(The secret is revealed this chapter. Be prepared to be shocked)

Aya's POV

"I'm not one to complain but can't Appa fly any higher?" Sokka asked, complaining.

Appa growls at Sokka's words and lets his paws drag across the water. We were all exhausted and cranky for flying for two days straight because we are so close to the Northern Water Tribe.

"Not one to complain?" I remarked and Sokka rolled his eyes.

"I have an idea." Aang snapped turning to Sokka. "Why don't we all get on your back and you could fly us to the North Pole?!"

Sokka looked over his shoulder. "I'd love to." He points to his back and shakes his butt. "Climb on everyone! Sokka's ready for take off!"

Mom hops on his backan chirps.

"Look, we're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight." Katara stated, looking at us.

"And for what?" Sokka asked annoyed. "We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe. There's nothing up here."

Up front, there was a slushing sound and we all looked in that direction. The water rises up and forms into spikes. Aang immediately takes action and steers Appa away, as the rest of us hold onto the bison tightly. We all scream in fear as Appa gets knocked down by an ice spike and we spun out of control. I felt Aang grab me in his arms as we landed and Appa gets frozen in the water.

Aang releases me and we all stood up when we saw six Water Tribe boats surrounding us.

"They're waterbenders! We found the Water Tribe!" I exclaimed with a huge smile.

The waterbenders unfroze Appa and escorted us to the Water Tribe.

Aang stood up when he saw something. "There it is!"

"Wow!" I beamed when I saw the magnificent wall of the city and we were all amazed by it.

"The Northern Water Tribe." Katara mumbled.

"We're finally here." Sokka said.

As we approached the Water Tribe, the waterbenders lowered a portion of the wall so we can enter the city. Appa swam inside the hole that was made and I was astonished by it all. Once we exited the tunnel, more Waterbenders appeared on the walls on side and used waterbending to lift us up.

"I can't believe how many Waterbenders live up here!" Katara spoke with fascination.

"We'll find a master to teach us, no problem." Aang told Katara, gazing at the view.

As Appa swam through the channels of the city, people ran over to greet us. The city was absolutely stunning, probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The buildings were gorgeous, the scene was just insane. I could live here forever.

"I can't believe how massive this place is." I mentioned.

"Yeah, this place is beautiful." Katara agreed.

"Yeah, she is." I heard Sokka say and I turned my head around to see Sokka staring at a boat that passed by us.

Not even five minutes into the Water Tribe and my brother already found love.

——

Night fell and we were being honored with a feast for our arrival hosted by the chief of the tribe.

I heard screaming and I looked to the side to see a few Tribe men feeding Appa but they got scared and ran off when he growled. I giggled and turned my attention back to the front.

"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sisters from the Southern Tribe. And they have brought with them, someone very special, someone whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now ... the Avatar!" Everyone cheered for Aang who was flattered. "We also celebrate my daughter's sixteenth birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age!"

The Chief stepped aside and a beautiful girl with white hair walked out. It was the girl Sokka was staring at before.

"Thank you, Father. May the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us during these troubled times!" She announced in a soft and sweet voice.

"Now, Master Pakku and his students will perform!" The Chief announced.

On stage we saw three men. I assumed the middle one was Pakku because his cloak was different. Pakku and his students start to perform captivating waterbending techniques. Aang, Katara, and I were fascinated by it.

As they were performing, Aang nudged me and I looked at him.

"Isn't is amazing, Aya?" He asked and I nodded.

"Absolutely." I smiled and I saw Aang's cheek turn bright pink.

"So... maybe while we're here... we can do something together?" Aang asked me with nervousness. His cheeks turning a darker color. "Like just us?"

I felt my heart skip a beat and I tucked a strand of hair behind my my ear.

"Yeah, sure." I giggled and Aang smiled at me.

"Great."

Moments later, Aang was called to talk to Pakku and a huge smile formed on my face.

"So, you and Aang are gonna go on a date?"

I turned and saw Katara giving me a smirk and I blushed.

"It's not a date. Just hanging out." I corrected her with a nervous chuckle at the end.

"Sure, Aya. Sure." She winked and I turned away from her.

Not a date. Not a date at all.

——

The next day, Aang and Katara went learn from Pakku and Sokka went to chase after the princess and I just strolled around the Northern Water Tribe. Something I noticed when I got here was that everyone here had blue eyes and I had gold eyes. I noticed that with every water tribe person I've met, including my siblings have blue eyes and I don't.

I never thought much of it until now and it's weird.

"Maybe I'm just different." I muttered to myself and wandered into an open area with grass and no one was around. A small pond was there and I sat on the edge of it and watched the tiny fish swim around in it.

"Maybe that fortuneteller was wrong. Maybe I won't find the unexpected power in me."

Suddenly a fish splashed around and water got on my face. I flicked it off and out of the corner of my eye, I saw fire in a lantern flicker as I moved my hand.

I stared at it for a moment before averting my eyes from it.

A fish continued to splash around and it annoyed me after a while. A bigger splash happened and I covered my face with my hands. Water had gotten on my hands and I shook them.

As I was shaking them, the fire in the lantern was moving and flickering.

I stopped my hands and the fire calmed down. My eyes flickered between my hands and the fire and I stood up.

"Wait." I said and I approached the lantern. I waved my hand around the fire and it moved around with the movement of my hand.

My eyes widen and I slowly opened the lantern. My hands were shaking and shook my head pulling away.

"No!" I exclaimed. "There is no way-"

The lantern suddenly exploded and the fire burst. I let out a yelp and covered my face with my hands.

I exhaled heavily and looked at the now broken lantern that had no more flame inside.

My eyes were glued onto the object and I felt a warm sensation in my hands. I looked down and I was holding a single flame in my hands.

I blinked for a few moments until I realized what I was doing.

I was holding fire in my hands.

I carefully moved the fire around in the palms  of my now sweating hands and it danced around. My eyes couldn't leave the flame and I was fascinated by it but at the same time frightened.

I gasped and made the flame magically disappear. My hands went to my mouth and I was in complete and utter shock.

"Okay..." I exhaled trying to calm myself, lowering my hands. "Maybe it was just a mistake. Yeah, just a misunderstanding. I'm not a firebender."

I scoffed and looked at the sun and my eyes squinted shut.

"I'm no firebender." I scolded the sun and looked at the ground. "It wouldn't make sense if I was."

My eyes wandered to another lantern and I pondered for a bit.

I growled and went up to the lantern. I opened it and exhaled.

"Please be a lie." I pleaded and lifted my left hand up towards the flame inside. The palm of my hand get warm and I waved it around like I've seen Katara do with water. The flame followed my movement and before I knew part of the flame floated on my hand. I gazed at the flame in shock and I turned away from the lantern.

"This isn't happening."

A part of me was horrified but a small part was excited.

I glanced at the grass below me and get an idea.

"Alright, lets test this out." I suggested and checked my surroundings before I  focused on the fire I had.

I cupped my hand for moment and pulled them apart to reveal that the flame had separated into two different flames.

I gasped with shock and a grin had formed in my face.

"Woah...." I blinked.

I exhaled and focused on what I was gonna do next. I lifted my hands in the air and shoved them towards the grass and a huge fire blast had escaped my hands. The fire blast burnt the area of the grass I aimed at and a trail of smoke came from it.

"I'm a firebender."

I quickly placed the fire back into the lantern and felt tears leave my eyes.

I was absolutely horrified and shocked. I couldn't believe what I just did. It makes absolutely no sense what so ever. I came from a family of waterbenders and this is my ability?

I felt anger and stormed out of the grassy area and headed to our temporary house. Nobody was thefe at the moment which I was thankful for and I sat down on my sleeping bag and cried silently to myself.

An Hour Later

I had stopped crying but it was still noticeable that I had been crying.

My head snapped up when I heard Aang and Katara outside.

I didn't have a mirror with me so I hoped they wouldn't notice my eyes and ignore them.

My sister and Aang entered our small place of stay.

"Hey Aya." They both greeted and I waved at them.

"Hey..." I spoke weakly and I cleared my throat. "Hey! How did waterbending training?"

Katara seemed upset by the question and I looked at Aang for a response.

"Pakku won't teach her because she's a girl." Aang told me and my mouth fell open. Aang sat next to me in the process.

"That's so dumb." I spoke with disbelief. "I hate that."

"I know right. It makes me so mad." Katara said, sitting down on her sleeping bag. Katara let out a tired sigh. "So, what'd you do today, Aya?"

Find out I'm a firebender.

"Nothing really. Just took a stroll around the Tribe." I told her and she gave me a smile.

Lying to her irks my heart.

Not to long after that, Sokka returned when the sun set and he seemed upset.

"How's warrior training going?"  I asked my brother and Sokka kicked his sleeping bag with anger.

"That bad?" Aang asked.

Sokka laid on his stomach. "No its Princess Yue. I don't get it, one minute she wants to go out with me, and the next, she's telling me to get lost." I joined my brother and laid down my my stomach along with the Avatar. "So, how's waterbending training?"

Katara laid on her stomach and covered her face with sorrow.

"Master Poophead won't teach her because she's a girl." Aang replied with irritation.

"Why don't you just teach her Aang?" Sokka suggested.

"Why didn't I think of that?!" Katara chirped and stood up with excitement. "At night, you can teach me whatever moves you learn from Master Pakku! That way, you have someone to practice with, and I get to learn waterbending! Everyone's happy!"

I'm confused and upset but they can't know that.

"I'm not happy." Sokka pointed out and I scoffed.

"But you're never happy." I countered and Sokka didn't react.

"Come on, Aang."

Katara and Aang left the small hut to practice.

——

The following morning we met with the Chief, Master Pakku and the Chief's family. Apparently, Aang teaching Katara is forbidden and we wanted to convince them to take Aang back as his student.

"What do you want me to do?" The Chief asked. "Force Master Pakku to take Aang back as his student?"

I think that's why we are standing here.

"Yes! Please." Katara pleaded.

"I suspect he might change his mind, if you swallow your pride and apologize to him." The Chief explained and I even felt anger boil up inside me.

Katara pondered for a moment and glanced at Aang before reluctantly agreeing. "Fine."

"I'm waiting, little girl." Pakku grinned and I gave him a glare.

Why is he so sexist? Girls are just as powerful as men in the bending department.

Katara clenched her fist in anger. "No!" Inadvertently, Katara starts to crack the ice below our feet with her bending. "No way am I apologizing to a sour old man like you!"

Due to her anger, Katara shatters two pots filled with water.

"Uh, Katara?" Aang mumbled but she ignored him.

"I'll be outside if your man enough to fight me!" Katara yelled and stormed outside. The Chief's family and Pakku were shocked.

"I'm sure she didn't mean that." Aang told the Chief and Pakku.

"Yeah, I think she did." I countered and Aang's face fell.

Aang, Sokka, and I followed Katara outside. I am completely behind her in doing this because I'm female and I understand what she's coming from. Back in the Southern Water Tribe, I got told by many people that I wasn't strong enough or didn't have what it takes to be a warrior because I'm a girl.

"Are you crazy, Katara? You're not going to win this fight!" Sokka told his sister.

"I know! I don't care!" She angrily spoke, tossing Sokka her coat.

"You don't have to do this for me." Aang explained. "I can find another teacher."

"I'm not doing it for you. Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy." Katara remarked a we reached the bottom of the stairs. Katara turned and we followed her actions. Pukka was heading our way. "So, you decided to show up?" Pakku walks right by us without a word. "Aren't you going to fight?!"

"Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong." Pakku told her.

Katara got upset and formed a water whip in her hand and smacked Pakku with it. He halted  and turned to us.

"Fine! You want to learn to fight so bad? Study closely!" He smirked and bended water from two nearby pools of water and sends them both at Katara who charged at him. She got knocked back by them but stayed on her feet.

Pakku encircled himself and my sister with the two streams to form a ring around them.

"Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you." I heard Pakku say. Katara redirects the water away from the two of them and it blasts Sokka back in the process.

"Ow!"

In defense, Pakku forms an ice wall and Katara slides up it and lands on a nearby post. He melts the ice and directs a full blast at my sister. To his dismay, Katara freezes her feet and was able to direct the water away.

"You can't knock me down!" Katara declared. We all cheer from the stairs.

"Yay, Katara!" I cheered.

"Go Katara!" Aang cheered.

Katara charges at him and Pakku draws up a wall of ice, which she quickly liquefies. She attempts to land a few punches at him but Pakku ducks them all. Pakku sends Katara into a pool of water with a fierce waterbending attack.

Katara emerges from pool quickly and forms a small pillar of ice and sends a series of ice discs at her Pakku. Pakku deflects each disk that is shot at him except one disc almost skimmed his face and he looks at her in irritation.

Katara leaves the pool and attacks him by sending a stream of water at him. To Katara's dismay, Pakku generates it into a larger stream of water and sends it full force at her which sends her back a few feet. I gasped lightly.

Katara sits there breathing for a few moments before shes rises and sends two snow pillars down at him but Pakku turns them both into dusty mist of snow. Pakku was unharmed.

"Well, I'm impressed. You are an excellent waterbender." Pakku praised.

"But you still won't teach me will you?" Katara asked.

"No." Pakku said.

Katara sends a wave of ice in Pakku's direction and he hops over it by forming an ice tower under his feet. He liquefies the tower and charges over to Katara who sends a stream of of water his way. He avoids the attack and manages to freeze the water and forms a slide which he slides across and around my sister. He slides past Katara and knocks her down.

Katara tumbles to the ground with her hair fallinv out and Pakku lands on the rim of a pool. Katara sits there as Pakku forms a spiral of water and freezes it. He sends ice shards down onto Katara trapping her in dozen's of frozen dagger like ice.

Katara lifts her head and begins to struggle. Pakku begins to walk away.

"This fight is over."

"Come back here. I'm not finished yet." Katara exclaimed.

"Yes, you are." Pakku said and looked down when he saw something. He picked up the object and I was able to see that it was Katara's necklace. "This is my necklace."

"No it's not. It's mine! Give it back!" Katara snapped.

"I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life... Kanna." Pakku spoke softly and Katara unfreeze herself.

Woah. The tables have turned.

"My Gran-Gran was supposed to marry you?" Katara asked with surprise.

The crowd left, leaving my siblings and Aang. Princess Yue and her father appeared.

"I craved this necklace for your grandmother when we got engaged. I thought we would have a long, happy life together. I loved her." Pakku explained.

"But she didn't love you did she?" Katara asked. "It was an arranged marriage. Gran-Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left. It must have taken a lot of courage."

I heard crying beside me and I saw Princess Yue sobbing and she ran off.

"Go get her." Aang grinned and Sokka chased after her.

Aang and I glanced at one another. I gave him a smile and felt my cheek heat up. His cheeks did the same thing.

I looked away quickly and took a peek at the sun. My chest tighten and I let out a quiet sigh.

Firebending. Something I'd never thought I would be able to do or want but I guess I have to live with it.

Some questions that keep going through my head is how did I get this ability? Am I actually the daughter of Hakoda and Kya? Am I adopted?

I'm so confused but I know I'll figure out my path someday. My story has just begun.

——

...You shocked? Aya is a firebender!

I bet you didn't see that coming. I wanted her to be different and not be a a typical waterbender because that would be expected and I love having the unexpected happen.

You may ask questions and I will have the answers for you soon. Book 2 will explain it all don't worry. It may be obvious that she is adopted but I'm not jumping to conclusions. Nothing is set in stone yet.

Come up with names for a pet. I will be giving Aya a pet and it's a Koalaotter.

See you in the last two chapters.