Zuko arrived at the Southern Water tribe early the morning of the tournament. Walking through the new city he was awed at how much it had changed. Gone were the tents and poor igloos. Now there were tall buildings made from ice and decorative statues of animals and important people all organized in a large circle. Zuko stopped and looked at the statue of Katara, she was in the middle of an elegant water bending form and the plaque below honoured her as the mother of their culture. She looked so beautiful, the same as he remembered and yet different in ways he couldn't name.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Sokka said coming up next to him. "There was once a time I never would've guessed my baby sister would do all the things she's done." He turned and held out an arm in greeting, smiling as Zuko took it. "Good to see you again," Sokka told him before letting go. "Come on, I'll take you to where the contest is happening."

Zuko followed taking in how much Sokka had changed over the years. He was a few inches taller and had filled out more like his father though he still kept his hair in that ridiculous 'wolf tail'. He followed Sokka through the city finally ending at the centre of the circle. Facing him was another home slightly larger than the rest but not by much and a large temporary ring surrounded by stands.

"So this is where you're going to fight for Aang, it's not going to start for another few hours but everyone else has been briefed so it's just you and me Buddy. Aang told you the basic gist of what's going on right?" Sokka asked leading him around the ring and towards the house. Zuko nodded absently, looking around and all the people milling about. He found himself looking into the faces of each one trying to find Katara, he didn't even notice Sokka had stopped talking. "She's not here," he told him leaning against one of the pillars, his arms crossed.

"What do you mean?" Zuko asked feigning innocence but he kept his voice quiet.

"Katara, she's in her room getting ready with Suki and some of the other women. You know, I was really surprised when Dad told me you'd be competing in Aang's name. I mean, I knew he had to have someone do it for him given the circumstances, but you?" Sokka sighed and shook his head. "I honestly don't know why you agreed, Aang doesn't know of course so it makes sense he'd ask, but for you to agree, knowing what's at stake?"

"Knowing what's at stake?" Zuko demanded getting frustrated. Sokka's eyes widened and his arms dropped.

"You don't know, do you? Aang didn't tell you? Didn't you wonder why it was so important for this to be won in his name?" Sokka shook his head again and was about to say something when he was cut off.

"Sokka? I thought I told you I needed Zuko as soon as he arrived. He needs to be told the rules and prepared to fight for the Avatar." An older man called heading down the steps and taking Zuko's arm.

"Of course Kuthruk, I'm sorry. I'll be helping my sister get ready if you need me," Sokka replied giving Zuko a strange look before going ahead of them into the house. While Sokka headed to the left Kuthruk took Zuko down the right explaining the rules along the way.

This is a traditional moment in the Water Tribe," Kuthruk told him, having finally let go of Zuko's arm leaving him to walk beside him comfortably. "The fights here are not meant to cause any serious damage, they are meant to be a display of skill and are proof that the competitor is worthy. You are a different case. It's unheard of that someone takes the place of another, it has never happened before. You are competing in the name of the Avatar, you skill matters only in the fact that you must win for him. Hakoda is fond of Aang, which is why this competition has been postponed for as long as it has, it is important that you win for Aang. Though this competition is merely tradition the people, and perhaps even Hakoda, would be quite disappointed. That aside the rules themselves are simple, fight using whatever means you see fit be it bending or otherwise. Here is your room, there will be food brought for you soon and you are free to prepare however you like. I will be back to fetch you in a couple hours."

"Thank you," Zuko told the old healer as he walked into his room, though the entire room was made of ice there were candles on the table and a small fire in the fire place. He sat in front of the table and began his meditation, at first he wondered what Sokka had been leading up to but he pushed it from his mind. For whatever reason this was an important moment for both Aang and the Water Tribe, perhaps it was just some Water Tribe thing he didn't understand. He was so deep in his meditation he barely looked up when a tray of food was brought in for him.

It hardly seemed any time had passed when Kuthruk was back. "It's time," was all he said when Zuko stood and followed him. A few other men were already with him, mostly Water Tribe, though from North or South he wasn't sure. He did however recognize one face.

"Haru?" Zuko asked looking at the man in the green parka.

"Zuko," he replied with a smile. "It's been a while," he said pleasantly. "So you're who's competing in Aang's name, I thought it might be you." They made small talk as they walked to the ring; Zuko scanned the crowd and found Katara wearing a beautiful blue parka and he hair was done up so different than what he had seen before. He smiled at her as she took a seat on her father's left with Sokka on his right.

"Since the dawn of time…" Kuthruk said, his voice projecting loud enough for all to hear. Katara scanned the competitors but saw no sign of Aang. Instead she saw Hahn, who made her very glad that the winner of the competition was not the man she as obligated to marry least he was the winner, Hiryu, Sangok and others whose names she couldn't remember from the Northern Tribe, a few boys from her own tribe, Haru and-

"Zuko," she breathed her blue eyes meeting his golden ones as though he heard her. Sokka glanced over but said nothing.

"… Begin!" Kuthruk finished. Zuko tore his eyes from Katara, he had completely missed everything the healer had said. No matter, Kuthruk had told him the rules already.

Katara watched as Sangok was eliminated almost immediately, he still wasn't practicing enough she could practically hear her master Pakku say from his place in the stands. Katara watched a mix of both bending and non bending. She was impressed with Haru using the coals from a nearby fire to bend; she had wondered how he would fight without his bending. Zuko was being Zuko, he opted to use his broadswords to deflect the clubs and boomerangs and only used his fire bending against other benders.

On the fight went until it was only Hahn and Zuko left.

Katara personally thought Hahn payed off someone because he wasn't that good. She could see Zuko was distracted for a moment by the shouts that rose from the crowd. Katara held her breath hoping Hahn wouldn't take advantage of Zuko's distraction.

While Katara watched the final fight Sokka watched her. Neither of them knows, he realized. Katara thinks Zuko's fighting to win her hand in his own name and since Aang isn't here she's free to accept him. Sokka sighed and shook his head sadly, under normal circumstances if Aang hadn't participated, by tradition he would have forfeited any right to Katara'shand, regardless of their plans or feelings. And Zuko, Aang didn't tell him what the fight was for. He turned away from his sister and watched the fight again, wondering how so many odd twists of fate could lead to this. Maybe it's the Spirit World intervening, he thought even though he didn't believe in that kind of stuff.

Back in the ring boos were followed by cheers though for who which was meant for Zuko couldn't tell. Hahn's leg swept out in a wide, graceful art, connecting with Zuko's ankles, throwing him off balance in his distraction. The crown gasped and victory seemed certain as, without even realizing what had happened, Zuko found himself flat on his back, the wind briefly knocked out of him and his broadswords out of reach. He managed to roll out of the way in time to avoid a kick to the ribs and turned it into an inferno of fire. Hahn was thrown back by the intensity of the blaze; he hadn't expected Zuko to used fire bending against him, a non bender. Before Hahn had the chance to stand Zuko placed a foot on his shoulder, hard enough to prevent him from moving but light enough to not cause any real damage.

"Yield," he said calmly, as his eyes flickered over to wear Katara sat. Now, I can talk to her, he thought a small smile forming.

"I yield," Hahn said loud enough for Kuthruk to hear, I may have lost this fight, he thought as he let Zuko offer him a hand up. But I know your secret, and I'll use it to my advantage someday.

"An impressive victory," Hakoda said standing. Zuko retrieved and sheathed his swords as he walked to face the chief. "Nothing less than expected from the Fire Lord."Katara stood with a smile and Sokka reached to grab her arm but narrowly missed.

"I'm yours," she breathed with a smile on her face, Zuko frowned unsure of what she was talking about.

"No, Fire Lord Zuko has won the honour of your hand in place of Avatar Aang, if this arrangement is suitable you are betrothed to him ." Katara looked between her father and Zuko in mute horror, as much as she cared for Aang fate had given her a taste of life with Zuko only to take it away again.

Zuko's eyes were wide with shock and he looked to Sokka who shook his head sadly, now he knew what he was trying to tell him. What Aang had left out. He had unknowingly given away his only love to another.