Chapter Three

My mom got the last button on the back of my dress for me and I adjusted the shoulders of the lace sleeves to sit comfortably in their proper place. I gave a glance at my hands where the lace sleeves came all the way down my arms and triangle into a bundle of rosy lace at the top of my hand. Now that I had this thing on, I wondered if it was the right choice. It seemed like this proper water-tribe gown was better for a much more feminine person.

I turned on my new tan leather boots and gave myself a scrutinizing examination in the mirror.

"You look so… you're just elegant honey." Mom put her hands on my shoulders and smiled through glassy eyes brimming with tears.

I had to smile with her. Even though this was way out of my comfort zone, even I had to admit the soft purple complimented me well. The purple in this dress seemed to mimic the beautiful sight of the mountains when the sun is low in the sky.

Thick lace crawled up from the top of the bodice of the dress and scooped around my neck; ending with sleeves down to my wrist and around the back until it connected with the low loop of the bodice under my ribs. One of my most favorite things about this dress is the fact that the lace creates a beautiful diamond hole in the back.

The new violet leggings with silver embroidery thread only completed my outfit to a perfect T. I lifted my leg onto a stool by my bed and adjusted a wrinkle in the leggings.

"I think Aiko is here." Mom said. I turned and looked at her; the grin on her face seemed to betray that she was much more excited about this date than Dad was. The grump hadn't said a thing about it beyond "Ok" when I told my parents.

I listened for Aiko's voice and picked it out from below the floor. I grabbed my jacket to block against the cold and marched down the stairs to meet him, my long wavy black locks swaying with each step I took.

I jumped back when Mom skittered past me on the stairs and squeaked to everyone downstairs that I was coming. I didn't understand why Mom felt the need to help me get into my outfit for the night, but she had gotten ready very early and come into my room to help.

I layed my jacket over my arm and continued my stroll down the stairs. Some mild butterflies assaulted my stomach when I reached the turn in the staircase where they would be able to see me. I didn't look up until I reached the bottom step, and it was only through my lashes. Since when did I become this unconfident girly-girl? I hardly know myself anymore.

I took in everyone's expressions all at once. Izo was looking at me funny, but he seemed to have some sort of pride hidden in there somewhere. Even though my Dad had been unhappy about this whole situation he was smiling now. I wasn't sure what I expected from Aiko, but I felt like he could've reacted a little better. He didn't seem to have anything similar to my parent's expressions; he only had a soft smile to display on his face.

"Well," I cleared my throat to break the awkward silence. "Should we head out?" I slipped into my jacket to make my point.

"Yes, and you look lovely sweetheart." Dad said as he stepped towards the door. He planted a kiss on my head as well and then led my mother out into the snow with Izo following behind. Aiko held out his arm to me with another one of his charming smiles.

I took it with a hardly concealed grin on my face.

We stepped out of the front door into the snow and Aiko leaned down towards my ear. "You look beautiful."

As you would expect, that sent my heart into a flurrying flutter.

##

The front entrance to the Chief's mansion shone with candlelight and the golden light from inside the building as our canoe glided through the water. There were valets waiting to help us out of the canoes at the canal near to the building. Let's just hope that this night meet my expectations.

I glanced at Aiko but he only stared straight ahead. My skin prickled with irritation again at his complete silence. The last words from his mouth before we got in the boat were how he thought I was beautiful; and then nothing more. Not exactly my idea of a good start to a supposedly magical night.

Our canoe stopped at the steps up to the road and a valet stood by the side to help everyone out. Aiko and I had taken a seat in the back of the boat so we were one of the last people to exit the craft. When it was finally our turn Aiko stepped up first in front of me, and then went up the steps to the road without a second look behind him.

The valet had to get my attention before I grabbed his hand while I watched Aiko disappear up walkway in the crowd of people. Did he really just leave me behind? Or was it a simple mistake?

I rushed up the steps after him. Relief found me when I saw him standing not too far off next to the front gate with Lien and my other girl friends, Ami, Chiyo, and Dai. Chiyo waved to me when she spotted me and grinned.

"Ren, I can't believe you actually came!" She giggled as she rushed to me and slapped her arms around me. I gasped at her tight grip, but I hugged her anyway.

"Good to see you to Chiyo." I smiled and joined my friends.

"And with such a handsome date to," A slow smile crept across Lien's lips and she winked at me. I ignored her teasing but Aiko seemed to find her compliment amusing enough to chuckle.

"They'll be starting the dancing soon, we should get inside." Ami waved for us to follow her inside the courtyard to the icy blue mansion; the courtyard was a sight to see for sure. Ice sculptures decorated the stone yard with an unspoken elegance and there was a fountain decorating the stone yard above the first set of stairs. A waterbender stood at the fountain swirling the water to keep it from freezing and gave us a friendly smile as we passed.

Once we were inside the building we were greeted by the hum of people's conversations and candles in every corner of the room. But the spectacle of the room was the chandelier suspended from the ceiling of the ballroom with thousands of crystals imbedded into the curvy shape of it. I found myself taking off my jacket before I found a place to put it and reveling in the comfortable warmth of the room.

"Hey guys!" Kaito burst out of a crowd of people and came rushing to us.

"Kaito, my date," Lien smiled and stood on tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. Kaito's cheeks turned a brilliant shade of crimson that made his deep ocean blue eyes stand out.

"I-I'll take your guys' jackets and have them put in the store room. Izo's in the ball room, if you want to find him." He stuttered, still blushing. I giggled with Lien and watched as he walked away.

"Dai, where are you going?" Ami laughed as Dai skittered away and disappeared into the mass of people collecting in the ball room.

"You really need to ask that question Ami?" I asked, grinning ear to ear. Dai has had a crush on my brother since we were on the cusp of teenage hood. Even though she's known of him for many years; I know a few girls, actually, who have crushes on my brother. He inherited the classic water-tribe looks from my mother who has always had that enchanting brunette hair and glossy tan skin with those hazel eyes; lucky idiot.

Our group followed in Dai's footsteps and mingled with the crowd. I snatched a couple of delicious seafood appetizers and caught sight of the Chief of the Northern Water tribe, Keitaro, standing up a few steps from the rest of us on the high seat in front of a microphone. He called attention to everyone in the room and began welcoming us all to the feast.

"Thank you all so very much for attending tonight. We will start off this grand celebration of our tribe with dancing, and then to the feast." There were a few enthusiastic whoops that reverberated from the audience somewhere. Chief Keitaro smiled and shook his head. "But before we begin the music I'd like to make a very joyous announcement." His brown eyes sparked with pride. He turned and looked down to his right and there I saw that his lovely daughter was linked arm-in-arm with a young man of her own age. She only just had her birthday a few months ago when she turned 19; the same age as my brother. "My daughter, Naira, has become engaged. And I'd like her to start the celebration off." I smiled and clapped with everyone else. I even added a little cheer in there for her as she made her way up to her father with her fiancé in tow. I've never had the chance to get to know Naira, she was somewhat of Miss Popular, but from the few times I've conversed with her she seems to be a genuinely down-to-earth person. She's never given off a prissy vibe like some of the richer girls I know.

"I won't keep you all long, but what a joy it is to see my tribe, my family, here to be together and fellowship with one another! And with this, I bid the musicians to play with all their hearts. Let the festivities begin."

Everyone clapped and cheered at this. With one earsplitting note the band started up, and then some traditional water-tribe music found my ears.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and Aiko was there smiling charmingly holding out his hand. "May I have the first dance?" I smiled back and took it.

"Of course," We jumped in and joined everyone else in the dancing. To be honest, I was afraid Aiko wasn't going to ask me to dance; especially after he slightly abandoned me at the dock.

The seconds ticked by in the song and I was starting to wonder if he was going to talk to me at all. But before I thought of a suitable subject the song ended. That was anything but magical. Aiko clapped, as did I, and then just walked away and disappeared into the crowd. This of course left me standing there like an idiot staring at nothing.

I took a few paces backwards and looked for him, but I couldn't find him. Though I could see Izo coming to join me, he was smiling nonchalantly completely clueless to how my date had just abandoned me. There had to be two reasons for Aiko's behavior: Carelessness, or ignorance.

"Hey there," I must have given him some sort of irritated look because he frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Aiko's just been behaving strangely. He's not exactly making this a magical night." My mouth twisted in frustration. I folded my arms across my chest and watched the people continue to dance.

"I'll beat him up, gladly." His tone betrayed that he was teasing, but that didn't matter. Aiko wasn't doing anything criminally wrong, plus I was planning on getting the courage up to ask him about going out sometime. I glared at Izo and felt a great urge to singe his clean dark blue and silver suit. "All right, fine. Just don't let him push you around, I don't like him."

I rolled my eyes. "I get it."

"Want to dance? I'm dateless, remember?" Izo gave me a ridiculously cheeky grin that announced his high cheekbones. I snorted and patted his shoulder.

"You're hopelessly romantic."

"I know," He waggled his eyebrows and smoothed his brunette hair with his hand. "That's what keeps the ladies begging for more."

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a giggle but I did roll my eyes and smile at him as we joined in the dancing.

##

An hour of music and dancing passed and there had been no sign of Aiko. To relieve some of the heavy upsetting feelings overwhelming me I picked my way through the people until I found the balcony to get some fresh air.

The icy breeze outside brushed my skin with a pleasurable tingle as I stepped out of doors. There were a few other people around on the balcony talking quietly, and one of them just so happened to be Aiko. He was alone.

"Hi," I approached him and smiled. He didn't turn to look at me.

"Hi," He said. Nothing about his posture or voice seemed to tell me he was upset, but he didn't say anything else.

I gazed out over the lights of the city and eventually found the ocean far off. The rippling surface gleamed in the silver moonlight and the golden lights of the city. The horizon was clear as day. Good, that means we won't get a snowstorm anytime soon. I'd like to see more beyond that horizon, and more of the world than the Firenation and the coast of the earth kingdom. I have only ever spent a few days in big cities in both countries with my father while he was on business. If only I could travel it with relaxation and have an adventure.

"Aiko, have you ever wanted to go visit anywhere else besides places like Republic City, and home?"

I glanced at him and he shrugged. "Not really. I can't stand Republic City anyway; not with those bullying Earth benders around. It's only a matter of time before the Earth King stakes his claim once again on his kingdom." He thumped the toe of his boot against the balcony and spit over the railing. "I say let him have it back. Keep less bloodshed."

My skin prickled as I considered his words. I agreed with him that war was an awful thing, and I hated it with every bone in my body. I can't count how many able-bodied water-benders or non-benders have gone off to help in defending cities with all kinds of people in it. But what I had an issue with was kicking everyone who wasn't an earth bender out of what was once completely the earth kingdom. People of all nations have lived together for generations before I was born, and Aiko thought it was ok to let the Earth King just have his land back? All the Earth King wants is more power.

I've overheard my father discussing earth kingdom spies more times than I can count. When I was a bit younger people were welcome to all of the Four Nations shores, but there has been rumor that the Earth King wants to expand beyond the land of the Earth Kingdom. My thoughts drifted to the 100 year war in the time of Avatar Aang. That was many years ago, but it seems history was eager to repeat itself, unfortunately. Especially if things keep playing out as they do.

The first to go would be the Air Acolyte society living in the Southern Air Temple if he expanded, and then it would only be a matter of whether or not he's going to attack both the Water and Fire nation at once or separately. We don't easily go down in a fight.

I couldn't keep my mouth shut about the issue so I just let my thoughts spew from my mouth. "Why would you be ok with that even a little bit? What's wrong with you?"

His eyes snapped to my face and they narrowed.

"Don't look at me like that." I growled. "Do you realize how many families would be ripped apart if that happened? It's no different than Firelord Zuko and Avatar Aang making the mistake of trying to separate the people in the Firenation colonies with the Harmony Movement."

"Actually, that's where you're wrong. Clearly the world is changing again, and there's really nothing we can do to stop it. Besides, the Avatar doesn't exist anymore. Or he's just a giant coward. That's what we don't have Ren, the Avatar."

I couldn't disagree with him about the Avatar. No one has had any idea what became of the line of Avatars for years.

"Avatar or no Avatar, there's no reason why we shouldn't fight back against the Earth King. I don't want to see the Water Tribe die."

He laughed and turned away from me towards the door. "Whatever. Maybe it'd be better to live under one flag; I don't see it as a bad thing. You'd best get used to it pretty-thing, the world's not going to stop changing because of you."

I exploded and screamed at him as he shut the door behind him. "Let's see how you like it when you're oppressed and not allowed to bend because you're not pure earth!"

I squeezed my head with both hands and then screamed again and threw fire that burst from me with my fury. I remembered the few people that were out here on the balcony and I saw a couple standing far away from me looking quite frightened.

I glared at them and they shot through the door without another look.

Why would Aiko say such things? If everyone had that mentality who knows where the Four Nations would be by now? I want the world to live another day to be able to give future generations a chance to enjoy everything; the culture, the landscape, the people – everything.

What about not letting it happen just for goodness sake? We've tried the tyrannical ruler dozens of times over, you'd think everyone would realize that doesn't work out well at all.

I took a slow inhale of shaky icy breath and suddenly realized how numb my skin was. I'd forgotten my jacket before I came out her. I whipped around and rubbed my arms as I went inside.

I found a secluded corner and pressed my back up against it to regain my failing composure. I told myself to stop being such a big baby, but two tears escaped anyway. Letting myself like Aiko that much was a complete mistake, I hardly know him and I've already fallen in love. Though maybe in the future when things cool off, I could try again with him, I clung to the little bit of hope I had in my heart that he was still a good guy to try dating. Unfortunately there is more doubt and foreboding than any other emotion in my body, it only increased tenfold when I discovered Aiko was nowhere to be found again once I went to join the feast. My Mom waved to me to join them at a table near to the Chief.

I saw all of my friends at a table at a different spot in large light blue room holding the people of the tribe, except for Lien. So I decided against joining them and went to sit with my family. Maybe once I cooled off I'd try to find Aiko and apologize for yelling at him, I didn't regret any of my words, but I could only imagine the ridiculous lecture I'd get from my father if he found out about my yelling.

##

The delicate slice of chocolate cake sitting in front of me on a plate tempted me with all of its heavenly glory. But I'd lost my appetite somewhere in the second course after it'd been about an hour with no sight of Aiko. His disappearance wasn't what was bothering me though, it was the fact that both Lien and Aiko were gone and neither of them had made an appearance for dinner. I'd already been stabbed in the heart by the Fire Prince Ryozo; I could feel the point of the second knife on my heart already if my suspicions were right.

I let out a long breath and stood up from my chair. "I'll be right back," I muttered to my family. They heard me, but I didn't give them time to ask questions. I don't need them breathing down my neck, I'm a big girl – I can take care of this myself.

I scanned the room for Kaito since he was Liens date. To my surprise I found him chatting with Ami, they were both smiling but I could detect the slightest hint of red lining his eyes.

"Kaito," I said. He looked up at the sound of my voice and gave me a half-hearted smile.

"Hi Ren,"

I glanced at Ami and smiled at her. She smiled back, but only just so.

I decided to leave Ami to help Kaito feel better; I needed to find Aiko and Lien.

"Do you know where Lien is?" I asked.

His face twisted in pain. "Yes," Ami wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek to his arm. "Lien's probably with Aiko. Last time I saw them they were walking together holding hands… and…" He choked on his own words and pressed his lips together. Fury shot through my veins, and more determination than before became more prevalent.

"Where did you last see them?" Something in my face seemed to frighten them both.

"I saw them walking up the west hallway…" Kaito's dark eyebrows crushed together and I could imagine he was debating whether or not to tell me what to do. Anyone that knows me for longer than a day should know better than to waste their breath like that.

I turned on my heel and headed in the direction he had indicated. I'd have to run into them sooner or later, even if it meant banging on his door later tonight. The people became fewer as I found my way to the west hall, and once I entered it there was no one except a maid turning a corner.

I slowed my stomping walk to quiet slow steps and kept my breathing shallow. I couldn't hear the slightest sound, but about half way down the hall I heard a giggle. A female giggle that sounded like Lien, I'd know it anywhere after being friends since we were babies. I spotted a closed door and pressed my ear to it, I heard lowered voices and then another quiet giggle. The anger boiling inside me was almost too much to bear, but I still held on to some strange hope that maybe it wasn't Lien… and not Aiko.

I intended to push the door open normally but as I turned the knob and began to push I threw it open and it gave a satisfying bang against the wall. Aiko and Lien stood together in each other's arms against a bookshelf staring bewildered at the sight of me. Lien's dress was unzipped and barely clinging to her body; Aiko was shirtless and only in pants.

My fury never wavered for a moment, but I surprised myself by keeping my composure. But only just.

"How…. Could you?" I took two shaky steps as I spoke. Aiko had played with my heart, just like the Fire Prince. I shouldn't have let myself get this attached to Aiko; he was never the guy, not ever. This boy only deserved to have his own heart cut out and burned just like mine. And to put the icing on the cake, my best friend for so many years has betrayed me… taken the boy that she's known I liked for five years. My eyes flitted to both faces, they were finally registering that they were busted. Now that this had settled in their brains they glared back at me. I zoned in on Lien and took a few more shaky steps.

"You," I felt my chest tighten and my palms itched with the heat reverberating from them. "Best friends huh?" I advanced towards her as she held her dress up and Aiko zipped her up. "You stabbed me in the BACK!" I nearly slammed her against the wall but I held myself back, instead I got so close I was three inches from her face.

Lien grabbed handfuls of my dress and shoved me backwards. "I'm not the one that was so naïve to think that Aiko asked you to this feast because he actually liked you." She snorted and backed into Aiko, he put his arm around her shoulder. I moved my gaze to him, some part of me still wanted to believe he was the charming fellow he was on the outside, but all I could see now was how much of a scum-bag he really is.

"Think of it as a charity act." Aiko said, giving me a smug smile.

His face would look so good with a burned streak across it, it would match his insides. I clenched my hands into fists and felt fire begin to burn from them. It suddenly occurred to me what he meant by his comment.

"If Lien told you what happened with the Fire Prince, how would it make it any better for me by playing with my heart even more?"

"Trust me pretty-thing, it wasn't for your benefit. It was for my amusement. You've been such a desperate little half-blooded firebender dreaming about me all these years I figured I'd give you some sort of satisfaction. Maybe now you can go join all those half-breeds in the Earth Kingdom since you want to visit it so badly."

Something inside me exploded, like a bomb, and shot through my veins. I lashed out with my right arm and punched him across the face, there was a possibility that I had burned him as well as Aiko fell to the floor with a moan. Lien gave a surprised scream and then turned for me; I shot a warning fire stream at her feet and then shoved her against the wall. I aimed my fist at her and glared into her eyes. Everything within me wanted to burn that treacherous face until all of her beloved beauty was gone from it, maybe then she'd realize how ugly I feel on the inside. Tears threatened to spill over my eyes so I gave her a rough shove and then backed away. Aiko had pushed himself to his knees so I shot a fireball beside him; it set fire to the carpet. With that I made my grand exit and ran as fast as my feet would carry me until I reached the front where I could retrieve my jacket. Within a minute I was able to get it and then I continued to run home.

This was no longer my home. The tears finally spilled over and froze where they were on my cheeks from the nippy breeze. I needed to find a place where I belonged, not where I thought I belonged. Nothing in my life has ever mattered or made me feel like I was doing something that I was born for, and there's no way I'll be able to find it in the Northern Water Tribe. Not anymore.

I arrived home within ten minutes with tears staining my face. No one had beat me there, so that was good, so I rushed to my room and shoved all of my belongings into one bag and dug through my parents room until I found their stash of spare money and shoved that in my bag. I took a small sack from their room and stuffed that with food I grabbed from the kitchen and strapped it all together with a rope.

I let my breast-length hair fall down from the braids that entangled most of it on the top of my head and then quickly went back to my room to change into something else and get out of the party-dress. No point in keeping something I'll never use again. At last I was able to pull my jacket over everything else and I pulled on my gloves. I tucked my hair into the hood and headed out to Ibu's shed. He wagged his tail happily at the sight of me and whined.

I sniffed and grabbed the saddle from its rack. "We're going on a trip buddy. A long one; and you probably won't see ice or snow again for a while. So make sure you say your goodbyes." Maybe I could go to the Southern Water Tribe and visit my great-aunt and her grandchildren or something. She has a grandchild only a couple years older than my-self.

I shook my head at my own ridiculous thoughts. What good would come of seeing family? They'd just report that they'd seen me to my parents, though I loved my parents, I couldn't stand being cooped up in the same place I've known for years anymore.

I hooked Ibu's saddle tightly to him and then pulled myself onto his back. I turned his nose towards the back gate and planned out my journey in my head, I knew the land by heart, and if I waited I could catch a barge and leave this place for a good while, if not forever.

I clicked to Ibu and he trotted happily to the back gate. I opened it from the saddle and closed it behind me, I took one last look at my house that I'd lived in for the past 17 years and then turned away.

"Hup hup," I thumped my legs against his sides and Ibu took off at a lope across the snowy landscape with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. I didn't look back as we increased the distance between the house and us. Everyone around me would tell me that I was crazy if they knew I was leaving, but I didn't care, not even a little bit. This change has been a long time coming, and despite the fact that I don't know where I'll sleep for the next few days, or where I'll eat; I've fit in at the North Pole as well as a live person in a graveyard.

I let the sobs out – the sobs I've held in and put away in a jar for safekeeping for months on end. Yes, this change has to happen, and me living with no purpose or belonging has to go.