Well, I know I said this was complete and that if I did continue it, it would only be when the mood strikes. Well, the mood did strike again, and so we have this chapter. I'm trying to keep this from becoming another one of those stories where the roles are just switched around: Like Sokka has a scar and Aang was found in the Earth Kingdom or somewhere. Hehe. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender

Chapter Two

In some ways, Yue fears Katara. The princess is unpredictable and is as ruthless as she is kind. When she smiles, it as though she knows something that you don't, and her eyes are shadowed in thought. Though she's known Katara since they were both children, Sokka has always been a closer friend. Whenever the royal siblings visited the North when they were younger, it was always Sokka that Yue played with, while Katara watched from the sidelines, her brow furrowed. Planning. Always planning. Even now, in the chieftain's conference room, the Southern tribal princess sat next to her brother on her cushion, her legs crossed and her hands resting on her knees, Katara watched Yue with a suspicious stare.

Beside Hakoda was his wife and Katara's mother, Kya. She was a woman with a strong build, hailing from a family that had multiple respected soldiers in their name. Katara obviously inherited her looks from her mother, including the same piercing stare. They were both waterbenders, but Lady Kya had dedicated her life to healing, unlike her daughter. She was dressed in an elegant indigo colored robe that covered her feet, and had a furred hood.

The boy, the child Avatar, sat close to Yue, his gray eyes wide as he looked up at Hakoda and Lady Kya. Yue couldn't believe he was really an Air Nomad; he looked like he could still be in the local academy, learning waterbending. He was the Avatar. And they were planning to use him for their own advancement in the war. She thought the Avatar was meant to keep balance in the world, not offset it.

"So, Aang, is it?" Hakoda asked, his blue eyes twinkling. "You are the Avatar? Judging by your arrows, you have mastered air, have you not?" He said the words gently, as to not startle the boy. "The next element you must learn is water, is it not?" Yue knew that Hakoda was toying with the boy. He knew the answer just as well as she did.

From her seat, Katara looked up and met Yue's gaze. As if knowing that the older princess was thinking, she bared her teeth in a snarl that could easily be mistaken as a smile. But Yue knew Katara, she knew her well enough to discern a smile from a sneer, and a laugh from a growl. The Southern Princess held up a finger and tapped it gently against her chin, eyes narrowed. And then, she turned her attentions back to the Avatar.

Aang looked up at Hakoda, wringing his hands in his lap. "Yes, sir! I have to master all the elements and the Avatar State before I can really be called the Avatar though." He tilted his head at their dog, Narak, and held out his arms, making a clucking sound. The dog lifted his head and wagged his feathered tail, moving away from Katara and padding across the room to sit at Aang's side, pressing his nose into the boy's side.

"Would you like to learn waterbending under the tutelage of my daughter?" Hakoda asked, looking back at Katara. "She is already a master, and isn't much older than you. Of course, there are older masters who can teach you, if you're more comfortable that way."

The Avatar looked up at Katara, then back at Yue. "Can she teach me?" He asked, and then paused, "Can they both teach me?" He looked hopeful, with his hand resting idly on the canine's head. Narak growled happily, licking the child's fingers. Yue though she saw a light pink blush staining his cheeks, but she wasn't too sure; he had just woken up from a century-long sleep, he was bound to be getting used to the Southern air.

Hakoda seemed to think about this, and then he smiled broadly. "Of course! Avatar Aang, we would love to welcome you into the Southern Water Tribe. Consider yourself as one of our people." He turned to Sokka and Katara, who both rose to their feet. "My children, along with Princess Yue, will show you the things you need to know, and the people you should meet. Go on with them, young Avatar."

Yue pushed herself from her sitting position and gestured for Aang to do the same. She bowed to Lady Kya and the chieftain before following Sokka and Katara from the room. Aang stuck to herself, which she guessed was a natural gesture, since she had been the first person he had seen when he woke up. I won't let Katara get to him. Though Katara was her friend-I think-the girl had several traits about her that made Yue uneasy.

"Can we go look around the city? Please? Please?" The child asked once they were out of the conference room. "Please?" His eyes were huge as he clutched Yue's robes and stared upward into her face. "Please, oh please, and then I'll never have another request again!"

Katara let out a growl, deep in her throat, and pulled the boy away from Yue, nearly lifting him from his feet. "No. You may be a child, but you are the Avatar. And the Avatar has to master all of the elements. You have to master them before summer. Understood?"

Aang shook his head. "B-b-by summer? What do you mean before summer? I can't master the elements by summer! And why can't we go look around the city?" He zipped back to Yue's side at the sight of Katara's smoldering glare. "Why?" Yue patted his back.

The princess narrowed her eyes. "Because, there is a great turn of events coming. Two spectacular events will take place: Agni's comet and the Silver Moon-when the moon is closer to the earth than any other night. The comet fuels the power of firebenders, and the moon makes waterbenders stronger." She explained, though Yue noticed she didn't tell him the whole truth. Katara wasn't a liar, Yue had noticed, but she didn't exactly mean what she said.

Sokka rolled his eyes from behind Katara. "Oh great, here we go again. 'We must use the power of the Silver Moon to destroy the world, and then we can make a new one,"' He said mockingly, "Yeah, yeah, that's so great and all but leave the kid out of this," He let out a cry when Katara shoved her elbow into his stomach. "I'm telling!"

"Shush!" Katara snapped, glowering up at her brother. She reached and grabbed his ear, dragging his head down to hers, her lips nearly brushing his cheek. "The boy must think that the other nations are at fault for this, or else Father's plans won't fall through. Do you understand me, you blundering oaf? He must think that the Fire Nation caused the death of his people," She whispered venomously, narrowing her eyes.

Her brother nodded his head, wincing as she tugged on his ear once more. "But, what if he figures it out? What if he pieces together that it was the Water Tribes that killed all the Air Nomads? Then what do we do?"

Katara bared her teeth in a cunning smile, "Then we shall kill him," She replied, "Actually finding the Avatar was an unexpected bonus. It doesn't matter if he is alive or not, he'll simply be reincarnated into the Tribes. Yet another turn in our favor, Sokka," She released her hold on his ear and straightened, looking at Yue and the Avatar. "Fine. We can give you a tour of the city," The princess said, "And get you some Water Tribe clothes. You don't live with your pacifist people anymore. You are going to be trained as a Water Tribesman, and when you are officially named one, you are expected to behave as such."

Aang nodded his head eagerly as he grabbed Yue's hand and tugged on it. "Come on!" He darted forward, dragging the princess after him. Over his shoulder, the child looked back at Katara and Sokka. "Last one out is a stinky platypus bear!"

"He doesn't even know where the exit is." Sokka shrugged before dashing after them. "Looks like you're going to be the stinky platypus bear, Katara!" He cried. "I can smell you already!" The older prince ran after the others, laughing loudly.

Katara twisted the corners of her mouth into a smile and raced after her brother, overtaking him easily. He may have been a warrior, but she was faster and smaller. Sokka let out an indignant shout, crying that it was unfair. Katara laughed and stuck out her tongue. The airbending boy-the Avatar-was faster than she had once thought, even when he was dragging Yue after him. She could hear Sokka skittering after her. "I guess you smelled yourself," Katara called over her shoulder.

And then, they were bursting through the line of sentries and into the frigid air outside of the palace. Yue turned, pulling her hand from Aang's as Katara skidded to a halt beside them. Sokka came blundering out last, his hands on his knees.

"Haha, you're a stinky platypus bear, Sokka!" Aang cried before turning on his heel and looking out towards the avenue. "That's a lot of people," he said quietly, almost inaudible. "Ooh, it's a sled!" The child pointed. "And, and it's a stall that has toys! I like toys! Can we look that them? Oh, and I see a baby!"

The prince and princesses exchanged exasperated looks before Aang zipped away towards the merchant who was selling children's toys. The older teenagers followed more slowly, the crowds parting for them without a word. Katara, still wearing her furred cloak, snarled when someone-a child-tugged it to see if it was real. The young girl shrunk back at the sight of her blazing blue eyes before running off, screaming. Katraa felt a small pang of hurt, but it was quickly brushed off as she stepped up to stand between Sokka and Yue.

Aang was digging through a wooden box, filled to the brim with toys. The merchant-a hazel eyed man-was smiling in amusement as the airbender pulled out a small whistle, among all things. It was shaped like some beast that Katara couldn't place the name of. "That's a polar leopard whistle," The man explained, "Warriors used to use them to attract polar leopards during the hunting season. "Don't blow on it, though."

Yue snickered as the young Avatar pouted before he pulled out a ragged stuffed animal. It was shaped almost like an artic buffalo, only it had an additional pair of legs and a large, wider tail. Aang let out a cry and held it up, reverently brushing his fingers across its hair.

"This feels like real bison hair. Like Appa's hair felt…" Aang's eyes widened and he threw the stuffed toy away from him, looking as though he was about to be sick. "You killed a flying bison!" He cried. "You killed another living thing! And made a toy out of it!"

The man looked almost annoyed. "The toy's at least five years old, kid. And I don't know what the thing was made out of, alright? So what if it was made from bison hair? The things have been dead for a hundred years, ever since our people killed all the…"

Katara interrupted him, slapping her hand down on Aang's shoulder. "Do you want the toy or not, Aang? Just get whatever you want, so we can carry on with what we were doing. There are better things to do than have a tantrum over a dead animal. Killing is how the tribe survives." She cast a glance at the merchant, warning him to be silent, "We'll take the toy and the whistle. For free."

"O-of course, Princess Katara!" The man cried, "I would never charge the lovely princess!" He dropped his head as Katara picked up the bison toy and the whistle, handing them to Sokka for him to hold them. "It was nice having business with you!"

As they continued through the throng of people, Aang once again reached for Yue's hand. "Where are we going now? You said something about getting new clothes to become a Water Tribesman…does that mean I have to eat meat and kill animals? Because if it does, I don't want to become a Water Tribesman." He looked up at her with hopeful eyes.

Yue shook her head. "No, you don't have to do either of those things. Look, Aang, I don't think you should trust Katara like you trust me. If she tells you to do something, I want you to look at me first, and then do it if I nod. If I shake my head, let me handle it." She touched his dark hair. "She's not a bad person, but…she sometimes does bad or mean things. And Sokka is a blundering oaf, but you can trust him. Unless Katara's near him."

Aang was silent for a moment. "Alright. But, Yue, what was the merchant going to say before Katara interrupted him? He said something about the Water Tribes killing all of the what?" All light-heartedness had drifted from his eyes and was replaced with curiosity.

If only he knew. "The Water Tribes, Aang, have and are doing very bad things. It's treason for me to speak this way, and so I can't tell you much. But my people have used the power of the Silver Moon for an unspeakable act. And they plan on using it again, for the sake of evil once more." She looked back to see if Katara was within earshot before kneeling down and taking both of the child's hands into her own. "Whatever you do, don't be corrupted by my people's evil. Your duty as Avatar is to the world, not the Water Tribe. Promise me, you won't fall in their trap."

Though he wasn't sure if he understood or not, Aang met her gaze and nodded solemnly. "I promise, Yue. I don't know what you're talking about, but I promise." He gave a broad smile, and because he was nothing but a child, he threw his arms around her and hugged her neck. "But you have to promise me something, too. When you think I'm ready, you'll tell me what exactly happened."

Yue's heart leaped to her throat. You'll never be ready. You'll never be ready to know that we killed your people. And your animals. And that we were going to kill you, too, but it wasn't convenient at the moment. You'll never be ready to know that we're using you for the sake of a bloody war. You'll never be ready. But she nodded slowly and blinked, "I promise."

"Azula," The princess was seated in just one of the Royal Gardens, glaring at the turtleducks that swam in the small pool. If a rock had been nearby, she would have thrown it at the stupid animals. The war meeting had been over for only an hour and already her mother had come to nag her. Azula turned with an exasperated sigh, facing her mother.

Princess Ursa was moving across the grass, her dress billowing about her feet as she approached. Ever the beauty, the older woman kneeled gracefully next to her daughter. "Azula," she began again, turning Azula's head to face her, "Tell me what's on your mind, please? I don't like it when you're off to yourself. Your brother does that, and he worries me."

You always have to bring Zuzu into every conversation we have. Oh Zuzu does this. Zuzu does that. Why aren't you like Zuzu? He's such a good boy. Azula tore her face away from Ursa's smooth hand, feeling her fingernails drag loosely across her skin. "Then worry about Zuko, and not me." She said simply. Azula was not a fool; she knew Ursa had something to do with Ozai not punishing her. Yet. "I want to watch the stupid turtleducks swim in their stupid circles, alright?"

Ursa may have been beautiful, but she was not ignorant. "Your father was furious that you had spoken out in the war meeting, but we all make mistakes. Your uncle Iroh thought it was funny, so he let you go unharmed. No one's perfect, Azula. It's alright to have a flaw." She brushed her fingers across Azula's left eye in a gesture that she had often done to Zuko. "Because we're all the same in the end." The woman whispered, brushing her lips against Azula's cheek before pulling back and smirking. "Care to spar?"

"You're wearing a dress." Azula pointed out, looking down at her own clothing. She wore a thin suit of royal armor, complete with the golden belt, and underneath she had on a sleeveless shirt along with a pair of burgundy pants that ended at her shins, tapered by a drawstring. "You can't spar in a dress, Mother Dearest." She unclasped the hook that held her armor in place and took it off, placing it gently where she had been sitting.

To Azula's surprise, Ursa arched her back and gripped the color of her dress before pulling it over her head. The woman tossed her dress aside to reveal that she wore underclothes similar to Azula's. She smiled broadly, "Perhaps not in a dress, but in this I can." Ursa bent slightly at the knees, holding her hands out before her, one closer to her chest, and the other parallel to her chin.

Azula narrowed her eyes and stood up, mirroring her mother's stance. She narrowed her eyes in intimidation, inhaling deeply before breathing through her nose, charging her attack. From her open palms, flickering blue flame appeared, heating the air around her. She attacked first-she always did- sending a barrage of azure flames towards her mother.

Ursa ducked, pulling one knee back behind her and stretching the other leg out. She sent forth a blast of golden-red fire from her fingertips then switched positions with an arching kick, the woman created a stream of fire that blazed across the grass. In the wake of her strike, she lunged forward until she and Azula were closer. "You may have your father's brute strength," Ursa said, catching Azula's wrists, "But you inherited your strategy from me. Remember who gave you that,"

The younger princess snarled, feeling the sting of steam seep from the corners of her lips and nostrils. She tore her hands away from Ursa and lashed out with a swipe of her arm, without using firebending. Her wrist collided with her mother's face unintentionally and the older woman let out a cry of surprise, stumbling back a few steps, clutching her face in her hands. Azula watched, her eyes wide, as her mother pulled bloodied fingers away from her lips. "You're bleeding," She said lamely. "You're bleeding."

Her mother looked at her hands and then back at Azula, before she grinned. "You're still a fool, Azula." And then she took the blood from her fingers and licked it, laughing. "It's sauce, Azula. Yes, I tricked you." The woman opened her left hand to reveal the rest of the reddish substance. "You are a clever girl, but your cunning only works if everyone else is a fool." Ursa ran a bit of the sauce across Azula's cheek. "Ah, is that a smile under the surface that I see?"

Azula narrowed her eyes. Perhaps she's trying to make me cling to her. Like Zuko does. But I won't have it. I won't! "Perhaps your eyesight is going poor, Mother. It would be a shame." She said, rubbing the sauce from her face. "If you need me, which you won't, you know where to find me." And she bent, picking up her armor and slipped in it easily for experience. It cut comfortably into her shoulders, a familiar weight before looking up. Ursa was frowning, and the darkness had fallen over her gaze again. "Mind you, I would put your dress back on. We wouldn't want a scandal ruining your perfect reputation, Mother Dearest. You know how the servants gossip these days."

The younger princess walked back into the palace, looking down at her nails. They had been filed into a sharp point and painted red with black tips. Her hands were perfectly manicured and smooth, having been born into the finer part of the Fire Nation. She was not expected to go to war like the young people beyond the palace did; it was her choice whether or not she wanted to fight against the Water Tribes. Oh, yes, I'm going to fight them alright. She would bring down the waterbenders. Ursa had called her clever, but she was more than that. She was ruthless. And if destroying the Water Tribes meant working from the inside out, so be it. And who dares interrupt my train of thought by standing in front of me?

She paused, eyes narrowed at the person before her. Alone, caught in the golden net that was her gaze, was Zuko. "Zuzu!" She called in mock cheerfulness, crossing the distance between them in a few brisk strides. "Oh, dear brother, where have you been?" Azula threw her arms around her brother, but he pushed her off. "W-what's wrong?" She pouted.

Zuko held his arms out at a distance to keep Azula away from him. "Don't touch me, Azula," He growled, narrowing his eyes, which were wider and lighter than hers, more like Father's. Everything about him screamed that he was Ozai's son, except for his personality. He was shy and timid around new things, even though he was the older sibling. "And don't call me Zuzu, I told you I hate that name."

Azula scoffed and slipped around his outstretched hands. The princess pulled on her brother's face, "What smooth and pale skin you have!" She smirked, "I don't see a single scar," Her fingers prodded the skin around his left eye. "Oh dear, aren't you just a delicate thing! Not a single burn mark," She grabbed his fingers and held them up; "It's as if you don't even firebend!"

The older boy tore his hands away, looking at her in surprise. "I don't have to have lessons on self-control. I was born with it." He retorted, but he curled his fingers inward anyway. "You might be a prodigy, but that doesn't mean you're the best."

Azula narrowed her eyes, biting her tongue. "My flames are already blue, hotter even than Father's. Perhaps if you would try to be better, instead of hanging around Mother, you could get your fire to stay gold. And then you wonder why Father favors me more than you." To prove her point, she made a grasping gesture with her right hand and created a small sphere of cerulean colored fire hover above her hand. "Look, brother, does it appeal to you? Do you wish you could create this?"

Zuko clasped his hand over hers, dousing the flame. He shot her a glare that clearly read: I'm going to murder you one day before clearing his throat. "I was going to let you in on a little secret, but it seems you're too absorbed in your own self to want to know about it." He lifted his head and moved around her. "I heard it from Uncle and Lu Ten!"

"Liar." Azula said, placing her foot in front of his to stop him. "If it's such a secret, why would they tell you? Everyone knows you can't keep anything to yourself, Zuzu. Really, I thought you had left lying to the masters. We all know I'm better at it. But really, what is this secret?"

Lifting his head, Zuko smirked. "What you said in the war room actually got some merit. Uncle has decided to send an elite team of special officers to wiggle their way into the Water Tribes. They'll learn what they're planning, and when the time comes…" He clenched his fist in a crushing manner. "And Lu Ten is leading it. I'm going to ask him if I could join in."

A small elite team… Azula sneered. "Well, I do believe they mean elite as in those who can actually do something. If you know what I mean." She ran her hands over her armor. "Cousin Lu Ten isn't busy, is his? I want to ask him a very important question." The princess brushed by her brother, batting her eyes.

"What?" Zuko blinked in confusion. "No, Azula! You can't do that, I'm going to ask him!" He sounded surprised, as though Azula had never ruined his fun before. "No!" He moved backwards, blocking Azula's path. "You can't do that!"

Azula smiled, touching his chin. "Oh, I can do whatever I wish. Stop being such a child, Zuzu; you know Lu Ten would never choose you anyway. You're too loud, you're too clumsy, you're sensitive, and you're just weak. Not good qualities to have."

"Yes, but Zuko also has qualities that you don't have, little cousin. Not to mention, Zuko's not that bad lookin' and I'm sure he could flirt his way through. Of course, after he has completed his lessons with the Master of Love." Lu Ten suddenly appeared-from where, Azula wasn't sure-and draped his arm across both of their shoulders. "I'm glad I found you two in the same place. I decided to ask your pops if I could take you both with me. Auntie wouldn't mind, but you know how your old man is sometimes." The young man grinned, exposing a row of white teeth. "Don't look so high-strung, 'Zula, you look like you just had a lemon shoved up your nose. And yes, Zuko, I can tell what you're about to say before you even say it. This is awesome."

Zuko snickered and Azula frowned. "When are we leaving?" The third prince asked. "Is there anymore planning left to do? Do you need help?" He was suddenly like a child, asking questions faster than he got answers. Azula was disgusted by his actions and how immature he sounded. Sometimes she wondered if she was really the younger sibling.

Lu Ten chuckled, "Slow down, Hotshot. You're sixteen, not six. There's not exactly a scheduled date for the mission, yet, but we know what's going down. The big guys just wanted me to get my people ready and evaluate them, and then we can put things into detail. All the help I need from you guys is to stay fit and stay ready to act on a whim." He clapped his hand on Zuko's shoulder, "And good luck with those lady issues you were having, Hotshot, women can be…" He looked at Azula, "Prickly."

As the Crown Prince strutted by, he reached over and pulled a few strands of hair from her topknot. "Stop being so perfect all the time, 'Zula, it's creepy." Lu Ten dodged the blow she sent his way with a laugh, swaying his hips and singing to some melody that only he could hear.

"He's just adding you to the team to make you feel good." Azula as she fixed her hair, "That's the only reason anyone ever picks you. Because you're no good at anything else, Zuzu, except for gaining pity from everyone. What a wonderful life you'll live." She said, looking at her nails. "But you won't get pity from me. You never have and you never will. Zuzu, Zuzu, what are we going to do about Zuzu, Zuzu, what are we to do, do, about dear little Zuzu!" She sang, smiling, as Zuko's face reddened. It was a song she had made up when they were children. The princess turned, walking down the hall with Zuko glaring angrily at her back.

Yue held up a bright blue park to Aang's chest to see if it was the right size. "Do you like this one? It has feathers on it, see?" She could hear Sokka's annoyed grumbles behind her and Katara's sharp reprimand. "We don't have much time, Aang."

Aang shook his head and waved his arms, lifting himself up into the air before Yue dragged him back down. "But I'm not cold. Maybe you can make clothes like mine, so I can airbend, only you can make them blue. I can airbend in heavy clothes. But I want a hat. Your hats are cool."

The Northern Water Tribe princess set the unwanted parka back down and nodded, "Alright, we can have clothes made for you. And pick out a hat, quickly. You have to meet Master Pakku," She looked back at Katara, who was nodding in approval. "He was Katara's waterbending teacher, and he's a great one at that." She smiled, "Though he doesn't have the best personality. He's from the Northern Water Tribe, but he and his would-have been-wife, Kanna, moved down here. Kanna, or Gran-Gran as everyone calls her, is royalty and her son, Hakoda, is chief."

"Doesn't that make Pakku royalty, too?" Aang asked, confused. It had baffled Yue when she had first heard the story, too. "Why doesn't he live in the palace?" The young Avatar idly picked up a furred hat and pulled it on his head.

Yue adjusted the cap so that it fit over the boy's abnormally large ears. "Because, when Kanna was originally engaged to Pakku, it was called off. Then, she married another man and had Hakoda with him. That man later died…" In the war. "Some years ago, when she married Master Pakku, it was her second marriage. They haven't been married for too long, though." She smiled and playfully pulled the hat over Aang's eyes. "Come on, let's go see him."

Katara walked up to them, her arms crossed before her chest. "Good, you've gotten a hat. Now come on, we're going to the Master's training grounds. Yue and I may be your instructors, but we've only been masters for a year. And besides, there are other reasons you need to meet him."

"We're going to see Gram-Pakku!" Sokka said cheerfully, "That's what I nicknamed him, because he's not really our grandpa, but he married our grandma so…yeah." He took in Aang's appearance, "Nice hat…except it's backwards." The older boy twisted Aang's cap around so that it covered the back of his head. "Listen me, little buddy, don't let these girls use you. They will dress you up like a fool and say it's cute. Don't trust girls. They're crazy!" He yelped with Katara cuffed him cleanly over the head. "See what I mean!"

Aang laughed as Sokka draped his hand over his shoulder, leading him after Yue and Katara. "But I trust Yue," He said rather seriously, pulling his hat over his ears to hide their redness. "She's really nice, and funny too, sometimes." He shrugged, "And so is Katara, but not as much."

Sokka looked at his sister and frowned. "Katara…does some pretty weird things sometimes. You just have to get to know her better to see what she's thinking. At least, I think. I've known her my whole life and I still don't get her when she goes into these little tantrums that she has sometimes. If you're lucky, you won't see what I mean."

For the rest of the walk, they went on in relative silence, leaving the main avenue for a smaller, less crowded one. Aang looked up at the buildings. Some were connected by bridges of ice at certain points and some buildings had arches underneath. The howls and barks of dogs grew louder as they approached a wide, elaborate building. It had a courtyard with a fountain in the center, spewing up water from a hole beneath the ground. In this courtyard was an older one standing before the fountain a scowl on his face.

"Master Pakku!" Katara cried, her eyes lighting up with genuine excitement. She dashed towards the man with Yue on her heels. Katara threw her arms around the man and hugged him tightly. "It's so great to see you again!" She stepped back.

The man had frosty white hair and was tall. He smiled at both of his former students. "Ah, the two princesses. It's good to see a real smile on your face for once, Katara. Tell me, what's gotten you so excited? And have my eyes deceived me, or is that an Air Nomad?" He narrowed his eyes and the smile faded from his face.

Yue looked back at Aang and smiled. "Well, yes, Master Pakku. Aang is an Air Nomad. But he's not just a regular old Air Nomad, he's the Avatar! We found him in an iceberg." At Pakku's skeptical look, she nodded. "It's confusing, I know, but it's true! And we're going to teach him waterbending." She turned to Katra, who was also nodding. "Can you show us how to start?"

Pakku looked back at the airbender and Yue though she saw a bit of disgust flash across his eyes. "Of course," He said, stepping back. "Come here, boy," He called. Aang scampered towards them and skidded to a halt. Pakka took a step in the opposite direction, as if he didn't want the child anywhere near him. When a swift movement of his wrist, he summoned the water from the fountain to him and shifted it from hand to hand. "Katara, water is the element of?"

"Change. It can be moved from offense to defense in one swift move." The prodigy answered as Pakku sent the element towards her. She caught it in her hands and reformed it into a sphere. "A skilled bender can move it both ways at once."

The old master nodded swiftly. "Waterbending, boy, is much like airbending. It requires graceful, eloquent moves, while also remaining flexible. Airbending is purely defensive, the opposite of earthbending. Waterbending falls somewhere in between." He pulled the water away from Katara's hands. "Waterbending draws power from…where?"

Sokka feigned a snore while Aang looked up at the sky. "The moon," The young Avatar said, "And the ocean. It's all about the push and pull of the tides." He beamed as Yue gave him a thumb's up. "If you push the water, it's offense. If you pull, it's defense."

Yue nodded, looking at Pakku for permission as she waved her hand. The liquid flowed into her grip, "Correct. See how I push and pull my fingers to keep the water moving? Now you try it," She moved closer and passed the water into Aang's hands. "Gentle movements, yet bold enough to know what you're doing."

Aang bit his bottom lip as he shifted the element from a sphere into small whip. He squared his stance and outstretched one hand, guiding the water towards his curved palm. "Look, I made a whip!" He cried, arching his left arm behind his head. "I did it!"

Katara suddenly lunged forward and made a grabbing gesture, ripping the water from Aang's control. "You understand the basics, I see. And perhaps you'll eventually be able to do this," She let the water fall to the ground and raised her arms, swaying back and forth while waved her hands in five different directions. The water jumped to her command, separating into five different tendrils. "You'll be able to move your element into all directions, to attack and defend from all sides." She lashed out in Sokka's direction, ordering the water to wrap around his ankle before letting the water drift back into Pakku's command. "When you eventually enter new environments, you'll be able to alter the move so it works easier. You won't be here during the Silver Moon, Avatar. Oh no, your destiny calls for you to be elsewhere."

Yue licked her dry lips as Katara's gaze swiveled towards her, almost to say: You speak a word of the truth, and the Northern Water Tribe won't have a princess anymore. Yue averted her eyes, wondering what would have become of Aang if she had simply left him to die in the iceberg. He will never be ready for the truth. She watched as the young Avatar grinned and laughed when Pakku splashed Sokka. What's worse, treason or massacre? She didn't want to know.

"Look, Yue, I made a shape!" Aang cried out, holding up a jiggling, crude shape of a box made from water. The small cube looked as though it was about to fall about if he moved his fingers too much. "It's a box! Isn't it cool? Do you think I could freeze it and make a real box?"

Before Yue could answer, Katara cleared her throat. "There's no need for that. You need to learn basic combat. That includes a shield and a whip." She guided the water into a snake-like shape before taking a half step forward. The princess threw both of her arms into an arch and the water sprang to her command, stretching out into the beginnings of a wave. "This is what a basic shield looks like. When you are far along in your lessons, you'll be able to coat your body in water."

Aang's stomach gave an audible growl and he flushed. "Sorry!" He patted his belly, "I'm getting kind of hungry. Spending a hundred years in an iceberg is bound to make you more want more than a snack." He laughed nervously.

Sokka let out a cry, "A man of my own heart!" He said, throwing his arms around the Avatar. "The Southern Water Tribe has the best spices you'll ever have. They're imported from a part of the Earth Kingdom that's influenced by all four nations. I don't think you've heard of Ba Sing Se, have you?"

"Ba Sing Se! I went there when I was eight and my guardian took me to see the Earth King. I didn't really like it there, though, they didn't treat everyone the same. Has it changed any?" He asked, "Do they have fruit pies? I love fruit pies!" Aang beamed.

Oh, it's changed all right. There is no Earth King. It's ruled by a close cousin and several military figures. Yue thought, looking at Sokka and wondering if he would let anything slip. Katara wouldn't hesitate to scream treason, and there would be one less thing in her way in competition for the throne. "They have fruit pies," She answered, "And everyone is treated in the same way," If they're of at least some Water Tribe descent. "When you're ready to learn earthbending, perhaps you'll get to see it for yourself. You have to finish your training by summer, remember?"

The young Avatar's shoulders drooped. "Yeah…don't remind me." Yue could tell he didn't exactly understand why he had to master the elements before summer, and she wasn't sure how he was going to learn firebending when they were using him to defeat the Fire Nation. She was certain, though, that Katara had planned everything out from the moment she had discovered he was the Avatar. Because Yue knew Katara well enough to know that she rarely left loose ends. She rarely left room for mistakes. And when she did, they were covered up with another victory.

Katara turned to Pakku and bowed respectfully. "We must leave, Master. We'll be back to visit soon, of course." She straightened, "And do tell my grandmother that we said hello, and that she should come to the palace, soon." The princess turned on her heel, "The cooks seemed to have forgotten her recipe for spiced seal jerky. Aw, and fried leopard trout. She always made the best."

Yue stepped closer to Aang and bent down to whisper in his ear. "Here in the Water Tribe, we have imported vegetables. They're preserved in ice, and then taken out when they're needed. I'm sure you'll like what the palace has." She smiled, "Since you're a vegetarian Water Tribesman." They'll try to make you into a pawn. But I won't let them. I won't let them make you into a tool, little Koinu. They'll corrupt you and reform you into someone who will do their bidding, and make you destroy the Fire Nation. But I won't let Katara get to you. This will be one string she won't be able to pull.

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