Hello again everyone! It's update time again! This is a sort of relief chapter, after the drama of the Painted Lady chapters.

We only got 3 reviews for the last chapter, but that's ok- I am grateful for whatever reviews I receive, truly. For anyone concerned with the continuity, considering they are on Ember Island so early, but I've got things figured out. Speaking of which, I need a name for the village where the 'The Puppetmaster' episode takes place. If you have an idea, put it in a review. If I use it, I will credit you at the beginning of that chapter!

It gives you guys a chance to get involved in the story, and it also helps me out alot! Speaking of helping me out, I cannot get over the amount of kind words you guys sent me in PMs, and reviews, in regards to my job situation/depression. It is really touching.

In regards to that, I should be seeing a Doctor this week, see what's up. (my folks think I have Aspergers, or Autism, and social anxiety. yaay... D:)

Sorry for more of me babbling, but I've got an idea for another fic:

Title: When the Moon loved the Sun

Summary: Katara is the one selected from her district to fight in the 74th Hunger Games, and is pitted against her own brother, her two childhood friends, and even the one she loves. Only one of them will make it out, that they all know. That doesn't make it any easier.

Crossover: Hunger Games crossover, obviously :D not going to end well for most characters, definitely going to be sad and tragic. No bending involved, though.

Let me know if you all like that idea ^

I really hope you all enjoy this chapter! Not too bad of a length!

Story Stats:

Reviews: 190

Favourites: 151

Follows: 233

Word count this chapter (not including author's note): 2,228 words

ALSO: THIS MONTH IS THE MONTH OF THE 8 MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS FIC! HOLY JEEBUS! THE OFFICIAL 8 MONTH ANNIVERSARY IS THE 31ST, SO WE WILL HAVE THE 'PUPPETMASTER' CHAPTER ON HALLOWEEN TO CELEBRATE! WOOOO! Sorry, I just love this fic and you guys so much!

"GUYS!"

Sokka's loud shout awoke the group from their otherwise peaceful slumber. Aang jumped so high he almost fell off of Appa, much to everyone's amusement. Katara, still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, was the first to speak up.

"What is it, Sokka?" Katara yawned. "Are we there yet?"

"It's still dark." Aang complained.

"I know!" Sokka groaned. "But the island is just ahead. I figured night time was the best time to get there."

"You're pretty smart, Sokka." Aang smiled sleepily.

"I know." Sokka grinned smugly.

"Is it that place there?" Katara pointed out a house on the highest cliff of the island.

"Yeah..." Zuko swallowed. "That's it."

Under the guise of a misty cloud that Aang and Katara had bent around them, the group descended into the courtyard of the royal family's home. As they landed, dust flew up, a testament to how long it had been since anyone had been there. Once Aang had cleared the dust, Katara bent the cloud away. The group initially sat in silence, and took in the sights around them. It was no doubt that this home belonged to royalty- despite it being covered in dust, and being slightly run-down, the detail in the architecture, along with the rich golds and reds, were still beautiful. It was sad, that the place had been abandoned for so long, but the group quickly took their thoughts away from that.

"It's...beautiful..." Katara smiled, as they all jumped off of Appa.

"It looks expensive." Sokka whistled. Katara elbowed him.

"It was expensive." Zuko agreed.

"So...we should get some rest. Mind showing us where to go?" Katara asked Zuko.

"Get the supplies, and I'll show you all where you can sleep." Zuko answered.

After Aang had left Appa with some food for the night, he got Momo to sit on his shoulder, and the group followed Zuko over to a large door, with intricate, gold, ornate handles, the Fire Nation emblem shining bright. Zuko hesitated for just a moment, before firebending into the intricately-shaped lock. The sound of whirring gears filled the air, before the door slid open, revealing a dusty hallway. With a few precise movements, Zuko lit a lantern hanging on the wall opposite, before finally stepping inside. The group followed the firebender as he walked along the hall, passing huge open rooms, Aang using a quick burst of air to shut the door behind them.

"Isn't it dangerous to have so much light?" Katara asked worriedly.

"Cleaners used to stop by once a month. Ozai stopped them coming years ago, but the people here don't know that." Zuko answered.

After a few minutes, they stepped into a huge, open room, likely the center of the home. It had a large table in the center, with its chairs overturned, and the room's walls bore intricate paintings of the royal family. None of the group, save for Zuko, recognized them...until they noticed the two by the large staircase, hanging either side. One was Azula, as a child, and the other was a cute young boy. The group stopped walking when they realized just who it was.

"Zuko, is that you?" Aang's jaw dropped open.

The firebender looked so different...young, and hopeful.

"Who else?" Zuko rolled his eyes, slightly irritable. "The bedrooms are up here. Each has their own separate washroom." Zuko gestured to the doors lining the room's balcony.

"Why so many?" Sokka asked.

"One for each of us...and one for each of our personal servants." Zuko answered awkwardly.

"Impressive." Sokka whistled in awe.

Zuko led them up the stairs, and began pointing them all to the first four rooms. Once they were inside, Zuko looked to the door to his right, at the end of the balcony. Sighing, he waited for the others to re-emerge.

"There's one room...I'd prefer you not to go in." Zuko pointed to the door in question, the only one still shut.

"Can I ask why?" Katara sounded worried.

"It was my mother's." Zuko answered.

"Oh." Katara's voice went quiet.

"It's fine, Katara. I just...nevermind." Zuko shrugged it off, before heading to the room he had once used. "I'll see you all in the morning."

With the atmosphere having gotten somewhat awkward, the others reluctantly headed into their rooms, hoping that the atmosphere would be happier in the morning.

"ALRIGHT! EVERYBODY UP!"

Sokka's loud voice woke the group once again, something that the others were, unfortunately, beginning to get used to. One by one, the group emerged from their rooms, looking equally disheveled, and rubbing sleep from their eyes.

"IT IS TIME TO PARTY!" Sokka declared, whipping off his warrior robes to reveal red fire nation swimming trunks. "BE READY IN FIVE!"

Within five minutes, most of the group were assembled in the forest behind the lavish home. Sokka was carrying a plethora of beach items he had found in the house, Toph was grinning, and even Aang seemed more animated than usual. All of them wore fire nation clothing, found in their rooms, in order to better blend in. Aang had even found a red swimming cap, and baggy swim clothes, which perfectly hid his arrow tattoos. Toph was even forced into a red crop top and swimming shorts, with her gold headband. The earth-bender had initially complained, but once she found out it was easy to move in, she appreciated Katara's help.

Katara had pulled her hair into a bun, and wore a red bikini with a gold silk skirt over the bottoms, which complimented her skin tone. She too seemed to be almost bouncing with excitement, as much as she tried to stay calm and composed. The group were soon only waiting on Zuko.

The firebender in question soon joined them, carrying a large red bag, his hair tied up in a ponytail once more, and wearing simple red, knee-length swimming shorts with a dark gold sash round his waist.

"Everyone ready?" Sokka grinned widely.

"We were ready ten minutes ago." Toph complained.

"THEN LET'S PARTY!" Sokka ran off into the distance.

Before running back.

"Hey, why don't you lead the way?" Sokka pointed to Zuko. "I have no idea where I'm going."

The group attracted quite alot of attention as they wandered onto the beach, being quite a mis-matched group. Alot of attention went towards Zuko and Katara, although alot of girls were also watching Sokka, which the warrior seemed to like. Once they had found a spot, the group laid out their towels, and awkwardly sat down amidst the mix of stares.

"What first?" Aang asked.

Everyone immediately turned to Zuko.

"You know this place best." Katara spoke up.

"Well-" Zuko started.

He was interrupted by a group of three guys, who approached the team.

"Haven't seen any of you around here before." the tallest guy, wearing his hair in a bun, spoke up.

"We...haven't been before." Zuko frowned.

"Oh, first timers?" the same guy raised an eyebrow. "Where you all from?"

"We're...from the colonies in the Earth Kingdom. We moved there when they first started up." Zuko used the same story they had told Dock.

"Interesting. Well, it's not often we get newbies around here. Fancy a game?" the tall guy gestured to a nearby volleyball net. "I'm Chen, this is Rhong and Jyon."

"Hey." the lanky guy waved lazily. "Rhong."

Sokka held back his laughter at the poor guy's name. Aang and Toph were also struggling to stop themselves from laughing.

"Jyon." the slightly more muscular one nodded.

The group looked at one another, Sokka still trying to hold back his laughter. Eventually, the warrior got it under control.

"You're on." Sokka jumped up.

Toph reluctantly stayed with the group's bags- if she played, with her being visibly blind, there was a risk of revealing her to be an earth-bender. To make sure Toph wasn't alone, Aang stayed with her, the two settling on building an elaborate sandcastle, Toph managing to discreetly use sandbending. The two eventually turned round when the crowds gathered to watch the match.

"Do you even know how to play?" Zuko asked Sokka.

"No idea." Sokka grinned sheepishly.

"Katara?" Zuko asked, as they all took their places.

"Sorry." Katara winced.

"You just..." Zuko groaned. "When the ball's on our side, don't let it touch the ground. Hit it to the enemy's side, try and make it so they can't catch it. If they can't hit it back from their side, they lose. If the ball hits the ground on our side, same thing. Each time a team stops the other from hitting back, they get a point. You play to..." the firebender turned to face the other team. "How many points?"

"Play to..." the tallest guy observed the crowds. "15?"

"Suits us." Katara nodded.

"We need a ref." Chen looked through the crowd, before narrowing his eyes at a pretty girl in a pink bikini. Smirking, he gestured for the girl to come over.

"I'll be the referee." the girl smiled.

"Perfect." Chen smiled cheesily. "Newbies, you start."

Chen hurled the ball towards them, which Zuko caught deftly in one hand, barely moving or flinching. Grinning as Chen's jaw dropped, he nodded to Sokka and Katara. When the two took offensive stances, the former prince threw the ball up in the air, launched himself after it, and sent the ball barrelling at the other team. It was just barely caught by Rhong, who flinched as it collided with his hand.

Rhong jumped, and hit the ball towards Katara, who scrambled to hit the ball, nearly tripping, but just about got the ball back over the other side. The ball just grazed Rhong, but Jyon managed to return the ball. It spiraled towards Sokka, who ran towards the ball. The determined warrior leapt up, and, with surprising strength, hit the ball back.

When Chen went to return the ball, Toph, able to see better due to the vibrations caused by the game, slyly made the sand under his feet move. Chen's fingers barely grazed the ball, as he tripped over his own feet, and fell in a heap on the ground, the ball rolling to a stop behind him.

"Take THAT!" Sokka cried enthusiastically, punching the air.

Katara went to turn and glare at Toph, having seen the sand move unnaturally, but thought better of it, seeing the excitement on her brother and friends' faces.

"That's it!" Chen launched the ball into the air, face still red with embarrassment. With his hand steaming, he hit the ball back with force over the net.

The ball hurtled towards the gang, and all three of them hastily went to return it. In the confusion, the ball hit Zuko square in the face, ricocheting back over the net with the force. The referee moved to pause the game, and noting the steaming from Chen's hand, gave a point to Sokka, Katara, and Zuko.

"Are you okay?" Katara asked Zuko, eyes wide.

"I'm fine." Zuko re-tied his ponytail, before wiping the blood from his split lip. The motion caused several members of the audience to swoon.

"This is the most intense game I've played." Sokka looked more enthusiastic than ever.

"Tell me about it." Zuko agreed.

"You're going to pay for that." Katara glared at Chen, as he tossed the ball to her.

"Really?" Chen raised an eyebrow.

Before anyone could even barely blink, Katara had sent the ball barelling towards Chen. Chen fumbled to get the ball, surprised by the sudden vicious attack, but it slipped from his fingers. Rhong even dived for the ball, but their efforts were in vain.

"How-" Chen's jaw dropped.

"Get a sense of who you're messing with now?" Katara grinned.

Behind her, Sokka and Zuko paled slightly.

The game was brutal. Each side sustained injuries, one even causing Rhong to drop out of the game. The moves of each team grew more and more ferocious, and soon, the gang were drawing ahead. The crowds were going wild, having not seen a game so intense and exciting in years. It drew people from all corners of the island, and even attracted a few of the elderly inhabitants.

After a move which knocked out Sokka (a dislocated arm), both teams grew closer, soon becoming neck-and-neck.

The game finally reached the last point, and people were even betting on who may win. The favourites, despite being 'newbies', were Zuko and Katara, although Chen and Jyon still had a respectable amount of 'fans'.

"Last point." Chen wiped blood away from a small cut on his right cheek, caused by a graze from the ball.

"Don't get too nervous." Katara taunted.

"Never." Chen spat.

Chen sent the ball hurtling towards Katara, which the waterbender deftly returned, hitting it back when Jyon sent it back her way. The ball went back and forth, steaming as the firebenders grew more and more aggressive.

After minutes of tension, the ball finally flew past Jyon's outstretched hands...

Giving Sokka, Katara, and Zuko the victory.