A/N: Hi There! I'm so sorry it took 100 years for this update. In case you missed my note, I've been in Europe this month which was a real hit to my writing schedule. We're back in action now though :-) I'm very excited to continue this story with you!

The air is charged in the vast clearing between the forest and palace walls.

Six armed Sky Tribe soldiers stare in shock.

Yona faces them, hands empty but expression serious.

"Don't just stand there," a Sky soldier orders his comrades, "There's only one way now - kill her and the messenger!"

Hak's eyes flash, the messenger pinned beneath him.

A seventh soldier appears out of nowhere behind Yona. Hak doesn't breath - he's off the messenger instantly, sprinting toward his pregnant wife. Five armed men step in between.

"Big mistake," Hak growls.

A sixth warrior heads for the messenger.

As Yona sees the men around Hak flying in odd directions, she feels the soldier behind her. Hears the metal of his armor scrape as he lifts his sword.

Hak sees the scene in the distance, that blade reach toward the sky, his worst nightmare on replay.

"The messenger!" Yona calls out to Hak before glancing over her shoulder fiercely at the insubordinate Koukan behind her.

Muscle memory, Yona twists from the blade's downward path in a move that Hak taught her well.

THCK! The blade sticks in the dirt. The baffled soldier looks toward Yona. She's already charging.

"What the…!" he lets go of the stuck blade and staggers backward.

Yona knees him in the groin, then juts the palm of her hand up under his chin, sending him falling backwards.

Cool, Yona is amazed that worked - Hak never actually let her do that move on him, just taught it in theory. With a little more confidence and pride, Yona moves quickly to the blade stuck in the ground, strategically kicks the flat part to loosen it, then yanks it free. Why, thank you, Hak-sensei.

Five gravely damaged warriors lay on the ground around the Thunder Beast. He looks desperately toward Yona in the distance - and is amazed to see the soldier down, Yona pointing that guy's blade at him. Hak finally breathes with a proud smile, "Atta girl..."

Then he sees the rogue soldier that'd gone after the messenger standing over a motionless body and training an arrow on Yona in the distance.

"Princess!" Hak cries out as he starts to run again.

Yona looks toward Hak, not understanding what danger he's signaling. Now anxious, she looks over to what's been approaching in the distance since she first stepped out of the woods, closes her eyes in hope, then looks down at the warrior looking up at her.

"Why?!" she pleads, "For who are you doing this?"

The warrior sadly shakes his head. Yona can see it in his eyes - a man desperate to answer, but who can't. Then her face pales as she realizes: she recognizes this man. From earlier days at the palace.

"DOWN!" Hak screams as his thrown glaive misses the arrow flying for Yona.

Yona falls forward onto the soldier. He tripped her?! She can feel the air stir above her body as the arrow meant for her whooshes past.

The soldier pins Yona on her back, knocking the wind out of her and regaining his sword. He points it at her neck, catching out of the corner of his eye what's fast approaching from the distance. He makes no move to harm her, but also none to free her. He just waits for a split second for what's coming-

PIERCE! The speed with which Joo-Doh flies off his horse and ends his turned warrior's life is incredible. Yona sees the blood that has splattered onto her robes, then looks up to see the Sky General's look of sheer terror and disgust at what he just witnessed.

Hak is only a second behind him, instantly on his knees at Yona's side, "Are you hurt?"

"The… messenger…," Yona is still getting her air back as she points beyond the men.

Hak looks back over his shoulder, "There was another guy. He's gotta still be around here somewhere."

"What the hell were you two doing out here?!" Joo-Doh chides as he glances over the field turned battleground.

Hak rises, in no mood for an interrogation - "I told you not to speak in front of the princess like that. And we could ask you the same thing."

"It's my job to keep you two safe," Joo-Doh clarifies.

"Then keep a closer eye on your tribe, I'll take care of us," Hak cuts.

"That's what I was doing!"

"Boys," Yona is now on her feet next to them, "The messenger."

The three reach the messenger's body - now only an empty shell of a man.

"Killed their own guy," Hak shakes his head in disgust.

Yona is deeply troubled. Whatever this corruption is, how long has it been going on? How dark could it be? She looks up at Joo-Doh, searching the general's face. He's deep in thought looking down at the messenger, processing this terrible occurrence. Then he turns to her looking at him. It's a powerful moment of apology and all Yona needed to see from this man right now.

"We need answers, but the only warrior left alive got away... and it all happened so fast I don't think we could recognize him," Yona frowns.

"There's a chance…," Joo-Doh bends down and furiously digs in the messenger's clothes. His hands suddenly stop, then he gently pulls a rolled up piece of parchment out of a fold. He hands it to Yona.

Her eyes brighten just a little as she unrolls the scroll and scans over it, "Hak, look - it's written in a code. Like Soo-Won used with Ogi."

"Then it's probably something…" Hak confirms.

"Let's get it to Min-Soo right away!"

Yona starts marching up toward the castle with determination.

Joo-Doh is about to say something as he gestures toward his horse, but Hak lifts a hand to stop him, "I know. But it'll only slow her down."

Joo-Doh nods. At this point, he knows well that Yona is not still the little girl he remembers.

As the men begin to walk, Hak continues, "And thanks… for saving her back there. I… I wasn't sure what you'd do."

Joo-Doh admits, "Likewise... in however a terrible way, to know you were telling the truth that a Sky Soldier raised a sword to her, I'm comforted. I've now seen it with my own eyes. And I'm ashamed. I am going to get to put an end to this."

Somehow after those two not quite compliments, the men feel a peaceful understanding.

Hak adds in agreement, "Let's weed them out."

Lili and Jae-Ha are still chatting in a palace courtyard when-

"Didn't Yona go away with Hak last night?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Cause holy shit what'd he do?"

"Oh my," Jae-Ha rises at the sight.

Yona approaches them, hyper-focused, blood-splattered across her robe, and her hair the only feature looking as expected - as though she'd just been ravaged in the woods.

"Yona Dear, are you hurt?"

Not even noticing her friends' shocked expressions, Yona smiles up at the green dragon, "Don't worry, Jae-Ha, we can catch up over dinner tonight," then turns to her raven-haired friend, "Lili, I'm so relieved you're here. I really need to talk to you right away. But first, I've got to get this to Min-Soo. Follow me!"

Lili chases after Yona who has already marched halfway across the courtyard because her pace is insane.

Jae-Ha scratches his head watching after the girls, then turns to see Hak and Joo-Doh entering.

"Don't. Say a word," Hak warns, following after the girls, looking like he's about to kill someone. Or an entire tribe of someones.

Joo-Doh looks deep in thought. Distant and disturbed.

Jae-Ha takes a seat, "Alright, dinner then."

Yona rises in the study, leaving the scroll with Min-Soo who studies over it furiously. She approaches Lili who's been waiting patiently at a table in the center of the room.

"They attacked you?!"

"It's not even the first time," Yona frowns, then she takes Lily's hands in hers, "Please, don't mention this anybody just yet. I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it before long and until then… there are a couple very important things that need to happen."

Lili nods.

"You're my precious friend, Lili, and I would never want to put you in danger. You're also someone I admire and trust most. There's something I'd like to ask of you, which… just let me know how you feel about it in your heart. However you feel, I want you to know it's OK."

"Anything."

"Would you be interested and willing to take on the role of the next Water Tribe General?"

Lili feels her jaw drop, then quickly pops it back up and tries to look professional, "G-general?"

"I know you didn't meet them, but I can tell you all about some female warriors in Xing who were as powerful as any man."

"I can just look at you for that," Lili smiles, "But… I don't know how to fight."

"I'm still learning myself," Yona encourages, "It's for your unique contributions beyond fighting that I think you're a strength we very much need in our leadership. Still, I think, if we have another of the generals train you in some technique to gain understanding, you'll do great."

"Another general…," an image of Geun-Tae appears front and center in Lili's mind.

Yona wonders why Lili just got lost in her head and is smiling so big, "Is that a yes?"

Lili snaps her attention back into the room. She thinks for a second about the water crest, her people, her father, even about Jae-Ha's respect. About the moments in her life that made her realize she needs to step up and do more. To save lives.

A corner of her mouth rises, "I'm honored. Yes."

Yona's fists tighten in excitement, "I'm so relieved! Our first Generals Meeting is later today. I'll make the announcement then."

Whoa. Lili feels apprehension swell in her chest, but she feels something right deep inside - she's got to make this work, "I'll be there."

Yona exits the study and starts down the hall. Hak is already at her side.

"Did you find Mundok?"

"Not yet, I… didn't want to leave you."

"You were out there that whole time? You're not my bodyguard anymore, Hak. You should have come in!"

"I know that conversation was really important to you, I didn't want to intrude. Besides, I sorta needed to calm down."

Yona pauses to look at him. Hak's brows are pulled together with such a sadness, his hands slightly shaking from remnant adrenaline.

"My heart stopped out there," he admits, his voice cracking.

"Hak…" Yona takes his hands in hers, suddenly feeling awful for having neglected his feelings after what happened - she's absolutely taken for granted that he's so strong all the time. She nuzzles against his chest, hears his burdened heart beat, "Oh, Hak, it's OK. I'm OK."

He lowers his face into her hair, taking in her scent, tenderly kissing the top of her head, then he wraps his arms around her body, holding her close, feeling her warmth and realness.

"I'm not going anywhere. You taught me too well. You made me love you too much. I'm not going anywhere."

He smiles at that as he weaves a hand into the beautiful crimson hair that could only be hers, "I thought that night was the worst pain I could ever feel. I was wrong."

"Shhh," Yona squeezes him tight, then caresses his tense back, "I'm right here with you."

Yona reaches up and pulls his face down to hers, their lips meeting in a deep, treasured kiss - savoring each other, beyond grateful for continued life together.

Then Yona pulls back to tell him, "You were so romantic last night. I want you to know I won't ever forget how perfect it was. Thank you."

Hak laughs a little looking down at the blood on her robes, "I'm gonna kill those guys."

"You… did."

"The other ones."

"Calm down, Hak," she strokes his cheek, her other hand in his dark hair as she stares up into his pained sky blue eyes, "We'll find the best way to restore peace here. You should talk with Mundok while I get cleaned up for the Generals Meeting."

Hak nods, knowing he's in a very bad way right now and Mundok could definitely help talk him down back into his cool and controlled usual state.

Still having trouble letting go of her though, Hak requests, "Please… don't leave my side until we get to the source of this corruption. And when that's not possible, keep Droopy Eyes with you."

"I'll carry a blade, too," Yona promises.

Hak sighs, really wishing that wasn't necessary.

"I saved my own life today thanks to you. I don't exactly feel rested after our getaway, but I do feel motivated and a little stronger."

Hak smiles, "I'm also feeling very motivated."

"We're going to make it through this. For Kouka, too. See you at the Generals Meeting," Yona reaches up and pulls her love into one more kiss for encouragement and very much looking forward to the warmth of his motivated, safe arms tonight.