A Score to Settle

Haru's Perspective

Two weeks ago, Aang came to Ba Sing Se as part of his routinely task. Normally, he would've stayed for a few days, but this time he was on a tight schedule. It turns out he was hurrying to send invites to all of Mi Li's friends and relatives; to attend her birthday party in the Northern Water Tribe. I hadn't forgotten her birthday, of course, and I was going to ask Aang to send my gift to her – but I suppose there's no need for that now.

That letter I sent her last time… she never replied. I've been waiting anxiously, day and night, hoping to get an answer. It's been over a month since I wrote it, and no reply has come to me. I've been having sleepless nights, just thinking about how she felt about me. Aang tells me that she's fine – she's never been happier, actually. I was glad she was happy, but it worried me to know that she wasn't happy around me. Endless possibilities tortured my mind. I'd always ask myself, "what if…"

"Haru, we are almost there, come and take a look at the city!" called my father from the upper deck. I stood and made my way up some stairs. At the top, the first thing to hit me was the icy wind. I had forgotten to wear my coat, but the cold didn't bother me much. I stood by my father's side and gazed over to our destination – the Northern Water Tribe.

"Look at that. Isn't it amazing?" exclaimed my father. I leaned forward onto the metal railing.

"Yeah, it's beautiful," I said, without much enthusiasm.

My father turned to look at me, concerned. I ignored his gaze. I heard my mother approach us.

"Oh my, what a beautiful palace!" she gasped. "Just think, in a few more moments we'll be able to see Mi Li again. It's so wonderful that she's royalty – there was always something besides her powers that was special about her. She really deserves to be a princess," my mother rambled. Then like in a daydream, she sighed. "This really reminds me of a romantic tale of two young royals falling in love, and living happily ever after. I can already see it happening before my very eyes… Aren't you excited Haru?" she asked.

I stared blankly at her and thought in silence for a very long moment. All the while, the pain intensified as we neared the shore. The reminder of her being a royal diminished my spirits. The whole purpose of me becoming a king was to be worthy of her. Now that I knew she was a royal – unlike I, who had no royal heritage – there was absolutely no way I could compare! I knew that ultimately I never could compare; but it seems the more I try, the further I fall. When I didn't answer, her grin became a frown. An awkward silence seemed to overcome the entire ship and my father looked on helplessly.

"I'm not sure what to feel," I stated, when I became frustrated with my endlessly revolving thoughts. I sighed in aggravation, clenching my fists and creasing my eyebrows. Without another word, I decided to head into my living quarters to pack. Sure I had people working for me, but my personal belongings were reserved for me to use, unless I said otherwise. Thud!

The ship shuddered slightly, and I knew we had arrived at one of the Northern Water Tribe's ports. I hurried to organise my crates, before calling for some men to move them. The moment I set foot on the frozen platform, I felt disabled. I was an earthbender, not a waterbender. I had trained to the point by which I could sense vibrations in the earth, and in metal, to create a mental image; this has become my additional sense. Now that I was standing on pure ice, this sense was lost.

I now felt sympathy for Toph, who undeniably relied on Seismic Sense to 'see' her surroundings. I ignored the uncertainty that began to fill my mind. Instead, I focused on what was happening now. A kind middle-aged man greeted us and led the way to the palace. My men followed me, hauling the various items we had brought. My parents followed closely by my side, admiring the orderly streets and buildings. We came to a human-crafted river system, which aided transport through various parts of the city.

The man invited us onto some gondolas, and we were able to reach the palace quickly. Soon the gondolas came to a stop. We stepped out, and the man led my parents and me inside. I requested the men with our personal possessions to follow us, while those carrying items of trade were to present the goods to the local merchants.

Inside, the palace was just as majestic as it was outside. My parents were baffled; they admired the fine carvings in the icy walls, and the tremendous size of the halls. It was somewhat hard to believe that it was all made of ice! Waterbenders never cease to amaze me; one in particular. We climbed beautifully constructed stairs, and strolled through enormous hallways. The man showed us to our rooms, and I ordered the men to leave our belongings inside.

"Where is the princess?" I asked the man.

"She is probably in the dining hall. I was going to take you there now," he answered.

I shook my head. "No, that's fine. I'll find my way, just give me the directions. I want you to help me organise the accommodation for my men first," I requested.

He bowed with a smile. "I shall do that. The dining hall is at the end of this corridor, down the stairs, and to your right," he informed us.

I nodded my thanks, before my men followed him to the worker's quarters. My parents followed me as I followed the instructions. As I neared what must have been the dining hall, I heard loud voices and laughter. I slowly approached the half-opened door, peeking inside to get a glimpse of the environment. My parents must have thought I was behaving childishly, but I didn't really care.

I took a deep breath. When I gathered enough courage, I walked into room, my parents following closely behind. There she was – Mi Li, looking more beautiful than when I had last seen her. She was wearing the recognisable shades of blue that symbolised the Water Tribes. Her dark and flowing hair had grown long; past her shoulders, almost touching her waist. She was slightly taller. Her figure appeared to be leaner, even with the thick layers of clothes she wore. Her very pose seemed more feminine and attractive; it was most inviting.

Noticing our presence, she turned. The morning sunlight reflected in her eyes, and the exuberance of the violet within them was restored. Our gazes met, and what I sensed in her, was not what I expected. Her eyes widened, her lips parted slightly, she seemed to stop breathing – she was shocked. My gut tightened in anxiety. What was I supposed to do now?

"Err… Hi, Mi Li," I started, before realising my mistake.

"No! I meant to say Princess Mi Li," I said, feeling like a fool. She didn't respond; she remained stunned. I hesitated, as embarrassment turned into frustration. I groaned and clenched my fists. Following my instincts, I bowed before her. I got down on my hands and knees, faced the ground, closed my eyes, and waited for her to command me.

Silent feet approached me, gentle hands held my shoulders, and an aromatic scent filled my nostrils. In the darkness, a crystal clear voice sounded, beckoning me.

"Please, stand. You don't have to be this way," her voice said, in a tone still shocked.

I opened my eyes and slowly lifted my head to see her. There, her youthful face gazed sadly at me.

"Why are you so sad?" I asked quietly. She swallowed with difficulty.

"I…" she began, but didn't finish. Then shaking her head, she said something else. "It's good to see you again. Thanks for coming." But her voice didn't seem cheerful. I decided not to push her. I rose to my feet, my gaze never shifting. Ignoring me, she turned her attention to my parents. A familiar smile lifted her features.

"Uncle Tyro, Aunt Nina… it's good to see you again," she said, embracing them both with tender love.

"Look at you! You've only grown to be more beautiful," complimented my moody mother. Mi Li's face blushed in a familiar shade of pink.

"Indeed. And it seems that you're managing this city well," added my father in a playful tone. Mi Li giggled. "Well, I'm not managing it per say. But I am learning how to." After her last statement, the entire room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Yet, in my mind, there was so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to ask, so much I wanted to do – the interior of my brain was filled with countless noises, all trying to overcome the other at the same time.

"So, have you had breakfast yet?" Mi Li asked everyone in general. I shook my head, as did my parents and a few others who I presumed had also just arrived. Mi Li smiled, "Okay, then you can eat right now. Take a seat while I tell the maids," she offered, before walking out of the room. The dining hall returned to its previous state; full of chatter and energy. I wasn't in the mood to talk – I wasn't in the mood to do anything. But just before I took a seat at the large icy table, I caught sight of a guy walking out the door – he looked like he may have been following Mi Li. I gritted my teeth at the possibility of him being more than a friend to her. But I let the thought slide into the back of my mind, knowing that I'd cause more trouble than necessary if I didn't.

Breakfast was an absolute bore. I sat expressionlessly at the table, eavesdropping on all the other conversations occurring in the room. My parents were with all the other adults; Chief Arnook, his wife, Mi Li's adopted parents, Iroh, Chief Hakoda, Zuko's mother and that other guy's parents. They were discussing the unison of the four nations; I groaned at the subject.

Hastily, I searched for another conversation. Mi Li was with all the girls; Katara, the Kyoshi Warriors, Ina (who I found out was Chief Arnook's niece-in-law), and Azula. They were gossiping about all sorts of things. First it was about being royalty, then it was about guys, then about how cute Ina was – they changed topics so erratically that I couldn't follow in their discussions. Toph and her parents were the only ones who weren't engaged in any conversations; they also sat at the table with blank expressions. Oh, how much girls astonish me! I gave up trying to understand the female psyche and decided to move on to the guy's group.

I had found out enough about him now – he's Chief Arnook's nephew-in-law and his name was Toshiro. He was talking to Zuko, Aang, Sokka, and Denzo (another guy I hadn't met). Apparently, Denzo was Azula's boyfriend. Anyway, they were talking about girls – typical. I rolled my eyes at their predictability, but something Aang said caught my attention.

"It was Toshiro's idea," he said smiling. I listened more intently on the group.

"You were the one who thought of this awesome party?" Sokka asked Toshiro in a cheery tone.

"Well, yeah. But Aang did the inviting," he answered briskly.

"Nice move, dude. That was real smooth… I like it! What did she say? Does she know yet?" Denzo spoke in a cocky attitude. I began fuming.

Toshiro just shrugged. "Yeah, she knows. And she looked happy enough," he answered in a rather reserved way.

"No, she's definitely happy. You can see it. I've never seen her have more fun in her life," Zuko assured him, gesturing with his chin towards the girl's group.

The guys in the group turned their heads simultaneously. Some of the girls noticed their gazes and a few giggles broke out amongst them. I began to clench my fists, and grit my teeth. I could feel every muscle in my body flexing, defining my lean figure. I tried to relax with even breaths, but I knew I was going to lose if I didn't do something else.

Desperate to escape the immediate environment, I informed my parents that I was going outside for air, before I swiftly walked out of the room. Already I felt my control returning, but I was still far from being relaxed. I broke into a sprint, running out of the palace doors. I wanted to release my anger by earthbending – it had always helped to calm me – but there was nothing I could bend in this arctic wasteland! I kicked the ground in rage and grunted in frustration. I stood stiffly, my chest heaving from my anger.

Then… salvation – I spotted some glaciers in the distance to the east. I ran to the local stable, borrowed a strange beast they called a buffalo-yak, and galloped at full speed towards the mountains. As I neared them I felt my strength return. Soon the land became rock-solid and I stopped the buffalo-yak. I dismounted and knelt onto the ground. Feeling the firm earth beneath the blanket of snow helped me to stabilise myself. I breathed deeply. Feeling the ground, I created a wave of earth that spread out in front of me. It shook the snow away, pushing it as far as I could make it to go.

I looked around, satisfied with the new practicing grounds I had made for myself. The rock that I stood on was dark and rigid, perfect for practice. I moved into my stance, closing my eyes. Through seismic sense I could see the buffalo-yak a few metres behind me; but apart from me and that beast, not another living organism was present. I inhaled the icy wind. Opening my eyes, I raised columns of rock at various positions. I created a boulder to serve as my projectile.

I lifted it so it floated in midair. Then, focusing on my first target, I jumped and kicked the boulder into the column. It shattered like glass, sending shrapnel-like fragments everywhere. I prepared more boulders, throwing them at the same deadly speeds. Each column, like the first, was crushed beyond recognition leaving nothing but a scene of rubble. I stood, glad that I was able to release my emotions. For the first time since I set off on the journey to the North, I smiled. The sun shone brightly in the sky and I felt ready to go back.

I mounted the buffalo-yak, and galloped back towards the palace. Now I knew a place I could retreat to, if I felt ready to explode. Back at the palace, everyone was already busy with other activities. Most of them were touring the city. Some of them (mainly the adults) were touring the palace itself. A few others were preparing for the party taking place at dinner tonight. I sighed, knowing that one of them was Toshiro. He was now my rival, and I wasn't going to let him win that easily. Sure he's smooth like water… but I'm tough like rock; and I'm not going down without a fight.

Mi Li has deep feelings for me; she loves me. I know it, and so does she! All I need is a chance for us to start again, and this time she'll acknowledge our relationship. The last thing I need right now is someone getting in the way. If I want to ever have a chance with her, the first thing I need to do is eliminate Toshiro. I'll have to beat him at his own game, on his home turf, but once that's done… it'll be clear who the winner is. I had my mind set on the objective; I was determined.

I decided that the first thing I wanted to do was talk to Mi Li. I asked a few palace workers of her whereabouts. Apparently she was leading a group of her friends around the city, and they wouldn't be back until later this evening. Of course, it was part of the whole plan; it would give everyone time to prepare the celebration while she was distracted. As for me, I was ready – my gift to her was waiting in my guest room. I looked around, whilst thinking of what to do now. When my mind couldn't come up with any exciting solutions, I decided to join the girls and take a look around the city.

It wasn't long before I found the girls; it wasn't actually very difficult. I just asked for directions to the best tailor in the city, and I found them – girls are absolutely predictable in that sense. It was a rather nice boutique; clean, organised, decorative, and with a range of good apparel. Funnily enough, the other guys (besides Toshiro – because he was busy) were there too. They just looked around, judged what the girls wore, and every now and again picked something out to try.

The girls looked decent in whatever they wore, but I couldn't exactly say the same for the guys. It was mainly Sokka and Aang who tried the male outfits, and although some garments were great, a few items looked pretty ridiculous on them. Denzo did try a few outfits, and he did look pretty good in them. He walked around with his head held high; escorting his girlfriend, Azula, in that cocky attitude of his. I knew my status, but I didn't abuse it or use it to show off.

We spent about an hour there, before going to the city's best restaurant for lunch. It was nice, but my stomach didn't quite agree with the massive amounts of seafood. The dessert wasn't too bad though; grinded chunks of ice, mixed with the juice of various fruits from the Earth Kingdom, topped with syrup. It was the stuff I brought along on my journey here.

After lunch, we moved on to the city's museum. It was a huge building. Inside, everyone split into smaller groups, investigating whatever they found most intriguing. There was a collection of Northern Water Tribe weapons; from the earliest of times to the current age. In the library section of the museum, there were shelves of books and scrolls on every topic relative to the Northern Water Tribe; politics, religion, warfare, historic events, waterbending, fishing, geography, boats, ice sculptures, buildings, arctic/aquatic animals and plants. The collection was massive.

Realising that we would be in the museum for quite some time, I decided to do some reading. I scanned the shelves, not really seeking a particular book. I slid my fingertips over the spines of a row of books, briskly scanning the titles. I was just in the Politics section when one book caught my attention; The Royal Heritage. I gazed at it, wondering if I should have a read. A strange temptation came over me and I pulled it from the shelf. I opened it to the first page:

Contents

Chapter 1 – Government of the Northern Water Tribe, Page 2

Chapter 2 – Rights of the Royal Family, Page 15

Chapter 3 – Rights of the People, Page 28

Chapter 4 – Royal Customs, Page 34

Chapter 5 – No Heir to the Throne, Page 59

There were very few chapters, but the book was rather thick. I decided to read chapter five, strangely. Of course, I had an idea of what they did in such situations but I was curious as to what the exact procedure was supposed to be. It didn't present information I didn't know, apart from the fact that in such situations, the next in line for the throne had no choice as to whether to take up the leadership. Chief Arnook was being generous by letting Mi Li choose.

I went on to read chapter two, and completely ignored chapter one. I found that the power of the royal family was quite high, and it would've seemed tyrannical were it not for the fact that the Chiefs only acted in the best interest of the people. The amount of trust in the royal family was huge; but according to the book, not a single Chief in history had led his people to ruins. That was the reason why the people trusted their Chiefs so much, but also why there is ever-growing responsibility for the royal family to maintain their customs and not fail the people's expectations.

I skipped chapter three and read the next chapter that appealed to me; chapter four. It was all very typical; their rules and routinely practices were as I had expected them. It was quite similar to the royal life back in the Earth Kingdom. But one thing did stand out while I was reading; marriage.

According to the book, the daughter of the chief (in other words, the Princess) is eligible for marriage from the age of sixteen. In many cases, these are arranged marriages between the princess and an eligible male with a high standing in the tribe; he may be the son of a nobleman for example. However, this selection is not taken lightly and involves a range of other factors. This is because when the pair is married, the princess does not directly inherit the role or responsibility of the chief, whereas the son-in-law will.

Sons of the Chief are also eligible for marriage at the age of sixteen, but it is not integral to them succeeding the throne. For future chiefs, it is only expected (and not required) that they were either engaged or married at the age of sixteen. The sons also have more freedom in choosing who they were to marry, as it didn't quite matter who their wives were (again because the wives played no major role in the governing of the tribe). I harshly shut the book after gaining that last piece of information. I began to think hard about how this was relative to Mi Li.

Now it made more sense; her sadness, it must have been because she loved me, but was being forced to marry Toshiro! I was almost certain that this was the case, but I had no way of being sure… unless I asked. But what if she lied to me?

"Haru, it's time to go!" called a feminine voice that was undeniably Mi Li's.

I jerked upwards, turning to face her. I acknowledged her with a nod and quickly placed the book back in its place on the shelf. I hurried to catch up to her, for I couldn't resist asking. Luckily for me, the others had gone ahead and we were the last ones around. I hadn't noticed time, but apparently we had been there the entire afternoon and it was already evening.

"So, Mi Li. Tell me… Are you being forced into an arranged marriage?" I asked. She kept walking but looked at me strangely.

"Um, no... But why do you ask?"

"Well, it's just that I came across something about it in a book and I thought maybe…" I said, but didn't end up finishing. She laughed.

"You're funny, Haru; you really worry too much. I'm fine! I'm learning everything about being a royal here, but at the same time Chief Arnook is giving me a lot of freedom. He doesn't expect me to follow every single little thing in the rule book, and I'm glad for that. Don't worry about me," she said, amused by my concern.

Doesn't she understand how anxious I get because of her? Surely, she should know by now. Feeling embarrassed and disheartened, we made our way back to the palace in silence. Once we were there, the place was up in a buzz. There were glowing lights in every corner, ribbons adorned every edge, and extra tables and chairs filled the courtyard, as well as the dining hall. More guests had arrived; they were members of the Northern Water Tribe.

"I'll be in my room," Mi Li quickly said before dashing upstairs.

I also decided I'd go into my room to change. As I walked up the stairs, I saw the others sitting at some tables. They looked prepared. The Kyoshi girls were dressed in their combat outfits and makeup. I assumed they were planning to give a demonstration later. The adults were wandering freely, engaging in a range of discussions. Maids were tirelessly moving between the kitchen and the tables; the speed of which they worked was to be acknowledged. This was the night.

I hurried upstairs to my quarters. I changed into the clothes I had planned to wear. Once I had fully dressed myself, I looked into the mirror, shifting between different angles to make sure my appearance was adequate. The clothes I wore were part of the typical Earth King's outfit; lengthy silk robes with large sleeves, long pants, high socks, long-sleeved undergarments, and cloth and silk shoes. Everything I wore was professionally hand-made from the finest materials. And last but not least, I tied some of my hair into a bun, leaving the rest of it out like I usually did before I was king.

Finally, I propped the King's Hat onto my head. The hat I had was different to the one King Kuei wore; his was round, mine was more of a plank with curtains of beads attached to the front and back ends. I secured it by pushing a pin through a hole in the side; the pin would go through my hair and out the other side of the hat. As a last step I tied a knot, from the strings of the hat, under my chin – this was for extra security.

The strings made my neck itchy now and again, but I had learned to ignore it from months of practice. I took one final glimpse into the mirror before leaving the room, grabbing a thin box from the bedside table on the way. As I walked, the beads dangled freely behind and in front of me; singing a cheery and shimmering tune. It was somewhat uplifting.

Already, when I opened the doors of my room, two guards were waiting to escort me. This was a routinely action, as well as a rule to ensure my safety. Though, I could protect myself far better than they could. I handed one of them the box.

"Hold this, and keep it safely hidden until I gesture for you to hand it to me," I ordered him quietly. He nodded before slipping the thin box, with the dimensions of a medium-sized plate, into the satchel bag around his waist.

Downstairs, everything was ready and the guests were seating themselves in the central courtyard. I hurried to my seat at the table reserved for the Earth Kingdom guests. My parents watched with smiles as I approached the table. The guards, knowing my discomfort from their presence, systematically moved to stand nearby at the side of the huge courtyard.

"My, don't you look handsome!" gasped my mother. I smiled at her compliment, deciding it was better to enjoy this night than hold too many grudges. I sat down in between them.

"Thanks Mom," I replied graciously, just as I received a nudge from my father who sat on my right. I turned to face him.

"You look extremely dashing, and I'm very proud of you. And just so you know; you are attracting quite a lot of attention…" he said in a sly way, briefly gesturing with his chin towards the Kyoshi girls at the other end of the long rectangular table. Some of them were gazing dreamily at me, so I smiled back. They turned away in giggles, and I supposed they were blushing beneath their bright face-paints.

I turned my attention elsewhere, looking at the royal table where Mi Li was sitting. She had changed into a long flowing blue dress that complemented her violet eyes, while a thick coat protected her slim figure from the cold. As I absorbed every aspect of her appearance, she seemed oblivious to my prolonged gaze. I sighed quietly. Why don't I have that effect on her? I asked myself.

Then I saw the other occupants of her table; Toshiro was sitting right next to her! I wanted to get up and leave in my rage, but I knew I had to remain calm. I promised that tomorrow I'd make him realise what he was interfering with. I turned away and stared blankly at the semi-transparent table before me.

"Welcome everyone! I am very pleased that so many of you were able to attend this evening of significance. Tonight, we celebrate the birth of a most unique individual. Princess Mi Li has turned sixteen; a milestone in her youthful life. And so, tonight will be full of exciting and joyful moments. First, we shall have some performances, followed by the feast, and finally the giving of gifts to the birthday girl. I'd now like to present to you… the Kyoshi Warriors!" Chief Arnook announced, standing on a large stage made of ice. It was set up at the front end of the courtyard, and it wasn't too high or too low, perfect for everyone to see the action with relative ease. Sadly, this couldn't apply to Toph.

Immediately after the announcement, the Kyoshi girls jumped out of their seats and ran swiftly onto the ice stage. Arnook descended the stage, gesturing for some musicians to begin playing drums. The girls performed a series of pretend fights, leaping and striking with amazing accuracy, to prevent causing any accidental harm to each other. I watched without much interest. Soon, they became blurred figures that darted meaninglessly across my field of vision. Before I knew it, the performance was over and a wild applause rippled through the guests. They bowed professionally, before returning to the table.

Chief Arnook returned to the stage. "That was a wonderful performance from the Kyoshi Warriors. Thank you for sharing that with us. So far, that is the only request I have received, for performing on the stage. If there is anyone else who would like to dedicate a demonstration to the Princess, please speak now," he called out. There was a silence, before a few hands rose. As I predicted, Toshiro raised his hand. So did his little sister. Then Azula, Zuko and Iroh volunteered as a group, followed by Aang and Katara. Arnook approved all of the teamed performances.

I also wanted to perform, but I had no idea what I could do – there was not a single grain of earth here! I crossed my arms, thinking deeply about what other possibilities were available. Metal! That was the answer! Through my ability to use seismic sense, I developed the skill to metalbend just like Toph. Although it seemed to be a sparse idea, I decided it was worth a try. One performance was better than nothing. I requested for a group of my men to head back to our ship and bring 10 blocks, each weighing 3 kilograms, of 24 carat gold. I told them to hurry. Arnook was making the final call for anyone requesting to perform.

My hand shot up confidently. Arnook seemed puzzled, but he accepted my request. On both sides, my parents stared at me in bewilderment. I shrugged my shoulders calmly. My father sighed in frustration, rubbing his temples in a circular motion. My mother whimpered quietly, grabbing at my hand anxiously.

"What are you thinking? What will you do? You're not going to earthbend, are you? You can't – not here!" she fussed, while the creases in her face became more prominent.

I shook my head calmly. "No, of course I'm not going to earthbend! I've thought about that. Don't worry, I have a plan," I reassured her. Not fully satisfied, she reluctantly let go of my hand.

The first performance featured Toshiro and his sister Ina. They performed a simple waterbending form, before carefully simulating a duel. The movements were relatively slow to adjust to Ina's skill level, but the performance was quite neat and enchanting to watch. I didn't have any siblings, but the way Toshiro worked with his sister reminded me of how I used to be with Mi Li. They finished the performance in a snowy fashion. When they splattered water high into the air, many people flinched, expecting it to rain down on them. But no one got wet because they had frozen the tiny particles of water to create snowflakes. There were gasps and applauses as the water magically floated down as snow. The pair bowed off the stage, and Aang and Katara replaced them.

The two displayed a rather romantic performance, turning their waterbending moves into a dance. It was all very lovely and sweet… but maybe a bit too sentimental for the likes of me. I mean, I am very much a guy for romance, but I prefer to keep that level of love private. Luckily, the two had pretty much improvised the dance, so it wasn't too long. Next up was Azula, Zuko and Iroh.

They started with a strong firebending form, synchronising their movements so well that it was hard to lose interest. Like Toshiro's and Ina's routine, they finished their form before improvising a pretend spar. The three were dramatic to watch, each having mastered the art of firebending. The heat radiating from the flames was revitalising, though I couldn't say the same for our icy environment. By the time their act was over, parts of the stage, tables and chairs, were melting like icicles in spring. Arnook called in some of his guards, who rushed to repair the courtyard. Nevertheless, the group received an enthusiastic applause.

It was my turn. I rose from my seat and asked one of Arnook's guards to create a table and a chair on the stage for me. He did that, just as my men were returning from the ship. They moved up onto the stage and set the crates down, before opening them to unload the blocks onto the ice-solid table. Some of the audience gasped in awe when they saw the heavy blocks of gold on the table. I sat, moving the blocks into an organised layout. I took one quick glance of Mi Li, before closing my eyes and placing my hands on the gold.

Through seismic sense, I could see the blocks perfectly, as though it was the vision of my eyes – it was clearer in fact. I breathed deeply, before beginning. The cold made the metal harder than usual, but I had practiced this skill and I manipulated its shape with relative ease. First, I compressed the blocks together; forming one large block of gold. I then pulled most of the metal to one side, creating a sort of pole-like figure with a cloud-like top. I shaped it further, turning it into a miniature tree; this part of the sculpture took the longest, but looked the most impressive. I shaped every leaf, every blossom, and every wrinkle in the bark of the tree trunk.

I then changed the texture of the base, creating a rough surface to imitate the appearance of grass. Next, I carved the sides of the block to look like a stone wall. In the centre of the base, I formed a crater to imitate a pond. Inside the pond I created small fish-like figures. Around the pond and leading to the base of the tree, I smoothed the surface so that it looked like paved tiles. Next to the tree, I formed a garden swing. I shaped it so that the parts were movable and the seat could swing freely.

The attention to detail was demanding! I was pressured to finish this quickly but I didn't want to do a pathetic job and make a fool of myself. As deep concentration began to exhaust me, I noticed the sweat dripping from my brow. It trickled down my cheek, dripping from my chin and onto my silk robes. I ignored it, focusing again on the sculpture I was making. She had to know what this meant. She had to! I told myself. I hoped that this would make up for our past disputes.

With my eyes still closed, I focused on the final touches. I added two figures, lying in the grass under the cherry blossom tree; a girl, and a boy. I shaped the girl to look like Mi Li, that time when we were in our garden; her dress and hair was spread out over the blanket of fallen blossoms. I shaped the boy to look like me, lying on the grass with my hands under my head as I gazed up towards the sky. It was one of those moments that you never forgot; and it was one of those memories, where you remembered every single little detail your senses could detect. I remembered it very clearly, and I found it peaceful to mould the metal into that scene.

"Haru," a gentle voice, that I knew was Mi Li's, called.

A light hand rested on my left shoulder, while another hand holding a soft cloth caressed my face. I opened my eyes, squinting from the bright lights that surrounded me. Confused and disoriented, I had difficulty knowing where to look. The hand with the cloth spread across my right cheek, and guided my head to look up to my left. As my eyes readjusted, I saw her. She was smiling in a teary joy that made my heart melt.

"You remember," she whispered. I huffed in relief, smiling with a tinge of amusement. I longingly grasped the hand holding my face.

"Of course I remember. It's one of the moments I will never forget," I said in a convict tone.

She smiled wider, just as a rogue tear slid down her cheek. I quickly raised my hand to wipe it away before she could. I kept my hand on her cheek, and she leaned her head further into my hand. I felt the warmth of her face as she blushed ever so slightly.

"I'm almost done, just give me a moment," I said, pulling away from our moment and refocusing on my sculpture.

"No," she said, grasping my hands to stop me, "It looks wonderful enough for me." I looked up at her uncertainly, but her smile was enough to convince me. I nodded and she released my hands.

I stood up stiffly from my seat. "There's one more thing it needs," I said, pointing to the pond.

But before I had even told her, she had taken a part of the table and melted it into the pond.

Now it was complete. My masterpiece was bound to be the winner! There was no way anyone could think of anything more beautiful and meaningful than my gold sculpture. I looked down at her and saw the bliss in her eyes. Chief Arnook walked onto the stage to inspect the work himself. Meanwhile, the guests were applauding furiously.

"My goodness, I have not seen anything like it. You are both a skilled earthbender and artist. This is amazing! Haru has created a miniature garden by moulding gold through the art of metalbending. What a great effort; you worked so well under the pressure. Well done, Haru! Thank you for demonstrating to us your fantastic skills," Arnook commended me.

I smiled proudly. "This can be considered a gift to Mi Li. I have another gift but I'll present that later. Where would you like me to put this sculpture?" I asked Arnook. He looked around before deciding.

"Actually, why don't you leave it here for the meantime so that guests can come up to view it? We won't need the stage until after the feast," he suggested. I nodded in agreement.

"That would a great idea."

"Good, now return to your seats. Quick!" he commanded.

Mi Li gave me a fleeting smile before running back to her table. I also hurried back to my seat, but I didn't run because I was feeling the strain of concentrating for so long. Back my table, everyone complimented me; patting me on the back, shaking my hand, or simply saying a kind phrase.

"I never knew you had it in you, Haru!" exclaimed my mother, giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I rolled my eyes in amusement.

"I never knew you could be so artistic. I've never seen you do anything like that before. I was actually worried when I saw the blocks of gold being brought in. You never cease to amaze me, my dear son!" said my father.

"Let's just put it this way… I was seriously desperate to do something. That was the best I could think of, and it was very risky. I'm just glad that it went okay," I tried to explain.

"Okay! Okay? It was more than just "okay"! It was earth-shatteringly amazing!" he shouted, just a little too loudly. He silenced himself, looking around sheepishly.

"Whoops," he whispered, looking down at his hands on the table. I snickered.

"Thanks Dad," I said, before reaching around his neck in a manly embrace. He nodded, still slightly embarrassed.

Very soon, food was brought to every table and the feast began. I had never felt hungrier since my trip here. All that concentrating must have used a lot of energy. Also, I did feel quite dreamy; just feeling Mi Li's love again has brought my appetite back. I snuck a glance at her, and it seemed that at the same instance, she snuck a glance towards me. We shared a mutual smile for a moment, before returning to our food. There was so much food, and then dessert was served. Nevertheless, I consumed everything in my frenzy.

Immediately after dessert, it was gift time! It was the part that everyone had been anxiously waiting for. Arnook had to divide the guests into groups, because if he didn't, Mi Li would be flogged with gifts from every angle; he decided to go by tables. The first was the 'Water Tribe table'. They rose from their seats, some dashing to retrieve their gifts inside, before cueing on stage. I wanted to get up-close and see the gifts Mi Li got, so I stood up, making the excuse of having to sit by my sculpture as people viewed it.

I quickened my pace, walking past curious eyes. On stage, Mi Li was already sitting in a chair in the middle of the stage, facing out towards the audience. The table my sculpture stood on had been shifted to the far side of the stage, along with the chair. When Mi Li saw me approaching, she smiled cheerfully, before turning her attention to the first couple to present her with a gift. I quickly moved to sit down.

I tried to focus on the gifts presented to her, but I was so excited and nervous at the same time! It felt like I had been sitting there for about an hour, but it had only been a few minutes. The entire time I was staring blankly at my artwork, but I was really in a state of deep-thought as the adrenaline pulsed through my body. Soon, all the guests had presented their gifts and I still had something to give. I didn't mind saving the best till last. I gestured for my guard to come to me. He ran, before handing me the box. I took a deep breath before standing to approach her. She turned her head, smiling at me.

"My Princess," I addressed in respect. I pulled her hand up to my face, gently kissing the back of her hand. She blushed furiously.

"Haru, I've already received your sculpture – it's very special. What could you have for me?" she said in a teasing tone. I gave her the box.

"Open it," I said.

"This looks familiar – I've receive quite a number of boxes looking like this. Is it just another piece of jewellery, I wonder?" she said playfully. I just watched her, smiling. She opened the box, looking somewhat shocked.

"I shaped every piece of rock myself. I went into a number of mines and collected all that diamond and emerald. I brought it back to the palace before using earthbending to polish them. Then I searched for pure silver, before giving it to a professional jeweller to put the pieces together – that was the only part I didn't do," I explained to her, feeling rather proud of myself. When she didn't say anything, I became slightly concerned. "Are you okay?" I asked, still amused at her reaction.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I really like it. But… –" She didn't finish her sentence.

"What's wrong? Tell me," I said in a serious tone, genuinely concerned.

"It's just… Haru, being rich and having all these precious gems isn't the key to being happy," she stated.

"I know that, but I never said that it was the key to happiness," I said, confused.

"Yes, I know you never said that. But your actions imply it. What you did with the gold – that meant something. That was the most meaningful thing you could give me; it brought me tears of joy. But this… this has no significance. I know you worked hard to make it, and I love that you would go through all that trouble for me, but I feel no emotional connection to this necklace. It's all you, and not me. I don't treasure expensive jewellery like you think. We've been through so much more than this, Haru," she said disappointedly, sighing.

"I was hoping that you had learned to see past all the stuff about greatness. I don't care about being rich, I don't care about being powerful, I don't care about being famous; all I care about is having enough of everything in my life to keep me well-fed and healthy, to keep me safe from enemies, to keep me sheltered from the harsh elements, and to keep me close to the people I care about. If I have achieved that, then I'm satisfied. I appreciate what you're giving me, Haru. But this is not what I need in my life. I need you – the old you that didn't care about being King; about being 'good enough' for me!" she said in a frustrated tone.

I heard the pain in her voice. She was breathing unevenly and shaking. But before I could say anymore, her eyes welled up with tears and she sprinted inside. Seeing her in so much pain made me feel guilty and angry with myself; it broke my heart watching the tears spilling down the sides of her face. I ignored the curious gazes from the guests and sprinted after her. I ran inside the building, and found her crouched in a corner to hide from prying eyes. Without thinking I grabbed her by the shoulders, turned her sharply towards me, and pulled her into my arms. Never had I felt more friction between us.

"Mi Li, I'm sorry. I know I haven't exactly been myself. But you have to understand – I've changed for the better. I've never been stronger, wiser, or happier in my life. I'm here for you now," I said.

"Oh Haru, I know you've changed for the better, and I promise to try and accept who you are now. But… it might be too late," she said between sobs.

"What? How? Why would it be too late?" I asked, confused and concerned by her statement. I pulled her away from me slightly, so that I could look at her properly. She gazed at me for a moment, and I saw the pain reaped in her vibrant violet eyes. My eyes began to water, and she turned her face away.

"Because… because…" she tried to say.

"What? Tell me…" I urged her gently.

"I'm sorry, Haru. I think I'm falling for someone else," she whispered shamefully. I was stunned by her words. I didn't respond; I just froze in place, holding her arms stiffly. I felt my breath falter, and the tears were on the brink of spilling.

"Get away from her!" another guy's voice shouted. I turned in the direction of the intruder. It was Toshiro, that thief. He hurried to Mi Li's side, pulling her from my reach, before shoving me in the chest.

"No, Toshiro! It's not his fault!" Mi Li pleaded him. Now it was becoming obvious to me.

"So he's the one! You're falling for him?" I asked her, pointing critically at Toshiro.

"Yeah, she has feelings for me, and it's not her fault. She's free to love whoever she wants to!" Toshiro yelled in my face, standing protectively in front of Mi Li.

"You're right. It's not her fault. It's yours!" I shouted back in his face.

"No! Guys, please… stop it! You're going to attract attention. Please keep it down," Mi Li begged from behind him.

"Don't worry, Mi Li. The attention won't be on you. Tomorrow, I'll be out by the glaciers to the east of here. I'll meet you there, unless you're not man enough to fight me!" I confidently challenged Toshiro.

"No, Toshiro! Please don't do this," Mi Li begged miserably.

"Sounds like a fair challenge. I'll be seeing you there." Toshiro accepted. I nodded and turned around, heading back outside into the courtyard. I swallowed back unshed tears, blinking my eyes a bit. I took a deep breath and tried to look as natural as I could.

Some of the guests looked at me strangely, as though I had done something wrong. I ignored them and continued walking. I returned to the table where my parents were sitting. When the other adult guests saw me approaching, they broke their conversations with my parents and moved away – they knew my parents were going to want to speak privately with me. I sat down and they immediately started questioning me.

"What just happened? Mi Li wasn't herself. Is she okay?" my mother asked, concerned.

"What did you do? What did you say to her? You must have done something wrong! And what was all that yelling? I could recognise your voice from here!" my father asked in a more critical tone, criticising me.

"I didn't do anything wrong! Mi Li just didn't like what I gave her, and she's upset because she feels guilty," I answered vaguely.

"Why does she feel guilty?" asked my mother, puzzled. I hesitated, swallowing hard.

"She has feelings for Toshiro," I stated plainly. My parents gazed at each other in silence.

"Then what about the yelling? It wasn't just your voice, and it definitely wasn't Mi Li's. Was it him?" my father asked, calmer now. I nodded, looking at the ground. He sighed, thinking.

"What did he say?" he asked. I sighed.

"He pushed me, thinking he was protecting Mi Li. So I challenged him to a fight."

"What?" they chorused together, expressing the same shock.

"He accepted my challenge. So tomorrow, I'm meeting him on the rocky plains by the glaciers where I can earthbend," I explained emotionlessly.

"But what good will fighting bring? You know the consequences of war, but you don't seem to have learned! What even happens to the winner… or loser?" he asked, frustrated.

"I… I don't know. Maybe the winner will get more recognition from Mi Li," I said, realising I hadn't thought much further than the fight. My parents sighed and my father slapped his palm onto his forehead.

"You don't know? Maybe the winner will get recognition? All this trouble, over a girl?" he asked, waving his hands in the air. His last statement hurt my feelings.

"She's not just any girl, dad! I love her, and you know it. You've supported me before. Why not now, when I need it the most?" I asked angrily.

"Why? Because this is just foolish! Mi Li is a wonderful girl – I agree on that – and I'd be proud if she was to be your wife one day. But this is just stupidity! You don't need to go to such extremes for one girl! Her loving you is not a matter of life. Do you wish to fight to the death then?" he hissed, trying not to shout. I remained silent for a long moment before answering.

"This won't be a fight to the death. We both know better than to risk our lives; we're too important to our nations. But if it was, yes – I would fight to the death."

He folded his arms and shook his head in disappointment, leaning back into his chair in fatigue. He then muttered something inaudible. I just rolled my eyes.

Soon, Mi Li was back outside. She looked quite normal again, though I could tell she had her makeup redone. It wasn't long before she was back onto the stage.

"Everyone, I'd like to thank you all for attending tonight's party. This night has truly been memorable, but only because of your presence. You all know of my life; a large portion of it was spent living in terror. But many of you of have also endured the hardest moments of the war. It is that experience that bonds us together. Now that those times are behind us, we look to the future for happiness and prosperity." She took a deep breath.

"It means a lot to me to be spending my sixteenth birthday with so many of my friends and family. I've never had a gathering this large, and I've never at any one time in my life, felt so accepted and loved by so many people. It's given me hope for the future, just knowing that I am supported. So, I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. I hope you have enjoyed tonight's performances and the feast. All this is thanks to Chief Arnook's generosity, for he allowed this wonderful celebration to occur. Please applaud him. Thank you, Chief Arnook," she finished her speech, clapping. I followed the crowd, applauding for Arnook.

"The day has come to an end, and unfortunately, so has this party. Once again, I thank you all for coming and I hope that you have enjoyed this day as much as I have. May those who aren't staying in the palace please make their way to the entrance. The guards have lit the path for you," she announced. I stood up and immediately headed inside the palace. Without any hesitation, I had a bath and went to bed. But I found it difficult to sleep. The thought of Mi Li being tricked by Toshiro, played on my mind. But I knew I needed to rest. I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep from emotional exhaustion.

The sun shone into my eyes when I woke. It was sunrise, and it was the day of the duel. Without hesitating I refreshed myself, changed, ate a quick breakfast, and grabbed a buffalo-yak from the stable. I immediately headed east, and arrived at the same place I came to release my anger. I pushed the layer of snow away, and began to practice. With seismic sense I was sure to be unbeatable.

A few hours later, Mi Li arrived on her eelhound. She halted it by some trees and ran to me.

"Mi Li, you're here! Where's Toshiro? Did he bail at the last moment?" I mocked.

"No, he's on his way now. My eelhound is very fast. Oh, and he's not alone. Everyone is coming to watch. I tried telling them not to, but they wouldn't listen," she explained, between huffs.

"That's great; the more people watching, the better. I'll make his loss quick and embarrassing," I said coldly.

"Haru, that's not like you. Please stop this," she said, anxiously.

"Let's face it – you don't know me anymore. You'll just have to get familiar with me again. It would be good to start accepting that this is me," I told her as simply as I could. She turned away, disheartened. I wanted to be gentle on her, but I had to win this duel to prove that I was better and that I loved her more. I turned my back on her to resume my practice.

"Then I definitely don't love you," she stated. I turned to her again.

"What are you talking about? We've been through so much together – how could you not love me anymore, just like that? You love that Haru you knew six years ago. I was still that same Haru you knew last year, and I still am the same Haru now!"

"No, you're not the same Haru you were all those years ago. You are Haru, but you've changed too much. You're a different Haru – the kind that doesn't see clearly anymore. Your mind is clouded by visions of grandeur; becoming King has only made you worse. Instead of seeing what's simple and in front of your face, you look into the distance and you search for riches and try to achieve things that people have only ever dreamed of being able to do. You're right – I don't know you anymore. And it's too late to start over. I love Toshiro, like I once loved you. Except there's nothing to hold me back, like there was between you and me. There's no need to fight anymore; I've made my decision. Come back to the palace," she said, walking back to her eelhound.

"No! Do you think I'll leave, just like that? I won't! Toshiro and I are having a duel. I'm going to prove my love for you by winning," I called out. She stopped and turned.

"Then it seems you don't know me as well as you thought. Did you really think this duel will help me decide who I love? Well, I'm telling you now that it won't!" she shouted.

"You can't stop me from changing my mind Mi Li. Toshiro and I are going to duel!"

"No you aren't. I'm going to tell him. He'll listen to me."

"Oh, really? Well, he didn't listen to you last night – so why would he now? He wants to fight just as much as I do!" I argued. She was silenced, thinking.

"Then I'll have to offer him something you feared when you arrived. I'll ask him to marry me."

"What? No way! You wouldn't dare!" I yelled.

"You think so? You underestimate my feelings for him, and his feelings for me. I wanted to give you a second chance, so I tried to buy you some time. But you've pushed me too far."

"No! You're just saying that to throw me off my game!" I stared at her, shocked and confused.

"Am I? Well, here's a dare – watch me ask him. You can read my lips." She dared me in the coldest manner I had ever seen from her. I was shocked – she was beating me at my own game! No, I had to remain focused and deal with Toshiro as quickly as I could. I ignored Mi Li's attempts at confusing me, and returned to my bending. Soon the crowd arrived in carriages being pulled by buffalo-yaks. I knew of one person who would've been pleased to be here. The carriages stopped and everyone stepped out. Most of the young people were here – Toph, Katara, Sokka, the Kyoshi Warriors, Zuko, Azula, Denzo, and Aang. The only adults present were my parents and Iroh.

"Earth!" Toph cried out in relief. I chuckled. Toshiro approached the grounds.

"You actually came. I'm impressed," I called out to Toshiro. He chuckled.

"Yeah, well I couldn't let the crowd down." Mi Li came up to him sweetly.

"Toshiro, please don't do this. It's stupid and pointless – I've made my decision and I don't have feelings for Haru anymore. He's a disappointment and I don't love him like I used to. We should all just go back now, before anyone gets hurt for no reason," she tried to persuade him.

"Mi Li, he challenged me and I accepted it. We made a deal, and you can't just undo it. And there is a reason – we're fighting for you."

"Toshiro, this is not going to decide who I love, or who loves me most. This is only going to show who got the most wounds. I'll let you marry me if you promise not to fight." I stiffened at her words. Toshiro thought for a moment, before looking me in the eye.

"Hmm, I must say Mi Li; it's a very tempting offer. The thought of it makes me crave you even more. But I think that's too sudden a decision, especially for you. I don't want to destroy your innocence too soon," he said in a dreamy, but disappointed tone. Mi Li's jaw dropped, and she stared at him incredulously. He chuckled, just before kissing her on the forehead. I felt like leaping in triumph, but I still had a battle to win.

"Well, what did I say, Mi Li? You see – it takes a guy… to know a guy," I stated, folding my arms definitively. She just stomped off in aggravation. I wasn't going to waste anymore of my time. I stepped back and moved into my stance. Toshiro did the same. Everyone watched in silence. Toshiro and I gazed each other in the eye, making sure to never wander from our target. I delivered the first strike.

A wave of earth, a flying boulder, a column of rock; I threw as many attacks as I could at him. Yet, he seemed to manage to dodge everything. Then, I gestured for him to attack. He acknowledge, throwing whatever he could at me; ice daggers, ice discs, water wave, ice boulders. I easily deflected all of his attacks. It seemed like we were even, but I wanted to play a bit. I gestured for him to attack again.

This time, he tried coming up close – exactly what I wanted. I charged at me, leaped and surfed on an ice slide in an attempt to get around me. I predicted where he would come around, and I raised the rock to protrude sharply from the ground. Not realising I could react so quickly, he was hit by the rock and thrown a few metres backwards. He got back up groaning; he was stunned, but still able to fight.

"No! Please, stop this!" Mi Li cried out, but I ignored her words.

I gestured for Toshiro to attack me again. He acknowledged, trying to use the water to get around me. A circle of water closed in on me, turning into ice shards that would slice me to pieces. I countered it effortlessly by raising the rock to form a protective wall around me. It would've seemed that because of the wall I had lost my vision. But through seismic vision I could see everything. I raised the rock under Toshiro's feet and sent him flying high in the air, before landing painfully on the cold ground. I dropped the wall. I watched as he stood with a lot of difficulty, shaking from the impact. I knew he wouldn't last long in this fight.

"Stop, Haru!" Zuko called from the crowd. I stared at him, unsurprised. Then he casually removed his jacket and walked onto our makeshift arena. Was he going to fight me?

"What are you doing, Zuko?" I asked loudly.

"You have to stop. You've won this fight; Toshiro's been hurt enough. If you continue this, then you are a bully," he spoke calmly.

"No! I can still fight!" Toshiro called out hoarsely, grabbing painfully at his abdomen. Everyone watched him in silence for a few seconds.

"I thought you might say that. I'll help you," he offered. I stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Hey! That's not allowed!" I shouted.

"Well, you have higher abilities than the both of us put together. This might help even the odds. You aren't afraid, are you?" Zuko mocked, with a smug smile. I gritted my teeth.

"Bring it on!" I called out.

He didn't need any indications – he struck first, sending a huge flame my way! I blocked the fire with a wall of rock. I looked at him; he was confident. But I had the skills to take them both. Suddenly, Toshiro stood, sending more water around me. I had to deflect attacks from both sides now! I decided I couldn't play defence all day, so I used seismic sense again. I saw where they stood and attacked them both simultaneously.

I sent the rock beneath their feet rising. They just couldn't predict when I would use it. Zuko managed to jump out of range of my first attack, but the moment he landed back on the ground, I catapulted him backwards. He rolled to a stop, grunting from the force. Toshiro was no better, falling down again in a pitiful heap. I removed my wall of earth and observed the scene.

The crowd was gasping and murmuring at the state of the contestants. Slowly, Toshiro and Zuko rose to their feet. I readied myself moving back into my stance. Aang stepped forward from the audience.

"Stop this, Haru! It's over – you've won!" He shouted. I stared expressionlessly at him.

"It's not over – look, they're back in their stances," I argued calmly.

"Stop it, Haru! You've gone too far! End this fight now or I'm banishing you from the Northern Water Tribe!" Mi Li threatened. I turned my gaze to her.

"You don't have that authority yet, Princess. But if you wish…" I said, dryly. I knew what she meant by 'end the fight', but I intended to end it my way. With immense speed, I punched my fist hard into the ground. From the point of contact, two waves of earth were sent hurling in the direction of Toshiro and Zuko; both too wounded to effectively dodge the attack.

But before the waves of earth could touch them, a blur of white sliced into the ground, blocking my attack. Toshiro and Zuko were cut from my view, hidden behind a tall thick wall of ice. I turned to the source of the defensive barrier, and found that it was Mi Li. She stood in her stance, staring at me determinedly.

"What are you doing? You're not going to fight me, are you?" I called out. A disappointed smile appeared on her face.

"No," she answered plainly.

Then before I had time to react, she pulled the snow from the environment around me and turned it into water. I just managed to raise a wall of rock for defence, but she controlled so much water that it encased my entire body (except my face), and turned into ice! I yelled out in rage.

"What are you doing? Let me out of here!" I shouted in defiance.

"I'm sorry, Haru. You wouldn't listen to me, so I had to stop you myself. I'm taking you back to the palace, whether you like it or not!" she announced audaciously.

I grunted as I attempted to budge, but the ice was so thick and solid that I couldn't even twitch. If I couldn't move, I couldn't earthbend. I decided my efforts would be futile, so I relaxed and remained silent. Everyone returned to the carriages while Mi Li got on her eelhound. Iroh mounted the buffalo-yak I came on, to make room in one of the carts. The ice that contained me creaked, before being lifted gently into the air. Carefully, Mi Li placed me in the carriage with free space and we started on our way back. My parents sat in the same carriage, and they glanced at me disapprovingly… all the way to the palace.