The chapter begins with Zuko's fireflakes going missing, and him finding them in the hands of Sokka, resulting in him apologizing for suspecting Katara. Is this a case of Not Me This Time? Not exactly; Katara was, in fact, the one who took them. Katara doesn't bother to correct Zuko, since he owes her many apologies. But Katara has started to wonder if Zuko might be okay; given how vigorously and gratuitously she's denied interest in Zuko so far, this seems to be a large step toward accepting him.
Zuko, with his fireflakes back, proceeds to make up for lost time, so to speak, making Katara wonder what she can do to get back at him, thinking of several different pranks. Katara notes that Zuko can't tell a joke, an interesting and accurate assessment of him.
Zuko then disappears the next day, and if you're familiar with Avatar, you know we're up to " The Boiling Rock". Katara sees through the claim that Zuko and Sokka are going fishing, realizing that Ozai wouldn't take Zuko fishing, and Iroh is not the outdoorsy type. Katara bitterly regrets letting Zuko out of her sight and swears to give him a piece of her mind should he return.
Another day passes without Zuko around, and Katara talks with Toph about Zuko. Toph, after Katara suggests she has a crush on Zuko, suggests that Katara is the one with the crush on Zuko. Katara finds it completely unbelievable, making this almost a Running Gag.
Yet another day passes, and Katara has to deal with some more problems with the people around the camp, such as Toph refusing to let Haru, who seems to have a crush on her and is stalking her, carry her around, and The Duke slicing his hand on Zuko's sword.
The fourth day without Zuko passes, and now Katara is getting worried. Aang is slacking off on his training, making him seem somewhat lazier than in canon. By contrast, Haru decides to try learning metalbending. Katara then vigorously denies missing Zuko. It's clear at this point that the author is in a bit of a difficult spot without Zuko around, but it's nice to see Katara's thought processes expanded on.
The fifth day comes, and Katara's worrying starts to get to her. In the evening, however, Zuko and Sokka return, with Katara's father, Suki, Chit Sang and other prisoners from the Boiling Rock. Katara is overjoyed to see her father, if less than pleased that he also approves of Zuko.
Katara denies missing Zuko. She, not having been to the Boiling Rock, finds some parts, such as the freezers, less than credible, particularly the part in which Zuko let Sokka arrest him so that their cover wouldn't be blown, and so decides to try to find out the whole story.
Another long author's note follows. The author says that Zuko and Mai, in all likelihood, has sex, although she doesn't use that word. Since this is a children's show, we'll never get confirmation of this, but that's a possibility.
The author gave Toph an in-fic fanboy to give her a situation that she "couldn't Earthbend her way out of", which could be an interesting touch.
The author points out that Katara is worried and channels all her negative feelings toward Zuko. I hope this isn't making excuses for the fact that Katara takes the longest to trust Zuko.
The author mentions Sokka and Zuko's "bromance," and did what she could to include it in some form.
The author mentions that it will be some time before the story gets to "The Southern Raiders", which will likely be a turning point in Zuko and Katara's relationship, so that Sokka and Katara can spend time with their father and have more "shenanigans", including with Chit Sang's sake.
What I liked
- An interesting effort to show what Katara does without Zuko, and continue the story while the focus isn't on Katara.
What I didn't like
- Katara's still stuck in the same patterns about Zuko, save for the bout of worrying.
