Yue hated how dark it was. It was like these people came alive when every sane person would be asleep. Moonlight was their drug. She stood on the edge of the ice in her boots, still shivering defiantly in her red night clothes.

The boy, whose name she still didn't know, stood next to her holding one of the smooth wooden boards.

Others from the group were already in the freezing water and seemed miles away where big waves were rolling and crashing. At night the water was black. Eerie. She didn't like it. The ones surfing were whooping and hollering, and she could hear them even from here.

The boy spoke, his voice that same deep, smooth tone she'd learned to recognize.

"It's not as hard as it looks."

"How are they not freezing?"

"Oh they are," he assured her. "That's why we can't stay out too long. But if you stay moving, eventually you stop noticing the cold."

She stared at him, not believing for a second anything he was saying. Yue still had not admitted one horrible, potentially detrimental secret, and she certainly would not be admitting it to this person she hardly knew.

He looked down and met her disbelieving gaze. His chuckle was low like his voice. "You don't believe me."

Yue crossed her arms. "Not even a little bit." She watched as one of the other boys rode a wave nearly all the way back to the edge of the ice. Her eyes were trained on the way his body moved as he did so, the way his legs bent and turned, absorbing every bounce and jostle of the board like springs. She knew she could do that. It was the swimming out there she was less sure about. What water bender couldn't swim? The idea of it was ridiculous. Which is why she'd never admit to it, especially to this boy she didn't know.

"Well," said the boy, taking off his blue fur coat again. It revealed a thin white tunic which he also disposed of quickly. Soon he was standing in just his underclothes. Yue didn't let her eyes trail too long over his chest and abdomen, though she could tell that even if this boy was her brother's age, he certainly didn't skip out on training like Kai did.

There was no choice. She had no choice. With an internal sigh she turned away from him and pulled her clothes up over her head. She was standing only in her own white underclothes, the ones she usually sparred in.

"Yue, right?" he asked, extending a friendly hand. "I'm Korrek."

Hand shaking wasn't something they generally did in the Fire Nation, but she was familiar enough with the custom to know how to respond. She extended her own and he grasped it.

"Yeah," she said. "Yue."

He smirked. "Wonderful."

The grip on her hand tightened and he yanked his arm, tossing her like a rag doll into the dark, black water.

She yelped. Yue knew she must've hit the water very ungracefully, but the worry was blown from her mind and replaced with other worries as soon as she was submerged.

The water was so painstakingly cold that her breath was knocked out of her. She struggled, her arms flailing underwater.

Kick your feet, she thought frantically. She did so, and gasped for air as soon as she resurfaced. She wiped her eyes just in time to see Korrek jumping in with the board. He adjusted to the cold quicker than she had, and eyed her for a moment,

"Come on, Princess," he said, shaking his shaggy hair out of his eyes. "We don't have a lot of time." He grabbed her forearm and tugged her onto his back. He was lying on the board on his stomach, and Yue was on top of him. "Hold on."

She did, and Korrek took off, paddling them across the dark water with his arms, which moved them faster than Yue thought should've been possible. Yue looked behind them, still breathing heavy, to see the edge of the ice disappearing quickly. The lights of the city were becoming more distant. When she looked ahead of them, she struggled to not feel a little scared. It was nothing but dark sky and dark, deep water. The moon provided a lot of light, but not sufficient for her liking.

Quicker than should've been possible, a wave started to build in front of them. The people they were paddling out to meet disappeared behind the wall of water. "Ready?" Korrek yelled.

"For what?" she yelled back over the sounds of the building water.

Korrek's body language was all she needed to feel before understanding what she needed to do. Though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was smirking.

When he grasped the sides of the board, Yue grabbed onto his middle, holding on for dear life. Unfortunately she forgot to take a breath before he plunged them both under the water, diving deep under the wave. The pressure was horrible, and pounded against her ears. Water was rushing past her with more force than should've been possible for natural, unbent water. The ocean was a roaring creature, one she hadn't realized tried to kill anyone who dared tame it.

Her hair was pulled out of her tight braid and she felt it swirling around her. The feeling was distracting and despite her best efforts, she let go of Korrek. Without the strong buoy he was, Yue shot backwards underwater.

Her body convulsed for air, her chest jerking, bubbles coming from her mouth, even when she ran out of air.

And then suddenly, she was caught in the undercurrent of the wave and her body was flipped and tossed and bent. She yelled out but the water muffled her cries.

UpI Swim up! KICK YOUR FEET. Some survival instinct had kicked in. When the wave released her from its grip she kicked upwards again.

Up! UP! UPPP! She wasn't going to make it.

Remembering, for seemingly the first time this evening, that she was a waterbender, Yue blasted water downwards from her hands, shooting herself up like a rocket towards the surface.

She gasped for air again, wiping her wet hair out of her eyes. When she got her bearings, she saw she was yards away from Korrek and the board, and even farther away from the group. The wave had carried her far.

Still breathing heavily she began swimming back towards them. Korrek swam towards her, covering much more ground than she did in the same amount of time.

"Sorry about that," he said.

"You should be."

"I asked if you were ready."

"Did you hear me say I was?"

He laughed, and Yue got back onto his back. "Are you okay?" His question was genuine.

"Of course I'm okay," she replied bitterly. She felt more than heard him laugh that time, his body shaking underneath hers.

They crested a few waves before another large one inevitably approached.

"Ready?" he asked a second time, grabbing the board again. She rolled her eyes and looped her arms around him. This time she took a big breath and kept her head low against his back so it didn't get tossed in the force of the water, yanking her off of him like it had before.

When they resurfaced he laughed. "Hey look! You're learning."

"Oh, shut it."

They finally reached the group, who had huddled together, everyone on their own boards. Yue was the only one sharing with another person.

"I wondered who you brought, Kor," said one of the girls. She was strong, and built very much like a man. Her shoulders were large and she had a thick neck. She eyed Yue distastefully, which instantly made Yue dislike her.

"She couldn't resist," said Korrek beneath her. The girl didn't seem satisfied with this response.

"No one can," said one of the other boys, his voice slow and long. "It's the best time of month." He flopped onto his board and sighed, staring up into the starry sky. The moon was like a silver torch, shining down on all of them incessantly, its light bouncing off the water. "I could stay here forever."

Another boy flipped the only other girl there besides Yue and the meaty one. The girl yelped and the boy laughed. She came up sputtering before blasting the boy off his board with some powerfully aimed bending.

"Alright," said Korrek when the boy resurfaced. "We're slacking. It's too cold to stay out much longer."

"He's right," said the man-girl. "Let's get on some waves.

Everyone seemed to agree, and the group scattered like bees from a hive. Some went out further, others swam to the sides, but Korrek kept them right where they were. He turned the board around so they were facing the city. It was still bright, even from this far away. A dazzling sparkle against the dark ice it was built on. She could see it even over the staggeringly thick outer wall. That's how far out they were. She felt small in such a big, cold ocean.

Despite all her best efforts to not, Yue shivered in the cold air.

"Relax yourself," he coached. He could feel her shaking. Yue was too cold to spit back a reply, but she tried to take a few deep breaths. When everyone else was far enough away, he asked some again. "You haven't swam much."

He said it more kindly than he could've, which Yue was grateful for. There was no teasing in his voice, no accusation, not even a question. He was making an observation.

"Not like this," she replied.

He made a sound of polite acknowledgement, understanding she didn't want to talk about it.

They stayed there for a while. She could feel him breathing underneath her and knew he could feel her doing the same. Then suddenly, "Here," he said quickly. "Put your hand on the water." She did so, placing it next to where his was. "Do you feel that?"

She waited, but all she felt was the coldness of the salty water. "No."

"Listen. And feel. Close your eyes." She did so. "The tide is pulling in," he said.

"What does that mean?"

He chuckled again, the same way he always did. "It means we gotta move."

He began paddling just as he had before, but this time towards the ice bank and the city. Yue tightened her grip, not wanting to accidentally fall off again. She heard water building behind her and looked behind to see the wave forming. Korrek paddled faster to stay ahead of it.

"Stand up when I tell you," he yelled back to her. He paddled faster and faster and they moved faster than should have been possible.

"NOW!" he yelled. Yue obeyed, hopping quickly to her feet, standing how she'd seen the boy do earlier. Korrek stayed down longer, making sure she was balanced before hopping to his own feet. He stood the way she was but at the front of the board. They faced opposite directions. Korreck grabbed the arm closest to him, grasping her forearm tightly. Yue held his in return, completing the link.

Suddenly the board dropped down into the wave, settling in front of it. Yue yelped and wobbled, but Korrek steadied her with the arm he had in his grip. "Bend down more and push down with your back leg."

She did.

Then, he took control, guiding the board with his feet and swinging his free arm to whip the board around as much as he could with another person on it.

"Touch the water!" he yelled. "The wave! Feel it."

Yue didn't understand at first, but when she looked to the other side, she saw the rippling water of the wave, the way it rolled into itself, forming the wall of water they now stood on. She smiled when she touched it, water spraying into her face. It was like flying. Flying on water.

"Now ground yourself!" he called out.

"What?!" she yelled, turning back around.

When he caught her eye he winked, then dove into the water.

The loss of weight on the board made her lose balance, and it wasn't even two seconds later that she lost it herself and toppled into the water. She was caught in the under grip of the wave again, tossed around like a string. Something struck her head and she cried out into the water, but the sound was again muffled.

Yue was about to bend when a hand grabbed her and swam them to the surface.

She came up sputtering and Korrek helped her wipe her silver hair out of her eyes.

"Stop!" she screamed. "I've got it."

Finally opening her eyes, she saw him. The way he was looking at her made something indie her chest flutter.

"Now you've done it," he said, breaking the moment. "The board's gone."

Yue hated being free in the water with no board. She felt like a tiny speck.

"Why'd you jump off the board?!"

"You'll have to do it on your own eventually," he defended, his hand gracing the top of the water like he'd done when he was feeling for the wave.

"And that was how you thought I should?!"

He shrugged and she let out a sound of annoyed exasperation, slapping the water.

"Shh!" he chuckled. "I'm trying to listen."

Yue rolled her eyes which only made him laugh harder. "Ahh," he said. "There it is."

He flicked his hand, holding it out.

Then she understood. The surfboard came racing towards them. He caught it with his free hand and hopped onto it, pulling her with his other arm.

But Yue resisted successfully.

He looked at her, concern suddenly apparent on his features. "Are you done?" he asked genuinely.

"No." She gave him a hard shove and not expecting it, he fell off into the water. Yue took his place on the board, turning and paddling out farther towards the sea. "I'm going on my own."

She heard him laughing as he watched her swim away.

Her arms were tired after cresting the first few waves, and when a big one came which she knew she'd have to dive under, Yue wondered if she'd be able to hold onto the board with only her two hands.

No point worrying now, she thought. It was much too late for that. She felt her shoulders burn with heavy use, but still she pulled the water, willing to go forward and faster.

"Dive!" yelled a voice, and it wasn't Korrek's. Someone from the group ahead of her.

She did. Yue knew she needed to dive deep. Her arms were barely strong enough to push the large board all the way under water, and she nearly flipped it when she wasn't able to stabilize it. She used a leg to help push it under.

Deep, she told herself. When she was under water and didn't feel the push of the wave around her, she knew she'd broken past it successfully. She resurfaced and wasted no time in paddling out deeper. Members of the group were scattered about. She paddled past them, deeper towards where the silver light of the moon created a path on the water for her to follow.

She could tell what Korrek meant now. She could feel the water, feel its breath, its heartbeat.

Everything went still.

Then she felt it. Something building.

"Swim!" someone from the group yelled. She saw the distant shadowy figure who yelled but didn't listen to them.

A wave was coming. Of that she was sure.

It built right under her. But no.

She could feel a deeper one. A wave building under this one.

She crested the first wave, losing a lot of yards in the process.

When it subsided, she paddled again, harder, back out to the deep.

The cold water had awakened every one of her senses. The moonlight seemed to set fire to her insides and she felt a renewed sort of energy.

Her arms were stronger and she flew faster.

She could both see and feel the wave building.

Yue paddled faster.

Turn around.

She did, facing the city again.

This was a timing thing, she realized.

Something in her yelled GO, and she did. Paddling back towards the group and the city.

She again felt a wave underneath her, this one bigger and deeper than the previous.

Her body yelled for her to stand but her mind told her to wait.

Faster and faster she paddled.

"NOW!" Yue looked over to see Korrek standing on a sheet of ice, bending the water to move it across the surface.

Yue pushed herself up with her arms and stood, making sure to keep her legs bent and loose. She grounded the soles of her feet into the board, a similar stance to what she'd take when fighting.

Her arms flailed for a moment as she caught her balance.

Then the board fell into the wave, dropping her down in front of it. Her stomach flip flopped.

It was the greatest rush she'd ever felt.

The cold night air whooshed past her, blowing all her loose, wet hair behind her.

She laughed out loud at the sheer amazement of it all. The moon shining down on her skin, alighting every droplet of water. She trailed a hand in the water of the wave, feeling the power and strength of it all. Power she yielded to instead of fighting.

Experimenting, Yue whipped her legs, coming up and back down the wave. Water sprayed into her and she laughed again. It was as though her body was doing something it'd always been meant to do. She knew how to do this.

The waved powered up.

Korrek was surfing it on his sheet of ice. He brought his hands to his mouth, cupping them so his voice would travel. "Fall back!"

"What?" she yelled back.

"Slow down and crouch." She quirked her head in confusion. "NOW!"

Again her body acted before she told it to. Yue squatted down on the board and gripped the side of it with her hands, making sure to keep her feet steady. Her legs burned.

And then, suddenly, she was in a tunnel of water, a great circling mass that had sucked her inside of it. She sighed, looking all around her at the moving water. Something in her felt more at home than ever before.

Through the circle in the tunnel she could distantly see where Korrek was surfing. She couldn't make out much except his bright, genuine smile. He threw his head back and pumped his arms in the air.

Yue watched as he made a jump, bringing his board up into the air, then jerking his body in a twist to bring it back down with a splash.

She smiled again.

When she came out of the tunnel she stood again, deciding to try the trick herself.

She launched the board and herself up the wave and into the air but failed to twist back all the way around. The smack when she landed back in the water hurt more than she ever would've admitted.

Korrek caught her arm and pulled her back up to the surface, dragging her like a rag doll onto her sheet of ice. He'd bent it to be much larger now, so they both sat on it with ample space.

Yue coughed and sputtered and Korrek slapped her on the back.

"Alright, princess. You're good."

Finally she caught her breath. When she looked back up at him, she was smiling.

She laid down on her back, staring at the sky.

"That was amazing," she sighed.

Korrek laughed. "Yeah," he sighed. "It always is."

Yue sat back up, her arms behind her holding her up, her legs dangling off the edge and in the water.

She looked over to him and saw he was already watching her.

They shared another smile, and Yue noticed for the first time his blue eyes. They weren't like her mother's. They were lighter, almost the color of ice. How had she not noticed that during their staring match at lunch earlier that day?

Another voice broke their stare. "That was insane! Fire Nation princess has got moves."

"Sort of. She didn't land the jump," said the meaty girl as she approached on her own board.

Korrek spoke up. "If I remember, Lilah, it took you a few months to even stand up. Isn't that right?"

Everyone laughed, Yue included. Lilah rolled her eyes.

"Probably time to go in," said another boy. "Sun'll be up soon."

"You're right, Jonah," said Korrek as he stood. "Don't want to upset the daddies and mommies."

"Yours especially, Kor," laughed the other girl.

Korrek didn't say anything, but his face hardened. All the others sniggered.

"Here," said Korrek, helping Yue stand. Usually she'd be annoyed by now at being helped so often, but for some reason she didn't mind when he grabbed her arm to pull her up. She let him.

Though the water was still and even, everyone else stood on their wooden boards. With a flurry of arm movements, Korrek included, the group pushed and pulled the water, guiding themselves back to the edge of the ice.

Not expecting the sudden movement, Yue nearly lost her balance. Her legs burned from the few waves she'd ridden.

Again, Korrek caught her, his arm wrapping around her waist. This time, he didn't move it. Yue didn't push it away. He didn't look at her though, but focused on bending them back with his other arm.

Korrked jumped them onto the ice, his makeshift ice board melting as he did so.

Yue bent the water off of herself with the others and grabbed her thin red night dress, which had been thrown on the ground haphazardly.

Yue felt Lilah's eyes on her when Korrek handed her his blue coat.

Whether to spite the other girl, or to show him that she was grateful for his help tonight, Yue accepted it, pulling it around her quickly. It did a surprisingly good job at repelling the hatefully cold wind.

Once dressed, the group ran back into the city the way they'd left it.

Yue kept up.

They reentered the palace and the group ran ahead through the silent halls. Korrek paused with Yue at the door to her room and she began to pull the coat off to return it.

He stopped her. "Keep it. I'm sure I'll see you again."

"Maybe," she replied. Korrek lifted an eyebrow and smirked. "This doesn't make us friends."

Yue felt her old walls coming up again, in this hateful foreign place. Tonight had not changed her opinion about the water tribes.

"And she's back," he laughed. Yue opened the door to her bedroom quietly. "We need to get you in the water more," he said, and she paused. "You're wound too tight."

"Remember who you speak to," Yue responded, her voice a flame.

"I could say the same to you," he said, which confused her.

Yue tugged the coat off and shoved it at him. She slipped into the room, closing the door on him before he could give it back to her.

She heard him laughing on the other side. He was still laughing when Yue heard him walk away down the hall.

Yue hated that she smiled. She ran and tucked her warm self into the thick sheets of the bed and fell asleep instantly.

. . .

Kai awoke early, even before the sun had peaked the horizon. But still he could feel it. Feel the heat of it. It was like something inside of him sensed it, and anticipated it.

He hopped out of bed and dressed. He'd been training with his father in the mornings the last few weeks, a pleasant new change to his usually boring life.

A lot of things had changed, actually, especially with his father. Kai would be lying if he said he didn't like it.

He liked being with his father, he liked not feeling forgotten. And with Yue gone, life at the palace had improved drastically for the prince. Kai ran down the hallway, filled with the energy that only the rising sun ever gave him.

The door to his father's office was already open. Kai smiled. He must be doing some work before they went out. When he entered the office, Kai saw his father dressed in his sparring attire holding a piece of parchment in his hands.

It looked like an unfolded letter. Kai's heart jumped.

"Is that a letter from Tazin?"

Zuko looked up, startled. "Oh, you're up." He looked back down to the letter, and Kai saw his eyes move across the paper as he reread it. "No," he said as though to himself. "It's not."

Concern was etched on every feature of his father's face, those familiar lines of worry and stress deepening across his scarred face. Kai walked closer, curious but wary. "Who is it from?"

Zuko looked up again, focusing for the first fully on his second son.

"Avatar Aang."

Kai's eyes widened, his heart filling with worry. "Is everything okay?"

Zuko shuffled the letter closed. "I don't think it's anything to worry about…I mean…nothing we can't–"

"Dad."

Zuko was forced to look at Kai.

After a pause, Zuko picked the folded letter back up. Then, with a sad but curious tone said, "Here. Tell me what you make of it."

Kai unrolled the letter, his eyes first taking in the fact that there wasn't very much written.

Zuko,

I'm flying in the morning to Republic City with your son. I'm hesitant to comment on his progress but can say that it's of little importance now. To avoid consequences and problems we both don't want, it's time for Tazin to come out into the world again.

I know the Council of Nations meeting isn't scheduled for a couple more weeks. Would you fly out earlier to meet us?

I have worries I can't risk putting in a letter. It'll be easier to explain in person.

Bring Azula.

Aang

Kai read it through three times. He didn't know the avatar well, but knew his parents were close with the man. No comment on Tazin's progress? Was that a good thing or bad thing?

What worries? What problems?

"It's…very vague," Kai observed.

Zuko laughed, in a restrained, worried sort of way. "That's pretty typical of Aang."

"Are you going to go?"

"I suppose I must."

Kai set the letter on the desk. "Why do you think he wants you to bring Aunt Azula?"

"I have no idea," the Fire Lord explained. His hands were on his hips and he was looking into the air, as though pondering some heavy thought or worry. Zuko rubbed his temple and ran a hand through his hair. Then he looked at Kai. "But you understand what it means?"

Kai looked at him in confusion, so his father explained with a small smile. "You'll be left in charge here while I'm gone."

Kai's heart dropped. "But…" His eyes darted around the room. "But I was supposed to go with you. To Republic City. I…I need to see Tazin."

Zuko's voice was sad. "I know. But if I can't leave Azula behind to run things then someone else must stay."

"I don't know how…"

"Yes. You do," Zuko assured. He smiled sadly at his son, both because he couldn't believe how old the boy was, and because of the regret he felt at not preparing him as he had Tazin. If Kai lacked ability, it was Zuko's fault, not Kai's.

Kai's heart rate increased. He felt stress and responsibility falling on him like a weight. Is this what his dad always felt? How…how did he bear it?

Kai swallowed and ran a hand through his uncombed hair.

"Dad, I think…"

Zuko eyed his son. "Yes?"

"I think there's something I should've told you."

"What is it," he asked kindly.

The prince took a breath. "The night mom and I went to that boy's house, Ryken was there."

"Yes," said Zuko sitting down. He motioned for Kai to sit in his mother's chair, which he did. It looked like they wouldn't be training this morning. "Your mother told me just as much."

"Well, he told me something I think I should've told you." Zuko didn't say anything. He patiently waited for Kai to explain. "There's this man."

"Who?"

"Well, he was at the party and then he was also at the Agni Kai."

"Yes…"

Kia swallowed again. Somehow he knew, he just knew that his father would know who the man was. For better or worse, Kai was about to find out too. "He was their teacher. Ryken said the man is very anti-monarchy."

Zuko scoffed. "Well, there are those people–"

"No. It's more than usual. He really does not like our family. I don't know why I didn't sense that from the beginning."

Kai thought of the way the man had said at the party that he'd heard of Yue. The way he'd watched Yue and Kai get bullied at that party with a look that Kai had initially thought was admiration at the way they'd handled it.

Now he wondered if it was glee. Happiness at seeing them get pummeled and insulted and spit on.

"Well," said Zuko. "What do you think that means?"

Kai was still not used to the feeling of his father asking his opinion or thoughts. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be used to it.

"I don't know. Ryken just made it sound like…like the man was behind something more. Like he'd somehow…orchestrated the Agni Kai."

"You think he was trying to make you look bad?"

"Maybe…"

"Do you think he knew of the first Agni Kai?"

"I'm not sure. But I'm beginning to wonder if he was the reason people knew that Tazin was gone. It's just too suspicious the way things have played out."

"What was his name?" Zuko asked calmly.

"Lee."

Something flamed in his father's eyes. A spark of remembrance. A distant, far gone memory. But then he looked at Kai and shook his head. "I don't know any Lee." Kai's shoulders fell. Zuko stood and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Whatever it was, I'm sure we'll figure it out as it comes along. I wouldn't worry."

Did his dad know something he wasn't telling him, Kai wondered. But no, he thought, they were in a new era of sharing things. Surely his dad trusted him enough to tell him if he knew the man. Perhaps then the Fire Lord really didn't know that man.

"Alright…" said Kai warily.

"Now," said Zuko, standing up. Kai stood too. "You know when the council meetings are. And here," he patted a stack of papers, "are the requests and letters from citizens that will need your reply." He patted another stack. "And these are the proposed plans for new housing complexes and hospitals, most of them in the new western settlements. They'll need your signature."

"My signature?" said Kai incredulously. "Will that work?"

Zuko smiled. "Of course it'll work," he laughed.

Then he pulled his grown son in for a hug. Unlike how his sister probably would've responded, Kai did not resist.

"I trust you completely," Zuko said. A breeze from the ever open window in the office sailed into the room. The morning air was clean and bright. The sun was up now.

The words healed old wounds, covered old scars that Kai had grown too used to having. His younger self never would've believed his dad would ever say such words to him. He almost didn't believe it.

Zuko released him with a strong pat on the back. "I'm going to go talk to your aunt now. I think it's best we leave as soon as possible. And," he said hesitantly. "I'm not sure how long we'll be gone."

Kai smiled. "It's okay, Dad. Don't worry about me or anything here while you're gone. I'll take care of it."

Zuko returned the smile. "I know you will."

. . .

"You look awful," said the Fire Lady to her daughter.

"Good morning to you too," said Yue, plopping down to eat some new, disgusting breakfast food.

"No seriously," said Katara, looking over every inch of her daughter's face. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Of course I got sleep," Yue replied, shoving a spoon full of mystery fish into her mouth and chomping ungracefully.

Katara stared at her daughter in awe, holding her cup of warm broth with hands frozen in place. Not only were there giant, black bags under Yue's eyes, but her hair was down. No braid. Just silver-white hair flowing down her back. There was also a large, bruised scab on her forehead, like something had hit her over the head. It was like looking at a completely different person.

Katara blinked. "You're sure you're okay?"

Yue swallowed. She threw her mother a look. "If you ask me one more time if I'm okay, I won't talk to you the rest of the trip."

Katara would've snapped back if the chief and his wife hadn't sat down at the same moment. She forced a smile, pretending she wasn't just about to unleash on her mouthy daughter.

"Good morning," said the stately, kind man.

"Good morning," Katara replied to the two people.

The breakfast went by quickly. Yue was famished. Her late night adventures had zapped her energy, and she awoke with more hunger than she'd ever experienced. It was the only motivator strong enough to get her to swallow this disgusting food.

She looked down the empty table, expecting to see Korrek, or anyone she might've recognized from the previous night.

But there was no one.

"Are you waiting for someone," asked the chief's wife.

Yue quickly looked back to her food. "No," she said in as polite a tone as she could manage. "Of course not."

The woman smiled before falling into conversation with Katara.

They'd been promised a full tour of the city, which is what they got after breakfast. The chief led them around the different buildings and streets personally.

When people noticed him, they smiled and waved. Many approached him. He seemed to know most of his citizens by name, which Yue found impressive.

When they noticed Yue and her mother's red and gold clothing, and the crown resting in her mother's hair, they'd lean together in small groups and whisper. Some looked worried and fearful. Yue nearly rolled her eyes. When would people stop thinking that people from the Fire Nation were bad?

But when Katara showed her kind smile, and greeted many of them personally too, the fear in their eyes subsided. They'd bow to the Fire Lady with the same respect they showed their chief.

Yue didn't talk to a single one of them, let alone touch or hug any of them. The thought of it made her want to gag. Still they stared at her and whispered.

If she wasn't going to surf, then she wanted to be back home.

The day dragged, and Yue could've sworn the days here were longer here than they were back home. She itched to move. To spar or run or surf or something.

Later in the afternoon, after the tour had finished, the chief and his wife had business to attend to. Her mother asked her if Yue wanted to take a look at the healing tent.

Yue had never cared to learn to heal the way her mother had. There'd never been a need. Why would Yue learn when people would just come to her mother anyways? With that thought went any desire she might've had to attempt the sacred practice.

Yue shook her head. "You go ahead. I think I'll explore on my own a little."

"Alright," said the Fire Lady with a smile. "I'll see you this evening."

Yue mumbled some reply and took off towards the palace.

With the chief and his wife in a meeting, her mother gone, and that group of people nowhere to be found, Yue felt safe to do what she was about to do.

She slunk through the hallways, peeking in every room she came upon. Most were empty and unused. When she didn't find what she was looking for, Yue knew the room she needed must be up the stairs…where the rooms of the chief and his family were.

The words Korrek had spoken to her last night came to mind. I could say the same to you. Damn. He must be the chief's son.

She shook her head. That didn't matter.

Quietly, hoping to avoid seeing any maid or servant or soldier, Yue snuck up the grand, ice staircase. The hallways were wider up here, the doors taller.

She saw double doors which could only have been the chief and his wife's room. The room she needed had to be close.

Yue ran a little farther, peeking into a few rooms that turned out to be storage closets. And then, the one she'd been looking for.

The door was already open a crack. She stood outside of it a moment, listening for any movement. She didn't hear anything. Taking a breath, she pushed on the door gently.

No voice. No sound.

Feeling brave, she slinked inside.

The room wasn't large, but it was nice. The bed was unmade and the closet door open, revealing blue and white dirty clothes. Different shoes and boots littered the floor.

What a pig, she thought to herself.

Then, against the wall and hidden behind a curtain, she spotted what she needed: the wooden surfboard from last night.

She'd barely taken one step when a familiar voice said, "Can I help you?"

Yue gasped and whipped around. Korrek was standing in the doorway of his bedroom, staring at her. His arms were crossed, the smallest hint of a smile on his face.

Yue smiled back. "Nope. Just got lost."

"Right."

She pointed to the door. "I'll be going now. I think I remember how to get back."

He stepped in front of her. "If you were coming for the surfboard I should tell you that it's illegal to surf where we were last night." He eyed her closely. "I trust you didn't mention it to anyone."

By 'anyone,' Yue knew he meant his parents. "No, I didn't mention it."

He smiled again. "Good. Wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly great nighttime activity."

Yue folded her arms. He was still blocking the door. "Could you please move?"

"Why? You have places you need to be?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes," she said defiantly.

"Where?"

"I…well..the healing tent." Yue said the first place she could think of.

"Ahh, yes," he said with a nod. "I should've guessed it. A healer. That's why you barely bent last night."

Yue looked up at him. He was smiling. "Hey. I–"

He smiled and she stopped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." He was looking right into her eyes with his own ice-blue ones. She felt small under his gaze. It was impossible to keep her walls up when she was around him, and she hated that. "I've heard," he began again. "That you're actually supposed to be pretty good."

"And where'd you hear that?"

"Your family's talked of," he said. "By everyone."

Yue knew that was true. The Fire Prince who'd married the daughter of the chief of the Southern Water Tribe. The couple who, despite all odds, had found love and made their differences work together for good. One of the most powerful waterbenders in the world…married to the Fire Lord. It made a lot of people nervous. Some angry. Some jealous.

"You sound like you don't believe it," she replied, ignoring the comment about her family.

Korrek shrugged. His words weren't mean, just observant. The same way they'd been last night. "I just don't see how any waterbender growing up where you've grown up could be any good. I mean, the capital city is inside a volcano, is it not?"

Yue smiled. Then popped her hip. "You doubt me? Don't you know who trained me?"

"Yeah," he said. "I know your mother's good." His eyebrows scrunched together and he looked at her sadly, almost…pitifully. "But I saw you last night, Yue."

It was the first time he hadn't called her 'princess,' and something about hearing her name in the timbre of his voice made her stomach do a somersault. "You waterbend but you don't…understand water."

"What?"

"I know it's inside of you," he covered up. "You felt that second wave when no one else did. But it was like you were discovering water for the first time." He shrugged. "I saw it on your face. The wonder." He continued to stare at her. Study her. "I just don't see how that could make for a good waterbender."

"It's not my fault where I grew up," she defended.

Korrek looked like he'd said too much. "I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have–"

"Well don't apologize," she said. "You're completely right of course."

His eyes widened in surprise. "You think?"

Yue nodded, her silver hair moving freely with her head, small pieces in the front falling in front of her face. "I do." She paced around the room, turning to look out the window. She felt a light inside of her as she looked out at all of the people milling about in the streets. She could still feel his eyes on her. "I didn't know the ocean was so…I didn't know it was…alive, I guess," she said, deciding on the word. "I didn't know it was alive. I thought a waterbender was what made water come alive. But…" She shook her head and exhaled, unable to explain the rest of what she was thinking.

There were a few beats of silence before Korrek broke it. "What are you actually doing right now?"

"Absolutely nothing," she admitted.

He smiled, those perfect white teeth, the shaggy dark hair, and nodded his head out the door. "Then let's go."