A/N: Introducing the Gaang and Azula! Dun dun dun! So excited! Lemme know what you guys think!

Blue eyes blinked open, wincing slightly at the sunlight streaming almost directly into them. Orora turned over, hoping to go back to sleep, but a nearby shuffling sound had her sitting up.

Bleary eyed and hair mussed, she blinked where Mushi was busy heating up some leftover fish from the previous night. He looked up, giving her a smile in greeting. "Good morning Orora." He said, his voice as cheerful as it could get. The young teenager grumbled in response, though Iroh did manage to capture words along the line of morning master, though he couldn't be too sure.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Orora stumbled out of the cave entrance and made her way to the stream. Bending down she splashed some of the cold water in her face, effectively chasing away any sleep that was leftover. Running wet fingers through her short hair, she quickly made herself presentable before returning to where Mushi had breakfast waiting.

As she accepted the food from him with a thanks, her eyes darted around. Frowning slightly she took a bite of fish. "Where's Li?" She asked. It was surprising to see him not there. Normally Orora would see him in the morning and they would always share breakfast together as an unlikely trio.

The old man sighed, closing his eyes briefly before meeting her gaze. "I am afraid my nephew will not be traveling with us any longer."

She had been about to take another bite when her hand stopped midway. Her eyes widened and she gaped at him. "What?" Her gaze flickered to where the string was around her finger and sure enough it was hanging loosely once more as opposed to being taut when Li had been near.

"He has decided that he will benefit more from traveling on his own, to try and find his own path."

"His own path?" A feeling of guilt settled in her as she stared at Mushi. "I-I think-Spirits! I think he left because of what I said yesterday. About trying to find his new purpose." She turned her frantic eyes at the older man. "I am so sorry Mushi, I didn't realize he would go off like that and leave you." The man shook his head, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, where she sat only a couple paces away.

"It is not your fault, my dear. I believe spending some time on his own shall allow my nephew to realize his purpose. Although..." He trailed off, prompting Orora to glance up at him in confusion as a playful smile played about his lip.

"I do not intend to have him go off alone." A pause before she spoke. "You mean to follow him." He nodded. "Correct. My nephew has had many people leave him his entire life, and I am not about to be added to that list."

Her gaze moved over his shoulder where she could see a small bag already prepared. A heaviness settled in her chest as her shoulders slumped and she looked away from Mushi.

"Well, I suppose I shall wish you luck on your quest." She said, suddenly feeling envious of Li. Envious that he had someone who loved him so much that they were going after him.

Nobody had even bothered asking where she would go when she had walked out of her father's house in broad daylight.

Mushi smiled gently, placing his hand on her head in a comforting manner. "Do not believe for a moment that I shall be leaving you behind Orora." Surprise flitted across her features as she gaped at him, hardly believing her ears.

"You consider me your Master, and since that makes you my student you will be accompanying me for I do not believe your studies are complete yet. And there is much I can still teach you." He gave her a playful wink, smiling as he did. Tears stung her vision, of happiness. She wiped at the corner of her eyes, while Mushi turned away to pick up his pack and shoulder it.

"Now finish your breakfast and pack up." He urged her, to which she nodded. Instead of doing one task and then the other, she ate her breakfast while packing up and was done within minutes. She met Mushi at the stream where he was busy filling their water canteens. Giving him a smile in thanks she gave a small smirk.

"Lets go get that hot-headed idiot back." She said, to which he let out a laugh.

Zuko laid on his back atop the hay.

For the first time in days he had eaten as much as his stomach would allow, and he didn't feel like he was about to pass out from hunger. His initial days of travel had been all about survival. Of getting just enough food in the forsaken lands he had passed through.

He didn't understand it.

From what he had read over the years, the Earth Kingdom was a bountiful land that had acres and acres of fruit trees and fields of wheat and rice in every direction. All he had come across were dry husks of land, with the people near starvation.

Had it all been a lie?

Or perhaps had the war dried up every last resource the Earth Kingdom had?

Probably the King was not paying any attention to his subjects, letting them starve.

This was one of the main reasons his forefathers had started to bring land into the Fire Nation.

To help these people.

Right?

Shaking his head, his mind instead turned towards his uncle and how he was doing. Zuko couldn't deny that in the furthest recesses of his heart he did feel guilty for leaving him like that, but there was nothing to be gained.

Of course as he thought of his Uncle, his mind procured a perfect image of a certain blue eyed short haired girl with an attitude problem.

Maybe she had moved on by now? Then again she could've moved on any moment she wanted. There was nothing holding her back.

Certainly not him.

His eyes slid to the finger where the string was tied, the length of which lay loosely next to his head. When he had returned from the stream, she had already been asleep. Their earlier battle had probably tired her out.

It was a good thing that she was. He had only had to speak to his Uncle before leaving. He had a sneaking suspicion she would've tried to talk him out of going on his own. Something about respecting your elders and staying with them.

Scoffing under his breath, Zuko turned on his side, ignoring how the straws poked against his skin through his clothes.

His mother would've agreed with Orora, he mused. She was forever telling him to always be polite and respectful to everyone. He wandered how his mother would've reacted when he told her who his soulmate was. She would be shocked, he suspected, before she would accept fate and welcome Orora.

Zuko recalled how he had once asked her if Ozai was her soulmate. She had gotten really quiet at that, and sad. Really really sad. When she didn't speak for a long while, Zuko had knelt in front of her, apologizing. She had shaken her head and stroked his hair. A smile was on her lips, yet her eyes were still sad.

"Some people are not meant to be with their soulmates Zuko. They might find them, but fate has other plans." She had sighed, closing her eyes before opening them again, this time without any of the sadness. "But I am sure you will find your soulmate my love. And that you will be happy with them."

And in that moment of naivety, Zuko had glanced at the string on his finger and hoped his mother was right.

Sighing, Zuko allowed the moment to fade. The last thought he had, as his eyes slipped shut, was a clear image of shining blue eyes and the only smile he had ever gotten from her.

His soulmate.

"Do you think he is alright?"

Iroh glanced at his side where Orora walked a step behind him. She wasn't looking at him, instead facing the horizon that never seemed to get any closer no matter how much they walked.

Iroh hid a smile at the obvious way the young girl was trying to hide her worry for Zuko. "He is quiet resourceful when he wants to be." He reassured her to which she simply nodded.

"Lets hope he doesn't cause anyone harm using his resources." She wandered if he had robbed anyone during his travels. Though she knew it was no use, she secretly hoped that what she had said to him had effected him just a little bit, and he would refrain from stealing.

They had been traveling for a few days now. Perhaps even a week?

During that time Mushi led the both of them through terrains that were much less rougher then what Li had gone over. Orora had a sneaking suspicion he was taking shortcuts. He seemed to guess where Li was headed and simply take the route that was easier for the both of them since they were on foot.

There had been no signs of trouble, and yet Orora couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. Still, as long as she was with Mushi, she would be safe.

That thought process went right out the window when Mushi was knocked over by a piece of earth being bended right under him.

"Master!" She exclaimed, running to his side from where she had been picking some berries. "Are you alright?" The man groaned, rubbing his backside as he did. "That really hurt my tailbone." He admitted. Feeling a shadow over them, Orora quickly glanced up to see a young girl standing atop a protruding rock. Instantly she pulled out water from her canteen, ready to throw a shower of ice daggers if the girl proved any further danger.

Of course her teacher had to calm them both down, claiming no one had been hurt and this was all a misunderstanding.

Before he invited the girl to have tea with them.

Orora blanched her mouth hanging open as she gaped at her Master.

"I can feel your drool from here Ice Princess. Close your mouth." That seemed to snap the older girl out of her stupor, enough to properly assess the young girl and come to a crucial realization.

"You're...blind."

The girl gave a loud laugh at the blunt manner in which Orora had spoken. "Hoping to receive an award for stating the obvious?"

Orora only raised an eyebrow at the girl.

Being Mushi's student meant he would impart all knowledge he had on to her. And that included making tea. Orora had become quite the expert in the past few days, and Mushi had even claimed that it would be his greatest accomplishment as a teacher to have her brewing the best tea.

She hopped he was kidding.

Once she was done with her task, and Mushi had inspected it, he poured the hot liquid into crude clay cups and passed them out. She sat cross-legged on the grassy floor, content on sipping tea and observing the two people in front of her as they spoke.

"You seem a little too young to be traveling alone." Mushi said, gazing at the younger girl over the edge of his cup.

"You seem a little too old." She was quick to reply, prompting Orora to hide a small laugh behind her teacup. Mushi joined in as well. "Perhaps I am." He agreed.

She didn't seem like she would be drinking the tea, Orora mused as she watched the girl. "I know what you two are thinking." She paused. "I look like I can't handle being by myself."

Mushi shook his head. "I wasn't thinking that." The waterbender simply frowned. "What I'm curious to know is how were you able to pick up that I had created ice?" She asked.

The younger girl shrugged. "I can sense these things. Through the earth." She laid a hand flat on the grassy surface underneath her. Orora was so taken aback by the response, with a hundred questions forming in her mind, that she lost track of the conversation for a little while. She only came back when she heard Mushi mention his nephew.

"...always thinking you need to do things on your own, without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you." Blue eyes dropped to the ground, intentionally avoiding looking at Mushi's face, as if fearing he would read the truth in them.

"Not that I love you, I just met you. My student here, on the other hand, is someone I have grown quiet fond of since we started traveling." A pleased smile pulled at the the waterbender's lips as she raised her cup in Mushi's direction.

The blind girl laughed as well. "So where is your nephew?" She asked. "I've been tracking him actually." Mushi responded truthfully.

"Is he lost?"

Orora didn't miss the way the question caused Mushi's face to show his sadness as he replied. "Yes, a little bit. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is and he went away."

"So now you're both following him." The earthbender clarified, prompting Orora to shrug. "I'm just here because I wanted to travel with my teacher." She stated demurely as she sipped at her tea.

"You know my abilities also tell me when a person is lying. But I don't have to be blind to see that you're lying right now." She very nearly choked on her tea at being called out on like that. Orora spluttered, trying to come up with some excuse, but catching Mushi watching her with a raised eyebrow and a small smile on his lips, she kept quiet, too embarrassed to really come out and say anything really. Mushi turned his attention back to their new friend.

"I know he doesn't want me around him right now, but if he needs me, I'll be there." He stated firmly, making Orora envious of Li yet again.

The girl set the cup aside. "Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it." Standing up she turned in both Orora's direction and Mushi's. "Thank you."

Mushi smiled. "My pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights." The young girl shook her head. "No, thank you for what you said. It helped me."

Orora glanced at Mushi, in time to see him smile and nod at the girl. "I'm glad." The girl turned to leave before she paused. "Oh, and about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him, too." Neither of them gave any response as the girl simply turned and walked away, leaving the older man to sit and finish his tea in quiet contemplation.

Having finished her own tea, Orora was just about to rise and go towards him when she felt her finger tug. A gasp fell from her lips as her eyes widened and she glanced down at her finger.

"Orora?" Mushi called out, obviously worried about her sudden change in demeanor. She turned her blue gaze towards him.

"He's nearby."

The scent of smoke and burning wood was the first thing that caught her attention. Followed by the plumes of fire. Yellow and...blue.

"Oh no!" Iroh exclaimed in quiet horror beside her. Without even glancing at her, he quickly ran towards the burning village. A brief pause was all she gave before she followed after the surprisingly fast old man.

The two of them burst into what would've been the main street of the village. Orora barely had time to glance around when she caught sight of a figure laying prone in the middle of the street. "Li!" She called out, dread settling in her stomach as she quickly skidded down next to him.

A relieved sigh fell from her lips once she realized that he was already stirring. "Can't stay out of trouble can you?" She said, reaching out to offer her arm to help him sit up. "You're one to talk. Faced any multiple firebenders all at once recently?" He retorted, though there was no malice in his words as he stood up with her help. His golden gaze shifted to where his uncle stood behind her. "Uncle. Its Azula."

Orora didn't miss the drop in temperature at the mere mention of the name. "And Azula is..." She trailed off. Zuko sighed before turning to where the Avatar and his friends were facing off against the prodigy firebender. "My sister." With that he raced off towards the small group. The waterbender only had a few seconds of reaction before Iroh grabbed her by the arm and pulled her along as he ran after his nephew.

Though her mind was reeling with many many questions, Orora's body was beginning to settle in fight mode.

Survival.

It was all that mattered.

Nothing else.

Zuko stood beside her as his uncle bumped into Azula, sending her scrambling back. A few more people arrived, but Orora didn't pay them any mind as she froze the water she had to create two short spears. Holding them in a defensive position she followed her Master's lead as they cornered the other girl, Azula, and surrounded her.

"Well, look at this." The young woman stated in a rather cool tone. "Enemies and traitors, all working together." She wanted to look at who the other people were so so badly. But she had a suspicion that if she took her eyes off her opponent for even a second, something would happen.

"I'm done." Azula raised her arms in the sky as an act of surrender. "I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor."

Princess.

Princess?!

Sister.

That meant...

Though she kept her stance, her entire body froze and her gaze flickered to Li who stood at her side.

What happened next took a matter of seconds.

The Princess crouched before shooting an arm out and catching her Uncle in the chest with a bolt of lightening. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Li cried out from beside her. A horrified sound escaped her lips before boiling anger overcame her very sense of being and with no hesitation she hurled both her ice spears at the other girl.

The rest of them had the same idea as they hurled their bending towards her as well.

It all culminated in an explosion that had all of them stumbling back. Li wasted no time in rushing to his Uncle and dropping beside his still body. Orora was just about to follow when she heard a very familiar voice calling out her name.

"Orora?"

Disbelief shone in her blue eyes as she turned to the other water bender. "Katara?" The younger girl glanced at her before looking at the two firebenders. The exclamation seemed to have caught Aang's attention who stared at Orora. "What're you doing traveling with Zuko and his Uncle?" He exclaimed.

Zuko?

Wh-?

Uncle!

Master!

"Master!" She exclaimed, remembering what had just happened. She turned her attention back to the firebenders, only for L-Zuko to round on them and scream. "Get away from us!"

Orora faltered, having never seen such devastation, sorrow and anger burning in someone's eyes before. "Zuko, I can help." Katara stepped forward, at which he blasted an arc of fire.

"Leave!"

The blast had no power behind it. No heat.

"Go." Orora stated firmly, allowing her very persona to drop in temperature as she faced Zuko. "I'll take care of him."

There was slight hesitation on Katara's part, before Aang clasped her hand and all four of them took off.

"Stand back." A puff of frosted breath fell from her lips as she neared her Master. Zuko made to push her away, but she threw her arm out, pinning him to the nearest wall with a dozen ice daggers and leaving him to thrash there.

Falling to her knees she encapsulated her hands with water. Taking a deep breath she allowed her healing aura to transfer to the water as she set her hands atop the ugly wound in her Master's chest. She poured every ounce of her healing ability to mend the wound from within. He would still have a flesh wound, but the internal damage would be mended.

Orora could feel the burnt muscle and skin starting to heal, but it took her a good few minutes before she was able to heal him as best as she could. "Uncle?" Zuko had escaped from her trap and was now bending down next to her. There was an almost calm look on the older man's face, prompting Zuko to let out a small sigh of relief.

"We need to get him to some shelter. Its going to get dark soon." Zuko glanced up to where Orora was already standing. "And I still need to bandage his flesh wound. I was only able to heal so much."

She took a step forward, only to stumble and nearly fall over. Zuko was quick to steady her, standing up to grab her from behind as he did. "It's been so long since I last healed such a deep wound." She whispered, more to herself then him. Though she wanted to pull away, Orora allowed Zuko to help her sit down beside his still unconscious Uncle.

"You bandage him. I'll go find shelter." He said firmly before rushing off in search of a house that wasn't burning to the ground.

Leaving the young water bender to sit there and tend to her injured Master while thinking over the new information she had just received.

Her soulmate was royalty.

And not just any royalty.

He was the Prince of the Fire Nation.

Prince Zuko.

Fate truly had a cruel sense of humor.