I hope you guys had a great Christmas! Sorry for the late post. Here's the new chapter, enjoy!

Many thanks to PurseMonger for her awesome help!

Oh, and I took some liberties with AtLA canon for plot purposes. I hope you guys don't mind!

*Revised on 07/28/2020*

AtLA is not mine.

Chapter Five

In Which the Dragon Reveals His Secret

A pleased sigh escaped the waterbender as she relaxed in the soothing hot water. She was once again bathing in the small pool and was extremely grateful for the bar of soap. A smile curled her lips and she suppressed a giggle at the memory of Zuko, in his large draconic body, practically running away when he finished warming up the water for her bath. She appreciated his respect for her privacy, though, especially when she had still believed he was just a dragon. She was sure if he had been another man, he would have taken advantage of her ignorance and remained to watch her undress. She shuddered in disgust before she frowned as the memory of a young man with an arrogant smirk and barely hidden lust in his eyes flashed in her mind. She growled under her breath before she quickly shook her head to dispel the memories and instead decided to focus on other things.

Three weeks had passed since Zuko rescued her from the snowstorm and brought her to his cave. Her appreciation for him grew at his care for her simple needs such as food, water, and warmth. The more time she spent with him, the more she found she liked being in his company, even if he did not talk that much. She had come to realize he was a reserved individual and his taciturn personality only intrigued her instead of put her off. It made him seem more mysterious and complex. She mused it was probably because she was used to men who were loud, brash, and always boasting of their greatness and how lucky she would be to have one of them as her husband. She rolled her eyes.

She and Zuko had come to realize that they only heard each other's thoughts when they were trying to communicate with one another. Which was great because it would be horrible to have someone know all your thoughts and to have no privacy. And some thoughts would just be too embarrassing to share.

As she washed her long hair, her thoughts shifted to her brother and friends' whereabouts as it tended to do ever since they became separated. She frowned, wondering once again if they were all right. Where could they be? Were they concerned about her safety? She was sure her brother was going crazy with worry. Had they found shelter when the storm hit? Her eyes widened in alarm. What if they were in trouble or hurt, and she wasn't there to help? She would never forgive herself if something were to happen to them since it was because of her that they had left the comfort of the Southern Water Tribe. While they were out there in the cold, she was here, enjoying a warm bath. She clenched her teeth. She needed to find them!

Anxious and worried, the young woman quickly rose from the water and stepped out. Using her waterbending to extract the moisture from her hair and skin, and ignoring the cold of the cavern, she swiftly put on her clothes and boots before rushing toward the main cave.

Resting on his grassy bedding as he waited for Katara to finish her bath, Zuko snapped his head up in alarm. He could smell her anxiety before he saw her dash from the pool chamber and to her pack.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly as he watched her begin to stuff her brush and other things into the large bag.

"I have to leave," she responded absentmindedly as she moved to roll up her bedroll.

"Leave?" the dragon asked as he quickly rose to his feet in unease. Why? What was going on? Why did she suddenly want to leave in such a panicked state?

"I need to find my friends!" Katara added as she quickly attached her bedroll to the pack before she gritted out, "They could be hurt somewhere out there in the cold while I'm just sitting here all warm and cozy."

At her words, Zuko felt his heart pound in sudden panic. No, no she couldn't leave! Not now, when he was finally able to communicate with someone and was no longer alone. Just when he was beginning to get to know her. Plus it was dangerous with the snowstorm still raging outside. She would not survive out there with no supplies to help her weather the winter season. She could get lost, hurt, or worse. He needed to convince her to stay.

"You can't leave," he told her firmly as he moved swiftly to block her path to the tunnel, spreading his wings slightly to his sides as if to prevent any escape.

When she looked up to frown at him, he tried to soften his words, not wanting to make her believe he was trying to keep her prisoner.

"It's dark outside now. The snowstorm has not abated and will probably continue for a long while," he stated before he added in a more cajoling tone, "Wait until the worse of the blizzard season passes before you head out."

Katara shifted unsurely on her feet and bit her lip as she debated his words. She knew it would be foolish of her to set out in that storm, but she could not stop wondering and worrying about Sokka, Aang, and Toph. But how would she find them? She did not know the area nor did she have a clue on how to track them down.

"I…" she began before she faltered, not knowing what to do as her logic warred with her wish to help her friends.

Sensing her unrest, Zuko's eyes softened a little.

"You won't be much help if something were to happen to you," he added truthfully, but in a soft tone. When she frowned, he asked, "Are your friends capable of fending for themselves for a while longer?"

At his words, Katara relaxed a little. Sokka, Aang, and Toph were not helpless. Aang could use his airbending to shield them from the wind and Toph could erect a stone dome to keep them safe from the cold snow. And her brother, although not a bender, was a skilled warrior, hunter, and a resourceful person. Little by little, her anxiety lessened and her pounding heart slowed as hope grew in her chest. She had to believe that they were fine and that they would see each other soon.

"You're right," she reluctantly admitted as she returned to the fire and placed her pack down beside it. Without another word, she unfurled her bedroll and sat down on it with a sigh.

Zuko allowed his body to relax and he tucked his wings back to his sides as he stared silently at the quiet woman. He understood her concerns, but he was pleased that she had agreed with him and did not rush out in search of her companions with the snowstorm raging outside. It worried him that something could happen to her out there.

"It's just that I'm worried for them," he heard her mumble.

"I understand," he responded, "But I am sure they are fine and you will see them again."

"I hope so," she replied with another small sigh as she brought her knees to her chest and hugged her legs as she stared into the hypnotizing fire.

Zuko hesitated and shifted uncertainly. He knew it was perfectly logical that he should have convinced her to stay so she would not become lost in the snowstorm, but he knew there had been an ulterior motive. He had not wanted her to leave…him. It was selfish, he knew, but he could not help it. There was a part of him that had seemed to rage at the thought of her leaving his side. He shook his head. She could not be with her friends at the moment, but he would try to at least make her stay as nice as possible.

He wanted to enjoy her company as long as possible.

The dragon stared at the brunette woman for a moment before he decided to move closer to her and the fire instead of returning to his grassy bedding. Carefully, he arranged his large, serpentine body so that he curled almost at her back, not quite close enough to touch, but close enough so that she could feel his presence and heat. He looked down at her from her right side and he was pleased when she did not seem bothered by his closeness as she craned her neck up so she could see him.

"So what are your friends like?" he asked, not because he really cared, but because he wanted to cheer her up.

He inwardly smiled when she immediately perked up at his question and a large smile appeared on her face. He listened amusedly as she enthusiastically began to describe her companions. She started by describing her earthbending friend, Toph, who was born blind, but did not let that impede her dreams of becoming a master earthbender. Toph was a brash, dryly sarcastic young woman who loved a good spar and was painfully blunt, but was fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. Katara then described Aang, an Air Nomad, who was friends with a flying sky-bison and a flying lemur. The airbender was cheerful and kind, and had a love and respect for all living creatures. She had known Aang since they were preteens and Aang had developed a crush on her before she kindly turned him down. Despite that, it did not ruin their friendship. Plus, she suspected that Aang might have feelings for Toph now and that the earthbender might return his feelings, even if she acted otherwise.

It was the last person, however, that made Zuko inwardly frown and narrow his eyes. Katara elaborated more on this Sokka she had mentioned before and by the stories she recounted it seemed as if they knew each other since childhood and were really close. He felt an irritation form in his chest when he could detect the fondness despite the annoyance in her tone when she described the foolish antics this Sokka seemed to love. When she paused, Zuko could not help interject.

"This Sokka seems too full of himself," he bit out and his nostrils flared, sending twin plumes of smoke into the air. Then in a strained tone, he added, "How can you like a guy like that? You deserve better."

At the dragon's words and strange tone, Katara frowned up at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your…boyfriend," he almost growled out the word, barely stopping himself from spitting fire form his mouth only because the bizarre urge was confusing him.

"Boyfriend?"

Katara's eyes widened and her mouth gaped open as she stared incredulously at him for a moment. Then she threw her head back and laughed loudly, going so far as to clutch her stomach in her amusement.

The red-scaled dragon stared at her in confusion before he let out a little growl as he watched her continuing to laugh.

"What is so amusing?" he asked in irritation. He ignored the way his chest tightened at the sound of her laughter and how her azure eyes brightened.

"Sokka is my older brother," she finally managed to explain after she regained her breath and wiped at her eyes with a few more chuckles. She shuddered. "Ew, gross."

Zuko's golden eyes widened at his misunderstanding before he frowned at himself for his reaction. He was too embarrassed at the thought that he could be jealous that he did not reply to her words. He watched as the waterbender let out a few more amused giggles before she grinned at him.

"Why, were you jealous?" she teased, not at all believing he was, but wanting to tease him all the same.

Zuko felt himself becoming uncomfortable at her words since they hit too close to home, which only irritated him. He, Zuko, did not get jealous.

"I am not jealous," he grumbled for good measure.

"Whatever you say," Katara teased with another low chuckle, which increased when he sniffed.

Katara was still amused at Zuko's assumption as she began to fix her bedroll to settle in for the night. She was grateful that Zuko had succeeded in dispelling her dark mood from before, even if it was unintentional. As she fished out her comb from the pack and sat back on her sleeping bag, she finally realized that Zuko had not moved away from her. Gathering her hair over her shoulder to begin brushing the long locks, the waterbender lifted her head to look at him to see that he was staring at her again. Before she could ask him why he kept doing that, she felt her necklace suddenly loosen around her throat and slip. With a small gasp, she tried to catch it, but she wasn't quick enough and instead ended up accidentally hitting it away with her flailing arm. She watched as the pendant sailed in the air before it landed safely on the dragon's large, outstretched talon. Katara let out a relieved breath and smiled gratefully at Zuko when he lifted his claw toward her.

"Thanks," she said as she reached forward and grabbed her necklace from within his palm.

She could not help staring at the dark, sharp claws and comparing her small hand with his huge talon. He could easily rip her to shreds, but all she could remember was the gentle manner in which he had carried her to the cave. She returned her attention to her necklace and let out a relieved breath to see it wasn't damaged.

Zuko watched as Katara lovingly caress the blue pendant with her thumb as she stared down at the necklace and he wondered at the soft yet sad smile on her face. He frowned as he recalled something about Water Tribe necklaces. Didn't tribesmen give the women they wish to marry a betrothal necklace? Why did Katara have one? He felt his chest tighten as another question appeared in his head. Did that mean that Katara was engaged? His lips curled a little and his nostrils flared at the thought before he forced himself to calm down as he once again told himself he should not care.

"Is that a…betrothal necklace?" he asked slowly, not sure if he really wanted to hear her answer.

Oblivious to the thoughts running through the dragon's head, Katara continued to caress the smooth, blue stone as she nodded. She missed the way his fangs clenched at her nod.

"So…you are engaged?" he forced himself to ask.

"Hm? What?" Katara finally focused on his words as she looked up at the dragon before she smiled and shook her head. "Oh, no, I'm not engaged. I mean, it is a betrothal necklace, but it's not mine."

Zuko tried to ignore the way his heart seemed to ease and his stiff body relaxed at her words.

"This actually used to be my grandmother's," he heard Katara say and he watched her once again looking down at the necklace, "It was given to her by my grandfather when he asked her for her hand in marriage when they were young. Though, Gran-Gran told me she didn't make it easy on him and he had to ask several times before she agreed to marry him."

She laughed quietly and Zuko mentally smiled as he silently listened to her story.

"They had a daughter, Kya, who years later captured the heart of the Southern Water Tribe Ch—er, tribesman, Hakoda," Katara quickly managed to catch her slip and cleared her throat before she continued, "Before my mother moved to the Southern Water Tribe with her new husband, my grandmother gave my mother her necklace as a keepsake. Then when I was born my mother gave it to me as an heirloom to wear until I got my own."

Silently, the dragon watched as the woman once again caressed the trinket as sadness settled on her lovely features and her tone became quieter. He wondered what it could mean.

"I treasure it because it's the only thing I have left to remember my mother," she finished softly, melancholy and sadness tinting her tone.

"Remember?" Zuko asked as he continued to watch her expression.

Katara blinked at the sound of Zuko's voice in her head. She had almost forgotten he was there as she lost herself in memories. She looked up once again to see that he was staring at her. She bit her lip and her hands clenched around the necklace. She had never talked about her mother with anyone else that wasn't her father or her brother, but here she was recounting her memories with someone she barely knew. Yet, she could not help but feel like she could trust Zuko, somehow knowing he would not judge her.

Watching as she once again focused on the necklace in her hand, Zuko wondered if she was lost in her painful memories as she remained silent. It seemed they had both suffered a lot in their lives. After a long moment of silence with only the sound of the popping firewood, Katara let out a soft sigh.

"When I was eight years old, my mother…died," she rasped before she more bitterly added, "No, she didn't just die, she was killed."

The dragon's golden eyes widened at her words and it felt as if an iron band had tighten around his chest, not only because it saddened him to know she lost her mother in such a way, but because it brought back painful memories for him.

"Mom, Sokka, and I left the safety of the city to visit the penguins that live at the edge of the water," Katara continued, unable to stop herself from pouring everything out as her memories flashed before her eyes, "Mom wanted to wait until Dad came back from hunting with the other warriors, but Sokka and I were impatient and insisted on going penguin sledding. So she took us."

Zuko watched as she took a deep breath and her hands clenched.

"We were having so much fun, everything was perfect, but then a pair of pirates surprised us," she continued and her breathing accelerated as her memories rushed forward. "They wanted to capture Sokka and me to be sold as slaves, but they wanted my mother to sell her off as some rich man's…concubine," she hissed. "Mom told us to run, but we couldn't. We were scared and we didn't want to leave her behind. But then one of the men grabbed us and Mom angrily jumped onto his back, demanding he let us go.

"She began hitting him and he dropped us so he could grab her, but she had already pulled out her dagger and slashed his eye. He got angry and pulled out his sword and then…" she choked and tears trickled down her eyes, "he s-stabbed her in her chest."

Eyes wide, Zuko could only stare at her sadly as she pressed her hands to her eyes as if she could stop the flow of her tears. Gods, she had been so young and she had to witness her mother's murder. It was horrible. He wished he could do something to help her, to erase her pain, but he knew from experience it was impossible, because he could not forget his own.

"There was so much b-blood," she stammered through her tears, "I rushed toward her, wanting to help her with my waterbending, even though I was just learning how to use it, but the other man grabbed me before I could reach her. He had a harder time restraining Sokka since he was bigger, but we were kids and we weren't a match for him.

"They were just dragging us away when Father appeared with the other warriors. They managed to rescue us and kill the pirates," she added as her tone became softer and laced with pain, "But it was too late for my mother, she had lost too much blood. She…died a minute later in my father's arms."

Silence permeated the air at her last sentence as she brought her knees to her chest and buried her face on them, wanting to hide her tears as the memory once again assaulted her. Even after all these years, she could not to forget that horrible day, the way the snow became stained with her mother's blood, the disturbing wet sound that rattled from her throat every time her mother tried to breathe, and finally the way the light fled from her eyes and her breath stopped as her body went limp in her father's arms. She would also never forget the anguished scream that escaped her father's throat as he rocked his wife's dead body in his arms.

After a long moment when it seemed her tears and quiet sobs had subsided, Katara finally lifted her face and wiped at her cheeks. Zuko had not said a word, but his mere presence, the warmth that he exuded, and his silent support seemed to soothe her troubled thoughts.

"My mother's death affected all of us badly, but my father changed greatly in his grief. He blamed himself for his wife's death, for not being there to protect his family," she found herself explaining, "He became extremely overprotective, especially of me." She let out a small sigh as she stared at the blazing fire.

"I understand why he is that way, why he keeps me so heavily guarded, why he thinks it's a good idea that I…" she trailed off and Zuko wondered what she was going to say before she shook her head. "But I couldn't allow him to control my life. I want to live my own life, do things I like, make my own decisions. To grow to my full potential." She paused once again to let out another sigh. "Mom would have understood…I miss her a lot."

She heard the dragon's wings rustle as he shifted, absentmindedly thinking that she was probably making him uncomfortable and he was finally moving away from her. She didn't blame him. She had just poured her sorrows out to him and cried in front of him. She grimaced, embarrassed for her lack of control over her emotions. She blinked when she suddenly felt Zuko use the curve of one of his sharp claws to gently brush a stray tear away. Eyes wide, she looked up at him to see him staring down her, shocked at his gentle comfort. She had honestly not thought of him as someone who would easily offer consolation. She was surprised to see the understanding and the same pain and sadness reflecting in his golden eyes. The sight both comforted and intrigued her.

"I know how you must be feeling," she heard him speak softly in her head and she held her breath as she waited to hear what else he had to say. "I have also lost my mother in such a tragic way."

A soft gasp escaped her at his words. He lost his mother to a murderer as well? And now Zuko was cursed to live as a dragon? How much more had he suffered? They stared at each other for a moment before she glanced away so she could wipe at her wet cheeks with the edge of her sleeve.

"I…I never talk about my mother to other people," she confessed quietly.

Zuko felt pleased that she had done so with him, for it must mean that she was comfortable with him and she trusted him enough to reveal something so personal. He could only assume that he trusted her as well for revealing his own truth regarding his mother. The memory brought another painful pang to his chest. For that reason, he did not judge her for her sudden tears and only wanted to offer as much comfort as he could, even if it was something he was not used to doing.

They were silent once again and Zuko relaxed slightly when he realized the waterbender had calmed down, though he could still see the melancholy in her blue eyes. He watched as she opened her palm to gaze down at her necklace. Curious, he leaned down a little so he could get a better look at the carvings on the blue stone. His eyes narrowed a little as the design struck him as something he had seen before. Why did it look so familiar? His eyes widened when it suddenly hit him.

It couldn't be. Could it?

"I've seen this necklace before," he finally spoke up as he continued to stare incredulously down at the delicate trinket.

Katara raised her head to see the dragon leaning closer over her shoulder and she frowned in confusion.

"What?"

Looking away from the object, Zuko once again stared into her azure eyes.

"It looks like the one Prince Pakku gave his betrothed, Lady Kanna, which they showed me when I visited the Northern Water Tribe," he explained slowly.

He watched as Katara's eyes widened and she began to stutter.

"So if Pakku and Kanna are your grandparents," he continued in the same slow tone as he watched her carefully, "then that must mean you are a princess."

Katara stared up at him wide-eyed and he returned her stare calmly, waiting for her to admit his suspicions. Finally, she let out a sigh and nodded.

"Yes. I'm Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe," she said softly.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Zuko asked with a frown.

"Did it really matter?" she retorted as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Zuko's frown deepened and his jaw clenched. No, it did not matter, but it hurt a little that she did not completely trust him with the knowledge of who she really was, though he knew it was irrational since she really did not know him that well. Besides, he had kept his own identity a secret.

"Why are you here?" he decided to ask instead. "Why is a Water Tribe princess wandering around this part of the Earth Kingdom?"

Katara pressed her lips tightly together and frowned up at the questioning dragon, stubbornly refusing to reveal her secrets. But when Zuko continued to stare intensely at her, she gave a little sigh and relaxed. What would it hurt if she told him part of the truth? She had already revealed something as important as her mother to him.

"I ran away from home with my brother and my friends," she said.

"I gathered as much, but why?"

"I couldn't stand having my life dictated for me," she tried to explain.

"What do you mean?"

"I…I don't want to talk about it," she muttered as she averted her eyes and stared back into the fire.

Zuko frowned, curious, but decided not to pry her for answers. He could sense it was something sensitive and he did not want to upset her more after what she had recounted of her mother's death.

"Wait," Katara spoke up as she straightened herself and looked up to frown at him, "You know my grandparents? That must mean you're some kind of nobility…"

Zuko's reptilian, golden eyes widened at her observation. Before he could stall, Katara's gasp interrupted him as she stared at him in sudden understanding.

"Now I know why your name sounded so familiar!" she exclaimed, "You're Crown Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation!"

When he did not say anything, Katara let his silence confirm her thoughts.

"You must be," she added, "You even have a scar on your left eye like the prince did, which he got from his own father during an Agni Kai."

She frowned at her last words. When she had heard about that story during one of her lesson as a child, she had thought it was cruel and horrible that a father would harm his child in such a way. And because the boy had only wanted to defend the people of a village that refused to leave their homes because the Fire Lord wanted their land to build another summer house. She watched as Zuko closed his eyes and slowly nodded his head before he opened them again to look at her. The pain and sadness in his eyes struck her to her very core. It seemed they both suffered from painful memories, but his were much worse. She at least had her family to love her and he had no one. She could still talk to other humans and enter civilization, while he, trapped in the body of a dragon, could not.

"People think you disappeared because you didn't want the responsibility of being Fire Lord," she spoke up softly.

Zuko growled at the thought. He was an honorable man. He would never run away from his duties.

"You've been alive all this time," Katara added softly as she continued to look at him, "Everybody began to think you dead after forty years passed since your disappearance."

"What?!" Zuko mentally exclaimed.

His eyes widened in disbelief, shocked at the amount of years that had actually passed since that awful day. Forty years?! He should have guessed when he found out Pakku was a grandfather now, but still, the thought was depressing and painful. When he had thought he was at least in his late thirties, in actually, he was at least sixty years old! The days had just started to blend together and he had stopped counting after he lost his uncle. But now he realized how many years he had lost, how many things he had missed.

"You had not realized it," Katara stated softly.

"No," he replied grimly.

As silence once again settled over them, Katara could not help feeling even more saddened at Zuko's plight. He had been living alone for forty years with no one to talk to, to share things with?

Licking her lips, she hesitantly asked, "Why did you disappear? Why are you a…dragon?"

She watched as Zuko closed his eyes and turned his head away without a response. She wondered if he was going to avoid answering her again. She felt a little sad because they had confided in each other so far. She was startled when Zuko looked back to stare intensely into her eyes a moment later.

"I was cursed…" he began before he added with an angry growl, "by my own sister."

A/N: And the plot thickens!

~alwaysZutarian