A woman stood in the a large palace made of ice.
This woman, Queen Khione, had long light blue hair tied into pigtails on either side of her head. The hair ties were dark blue, and her robes and furs were shades of blue as well.
At sixteen years of age, Khione has a tall and slender build, blue eyes, rosy cheeks, thin pink lips, a small nose, long light blue hair, and very pale skin.
Khione wore a teal dress with a sweetheart bodice with bronze trim and dark teal, maroon and purple rosemaling on the skirt and bodice, a black long-sleeved turtleneck blouse with red and teal crystal-shaped prints on it, a magenta cape, a gold tiara, dark brown flats with gold outlines and teal stockings underneath, and her hair woven in a French braided crown twist bun held together with a blue ribbon. The dress had a velvet texture though it has a large fur collar with small stones inside, and a small V-shaped cut at the center that exposed a purple undershirt. The skirt of the dress was pale blue and translucent like her cape. Her cape was split in two, like fairy wings, attached to the back of the dress. Her arms and legs were bare and covered with runes. Her eyelids have a dusting of purple eye shadow and she wears magenta lipstick.
This woman, the Ice Queen of the North, was the only reason the Fire Nation had yet to invade the city. A prodigious waterbender, she had single-handedly built the Northern Wall.
And yet...
Khione crossed her legs in lotus position and sat in front of a giant fireplace in the throne room. Just as she did every day at sunrise.
Her bright blue eyes flashed a crimson red and the flames leaped abnormally. In the shadows of the fire she saw Zhao preparing his army to invade the North.
Images played in shadows dancing in the sacred flame; the fire leapt out at her—and stopped.
Khione stood.
"The Avatar has arrived."
Xxx
Team Avatar was being honored with a feast, hosted by the Queen Khione, whom they had yet to see. Men played drums and a giant crab was set in a pool of water.
Queen Khione finally came out onto the terrace. She was holding a small Swan Cub.
The Swan Cub resembled a bear cub with the wings and flight pattern of a Swan. Aang was surprised; he had never known one to be friendly to a human.
"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe." Khione said. "And they have brought with them, someone very special, someone whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now ... the Avatar!"
The crowd applauded and cheered.
Khione smiled, a cold smile that did not reach the Queen's eyes. "May the Moon and Water Spirit watch over us. Now, let us watch Master Pakku and his students!"
Pakku and two students bent significant blobs of water, captivating Aang and Katara. They merged the three blobs into one stream, bending it around each other. Aang went over to Queen Khione and bowed to her.
"Thank you for your hospitality Queen Khione." Aang said.
"You are very welcome, Avatar Aang." Khione smiled.
"I'd like to hear more about the Northern Water Tribe." Aang said. "Are you a Waterbender too? I heard you created the Northern Wall on your own! Would you teach me?"
Katara watched them jealously. "Ice Queen... "
She muttered.
"I'm not a Waterbender." Khione said sharply. "You are mistaken, Avatar Aang."
"No I'm sure I heard that—"
"You. Are Mistaken." Khione said with finality. "If you want to learn from a Waterbending Master, you will learn from, Ah, Master Pakku! So good to see you."
The two bowed formally to each other.
"Master Pakku, meet your newest student, the Avatar." Khione said.
Aang bowed.
"Just because you're destined to save the world, don't expect any special treatment." Pakku snapped.
"My friend and I can't wait to start training with you! After we relax for a couple of days." Aang said eagerly.
"If you want to relax, then I suggest visiting a tropical island. If not, I'll see you both at sunrise. Good night." Pakku said sharply.
Xxx
That night Aang looked over at Katara and Sokka.
"I just don't understand it." Aang said. "Why is the Queen so...so cold-hearted?"
"Yeah she's an ice queen alright." Katara snapped.
"She got mad when you asked her about Waterbending, right Aang?" Sokka said. "Well a leader like Queen Khione has to sacrifice everything for her people. She probably had to put her bending days behind her. You just have to choose duty over heart."