Leiko awoke with a sharp pain in her left arm. She opened her eyes slowly and came to consciousness. Her head still throbbed, and her entire body ached. When she tried to move she felt like her body was too stiff and would remain motionless. She found herself in a sleeping bag, wrapped up tight. She looked down at her paining left arm and saw that it was in a sling. It was only a second after this discovery that Sienna came up next to her. Leiko sat up and looked at her. "What happened?" she asked. Sienna smiled at her.

"You're truly lucky, do you know that?" Sienna spoke, "You were struck by lightning, severely. The crew and I weren't even sure if you were going to make it."

"Lightning?" Leiko repeated, and Sienna nodded.

"You did a great job with the mast Leiko, and your efforts saved us all from being lost at sea. But in the end you got hurt. You fell from just below the crow's nest. Nobody could make it in time to catch you…and you hit the deck full force. However, you only broke you arm." Leiko looked down at her arm, no wonder it hurt so much.

"And…I'm alive?" and Sienna laughed.

"You're talking aren't you?" she replied. Leiko got up and looked around. "You should take it easy."

"Where are we?" Leiko asked.

"We're headed for the Northern Air Temple."

"That makes two pit stops!" Leiko complained.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but we need more supplies. We lost a lot to the storm." Sienna informed her. Leiko grunted and looked back down at her broken arm.

"How do you plan on reaching the temple? It's atop a large mountain." Leiko inquired.

"We sent a messenger bird, there will be transportation waiting for us." Sienna explained. Leiko just nodded and looked back down at her injured arm. "The healers at the North Pole will be able to heal that up for you."

"I doubt they would heal a firebender." And Leiko walked up the deck as Sienna followed. She saw that they were growing closer to an island with a tall mountain range that wad hidden by clouds. It reminded Leiko of her tedious, long and painful journey crossing the mountain path. She shuttered and felt the familiar twinge in her belly. She grabbed it again, but this time it didn't go away. It stayed for some time, and then a whole new sensation overcame her body, nausea. That feeling didn't retire either, and she walked over to the edge of the ship and vomited what little was on her stomach. Sienna walked over and touched her back when she was finished.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine." Leiko replied as she wiped her mouth on her sleeve, the taste of bile still in her mouth.

"You've never gotten sea sick before."

"It's stress, I'm sure." Leiko convinced Sienna. But that feeling in her gut puzzled her. Sienna walked away, "What's wrong with me?" she asked herself.

The ship landed on the shore and the men secured it to the rocks. Leiko jumped off with her weapons and waited for Sienna to follow. Sienna came and then smiled at Leiko. "We'll be heading up on those." Sienna said and pointed to some large wooden huts that had ropes coming from the roofs. Leiko didn't quite understand how, but she approached the structures with the crew and Sienna by her side. The crew split in two, and went into either wooden hut. Sienna took her usual spot next to Leiko and tugged three times on one of the ropes. And as if it were magic, the hut began to lift up into the air, along with the other one.

Leiko looked around as they were slowly hoisted higher and higher up the mountain. The rocks looked ragged, and she didn't know if even she would have been able to make it up the mountain by pure strength. She then stuck her head out of the hut and looked up to see the sky. The mountain peek was still masked by the clouds, and she was unable to see where they were going. Leiko turned to Sienna. "Do you know these people?"

"I've met a few of them." Sienna replied. "My grandfather was very close with these people."

"I've never been here before, and I've traveled to many lands."

"On your husband's ship?" and Leiko nodded.

"My late husband." She murmured and closed her eyes, as if to say a prayer to him.

"We're here." Sienna interrupted her. Leiko looked around and saw a large temple with smaller buildings around it. People ran up in front of them all and stared as Leiko and the rest of the crew walked out of the huts. Leiko noticed the people staring at her weapons and she felt a bit guilty for bringing them. But she brought them everywhere with her, it was a habit.

Leiko looked around as people gathered and an old man walked up to her and Sienna. He bowed and Sienna replied with one of her own. Leiko didn't want to be rude so she bowed as well. The old man spoke to them. "It is an honor to have you here, the great Captain Sienna and the great Leiko Sikari of the fire nation. Welcome to our home." He said.

"Thank you." Sienna said.

"You know me?" Leiko was surprised. The man nodded.

"I told you, you are a celebrity everywhere you go." Sienna whispered to Leiko.

"Of course we know you. We have heard of your many great adventures and travels." The man said.

"How?" Leiko asked.

"We have heard from merchants, not to mention the warrior of our village." Leiko went into shock for a moment. There was a warrior here?

"You have a warrior?"

"Yes, and she is from the fire nation just like you. In fact she is your age." Leiko was more than shocked now. There was only one other fire nation girl who was training to be warrior like her at the same time she was. And she disappeared shortly after Zuko did.

"Leiko Sikari…it's been a long time." She heard a familiar voice. Leiko looked past the man and saw a girl in a blue warrior's outfit just like her own, only her hair was golden. She looked fit and she carried a katana on her side, just like she did! And then Leiko remembered exactly who it was.

"Tara!" Leiko exclaimed with a smile. It was one of her old friends, Tara. The two hadn't seen each other in years! Leiko ran up to her and they bowed to each other. But after the bow they simple embraced each other in a long hug! "Tara! I haven't seen you in almost ten years!" and they backed away.

"I know, it's been forever!" Tara replied, "But I've heard all about your adventures."

"It's good to see you again."

"It's wonderful to see you as well." And then Tara looked at Leiko's betrothal necklace and gasped. "You're engaged?"

"I was, and I was married."

"What happened?"

"Now I'm a widow." Tara's eyes grew big and she touched Leiko's shoulder.

"Zuko…" and Leiko just nodded. "I'm so sorry Leiko. I knew the two of you would end up getting married some day." And then a fire nation bird flew down and perched on Tara's shoulder.

"Who's this?" Leiko asked.

"This is Ruby. Don't you have a bird? I thought her name was Tila."

"I did…but she was murdered as well."

"Murdered?" and Leiko nodded again. Tara placed her arm around Leiko's shoulder. "Come, tell me everything. I want to hear about everything that's happened from day one."