Once upon a time, there lived a princess of the Southern Water Tribe and many miles away, the prince of the Fire Nation. They didn't know of each other, for they lived in different countries of different hemispheres. What they don't know, is that they are destined to fall in love with each other. The prince's fate leads him to the love of his life.
..~**~..
"Daddy, please can I go with you?" Katara pleaded, holding on to the sleeve of her Dad's parka for dear life.
"Katara, for La's sake, no!" Hakoda said, trying to carry his luggage to the boat. "If Sokka can't go, neither can you."
"Please, Daddy?" Katara tried again. "Pretty please with sea prunes on top?"
"No."
"Seal jerky on top?"
"No."
"Sea prunes and seal jerky on top?"
"Katara, no. Now go inside and help your mother."
Katara huffed and walked away, towards her family's tent. Her father was going to the Fire Nation on some diplomacy meeting or whatever. Katara, as young as she was, knew it wasn't going to work. She thought nothing could stop the Fire Nation. Except for her, maybe. A cute little girl could change the Fire Lord's mind, she thought. So if she could just go with her father, sit in on the meetings, diffuse the tension, maybe she could help stop the war!
But her father wouldn't let her go.
"Too dangerous for a little girl," he had told her multiple times. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Mom could come! She can heal everything with a kiss!"
"Sweetheart, if the Fire Nation hurts you, it won't be healed with a kiss."
Katara had stopped the conversation there, not believing her dad's statement.
So now here she was, helping her mother and Gran-Gran and other women in the Tribe prepare meals for the men on the ship. Stuff that they could eat right out of the sealskin or simply mix together themselves, instant meals.
She did not like cooking.
She'd rather be Waterbending, trying to teach herself new moves, since there was no one else to teach her. All the Waterbenders lived at the North Pole, on the other side of the world! Not exactly turn left at the second glacier.
Approximately and hour later, Hakoda and his men were ready for take-off. Hakoda himself was knelt down in front of Sokka, his hands on his son's shoulders. Katara couldn't make out what her dad was saying, but was sure it was something like "look after your mother and sister while I'm gone." That's what he always told Sokka when he went away. Katara didn't have anyone to look after; she just always got told to help her mom around the house, nothing she didn't do already. Hakoda stood up and made his way over to Katara and his wife. He knelt down in front of Katara, like he did with Sokka.
"Are you sure you have to go, Daddy?" Katara asked. "It seems like you're never home, always somewhere because of the war."
"I can't help it, sweetie," Hakoda responded. "I want to make life better for you and your brother. The only way I can do that is by ending this war."
"I still want to go with you!"
"I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"Katara, Sokka—time for bed!" Kya called. Katara jumped up and hugged her father one last time before reluctantly turning into her home. Sokka followed behind her, chanting that he was in charge.
Katara climbed into bed and pretended to fall asleep. She heard her parents talking and she waited for them to step outside. When they did, she rolled off of her mat and put the pillows under her covers to make the silhouette of her. She pulled on her parka and packed a bag. She ran outside and snuck over to the ship. She climbed up the side and quickly fell over the side of the boat and crawled over to hide behind some boxes. She held still, trying not to make noise, as Bato kept walking back and forth in front of her hiding spot. But she was sure she hadn't been seen yet, not even by Bato. Finally, Bato left. She went out from behind the boxes and went down to the lower decks, making a hiding spot in a cabinet.
Twenty minutes passed and the rocking of the ship increased. They had set sail! Katara loved the gentle rocking of the boat. She felt safe and at home. But, eventually, her legs began feeling cramped. She tried stretching out, but her legs would push the door open. She would just have to try to get comfortable curled up as she was.
Time passed and Katara fell asleep.
..~**~..
Katara woke up to turbulence. The ship was bouncing around on the waves—they were in a storm! She crawled out of hiding spot and hurried to the top deck. The sky was dark, not even the stars visible through the clouds. She searched for her father through the rain and all the crewmen running around. At last, she found him. He was struggling with a sail. Katara rushed to help him. Katara pulled on the ropes.
"Katara, what in the name of Tui are you doing here?" Hakoda shouted in anger over the waves and wind.
"I wanted to come!" she replied.
"Go back under! I don't want you in this storm!"
"No, I'm going to help!" Katara protested.
The ropes pulled against her and she struggled to keep them under control. They burned her hands, tearing at the skin. Finally, the ropes jerked out of her hands. She held them to her chest, as they were now bleeding.
"Katara!" her father yelled sternly. "Get downstairs! Now!"
Tears fell from her eyes as she made her way down. She found some water and placed her hands in the bowl to erase the sting. She then went to the medicine cabinet and found some ointment, placing it on her hands before wrapping her palms with bandages. She knew there was a way to heal her hands with water, but she could barely move the water around her head!
An hour later, the rocking of the ship slowly came to a stop. Her father came down the stairs and joined her. He was soaked with water and had a concerned expression on his face. "Katara, I told that you were not allowed to come," he said.
"I know," Katara said, not meeting Hakoda's gaze.
"But, we have no way of getting you back, so you can stay." He smiled at her. "Let me see your hands." He held his out and Katara placed hers in his. He opened the bandages and smiled. "You're turning into your Gran-Gran." Katara smiled and Hakoda hugged her.
..~**~..
Two weeks later, they arrived at the Fire Nation. Stepping onto the dock, Katara held onto her father's hand (or anyone else's hand when her father need to be free) for dear life. The pale, gold-eyed, Firebending strangers frightened her. And it was so hot.
So very, very hot.
She wasn't wearing her parka, but the clothes she normally wore underneath weren't made for this type of weather. They made their way to the Palace in a weird metal contraption that her father called a carriage.
When they crested the mountain, Katara gasped at the sight she saw. The Palace was huge, easily taking up the space her whole village occupied.
"Is this where we're staying for the weekend?" Katara asked without looking at Hakoda, unable to tear her eyes away from the window.
"Yes, sweetheart, but in the guest houses," Hakoda replied. Katara sighed, just a bit disappointed, but still excited to be here.
"Does the Fire Lord have any children I can play with?"
"Yes, I think he has a daughter and a son, but I don't think you'll be able to play with them; you'll stay with Arkahn today."
"I need a babysitter?"
"No. I just can't allow you to get in trouble."
"Okay, I guess."
"Now, I need you to listen to me." Katara turned to face Hakoda. "While we're here, I need you to be on your best behavior. You are not to touch anything; everything inside the Palace could be an artifact that we don't have the money to pay for. I need you to act politely and respect everyone you meet. Understand?" Katara nodded.
The carriage thing jolted to a stop and Katara nearly fell out of her seat. Hakoda opened the door and climbed out of the carriage. He turned and lifted his daughter out.
"Chief Hakoda," someone greeted. Katara watched as the two men awkwardly shook hands, both unaccustomed to the other's handshake.
"Ambassador Zin," Hakoda greeted back. The two of them, plus Bato, walked off, leaving Katara with Arkahn. She began walking around, exploring, knowing Arkahn would follow her.
She passed through the Palace and found a big training ground. Two people were in the middle of the grassy field. One was short with his hair in a long ponytail on the back of his head. The other had a round belly with gray hair. They were Firebenders. Katara was amazed. When the boy fell, after the fire exploded in front of him, Katara giggled, catching the boy's attention. She laughed to herself as she walked on by with Arkahn, who was taking her out to the city soon. As she walked away, the young Firebender watched her as she left, still in his Firebending position, with his hands outstretched. His gaze didn't break until she had left the area completely.
"Prince Zuko, to be a better bender you must focus, no distractions," The older man said.
"Yes, Uncle," He responded and began his bending once more.
AN: (From KK Renee:) Hey, guys, hope you liked it! This is mine and SteelersGirl 43's first collab, like, a whole FF, not just two chapters of my story. Don't forget to review!
