My name is Tora.

Well, that's a dumb way to begin my story. I would come up with something better, except I can't think of anything - besides, you're going to be hearing all of this sooner or later, why not just get it all over with now?

My father is from the Southern Water Tribe, but he married my mother, who was Fire Nation, and was banished from his Tribe. (I honestly have no idea how they met, or how they fell in love, but I'm not complaining.) I inherited my mother's golden eyes and pale skin, but I got my dark brown hair from my father. Dad says that I look a lot like my mother, but I got a certain way of thinking that dad says that I got from him. I got my temper from mom - it's kind of a firebender thing. My father isn't a bender, but I did inherit waterbending from his side of the family, and firebending from my mother's side. So, I can bend two elements.

At least, I could, until…

Never mind.

That's really all you need to know about me.

Oh, right. I forgot something.

~~Water~~

It started when I was thirteen. In a few months or so, I would be fourteen.

I had been reading a scroll in my room. My father was in a meeting, speaking about... I had no idea, something important with the other members of the White Lotus Society.

Right, forgot that. My dad is a member of the White Lotus. It's a secret society for people of all the Nations. Honestly, it was completely amazing that there were members of all three Nations co-existing peacefully together. Believe me, when there's a war that's been going on between your Nation and the rest of the world for a hundred years, the fact that anybody from different Nations can be in the same room together and not destroy anything is astounding.

Back to the story – so, I was reading in my room, and I had gone to get a new scroll from my father's library. It was one of my favourite places in the entire mansion. The shelves nearly reached the ceiling, and there were a combination of scrolls and bounded books everywhere. Even if you didn't like to read, or didn't know how to read - my dad taught me how to read and write all by himself, since he didn't trust the Fire Nation school in the town (but I got an alright education, considering all the history scrolls and books he had) - the sight would have been amazing. I had been passing my father's room to get to the library when I overheard him talking to some other members of the White Lotus.

"She needs to leave." I knew that voice. It belonged to Jeong-Jeong, a Fire Nation soldier. He was high up in the army, I just don't remember exactly what role he played. I didn't exactly like him too much.

"She's my daughter, Jeong-Jeong!" That was Dad.

It took me a few seconds to realize they were talking about me. When I did, I pressed my ear against the door, not daring enough to look through the crack in the door. But I still couldn't hear what they were saying very well, so most of it became muffled.

"Iroh had a son, and he didn't have to leave." Dad again.

Jeong Jeong said something, I think something along the lines of "Bending", "Dangerous", and "army", but I couldn't hear him very well.

Dad started to speak, but I missed most of it because he wasn't speaking very loudly and the door was already thick. " - Fire Lord - Bender - Sixteen - Tora-"

"He knows, Piandao!" Jeong Jeong hissed. "He knows what she is!"

There was a long pause, and I pressed my ear harder against the door, straining to hear if anyone would say anything after that. I couldn't help but wonder what Jeong Jeong meant by "He knows what she is". Who knows what who is?

Naturally, while I was pondering that, I managed to miss most of what was said next. All I heard was the words that would haunt me for the rest of my life: "When's the soonest Tora can leave?"

My eyes grew wide, and I stumbled back, away from the door. Dad was going to send me away... he was going to send me away... he gave up so quickly... he didn't even fight them! Then I heard the shifting of chairs, and footsteps - knowing that if I didn't move I'd be caught, I did what anybody in my situation would do - I turned and ran back to my room as fast as I could.

I threw my bedroom door open, and practically flung myself onto my bed, grabbing my scroll and pretending to act natural while catching my breath. Seconds after I had controlled my breathing, Dad came into my room, still wearing his dark-blue and white robes. He looked like he was doing his best to smile, and I knew he was faking. I always knew when my dad was faking a smile.

"Hi, dad." I faked a smile right back. "The meeting go okay?" He nodded slowly. "Yes, yes, we got some things resolved."

"Any closer to bringing world peace?"

"Not exactly." He chuckled slightly at my question. "But we - I mean, I did make a decision."

"And what was that?" I asked, pretending to be clueless. Tell me the truth. Don't lie to me. I don't know what would have been worse - him lying to me and not knowing that I know what he was doing, or him telling me the truth and letting me get angry at him.

I was disappointed. "I thought... you should see the place I grew up. The Southern Water Tribe. You need to be aware of your background." He said, rather calmly. Of course, my dad does nearly everything calmly.

"Can't I learn about it here? From you?" I asked, trying desperately and trying to make it seem like I wasn't trying desperately to make him change his mind, while at the same time trying my best to pretend I had no idea what he was really planning to do. But I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. I was finally going to see the place where my father grew up and talked about with such a longing look in his eyes.

"No, no. It's best to learn from experience."

I nodded slowly and stood up. "When do I leave?" I asked, clenching my teeth tightly together in my fake smile as I did my best to fake ignorance.

"Tonight." That was barely enough time to do... well, anything!

"And for how long?"

Dad didn't say anything for a moment. He looked away, though, and then said, "Indefinitely." There was a brief, awkward pause, and Dad seemed to realize what he had said. "Because learning never stops." He smiled again, placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. Without another word, he left, and I slowly slid onto the floor, leaning against my bed and pulling my knees up to my chest. He lied to me... he just lied right to my face. How could he do that?

Fat, dad's butler, came into the room then, and he gave me two things: a dark blue parka, and a bag for some of my things. "This is for you. You're going to need it." he said, handing both things to me. I nodded wordlessly. As soon as he had left, I just flung any warm clothing I had into my bag. And let me say this, when you live in the Fire Nation, you tend not to have a lot of warm clothes. I was going to freeze to death - at least I wouldn't have to spend that much time in the Tribe.

A few hours later, I had all my necessities packed (I barely had any warm clothes... I would die of the cold) and I was standing at the door, for once actually wearing long pants and long sleeves. Dad wasn't saying anything. We stood in silence for a few seconds, before I hugged him fiercely. He hugged back. We stood there for a few seconds, before he let go. I looked at him, and I could see him trying to sum up all the words he wanted to say in his head.

"Bye, dad." I finally choked out.

"I love you, Tora. Don't you ever forget that." he pulled a small pouch from his sleeve. It was dark blue, and covered in beads. "Take this. Your mother wanted you to have it."

~~Water~~

Later, I was standing on a boat that would take me to the water tribe. I didn't know any of the people on deck, so i didn't talk to anyone. I just stood on the deck and looked at the horizon, still wishing I could see the fire nation.

It occurred to me that I hadn't opened my pouch yet, so I did. Inside was a necklace. I've seen it before on my mother in paintings. It was a gold chain, with three red gemstones inlaid in it. Two big ones and one large one in the middle. Dangling from the gold where each gemstone was, were three gold raindrops. The gemstones were fire rubies. Fire rubies were said to grow hot whenever danger was near. Of course, it was a superstition.

There was a note inside the pouch. From Dad. It didn't say anything about him wanting me to leave, or the reason why. It only said that my mother wore the necklace for their wedding, that he had made it for their engagement and that it was her dream to see me wear it at my own.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek and splatter on the letter. Closing my eyes, I pressed my back against the ships railing, and slid down until I was sitting on the ground with my knees pulled up to my chest.

Stop crying, you big baby! I screamed at myself in my head. Spirits, no wonder Dad sent you away!

I suddenly felt my breath catch in my throat.

He… sent me away… why… why?! What's wrong with me?! I started sobbing into my hands, burying my face in my hands. There must have been something wrong with me if dad, the person who said he loved me more than anything on earth, sent me away!

It's because... I was useless to him. I never did anything to help him... I made his life harder… My eyes slowly slid shut, a few more tears leaking out.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up, frozen to the bone. I shivered, rubbing my arms in a fail attempt of warming myself up. I looked up, blinking as I saw the sun above me. Did I sleep out here all night? Still shivering, I pulled my parka on over my body, and soon enough, I got warm. I realized I was still holding Mom's necklace in my hand, and I put it on, loving its feel on my neck.

~~Water~~

After a few more days of sailing, we finally reached the South Pole. Unfortunately, the captain refused to actually dock in front of the actual tribe, and so stopped the ship a mile away from the Tribe, and forced me to walk there. Something about not wanting his "beautiful girl" (meaning his ship) cavorting with those "filthy savages". His words, not mine.

After swearing at him in my head for a while, I put my hand in my pocket, and made sure the letter was still there. The captain had given me a letter to give to the elder of the Tribe. I got cold after a few minutes of walking, and I took off my glove and lit up a small flame in my hand.

The next thing I knew, something collided with the back of my head, and I was knocked face first into the snow.

Slowly, I lifted my head out of the snow and started blinking, to get some of the snow out of my eyes. Then something sharp was placed against the back of my neck, and something that felt like a foot pressed against my back, preventing me from getting up.

"Give me your name." A voice said from above me. It sounded like a boy who was still going through the last few stages of puberty.

"em"Tora of the Fire Nation." I said without hesitating.

I felt the sharp thing dig against the skin on my neck. Nothing happened. "Are you going to do it?" I finally asked, not being able to take the stress of the situation.

No reply.

"Are you going to tell me your name?"

Again, no reply.

"Fine, then." Without a second thought, I made a few movements with the hand that wasn't pinned under me, and a bit of snow melted into a small stream of water, that, after a moment, flew into my attacker's face. I heard him let out a yelp, and he removed the sharp thing and his foot from my skin and my back. I quickly rolled over and sat up, making a grab for my bag in case I needed to throw something. Then I stopped and blinked in surprise.

Sitting a few feet away from me was a boy, who looked around my age if not a year older. He was wearing a dark blue parka with a white fur trim around the hood and the ends of his sleeves and hemline. His hood had been knocked loose from my "attack", and so I could see some dark brown hair, a few shades lighter than mine, shaved on either sides of his head and the hair on the top of his head pulled back into a short ponytail at the back of his skull. His skin was a dark brown, and I could see he had two weapons, both of which were laying scattered on the ground. A boomerang and a machete.

"Uh, you okay?" I asked, staring at the boy.

The boy glared at me, before grabbing hold of his machete and pointing it at me. "What do you want?"

"What?"

"I said, what do you want?" He repeated.

"Um, to find the Southern Water Tribe?" I asked, still staring.

"Why?"

"Because I have to live there now." I said, crossing my arms.

"What?!" The boy looked both shocked and furious. "But you're Fire Nation!"

"Only half." I corrected instantly. It felt, oddly enough, nice to be able to say that. Back home - I managed to not wince at the word "home" - everyone just assumed I was full Fire Nation-blooded. Being able to tell the truth for once was nice. "And to be perfectly honest, if I was able to choose, I would rather not live here. Not to be rude."

"You pretty much just insulted my home! What part of that wasn't rude?" He demanded.

"The 'only half' part." I finally got to my feet, before sticking my hand out for the boy to take. He ignored it and got to his feet on his own, but kept his machete pointed at me.

"Now, what are you really here for?" He demanded.

"I told you - I have to live in the Water Tribe now."

"If that's true, then tell me why!"

"None of your business!" I was getting frustrated now.

"I'm the warrior of the village - if the enemy has to come into the village for any reason, it is my business!" He fired back.

I opened my mouth to snap back a comeback - but none came. He had a point. "Just because I'm Fire Nation doesn't mean I'm your enemy." I stated, before slowly pushing his machete away from me. "Look at me-" I gestured to myself. I was utterly weaponless, covered in snow from my fall, and at least two inches shorter than him. "Do I look like a soldier to you?"

He gave me a once over. "Not really."

"Okay, how 'bout this." I said, lifting my hands in a "surrendering" gesture. "I swear on Agni's name -" Seeing his expression, I quickly changed the name of the Spirit. "I swear on the Spirit of the Ocean's name, whatever it may be, that I won't attack you or your village unless someone attacks me first. In exchange, you have to show me the way. How about that?"

He looked like he was thinking hard. Finally, he sighed, and lowered his machete. "Fine. But if you break your promise-"

"I won't."

"Then I won't hesitate to attack you." He continued as if I hadn't spoken.

"Feel free. I don't plan on breaking my promise." I stated, smiling slightly.

With that, the boy took off walking. In the exact opposite direction I had been heading. I slapped my forehead in disbelief of my own stupidity. Of course, how was I supposed to know where the village was? It wasn't like there were people around to point the way. I quickly ran after him, and began walking by his side. I noticed he kept glancing over at me, and he hadn't put away his machete. Not that I blamed him.

"By the way, what did you hit me with?" I asked.

"A boomerang."

"Well, it hurt."

"It was meant to."

"Seems like you're pretty good with that thing." I said offhandedly.

When I looked at him, he looked taken aback. "Uh... thanks."

"No problem. Who taught you?"

"What?"

"Who taught you how to use your boomerang?"

"My dad."

"Oh. Cool. Will I meet him at the village?"

For a moment, he didn't answer, and when I glanced over at him, he looked a little depressed. "No. He-" The boy shook his head and glared at me. "Why am I telling you this? You could be a spy!"

"Fine, don't tell me." I shrugged. "I was just asking if I would meet him."

We were completely silent for the rest of our walk to the village. When we got to the village, I blinked and stopped walking in surprise. I had been expecting, I don't know, something amazing. Something that would live up to my dad's description of it. From what he described, how beautiful it was and how lively it had been the last time he had been there, I was expecting like, an entire castle and smaller houses around it, and deep canals set into the snow. But in reality, it was nothing more than a scattered amount of fur-skin tents and igloo's, surrounded by a wall of snow with a fire pit in the center. I didn't see any men, only a few adult women coming out of their houses, with a lot of little kids.

A dark-skinned girl who looked a little younger than I was came over to us. "Sokka! You're-" She suddenly noticed me, and her expression changed from irritated to shocked to cautious in less than ten seconds. "Who's this?" She asked, frowning slightly.

"This is -" The boy - I think his name was "Sokka" - stopped and turned to me. "What's your name?"

"Tora." I stated, shifting slightly as I clutched my bag closer to me. What seemed like the entire village had formed a group behind the girl and were all looking at me cautiously. "I'm, uh, the daughter of Arrluk of the Water Tribe."

"You didn't say that!" Sokka exclaimed.

"I didn't think there was a reason to."

"Arrluk was banished from the Water Tribe's more than fifteen years ago." An elderly woman said, breaking through the crowd and approaching us. Her hair was a light gray, and her blue eyes had darkened so they were almost gray. Her skin was the same brown as everyone else's - a fact that made me feel slightly uncomfortable. "So were any of his future descendants. So why are you here?"

"Uh..." I found myself at a loss for words. Then I remembered the letter. "Oh! I have this." I fumbled in my pocket for a moment - how did these people live with these thick clothing and gloves? - before taking out the parchment and handing it to her. "The captain of the ship that brought me here told me to give it to the village elder. And I guess that's you." I said awkwardly, trying hard not to look away from the old woman's piercing gaze. She took the letter, looked it over, and when Sokka tried to read it she pushed his face away. When she had finished, she looked at me.

"My granddaughter will take you to our tent and get you comfortable there. You'll stay there until we can make you a tent of your own." She said, and turned away. Sokka's mouth dropped open in shock.

"Gran-Gran, she's Fire Nation! And a firebender! I saw her!" He protested.

"And a waterbender." I added. This earned me several stares.

"That's impossible!" Sokka scoffed. "It's not scientifically possible for someone to be able to bend two elements! It's not even scientifically possible for you to be able to bend even one element!"

"I don't understand it either, but I can bend two elements." I stated, crossing my arms. "Didn't you feel that water hit you in the face? What, did you think it was, I don't know, a mirage or something?"

For a moment Sokka spluttered, trying to find something to say, before finally pointing at me and yelling, "Just follow my sister! And remember your promise!"

"I will." I sighed, brushing some hair behind my ear. I was still the center of attention from all of the villagers, something I was uncomfortable with.

The girl, Sokka's sister, stepped forward and crossed her arms, staring at me with slightly narrowed eyes. I just stared back, trying my hardest not to shift or break eye contact.

"You're Fire Nation." She said.

"Half, but yes." I said.

Her eyes narrowed further. "Then what are you doing here?"

"I don't really want to talk about it, if that's alright with you." I said, finally breaking my gaze and looking away.

The girl "hmphed", turned around, and walked away. When she realized I wasn't following her, she turned around. "Are you coming?"

"Yes." I stepped after her quickly, keeping a tight grip on my bag. "Uh, what's your name?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"Katara." She said flatly

"Oh. Cool name." I glanced at her. "More original than 'Tora'. At least, in the Fire Nation it would be original. I don't know about here." I was rambling - I knew it. What was I supposed to say? I was freaking out!

"No, it's kind of original here too." She said. "Less original than in the Fire Nation, but still kind of original." I couldn't help but notice she spat out the words "Fire Nation".

"You know, it's the Fire Lord's war, not the Fire Nation's." I said. Katara turned to look at me.

"What?"

"I said-"

"I heard what you said." She snapped. "What do you mean by it?"

"I mean, the Fire Nation armies are just doing what they're told to do by the Fire Lord. If the Fire Lord called back his troops, the war would be over. But he hasn't, and I doubt he will any time soon. Meanwhile, the soldiers are just doing what they're paid to do - and not all of them want to. At least half of the army have grown tired of fighting but can't quit, or were forced to leave their homes to protect their families." I looked at her, and saw she was staring at me with wide eyes. "In a way, they're no different from what the Earth Kingdom is doing. Everyone is fighting to protect something they care about."

"We are nothing like those bloodthirsty savages!" Katara yelled. I didn't even flinch. I had almost been expecting this. "Don't you dare compare us to them!" Then she stormed into a tent. "Stay over on that side - I don't want you on my side." She spat.

"I'm sorry, but it's true." I said, sitting down in a small corner of the tent. "You may not want it to be, but it is. I'm sorry for being honest."

She scowled but didn't reply.

I absentmindedly began to trace my fingers over the spot on my parka my necklace was under. "Katara." I said. She had her back to me from where she was lying on her bed. "I'm sorry."

No reply.

"You know, I didn't grow up around people my age." I said quietly. "My dad taught me the views on life I have now. I can't help if you don't agree with them."

Katara didn't face me, but she spoke up. "What about your mother?"

"She... died." I said quietly. "She was sick for a really long time. I was too young to really remember it. I don't really remember her at all."

Katara didn't move for a second, but finally she rolled over. "My mother was killed." She said, as quietly as I had. "In a Fire Nation raid. And now all I have left of her is this necklace." She sat up and pulled down the neckline of her parka to reveal a necklace. It was made out of a shining circular-shaped light blue stone, with a wave design carved into it. It was hanging from a very dark blue choker. "It belonged to Gran-Gran, and she gave it to her daughter-in-law, who gave it to me."

"Oh..." I felt the familiar twinge of guilt whenever someone mentioned how their lives had been destroyed by the Fire Nation. My people. "I'm so sorry." I drew a circle on the floor with my finger. "I guess that's something we have in common." I pulled down the neckline of my parka and showed Katara my own necklace. "It was an engagement gift to my mother from my father."

"Hmm."

"So, you're a waterbender, too?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Yes. Not a very good one, but yes." She said, shrugging.

"Me neither." I said honestly. "I just sort of make up my own tricks." I paused. "I guess you could say I'm kind of good at it, considering that I grew up in a place where waterbenders could be killed as soon as they were found out. But I'm not very good at bending either of my elements. There's no one to teach me."

"Another thing we have in common." Katara mumbled.

"If you want, I could teach you some of my tricks." I said.

Katara frowned. "No, but thank you."

"You don't want to be taught by someone who isn't from your Nation?" I asked, raising an eyebrow very slightly, trying not to be offended.

"Not exactly. No offense."

"It's fine. I would probably do the same thing." I shrugged, closing my eyes and lying on my back. "It's kind of a blow to your ego."

There was a long silence, before I sat up. "I'm going to see if there's anything I can do."

Right before I left the tent, Katara spoke up, making me stop in my tracks. "Um, since you're from the Fire Nation," I noticed with a hint of satisfaction that she didn't say 'Fire Nation' with any of the malice that she had had in her voice before. "I don't think you'd have many warm enough clothes for this weather."

"Almost none at all, actually." I said, slightly surprised that she had brought this up.

"Well, I think we're around the same size..." She said slowly. "And even if we're not, I'm good at sewing, so I could fix some of your clothes or alter some of mine or Sokka's to fit you. I mean, even if you are Fire Nation, I don't want you to die so soon." She added quickly, attempting to sound bitter when she said 'Fire Nation'.

I raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat amused that she had brought my Nationality into this, as if it was in anyway important in this conversation. "Thanks... I'd appreciate that." I said, smiling. Not that Katara saw, since I still had my back to her. Without another word, I walked out of the tent - and nearly crashed into Sokka, who then grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the tent.

"em"Look, I don't care what my grandmother thinks. I don't trust you, and I think you're here to send messages to the Fire Nation." he stated, glaring at me.

I crossed my arms. "Believe whatever you want, I don't care. But you'd better get used to me, because I'm going to be here for a while." I retorted.

~~Water~~

Over time, Sokka, Katara, and the rest of the villagers came to trust me, and they became sort of my family.

And I had all but forgotten my father and what he did.

He had changed me – and not for the better.

So I was useless in his eyes?

Well, I wouldn't be anymore.

From then on, I would find ways to make myself useful to people. I wanted to be of use to people, so...

so I wouldn't be left behind again.

EDIT: So I was thinking, last night, about Tora's predicament with her father. No one could go through that without instantly assuming it was because of something they did. So, why should Tora be any different? So I went back and changed it. I'll be changing some things in the next chapters to fit to this. Okay?

EDIT: Changed a lot of stuff because it was kind of bugging me for some reason

EDIT EDIT: FUCKING CHANGED THIS PROLOGUE FOR THE LAST GODDAMN TIME. Now Tora thinks that her father sent her away because she was 'useless to him', and she wants to prove how she CAN be useful to people. I SWEAR THIS IS THE FINAL GODDAMN CHANGE I MAKE TO THIS PROLOGUE.