AUTHOR'S NOTE: Writers grow and improve with each chapter and work they produce. My aim is to get better with each chapter, and give you readers something worth reading. Thank you for reading, THANK YOU for staying with me, and EVEN MORE THANKS for feedback. Honestly, we all need feedback to keep on going, whether it is writing or something else. So, don't be lazy. give FEEDBACK.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Air-bender or any of their awesome characters. I can, however, play with them and bend them to my will for the enjoyment of readers.

Chapter 1: Prologue

The war had ended… mostly. The large army of fire rebels destroyed. Men of all elements fought against the rebels. Even soldiers of their own blood and kin; fire benders pledged their alliance to the allies as proof of their new alliance and equality with everyone. Even though Earth, Fire, Water and a few Air-benders including the Avatar, fought bravely, their rebels also fought back ruthlessly and savagely. They fought dirty, with no honor to subdue them, only greed for power. They where led by Zhao, and many other fire nation generals that couldn't stand being equal to people of other nations much less share power with them. Many women traveled with the rebels, some to follow their men to battle, while others followed with their own ideals. Yet one woman remained. One woman who was a leader to the rebels. She came from the Fire Nation royal family.

Many years ago the Fire Nation believed they were the strongest. Far more superior than the other nations, therefore it was their right to rule over and attacked. A huge gruesome war happened, and for many years the air nomads were scattered to a few dozens, until the avatar - Roku of the fire nation, drew all his might and power towards the war leaders and finally--the war was over.

Yet…he died in the process of restoring the balance in the world, and the next Avatar was reincarnated in an air bender boy named Aang.

Before Roku died, he reorganized the balance and the nations. Although there was peace in the world, he ensured the peace by creating a capital where the people of the four nations could live together in harmony. In the capital laid a palace and its royalty consisted a fair number of people of each nation with the inclusion of the Avatar of course. They rule fairly over the nations, although each of them could decide most of their nation's happenings. Like states they would rule after themselves but answering to the main state was a priority.

Bit by bit the people started a new path and little by little the harmonious vision that avatar Roku had been envisioned was coming through.

But not everyone was happy with this outcome. Many fire benders didn't want to share power, especially the aristocrats, and so, over the years they gathered many fire benders who were against this new future and made an army, led by the generals' thirst for power. And again another smaller but ruthless war began. There was much at stake, and none of the citizens would risk their newfound peace and happiness again. And so soldiers and the young Avatar was called to protect the new world. Fighting to protect the future, to protect the balance. After a few years of battle the fire rebels were finally destroyed and those who were alive were used as prisoners, being too dangerous to let loose in case they regrouped again. Slowly, the tired soldiers came back home, to their longing mothers, fathers, loving girlfriends and wives and loved children. One by one they were coming back, to try live a happy life and forget about war and the deaths they had seen and caused.

………

A bell rang.

The day was bright with a chilly breeze carried by the winds of winter. The air had a fresh scent of early morning and the people in the streets were doing their business, by this time everyone felt as light and relieved, as they hadn't felt in years. The war was over. There was much to be grateful for.

People busied the streets in their way to their jobs or school. Among the many students a girl sighed in resignation as she walked to the front gates her college. Many things had been closed due to the war, except for schools; they were always open for students.

The school was a beautiful building made of stone and marble. It was part of the main palace and was a mixture of the four nations, decorated with the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, Air Nomads and Water Tribe style, all designed in a way that didn't looked crowded at all, and was more of a new culture all together.

The girl made her way to the building, walking pass the students, some dressed in winter coats and such, while others where dressed in more casual clothes. She herself was dressed in a sky blue tunic with dark blue pants that blend with her slender curves, and a choker necklace with a blue carved stone that reminded of the ocean waves as they crashed against the rocks in spirals of water. Her dark brown hair was arranged simply in a long braid with two wisps of hair either-side of her forehead that connected with the braid. The weather wasn't cold for her, having been a water-bender who lived most her life in the cold, it was absolutely no sweat. Her blue eyes scanned her surroundings, looking for her new classroom. She was in the last year of school and was to become a master water bender. If she was good enough, she could even continue studies and learn basics of the other elements. She smiled and walked with more energy.

"Oy, Katara, wait for me!" the girl known as Katara laughed and ignored the boy yelling at her. "Hey! Aren't you listening? I said wai… AH!" Katara heard a crash of a body hitting the ground and books spilling. She turned around and went to the boy, or rather young man.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh nothing. Just… testing if the ground is hard, and what's it to you, hmm?" the boy snapped. Katara ignored his remark.

"Well you sure aren't in a jolly this morning Sokka" the guy named Sokka gave her a smug look.

"Aren't you one to talk? By the way—you're late for class"

"Che! Looks who's talking I… oh no! I'm late for school, again".

The girl turned on her heels and ran to her classroom leaving damp Sokka sitting on the ground surrounded by spilled books. "Some sister she is helping her poor brother…"

"Are you ok Sokka?" Sokka felt a small hand gently touch his shoulder. 'hm, soft hand gently touching me? Definitely not Katara' he thought. Then he recognized that voice.

He quickly stood up blushing and struck a pose. There at his side, kneeling still, was his girlfriend, Yue. "Sokka?"

"Oh hey Yue! What… erh. What are you doing here?" he asked nervously. Yue raised an eyebrow and looked at him teasingly.

"Uh… I study here, don't you remember? What were you doing on the ground?" it was a stupid question, she knew, but she just wanted to hear what he would say this time.

"Well" he started, "I urh, I w-was testing the ground, of course!" he smiled a sheepish grin. "And I suppose those books are for research on the ground, right?" She taunted playfully while standing up. Sokka smiled in relief and said: Yes! That's exactly what it was!

Yue laughed merrily, and took his hand. Sokka's silly grin was replaced with a tender almost reverent look towards his beloved. Yue lowered her eyes and blushed making Sokka smile. They had finally admitted their love for each other, and had decided to be together. It wasn't easy though. She was the daughter of the Water Tribe king that ruled his part in the Grand Capital. She was to be betrothed to the son of an aristocrat in the palace, but Sokka thought he was a looser who was interested in her position, and so she had the perfect excuse to leave him to be with Sokka without bringing scandal. Sokka also lived in the palace, with Katara and Gran Gran, their grandmother, they had a good position, his father was an important General representing the Water Tribe, and so his union with Yue wasn't a problem.

"You know I love you, right Yue?"

Yue smiled shyly and nodded.

"Oh! Moochie moochie! Sokka's in love!" a new voice said

The too lovers jumped and blushed crimson at a smiling teenager. He was wearing orange monk clothes, with blue arrowed tattoos on his hands and baldhead. He had a toothy grin as he waited for the couple to speak.

"Aang you slimy little…." Sokka paused as the revelation sunk into his brain. "Aang, you're here! I can't believe it! You've returned!"

"You bet I would." Smiled Aang. A gentle cough was heard and they both looked at a smiling Yue, waiting to be introduced. Sokka placed a hand around her shoulder and said: "Aang, this is Yue, my girlfriend."

"You speak as if I didn't know her, Sokka! How could I not remember her? Wait? Did you just say she is your girlfriend?"

'I was only teasing!'-He thought.

Yue chuckled. "Well, I see boys do get the meaning of things late…" Aang and Sokka looked at her dumbly. "Hey!" Sokka whined while Aang laughed. Then Yue remembered. "Oh my! We're going to be late for class, Sokka!" she grabbed her boyfriend's hand desperately and tugged only to hear: "we have first period free, Yue." The princess blushed a little and stopped tugging, but she didn't let go of his hand.

"Hey Sokka, where's Katara?" the arrow boy asked.

"She's in class, and surprisingly not so late"

"Oh, well, I'll see you later then"

"Why? You're not staying?" the warrior asked confusedly while he had his arm around his girlfriend.

"I just arrived, I have to go to the palace and report. You know…" Aang said it in a tired tone. Yue looked at him tenderly and said: "well, we'll see you later then, but do get some rest, alright?" Aang smiled at her. "Ok, then, bye!"

The trio parted to their morning chores…. Whatever they were…

………

Katara walked through the halls of the school towards the park area. She had at least an hour free till lunchtime, and she was thinking of what to do with her spare time when she collided with someone. "Oy! What's your problem?" a tall teenager turned around violently. When he saw whom it was he quickly cooled off. "Oh, hey Katara. Didn't know it was you."

"I could see that Jet" Katara replied smugly. "Were you going to punch the person that bumped into you if it wasn't me?"

Everyone who didn't know would think her crazy. Jet was kind of a bully and a strong one at that, even without bending power.

"Uh… you want me to answer that?" Jet replied sheepishly. Katara snorted. "Honestly Jet, you have to stop bullying, geez. All you need is someone to teach you a lesson."

"Oh, and who will that be, my darling Katara?" he teased smirking.

"I will, if you call me 'darling' again" she replied back defiantly. Jet wasn't what you would call the most gorgeous man you've ever seen, but many girls liked him, his looks improved by his cocky attitude.

Jet laughed at her remark, and patted her head ignoring her protest. "So where are you going? You wanna hang out?"

"Nah, no thanks, maybe another time."

"Suit yourself" he shrugged. " Better for me, I wont have you keeping an eye on me to see if I bully someone or not" he smirked.

Katara stared at him and said seriously: "don't you dare."

"Yeh, yeh, whatever you say…well, farewell my water bending penguin." He teased.

Katara laughed at his antics and left. Pass the pillars she went until she came to an open area. Green healthy grass covered the entire park except for the pathways marked by the students. Tall trees graced the yard with their robust trunks and thick and slender branches with abundant leaves. Fountains with Water Tribe style sculptures also offered a sense of peace and content.

Katara sighed happily and saw her friend Haru. Haru was a little older than she was. Brown long hair, soft hazel eyes, he was sweet and shy, but also a promising Earth bender. Katara walked silently towards him, hoping to catch him up by surprise. She softly approached. Apparently Haru was gazing at the fountains. 'Ha! He is so oblivious to what's coming!' Katara swallowed a giggle when she heard:

"well? Are you going to come up to me or not?"

Katara fell. Resigning she walked on her knees the short distance to the bench where her friend was seated. Haru smiled softly. No matter how much she denied it she was very much like her brother, and her goofiness was one of them.

"How did you knew it was me!" she whined looking up to him.

"Haha, lets just say I know when you're around."

The girl bit her lip in a sheepish gesture as to make up for her question. Then she seated on the floor and started talking cheerfully. "Yeah! I guess I have to keep working on my sensing skills, huh? It wouldn't kill if I don't always pay attention… but somehow…you know …" she added sadly. Her friend looked at her solemnly.

"Oh but I'll keep practicing and studying. One day I'll be a great master water bender, have a family of my own or something, what do you think?" she added with new cheer.

Haru smiled softly at her. She always tried to be happy and joyful, she always tried to make the better of things.

She continued to chat about everything. She liked being with Haru. He was one of the few people she could be completely carefree with. She didn't need to be tough or to be motherly; she could just be her childish-self.

While chatting all the way she didn't notice a certain young man standing out from the few students walking through the park.

"I'm so glad the war is over! I can't wait till papa comes home! I feel so sorry for those who couldn't though…. Maybe I'll go bring some treats for the hurt men at the hospital, wanna come?"

While Haru laughed, a person walking by paused at hearing this, glanced at the two friends, and went his way.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter (and the second and the third and the rest to come) is edited. They were started in 2006, so as you can see some key characters are missing BUT they will make their appearance. I'll introduce Toph, Mai and Tylee but Azula is still on hiatus. This is an A/U love story, college style (or something like it). I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading. Please review. And have a wonderful year.