Hello again my readers it's great to finally get past this part. From now on I get a lot more freedom to play with my story and my characters. I had to mull over this a while before I came to a conclusion on how to write this and end this part of the story which sets our characters up for their journey. As always I only own my rendition of the story and my view of the characters of ALTA nor the actual story.

But I do I fact own my baby girl Anaka

Pov Anaka

From my perch I watch as the doorway opened to my small village. When it reached the bottom it turned out to be an effective ramp for the small band of fire nation troops and the prince. I grab my coat and pull it closer to my body. And snicker at the men below me shuddering even harder at the brisk air of the South Pole.

And with that they marched down towards my family. Our small village all that remains huddled together the fear written upon their faces.

My heat was torn. I could risk my hide for them and forever lose them and my chance at finding teachers to balm can my bending talents by attacking now and putting my family first. That would probably get me killed or wait it out and hope the the gods that these men are different from the old raiders and that my family lives. But with that I could also sit here and watch them be slaughtered by the men and I could go and find teachers anyway.

Act or not act and the risk on either was heavy.

If I did revel myself as a bender I could put everyone in more danger not to mention would they even accept me if any of us lived? I know gran gran does but what about Katara? She would probably hate me and then not to mention my idea to basically run away to learn without her.

Wait where's sokka?

Oh god he's playing warrior again! And he's put on war paint! Seriously I know that those are our customs but really what good can that do against benders. He can't even fight that well! Well flame for brains take the lead down the ramp and here come my cousins stupid battle cry

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!" Right on time dipshit. And why are you going head first into battle with you center off balance and wielding your mallet above your head like a mad man? Come on sokka I can take you out five ways, before I get breakfast.

Without a misstep the prince of gloom quickly dispatches sokka with easy first kicking his mallet out of his hands one way sending the thing flying like a lopsided boomerang. And the kicked sokka in the face sending him falling into the snow pile which I could only assume was once the walls of the village. That or Sokka's poorly made watch tower. One nice moves, two I probably would have kicked his ass even more for that.

So not that bad. That idiots head is way thick enough for that kick it wasn't even that hard. I've probably hit him twice as hard. Anyway just looking at the dope's rear end sticking out of the drift was making me giggle. I would have briar a gut if I wasn't trying to remain stealthy.

The rest of the village gasps in fear. What I would give to show them what I've done to sokka on a daily basis during training would have their heads reeling. So far these guys really haven't even come close to what happened during the raids before. But then there's the fear factor cuz we still don't know if they won't do just what our minds have cooked up form the darker depths of imagination.

So the men make a small formation three on either side with the center being my new favorite dumb dumb prince I want it my way. And he strides up, if that what you can call it under all of that attitude, ahem I mean armor. And he paces a bit seeming to be scanning the measly crowd of the southern tribe for some thing.

Now if he'd just grunt at them I'm sure a few would faint. And finally he decides that his I'm angry face, which also seems to be his only face is not enough.

"Where are you hiding him?" Well way to go torchbutt! Really descriptive.

You can hear the the silence

With that he grabs grangran by her hood. I ready to make a quick save if needed. "He'd be about this age, master of all elements"

Oh great we got ourselves a nut looking for the avatar. Well I relax and stop from trying to ready my sneak attack. I don't think this loons gonna be dangerous. I mean this guys uncle who's all around a good relaxed guy from what I can tell hang around him. He's not that bad, despite what his face says.

"I know you're hiding him" he demands as he spits fire just close enough to feel the flames.

"Ahhhhhh!" Oh Sokka's dug himself out. Let's see how utterly useless he is this time.

Once he's close and swinging down prince just sucks down and watches the dumbass just fly. He got some nice airtime too. And then prince shoots flames at his but. Sokka rears his next attack. Boomie goes flying and looks like it's going to connect and the soars past the prince who take the time to stare at it as it vanishes.

Ooo now he's mad. Probably by my cousins poor skills and the fact he has to stoop to his level it's really isn't getting them anywhere. And all he asked was a simple question. Well that before he started to demand things. One of the village boys crys out Sokka's mantra."show no fear" and then gives him his poorly made spear.

Oh sokka please don't use that? I've had trouble not trying to break that thing for your sake. I'm surprised that it lasted this long. I close my eye not wanting to witness this level of stupidity anymore. I hear the snapping of what I can only assume is the spear. I open my eye to find sokka being poked in the head by the remains before they too are broken.

This Ryan's quite a few laugh and some remembrances below me covering my own laughter. And I double over to see that boomie indeed came back to strike the prince in the back of the head to upset the placement of his helmet. I can only image what his face looked like in that moment. God I wished I could see it.

Woah, flame blades! I got to learn how to make those! Just imagine how fast cooking would be with those.

/note to self: eat food after this/

Now what in the world is~ l start the thought as I see a plume of snow rush in to sweep out the legs of the prince. He ends up with his helmet completely removed and now suiting atop his royal ass. And it turns out Anng finally got to go penguin sledding after all. The kids sheer with joy. Well he's as carefree as ever as he just sits there and greets my family like nothing's wrong.

Then the men encircle Anng and he asks "looking for me?"

"You're the air bender? Your Beth's avatar?" Well that's a shock. That would kinda explain why he thought I looked weird though? Wow I feel dumb.

"I've spent years trading for this day! Readying myself, but you? You're just a child!" Yeah most people thought he would be older, or that the cycle was broke or something. No it turns out our avatar ended up in a freakin ice berg for about 100 years!

"Well your just a teenager." And retorted

And so the pinwheel of fire began and ended quickly as it started. Anng offered to leave with the fire benders and I snuck back into the vents. With Anng promising Katara that everything would be ok. Well it sure would when I was done with things.

Pov Katara

Anng was so brace when he faces off he fire nation and now it's up to me to help him. He protected everyone even after we had him banished.

"Katara stop moping over your boyfriend!" My brother called

"He's not my boyfriend! We have to go after that ship Sokka. Anng saved us now it's our turn to return the favor. If we don't no one will!"

"Katara"

"I know you don't like him but he's on our side and-" sokka covers my mouth and glares at me.

"What!"

"Are you going to yak all day or will you help?" He points to the kanoe he step up sometime.

"Sokka" I happily squeaked and squeezed him in a hug. He finally understood that Anng needs us.

"Now get in, we need to move fast if we're going to catch up to your boyfriends boat."

"He's not my boyfriend Sokka!"

"My my my what did I do to earn me some strange grandchildren? Now what on the tides do you two thing your doing?" Oh busted. Gran gran found us.

"It's not like we ment to just leave you and Anaka but we need to rescue Anng gran gran!" Sokka explained grann gran simply smiled pulling out two sacks of food and our sleeping bags. "You'll need these, you have a long journey ahead of you"

She ten to me "You've brought back hope where there was none Katara" and the to sokka "and you my brace warrior, be nice to your sister." With that she hugged us tightly

"Anng is the avatar, and you children found him for a reason. Now your destinies are intertwined."

"But what about Anaka? Wouldn't her destiny also be intertwined too?" I ask grangran

"Don't you fret about that girl her destiny lies elsewhere. And her story has only begun. But if fate so chooses your streams will crossover once again."

With that reassurance I turn to boar the kanoe only to realize we'd never catch up in time. "How are we going to catch up in a war ship with this?"

As if to answer me appa climbed over the ridge. "Appa!"

"You just love taking me out of my comfort zone don't cha?"

Pov Zuko

Finally I get to go home, after all these years. Even if the avatar turns out to be a kid it doesn't matter. I finally get to restore my honor.

The more as I look at this kid it frustrates me. He is so calm even through he's been captured. Not once have I seen any other emotion other than calm and curiosity. I decide to examine the staff he carried with him while my men tied the boy up. I'll give this wooden thing to my father as a trophy that he will see me as something more than a failure. After this I'll be the son who brought the avatar in the only one who was able to capture and prove his worth to the fire nation that our ancestors couldn't.

I want to test the waters let's see what this avatar can do if provoked with insults

"This will do nicely for my father. Not that you'd know about fathers being raised by monks" and answer was just a confused look well no matter.

"Take the avatar to his cell. And that this staff to my quarters." I order my crew. I need to meditate and visualize my victory in this moment. Babysitting this kid will do nothing for me. Either that or more training, actually training will give me a clearer head that uncles ridiculous meditation. I wanted a fight and I got a willing captive instead. I make my way towards the dojo with my uncle close behind.

"Now what is the plan prince Zuko? You have the avatar, after all these years." My uncle questions as we enter the dojo.

I ignore him for a bit while setting up my training gear. But I look up to find him still standing waiting for a verbal answer. I huff why didn't he know that the plan hadn't changed

"The same plan as always. Go back home"

"But what is home to you prince Zuko?"

That was the last straw. I reel around and let my flames burst from my soul this does nothing to intimidate uncle as he stands unfazed and unharmed by my outburst "We finally have a chance to restore my honor and return home and your questioning my next move?!" He stares and turns away leaving me with my anger. I don't know what it's for but I grunt and kick down the punching bag and it catches flames.

Pov Anaka

Ok so the staff is going to the prince's room and Anng is ok go find out where his cell is first. I'll worry about the staff later. I can't just steal it and not get caught they need to go missing around the same time to make sure my cover isn't blown. I know as long as he gets off this ship with his staff Anng will be alright. Also I don't think he's the kid who'd be alright leaving a friend, if that's what we are behind. So I'm going to have to keep my presences a secret. I have no duo at that if Katara asked him about what happen here that he would tell her that her cousin helped him escape. He seems to have a crush on her. And if she figured that out she literally wouldn't stop until I was with her or gran gran safe from the fire nation. But with my abilities waning I'd only put her in harms way. I need a trainer to balance myself with my bending for everyone's sake. I'd rather accidentally wreck a fire navy ship than hurt my family.

So onwards to the guards and let's sees if I can find something useful.

I haven't seen much in my few hours since I passed out from the adrenaline rush. But if the smell was anything to go by I think I could find the extra gear set for cleaning. I guess when your in a boat for a while you kinda give up on cleaning because it's just the crew you see daily. Or that or men just found ways to stink. At least they smelled better than sokka.

I dropped down into the pile of gear set to be cleaned. " it's just for a short while, Anaka, you can do this." My little pep talk made me feel better as I quickly started to rummage through the gear for something in my size.

I dug down and found something that felt like it would fit. I pulled it up to find the under garments of the military uniform the men all wore. I almost puked. Oh my goodness whoever wore this needed help. I was almost tempted to wash the pile of stench myself. But I just needed it to use as disguise and this would surely keep my hidden no one would want to be near me long enough to notice my size. So I put my needs aside and shoved the shirt and pants on over my other clothes. "Definitely finding the showers after this."

Ok so I slip on the under clothes and pull up the armor. Ok just let me see, is it go this way? I flip it around a few times trying to figure out which spot was the front. Ok I think the part with the two lines goes forward and it clicks together some how. After a while I get the clothes to look semi right. I really hope that this stench keeps them from looking to close. I almost forget a helmet as I walk out the door. "Shit I may make this look convincing if I want this to work" I joke with myself as I slip it on. The metal is cold and the helmet is a tad bit as it slightly tilts as I walk along. My heart starts to thunder in my chest. I really hope this works, I swear if I mess this up there'll be consequences. Maybe I'll be passed of as one of the shorter men. Hopefully.

Ok it's up the stairs and to the right. I here some men move around above me. Oh well here goes something, please no one pay notice to me.

I ascend the stairs to find a common room where some of the men had gathered. "And to think he made such a big fuss over the avatar just to find a measly kid!" One of the men goffed " if I were in charge I would have just gutted the kid there and been done with him! Brought his head as a gift for the Fire lord" the man continued with a hearty laugh and dark eyes his face flush from what I could only assume was beer. "That kids to soft for me, if I had my way I would kill him too. To bad uncle keeps to his side all the time. I'd kill the both if I knew I would end up dead for it!" I sipped his beer and the men around him geared and laughter rose around them.

"The kid would last a minute on his own royal blood or not" another added. "Hey Chekom why don't we just kill him?" A man to his right said he was tall and build and his eye held a fire that seemed more dangerous that I'd ever seen. The man in the middle seemed to consider this when his eye fell on me. I can't figure out when I decided to stop and listen in but when our gases met I froze in utter fear. His eye were almost the color of crimson but they were cold. Deathly cold.

"Well, well if it isn't a little bird? What? You thought I wouldn't notice you standing out in the open? Why Viddo if you're going to spy why not at least shower first? Or better yet stay out of the line of sight" Chekom says as he stalks towards me. Slow and predator like as I try to back up away from him. What should I do? I start to panic.

"Oh look the uncles favorite spy getting himself in just too deep." He states with glee and the other men start to circle in. They block any route to escape. I try to speed with the deepest voice I can muster " I'm not afraid of you and your gang Chekom"

He looks me up and down as I try to get a more confident stance. " that's not what your body says" and he reals back a punch which I barely dodge. I take my chance while he's still off balance to land a few quick Gibbs in his abdomen allowing some distance to be made between us and break for it. I slide up one of the men and land a swift kick to the knee of another as I run fast up the next stairwell to the deck of the ship.

I have a feeling who ever viddo is will not like the surprise later. I'm sorry I whisper. As I here the men call out threats to me as I run promising a beating when I'm alone again.

I find the hall where two men guard the door to a room. And when I was just about to avoid there area one of them spots me. "Hey viddo, weren't you going to take a bath? I mean I know that it's your turn to babysit but you didn't need to neglect yourself for us"

"Uh, yeah it's just there's some of the good shit in the cafeteria and I know how you'd be like if you had missed out" I try to keep speaking form my gut. Hopefully this sounded right for viddo.

"Man, you're too good for us vid. Cmon Dota let's get some grub." The man said. Leaving me with a room. I tip toe and look in to see Anng meditating looking calm despite the situation.

Shit I don't have the keys. Crap what todo what todo. I look around to see if there was anything around to use for leverage. But I found nothing close by and I could just leave the door someone would start to wonder if there was no one here to "guard" the avatar. Breath Anaka let's see what we can't do instead of can't. That's when it hit me it could possibly freeze the hinges on the door to the point the icc starts to break them and get Anng to escape with a simple comment. So I work on messing with the hinges rusting and breaking the right grip. I suddenly hear the metal creak and Anng gets up and walks over to the door next thing I know I'm slammed against the wall and a quick sooty is uttered as the figure runs off. Ow! That hurt. Well at least he's free I make my way back into the vents and pass out once my entrance is sealed. I just want to sleep this off.

Pov Katara

We've been riding appa for some time but he still hasn't taken to the sky like Anng has described to us. I still hold hope that he has the entertainment to do just that while sokka seems both fed up and tired and now is mocking both me and appa with his words.

"Fly, soar, ascend" he reiterates boredly

I try to plead to appa "please appa we need you to fly Anng needs you"

"Up, go, elevate, transcend" sokka interrupts

" sokka may not think you can fly, but I do. And we'd never catch up to save Anng without you. Don't you want to save Anng?" I try

"What was it that monster lover said?"

"He's not a monster sokka"

"No to was something like yeaha, hup hip, wahoo, um yip yip?"

Appa let's out a grunt or a moan as he picks up speed and his tail lifts from the water. Within seconds we're now airborne.

"He's flying! Katara he's flying!" Sokka screams then he looms at me and his tune changes " I mean, big deal he's flying"

"Hahahahaha!"

Pov zuko

"Capture him before he escapes!"

It seems that the avatar has more fight in him than I originally thought. Might as well wait until he comes to me. Since I have his staff.

Time skip

"Ah, my staff!" The boy cries. Now just come in the room. As he gleefully retrieves his staff I slam the door behind him. Now here's the fight. What was the problem earlier? Was he just protecting the village? No matter. "Looks like I underestimated you"

He just gives me a dopey look. Did he really not expect any trap or fight. I get in my stance. I send out my first attack and he quickly sidesteps it. No wonder he has gotten this far. None of my men have that kind of agility. But how about rapid fire and an onslaught of flame bust forward pushing the avatar into the corner. He is panting and I can't help but smirk does he think he can catch me off guard by just playing defense. I may be one of the youngest on this ship but I'm an experienced warrior. I'll force him to fight. I resumed my attack. Forcing him leftward. Then suddenly he takes a direction I didn't expect. How lunges forwards and dive beneath my hands which were spewing flames to roll through my legs. I know he's behind me so I try to smoke him out with a kick but he contours to elude me dancing just past my periphery behind me where any attack of mine is utterly useless. This is the frustrating and tiring so I turn around and start to fight face to face with the avatar.

He bends away the attacks he can't escape with simple air shields and then flys about the room rideing a ball of air. He is more kuning and tricky. Alright zuko all you have todo it clip him once and you can turn this fight in your favor. For what seems like forever I try to catch up with the kid to no avail all my flames never reach his ever retreating form. Then he grabs one of the fire nation tapestries from the walls and before I can even attack or maneuver away I find myself tightly wrapped in it.

This gave him the chance to grab his staff. I try struggling to untangle myself. Damn him he thinks he's so cleaver doesn't he? Well what about this I bend my flame to incinerate the cloth and return to face him. Think zuko he's a master of the element be on guard. Then I was slammed not only into the wall but the ceiling as well by my ignorance. Damn this kid I don't even care anymore I will capture him and I will regain my honor.

I race after him towards the helm and find him trying to escape me. He tries the staff which turns into a glider and jumps to it to fly away. Before I really think about it I hurtle myself after him luckily grabbing his foot effectively dragging him down with me. Damn kid thinks that he can escape me!

He thinks he can mock me and get away with it. I've serpent too long away from home hunt him to just take this.

"Ooahaosvaa"

The weird sound draws my attention to the sky. "What is that?" I ask

"Appa!" The avatar gleefully shouts. He's turn his back does he not see me as a threat does he have no honor ? He clearly does not understand that he's in the middle of battle. "Don't you turn you back on me!" I stoop and flame burts from deep within my belly throwing him to the rails of the deck. I'm tried of all his running and all the pain and suffering I've done just to have this travesty happen. I throw at blast after blast I don't care if I kill him or capture him at this point I just want this to end.

He falls off board into the cold waters below.

"I guess I'll just have to tell my father I killed he avatar" I say as I pick up the dead boys staff.

"Anng " the voice of a girl rings from above clearly concerned about the boy. I was getting annoying with her voice and her constant calling for the dead avatar. I was about to tell her how futility it was an that she was too late when suddenly from the water came a funnel of water.

It towers over the ship and I was frozen in fear for another time in my life. Anng as the girl called was bending water he lands himself in the center of me and my men and takes the water can circles himself then shoves it away from himself fast and I'm too sad over board.

I hate water. And I especially hate freezing water.

Pov Katara

We had been flying for a while when we finally caught up with the ship just to watch Anng bend not only air but water after he fell into the cold waters below us.

"Did you see what he just did?" I said astonishingly to my brother who from what I could tell had about the face face as I did. "Now that was some water bending" sokka admitted.

We land appa down as Anng passes out from what ever trance he was yet again in. His tattoos turned back from white to blue. I felt my heart stop and I slung myself as fast as I could off appa to go help Anng.

"Are you ok?" I life's him up and held him close. He grumbled and opens his brown eyes."hey Katara, hey sokka thanks for coming" he looked haggard and beaten but it didn't look like it was much else. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Like we'd let you have all the fun to yourself." Sokka joked

"I dropped my staff" it seemed like he was still coming out of a daze through. Poor Anng

"I'll get it bud" sokka ran off to retrieve it for Anng who was still out for the count. I grabbed Anng and helped him to his feet

"Come on let's get you to appa and get out of here" and I slowly walked him over and helped him get on appa.

"Ha! And that's from the water tribe!" Sokka yelled out of nowhere.

"Sokka hurry up" I scoped him

"Oh right and he started to run over when some of the men started to stir from being knocked out by Anng. Well if Anng can do it so can I. I take a deep breath and lift a small stream of water and the men freeze after all they just suffered from Anng and it seems like three weren't prepared for dealing with water benders. But when I went to freeze them my efforts went backwards instead of at the men advancing towards me.

"Katara!" And they apparently found sokka instead. I try a second time this time facing away from the fire nation men and do the same thing. My heart pounding as I anticipated being grabbed at any moment. I turn to find the men froze in a thin layer of ice and call out for sokka to hurt it up.

"It's not like I have any magic powers over here! I'm just the guys with a boomerang!"

I'm in the seat of appa when sokka climbed up the tail yelling yip yip frantically. We soar away when we see they have made a last ditch effort to ground us. And without hesitation Anng quickly diverts the flame causing a avalanche to cover the ship as we soar away to safety laughing at our brush with danger and our small victory.

So we fly for a bit until the tension gets to thick. "Why didn't you tell us your the avatar!" Sokka demands

"Be cause I never wanted to be" Anng answers as he turns away the clouds cast a shadow to emphasis his hurt from being what he is.

"Anng the world needs you! Your supposed to stop this war." I say hoping a little encouragement might help

"How am I supposed to do that?" He asks plainly

"Well if legends are correct you'd have to master water earth then fire bending"

"Sounds right."

"Then were off to the North Pole, there'll definitely being water benders there! And then-"

"We can train together." Anng finishes

"Yay! You to get to be magic buddies together what's in it for me? Other than making sure my sisters alright." Sokka complains

"Probably knocking a few fire heads together" I put out there

"Works for me" he gladly says leaning back into the saddle.

"Before we go to the North Pole I have a few things todo" Anng says pulling out a map

"Like what I seriously doubt anyone would be mad about you not finishing an errand for a hundred years not to mention they'd probably be dead" sokka says I hit him

"Not nothing like that, um, more like sightseeing. Since you haven't ever left the South Pole and I haven't done this for years we have to go."

"And where would that be?" I ask and settle in to look at a map of the world we haven't ever explored.

Pov Anaka

There was another lurch in the ship jolting me awake.

I relaxe when I realize that I wasn't in danger but almost throw up after smelling myself. I crawl towards the laundry room as fast as my throbbing head and aching limbs allow me. I fight back at the darkness that wants to reclaim my consciousness. Everything is slow and blurry as I rip the armor off my body trying not to collapse on the ground. I am thankful for the helmet which leased the blow of the heavy metal door but it still feels like my head to most of the brunt.

Aimee where down a level I find the showers and bath off the smell and work the heat into the sore muscles of my body. For once I was glad to be on a ship with working heat being as I liked to take extremely hot showers. The rigorous events of this past day wearing on my body which was not accustomed to this kind of treatment. I stumble out and down the hall for a bit this part of the ship is oddly quiet and I find myself struggling to climb into the vents to get back into my room and find myself tempted to climb into this bed in the simple room I found which smelled much of teas. But the sudden sound of footsteps gave me the extra push to make the endeavor into the vents.

The door bursts open to behold an angry prince and his dear uncle

"Now now prince zuko, there is no need for such a fuss. We will recapture the avatar in no after all he's only a kid"

" uncle that kid as you so say just took out our ship!"

"This is a just a learning experience"

"Tell the men as soon as their done we'll be setting off after him! I can't have this disgrace getting out" the young prince slams his hands on the desk in front of him.

"In the meantime let's have a cup of nice relaxing tea as we forgive our what failed this time so we're better prepared for the next time"

"Why are you even asking uncle? It's clear that I'm am the one who failed in this endeavor! I fail to hold a meet kid in my ship." His shoulders shook in rage. My hear lurched unexpectedly in the want to reach out and hug him. It wasn't his fault, not even close. I was the one who set the escape in motion with breaking the door.

"No my nephew"

"Isn't it?" He twisted around thrusting his hand forward with fire. Push in his uncle back wards tears welling in his amber eyes. "What do you know uncle!? You've always had your honor! Been a Great War hero worshiped and respected. I haven't even masted my bending! I was late in even showing signs for a royal! Do you even know how hard that was. How many looks I got because of it?" He sobbed "and now my only chance at redemption lies in capturing and delivering a kid who just slipped through my fingers"

His uncle pulled him in a tight hug

"I can hear their feelers now, looks there he goes the defective prince who can't even capture a kid." He cries into the older mans shoulder.

"Zuko, you must be proud of yourself not many can say that they've even capture the avatar for an hour. You are not defective" he pauses pulling the unspent cook away from him to look at his face like any concerned parent would "now do you want some tea to calm down with? I'm pretty sure I have some that will do wonders" Iroh says giving zuko pace and an excuse to say out of the crews eyes for the time.

"Ah I found it," he uncovered the lid and wafts the tea to give a nice smell of it. "Chamomile tea the great tea for calming and it also tends to not only relax muscles but helps with headaches too if you ask me. Although ginger tea would work to"

And that was all I could stay awake for before I sifted off to sleep from my hot shower.