Appa groaned as we continued to fly over the lush green land below. It had been a few days since we left Haru and his father, and my burns were healing pretty good. Haru had told my siblings where to find a doctor, and after being watched for a day or two in a small earth kingdom village uninhabited by the fire nation, the doctor said I was well enough to travel. Giving me some ointment for my burns, and telling me to avoid too much movement, she wished us good travels and we were on our way.

Katara watched me like a hawk everyday, making sure I put on my herbal cream in the morning and at night time. Her focusing on me was enough to get her mind off of the necklace she lost. The necklace our mother had given her so many years ago. She was always asking if I was in any pain, and whenever she did I'd reply with a shake of my head followed by a cringe. The pain was still there, no matter how much I tried to forget about it. Thankfully it wasn't as terrible as the day I received my burns, so I was much more comfortable than before.

"How long do you think it will take to get there?" I asked, playing with Aang's marbles which he'd kindly lent me. He'd had them since he left the air temple over a hundred years ago, so I was extra careful not to lose them.

Katara, who sat across from me, immediately jumped to conclusions. "Are you uncomfortable? Do we need to stop?"

Sighing, I smiled reassuringly at her. "No… Just bored. There's not much to do up here."

Sokka, who sat beside me, caught the marbles before I could as they came back down toward my hand. "Hey!" I whined.

He smirked. "You said you were bored. I was just helping."

Glaring at him, I reached for the marbles and he held them away. Irritated, I grabbed his arm to try and pull his own arm down. He didn't budge, and I hated that he was stronger than I was. I tried again but my burns pulsed in pain telling me to stop. Yanking away, I crossed my arms with a pout knowing I'd lost my only source of entertainment. Then I smirked. "Fine… Since I don't have anything else to do then I'll just sing."

Sokka looked at me with terror. "No! You're songs are horrible!"

He had just finished his sentence when I started. "Flying on a Bison, through the cloudy sky! Headed toward the North Pole, very very high! Adventures and excitement await our beck and call! Flying toward our destinies, look out one and all!" My song was cheesy and completely made up at that single moment, but Aang and Katara were laughing with amusement.

Sokka shook his head in disbelief. "Very creative," he muttered sarcastically. "As creative as that song you made about rowing past glaciers."

"You have to admit it had a catchy tune," I joked.

He smiled a bit. "You're annoying."

I smirked. "I know."

Later that day we all lied back on Appa and stared up at the clouds; except Sokka who was seated upright and whittled a stick with his water tribe knife. The sun was just low enough not to blind us, and the clouds looked so free and at peace just drifting by. We were flying through them at the moment, and I could feel the cool moisture as we went.

In my mind I could hear a voice telling me how clouds were made of water, but I wasn't sure who had told me. My gut wanted to say it was Iroh's voice, but I couldn't pick it out clearly. Over the last few days I'd had many moments like that, where I'd see flashes of my past or hear fragmented voices. They were all so unclear, and I wished I could remember. My head hurt trying to understand what my mind was trying to tell me. If I just knew, then I could stop feeling so lost.

Katara sighed as she rolled on her stomach and crawled to the side of the saddle. She looked over Appa at the clouds we flew above and by in a dreamy state. "Those clouds look so soft, don't they? Like you could just jump down, and you'd land in a big cottony heap."

Sokka muttered under his breath, "Maybe you should give it a try."

Looking at my brother, I muttered, "Don't give her any wild ideas. You know how she gets."

"I'm not jumping on the clouds. I'm not that crazy," Katara defended.

Aang jumped up from where he laid on Appa's neck and shouted, "I'll try it!" Then he jumped and screamed as he fell through the clouds disappearing below. Katara and Sokka immediately jumped up with worry and looked for him frantically. I stayed down, pretty sure an air bender could find his way back up. He had his glider and could fly.

Sure enough Aang was back on Appa's saddle a second later, his clothes dripping water. "Turns out clouds are made of water."

"Maybe you can practice bending the clouds then," I said out loud. Sokka and Katara rolled their eyes at me, while Aang laughed.

"That would be fun to try one day," he said.

Another moment passed, and I was enjoying a cool breeze on my face as we continued to fly. Then suddenly I heard Katara ask, "Hey, what is that?"

Sitting up I looked over the saddle with the other three. There was a vast forest below us, and at one part of the green of the forest there was an almost black circle. It looked like fire had scorched one part of the forest and left the rest intact. It almost felt like a shadow was covering that one patch below us.

"It's like a scar," Sokka stated, his eyes straining to see what it really was. Aang turned Appa so we could head toward it. The closer we got, the more I could see it was definitely fire that destroyed the forest.

Aang landed Appa down in the middle of the burnt ash covered area that stretched on past where my eye could see. At first I thought it could've been an accident, but when I saw a metal fire benders helmet under some ash I knew I was wrong. Fire Benders had been here, and they had burned everything in their path. The ground was nothing but ash and dirt, and the trees were black and deathly looking.

Sliding off of Appa, I followed the others as they walked across the burnt ground. To think, my own people had done this. Looking at the heavy footprints charred in the ground, I felt tears come to my eyes. Why did the fire nation have to destroy such beautiful things.

"Listen. It's so quite, there's no life anywhere," Sokka said.

Crouching, I brushed some ash off the ground and saw a piece of green grass. At least the forest was trying to repair itself.

"Aang… Are you okay?" Katara asked, and I stood straight looking at Aang. He looked in pain, and I could see his eyes moisten like he was almost about to cry.

"Fire Nation! Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for-"

Katara shushed Sokka by elbowing him in the side. He looked at her with question, but she was already pointing over at me. Surprisingly his words had hurt me, even though I knew he had no intention of including me among the "savages". Maybe it hurt because no matter what I was related to the savages he spoke of. I was the daughter of the man who ordered these savages to do this.

Sokka immediately looked guilty. "Kaya… I didn't mean-"

Smiling weakly I cut him off. "Chill Sokka. I know you didn't mean me. I just can't believe someone would do something like this."

After I spoke this Aang sunk to the ground on his knees, and I watched his pain filled face as he touched the cold dead earth. "Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?"

"It's not your fault Aang… You can't blame yourself," I said.

Katara added, "This has nothing to do with you."

Aang looked down in agony. "Yes it does. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But, I don't know how to do my job."

"That's why we're going to the North Pole to find you a teacher," Katara said.

Aang sighed. "Yeah… A water bending teacher. But there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said Avatar Roku would help me."

Sokka asked, "The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago, how are we supposed to talk to him?"

"I don't know," Aang whispered.

Aang continued to wallow on the ground, so I left him and my family making my way back to Appa. As I walked I looked down at the ground watching as ash shot up around me. How could people be so heartless?

As I continued to walk I suddenly saw something on the ground. It was an acorn. Looking up, I saw the tree above me was dead, but it still had some acorns attached. Immediately I picked up the acorn. If there were acorns everywhere, then the trees would grow back in no time.

It was odd I knew so much about the trees, but I felt as if someone had told me before. Then my birth mothers voice entered my mind.

"Each acorn is a small tree ready to grow. Just plant one and it will grow over time."

"Can I plant one?" I asked, excitedly.

"Of course sweetie," my mom whispered.

By the time I returned to Aang and my family I'd collected about five acorns. My brother was still fuming over what he saw, and my sister was watching Aang with worry. Taking an acorn from my hand, I threw it straight toward Aang where it bounced on his head and fell to the ground.

"Ow! What was that for?" Aang asked, jumping up and looking at me with shock.

Grinning, I picked up another one. "Cheering you up," I simply said.

"How is that cheering him up?" Katara asked.

Sokka laughed. "Cheered me up."

Turning, I threw an acorn at Sokka who looked up last minute and got hit in the forehead. "Ow!" he cried. Then he winced. "Yeah. I probably deserved that."

Katara walked over to me then, asking, "Seriously Kaya… Why are you throwing acorns at everyone?"

Sighing, I said, "So I could get your attention." Then I picked up another acorn to show her and Aang who were watching with question. "These acorns are actually seeds. They'll one day become a tree and replace the burned forest with a new one."

"How do you know that?" Aang asked with surprise.

Frowning slightly, I whispered, "My mom told me."

"You mean your birth mom?" Katara asked.

Nodding, I knelt on the ground and dug up the ash then the cool earth. Planting the acorn in the ground, I shoved dirt over it then stood. "Now the next time it rains it will begin to grow." Looking at Aang, I smiled. "The forest will return to how it was before."

Aang smiled back at me. "Thanks Kaya… I needed that."

An acorn suddenly smacked into my forehead and I winced glaring at my brother. He innocently turned and walked away.

Aang started planting acorns then while Sokka and Katara watched him. As this occurred I noticed someone walking toward us. It was an old man who appeared to be from the Earth Kingdom. His face looked full of relief when he saw Aang.

"Uh… Hello," I said uncertainly as the man approached. My family and Aang looked over to see the old man. The man nodded at me, then looked at Aang.

"When I saw the flying bison I thought it was impossible, but those markings… Are you the Avatar?"

Aang nodded warily, while I eyed the man suspiciously. He had come out of no where it seemed. Was he perhaps a spy for the Fire Nation? If he was I'd be ready to protect Aang.

The man bowed his head, and I saw then how broken up he was. He looked like he had gone through a great ordeal. "My village desperately needs your help," the man begged, then looked into Aang's eyes pleadingly.

Aang looked at Katara and Sokka, who both nodded saying it couldn't hurt to help. When Aang asked me, I said still a little unsure, "It's up to you. I'm just along for the ride."

Aang nodded and a few minutes later we landed Appa in a small village in the middle of an unburned section of the forest. Walking through the quiet village known as Senlin which may have had forty people or so in it, we came upon the village leader who stared at us curiously.

The man was probably in his early fifties, with graying brown hair in a top knot. The old man with us stepped forward saying, "This young person is the Avatar."

The Village leader looked at Aang with interest. "So the rumors of your return are true." He bowed to Aang with respect. "It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence."

"Nice to meet you too… So is there something I can help you with?" Aang asked unsure.

The Village leader looked distraught as he said, "I'm not sure…"

The old man then began to explain about a spirit known as Hei Bei who was wreaking havoc on the land, but by that point I had zoned out. Instead of listening I stared at a building's around us where the roofs had been torn straight off. Must have been some spirit to cause such a disaster.

Aang and Katara suddenly walked off to talk about what he should do, while Sokka and I looked at the destruction with terror. "That's a lot of damage," Sokka said.

"Yeah… It's definitely an angry spirit. Do you think it has something to do with the burned down forest?" I asked.

Sokka shrugged. "Beats me... I'm pretty sure it does though." He walked over to Katara and Aang then, probably to see what they were deciding. I stood there staring at the buildings once more, wondering how such a small village had survived so long with such damage.

The village leader approached me curiously, asking, "You're that girl aren't you? The fire nation girl that's on our side?"

Nodding, I said, "Guess my eyes give me away, huh?"

The man smiled kindly at me, then said, "I overheard what you said to the water tribe boy. I was wondering the same thing about the burned forest. I'm not an expert on this spirit stuff, but it did show up after the fire nation set fire to the land."

"The Fire Nation should be receiving this spirit's wrath, not you," I muttered.

He sighed. "I entirely agree."

Aang suddenly approached us again. "I'll do it. Anything to help." he said.

The leader of the village looked utterly relieved.

Later that night we stayed inside the meeting house building where we waited anxiously for the sun to set. Aang walked outside and we watched nervously as he went.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked. "He's just a kid."

Katara looked more anxious than the rest. "I know… But he seems confident so I don't want to tell him he can't. If it gets too much we'll jump in."

Aang suddenly began to shout through the darkening village, "Hello. Spirit can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking! I'm here to try to help stuff!"

Sighing, I inched away from the villagers who were peering out the windows of the building. No one seemed to notice as I turned and walked out of the building. Aang was just a kid. Twelve! Walking near the edges of the buildings, I watched as Aang got closer to the gate of the village. It was quiet… Too quiet.

"The sun has set!" Aang called nervously. "Where are you Hei-Bei? Well spirit… I hereby ask you to leave this village in peace."

Stepping closer, I saw Aang was shaking like a leaf. Beads of sweat trailed down his forehead and his eyes darted around drastically.

"Well, I guess that's settled then," Aang said almost relieved the spirit hadn't come. He turned to walk back to the building.

To my utter terror, a large black and white creature emerged from the woods, his feet huge as he followed behind Aang. Hei-Bei glowed in the night, and he looked around the village with fire in his black orbs. Then I saw him open his mouth slightly and my eyes widened. He had really sharp teeth.

"Aang!" I hissed.

He jumped and looked over at me as I hid in the shadows. "Kaya? What are you doing out here?"

"Behind you," I said, then pointed at the giant ghost like creature. Aang turned immediately and stared at the beast with wide eyes.

Then he faked a smile saying, "You must be the Hei Bei spirit. My name is…"

The spirit didn't let him finish. Instead he opened his giant mouth and shot a strange beam of light at Aang making a huge gust of wind. Then he got up on two feet and roared with fury. As he did this another light stream shot through his mouth into the sky. Then he turned and ran past Aang toward a building.

"My name is Aang! I'm the Avatar and I would like to help!" Aang shouted, then noticed the beast was about to grab the room of a building. "Hey! Wait up!"

Aang followed the beast as it grabbed pieces of buildings tearing them up and causing extreme damage. Then Aang jumped in between the monster and a building it was about to destroy, and he cried, "Please! Would you stop destroying things and listen!"

The beast turned away from him and grabbed another building. "I'm just trying to do my job as a spirit bridge! Please turn around! I command you to turn around!" Aang was getting more angry than scared, and that concerned me. If he wasn't careful he'd just make the spirit more violent.

The spirit grew irritated, turned, and smacked Aang with his large white hand, causing the young air bender to fly and smash into a building. "Aang!" I cried, and ran forward coming into view. The spirit watched me run over to Aang, but I ignored it as I helped my friend off the ground.

"Kaya, you shouldn't be out here! It's not safe!" Aang cried.

"It's not safe for you either!" I responded, then looked around for his glider. It was lying about ten feet away. "I'll distract it while you get your glider."

Aang grabbed my arm before I could run. "No Kaya! Please get to safety!"

Turning to Aang, I said, "You're not doing this on your own Aang. Friends don't ditch each other in times of danger!"

Aang looked at me for a moment with a look I couldn't read, then said with a smile, "Thanks."

Nodding, I turned and ran out into view, then screamed, "Hey! Spirit dude! Over here!" The spirit turned then, and I saw him look into my gold eyes with realization. He could tell I was a fire bender. Then he put down the piece of the building he was previously holding, and rushed toward me.

Aang ran out as the spirit was distracted and grabbed his glider. As he did this I ran underneath the spirit praying he wasn't too bright. The spirit was startled as I disappeared beneath him, and as I got to the other side of his body he turned quickly.

Sokka was suddenly running toward me, his boomerang in hand, while Aang blew a burst of wind at the spirit trying to blow it back. The spirit didn't falter, and before I could get away I felt it's strong glowing hand grab my body.

Gasping, I felt it lift me from the earth and hold me so I was only inches from his extremely sharp teeth. Then a second later I heard Sokka scream as well as he was lifted beside me.

"Sokka! Kaya!" Katara cried, and I looked down to see she stood beside Aang with horror filled eyes.

Then suddenly the beast turned, and using his other four legs he ran out of the village toward the forest. Sokka and I screamed in terror as wind rushed past us and the beasts hands began to tighten. Then I saw nothing but a bright white light. It blinded me and I closed my eyes as pain shot through my head.

As darkness took me over for a moment, I heard Roku's voice enter my mind once more. "It's time to remember."

Time to remember? Time to remember what? Gasping, I opened my eyes and everything around me became clear.

I was no longer being carried by the beast, and I could tell I was no longer in a forest. Looking around, I saw I was seated on a fine bed, the blanket underneath me made out of silk and a dark red color. The air around me was warm, and the room I was in was lit by torches on the walls. Tapestries with the symbol of the fire nation hung on each wall, and I saw a portrait of the Fire Lord, Lady Ursa, a frowning girl who I guessed was Azula, my brother Zuko whose face was scar free, and then me.

Footsteps suddenly echoed through the room, and I saw my birth mother walk inside with concern. She looked so much like I did in my present form, except her skin was paler than my own and she looked older. Also I was a little shorter than her too. "There you are sweetie. Grandfather Azulon is looking for you," she said, walking over to me.

It was then I realized that I was seeing what I had seen nine years ago. What I was seeing was through the eyes of my six year old form. My memories were actually being played out before my very eyes.

"Sorry mommy… I just don't like Grandfather. He scares me," I whispered, my voice sounding so young and fragile. It almost sounded like I was too scared to speak.

My mom smiled kindly at me, then said, "He doesn't mean to. He's just a very busy man, so he doesn't have a lot of time to be with his family."

Looking down at my tiny hands, I fiddled with my fingers nervously. "What if he yells at me again? Last time he almost hit me." Tears pulled at my eyes as a memory of a scary old man with a raised hand came to me. Just by seeing the man in my young mind I could see why I was so terrified of him.

"I won't let him, Amber. Neither will your father," she said. Then she held out her hand and I took it slowly. My hand was so small in hers. Our skin however was the same. Both of us were pale. Maybe I was tan in present time because I'd lived under the sun most of my days at the south pole.

We both walked out of the large room I assumed was my own, then made our way down a dimly lit hallway that had fire nation soldiers lined against parts of the wall. They bowed to us as we passed, and my mother nodded in acknowledgement. As we approached a large steel door with flame symbols carved in their enormous frame, two guards opened the doors and gestured us inside.

My past self faltered and I tugged against my mom's hand. She squeezed my hand reassuringly. "It's okay. I'm not going to leave your side," she promised. I slowly followed, still unsure.

Walking into a huge spacious room, I saw a huge wall of fire with a throne perched behind it. On the throne sat a very old man with gray hair he kept in a topknot and a long gray beard. He looked through the fire at me with cold eyes, and I shrunk from his gaze.

"Princess Ursa… You've kept me waiting," my grandfather hissed through the flames, and I cowered in fear behind my mother's dress. My mother got on her knees then and bowed, and I quickly did the same though my small body shook with terror.

"Forgive me my Lord… It won't happen again," mom promised, then rose so that she was on her knees but looking at Azulon. Following her lead, I stared at my grandfather and watched as he smirked.

Slowly he stood and walked toward the edge of his flame wall. Then he used fire bending to part the flames so he could create a small entrance. He gestured with his bony wrinkly finger for me to approach. "Come here child," he said, his voice hard and cold.

Looking at my mother, she nodded with a tight smile, and slowly I stood. She was uncertain too. My body trembled as I walked up to my grandfather, and he watched me with annoyance. When I got to the bottom of the steps that led to his throne platform he put his hand up to stop me.

"Now… Would you please fire bend for me. Your brother and sister were successful earlier, so I expect the same result from you."

Immediately I gulped, and then looked down at my hands seeing them shake. "I- I can't," I whispered.

"I know you can. I've heard from your mother that you have the gift. Use it!" The last part was an order and I stepped back in fear.

"No!"

My grandfather glared at me, then said, "I'm growing impatient with you child! Every week I bring you in here and you still claim you can't! Everyone in my family could fire bend at the age of five! You are six now! Fire bend!"

Tears filled my eyes and I whimpered. "I- I don't want to."

He shot a flame at my feet in rage and I cried out in terror backing up and falling on the ground. "You're pathetic! You're a disgrace to this family! Get out of my sight!" He shot another flame then, and I backed away before it could hit me. Then sobbing, I turned and ran out of the room, my mother following closely behind.

With fear I ran down the halls. I ran straight to my room and dived onto my bed. Then I pressed my face into my pillow and I sobbed my heart out. My mother came in only a few moments later, then got in bed beside me and pulled me into her arms. Crying into her dress, I yelled, "Don't make me do it again! I don't want to see him again!"

My mother apologized over and over for her broken promise, and I continued to cry.

My vision blurred and I found myself carried from that memory to another. In this memory I was seated in the Palace Garden beside the small duck pond I'd become very familiar with. Plucking a piece of bread from the loaf a kind familiar servant boy had managed to sneak for me, I tossed the bread into the pond and a baby turtle duck grabbed it before his siblings.

A body suddenly sat beside me, and I turned in surprise to see Zuko. He smiled over at me and then held his hand out for a piece of bread. Smiling, I tore a piece off and handed it to him. We both continued to feed the mother turtle duck and her three children.

"Hey… I heard what happened with grandpa," Zuko suddenly said, tossing another piece into the water. "Why didn't you just fire bend?"

My hands froze as I was about to throw my last piece into the water. Then I sighed and put my bread down. Pulling my knees close to my chest, I said, "Because I don't like fire bending. Whenever I try it I always catch something on fire."

"But that's the point!" Zuko cried, looking at me with amazement.

"No it isn't," I said. "The last Avatar never hurt anyone with his fire bending."

Zuko rolled his eyes. "Dad say's that Avatar Roku was a nut job, Amber."

Shaking my head, I looked down at my pale reflection in the pond. "I don't think he was. He helped people." Then looking at Zuko I said, "One day I want to help people too."

"This is war Amber. We have to fight, not help people. Dad said that kindness will only kill you."

Grabbing my bread, I tossed the rest of it in the pound where the turtle ducks tore into it. "All you do is talk about daddy… he's no better than grandpa."

Zuko gasped. "Don't say that! You'll get in trouble."

"Well it's true," I cried. "They're both mean and scary."

Footsteps suddenly approached, and I turned in terror thinking it was father. If he heard me say that about him he'd fry me. To my relief it was just my cousin Lu Ten. He was twenty one, and in a week he'd be going off to war for a few years. Grinning, I stood and ran up to my cousin who fell on his knees so I could hug him easier. He was so much taller than me. As he pulled me into his arms I smelled Jasmine Tea.

"Hey squirt," he said. He pulled away smiling at me. "What are you two up to?"

Zuko joined us a moment later, saying, "We were feeding the turtle ducks."

Lu Ten looked over at the pond, then back at me with a smile. "Those turtle ducks are going to get fat from being overfed by you."

I gasped and cried, "No they aren't."

Lu Ten laughed and ruffled my hair. I slapped his hand away playfully with a giggle.

"You should stay and feed the turtle ducks with us," Zuko insisted.

Lu Ten smiled apologetically. "Sorry guys. I wish I could, but I have to go to training in a few minutes."

At the word "training", Zuko lit up and tried to get Lu Ten's attention saying, "Hey! Watch this knew fire bending move I learned."

We both looked over at Zuko who got in a fire bending stance and then shot a small flame with his bare foot. It traveled in the air for a second and then vanished. Lu Ten clapped, while I exclaimed, "That was awesome Zuko!"

"You've improved a lot," Lu Ten agreed with me. He seemed impressed. Lu Ten was a fire bender too, and I had a feeling Zuko and I would never be able to be at his level. He'd been training for years and was one of the best.

Suddenly, a voice shouted across the field, "Your highness!"

Our cousin groaned with irritation and looked at the owner of the voice. It was his personal adviser, and the old beefy man didn't look happy. "Well there goes my moment of freedom," Lu Ten muttered, then looked back at us with a smile. "You guys behave now, okay."

"Okay!" We said in unison, then we watched Lu Ten walk away.

Again my memories took me to another time. This time I was seated on my bed, but there was someone in the room with me. It was not Zuko or my mom this time. This time it was my father. Ozai paced the room back and forth, his fists steaming with fire. He looked mad, and I felt myself cower in fear.

After a second he turned and looked at me with cold dark gold eyes. They looked ready to kill me, and I only shrunk more under his intense glare. "Do you know how embarrassed I've been?! Everyone in the palace laughs at me because my child can't fire bend! You're making a mockery of me in my own kingdom! What the Agni is wrong with you child?! You can fire bend, so do it!"

Whimpering, I grabbed my hair and cried, "I'm sorry daddy… I'm sorry."

My father stepped over to me and grabbed my chin hard forcing me to look into his cruel glare. "You are on a thin rope, Amber. A very thin rope. Your grandfather is threatening to punish you in front of the whole kingdom. Do you know what that would mean?"

Shaking my head, I felt hot tears stream down my cheeks. I was terrified.

My dad's face was inches from mine, his gold eyes stabbing at my soul. "It means he'll probably take you to the middle of the city and beat you to a pulp! Do you want that?!"

Shaking my head hard, I cried, "No!"

Dad let me go and then began to pace again. "I'm so tired of being looked down upon because of you. My father thinks I can't control my own child. My friends all laugh at me because I have a runt like you."

"I'm sorry daddy," I whimpered. "I'll be good now."

A slap suddenly rang in my ear, and I cried out as I clutched my pulsing cheek. The slap was a lot on my small body. Such a tall man, ganging up on a little girl. He didn't care that I was weak and defenseless compared to him. "You want to be good?! Then fire bend! Stop being a coward!"

"Ozai!" Iroh's voice suddenly shouted from somewhere, and my father and I both looked up to see he was standing at the doorway with hard narrowed eyes. "I think you need to leave before you do something rash."

"You will not tell me how to discipline my own child!"

Iroh crossed his arms. "This is not discipline Ozai. This is abuse."

My dad glared with hatred at Uncle Iroh, and then looked at me with a piercing gaze. "We're not done here," he hissed, pointing his finger at me. "You will learn the easy way or the hard way. I will not allow you to ruin my image!" He turned swiftly on his heel and stormed out of the room. As he passed Uncle Iroh, he said to him with gritted teeth, "Mind your own business."

Iroh glared back at his brother who was storming away. "My niece is my business."

My dad ignored him and continued to stomp away, leaving Iroh with me as I sobbed and clutched my cheek. Once my father was gone, Iroh approached me while I continued to cry. He sat down beside me causing the bed mattress to sink. Hugging me close to him, he said, "Are you okay dear?"

Shaking my head, I said, "No… He hates me uncle. Daddy hates me."

Iroh sighed and hugged me tighter. "Your father is a confused man. He has a lot of vent up anger which he doesn't know how to get rid of properly. You somehow became his punching bag these last few years."

"He hates me," I cried again. "I hate him!"

Then my vision blurred and everything around me faded once more.

When I could see again I was seated in the palace garden once more on a stone bench, and my mom sat beside me handing me something. Looking at the golden bracelet in my hand, I said, "It's so pretty."

"It was my grandfathers. He personally made it for his wife, who passed it down to my mother, who then passed it down to me. Now it belongs to you," she said, then took the band and placed it around my wrist. It was a little big but mom told me it would fit me when I got older.

Looking at the bracelet, I asked, "Why not Azula?"

My mom smiled weakly. "Roku told me you were the one."

Looking at my mom in surprise I asked, "He spoke to you? The Avatar spoke to you?!"

She nodded and touched the bracelet. "When you put this on it will connect Roku to your spirit so that he can guide you."

"That sounds painful," I muttered.

My mom smiled and then brushed a hand through my hair. "Roku won't hurt you. He wants to help you."

"Thank you," I exclaimed. I threw my arms around my mom's waist. She hugged me close to her.

"Anything for my princess," she whispered in my ear, then she kissed me on the head.

My memories then took me to my room once more, only this time I was alone. It was dark except for a few torches that were lit. Brushing my long black hair with a silver comb I hummed softly. Then I looked down at my wrist and watched as the gold bracelet glowed from the rooms candle light. Putting my comb down, I traced my finger over the engraved symbols.

Footsteps suddenly entered the room and I froze. "Well well," a cold voice hissed. Turning in surprise I saw the man I knew as Captain Zhao step over to me from the doorway. He was carrying what appeared to be a sack and some rope. His baboon face looked like an animal in the candle light, and I cowered in fear. Stepping back, I felt my back hit the nightstand behind me. "There's the little freak."

I tried to run but he was faster and bigger than me. He reached toward me and grabbed my arm hard. I scratched at his arm, but he wasn't fazed. He shoved me against my bedroom wall hard. Crying out in pain, I watched in terror as he reached toward my mouth to block my screams. His hand was sweaty and rough against my face. "Your father told me to get rid of you. I'm afraid I can't refuse his orders," he hissed. I screamed through his hard hand and struggled like crazy. He grabbed my wrists as I went to hit him, and then tied rope around them. My bracelet slipped off my hands and fell to the ground.

Since I couldn't hit him anymore I tried to kick him instead. He grabbed me by the hair before I could, then threw me on the ground. Since I couldn't catch myself with my hands my whole body hit the hard floor and my head smacked against the stone. Then I blacked out.

"Kaya! Kaya!" A voice suddenly shouted, and I opened my eyes in shock. To my surprise I was on the dirt, and it was growing dark. The ground was cold under my body. A cold breeze licked at my skin, and I felt someone shake my good shoulder hard.

Groaning, I pulled myself up from where I had fallen on the ground. Sitting on my knees, I looked around to see bamboo had surrounded me. Bamboo? My vision was a bit blurry, but soon it cleared and I was able to see around me. The villagers had circled nearby, staring at me with concern and confusion. Katara knelt beside me, and I saw she looked worried.

I was back in the present! Thank goodness! The past was awful!

"Kaya… Are you okay?" Katara asked, and it was then I noticed Sokka was kneeling beside me also. Aang stood a few paces away looking relieved.

"I think so... What happened? Last thing I remember is Sokka and I were being carried toward the forest," I said, clutching my head as it suddenly pulsed in pain.

"You've been in the spirit world for twenty-four hours," Katara answered.

"Yeah," Sokka began. "Aang managed to get Hai Bai to return us. Were you unconscious the whole time?"

Rubbing my head, I answered, "I'm not sure. I felt awake."

"Well I was. I was in the spirit world! You weren't?"

My brows furrowed in confusion by what Sokka said. "I'm not sure... It felt more like my past."

"What do you mean?" Aang asked.

Looking at him I was about to answer, but stopped when I felt everyone in the village staring at me. "Uh… Nothing," I answered, and then stood brushing dirt from my clothing.

Had I been unconscious the whole time? Was it all a dream?

No... I'm pretty sure everything I saw truly happened.

Katara suddenly grabbed me in a hug and I smiled weakly. "I was so worried. When the spirit took you away I feared I'd never see you again," Katara cried, and it was then I noticed her eyes were filled with tears.

Sighing, I hugged her back. "I'm back Katara… I'm sorry I worried you so much."

Katara held me closer and a second later Sokka grabbed us both in a hug. As my siblings held me I thought of my other family. How would Katara and Sokka react when I told them I really was the Fire Lord's daughter? Zuko truly was my brother... Would they hate me? Would they force me to leave?

Sokka and Katara noticed my body had gone stiff, and they looked at me with question. Looking away from their gazes, I whispered, "Can I talk to you three… Alone." The villagers still had their eyes on us, watching as if we were the most exciting things they'd seen in their existence.

Without waiting for their reactions, I turned and made my way to the very edge of the village, right where the forest began. The villagers luckily didn't follow, so that left me, my family, and Aang to converse in peace.

"What's this about?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah… You're starting to scare me," Katara said.

Aang looked deep into my eyes, as if he were trying to read my mind.

Taking in a deep breath, I told them everything. Told them how I truly was Amber, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai. I told them about Zuko truly being my brother by blood. I told them about my mother and the bracelet she gave to me which I currently was wearing. I then told them about my grandfather, and how he despised me because I refused to fire bend. I told them about my father, and how he hated my guts. Then I mentioned Zhao, and how he was hired by my father to have me killed. As I told them all of these things, I watched their reactions, and through it all I never saw any sign of hatred or disgust by my true family line.

When I finally finished with Zhao kidnapping me, Katara had her hand over her mouth in terror. "Your own father wanted you gone," Katara said, her eyes filling with tears of pain. Pain for my past. A past I barely could remember. "What kind of father does that to his own child?"

Sokka was looking at the ground with fists clenched. He looked ready to hit something. "The Fire Lord," he spat, answering Katara's question. "When I get my hands on him I'll kill him. I'll kill that monster."

"You- you guys aren't mad about this? This means that I really am the daughter of the enemy," I said, my throat tightening as my own words sunk in. I was the daughter of a monster. A cold-hearted monster.

Aang suddenly placed a hand on my shaking shoulder, and I looked at him in surprise.

"It doesn't matter… That's in the past. Right now you're Kaya, friend to the Avatar and sister to the two greatest water tribe kids on the planet," Aang said with a grin, and I looked into his eyes feeling as if a huge weight was suddenly lifted off my shoulder. "You're one of the best people I know."

After I took in Aang's words, and looked at my brother and sister who were nodding in agreement, I felt my pained heart fill with relief.

They didn't care. They really didn't care.

At that moment I knew… This was where I belonged. Katara, Sokka, and Aang were my family, and nothing could tear us apart. Not the Fire Lord... Not the war...

Nothing.