i still own nothing although i wish i did......zutara forever!

"Oh, I'm sorry" she turned around to see who it was and saw two golden eyes staring back at her.

Before she could run away, the shadowy figure gripped one of her wrists, careful not to hurt her, but strong enough where she could not get away.

"You know you shouldn't be walking alone. Wasn't Aang with you today?" The figure stepped out of the shadows, it was Zuko. She blinked then tried to pull away, but his grip remained. He took her other wrist with his hands.

He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "I'll save you from the pirates." Causing her to remember a time when he had captured her but Aang had successfully got her and they ran.

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Katara heard a noise. She ran to the bush and peeked through a hole. There was a fire navy ship and the pirate ship. She ran back but hit something hard. She looked up and saw a huge pirate. When she turned to run he grabbed her.
"Let go of me!" she yelled as she hit him with a very bad water whip.

She ran and turned to see if any more were behind. When she turned back around, she saw someone who was last person she wanted to see, Prince Zuko. He grabbed her wrists as she looked at him wide-eyed.
"I'll save you from the pirates," he said to her, before dragging her off to where his ship was docked.

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Katara struggled against Zuko's grip, but was not strong enough.
He let go of her and she turned to run.

"Wait, don't go…please?" She had never heard Zuko ask her anything without demanding it. She had broken ribs and bruises to prove that. This made her turn around to face him.

"What do you want? And why did you whisper that to me?"
"You remember the pirates, right?" She nodded slowly, "and I was wonder..." he swallowed loudly.

This was a lot easier in front of his mirror, an hour earlier.

"What were you wondering? If it has anything to do with bloodbending, I will kill you." She glared at him.

"No it doesn't, I promise. I was wondering…" he paused, thinking over his words.
"You know that there is a ball tomorrow night for my coronation?" he asked cautiously, trying to disguise what he really wanted to know.

She nodded silently, raising an eyebrow.

"I was wondering," he paused, "would you like to accompany me?" He burst out and turned away, his face burning a dark red.

She pondered this. Why he would be asking her, she couldn't figure out.. She couldn't fit two and two together, her mind racing. No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! her mind screamed at her.

"Yes." She replied in a soft whisper. He had to strain to hear it, but he wanted her to say it proudly.

"What, I couldn't hear you." He lied.
"Yes" she said a light shade of pink coming to her dark skin. He looked her in the eyes for a moment. They were like two pools of water. She stared into his. His like two dancing flames.

"Katara?" came a shout from somewhere around the corner. It was Sokka, probably making sure she hadn't drowned in the pond. Or fell off the bridge. When he will ever stop worrying about her, she never knew.

She looked back at Zuko, who had a frightened expression over his face.
"I have to go, meet me here tomorrow at sundown. And were your most beautiful dress, and get a mask." He hurriedly whispered in her ear. Foot steps told them that Sokka was not far behind them.

He smiled down at her and raced off. She smiled shyly in his wake. She then looked off to the pond.

Sokka found her and yelled at her about how she always had to have someone with her, but she ignored him, she was off in a daze. Then he told her that Aang would accompany her to the ball, but Katara just stared him in the eyes.
"I already have a date" she said, and stormed off.

Sokka looked at her bewildered. Who could have asked her, he thought to himself. One name came to his mind, but he brushed it off. Why would Zuko even want to take Katara? He constantly reminded them they were peasants. He was probably taking some nobleman's daughter.

So who was taking Katara? He thought about who was here. It was probably Haru. They all knew he liked her. But he trusted Haru. Haru wouldn't do anything to his sister. Unlike a certain Fire Lord, he thought darkly to himself.
He walked after Katara. Happy he solved his mystery. Little did he know, he was far from the answer.

Zuko walked into his room, happy he had finally asked Katara to the ball. Glad he made it a masquerade ball, so she wouldn't have to look at his scar for night. He sighed happily to himself as he climbed into his bed.

Katara slowly made it to her room. She immediately walked to her wardrobe and took out a large box on the bottom. She blew the dust off and placed it in her chair. Along with that, she reached the top of her wardrobe, and found what she was looking for. She placed it down on top of her box. She climbed Into bed and fell asleep immediately.

the last chapter is next...look for the sequel The Moon in His Sky....coming soon