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To Be a Warrior

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Disclaimer
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, but I do own my original character and original ideas.

Summary
Alina is a normal girl in a world, 300 years after the Great Fire War, where benders are rare and treated like royalty. She believes that she can amount to nothing without bending, but will a trip to the past change her perspective?

Author's Note
Aah, sorry for the long wait – but I update this fiction more frequently than my others! (Depressing, isn't it?)
As for the pairing thing – I stick to no mention of either, save for how the canon does things. (For instance, Aang likes Katara – but we don't know how she feels.) I tried to make it as canon-like as possible
Thanks to my reviewers Khazia, FireGurl107, Sleeping Dragon13, and Evangeline-Angel. You guys are the best!

Again, sorry for the late update.

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Chapter 2
Of Necklaces

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"Hey, Katara!" Aang's excited voice echoed through Katara's eardrums, forcing her from her peaceful slumber.

Sokka watched the scene, amused, from his perch atop Appa. The water tribe peasant rested his chin on his hand and stared at the pair that was oblivious to his spying.

"Ugh…What is it Aang?" she replied groggily, holding her head as she wearily rose from the ground.

"I…um…well, when I was at the marketplace last night I just so happened to find a necklace that matched your outfit. I figured since you lost your old one, you could just wear this one!" the airbender proudly showed the necklace to Katara with a wide grin on his face with a slight blush to match.

Sokka suppressed the urge to chuckle. 'So that's why he was so adamant about going alone to the marketplace last night,' he mused, 'What a hopeless romantic.' Yes, the warrior knew about Aang's infatuation with Katara; and by no means did he oppose it. Who better out there for his sister than the Avatar? Of course, Katara hadn't exactly seemed to return his affections; instead she was actually quite oblivious. Then again, at this point she could end up with anyone. (Save Firelord Ozai. Sokka had gagged at that mental image.)

"Thanks, Aang," she smiled genuinely, accepting the gift and fastening it around her neck.

Sokka just grinned, and then feigned sleep.

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Needless to say, Alina was now not only completely confused, but angry to boot. Why, you may ask? The Earth Kingdom girl had literally been dragged upon an old-fashioned ship and into its empty prison-hold by a seething teen - who had yet to explain his reasoning. Instead, the dark-haired boy found it fit to pound her with questions.

"Tell me now – how did you steal that necklace from me?" he spoke, his gruff and authoritative tone annoying the blonde.

"I didn't steal it from you!" she spat back; quite brave considering she was bound by her hands and feet as of now.

"But you do admit to stealing it," he smirked in reply. Alina's face scrunched up in slight rage. Zuko bent forward, cupping the necklace now in his possession in his hand. "But it looks oh so familiar," he breathed in her face, "It looks just like the one I just happen to own. Now you better start answering truthfully, thief."

"I am!" Alina all but screamed, catching the attention of the elder in the doorway.

"I was going to ask you how the interrogation was going, Prince Zuko, but I no longer feel the need," the old man smiled.

"It's going fine, Uncle," the boy known as Zuko spoke through gritted teeth.

The boy's uncle only smiled wider in reply, kneeling down to Alina's height. "So, what is your name? It's hardly polite for us to refer to you as 'thief' or the like."

Zuko sighed, exasperated at his Uncle's actions. Seeing as what the old man was doing was annoying the Prince, Alina decided to go along with it. "Alina, Sir," she smiled, "May I ask yours?"

"Don't talk to her like that, Uncle! She's a prisoner!" Zuko yelled, even further annoyed.

"I find that people talk more willingly when they are comfortable, Nephew," he replied with an air of wisdom about him. Alina wondered how a man could be so open and kind to his own prisoners; 'Even if they didn't do anything,' the blonde added mentally. Zuko's uncle turned his gaze back to her, then inquired, "What nation are you, Alina?" the question was most likely meant to come out with a friendly tone, but Alina found it to be somewhat cold.

"Earth," she stuttered only slightly. While the old man could be quite benevolent, something about him unnerved her - a wisdom; something one could only achieve when they witnessed death. It was hidden, but it was there.

Zuko rose from his kneel in a fiery rage. "How can you say that so calmly on a Fire Nation ship?" he demanded.

"I don't see how the ship being Fire Nation would matter," Alina retaliated coolly, though a bit confused.

The Fire Prince grunted, then left the room. His uncle followed suit, sending a final, confused glance back at the Earth Kingdom peasant.

Alina groaned to herself. 'I still have no idea what's going on.'

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Zuko marched back to his compartment with the Avatar's companion's necklace in his hand. Steam was literally rising from him – the nerve of the prisoner enraged him. How could and Earth Kingdom peasant (that much he gathered by the shabbiness of her clothes) speak to him in such a manner! He was prince of the Fire Nation – a banished prince, but a prince nonetheless!

One things confused him, however – the girl's final statement. Had she been feigning ignorance or was she actually oblivious to the war? Zuko settled on the former.

Once inside, the prince placed the necklace atop his dresser. He proceeded to open the drawer he had originally kept the trinket in only to find something that caused his eyes to widen.

It was the necklace.

And aside from a few scuff marks, the two were one and the same.

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Author's Note II
Ooh…you so saw that coming. And no, Alina still hasn't figured out she's in the past. She isn't some omniscient being that knows all.
Oh, yes. Sorry this update isn't as long as it should be.

Until next time, my wonderful readers!