"So what do you want to talk about?" Mayumi asked while her head lied on the pillow. Hands tucked behind her head. Her voice solidified her awakened state, hinting no signs of sleepiness.

Satchiko composed her thoughts, it's complicated. There are so many things she wished to say, yet she felt a sense of reluctance to reveal them openly.

"What do you think is going to happen now?" Satchiko suddenly asked while still staring at the moon outside.

"Huh?" Mayumi responded, this question is too vague for her standards.

"I mean, all I ever wanted was to protect this island and those on it, but sometimes I felt Mum just expected more from me." Satchiko said ambivalently. "Isn't being a Kyoshi warrior enough?"

Mayumi thought about this for a moment, she needed to use her words carefully. Being the elder sister, she needs to at least provide some guidance to her younger sibling.

"I suppose it isn't, I think mother wanted us to realize that we are more than that." Mayumi concluded as she repositioned herself sidewards on the bed. "While the face paint we wore signify our identity as fighters, maybe she wanted us to realize that we are more than just women who fights with metal fans." She said while looking into the mirror on the closet, which also displayed her own natural face without the face paint. She is lucky enough to have been born with such beauty, the envy of many women on the island which includes some of her fellow Kyoshi warriors cohorts. But for her personally, true beauty lies in one's heart, not the exterior shell that encases it.

Mayumi's reiteration sounded reasonable, but Satchiko's thirst for answer was still not quenched. She needed something more.

"I know she wants the best for me, but why can't I train my Earth bending here on the island?" Satchiko replied indignantly as she wielded her blanket a little tighter. "Why do I have to go to somewhere faraway to learn it? Away from from my home"

"Well, it's simple, we don't have any competent Earth Benders on the island," Mayumi mimic her mother's voice while quoting her. "Someone needs to teach you to refine bending just like how you were taught with the metal fans, don't you notice that no one else on this island can bend Earth?"

"Well yeah, the same group of people lived here for generations, until Dad arrived." She said as she became more attentive to her sister's voice. "Wouldn't it be better to simply have an Earth bending teacher come to Kyoshi island and teach me here?"

Processing her younger sister's argument, Mayumi found a flaw in her logic. While it true that Satchiko learning Earth bending here on the island can have some benefits, there is something almost vital that cannot be found right here. Experience. "Say, what do you think about your mastery as a Kyoshi warrior? I am curious." Mayumi asked.

Not entirely sure how to respond, Satchiko quickly drafted up something that came to her head. "Well, I suppose I handled very well during that pirate raid. Aside from you, mum and aunt, I think I can beat any one of the other 'sisters' in a fight('Sister' as her fellow Kyoshi warriors, that's how they sometime refer to each other).

It's true, Satchiko was indeed a formidable warrior, even by Kyoshi warrior standards. Ever since she is able to effectively wield metal fans and other weapons, she practiced and sharpened her skills in combat like how a hand would fit into an otherwise perfectly sized glove. Being a daughter of one of the Kyoshi warrior leaders, she is naturally gifted in the arts of her people. Mastered many fighting techniques and hand to hand combat. Fought and won easily against her fellow Kyoshi warriors in duels. Fended off numerous pirates from the seas. Having a voracious appetite for the meat of Elephant koi...

What remains true is that despite her young age and not received her personal golden headdress, Satchiko has proven herself to be a more than capable Kyoshi warrior of this island. Embody the very traditions and martial arts originated from the founder Kyoshi herself, she outstandingly performed above almost all of those from her generation. Of course, Mayumi being slightly better than her.

"You are strong and brave," Mayumi complemented. "But you are a born Earth bender, what about all the untouched potential in that field?"

"Well...it's just..." Satchiko stuttered a little.

"By non-bender standards, you are more than powerful, While it's true that machines have challenged the role of benders, being able to manipulate an element is still very powerful," Mayumi reminded.

"I know that, but I just never felt that connected to Earth Bending. And I am fine with not use it at all" Satchiko adamantly disclosed. "For all my life all I saw myself is a Kyoshi warrior, and I'm not even good at bending Earth." She looked down at her two hands, which are both visible under the moon light. Her hands have weathered through many difficult training and handling of weapons, they are what forged her into the unrivaled fighter she is today. Yet, despite the importance of what her hands have given her, she never used them to bend the Earth to the same extent. With so many non-benders unfortunate enough to not be blessed with such powers, Satchiko has instead neglected the development of her natural gift. The only thing she ever done with bending was moving pieces of peddles, rotating them in her hands for past time. This unprecedented delay in her Earth bending training would definitely create long term consequences for her, unless something drastic is done...

"I think Mum wants you to see the world a bit, expand your horizon, don't you think being sheltered on this island long enough?" Mayumi inquired her sister intently. For she doesn't want Satchiko to develop a narrow minded thinking. "Most of the other girls have been off this island once, even our own Aunt is oversea long term."

"I see your point sis," Satchiko pondered a little before she spoke again. "It's just ever since I was younger, I looked up to the warriors older than me, how they always protect the island from threats, and now being one myself, I can't help but only want to remain here forever, guarding the very place and people I grew up with."

Mayumi sympathize with what her sister tried to convey, the recent pirate raid has definitely caused an uneasiness for everyone on the island. Even though they were successfully defeated this time, who know what will happen next.

"What you are trying to do is noble," the older sister acknowledged. "But it wouldn't hurt to the mainland Earth Republic, you know, where does Tourist are from. Last time I went there, it wasn't too bad."

This caught Satchiko's attention, she remember when she wasn't born yet, Mayumi and her parents went to the mainland before, but they never explained in detail what they did. Although in their defense, she herself never asked them either.

"What did you guys did there?" Satchiko asked with a renewed interest. She never felt this eager to know something about the outside world before.

"Well, we never ventured that faraway, it was only the nearest land near Kyoshi island." Mayumi slowly explained while also trying to recollect her blurry memory from childhood. "If I remembered correctly, I think the place we visited was called Chin village."

"That's...a nice name I guess?" Satchiko replied.

"Anyway, we were invited by them to celebrate Avatar day, to commemorate how Avatar Aang saved their village," Mayumi continued. "To be completely honest, their unfried dough was not the best."

"What kind of tradition was that?" Satchiko felt a sense of disappointment.

"Well, in the past it was originally supposed to be burning statues of previous Avatars," Mayumi explained. "But after Aang saved them a long time ago, they changed their tradition. We were only invited to participate due to the improving relationship between Chin village and our island."

"Wait, why were they burning previous Avatars statues? I don't get it?" a confused expression displayed on Satchiko. If the original tradition is about burning Avatar statues, that would involve Kyoshi as well. "Why would they hate the people that brings only good to this world?"

Mayumi isn't quite sure how to explain such a complicated question. A simpler answer would suffice for now, Satchiko may need to discover the rest on her own.

"Let's just say, the old tradition started because how our founder, killed their founder. I think you remembered what happened when this island was first created."

"Oh yeah, Chin the conqueror." Satchiko remembered as she connected the dots. "But I still don't understand why they once hated Kyoshi, isn't Chin a tyrant?"

"He is, but he is still their founder, just like how Kyoshi is ours," Mayumi said as she rolled to another position. "In our story he is the villain, but I guess in their story, he is the hero. Different perspective create different people, you know."

A bit unsure what to make out of her sister's strange reply, Satchiko believe she may still be too young to understand the many intricacies of the world beyond Kyoshi island. Perhaps one day visiting the world may help her understand this broad topic.

"So...you said you only visited Chin village, any other places?"

"No," was all she heard from her older sister. Who decided to sit herself up from the bed.

"Dad said we shouldn't venture more inland towards the continent," Mayumi said with a different tone. It highlights her change of feeling inside her. "It could be dangerous."

"What?"

"Well, when I said the mainland is the Earth Republic, honestly I can't very see it" Mayumi said with tired expression. As she is not sure if it's productive for Satchiko to know this. "As of now, few places on the mainland has been stable, the rest is either at war or constantly pillaged by bandits, or even worse. This Earth Republic name itself is very just a formality given by the people of Republic city."

"Oh" Satchiko responded. Analyzing the tone of her sister, it hinted that there may been a bit of disappointment. With the largest and closest continent in this chaotic state, no wonder it's depressing when it's unsafe to go there."

"Hold it, so those tourist that always visit our island belongs to the minor few?" a realization suddenly hit Satchiko. "How come I never heard anything from them?"

"It's nothing abnormal from their perspective, people accepted this as a way of life long before you were even born." Mayumi replied. Saying these words only made her remembered the very day she first hold Satchiko in her arms. It was all like yesterday.

"Well, maybe there will be more chances in the future, maybe we can even visit the nearby Air temple." Satchiko tried to brighten her sister's mood. "When I mastered Earth bending, I'm sure we can go to more places."

"Yes, maybe," Mayumi softly replied.

"And then I can finally get a brother in law!" Satchiko chuckled, this was obviously meant for laughter. The subject of her sister finding a husband has often been a fun topic between Satchiko and the other Kyoshi warriors.

"Well, the boys out better not disappoint me!" Mayumi replied eagerly to the banter.

They both laughed for a bit, but toned it down as they don't want to wake their parents. It is in the middle of the night of course.

Satchiko decided redirect the conversation to be a bit more more serious, "I know you wanted someone strong to be your husband, but I still don't get it."

"You are too young for this Satchiko, but if you want to know so badly, all I wanted is someone that I can call an equal." Mayumi said in a more diligent manner. "It's already hard to get married when you are a fighter, even if the other men on this island desire me for the looks and political gain, all I only wanted is someone whose...not them."

"You know, I think you don't need to be too concerned about this, someone will show up eventually," Satchiko thoughtfully suggested. "I know I said before a bender would be suitable, but don't my words seriously."

"Thanks," Mayumi replied. Even though she herself is the elder sister, sometimes she alone is not enough to see through a problem with an clear mind. "I think we can end it here, what do you think?" signally that both of them should sleep now.

"Eh, sure." even though Satchiko believed that sleep is an important part to their schedule, a part of her still don't want to sleep. Something still bothers her about the world out there. Maybe she thought too much, after all her only goal is to protect this island at all cost. Right?

After thinking about a lot of things, slowly but surely, she slept soundlessly.