They reached Kyoshi Island after a full day's travel. Lily had sold off the elaborate kimono she had previously worn as well as her silver bracelet, anklets, and rings, all except for the ring made out of red amber resin. Kai had stopped her from selling it, telling her that they had enough money and that she should keep it in case it brings up more memories.

The money was used to buy an ostrich-horse for the journey; half of what was left was used to rent a boat that would take them to the island.

Kai told her the story of Kyoshi Island; how it used to be connected to the mainland of the Earth Kingdom, but because of Chin the Conqueror's ambition to take all of the Earth Kingdom under his thumb, Avatar Kyoshi decided to separate the peninsula from the mainland and move it far away in the middle of the seas.

Once on the docks, the crew pointed them in the right direction and they found the settlement easily. Unlike the other Earth Kingdom settlements, their houses were made of wood and had steeply pitched roofs compared to the stone houses of Kai's town. They also wore blue clothing instead of the traditional green of the Earth Kingdom dwellers.

They asked around the people and they gladly took them to the hut of the village leader, Oyaji. Kai and Lily bowed in greeting. "Good morning, Sir."

The old village leader reciprocated with a slight bow of his head. "So what brings you young travelers here in Kyoshi Island?"

Lily stepped forward to explain. "Sir, I was saved by his family after a day out on the sea, but I have lost all of my memories of the past. Recently, I had this slight flash of a memory. A younger me, and... and I had white face paint, and two golden fans. They told me that I might have been a Kyoshi warrior!"

Oyaji nodded his head deep in thought. "It is true that our warriors are distinguished by their paint and fans. But sadly, the warriors are not here."

"Why not?" Lily blinked, confused.

"Our warriors were inspired by the Avatar to join the efforts in ending the Hundred Year War. They are now at Full Moon Bay, guarding the ferries that will take the refugees to Ba Sing Se."

Kai comforted Lily with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sir, I do not mean any offense, but this is a small village. Perhaps, she is a familiar face to you?"

Oyaji looked over the beautiful young woman, noting her amber eyes, pale skin, and short-cropped wavy hair. "I'm afraid not. If I had met her, I would not forget such a beautiful face."

Lily looked down, disappointed that the trip came to a dead end. "Thank you, Sir."

"But, I do recommend that you go to Ba Sing Se University!" Oyaji added quickly after seeing the beautiful woman's sadness. "There they hold the most extensive records of any organizations and groups from all across the four nations. Meet the Kyoshi warriors at Full Moon Bay. If it so happens that they cannot help you, ask to go to Ba Sing Se University. Hopefully, you will find answers that you seek there."

"Did you hear that, Lily?" Kai smiled and looked at her. "We're going to Ba Sing Se!"

After surviving the attack of the Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos, Zuko and Iroh escaped on their ostrich horse. "It's nice to see old friends..." Iroh mused as he held the reigns tight.

"Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you!" Zuko commented, looking back for any signs that they were being followed.

This gave Iroh a great idea. "Hmm... old friends that don't want to attack me..." With renewed vigor, he headed for the direction of the Misty Palms Oasis.

They reached the town of Misty Palms Oasis by noon. It used to be one of nature's wonders, home to the pristine, natural ice spring. But now, the oasis has deteriorated severely and the ice spring has almost completely melted away.

Zuko tied the ostrich-horse to a post and approached his uncle who was looking at a notice board. Right in the middle of the notice board was a poster with their faces, branding them as traitors to the Fire Nation. There was a hefty price above their heads, dead or alive.

"Uncle, are you sure, we should stop here?" Zuko looked around warily, but no one seemed to pay attention to two other travelers in the Si Wong Desert like them.

"I am sure. I am looking for someone."

The wind blew hard from the desert, the sudden gust taking one of the posters off the board, and it landed on Zuko's feet. It was a 'missing persons' ad. He picked it up and what he saw made the blood drain from his face.

It was a very detailed sketch of Chiyo's face, smiling up at him. The ad read:

MISSING

APPRENTICE ENTERTAINER

-CHIYO-

Last seen in the high seas near Western Earth Kingdom

If found, please turn her over to Fire Nation Authorities

REWARD: 100,000 Gold Pieces

"What is it, Prince Zuko?" Iroh approached him, worried.

"I-It's Chiyo, Uncle..." He gripped the poster tight in his hands, shaking uncontrollably. "Azula must have imprisoned her... Only she is capable of doing something like this!"

Iroh looked at the poster, worry also etched in his face for his friend, the young apprentice. "I know Princess Azula, Zuko. She is not the type to imprison and hide people. If anything, she wants things dealt with quickly-"

"So are you saying that Azula killed her?!"

"No!" He gripped his nephew's arms. "From your stories during your adolescence, the princess was very fond of Chiyo. You said she considered her a friend like Mai and Ty Lee. And this poster says that she was lost in the high seas..." Iroh's face filled with dread as he realized what his thoughts led him to.

The high seas were known for destructive storms and maelstroms; and the strong wind currents bring about waves twice the height of any warship. If indeed they were caught in one of those, she might be...

"SHE'S NOT DEAD, UNCLE!" Even Zuko realized it, but he refused to believe it. He chose to believe that Azula has her locked away, safe.

His outburst brought the attention of a few travelers and sandbenders lounging about. Iroh pulled Zuko to the safety of the cantina. They found an empty spot in the far corner, pulling their hats low on their faces.

They sat down and Iroh looked around. Across the room, he found what he was looking for.

"You brought us here to gamble on pai sho?!" Zuko looked at his uncle like he had lost his head.

"I don't think this is a gamble..." The approached the man in front of a pai sho board. "May I have this game?"

"The guest has the first move." The old man gestured to the board.

Iroh took one of the tiles from the pile, and placed it in the center.

The old man looked at it with sharp eyes. "I see you favor the white lotus gambit, not many still cling to the ancient ways."

"Those who do can always find a friend."

"Then let us play."

Zuko could care less about his uncle and his stupid game. He pulled out Chiyo's poster once again from his pocket, staring at the sketch that somehow captured her perfectly. His heart ached at the fact that she really might have perished in a storm in the high seas.

But he cannot give up hope. Not when he has yet to face her, not when he has yet to hold her in his arms, not when he hasn't told her that...

The old men had finished their game and Zuko looked at the board. With the tiles they had laid, they had formed the image of a lotus.

"The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

"What are you old gasbags talking about?"

Iroh smiled. "I always tried to tell you that pai sho is more than just a game."

"It's over! You two fugitives are coming with me!" They were suddenly approached by large, muscular man, followed by what looked like an Earth Kingdom eunuch. Iroh and Zuko deduced that they might be referring to their status as wanted traitors with a price above their heads.

Suddenly, the old man that Iroh had played pai sho with interfered. "I knew it! You two are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your heads!" His voice was loud enough to draw the attention of the whole cantina.

Zuko glared at his uncle. If the old guy was truly his friend, then why is he pushing them further into deep water? "I thought you said he would help?!"

"He is..." Uncle Iroh whispered to his nephew. "Just watch."

The man turned to the two others. "You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?!" At the mention of the word gold, a few other men stood up, gripping their weapons, excitement in their eyes.

A fight suddenly broke out. The thugs attacked the men with swords and knives, but the foreigners took them down easily with the help of earthbending. However, by the time they had taken down all their enemies, their bounty was gone.

Zuko and Iroh were led to a flower shop by the man who had somehow saved them from the thugs. "It is an honor to welcome such a high-ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus." He bowed to Iroh. "Being a grandmaster, you must know so many secrets!"

The prince still had no idea of his uncle's deal with the game. "Now that you've played pai sho, are you gonna do some flower arranging? Or is someone in this club gonna offer some real help?"

"You must forgive my nephew..." Iroh smiled at the man as they approached the door that led to a back room. "He is not an initiate, and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts."

The man knocked at the door, and a small peephole of a window opened halfway. "Who knocks at the garden gate?"

"One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries."

The door opened for them, and Iroh stepped in with the old man. Zuko was about to follow, but they closed the door in front of him. Iroh opened the small window again. "I'm afraid it's 'members only'. Wait out here." Without waiting for a reply, he closed it again.

Zuko was left in the room of flowers, frustrated. He looked around at the various flora until his eyes landed on the familiar bright red of a fire lily. He knew them to only last a few weeks in the summer, but this flower, though way past it season, still bloomed beautifully.

"Chiyo..." He whispered as he touched one of the petals. It broke off and fell to the floor.

In the darkness of the room, the fallen petal looked ominously like a drop of blood.

The next morning, Iroh found his nephew sitting, asleep on the floor, still holding Chiyo's poster. With a clear of the throat, Zuko woke up, suddenly alert. "What's going on? Is the club meeting over?"

"Everything is taken care of." Iroh bowed to the man deeply and turned to his nephew. "We're heading to Ba Sing Se."