Last Time:

"Captain is there any news of the whereabouts of anyone else in the royal family?" Laune's voice whispered.

"Unfortunately there has been none from any of our members, we must assume the worst case scenario and that the rest of her family is dead," Lin's reply was equally as quiet.

"So she really is the only heir then," Laune asked and Lin nodded.

"I feel real bad for the kid," Lin sighed and sipped some tea Azula hadn't even noticed was on the table.

"Light the stove for me please," Laune gestured to the stove while she poured rice into a pot and used her bending to clean the starch out of the rice.

Azula shakily pointed two fingers at the stove and closed her eyes squeezing them tightly as she tried to send fire out of her two fingers. A large spike in her chi sent the uncontrollable fire from her fingers free onto the stove knocking Azula back at the same time.

Quick to react Laune took the water she was using to clean the rice and dumped it over the stove putting the fire out immediately.

Laune dropped to the floor and cradled the crying fire bender in her arms whispering words of comfort.

"Your chi is everywhere, promise me you won't fire bend until you're with Lin and I this afternoon?" Laune looked Azula in the eyes.

"How are you two able to be so awake in the morning," Sokka grumbled coming and sitting with a warm bowl of rice.

"I'm a fire bender, I rise with the sun," Azula said coldly.

"I'm Sokka, I rise with food," Sokka replied causing Azula's glare to falter giving a brief smile while Katara giggled freely.

"What's a fire nation trash doing amongst us," one boy stated.

"Why are you even her filth," another said.

"You should go back to where you came from loser," another added.

"It's your fault we're fighting a war," they all began to gang up on Azula.

She felt completely isolated, Katara held her hand and squeezed it giving her as much comfort and reassurance as she could. 'You promised you wouldn't fire bend' Azula reminded herself.

'They're going to hurt you, you need to defend yourself' her inner voice reasoned.

'I shouldn't, it wouldn't be right' Azula argued.

'They hurt Katara, your only friend, you can't let them get away with that' she was right. Katara had been hurt defending Azula. That moment Azula decided that the only person she'd open up to would be Katara as the girl had taken a blow meant for her and defended her knowing fully who she was.

"I wouldn't if I were you," Azula warned giving the boys a chance to back off.

Azula closed her eyes inhaling and exhaling deeply. The boys holding her and attacking her misinterpreted this for her giving up and accepting the beating they were about to lay into her.

As the boy moved to punch Azula in her gut her foot shot out emitting a blue flame directed towards him. His reflexes made him jump back but the fire burnt through his clothes and a burn mark was produced on his arm. Concentrating she sent bursts of fire from both of her feet directed at the snowy ground propelling her into the air and out of the grips of the two boys who were dumbfounded by what had just occurred.

"Leave me alone!" Azula shouted and the boys immediately started to run.

Katara followed Azula as they rounded the corner they found a small white wolf surrounded by larger black wolves.

"What are they doing?" Katara whispered to Azula who was watching.

"They're attacking it, they're attacking it because it's different," Azula replied recognizing how similar she was to the white wolf.

"I'm not going to let it die," Azula ran forward as the black wolves went to attack again.

"Everyone needs someone to defend them," Azula shrugged.

"What you did was more than that," Katara hugged Azula whose cheeks pinked as she blushed.

"We're being followed," Azula said as she heard footsteps from somewhere behind her.

A large shadow appeared and Azula and Katara turned as it drew near. Katara held onto Azula's arm as Azula was ready for whatever it was. The shadow got smaller as the small white wolf appeared from behind a buildup of snow. It trotted over to the two and rubbed itself against Azula's leg.

"I think, I'll call her Kita," Azula said.

"Kita, how would you like to come with me?" Azula asked and smiled as the wolf gave an adorably small but happy howl.

Chapter 4: Repercussions and Exile; Kita the Spirit of the South

Azula and Katara walked back into the village with Kita in Azula's arms. The two smiling at each other and giggling like friends do. Kita in response was huffing happily and occasionally licked Azula's arm.

"Azula, we'd like to speak with you," Hakoda said when the girls entered Katara's house.

Laune was standing there arms crossed. Azula looked from Hakoda to Laune and then she and Katara shared an 'Oh fuck' look.

"What about?" Azula asked her eyes glued on the icy ground.

"Something that happened earlier," Hakoda crouched down and looked at her eyelevel.

"It wasn't my fault," Azula mumbled.

"Before we hear their side of the story, we'd like to hear yours Azula," Laune crouched down as well.

"No matter what they say, I'll take your word for it," Laune placed a gentle hand on Azula's shoulder.

"Okay so Katara and I were about to leave class, then a group of kids cornered us and began taunting me for being Fire Nation," Azula began.

"I gave them an earful and Niko hit me," Katara said pointing to the mark on the side of her face.

"Which then his friends grabbed my arms and he was about to beat me up, I tried to warn them against doing it that I wouldn't just be held there and take a beating. And I was also upset for Katara being hurt, so I did the only thing I knew how to do, I defended myself and my friend, it's not my fault they didn't heed my warning," Azula said her eyes glued to the ground.

"Niko, his father was the one caught stealing from our supplies?" Kya asked Hakoda who nodded.

"Indeed, this might be a new revelation for them to get exiled, laying a hand on my daughter and causing Azula to defend herself using the only means available, the council will side with Niko, however unless a witness comes forth it'll be Azula's word against Niko and his friends," Hakoda sighed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to burn him I just meant to make him and his friends leave Katara and I alone," Azula said hugging Kita close to her chest.

"It's quite alright Azula, put in your position I would have done the same myself," Hakoda smiled.

"So, who is your little friend?" Laune asked looking at the snow white wolf in Azula's arms.

"Oh, this is Kita! I saved her from being attacked by a pack of black wolves," Azula exclaimed her attitude instantly brightening at the mention of Kita.

"Even if the tribe hasn't accepted you, the spirits have, the white wolf is the symbol of faith to our tribe, while the black is the symbol of strength, although the south hasn't been connected to the spirits for nearly 100 years, for you to have discovered the white wolf is a sign that the spirits accept you," Hakoda smiled and then stood.

"Come we must go to the council meeting," Hakoda ushered them out of the igloo and towards the large council one.

When they entered Azula held onto Kita tighter the white wolf growling a little bit, not out of pane but he growl at the group of boys that were the ones who attacked Azula and Katara as if having read what they had done from Azula's mind.

"Now that the culprits are here, we may begin," Bato said coldly.

"Niko, would you like to tell us your side of the story," Hakoda said taking his stop next to Kanna and Bato.

"Yes chief Hakoda, my friends and I were leaving class, we were just talking about what to do as we usually did when I accidently brushed Azula's shoulder with my own. I apologized immediately and meant her no disrespect, but she got angry and burnt me with her bending, I don't even know what I did to deserve this," He said holding up the burn for all to see.

"That's a lie and you know it!" Katara shouted.

"Katara, hold your tongue," Bato exclaimed.

Kita started barking at the boys rather loudly. She was trying to get out of Azula's arms and Azula had to hold her tighter to make sure Kita didn't do anything silly.

"Azula, we'd like to hear your side of the story," Hakoda said looking at Azula giving her a reassuring smile.

"Okay, I was about to leave class when Katara walked up and wanted me to come with her to do something fun, As we were about to leave we got cornered by Niko and his goons, they started calling me names, saying that I was fire nation trash, I was happy to take it but Katara defended me and Niko hit her, then he and his friends grabbed me and he was going to beat me up, I warned him, I said for him to leave me alone but he said that he was going to beat me up for being fire nation trash, I didn't want to hurt anyone but he left me no choice, I used what I had to defend myself," Azula said keeping Kita from jumping out of her arms.

"It would seem that, if Azula had intended to burn Niko, he would be far more burnt than his arm," Kanna said.

"How are we supposed to just trust her? And why is she holding that white wolf the symbol of our tribe!" Niko's father exclaimed standing next to his son.

"Kita chose me?" Azula said confused by his words.

"Bullshit, a white wolf would choose the pure water tribe blood, not some fire nation girl, my father's father was the chief of the tribe more than 100 years ago it should come to me or my boy not her" he retorted.

"If the white wolf did choose her, it would mean that the spirits have accepted her amongst our own," Hakoda stated.

"That girl burnt my son, and now she is holding that wolf hostage expecting us to side with her because she has it in her grasps," he shouted outraged.

"Azula, would you be willing to put her down and let her decide whom she has chosen as her partner?" Hakoda asked a knowing smile on his face.

"Sure," Azula bent down and let Kita onto the ground.

"Kita, no attacking anyone okay?" Azula asked and the wolf grumbled a bit.

"Come to my white wolf," Niko smirked thinking he'd won.

Kita sat in her spot just staring at him. He held out his hand beckoning her to come to him, eventually she trotted over looking at him. His grin got wider as he looked at Kita.

"See she chooses me!" Niko exclaimed.

Kita started growling loudly and then she jumped and bit into the burn on his arm.

"Ow! Get it off! Get it off!" Niko exclaimed as Kita hung onto his arm her teeth in his flesh as he was swinging his arm around.

"Kita let go of him," Azula said and Kita dropped off his arm and she did something that made Azula very proud of her.

Kita urinated on Niko's leg and then stuck her black nose in the air and walked back to Azula licking Azula's cheek as she bent down to pick the white wolf up again.

"I think that makes it clear who the white wolf has accepted," Hakoda looked at Bato who was wide eyed in disbelief.

"This is outrageous! She must have enchanted it!" Niko's father protested.

"That is enough! The wolf has nothing to do with the charges against Azula of the fire nation," Bato exclaimed.

"Um, excuse me sir, but I saw what happened today may I please come in?" the voice of a shy young girl Katara and Azula's age popped her head into the entrance.

"Yes, please come in," Bato said and she entered and stood in front of everyone.

"What did you see little one?" Hakoda asked.

"I um, I was about to go home and start helping mum with chores when I heard Niko shouting, I went to investigate and I saw him and his friends cornering Katara and Azula. Katara was defending Azula and then he hit her. His friends then grabbed Azula and he called her a piece of trash and that he was going to beat her up. Azula warned them to leave her alone but they didn't listen. Niko went to punch Azula but she reacted only defending herself," she said.

"She's lying!" Niko shouted.

"You're with them aren't you?" he accused.

"How can she be with us if I don't even know her name nor have I ever seen her before?" Azula raised an eyebrow.

"Councilors, let's convene," Hakoda said and the 13 councilors went into a separate room only to emerge 10 minutes later.

"Due to the witness, it is decided that the council agrees that Azula of the Fire Nation acted out of self-defense and that the claims Niko and his group have against her are false. Niko and his group will be punished for their behavior as well as striking the daughter of a respected councilman and the daughter of the chief of the tribe at that. After much conversation, we have decided that Niko and his group will not be allowed to go through their rite of passage in the southern water tribe until the age of 16, therefor they will be considered a child until their ice dodging trial at the age of 16," Bato announced the verdict.

"This is preposterous!" Niko's father yelled.

"That is the final decision of the council, this session is adjourned," Bato said.

"I will not stand for it!" Niko's father produced a blade from his coat and launched himself at Azula deadly intent on his face.

Before he could make contact with Azula a bright light flashed throughout the room as Kita's eyes were glowing blue. Above her a large wolf stood its jaws around the blade. Biting down the blade was crushed between its powerful jaws. Everyone in the room immediately bowed, except Niko and his father who were shocked.

"You dare attack a guardian? You Nikolai of the Southern Water Tribe! Grandson of Chief Lucao, Despite the evidence given, and the clarity of whom I favor you defy the spirits!" The glowing blue wolf snarled at Nikolai.

"Why her, why not my son!" Nikolai said furiously.

"Your son does not have the heart of a true warrior, though she may be born from a different nation, I do not choose base on history I choose base on heart and you, Nikolai and your son have hearts cold as ice, you would only use my blessing to obtain your desires, greed that has soured your heart and tainted your ancestry," the wolf growled causing the large igloo to shake bits of snow and ice starting to fall yet no one moved at all.

"You are a fool, she will end this village," Nikolai berated.

"Your are accusing a spirit, one whose been around for thousands of years of being a fool, for generations I have watched your village, I have watched it grow, I have watched it perish, and in the heart of Azula of the fire nation, I see an era of peace for everyone, except you. You and your son are banished from my land, leave, and never return," it snarled.

"What of my wife and daughter," he asked realizing his mistake.

"They will be allowed to live here in peace, you and your son must leave by dawn tomorrow or I will come and find you," the wolf howled before disappearing back into the extremely small form of Kita.

Everyone looked up and their attention all turned to Nikolai and Niko. The council got back into their seats.

"The spirits has spoken, you leave before dawn Nikolai and Niko, there is nothing we can do or we risk the spirits wrath on the entire village, say your goodbyes tonight," Bato said and Nikolai looked to Niko both of them had defeat written all over their faces.

Azula knew she shouldn't be smiling like she was but somehow she had a permanent smile on her face. Kita growled at Niko and Nikolai as they exited the igloo and her pink eyes flashed blue momentarily as if to remind them that the spirit is watching.

"I had my superstitions about you Azula, but it's hard to argue with a spirit, if the spirit of the south has chosen you to help bring peace to the world, then the tribe and I accept you, you are no longer Azula of the Fire Nation, but Azula of the southern water tribe," Bato said and the other councilors nodded their agreement.

Laune walked up to Azula with a smile on her face.

"Well, that was very interesting," Laune said.

"So… can I keep her?" Azula asked childishly a grin on her face still.

"Don't think it would matter if I said no, you would anyway," Laune smiled.