"So. You're the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. Not particularly impressive, are you?"

The Fire Lord's words were cruel and mocking. Unsure whether she needed to respond, Katara nodded slightly and directed her eyes to the floor. Breathe. Keep calm. Breathe. Keep calm.

"What's your name, girl?"

"Katara, sir."

"How old are you?" The Fire Lord began to pace in front of her. Controlling her desire to flinch, Katara kept her eyes trained on the floor, mindful of Yao's advice. She could not make a mistake.

"Seven, sir."

"Do you know why you are here?"

"No sir."

"I've been informed that you attacked one of my commanders. Using waterbending." She didn't answer and the Fire Lord continued, a sneer coming through in his tone. "I've never really liked water tribesmen, bunch of uncultured savages."

She knew he was trying to get a rise out of her, provoking her into a stupid attack that would end her. So she just focussed on breathing. Stayed calm. Being polite.

"Yes sir," her voice was shaking, betraying the nerves that overran her entire body.

"Speak up child," Azulon barked at her.

"Yes sir." Stronger this time. Clearer. Refocussed. Calm.

"I especially do not tolerate waterbenders. It's a curiously weak form of fighting. There is no structure to it. You need access to your element or you are rendered useless. Pathetic."

"Yes sir."

"I'm surprised that your culture has sustained a century's worth of war. Clearly through no concerted action of your people."

Katara watched as his feet stopped pacing and arrived in front of her vision. She could tell that he was getting bored of his game but didn't know what else she could do to remain safe in this situation. Swallowing down a lump past a tight blockage in her throat, she raised her eyes to look up at the formidable man facing her. She noticed a small, imperceptible twitch in his jaw as he glared down at her and it took every inch of control in her body to not cower, shudder or remove her eyes from his unwavering stare.

"So, back to my question. I heard you waterbended at my Commander. Why would you do that?"

All she could think of was to run. Run from the horror unfolding behind her. Run towards the security of home and her mother's smile. She heard piercing screams erupt over the obnoxious sounds of crashing metal from the battlefield she had left, a cacophony of sound that destroyed the tranquillity in her association of peace with her home. Katara felt the tears streaming down her face as she neared her home, rivers of warmth contrasting the chill in her lungs and the snow falling on her ears. She was close. A few more steps and she'd be safe again.

She surged through the canvas door of the igloo with a cry that caught in her throat instantly at the scene spread out before her. As before, he turned to her, his black eyes piercing into her soul with a look of cruel pleasure that she didn't understand and didn't want to. This was not real. What she could see could not be true.

A moment before the reality of the view struck her as hard as a terrified and protective polar bear-dog and that caught cry became a blood-curdling scream.

A moment of blissful uncertainty before her entire world dissolved in tears, pain, snow and darkness.

Azulon observed a slight blankness to the girl's face. Curious. After a moment, she returned her vision to his and he noticed barely concealed pain in her eyes. Before she had a chance to answer his question, his concentration was interrupted by a commotion near the entrance to the Throne Room. He directed a furious glare towards the guards standing there but was more than a little surprised when his son was the source of the disruption and the object of his anger.

He scowled at Iroh who approached and bowed deeply.

"I need to speak with you."

Azulon did not abandon his glare. "You can see that I am busy, Iroh. Can it not wait?"

"I apologise. But no, this cannot wait."

He considered Iroh for a few moments, noticing how determined his son looked. This should be good.

"Very well." Azulon turned to his guards. "Take the waterbender back to her cell."

Azulon watched as the girl is hauled from the Throne Room before turning back to his eldest son with a wry expression on his face.

"As you were probably aware, I was a little preoccupied. So pray tell me, Iroh, what could possibly have caused you to interrupt me with such urgency?"

"Iroh, I do not think you know what you are dealing with here."

"She's just a little girl."

"Did you hear what that little girl did?"

Iroh looked at his father, uncertainty pooling in his stomach. Azulon's eyes contained a glimmer suspiciously close to amusement and for the second time today, Iroh felt he was missing something. That was not a feeling he was well acquainted with and he was not enjoying his experience with it so far.

"No, Father. However, I imagine you are about to inform me nevertheless."

Azulon spoke, and yes, Iroh could definitely hear a bemused tone in his voice. "She created a small snowstorm and brought an entire igloo down upon the Commander of the Southern Raiders."

A realisation hit Iroh. "You're impressed."

"It's impressive." Azulon shrugged. "Being amused by what happened doesn't stop me from having to deal with this."

"She's still a child."

"That is true. But it doesn't stop her from being dangerous."

Iroh could feel his father's eyes assessing him as he pondered how to respond. The old man's amusement was a sign that this situation may not be as utterly hopeless as he first assumed it would be. As he presumed it must be when Lieutenant Yao had informed him who the last waterbender was. However, Azulon had a history of being unpredictable and he would need to be very cautious about how to approach this. Considering his options, Iroh tried another tactic.

"Is Yon Rha still the Commander of the Southern Raiders?"

"He is."

"I imagine he has some requests on her punishment."

"He does." Azulon responded. "Some are a little inventive, even for him. He appears to be trying to save face. There may be some embarrassment mixed in with his anger."

"Are you inclined to listen to him?"

"Spit it out Iroh. I can tell you have thoughts on this. Just ask what you want to ask."

"I want a chance to raise her. Here. In the Fire Nation." Iroh watched his father's eyebrows rise. "A waterbender could be incredibly useful to us."

Azulon scoffed. "Come on then, why would she be useful to us?"

Iroh took a breath and chose his words carefully. "For a start, many waterbenders are renowned healers. We have hundreds of soldiers coming back with injuries that could be treated better with waterbending than some of the methods we are currently using. If she presented with that skill, she could be trained to help."

When his father didn't immediately interrupt, Iroh continued. "She could provide a practising partner for your grandchildren. What better way to practise firebending than against someone skilled in the same bending their enemies may attack them with?"

"You're suggesting training her. A child who can already create a snowstorm. In the bending form of one of our enemies," Azulon responded dryly. "That seems to be a recipe for disaster."

Iroh thought it was time to change tactic again. And possibly receive an answer to the question that had been burning at the back of his mind for the last few minutes. "Did the Commander tell you why she reacted in such a violent manner?"

Azulon pursed his lips. "He had just killed her mother."

"Oh Agni!" Iroh gasped. "And she saw him do it?"

"From what I have been told she arrived just after he had finished."

Iroh breathed out slowly and pleaded his case. "Her reaction does not seem like a dangerous child. That seems like an enormous expression of loss and pain being reflected in one's bending. She could still be trained."

"And you are proposing allowing people from the Nation that killed her mother to train her?"

"I'm proposing that I train her."

Azulon huffed a laugh. "You?"

"You have already said you want me to stay at the Palace in the near future to prepare for a possible siege against Ba Sing Se. I will be here. I can train her. If she trusts me, there is no reason to think that she will be dangerous," Iroh responded, forcing to keep his expression calm and certain of his decision. His father's expression indicated he was actually considering Iroh's proposal and tried to restrain any hope building in his chest.

"You would be responsible for her," Azulon continued as Iroh nodded. "I do not want her fighting my grandchildren until you have convinced me that she is well behaved. Those water tribe peasants can be savage. As much as I feel Azula would put her in her place either way, Zuko is weak and prone to mistakes. I'm not certain that he could handle an unpredictable and dangerous novice waterbender. Even one as small as this one."

Iroh had controlled a wince at the insult directed at his nephew while he listened to his father. But that feeling of hope had bloomed into an actual realisation that, at least at this moment, Azulon appeared to be pardoning the girl.

"Thank you Father. I will not let you down."

"You better not. I am going to be forced to have an awkward conversation with a very annoyed and already embarrassed Commander. This move has the potential to make me look weak," Azulon expression grew stern. "Do not make me look stupid too."

"I will not Father."

"Your brother is not going to be happy about this." Iroh definitely caught a twinkle in Azulon's eyes.

"No I doubt he will. I imagine Ozai will not see this as the opportunity that I do."

Azulon snorted. "I imagine he will not at all."

A moment of shared amusement passed between father and son. Ozai was expected to return from a mission in the outlying colonies in a few months. His brother was likely to be incredibly displeased with the Fire Lord's decision. Which would mean Iroh would need to brace himself for the inevitable barrage of opinions on the matter and hope that was the only form Ozai's disapproval would take.

"Fine. I expect updates. But heed my words Iroh. If she steps out of line, she will no longer be your concern."

With a wave of his hand, Azulon dismissed his son. Iroh bowed, turned on his heel and left the Throne Room. Unable to believe his luck, he paused outside the curtain, breathed in and strode towards the prison.

Deciding they were now friends, Katara watched her elephant rat scurry across the cell floor. Her heart rate had calmed back down after her interaction with the Fire Lord. She was still confused about what had happened at the end. However, no one had said she was to be punished today when they returned her to her cell. Evidently, she had somehow managed to survive an introduction with the most powerful and dangerous man in the world. She had not been restrained this time, adding to her uncertainty. The lack of shackles was unexpected but as she observed the tiny animal as it investigated a patch of debris gathered in the corner of her prison, she couldn't feel unhappy that she had been granted a reprieve, even if it would only be a temporary one. She was still alive.

The elephant rat suddenly tilted its tiny head to the side, before bursting out of the cell raising dust in its haste. Katara tensed and once again watched the flames in the torches before her flicker and intensify as it did whenever a firebender enters the prison. She couldn't help but feel confusion rise within her as the man that approached her was not a soldier or a guard. It was the man from the Throne Room who interrupted her interrogation. He opened the cell door without hesitation, calmly moved towards her within the cell and crouched down a couple of feet away from her. The jovial smile on his face reached his eyes and creased them around the outward corners in a way that instantly put her at ease.

"It's nice to see you again, child. My name is Iroh. Would you tell me your name?"

As she looked up at him, his smile broadened and she felt a small spark of burgeoning hope. "My name is Katara."

"That is a beautiful name. How would you like to get out of here, Katara?" He must have picked up on the confusion that rose within her because he continued without her responding. "I have asked if I can look after you while you live in the Fire Nation rather than you staying in prison."

"So I can't go home?" Katara watched as the smile fell from Iroh's face for an instant and his expression became one of sympathy, his eyes full of concern.

"I am afraid not, my dear girl," he responded carefully. "It is a condition of your release that you remain in my custody and under my tutorage. I am sorry."

Iroh waited patiently as the small girl in front of him thought through what he had said. He fought to keep a smile from creeping back onto his face as he watched her thoughts play out on her face, reminding him of his nephew. Zuko was never good at hiding his emotions. A trait of which had often gotten him in trouble with his sister who, despite her age, had already begun to master the art of manipulation. Unfortunately for Zuko, he appeared to be the main victim of her practising.

Katara's eyes were cast to the side and he could see a slight twitch of her jaw as she pondered the decision he had given her. Eventually, the girl looked back at him and a tentative smile emerged onto her face.

"I would like to go with you. I don't like cells."

Iroh huffed out a laugh. "I imagine you would be a little sick of them by now."

Katara nodded vigorously, dark strands of her hair falling into her face. "Is there food in the Palace?"

"Well yes there is. Shall we go and get some?"

Following more nodding from the little girl, Iroh smiled at her and reached out a hand. After barely a moment's hesitation, Katara grabbed his large, calloused hand with her tiny one. For the first time since she had seen flakes of ash fall from the sky and darken the white snow of her home, a grin spread out across Katara's face. Iroh helped her regain her footing.

Together, they left the desolate cell clutching each other's hand with smiles on their faces, neither looking back.