I do not own anything that says Avatar the Last Airbender or Quest for Camelot. First official chapter of a new story.

Chapter 1: United We Stand

It was a sunny day in Omashu, Sokka and his family were taking advantage of the sun and were riding their Camelephants in the mountains near the town, Sokka had planned a family picnic as he would have to leave later that day to head to Ba Sing Se. Sokka hated being away from his family for too long, especially with Katara in her young years but it was part of being a Dai Lee agent. He was pulled from his musings by said young one, "Papa do you really have to go?", she whined but form a girl about her age which was between seven and eight years old it was still cute to him.

"Sorry kiddo but King Haru needs me for a bit, but how about I bring you a present back with me?"

"OK!"

They made it to their usual spot to tether the Camelephants, Sokka helped Katara as she still had a hard time tightening the knots. She then ran to a spot where it was shaded and overlooked the town. Sokka helped Suki off her stead and gave her a hug, he remembered that he would have to have Pipsqueak check in on his family every now and then. Pipsqueak was one of Sokka's best guy friend who was married to a woman named Song and they had a son about Katara's age named Duke but referred to himself as THE Duke. Katara asked her usual question every chance she got, "Tell me again why you became part of the Dai Lee." Sokka chuckled and Suki said, "You ask him to tell you the story so often I'm surprised you're not bored of it." Sokka smiled and began his tale, "Oh but it's fine Suki I love telling it just as much as she loves hearing it. Well Little Kat before you were born, shortly after Mama and I were married there were dark men that revenged the world. Everywhere they went they left nothing but sadness and despair behind them, until a young man a few years older than me, came froward his name was Haru and bended the earth around the men and placed them in a prison under Lake Laogai that way if they ever got out they would not be able to get to the surface before they ran out of air. So with no one ruling the Earth Kingdom he was named Earth King. Now you see Katara the Fire Nation has the Fire Lord and our people have a chief-"

"Like Grandpa Hakoda in the South and Great Grandpa Pakku in the North?"

"Yes, but the Air Nomads don't have a specific leader because they're nomads and travel around a lot. So King Haru had a sword fashioned that could use all the elements, and named it Bashkim which means unity. Haru also created the Dai Lee to protect the Earth Kingdom cities separately and the King when they were all together. Shortly after I joined the Dai Lee you were born and that was one of my happiest days."

"What were your other favorites Papa?" Katara asked honestly curious, "Yea Papa what are your other favorites?" Suki asked in a teasing manner, 'This should be interesting.' She thought.

"Hmm I would have to say when I met mama, when she said yes to marrying me and of course the day we got married."

Suki was touched that he called those his favorite memories and she gave him a small kiss which he returned, and Katara giggled at this, because she liked it when Mama and Papa were like this and not fighting. They had their lunch, and afterwards Sokka and Katara played hide, and seek, then tag with Suki joining in. Around noon they started to head back so Sokka could get ready to go. Suki was busy in the kitchen preparing some food for the journey as they lived a ways away form Ba Sing Se. Sokka packed a small bag of clothes, then changed into his armor which was Fire Nation style, but was colored like the Earth Kingdom army's armor, and filled the saddlebags with the food, he then saddled up his Eel Hound for the journey. All of the Dai Lee agents were given Eel Hounds, as they were fast for travel and could swim about as fast as the can run, so they were only used when the agents were making trips to Ba Sing Se, each family had their own stead, Sokka's family had Camelephant for instance.

Suki and Katara walked Sokka to the gates, Katara trying hard not to cry in front of him. Sokka bent down and picked her up, "Hey Little Kat don't cry I'll be back soon. Besides you'll have Duke over so much you won't even miss me.", she sniffed and nodded, "Now give Papa a smile." She gave him her biggest smile ever which made him smile, " That's my girl." And he kissed her cheek. He turned to Suki who gave him a small smile and they hugged, "Don't worry Suki I'll be back soon, Pipsqueak said he'd stop by tomorrow for tea."

"OK, be careful and I love you."

"I will and I love you girls so much."

He gave Suki a small kiss but put all his love into it. As he turned to leave he felt his legs lock and when he glanced down he noticed Katara had his legs, "Now I wonder who has my bound so that I can't go.", he said knowing full well it was Katara, but he was teasing her to get her happy, " I do Papa you can't walk if I have you legs."

"That's true but how can I bring your present home if I can't leave to get it hmm?"

"Present! OK you can go. But I also want candy too.", he laughed at her antics and promised to bring her back some rock candy if she was good for Mama. He gave them a hug and kiss good-bye, told them he loved them and got into the saddle and left waving good-bye. On his way towards Ba Sing Se he met up with Jet and Zhao and began to chat with them. Soon they stopped at the river that flowed to Chameleon Bay so their Eel Hounds could get a drink of water as well as have a bite to eat they made camp for the night.

As Sokka pitched his tent he though about what the girls would be doing about now, 'Suki's tucking Katara in bed, and putting Shamira out and tying her up. Wonder if Katara remembered to pin Benny up' Shamira was their Pygmy Puma cat, she was the guard 'dog' that Sokka bought when he and Suki first moved to Omashu and she proved to be useful when Suki was going into town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sokka found Benny as a baby near the Mango Tree two years ago, and thought it would make a good pet for Katara. He had the garden made out behind the house to keep Suki and Katara busy while he was away. When she saw the Long-eared rabbit she screamed for joy, "Benny! Papa you got me a benny!" she had been asking him for a pet the past few weeks. He was telling her no but this poor thing wouldn't last long in the wild, so he brought it inside for Katara. But he told her, " No Sweetheart I found it near the Mango Tree since I didn't see its mama I thought you could be its mama."

"Thank you Papa." She ran into Sokka's arm and took the 'benny' to show Suki who fixed a bottle of milk for Benny to drink out of.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sokka chuckled as he remembered that Benny got her name because Katara couldn't yet say bunny so it came out benny and the name just stuck once she could say bunny. The next day Sokka, Jet and Zhao were crossing the river and by late afternoon they had entered the city and found an inn that they would stay the night before they went to see the king the next day, they also went to a small tavern but only Sokka turned down any alcohol, he didn't like the smell nor the taste of the drink. If he were to go to the local tavern in Omashu with his friends there they'd normally tease him about being whipped, but it was all in good fun.

He didn't drink because of the last time and with a small child he did want to scar Katara. So he had a few cups of the Mango juice and some tea then they all turned in for the night. The next morning they mounted and made their way to the palace, Sokka made three stops along the way one to the candy store to pick up some rock candy, the second was a jewelry store where he picked up two necklaces one for Katara the other for Suki and a bracelet for Katara. Katara's necklace was dark green with three light green beads sewn in a line, with a yellow green ribbon across the top. Her bracelet was a simple silver chain that would wrap around her wrist twice. Suki's necklace was a simple beaded necklace with a crescent moon and a star attached. He wrote a quick note to them and placed them in a sack, and tied the note to the bag. They passed a small building that needed some work done and inside was a boy a year or two older than Katara inside practicing his swordsmanship with his set of twin swords. He noticed Sokka ride by and waved, Sokka waved back and gave him the thumbs up and the boy's smile got bigger.

By noon all of the Dai Lee had reached the palace and walked into the great hall. They took their respected seat, Sokka to the left, with Jet next to him followed by Zhao, Then Teo, Iroh, Ozai, Han, Bato, Arnook, General Bei Fong and General Fong. Haru sat to Sokka's right and began to speak, " Thank you all for coming I'm glad everyone could make it and I hope your journeys were not troubled." There was a lot of no's and I handled any problems. Ozai however said, "Yes, yes now can we get down to business I've got things to do."

"Ozai I'm sorry for the inconvenience this has caused but it is important. We are here for the annual report on the areas I placed you in charge of. So Ozai how is your territory?"

"Same as it was last year and the year before, peaceful."

"Good, Teo?"

"We had a bad crop this past summer if someone would send us some crops that would be much appreciated."

"Make a list of crops you need and we'll see to it that they are sent."

As Haru went around the table there were news of good and slight trouble but nothing to drastic, he finally reached Sokka, "Sokka how is your territory?"

"Well mostly good there are a few people who are losing their homes and jobs and I employ as many as I can, but it's mostly businesses that are going bankrupt someone's stealing their goods for market or when they leave the town they're ambushed and mugged, I'm doubting my own city's defense and am a little concerned about staying there for my family's safety."

"I see I'll send a small group of my men home with you where they will act as a decoy and the royal earthbenders will capture them and place them in Lake Laogai."

"Thank-you your majesty."

"I don't see a point to this I mean why not just have us send our yearly reports the same way we send monthly reports?" Ozai asked obviously irritated about the whole affair. Sokka became annoyed with Ozai's attitude towards the king this year said, " KING Haru wanted it this way so suck it up and deal with it!"

"Then it's time for a new king, and I recommend me."

"I will not serve a Firebending Earth King."

"Then you will serve," Ozai reached for his sword and pulled it from it's sheath, "A DEAD ONE!" he jumped on the table and charged at Haru, Sokka grabbed his shield and ran in front of Haru, Ozai swung his blade and it collided with Sokka's shield sending him flying backwards then the other agents were holding Ozai off but he managed to knock them all out of his way. Haru reached for Bashkim and swung it forward as if to disarm Ozai but instead lightning shot out and sent Ozai to the door, but he was only shaken up a bit, "One day I will own that sword then you all will be sorry!", and with that he ran out the door and left the city.

Jet then looked to where Sokka lay and gave him a light shake, "Sokka you OK?" when he got no response he shook him a little harder, "Sokka wake up!" after about four more times Iroh stepped forward and checked his vitals, but there was no pulse or heartbeat, "He's dead." Then everyone wondered how they were going to explain this to Suki, when Haru stepped forward, "I will tell her we have to hurry and take him home." With that said they placed Sokka's body on a cart and hitched it up to a Camelephant, and made their way to Omashu and were there within a few days. They were not prepared for the family's reaction, but then again how could anyone be prepare to give news like this.

Awwwww I know it's sad that he died but he was also very good with Katara. Shamira– Means "guardian, protector" in Hebrew. I got the name from this website: .com