Chapter 1: First encounter

My name is Belle. There is no need for a last name. Just call me Belle. Not too long ago, I traveled with the Avatar. It's no surprise you haven't heard of me. That is why I feel the need to tell you what really happened. You need to know my story because my story has the truth.

I'll never forget the day I first saw him. I was trudging through the freezing cold of the South Pole. Another brilliant idea of mine. My hands were frozen, and my feet went numb about an hour before. But I had to keep searching for my guardian. I had to find Zito.

"Belle," the small, childlike voice from my past called. My body froze. It can't be him. It's impossible. I must be imagining things due to the cold. I must have been out here so long that I was hearing voices in my head. But the voice seemed so real...so comforting...

I turned to where the voice came from. I peered out into the distance and noticed a small group of people. I began to walk over to them. Maybe they could spare a loaf of bread. Or, more importantly, maybe Zito was among them.

They didn't seem to notice me as I approached them. I stopped dead as soon as I noticed the Fire Nation ship. And that's when I saw him. There were two boys, looking like they were ready to kill each other. Oh good dinner and a show I thought and chuckled a little. One of the boys was clearly from the Fire Nation. The other one was dressed unusually and had a blue arrow on his head. It took me a few moments to realize that he was the Avatar.

I didn't care if he was the Avatar. I immediately made it my obligation to protect him. It was the least I could do for this pitiful world. I took out my knives and approached them quietly. I don't know how they didn't see me. I was right in the open and I was running toward them. But, none the less, no one spotted me. Then again, I was trained to be silent and deadly. I leaped in the air and threw my knives in between the two. They both stopped immediately and looked in my direction. I landed right in front of the boy from the Fire Nation. I glanced back at the Avatar. He was just a little kid...and I immediately thought of Lee.

I took the knives out of the snow and pointed them defensively at my opponent.

"Maybe you should pick on someone your own size," I said. Like me. We did look about the same age. The boy shot a glare at me. I didn't move though. I kept staring right at him.

"I don't have time for you," he said. I was insulted.

"Well then make time!" I practically yelled. What a jerk. He shot fire at me three consecutive times. I quickly went down to the ground and tripped him with my leg. He fell flat on his face but then quickly bounced back up. Except the jerk started attacking the Avatar.

"HEY! You're supposed to be fighting me!" I yelled. He ignored me. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

"Wait," the Avatar said, "if I go with you, will you promise to leave these people alone?" The boy nodded. Well, this would be a good time to go sneak on the Fire Nation ship so I can get the Avatar once they set sail. Not to mention, I was curious as to what the inside of the ship looked like. I got low to the ground and, like a sly fox, I snuck on board. The jerky kid must have forgotten about me.

I had to be fast. There was no way my Earth Kingdom clothing would be sufficient enough to stay in the shadows. They were bright green for crying out loud. I will admit, I wasn't perfect. I had to knock out one guard. Before I ran into another guard, I hid in a room. I planned to wait a few minutes, spring the Avatar from his cell, and save his boney little ass. The plan wasn't that great, but I had to save the Avatar...he was too much like Lee...and I was getting attached...

No. I couldn't let the painful memory resurface. I couldn't remember.

The opening of the door stopped my train of thought. My heart stopped beating as the Fire Nation kid came in. What was his name again? I could have sworn I heard at least one person say it...maybe it was the Avatar...no the guard...but I knocked him out before he had a chance to say anything...Zuko. That was it. Zuko didn't look surprised and then I understood: He did see me go on his ship. It was a trap and I walked right into it. I watched him shut the door.

"I figured we'd have a stole way," Zuko said and he walked past me to place a staff down, "What do you want?"

"I'm here to rescue the Avatar," I replied as matter of factly.

"Is that so?" Zuko took his position and so did I. For some reason, he stopped and opened the door. I didn't understand. Was he letting me go? Then, the Avatar came in. He went to get his staff. He looked up at me, surprised.

"What are you doing here?" the Avatar asked me.

"I'm here to rescue you but you know that plan is kinda not working out at the moment..." Zuko slammed the door shut. Ok, that's it I'm out. Zuko isn't going to want to fight me anyway and the Avatar can handle him. So I basically walked out. Zuko and the Avatar kept fighting. I walked nonchalantly to the deck. Everyone was so frantic about the Avatar, no one cared about me. Well as long as it got me out of there. There were a few that actually noticed me but I defeated them with ease.

I ran to the deck and realized that we were in the middle of the ocean. Just great. Well, here were my options: A. get captured or B. jump in the water and probably freeze to death and/or drown...option B it is!

As I was about to jump into the icy cold blue, the Avatar came flying out. It was breathtaking. I wish I could fly. But then Zuko ruined the moment when he jumped and pulled the Avatar to the ground. Wow, that kid just won't give up will he? I went to charge Zuko but then I noticed that the Avatar was in the water.

"Aang!" I heard someone cry from above. I looked up and two people from the Water tribe were on a ginormous flying bison. Now I've seen everything. There was a sudden glow coming from the water and Aang emerged high in the air. He was glowing; like a star in the darkest of darkness. I knew then that he was the answer to my prayers. I couldn't help but stare in awe. Zuko wasn't far from me and he too was mystified. Or maybe he was afraid. Either way...he was there and I was there oh yeah and Aang was there too! Good times Good times... Aang came down to the deck. With powerful waterbending, he attacked Zuko and his men. I don't know how, but I didn't get hurt by Aang's enormous power. Zuko nearly fell overboard. I ran over to the edge to help him. Fire Nation or not, the water was friggin freezing and I wouldn't want to fall in myself. For some strange reason unknown to me, I felt like myself. The old me, the me before my world had been turned upside down.

"Do you need some help?" I playfully teased and I couldn't help but smile. And I laughed. Wow that was a shock. I hadn't laughed in such a long time...Zuko took my hand but the jerk tried to attack me. You know I don't understand this, I try to be nice and he friggin attacks me. So I pushed him off the boat again. I jumped onto the flying bison. Everyone else came on too. Before I knew it we were in the air. I was flying...wow. I couldn't believe it. I looked down at the Fire Nation ship. Zuko was being pulled up by someone. They gracefully shot a huge fireball towards us. Aang swiftly redirected it. This caused ice to tumble on the ship. The others laughed but I didn't. It was a nice boat, why'd they have to break it? --

We all settled down and I met the two from the Water Tribe. The girl was Katara and her older brother was Sokka. Sokka was the same age as me, fifteen. Well technically my birthday was near so I was slightly older. I looked out at the sunset and thought of Zito. I hoped I would find him soon.

"Hey, thanks for trying to save me back there," Aang said cheerfully.
"You're welcome," I said a little sadly. I suddenly felt home sick.
"What were you doing in the South Pole anyway?" Katara asked.
"I was looking for someone...but no worries," I said cheerfully. I knew I had to keep my sadness, my pain inside, especially if I was going to stay with these three. Maybe if I stayed, I'd find Zito.

It was nightfall. I looked up at the stars. And that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach returned. The longing for home. I wanted to desperately see Zito again. And I wanted to see Lee too. But I knew it couldn't happen. My past was my enemy.