Disclaimer: We all know that the TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender is a great one, which we all love, right? Well, guess what. I DO NOT own IT or ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. So suck it up and deal, you filthy peasant.

C/A/N: As a warning for this chapter, the Point of View changes… okay, only once. Anyway, so don't get confused! I put a little notey saying when the POV switches from one character to another, so it shouldn't be that difficult. Oh, by the way: the song lyrics from the last chapter are a modified excerpt from an LDS (Mormon) CD with the song title, "Broken." And by 'modified excerpt,' I mean I tweaked the libretto in a few places, cut out and replaced a few words, and added my own verse to make it fit the story better. So nobody come after me with a flaming axe because I stole a Mormon song! I DIDN'T steal it! I credit them here. ;

Oh, and by the way; C-A-N stands for "Chapterly Author's Note." Just wanted to clear that up.

Chapter Two: New Meetings and Old Memories

Dressed and ready, Alrea stepped out of the inn with her duffle bag slung over one shoulder, quiver of arrows across the other, and little purse of money dangling around her neck. She wore simple Earth Kingdom clothing, which was the nation she was born in, if you didn't already know; a white shift on underneath a loose green tunic, and brown breeches tucked into the lip of shin-length, black, heel-less boots. Her mid-back length dark brown hair was pulled back, as was her norm, into a simple ponytail that swished and swayed with every step she took. She was the picture of relaxed gaiety, ice blue eyes simply gleaming with elation.

Alrea didn't have to walk far to her destination—the docks—for the inn at which she had stayed the night was the "Seaside Inn," a pathetic little place, but it was cheap and provided a bed for a few nights. Anyway, her plan was to sit down at a bench and wait awhile until her eavesdropping on nearby conversations brought news of a ship preparing to leave now somewhere far away that she had not yet been to. She would then zero in on that particular craft and sneak onto it, stowing-away somewhere inside and waiting out the trip. This would provide her with a whole, new, untapped territory for her "illusions" business, a free ride there, and the bonus of not having to explain who she was, where she'd come from, and what exactly she was planning to do in such-and-such-a-place. It was the perfect strategy, until she ran into a passerby while she'd been lost in thought.

And I mean literally ran into.

"Hey, watch where you're going you numbskull!" burst from her lips before she'd even had a chance to reorient herself or see whom it was she'd nearly knocked over. When her head finally had cleared, a somewhat tall, but still shorter than her, figure in blue came into focus.

"I-I'm sorry," was all the person said. It was a girl of probably fourteen years, wearing the Water Tribe colors with her hair pulled back in a long braid. She's cute, Alrea thought, but with some satisfaction, though I'm more developed. Then surprised, she wondered, Why do I care? I hate boys. They're retarded and think of nobody but themselves. Re-convinced, she shook her head emphatically at the younger girl she'd nearly trampled.

"No, it's my fault. And I apologize for yelling at you. Are you alright?" The girl nodded.

"I'm fine," she replied with a smile, "I'm Katara, by the way. What's your name?" Alrea's mind kicked into gear fast, trying to think up a believable alias, but she dropped the idea. As far as she knew, this girl was being completely honest and kind with her, she owed it to her to do the same.

"Alrea," she answered simply, "of the Earth Kingdom town, Morrano." Why did I use that town's name, the sixteen year old shouted at herself in her mind, they're the ones who expelled me when it was all that stupid BOY'S fault. On the inside she was raging up an angry storm, but on the outside her face was neutral and calm, with a heart-warming smile on her lips. 'Katara' grinned back and held out her hand to shake while she asked, "Where were you going in such a hurry anyway?" Alrea's smile turned into a good-humored one and as she accepted the offered hand, she responded a bit sheepishly, "Nowhere, actually. I was planning on getting out of this town, but my plan was a little…stupid, so I abandoned it." Katara beamed.

"If you've got nowhere to go, why don't you come with us?" she invited and Alrea became confused.

"Who's us?" she queried, head cocked to one side. And not anytime too soon. Out of the corner of her eye, the sixteen year old saw a figure coming up fast, a trail of road-dust trailing behind it. She blinked, and in a whirl, the person sprinting faster than the wind was almost upon her. In instinct, she threw up her arms as he stopped abruptly, and let go of a bit of energy that was welled inside her. A burst of wind suddenly circled Alrea's body, protecting her from anything and everything. Outside of her swirling mass of gusts, the teen saw a boy in mostly goldish-yellow clothes standing calmly next to Katara as though nothing had happened, until he noticed Alrea. His mouth fell open, and he stared blankly. Whereas, Katara was still trying to swipe the dust off her clothes wondering where in the heck the sudden wind was coming from.

Alrea let go of her barrier of breezes, several beads of sweat escaping her brow and falling down her face. Whether I have access to all four elements or not, she thought wearily, it is still almost impossible for me to control even one at any given time. It was only then it hit her, that all the Airbenders in the world were supposed to be dead, and she had just used her Avatar-induced Airbending skills. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out as she struggled, blank-mindedly for an excuse.

"Er…" she began, not sounding very intelligent and beating herself up mentally for it, "I, uh…Strange weather we're having?" Gosh darn, I hate it when I sound pathetic! Sending imaginary daggers at the new boy, she shouted at him with her mind. This is all your fault, idiot. I hate you and your kind! You might as well be a different species from us girls. Why are you flippin' here anyway? Just go away! The boy was oblivious to her mind-daggers though, as he continued to stare openmouthed. It was only then that Alrea realized the arrow-marks on his hands and head. Something in her head clicked.

"An Airbender?" she gasped, at the same time the boy had found his voice and said the exact thing. The boy grinned from ear to ear, obviously thrilled to have found another of his kind still alive. He ran up with the speed of only an Airbender can have, and threw his arms around her in a huge hug. Alrea blinked, eyes wide, staring at Katara unknowingly. An Airbender… she thought, but all the Airbenders were destroyed by the Fire Nation. That must mean he's the…! The teen's gaze fell on the shorter boy's arrow-marked head, and she simply stared as he hugged her, completely unaware. So…there are two of us? She wondered in shock.

A very conspicuous cough from Katara snapped her out of her reverie, and she suddenly realized that she was hugging a boy. She pushed him away with some force, seeing how he was practically glued to her. The boy was simply radiating his happiness as she set him down back next to Katara.

"Where have you been? Are there any others with you? When did the Fire Nation come? How did you escape? Where's your bison? You do have one, don't you? How'd you get away?" those and a million other questions gushed out of the poor kid's mouth, as Alrea realized she would just have to put him down explaining she wasn't an Air Nomad. But before she could open her mouth to speak, Katara spoke up.

"This is Aang," she said, gesturing at him, her voice seemed calm enough, though she was obviously as confused as he had been. Alrea looked the boy over, determining that he was probably around twelve, and definitely an Airbender. He had spoke of the traditional flying bison, anyhow.

"I-I'm sorry," Alrea said, with such a sad voice that Aang's mouth snapped shut instantly and no sound escaped his lips, "I am not… an Air Nomad…I'm sorry." Behind the boy's eyes, his soul shut down and Alrea could almost feel his happiness fade away.

"I see," was all he said, looking down and away. But then he, too realized something. "Then, how did you-?" Though he was cut off by a shout behind Alrea's back.

"Hey!" The sixteen year old whirled around, to see another figure in blue racing toward them. It ended up being a boy, a little older than Aang and Katara, also obviously a Water Tribe kid. Alrea guessed he was about her age, maybe a year younger. He came up beside her, and rested his hands on his knees, bent over double as he continued panting.

"Never…ever…run off…like that…again…Aang." The boy rasped out between breaths, "Or…at least… warn me… next… time." Alrea almost bust-out laughing at this idiot boy, having sprinted all the way here after a kid probably three years younger than he, as if he were some nanny. But she contained herself. Barely.

"And this is my brother, Sokka," Katara introduced, her voice bored-sounding. But she returned to her light-hearted-ness right after. "These are the 'we' I was talking about earlier." She explained, though Alrea had already long since figured that out on her own. The 'Sokka' looked up at Alrea, as if finally realizing she was there. He stood up, eyes alight, and disgusted, the sixteen year old realized the boy obviously liked what he saw.

"This is Alrea," Katara continued, presenting her to her companions. Alrea graciously nodded her head, giving the same effect as someone who thought they were better than whom they were being introduced to. The younger Water Tribe girl pressed on, "So, Alrea…What is your answer? Are you going to travel with us?" Aang instantly brightened, obviously ecstatic to have a new person accompanying them, and Sokka couldn't stop staring at Alrea anyway, so it didn't matter. The older teen's mind was almost visibly smoking. I haven't anywhere else to go… her mind cajoled, but the more cautious side countered, but you don't know them. You just barely met them! And besides, there are two guys here we're talking about.

Yes, the first voice agreed, but one of them is the Avatar and the other's sister is nice enough.

…He's basically drooling.

So? Is that not flattering?

No.

Fine. But he's still Katara's brother, and she's a sweet girl.

…Yes, but…

Becca never gave up on you! Alrea's mind reeled. Was she crazy? Where the heck did these voices come from? Are you going to just abandon this other girl with two, wretched males! Becca would be ashamed.

That settled it. Through her whole, inner/self-conversation—though it only lasted a second or two —Aang and Katara had time to exchange a glance that said, "She's going to say 'no,' isn't she?"

"Sounds good to me," Alrea finally answered, a smile on her face. Surprised, she knew that it wasn't one of her fake ones. Sokka basically melted in joy, eyes still fixated on her face in the idiotic puppy-crush way of the teenage boy. Aang and Katara just smiled their joy and appreciation, the younger boy taking her hand and starting off with her; probably leading her where their camp was. Looking up at the sky, Alrea realized it was getting late, and her former plan was useless by now so she decided to stay with this group of kids and offer her skills and…gifts…in exchange for their hospitality. A smile crept upon her face as she ignored Sokka who trailed behind her; this is what she had been missing for the past seven years since Becca died right before her. She had been missing the companionship of others, and now that she had it…she didn't know what to do with it but enjoy it! Alrea looked at the back of Aang's head as he basically dragged her along, then glanced at Katara running beside them with a smile on her face, too. Then at Sokka, momentarily distracted from Alrea, was trying to dislodge a big-eared white creature with wings on its arms and big green eyes. Alrea, already in a good mood, couldn't contain her laughter at his predicament. He then looked over, though, and blushed scarlet.

Alrea looked back to the front of her, and Aang turned back toward her as she did. He grinned and stuck out his tongue, challenging her to a race. Dropping her hand, he sprinted off with the wind at his back, kicking up dust in his wake. Katara and Sokka coughed, shielding their eyes and yelling after him to come back. Alrea grinned fiercely; she would not lose to a boy, let alone a twelve-year-old one. She ran off after him, using his own technique against him and also shifting the earth beneath her to speed her on her way. She soon caught the little Airbender and tapped him on the shoulder as she passed. But in her mirth she realized that she didn't know where she was going anyway, so she stopped and stuck out her arm to catch Aang as he tried to run past. It worked, and she caught him right in the chest and knocked the wind out of him. Looking down with one eyebrow raised she smirked.

"We should let Katara and Sokka catch up," she commented nonchalantly, picking dust off her sleeve in a joking way. Aang beamed at her from his position on the ground, marveling at how quickly she had been accepted into their group, and how quickly she had settled in as one of them. They laughed together as the other two Water Tribe kids finally caught up to them, Sokka too tired to complain and Katara shouting at Aang for being so reckless. Alrea had to hold onto her sides to keep from heaving over laughing.

Zuko's POV:

Not all that far away, amidst the foam-crested waves of the sea, Zuko leaned against the side of his ship enjoying the fine weather as best an aggravated teenaged Firebender could. He took a deep breath of the ocean air through his nose and let it out slowly, trying to calm himself. It had been three days since he'd last seen the Avatar's bison in the sky. Either they'd found somewhere to land, (highly likely, Zuko thought,) they turned around in the dead of night to elude him, (not as likely. The Avatar has to master all four elements, does he not? Then he would have to go to the North Pole to do so. And turning around would not get him there, Zuko assumed smugly,) or… he could not think of any other reason. Slamming his hand down on the railing, the banished Prince tried to contain his anger at his having not yet captured the Avatar. Why can't I find him?, he raged in his mind, trying hard not to melt through the railing, It's all that I have left anymore… Zuko let himself slide into a depressed sort of position, with him resting his weight on his forearms against the side of the ship. His anger faded into a sadness that overpowered his senses for the first time in a long while; luckily no one is up here to see me, he reasoned dismally. Letting out a shaky sigh, he would not let himself cry. Ever since his banishment, all he had were his sardonic uncle and this stupid quest for the Avatar that would redeem him of his honor. All the childhood he had ever known-- if you could call it that, Zuko thought bitterly—was of his father's raging temper and somebody getting hurt, usually his mother who tried so hard to protect him. Why did he want that back? He wondered on that question; maybe it was because it was all he'd ever known. But all he'd ever wanted?

Straightening up, Zuko could have slapped himself in his weakness. He had no reason to be distressed, it was only a matter of time until he had the Avatar and all would be as it should have been before his banishment. It was all his own fault anyway, for speaking out in that meeting when he should have kept his freakin' mouth shut!

"Prince Zuko," his uncle Iroh called, breaking him out of his reverie, "We have found the Avatar." That was enough for him; he was already turning around and walking towards his uncle asking "Are you sure?" before Iroh could take another breath. The older man smiled.

"Would I lie to you?" Zuko glared.

"It would probably depend on the situation, but yes. You would." Iroh sighed, shaking his head at his nephew. So much happened in his young life… he was always so serious as of late.

"I'm not now, Prince Zuko," he assured, leading the way to the front room of the ship where the captain was steering. Upon entering the room, the banished teen saw only a table with two chairs settled around it and a map laid out on top of it, the captain at the helm, (wheel, whatever,) and…not much else of interest. So, taking a chair at the table after nodding a greeting to the captain, Zuko waited for Iroh to speak. And so he did.

"We have heard from some insiders at a nearby island, that they have seen a group of teens that match the descriptions of the Avatar and his little gang." As the retiree spoke he pointed to a fairly large island within a league or two from where they approximately were at sea.

"Why haven't we set a course?" Zuko demanded, recognizing he'd not felt the ship change direction all day. Iroh smiled, his eyes showing he was laughing inside.

"There was no need, Prince Zuko," he explained, glad he knew something his nephew didn't, "we were already headed for that island anyway. Seeing how there is a fair number of our spies there, and how it is the nearest to us out of the…scarce others, we were already going to replenish supplies there before we found out about the Avatar being there. Isn't that just a nice coincidence for us?" Zuko blinked that he had not realized this earlier.

"Of course," though, was all he said, then with a simple, serious nod and firm 'good work' to the captain, he turned on his heel and left the hold. Iroh sighed and let him go, he needed to roll up the map anyway. And after that I will get some tea… he thought contentedly, I wonder if we still have some ginseng. It is my favorite!

Zuko, above deck, had removed his armor and shirt; placing the former on a nearby bench and the latter on a hook nearby resting on the wall. Standing calmly, he took deep breaths through his nose, and exhaled through his mouth; preparing himself for training. Facing the stern of the ship in a simple battle-ready position, he knew he had to rid himself of some emotions. Thoughts returning to the… queer daydream he'd had earlier, he sort of nodded slightly to himself as a sort of reassurance. Yes. He definitely needed to get some emotions out.

Author's Note: Was that okay? Sorry it took so long… Please review, though! I very much appreciate them. –gives muffins to all—