The ABCs of ZUTARA: A Series of 26 One Shots

by AVidZktjo

26 LETTERS. 26 WORDS. 26 STORIES. That’s the premise of this series. Each word is crafted into a one-shot about ZUTARA ranging from their childhood to their youth through their sorrows and struggles and even into their future romance. So ENJOY!

9. Identity

The ABCs of Zutara: IDENTITY

Written by Katie Jo aka AVidZktjo

"We need more supplies," Katara announced to the gang while they were all gathered around the campfire for the morning meal.

"Eh. We've got plenty," Sokka countered as he took another gulp of his stew. "Besides, we don't want to weight down Appa. He's already got enough to carry."

"Sokka, Sozin's comet is still weeks away and we just escaped Azula at the Western Air Temple. She burned most of our supplies, not to mention we weren't able to grab a whole lot either. We need more. Besides, we'll be staying out here for a while. Aang's got more training to do, we've got nowhere else to go, and the village isn't that far from us anyway."

"Exactly! Zuko and I revealed our location and she found us. So we have to stay put and lie low. We can't go traipsing around villages and revealing ourselves. We'll just have to make due."

Katara held up a bag of rice before her brother's eyes. "This is the last we have, Sokka, and it's only enough for about three days. We need more!" Setting the bag back down, she tried to reason with her stubborn sibling. "If you're so worried about me, then why don't you just come with? You can do some shopping."

Sokka leaned back and rubbed his chin. "That does sound tempting."

"Then it's settled," Katara confirmed while jumping to her feet.

"Hold up," Sokka said as he stood to join her. "I can't go."

"Then I'll just go alone. I'm a big girl, Sokka. I can take care of myself." Katara turned and walked over to her tent. Sokka followed after her, blabbering about the fact that she shouldn't go alone because she would need help carrying the food. Katara ignored him, packed her bags, exited the tent, and stood defiantly before her brother. "Sokka, I'll be fine. Don't worry. I can carry it all."

"But we'll need rice and meat and all of those herbs you like to use. No, you'll need to take someone with you."

"Then why not you?"

"Because I promised Suki we'd do some sparring today."

"Sparring?" Katara narrowed her eyes at him. "With your weapons or with your tongues?"

A mischievous grin crossed Sokka's lips. "I dunno. Maybe a little of both."

Rolling her eyes, Katara pushed past him and walked over to the campfire. Rummaging through their supplies, she found the money pouch and put it in her bag. "Katara, you have to take someone with you. You know you'll need help," Sokka explained to her once again.

Standing to her feet, Katara faced her brother and reluctantly agreed. "Alright. Fine. I'll take someone with me." Looking around at the gang still eating their breakfast, her gaze instantly fell on her airbending friend. "Aang, how about you?"

Aang looked up at her, an excited smile bursting onto his face, and opened his mouth to speak, but Toph quickly smacked her hand over his lips and silenced him. "He can't. We've got a lot of earthbending practice to get in today." Aang's expression instantly plummeted, but Toph didn't seem to notice. An excited smile of her own had suddenly crossed her lips along with a playful sparkle in her eyes. Dropping her hand from Aang's mouth, Toph continued to eat and Katara narrowed her eyes at the grinning earthbender. What game was she playing at now?

With Aang and Toph training for the whole afternoon and Sokka and Suki "sparring," that left only one other person. Katara knew in a flash that the firebender had realized the exact same thing for she heard his annoyed sigh long before her gaze centered on him. When her eyes finally did lock with his, Zuko stared back at her with a look that clearly spelled out his irritation at being the chosen one for the task. Unlike Sokka, he did not like to shop, and adding the furious waterbender into the mix only made the trip even less appealing. He didn't want to go and Katara couldn't agree more. Looking back at her brother, she said, "Well, I guess that's it then. I'm going alone," and she turned and walked away from the group.

Sokka immediately began to protest. "Wait, Katara! You can't go alone!" But his sister didn't even hesitate. Looking back at Zuko, Sokka told him, "She'll need help. You should go with her."

Downing the last of his breakfast in one large gulp, Zuko stood and shoved the empty bowl into Sokka's hands. "Fine. I'll look after your moody sister, but don't expect me to come back happy."

"You're never happy," Sokka simply stated as Zuko walked past him, picking up his discarded backpack on the way.

Ignoring Sokka's comment, Zuko took off towards Katara, and after a few long strides, he had easily caught up with her. "I don't need your help," Katara said while she continued to walk with her chin held high and her eyes forward.

"I know." A slight grin pulled up the corners of his lips. "I just thought it would be nice to spend the afternoon in the presence of your wonderful company." Katara eyed him over her shoulder and Zuko teasingly added, "After all, it's been terribly enjoyable these past few weeks."

Katara huffed and lifted her chin higher as her gaze returned to the path in front of her. "Go ahead and laugh all you want, but I'm watching you, Mr. I've Changed."

Zuko rolled his eyes. This constant heated banter between the two of them was getting old. "Yes, I know. If I make one step backward or give you one reason to think that I might hurt the Avatar, then you'll make sure my destiny ends right then and there."

Katara abruptly stopped and turned on him, pointing a finger in his face. But before she could get even a single word out of her mouth, Zuko's grin widened and he cut in, "Oh, that's right. You said you'd make sure my destiny ends right then and there, but you added something extra. Now what was that word again?" Zuko leaned in closer to her, his teasing smile having disappeared, and Katara was taken aback by the sudden look of pain in his eyes. "Ah, I remember. Permanently."

As her hand fell back at her side, Katara replied in a harsh whisper, "Yes, and don't you forget it!"

Carved into the hard lines of his face was an expression that sent a shiver of shame down Katara's spine. She tried to ignore the guilt that was rising within her, but his gaze was making it increasingly harder to concentrate on anything but the golden tint in his eyes. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally answered back, "Don't worry. I don't think I could ever forget it," and then he turned and continued in the direction of the village.

After swallowing down the guilt and pushing aside her shame, Katara's frown returned and she quickly followed after him. They walked in silence for the remainder of the trip. Neither one of them was in the mood to talk nor to say what was really on their minds. But, thankfully, it only took a half hour to get there and their quiet surrounding was rapidly filled with the hustle and bustle of the quaint Fire Nation village. It wasn't very big for a harbor town, but it did have all the supplies that they needed.

Without so much as a word to each other, Zuko and Katara went about the village, looking at various stalls and entering numerous stores until they each had two very large bags to carry back. "I think that's all of it," Katara said to him after several hours of shopping. Zuko's only response was a brief nod and she took that as their cue to leave.

"Get back here, you thief!"

Both of them turned toward the sound of the bellowing voice, and they watched in horror as a band of Fire Nation soldiers threw fire whips at a young woman trying to run from them. She didn't appear to have anything in her hands and Katara instantly believed the best of the young girl. After all, everything was the Fire Nation's fault, therefore, that girl had to be innocent. Dropping the bags at her feet, Katara took a step toward the commotion but a hand abruptly fell on her shoulder and pulled her back. "What do you think you're doing?" Zuko whispered in a rough tone of voice.

"Someone has to help her!" Katara exclaimed as she pulled away from him and started down the street. The young woman had been tripped by the fire whips and was now sprawled out in the dirt. Before she could get up on her feet, the five soldiers surrounded her and brutally lifted her off the ground.

Katara felt two hands on her arms before she could even get within ten yards of the commotion. "We can't help her. It would make a scene and we could be discovered," Zuko forcefully explained to her as he began to inch them both back behind the crowd of gathering people.

Katara tried to break free from his grip but he outmatched her in strength and easily held onto her. "You don't understand! We have to help her! She's innocent!"

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do! You Fire Nation people are all the same. You're nothing but a bunch of vile criminals who will take out your anger on anyone you come across. Just look at yourself!" Katara cruelly whispered back at him.

Zuko's grip loosened ever so slightly at her accusation and she took the opportunity to break free. But Zuko was just as fast as he was strong and he grabbed a hold of her wrist, yanking her around. She came barreling into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her in a death grip. "That's not true! My uncle is nothing like that. And…and neither am I."

Katara squirmed in his arms while her eyes held fast with his. "Ha! You!? You must be joking. You're just as bad as the rest of them. You say one thing and then do another. You're a hypocrite and a liar. What makes you think you're any better than your father!?"

Zuko's eyes widened in shock at her last statement and he wanted to yell back at her, but he knew that if he did, it would cause an even bigger scene and they couldn't afford that. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he let go of her and then leaned in to say for her ears alone, "Then what are you waiting for? If I'm such a horrible person, such a vile criminal, why don't you just kill me now? Why not permanently end my destiny right here? I'm sure those soldiers would find great sport in it and even congratulate you on your capture of the banished Fire Nation prince. My father would probably even award you with a medal of honor. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead. Just do it."

Katara opened her mouth to counter him, but how could she when his eyes were locked with hers. The pain and anguish she saw in them was enough to stop her in her tracks, and she instantly lost her train of thought. Who was this Zuko? For weeks he'd quietly stood by taking every hit she threw at him, and she'd waited impatiently for him to fight back. But now that he finally was, she wasn't sure that she liked it.

Every time their eyes met in the midst of their arguments, she noticed things she'd never seen before. She saw anger in him to be sure, but now she was seeing something new. Hidden behind his hard countenance, she saw sorrow and shame, guilt and pain. And in the few seconds that his eyes held hers, Katara came to a new realization. It was all her fault. Everyone else in the gang had been building him up, but she was only tearing him down, chinking away at his pride with every bitter accusation she threw at him. What was wrong with her? I have changed. The sudden memory of his hypocritical declaration ignited the fire within her once more and she pushed the unwelcome revelation away. Katara opened her mouth again to give him a response but was abruptly silenced by an even louder voice.

"I didn't steal anything! I'm innocent! My father will die if I don't go home. Please, you must let me go!"

The ring of the young woman's plea hit Katara's ears before she could utter a word and she immediately turned toward the commotion in the middle of the street. The girl's wrists were being locked in chains and she was no doubt going to be hauled away to one of their ships. Katara desperately wanted to help, but as much as it pained her to admit it, Zuko was right. They couldn't make a scene. It was too risky.

As Katara watched the Fire Nation soldiers drag the girl toward the harbor, she knew that there was only one solution. She would have to find another way to free the poor girl. It wouldn't be easy, but she was sure that she could manage. With a plan already forming in her mind, Katara turned her attention back on the banished prince and simply stated, "We best get going. It's almost dinner time and Sokka will be grumpy if he doesn't get fed soon."

The waterbender's jibe at her brother didn't even register with Zuko for he was still focused on what she'd said to him. What makes you think you're any better than your father? As he picked up the two large sacks and slung them over his shoulders, Zuko tried to think of an answer. He could tell her that he'd changed, that he was different now, but she would never believe him. He'd betrayed the compassionate waterbender and hurt her in the process. He knew that. And he also knew that it would take some time for her to forgive him that was if she ever forgave him. Zuko wondered if they would ever again come to that place of acceptance and understanding as they had in Ba Sing Se. He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he couldn't sit around any longer and do nothing.

Katara slung her two bags of supplies over her own shoulders and walked past him. Zuko would have followed her, but a plan was beginning to take shape in his mind. He had his swords, but he was missing something. Maybe that costume shop he'd seen would have what he needed. "Katara, would you watch our supplies for a second? I forgot something." Before she could answer, Zuko had dropped his bags and taken off around the corner.

Katara let her own bags fall to the ground and then started tapping her foot. Crossing her arms, she waited impatiently for his return. What had he forgotten? They'd bought everything they needed, so what was he rushing off to get? She didn't have much time to ponder that thought for within minutes he was back at her side and slinging his bags over his shoulder. A grin was suspiciously plastered across his face, and without delay Katara questioned him, "What did you forget?"

"It doesn't matter. They didn't have it," he answered as he walked past her.

Katara slung her bags over her shoulders and skipped after him. When she was at his side, she tried a different approach to the question. "What didn't they have?"

"A lot of things."

Katara rolled her eyes. Fine. If he was going to be difficult, then so was she. With as much force as she could manage, Katara rammed her body into his side and wickedly grinned as he began to topple over. Unfortunately for her though, the movement caused her to lose her balance as well and she couldn't stop herself from toppling over with him. Their bodies as well as their supplies went crashing to the ground. Thankfully, the supplies weren't damaged, but Katara's pride was. She didn't know if it was the fact that she lay on top of him or if it was the fact that their faces were only a breath apart, but a blush colored her cheeks in a heartbeat and she cursed herself for being so stupid.

"What did you do that for?" Zuko was the first to speak.

Pushing on his chest in an attempt to rise, Katara explained, "I didn't mean for both of us to fall. I just wanted you to."

"Well, your plan went horribly wro – Ow!"

Katara had tripped on the fabric of her skirt and crashed into Zuko's chest. "Sorry," she said as she tried to get up again.

"Here, why don't you just let me help you?"

"I don't need your help."

"No, of course not. Why would you need my – Ow! Would you stop doing that!?"

"Ugh. This stupid Fire Nation outfit is driving me crazy!"

"Then why don't you just take it off!?" Katara's eyes immediately stared into his with such venom that he would have shuddered in fear if it weren't for the adorable blush that was still brightening up her cheeks. "I didn't mean it like that and you know it. I just meant—"

"Yeah, yeah. I know what you meant." Katara attempted for the third time to get up and it finally worked. "There. See. I didn't need your help after all."

Zuko rolled his eyes and sat up. Lifting his hand up to her, he said, "Well, I could use some help."

Katara chuckled. "And what makes you think I'll help you?"

A huge grin suddenly broke out on Zuko's face as he replied, "Because I think there's something you need to know."

"And what's that?"

Without her help, Zuko rose to his feet and continued to smile down at her. "Oh, nothing."

Katara rolled her eyes and leaned down to pick up their bags. But before she could sling them over her shoulders, an elderly woman came up to her and told her in a whisper, "Excuse me, miss, but did you know that your skirt has come undone?"

A gasp escaped Katara's mouth as she dropped the bags at her feet and clutched at her skirt. All that tripping had pulled her skirt almost down to her knees. Why hadn't she noticed? Katara quickly pulled it back up and tied it securely around her waist. With an even brighter blush on her cheeks, she thanked the old woman and then stared up at Zuko. His smile had doubled in size now and she was ready to yell at him, but just then he broke out in a laugh. Zuko? Laughing? She'd never heard him so much as chuckle, but sure enough he was actually laughing. Katara couldn't believe it and she instantly forgot what she was going to say to him.

Upon seeing the surprised look on Katara's face, Zuko's laughter died down and he quickly became serious again. "What's the matter?"

Before she knew what she was saying, the words had exited her mouth. "You laughed. I've never heard you laugh."

Wrinkling his brow in thought, Zuko replied, "It's been a long time since I've had a reason to."

Katara sighed. "Oh, so my humiliation is a good reason then?"

A slight chuckle shook his shoulders. "I guess so."

Katara grunted and turned on her heels. Picking up her bags, she wildly threw them over her shoulder in an attempt to hit him in the head, but fortunately for Zuko, he was able to dodge it. Reaching down and then slinging his own bags over his shoulders, they started off toward the outskirts of town. Silence was their companion for the whole trek, but Zuko had never been more at ease.

He couldn't believe that he'd actually laughed. He was just as amazed and surprised as she was. It had been months, years even since a laugh had escaped his mouth. But just the simple joke that he played on Katara was enough to make him burst out in amusement. It was odd and yet strangely comforting. She might not have been able to see it in that moment, but Zuko did. He had changed, truly changed. He was no longer Zuko, the banished prince. Instead he had taken on a new identity as Zuko, the changed man. And he knew that given time, Katara would eventually see his new identity as well, at least, he hoped she would.

"Alright! Food!" Zuko rolled his eyes at Sokka's predictable welcome. Was his mind always on his stomach? It was a wonder he wasn't as fat as his uncle by now with all the meat he consumed. "So, what did you guys get?" Sokka asked as he opened the two bags that Zuko set as his feet.

"It's food, Sokka. Does it really matter what it is?"

The campsite burst into laughter.

"Good one, Sparky," Toph congratulated him and a small grin appeared on his face.

Katara just rolled her eyes at his joke and pushed past him, setting her own supplies next to his. Sokka opened her bags up as well and started rummaging through them. "Where's the meat? All you've got is rice and herbs and spices and vegetables. Where's the meat!"

Sighing, Katara pointed a finger at her brother and said, "You didn't want to come with, so that's your loss. You chose instead to stay here and spar with Suki."

A blush developed on Suki's cheeks at Katara's obvious insinuation and Sokka jumped in to defend her. "Hey, I love Suki and I'll spar with her all I want."

"Yeah, we know, Sokka. Just don't do it front of us, okay?" Toph rolled her eyes at him. More laughter filled the camp as both Sokka and Suki turned bright red.

In an attempt to change the subject, Sokka asked his sister, "So, what's for dinner?"

After the laughter died down, Katara immediately got to work on preparing their supper while the rest of them sat around waiting for it to be finished. Zuko, on the other hand, was back at his tent, unpacking the items that the shop didn't have. While looking down at the familiar mask, a plan of action formed in his mind and he knew what he had to do. She may never know about it, but he would do it for her all the same. It was what she wanted and he was determined to please her. It was just a shame that she would never know. Hiding the mask under his makeshift pillow, Zuko told himself that it didn't matter. She may never know, but he would. He would know that he'd changed, know that he'd helped her in some way, and know that he was nothing like his father. Zuko would prove to himself that night that he was no criminal and neither was the Blue Spirit.

///A\\\

I will never ever turn my back on people who need me. With that promise in mind, Katara rose from her mat and rummaged through her clothes for the one cloak she never thought she'd use again. She could have chosen instead to disguise herself in a different fashion, but she found that becoming the Painted Lady in a Fire Nation village had its advantages. She was, after all, a Fire Nation spirit. Katara hoped that the soldiers would know about her and would even be fearful of her. If she were lucky, the story of her first appearance may have even circulated throughout the Fire Nation. It would certainly make her mission easier. Either way, it was the perfect disguise. After completing her ensemble with bright red face paint, Katara peeked out of her tent, making sure the coast was clear, and then took off toward the village.

Zuko stopped dressing himself when he heard a faint rustle near his tent. Someone was still awake? It was the middle of the night. Who could possibly be awake at that hour? He listened for a few more seconds, but the noise seemed to have vanished. It could have been Momo or some other wildlife so Zuko shrugged it off and pulled the shirt over his head. Lifting up his pillow, he snatched the mask out from under it and secured it tightly in place. Grabbing his swords, he took one last glance around the campsite and then exited his tent.

The village was a half hour away, but he made it in half the time. At one point along his journey, he thought he'd seen movement up ahead. It might have been someone from the town on a midnight stroll or a Fire Nation soldier out on patrol, but he never did catch up to them. As soon as he reached the outskirts of the village, the figure vanished altogether and he was left to wonder who it was. It didn't matter though. All that mattered was the mission at hand. It seemed rather insignificant to him. What was the rescue of one girl in the scheme of things? But it was what Katara had wanted, and it didn't matter how small the task, he would complete it. For her.

There were three Fire Nation vessels docked at the harbor, but it didn't take long for him to figure out which one the young girl was being held in. Zuko knew his ships, and by the design of their flags, he could tell which one it was. The other two were cargo ships, but the one on the left was used for prisoners. With the agility and speed of a cheetah monkey, Zuko wove his way through the streets of the village and to the left side of the harbor. There was a long stretch of open space between him and the ship, so he had to wait a while for the guards to dissipate before he made a break for it. Little did he know that another veiled figure was waiting for the same opportunity.

The second the two of them fled from the protective shadows of the village, they spotted one another. But the opportunity to advance on the dock was not going to be lost to either one of them, so they continued to sprint toward the ship and met up at the exact same location. The Blue Spirit drew his swords as soon as he stopped in front of the stacked cargo and likewise the Painted Lady encircled her arms with water from her pouch. In a hushed whisper, they asked simultaneously, "Who are you?"

The water in Katara's hands flowed from one to the next in a challenging motion, and Zuko took a step forward, his swords at the ready. They knelt there in front of one another with their eyes locked, not that Katara could see his, and waited for the other person to speak first. When it was clear that neither one of them was going to answer, they came to the same conclusion and the fight began.

While producing as little noise as possible, Katara sent her water flying in his direction. He dodged it and rolled behind her. Crossing his swords at her throat, Zuko sternly whispered in her ear, "I don't have time to fight. Just tell me who you are." But Katara was not so easily overcome. In one swift movement, she splashed the water in his face, fell from out of his vice, and turned around to face him. Gathering up the water, she flung it out at his swords, knocking them from his hands. Zuko didn't even have a second to react. Before he knew it, he was on the ground with her on top of him, an ice dagger at his throat.

Disguising her voice for fear that she might be discovered, Katara asked him again in a low rumble, "Who are you?"

Zuko opened his mouth to answer, but his eyes caught movement behind him and he reacted out of instinct. Fire blazed forth from his fist and sent two soldiers flying off the dock and into the water. The splash was sure to attract attention, as if their fight hadn't done enough damage already. Katara glanced behind her and saw the brunt of his attack. So he was a firebender. But she didn't have time to ponder that thought for the man beneath her dissolved the dagger in her hand, grabbed her shoulders, flung her on the ground beside him, and swung himself on top of her. Now she was pinned to the ground.

In the same fashion as Katara, Zuko disguised his voice with a rougher tone. "We don't have time to argue. I'm here to rescue the prisoners from this ship, so either get out of my way or I'll make you."

Before she could answer, the masked man had rolled off of her, snatched up his swords, and disappeared around the cargo. The sound of weapons clashing and fire blazing reached her ears in an instant. Jumping to her feet, Katara bent her water back into her pouch and ran around the boxes and out onto the dock. The masked firebender had already taken down three guards, but more were advancing on him. With one graceful move of her hands, Katara lifted a wave out of the ocean and sent it crashing into the soldiers. They glided off the dock and only the man with the mask remained. He looked back at her with what she could only guess was a confused expression.

Katara crossed the distance between them and pointed a finger in his blue face. "I'm not leaving. I'm here to rescue someone as well. So either we work together or you can join those soldiers in the ocean. What's it gonna be?"

For a split second, Zuko saw something familiar in those big, blue eyes of hers and a crazy thought crossed his mind. No, it couldn't be. There were plenty of other waterbenders in the world. The furious one he had the misfortune of knowing wasn't the only one, so it couldn't be her. Could it? "Fine. We'll work together, but you better not slow me down."

A playful smile crossed her painted lips and again Zuko was taken aback with the familiarity of it. "Don't worry. If anyone is gonna have a hard time keeping up, it will be you, firebender."

The inflection of her term for him was just like – "Well, are you coming?" The young woman was already climbing up the side of the ship. Zuko shook his head to dispel the impossible conclusion and raced after her.

When they reached the top, Katara peered over the side and then looked down at the masked man below her. "There are seven guards," she whispered.

"Then what are you waiting for? We can take them," he instructed as he moved up beside her.

Zuko was about to leap over the railway when a gentle hand fell on his shoulder and held him in place. Looking in her eyes again, he opened his mouth to protest but she beat him to it. "It's better if we keep as quiet as possible. Once they know we're on board, the whole ship will be alerted."

"They've already been alerted!" he argued.

"Not completely. We can still sneak past them," she countered.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Katara sighed and glanced back down at the ocean. Her eyes suddenly lit up and she looked over at her masked companion once more. "I have an idea."

Breathing in the power from the crescent moon, Katara summoned the water beneath her. With one flick of her wrist, the moisture shot up and covered the vessel in a thick blanket of fog. Zuko couldn't help but be impressed. She was not only a waterbender but a masterful one to boot.

"Where did all this come from?"

"I can't see."

"What just happened?"

While the soldiers mulled over the situation, Katara jumped over the railing and Zuko followed after her. Weaving between the confused men, she found her way to the cabin entrance. She tried the door but it was locked. "Great! Now what?" she whispered to the masked man.

It was a good thing she couldn't see his eyes for he was rolling them at her. Zuko found it rather amusing that his painted companion, although a master waterbender, was helpless when it came to opening a simple door. Pushing past her, he inspected the steel gate blocking their entrance into the ship. After a swift perusal, he stood back, unsheathed his swords, and sliced through the hinges. Popping the door out of its place, Zuko looked back at his partner and gestured for her to enter. Katara could tell he was silently laughing at her, but she ignored it and pushed past him, entering the ship.

Katara started to walk down the hallway, but the masked man caught up to her and pulled her back. "I think it's best if you let me lead. I know these ships."

The young woman turned to face her secretive cohort and asked him point-blank, "So you've been on one before then, huh, firebender?"

But Zuko wasn't concerned with her question. It was that term she kept calling him by. He hated being referred to as just a firebender. Katara did the same thing, and every time she called him that, it was if she was heaping him together with all the dreadful people who started the war. It drove him crazy. And if that woman kept labeling him like that, he'd never be able to get along with her. In a heated whisper, Zuko scolded her. "Would you stop calling me that!? I have a name, you know."

"Oh, really," Katara answered teasingly, taking a step closer to him. "Then what is it?"

Right. Like he was going to tell her his actual name. He didn't even know who she was let alone if he could fully trust her with that information. So he simply replied, "Don't you know who I am?"

Katara took a step closer to him, her gaze focused on the holes of his mask where his eyes were hidden in shadow. "Well, don't you know who I am?"

Her closeness was making him uneasy, but he stood his ground. "I take it you haven't seen the wanted posters."

"And I take it you haven't heard of my heroic rescue of an entire Fire Nation village," Katara snapped back.

They stared each other down, neither one speaking a word in response, until the noise of shifting feet reached their ears and Zuko directed, "Follow me. I know where the prisoners are kept."

Before Katara knew what was happening, his hand had grabbed onto hers and tugged her along behind him. She would have protested at any other interval, but surprisingly she didn't. It might have been the danger they faced or the urgency in his voice, but Katara knew neither one was the real reason. Even though his hand was gloved, she could feel the warmth emanating from it and she found she rather liked it. Katara knew that the man beside her was a firebender, but that didn't seem to matter to her. After all, he wasn't on the ship to torture prisoners. He was there to free them. Therefore, the logical conclusion was that he was fighting against the war not for it, and that was definitely a quality to be admired especially since it was found in a citizen of the Fire Nation.

Katara shook her head at her own misguided thoughts. What was she thinking? They'd only met a few minutes ago and already she was fond of him? What was wrong with her? How could she even be thinking about such things at a time like this? It was crazy! But try as she might to ignore it, she had to admit that there was something in his demeanor that drew her to him. She couldn't quite pin it down. Who was this man? She suddenly wanted to know. "You never answered my question."

"What question?" he whispered back to her as they wound their way farther down into the ship.

"The first one that I asked you."

Zuko stopped in the middle of a darkened hallway, dropped her hand, and looked down into her alluring sapphire eyes. "You really don't know who I am?"

Staring up at his blue mask, Katara stroked her chin in thought. "No, but if I had to guess, I'd say you were some sort of blue spirit or something."

Not that she could see it, but Zuko smiled at her comment and replied, "You guessed it. I'm the Blue Spirit."

The waterbender smiled up at him and Zuko rather liked the way it made her eyes sparkle. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Blue Spirit. I'm the Paint—"

"The Painted Lady. I know."

Katara's smile disappeared and a puzzled expression took its place. "How did you know?"

Zuko grabbed her hand again and continued to drag her along with him as he explained. "Well, one, you're in our folklore. Two, I did hear about the village that you overtook. And, three, you're a girl with red paint on your face. It wasn't hard to figure out who you were." Zuko glanced down at her as he added, "But I must say that I was a bit surprised to find out that you're a waterbender, a master waterbender, in fact. How long have you been hiding in the Fire Nation?"

Katara didn't know how to answer. Should she lie or tell the truth? But the Blue Spirit answered for her before she even had the chance to form a response. "You don't have to tell me. I understand the need to hide your identity. I've been doing it for years in more ways than one. After all, a mask isn't the only way to hide who you really are. There are other ways."

The sadness in his voice took her off guard. He almost sounded ashamed, and Katara could only conclude that he was referring to his cultural heritage. As a part of the Fire Nation, everyone expected them to be evil and sinister, but the man that guided her through the ship's hull was anything but evil. He was good and kind, not at all like the firebender back at her camp.

The intrusive thought made Katara's eyes pop. What if…no, it couldn't be. The Blue Spirit was nothing like Zuko. He wasn't a hypocrite and a liar. He was on a selfless mission to rescue people, risking his own life for those who had been enslaved by the vile nation he had originated from. No, there was absolutely no possibility that the man beside her was Zuko for the banished prince wasn't even half the man that the Blue Spirit was. But looking up at her masked companion, Katara couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the Blue Spirit than met the eye.

Zuko wanted to kick himself. Why had he said that? She didn't know him, so why was he spilling his heart out to her? A mask isn't the only way to hide who you really are. Where had that come from? Wherever it had come from didn't matter. What mattered was that it was spoken in truth. Zuko had worn a mask for years, hiding his true feelings and desires behind a façade of duty and honor. But the mask was no more. He had realized his greater destiny and had set out on the path to find it.

Joining the Avatar had been one of the best decisions he'd made in a long time, but it hadn't completely pulled the mask from his face. He still wore it on occasion, well, on one occasion in particular. In the presence of the waterbender who he'd betrayed, he reasoned that it was best to hide his true feelings. But it wasn't at all what he wanted. He longed for her forgiveness, her acceptance, even her friendship. He missed the bond they had shared behind the walls of Ba Sing Se, but he wasn't about to admit that to her. No, it was best to leave the mask on. At least for now.

As Zuko turned the last corner leading down into the brig, he let go of the Painted Lady's hand and drew his swords. "There are sure to be several guards, so be ready."

Katara nodded her head in response and then pulled the water from her pouch. While following in step with every footfall, the two masked figures crept down the hallway and toward the prison hold. When at last Zuko stood before the door leading into the holding cells, he signaled for Katara to take up the position opposite of him and she quickly obeyed. With one kick of his foot, the door flung open and the guards bolted out of their seats.

The fight happened in a flurry of fire and water. Zuko leapt toward the first guard to advance and knocked him to the ground while Katara went after the second and third with her water whips. A fourth and a fifth were fast to join in the battle, and after Katara had taken down the pair that had initially surrounded her, she focused on the next two. The Blue Spirit was at her side as the last of the soldiers advanced, and in a similar blast of fire and water, they sent the guards crashing into the wall behind them.

"Hurry. We don't have much time," Zuko said as he turned and slashed at the first holding cell. Katara was quick to follow his example and began breaking the lock of the next cell with her ice bending. There were six prisoners, including the young woman that both Zuko and Katara were really there to rescue, and it didn't take long to free them. After Zuko slashed at the fifth lock, he looked over his shoulder at the sprawled out guards who were beginning to wake up. Glancing back at Katara, he exclaimed, "Quick! The guards are coming to! We've got to get them out of here!"

Katara hurriedly froze the last lock in front of her, water whipped it into a million pieces, and flung open the door. Putting her hand out to the young woman who had been wrongfully accused of thievery, she commanded in a gentle tone, "Come with me. We'll get you out of here and back to your father."

The girl stared back at the veiled woman with a sparkle of wonder and awe in her green eyes. "You're the Painted La—"

"Yes, I am. Now we don't have much time. We have to get you of here!" Grabbing the girl's hand, Katara dragged her out of the cell and then followed the Blue Spirit and the other prisoners out of the brig.

"Who are you?" an older gentleman asked in the Blue Spirit's direction as soon as they turned the corner.

Zuko didn't even react and Katara took it upon herself to answer for him. "We're here to rescue you. That's all you need to know."

The old man glanced over his shoulder at the shrouded figure behind him. He looked as if he wanted to ask her for an explanation, but he kept his mouth shut and turned his attention back on their blue-masked leader.

After gaining access to the second floor of the ship, the sirens rang out around them.

"Oh, no. We're going to get captured again."

"I don't want to go to the Fire Nation."

"I have to get home to my father."

Zuko faced the prisoners and put a finger to his masked lips. "Be quiet. We're not going to get caught. We'll get you out of here." His focus turned to his partner. "Painted Lady, I need your help."

Katara glided past the prisoners and came to stand beside her companion. "What is it?"

"We're almost to the top. Can you provide cover for us while I help them off the deck?" Zuko whispered in her ear, wary of the audience behind him.

"How are you going to do that? They can't climb down the side of the ship," she countered in a hushed tone.

"Just trust me." Zuko stared deeply into her veiled eyes and almost wished that she could see his. Maybe then she would trust him, but then again maybe not. He was, after all, the prince of the Fire Nation. Would she reject him as Katara did or accept him as the changed man that he was? Zuko waited for her reply, but when it appeared as if she wasn't going to answer, he raised the question, "You do trust me, don't you?"

"For the moment, yes," Katara answered honestly.

That was good enough for him. "Then give us some cover and I'll take care of the rest." Zuko turned to advance down the hallway but abruptly glanced back at her and suggested, "Maybe you could do some of that Painted Lady spirit stuff you did in that other village. Give them something to fear."

A wicked grin crossed Katara's face. "Anything you say, Blue."

He smiled back at her, again not that she could see it, and then continued down the hallway until they came to the entrance into the ship. The door was still propped open and some of the fog even remained in the air. But they needed more. Zuko looked back at the prisoners and then focused his attention on Katara. "Are you ready?"

In answer to his question, Katara stepped up beside him, gave him a reassuring nod, and moved out onto the deck. Some of the guards spotted her, but she ignored their advancement and summoned the water beneath the ship. As she shot her arms up above her head, the moisture filled the air and once more blanketed the vessel in a thick fog. She could hear Zuko behind her as he guided the prisoners through the haze and toward the front of the ship.

"There she is!" In one fluid motion, Katara bent the moisture in the air into several ice picks and sent them hurling toward her spotter. The spikes ran through the fabric of his clothes and pinned him to the ground. But being a firebender, he melted them with ease and rose to his feet to face her again. Katara quickly bent more water from the ocean and filled the space between them with a vapor so thick that he had no chance of seeing her.

Moving like the gentle sway of the ocean, Katara maneuvered through the fog with grace. She came across several guards on the deck, but she easily threw them off of the boat and into the ocean. As she advanced on the bow of the ship, she could hear more guards spilling out onto the deck behind her and an idea flickered in her mind. Give them something to fear, he'd said. Well then, she'd give them something to fear alright.

Breathing in the power from the crescent moon, Katara used all her strength to summon a huge wave of water onto the deck. Forming it into a circling wave around her feet, she rose with the tide and then blew the mist aside where the soldiers advanced. The guards immediately halted when they saw her ghost-like figure hovering over them.

"Who is that?" one of the soldiers fearfully asked as he pointed up at her.

In a voice that rang out across the deck, Katara roared, "I'm the Painted Lady."

"The Painted Lady?" the same trembling guard wondered aloud.

An older soldier standing in front of the group turned toward the young man and informed him, "Haven't you heard of her? She destroyed an entire Fire Nation factory and now she's come after us."

Katara ignored their musings and lifted herself higher above them, circling the vapor around her form. "If you do not leave this harbor immediately, I will destroy your ships."

"But we can't leave yet. We need more supplies," the old man opposed her, hesitantly taking a step closer.

Fire suddenly erupted from behind Katara and her eyes popped open in shock. Her first instinct was to defend herself against the flames but she quickly realized that the fire blew out around her not at her. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that it was not an attack but rather the Blue Spirit. With a quick nod of thanks in his direction, she turned her attention back on the cowering men before her.

But before she could open her mouth, Katara heard one of them say, "She commands both water and fire!"

A menacing smile crossed her lips and she reiterated her command in the same bellowing voice, "Leave this village and never return!" Then Katara lifted herself higher above them, and in the light of the moon, her face took on an unholy glow that made the men shudder in fear. With as much malice as she could muster gleaming in her shadow-covered eyes, she stared down at them and repeated her threat. "Or I will destroy your ships and everyone on them!"

Without waiting for an answer, Katara bent the moisture in the air into a swirling vortex of fog, surrounding herself with the circling shadows. In a flash of water and fire, she vanished from their sight and they stared after her in awe.

"General Zang, the prisoners have escaped!" one of the men exclaimed as he came out on to the deck.

The general looked back at the prison guard and simply stated, "We're leaving."

"But the prisoners, sir."

"Forget about them! We're leaving. Right now!" General Zang walked past his trembling men and down into the ship, gripping the fabric over his racing heart as he fled from their sight.

Once Katara's feet hit the deck, Zuko snatched up her hand and whispered in her ear, "Good job," as he pulled her along toward the front of the ship. When they hit the bow, Katara looked back at him in confusion, but Zuko simply wrapped his arm around her waist, told her, "Hold on to me," and then jumped off the ship. Katara was about ready to scream, but she didn't even have time to open her mouth before her feet were on solid ground. It all happened so fast, but it was apparent from the amber glow that the Blue Spirit had produced flames from his feet to slow their descent. Thankfully, it had worked, but Katara never wanted to do that again.

"Is that how you got all of them down?" she was quick to ask once he released her and they started to run toward the shadows of the village.

"No." As soon as they made it to one of the alleyways, Zuko turned around a corner and pressed himself up against the wall of one of the houses, taking a moment to catch his breath. Katara mimicked his movement, leaning into the wall next to him, and tried to slow her breathing as well. After his heart rate evened out, the Blue Spirit looked down at the Painted Lady and could see by her expression that she was waiting for a longer explanation. He easily gave it to her. "I tied a rope to the bow of the ship and had them all climb down it. Don't worry. They're safe."

Katara wrinkled her brow. "Then why didn't we climb down as well? That would have been a lot easier than scaring me to death."

A teasing grin appeared on Zuko's covered mouth. "Oh, so I scared you, huh?"

Katara huffed, pushed off the wall, and began strolling along the darkened street.

Zuko quickly caught up to her and explained, "It was easier and faster. We had to get off the ship before they spotted either one of us or—" the sound of moving ships reached their ears and Zuko finished "—before they left."

Katara couldn't argue with him there. "Fine." Poking him in the chest, she pushed him back as she scolded, "But don't ever. Do that. Again."

Zuko's only response was a hidden smile.

"Miss Painted Lady?" a timid voice reached Katara's ears. Turning toward the sound, she saw the six prisoners standing before her. The young girl Katara had been inclined to save that night stepped forward. "I just wanted to thank you for what you did. We all would."

The group each said their "thank you" and nodded in agreement with the girl. "Well, you're welcome," Katara graciously bowed to them.

"And I'd like to say thank you to you as well, Blue Spirit. We never would have escaped without you. Either of you."

Zuko bowed in response to the woman's praise as the group broke out once more in resounding thanks.

"So they've finally left our shores?" the elderly man directed to Katara.

She replied in kind, "It would seem so."

"Then we have much to thank you for besides our rescue. Our families are safe again," the old man sighed.

Katara wondered at the old man's reply and asked, "Tell me, why did they imprison all of you?"

The young girl looked up at the Painted Lady in confusion. "Isn't it obvious?" Glancing around at the other five, she explained, "We're all earthbenders. They've been imprisoning as many of us as they can find."

"But that no longer matters," the old man interjected. "We're free now. Thanks to the two of you. And on top of that, you've scared them off. There will be much joy and celebration in our village tomorrow upon seeing their absence."

Both Zuko and Katara smiled at the thought as the group of prisoners dissipated and went their separate ways. But before the young woman could leave, Katara called out to her and asked if she would take her to her father. "I might be able to heal him."

The smile that lit up the girl's face was more than Katara could have ever wished for. "That would be wonderful! I'll take you there right now."

The girl started down the street and Katara began to follow after her, but then she heard a deep voice echo her name and she turned instead toward her companion. Although she could not see his eyes, she knew exactly what he was going to say. "It's time for me to leave."

A sigh escaped her crimson lips. "I know." Katara stared up into the covered eyes of the firebender who had become her unexpected friend and a forlorn expression spread across her painted face. "When will I see you again?"

Neither one of them had thought it possible, but somehow a bond had formed between the Blue Spirit and his veiled companion. Zuko hadn't felt this way since Ba Sing Se, but he remembered the feeling well. It brought him great sadness to know that he had to once again turn his back on it, but it had to be done. The prospect of revealing himself was too risky. Therefore, the mask would remain. The bond would be severed. And they would both move on. For now.

Lifting his hand, Zuko placed it upon her cheek, the folds of her silk shroud molding to his gentle touch. "Don't worry, waterbender. We'll see each other again."

Katara leaned into the warmth of his hand, and a tear escaped from her eye, flowing freely down her painted cheek. She would miss him. Much to her surprise, she had grown rather fond of the masked firebender and wished that somehow he could come with her. She knew the answer before the question even formed in her mind. He would decline if she asked him to join their gang. She was sure of it. The Blue Spirit was a free man. She could sense that fire of independence in him. And so he would remain that way though it broke her heart to say goodbye.

Once the Blue Spirit dropped his hand from her cheek, the Painted Lady found her words. "I just want you to know something." Without warning, Katara flung her arms around his neck and held him in a tight embrace. At first Zuko was shocked at the hug, but slowly his own arms wound their way around her waist and pulled her closer to him. In a cracked whisper, Katara voiced her admiration. "You may be a firebender but you're nothing like the rest of the Fire Nation. Don't ever forget that. You're a man with a much greater destiny and I know you'll continue along that path." Pulling back from the hug, Katara looked up into the eyes of the blue mask. "And I hope someday to join you once more along that path."

"You will." Zuko once again put his hand to her cheek, relishing in the feel of her cool skin under his warm touch. "We're on the same side, fighting against the same war. We're bound to run into each other again. But when we do…" a teasing smile crossed Zuko's lips even though he knew she couldn't see it, "try not to attack me."

A chuckle escaped Katara's mouth. "I won't. But I can't promise that I won't hug you."

The Blue Spirit mimicked her chuckle, and for a split second, Katara was reminded of that afternoon when Zuko had laughed for the first time. But when her masked partner opened his mouth in reply, she pushed the memory aside and focused on the moment at hand. "A hug would be fine as long as you don't throw me in the ocean."

With a teasing smile on her face, Katara replied, "Don't worry, Blue. You're safe with me." Her companion laughed again and Katara suddenly felt uneasy about the sound. The pieces were beginning to fit together and his identity was coming into focus. But he couldn't be. It was impossible. But still the image of the firebender back at camp clouded her vision and made her wonder.

"Painted Lady?"

The voice of the young prison girl invaded her thoughts and Katara turned to her as the Blue Spirit relinquished his hold around her waist. "I'm coming. I was just saying goodbye to the—" But when she turned around, the masked man was gone. Then it was truly over. She would never see him again. Katara closed her eyes, holding back the tears.

"Lady? Are you coming?"

Turning her attention back to the task at hand, Katara pushed all thought of the Blue Spirit from her mind and followed after the hopeful earthbender. Though she wanted to believe him, she doubted she would ever behold that blue mask again or feel the gentle touch of his hand upon her face.

///A\\\

Zuko untied the mask and dropped it onto his sleeping mat. He looked down at it with regret. Why didn't you just tell her? It was mocking him, telling him that he'd made a mistake in leaving. You'll never see her again. Kicking the mask into the corner of his tent, Zuko threw his belongings on top of it and stepped out into the night air. No. I will see her again. I will, he spoke the promise to himself. Sitting cross-legged before the campfire, Zuko breathed in the energy that the flames emitted. He tried to silence the jumble of thoughts in his head, but they wouldn't listen.

When will I see you again?

Inhale. Exhale.

We're on the same side, fighting against the same war. We're bound to run into each other again.

Rise. Fall.

You may be a firebender but you're nothing like the rest of the Fire Nation. You're a man with a much greater destiny and I know you'll continue along that path.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

And I hope someday to join you once more along that path.

The flames of the campfire suddenly exploded into the air as his anger hit its boiling point. What had he done? He'd destroyed all hope of ever seeing her again. He didn't even know her real name and she didn't know his. How would they ever find one another? All he knew was that she was a waterbender. He hadn't even discovered which tribe she was from let alone if she'd even been raised in one. As the flames subsided, Zuko put his head into his hands. It was hopeless. He would never see her again. Never.

"Zuko?"

His sigh came out more like a disgruntled huff. Would she ever leave him alone? All he wanted was one moment of peace but here she was again, ready to make his life a living hell. As if it wasn't already. He'd just lost another woman that he'd unexpectedly bonded with, another wonderfully amazing woman. At least he hadn't betrayed her this time. No, but you left her just as you did before. The voice spoke before he could turn it off and the flames rose a little higher.

"Is something wrong?"

Breathe in. Breathe out. "No, I'm fine. I couldn't sleep is all."

To his amazement, Katara stepped closer to the fire and actually sat across from him. "Yeah, neither could I."

Was that sorrow he heard behind with her words? What could possibly be wrong with her? Did he accidentally wake her up? But she didn't appear to be angry with him. Instead she had this far-off look in her eyes like something else was occupying her mind. Before he could stop himself, the question fell forth from his mouth. "What's wrong?"

Katara sighed and brought her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around them. "Nothing."

Zuko knew enough about women to know that it was never nothing. "Something's wrong."

Anger suddenly spilled out of her. "Then why don't you just tell me what it is, firebender."

Firebender. There was that term again. With a huff that sent the fire billowing higher into the night sky, Zuko closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on his meditation. But his thoughts immediately turned to the Painted Lady. He could still see her eyes, smell the ocean in her hair, and hear the sound of her voice. Firebender. Zuko's heart stopped. Her voice. It sounded just like…no, it was impossible.

Zuko forced his mind to think on the skill of her bending instead. She had truly been amazing. Every movement was so fluid and precise and masterful. Without warning, the memory of Katara's graceful bending invaded his thoughts but Zuko forced it aside once more, turning his attention to the crystal blue eyes of his mystery companion. But just as quickly as the previous thought had entered his mind, a picture of Katara's beautiful, blue eyes flashed before his vision. He tried to force it out of his head, but it wouldn't leave. No! he yelled at the intrusive thoughts. It's impossible! The Painted Lady is some other waterbender! But the startling notion continued to haunt him.

Don't worry, waterbender. We'll see each other again. Katara sighed at the memory of his words. It didn't matter that she'd been able to heal the girl's father or that she'd rescued her from that prison. All that mattered now was that she would never see him again. He had disappeared from her life just as Zuko had under the streets of Ba Sing Se. You laughed. I've never heard you laugh. The uneasy feeling returned to her stomach and Katara pulled her knees in tighter to her chest. So what if the Blue Spirit's laugh sounded like Zuko's. That didn't prove anything. He didn't sound like Zuko, didn't look like Zuko, didn't…but all too quickly Katara couldn't think of any more reasons. What if Zuko…?

Katara abruptly looked up and her gaze centered on the firebender seated across from her. He appeared to be meditating but the slow rising flame and the wrinkle of his brow said otherwise. He was obviously trying to meditate but it didn't look like he was succeeding. Something was weighing heavily on his mind and Katara could see it in the hard lines of his face. But what could he possibly be thinking of that was making him angry? A disquieting notion entered her thoughts. What if he wasn't angry? What if he was sad? For Zuko, anger and sadness were portrayed in about the same way, so it was hard to tell which was which. But Katara thought she knew.

Burying her face in her knees, Katara tried to push the thoughts away. No! It's not possible. The Blue Spirit is nothing like Zuko. But try as she might to think of a way in which the Blue Spirit didn't fit Zuko, she couldn't find one. They were both firebenders. Both had the same laugh and even a hint of the same voice. And then there were the Dao swords. Zuko had a pair just like the Blue Spirit's. But so do other people, Katara reasoned. The voice of her unexpected friend answered in turn, A mask isn't the only way to hide who you really are. There are other ways. Katara's eyes popped. No, it's impossible! The Blue Spirit is some other firebender! But the voices would not stop, the memories would not disappear, and the unbelievable conclusion would not change no matter how much she wanted it to.

No! Katara is not the Painted Lady! Zuko's thoughts echoed within him.

Katara's mind resounded in kind. It's impossible! Zuko is not the Blue Spirit!

But suddenly the world slowed around them as the truth of their shared memory rapidly pieced itself together in their minds and came into focus within their hearts. In the space of a single breath, their gaze locked across the blazing fire and they saw the same spark of wonder mirrored in each other's eyes. With the masks discarded, their identities were revealed, and the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady stared into the eyes of their unexpected friend, a friend who had been there all along.

---

SEQUEL ANYONE??? I can't decide whether to continue this now or later. I mean, I could add more to it at the end, or I could continue it in another LETTER. What do you think? Does it need more?

Phew. This is by far the longest piece I've written for this series, not to mention the longest piece I've ever written. Over 11,000 words!!! Can you say WOW!? LOL.

Just like HEALING, this bad boy took me three days to complete but not because it was hard. It was just long. Actually, the story flowed out of me pretty easily once I got started. Oh, and the only thing in my mind when I started this piece was that I wanted Zuko and Katara to go to a village together, see somebody get captured but they couldn't intervene because they'd blow their cover, and then later that night meet up together as the Painted Lady and the Blue Spirit. That's all I knew. The rest of it was totally on the spot. The jokes, the conversations, Katara's wicked spirit moves, everything! That just goes to prove (AnnaAza) that once you start, the characters will finish the story for you. So what are you waiting for, girl? *inside joke*

Well, I gotta say that I absolutely love this story. The banter between Zuko and Katara at the beginning is just hilarious and I love the joke that he plays on her. Don't freak out! Katara was simply wearing what she always wears when she's waterbending so it was really no big deal. It was just a cute, embarrassing moment. =D Anyway, I loved their banter, even when they were the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady. It was too cute! And the whole "leave this village and never come back" stuff was just awesome! Yeah for Katara! Oh, and I loved Zuko's landing that scared Katara half to death. Hehe. Too funny.

As for the ending, well, I was originally going to leave it totally wide open and make you wonder if they ever figured it out, but, come on, they had to figure it out! I mean, it was right there in front of them! It was only a matter of time. They're both very smart and I bet one look at each other would be enough to get the gears spinning in their heads. And it did! So there you have it. They figured it out! But, seriously, do you want a SEQUEL?

What more can I say? It was fantastic and I'm so proud of this story! I still say that GONE was my best written one, but IDENTITY holds the medal for being the most adventurous and the most fun to write and read. At least, that's how I look at it. But what do you think?

REVIEW PLEASE!!!

AVidZktjo

***The Letter J stands for JUDGMENT and will be another serious moment in the life of Zutara, plus I'm betting that it will be insanely long, so bear with me. And also, in order to make this easy, I put up a poll on my profile page. If you want a sequel to IDENTITY, you gotta let me know. So see my POLL, place your VOTE, and have a great day!***