A: TLA © Bryke

A/N: Thus begins the rework on this story. For now, I am just going to grammar check and realign the story but when I get time, I am going to absolutely work on this properly, rework the entire plot and pace of the story.

The Opposing Elements

One

Rough breathing escaped the man's throat as he once again tried to attack the girl with quick-moving feet. Her stances were perfect. He couldn't find an opening, and no matter what distractions he threw at her, she just wouldn't falter.

A burst of fire erupted from his fist as it hurtled towards the copper-skinned girl. She somersaulted over it, landed, and threw several fireballs at him in different directions to make them harder to dodge.

No matter how he tried to copy her tactics, they were always too complicated.

His veins throbbed with frustration as he tried to hit his nation's princess, but she wouldn't stay still. His feet manoeuvred in a half arc, fire trailing after them as she approached him with rapid speed. You'd think she was an Airbender with how swift and fast her movements were, but no, she was a pure Firenation-bred Princess with white fire; the hardest of the Firebender's techniques to master.

"Daddy, Mommy, look!" A small toddler with glistening, brown locks, waddled towards her parents and her brother. A flame was balancing delicately in her palms, her tongue hanging out as she tried to keep the flame alight.

Two figures turned towards her and bright smiles lit up their faces as they saw the orange flame flickering in their daughter's mocha hands. "You can Firebend, Katara!" A woman with the same brown locks crouched in front of the child and examined the fire. "Wow." Then, the man sat in his knees as he smirked at his only daughter.

"Congratulations, Katara. You're a Firebender!" The Firelord stared at the flame intently and then his little girl. Katara waggled her eyebrow at him before forcing her hands towards him. Watching in awe, the flame erupted into a blinding white colour; orange flames easily encased by the new colour. Only shouts of joy could be heard as the family embraced.

She watched as the guard attempted to block her white wall of fire again. The technique he used just put himself in more danger as he sent his own firewall. It left her an opening to attack, and he didn't even realise it.

Memories flooded her mind. Constant practice; never-ending drills of Firebending. Her father showed little to no mercy as she continued to evade his gruelling practices.

And these are the guards my father are hiring? They could get themselves killed! A huff escaped the girl as she blocked a fireball with a flick of her wrist. Another fireball attacked her from behind, but she managed to drop to the floor quickly enough to dodge the impending attack. She turned to face another three guards taking known Firebending stances.

Her father had his feet at shoulder-width apart and he was facing her with his left side. The Firelord had his right arm arched above his head with his fist clenched.

Exhaling, the golden-eyed Princess raised both her arms, bringing up a wave of fire. She pushed her arms outwards and the wall bolted towards the armoured guards.

"Katara!" The gravelly tone of her father halted the girl's next movements immediately. All the guards straightened up and clenched a fist, placing it against their palm before bowing, signalling the arrival of the Firelord. Her palms extinguished before she turned to face the 6'5 frame of their leader.

His figure was tall and imposing as he stood above her with a stony expression. Then, his face morphed into a genuine smile as he pulled a seven-year-old Katara into his arms. The little brunette squealed as her father spun them both around.

Then, identical golden gazes fell on the delicate woman sitting on a bench on the side of the courtyard. Brown hair fell in rivulets across her left shoulder, the top portion of her hair was pinned to the back of her head. A ten-year-old Sokka sat next to them with his hands clasped together; gaping in awe at his sister's ability.

"Yes? I was in the middle of training." The Firelord threw a dark look in her direction before scanning the courtyard: scorch marks littered the training grounds and crumbled bits of the buildings surrounding the area had fallen to the stone.

The courtyard was filled with happy screams and joyous laughter as Sokka chased after her; he was mere steps behind her so she let her fists flare with fire and pushed herself away like a rocket.

Her mother's laughter and her father's chuckling made her pause. Katara turned around to find Sokka sitting on the ground covered in soot. Her laughs were from-the-bottom-of-the-belly sort.

"I can see that, but I need you in the Courtroom." Nodding, Katara turned to the guards and took up another Firebending stance, aiming for the individual guard she had originally started out with.

Katara scanned the room in awe as she took in every detail she could. She looked at the intricate, golden details scattered across the crimson walls, the beautiful, red pillars with golden trimming and the black marble that was so reflective, she could see her face in it. The courtroom was truly exquisite!

"Now." Katara faced her father once again, sending him a glare, which he chose to ignore, but it still caused him to shudder inwardly.

"Fine," She walked over to where she had dropped her outer robes, ripping them up from the stone bench, before walking straight past her father, not giving him a glance. He glared at the back of his disrespectful daughter before turning to the guards.

"Daddy, what are politics?" Innocent, doe eyes glanced up from her seat on her father's knee. They were currently in his study and he was reading a script that had the Firenation insignia at the bottom.

"Politics, Katara, is to do with leading the citizens of a country or an area."

"That sounds complicated," Katara stuck her tongue out at the notion and Hakoda laughed at the seven-year-old.

"What about war?"

With a sigh, Hakoda rolled up the scroll and placed it on his desk, "War, little one, is a lot of things. But I'll explain that when you're a little older." The happy smile of his daughter made his heart warm and he couldn't help but wrap her in his arms.

"Back to your posts!"

"Yes, Firelord Hakoda." They bowed before scurrying off; the Firelord began tailing his daughter.

It was her eighth birthday when she was brought to the courtroom; it was only her second time but she was excited. Katara looked to her left and saw her mother crouching low. "Now Katara, these council members are politicians and this is serious business. They're master firebenders very much like your father and I don't want you to ever speak during these meetings because you'll be coming to them often, OK?"

"What about Sokka?"

"He's training."

"Oh," With that, the three members of Royalty entered the courtroom.

The whole council arose from their seats at the sight of the Firelord and Princess, "Firelord Hakoda, Princess Katara." Katara walked straight past them with a steely expression that rivalled her father's. The council members shivered.

She parted the blaring orange fire before approaching the mats to sit on the throne's left-hand side. She saw her brother Sokka glance at her from the corner of his golden eye. It was a dark look that made him look impassive and simply cold.

Little legs sprinted towards her brother. She immediately grabbed onto one of his legs and he tripped, resulting in both of them landing on the floor. Giggles escalated from the children's' throats. "I love you, Sokka. Promise you'll always stay with me?" Katara held out a chubby, mocha finger and gave Sokka a pointed look. The ten-year-old smirked and wrapped his finger around his little sister's.

"Promise."

The Firelord soon took his seat between his fifteen-year-old daughter and his seventeen-year-old son.

"Proceed," Hakoda growled out, slightly annoyed by his daughter.

A small, chubby man stood from his seat, his black hair glinting in the fire of the Firelord's throne, his hazel eyes glistening sternly. "Firelord, we have two important matters to discuss with you this afternoon. Firstly," He picked up several pieces of parchment, skimming them quickly, "you're to name your heir to the throne because Prince Sokka, albeit an amazing Swordsman, isn't a bender. This will create a problem because the people might begin to rebel against him due to his lack of bending." Hakoda eyed the man curiously, but he didn't let it show. He already knew who he'd pick to take over his throne.

Hakoda glanced at his eleven-year-old daughter as she seated herself on the edge of his desk. Her presence was comforting for him as his eyes scrolled the parchments. They sat there in silence for just over ten minutes before Katara spoke up: "What's the role of the Firelord, Dad?"

"Firelord is an extremely important role for a person to have. They have to make big decisions for their people; most of the time, it's for the best. Sometimes, we have no choice but to something that appears wrong in the eyes of the people," Katara didn't catch the bitterness laced in his tone as he sent a quick look to a painting hanging on the wall: Arnook.

"I will pick Katara." Katara's eyes widened as she glanced at her father, surprise clearly etched onto her face. Sokka however, stood up immediately, growling angrily.

"Why? She's a girl! I am and always will be superior to her!" Sokka howled, glaring intensely at his younger sister that he hated with a passion. Katara reigned in her emotions and put up a stoic mask, glancing at the council. They were shifting in their seats uneasily.

Giggles escaped Katara as Sokka chased her across the courtyard, waving his arms about and laughing hysterically as he gained on her. As he was about to reach out to her, Katara lost her footing and plummeted to the ground. A couple of seconds later and she was clutching her scraped knee, trying to hold back tears. With a sympathetic sigh, Sokka crouched down beside her and looked at the injury. Then, he switched his gaze to the face of his sister.

"Now Katara, big girls don't cry. Even when they're in pain." Meeting her gaze, another sigh escaped him. "Someday, they'll be a situation that'll make you want to cry, but you're going to have to harden your emotions because the Firenation princess - or any royalty, for that matter - cannot show how they truly feel, despite everything."

Katara sniffled before wiping her eyes, "Why not?"

"Because people will only turn them against you." His voice was but a whisper.

"Very well father. Sokka, you can leave." Sokka glared at her,

"I'm not leaving!"

"I'm Father's heir, and the stronger one. Would you like me to show you the way out?" A flame flickered onto her palm, her eyes turning into a molten gold as she stared, glaring at her brother then the white fire meaningfully. Sokka gave her a dark look before exiting the room with his fists clenched in rage. He showed his emotions… how could they be turned against you? She'd always wondered.

"Precede, Admiral Jee." The council member cleared his throat, glancing at Katara who was playing with her white fire, her chin resting in her palm that was leaning on her knee.

"Katara." The girl picked her head up, the flame immediately extinguished.

"We have news of the Southern Watertribe." That caught Katara's attention, when she had visited there with her Gran-Gran about five years ago, she had met a woman there called Ursa; she was such a kind soul. "A waterbender has been found." Katara's eyebrows began to knit in confusion.

"But Azulon wiped them out over 70 years ago." Katara stared at the Admiral.

Katara remembered the lesson easily. She remembered how she'd felt; disgusted and astonished, it was unbelievable what a prejudiced hatred could lead to. It was unfair, a race had been wiped out just because of who they were.

"Why is Firelord Azulon known as a saviour?" A prepubescent Katara had stared at the textbook in front of her with confusion; the book consisted of only a picture and a caption. "'Saviour of many, Leader to a new world."

Hakoda didn't understand the hope to explain such an...event. "The Waterbenders were a difficult race from the start. They were always stubborn with trading rituals and wouldn't negotiate properly. We had to...remove them because they were starting to rebel, to sabotage and we couldn't help but succumb to it. We had to remove them; permanently."

"You killed them..." Katara's young face scrunched up in contemplation before her eyes widened. "Waterbenders; you destroyed them!"

"The Northern Watertribe is still prospering."

Katara glared up at her father, "yes, because they're strong and powerful..." With that, Katara left the study belonging to her father. She didn't talk to him for three days.

"Ah yes, Princess, but we can't afford to be wrong so we will check it out."

"I want to go." There's a chance of the Waterbenders coming back; a chance to change the world. With the possible return of Waterbenders, Katara's hope flared.

"Katara, you are to remain here with me, your lightening training will begin in two days time."

"And when do you set sail?" Katara fixed her gaze on the man; he was shifting from foot-to-foot under the watchful gaze of the most powerful Firebender in the room.

"Tomorrow, princess." Katara frowned - internally, of course - as a sense of nostalgia swept through her. "We will take the ships, Firelord." He nodded.

The woman Gran-Gran took me to see - to learn of their culture - I wonder if she's still around.

"Mother, here's your fish." The black-haired woman glanced up at her scowling seventeen-year-old son as he moved the igloo door flap aside.

"Thank you, honey." Identical blue eyes fixated on the fish as he handed it over to Ursa, who was smiling warmly. "Did you catch enough for the whole village?" Already knowing the answer to the question, she pointed a long, pale finger to the door flap. "Go." With a quiet sigh, he turned to walk out of the igloo, leaving his mother behind to cook.

"Another day stuck outside." He grumbled as he waved his hands calmly in front of him, the ice in front of him disappearing, leaving a perfect circle of ice. He felt the waves underneath pull at his inner Chi; his breath appeared in front of him as he breathed out, the mist splashing across his own face as he felt the wind hit him.

It was daily routine; in case they had any unexpected visitors, he'd go to someplace isolated from the village to remove fish from the ocean and bring it back to the village for cooking. Sighing, he gently raised a sphere of water full of fish out of the sea with one hand and grabbed a thickly woven bag off of his back and fumbled with the string keeping it closed.

Once he opened it, he bent the sphere into the bag, the water instantly draining and dripping from the bag as he held it up. With a flick of his wrist, the water shot from it and iced over the circle of the ocean. His throat closed up as a cough escaped him, the cold air scraping against his warm throat. He began his trek back to the village, and that's when he saw it. "..Black snow..."

A twelve-year-old Zuko ran across the snow in excitement, a beaming smile on his face. Skidding deliberately, he 'skated' around the little girl laughing.

"Azula! The booming voice of Ozai stopped the two children in their tracks immediately. "Come."

Zuko looked to Azula and watched as she bowed her head quickly, "yes Chief." Zuko began to notice black snow began to fall as his father and his friend disappeared into the small blizzard.

He never saw her again.

Ursa's eyes widened as her tent flap was suddenly ripped away. A big man hauled her out by her arm, dragging her towards a big gathering of blue, white and crimson. She drew in a sharp breath as she saw the ship vessels polluting the air. Please stay away Zuko, please.

With that, she had her arms dragged painfully behind her back and tied up, the rope biting through her winter coat. She was pushed to her knees in front of a small, chubby man with a mop of black hair that had been scooped into a top-knot.

His face held an evil smirk and his eyes were cold. Ursa glanced to her left and right and noticed all the village children and women were tied up and kneeling. Her husband, Ozai, was being restrained by three burly men who then held a knife to his throat. "Ozai!" Ursa screamed, rising to her feet, only to be knocked back down again. The chubby man turned to her with an evil glint in his eye, he approached her and she shrank back. She could hear Ozai's distant calling of her name but she wouldn't dare move.

"You're Chief Ozai's wife, are you not?" She didn't shake her head nor did she nod it. "Of course you are, Ursa." He mocked Ozai's futile calling of her name in the background. His fists shot out and clenched around the collar of her winter coat. "Now, Ursa. I heard that your little tribe is hiding a Waterbender from me. I want them, now."

Ursa's eyes were fearful as she stared into the cruel eyes of him. Despite being relatively short, he was still taller than Ursa. Her lips sealed into a thin line, trying to gather her emotions. Her fear spiked as he released one hand from her coat, alighting it with a fireball.

"Ursa, no!" Ozai struggled, trying to break free from his confinements. Jee moved the fireball closer to her face, an evil smirk flirting with his eyes.

"Ursa, tell me or I'll kill your whole village, saving you till last. You'll watch as I slaughter your husband, torturing him, burning him till his skin is no more." He whispered the last sentence in her ear, making her shiver. His armour was pressed up hard against her and she felt sick. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to lose her only child. Not Zuko, he meant everything to her.

She spat in his face, "Go to hell."

"Already there, Sweetheart." He whispered darkly, raising his alight fist, but as he was about to smash it into her face, the fire on his hand suddenly extinguished. Her eyes widened as she looked to her left, her eyes more fearful than ever as Zuko stood there, a water sphere hovering dangerously above his raised hand and ice shards hovering in his other. "Found you," His smirk turned into an evil grin as he dropped the woman on the floor.

Ursa cried out, "No Zuko! Run!" Zuko stood there with a revengeful face that promised pain.

"Are you looking for me?" Jee smirked and immediately began running at him with fireballs alight in his hand, shooting them at the waterbender only for them to turn to steam as they made contact with his water spheres.

"Leave my mother alone!" He growled, shooting several ice-daggers at the man.

Jee stopped immediately, burning the ice dagger that had been shot at him. Zuko was confused, but alas, he carried on attacking. The guards began to shoot at him and Jee turned around, making his way back to Ursa. He yanked her from the snowy ground, turned her and planted her back against his armoured chest, holding a fireball to her face.

Zuko soon realized his mistake and stopped fighting. "Now Zuko," Jee sneered, a light chuckle added in with the sound. "If you want your mother to live," he lightly touched her face with a small flame and she screamed bloody murder as it penetrated her skin, scorching her pale complexion. Zuko snarled and readied a water whip. "You will come peacefully, to the Firenation." Without even thinking, Zuko dropped to his knees and held up his wrists, turning his head away from his village and mother as the guards latched his wrists in tight chains.

"Zuko, no! Don't! Keep fighting! Don't do thi-"

"Shut up bitch!" Jee pushed Ursa to the floor and Ozai began thrashing, trying to reach his wife. It was understandable, but Ozai was abhorred that his son had given up so easily.

"Just leave this village alone, including my mother and its people. You have your last Waterbender." Sighing, Zuko was dragged to his feet by his hair. He clenched his teeth, trying to restrain a hiss.

"You have my word, on my honour."

Zuko nodded. He began to walk with the guards towards the vessel as he watched his tribe shrinking behind him, with all of the mournful looks of his people and the painful view of his mother's singed skin, but it could've been worse. He saw the understanding look on his father's face, who silently nodded as the ship's bridge rose from the ground, shutting him away from his homeland that he was sure he would never see again.

29.05.19: this has been edited by myself with a few grammatical tweaks here and there. The plot is terribly staccato but I am focussing on other stories before I completely rework this one.

Thanks for reading!