-Fire Nation Capital-
General Iroh and his younger brother, Fire Lord Ozai, walk through the streets of the capital as the discuss events from two months ago.
"So the girl vanished then?" the Fire Lord asks his brother.
"Yes, the Avatar girl Akiko of Atarashii Kazoku is missing," General Iroh replies. "No one knows what happened to her. The leaders of the village, Izuku and Iraia, had left her at home when I went to speak with them. No one in the village saw her leave and even after aiding the villagers in the search for her, we've found no trace of her."
"That's too bad. According to stories from her village, the little Avatar girl inherited her parent's bending abilities. Let's just hope our enemies haven't got her, otherwise it will be on your head Iroh," Ozai states as they near a street lined with food vendors.
"She might've heard the fighting and snuck out of the house and into the forest in fear. As I reported, the soldiers disobeyed my orders not to attack. The girl might be here had they not attacked and allowed me to negotiate with the village leaders."
"That is true," Ozai muses just as a vendor starts shouting.
"Give that back you little thief! I've had enough of you stealing from my shop!" a fruit vendor shouts as a little girl with slightly messy shoulder length brownish-black hair runs out of the shop, a bag of apples held close to her chest.
"Leave me alone, I haven't eaten since yesterday!" the girl shouts as she runs from the vendor and towards Fire Lord Ozai and General Iroh.
"I didn't know we had thieves here, Iroh," Ozai comments as the girl trips and the vendor attempts to take the apples from her.
"Neither did I, Lord Ozai," Iroh remarks. "Oh, and she's a firebender no less."
"Why you little!" the vendor shouts as he runs his now burnt hand. The little girl had burned the man's left arm without realizing she was firebending. "I'm going to have you hanged for that!"
"I-I-I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean to do that," the girl apologizes fearfully as she scoots backwards on the ground and closer to Fire Lord Ozai and General Iroh.
"What a strange little firebending girl?" Iroh muses. "She shows promise don't you think?"
"Yes, I believe she has great potential. She's make an excellent firebender with the proper training," Ozai answers as the vendor grabs the girl and pulls her up by her wrist.
"Let me go! Let me go!" she tries to pull herself free but it doesn't help any for her feet are about a foot off the ground.
"I'll take those, thief," the vendor snarls as he takes the apples from her and goes to throw her aside like she was nothing but trash.
Iroh stops him though.
"I wouldn't do that I were you," Iroh warns and the vendor lets go of the girl's wrist when he realizes just who the two men in front of him are. The girl runs and hides behind a nearby barrel of something.
"F-fire Lord Ozai, G-general Iroh, I-I meant no disrespect by acting like that before you," the vendor bows out of respect and fear.
"Go back to your shop," Ozai orders and the vendor quickly obeys while Iroh walks to the girl's hiding spot.
"It's alright little one, I won't hurt you," Iroh says gently and the girl slowly pokes her head out from behind the barrel.
"I-I'm sorry I stole those apples," she apologizes as she crawls out and kneels in front of Iroh, her dark blue-green eyes holding a truly sad look. "I wouldn't have taken so many but the other orphans were hungry and we couldn't find any food without stealing it."
"It's alright. No one's going to hurt you. We'll get food to the other ophans, I promise," Iroh tells her as Ozai comes over.
"What's your name little firebender?" Ozai asks. "I am Ozai, the Fire Lord, and this is my brother, General Iroh."
"I know who you are," the girl snaps but then quickly covers her mouth. "I'm sorry. My name's Akiko, I got lost when I ran away from a fire two months ago and I've been living with the orphans here in this city."
"Akiko, hmm? That's a pretty name for a pretty girl," Iroh laughs and helps her to stand up. "That man didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No, sir," Akiko answers.
"Where did you learn to firebend?" Ozai asks.
"Huh?" Akiko blinks a few times as her normal spunkiness returns, the fear of having that vendor chasing her wearing off. "I learned from the firebenders at the firebending academy. I watched them through a hole in the wall and imitated them until I could firebend."
"Would you like to learn to firebend properly and not have to live on the streets?" Ozai asks.
"Really?" Iroh nods to answer the girl, her eyes alight with excitement for a moment. "But what about the other orphans?"
"They'll have food sent to them until we can find them homes," Iroh answers. "Do we have a deal?"
"You got it!" Akiko says happily as Iroh and Ozai motion for her to walk between them. "But what do I call you two though? I mean, do I have to call you 'Fire Lord' and 'General'?"
"No, only when others are around. When you are with one or both us only, you may call me 'Father' and Iroh 'Uncle' until you are old enough to make you way home and back to your family," Ozai answers kindly, figuring that it'd be in his best interest to make the girl feel like family. "Now come, you will start your new life once we reach the castle."
"You will live the life a pretty young girl should live and you will be taught to firebend by the two of us," Iroh tells Akiko.
"I'll make you both proud, I swear it!" she says proudly, excitement filling her voice.