A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I had AP exams, graduation and I have stressed about University. Anyways, there have been a few confusions about the story so I will try to summarize what I can without giving too much away. In this story, Azula and Zuko are half-siblings, same dad different mom. Azula's mom died during childbirth. She is half fire nation, half earth kingdom which is why she is Long Feng's cousin. Yes, Zuko will take the throne instead of Luten and there is a reason for that. I just don't want to reveal too much after the prologue. (It was already revealing enough lol) Also, Mai will play a vital role in the story but won't be introduced until much later. Hope that helped, Enjoy!
P.S: New character appearances next chapter.
"Don't worry son, your sister will be fine"
Sokka didn't respond but instead focused all his energy on the weight of Katara on his back. He hadn't notice Katara's shallow breathing and high body temperature until the train reached their stop. By the time they stood up to step off the train, it was too late and Katara had fainted.
"Come on boy let me carry her"
Shaking his head, he continued to walk on with a scowl on his face.
They were climbing up a steep hill into the middle ring, and his leg throbbed with fatigue, but Sokka did not want to let go of Katara. He wanted to get to the orphanage as quick as he could to get them some rest and get his sister to wake up.
The captain decided not to argue with the boy and kept silent until they reached their destination.
The orphanage had a very wide stature and faced the paved roads. It was also surrounded by a big field that extended very far from what Sokka could tell.
The captain placed a firm knock on the door.
The door opened and behind it was Lady Ming, she didn't look very happy at all. She took notice of the Captain and her frown deepened. She then turned her attention to the children behind him.
Great she thought, more imbeciles to look after.
"What's wrong Ming, looking pretty as usual." The captain beamed at the woman.
"Don't flatter me."
Ming crossed her arms and continued to frown at the captain. "Why are you here, and what do you want?"
"A peace offering?" he gestured to the children "Say your greetings to Lady Ming"
Sokka just stared at the woman, unsure about what to do. His hands were occupied for him to do a proper bow to her.
"Not very well trained in the arts of etiquette huh?" The woman frowned
"Forgive him, Ming, they are orphans, what would they know?."
The word orphans struck a painful chord in Sokka. He liked to think they weren't orphans, at least not yet. His mother was still on the ship to the Fire Nation as a prisoner.
"These kids have had a rough journey and the girl has fallen ill."
"Come in" Ming sighed with annoyance and walked into the house. The three followed behind her with the captain looking more at her behind. Sokka continued to carry Katara and she led them into a room.
The room was not very big, with five sleeping mats lined from one side to the other. Sokka placed her gently on one of the mats and sat beside her. Ming placed a wet towel on her forehead as she continued to shiver. She looked so vulnerable and innocent. Sokka wanted her to be ok, he would never leave her side until she woke up.
The captain looked around the place, it was unusually quiet for an orphanage.
"Where are all the kids?" he questioned.
"The Kyoshi festival began yesterday, so they are all out enjoying the festivities".
"Oh, it's just us then eh?" He smiled giving Ming a wink.
Ming scowled at the captain and walked out of the room. The captain gave a quick pat on the boy's shoulder, he flinched a little as that was where the burn mark from that awful day sat. The captain then left the room leaving Sokka to sit in miserable silence beside his sister. The two adults began talking and he couldn't help but overhear their conversation.
"When you said peace offering you forgot to add they were water tribe? Yes, I noticed the girl's necklace"
"Calm down, they are orphans, not political fugitives."
"And what if they turn out to be benders? The Dai Li will turn this orphanage upside down!" She hissed.
"Ming, they are only children, children who have been ripped away from their home"
"I can't believe how lightly you're taking this. Something about those two children tells me they will be trouble and I would like to rid of them as soon as possible!"
The talking began to get further away and Sokka looked out the window in the room. He noticed the moonlight shining through the slit, reminding him of home. The winter solstice was approaching soon and his mother would not be there to light the lunar candles in the house. This was also the year he was supposed to go ice-dodging with his father and the other tribesmen. He felt a gaping hole in his chest as the emotions began to push through. A tear slowly rolled down his cheek finally, the emotions broke through the wall he had put up, and the little boy broke into pitiful sobs.
Katara woke up to five faces staring at her with curiosity. Suddenly the reality of where she was came crashing down on her. She quickly pulled herself up and sat up. The last thing she remembered was riding on the city train with Sokka and the captain. Sokka. She looked around the strange room and panic began to set in. Where did Sokka go? Had he left her? No, reassuring herself. Sokka would never do that.
One of the girls staring at her with a scowl on her face stepped out from the girls. She reached out and yanked the sheets underneath Katara with force. She frowned, even more, staring at the sheets and scoffed.
"Now you are up, you should know that we have assigned mats. This one is mine, yours is over there"
The scowling girl pointed towards the window where the light sprawled into and she wasn't wrong. A bare mat laid beside it. She looked around and saw other mats sprawled across the room.
Lowering her head with embarrassment, she whispered.
"I'm sorry"
Another girl with two stretched out pigtails and a missing front tooth. Pushed the scowling girl aside and looked at Katara with fascination.
"Look Jin, her eyes are just the same blue color as that boy."
The other girls murmured with agreement, all examining her like a prized doll. The scowling girl Jin,rolled her eyes at the younger girls and looked to Katara.
"Where are you from?"
"The Southern Water Tribe"
Jin scoffed
"I heard that place doesn't exist anymore"
Katara looked back in confusion. What did she mean it didn't exist? She stood up to reply to her, and noticed they girl was taller than her by a head.
"But it does. Everywhere is filled with snow, we live in big igloos and there are penguins all over the place."
"Of course there is" Jin replied with sarcasm oozing out of her mouth, clearly not believing her.
"I'm not lying"
The girl pushed her aside and tears began filling up in Katara's eyes. She did not like Jin at all and wanted to find Sokka. Turning to the other girl with the missing tooth she asked.
"Where is my brother?"
"He's not here, all the boys have to go work at the coal mines everyday"
She began to tremble and her heart began to beat faster, why had Sokka left her in this place? She didn't even remember coming to this place. What if he was never coming back, she wanted to get away from this place.
"I want to see him now"
Jin frustrated with this new girl snapped
"N,o you can't!
"But I want to!"
"No! girls aren't allowed"
"Why?"
"Because I said so! Hey, come back here!" Jin ordered.
Katara had ran out of the room as soon as she could, but only ended up bumping into something hard. She looked up only to see an angry woman staring at her. She had on green robes that seemed like she just finished from a bath. Her jet-black hair was pulled into a low bun and a mole sat on the bottom of her left eye.
"And just where do you think you're going?"
"Please" She begged "I'm looking for my brother Sokka. Do you know where he is?"
"You seem to be full of energy after your fever from yesterday."
Katara looked at the woman in confusion, what was she talking about. She surely did not remember being sick or anything, in fact, she felt fine.
"What do you need to see him for, he is working at the coal mines." She turned to Jin "Did you not tell her?"
"I did lady Ming"
"Then why are you complaining. Get dressed, we are going into the market"
"No!" she replied stubbornly "I want to find Sokka!"
Katara felt a smack against her face.
"This is what Shu gave me, a stubborn water tribe brat? If you want to be that way then I have no choice but to teach you some respect!"
Ming's thoughts were confirmed, these new children would be trouble. The girl particularly. The woman pulled the child by the ear, and Katara screamed with discomfort. She kicked and screamed but no one helped her. The other girls watched timidly, while Jin smirked with satisfaction.
She landed hard on the ground as her ear throbbed in pain.
"You can come out when you are ready to learn respect". Katara heard the door slam shut behind her. She ran to the door knocking hard, trying to get it opened.
"No open up, I want to see my brother. I want to see Sokka! I want to see Sokka!"
She gave up trying to call for help and curled up into a ball, in fits of sobs until she tired herself to sleep.