Prologue

"Yeehaw!" Iroh exclaimed, his feet stuck on the iceboard as we rode the ice cold northern pole waves.

I laughed and swung my arms around, waterbending a wave for us to soar off of.

Iroh, who was now next to me, looked at me and smirked. We grabbed each other's hands and flipped as we flew off of the crest.

We cheered as I waterbended us out of the water onto the snowy shore.

"S-So... c-cold!" Iroh stuttered, collapsing on the fluffy ground. He took a deep breath and blew fire out of his mouth. The snow melted all around him.

I sat next to him. "You get used to it."

"Sometimes I wish I was a waterbender so I can do cool things like this. All we do in the Fire Nation are Angi Kais. They get so boring after a while."

I winced. "What about something less dangerous? Like... um... lava boarding?" I offered questionably.

Iroh shook his head. "Father says I'm too young. I'm fifteen! Too young would be... fourteen!"

I scoffed and pushed on Iroh's shoulder. "hey!" I exclaimed, mock-offended that he chose my age.

Iroh laughed, then sighed and closed his golden eyes. "You're so lucky your grandfather lets you do these things,"

I laughed and brushed my wave brown hair behind my ear. "Not my grandfather, but my mother. My grandfather thinks a lady should be in a dress healing. I just hate how women heal in this tribe. I hear in the Southern Water Tribe, waterbenders both women and men alike can fight!"

We were wilent until Iroh checked the position of the sun.

"Speaking of our parents, we should get back. Father's meeting should almost be over," he said, standing.

I stood next to him a nodded. Together, we ran back to the Tribe.

I went into myroom and canged out of my wet clothes into my noble attire quickly. I brushed my hair and put it into a bun.

I went outside and smiled at Iroh, who was now in his royal attire, his hair in a new, smooth ponytail.

"After you, milady."

I coutseyed. "Thank you, Milord."

We laughed and walked side by side to the conference room. We stopped when we heard shouting.

"Are you insane? The world has been at peace for 175 years! Then, a new avatar comes of age, and you want to start making alliances?" my grandfather shouted.

Iroh and I glanced at each other. "New avatar?" we mouthed. We knew of the avatar that died a few years before I was born, Aang. He saved the world from the Fire Nation 175 years ago. What's this about a new avatar? Could avatars be reborn that quickly?

"Isane I might be, but I know there will be a war! The Fire Oracle told me! Now, if you won't align with me, then we will become enemies!" Iroh's father shouted.

Iroh and I looked at each other, eyes wide.

My grandfather was quiet. "Son, think this through," he whispered.

"I have! I hope you've decided!"

Iroh and I stared at the door. Shakily, our hands found one another's.

"No. Making alliances will only send this world to war. I will not risk it and be in tandem with the Fire Nation," my grandfather replied.

The Fire Loard sighed. "Then, we're enemies."

Fire Lord Kai slammed the door open and stormed out of the conference room. He glared at us, and Iroh let my hand go.

"Come, Iroh. You are not permitted to be near these people any longer." Dramaatically, he turned and stormed away.

Iroh slowly followed his father. He glanced at me apologetically, and then his eyes got hard, almost as if he was looking at the enemy.

I winced when I realized I was the enemy.

"Koko," I heard my grandfather say beside me. I wiped away a tear and turned to him. my eyes hard, I bowed.

"You heard everything?"

"Most"

He sighed. "Then come inside."

I followed him into the room.

"What do you mean new avatar?" I asked.

My grandfather sat down tired. He looked like he had aged in the short time he was with Fire Lord Kai.

"There is a new avatar that was born into the water tribe fourteen years ago. Kai wanted us to align with him so he would have the avatar on his side if there wasa war. Now I fear there wil be one, very soon."

I kneeled. "If I may ask, who is it?"

Grandfather was silent as he rubbed his temples, exhausted.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, looking to the ground.

"Don't be," he said. "You deserve to know." I looked at Grandfather, confused.

"Afterall, the new avatar is you."