Queen Khione knelt in front of the Sacred Fire, watching Zhao's attempted negotiation with Iroh and his threats to Zuko.

She finished watching the shadows in the flames and then headed back to her throne.

Xxx

Aang and Katara entered Pakku's training ground.

"I've waited for this day my whole life. I finally get to learn from a real waterbending master!" Katara said excitedly.

Pakku was bending a stream of water.

"Good morning, Master Pakku!" Aang said cheerily.

Pakku dropped the water, and spoke in an annoyed tone. "No, please, march right in. I'm not concentrating or anything."

"Uhhh ... This is my friend, Katara. The one I told you about?" Aang gestured to Katara.

"I'm sorry, I think there's been a misunderstanding. You didn't tell me your friend was a girl. In our tribe, it is forbidden for women to learn waterbending." Pakku said firmly.

"What do you mean you won't teach me? I didn't travel across the entire world so you could tell me no!" Katara said angrily.

"No." Pakku said.

"But there must be other female waterbenders in your tribe!" Katara demanded.

"Here, the women learn from Yugoda to use their waterbending to heal. I'm sure she would be happy to take you as her student, despite your bad attitude." Pakku said.

"I don't want to heal, I want to fight!" Katara yelled.

"I can see that. But our tribe has customs, rules." Pakku pointed out.

"Well, your rules stink!" Katara said furiously.

"Yeah, they're not fair! If you won't teach Katara, then ..." Aang said, just as angrily.

"Then what?" Pakku snapped.

"Then I won't learn from you!" Aang shouted.

"Well, have fun teaching yourself! I'm sure you'll do a great job." Pakku said sarcastically.

"Wait! Aang didn't mean that!" Katara went to Aang. "You can't risk your training for me. You have to learn from Master Pakku, even if he is a big jerk."

"I want to talk to the Queen first." Aang said. "She's a Waterbender. Maybe I can convince her to teach me.

xxx

Katara entered the healing hut.

"Uhhh ... Hi. Are you Yugoda?" Katara said.

"Are you here for the healing lesson?" Yugoda said, standing in the healing hut.

Katara Looked at all the young girls, and spoke in a disappointed tone. "I guess I am."

"Welcome ... welcome!" Yugoda said. "So, who's the lucky boy?"

"Huh?" Katara said.

"Your betrothal necklace. You're getting married, right?" Yugoda said.

Katara was shocked. "Ah ... No. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. My grandmother gave my mother this necklace and my mother passed it down to me."

"I recognize this carving! I don't know why I didn't realize sooner; you're the spitting image of Kanna!" Yugoda said.

Katara was confused. "Wait, how do you know my Gran-Gran's name?"

"When I was about your age, I was friends with Kanna. She was born here in the Northern Tribe." Yugoda said.

"She never told me." Katara said.

"Your grandmother had an arranged marriage with a young waterbender. He carved that necklace for her." Yugoda said.

"If Gran-Gran was engaged, why did she leave?" Katara said.

"I don't know. That's always been a mystery to me. She left without saying goodbye." Yugoda said. "All the women in our tribe have betrothal necklaces given to them by their fiancé's, with one exception."

"Who is that?" Katara said.

"Our Queen," Yugoda said. "Queen Khione is married to the tribe. She will never marry any man."

Xxx

In another part of the city, Aang caught up with Queen Khione.

He stood at the entrance of the throne room and saw her there, and she was Waterbending in front of the hearth. She was an expert, even better than Pakku, and Aang watched, mesmerized.

"Queen Khione! You're amazing!" Aang shouted.

Khione was shocked by Aang, and her water fell and the fire behind her jumped high, and then went out.

Aang stared. Something about the Queen's bending set his Avatar Spirit on edge, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

Khione sighed. "Alright Avatar Aang. I'll teach you."