The sixth chapter is here

Piandao was in the room given to him for the night. He had been lying on the bed trying to sleep, but it just didn't seem to come. He sighed and got up, going over to the balcony overlooking the city. He breathed in the cold night air. He heard a knock behind him and turned around to see Ursa at the door.

"Hey." he said standing up a little straighter.

"Hey. Can't sleep?"

"Nah. What about you? Or do you always go roaming around the palace in the middle of the night."

"Not every night." She said walking over to him. She leaned against the doorway of the balcony. "You didn't look too happy at dinner. I'm betting it is either because I made you look bad when I told the story or the fact you may be going home tomorrow. Or is it a little of both?"

He laughed softly. "Well I did regret letting you tell the story….but that isn't it." He turned away from her and leaned against the railing.

"So the fact you might be going home then?"

"You would think, but I'm fine if dad says to come home. Even if it was only a two days…it was amazing."

"Yeah it was great. I'm glad I got to go with you today."

"I'm glad you came. We might not have defeated that tank without you."

"You would have found a way."

Piandao looked at her and smiled.

"So…do you think…" Ursa started slowly, "You think if he tells you to stop looking for the maker, he might still let you stay in the Fire Nation a little longer." She looked down at her feet as she said this. Piandao's jaw dropped a faint blush came appeared across his face.

"Maybe…he might." Piandao said avoiding her gaze.

"Hey DAO!" Bumi voice rang through the room.

"I'll kill him." Piandao muttered under his breath.

"Dao! Oh hey Ursa. Dao, what's the plan? When are we sneaking out?"

"We're not Bumi."

"WHAT!" Bumi looked appalled. "You can't want to stop already. We finally picked up a trail."

"Bumi our parent's trusted us enough to let us do this, but they also are concered about this 'maker' person. She was someone they almost didn't defeat. If they tell to come home it's not because they don't think we're ready. It's because they don't want us facing someone like her on our own."

"But…but…" Bumi pouted.

"Look, Bumi. I'll be disappointed if we have to go home too. But if we run away, then they will just come after us and probably find us before we can do anything. If we go home without a fuss they'll be more willing to let us do stuff like this in the future."

"I guess…"

"Besides we don't know for sure we're going home."

"That's true." Bumi said smiling. "Thanks Dao." He ran out of the room.

"You are the only person I know who can through to that kid." Ursa said.

"It's a gift." Piandao said.

"Well we should be get some sleep. Night Piandao."

"Night Ursa." He walked her to his door and closed it when she left. He then let out a sigh and banged his head against the wall a few times before going to bed.

~The afternoon of the next day~

The kids had wondered around the palace aimlessly for most of the day waiting a reply from Sokka. It was just after lunch and they had taken over the gardens, much to the displeasure of the turtle-ducks and fire ferrets living in them. Kya and Ursa were sparing. Bumi and Piandao were practicing their boomerang skills, and Tenzin had been roped in. He was standing in front the pond with an apple on his head.

"Guys I'm not sure about this." He said.

"Oh, relax Ziny. Me and Dao are experts at this." Bumi said lining up his shot.

"Well I am…Bumi on the hand…"

"Dao shut up! Just watch I'll get the apple off Ziny's head."

Piandao just grinned and gestured for him to continue. Bumi lined up his shot again. He carried back fist and was about to release when…

"Young master Piandao a reply from your father!" A guard came running. Bumi turned his head just as the boomerang left his hand. Tenzin closed his eyes sure it was going hit him. To everyone shock it hit the apple which fell in the pond with a splash.

"Ha- see that Pian-OW!" Bumi had forgotten it was a boomerang and not a stick he thrown. Said boomerang had come back and hit him in the head.

"Servers you right for using your brother as target practice." Lin said.

"I wasn't using Ziny as target practice, just the apple on his head." But now no one was listening to him. Piandao had taken the message from the guard and was reading out loud.

Piandao

I was pleased to get your message. It's good to know you kept the promise to keep in touch. I was not as pleased with the actual content of the message. The tank in that village sounds like the same basic design on ones your Uncle, Aunt and myself took on. This means the Maker is linked to this. We said that if it did turn out to be the Maker you should come right home. However we still know nothing of her whereabouts. So we have all agreed to let you all continue the investigation.

They are cheered, Bumi was jumping up and down.

"Alright. Let me finishing reading." Piandao said.

Your Aunt Katara is not pleased with this decision. She was already in the air with Appa when Uncle Aang caught up with her. She is not an easy person to convince, but she did agree in the end. As to the map you sent me from what we already know, the makers that highlight the Fire Nation and Ba Sing Se I think it signifies places where benders have disappeared. As for the icon on Republic City, I have no clue. Last time the maker's base of operations was on a small island that is not normally marked on many maps. I can't remember the exact location but I marked it as best on a map I enclosed. Piandao I want you and everyone to be extra cautious from now on. As to where you should go next, that is up to you. Keep well everyone.

Love Sokka.

Piandao finished reading and for a few moments everyone was quite. Then Bumi took off running towards the palace.

"Bumi, where are you going?" Kya called after him.

"To pack my stuff!" He yelled back.

"That is a good idea." Piandao said and followed him.

Ursa sighed watching them go.

"What is it?" Kya asked.

"You all are leaving and Dad still hasn't told me his decision."

"Hey he let you come with us yesterday."

"Yes, but that was only because I was still in the Fire Nation."

"He said hd would think about didn't he."

"Yeah, think about it. When dad says that it means he's thinking of the best way to say no." Ursa sighed. "Plus he hasn't said anything to me since yesterday. I'm pretty sure the answer is no."

"Maybe you should talk him."

"I doubt that will do much good. But hey, I had a great adventure yesterday. And you are just going to have defeat enough bad guy ass for the both of us." Ursa said. Kya smiled sadly.

"It's just…" Kya started.

"Hey, I'll be fine. Even though I was looking forward to traveling with you and…"

"Me and… who?"

"And everyone else." Ursa said quickly. Kya nodded but gave her friend a knowing look.

"Well, come on. If we're leaving you are helping me pack."

"Sounds fair. The two girls walked into the palace together, only to almost be run over by Bumi with his arms over flowing with sticky buns.

"Bumi! You cannot take all those!" Kya yelled after him. He shot a grin over his shoulder at her.

"Oh, I never knew how bad mom had it." Kya said rubbing her forehead. Ursa laughed.

"Sometimes I wish I had siblings."

"Don't. You don't know how good you have it."

It was early the next morning, the sun wasn't even up yet, when Oogi was all packed and they were ready to leave. Ursa hugged Kya saying goodbye.

"Ursa I think you're saying good bye to the wrong people." Mai said.

"What?"

Mai looked shocked for a second then turned to Zuko. "Zuko, didn't you tell her."

"I was going to…"

"When exactly? When they were long gone?"

"That was the plan."

"Dad, I can go?" Ursa her eyes ligghing up.

"Yes." Zuko with a sigh. Ursa screamed and hugged her father and mother. Zuko turned to a guard and sent him to collect surplizes for Ursa.

"Well, Mai and Uncle convinced me you should go. And who am I to argue with them."

"Oh, no way. This is so cool." Ursa and Kya were jumping up and down. Tenzin, Lin and Bumi who were Oogi grinned and shared a high five.

"This is great. A full team. Now we're ready to take on the world." Piandao said.

The team might have to take on the world indeed...but are they really ready?

Nardragon ~ until the next page.