A/N: I'd like to applaud the enthusiastic response to my last chapter. And that was totally not sarcasm. Yeah, uh, guys, you do know that there's a little button in the corner of your screen, you just have to click it and say a few words and it makes us writers happy. I don't really care what they are, you could give a big review on the importance of Switzerland in international crises (must... keep... straight... face), just give me some indication of your interest. Even just once, that's all I expect is one review to let me know what you think. Please? For me?
Disclaimer:
Tinytara: Khajmer does not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Tinyzula: If he did, we wouldve had more than one appearance each to show of our adorableness.
Thank you tiny adorable versions of the badass female prodigies. Now, on with the show!

Book 0: Steam
Chapter 2: The Prophet

The ship was quiet as it slid into the Capital port. This mission was not public knowledge, nor could it ever be, for the girl's own safety. Silently, the hatch lowered, halting just before it could clank down heavily. A dark figure, cloaked and hooded, carried a small bundle down the ramp and walked briskly, but carefully through the streets. After three long weeks at sea, Yon Rah was finally ready to bring Azulon his Waterbender.

The guards were expecting him. They stepped aside and allowed him through without trouble. The Raider's leader strode through the hallways, not knowing where half the cooridoors lead and not really caring either. He knew where the Fire Lord's chamber was and all he wanted was to get rid of the brat who had been making him soft and get back to terrorizing the islands off the tip of the Earth Kingdom.

He paused outside of the Throne Room, straightening his posture and tilting baby Katara slightly upwards so her sleeping face was visible, and banged the large gold knocker twice.

"Enter!" Came an old, but wizened voice. Yon Rah obeyed, pulling the door open to reveal Fire Lord Azulon siting behind the flaming throne, Prince Iroh and Prince Ozai at his right and left hands, respectively. "Yon Rah. I take it your mission was a success?" One of Iroh's eyes quirked slightly, while Ozai did nothing.

"Yes, my Lord." Yon Rah answered. He approached the throne quickly, and dropped to one knee, holding the still sleeping child out in his arms. Azulon smirked. So, he hadn't been lying after all. "Her name is Katara. She is- was the Chief's daughter, born right as we arrived, exactly like you said."

"Excellent Yon Rah. You will be rewarded for your loyalty. Tia!" The Fire Lord snapped his fingers, and a women of around thirty came running in from an adjoining room, her unusually light hair in a disheveled bun. She sank to both knees and bowed her head low.

"You called for me, my Lord?"

"Yon Rah, this is Tia. She has been informed of the girl's situation and has been tasked with her care. She was the late Fire Lady's personal attendant, and one of the few servants I can trust. Tia, take the child to your personal quarters."

"Yes, my Lord." A year before, when Azulon had first begun planning this, he had promoted Tia to head servant. Three months later, he had her remain in her new suite for a full nine months. As far as anyone would be concerned, Katara was her child. Tia slowly stood, and walked to Yon Rah, holding out her hands to accept the little girl. The soldier gladly conceded her, glad to finally be rid of the adorable eyes that melted his heart every time he looked at them. That done, Yon Rah bowed, and left without another word.

Once the sailor, servant, and child were gone, Prince Iroh turned to face his father. "Father, what was that about?" He asked.

"Yes, I think we both want to know." Ozai concurred (a rare occurence). Azulon's eyes closed for a second, questioning whether he should impart this most important secret to his children. But then, it could easily pass to either of them, so what choice did he have?

"This does not leave the Royal Family. The child is a Waterbender, one of great importance to our success."

"The Avatar?" Both princes inquired, for once on exactly the same wavelength.

"No." Came a new voice. Ozai glanced around, searching for it's source, while Iroh wildly looked back and forth. From a shadowed corner of the room, a figure stepped forward, seemingly appearing from nowhere. He wore a long, deep red cloak with the hood up, leaving his face obscured behind a dark shadow. "She is as important though."

"And who, exactly, are you?" Ozai glared at the figure. He did not like surprises.

"My name is of no importance. All you need to know is that I am a Spirit, one who has seen the Scrolls of Destiny. And the girl is meant to play an important part in the end of this war, for either side."

"This spirit has read to me a prophecy from the Scrolls." Azulon said. "'In the year of the Comet, on the eve of winter, the Avatar shall awaken from his slumber, and he shall awaken to the last disciple of the Southern Moon. And this shall begin the Fire Lord's end'. The spirit was able to divine the day of the girl's birth, and I have been preparing ever since." Iroh looked interested, but Ozai merely scoffed.

"You place your faith in a man who claims to be a spirit, father? I find that questionable." He sneered, his dislike for his father and the alleged spirit very clear.

"You doubt me, son of Azulon? Well, I promise you shall not doubt this." The spirit extended a hand, one pale palm up, and instantly a flame appeared, not yellow or orange, or even the rare blue, but burning white. Ozai and Iroh both immediately gasped, though only the latter bowed his head to the floor.

"I apologize for my brother's insolence." He said, mingled fear and reverence in his voice. "Neither of us where aware that you are a Disciple of Agni himself."

"Former disciple, actually. But, that is beside the point. I have answered enough questions. I will return some day, but for now I have interfered all I can." The spirit stepped back towards the shadows.

"Wait."

"What is it, Prince Ozai?" The spirit answered. "Or do I even need to ask. Let me guess, you wish to know why not to simply kill the child?" Ozai merely nodded. "Destiny can go many ways. In removing the girl from the South Pole, you will ensure that the ideals of the Fies Nation are instilled in her, and her role in all of our destinies will be changed, in your favor. But certain points in time are fixed. They are events that will happen, and cannot change. No matter what you do or where you go armed with this foreknowledge, the Avatar will awaken, on the same day in the same hour and in the same place, and he will not be found before then. And when he wakes up, it will be the last Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe that he will see. If you were to kill her, she would merely appear to him as a Spirit, one with far more wisdom to give to him then a teenage girl. But, by keeping her alive, you ensure that she will find him with a full battallion of soldiers behind her." That made sense to Ozai. Keep your friends close and the key to your downfall as your pawn. "And now, if there are no more questions, I will be leaving." The spirit turned to leave again.

"I-" Iroh started.

"And by that I meant no more questions." And then he was gone, vanished into the darkness.

A/N: Wah. I don't like how this chapter turned out. Still, it's just meaningless exposition. Next up, I get to post meaningless fluff!

On the next all new Liquid Fire:
The servant girl has a crush on the Prince (cliché). The Princess' best friend does too (sister's best friend, yawn). Zuko is completely oblivious (like that's anything new). Catfight? Now that's what I'm talking about!
Chapter 3: The Servant Girl