A/N: Ermmm so this is my first story and it's a chaptered one. Huzzah! Anyways, I was inspired by Thrice's Alchemy Index, hence the name (Clever right? herpderp). So here's chapter one, it's from Katara's point of view. this takes place a couple years after the hundred year war. Now a new war is a-brewin' and who is behind in other than the lucious Azuuuulllllaaaaa. So enjoy it, embrace it, love it like a child or whatever

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. I'm sorry if you googled yourself and ended up here, this isn't about you. Also I don't own Thrice's Alchemy Index.

Also, I fully expect my roommates to lulz at me for nerding so much over Thrice and Avatar

Woke up to a brand new skyline
We licked our wounds and mourned the dead
Swallow the story, hook and sinker
Is that what we meant, when we said
That we never would forget?

"Once one war is ended, another must begin" Zuko spoke the words but he didn't want to believe them. I could tell by the look of pain he gave Aang when he spoke them. He placed his hand sympathetically on his shoulder and tilted his head sadly

Sokka buried his face in his hands and sighed. I had never seen my brother cry, but I was pretty sure this was the closest I'd seen him come to it. "You'll stay here of course, you have to run the fire nation" he sniffed and nodded to Zuko

"Mai will run the Fire Nation, she's incredibly capable" Zuko squeezed his wife's hand fondly and she averted her eyes to the floor, no doubt hiding the urge to cry. The urge we were all feeling right now. "Will you be able to do this, Katara?" Zuko's voice was concerned but hopeful. All eyes fell on me

I looked around the room at my friends, avoiding Aang's eyes and inhaled "Of course" I nodded weakly. I shook my head roughly and groaned "We've fought a war before guys, and if I remember correctly, we won. Let's remember who we are" I forced the words of encouragement out

"You and Toph will leave in the morning. I know you two will make it out fine" Zuko handed me a rolled up map and I joined Toph at her side

"What about you three?" Toph spoke for the first time that night

"Worry about what you and Katara have to do" Sokka pushed Toph's hair out of her face a little and she furrowed her eyebrows. My chest began to hurt when Sokka spoke the words. He didn't believe any of them were coming back. None of them did

"You and Toph should come with me" Mai touched my arm lightly and we followed her and the boys into the hall. I grabbed Aang's hand and pulled him against me hard, burying my face in his neck

He buried his fingers into my hair and kissed my forehead "You're so brave" he whispered against my skin and I choked on my tears

"When will I see you again?" I looked into his stormy gray eyes, clouded over with sadness. He simply tilted his head to the side and I sobbed "Please come back to me after this" I begged

"I'll try, Katara" he kissed me softly before turning down the opposite side of the hall with the other boys

Toph held my hand as we made our way to Mai's quarters and I appreciated the gesture coming from her. "We have to stay strong for them. For us" she tugged my hand lightly and I wiped my tears on the back of my hand. Mai's room hadn't been used since her and Zuko had gotten married two months ago, but it was a large and beautiful room and had obviously been looked after in its vacancy

"Did Zuko explain to you about your hair?" Mai sat us down in separate chairs in front of vanity mirrors

"We have to be unrecognizable." Toph rattled off and Mai nodded, despite Toph being unable to see her

"I wish I could do this with you guys" Mai frowned and I looked up at her from my chair

"Don't be silly, Mai, the Fire Nation needs you more than anything right now. You belong here" I reassured her and she pulled out a razor

"I'm sorry for this, Katara. I always did think you had beautiful hair" Mai apologized, pulling my hair out of its long braid. I closed my eyes tightly and felt a soft tug. I glanced down at the floor in time to see a long chunk of my hair fall to the floor, followed by another, and another. I swallowed hard as I watched what was left of the front of my hang get sliced into short messy bangs. When Mai was done she attempted to style my short boy hair and sighed. "Here" she turned to her vanity and picked up a barrette from it "keep this" she clipped it into my bangs and spun me around to take in my new reflection. I stared back at the stranger in the mirror and gasped. My hair now fell just below my ears in choppy layers, with bangs that now threatened to fall in my eyes like Toph's. Yet right where Mai had clipped it, a small barrette with a little red and gold flower clung to my hair. And it was comforting. I ran my finger through my scalp and smiled half heartedly at Mai


"Ready, Toph?" Mai pulled Toph's hair down and it cascaded in long black locks around her shoulders. Toph simply nodded.

The next morning I tried to style what little hair Toph had left and out of sympathy she let me. Mai had cut her hair even shorter than mine and it reminded me of Aang's when he had let it grow in. It was still slightly dark outside as we changed out of our clothes into the rags that Mai had brought us. I slipped the tattered brown dress over my head and frowned as it fell just above my knees. We were told we couldn't wear shoes, much to Toph's enjoyment, and I slipped quietly out the door with my bare feet

The boys were waiting downstairs for us and Sokka threw himself around me first "Katara, mom would be so proud of you. Stay safe, baby sister, I need you to come home from this" he kissed my forehead and I wrapped my arms around his waist tightly. As he moved onto Toph Zuko grabbed my hand in his own

"I'm glad we became friends, Katara. I never thought I would see the day when I could say that" he bowed respectfully and I pulled him into a hug

"You're going to be the greatest Fire Lord the world has ever seen" I promised and Zuko relaxed in my embrace

"You think so?" he grinned and I nodded with a smile. Finally Aang stopped in front of me, his fingers lightly dancing against mine

"Even without your hair, you're so beautiful" he smiled sadly and I laughed

"It'll grow back" I promised and he laced his finger through my hair

"I love you so much" he touched his nose to mine and I swallowed tears

"Aang, I love you too, and we'll get through this. We can get through anything, I just need you to believe that" I muttered against his cheek and he nodded

"I believe you, Katara. If you say it's true then I believe you" he kissed me roughly and looked me in the eye "Stay with Toph, it'll be harder alone" he warned. I nodded and he kissed me again, this time softer, running his thumb gently over my neck

"When I get back, let's get married" I looked him seriously in the eyes and he inhaled sharply

"But I'm still only fifteen" he muttered and I shook my head

"One hundred and fifteen" I corrected him "and you're the avatar" I reminded him

Aang laughed softly "When we get back, we'll get married" he promised and I smiled into his final hug

"Where's my hug, Twinkle Toes?" Toph demanded with a playful smirk on her face and Aang laughed, carefully skipping over to her and picking her up and a tight embrace

"Keep her safe for me, Toph" Aang ruffled her short new hair and Toph swatted his hand

"You got it" she flashed him a thumbs up and Mai lead us to the front steps of the palace

"It's gonna be a pretty uncomfortable ride over, but I asked Wu Li to take it easy" she placed a blindfold over my eyes and lead Toph and I into the back of a large wooden cage on a carriage. "Be careful you two, and don't let Luon catch on. Try to stay positive" she squeezed my hand and I grinned. It was funny to hear Mai say anything about staying positive

"We'll have fun Mai, don't worry. We're here to make to most out of slavery" Toph snorted and there was a rough lurch forward as the door was slammed shut and the cart began to roll.

and onto chapter 2!