Chapter 1: Bitterness

Haru alerted them to Appa's return. Katara was so relieved, getting to her feet from trying to prepare for dinner. She, Sokka, and Toph came out onto the huge platform of the Western Air Temple just in time to see the flying bison land. Haru, Teo, and the Duke were already over there to greet the Avatar and Fire Prince. Aang used Appa's soft white fur as a slide to get down, while Zuko leaped gracefully and landed like a cat.

Katara could tell that both young men looked not only tired, but also full-filled in a way. By the way Aang was grinning, she was sure they were able to find the answers they sought. She was only glad that Aang was okay. She then felt a tinge of guilt. Maybe she was judging Zuko too harshly. But all she could be reminded about was what he did to them in the past.

"How did it go, Twinkle Toes?" Toph asked, grinning.

"You should have seen it! The Sun Warrior ruins were amazing! They were so ancient! But they still existed, even after all this time! And Zuko and I got to face the last two dragons! They taught us Firebending!" Aang exclaimed.

"Well, that's nice, but I can't see, dummy," Toph sighed. "But it sounds as though the two of you were able to find what you were looking for! That's great!"

Aang smiled sheepishly. Momo flew over and landed on his shoulder, showering the last Airbender with love. Aang laughed softly, and by this time Appa roared out hungrily.

"Oops! I'm sorry, buddy!" Aang called.

"So, that's it? You two found some dragons, and bam, they taught you Firebending?" Sokka asked, scratching his head. "They didn't try to eat you?"

"I bet they were huge!" the Duke squeaked.

"No! We danced with them!" Aang laughed. "I guess they liked it, because they didn't try to eat us! I'm glad! They were pretty scary!"

Zuko rolled his eyes. "I never would have guessed on dancing."

"Wait…what? You danced with the dragons?" Sokka chuckled.

"And that is why I call Aang Twinkle Toes," Toph laughed, turning to walk away with the others.

"Maybe we should explain," Zuko suggested, turning to face Aang as he was feeding the hungry flying bison some hay.

"Yeah, maybe you should," Katara grumbled. She decided to head back to where they had camp set up to finish up cooking.

Toph went with her, and it didn't take long for Zuko, Aang, and Sokka to catch up. At camp, Haru, the Duke, and Toph were sitting around the unlit campfire talking now. Katara went over to finish setting the fish ready to cook. Now all she needed was to start the fire. She went over to the burnt out campfire, looking for the flint. A lot of the wood was still good, so she didn't have to throw more on the pile.

"Sokka, where is the flint?" she sighed.

"I uhh…kinda threw it out."

"Why?"

"Aw c'mon! We have a Firebender in the group now! Do we really need it?" Sokka retorted.

"He does have a point!" Haru laughed.

"Sparky! Start the fire! I'm hungry!" Toph exclaimed, picking her toes.

"What did you just call me?" Zuko asked, confused.

"She gives everyone nicknames, don't worry about it. It means she likes you," Aang explained, smiling.

Zuko went over to the pit, looking at Katara. She slightly glared at him, drawing back to give him some space to ignite the fire. Zuko drew a large flame out of his palm, careful to not let the strong wind blow it away. It was still daylight outside, he and Aang had gotten back sooner than expected. It relieved the prince to see his fire back. What was strange was that it felt stronger now, more alive. He lit the campfire easily. Katara then got to work on hanging the fish, and moving on to the rice. Zuko was about to start helping her, along with making his Uncle's tea, when Sokka spoke up.

"So, show us what the dragons taught you!"

Aang hopped to his feet, running over to Zuko and grabbing his arm. "Let's dance, Zuko!"

"What?" he spat, hearing the others laugh.

"They taught you how to dance?" Toph asked.

"It's an ancient form of Firebending! It's amazing!" Aang said to the others.

He and Zuko got into position, starting out the Dancing Dragon slow and then gradually speeding up. Katara stopped with messing with the rice, trying to bend water into it to watch them. Sokka had this cheesy grin on his face as he watched, while Haru, Teo, and the Duke seem quite interested. Momo even stopped eating his berries to watch, cocking his head curiously.

Zuko and Aang finished the form by bringing their fists together. The others clapped as they turned around to go sit back down. Sokka was chuckling amidst the group.

"This is great! We can just tap dance our way to victory against the Fire Lord!" he laughed.

"It's not a dance," Zuko growled. "It's a form of Firebending that is thousands of years old!"

"Oh yeah?" Katara popped off. "What is your little form called?"

Zuko growled lowly, shoulders sagging as he was forced to say the name. "The…Dancing Dragon."

The others proceeded to laugh a little. Zuko heaved a sigh, feeling Aang pat him on the shoulder. He understood what they were trying to do. They were trying to teach him some humility, something Uncle had been trying to teach him for a long time. Zuko closed his eyes, smiling slightly and going to sit down by Aang and Toph. He could tell the blind Earthbender's feet were still a little burned, but they were doing much better now, thanks to Katara's healing ability.

Zuko watched Katara closely as she finished up the cooking. The food was about ready. Zuko decided he should start on the tea, but he watched her for a moment longer. She was the only one who didn't trust him. Sokka was slowly coming around, despite his snide remarks at times. Toph was probably the easiest one to trust him, but she kept reminding Zuko that he should expect a payback for her burnt feet.

Zuko knew why Katara hated him. It wasn't just because of what he did to her and the others for countless months, but because she was the first to trust him down in the Ba Sing Se prison in the Crystal Catacombs, and then he turned on her and Aang…along with his Uncle. Zuko always hated thinking back on that. If only he had kept their trust and went against his sister instead. Then maybe, not only would Zuko be here with them as he was now with full trust, but Uncle Iroh would be here as well.

I need to make it up to her…turn things right between us. I don't blame her for hating me…but I do want her friendship. I need to prove myself to her…

Sighing, the Fire Prince got to his feet to go over to his supplies to get the tea started. Soon, the group was settled down eating their meal and sipping on warm tea. By nightfall, Appa was sleeping just down from them, his fur turning silver under the moonlight and stars. They were all getting ready to follow on behind him, getting their things together to go to their rooms inside the temple. A thick fog had settled in the deep trench where the temple over hanged. Zuko took a moment to look up into the starry sky and take in the cool breeze. His hair and clothes ruffled in the wind.

Aang came over to him, yawning and stretching. "So, will we start tomorrow?"

Zuko nodded, glancing down at the shorter boy. "Yes. Will you be ready?"

Aang lowered his eyes. "I think so. The dragons really helped me. I shouldn't fear fire. Besides, I am kinda interested doing more than just fire farts now." He chuckled.

Zuko eased a smile, chuckling himself. "I hear ya on that."

"Thank you, Zuko…for taking us on that trip. I think both of us came out of there with a life changing experience."

"I should be thanking you," he mumbled. He didn't say anymore, knowing the Avatar would understand the meaning behind his words.

Aang decided to lighten the mood. "Even though you had to touch the golden egg."

"I got us to see the Sun Warriors, didn't I?" Zuko chuckled, looking over at him.

"Yes, but you didn't know that was going to happen…or that the room was going to fill up with nasty, green glue!

"I was hoping to see you bend it," the Fire Prince answered.

"That would have come in handy," Aang mused. He then sighed. "Well, good night. I will be ready in the morning to start."

Zuko acknowledged him with a nod, watching as Aang turned to head to his room inside the Western Air Temple. As he was about to leave and retreat to his room for the night, he saw Katara coming over to the campsite to douse the fire with water. She bended the water beautifully, killing the fire gracefully and gently. Steam hissed up, followed by smoke. He walked over to her, where she proceeded to tense and glare over at him.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I wanted to talk."

"There's nothing for us to talk about, Zuko."

"What can I do to gain your forgiveness?" he whispered.

For a moment, her features softened and she looked up into his gold eyes. They seemed to study each other for long moment, only the wind passing between them. She heaved a sigh, closing her eyes and getting to her feet. She pushed past him.

"Please…just leave me alone right now," she said softly.

Zuko stood there, watching her go. His shoulders slumped again, and for a moment, he wondered how he was ever going to get her to come around. He kept trying to tell himself that it shouldn't matter. He was here to teach the Avatar Firebending so they could end the war. Why should he care what she thought of him?

It's just that…I made so many mistakes in my life…I just want to feel secure that I am doing something right for once…

"Don't worry about Sugar Queen. She will come around."

Zuko turned around, watching as the blind girl walked over to him. She had a smile on her face, even though her blind eyes were staring at the nearby wall. She stood next to the Fire Prince, waiting for him to say something.

"You think?"

"She is too goody-two shoes to not end up forgiving you. It's gonna eat at her like a hyena-bear gnawing on bones."

Zuko blinked. "Uhh…"

"Look, Sparky…I can tell that you are really sorry for the things you done. I know I wasn't here for most of them, so I really can't judge you. Maybe it would be different if I went through what they did with you, but at this point what matters is that you are here helping us. Aang needs to learn Firebending, or he will lose in his battle with the Fire Lord."

"Thanks…I guess…how old are you again?"

Toph glared, though her gaze wasn't directed at him. "Just because I am twelve doesn't mean I'm not able to understand life. Or are you hitting on me?"

Zuko drew away, slightly laughing hesitantly. "No, not at all. I do appreciate your words though. Thank you."

She grinned. "You are very welcome, Sparky! Oh, and I do owe you some payback."

"What?" Zuko grunted.

At this time, Toph stomped her left foot, bringing up a chunk of earth and dropping it with much force on Zuko's foot. The Fire Prince yelped out, grabbing his foot and hopping for a moment.

"What the hell?" he hissed in pain.

"Hey, I could have smashed it on that hard head of yours…but I am sure the rock would have just shattered," Toph sighed. "Well, now we are even for you burning my feet. Good night, Sparky!"

Zuko grumbled, standing up straight even though the top of his foot pulsed with pain. He ended up smiling though. Toph really helped him out with her words. And he did deserve the rock on his foot after burning her on accident. The Fire Prince decided to retreat to his room for the night, feeling the cool wind follow him into the temple.

Zuko awoke not long after sun break. He went ahead and got things situated in the camp while waiting for the others to awaken. He started the fire again to the camp, and went over to the ledge to look down into the deep trench. Fog had settled into the trench for the early morning, forming dew all along the Air Temple's structures and plants. The flow of the fountain seemed to soothe him a bit.

He heard movement behind him, and he turned. He locked eyes with Katara, who was wandering out to get things started as well. She seemed surprised that it was all done, and she barely nodded her head at him as if to say thank you. Zuko watched her gather some things, settling down around the fire. He could hear Appa waking up with a large yawn.

It didn't take long for the others to start coming out of their rooms. Sokka and Toph were the last ones to awake. Toph looked as if she had been attacked by a wind storm, her hair was so crazy.

"Toph, did you get into a fight with a saber tooth moose-lion or what?" Teo chuckled.

"I could ask you the same thing, but I have no idea what you look like," Toph chuckled.

Aang skipped excitedly over to Zuko, almost stepping on Momo's tail. The lemur screeched out, leaping onto Katara's shoulder to watch Aang laugh and run around the Fire Prince.

"Are we ready, Zuko? Huh are we? I am excited to start learning today!"

Sokka chuckled. "You two jerks have fun learning then."

"I should have breakfast ready within an hour. Come and take a break then to eat," Katara told them as the two headed off.

"Okay, Katara!" Aang called over his shoulder.

"I wonder if Aang will accidentally catch Zuko's hair on fire." Sokka mused, rubbing his chin.

Katara rolled her eyes and got to work getting things situated. Haru, the Duke, and Teo insisted they were going to go watch the two with the Firebending, and got up and left. Sokka went over to feed Appa really quick, and then settled down next to Katara and Toph once more.

"So, Sugar Queen, are ya going to forgive him soon?" Toph popped off.

"What? No!"

"I can tell it's eating at you!"

"It is not! What is eating at me is that I still don't understand why all of you can trust him so easily! I was the first to trust him down in the prison in Ba Sing Se…that didn't work out well for us, did it? Even his poor Uncle got betrayed!" Katara spat.

"I didn't know you could be so snobby. How weird," Toph sighed, spitting out the shells of the nuts she was snacking on.

"You wouldn't understand. You missed out on all of his…well his…"

"Evil Zuko things!" her brother finished for her, nodding his head matter-of-factly.

"Yeah!" Katara heaved.

"Well, if I had his crazy family and was raised the way I was like that, I think I would be just like him. I mean, he could have turned out worse…like his father or Azula," Toph stated, shaking her head.

"She…does have a point," Sokka muttered. "His sister his hoo-hoo." He twisted his finger around in a circular motion to show he meant crazy.

"Fine, you are all entitled to your opinion," sighed the Master Waterbender. "I'm just not ready to accept him yet."

"When will you be able to? After we beat the Fire Lord?" Toph snorted.

Katara almost bristled. "Maybe."

"Ya know, maybe I will go watch them Firebend," Toph growled, getting to her feet.

"But you're blind!" Sokka called after her.

"Thanks for pointing that out, genius!"

The two Water Tribe siblings were quiet as Katara started preparing breakfast. They had some fish left, but not much. She mostly had rice and some nuts. She figured she could go out and collect some fruit as well. Sokka twirled his meteorite sword absently, deep in thought. He glanced up at her.

"You know, it is hard to except him sometimes…but I feel Aang is right. Zuko was always meant to be his teacher…and you once told me that everyone deserves to be forgiven…well, except for the man who took mom away…"

"How many times have we tried to forgive Zuko and he turned on us?" Katara asked.

"Look, Kat…my hostility towards the guy isn't there anymore. Aang feels the same way. It's fun to pick on Zuko…teach him a little humility here and there, but the important thing is that he is here to help end the war. To throw away his title as prince to come here and do that…well that should account to something."

Katara lowered her eyes, feeling guilt try and enter into her heart once more. She didn't answer her brother after that, instead went into deep thought about what he had told her. She knew Sokka was right…even Toph and Aang were right. But Katara just couldn't let the bitterness go…it wasn't that easy…

But he is proving himself…maybe I am being a little too harsh on him…

A/N: And here is Chapter 1! So, like I said before this story will stick with the main storyline at parts, but I will be bringing in new things...especially when it comes to Zuko and Katara...mwahahahaha! Yes, I made up the hyena-bear...they never mentioned one in the show hahaha! The next chapter will be about the Boiling Rock, so there won't be much ZukoxKatara moments, but after that things will really start to ignite! Get it? Ignite? Zuko can...never mind sigh...Lots of bitterness here, but don't worry it will get better! Even though this is a Zutara fic, I am also probably going to throw in some Taang and Sukka! Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone! :)