"The legends say the moon was the first waterbender." Khione said. "The moon, named Tui, and the ocean, named La, worked together in a constant ebb and flow." Khione, Katara and Aang were standing on a balcony, looking up at the sky. "Our ancestors saw how Tui pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves."

"I've always noticed my waterbending is stronger at night." Katara said.

"Our strength comes from the spirit of the moon. Our life comes from the spirit of the ocean. They work together to keep balance." Khione said.

Aang Brightened. "The spirits!" He Raised his head, startling Momo. "Maybe I can find them and get their help! For the Water Tribe, and for you, Khione!"

"How can you do that?" Khione said.

Katara Approached her. "The Avatar is the bridge between our world and the Spirit World! Aang can talk to them!"

"Maybe they'll give you the wisdom to win this battle!" Khione said. "A-And you could ask about...Reiko."

Aang put a hand on Khione's shoulder. "Of course I will."

"The only problem is, last time you got to the Spirit World by accident. How are you going to get there this time?" Katara said.

"I have an idea. Follow me." Khione said.

She lead them to the a small round door in the palace.

Aang Walked up to the door. "So, is this the way to the Spirit World?"

Khione laughed. "No. You'll have to get there on your own. But I can take you to the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole." Khione opened the door.

Aang stepped inside. There was a small verdant oasis lying ahead, a waterfall flowing directly behind it. Aang gasped in amazement.

Aang Ran to the back of the oasis and rolled around on the ground. "I never thought I'd miss grass this much!"

Katara Approached the oasis. "It's so warm here! How is that possible?"

"It's the center of all spiritual energy in our land." Khione said. "My hearth is just above this spot."

The two girls removed their coats. Two fish, one black and one white, swam about in the pond. Momo stuck his hand in the pond and tried to grab the two fish in the water. The two girls stood over him, looking rather irritated.

"You're right, Khione. I can feel ... something. It's so tranquil." Aang Positioned himself to meditate.

Xxx

Zuko emerged from the water through another hole in the ice. He lay on his back on the ice and caught his breath. He rolled over onto his side, began shivering and breathed fire to warm himself.

Zuko turned to the swan cub. "Be quiet!"

The swan cub quieted down. The swan cub watched as Zuko walked past, pushing aside his head. The swan cub resumed barking. He made his way through another opening where water was pouring out. His foot bored into the wall as he tried to steady himself and made his way through the channel of water. Inside the channel, he slowly crawled his way through.

xxx

Sokka is crouched on the floor, sharpening his boomerang when he was approached by Khione.

"I have a special task in mind for you, Sokka." Khione said.

"I want you to guard me exclusively." Khione said.

She led him to the oasis.

Xxx

Zuko continued to make his way through the channel of water. He exited from the channel and floated to the surface of the water. He emerged from the surface and inhaled deeply several times. He proceeded to duck his head under the water, surveying the area. Zuko swam toward the channel and upward. As he attempted to resurface, however, the surface of the water had frozen into a thick ice patch. Zuko tried to break through the ice. He suddenly exhaled, signaling his need for air. He heated his hands using firebending and melted a hole in the ice. There was a tunnel way in the city, the ice steaming and finally melting away. Zuko emergeed and caught his breath. He relaxed against the wall of the tunnel.

xxx

At the Spirit Oasis, Aang was meditating, Katara, Khione, and Sokka were watching him.

"Why is he sitting like that?" Khione said.

"He's meditating, trying to cross over into the Spirit World." Katara said. Aang scrunched up his face in concentration. "It takes all his concentration."

"Is there any way we can help?" Khione said.

"How about some quiet? Come on guys, I can hear every word you're saying!" Aang said angrily.

In the pond, the two koi fish were shown circling each other. Aang stared at the fish, seemingly mesmerized. The fish circled each other. The two fish morphed into an image of the symbols for yin and yang. Aang's eyes and tattoos lit up.

"Is he okay?" Khione said, worried.

"He's crossing into the Spirit World. He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body. That's his way back to the physical world." Katara said.

"Maybe we should get some help." Khione said.

"No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him." Katara said.

Khione smiled. "This is my city. The Avatar is under my protection. Don't worry. I will protect him with you."

"If it isn't the face in the water..." Zuko stood before Khione.

"Impossible..." Khione gasped, hands covering her mouth.

"Stand back, Queen Khione. I can take him." Katara insisted.

Khione shook her head. "No, Katara. It is my duty as Queen to face him. Protect Aang. I will deal with Zuko."

"Hand him over and I won't have to hurt you." Zuko said, determined.

"I don't want to fight you." Khione admitted, and took a strange stance. It was not the stance of a bender, but that of the Lotis Style of Martial Arts that Zuko's Uncle Iroh had tried to teach him. Zuko didn't have much patience for it. "ARE-TO!"

Spiritual chains sprung from Khione's hand and bound Zuko as he struggled to remember the counter-word.

"KA-SHA!" Zuko shouted, and the chains shattered. "How do you know the Lotis?!"

"I have had to learn a method other than bending to protect my people." Khione said fiercely.

For a second, runes blazed on her arms and legs. Zuko was astounded. His Uncle could do the same thing. But he had never thought he'd find another Lotis Master, and that it would be her of all people.

Zuko stood. "I see you've learned a new trick, but I didn't come this far to lose to you. You won't be able to defeat me without bending."

"I am aware of that. But I was able to weaken you." Khione retorted.

She bent a wave of water and the water surrounded him in a circle. Her unique Lotis stances caused her bending to be circular, and the waves moved around him trapping him as he tried to Firebend out. The water solidified into ice and trapped him.

"I don't understand." Zuko admitted. "How are you a better water bender than the others?"

"I am the Ice Queen." Khione said. "I am the Northern Wall of the Water Tribe, and if you want to defeat my people, you have to knock me down first!"

"Is that so?" Zuko looked to the horizon as the sun began to rise.

Khione looked too, aghast as she realized that she would have to turn to her final option: Firebending.

The globule of ice began glowing bright orange with heat and the ground rumbled. The entire globule as heated up intensely before melting.

"You rise with the moon ... I rise with the sun." Zuko said.

Khione stood before him in what he realized too late was a Firebending pose. She attacked him with a blast of fire, which he casually brushed aside.

"You're a Firebender?" Zuko said, shocked. "Albeit a novice. You are no match for me."

For a while they traded blows using Firebending. But Khione was inexperienced, and Zuko's fire frightened her. She edged back and back, until his hands were inches from her face.

Suddenly Katara attempted a sneak attack, but Zuko whirled and sent a blast at her. She shielded, but the impact sent her into the door and knocked her out.

Zuko grabbed Aang by the collar.

Khione crawled to her feet and got back into fighting position.

"Don't make me hurt you." Zuko said. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Would you ever stop defending your honor?" Khione asked him.

"No." Zuko replied, and reluctantly attacked, fire throwing her into the air and knocking her into the Spirit Oasis.

He waited for her to surface before he left.

"If there was any other way..." Zuko attempted.

"No matter where you go," Khione gasped out between breaths. "I WILL ALWAYS FIND YOU!"

Xxx

Katara's eyes suddenly snap[ed open as she regains consciousness, only to realize Aang is gone. She crawled around, desperately searching for him.

"Aang!" Katara cried.

Sokka entered on Appa.

"What happened? Where's Zuko?" Sokka said. "Where's Khione and Aang?"

"Zuko defeated Khione." Katara said. "He took Aang, and sh-she must have gone after them!"

Momo looked sorrowfully at them from the edge of the pond.

"Where did they go ..." Sokka wondered.

Xxx

Zhao was on his ship.

"It's daybreak at last. Let's write history." Zhao said.

Fire Navy ships broke through the city wall, their bows crumbling the wall, allowing soldiers armed with spears to rush in.

"The Water Tribe can try to resist the inevitable, but their city will fall today." Zhao said.

He smirked. "The Ice Queen, the Northern Wall of the Water Tribe, has fallen!"

A silver dragon shape streaked across the sky.

Xxx

Zuko walked through a blizzard with Aang in tow.

He looked up and saw the silver dragon in pursuit of him.

The snow continued to fall.