A/N: My first fanfic so any tips for improvement will be much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar


The ice cracked under the weight of the black ship, its red flag visible through the fog mixed with frozen ash. The Fire Nation, what could they possible want with the Southern Water Tribe now? Hadn't they done enough over the years? They must have found out that all the men had joined the Earth Kingdom in the war now the Fire Nation was back to cause the tribe even more strife. They are such cowardly people.

Sokka stood on the wall that surrounded the tiny village, the only warrior left in the Southern Water Tribe. The gesture was nice and one could commend Sokka for his bravery in facing a Fire Nation ship alone but he was easily swept away as the ship broke through the wall with ease. The warrior fell back with the snow and the massive metal nightmare finally came to a halt. With a hiss of steam the front spike fell forward and a total of seven men descended, the first four wielded no weapons which meant they were firebenders, the worst kind of Fire Nation troops and there were three soldiers with spears behind them. The guy in front was wearing a slightly better uniform and didn't have the facemask in his helmet. A nasty scar covered the left side of his face.

After digging himself out of the snow Sokka ran at the man with the scar, yelling a hate filled war cry, but he was quickly silenced by two swift kicks. Sokka ended up in the snow face first.

The villagers cowered in fear as the soldiers came closer, the one with the scar examined each person purposefully. "Where is the Avatar?" He suddenly yelled, then grabbed Gran Gran and pointed, "He'd be about this age, master of all four elements." He glared at each member of the tribe. The Avatar hadn't been seen in a hundred years, and this crazy guy thought he'd turned up in the tiny village?

"Raaaawwwwww!" Sokka ran at the firebender, brandishing his club. The firebender threw the warrior over his shoulder with frightening grace. Before he landed in the snow once again Sokka hurled his boomerang at the soldier. He barely dodged it then threw a warning blast at Sokka.

"Show no fear!" One of the village boys yelled as he threw a spear to Sokka, with another cry the warrior ran at the firebenders. Before the point made contact the man with the scar sidestepped then with a few quick strikes broke the spear into several pieces. Then he yanked the remains from Sokka and jabbed him three times in the forehead before breaking it in half and throwing it in the snow. Sokka rubbed the spot on his forehead in defeat.

"Try that again you peasant and I'll-" He was cut off when the boomerang came back around and hit him the back of the head, knocking his helmet askew. "That's it you little pest you're coming with me. Soldiers arrest him!" The other two men ran forward and grabbed a struggling Sokka.

"If you want this poor excuse for a warrior back then bring me the Avatar." With another blast of fire he stormed back on his ship, pushing Sokka ahead of him.

Running forward Katara used waterbending to hurl a large snowball at the firebenders holding her brother. "Let Sokka go!" She had to duck away as the leader shot a blast at her.

"Bring me the Avatar and he's all yours." The last glimpse Katara got of scarface was a cocky smile before the ramp rose back into place. As the ship backed out Katara threw snowball after snowball at it as tears fell down her face.

"SOKKA!" Katara ran to the edge of the ice then fell to her knees, "Sokka, no."

Moments later she heard a whoosh followed by a clack, which was Aang's glider. He'd come back to the village, he must have seen the Fire Nation ship. He ran over to Katara and put a hand on her shoulder, "What happened here." The fog was too thick for him to see the ship but he could see the aftermath. The huge gash in the ice through the wall, the collapsed watch tower and the villagers that were still cowering together, tears started to well up in his eyes. "Katara…" Then he noticed that there was someone missing. He made a quick head count.

"Oh no where's Sokka?" Aang looked around frantically.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Katara stood and glared into the fog, "They took him. They just came in ranting about the Avatar then grabbed Sokka and left. Why do they do this? Why can't they leave our tribe alone?"

"Umm, Katara, I'm confused. Who exactly took Sokka?" Aang stood next to her looking confused.

She bit her lip as another wave of tear overtook her, "The Fire Nation. A ship came and took Sokka. Their leader wanted to Avatar in exchange for Sokka. Aang where could the Avatar possibly be, I need his help." Aang looked away; he couldn't face her right now, not after the huge secret he'd kept from everyone.

But he had to. He got Sokka into this mess and he was the only one who could get the Water Tribe boy back.

"Katara, there is something I have to tell you." Aang looked away, ashamed.

"What?" She fell down in the snow, not really paying attention to the boy. Scenario after scenario of the possible horrors Sokka was going through played in her mind. What if he was being tortured? What if the man with the scar had lied and he was going to kill Sokka regardless of whether he got the Avatar or not? And where did he get the idea that the Avatar was in the Southern Water Tribe?

"I'm the Avatar."

It took a moment for Aang's words to sink in past the worry that clouded Katara's mind but when they did she turned to Aang in amazement. "What did you just say? You're the Avatar? But you're just a twelve year old kid, how…" Aang clutched his staff close to him and bit his lip, unable to look Katara in the face. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Aang, if there is any way you can help Sokka, please help him. I can't lose my brother to the Fire Nation." Fresh tears started pouring from her eyes, that's when Aang made his decision.

"I'll bring him back to you Katara, don't worry." He put a hand on her shoulder then opened his glider. Before he took off she grabbed his arm.

"I'm coming with you. I want to smack some sense to those firebenders." The look of raw determination in her eyes almost frightened Aang.

Aang smiled, "I'll go get Appa." Then he took off and flew as fast as he could towards the bison.


"Come here you scarface ponytail freak and I'll show you what kind of warrior I am! You'll be sorry you messed with Sokka of the Water Tribe." Sokka struggled against his captors but they had the advantage of being bigger than him.

"Stop calling me that." The man with the scar yelled, fire flared out of his nose as he rounded on Sokka. "Listen you little peasant I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, I will not stand for your petty insults." Zuko was right in Sokka's face now.

"You know if you get any closer you're gonna kiss me." Sokka smiled as Zuko took a step back in disgust.

"Why would I ever want to-" Zuko shook his head to get back on track. "That's it take him to the prison hold and keep a look out for the Avatar." Without another word Zuko stormed off down the hall, leaving Sokka alone with the two guards.

"Jeez he must be a pleasure to work with. Does he always yell that much?" The guards didn't say anything. They reached a room that was out fitted with a straw mat with a basin attached to the floor that must pass a toilet and a basin attached to the wall which could only be a sink. "Wow you Fire Nation soldiers really spare no expense when it comes to amenities." With a rough shove Sokka landed in a heap on the metal floor.

The door echoed as it slammed shut behind the guards, it left a harsh ringing in Sokka's ears. "Are you jerks at least going to give me something to eat and drink and a blanket for this sack you call a bed? It gets cold in the south pole." There came a loud bang from the other side of the door.

"Be quiet, boy."

Sokka rolled his eyes, "Knocking on the door and yelling at me in a deep voice is not going to make me shut up." He looked around the room then got up and started pacing, his hands were still bound. The window was high but it was fairly big, if Sokka could find a way to get up there he could squeeze through. Though the thick steel bars would be a problem. Dammit, how am I going to get out of this one? He tugged at his bindings; they loosened sliIghtly but were still tight. Stupid ropes.

He was so busy trying to free his arms that he didn't notice someone walk into the room until the heavy door slammed shut behind the visitor.

"You will tell me where the Avatar is." Came a gravelly voice thick with angry determination. Sokka gulped. Great this was just what he needed, to be alone with the ponytail-freak.


A/N: Thanks so much for reading I hope this didn't suck to badly!