A/N: Hi everyone! I'm finally back after a rather long hiatus with a new idea in mind! I hope you like this story, I've had this idea for a long time and decided that I wanted to give this one a try. Tell me what you think. Thank you and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or its characters. Only my OC's!

Prologue

One year earlier…

"Remember if you're going to move a rock. You got to have a steady and strong stance." Itsuki said.

"Alright," Midori said.

"Ready?" He asked. Midori nodded. "Good, I'm going to throw a rock at you, and your job is to stop it."

She took a stance, waiting for Itsuki to throw the rock. He levitated a big rock, Midori's face went pale at the size of it.

"That's not a rock, that's a boulder!" She thought.

Itsuki threw the big rock at Midori at full speed. Midori clenched her fists as the rock came toward her. Instead of stopping it like she was told to do, she punched the rock as hard as she could, smashing it to bits and sent the tiny pieces flying everywhere.

Midori smirked slightly in satisfaction as she stared at the tiny pieces of rock on the ground.

"What was that?" Itsuki asked sternly.

Midori's smirk faltered and frowned. She glanced at Itsuki in slight confusion.

"What was what?"

Itsuki walked up to her and stopped right in front of her, staring into her eyes. Brown meeting light green. Itsuki glared at her.

"You were supposed to stop the rock not smashing it into pieces!"

Now it was Midori's turn to glare and let out a frustrated sigh, "For two years, we have sneaked out of the Royal Palace and brought me to the part of Crystal Catacombs that is unsupervised by the Dai Li. You have trained me in hand to hand combat and the basics of earth bending. Not once have I complained, care to tell me what's going on? Why are you teaching me this? I'm a princess, not a soldier."

"I want you to be able to protect yourself," Itsuki said softly. Midori's eyebrows furrowed in confusion before she could ask Itsuki looked startled, he crouched down and put a hand on the ground, trying to sense the vibrations. Midori knew this technique she hasn't mastered this one yet and had a long way to go.

"What's wrong?" Midori asked she started to feel worried. Itsuki's brown eyes went wide in horror as he stood up.

"We need to get out of here, someone is coming."

Midori was about to speak up when Itsuki grabbed her hand and started to run as fast as they could. They hid behind large crystals, Midori tried to contain her panting, trying her hardest not to be heard. Itsuki held a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. He came out from his hiding place and checked to see who was there. As Midori waited fear started to creep up on her.

Itsuki came back looking panicked, he took her hand and started slowly to sneak out of old Ba Sing Se. They found their secret passageway which they came through to get there. Once they got out of the tunnel and approached the Palace grounds, they went to hide behind huge bushes.

"What are we going to do now?" Midori asked.

"You are going to use what I taught you. You are going to sneak into the Palace and sneak into your room without getting caught and without me with you."

Midori's eyes went wide. Every time she would sneak out of the Palace she would do it with Itsuki's help, she felt unsure at doing it herself.

Itsuki could see that she was in doubt and put a hand on her shoulder, "I know what you're thinking but you can do it! You need to sneak into your bedchamber without Long Feng or anyone else catching you, once you're in I'll get to your bedchamber through your window."

"Okay, I'll see you in one hour," Midori said. Itsuki nodded and Midori ran off to the inner court of the Palace where the living quarters of the Royal family were.

She ran down the long corridors, praying that no one was close to her bedchamber. To her relief, no one was in front of her bedchamber. She opened the double doors and entered, closing them quickly. Midori leaned against the door and slid down to the floor, her heart was beating wildly. She took deep breaths and let them out to calm down.

Midori glanced over at the full-length mirror that was not too far from her, her reflection showed a fifteen-year-old girl with fair skin, long black hair that was tied up to a ponytail and light green eyes. She was dressed in simple clothes that she would wear when she went out training and not her usual royal robes. Midori cringed when she noticed that she was covered head to toe in dirt.

Midori slowly stood up as she did so she felt sore from the training with Itsuki.

After a warm bath which was prepared by her handmaidens, she got dressed in her pale green and yellow royal robes, put on minimal of makeup. As one of her handmaidens brushed her hair a soft knock could be heard Midori's heart started to beat faster as the second handmaiden looked at her for permission to open the door.

Midori composed herself before she spoke up, "Aiko, please answer the door. Cho, please continue to brush my hair because you're almost done brushing it."

"Yes, Your Highness." Aiko and Cho said. Cho continued to brush her hair as Aiko opened the door to reveal the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, Long Feng. Midori froze in her seat and felt her heart in her throat.

"May I enter, Your Highness?" He asked.

"No, you may not. Can't you see that I'm busy, Long Feng?" Midori asked sharply.

"Yes, I can see that." Long Feng said. " I came by to report that His Majesty, The Earth King wishes to see you in the eating quarters in half an hour for supper."

Midori nodded in confirmation and spoke up, "Will you be joining us, Long Feng?"

"Unfortunately not, Princess. I'm afraid that I have other matters to attend to."

Midori was happy, she would rarely spend time with her big brother without Long Feng being there. When she did spend quality time with her brother in private it would usually be before it was time for bed, during breakfast or when they would walk around the Palace grounds.

"That is a shame, Long Feng." Midori lied.

"There is another matter I need to discuss with you in private."

Midori gave Long Feng a hard stare before she ordered Cho and Aiko to leave but to stand outside the door in case she needed them again. Once Aiko closed the doors behind them, Long Feng turned to her and smiled which Midori forcefully returned.

"I have received reports from my Dai Li agents that there has been recent activity in the Crystal Catacombs. One of my agents saw two people run away."

Midori didn't express that she was in shock, the Dai Li saw her and Itsuki in the Crystal Catacombs. She was in trouble and she put Itsuki in trouble as well, he might lose his job as Midori's escort and it was all her fault.

Feeling bold, Midori asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Long Feng got closer to her as she stood up, he was close to her face and stared into her eyes. For a second Midori thought that Long Feng could look into her soul.

"I'm well aware that you've sneaked out of the Palace multiple times, Your Highness and you are well aware that you are not allowed to leave the Palace." Long Feng growled.

"What are you going to do about it? Are you going to tell my brother? Telling him to punish me in the way you see fit?" Midori asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

"Don't challenge me, child. Here is the deal, I won't get you in trouble if you answer truthfully."

"The question is?"

"Who was the person with you?"

Midori didn't answer she only glared at Long Feng. She didn't want her only friend in trouble and she didn't want Itsuki to get fired or worse...

Long Feng raised his eyebrows, a victorious smirk was growing. Midori wished that she could smack that smirk off his stupid face.

"No answer, Your Highness?" Long Feng said smugly. "Pity."

"You better watch yourself Long Feng or you won't be in this position much longer." Midori threatened. Long Feng chuckled.

"Oh, Your Royal Highness. It is you that should be more careful. You know that your brother is extremely overprotective of you, the only family member he has left." Midori glared at him. "An accident could happen and the Earth Princess would no longer be with us. The Earth King would be heartbroken if he lost his beloved little sister, his heir."

Midori's eyes went wide in slight fear but Long Feng continued to smirk.

"It is a crime to threaten the members of the Royal Family," Midori said.

"This is not a threat Princess but a warning." Long Feng said. "The next time I or my agents catch you outside the Palace or in the Crystal Catacombs again, I will personally make sure it will be the last time you'll see your precious brother again."

Midori looked horrified at Long Feng.

"That will be all, Your Highness." Long Feng said. He bowed before he walked out, leaving the Earth Princess distraught.

Midori started to shake as she sat down. If she sneaked out of the Palace again, Long Feng would kill her and what would happen to her brother? Will Long Feng kill him too so that he could take the throne?

She couldn't stand the thought of Long Feng taking her away from her brother, she couldn't handle it. Although she excelled in hand to hand combat and knew the basics of earth bending, would it be enough to protect the Earth King from Long Feng? From anyone who tried to harm him?

Midori sighed heavily as she stood up and grabbed her brush. She decided to be informal and put her hair in a half up, half down hairstyle and then she grabbed her golden crown and placed it on her head.

She glanced in the mirror once again before leaving her bedchamber and walked out. Her footsteps felt heavy and echoed as she walked down the long corridors to the eating quarters, the royal guards following her.

She finally arrived at the eating quarters where her brother and his pet bear Bosco were waiting.

"Her Royal Highness, The Earth Princess is here. Your Majesty." One of the servants announced as Midori walked in.

"Thank you." The Earth King said. The servant bowed and walked away.

Midori walked up to her brother and bowed gracefully to him, her brother smiled warmly at her and opened his arms for a hug. Midori smiled back and went in for the warm hug. She loves hugging her big brother for as long she could remember, his hugs would make her feel warm and safe.

"It's good to see you, little sister." The Earth King said cheerfully.

"Likewise, big brother."

The siblings let go of each other, Midori turned to look at Bosco and smiled at the bear.

"Have you missed me, buddy?" Midori cooed as she patted his fur lovingly. The bear let out a happy rawr which made Midori's grin grow wider.

The siblings sat down and ate, talked about how their day had gone when suddenly her brother changed the subject.

"I've been thinking lately, 'Dori." The Earth King began. Midori stopped sipping her tea and glanced at him, showing that she was paying attention.

"We don't spend enough time together as we used to like when we were kids and I really want to spend more time with you."

"Yeah?" Midori said slowly.

"So Long Feng came up with this amazing idea, he said that you could be with me whenever I'm in the Throne Room which is often."

"Long Feng told you that?" Midori asked. Her brother nodded.

"Isn't that a lovely idea 'Dori? You always complain that we don't get to spend more time together and now we're finally able to do that."

"Of course it was that Prickle snake's idea!" Midori thought angrily.

"It's a wonderful idea, Kuei," Midori said with a forced smile. If Midori always is in the Throne Room whenever Kuei is there then she won't be able to sneak out of the Palace again because Long Feng would keep a very watchful eye over her.

"There is another thing you should know, it's about one of your escorts. General How's nephew."

"Itsuki?" Midori asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, him." Kuei clarified. "I know that you're fond of him 'Dori but he has resigned his post as your escort. Today is his last day."

"You're kidding?" Midori asked in shock.

"I'm serious."

Midori glared down at her cup, the two years of agonizing training is finally making sense. Itsuki had said earlier that she needed to know how to protect herself and know she knew why he was no longer going to protect her anymore. She was on her own. She could feel her eyes well up with tears and struggled hard to keep them at bay.

Midori felt a hand on top of hers. She glanced up at her brother.

"Did he say why he was resigning?"

"Something about traveling the world."

Midori looked heartbroken, Kuei squeezed her hand to show her sympathy.

"I'm sorry 'Dori."

"Don't be, it's not your fault."

Midori didn't feel like eating anymore, suddenly losing her appetite due to today's events.

"Are you going to be okay?" Kuei asked, concerned.

"I will be, don't worry," Midori said, blinking away her tears. "May I be excused, Your Majesty."

"Of course," Kuei said. "If there is anything I can do for you let me know."

"I will," Midori said as she stood up. She bowed to her brother and kissed his cheek. "Good night, brother."

"Good night, Midori."

Midori walked to her bedchamber at a fast pace, hoping that Itsuki would be there, in front of her doors guarding them as he would usually do. Hoping that he would give her a proper explanation to all of this.

When Midori arrived at the doors of her bedchamber, she felt disappointed and angry that he wasn't there. She opened the doors and entered her bedchamber. Midori slammed the doors shut and walked up to her desk only to find a scroll. She opened the scroll and saw that the scroll was from Itsuki.

Midori,

I'm sorry that you had to find out this way, I wanted to tell you in person. As you may have heard, I'm resigning my post as your escort in order to travel the world.

You're the nicest girl I will ever know and people like you should always be protected, that's why I taught you how to protect yourself.

Whatever you do, keep a close eye on Long Feng, protect your brother. There is more to him than meets the eye, please be careful.

I'm sure that you're angry at me and perhaps confused. I apologize for leaving you like this.

Take care, Your Highness.

Much Love,

Itsuki

Midori stared astounded at the scroll as tears rolled down her cheeks. She was utterly furious at Itsuki for poorly explaining why he resigned. She was confused. With a frustrated yell, she shredded the scroll into tiny pieces before she tossed them into the fire, watching the scroll getting disintegrated by the fire.

A/N: I was curious to know how Kuei would be like as a parent or an older brother so I decided to write another side of him that people don't get to see in the show or the comics. Please let me know what you think about this story so far!