Zuko climbed onto Appa after Katara was safely up. "Yip Yip," he quietly whispered in Appa's ear.

They sat in silence for most of the journey until they were about halfway to the Boiling Rock.

Katara was content listening to the water's steady push and pull of the waves. She smiled at the sound. She always felt comforted when she was around the water.

However, that brought her thoughts back to her pathetic position in life. She still had mixed feelings about Zuko—more so now than ever.

She looked over at him. He was looking all sulky again. She wanted to just scream. One second he acts all nice, sweet, and lively, and the next second he would be back in his cold, hard, careless mask.

Katara also had mixed feelings about Aang. She was so proud of him, and truly loved him. The only problem was, she loved Aang more like a brother, not like a boyfriend. Plus, he was only twelve years old. Zuko on the other hand…

Katara shook her head. It would never work out. Zuko loved Mai, and Zuko didn't really seem the type to even fall in love.

She looked over to him. He was staring into the distance, and the scar that dominated the left side of his face was turned away from her.

Katara had always wondered ho Zuko had gotten that scar, and she often wanted to ask, but she had always chickened out.

Now seemed the perfect opportunity to ask where he had gotten that scar because they were on a "field trip" for him this time.

Katara gave a light cough to get Zuko's attention. He turned around and gave her a light smile.

"We're almost there Katara, just another half hour or so," Zuko said quietly. He stood up and walked over to her. Katara admired him for doing this—they were really high up, and she was always scared to death of falling off.

Zuko took a seat next to her and looked into her eyes. Katara wanted to just stare into his beautiful golden eyes all day long.

However, Zuko saw that there was something off about her. "Is there something wrong Katara?" he asked, nothing but concern in his eyes.

Katara smiled at the fact that he cared about her and then said, "No Zuko. There isn't anything wrong with me. But, I do have a personal question to ask you," she finished.

She looked at Zuko waiting for a response. He looked sort of scared. "I guess so," he said hesitantly.

"I promise it isn't anything bad," she started, "but, I don't think you'll really want to talk about it."

She stared into his golden eyes again, and they encouraged her to continue. "I just wanted to know how you got your scar," she said very quietly.

Zuko exhaled loudly and started rubbing the back of his neck again. "It's not something I really like to think or talk about," Zuko stated coldly. "I thought you would know though. I mean, after it happened, everyone in the fire nation knew within a matter of minutes—you know how fast stories spread. But, I'll tell you. You should know," he spoke in a low voice, and Katara was eager to hear what he had to say.

"I was thirteen years old. My mother had been gone for about three years now, and I missed her terribly. Ozai, as you know is a heartless being—he really doesn't care for anyone but himself. Perhaps he cared for Azula, but if she didn't have her bending he probably wouldn't have cared for her either. He never even wanted me back after he banished me," he said sadly.

"I had always wanted to prove myself better than Azula, but I never really did. At age thirteen, I really wanted to be important, like my father and my uncle. So, I went to my first war meeting. I really shouldn't have gone.

"If I hadn't gone, I would not have had to speak out against a plan to sacrifice a fleet of soldiers to have a small victory over a small city. I would not have had to face my father in an Agni Kai," Zuko said miserably. Katara gasped.

"Your father couldn't have been that harsh," Katara said firmly. "That would be murder…" she trailed off into her own thoughts.

"Well," Zuko muttered, "he did. He challenged me and I refused to fight. I wasn't going to battle my father. I probably would have died if I had. I had lost my honor for not fighting him and the only way to regain that honor was by capturing the Avatar."

Katara gasped. She had always wondered why he had been so intent on capturing Aang. Now she could see that he had just wanted for his father to love him.

She reached out to give Zuko a pat on the back, but then thought better of it and pulled her hand back while blushing furiously. What would have Zuko done if she had touched his shoulder? Would he have flinched away?

Zuko raised his head to look at Katara. He looked confused as to why she was blushing, which just made her blush even harder. She had to change the subject so he wouldn't be able to know why she was so embarrassed.

"That's terrible," Katara started, "No one should have had to be away from your family for three years," Katara paused, and then asked hesitantly, "What actually happened to your mother?"

Zuko let out a breath he had obviously been holding. "That's not a happy memory either. You have to know first that the fire nation royals have never been a noble or caring breed," Zuko shuddered, and Katara knew it was because he thought that he was the same as his ancestors.

"You aren't like them Zuko," Katara said, "You are caring, honorable, noble, sweet, and strong. You aren't like them at all."

Katara didn't notice that Zuko's cheeks turned the lightest shade of pink you could possibly imagine, but she did notice that he gave a small smile.

"Thank you Katara. I'm not really like that though. However, it doesn't change the fact that most my family are mostly mongrels. Anyway, my uncle had recently lost his firstborn son. It was a trying time for him, and naturally, my father was heartless enough to ask Azulon to be fire lord," Zuko said with disgust.

Katara felt her stomach drop. No one was that heartless, right?

Zuko smiled bitterly. "Surprised? It only gets worse you know," he said. Katara paled.

"After he told my grandfather that, my grandfather was reasonably angry. My mother and I weren't there when this happened, but Azula was eavesdropping, and she told me the account later that night. Anyway, Azulon was mad. Really mad. He said that my father needed to suffer the loss of a firstborn son, so he ordered my father to kill me. I have no doubt that he would have had my mother not come up with an alternative plan. Of course, she killed my grandfather and was then banished while Ozai became fire lord," Zuko said.

"I would really like to know where she is just so I can see her again. Ozai will tell me where she is," Zuko said finally.

Katara winced in pain. She hated that Zuko had been put through so much in his young life. She felt her eyes getting moist and she did what her instincts told her to. She pulled Zuko into a fierce bear hug.

"Oh Zuko!" Katara exclaimed, "You've been put through so much. You've never really had much of a childhood, and you don't have a family other than your uncle. Is there anything I can do?" Katara asked desperately.

"I'm fine Katara. I've just been put through a lot, and I have a family now. You all are the family that I never had. I'm happy now, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. So thank you," Zuko said as he pushed her off of him.

Katara flushed and then said, "No. Thank you Zuko. I would have never been able to face my mother's killer if it weren't for you."

Zuko glanced around to see where they were. Katara looked around too. She could see the boiling rock from where they were.

"It looks as though it's time to pay my father a visit," Zuko said with a subtle threat in his voice.