Chapter 1

Katara shivered, wrapping her arms around her legs and pulling them close. She wasn't cold, not really. She gave her wrist a flick and a nearby puddle of water rippled despite the lack of breeze in the caverns. She could feel her bending coming back, her shoulders sagged with relief. It wasn't Katara's first time being chi blocked, but she didn't ever think she would get used to that feeling- the feeling of being cut off from a part of yourself.

Her initial relief was muted by the realization that even if she could bend it wouldn't help her much in this situation. She glanced around, she was in a small chamber covered in jade glowing crystals Katara thought quickly, by the looks of it she must be underground, in the crystal catacombs underneath Ba Sing Se. She remembered Joo Dee saying something about the stories of old Ba Sing Se, before it was the bustling city it is today. So unless she learned how to earthbend she was stuck here.

Aang, Sokka, and Toph, they had no idea the trouble the ba sing se was in. She shook her head, pushing away thoughts of the palance being set ablaze with blue fire as Azula and her friends were now free to go about the city unchecked.

Suki, where are you? She said a silent prayer to Avatar Yangchen for Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors. Sokka would have teased her if he had been there, growing up Gran had always told them stories about the spirits and the peace that Yangchen brought. Yangchen had reincarnated a time or two before Gran was even born, but the stories of an Avatar as loved as Yangchen never die.

Katara wished she could do more to help her friend, but she couldn't worry about that now. Even if she couldn't earthbend she wanted to be ready when Azula and her friends came back. She got to her feet and started inspecting the chamber looking for any indication of a tunnel or some obscure way out. She paced the room three times, before slamming her fist into the stone walls letting out a howl of frustration.

To her shock, there was a boom as the stone broke apart and a dark figure hurtled towards her. Instinctively, Katara turned to run but she wasn't quick enough. She screamed as the figure crashed into her, taking her legs out from under her. Her back hit the floor with a dull thud knocking the wind from her chest, momentarily stunned she found herself pinned to the ground the dark figure looming over her. From her peripheral vision she could see the entrance close, the stone coming together to seal the opening.

Horror washed over Katara and for a second she wondered if she hit her head as she found herself looking up at Zuko. "Get off me!" she yelled, whipping her hand forward and raking her nails across his cheek.

He yelped in pain. "Sorry, I didn't mean to- I…" he said, jumping back from her.

Katara rolled to her feet, hands raised in front of her. She didn't know if her bending was back in full force yet but she was not above throwing a punch or two if needed.

Zuko eyed her warily and for a moment she thought he might attack, instead she dropped his arms to a submissive position and lowered his head. "Look I'm sorry, I'm not here to hurt you."

Katara kept her stance; there were two likely reasons for Zuko's sudden appearance. He had been sent down here by Azula to get Aang's whereabouts out of her or he was a prisoner- and she wasn't sure which was more likely. She had a deep dislike for Zuko- being chased across the 4 nations by an exiled bounty hunter will do that to you. But she also knew that Azula and Zuko weren't exactly going to win "Siblings of the Year" award, recalling the many times she had shot fire or lightning at Zuko or his uncle.

Other than lowering his hands Zuko hadn't moved from where he was. There was an angry welt underneath his scar and blood had begun to appear where she had scratched him.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, refusing to feel bad for the prince.

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Same deal as you, took a wrong turn at one of the catacombs and here I am."

Katara narrowed her eyes. "This isn't a joke."

Zuko lowered his head, "You're right, I'm sorry I can't help but be a little bitter when my own family locked me up in an underground prison." There was something in his voice when he said "family" that Katara couldn't identify. She felt a rush of compassion for Zuko but quickly pushed it away. She couldn't trust him now, not when everything was at stake.

"Don't lie to me. You're a horrible person. All you and the rest of your nation have done is chase us across the entire world and ruin lives. You're just here so when Aang shows up to save me you can finally catch the Avatar."

Zuko flinched, "Katara, I'm s-"

Something in Katara snapped, all the frustration and anger from the past 12 hours came rushing over her. She strode towards Zuko, closing the gap between them. When Zuko first came falling through the tunnel she wanted to put as much space as possible between them, now she wanted him to hear her pain. "No! You don't get to be sorry, you have no idea what this War has done to me personally. The Fire Nation took my mother away from me!" The words left Katara's mouth and reverberated off of the stone walls.

Katara searched Zuko's face for any indication of what he was thinking, but like still water his expression was unchanged. Her eyes began to burn and she turned away, not wanting him to see her cry. Before she knew it the tears were flowing down her face. Everything was just such a mess and she hated feeling so, so helpless. The people she loved were at risk now and there wasn't a thing she could do about it.

Two things then happened almost at once. Zuko reached out to brush his hand lightly on Katara's shoulder, then he said the only thing that kept her from sending him sprawling backwards with a burst of water. "That's something we have in common."

She froze and stared at Katara was little her Gran used to say the eyes were the windows to the soul. And that is why her gaze never left Zuko's. She searched his expression for any kind of deceit, any indication that he was lying. She didn't understand how such a thing could be true if he was the Prince (albeit banished) of the Fire Nation. But the truth was written on his face, without knowing the details or the story Katara knew. She knew his words were true and that he had lost his mother. Zuko was the first to look away, as though he was surprised at his words.

Still not looking at her, he said in a quiet voice. "I'll never sit here and tell you the Fire Nation is good. My father rules with arrogance and selfishness, and my sister has followed in his footsteps. The only people that have ever been there for me are my Uncle Iroh and my mother." he stopped and took a short breath, "My own father burned my face and then turned me out into the world on a fool's chase...the memory of dishonor forever marked on my face" He reached up and touched his scar, like he was remembering something.

There was a long silence. "I'm sorry for scratching you." Katara whispered.

"Don't worry about it." Zuko muttered, pacing to the otherside of the chamber.

"No, really I am. Can I help you, I can heal it if you let me."

Zuko shook his head. "No, really it's fine. You don't even have any water."

Katara's hand reactively went to her water pouch at her side. She had forgotten that the Dai Liagents had taken it from her before they tossed her down here.

A shot of panic coursed through her and Katara grabbed for her throat. She sighed, when her fingers closed around the vial of spirit water. They must have overlooked it or not realized what it was.

She paused, was she really about to offer Zuko the spirit water? She glanced at his face and for a moment imagined the heartbreak of having someone who is supposed to love and care for you, hurt you in such a way.

"I have this." Katara said softly, taking the vial from around her neck. "I could heal your scratch." she stopped, wondering if she was doing the right thing. "In fact it's water from the spirit oasis, so it has special healing properties."

Zuko gave her a small smile, "Look I appreciate it but really-"

"Let me finish. It's from the spirit oasis, so I could try healing your scar too…"

Zuko's eyes went wide, "You could do that?"

Katara shifted, "I'm a healer but I've never done something like this, so I can't promise it'll work."

Zuko gazed upwards as if upset. "I wasn't trying to offend you. I just thoug-"

Then something changed on his face.

"Do it." he said, cutting her off.

"Please." he begged.