Aang could already tell he didn't like this place. The monk was an airbender. He felt the most comfortable in wide open spaces. Aang couldn't even see the sky from here. He felt locked in, confined.
Carrying the wounded, sleeping girl wasn't helping. Airbending was built around mobility, not raw physical strength. Aang's body was lithe, engineered to be fast and maneuverable. The girl was light but the strain wasn't pleasant.
Then, there was the Dai Li agent. The man was rugged, like one would expect of a solider. He was also quiet, refusing to converse. The hat fully obscured his face. Aang had trouble trusting people he couldn't look in the eye.
"We are here." The man's sudden speech surprised the Avatar. Without another word, the agent left. The airbender knew that asking anything about this place or its healer would fall on deaf ears. He'd have to find out for himself.
"Hello?" Aang asked an empty lobby. "Is anyone here?"
The young Avatar screeched when an older woman popped out in front of him. Catching himself, the spooked airbender asked the woman "what is her problem?"
"Oh, no problem. I am just used to the soldiers knowing exactly where I am at all times. For a simple herbalist, it can be a little invasive." The old lady giggled. "I've been trying to get the drop on them for a laugh. I suppose your spooked face will do for now."
"Uh, hello! Injured person here!", Aang gestured to the sleeping Ty Lee.
"Oh, pish posh." She dismissed the monk. "Everyone is always injured or sick or hearing the call of the spirit world. As if I can't tell when someone is really hurt and when someone just needs a few bandages and a lollipop."
"She's internally bleeding!", Aang words began to rouse the sleeping Ty Lee.
"She was bleeding, but they're closed now. You just want to make sure they don't reopen. Bed rest would do it," she sighed, "but people always want quick solutions."
"Huh? W-where are we?" Ty Lee awoke. "Why are you carrying me?"
"Oh, well? Zuko did it so I just did it too. Guess it is a little weird."
"It's very weird. You can put me down now." Ty Lee pointed down to the floor.
"Oh, uh, sorry." Aang placed the young noble on her feet.
"See? She's even strong enough to stand. All you really need is something to get the wounds to stay shut. That is easy to solve." The herbalist moved to pulley and began moving the ropes. A door opened from the floor that led to a small pool of water. "The water will finish the job."
"Water? How is water going to help her wounds?" Aang raised an eyebrow. Ty Lee wasn't too impressed either.
"Do you not know about water, hm? Of course not, you've probably only lived in the Fire Islands." Aang went to interrupt the herbalist but stopped himself. Azula would probably tell him not to complicate things, Aang thought. "Water holds within it the power to heal, a power waterbenders use well. I, myself, am simply a humble herbalist but one cannot make potions of water and plants without first knowing their ingredients inside and out."
"The water will heal me on its own?", Ty Lee questioned.
"It will help. Without a waterbender, it can only help your body heal itself. Of course, for you, that's all you need unless you plan to run a gauntlet tomorrow."
Ty Lee and Aang gave each other a worried look. Finally, Ty Lee took her place in the pool.
"Just relax and let the water close your wounds." The herbalists moved to a table and began fiddling with a mortar and pestle. "As for you, could you get me the fish and salt from the other table?"
The monk did as he was told. "Is this medicine or…?"
"Medicine? No! This is just my Miyuki's lunch."
A cat jumped up on the table and began to eat the crushed fish mixture. "It's way past her lunch time." The herbalist cooed at her cat.
Aang and Ty Lee shared another worried look.
Azula and Mai hadn't hung out together in quite some time. There wasn't much to even say for the pair. Their parents knew each other and they attended Academy together. But, Zuko wanted to delay the inevitable fight brewing and Azula felt it fair to play along for now.
"So, you still doing the 'no talking' thing?" Azula eyed the girl
Mai sighed. "You just heard me talk a minute ago."
"Yes, but Zuko was present. You are always more lively with him around." Azula grinned.
"Maybe you'd prefer if I was Ty Lee?" Mai shot Azula a look.
"Well, I suppose I wasn't as subtle as I hoped." Azula joked, shooting a devilish look back.
"You're not denying it?" Mai eyes widened.
"I should and I probably would have earlier but I am feeling better about these things recently. My new friend and my brother, if you can believe it, have helped. Her saying 'yes' too was also rather helpful." Azula looked at the ceiling. "Mother and father, though, are still difficult."
Mai was silent for a moment. "At least one of us actually got a 'yes' from their crush."
Azula looked at the girl. "Are you sure? Have you even asked?"
"I didn't need to ask. He always avoided me. Even now he's terrified of me." Mai looked at the ground.
Azula rolled her eyes. "I must say that you are quite an idiot, Mai."
Mai scrunched her face and said nothing.
"Zuko is an idiot too. You two will get along nicely. Try and actually ask him next time. Trying the indirect approach gets you nowhere, trust me. You can wait around for them to make the first move but waiting is just wasted time in love." Azula looked straight on a head unflinching.
Mai kept her face scrunched and sighed. Azula looked at the girl and shrugged. That was probably the most she could expect in response.
Zuko had sat down at a table with his mother. Her new guard was keeping close watch on the pair. Zuko was keeping his eyes on the guard.
"Can we not send this guard away?" Zuko sipped his tea.
"I've grown quite fond of this guard. I actually feel more comfortable with him around." Ursa chanced a meaningful glance at her guard. Were it Azula sitting there, she might have noticed. Zuko, however, remained oblivious.
"How have you both been?" Ursa changed the subject.
"It's been rough." Zuko looked into his tea. "A lot has changed."
"Did your father hurt you?" Ursa wore concern on her face.
"No, but not for lack of trying. He hurt Ty Lee and...he almost killed Azula." Ikem tensed at the boy's words.
Ursa looked down. "Why would he hurt Azula? He was a monster, but I also thought that at least Azula was safe from him."
"She wasn't really safe." Zuko mumbled.
"He never hit her. I always made sure of that. I always tried to have his anger directed at me so he'd leave you two alone. It didn't work with you, but at least it kept Azula safe." Ursa's hand began to shake. Ikem placed his hands over hers, calming the woman.
Zuko sighed. How could he explain the truth to her? Of the emotional suffering Azula endured? "Things are complicated, maybe Azula could explain it."
"All that girl ever does is yell at me. She hates me." Ursa gripped Ikem. "She doesn't want anything to do with me. She just sees me as a weak loser."
Zuko felt something burn inside him, boiling up. "You and Azula are a lot alike. Maybe you two should just talk. No yelling or crying. Even if it's uncomfortable, Just once! You both just assume about each other."
Ikem stepped forward. "Watch your tone. This is your mother!"
"And who asked you?", Zuko got up.
"Me? I'm your mother's bo-"
"Bodyguard," Ursa cut him off, "please restrain yourself."
Ikem caught himself. Leaning back into a guard's posture, he apologized to the flame princess.
Ursa looked at her son. "I'll go make lunch. You probably haven't had a home-cooked meal in months."
Without another word, Ursa walked off to the kitchen. Zuko huffed. Was it always this difficult to talk to his mom?
Aang was slumped on his chair. Ty Lee stared out at the ceiling. The herbalist was playing with her cat. Things were moving dreadfully slow.
"Do you feel any different?" Aang whined.
"I feel wetter." Ty Lee bobbed in the water.
"How long does this take?" Aang turned to the herbalist.
The herbalist didn't look up from her cat. "Oh? About as long as normal. It just makes it all go smoother and a little faster."
Aang and Ty Lee collectively groan. "Isn't there some medicine you can give, as a herbalists?"
"Medicine? Yes, why didn't I think of that? Let me find my magic panacea that seals up internal hemorrhaging." Aang and Ty Lee were unamused with the herbalist's sarcasm.
"If you had a disease or immediate wounds, I could help." The woman sighed. "The only solution to speed this up is if we had a waterbender to accelerate your natural healing. Last I checked, all their healers are not allowed to leave their lands, unless they're here to help conquer us."
Aang looked at the water. "You said you know water inside and out, right?"
"Hm? Yes, quite so. I may know more than even some waterbenders." The herbalist barely amused the question.
"Could you teach someone how to heal then?" Aang stared at the sloshing water.
"I don't know. I never tried before." She scratched her chin. "I guess I wouldn't know until I tried."
"Well," Aang mumbled, "I can actually waterbend."
"You can?" The herbalist was confused. "Aren't those Air Nomad robes? Were you taken in as at one of their orphanages?"
"No, I'm the Avatar." Aang was resolute, a turnabout from his earlier mumbling.
Aang stood over the pool, his sleeves rolled up. The herbalists motioned the monk to kneel down beside her. Following instructions, the pair hovered over Ty Lee.
"Uh, is this going to hurt?" The girl hazarded a question.
"No, no pain." Just as Ty Lee relaxed, the herbalist continued. "But it will involve me poking you a lot." Ty Lee winced at the thought.
The herbalist placed her finger on the girl's belly button. "This is the fire chakra." The herbalist moved her finger upwards to the bottom of the girl's chest. "And this is where I believe her battle wounds are located."
"I am rather familiar with the fire chakra as it rests upon the stomach." The herbalist moved her finger back to the belly button. "The stomach is the source of power in the body. My mentor even referred to it as the 'sea of chi.'"
The herbalists turned back to the astute monk. "Though, with how thin she is, it's more of a lake than a sea."
Ty Lee winced. "Uh, thanks? I am an acrobat. We exercise for agility, not muscles."
The herbalist nodded. "Which makes you an even better test for Aang." She turned to the monk. "Airbenders train for the same goal. You should be more familiar with how energy flows in a body like hers, it mirrors your own."
"Can we focus?" Aang rather not continue this line of dialogue about his friend's girlfriend.
The herbalist chuckled. "Well, everyone starts out like that when working in medicine: squeamish. You get over it. Is it awkward touching someone all over? Yes, very much so, but how else can you tell what drug they might need?"
"You diagnosed me on sight alone?" Ty Lee questioned.
"And I have been in this business for sixty years. Do you think I started out that way?" The herbalist smiled. "Even if the Avatar did learn how to do this today, he won't be as good as a master healer. He'll be worse than some of the little girls in the North. It will take time and practice to master this move. Possibly more so than most other bending techniques."
She turned to the monk. Aang nodded in return. He understood what she meant. Healing was her art. She didn't want to give it away to someone who wouldn't respect it.
Returning to the lesson, the herbalist placed her finger back on the belly button. "As a herbalist, I am quite familiar with the sea of chi. I use the natural healing properties of plants and liquids to fuel the sea of chi and promote positive change in the body."
The herbalist moved her finger in lines stretching out of the belly button. Ty Lee didn't quite like the feeling. "However, I can't direct the flow of that energy to where it is needed most. Like my finger, the energy moves out in all directions, unconcentrated. The effect is diluted."
The old woman then returned her finger to the belly button and moved it up towards the bottom of Ty Lee's chest. "But, a water bender can direct that flow of chi, moving it like water in the body. More so, the waterbender can draw out the healing properties of water and direct them into the body without ingestion of water and herbs. With this power, waterbenders can heal people in minutes, where I could take hours, days or even longer."
Aang looked at Ty Lee's stomach. "How do I exactly do that, however? Do I pour water on her stomach?"
The herbalist scratched her chin. "That might be a little difficult for me to tell you. I've never seen it done before."
"What?" Aang freaked out at her words.
"I'm not a waterbender. I've never seen it." The herbalist shrugged. "You're the waterbender here. If you're really the Avatar, you've learned this before in a hundred lives. You should know more than me about how to actually do it."
Aang rolled his eyes. "If it was that easy, I wouldn't have asked you for advice in the first place."
"Maybe it's just that easy, however? I mean, you know air, right? And water is the next element. Maybe you just need to reach out and grab it." Ty Lee interjected, grabbing some of the water in her palm and pouring it out for effect.
Aang sighed. "I guess I can try."
The monk pushed out with his chi. He tried to feel the water like he could feel the air. There was energy in the water. He could feel it. It wouldn't connect with him, however. There was a wall between him and the water. The Avatar couldn't touch it like he could the air.
Then, he felt Ty Lee's breathing. The air moving in and out of her body made it expand and contract slightly. The energy of the air was transferred as kinetic force into the water the girl sat in. Ripples in the water gave way to the energy beneath. There were stores of potential energy in the water. Just like Ty Lee, the water was alive. It could move on its own with this stored energy, like waves, but it was at rest now, like Ty Lee was now.
The wall started to break down. He could feel his own chi reaching the water's potential energy. Just like the air in Ty Lee's lungs, Aang tried to push the water with his chi. It was difficult. Even if he could feel that potential energy, it didn't mean that the power belonged to the monk. It never did and never would. All the monk could do was ask it to be released, nudge it along the path. The water wasn't his power, he was simply asking for its help.
Finally, the water moved. A small wave formed in the pool. Aang exhaled.
"Woah!" Ty Lee exclaimed with stars in her eyes. "You did it! You really did it!"
"Well, it was just a little ripple." Aang put his hands out again. "Though, I feel like it might be easier if I try again."
Moving his hands forward and back, Aang and Ty Lee marveled as the water began to stir, rocking Ty Lee. The pair laughed at the manual wave pool Aang had just made.
It was far off from healing, but Aang was feeling more confident.
Mai and Azula found themselves back at the door to Ursa' home. Azula looked at Mai. While she was as dead as ever, Azula could tell Mai was nervous. Despite her fish eyes and cold expression, she could never stop herself from looking about when she was nervous.
"Zuzu doesn't bite, Mai." Azula joked as began to open the door.
A hotpot sat on the lunch table. Azula and Mai could recognize the smell of tofu and fish cooking in the pot. "How quaint," Azula thought, "I was always a fan of nabe."
Gesturing the group over, Azula sat down at the table for her meal. She was surprised to see the guard from before sitting down as well. "Shouldn't you be 'guarding' us?" Azula raised an eyebrow.
"Can't guard on an empty stomach." Ikem joked with beef strips in his mouth. Mai huffed.
Azula noticed how closely Ursa and her guard were sitting. She eyed them suspiciously. Ursa seemed to notice. "Azula, how have you been over the last few weeks?"
"Suddenly, you're interested?" Azula grabbed some noodles into her bowl.
Ursa felt something rile up but she let it pass. "I am always interested in my daughter's life."
Zuko tried his best not to groan.
"Oh, is that so? You hardly ever talk to me."
Ikem looked up from his plate. Looking between Ursa and Azula. Mai just sighed. Zuko just tried to focus on his stew. He suggested his mom try to talk to Azula but it's going worse than planned.
"Well, maybe I would talk to you more if you weren't so hostile." Ursa poked at her food with her chopsticks.
"Hostile? I'm the hostile one? Perhaps there is more to parenting than feeding people and keeping a roof over their head." Azula stuffed her mouth.
Mai sat up. "Zuko, do you want to go for an after lunch walk?"
Zuko looked at his mom and then his sister. "Yeah, that should be nice."
Without another word, the pair cleaned their plate and placed them in the sink. Once they were out the door, the fire princesses resumed their argument.
"You were the one who made them leave." Azula started the second the door closed.
"I was? I was just trying to talk to you for once and you started attacking me." Ursa fought back tears.
"And that talk will make up for ignoring me? For blaming me for dad? For blaming me for what dad made me do for Zuko? I bet you blamed me for what dad did to you!" Azula stood up. "I know you hate me so stop pretending otherwise."
Ursa kept sitting. "Is that what you thought this whole time? That I blamed you? That I hate you?"
"Oh, don't play innocent with me. Do you really want me to believe you never blamed me for Zuko? That you never resented me for how much dad loved me? Did you think I liked that? Watching my family suffer? That I was okay as long as I was untouched?"
"Azula, I tried everything to protect you and Zuko. Our life was horrible with your father. I knew you were suffering. I knew Zuko was suffering. That's why I tried to make him take his anger out on me, not you two." Ursa grabbed her chest. "When Zuko was hurt, I felt like I failed."
Azula pointed at her mother. "Spare me! I refuse to believe you never blamed me. You always avoided talking to me, acknowledging me. I didn't have a mom half-the-time. The only person who ever praised me was dad."
"I never blamed you!" Ursa began to stand as well.
"Stop lying!" Azula cursed.
"Fine!" Ursa yelled. Tears began to well in the princess' eyes. "Sometimes, yes, I resented you. I wished I didn't have to suffer like this anymore and I resented how well you got along with your father. Sometimes, I felt like I was wasting my time protecting you: that you really hated me. That I was just a burden on you. That I was a worthless idiot for letting myself get wrapped up in this stupid, sham marriage because of your Uncle."
Azula huffed.
Ursa sat back down. "I was promised everything would get better if I took their offer. That Iroh would be made ambassador and could fix everything. That my finance Ikki would be safe." Ursa choked on her spit. "What did I get? Abuse, abuse, abuse! My life has been hell for the last decade."
Azula sat back down as well. She refused to look at the mess that was her mother.
"But, you know, there is one thing I don't regret." Ursa wiped her tears. "You and Zuko, I've never regretted having either of you. Even if I had my moments, I never regretted having you two in my life. You two are everything to me. You're the only thing that kept me alive through that awful time."
Azula sighed. "I believe you." She paused. "But this doesn't change the last decade either. Nothing will."
Ursa sniffled. "I know." She choked again. "I know that better than anyone."
Ikem, who has sat there awkwardly this whole time, felt it was safe to finally act. He sheepishly placed his hand on Ursa's hand. Ursa grabbed his back.
Azula focused on the gesture. The young fire princess sighed. "There is something I should tell you."
There was a faint glow in the Herbalist's office. Aang strained to hold the water over Ty Lee's abs. The water itself was glowing a faint blue. The monk was struggling. Exhaling, the water he had gathered ceased its glow and returned to the pool.
Ty Lee breathed in. With a yip, she jumped to her feet. Shaking the water off, she squeed. "I feel amazing. I could run a mile."
Aang leaped up beside her, landing on a ball of air. "I'd love to see who is faster." He spun around her once, riding his little "air scooter." "It'd be a nice change of pace to actually have some fun."
"You better be ready to lose." Ty Lee puffed out her chest. "I was the best acrobat our circus had even seen. And that means one thing: cardio. I can run laps around you, even with your airball trick."
"You're on!" Aang exclaimed.
"I wouldn't suggest it." The herbalist chimed in. "The monk did an okay job accelerating your healing process, but your wounds can still reopen if you overexert yourself. I'd say he shaved a couple days off the recovery time, judging from your breathing."
"I was surprised it took so much effort." Aang turned to the old lady.
"If I had to guess, it's probably just your inexperience with waterbending. You can't just expect to fall perfectly into the art on your first try. Though, you did do exceptionally well considering your inexperience and lack of a proper teacher." The herbalist stroked her chin. "It should be easier with time." She looked to the left. "Of course, I base that on absolutely nothing."
Aang sighed. "Well, you did a lot for us. I'd never thought I could learn waterbending from a nonbender. Especially one who isn't even from the Water Confederation."
The herbalist raised an eyebrow. "Monk, I've been around for almost eighty years now. I was in the Earth Kingdom for most of my life. I had to see it ravaged by war and split in two. I even moved from my home country to get somewhere safe from the war." She pointed at both Ty Lee and Aang. "If there is one thing I learned, it's that there is little difference between the nations."
"You two could practically be brother and sister. If I didn't know better, I'd think the girl was raised by Air Nomads or was even one of their own adopted by a Fire Islander. And yet she's a Fire Islander and you're an Airbender."
Aang stopped and got off his airball. "I mean, I traveled the world before. I definitely ran into people who were like me elsewhere, like my old friend Bumi." Aang winced, remembering how long it's been since he'd seen Bumi. "But what does that have to do with bending?"
"Oh! I know! I know!" Ty Lee was hoping, waving her hand like she was raising it in class. "It means that there would be people in every nation who are like any of the four elements. The nations don't own the elements, nor do benders!" She smiled with a look that told the herbalist the girl was hoping and expecting to be praised.
"You're correct, young one." The herbalist laughed. "I'm surprised you got this and not the monk, but perhaps that just proves my point."
"I can answer that too! Because Aang hasn't seen the world in over a hundred years. People were probably more separated back then. But, nowadays. Well, look at us here! This place is a joint nation of Fire Islanders and Earth Citizens. And I was in a traveling circus seeing the entire Island. We even performed in the Earth Kingdoms sometimes!" Ty Lee looked again for praise, but this time she looked at Aang.
The monk scratched his head. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense."
"Of course, no one is that simple. I bet you still have a lot of Fire Islander in you, girl."
"You should see her in a fight. She takes things head-on." Aang gestured at Ty Lee.
"Oh, I believe you. That's why I would keep practicing those healing skills. She's probably going to need it."
"Hey!" Ty Lee whined.
Zuko and Mai walked quietly in the streets. Neither of them looked at each other.
"That was awkward." Zuko started.
"Yeah." Mai whispered back.
They continued quietly for a time.
"Have you been well?" Zuko glanced at the girl.
"Yeah, but things are kind of rough here. Can't say I like it." Mai grumbled.
"You hate everything." Zuko looked ahead.
"There are a lot of things to hate in this world." Mai looked away from Zuko.
"Yeah, the world sucks sometimes."
"More like all the time."
Zuko laughed.
"Do you think the fight is going to get bad?" Mai glanced at the house.
"If we're lucky, they'll still be a house." Zuko sighed. Mai glanced at him. "I think they'll be fine. My sister is mad, but maybe this will be good for them."
"I doubt it."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
They both went quiet for a while.
"Do you like traveling with the Avatar?"
"It's been rough, but it's better than staying at home."
"Anything is better than home." Mai looked at one of the guards.
"Yeah, sometimes."
They grew quiet again.
"Maybe I can come along. I'm sure the Dai Li would let me go if I said I was spying on the Avatar." Mai bite her lip.
"That might be nice. It'd be good to have another fighter in our group."
Mai smiled.
They continued quietly again.
"Mom, I met someone on my journey." Azula started. "We're dating."
Ursa raised an eyebrow. The statement seemed a little out of place, but at least Azula was opening up to her mother. "That's great." Ursa did her best to compose herself. "Do you want me to meet him?"
"You've already met." Azula looked unnervingly serious.
"The Avatar?" Ursa looked to the left. "He is rather energetic, but I won't lie that it is a little weird to me."
"Not Aang." Azula sighed. "And it's not a ma-It's...Can your guard leave?"
Ikem, who looked like he was waiting for the chance, nodded and left the dinner table, taking a bowl of beef slices with him. Once he was gone, Azula added. "I know you two are dating, mom."
"I know you know." Ursa looked at the door Ikem left through. "I can never keep a secret from you."
"Mom, I'm gay!" Azula blurted it out.
Ursa looked like she had been hit in the face. "What?"
"That person I was talking about? It wasn't a man. It was Ty Lee. We're dating." Azula looked away from her mother.
"Oh, uh," Ursa was at a loss for words.
Azula got up. "I knew it." She mumbled, turning to leave through the door.
"Wait, Azuzu," Ursa got up and grabbed her hand, "did you think that I was going to hate you over that?"
Azula stopped. "It would be in character for you."
"Stop." Ursa forced a laugh. "Azula, you're my little princess. I really don't care who you love or you marry, just as long as it makes you happy." Azula could feel her mother's hands shake. "My marriage was hell. I'm no one to tell people who to marry, other than the person who honestly makes them happy."
"Well, marriage." Azula blushed. "T-that's a little far off. We just started dating last week. I mean, I gave her my crown, but that-that wasn't like a w-wedding ring or anything."
"It's more of a wedding ring than I ever got from your father." Ursa drly laughed. Azula chuckled back.
"Y-you really don't care?"
Without a word, Ursa hugged her daughter. "I know this doesn't make up for the last decade, but I don't hate you, Azula, or who you love."
Azula raised her arms to hug back but she stopped herself. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can just move on yet. I still feel...you ignored me a lot, mom, and you were always critical. Some sappy scene doesn't undo the last fourteen years."
Ursa let her daughter go, wiping away some tears that formed. "I know. That's why I'll try my best to make it up to you and be there for you when I can."
"Now's not a good time, mother. The Day Of Black Sun comes at the end of the summer." Azula looked to where the sky should have been.
"And there will be a lot of time after the war for us to talk, Azuzu. Because I know my little princess and my little prince will be coming home at the end of this war: victorious."
Azula let herself smile. "Thanks, mom."
Once again, Ursa hugged her daughter. Azula put her hand on her mother's arm. It was the closest she could bring herself to hugging back."
After a day or so had passed, the time had come to leave the fortress city of Ishigaki. The gaang had prepared some supplies from Ursa onto Appa's saddle.
"You managed to learn waterbending here?" Zuko was incredulous. "How? Who?"
"It's complicated, but the nation doesn't own the elements." Aang tried to sound wise.
"Yeah, but they do own everyone who knows how to use those elements properly." Zuko latched down some more supplies.
"Well, most of those people." Aang bent some water into a waterskin. "Sometimes, you can learn a lot about an element without ever bending."
Zuko looked at his swords. "Yeah, that actually makes some sense."
"Ugh, will you two stop swapping stories and help me with this." Mai struggled with a crate. "Why isn't Azula helping?"
"Ty Lee and Azula wanted to talk with mom before we left." Zuko took the crate from Mai. Their hands briefly touched. Mai turned away, hiding her blushed face. Zuko didn't notice.
Not far from them, Ty Lee and Azula were talking with Ursa and her guard. Ty Lee had just bowed to them both.
"My name is Ty Lee and I am honored to meet Azula's mother." The acrobat spoke formally.
Ursa waved away the formality. "Ty Lee, I've known you since you were a baby. This really isn't necessary."
"At least she's asking you first. I never bothered asking your father. Or your husband." Ikem laughed.
Ursa elbowed him. "Not in public."
"Oh please, the Dai Li probably already knows." Azula shrugged.
"Yes, I know, but I don't need the citizens gossiping about me too."
"I thought you've endured worse." Ikem played.
"I don't need to invite misfortune either." Ursa rolled her eyes.
Azula leaned forward into Ikem. "So, Ikem, if we are doing this properly, I should let you know," She ignited a blue flame in her hand, "that if you hurt my mother, there won't be a hole in this Earth you can hide from Zuko and I: we will find you and make you suffer."
Ikem stepped back. He turned to Ursa for support. The elder fire princess laughed. "Don't look at me. I've never been able to control her."
Ikem, looking back, spoke in clattering teeth. "I-I'll make sure to keep her safe."
"Good," Azula extinguished her flame. "Come on, Lee, let's be off."
Ty Lee bowed. "It was an honor to meet you again."
"Oh, stop it." Ursa laughed.
With little fuss, the gaang headed off from the fortress. Within moments, they were back in the sky, far from the island.
"Was it wise to let her go." A Dai Li agent pestered Governor Ukano in his office. "Long Feng may not be pleased."
"My daughter can be trusted and she is an excellent spy." Ukano focused on his paperwork. "Besides, I doubt Long Feng cares about my daughter."
The agent moved forward to loom over the man. "Do not assume you know what Long Feng cares about."
With that, the agent left. Ukano, flustered, drowned his anxiety in paperwork.
"Nowhere left but the colony then." Aang started, directing Appa towards the water confederation stronghold in the Fire Islands.
"Wait," Zuko interrupted, "does Aang need to go to the colony? We found someone to teach him waterbending here. Maybe we can move on to Earth."
Azula raised an eyebrow. "Aang, how much waterbending do you know?"
"Uh, healing?", Aang scratched his chin.
"And how well can you heal?", Azula poked.
"Not too well…" Aang looked to the left.
"Well, that settles it then. The colonies are next." Azula looked triumphant. Zuko rolled his eyes and mumbled that he was just trying to help.
"Uh, before we go to the colony, can we stop off at Ryujin's capital first?", Ty Lee interrupted. "After seeing Azula's family, I want to get a chance to talk to mine before we head off."
Azula didn't skip a beat. "Aang, change your heading. We are heading to the capital first, then the colony." Azula got up to show Aang the new direction.
Mai leaned into Zuko. "I would have thought Azula was driving the relationship between those two."
"Trust me, Ty Lee is a lot scarier than you think." Zuko whispered back.
Mai took a moment to look at the girl, but blew off the sentiment. How scary could that bubbly girl really be?
As for Ty Lee, she was looking over the saddle at the ocean.
"If sparky sparky boom man got out, what does that mean…?"
Ty Lee sighed. Letting those dark thoughts drift, she enjoyed the view of the ocean instead.
"Probably nothing."
