A/N: Heres chapter 12 and im so proud of myself for updating quickly! Read and Review please! I was so happy to get so many reviews for the last chapter! I swear it's you guys' reviews that made me want to update so quickly!

Previously...

After I had accepted my fate I had asked uncle to tell me exactly what had been said in the war meeting and he did. I had listened thinking of what I should do. Should I return and try to get back into my fathers good graces? Should I forget everything and start a new life somewhere else? I had reached a hand into my pocket subconsciously and touched something cool and smooth. I had pulled it out and saw a blue stone necklace dangling from a dark colored ribbon. A Water Tribe symbol was carved on the stones surface. I gripped the piece of jewelry tightly in my hand as if it was the only thing holding me to this world. I looked up suddenly sure of what we should do.

"We need to find the Avatar."

"Prince Zuko!" Uncle called interrupting my memories.

"Yes Uncle?" I asked patiently.

" I heard that we'll arrive soon! Do you think they'll have Ginseng here?"

"Let's hope." I said absentmindedly as I tried to recover the memories of that week that I had lost.

Previously...

For two years we have been in search of benders to train Aang the skills he needs to know and so far we were pretty successful. I have already taught him everything I know about waterbending and he's almost mastered that element. We had recently found my old friend Toph and she was teaching Aang the basics of Earthbending now.

But we still had no idea who we could get to teach Aang Firebending. Sokka had mentioned someone named Jeong Jeong, but I'm not so sure he can trust him. Firebenders these days are untrustworthy and to be avoided at all costs. All of them except for one. One I had met along time ago before the Fire Nation invaded the Western Air temple and wiped out the Air nomads. One who I was still waiting for to find me.

Toph was the only other one in our group who knew I met the Prince of the firenation two years ago, but she didn't know what he promised. She didn't know that I was still waiting for him to fulfill that promise.

"Katara." Aang said bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Hmmm?"

"Can we have leechy nuts in the soup today?"

"Sure Aang."

KATARA POV

"You guys this will totally work." Sokka said reassuringly.

"Yeah and everything turned out great the last time you said that." Toph said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

"That happened weeks ago! And besides that was an accident! How long are you going to hold that against me?!?" Sokka said defensively turning to Toph.

"How long are you going to keep coming up with plans that don't work?" She countered.

"So where do we find Jeong Jeong then?" Aang interrupted looking at Sokka. After all It was his stupid idea to track down this firebender. That's right, my idiot brother wanted to go looking for a firebender who could either help or want to kill us.

"You can't seriously be thinking about this Aang." I protested looking at him in shock. He agreed with Sokka? He wanted to find this guy?

"Katara look It's the only way." Sokka answered for him pulling out a map and looking intently at it. I blinked at Sokka surprised. For a second there he looked like...he looked like dad. A year ago when we left the Southern Water Tribe was the last time I'd seen my dad, or any of my family. It was hard being away from my homeland, but I knew Sokka and I had made the right decision to help Aang. And even though we had a long way to go, I knew that someday Aang would save the world.

"Yeah the only way to get us killed." I snapped standing up. "The Firenation is after Aang and you just want us to waltz in and hand them the avatar?"

"Actually Jeong Jeong was last seen on an island, not in the Fire Nation. I asked around last time I went into town" Sokka said smugly. "According to my calculations-"

"Oh brother..." Toph muttered.

He glared at her before continuing "Jeong Jeong should be right about here." He pointed to a small island on the map.

"Should be?" I questioned skeptically earning an exasperated look from Sokka. "What? I just don't think it's such a good idea to go looking for someone when we're not sure where to look and have no clue at all who we're looking for besides a name."

"What other choice do we have?" Aang asked looking at me with his stormy grey eyes. "We can't just hide out here and wait for the Fire Nation to find us. I'm not helping anyone by running and hiding like a coward."

"Aang but you are helping!" I insisted putting a hand on his shoulder. "As the avatar you have to train and learn all four-"

"I know what I have to do." He pulled away his eyes sad and guilt-ridden. I bit my lip and fell silent. This was really hard on Aang. He couldn't be caught by the Fire Nation, but we needed to find him a master. But right now It would be hard to find any one capable and willing to help us.

"What island is Jeong Jeong on Sokka?" Aang asked looking at the detailed map.

"Kyoshi island."

ZUKO POV

"Prince Zuko, what brings you to the Northern Water Tribes?"

"I'm sure you know the answer to that Chief Arnook. And It's Captain Zuko now." I answered smoothly. We had just arrived at the Northern Water Tribe, and as I expected were greeted by the Chief's guards and then brought to the Chief himself.

"Of course. Follow me. We will eat in my halls, and then we will talk. General Iroh also has an invitation to join us of course." Arnook said nodding and beckoning for us to follow. I motioned for the crew to remain in the ship and started after the Chief with my Uncle.

"Are you sure we can trust this man?" I asked Uncle quietly as we walked. I was very wary about arriving at the Northern Water Tribe. They had no real reason to trust us- being fire nation i was used to that- and yet we were entering the city with the Chief leading us in. Something doesn't seem right about this.

"We have no choice." My Uncle answered grimly.

The meal we ate was uneventful. The Chief had had prepared a lavish meal of all different kinds of Water Tribe foods. There was a wide variety of things that no one else had a problem dishing onto their plates, even Uncle was piling it up. I was resolved not to eat until my stomache growled reminding me that all I had eaten for the past month was bread, water, and dried meats. As I said earlier, it was hard to even find a decent place willing to sell to a Fire Nation ship now in the Earth Kingdom, and nearly impossible in the Water Tribes. I hesitantly poured myself a cup of some dark colored soup. Here goes nothing I thought bringing the spoon to my mouth. I grimaced swallowing the soup. Uggh what was that awful stuff, Dirt?

"I see you don't have a taste for Sea Prune Soup." Chief Arnook said drawing my attention.

"That's what that stuff was?" I said a loud staring down at the violent dark purple color that filled the bowl.

My Uncle shook his head at me. "My apologies my nephew is a picky eater." I glared at my Uncle.

"I am not-"

The Chief's laughter interrupted me. "No need to apologize. It's an acquired taste. Almost no guests take a liking too that."

The rest of the hour passed quickly without further interruption. After the meal everyone was dismissed and the Chief stood leading us to his meeting room.

"You, Captain Zuko, are looking for something are you not." He said finally after a few minutes silence.

"How did you know?"

"Everyman is looking for something." He said simply. "Now enlighten me Captain. What are you looking for."

"It's not so much what, rather it's a whom?" I started. "I need to find the avatar."

"The Avatar? But the last one perished in the raid that YOUR nation lead against the Air Nomads. And the next Avatar has yet to be born." He said shaking his head."

"I don't belong in the Fire Nation anymore. It is no longer my nation, and hasn't been for two years." I disagreed. "And the Avatar must be alive. Otherwise the next one would have been born already and be two years of age."

"There will always be a part of you that belongs with the Fire Nation. It's in your blood boy." He said regarding me sadly. His eyes full of pity. Pity. I didn't need that from anyone. " The firenation is probably already in possession on the next Avatar, since it will be born there next. Your quest is fruitless." He finished.

"Thank you for your help. But we'll be leaving now." I stated abruptly standing up. I wasn't going to sit here listening while he told me repeatedly that my journey was pointless. He was wrong, and I would show him that.

"Captain Zuko." He called just as I opened the door. "You are not the only one looking for the Avatar."

I waited.

"Some of my men reported back that they had seen a Fire Navy ship sailing across Earth Kingdom waters. Some believe he is searching for The Avatar as well. The same Avatar that others believe vanished in the raid two years back." He said sincerity ringing in his voice.

A Fire Nation ship sailing through Earth Kingdom waters? Why would Ozai order that unless they didn't have the Avatar and they believed that the Air bending one lived. And that's not something they would want people knowing. They'd want to keep it a secret that the Avatar was neutral still. They'd want a head start at getting him to join their forces.

"Where was the ship headed?" I asked on baited breath.

"Kyoshi Island."

A/N: I hope you guys liked this chapter!

Coming up next chapter...

A friendship is tested

A reunion occurs

A question is asked

A fight is inevitable.

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