Beginning of the Past

by Zutarafan1992

Nearly 100 years have pasted since The Avatar and his teachers were killed after he destroyed the Firenation. Hunger, poverty and starvation has gripped parts of the Earthkingdom, making refugees seek refuge in The Southern Water tribe. When Zuko becomes a royal guard in the palace, hiding his firebending is the least of his worries when his past comes around full circuit. Zutara.

13. Chapter 13

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Chapter 12

Katara stood in shock as her unknown attacker transfigured into the Blue Spirit. Katara let a small fragile gasp escape her lips as she recognized the slightly faded blue and white mask.

As soon as Katara had recognized 'Blue'-as she called him- the ice daggers that had surrounded him melt and dropped sloshing onto his lap, face and currently dripped down Zuko's mask.

Zuko not so thrilled at this newly founded iceberg rampage that at sudden moments morphed back into water and poured over his entire body, was even more at a loss when the said girl that had done all these things lunged herself on top of him in a big enveloping hug.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Katara gushed as she let her arms swing around his shoulders "To be fair, I almost thought you were a figment of my imagination." Katara now looked down at her lap and fidgeted with her fingers, still not realizing that she still was sitting on top of Zuko's, or as she thought-the Blue Spirit's lap.

Zuko hesitated for a moment as he watched the girl's cheeks start to glow a light shade of pink, before pulling his right gloved hand away from the tangled hug to lift her chin up, before miming 'It's okay' by moving his shoulders apologetically.

Luckily for Zuko, Katara seemed to understand and gave him a shy smile, before leaping off his lap as she realized exactly where she was still sitting.

After the hurried get up, Katara tucked a piece of her lose hair behind her ear as she watched the Blue Spirit rise up to and dusted off grass from his black outfit as she prepared to ask him a favour.

Glancing at the scroll and back at the Blue Spirit she then coughed to get his attention away from grass, before asking "I was wondering if you could answer a question for me?"

Zuko then shrugged his shoulders before giving a hesitant nod to the question

"Well, you see, I have this scroll-" Katara knelt down to pick up the discarded scroll at the side of the pond "-that says the Blue Spirit firebends….and I wondered if you could?" Katara looked up at the Blue Spirit in interest.

She'd never met a firebender as they were extinct, but if she could ever see fire be bent the Blue Spirit was her only chance.

Zuko froze in shock before marching the two strides it took to swiftly grasp the scroll from Katara's hands and properly looked at the cover.

It did show a man dressed in black with a blue and white mask on, seeming to bend fire from his gloves. As Zuko glanced at the other person dressed in red with a big hat on, flowing chocolate brown hair and red face paint on. Zuko noticed this other person dressed in red, who was waterbending had remarkable similarities to Katara, who had dressed like the woman on the faded scroll, with the scarlet dress and red face paint.

Zuko knew that this was just a really, really odd coincidence that he could firebend and he'd chosen to look like this exact spirit, but Zuko felt he deserved to show her. Or at least let her believe he could firebend, as he felt sure it would mean a lot to her.

So he nodded. Then giving her back the scroll, before closing his eyes shut behind the mask, calmly controlling breathing in… and out… as he felt the fire run though him and burst out into a controlled ball of fire.

As he opened his eyes he saw her delight at the beam of fire lightly dancing in his palm. Zuko then decided to play with the fire and expertly morphed the fire into two fish swirling around in a circle, soon the fish gradually became the yin and yang symbol.

As if in a trance from either playing with fire or this girl next to him, compelling him to do it, Zuko turned the burning yin and yang symbol into a pendant, before slowly letting it die out into nothing.

B.O.T.P

3 years after the Comet

Iroh didn't need to open his eyes from mediating to know it was his nephew stomping over to where he sat on the bench next to the pond filled with baby turtle ducks.

After a short pause Iroh's young nephew sat down next to him and waited impatiently, letting Iroh know of his discontent with huffs and drumming fingers on the bench.

"Such silent footsteps Nephew,-" Iroh said with his eyes still closed "someone might wonder how I ever broke my meditation, in the peaceful surrounds."

If Iroh's eyes had been open, he would have seen Zuko's molten eyes give him the biggest glare possible, but luckily for Iroh they were not. Unluckily for both Iroh's ears and temperature in the atmosphere Zuko had just about had enough.

"I don't appreciate your sarcasm at a time like this Uncle. We have guests arriving any minute, celebrations and most importantly I've just come from where my council is arguing about EARTHKINGDOM TRADING PRICES!"

Iroh opened his eyes seconds later to see his nephew in the lotus position, who to any person who had not just heard the shouting, his rapid breathing and the poor tree on the opposite side on the pond burst into flames would think Zuko was completely at peace.

"Are you sure your…negativity is nothing to do with a young lady who still admires you?" Iroh prodded gently, whilst also rising from the stone bench to ring for some tea and a jug of water to put out the burning plant.

Zuko stood up and started pacing "She does not 'admire me' Uncle, she only want my money, throne and attention."

Iroh after choosing Camomile for Zuko and Jasmine tea for himself sat back down on the bench and watched a serving boy frantically rush to put out the fire that had now completely burned the tree and had started to set fire on the grass.

"I think Firelord Zuko, she loves you as well. You were nearly together for three years."

Zuko just snorted "If Mai really loved me we'd still be together."

As the tea arrived Iroh thought it was a good idea to bring up a new topic

"So, I've been writing again and I need a good title, could you offer up any suggestions?"

Zuko blew on his cup of tea whilst pausing in thought "What's it about?"

"Well, it's about these two young people who fall in love and are from two different nations as well as masters of bending, but hide their identity by wearing a mask and mysterious hat and red face paint." Iroh sipped his tea as he waited to see if Zuko caught on.

"Well, you could call it The Painted Mask?" Zuko suggested as he took a long drink of tea.

Iroh looked slyly at his nephew for a moment, to let him catch on before saying casually "Really, well I was more thinking When Fire and Water Clash or something like Falling to Pieces."

Zuko spluttered and choked on his tea before shouting "You wrote about me and Kata-"

"Hey, what happened in here!?"

Both Iroh and Zuko turned towards the alarmed group voice of their guests arriving through the small entrance.

Iroh rushed to greet Toph, Aang, Katara, Suki and Sokka who was still standing shock at the tree and grass burnt down one side of the pond.

Iroh gestured lightly to the area "Oh well, we tried out a new firework in the garden to celebrate three years since the comet and Firelord Zuko came to the throne, but it didn't work and it set the garden on fire."

"That's quite some firework." Katara said smiling, giving raised eyebrows at Zuko, before quickly wrapping her arms around Zuko's neck in a friendly hug.

"Yeah….It didn't work….and now… burnt garden." Zuko replied as he reluctantly let Katara go from their embrace to welcome Toph.

"How ya doing Sparky? Did you miss me?"

Zuko laughed at Toph's nickname for him, before sweeping a bow in front of her "I'm well, thank you Mellonlord. Yes, I missed you-" Zuko stole a glance at Katara before returning it to Toph "I missed you all."

AN: Well, I think I did quite well to update in just over two weeks. I'm not sure it will become a theme though. Sorry. :( I hope you all liked it. If you didn't spot the names of two of my favourite Zutara fanfics, then please go and read Zutara1267's When Fire and Water Clash and Ana-DaughterofHades's Falling to Pieces. They are truly amazing. :) So what do you think is going to happen in the next chapter? Is it what you expected to happen between Zuko and Katara or do you think there is still more to happen...?

Anyway here are my replies to your reviews

Kataang4eve: Thank you so much for not only reviewing, but also following and favouriting me! I'm not sure this chapter brings more questions than answers-sadly- but I tried to make it interesting. I really appreciate you saying that as it can be difficult posting a new chapter, but people like you encourage me to. I hope you review again. :) xx

Zutara1267: Only a little bit, but I really wanted to make Azula a misunderstood character rather than evil villain here she comes. I know I did enjoy writing that scene mainly for the difference in personalities. Well, you may just have to wait for a fight scene... Hope you review again.:) xx

Guest: Thank you, I've said many times I'm still trying to edit. The truth never distresses me, I think they are valid points. However, I would prefer for you to tell me on my story what is wrong with me and Beginning of the Past, rather than go to my friend's story. Please understand I appreciate you telling me what is wrong with my story on my page, but I do not condone or wish for you to protect me or slander me on someone else's story.

AnumOfTheMoon: Thank you for following. I hope you review. :) x

Okay, I think that's it. :)

Please remember to REVIEW/FOLLOW/FAVOURITE.

Love

Zf2 xx