Disclaimer: Do not own. :(
Authors Note: ok heres chapter two rewritten. Was rewritten on 3-4-12 and 3-12-12
"Ok so you're telling me that your father took you to the fire nation, was best friends with the fire princess or lady, and you were raised a fire nation and water tribe princess?" Kanna asked with a comical look on her face. Katara nodded her head slowly and looked at Zuko to find him trying not to laugh.
"What's so funny Zuko?" Katara asked as she stepped away from her grandmother, walking towards Zuko. Zuko shook his head, but Katara kept trying. Zuko sighed in defeat.
"Just remembering when we found out you were a water bender," Zuko said trying not to grin at Kataras embarrassment. Zuko's grin vanished immediately, and turned serious.
"Uh Katara, can I speak with you privately?" Zuko asked as he looked at her grandmother for her permission. Kanna nodded her head quietly, letting the two talk.
"Do you know why I was banished Katara?" Zuko asked quietly. Katara shook her head, but she did have a hunch on what happened.
"I'm not allowed to return, I can only return if I find the Avatar. That's why I came barging into the village demanding him. And sorry about that," Zuko said sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck and laughing awkwardly.
"Well, I do know an air bender if that counts for anything," Katara said looking at the groun, waiting for his reaction. Zuko looked up at her in shock, eyes widening.
"Ok let's make a deal Katara,"
"Depends on what kind of deal Zuko," Katara pointed out coolly, knowing how Zuko's mind works.
"We find the Avatar, take him to the North Pole, you both learn to water bend, find a earth bending master, and we teach him fire bending."
"Why the rush for?" Katara asked truly wondering why they should do that in two years.
"Sozin's Comet," Zuko muttered bitterly, looking at the ground in shame not wanting to see Katara's horrified expression.
"Sozin's Comet is next summer?" Katara said mortified. Zuko nodded his head in conformation.
"So getting back on topic, can you take me to air bender so I can meet him and test him if he is the avatar?" Katara nodded her head and they both walked out of the room. They walked through the village, seeing all of the villagers looking at them with curiosity and shock. They reached the end of the village and saw a large wall of ice.
"Aang?" Katara yelled, hoping the young boy was still there.
"Katara?" Aang asked looking out from behind the flying bison.
"Aang, I would like you to meet someone." Katara said as she led Aang to Zuko. Aangs eyes widened.
"That's the kid that raided the village! Why is he here? Why are you with him willingly?" Aang asked mortified, not wanting Katara to be in trouble.
"Uh, Aang. He didn't actually do any damage to the village and I kinda already knew him. I knew him since I was a child." Katara muttered in a deadpan tone.
"Zuko, Aang. Aang, this is Prince Zuko." Katara said as she introduced the two boys. They shook hands in Fire Nation still and bowed to each other.
"Aang, I know you said earlier that you aren't the Avatar, but can we test you? There is something bad about to happen in the next two years and we've agreed we would train him or her." Katara said looking at Zuko who was nodding his head in conformation. Aang looked at the ground shamefully.
"I never did want to be the Avatar. They told me when I was only 12 years old." Aang said quietly. Zuko's and Katara's eyes widened in shock.
"You're the Avatar?" Zuko said eyes widening in shock, Aang nodded his head slowly.
"GOD DAMMIT!" Zuko bellowed, going back farther as much as he could, Katara looked at him, eyes filling with worry.
"Zuko!"
"Dammit Katara," Zuko yelled. "3 years of my life wasted all because of some little boy." Zuko said angrily, trying not to sob. Katara walked up to him and hugged him tightly. Zuko, squirmed at first but relax and started crying more freely. Crying of all of the pain he went through.
"Hey get away from my sister JerkBender!" Sokka roared, tearing Zuko and Katara away from each other. Katara shrugged sheepishly and grinned at Zuko.
"Why Sokka?" Katara asked innocently, Zuko busted out laughing knowing full well what that look and voice meant. Katara sent him a look and Sokka looked at the scene between the two not knowing what was happening.
"We're going home young lady!" Sokka exclaimed as he grabbed her wrist starting to leave her towards the village. Katara wretched her hand away from him and stayed where she was next to Zuko.
"No." Sokka's eyes widened in shock at what she was saying.
"Why would you stay with him? He attacked Gran-Gran!" Sokka exclaimed trying to convince her to go with him.
"Because we haven't had time to catch up yet." Katara said in a deadpan tone.
"But, b-but he's Fire Nation!" Sokka sputtered.
"He's also Water Tribe too." With that Katara grabbed Zuko's arm and led them to the hut as quickly as possible to get away from Sokka. Katara heard voices from inside and found Gran-Gran and Uncle Iroh chatting.
"Hey Uncle Iroh," Katara and Zuko said in unison. They looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Kanna looked at her granddaughter wondering why she would be so happy with the Fire Nation.
"Katara, come help me in the kitchen dear." Kanna asked as she led Katara into the kitchen. Zuko started walking in there with her but was stopped by Iroh.
"Prince Zuko. You are not using Princess Katara in means to find the Avatar are you? If you are you know me and your moth-" Iroh was cut off by an annoyed Zuko.
"No Uncle. We already found the Avatar, but I'm not going to give him to the Fire Lord." Zuko looked at the ground shamefully waiting for a scolding from Iroh. Instead he looked up to find a proud look on his face.
"Uncle?" Zuko questioned.
"I'm proud of you, you have finally remembered who you are and have come to terms with the misfortune you have gone through throughout the years. This has to do with Princess Katara doesn't it?" Iroh asked with a twinkle in his eyes. "She has brought the good back out of you because you both grew up together."
Zuko sighed in defeat and nodded his head. "Uncle….I thought she was dead. Only Mother, You, and I knew she was the last Southern Bender. When father called us to the throne room that day to tell us, I was devastated. You knew she was my only true friend. I would have done anything for her, so I've decided that I'll help restore peace between the nations. I want our lives to be like Hakoda's and Mothers. They were best friends and here they are fighting on opposite sides of the war. Plus, Katara needs to master water bending."
Iroh just looked at him and smirked. The smirk disappeared as soon as is appeared so Zuko wouldn't see it, hoping not to find out what he was planning. A noise was heard from outside and a heaving Sokka and a grinning Aang came in through the door. Katara popped her head out of the kitchen.
"Hey guys," Katara said as if nothing happened an hour ago.
"Hey Katara," Sokka and Aang said in unison. Uncle looked at Aang, surprise covering his features.
"It's an honor to be in your presence Avatar," Iroh said bowing deeply. Sokka looked at Aang and pointed at Iroh wondering what he was talking about.
"Please don't bow, I hate when people do that. I'm just a regular teenage boy to my friends." Aang said allowing Iroh to get up from his bow.
"You're the Avatar?" Sokka exclaimed, sputtering out nonsense. Aang sighed and nodded his head.
"Since when?" Aang shrugged nonchantely.
"Hmm, I don't know maybe my whole life?" Aang muttered. Sokka looked at him as if he were crazy.
"He hmm," Katara interrupted.
"Zuko and I have come up with a proposition, that is if you agree to it."
"Sure, what is it?" Aang asked happily, directing his attention towards Katara.
"Katara, Iroh, and I agree to be your fire bending and water bending masters in exchange for a passage to the North Pole. Then we help you find an earth bending master. Do we have a deal?" Zuklo asked as he interrupted Katara.
"I guess, but why do I have to master the other three elements so quickly?"
Zuko looked at him with shock covering his features, pain flashing through his eyes. "If you don't," Zuko started gravely, "There won't be a world left in two years."
"Sure," Aang said quietly, but perked up. "But can we visit Kyoshi Island first?"
"Why?"
"I wanna ride the elephant koi!" Aang exclaimed happily.
"Guess we have to let Appa rest. He can't fly with this many people on his back for two days straight without energy." Katara and Sokka nodded their heads in agreement and the trio slowly started to descend onto a small island. Zuko's ship starting heading towards the same island, because Katara saw it coming their way.
"Guys wait here," Katara said as she hopped off of Appa's back leaving a confused Sokka and a happy Aang looking back her retreating form. She ran through some shrubbery and noticed the ship stopping at the beach of the island.
"Iroh, why are y'all stopping?" Katara asked as she saw Iroh on board the deck of the ship. Iroh shrugged his arms saying he didn't know. Zuko walked through the deck and spotted Katara on the beach below them.
"Hey," Zuko said as he hopped down from the deck ignoring the looks he was receiving from the crew and his Uncle.
"We needed to stop for the night. Appa couldn't fly with three people on his back for two days straight. We made up a campsite a few hundred feet that way." Katara said pointing back behind her.
"Why don't you just stay on the ship? It will be quicker and Appa could just fly behind us."
Katara just looked at him dumbfound and agreed with him. They walked back to the camp together surprising Aang and Sokka.
"Hey what's he doing here?" Sokka muttered angrily. Katara rolled her eyes at her brother as he kept muttering things about annoying little sisters and jerk benders.
"Wait what was that I heard?" Katara said as she glared at her brother. Sokka turned to look at her.
"He's a jerk bender." Sokka shrugged. Katara turned to glare at him.
"And what exactly is a 'Jerk Bender'?" Katara ask turning to look at her older brother in annoyance.
"A fire bender," Sokka shrugged as if it were obvious. Katara shook her head in embarrassment and turned back to Zuko. He had his hands clenched, smoke rising from his nostrils. She walked up to him and grabbed his hands to unclench them.
"Relax, he doesn't mean it. Do you know how hard it was for me not to say anything or do something to him?" Katara asked as he slowly relaxed, hands still clenched.
"I'll tell him we're going to be riding on this ship ok?" Zuko nodded his head as Katara let go of his hands to go speak with her brother and the Avatar. The two were sitting by the campfire talking of where to go next when Katara approached them.
"Sokka, Aang," Katara started off. The two looked at her.
"Zuko said that we can ride on this ship. Appa can fly behind us. It will save us much time as well." Aang nodded his head sure, giving his consent, but Sokka on the other hand hopped up instantaneously.
"No, no and NO. We are not riding on a ship full of jerk benders." Sokka exclaimed. Katara smirked at him in a devious way.
"Well Sokka, you're outnumbered. Aang doesn't mind and I'm all for it." Katara stated as she started gathering her things from around the campfire. Sokka sent a glare towards her, which she initially ignored and walked over to Zuko. Sokka grumbled and went and picked up his things reluctantly.
The trip followed Zuko until they reached the ship, which was on the other side of the island.
"Why did we have to walk this far?"
"Shut up already!" Zuko, Katara, and Aang yelled in unison, tired of Sokka's antics and complaints. The group reached the ship and they were greeted by a crewman.
"Prince Zuko, M'Lady," The solider said, bowing down to Katara and Zuko.
"Do you know where Uncle Iroh is right now?"
"He should be in his cabin's Prince Zuko. He was playing Pai Sho with another crew member and hour ago. If it's General Iroh, he should still be playing Pai Sho." The crewman explained as the group started walking towards Iroh's cabin. Zuko knocked and heard shuffling coming from the door.
"Ah Nephew, Katara. How nice of it to see you. What can I do for you?"
"Could you give Aang and Sokka a room? They've agreed that it would be much quicker to travel by ship to the North Pole and Appa could just fly or swim behind us." Iroh nodded his head and showed the two boys the room they had to share. One would get the bed, and the other would get the cot. While Iroh led them to the room, Katara pulled Zuko into his room.
"Zuko, what happened to Ursa?" Zuko stood there for a long time, and the room was filled with silence. He spoke quietly after he found the words that he could gather.
"She was banished. I don't why, but it was the year that you never came back. I think it had to do with something about my father being the Fire Lord. When Uncle was in Ba Sing Se, Lu Ten passed away, or was caught in the mid-fire of a fight and since Uncle didn't have any heirs left, Father asked Azulon if he could become Fire Lord because he had two healthy heirs and Uncle Didn't." Katara cut Zuko off.
"That egoist bastard! Why on earth would he do that to his own brother who just lost his son?" Katara fumed. Zuko ignored her and continue don with his small story he had to tell.
"Grandfather said that he had disrespected the throne by asking if he could be Fire Lord and that Ozai should be punished by having to feel the pain of the first born." Katara gasped in shock at what he said, and her eyes widened at how evil his family truly was.
"Ozai agreed instantly," Zuko chuckled bitterly, no emotion showing on his face. "Azula and I we stayed behind, but I left. Azula stayed and well, she heard what father was going to do. She ridiculed me and kept chanting that 'Zuzu's gonna die, Zuzu's gonna". Mom walked into the room and asked what she was talking about and she feigned innocence like she did almost every time. Mother went to talk to Ozai and she found out he was going to kill me. She asked if she could trade my grandfathers life with mine, and she be banished."
"I just don't know if she's still alive or not," Zuko said quietly, leaning back onto his bed stretching out fully. Katara did the same thing as he did and turned to ook at him.
"You of all people should know that she is still alive. She's one of the strongest women you know. She wouldn't allow herself to be killed instantly without giving up a fight."
"Also, when I was reallllllllly young, I asked her if she ever wanted to go anywhere in the four nations, she said that she would want to go to the Northern Water Tribe to see the difference between the northern and southern tribe."
"So basically your saying whenever we get to the North Pole we should look for her?" Zuko finally questioned. Katara nodded her head. The two teens soon forgot about everything else and talked for hours, catching up on things they missed. Iroh walked in to find the two starting to doze off and smiled at the scene. Iroh walked over to Zuko and saw him mumble something in his sleep. He shook him gently and he opened his eyes and sighed in relief.
"What Uncle?" Zuko whispered loudly, trying not to wake Katara up. Katara turned around but stayed asleep.
"It's almost midnight Nephew. You need to wake her up so you two can eat. I just had to check on you since you missed dinner." Zuko nodded his head and Iroh walked out of the room to leave the waking up to Zuko. Once Iroh was in his room, Zuko shook Katara gently. She mumbled something incoherent, but slowly awakened.
"Zuko what is it?" Katara mumbled half asleep. She rubbed her eyes and looked around the room.
"Uncle came in. It's almost midnight. We need to eat dinner. I'm sure the cook won't mind us using the kitchen, surely with us training tomorrow." Zuko said, a small grin forming on his face as he looked at Katara.
"So how do we get to the mess hall?"
"You should know, this was that ship that we used to play on when we were younger, remember?"
"It is," Katara exclaimed, now remembering that little adventures the two would have. As they came around the halls leading towards the kitchen, they heard someone shuffling their feet and moving around.
"Ching? Are you still up?" Zuko asked as he popped his head through the doorway, knocking slightly. Katara stood behind him, trying not to be seen.
"Oh yes, Hello Prin-" Ching stopped talking as soon as she felt Katara hugging her tightly.
"Ching," Katara exclaimed happily, seeing another familiar face.
"It's good to see you Ching." Katara said smiling warmly.
"Princess Katara?" Ching whispered. Katara nodded her head. Ching pinched her face and looked at her.
"It's good to see you after many years Princess. It's been far too long without you. When's the last time you had Monkey Bread? I rarely make it anymore since, Prince Pouty here almost quit eating it." Zuko glared at Ching as Katara gasped at him mockingly. Ching explained more detailed.
"He almost quit eating them because he found out that the last Southern Bender was killed in a raid." Katara gasped and look at him, Zuko's never looked up at her as Ching continued to tell Katara.
"Do you know who the last Southern Bender was deary?" Katara nodded her head.
"Who?"
"Me." Ching's eyes widened, color leaving her face instantly.
"They killed my mother thinking she was the southern bender. My mother told them she was the last bender to save me. Now look, here I am now,' Katara chuckled bitterly, sitting down on the kitchen floor next to Zuko. Silence filled the room, but Ching brought the pastrys out of the oven and handed a plate to Katara and Zuko. Katara popped one into her mouth and moaned at the tasty treat.
"Agni I missed these," Katara said as she kept popping the treats into her mouth. "I have no clue how I didn't miss these."
"For god's sake 'Tara, slow down," Zuko said as he watched her pop three more treats into her mouth.
"Where Am I?" Katara mumbled. She remembered the evening before and remembered.
"Zuko?" Katara said as she shook him awake. He mumbled something incoherent and got up quietly.
"Why did Uncle tell us to eat and get enough sleep last night for?"
"Because. We're going to begin training you."
Authors note: This is the rewrite