a/n: I'm so sorry I've taken so long to update! I keep getting writer's block. Also, I'm gonna have truble being able to read, because my parents have decreed that the computer can only be used in our kitchen or living room during certain hours. I'll do my best because I really like this story, and I hope you like it to!

It's pretty easy to find where the Avatar must be. There's only one village in all of the South Pole, and in this weather, he can't be hanging out with the penguin seals. We can't dock, so the ship plows right through their walls, and I feel a stab of guilt in my chest. I place my helmet on. The rest of the crew falls into formation with me behind Zuko, and we walk down the ramp and onto the snow.

I try to get a feel of it all. This is my mother's birth-place, and what would have been my home. Any of the women here could be my cousin or sister, aunt, or grandmother. The thing is, there are very few people in the village. Besides the children, there are only women, save one boy about a year younger than me.

I wish I could talk to them, ask about my mother maybe, but I know I can't. To them, I am just another fire-nation soldier, and to everyone else, I just see them as water tribe scum, the way we see anyone who's not fire nation. The fire nation citizens who had traveled a lot used to remark that I looked like I was from a water-tribe, not the fire-nation. I wonder if I removed the mask of my helmet, they would recognize my true blood.

I remain still however, still maintaining the air of a soldier. and the lone boy runs at him with a weapon I don't recognize, shouting. Zuko easily swings him into a snow drift, and yells for them to hand over the avatar.

One girl catches my eye. She looks to be a few years younger than me, and has dark brown hair pulled into a bun that goes into a braid, with two little hair loopy things connecting to the bun, and is wearing a classic water tribe dress, blue of course.

The boy runs at Zuko again, and he flips him over. But he gets back up and throws a boomerang at Zuko, narrowly missing his face. A little kid tosses him a spear and he runs at Zuko, but he breaks the spear, hitting the boy with it. The boomerang comes back, hitting Zuko in the head and knocking him to the ground. He gets up fire shooting out of his hands, and I feel sorry for the boy.

Out of nowhere, a boy about twelve years old slides in on a penguin seal, knocking Zuko to the ground. He has airbender markings, but it's ridiculous for him to be the avatar; he's only a boy. Apparently it's possible though, as he begins airbending. He and Zuko begin to fight. A blast of fire almost hits a few of the children, and I reach out to help them, but stop myself. I hope no one saw my show of concern.

It seems like the avatar has the same line of thought. He places his staff on the ground and asks "If I go with you, will you leave the village alone?"

Zuko nods, and gestures for the avatar to be restrained. I take one of his arms and hold it behind his back, while another of the men do the same with his other arm. The girl shouts that he doesn't have to go. He reassures the girl, evidently her name is Katara, that everything will be ok.

"Set a course for the fire nation. I'm going home." Zuko orders.

The avatar, Aang, smiles while the ships doors close, and the girl has tears in her eyes.

…

"Take the avatar to the prison hold." Zuko commands.

We guide him below deck and when we reach the door, he airbends the other guard into the door, pushing me back. He jumps on deck and I rush after him, shouting. "The avatar has escaped!"

I rush after him, several men collapsed on the ground as I run. I see him run into Zuko's cabin and the door shut behind him. I curse under my breath when I spot flashes of light coming from under the door. I sprint to the top deck and Zuko and the Avatar burst out and begin fighting.

Before I can intervene, the girl and boy from the village land on the ship on what looks like a flying bison. The ship shakes, water flying everywhere. I take the opportunity to bend water into a wall of ice in-between Zuko and the Avatar, a fleeting attempt to stop the fight. Zuko's eyes convey a mix of shock, hurt, and worst of all, betrayal. In that moment I feel a piece of my heart break, and wish I could have told him years ago.

The boy on the bison jumps down, and noticing Zuko not paying attention, pushes Zuko over the edge of the ship. "No!" My breath catches in my throat, and I feel a surge of relief when I spot Zuko barely holding on to the anchor.

"Come on Aang! Let's get out of here!" the girl calls from on the bison.

"Ok Katara!" he replies, smiling rushing towards her before hesitating.

He turns around and faces me. "Hey we're going to the North Pole to learn water-bending. Since you're a water-bender too, wanna tag-along?"

I don't know what to say. I never thought someone would be so welcoming to me while knowing I'm a fire-nation soldier, especially someone who I helped capture too. It's an opportunity of a life-time to finally train my water-bending abilities… but that would mean abandoning Zuko. He'd never let me travel with the Avatar, and he didn't even know I was a bender until just now.

I know the decision I have to make.

I mouth "I'm sorry" I mouth at Zuko, but he only coldly nods.

I'm afraid I've lost my only friend. "I'd love to come with you." I struggle to smile.

The boy and girl with the Avatar stare open mouthed at Aang, shocked that he'd even think to bring this person with them, they don't even know how old the person is, or if they're even a boy or a girl.

I remove my helmet, and their mouth drop even further to the ground at the sight of me: a sixteen year old girl, and a fire-nation soldier. "Well come on. We have to get going." He waves me over, and helps me climb on to the bison. "Yip yip!" he calls, and the bison takes off into the sky. The fact that we're in the sky freaks me out, and I hold myself as close as possible to the saddle of the furry beast. Aang laughs. "You'll get used to it sooner or later. By the way I'm Aang." He waves, smiling that cheery smile of his, before glancing at our other two companions.

"I'm Sokka." The other boy says warily, as if not sure to trust me, a fire-nation water-bender to contradictory for him.

"I'm Katara." The girl says with a shy smile. "I'm a water-bender too." Katara looks as if she's trying her best to accept me, the water-bending easily trumping the uniform I wear.

I smile warmly at them all. "My name's Sarafina Kani."

a/n: review please! I'd love to know how you think the story should go! Should I skip to book 3? Should I skip around doing the important episodes (if so let me know which ones I should include) or should I just go episode by episode?