Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Smoke and Mirrors" by Imagine Dragons

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter and have come back to read more! My goal is to update every Monday and Thursday, though there will be times that I have to update a day early/later due to life.

Book One, Chapter Two: The Fire Prince

All that I've known, buildings of stone
Fall to the ground without a sound
I'm feeling far away, I'm feeling right there
I wanted your truth, but I wanted the pain
To disappear

Zuko tries his best to keep himself from glancing at the Water Tribe girl. She's sitting in the middle of the boat, calmly watching the water around them. She looks so innocent.

But he doesn't trust her based on what she looks like. His sister can look innocent when she wants to - and the gods know what kind of monster she is.

What is this girl playing at? They find her stranded on an iceberg in the middle of the sea and she asks them to take her to the nearest Water Tribe village - but doesn't she know all the villages are gone? They're all destroyed. Unless the Water Tribe members that survived have rebuilt. In that case, Zuko has to go to them. The Avatar could be hiding among them.

And what if she's telling the truth? What if she really doesn't remember anything? It still doesn't make any sense, though - she is wearing Water Tribe clothing, so there must be at least a small Water Tribe settlement around.

Either way, helping her could help him find the Avatar. Zuko has searched the entire world and this is his last hope. If there is no evidence of the Avatar here, then there is no hope for finding the Avatar anywhere. And no hope for him to restore his honor and be welcomed home again.

He can't keep himself from looking her way. This girl is his last hope for redemption.

And she can't know the truth.

When the crewmen pull up the boat and the group steps onto the deck, Zuko heads straight for his uncle. "Wait here one moment," he instructs the girl.

Iroh looks up as he approaches. "Did you find what you were looking for?" he asks calmly.

"Not quite. At least, not yet." He motions with his chin towards Katara. "She's definitely Water Tribe. But she says she doesn't remember anything. She asked me to drop her off at the nearest Water Tribe village."

Iroh strokes his beard. "How interesting," he says.

"I don't think she's lying, but I'm not sure. I figure we sail around, try to find a Water Tribe village - if they still exist. Then we can ask the residents there about the Avatar. Maybe he's hiding out here in the South Pole."

"What if they try to fight you? You are not strong enough to take on an entire village."

"I'll try anyway. Then maybe I can die with some honor."

Iroh gives him a strange look, but doesn't press. Instead he asks, "And what if the villages are all destroyed and no one lives out here?"

Zuko glances back at the girl. She's standing at the side of the ship, back turned to them, looking out over the water. Her dark brown hair is blowing in the wind.

"Then we help jog her memory. There's something not right about her. I just can't put my finger on it."

Iroh smiles. Zuko glares at him. "What's so amusing, Uncle?"

The old general just shakes his head. "I'm just glad to have a woman on board. It will be a nice change from your grumpiness and the seriousness of the crew. It's become quite boring these last couple years."

Zuko shakes his head. "We're not on this ship to have fun. Don't get too attached to her. We can't forget our mission just because we let someone new on the ship."

"The same goes for you too, nephew." Iroh stands. "Well, shall we acquaint ourselves with her?"

"If you insist." Zuko turns so that he's next to his uncle. "And one more thing."

"Yes?"

"We're not telling her about our search for the Avatar. That has to stay a secret. I don't want her getting a warning message out to her people in case they're hiding the Avatar."

"So what are we doing out here, in the middle of nowhere, then?"

"Just make something up."

Katara hears the set of footsteps and she turns around to see Zuko and an older man approaching. The older man has a kind face and a round stomach.

"Hello," she says brightly. "I'm Katara."

The old man bows slightly. "I'm Iroh. Just an old fool chaperoning my dear nephew on a little trip." He pats Zuko's back. Zuko steps to the side.

"We should go inside. Night is falling fast. Soon the temperature will drop." Zuko crosses his arms. "Although I'm sure you're used to the cold."

Katara frowns. She can't remember how cold it gets at night. Or how warm it can get. She only knows the temperature that it is right now. "I wouldn't mind going inside," she agrees. As if understanding the conversation, her stomach growls. She smiles nervously and crosses her arms over it.

"You must be starving, dear," Iroh says. He reaches forward and takes her arm gently. "Come with me. We have hot food waiting in the galley. How long were you on that iceberg for?"

Katara feels safe with the old man. He has a grandfatherly aura about him. She gratefully walks with him across the deck and down a flight of stairs. She can hear Zuko's footsteps behind them, but the younger man doesn't say a word.

"I don't know. I don't remember anything. I'm sure it will all come back to me within the next few days, though."

"Do you like tea?" Iroh escorts her to a room with a long table. A crewman wearing an apron brings out steaming bowls of rice and vegetables. Katara's mouth waters.

"Tea is good for warming both the body and the soul, you know. It also has a lot of curing properties. Maybe some tea will help bring back your memories."

"If you say so. I guess it can't hurt to try."

Katara doesn't have any memories of tea. She has no idea what it is. Obviously they didn't have tea in her village. Or maybe she just can't remember. It's frustrating, not knowing what she doesn't know.

"I thought you ran out of tea," Zuko says flatly, taking the seat opposite Katara.

"I ran out of my normal supply. Of course I have an extra box in case of emergency. But having a new guest qualifies as an emergency to me!"

Zuko sighs loudly. Katara watches the two, trying to get a sense of their relationship.

Her gaze skips past Zuko's face and it's then that she sees the banner hanging on the wall. A large red tapestry with a flame logo in black.

"Wait. You guys are Fire Nation?" she asks, frowning. Now she knows why she had a bad feeling earlier - Fire Nation doesn't belong here. Not in the Water Tribe lands. Fire and water are natural opposites, and while the two nations aren't at war, they would never venture into each other's space.

She doesn't even notice that she's just had a new wave of memories flooding in - knowledge of politics, at least, if nothing personal.

"Yes, we are. But don't worry, you're in no danger from us," Iroh assures her.

"Oh, I know." Katara picks up her chopsticks. "It's just strange for a Fire Nation ship to be here. The fire and water nations were never really allies."

She takes two more bites of rice before noticing the strange way Iroh and Zuko are looking at her. "What?"

"How do you know we're not a threat?" Zuko asks suspiciously.

Her forehead creases. "What do you mean? It's not like we're enemies."

Iroh and Zuko exchange glances. "I think you need to tell her," Iroh says quietly.

"Tell me what?" She sets down her chopsticks. "What's going on?"

"We don't know if there are any more Water Tribe villages left," Zuko says. "The Fire Nation attacked a hundred years ago. The villages were all destroyed and the few people that survived were scattered throughout the Earth Kingdom."

Katara suddenly doesn't feel hungry anymore. "What do you mean, attacked?"

"Fire Lord Sozin wanted to expand the Fire Nation. He was at his most powerful, so he decided to take out his toughest opponent - the Water Nation."

"A hundred years ago?" Katara shakes her head. "I don't remember that, but I remember my village. I wasn't on the iceberg that long. My people must have rebuilt."

"We hope they did, too," Zuko says. "We are looking for any evidence of your people."

Katara's head is spinning again. Nothing makes sense. She remembers her village as clear as if she saw it yesterday.

Her people must have rebuilt. It's the only logical answer.

"If your people are at war with mine, then why are you helping me?" she demands. "Why are you here?"

"We're not at war with your people anymore. We thought we destroyed them all." Zuko resumes eating, as if not sickened at all by speaking of the deaths of thousands of people.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"My nephew is just doing some tasks for his father."

Katara crosses her arms. "And who's your father? Some high ranking general in the Fire Nation?"

"My father is Fire Lord Ozai."

Katara can feel her eyes widen. Her stomach drops. "I feel sick," she says, and then suddenly she's on her feet and running back the way she came, up the stairs and onto the deck and against the side of the boat, heaving up the rice she ate for dinner.

What's going on? Firstly, all she can remember of her life is a few hazy pictures of a village and some canoes. Then she learns that one of the things she forgot was that the Fire Nation destroyed her people, and her village is the only one to have been rebuilt. And then she was picked up by the Fire Lord's son, who will no doubt report back to his father that the Water Tribe has rebuilt - meaning he'll come back to destroy them again.

She has to get to her people to warn them that the Fire Nation is coming. But how can she do that when she doesn't remember where her people are?

She needs Zuko and Iroh to find her people, but she can't lead them to her people without putting them in danger.

"What am I supposed to do?" she whispers into the night air. She looks up at the moon, which is shining brightly down on her. It's a comforting sight. Somehow she feels stronger underneath its watch. There's something familiar about it, almost like an old friend.

She hears footsteps behind her. She tenses, not sure what she's ready to do but ready nevertheless.

"I brought you some tea," Iroh's calm voice says. "It will make you feel better."

Katara doesn't trust the Fire Nation, but she can't be mad at the old man. He's been nothing but kind to her since she met him.

"Thank you," she says, accepting the hot cup he gives to her. He stands next to her on the side of the ship.

"I know you're going through a difficult time right now," he says. "Not being able to remember your past is confusing and disorienting. Learning so many new and devastating things in such a short time is heartbreaking. You're mourning for your people, but you don't remember your people. You're sad, but you don't know exactly why you're sad."

"That's…" Katara can't hide her shock. "That's exactly how I'm feeling."

"I can't fix your problems, but I can assure you that we mean no harm. What has been done to your people was in the past. If we find your tribe, we will not report it to the Fire Lord. I give you my word."

She turns and looks over at him. "Really? You won't say anything?"

"What matters a small water village to the vast empire of the Fire Nation? What matters a fruit fly to a dragon?" Iroh shakes his head. "Now, I recommend you finish that tea and then get a good night's rest. Tomorrow is a new day."

She tips back the cup and swallows the rest of the warm liquid. "Thank you, Iroh. You have been very kind to me."

"Kindness pays itself back in wonderful ways." He takes the saucer from her. "Goodnight, Katara."

"Goodnight."

She walks down the stairs again. As she passes the galley, Zuko steps out.

"Katara."

She turns. "Yeah?"

"You don't know where you're going."

She glances down the hall and realizes that he's right. "So...where can I sleep?"

"Straight down until the end. Turn left. Third room on the right is empty. You can stay there for now."

She bows slightly, not sure how to act in the presence of royalty. "Thank you, Your Highness." She starts walking. A second later, she hears his voice.

"You don't have to call me that."

His voice sounds strangely bitter.

"Uh, sorry. What do you want me to call you?"

"Zuko is fine."

"Okay. Thanks, uh, Zuko."

She starts walking again. She's at the end of the hall when she hears his voice again.

"I'm sorry about your people. I know what it's like to lose everything."

There's a strange twist on the end of his words. She turns to respond but he's already gone. She watches the darkness for a moment before turning around and entering her room.

She's not sure exactly how she feels as she collapses onto the mattress, but she decides to leave it for tomorrow. For now, she'll take Iroh's advice and get some rest.

Sokka drifts in and out of consciousness. He's starving so much that whenever he closes his eyes, he dreams of food. But just as he's about to take a bite, he wakes up again.

The iceberg keeps drifting. To where, he's not sure. His head is too foggy and his stomach is too empty to remember much. Eventually he's gonna have to pass land, right?

"It better be a good island with plenty of meat," he mumbles before his eyelids close and he's sucked into another dream about a table miles long filled with all the best food he can imagine.