Fleeing Ozai

by Gd2go2

After being forced into a corner, Ursa gives Ozai what he wants- a way to take the throne from his father. But while he waited for his father to pass, Ursa takes advantage of this and flees the Palace- with her children, Zuko and Azula. On the run and in disguise they unknowingly set on a path which will shape the future of the world...

2. Chapter 2

Chapter Two

It was a somber moment. It was only a few days after tragedy struck a certain Southern Water Tribe village and the Fire Nation murdered one of the kindest women in the world.

Chief Hakoda stood before his wife's grave, with both his children, Sokka and Katara, hand in hand. Sokka attempted to remain stoic, but his face was downcast because of the intense sadness he felt. Katara was far more affected, with tears streaming down her face as she whimpered. She was awfully close to her mother Kya, often helping her with the chores around the house while her father and brother were out to provide from them and their village.

The Chief's mother, Kanna, slowly walked up to Hakoda and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We need to return to the village Hakoda," she said gently. "The Tribe needs their Chief."

Hakoda nodded in response, knowing he cannot shirk away from his responsibilities for too long. He urged his children to move. Sokka released his hand and began walking back to the village with his Gran-Gran, but Katara stubbornly remained in place, refusing to leave her mother.

"Katara," Hakoda said gently, "we need to return to the village."

"I'm not leaving mom," she said weakly.

"I don't want to leave her either," Hakoda told her. "But we need you with the Tribe." He paused for a moment. "I need you with the Tribe."

Katara tensed up, knowing that her mother would want her to take up her responsibilities. She nodded firmly and followed her father back to the village, knowing her childhood had come to an end and now she had to look after her family like her mother did.

It took their village a few days to recover from the raid, both physically and emotionally. But knowing that the Fire Nation will return, and that he and his warriors might be needed in the war, Hakoda called for a meeting between all the Chiefs of the villages scattered throughout the South Pole. Soon a dozen Chiefs sat in a loose circle around a table in the largest tent Hakoda's village can provide.

"Thank you for all of you to come," Hakoda said to begin the meeting. "As you painfully know, all of our villages have suffered much since this war began. That is why I called all of you hear."

"Are you proposing to unite us to take an offensive campaign against the Fire Nation?" Hakkar said, the Chief of a village near the coastline.

"Not precisely," Hakoda said, "but I'm afraid that may be necessary one day. From what I've heard from our Earth Kingdom traders, the war is going poorly for them on the seas."

"That's not surprising," Chief Shikok said. "I can't imagine earthbenders being all that comfortable on the water."

"Maybe so," Hakoda continued, "but we are not starting a campaign against the Fire Nation, at least if it's avoidable. I called you all here to discuss merging our villages into one community."

The Chiefs remained silent for a moment to ponder this. It is true that all their villages have traded over the years and continued to do so, and it was not unheard of for people of different villages to marry one from another. Merging their villages will present its challenges, such as increasing traveling distances to certain hunting and fishing grounds, but the idea of a single community after all they have lost was incredibly appealing.

"I see no reason to oppose this plan," the said Chief Ogek, the eldest of the leaders present.

"Me neither," Hakkar agreed, as several other Chiefs nodded.

"But who will serve as the Chief of this new community?" Shikok asked.

"Why not the man who proposed it?" Ogek wisely suggested.

Many of the Chiefs were taken aback by the elder's suggestion. But soon each of the Chiefs began offering their words of approval, knowing Hakoda had a special talent for working through the toughest problems and for building strong bonds with and between people, including those from the Earth Kingdom.

Hakoda too was taken aback by this, expecting everyone to ask Ogek to be the new Chief.

"Are all of you sure about this…?" Hakoda ask tentatively. "I would have expected for you to want Ogek to be the new Chief."

Ogek chuckles at Hakoda's words. "You have resources and skills I do not that will help us greatly in surviving as one village Hakoda. And I'm aging far faster than I care to admit. I'd like to spend more time with my grandkids."

"Well…" Hakoda began, "if you as the eldest Chief believe this is the best course of action, does anyone oppose this?"

None of the Chiefs spoke up. Hakoda nods confidently, but he did not feel all that confident himself. He has just lost his wife barley a week ago and must raise his two children as a single father. Even though he had his mother's help, she was getting older every day and cannot possibly keep up with Sokka and Katara as they enter their teenage years.

Adding the responsibility as the Chief of a larger village just made him felt more alone than ever.

But he remembered what his predecessor and father once told him: "The Chief needs his people just as much as his people need their Chief."

If Chief Hakoda hoped to bring this new community together, he will need all the help he can get. And who better to ask but his fellow Chiefs first?

"Very well than," Hakoda finally said, "if you wish to have me as your Chief, then I ask of you to form as my Council of Chiefs, to serve as my advisors and to overrule me if necessary."

"Overrule you?" Hakkar said aghast. "As the Chief, you have final authority for what happens in the village."

"Perhaps that is why the world is in the current state that it is, because one man has too much power," Hakoda said. "If more than two-thirds of you agree that I'm making a decision that is detrimental to the village, than I will cease action and be open to discussion on finding a more agreeable course of action. Does anyone oppose this?"

It was only a moment before all the Chiefs nod approvingly at Hakoda's wise decision, knowing that they selected the right man to lead their new community.

After the Chiefs exited the tent did Hakoda's best friend, Bato, entered the tent to hear what happened.

"How did the meeting go?" he asked.

"It went well," Hakoda said. "I'll be the new Chief."

"But you're already our Chief…," Bato pointed out with a hint of confusion.

"You mean the Chief of a new combined village?" he replied with a raised eyebrow. Bato's eyes widen as he realized what transpired in the meeting.

"All of the Chiefs agreed to this?" he said in shock.

"Yep, they all did," Hakoda said before he smiled slightly.

"I expect you'll tell our village at our community feast tonight?" Bato asked, interested in their reaction and obviously looking forward to the food that will be provided.

"Yeah, after I tell my mother and Katara," Hakoda said as walked over to a small crate that was upside down.

Bato raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Just them? What about Sokka?"

"Oh he already knows…," Hakoda said with a smirk before he lifted the crate, reviling his son's dumbfounded face. Sokka smiled sheepishly as he climbed out of the hole he dug and used the crate to hide in.

"Hi, dad," he said as innocently as possible. "Heard you're the new Chief."

"And as his son, you should know better than to sneak into his meetings," Hakoda said in a sternly attempt, but he could not help but marvel at his son's ingenuity.

"But I need to know what happens! It'll make me a better Chief!" Sokka said childishly.

"Better at being a sneaky Chief more like it," Hakoda said before he smiled. "Come on, we have to tell your sister and grandmother about this."

Hakoda and Sokka entered their family igloo, where Kanna and Katara were busy cooking their dish for the community feast. Katara turned and looked at her father with inquisitive eyes.

"How did the meeting go dad?" she asked.

"It went better than I expect to be honest," Hakoda said, even surprising himself by that statement. In retrospect, he expected resistance to his proposal. "All the Chiefs agreed to form all of our villages into one."

Kanna smiled at her son. "I knew you would be able to convince them to do so Hakoda."

"And more than that!" Sokka exclaimed with excitement. "He convinced them to make dad the new Chief!"

"Really?!" Katara said with a gleeful smile.

"Well," Hakoda said bashfully with a goofy smile, "it was more like they elected me."

"Still, it's wonderful news son," Kanna said. "They've selected the right man for the position."

"You're just saying that because of your bias mom," Hakoda said with a smirk.

"That's a given," Kanna said with a smile. "But my old spirit knows better than most."

"You're not that old Grand-Grand!" Katara said aghast.

Kanna smiled at her granddaughter. "If only that were the case, my little waterbender."

---

They have been drifting for three days, the weather was getting colder with ice glacier becoming more frequent. Ursa sacrificed her own warmer clothing for her children. Zuko's seasickness persisted while Azula grew more and more frustrated with her mother's actions. Ursa in turn began to regret not asking her friend to take a chance to make it to the Earth Kingdom, rather than send them out on a boat.

It truly began to become hopeless.

On the fourth day, Ursa spotted some small ships in the distance. Desperate for any kind of help, she directed the boat towards them, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

As she approached the ships, she noticed that they were from the Water Tribe. Knowing the Water Tribesman would not take kindly to anyone to the Fire Nation, she decided that it was time to take on their Earth Kingdom facades.

"Children," she began, "I need to tell you that we can't use our names anymore."

"Because people will kill us if they know we're Fire Nation," Azula stated more as a fact than a question. Zuko groaned in displeasure, either out of seasickness or potential death. Or perhaps both.

Ursa sighed, knowing her daughter has always been much more perceptive than most children her age. "Yes, so for now on, my name is Noriko. Azula your name is Jing."

Azula rolled her eyes. "That's a stupid name," she grumbled.

Ursa turned toward her son. "Zuko, your name is Lee. Do you understand?"

"Yeah…," he said as strongly as possible.

"Good," Ursa said. "Now I will handle everything. Please don't provoke them in anyway."

"We'll be provoking them by being on their ice," Azula complained.

"Not if we show them gratitude for their help," Ursa urged. "Please Azula, do this for your brother."

Azula scowled at that idea. She much rather torment him rather than help him. But Azula was sick of eating emergency rations and being on this dinky boat. If going along with her mother's ridiculous plan means possibly getting better food and off the waters, so be it.

"Fine," she finally said bitterly. "I'll play along."

Ursa smiled at her daughter in appreciation, only for Azula to scowl again.

It took some time for their boat to reach the Water Tribe ships, who already noticed a struggling ship approaching them. Ursa began waving at them, urging them to approach them. The lead fisherman, Bato, ordered that his ship to approach the boat and pull them alongside them. Once the boat was secured to the ship, Bato and two men climbed aboard and soon spotted Ursa and her children.

"What are you doing here?" Bato asked. "This boat isn't really built for these waters."

"We were forced to abandon a fishing ship," Ursa lied. Azula glared at her mother but remained silent. "We tried to sail back home to the Earth Kingdom, but the currents pulled us south."

Bato raised an eyebrow and took notice that they did not really look Earth Kingdom, or at least not like the ones he has met along the Kingdom's southern coast. He decided that it would be best to get them to a more secure area before probing for more answers. "The currents tend to push south this time of year. You should have known better."

"We were in a rush I'm afraid," Ursa said with some truth to it. They were on the run from an extremely dangerous man.

Bato smiled in sympathy. "Yes I can understand that. Escaping a sinking ship is no fun experience."

Neither is escaping a dangerous man, Ursa thought to herself.

Bato heard a groan behind the woman. He looked over her shoulder and noticed a boy wrapped in blankets and looking ghostly pale, a sure sign of seasickness. Obviously, he did not have his sea legs yet.

"What are your names?" Bato asked.

"My name is Noriko," Ursa lied again. She placed a hand on Azula's shoulder. "This is my daughter, Jing."

Bato smiled at the little girl, who glared at him. He thought it was rather hostile, but perhaps she was scared and trying not to show it.

"And the boy's name?" he asked.

"His name is Lee," Azula spook up. "He's sick because he's a weakling."

"A- Jing, don't be harsh on your brother," Ursa said, mentally kicking herself for almost calling her daughter by her actual given name.

"It can take time for someone to get their sea legs," Bato said with a smile. "We have a few healers in our village. They'll be able to help your son."

"I- I would appreciate that," Ursa nervously said. This was not definitely her plan, but she had no choice except to go along with it, for her children's sake. She turned to Zuko to pick him up, but Bato placed a hand on her shoulder, causing Ursa to look at him in a bit of a panic.

"I can carry him. It'll be easier for me to do so," he said with a smile.

"Do you think I can't carry my son?" she said defensively.

Bato chuckled at that. "No I just think you can't carry him safely from one sea vessel to another."

Ursa stared back at him, not wanting to let someone lay a hand on either of her children. But if she wanted to get them to the Earth Kingdom, she had no choice but to trust these men.

Bato lifted Zuko up carefully, leading the way back to his ship. One of his men takes Zuko from Bato to transfer the boy between the vessels. Another man offered to help Azula, but she stubbornly refused and managed to jump from the boat to the ship, if only barely given her size. Ursa gladly accepted Bato's help to transfer vessels.

A few hours later, they docked alongside a wooden pier leading to snow covered ice. Bato again carried Zuko through the snow, slightly amused to watch Ursa and Azula struggle through the snow.

"It takes some time to learn how to walk through the snow," he said reassuringly.

"How do you people live here?" Azula complained.

"One day at a time Jing," Bato said with a slight smile. Azula grunted at his remark and her fake name, causing Ursa to give her a meaningful look.

They soon came to the entrance to the village, where the snow was cleared out, giving Ursa and Azula a much-needed respite. Bato continued to lead them past several igloos and tents. Azula eyed them in disdain, believing they were colder on the inside than the outside.

Soon they approached the largest igloo which housed the Chief and his family. Ursa was amazed by all the igloos, but this one just took her breath away. Unlike her daughter, she was truly impressed by the Water Tribes people and their ability to live in such an unforgiving environment.

Bato brought them inside, where an elderly woman was cleaning some dishes, while a young girl about Azula's age was putting away the clean ones. A boy about Zuko's age was sharping an angled weapon that Ursa never saw before. They all took notice of Bato with a bundle of blankets.

"Bringing my family some new blankets Bato?" the elderly woman said with amusement. "You're too kind."

"Not exactly Kanna," he said before gently placing the bundle on some cushions. Kanna took notice of the pale boy wrapped in it. She made her way to him and began diagnosing his aliment. Bato nodded at Ursa before stepping out of the igloo. Ursa worried why he left; was this not his home?

"A simple seasickness," Kanna said like it was a common occurrence, and she made her way through the kitchen to gather some herbs and ingredients. "He'll be fine in a day or two dears," she said to Ursa and Azula, correctly guessing they were the boy's family.

"Thank you," Ursa said genuinely. Azula glared at the elderly woman, grateful she was not sick or else she would be touched by some old peasant lady.

Before long, another man entered the igloo, one with long hair pulled into a short tail, with two braids on the right side of his face. What struck Ursa the most was his rather handsome face, especially his sharp blue eyes, which revealed intelligence, thoughtfulness, and wisdom beyond his years.

"What do we have here mom?" he asked as he looked at each of the guest. He particularly looked at the boy in sympathy, remembering his own seasickness.

"Just a sick boy and his family," Kanna said as she lifted Zuko's head to have him drink some of the herbs she mixed.

Hakoda nodded before facing Ursa. They stared at each other for a moment, Ursa worried about what will happen next. Hakoda eyed her with a slight judgmental look, knowing that his best friend was right to believe that this woman and her children were not from the Earth Kingdom as she claimed.

"My name is Hakoda, the Chief of this village. May I have a word with you in private?" he asked. Ursa froze, not wanting to leave her children with strangers, even if they were an elderly woman and children.

"Okay," Ursa said before she turned to Azula. "Jing, watch out for your brother."

Azula wanted to roll her eyes and scoff at her mother, but if she wanted to stay alive, she had to play along. "Okay," she said firmly.

Hakoda led Ursa to a bedroom. He closed the wooden door behind them and crossed his arms while staring at Ursa with distrust.

"So Noriko," he finally said, "what brought you to the Southern Water Tribe?"

"My husband's fishing ship sunk," Ursa lied. "He had me and my children abandon ship. I… I don't think he made it," she finished with feign sadness.

"I am sorry to hear that," Hakoda said with sympathy, though he felt it was a wasted feeling in this moment. "The currents this time of year can be dangerous, and you're lucky to be alive. Especially since those currents brought you south to us."

"I really appreciate your men helping us," she said with a small smile.

"In the Water Tribe we are honor bound to help those in distress on the seas," Hakoda said proudly. "What part of the Earth Kingdom are you from?"

"Kyoshi Island," she lied.

Hakoda's skepticism increased at this. He had visited Kyoshi Island a few times and he knew they did not need to send out ships to supply them fish from the deep seas, because there was plenty of fish that come close enough to the island to fish from the shores or using small fishing boats. In fact he does not recall ever seeing a dock capable of handling a deep-sea vessel. And most important he had the sense that this woman had never handled any tasks that would be required of a fisherman's wife.

"May I see your hands?" he asked politely.

Ursa looked at him in furrowed brow. "Excuse me?"

"Let me see your hands," he now demanded. "Please."

Ursa sighed and showed him her hands. He took them into his own and her breath hitched slightly by how gentle he was despite his own hands being calloused. He examined them with a keen eye and his thumbs, paying particular attention to her palms.

"You do have remarkably soft hands," he said as he let go. "Which leads me to believe me you're lying."

Ursa looked at him with a frown. "How do soft hands have to do with me lying?"

"If you were a fisherman's wife, you would at least help him prepare the fish for either your family or to trade it with others," Hakoda stated with a voice of experience. "Using the tools and utensils to do so would cause your hands, especially your palms, to became calloused."

Ursa pulled her hands away from him and crossed her arms in defiance. "Perhaps I take good care of my hands."

"My wife took good care of her hands, but they still were thoroughly calloused," Hakoda said, masking the pain at the longing he had to feel Kya's touch again.

Ursa took notice of the past tense Hakoda used, but she decided not to ask about that. Doing so may anger the Chief and put her children at risk.

"The condition of my hands doesn't prove that I am lying," she defiantly said.

"Perhaps not, but you and your children certainly don't look Earth Kingdom," Hakoda said. Ursa's blood froze in her veins. She can tell that Hakoda has dealt with people from the Earth Kingdom and is familiar with their general appearance.

"Maybe the idea of being separated from your children may compel you to tell the truth," he bluffed. He truly had no intention of separating a mother from her children, but if he wanted to get the truth out of this woman, he had to resort to unsavory tactics.

"You wouldn't…," Ursa said in shock.

"I would and I have," he bluffed again. "Mothers who have proven they're unfit for their role are separated from their children. And so far, lying to a village's Chief has proven that you're unfit."

"You can't possibly do this!" Ursa said, her fist clenching. If she would be separated from Zuko and Azula, she would fight like a bear to keep them.

"You are a guest in my home and community," Hakoda sternly remined her. "Disrespecting me would not sit well for you. So you either tell me the truth, or you will be casted out alone into the seas again."

Ursa realized the Chief had her in a corner, and she saw no way she can negotiate her way out. Unlike Ozai, who was distracted with enacting his plan to take the Crown, Hakoda had nothing to distract him from dealing with her, and she had no resources to work with.

She only had one option that would allow her to stay with her children.

"Okay, okay," she relented with reluctance. "I'll tell you everything."

Hakoda breathed out in relief; he really did not want to act on his word.

"My name is Princess Ursa, married to the second prince of the Fire Nation, Ozai. My children's names are Zuko and Azula," Ursa began. Hakoda eyes shot open in surprise. He never would have expected that. "After our nephew was killed during the Siege of Ba Sing Se, his father, the Crown Prince, abandoned the siege, and I believe it was in despair."

"So that's what caused the siege to end," Hakoda said thoughtfully, having heard rumors that the greatest city in the world was under assault. "The Dragon of the West is known for his ruthlessness. I wouldn't have expected him to leave a battle because he lost his son."

"His only son," Ursa said sadly, as she recalled the relationship between Iroh and Lu Ten. "He loved his son dearly, and more than once he told me he didn't know what he'd do if he lost him."

"War doesn't build character, it reveals it," Hakoda said. "But what does losing your nephew have to do with you leaving the Fire Nation with your children?"

"Since my brother-in-law had only one son, he had no heirs left," Ursa said. "My husband, Ozai, approached his father to become the new Crown Prince."

"And how did Fire Lord Azulon take that?" Hakoda asked, suspecting how it went.

"Not well," Ursa said bitterly. "To pay for his crime, Ozai must know what it felt like to lose his own son, and the Fire Lord ordered Ozai to kill my son Zuko."

Hakoda's eyes widen again and his heart burned at the thought that someone would order the death of a family member, especially a child.

"And Ozai refused this order, allowing you to flee in the chaos for disobeying," he presumed.

"I only wish," she bitterly rebutted to his surprise. "My husband was going to follow through and murder Zuko."

If Hakoda's heart burned before, it was lit ablaze now. He would never dare hurt Sokka regardless of the circumstances.

After a brief moment of silence, Hakoda spoke up. "Since your son is still alive, I take it you found a way to spare him."

"I did," Ursa said. "In exchange for Zuko's life, I gave Ozai a vile of poison..."

"To use on the Fire Lord, and to somehow ensure he would become the new one," Hakoda deduced.

"Yes, and to prevent another Fire Lord being assassinated, he ordered me, and me alone, to leave the Fire Nation" Ursa explained to him.

Hakoda furrowed his brow, not quite understanding what she meant but it dawned on him quickly.

"He wanted your children to stay as some form of collateral," he deducted.

"Exactly," Ursa said, both surprised and relieved that Hakoda can piece together a story with only partial information. "So… I took them, adding to my crimes. If he finds us…"

"He'll have your head. And he wouldn't be much kinder to your children," Hakoda said sympathetically.

Ursa nodded, relief washing over her at admitting the truth. But she worried as she did not know what Hakoda will do next. She suspected he would demand she leave to protect his people. If Ursa were found here, she would bring a literal fire storm upon them.

If she were in Hakoda's place, she do exactly that.

"I understand," he finally said. "As dangerous as it may be, I'll allow you and your children to stay."

Ursa looked at him in shock, not quite believing him.

"Really?" she asked bewildered. "You'll grant us asylum?"

"Yes," Hakoda said with a gentle smile. "Bear in mind, I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for your children."

Relief washed over Ursa like a wave. She reached out to take Hakoda's hand with both of hers. "Thank you," she said with tearful eyes. "Thank you. I-I don't know how to show my appreciation."

"You can show it by earning your keep here," he said with a stern look. "This won't be a free ride for you."

"I understand," she said without hesitation. "I'll do whatever your people expect of me."

"Good. My igloo has just enough space to accommodate you and your children, though it will be tight. We'll work out sleeping arrangements with everyone present," he said before turning towards the door. "Let's check on your son."

But he froze as a thought occurred to him. Ursa stopped and wondered what he was thinking. He turned towards her with a quizzical look.

"One more thing…," he started, "are your children firebenders?"

Ursa's eyes widen, having forgotten that detail and wanted to avoid it. But she could not lie to the Chief again, especially since he gave her and her children a safe haven.

"Yes, they are firebenders," she confessed. "Zuko is a late bloomer, but Azula… well she's incredibly powerful. Has been bending since the day she was born."

Hakoda tensed up, remembering how firebenders killed his wife and countless others from his Tribe. His fists clenched and his jaw set. Seeing this and sensing his mood changed drastically, Ursa feared that he will change his mind and cast them away, and she braced herself for everything to come undone.

But unbeknownst to her, Hakoda could not bring himself to punish a woman and her children who are just as much a victim as his wife and children were.

And he refused to become the man she was running from.

"Well…," he finally said, "as long as they keep their powers under control, I'll do my best to make sure the issue won't get out of hand," he said as reassuring as possible. "My people won't take kindly to it, given how firebenders have hurt us greatly for decades."

Ursa gained a downcast look. "I understand, and I'm terribly sorry for what my country has done to you and your people."

"I don't blame your children for it," he said with a smile, "and I'll make sure they are not punished for the crimes of others."

Ursa smiled weakly, knowing that her children being firebenders will make the situation more complicated than it already was.

After her mother and the strange looking man left, Azula sat near her brother, who was now being treated by both the elderly woman and, Azula assumed, her granddaughter. The boy, on the other hand, stared at Azula with curious eyes, which annoyed her greatly. She stuck her tongue out at him, causing him to have a goofy expression of displeasure.

"Don't stick your tongue at me!" he whined while pointing a finger at her.

"And don't point your finger at me!" she retorted.

"Don't talk back to me! I'm the Chief's son!" he squealed.

"The Chief of what?" Azula said before smirking with malice. "The Chief of being stupid?"

The boy's jaw dropped comically while his sister gasped in shock.

"Don't you dare talk about our dad like that!" she shouted.

"Oh what you going to do to make me?" Azula said smugly.

"I'll-!" Katara began as she lifted a pouch of water, but she was interrupted.

"Enough, all of you," the elderly woman sternly said, which caused all of them to stop bickering. "Katara, put that water away. Sokka, show our guest some courtesy. And you young one," she said after turning towards Azula, "it would be best to respect your host, especially if they're treating your loved one."

Azula pouted and crossed her arms in defiance. She really was not in the mood for dealing with these peasants.

"Your brother is doing better," the elderly woman said to appease Azula.

"Wonderful" she replied with sarcasm.

"Sarcasm isn't always appreciated around here," the woman said.

"Yeah, that's my specialty," the boy proudly stated.

"I'm sure it is, brave son of the Chief," Azula said, coating her sarcastic remark with false praise.

"Why thank you and-," the boy began before it dawned on him that the new girl was the one being sarcastic.

"You didn't mean that, did you?" he said with a pout.

"Oh, of course I did" Azula said with obvious sarcasm now and a smirk.

The boy groaned while his sister eyed Azula with distrust. Who was she and why was she being so mean?

"Hey… leave my sister alone," a weak voice called out.

Azula eyes widen when she realized that came from Zuko. She looked at him and saw he was propping himself on his elbow, glaring at the other kids.

The elderly woman stood up and ushered her grandchildren to leave their guests alone. Azula leaned towards Zuko.

"Why are sticking up for me, Dum-Dum?" she asked skeptically.

"You're my sister. It's you and me against them," he said with a sideways smile.

Azula wanted to tell Zuko she can handle them alone, but given the circumstances, those two kids can turn into a whole village if Azula acted out too much. It was smarter to have Zuko as an ally than no one she mused.

It was not long before Ursa and Hakoda emerged from where they had their private conversation. After inquiring about her son and being told he will be fine after a day of rest, she kneeled by his side.

"How are you feeling Zuko?" she asked, much to the dismay of Azula.

"Zuko?" she said innocently. "His name's Lee mom."

Ursa looked at her daughter with guilt. "I told Chief Hakoda who we are and what led us here Azula. No need to pretend to be someone else."

Azula looked at her mother in slight panic, thinking she was about to have her head chopped off.

"Are you crazy?!" she yelled.

Ursa moved to place her hand on Azula's shoulder to calm her down. "We're safe here Azula," she calmly said. "Chief Hakoda is allowing us to stay here." Ursa smiled, but Azula could not quite believe it.

"He's granting us asylum?" she asked to Ursa's astonishment that her daughter knew about that word and what it meant.

Ursa smiled proudly. "Yes, he's granted asylum. I'm amazed and proud you know what that word means."

Azula smile slightly, feeling… happy that her mother expressed pride in her.

Ursa turned back to Zuko. "Are you feeling better Zuko?"

"Yeah mom," he said weakly. "So we're really safe here? Dad won't find us?"

Ursa was not sure how to answer that question. She felt that it was only a matter of time before Ozai found them. She could lie and say he will not find them, but with him having the most powerful military at his command and roaming the world, there was no way this village will remain ignored forever.

"I can't lie to you two anymore," she said addressing to them both. "We'll be safe for the time being, but I have the terrible feeling that your father will find us eventually."

Zuko looked fearful, knowing his mother would face pain for what she did. Azula had mixed feelings, thinking that her father would never hurt her, but given the lengths her mother went to get away, it may just be true.

Maybe.

"If your husband comes here, we'll protect Zuko and Azula as if they were our own," a voice said with determined pride.

Ursa, Zuko, and Azula looked at the man who said that and he stood there with a smile and a hand on each of his children's shoulders, while his mother stood next to him. The elderly woman wore a kindly smile, but the children wore scowls because of their spat with Azula.

Ursa smiled gratefully at him for willing to defend her children. "Zuko, Azula, this is Chief Hakoda, the leader of this village."

Zuko looked at the man in slight awe, being reminded of his Uncle Iroh. Azula raised an eyebrow, wondering if this man was as good as his title suggested.

"My children here are Sokka and Katara," he said, gesturing to each, respectively. "And this is my mother Kanna."

"It's wonderful to meet all of you," Ursa said with a bow of her head.

"Hi," Zuko said shyly. Azula remained silent, not wanting to say anything to them.

But she did have one question for her mother.

"Did you tell this Chief about what me and Zuko are?" she asked her mother.

Ursa looked at her daughter with mild guilt. "Yes I did."

"Great," Azula groaned.

"Tell our dad what?" Sokka asked.

Hakoda got down on a knee and turned his children around.

"Sokka, Katara, please stay calm after I tell you something very important." He sighed before speaking again. "Zuko and Azula are firebenders."

Sokka and Katara both wore blank looks as they processed this information. But as soon as they did, they reacted as one would expect.

"They're firebenders?!" Katara shouted before she turned around to fight them. Ursa moved herself between her and her children, but Azula was ready to fight with her own bending at last.

"We have to get rid of them!" Sokka said as he reached for his boomerang, but he was stopped as Hakoda grabbed him and Katara and carried them to his room, shutting the door behind them.

"Enough, both of you!" he shouted after setting them down. Both of his children stopped trying to escape his grasp but remained angry.

"How can you let them stay here?!" Katara shouted. "They killed mom!"

"No they didn't," Hakoda said sternly. "Other firebenders killed your mother."

"But they're evil dad!" Sokka countered. "All firebenders are evil!"

"Son you can't judge someone for what they're born with," Hakoda said. "Give them a chance to prove themselves they're good people, just like I'm doing."

"But why?" Sokka said with a snarl.

"Because if the situation was the other way around, would you want them to give you that chance?" he asked earnestly.

Both Sokka and Katara frown at this, knowing their dad had a point.

"Fine," Sokka finally said with a frown.

Hakoda breathed out in relief. He looked at Katara, who wore a deeper frown than her brother.

"Alright, I'll give them a chance dad," Katara finally said. "But if they're bad people, that Azula is mine."

Hakoda sighed, knowing that things between his children and Ursa's will be difficult. He just hoped no one would end up dead for it.

In the den, Zuko and Azula fidgeted, wondering if they will have to fight the kids in the other room. Ursa did her best to calm them down.

"I knew telling anything them was a bad idea," Azula said while glaring at her mother. "Why did you tell that Chief who we are?"

"If I didn't, I would have been casted back into the sea," Ursa said. Zuko looked at her in panic while Azula angerly glared at her.

"So you did it to save yourself?" she snarled.

"No, I did it to stay with you Azula," Ursa said carefully. "I won't let anyone tear me away from you or your brother." Azula's chest ached a bit hearing her mother saying that.

"But they might hurt us now," Zuko said. As sick as he was, he would not let anyone hurt his mom and sister.

"No, Chief Hakoda game me his word that nothing will happen," Ursa said.

"And he will keep to his word," Kanna said confidently. Ursa and her children turn a look at the elder woman.

"He's not mad at us?" Zuko asked.

Kanna smiled kindly at him. "Of course not child and neither am I. I know you and your sister weren't the ones who…," Kanna froze for a moment and looked at Ursa. "He didn't mention his wife, did he?"

Ursa recalled the brief moment where Hakoda mentioned his wife. "He did talk about her in past tense but nothing specific."

Kanna sighed, understanding why her son would avoid such a personal subject. "Well you have to understand, his heart still aches painfully for what happened to his wife."

"What happened?" Zuko asked innocently.

"She was killed in a Fire Nation raid barely two weeks ago," Kanna stated.

Zuko and Azula were stunned by this, never having met people who lost loved ones by their nation's hands. Zuko felt incredibly guilty for it, but Azula had different thoughts.

"Well if she didn't fight back," she began, "she wouldn't have been killed."

Before Ursa could scold Azula for her insensitivity, Kanna spoke up first.

"She wasn't killed in battle little one. She was murdered in cold blood by a firebender," she said as sure as the sun and moon would raise every day.

Azula's eyes widen, believing her nation's benders and soldiers were the most honorable warriors in the world.

To hear otherwise…

"No that-," she denied while looking at the floor and shaking her head. "That can't be…"

Kanna slowly approached Azula and knelt before her. "And she wasn't the only one who were murdered in these raids," she said sadly.

Azula looks up and saw the pain deep in Kanna's eyes.

"No it can't be… it can't be…," Azula said as she stood numb from seeing the truth up close about her nation, both her beliefs and the truth colliding against each other.

Kanna reached out and pulled Azula into a hug. "But I don't blame you little one," she whispered. Azula teared up, not sure what to believe. Ursa placed a hand on Kanna's shoulder while Zuko wore a guilty expression.

Hakoda and his children emerged from his room and saw Kanna hugging Azula. Sokka and Katara stared at them with slight scowls while Hakoda was relieved that his mother was talented at being able to show kindness to anyone.

"Well now," he said, "I take it we can get along now?"

Kanna moved away from Azula and looked at her son. "Yes, I think we've come to an understanding."

Sokka and Katara looked at Zuko and Azula, who looked downcast. The former pair approached the latter, wondering why they looked like they broke something of their mother's.

"Sorry to hear about your mom," Zuko said as sympathetically as he could, while Azula did her best to give a sympathetic look.

"Yeah well… I guess it wasn't your fault," Sokka reluctantly said, though he still wore a scowl. Katara remained silent, still wanting to blame anyone from the Fire Nation for her mom.

"So, does that mean we can be friends?" Zuko asked with a smile.

Sokka grimaced at that. "No way," he said before he took off to his room. Katara glared at Zuko and Azula before she took off for her room.

Hakoda breathed out in relief, expecting his children to react just as bad as earlier.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would," he mused.

---

Word spread quickly throughout the village about their new visitors. Rumors abound that they were from the Earth Kingdom but did not have the appearance of that nation. Other rumors stated that they were refuges from the war, believing that coming to the Southern Water Tribe would be better than traveling to Ba Sing Se or another large city. There was even one rumor that they were adopted by the Chief and he was courting the woman, much to the irritation to some of the villagers since how recent his wife died.

Naturally Hakoda was rather embarrassed by that last one and it made him want to set the record straight. He called for his Council of Chiefs to start the announcement process, along with Ursa there to explain herself.

"Thank you all for being here," Hakoda announced, with Ursa sitting by his side. They discussed what she was going to say at this meeting, but she was incredibly nervous at how the Chiefs will take it.

Several of the Chiefs eyed her with curiosity, confirming that she was definitely not of Earth Kingdom origin. Some even were convinced that she looked Fire Nation, though it was possible she came from one of the Colonies, were it was rumored that Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation people were intermixed.

"Is this our new guest Chief Hakoda?" Ogek asked.

"She is Ogek," Hakoda confirmed. "And I invited her here to explain herself properly." He gestured to her with a nod to begin her speech.

Ursa took a deep breath before she started. "Greetings to all of you. I appreciate your hospitality to my children and I." She paused for a moment and looked at Chief Hakoda for support. He gave her a reassuring smile and nod.

"My name is Ursa," she continued, "wife of the newly crowned Fire Lord Ozai."

One can hear a pin drop in the room, as the Council members stared at her in shock. Soon some gained expressions of anger.

"A Fire Nation woman is here?" Rara, one of the younger Chiefs said in disdain.

"We should get rid of her," Sodda, another young Chief, bitterly said.

"No," Hakoda sternly commanded. "Let her explain herself."

"Why should we Chief?" Rara asked. "She could be some type of spy or even a saboteur."

"Do you really believe that the Fire Nation would send a mother and her children here for such purposes?" Ogek suggested with a raised eyebrow.

"It's a rather good cover," Yoraw said, a more experienced man. "But it seems rather foolhardy to me."

"Agreed," Shikok said while several other men nodded in agreement.

"Please continue young lady," Ogek said kindly. "What brought you to our village?"

Ursa sighed in relief that she would have a chance to properly tell her story. She went over how her nephew's death caused a chain of events that led her and her children here. All of the men in the tent, particularly those who were fathers themselves, became appalled that a grandfather would order the death of his grandson, and the father of said son would willingly go along with it. They were also equally sickened by the fact that a son would murder his own father for power.

When Ursa explained that her children were firebenders, most of the men became apprehensive by that, while a few were scornful about it.

"That is what led me and my children here," Ursa finished. "I deeply appreciate your Chief for granting us asylum."

The tent fell silent again as the Chiefs processed this information. They all deeply sympathized with Ursa, but they were unsure if three Fire Nation Royals should be allowed to stay in their village.

"Well young lady," Ogek said, "you and your children have been through quite an adventure."

"Especially since you're running from a man who only values himself," Hakkar said.

"But is it still wise for her and her children to be here?" Rara asked. "If what she said is true, then this Ozai is going to use his military to search for them."

"Which can bring ruin to us," Yoraw added.

"The world is a vast place," Ogek said, "and the Fire Nation is focused solely on the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Lord cannot have his entire military directed at finding Ursa." He closed his eyes as he imagined what he would do in the Fire Lord's position.

"What are you thinking about Ogek?" Hakoda asked the wisest man on the Council.

"The Fire Lord will dispatch only a small force to search for Ursa and her children," he said. "They would likely begin their search in the Earth Kingdom, for it would be the more suitable place for Fire Nation fugitives to run to."

"Because it would be easier for them to blend in," Yoraw said as he caught on.

"Especially those colonies we hear of," Hakkar added.

"And we cannot in good conscious force Ursa and her children to leave," Ogek said. "They are safer here than anywhere else. I say let them stay."

"Agreed," Yoraw said. "Sending those children out onto the seas would put them in grave danger, an action that would make us no better than their father."

All the Chiefs who were fathers shuddered at that idea. The Water Tribe was a community who place their children as its highest importance.

Relief washed over Ursa when she heard that most of the Chiefs were willing to let her and her children stay. She glanced at Hakoda as he smiled at her, causing her to return it without much thought.

"So, are we in agreement to allow Ursa and her children to be in our village?" he asked.

Out of the dozen Chiefs, only Rara and Sodda chose not to raise their hands, believing it was more dangerous to allow the Fire Nation Royals to stay. But they would respect the decision that was made.

"Very well than," Hakoda said. "Ursa and her children will be allowed to stay. Thank you all for being here."

"Yes," Ursa said gratefully. "Thank you."

The Chiefs filed out of the tent to go and inform their families and friends that Chief Hakoda had an important announcement to make to the entire village. Ursa stayed with Hakoda, wanting a private word with him before heading back to his igloo.

"Hakoda," she said tentatively, "I have no idea how to repay you for this."

"There's no need to thank me," he said with a bashful smile. "Any sensible man would have done the same."

"Still…," she said nervously, before leaning in and pecking his cheek softly with her lips. "Thank you." She quickly left to avoid embarrassing herself more so, for her heart skipped a beat as she kissed him.

But she was not the only one who's heart skipped a beat.

---

He strode confidently through the Palace, pleased to hear that he and his men were summoned by the most powerful man in the world. No one knew how Ozai gained the throne, but if the second born son was crowned over the disgraced Dragon of the West, he was truly more powerful and deserving of the Fire Lord's crown.

Colonel Mongke and his men marched into the Throne Room and knelt before Fire Lord Ozai as he sat behind his curtain of fire.

"Colonel Mongke," he said with authority. "I have a vital mission for you and your men."

"The Rough Rhinos are honored to be called upon by you, Milord," Mongke said with pride.

"Good," Ozai said, carefully weighing his words as to not released too much information to what led to Ursa's banishment.

"My wife had committed crimes against the Crown and has escaped with my heirs. Your mission is to bring them back," he informed them.

"I presume you wish for your heirs to be brought back alive," Mongke said. "But what of your wife? Would it matter if she doesn't survive our encounter?"

Ozai considered allowing Mongke and his men to have the freedom to allow Ursa's death, but a more sinister thought came to mind.

"No," he said grimly. "You are to bring her back alive too. She must pay for her crimes by my hands personally."

Mongke smirked at his liege's ruthlessness. How he wished he and his men could watch that. Or better yet join in.

"It will be done Milord," he said without a trace of remorse.

"You may wish to start at the docks," Ozai said. "There is a fishing captain there by the name of Quan. He knew my wife from before she came to the Palace. She thought that I did not know of him. He may have been an accomplice to her escape with my heirs."

"We shall locate him and use whatever means to question him," Mongke said with a malicious smirk.

"Very well than," Ozai said with a malicious smirk of his own. "You are dismissed Colonel."

---

The months that followed were uneasy, but things smoothed out over time. Ursa worked hard to earn her place in the village. She diligently learned from Kanna how to sow clothes, make fishnets and even gut, skin and cook animals and fish. Despite her unease and queasiness, Ursa became kept adept at the tasks, though her hands pained her as they blistered and calloused; they even bled at times, causing Zuko to enter a bit of a frenzy over it. Kanna and Hakoda were always quick to reassure him that it was natural, and his mother will be fine.

To keep her children busy and out of trouble, Ursa gifted her children the firebending scrolls and books she stole from the Palace library. Hakoda was hesitant to allow Zuko and Azula to learn firebending, but he would allow it if they did it outside the village under Ursa's supervision.

Ursa watched closely as her children practice their bending. Azula was quick to pick up on each form, having mastered several of them before leaving the Palace. But Zuko still struggled to master the basics, often to his own disappointment. Ursa continued to encourage him, saying he was someone who kept trying despite the hardship, and it would be only a matter of time before he caught up to Azula.

Azula would often scoff at Zuko's attempt to master the basics, often reprimanding him when he did not do it right. Zuko would get frustrated and shout back at Azula. It did not take long for Ursa to have enough and try to find a resolution to their fighting.

"That's quite enough you two," she demanded, silencing their latest argument. "Zuko, your sister is only trying to help you get better with your gift."

"It doesn't feel like it," he said bitterly.

"That's because you're way too sensitive," Azula retorted while rolling her eyes.

"I'll show you sensitive!" he shouted before raising his fists. Azula looked at him with challenging eyes and her arms crossed but she was still ready to dodge his sloppy attacks.

"Stop it Zuko!" Ursa demanded and he complied. "Azula may be a bit critical, but that's because she's quite proud of you being a firebender Zuko."

Zuko looked at his mother in shock, while Azula looked dumfounded. She never really felt proud of Zuko, but if she wanted him on her side when the time came, she needed to at least fake that feeling.

"She is?" he asked.

"Yeah, I guess I am Zuzu," Azula said while keeping her arms crossed and looking away.

Zuko looked at her dumbfounded that his sister actually cared about him. Sure she was rather harsh, but maybe it is because she cared so much.

"Well, I guess I should listen to you more," he finally said to Ursa's relief. She expected him to remained unconvinced that Azula does care for her brother.

"Alright," Azula said. "Do exactly what I say, and you'll be half decent as I am," she finished with a smirk before running off.

"Yeah right!" he challenged before running after his sister. Ursa smiled, glad that her children were starting to get along.

Over time, Zuko started to improve but he still lagged behind Azula. He listen closely to Azula because she grasped the concepts the scrolls and books offered faster than he could.

"Ugh, I'll never be as good as you," he said in defeat.

"Just keep doing it, Zuzu, or else I'll be really disappointed," she teased.

Zuko growled at her challenge before taking up his stance and shot fire from his arm. Azula scoffed at his form and took up the same stance next to him.

"No, Dum-Dum, like this," she said frustrated before she shot fire from her arm. But it was not her normal bright orange fire like before.

It was a mixed with purple.

Both Azula and Zuko stared at the air in shock, not understanding what just happened.

"How did you…?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Azula said before shooting out another burst of the purple and orange flame, which felt warmer than just her orange flame. She smiled brightly before going through every firebending stance, shooting out more and more of the purple and orange flames.

Zuko watched downcast, knowing his sister once again surpassed him beyond his level.

Both the firebenders returned to their new home, Azula practically skipping while Zuko dragged his feet through the snow. During dinner that night, Azula was quick to grab her mother's attention.

"Look mom!" she said. "Look at the new fire I can make!"

"Hey!" Sokka exclaimed. "No firebending allowed!"

Azula ignored him and bent a small fire in the palm of her hands, the base of which was a deep purple. Ursa's eyes widen at this display of fire.

"I- I've never seen this kind of fire before," she said before smiling. "That's truly amazing Azula!"

"Yeah, it really is," Hakoda said with a nervous smile, hoping Azula can keep control of it, yet he was still amazed by it. Kanna stared in shock, never seeing anything like it before in the raids she experienced. But she decided to smile, believing that Azula will learn to use it for good. Sokka and Katara frowned at Azula, thinking she was too dangerous for her own good.

But Zuko scowled at his sister, thinking she was now taking her mother's favor just like she took his father's.

He stood up brusquely from the table and stomped to the room he shared with his mother and sister.

Everyone started at the closed curtains after Zuko went through them. Ursa sighed, thinking she should talk to him and reassure he still had more potential than he believed.

"I should go talk to him," she said.

"Actually," Hakoda said while standing up, "I'll go talk to him. I think I know what's going through his mind right now." Ursa remained in place and wondered what Hakoda meant by that.

Hakoda entered the room and spotted Zuko laying on his sleeping bag, facing the wall and curled into a ball. Hakoda sat next to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I think I know what you're going through," he said.

"No one knows what I'm going through" Zuko countered, trying not to sound like he was going to cry.

"Well maybe I don't, but Sokka might," Hakoda informed the boy.

Zuko's eyes widen in shock at that. "How would he know?"

"Well when we found out Katara is a waterbender, he naturally thought he was one too," Hakoda explained.

Zuko turned his head to look at Hakoda. "Katara's a waterbender?"

Hakoda hummed in acknowledgement. "Yep, she sure is and a very talented one too."

Zuko grimaced a little, thinking now he had to deal with two crazy girls who were also benders.

"Sokka tried and tried to waterbend, but soon it became apparent that he wasn't one," Hakoda said sadly. "So in turn he felt that his sister would outshine him and be ignored by everyone."

Zuko felt relieved he was not the only one who felt like he had to compete with his sister to gain attention.

But that did not mean he was the one only one being favored over his sister.

"Do you like Katara more than Sokka?" Zuko asked.

Hakoda looked at Zuko. "No of course not. I believe a parent should never love one of their children over the other. Your mother understands that."

Zuko looked at Hakoda and saw that he meant what he said. It perked Zuko up at that, but he still felt inadequate.

"Tell you what," Hakoda said, "how about I take you fishing with me tomorrow?"

"But I don't know how to fish," Zuko said.

Hakoda laughed at that. "All the more reason to go. I'll teach how it's done."

"Why would teach me how to fish?" Zuko asked tentatively.

Hakoda smiled at Zuko. "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man how fish and he'll eat for a lifetime."

Zuko smiled at the title Hakoda used to describe him. "I'm a man?"

"Not yet," Hakoda said. "But I'll make one out of you."

Zuko smiled at that, glad to hear that someone from this village was willing to spend time with him. And he was gladder it was Chief Hakoda.

They soon returned to the dinner table, where Ursa was glad Zuko appeared to be in greater spirits than when he stormed off.

"How are you feeling dear?" she asked.

"Great!" he said to her surprise. "Chief Hakoda said he's taking me fishing tomorrow."

Ursa looked at Hakoda, who flashed a smile at her. She smiled in return, glad that a new and better man was willing to be a father figure for her son.

"Dad you were supposed to take me fishing tomorrow!" Sokka complied.

"Well," Hakoda said before digging into a dish, "I guess I'll have to take both of you."

"I don't wanna go fishing with him," Sokka said with a pout.

"Well you don't have much of a choice son," Hakoda said after chewing the seaweed salad he was eating. "It's either I take both of you or neither of you."

"C'mon Sokka, it'll be fun!" Zuko exclaimed, but he recoiled when Sokka gave him a mean look.

"Fine," Sokka said before shoving part of his tiger-seal into his mouth. "But you better not scare the fish away!"

"Don't talk with food in your mouth young man," Kanna reprimanded.

"And don't chew with your mouth open," Katara added in a way that sounded like her mother.

"Or better yet, don't eat at all," Azula teased.

Katara shot her a look. "Don't talk to my brother like that you firebender," she growled.

"Oh?" Azula asked. "What are you going to do? Waterbend at me?"

Katara stared in shock. "How did you-?"

"I've seen you waterbending for months now, though you can use more practice," Azula casually said.

"What do you know about waterbending? You're a firebender!" Katara shouted.

"I know poor bending when I see it," Azula said before gesturing to Zuko. "Just ask Dum-Dum over there."

Zuko pouted at his sister while Sokka snickered. Katara even felt tempted to giggle at Azula's nickname for her brother but did not what to give Azula the satisfaction.

Hakoda sighed and shared a look with Ursa, both of them silently agreeing that they had their work cut out for them when it comes to having their children get along, and they were off to a slow start.

But it was a start, nonetheless.

---

True to his word, Hakoda took Sokka and Zuko to a fishing area a fair distance from the village, though Zuko was rather tired because he had trouble sleeping because of how excited he was; it did not help that he had been woken up early due to the need for as many hours as possible to fish.

They reached a spot Hakoda found satisfactory and began explaining to the boys how to break the ice and form a hole for their fishing rods.

"Couldn't I use my bending to melt the ice?" Zuko asked.

"You could," Hakoda said thoughtfully, "but I think that may be too dangerous; you could weaken the ice around your fishing hole, the area where you would sit."

"Yeah, wouldn't want you to fall in," Sokka said with mild sarcasm. Part of him would not mind if Zuko fell into the cold water.

Zuko gulped nervously, knowing that if he was cold now, he will really be cold if he fell into the water.

Soon Hakoda was explaining to both boys how to bait their hooks and properly hold their rods for to quickly pull the fish out.

But after an hour, Sokka grew impatient.

"Ugh!" he spat. "This is taking forever!"

"Easy son," Hakoda advised, "catching a fish is a waiting game."

"But waiting is boring!" Sokka complained. "Can't we use spears?"

"We'll have to set out by boat to do that," Hakoda said. "Even then it's still a waiting game."

"How is it still a waiting game?" Sokka pouted.

"Because you have to wait for the fish to come close to the surface to spear them," Hakoda explained. "From my experience that wait takes much longer than using a rod."

Sokka groaned and focused again on the ice hole, hoping that a fish would soon bite onto his hook.

To his dismay, it was Zuko who got the first bite.

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "I think I got something!" He began to pull on the rod, trying to get the fish out of the water.

Hakoda jumped to his feet and stood just to the side of Zuko, ready to help the boy.

"You need to grab the line itself Zuko," he said with a smile. "Or the fish will find a way off the hook!"

"Oh, okay!" Zuko said before grabbing the line and pulling it to the surface. After fighting for a minute or so, a fairly large fish emerged from the surfaced. It flopped on the ice at Zuko's feet, but he was quick to try to grasp its body. He struggled to hold on to it with it being slippery.

"You need to grab onto its lip," Hakoda said before doing just so. While the fish struggled to break free, Hakoda had full control over it. Zuko reached out and took it by the lip and held it triumphantly with a proud smile.

"Congrats Zuko, you've just caught your first fish," Hakoda said with a proud smile. Zuko was gleeful at his remark, but Sokka pouted, wishing it were his fish.

But soon enough, Sokka felt a nibble on his rod and he began to pull it up. He struggled more than Zuko to pull it up, the rod often coming close to being taken under, but Sokka believed it was a far bigger fish than Zuko's.

Hakoda had different thoughts about what it was. "Sokka, cut the line," he sternly ordered.

"No way dad!" Sokka said in defiance. "I'm not letting this fish get away!"

"Sokka, it's not a-!" Hakoda said, much too late to his chagrin.

Soon a tiger seal burst from the ice, causing Sokka to fly back a short distance. After recovering his senses, Sokka's eyes widen in fear as the tiger seal began snarling at him. Hakoda quickly grabbed his spear but he feared he might be too late…

A burst of orange fire struck the tiger seal on the head, causing it to change its attention to the new attacker. Zuko stood there strongly, but he never felt more afraid in his life. He shot more fire at the animal, causing it to howl in pain but it remained determined.

A powerfully thrown spear imbedded itself deep into the tiger seal's neck, causing it to howl in more pain. Hakoda ran up and pulled the spear out to thrust it back into the tiger seal's neck, spilling blood over the pristine snow. The tiger seal's tail swung around and tripped Hakoda. The tiger seal attempted to bite down on Hakoda's leg, but a boomerang struck the tiger seal in one of its eyes, blinding it and it fell to the ground. Hakoda took opportunity of its shock and jump up to his feet, whale tail knife in hand. He straddled the animal and with a roar, stabbed the tiger seal several times in its head, killing it.

After seeing the tiger seal was finally dead, both Sokka and Zuko fell to their knees in shock, not quite believing the ordeal they just experienced.

Hakoda stood up and gathered his weapons, breathing deeply. Sokka feared his dad was incredibly angry with him.

"Sorry dad," he said weakly.

Hakoda looked at son and approached him. He placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "It's okay son. You were eager to catch a fish, but it led to poor judgement. It's good to be eager, but you must always exercise caution; today could have ended in tragedy."

Sokka gulped, knowing his actions could have killed him, his dad or even Zuko.

Hakoda looked at Zuko, who was on his knees breathing deeply. Hakoda smiled at him. "We were incredibly lucky to have a firebender with us. If you hadn't struck that tiger seal Zuko, Sokka wouldn't be with us right now. Thank you."

Zuko looked at Hakoda with wide eyes, realizing he never thought Hakoda would thank a firebender given what happened to his wife. Sokka too was grateful for Zuko despite himself.

"Yeah, thanks Zuko," he finally said.

"Sure," Zuko said. "You did good too."

"Sure I did," Sokka said downcast.

"He's right son," Hakoda said. "If you hadn't struck the seal with your boomerang, I would've lost my leg. You did good too."

Sokka cheered up a little at that, but he still felt guilty for what he did. He looked at the dead tiger seal.

"What are we going to do with that?" he asked.

"Well," Hakoda said, "it's been a while since we've had tiger seal."

Sokka smiled at that. "Gran-Gran does make good tiger seal jerky!"

"But how do we get it back to the village?" Zuko asked.

He had his answer soon enough, as he struggled with Hakoda and Sokka dragging the tiger seal to the village. When they came into view, Bato spotted them and he and a few other men ran out to them to take over. They dragged the tiger seal into the village, and everyone marveled at how one man and two pre-teenage old boys took down a tiger seal. Ursa though, was fearful to how it happened.

"Well I landed the killing blow," Hakoda said as he finished his story. "But Sokka and especially Zuko landed some good blows on it as well."

"This tiger seal looks like it was burned," Bato said as he examined the tiger seal closely. "Hakoda how did-?"

"It was Zuko, he firebent at it, saving Sokka's life," Hakoda humbly told him.

The villagers stared at Zuko in astonishment, never thinking that a firebender would risk his life to save one of their own, much less their Chief. Bato began clapping, and he was joined by the rest of the village. Zuko felt uneasy by the attention, thinking he only did what anyone would have do in his position.

Ursa reached her son and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you Zuko."

Zuko smiled and returned the hug, knowing his mom was still proud of him and loved him dearly.

After they were done, Ursa reached over and hugged Sokka, who was shocked as to why she would do that.

"I am so glad you're safe too Sokka," she said. Sokka smiled and returned the hug awkwardly.

Kanna, Katara and Azula stood nearby and watched the heartfelt scene. Kanna smiled at the scene, knowing that her grandson and Zuko may just bond over this exciting event. Azula was impressed that Zuko managed to hold his own against a tiger seal with his fire, meaning that her lessons were taking hold; he just needed the proper motivation.

But Katara though, she felt resentful as she watched Ursa hug her brother. It seemed to her that Ursa was trying to replace her own mother.

And seeing how her father was looking at Ursa now, it certainly felt that way.

---

For the next several days, Katara would often glare at Ursa with resentment. Ursa first believed it was just the dark season taking its toll, but she started to think it was something else entirely when Ursa offered to help Katara with some chores around the igloo.

"I can take care of it myself!" Katara snapped. "We don't need you here!"

Ursa was taken aback by Katara. She suspected that Katara never really liked her, but now it seemed she outright hated her.

"Katara, is something wrong?" she gently asked.

Katara glared at her with anger. "Yes something is wrong! Why are you living here?! Why are you trying to replace my mom?!" she finished with tears in the corner of her eyes.

Ursa stared at her aghast. While it was uncustomary for a man and woman to live together when they are not married, and work together to take care of children, Hakoda thought it was the best course of action, believing that Ursa and her children would benefit most from this arrangement.

Ursa felt foolish that she did not think of how well Hakoda's children would take to it.

"Katara…," she gently began, "from what I've heard about your mother, she was truly a wonderful and loving woman. There's no way I could ever compete with her here and I wouldn't dare try to replace her to you or your father and brother."

"But why are you still here?" Katara asked while tears started to run.

That made Ursa's heart ache. "Well, maybe it's because your father needs my help. Being a father and the Chief at the time is certainly a daunting challenge."

"But we have Gran-Gran to help him," Katara protested.

"That's true and she does an amazing job," Ursa said. She bite her lip, wondering if she should say what else she thought of their situation. "But she has trouble keeping up with you and Sokka, never mind Zuko and Azula."

"Yeah," Katara said softly. "Gran-Gran does get tired a lot…"

"So… maybe it's because your father needs me; I know I need him," Ursa said. "And well, Zuko and Azula need him more than I do. Their father is not a kind man…"

"Because he's the Fire Lord?" Katara asked.

"That might have something to do with it, yes. So maybe your father doesn't have me here as a replacement, but rather…," Ursa said, wondering what word to use next, "as an addition. You can still think fondly of your mother Kya, but you and I, we can just be friends."

"Friends…," Katara said thoughtfully. She did had friends of course, but after her mother died, Katara started to focus on helping her dad and grandmother around the house, and as a result, she rarely if ever spent time around the other girls in the village.

So maybe having a friend who would help her out around the house would not hurt.

"Yeah… we can be friends," she finally said.

Ursa smiled and held her hand out for Katara to shake, forming their pack of friendship.

---

She walked out of the village to her usual spot to practice her bending. Azula was not overly fond of practicing in an environment that seemed to weaken her, but she reasoned that will only make her stronger in the long run.

Besides, bending was a great distraction for her.

She remembered what Kanna told her when she first arrived. Azula felt conflicted about what she heard about her father, her people and her nation. All her life, Azula saw her father be especially harsh on Zuko while she received praise, yet her father only took an interest in her bending and education. He never took the time to just spend it with her or show her any affection, like her mother did. Sure Azula did not get along well with her back at the Palace, but at least her mother would spend time with her because she genuinely wanted to. From what she knew about her family's history and the fact that females are less likely to be firebenders, it made sense that her father had an initial negative response to her birth. Given how she was an exceptional firebender only spared her so that her father can use her to his own ends…

But it still hurt that her father only sees her as a potential weapon.

And to hear that firebenders where murderers was just too much to bear. She even heard from other villagers how the firebenders that attacked the villages were monsters.

Oh how she had grown to hate that word…

She cried out in rage as she continued to practice her bending, slowly turning it into purple with traces of blue.

Hakoda was doing his customary walks around the outside snow mounds that encircled the village, seeing how significant the damage to them were after a major storm. In the corner of his eye, he spotted several plums of purple fire shooting through the air. Hakoda knew immediately who the maker was of those amazing flames and made his way to her.

Azula breathed deeply after finishing the last step in a firebending sequence. She was incredibly pleased with herself that her fire was slowly but surely getting hotter with each passing day she practiced.

"Be careful, or you'll melt the ice," she heard Hakoda teased. She turned toward him and scowled a bit.

"Are you going to tell me to stop firebending?" she asked. "So I don't melt your ice?"

"No I just came over to say it's truly amazing," he said with a smile.

"Right," she said as she looked away with crossed arms.

A moment of silence passed before Hakoda spoke up. "You know, you don't have to spend so much time alone. It's really not good for the mind."

"Why do I want to spend time with any of you?" Azula pointed out. "Everyone hates me."

"That's not true," Hakoda said. "There's people here that'll love to spend time with you if you give them a chance."

"Yeah? Like whom?" Azula asked skeptically.

"Well… I'd like to," he said with a smile. "And maybe Katara too."

Azula looked at him in disbelief. "Sure you two would. You have me cook dinner or something?"

Hakoda realized that Azula is unwilling to do household chores in contrast to Katara, perhaps a byproduct of her time as a Royal. But that was not what Hakoda had in mind.

"Well you and Katara are both benders…," he began.

"Of the opposite elements," Azula said with a scowl.

"But you two are still incredibly gifted benders," Hakoda said with persistence. "That's something only you two can understand better than anyone else."

Azula pouted at that. She thought of how much Katara tried to perfect her bending and how Azula felt embarrassed to see Katara struggle with it, just as Zuko does.

Why she did was beyond her understanding.

"Actually," Hakoda said as he withdrew his boomerang from its sheath, "I could teach you how to throw one of these."

Azula looked at the weapon with curiosity. She has seen Sokka use his quite a bit, and just like she enjoyed teasing her brother by being better at him with stuff he enjoyed, Azula would love to do the same to Sokka.

And it seemed to her that Hakoda was giving her that chance, whether he knew it or not.

"Okay," she said with an eager smirk, "let me see how it's done."

Hakoda smiled as he began explaining what the boomerang could be used for, and to Azula's surprise, it could be used for more than just throwing at a target. He then went onto showing her how to properly toss it to get the arc right for its return flight. When it was her turn to try, Hakoda was amazed at how quickly she picked up on it.

"Wow," he said as she caught it for the fourth time in a row. "That's the fastest I've seen anyone learn how to toss a boomerang."

"Faster than Sokka?" she asked with a smirk.

"Much faster than him, yeah," Hakoda said with a smile. "You're incredibly sharp for a young child. I think you'll do great things in this world."

"Oh I know," she proudly stated. Hakoda chuckled as he and Azula walked back to the village, Azula tossing the boomerang with such perfection that it amazed some of the people.

Though one young boy was not pleased by that.

"Dad, why is she tossing your boomerang around?" Sokka asked.

"Well, it's actually hers now" Hakoda said with a tone of fondness.

Azula perked up at that. "Really?!" Hakoda nodded at her in response.

"But that's-!" Sokka said while Azula smirked at him. "Well you'll never be as good as me!" he said while pointing at Azula.

"Well according to your dad, I mastered it faster than you did," she said smugly before tossing her boomerang with precision and caught it with grace.

Sokka growled at her. "I'll show you who's a boomerang master!" he said before taking his boomerang out and tried to toss it better than her. His clumsy effort caused Azula to laugh.

Hakoda sighed but smiled, wondering just what the heck he was thinking when he tried to connect with Azula. But he was happy that she found something other than her firebending to enjoy.

---

The next several months leading up to the first year after the former Royal's arrival were relatively smooth. The village accepted Ursa and her children as their own, given Ursa's hard work and Zuko's heroic act. Zuko would work with Azula from time to time to perfect his firebending, but he started to spend more time with Sokka, the latter seemingly to have forgotten his animosity towards the former. They learned from Hakoda about many warrior and survival tasks, which the boys both embraced with eagerness. They often tried to sneak into the Chief's tent and the various weapons tents around the village. They were caught from time to time, being reprimanded by Hakoda for it, but Sokka's stubbornness led them to only become more skilled at it.

Azula still remained rather distant though, preferring to focus on her studies and practice of firebending and her new boomerang. She was working towards making her flames hotter and burn brighter, eager to see the spectacle for her hard work, and she also wanted to see if she could use her boomerang to enhance her bending. When she heard that Sokka and Zuko were being sneaky, Azula naturally wanted to outdo them and snuck into the same places they did, only she was not caught once, thanks to what she practiced in the Fire Nation Royal Palace. She spent most of the time alone, for many of the village children were intimidated by Azula, who was a bit mean to them to see if they really wanted to be around her or just been told to befriend her by Hakoda and the other parents.

Though one girl was not intimidated by her.

With Ursa taking on more and more of the house chores, Katara would have more free time, and given how she did not trust Azula for her attitude towards everyone, the waterbender started to practice her skills with what little she learned from what Kanna remembered about waterbenders long pasted.

Katara reasoned this was not enough and began inventing her own moves to a mild success but she felt it still was not enough.

"You'll need more than desperate creativity to become a master," she heard a voice say.

Katara scowled at that voice, both for the comment and who the owner was. She turned around and saw Azula standing there, with her arms crossed and wearing a judgement look.

"What? Do you think you can teach me waterbending?" Katara growled.

"I'm a firebender, what do I have to teach you?" Azula said simply.

"Nothing," Katara said bitterly while a dangerous thought came to mind. "But you are a challenge!"

Katara bent some snow towards Azula, who sidestepped with practiced agility and a smirk on her face; she waited a long time for Katara to get fed up with her and do something about it. Katara scowled at her failed strikes and sent more snow at Azula, who again used her aerobatics to dodge each attack. After some time, Katara ran out of breath and stopped bending, much to Azula's disappointment.

"Not bad, you've got a lot of fight in you," she said.

"Oh was that a compliment, Mrs. Sarcastic?" Katara said with irritation.

Azula raised an eyebrow at that, remembering Katara would call Sokka 'Mr. Sarcastic' at times with disapproval. She briefly wondered if that was some kind of insult to her, for Sokka was a moron. But she set that thought aside.

"Look," she began, "I've been watching you waterbend…"

"What? You've been stalking me or something?" Katara hissed.

"I have to keep up with my sneaking skills," Azula said, knowing better than to admit to sneaking into place she was not meant to be.

"Whatever," Katara said.

"But still," Azula continued, "I can teach you proper stances and breathing techniques. I'm sure that will help you."

Katara ponder this for a moment. She can admit that will certainly help, but she could not stand that it would come from the one person she did not like in the whole village.

"Think of it this way," Azula said thoughtfully, "the more I help you, the better you get at annoying your brother."

Katara perked up at that, always liking the look on Sokka's face when she dosed him with water or use her bending to toss snowballs at him from where he cannot reach her.

"Why do you want to help me?" she asked.

"Me, you and Dum-Dum are the only benders in the village," Azula said. "It's embarrassing for me to see you or him struggle. Also imagine the irritated looks on our idiot brothers when we work together to annoy them," she finished with a malicious smirk.

Katara actually laughed at that, realizing it came out before she knew it.

But she still was not sure if she could trust Azula.

"I don't know," Katara said. "It's hard for me to imagine working with a firebender."

"Because of what happened to your mom?" Azula asked carefully. She can tell she was getting through to Katara, but any wrong moves could spell doom.

"Yeah," Katara said bitterly.

Azula thought about this for a moment, remembering that Fire Navy fleets and units take great pride in their identities, and she had a suspicion to who it was. If Katara can remember any identifiable signs about the fleet that raided their village it would confirm her suspicions.

"Do you remember anything about the ships?" Azula asked.

"Well they were big and black…" Katara recalled.

"I know that," Azula said, trying to cover up her irritation. "But what about any flags?"

"They had flags on their ships, but I don't remember what they had on them," Katara admitted.

Azula breathed deeply, disappointed that Katara could not remember in detail. But Azula tried to be sympathetic and patient.

"Although," Katara continued, "there is a Fire Nation ship that was frozen near the coast not far from here."

Azula looked at Katara in anticipation. "Take me to it."

Katara eyes widen. "We're not supposed to go near it!"

"Look if you want to know who killed your mom, and make them pay for it, we have to see that ship" Azula urged.

Katara pondered this for a moment, but she knew Azula was right. Katara did want revenge.

"Okay let's go," she said before leading Azula to the derelict ship.

True to Katara's word, the ship was abandoned and frozen near the coast. It was an older design, possible from the first half of the war, but Azula paid close attention to the torn up flags hanging off the ship.

"It looks like sea ravens on those flags…" she said thoughtfully.

"What does that mean?" Katara asked.

"It's the symbol of the Southern Raiders, an elite unit of the Fire Navy. They were organized to raid the Southern Water Tribe to…" Azula said before going too far.

"To what?" Katara demanded.

"To capture or kill waterbenders," Azula finally admitted.

Katara scowled fiercely at Azula, who stood her ground.

"Listen, I don't like it any more than you do," Azula said.

"Really?" Katara spat back. "They're your people!"

"And you're my people too!" Azula shouted back without even realizing it.

Katara stared at her dumbfounded, never thinking that Azula would say that.

"Alright," Azula began, "when I got here, I was angry and believed that my country was superior. But after hearing that firebenders cut down defenseless people in cold blood, I started to feel differently. And from the way my father treated me compared to Hakoda, I think that maybe my country isn't as great as I thought."

Katara looked at Azula in surprise, not really expecting her to admit that the Fire Nation could not better than anyone else. "How did your dad treat you?" Katara asked.

"He only was interested in my ability to bend," Azula said bitterly. "He never spent time with me because he wanted to, unlike your dad."

"Yeah," Katara said in defeat, "he's grown to like you and Zuko"

"So, I guess that's why I think of your people as mine," Azula admitted.

The two girls remained silent for a moment, unsure what to say next. Wanting to change to subject, Azula spoke first.

"So now that we know who killed your mom, we can start working towards finding them and making them pay. But first we need to master our respected elements. We're not powerful enough yet," she said with determination.

"Alright," Katara said with a smirk. "You got a deal." She held out her hand in a peaceful gesture.

Azula took her hand and smirked back, forming their own alliance.

---

Ursa and Hakoda were surprised at how Azula and Katara were getting along out of nowhere, the former helping the latter with her bending stances and breathing. But it became apparent the real reason why is when the two of them teamed up against Sokka and Zuko, annoying them beyond belief for the next several months. The brothers would try desperately to get back at their sisters, but their plans always backfired on them, much to the amusement to their sisters. Zuko would particularly get frustrated by it but Sokka was quick to cheer him up and move onto something else. For the pranks they would fall into by their sisters' hands, Azula would do most of the planning but Katara would often rein her in if her plans would potentially go too far. Azula would scoff at that but she usually relented when Katara would point out that going too far would get them in more trouble than its worth.

"It's amazing at how they've managed to set aside their differences to get along," Hakoda said thoughtfully.

"Children are not ones to hold onto grudges," Kanna wisely said. "They're so full of life and joy that they're quick to forget their sorrows."

"Yes," Ursa said sentimentally. "Children are truly a blessing."

Kanna smiled in agreement and headed into the igloo to take her afternoon nap. Hakoda and Ursa watched fondly as their children chased each other back and forth with snowballs. Hakoda and Ursa both made an extremely strict rule that no bending be used whatsoever when they played, much to the dismay of the benders, but they quickly took advantage of using the abundant of snow to gang up on Sokka for a little payback. The children had a strange habit of switching who was working with whom. Sometimes it was Water Tribe versus Fire Nation, other times it was the boys against the girls and on a few occasions, the three benders against the one non-bender. Whenever that happened, Sokka desperately tried to recruit some of the younger boys in the village to help him, but to his dismay, they refused to go against the benders. Right now though it seemed to be a free for all, because Katara just threw a snowball at Azula, who dodged it only for the snowball to hit Sokka right on his forehead as he was hit in the back of the head courtesy of Zuko.

"Oh c'mon!" Sokka shouted before tossing as many snowballs at each of the benders as fast as he could. The three of them laughed at his comical throws while dodging snowballs.

Hakoda and Ursa headed inside together, both feeling grateful that things turned out better than they could have expected. Ursa turned and looked at Hakoda with fond eyes.

"I can't express enough gratitude for opening your home to my children and I," she said shyly.

"It's no big deal," Hakoda said. "I'm sure you've done the same if the positions were reversed."

"But it is a big deal," Ursa said as she stepped closer. "We were supposed to be enemies, but instead…"

"We've become a family," Hakoda said with a fond smile.

"Yes," Ursa whispered as she leaned closer. "We have."

Hakoda leaned in, instinct taking over.

But then he hesitated, feeling like a traitor of sorts.

Ursa was confused by this, knowing what he wanted. But she quickly understood why he was holding back.

"I'm not your wife Hakoda," she reassured.

"I-I know that," he said shyly.

"And you're not betraying her for this. I don't expect you to stop loving her," Ursa said gently. "But I think she'd want you to be happy."

"She would…," Hakoda said shyly.

"And you don't have to do this. I'll respect whatever you decide Hakoda," Ursa said with a polite smile.

He looked at her, seeing the genuineness in her eyes, but also longing for something he had not felt for a long time.

"Thank you Ursa," he said as he placed his hands on her shoulders. Ursa's breath hitched. "For coming into my life," he finished before leaning to kiss her gently.

Ursa kissed him back, feeling that she and her children truly found their home.

---

It took Colonel Mongke far longer than he expected to find the captain that smuggled Ursa and her children out of the Fire Nation. But even the most elusive rat can be found and caught.

He was found in a village far to the west of the Fire Nation, loading supplies for another fishing trip.

Mongke and his men marched powerfully up the ramp and Ogodei grabbed the nearest crewman.

"Where's your captain?" he demanded to the terrified crewman.

"Right here," another voice said with irritation.

Colonel Mongke eyed the man. "I take your name is Quan."

"That's right," Quan replied. He knew it was only a matter of time before Ozai's men would catch up to him.

Mongke grabbed Quan by the collar but the man remained undaunted; it was not his first he dealt with men like these.

"Where's the Fire Lord's wife?" Mongke demanded.

"I wouldn't know. I've never met her," Quan lied.

"Don't even fucking try to lie to me old man," Mongke spat. "The Fire Lord has known for a long time that you're friends with his wife."

So Ursa was correct to assume her husband knew about that. But Quan remained determined to protect her.

"Even if I knew her, what makes you think where I come into this matter?" he asked.

"Because we've questioned the dock workers in the Capital; they saw your ship leave port the same night as Ursa's escape. Even an old crewman of yours admitted to it," Mongke said with a smirk.

Quan swallowed hard at that. These men did not look like the type to leave those they question unharmed. Some of his current crew he had were there that night and they would not last long under a brutal interrogation.

So that left one option left. He hoped that his crew will be spared for it.

"Alright," Quan finally said. "If I tell you what I know, will you let my crew go?"

Mongke smirked at that. "Certainly."

"I took them to the Earth Kingdom. They set out in a small boat towards land," he finally said. "I have no idea where they went after that," he finished with a lie. Knowing he would be asked where she was planning to go by Ozai's forces, Quan never told his crew the specifics of that voyage. He was the only one that knew of Ursa's plan to head to Kyoshi Island.

"Where in the Earth Kingdom did you take her?" Mongke demanded further.

"The southwestern seas," Quan admitted carefully. His crew knew where they were and would admit to it, but they still did not know the specifics of anything. "For all I know they're on their way to Ba Sing Se or hiding in some small village. I don't even know where to suggest you start looking."

Colonel Mongke smirked at the information he gained. He will still have to question the crewmen to confirm their captain's story, but he expected they will.

Especially after the example he was about to set.

Mongke rose his hand and coated it in fire. Quan's eyes widen before the strike was blown. He fell to the deck as his crew watched in fear to what happened to their captain.

The ruthless colonel turned towards them, as they were herded together by the other Rough Rhinos.

"Now," Mongke asked grimly, "who wants to talk next?"

---

It has been a year since he lost his son, but it was time for him to return home.

Iroh watched the docks to the Fire Nation capital approach. It felt like a lifetime ago since he left it with his son, but after years away, it was time to focus on his true purpose in life.

During his voyage back to the Fire Nation, Iroh had heard that his father passed away and gave Ozai the crown. At first, Iroh felt obligated to challenge him to an Agni Kai for it, as it was expected of him. But during his solace in search for his son's spirit, he found he never wanted to be Fire Lord and came to believe that someone else was meant to become Fire Lord, even though it will be sometime before that would happen.

It was a long ride to the Palace and when Iroh arrived, he set out to find his nephew Zuko. But after questioning some of the surprised servants, he learned what had happened in his absence. He wondered why Ursa would be forced to leave, but Iroh concluded she would have been what Ozai would view as a negative influence on his children, so he banished her after gaining the crown. She was always a brave woman, but she proved how brave she was when she fled with her children.

"Attempting to find my son Iroh?" he heard his brother say with disdain.

He turned to face his brother, the new Fire Lord, and eyed him with distrust.

"It appears my efforts have been futile, for your wife left with them," Iroh said before gaining a quizzical look. "Curious that it happened after our father passed away…"

Ozai scowled at his brother, hoping he would not figure out what had truly happened that night.

"It was a coincident," he lied. "Our marriage hasn't been well and when I became Fire Lord, it broke underneath the strain. I didn't expect her to leave with my heirs."

Iroh glared at his brother for how he referred to his own children as 'heirs'. Iroh was not surprised to hear that Ozai only cared for his legacy and using his children for it.

"Very well then," Iroh said before walking away.

"Where are you going brother?" Ozai said. "Are you not to challenge me to an Agni Kai for the crown?"

"I have no desire for the throne, or even for this life of royalty," Iroh said flatly. Ozai glared at him with disappointment, wanting to prove he truly was the superior brother.

But Iroh had no appetite for it, or any part of the Palace for that matter. He only wanted to find his nephew and prepare him for the future.

Ozai continued to scowl at his brother when a Palace servant approached him and bowed.

"What is it?" Ozai demanded.

"Colonel Mongke sent this message Milord," the servant said before handing a parchment to Ozai. He took it and read it closely, smirking at how Mongke managed to gain information to where Ursa may have fled to. While it was not as much information he could have hoped for, Ozai appreciated the initiative the colonel took to set out and find Ursa and her children.

He burned the parchment to the servant's fearful surprise, not understanding why the Fire Lord seemed pleased about the messaged but decided to burn it. The servant kept his silence, knowing better not to question his Fire Lord.

Ozai marched through the Palace to the training grounds to see how his future was coming to form.

"How are they doing?" he demanded.

The lead instructor turned and faced the Fire Lord.

"They are doing quite well," Captain Piandao reported. While he retired from the army after having becoming battle weary and traveled the world for enlightenment, he had no intention of serving the Fire Nation in the way he did before.

But after hearing what the Fire Lord wanted of him, he could not turn down the assignment out of good conscious for what he feared Ozai had planned for them.

Ozai watched the two non-benders as they sparred with their choice of combat techniques. One was throwing knives at her cartwheeling partner, who was dodging them with difficulty.

"Why are you not training them in the ways of the sword?" Ozai asked disapprovingly.

"It appears they already have their preferences for combat," Piandao reported. "I do intend to instruct them in time, but I feel they'll stick to what they know best. It will make them far better warriors in the long run."

The Fire Lord pondered this for a moment, knowing that the captain had a valid point concerning Ozai's new weapons and tools.

"Very well then," Ozai said as the cartwheeling girl struck at her partner's shoulder, causing the latter's arm to go numb. "Carry on then." He walked away without a hint of emotion.

Once he was certain that the Fire Lord was out of earshot, Piandao sighed in disgust. While he was only told to train the young girls and oversee their education, the sword master was no fool. He could see through the Fire Lord's plans like it was glass.

If Ozai could not have Zuko and Azula for his heirs, he planned on using Mai and Ty Lee to cultivate new ones.

Piandao vowed he will do everything he can to protect them. The fate of the world may depend on it.

---

The next couple years in the Southern Water Tribe passed smoothly and quickly. While Hakoda and Ursa admitted to having feelings for one another, they decided it would be best not to act on them and disrupt the balance between their children, who managed to find a way to get along with each other more or less. Sure they got on each other's nerves, but they stuck together somehow.

The parents were also fearful how it would be taken by the village if they took their relationship to the next level, given how much Kya meant to all of them and how it would appear Hakoda was replacing one woman with another.

Still, they took advantages of their scarce private moments to talk, share a hug or even a kiss or two. The two of them felt silly for acting like a couple of rebellious and horny teenagers trying to hide their relationship from their parents.

But they still felt the weight of their responsibilities. The men Hakoda sent to trade with the Earth Kingdom brought back reports of the war, which was going poorly for the Earth Kingdom, especially on the high seas. Kanna and Ursa would also hear concerns voiced by the women of the village, fearful that their husbands, brothers, and oldest sons would have to go off to fight in a war that took too much already. Hakoda held meetings with his Chiefs to discuss the reports brought back, and each time more and more of them came to the same conclusion:

The Southern Water Tribe will have to fight alongside the Earth Kingdom against the Fire Nation.

Hakoda felt incredibly uncomfortable about this, not only for he will be leading these men, some to their deaths, but because he saw Zuko and Azula as his own children. He can no longer imagine that the men he will fight would only be faceless and nameless armored figures. They were people with hopes and dreams of their own, and loving families waiting for them to safely return home.

"You'll be leaving to fight in the war soon, will you?" Ursa asked him late one night, when neither of them could not sleep.

"My Chiefs are in agreement that it's only a matter of time before the Earth Kingdom will fall," Hakoda said grimly. "We have to put in our effort to help them, especially on the seas."

"But you don't want to fight my people," Ursa stated softly.

Hakoda looked at her with sad eyes. "No. After your time here with your children, I can only think about the pain I'd bring to the families of the soldiers I'll be fighting."

Ursa took one of Hakoda's hands. "It's okay Hakoda, it's not your fault for that," she said softly. "It's my husband's and his forefather's fault. I'm sure if you could, you'd just wave your hand and end this war."

Hakoda laughed softly at that. "If only I could…"

"Yes, and as sad as I would be to watch you go off to war," she said, her voice cracking slightly and tears forming in her eyes, "I'm actually… hopeful you'll go."

Hakoda smiled at her. "Trying to get rid of me, huh?" he teased.

Ursa flicked him on the head. "No stupid, I'm hopeful that you'll go and fight for a better world. For our children."

"Our children…," Hakoda repeated. The way Ursa made that sound she viewed Sokka and Katara as her children as well. He smiled at that, finally found his personal reason to fight.

"Okay, I guess I'll be heading off to war soon," Hakoda said. "Yay," he added with sarcasm.

Ursa swallowed hard at that, fearful that she would never see Hakoda again, but proud of him for wanting to make this world a better place.

For their children.

---

At the next community feast, Chief Hakoda called everyone's attention. Under normal circumstances, such announcements usually involved a couple getting married, expecting a child or introducing said child to the village. Everyone suspected that the news this time will be not be of a happy note, though some remained optimistic.

"Is your son announcing a couple's proposal? Or is it his own?" Ogek jokingly asked Kanna.

"If only," Kanna replied. "I'm afraid the news is of a bitter kind. Though I wouldn't hold it against him if he wanted to marry again."

"Even if she would be a Fire Nation woman?" Ogek asked with a teasing smile.

Kanna smiled. "As long as my boy is happy, he can marry a purple platypus bear."

Ogek laughed before adding, "With pick horns and silver wings to boot." Kanna laughed at how Ogek was becoming more comical as he became older.

"Thank you all for coming," Hakoda announced once everyone settled down. "Normally these feasts are to announce and celebrate wonderful news, but today is an unfortunate exception."

Everyone became motionless and totally silent, bracing themselves for the news they all were dreading.

"After receiving unfortunate news from our friends in the Earth Kingdom, my council and I are in agreement," Hakoda began before sighing and continuing, "the Southern Water Tribe must join our allies in battle against the Fire Nation."

Ursa and her children were incredibly anxious, thinking their rapport with the village will go to the wayside when everyone is reminded of the war outside their walls. Even Sokka and Katara were nervous, fearful that their friendships will come to an end.

But no one even mentioned anything about that.

"When do we leave Chief Hakoda?" Shikok asked.

"In two months' time," Hakoda said. "That will give us all enough time to prepare the fleet for departure."

The rest of the evening progressed rather somberly. The men were discussing what gear should be loaded, the women discussed how to deal with their husbands and oldest sons being gone and the children were not as playful as they normally were.

When they returned to their igloo, Hakoda, Ursa, their children and Kanna sat down around the dining table to discuss the future.

Sokka was the first to speak up. "What are we going to do as part of the fleet dad?"

Hakoda looked at his son with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'we'?"

"Well me and Zuko, who else?" Sokka told him.

"Yeah, what are we going to do aboard ship?" Zuko asked.

"You two are not going," Hakoda sternly said, much to Ursa's relief.

"What?" the boys said at once.

"I said you two are not going with me," Hakoda said with more sternness.

"But why?" Zuko asked.

"Yeah, you need us dad!" Sokka exclaimed.

"You two are needed here more," Hakoda sternly said.

Zuko grunted in frustration. "You don't think we can handle ourselves, is that it?" he said, the first time he ever disrespected Hakoda.

"No I don't think-," Hakoda began, but Zuko stood up.

"C'mon Sokka, let's go," he said before leaving the igloo. Sokka stood up and followed his friend outside, just as frustrated.

He stomped through the snow outside the village, frustrated by the circumstances. Sokka caught up to Zuko and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Bro are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm just mad okay!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Mad at what?" Sokka asked. "That we can't go?"

"No!" Zuko shouted before he realized it.

Sokka raised an eyebrow. "Then what are you angry at? My dad?"

"No! I would never be!" Zuko cried out.

"Then what are you angry at Zuko?" Sokka asked.

Zuko gritted his teeth, rage flooding through his body. If he was not angry that he could not go, or at Hakoda for not allowing him to go, then he was only angry at…

"I'm angry at my country!" he shouted before shooting a strong burst of fire at the ice in front of him causing Sokka to take a few steps back.

"Why?" Sokka asked.

"Because they started this stupid war," Zuko said before walking absentmindedly forward. "If they didn't, then maybe you and I could have been friends sooner. And your mom would still be alive."

Sokka looked down at the ice, knowing that his best friend had a valid point. If the Fire Nation had not started this war, then things would have been far nicer than it was.

Before he looked up and could say something, he heard the ice creek under pressure…

"What was-?" he asked.

Sokka looked up just as Zuko fell through the ice he melted, falling through, and scratching his face on the jagged edges.

"ZUKO!" Sokka shouted before running to help his friend, who was head underwater. Sokka reached into the water, the cold biting at his skin despite his think clothes, to reach for Zuko.

But he could not find his friend's hand.

"No, no, no, no!" Sokka said, panic, desperate to pull his friend out.

Just when Sokka started to think about jumping into the water, he felt the ice behind him heat up. After a brief moment of confusion, he realized that Zuko was somehow using his firebending to heat up the ice and cause it to melt. Sokka backed away from the immediate area and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

But just when Sokka thought that it was over, Zuko burst from the ice, the left side of his face covered in blood, and he was breathing desperately.

Sokka carefully reached for his friend and pulled him out of the water. Zuko was shaking violently, having been in the water for several minutes.

"It's-it's so-so cold…" he whispered.

"Hang on buddy," Sokka said as he helped Zuko to his feet. "I'll get you to Gran-Gran and she'll patch up in no time."

Zuko groaned as Sokka assisted him walking back to the village, but it soon turned into Sokka carrying and dragging Zuko through the snow, slowing them down. It felt like it was taking twice as long to get back to the village than it did when they left.

But soon the opening to the village came into view and Sokka began shouting for help. A few of the warriors heard him and sprinted out to them. They saw the terrible shape that Zuko was in and helped Sokka carry him back to Chief Hakoda's igloo.

They burst in without warning, startling Ursa and Kanna.

"Zuko!" Ursa exclaimed as she saw the condition her son was in. Kanna was quick to assemble her healing supplies and approach Zuko after he was set down gently on the cushions. Katara and Azula emerged from their room to see what the commotion was about, only for their eyes widening when they spotted Zuko laying on the cushions. Katara was quick to rush to her grandmother's aid and bent some water for her to use.

Kanna began to clean the deep cuts to his face and she grimaced when she noticed that one of the cuts ran across his left eye. She told Katara to flush the eye with water and apply a warm compress to it with some healing herbs. She also noticed that Zuko's clothes were drenched with water.

"We need to remove his clothes," she said to Ursa. Ursa quickly complied, well aware that hypothermia was a grave danger in the South Pole. After removing his clothes they layered several blankets atop of him, the same ones that kept him warm when he first arrived.

Sokka paced back and forth, pulling at his hair in anxiety. He stopped when Hakoda burst into the igloo.

"Dad!" Sokka exclaimed.

"What happened son?" Hakoda said calmly.

"Zuko fell through the ice and was in the water for a while," Sokka said with a cracking voice.

"How long is a while?" Kanna asked.

"I dunno… several minutes?" Sokka said unsure.

Kanna huffed at that and continued to treat Zuko's wound. Ursa and Katara began rubbing the blankets over Zuko, trying to use the friction to heat them up.

Azula stood nearby, shocked by never seeing her brother like this. Sure she loved tormenting and humiliating him, especially with Katara at her side, but Azula was hating the sight of this. She knelt by Zuko's side and began using her unique fire to warm him up.

Ursa noticed this and was relieved and happy to finally see her daughter show great concern for Zuko.

It was over an hour before Kanna finally managed to fully diagnose the full extent of the damage done to Zuko's face.

"He has several deep scratches to his face. They will heal but I'm afraid they'll scar, possibly for the rest of his life," she said sadly.

Ursa nodded nervously. "What about his eye?"

"His eye appears to be fine," Kanna said with a reassuring smile. "Though as a caution we'll keep it bandaged with some ointments. And for the Moon Spirit's sake do not let him rub his eye during that time."

"Okay," Ursa said with a small smile. "I'll tell him when he wakes up."

Sokka sat nearby crossed leg and with his elbow propped on his knees, head in his hands. He spent the entire time berating himself for what happened to his best friend. Ursa placed a gentle hand on Sokka's shoulder. He looked up startled to see her gentle expression.

"It's not your fault Sokka," she said gently.

"But it is!" he exclaimed. "If I hadn't asked him…," he started before he thought twice before repeating what Zuko told him before he fell through the ice.

"Asked him what?" Ursa asked.

Sokka looked away. "Why he was angry."

Ursa dreaded what, or who, Zuko could be mad at. "Is he mad at your father?"

"No," Sokka said. "Zuko said… he said he's angry at his country."

Ursa sighed at this, not finding it surprising at all. "I can understand that. He enjoys his time here and if the Fire Nation hadn't started this war, you two may have been friends without any trouble."

"Yeah, he said that too." He pondered for a moment, unsure if he should ask. "Are you mad at your country Ursa?"

Ursa looked down at her son, believing that the dark path her country took almost a century ago was the reason behind her children's misfortune. But then again it allowed them to find a new place to call home.

"I wouldn't say I'm mad Sokka," she began. "I'm sad and disappointed for what the Fire Nation has done. Some of which is horrible."

"Horrible how?" Sokka asked tentatively.

"Horrible beyond what you can imagine son," Hakoda said without warning, startling Sokka. Hakoda knelt down and gave Ursa a cup of tea.

"Can you tell me what it is that's so horrible?" Sokka asked.

Hakoda originally was against the idea of explaining what the Fire Nation has been doing to Earth Kingdom citizens. But now he felt that he should explain it, hoping it will convince Sokka and Zuko why they need to stay with the Tribe.

"I'll explain when Zuko wakes up," he said before sipping his tea.

It was not long till Zuko woke up. He propped himself up with some assistance from Ursa and Kanna before he looked at Hakoda in anticipation.

Everyone sat in a loose circle, anticipating what Hakoda had to say. Ursa suspected what it was, given how Hakoda referred to it as 'horrible'.

"Okay everyone," Hakoda began, "as you know I'll be leading an expeditionary force to assist the Earth Kingdom in the war. None of you are happy about this, and I can imagine you two are particularly uncomfortable with it, given I'll be fighting your own people," he said while looking toward Zuko and Azula.

"I'll still go with you," Zuko said firmly. "I'd rather fight by your side."

"I appreciate that Zuko, but I don't want you or your sister and friends to leave here," Hakoda said to Zuko's disappointment.

Hakoda looked at Azula with hesitation. "What about you Azula?"

Azula looked down at the ground, deep in thought. She certainly was not happy about the idea of Hakoda fighting her people, but in a strange twist of fate she came to see the Water Tribe people as her own, and Hakoda and his family as hers.

"It is what it is," she finally said.

Hakoda nodded in understanding, not wanting to push Azula into an uncomfortable position.

"Very well then," Hakoda said. Now came the part he dreaded. "Another reason why we're leaving to fight is because there are terrible rumors that the Fire Nation… is operating concentration camps throughout the Earth Kingdom, using the people imprisoned there as slave labor."

Everyone was stunned to hear of the that, though it was not surprising to Kanna, who saw many waterbenders taken prisoner in the past; it was only logical that was where they were placed.

Ursa too, was unsurprised by this. Azula took notice of this and confronted her.

"You knew, didn't you?" Azula said with a glare.

Ursa nodded solemnly. "Yes. I remember overhearing your father and grandfather speak of it at times. I didn't get many specifics on it."

"Because you didn't want to know," Azula accused more than asked.

"Well it was because your father and grandfather were careful not to speak of it in front of me," Ursa said. "But I guess in a way I didn't want to know."

Anger burned through Azula, some of it towards her mother, some towards her country for such a despicable and hypocritical act when she was told the Fire Nation was the most honorably of all nations, hence why the war was necessary.

But most of her anger was directed at herself because she had no idea that it was happening, nor did she made any effort to find out.

"Did- did our waterbenders end up in these concentration camps?" Katara asked hesitantly.

"I'm afraid so child," Kanna said sadly. Katara scowled, feeling angry that someone would be so cruel to others.

"I take it that since you're not taking Sokka and Zuko," Katara asked her father, "that me and Azula are out of the question?"

"Yes," Hakoda said with finality. "All four of you are staying here to protect the Tribe."

"But you need us dad!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Yeah we can fight!" Zuko added.

"You'll need us benders to fight," Azula pointed out. "We can-."

"I have made my decision," Hakoda said in the sternest way anyone has heard him.

"But-!" all the children began at once before being interrupted by Hakoda.

"It's finale," he said with finality. "Now go to bed."

The children growled and groaned as they filed into their respective rooms, one shared by Sokka and Zuko, the other shared by Katara and Azula. Kanna shared her room with Ursa while Hakoda had his own, a privilege of being the Chief.

But also to keep him and Ursa from going too far.

Kanna retired to her room not long after the children went to theirs, the events of today having tired the elderly woman greatly. Hakoda and Ursa sat together and shared the last of the tea together.

"You should go to bed too," she told him.

"Only after you do," he countered.

"You have a lot of work ahead of you," she said with concern. "You have to prepare the fleet starting tomorrow."

"That's nothing compared to you looking out for our children," he said with certainty.

"I can handle that," she said with a smile, as an idea came to her. "So I guess I'll have to make you go to bed you man-child."

"Man-child?" Hakoda said with feign hurt.

"Yes," she said with a smile as she stood up and took Hakoda's hand. "There were several times where I thought I was taking care of five children."

Hakoda chuckled as Ursa led him into his room and pushed him down onto his sleeping bag. She attempted to walk away, knowing they have never gone this far, and it was dangerous if they did, but Hakoda held onto her arms.

"What are you-?" she asked before Hakoda pulled her down to gently kissed her. Ursa returned it with eagerness.

They separated and stared at each other, longing and… and something else in their eyes.

"Hakoda, we shouldn't…," she said with no meaning behind it. She desperately wanted to do this as much as he does.

He gained a guilty expression before letting go. "Sorry I just- I just lost my focus…"

Ursa hummed as she stood up and made her way to the door.

But instead of leaving, she closed and locked it behind her.

Hakoda's eyes widen. "Ursa what-?"

She made her way back to him and straddled him, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Just because we shouldn't do it…," she said seductively, "doesn't mean we won't do. Especially when we want to." She leaned down and kissed him passionately.

Hakoda returned it with as much vigor. When they broke to catch their breaths, he smiled at her.

"You know… this might be the last chance I get to do this, with going off to war and such…," he said with sly smugness.

"Oh shut up," she said with an amused smile, before they shared a night of such tender love and passion Hakoda had not experience in a long time, while Ursa experienced it for the first time.

---

The weeks passed quickly but somberly as Hakoda and his men prepared their fleet. Zuko's injury left deep scars across the left side of his face, but his eye escaped unscathed, allowing him to keep his sight. He and Sokka constantly tried to convinced Hakoda to let them come along, to which he rebuked each time. Katara and Azula each fumed in their own angry, releasing it by practicing their bending. Katara managed to improve her fighting style to become a competent fighter. But Azula's fire changed into a pure blue form, one that was so hot that it could melt ice in less than half the time as orange fire could.

"It seems rather fitting," Katara said. "Bending the color of your adopted nation."

"I suppose so," Azula said. "It seems rather poetic."

"You?" Katara teased. "The poetic type?"

"I'm a woman of many talents," Azula said with pride. "I look forward to master lightning."

"Lightning?" Katara asked with wide eyes.

"Yes," Azula explained. "The most powerful of firebenders can generate and bend lightning."

Katara stared at her friend in shock. "How the hell are you going to do that?"

"The books that my mother gave me includes instructions on how to generate lightning. Hopefully, I can pull this off…," Azula said with confidence, though she was a bit skeptical of herself.

Azula focused on the energy within her, attempting to separate the positive Yin and the negative Yang, which she found after days of meditation. When she felt them trying to come crashing back together, she moved her arms in a circular motion and focused on providing its release and direction…

Only for it to blow up in her face.

She was launched several feet back into the snow. Katara gasped in terror, never seeing her friend failing at something on the first try.

"Azula!" she screamed out while running to her friend.

"I'm fine…," Azula groaned before she got up with determination. "Let me try that again."

"You can't be serious," Katara said in disbelief and concern.

"Actually, I am," Azula said with finality.

Katara gulped as Azula focused her mind again. From what she knew about Yin and Yang is that they were opposite of each other, yet they cannot live without another. How they did this was by living in harmony of each other, void of any conflict…

And that is when Azula realized it. Her mind must be clear of any conflict to properly generate lightning and guide it.

But she felt conflicted, for her home nation and adopted nation were enemies, but she identified with both. She did not know which nation her true loyalty laid, but she refused to turn her back on either.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply…

And imagined her nations being at peace with one another.

She focused on this image and moved her arms in a circular motion, small sparks forming on her fingertips, which formed into larger bolts around her. She stretched out her arms, the lightning shooting out across the sky.

Katara started at her friend with a wide open jaw. She could never imagine anyone doing this.

But it came to no surprise that if anyone can do it, it was Azula.

"That-that was amazing!" Katara said with a wide smile.

Azula breathed deeply and brushed the hair that fell in front of her face. "It's not perfect, but it's a start."

"Still an amazing start!" Katara repeated, making Azula smile, not just for generating lightning, but also finding meaning for something bigger than herself.

---

The day came sooner than anyone wanted. The men loaded the last items necessary while those with families said their goodbyes, knowing they may not get the chance again.

Hakoda was finished giving orders to Bato before he moved to say goodbye to his family.

"Are you sure we can't come with you dad?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah," Zuko sad, "we're strong, we can fight. We want to go."

"Sons," Hakoda began, "the most important thing about being men is knowing where you're needed the most. And right now that's staying here looking out for your sisters."

"We don't understand…," Sokka said with tears in his eyes. Zuko also sniffled in sad confusion.

"One day, you two will understand that," Hakoda said before bringing both in for a hug. "I'm going to miss you two."

Sokka and Zuko returned the hug tightly with tears flowing freely.

When the boys calmed down, Hakoda went to say goodbye to his girls. Katara gave him a hug tighter than Sokka and Zuko did while crying in despair, but Azula hesitated, unsure if she should do the same.

But Hakoda answered that for her. He hugged her tightly, like she was one of the precious things he valued more than his own life.

Azula returned the hug so powerfully that Hakoda believed the circulation in his body would be cut off.

Obviously Hakoda hugged his mother, but when it came to Ursa he wanted to kiss her deeply. But they agreed that their children, the village and even themselves were not ready for them to announce they took their relationship to the next level.

So in the end, they settled for a hug.

"You stay safe out there," Ursa said with tearful eyes.

"I'll try my best," Hakoda said as stoically as possible, but all he wanted was to stay here and just be a family man.

The ships set out that day, leaving a sadden village behind.

With only the oldest men remaining in the village, they were unable to do strenuous tasks such as fishing and hunting, leaving the tasks to the handful of pre-teenage boys, mainly Sokka and Zuko who can handle themselves the best. But they could not do it alone, so Katara and Azula would also do the same tasks.

"Why don't you two work on your sowing or something," Sokka said irritated because Azula became too eager for a kill on snow deer, causing it to escape.

"Why don't you working your sowing," Azula snapped back.

"Men don't sow clothes!" Sokka shouted.

"Well don't come crying to Katara or Kanna when you rip your pants!" Azula shouted back. "Again!"

Zuko grunted while Katara shook her head at Sokka's and Azula's latest spat. The months and now close to two years since Hakoda's departure have not been kind, despite Kanna's and Ursa's efforts to give the children- or more accurately, teenagers- as much freedom as possible. With what free time they had, the benders practiced their skills, trying to polish them for real combat. Sokka, and to some extent Zuko, tried to teach the younger boys how to fight and survive in the tundra, but the oldest of them were barely eleven, with all of them more interest in playing warrior than actually being warriors.

And now today they had to set out in their canoes to haul in fish. But what they did not know is what they will discover will intertwine their destinies with that of another person long believed to be dead forever…

---

A/N: Greetings! I'm sure some of you of familiar with my story Lightning Destiny, so I started this project based on some excerpts from the comic The Search, and it's going quite well. I've decided to proof read and repost the first five chapters before continuing the story. Glad to say that task is done and will be working on future chapters very soon. Looking forward to your reviews!