Prophecy of Ice and Fire

A/N: Um yeah… My first Zutara. I don't ENTIRELY support the couple, seeing as how I'm rather passive about Avatar (haven't watched it in ages), but they seem good together. (I think some of you are familiar with my odd yin-yang couplings xD) So um… HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIRA!! (yes this was for my friend's birthday)

Oh another thing: the chapter verses are parts of the prophecy, and, as it goes on, you'll see how it all fits together. Just a warning: the prophecy DOESN'T go in the order of the chapters!!

Chapter One—Sokka's First Memory Session

After a hundred years of hope
The Avatar will return
Bearing with him a girl
Born of water and ice.

Sokka runs up to his father with his face painted for war, carrying his sleeping bag and gear. "I'm coming with you," he announces in a sure voice.

Hakoda looks down at his seven-year-old son sadly. "You're not old enough to go to war, Sokka, you know that."

"I'm strong! I'm brave! I can fight! Please, Dad!"

"Being a man is knowing where you're needed the most, and for you right now that's here protecting your sister."

Little Sokka looked like he was about to cry as he whimpered, "I don't understand…"

"Someday you will," his father said sadly as the little boy dropped his things and ran to hug him. "I'm going to miss you so much." Letting go of his son, Hakoda walked away.

Sokka remained staring after his father long after the ship had set sail, tears streaking through the black face paint. As the sun began to set, an old woman hobbled over to him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You can't go, Sokka," Gran-Gran said softly. "Your father can't take the chance of you dying. If you died, there would be nobody to protect your sister, and she might die. And the Princess of Water and Ice must never die." She whispered the last sentence so softly it seemed like she was speaking to herself, and Sokka, lost in his grief, did not hear her. "Come, Sokka. Dinner is ready." Together, the old woman and the young boy walked into one of the igloo houses.

Sokka was alone. He sat on the ledge overlooking the mountains—and thought. Every week, he would get in one of these moods where he just had to be alone. The time would pass quickly for him, almost unnoticeably, and he wouldn't go back inside until it was dinnertime no matter what the weather.

He thought about Hakoda. He thought about Suki. He thought about Yue. He thought about Aang. But most of all, he thought about his sister. The five most important people in his life were all royalty in some way: Hakoda was the leader of the Southern Water Tribe, Suki the princess of the warriors on Kyoshi, Yue the princess of the moon and the Northern Water Tribe, and Aang the powerful Avatar himself. And of course, his own sister—Katara. Princess of Water and Ice, if what his grandmother had said was true.

Sokka smiled bitterly at this thought. It's always her, he thought sadly. She was the one who wanted to help Aang immediately. She's the waterbender. She's the princess, if what Gran-Gran said is true. And now she's going to marry the Avatar. I'm just the sidekick.

A light tap on his shoulder startled his thoughts. "Yo, Sock, it's time to eat dinner," Toph said shortly, and walked away. "We're having rabbit stew," she called back as an afterthought.

Even Toph is the Princess of Earthbenders, he thought as he watched her go. I'm just a dead weight—a good for nothing. I should just go… After that rabbit stew, of course! Sokka heaved himself up and raced after the thin young earthbender.

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A/N: Yes Hira, I'm evil like that so I'll end it here xD But don't worry, I have the next 6 chapters all set up I'll update every week, how's that? They're much shorter than my Harry Potter fanfics, but that's only because I'm new at the Avatar-fanfic thing and I haven't seen it in so long… so I'm kind of feeling my way around here ;;

Anyway, review and I will love you forever Platonically, of course xD