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Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

In the middle of the icy sea in the south pole, there was a canoe with three people: siblings Sokka and Katara and their friend Ilvane. Sokka was deeply concentrating on a fish swimming by, spear at the ready. "It's not getting away from me this time. Watch and learn, girls. This is how you catch a fish" He said. "Remind me why I had to come with you. Everyone knows water and I don't mix." Ilvane complained from the middle of the boat

"Then maybe you should've thought of that before you heated that water and threw it over Aku." Sokka commented. "It was his own stupid fault. I told him again and again that I was not interested in dating him and what does he do? He tries to kiss me. Besides, I could have heated it until it was boiling and given him vicious burns, but I did not." She said cheekily, scratching her head through her short hair. "See? This is why we don't like firebenders." Sokka said and she cuffed him on the back of his head in answer

Shaking it off, Sokka concentrated himself on the fish again, not noticing his sister starting to use her waterbending to catch another fish, but Ilvane did notice it and a small plan started to form in her head as Katara moved the bubble with the fish towards the front of the boat. Ilvane was about to reach up and pop the bubble, when Sokka did that all by himself with his spear, getting soaking wet in the process

Ilvane had moved back to avoid getting hit and was now laughing at her friends misfortune. "Why is it that every time you play with magic water, I get soaked?" He asked grumpily. "How is it that you call my firebending what it is, but when Katara does it, you call it "magic water?" Ilvane shot back at him and Katara smirked as he scowled. Katara tried to explain it to him, but he didn't listen and waved her off like normal. 

Leaning back as best as she could and closing her eyes for a second, Ilvane was about to relax for a minute while listening to her friends bickering, when their boat hit a fast-moving current. Sokka tried to steer them through, but their boat got crushed between two blocks of ice and they were stuck. Ilvane groaned as she landed on her bad arm, before slowly getting up. "Great, now what?" She asked sarcastically as Sokka blamed Katara for it. "Leave it to girls to screw things up." He said and the paler woman created a small fireball in her hands.

"Do you want to say that again?" She asked as Katara started to rant, completely fed up with him too. "You are the most sexist, immature, nut-brained.... I'm embarrassed to be related to you!" She shouted. Ilvane was smirking at first as she made the fireball disappear, before noticing that a giant iceberg next to them was starting to crack thanks to Katara's waterbending. "Uhm, Katara?" She said, but the other girl didn't listen. 

Sokka quickly noticed the same thing and whimpered in fear, but Katara didn't notice. "Since mom's gone, I've been doing all the work around camp while you were off playing soldier." She ranted, the iceberg breaking even more. Sokka tried to calm her down, but she didn't listen. It wasn't until she finally noticed the fearful faces of her brother and friend that she turned around, but it was too late as the iceberg broke. 

Ilvane pulled a red and gold dagger out of her pocket and forced it into the ice to stay on it the ice platform they were on got pushed away, but didn't turn over. "Okay. You've gone from weird to freakish, Katara." Sokka said, only to yelp as Ilvane kicked him on the shin. "Did I do that?" Katara breathed. "Yep. Congratulations." Her brother replied sarcastically, before the water in front of them started to glow and said glow began to grow. A literally glowing iceberg appeared before them, two silhouettes inside.

A creature on the top and a boy sitting in a meditating stance right beneath them. Just as they were all wondering what on earth was going on, the boy opened his glowing white eyes, showing that he was still alive. "He's alive! Ilvane, help me break the ice!" Katara said as she grabbed Sokka's club and started to run to the iceberg, despite Sokka trying to stop her. Once there, she went to hack away at the ice.

Ilvane wasn't sure if that was a good idea, but she couldn't let the boy freeze to death. She followed them and started shooting her fire at the iceberg, making sure not to aim at the boy or the creature inside. They finally managed to break the ice and a bright light shot into the sky. They covered their faces against it, only looking back when it dimmed. The boy appeared on top of the broken ice, eyes and arrows still glowing.

The glowing finally dimmed and the boy fell down the ice in a dead faint. Katara quickly caught him and gently rolled him onto his back as he woke up, right after Sokka repeatedly poked his head with the butt of his spear. Ilvane immediately grabbed the spear and took it from him. "You will get it back once you stop acting like a child." She said as the boy slowly opened his eyes, Katara being the first person he saw. "I need to ask you something?" He croaked, asking her to come closer. "Can we go penguin sledding?" He suddenly asked louder

The group of three jumped up at this. "Uhm, yes?" Katara said, not having expected that as the boy jumped up unnaturally. Sokka jumped back, but Ilvane frowned as she remembered some of her old lessons when she still lived with her father. This boy couldn't be an airbender, could he? They were all wiped out a hundred years ago. Hearing something rumble on the other side of the ice, the boy quickly climbed up. 

Walking around the ice, Sokka, Katara and Ilvane all stared at seeing the boy trying to wake up a giant, bison-like creature. "What is that thing?" Sokka asked, wanting his spear back, but Ilvane refused to give it back to him. "This is Appa. My flying bison." The boy said with a giant smile, slowly starting to confirm what Ilvane already suspected. "Right and this is Katara, my flying sister and Ilvane, my flying friend." Sokka said with sarcasm. 

This earned him glares from both girls, before Appa sneezed and covered Sokka with snot. Ilvane quickly snorted, liking the creature already. She honestly couldn't believe this. She was standing here with the last waterbender on the south pole and seemingly the last airbender in general. The fire nation would kill to have these two and here she was. "It is a shame that I am not going to tell.' She thought with a smirk. When asking the boy his name, he sneezed as well and flew several feet into the air, confirming that he was an airbender once and for all.

"I'm Aang." He finally said. "You just sneezed and flew like ten feet into the air." Sokka said in shock. "Really? It felt like a lot higher than that." Aang said casually as he looked up. Katara finally realised he was an airbender as well. "Giant lightbeams, flying bisons, airbenders. I think I've got midnight sun madness. I'm going home until this all makes sense." Sokka said, before realising that he couldn't go anywhere.

Aang quickly offered them a ride on Appa and both girls happily accepted the offer. "Oh, no. I'm not climbing on that thing." Sokka said, pointing at Appa. "That is fine by me. Have fun waiting for another person to come by in this nowhere place before you either starve or freeze to death." Ilvane said coolly as she helped Katara up on the bison and used her powers to jump on as well. "Cool, a firebender!" Aang said in awe

Ilvane immediately let out a very dry chuckle at that. Aang might just be the only person in the entire world right now to have that reaction to a firebender like herself. Once they were all seated in the saddle, Aang tried to make Appa fly, but he didn't listen. Instead, he just jumped into the air and landed in the water, floating away from the ice. "Is that it?" Ilvane asked with a raised eyebrow as Sokka sarcastically talked about how amazing it was. "Appa is just tired. Soon enough, he'll be flying through the sky." Aang said cheerfully 

As they slowly floated over the water towards the southern water tribe, Ilvane carefully sat on the edge of the saddle and was practising several movements with her bad arm, despite knowing that it wouldn't help that much anymore if at all. Katara and Sokka were quietly talking to each other on the back of the saddle. She immediately winced at the stiffness of her muscles and skin, even though she was used to it.

Once she was done, she pulled out her medallion from underneath her clothing and opened it, looking at the picture within. She sighed deeply, wishing things were as simple as they had been then "What's that?" Aang asked curiously as he looked up at her. She jumped as she was snapped out of her thoughts and quickly put the medallion way. "Nothing. It is rather personal." She said and he quickly conceded as they floated on

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

Aang had fallen asleep by the time they finally reached the village on Appa.

Sokka sighed when Katara stopped him from waking the young boy up and reluctantly carried him inside one of the tents to let him rest. The Southern Watertribe was nothing more than a group of elderly, mothers and tiny children. The only ones around Ilvane's age were Katara and Sokkan and there were only a few pitiful tents set up inside a low snow wall.

It was right in the middle of nowhere, which is exactly why Ilvane had decided to stay there after fleeing her home, knowing that the chances of being found here by her people, or even worse, her father, were very small. It had been quite a change for her to go from the warm and luxurious Fire Nation to this little "village" on the ice, but she had survived the circumstances until now and the people living there had eventually accepted the fact that she was a firebender once she had managed to convince them she was not going to hurt them. 

She played with the string of her locket again as she walked around with the children running alongside her and sighed as she wondered if her father was still searching for her or if he immediately celebrated that he was finally rid of his "disappointment" of a daughter. She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. If she was lucky, then she'd never see him again. 

She jumped in the air at feeling someone carefully touch her arm, only to belatedly realise that it was just Katara. "Are you alright? You were miles away." The only waterbender in the entire south Pole asked worriedly. "I'm fine. Just lost in thoughts." Ilvane answered, dropping her locket again and rubbing her eyes. "Did you have a nightmare again?" Katara asked. 

When Ilvane first came to live with them, six months after leaving her warm, but cold home, she was very prone to nightmares and even now there were several nights that they snuck up on her again. It was even the way they found out she was a firebender in the first place as she had accidentally put her tent on fire during one such nightmare. "No. Not this time. I'm just worrying if I'll ever see my father again, but for opposite reasons than you. You hope you'll see him again. I hope I'll never see him again." She said, rubbing her arm absentmindedly 

Katara's usually kind blue eyes immediately flashed in incredibly cold and harsh anger as they always did whenever Ilvane mentioned her father in one way or another. It had taken at least a year before she, Sokka and their grandmother had finally heard the reason why she had left the Fire Nation in the first place and why she hated her father so much

Katara was pretty sure she had never seen her grandmother so angry as when Ilvane slowly told them about her past as she looked down at the ground, before the old woman had harshly swallowed her anger and had carefully given the rogue firebender a very warm and loving hug, something Katara knew with most certainty her friend hadn't gotten in a very long time, if at all

"You should be glad you're rid of him." She said determinedly, swallowing her anger as well. "I bet he's thinking the same thing of me right now." Ilvane muttered in a pessimistic tone as she helped a young mother fix her tent for the day. Katara gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, before leaving her friend as she sensed that she wanted to be alone. Ilvane sighed as she heard Katara leave. Her friend meant well and she was certainly a lot kinder to her than she could've been as she was a firebender, but she could be rather overbearing at times.

Aang eventually woke up from a nightmare himself and was quickly introduced to the rather meager population of the tribe after getting dressed. The children all huddled closer to their mothers or in one case, Ilvane. "Why are they staring at me like that? Did Appa sneeze on me?" Aang asked, looking down at himself as the grandmother of Sokka and Katara stepped forwards .

"Well, we haven't seen an airbender in a hundred years. We thought they were extinct, until my grandson, granddaughter and honorary granddaughter found you." She said, making Ilvane blush. Ever since she had told them her past, Kanna had unofficially adopted her into the family and with her being the mother of the currently absent chief of the tribe, no one dared to speak against it. 

"Extinct?" Aang asked and Ilvane winced. That poor boy didn't even know what happened to his people? How long had he been stuck there in that iceberg? Even when learning of the genocide in school, that had always seemed wrong to her. The four elements were the way they were supposed to be and had been that way for centuries. To destroy a whole entire nation dedicated to one of these elements was just plain wrong, no matter how much propaganda had been made about how it was good and just. Her Father had certainly believed it. 

Shaking her head to prevent her mind from going down that particular rabbit hole again, she instead watched as Aang's staff turned out to be a glider and he took off into the air. Taking a few steps back from the others, Ilvane shot into the sky as well after a few seconds, her firebending propelling her forwards. Aang laughed as he quickly dodged her, the two of them making a game out of it, before Aang hit the watchtower Sokka had made

Quickly landing next to him, Ilvane used the heat of her hand to melt the snow around him, completely ignoring Sokka's protests about melting his tower. "Great. You're an airbender, Ilvane's a firebender, Katara's a waterbender. All we're missing is an earthbender. Together, you can just waste time all day long." He said after a bit of snow had fallen on him. "You're a waterbender?" Aang immediately asked.

"Sort of. Not yet." Katara answered, before her grandmother interrupted. "Alright, no more playing and Ilvane, you know better than that to shoot up in the sky like that. What if someone saw you?" The older woman asked and Ilvane looked down as she apologised, before Katara was led away by her grandmother. "Why aren't you allowed to fly?" Aang asked curiously. "I may be a Fire Nation fugitive. It's a long story." Ilvane answered and Aang thankfully stopped asking there, deciding to play with the children instead.

Ilvane immediately giggled behind her hand as his tongue got purposefully stuck on his staff and a toddler pulled on it as other children laughed. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed like that, even with Sokka being her friend. She eventually went to help the other women around camp for an hour or so. She saw Aang go into the outhouse, but not come back out. 

"Aang? Did you perhaps get stuck in the outhouse?" She asked as she calmly stood next to it. "Maybe?" Aang's voice asked sheepishly and she sighed with a shake of her head, before sending a warm gust of air inside without looking, not enough to destroy the outhouse, but hopefully enough to free Aang from the ice again. "Hey, thanks." Aang said as he rolled out.

"Just don't actually touch the ice and snow. Made that mistake when I first came to live here too." She advised as she walked away. "Got it. Thank you." She heard him call after her and smiled. "Nice kid." She muttered. She ignored her surroundings for a while, although she noticed Aang making a slide from Appa's tail. She jumped up at suddenly hearing him shout "PENGUIN!!!" Turning around, she just saw him disappear into the distance after the penguin he had seen. "He's joking, right?" She heard Sokka ask as she joined them. "About what?" She asked.

"He seemingly has no idea about the war." Sokka said. "Exactly how long has he been in that iceberg?" She asked at remembering he apparently didn't know about the airbenders either. Katara went after him and they went on for a while, before they suddenly saw a flare shoot into the sky from an abandoned Fire Nation warship a few miles away. She and Sokka shared a look as they knew one thing: this was bad.

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

Ilvane and the villagers were waiting for Katara and Aang to return, knowing that one of them had to be guilty 

They eventually appeared in the distance and slowly walked towards the tiny village. Ilvane saw the dark look on Sokka's face and knew that this wouldn't end well in any way. The children were happy to see Aang as they ran towards him, the adults not so much. "I knew it. You signaled the Fire Navy with that flare. You're leading them straight to us, aren't you?" Sokka immediately accused Aang

"Aang didn't do anything. It was an accident." Katara quickly defended the boy. "Yeah, we were on this ship and there was a booby trap." Aang started to explain to them and Ilvane immediately winced, knowing that it was quite possibly the worst thing to say. Even she knew not to get closer to the trapped shipwreck and had thought that Katara would warn Aang like her grandmother had warned her. "Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship. Now, we could all be in terrible danger and Ilvane especially." Kanna scolded her granddaughter 

"Don't blame Katara. I brought her there. It's my fault." Aang quickly confessed in her defence. "A-ha. The traitor confesses. Warriors, away from the enemy! The foreigner is banished from the village." Sokka said and Ilvane turned to him. "Sokka, they said it was a mistake." She defended them. "Yes and because of that mistake, the Fire Nation may find us and you." Her friend said, refusing to listen 

"Sokka, you're making a mistake." Katara immediately protested as well as the tiny children slowly walked back to their mothers with disappointed faces at realising they wouldn't see their friend again after today. "No, I'm keeping my promise to dad. I'm protecting you from threats like him." Sokka replied harshly and Ilvane sighed at realising she had been completely right. This wouldn't be pretty.

"Aang is just as much our enemy as Ilvane is!  Don't you see? Aang brought us something we haven't had in a long time, fun." Katara said, trying to convince them not to banish the boy. "Fun? We can't fight firebenders with fun! No offence, Ilvane." Sokka replied, adding the last part to her She shrugged in answer. "You should try it sometime." Aang said, not helping his case and Ilvane facepalmed. "Get out of our village now!" Sokka ordered. "Grandmother, please don't let Sokka do this." Katara pleaded, but even her Grandmother wasn't on her side.

"Katara, you knew going on that ship was forbidden. Even Ilvane knows it and has kept herself to that rule. Sokka is right. I think it's best if the airbender leaves." Kanna said with a stern look. Katara looked at Ilvane, but the teenage girl sighed. "I'm sorry, Katara, but you really should've known better. I told you about how Fire Nation ships were riddled with booby traps. Did you think this one would be different?" She asked. 

"Fine! Then I'm banished too! Come on, Aang. Let's go" Katara said loudly and Ilvane raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?" She asked. "To find a waterbender. Aang is taking me to the North Pole." Katara answered. "You're going to travel the whole entire world just on your own?" Ilvane asked, before Sokka interrupted. "Katara, would you really choose him over your tribe? Your own family?" He asked. 

Katara looked down at that, feeling torn up. Aang decided to leave on his own, not wanting to become between her and her family. He tried to make Appa fly, but the bison still refused to do it. A little girl pleaded with him not to go, but he still went. Kanna tried to comfort her granddaughter, but Katara didn't listen we she was pissed that she just lost her only chance on becoming a true waterbender. "Why didn't you stand up for him? You should know what it's like being in his situation!" She demanded to know from Ilvane and she sighed.

"Because as much as I hate to say it, Sokka really is right. The Fire Nation has probably seen that flare and there's nowhere for me to hide. Trust me when I say that it hurt me to do it." She answered, bronze eyes shining with unshed tears of fright and guilt. Katara reeled back slightly as everything truly hit her. Ilvane had ran away from home to be safe and because of her and Aang, she might get in trouble. 

"Still, you could've said something. Even you didn't get that harsh of a treatment when we found out." She immediately protested. "Only because I told your grandmother the truth when I first arrived on that trading ship and I remember a certain waterbender giving me death glares for months." Ilvane answered in return and a blushing Katara quickly looked down at that, knowing that she was completely right.

She had been extremely cold and harsh to Ilvane when her secret was exposed because of the nightmare as had Sokka. It was only because of Kanna vouching for her that she was still allowed in the village. Not long after that conversation, Ilvane joined Sokka on the wall surrounding the village, the boy having war paint on his face as he watched out over the mist. "I hate this. The silence before the storm." She muttered as the pole wind blew through her hair. Sokka patted her on the shoulder, before they heard a boom. 

They both stiffened up at hearing it. "They're here." Ilvane hissed, fear gripping her. "Go and try to hide." Sokka ordered her and she immediately started to run back into the village as the ground began to rumble. Ice began to break as a giant ship appeared through the mist, right where Sokka was standing. At seeing this Ilvane quickly turned and ran back, pulling Sokka of the wall before he could get hurt.

She later realised that she wouldn't have to worry about anything as the snow falling back from the impact would've safely carried the boy away from the ship The front of the ship was lowered, becoming a gangway to the village. Ilvane pulled up the fur-lined hood of her clothing over her head, desperately hoping that she didn't stick out like a sore thumb in the group of women and children.

A small group slowly walked down the gangway, led by a young man of about sixteen years old with a giant burn scar on his face and an incredibly cold look in his eyes as he surveyed the village. At seeing him, Ilvane immediately widened her eyes as she recognised him. "Oh, no." She whispered in fear. "You know him?" Katara breathed, trying not to pull attention. "Yeah, but I haven't seen him in years. I'm so screwed if he recognises me." Ilvane answered. Katara nodded in understanding and took a few tiny steps to the side to try and hide her friend from sight.

Sokka tried to attack him, but the young man easily dodged his attack and threw him into the snow. As he looked around the group, Ilvane kept her face turned away from him as she trembled in fear and desperately hoped he wouldn't see her. "Where are you hiding him?" He asked, grabbing Kanna when they didn't answer him. "He'd be about this age, master of all elements." He continued 

'He thinks the avatar is here? With us?' She thought, knowing why he was looking for the avatar, but also knowing it was an impossible mission. The avatar disappeared a hundred years ago after being born into the Fire Nation, which meant the next avatar should've been...... no way....... Aang couldn't be him, could he? He would've said something if he were, wouldn't he? 

The young man let Kanna go and sent a jet of fire towards them to terrify them. Going on instinct, Ilvane threw out her hands and stopped the fire from hitting anyone, betraying herself in the process. "You! Come here!" The young man ordered and two soldiers grabbed her by the arms and pulled her forwards. "There you are. Did you think you could hide forever? Let me see your face." He said as he pulled off her hood. Bronze eyes met golden ones without any fear and the man widened his eyes. "Ilvane?" He breathed in shock

"Hello, Zuko." Ilvane replied coolly as Sokka suddenly tried to attack him from behind. He barely managed to dodge him again, but Ilvane used the distraction he created to break free from the guards holding her, standing in front of the villagers in a defensive pose. She may have been discovered, but she was not going to let Zuko hurt these people as long as she still had breath in her body. 

Sokka tried to attack Zuko with his boomerang and spear, but Zuko dodged the first one and broke the second one. That it, until the boomerang returned and hit him on the back of her head. Angered, Zuko sent fire to him, but was blocked by Ilvane. "So this is where you've been. Hiding like a coward." He hissed and Ilvane glared at him, before they suddenly heard something coming towards them.

It was Aang, riding a penguin to their rescue and knocking Zuko over as he entered the village again, the young man falling with his butt in the air. "Hey Katara, hey Sokka, hey Ilvane." Aang greeted them like it was the most normal thing ever. "Hi, Aang. Thanks for coming." Sokka said as Zuko stood back up and immediately ordered his soldiers to surround the airbender, who quickly covered them with snow. "Looking for me?" He asked. "You're the airbender? You're the avatar?" Zuko asked, shocking the entire village. 

"Aang?" Katara whispered in shock as Zuko and Aang slowly started to circle each other. "No way." Sokka breathed in disbelief. Ilvane didn't say anything, but she was shocked that she had been right "I've spent years preparing for this encounter, training, meditating. You're just a child." Zuko spat at him. "Well, you're just a teenager." Aang commented and Ilvane barely suppressed a snort

As Zuko and Aang started to fight, Ilvane had to defend the villagers from the flames that went past the airbender. Seeing her struggling to stop them all and hearing the screams of fear, Aang stopped fighting. "If I go with you, will you leave everyone in the village alone?" He asked and Zuko agreed. Two soldiers grabbed him and took him to the ship, two others grabbing Ilvane. "Hey! You promised to leave everyone alone!" Katara protested.

"Everyone who lives in the village, yes, but last time I checked, Ilvane is a Fire Nation citizen." Zuko replied coldly as Aang and Ilvane were loaded on the ship, the firebender only going with them willingly because she knew there would only be more trouble for her friends if she tried to escape them. "Set a course for the Fire Nation. I'm going home." Zuko said. Ilvane stood with Aang as the gangway was loaded up, looking at her friends for what she believed was the last time until it closed and they were out of sight

Arriving on deck, Zuko ordered the soldiers to bring Aang to the cell below deck, while Ilvane saw an old, familiar face. "Spirits. Lady Ilvane? Is that you?" The old, kind-looking man asked. "Hello, general Iroh. Long time no seeeeEEEE." Ilvane shouted as Zuko harshly pulled her with him. She hissed in pain as he was holding her bad arm, but didn't say anything as she hoped the others would be safe

"Prince Zuko, do you want us to sent word to lady Ilvane's father about her return?" A soldier asked and her heart froze in absolute fear. "No. Not yet. I need to speak with her first." Zuko answered and she sagged in relief as he pulled her into the hallways leading to his room. That was one problem avoided for now, but she knew she couldn't hide forever now that she was found. Her father would find out and she'd be in trouble 

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

"Ow, not so rough!"

"I'll be as rough as I want to be." Zuko immediately hissed in return as he threw Ilvane into his room. She stumbled into the almost bare room, but managed to use her firebending powers to keep herself upright as she turned around, her wrists bound with ropes. "Way to greet your old friend, your highness." She said sarcastically and he glared at her.

"I don't think you could call those who witnessed your lowest point "friends."" Zuko spat, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall as far from the girl as possible. She took a few steps back and her eyes widened as she realised something. "You honestly think.... that I watched that moment? That I watched my only friend get hurt so severely" She whispered, looking at the red scar around his eyes. That day had been by far one of the most terrible days in her life and he thought that she had enjoyed it? 

"Don't lie. I saw you in the crowd." Zuko growled, not believing a single word she was saying. "Only because he dragged me to it. He wanted to see you lose. He enjoyed seeing it, not me. In the name of our old friendship, Zuko, please believe me when I say that i didn't watch that moment. If he hadn't held me by the arm, I would've jumped on that arena and stopped him!" She insisted

"That would've been your death!" Zuko shouted. "I don't care." She immediately replied, before frowning slightly as she looked at him. "Where's that sweet kid i once knew? The one who always eagerly awaited my return to the capital to show me the new tricks he learned? Where's the boy who wouldn't terrorise an entire village just to get what he wanted" She asked.

"That Zuko died during that Agni Kai three years ago. I've learned my lesson in the meantime. He was completely weak, naive and foolish. I see that now. Only by capturing the avatar can my honor be restored." He said, not wanting to think of that anymore. He didn't want to think of those old days where things were nice and simple. She immediately frowned in return, not understanding something. "But finding Aang was just a fluke. A mere coincidence that was created by my friend's temper." She said, before realising something.

"Oh, Spirits. You would've searched for the avatar for the rest of your life if this hadn't happened, wouldn't you?" She asked in shock. "Don't talk of things you don't understand! You have no idea how important this is!" He shouted, immediately confirming her thoughts without even having to say anything. "Zuko, I stayed in the Fire Nation after you left." She reminded him

They were all laughing at you and your impossible mission, saying how the Fire Lord was absolutely right in banishing such a weakling son." She continued. "YOU LIE!!!" He screamed, flames bursting from his hands and she jumped back from him, but still continued on nonetheless. "Azula became even more unbearable in your absence, until i couldn't take it anymore and left the FireNation." She continued and he immediately scoffed.

"Oh, really? You ran like a coward because you didn't like what you hear?" He asked and Ilvane sighed deeply "That and because he finally went too far." She replied, unconsciously rubbing her bad arm and she could see his good eye widen slightly in shock as the implication set in and for just a second, Ilvane could see the same boy with who she used to play in the palace gardens, before he was gone again. "He will face consequences for that action once I get my honor back." He said and she laughed coldly. 

"I didn't know that honor was like a toy or a piece of clothing that could be given and taken away. And even if you do manage to get it back somehow, do you really think the people will care that a runaway traitor got hurt?" She asked and he didn't answer. That's when they heard ruckus in the hallways. Aang had escaped his guards and was now looking for Ilvane and his staff. 

Zuko grabbed her again, thankfully by the good arm this time and threw her against the wall next to Aang's staff and opposite the door to his room. "Not a word." He hissed, before going to hide behind the door. Aang eventually found them. "Ilvane!" He shouted, running inside. Ilvane tried to warn him it was trap, but it was too late as Zuko closed the door behind him and locked him in. 

As they started to fight each other, Ilvane started to burn through the ropes binding her wrists, hissing and puffing at the heat as the ropes burned. She broke free, just as Aang blasted Zuko against the wall. The airbender grabbed her wrist and quickly  pulled her to the deck. Zuko followed them and they got ready to fight when they heard a sound. Ilvane and Aang turned around and saw Appa flying towards them with Katara and Sokka on him. "Spirits. Appa really can fly." Ilvane breathed, before barely managing to block an attack from Zuko. 

Aang wasn't as lucky and one well-placed hit from Zuko knocked him overboard. "Aang!" Ilvane shouted, before attacking Zuko and his soldiers with a rage she had never felt before. On Appa, Katara and Sokka were shocked to see their usually calm friend attacking the soldiers so harshly, before the former called Aang's name. Their shock was nothing compared to when a giant tornado of water shot up from the sea

Controlling it from the top was Aang, his eyes and arrow tattoos glowing once again. Landing on deck, Aang made the water harshly circle around himself and immediately throw all the soldiers and Zuko overboard. Ilvane barely managed to dodge it herself by quickly swandiving to the floor, the water flying right over her head. The glow faded and Aang almost fainted from exhaustion, falling to his knees. 

She quickly caught him as Appa landed on deck and Katara and Sokka immediately climbed off his back to help them. "Aang! Ilvane! Are you okay?!" Katara asked worriedly as they joined the two. "I'm fine. It's Aang who we should be worried about." Ilvane said as the boy was barely conscious at the moment and they nodded. "Hey Katara. Hey Sokka. Thanks for coming." The airbender said. "Well, I couldn't let you two have all the glory." Sokka teased him and Ilvane gave him a shove in answer. "Not the time." She hissed. 

"My staff." Aang said, looking where the staff had fallen. "I'll get it." Sokka promised as he got up and ran towards it. "Let's get him on Appa." Ilvane said and Katara nodded as they carefully helped Aang on Appa. Sokka got the staff after having to push Zuko off it as the banished prince tried to grab it. Seeing soldiers approaching them again, both girls got ready to fight. 

Katara accidentally froze Sokka to the deck, but Ilvane shot a jet of fire straight past their faces, temporarily blinding them. She ran forwards and pushed them off the deck. Seeing general Iroh get on deck, she ran back towards the others. "Okay, time to go." She said hurriedly, sending a bit of fire to melt the ice holding Sokka. "Yip-yip. Yip-yip." Sokka called as he quickly got on as well. 

Working together, Iroh and Zuko shot a giant blaze of fire towards them. Ilvane immediately got ready to stop it, but Aang protested that action. "Don't worry. I've got this. " He said, before quickly using his airbending skills to send the fire into the giant iceberg right next to the ship, creating an avalanche that covered the front of it. Sokka, Katara and Aang all laughed, but Ilvane didn't. She just watched as her old friend slowly disappeared out of sight. Her first contact with the Fire Nation in two years and it was an immediate disaster 

"So, you and this Zuko guy know each other?" Sokka asked Ilvane after a while and she immediately gave him a rueful smile. "We used to be the best of friends when we were children, but that young man we met today isn't the same boy he once was. Believe me." She said and he conceded, before Katara asked Aang how he did that trick with the water

"Why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?" She asked. "Because I never wanted to be." Aang confessed and Ilvane felt bad for him. "But Aang, the world's been waiting for the avatar to return and put an end to this war." Katara said. "And how am I going to do that?" The airbender said. "According to legend, you first need to master water, then earth, then fire, right?" Ilvane asked, thinking quickly about what the cycle was

"That's what the monks told me." Aang agreed. Katara offered to go to the North Pole and find a waterbending master for the both of them. "You're not going home?" Aang asked in surprise. "Now that at least Zuko knows where I've been, I refuse to bring them in more danger by going back. I'm going with you." Ilvane reasoned and everyone agreed with her. Aang was incredibly happy, but suggested several stops on the way to the North Pole to ride some animals. Katara shared a look with Sokka, before noticing Ilvane looking rather down. 

"What is it, Ilvane?" She asked quietly and both boys looked at her too. She sighed deeply, wondering how to explain this. "Now that Zuko and his crew know Aang's back and that I'm with him, it's only a matter of time before he finds out. With how cold and cruel he is, there's no doubt he's made at least one promotion since I've left and once the news reaches his ears, we'll be hunted even more." She muttered 

Katara scowled in answer. "Well, I personally can't wait to meet him and teach him a lesson he won't soon forget." She told them, wrapping her arm around her friend. "Yeah! Watch out, Ilvane's evil dad, because we are going to knock you down!" Sokka shouted as he did the same, making their friend chuckle. Ilvane smiled as she knew that  as long as she had her friends with her, she could handle everything

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

Early in the morning, Aang and Katara were preparing an eating Appa for the day, Ilvane was doing her practices next to the bison and Sokka was still sleeping. "Wait until you see it, Katara, Ilvane. The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world." Aang said excitedly. "Aang, I know you're excited, but it's been a hundred years since you've been home." The waterbender said carefully, trying to temper his excitement. 

"That's why I'm so excited!" Aang gushed and Ilvane didn't dare to look at him. "It's just that a lot can change in all that time." Katara said. "I know, but o have to see it for myself." The airbender replied, before going to wake Sokka. Ilvane walked closer to Katara. "You're not gonna tell him, are you?" She asked quietly and her friend's silence said enough. "Katara, I've been to school in the Fire Nation. They're freaking proud that they wiped out the Air Nomads." She hissed"I know, but we can't tell him. It will break his heart." Katara whispered.

"Better now than when he finds out for himself." Ilvane repliec. "No. I forbid you to tell him. We're going to the Air Temple and we'll see what we find." Her friend said. "Fine, but it's your fault if he explodes and blows us off a mountain." Ilvane muttered as Aang managed to wake Sokka up by pretending there was a snake in his sleeping bag. "Great. You're awake. Let's go." Aang said happily and they finally left. 

Meanwhile, in a Fire Nation harbour, Zuko and Iroh got off their ruined ship. "Uncle, I want repairs made as quickly as possible. I don't want to stay too long and risk losing his tail." Zuko ordered. "You mean the avatar and..."Iroh started, but was cut off by his nephew. "Don't mention his name on these docks! Once word gets out that he's alive, every firebender will be out looking for him and I don't want anyone getting in the way." Zuko said

"In the way of what, prince Zuko?" A voice asked and they looked up to see a man walking towards them. He had dark brown hair, large sideburns and a strong build. He could almost be considered handsome, if not for the cold and calculating gaze in his eyes. Zuko crossed his arms at seeing him. "Captain Zhao." He said coolly. "It's commander now. And general Iroh, great hero of our nation." Zhao greeted them with a bow towards Iroh. "Retired general." Iroh corrected him as Zuko glowered at the man. He had never liked Zhao and the feeling was mutual.

"The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests anytime. What brings you to my harbour? Zhao asked curiously. "Our ship is being repaired." Iroh answered and Zhao immediately looked up at the broken front of the ship. "That's quite a bit of damage." He noted. "Yes, you wouldn't believe what happened. Uncle, tell commander Zhao what happened." Zuko ordered after failing to come up with something. 

"Yes, I will do that. It was incredible. Did we crash or something?" Iroh muttered, not knowing what to say either. "Yes, right into an Earth Kingdom ship." Zuko quickly said. "Really? You must regale me with all the thrilling details. Join me for a drink?" Zhao asked, leaning right in Zuko's face. "Sorry, but we got to go." The prince muttered, but his uncle accepted the invitation and Zuko followed with visible frustration and anger. 

Flying over the white clouds on Appa, Sokka was looking for food in the bags, but didn't find anything. "Hey! Who ate all my blubbered sea jerky? Ilvane?" He asked as he and Ilvane had often fought over that food. "Don't look at me. I didn't touch it." She immediately defended herself as a sheepish Aang spoke up. "Oh, that was food? I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry." He replied. "See? I told you it wasn't me." A smug Ilvane said with a smirk, but Sokka didn't listen."You what?! Awww. No wonder the flames smelled so good." He moaned.

As Ilvane playfully comforted her friend about his loss, Aang shared a small look with Katara. "Can I ask you something?" He asked quietly. "Of course." Katara replied. "Why is Ilvane always doing those practices with her arms?" He asked and she immediately stuttered for an answer. "She got hurt in her arm a few years ago and she's doing these practices to prevent her arm from going stiff." She finally said. 

"Oh! I see. How did she get hurt?" Aang asked in concern. "I'm afraid that you have to ask her that personally, but not now. It's a rather painful subject." Katara replied and Aang thankfully understood. Changing the subject, Katara tried to warn him that things could be very different than he was expecting. "Apart from Ilvane, the Fire Nation is ruthless. They killed my mother and they could have done the same to your people." She said 

"Just because no one has seen an Airbender doesn't mean the Fire Nation killed them all. They probably escaped." He said, before explaining that the only way to an Air Temple was on a flying bison. "I bet the Fire Nation doesn't have a flying bison." He continued, petting Appa on Tyne head. "No, but they have airships." Ilvane muttered in a pessimistic tone, having heard everything. They eventually arrived at the temple. "We're home, buddy. We're home." Aang said happily, not knowing what was waiting for him 

Back in the Fire Nation harbour, Zuko was reluctantly talking to Zhao as Iroh carefully inspected the weapons against the wall."And by year's end, the Earth Kingdom capital will be under our rule. The Fire Lord will finally claim victory in this war." The commander finished as he looked over a world map. "If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he's a fool." Zuko spat as Zhao sat down next to him

"Three years at sea have done little to temper your tongue. So, how's your search for the avatar going?" Zhao asked as Iroh accidentally let the weapons fall to the ground. "My fault entirely." The former general said sheepishly as he backed up. "We haven't found him yet." Zuko immediately lied. "Did you really expect to? The avatar died a hundred years ago, along with the rest of the airbenders." Zhao scoffed

Zuko looked down at that. The avatar wasn't dead and he knew it. And Ilvane was with him "Unless you've found some evidence that the avatar is alive." Zhao immediately said with an evil smile at noticing him looking down "No, nothing." Zuko quickly replied, not wanting him to know the actual truth. "Prince Zuko, the avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you found." Zhao urged him, standing up and leaning over him.

"I haven't found anything. It's like you said. The avatar probably died a long time ago." Zuko said. He tried to leave, but was stopped. "Commander Zhao, we've interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed prince Zuko had the avatar in custody, but let him escape." A soldier said and Zuko lowered his head. "Now remind me, how exactly was your ship damaged?" Zhao asked with a smirk and the boy knew he had him. 

Walking up the path towards the Air Temple, Aang was running ahead of the other three as Sokka complained about wanting food. "You're lucky enough to be one of the first outsiders to ever visit an Airbender Temple and and all you can think about is food?" Katara asked with a scoff. "I'm just a simple guy with simple news. Aren't you hungry, Ilvane?" Sokka asked and she shrugged in answer. "I'm used to going a day without food." She answered

Both siblings winced at the reminder that their friend had been on the run before landing in their village.  "So that's where my friends and I would play airball and over there is where the bisons would sleep and...." Aang said, before sighing deeply. "What is it?" Ilvane asked in concern. "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" Aang replied sadly. Sharing a look, Sokka walked forwards. "So, this airball game. How do you play?" He asked and Aang smiled

After Sokka was thoroughly beaten in the game as it was clearly for airbenders only and Katara hid a firebender helmet from Aang by burying it and Sokka in the snow, they continued on. "Katara, firebenders were here. You can't pretend they weren't." Sokka quietly protested as they stood in a courtyard. "I can for Aang's sake. If he finds out that the Fire Nation invaded his home, he'll be devastated." She defended herself.

Right after that, they came across a snowed statue of a monk whom Aang told them had taught him everything that he knew. It absolutely hurt Ilvane to know that the monk was most certainly dead now. He seemed like a really nice guy from what she could see of the statue and if he had raised Aang into the boy he was now, then he really didn't deserve his fate. It was at times like this that she really hated being a firebender. It seemed like all they could do was destroy things and hurt people around them

A now more solemn Aang walked forwards and they came across a couple of huge doors. Sokka tried to open them in search of food, but didn't succeed at all as Aang revealed they could only be opened by an airbender, before he did just that. Ilvane, Sokka and Katara all watched silently as the huge doors opened and Aang walked inside. Sharing a look, they slowly followed him, wondering what they would find inside

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

Statues 

The room was filled with them. The entire floor as well as well as the walls were lined up with statues, but Ilvane quickly noticed something about them. "Guys, there's some kind of pattern in the statues. Look: water, earth, fire and air." She said, pointing at four different statues. "That's the Avatar cycle." Aang piped up and Katara realised those statues were Aang's past lives. "Past lives? Katara, you really believe in that stuff?" A sceptical Sokka asked.

"It's true. When the Avatar dies, he's reincarnated in the next nation in the cycle." Katara defended herself. IIlvane noticed Aang staring at the last statue in the line. Katara shook him when he didn't answer. "Who's that?" She asked curiously. "That's Avatar Roku. The Avatar before me." The boy answered. "You were a firebender? No wonder i didn't trust you when we first met. No offence, Ilvane." Sokka said. "Yeah, yeah." Ilvane replied, tired of her friends  apologising for their words. She now knew them well enough that they didn't mean anything by it.

"There's no writing. So how do you know his name?" She asked. "I'm not sure. I just know it somehow." Aang replied. Sokka commented that he was really weird right now, before they heard someone approaching. They hid behind some statues and got ready to attack, only to see it was a small animal. "Lemur!" Aang called. "Dinner." Sokka said, before they went to chase it. Ilvane shared a look with Katara. "Boys." She muttered and Katara agreed

In the Fire Nation harbour, Zhao was pacing in front of Zuko after he finally heard the mostly complete story about what happened to Zuko's ship and the Avatar's escape . "So a twelve year old boy bested you and your firebenders? You're more pathetic than I thought." The commander sneered. "I underestimated him once, but it will not happen again." Zuko said.

"No, it will not. Because you won't have a second chance." Zhao said. "Commander Zhao, I've been hunting the Avatar for three years and..." Zuko started to say, before Zhao cut him off with a blast of fire that didn't reach them at all, but was very clearly a warning to not to speak anymore. "And you failed! Capturing the Avatar is far too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now." Zhao said and the banished prince immediately tried to attack him in furious anger, but was quickly held back by soldiers.

"Temper, temper. Prince Zuko. You might want to control it." Zhao taunted. "Look who's talking." Zuko hissed, eyes spitting fire. Zhao raised an eyebrow, but Zuko didn't go any further and he dropped it. "Keep them here." He ordered, before walking away and leaving the tent. With no other option, Zuko kicked and broke the tea table. "More tea, please." Iroh said cheerfully, ignoring his nephew's harsh glare

Back at the southern Air Temple, Aang was still chasing the lemur, getting a headstart on Sokka through his airbending. The animal fled into a tent and Aang followed him. "Come on out, little lemur. That hungry guy will not bother you anymore." He said with a smile as he pushed away a curtain and saw something that would completely break his heart forever 

Many skeletons were lying around in Fire Nation armour. "Firebenders? They were here?" He breathed, before noticing another skeleton lying ahead in Air Nomad clothes and a familiar necklace. "Gyatso." He whimpered, falling to his knees and starting to cry. "Hey, Aang. Have you found my dinner yet?" Sokka asked as he arrived, not noticing skeletons in the room yet. Seeing Aang crying and thinking it was because of the lemur, he walked closer. "Aang, I wasn't really going to eat the lemur, alright? Oh, man." He breathed at finally seeing the skeleton of Gyatso.

"Come on, Aang. Everything will be alright. Let's get out of here." He said, putting a hand on Aang's shoulder to get him away, only for the boy's eyes and tattoos to glow again as his rage and grief took over. In the sanctuary, the eyes of the statues started to glow too. "Aang!" Katara realised and she ran out with Ilvane. All over the world, statues, paintings and things started to glow, telling everyone the Avatar had returned 

Back in the harbour, Zhao entered the tent again. "My search party is ready. Once I'm out at sea, my guards will escort you back to your ship and you'll be free to go." He told Zuko and Iroh. "Why? Are you worried I'll try and stop you?" Zuko asked and Zhao let out a cold laugh. "You, stop me? Impossible." He scoffed. "Don't underestimate me, Zhao! I will capture the Avatar before you." The prince said as he jumped up.

"Prince Zuko, that's enough!" Iroh warned him, trying to stop him from making a mistake. "You can't compete with me. I have hundreds of war ships under my command. And you? You're just a banished prince. No home, no allies. Your own father doesn't even want you." Zhao sneered. "You're wrong! Once I deliver the Avatar to my father, he will welcome me home with honor and restore my rightful place on the throne." Zuko protested, although Ilvane's words about honor not being like a toy floated around in his head.

"If your father really wanted you home, he would've let you return by now. Avatar or no Avatar. But in his eyes, you are a failure and a disgrace to the Fire Nation." Zhao replied. "That's not true." Zuko hissed, despite knowing that Ilvane had said the same, but in a more friendly tone. "You have the scar to prove it." The commander sneered and the prince exploded at hearing him mention that. "Maybe, you'd like one to match!" He shouted, getting into his face.

"Is that a challenge?" Zhao scoffed. "An Agni Kai. At sunset." Zuko replied. "Very well. It's a shame your father won't be here to watch me humiliate you. I guess your uncle will do." The commander sneered, before leaving. After he left, Iroh asked his nephew if he remembered what happened last time he'd challenged a master. "I'll never forget." Zuko hissed. He carried the reminder with him after all. 

In the Southern Air Temple, Aang quickly created tornado like winds, literally blowing Sokka away and he harshly landed on the ground. "What happened?!" Katara shouted as she and Ilvane joined him with much effort. "He found out firebenders killed Gyatso!" Sokka answered loudly. "Oh, no. It's his Avatar spirit. He must've triggered it. I'm gonna try and calm him down!" Katara called as she tried to get closer to the grieving boy. "Well, do it before he blows us off the mountain!" Sokka shouted as he and Ilvane were almost blown away again. 

Just as Katara got close, Aang lifted himself in the air and the winds got even stronger, blowing her back as well. Realising actions wouldn't work, Katara tried to talk to him. "Aang, I know you're upset and in know how hard it is to lose the people you love! I went through the same thing when I lost my mom! Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family! "Sokka, Ilvane and I. We're your family now!" She called up to him.

Aang slowly sank back to the ground, the winds disappearing. They carefully walked closer to him with comforting smiles on their faces. "Katara, Ilvane and I are not going to let anything happen to you. Promise." Sokka said as Katara grabbed Aang's hand. The glow disappeared and Aang sank to the ground, the waterbender quickly catching him. "I'm sorry." He apologised, Katara telling him it wasn't his fault.

"But you were right. If the firebenders found this temple, then that means they found the other ones too. I really am the last airbender." Aang said. "Aang?" Ilvane slowly spoke up and the boy looked at her. "I know it won't mean much, but I'm so sorry for what my people did to your people. I really, really am." She continued, lowering her head. "It's not your fault. You weren't even born yet." Aang said and she gave him a tiny smile, before they went back to the room with the statues. There, Aang took one more look at the statue of Avatar Roku.

Katara and Ilvane joined him and asked if he was ready. "How's Roku supposed to help me if I can't talk to him?" Aang asked. "I'm sure you'll find a way." Ilvane said, before the lemur returned and gave Sokka fruit, jumping on Aang's shoulder. He was quickly included into the family and given the name "Momo." As they flew away, Ilvane, Sokka and Katara all ignored how Aang looked back at the temple until it disappeared from view. 

Back in the harbour, Zuko and Zhao were ready to face each other in a firebending duel "Remember your firebending basics, prince Zuko. They are your greatest weapons." Iroh reminded him. "I refuse to let him win." Zuko spat as he turned to face his opponent. At least, it was actually Zhao this time. "This will be over quickly." The older man spat as a soldier hit a gong and the duel began

There was no doubt that Zhao had the advantage as he had more experience. He immediately had the upper hand but Zuko was true to his word when he said he refused to let the man win and fought back.  Eventually driven in a corner, Zuko finally managed to break his footing and drive him back, not noticing his uncle's proud smirk,. Managing to bring Zhao down to the ground with him standing over the man, Zuko glared at him. "Do it!" Zhao spat and Zuko shot a blast of fire.... into the ground next to his arm."That's it? Your father raised a coward." Zhao said with scorn.

"Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back." Zuko hissed as he turned around. Zhao tried to attack him from behind, but was stopped by Iroh . Zuko tried to attack him again, but Iroh stopped him to not let him taint his victory. "So this is how the great commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew is more honourable than you." The former general said, before thanking him for the tea and leading Zuko away

"Did you really mean that, uncle?" Zuko asked. "Of course. I told you I loved tea." Iroh said, both knowing what he meant. "They know the Avatar is alive." Zuko muttered. "Yes, but they don't know who's helping him. Speaking of which, I've never seen you lose your temper like that." Iroh commented. "I'll tell you why once we're on the ship." Zuko said and his uncle quickly agreed as they got ready to hunt the Avatar again

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

"Are you alright?" 

Aang looked up to see Ilvane sitting down next to him on Appa's head. After all, finding out your entire people had been slaughtered couldn't be easy for anyone. Not even Aang. "Yeah, I'm fine." Aang immediately replied, but she just gave him a look that clearly said she didn't believe him. He sighed deeply. "I will be fine. One day. I just don't want to talk about it. You never lost your people." He muttered 

"Well, I am a fugitive. You saw how Zuko acted with me when he saw me for the first time and he used to be my best friend a long time ago. Imagine how others would react at seeing me." She replied and he had to concede at that. "So, you have no one as well?" He asked. "I've got you." She answered, giving him a nudge and making him smile. "And I have Sokka and Katara and Kanna back in the South Pole. And I have some friends spread out over the world from when I was running away from home." She continued 

"But no family?" He asked and she shook her head. "No. My mother is dead and my father is dead to me and I'm sure that I'm dead to him." She said bitterly, unconsciously rubbing her arm. Seeing it and realising that her parents were very likely firebenders as well, Aang quickly put two and two together, immediately feeling sick as realisation hit him

Thankfully, Sokka interrupted them as he looked over the map. "You have no idea where you're going, do you?" He asked. "Well, I know it's near water." Aang replied as they flew over the ocean. " I guess we're getting close then." Sokka muttered sarcastically as Katara was fixing a hole in his pants. Aang did a trick with marbles to impress her, but she didn't even look and when she did, he had already stopped doing it. 

"Stop bugging her, airhead. You need to give girls space when they do their sewing." Sokka spoke up and Ilvane growled. "And sometimes, you need to shut up, so the female firebender in your team doesn't burn your face off." She said with a smirk as Katara threw his unfinished pants at him. "Speaking of faces get burnt off, did you see that prince's face?" Sokka asked and Ilvane immediately stiffened up. "What kind of a stupid accident could he have gotten to even get a mark like that?" The boy continued with a smirk

"Uhhhh.... Sokka......" Aang tried to warn him at seeing the furious look on Ilvane's face as she slowly turned around, but the boy didn't listen. "And then, he gets beaten by the four of us! I mean what kind of an idiot-" Sokka began, only to stop as the firebender suddenly climbed onto the saddle and stormed towards him, Appa grunting as she accidentally kicked him in her haste to get there

"Shut up, Sokka!" She harshly spat, pointing a finger in his face and Sokka flinched back. "What?" He asked, shocked by her sudden outburst. "I said shut up! You have no idea what you're talking about or what Zuko went through so just shut up!" She shouted, throwing her hands down and flames shooting out of them, fortunately extinguishing before they hit the saddle 

Sokka, Katara and Aang all simply stared at her once she was done shouting, struck silent in utter surprise at seeing her explode likes that. While Ilvane did have a bit of a temper, she usually managed to keep it under wraps and keep a calm head in stressful situations and therefore, seeing her completely lose her calm was quite a shock. Without saying anything else, Ilvane finally went to sit next to Aang again. "Sorry that I kicked you, Appa." She muttered as she stroked the bison's head and Appa grunted in answer

They eventually reached the island and and Ilvane widened her eyes at seeing it, a small grin making its way on her face as they landed. "We just made a pit stop yesterday. Shouldn't we get more flying done before we make camp?" Sokka asked as they got off and Katara agreed. Aang tried to convince them that Appa was tired and the bison yawned very unconvincingly at Aang's nudging

That's when Aang saw the huge elephant koi and went to ride them, jumping into the water. "Cold!" He screamed, before swimming further. "Well, might as well see if there are fruits on this island we can take. Be right back." Ilvane muttered as she walked away. "Be careful!" Katara called and Ilvane lifted her hand to indicate she had heard her. Once she was far enough, she let out a specific whistle. Not long after, several women jumped down from the branches.

"Ilvane." The leader greeted the girl slowly and Ilvane bowed towards her. "Leader Suki." She greeted back. "Who are the people with you?" Another woman asked suspiciously. "Those are my friends. Sokka and Katara from the Southern water tribe and Aang." Ilvane replied  "Are they to be trusted?" Suki asked. "Oh yeah. Although, Sokka can be quite sexist. You think you guys can teach him a lesson?" Ilvane asked in return. The warriors all smirked as they shared looks. "It'd be our pleasure." Suki replied with a grin. 

"Found anything?" Sokka asked as Ilvane joined them again. "I found absolutely nothing. Then again, it is winter." She replied, before they realised there was something in the water. 'Spirits! Forgot about the Unagi.' Ilvane thought as they called Aang and told them to get out of the water. Aang literally ran over water to safety and accidentally tackled Sokka into a tree. Not long after that, they were ambushed, blindfolded and tied up

They were brought to the village and tied to a pole, including Ilvane. "You four have some explaining to do." One man said. "And if you don't answer all our questions, we're throwing you back in the water with the Unagi." A voice the firebender recognised as Suki's threatened and she rolled her eyes. Yes, she asked them to teach Sokka a lesson, but they were going a bit too far in this

"Show yourselves, cowards!" Sokka called loudly, only to fall silent as their blindfolds were finally removed and the Kyoshi warriors were revealed. "Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?" He asked, Suki telling him that they had ambushed the group. "Wait a second! There's no way a bunch of girls took us down." Sokka scoffed and Suki briefly glanced at Ilvane, the firebender immediately making a face that said "yep, this is what I've had to deal with in the past years."A bunch of girls, huh? The Unagi is going to eat well, tonight."Suki replied.

"You have to forgive him. His abortion was canceled moments before he breeched." Ilvane replied dryly and several of the warriors had to suppress a smile or laugh. Aang apologised as he was the reason they were here. "How do we know you're not Fire Nation spies?" The leader of the village asked and Ilvane let out a cough. To her group, it felt like she choked on air at the ironic and unexpected question.

To the inhabitants of the island, it reminded them that Ilvane trusted them, so they couldn't be spies. At hearing that this island was named after Kyoshi, Aang revealed that he knew her and that he was the avatar. "That's impossible. The last Avatar was an airbender who disappeared a hundred years ago." Suki hissed, glancing at IlvaneThe firebender simply smirked as Aang confirmed his identity with some airbending tricks.

"It's true. You are the Avatar." The leader breathed. "You could've told us that!" Suki growled as she glared at Ilvane. "I could've, but then I would've missed the looks on your faces." Ilvane replied with a smile. "Wait, you know each other?" Katara asked in surprise as she looked between them. "This was my last stop before reaching your village. This is where I got on that trade ship. It took a while to gain their trust, but it was worth it." Ilvane answered. Her friends glared at her for keeping it a secret, before they were officially welcomed. 

The next morning, they were eating breakfast, despite Sokka not being hungry because he was beaten by a bunch of girls. "Ilvane. How..... how did Zuko get that scar?" Katara slowly asked and Ilvane flinched before taking a deep breath as her friends, even Sokka looked at her curiously. "It's not a day I happily remember, but it is seared into my brain and will always be there." She began. 

"After my mother died, I travelled with my father whenever he had a new assignment as I had no one to look after me. We did return to the capital often and I always visited Zuko whenever we were there. He was always happy to see me. During one visit when he was thirteen, he told me he planned to attend the war Council that was happening the next day. He was so excited to be seen as an adult." She continued with a small, painful smile

Aang, Katara and Sokka all listened silently as she took a deep breath. "The next evening, my father took me to see an Agni Kai. A duel between two firebenders that doesn't stop until one of the participants either gets burned or dies." She explained at seeing their confused faces as she got three bits of parchment and started to write some things on them. "My father told me it'd be a good lesson for me and I didn't understand why, until I saw Zuko was one of the participants." She told them. "But he was thirteen." Katara immediately protested.

"Like they cared. I later heard that he had spoken up against a general's plan to sacrifice a group of new warriors just because they could and the general had challenged him to the duel." Ilvane scoffed as she finished writing. "So, he had to fight a general. Big deal." Sokka muttered, although he looked disturbed at hearing Zuko's age "It wasn't the general he had to fight." Ilvane said and they frowned in confusion.

"Then who did he fight?" Aang asked. "While he had spoken up out of turn at the general's plan, he had done so in the Fire Lord's war room and therefore, had disrespected him. Zuko had to fight his own father." Ilvane told them, before quickly standing up and taking the three bits of parchment to her friend. "Sokka, get on your hands and knees and pretend you're Zuko. I'll be the Fire Lord. First read this one, then I'll say something, then read this one, then I'll say something again and then read this one." She ordered, pointing at each parchment 

Sokka obeyed. "Please, father. I only had the Fire Nation's best interests at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn." He read as he kneeled and Ilvane went to the other side of the room, slowly walking back to him as Aang and Katara watched in horror. "You will fight for your honor." She growled, trying her best to imitate Ozai's voice "I meant you no disrespect. I'm your loyal son." Sokka read from the second parchment

His monotone voice was the only thing keeping her from having a full flashback. "Rise and fight, prince Zuko!" She spat. "I won't fight you." Sokka said as she stood in front of him. "You will learn respect and suffering will be your teacher." She quoted, before taking a deep breath. "Then, he grabbed Zuko by his ponytail, lit up his hand with fire.... and I looked away." She finished as she grabbed Sokka by his tiny wolf's tail and lit up her hand

Aang's jaw was hanging on the floor in shock and Katara was covering her mouth in absolute horror, tears slowly appearing in her eyes. "I never saw him again after that as he was banished as soon as the healers let him go, only being able to return if he found the Avatar and let's be completely honest, he never would've found him if not for us. One thing is for certain: the happy boy that I used to know is gone, maybe forever" She said as she walked back to the table. "Ilvane, I'm so sorry." Sokka whispered in horror.

"So am I. Maybe you should learn not to make jokes about things you don't understand" She muttered as she threw some food on her plate.Things were incredibly silent for a while, until Aang's new fangirls called his name from outside, wanting to play with him. Katara made him promise not to let all this attention and adoration to to his head and he promised, but Ilvane honestly doubted he'd keep it

Little did she know that news about their arrival had made it to a certain prince, who was now coming their way to capture Aang. 

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

Ilvane turned out to be right

The adoration from the villagers got to Aang's head and he started to show off, much to Katara's consternation. Not wanting to deal with that mess, Ilvane instead went to see Suki and the other warriors. "Ilvane, come on in. Why don't you show us things you've learned while you were gone. Unless you've been slackening off." Her old friend playfully taunted her and she smirked as she got ready. 

They immediately sparred together, Ilvane keeping her firebending to a minimum  Despite that, Suki did notice that something was bothering the firebender and soon stopped. "What's wrong?" She asked. "Nothing's wrong. What makes you think something's wrong?" Ilvane immediately asked as she crossed her arms. "I've got eyes and ears. I know something is going on. You're not as sharp as you used to be before you left and I can see that something's angering you." Suki replied, the other warriors nodding in agreement.

Ilvane sighed and plopped down on the ground, Suki and the other warriors sitting down in a much calmer way. "For the past year, I've been rather safe and sound on the south Pole. Then, Aang showed up and made the stranded warship I wrote to you about release a signal and it honestly was only a matter of time before someone came to check up on it." The firebender began. "Was it your father?" Suki asked with a growl. 

"I think I would've been killed on the spot if it had been my father after the well-deserved shame I brought him." Ilvane replied and the other women snickered as well. "No. It was Zuko." She continued and the laughter immediately stopped. "Oh. How... how was he?" Suki asked, knowing of Ilvane's former friendship with the prince. "A hollow shell of the boy I once knew." Ilvane replied, hugging herself for comfort

"He took me and Aang prisoner aboard his warship, but Sokka and Katara saved us on Appa. Still, seeing him again after all these years brought back bad memories of a time long past. And then, while we were on our way here, a certain sexist boy I know decided to make jokes about Zuko's scar." The firebender continued and the warriors around her immediately winced in answer, knowing that that was the wrong thing to do. "I almost lost my temper at him, but barely managed to keep it in." Ilvane then confessed

"I bet I looked just like him at that point. I think that I scared them a bit, because Sokka asked after the story of how Zuko got his scar this morning because of my outburst. I told him, but now, I have the memories of that night at the forefront of my mind, from the way my best and only friend screamed in pain, to the way he kept his hand on my shoulder to prevent me from interfering and the smirk on his face." She then finished

Suki carefully put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I wish I could take the pain away, Ilvane, but I can't. You just need to remember that you've got a new family now in us and your other friends and maybe one day, you'll have your old friend back." She said and the firebender immediately snorted."Yeah, a miracle will need to happen before the old Zuko ever returns." She muttered pessimistically.

Unable to cheer their friend up, the warriors eventually returned to training with each other while Ilvane watched from the sidelines. That's when Sokka arrived as well. "Sorry ladies. Didn't mean to interrupt your dance lesson." He said and Ilvane immediately facepalmed. Did Sokka honestly have a death wish? It was that he was her friend, as she was pretty sure they would've attacked him otherwise. Sokka then said he was looking for a place to work out and Suki got a smirk on her face as she had an idea to teach him a lesson

Telling him he was in the right place, she apologised for yesterday. "I didn't know you were friends with Ilvane and the avatar." She said, giving Ilvane a small look and the firebender stuck out her tongue. "It's alright. I mean, normally, I'd hold a grudge, but since you guys are a bunch of girls, I'll make an exception." Sokka replied as Ilvane groaned. He was really asking for it now.

"Yeah, you're right. I bet you could defeat Suki with one hand on your back." She said, deciding she might as well enjoy the show. Suki quickly joined in and asked for a demonstration after Sokka bragged about being the best warrior in his village and the female warrior knew from Ilvane's very rare letters that the other "warriors" were all very small children. As expected, she easily kicked his ass, much to Ilvane's amusement 

"Honestly, Sokka. Who do you think showed me some of my non-bending fighting moves?" Ilvane asked, before leaving him in the capable hands of Suki and the others, ignoring his protests that she couldn't leave. She soon came across Katara and helped her carry the supplies. "Oh, thank you. You're a much better help than Aang." The waterbender muttered and Ilvane gave her a knowing smirk. "What's wrong?" She asked and as expected, her friend immediately went into a passionate rant about how irresponsible Aang was being

Ilvane just let her talk as they walked through the village, knowing that if Katara didn't let it out of her system now, it would probably fester for a while and then come out at the most inopportune moment possible. "Feel better now?" She asked once it seemed like she was done and Katara took a deep breath. "Yeah. Sorry for exploding on you." She muttered and Ilvane shrugged in reply.

"Compared what I'm used to, that's not an explosion. More like a seed of a tree that pops open." She said and Katara gave her a look. "He really was that bad, huh?" She asked carefully as she remembered what kind of life her friend had before and Ilvane looked down. "It was. He had the worst temper you can imagine. The smallest of things could make him explode and shoot fire." She replied 

"One time when I was living with him on his giant ship, a subordinate mocked him and his temper to some friends, not knowing my father was standing right behind him. He immediately got challenged to an agni kai and got burned to a crisp. The guy was only 25 years old. No one ever made fun of him after that." She continued, before sighing. "He may be my father, but I'd rather be the daughter of the unagi." She muttered and Katara put a hand on her shoulder as one of the warriors ran up to them and told Ilvane to follow her.

Arriving back at the training hut, Ilvane laughed until she cried at Sokka wearing the Kyoshi uniform, really needing the laugh. Suki smirked at seeing her friend laugh. Ilvane spent a short while with the two of them as she helped her friend train Sokka, before they heard that the village was being invaded by the Fire Nation. 'Please be Zuko. Please be Zuko.' Ilvane thought as she followed them

"Thankfully, it was Zuko and Ilvane, Suki and the other warriors of Kyoshi went to fight him and his men. The others distracted and disarmed the men, while Ilvane and Suki went to attack the banished prince himself. Ilvane blocked his fire from hurting her friend and barely managed to dodge his rhino's tail as it hit Suki. She growled and shot up to kick him in the stomach, throwing him out of the saddle.

"Missed me?" She asked as she readied herself. Zuko eventually managed to defeat them, just as Aang finally showed up and fought him too. Suki told Ilvane to leave while they kept him and his men busy. Ilvane reluctantly agreed and gave her a brief hug as she ran to get the supplies on Appa as Aang felt incredibly guilty about bringing Zuko to kyoshi and agreed to leave. Getting on the bison, they quickly flew away, but Aang gave them a heart-attack, by suddenly jumping into the water and using the Unagi to douse the burning village 

Ilvane could only imagine the look on Zuko's face as he got soaking wet by this as well since he was still on the island, something he absolutely hated when they were younger and giggled to herself at the thought. As they flew away, Aang had a question for the firebender of the group. "Ilvane.... do you have a scar like Zuko does?" He asked carefully and she stiffened up, before letting out a sigh.

"Yeah. I do." She muttered pulling off her parka and rolling up her sleeve to reveal a vicious looking burn on her upper arm. Aang's eyes flashed in anger and Sokka growled as he always did whenever he saw the scar "If I ever meet your dad, I'm so kicking his butt." The usually calm airbender growled. "Make him angry enough and he'll actually find some way kick his own butt." Ilvane said as she leaned back with a smile

They all laughed as Appa flew towards new adventures 

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

"The earth kingdom city of Omashu!"

That's how Aang introduced the city to his friends. Especially Sokka and Katara were struck silent "I used to come here all the time to visit my friend Bumi." Aang continued. "Wow! We don't have cities like this in the South Pole." Katara said. "They have buildings that don't melt." Sokka continued and Ilvane snorted, before Aang told them to hurry up, but Katara reminded him that it could be dangerous for him

Sokka agreed and said he needed a disguise. "So, what am I supposed to do? Grow a moustache?" Aang asked sarcastically. Instead they fashioned an itchy wig and moustache from Appa's fur. "Great. Now you look like my grandfather." Sokka muttered, before Katara reminded him that the boy in front of them was technically 112 years old. Aang immediately put on his old man persona, calling them whippersnappers 

Walking over a narrow path towards the gates, Aang said that they were going to love Omashu. "The people here are the friendliest in the world." He commented, just at the guards in front of them threw a man's cabbage cart into the ravine. "No, my cabbages!" The man shouted as Ilvane walked forwards and bowed. "May your rocks be stronger than the bones of your enemies." She greeted them, Aang, Sokka and Katara all looking at her like she was insane. "And may your fire burn hotter than the sun." The head guard replied as he bowed back to her, much to their surprise 

"Welcome back, lady Ilvane. We didn't think you'd come back again. Your old friend will be very happy to hear of your return." The guard continued with a small smile. "Could you not tell him about my arrival just yet. I've got a little surprise for him that he will love." Ilvane asked quietly. "Is this surprise dangerous?" The guard asked. "I swear on the spirit Agni that it isn't." Ilvane immediately promised as she held up her hand

"Very well. Who are your companions?" The guard asked. "These are Sokka and Katara from the Southern Water Tribe and our mutual friend Bonzu." Ilvane quickly introduced them. "Alright. Welcome to Omashu and try not to wreak too much havoc this time." The guard said as the walls got opened by earthbending and they walked through. "Wow, Ilvane. You have friends everywhere." Sokka commented in awe

"Well, this is probably the last place as only here and on Kyoshi was where I was really in civilisation." Ilvane replied. "Fair enough. Who is this old friend?" Katara asked. "Just an old man who lives here in ther city. He's got a high position in the King's Court." She explained as Aang told them about the delivery system and how Bumi and he had slid down from these chutes. He somehow managed to convince Katara and Sokka to do it too and they barely managed to fit all four of them in one of the boxes. "This sounded fun at first, but now I'm here, I'm starting to have second thoughts." Katara said as they went down

It was pretty fun as first, before they landed in front of a carriage with spears and Aang's brilliant idea was to get out of the chute, destroying a roof and going past several soldiers, before reaching another chute. Katara told Aang to use his airbending, the boy thinking she wanted to go even faster. From that moment, it was pure chaos as they bumped into another cart at a loading station and only Aang's airbending saved them

Getting into the city because of this, they accidentally broke through a man's house and porcelain vase, went through a house with some sort of cart that Momo fought on Aang's head and threw off, before finally crashing off a roof and into the cabbage cart of the man from before. "My cabbages! You'll pay for this!" The owner shouted as soldiers surrounded them and Ilvane sighed. They were in very big trouble now

Getting taken to the palace and before the King, the old man immediately noticed Aang and hummed. "Your Majestym these juveniles were arrested for vandalism, and malicious destruction of cabbages." One guard said at they were forced to kneel, the cabbage guy demanding their heads got cut off. "It was Aang's idea!" Ilvane immediately said. "Ilvane!" Katara hissed. "It was, wasn't it? He wanted to go down the chute like he did with his old friend Bumi." She defended herself and the King smirked at this. "Throw them...a feast!" He ordered and almost everyone was confused at this

During the feast, the King suddenly threw a small piece of chicken at Aang while pretending to go to bed, who instinctively caught it with airbending. "There's an airbender in our presence and not just any airbender. The Avatar!" The King revealed dramatically, much to the panic of Sokka, Katara and Aang himself. "Okay, you caught me. I'm the Avatar, doing my Avatar thing, keeping the world safe." The boy started

"Everything checks out. No firebenders here. So good work, everybody. Love each other, respect all life and don't run with your spears. We'll see you next time" He continued as he tried to back out of the room with the others, but were quickly stopped by the guards. "Do you think I don't know that your pretty little companion is a firebender? One who happens to have advised my hospitality twice now?" The King asked

After stating that Aang would face three different challenges the next day, he ordered the guards to put Aang, Sokka and Katara in one room and Ilvane in another. Sitting down on her bed, she didn't have to wait long before the King arrived. "I suppose that this is the surprise you were talking about." He said. "I really underestimated his sense of mischief. Sorry that we broke several things in the city." She apologised. "Oh, that's alright, Ilvane. Things can be repaired, but lives can't. Thank you for bringing my friend back to me." Bumi replied with a warm smile as he patted her head like she was a baby

How was it that a crazy old King that she only lived with for about three months in the beginning of her self-imposed exile, showed her more compassion than her father ever did in the five years that she lived with him?  Shaking herself, she then tilted her head. "Do you have to give him three challenges?" She asked. "I need to test him. There's a great destiny waiting for him and he needs to be ready." Bumi answered, serious for once

"Now, since you've been with two members of the Southern Water Tribe, I assume you've been there. What made you leave? I want to hear everything" Bumi stated, sitting down to listen. She told him everything, from what she had been doing when she left here to leaving Kyoshi once again after fighting Zuko. "But you haven't seen your father?" He's asked and she shook her head. "Thank the spirits." She added and he hummed.

"Well, you're welcome to stay here for as long as your friends do. Do you think you can contain yourself tomorrow?" He asked. "Honestly don't think so. I think if the challenge really is dangerous, I'll say your name to stop it. You know you can just tell him who you are?" She asked. "Where's the fun in that?" He asked and she rolled her eyes. "You haven't changed a bit, Bumi." She sighed. "Neither has Aang." He quipped and they both snickered at that, before Bumi left her to let her sleep. "I'll tell your friends that I'm keeping you prisoner because of you being a firebender and abusing my hospitality." He said

She rolled her eyes again. "Good night, Your Majesty." She called back and he cackled as the door behind him was closed by earthbending. Lying down on her bed, she sighed amid closed her eyes. It had been nice staying here, but they had received word that fire Nation troops were approaching and that they are looking for a fugitive. Pretty sure that they were looking for her, she had left the city to keep them safe

Unlike she had done with Suki, she had sent only one single letter to Bumi, using weird words to tell him she was safe as it was much more likely the letter could be intercepted as he lived further away. She was really glad to see him alright, but did feel a bit bad about not contacting him more often. He was over a hundred years old as well and unlike Aang, actually showed it. She sighed and closed her eyes to go to sleep 

She hoped her friends wouldn't be very angry at her

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

Two years ago. 

Ilvane was shivering as she carefully crawled out of the crate that she had hidden herself in. She didn't have much choice as she had seen Fire Nation soldiers looking around at her previous stop and a wanted poster with her face on it. She had ripped it from the pole it was on and had climbed into the nearest wooden crate she could find, only for that crate to be taken up and out of the town with her still in it

She had been in the dark for at least a day or so with nothing but bananas around her. At hearing the owners say that there were guards ahead for inspection, she had quickly buried herself into the bananas, the fruit thankfully covering her completely when the soldiers inspected the crate. Once she was inside the city and she heard the owners walk away to get a drink, she hurriedly climbed out and walked away

It was that she had heard the owners say that they were in Omashu, otherwise she'd have absolutely no idea where on earth she was. Looking around, the mood that had been successfully drilled into taking a soldier's perspective by her father in the past few years, immediately looked for the best possible scenarios what she could do. Seeing a "help wanted" sign at a tea shop, she hesitantly walked towards it. "Excuse me, I saw that you needed help." She said in her small tone. "Have you ever worked in a tea shop?" The owner asked and she shook her head.

"No, sir. I just arrived here after running away from my unsafe home and I desperately need money." She answered honestly and he hummed. "Well, let's first see if you can heat up a kettle." He said, giving her two stones to start a fire. Supressing a smile at the irony of asking a firebender to heat up something, she hit the stones together. At the right moment, she briefly extended her finger and a tiny flame shot out of it

"Very good. Step one complete." The owner, Moni, commented with a chuckle and she smiled as he instructed her and helped her through the rest of the steps of making tea. Her first attempt wasn't exactly bad, but it wasn't very good either. Still, she tried her best and it was either that or the need for help was high as she was hired "You'll learn, little one. What's your name?" Moni asked. "Ilvane." She answered.

"Well, Ilvane. Here's the deal I've got for you right now: you work for me and you can live in the rooms upstairs. It is originally supposed to be for the owner of this shop, but with my wife and seven kids, it doesn't have enough room for all of us. I'll help you make tea and give you a salary based on how hard you work, deal?" He asked with a warm smile, holding out his hand. She shook it, knowing our was fair enough, desperate to have some money and knowing there were worse deals out there. "Great. Let me give you the tour." He said, leading her upstairs to the empty apartment

That's how Ilvane quickly came to work for Moni for quite a while and she eventually got much better in making tea. She also met Moni's wife and seven kids one day, who accepted her almost absurdly quickly and always talked her into a hug. Many cups of tea were almost spilled by her that way. Still, she was kinda content with this. She was safe and Omashu was one of the few free cities in the Earth Kingdom

However, it went wrong after a few weeks. Moni's youngest children had come to visit, when a robber burst in and held one of them hostage, a knife at her throat. "Give me all your money or this girl's life will be ended very short." He threatened as Moni dropped his kettle in utter shock. Ilvane was in a pinch. Either risk this girl's life or reveal what she really was. Seeing a drop of blood trickle down, she made her decision 

A few seconds later, many people outside gasped in shock as a man was thrown out of a shop, a red hot flame following him. "You threaten that little girl's life again and you'll regret it!" Ilvane shouted as she threw a fist into his face, her threat clear. "Firebender!" He screamed and soldiers immediately arrested her. "Soldier, that man tried to rob my store and threatened the life of my children!" Moni called and the robber was arrested as well. After assuring himself that his daughter was okay and that his children would ne date with his wife, Moni followed the soldiers to give his statement

Ilvane was forced to kneel in front of the King with the robber and the soldier told the old man that she was a firebender. "And what's your opinion, Mr. Moni." The King asked and Moni looked at Ilvane, who looked down at the ground. "Your Majesty, she may be a Firebender, but she saved the life of my daughter and prevented a robbery from happening. She's not a monster." He replied as he bowed his head

Ilvane immediately looked up in surprise, before giving him a small smile. "Are you kidding me! She's a firebender! They're all evil! I bet she's the daughter of a Fire Nation captain or something" The robber protested and Ilvane made a face as he was kinda right. The King hummed at seeing her face and held up a hand. "Make her..." He began and they looked up. "An advisor." He continued and they all stared at him

That's how Ilvane became the advisor of King Bumi, telling him and the soldiers everything she knew from the plans she remembered seeing, even if it had been a few months since she had seen them. After a while, she and the King became pretty good friends once he was certain she didn't mean any harm. "Wait, wait! You knew the Avatar?" Ilvane asked in shock. "Well, we didn't know it at the time. I only learned it later... just before the air nomads were killed." He said, getting a bit sad and she patted his back. "What did you do with him?" She asked and he smiled. A few minutes later, they were sliding down. 

After three months, a soldier came in with the news that fire Nation troops were seen and that they were looking for Ilvane, giving the King the same wanted poster that Ilvane had torn up. ""Traitor to the Fire Nation?" Ilvane, what have you done?" Bumi asked as he looked at the poster. "I ran away from home. Who was leading them?" She asked. At hearing the name of the man leading them, she closed her eyes and lowered her head.

"That's my father. He won't rest until he found me. I need to go, before it's too late." She said, looking at Bumi and he nodded, ordering his captain to lead her through the mountains. "Just remember: you're always welcome here." He said. "Thank you, Bumi. May your rocks be stronger than the bones of your enemies." She said. He greeted back, before she had to leave. She said goodbye to Moni before she left the city

Present

Aang was woken up by the guards early the next day to see Sokka and Katara were already gone from the room and demanded to know where they were, but they didn't tell him and ordered him to give them his staff. When he met the King, he showed the boy that the two Southern water tribe members got rings forced on their fingers that slowly grew into crystal prisons. "And ilvane?" Aang asked with a glare to the old man. "The firebender will stay in her cell for now as punishment for abusing my hospitality twice. Now, are you ready?" Bumi asked with a smirk

After having to get a key from a waterfall, having to save the King's pet from a huge beast that turned out to be the pet itself and having to fight the King himself, Aang had to guess his name and figured it out, hugging his old and only remaining friend from a hundred years ago. As promised, Katara and Sokka were freed and it turned out that the crystal was sugar. "What about Ilvane?" Aang asked and Bumi smirked

"Moni! Three cups of jasmine tea for table 4!" Ilvane called, having decided to help her old boss for the day. "You got it, Ilvane!" Moni called back, just as Sokka, Katara and Aang ran in. "Ilvane! Oh, thank the spirits. We were so worried." Katara breathes in relief as she hugged her friend. "I'm fine. Bumi is that old friend I talked about. I said that he had a high position in the court. I just didn't say it was the highest." She chuckled 

Katara quickly hit her on the arm and she immediately grinned with no regret whatsoever as she then happily introduced her friends to Moni. "Glad to see the lady Ilvane had found true friends who support her through thick and thin." He said with a small bow and they smiled at him. Thanking him for everything as they left, Aang wanted to slide down the chute with Bumi like in the good old days. "Aren't you worried he'll get in trouble again?" Katara asked. "What are they going to do? Arrest their king?" Ilvane asked, just as they heard a crash and the cabbage guy shouting once more.

Climbing on Appa, Bumi, his soldiers and Moni and his family waved them out and wished them luck on the rest of the journey. "I hope we'll see each other again, my friend." Ilvane said and Bumi smiled as he ruffled her hair. "Me too." He said "Lady Ilvane, we got this report from a fire nation scout we defeated. Be careful." Bumi's captain said, giving her a roll of parchment and she thanked him before Appa grunted and flew off

"What's that parchment, Ilvane?" Sokka asked curiously and she unrolled it. "Commander Zhao of the fire nation has been asking for info about the avatar. He's looking for us. I know him from my time there. He's the worst." She explained as she read it. "Well, I can't wait to teach him a lesson when he meets us." Katara commented as she bended some water and they nodded with chuckles as they continued on again

Adventure was waiting for them. 

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise 

They traveled on for several days and didn't come across any trouble 

However, both Katara and Aang noticed that Ilvane had been very quiet ever since they had left the safety of Omashu. Sokka hadn't noticed it just yet unkind his sister and friend, but he wasn't always the most aware of things going on around him so it was not really a surprise that he didn't realise it. Aang first thought that she was so quiet because she missed her friends there and hadn't been able to spend much time with them.

He knew he already missed Bumi ever since they left, but when he carefully discussed this possibility with Katara when Sokka and Ilvane were hunting, she wasn't sure. "I actually don't know, Aang. I've been keeping an eye on her ever since I noticed her acting off and it feels like it's something else. Surely, you've noticed how incredibly tense she is even or rather especially when we take a break and that she doesn't sleep much if she sleeps at all?" She asked

He hummed at that as he tried to think of their friend's behaviour since they left Omashu. Now that he really thought about it, he realised she was completely right.. Every time they took a break since leaving the city, Ilvane looked like she was completely ready to immediately fight for her life at a moment's notice every time, even when they settled down for the night. She was usually the last one awake when they went to sleep, looking over the fire and the first one up as she rose with the sun, usually gone to scour the perimeter when the others woke up.

"Maybe, she actually freaked out about the Fire Nation looking for us. She lived there for almost her whole entire life so she honestly should know what they're capable of doing." Aang then suggested instead. "That might actually be a better possibility. Hang on, let me look for the stack of papers that soldier gave her." Katara agreed as she climbed on Appa and found the scrolls Ilvane had gotten when they left Omashu 

"Let me see. Yadda-yadda-yadda. "If you have any information about the Avatar or his whereabouts, report to Commander Zhao immediately." Not exactly anything we don't know already." She said as she rolled it back up and put it back where she came from as Aang leaned back against a fallen tree."I'm sure she'll be fine once she remembers we can handle ourselves." He said as Katara folded up her blanket and Sokka and Ilvane returned

Turns out they hadn't managed to find anything but nuts during the hunt, despite having been away for at least and hour already. "Round nuts and some kind of oval-shaped nuts and some rock-shaped nuts." Sokka summed up and Ilvane pinched the bridge of her nose. "I told you, Sokka. Those are rocks!" She growled. "I'm just trying to be helpful, okay?" He asked, feeling a bit insulted as Katara and Aang shared a worried look between each other. Ilvane had also become a bit more short-tempered and blunt towards the three of them in the past few days

Katara assumed that that was because of a rather dangerous mixture of stress and not a lot of sleep because of said stress as she had noticed her going to bed late and getting up early as well and with her being a firebender, that fraying amount of patience could eventually result in quite some dangerous situations. Katara then quickly decided to talk to her about it after dinner, but that plan was soon thrown off when they felt the earth shake. 

"What was that?" A panicked Sokka asked, before another boom was heard and felt, scaring poor Momo who thought he was the one doing it. Katara and Aang ran towards it. "Shouldn't we run away from huge booms, not toward them?" Sokka asked before following them and Ilvane sighed "Here we go again. Running into possible danger. No, don't think about self-preservation at all. Why should you?" She asked sarcastically as she followed as well

It turned out to just be an Earthbender using his powers. "Let's go meet him." Aang suggested excitedly. "He looks dangerous so we better approach cautiously. "Sokka said, only for Katara to jump out of their hiding spot and greet him loudly. "Hello there! I'm Katara! What's your name" She called, Ilvane facepalming behind her. For some reason, the man immediately ran away, blocking the way behind him with Earthbending. "Nice meeting you!" Aang sarcastically called after him as the other three quickly joined Katara from their hiding spot.

"I just wanted to say hi." Katara quite muttered in confusion before Aang realised there might be a village nearby and they followed that man's trail and indeed found a small village that actually had a market where they could buy food. Katara noticed the boy from before walking into one shop and immediately went to get an explanation from him with Aang and Sokka while Ilvane stayed in the doorway to keep an eye on things outside

She was suddenly pulled inside and the door was slammed shut behind her by the boy's mother when Aang revealed they saw him Earthbending. Apparently, it was dangerous and as if proving her point, Fire Nation soldiers banged on the door. "Act natural." Sokka hissed as the soldiers were let in and four out of five had the most unnatural poses ever. Only Ilvane seemed normal as she was cutting some vegetables behind the counter

She kept her face down to make sure they didn't see her face. She wasn't sure if she was still wanted in the Fire Nation, but considering the formerly famous Jeong Jeong was still being searched for after having left the army many years ago, she had a sneaking suspicion that she was. Not to mention how much her father would probably love to have her found for the slight against him  She was glad that she was still wearing Water Tribe clothing. The captain announced that the tax was doubled, even with the mother having paid the week before.

"We wouldn't want an accident, now would we?" He asked with a smirk as he called up a flame, the threat clear with them in a wooden shop. "Fire is sometimes so hard to control." He said, before the flame suddenly went out. He tried again, only to have the same result. "This usually works." He muttered, Ilvane grinning. "Oh, performance issues. Not uncommon. One out of five..." Sokka began before having to duck as fire was shot towards him.

Seeing this, the mother gave the captain his money, but he gave her the copper ones back. Ilvane sighed in relief once he was gone, going to check if Sokka was okay. "How long has the Fire Nation been here?" The boy asked we he waved her off. The woman explained that they had been here for five years, that Ozai used their coal mines to fuel his ships and how Earthbending was forbidden. The boy, Haru, was apparently the only one left

Katara immediately protested that Haru could help with his Earthbending, but the woman refused to listen and Ilvane honestly could understand that as there probably had been other Earthbenders and it clearly did not end well for them. This was immediately confirmed when it was revealed the Fire Nation took Haru's father away with all the other Earthbenders who once lived there in the village " I honestly wish that someone would come and take my father away." Ilvane muttered darkly. "You don't mean that." Haru said in horror, having heard her.

"Yes, I do." She immediately confirmed, rolling up her sleeve to show them her scar and silence fell as the horrifying answer about who had given her that ugly scar hung in the air  Taking pity on her after that, they were allowed to stay the night in the family's barn. "I'll make sure Appa doesn't eat all your hay." Aang promised, the bison already having his big mouth full with hay as he stopped eating for a second, before continuing on.

Chuckling at the silly animal as he continued eating, Ilvane went to lie down in some of the remaining hay to take a nap, falling asleep almost instantly as she was way more tired than she had expected She had only meant to sleep an hour or two, only to wake up the next day by Katara storming into the barn after finding out Haru had been taken. "What did i miss?" She muttered as she rubbed her eyes to get rid of any lingering sleep

"Apparently, Haru saved an old man who got stuck under a sudden cave in at the mine using Earthbending last night and now, the old man had ratted him out to the Fire Nation. "Aang quickly caught her up to speed with what she had missed, all three of her friends having decided to let her sleep through the entire night. "Wow. Talk about "No good deed goes unpunched." "Well, he's gone." She muttered as she lied back against the hay. "How can you say that, Ilvane?!" Katara demanded to know of her friend, appalled that she gave up so soon.

"You forget that I'm actually from there, Katara. I have already heard about this prison before I left the Fire Nation. I just didn't connect the dots just yet. The warden is a pretty good friend of my father, so he'll recognise me if we try to break in. And even then, it's pretty much impossible to get in there and get him out." She explained with a frustrated sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose in utter frustration 

They constantly seemed to forget she knew the Fire Nation and what they were capable of. They seemed to have so much fun that they apparently about the real danger they were in, apart from Sokka at times. "No, it's not impossible. The Fire Nation will bring me straight to Haru." Katara decided as she looked out over the village. When Aang asked why, she gave the craziest answer ever. "Because they're going to arrest me for Earthbending." She said.

"You're insane." Ilvane commented in a deadpan tone

Chapter Text

Hey everyone

I'm really sorry for doing this, but I'm marking this story as complete as I have absolutely no inspiration for it and haven't for years. Again, I'm really sorry, but this story was just screaming in my face while knowing I was likely never going to update it again, so it's best to just do it this way

I may return to this story one day, but I doubt it. If anyone wants to take the story over, feel free to do so as long as you ask permission and give me credit

I apologise to everyone who had subscribed to this story and I hope to see you in a different story