For this chapter, we learn about Water Tribe machinery (which I wrote when I was a victim of insomia, I hope it makes sense to those who don't live in my brain), tension in the Fire Nation, and perhaps a reason why Katara is so sneaky and bitter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender

Katara may have had a sour personality, but she could teach when she wanted to, Yue noted as she watched the younger princess instruct Aang. They had been training the Avatar for almost a week, and he had made more progress than Yue had expected. At the moment, Katara was attempting to show the boy how to make claws of ice and throw them, but it wasn't turning out very well. "Sokka," Yue asked, turning to the younger boy who was seated beside her, "Do you ever wish you were a waterbender?"

The prince shifted his gaze from the two figures before them. He had been sitting on a block of ice that Yue had bent for him, with his hands resting under his chin and Aang's hat in his lap. "When I was younger, I used to because they did all the cool stuff. Then I realized that I couldn't make the water move, and I decided I'm awesome enough as it is," He grinned, "Without waterbending. Besides, waterbenders can be really weird. No offense." He shrugged, fixing the hood of his parka.

Yue narrowed her eyes, "None taken. I suppose." She looked back at Katara and Aang, who were caught up in a spar. Honestly, she had to agree with Sokka. Waterbenders could act a little odd. "Show Katara what you've been learning, Aang!" She called out towards the young boy, though he didn't acknowledge that he had heard her. Katara certainly did, though, for she turned her head in Yue's direction and raised her eyebrows. Yue wondered how Katara could have such a bitter personality when nearly everyone else in her family were pleasant, quirky, people. There's one in every family. She decided, though she knew she would never be satisfied by the answer.

There was the recognizable splash of water and Yue looked up. Aang was standing above Katara with an almost shocked expression on his face, as if he couldn't believe he had knocked the older girl off of her feet. The waterbender looked down at her drenched clothes and shook her head, her mouth agape as she wrung water from her hair. Aang stepped back as she rose to her feet and stood awkwardly, her clothes hanging heavily on her form. "Very good." Katara said simply, dipping slightly at the waist in a bow to the Avatar. "Yue, get up here and take over training."

"I would get some drier clothes if I were you, before the hypothermia sets in." Sokka called to his sister. "We don't want you losing a limb." He rose to his feet, obviously with the intent of helping Katara get back to the palace, but the princess shot a glare at him and huffed. Yue saw a flash of hurt dance across Sokka's face as he sat back down.

Yue frowned and turned towards Aang. "You knocked Katara off of her feet…that's what I call skill." She smiled, gathering an adequate amount of water from the ice around them. Setting her feet in a stable, but flexible stance, she paused once again, "I know you're new to being the Avatar, but what are Spirits saying about this war? Can't you feel them?"

Aang shook his head, "No. I don't think Spirits make themselves known to many people, unless they have to say something." He spun his hands, creating a sphere from the water in his control. "Why did Katara look so mad when I knocked her down? She said to try my best."

But Yue was suddenly lost in her own thoughts. Perhaps, our patron spirits haven't turned against us. The Moon and the Ocean Spirits still ease the oceans for us. Maybe they agree with our cause, in creating a new, peaceful world. Yue knew this would never work, but her opinion never mattered very much. Perhaps Tui and La haven't turned their backs on us, but the others have. There were many things that Yue doubted, such as the massacre of airbenders. The Water Tribes had relied on rope, tactic, and some invention called a kite-Yue had never seen one in real life-to reach the Air Temples. At least, that's what the historians said. Yue wasn't sure if this was possible, if all this happened a century ago. It had taken five years to completely clean the Air Temples of any life, starting with the two temples that were closest to the poles. As far as she knew, though, no airbenders existed except for the one in front of her.

The Water Tribe kite was a peculiar thing, from pictures that she had seen. Some were for entertainment, while others had been used for warfare. They were made of hollow wood and a special type of material for the wings that enabled them to catch the wind and glide, while those that had been used in the army were much bigger and were operated by running water that shifted the wings, enabling it to catch a draft. They had become the base design for their airship, which was a wide, covered thing that could carry a crew of four men-two waterbenders, and two others. It was crafted from metals found in the Earth Kingdom and very thin tarp to allow the wings on the side to hover easily. Throughout the wings of the ship were pipes and lines that flowed with water. Sokka had once tried to explain how exactly it worked to Yue, but she hadn't listened.

"Yue!" Sokka snapped her name from his place as onlooker. "Talk to The Universe later, teach Aang now." He pointed at said boy. "You know, show him the ways of the magic water." He waved his hands in crude imitation of a waterbending move, "You kind of went blank."

The princess narrowed her eyes at Sokka before facing Aang. "You're moving pretty far along," She said with an encouraging smile, "But you still need lots of work. The water whip seems simple, and you have the basics of it. But let's take it further!" She let the water spread into the thin beginnings on a whip, her left hand curled as if she was holding the element. "Be flexible with the water like this," She instructed while moving the liquid between her hands. "Make your breath cool, so you can see it, and then wait for me to tell you the rest."

Eyes wide, the young Avatar tried to copy her movements. His tongue was poking from the side of his mouth as he shifted the water unsteadily, "Now what?" He asked, leaning back on his foot and waving his hands in a smooth gesture. He guided it around his shoulder, twisting and twirling the water while breathing in the way Yue had instructed, his breath making small bursts of steam. "Now what?"

Yue's water was suddenly turned to ice as her cool breath struck it. With a swift slash of her hand, the icy weapon embedded itself into the ground several feet away from her in a perfect circle. "You can use this to trap an opponent or inflict damage, but it won't work on firebenders unless…" She shrugged and then some deep, buried, part of her felt a surge of anger at the very mention of the Fire Nation. And she hated it. Her hatred of firebenders was hardwired into her being, fed by stories and by simply being a waterbender-her natural opposite was fire-and she could not erase it. The princess blinked and smiled lightly, "Try doing that and then we're done for the day."

Teaching Aang is fairly easy. He is the Avatar and it's not like he's learning things, but rather remembering them from his past lives, and all Yue needs to do is show him the moves as a reminder. He catches on much easier than she did, but she didn't have the help of a thousand reincarnations. Normal waterbenders began their training with a bowl. She wishes he wasn't such a prodigy, though, because he's being used as a weapon of war; like an invention that can be tossed aside when it no longer suits the user's fancy.

Observation. Maybe that's what allowed the Water Tribes to wage war. Maybe they had watched the Air Nomads and learned their ways, befriending their authorities and learning their secrets, and after wiggling their way into the Air Temples, they had killed them. Maybe they had formed alliances with the other nations, offering protection and luxury items and when the time came, they had fought them, too. Yue sighed inwardly and turned her attention back to Aang as he demonstrated the move she had shown him. She only caught the part where the ice struck the ground, but she knew he had done it correctly. "Great!"

Aang looked at her disappointedly, as though he knew she hadn't been paying attention. "Thanks." The corners of his lips turned down ever so slightly before he returned the ice into water and shifted it back into its original place. "How close am I to mastering waterbending?"

"You still have a long way to go," Yue said, arching her back in a stretch. She knew that she was denying Aang time to learn and practice, but she was the teacher. She knew what was best, right? Right. "Come on, we can go see Katara and then we can go see if they've finally decided whether or not you can attend the academy. Come on, Sokka!" She raised her voice to address the prince, "We're going back to the palace!"

Sokka rose to his feet, throwing Aang's hat at the younger boy before he not-so-discreetly rubbed his backside. "Sitting on ice, unless you are a waterbender, I do not recommend." He winced, "It isn't pleasant." The prince adjusted his parka and scratched his stomach, "Katara's probably alright. Her temper is hot enough to keep her warm."

Yue rolled her eyes as she turned in the direction to the palace, "I guess you're right about that, but I still want to make sure she made it there. It would be a shame if she got sick, because then all the servants in the palace would have to put up with her all day."

"And then," Sokka said, "You would have to teach Aang on your own." He put his arm on the twelve year old boy's head, grinning mischievously, "But I don't think he would mind, would ya, Aang?" Nudging the airbender, he chuckled as the boy blushed in embarrassment, his eyes widening. "See, look at his face, it tells the truth."

"Sokka, quite being such a tease." Yue rolled her eyes, "You're making him embarrassed." She smiled at Aang, "Don't let Sokka tease you, Aang. I give you permission to slap him, if you'd like. And if you do, slap him hard. I mean, hard."

The Water Tribe prince stepped away from Aang, obviously not trusting him. "Don't corrupt the children, Yue! And Aang's not embarrassed that he has a crush on you, are you, Aang?" He smirked as the Avatar's face reddened.

Aang's eyes widened, "No I don't!" He looked off to the side and dashed forward ahead of them, as though Sokka had offended him. But when Yue blinked and refocused her gaze, she saw that he was running towards a group of people that looked more like his age. They had probably recently left the academy and Yue couldn't blame Aang for wanted to see people who were closer to his own age, who weren't concerned about him mastering all four elements.

"Don't go anywhere where I can't see you!" Yue called to the young boy, though she knew he wasn't listening. She whirled on Sokka, narrowing her eyes. "Don't embarrass him like that, Sokka, you could have hurt his feelings. So what if he has a crush on me, he's twelve. I was the first person he saw." She remembered when she was nine, she had a tiny crush on Chief Hakoda but it passed. She was sure Aang's mild infatuation with her probably would, too.

Sokka looked skeptical, "Of course!" He rolled his eyes in annoyance, "You just wait… you won't be able to keep him away from you. And I'll be standing there telling you, I told you so." The prince walked towards the group of younger children with Yue glaring at his back as she followed him. "You'll listen to me one day, then."

When the royal teenagers approached the academy students, every single one of them bowed simultaneously. Sokka snorted and gestured for them to rise, "I hate when people do that." Yue stepped up to his side and smiled. These students weren't much older than her and were probably nearing the end of their formal education. She noticed that one of them-a taller girl with jet black hair-had green eyes like someone from the Earth Kingdom; perhaps she was of mixed ancestry. It wasn't very often that she saw people of the Earth Kingdom attending the Imperial academy.

"Is he really the Avatar, Princess Yue?" One of the younger girls asked, looking up at the older girl. She was probably about seven years old, if Yue could guess accurately. "He says he is, but I don't believe it." She looked skeptical, her lips turned up in the beginnings of a sneer. "Why would he appear after a hundred years?"

Aang looked indignant and hurt at the same time, his mouth opened as though he was going to defend himself, but Yue placed her hand on his shoulder before he could speak. "Why, yes, he is the Avatar. And he appeared now, after a hundred years, because…" She paused, "Because it's his destiny to end the war!" But not the way you would think. "He's going to end the war by summer's end!" I hope.

The young girl's eyes widened. "Really?" She tugged on the green eyed girl's parka, "Princess Yue said he is the Avatar and he's going to end the war. By the end of summer! And if she says it, it must be true."

Yue could see Aang's shoulders drop and she pulled him away from the children, grabbing Sokka's hand to pull him forward. "Why are you looking so sad, Aang? What's wrong, did they say something to hurt your feelings before we came?"

"No," The boy said softly, "And I'm not sad! I was just reminded that I did disappear for a hundred years and the world needed me to keep it balanced," Stop this war. "And now I have to do so much and the world probably hates me. And you said that the Water Tribe is changing…I have to fix that, too." Yue suddenly wished she hadn't told him these things, for he suddenly seemed overwhelmed. The Avatar sighed and Sokka-standing on his other side-frowned at his suddenly changes in attitude.

"Don't forget that you have us, Aang. You have Sokka and I," Definitely not Katara. Yue put her hands on his shoulders, shaking him gently. "Right, Sokka? You'll help Aang won't you?" She turned to the prince, lifting her chin. "Won't you?" Where Katara was all for the war and the destruction of the Fire Nation and the remaining Earth Kingdom, Sokka was against it and had been for a long time. Longer than Yue, actually.

Sokka shrugged, "I really don't think I have a choice. Yue gave me The Look, you know, the one that means: You better do it, or I'll rip you into pieces. But yeah, I'll help you end the war." He looked up at the sky, "We were supposed to be back at the palace by this time…distractions, distractions."

It was final. In several more days, Azula found find herself on a ship towards the Earth Kingdom-more specifically Ba Sing Se. Originally, she and the others were meant to infiltrate the Southern Water Tribe, where there was probably more information, but it had been decided that their appearances would stick out. Ba Sing Se, though, was diverse and they could easily slip unnoticed. Azula wasn't sure who else would accompany them, but she had been told that it was another male soldier and two other women, from what Lu Ten had told her. Their identities wouldn't be disclosed until the day they arrived from their various homes.

Azula was excited. Not like she would admit that to anyone, of course. It would be the furthest place from home she would ever be so far, and there would be no one breathing down her neck, telling her what to do or what not to do. Especially her mother. The princess smiled to herself as she walked down the hall that led to her private chambers, having just slipped from the kitchens after getting a small snack. Perhaps it was childish, sneaking around like that, but she had been hungry after a vigorous training session.

She was getting better, she decided, better than she already had been, but lightning was still out of her grasp. She could create it and manage it, but there were still things she could do better. There was everything she could do better at. Fire Lord Iroh had taught them the technique after watching enemy waterbenders during some battle, and had also shown them a way to redirect should the worse ever happen.

But considering that only the royal family knew about this, the only bad thing that could happen to anyone of them would be the loss of control. Besides, no one knew about the silent struggle of succession within the royal family and as long as lips stay closed, no one would. Perhaps the walls had ears. But she had fire.

With the sound of her footsteps tapping lightly against the dark tiled floors, Azula turned her thoughts towards the journey she, her cousin, and her brother would embark on soon. All the main details remained with Lu Ten and Iroh, and she supposed it was to keep her from taking initiative by remapping everything in a way that suited her best. Things are better when I do them like I want.

The sound of soft, masculine voices came from a cracked door. Azula stopped just before she crossed it and paused. Father? She would recognize Ozai's gravelly growl anyway, but the people he was speaking to was someone she didn't expect. Zuko? The princess pressed her body to the wall. Ozai's voice didn't sound reprimanding or angry like it often did when he was talking to his son, but instead it sounded inquisitive, yet distant at the same time.

"I expect you to not make a fool of yourself, and to watch out for your sister, if you can do that." Azula nearly retched. Her father-Ozai-is telling her brother-Zuko-to watch out for her, as if she was the incompetent one. "Can you, Prince Zuko?"

Zuko was silent, and Azula could guess he was thinking the same thing she was: Why is he saying this? Why is he favoring Zuko? Azula didn't like sharing her father with Zuko. He had Mother and Uncle, and Lu Ten. And it was probably because he was born first. He's taken Mother. Now he's taking Father, too! Azula thought and a small pang of horror went down her spine at the idea.

Finally, her brother cleared his throat. "I don't think Azula needs anyone watching out for her," You're not that stupid, Zuzu. "But if it makes you proud of me, I will." He'll never be proud of you. All his pride is for me. You have Mother's love, and Uncle's good graces. Father's pride is mine.

"Azula, what are you doing?" The princess snapped to attention at the sound of her mother's voice. She turned quickly to see Ursa walking towards her, her arms crossed before her chest. If there was one person who could ever catch Azula snooping, it was her mother. And she hated that fact. "Are you eavesdropping? Didn't I tell you to mind your own business?"

"I don't know, Mother Dearest, you've told me so many insightful things." Azula retorted, stepping away from the door. "If you have, it seems I've forgotten. Oh, do forgive me!" She rolled her eyes and looked up at her mother, "I just couldn't resist."

Ursa narrowed her eyes coolly and took her daughter's wrist, pulling her forward. She treated her like she was a little girl, and Azula didn't see her going on a journey to bring down the Water Tribes. The older woman dragged her daughter down the hall towards her room, shaking her head. She stopped and turned the girl's shoulders toward her. "Azula,"

The princess sighed, recognizing the tone of her voice. The I'm giving you a lecture tone crept into her mother's voice and the I'm disappointed in you look flashed in her eyes. "Azula, you're too old for me to keep telling you the same things over and over. You're fourteen now, and you should know better than this." Ursa looked sadly at her daughter, "You should have respect for others, and they'll have respect for you. Don't you remember that?"

"Why, yes, I do." Azula said, averting her gaze, but her mother grabbed her jaw and pulled her head back. Sighing, the princess met her mother's stare. "Okay, I won't eavesdrop on Father and Zuko anymore, if it pleases you. I was just wondering if they were discussing the mission. You know, the mission that Zuko and I were chosen to go on. To Ba Sing Se." She said this casually, looking up at the ceiling.

Princess Ursa sighed and before Azula could move, she smoothed her daughter's dark hair. "I knew you would use that, Azula, but you've forgotten that I'm not a fool. That still gives you no right to eavesdrop on other people. When you're away from home, you won't be safe, Azula. You can't act like a fool and try to be noble just to please your father. Your life will be at stake."

Suddenly, her hands are at Azula's shoulders again, and Ursa's sad gaze is more agonized than ever. Azula does not understand how her mother can look so sullen, yet smile at the same time. "Look, Azula, I know I may not be your favorite person," What gave you that idea, Mommy? "But you're my daughter and I don't want to see you or Zuko hurt."

Always bringing Zuzu into things! Azula pried her mother's grip from her shoulders and stepped towards her door. "In a few days, Mother, I'll leave and become even better at what I do. I'll return a war hero, with the Water Tribe chiefs' heads on two pikes. Then, Mother Dearest, you won't have to worry about me getting hurt, ever again."

Before Ursa could say anything in reply, the younger princess opened the door to her room and slipped in, closing it in her mother's face just as Ursa opened her mouth to speak. Azula stood on the other side of the door with her arms crossed before her chest. Pretending she loves me just as much as she loves Zuko…she's a liar. From the other side of the door, she could hear Ursa's footsteps fading away. She's a liar.

That's where I got it from. We're both liars, but I'm better at it. Azula thought, moving over to her vanity in the side of her room and stood in front of the polished glass that was her mirror. "Pulchritudinous…" She raised her hand to her cheekbones and then tugged at her bangs, "Impeccable…Cunning…" She listed all the things that the royal family had been called, "Efficient…" The princess smiled at her reflection. It was true.

She wondered if the royal families of the Water Tribes were like her own. Of course, the Northern Water Tribe and the Southern Water Tribe had different rulers that were distantly related. There were waterbenders that kept the borders of the remaining Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes cleanly marked and patrolled. From stories she had heard, they were pale skinned and green eyed from an Earth Kingdom ancestor, but she wouldn't believe it until she saw it.

On the side of her vanity was a jar of ink, a calligraphy brush, and an empty scroll. She had intended to write something on it some time ago, but she had lost interest in it. Now, the princess grabbed the supplies and pulled them closer to her. She wasn't sure exactly what she was going to write, yet, but as she dipped the brush into the ink, she was certain it would be a letter. To whom, she had no clue.

Dear…She left the name blank, pondering who and what this message was about. This mission into the vein of Water Tribe territory is a vital, honorable one, albeit dangerous. Ba Sing Se is the base of central intelligence for the Water Tribe heathens, and if we manage to gain control of it, the war is ours. She paused, suddenly realizing that this letter was to her, and the Water Tribes will be tried for their war crimes. The Fire Nation had just as many, but it was swept under the carpet.

The princess continued to write, and she didn't look up even as her older brother opened the door. Of course, she saw him from the corner of her eye, and she had heard him before he entered, but she pretended to be oblivious to his blundering. She felt like being nice, today. Kind of. "It's rude, Zuzu, to intrude upon your poor little sister. You could have startled me and I could have died from shock. After all, Father did tell you to watch me."

Zuko rolled his eyes as Azula turned to him. "I told you, stop calling me that!" He let out an exasperated sigh, "You're too nosy for your own right, Azula. And I know Mom caught you eavesdropping, so I wouldn't be so dramatic if I were you. Besides, can't you mind your own business for once?"

"Why would I mind my business, when I can mind someone else's?" Azula said, though she knew Zuko had no answer for this. "Then again, I can mind my business and other person's without breaking a sweat. What about you, Brother Dear?"

"If your head gets any bigger, you won't be able to pick yourself up from the floor." Zuko retorted, rolling his eyes. "I wish you didn't even have to come with us, the mission doesn't need little girls like you keeping us back. The other women coming with us are probably high ranking soldiers, not big-headed teenagers."

So, Zuzu's finally got a backbone, has he? Azula crossed the distance between her and her sibling, laying a single finger on his chest. If she wanted, she could burn him and he wouldn't be able to get away. But she doesn't. "No, Zuzu, dear, the mission doesn't need little girls like you to keep us back. Maybe Daddy Dearest told you to take care of me to give you a purpose on this mission, instead of standing there…as lost as always. But we all know who'll be taking care of whom, don't we?"

The young prince's face became an unnatural shade of red. "Why are you so…aurgh! You're just so irritating, Azula! Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to get such a monster for a little sister! Why can't you be like the other little sisters we see? You ruin everything for me! Why, Azula? Why?" He made a frustrated noise and Azula could see sparks from his fingertips drift to the floor. "I have a good day, and you ruin it. You have a good day, and everything is fine. You're just horrible!"

Before Azula could open her mouth, Zuko held up his hand and walked out of the room just as soon as he had come, slamming the door behind him. Azula smirked and let out a short laugh of triumph. Zuko was easy to unnerve and upset, and she loved doing so. The princess smiled to herself and turned back to her scroll, rubbing her hands together. Doing this to Zuko was one of her favorite pastimes.

Away from the palace, without her mother breathing down her neck, she would be able to make Zuko feel lower than ever. Doing this to Zuko was like fishing for whiskered lionfish. You pull them closer, and then let them think they're free. Then, you capture them.

Azula set her brush down and closed the jar of ink, leaving the scroll to dry fully. Her characters were neat and expertly executed, from years of practice and perfection. At the end of the message, she had written: And if I don't return-which I will-I'll die knowing I brought down at least one of the heirs, and my name shall become Princess Azula, Heroine of the Fire Nation. Yes, that had a nice ring to it.

Aang had gone off with Sokka to discuss his more formal, academic education, while Yue went to find Katara. Unless Katara had magically acquired inner heating, she was most likely in the infirmary with her mother. Narak had chased her through the halls, and Yue wasn't sure if the beast had been playing with her, or genuinely wanted to eat her.

When a servant had finally stopped Narak from pulling at her clothes, the Northern Water Tribe princess entered the palace infirmary. Lady Kya was leaning over her daughter, rubbing a towel through the thick mane that was Katara's hair. The princess had her arms crossed before her chest and her legs crossed a sour expression on her face. A servant was holding a steaming cup to the side as Kya frowned at her daughter.

"Honestly, Katara, your face is going to be stuck that way, if you keep that look. Sokka smiles and you frown, what children I have!" The Water Tribe monarch smiled lightly, and Yue saw that Katara now had a different, much lighter colored outfit. "Maybe we shouldn't have given you that teacher when you were so young."

Katara huffed, and rolled her eyes. "Hama was an excellent tutor, Mother. She taught me so much," For once, Yue thought she sounded truly fond of this woman, whoever she was. She looked up and caught sight of the Northern Princess standing in the doorway, "You finished training with Aang already?"

The Lady raised her head and smiled as she took the cup from the servant. "Oh, Princess Yue, it's you!" She passed it to Katara and tapped her shoulder as a silent gesture to drink, "I heard you were teaching Aang some waterbending moves." She smiled, "I'm sure you're a lovely teacher, Yue."

Yue felt heat staining her cheeks, "Oh…well, thank you, Lady Kya." She looked off to the side, "I'm not that good, considering Aang's my first student." Katara had turned the cup up to her lips so that Yue could read her expression. Yue wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

Kya took the cup from Katara before she could drink it all, "DIdn't I say don't drink too fast?" She scolded gently, "If you warm up too fast, you could get sick." The woman lifted her head when Katara glared at her, returning with a heated glance of her own. "Drink slower."

If Katara hadn't turned her glare to Yue, she would have laughed. The older princess bit her tongue and moved to leave. Kya pushed Katara onto her back and held her hand on the girl's chest, "Stay here and rest, your skin is still damp. You could get hypothermia if you try to go out again, and lose those precious fingers of yours. Then what will you do then?" She smiled as Katara growled, but the teenager didn't resist. "Stay here until I come back, and I'll know if you've done anything, Katara. You might be sly, but I have something called Mother's intuition."

Yue followed Kya as the woman stepped from the infirmary. "Lady Kya," She began, "Do you think Chief Hakoda will let Aang attend the school with the other children?" She asked at the older woman brushed her hair behind her ear.

"No, I do not." The queen said simply as she walked down the hallway. "Hakoda may entertain the thought for a moment, but he'll refuse. Aang needs to devote his learning time to become a better waterbender, not learning what's truly become of his people." She shot a glance at the princess, "That doesn't mean he shouldn't better his literacy skills, and script."

Nodding, Yue matched her stride to Kya's. "Lady Kya, before Katara noticed me, I heard you two talking about one of her old tutors. Who is Hama?" She asked. The name sounded foreign to her, and she wasn't sure if she had heard it before.

"Hama was indeed one of Katara's older tutors before her formal education, and quite honestly, I didn't like her much. She was good friends with Gran-Gran when they were young, hailing from this tribe and naturally was a soldier. Back in her day. I think she got caught during a battle against firebenders and wound up being a prisoner of war. Everyone thought she was dead, and then she turns up on the shores. She never said how she got away, but she seemed good enough to tutor Katara in things we couldn't show her. Katara loved her to death." Kya said, looking up at the ceiling, "Then she just disappeared."

Yue furrowed her brow, "You mean, she just vanished?" At Kya's nod, she bit the lower part of her lip. "That isn't normal." Why isn't she talked about? She's a war hero, if she escaped from the Fire Nation! "Kya-I mean, Lady Kya, do you think what they say about the war is true? This philosophy that we're taught, do you believe it?"

Kya scoffed, "Do I believe it? No. Do I think it's true? No." She leaned towards Yue, "I may smile a lot, Yue, but I do have a functioning brain. And my brain tells me that it's treason to speak like this, especially in the palace of a chief. Then again, I'm speaking treason, too, and I'm the queen." She blinked slowly, "But do listen to me this one time, Yue, and heed my words. Not everything you hear is true. And sometimes things are different from what they appear and what you think they are. It's a life lesson I learned early on."

The Northern Water Tribe princess met Kya's gaze, "What do you mean?" She asked, but the Lady's eyes shimmered with amusement, and Yue felt a pang of annoyance. She could see where Katara and Sokka got their inability to get right to the point.

"If I told you that, Princess Yue, it would ruin the fun for you. And completely destroy the reason why people grow up and grow older." Kya rested her hand on Yue's shoulder before she walked away. "If I did that, you would hate me. And I have enough people who hate me already."

Yue suddenly realized that Kya had walked her to her room. She wondered if the woman had planned this from the moment she had stepped foot back in the palace, or if she thought the princess was tired. Either way, she was here. The tribal princess opened the door to her suite and stepped inside. On the vanity was the same scroll that had been there for some time now, along with the stuffed bison toy. She had decided Aang was too old, and probably had too much pride to accept the thing, so she had kept it. Yue rarely entered her room with the exception of sleeping and reading, and in the daylight, it looked almost unfamiliar.

She moved over to the window and stared out at the ocean. Somewhere across the sea, there was probably someone gazing back in the same direction as her. Maybe she would meet them, whoever they were, and they would become friends. And maybe they would help her teach Aang, and maybe they could end the war together.

There were too many "maybes" and not enough "We wills".

Feedback is always nice, I guess.