"Without a source?"

Firelord Zuko stood before the Earth Kingdom's guard, Takeshi. Next to the guard stood one of Zuko's best firebenders, heating the poor man so he could speak without stuttering. Surrounding them was Avatar Aang, Lady Katara, Toph, King Arto, and Iroh.

"She didn't have a pouch of water, Firelord Zuko. I assumed it was without a source because we have no water available in the document holding base." Takeshi looked nervously around at his audience. "I mean… how else does a water bender bend water?"

Iroh approached the guard, sitting beside him. "Takeshi… Have you encountered a water bender in combat?"

Puzzled, the man shook his head. "No, sir. I've had simulations, of course, but I'm only a guard. And in these times, we rarely get intruders."

The old man smiled kindly, looking up at his nephew, then at Katara. "Lady Katara. You have been in many battles. Please, if you would, shine a bit of knowledge to this Earth Kingdom guard. How does a bender bend when the water from their pouch dries out or is used up?"

"We use the moisture from the air. It's a simple trick that most benders learn… at…" The answer hit her.

"She used the moisture in the air. How could we all be so naive?" Toph plopped herself into the nearest chair. "She's just a simple bender."

"Not necessarily," Aang commented, beginning to pace throughout the room. "Though she may have used the air around her, that does not account for the permanent alteration of Takeshi's body temperature."

"Nor does it explain the amount of ice that Takeshi claims she used. Moisture in the air can only do so much." Katara looked at Takeshi, her eyes turning kind. "If it's not to painful to resurrect the memory, Takeshi, could you describe to us the ice block this 'Lil' trapped you in?"

"It was at least three inches thick. It was almost like a tight piece of clothing… It clung to all my body parts so I couldn't move at all. And it reached up to my neck, as if she was trying to strangle me…"

"That's enough, Takeshi." King Arto cut his guard off, sending an accusing look toward Katara before consulting Zuko. "Is there any chance of your firebender to completely cure my guard of this… cold?"

The Firelord glanced at his bender, who shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Arto," Zuko responded, darting his eyes downward. "There's nothing more we can do here besides warm him using a bender's work."

Behind him, Takeshi looked, expressionless, at the floor.

Arto sighed, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening. "Takeshi, you may go. I shall talk with you as soon as this meeting is over."

Zuko nodded to the bender, who followed Takeshi out of room.

The Earth King motioned to the seats before him before claiming his own. His posture immediately faltered as he slumped into the chair. "What do you recommend, Avatar Aang?"

Aang sat in thought for a moment before speaking. He glanced a Zuko, who was eyeing the floor, seemingly in deep thought. Aang took a deep breath. "You've stopped all trains?"

"I gave the order as soon as I got the news of the attack. Unless they have a way of flying out of here, they have no means of escape."

"They are headed for the edge of the Earth Kingdom, near the Southern Waters."

The room looked at Firelord Zuko, taken aback.

Katara stood up, enraged. "Why didn't you mention this before?" she accused. "We could've had dozens of troops set up all along the coasts by now—"

"Katara, please." Aang stood up, silencing any opposition. "We now know both their location and their intended destination. Zuko, is there anything else you can offer us?"

"They were at Uncle's teashop just this morning. They can't be far." The man raised his head, looking straight at Katara, who was glaring at him. "Some of my men were dispatched not too long ago to locate and retrieve them."

"What I want to know is why you did not offer this information beforehand, Firelord." Arto spoke, venom layered in his words. "My men could have been there faster and more efficiently. This is my city we're talking about. My people."

"My men are rogue and very efficient at what they do. They will find these two. My motives for sending them do not need to be explained to you, Arto."

The firebender stood, challenging someone to oppose him.

"If you'll excuse me, I am going to check on the status of this mission." Zuko glided out of the room, not attempting to make eye contact.

"Even as Firelord, he still doesn't bother learning some manners," Toph noted, shifting positions in her chair. "It's not like he's dealing with equals or anything."

"I do not deserve to be treated as such in on my own soil, in my own palace!" King Arto spat, outraged.

"Arto, Zuko wasn't trying to be—" Katara tried.

"Avatar Aang, I am sorry, but I must ask you to leave. Thank you for your time."

"Of course, King Arto," Aang responded, bowing to the king. He gestured for his company to do the same, then left the room.

Leaving the grand hall, Katara caught pace with Aang, turning him to face her. "Aang, how could you let Zuko talk like that? You can't be a peacekeeper watching arguments unfold."

The Avatar ignored her. "I am going for a stroll in Ba Sing Sei. You both may head back to the Air Temple. Take Appa, I won't be needing him."

Katara stopped her in tracks, astonished. She threw her hands up in the air, about to shout something, but Toph stopped her.

"Shut it, girlie. It's not like we're actually letting him go alone. You know when he ignores both of us, it's not for small potatoes." She motioned towards where Aang was walking.

Katara let her hands drop, then followed Toph's line of sight, catching Aang. Her eyes narrowed. "Let's go."

"What do you mean all of the trains exiting Ba Sing Sei have been stopped until further notice?"

Lil arched an eyebrow in interest. These days, it wasn't commonplace for Jet to lose his composure in public.

"Sir, I'm sorry to inform you, but there are complications beyond out control with the trains. You'll have to wait until further notice." The Earth Kingdom guard stared at Jet with a blank expression.

"The trains are run by earth benders! Have all of them suddenly disappeared?"

The guard brought his face down closer to Jet's. "Sir," he whispered. "If you do not step away from me and the entrance to this train, I shall have to call assistance."

"Assistance? Assistance with what, you pompous—"

"—You'll have to excuse my friend, sir," Lil cut in. "He missed his breakfast this morning, and that makes him a little bit cranky." She pulled on Jet's shoulder, flashing the guard a final smile before directing her friend towards an abandoned corner of the station. Pinning him against the wall, she brought her voice down to a rough whisper. "Pull another stunt like that again. Go ahead! I dare you. See how long we last in this kingdom when we both get dragged away to the prisons."

Jet locked his own eyes with Lil's, piercing her gaze with an intense look of his own. She held him against the wall momentarily before Jet broke out into a smirk. "You're beginning to sound like me."

Lil dropped her arms and turned in the opposite direction. She began walking away, but then turned to give her friend a grin.

Jet laughed, running to catch up with his friend. He slung an arm around her shoulder. "You know," he began. "We make a pretty good team."

Lil rolled her eyes. "We're not out of this yet, slick."

Jet turned towards her, still smirking. "Slick, huh? I kind of like the ring of that."

Lil snorted. "If you didn't catch it, I was attempting to ridicule you."

"Sure you were."

They both stopped momentarily, leveling each other with a stare.

Lil broke it off first. "Let's get breakfast," she suggested, grabbing Jet's hand and dragging him to the nearest food stand.

"Whatever you say, Lil," Jet murmured, grinning.

Lil returned with a smile, pulling her friend towards a fruit stand. "Two melon slices, please."

The stand owner was pale-faced, staring in fear.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know melon slices were so frightening to a fruit stand owner…" Lil apologized apprehensively.

Suddenly, she felt Jet's hand slip from her grasp. She turned around, struck with a jolt of fear. He was gone.

She turned back to the stand, and then whipped her head back around, as if to replay what had just happened. A towering man greeted her on her second turn with a sly smile on his face.

"'Ello girlie," he said, grabbing her arm. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"