Chapter 1: Shock and Confusion

It was a calm and peaceful morning in the Northern earth kingdom. The sun had already risen above the horizon. The gaang had just met Toph and brought her along to be Aangs earthbending teacher; she had already taught Aang some basic earthbending moves. They were still recovering from the siege of the North Pole; Sokka being himself wanted to stay at their camp for an extra day so they could all recover.

Katara had chosen the campsite as it was secluded and near a river so they would be well hidden and her and Aang could practice waterbending. They set up camp about ten yards from the river with their sleeping bags in a circle around the fire, all except toph who decided to sleep in Appa's saddle.

They all sat around the dwindling campfire eating their breakfast when the silence was broken, "Can we stayyyy?" Sokka pleaded. "I need my warrior's rest."

Toph agreed, "Yeah, some more rest sounds good." Although she had not been at the siege of the North Pole.

Katara nodded in agreement, "I do think we deserve some rest." she exclaimed.

"We can't stay in one place for long, remember." Aang said with a worried tone.

Katara gave him a reassuring smile, "It is only one extra day and you need to rest after what you did at the North Pole."

This obviously hit a nerve as Aang cringed and looked away from Katara remembering what he did to the Fire Nation fleet while inside the Avatar State. Destroying all those ships and sending sailors to their doom. He would never purposely kill any one, but while in the Avatar State he had no control and he hated it.

Katara noticed his reaction; she felt bad as something sharp had pierced her heart. She tried to reassure him, "You did what you had to do, Aang. If you didn't the North Pole would have been lost and…"

Katara was cut off by Aang, who clearly had enough about 'what he did', "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, KATARA! YOU WEREN'T RAISED TO HOLD ALL LIFE SACRED!"

Katara was shocked and saddened but let her anger take control, "WHAT, ARE YOU CALLING ME A MURDERER NOW!?"

Aang was utterly shocked by this question. He looked at Katara with his storm gray eyes fogging over with tears. He never thought she would accuse him of calling her a murderer. Toph and Sokka were both dumbstruck as well. Toph knew all too well to just stay out of the way. At this this point the silence was unbearable, Katara lost it, "AREN'T YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, OH WISE AVATAR!?"

Aang turned away and started to cry, not only from her accusation but he was also scared. He managed to whimper a small, "I'm sorry." that no one heard.

Sokka had not seen Katara like this in a long time. He placed a hand on Katara's shoulder, "Katara, you need to calm down. Aang didn't mean it like tha…"

Katara shoved Sokka aside and looked at him in anger, "Well that's what it sounded like to me." Katara said sternly. Sokka then turned his attention to Aang, who was clearly distraught, giving him a cautious but reassuring smile.

At hearing what Katara said, Aang stood up and walked off into the woods behind their camp with his head down and tears running down his cheeks; saddened that he made Katara, his closest friend and crush, think that he called her a murderer. Whispering a pitiful, "I'm sorry." he walked off into the woods.

Katara couldn't help but feel bad, but she was still feeling pretty heated herself so she walked off to the shore of the river and sat with her knees pulled into her chest. Toph finally spoke up, "I'm going to go find twinkletoes." and walked off into the woods leaving Sokka with Appa and Momo.

Sokka thought to himself, 'Well, I probably should let Katara calm down before I talk to her.' He had never seen her overreact like this before and he wasn't sure what would have caused it. He figured it was a nightmare she had the night before that had caused her to lose sleep, but he couldn't say for sure.

Meanwhile,

Zuko and Iroh had finally reached the fire nation port.

A soft moaned followed by, "This is what I have been missing." as his back was being massaged. "Who knew floating on a piece of drift-wood for three week with no food or water, and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense."

A sudden realization struck Iroh. He wandered over to a pouting Zuko, "I see...it's the anniversary isn't it?"

Zuko replied coldly, "Three years ago today I was banished, I lost it all. I want it back. I want the Avatar. I want my honor; my throne. I want my father not to think I am worthless."

With an enthusiastic tone Iroh replied with a lifting of his right hand, "I'm sure he doesn't. Why would he banish you if he didn't care?"

Zuko shot him a glare an walked outside. Iroh, realizing what he said didn't sound right stated to the two masseuses, "That came out wrong, didn't it?"

(A/N This is where I get lazy and don't want to write out about Azula's introduction. Remember her addressing her soldiers.)

Back at the gaang's campsite,

Aang leaned against a tree about thirty yard from their camp with his knees tucked into his chest sobbing into them. He felt cold; not physically, but emotionally. 'Why would she think that? Does she really not like me the way I thought she did?' A shiver ran down his spine at this thought. His eyes were beginning to get puffy and bloodshot as he heard the sharp crack of a twig. He thought it was Katara, He didn't want her to see him like this, afraid that she would just avoid him and make him feel even worse. He managed to whimper a quiet, "Go away." Much to his surprise it wasn't Katara.

"Hey, Twinkletoes." Toph managed with a sympathetic tone.

"Oh, hey Toph." Aang replied. "Sorry for telling you to go away."

"Don't worry about it."

There was a long silence between the two twelve year old master benders until Toph decided to break it.

"I know why you're feeling this way."

"How could you possibly know that." Aang replied.

"Because you love her, more than just a friend."

Aang froze, shocked to hear that only after a couple of days Toph knows about his crush; he began to stutter, "No…I mean as a frie...wait...what makes you say that?"

With a flat tone, Toph replied, "Because I can feel emotions. In fact I know she loves you too."

Aangs eyes widened; surprised to hear the last part, "She does?"

"Yes, whenever you two are near each other, look at each other, talk to each other, and especially waterbend with each other; your guy's' heart beats go a million miles a minute.

Aang looked down, "But then why did she yell at me?"

"Because of her suppressed feelings she overreacted to your explanation and took it the wrong way."

Aang sat there speechless. He had no idea Toph could feel all of that and how she could be so insightful. Tired of waiting for Aang to reply she walked away and said, "Just think about what I said."

Aang replied, "Thank you." with a smile.

Aang looked down again and pondered what to do and decided to sleep at the edge of the camp, as not rile her up again, and talk to Katara tomorrow. Later that night Aang returned to camp and glanced at Katara, who was sitting on her sleeping bag. She turned her head to look away from him with anger still present in her beautiful ocean blue eyes. Aang sighed as he felt something stab him in the heart. He loved her and he hated seeing her like this especially if he was the cause of it. He laid down hoping for a better day tomorrow as everyone laid down in their respective spots; Sokka, near Katara and the fire, and Toph who was in Appa's saddle.

Meanwhile,

Iroh woke up to a shot of lightning, realizing it was most likely Azula, judging by the clear weather they were having.

Later that day, Iroh dumped a bag of shells on the table of their temporary shells, commenting about their magnificence.

Zuko, fed up with his actions scorned him, "We don't need any more useless things; you forget we have to carry everything ourselves now."

From the corner came a eerie voice, "Hello, brother; Uncle."

Zuko shot Azula a cold stare, "What are you doing here?"

"In my country we exchange a pleasant 'hello' before asking questions. Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"

"Don't call me that!" Zuko replied raising his voice.

Iroh chimed in, obviously annoyed, "To what do we owe this honor?"

"Hmm...must be a family trait, both of you so quick to get to the point." Azula replied crushing one of Iroh's new shells. "I've come with a message from home. Father has changed his mind; family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him. treacherous plots." Zuko looked suprised. "Family are the only ones you can really trust." Azula looks down with a saddened expression, "Father regrets you banishment." She turns to look out at the blooming cherry blossoms, "He wants you home." After a pause she looks back at Zuko and gets impatient, "Did you hear me? You should be happy, excited, grateful. I just gave you great news." Zuko turns to look out at the cherry blossoms.

Iroh replied for him, "I'm sure your brother simply needs a moment..."

"DON'T INTERUPT UNCLE!" Azula cut him off then turned to Zuko, "I still haven't heard my thank you. I'm not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way."

Zuko closed his eyes and replied solemnly, "Father regrets? He... wants me back?"

"I see you need time to take this in. I'll come to call on you tomorrow." Azula replied then walked out saying, "Good evening."

As Azula walked back to her ship a fire nation messenger ran up to the princess, "Princess, the Avatar has been spotted nearby."

"Then send a detachment at once to capture him." she replied sharply.

"Yes, my lady." The messenger replied hastily.

An evil smile played across her face, "3 enemies in one day."

Later that evening as darkness had already fallen,

"We're going home. After three long years, it's unbelievable." Said Zuko excitedly as he walked to pack up his things.

Iroh, pondering what Azula had said, replied, "It is unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything."

"Did you listen to Azula? Father has realized how important family really is to him. He cares about me."

"I care about you! And if Ozai wants you back, well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine."

"You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything."

"Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem."

"I think you are exactly what you seem: a lazy , mistrustful, shallow old man who's always been jealous of his brother." Responded Zuko coldly and walked away leaving a disappointed Iroh.

Back at camp,

Yue was shining brightly over the camp. Sokka's loud snoring filled the surrounding area with a growling type noise when suddenly Aang woke up. He thought he had heard something, as he looked around camp, everyone still soundly asleep, he thought it must have been nothing. As he sat back down a hand covered his mouth from behind as another reached under his left arm, around his torso, and under his right arm. There were muffled yells for help, but nobody heard it because of his proximity to the camp. As he was being dragged away, Aang began to frag his feet and kick at the man taking him. Suddenly he felt something crash on his head and everything went black.

The next morning back at the fire nation port,

Zuko began to walked down the long steps to the docks when he heard a call from behind.

"Wait, don't leave without me."

"Uncle, you've changed your mind." Stated Zuko ecstatically.

Putting a hand on Zuko's shoulder, Iroh replied, "Family sticks together right." Remembering his own son.

"We're finally going home."

Iroh looked down at Azula's ship with suspicion.

As they arrived at the dock, Iroh was still very suspicious as Azula spoke at the top of the ramp to the ship, "Brother, Uncle, welcome." followed with a bow. "I'm so glad you decided to come."

The captain spoke up, "Are you ready to depart, your highness?"

Azula replied with a plastered smile, "Set our course for home, captain."

"Home." whispered Zuko

The captain barked his orders, "You heard the princess; raise the anchors. We're taking the prisoners hom..." And realized his mistake.

Azula shot him an angry glare.

"Your highness, I..."

Iroh's suspicions were true and Zuko was in complete shock. A battle ensued. Iroh against the royal guard and Zuko against his sister. After redirecting Azula's lightning into a nearby cliff and kicking her off the ship, Zuko and Iroh ran. They were now enemies of the fire nation. After they were a safe distance away, they stopped at the bank of a stream. Zuko pulled out a small knife and proceeded to cut his ponytail. Iroh did the same dropping it into the water, letting their past lives drift away in the current.

Suddenly they heard a rustle in the bushes across the stream. They assumed their fighting stances.

Back at the gaang's camp,

Everyone, including Katara, slept in. As they began to get up, Toph slid down Appa's tail and hit the ground. She felt something was off, "Guys, something is wrong but I don't know what."

Katara replied bewildered. "Wait, where's Aang?"

Toph suddenly realized why she felt like something was off, "Oh no." she said somberly.

"What is it?" Replied Katara with concern.

"He's gone."

Katara ran over to where Aang was sleeping the night before. Tears began to fill Katara's eyes as she noticed drag marks and his staff on the ground. She couldn't believe that he was just gone. An inextinguishable fire began to burn in her stomach as anger filled her very soul. Then another wave of sadness and realization hit her like a tsunami. She remembered the argument they had the day before and what she had done to him. She broke down and dropped to her knees crying. She began to whimper and shake her head in disbelief as she began to drown in her sorrow.

To be continued…

Thanks for reading, please review. This is my first fanfic so all criticism is constructive.

The next chapter will focus more on Aang, Zuko and Iroh. A bit of kataang angst mixed in, like the end of this chapter.