The four, including Queen Khione, headed outside, looking for Pakku.

"Are you crazy, Katara? You're not going to win this fight!" Sokka said.

Katara took off her coat. "I know! I don't care!"

"You don't have to do this for me. I can find another teacher." Aang implored.

"I'm not doing it for you! Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy!" Katara snapped. Pakku came down. "So, you decided to show up?" Pakku walked away. "Aren't you going to fight?"

"Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong." Pakku snapped. Katara tightened her fist and sent water whips at him. Pakku halted. "Fine. You want to learn to fight so bad? Study closely!" He bent two streams of water from nearby pools and sent them both at a charging Katara, who fell back. He joined the two streams together, encircling both Katara and himself in a forceful ring of water. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you!"

Katara edged away from the ring and redirected the water away. The resulting blast hit Sokka. Pakku built an ice wall in defense, which Katara slid up. She landed onto a nearby post. He melted the ice and directed the full blast at her. However, Katara froze her feet down and was able to direct the blast away.

"You can't knock me down!" Katara said determinedly.

Some of the crowd cheered.

"Go, Katara!" Aang cheered.

Katara charged at him; Pakku drew up a wall of ice, which she quickly liquefied. She attempted to land blows, but Pakku ducked them all. He whipped water and threw her into a pool, earning the approval of other members of the crowd.

Katara emerged from pool, shook out her hair, and summoned a small pillar of ice, where she proceeded to send a series of ice discs at her opponent. Pakku broke up most of them using his wrists. One came very close to hitting him. He looked at her in irritation. Katara, now back on the ground, attacks by sending a stream of water at him. However, Pakku generated it into a larger stream of water and sent it full force at her. Katara was sent back several feet. She was bent over, breathing hard. She rose suddenly and sent two snow pillars down at him which Pakku turned to a dusty mist of snow. The mist cleared.

"Well, I'm impressed. You are an excellent waterbender." Pakku said.

"But you still won't teach me, will you?" Katara said despondently.

"No." Pakku said firmly.

Katara bent over sharply, sending a wave of ice at Pakku, who merely raised himself onto an ice pillar. He proceeded to liquefy the pillar, charging straight at Katara, who sent a powerful stream of water his way. Pakku avoided the attack, instead managing to freeze Katara's stream of water which he slid across. He surged past her and struck her down, knocking her necklace off in the process. Katara fell roughly to the ground as Pakku landed onto the rim of a pool, bent a tower of water and manipulated the stream overhead his opponent. He deftly froze the water into several ice shards, which he sent down at Katara. She became trapped in the flurry of frozen daggers and appeared still for a moment. The crowd gasped in horror; one child looked away in fear. Katara lifted her head and began to struggle, attempting to break free as Pakku casually strolled away.

"This fight is over." Pakku said.

"Come back here. I'm not finished yet!" Katara shouted.

"Yes, you are." Suddenly Pakku noticed the necklace. "This is my necklace ..."

"No, it's not. It's mine! Give it back!" Katara snapped.

"I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life ... for Kanna." Pakku said, voice breaking in sorrow.

Katara unfroze the ice; surprised. "My Gran-Gran was supposed to marry you?"

"I carved this necklace for your grandmother when we got engaged. I thought we would have a long, happy life together. I loved her." Pakku said, deep emotion in his voice.

"But she didn't love you, did she? It was an arranged marriage. Gran-Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left. It must have taken a lot of courage." Katara said rather coldly.

Queen Khione cried and ran away.

Xxx

Queen Khione was meditating in front of the fire.

She watched the shadows for answers, though nothing could rid her of her sorrow after losing Zuko.

She had never met the Fire Nation Prince, and had to admit it was strange that it was he the fire chose to show to her. She had originally searched the fire for signs of her lost sister, until she began to see him.

The first vision she had seen was when his father scarred him; and she had continued watching since. She, who lived a lie. She, who had abandoned her sister to death so that she could protect her mother and her people.

There was a flicker in the fire. She couldn't believe it! Zuko was alive! And...he was on his way here.

Khione didn't know whether to be happy, or terrified.

"Queen Khione!" Aang stood in the doorway.

Khione turned and met his eyes.

"How long have you been a Firebender?" Aang asked, confusion and betrayal on his face.