AN: Hey there! A new chapter is up, but before that, I'd like to get to respond to some guest reviewers first.

Guest (4/22/2022 for chapter 7) - Thank you very much. I am glad you're enjoying this story so far, and I hope to deliver on whatever promises I make, so you can keep reading it.

Alright, that's all for now. Enjoy!

"Remember, Katara. Don't try to sneak in and rescue–"

"I know, I know, Sokka. I'll just stay by the shore."

Those had been among the first words Katara recalled after she woke up. It was a bit blurry since dawn arrived quicker than she expected, but waking up by the calm ocean and the rising sun was a welcomed change. Yesterday and two hills over, she, Sokka, and Kopaka scurried out of town a few minutes before hearing someone call for a search. Seeing Fire Nations soldiers, even from afar, didn't ease Sokka's paranoia.

Yet, Sokka sleeping in gave Katara a chance. As she said, Katara kept close to the shore. There, Kopaka sat and stared aimlessly into the distance as he had since meeting that strange storyteller. "Hey, Kopaka. I'm just going to head that way a bit. Don't worry, I'll be back," Katara said, but Kopaka, silent since they all fled town, said nothing. "Um, okay then…"

Without being noticed, Katara slipped away under the cover of nearby trees and bushes. A short trek later, the hard part came when Katara saw the misshapen half-circle of a town. As she suspected, two Fire Nation soldiers guarded the main entrance. More soldiers dragged their feet by the few houses outside the town's wall. With one way blocked, and no more foliage to hide behind, Katara found another way through the water, by which she remained.

The medium-sized waves covered her quick sprint across the muddy beach and when she snuck by the walls. Over its corner laid all five docks, which sailors and fishermen departed from in relatively smaller boats, or to fish, of course. Given the traffic, Katara breathed in the morning mildew and prayed to any Spirits for her plan to work.

Sinking waist-deep in the water, she bent herself over to the docks. It was an issue of "push and pull," which Katara reminded herself. Every gentle wrist movement brought her closer and without being noticed, save for the shape approaching her.

Katara sank fully into the water. While the boat passed over her, she swam closer to the first and closest dock. Under its shade, she came up for air and felt her pounding heart again. However, another gasp escaped her after she popped her head out.

She saw the black ship. Sure, it was on the furthest dock, but she could reach it if she–

"Ah, there you are!" said the old firebender Katara once fought on Zuko's ship.

With one hand on her mouth and another wrapped around a support beam, Katara ducked into the dock's shadow. Her eyes followed the old firebender's curled shoes. He carried a steaming pot of tea towards a docked boat, which a familiar storyteller debarked to greet him.

Curious, Katara breathed in, sank into the water, and swam to the other dock. Not long afterward, she popped under its shade to catch the tiniest sweet scent of tea with the old firebender's voice. "It has been a long time, hasn't it?" he asked.

"Yes, it has been, Iroh," the storyteller said. "I'm sorry for being late. I had to take the long route. I hope you didn't wait long."

"No, no. I admit, though, I was surprised to hear Tahu say he spotted you."

"How is Tahu? I only ever heard about him in your messages."

"He is almost ready, in terms of power, but the rest… well, he still doesn't know." There was a pause from the one called Iroh. "You know about the other one? The one in white?"

"Yes. I met him yesterday, in fact."

"Hmm. If he is the last one, then that makes things difficult. He and Tahu aren't on good terms now. You must also know I cannot keep him with us forever."

"I know, but I don't have much time left, Iroh. My power is dwindling every day, and I still have to find the others."

"He has to be informed of his destiny, Vakama. They all do."

"On that, I agree. I think I know how to address our problem."

Katara felt lost in the long sips of tea. Why were those two going on about Tahu? What did he or destiny have to do with Kopaka? And what did they mean by 'all?' Katara followed the two's steps down the docks to hear the storyteller, Vakama, say, "I'm sorry to do this to you again but…"

"Ah, it is no trouble," said Iroh. "Besides, my nephew will need my help after last night."

Katara didn't hear any more other than footsteps leaving the dock. She did feel something, a chill running over her soaked self. With the chill…

"A-choo!"

So suddenly, Katara's feet slipped on and off the rocky bottom. She reached out to the side for support. Instead of the beam, Katara grabbed onto the boat which Vakama left behind.

"Uh, five more minutes…" Katara heard from within the very boat, which had a large tarp on its edge.

After taking a peek, she backed away from the wiggling tarp. Then, a bald head with an arrow tattoo rose from underneath. "Huh? Wha…?" said the Avatar, once curled up and sleeping soundly. His dazed eyes snapped seeing Katara. "Oh, it's you! You're that girl from–!"

Katara put a finger to her lips, silencing the boy she wanted to rescue. "There are guards around. Someone might tell them you're here," she said in a hushed voice.

The Avatar's head dipped back into the tarp, enough to leave a tiny slit. "Oh, right. I forgot. I'm Aang, by the way. What's your name?"

"... Katara," she said, her confusion overwhelming any pride.

"So Katara, what are you doing here?"

"Well, uh, trying to free you."

"Yeah, I kinda did that already. I gave them the slip." Katara thought the Avatar's smile faltered. "Er, I don't mean any offense. You seem to be doing pretty good."

"None taken," she said. "But wait, you've been here all night?"

"Yeah… Better than in that cell," said Aang, yawning. "I wanted to look for my staff, but this guy came and…"

Katara learned whom he meant after footsteps rang off the dock. After the boat shook, the now sitting and coat form of Vakama said, "Ah, I didn't expect another visitor."

Water sloshed as Katara's hands rose into a stance. "I-I saw you with that firebender," she said, quietly to not blow her cover. "What do you plan to do with him?"

Vakama craned forward. Katara swore she saw two glowing orbs beneath the bandages around his head. "You don't need to worry," he said, being just as quiet. "I mean no harm. Come, let me take you somewhere safe. The both of you."

Something about his words warmed Katara's stern expression, but she didn't move yet. "I…" Katara began, but a sneeze cut her off.

Vakama raised the tarp a little more for her to sneak inside. "You could stay here, but I don't think catching a cold will help you against any firebenders."

"He's got a point," Aang said.

With little choice, Katara snuck aboard.

Tahu, not being human, didn't feel tired after searching into the morning. That was the case after he jumped off a building and glided through the air with the sleek mask granting him the ability to do so. At the same, he did feel a fraction of irritation.

His fellows below felt it a lot more. The past week undid their usual routine of the past three years. They were either patching up damages–temporary fixes–or changing guards on the Avatar's cell–with long waits in between. Now, their cheery dispositions had grown sour after finding no sign of the three interlopers.

The musty air dampened Tahu's mood and his landing on the streets. Ignoring prying eyes, he willed his regular scowling mask over the other's cheery expression. Not that his human companions, slumping everywhere, could tell under his hood. Among them, Zuko leaned on a barrel. "Are… you sure you saw them?" he asked.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" Tahu said with plenty of energy.

While lacking it, Zuko stood with a growl. "Yes, I think you should. We have been searching around all night based on your word, and we haven't found one of those intruders!"

"And I told you, I saw them as clear as day!"

"Actually, sir, it has been raining," said one soldier. Zuko and Tahu's glare made the man freeze up. "... Well uh, it's not as clear."

"Yes, thank you," Zuko said through his teeth, then he walked past Tahu. "I'm going back to the ship. Anyone not working is free for some rest."

The many sighs around Tahu aggravated him. Seeing them drudge forward when the ship was a few meters ahead, added to his aggravation. They couldn't just give up now. The trio could come back as they pleased.

Especially him. Kopaka.

Back at the South Pole, the girl shouted the name after Tahu knocked his foe off Zuko's ship. The name rang in his mind now, as Tahu thudded his feet alongside Zuko's and said, "What if those interlopers show back? We'll need some men out."

"Alternate shifts, then," said Zuko, who marched on with a few groans behind him. "We can't run on water and tea all day and night!"

"You may be surprised, Prince Zuko!" cried the booming voice of his uncle Iroh. The same uncle walked up to Zuko's other side, carrying a basket of leaves. "I'm sorry if I was away too long. I had to gather some more tea leaves, and–"

"Uncle. I'm tired," Zuko said, more focused on marching up his ship's ramp. "How much longer will those repairs take?" Zuko shouted to the two engineers working on the hull.

"Not long, sir! We're well ahead of schedule," shouted one who had a good night's rest.

Tahu didn't let the good news distract him. He moved around Zuko's wobbling figure and stood at the top of the ramp. "Get out of the way, Tahu," Zuko said. "I'm in no mood."

Tahu didn't budge. "This isn't a game. I told you what I saw was real. They are here, and you and I know they are a threat to–"

"I know! I know that better than anyone. Most of all, you."

Zuko's seething tone carried into the shocked silence. Behind him, the men were unsure who would give orders. However, Tahu didn't budge, facing his scowl against Zuko's. It was Iroh who cut in between the two. "Now, now," Iroh told them both, "there is no need for that. How about we check on our guest first, hmm?"

Tahu turned with Zuko towards the creaking door to the command tower. Two of the ship's guards walked out and stood to attention after seeing their prince, unaware of the commotion from a second ago. "You two," Zuko said carefully after walking past Tahu, "did you have any issues from… below deck?"

"No, sir," said one guard. "Quiet as the grave. We haven't heard a peep."

"Really? Is anyone stationed in front of the cell?"

"I think there was one guy," said the other guard. "I hadn't heard much from him. It was his turn, so I guess he's been there."

"All night?" asked Iroh, playing with his beard. "Strange. I thought our guest would be asleep but to hear not one word from one of our own?"

The past three years on sea taught Tahu to catch onto Iroh's observation. He did with his mental alarms on hold. If Zuko had seen him concerned, the prince didn't care. "Go check if there has been any word on our guest," Zuko ordered, and the two men obeyed.

Tahu spent the next half-minute glaring back at Zuko. Iroh cut in between them and said, "There should be nothing to worry about, Prince Zuko. I'm sure he will be where you left him…"

The two guards ran out, shouting, "Prince Zuko, the Avatar is gone!"

"... oh."

Tahu and everyone else stepped back from the smoke fuming from Zuko's nostrils. "Find him!" the prince said. "Search everywhere! The town, or the forest, or… or…"

Tahu reached out through the fading smoke to catch the falling Zuko by the arm. Iroh supported his nephew by the other and asked, "Zuko, are you alright?"

Zuko waved off a concerned hand. "Just find him!" he shouted. Tahu would have noticed the men going back down the ramp had the prince not been glaring at him. "Happy now?"

Tahu didn't answer. He let go and followed everyone else in their new search.

"Uh-oh," said Aang after peeking out of the tarp. "Looks like they know now."

Crouched beside him, Katara confirmed as much after taking a peek. Despite being well-hidden and sailing away, shouts from the not-too-close-but-not-far-enough docks worried her. Katara shuffled in what little room she had to face her supposed rescuer. "What now?"

Rowing, Vakama said, "Don't worry. They won't suspect your friend to have taken a boat, let alone find you here. At least, not yet. We are far enough to talk freely here. Though I suggest you stay under the tarp, just in case."

Vakama then answered Katara's unspoken question when he took out a fishing rod. Aang's tiny form bumping into Katara brought out her most important question: "Why are you helping me… him… us? I mean, why–?"

Sneezing again, Katara interrupted herself. A few more sneezes splattered the water she bent out of her sleeve. Her nose stuffed, Katara understood why Sokka kept her from drying his clothes via bending. "Here," said Vakama, who produced an alternative from his coat.

Katara's fingers grazed against a smooth surface, but her palm, and then the rest of her, slowly warmed to the stone she held. Its red glow shone bright enough to escape the tarp and give away their position. It didn't, drying Katara instead. Cut into uneven halves, the stone would have entrapped Katara in its glow. "Wow," said Aang. "... What is it?"

"Merely one of a set," Vakama answered quietly. "Now, your question, young miss. Do you remember the story from yesterday?"

A confused Katara nodded. "The one about the two brother Spirits?"

"Brother Spirits?" Aang said, his eyebrows rising with his voice. "Oh, you mean Mata and Maku. The younger one puts his older brother to sleep, right?"

"Different names, but yes," Vakama said and tilted his head towards Aang. "I didn't think you would have known the legend. Few Air Nomads recognized the brothers as real Spirits."

"Well, Monk Gyatso used to tell all the initiates. Mostly not to get jealous about each other's success." The spark in Aang's eyes at mentioning this 'Gyasto' flickered upon looking at Katara. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt."

Katara smiled, more at Aang's innocence shining in the stone's glow than to give any assurance. Vakama's soft chuckle joined her. "It is quite alright. Now, where was I? Oh yes," he said. "There is another part few know about. A part lost to time. When needed, they would appear. Heroes summoned to awaken the sleeping Spirit and defeat his fallen brother. Alone, they are strong, but only united can all six stand a chance to achieve their destiny."

That wiped off Katara's smile. "These six," she said, "do they wield elements?"

Vakama's wrappings had shifted into the hints of a smile. "Yes, and I believe you have heard them before," he said and put aside his pole to open his coat, revealing the stones inside.

Each was identical in shape yet shone with a distinct color. Red, for Tahu, had been placed in Katara's hands. White, for Kopaka, rested with blue, green, purple, and yellow. Four more colors for four more strangers to her world, wielding elements familiar yet so different.

"...Just like what the Kyoshi Warriors said."

"Kyoshi? That name sounds familiar…" said Aang, and Katara realized too late that she voiced her thoughts aloud.

Another chuckle brought both their attention to Vakama. "I was right. You did meet them," he said before Katara could. "Suki is not common around these parts. And no one tends to share a name with the Face Stealer."

Katara couldn't find the words. Aang thankfully did. "Um, sorry, but what exactly does that have to do with us now?"

"Because we all have mutual friends. One in particular," Vakama said and tapped the white stone. "When this last one began glowing only days ago, I knew he had awakened. I would have talked to your friend some more if not for those men searching for you, young miss. And you, my boy, we both know Iroh."

"Iroh? Did he…?"

"No, he can't risk it. However, I did spare a quick visit when everyone else was occupied, as it were when I ran into you."

Katara found her voice after Vakama hid the stones. "But why would you still help us? How do you know all of this?"

A shout from the docks made Vakama say, "They're coming. Hide."

The sound of an approaching boat proved Vakama's words to be true. Katara rested under the tarp and over the red stone with Aang. Again, she fretted over the shouting men, some of whom talked to what sounded like other boats. "You there!" was directed at Vakama.

"Yes, can I help you?" Vakama droned as if he wasn't harboring two wanted children.

"What do you have in your boat?" asked another man, a Fire Nation soldier like the first.

"What is it to you?"

The two voices talked over each other, then the second man said, "We're looking for someone. My friend here has lost his nephew. We think he may have snuck aboard your boat."

"I don't think so," Vakama said. "Nothing but the fish and myself, as you can see."

"And we're supposed to believe a guy in bandages?" said the first man.

"An accident from long ago. We all know how powerful fire can be…"

Katara tried not to gasp with the two men. She would never mistake the fwoosh from a firebender's fingertips. Even when the two Fire Nation soldiers left, the tiny jet of flame remained on the boat.

Vakama dismissed it from his finger. "We're safe," he whispered with the same warmth from seconds ago. "Stay there until we get to land."

After sharing a look with Aang–excitement and worry in his eyes–Katara listened to the rudders on the water. Aside from more questions, she hoped Sokka wouldn't die of shock.

"When you're right, you're right," as the humans would say.

Tahu heard the expression throughout the past three years, but now was not the time to use it. The Avatar was gone, no doubt taken by those three interlopers. For all Tahu knew, they could have also brought those female warriors, even if he had burned their boats.

With that worry, Tahu sped through town. He ignored anyone glancing at him and his hooded glare. They weren't a boy in orange clothing or with an arrow tattoo. Tahu went on, going right or left, back and forth and back again, and into any nearby alley he could find. None of them, not even the stalls he knocked over or bumped into held the three, let alone the Avatar.

By now, Tahu's search had reached the town's main entrance. "Sir!" said one of Zuko's men, standing to attention with his fellow gatekeeper.

"Anything?" Tahu asked and growled at shaken heads. "Not a clue?"

"I-I'm sorry, sir," said the other guard, "but the men already searched the area earlier."

Tahu's mask, the one granting speed, blurred his scowl as he went one way around the town's wall. He stopped by the few houses on the half he explored. The penthouse there, stained with salty fish, turned his glaring eyes towards the nearby trees and the beachside.

The two men were right. Nothing.

Tahu passed the same two men when he went the other way around. What must have been a minute, if not three, felt like hours of searching. The screams from a washerwoman or a fisherman only added to Tahu's frustrations. The beach on the other side did so, too, as Tahu found when he stopped on its sands.

He glared furiously. He wanted to burn every grain and drop before him. He could do it now. Nothing could stop him. No boats, no...

Tahu breathed, releasing the smoke building inside his hood. 'No, not that. Not again,' he thought, but he still had couldn't find anything new, especially when it was just the town and the water washing over strange marks in the sand–

Tahu knelt into the irritating water to focus. He didn't have Kopaka's strange mask, but his own eyes could see them. Footprints. Small enough for a child, and there were many. So many, they formed a long line into the forest on the other side of town.

"'Wait and the knowing will come,'" Tahu said, smiling at Iroh's advice from long ago. He stood to the same two men who left the entrance. "I think I have a clue. Tell Zuko I'm leaving town, and I'll be back shortly."

"But sir," said the first man, "how will we know you've found… you know who?"

"You'll know."

Gripping his sword, Tahu chased after the tracks. The footprints became clearer, leading him into the trees and bushes. Tahu stopped twice to study the tracks for five seconds at first. He stopped a few more times for a mere second.

Each one spared formed a clearer line running parallel to the beach. Having passed one hill beyond the town, and then another, Tahu continued even after the tracks grew fainter and muddier. He was getting closer to the Avatar. He could feel it upon leaving the trees…

… as much as he could feel the cold air approaching.

Tahu skidded to a stop, then he sliced through it and a solid block of ice. His anger melted any shattered remains mid-air. His sword's flames leveled with the straight-edge blade a few meters away. "You again!" Tahu shouted in his and his foe's shared tongue. "Where is he?"

Kopaka, standing by the shore, held his shield up. It nor the strange long coat he wore could the fact he had been taken by surprise. "Who?" Kopaka asked.

"You know who I mean. The Avatar!"

Kopaka's shield lowered. "We don't have him."

"Don't lie to me! You have the Avatar right here!" Tahu shouted. "How else would these tracks have led me here?"

Those cursed telescopes in Kopaka's mask whirled to look past Tahu. Confused, Tahu wondered how someone like Kopaka could not have noticed. Two things broke through Tahu's thoughts. One was the groan of an all-too-familiar massive beast. The other was a yawn coming from a human tinier than Tahu or Kopaka, yet louder than either.

"... Katara, is that you?" said the Water Tribe boy whom Tahu faced two days ago. "You better have a good reason why you've been gone for… I don't know how long! Seriously, I couldn't sleep with Appa making so much noise. It's hard enough already to get a reaction out of Kopaka. We don't need you bringing any problems… back… to us."

The boy froze atop the hill when Tahu spared a glare at him. "You!" Tahu said. "Where are you hiding the Avatar!"

"Uh, the Avatar?" Tahu spared a darker glare to the boy, who said, "O-okay. I swear he's not here. We haven't seen him since the South Pole!"

"Then, why did your tracks lead here?" Tahu paused to notice one person missing. "And where is your other friend?"

A jingle of icicles answered. Tahu shifted his mask back into his old one in time to catch the ice blast on his blinking red field. He skidded back as Kopaka charged. Tahu channeled his power into his sword, and he caught the thrust. The fireball he unleashed both knocked Kopaka back and soared into the air.

Raising his sword, Tahu's eyes went between the Water Tribe boy and Kopaka. "Now, would you like to try that again?"

"He did what?"

Iroh winced from the outburst. It took his nephew every ounce of his willpower, and some moments of rest, to stand up straight, let alone walk across the deck. His men bringing word of Tahu leaving town eased his struggle. Just not in the right way.

"I don't care if he's found the Earth King with terms of surrender," Zuko said, "he can't run off like that and leave us! He kept going about the danger. Shouldn't he understand what he's getting into?"

"Maybe," said Iroh, who walked beside him. "Are you sure you don't need more rest–?"

"I said I'm fine, uncle!"

Iroh took the dismissal as he usually would and stood there. Fortunately, Lieutenant Jee appeared to distract him. "Your highness, the helmsman has spotted a fireball not too far from our location."

A fireball? Of course. "Tahu, no doubt. Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked. Receiving another dismissive wave, he told Jee, "Send a few boats to support Tahu. If need be, bring him back."

The minute the lieutenant left, Iroh noticed something else approaching. The loud claw from above gave a hint. "A hawk?" Zuko said. "What is it doing here?"

Iroh decided to let the hawk land on the ship to find out. After carefully taking the scroll from its pack, he fretted over the first words he read. "You won't like this, Prince Zuko."

Zuko growled. "Enough has done that already, uncle. Just tell me-"

"They are orders from Commander Zhao."

"Commander Zhao? Give me that!" Zuko swiped the letter, and Iroh correctly feared his nephew's reaction. "No, no… no!" Zuko said and threw the letter aside. "We have to find the Avatar, uncle. I… have to! I won't lose my honor. Not again."

The look of anguish tore at Iroh's heart. "Don't worry. We…"

However, Zuko tossed the letter aside and marched off the ship. Left alone, Iroh picked up the letter with concerned thoughts. First, the interlopers followed his nephew, then the Avatar goes missing as soon as Zhao sends a letter demanding Zuko show proof. A coincidence? Maybe, but the timing was too good. Then, there was Tahu.

"Vakama, what are you planning?" Iroh whispered and left, wishing for an answer.