Okay… I did change Areto's character a little. He's the same in some ways, but his opinions differ a tad from the original. When I first wrote this chapter years ago, I wasn't thinking of Areto as a huge conflict in the future. Then I made him one in a future chapter and things just didn't connect between his personality in this scene and the future scene. Hopefully the changes help support his reaction in future chapters.

Chapter 30: The Southern Water Tribe Warriors

Third Person (Southern Water Tribe Base Camp: Earth Kingdom Eastern Sea Shore)

A man in his late forties, with dark brown hair and tinted skin walked into the large blue tent that was set in the center of the camp. The camp had about a dozen other tents dispersed around the main one, and four southern water tribe vessels were anchored just a little offshore. Thirty men were seated or walking around the camp, their ages varying from the youngest being twenty up to the oldest who was in his late fifties. Other men were on the boats off shore, making repairs to sails and preparing for travel.

Inside the tent, the man stepped up to another who was seated cross-legged on a mass of fur pelts that covered the floor; he was analyzing a few maps sprawled out before him. He appeared in his late forties; some of his dark brown hair was tied back in a high ponytail while the rest hung down. He had two strands on the right side with beads at the end. A short beard decorated his face.

"Any word from the group yet?"

The man seemed anxious as he waited for his chief to answer. Hakoda looked up at his good friend with calm. "They'll be here soon, Bato. I know you're worried about your son being sent off on his own, but Kona is a strong young man. He is one of the strongest warriors apart from his brother."

Bato sighed, and then sat down in front of him. "I know… I guess I'm just an overprotective father… It's his first venture out alone without me."

"Jaka is with him, and Hoka and Ruja went to meet up with them. They're some of the youngest, but they are wise young men. You know I wouldn't send them out on a mission without being concerned for their safety."

He nodded. "I just expected them back by now. It's been so many days."

"They'll be here. Just be patient. The Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se isn't a day trip. And we don't know if Kona was even able to get into the city..."

"Yeah… that's what concerns me. I hear Ba Sing Se is very selective on who may enter…" Bato met his friend's gaze, and then asked, "On another note… How are you holding up? I heard you received word from the Northern Water Tribe about Crystal."

Hakoda let out a heavy sigh. "Guess word gets around quickly…"

Picking up the scroll beside him, he handed it to Bato. As Bato read it over, Hakoda crossed his arms with deep concern.

"She managed to escape from the Fire Nation briefly…" Hakoda spoke, remembering everything he'd read. "She was captured again by the Fire Lord's son. She's still being held captive and is somewhere in the Earth Kingdom… Or so that's what the report says," Hakoda shut his eyes. "Sokka and Katara are still traveling with the Avatar."

Bato finished reading the report, and placed it down beside him. "It says Crystal fought hard to try and stop the Fire Nation though… She's a strong young woman. She'll be okay."

"My daughter hasn't been okay since her mother died, Bato. I still will never understand what she was thinking when she attacked the Fire Lord's son at the South Pole. I told her not to be rash… She already has one scar from the enemy… I can't imagine her receiving another…"

"I know you've been worried about her since I told you about her capture after I learned about it from Sokka and Katara… She'll survive this, though. She's stronger than we know. Obviously the Northern Water Tribe was impressed with her strength to emphasize it so much in the report."

Looking back down at the maps, Hakoda frowned. "I know she's strong… I suppose I feel disappointed in myself for not being there to protect her. I should've been there when the Fire Nation came… I wasn't there to save her…"

Bato seemed uncertain. "Are we talking about this year, or are you referring to that awful day so long ago?"

Chief Hakoda's fists tightened. "We should've never left them so vulnerable… I never thought the Fire Nation would actually come back to our shores."

"How could you have? We made sure we were undetectable… The Avatar's arrival changed everything…"

"Father! Chief!" A sudden voice shouted from the entrance of the tent. The two men jumped at the intruder's call.

The young man at the entrance was tall and lean, and was the youngest of the group. However, for being the youngest he had some muscle that was visible through his long sleeves. He had his father's chin, skin tone, and dark brown hair color. He kept his hair tied back in a long ponytail, and wore similar blue water tribe wear to that of his father. His eyes were a deep blue like his father's, but his personality was softer.

Bato stood and turned to his youngest son with concern. "Areto… What's wrong?"

"Kona's returned," Areto spoke, trying to catch his breath. "He and Jaka said they have something urgent to tell the Chief."

Hakoda's eyes widened from his response. Immediately, he stood and asked swiftly, "Where are they?"

"Right outside. They're resting from their journey, but desperately need to speak with you."

"Tell them to get their butts in here."

Areto nodded at his chief's order, disappearing from the tent entrance.

Bato looked uncertain. "Do you think the Earth King refused our request?"

"I don't see why he would," Hakoda stated. "We're offering assistance to defeat the Fire Nation swine. How could he refuse extra aid?"

Only a second later, Areto entered the tent once more with his older brother Kona and Hakoda's nephew Jaka. The two looked exhausted from their long travel, but also appeared anxious to get what they had to say off their chest.

Hakoda was quick to the point. "Jaka! Kona! What's the urgent message? Did the Earth King deny our request?"

Kona shook his head. "No, Chief Hakoda… We have permission to make camp at Chameleon Bay. The report is here." He pulled a scroll out from where it was wedged between his belt and waist. Handing it over to Hakoda, he met the man's eyes with dismay. "That's not the urgent news…"

Areto, Bato, and Hakoda waited for either Kona or Jaka to speak. Kona stepped back and sighed heavily. He shot Jaka a wary glance, and the other frazzled young man nodded.

Jaka looked over at the two men and spoke for Kona. "It's about Crystal, Uncle…"

Hakoda's skin turned a shade paler. Thoughts of his daughter came flooding to his head. His eyes went wide. "Wha- what about her?"

Jaka seemed unsure if he should continue. He nudged Kona in the side, and hissed, "You're the one who found her. Tell him."

Kona looked over at Jaka with a glare. "You're his nephew! You tell him!"

Hakoda's patience was wearing thin. "Tell me what?!" His fists tightened. "What has happened to Crystal?"

Areto showed signs of worry as well. "Is she okay?"

The two young men glanced over at Areto, and then back at the chief. Kona let out a heavy breath. "You may want to sit down, sir… You're not going to like this."

Hakoda said nothing, but he did sit down worried his strength would leave him at the message he was about to receive.

"Don't tell me… She's-"

"No Uncle! She's alive," Jaka quickly reassured. "I mean… We were worried she drowned at first, but a couple of travelers told us they had run into her and she was okay."

Kona grimaced. "Yeah… Those annoying singers…"

Jaka continued. "She's still with the Fire Lord's son…" He paused, dreading what he was about to say next. "She made sure of that…"

His last words struck a wave of confusion through the other men in the room. Bato spoke this time. "What? What do you mean?"

Kona finally jumped in, although he showed no comfort in doing so. "You see… I ran into Crystal on my way back from the Earth Kingdom city. At first I saw her with these two travelers disguised as Earth Kingdom nomads… I quickly understood though that they were the Fire Lord's brother and son. I tried to get Crystal to come with me, but she refused… She told me she didn't want to leave them…"

Hakoda's mouth dropped. Kona wasn't done though.

"I didn't have much of a choice but to leave. I knew if I tried to drag her off in the daylight then prince boy and his Uncle would gang up on me. I made the decision to come back for her that night. I managed to follow them to their camp to see where they were. Once I had their location, I headed to the meeting spot where Jaka was waiting for me. I told him everything, and the two of us returned to their campsite in the night. We managed to snatch up Crystal without alerting the other two men…. She fought us the whole way though…"

Jaka finished the tale, seeing that Kona didn't want to go on. "She was determined to escape us and return to her captors… She kept spewing out nonsense about loving the Fire Lord's son… She wouldn't listen to reason and jumped off a cliff to get away… She fell into the river, and that was the last we saw of her… We tried to stop her, Uncle… but she was too determined to escape…"

Bato was amazed. His youngest son Areto was bewildered. Chief Hakoda was horrified.

The chief looked pale as he asked, "Are you telling me… she went with her captors because…" He stopped, his breath shaking. "My daughter… In love with the Fire Nation prince…? This can't be…"

As Hakoda thought over something he never thought possible, Bato decided to speak.

"She's been with the Fire Lord's son for months, Hakoda… He's probably been deceiving her about us. She may be terribly confused."

"Or actually have feelings for him," Areto suddenly muttered. Everyone looked over at the youngest in the room who had his arms crossed and didn't look thrilled with the conversation. He shut his mouth when he saw the attention he grabbed.

Bato clamped a hand on Areto's shoulder in reassurance. "Don't worry, son… We'll find a way to get her back. You haven't lost her."

This part disturbed the young man. He yanked his shoulder from his father. "Dad… I told you already… I'm not marrying her because of some arrangement you two made. I've argued this so many times. She's definitely suitable, but if she doesn't want to marry me I'm not going to force her."

Hakoda remained silent. Jaka and Kona were surprised by Areto's words.

"Areto… We've been over this," Bato said. "We need you and Crystal to marry… A strong union will be promising for the tribe who has lost so much."

"She's like a sister to me… I don't feel for her any more than I feel for other women in the tribe. It does sicken me to think that she's in love with the prince of the Fire Nation, but I don't think I'll be able to change that."

Hakoda let out a heavy breath. "Areto… She knows what's best for this tribe. I'm not sure what's going on in her head right now, but once we save her and bring her home she will come to realize her feelings are false. She has been away from home for too long. Also… she will learn to love you over time. You just have to be patient."

Areto shook his head, and looked out of the tent to avoid everyone's gaze. "I don't think so… If what Kona speaks is true, Crystal seems to really care for this guy…. I don't want to force her into marrying me… it would be too harsh. She'll just hate me for having a part in it."

Jaka and Kona decided it was time to take their leave.

"Well… I think Kona and I are going to finish unpacking with the others," Jaka muttered. He grabbed Kona's sleeve and the two men departed.

Areto was left alone in the room with Chief Hakoda and his father Bato, both men looking at him with bewilderment.

"What are you trying to say Areto?"

Areto met his father's eyes to answer him. "Just that... I'm conflicted… I don't want to marry Crystal if she doesn't want to marry me." He let out a heavy breath. "I hope she comes to her senses and stops having feelings for this firebender, but even if she does and returns home then there's nothing I can do to make her want to be my wife. She'd already told me she wants nothing to do with the arrangement."

Hakoda sighed heavily. "Areto… you have to understand. Our tribe has lost so much. A marriage between you and Crystal will be a sign of hope for the future."

Bato added, "The elders of the tribe agree that you and Crystal are a perfect match."

"Elder Kanna doesn't…" he argued. "And neither does my mom. They both think Crystal and I should have a say. I'm not saying I don't want to marry her, Hakoda… I'm just saying I don't want to take away her freedom in this matter."

Hakoda sighed at the mention of his mother-in-law, Kanna. He still wasn't thrilled that she had encouraged her grandchildren to chase after the avatar and follow him. "We'll discuss this another day… For now I need to be alone with my thoughts…"

Areto frowned. He said nothing more to Hakoda or his father. Turning on his heel, he walked out of the tent with defeat. As he went, he recalled a discussion he had with Crystal almost three years ago. He and the warriors had gone home for a few weeks to be with their loved ones. Areto had just been leaving the campsite when Crystal ran up to him.

"Areto!" A familiar voice brought the eighteen-year-old to a halt. His hair was in a high topknot, and he was covered from the neck down in furs. The night air was freezing, so when he turned to see a thirteen-year-old Crystal running towards him with nothing but boots and her thin clothes he was shocked.

Her face was red from the cold licking her skin, but she didn't seem to care. Instead, she came to a stop in front of Areto. She looked to have been crying, which took Areto by surprise. He couldn't help but glance at her scar which decorated her face. He could remember the day she got it. He could remember how they all thought she wasn't going to survive the night.

"What are you doing? You're going to get sick?" He went to take off his coat to put it over her. She grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Did you know?" Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Did you know about the arrangement our fathers made?"

Her question took him off guard. He was puzzled. However, he quickly knew what she was referring to. He answered softly, "Yeah… I've known… they asked me not to tell you."

She ripped her hand away as if he burned her. "Tell them to forget about it! Tell them you don't want to do it!"

Her pleas made him frown. "You don't think I haven't tried…? They believe this is what's best. I can't argue with them."

"They'll listen to you! I know they will!"

Areto felt awful for having kept the truth from Crystal for so long. He felt there was nothing he could do about it though.

"Crys… I'm not thrilled about this, but I can't go against my father or Chief Hakoda. They only have our best interests at heart."

She shook her head. "No! This isn't right!" She looked up at him with desperation. "I don't see you that way, Areto! I know you don't see me that way either! We're friends… We're not meant to marry one another!"

"Crys… I want to agree with you… but it's not that easy…"

"It is!"

She shut her eyes and tightened her fists as more tears fell. Ice suddenly formed between her and Areto. His eyes widened when he saw this. Looking at Crystal, he saw she didn't even seem to notice. He knew though… At that moment he understood… She was a waterbender. He decided to keep this knowledge to himself. If she hadn't told others, she definitely wouldn't want him spreading it around.

"Crys… Your father feels this is best for you… After everything you've been through, he wants to make sure someone's there to protect you in the end… I… I can protect you. I'll be a good husband. I'll take care of you." He pressed his gloved hand to her scarred cheek. "When we're married, I won't let anyone hurt you again."

She smacked his hand off. "I don't need protection!" The ice spread to the point where it formed beneath his boots.

"Calm down…" He reached forward again. "You need to calm-"

She hit his hand away again before he could touch her shoulder. Her blue eyes looked at him with betrayal. "You're just like them…" She stepped back. "You all think I need someone to protect me… I'm not weak… I don't need you to marry me! I'm not some broken and damaged girl who needs someone to direct my future!"

He dropped his hand to his side. "No one thinks that way."

"Yes they do! That's all anyone thinks!" She covered her face. "I'm so tired of everyone looking at me as if I'm a memory of the past! I'm so tired of being defined by my scar!" She turned to the side, trying to hide her face. "I wish you all would just leave! Go back to your damn war and leave me alone!" She turned on her heel and ran.

"Crystal!" He went to race forward, but stopped. A hand grabbed his coat sleeve.

"What did you do to my sister?!" Sokka's voice snapped from behind him. Turning, he met the burning gaze of Crystal's overprotective twin brother.

Jerking from him, Areto defended, "I didn't do anything to her. I'm not to blame for any of this."

He was surprised by Areto's defense. He narrowed his eyes. "If I find out you are to blame though then I'm coming back for you!" He took off to follow after his sister who had disappeared into the dark shadows of the night.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Areto sat on a large piece of driftwood beside the lapping waves. His whale-tooth sword rested in his lap as he paused his sharpening. He wished his father, Hakoda, and the other elders would listen to him. He wished people would understand that Crystal was not going to willingly accept the union between them. She was head-strong and determined. She would not be forced to do anything her heart didn't want her to do.

Of course, Areto couldn't help but grit his teeth as he thought back to the big reveal earlier. He couldn't even fathom how Crystal could be in love with the Fire Lord's son. However, this fact alone made him only believe further that Crystal would never accept him as a husband…

He thought back to the last time he had seen her. She was barely a teenager, just developing her curves… she was pretty then, so he could only imagine how much more beautiful she had become. However, he still didn't feel he'd ever want her to be anything more than a sister. And he knew she would never want him.

However, he was conflicted because he didn't want to let his father or Hakoda down. They were expecting him to love and cherish Crystal, and he didn't want to fail them.

"Areto… There you are."

His older brother Kona headed over to him. He was wearing a fresh set of clothes and looked to have cleaned up in the last hour that had passed.

"Go away, Kona," he muttered, running the stone against his sword again.

"Don't be bitter…" Kona said. He stepped over and crossed his arms. "I know you're not thrilled with this, but you shouldn't let it damper your mood… We'll get her back, and then she'll be your bride before you know it. She'll come to her senses once we get her away from that prince."

Areto sighed heavily. Standing, he dropped the stone and sheathed his sword. "Crystal's not the girl you all think she is. She may look weak, but I've known her for a long time. She knows what she wants." He turned and looked at his brother with hard eyes. "As much as I would love to make her happy, I'm not going to force her to be my wife and be miserable the rest of her days. Dad and Chief Hakoda can't force the two of us together just because they want to unite the family. I'm not going to marry a girl who is in love with another. I want to find someone who actually wants to be with me."

"She'll change her mind once she-"

"She hasn't been brainwashed," he interrupted Kona. "You all act like she's doing everything against her will. I know Crystal. She fights for what she wants. If she jumped into a river to escape you and Jaka, then it's pretty clear she has genuine feelings for this guy. The thought sickens me, but I can't change her heart if it's true."

Kona sighed heavily. "Even so, she's in love with the enemy. It's a futile romance." He turned and went to walk away. However, he stopped and looked back at his brother. "You know… When you see her, you might change your mind about everything. She definitely doesn't look like the child she did three years ago. She's matured a lot. Beautiful. Just thought you should know." He turned and walked off into the woods.

Areto sighed in confliction. He didn't want to be the bad guy and force her to be his. He wanted to let Crystal choose instead of being forced into something she did not want a part in. Deep down, the thought of her being his wife wasn't terrible, but he knew it would never work. Even if they could save her from the Fire Nation prince and help her realize her love towards the enemy is absurd, Areto believed it would change nothing. Crystal would never allow the tribe to force her to marry someone.

He shook his head. He was certain she was beautiful like Kona said; And while he didn't hate the idea of being married to the chief's daughter, he knew if she rejected him he would have to let her go.

Of course, he didn't know if he would ever be able to hold back if he ever saw her with Prince Zuko in any affectionate way. The thought repulsed him. He hoped she would be freed from her captor soon so she could come back to reality.