On the train ride to Shiz University, I sat across from Elphaba. I'd already been told to help care for Nessa during our time at Shiz. Of course, for a few minutes I was upset, until I remembered the real reason I existed—that the Avatar existed—to help others. On my way to Shiz, I received news that Azula's Descendants—a secret society that was against the Firelord and his descendants—I didn't know the Firelord's name, I only knew his son's name—Zalios—he was my boyfriend, at the time of the arranged marriage and as far as I knew, still was—which is why I ran away—so I could be with him—was on the move.
As we were going along, the train suddenly had to stop. Frexspar, Elphaba and Nessa's father, got off the train, and I silently and secretly followed him. I stiffened and ran over to the boy, stuck to the tree, and asked, "Lako, are you okay? What happened?" "They've struck again—Azula's Descendants," my younger brother informed me, "And as for your first question, yes, I'm fine. My arms—or what's left of them—hurt though." I growled and started pacing. "Could you please remain calm?" He asked. "Everytime you lose your temper it makes it that much easier for them to find you." I nodded reluctantly agreeing to remain calm. "He's my brother, Lako—he was named after the ocean spirit—he's the closest out of anyone, of our people, to the ocean spirit," I informed Frexspar, Elphaba and Nessa—who were both wondering why I was so concerned about what the boy was telling me.
"Who died from our village, our tribe, our people?" "Almost everyone from our village—including your, well, your ex-fiancé," Lako said. I pretended that I didn't know who Lako was talking about, and then convinced Frexspar to let my brother come with us to Shiz. Then I remembered that he had lost both his arms during the raid when he was two. I immediately began healing him and hissed, "Are the spirits safe?" "Yes, those who were able to escape, I think it was just me, hid in the oasis."
Later, Elphaba asked, "What did Lako mean when he said your ex-fiancé?" I grinned at her and after glancing at Nessa and Frex, who were resting, and shooting an anxious glance at my brother, who was also resting, hissed, "Elphaba, I'm sort of a runaway. No one bothered looking for me, because they're used to it. You see, my tribe, the Northern Water Tribe, well, some of them look down on the Southern Water Tribe, our sister tribe. My village hides the oasis where the moon and ocean spirits live. We—the Water Tribes—believe that our life comes from the ocean and our strength comes from the moon. Anyway, I'm running away from an arranged marriage and that's common for the Northern Water Tribe. We go south—to the Southern Water Tribe. Not everyone makes it. Some of them settled in the swamps of the Earth Kingdom, but those who made it helped increase the Southern Tribe. Even though I was the princess, no one looked for me, because I left a note saying I was leaving to attend to some Avatar business—I wasn't really—I was actually running away. I was headed for the South Pole when I reached Oz. I've been there before—in fact, no one is surprised when women run away from our tribe. I'm here for a reason and I don't know why yet, but I'll find out. Believe me, I will find out why I'm here." Elphaba nodded and I added, "Oh, and, Elphaba, a word of advice. Don't get me angry—it triggers the Avatar State and only Zalios can call me back to reality."
Elphaba then asked, "What happened to your brother?" I sighed and answered, "It's a long story. I'll try to give you the short version. You see, Elphaba, my brother—see—his name was Kuzon, for Avatar Aang's best friend from the Fire Nation—but then our village was raided by Azula's Descendants when I was about five—my brother was two. My brother's arms were burned off and he nearly died. Our father died during the raid to protect me—he claimed he was the Avatar, obviously he knew I was the Avatar or it was brother—and my mother—because she claimed she was the Avatar, which makes me believe that she knew I was the Avatar all along—and they wanted to be sure that the Avatar was dead—Lako and I are half-siblings—same father, but different mothers—was also murdered and I still miss her—Lako's mother took me in, but I ran away, because I knew she hated me—Lako was the only reason I returned the first time I ran away—that was when I learned that I really was the Avatar—on accident—Anyway, after the raid, I carried Kuzon, then, to the oasis. I lowered him gently into the pond and begged Yue—the moon spirit—I was named after her and she was my special guardian before I took my role as the Avatar—to help my brother. The ocean spirit gave my brother a little more of its life and so if anything happens to the ocean spirit, the only way to save it would be to have my brother give up his life. I also changed his name to Lako to honor the ocean spirit." "Oh my Oz, that must be awful." she said sympathetically. I nodded silently and said, "Go to sleep, Elphaba. I'll be fine." She reluctantly agreed to go to sleep.