Yun was last minute packing when Suki rushed in.

"Have you seen Aang," she gasped out. Yun shook her head, her eyebrows drawing together in worry.

"What's going on?"
"We can't find him anywhere. His glider and Appa are still here, but he's missing and so is Momo," Suki explained. Both Suki and Yun took off running towards the beach. There, they met up with the rest of the group, who were staring at footprints that stopped at the ocean.

"The trail ends here," Sokka exclaimed, kneeling in the sand.

"So he went for a midnight stroll and never came back," Suki guessed.

"Maybe he was captured," Katara said, worry coloring her voice.

"I don't think so," Sokka said. "There's no sign of a struggle." Yun had to agree with that statement. There were footprints straight to the sea. Just one set of footprints.

"I bet he ran away again," Toph said, squatting next to Sokka.

"He left behind his glider and Appa," Sokka refuted.

"Then what do you think happened to him, oh sleuthy one," Toph mocked.

"It's pretty obvious. Aang disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a spirit world journey," Sokka said, standing confidently.

"But the footprints," Yun pointed out.

"Yeah, and wouldn't his body still be here," Zuko agreed.

"Oh yeah," Sokka said, shoulders slumping. "I forgot about that."

"Then he's gotta be somewhere on Ember Island. Let's split up and look for him," Katara said.

"I'm going with Zuko," Toph called out, immediately glomping onto Zuko. The rest of the group stared at her.

"What," she asked indignantly. "Everyone else went on a life-changing field trip with Zuko. Now it's my turn."

"I haven't," Yun pointed out.

"You can come," Toph reluctantly offered. Yun just shrugged and went to stand with Sokka.

They both got on Appa and began to track the nearby waters.

"Do you think something bad has happened to him," Yun asked from the saddle. She looked into the ocean below, looking for Aang or Momo.

"No," Sokka said firmly, steering Appa closer to the cliffs. Circling the entire island, Sokka steered them back.

When they landed, Yun's heart sank when she saw everybody's faces. She walked over to join them on the steps.

"Judging from your faces, I'm guessing you guys didn't find Aang either," Sokka remarked.

"No," Zuko answered. "It's like he just disappeared." Toph then scrambled up.

"Wait a minute. Has anyone noticed that Momo is also missing," Toph asked. Sokka turned around with a horrorstruck expression.

"Oh no! I knew it was only a matter of time! Appa ate Momo," he cried out, trying to open Appa's mouth. He started wriggling inside.

"Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang," Katara said exasperatedly.

"That's just what Appa wants you to think," Sokka said.

"Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka," Zuko snapped. "We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is two days away."

"What should we do, Zuko," Katara asked. The whole group sans Sokka looked towards him.

"I don't know." The whole group continued to look at him, now including Sokka who was in a puddle of sky bison drool.

"Why are you all looking at me," Zuko demanded.

"Well, you are the expert on tracking Aang," Katara said.

"You did do it for three years, very well might I add," Yun said.

Zuko narrowed his eyes, contemplating, before he sighed.

"I know where to go," he said, before climbing onto Appa. Yun looked at Katara who looked back at her. They shrugged before climbing onto Appa.

In the air, Yun felt her hair get into her eyes. She needed to cut it again. Annoyed, she brushed the curls out of her face again.

"Zuko, I don't mean to tell you how to do your job, but why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom? There's no way Aang's there," Sokka said, peeking over the saddle.

"Just trust me," Zuko said. The rest of the trip, they were silent.

Zuko ended up taking them to a really loud bar. Yun was a little hesitant to step in.

"My mom told me not to go into bars. There are unsavory characters. That's what she said," Yun said. Suki just pushed her through the door.

"The reason you brought us to a seedy Earth Kingdom tavern is what now," Katara asked.

"Jun," Zuko said, pointing towards a lady sitting with a drink in hand in the middle of all the chaos.

"Oh yeah, that weird bounty hunter with the giant mole," Sokka commented.

"Mole? Her skin is flawless," Suki commented.

"No mole, like the animal," Yun said, demonstrating with her fingers near her nose. "You know the animals with the noses like this?"

"The Shirshu," Zuko said. "It's the only animal that can track Aang's scent anywhere in the world. It's the one shot we have of finding him."

Yun's jaw dropped at Jun's fighting skills. She was amazing.

"I don't know who this Jun lady is, but I like her," Toph announced with a big grin.

"I wonder who taught her how to fight," Yun wondered aloud.

"So who's going to be the one who'll approach her," Katara asked. Yun's finger started edging to her nose. She was determined not to be the one who would have to approach the scary lady first. Turns out that the group didn't have to do anything, because Jun noticed them. She quickly kicked another guy away before holding up a fist. The entire tavern quieted. She sat on a chair and looked over the group, seemingly unimpressed.

"Oh great, it's Prince Pouty," she said. "Where's your creepy grandpa?"

"He's my uncle, and . . . he's not here," Zuko said.

"I see you've worked things out with your girlfriend," Jun commented. Yun's eyebrows raised. Was she talking about Katara?

"I'm not his girlfriend," Katara yelled at the same time Zuko denied, "She's not my girlfriend!"

"Okay, okay. Sheesh, I was just teasing. So what do you want," Jun asked, deadpan.

"I need your help finding the Avatar," Zuko said.

"Hm, doesn't sound too fun," Jun said dismissively.

"Does the end of the world sound like more fun," Zuko yelled. Yun winced.

"We are fighting a war, and if we win- if we are on the winning side, we could probably make sure there is some reward for you," she offered.

"That's more my speed," Jun said, standing up to walk outside.

"You shouldn't have offered that," Zuko murmured, scowling.

"Yeah, like you yelling was going to do anything," Yun said crossly, before walking past him to join Katara outside. She came outside just in time to see Appa licking the Shirshu. Yun felt her heart melt a little. Appa was making friends.

Aang's staff was presented to Nyla, the shirshu. Yun bit her lip nervously as the Shirshu began to circle. It then laid down on the ground and whimpered.

"Well, what does that mean," Zuko said, crossing his arms.

"It means your friend's gone," Jun said.

"We know he's gone," Toph said. "That's why we're trying to find him."

"No, I mean he's gone-gone," Jun said. "He doesn't exist."

"What do you mean Aang doesn't exist," Sokka asked. "Do you mean he's, you know, dead?"
"No, we could find him if he were dead," Jun said, patting Nyla. "It's a real head scratcher. See ya."

"You're just going to leave," Yun asked, shocked.

"Helpful, real helpful," Toph commented dryly.

"Wait, I have another idea," Zuko said. "There's only one other person in this world who can help us face the Firelord. I'll be right back with a smell sample."

He came back with one of General Iroh's sandals. Yun almost gagged from the smell.

"You saved your uncle's sweaty sandal," Sokka asked, plugging his nose. The rest of the group except for Toph couldn't help but do the same.

"I think it's kinda sweet," Toph said.

Nyla took a few sniffs of the sandal before it started running. The rest of the group scrambled onto Appa's saddle and off they went. The flew for a while, Appa following Nyla from the sky.

"We're going to Ba Sing Se," Zuko asked.

"Your uncle is somewhere beyond the wall. Nyla's getting twitchy, so it can't be too far. Good luck." With that, Jun was off.

"Wow, she's so cool," Yun commented. Katara just rolled her eyes. Zuko watched her leave, and then sighed.

"It's been a long day. Let's set up camp here for the night."

Yun woke up to a ring of fire surrounding the group. Blearily rubbing her eyes, she saw figures standing above them.

"Well, look who's here."

Yun grinned, properly awake. That was King Bumi! She could recognize that laughter anywhere.

"What's going on," Toph asked. "We're surrounded by old people!"

"Not just any old people," Katara answered. "These are great masters and friends of ours." She then went up to Pakku and bowed. After introductions were done, Suki asked them how they all knew each other.

"All old people know each other, don't you know that," Bumi asked. Yun's eyes widened in surprise. Seriously?

"We are all part of the same ancient secret society," Master Piandao said. "A group that transcends the divisions of the four nations."

"The Order of the White Lotus," Zuko said.

"That's the one!" Bumi exclaimed.

"The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty, and truth, but about a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important," Jeong-jeong said.

"It came from our Grand Lotus, your uncle," Pakku said. "Iroh of the Fire Nation."

"Well, that's who we are looking for," Toph said.

"Then we'll take you to him," Master Piandao said. Before he could continue, King Bumi shoved him out of the way.

"Wait, someone's missing from your group, someone very important. Where's Momo," he asked, right in Sokka's face.

"He's gone," Sokka explained uncomfortably. "And so is Aang." Bumi quickly straightened up.

"Oh well, so long as they have each other, I'm sure we have nothing to worry about," he said, before earthbending and flying off over the broken wall of Ba Sing Se.

While walking to the main encampment, Yun decided to slow down to walk beside Master Piandao.

"Yun, how have you been doing," Master Piandao asked kindly. Yun sighed, her shoulders drooping a bit.

"I'm just worried about Aang. We don't know where he is," Yun admitted. Master Piandao put one finger under her chin and lifted.

"Chin up, child. Where there is hope, we must never falter," he said firmly. Yun rolled her shoulders back and lifted her chin.

"Yeah, that's true. We have hope. We just need to do our part." Master Piandao smiled.

"Also, Master, why are you in the Order of the White Lotus. You aren't that old," Yun asked curiously. Master Piandao laughed.

"I'm much older than you think I am," he said. Yun's head tilted a little in confusion.

Yun and Suki were led to a tent.

"This is where you will be staying for the night," Jeong-jeong said. They both nodded before setting up their sleeping bags.

"Hey," Suki said.

"Hey," Yun responded, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

"Want me to get that for you," Suki offered.

They stepped out of the tent, one of Yun's daggers in Suki's hand.

"How short do you want it," Suki asked.

"As long as it is out of my eyes, I am fine," Yun said. Her eyes involuntarily closed as Suki ran her fingers through Yun's hair.

"Doesn't this remind you of Kiyoshi Island," Suki asked. Yun smiled, remembering all the fond memories of their childhood.

"Yeah," she murmured.

"Are you going back," Suki asked, cutting the hair at the back of Yun's head.

"Not for a while. There's nothing keeping me there, unless you go back." Yun said. "Are you going back?" Suki sighed.

"I don't know. I really don't know if I can afford to think that far ahead." Yun turned around quickly, a fierce look in her eyes.

"You should think that far ahead, Suki. You are going to make it past this war and have a wonderful life. I guarantee it," Yun said, clutching Suki's hand in both of hers.

"Ok," Suki said, fondly. "Now turn around so I can finish cutting your hair."

The next morning, Yun rubbed her eyes tiredly and sat down for breakfast next to Suki.

"Uncle, you are the only one other than Aang who can possibly defeat the Fatherlord," Zuko said. Was Yun just tired or did she hear that right?
"You mean the Firelord," Toph corrected. So Yun did hear correctly.

"That's what I just said," Zuko said angrily. He so did not.

General Iroh just sighed.

"We need you to come with us," Zuko pleaded.

"No Zuko. It won't turn out well," General Iroh said.

"You can beat him," Zuko said. "And we'll be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know if I could," General Iroh said. "It would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother for power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Firelord."
"And then, would you come take your rightful place on the throne," Zuko asked.

"No, someone new must take the throne, an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko."
"Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes."
"Yes, you have. You've struggled and you've suffered. But you have always followed your own path. You have restored your own honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."
"I'll try, Uncle." Yun felt like that was a lot of pressure to put on one person, and she was a little worried about how Zuko would hold under those expectations. However, that was a problem for another day. A later day.

"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back," Toph asked.

"Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Firelord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Suki said. General Iroh nodded.

"Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation, so that when the Firelord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there waiting for you."
"I can handle Azula," Zuko growled.

"No alone," General Iroh warned. "You will need help."

"You're right. Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place," Zuko asked.

"It would be my pleasure," Katara said, smirking. They both had grudges against Azula. Zuko, for obvious reasons, and Katara for what had been done to Aang, and what Azula had put their group through.

"What about us, what's our destiny today," Sokka asked.

"What do you think it is," General Iroh asked.

"I think that even though we don't know where Aang is," Sokka said. "We need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."

"And that means that when Aang does face the Firelord, we'll be right there if he needs us," Toph said, grinning.

"And you, Yun, where does your destiny take you," General Iroh said, looking directly at her.

"Yun, you're coming with us, right," Sokka asked. Yun hesitated for a moment, her eyes swinging from Sokka to General Iroh before speaking.

"Sokka, I need to stay here. I need to help take back Ba Sing Se with General Iroh. That's my destiny."

Yun watched as her friends prepared to leave. She was staying behind, but she knew it was the right thing to do. She couldn't save the Southern Islands, and she couldn't save Kiyoshi Island, but she had a chance now to prove herself. A chance to prove she was stronger than that eight year old girl left behind on the Southern Islands.

She then looked at Song nestled on her shoulder. She couldn't take her to war. She raised Song up so that she was forehead to forehead with her beloved companion.

"I can't take you to war, Song. I won't be able to protect you. Stay with Appa until I come back." Song mewed and licked her forehead. Yun wasn't sure that Song knew what she was saying, but her cat-owl always had a way of surprising her. She walked over to Appa, cradling Song in her arms.

"Take care of her," she said to Zuko. He nodded, and then opened his mouth as if to speak. Yun waited.

"Are you sure," Zuko asked quickly. Was he talking about leaving Song with Appa? Yun then realized he was talking about her choice to stay with the White Lotus.

"Yeah, I am," she said. She raised her right arm, so Song could walk up her left arm and into Zuko's waiting ones.

"Take care," he said, sharply. However, Yun knew that he meant it.

"You too. Next time I see you, I guess I'll have to bow, right Firelord?" Yun grinned at his shocked expression and pivoted, walking back to the Order of the White Lotus. She saw her friends off and prepared for war.