Zuko stood proud as the line of carriages pulled to a stop and the first guest was welcomed, "Avatar Aang!" Zuko bowed as the young man flitted from the carriage with two of his wives. The wives were immediately escorted to their chambers and to a luncheon with the Fire Lady. Any women that were to attend as council to the Peace Summit, were shown to the Fire Lords banquet room.

Katara smiled as she greeted each of the wives of the attendees and her relief was great when she saw no faces and heard no names that she recognized. When she met Bumi's heir's wife, she was especially polite and accommodating. The woman seemed to appreciate her kindness.

The first two weeks of the Summit, progressed well and it was during the third week of the month long gathering that Ryla arrived back at the Palace. She whispered into Katara's ear and the waterbenders blue eyes turned a dangerous shade.

Princess Uma watched the Fire Lady's posture change from relaxed to threatening. She was pleased with her reception in the halls of the Fire Lord, she was treated with more respect here than she was at home. When the servant left she approached the Fire Lady, "Lady Katara, is there some way I can assist you?"

Katara was about to snarl at Toph's replacement when she chanced to look into honest green eyes. After a moments pause she smiled, "Princess Uma, I have an outrageous favor to ask of you and the other women."

That caught the attention of all the wives.

"I have had disturbing news from a part of my Tribe, that I need to attend to immediately. I do not wish to neglect my duties to you and I find myself torn between my family and my duty." Her voice filled with her dilemma.

All of the other women nodded.

"Please continue Fire Lady Katara," Lady Alterra replied softly.

"I need to disappear for a few days possibly a week," she looked at the stunned women. "I know it is much to ask of you," Katara said softly, "I would not ask you to deceive your husbands."

"Fire Lady, is there not an Island of recreation near the Capital?" Lady Shao smiled as she asked. "My daughter and I never had the opportunity to vacation on Ember Island, she wishes to spend a week playing in warm water on soft sands."

Katara's blue eyes widened as she bowed to the combined fire nation and Earth Kingdom women, "If that is your wish, I would be honored to escort you to Ember Island."

All the women smiled.

Uma said, "Please allow us to ready ourselves for this unexpected but most welcome diversion, Fire Lady Katara." All the women bowed and left the room quickly.

Katara sighed then her eyes widened. She dashed out the door, "Hassan!" she yelled unceremoniously.

Minutes later she was safely ensconced in the Majordomo's office, frowning at the Fire Lady, "My Lady are you certain that's wise," he paused, "Safe, is the word I was looking for."

Katara chewed on her lip for a moment, "It will be, safer even than the Palace during this Summit."

Hassan looked at her in disbelief.

Katara tapped the carved pendant at her throat and the man's eyes widened.

"It will be arranged, a specially ferry will take you to Ember Island on this evenings tide. A full moon ride during this time of year is breath taking, I will arrange with the Ember Island Players to perform the old plays, from before the war." Hassan said, distractedly.

Katara left the majordomo to his deliberations and moved quickly to the hawkry to send her messages to the Southern Chiefs and to Jun.

Zuko watched the procession of palanquins file from the palace, through the city and to the waiting ferry. He was pleased that Katara had found a way to divert the wives of the attending rulers and their advisors, but he would miss having her near in case he succumbed to his anger.

Iroh moved next to his nephew, "She is still angry with her family."

Zuko nodded, they'd had a fight at the beginning of the Summit about her re-introduction to her family.

"Perhaps for now, it is best for the Summit to end peacefully; even the young Avatar doesn't know she is here does he?" Iroh asked as he slipped his hands into his sleeves.

Zuko shook his head, "No, she wants to wait until the Ball that ends the Summit and happens on my birthday."

Iroh smiled at his nephews tone, "She is not trying to punish you my nephew, she is simply strong willed and dedicated to the peace of the nations. If she does not believe that her family will react well to her presence, it is best to take her advise in this matter."

Zuko frowned, "Is she ashamed Uncle?"

Iroh rested his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "No Zuko, Katara would never have agreed to marry you if you were not someone she could give her whole heart to. Be patient with her."

Zuko considered his uncles words, "I'm still lacking patience uncle."

Iroh laughed as the lanterns that guided the palanquins bobbed along the road to the sea.

Katara resisted the urge to speed the ferry through the water as they approached Ember Island. As soon as the boat docked, all the political wives and children were smiling and laughing at the warm night and the brightly lit carriages. She waited until she'd settled each of the wives into comfortable lodgings, then slipped into her own rooms and changed into her Water Raven costume.

By the time the moon was half way through the sky she was astride Jas and Ryla rode next to her on Wee. The eel-hounds moved tirelessly across the water toward the coming ships of Water Ravens. Using her bending she set the eel-hounds onto a single ship and dismounted, leaving Ryla to attend to their mounts.

"Lady Raven," Lee bowed as he moved to the deck.

"Chief Lee," Katara bowed, "How many have come?"

"All that you asked for, nothing will pass to the island with out our knowing of it," he smiled.

Katara smiled, "Thank you."

Lee bowed, "It is our pleasure to serve you my Lady."

"Is there any news on Councilwoman Bei?" Katara asked tightly.

"There are strange tremors that happen on the 5th Island, deep with in the heart of the island, near the volcano." Lee replied.

Katara nodded as she accepted the man's words. She moved quickly, with a sudden movement she snapped a water whip at Ryla and knocked her unconscious, "She can not come where I am going Lee, return her to the Island and bid her be my eyes and ears." Katara mounted her eel-hound and pulled held the others reigns as she launched her beast off the ship and pushed it toward the 5th Island.

Two nights later she arrived on the beach of the 5th Island, the eel-hounds thankful for rest collapsed where they landed. Katara also thankful for land, pitched the saddles into the water and moved them with the current into the deeper water where they could not be seen. She did the same with the bridles then climbed into a high tree and slept protected above the ground.

She woke to the sound of voices beneath her.

"I told you I saw eel-hound tracks," a mans voice echoed over the water.

"So, there are eel-hounds, why did you bring me out to this far edge of the island?" the female voice replied.

"For this," the man sighed.

Katara rolled her eyes as the couple dropped to the sandy beach and their sounds scared the eel-hound away. By the time the sun set, they'd created a small fire and sat snuggled together. Once it was finally dark the woman said, "We must return to the village, Jasper gets angry when I'm not home before he is."

The couple left the secluded beach and started their journey back to their village.

Katara dropped to the ground thankful for the remaining small fire. She built it up and pulled a fish from the sea to serve as her dinner. Waiting until the moon was half way across the sky, she moved silently through the jungle vegetation away from the village and toward the water she felt pulling at her. By dawn she reached the river and pulled mist to surround the trees that she hid in. She sent the mist up the river and toward the sea as well, then she rested until the following evening.

Once the sun set she moved up river surrounded by a lingering mist that drifted toward the sea. On her third day she arrived at the lake nearest the volcano. She submerged herself in the water and let herself relax completely. It was while she was floating in the middle of the lake that she felt the tremors. After a very long and cooling swim she climbed out of the lake and onto a secluded area protected by vegetation from the main path of the volcano.

Katara woke suddenly as the ground shook, feeling somewhat rested she moved to the side of the lake and formed a ball of ice around her. She tumbled into the lake, thickened the ice and moved herself to the lake floor. After calming herself down and focusing on keeping the ice around her solid, she let the ball rest on the lake floor. Then she slowly pulled the water away from her feet until she was standing on the bottom of the lake.

To her great relief, nothing bit her as her bare feet touched the soft muddy lake bottom, "Yuck," she said softly to herself as she shivered.

From deep underground Toph raised her sightless eyes and muttered, "Sugar Queen?"

Katara stomped on the bottom of the lake hoping that the lake was being used to keep Toph trapped and that the earth bender would hear her walking above her.

Katara sighed and started to walk along the lake bottom, making certain to stomp as much as she could without disturbing anything under her feet.

After ten minutes, Toph was positive that Sugar Queen was walking on the earth above her, on the bottom of the lake. It took another twenty minutes for her convince herself to expend the energy to push the rock.

Katara was almost to the end of her energy, she hadn't eaten since that fish on the beach and she hadn't slept properly for days. So it surprised the hell out of her when the earth opened up next to her feet and a body collapsed next to her. Katara froze the water around their legs, she didn't have the capacity to envelope them, and moved them to the surface.

Spying her former sleeping place she slowly moved them to the edge of the lake and dropped them onto the ground. She pulled Toph behind the vegetation and collapsed next to her.

Toph woke to the sound and feel of someone breathing in her ear, she felt the other persons face and didn't recognize the angles but when she tasted the paint oil, she smiled. Sugar Queen had found her. She took a fresh breath of air and relaxed against the other woman's body.

Katara woke mid-day starving, but pleased. She bent some of her water out into her hands and drank carefully.

"Sugar Queen, you got any water?" Toph sighed.

Katara smiled, then frowned, Toph's coloring was all wrong, "Toph?"

"Clean water Katara," Toph replied, "That's all we have time for."

Katara bent the water into the other woman's mouth and smiled slightly at her sigh of satisfaction.

"They haven't found us yet, can you hid us in the water?" Toph asked quietly.

With a nod, Katara helped the younger woman to her feet and they slipped into the lake. She encased them in an ice bubble once again and pushed the bubble underwater as she made for the lake's tributary. Once they were within the relative safety of the swiftly flowing river Katara pushed the water to move them faster down river.

When she could no longer move her arms to bend the ice bubble raised up and they were dropped onto the ground once more.

This time Toph cut the ground and dropped them into a small cave under the ground and they rested, hidden from their pursuers.

The next time they woke, Katara fed them some of her water and Toph moved them from their earthen womb.

Toph held Katara's hand as she encased them in ice once more and they moved toward the sea in the river.

By the third day they arrived at the mouth of the river and surprised a pair of lovers as they emerged from the river.

"Be faithful to your husband!" Katara commanded as she pulled Toph from the river as she used her free hand to point at the woman, "And you, don't sex married women!"

The couple launched themselves into the bushes as they ran screaming toward their village.

Katara sighed as she spotted the food they left and handed her bread cheese and fruit. "Eat Toph."

Toph accepted the food with a grateful sigh and started to eat as fast as her mouth would chew.

Katara did the same. When she saw the eel-hounds playing in the water she whistled for them.

Toph winced at the sound, but continued eating.

Katara ate until she was full then she stowed the rest of the food in her pack, "I have one little errand to run, before we return."

Toph smiled wickedly, "What are you planning Sugar Queen?"

Katara's smile, was in no way nice.

Unknown to either woman, before they were swept under the current one of Katara's sealed jars of purple paint was cracked and rolled into the lake. It slowly leaked the oil paint into the water in a steady slight stream. The paint raised to the surface of the lake and moved with the current in a single deep purple stream that slowly flowed all the way to the sea. Once out in the sea, the islands currents pushed it around the island and the oil seeped into sand leaving a line of deep purple surrounding the island.

As the currents did their work with the purple paint oil, Katara, Toph and two exhausted Eel-hounds rested on deck of one of the Southern Islands Water Raven ships.

When the Council of the 5th Island recognized the purple, they knew exactly who had rescued the Earth Bender and were trying to find a way to salvage their autonomy.

Katara and Toph were taken to Ember Island and promptly put to bed by Ryla and the Majordomo of the Royal Vacation House.

Katara opened her eyes slowly, appreciating the warmth and comfort of her bed. She bounced out of the welcoming mattress and dashed across the hall into Toph's room. She landed on the bed with a thud as she yelled, "Good Morning Rocky!"

Toph groaned and tried to push the other woman off the bed.

"Toph, there's someone here you have to meet," Katara said softly.

That caught the earth benders curiosity, "Do I have to be dressed nice?"

Katara laughed, "No, we'll go to the beach after."

"No more beaches!" Toph growled, "they're worse than the desert."

"Then stay and recover your strength, Jun will hurt me if I return you to her like this," Katara smiled.

"Precious?" Toph said softly.

"Has already been sent for, Orin sent a message to be relayed to Chief Jun to come find her wayward Councilwoman here on Ember Island. Then I'm dragging the two of you to the Peace Summit Ball and Zuko's birthday." Katara grinned.

"Go away!" Toph grouched, "I want to sleep in this nice bed and not have you around to breath all over me."

Katara bounced out of the bed and grinned, "You're gonna miss me, it gets quiet here when everyone goes down to the beach."

"Hardly!" Toph growled.

After Jun arrived the two women weren't seen until it was time to pack everyone onto the Ferry and return to the Palace. In celebration, the waterbenders of the Southern Island created their own salute. The Fire Nation women and the Earth Kingdom women were all suitably impressed with the waterworks.

"Fire Lady Katara," Uma smiled, "Thank you for the lovely time on Ember Island."

"You are welcome Princess Uma," Katara smiled, "I would like to present Princess Uma of the Earth Kingdom, wife of King Bumi's heir."

Toph's posture stiffened, "Uma, are you Uma Fong Dei?"

Surprised the Princess replied, "I am."

"I have some advice for you, he needs a strong hand to keep him from straying. Do not be easy on him, do not let anyone of your household staff make things easy for him. If he can find a woman to stick it to, he will; control that and you'll both rule wisely." Toph bowed, then pulled Jun away from the monarchs.

Uma looked surprised and before she could get angry Katara said, "That was Toph Bei Fong."

Uma's anger dropped to the floor, "That is Lady Bei Fong?"

Katara shook her head, "She was Lady Bei Fong, she is now Councilwoman Bei of the North Island of the Water Raven Tribe."

Uma stared into blue eyes, "She was the Kings first choice in wife."

Katara nodded, "You are his wife, she spent three years learning his habits; do not take her advice lightly. You will be queen, the question is what kind of King will he be?" Katara bowed her head and retreated to the prow of the Ferry.

Katara rode a wave from the Ferry to the dock, grinning the entire time. She was very much looking forward to seeing Zuko and dancing with him at the South Pole. She waited almost patiently for the Ferry to dock and played with the water causing blue water and ice dragons to dance around the returned women and return to the sea.

Once everyone was settled into the carriages, they were on their way back to the palace.

Katara launched herself out of her carriage and Ryla had to hustle to keep up with her. Katara moved quickly through the familiar halls smiling at the guards as she passed by and made her way to their chambers, she'd missed her husband. She never noticed the stunned expressions of Aang, Sokka or Suki as she swept passed them and deeper into the Royal residence.

Once to her chambers she threw herself into her bathroom and started to ready herself for the ball. It was to begin with a feast in four hours.

Two hours later she moved gracefully to the doors of the deliberation room, where the Peace Summit took place. With a wicked grin Katara commanded the doors open and as she was revealed in red and purple majesty she said, "Fire Lord Zuko, honored members of the Summit of All Nations; there has been quite enough talk. Dinner will begin in the great hall in two hours." Then she moved quickly into the room, across the floor and into Zuko's lap.

Zuko returned to consciousness somewhere between their seventh kiss and her straddling his hips. "Katara," he purred at her.

An hour later it was a very satisfied Fire Lady and Lord that snuck out the back entrance of the deliberation room and returned to their chambers, with silly grins plastered on their faces.

An hour and fifteen minutes later they were announced to the general assembly and sat side by side at the head of the very large banquet table as wine and tea were served.

To Katara's delight Princess Uma was on her otherside as were the ladies that had gone to Ember Island.

Zuko squeezed her knee randomly as he reached for his napkin during the dinner. Mind numbing hours later the gong sounded and the real ball began. He took his wife's hand and led her from the diningroom through the reception area and into the ballroom where he danced with her until his uncle cut in with a determined frown.

"Uncle," Katara smiled as she was moved around the ballroom floor. "It turned out beautifully didn't it."

Iroh smiled, "Indeed it did my niece, now tell me, privately are you with child yet?"

Katara laughed and whispered in his ear, "Not for lack of trying."

Iroh grinned in response and twirled her around the dance floor. Stopping suddenly when the Avatar stepped forward and bowed to Katara, his grey eyes wide.

"Hello Aang," Katara said with a familiar smile.

Aang launched himself into her arms, he was no longer the gangly child that she had to take care of.

She gave him a moment to settle himself then put a proper distance between them.

He grinned at her, "Hello Katara," his own voice soft. He twirled her around the floor fast enough to make her breathless and giggle.

"Slower Avatar Aang, I had just enough wine at dinner to get silly, now tell me, how are you?" Katara demanded in her most imperious and mothering tone.

Aang sighed, "I'm married to."

Katara rolled her eyes, "I know that, your wives," she wiggled her eyebrows at him, "were at Ember Island. Tell me something about you, something I missed in the past year and a half?"

Aang thought for a few minutes then said, "I finally mastered Earthbending with Toph."

Katara smiled as she let him continue to lead, "Do you remember that Bounty Hunter from the Abbey?"

Aang stared at her for a moment, "When I gave you your necklace back?"

Katara smiled and nodded as she twirled them toward Jun, "You recognize the woman with her?"

Aang searched for the blacked eyed intense looking woman, then at her shorter companion he glanced for confirmation, "Toph?" he asked softly.

Katara grinned and he spun her around again, "Aah, enough of the spinning!" She panted when they stopped again.

"What about you Katara?" Aang asked with soft grey eyes, "Are you happy with Zuko?"

Katara's eyes glanced to her husbands strong form as he danced with the Princess Uma, "Yes, Aang."

Aang had to believe her, here eyes were dazzling like flashes of Azula's lightening, "Then I'm happy for you."

Katara smiled at him once more, "Go see Toph," she said in his ear, "She's probably still a little mad, so watch your feet."

Aang paled and gulped, then the insecure young man melted away and the Teenage Avatar pushed through, he stopped them by Jun and with a grin to the tall black haired woman, pulled Toph into his arms.

"Twinkletoes!" Toph yelled as he moved her expertly over the floor.

Jun's eyes narrowed at the Avatar.

"He's going to apologize Chief Jun," Katara whispered in her ear. She saw her brother and Suki moving toward her. She moved gracefully away from her brother only to spy the familiar eyes of her father coming toward her from the opposite direction.

Zuko watched as Katara's father and brother moved in closer, with a smile to Uma he whirled them toward his wife and released Uma in front of Hakoda, a moment before he pulled his wife into his arms and moved them through the dancers and out to the Fire Nation reception. "You were right," he purred in her ear.

Katara looked at him curiously.

"I enjoyed the music," he said into her ear as he pressed a tall fluted glass into her hand, "here."

Katara smiled as she accepted the glass and escorted her husband to the seated pavilion. She sat close and kept one arm wrapped in his, "thank you Zuko, you are a wonderful partner."

Zuko grinned, then he glanced into familiar blue eyes and he returned his honest smile, "I couldn't have asked Agni for a better one," he replied.

Katara kissed him then sighed as she rested her head against his, "Why don't I want to face them?"

"It is not like you to back down from a challenge Katara," Zuko said as he kissed her lips once more.

"It's such a beautiful night," she sighed, "I'd hate to spoil the party."

Zuko smiled as he indicated the gardens, "Go into the gardens, the benches by the fountain, I'll set guards once they follow you; no one else will know."

Katara nodded as she handed him her glass and smiled weakly for him. She moved toward the gardens and Zuko returned to the reception. He passed Hakoda and said, "She's waiting for you by the fountain in the garden," he indicated behind him with his head.

Hakoda's eyes burned and he moved quickly toward the gardens and followed the lantern path. As he stalked through the garden his long legs moved him quickly toward his goal. He stopped when he heard lowered voices and from the shadows watched as his daughter was embraced from behind, by a man that wasn't her husband.

"I've been waiting for you," the voice hissed at her, as strong arms pinned hers to her sides and foreign lips kissed her neck.

Katara growled as she focused on her task, "Why have you come?"

"How could I not," the man growled, "you challenged me." He kissed her neck once more as his arms continued his grip and his fingers started to caress the flesh he could reach.

Katara's blue eyes glittered in the dark, "I have no need to challenge you. My skills are far superior." She hissed back at him.

"Witch!" the golden eyed man cried as he spun her around and dominated her mouth as he pulled her body flush with his own.

Hakoda glanced up at the noise he heard coming toward him on the path, he faced the new arrivals and indicated quiet.

Katara whispered in the man's ear, "Zuko is ten times the man and 100 times the Fire Lord you were. He will return the Fire Nation to it's place in the world."

"Quiet!" Ozai raged as he dominated his sons' wife's body, ever since she marked him he couldn't get the smell of her off his skin. He hungered for her more than his life and more than his freedom, he slammed his mouth on her once more to silence her.

Hakoda turned away from his daughter, she was no longer a woman he could respect or claim relation too.

A moment after Hakoda guided Sokka and Suki from the sight of Katara in another man's arms, Katara finally caught hold of his blood and brought him to his knees, "I told you never to touch me, I am not yours, I belong to Zuko; he is my husband. Now," her grin wicked, "What to do with you, you killed some of your guards and you are an enemy of the Fire Nation. You are Iroh's brother, Zuko and Azula's father," she paused, "I think you betrayed your country for long enough."

She steadied her breathing and followed his blood to his heart, then she stopped its flow and watched as one of the most dangerous men in all the nations collapsed on the ground. She held his blood until her hands cramped and she could barely stand. She stared at the former Fire Lords body, the purple marks on his eyes lids proclaimed him a betrayer to his country.

She walked away from his body and returned to the ball, her father and brother had never come to find her.

Moments after Ozai died, Hakoda's blue eyes burned into Zuko's golden ones, "I don't have a daughter."

Zuko's eyes flared at the mans back.

Sokka's blue eyes also blazed, "Being with you killed my sister, what ever that thing is that wears her skin, is not Katara."

Smoke curled from Zuko's mouth as the Water Tribe man. He didn't wait for Sokka to finish speaking before he decked the younger man in the mouth and moved out of the reception hall and toward the garden. He encountered Katara as she came out of the garden, "Are you alright?"

Katara shrugged, "My family never came. I guess I was just paranoid during the ball."

Zuko glanced at one of the soldiers who shook his head. He wrapped her up in his arms and said, "They did go into the garden, what happened?"

Katara blanched, "I never saw them," she replied in as steady a voice as she could.

"What happened?" Zuko asked.

Katara shook her head, "Nothing happened, I went to the fountain and they never came."

"Did anyone else go into the garden?" Zuko demanded of the guard captain.

"No Fire Lord," the man replied.

"I don't understand," Zuko mumbled, "Hakoda said that he didn't have a daughter and Sokka said that being with me killed you and that whoever you were, you weren't Katara."

Katara lost her breath as Zuko spoke.

Zuko didn't notice, "I will have them returned to the pavilion." He instructed several of the guards, "I will also fetch Toph she'll know who is lying."

Katara lost the strength in her legs, they had seen her at some point and for how long they had seen her allow Ozai's attentions or kill him and she wasn't certain which was worse. The tears poured from her eyes as she kept her keeling position, dis-owning was a major thing in the Southern Water Tribe and if Hakoda said he didn't have a daughter. She didn't exist. The tears kept coming and she could barely catch her breath. She struggled to her feet when she heard the raised voices of her brother and father.

She faced them with as much strength as she could find, though the tears kept streaming.

"Chief Hakoda," Zuko nodded, "I was hoping you could clarify why you feel you no longer have a daughter."

Hakoda stared at the young Fire Lord, "I don't feel it, I know it." Hakoda replied in a growl.

"Why, was it because she married me?" Zuko asked.

Hakoda stared at the young man, "At first, then I saw how happy she was here with you in the Fire Nation and I couldn't be angry with her for running away. She was returned to us at last and we were relieved that she was safe, if married to man not of my choosing or consent."

Hakoda shifted his angry blue eyes to his daughter, "I had a daughter until I found her in the arms of an irate lover, in the garden."

This surprised Zuko as well as Jun, even Toph replied, "He isn't lying."

Zuko's golden eyes pierced her blue ones a fire danced in the golden orbs, "Is this true Katara?"

"No," Katara replied.

Zuko looked at Toph and Katara's heart broke, he thought she'd cheat on him that she wanted someone else.

"I can't tell, she's too emotional," Toph replied softly.

"Don't lie to me!" Zuko raged, "Did you meet someone else in the garden?"

"No," Katara replied once more.

"She's lying," Toph replied softly.

Hakoda stared at the young Fire Lord, "You can divorce her, I never acknowledged the union and by Water Tribe Law I have the right to refuse to give her to you."

"No," Katara begged, "Please, Father."

Hakoda remained unmoved as he stared at the young Fire Lord.

"Katara?" Zuko asked, his voice filled with pain, "Did you meet someone in the garden?"

"No!" Katara yelled.

He glared at Toph.

"Sorry Sugar Queen," Toph said, "She's lying."

Katara returned to her knees as the pain ripped through her.

"What do I do?" Zuko asked Hakoda.

"You return her to me," Hakoda said with a hard voice.

Zuko held out his arm, "Hakoda, Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, I return your daughter to you to do with her as you will."

Hakoda shook the Fire Lords arm and said, "I will remove her from your presence after the Peace Summit."

Zuko didn't look back at Katara as he walked away. The only one who did was Suki, then Sokka pulled her forward and away from his dis-honored sister.

Katara felt numb, but not so broken as she would allow her father or Zuko to determine the course of the next few hours. She stared at the ground and nursed her furry, how dare he cast her aside, how dare they condemn her as not worthy of her title or respect. She waited until all the extra guards returned to their duties, then she stumbled into the garden.

She pulled the water from the plants as she passed through the garden leaving a trail of death that ended at Ozai, she stared at the mans dead body for a moment then walked further into the garden as she continued to pull water from the plants. She turned the water into a heavy mist that blinded those who passed through it. She continued to walk from the palace.

Toph was too busy being distracted by Jun to notice Katara's footsteps disappearing.

She wasn't missed until dawn the next day, the full scale man hunt resulted in Ozai's body being found in the garden by the fountain surrounded by a trail of dead vegetation.

Zuko stared at his body's father, he couldn't take his eyes off of the marks that were painted on his eyes; that of betrayer. He couldn't help but think he'd made the wrong choice once more, only this time Azula was Hakoda offering him a way to reclaim his honor. "Ryla!" Zuko commanded the mixed blood woman, "Identity that mark."

Ryla recoiled, "It's the mark of the worst kind of betrayer, one against family and tribe."

"The color?" he asked almost numb.

"That's the mark of the Water Raven's color," she replied. "Who was he?"

"My father," Zuko replied dazed.

Toph entered the confusion at this point, "Sparky what's going on?"

"The Water Raven took my father's life last night," he sighed, "His eyelids are marked with her signature color."

"What was he doing here?" Toph asked.

"I don't know," Zuko replied.

"My Lord!" Geo interrupted, "The 5th Island Tribe is waiting for you in your council chambers."

"What do they want?" Zuko growled.

"Protection from the Water Raven," Geo sighed.

"WHAT!" Zuko and Toph yelled at one time.

Jun arched an eyebrow, "You got to hand it to Princess, she sure can create a diversion."

"AGNI DAMN IT!" Zuko howled as he set the curtains ablaze. He stormed out of the waiting room and to his council chambers. "Chief?"

"Du San," the man bowed.

"Chief Du San, why do you feel you need protection from the Water Raven?" Zuko growled.

Du San and the rest of the Council fell to their knees and let their foreheads touch the ground, "We ask for protection and forgiveness."

"For what?" Zuko growled again.

"Governor Wei asked us to keep an Earth Bender hostage, until his and Fire Lord Ozai's demands were met. We kept the Earthbender under the volcano lake on our island. High in a wooden cage, where the only earth she could feel was surrounded by water. The Water Raven free'd her and left her mark in the water around our Island." Du San said plainly.

"Why would you need protection?" Zuko asked once more.

"The Water Raven does not trust the ruling Council of our Island, since we killed her intended when we attacked messengers from the Small Island. She came alone to our land and healed a child. She left before she was arrested for being a rebel, she painted her sigil on the back side of the Fire Nation statue and she painted the flames purple." His voice stopped.

"How long ago did you kill her intended?" Zuko asked softly.

"Almost a year," Chief Du San replied with his head still on the floor.

"What makes you believe she'd return to your island for retribution?" Zuko asked curious.

"Before we were out of the Northern island waters we received word that she had marked all those of the 6th Island that plotted against you. We returned one such man to the Capital last night." Du San exhaled quickly.

"Marked how?" Zuko almost held his breath.

"The mark of the betrayer on the eyelids in her color, that deep purple that burns in her eyes," the man whimpered.

Zuko moved from his chair, "Follow me." He commanded the small group. They moved to their feet and almost ran to keep up with the Fire Lord. The door to the small chamber was opened, "Is that the man?"

Du San stared at the lifeless man on the table, his eyes wide, "It is he!" He glanced around, "h-how did he die?"

"The Water Raven took his life last night, he was found this morning," Zuko sighed as his heart broke in his chest.

All six of them threw themselves to the floor before him, "Please Fire Lord, we will tell you all that we know, we know our lives are forfeit we ask only that you save the lives of our children and wives."

Zuko nodded to several soldiers, "Return these men to the Council room and inform my Uncle that his brother is dead."

Toph had been quiet, "What are you going to do with those guys Sparky?"

"They'll be imprisoned," Zuko replied with a hollow voice.

"Nephew?" Iroh asked as he rounded the corner, he stopped when he saw the familiar face of his brother laid out on a table. He moved closer and saw the mark on Ozai's eyes, he bowed his head, "Find peace in the spirit world my brother." He looked around, "Where is the Fire Lady?"

Zuko shot a fist full of fire out into the hall of the palace.

Iroh sighed, "Nephew what have you done?"

"I didn't think things through Uncle," he replied with shimmering golden eyes, "I said unforgivable things and I betrayed her once more."

"Where is she?" Iroh sighed.

"Gone," Toph said softly.

"WHAT!" both Fire Nation Royals exclaimed.

"That's what I came to tell you, she's not on the island anymore," Toph whispered.

Zuko's eyes closed and his head dropped to his chest, "Do we have any ideas?"

Toph sighed, "Well we know where she won't go, to any of the Islands of the Raven's, back to the South Pole and probably not to the North Pole and she's not on the Capital Island."

Hakoda and Sokka strood into the small chamber, "We have had no luck finding her."

"You wouldn't would you," Jun smirked.

Hakoda's blue eyes burned into the black ones of the woman across from him, "What did you say?"

Jun smirked, "I said, you wouldn't be able to find her if she sailed back to the South Pole and hid in her room with the door open," her voice as confrontational as she could make it.

Sokka growled at the woman, his father stopped his retort, "You found the lover, did you find her?"

Zuko raised his golden eyes, "This is my father, these marks on his eyes are a sign that he had been judged as a betrayer by the Water Raven. A spirit touched woman who has been unifying my Southern Islands for the past two years. Who coincidently was your daughter. The same people that killed your wife instead of Katara all those years ago. The same damn people I helped her hunt!" Zuko yelled, "She spent the first year in Fire Nation fighting for them so brother wouldn't be pitted against brother!"

Hakoda and Sokka were confused, "I don't understand," Sokka frowned.

"HOW COULD YOU, YOU WANTED TO MARRY HER OFF AND KEEP HER BEAUTIFUL HEART SURROUNED BY ICE!" Toph yelled at the top of her lungs as the tears streamed down her face. "JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT HER TO MARRY OUTSIDE OF THE WATER TRIBE! SO SHE RAN AND SHE HELPED PEOPLE AND I BETRAYED HER TOO! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE! I WAS ALMOST DEAD! THEN I HEARD THOSE DAMN LOUD FOOTSTEPS OF HERS AND I HOPED, NO I PRAYED IT WAS HER AND I HAND'T JUST ENDED MY OWN LIFE AND THERE SHE WAS WAITING FOR ME!"

Toph knocked a hole in the wall in her anger at the people around her and herself. She was so angry she reached deep into the earth and poured her anger into the liquid rock and further up the chain of islands a volcano burst into existence.

Jun found the earth bender outside and said, "Let's go home Rocky."

Toph nodded as she wrapped herself around the taller woman.

Sokka watched Toph leave, he was still confused, "I don't understand."

Iroh pushed Zuko out of the room and indicated that Hakoda and Sokka follow him.

Three hours later Hakoda approached Zuko's study, he knocked firmly and entered when he was bid. He opened the door and said, "I accept your pledge to my daughter Katara."

Zuko stared at the man confused, then his eyes widened, "How? I thought I was divorced."

"She was never actually returned to me, and now that I have accepted your pledge all that remains is to claim her with a betrothal necklace and all the Water Tribe will celebrate your union." Hakoda bowed his head and withdrew from the Fire Lords study.

Zuko stared at the closed door and the black fist around his heart released, somewhat. Now all he had to do was carve her a necklace, find her and persuade her to accept him back. His head fell into his hands, and he'd thought finding the Avatar was going to be a challenge.