Chapter 25

The week had ended far too early. What had felt like a couple of hours on Ember Island had actually been 6 days. Everyone was unwilling to go back to their original purposes yet and something told all of them that if they were to stay away longer, their positions would be covered. The amount of Kyoshi Warriors had expanded, making up for Ty Lee and Suki's absence, and all the others had been covered for. All anyone wanted to do was stay on the island. However, the pride of the group couldn't stand for doing nothing when they were needed, so on the 7th day, everyone prepared to leave the following morning.

The preparations were marred by the messenger.

The little man approached the beach hut with deliberation in his pace, a scroll in his hand. "I have a message for the avatar and his friends." His voice was shill, but not urgent. Everyone looked to him expectantly. His small eyes darted to the 9 people immediately giving him their full attention. "It says… you are needed in the Earth Kingdom to help with matters of great importance. And it's just signed... 'And old friend'" with that the man placed the scroll on the ground and hurried off.

In puzzlement, Aang reached for the scroll and re-read it. "An old friend…" he repeated absent-mindedly. "And there's an address. Somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. Should we go?"

To everyone's surprise it was Zuko who spoke first. "Well count me in"

His response triggered the rest of the group to agree to join the mission.

The prospect of a new adventure was the thought that brought the spirits higher on the group.

-oOo-

The following days were spent travelling East, to an Earth Kingdom town where they had arranged to meet the mystery 'friend'.

They were about a day away, and Joy had spent the time trying to adjust to the mass of ocean spread out around them, the only thing in view. It was just so… big.

On the 4th day of their journey, Ty Lee asked her if she wanted to come for a swim. They had stopped over a reef and Aang and Katara were already swimming down to look. Ty Lee hadn't seen the way Joy had rigidly sad before the ocean at Ember Island and had just assumed that, like her sister, she disliked the water. "C'mon it'll be fun!" The pink girl almost sang. The sweetness in her face almost persuaded the dark-haired girl. She looked at Ty Lee, whose face shone with pure… joy.

"I can't swim."

"I'll help you!"

"I really can't…"

A huge force pulled her leg. She was falling. The pale blue water was getting closer and closer…

It was calm. It wasn't hot and writhing as Joy had expected, but cool and refreshing. She was sinking, but she wasn't afraid. She was drowning, but it was perfect.

There was still something wrapped around her leg, still pulling her down, but she wasn't afraid. If she was going to die, this would be she would choose over any other.

The calm was broken. Ripples moved over her face, disturbances in the water. The weight on her leg was gone, ripped away but there was a hand on her arm, pulling her up.

Joy gasped as her head broke the surface of the water, still unsure of what had happened. Aang and Katara were at her sides, looking concerned. "There's a snagging-weed patch just below. It can pull anyone under. Are you ok?"

The words didn't entirely register. The water billowing around her made Joy feel not vulnerable, but free. It was smooth, bottomless, infinite. "I'm fine. I never thought it would feel like this" She turned to her saviours. "Can you please teach me to swim?"

Joy discovered that the sea was not to be feared, but to be respected. It was still intimidating, but now she had been in, the sensation of being in water was addicting and she couldn't get enough.

-oOo-

The Earth Kingdom town was right on the coast, so no travelling was needed to reach the meeting place. Getting off the ship after spending days at sea felt odd but comforting not to have the ground constantly moving. A small inn matched the address on the message to the group entered then looked for the sender. The front area was empty except for one man, or boy…

Toph's jaw dropped.

Aang fumbled, almost losing grip on the scroll.

Katara gasped.

It wasn't…

Jet.