The water became choppy and hard to navigate as Katara and her crew approached the island. Over the course of the day, the fleet of ships had sailed about two hours away from the coast. Yet, the trip grew to twice as long in the unfavorable conditions, even with Katara propelling them forward. The waterbender was not shaken from her mission of returning back to the island for answers. She was grateful the crew had the same drive. Many of the angered by the injury of Hakoda.

Regardless, of their desire for a resolution to this madness - the midnight air felt ominous. It tingled with warning and anticipation. The moon, which often made Katara feel strong, felt dim tonight.

The truth was, they didn't know what exactly they were walking into. The island could be cleared of the rebel force or they could have occupied the temple. In the case of the latter, the waterbender knew it would be strategically improbable to overtake their forces, but it was a risk she was willing to take. She would do almost anything to keep the trail hot.

The warnings of the night proved not to be in vain. Katara saw movement over the black horizon of the island. She thought it was a trick of the eye until the objects were bathed in the moonlight. They were the air balloons from the funeral, but the emblem on the side was crossed out in messy black paint.

"Pull back!" She shouted to the crew, tension rippled through her body. Ready for a fight. Commands went down the line, as crew members began steering the ship around. Katara desperately wanted to continue to the beach, but she knew the crew would be as good as sitting turtle ducks on the open terrain. The open water would be better odds of outrunning the airships.

There was a moment of peace, and Katara thought the other side hadn't seen the cruiser against the dark ocean. Maybe they were going to pursue the other ships off the coast. However, luck wasn't on her side, and the small explosions from earlier began. The small metal projectiles went around the cruiser, hitting the choppy ocean with unbelievable force.

The crew didn't know what to do other than attempt to fight against the waves. Blood rushed past Katara's ears and her training took over. She began to bend a huge tornado of water. The fury that had built up in her chest, let out in a torrent of water. With great effort, she reached the closest air balloon and caught it in the vortex. As she worked to tear it out of the sky, the other airships let out a barrage of metal projectiles. They found their mark this time - tearing holes in the ship. Water quickly rushed onto the desk. Within half a minute the boat was waterlogged and sinking.

"Abandon ship!" One of the crew members shouted. Bodies began diving into the dark ocean. Katara yanked the water vortex down with all her strength, then jumped into the warm water. Her head resurfaced with enough time to see the air balloon hit the water. It was only one of many, but the destruction felt cathartic.

The satisfaction only lasted for a second. It was quickly replaced with the thought 'Aang wouldn't approve of this.' The sour tang of self-disgust filled her mouth - along with seawater.

The small explosions died down as she treaded water and the airships began to move again. They moved quickly off into the distance.

"Katara!" A frantic voice came from overhead. She looked up and saw Appa. Zuko peered out over the side of the air bison. His face searched the water.

"Zuko!" Katara called out scared the sound of the ocean would drown out her voice. She quickly bent a piece of ice to hold on to, then attempted to bend a small whip above her head. Something to flag down her friend.

He luckily saw her and directed Appa to land in the water close by. She scrambled up the wet air bison's back.

"We have to find the crew," Katara said with a sputter, as she coughed up seawater.

The duo spent the next few minutes searching the wreckage. They found five of the seven men that sailed with Katara. The other two had been hit by the metal projectiles and were presumably taken by the ocean. Many of them hung to the debris of the ruined cruiser. They got the men safely aboard Appa, but then Katara saw movement near the sunk air balloon only a few meters away.

"Can you get us closer?" She asked Zuko and he nodded. Once closer she realized it was a rebel grasping onto a wooden plank. Immediately she bent a wave of water to bring the person closer to the bison. There were shouts of protest, as Katara forced them closer.

"What are you doing?" Zuko questioned, his voice tight.

"We can question them." The Fire Lord didn't say anything but helped as Katara forced the prisoner aboard by enlarging the wave. The crew then bound and gagged the man, not that he was too much of a threat at the moment. Once complete, they began flying as fast as the weighed air bison could towards the rest of the ships.

A minute passed.

"You didn't have to come for us," Katara said unable to look her friend in the eye. The shame of the failed mission and two people's death weighed on her shoulders.

"I told you, you didn't have to do this alone," Zuko stated, but said nothing more. Katara was grateful for the lack of chastisement, but the awkward silence that followed made her nervous. Katara busied herself with healing the minor wounds of the remaining crew instead of stewing in the silence.

—

They made it to the ships before the air balloons, but only by a small margin. Appa crashed onto the deck in exhaustion of carrying so much weight, and Zuko and Katara immediately sprung into action. They told the leaders onboard of the looming threat.

Appa narrowly escaped detection by flying above the air fleet. They had realized not all of the balloons had been hijacked from the funeral. Some were solid black and the force was much greater than Katara and the crew realized.

In the panic, no leaders asked why Katara was near the Southern Air Temple or why Zuko flew out to save her. Instead, the safety of their own lives took hold.

There was very little discussion, but the consensus was the small force couldn't fight the air fleet. So they would all go their separate ways to try and outrun the threat. Within minutes each delegate and leader was on their respective ship, running away at high speeds.

Katara and the misplaced water tribe members stayed on the Fire Nation ship. They had decided it was the best course of action after losing the cruiser.

In the meantime, Zuko took full command of the ship. He directed the prisoner to be secured with a guard. Then called for all hands in the furnace room to provide as much power to the vessel as possible. Katara was astounded by the leadership her friend exhibited in the time of crisis. After giving clear orders, the Fire Lord also went down to the furnaces and Katara was left alone on the deck.

She looked to the night sky for any sign of the fleet, but there was none. Regardless, it did little to dampen the tightness in her chest. She needed something to do with her hands, so she went down to the infirmary for the second time that evening. Or now, early morning.

Ursa, her sleeping father, and the dressed dead were the only ones in the room. The healer searched around for any small task to do. Ursa seemed to notice her need for work and handed her some herbs.

"Why don't you crush these." The older woman said softly, pointing to a mortar and pestle on the side table. "I need them in a fine paste."

Katara nodded, thankful for the distraction.

As she crushed the dried stems her breathing slowed. The rhythmic movements lulled her into a meditative state. Ursa sat next to her rolling bandages. Her calm presence grounded Katara.

"I made an incredibly poor decision today."

Ursa's face looked pained, "It's hard, isn't it? Making good decisions while caught it your own tumult of emotions."

Her tone wasn't accusatory. Instead, her words came from a place of understanding.

"I'm scared Ting was right. I am not ready to make important decisions or think strategically. I have the death of two men on my hands to prove my incompetence." Katara's entire body felt heavy and fatigued.

"There is no shame in taking time to recover." The older woman said. She leaned in slightly, moving closer to the waterbender's slumped body. "I find that it often makes us stronger on the other side."

Katara didn't want to admit that she needed the time to mentally collect herself. With her brother missing and her father injured, it seemed selfish. Not to mention the precarious political situation. She would need to be a diplomat more than ever. However, Katara logically knew the situation would worsen if she inserted herself too soon. There was also the question of the child.

At the thought, Katara's hands went to her stomach instinctually. She looked down. It was too early for her to start showing, but it would only be a matter of time. Toph hadn't been wrong. She was the last lifeline to a potential Air Nation. If the information leaked, it would likely put her in greater danger. And there was no doubt from the attack at the ceremony that she was a target.

"You know," Ursa began, as she rolled a course, linen bandage, "My mother taught me about pregnancy herbs and care. We could keep you comfortable and secret at the Royal Palace during the duration of your pregnancy."

"Are you and Zuko in this together?" Katara asked with a small chuckle.

"No, did he offer to let you stay too?" Ursa asked, her eyebrow raised. "Of course, it doesn't surprise me. He always speaks about you as his closest friend."

Katara nodded as she finished the paste. "I had a trip scheduled to the Fire Nation to discuss the last phase of the Southern Water Tribe reparations package. Zuko thought it would be a good cover that we could extend as needed."

"It's a good idea."

"I'll need to think about it." The waterbender stated as she scraped the fragrant, brown paste into a glass container.

"Of course. I'll be here, regardless of the decision you make."

—

The ship made it to the docks of the Fire Nation capital without incident, but the lack of pursuit meant another convoy had been likely followed. However, it would be half a week before news of the others got back to the mixed party.

Katara stood at the front of the ship watching the city draw nearer. After the 100 years war, she had grown fond of the Fire Nation Capital. Without Ozai, the city teemed with life and energy. Its citizens moving in vibrant shades of red. Accented with pops of green, blues, and yellows from traders and tourists.

Zuko startled her when he appeared soundlessly to her left.

"Have you given any thought to my offer?"

They hadn't talked since the rescue. But any annoyance that Katara expected in his voice wasn't there. It was just his usual cool, pragmatic tone.

"I have." The waterbender said looking into the glistening harbor.

"And?"

"I'll stay here until the child is born." She said looking up at her friend. Katara swore she could see a glimmer in his gold eyes, but dismissed it as a play of light.

"I know that wasn't an easy decision." Zuko said almost apologetically, "If it's any consolation, I'll appreciate your company."

Katara broke eye contact and looked at a passing fishing vessel. "I plan on working while I'm here. I don't want to just be on bed rest for months."

"I wouldn't dream of suggesting it. Besides I need your advice on some new proposals."