A/N—Okay guys, I'm sorry for the huge hiatus. I've been trying to figure out how to go about this chapter for the past few months, and I just wasn't satisfied with it. I think it's good now, but I still don't think it's 100%. You guys deserve another chapter though. I hope you like it. Review, follow, favorite, all that jazz. You guys are awesome. Thanks for reading.

"When are Father and Grandfather supposed to be home?" I asked my mother for the umpteenth time, looking up at her as I played with my doll near the turtle duck pond.

"Soon." Mother told me patiently, looking up from her book to meet my gaze. She was sitting on a bench beneath a tree, not far from the pond where I was sitting. It was close enough that we could still talk without having to shout to be heard. She looked very un-princessy in that moment. She had her hair flowing freely around her shoulders, removing her top knot just a few moments before and setting the headpiece for the future Fire Lord next to her, saying it was getting too heavy while she was reading. She was wearing simple robes, and from what I could see when she shifted her legs, wasn't wearing any shoes. I liked seeing her like this.

"I wanted to meet Avatar Korra." I grumbled, reaching over and tossing some bread crumbs into the pond. The turtle ducks gobbled them with gusto, quaking at me for more.

"Someday, you will." She promised, turning her attention back to her book.

"How old is she?"

"She's almost two years younger than you."

"By how much?"

"A few months. She was born at the end of winter and you were born during the middle of summer almost two years before that."

"Have you met her?"

"I have. She's a very rambunctious girl. Much like you and your siblings."

"Will she ever come and visit here?"

"Maybe one day, when she comes to master firebending."

"How long will that be?"

"A very long time. She still has to master water and earth before she can even think about mastering firebending."

"Where's Zehran?"

"With his firebending master. Ursa, show me one of your forms." She said, closing her book and setting it in her lap.

"Which one?" I asked, standing.

"Whichever one you want."

I went through my latest firebending form almost flawlessly, only doing a slight misstep on the very last part of it.

"Very good." My mother smiled. She always liked to watch us firebend. She liked to see us happy when we accomplished something.

"It wasn't perfect." I lamented, plopping back down on the ground.

"That's alright. You just learned that form this week. You can still practice and make yourself even better." She assured me, giving me a comforting smile as she reached over and rubbed my back.

I smiled up at her before we both looked up at an approaching servant.

"Your highness, The Fire Lord and Prince Kazuo have returned." He told my mother, bowing to her.

"Where are they now?" She asked, standing. I immediately stood with her and grabbed a handful of her robes, standing very close as she addressed the servant. He was new, and I still hadn't warmed up to him yet.

"They're already in the palace, your highness. Prince Kazuo was injured."

"What happened to Father?" I asked my mother, craning my head to look up at her.

"I don't know, sweetheart. Stay right here. I'm going to go and find out. Could you watch her?" My mother asked the servant.

"Yes, your highness." He nodded.

"I want to go with you!" I protested, clinging onto her leg.

She crouched down so that she was eye level with me. "I need to make sure that everything is alright before you see him. I don't want you to be frightened. In the meantime, you need to stay here. Understand?" She asked, holding the tops of my arms.

I nodded reluctantly, looking down at my shoes.

She gave me a kiss on the cheek before standing and running into the palace to see my father.

I gave the servant a wary glance as he looked at me. I sat back down next to the pond and played with my doll absentmindedly. Several minutes passed by before the servant finally spoke up.

"Do you need anything, Princess?" He asked, crouching down next to me.

I shook my head morosely, fiddling with the robes of my doll. It was a simple fabric doll, not like the fancy dolls I had received from other people. I hated those. This was the only one I really cared about because Grandfather had given it to me.

"If it makes you feel any better, Princess, I know your father is not in any danger. The healers in the Southern Water Tribe healed him completely."

"What happened?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Apparently, some bad people tried to kidnap Avatar Korra. Your father helped stop them, but he was injured in the process."

I was about to ask another question, but my Grandfather walked into the courtyard. I immediately shot up and ran to him, throwing my arms around his legs before looking up at him. "What happened to Father?" I asked.

"Come, little one." He said, scooping me up and carrying me towards my mother and father's chambers. I wound my small arms around his neck, resting my head against his shoulder as I closed my eyes, inhaling my Grandfather's comforting smell.

"Zuko, I don't think the children should see him yet." I heard my Grandmother say quietly. I opened my eyes and saw her walking next to Grandfather, a concerned look on her face.

"We'll keep them outside the room until he's ready." My grandfather murmured back.

My eyes narrowed slightly before I closed them again. I was going to see my father, and no one could stop me.

When we arrived, there was a small crowd of people around the door, mostly servants and healers who scurried in and out of the room. I saw Zehran run up with Iroh, Lu Ten close at their heels.

"Could you put me down?" I asked Grandfather.

He obliged, setting me on my feet. I immediately pushed through the crowd of people, ignoring my grandfather and grandmother's calls to stop as I entered the room.

My father was laying on the bed, my mother next to him, clasping his hand as another small group of people clustered around my father.

"Father?" I asked, wringing my hands.

His head turned to see me standing by myself at the edge of the room. He gave me a smile before I felt someone pick me up and begin to carry me back out.

"No, let her stay. Bring the boys in as well." My father ordered.

I turned around and gave the guard who picked me up a look as he put me down. I didn't like it when people I didn't know picked me up without my permission. Even though I was seven, I was still small for my age.

"I'm fine, let me rest." My father snapped at the group of people around him.

"You need another healing session soon, Prince Kazuo." I heard one of them say quietly.

"Then I'll do it later. Leave us."

When the crowd dispersed, I ran up to my father's bedside, trying to climb up on the bed to sit next to him. He leaned over and picked me up, setting me down on the empty side of the bed. Lu Ten had the better idea to climb up on that side, sitting down next to me.

"What happened?" Zehran demanded, standing next to Mother. Iroh stood next to him, stone-faced. Mother always said they were like yin and yang. Zehran was the fire starter, but Iroh was the one to put it out. They kept each other in check.

As my father and mother explained, I looked over my father, trying to find something wrong. I couldn't see anything until I looked down at his legs.

"Where's your leg?" I asked, resting my hand on his right thigh. His knee and everything below it was gone.

"They injured my leg while we were fighting, trying to keep me from fighting back. The damage was too bad to be able to heal it properly, so they had to take it away." He explained, resting his hand over mine. "But it's alright. It's better now."

I looked at him, noting a hint of sadness in his eyes. He looked hopeless underneath his mask of calm. As he looked down at his injured leg, the mask cracked for a split second, showing how desolate he really felt.

The look on my father's face lingered before me as I finally started to come to.

When I awoke, I groaned. My head felt like it had been trampled on by a herd of angry komodo rhinos. It didn't help that Detective Grumpy-Pants was trying to interrogate Ghazan and Ming-Hua, making my head throb even more.

"Mako, shut up." I groaned, moving to clutch my head in my hands. When they didn't move, I realized I was bound at my ankles with my hands tied behind my back. My eyes shot open, trying to take in my surroundings. I saw Zaheer in the driver's seat, P'Li next to him. Ghazan and Ming-Hua were sitting in the back with us. Bolin and Mako were tied back to back in front of me.

"Ursa! Are you okay?" Bolin asked quickly.

"My head is throbbing, but I'm fine." I assured him, working myself into a sitting position.

"How's your father's leg?" Ghazan asked, smirking at me.

I growled at him, averting my head.

"How do you know about her dad's leg?" Mako demanded.

"Because Ming-Hua and I were the ones that injured it so badly he had to get it removed." Ghazan answered.

"Ursa?" Bolin asked, looking at me for verification.

I leaned up against the side of the truck, nodding. "My father was there when they tried to abduct Korra thirteen years ago."

"He's a powerful bender. It was the only way we could get him out of the way." Ming-Hua told us.

"You held him down while you crushed his leg with a boulder!" I yelled, glaring at Ming Hua then Ghazan. "Obviously you feel no remorse for doing it." I muttered.

"He's fine. I get around just fine with no arms." Ming-Hua argued.

"At least you still have both your legs. It's kind of hard to bend without a leg." I spat.

Bolin continued to speak to the pair until Mako made him stop.

"Gag them. We're almost to the city." Zaheer ordered.

"Don't touch me. I promise I won't talk." I told Ghazan as he moved to gag me first.

He gave me a skeptical look, raising one eyebrow.

"I'm a princess of the Fire Nation. I know when to keep my mouth shut." I frowned at him.

"Fair enough." He shrugged.

"She's a fire bender, Ghazan. Gag her." Zaheer ordered.

"Gagging me doesn't stop me from bending." I told him. Nevertheless, I still was gagged along with Bolin and Mako.

When we arrived at the city, we were taken directly to the palace and thrown before the Earth Queen.

If I could talk, I would have yelled a string of words at the Earth Queen that would make a pirate blush like a chili pepper for the look she gave me.

"What will Mother say?" She mused, making a tsk-tsk noise after she addressed Mako and Bolin.

I gave her my best 'I'm going to kill you and enjoy it' look, the same look some said I had inherited from my great-aunt Azula.

Mako, Bolin and I gave each other a look when Zaheer explained his plan to the Earth Queen.

"Send those two to the dungeons! Keep the princess here. And send a message to the Fire Lord. She seems to be missing something of hers." She commented smugly.

As Mako and Bolin were sent down to the dungeons, I watched them go down with bad feeling in the pit on my stomach. Now that we were separated, there was no way we would be able to find each other.

"Your mother can't protect you now, you little brat." The Earth Queen sneered at me.

I used my breath of fire to burn the gag from my mouth, shaking it off quickly before it could set any part of me on fire. "I don't expect her to. I can protect myself." I spat back.

"Let's see if that's true. Take her to the dungeons where the airbenders once were. Let's see if you can weasel your way out of that." She ordered.

Two Dai Li agents grabbed me by my upper arms, carrying me down numerous passageways and an infinite amount of stairs before we finally reached our destination. I tried desperately to remember our route in the event of my escape, but it was no use. The palace was a labyrinth.

The only light in the room came from the crystals in the ceiling and on one of the walls, casting an eerie green glow on the scene. I despised the color green. Metal doors ran along the length of one wall, and the adjacent wall had a double-door leading to somewhere. I wanted to know if it was a way out, but the guard at my right arm blocked my view before I could get a better look.

The guards threw me into a small cell with a solid metal door, taking my swords before they locked the door securely behind them. I listened to their footsteps as they walked away, trying to figure out where they were going from where the noise was coming from.

"Why can't I be an earthbender with seismic sense?" I complained out loud, sitting dejectedly on the stone seat of the cell.

What would my mother do?

I scoffed at the idea. My mother had never gotten into trouble in her life. She would have never found herself in a place like this.

I got into my meditation stance, hoping to find an idea for my escape in the Spirit World as I closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes in the Spirit World, a large dragon was staring back at me.

"Not you again!" I groaned, pushing his snout away from me before stalking off.

He followed me, stopping my stride by curling his body around me. "You could use me to enhance your abilities."

"Ever since we fused you've been nothing but trouble for me, Takeo. Go away." I growled, climbing over his thick trunk to continue my angst-y walk.

"The only reason you lost control the last time you channeled me was because your emotions corrupted my spirit. You got in my way." He said, wrapping around me again.

"Even if I did agree to channel you again, how could I be sure that you weren't going to take over my body?" I frowned, turning to look him in the eye.

"I took over your body to protect you. You're welcome." If dragons could have a smug look, Takeo did in that moment.

"And you destroyed a building in the process. Congratulations." I quipped.

"It was the only way to protect you. I only wish to help you."

His last sentence struck me like a stray fireball. I sat on the ground and hugged my knees to my chest, trying to rid myself of the overwhelming feeling.

Ever since that day on Ember Island, Takeo and I had been one. I had miraculously been cured of all my ailments. When my family finally found me in the mountains, I was lying unconscious in the middle of a perfectly charred circle. Whatever threat that had caused us to fuse was gone, scared off by my new protector.

"What would you do to get me out?" I asked.

"Melt the door." He said simply.

"Would it work?"

"Of course it would. Do you doubt me?"

"I'm scared of the power." I admitted.

"I know you can control it. You're prepared."

"You sound like my mother."

"She must be a very wise woman."

"She is." I told him before taking a deep breath. "Fine."

"Then return to the physical world. I'll be along shortly."

I closed my eyes again, returning to my body, the pressing already at the edge of my consciousness.

I took a deep breath. "Accept it." I told myself. I let my barriers down, allowing Takeo to channel himself through me. I felt a familiar burning in my right arm, alerting myself to his presence, along with the sudden rush of power throughout my body.

I took a deep breath, aiming a fire stream at the door. The force of the blast made me skid back a few inches, but I readjusted my feet, rooting myself in the spot. I began to sweat from the heat filling the cell, but I kept going, only stopping my barrage to create a new fire stream when I ran out of breath.

After a few minutes, the door was finally melted away. The burning in my arm subsided into a dull pain, and I felt the power leave my body as well. I staggered slightly, steadying myself on one of the walls before exiting my cell, careful to avoid the still-molten edges of the opening.

When I stepped out of the cell, no one was there. No guards, not even a hermit crab. I smiled slightly. They probably thought there was no way I would be able to get out. I pulled the sleeves of my robes down, sneaking my way up the stairs to find an escape route.

On the next level of cells, I heard mournful lowing coming from some type of animal. I followed the noise to a large metal door secured only with a flimsy lock. I pulled a pin out of my hair and picked it easily, throwing the door open to reveal a sky bison.

The animal grew startled at the sudden movement, rearing up and slamming its feet down, causing me to almost fall of my feet.

"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down!" I said, running over to it. "I'm a friend! I'm not going to hurt you." I promised.

At the tone of my voice, it calmed down enough until it was only breathing heavily. I walked closer carefully, resting my hand on its head. When it leaned into my hand, I smiled and began to pet it.

"Why would they have you in a place like this?" I asked it as it nuzzled against me. "It doesn't matter now. You're coming with me." I announced, walking out of the cell. I found a length of rope near the cell, long enough to turn into reins.

The bison became startled at seeing the rope, but I put it behind my back until it calmed down again, speaking to it soothingly as I climbed on its head to tie the rope around its horns. Grandfather always said I had a way with animals.

I jumped down on the floor with the reins in my hand, leading the bison out of the cell. Thankfully, there was a door at the end of the hall that was big enough to fit a bison through.

"Come on." I told the bison, leading it towards the doors. I kicked the locks off of these doors and pushed them open, squinting at the sunlight that streamed through when the heavy metal doors were opened.

"Finally! Let's get out of here." I said to my new friend, climbing on its head and grabbing the reins again.

"You! Stop!" I heard someone yell.

I whipped my head around and saw the two agents from before. One of them had my swords slung across his back.

Normally, I wouldn't lose my cool over being cornered by two master benders, but I lost it when I saw they had my swords. Those were mine. I didn't even allow Lu Ten to touch them. They used to be my grandfather's before he passed them down to me. I would protect them with my life.

I jumped down from the bison, running at them with a yell. When they charged at me, I evaded them quickly and blocked their chi to keep them from bending, making them fall limp to the ground in the process.

I walked over to the one who had my swords, taking them roughly before slinging them across my back. "Give my regards to the Earth Queen." I said scathingly, going back over to the bison and climbing on.

I remembered the funny words that Grandfather had told me long ago, the key to getting a bison to fly.

"Yip yip!" I said. The bison walked a few feet until it was out in the open before taking off.

From my seat in the air, I saw that the city was in utter chaos. People were looting the palace, and the walls between the rings had been melted down. An airship from the line in front of the Queen's palace was missing, and I instantly knew that Mako and Bolin had escaped. None of the citizens would steal an airship; they would just strip it down to the hull to make a profit. No one would buy an entire airship.

The airship was nowhere in sight. I growled and urged the bison to keep going forward. If I made it out to the desert and kept going south, I might be able to find the base Korra was being held at.

When I finally flew over the Si Wong Desert, I saw the wreckage of an airship, along with tracks.

"Finally! Come on, buddy. Yip yip!" I had learned earlier that the same phrase made a bison fly faster, almost falling off in the process at the sudden speed change.

A few hours later, I saw the Misty Palms Oasis rise in the distance. The tracks ended here. I didn't bother landing the bison outside of town next to the airship. I flew straight to the center of town, making a group of people run screaming when I landed. I was only searching for the rest of the group. I found them standing in a circle, along with Lin Beifong, Tonraq, and my grandfather, looking as if they had just gotten done making plans.

When I spotted Grandfather, my heart swelled. I had missed him so much. I had the intention of running to him once I had slid off the bison's head, but that was quickly dashed when both Naga and Pabu tackled me and began to lick me. One of Naga's paws pinned me to the ground as they assaulted me.

"Yeah, I missed you too. Gah! Get off! Pabu, your tongue is getting in my ear! Naga, I can't breathe!" I yelled, putting my arms up to try to protect my face from Naga's tongue.

When they finally got off me, I wiped the drool off my face and was then pulled into a bone-crushing hug by the rest of the group.

"We thought you were a goner!" Bolin exclaimed.

"I can handle myself." I smiled.

Mako continued to hug me, not noticing that the rest of the team had stopped.

"Um, Mako?" I said, trying to get his attention.

When he finally noticed that he was the only one hugging me, he stepped back with a blush, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry."

I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned around, seeing Grandfather standing there. I threw my arms around his neck, squeezing tightly as he hugged me fiercely.

"I'm so glad you're safe." He said in my ear.

"I missed you." I replied, burying my face in his neck. Ever since I was little, I could never place what he smelled like. Whatever it was, it was comforting.

"I've missed you too, little one." He pulled back, smiling at me.

"What happened to you?" Mako asked.

"The queen apparently sent me to where she held the airbenders. I was able to melt down the door. I heard the bison as I was trying to escape, so I freed it as well. Good thing you made me join the Fire Scouts. I wouldn't know how to tie reins without it." I said, looking at Grandfather before going back to my story. "Anyway, as I was flying over the Si Wong Desert trying to find the base Korra was taken to, I saw the wreckage of an airship and tracks leading here. So here I am."

"Wait, you melted down a door with your firebending?" Korra demanded.

"You saw me do it in Zaofu." I pointed out.

"You had your brother's help, though. You did it singlehandedly this time. How did you manage it?"

"I knew I needed to get out. I guess something just came over me." I shrugged, my eyes darting to my grandfather. His eyes narrowed in understanding.

"We're heading to Zaofu to use their radio to contact the Northern Air Temple." Lin told me, stepping forward.

"Then don't let me stop you all. I need to ride with one of you though. The trip tired my buddy out." I said, gesturing to the bison, which was now sleeping where we landed.

"We can get him on the airship and you can ride with us." Bolin said.

"Thank you. Let's get going." I said.

While we were on the airship en route to Zaofu, an elderly woman came up to me and took my hand.

"Are you Mako's girlfriend?" She asked, smiling at me.

"Um, no. We're just friends." I smiled.

"Bolin told me that he used to date you."

I shot a glare at Bolin, who suddenly became interested in the ship's controls.

"Um, I suppose we did." I told her. "I should probably go check on the engine temperature." I said quickly, bowing to her awkwardly and leaving.

When we finally arrived in Zaofu, I felt a gentle yet firm grip on my upper arm pulling me away from the group.

I whipped around and saw Grandfather. The look on his face troubled me.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

"There's something I need to talk to you about." He said, threading my arm through his as we walked towards Druk.

I looked over my shoulder and nodded to Mako, who was waiting by the airship and staring at me expectantly. I knew this conversation wouldn't be quick.

"It's about your father." He told me once everyone had gone into the house.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"He's sick. We don't exactly know with what yet." He told me.

"Is it his leg? How bad is it?"

"It's not his leg. We know it's not contagious. He fell ill a few days after returning from the Southern Water Tribe."

"Does Tonraq know anything?"

"No, he doesn't. Your father didn't show any signs of sickness while he was in the Southern Water Tribe."

I sat on the ground, burying my face in my hands. What was I supposed to do? I needed to see my father. If this sickness was bad enough, he couldn't have much time left. I needed to see him, to say…

I pushed the thought out of my head before going onto the next.

And what about Korra? I was already in deep with this mission. I couldn't just abandon her when the going was getting tough. I needed to help defeat the Red Lotus.

"What should I do?" I asked Grandfather, looking up at him.

"What do you think you should do?" He responded.

"I don't know." I groaned, putting my head in my hands. "I made a promise to Korra that I would help her, but I don't want to abandon Father in his time of need."

"Your father is strong, Ursa. He won't give in so quickly."

"I don't want him to think that I don't care enough to go back home, but I can't break my promise."

Grandfather crouched down next to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I know you will make the right decision, whatever it may be. And whatever decision that is, I'm sure he will understand." He told me, giving me a gentle smile when I turned my head to look at him.

I looked back down at my feet, taking a deep breath. "I have to help Korra, in whatever way I can." I stated, standing. "Are you coming with us?" I asked Grandfather.

"No, I need to go back to the Fire Nation to protect your mother. The Red Lotus has already taken out the Earth Queen. I can't let them assassinate your mother as well." He answered, standing with a small groan.

"I understand. Please, can you tell my parents I'll be back as soon as we stop the Red Lotus?"

"I will." He said, pulling me into his arms. "Stay safe. Promise me." He whispered.

"I promise." I told him, moving back when I saw Korra walking towards us.

"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" She asked.

"We had just finished." My grandfather told her.

Korra looked at me intently. "Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." I answered, trying to compose myself. Apparently my worry showed on my face. "I should go check on Bolin and Mako." I said, walking towards the estate.

"Have you contacted the Northern Air Temple yet?" I asked Mako and Bolin once I arrived in the radio room.

"Not yet. No one's picking up." Bolin reported.

I leaned up against the wall, frowning at the lack of progress. "We don't have time for this. Is there any other way we can contact them?"

"This is the most direct way." Mako told me.

When Meelo finally picked up, Mako ran out of the room to find Korra.

When Korra finally came into the room and Meelo left to get his dad, a realization dawned on me.

"They won't be able to get out. There isn't enough time." I whispered. My first thought immediately went to Azara. I couldn't live with myself if she was hurt by these terrorists, or worse. I had argued with my parents about letting Azara go with the other airbenders if the opportunity arose. It would be my fault if she was hurt.

"They have to try!" Korra yelled.

"We need to get on the airship and go over there now!" I yelled back when Tenzin picked up, an edge of hysteria to my voice.

Korra turned to everyone in the room when the line went dead after Tenzin announced that the Red Lotus was already there. "We're leaving now." She announced, pushing her way out of the room.

We all ran down to the airship, running on board. I stopped suddenly on the ramp, turning back to run to my grandfather and hug him. When I pulled back, he nodded at me before I ran onto the airship.

I watched from one of the windows as he took off on Druk in the opposite direction, a heavy feeling in my heart. I should be going with him. But I should be going with Korra too. I shook my head, setting my jaw before turning away from the window. I needed to set things right. If that meant taking these people out, then I would do whatever it took.

The look on my father's face when he told us he lost his leg flashed in front of me. I furrowed my brow and clenched my fists. I would make them pay for what they did.