Zuko walked through the forest, shaking his shaggy black hair out of eyes impatiently. It felt as if he'd been lost in these trees forever--he'd only wanted to go for a walk, and now he was lost. He knew, though, that the town was about a half mile inland from the sea, so if he could find that then at least he'd know what direction to go in. Of course, he'd been hearing the sea for hours now, but he didn't seem any closer to finding it, and now he was trudging downhill.

          He-

          His boot caught on a branch, and he went tumbling head over heels down the hill, a shout breaking from his lips. Branches scratched at him, tearing his flesh, and he crashed through brambles, narrowly missing several trees.

          Finally he jerked himself to a stop by latching onto a low hanging branch. He dangled over the slope, feeling a smile steal over his face. Stretching out from the bottom of the hill was the sea, and not far to his left was a pathway leading down to it.

          A path meant people, and people was good. Especially after the tumble he'd just taken.

         With a shake of his head he dropped from the branch, catching himself on the trunk of the tree. He walked carefully down the hill towards the path, watching warily for roots and other debris. Once he hit the path it was simpler, for the full moon lent light to it and it was obviously kept up. It headed up towards the top of the hill behind him, and down towards the sea below him.

          Zuko knew that he should get back to town--he'd heard the rumors about what went on around here during a full moon.

          But something was drawing him down, towards the glistening silver-topped waves and the rushing of the water. He'd always loved the water, whether it was the pond water of his mother's turtle duck pond or the ocean stretching out from his island home.

         In the years since he'd been banished, the sea had taken on a new meaning: it was his provider, his protector, and his transport. The feel of the water tugging at his ship had become a security, of sorts, lulling him to sleep at night and clearing his head as he immersed himself in it.

         Now the Fire Nation prince felt the same need that had always drawn him to his mother and her memory; the need for comfort, for clear thought and a sense of safety that he only felt around the water. Surrounded by it, by the feel of it and the smell of it and the sound of it.

          Zuko walked faster down the path towards the ocean, his heart pounding with the now-familiar pain. He needed to clear his head, and he could think of no better way to do that than a midnight swim.

          He followed the path through an indent in the cliff wall, and stepped into a cave. Water lapped at a soft, white beach below the rocks on which he stood. A worn path lead down to it. Moonlight rippled through cracks in the rocky overhang--he guessed that he was below the cliff. The tides must've worn this hollow into the cliff's bottom over the years; Zuko knew that during a high tide this place would be flooded.

          But the tide had gone out only an hour ago, and it would be safe for a swim now. Water still trickled from the walls, giving the entire place an eerie, detached feel.

          Zuko smiled; this was perfect. He stepped off the rocks and onto the sand, and tugged his shirt over his head. He was almost to the water when something made him turn and glance back.

          Behind him was an alcove in the cave wall that he hadn't seen from his vantage point on the rocks, and he instinctively shrank back against the wall as a figure stepped from it.

          For a moment Zuko wasn't sure what the figure was doing, but then a beam of moonlight flashed over it--over her, Zuko corrected himself, and he saw that she was dancing.

          Her green Earth Kingdom dress flared around her as she twirled, and her dark hair fell in waves down her back and over her shoulders. She danced beautifully, to a rhythm that Zuko couldn't hear and didn't understand.

          Her graceful, bare feet touched the water; it lapped up around her ankles, then receded, and Zuko could only stare in awe as the woman and the water danced together to a melody that seemed as old as time.

          Then she turned, facing him for the first time, and Zuko froze. His entire world stopped--he felt like he was drowning, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't move. He couldn't process what he was seeing, who he was seeing.

          One thought beat through his head: she is dead, she is dead, she is dead.

          But she wasn't--or perhaps she was a spirit, come to seek revenge. But no--Zuko knew in his soul that the beautiful waterbender didn't blame him for her death. And yet… and yet if she was dead, how was she here?

          He didn't realize that he'd taken several steps towards her until she turned again, and froze.

          She stared at him, and he stared at her, and then she smiled, and held out her hand. 

         That was when Zuko realized that he was dreaming. Katara wasn't really here, he wasn't really here. He'd probably hit his head when he'd tumbled down the hill and was still laying up there in the forest, out cold.

          He should wake himself up, he should get back to the inn and his bed.

          But that was the last thing the disgraced firebender wanted to do, and without thinking he found himself taking Katara's hand, and following her out onto the beach.

          He held her instinctively, his arms circling her as hers circled him.

      And then she taught him her dance, and together they whirled about that water cave in the northern Earth Kingdom, dancing to a song as old as time: a watersong that only they could hear.