After the grand feast, the music began. The Royal Musical Ensemble played while the guests began to dance. Katara stood alone awkwardly in the corner of the ballroom. Zuko was deep in conversation with Mai while Ty Lee seemed the enjoy herself the most out of everybody. After a while, Zuko noticed Katara alone and moved to talk to her.

'Katara,' he said with a smile as he approached.

'Zuko.'

'How are you enjoying things?' he asked brightly, with a fireberry wine in his hand. He moved closer to wrap an arm around her. 'Oh, you know, it's fine,' replied Katara, blushing slightly. 'I just don't really know anybody.'

'Don't worry. Say, how about this? Come outside with me. The temperature outside tonight is perfect. I've just been out to check. It's cool but not cold and the air is sweet from the roses,' Zuko offered her his hand. Together, they left the dining hall and entered the garden.

Zuko walked Katara to a small bridge that connected the two sides of the duck pond. Katara sat on the brick railing, while they discussed which piece by the Royal Ensemble they enjoyed most. After a while, Zuko said suddenly, 'You know, I've never heard you talk about anyone apart from your older brother. What's your mother like? She must be as beautiful as you.'

At this, tears began to fall from Katara's eyes. This startled Zuko, who immediately regretted his question. 'Katara... I'm sorry,' he stuttered. 'Look, you don't have to tell me about her if you don't want to. I'm sorry, I should've known. I'm so stupid.' He hit himself on the head in anguish. But Katara wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were fixed on the pond below her feet and on her face was a blank expression. As tears continued to fall from her eyes, her fingers were absentmindedly stroking a small pendant which she concealed under her clothes - a blue carved necklace.

Zuko sighed. He knew apologies were pointless. He moved himself up next to her on the brick railing and wrapped his arms around her. Katara's head rested against his chest. 'If it makes you feel any better, I know exactly how you feel,' he said softly. 'My mother was my best... and in some ways, only friend. As I told you before, I lived in Azula's shadow for most of my life. My father, Firelord Ozai, loved her more than he did me. Of course it was obvious. She was a prodigy, and I...a failure...'

Katara looked up at him with tear-stained eyes. She held him more tightly, and they stayed in this locked embrace. 'What happened to her?' asked Katara gingerly.

'She died,' he said simply. But his voice was quivering. 'I don't even remember anything happening to her. One day she was just gone.'

'Oh Zuko-' Katara began, but Zuko cut through her sentence.

'I remember the night before, father had requested an audience with my grandfather, the then Firelord Azulon. He asked Azula to show grandfather the advanced moves she'd been learning, and she executed them perfectly. I attempted to show I could do it too, but I failed. Grandfather was so angered by my failure, he ordered everyone to leave except father. Azula stayed behind the curtain and watched while Grandfather took out his rage on father...'He seemed to be talking to himself more than talk to her, so Katara kept quiet and let him continue without interrupting. Whenever she felt his sadness, she would hold him a bit more tightly.

'...Then she came into my room and told me Father was going to murder me. Mother caught her taunting me and took her outside. That night, I woke to see my mother shaking me. She told me she loved me... The next day, she was gone.' Tears were streaking down his pale cheeks now. On one side, the tears fell freely. On the other side, the tears got caught in the deep grooves of his scar. It was a huge scar, and he was ashamed of it. The mark of a failure, as he saw it.

Katara reached up to wipe his face. 'Zuko... I-I'm so so sorry,' she began. She reached over to touch his scar. He closed his eyes as he felt her soft skin against his rough scar.

'Katara...' he began. 'There's something I've been meaning to say for a while...'

Suddenly, Katara knew she had gone too far - that this friendship had gone too far. She hadn't even thought about her mission for this whole time. Now, she felt, she was too emotionally bonded with Zuko. She had to distance herself if her mission were to be accomplished. Her brother depended on it. Aang depended on it. And the world depended on Aang.

'You are such a beautiful, special person to me,' Zuko continued, looking into her deep blue eyes.

'Zuko, I'm sorry,' she interrupted. 'I... I don't think I feel the same way about you. We are nothing more than friends.'

Zuko looked hurt, and was silent for a while.

Katara knew she was succeeding in pushing him away. Now she just needed to seal the deal.

'You see, Zuko,' she lied confidently, 'I'm in love with someone else.'

Zuko broke his silence. 'Who is it?'

'Someone very amazing, better than you. Someone without a hideous scar. Someone who-' began Katara, though for a reason she could not understand, she felt her eyes hot with tears as she spoke. Her heart ached.

'Enough.' Zuko left.

That night, Katara couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in her sheets. Even by the time the sun rose again, she had not closed her eyes for a moment.

She got up and tried to get ready. She put on one of the many dresses supplied to her by Zuko when they first met, and sat by the dressing table, waiting. She tried to start a letter to Aang and Sokka but she just couldn't. She kept waiting.

She waited for hours, not knowing what she was waiting for.

There was a knock at the door. Katara jumped to her feet, her hopes raised. She opened the door.

It was Min, one of the palace servants who was close to Katara's age, and whom Katara had come to like. 'Miss Katara!' gasped Min, who had obviously been in a hurry. Katara's heart sank. 'Miss Katara, the Firelord has asked me to call you to breakfast. Have you forgotten what time it is?'

'The Firelord requested me?' Katara said, breathlessly.

'Yes,' answered Min, and Katara followed her out to the dining room.

At the table sat Azula, Ty Lee and Mai. Zuko's seat was empty.

'Well well,' said Azula. 'Look who decided to join us.'

'I'm sorry I'm late,' said Katara, taking a seat.

'Ignorant peasant!' hissed Azula. 'You've become quite accustomed to the role of being palace princess haven't you? I don't know what it's like where you're from, but in the Firenation, we bow to our superiors. Get off that chair and bow, you worthless piece of dirt.'

Katara got up from her seat and bowed at Azula's feet.

'Zuzu treats you too well. He's made you spoilt. You think just because you have his heart, we'll just let you act out of place? Think again,' Azula said. She looked at Mai. 'Mai. This will do you great pleasure. Take this breakfast to Zuzu's study and offer it to him.'

Mai carried the food and left the room, throwing Katara a dirty look before she left.

When Mai was gone, Ty Lee jumped on Katara and hit her in various places. Katara felt her power over her body drain away as she lay limp on the ground.

Azula left, laughing, with Ty Lee skipping behind her.