Author's Note: Please note: This series is being written with Sozin's Comet spoilers. It started before the finale, so there are (minor) differences.

Purity

Book One: Sand

Chapter 1-The Invitation

"It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe.”

- Rodan of Alexandria

Katara didn't even bother to wait for the boat to dock at the Capitol City, and instead she jumped over the rail, froze the water below her into a slab of ice, and then hit the bay with a splash, propelling herself forward towards a crowd of people. When she hit the port; the crowd let out murmurs of awe. Someone clapped slowly, and spoke loudly over everyone else.

"Show off."

Katara looked up from removing the water from her clothes. Her lips curled into a small smirk. "I recognize that voice...Sparky."

The crowd of guards parted to reveal a slightly taller and slightly older Zuko, standing in an informal outfit of tan pants, sharp pointing boots, and a red tunic.

"It's Fire Lord Sparky now." He said and grinned. Katara dropped her shoulder bag to the deck, and ran forward to embrace her friend in a hug. He wrapped his arms around her waist and then pulled back to fascinated onlookers. Katara watched as Zuko directed the guards to carry her things to the royal carriage, and then nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Aang's here." "Where's Mai?" Katara and Zuko winced at their words blurted out at the same time.

"Oh," They both began. "I," Katara sighed.

"You go first Zuko." She tucked her hair back behind her ear, and walked towards the carriage, stepping inside the ruby box carefully. Zuko stepped inside after her, and sat on the opposite seat.

"She chose not to come. She's-We're-"

"You're having problems."

"You have no idea."

Katara nodded, and glanced out the window; unsure of what to say.

"Your turn." Zuko said, snapping Katara out of her reverie.

"Hmm?"

"You were going to say something. Earlier."

"I forget what I was going to say." She lied, watching the scenery pass by in a lazy blur.

"Aang's here. He says he has something important to tell us," Zuko began. "I'm not sure what though."

"He still hasn't reopened the Southern Temple. I know it's not that. I've been working there, sometimes." Katara said glancing back towards Zuko. He looked at her intently.

"He wants the air benders to come back." Zuko guessed.

"They're not coming back. You know that."

"There could always be new ones." "

You don't really believe that Zuko." Katara said sharply, then sighed.

"I'm sorry. I'm just really tired from the trip."

"It's okay."

Zuko fell silent for a moment before talking again.

"I accidentally lit Mai's dress on fire at a party."

"You didn't." Katara's eyes widened.

"I did." Zuko said solemnly. "We got into an argument and I tried using my bending to make a point."

"You tried to make a point by lighting her dress on fire?"

"I was aiming for the floor." Zuko said in such an honest voice that it caused Katara to break out in a fit of giggles.

"That's not funny Katara!"

Katara caught her breath. "Yes it is." She giggled again at Zuko's pursed lips. "You should know better. You could've set the whole palace on fire. You need to control your anger." Katara continued, poking Zuko in the chest.

"I need to control my anger?"

"Yes, you do." Katara said.

"Look who's talking!" Zuko cried.

"What," Katara said icily. "Is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, that anyone who disagrees with you gets frozen to the nearest flat surface-"

"-so?"

"-And that includes the ceiling!"

"You deserved that."

"I did not!"

"Yes you did, you-" Katara was thrown forward into Zuko as the carriage suddenly stopped. She pulled herself back upright and rubbed the spot where her head had hit his chest, muttering a few choice curses.

"I believe we've arrived at the palace." Zuko said, holding back from laughing at her scowl.

The room that Zuko brought her to was best described as a tea room, and Katara mused that might very well be the reason why Iroh was already seated on a plush crimson cushion in front of a low black stone table. The walls were a pale gold, except for the red painted imperial symbol, and although Katara would've preferred to have been taken to her rooms for sleep first, the food laid out on the table was the next best thing. Iroh grinned at her obvious interest in the room.

"Miss Katara, it is lovely to see you again."

"Thanks. " Katara sat on a cushion, and scooted towards the table, Zuko sitting down by her left side. "I don't think I've been in this room before," Katara said picking up her chopsticks. "It seems like every time I come here, I see a new room I didn't even know existed." Iroh chuckled, and Zuko nodded.

"I have gotten lost here a few times myself. Even Zuko has gotten his directions mixed up."

"Uncle, I was five."

"You got so worried too, when you couldn't find the nursery after wandering out. You cried so loud the entire east wing of the palace could hear you."

Katara looked sideways at Zuko and smirked.

"Well, I can't say I've ever gotten lost at home. There isn't much space to get lost in, at the village. My whole family always knew where I was." Katara picked up a small roll from her plate and chewed, savoring its tangy flavor.

"How is your family, by the way?" Iroh asked. Katara swallowed, and then took a sip of the jasmine tea laid out in front of her.

"My dad's busy working with Master Pakku to rebuild the village. Gran Gran is working hard to ignore Master Pakku, and my brother is in the earth kingdom, trying to convince Toph's parents to finance the Southern Tribe. Which is going to be difficult because Toph's parents still haven't quite forgiven her for running away yet. It's been over a year though, so hopefully things will go smoothly." Iroh nodded, picking up one of the rolls.

"I am glad to hear that. I am sure, of course you're wondering why I asked you here today."

"I did wonder wh-" Katara began before the door slid open. Her chopsticks clattered to her plate loudly, and she stared blankly for a moment at Aang standing in the door way. Aang stepped in the room and closed the door behind him, then bowed to his old teachers.

"Hello Sifu Iroh, Zuko, Katara." He smiled and then sat down next to Iroh on the far side of the table. Zuko looked at Katara, while Aang began to speak to Iroh.

"Is something the matter?" He whispered.

"No it's..." Yes. Something is the matter. we got into a big fight, and it was worse than getting your dress set on fire. We forgot about it but... I've been avoiding him. Or he's been avoiding me. Or something. We're just not right. I'm not even sure if we're friends right now. I don't know what we are anymore. "...It's fine." Zuko nodded, but his face made it clear he wasn't sure he believed her.

"Uncle, you were going to tell Katara why she's here."

"Ah, yes." He said, looking up from speaking to Aang.

"I believe I mentioned a trip into the Earth Kingdom. Zuko is headed there to meet up with one of the Earth Kings; and as his Reagent and head advisor, I must stay here to make sure everything runs smoothly. I was wondering if you would do an old man a favor, and deliver a message for me, since I cannot go."

"But...Why can't Zuko deliver the message?" Katara looked at the diadem placed upon Zuko's head. It wasn't the same one she had seen Ozai wear so long ago, it was newer and it shimmered in a way that Ozai's crown never had.

"He's going to be there in the earth kingdom anyways, isn't he?"

"Yes, but he will be busy with stuffy politicians. He will not be able to stay for very long, and this is a very dear friend of mine. Besides, someone will need to keep the Fire Lord out of trouble when he arrives at Sargonne."

"Sargonne?" Katara racked her brains for the memory of a city with that name.

"It's a port city." Aang replied suddenly breaking his silence. "It's near the Eastern Air Temple. Monk Gyatso never let me go, but I went to one of the other port cities closer to the temple. They're filled with pirates." He smiled softly at the memory. "I'm going back."

Katara's eyes widened. "Is that what you were going to tell us?" She asked quietly.

"I'm going to the Eastern Temple, Katara." He glared across the table, and any words Katara was about to say got lost in her throat. Zuko caught a glimpse of the looks passed between them, and tried to break the tension.

"Sargonne is on the other side of the Si Wong desert. We'll be traveling through a mountain range in the Earth Kingdom called The Spine. If you go, we'll provide all the necessities, and an allow-"

"-I'll go Zuko. I'd love to go." She let out a heartfelt grin. "I'd like to get away from the South, for a little while. It'd be nice to see some cities that are already built."

Iroh beamed, and set down his tea cup, clasping his hands together in excitement.

"Excellent. You leave for Sargonne in two days."

He leaped over the barrels in the alley, not bothering to look backwards. He knew this city better than anyone, and yet he was sure he was about to be cornered. He veered left sharply and tripped over an overturned crate, and he scrambled to get back up. Behind him there was the sound of feet pounding on the dirt street, but everything else was silent. He began to run again, faster this time, and he turned to hide behind a building corner, trying to catch his breath as quietly as possible. He pressed into the side of the stone building and slid down, looking around the corner. There was no one. He let out a shaky sigh of relief, and walked back out into the back street, congratulating himself on losing his tail. He shook his head, and laughed to himself. No one could catch him out here, in his home. No one knew this city like he did, and no one had caught him yet. It was his biggest pride, knowing the city better than he knew himself-

A lone figure in a black cloak stood in front of him, silent. He quickly backtracked, raising his hands in there air in a show of innocence.

"Now look, I paid the money. In full. I don't owe you or your boss any more money-" He reasoned, then looked behind his shoulder for a chance to escape, and vanish back into the maze of the city. He was slowly being backed towards a dead end.

"We can work something out though-" He said letting his voice rise with panic. "I mean, I can always pay more, and then everybody's happy-" He reached for his coin purse, and held it out. The figure said nothing.

"Y-You're right of course. This isn't enough. But I don't have any more money on me." He was now against a stone wall. From above him two more cloaked people jumped down into the alley. He gulped. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

The first figure now stood in front of him, and lowered her hood. He looked at her delicate features under the moonlight. "You aren't one of Vladdi's men." Her face grew dark and malicious.

"Who...Who are you?" The girl in front of him didn't answer.

A voice from under one of the other hoods spoke. "We are Qing Jie." His eyes glimmered with the beady look of a rat, desperate to escape.

"...W-what?" The girl in front of him smiled greedily. She leaned forwards as if about to tell a secret. "We are purity." She whispered, then she put an finger in front of her mouth, like one might do when silencing a small child.

No one heard his screams.

I'd like to thank my mother for helping edit this first chapter. Without her help 'Iroh doesn't use contractions!' it might suck.

Reviews appreciated.