The open world was incredible, and I never tired of seeing its wonders as I began my travels. Usually I would be surrounded by spirits, communing with them and they helped me to discover secrets that ordinary people would never be able to find. Since they were ever and acted as one single network, I was able to discover more about the Red Lotus than anyone else in the past thirteen years. At first it was lonely and I missed Korra, my friends and my family, but then I started to enjoy just being alone where I could think clearly and not worry about anything. I just took care of myself, and that's all.

My mom had insisted on helping me pack before I left, making sure I would be well provided for and gave me advice as we did so, people she knew and I could go to if I needed anything like food or a place to sleep. She had many contacts around the world and I carefully memorised all of them just in case. I was happy out here, doing something that I felt was important and good for the world, and I actually became quite adept at the work. I sent messages home whenever I could, both to Bumi, the kids, Korra and my mother, but I only gave Korra a time and place to next contact me if she felt like it.

I have a feeling that I was the only one out of everyone she actually wrote back to. We were honest with each other in how we were feeling and what was happening, and usually my situation wasn't all that great. There was a lot of camping out and travelling on foot which took time, and for a while I hated it because I'd get all hot and sweaty, there would be flies everywhere and I'd barely make any progress until I started to catch rides with people or use the trains. I only had money mom gave me before I went, and not everybody accepted water tribe money, but sometimes I'd be able to do a day or two's work to earn bed and board or a little pay.

It was a simple life, and I found myself gradually thinking that it wasn't so bad. Already I'd taken down prominent members of Red Lotus who'd integrated themselves into all kinds of high society, including those up north at my sister tribe. Eska and Desna had frowned at me when I threw three bound and gagged members of Red Lotus at their feet as they sat in their grand hall, governing the tribe together. For a while they'd been confused, but when I explained who they were, they recognised the mention of Red Lotus and I'd already dragged confessions out of them so they were imprisoned, and my search continued.

Next I found myself travelling as fast as I could to the Fire Nation, having captured and imprisoned several more members and one of the weaker willed ones admitted that although Zaheer and the others were gone, Red Lotus were still targeting the leaders of the world and the Fire Lord was next. I hadn't wasted any time in going, though I sent a messenger hawk ahead with a warning to the Fire Lord and Lord Zuko so that they would be better prepared because I couldn't find a radio with a long enough range to reach them. I asked the spirits for help in this case, wanting them to go on ahead of me and investigate anyone suspicious then report back to me if they find the Red Lotus member or members.

I arrived at the Fire Nation capital and was quickly brought before Fire Lord Izumi, who was silver haired and very pretty, small glasses perched on the end of her nose as she viewed me carefully. "You are the one who sent the messenger hawk, I presume?"

"Yes, Fire Lord. I'm here to make sure you're alright." I informed her as I bowed politely until I saw someone move into view. The aged face and white here were instantly recognisable to me as I had met him many times when I was younger, though Korra didn't remember as much. Lord Zuko and I had got along well, in fact I had liked him a lot as a child because he was something like a grandpa to me, similar to Great Uncle Sokka so I suddenly beamed. "Uncle Zuko!"

"Hello Kanna. You have grown a great deal since I last saw you." He chuckled warmly as I bowed then rushed forwards, smiling as I went in for a hug and Zuko accepted it, patting my back lightly and rubbing my head. He smelled just like I remembered. Of fragrant tea and a hint of cinders. "You look just like your grandmother, it's been a long time."

"Too long." I agreed as I lifted my head back before I fell serious again. "I'm sorry it can't be a social visit, but I have information which indicates that Fire Lord Izumi is in danger. Red Lotus are coming, I just don't know who they are yet."

"And where did you receive this information?" The Fire Lord questioned me as she rose up and came down to meet me, the three of us standing together in conference as I explained.

"I got it out of another Red Lotus member. I caught several of them making plans to take out several of the earth kingdom generals and high ranking military officers so that there's even more chaos. I asked them a couple questions but they weren't exactly great conversationalists, so I froze their heads to a wall and made it real uncomfortable for them until they felt like talking." I smirked to myself, rather pleased how I'd handled it. I know Korra would get a kick out of it. "One of them told me that there were other branches of Red Lotus and one of them was here, targeting you, Fire Lord."

"This cannot be taken lightly, Izumi. We should increase the number of guards and make a sweep of the palace." Zuko said to his daughter who nodded her head.

"I trust you, Kanna, since you are close with my family. My son has mentioned you once or twice and that you have helped him and saved his men." Now that Izumi had let her stern façade drop and was smiling softly towards me, I thought her even prettier than before. "You will stay here as our honoured guest. Please, treat this as your home."

"Thank you, Fire Lord Izumi. I hoped I might be able to act as one of your guards until we neutralise the threat. I've been communing with the spirits and they're getting close to figuring out who's behind all this. Hopefully we can take them down before they make an attempt on your life." I said to her as I lifted my hands to invite the spirits to appear which they did. They were all brightly coloured and came in all shapes and sizes, including a large blue wolf-fox who had started following me when I arrived at the Fire Nation capital.

"You can communicate with spirits?" Both Lord Zuko and Izumi looked surprised, looking around at all the spirits who twittered playfully, the wolf-fox giving a soft growl before rubbing his large head against me so I placed my hand behind his ears and scratched him a little which he clearly liked.

"I've been training hard." I said a little bashfully, rubbing the back of my head before recovering myself, assuring Fire Lord Izumi that she didn't need to worry about a thing. So it was agreed that I would stay and be close to the Fire Lord in order to protect her until we knew for sure the danger had passed. The spirits were following several suspicious people, but we found no evidence of Red Lotus insignias or anything else that would peg them as members, which was annoying. Guess we'll have to catch them in the act which was a little too risky.

As a means to help be prepared, Lord Zuko had actually ordered that the palace be filled with large vases of water, great big amphorae lining the hallways so that I could water bend without having to look for a water source, as there weren't that many around. There were a few water channels and ponds in the gardens, but that would mean I'd have to bend them from a certain distance and the attack might not happen near a source. Sometimes I would take the night shift, guarding the Fire Lord as she slept and would then sleep during the morning and wake around noon, yawning and still feeling sleepy. "You may go back and rest if you need to Kanna. No need to push yourself too hard." Zuko said to me kindly as he walked up to me, smiling gently.

"I'm fine, I'll perk up in about an hour." I promised him as I then stretched. Had to admit, I rather liked it here in the capital. The heat was unbearable until I adjusted to it, but there was always a refreshing drink to hand which was always nice. "The spirits still haven't found anything yet, how's your investigation going?"

"Unfortunately we have also come to a dead end. Whoever these Red Lotus members are, they have hidden themselves well. Perhaps they have heard that they had been found out and have decided not to attack just yet." I considered it carefully, thinking deeply as I held my chin in order to concentrate until Zuko suddenly chuckled. "Sokka used to make that same pose whenever he was thinking about something. You really are his descendant."

"Great Uncle Sokka always made me laugh. I miss him." I said sadly, dropping my shoulders with a sigh. If he were alive now, maybe our family wouldn't have pulled so far apart."

"All family bonds are difficult. The more love you hold for someone, the harder it is to get along with them, I find." Zuko said to me so I looked at him, seeing a painful sadness in his eyes. Of course. His father was Ozai, the guy who wanted to burn down the entire world so he could rule its ashes and his eldest sister was a crazy nut job who hadn't been seen in seventy years. "I know why it is that you left them, Kanna." Hearing that I stiffened, eyes widening with alarm but Zuko touched my shoulder reassuringly. "You will find no admonishment from me. Although the art of blood bending is forbidden in Republic City and frowned upon everywhere else, I understand you did what you had to do to protect your loved ones. I think, were I in your situation, I would have done the same thing."

"It's not like I'm proud about it or I want to flaunt it at everybody, but I can't help being what I am. Tenzin didn't understand, and Chief Beifong tried to arrest me after I chi blocked some thugs thinking I'd taken away their bending like Amon did with blood bending. My friend Mako…" Gritting my teeth I looked away with both hurt and anger. "He didn't even trust me. He thought I was going to hurt him, like I would ever do that! I couldn't even bring myself to face my grandmother, so I just stayed hidden and refused to face anyone except Korra."

"Running away from your own family will not bring you peace of mind. They are a part of you wherever you go, you cannot escape them Kanna." Zuko said to me as we started walking through the gardens together. "From what I recall, blood bending is a dangerous art and imposes the your will upon another, taking control of their body and forcing them to submit to you."

"In short, yes, that's exactly what it is, but I know it can be used for good things too. Medically speaking, it could revolutionise the field and save a lot of lives. It doesn't have to be used to control another person's body, and so long as everyone who can blood bend is registered and they use the practice safely, then there's ways we can maintain discipline and oversee the art form to keep it from being abused." Describing some scenarios where I thought blood bending could help save someone's life, Zuko listened to me patiently, formulating his own opinion after hearing what I had to say.

"I do not deny that there is truth to your words, if blood bending truly can be used to help save lives, then I do not see why it should be feared. Perhaps if you were to sit down and talk with Katara, who is a Master Healer just as you are, she would understand and may even be willing to practice using your techniques." I shook my head.

"Gran-gran would never. She vowed never to blood bend again after she was forced to use it when she was a little girl. I know she's disappointed in me now, maybe she's even disgusted. I don't exactly blame her, I understand why people are so afraid, but they don't need to be." Pausing for a moment, I then sighed. "Maybe the reason I'm going around hunting down Red Lotus and trying to help bring peace back to the earth kingdom is so that, when I finally go back to my family, I've done something to make them proud. To make up for everything. I just want my family…I don't know. To accept me as I am. Slightly broken, a little hurt, but me."

"You are not broken, Kanna."

"I can't water bend properly. How is that not broken?" He looked at me sadly. "Fresh water isn't so bad, I've been getting better at that but the ocean is a different matter. It's taken me this long to be willing to even cross it without freaking out. It's like the water fights back whenever I try, so I just don't bother."

"Emotion is the source of water bending, and your fear is what causes the water to react the way it does." Zuko informed me as we paused by the pond in order to look at the fish and the turtle-ducks. "Until you conquer you fear, you will be incomplete within yourself, as water bending is part of who you are." Knowing this was true, I sighed heavily once more and this time, Zuko rubbed my head comfortingly, like he wanted me to know he was there for me until we were interrupted by a guard who came rushing over to us before he knelt down on one knee.

"Lord Zuko, we have received word. A Red Lotus base has been discovered but it has been abandoned, please come immediately to investigate."

"I will go. Kanna, I leave my daughter in your care, please protect her well." Zuko said to me and I nodded my head, though I found it a little odd. How did they suddenly find the base of the Red Lotus branch? Something didn't feel right so I called out quietly to one of my spirit friends.

"Hey Blue, are you there?" A blue spirit that looked like a squidgy pulp of blue appeared at my shoulder so I blinked then smiled. "Blue, can you follow Lord Zuko to check out this Red Lotus headquarters? See what you can find then come back and tell me. Thank you Blue." Blue chirped at me before disappearing, following after Zuko as I then hurried to go find Izumi in order to stand guard, a slight sense of trepidation touching me as I went.