A/N Hey everybody! Thanks so much for tuning in! :D Well, there is a long author's note at the bottom, so please read. It is very important and contains lots of info. Thanks!


Chapter 2

Strange as it seemed, Katara felt no enmity towards the fire boy brought into their midst.

When she told Sokka this, he yelled and screamed at her about how his people killed their mother and then stomped off to find someone who hated the newcomer as much as he did.

So Katara had taken to roaming the streets, thinking of the boy they had called Zuko.

I-I spoke out against him and he…he burned me.

Katara replayed his story over and over again in her head, each time her resolve growing stronger.

He wasn't telling the whole story and she was determined to find out what it was.

She quickly turned on her heel and ran towards where the boy was being kept.

As she was about to run around the corner to the jail, she suddenly stopped.

What am I doing? She thought sharply. People were already beginning to think she was strange for defending him against her own brother. What would they think if she just ran into the prison for a visit?

She sat down on one of the icy benches close to the jail.

That boy is the ENEMY, Katara. His people killed mom! Sokka's voice resounded in her head.

But mom would want us to be kind, Katara pleaded with her absent brother. She shook her head, trying not to think about her mother. It only made her feel sad and helpless, none of which was beneficial to her clan.

She brought her knees close to her and rested her head on them, feeling the world on her shoulders.

She felt a sob catch in her throat, unable to hold back the thoughts of her beloved mother.

Slowly, her resistance faded and the tears began to fall freely. Sobs racked her small body.

Then, a voice pierced the air.

"Why are you crying?" Katara looked up slowly, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand.

Zuko leaned against the wall, hands tied in front of him, staring at her intently. Quickly recomposing herself, she stood and faced him.

"I wasn't crying." She stated firmly, wincing at the lie. Zuko smirked at her, but didn't say anything. For this she was grateful. She looked down away from him.

"So, what are you doing out here?" She asked, turning the conversation away from her. Zuko sighed and looked up at the sky.

"They give me a ten minute break out here every three hours." Katara flinched inwardly. Zuko had been doing this for three days. She couldn't even imagine being stuck in the prison for an hour.

"I'm sorry this is happening to you." Katara said, barely above a whisper. Zuko's good eye grew wider.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" He asked, sounding harsher than he intended to.

Katara sat down on the bench. Why was she being nice to him? She sat back down on the bench, resting her chin in her hands.

"I-I don't know myself. I just have a feeling it's what my mother would want me to do." Zuko moved closer to her.

"You mother sounds like a kind soul, to encourage her daughter not to harbor hatred." Katara smiled sadly.

"Yes, she was."

Is, she quickly corrected in her head. Confusion dominated Zuko's face.

"Was?" He questioned. Katara looked at him from her seat.

"She was killed in the raid."

"I'm sorry." Zuko said quietly, remembering the death of his own mother.

Katara smiled at his statement. She was so tired of the sympathy and pity in people's voices when they expressed their sorrow. But Zuko was different. She could hear the empathy in his voice, and she knew he had lost someone important in his life too.

"Thank you." She whispered. They sat in amiable silence, comforted by each other's sorrows. Then Zuko spoke up again.

"What is your name?" He asked quietly, afraid to disturb the silence they had been enjoying. The girl smiled softly.

"Katara."

Zuko smiled to no one in particular.

Then two guards came out of the tiny building across the street they were keeping Zuko in.

"Time to go back." One of them said, grabbing Zuko's arm. Katara recognized him as Unoka.

"Hello, Unoka." She said from her spot on the bench. The guards looked over to where she was sitting, surprise written on their faces.

"Katara? What are you doing here?" Unoka asked. Katara shrugged nonchalantly.

"I was talking with Zuko." Unoka frowned.

"I don't think Hakoda would like you talking with him." Now it was Katara's turn to frown.

"Why not?" Unoka waved Zuko and the other guard away. Katara waved tentatively at Zuko was moved back to his cell. Then she turned to Unoka.

"Katara, nobody knows what is going to happen to that boy. I don't want you getting attached in case he…dies." Katara stepped back subconsciously.

"My father wouldn't let him die. He hasn't done anything to us!" She protested. Unoka frowned.

"Not everyone feels as you and your father do, Katara. Some blame him for everything." Katara studied the man in front of her, her mind whirling.

"Do you blame him, Unoka? Okonko was your brother." Unoka stared at the young girl before him. The truth was yes, he had blamed him. At least, until he had heard the boy's story and seen his face. But he knew many people still called for his death.

"No, I do not blame him anymore." He said, refusing to meet Katara's knowing eyes. He heard a small cough and over his shoulder to see the boy's face in the cell window, watching them.

Unoka resumed his guard persona.

"But, I am going to have to ask you to stay away, Katara, and don't come back. This isn't a place you want to be."

Sensing a lost cause, Katara merely said goodbye and walked away, refusing to make any promises to Unoka.

OoOoO

Zuko sat on the small wooden bed in his cell, one knee bent with his arm resting on it, the other straight. He stared out the barred window, watching the moon slowly rise in the sky.

His village was nothing like this. Everyone lived in tents. They never stayed anywhere for longer than six months. They had no time to build buildings, and if they did, it would be a waste of materials. Their herds were always needing food, and when one area ran out, they moved onto another.

Although, some of their tents could have engulfed the houses here. Ozai had always enjoyed finery and his tents displayed that proudly.

Zuko wondered what Hakoda's home looked like. Was he as extravagant as his own father? And that girl, Katara, what was her home like? She had been dressed a little finer than some of the others he had seen, so it must be comfortable, he mused.

His thoughts lingered on the strange girl who had defended him against her own people. She didn't know it, but he had heard her conversation with the guard, Unoka. His heart had leapt with joy when he heard Katara defend him, as well as hearing that there were at least two people in the village who didn't blame him for what had happened to them.

Zuko sighed and looked down at his hands. His thoughts hadn't had much variety to them since he came here. He began to wonder if they meant for him to rot away in this cell, to die like the caged animal they thought he was.

As if on cue, the drums began beating in the distance to summon the people to the council room. Zuko almost smiled at the irony of his fate being decided while he sat here, locked up.

He kneeled at the window to get a better look at the water people all leaving their homes all because of him.

Zuko lay back down on his bed, his thoughts his only companion.

He thought it interesting how the water people seemed to have their meetings at night, when the moon was the highest in the sky, while his people met at noon, when the sun was strongest.

At the thought of the sun, the fire in him rushed to his fingertips, begging to be let out. He hadn't bended in so long…

Zuko let out a small ribbon of fire and let it dance around his fingertips. He knew he could probably melt a hole in the wall and escape with no one the wiser, but he felt no desire too. Where would he go? His own father didn't want him, and his uncle wouldn't be enough to convince him to let
Zuko come home.

Zuko rolled over to his side and listened to the beating of the drums. He closed his eyes and tried to get what little sleep he could.

OoOoO

Hakoda watched silently as his people filed into the room and sat before him. He smiled as he saw Bato and Sokka walking towards him. This was to be Sokka's first council sitting on the stand with his father.

Katara was notably absent. She had probably stayed with the other girls her age to watch the younger children while their parents were away.

Hakoda looked up as Sokka sat on his left, Bato his right.

Once everyone had settled, Hakoda stood. Everyone grew quiet and waited for their leader to speak.

"My people, we have gathered here to discuss a pressing issue. The heir of Ozai." He looked at his people in the crowd, studying their faces, assessing their reactions and emotions. He stepped off the platform to be level with his people.

"He has been brought to us for justice, and therein lays the question. What do we do with him?" He turned and sat back down on his seat, turning the time over to his people. He rested his chin on a steeple of fingers, praying to Tui and La that they could come to the right decision.

Everyone sat silently, either saying their own prayers or too afraid to speak. Hakoda guess it was most likely the second one.

Then a man named Due stepped forward. Hakoda frowned inwardly. He knew this man. He was the father of Unoka and Okonko, once a proud man, now broken by the death of his son. He would call for the blood of Zuko.

Hakoda's suspicions were confirmed when he began to speak.

"My fellow clansmen, I have lost a son to the greed of Ozai." He paused here, making eye contact in an almost challenging way.

"We cannot allow his spawn to live amongst us, knowing what his father is. He must be taken out to the flatlands to die."

Hakoda noticed some of the adults squirming in their seat. Being taken to the flatlands to die was a very harsh punishment for one so young.

He looked to his son, who was nodding in agreement with Due. It pained him to see his son becoming overtaken with hatred by his grief for his dead mother.

At the thought of Kya, Hakoda felt his eyes burn. He missed his wife dearly. He had loved and cherished her, but he would not allow grief to justify the killing of an innocent boy. He hoped Sokka would see that view as well.

He almost smiled as Sangok stepped forward and countered Due.

"I was the one who was sent to apprehend Zuko and take him here. I have been to the fire clan and spoken face to face with Ozai. That boy is nothing like his sire. The scar on his face is enough to prove that." Sangok retreated to the back after his impassioned defense. The crowd seemed to sit in stunned silence, not sure what to make of Sangok's defense of the boy.

"If we do not kill him, what then do we do? He cannot languish in prison for the rest of his days." Hakoda ventured, trying to push the debate further. He thanked Tui and La when Bato broken the silence.

"It would be foolish on our part to kill the boy. We already lost two boys, and with the damages inflicted on our village, manual labor will be scarce. We should use Zuko as a laborer. His firebending would be invaluable in our metalworking."

Hakoda mentally applauded Bato. He could see agreement forming on people's faces. They were slowly nodding their heads in accordance with Bato's plan.

Then Due stepped up again. Hakoda ran a hand over his face, and sighed. He wanted nothing more than to end this council and crawl into bed.

But his duty required him to turn and listen to Due.

"What was the point of taking the boy if we are just going to let him live?" He screeched, "My son is dead, and no amount of rebuilding will bring him back! I want justice!"

Sangok jumped up angrily.

"Killing that boy will not satisfy justice! It will only invoke the wrath of the Spirits and make us no better than Ozai!" He spat.

The two began arguing fiercely, many others in the tribe joining in. Hakoda pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He looked over at Bato, who smiled sadly at him.

Deciding that the arguing had gone on long enough, Hakoda stood up swiftly.

"Enough!" He bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the clay room. Everyone grew still and turned to him.

"The boy will live and be used for labor." Due opened his mouth in protest, but Hakoda cut him off with a steely glare.

"If anyone has any objections, you may pack your bags and leave quietly. No oath binds you here. You are free to leave. But I am still chief and my word is law."

Due, sensing defeat, quietly slipped into the shadows.

Everyone remained silent. Than a young warrior named Maduka spoke.

"But where will he stay, Hakoda? You said yourself he could not remain in the jail."

Hakoda sat back down. He ran his fingers through his hair, acknowledging the truth in Maduka's words. He sighed when he realized what he had to do. Sokka would not be happy, but who else would take the boy in if not himself?

He knew Sangok would willingly do it, but he and his wife had just welcomed a baby boy into the world and could not afford another mouth to feed. He looked up to face his people.

"I will take him." He stated firmly. He ignored his son's surprised and angry glance as he stood up. He waved Sangok forward.

"Sangok, will you instruct the boy in his work?" Sangok nodded curtly and Hakoda sighed in relief. Sangok was a just and loyal man and would take care of Zuko when he was out amongst his people.

"The council is dismissed." Hakoda stated.

He then turned to face Bato and his son as the clan began to file out of the room.

Bato stood up and put a strong hand on Hakoda's shoulder.

"You have done the right thing today, my friend." Hakoda smiled at his closest friend.

"And what do you think, Sokka?" Sokka stared at his father for a few moments before shrugging.

"He'd better not take my room."

Hakoda, Bato, and Sokka broke into weary grins.

"Come on, son. We have some business to attend too." Sokka nodded eagerly and the three of them walked out of the room, hoping to finally leave the last few months of turmoil behind them.


A/N All right! You guys made it to the end! Whatdja think? Please review! Anyways, before I wrote this chapter, I sat down and sketched out a brief history of this world, since it is so intensely AU. And, I am going to explain it to you. (hopefully in as few words as possible)

As we know, Aang deposed of Ozai and Zuko became Fire Lord. (We will conveniently leave out all pairings xD) Together they ended the war and instilled peace. Zuko reigned wisely until his death in 22 A.W. (After War) Aang did bring more Airbenders into the world. There were twelve when he died in 34 A.W. But when Zuko and Aang died, the world was ripe for conflict. Zuko's son (no offense to Zuko) was a weak and incompetent ruler, and the Earth Kingdom, seeing a prime chance for revenge, invaded the Fire Nation. Outraged, the Fire Nation declared war and the world collapsed into chaos again. The few Airbenders that there were retreated into the mountains, and began a community away from the rest of the world. The Waterbenders reluctantly got involved in the conflict, not suffering too many causalities. But the Fire and Earth kingdoms were devastated, many of the major cities destroyed, and their leaders killed. Many groups tried to seize power, but they all failed. They only succeeded in making things worse. People of all nations has been scattered across the whole world. They soon began to group together under a few powerful leaders, rather than nations. They soon divided into tribes and claimed sects of land. But hatred and bitterness were still carved innto these people's hearts and they led raids against each other. It would seem war and strife would never end until the leaders of each tribe met together and wrote the laws of the lands and appointed elders to uphold the laws. The year was 96 A.W. Just to give you a rough estimate of time, the reincarnations of Zuko and Sokka were born in 100 A.W. and Katara was born in 103 A.W. Ozai attacked Hakoda in 115. And that's where our story begins!

Whew! That was a long one...oh! Just a few more things. Katara is twelve, so a relationship is not going to be starting right away. That would be creepy. I'm gonna take this one slow. And also, Hakoda's home is a compound, not a tent. His clan has actual buildings and are not nomadic like Ozai. His 'home' consists of many buildings, so Zuko and Katara won't be sharing a tent or anything like that. xD And I guess that's all! Thanks for reading!