So Chapter 1. I'm not going to write several chapters before the targets of the story actually meet :) Comments and critiques are greatly appreciated! Hoping to set the plot with this chapter.

"I'm starving!" Sokka whined as the ship plunged through the ocean waters. Katara groaned, the versatile whip of water dropping into a puddle around her. Her watery blue eyes turned to the colour of ice as she spun around on him.

"I'm trying to practice!" She stomped her foot, before taking a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she began summoning more water. With another breath she plunged into the fluid motions of a Water Bender, twirling the whip around until it became a blur, throwing it out at whatever invisible target stood on the deck to her right before calling it in only to form a shield against whatever fire was coming at her-

"When are we going to stop?" Her brother's whiny voice interjected her and the water fell again as she collapsed on her knees. She stared up at him and he met her glare. He was her brother, he'd grown up with the death glare, it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

"Would you rather swim to shore?" She pressed bitterly. He opened his mouth to protest, before Hakoda climbed out from under the deck. He looked between his two children. No matter how much they had grown, they still sounded as if they were tiny children.

"I figured you two would be old enough to get along if you are old enough to save the world," he ruffled their hair as he passed between them to peer at the horizon. The action elicited protests from both, bringing a smile to his face.

"She started it!" Sokka accused and she gaped at him.

"Real mature," she shot back, folding her arms over her chest. Hakoda looked between his children.

"Are you two going to make it to the North Pole?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. They looked at each other before nodding in a silent truce. All truth be told, he would take the incessant bickering any day over the days he had spent alone at war. But that was over now. Slowly the cliffs home to a small earth village slid into view on the horizon. "Now, get down below and help prepare to restock," he ruffled their hair affectionately once more before vanishing down the stairs. Katara sighed, leaning on the railing as the salty spray tickled her face.

"What's wrong?" Sokka matched her position against the railing, watching his little sister's face. She had grown quite a bit. Her cheeks had slimmed out, the curls in her hair no longer composed of frizz but rather of, as the men in his cabin said, silk. It was hard to ignore the way he bristled as a protective older brother as the other men spoke of her while at work below deck. He'd never admit it aloud, but he had a soft spot in his heart for his baby sister who didn't quite look like a baby anymore. Another fact made painstakingly obvious by his comrades.

"Doesn't this seem too mundane?" She asked, running a hand through the hair that she now wore down, all though her "hair loopies" remained faithfully in place.

"We're going to the North Pole, what's more exciting than that?" He asked, nudging her with a laugh.

"You're right, saving the world has nothing on arranged marriages," she said, managing a laugh, although that laugh faded as she thought of it. It had been suggested by the Elders of the Northern water tribe. And looking at the young boys she had grown up with down in the South Pole, they were too much like brothers to even consider. And Aang and her...she didn't even want to think about it. He had sworn off women to continue the way of the monks.

The heartwarming discussion was interrupted as the ship slid into the small harbor. What boats there were in the secluded town were small fishing boats and leisure canoes. All save the rather large ship boasting the Fire Nation emblem rather proudly on the polished side. Katara looked down at their ship. Even knowing that they were allies with the Fire Nation, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disdain at their superior and excessive lifestyle. But then again Zuko had a life as a Prince to make up for.

"Help your Gran Gran, children!" Hakoda lectured as the tribe began leaking out from the belly of the restored Water Tribe ship. The two had instantly forgotten their own selfish problems before rushing to help carry the empty boxes into the village.

"Alright, here is where we go our separate ways, my Lord," the elderly man said with a bow to Zuko. He shook his head. In this position no one ought to be bowing to the coward who had fled.

"Thank-you," he glanced into the corridor to see the members of the army idly strolling about. They had no idea he had been on board, and he was wondering how he was going to sneak by without being seen. Although they may have sworn their very bending and life to him, he wasn't going to trust anyone. The man pressed the Lotus Tile into his hand, just as his Uncle had.

"There should be money in your pack, along with a map. Leave at nightfall, just before we push off," he explained and Zuko nodded along. He wasn't a stranger to this, and yet the feeling was a phantom one. As if it hadn't sunk in quite yet. He might still awake to the glorious sight of the beautiful gardens and the words of his Uncle that still made no sense. The elderly man, name still unknown for safety, vanished to help somewhere else in the ship.

There was nothing to do in the bare room except watch the small porthole for signs of darkness in the sky. The day dragged by until it was dark, and the soldiers aboard settled into their quarters. He drew the hood, slipping across the silent deck and down the gangplank.

The small village was lit up, nestled into the side of the cliffs, smelling of fresh air. It had been quite some time since he had spent any time in a quaint place of any sort, and, despite his life being flipped upside down, he could appreciate the simplicity. It was humbling. That much he hadn't forgotten. He walked through the village, no longer ashamed of the fire nation clothes he wore. They were simple, that of a commoner, but peace was present. A few people would look at him as he passed through the village, many on their way home.

"Excuse me," he approached a plump, bearded man who looked up at him. "Where's the nearest Inn?" The man looked at him as if he was stupid before jabbing a thumb over his shoulder and continuing on. He looked up to see an Inn standing over the village square. "Of course," he murmured under his breath. This commoner thing was harder than he had remembered.

"Hey!" He heard the gruff shout of a man as he turned around, ready to flee. But the trio of Fire Nation soldiers weren't coming after the cloaked Fire Lord. They were shouting at a young boy playing in the light of the lanterns, building small castles out of rock with his Earth Bending. He looked up in panic before one struck him down. Zuko's eyes widened, ready to jump forward, but the voice of his Uncle, hovering in the back of his mind, kept him glued to the spot. Forced to watch the child cry as everyone gathered, shrieking their protests.

"Attention civilians-by declaration of the Fire Lord Azula-" Zuko's breath caught in his throat as he listened, remaining in the shadows. Azula had escaped. "All Bending will be punishable by death-"

"You have no jurisdiction here!" Zuko would recognize the voice anywhere. He looked up to see a very different and a very, very angry Katara.

"Watch your mouth, girl-" One sneered. Zuko's face twisted into a frown. He had forgotten just how different the soldiers were.

"Make me!" She bristled. Zuko groaned inwardly. Of course she couldn't leave the Fire Benders alone. She was so stubborn it had often caused him migraines.

"What are you going to do?" He scoffed. Another groan on his part as he continued peering around the corner. A grin played across her olive face and the nearby well began to tremble as she lifted her arms. Zuko shifted his weight, a war raging within. Save the stubborn girl, or keep his head down. Times like this he would try to think up some ridiculous metaphor as his Uncle often quoted, but something told him it wasn't the time.

"Stupid girl!" One scoffed, but the old stones shattered, the crowd ducking as the mass of water swelled up behind her, crashing into the three, flooding down the streets.

"Kill her!" That was all Zuko needed to hear before slipping quickly through the crowd, forming a mob as they shrieked and ran amuck. Some pushing towards the intruders, others away. Rocks, water, and fire all split the dark air overhead as he ducked low, jumping between bodies. The still air was now full of shrieks and shouts. What had his brutish sister thought of now? He straightened to follow the source of the enormous whips of water before ducking as something whistled by his head. Was that a boomerang?

"Of course," he grumbled to himself.

"Find the Water Bender!" Were the commands as suddenly more soldiers were upon the village. Zuko found her first however, the aqua blue of her dress sticking out in the earthy village.

"Stay quiet and keep low," he whispered, pulling her into the shadows. She struggled for a moment, beating fists against him before she turned to look at him. She felt her eyes widen as her gaze landed on that scar. Her first instinct was to protest, but something told her he knew what was going on.

"We can't leave them!" She protested, looking over her shoulder at the screaming riots. She could smell the smoke, thick in the air. Zuko stared incredulously at her for a moment. "I wouldn't leave them," he snapped defensively. He thought she knew him well enough to know that at least. He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to fall into childish arguments. "I have a plan," he promised. She bit her lip, obviously suffering that same battle he had.

"Okay," she nodded before they took off into the dark alleyways.