A man with blue and white robes walked urgently through the halls of the kingdom, holding a newspaper securely in his hand. He walked up to the two children of the palace: "Where's your father?" He asked the girl.

"In his office," she told him, but before she could ask why he wanted to see her father, he left.

Ever since that party the royals through for the young boy, he's learned to trust the family. The princess especially, they've become the best of friends; getting into trouble with Moa almost everyday, going on adventures around the castle(they weren't allowed out of the palace), and they grew up together.

The boy knew that the king was protecting him, from what, he might never know. But when he finally revealed he was an airbender to him, the king taught him to control his bending. They spent long hours meditating in the garden, trying to find the boy's center. It really seemed strange to the boy that airbenders meditated so much, but he never said anything because this was his culture.

The whole palace seemed to know he was an airbender, but they were permitted to sign a paper, promising never to reveal there was an airbender in the palace.

The man barged into the king's office, his eyes just screamed "fear" as he took a seat next to the King's desk.

"Yes," the king mumbled. He had his reading glasses on and his eyes were locked on a book. "What do you need?"

"There's been another attack." He slammed the paper on the king's desk. "The attacks just keep moving closer and closer here, sir."

"No one knows he's in the palace, relax," the king replied, not taking his eyes off his book.

"How do we know there's not a spy somewhere in the palace, lurking around the palace, trying discover our secrets!"

"Honestly, Fang, you and you're trust issues," the king finally looked up from his book. "You should really see a therapist about that. It could be quite serious. You might be feeling these feelings because of childhood experiences. Tell me, Fang, did your father hug you enough when you were small."

"Sir," the man stood up from his chair and glared at the king, "we need to take this seriously. We were hired to protect the boy. If the boy is dead, sir, we can not protect him."

"I understand what you're saying," the king said, taking of his glasses, "but he's been here for three years already. I'm teaching him everything I know about airbending-"

"Which isn't a lot, sir."

"The point I'm trying to make is he's completely safe here," the king announced with a warm smile.

"For how long, sir? Look at the paper "Men in red coats and silver linings attack again", we can't even figure out who they are. We have the United forces on secret missions to try to find them... But we have nothing, sir. The boy needs more than an earthbender to teach him airbending!"

The king was about to reply when a knock on the door disrupted their conversation.

"Come in," the king spoke.

Moa walked in, holding a tray with two tea cups and a tea pot. "Afternoon, sir! You're twelve o' clock tea right on time, like always."

"Yes, thank you, Moa," the king gave her a soft smile, clearing the newspaper off the desk to make room for the tray, "just set it down right here. I can pour my own tea, thank you. Fang, would you like some? It's quite good."

"No thank you, sir," the man replied with a tone of annoyance in his voice.

"Will there be anything else, sir?" Moa asked.

"Yes... Moa, would you please go and get Xenos for me." Said the king. Moa nodded and quickly left.

"Why are you getting the boy?" The man said, confused.

"I'm going to tell him," he replied.

"Everything?"

"Everything I know he can handle," the king spoke in a calming tone, taking a sip of his tea. "You said it yourself, Fang, he needs to be prepared for the men... And I can't give that to him."

"What... Where would he go? He can't go see Tenzin and Lin... Last I heard they weren't even talking to each other!"

"I know a spiritual place where he can probably connect with his grandfather... Avatar Aang visited this place, a swamp, when he was a boy. I believe this could help him connect him with his airbending culture.

"And if it doesn't?"

"If it doesn't," sighed the king, "then I have failed as a king and a protector. And the death of an innocent boy will haunt us all."

Another knock on the door interrupted them.

"Come in, Xenos..."

"Moa said you wanted to see me, sir?" The boy walked in slowly. He wasn't as small and fragile as he was when he first came to the palace. He grew a few inches and his hair was slightly shorter than when he was shorter. He looked much healthier than he use to be.

"Yes, that is correct, son... Please take a seat next to Fang," the commanded with a small smile.

The boy obeyed and took a seat.

"Xenos," the king began, "Fang has brought to my attention that the men with red coats and silver linings have attacked another colony."

"Oh..."

"Yes oh is right, boy," said Fang.

"Why are you telling me this?" The boy asked.

"Because you know and I know... They're after you, boy," replied Fang.

The boy looked at the king nervously.

"Fang, please, don't scare him," he announced. "I will tell him everything."

"Sorry, sir," the man mumbled.

"You have met these men before, right?" The king spoke to the boy.

"Yeah... They killed my friend," the boy said softly. "I told you that..."

"Yes, I know," he nodded, "but I'm afraid you have had one more encounter with them."

"I have?"

The king stood up and moved to the portrait of the 52nd Earth King, facing toward it. "This isn't easy for me to tell you, Xenos. There's so much to tell you, I don't know where to begin, you see."

"Are you saying I'm old enough to know?"

"I'm saying I think it's time to tell you," the king said, turning to the boy. "I've been put in a rather difficult situation with you. When you were a baby those men stole you right out of your mother's arms. Your grandfather, not only an airbender but also the Avatar, did his best to get you back into the arms of your mother. Sadly, he failed at his attempt to get you back, dying with you in his arms. A White Lotus member grabbed you before those men could... Leaving you in that orphanage, leaving you in hiding."

"So they wanted me?" The boy couldn't help but smile.

"They wanted you more than you could ever imagine," the king smiled back at the boy. "But sadly they were left thinking you were dead, for protection. We were only going to have you hidden until we captured those men, but it was like they vanished. And then you airbent. That was a big problem because people... they talk. Especially, when they see someone airbending. Being an airbender is very rare, you see... You, your father and your two sisters, assuming that your baby sister is an airbender, are the last of the your kind."

"I have sisters?"

"Yes, very beautiful from the photos your father sent me," he replied. "Anyway, we had the White Lotus come and investigate the colony, staying for a while just to be sure you were alright, along with your grandmothers."

"The old women were my grandmothers?" He said shocked. "The old woman was my grandma."

"And you know the rest, Toph, your blind grandmother, stayed behind to protect you."

"She was my grandmother," he spoke softly and sadly, "and I watched her die for me."

"From what I heard, you almost died for her," said the king. "You were very brave that day, turning back to risk your own life to help your colony."

"I only did what I thought was right," the boy claimed.

"My father once told me that a sign of a true king is someone who will risk everything to help others, only asking them to pay it forward in return," the king explained. "You are a true king, Xenos. And your grandmother is up with the spirits right now, talking to the spirits about your bravery and how proud she is of you."

"Thank you, sir."

"And I was so relieved that Aiko saw you on the ground, below the bridge. I was relieved you were alive," he looked into the boy's eyes.

"So the old lad- I mean, my grandmother was right when she told me I wasn't alone," a smile formed on his face.

"You'll never be alone, Xenos."

"I understand what she was telling me now... well, kind of," the boy spoke.

"Now for the news you dread to hear, we have reason to believe that the men who are attacking the colonies are in search for something."

"Someone," added Fang.

The boy's smile quickly faded.

"As in someone... you mean me, right?"

"That is correct," the king confirmed.

"We don't know why," explained Fang, "all we know is they first showed up at your home when you were a baby and we don't think they'll stop until they get you."

"I want you to go to this swamp..." The king mumbled as he walked to his desk and opened one of his drawers, searching for something. "Ah, here we are," he pulled out a map. "This is our kingdom and all the way over there is the swamp. It's a long journey by land, but I think visiting this swamp will help you with your airbending connection."

"What's this?" The boy pointed at a small point near the middle of the map.

"That's... Republic City..." Explained the king. "It's... where your parents live."

"Can you tell me about them, or.."

"I guess it won't hurt to tell you," the king said, looking at Fang, who gave an approving nod. He looked at the boy, "Your parents separated a while back... Your father married again and they have two daughters together. He's a council member for the city. Your mother is the chief of police of Republic City. She's tough, but a great woman."

"Did my parents break up because of me?" The boy asked with a frown.

"..I don't really know that answer, I'm sorry," the king replied.

"What's the plan for me to go to the swamp?" He asked, trying to shake off his sadness.

"We can't come with you, I have duties to my kingdom and if the White Lotus escorted you there, those men would know and think something was up."

"I'll have to go by myself?"

"It's the only way to keep you safe from the warriors."

"When do I leave?"

"As soon as possible," the king said, as they all headed for the door. "It's too late in the day to start your journey today, you'll leave first thing tomorrow."