A/N: Before you begin, please bear in mind that Katara will have a whole new backstory to her character. Some cannon events will stick, though in this fiction, they happen in different orders and times. I will definitely introduce new characters and ideas in between, so open minds are greatly appreciated.

I kind of wrote it based solely on the relationship Katara and Zuko never got to have in the original series, which I found quite disappointing actually. This fiction is partly inspired by the romances Zuko was involved with with Mai and Jin.

This fiction is split into two parts. The first part will consist of 15 chapters in total, most of which will be written in Katara's and Zuko's point-of-view. The second part will be of no more than 10 chapters, I assume.

Give it time to properly unfold itself; the first few chapters are when I am just warming up.

Chapter 1: The Last Of Home

Katara's POV

Raging fire burst the door wide open. Innocent little eyes glowered at my father; frightened by the profound fear on his face.

"Run," he yelled briefly. I did not dare question the urge in his voice.

In huffs and puffs, Dad uttered, "The fire benders... they have arrived."

To spare more time, he raised up a wall of frozen ice from the flowing rivers surrounding the house; preventing the well-armed troops of the Fire Nation from hunting us down.

"Where's Mom? We can't leave without her!" Sokka questioned him as we paced towards the emergency boats, only to find my father's face crumble into bits and pieces.

"Dad!" tears began to swell up in my eyes when unwanted thoughts appeared in my head, "What happened to her?"

The silence spoke for itself. Mother is gone.

Piercing screams filled the village. My gaze drifted to the far corners of the valley where smoke emerged. The fire benders must have took her life alongside the rest of the Southern water tribe.

I could barely even breathe; much less know what to say. I stared at Sokka for a little while, who appeared to be plastering a stone cold look on his face. Just like Dad, Sokka felt the need to bottle up all his anger and emotions; something which I could never do.

At the dock, Dad turned to face Sokka as he laid a hand on his shoulder, "You're head of the family now, Sokka. The duty of protecting Katara now rests in your hands. It has been my greatest honour to have known you, son."

"I won't disappoint," my brother replied with such assurance.

Dad then knelt down on his knees so that he could look at me right in the eyes. With solemnity, he murmured gently, "Sokka will take care of you now."

"No, Daddy, no," I refused to accept the fact that at a fine age of eight, I was about to lose all I had, "You can't do to this, you can't leave me like this, I need you!"

"No matter what happens, promise me –" he cupped my face in his coarse hands, "Promise me you will stay strong... for your mother."

He dropped his hands and proclaimed, "It is my duty to bring honour to the tribe and fight for what we have left. One day you will understand."

His lips curled into a saddening smile as he said, "I love you, Katara. Always remember that."

Those were his last words. Words that I knew I would never get to hear again, because my father wasn't going to come back to me.

Never.

"Listen to me, Sokka. Row the boat as fast as you can. Katara can help drive the waters. Whatever you do, don't stop, you hear me?" my father instructed before he took off.

I kept turning back to watch him drifting off further and further into the icy hills until he vanished into darkness.

He did not turn back once. Not even once.

Was it too hard?

Was it too painful?

I didn't quite understand what could be more important than us.

As chief of the Southern water tribe, he was all about honour. Apparently I was the only one in the family who didn't get it.

As if it would work, Sokka consoled me with the truth, "Dad had to go. He didn't have a choice. The tribe needs him."

"Well, I need him! Doesn't that matter at all? Now I've got no one," I sputtered.

"You have me," Sokka told me sternly. He then placed his hands on my shoulders and looked at me directly in the eyes, "I promise I won't let anything or anyone hurt you."

"But Mother..." at this point I was sobbing inconsolably. There was nothing the mighty Sokka could do to make me stop.

He uttered my name in the most understanding voice and hushed me as I wept along the distant journey. Sokka wrapped his hands around me for a little while, stopping me from bending as the waters stood as still as we did.

"Things will be alright, I just know it," Sokka stared calmly into the deep blue skies whilst I began to shift the waters again, drifting the boat forward.

"How can you be so sure?" I was beyond curious.

Before Sokka could shrug, shades of light shone through as the boat crossed underneath a grand wooden bridge.

"We're here," Sokka muttered, careful not to attract any unwanted attention.

Speaking of avoiding unwanted attention, we had already worn dark magenta robes as an overcoat beforehand to cover up our tribe clothing.

The trees were deep forest green. A color Sokka and I were not used to seeing every day coming from a frosty place. The coal-scented air felt warm too. And fresh, surprisingly.

"Uncle Santou?" my brother sounded relieved at the sight of a six-foot tall, casual-dressed man.

I cocked my head to right to get a good look of our uncle. He looks... shaggy, and sort of old, I would say. I'm guessing mid fifties.

Uncle Santou shot us a friendly grin, "Ah, my handsome nephew and oh... Katara, my dear, you've grown to look exactly like your mother!"

I turned away so he couldn't see me wince. It finally felt real – knowing that Mother was out of our lives, that is. Well, knowing hurts.

"What's wrong, sweetie pie? Did I say something –" Sokka cut him off, saying briefly, "Our mother didn't make it."

"What? I-I-I didn't know, I'm sorry, son. Hakoda only mentioned there was an emergency. He didn't tell me what for," Uncle Santou felt all the more guilty to have brought up Kya.

He added, "What about Hakoda? And the village? What happened?"

Sokka let out a mournful sigh as he shook his head.

"Daddy went back to save the rest of the tribe. The last we saw of it, the village was in flames," I took a deep breath, "I don't know what to think..."

Uncle Santou immediately stretched his arms out to hold me, "Come here, Katara. Hakoda sent you both here for a reason. You're in good hands, my dear."

"Now, follow me and careful not to make any eye contact. Home is just right over there," he pointed to the east, where the pathways were leading to a row of straw-like huts.

My eyes widen a little when Uncle Santou mentioned home. It only brought me back to the thought of losing the tribe, Mother and possibly even Dad.

Sokka, who felt the same, held my hand tight as we passed by many stalls that were run by the local non-benders. I looked up at him and saw how disgusted he was at them and everyone else who belonged to the Fire Nation.

After hiking a fleet of stairs, we were welcomed by a majestic view of the opulent city. Uncle Santou's hut was located right beside the royal grounds.

As we were passing by the manor, I glowered at all the prim faces and formal attire. While doing so, I deliberately caught a glimpse of the royal prince and flinched when he returned my gaze. I couldn't tell whether I was blushing because of him or the scorching heat. Who knows? It could be both.

Zuko, I heard a girl call out to him. That was his name.

A/N: That's just the first tiny bit though. It's nowhere near to what the plot is really all about so please read on. Chapter 2 will be out real soon, I promise! As for now, reviews anybody? Thanks for reading!