A/N: I am very happy with the reviews I received over the past week. I'm so glad that you enjoy my story and hope you continue too. While writing this chapter I listened to the OST from ATLA. I think the chapter goes better with the music so I suggest listening to the OST while reading.

Phases of the Moon


Zuko's P.O.V

Absent-mindedness, Lethe, Blank, Restart, Blackout, Amnesia, yet a sense of alleviation. Is it true Katara doesn't remember anything? The stillness and emptiness at the site I found Katara was frightening. Where was the unit of Fire Nation soldiers posted to attack? Where was Sergeant Feng who sent the distress signal? More importantly where was the Avatar? After turning over Katara to my crew I returned to the half-collapsed house. No bodies, yet great signs of struggle.

I searched the house looking for any signs. Every room I stepped in the smoldered walls and floors held moisture. It was like a whole army of waterbenders took on a hoard of firebenders. Katara is strong in her element but I can't believe she could do this kind of damage without help. I didn't even see a scratch on her.

Kicking up a pile of blackened wood I spot a charred blue fabric caught on the splintered ends.


Katara P.O.V

Memories of Zuko continually surged my brain and releasing before I could say stop. The quick recollections I was given gave me an annoying trip of déjà vu. Thinking about it made my head throb. It felt like I was given three other brains filled with information and I had to manually go through and pick out what belonged to me. My muscles were sore and my eyelids were getting heavy.

The recruits escorted me to one of the upper decks of the ship. They open the last door at the end of the hall. Inside was a large fire nation tapestry on the wall. In one corner of the room was a bed big enough for three. A wooden tea-table sat adjacent of the room. On it were two white porcelain cups filled with liquid.

"Whose room is this?" I asked

"It doesn't matter, they don't bunk here anymore. It's been empty for a while."

"You didn't even bother to clean it up?" The recruit's implied cringe implored me to go no further with questions.

"Wait here for Prince Zuko. Don't touch anything."


Zuko's P.O.V

"Did she say anything?"

"No, she was put in your uncle's corridors just as you ordered."

"Nothing else was found on site. Tell Captain Terrance to undock the ship from shore and head for home," I look up toward the one windowed room where Katara was being kept. I half expected her silhouette to be looking down at me with vengeance and contriving spirit. "I want to be back by breakfast, tomorrow."

"Yes Prince Zuko." The recruit bowed respectfully.

Pushing my way through the ship I escaped to my room shedding off all my armor. I dressed in simple but elaborate robe for the hours to come before docking in the capital. Before leaving I pulled out the charred fabric I found. Attached to the fabric was a small circular blue whale bone carved into unique pattern of small waves. I recognized it as Katara's necklace. Smoothing the carved pattern over with my thumb I opened my bedside draw shoving it behind a messy assortment of papers.

Across the hall I stood outside Katara's room. I thought of all possible traps she could have set for me. Would she have ice daggers pointed toward the door or would the water pipes be frozen? Is the room going to flood out water or is she going to freeze me to a wall? Physically and more mentally preparing myself I open the door to find Katara spread eagle asleep on the bed. Her wet clothes formed a spot staining the covers in the shape of her body. I slammed the door jolting her awake.

"What are you doing?"

She sat up immediately trying to cover the fact she was just asleep. "What are you doing?" Katara snapped as she cleared her voice hiding the sleep in her voice. Pathetically she held back a yawn.

"I never said you were allowed to sleep."

"I wasn't sleeping. I was testing the comfort level of the mattress," Katara blushed. "Where were you anyway, what happened to our talk?"


Katara's P.O.V

Zuko started pacing the room which annoyed me. My clothes started to irritate my skin. Every time I moved the cloth would chafe and burn my skin. Annoyingly enough I heard Zuko start talking to himself,

"Okay, okay what would he say? No not that..."

"Not to interrupt your little conversation with yourself, but I'd like you to elaborate my current situation." Zuko stopped pacing and scratched his head.

"Alright, let's start with something simple. Your name is Katara."

"My name is Katara," I remembered my flashback earlier today. Before I could forget I asked. "Who is Sokka?"

"He's your brother. You're from Southern Water Tribe." My face scrunched up trying to register the new information.

"What else, what about the Avatar and the rest of my family? Can I bend?" Zuko tensed. Apparently I rendered him speechless. "I lost my memories and you're not going to say anything?"

"Look, this is a complicated situation. How did you even lose your memories?!"

He paced; I swear if he walked in one more circle I was going to go nuts.

"Alright, here is what's going to happen, waterbender!"

I stood up rudely pointing my finger in his direction. "Ah, ha, so I can waterbend! How could leave something that important out? How about I shove tea up your ears and you tell me if you remember anything!" I did a quick movement that I think that would have represented shoving tea in his ears. Nothing moved.

"Shut up, please. You shouldn't, no; I shouldn't be telling you everything. Trust me, we have a complicated past."

I physically cringed as the ideas start popping in my head. "I don't have a hard time believing that. We weren't a couple, right?"

"Oh spirits, no. This is why we need to get you a healer. I'm taking you to the palace."

"I don't want to go anywhere."

"You really have no choice; you can be healed in the pool of majesties. The palace is built around it."

"The palace? No no no no no." I waved my arms and shook my head accidentally reapplying the headache I slept off. "Are you even sure it will heal my memories?" I gently palmed my face. I promised myself I would demand a fix for my headache before Zuko leaves.

"Yes."

"So like fifty-percent?"

"Sixty-percent."

"Helpful." I exhaled.

"You're the one who went and lost your memories. I need you to remember if the Avatar is alive."

"No. Anyway since when do you decide for me? I don't know you."

"Actually we're quite acquainted."

"I don't trust you. This obsession you seem to have for the Avatar doesn't seem healthy. Plus if you didn't already know you saying that I'm your 'prisoner' doesn't exactly spell confiding."

"You sound like yourself back in Ba Sing Se."

"Ba Sing Se." My headache increased. I steadied myself on the edge of a table knocking over the porcelain cups. I almost whined when they shattered spilling cold tea on my ankles.

"What's wrong, did you remember anything?" Zuko bent down to my level daring not to touch me. I scoffed.

"No but my head hurts." Zuko stared intently at me then at the spilled tea. I narrowed my eyes "What?"

"Nothing." He stood up leaving me on the floor. "We are a couple of hours away from the palace. I'll get you some dry clothes."

I put on the fakest smile I had to offer. "Oh you're so kind." To my disappointment he just ignored my attempt to piss him off.

Zuko stopped halfway from the door. His voice dead still, but full of warning. "Word of advice if you do remember something don't speak to anyone."

"Who would I talk to anyway?" Slowly getting up from the floor I shook off my pants.

"I have a sister."

"Why would I talk to your sister? If she's anything like you are don't worry about it." I flopped down on the bed turning my back away from Zuko. He was silent almost like he was choosing the right words to say.

"Still…my sister, she killed the Avatar." Then I was left alone still throbbing with a headache and everything on my mind.


A/N: Thanks for reading! I post a new chapter every week so make sure to follow and review.