CHAPTER SEVEN

Prince Zuko is Reborn

Aang and his friends had a difficult time adjusting to Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh being in their

group. None of them found it easy to believe that Zuko did not have some plan in the works to

capture Aang. Sokka voiced his concerns the loudest and the most often. Despite the air being

thick with animosity and forced politeness Iroh was just as amiable as ever. Zuko however

remained silent most of the time and said nothing to anyone unless he was directly spoken too.

Zuko found that being around Kattara was intoxicating and could not help but think about her.

Aang and Kattara were the two people in the group who were the least leery of Zuko and Iroh.

Even though Aang was constantly being hunted by Zuko they had helped each other on numerous

occasions. Zuko had once rescued Aang from the clutches of Admiral Zhao and Aang had

returned the favor twice. Aang found out that Zuko was the infamous Blue Spirit when Zuko had

been knocked unconscious and Aang removed the mask. Even though Aang could have left Zuko

behind he rescued him anyway. The second time Aang rescued Zuko was during a blizzard when

the Northern Water Tribe was under Siege by Admiral Zhao.

As for Kattara she knew that each time they had dueled each other that he had held back and not

unleashed his full power as a Fire Bender. Kattara could tell that Zuko carried a lot of pain and felt

pity towards him. Zuko did not want anyone's pity or charity all he wanted was to reclaim his

honor; but he knew he was never going to get that. Zuko felt as if his love for Kattara was slowly

squeezing the life out of him, but he was afraid to reveal his feelings towards her. Zuko felt

ashamed, he had never been afraid of anything in his life except the time when he was forced to

duel his own father.

Later that even after dinner and when everyone was getting ready for bed, Kattara noticed that

Zuko was walking away into some nearby bushes. She knew that he wanted to be left alone but

she couldn't resist seeing what he was doing. Kattara found Zuko silently brooding on the ground.

Zuko did not even have to turn around to know that she was behind him. "What are you doing

here?" he asked her quietly. Kattara didn't really know so she told him the truth. "What do you

mean you don't know?" He asked her becoming a little annoyed. " I just wanted to know why you

stopped chasing us and have now joined us?" "Chasing after the Avatar was a waste of my time"

Zuko said bitterly. "Do you remember when your uncle was injured and I offered to help and you

got mad at us and made us leave?" Kattara suddenly asked. "What does that have to do with

anything?" Zuko asked becoming more annoyed. "Well I was just wondering if you didn't want

any help then, why do you want help now?" In response to this question Zuko glared at Kattara

but didn't say anything. Kattara just looked back at Zuko with her big beautiful eyes which were

finally beginning to disarm Zuko though he was doing everything he could to resist and ignore her.

After a while Zuko had finally let down his guard and was beginning to feel at peace. He was

beginning to trust Kattara, which was unusual because Zuko didn't trust anybody with the

exception of his uncle. Life had never been good to Zuko because every time he had formed

attachments to people they had always let him down. It wasn't long before Zuko and Kattara

were talking about themselves and their families. Zuko secretly wished that he had a family like

Kattara's. Zuko's parents with the exception of his mother had always favored his sister over him.

When Zuko told Kattara the story of how he had received his scar she felt so much pity for him

that she almost began to cry. Kattara then told Zuko that she had healing powers and that if he had

let her help his uncle when he was wounded Iroh would have healed better and faster. Zuko had

to admit that Uncle Iroh still complained about this old wound bothering him even though the injury

was old by now and it had healed. Kattara suddenly stuck her hand in some crystal clear water

and when she pulled it out, the water was pulsating around her hand like it was alive. She reached

out to touch Zuko's face, but he recoiled. "What are you doing?" he asked. "All your life you have

only seen and felt the destructive power of fire. But you have never experienced the healing and

soothing effects of water. She attempted to touch his face again and he grabbed her hand. "If you

think you can heal me your mistaken this is an old wound and it will never go away." "Trust me"

was her reply. The third time Zuko let go of his reservations and let Kattara do what she was

going to do. The effects of this were as startling to her as they were to Zuko himself. At first Zuko

noticed that the water cooled his skin but moments later he felt his scar on his face melt back into

his complexion. When it was all done. Zuko sat still for a few moments so shocked that he was

momentarily speechless. After a few moments which seemed like an eternity Zuko slowly lifted his

hands to face and caressed his skin. He then ran to a nearby pond to look at his new reflection.

When Zuko finally saw himself he fell to his knees and let out a sound that was a combination

between a laugh and a cry. Kattara walked up behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders.

Zuko became silent at once and was still for another moment before he stood up surprisingly fast.

Kattara and Zuko stared at one another for another moment before both of their faces collided

into a passionate kiss. The rest of the group who had long since fallen asleep had been startled

awake by Zuko's scream they ran out of their tents to see Kattara and Zuko so tangled in each

others arms it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. Sokka and Hakoda broke

the shocked silence by exclaiming in unison "What are you doing to my daughter?" and "What are

you doing to my sister?" They were stunned back into silence when they saw Zuko's new face.

Zuko's face instead of being cold and hard had new life in it, his eyes were bright and you could

see laughter in them. Zuko had never been this happy, he would remember this as the day his life

had truly begun.