Katara knelt by the Fire Nation palace's pond one night, doing something she had not done in a long time; praying.
"Yue," she started, head bowed and hands clasped together. "A friend of mine has been given a mark of shame because of a very noble act. Please, bless this water so that I may use it to free him of his mark."
Lifting her head, Katara stared anxiously at the pond, looking for some sign that her request had been heard.
Suddenly, the water began to glow brightly, making the night seem like day. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished and the pond was once again undisturbed.
Smiling, Katara silently thanked her friend for listening.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Hey, slow down! Where are you taking me?" Zuko asked as Katara dragged him through the palace halls.
The waterbender merely grinned and told him to hurry up.
Finally, she stopped in the palace garden, beside the turtle-duck pond.
"Close your eyes," Katara said.
Zuko opened his mouth to protest, but she merely pressed a finger to his lips and said, "Just do it."
The prince reluctantly obeyed.
Grinning with barely contained excitement, Katara bent the water from the pond into a glove for her hand. She then gently placed her hand to his scar. Zuko tensed under her touch.
"It stings," Zuko hissed from between clenched teeth.
"Just relax. I'm almost done."
Moments later, Katara removed her hand from his face, and gasped slightly at what she saw. Zuko felt around his eye, feeling the now smooth skin that now covered the area.
"But, how – I thought you used the spirit water on the Avatar!"
"I asked the moon spirit to bless the pond for you," she explained. "C'mon, let's go show the others."
XxXxXxXxXxX
Zuko stepped into the palace dining room with Katara at his side. All their friends had gathered there to see what the waterbender had dubbed as 'the great surprise'.
Now, seeing his former enemies chatting curiously amongst themselves, he suddenly felt very self-conscious about his now scar-less face.
"Everyone!" Katara called out to the small crowd. "I'd like you all to look at Zuko, the new Fire Lord!"
As told, everyone glanced over to where they stood. And stared.
Suddenly, no one was talking.
Sokka was the first to break the silence by asking, "What the hell happened to your face?"
Author's Notes: xD Sorry, I couldn't resist putting in that Sokka line. It begged to be added.
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.
