Water and Fire

Monday came much faster than any of the six young teenagers really wanted it to come. None of them were again extremely thrilled about being made to spend time together.

They'd been notified they'd were to see Principal Iroh after school to find out further erudition about this new punishment of theirs. But for now it was lunch time and that meant all six of them had to eat at the same table. And they'd been assigned a table and Katara and Sokka's grandmother Kanna was to make sure they all sat and ate it.

Given that Kanna was the head of the cafeteria staff and watch the lunchroom she is able to report if they'd gone to the assigned table and ate or not. And she had the eyes of leopard seal about to dine on a penguin. So she didn't miss a detail.

So they're given their Four Nation meal and all six of them were to head to their table and eat.

For Sokka, this was a bit difficult at first as Yue came over and asked where was he going. He tried to beguile her and make up some subterfuge at first till the blind chick said in a straightforward honest way what the truth of what was going on.

Sokka gnarled at the blind girl whose guide dog used his tail to smack him in the posterior causing Sokka to seeth further.

"Well, I guess if you're going to have lunch with other people from now on I'll have to eat with someone else then," Yue start off in a melancholy voice.

Then a kind and cheery voice spoke up. "Hey, Yue! If you're looking for a table to sit at you can sit with me at my table," Suki came over to rescue the girl.

"Really?" the white-haired Water Tribe asked in an amiable voice.

"Sure, it's a mix of girls who all work at the same shop which me and my friends frequent, but they said it's okay if I sit with them and their room for one more.

Don't worry, Sokka. Yue's not gonna be lonely. She'll have loads of girls to giggle and gossip with."

"Yue you positive your gonna be okay?"

"Sokka, Suki been nothing but a trustworthy friend to us since school started last month. I can enjoy lunch with someone else. Besides I've not had a lot of girlfriends before. It will be fine."

"Okay, just want to make sure you're okay."

"She'll be fine, Sokka. Don't worry. It's just a gaggle of girls talking the normal stuff. You know clothes, boys, makeup. You know stuff the boys don't understand because it's just stuff girls do but boys ain't got a clue?" Suki laughed as she led Yue over to the table with eight other girls.

"Don't worry about your girlfriend, Sokka! Let's just get through this first lunch and deal with stupid punishment. At least it's not detention!" Katara yanked her brother away and dragged him to their assigned table.

"Might as well be," he whined as they sat at the table.

Now that everyone was seated at the table there were a lot of scowls and repugnant expressions save on the Air Nomad kid who elected to try and break the ice.

"Okay, how about we just start this off right by saying "Hello and my name is?"

"We heard what the other name was when Vice Principal Xiaoying read our records out loud to the principal, Twinkle Toes."

"Well, my name is Aang, not Twinkle Toes and it is best if we correctly acquainted ourselves with each other. Therefore let me started since it looks like no-one else is going too.

Hi, I'm Aang, I recently turned 13 years old. My hobbies are I like to do art, fly kites, baking, I'm wicked on a scooter, I play the keytar and I like Meta: Ice Girl" then turning to Katara, "Now tell me about yourself," he instructed in a cheerful voice with a big smile.

Katara sighed but resigned she would have to play this game and might as well do what the overly optimistic monk wanted.

"My name is Katara. I'm 14 years old. My hobbies are I used to love singing, but don't do that anymore. I still figure skate which I'm a champion of. And I too love Meta: Ice Girl." she then elbowed her brother to make him talk.

"Okay, Katara, gee! I'm Sokka I'm 15 years old. My hobbies are giving romantic advice, snowboarding, working on my car, and spending time with my girlfriend Yue. I'm an expert drummer and I too like Meta: Ice Girl. Happy now?"

"Well, fine if we must be all touchy-feely and say "Howdy how are you!" I'll go next!" snapped the blind girl as she flipped some food to her guide dog.

"I'm Toph Beifong. And let me make it clear I AM NOT HELPLESS OR WEAK! My hobbies include boxing, skateboarding, and basically doing anything that gets you down and dirty. I can play the guitar and yeah I like Meta too!" she huffed out.

"Then I guess that just leaves Zuky and me. Well let's do this together Zuko and get it over with," Akiko started and he nodded. "Agreed, Akiko, let's."

"So, our names are Zuko and Akiko. And we are both sixteen years old and we are born two weeks apart," Zuko started and Akiko picked up.

"As you found out Principal Iroh is family and if you just have to know so is Xiaoying who is our godmother. But that doesn't mean we get special treatment. We can tell you without any uncertain term our family life is um 'complicate' to put it simply." Akiko left it at that as they weren't about to let a group of strangers know what really was going on in their family.

"Akiko and I are a perfect duet in the sense we do everything together. We love both the performing arts and creative ones and we flourish at both together."

"Yes, whether it be singing, playing musical instruments, ballet. I do better at the actual painting but he's a good subject to paint or find something to paint. And we're both champion level inline skaters," Akiko remarked with remarkable pride in her voice at their accomplishments.

"We both love Meta: Ice Girl as well," concluded Zuko with their introduction which had a few snickers.

"What with the laughs?" Akiko wanted to know with irritation coloring her voice and her jade green eyes mere chips.

"The thought that he would be dancing in a tutu is so hilarious!" Sokka couldn't help but laugh his head off.

Zuko growled when Aang intervened on their behalf by saying, "How come you find something as captivatingly beautiful as living poetry something ridiculous? Particularly when your sister is a champion of it as well, Sokka?"

"Say what?" as his jaw hung open he could've caught a bunch of flies.

"Grace, beauty, movement, all of it. In my culture, we appreciate the many forms and movements of the body. Therefore things such as gymnastics, figure skating or ballet that incorporate movement, agility, grace, and beauty?

Well, we call that living poetry, a form a self-expression when the spirit is giving permission to fly free in joyous flight and for all to see in true beauty and expression. Consequently, if your sister does it why are you making fun if Zuko and Akiko do it in their own way?" Aang challenged the Water Tribe boy who couldn't think of any way to counter Aang's argument.

Both Zuko and Akiko glimpsed at the 13-year-old boy appreciative he'd stopped the teasing. Thus they finished their lunch which shortly afterward went back to class.

At the end of the day, they discovered Iroh wasn't in his office but Xiaoying was waiting for them and said there were a few other people waiting for them as well. The six adolescents were still considerably puzzled but followed her outside where a vast array of people awaited them throughout the school gardens.

It was an Asian style garden. It was a zen garden, a koi pond and a waterfall flowing into a koi pond. Though there was still an abundance of exotic wildflowers all over the place. Some were hybrids others appeared like they had come from the Lost Age!

Before they weren't just Iroh and Xiaoying but also their parents, Kimana, and a number of their teachers. Which included Bumi, Jeong-Jeong, Piandao, Akanke, Yang, Rei, Saura and Kishi.

"Um, I presume I have got an inquiry for everyone in what are you all doing here?" Aang asked for everyone who was equally dumbfounded.

"You are all still students even if we're hoping you'll learn from one another and be able to lead others out of darkness. Although the Avatar had multiple masters. Even the Avatar's teachers had their own teachers.

As a result, we're here to encourage all of you to reach your absolute potential this year both at school and in the real world. We still hope what we teach you and what you can teach each other will all end up helping this school and the whole city. Consequently, we'll be guiding you outside of school as well," Jeong-Jeong started to elucidate when Sokka raised a hand and he snorted to acknowledge him.

"Question does mean we get extra credit?" he questioned and everyone looked at him annoyingly.

"What?" he looked at everyone "It's a fair question! We are still at school, they are teachers and we are gonna gets grades anyhow! I just think this should go for some extra credit if we're doing extra work is all! It's only fair," he finished his rationalizing as he crossed his arms.

"Sokka is it?" spoke the creative writing teacher softly.

"Yes, that's my name."

"There are many lessons you shall learn in this life. And not all of them are just for a meaningless letter on a piece of paper given out four times a year. The only true teachers I life is time and life itself.

We are trying to teach you about life itself and finding out who you are from what you are. I think you and I need a few personal lessons. You strike me as one keen of mind with creative thinking, but might need to unlock it with a unique key."

"Okay?"

"Private lessons start on Saturday at six pm at my house. Don't be late."

"Yes, Mr?"

"Piandao."

"Toph?"

"Yeah?!"

"No, need to yell," Xiaoying rebuked her smoothly. "Your private tutor for Saturdays will be Jeong-Jeong. We've concluded some lessons in the past and some philosophy would best help you."

"Great, a collection of lifeless people plus useless gobbledygook. Great."

"Katara, your private tutor Saturday will be Yang who will assist you to actually heal in all definitions of the word.

Aang? Bumi is your private tutor who will be instructing you psychologically to think a bit differently.

Zuko and Akiko? Your private teacher will be Kishi who will help you in ways you can't conceive," Xiaoying finished explaining.

"But what about the rest of the teachers? Are they here for a reason? And is Aunt Kim here for a reason too?" inquired Akiko curiously.

"We're getting to that Akiko. Yes, we're all here for a reason and a purpose. I'll be having a gardening lesson at the manor with each of you every Sunday to see how well you're all taking care of those flowers I bestowed to all of you at the Jasmine Dragon your first week of school.

It will be symbolically telling us how you're doing while we're going along with this plan," explained Kimana with a mysterious smile on her face.

"I'll be supervising an art project that we'll be doing later with all six of you. You'll find out more of that later," Akanke cryptically hinted to the six teens her voice brimming with enthusiasm.

"And just because Kishi is tutoring she and the two of us are still working together to help you all develop your physical and creative pursuits. Therefore we want by the end of summer to see you put on a show of both your athletic talents and a production of musical and performing talents which we'll be helping you prepare for," explained the remaining Fire Nation ladies.

"And as your families, we'll love and support you best we can." was their parent's answers.

"Now," Iroh finally spoke for the first time, "I'd like to draw your attention to this garden and explain it's meaning to you."

Leading the large entourage away from the activity around the high school, Iroh guided large gathering to a small secluded area in the adjoining gardens.

Glistening white sand was raked in swirling patterns around a number of carefully positioned rocks. An artfully constructed waterfall danced over polished river stones, passing around a large boulder before trickling merrily away into another part of the garden.

The group sank down gracefully onto waiting cushions laid around the garden and looked out at the serene scene just as Iroh was doing. Iroh watched the kids especially carefully out of the corner of his eye.

As he had hoped, the peaceful arrangement of the rock garden seemed to calm them. The worry lines in their face began to ease and the tension in their bodies began to slowly relax.

"This is one of my favorite spots," Iroh said in a hushed voice. "The priests call this a Zen garden, where the earth meets the sky. To look upon it is to clear the mind so that one may focus on what is truly important." He pointed to two large rocks. One was almost a small boulder, rugged and weather-worn.

The other was smaller and the same color and shape but with smoother edges. A thick, reddish, hemp rope was coiled about them, linking them together. "Do you see those two stones?"

"Yes," the children answered. One by one each of them cocked their head as they looked at them. "Is there is a story behind them?"

Iroh nodded. "They represent yin and yang, the male and female elements that balance the universe. To achieve harmony in life, one must try to balance the yin and yang of one's life."

"And the rope?"

"That is the life force that binds them together and makes them one." Iroh turned his head and looked at each of them through his light golden eyes. "It is karma - it is meant to be."

He paused a moment to let that sink in before explaining what it all really meant. "It is love."

Immediately the six teenagers seemed completely disoriented furthermore doubtful and started at the garden or in Toph's case just listen to it. Trying to see and hear what lesson they're supposed to start to learn right here and now.

"Now before we depart on the journey of ten thousand steps we shall begin with a song and then your first journey on this quest," as he stretched his back which cracked a bit.

"I know the perfect song for this moment. A genius who music is revered and knows the right words for the right occasion," Kimana smiled knowingly.

"Might I sing it with you? A duet is more compelling sometimes then a solo and given the song meaning it might be better as a duet?" Akanke requested to the Fire Nation woman whose smile was both thoughtful and lustrous.

"I'd be honored. Yang? Can you and the girls be the harmony and melody?"

"Not a problem."

"Okay, here we go!"

"There are things in life you learn
And oh in time you'll see
It's out there somewhere
It's all waiting
If you keep believing
So don't run
Don't hide
It will be alright
You'll see
Trust me
I'll be there watching over you

Just take a look through my eyes
There's a better place somewhere out there
Just take a look through my eyes
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find
(There's a better place)
If you look through my eyes

There will be times on this journey
All you'll see is darkness
But out there somewhere
Daylight finds you
If you keep believing
So don't run
Don't hide
It will be alright
You'll see
Trust me
I'll be there watching over you

Just take a look through my eyes
There's a better place somewhere out there
Just take a look through my eyes
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find
(There's a better place)
If you look through my eyes

All the things that you can change
There's a meaning in everything
And you will find all you need
There's so much to understand
Take a look (take a look) through my eyes
There's a better place somewhere out there
Just take a look (take a look) through my eyes
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find
(You'll be amazed if you just take a look)
Look through my eyes there's a better place somewhere out there
Just take a look through my eyes
Everything changes
You'll be amazed what you'll find
If you look through my eyes
Just take a look through my eyes
If you look through my eyes
Take a look through my eyes!"

After the song had finished it was time to find out their first assignment.

"As we've explained part of yin and yang we must also come to realize what is different is often just water and rain. We have more in common than different. And that two opposite are needed to make a whole.

Therefore for the first two weeks, you'll be working with your natural opposite in performing jobs with them. One week with each element than in your private two-hour tutoring sessions on Saturday evenings and your gardening classes at our manor with me on Sundays.

And you'll be expected to still keep your grades up in school. So shall we get started? Katara you and Sokka are coming with us.

Aang your with Toph for this week. Next week we swap. Then in week three we will all come back to the garden here and express what we've learned and achieved. Okay? Let's get do it!" Kimana clapped her hands delightfully as they all departed.

"Great, what are we suppose to do for a week in your side of town?" Katara wanted to know while she was still seething.

"You'll be helping Akiko at my shop and Sokka will be helping Zuko at the tea shop. Hard work will do you all four of you good and we'll be able to keep an eye on you all at two family-owned business.

And hopefully, you'll still learn something. And we'll make sure you still get an hour off to do your homework." Xiaoying promised as the first stop at her shop and the girls got off and the rest drove off to the tea shop.

Katara stopped to glance at the store. It was a medium size building and she had to admit it a rather cool Neo meets Lost Age motif look to it. There was a neon sign that looked like a white lotus tile from Pai Sho that flashed all the colors of the four nations calling this place "The Yon Cafe/Boutique.

"Let's get inside girls. There a lot of work to do. I've to go over paperwork for both the school and the business so I'll be upstairs. Akiko you're in charge. Let me know when Piandao gets home from his club meeting.

He and I still have some personal issues to talk about. You two come upstairs about 5:30 to do your homework, got it?"

"Yes, Xiaoying. Um, anything else we should be um worried about?" she enunciated the last part heavily and Katara noticed the change in her voice.

"I enhanced the security system to sound an alarm if he comes within 200 feet. We should be okay. You two should be protected. Just introduce Katara to the girls and do your work. Okay?"

"Yes, Xiaoying. I'll get to it. See you at dinner!"

"Okay. And she disappeared up a back staircase.

"Okay what was that about?" asked Katara as they headed back into the main store.

"What? Whatever do you mean?" Akiko attempted to disregard her question.

"Who is he? Why do you need a security upgrade? Who are you afraid of?" Katara questioned as she got in her face and looked at her sternly.

Akiko was secreting bullets panicking to conceive an explanation because she could not tell this girl the truth. Finally, she said to her. "We've had burglars in the past you know just routine stuff," she invented and yanked Katara's right arm hard.

Katara perceived she was being lied too and poorly for that matter. Nevertheless, let the subject drop because she was too stunned when Akiko introduced her to the eight all girl staff. She recognized them immediately as the girls from the lunch table Suki and Yue went to sit at.

Except what absolutely threw her was they all were from the from different nations. Two girls from each of the four nations to be exact. They're all attractive and fashionable adolescent teenagers. Moreover, all seemed to be in good spirits with no ill will to each other.

"Katara I'd like you to meet my godmother's apprentices."

"Apprentices?"

"My godmother has numerous skills. Including she's a master chef and world-class fashion designer. She willing to take anyone regardless of their background or money situation and give them a job here.

If their dreams are to break into either the fashion or culinary industry she takes them under her wing and teaches them. She's an excellent teacher and the girls nicknamed her Sifu Xiaoying.

She tutors them and lets them sell their own creations whether it be fashion or meals as long as they also do her own clothes and recipes in return and thus we have got an extremely thriving enterprise and that's why the shop has done so well."

"So let me get this straight? Are you all aspiring fashion designers and chefs? And you all don't care that you work for a Fire Nation woman?" Katara asked in an incredulous voice of skepticism as she looked at the girls of various age and background.

"We all have the same dream and goals," answered a young Fire Nation girl with her brown hair in a ponytail. "Hi I'm On Ji. I'm 13 years old and I'm the newest member of the boutique side of the store.

I only recently became Sifu Xiaoying apprentice. I want to be a costume designer. I love our culture plays and dance and I want to design and improve them.

This is my big sister Honora," she said introducing a girl with blackish brown hair that was short with two odango buns on the side tassel tied to each. She shared her little sister's brown eyes with a beauty mark under her left eye.

"Hey there, I'm On Ji's big sister Honora. I dream of being the best Fire Nation pastry chef ever! I'm 15 so I'm in the same classes as your brother, Sokka. I found that out from Yue today at lunch. I work on the cafe side of the store.

The next two girls of Earth Kingdom origin. One was tall, sexy and covered in tattoos. Her name was June and the other was an adorable girl with untidy hair but cute smile named Jin. June did the boutique for independent badass women and Jin wanted to open her own cafe one day for passionate twosomes and starry-eyed visionaries.

Next was a pair of Water Tribe twin sisters named Chandra and Deva. Chandra had a ponytail and wanted to open a restaurant one day and serve the best Water Tribe food and Deva had pigtails and wanted to design the greatest line of Water Tribe clothes ever.

And finally, two Air Nomads girls who barely got off the island to work here. The one named Aya had her tattoos and wore her long chestnut hair loose with dyed dark red tips. She was dressed demurely and wanted to increase vegan and vegetation food awareness and lifestyles. Her best friend Deryn had not yet got her tattoos, short pigtails, attired modestly as well and desired to promote that in apparel.

"Okay, girls as you know today it is a sale day. Consequently, let's see you put your best work forward. Katara and I'll get the sales rack filled, On Ji? You and Deva handle the window display cases. June you're manning the cash register and Deryn you're helping the customers find what they're looking for today.

Now Jin you handle the cash register in the cafe, Aya you bust tables and Honora and Chandra you handle the food.

Let's get to it girls! Remember as it's a school night business closes at 7:30 so you all can get home by 8:15 and still have time to do your homework.

So let's get it, people."

"On it!"

"Come on, Katara we've got to get the sale items up quickly." Akiko once again dragged until Katara dug in her heels. "I can walk you know!"

"Okay then walk quick!"

They promptly walked fast into the boutique were Katara couldn't believe all the dazzling and chic trendy outfits and accessories all around here. They came to the section marked "Sales" and Akiko opened a large crate and turned to Katara.

"Well, you're gonna help or not?"

"Oh, okay!" as they began to put on display a multitude of clothes that were of every style and from every nation. Which as they worked Katara blasted Akiko with a hundred question which Akiko did her best to answer without getting annoyed.

"So how long has this store been open?"

"My godmother opened it after she finished college. She and her boyfriend have lived together in the apartment upstairs since it opened when she was 21. She only a few months short of 40. So 19 years and she and Piandao been together for 22 years."

"Why haven't they gotten wedded then?"

"Is that any of my business?"

"I guess not. Um, do they have any kids?"

"No, though, I don't think it's not for a lack of trying. But again that's not my business."

"How did she become your godmother?"

"She became mine and Zuky's godmother because she was the best friend of my blood mother Sakiko and Zuko's mother, Ursa. Our mothers and Xiaoying had a pact and a legal document.

That fancy piece paper stated in the event if any of our mothers died for any reason the surviving mother would take over the job of raising the other child. Well, that happened sadly."

"Uh?"

Crying she whispered, "I'm an orphan. My father walked out on my mother. She was forced into an arranged marriage by my father Zhao "Traditional" parents. But he didn't want anything to do with her. So after the ceremony all, he stayed for was to get his 'jolly' and left never to be heard from again."

"Wow, what an ass!"

"Yeah, no kidding. Anyway my mom Sakiko she ends up getting per-eclipse and died due to blood loss. She did everything right but still ended up with per-eclipse! Life had to be so bitter to me!

So then it became Zuko's mother job to raise me and because his uncle and aunt and cousin were such good people they became my family too. His uncle is my father, his aunt was like a second mother and his cousin was my brother."

"Was? What do you mean he was your brother?"

She looked at Katara with tears in her eyes and said, "Lu Ten was killed in a car accident six years ago when he was riding his motorcycle and a drunk driver crashed into him killing him instantly."

Katara immediately clutched her necklace and looked at the jade eyed girl in with new eyes as the finished putting the clothes on the rack and checked in with the other girls.

Katara stayed for a moment in the clothing part of the shop as Akiko went to check on the cafe side of the shop.

Katara couldn't help but think about what she had seen and heard in just an hour and a half. So this Fire Nation girl no Akiko had lost her mother as well. Worse she had never known her. And she lost a brother too.

And clearly, there was something else going on. Something that didn't make her feel safe the way she was still twitchy and kept glancing out the windows. And checking the security cameras. What could that be about?

So Katara spent the next hour and a half working alongside Akiko and the other girls at the shop filled up with customers alternating duties before it was time to go upstairs to do their homework.

When she entered the living room she saw a beautiful portrait in the living room and asked. "Who did that? Whoever did that I'd love them to do that great a job painting my family."

"I don't charge by the hour. But if your willing to haggling I suppose we could come to a reasonable price," Akiko replied with laughter in her jade eyes.

"What?!"

"I see you're admiring my work. Yes, it's an excellent job for a portrait of my family or who I see makes up my family. My mom Ursa signed me, Zuko and Azula when were very young for all kinds of pursuits.

I and Azula took up painting classes but Azula didn't care for them and dropped out. I stuck with it and well you can see the end result."

"Who is Azula?"

"Zuko's younger sister? I assumed you recall the name as the girl who picks on you in gym class? She and her friends are Mai and Ty Lee.

Ty Lee is the Captain of the Cheerleader Squad and a champion gymnast. That girl would obtain a gold medal in the Olympic no problem.

Mai is a goth yeah. Although, she may act emotionless her writing abilities are unbelievable. She's a wonderfully talented author with a panache for poetry. Got a bit of a Stephen King and Edger Allen Poe vibe to her writing.

And she's got perfect aim. She can make anything into a weapon and pin you to the wall with it."

"What about Azula?"

"I'm not sure what the Demon does anymore for personal fun. All I know is she's expect to do something once and do it flawlessly or the outcome would be dire. Therefore she's supposed to be 'perfect' and surpass everyone at everything."

"Okay. Is there something else I should know?"

"Um, Azula's born July 12th. Mai August 11th and Ty Lee July 4th?"

"I don't mean their birthdays! I mean something more serious."

"Um no. There nothing else up for discussion. Now we've got homework to do. Let's do it."

At the Jasmine Dragon was having a similar revelation as well as a similar stonewalling. He was extremely moved hearing more of the story of the Jasmine Dragon and learning more about the kind of people Iroh and Kimana were from Zuko.

Learning how many humanitarianism and altruists organizations that they gave too. Or how four times a week they let the homeless or anyone down on their luck come to eat at the tea shop for a free meal.

"So your family seems profoundly sympathetic, hospitable and well rather well off. Therefore your parents must be loaded as well."

"Well, it's not all sunshine all around, Sokka," Zuko hedged as they're washing today's plates.

"What do you mean? What don't you have? What could you possibly want that you don't have?" Sokka demanded and Zuko turned to face away cry and murmured. "My mom."

"What? You want your mom? Is she gone? Is she dead?" Sokka asked hesitantly.

"No, I don't believe she's dead. She's in hiding... It's complex. I don't want to discuss it. It's private. Forget I said anything about it. You wouldn't understand."

"What makes you think I wouldn't understand about missing my mother?" Sokka thrust down the dirty plaid rag he'd been wiping dishes with and looked at Fire Nation boy looking a tad offended. Then told him the truth about something he didn't know about him. " My mom died six years ago by a Fire Nation mugger. She was just out getting groceries and some guy with a piece takes her life for paper in her wallet."

Zuko turned ashen as the pieces fell into place. Then he spoke again in a small voice. "Oh, that why you gaze at my scar or your sister states all those appalling animadversions? She condemns us all for your mother's death?" he asked as he started to rinse the dishes to which Sokka nodded slightly to confirm the answer.

"Katara and Mom had a very special connection. Katara was exactly like Mom and she inherited Mom's talent in singing and figure skating. Mom was singing Katara's favorite song on the phone to her when she as calling home to tell us she'd be a little late.

Then we had to hear the murder over the phone as she'd dropped it when the guy shot her. Katara has never been the same since that day. She never sings since that day. She still skates but it's not the same." Sokka noted wistfully with his head sagged as he said this to Zuko.

"Sorry, I didn't get to say goodbye when my cousin perished either. I was ten when he died in a pointless car crash. He was just starting college and some drunk driver kills him. I was so furious.

He was more than a cousin he was like a brother to me. He taught me so much," he started to reminiscence about Lu ten and sighed as his voice changed as the memories danced in his mind from long ago.

"He taught me essential things about life, honor, responsibility, and integrity. The right way to treat a woman and to love, honor and cherish them. He also taught me everything he knew about cars and some other junk."

"Wait you know about cars?!" Sokka exclaimed loudly to which Zuko looked at the Water Tribe boy with his remaining eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Yeah, Lu Ten built me a custom motorcycle the runs on solar power. Why?"

"Do you think you could help me work on my car?" Sokka asked eagerly knowing he really needed a lot of help to make it even close to hitting the road one day.

"What kind of car it is and how did you need it upgraded and how would you like a battery that runs on hydrokinetic energy so you don't need gas?" Zuko asked him looking him squarely in the eye.

So that's how the week in the Fire Nation played out. Katara and Sokka just getting a shock that Zuko and Akiko and the NAMED family members were not what they're expected.

But both got the vibe something wasn't quite right with Zuko and Akiko's family. Given they really didn't give details on Zuko's mother, or further explain anything on his sister and NEVER mentioned his father. And both were in constant fear of SOMETHING.

The following week Zuko and Akiko were in the Water Tribe side of town attempting to understand the Water Tribe side of things.

Hakoda had asked the boys to come to his office to help with filing and organizing and Zuko did his best to say he'd much rather help around Hakoda's house then his office at City Hall.

In fact, he became whiter than snow and acted like he has a heart attack beginning asked to go to City Hall for even one day to just help organize the office since Bato had the flu.

Hakoda and Sokka didn't get why Zuko was acting like a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He was hyperventilating, having trouble breathing and continually looking for an exit. He was an animal in a cage.

Eventually Sokka once they're in his dad's private office and spent an hour working as office boys snapped at him. "Okay what is the deal?! Why are you acting like your dying here?! What got you so spooked?"

"Please Sokka! You got get me out of here! I can't tell you why! But believe me, it's a matter of life or death! Please just take me back to your house! Please, I'm pleading with you! Please! Just make certain that I'm indisputably out of here without being seen by anyone! PLEASE!" he was on his knees begging and crying.

This really jarred Sokka to see a 16-year-old boy weeping as if he was just a small 3-year-old child terrified of the dark. However, Zuko was unquestionably terrorized of something or as Sokka figured there was SOMEONE here that he didn't want to see or find out he was here.

"Okay, I know a back way out. A private elevator that leads to the street and back alleyways. We can go that way and go back to my house. I'll leave a note for my dad and we can go."

"Please hurry!"

"Okay. Now follow me!"

And like they're in a spy movie they made it out without being seen and back to Sokka's house without being seen. Zuko still wasn't over what was terrifying him.

Sokka knew better than to push him. Consequently, he just got him a drink and snack to calm him down and then the boys went to the carport and they began to work on Sokka's automobile which remarkably tranquilized Zuko.

"Dude you seriously need to chill out. C'mon! We're going to go see how the girls are doing volunteering at Polar Park. You have seen ice and snow before?" as he grabbed his snowboard.

Getting off the bus they walked inside and for Zuko, it was a whole new world. Snow, ice, cold.

"So, Zuko? What do you want to do first? Hit the slopes? Snowball fight? Make a snowman? Sledding?" proposed Sokka as he flashed his membership card and got him a guest pass.

"Um, maybe just touch the snow?"

"Okay. Let's just start with that then. We'll start with the basics and then find the girls. Well, we don't have look even. Katara and Akiko will be at the figure skating rink. Knowing my sister she'll be showing off her mad skills."

Zuko smirked and then scoffed. "What with that?" Sokka wanted to know.

"Oh, you'll find out when we reach them. But let me try one or two rides on these snowboards and then we'll see the girls."

It was true the girls were at the ice rink and Akiko was watching as Katara was pulling off a perfect performance and when Katara skated up to her on the sidelines she had an enthusiastic and expectant expression on her engaging features.

"So what do you think? First time in the land of snow and are you impressed or not?"

"Actually I'm not impressed at all, Katara. To be honest you didn't dazzle me at all."

"WHAT?! That routine would've gotten a gold medal and beat any of those figure skaters pants at any Olympic games without even trying!" she yelled at her in outrage and incredulity.

"Katara can I ask you a simple question?"

"Sure if it's not gonna be an insult."

"No, it's not an insult."

"Okay then ask."

"Why do you skate?"

"What?! What kind of question is that?"

"A simple one that is very hard to answer because it has a rather complex answer."

"I skate because..." she fumbled and then lowered her head and Akiko smiled in a triumphant way.

"See? You don't know even know why you skate and that's why your performance lacks what it needs to be truly perfect. Katara you have got the skills, potential and all that. Your form and technique are flawless that is true.

But it lacks heart, passion, emotions. Your heart and soul are not in anything you do," she paused before she carried on with explaining the lesson Katara had long forgotten.

"Katara one cannot do anything in life if their heart and soul are not in it. Otherwise it all for naught. You must put all your being into every fiber of what you're doing or your merely doing the steps but not really living and loving anything."

"I don't understand," she replied confused by Akiko's obscure words. She simply didn't get the metaphors. Akiko shook her head and smiled. Why was it being Iroh's daughter so troublesome when she had to communicate like her father to deliver his enlightenment to others?

"It's like how there a difference between living and existing. The living is being part of life by putting your whole being into it. Existing is just surviving day to day.

Whatever Zuko and I do together? Singing, dancing, acting or whatever it is we put all of our being into it. Our whole being and our own inspiration to do what we are doing. We've both reasons and passions.

But you lost your inspiration, your passion. It's time you rediscover and let it fill you up again. It's time to move past your block and let it out and let it go and let yourself feel once more.

Allow me to show you what I mean." as she glided onto the ice and using a combination of her ballet and inline skating moves really pulled off a spectacular show which greatly upstaged Katara.

She could see Katara was boiling over with a rainbow of emotions which was the plan. She could also see Katara's family and Zuko had arrived no doubt looking for them.

"It's time Katara! Do you want to really skate now? DO IT! DO IT NOW!" she ordered her as she glides off the ice and went to where the music was playing and picked a song that was used in a dance ballet to put the right mood into Katara's head.

And Katara got in the center of the skating ring as both azure smoke and alternating lights of cerulean and cobalt blue followed her as for the first time six years since her mom's death she finally truly skated as she let her emotions out as she listens to the song and her heart.

"Are you ready?

It's time for me to take it
I'm the boss right now
Not gonna fake it
Not when you go down
'Cause this is my game
And you better come to play

I used to hold my freak back
Now I'm letting go
I make my own choice
Yeah I run this show
So leave the lights on
No, you can't make me behave

So you say I'm complicated
That I must be outta my mind
But you've had me underrated
Rated, rated

What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?

It's time to get the chains out
Is your tongue tied up?
'Cause this is my ground
And I'm dangerous
And you can get off
But it's all about me tonight

So you say I'm complicated
That I must be outta my mind
But you've had me underrated
Rated, rated

What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?

So you say I'm complicated
But you've had me underrated

What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?
What's wrong with being, what's wrong with being
What's wrong with being confident?"

Everyone cheered Katara who finally knew she actually deserved it.

Then the next day it was finally time to find out how they're doing with their flowers with Kimana who chose to open by quoting a verse of her own creation to all six teenagers.

"Red and gold bleed the same as the heart and soul bleed just as it rains. The soul fragments just like the flower petals wither and die leaving nothing left on either inside. Lonely and forgot but both in pain they rot. Blacken and dead from the help they received not. A little love and tenderness a little sunshine and happiness would've made them grow and glow and together would've weaved a brighter tomorrow.

But we stand so very often silently by the side never seeing who's in pain and watching what we think it strong only wither and die. What we think is pure and beautiful can be twisted in knots inside and not knowing how to breathe and untangle those knots it needs to be free.

We seek out a garden of our own green and free of weeds. A beautiful place where we can be wild and free. But at what cost does it take to find the beauty inside to grow from that tiny seed into the majestic beauty that your soul that is the flower meant to be? Like the caterpillar the climbs the tree to change into the beautiful butterfly to fly free to dream how are we supposed to fly free in the garden that is our heart and soul? We feel so lost and alone struck down by the weeds, rain, and gravity?

How do we become both the butterfly and the flower and both meet so we can be free to make more flowers and more dreams? How do we not bleed and die and leave only black roses behind? Where is the gardener meant to help us grow and help us reach the dream of the flower and butterfly together to paint the beauty of the garden of a heart, soul, and dreams?

Can you help me reach my garden or I'm only to be a black rose dying in a garden of weeds? Never meant to fly free as a butterfly with dreams or see my life as a beautiful flower for me to spread to another garden of dreams?"

After she recited her poem she painstakingly reviewed all their blossoms and acknowledged that all of them and their flowers were displaying great signs of improvement and it looked like her prayers and the city were finally starting to show signs of being answered at last.