The Last Airbender is not my creation, the people at the Nickelodeon Studios created it, but that will not stop me from making my own little episodes of excitement and romance.

The only thing I own is the plot on your screen. If you plan to take my ideas and put them into your own fanfic, claiming to be your own mind that thought them up, get a hobby. Plagiarism is wrong, don't do it!

A/N- Dedicated to ML7 because she is so polite about my broken promises. You made my week girl, I hope you know that. :)

Beware appearances…
"C'mon kid," began Zula as she wrapped a large white shawl over her head, "we're going out to town." Her petite body was covered by a simple white commoners' dress and her short brown hair was pulled into a clean bun. Small brown slippers covered her feet and a basket large enough to carry a few vegetables hung over her left arm.

Luna watched the woman gather her things but said nothing. After a week of living with the woman, the Princess learned not to speak unless spoken to. She learned not to cry. She learned not to breathe too loudly. And she learned not to smile because there was "nothing to smile about". The consequences for doing anything besides being quiet and out of the way was a smack and a lecture on how she was wished dead.

There were times when she did smile. These times consisted of Jet, a seemingly nice man who came every couple of days and brought her sweets for her to enjoy. The reasons for his kindness were unknown to her, for she did not know what "let her enjoy her last days" meant.

"Here," the firebender mumbled as she placed a dark shawl over the babe's small head. "It's going to get hot under there but just deal with it." She lifted the child and opened the door, careful not to drop the basket. "No whining or else," she added and closed the door.

Seeing the lively people of the town was a nice change to being locked up in the wooden hut. Laughter could be heard from the different produce stands and children could be seen playing on the dirt roads, their energetic yells filling the air. And oh, how the Princess wished that she could join them.

"Six peaches," Zula ordered indifferently, her pretty face hidden. A small coin bag was held firmly in her hand as she held her niece tightly in her arm.

The merchant nodded politely and began picking out the fruit for the woman. "Your daughter has lovely eyes," he commented when he glanced at the child in the firebender's arms.

Zula raised her eyebrow at the man. "Oh, she's not--" she began but was interrupted by the man's quiet advice.

"You better hurry with your shopping, the Fire Lord's men will be out soon." He placed the peaces in the basket after it was handed to him. "They'll be inspecting all the children under two."

Zula tightened her grip on the Princess as though if she was really her daughter. "Does the Fire Lord come with his men?" Her heart beat unknowingly quickening with slight panic.

"Yes yes," muttered the man. "Always. It's a shame really - about the Princess - but I suppose it's all for the best."

"How do you figure?"

"Well - not to be disrespectful to the Lady or anything of that sort - but Water and Fire shouldn't mix. They just shouldn't," the merchant whispered, his head shaking disapprovingly.

"I agree," she concurred, taking the small handmade basket from the man and hanging it over her free arm. "I honestly don't know what the Fire Lord saw in Miss Katara."

"True, but we must not judge him too harshly. Love is blind but not stupid. He may have married Water Tribe blood but at least Lady Katara knows what's she's doing."

Zula's smile faded as she extended her delicate hand out, three copper pieces laying squarely in the palm of her hand. "If you say so," she said coldly and pulled her arm away when the merchant took the money owed. With a bow of her head and the tiniest of smiles, she whispered "good day" and began to depart.

"Wait!" the man exclaimed, a small orange peach in his fist. "For your child," he offered and handed the fruit to the Princess. "It's such a hot day."

The firebender raised an eyebrow at the merchant's generosity before bowing her head. "Thank you sir," she stated, took the fruit, and gave it to the child.

Luna took a cautious bite of the peach before deciding that it was enjoyable. After living in the hut with the woman she learned that not all food was good. She smiled to herself, causing some of the sticky juice to drip out of the corner of her small mouth.

"You're lucky that man was nice enough to give you something to eat," she said discreetly. I wasn't planning on giving you any until tomorrow."

The Princess paid no mind to the cruel words that were said to her. Instead, she sucked on the sweet fruit and smiled at the nearby children. "Tank you," she chirped at the woman and took another bite.

"Shut up," Zula mumbled angrily and replaced the black shawl over the child's head. "Inspection will begin soon, so we sho--"

Suddenly the monotone voice of a Fire Nation soldier stopped her mid-sentence. "Child please," he stated loudly, causing the woman in front of him to turn around.

Zula gasped softly as she came face-to-face with a red helmet, its white grill giving the mask an eerie appearance. "E--excuse me?" she asked, her tone of voice indignant and her arm tightly around the child.

"Child please," the man repeated, this time extending his arms.

"You--you inspected her last time," she lied nervously, pulling the girl away from him.

"It won't take long," he assured indifferently. "I just need to see her more closely."

"Okka?" Luna squeaked curiously when she noticed a man dressed in blue speaking with a young lady.

Zula took a step back. "You inspected her last time," she insisted. "Please don't do it again. I--I think it traumatized her."

"Hand me the child!" the soldier commanded loudly, his patience on the verge of breaking.

The Princess dropped the half-eaten peach from her small hands when she realized that the man in blue was her uncle. She extended her arms and began to reach for him when he came closer to their location. "Okka!" she yelled, her voice smothered by the cloth over her mouth.

Zula glanced over her shoulder, noticing the Water Tribe boy several paces behind them. Shit, she thought and stepped to the side. "Please sir," she begged.

"Madam," he began. He was losing his tolerance with this woman. "I need to see the child. Orders from the Fire Lord, you must understand."

"Stay away from me! Stay away from my child!" False tears escaped the firebender's golden eyes as she began to squeeze Luna against her chest in an attempt to look protective of her.

People began to stop in their tracks in order to watch the scene in the middle of the road. Heads had poked out of random shops and murmurs could be heard in the midday air.

Luna, uncomfortable in the woman's grasp, continued on calling her unknowing uncle. "Okka!" she yelled, her temper rising with her frustration. She refused to be ignored.

"Lady--" the soldier began but stopped upon noticing the happenings in the woman's arms.

"Okkaaaaa," Luna whined angrily, unaware of her glowing hands.

Zula looked down at the child, her eyes widening with surprise. She's bending…

"Nnnn," the babe hummed with her arms extended towards her uncle.

The woman furrowed her brow at the man before her. "Look what you've done," she reprimanded, her hand stroking her niece's small head. "Hush my child, he'll be gone soon."

The soldier sighed behind his mask. This wasn't going anywhere. "Very well," he breathed. "I'll let you go." He looked at the young girl uneasily before taking a step back. "Good day." He left the woman's sight before giving the child one last glance.

Zula smirked proudly and walked off the main road, amazed with her outstanding acting skills.

At the same time, a young Water Tribe warrior turned at the sound of his name.

Beware those who surrender easily…
Katara glumly watched night fall over the Fire Nation. She sat in a chair by the large window that overlooked the vast palace gardens. The trees swayed gently in the breeze and birds could be seen retreating to their nests. To their families.

The Lady had stayed in her bedroom the entire day, waiting for news to arrive. Zuko had refused to let her join the search parties and she resented him for it every day. "Tomorrow I will go," she said to herself and sighed heavily against the window, making a small foggy circle on the glass.

The Fire Lord entered the room, noticing Katara sitting quietly by the window.

"Anything?" she asked, refusing to meet his gaze.

Zuko shook his head. "No," he answered, grimacing when he felt his throat sting from all the yelling. "Sokka thinks he heard Luna yell his name but I think the desperation is going to his head." He took a deep breath. "We searched and searched but found nothing."

"And Aang?" Her throat was knotted, she wanted to cry.

"He's collecting men as we speak. We're going on a night search."

Katara looked over to husband and stood up. "A night search?"

"Yes." He began to walk toward the washroom before his wife blocked his way. Her blue eyes looked up at him with the same pleading expression she used throughout the entire week. "Don't ask," he breathed.

"I need to go tonight," she said, ignoring his request. "You can't say no, Zuko. I want to go search for my daughter. I can't stay here day after day, agonizing the hour that I might receive horrible news. I must look for her. Please."

"No Katara. I've told you time after time, no. I don't want you to get hurt. You must stay here." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Please try to understand--"

"I don't want to understand! I want to look for my kidnapped daughter. I want to stop waiting here like some fool while you spend your days out there searching with no success. " The Lady sighed in distress. "I'm afraid Zuko. I'm afraid that our child is--is hurt. You can't just leave me here clueless."

"I'm sorry Katara but I won't allow you--"

"You are not my father Zuko!"

"But I am your husband and you will respect my decisions!" he yelled angrily. He had lost his patience.

"Same goes for me," Katara argued.

"You are not my equal," he whispered harshly. "You are my wife and as such, you will do as I say. You will not go with me and that's final." He moved her out of his way and entered the washroom, closing the door behind him.

Katara watched the closed door for one second before making up her mind. She swiftly grabbed her shoes and slipped past her bedroom door. Her steps couldn't be heard as she sprinted down the long palace halls, the white marble glistening with the light of the fire lamps. The guards that usually watched the main palace doors were gone and she made a quick mental note to scold them for such carelessness. Flowers zoomed past her as she reached her home's giant gates. Her body took a quick stop so she put on her shoes and with a brief and final glance behind her, she opened the steel gates.

She was going to look for her daughter whether the Fire Lord liked it or not.

Beware the kindness of strangers…
He supported the young child over his leather covered knee as his free hand gently stroked the girl's soft brown curls. A warm but deceiving smile decorated his handsomely tanned face as the babe's melodious laughter filled the air with every happy bounce. Her small lightweight arms flailed in the air with excitement, the memory of her loving parents forgotten. For the time being anyway.

Zula stood from the chair she was sitting on, the sight before her becoming disturbingly sweet. "You play with that kid as though she was your very own," she commented curiously.

"Nah," he breathed and stopped bouncing his leg, causing the Princess to stop waving her arms in the air. "Kids aren't for me. I'm just letting her enjoy her last days."

The firebender stepped forward, noticing the girl's laughter waver. "If you keep playing with her, you'll get attached to her and back out of our plan," she warned and grabbed Luna, whose giggling had ceased.

Jet scowled. "I never get attached to anything. I learned this after my parents were murdered."

She rolled her eyes as she placed the silent child upon the floor mattress. "Of course," she said sarcastically, "how dumb of me to have forgotten." She walked over to nearby wooden chair and sat upon it, sighing heavily when she realized how exhausted she was.

"Tired much?" the Earth Nation boy laughed upon noticing his accomplice's face.

"Yes. That damned child doesn't let me sleep. Her constant tossing and turning keeps me awake no matter what I do." Zula glanced at Luna, giving her a dirty look when they locked eyes. "I just want to get rid of her." She turned her gaze upon Jet and frowned. "Have you thought of a plan yet?"

The man shook his head. "No, but don't worry, it'll come to me. They always do."

"Yeah well, it better come to you because I don't know how much babysitting I can take."

"Don't worry," he said with a smile. "It'll come to me soon enough." He rose to his feet, inhaling a large amount of air. He stretched out his arms and winked at the secluded Princess before heading for the door. "I'm going to go. I'll try to come back tomorrow…with a plan." Jet opened the door and stepped outside, feeling a cold gust of wind disturb the night sky.

"You better," he heard his companion say and shut the door before giving her a chance to say anything more.

Beware the instincts of the afraid…
Zuko splashed the warm water of his face, guilt beginning to build up in his young worried heart. His hand gripped a red towel and soft pats dried his face as he thought of the words that he had said to his wife just moments before. You are not my equal, his angry voice echoed. He sighed regretfully as he looked at himself in the mirror. What was had he been thinking?

You were stressed out from the day's fruitless search.

That's no excuse. What I said was completely out of hand.

You were in your right. She raised her voice at y--

She's done it before and it didn't bother me then.

Because your daughter wasn't in danger before--

Luna is her daughter as well. That's no excuse.

You are her husband. She must learn to respect you!

I need to earn her respect.

You don't need to earn anything. You are the Fire Lord. You get what you please.

I get what I deserve.

You're a fool.

I don't care.

He shook his thoughts away and opened the door, his apology ready to leave his lips until he noticed the empty room before him. He turned his head and noticed that Katara's shoes had been taken from their resting place.

"Katara?" he asked and stepped out of the washroom. His gold eyes scanned the vast room once more in case he missed his wife's small figure in one of the corners of the bedroom. He called out her name once more, his voice louder and holding a hint of fear.

A loud demanding knock interrupted the Fire Lord's thoughts. "Sire!" a man called through the door. "The men are ready!"

Zuko sighed. "I'll be right out!" he yelled and took one more look around the room.

Calm…she probably just went for a walk.

Yes, you're probably right.

I always am.

Beware those who you've done wrong in the past…

The town was dark except for the few light stands that lighted the dirt road. The night cast eerie shadows that covered the narrows alleys and the walls of the closed souvenir shops. The scurrying steps of stray animals could be heard in the distance, sending shivers up and down the Lady's spine. The diamond dotted sky was covered by large ominous clouds but the crescent moon had made sure to keep away from the gray puffs of water in order to expose her naked beauty to the world below.

Katara felt slightly comforted by the thought that the young water Princess dwelled on the moon that hung over her head. She felt somewhat secure knowing that a spirit would always watch her although they were not as close as she wished they had been. How is it up there? she thought curiously when she looked at the pale moon and its shadowy craters. Is it cold?

The shuffling of her feet dragging on the ground brought her back to reality where she realized that she didn't know how to begin her search. Zuko never told her what they did everyday, all he told her was that they had found nothing. They always found nothing. Anger began to swell inside of her. Perhaps, if they took her on their searches, they would've found her. The Fire Lord obviously doesn't care about the Princess enough to look harder.

The mere thought dissipated the anger she felt. What am I thinking, she considered. Zuko cares about Luna just as much as me…

A bird screeched loudly above her, causing the Water Tribe girl to shriek in fright. Her heart thumped fiercely as she placed a soft hand over her chest. Wandering dogs began to bark at the sudden noise and she became more afraid.

From afar, a man hidden in the shadows observed Katara. A sly smirk grew on his face as a plan began to formulate in his head. He removed the straw of hay from between his teeth and chucked it to the side as he walked out of the darkness.

"Katara?" he asked curiously.

The waterbender turned at the sound of her name, her eyes squinting at the approaching figure. "Who's there?" she asked and straightened her posture.

"Who else?"

She gasped upon recognizing the man before her. "Jet." She furrowed her brow at the sight of him.

"The one and only," he announced proudly and puffed out his chest.

"What are you doing here?" she asked warily and passing a glance to her side in case someone was there to attack her.

"I was just about to go to the palace," he answered coolly. "But the real question is: what is a lovely young lady as yourself doing out here in the dark, unescorted?" His arms had crossed themselves across his chest and a wide smile was painted nicely on his face. He looked absolutely innocent.

"The palace?" she asked, completely forgetting his own question. "What were you going to do at the palace?"

"Oh," Jet began and unfolded his arms. "I found a baby girl in the fields today. I was going to report her in case anyone was looking for her." He smiled inwardly upon noticing Katara's sudden hopeful expression. This was too easy. "I wasn't sure if I should bring her with me, but since it's so late, I didn't think it safe…"

"A baby girl?" she inquired excitedly. "What's she look like? How old do you think she is? Where are you keeping her? Did you see anyone near the location that you found her? Where--"

Soft chuckles began to escape the teenage boy. "Hold on a minute," he said, holding up his hands. "What's with all the questions? You can't possibly care so much about some unknown child."

Katara sighed in frustration. "Take me to her," she ordered angrily. "Now."

"Alright," he said and began walking. "But I'd like to keep my head if you don't mind."

"We'll see about that," she whispered and began to follow the boy to his place.

The walk to his place was no stroll through the park. But with each tiring step, Katara gained hope that Jet had found her young daughter. But why would she be in the fields? she contemplated as she glanced at her old crush with wondering eyes. Probably Zula wanted to leave her there to die, she answered herself.

"We're here," Jet said, extending his arm out towards an old worn-out hut. "Home sweet home…for the time being anyway." He gave Katara a bright smile before walking forward again. "Ladies first," he motioned and turned the knob, pushing the creaking door open.

Katara walked into the shack and gasped in happiness upon seeing her child laying quietly on a mattress. "Luna!" she exclaimed and ran to her babe, ignoring the loud shut of the door behind her. She picked up her child and kissed her sleeping head several times. "Luna," she whispered thankfully, tears of joy beginning to well up behind her eyes.

"Oh thank you Jet," she said as she turned around. "Thank you so--" she stopped and gasped. No…

Zula stood in front of the exit, her arms crossed and a victorious smirk on her face. "Why hello Lady Katara. Nice night, isn't it?"

…For they cannot be trusted.

So how you like this chapter? Took me forever to write/type/edit. I made it as long as I could and I think that the outcome was pretty good (3300 words, 8 full pages).

PLEASE REVIEW!