Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender does not I repeat does NOT belong to me. But original characters and the story do.

Authors note: This is my first fanfic y'all…but just because of that, that doesn't mean you can cut me some slack…Pls., be straightforward in your reviews. I want the most honest reviews you can give me be it negative or positive. I can take it, I have to if I have to fulfill my dream as a fully pledged writer and all…okay I'm sounding lame, anyway, I already thought of my character and its abilities and personality like four years ago, it just evolved to a better person over the years so don't get the idea that I stole the idea from you all (atbp: Shadow Bender, etc.). But

I have to agree your stories are great…let's just get on with the story…And……..Here it is!!!

Here is the Actual summary: Zuko and Iroh have to join up with the "Aang Gang" to teach the young Avatar firebending since they are indebted to them. At first, trusting the prince seems to be the worst of their problems but it turns out to be the least when nice, while being attacked by Azula, a strange teenaged girl literally falls from the sky. She is very mysterious with a past no one knows of. Despite the fact that the group doesn't know whether to trust her or not since they, repeated, no nothing of her, she goes along with them anyway. The thing is she may be smart, clever, quick-witted and enigmatic, but she seems to be a complete prodigy in totally pissing them of, and to make matters worse, they have to protect her since she doesn't seem to know how to protect herself, but that is something that the group is completely wrong about. She holds a power stronger than the Avatar's himself. And she uses that power when the group gets trapped in a strange city. Now, Katara and Zuko have to get past their differences to survive gigantic slugs, storms and a curse. But they find unsuspecting help from someone to turn them into something more. (A/N: Despite the fact that the story revolves around a new ally, it has a lot of Zutara in between.)

The Dark Side. A rare group of people that is unheard of, unknown to even the oldest and wisest of their existence. They are different from the benders of the four elements. They do not bend but they manipulate, allowing them to create darkness as a solid, liquid or gaseous matter, to read minds, manipulate objects, to see the location of a person object or animal and many others. Truly they are a special people but only one Dark Sider is more powerful than the Avatar himself. This Dark Sider was not born with this ability but merely developed it while in its dormant state. This, among all Dark Siders, is the only one who can use the darkness to travel through time, space and different worlds. And with the help of the darkness, this Dark Sider came upon many other powers, making this particular person stronger than ever. This one did not come from the world of the four elements but only came upon it with one single mission in mind: not to interfere with the Avatar's destiny but to help him choose the right one.

Prologue

Four years ago:

She ran. Ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her long raven black hair trailed behind her, dancing playfully in the wind. She didn't care if the snowy mountain ledge was unstable. She just hoped she could get there on time.

Why? Why did I have to run away? Why couldn't I spend all those years training? And now I'm just a vain, helpless girl that can't protect her friends and family and now…tears ran down her cheeks and flew off behind her as she stopped herself from thinking anything else but one image along with one word. Brother.

Minutes before, in the hollow bowl of the rocky mountain, she was overcome with fear, she ran away and now she was running back hoping, praying to God that she would be there on time. She was out of breath and was almost gasping for air.

To her relief, she had reached the top of the mountain; she saw the opening to the mountain bowl, a small hole but big enough for an adult to fit through. She made a slight smile in relief and then slowed down but just slightly. She ran down the naturally-made stairs, smiling. She had made it. Her eyes were wide with fatigue but she didn't care she could save her brother. She didn't know how, she wasn't strong or quick but she was determined to help somehow.

But when she came to the bowl, the hollow inside of the mountain, her smile faded. She saw her brother alive, but only just in time to see him fall and die. Behind his body, a tall figure was there, with the cruelest raven black-blue, wispy hair. He was covered in blood, but it was like he didn't care. He smirked at the twelve year old child. She was horror-stricken. He raised his hand, obviously about to murder her. As he did, she inhaled sharply, her eyes wider and her electric blue pupils shrunk as if in fear.

The walls were splattered upon with blood and a scream pierced the air, the ravens nearby flew off.

Introducing the Gang

"This is ridiculous!" Zuko yelled as he threw away his make-shift spear away in frustration.

His pants were pulled up to his knees but despite that, all of him was soaking wet. He had been fishing in the river for an hour and still he caught nothing.

From the bank, his uncle Iroh was sipping a cup of tea, calm, despite the fact that his nephew was steaming mad. "You are indebted to them Prince Zuko. Helping them fish is the least you can do for them."

"Helping them! I'm the only one here!"

"That's because the avatar and the waterbender have already caught their share. That warrior-boy is getting some berries and nuts and Ms. Bei Fong is watching camp for us."

"Well, I'm not a waterbender. Why do I have to fish instead of watching camp?"

"That is what they wanted."

"All they want is to see me squirm," Zuko mumbled to himself.

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing."

The two firebenders had been staying with the avatar group for one-and-a-half days. They were caught by Azula but were saved by the Avatar and his friends. To Zuko, it was too good to be true to be saved by the Avatar completely out of kindness and just as he suspected, the rest of his friends decided that in return, they had to help him learn firebending. The waterbender insisted that since they were part of the group (at least for three weeks as decided), they had to do their share of work.

Zuko saw his chance as a large fish swum towards him. He jabbed the spear at the water and caught the fish. He smirked in triumph, but it was long lived as the force of the current broke his spear, letting the fish go, though injure it was still swimming quickly.

"I can't take this anymore!" He threw what was left of the spear into the river.

Just then, he noticed the water tribe girl walking towards him and then stop on the bank.

"What do you want?" Zuko asked huskily.

"You can stop if you want to. I can see you're really tired. Try to get some rest before lunch," she said calmly.

"I don't want pity from a water tribe peasant!" Zuko shouted. He was tired and he wanted to stop, but he didn't want to be the weak link in this.

Her calm expression changed into something more furious. "Look, just because you're an "almighty prince", that doesn't mean you can go ahead and shout around. Just say 'no' if you want to." She said this a bit angrily but she was obviously trying to restrain herself and her calm was still in her tone.

"Stop bossing me around peasant! I can stop if I want to but I don't want to now."

"Really? Just a while ago you said you were sick and tired of fishing," his uncle said as he happily sipped his tea.

"Uncle! You're not helping!"

The girl was talking again, calmly now, but still a hint of annoyance in her voice. "Look, you don't have to be ashamed of letting go of something for a bit of rest. We already have enough fish so try to stop."

"I am not ashamed!" Zuko snapped back.

"Fine, you're not, but you're still bloated with pride, you know. Just stop and take a rest. I'm sure you're not that obsessed with fishing."

"The girl has a point, Prince Zuko."

Zuko could see they wouldn't stop going against him so he just got out of the river and walked past them. As he passed the girl, he hissed, "Peasant."

Katara glared at him and clenched her hand into a tight fist but knew better and let it go.

"You must forgive my nephew," Iroh said as he sipped a new cup of tea. "He is going through some...issues lately. Give him time."

Katara couldn't help but smile at the old man. "I'm sure he's going to snap out of it sooner or later. Are you going to stay here?"

"Yes. The brace of the quiet forest and this tea is relaxing."

"Okay, I'll just call for you when lunch is ready."

Iroh just nodded in response.

Night had fallen fast. They were too busy what with setting up camp, getting a fresh load of supplies and food, and adjusting to one particular prince that there was no time for Aang to get started with learning firebending.

There was a warm campfire and around it, the group was sitting talking about their next plan. All except Zuko. He was a little way off from the group and was lying down looking up at the sky.

He wasn't looking at it just for the mere beauty of it; he had never done that since he was young. He was thinking of what to do when their three weeks were finally up. He wasn't going to stay with them, that's for sure, but it had crossed his mind three or four times, he could capture them and take them to the Fire Nation, but Azula was waiting to strike, he also had the option of living a new life with his uncle and letting go of everything. But his throne and his honor called out to him. He was confused; that was the only thing he was sure of.

"Hiya!" It was the Avatar. He was sitting right beside Zuko's face and his face was directly above him.

Zuko just narrowed his eyes and said plainly, "Go…away." How he longed to wipe that happy-go-lucky smile off his face. It was repulsive to him.

"Why don't you come to the campfire with us? It seems so cold out here."

"I'm a firebender. I can make my own heat." Zuko turned away with his back to the

Avatar. But the twelve year old just flew to that side and faced him again, much to Zuko's annoyance.

"I said, go away," he said, putting in a little more annoyance in his voice just so the kid could take a hint.

The Avatar looked concern but he knew better than to force anyone. "Well, okay. But you can come up to the fire if it's getting to cold for you." With that, he flew off again towards the happy group around the fire.

Zuko looked over his shoulder to watch them for a while. They all seemed so happy just talking to each other. When was the last time he talked to someone with a smile on his face? Several years ago, but it seemed so much farther away than that. He turned back and rested his head on his folded arm.

Before he knew it, he was sound asleep.