Thomas, Nick, Finn and Elliot were speaking to Zeb and Alice who didn't seem surprised by anything they had said when they saw two white furies and a dark blue and yellow nadder land in the back yard, the six of them immediately racing out the back door as Zoe and an older looking version of Remi dismounted Uri and the nadder. Zeb and Alice embraced Zoe, wanting to know if she was alright.

"I'm fine," she smiled. "See, not even a scratch."

"But you could have healed them," Zeb countered.

"I swear that Drago, nor anyone else hurt me while I was gone."

"Everything went well then?" Alice asked.

"As well as it could have," Zoe said with a small smile. Thomas and the others hadn't said anything to her, none of them sure of what to say after seeing her kill Drago. The part that Thomas couldn't get out of his head was the barbs of ice piercing Drago's shoulders.

"Even the dispersing of the hunters?" Zeb asked.

"That went especially well. I'd like you to meet Hugo," Zoe beamed, gesturing to the man next to her who waved shyly. Thomas found it odd to see a young man look so shy, especially when said man looked like he could easily defend himself. "Hugo is Remi's older brother," she added, making Alice and Zeb's jaws drop.

"You're joking? Right?"

"Nope."

"What are the odds of that?" Zeb laughed, shaking Hugo's hand.

"This is Zeb and Alice. They're my friends who looked after Remi," Zoe explained.

"I can't thank you enough for looking after my brother," Hugo said gratefully.

"It was our pleasure," Alice smiled. While Alice and Zeb were talking with Hugo, Zoe turned her attention to Thomas, Nick, Elliot and Finn, a hard look forming behind her eyes making them nervous. Elliot opened his mouth, no doubt to ask her how she could have killed someone, but Zoe cut him off.

"You all need to work on subtlety when you're trying to follow someone," she said with irritation in her voice. "And I don't want any of you giving me shit for what I did," she added harshly, making them flinch. "I told you lot that I needed to deal with some business alone, yet you still decided to follow me. I tried to throw you off my trail, but that's much harder when its your friend that's following you and who knows you all too well. If you had have listened to me, you wouldn't have seen anything or be any the wiser to what happened, so its your own faults if you feel uncomfortable. I did what had to be done, and I shouldn't need to justify my actions either. Next time I tell you to do something, don't question it. I don't want you hurt and I can't look out for all of you. And don't you dare breathe a word to anyone about Viggo either, I need people to think he's dead," she seethed, turning her back on them and heading back towards Alice, Zeb and Hugo.

"That went...well," Thomas muttered.

"I'm guessing you want to go and see Remi?" she asked Hugo.

"Definitely," he beamed.

"I'll go take care of the dragons and then I'll take you to his house."

"Thank you."

Heading over to Axel and Uri who had Sharpshot sitting on the saddle, she spoke to both of them in her head. "We'll be leaving once I've taken Hugo to Remi, so I'm not going to remove the bags, that ok?" she directed the question to Uri who nodded. "What do you want to do, Axel?"

"I'm coming with you," he said with no room for debate.

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright then. You two get some rest. I'll call you when we go over to Remi's and you can say goodbye to Amy then too."

-o0O0o-

"You ready?" she asked Hugo who was getting nervous.

"I think so?"

"Of course you are," she laughed as she knocked on the door before stepping away from the front door. After a few seconds, Remi opened the door.

"Zoe!" he ran towards her, knocking the wind out of her as he hugged her. "How are you, sis?"

"I'm alright," she smiled as Remi released her from his hug. "I brought someone who wants to see you," she said, gesturing to Hugo who Remi just noticed.

"Hey little bro. It's been a while," Hugo said with a small wave.

"Hugo?" he whispered, unsure.

"The one and only," was all Hugo could say before Remi barrelled towards his brother, both of them holding each other tight.

"I never thought I'd see you again," Remi sobbed quietly into his brother's shoulder.

"Neither did I. You've really grown up," Hugo said as he released Remi.

"I could say the same about you," Remi smiled, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Oh, this is Amy, my fiancé as of yesterday," he said as Amy joined them outside.

"Wait, fiancé?" Zoe asked.

"Yep," Remi beamed.

"Wow...congratulations," she smiled.

"Thanks. Amy, this is my big brother, Hugo."

Zoe quietly snuck away, leaving everyone who had come to see Hugo and Remi be reunited and the brother's and Amy to catch up. She was getting into the saddle when she saw Zeb and Alice making their way over to her. "Where are you going?" Alice asked.

"I need to keep going, Grimmel's not going to give up on his own," she said as Axel came back from giving Amy a quick goodbye that she probably hadn't registered with all the commotion around Remi and Hugo.

"But right away?"

"I..." she didn't know what to say. She didn't want to be around people right now. She wanted to be in the air where she was closest to Hayden and Atlas.

"Its ok, if you want to go, then we won't try and talk you out of it. Come visit though," Zeb said with a sad smile.

"I will, and thank you."

"Whatever you need. Is Axel going with you?"

"Yeah. I guess you were right," she said to Zeb.

"You ok?"

"As ok as I can be," she smiled softly.

"Take care and don't hesitate if you need us."

"Thank you. I'll see you when I see you." With that, the two white furies took to the sky, the wind blowing away most of her troubles as it always did.

-o0O0o-

They'd only been travelling for a week when Axel brought up his current situation. They were heading back to their current camp site after scouting out one of Grimmel's camps when Axel spoke in her mind. "I want to break the bond with Amy," he said in her head.

"Already?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Are you sure? If you bond with me, you'll have a very short life," she warned.

"Have you had your Dream?"

"No, but I've been with Uri for eight and a half years so we're not going to be around for much longer." It was sad but true. Fury riders were incredibly lucky if they lived for ten years after bonding with their fury.

"I know, but its better than being a village dragon."

"She'll lose her gift of winter too. Are you sure?"

"Yes. Only if you and Uri are ok with it."

"Of course I am. Uri?" she asked her dragon.

"I suppose I can share," the female fury sighed in mock annoyance.

-o0O0o-

Once they had landed, Zoe dismounted Uri and removed her helmet. "You sure?" she asked again.

"Oh my god stop asking!" Uri huffed.

"Gees, sorry," Zoe rolled her eyes. She removed her gloves as Uri and Sharpshot backed away slightly from Axel and Zoe. She put her hand out towards Axel and closed her eyes, turning her head away as Axel gently pressed his snout into her palm. It was just like when she bonded with Uri; the energy flowing from Axel and up her arms. She felt Axel's presence in her mind grow stronger and her tattoo of the snowflake burn slightly before fading to a dull throb. Pulling away, Axel licked his nose before nuzzling her side.

"You gave me your gift of winter?" she asked him, stunned.

"Yes. It won't give you anything new, just make your gift of winter stronger."

"Thank you," she smiled as Uri and Sharpshot joined them.

Thomas was walking past Zeb and Alice's with Remi, Hugo, Amy, Mathew, Nick, Finn and Elliot on their way to the forest to train the latter three when he saw Uri and Axel land beside the house, Zoe falling out of the saddle to the ground. "Zoe!" he gasped, rushing over to her, Alice and Zeb emerging from their house with Jamie and Celia.

"What's going on?" Zeb asked.

"I don't know, Zoe just showed up and fell out of the saddle. I don't even know if she's conscious," Thomas explained quickly as he tried to get Zoe into a sitting position, the rest of the group coming over.

"I'm still with you," they heard Zoe say weakly. "Sorry for causing a scene, I just told Axel and Uri to get us somewhere safe and I guess this is where they chose," she said in a stronger voice. "Just give me a sec," she grunted as she removed her hand from her side, revealing a spreading blood stain and a dagger in her side. Thomas and several others inhaled sharply when they saw the wound.

"We need to get you patched up," he said to her. As someone took Celia and Jamie back inside.

"I'll be fine, I just need some space. Feeling a little claustrophobic here," she struggled to say.

"Everyone back off, give her some space," Alice said. "Do you need a hand?" she asked Zoe, kneeling down next to her.

"Nah, I should be good. Nothing I haven't done before," Zoe said as she gripped the dagger's hilt and pulled it out, grunting in pain and making Thomas look away so he wouldn't be sick. Turning back to look at her, he watched her wave her hand through the air, removing any moisture and forming a glowing glove around her hand before pressing her hand to her side. The wound, which was incredibly deep mind you, slowly began to heal, Uri and Axel flopping onto the ground next to her in relief. After a few moments her wound closed over, leaving not even a scar, the two furies helping her to her feet and supporting her since she was still a bit wobbly from the blood loss. "Sorry about that. I didn't think that the next time I'd visit I would have a dagger in my side," she said as if she hadn't been about to lose consciousness from blood loss.

"What happened?" Remi asked.

"I think we should get her inside before story time," Alice said with concern.

"Since I'm here, do you mind if I crash at your place until I'm good to go?" Zoe asked, still a little woozy.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight until I know you've replaced the blood you lost," Alice said sternly. "Now come on, lets go inside."

"Whoa..." Zoe muttered as she went to take a few steps but was overcome with dizziness. "Thanks," she said to her dragons as Axel helped her onto Uri's back who carried her inside. The group followed them in, all of them standing around while Alice helped Zoe into a seat, Axel, Uri and Sharpshot refusing to leave her side. How they all fit inside the house, Thomas had no idea.

The four of them that had followed Zoe two months ago now were still nervous to draw attention to themselves, so if they wanted answers, they'd have to wait for someone else to ask.

"Ok, what the hell happened?" Remi asked.

"Just a little run in with some hunters," she shrugged. "What else would have happened?"

"So what have you been doing the past two months since you ran off?" Amy asked.

"Same old. And I'm sorry for leaving like I did, I just needed to get away," she finished softly. "But I guess I should properly congratulate you both on your engagement," she said to Remi and Amy, both of who smiled.

"Thank you," they both said.

"Oh, and by the way, you ok with being maid of honour at the wedding?" Amy asked.

"Me?"

"Yes, you," Amy laughed.

"I suppose so? But why me?"

"Gee...let me think...I wouldn't be with Remi if it weren't for you, you're my best female friend, practically my sister, and I want you by my side on the day," Amy listed. After a few moments of silence, Remi spoke.

"I never got to thank you," Remi said.

"What for?"

"Finding my brother."

"Oh, that was a very luck coincidence," she laughed. "But you're welcome. And this time, I will say 'anytime'." Thomas had no idea what Zoe was talking about, but Remi, Alice and Zeb clearly did as they all smiled.

"I also never got to introduce you to my brother," Remi added.

"I was the one who brought Hugo to you? I already know him..." Zoe said, looking incredibly confused.

"Hugo, this is our sister, Zoe. Zoe, this is our big brother, Hugo," Remi smiled.

"Remi, you have your sibling back, you don't have to call me your sister anymore."

"You're always going to be my big sister whether you like it or not, which makes Hugo your older brother and Amy your future sister-in-law," Remi said with finality.

"C'mere," Zoe said as Remi hugged his sister who ruffled his hair.

"What about me?" Hugo pretended to pout.

"You too," Zoe smiled, the three of them embracing each other. Thomas smiled at the three 'siblings'. He looked around the room and looked at each person; every person and child in the room held a place for Zoe in their hearts. They were Zoe's family in every way but blood, every person Zoe had chosen to let into her life after she lost so much in that fire that he could see from his bedroom window almost nine years ago now. Apart from the air benders, the only one who wasn't here that would make her family complete, was Hayden.

If soul mates existed, Zoe and Hayden were exactly that, soul mates. They balanced each other out perfectly, both bringing the best out in the other and appearing to know exactly what the other was thinking. There would be no way that Zoe would chose to be with anyone else after she had lost Hayden, she would wait to be reunited with him in the stars when it was her time. But in the mean time, Zoe worked tirelessly to finish what she and Hayden had started. She worked alone now, but she had never had so many people supporting her.

She stayed with Zeb and Alice for a week before Alice 'discharged' her to go back to messing with the hunters. She was trying to locate and destroy the last of Grimmel's camps in an attempt to draw him out into the open. She still didn't know where his main base was so she couldn't take him out the same way she had with Drago. Since killing Drago, she had gone back to the air benders to update Gus and visit Amber, Jacob and their parents. They were all surprised to learn that she had bonded to a second white fury but they were equally as impressed. She also still needed to speak with Amy properly about Axel bonding with her which was where she was heading now before she would leave again.

"Zoe! What's up?" Amy asked as she gestured for Zoe to come inside.

"I needed to speak with you about Axel," she said outright.

"I know you've bonded if that's what you were worried about."

"You do? How?" she asked nervously.

"I don't have a the gift of winter anymore. I also felt Axel's presence in my mind disappear," she explained, not seeming angry which made Zoe feel a little better.

"I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologise," Amy smiled. "I knew it would happen sooner or later and I'm glad that Axel is finally able to do what he wants to be doing, just as I am. I never had what it takes to be the fury rider and honestly, I'm ok with that," she explained.

"I just feel bad about how things happened," Zoe sighed.

"Hey, its ok. What's done is done and I hope that things will be easier on you now that you've got Axel's help," Amy said.

"He's definitely made things more efficient," she smiled.

"And you'll always have my help if you need it, just ask."

"I will, and thank you."

-o0O0o-

She was strapping her last bag to Uri's saddle when her three primary school friends came up to her. "What do you want?" she sighed, in no mood to be questioned over the events of two months ago.

"We just came to see you off," Nick stated calmly.

"So none of you had any intention to ask questions?" she asked, sceptical.

"I mean if you're offering to answer..." Finn probed.

"Ok, let me make a few things clear," she snapped. "Firstly, I am not the same person who you used to know. Secondly, I'm the fury rider and therefore I only answer to the Bewilderbeast, I don't have to have anything to do with the Academy. And finally, what I do is none of your business but since you seem desperate to get an answer out of me, I'll answer two questions each, right here and right now, so shoot," she said, folding her arms over her chest as Uri and Axel both huffed at the three males.

"Um...why did you kill Drago? Like why did you make it almost like a personal matter?" Elliot asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Because it was a personal matter. He was the most violent of the three leaders; Drago destroyed villages and took their people as slaves who made up his hunters. He had to be stopped somehow, and the only way to stop a madman like him, is to take away his life."

"Why was it personal?" Nick asked.

"Two reasons: Drago gave me the only scars I have, and...he killed Hayden," she said softly.

"So, it was revenge? And what did he do to you?" Nick asked cautiously.

"I wouldn't call it revenge, his side of the deal was much more pleasant than mine. But you've seen my left arm, the Lichtenburg?" After the three males nodded, she continued with a sigh. "When I was nineteen, we were heading back to meet up with Hayden and Atlas but we saw a hunter ship, so naturally we went to check it out. That's where I first met Remi when he was thirteen. He was captured by the hunters. Anyway, long story short, I couldn't get us all out of there so we were taken to Drago where I was cut, kicked, punched, starved and whipped. After four months, he decided I was useless to him, so he whipped me, that's what the scars on my back are from. They tied me to a metal pole before a thunderstorm hit and that's when I was struck by lightning. My body absorbed and accepted the lightning so I wasn't killed, and that's how we escaped. The lightning burst from me, breaking what I was tied to the pole with, I released Uri and Sharpshot and went back in for Remi. Uri picked us up and we got out. And then the bastard killed Hayden right in front of me," she growled, Nick, Elliot and Finn all silent. "Make sense why I killed him?" she asked them after she had collected her thoughts, the three of them quickly nodding.

"I'm sorry," Elliot said quietly. "For pushing you to give us an answer."

"Its fine," she shrugged. "I still think of my lightning as a curse since most of the time it causes me more trouble than its worth, but there's been a few times where I've been glad I've had it," she said, letting a small amount of her electrical energy flicker between her fingers.

"What was Hayden like?" Nick asked softly, relieved when Zoe just smiled sadly and didn't get angry.

"He was my idiot," she smiled, staring at the water that danced around her fingers instead of the electricity. "He could always make me smile, he was always there for me, even when I tried to push him away," she listed, off in her own world and letting the water evaporate as a stream of fire took the water's place. "He was the one who taught me fire bending," she added with a smile, letting the flames run up her arm and down her other before it sat flickering in her palm, the flame extinguishing when she closed her hand. "Hayden was the most creative person I knew, he could draw anything he saw and create anything he could think up in his head. There's a drawing he did of the two of us with Alice, Zeb and the kids in their living room." She now had a small amount of earth that had formed a shape of Hayden's silhouette in her hand. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she let her hand fall to her side, the earth falling to the ground. "Sorry, I was rambling," she said a little sheepish.

"Don't apologise," Finn smiled.

"Anymore questions?" she asked them in a much calmer tone after her little reverie of Hayden.

"Maybe another time," Elliot said. "We should probably let you get going."

"And let us know if you ever need help or just want to hang," Nick smiled.

"Or if you want to go to the world Above," Finn added.

"I will," she said with a small smile, getting onto Uri's back. "And don't hesitate to ask Alice and Zeb about anything, they know basically everything. They know what I do or don't mind being shared," she added. "But I'll see you later." Putting her helmet on, Sharpshot got himself settled on her shoulders before Uri and Axel took off. She would definitely be back before Remi and Amy's wedding that was to take place in eight months, but until then, she would continue to chip away at Grimmel and his operations with the help of her two furies and the ex-hunter, Viggo.