The Fire Prince and the Water Maiden: Chapter Two
Katara's first reaction when she sees the looming ship is terror. It is like a reminder of her mother's death all over again.
"Sokka look out!" Her terrified shriek rips out of her body almost without her realizing it. Her brother, her stupid egotistical brother is right in front of the ship, ready to defend his family and home.
Idiot.
To her relief, the ship stops just in front of her brother, and he collapses backwards, landing in a large pile of snow. Safe. Unharmed. Thank the spirits.
But it's not over.
The ship lowers it's boarding prow, and like emerging from the mouth of hell, the soldiers make their way down. And at their head is a boy, the only one without a mask on his face and she wishes he has the skull-like mask on. The scar on his left eye has healed, but it still looks red and raw, as angry as the expression on his face. It's a reminder of what these people, no, these monsters can do. It's like looking at her mother's corpse face all over again, the skin burnt and charred beyond saving.
She would cry if only she wasn't so afraid.
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The first time Zuko sees the water tribe girl, he doesn't even notice her. She is just another face in the crowd as he scans for the Avatar.
When she next appears he realises she's a water bender. Woefully untrained, but she knows enough to turn his men into chunks of ice so thick it takes almost an hour to defrost them. And she is protecting the Avatar.
The next time they meet, he won't be ignoring her.