who knows

“Here, like this.” She tried one more time, and you had finally understood it somewhat. Attempting to patch it, you had actually managed to sew part of it, even if it did not look as good as what Katara had done.

“Hey Y/N, Katara, check out this airbending trick.” While continuing to sew, he attempted to catch your attention, but you knew that if you looked away from this, you would not be able to continue it.

“That’s great, Aang.” You spoke up, pulling the thread and tightening the patch.

“That’s really nice.” Katara followed, having not looked as well as you.

“Neither of you even looked.”

“That’s great.” 

“But I’m not doing it now.”

“You need to give girls space when they do their sewing.” He was in for it now.

“What does us being girls have to do with sewing?” She asked, and you could tell by the edge of her tone that there would be an argument and it almost made you want to laugh. The last argument you had gotten into with your own brother had actually been about his obsession with the avatar, and with that thought, you began to wonder if more siblings were like you and your own or more like Katara and Sokka. 

“Simple. Girls are better at fixing pants than guys, and guys are better at hunting and fighting and stuff like that. It’s just the natural order of things.”

“All done with your pants, and look what a great job we did.” You couldn’t help but laugh when she threw the pants and it had hit him in the face. He deserved that one.

“Wait! I was just kidding! I can’t wear these! Katara, please!” He pleaded, showing how bad the hole was by putting his arm through it. “Y/N?” You only shook your head, feeling oddly satisfied at this.

“Relax, Sokka. Where we’re going, you won’t need any pants.” Hearing Aang talk, your satisfaction had been replaced with concern.

“What exactly do you mean by that?” You asked, raising your eyebrow as your worry and concern only grew. “Aang, where are we going?”

“You’ll see!” You only got an excited response and a grin, and you hoped that this sort of thing was optional.

When Appa had landed onto the ground, you could safely say that you could sew a patch now and you were more excited over the fact that Katara was actually talking to you. Did she forget you were a firebender or something? You assumed so and it wasn’t like you liked to show off your ability much, if at all.

“We just made a pit stop yesterday. Shouldn’t we get a little more flying done before we camp out?” The water tribe boy mentioned, as everyone was getting off of the bison.

“He’s right. At this rate, we won’t get to the North Pole until spring.”

“But Appa’s tired already. Aren’t you, boy?” At Aang’s sentence to his companion, he let out a low grunt. “I said, aren’t you, boy?” He repeated, lightly elbowing Appa, and the bison began to yawn.

“Yeah, that was real convincing. Still, hard to argue with a 10-ton magical monster.” Sokka spoke up, and you pet Appa before beginning to follow the rest of the group as they walked towards the water.

You had heard of these from your brother, but actually seeing the giant fish leap out of the water was another thing.

“That’s why we’re here--elephant koi, and I’m gonna ride it. Y/N, you’ve gotta watch me.” Once you realized just what he was doing, you immediately turned your gaze, your cheeks most likely turning pink. Did he not own a swimsuit or something? You did, but you had left yours back at the palace since you no longer needed it. That, and you had outgrown that one by now.

Your gaze was brought back to him however when you heard a splash and a “Cold!” Now seeing him on top of the elephant koi, you couldn’t help but be in awe. And also maybe a little jealous since you wanted to do that too and it looked so cool!

“He looks pretty good out there.” You commented, only for Sokka to put his two cents in.

“Are you kidding? The fish is doing all the work.”

“No, Appa! Don’t eat that!” You cried out, hurrying over to get the bison away from it, he was most definitely not supposed to be eating that.

“There’s something in the water!” Sokka yelled, catching your attention before you hurried back to the shore, listening to Momo chatter out his worries as well.

“What’s wrong?”

“Aang’s in trouble.” Katara informed you, and all three of you began yelling at him to come back. Whether he could hear any of you was another thing however.

It seemed like he didn’t quite understand since he waved at you guys before the giant koi had sent him flying into the water, only moments before another giant creature rose its large fin from the waters. What even was that? Once Aang could see it, he was quite literally running across the water. You were just glad that he had run into Sokka upon reaching the shore instead of you. That had to have hurt.

“What was that thing?” Katara was quick to ask, your gaze flickering from each sibling and then Aang.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, let’s not stick around to find out. Time to hit the road.” Sokka placed his input, and you were thinking of something to add to the conversation when all of you were overtaken before any of you could even try to use your bending.

Being blindfolded and having your arms bound at the same time was not a pleasant feeling.

“Or we could stay a while.” Sokka added to his previous statement, while you were thinking of ways to escape. You could burn your way through, but you weren’t sure just how many there were or if you could even get the others out. So for now, you supposed you’d let this play out while being practically dragged along by some strangers.

“You four have some explaining to do.” A man said, the four of you now bound to a pole that you were itching to burn. But you weren’t exactly up for hurting your companions, as your control wasn’t that great yet.

“And if you don’t answer all our questions, we’re throwing you back in the water with the Unagi.”

“Is that what that thing is called?” You couldn’t help but mutter, mostly ignoring whoever was talking. You couldn’t see them anyway.

“Show yourselves, cowards!” The water tribe boy shouted, before all of your blindfolds were taken off. Blinking your eyes to adjust to the light, you could see that they were all women with a similar uniform, and you bit your lip to keep most of your excitement from bubbling out. These were the Kyoshi Warriors! You had read about them after sneaking into the royal library one night and had accidentally stayed up too late that night, you had been absolutely dreadful at training the next day.

At the faint memory, you looked down at your covered wrist. It hadn’t left as bad of a scar as the latest one had, nearly limiting your range of motion.

“Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?” You couldn’t help but roll your eyes. All of you were meeting spectacular warriors, of course Sokka had to be sexist about it. How did Katara put up with him for so long?

“There were no men. We ambushed you. Now tell us, who are you and what are you doing here?”

“Wait a second. There’s no way a bunch of girls took us down.”

“I think you’re forgetting your sister is stronger than you.” You remarked, hoping to knock him down a couple pegs.

“A bunch of girls, huh? The unagi’s going to eat well tonight.”

“No, don’t hurt him! He didn’t mean it! My brother’s just an idiot sometimes.” Katara interrupted, while you hadn’t said anything in his defense.

“It’s my fault. I’m sorry we came here. I wanted to ride the elephant koi.” Aang spoke up, a mildly sad tone to his voice.

“How do we know you’re not Fire Nation spies? Even one of you is dressed like Fire Nation.” The man in blue mentioned, pointing at you.

“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t exactly have any spare clothes.” You commented, your own voice holding a ruder tone than you had meant to. “I’m not a Fire Nation spy.” You carefully answered, having almost said that you weren’t Fire Nation, but that would be a lie. You didn’t agree with the nation and such, but it was your home. You couldn’t deny that part of yourself.

“Kyoshi stayed out of the war so far, and we intend to keep it that way.” You assumed the man was the leader of the island, and you couldn’t say you liked him much but you could at least respect him for not having hurt any of you. Yet.

“This island is named for Kyoshi? I know Kyoshi.”

“Ha! How could you possibly know her? Avatar Kyoshi was born here four hundred years ago. She’s been dead for centuries.”

“I know her because I’m the avatar.”

“That’s impossible. The last avatar was an airbender who disappeared a hundred years ago.”

“That’s me.”

“Aang, now’s a good time to do some airbending.” You added, looking at both Sokka and Aang to make sure you weren’t touching either of them before closing your eyes and heating up your hands. You had to be precise with this.

“Throw the impostor to the unagi.” The leader cried out, and suddenly the ounce of respect you had for him was gone as the Kyoshi Warriors drew up their fans and you had very carefully burned the rope through without even setting the rest of it alight.

At the leader’s command though, the monk had broken out of the ropes by flying into the air and you slipped out of your own at the same moment.

“It’s true. You are the avatar.” The leader finally agreed as Aang floated down to the ground.

“Now, check this out.” He said, before grabbing the marbles out of his shawl and spinning them in between his hands without touching them, which you had to admit was pretty cool. And apparently the people of Kyoshi Island agreed, cheering for him, and even one guy was foaming at the mouth. Was he okay? You blinked, looking at the now unconscious man in concern.

You stretched, somewhat worried about what the people would do if they found out you were a firebender with a high status. Would you be cast out? Or would it be worse when they found your title? Princess Y/N, banished princess of the Fire Nation. They couldn’t use you for much, seeing as you were banished, your father wouldn’t accept a ransom. Practically trapped in your thoughts, you hadn’t noticed when everyone else was awake after a night in one of the empty houses on Kyoshi.

You also hadn’t noticed that you had started pacing some time ago, your gaze switching from the floor and to the statue of avatar Kyoshi being repainted.

“All right! Dessert for breakfast! These people sure know how to treat an avatar. Mm! Y/N, you’ve gotta try these.” Aang exclaimed after a few people had brought over practically a feast of pastries, and he was quick to try a few as they left. Katara was hesitantly tasting a puff of some sort on his left. You weren’t even sure if your stomach could handle anything yet, as you had been bubbling with nervousness, but you caved at his look.

“Maybe just a bite.” You answered, carefully sitting at his right before reaching and taking a puff that looked somewhat similar to what Katara had picked up. You glanced over at the rest of them before taking a bite and being pleasantly surprised at the taste of it.

“Sokka, what’s your problem? Eat!” 

“I’m not hungry.”

“But you’re always hungry.”

“Since I’ve known you, you’ve complained more about food than anything else. Are you that upset about being beaten by girls? My sister and I used to beat my brother all of the time.” You spoke up, making sure not to talk with any food in your mouth. 

“They snuck up on me.” Sokka retorted, only for his sister to mouth off as well.

“Right, and then they kicked your butt.”

“Sneak attacks don’t count. Tie me up with ropes.. I’ll show them a thing or two.. I’m not scared of any girls. Who do they think are, anyway?” Sokka exclaimed, before beginning to leave the room muttering to himself, then promptly turning around to grab a few desserts.

“What’s he so angry about? It’s great here. They’re giving us the royal treatment.” With that, you held back a wince. You did not want to be a royal anymore, not that you really did in the first place.

“I disagree. I think I prefer camping out in the woods.” At least then you wouldn’t have to worry about failing your firebending training or if you’d done too well to the point of upsetting either sibling.

“Hey, don’t get too comfortable. It’s risky for us to stay in one place for very long. Especially with Y/N and her brother on our trail.” At Katara’s comment, you only nodded in agreement, although you were saddened at the thought of your last meeting with your brother.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Besides, did you see how happy I’m making this town? They’re even cleaning up that statue in my honor.”

“Well, it’s nice to see you excited about being the avatar. I just hope it doesn’t all go to your head.”

“Come on, you know me better than that. I’m just a simple monk.” He said, standing up and looking out through the open window, immediately hearing girls cheer. 

As he left the house, he had been chased around by his fangirls while you had been helping Katara ready with things she was more accustomed to. Holding a jar as she picked out the ingredients wasn’t difficult, you thought as Aang had managed to excuse himself from his fangirls for a moment.

“Hey Aang. Can you help carry this back to the room? It’s a little heavy.” Katara asked, while you just bit your tongue to keep from saying anything rude.

“Actually, I can’t right now.”

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

“I promised the girls I’d give them a ride on Appa. Why don’t you two come with us? It’ll be fun.”

“Watching you show off for a bunch of girls does not sound like fun.”

“Well, neither does carrying your basket.”

“It’s not my basket. These supplies are for our trip. I told you, we have to leave Kyoshi soon.”

“I don’t want to leave Kyoshi yet. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something I really like about this place.”

“Oh, I could tell you what it is.” You muttered, eyes narrowed at the mob of girls already forming not too far away.

“What’s taking you so long, Aangie?” One of them yelled at him, and if you were almost tempted to throw a ball of fire at her. That was your soulmate she was talking to like that!

“Aangie?” Katara asked, and you were so very glad that she happened to be saying pretty much everything that you wouldn’t.

“Just a second, Koko.” He turned around, giving her a smile and a wave.

“Simple monk, right?” You remarked, before forcing yourself to somewhat relax upon seeing a bit of steam coming from your hands. You had to be calm before you set something ablaze, but at least you were practicing your self-control lately.

“I thought you promised that this avatar stuff wouldn’t go to your head.” Katara said

“It didn’t. You know what I think? You two just don’t want to come because you’re jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what?” You almost scoffed, although you were pretty sure that he had hit the nail right on the head there. 

“Jealous that we’re having so much fun without you.” Aang responded, but you hadn’t said a word this time.

“That’s ridiculous.” Katara agreed with you, placing one more ingredient in the heavy jar.

“It is a little ridiculous, but I understand.” Aang said, causing you both to huff and walk off, heavy jars in each of your arms.

Heading back to the room, the two of you put the jars not too far from the entrance so that you wouldn’t have to carry it too far when the group would leave.

“He was right, wasn’t he?” Katara coolly commented, leaving you to almost babble in surprise, before ultimately giving up.

“Yeah.” You answered shortly, letting her speak as you began your stretches as she started to practice with her waterbending.

“Is it his name on your wrist?” To which, you nodded, taking a layer of clothing off as you finished them and began your firebending training.

“I doubt it’s my name on his though.” You admitted, feeling like you had actually managed to make a friend without either Azula or Zuko being friends with them first. It also happened to be the first time anyone had seen the majority of your scar apart from the physician.

“Y/N, when did that happen?” Katara asked, a bit of concern seeping into her tone for her newfound friend, once she could see the extent of your scar that covered your shoulder and all the way down to your right wrist.

“It happened three years ago.” You said, feeling a bit of shame for being a firebender with a burn scar, but mostly anger at what your father had done to both of you because the two of you disagreed with him in different ways.

“Oh spirits. . Y/N.. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry that happened.” You weren’t sure what she was thinking of when she fell quiet.

“Hey, Katara, it’ll be okay.” You murmured, before continuing, unsure of whether or not you should hug her.

“Can I ask, who did this?”

“My father. But I left, and I don’t plan on going back.” You answered, stiffening for a moment when she hugged you, not having expected it.

As you each turned back to your training, having bonded more than either of you expected, in walks the avatar himself.

“Y/N, remember how the unagi almost got me yesterday?

“Yeah.” You answered curtly, creating a flame in your hand as you balanced yourself on one leg. This was about control, and you needed to practice. You made the fire curl like as if it was water around your hands.

“Well, I’m gonna go ride it now. It’s going to be real dangerous.”

“Good for you.”

“You’re not going to stop me?”

“Nope, have fun.” 

“I will.”

“Great.”

“I know it’s great.”

“Well, I’m glad you know.”

“I’m glad you’re glad.”

“Good!”

“Fine!” The two of you bickered back and forth, your own flame growing in size but before you lost control, you dispelled it so you could calm down.

“Are you sure that it’s not your name on his wrist?” She teased, your cheeks growing hotter as you dropped your flame again.

“I’m sure!” You exclaimed, although you hoped that she was right.

“Okay, then go see him when you’re done and see how he reacts, and I won’t be going.”

“He likes you, not me, Katara.” You remarked bluntly, glancing over at her to see her just shaking her head. You would go to see him alone, and you’d be proven right, of course.

You always liked to be right, and this would be no different. Or maybe you just couldn’t imagine someone liking you for you. You shook your head at the thought of it. Now you couldn’t focus, and you ended up leaving earlier than you usually would have finished your training.

You ended up arriving at the shore just in time as his fangirls were leaving, secretly being quite satisfied with that fact, not that you would admit that.

“Y/N, you showed up!” You noticed that he happened to be quite excited, but you chalked it up to it just being because you were his friend.

“Yeah, I wanted to make sure you didn’t get eaten or anything. I was worried.”

“Back there you acted like you didn’t care.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too. I did let all that attention go to my head. I was being a jerk.”

“Alright jerk, now get out of the water before you get sick.” You joked, knowing that he wouldn’t take that seriously.

“On my way!” He yelled back, before swimming back as you noticed the unagi behind him. Within moments, the creature had caught up with him, lifting him out of the water on its scales only to spray water out of its mouth at him, but you noticed he was at least alive when he was screaming and holding onto its whiskers, being flung around like a ragdoll. You hurried towards him when he had finally let go, landing in the water. For a moment you wished you could bend water instead when you grabbed onto him and the unagi leaned down to see you, but you shot a ball of fire at it. You missed and it was quick to spray where you were, creating a wave and knocking the both of you backwards.

The two of you had been lucky when you washed up a bit behind rocks, having a natural cover, and the serpent hadn’t seen you. Upon looking out at the sea again, you could see the metal Fire Nation ship and you instantly knew it was Zuko’s. Skillfully hiding behind some rocks as komodo rhinos walked onto the island, you moved Aang to wake him up.

“Y/N. .” He coughed out, while you let out a breath of both exasperation and relief. “Don’t ride the unagi. Not fun.”

You had been quick to help him up onto his feet and head back to the town, 

“Hey avatar, these little girls can’t help you now.”

“Hey, over here!” Aang yelled out to your brother, as you tried your best to control the flames burning the houses. He kept him distracted as best as he could, and you couldn’t help the village as it began to burn down, with even the repainted statue of Kyoshi burning.

“Look what I brought to this place.”

“This isn’t your fault.” 

“Yes, it is. These people got their town destroyed trying to protect me.”

“Zuko will leave Kyoshi to follow us if we leave. I think it’s the best way.” You attempted to comfort him, while you were helping Katara keep kids away from the flames.

“I’ll call Appa.”

The three of you and Momo were on Appa, helping Sokka onto the bison, as you glanced down at the flames and you could see your brother in it all. You probably wouldn't have noticed, had it not been for his hair.

“I know it’s hard, but you did the right thing, Aang.” You spoke up, noticing the look on his face. “ Zuko would have destroyed the whole island if we stayed.”  You couldn’t help but think that it was partially your fault, remembering the betrayed look on his face when you had gone against him and helped the avatar. Blinking the memory away, you quickly saw him jump off of Appa, simply falling into the water only to come out riding the unagi. Letting your shoulders drop for a moment, you couldn’t say you were entirely surprised when he used the serpent’s ability to spray water to help the village.

You were at least glad when he jumped back up and Appa had managed to catch him just in time.

“I know, I know. That was stupid and dangerous.”

“Really shocking, right? I’m the only one left in my family to bend water.” You couldn’t keep the bitter tone from your voice, crossing your arms as Ruo was merely wagging his tail as he sat next to you. “Stuff happens, I guess.” You answered, not wanting to delve into your family history too much.

“She’ll be joining us for training. Her father was a southern water bender as well.” At the mention of him, you tensed, having not said anything about him in front of anyone. Apart from when you thought you were alone in the clearing not far from your house. Just how much did she know about you now? You did not trust her in the least now.

But you wanted to learn more than you probably should’ve, and simply followed as she had led the way to a meadow of fire lilies. You had your deerdog sit out of the clearing, knowing that he would listen, but you hadn’t wanted him to end up eating any of them.

“Wow, these flowers are beautiful.” Katara had said, and you only shrugged, you’d seen the flowers and what they could do if certain animals ate them. You couldn’t exactly say they were your favorite after having to dig out the flower from Ruo’s mouth once.

“They’re called fire lilies. They only bloom a few weeks a year, but they’re one of my favorite things about living here. And like all plants and all living things, they’re filled with water.”

“I met a waterbender who lived in a swamp and could control the vines by bending the water inside.” 

“You can take it even further.” Hama quickly bended water out of the flowers with ease, and you could only blink in awe as she turned the water towards a rock, only to slice it into pieces with the water.. She was a creepy old lady, but she was a great waterbender.

“That was incredible. It’s a shame about the lilies, though.”

“They’re just flowers.” You commented, although you definitely agreed with the compliment towards the innkeeper.

“When you’re a waterbender in a strange land, you do what you must to survive. Tonight, I’ll teach you the ultimate technique of waterbending.” She spoke, laying her hand on the other girl’s shoulder before continuing. “It can only be done at the full moon when your bending is at its peak.”

“But isn’t that dangerous? I thought people have been disappearing around here during the full moon.” She was quick to ask, and your brows furrowed, almost wondering who would try to attack the three of you.

“Oh Katara. Three master waterbenders beneath a full moon? I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” With that, she began to walk away. While you certainly hadn’t considered yourself a novice waterbender, you wouldn’t call yourself a master either.

The three of you left the meadow of flowers for the forest, and you couldn’t help but wonder just exactly the technique would be. Your father had done the best he could when he caught you practicing a few months before he disappeared years ago.

“Can you feel the power the full moon brings? For generations, it has blessed waterbenders with its glow, allowing us to do incredible things. I’ve never felt more alive.” You took a glance at Katara, unsure of what she was planning on doing. “What I’m about to show you I discovered in that wretched, Fire Nation prison.” She started, giving her a concerned look, almost knowing that she was going to explain something that happened in her youth.

 “The guards were always careful to keep any water away from us. They piped in dry air, and had us suspended away from the ground. Before giving us any water, they would bind our hands and feet so we couldn’t bend. Any sign of trouble was met with cruel retribution. And yet, each month, I felt the full moon enriching me with its energy. There had to be something I could do to escape. Then I realized that where there is life, there is water. The rats that scurried across the floor of my cage were nothing more than skins filled with liquid.”

As she continued with her story, you felt a chill down your spine and had nearly cowered into yourself. She was explaining how she escaped, wasn’t she?

“And I passed years developing the skills that would lead to my escape. Bloodbending. Controlling the water in another body. Enforcing your owl will over theirs. Once I had mastered the rats, I was ready for the men. And during the next full moon, I walked free for the first time in decades. My cell unlocked by the very guards assigned to keep me in. One you perfect this technique, you can control anything. Or anyone.”

“But to reach inside someone and control them? I don’t know if I want that kind of power.”

“The choice is not yours. The power exists, and it’s your duty to use the gifts you’ve been given to win this war.” You only frowned when she reached out to Katara, but couldn’t help but feel pity for the former prisoner. “Katara, they tried to wipe us out, our entire culture, your mother.”

“I know.”

“Then you should understand what I’m talking about. We’re the last true waterbenders of the southern tribe. We have to fight these people whenever we can. Wherever they are, with any means necessary.”

“It’s you. You’re the one who’s making people disappear during the full moons.” You accused, everything finally linking together.

“They threw me in prison to rot along with my brothers and sisters. They deserve the same, you abomination!” As she insulted you, you flinched, having been the only child of your father. “She must carry on my work.”

“I won’t, I won’t use bloodbending and I won’t allow you to keep terrorizing this town.” Katara spoke, the wind seemingly getting stronger as it blew through her hair. But she yelped when her arm had twisted and she hadn’t controlled it, and you knew it was Hama.

“Let her go!” You yelled, bringing water from the ground and throwing it towards her with a fling of your hand as she tried to fight it.

“You should have learned the technique before you went against me. It’s impossible to fight your way out of my grip. I control every muscle, every vein in your body.” Hama began to use her as if she was a puppet, trying your best to defeat her to let her go only to be brushed to the side for a moment until she broke free herself.

“And as for you, little abomination. You should have never been born. I told your father that when he tried to ask me to train you!”

“What?” You asked, nearly breathless from the information you had just received. “You. . You are the reason my father never came back?”

“You’re not the only one who draws power from the moon.” Katara spoke, back on her feet and beginning to bend the water around her. “My bending is more powerful than yours, Hama. Your technique is useless on me.” With that, the water around her was sent flying towards the old lady. The pair of waterbenders had sent the blasts of water from one to another, the blast growing bigger each time until Katara had destroyed it, before bringing more back to Hama and she tumbled to the ground.

But you hardly registered any of it, standing numbly off to the side. Your father was always the reason your mother hadn’t hurt you until he disappeared. And you had just found out that it was because of you. Fists clenching at your side, you turned your attention to Hama once more.

“Give it up, Hama. You shouldn’t continue with this.”

“No. It was you who should not have continued to breath! Your father was a Water Tribe bender and your mother was from the Fire Nation!”

“Maybe so, Hama. But here I am.” You answered, before she turned her abilities onto you, an odd feeling overcoming you, and you had almost hit Katara when she dodged and bended water towards Hama.

“Sorry about that!” You called out, quickly noticing that two of her friends had tried to help Katara, only to be controlled as well. It was like you were all puppets to be controlled.

One of them let out a yelp when his hand was frozen to a tree, and Hama had made a comment shortly after.

“Don’t hurt your friends, Katara. And don’t let them hurt each other.” She threatened, before controlling the two boys towards each other, one of them having a sword drawn as if he was ready to hurt him. But they were stopped.

When they stopped, so had you, and you tumbled to the ground, quickly looking at Katara as she had controlled the old innkeeper herself as a girl younger than you had brought back all of the missing villagers and you were saddened to see Hama back in chains again, but it had to be done. Maybe she could have another chance once the war was over, and she actually got help.

“You’re going to be locked away forever.” One of the villagers said, before beginning to take her away.

“My work here is done. Congratulations, Katara. You’re a bloodbender.” She laughed, as said waterbender began to cry. You wanted to reach out but hesitated for a moment as she had started crying into your shoulder.

Meditating while flying in the air was certainly something, you almost wanted to ask for another ride on his glider. That had been fun, but you couldn’t say that you wanted to because like almost everyone you were related to, you had a bit of an issue with your pride.

Waiting until everyone was awake to open your eyes wasn’t all that difficult, as you had been more focused on meditating and the sun was always helpful in that regard. 

They were already lowering down to the ground when you opened your eyes, the light making it seem like it was a new place. But you had already seen it before, a few months before your brother had come across the water tribe and the avatar himself.

“Wait ‘til you see it Katara, the air temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world.” You held back a wince at his optimism, not having wanted to say anything and end up hurting him.

“Aang, I know you’re excited, it’s been a few hundred years since you’ve been home.” Katara tried to say, only for said avatar to get even more excited about returning.

“That’s why I’m so excited!”

“It’s just that a lot can change in that time.” 

:”I know, but I need to see it for myself.” He added, and you only looked down at your hands as Aang hopped off of Appa after tying off the reins, you weren’t quite sure exactly what he was doing.

“Wake up Sokka, air temple here we come!” He exclaimed, leaning over the older boy who was still lying on the ground, all bundled up in the sleeping bag?

“Sleep now. Temple later.” He responded, before turning around and immediately beginning to snore. Aang practically lit up like a light bulb when he suddenly got an idea, getting a mischievous smile on his face, before picking up a stick and lightly drew it along Sokka’s sleeping bag.

“Sokka, wake up! There’s a prickle snake in your sleeping bag!” He called out, 

“Ahhh! Get it off! Get it off! Ahh!” The water tribe boy was quick to get up, jumping around inside of his sleeping bag before promptly falling face-forward. You tried to hide your snickers while his sister and Aang had no qualms about it.

“Great, you’re awake, let’s go.” He had said, and the four of you were back to flying on Appa after camping for the night.

Hearing a surprisingly loud stomach growl, you’d been surprised to learn that it hadn’t been you.

“Hey, stomach, be quiet, alright? I’m trying to find us some food.” You heard from Sokka, and you briefly glanced at him, unsure of whether or not you should give him some advice on hunger, but you assumed that he would probably not like that.

So you chose not to say anything this time. After all, you had gone hungry more times than you could count on both hands. Who would have wanted a princess who ate too much anyway? When you were younger, you used to sneak into the kitchen to get more food, but you made sure to eat it in your brother’s room since you would’ve gotten in trouble if they knew it was you.

“Hey! Who ate all my blubbered seal jerky?” He ended up asking, after searching through his pack and finding nothing. You would’ve shared yours, if you had enough time to grab anything when you left.

“Oh, that was food? I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry.” Aang admitted, looking back at his friend, although your gaze was back on the cloud, only half-way paying attention.

“You what? Aww. No wonder the flames smelled so good.” Sokka muttered, and you bit your tongue as your own stomach growled.

“The Potola mountain range! We’re almost there!” The avatar exclaimed, finally drawing your attention.

“Aang, before we get to the temple, I want to talk to you about the airbenders.” Katara started, and you avoided looking anywhere but the two talking.

“What about them?”

“Well, i just want you to be prepared. The Fire Nation is ruthless. They killed my mother, and they could’ve done the same to your people.” With that, you couldn’t help but wince, and you agreed. You couldn’t help but look at your shoulder when she spoke, you could have sworn you saw a spark of yellow coming from your hand. 

Looking down at your hands, you let out a breath of relief when you saw that it wasn’t lightning like you feared, but fire still.

“Just because no one has seen an airbender doesn’t mean the Fire Nation killed them all.” How was he still so optimistic? You knew that it was clear that the Fire Nation had ruined lives, families, and more that you probably didn’t know about.

“No, she has a point.” You added quietly, not having expected anyone to really hear you speak but it caught more attention than you meant.

“They probably escaped.” He continued, his gaze moving from the sky back to Katara.

“I know it’s hard to accept.” She started, 

“You don’t understand Katara, the only way to get to an airbender temple is on a flying bison. And I doubt the Fire Nation has any flying bison. Right, Appa?” he asked, petting him and he started to fly around a mountain.

You blinked for a moment, not wanting to show how vulnerable you really were at this point. Here you were, on a flying bison of all things, you had no clue where you were and you were starting to really regret sneaking out of the map-reading classes you had before.

Holding on tight to the saddle, you started to go up higher through the mountain and above a forest, only to see the temple.

“There it is, the Southern Air Temple.”

“Aang, it’s amazing!”

“We’re home, buddy. We’re home.”

Truth be told, you were hardly paying any attention. You hadn’t been since you realized that this was your soulmate’s home and your nation had killed his people. You may not have been the one to order it, but it was your family. Were the spirits losing it? Why would they have matched the two of you up?

With that thought, you hesitated in getting off of Appa when he had landed on the ground. You had heard of people having different soulmates in a book you read once, so were you his? You already knew that he was yours.

You were grateful for a moment that they hadn’t particularly wanted to talk to you, or your quietness probably would’ve been mentioned already.

“So where do I get something to eat?”

“You’re lucky enough to be one of the first outsiders to ever visit an airbender temple, and all you can think about is food?”

“I’m just a simple guy with simple needs.” Listening to the two siblings talk had made you miss your own, but you certainly hadn’t missed the expectations that came with either one.

“So that’s where my friends and I would play airball, and over there is where the bison would sleep.” Aang had said, pointing out to each place when you and the water tribe siblings had caught up with him. He let out a sigh, dropping his hands as if he was beginning to realize something.

“Aang, what’s wrong?”

“This place used to be full of monks and lemurs, and bison. Now there’s just a bunch of weeds. I can’t believe how much things have changed.” He finished, looking over the short cliff, before turning to look at the three of you.

“So uh, this airball game--how do you play?” Sokka asked, walking a bit closer to the edge of the cliff where the monk was. Was this going to be a fair game? Probably not, but you were hoping to see the water tribe boy lose anyway. With that simple question, he brightened and then the two had gotten onto the odd poles, each on the opposite sides. 

Aang began by making an airball and kicking it at an angle, only for it to ricochet between the poles and hit the older boy in his chest, knocking him off of it entirely.

“Aang 7, Sokka 0.” He laughed, making the numbers with his arms, a grin already on his face. As you tried to figure out how exactly the game was played, you hardly noticed what the nonbender was muttering.

“Hey Aang? What are the rules in this game?” You couldn’t help but ask. There were rules in everything, and this would most likely be no exception.

“There are no rules in airball! You just make an airball and get it through the hoop while the other person tries to stop it!” He had said, throwing you for a loop and the confusion must’ve been obvious on your face when he spoke again. “Here, I’ll show you!”

Making another airball wasn’t difficult at all in his case, but physically impossible in yours. Standing where Sokka had been was a little daunting, not that you would admit that, and you were about to hold your hands out to stop the airball, but you couldn’t bring fire to this place. Not when so many firebenders themselves had wreaked havoc here. You wouldn’t put yourself among them either.

“Aang, there’s something you need to see.” Katara had called out, and the two of you had started to head over there, Aang still playing with the airball.

 “What is it?” Knowing what the topic had been before, you had a suspicion of what it was but you weren’t going to mention it. But before he could see anything, the waterbender had moved the snow only for it to land on her brother. 

“Uhh, just a new waterbending move I learned.” You leaned forward to help the older boy with the snow, since as a firebender you could definitely do that, but he shrugged you off and you hadn’t attempted again.

“Nice one. But enough practicing. We have a whole temple to see.” Aang had said, already walking away from you three.

“You know, you can’t protect him forever.” Sokka was still brushing the snow off, and you couldn’t help but think that they were ignoring you. But with that thought, you had received a sideways glance from Katara and an attempted glare from Sokka. Resisting the urge to roll your eyes at the glare, you knew they had every right to not trust you and the like, but you had seen and gave better glares than that.

“Katara, firebenders were here. You can’t pretend they weren’t.” Only halfway listening to the siblings, you started to walk away and towards the fountain, barely catching a glimpse of Aang as he ran around.

You hardly remembered much about the temples or the three-year trip around the nations themselves, as you had still been recovering from your burns when your brother decided that he hadn’t needed you and by the time you had recovered, you wanted nothing to do with the Fire Nation.

Placing your hand onto the stone fountain, you could already see quite a bit of the snow melting around you, only for you to quickly take your hand off when you started to see steam. You had been losing most of your control with your firebending when you became upset, but that hardly ever showed when you weren’t.

Lost in your thoughts, you almost started to panic when you realized that the water tribe siblings were walking away until you had heard Aang call out to them, assuming that he had meant only them after all.

“Hey guys! I want you to meet somebody!” But at the exclamation, you couldn’t help but follow after them anyway.

“Who’s that?” Katara had been the first to ask, once they noticed Aang pointing to an old statue of an old man. 

“Monk Gyatso. The greatest airbender in the world.” He answered, turning to face the statue instead of his friends, only to turn back to them, gesturing to the statue. “He taught me everything I know.” Giving a bow to the statue itself mere moments after your soulmate had, you were saddened to see the run-down state of the statue

“You must miss him.” Was she always this motherly? You almost wanted to point it out, but you knew she had the ability to beat you in a battle and you were not willing to risk your life yet.

“Yeah.”

“Where are you going?”

“The Air Temple Sanctuary. There’s someone I’m ready to meet.” Who could be still alive long enough to meet him? No one, they wouldn’t be. Not after a hundred years, not to mention a literal genocide.

Following the avatar in the temple was an easy decision of yours, you had wanted to see it for yourself after your brother had mentioned it so many times anyway.

“But, Aang, no one could have survived in there for a hundred years.” The waterbender brought up, you agreed with her much to her dislike.

“Maybe they never did.” You added, slightly unsure of yourself upon seeing the trumpet-looking contraption at the door. How were any of you supposed to open that?

“It’s not impossible.” Aang spoke up, as the group had stopped before the large door. “I survived in the iceberg for that long.”

“Good point.”

“But you’re also the avatar.” You added, almost wanting him to stop being so optimistic for five seconds.

“Katara, Y/N, whoever’s in there might help me figure out this avatar thing.”

“And whoever’s in there might have a medley of delicious cured meats.” Running at the door, he had not made it through like he hoped, landing on the floor with an “oof.” He tried to push it open even after that though, and you almost wanted to laugh. “I don’t suppose you have a key.”

“It looks like it needs more than a key.” You looked at the door, thinking that maybe air had something to do with it, and your thought was proven correct when the airbender spoke up.

“The key, Sokka, is airbending.” He took a deep breath and gestured his hands to the door, air blowing into it, making the blue shells on it turn and show the other side. The doors began to open with ease, showing a room filled with statues as far you could see.

“Hello? Anyone home?” Aang was the first one to walk inside, with the three of you lagging a bit behind, and you were a bit ahead of the two siblings. You hadn’t wanted to intrude on really any of this, but you had read more than you had thought about the avatars, probably because of your brother. 

With that thought, you immediately frowned, having hoped for the three of you to reconnect but now, you were sure there was no chance of that for at least a while, considering your brother was most likely calling you a traitor for what you did and your sister, well, she was still in the palace with your father and it was the last place you had wanted her. If he hurt you and Zuko, who’s to say he wouldn’t hurt her?

“Statues? That’s it? Where’s the meat?” Shaking your head ever so slightly, you turned your attention to the older boy complaining of no food and you felt your eye twitch but you bit your tongue.

“Who are all these people?”

“I’m not sure, but it feels like I know them somehow.”

“They’re avatars.” You interrupted, only recognizing a few from what you had read about them, stepping towards a firebender while Aang and Katara pointed out airbenders and waterbenders, each to their respective element of course.

Leaving them be for a few moments, you began to follow the pattern of avatars across the room. Fire, air, water, earth. It took you a bit longer than you would’ve preferred, but you managed to find the last avatar. 

You glanced over when you heard footsteps coming towards you, seeing Aang as he looked up at the statue. You had been expecting for him to say something, but you noticed that he was practically entranced into staring up at the avatar before him.

“Aang!” You had spoken up, beginning to shake him and you were grateful that you hadn’t had to shake him for long. “Who is that?” When you asked it, you hadn’t been expecting an answer.

“That’s avatar Roku, the avatar before me.” He clarified, and you realized why he had looked somewhat familiar. You read about him, and that he’d been close to Sozin, your great grandfather. Close enough for him to give the crown prince ornament.

“You were a firebender? No wonder I didn’t trust you when we first met. Uh, no offense.” Sokka asked, as the two siblings grew closer to the last statue in the line.

“None taken.” You added, having heard worse but you mostly expected it.

“There’s no writing. How do you know his name?”

“I’m not sure. I just know it somehow.”

“You just couldn’t get any weirder.” The water tribe boy grunted out, and you sent a scowl for it, knowing that you might look more intimidating than your brother. 

But the group went silent once you could hear light footsteps and almost instantly each one of you hid behind a statue. Katara and Sokka were behind the same one, as well as Aang and yourself.

“Firebender. Nobody make a sound.” Sokka had whispered, and you gulped. There could have been a few stragglers, and you knew that there would be a bounty on your own head, much like it was with your brother and uncle. You had all been considered traitors to your nation and banished.

“You’re making a sound.” Katara retorted, and you couldn’t help but snicker at the two siblings while the boys continued to shush you both.

“That firebender won’t know what hit him.” You frowned at his words, but you had felt a spike of fear when it had been brought up. Would they act like this towards you one day? You severely hoped not, they could be quite destructive if they wanted.

As each of you had poked your head out from behind the statues, you heard a chittering and you immediately softened, your heart rate going back to normal as well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

“Lemur!”

“Dinner.” The two boys had said in unison, causing you to look at the only other girl in the group with a mildly concerned look. This wasn’t going to go well, was it?

“Don’t listen to him. You’re gonna be my new pet.”

“Not if I get to him first!” Your thoughts had proven correctly when Sokka and Aang began to run after the lemur, practically scaring it to death.

“Wait! Come back!”

“I want to eat you!”

You could only roll your eyes, before beginning to follow after them. The lemur needed a way to escape after all.

“Hey! Come back! Come on out, little lemur. That hungry guy won’t bother you anymore.” Aang said, moving some old curtains out of his way. “Firebenders? They were here?” He murmured, before moving his gaze to see the skeleton of his old mentor. ”Gyatso.” With that realization, he dropped down onto his knees.

“Hey, Aang, you find my dinner yet?” Sokka asked, moving the curtain as well as you had hurried after them, nearly tumbling into the older boy himself. You had let out a quiet gasp when you saw the room filled with Fire Nation soldier skeletons and only one airbending skeleton. But what had you most concerned was your first friend crying.

“Aang, I wasn’t really gonna eat the lemur, okay?” You only shook your head, making your way towards him, stepping past Sokka as you did so. “Oh, man. C’mon Aang. Let’s get out of here.” Before you could say anything to help, Sokka had put his hand on the avatar’s shoulder and his arrows and eyes started glowing.

“Aang, come on!” He tried, but the wind grew worse, sending both of you flying into the remains of a wall. But you had never been one to give up, and he started to levitate in the air, so you had to try something a bit different.

“I know you’re upset, and nothing can replace Gyatso! It’s hard to lose the people you love. Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family. Katara, Sokka, and I, we’re your family now.” You yelled out, hoping that at least some of it would get through to him. And it seemed like it had when the wind died down and he started to come back down.

“We aren’t gonna let anything happen to you. Promise.” Sokka had said when you were finished, the two of you holding his hands for a moment and the glow from him faded and he fell into your side.

“I’m sorry.” 

“It’s okay.” You murmured, letting out a breath that you hadn’t even noticed you were holding. “It’s not your fault.”

“But you and Katara were right. And if firebenders found this temple, that means they found the other ones, too. I really am the last airbender.” You couldn’t help but just hug him. While you weren’t particularly keen on physical touch with anyone, he needed a hug and you happened to be the person that he was laying on.

When he was feeling a little better, the two of you headed back to the sanctuary while the two siblings started packing everything back up.

“How did you know what to say?”

“Well,” letting out a quiet laugh, you gave him a glance before continuing, “my mom disappeared when I was younger. Then more things happened, and I don’t think we have time for my whole life story.” What you said was true, you didn’t have much time before you would be leaving, but you were mostly looking for a way out of that conversation.

“Thanks, Y/N. But how is Roku supposed to help me if I can’t talk to him?”

“Maybe you’ll find a way.” You suggested, absolutely unsure of how that would happen. It’s not like they wrote instruction manuals on how to be the avatar, but in hindsight, maybe they should have.

“Everything is packed.” You heard Katara say, and quickly thanked her before hearing the same light footsteps from before, all of you turning to look at the lemur, only for it to drop food at Sokka’s feet.

“Looks like you made a new friend, Sokka.”

“Can’t talk. Must eat.” He spoke through a mouthful of food, and you almost laughed. If your father could see you now, he would’ve been so mad. But that wasn’t the case now. You weren’t Azula, and you spoke against him so perhaps he wouldn’t care at all. Regardless, you sorely hoped that he would be in for it, the next time you met.

“Hey, little guy.” Aang greeted the lemur that was now on his shoulders, and you couldn’t help but pet him. You always did have a soft spot for animals, and Appa was no exception.

“You, me, Appa--we’re all that’s left of this place. We have to stick together. Katara, Y/N, Sokka, say hello to the newest member of our family.”

“What are you gonna name him?” You asked, having been redoing your hair into two low braids and leaving it at that. Much different from having your hair up into a Fire Nation knot like you had been. With that question, the lemur had climbed onto you then Sokka, just to steal a moon peach an inch away from his mouth before scurrying back to Aang’s shoulders.

“Momo.” You couldn’t help but laugh along with them, finally beginning to feel like a part of the group instead of being just there like you had been for the start with them and the majority with your brother.

So much had changed, you thought, in the years that followed. Your mother had gone missing as your father became the new Fire Lord, and you and your brother had been banished.

Your brother might have wanted to return with the Avatar for his honor, but you wanted nothing to do with your father.

Not after he’d hurt Zuko like that. The memory of it had the candles surrounding you aflame and nearly scorching the metal ceiling. He didn’t deserve it, even if he believed otherwise. 

The Agni Kai that had ruined both your brother’s life and your own, had left you practically foaming at the mouth with anger even while you meditated.

The sun was only just rising as you sat in your room, your armor laying on your bed, as you began to feel the familiar warmth dance across your hands. It was close but it was as if it didn’t want to hurt you.

If not for the bandages wrapped around your right shoulder and down to your wrist, you could have forgotten that you had been scarred by a flame just so similar. You hadn’t been able to summon lightning like before, not since before your banishment.

Not that you would, the thought of it leaving a bad taste in your mouth. 

A few hours more of meditating, you weren’t too sure, but there was a flash of light according to your brother and uncle, and a sudden feeling at your wrist, leaving you gasping in surprise or pain, you weren’t sure.

When you looked down at your wrist, it was as if the name had been written in ink once more, no longer faded. It was strange to see it like that, and you couldn’t help but stare at it for a few minutes, as if in awe at it.

Since you hadn’t met your soulmate, you had started to believe what your mother told you years ago, that they had died before the two of you could meet. As you were thinking, you hurried to get your cloak and you were out of your room and out with your brother and your uncle.

“That light came from an incredibly powerful force, it has to be him!” Your brother exclaimed, ever as determined to catch said Avatar and bring him back to Father.

“Or it’s just the celestial lights.” Your uncle added, as you opened our mouth to start talking but he continued while playing his game of Pai Sho. “We’ve been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don’t want you to get too excited over nothing.” Your gaze switched from Zuko and your Uncle Iroh, knowing that he was getting ready to burst. “Please sit. Why don’t you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?”

“I don’t need any calming tea! I need to capture the avatar! Helmsman, head a course for the light!” He shouted, and you briefly wondered if these three years at sea had done anything to help calm his temper. 

You shook your head with a small frown, turning your attention to your uncle, and holding out your arm. You held out a bit of hope for whoever your soulmate was, and now you knew they were alive. “Uncle, look. It’s like new.” You spoke, and at the thought of it, your frown had been switched with a soft smile. You were sure that if you tried to show Zuko, he would just tell you to stop daydreaming again, and to help him with finding the Avatar and you could go home too.

But Uncle Iroh only gave a knowing look before he started to talk, as if he knew something that you didn’t. “How peculiar. Maybe you’ll meet your soulmate soon.” You couldn’t help it when your smile had turned into a grin with what he said. And if what you thought was true, you could only hope that whoever it was wouldn’t hate you on sight. 

“I’m going to bed now.” Letting out a yawn, the old man stretched, his attention going to your brother as you shivered and immediately went into your room. “Yep. A man needs his rest. Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you’re right, and the Avatar is alive, you won’t find him. Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed.”

“Because their honor didn’t hinge on the Avatar’s capture, mine does. This coward’s hundred years of hiding are over.” Zuko had answered his uncle, staring out at the sea with determination.

That night, you could hardly sleep because you were so excited and mildly nervous. He’d said you might meet them soon, and you were a mix between worrying about whether or not they would hate you and excited because this had been all you wanted for years, not that you would admit that to anyone but yourself.

Waking like a regular firebender, you rose with the sun and began training as well as your brother.

“Again,” your uncle repeated, you were sure that it was going to turn into a mantra with how many times he would have to say it.

With another start, you and Zuko began to have another round of training. If you were serious about things and you weren’t like usual, while your brother was overly serious of course.

“No. Power and firebending come from the breath, not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire!” As if to make an example, he did a form of his own and within seconds, he had fire out of his fist. “Get it right this time.”

“Enough. I’ve been drilling this sequence all day. Teach me the next set. I’m more than ready.” Zuko attempted to get him to do so, and you couldn’t help but snicker as your uncle refused to.

“No, you’re impatient. You have yet to master your basics, and Y/N, you have hardly been serious about any of this training for months now.” Your snickering ceased and you shrugged your shoulders, as you had your moments of not training even if they’ve been longer than you originally thought.

“Why should I train? It’s not my life goal to capture the Avatar to regain my honor that I never lost in the first place.” You were somewhat joking to begin with, but then you just ended up being meaner than you meant to.

“You went against Father, and disrespected him! You were banished just as well as I was!”

“I went against him because I needed to.” You retorted, and you almost wished that you weren’t so much shorter than your older brother. You really wanted to slap him for lacking so much common sense.

“That is quite enough, you two.” With that light scolding from your uncle, you went into your room and didn’t come back out that night. 

Of course, the mention of the banishment still hurt, especially since you were the only one that even tried to stop it at nine years old. And you had the scars to prove it as well, but your brother was still hurt badly from it. But at least when you intervened, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

A new day began, and your brother was still bound and determined to catch the Avatar, but this one started with the entire ship temporarily stopping at some tiny village in the South Pole.

“Where are you hiding him?” He asked, before grabbing a poor old lady from the group and grabbing her by her coat. “He’d be about this age, master of all elements.”

“Zuko, let her go!” You were vehement about this and he probably already knew that you wouldn’t stop, and your brother only shoved her to a girl that looked like she could be the old lady’s granddaughter.

As you headed to the edge of the ship, only bits of your armor were on, mostly to keep you warm as your scar had a tendency to hurt sometimes. You wanted to be able to see this, and intervene if need be.

Your brother raised his hand in a half-circle towards the group, just to scare them before he continued. “I know you’re hiding him!” He cried out, before some sort of Southern Water Tribe warrior attempted to attack him only for Zuko to dodge and the other to practically fly over him and landed back in the snow.

At the least, you wanted nothing to do with any of your brother’s fights but you severely hoped that the warrior that he was fighting wouldn’t get too hurt. In a matter of moments, your attention was brought back to them when you heard a clang and saw the boomerang hit the back of his head and you couldn’t help but laugh at him.

You received a glare from Zuko in return as his anger turned to the water tribe boy, and his hands flared with flames before he was suddenly bowled over by some boy wearing orange and yellow. How strange.

The group started cheering when the boy had slid over towards them with the otter-penguin he’d been riding, and you watched as said boy moved his staff and there was suddenly a lot of snow flying over the soldiers and your brother, only for Zuko to melt it off.

“You’re the airbender? You’re the Avatar?” Zuko had asked, a disbelieving tone obvious in his voice. “I’ve spent years preparing for this encounter, training, meditating. You’re just a child.”

“Well, you’re just a teenager.” The boy had sassed back, and you tilted your head, already knowing that your brother was sure to lose his temper and lose.

While he threw punches of fire towards him, the boy blocked it each time with his staff, letting it out before anything could catch, but the flames were scaring the group and they screamed when it got too close.

“If I go with you, will you promise to leave everyone alone?” He said, and you thought that was either very stupid or very brave. You happened to be leaning towards the latter.

You brother got out of his battle stance and merely nodded in agreement, the soldiers already going behind the boy and leading him onto the boat.

“No, Aang, don’t do this,” the girl that your brother had pushed the old lady into pleaded, stepping forward but not close enough to worry anyone going onto the boat.

“Don’t worry, Katara, it’ll be okay.” He answered back, and you froze. You hadn’t even noticed the soldiers being rougher than they should’ve been, all you did was walk away from the edge.

“Take care of Appa for me until I get back.” He said, and you barely registered anything that was happening anymore, putting your hand over your left wrist. There were bracers covering them, but you still felt exposed.

“Head a course for the Fire Nation. We’re going home.” Your brother called out, giving you a glance as well.

While the boat sailed away from the water tribe village, you were still reeling but enough to understand what was going on.

“This staff will make an excellent gift for my father. I suppose you wouldn’t know of fathers, being raised by monks.” Zuko mocked, holding the staff in front of him.

“Seriously? How much more rude can you get?” You snapped, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. He really wanted to mock this kid about fathers, when his own literally burned his face and your arm? He had quite the nerve, didn’t he?                   

“Take the Avatar to the prison hold,” your brother continued, pointedly ignoring what you said. “and take this to my quarters.” He held the staff out to your uncle, letting Iroh take it before walking away before your uncle only turned to another soldier.

“Hey, you mind taking this to his quarters for me?” 

Within minutes of that conversation, the avatar himself was out of the soldiers’ grip and breaking doors down and you had barely gotten in front of your own room when he was trapped between soldiers. 

“Stand down.” You spoke, and with that, they were already sheathing their swords and moving to the side of the hallway.

“Of course-” one of them started, and you knew they were going to say your name, and you just shook your head, just as the boy turned to look at you.

“You haven’t seen my staff around, have you?” To which you nodded, grabbing the rope at his hands and burning the knot so his hands were free within seconds.

“C’mon, follow me.” You said, a grin already forming on your face as you raced past a few empty rooms, you were glad that you had already tried exploring through the boat that you now had memorized.

You knew it would have to be in your brother’s room, walking in first through the open door. It was odd. He never has his door open. He was expecting this, but maybe not from you, or at least you hoped not. You turned with the realization of the open door being a trap to yell at the avatar, but he was already in the room with you by the time you could say anything.

“I expected this.” He said shortly, giving you a glare that made you gaze at the floor instead, glancing back up when your brother had been defeated and your new friend?, you weren’t sure what to call him, but he was pulling you up with him.

In a matter of moments, you were flying? At the sight and the feeling of it, you were in awe and could only let out a laugh before a hand on his ankle was pulling you both back down onto the ship. 

Some sort of a growl had been heard through the crew, and it was where everyone had their attention as well.

“What is that?” Your brother had asked, and you wanted to ask the same thing, but he looked so soft! How was it flying? 

“Appa!” The avatar had yelled out, and you tilted your head, wondering if this was the same Appa he had meant previously. As they got closer, you could see the same girl--Katara, and a boy that looked like the warrior that had attacked your brother.

In his distraction, your brother had thrown fire at him once again, only for him to block it with his staff each time.

When the fire managed to singe his hands, you threw your own at your brother, already knowing that he would block it. Turning to look at Aang, you saw him tumble off the edge, his staff on the other side of the boat.

“Aang!” You yelled, and if this was the last time you saw your soulmate, you swore that it wouldn’t end like this. 

“Aang, no! Aang! Aang!” Katara had shouted, and before you knew it, you let out a breath that you hadn’t realized you were holding once you could see him out of the water. He was bending the water into a spiral, and was this the Avatar state? His eyes and his arrows were glowing as he bent the water, pushing soldiers off the boat, including your brother but you assumed he would be fine.

When he was done, he had slowly dropped onto the floor, you were running towards him while the two water tribe kids flew with Appa, landing on the boat. “Are you okay?” You asked, already bent down onto your knees, checking him over for any injuries.

“Aang, are you okay?”

“Hey Katara, hey Sokka. Thanks for coming.” He said, and as if they were just now realizing that you were here, they turned to you.

“Well, I couldn’t let you have all the glory.”

“I dropped my staff.”

“Got it!”

“Get away from him!” 

“Katara, it’s okay, she saved me!”

“She’s Fire Nation!” The warrior boy exclaimed when he came back with Aang’s staff, and you only gave him a flat look as if to ask if he was just now realizing that.

“That’s fair. Nice to meet you?” You attempted to introduce yourself, before drawing up fire at the soldiers beginning to stand once more when Aang had climbed onto Appa.

As Katara stood up to fight with you, she bended water like Aang had, except accidentally freezing the warrior’s boy feet to the boat. While said boy was busy picking at the ice with the weapon, you were keeping other soldiers away with your advanced flames. You turned to see if Katara needed any help, you blinked to see the three soldiers already frozen.

“Hurry up Sokka!” She called out, already beginning to climb onto Appa.

“I’m just a guy with a boomerang. I didn’t ask for all this flying and magic.” You heard him say, finishing with the ice at his feet before hurrying up onto the bison.

You halfway expected for them to leave you there, but you were being pulled up onto it as well. You looked over the edge of the saddle to see a fireball being thrown towards you, and out of instinct, you cowered, closing your eyes for a moment, just to open them to see Aang having blasted it away with his airbending. 

You were quiet as the group flew away, your arm reaching out as if to touch the clouds, the ones you seemed to be sitting so close to. What did a cloud feel like anyway?

“How did you do that with the water? It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!”

“I don’t know. I just sort of did it.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you were the avatar?”

“Because I never wanted to be.”

“But Aang, the world has been waiting for the avatar to return and end this war.”

“But how am I going to do that?”

“According to legend, you need to first master water, then earth, then fire, right?”

“That’s what the monks told me.”

“Well, if we go to the North Pole, you can master waterbending.”

“We can learn it together!”

“And Sokka, I’m sure you’d get to knock some firebender heads on the way.”

“I’d like that.”

“I guess if we’re stuck with each other, my name is Y/N, and that guy that kept going after you is my brother, Zuko.” You spoke up, albeit hesitantly after hearing what they said, deciding to take your bracers off, you were sure that they would see the name, but with what they had done for their friend, you only hoped they would at least not kill you. Even if you probably deserved it.

“I’m Aang!” Ever the optimist, the airbender happily introduced himself, and was literally the only reason you were here.

“I’m Katara, and this is my brother, Sokka.” She said, although it was obvious that neither of them trusted you, she was at least trying to be polite. And that was okay. You couldn’t say you really expected even that much.

You had yet to figure out why you had even been invited there in the first place, they had mentioned some people to meet, but you hadn’t exactly caught the reason why. But it was an invite you didn’t particularly want to pass considering your nights mostly consisted of staying up later than you should watching just about anything. 

Having arrived at your friend’s place, you were taken off-guard at just how many people were there. How in the world did the house even fit so many people in it? You wondered for a moment, before hoping that you would find her before you ran into any unsavory people.

“Y/N!” Turning your head, you knew it was her, but it was a little difficult to see where she was with how crowded it was.

“Suki! There you are!” You exclaimed, a bright smile taking over your features as the both of you swerved through the crowd. “There wasn’t supposed to be this many people, was there?” You couldn’t help but ask, a teasing tone in your voice, as you already knew that some of her “get-together’s” ended up being parties no matter how hard she tried.

“Have you met anyone yet?” At her question, you shook your head though raising a brow as if to ask what she was planning. “Okay, follow me. I know you already know Sokka, of course.”

“How could I forget?” You remarked, since the two of you had been roommates a few years ago and you had accidentally walked in on them and had immediately walked right back out. 

“I still think I warned you about that one.” “Not clearly enough then since I didn’t notice. You should’ve put a sock on the door.” you suggested, the two of you already beginning to laugh just like old times, before she began to lead you around the surprisingly large house.

“So Y/N, meet one of my friends from college. This is Aang.” Well, fuck. Blinking in surprise, you were sure you looked like a deer in the headlights. This was . . something? You weren’t sure what to call this.

“It’s nice to see you again.” Ever the gentleman. You gave him a small nod, most likely looking like a tomato with how flushed your face was beginning to feel, but that wasn’t about to stop you from being yourself.

“I got to say- you look a lot more handsome when I can actually see.” You weren’t lying either, it was easy to notice how fit he was, not to mention tattoos? You’d never admit it to anyone aside from Suki probably, but tattoos happened to be your kryptonite especially when combined with a lethal amount of kindness.

Giving him a grin, you clearly hadn’t noticed your best friend taking a few bottles of alcohol and leaving you two alone. With a quick glance around the room a few minutes after she left, you realized that she had indeed left and was already texting you things along the lines of he’s single and so sweet. Which the latter you had already found out before you even knew his name.

“Oh thank you.” A gentleman and easy to fluster? Oh, you seemed to be catching feelings faster than you thought. Needless to say, the two of you had gotten along swimmingly, even if you thought that his first impression of you could have been so much better than that.

Years after that chance meeting, you walked through the vegetable garden that you had started. It seemed like you would need to pick a few of them before they went bad, you realized, already grabbing a few of the peppers. But you turned to see your little boy running towards you, without shoes but he raced like the wind when you noticed that he was holding a box of some sort. “Bumi? What are you up to?” You asked, raising a brow when you glanced up to see your husband all out of breath from chasing after him.

“Mama, you should see it! Daddy got this thing, and it’s so pretty!” He exclaimed, flinging his hands around after handing you the box.

“Aww, Bumi, I wanted to be the one to tell her.” Your husband pouted, although he wasn’t entirely serious, and you had given him back the box without even opening it.

“You probably should’ve expected this, Aang.” You joked, ruffling your son’s hair with a smile. You’d always loved to see your husband and your son mess around with each other, especially now since you couldn’t exactly do it yourself since you were expecting, not that Aang would let you anyway.

“Will you open it?” You debated on teasing him, only shaking your head to him with a soft smile before opening the box.

What you had seen inside almost had you a bit confused, as it was picture frames? Looking at each of the frames, you quickly realized that there was one that had a photo of your son when he had been born and the other was left blank.

“Happy birthday.” Wait, what?

“It’s not my birthday though.” It was clear that you were confused, but he just laughed before kissing you.

“Yes, it is.”

“Ewww!” Bumi had made himself known, sticking his tongue out in disgust while the two of you had just begun to laugh.

“Oh Y/N, my inn’s been alright, and while I was out last night, I came across a few kids.” She spoke, gesturing to the girl you had yet to hear the name of. It was odd though you thought, quickly noticing what a bright blue her eyes were. If you weren’t currently trying to hold a conversation, you would’ve most definitely gotten very distracted.

“Nice to meet you.” You kept the greeting brief, unsure if the other girl even wanted to talk to you. She seemed to be a bit younger than you were, but there was something that tipped you off.

“It’s nice to meet you too, I’m Katara.” The name wasn’t from around here, but yours wasn’t exactly either. You gave a curt nod, a polite smile on your face to match hers. At least she comes across as a polite person, and although you hoped for her to think the same of you, your deer dog was near determined to ruin it as he had immediately tried jumping on her, like he would with you whenever you were mad at him for something.

“Ruo, no!” You exclaimed, a flush of embarrassment creeping up your neck and across your face, trying to tug the deer dog away from them. “I’m so sorry, he normally never does this.” You tried to explain, although Ruo was absolutely set on embarrassing you, you thought when he had licked her face before finally listening to you and backing off. “Well, I better get going now, it was nice to see you again Hama, and nice to meet you as well!” 

Hurrying back to your small cabin, you weren’t exactly aware of someone’s gaze still lingering for a few moments as she had turned her attention back to the old lady that was only giving her a knowing look. “What? The deer dog was cute.” She muttered, helping carry their ingredients on their way back to the inn.

Needless to say most likely, you were a little awkward around anyone your age, as most of them were either older than you or younger. You were polite nonetheless, even if Ruo had tried to make sure that you were not.

No one but your mother had even known about your abilities until a six year-old you had run up to her proudly holding a bubble of water from the stream where you were supposed to be doing laundry with her.

“Mama!”

“Put that down right now!” She had cried out, frantically looking around for anyone, and smacked your hands. What she had said had you immediately dropping your grin, the water you were holding up had fallen onto your feet, making the dirt more mud-like. 

“B-but-” You tried to explain, but she wasn’t having it. 

“No, Y/N. You can’t do that here. Do I make myself clear?” Her voice was stern, and your breath hitched. She wouldn’t be letting you do this anymore.

“Of course.” You gulped, your posture and face already beginning to mimic what you’d seen your siblings do when your mother was upset with them.

That had been the last time you practiced in front of your family. You could’ve done so in front of your siblings, but truth be told, you weren’t particularly close with any of them and you didn’t trust them well enough to have them hold that big of a secret. Besides, they had a tendency to tell your secrets anyway.

Since then, you had been practicing it every night, as it seemed like you were stronger during that time instead of the day. Carrying a stream of water around yourself, you seemed as graceful as the water itself. You couldn’t help but wish that your father was still alive though, you heard from each one of your siblings that he could move the water when your mother wasn’t paying attention, perhaps if he was then he could teach you.

You had been training yourself and you were sure to succeed at some point, taking a deep breath and closing your eyes as you made the water wrap around your hands as if they were gloves.

“That’s quite a talent you have, Y/N.” The water slipped from your hands as you had exclaimed in surprise, having thought you would have heard someone coming up into the forest but apparently not.

“Oh-uh. . hi? Sorry, I didn’t expect to see you here, Hama.” You weren’t one to lie much, even to some creepy old lady that you didn’t trust as far as you could throw her, which wasn’t at all.

“I could teach you a few things if you’d like. It’s always nice to find another waterbender.” She offered, wearing a polite smile like one you’d expect from every old lady.

Blinking in surprise, the only thing you could even say was “What?” You were too baffled by the fact that the innkeeper you’d been around your entire life was a waterbender like you. “I’m sorry, it’s just surprising that you’re a waterbender too. But I’d love to.” You answered, even if your gut feeling was to say no and not trust her but when were you ever going to get a chance like this again?

While the flying bison had been landing, the airbender himself couldn’t help but use his glider to get him to the door even quicker. Lightly pushing the door for it to open, he made sure it was as quiet as can be.

Although he tried to be sneaky, as soon as he did so, there was his son looking straight at him for a short moment. “Dad!” Bumi, the second, exclaimed before immediately tackling his father, the latter having dramatically fallen to the ground. The father and son duo was a sight to see, laughter exploding from both of them.

“Dad! Do it again!” The little boy cried out with glee, having been thrown up into the air only for his father to catch him right before he hit the ground with air. The very loud laughter had caught the attention of his wife, the one and only waterbending master, Katara. But she had never been a fan of him doing this game with any of their kids, and the scathing look that he had received for it was enough to make him stop. . for now.

“Alright Bumi, why don’t you finish your food while your mom and I talk and then we can play?” He suggested, but before he could finish his sentence, the boy was already rushing back to the table. Turning his attention back to her with a gentle smile, and he was already being drug out of the room.

“C’mon, I’ve got something to show you.” Heading out of the room, he was led to his daughter’s bedroom, and moved to look at Katara, preparing to ask what he was in for exactly. Nothing about the room itself had changed he thought after looking in, although he wasn’t exactly prepared to see the little girl with a look of combined determination and mild frustration, with her hands hovering around a small bubble of water.

“Daddy, look at what I can do!” The look had quickly formed into one of excitement and pride, craning her head to grin at her parents, before losing control of the water and it dropping onto the floor.

“That’s great, sweetie!” Aang congratulated her, momentarily unaware of his son that had excitedly run after him with a mouthful of food until he had run off after seeing his parents take pride in one of their kids bending. Hearing quick footsteps, he was fast to catch up with his son, but his heart broke to see the hurt look on Bumi’s face when he’d turned around to face his father.

“It’s okay buddy. Some people take a while to bend, and-”

“What if I don’t ever bend like you or Mom?”

Taking another breath, you paused your ranting to turn your back to your mother, but only for a moment. “I spent my life dealing with you, and cleaning up your messes so much that when you got used to it, I was a wreck. So I stopped for a bit, and you immediately threw up everything I’ve ever done in my face. Well, now it’s my turn. Remember when I was so scared of saying the wrong thing, I used to write to you and leave before you could read it and talk to me? I was terrified of you, more than any child should have been. And all of my friends? Needless to say, they stopped hanging out with me and talking because you always managed to scare them away, saying that they weren’t good enough for me. And I trusted you.” Ending with that sentence, you had let out a crooked laugh.

“I’m sure I won’t do that again, will I? No, because you won’t be around for me to do so. Not this time. I used to beg her not to hurt you, you know? I should have let her.” It was clear that while you were monologuing, you were beginning to unravel.

While your mother wasn’t particularly listening to most of your speech, how rude, she had caught what you last said. “Let who?”

“Oh, you haven’t caught on yet? And you constantly said that I was the moron.” You remarked, your hazel eyes having long lost the shine to them as you watched the flame dance across your arm. “Azula, of course. You know, the one friend you pushed me to have. In hindsight, you probably should have thought about that choice a bit more.”

“You always thought I wasn’t good enough, didn’t you? It wasn’t all that hard to pick up, even when I was younger. And no one believed me about you either. No one but Azula. I owe everything to her, and not you.” You blinked quickly, as if to catch yourself from falling into a memory. “You might be the one that brought me into this world, but you didn’t raise me, no. I raised myself.”

Now that you really thought about it, you did owe her big time. She brought you into her life, helped you with both food and training when your mother chased you out of the house. She was the first one to mention that your mother wasn’t the best, and that you could be so much more than just a daughter to be married off and have children, as that was expected of you. But you were certain that her plan concerning you didn’t just include helping you as much as it did you helping her.

“Y/N, what are you doing? Don’t touch me!” Your mother began to screech, and as you looked down at yourself, you were forcing the fire to burn her skin, causing red blisters and bubbles to form. But all you could hear was the sound of her screaming in pain.

Waking with a start, the first thing you noticed was you were no longer in your childhood home and the only flame around you was a few candles that you must’ve forgotten to blow out. The second thing was that you were alone, apart from your deer dog, your seemingly only loyal companion. It was strange, the dream, you’d never been able to bend fire, not unless spark rocks counted. Which you were sure that they did not.

Calling him to your side, Ruo, you’d named him very aptly you decided. He was such a sweetheart, and he’d been by your side since you had found him as an injured pup. You had sneaked him into your childhood home and made sure to feed him when your mother was distracted, as she would have never allowed for him to stay.

Taking a deep breath as you had gotten some fruit that you’d bought the day before, sharing some with Ruo, him quickly scarfing it down while you were still thinking of your dream about your mother. She’d never been the best but she had her moments, and you were only thankful that you had run before it could get worse.