Zuko had mixed feelings about going to the Southern Water Tribe. On one hand, why would he want to go to a freezing place without the nice buildings they had in the Fire Nation? Who knew what was there…apart from people who were incapable of keeping themselves from being conquered. On the other hand, this was an opportunity to learn more about the nations he would rule one day. There was only so much he could learn from his uncle's letters, detailed as they were. Nothing would do as much as first-hand experience. Of course, whether his feelings were mixed or certain on the matter, they did not matter. He knew that. So, he had nodded when his father said they were temporarily relocating, and he had tried to seem as supportive of the idea as his sister. Zuko wondered why he tried. Azula could see through him better than he could see turtle ducks through the water when they ducked down in the pond. He was probably just kidding himself, but he just wanted to make things easier on himself. Easy. That was how it was supposed to be. Therefore, the boy was very surprised when he saw someone running at him with a spear.

Before the tip of the weapon could stab him in the head, Zuko brought up his arms and broke off the end. Sokka's jaw dropped upon seeing this. Trying to not feel overly discouraged, the boy used the rest of the weapon to jab at the Fire Nation prince. This was ruined just as quickly when he promptly snatched the weapon.

"Oh, come on!" Sokka thought, frustrated. "So much for me going after a bigger soldier afterwards."

The boy's mind raced as he went through possible actions he could execute.

"The option of using the spear's gone," he realized. "It's pretty much useless by now anyway and now that this guy has it, I might not be able to get it back. I'm not even going to try a tackle. The last thing I need is to dive headfirst into some fire punch or another crazy attack they use in the Fire Nation.

Sokka's face lit up slightly as a thought occurred to him. He still had a machete he could use. Grabbing that, Sokka slashed, but he only hit the air. Zuko was too agile to get sliced and his surprised expression turned to that of annoyance. Grunting, he dodged another attack and grabbed the shorter boy's arm, taking this weapon as well. Rather than use it, he pinned Sokka to the ground, hand on his head. The Water Tribe boy tried to not let his quickly beating heart stop him from being the warrior he wanted to become so badly.

"Are you going to try to kill me with your evil firebending now, you Fire Nation jerk?" Sokka questioned with all the harshness he could muster despite the slight tremble in his voice.

Zuko did not get up, but he did frown. "I'm not a jerk."

"Yes, you are. All of you are."

"Well, you're all peasants. I heard the Southern Water Tribe had a chief, but I don't see any castles or buildings–just huts. He must not even be a real leader. He's probably just some weirdo with a snow crown."

Sokka felt his fear be replaced by anger. "My dad's an amazing chief! And we're not peasants! Our tribe is great!"

"I doubt that." Zuko's grip loosened slightly. "I'm not going to kill you," he said, surprising the other boy.

"You're not?"

"Why would I?"

"Because the Fire Nation–"

"Isn't evil."

"Easy for you to say. Your home isn't in the middle of being taken over."

The prince hesitated and then stood up. Sokka quickly did the same, getting into a fighting stance just in case Zuko changed his mind. He saw that the spear had been tossed into the snow and considered reclaiming the item. Unfortunately, the other boy still had his machete. Zuko looked at the weapon, then Sokka.

"If I give this back, are you going to try to fight me again?"

Sokka's brow lifted suspiciously. "You're actually going to give it back to me?"

"I don't want it."

"I didn't think it'd matter. Seems like you all just take everything and kill everyone."

"I told you, we're not evil. Not stupid either, though. I don't feel like spending all day taking this from you. Next time, I'm keeping it, so are you going to stop attacking me or not?"

The other boy considered lying, but it suddenly seemed like a bad idea. He could tell Zuko meant what he had said and he did like his machete. With the ships loaded, there was no telling when or if he would get another weapon.

"I'll stop trying to fight you."

As promised, Zuko handed him back the machete. Sokka accepted it and then awkwardly glanced at the soldiers with their crates. None of them had even stopped. Surely, they had seen them.

"Um, is it normal for them to just ignore everyone or…"

The Fire Nation boy did not say anything at first. "They won't always, so I'd suggest you didn't attack any of them."

"Then, you admit they'd try to kill me!" Sokka said, pointing with a proud smile. It faded when he realized what he had been right about.

"I'm not admitting that," Zuko said defensively. "I'm just saying that they won't always be so nonchalant, so when that happens, you'd probably want to be nicer."

"I'm very nice when I'm around people who aren't trying to lay siege to anything."

Zuko sighed. "You're definitely an interesting kid."

"That's what I've been told." Sokka stopped, frowning a bit as he eyed the other individual. "Do other Fire Nation soldiers start young like you did?"

"What? I never said I was a soldier."

"Well, no, you didn't, but I mean…you're here with the others who are soldiers. Doesn't make much sense that you'd be here with them if you weren't."

"And it doesn't make sense that you'd attack and not be a warrior, but that doesn't mean you are one."

Sokka crossed his arms. "Hey, I'm working on that."

"You'll have to do a lot better in that case. What would you do against someone using firebending?"

"I would-I'd probably," Sokka frowned and stopped talking. "I don't know why I'm trying to explain it to you. You'd just tell someone and then they'd use it against me in the future. We are enemies after all." He suddenly appeared curious. "Which makes me wonder why you didn't attack me back. You didn't even burn me. Aren't you a firebender?"

Zuko looked offended at the suggestion. "I'm a firebender. I just didn't see a reason to kill you. You're just a kid."

"Hey, you are too."

"I'm probably older, though."

"How old are you?"

"Eleven."

Sokka opened his mouth, then closed it again. "Okay, fine, you are but just barely. I'm ten."

"And you said your dad's the chief? So, that would make you a prince."

The boy tapped his chin. "Well, no one's called me that before, but I guess you'd be right. I think I like that idea."

"If no one calls you that, is it a recognized fact that you'd lead them?"

"I think it is. It's just not something we feel the need to rub in everyone's face unlike the Fire Nation. I heard you have an entire royal family. Of course, I guess they do that in the Northern Water Tribe too. I think we're the only ones who don't apart from what the Air Nomads used to be like."

"That's weird."

"No, it's humble. There's nothing wrong with that. We don't look at chiefs and chieftesses as kings and queens that have to be revered," Sokka explained. "They're the same as everyone else, but they've also proven that they can handle the responsibility of leadership. That's what gives them the respect of the tribe. It's a lot more than just birthright."

"Still weird, but that does sound like it would do a good job of ensuring loyalty instead of just forcing people to listen to you."

"Exactly!"

There was a short pause as the boys wondered what to say next. Sokka looked and saw the last crates being unloaded. Those soldiers worked quickly, but his people did not. They had barely moved. He did not see anyone fighting or anything. They had just given up and even as much as he wanted to fight, he knew he could not fight an army alone. Like he had said, the leaders of their tribe had earned respect, but they had earned trust as well. If his father really believed that not attacking at this time was for the best, then Sokka had to believe in him.

"Speaking of forcing people to listen to you, what now?" he asked. "When you all move here, are you going to try to turn us into servants or something?"

Zuko followed his gaze to the ships and saw Zhao's smug face. "I don't know," he answered.

There was no telling what the admiral would do and he could predict his father's actions even less. He saw no point in lying to the other boy and giving him false hope. A pang of an unfamiliar feeling hit Zuko and he tried to decipher what it was. It was not hunger or the cold. As he looked around, he saw the people huddled together, looking terrified and uncertain about what would happen to them. Then, realization dawned on him. It was sympathy. The boy who had attacked him was practically a prince like he was. He could only imagine the rage and fear he would feel if his home were invaded by outsiders, leaving him and his people unsure if they would be turned into slaves or allowed to continue living as they usually did (with a few extra permanent visitors).

"I won't," he said.

That was all he could promise. Sokka turned away from the soldiers to look at Zuko with a surprised expression.

"Really? Like with the whole not burning to death thing, I'm not upset, but I am confused."

"This shouldn't be some heinous takeover," Zuko elaborated. "It shouldn't be like we come here and start kicking people around or making chains out of fire. It should be a chance for us to get to learn about each other's nations."

"I'm not sure if everyone agrees with that. You should probably try talking to the guy with the sideburns."

"He wouldn't listen if I did. He's a jerk, but he doesn't represent everybody." The boy paused, then his eyes brightened. "Look, I didn't really want to come here and I know that you don't want us here, so maybe we can make the most out of it. I'm fine telling you stuff about the Fire Nation if you'll tell me stuff about the Water Tribe."

"Why would you care about our culture?"

"My uncle writes a lot about different nations, but I still don't feel like I really know them. This could be a start." When he saw that the other boy seemed hesitant, he added, "If you want, consider it me being selfish. If we're talking, I can make sure you aren't sabotaging some Fire Nation soldier's home to blow up or anything."

"If it had a trigger, though…" Sokka trailed off, mind filling with ideas of how he could still detonate a building without being near the explosive. He shook his head to refocus. "You aren't worried about what people will think if they catch you talking with a Water Tribe 'peasant?' Risky."

"Assuming you don't mind talking with a Fire Nation 'jerk.'"

In spite of himself, Sokka laughed. A brief moment passed before he put up his machete, then extended his hand.

"Well, I guess it might be easier to call you out on the horrible deeds other people in the Fire Nation do if I actually knew your name. Mine's Sokka."

Zuko looked at the hand a moment before shaking it. "I'm Zuko."

The area was getting more crowded and Sokka began getting worried about his family. He needed to get back and make sure they were all right.

"I'll see you later, Zuko," he said, hurrying off for the huts.

He missed the goodbye wave and looked for his father. Hakoda was also looking for him. When they spotted each other, the chief embraced him.

"You can't run off like that with them here, Sokka," he said, trying to sound chastising but just being too relieved to see him unarmed.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see if I could do something. I think I might have."

"I know you want to help us fight, but things are different now. Things are even more dangerous. I need you to leave matters to me and the other warriors."

The boy got quiet. He was going to tell him about the encounter, but he changed his mind. Hakoda loved him and he knew that, but he still saw him as a child. The chief would not understand what he was doing and even if he did, he would not condone the potential risks. Zuko, if that even was his name, could have been lying. Maybe it was all part of a cruel Fire Nation joke. Go into a new place and make someone think you are willing to have a civil conversation before cutting them down. Sokka knew better than to disregard the dangers, but he also had to do something about his home and this was all he could for the time being. At worst, he would go out fighting for his family and tribe. At best, he could maybe get to this not-soldier and make some waves.

Sokka just nodded and went back home. When he got there, he saw Katara. She was trying to move snow with her waterbending, but it was not working. In frustration, she frowned at the snow. Then, she noticed Sokka's presence.

"I'm an awful waterbender," she sadly proclaimed.

"Ehh, you're just really new at it," Sokka offered, giving a hopeful smile. "When you learn more, I bet you'll be great."

"I'll never get that chance now, though, with the Fire Nation here. I have to get better on my own."

"Don't give up hope," her brother said, with a knowing look.

Katara noticed this and tilted her head. "Do you know something?"

"A bunch," Sokka joked, earning a sigh from the girl. "Just trust me. I have a feeling it's going to work out and you'll be waterbending up a storm like a real master one day."

The little bender nodded and felt better at his words. Sokka was not sure if he believed them himself, but he was glad that they had worked in soothing her worries, if only temporarily. He started working more on his machete slices. Clearly, they were not good enough for his intentions. While he trained, Zuko was heading back to the ship. The soldiers would live in settlements, but the royal family would not. It was "beneath" them according to his father. Zuko wanted to practice his firebending and when he reached his room, he saw it was not empty.

"Why did you go out there with the soldiers, Zuzu?"

The boy sighed and considered just leaving the room, but he knew he would be followed if he did, so it would have been pointless.

"I wanted to see what the big deal was about the Water Tribe. It wasn't as bad as everyone says–at least from what I saw."

"You would think that," Azula said, rolling her eyes. "They're weak. Only pitiful people get conquered and even more pitiful ones idolize them."

"I didn't say I idolized them."

"But you obviously don't think they're insignificant."

"They're still people."

"Wrong like always. They're subjects, not people. Not anymore if they ever were to begin with." Azula paused. "It is odd even for you that you'd defend them. What happened when you went out there?"

"Nothing special."

Azula walked over to him to stare into his eyes. Her gaze was just as intense as their father's.

"You're lying," she said quietly. "Why's that?"

"I-I'm not lying."

"And now, you're lying about not lying. You might as well tell me. You know I'll find out eventually."

Zuko just frowned at her and pointed at the door. "Can you just leave already?"

Azula feigned sadness. "Aw, you really should be nicer to me. You always hurt my feelings. I wonder what Dad would do if I told him."

Her brother's eyes widened in fear and she smiled when she saw this. The smile enraged Zuko, but all he could do was frown and hope she was not serious.

"Maybe another time," she mentioned, starting to leave. "I have a full day of firebending planned and I want to show Dad afterwards, so I can't let him get distracted by…lesser matters."

The princess left Zuko to begin that training. When she was out, he closed the door and bolted the lock. He did this every time. It did not do much, but it gave him some comfort. What gave him more was how the day had gone. It was interesting talking with Sokka. Zuko barely spoke with younger people. He was not even sure if he had ever met another boy around his age. The only kids allowed to be around the palace besides the royal siblings were Azula's friends. They were okay (especially Mai), but he liked the idea of maybe having his own friend.

"I'm getting ahead of myself," he thought, frowning. "Sokka's not my friend. We just made an agreement. Information for information. It's practically a business deal. That's it." His frown began to fade as he was reminded of the emptiness of the ship despite all the crew mates and his family. "Of course, things could change. I wouldn't mind if a lot did."