"I see skies of blue and clouds of white

The bright blessed day,

the dark sacred night

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world"

- "What a wonderful world"

muted fate, chapter XII: "what a wonderful world…"

The high demon was abnormally tall with skin the color of polished ivory. His eyes dark and soulless, lacking pupils, and his hair an unruly and curled silver that resembled a crown of snakes from how chaotic it looked. He was dressed like a prince of high nobility would, wearing a cape, some armor and fine looking silken clothes. There was a third eye in the middle of his forehead, but it was closed. His ears pointed and his face handsome, proud, and disdainful. He had two pairs of wings – one pair black feathered and one pair white leathery bat wings. His beauty had an ethereal quality.

"Morningstar!" Beelzebub said, walking over to the demon, "Wow, you've grown a lot! Ya almost taller than me! What are ya doin' here away from Hell?"

Morningstar looked at Beelzebub and blinked, "…have we met?"

Beelzebub rolled his eyes, "Aw, doan tell me ya doan remember me! After all da time we spent together 'n all the fun we had?" Morningstar blinked. Beelzebub sighed. "Ya could never say my name right so ya used tah call me 'Dad'.."

The demon's eyes widened in recognition.

"Beelzebub!" the demon yelled, instantly gripping Beelzebub in a tight bear hug, "I've missed you so much! It seems to have been centuries since I last saw you!"

"It has been centuries!" Beelzebub said.

"It's been far too long," Morningstar said.

"Looks like we all have catching up to do," Aang said, looking at Iwatansei.

'A lot of catching up,' Iwatansei replied, 'Young Avatar, may I have a word with you?' He looked at Beelzebub and Morningstar. 'In private,'

Morningstar flapped his wings and scowled, feeling offended and was ready to protest when Beelzebub put a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Come on Morningstar. I need tah go back tah da inn anyways. Why don't ya come wit me?"

Morningstar smiled at the idea and Beelzebub looked at Aang, extending out his wings. "We'll be back, but don't wait up," Beelzebub said to Aang. Then Morningstar and Beelzebub took to the air and both were gone within a few minuets.

'Young Avatar,' Iwatansei began, 'Was the need to return to the mortal realm so great that you risked the order of a thousand realms?'

"You don't understand!" Aang answered, "The Vessel is in danger because of The Shadow!"

'The Vessel or the girl herself?' Iwatansei said, 'I know all about the girl, Young Avatar – how she believed in you, how she looked up to you, how she was your friend, and how you grew to love and cherish her,' Iwatansei's eyes narrowed. 'And how you share one single kiss before you died, a kiss you poured all your heart and soul into because you cherished her,' He then glared at Aang. 'But you knew, Young Avatar, you knew that one day – you would be ripped from her, one way or another – by death or by your duties as the Avatar. And that day did come – when the Shadow cruelly killed you and the other boy. You came back for the girl, not for The Vessel she is!'

Aang made a face, "…we have to find The Shadow before he finds Katara,"

'That is not my main concern," Iwatansei said, "My concern is what type of Bender this next Avatar will be,'

"Well…" Aang said, after a pause, "It goes Water-Earth-Fire-Air, so the next Avatar should be an Waterbender, right?"

Iwatansei shook his head, 'Wrong,'

Aang looked at him, "Wrong?"

'Very wrong, Young Avatar – or is it, Young Demon now?' Iwatansei said, a flicker of a tiny smirk on his face.

Seyvan was waundering around the ship. He was bored, more bored than usual and there seemed to be no cure for it. He found nothing interesting was going on, so he took to spying on the others to see what they were doing. He rubbed his hurting head furiously – that woman had scrubbed it too damn hard! Growling, Seyvan looked around in the room he and the others had been sleeping in for the past few days and saw an airvent. He looked around to see if anyone was paying attention and saw Rain was the only one left in the room and he was too busy playing with Ribbon.

'What a sissy,' Seyvan thought, 'always playing with girls,'

He stood up on the bed and gripped the grate on the air vent. It was rusted and pulled away easily. Seyvan tossed the grate on the bed and with one swift jump powered by his legs, he gripped the ends of the vent and crawled into. Rain, nor Ribbon, took any notice. They were too busy playing patty-cake.

Seyvan crawled around in vent and found that it went all around the ship. There were even grates below him where he could peek inside of the rooms. The smell of food and pieces came wafting towards him and he went in that direction and found that he was above the kitchen. He looked through the opening and between the thin bars to see the cook and Katara there. Katara had Ashes by the hand.

Katara seem to be fumbling with words and looked a little embarrassed, "…what should a…uh…expectant mother…eat?"

"Oh, well congratulations!" the cook said, "An expecting mother should have lots of vegetables and fish – double portions so you can fed the baby and you!"

'Wow. Knocked up already,' Seyvan thought. Still, he thought about Ashes holding Katara's hand. She was already eating out of the palm of their hands. He wondered about FourEyes. FourEyes was annoying but he was smarter than the rest.

Seyvan continued crawling around in the vents. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Katara was still speaking to the cook. Seyvan didn't hear the rest of the conversation because he was too far away.

"If you're going to have a baby," said the cook, " be very careful. We have rats on this ship and I've heard terrible stories,"

"Rats? I haven't seen any!" Katara said.

"Oh, they're clever and sneaky little rats. Bit by bit they take stale bread but they don't think I notice, so I left out some poisoned food here and there, just to make sure to get them," the cook answered.

"Poisoned food? But what if someone eats it by mistake?"

"Oh, no worries dear. It's a very little bit of poison. You'd have to keep eating the bread for at least seven days continuously for it do any harm,"

In the air vents, Seyvan searched around and followed FourEyes' voice to find him in the captain's room, playing a game with the older man, called Uncle.

"I win," FourEyes said.

"Best two out of three," Uncle answered.

"This is the fifth game," FourEyes said.

"Then best six out of twelve," Uncle said.

"Do you want me to have a handicap?" FourEyes asked.

"No! I'm just warming up!"

"Okay, okay…"

FourEyes, who was supposed to be smart (or so Seyvan had once thought), had also fallen in the Fire Nation trap. Seyvan let out a sigh. Was he the only one left who wasn't completely lost and blinded by them? He then instantly thought of Pepper. Sweet, pretty, little Pepper. She was sometimes annoying and even a hand full but she was still smart enough to see evil hiding right in front of her.

It took Seyvan longer than he had expected to find Pepper, because she wasn't on the top levels of the ship. He took route after route after route but finally he found her in the lower part of the ship. The smell of animals and dirty hay came to his nose and Seyvan made a face. He looked into the room and saw down below several rhinoceros snorting and growling in stalls. Seyvan looked closer into the room and saw that obnoxious Fire Nation prince and Pepper standing side by side. Seyvan spied a sign nearby the entranceway that stated 'RHINOCEROS: EXTREME CAUTION'. The Fire Nation prince and Pepper stood in front of the stalls.

"Pepper, these rhinoceros," the Fire Nation prince was saying, "now you need to be extra cautious in cleaning them. They're foul tempered, mean and vicious beasts that will rip you apart in a min–"

The Fire Nation prince then stopping scaring Pepper when he realized Pepper was petting one of the beasts. He let out a grumble as one of the rhinoceros licked Pepper on the face.

"I'm gonna name you Sula! " Pepper giggled, petting the rhinoceros.

"Don't name them, just clean them," the Fire Nation prince said.

"Yes sir!" Pepper said.

Seyvan growled – now seeing that Pepper was long gone. He was fairly disappointed in the others for being so blind and seeing how he was the only one. Now he was the only one left who would see through the clever façade they had put up. Seyvan continued crawling through the vent, wondering what else he could see when something furry crawled over his hands.

"A rat!" Seyvan hissed, rolling onto his side. He hated rats desperately, knowing all the diseases they carried and so forth. It was indeed a very large rat with big red eyes, staring up at Seyvan. "Scam! Get out of here!" Seyvan said to the rat, lifting his foot and kicking it.

The rat skillfully moved out of the way and glared at Seyvan.

(So you think your smart, huh? So you think you can just do that?)

It was a low and hissing voice that crept into the back of Seyvan's mind. Seyvan froze, staring at the rat. The rat stared at him, it's tiny paws seeming to rub together.

(So you think you can just kick me like that? Do you, you little monster?)

Before Seyvan could even utter a word, the rat lept onto him, biting down into his neck, drawing a thin line of blood. Seyvan yanked the rat off of him and flung it down the vent. The rat landed on its feet, still glaring at Seyvan.

(You think this over but it isn't. Oh no, oh no, you little brat, you little monster. It's just begun. The horrors have just begun…)

And just like that the rat disappeared, fading away into a darkened mist. For a few minuets, Seyvan was frozen, unable to move or speak about what he had just witnessed. Then, slowly, he looked for the nearest exit in the vents and jumped down into a hallway after moving the grate. He was still shaking all over, but decided to put it away. It was just a rat and he had been bitten several times before.

Perhaps would go and steal some more of that bread from the kitchen. Eating it usually calmed him down…

'The Avatar Cycle is like a wheel, young Avatar. It goes in a simple pattern from Avatar to Avatar – water, earth, fire, air, water, earth, fire air…and so on and so on. Now, let's add a few problems to this perfect and orderly wheel,' Iwatansei began.

'You were the very last Airbender. Now all Airbenders are extinct. So think of this problem as a big part of the wheel missing – about a fourth of it. Oh, and another problem – the Vessel and her Sire are of different bloods – Water and Fire – so that's another piece missing since it's dangerous to mix Bending blood. Oh, and this Avatar will be in direct line to Fire Lord Ozai, who is the tyrant you were to once battle – and that's the biggest chunk of all!

'Now you no longer had a wheel, young Avatar, young Demon – you have half of one and we all know that half a wheel does not turn very well! Understood?'

Aang paused.

"I see…" Aang said. He then sighed, "…then we can just hope for the best. I have faith in Katara and Zuko. I know it'll all work out in the end,"

Iwatansei snorted, 'Then you must realize that the next Avatar will be a Firebender,'

"What?"

'That is the problem with mixing bloods, young Demon. The dominant element will take over and that will be Fire in this case and since The Avatar Cycle is broken now, there is no way to stop it. Who knows? Maybe that tyrannical Fire Lord will succeed in conquering all of the world?'

Aang didn't reply as he sat on a nearby rock. The sun went down and darkness fell over the forest. Aang lit a fire and looked at the starlit sky as he fed on a rabbit he had caught. Drinking blood now no longer bothered him and it came to him naturally, just like breathing and speaking.

"Where are Beelzebub and Morningstar? It's been over two hours?" Aang asked.

'It'd prefer not to think about such foul things those two would do alone behind closed doors,' Iwatansei answered.

Aang raised an eyebrow, "You think they're…?"

'Of course I do. I've know a few Demons in all my spiritual afterlife and even a few when I was alive and I know they only care for their bloodlust and the pleasures and sins of the flesh,'

Aang remembered Morningstar hugging Beelzebub, "…oh…"

Iwatansei and Aang sat in silence. About an hour later, Beelzebub and Morningstar flew into their midst.

"Where have you two been?" Aang asked.

"Not doing much…" Morningstar panted. He looked exhausted and his hair seemed messier than usual. There was dried blood on his neck and two fresh puncture wounds.

"So what have ya two been doin'?" Beelzebub asked casually. He was wearing Morningstar's cloak and had dried blood on his lips. When he realized Aang was staring, he licked them nervously.

'Not as busy as you two have been,' Iwatansei remarked. He then continued, 'The search for The Shadow begins at dawn. Now I suggest we all rest. We'll need the energy to travel,'

With Aang felt hunger pains and got up, "I'll be back. I've got to get feed or I'll pass out,"

With Aang leaving, this left Beelzebub and Morningstar with Iwatansei. A silence went between the two groups.

Seyvan was still missing and by the time night began fall, Katara was getting a little worried. She hoped he hadn't snuck off of the ship or anything or gotten lost. Even as she tucked the children into bed and said goodnight, Seyvan still didn't show up. But by he time Katara went up to her room, Seyvan was found.

By Zuko.

"LET ME GO!" Seyvan yelled.

At Seyvan's voice, Katara rushed towards it and entered Zuko's room. Zuko had Seyvan pinned down onto a table in the room. Seyvan was squirming and growling and saying all sorts of curses and threats at Zuko, but Zuko held him tight.

"What are you doing?" Katara asked.

"He was sneaking around my room and he was stealing too," Zuko answered, "and I caught him," Seyvan growled and kicked but Zuko held onto him.

"Well, at least let go of him! You're holding him like he's an criminal!" Katara said.

"Last time I checked, stealing is a crime,"

"He's just a mixed up kid!"

"No, he's a selfish brat who doesn't appreciate anyone for what they've done for him!" Zuko argued back and Seyvan kicked him at this point and he clenched his teeth in pain. "I'll let him go when he calms down at least,"

Katara sighed and stood there for at least fifteen minuets through Seyvan's beastliest curses, swears, and struggles before he finally ran out of steam and stopped, but a scowl remained on his face.

"Okay, Seyvan," Zuko said, "have you finally calmed down?" Seyvan growled something under his breath. "I'll take that as a yes," He let go of Seyvan and Seyvan immediately rushed away and out of the room.

Katara was mute with surprise. She then spoke, "You handled that very well. I thought you were just going to beat him senseless,"

"I considered it," came Zuko's honest reply, "but I reconsidered," He subconsciously rubbed his scar. "It was probably for the best not to use force,"

Katara paused, feeling that his would be a good moment for them to talk but felt her mind going blank on her, "I'm...uh…" She then smiled awkwardly, 'How in the world do you talk to someone you don't really like but sort of have to get along with for the sake of the kid he knocked you up with?'

The awkward silence was broken by Pepper, who just happened to peek into the room. Behind her was Ashes, also peeking at them.

As soon as Zuko heard the door creek, he instantly looked towards Pepper and Ashes, "Pepper what are you doing here?"

"I finished cleaning the rhinoceros," Pepper answered innocently, "and polishing your dojo, and making tea, and arranging flowers, and washing windows,"

Zuko tried not to shown his annoyance on his face. He had been hoping it would have kept Pepper busy long enough so that he could be alone for a little while. So far, those were the only sort of meaningless tasks he could make up for the girl.

"Then…go…play or something," Zuko answered.

"Okay! Come on, Ashes!" Pepper said, taking Ashes by the hand and leading her away.

Katara was left in a silent shock and could only stare at Zuko. Zuko looked at her, "What?"

"You're making that little girl do work?" Katara said to him.

"She won't leave me alone! She insists on stalking me no matter where I go!" Zuko growled.

"She's following you around?" Katara asked.

"Yes! It's annoying and embarrassing to have a tiny girl be your shadow!"

Katara couldn't help but giggle at the idea of Pepper following Zuko around, "Oh, that's so adorable! She must like you a lot! "

"Why does everyone keep saying that!"

Katara, for the first time it seemed, smiled in Zuko's presence, "Well, whatever you think, Pepper thinks you're special,"

"I know, I know…she's so sweet it gives me a toothache but every time I try to get rid of her, she starts to cry,"

"She cries only if you hurt her feelings a little bit. She's so sensitive about everything you say about her,"

And then, for the first time, Zuko and Katara carried on a normal conversation without any angered or begrudging feelings towards each other and it was all thanks to Pepper's interventions in Zuko's life. The conversation only turned sour when Zuko stated the following:

"We shouldn't be getting too attached to them. We're only a few days away from Hishigata Island and they have to go back to their family members," Zuko said after a pause between the two.

Katara made a face, "Aren't the one who has the little girl as his servant?"

"I'm not getting attached to her though. She's just an annoyance to me right now," Zuko said.

"That's not true!" Katara said, "You care for her as much as I do! I can see it in your face!"

"…I don't think so…" Zuko answered.

So a very nice conversation broke out into an argument and Pepper, Seyvan, and some of the other orphans listened to the door as if children listening to their parents arguing. The argument only ended when Katara got frustrated enough and left for her room to go to sleep.

At dawn, Iwatansei pointed the group in the direction of where he sensed the Vssel and all four of them took to the skies and flew from the forest and far away from the little town – only stopping periodically so that the demons Aang, Beelzebub, and Morningstar could feed.

Their travels went on day and night. Minute by minute.

Then minutes turned slowly into hours. On a Fire Nation ship, Pepper had recently donned the outfit of a Fire Nation page. Ashes still did not speak, but clung to Katara's side and often came up to Katara's room to sleep. FourEyes was helping Uncle in his Pai-Sho games. Ribbon was sick in the middle of the night and Rain had to stay up all night and day with her while Zuko and Katara watched the two in shifts.

Minuets to hours. Hours to days. Four whole days had passed.

Seyvan was distant and cold as ever. He refused to speak to anyone.

Finally, someone lost their temper with him and smacked Seyvan.

This was Katara.

It was on the morning of the fourth day. Katara had been a raw nerve since the child inside of her no longer gently twitched, but demanded things. Sleep now, eat this, get up now, moodswing now, get sleepy but don't sleep, and repeat. And then there were those insane cravings that made her feel even more self conscious about the weight she was supposed to gain. She was feeling like a slave to her own body, and the child was some sort of parasite. Zuko, Uncle, and everyone else saw she was irritated and stayed out of her way.

Katara had only been sleeping for an hour or so when her body forced her to wake up and go to the kitchen and eat food until she felt she needed to stop. When she got in the kitchen, Katara found Seyvan crawling back into an air vent with an arm full of bread.

"Seyvan!" Katara sharply yelled.

Seyvan was startled and dropped to the floor.

"Seyvan, this has gone on for long enough," Katara said, "I've been treating you with nonstop kindness and you haven't even said 'thank you' or anything!" She then sighed and kneeled to his level. "I know I shouldn't yell at you like this but there's no really no need to skulk around like a thief anymore around the ship. You're always welcome here,"

Seyvan lowered his gaze at Katara and said in a hissing, scornful voice that almost seemed inhuman. Katara looked at him with horror and thought she was hallucinating to see the boy's face suddenly twist and turn hideous and his eyes turn a villainous ruby red.

"I'd rather be a thief than a Fire Nation whore," Seyvan said.

Katara felt a nerve suddenly be pinched and instantly she hit Seyvan around his face. Seyvan was more startled than anything else and stumbled backwards onto the ground. He looked at Katara as she got off the ground.

"How dare you," Katara growled, "…you…you little monster…"

Seyvan's appearance returned to normal and he looked at Katara with an appearance of hurt and betrayal, despite all that had been said and acted on his part. He sniffed and then rushed off like he always did. Katara let out a sigh, but now she no longer felt hungry and went to the children's room.

Zuko was there. He was sitting on a cot, playing cat's cradle with Pepper, using string from Katara's sewing kit. Katara smiled a little and walked over to them.

"What are you doing here?" Zuko said, looking at Katara.

"What am I doing here?" Katara said, "I usually come down here. You're the one that usually doesn't,"

"We're playing cat's cradle!" Pepper said, excited.

Zuko tried to hide his shame, "Pepper, why don't you go play for a tiny while?"

"Okay!" Pepper said, rushing off towards the hallway where FourEyes, Ribbon, and Rain were playing tag. Unfortunently, she left Zuko with tangled string on his hands.

"Wait! Pepper! Get me out of this thing!" Zuko said. Pepper was already gone and no longer paying attention. Zuko looked at Katara. "A little help?"

"I don't know, what have you done for me lately?" Katara said.

"I let you eat this ship's weight in food," Zuko answered.

"Be nice, I'm feeding two," Katara said. She sat across from Zuko and tried to untangle the string from his hands, "What are you doing playing with Pepper anyways?"

"She wouldn't stop bugging me!" Zuko said, "She wanted me to play with her and I did! Is that so wrong?"

"I think it's cute that you'd play with her,"

"More like embarrassing,"

She paused, "Zuko…can you talk to Seyvan?"

"What? Why me?"

"You're both men. Well, a young man and a boy on the verge of puberty. I think you should try talking to him,"

"Katara, I think you're forgetting one crucial detail – Seyvan hates Firebenders and he hates me most of all!"

"Well…I stopped hating you when I got to know you better. There! Done! "The string came off of Zuko's hands easily now.

"Wait, what do you mean by 'stopped hating'?"

Katara shrugged, "Well…at first I hated you with all my heart because I never really met you. I mean, all the times we ever interacted before were negative because you were chasing us. But now…I guess I should start warming up to you since we're in this together…baby and all,"

Zuko smiled bitterly, "At least the child can think her parents are in love,"

Soon, the travelers Aang, Iwatansei, Morningstar, and Beelzebub had to rest on the ground so that the demons could feed. At the same time, Aang's voice began to warble and crack.

"Looks like your voice is changin', kid," Beelzebub said, laughing at Aang's voice.

"It's not funny! "Aang said, his voice scratching and screeching. He then made a face when he listened to his own foreign sounding voice, "How long does it stay like this?"

"For a human – a couple of months maybe," Morningstar said, "for a demon – about a week,"

"WHAT? I have to stay like this for that long?" Aang whined.

'We could use the rest. I'm travel weary,' Iwatansei said.

"But we'll lose The Shadow!" Aang protested.

"Kid, we've been at it for at least three o' four days," Beelzebub said, "And have ya looked in a mirror lately? Ya in no condition tah travel!"

Aang was still furious about having to stop travelling when he knew they were so close but he knew Beelzebub was right. His hair was long and scraggly, filled with tangles and knots. His old Air Monk clothes were ragged, filled with holes, and dirty. He felt a little exhausted – only taking in blood in tiny bursts so that he wouldn't pass out.

"Fine," Aang huffed.

They set up camp in the deep woods. Iwatansei and Beelzebub went off to look for a nearby town, leaving Morningstar and Aang.

"So…" Aang said to Morningstar. Having a conversation with Morningstar felt so awkward to him, "…what are you doing in the mortal realm?"

"I'm looking for my mother," Morningstar said, "She always favored this realm and I know she's here somewhere," He clenched his teeth, "with that damn Thanatos,"

"By your mother…you mean The Devil?" Aang said, "But, Beelzebub said she…"

"Didn't want me? Beelzebub runs his mouth sometimes, doesn't he?" Morning said, with pursed lips, "But I suppose that's expected. Anyways, I've seen a side of my mother few se. She may despise me for keeping her from her lover but I am still her single brood and she still has a natural...maternal love for me, despite all things. She just prefers that others not see that side, thinking it would ruin her image.

"When I was born out of the sins of so many and her womb, she despised me and flung me down into the pits of Hell. I was a strong baby though, so I was left unharmed but I got hungry and scared and I started to cry. And as soon as I began to cry, she came rushing down to get me. And she held me and cradled me and nursed until I felt better.

"I suppose my mother found it ironic that I, a child of sins and evil, could be so beautiful. My mother had always been there for me because deep down she loves me. So has Beelzebub and the other high demons. We're like a big family – a big on the dysfunctional side – but a close family none the less,"

The last part of Morningstar's statement disturbed Aang on many levels for many reasons.

"But if you see Beelzebub as a part of your family…then…what are you two…doing…now?" Aang said. He then flushed, "I mean…you…relationship…"

Morningstar laughed, "You are far too innocent sometimes!" He then explained. "Let me tell you my side of the story: demons are natural sinners – on purpose and by accident. I once devoured one of my lovers in a fit of passion!"

Aang felt a look of horror creep across his face and Morningstar smiled.

"Oh, it was pure accident though," Morningstar said, "I was pretty young and in that rebellious stage of my youth. You see, we were having sex and I nipped her and I did it over and over and over again until she bled to death. She was mortal though," He shrugged. "Pity. Mortals die far too easily. They're so weak,"

Aang hoped that such a mistake wouldn't befall him, "But...Beelzebub and you…"

"It's a little complicated. Beelzebub and the other high demons raised me, but Beelzebub always spoiled me with love. A real pure love, like parent to child. Also," Morning smiled a little at this, "I admit I did have a tiny bit of a love for him, a crush so to speak. I was small and I really did like him, but I would always be like a ;son' to him. So I got rebellious and demanded to be called Adversary and got my own domain in Hell torturing the most wicked souls. I also made sure to lose my virginity in the most obscene way possible but you don't want to hear about that little venture,"

Aang quickly shook his head.

"So, in a way, yes, my friend, I am committing a form of incest," Morningstar said, "by having an intimate relationship with someone I see as a father,"

Aang tried not to look completely offended and grossed out so not to offend Morningstar.

"Can you tell me something?" Aang asked, "Are…are all demons…homo…sex…ual?" He was embarrassed to ask the question, but he had to know. He then quickly added. "Not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just that I don't–"

Morningstar cut him off, "No, of course not! We're bisexual of course!"

Aang looked a little surprised at hearing this.

"Don't look so shocked," Morningstar said, "We demons are children of sins. We lust for life. We explore all knowledge – carnal and physical. We do not hold back. We let our need and drive take us away. It's simply out way to celebrate free love. I, on one hand, have already celebrated my free love with twenty men and thirty-two women, mortals, demons, spirits, and all sorts,"

Aang twitched. He couldn't imagine himself being like Beelzebub and Morningstar and being interested in other men. "But…am I going to become like…the rest of you?"

"I doubt it. You don't seem the type. There are plenty of female demons, but I would suggest you use caution. Some of them are succubus and shape changers and would suck the life out of you. Demon females are a little more complicated…and they tend to devour after sex or even during. I was almost eating alive once!"

Aang paused, "…I don't think I'll be doing it anytime soon…" He stirred the fire with a stick. "…I'm fine being a virgin…"

"You're a virgin? Wow. I figured Beelzebub and you went at it,"

Aang was so shocked he dropped the stick, "WHAT? DID HE SAY THAT?"

"Huh? Oh no. Beelzebub said you didn't do anything but I thought he was just lying so that I wouldn't get jealous,"

Aang felt his face turn red, "..let's change the subject…"

"Fine, fine…"

Aang found that it was a little relieving to talk to Morningstar, who seemed to act around his age (or the age his body was rapidly heading for). Soon, Beelzebub and Iwatansei returned.

"We would have come sooner but…" Beelzebub began.

'…but someone had to use glamouried money and got thrown in jail when the store owner had a sixth sense,' Iwatansei said, 'I had to wait until nightfall so that I could help him out,'

Beelzebub shrugged, "What can I say? I'm a trouble maker,"

So the demons and the spirit rested and when the sun rose again, they were off back on their journey.

Two days passed and the Fire Nation ship was delayed getting to Hishigata Island because of bad weather. But then on that faithful morning, the Fire Nation ship docked at Hishigata Island.

"Good morning!" said a cheery voice into Zuko's ear.

Zuko grumbled and looked up at Pepper to see she was leaning over him. Zuko jumped back from the girl.

"How did you get in here?" Zuko said.

"The guards let me in," Pepper said.

"Well, use the door. It's too early to get up," Zuko growled, "Go back to sleep,"

"But we're at Hishigata Island!" Pepper exclaimed, "Ribbon and Rain are leaving today!"

Zuko rolled over, "I'll deal with it when I finish sleeping," Zuko then laid down and suddenly felt something wasn't right. He reached up and put his hand through his hair and then glared at Pepper. "Pepper! Did you put bows in my hair again?"

"No," Pepper said, starting to giggle.

Zuko yelled, "Pepper! How many times do I have to tell you not to do this!"

Pepper dashed from the room, still giggling. Zuko growled as he yanked bows from his hair. After he got dressed, he went looking for Pepper.

"Katara! Have you seen Pepper?" Zuko asked as he entered Katara's room.

Katara was on her bed reading about childbirth. Ashes was sleeping beside her. "I wouldn't know. I just got up," She had the blanket pulled up over her and she was wearing a nightgown. She looked him in the eye, "Today is the day. We're finally at Hishigata Island. They're all leaving…" She sighed, with downcast eyes. "They all have family…"

The idea of giving up cheery Pepper, intelligent FourEyes, silent Ashes, gentle Rain, and innocent Ribbon would be like giving up a limb to Zuko now. Only Seyvan was the outsider – skulking around corners, looking angry and feral at everyone who dared enough to get close him. The other children chose to now ignore their now disposed leader and Seyvan ignored those who were once his friends. Seyvan now chose to not cross paths with Zuko, nor Katara. He was alone and remained alone.

"Do you think we could kind of drop Seyvan off here?" Zuko asked.

Katara smiled, "Now that's the best idea I've heard from you involving idea,"

"Throwing him overboard was a bad idea?"

"It was good, but immoral. Pepper told me Seyvan once mentioned a grandmother here," She then looked at Zuko. "Why don't you round up the others and I'll get dressed,"

"Meet you topside,"

Zuko left and Katara got out of bed.

"You can come out now," Katara said. Pepper crawled out from under the bed.

"Thanks for hiding me, princess," Pepper said. She stood up, dusting herself off. Ashes sat up and yawned.

"It was nothing, Pepper," Katara said. She looked at Pepper, "I used to do the same for my brother,"

Pepper did attempt to learn a little bit more about this mysterious brother, but Katara chose to skillfully avoid the subject. She started to dress herself. Pepper was fairly independent and could brush her hair and dress herself but Ashes needed help with everything. It was like taking care of a life-sized doll. After all of this was done, they arrived on topside.

"You three look lovely," said Uncle to Katara, Ashes, and Pepper.

"Thank you, Uncle," Katara said. She found it was just easier to call him "Uncle" since first names seemed very awkward between them.

Zuko was leaning on the railing of the deck, waiting for them. Rain was playing with Ribbon. FourEyes was reading a book. And standing next to Zuko was a sour faced Seyvan. Seyvan looked more pale than ever. He coughed constantly.

Katara frowned when she saw him. She knew Seyvan had been an outcast, not partaking in meals but stealing from the kitchen. Her heart softened a little towards the boy, "Seyvan, are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine!" Seyvan hissed, holding himself as if he was freezing.

Two adults and six children left the ship and entered the town. The town seemed very small and people were scarce. Those chosen few not hidden away looked ragged and rushed quickly back indoors. There was a haunting fear in their eyes that disturbed the visitors.

"Zuko, something is wrong here," Katara said, "Look at all these people. They look sick,"

"Or they're afraid," Zuko said, knowing the reputation of the Fire Nation and there they were in Fire Nation clothes and with a ship.

"I don't think so," Katara said. She gestured towards a field of crops nearby – all hung over and blighted with disease, "All the plants are dead here,"

"You're right, something is wrong here," Zuko said, "I can sense it," He looked at Rain and Ribbon. "Where do your relatives live?"

"By the fishing port. I'll show you the way," Rain said.

"Over here!" Aang called.

Aang's eyes were sparkling with joy. After so many hours of travel, they had reached their destination. Beelzebub, Morningstar, and Iwatansei flew nearby Aang. Aang pointed down below.

Ahead of them was Katara and the others, walking on the ground.

PLEASE READ: Yes, I am highly aware of how long it took to write chapter twelve but bear with me please. I'm only planning about 7 more chapters before the story ends, maybe less, and school has been a little tough, junior year and all. Anyways, I'd like to say thanks and sorry it took so long. – Zerosoul