A hundred years has passed since Sozin's Comet, and Avatar Aang's defeat of the Phoenix King Ozai. Avatar Aang has died and a new Avatar has been born in the Northern Water Tribe. He has just come of age and been told of his destiny.

Now ambassadors from the other three nations are on their way to the Northern Water Tribe to meet the new avatar and discuss his training. These ambassadors are;

Zia, 17, daughter of Fire Lord Kazin and Fire Lady Zeyla, great granddaughter of Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Katara – a firebending master, Princess of the Fire Nation, and it's ambassador.

Tang, 14, daughter of Earth King Thom and Earth Queen Eleyna, great granddaughter of Earth Queen Toph and Earth King Teo – an earthbending master, Princess of the Earth Kingdom, and it's ambassador

Ansayto, 16, son of Monk Gonsa and Nun Yaen, great grandson of Avatar Aang and Lady Meng – an airbending master, and the Air Nomads' ambassador.

Our story begins on the last leg of their journey:

"I want to thank you, Captain, for indulging my diet during this trip. It means a lot that you recognize my beliefs," Ansayto smiled gratefully at the weather-beaten man.

"Well, you are an ambassador. Didn't have much choice in the matter. Plus, everyone knows you Air Nomads eat only veggies," the Captain shook his head, confused, "Not even fish. Crazy, crazy people."

"So, how much longer until we are there?" Zia bit her lip when she realized she was doing it again. Being jealous, having to be the center of attention. It was selfish and arrogant of her and she hated it, but she did it automatically. Although no-one ever noticed.

"We should get there sometime tomorrow afternoon, if the weather holds up." The captain yawned, "Speaking of tomorrow, let's get to bed so we can get there!" He smiled his grizzled smile that was so familiar to them all and walked out.

"Goodnight all," Tang stretched, "Not that I'll sleep. I hate this ship."

"It is rather stifling, is it not? Ah, well, goodnight ladies," Ansayto nodded politely, then jumped on his glider and flew up to the crow's nest, where he slept.

"Rather stiff isn't he?" Tang shrugged, "If he would just loosen up a little I think I'd like him a lot more."

"Oh well, Tang. We can't get along with everyone. Come on, I really am exhausted." Zia smiled and gave Tang a quick shoulder hug before slipping down the hall to her own room.

"Good morning Lady Zia! How are you on this fine morning?" The sailor, Lien was his name, was smiling rather brightly for how early it was.

"Rather well, thank you Lien. It is a bit early for all this activity though, is it not?" She wasn't exactly sure if Lien was just a nice person, or if he… er… liked her, but she had been taught to be responsive and polite no matter what.

"The Captain spotted a ship with the Southern Raiders flag about an hour ago. So far they haven't moved, but they are right in our path. We're just making sure we don't get caught unawares. Southern Raiders are known to be ornery." Suddenly his face lit up, and she could practically see the lantern above his head, "Hey, you're Fire Nation! Do you know why they're here? It isn't really their territory… being the north and all."

She inwardly rolled her eyes, but she responded politely yet again. Ah, the life of an ambassador.

"I do not know what they are doing here. Last I heard they were supposed to be patrolling the southern edge of the islands, keeping watch for pirates, that sort of thing." Zia shrugged, "They have no reason to be here. This is not even Fire Nation Territory."

Lien nodded, "I know! That's the worst. Some of the men say that they've heard in the taverns that the raiders went rouge. Got a few earth and water bending friends and started raiding again. Basically, became pirates."

Zia frowned, "Surely my father would have heard of this and notified me? This could cause trouble."

"I dunno. Perhaps he tried. Messages can be faulty on the sea. Or maybe the raiders are here for a purpose!"

"It is possible. Thank you for informing me, Lien. I am sure I will see you later."

He nodded, still smiling as always.

Zia went up to the second crow's nest, the one that wasn't occupied by Ansayto, with her spyglass. She found the raiders and surveyed their ship. From what she could see, it seemed normal. She only saw Fire Nation uniforms and normal ship routines. Nothing special or different. She frowned… what on fire where they doing here? These were Northern Water Tribe waters… the Southern Raiders presence here could be interpreted as an act of war, or at least a severe insult.

And she would be the one to have to face it, deal with the outcome.

She sighed. All her life she had been accustomed to this responsibility. She was the only heir, the future Fire Lady, ruler of the Fire Nation. She was passionate and strong, controlling and stubborn. But she had Water Tribe ancestry too. Sometimes she felt like flowing, like sitting back and letting life control her… simply not worrying about it. Not worrying that one simple sentence that came out of her mouth could change the course of her nation's progress. Not worrying that someone was going to come kill her, just because she was who she was.

She was only seventeen and already she was worn out.

She was a fierce bender, able to bend lightning. She was also rather good with broadswords and hand-to-hand, something that had served her well in her life. She was an amazing fighter. She was also rather good with words, good at scheming, at trapping people cleverly, though she never used the talent too harshly.

She had been compared to her great great aunt Azula. Cunning and fierce, a practical prodigy.

Yet she hated every minute of it. She slacked off; she failed at seemingly simple tasks. Sometimes she wished she could run away and become a waterbender in the southern water tribe. She had heard stories that her great grandma Katara had passed down. Stories of a simple life, where they worried if they would have enough food for the winter, if they would marry the right man, if they would have a smart, healthy children. Simple, standard worries of life.

It wasn't so much that she hated being a firebender. She loved bending, the power she felt. She loved fighting and the adrenaline rush she got from it.

It was the politics she hated. Sometimes she just wanted to burn the whole council room. They sat for hours, talking in circles. It gave her a headache and a stomachache. She loathed having to watch every single thing she said, to make sure it couldn't be taken the wrong way. She absolutely despised having to settle things with words, words that ended them up nowhere. Sometimes she just wanted an Agni Kai. A good fight would settle most anything.

She watched the sunrise with tears coming from her eyes. This was a normal morning in her life. A morning begun by sorrow and annoyance. Why on fire couldn't she just be happy with what she had, for goodness sake?

Suddenly she had an idea. It would require Tang, who wouldn't wake up for an hour or so, so she had time to refine the details.

This time she wouldn't try to patch a hole in a dam with a piece of cloth.

This time she would knock it down and build a whole new one.

"Well, look who's up! How do you do it? You are always up before me!" Tang shook her head incredulously

"Tang, it's the sun. I rise with the sun. Firebender, remember?" Zia laughed

"Oh, yes. Well, I am never waking up that early, so get used to it I guess."

"I am"

"Oh, ok… so, why all the activity?" Tang looked around, confused.

"I'll tell you all about it… follow me, let's go up to the second crow's nest"

"So, you really think that'll work?"

"No. That's the point. We'll kill them, Tang. Or, at least, sabotage their ship."

"But how do we know what to do?"

"Oh, all Fire Nation ships are similar. I know where to hit."

"Ok. What if the plan goes awry? What if we don't have all the info?"

"We're screwed," Zia grinned, "C'mon, don't tell me you're not up for a fight!"

"I am, I am! I'm just making sure we're not going into a den of wolfbats!" Tang crossed her arms and gave Zia a pointed gaze.

"Alright! Thanks for your concern! Now come on, we'll be upon those raiders soon, we need to go."

"Um, shouldn't we get Ansayto? He is an ambassador too!"

Zia winced, "Uh… right… one moment."

She bent fire under her feet, allowing her to shoot from one crow's nest to the other.

"Ansayto? Ansayto, we're going to go talk to the Southern Raiders. I guess you don't want to come."

She bent herself back to Tang.

"He was sleeping. He didn't wake up. I told him."

Tang grinned, "Right, got it! Okeedoke. You do know how to work those lifeboats, right?"

"Of course"

"Here we are. Be sure to tie that lifeboat securely, we don't want our escape to be ruined."

"I know," Tang tied the rope tight, and then bent the metal of the ladder around it.

"So, do all ships have this ladder permanently down? Seems rather stupid to me." Tang followed Zia up it

"Yep, it's so that anyone who falls overboard in battle can get back up without anyone else having to help. I agree it has its flaws. But it works, I suppose."

"Indeed."

"So, can all earthbenders metalbend like that?"

"Nope, just the royal family. My great great Grandma Toph was the first to ever metalbend. Since then we've improved the technique so we can do it without touching the metal."

"Neat!"

"Yup. Can we focus on the mission now?" Tang smiled, again pointedly

"Oh, sorry. Follow me, this way to the captain's quarters." Zia returned the smile, but hers was nervous.

"HEY! You there! Who are you and what are you doing on this ship?" It was a gruff male yell that stopped them in their tracks.

Zia froze and turned around slowly to meet the gaze of a Southern Raider.

"Oh, hello sir!" She stood up straight and smoothed down her robes, "I am Fire Princess Zia, ambassador of the Fire Nation, and this is my friend Earth Princess Tang, ambassador of the Earth Kingdom. We've come to speak to your captain!"

"Excuse me?" The man raised his eyebrows

"Um, well, we were just uncertain as to why you were in Northern Water Tribe waters, so we came to… er… discuss it with your captain."

A rather evil smirk came over the man's face, "I see. I see completely. So, you're both princesses and ambassadors? Wonder what kind of ransom you'd fetch."

Zia sighed, "Look, we really didn't want to hurt you. We wanted this to be diplomatic! But, as I'm sure you know, we are both bending masters, and we are capable of wounding you. Severely." She assumed her own smirk

"Well well well, if it isn't a little Azula. I knew your great aunt, you know. When I was a teenager I was assigned to guard duty at her asylum. Interesting woman." He cackled, "You threaten just like her."

"I get that a lot. In fact, I'm rather tired of hearing it. Tang, we're on."

The young earthbender grinned and nodded. Zia dropped into a squat and stuck her palms out, shooting streams of fire. Above her head, Tang grabbed chunks of metal from whatever was around, fashioned them into knives, and shot them at the man and the other raiders that were starting to come up.

"Zia, there are too many! Wolfbats, Zia, Wolfbats!"

"Ok, let's go. Follow me!" Zia rushed toward the ladder. She shot fire at anyone who came close, and fielded other's blasts.

"Zia, hurry! Even more are coming!" Tang bit her lip and continued bending knives

"I'm trying!" They reached the ladder and Zia stepped to the side to let Tang go down first. Once the earth princess got far enough down, Zia grabbed the top of the ladder, swung out, and shot one blast of fire out of her feet. Suddenly her feet felt heavy and they were falling to the floor. She looked down and saw that they were encased in rock. Below her Tang was cursing.

"They've got earthbenders. They pinned me to the ladder," Tang yelled in frustration.

Zia winced as the first man walked up to her, smirk still plastered on his face.

"I am the captain, young lady. You've spoken to me. And I've decided that your offer just isn't worth it." He turned to the earthbender and waterbender behind him, "Take them to the cells at the bottom. I'll go talk to them later."

The benders nodded, and pulled the girls up roughly, leading them through a maze of hallways before throwing them in a dank cell wordlessly.

"Soooo… now what? Got a master plan for this one?" Tang voice was biting

"That was fantastic! Wow! I haven't fought like that in forever!" Zia examined her hands for wounds

"Really? That's all you've got." Tang rolled her eyes and went to inspect the door

"I can't believe how good that felt! That was completely amazing!" Zia was now checking her outfit for rips or burns

"Well these guys are complete idiots. This entire door is metal. Come on, little miss cactus juice." Tang bent the door away

"I didn't drink anything, I swear! I just fought and it felt awesome!"

"Whatever," Tang grabbed Zia's hand and led her through the hallways, "Hey Zia, I need you to concentrate now. We need to sabotage this. Where is the engine?"

"Oh, right. That. Follow me."

"As always," Tang smiled to show she wasn't being mean.

"I guess that was fun." Tang grinned, looking back at the rapidly shrinking ship

"It would be a lot easier to get back if I was a waterbender," Zia sighed

"But you wouldn't be you!" Tang smiled and gave Zia a rare hug, "I'm glad you're a firebender, Zia."

"Well, thanks!"

"Here we are. Think anyone noticed we were missing?" Tang tied the boat up

"I hope not. They'll notice something whenever that ship goes off."

"Yep!" Tang giggled

"And where have you two been? The Captain asked for us thirty minutes ago!" Ansayto was there, looking over the side of the boat, down the ladder at them.

"I bet he just loves being able to look down on us," Tang muttered, causing Zia to laugh outright

"I do not see what is so funny! It isn't proper to be late!"

"I know, I'm sorry. I just… er… heard something!" Zia smiled hopefully, but Ansayto's frown merely deepened as he gave her a hand up.

"I hope you don't plan on continuing this behavior," He droned

"Now look, Ansayto, don't try that 'holier than thou' mess. I am older than you, and of higher rank. You have absolutely no power over me, except for the fact that I was taught to be polite and respectful, and you are my fellow ambassador. So please don't push me over the edge. Tang and I just saved your little peaceful skin." Zia was rather out of breath after her outburst

The Air Nomad blanched, "I… I didn't mean… I…"

Zia put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly, "I know. You don't mean any harm. Just lighten up, ok? We're kids; we don't have to be perfect. Avatar Aang wasn't, from what I hear. We just do our best and hope that it suffices. And if it doesn't, we get over it and try again. Ok?"

"Nice!" Tang gave a 'thumbs up.'

"Uh… ok," replied Ansayto uncertainly

"Now how about a smile?" Zia offered one of her own

He made a comical attempt at a smile which sent Tang into a fit of laughter.

"It was close!" Zia kept hers on, and his got better.

Then a massive explosion sent waves that rocked the ship, and his smiled disappeared. He instead opted for a shocked look. All three of them looked in the direction of the Southern Raiders' ship, which was now a flaming mass.

"You… you…"

"Saved. Your. Skin," Zia repeated

"But…"

"Your skin."

He walked off shaking his head, and the princesses exchanged a grin and a high five before following him.

Another super long author's note! :D

~ i-amawriterDOTblogspotDOTcom/2010/04/good-fightDOThtml