The Boy in the Iceberg

A blinding white light flashes through the morning sky. A teenage boy is standing facing the sky. His head shaved except for a ponytail bound in a red cloth. His eyes are in a harsh permanent glare with a menacing burn on his left eye.

"Finally." The boy announces in a low voice. "Do you realize what this means?!"

An old man is seated, cross legged at a low table, drinking tea and playing a game of pai sho with a girl the same age as the boy.

"We won't get to finish our game?" The girl says disappointedly

"It means my search is about to come to an end!" The young man declares.

An exhausted groan comes from the old man and young girl as the boy speaks.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him!" The young man yells facing the old man.

"OR, it's just the celestial lights." The old man says lazily. "We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?"

"I don't need any calming tea!" Zuko yells exploding in anger, nostrils flared and veins popping on his forehead. "I need to capture the Avatar. Helmsman, head a course for the light!"

"I'm not exactly confident in our new lead, but I'm sticking with you." The young girl says kindly, with a gentle smile.

"Thank you Kai." Zuko replies softly. "You really are a true friend."

"But you know. We don't have to go! We could stay here a while, let me finish my game." Kai says, ruining the moment.

"Your stupid tile game is not in any way equal to me restoring my honor!" Zuko yells throwing one of the Pai Sho pieces across the ship. Kai stared her mouth gaping and the old man chases after the tile.

"Zuko! You're my best friend I just don't want you to get your hopes up and be disappointed again!" Kai yells back, desperately. "We've been on these waters for two years! Why don't we settle down?! Put the avatar on the backseat for a while?!" As soon as the words left her mouth Zuko glared daggers at her, fire briefly shooting out from his clenched fists.

"You know how important this mission is to me! There is nothing and no one more important than me catching the avatar!" Zuko's rage subsided as he realized what he just said. Kai's eye softened and her shoulders slumped. A frown formed on her face and tears brimming her eyes. But her vulnerable state didn't last very long. Her face turned expressionless and cold.

"Do what you want Zuko." Kai said, unable to hide the pain she felt in her voice as she left the deck and walked to her quarters.

Zuko watched her as she walked away. He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of his next move. Kai was pretty upset with him and he didn't want to upset her more. However, at the same time he wanted to comfort his friend as soon as possible. The crew members were all staring at prince Zuko with disapproving gazes. He suddenly felt uncomfortable under their gaze and his discomfort soon turned into rage.

"Get back to work!" Prince Zuko barked angrily shooting fire on the deck. The crew members immediately averted their gaze and resumed their tasks. The old man gave Zuko his own look of disapproval.

"Prince Zuko, you know that Kai only wants what is best for you. Your words have hurt her very much. You should go after her." The old man said seriously.

Zuko let's out a heavy sigh and a look of guilt washes over his face.

"I know Uncle, but what if she doesn't forgive me?" Zuko asks in a soft voice.

"If I know Kai, then she will surely forgive you."

"Thank you uncle." Zuko said before bolting to his friend's room.

He stood in front of the metal door leading to his friends room. He knocked softly on the door. Silence. He quietly opened the door and saw Kai lying on her bed, awake.

"Kai..." Zuko started softly, but was cut off by her glare.

"What do you want Prince Zuko." Kai asked turning her back to him.

"I wanted to apologize for my words before. I didn't mean to hurt you." Zuko replied softly.

"You wanted to apologize or Iroh wanted you to?" Kai asked, coldly. Zuko took a seat on her bed. He tried to meet her gaze, but she averted her eyes. He cupped her face and forced her to stare into his eyes.

"Kai, I care about you more than anyone I know. You are my only friend and I would hate to lose you." Zuko said in a gentle voice. "I didn't mean what I said earlier, I was just upset." Kai was silent for a while until she flung her arms around Zuko. He looked down at the top of her head. She was gripping onto him tightly and had her face buried in his chest. He slowly slid one hand around her back and one around the back of her head

"I'm sorry I got so upset." Kai said quietly. "I guess I took your words a bit too much to heart."

"You don't have to apologize, it's my fault." Zuko replied.

"What I wouldn't give to be young again." A husky voice said coming from the door frame. "I know what you mean." Another familiar voice said. Zuko pulled away from Kai as if she was on fire.

"Uncle!" Zuko yelled in surprise. "Don't you know how to knock?!" His face turned beet red and he scowled out of embarrassment. He stood up and pushed past his uncle barely able to control his anger.

...

A blinding white light burst from the iceberg that was once. A tan young boy with a ponytail, shields his sister from the bright light in an attempt to protect her. A bright blue light is swirling around the top of what is left of the iceberg. Suddenly, a boy appears, with arrow tattoos on his forehead and hands. His eyes and arrow markings still aglow, the young boy with the ponytail raises his spear at the glowing boy.

"Stop!" He shouts.

As the glow and residual blue light fades. He passes out and slides down the ruined iceberg. The two siblings lunge forward and catch him as he falls. The young boy with the ponytail pokes Aang in the head with the blunt end of his weapon.

"Sokka! Stop it!" The young girl yells, briefly putting out a hand to restrain her brother. She gently turns over the boy with the tattoos so that he is lying on his back. He slowly opens his eyes an whispers in a weak voice

"I need to ask you something."

"What?" The young girl asks softly.

"Please... come closer."

"What is it?"

"Will you go penguin sledding with me?" The young boy asks in a suddenly loud, cheerful voice.

"Uh... sure. I guess." The young girl replies, confused. The young boy airbends himself to his feet, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ahh!" Sokka screams in surprise.

"What's going on here?" The boy asks confused.

"You tell us!" Sokka shouts, skeptical of the young boy. "How'd you get in the ice?!" Sokka cautiously pokes and with his spear. "And why aren't you frozen?"

The young boy swats the spear anyway, absently. "I'm not sure." He replies.

A loud low roar is heard from another direction. The boy gasps and begins to frantically climb back up the ruined iceberg. He jumps over the lip of what is in fact now a crater and lands on a huge furry animal.

"Appa!" The boy yells to the beast, happily. "Are you all right? Wake up, buddy!" He leans forward and opens one of the beasts eyes only for it to close again. The boy hops down and tries to lift the animal's huge head, but cannot. The two siblings come around the corner and their mouths drop in shock as the see the monster, whose mouth opens and licks the boy.

"Haha! You're okay!" The boy said excitedly, hugging Appa as he emerges from the crater.

"What is that thing?!" Sokka asks, eyes wide.

"This is Appa, my flying bison." The boy replied.

"Right. And this is Katara, my flying sister." Sokka says, his voice filled with sarcasm.

As soon as the young boy is about to reply, Appa begins to sneeze. The boy ducks in time as Appa sneezes all over Sokka.

"Ewww! Aaghhh!" Sokka yells in disgust, rolling around on the ice and snow trying to get rid of the snot all over him.

"Don't worry. It'll wash out." The young boy says to reassure Sokka. "So, do you guys live around here?"

"Don't answer that! Did you see that crazy bolt of light?!" Sokka yells. "He was probably trying to signal the Fire Navy."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure he's a spy for the Fire Navy. You can tell by that evil look in his eye." Katara says, sarcastically as the young boy shoots an innocent smile at the two. "The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka. You never told us your name."

"I'm A... aaaahhhh... ahhhhhh... aaah aaah aaah AAAAAAACHOOOO!" The young boy sneezes, shooting off the ground and far into the air. He soon lands softly back onto the ice. "I'm Aang."

"You just sneezed... and flew ten feet in the air." Sokka said, baffled.

"Really? It felt higher that that." Aang said curiously.

"You're an air bender!" Katara said, gasping.

...

The little invasion of privacy earlier left Zuko in a bad mood for the rest of the day so Kai decided it would be best to give him his space. She went into his room to use his private one since her room didn't come with one so she had to use his.

She walked into the shower room and began to peel off the layers of red, yellow, and orange Fire Nation clothes she had on and set them in a basket of dirty clothes that belonged to Zuko. Once she got the water running, she stepped in and let her body relax in the steady stream of hot water. Letting it melt away all the dirt and sweat off her skin. She picked up the bar of soap on the ledge of the tub and lathered some in her hands. She ran the lather through her hair and over her skin, scrubbing herself clean. After she finished, she stepped outside and dried herself with her fluffy, pink towel that she kept there. She pulled her new attire out of the sack she had brought with her. It was a fitted sleeveless turtle neck top that reached about an inch above her bellybutton. She had bought this a while ago and never wore it because it was too tight. She must have grabbed the wrong shirt because as she put it on she frowned at the way it outlined her figure and felt immediately self conscious. She wasn't thin, but she wasn't fat. She had a curvy figure and fairly flat stomach. The pants however were loose fitting and maroon colored with a yellow string to hold them in place. (A/N: Think of harem pants) And her shoes were simple flat oranges slippers.

She examined herself in the mirror. And ran a towel through her long black hair before stepping out of the shower room. She stepped onto the deck, slightly chilly, but it could be worse. All the crew members eyes were on her. She folded her arms in an attempt to cover her body, feeling exposed. She was hoping she could make it to her room without being noticed and change. Zuko stepped out onto the deck and paused when he saw her attire.

"Kai...what are you wearing?" Zuko said, shocked. His eyes ran up and down her body, and she misinterpreted his actions and covered herself even more if thats possible, slightly hurt by his words.

"I'm sorry..my...I was just about to go change..." She said dashing past him, but before she escape he grabbed her arm and spun her around. Zuko's heart race sped up and his face was flushed.

"I didn't mean that you looked...bad" Zuko said hesitating a bit. "You look beau- nice." Zuko said catching himself just in time.

"But... Everyone is staring." She whispered quietly.

Zuko looked around and noticed several of the helmsman were eyeing her. Zuko felt a ping of jealous rage and pulled her behind him. "Get back to work! Stop slacking of!" Zuko yelled angrily. Kai grabbed onto his arm tightly and Zuko's heart sped up once again.

'What is the matter with me' Zuko thought to himself.