Here is the second part! Let me know what y'all think!

Book I: Water

Chapter X: The Ice Ball

Part II: The Celebration

Ballroom, Kings Court, Northern Water Tribe

Sometime later

Kuzon blinked as he tried to get his bearings about him. So many princesses and dignitaries had been thanking him through the night that it was starting to overwhelm him. He chuckled and nervously smiled, bowing to the man before him. His eyes darted nervously around the room. "Thank you. You are far too kind,"

Apparently seeing that her friend was in visible distress, Katara forced the crowd away with a wave.

All of them turned to her in shock.

She then glared at all of them, daring them to come near her boyfriend. "Okay! We're taking a break!" She then dragged Kuzon some distance away from the gathering crowd. She then sat him down and took his hands into hers. "It's okay now, sweetie. You can breathe now."

Kuzon then closed his eyes and nodded, "Thank you."

She nodded with a smile, "You are welcome."

A waitress came around with a plate of hot chocolate mugs. "Hot chocolate mugs! Anyone want one?"

Katara raised her hand. "I'll take two."

The waitress walked over to her and handed her two mugs.

Katara gave her a smiling nod, "Thank you."

The waitress then walked off.

She then turned to Kuzon and handed him a mug. "Here. You must be shivering. Drink up."

He generously took the mug from her and nodded, "Thank you."

She smiled as she took a sip of hers. "No problem." She then sighed, "You have a hard time saying no, don't you?"

Kuzon then sighed and gave her a nod, "I do…unfortunately. Adherence to order and open expressions of opinion or rebellion are not…strong values in my people's culture."

Katara nodded sagely, "I understand."

Yue then walked over without a word with Sokka in tow. "Hello you two. Hope you don't mind the interruption."

Katara shook her head, "Not at all."

Sokka grinned and then rolled his eyes with a groan, "Great. We could use the company. Being around all these stuffy Northerners is giving me a headache."

Katara turned to her brother with a disapproving scowl, "Sokka…present company?"

Sokka just turned to his sister and shrugged, "What? She knows."

Yue then giggled as her face reddened, "It's alright Katara" She then sighed with a smile, "Sokka has told me how much of a humble and simple life you two lived in your village. Northern life has been a culture shock to you two."

Yue cuddled Sokka's arm and kissed him on the cheek, "Plus, I can never stay mad at my handsome polar bear."

Sokka then suddenly went red from embarrassment. She didn't. She didn't just…

Katara just blinked and tried her best to stifle her laugh.

Kuzon turned to meet Yue's eyes as well. The shock of the name had gotten him out of his thoughts. "Wait. You call Sokka your polar bear?"

This was finally the breaking point for Katara as she burst into laughter. "Polar bear! Oh! I love that!"

She then held her sides, "Polar bear!"

Sokka turned to Yue, blushing with his jaw dropped, "Yue…you promised never to tell anyone."

Yue smirked, "Sorry. I couldn't help it my sweet polar bear. The choice was there. Remember, I joke back."

Sokka just nodded while grunting, "Fair game. Fair game."

Kuzon blinked, "Well…that's a new one. Creative."

Yue beamed at the firebender and placed her hands together, "Aww. The Avatar's stamp of approval. I'm flattered, truly."

Sokka just defensively shrugged his shoulders and glared at Kuzon, "Oh? And what does my sister call you, huh? Oh, I forgot…Kuzu. What in the heck does that mean anyway?"
Kuzon just sighed and rolled his eyes, "Wow! For the record….I mean that as a compliment Sokka. You are incredibly dense at times. No wonder Katara calls you a blockhead."

Katara smiled as she put an arm around Kuzon's shoulder. She kissed him on the cheek and smirked at Sokka, "Aww. Thank you, sweetie! Thank you for validating me."

Sokka then sighed and let go of his irritation. He then turned to Kuzon with an irritated look, "Okay. Since we're going on about pet names…. Why is yours Kuzu? Seems kind of silly to me."

Kuzon was about to shout his head off until he realized he didn't know. "Huh. I don't know, honestly."

The three of them stared at Katara with a curious look.

She cuddled her boyfriend's left arm and sighed happily. "You seriously have to ask Sokka? Uzu is a Southern Aleutian honorific meant for one's lover, husband, or boyfriend. I liked his name but wanted to call him something sweet to denote his place in my heart. I wanted to respect his people's culture while intermixing our own. Kuzu seemed to be the name to go with."

Kuzon blinked at her in shock. She had never explained the name before. He felt as if her words had touched his heart. "Katara…I don't know what to say. I'm flattered."

She giggled, "You don't need to say anything. The shock and adoration in your voice is enough of a reward for me." She then rested her head on his left shoulder and wrapped her arms around his left arm.

Outskirts of Agna Qel'a, Northern Water Tribe

The gang hung around Ranna as they began packing for their journey the following morning.

A particular group of girls was gathering around Kuzon. He was far too busy tying the saddle to Ranna to notice.

One of them tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned to see the girl with long dark braids and tilted his head at her. "Yes. Can I help you with something?"

The group of girls giggled.

The girl with long dark braids batted her eyes at him, "You remember me right? Nalina?"

Kuzon groaned in frustration and then facepalmed, "That I do. What can I do for you, Nalina?"

She then smiled back at him. "Are you sure we can't convince you to stay? There's a festival occurring next week. We'd love for you to be there."

Kuzon just closed his eyes and shook his head. This girl is either crazy or delusional. She must be. Most of them would have gotten the point last night. I'm taken. Deciding sternly, he glared at the girl fiercely, "Let me make this clear. I'm already taken. You would do well to leave me alone."

The girl frowned, "Oh come on! What is that dirty Southerner going to do if she finds out?"

Kuzon then rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing.

Suddenly, a large wave separated the girls from Kuzon.

All the girls then screamed in shock.

Kuzon just groaned internally.

Katara just stood there with a look of ice-cold fury in her eyes. "That remains to be seen."

The other girls then stared in shock at her.

The lead one blinked, "You can bend?"

Katara just nodded coldly with crossed arms, "I can." She then stared them down, "Step away from my boyfriend, or my next one won't miss."

The group of girls, getting her point, just nodded with fear in her heart and hurried off.

Katara then sighed as she turned her attention to Kuzon.

She smirked, "I appreciate you telling them off, sweetie. I admit I was worried they had cornered you for a minute."

Kuzon just turned to her, crossed his arms, and shrugged, "I tried to be nice about it, and it didn't take. They weren't giving me any other choice."

Katara smiled, "I could tell." She then smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She then looked out and marveled at the view of the city. "I have to say I'm going to miss this place. It is rather beautiful." She smirked, "Everyone has been kind to us. Even King Arnook. I like him."

Kuzon just nodded, putting an arm around her, "He's alright for royalty. So is Yue. She can be trusted." He then sighed, "Can I ask you a question? It's about your family."

Katara giggled at hearing the nervousness in his tone. "You don't have to sound so nervous, sweetie. Of course, you can. I practically talked your ear off, trying to learn all I could about you. It's only fair that you are curious about me. What is it you want to know?"

Kuzon then sighed, "Your father…Hakoda…is the Chief of the Southern Tribe right? That's what Sokka told me."

Katara's mood immediately soured. She then sighed angrily, "He is…though that title doesn't count for much anymore." She then got a hardened look in her eyes. "After the war started, we Southerners got hit the hardest. Our cities were destroyed. Our benders attacked and captured. Our way of life was almost ruined. We barely managed to survive. We're all scattered across the Southern Lands." She then scowled, "Dad got together with the leaders from the other remaining villages. He formed a ragtag force of men…and sailed off to fight the Fire Nation in some guerrilla war campaign. Took most of the fighting men with him. The only ones spared were the women and children." She then hugged herself protectively as a tear ran down her eye. "I was only six. Mom had just died the year before."

Kuzon just nodded as he put his arms around her. She snuggled in him, wrapping his arms around her, smiling with a content smile. She then sat down and scooched herself closer to his embrace. He sighed sadly, "I'm so sorry. That must have been hard on you and Sokka."

Katara sighed as her eyes narrowed at the ground. "It's difficult. He left us to run the village all by ourselves. I hate him for that."

Kuzon nodded, "I'm sorry if I brought up a rough subject."

Katara sighed with a shrug, "You're fine, sweetie. Not your fault my father is a neglectful jerk." She then smiled at him. "What brought this up?"

Kuzon blinked as he looked into her eyes. "Well…Sokka. He was boasting about how he knew we would fall for each other."

Katara chuckled, "Of course he did. What else did my dear brother say?"

Kuzon cleared his throat, "Well…he said that your mother would have approved of me. He said that she often cared for what was in a man's heart, not where his origins were."

Katara smiled, "Right again. Kya…my mother was a kind and loving woman. Fierce too. She had a temper on her. Proud to say that I inherited that from her." She sighed again ruefully, "She would have loved you. What else?"

Kuzon sighed nervously, "Your father probably wouldn't like me."

Katara again soured, "Ah…yes. Well…" She then turned around and kissed him out of the blue. His face turned a deep shade of red.

Katara then held his face and smiled, "Kuzu. Listen to me. You don't have to worry about him. He lost his right to tell me what to do when he left me behind. Who I love is my business…It is not his." She smiled, "I know you've probably been thinking about this for a while, so let me be the one to put it to rest. Don't worry. We're fine. So long as you maintain my brother's approval…and keep pushing away those fan girls of yours…. You have nothing to worry about. Okay?"

Kuzon just nodded still blushing, "Fair enough."

She giggled again, "I love you."

Kuzon nodded, "I…love you too."

The two then kissed.

Pakku then walked over to the two of them smiling, "I'm glad I caught you two before you set off."

Kuzon turned his head to Master Pakku, "Master Pakku!" He then turned to the older man and bowed honorably.

Katara giggled in amusement. She smiled at Pakku and bowed, "Hello Master Pakku…I hope you are well."

Pakku just smiled at both of them. "I am." He then caught sight of Ranna and gasped. "Is that a real dragon?"

Kuzon then turned to his waterbending master and bowed. "Yes. This is Ranna. She is the last of the ancient dragons. My predecessor had her hiding from the Royal Family."

Ranna then turned to Pakku, growled, and blew smoke through her nostrils. She then got near Kuzon and nestled his face with her snout. He grabbed her head, rested it against his, and smiled, "It's okay, girl. He's a friend."

Pakku blinked as his jaw dropped, "Yeah. I have to say. This is a surprise. Thought her kind were extinct."

Kuzon then turned his head to his waterbending master with a severe look in his eyes. "They almost were. Sozin and his descendants have been hunting her kind since I've been gone. Illegal poaching."

Pakku just nodded, "Shameful to kill such graceful and majestic creature." He outstretched his hand, "There's no need to be afraid. I'm a friend."

The dragon narrowed its eyes at him before warily extending its head.

Pakku then patted Ranna on the forehead.

Ranna closed her eyes and purred.

Katara smiled, "I think Ranna likes you Master Pakku."

Kuzon crossed his arms smirking, "Indeed."

Pakku laughed, "Good to know." He then turned to Katara and smiled, "Katara…a word please?"

Katara blinked, "Of course." She then followed Pakku to someplace far from the group. Once the two were far from Kuzon and the others, Pakku turned back to her with a wry smile, "I'm going to make this quick. I cannot follow you two on the rest of your journey, so I need you to finish Kuzon's training for me." The old waterbender then pulled the scroll out of his sleeve.

Katara's eyes widened at it, "Master Pakku…" He smirked at her, "This scroll contains the last set of waterbending moves Kuzon needs to master waterbending. Take it."

Katara gently took the scroll and stared at it. "I..I.." She then stared up at him, shocked, "Why me? I'm no master yet. Shouldn't Kuzon learn from a master?"

Pakku just smiled and raised a finger, "In less tense times…yes." His eyes grew serious as he stared at the city skyline momentarily. "Unfortunately, I am needed here to bolster the city's defenses. The Fire Nation may return here. You must undertake this task for me. Finish teaching the Avatar our ways."

Katara's look suddenly grew serious as she nodded, "I won't let you down Master Pakku. That's a promise."

Pakku then smirked at her again, putting a hand on her shoulder, "There's my top student." He then began to walk off towards the skyline and suddenly stopped turning to her, smiling, "Oh, and please tell your grandmother I miss her. She's been gone too long."

Katara's eyes suddenly widened in shock. "Gran Gran! How do you…" She didn't have enough time to question the master waterbender before he called Kuzon. "Kuzon!"

The renegade firebender rushed to his waterbending master and bowed Fire Nation style. "Yes Sifu Pakku!"

Pakku smirked, "Heh. I never thought a firebender would bow to me in honor. Guess I'll respond in kind." The old waterbender then bowed back. He then smiled at Kuzon. "You have saved our people and our way of life. For that…we, people of the North, thank you and deem you a new title. The Flara ja Reina. The Flame of Redemption."

Kuzon blinked at him, shocked; his hands shaking, he just bowed low in respect. "Thank you…sir."

Katara blinked in pure shock thinking to herself, How does he…know Gran-Gran? She stood there for a moment before shaking her head. He's probably just pulling a fast one on me—the jokester.

Yue then smiled as she put a hand on Pakku's right shoulder, smiling warmly at Kuzon. "The Flame of Redemption. I like that. It suits you Kuzon."

King Arnook, standing in his royal robes put a hand on Pakku's right shoulder, "I have to say…I agree with my daughter, Avatar Kuzon. A most fitting name for the hero of the hour.."

Kuzon glanced at both of them and bowed, "Thank you, but please know I didn't do all this for some misplaced sense of fame. I merely did what my family honor demanded." He then gave all of them a severe look. His golden eyes burned with a fierce intensity. "No matter what it takes…I will make sure Ozai's entire world will burn before him. His empire. His lapdogs. His dreams. The Burning Throne. It will all burn...in flames."

Katara then turned to him and smirked. She then took his hand, squeezed it tightly, and turned to her smiling. "I am with you all the way, sweetie. Until the end." He gave her a nod. "As I am with you, sweetie."

Sokka and Yue both stared at one another for a brief moment.

Both of them were giving sad smiles.

Yue smiled as tears ran down her eyes, "I…really wish you didn't have to go polar bear. The time we've had together has been amazing. I wish you could stay."

Sokka chuckled as he took her hands into his own. "I know, my sweet princess, but someone has to watch Kuzon's back. That hothead will get himself killed if I don't keep him leveled. Katara too. I know her. She rushes into danger without a thought. I promised Dad I'd protect her."

Yue nodded sadly, "I understand. I want to see them off before you all go."

Sokka half-grinned, "I think I can do that." He then took her by the hand, "Come on."

She then clung to him as they walked towards the others.

Katara and Kuzon were finishing up packing their supplies.

The waterbender then looked around and eyed her boyfriend for a minute. "Hey, sweetie. Have you seen Sokka? He said he had to talk with Yue and hasn't returned yet."

Kuzon looked over Ranna at her, shaking his head, "I'm afraid not, sweetie."

Katara grumbled as she finished packing her stuff. "Ugh! I don't mind him running off, but I need help packing his stuff! It's so heavy!"

Kuzon gave her an immediate nod and put the last of his stuff on the makeshift saddle. He then jumped down from Ranna. He then began picking up Sokka's stuff, hoisting it over his shoulder. "I got it."

Katara then smiled, kissed on the cheek, and nodded, "Thank you."

He nodded. "You are welcome."

Sokka then waved at them, "Hey, you two! Sorry for the long wait!"

Katara then turned to her brother with a scathing look. "Sokka! There you are! You said you…" She then blinked when she saw Yue wrapped around her brother's arm. "Yue…"

Yue then blinked at her, smiled apologetically, and sighed, "Sorry sister. I wanted to see you three off before you left."

Katara turned from her and then to her brother before nodding, "I suppose that's a good excuse." She then rushed to hug Yue tightly.

Yue reciprocated the gesture. "I'm going to miss you, Katara."

Katara sighed and hugged her back tightly. "Not as much as I'm going to miss you sister. Stay safe."

Yue nodded. "You too sister. Please be careful."

Katara chuckled, "I will try."

Yue then looked around. "Is Kuzon around?"

Kuzon then jumped down, "I'm finishing up packing. What's up?"

Yue then turned and saw him. "Kuzon!" She immediately hugged him. "Promise you will be careful as well! And that you will come back to visit Father and I! We would like to see you again!"

Kuzon blinked before he slowly hugged her back. "I..will do my best."

Yue just nodded. "Good. Good. Thank you. I will be praying to the spirits for your sake. For all your sakes." She then broke the hug and walked over to Sokka. She then kissed him passionately, holding his face before breaking the kiss and smiling at him, "I will be thinking of you every day. I love you, my polar bear."

Sokka grinned at her. He then took her hands into his own. "I love you too, my sweet princess. I'll write when we can afford a messenger bird. I promise."

Yue smirked at him, pointing a finger into his chest, "You better." She then walked off back to the city.

Katara smirked coyly, "Wow. I thought I was the only one who could keep you on your toes, Sokka. Not too shabby. I'm growing to like her."

Sokka then glared at her, blushing, "Shut up!"

She then smirked again and stuck her tongue out at him. "Make me." He then scowled, ignoring her, and turned to Kuzon, "Hey, kid. Ranna ready to go?"

Kuzon just nodded pensively. "She is."

Sokka grinned at him almost too happy, "Good! Onward we go to the next adventure!" He then climbed onto the saddle.

Kuzon turned to look at him. I wonder if my sister and I would've been the same way if she were still here. Her. Mother. Father. He then stared at the ground momentarily as the memories flooded back. He was pulled out of his thoughts when Katara put a hand on his shoulder. He stared at her for a moment.

She eyed him worriedly and frowned, "You okay sweetie? You blanked out for a minute there."

He then sighed inwardly and nodded with a smile, closing his eyes, "I'll be fine. Just got lost in my thoughts." He then walked past her, "We should get moving. It would be wise to stay ahead of our pursuers."

She then took his hand and smiled, "I'm right behind you."

He just nodded and firebended the two of them up on Ranna. He then grabbed the reins and pulled back gently to get Ranna's attention.

The dragon sprang into attention with alert eyes. "Raava! Kiyo'shi!"

The dragon suddenly snarled as she got up on her short hindlegs.

She then launched herself off the ground with all her might and used the momentum to flap her wings and fly into the air.

Next chapter coming soon!

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Next one coming soon!

Hint hint...it involves a certain Avatar *wink*