A/N This chapter just seemed to drag… on and on. And the plot doesn't even move very much either. Dang I still have a lot to write… Not saying I'm getting discouraged though. I'm super excited to see where this story will end up, probably as much as you are, and I'm the author!

Disclaimer – I don't own ATLA.


Chapter 6 – Power

Katara woke slowly and felt her head pounding. She tried remembering what had all happened during the fight… She had beaten Haru… Zuko was hanging on the balcony… Her dad was- Her dad! Her eyes whipped open and for a few frantic heartbeats looked around the room she was in, but calmed slightly when she saw her father's sleeping form on the bed next to hers. Her eyes were drawn to his left leg, where many bandages had been wrapped around, but they were blood stained and dark. 'That's where Iroh hit him' she thought. Everything after he had been hit, was a blank. She couldn't remember what happened or how she got here. The very last thing she did recall before waking up however, was images. Visions of people she had never met, but felt familiar.

Sokka and Bato ducked into the room followed by a few men carrying jars and bandages.

Katara started to stand up, but quickly sat back down feeling woozy.

"Easy there Katara…" Sokka said coming close to her while the men set about working on Hakoda and Bato's wounds.

"What happened…?" Katara asked confusedly. "I can't remember anything."

"Anything!" Sokka exclaimed.

Katara rolled her eyes at her brother's assumption. "Well I remember Bato over there, but who are you again?" she asked sarcastically.

"Ha. Ha." Sokka replied and Katara could tell he wasn't in a playful mood, so she decided to get serious again.

"Seriously Sokka, what happened out on Zuko's ship? The last thing I remember is Dad getting struck by lightning…" She didn't feel it necessary to tell Sokka about the visions just yet. "It feels like I got hit over the head with a hammer and now my head hurts and I don't remember…"

"Well it looks like you were hit by something ." Sokka said and reached for a bucket and rag. He parted her hair to reveal a large gash across the side of her scalp. "The cut isn't very deep." He said as he gently washed the wound.

"Ow!" Katara complained grabbing her head where the wound was.

"It's just water, Katara. Stop being such a –" Sokka stopped and his eyes got wide. The glowing was back. It was a different sort of glow, gentler and sort of soothing, but still unnatural light.

All eyes turned to the waterbender in the room. Some of the men were afraid of what could happen, but the light soon dissipated, to their relief.

"That feels a lot better…" Katara sighed and opened her eyes. She noticed everyone was looking at her strangely so she turned to Sokka for explanation, but his expression was the same.

"The cut is gone" Sokka said. "There isn't even a scar."

"What?" Katara asked disbelieving probing her scalp.

"Incredible" said Bato from across the room. "You have healing powers, Katara. It looks like you're just full of good surprises today."

"I do?" Katara asked. "…and what is that supposed to mean?"

Bato started to reply, but Sokka interjected.

"It means you might really be able to help dad" he said quickly and pulled her up toward their father. "That wound on his leg isn't pretty and we've been worried he might not…" Sokka stopped, not wanting to say the words.

"No…" Katara breathed searching Sokka's eyes for the truth.

"You can help though, Katara." Sokka said, unwrapping their father's leg. "Try to do what you just did to your head, to here."

Katara recoiled slightly from the sight of the mangled flesh. "That's a lot worse than a shallow cut Sokka, and I don't even know how I healed that in the first place."

"You have to try" Sokka said imploringly.

Katara looked at him disbelievingly. "Remember the last time you asked me to help you with my waterbending? The bonfire? I destroyed everything…" she replied. "You said it yourself, I'll never really be able to control my powers to be useful like this… What if I tear his leg off or something?"

Sokka turned to look straight into Katara's eyes. "I was wrong." He paused, considering something. "I was completely wrong" he modified. "I trust that you can do this Katara. I have faith in you."

Katara smiled at her brother's words, and then turned to her father looking determined.

"Water?" she asked while studying the wound closer.

A warrior held up a jar. "Here" He said.

"Okay." Katara said focusing hard and taking a deep breath. Water streamed out from the pot untidily and came to her hands where she used it to wrap them like gloves. She gritted her teeth as she lowered her hands to the lightning wound and a soft light started to shine.

"I'm doing it!" Katara laughed, seeing the glow and some water spilled off her hands.

"Focus Katara" Bato said coming over to watch.

"Oh wow, this is incredible!" Katara started enthusiastically. She sloppily pulled some more water from the jar. "I can feel it working… I wonder if I can just…" she pulled some liquids from the wound.

"Uhnnnn…." Hakoda groaned, his muscles tensing as he came into consciousness. He slowly opened his eyes.

"Dad" Sokka said with tears in his eyes.

Hakoda looked at his children and smiled warmly. "I must be dreaming…" he said.

Katara stopped her work to return her father's loving gaze, but Hakoda started cringing from pain almost immediately.

"This is a very—painful … dream" he grunted out, but let a smile play across his lips. Sokka burst into laughter and some of the men chuckled, happy that their chief was awake, but most rolled their eyes at Hakoda's sense of humor.

Katara was one of those who rolled their eyes and even let out a little groan as she started bending water across his leg again.

"Chief…" Bato started. "I know you just recovered, but it is of vital importance that you be filled in on the results of our mission." His eyes darted from Katara to Sokka then back to Hakoda. "In private…"

Hakoda frowned. "Straight down to business then…" he sighed. "My brothers…" he said shakily gesturing toward the door. The men in the room knew that this meant that they were dismissed, and headed out onto the deck. Bato stayed behind and looked warily at Sokka and Katara.

"What is our situation?" Hakoda asked, clearly unable to separate himself from his children.

"Uhh… well…" Bato started awkwardly. "The ship we hit belonged to Prince Zuko, Firelord Ozai's banished son. His Uncle Iroh, the dragon of the west, was the one who shot you down…" Bato paused not sure how to continue. "…the ship was taken out of service, but Iroh and Zuko escaped with a few men on a motor dingy. We took the remaining men as prisoners… because of the circumstance." Bato finshed slightly inclining his head toward Katara."

"Oh…" Hakoda said. He was obviously missing something, but there was one thing he did realize. Bato had taken prisoners… He had explicitly ordered before the mission for no prisoners to be left alive.

"How many?" Hakoda asked.

"Twenty-seven" Bato replied and Hakoda raised his eyebrows.

"That many gave up? After I fell? Something big must have happened that you're not telling me…" he said. He looked back and forth between his children. Katara was working diligently on his leg, and Sokka was looking at Bato, his brows furrowed.

Sokka looked like he was resolved to end the charade but this time Bato cut him off.

"First things first. What will you have us do with the prisoners?" Bato asked.

Hakoda suppressed his curiosity enough to consider. If there were no prisoners, they could return home together almost immediately. With prisoners, they would have to, obviously, take them to a prison, first. He looked at Sokka. He would understand whatever decision he made. He looked at Katara. His face softened a bit and quickly realized there was no way he could have prisoners executed in front of her.

"Sokka…" he started. "Take your sister and tell the men to point the fleet toward the Earth Kingdom mainland, we have to deliver the soldiers to a prison camp before we head home."

Sokka nodded obediently and went to the door waiting for Katara. Katara was still engrossed in her task, and didn't want to leave it. "But you'll be in pain…" she said distractedly.

"I'll just have to bear it, Katara. Bato needs to explain some things to me quickly." Hakoda responded.

Katara stopped and stood up, and Hakoda gritted his teeth. "But I want to know too! What's going on here?" she asked starting to get frustrated.

"Sokka?" Bato looked at Sokka questioningly.

Sokka turned to Katara. "C'mon, I'll tell you everything out here." He took her arm and led her out of the room.

"You're going to have to make this quick, Bato." Hakoda grunted out squinting his eyes shut.

"All right" Bato choose his next words carefully, "After you were hit by Iroh, Katara exhibited an unnatural power that probably saved you from death and froze the ship where it floated. She was furious… and glowing." Bato finished.

Hakoda opened his eyes in bewilderment. "Katara took out a fire navy ship single-handedly with her waterbending?" He asked shocked. "What could this mean?"

"Do you want the long theory, or the short assumption?" Bato replied.

"Short is—better." He answered.

Bato stared into his chief's eyes so he wouldn't suspect deceit. "Your daughter is the avatar."


A/N – Okay, I promise not to end another chapter like this. Sorry! PS. Zutara fans should like the next chapter. Let the foreshadowing begin! (I'll give you the title if you review! Heheh)