Steam: An Avatar Story

Prologue: Part Two

Four Years Later - The Fire Nation

Katara was watching her best friend Zuko's Firebending practice. She really wanted to be a Firebender, there's nothing she's wanted more. "Good job Zuko. Run that set one more time." Uncle Iroh said, smiling at the young Prince.

"Good job Zu Zu!" Katara cheered. The prince turned back towards her, flashing her a toothy smile. He was 8 years old, 2 years older than Katara, and she loved playing with him.

"Thanks Kat!" Zuko exclaimed. Then he turned around and refocused himself.

"He's still on that move?" Katara looked over and narrowed her eyes. Azula had shown up.

"Give him a break Azula." Katara said. Azula shrugged and walked away. She was the same age as Katara, yet she could already Firebend. That made Katara sad, because she wanted to be a bender so badly.

~~

That night, Katara was tossing and turning in her bed. She always had a hard time sleeping when the moon was full, it filled her with life.

Making up her mind, Katara got out of bed and went into the hall. She went next door to Zuko's room and went inside. "Zu Zu!" Katara said, shaking him awake.

"What Katara?" The prince asked, rubbing his eyes. He looked at the young adopted Princess. Her blue eyes were almost glowing with the moonlight.

"Let's go!" She said, smiling.

"Go where?"

"Outside! I can't sleep, and I've always wanted to see the city."

"We're not allowed." Zuko said.

"So?" Katara laughed. "Come on!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of bed.

"Okay okay I'm coming!" Zuko laughed. He put his boots on and followed Katara outside.

They got to the wall of the palace and stopped. "How are we going to get past the wall?" Katara asked, crossing her arms. She didn't think about that part.

Zuko looked around and got an idea. "Why don't we climb the tree?" Zuko pointed at a tree that was leaning towards the wall.

"Okay!" Katara walked over there and Zuko followed. They scaled the tree and got to the top of the wall, and then took another tree to climb down and into the city.

They had been wandering around for a while when Zuko heard something. "Katara wait." She had walked ahead of him while they were exploring.

"What Zu Zu?" Katara stopped and turned to look at him. His golden eyes glinted in the light of the moon.

"I hear something." Just then, some lowlife thug jumped out from the shadows with a nasty smirk.

"What are two children of the Royal Family doing out here? And all alone?"

"You can't touch us!" Zuko yelled frantically. Another guy came out and laughed cruelly.

"That's what you think little Prince."

"Zuko!" Katara screamed. A third man had stepped out and grabbed Katara while he wasn't looking.

"Let her go or I'll burn you!" Zuko yelled. He called fire to his hands, letting the flames dance around them.

"I'd like to see you try!" The first man threatened. He then blasted a fire ball at Zuko's feet, causing him to stumble and fall, landing on his wrist.

"My wrist!" Zuko exclaimed in pain.

Katara's eyes narrowed and she kicked her feet out as hard as she could, nailing the third man who was holding her arm in the shin. He sucked in a breath of pain and let go of her, allowing her to escape.

"You little brat!" The third guy said. Katara was breathing hard as she tried to get Zuko up.

"Come on Zuko we gotta run!" Katara exclaimed. Zuko nodded and stood up, grabbing Katara's arm with his good hand. They took off down an alley, with the three men following them. Zuko let go of Katara in order to allow them to run better, but Katara stumbled and fell.

"Katara!" Zuko yelled. Katara turned back, scared. The men were almost right up to her, and in a desperate attempt, she punched out with her hand. But something happened.

A ball of fire raced towards the three men. Katara looked suprised, and Zuko looked excited. "Katara you can Firebend!" He exclaimed. "Come on we can fight them!" He ran back to her and they stood up. Katara copied Zuko's stance and they started blasting fire at the three men.

"Let's get out of here! There's only one of us who can Firebend."

"They're kids!" The Firebender said, angrily.

"But I'm not!" Katara and Zuko looked behind them at Uncle Iroh, who had magically appeared.

"It's General Iroh!"

"Now should we get out of here?" The three men looked at each other and sprinted off.

"Uncle Iroh!" Zuko exclaimed, relieved to see him.

"Zuko what are you and Katara doing out here?" Iroh asked. "You know better than to sneak off."

"I couldn't sleep." Katara said.

"So the logical decision was to sneak out of the Palace?" Iroh smiled. "You two are lucky you did not get hurt."

"Uncle!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Yes Prince Zuko?"

"Katara can Firebend!" Iroh's eyes widened. He was stunned. The Water Tribe girl can Firebend? Unless...

"That's incredible my dear. We can start your training tomorrow."

"Yes Uncle Iroh." Katara bowed. The three benders walked back to the palace, Iroh turning everything over in his mind.

~

"Katara can Firebend." Iroh stated calmly. Ozai looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Your point brother?"

"She's a Water Tribe girl. How is she Firebending?" Iroh asked. "Unless she is the Avatar."

"You put that one together yourself brother." Ozai sneered.

"You stole the Avatar from her home? How could you do this? How could our father let you do this?"

"Because he saw as well as I did the advantages of having the Avatar raised as a Fire Nation child, in the Royal Palace itself."

"And how do you suppose she will learn the other elements? Were you even planning on telling her? How is she going to learn her birth element?"

"She will be told in time. If you so much as whisper it to her, I will make sure you are sorry." Ozai threatened. Iroh narrowed his eyes and walked out.

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Short chapter, but after I lay all the groundwork it'll begin getting longer. I originally was going to make these next chapters one chapter, but it was getting too long, so I divided them. We're still kind of in the pre story stage. The last time I did a lot of time skips in one chapter left my readers a little confused, so I decided to break it up. Hope you guys like it!

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