Sokka sighed as he slumped down on the couch next to Katara. "You know when we were younger, I never thought we would have to deal with this. Even when I started partnering with Suki and Aang decided to go solo." Katara had turned down the volume on the tv watching herself do six shotgun spins then another nine in a y-spin. "Who would have thought I'd ever be a part of a gang that just started? A gang to go against dad."

Katara shifted slightly to put her soda on the coffee table, "I think Aang has an uncle that can see into the future. Or at least get these feelings that he knows something is going to happen."

"Kat," Sokka nudged his sister. "You were kidnapped and then locked in a basement because someone wanted cash." Katara's eyebrows furrowed and she bit her lip. "We were just regular kids, ice skating because mom loved the winter. Sure, we knew how to kick start a motorcycle before being able to do basic algebra but at least we were normal." Sokka crossed his arms and wiggled himself into the couch a little more.

Katara sighed and nodded her understanding. "I don't think being brought up to be a motorcycle leader is normal. Nor being an ice skating protégé. But here we sit." Katara clicked on another video of a gala event. They sat through the video in silence. "Is Suki okay?"

Sokka nodded and looked down the hallway, as if saying her name would make her appear. "I think so," He sighed and relaxed farther into couch.

"When are you finally going to ask her out?"

Sokka is quick to turn and open his mouth in defense. But with Katara's raised eyebrow his jaw clinks shut. He glares and turns back to the tv. "Are we going to watch that one with the all the feathers?"

"Oh, my spirits!" Katara starts searching through the files for the video of one of the first skates she did. It was a small recital with a few of the other beginning skaters. It was supposed to be a "story" about a bear hibernating. Katara was dressed as a bunny and had a pillow to put under the bear's head. But during one of her bunny hops she slid and fell on top of the pillow and poof! All the pillows fluff and feathers came out. Katara cringed as the moment started to come closer and closer. She closed her eyes and chuckled a long with the crowd in the video as young Katara flattens the pillow.

Sokka is bursting into laughter, "Look! You look so worried about the pillow." Sokka laughs as the younger version of Katara has her hands wrapped around the middle of the pillow so no more stuffing falls out. Her eyes are so focused on the pillow she misses her cue to skate off the ice and an older skater has to take her hand and help her off the ice.

"Like the whole pillow was gone when I got up!" Katara slapped his shoulder. "Now stop trying to change the subject." She turned to her brother. "When are you going to ask her out?"

"It's been a little too crazy the past couple…"

"No," Katara shook her head. "You need to tell her how you feel, Sokka."

"It will mess up everything. You know in skating it makes things complicated if you date your partner."

Katara nodded, she did know. She had this massive crush on her previous partner. But when he moved on to do more, it broke her heart. Then she started working singles again and soon found her way again. Now more than ever she loved being on the ice. She loved skating alone. Sure, she missed the partner, but having the ice to herself was like a dream come true.

"Do you think she would say yes?"

Katara began laughing so hard she snorted. Sokka rolled his eyes and shoved at Katara.


Zuko landed on his ass yet again and then spread out on the ice. He groaned and just continued to lay there. He had gotten down the waltz jump and shakily the loop jump but then Aang decided that maybe he could also learn the Salchow. Zuko was positive that last landing caused his whole right side to bruise.

Zuko was breathing heavily when Aang had skated to a stop at his head, "You almost got it. You just got to…"

Zuko slapped Aang's hand away as he reached for him, "Ugh, just I'm done for today."

"But I think-," Aang was cut off by the groan from Zuko. "Okay, okay. We can take a break."

Zuko finally sat up and looked at him, "How much longer until your ankle heals up?"

Aang shifted in his skates and shook out his leg, "It really wasn't that bad, plus I was already off the ice for a week and a half before Katara found out. It's fine."

"Cool," Zuko began to shift to get up and Aang held out a hand. Zuko took it anyway.

"How about the plans? You think we can really sneak into your jurisdiction and get your dad's stuff?" Aang asked leaning hard against is good foot to help lift Zuko.

"Probably not but hey we will need those documents to get the police on our side and the Dai Lee out of here." Zuko scrubbed his head and rubbed at his side as they made their way off the ice.

"You know maybe we should just do a parley?"

Zuko chuckled, "We're motorcyclists not pirates."

"Well I mean it would be better right?" Aang sat next to Zuko as Zuko pulled off his skates. "We could just talk to them and get them to leave."

"That won't work. You can't trust them." Zuko said stuffing the skates in a backpack he brought with him.

"But your dad did, once right?" Aang looked at him with a frown.

"My father knows the Dai Lee and Southern Raiders. The Fire Nation used to ride with them back a long time ago. Then something happened and the Fire Nation split off and we blocked them off. The meeting my father did with them was a biannual meeting. Just another agreement of terms to keep them from the Fire Nation." Zuko shoved his feet into his tennis shoes and pulled out his phone to see if he had any texts from Katara. "What we are asking for, there is no way they would be down for that. It takes away almost half the state if we manage a no sale contract with them. It will be a steep price."

"So, you are willing to send your father and the Fire Nation, possibly including yourself, to jail," Aang leaned over on his knees. "Just so the police might help out and make them leave. You'd leave a lot of people unprotected from the Dai Lee."

Zuko sat back, "But the possibility that the Dai Lee and the Southern Raiders will be behind bars are far bigger."

"Are they?" Aang stood and walked over to the wall and leaned over the ice. "Because-,"

"Hey guys!" Katara's voice rang out over the ice. She practically ran down the steps to Zuko. "What are you guys doing here?" Her smile faulted as she noticed the thick atmosphere. "Everything okay?" Katara looked Aang over and then glared at his feet. "Aang you're supposed to be resting!"

"I am! Promise!" Aang said with his hands up.

"I didn't know you guys would be here." Sokka called down to them as he followed his sister's path much more slowly. "How much longer are you going to let Katara boss you around?" Sokka crossed his arms over his chest and looked to. "I heard you were doing quads in your new routine."

"I guess you'll just have to wait and see it at the competition." Aang shrugged and sent a small glare over to Katara. "Because my ankle is so bad, I only plan on doing two. But you best believe when nationals come around… I'll be doing all four. Maybe more."

"That sounds really cool and difficult." Zuko comments as he stands and throws his backpack over his shoulder.

"I'd say it was," Sokka smirked like he could pull off something easily. "Spinning around four times in mid-air. It's gravity defying."

Aang beamed, "I'm really excited because the song I chose is so perfect too."

"If you could just stay off that foot," Katara grumbled and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, come on you aren't his mother," Sokka nudged his sister. "Let's see that piece you are going to do for the short skate. The swan lake one."

Katara rolled her eyes at the subject change. She really did need to practice. Katara started opening her bag for her skates, when Zuko leaned over to her. "What are you doing here with Aang?"

"Uh," Zuko scratched the back of his neck. The slight throb in his butt a constant reminder of all the times he had fallen today.

Katara shook her head, "You don't have to cover for him you know? He knows he can't be on the ice."

"Ha, right. Sorry." Zuko looked away from Katara hoping she would believe him.

"So, you're going to stay and watch my new routine, right? Katara smiled. "You know, since you'll be busy during its debut."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I'll miss it." Zuko sat his backpack back down.

"Good," Katara turned and handed Sokka her cd. "Play track one. I changed the music for the first set."

Katara skated a few laps while she waited for Sokka to get her music ready. She stretched her arms out and did a few simple jumps. Sokka flashed the lights to let her know he was ready. Katara took a breath as she skated to the center. She let it out as she gave a thumbs up to her brother and sat in her first pose.

She bent over, one wrist draped over the other and her head bow. It was a typical pose people usually thought of when they heard the name swan lake. Katara took a deep breath as the music started.

It started out looking very ballet-esque. She moved so graceful and when the song began to build Katara was right there to give it all her strength. He held his breath as the first break in music Katara jumped into the splits. She continued to give it her all, with easy step sequenced and then a double loop double toe. Her landing was sloppy, and she tripped slightly her hands touching the ground before she found her footing again. She continued through her piece.

Zuko could see the small struggles as she tried to keep it upbeat of the new song. He thought he noticed a ballet move in some steps. But Zuko also thought this was ballet on ice in most ways.

"Oh. My. Spirits." Suki whispered beside him as Katara began spinning. It was quick with multiple and her leg spun out a few times then bring it close in. She then lowered herself back into a sitting spin.

"What?" Zuko followed Katara's movements.

"She integrated fouettés in her piece." Suki whistled. "That will bring in some style points."

"Foo who?"

"Fouetté." Suki rolled her eyes. "It's a ballet move. Swan Lake is known for the multiple fouettés done in one act."

"Right." Zuko nodded and clenched his jaw as he watched Katara struggle again with her landing.

"It's the spins she did." Suki hissed as Katara hit the ice. She moved to skate onto the ice and over to Katara. Katara was brushing extra ice from herself.

"That is what happens when you get distracted."

The deep male voice had Zuko's head snapping to the side. Hakoda stood in Suki's place. Zuko quickly looked back to the ice with wide eyes. He stood as still as he could and held his breath.

"I may be a motorcycle gang leader. But I do know that if you get distracted and don't practice, you mess up more." Hakoda leaned on the boards and watched as Suki helped Katara up.

"Right, uh I can go." Zuko began to move away.

"Some distractions are good though," Hakoda continued on. "They make you step back and really look at your world."

Zuko paused and looked from the girls on the ice to the man next to him. "Sir?"

"Katara needed a break. She has her whole life ahead of her. She needs to have fun. Ever since her mother died…" Hakoda shook his head, "She's a strong girl, son, just like her mother. She'll nail this routine and the one after that too." Hakoda slapped the boards and all heads flew up to look at the two of them.

"Dad!" Katara smiled but it stretched too far up. Zuko wondered if that was from pain or the fact Zuko was standing next to the one person practically keeping them away from each other.

"She's also dang stubborn. I figured one of these trips to the skating rink and you'd be here." Hakoda turned to Zuko. "Both of my children seem to think I need to open up my ears a little more." Hakoda crossed his arms. "So, I'm listening."

Zuko swallowed and tried to find his strength.

"A Parley!"

Hakoda's left eyebrow lifted as Aang popped around Zuko. "A what?"

"A parley." Aang went on with a smile. "We get everyone together, talk it over, immunity, of course, for everyone. No guns allowed."

"I know what a parley is…" Hakoda shook his head. "But we aren't pirates. We're motorists."

"It was just a suggestion," Zuko mumbled. "We have a plan."

"Let's hear it."

"Right, so," Zuko rubbed the back of his neck. "My dad has these files, old files, that could lock the Dai Lee up for good." Zuko swallowed and he heard a little commotion as Katara and Suki make it off the ice. "But they also incriminate my father and a few of the senior members of the Fire Nation. And I know my dad… He's not the nicest of guys but…" Zuko let out a breath and his hands fell to his side. "That is if we can find law enforcement that is not a part of either gang."

Hakoda put a hand on his shoulder. "This sounds like a good plan so far."

"There's more to it because the files are well hidden in a safe in my father's office." Zuko looked up to Hakoda. "I can't sneak in. My sister has tried a few times. Everyone close to my father would let him know what I'm after." Zuko looked around the small group. "We have a small space of time in which my father and the whole gang will be out in two weeks, but the competitions put the majority of the team in Crescent Island."

"That's not too far from here. I'm sure we could get the files and get out in time. You have the support of the SouthernWaters." Hakoda smiled to Zuko. "It's a good plan. If anything, you have a backup plan." Hakoda nodded his head to Aang.


I'm back! :D

After a whole year. Here I am! I have finished the story. I'll be posting the final two chapters very soon. So hit that like button and follow me! Also I'd love to hear what you guys think!