Author's Note: And while my computer is just giving the illusion of functioning, I think I'll start another really long story! Hooray! But this is just a prologue, so the story doesn't really get started until next time.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

It is a common expression among certain Pai Sho players (particularly men in their golden years who favor strategies involving the white lotus tile) that Pai Sho is more than just a game, but a way of life. Lian had heard that often enough. After all, she lived in the Northern Water Tribe with her parents and grandfather, and her grandfather happened to be a man in his golden years who favored Pai Sho strategies involving the white lotus tile.

It is also a common expression among certain Pai Sho players (once again, particularly men in their golden years who favor strategies involving the white lotus tile) that one who plays Pai Sho will always be able to find friends. Lian's grandfather thought it was very important for her to have friends. She had been taught the basics of the game before she could read and, by the time she was six, had become quite good. At that age, she could have easily defeated any of her peers at the North Pole. Then again, most of the other six-year-olds didn't actually know how to play Pai Sho and even if they did, they would have much preferred to play ice marbles, so Lian's talent went largely unnoticed and unappreciated by all except her grandfather and a few of his Pai Sho-playing friends.

Snow fell on the Northern Water Tribe as Lian and her grandfather played their daily Pai Sho match. It was endgame, and both stared at the board, deep in thought. Lian closed her eyes for a moment before making her move.

"Your turn," she beamed.

The older man glanced at the board. The game played itself out in his head. He saw a thousand ways to win on the next turn and one way to…

His hand lingered over the piece for a moment of indecision before making his final move. "All right, Lian," he smiled kindly. "You go."

Lian scowled at the board, concentrating. She saw the opening and her face lit up. "I win," she proclaimed as she slid out of her wooden chair. "Thanks, Grandpa! I've gotta go to waterbending practice!"

The old man laughed as she ran to her first waterbending practice. She really had no idea that he had let her win…

Lian quickly blended into the group of new benders. There were ten of them in total. Lian glanced about nervously. She was never a very social child. Still, she sucked it up and smiled at the girl standing next to her, "Hi, my name's Lian."

The other girl suddenly snapped to attention, "Mitsuki, I'm Mitsuki…"

"Attention, class!" an old woman had suddenly appeared in front of the group. "I am Sifu Katara. Welcome to your first waterbending lesson…"

The children gasped. They had all at least heard of the legendary Katara. She had been a great beauty in her youth (although it was hard to tell now) and married the Avatar. She was also one of the greatest waterbenders to have ever lived. Her duel with Princess Azula of the Fire Nation was a feat that every adventuresome waterbender dreamed of matching someday. Her marriage with Avatar Aang was responsible for the revival of the Air Nomads (apparently, any child with one airbender parent inherited the ability, so there were about twenty airbenders who now lived in the temples, although the sky bison were sadly extinct after Appa's passing; still, definitely an improvement on one airbender). She had moved to the Northern Water Tribe with her husband after their first child was born, and started teaching waterbending to anyone who was willing to learn. As much as she had loved the teaching, she had thought it best to retire after her husband's death six years ago. None of the children ever expected to be taught by her, but here she was, ninety years old and ready to instruct.

"Now," Katara said. "We'll start with something simple. Line up in front of this pool."

Each student individually recovered from the shock of meeting the legendary Katara and followed instructions.

"Now relax, and push and pull the water back and forth in little waves, like this." She demonstrated.

Lian took careful note of her stance and copied it as best she could. She cleared her mind of as many thoughts as would be cleared and pushed at the water.

The water jerked. That was it. It easily could have been the wind doing all of the work. Lian took the stance again and pushed. Still nothing. A choppy wave every so often, but nothing that could be properly called waterbending.

She looked to see how Mitsuki was doing and instantly wished she hadn't. Smooth, perfectly formed waves, worthy, perhaps, of a much more experienced bender. A prodigy. It figured.

Lian took the stance once more, determined to do even half as well as her new friend. She pushed forward with all her might.

A bit too much might. Lian lost her balance and plummeted into the water, much to the amusement of her classmates.