Katara heals Zuko's arm and Toph's leg. Maybe if she heals enough people she'll forget what it felt like to have blood and muscle move under her command. She shudders.

They had planned to not make camp but it's been a long day and Appa doesn't give them a choice, landing in a forest. "Where do you think we are?" Aang asks.

"I'm not entirely sure. We're east of the capitol so if I had to guess I'd say we're on Red Turtle Island. It's the only one with a forest this large in the area. We need to be careful, there are army outposts on this island."

"We should probably go on foot then for a while shouldn't we?"

"No," Sokka muses, "let's fly but fly in a different direction than where we really want to go." He pauses. "Where do we want to go? Where's safe?"

"We can go back to the Earth Kingdom," Toph replies.

"My family's summer home is closer," Zuko responds. "We can set up base there and keep an eye on the situation here in the Fire Nation. I want to find out as much as possible and that won't happen if we're all the way across the ocean."

They all nod. "That sounds like a good idea."

"After tomorrow we shouldn't fly unless we're island hopping though. We'll need to go by foot."

"Oh goodie," Sokka groans. "Walking, my favorite thing."

There's no fire that night but it doesn't take long before almost everyone is fast asleep, or at least pretending to be. That is until Sokka whispers, "Zuko?"
The prince looks up from where his head was buried in Katara's neck. "What?" he whispers back.

Sokka looks up at the sky, not wanting to ask but needing to know. "What's going to happen to my dad, to everyone?"

Katara's grip on Zuko's arm tightens. "I don't know. Your father will probably be in the Boiling Rock, that's where political prisoners often go. Beyond that, who knows. There were plenty of earthbenders, maybe they went into the tunnels and got everyone out."

"Maybe," Sokka responds, saying nothing more.

"Did we do the right thing?" Katara murmurs.

"Yeah," Toph answers just as quietly. "There was nothing else we could have done."

When morning finally comes, several sets of red-rimmed eyes greet the dawn. The campsite is uncomfortably quiet, not even Aang has the energy to make the morning cheerful. Before long Appa is loaded up, Momo is safely curled up in Toph's lap, and they're headed south.

"Ember Island is northeast of here so we let's fly this direction for an hour or so before circling around. We have to stay over open water though until we reach Shu Jing Island. There's hardly any military presence there but it's close by. That's our best bet to land Appa," Zuko explains.

Once he's sure Aang knows where he's going, Zuko settles back down beside Katara who is still relatively silent from the day before. "How're you holding up?"

"Just fine, Zuko!" Katara flashes him the fakest smile he's ever seen. Silence stretches between them. Zuko glances around, pretending to watch the sea instead of noticing the way Katara doesn't lean against him like she normally would. Should he have not invited her up before the invasion? She seemed happy to go. Was it what his sister said? How could she not be bothered by how casually Azula mentioned that? That has to be it.

Katara looks away. Would she be a monster in their eyes if they found out? Did she even do anything or was she just imagining it? Azula's scream was real. It's not possible though, no one can do that, no one can reach into another's body like that. How would Zuko look at her if he knew? Would he even be able to look at her, be able to touch her knowing what she did? She shudders. It can't have been real, she decides firmly. Nothing happened.

That evening Shu Jing Island comes into view, a speck on the horizon that they arrive at under the cover of night. Again there's no fire that night. Sokka empties out the last of the provisions bags, thankful that they thought to keep at least some of their bags on Appa during the invasion. "Well, we need to do some shopping tomorrow."

"Stealing you mean," Toph interjects.

"No," Zuko cuts in, "Shopping. We're not stealing from my people."

"Fi-ine." Toph rolls her eyes in exasperation. "Take away all my fun."

Zuko looks at the little earthbender, pursing his lips. "We do need clothes though and we can't exactly go shopping for them in what we're wearing now. I suppose you could help out with that."

"Now you're talking, Sparky!" Toph crows.

. . . . .

Zuko inhales deeply. Morning in the Fire Nation, oh how he's missed this. The sun reflects off of the water as he bathes and a chorus of grasshoppers serenades him. Even the air smells better than in the Earth Kingdom, like citrus and smoky incense. He sighs contently, letting water run through his now long hair. Even on the run it's so good to be home.

Zuko walks slowly through the woods back to camp, enjoying the scenery as everyone else wakes up. Soon they're ready to face the day with Toph in the lead, feeling for somewhere to steal from. "There, there's a house up ahead!"

"Fantastic!" Katara smiles. Rows of clothes hang over steaming pits, ripe for the taking. "I call the silk robe!" She dashes forward, a flash of blue, before running back with her loot in hand. The others follow suit.

The clothes are in their sizes, or at least close enough. With only a tiny bit of mending they're ready. Sokka slowly pulls the moon clip out of his hair, clutching it to his heart for a moment before stowing it away. Aang wears a hat and long sleeves to cover his arrows while Zuko looks imposing and threatening with a long robe pulled over his face. It may not be comfortable but at least it's safe. He straps his dao swords onto his back, thankful that those and his money made it into the packs on Appa's back before the invasion.

Katara steps out from behind a rock, the crimson silk robe she'd grabbed complementing her complexion. Instead of her usual braid, her hair is halfway pulled up, the rest cascading down her back. A strip of blue at her throat catches Zuko's eyes. How long ago had he dangled it in front of her? How long had it been since he laid it out on his table for her after inviting her to the palace, after realizing maybe Aang wasn't coming after all? "Katara, your mother's necklace," he states.

"Oh," she touches the stone at her throat. "You're right." She slowly removes it, tucking it into one of their many bags for safe keeping.

"Now, let's go get some grub." Sokka grins, rubbing his hands together.

The town isn't far and, after leaving Appa and Momo is a nearby cave, they set off. Sokka's nose twitches, "I smell meat."

Katara rolls her eyes, "Of course you do." Aang hangs back, looking for a vegetarian option

"Young man!" A voice cuts through the crowd. "What do you think you're doing?" A firm hand grips Aang's shoulder, spinning him around. The team freezes, prepared to fight but no one moves.

"What do you mean?" Aang asks innocently.

"It's the middle of the day, you should be in school!"

"Oh, uh, I guess you're right." He rubs the back of his head, making sure his hat is firmly in place.

"Come along then."

"Don't make a scene," Zuko mutters. "Let him go."

"We can't just let attend school in the Fire Nation. What if his hat comes off?" Katara hisses.

Zuko shrugs. "He's a smart kid, he'll come up with something. If he goes we might get discovered. If we fight then we definitely will and everyone will know exactly where the Avatar is."

Katara frowns. "Fine." She turns back around to the vendor. "Let's go ahead and stock up," she says louder. It's easy enough to refill their rations though carrying them back to camp does take longer.

Sokka takes Zuko aside. "I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

Sokka twitches nervously. "I hate to ask this but my weapons are too obviously Water Tribe. I need-"

Zuko understands, not only the problem but the keen desire to not ask for help. "Let's go shopping. My treat."

"Oh!" Sokka perks up, "Your treat eh, well in that case-"

"Within reason, Sokka."

The Water Tribe man laughs, agreeing.

Katara and Toph tag along, waiting outside the armory while the boys shop, unsure of what to do while they wait for Aang's school to let out. Inside is a perfect example of Fire Nation perfectionism. Spears are neatly lined against one wall, no variation in spacing between them. On the other wall swords with heavy ornamental handles, true works of art are on display. Front and center is the crowning jewel of the armory, an intricately crafted suite of armor. Horns curl out of the helmet, skulls with bejeweled eyes adorn the pauldrons. Every inch is covered in a spiderweb of gold and silver metalworking.

Sokka's eyes light up, "That's amazing!"

"And will draw more attention to us than having Aang with us will," Zuko mutters.

"Yeah, I know, but still." He gazes at it longingly before tearing his eyes away.

"Most of the weapons here are ornamental," Zuko looks to the shopkeeper. "Do you have any functional weapons? We want something that may see some action."

"Oh, going off to fight those damn rebels are you? Well, we don't have any of those. After all, Shu Jing is a rich island, we imprt those on an as needed basis." The shopkeeper pauses for a moment, stroking his chin. "Master Piandao may have some he's willing to part with."

"Master Piandao is here?"

"Yes, his villa is right up the hill on the outskirts of town. You can't miss it."

Sokka turns to Zuko. "You know him?"

"He and Uncle taught me how to use my swords. He's a master swordsman, he defeated one hundred soldiers all on his own."

"Wow! That's amazing!" The feeling of helplessness that Sokka had felt at the invasion flickers through his mind. "Do you think he'd teach me?"

Zuko grimaces. "It can't hurt to ask?"

"Great, let's go!"

The duo head to the door but a sparkle catches the prince's eye. A polished stone, as red as rubies, shines in the light. Two delicate golden dragons swirl around the edges, their fire joining at the top of the stone, fastening it to a long silk ribbon. "Ah, caught your eye?" The shopkeeper asks. "My apprentice is expanding into goldsmithing. He's amazing, real up and comer. I'm sure he'll make the Fire Lord's crown some day."

Zuko walks out with the necklace stowed safely in his pocket. Sokka opens his mouth to make a comment somewhere along the lines of 'he ripped you off' again but Zuko silences him with a look. "So, what'd you get?" Katara questions, "Find a new weapon?"

"No, we didn't get anything," Zuko responds quickly. Toph raises her eyebrows to which Sokka just gestures at Katara. "We did find out about a master swordsman for Sokka though."

"Oh that's perfect, Sokka!" Katara smiles. "I know Master Pakku really helped me, I'm sure having a master will help hone your skills as well. Let's go find him!"

"No, I want to do this on my own. I need to."

Zuko nods in understanding. Katara hugs her brother and Toph punches him. "Okay, we'll wait for you back at camp."

Aang's waiting for them beside Appa. "You wouldn't believe my day! All that propaganda that you said you learned, Zuko, they're teaching it in the schools. They made me stand up and recite the Fire Nation National Pledge. It was really weird. But I started to make a bunch of friends!"

"What about your hat, was that a problem?" Katara asks.

"No, I just told the teacher that I have a really rare contagious disease on my head but as long as my hat stays on it won't spread. She let me keep it. I realized I need to grow my hair out for the Fire Nation though."

"What about news of the invasion, did anyone mention anything?" Zuko demands.

"Uh, a little." Aang looks at the ground "They said that there was an attempted invasion but the Fire Nation lured them into a trap and killed everyone in the bay."

"They wouldn't want to admit the palace got captured I'm sure. We'll keep listening, trying to find out more about what happened to everyone."

When Sokka returns it's with a smile on his face. ""Guys, I'm going to become a real swordsman. I'm going to become a real swordsman!"

"That's wonderful, Sokka!"

"Good job!"

Zuko nods in appreciation. "He's a good master, you'll learn a lot from him."

"Thank you."

"So," Aang starts after a moment, "This means we're staying for a while. I should probably keep going to school, you know, keep my ear to the ground and all that."

Zuko looks over at the boy, "Is this about those friends you mentioned?"

"Maybe, but really, can you think of a better way to get information?"

"Read the news board?" Zuko comments dryly.

"Oh, just go. Don't get caught and don't make waves, Aang," Katara sighs, her previous concern there but not as pressing.

"I promise they'll have no idea I'm even there."

Zuko groans. "We're starting firebending training before school tomorrow though. You can't get out of that."

Aang bows in response. "Yes, Sifu Hotman."

. . . . .

Thank you everyone for reading! I have several more chapters written so there will be regular updates for the next few weeks. Please let me know what you think and I'll see you next Tuesday!