Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Avatar. If you recognize it, then it belongs to the creators of Avatar.

Chapter 1

Changed

As they flew away from Ba Sing Se, Katara kept getting angrier and angrier. She couldn't get Zuko out of her mind. She was pondering over what Zuko had said.

He said he had changed. But that wasn't possible. Was it? Of course it wasn't. He had still attacked her and Aang. He was still the same old Zuko, attacking them in some useless attempt to restore his honor. Well, his honor was probably restored after what he had done tonight. He would go back to the Fire Nation and his father would welcome him with open arms. At least now he wouldn't be chasing the world's last hope for peace.

She shuddered at the thought of where they would be now if Iroh hadn't helped her escape with Aang. One thing confused her: how had Iroh freed himself from the crystals? He couldn't have done it. He would have burned himself very badly. Azula definitely didn't do it because she knew her uncle wasn't on her side. An earthbender could have freed him, but they were all bowing down before Azula. That left…Zuko.

Zuko must have freed Iroh. But why? How would that help restore his honor? Unless…he had changed? Maybe, just maybe, it was possible. He had seemed sincere when he had talked to her.

But if he had changed, then why did he help Azula? Then it all clicked. Zuko was going along with Azula to get close to his father again. Ozai wouldn't be expecting for Zuko, his own son, to betray him. Iroh must be going along as a prisoner to help his nephew. She remembered the look in Zuko's eyes when he had answered her last question to him. The look in his eyes was honesty as he told her 'I have.' He truly had changed for the better.

If she could get to Zuko, she was sure they would have a very useful ally. But she couldn't tell the others because they would want to go with her and they couldn't risk having Aang in Sozun until the solstice. That would be like handing him over to Ozai on a silver platter.

She was brought out of her thinking by a loud groaning. She looked back, careful not to jar Aang, and saw Bosco, the Earth King's bear, looking back at Ba Sing Se. The bear groaned again.

"I'm sorry," the Earth King apologized. "He just knows we've left Ba Sing Se to the Fire Nation."

"The Fire Nation won't have control of the city for long," Aang muttered as he woke. "Wow, Katara! That water really worked! Where are we going now?

"I say we go to dad," Katara suggested.

"I agree with Katara," Sokka said. "His ships shouldn't be to hard to find."

"To Hakoda it is then," Aang said, directing Appa towards the ocean.

After about five minutes they spotted the six small ships heading for shore. The ships slowed as they spotted Appa. Aang brought Appa down to land on the deck of the largest ship.

Hakoda came out to greet them.

"Dad!" Katara exclaimed, catching sight of him. Jumping from Appa, she ran into his arms.

"Katara," he said, kissing her cheek. "I'm so happy to see you. But why aren't you guys in Ba Sing Se?"

"Ba Sing Se had fallen to the Fire Nation," Aang replied jumping down from Appa, staff in hand.

"You're kidding!"

"I wish I was. We almost didn't escape."

"Hey, wait a minute!" he said once Aang came into the light. "You're the Avatar!"

"Yes, but I prefer Aang." As the Earth King came up, he said, "This is the Earth King."

"So Ba Sing Se really had fallen?"

"Yes," the Earth King answered sadly. "The Kyoshi Warriors were really Princess Azula of the Fire Nation and her friends."

"This calls for a change in plans." He turned to Bato. "Have the ships turn around."

"The question is, where do we go?" Toph asked as she came up to them, holding onto Sokka's arm. "I want to get off this ship as soon as possible."

Hakoda turned around, his eyebrows rising as he caught sight of Toph on Sokka's arm. "Do you get seasick?"

"No, I'm blind. I see through my earthbending. But I'm blind on ships since they are made of metal."

"We'll see about getting to land soon. I'm Hakoda."

"Toph. At least on a ship I won't have those two morons trying to catch me."

"What are you talking about?" Katara asked.

"My parents weren't really in Ba Sing Se. Two idiots my father sent to catch me captured me in a metal box. It took me forever to think of trying to bend the metal."

"You bent metal? That's impossible!" Hakoda exclaimed.

She bent down, putting her hand on the floor. When she lifted her hand, the metal raised with her.

Hakoda looked at he in astonishment. His amazement grew as she bent the metal back, so that it looked like it had never been bothered at all.

Standing up, she exclaimed. "That gives me an idea!" A look of concentration crossed her face and a few minutes later she continued. "You don't have to worry about finding land anytime soon."

"Why?" Sokka asked suspiciously.

"Because I just figured out how to use the metal to see."

"Can you teach me metalbending?" Aang asked excitedly.

"It's not metalbending, it's earthbending. Of course I'll teach you, twinkle toes. I'm your teacher aren't I?"

Aang danced around happily.

"So where are we going?" Katara asked.

"How about we go to Osha Harbor?" asked the Earth King. "It's a big port city and my friend King Numair lives there."

"Sounds good to me," Aang said cheerfully.

"Osha it is," Hagoda agreed. "Bato, head the ships for Osha Harbor."

"I wonder what happened to Suki and the other warriors?" Sokka asked quietly.

"I'm sure they're ok. They're strong, you should know that."

"How could I forget?" he asked, and then turned to Hakoda. "Dad, when are we going to eat? I'm starving!"

Hakoda laughed, slapping his son on the shoulder. "Same old Sokka. But he's right. Let's go get something to eat."

He led them down to a small dining room, telling a cook on the way to bring dinner. They sat down at the table and talked as they wait for dinner.

"So, Aang, I know you have an earthbending teacher, but what about a waterbending teacher?"

"I already have one."

He looked around the table. "Who?"

"Katara."

He looked at Aang in astonishment. "You can't be serious! Katara is merely a novice waterbender, playing around for fun."

"Dad, I'm a master waterbender. Master Pakku taught Aang and me at the Northern Water Tribe. When we left, he made me a master and turned Aang's training over to me."

"Pakku taught you? A girl?" he asked in astonishment.

"Yes, after Katara almost beat him and he realized she was Kana's granddaughter," Aang said.

"But why didn't he make you a master too, Aang?"

"I'm wasn't good enough. Katara can still beat me easily if I'm just waterbending."

"Wow. My daughter's a master waterbender."

Katara laughed at the amazement in his voice.

Their food came and everyone settled down to eat. It was good food, not elaborate like what they had been eating at the palace. While they ate, Katara, Sokka, and Aang filled Hakoda in on what they had been doing until they had reached Ba Sing Se.

After dinner, Hakoda showed them to their rooms. When Katara entered hers, she was pleased. It was small, but she had it all to herself. There was a small window and when she looked at her bed she saw a pile of watertribe clothes. In fact, the room was filled with nothing but watertribe items, and Katara found it very comforting. As she laid down to sleep, the last thing she saw was a pair of golden eyes staring at her.