped, then walked over to him, careful to maintain a cool composure.

Zuko wrapped an arm around her shoulder and faced his father once again, relief flooding his senses when Katara bowed to the Fire Lord, not saying a word. She was being careful. Good.

And of course, The Lord Of The Jerks was going to ruin it.

"So... how many grandchildren are you planning on presenting me with?" The question was aimed at Katara, and clearly, too. Zuko couldn't step in. Katara had to answer the embarrassing question on her own. Geez, nice way to start a conversation. Katara mentally grumbled, her hate for the Fire Lord jumping up five increments. If that was even possible.

"I'm not sure, sir." Well, at least she was being polite.

"Come now, you must have some idea!" His voice was fakingly arcane, and Katara could sense it, even in his "hearty" chuckle.

"Well... two, perhaps? We have yet to speak on the subject." Katara refused to let up. She wasn't going to be toyed with.

"Well, you need to start thinking on it! Carrying children is your most important job as Princess right now, to both our nation and your own." Katara nodded, still not looking at the person speaking to her.

"Zuko, I have heard that you do not plan on living in the palace. Is this correct?"

"Yes, that is correct." Zuko confirmed, relieved at the change of subject.

"And why is this? Does your home not suit you?" The Fire Lord didn't sound angry, but everybody knew that Zuko had been dropped onto dangerous grounds.

"It is not that at all, father. I simply believe that it would be best for Katara and I in a place that is similar to what we are both used to. The climate here is, after all, very new to her, and that could be a danger to any children Katara may carry in the future."

Kianna grinned triumphantly, proud of how swiftly and carefully her brother had handled the question. The Fire Lord was quiet for awhile, pondering Zuko's response. In reality, he was looking for a way to get angry with Zuko. But he didn't find one. So he decided to try and test the former peasant. And to see how far he could push his testy son.

"So, your name is Katara. Who on earth thought of a name like that?"

"..." Katara chose not to answer that question, but she was unsure if not responding at all would end worse.

Zuko gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze, trying to support her in any way possible.

"Katara means Starry Waters in Taelek. Odette informs me that the name was given to her as a gift from the spirits." Kianna stepped in, protecting Katara.

"Ahh, Kianna. So you are here. Most of us had believed you to be dead long ago, only to find out about a year ago that you survived. So, you tell me that you have contact with the spirits? Do you think you are somehow better than us, so that it is possible for you to speak with the spirits?"

"I speak with the spirits because I have their blood." Kianna countered bravely, actually glaring at her father. Zuko was stunned. Kianna had given off her secret! She could be executed!

"Is that so!" Ozai was on his feet, the fire that had been burning in front of him increasing in size and flickering across the metal ceiling.

"Yes, it is." Her voice was calm, collected. If this man thought that he could play with the world as if they were pieces in a game, she was about to prove him wrong.

"You dare look at me without my permission!"

"You dare speak to a goddess with such disrespect?" Kianna replied, faking an angelic smile.

"YOU INSOLENT LITTLE WHELP!" Ozai roared and shot a massive fire blast at Kianna. Zuko, acting merely on instinct, pulled Katara down to the ground and lie over her to protect her, leaving the path to Kianna wide open.

The fire lit the entire room, heat causing some of the tapestries to smoke. Kianna didn't flinch. A look of boredom and uninterest fell across her face, and she lazily raised a hand. The fire stopped.

Ozai watched in horror and disbelief as Kianna stood there, raising an eyebrow at him. She clasped her hand shut and pulled it back. The fire dissappeared. Zuko helped Katara up, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head, as the girl was shaking violently.

A shimmer of golden light suddenly appeared next to the mage, and Odette came into view. Everyone in the room except Kianna, Bella, Katara, and Zuko gasped. The air goddess was here. And she WAS NOT happy.

Taelek is the language of the gods. Well, at least, it is in my ficcy and every other story that I write. Kianna knows it and teaches it to the members of the Phoenix Army. They don't know ALL of it, except for important and basic words so they can speak privately to each other with lots of people around. Okay, that must be a very confusing explanation, but, whatever.

In some myths, the gods like to give gifts to mortals that they know will grow to be strong and a reason to be proud of. Katara was blessed with beauty from La, who had been the moon spirit at the time(even though La means push and Yue means moon, which one of my reviewers corrected me on) song from Odette, power from Tearsin (star goddess) and her name was from Odette and Tearsin both. Why they blessed her, I still have to come up with.

Well, that wraps it up for this chapter! Sorry for how long it took to update, and another sorry to everybody who was looking forward to seeing the rest of the honeymoon. Like I said, attention span of a squirrel.

Zuko: Who else is gonna die! Ur planning evil things!

BF: YUP!

Zuko: I WANNA HELP!

BF: lol okay... u can help...

Zuko: Yay! (scary!)

BF: Okay, now... step into this chapter...

Zuko: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH UNCLE! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SOMEBODY, HELP ME!

BF: rofl

Katara: laughs well, these are promises of what's to come, so stay tuned!

BF: (away from Katara and Zuko) I don't think they want to know what evil things I have in store. Nobody is safe knowing! Muhahahahahahaha. Yes, I know I'm pathetic... WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Pudding.