My first attempt at an Avatar fanfic. I haven't actually watched the show in forever, so it might not be perfect.

SOME INFO:

Zuko is assumed to be seventeen, and Risa is assumed to be sixteen.

There are a few completely made up places that I made up for my own purposes as an author

I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Eleven Years Ago…

"Zuko, Azula, this is Risa. Her father just got appointed to command the Fire Nation armies, so she'll be around a lot from now on," one of the servants introduced a scared looking little girl, draped in a ruby red dress to the prince and princess. Risa had large, cloudy blue eyes, and long wavy black hair that went halfway down her back. She wanted to run and hide, more than anything.

"Can I go home now?" Risa asked the servant, tugging on her dress.

The servant smiled warmly, "Of course not, miss. Wouldn't you rather play with your new friends?"

Zuko wrinkled his nose. "Ew. Do I really have to hang out with her? Girls are gross."

Azula's response wasn't much better. "As if. I'm not going to play with these babies." She skipped away, not going to bother with the mouse like girl that had been presented to her.

"I'm not a baby!" Zuko and Risa protested at the same exact moment. When the realized that they had both copied the other, they turned to each other, and shared a smile.

"So your sister's pretty bad, huh?" Risa asked shyly, but feeling slightly better. She stepped closer to the young prince.

"Yeah. She's always like that. She thinks she's so great and perfect. She's just a stupid head," Zuko crossed his arms.

Risa giggled. "Her head is pretty stupid, huh?"

Zuko gave a weak smile. Maybe this girl wasn't so bad after all. "Want to go scare the turtle ducks?"

Risa's eyes widened in delight. "Really? I'd love to!"

Ten years ago…

"Zuko, there's something I need to tell you," The Fire Lord said.

Zuko knew it must be important, if his father was telling him directly. Normally his father didn't speak to him during the day.

"Yeah?" Zuko asked, but caught himself. "I mean, yes father?"

"Risa's father has been found guilty of spying for the water tribe, and he is scheduled for execution. Normally, as his daughter, Risa would be executed as well. However, since she is only a child, and since I know you have a certain fondness of her, I am simply ordering her to be taken away."

"Does this mean I won't see her again?"

"Yes, Zuko. That's exactly what it means."

"Oh," Zuko sighed, looking down, "That's too bad. She was cool. For a girl, I mean."

"Well? Aren't you going to thank me?" Zuko's father demanded.

"Huh?" Zuko asked, confused.

"I'm letting Risa live. Don't you think that's generous of me?"

Zuko blushed, "O-oh. Yes, of course! Thank you, father."

Present Day…

Risa combed out her hair, pulled on her warm sapphire colored dress, and left her small home. Ice Island was a small water tribe owned island in the North. It had a tiny population that mostly consisted of exiled water benders and their offspring. It was also home to the Water Nation's maximum security prison, which was known for keeping the prisoners in. There was only one person in history who'd ever escaped it. Maybe that was because most people didn't attempt to escape it, and didn't want to. There weren't many places to run or hide on an island that was quite literally just one giant chunk of ice. Not to mention that they wouldn't get very far. With the vast amount of water benders on the island, catching a single escapee would be like eating a piece of cake. Nearly 50% of the world's water benders lived right here, on Ice Island.

How could so many water bends live in one place without being discovered by the Fire Nation?

Ice Island was uncharted, and the Fire Nation still hadn't discovered it. If they did, it would be disaster. Almost everyone living on the island had been living in fear for the past two weeks. Because Fire Nation fleets had been seen by fishers circling the area, getting closer every time. People had been afraid to cook, should the Fire Nation see the smoke.

But Risa wasn't scared. Part of her wanted the little island to be discovered, so she could get off of the stupid chunk of ice and go back home. She could talk her way out of being held prisoner, should the Fire Nation come. All she would have to say was that she was a Fire Nation girl, being held against her will. All she would have to do was demonstrate her bending, and she'd be home free…

Because Risa had never been a Water Nation girl. She had been born in the Fire Nation, and raised into a happy life. And then the water bender came, and killed her parents. He took her, and told her that he was her father now. And he stole her real father's name. And Risa could only listen to him, and obey him. Because at the time she'd simply been a five year old girl who feared for her life. Ever since the evil that man had shown her, Risa had secretly harbored a hatred of water benders. Living among them daily drove her mad.

Especially because she had to be careful. Risa needed to watch her every step, so that the inhabitants of Ice Island wouldn't discover her secrets. Not only was she born in the Fire Nation, she was a fire bender.

It was three in the afternoon when they landed.