Two Grandmothers…and Sokka's Master

The Message had gone out. The nephew of a grandmaster had become an initiate. And he came with a request.

The very nature of this particular initiate meant that the time had come for The Order to act. Long had they waited, watching for the perfect time, and it had finally come.

Small, specially bred and trained messenger hawks flew to every corner of the world, to inform every branch of The Order what must be done.

This was the largest mobilization of The Order since the very first time The Order had been formed, and with it, the world would change.

Upon receiving one such hawk, a certain aging man smiled as he read the coded message.


"It's colder than I remember." Zuko commented, shivering slightly when an especially cold draft hit him.

"You aren't wearing that smelly armor." Katara replied in a teasing tone. "But we'll have plenty of spare parkas for you."

"I'm a firebender." Zuko looked out at the growing white landmass. "Can't you dye my clothes red?"

Katara grabbed his arm. "You'll be fine." She laughed at the look on her husband's face.

"I better start landing this thing." Zuko stated after a moment, a hint of a smile in his eyes.


The enitre Southern Water Tribe and the Northern visitors were waiting in the field where the zeppelin landed, nevous. It couldn't be an invasion force, but the air-machine was Fire Nation and couldn't be good news.

As soon as the docking ramp was lowered, Katara was running across the ice to the one familiar old face she'd been dying to see.

"Gran Gran! I missed you so much!" Katara embraced her grandmother.

"Oh, Katara." Gran Gran smiled, tears running down her cheeks. Pulling back from the hug, Gran Gran spoke rapidly, starved for news. "Where is your brother, and the avatar…" The old woman's voice trailed off when she saw who stepped down off of the zeppelin. Gran Gran looked at Katara, and her heart nearly stopped when she saw the pendant fixed to the crimson ribbon.

An old man stepped forward from the crowd. "What is he doing here?" He demanded, pointing angrily at Zuko, who was carrying both his and Katara's packs across the ice.

"Master Pakku." Katara was surprised. She had known the North would send men to rebuild the South, but hadn't thought Pakku would come.

Zuko set both packs down at his feet, standing nervously in front of the several dozen water tribes-people. The looks on their faces told him exactly how they felt about his presence.

"Katara what's going on?" Gran Gran asked. "Where is your mother's necklace?"

"Zuko gave me this one." Katara replied evenly, watching the shock register on everyone's face. "And Dad approves of him."

Gran Gran's mouth worked, unable to form words, but finally she spoke. "…this is a lot to take in, Katara."

"It if would make you more comfortable, I'll sleep in the zeppelin." Zuko suggested.

"I think that will be fine." Pakku said coldly, stepping closer menacingly.

Katara's eyes narrowed. Glaring at her teacher, she spoke in just as cold a tone. "Then you should set up my sleeping roll, too, Zuko."

"Now just a minute." Pakku began, but Katara cut him off, the ice cracking slightly underfoot, reminding the waterbending master of her outburst in the North.

"I will not leave my husband out in the cold, Master Pakku!"

And there it was, out in the open.


Sokka moved slowly through the kata, his sword moving as an extension of his arm.

It was early, he was the first one up, but he had decided it was time to stop waiting around for Zuko's plan to come into effect, and get ready.

He finished, and sheathed his sword, but a familiar voice barked out in scolding tone.

"Your form was sloppy and your technique rusty! What is your excuse for such slovenly swordsmanship?"

Sokka nearly dropped his sword in surprise, spinning around to face the man. "Master Piandao!"

The aging swordmaster smiled as he bowed to hi student, his smile growing when the stunned youth barely remembered to return the bow. "It is good to see you again, Sokka."

"What are you doing here?" Sokka asked bluntly, too stunned to do otherwise.

"The White Lotus Society is moving." Piandao replied simply, looking out at the valley below, watching as the rising sun burned away the steam. "I'm only the first to arrive. Soon, we may run out of rooms in the temple."

"What?" Sokka had been left behind, and was confused. He followed Piandao as the man entered the temple.

"There is an army coming, Sokka." Piandao explained. "An entire army."


"Do I call you Gran Gran?" Zuko asked candidly. He was standing in wide hut apparently used for a sewing 'shop.' Gran Gran's eyes narrowed, and she muttered something rude as she measured Zuko for a parka.

"Arms out." She stated coldly, and Zuko obediently lifted his arms. "My granddaughter is not old enough to be married yet."

"But she's old enough to traipse around the world with the Avatar? She's old enough to be a master waterbender?" Zuko retorted. "Or is it just me you disapprove of?"

Gran Gran met his look. For a moment they locked eyes in a battle of wills, then Gran Gran sighed. "Katara loves you, boy. She claims you are no longer the same person who attacked our home and kidnapped the avatar. I'll have to trust her on that." Gran Gran poked him in the chest. "But if I hear any funny business coming from your room, you'll wish you'd never come here. You understand?"

"Yes, Gran Gran." Zuko replied, smirking at the annoyed look that crossed the old woman's features.


"A fine cup of tea, Miss Bei Fong." Piandao said, sighing with contentment.

"Thanks. Iroh showed me how." Toph replied. "So this is what Sparky's Pai Sho trip was all about?"

"Indeed." Piandao looked around the Temple hall. He'd been informed about what had happened since Zuko and Sokka had contacted the White Lotus Society, and had already sent off a messenger hawk to see what they could do.

"Imagine, the prince of the Fire Nation is married to a girl of the water tribe. This will make for some interesting Politics after the war's end."

"Master Piandao?" Suki knelt close by. "May I ask you a question?"

"Of course, young lady."

"I am a Kyoshi warrior, and the rest of my sisters are still in prison." Suki explained. "Do you think there is anything you can do?"

Piandao set his tea down, and smiled. "I think you'll find that life takes many unexpected paths."


"Does he treat you well?" Pakku asked, sending a stream of water surging toward Katara. The several young students watched. These kids respected Pakku, and remembered Katara almost as a kind of aunt.

Katara rolled with the wave, sending it back to Pakku. "He does."

Pakku froze the water, and let it fall, lifting a wave of water and surfing across the field, trying to ease behind his former student.

Katara swung out, two long whips lifting from the snow to break Pakku's footing. The old man gasped as he stumbled, and Katara fought back a snicker, thanking Zuko for sharing the idea of a fighter's root.

Pakku regained his balance, and swung his arms up, a surge of snow and ice pushing along the ground toward Katara.

Breathing easily, Katara stopped the wave, and before the old man with the gaping jaw could react, froze him in place.

"You've improved greatly." Pakku said, acknowledging defeat. "Can we trust him with everything?"

"I do." Katara replied simply. Pakku grinned.

"Then I suppose he's family." Both masters looked at the knot of waterbending students, who were clapping at the demonstration.