The following week was spent resting. Even my daily training was more relaxed than usual. The only one who wouldn't dare rest was Aang and Zuko by transmitting all our energy to the boy as he practiced his firebending. Brenan copied him step for step but with the day of the comet coming closer- Aang couldn't afford to be off his game.
"Sitting around the house has made us pretty lazy." Sokka said. I paused from my place in the doorway. 'What am I walking into?' "But I know just how to fix that. Beach Party!"

The whole group seemed to sit up a little straighter before collectively running toward the beach. Katara and I raced each other toward the water as our friends started their individual sand activities. Instantly, Katara bended the water to surf on it- freezing in under her as she passed over a wave to make an ice surfboard.

When I tried to do that I instantly wiped out. I came back to the surface laughing, signaling to Katara that I was fine when she asked. I looked back to the land to see Suki sunbathing and the rest of my friends competing in sand sculptures. Aang made a pretty impressive Appa- Toph made something on the ground but I couldn't quite see what- and Sokka made a giant lump of sand with a face on it. Truth be told I had no idea what it was and I was too for into the ocean to hear what Sokka called it. Without warning Zuko came out of the bushes- exploding Sokka's… thing… actually he blew up all of their sculptures as he chased Aang around the beach. Brenan actually fell from his glider in the process, mostly from shock if his face was anything to go by.

I sunk into the water, trying my best to catch him. Hm? Minecraftians can survive any fall if there's water under them you know- it still hurts like hell unfortunately, so I was trying to lessen the fall by bringing the water to him.

Katara actually made it to shore first, leaving the two of us behind and managed to catch up up with the other three (who also left us e=behind in favor of chasing Zuko and Aang).

Brenan was disgruntled when he broke the surface and saw our friends running away. "Part of me wants to be more mad than I actually am."

"I can see why." I sighed and bended myself to stand on the surface, pulling Brenan up with me in the process. "You wanna go after them?"

"Maybe- if only to yell at Zuko because of course he's bad again! I bet he planned this!"

"He planned it alright but I wouldn't call him bad. He can't take all of us on. Aang is also still the Avatar- what if it's training?" I bended the water off my brother, taking my sweet time on purpose.

"You have too much faith in him." Brenan frowned. I ignored the action. "I think you have too little faith in him. He's a national traitor- without us, where would he go?"

"I'm going to catch up." Brenan pulled out his glider again and took to the sky- leaving me behind as the last one still on the beach.

For some reason I couldn't understand, my heart felt strangely heavy- and I was suddenly very sad. I didn't want to dwell on it as much as I started to so I ran out of the water and became only vaguely more aware of the explosions coming from the house.

It took me a little longer than I anticipated to find my friends (considering that the explosions stopped) but luckily for me, they were still outside. The fighting seemed to have calmed down andI tagged on at the end of Katara's sentence. "-get any worse."

"You're wrong. It's about to get worse than you could ever imagine." Zuko shook his head. I stayed behind the wall so I wouldn't interrupt anything with my presence. "The day before the eclipse, my father asked me to attend an important war meeting. It was what I've dreamed about and wanted for so many years. My father had finally accepted me back. While I was there, they talked about how to bring the Earth Kingdom rebellions to ruin. They wanted to destroy their hope. When the comet comes- it'll grant every firebender with the power of a thousand suns. When the comets comes- they will burn the Earth Kingdom completely. I wanted to speak out against this horrifying plan but I'm ashamed to say I didn't. My whole life I've struggled to gain my father's love and acceptance but once I had it, I realized that I lost myself getting there. I'd forgotten who I was."

Katara fell slowly to her knees in shock. "I can't believe this."

I slowly sat down on the ground with my back to the wall facing my friends. Everyone else stood in shock processing this new information. Brenan stared at the prince in raw unadulterated anger but chose to keep silent. "I've alway known that the Fire Lord is a bad guy but…" Sokka pulled Suki closer to him. "...his plan is just pure evil."

"What am I gonna do?" Aang looked so defeated, my heart went out to him.

"I know you're scared." Zuko stood up and walked towards him. "And I know you're not ready to save the world. But if you don't defeat the Fire Lord before the comet comes- there won't be a world to save anymore."

"Why didn't you tell me about your dad's crazy plan soner?!" Aang shouted after another handful of seconds to process it.

"I didn't think I had to- I assumed you were still going to fight him before the comet. No one told me you decided to wait!"

"In Zuko's defence-" I spoke up- still feeling winded by the new information. "-I also thought that. Is that not what's happening? I feel like I missed out on something."

"The plan was for Aang to fight the Fire Lord after the comet because he's not ready." Brenan's grip on his glider turned his knuckles white. "But I guess we can't do that now."

"Aang. You don't have to do this alone." Katara stood up and walked toward the younger boy.

"Yeah if we all team up and fight the Fire Lord together- we got a shot at taking him down!" Toph ran up to stand next to Katara.

"Alright!" Sokka grinned. "Team Avatar is back! Air! Water! Earth! Fire! Fan and sword!"

Aang sigh tiredly but rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Fighting the Fire Lord is going to be the hardest thing we've ever down together. But I wouldn't want to do it any other way."

I grinned and launched myself at the boy, hugging him fiercely. The rest of the group joined almost immediately- laughing and giggling. I looked over some heads and saw Zuko awkwardly standing there. "Come here Zuko! You're a part of this group too! This means you have to join in group hugs!"

Zuko rolled his eyes but made his way over to us joining in between Toph and Suki. Without warning Appa flew towards us and landed on top of our little hug circle.

"Owwwwww- Appa whhhyyyyy?"

I smiled despite the crushing weight of Appa's chin on my stomach. "Because he's a part of this group too- that's why."

The beast in question growled in response. In my peripheral. Momo jumped on Sokka's head, joining us as well. "Good. Everyone's here."

"So is this a thing we're doing?" Brenan groaned. "Appa you're killing me here bud."

"I don't have much of a choice." Aang patted Appa on his chin and the bison got off of us. "I should keep training then huh?"

"You've got this Aang!" I called out- raising to mey feet.

He nodded in my direction and then walked off with Zuko. "Brenan- you too- I want you both to learn this next trick."

My grip widened as Brenan followed the other boys as a response. 'I wonder what they'll do.'

"I'm going to go with them…" Katara nervously followed after the three boys. There wasn't much to do besides this so I told the remaining three kids that I would be going back to the beach. Toph's idea to practice her sandbending wasn't bad. With the message ro return by sundown clear in my mind, I tried to keep myself from bending the water instead.

As I found out soon enough- Toph and I have different styles to moving a gazillion of tiny rocks. It became a mixture of both water and earth bending for me. I'm not entirely sure about how Toph bends her sand but part of me felt like I was breaking some law of physics. I got bored after a while though and went back to the water for the remaining time till sundown.

I went to the meeting point as directed and stood next to the other kids as Sokka took the point. "Alright Team Avatar- gather around. In order to take out the Fire Lord- or in this case, the Melon Lord-" 'Oh, he made a scarecrow!' "- our timing has to be perfect. First Suki and I will draw his fire, then Zuko and Katara charge in with some liquidy hot offence on the left- Brenan and Brittany with the same attacks on the right. And while the Melon Lord is distracted- Aang swoops in and BAM! He delivers the final blow!"

"Uhhh…" Topg scratched her head. "What about me?"

"For now you're the Melon Lord's forces."

"So I get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?!"

"I'm suddenly less confident in this exercise." Brenan glanced at Toph concernedly. I mirrored the action but looked at Sokka instead. 'We're not going to come out unscaved, are we?'

Sokka merely shrugged, an easy going smile on his face. "Whatever makes the training more realistic."Sweetness." Topg grinned.

I sighed but bumped her shoulder. "Try to not enjoy it too much, alright?"

"I'll make no promises."

"Ok- let's go we're burning daylight."

As Toph got her ammo ready (with the help of Suki, who poured some oil on them and ilt the fires) the rest of us got into position a ways away from the starting point. Once Sokka and Suki took off running, Toph immediately blocked their way with stone soldiers and nearly squashed Sokka with a flaming boulder. Suki breezed through the terrain, knocking the fake baddies over and leaping over the flaming rock.

"Watch it Toph!"

"I'm not Toph! I'm Melon Lord! MWahahahahahaha!" 'She's definitely enjoying this'. I cast a lost look to Brenan as we made a mad dash toward the Melon Lord.

'I figured she would.'

Without much warning, another flaming boulder stuck through the air- nearly crushing the both of us but by some break of logic- I caught it and swung it into the nearby walls. Brenan took out the surrounding stone soldiers with a single blast- added by his glider- swinging it over my head (as I ducked) causing to fly off in ever direction. We continued our trek forward.

"NOW AANG!"

From above us- Aang flew over head and poised himself ready to fight.

But the final blow never came.

"What are you waiting for?!" Zuko cried out. "Take him out!"

"...I can't."

Sokka frowned and marched right up to the boy saying. "What's wrong with you?! If this was the real deal- you'd be shocked full of lightning right now!"

"I'm sorry- but it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself."

With straight face- Sokka took out his sword and at off Melon's Lord's head.

"There that's how it's done."

I gulped and took a step back. My action didn't go unnoticed by the group near me but my fear attention was on Sokka at the moment.

"Brittany? You ok?"

My heart started pounding and it was getting hard ot breath. My chest felt constricted and I suddenly couldn't think straight. Why was everyone standing so close to me? What's going on? I can't - I can't breath. "I gotta go!"

"Brittany!"

"Leave her!"

"NO- HEY- where are you going at least?!"

Sure, I heard them calling out to me but I kept running away from them. I needed space. I didn't know why but I couldn't stop crying and I eventually found myself back in the house but in an attic of sorts. I'm not even sure how I got there in the first place but as my mind clear and my panic disspersed, it was dark by the time I was found.

"Hey- are you ok?"

I blinked and forced myself to unravel from the ball I was in. "Katara? Is that you?"

"Yeah- it's me. Are you ok?"

I took a deep breath and looked inside myself. It was certainly easier to breath now and my chest no longer hurt. "I think so."

"What happened?"

"I don't know- I got really scared and I just had to leave… this hasn't happened before." I curled in on myself again- my for hitting a scroll in the process. "What's that?"

The older girl paused for a moment considering my face before picking it up and opening the papyrus. She smiled at it's contents. "I think it's baby Zuko."

"Yeah?" I took a breath. "Can I see?" I get on my knees and scooted over to her. It was a baby. And it did kind of look like Zuko- I could see the resemblance.

"Come on! Let's go show everyone else!"

"I think I'm going to stay up here a little longer." I smiled sheepishly. "Try to figure out what happened and stuff."

"Are you sure? Dinner's ready by the way- are you hungry?"

"A little… but I'll eat later."

"It'll be cold."

"I'm ok with that." I pushed myself against the wall. "Just make sure the boys don't eat it all… or Toph."

"Ok…" but I'm going to let everyone know you're here. You spooked us all a bit- we were starting to get worried. Last time you ran away, you came back pretty hurt."

I got a message.

I looked away. " 'm sorry."

"We'll be waiting for you, alright?" She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder before leaving the attic. I nodded at her question but it didn't feel right with me.

'Was Aang really going to kill the Fire Lord? Why was Sokka so ready to do it? Are we actually going to be killing people? I don't want to do that! Killing people is bad… and I've tried so hard to not be bad! Adam said I don't have to be bad if I didn't want to…. Wait… Adam is coming! Oh Notch! I'm going to be taken away! Not when I'm so close to finding my family- I just know it. Am I going to be locked away again? Am I going to leave all my friends behind? I still have so many places I want to see- I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS!"

"Brittany?"

I jolted out of my thoughts and realized my knees and cheeks were soaking wet. I took another deep breath. "I'm ok- my friends are fine. Nothing is happening right now-"

"I brought you some food." Brenan placed the plate by ny hip as he took a seat next to me. "Katara said you wouldn't mind if it was cold but I reheated it for you."

'At least one brother of mine isn't my enemy right now.' "I love you- you know that right?" I smiled and took the plate. It was darker now but I don't know how much time had passed.

"I know… why are you crying?"

"I'm scared.I don't want Aang to kill anyone. And Sokka was so willing to do it."

"Yeah it shocked me a little too. If it makes you feel a little better- Aang doesn't want to kill the Fire Lord either. He just stormed off just now that it was brought up. It got awkward then so I came to hide out with you."Brenan shrugged before scooting closer so our shoulders were touching."In the end- I don't want him to do it either. I told you he's been teaching me what the monks taught him, right?"

I nodded.

Yeah, so killing the Fire Lord goes against all he's ever known, right? I can't think of any other way to stop him."

"There was to be." I took a small bite of my food. It was better warm. "He'd be just a normal guy if he wasn't a bender."

"Aang wants to find a way to stop him from bending but is it possible?"

"Maybe." Another bite. "He's the Avatar- the master of bending- isn't that why he can bend all four elements? If anyone, it's him. The issue is- will he have enough time?

"Will he ever have enough time?" Brenan sighed.

"We have three days… and it could be the end of this world." Brenan continued. "I didn't think this would happen. I almost want to go home."

"I don't." I swallowed some more food- scraping the last of it into my mouth. "Why did the play show you all beat up when you first appeared? I know that this is your first place away from Minecraft but you never said-"

"I ran away from Skyler. She was hunting me."

"...oh."

"Almost got me too… if Seta didn't step in and teleport me away. I landed in the South Pole and stayed a day or two with Sokka's and Katara's Gran Gran before Aang came into the picture. Aang let me tag along after I told him I needed an airbending teacher."

"Not a lot of those back home, huh?"

"You have no idea- I had to sneeze out of a window every time because if I sneezed inside, thing would break."

"Yeah… I never had to deal with that. Maybe the unintentional freezing- but nothing that dramatic."

"We're in trouble, aren't we?"

"When are we not?"

"I'm serious Brittany." Brenan sighed again and curled up into a small ball- his elbow on his knee and his head in his head. "We haven't even talked about what to do about your brother."

"I was kind of hoping we won't."

"What are you going to do?"

I bit my lip and put my plate aside. It was empty now- I didn't think I'd eat all of it. "I don't know. It depends if I actually have to face him. He shoulder be here by now… looking for me."

"We could fight him." He shrugged. I looked at me feet. "I don't know if I'm capable of doing that. I don't want to hurt him."

"Sleep on it." Brenan patted my shoulder. "We're not there yet. Maybe we'll figure it out."

"Yeah…"

Well morning came and I still had no idea what I was going to do. Everyone was helping to load up Appa with what we had and was getting ready to leave.

But Aang was gone.

Instantly we all started to investigate the huge house. Of coarse no one actually found him- but he left his staff behind. "How strange…"

"Aang's not in the house- let's check the beach." Zuko lead the way for the seven of us.

The only clue was found were his footprints… which lead right into the ocean.

"So… he went for a midnight swim and never came back?" Suki tilted her head.

"What if he got captured?" Katara gulped.

"I don't think so."Sokka shook his head. "There's no sign of a struggle."

"Not to mention there's only one set of footprints. Brenan looked around. He was right. The only other footprints on the beach were ours.

Toph squated next to them, next to Sokka. "I bet he ran away again."

"I doubt that." Sokka put his hand on his hip. "He left behind his glider and Appa."

"Then what do you think what happened, o' sloothy one?"

"I think this might be another weird Avatar thing." I scratched my head. "Remember when we were "called" to the swamp? Could that have happened last night?"

"That's not a bad idea Brittany. Suki looked a little relieved. Sokka stood up. "It's obvious that Aang's on a spirit world journey!"

"Wouldn't his body still be here then?" Zuko deadpanned.

"No- that's not what I meant." I frowned. "When we were flying over the Earth Kingdom there was a very large swamp that Aang said was calling out to him like in a hypnotic trance. It's where Aang got the vision of when he was Toph to be his earthbending teacher. Something out in the ocean called out to him when he was sleepy or spazzed out and he went."

"I think Brittany is the new detective Sokka." Katara teased her brother, putting a hand on my shoulder in the process. "But just in case- I think we should look around the island. He might be back by now and just because he left this way doesn't mean he'll come back this way."

"I call going with Zuko!" Toph instantly attached herself to the Fire Nation Prince. The poor boy went a little pink in his face. We all stared at her though… it was quite… unexpected of her to do that. "What?" She said. "Everyone else went on a life changing field trip with Zuko. Now it's my turn!"

I waved my hand a bit. "I haven't either you know."

"It's my turn though, I called it."

Both my of hands went up. "Oh geeze… now what?"

"Suki and I can check in town." Katara offered.

"I'll take Appa and look around the beaches." Sokka turned on his head and ran back up the way we came to get the sky bison.

"Guess it's you and me Brittany." Brenan bumped his shoulder. "We'll look around the mere popular beaches. We have some scarves to cover up his arrow if he's there."

"Alright everybody- let's go."

When we split up, we gave each other an hour or two before we would group back at the house. Brenan and I had to check ourselves constantly that our hair wasn't showing but when we asked, no one saw anyone in an Avatar costume asleep (or wandering) on the beach. Before people started to question the coincidences- Brenan and I turned around and hoped someone found him.

They didn't.

"By the looks of your faces, I take it that you didn't find him." Sokka deadpanned when he landed.

"No… it's like he just vanished." Zuko pouted.

"Wait!" Toph sat up a little straighter. "Has anyone noticed that Momo is missing also?"

"OH NO!" Sokka fell to his knees. "I knew it was only a matter of time. APPA ATE MOMO!"

"Orrrr… Momo is with Aang." Brenan rolled his eyes, albeit good naturedly.

"That's just what Appa wants to to think!"

"Sokka get out of Appa's mouth before he actually eats you."

"We have a real problem here." Zuko barked. "Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is only two days away."

"Do you have a plan Zuko?" I turned my head to look at him. "What should we do?"

He stood up. "I don't know…. Why are you all looking at me?"

"Well…" Katara shrugged. "You are kind of the expert on tracking Aang."

"That's true." Toph nodded along. "If anyone has experience tracking the Avatar, it's you."

"Shouldn't we wait a bit? What if he comes back?" I tilted my head. "If it's an Avatar thing, I'm sure Aang can handle it."

"Do you want to stay then?" Katara looked me in the square in the eye- almost challengingly. I shrunk a bit away from the subtle opposition to my idea- like I'll get in trouble if I say something that again but I had faith in Aang. 'He'd come back in time.' I couldn't meet Katara head on though. "Yes… just in case."

"Do you want me to stay also?" Brenan piped up. "Should I?"

"No- they might need more numbers." I shrugged. "No one knows we're here so it's not like I'll be attacked. It's just keeping an eyes out for Aang." '-I'll send you a message if I see him.'

A look of understanding crossed over his face and he nodded.

"We should head out then." Zuko walked down the stairs. "I have an idea but we need Appa."

He looked at me as everyone walked around him and I answered his unspoken question. "I'll be ok- honest."

"Say low- if we find him we'll be back."

"Yessir." I mock saluted.

As I saw my friends off, a message I had reserved earlier that day stared at me. It stuck out in my vision like a sore thumb- a message that was whispered to me, for only my eyes to read.

'Brittany- it's Adam. I knew you're here and I'll bring you home, don't worry. I don't know who took you or how you escaped but I'm glad you did. And I'm glad that you went somewhere familiar so it'll be easier to find you. I just reached the Fire Nation Palace. We'll be together soon- I promise.'

'It's really come to this hasn't it.'

I didn't reply.