Katara and Aang were playing with the marbles he had with him. Aang used his Airbending to make the marbles spin between his hands. Katara rolled her eyes, but laughed all the same. He did that the first time they met, thinking it was the best trick in the world, but soon he overused it in Kyoshi. Katara smiled as she Waterbended her marbles across the playing board and took several of Aang's. He gave a look of awe as she took the marbles up, smiling devilishly.

"Hey, I'm good, aren't I?" Katara laughed. "Besides, I learned from you."

Aang gave a laugh, and took his turn, but realized that he had nowhere to go. Katara had him surrounded, and he couldn't move his marbles anywhere thanks to that. She gave him another smile, and then stood up, stretching. She noticed the moon was all the way up in the sky now, and told Aang and the rest of them that she was going to head off to bed. Walking into her room, Katara lit the lamp and smiled when she saw Momo curled up on her pillow, sleeping.

"Momo," Katara whispered, moving the sleeping flying lemur. "Sorry, buddy. I had to move you."

Momo perked his ears up, but laid them back against his back again, snoring away. Katara covered herself up with the blanket, looking out the window next to the bed. It was beautiful outside in the sky. Usually they would be camping out, but she was used to sleeping inside as well. She would enjoy this for a little bit until the Fire Nation arrived and then they would have to leave afterwards. Toph came in an hour later, seeing a sleeping Katara with a smile on her face. Hopefully she wouldn't start freaking out again and leaving her to take care of it all.

"Good night, Katara," muttered Toph, feeling her way around the room since it was so dark. She finally found her own bed, and plopped into it, snoring away like Momo, only a bit louder.

Aang sat in his bedroom, holding the hair ornament he made for Katara. Hopefully she would love it. Her fifteenth birthday. That meant Aang would be turning thirteen in a few months as well. Katara had been excited about her fifteenth birthday just a week before, thinking of what would happen and what everyone would try to get her. Sokka had tried to calm her down, saying that surely Appa would be the best gift. That had caused him to get a punch in the face from Toph, and a smack in the back of the head from Katara. Aang gave a deep sigh, looking out the window, still holding the hair ornament. The colors blended so well together, like Katara's eyes. They were an ocean of blues. So different in each shade, but you could see the beauty in them.

Morning soon came, causing the villagers to wake up and being their usual morning routines. But back where the group was staying, everyone was still sleeping. Except for Momo, that is. He was bouncing up and down on Katara's bed now, making noises beyond belief. Katara groggily sat up, looking at the lemur that seemed to be on a sugar high. She looked at the water basin next to her, brought some of it up, and splashed it onto Momo, who gave a shrill cry and flew out of the room. She then splashed some lightly on her face. Toph had woken up at the sound of Momo's cry, and had turned her head towards Katara's. She gave a smile, and a quick good morning. Katara said good morning as well, braiding her hair and then putting her usual hair loops to the side of her face. She then ran out of the room to get breakfast going, and tripped over Sokka, who was snoring on the floor.

"Sokka! Wake up!" Katara yelled in his ear. No luck. She gave a sneer smile, and then picked up a basket of pastries that she had made the night before. "Look, cranberry."

Sokka's nose started to wriggle as he sniffed the air. He loved pastries. His eyes popped open, and he snatched the basket from Katara. She looked at him in disgust as the inside of the pastries started to roll down his chin. Boys really needed to work on their manners. Luckily Aang wasn't like that. Only if he was truly hungry, which thankfully, he usually wasn't. Aang came out just at this thought, rubbing his eyes so he would wake up.

"What was the scream?"

"Scream? Oh, Momo! I splashed water on him because he was acting as though he were drinking cactus juice again," Katara laughed, cracking some eggs and pouring them onto a pan.

Aang sat down at the table next to Toph, who started talking. She was starting to become quiet the chatterbox in the past few days. She went on and on about how she seemed to like this town, and how that Meng girl sort of freaked her out.

"She freaked us out when we first met her," Sokka commented from the floor, where he was still in his sleeping bag where he was eating.

"Sokka, get out of the sleeping bag and eat at the table!" Katara yelled, Sokka immediately obeying her.

Toph shook her head, and felt Momo land on her head. She reached up, giving him a scratch underneath the chin. Katara placed her breakfast in front of her and Momo gave a tiny growl. Toph broke off a piece of bread and lifted it up to Momo, who snatched it and started to eat away on Toph's shoulders now. Toph felt around for her fork, which she finally found and ate her breakfast quickly, saying she found a boy in the city who wanted to do a competition by Earthbending.

"Can I come?" Aang asked excitedly.

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean, you are still learning, so you can learn a few things from me as well!" Toph laughed, giving Aang a wink. "Besides, this guy is a loser. I'm sure I'll beat him. He was laughing when he was walking away, but it was a nervous laugh. Apparently they've heard of 'The Blind Bandit' around here."

"What Earth town hasn't?" Katara asked.

"Bai Sing Se."

"That's a city. They're exempt from that category," Sokka grumbled as soon as he finished his pastries. "Besides, when was the last time you heard something about Earthbending at that city?"

"Obviously the city is based on Earthbending. Why would the Earth King be there?" Toph said, laughing. "Gotcha there, didn't I?"

Katara, with a nod of her head, opened the door as she heard a knock. She looked down to see Meng, standing before her with hope in her eyes. Katara gave an inwardly sigh, and allowed her in. Meng gave a wave and a blush to Aang, a look at Sokka, and a smile to Toph. Katara she didn't say or do anything to, and walked over, taking Katara's spot next to Aang. Katara was fuming. This girl had the right to barge into their place where they were staying and take her place next to her boyfriend? No, this wasn't how it was going to go. She sat down next to Toph, leaning over and whispering in her ear. Toph had a huge grin on her face as she finished.

Toph nodded, whistling as she went back to her room. Sokka looked from her to his sister, knowing something was going on. Toph made a fighting stance, and bended around Meng's chair.

"Ah!" Meng cried, falling out of her chair as it was tilted.

Toph said oops, that she didn't mean to make rocks come up from right under her so she could fall out of her chair. Sniggering, she went over to Katara, who held her hand out behind her and gave her a high five. Success was in their reach. Katara got up and helped Meng up, as Aang was too busy laughing, and Sokka was too busy acting confused.

"Sorry again, Meng. I don't know how Toph didn't realize you weren't there. She probably thought you had left already," Katara said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Here, I'll make you a plate of food."

"Oh, no, that won't be necessary! I just came here to ask Aang if he would like to walk up the volcano with me later on today," Meng turned to Aang, battering her eyes as if she were flirting.

"Sorry, I can't," Aang answered.

Katara felt a surge of triumph flow through her body. Meng left the house with a sad look on her face, but Aang ignored it. She had told him the last time they came around that it was alright that he liked Katara, and understood that they weren't meant to be together. Katara smiled at Aang as she finally got to sit down in peace and eat her breakfast. Sokka was still looking confused, and finally spoke out.

"What was that about?"

Katara, Toph, and Aang burst out with laughter. Sokka truly didn't have any common sense, did he? Katara started to explain every last detail to the confused guy, who nodded his head as he brought in all the details, sorting them through.

"Oh, yeah, she's a creep," Sokka nodded in agreement, stretching. "I'm going outside to sharpen my boomerang. Anyone want to come out with me?"

"Actually, I was going out to the river to practice my Waterbending, since I never got the chance to do so in Bai Sing Se."

"You seriously want to go there after your nightmare?" Sokka asked with wide eyes.

"Would you shut up?" Toph threw her fork at him, missing his left ear by a centimeter. "Close one too. I could've hit you so well."

"I can take care of myself. It was just a nightmare. I think I ate a few bad berries, that's all," Katara said, shrugging her shoulders. "And I highly doubt Aang will let me fall down a waterfall. Besides, there aren't any around here!"

Sokka nodded, turning towards Toph, and threw his fork at her. She dodged it with ease, grinning widely. She stuck her tongue out, hopped off her chair and left the house with Aang, still talking about the guy she was going to battle by Earthbending. Aang was listening intently, ready to learn more Earthbending. Katara had already left, leaving Sokka and Momo sitting at the table. They stared at one another for a second.

"What are you looking at?" Sokka asked.

Momo's reply was just a few low growls and squeaks. Momo jumped off the table and went outside, probably following Katara. Sokka sighed. Everyone had something to do, and he didn't. He rolled his eyes, grabbed his boomerang and ran out of the house towards the edge of the forest, where there was enough shade away from the hot sun. With a look at a girl that was walking past him, Sokka started to sharpen his boomerang, not noticing that the girl had went into the forest and was watching him.

Katara took off her normal clothes and revealed her bathing suit. She let her braids out, her curly, thick brown hair going about three inches below her shoulders. Her ocean blue eyes shimmered with excitement when she saw how deep the water went. Practically up to her neck. She jumped in, giving a yell of joy, and a huge splash covered the shore. Being a Waterbender, her splashes were usually a bit larger than a normal person's jump into the water. Katara surfaced, flipping her hair behind her. She smiled since the water was so cool. She floated around for a little bit, unaware that she was being watched as well.

"Aang, watch how I beat this creep," Toph began before the boy showed up. "First, tell me what my number one rule is."

"Never put your whole into an opponent. Always hit a series of points, then, when he's reeling back, give the final blow," Aang repeated as though he knew it his whole life.

"Good, you remembered."

"How could I forget? I'm supposed to remember these things and you remind me every day to recite it to you!"

Toph gave a chuckle when the boy showed up, shaking a little bit. He had gotten himself into this, and he was going to see who he was messing with. Toph took a fighting stance, Aang sitting on a rock, elbow on his knee and chin in his hand. He yawned as the boy tried to kick a rock at her, but only a bunch of dust kicked up.

"Is that truly the best you can do?" Toph started to batter her opponent with taunts.

Toph shifted her feet, trying to decide where the boy was. She closed her eyes, putting her hands together as though she were praying, and pulled them apart, causing a the land in front of her and the boy to split. Rocks started flying up and went towards the boy. The boy gave a yell, ducking as the rocks flew over him. Toph stopped them, pushing the land back together and making it appear as though it hadn't even been touched.

"Why didn't you block the rocks instead of ducking? That is poor tactic and fighting. You see, you need to show your opponent you aren't afraid just because they have an advantage over you," Toph began, walking towards the boy. "Just because I can feel your move before it even arises out of the ground, doesn't mean that I'll dodge it. Just because I am blind doesn't mean I can't lose. I win some fights that I do, and I lose other fights."

Aang looked at Toph with pride. He was glad that she was his teacher. She was taught by someone who was great, but he didn't know anything. She learned many of these things on her own. Toph bowed to the boy, who ran home as soon as she finished her speech. Aang smiled, floating down from the rock in front of Toph. They started to chatter away about fighting stances and tactics, being watch just like Katara and Sokka.

Katara started to waterbend back at the river, forming huge balls of water and throwing them at the small cliff that was next to the river. She was practicing fighting in the river as well, since she was so used to fighting on the ground. She had to get used to being stuck in the water and be able to fight. A rustling sound disturbed Katara and she turned, water whip ready.

"Who's there?" Katara called out, scanning the shore and the bushes nearby.

Katara shrugged her shoulders, the water whip falling back into the river. She started to wave her arms in intricate movements, causing the water to flow around her. She felt as though she were weightless. She turned again as another sound soared through the air, this time it was the sound of a knife flying through the air. Katara formed a shield of ice on time, giving a scream as more came towards her. She looked from behind the shield, realizing that Mai, an accomplice of Princess Azula, Zuko's sister. Katara started throwing daggers of ice at her, which the girl dodged easily, throwing more weapons at Katara.

"What are you doing here?" Katara yelled out.

"It isn't any of your business!" Mai laughed, this time throwing spikes at Katara.

Back by the forest, Sokka was slowly beginning to become bored with sharpening his boomerang. Sokka felt as though he were being watched finally, and looked up at the tree branches above him. There sat Ty Lee, another accomplice of Princess Azula. Sokka threw his boomerang at her, glad he just sharpened it. Ty Lee jumped away from the boomerang, landing behind Sokka. He turned just on time before she could hit the middle of his back, where she could stop him from moving temporarily. Sokka started to raise his arms, blocking all her blows. She gave a yell, kicking him against the tree.

"Get away from me!" Sokka roared, and just on time, his boomerang came flying back, hitting Ty Lee square in the chest.

Ty Lee went flying backwards with a loud screech, falling to the ground and feeling pain flow through her upper body. She realized that his boomerang had cut her arm wide open, and she was bleeding dangerously. She gave a yell, running forward again and started to punch Sokka. He dodged every blow, having been taught by Suki. He put his leg out and swiped it under her legs, causing her to fall. Sokka smiled as he took a rope out of his bag and tied her hands and feet together.

"You won't be able to get anywhere like this," Sokka smiled. "Hopefully you'll understand that you don't mess with me and my friends."

Toph felt vibrations coming from all directions. She held a hand up to stop Aang from talking. He listened intently, waiting for her to talk and to hear something that didn't sound right. He heard a loud scream come from the river that sounded oddly like Katara's. He heard Sokka yelling words to someone. Giving a look to Toph, she nodded, then broke the large rock that was only about thirty or forty feet away from then. Princess Azula came flying out from behind it, shooting blue flames at the two benders.

"I have you now, Avatar," Azula smiled evilly, starting to shoot lightning as well.

Aang used his staff to throw a huge gust of wind at Azula, who went flying backwards just like Ty Lee. Toph started to throw rocks, dirt, and boulders at the princess, who couldn't dodge all at once. She was covered in a huge pile of the things that Toph tossed at her. Toph told Aang to go and get Katara, that she would hold off Azula in case she found her way out. Aang nodded, starting to run and then formed an airball that he jumped on, heading towards the river and trying to find out where Katara was at. It wasn't that difficult of a task. Mai had made a trail in the bushes, giving off where she had been heading to.

Katara smiled when she saw Aang appearing. She gave one last shot at Mai, throwing as much ice as she could towards her. It was hopeless. Mai dodged that as well, and instead threw more daggers at Katara. One of the daggers went right past Katara's cheek, forming a deep cut. Katara filled with anger. She started flailing her arms about, making huge waves. Mai took a step back, fear flowing through her body. She had never seen a Waterbender become so angry before. Katara forced all the water at the Fire Nation girl, Aang jumping into the river to escape the waves. Katara was breathing heavily as the water receded from the shore, showing Mai on the ground, drenched and passed out. Katara didn't smile in victory, she just stood there in the water, her hair soaked. She was mad. She wiped the blood off of her cheek, and water covering her hands, she healed the cut with a simple skill she learned on her own. She didn't want to be hurt anymore by the Fire Nation.

"Katara, are you alright? Azula is here as well, Toph's taking care of her at the moment," Aang said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"No, you aren't. Why are you breathing so hard?"

"I just used up half of my strength trying to defeat this brat!"

Aang walked out of the river, checking Mai's pulse. She was still alive. He checked the long sleeves she had that carried all her weapons. There were barely any left. He took out the last of them, throwing them into the river after Katara climbed out, bending all the water out of her hair. She braided it quickly, then dressed. She looked at Mai as she started to stir. Aang took her hand and pulled Katara towards the village, where they saw Sokka dragging Ty Lee behind him, anger in his eyes.

"You were ambushed too?" Katara asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. I should've known that was Ty Lee who walked right past me," Sokka grumbled.

"Where's Toph?"

"Probably still back there fighting Azula. Let's go help her," Aang said, leading the other two towards Toph.

Aang was right. Toph was dodging every lightning bolt and flame that Azula tried to send her way. She was also throwing as many rocks and boulders as she could. She was unsuccessful as Azula kept dodging those as well. It was a lose-lose battle between both of them. They were on the same level in fighting, just they couldn't hit one another. Katara snuck up behind Azula, taking water out of the canteen and hitting the princess right in the back. Azula fell forwards, eyes closing. Katara had hit the right spot. Aang looked at Sokka, who tied her up, this time with a different and stronger rope that wasn't like Ty Lee's. Katara went over to Toph, who was breathing heavily and sweating. She sat down on the ground, Katara sitting down with her.

"I couldn't hold her off any longer. I'm glad you guys came. She's one tough Firebender," Toph muttered, wiping her forehead. "She even shoots lightning."

Katara looked at Toph in disbelief. She hadn't exactly seen Azula shoot lightning out of her hands. It must have meant that she was highly advanced in her training. But wasn't Azula just Katara's age? Fifteen, sixteen? Maybe fourteen? Aang shook his head, knowing that she was able to bend lightning. It was a rarity, but Aang wasn't going to even attempt it. He could die if he tried to do that. He wasn't going to leave Katara and the other two alone in the world if he tried to attempt that.

"Aang, we should go warn the villagers about these three. We'll have to get the other Earthbenders together to help us keep a watch," Katara explained, helping Toph up and walking towards the other two. "Besides, I doubt they'll stay here if we leave. So tonight, we're going."

"But Katara, we'll disappoint all these people! The Fire Nation is coming to control the town!" Aang complained.

"No, these three were the Fire Nation to come and control the town. They somehow knew we were coming. We need to pack up our supplies and go," Katara paused, looking into her brother's eyes. "Now."