"Jade, it's time to go to bed," my mother said gently as she came over and sat on my bed. "It's getting late." As soon as she finished speaking, I yawned. The sad thing was she was right. I sighed.

"Fine," I surrendered, laying my book down carefully on the floor next to my bed, to my mother's dismay. She hates it when I lay things on the ground like that. I reached up to blow out my lantern, but she put her hand on top of mine softly to stop me. I looked at her inquisitively. She lowered my hand to my side, then retracted her touch. I crossed my legs and waited for her to speak. She folded her hands neatly in her lap.

"Jade, your father and I have been talking, and we think it's time you started coming along to our biannual peace dinners in the fire nation." She informed me, carefully studying my facial expression. I felt my eyebrows furrow.

"You mean I'm going to have to travel halfway across the world so I can watch you guys have tea with Firelord Zuko?" I shoved a lock of my brown hair that had been lightened by the sun behind my ear. My mother shook her head. "I know it sounds boring, but if you're going to be a great leader one day you're going to have to-"

"Watch the Firelord drink tea?" I asked sarcastically, leaving her truncated sentence hanging in the air. My mother frowned.

"The peace dinners are a celebration of the renewal of harmony of the four nations," she scowled, "Your father, uncle, aunt, and I traveled the world for years to restore balance between the nations. Do you know how much sacrifice that required?" Obviously I hit a nerve. "You can endure one week in the fire nation. It's been decided." And with that, the decision really was final. If I'd tested Mom's patience any more she might've cracked a wall. They're only ice, you know.

My mother calmed herself for a moment, said goodnight, blew out my lantern, then left without another word. I sighed. I didn't know why they had to drag me along. I'm not the avatar; my dad is. I'm not the "princess" of the southern water tribe; my mom is. I'm nothing, really, but a girl living in a fancy igloo with family who saved the world. Them. Not me.

Apparently life was pretty rough for them as kids. I can't imagine an evil firelord, especially not an evil fire nation, but I knew the stories were true. As a matter of fact, Ozai, Firelord Zuko's father, was still imprisoned, as was Firelord Zuko's older sister, Azula. And I knew I'd never meet my grandmother, nor would I meet Monk Gyatsu, the one who trained and raised my father; both had been killed by the fire nation.

I've heard many stories of brave things my parents have done. They saved my grandfather from The Boiling Rock (the fire nation's most inescapable prison), they took down the firelord, they even saved the moon from an evil admiral. Although, no matter what great stories I hear, they're still just my parents. But what a great honor it would be to be nearly half as magnificent as they are. Their courage is so admirable… But that still doesn't make me want to go to those stupid peace dinners.

I drifted to sleep as I wondered what it was like back when my parents were my age… what the world must've been like…

The world spun around me for a small moment. In front of me stood a boy about my age, maybe a bit older… I could tell he was from the fire nation from his clothing. He wore deep reds and dark maroons, and the fire nation crest. He crouched into a stance foreign to me, being simply a waterbender. My eyes grew wide with fear as he punched the open space in front of him forcefully, sending an orb of fire shooting directly towards my head. My arm protected my face reflexively. Water streamed up in one fluid motion, protecting me like a shield. I felt the heat of the fire even through the ice I was behind, and I knew I had to do something fast. His angular face twisted with agony, as if he were being forced to shoot fire at me. I thought on my feet, having no time to think about the anguish in his big brown eyes. I decided to use a technique my mother had taught me. I lifted my hands carefully; more water came out of seemingly nowhere, but I wasn't complaining. I shaped the water into a long stream. I felt my stomach churn as I saw him move again; he breathed in deeply, then let out a long exhale. I inwardly flinched. I knew from watching my father practice that firebenders got their power from their breath. I wasted no time. I unleashed the water unmercifully, freezing his hands together and his feet to the ground. I had no time to celebrate. I watched him as he took another deep breath. This time, though, he exhaled fire, melting the ice that bound him. Fire then came out of his fist, melting the ice that bound his feet. My heart sank. More fire came shooting towards my head. Once again, I blocked it with the odd ice shield, which, for some lucky reason, didn't melt when the fire hit it. More and more fire came. I needed to do something. "Please, stop!" I pleaded, "Why are you attacking me?" I yelled, hoping he could hear me through whatever aggression he was enduring. I squinted toward him. His face looked more twisted and distressed than ever before. It was then that I noticed the shackles on his hands and feet. There were heavy looking chains attached. Why hadn't I noticed them before? The chains led upward to something cross-like, one chain to each end, kind of like… he was a puppet. The puppet boy was being controlled by a man who looked middle aged, but powerful. On his head he wore a crown. I realized that this must be the firelord… but it wasn't Zuko. I'd met Zuko when it was his turn to travel here, to the southern water tribe, for the peace dinners… but the man resembled him slightly... Could it be Ozai?

My eyes fluttered open. I looked around, unable to help myself. I was in my room, just as before… It must have been a dream. And an odd one at that…

I looked out my window. It was still dark, but the sun was beginning to peak above the land. I yawned. My mind wandered back to the dream as I snuggled back into my bed. What could it have possibly meant? Who was the puppet master, anyway? And… who was the firebender?

After slight contemplation, I decided that perhaps, since I was thinking about the war before I fell asleep, the firebender represented the soldiers who went out to war or the brainwashed citizens of the fire nation, controlled by none other than Ozai himself… that had to have been it…

I buried my face into my pillow, and my eyes felt heavy once more…