Wind swirled around Ty Lee's hands, fluttering her clothes and the loose strands of her hair. Her chest tightened and her heart fluttered and skipped erratically. She swallowed. The wind got larger, expanding and expanding.

"Don't lose it," Shen warned. "Keep it under control."

Her hands trembled. The white sails flapped with the wind and the waves sloshed harder against the sides of the ship. She couldn't slow her breathing. All that power, all that bending. Her stomach twisted and heaved, even as the boat groaned and rocked to the side.

"Stop." Shen placed his hand on her shoulder. "That's enough."

She exhaled shakily and collapsed to her knees. The wind died in an instant, allowing the sails and waves to calm. A lump formed in her throat.

"Do you know where you went wrong?" Shen asked.

Her head remained bowed. "I got scared."

"And why were you scared?"

"Because …"

His grip tightened on her shoulder.

Tears prickled her eyes and she lowered her head even more. "Because I don't want to be an airbender."

Shen knelt in front of her. "That's a lie. When I broke the seal, you took my hand. You wanted the power to bend. Don't deny it."

"It was a mistake. I shouldn't have—this is wrong. I'm not meant to be this way."

"You are perfect." He took her face in his hands and met her gaze. "You are perfect, Little Rainbow. Don't be afraid. Learn to control your abilities. Learn to master them."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "The Fire Nation hates airbenders. They'll hate me now. They'll probably try to imprison or execute me."

Maybe even Azula would feel obligated to kill her once she learned the truth.

He wiped away her tears. "You and I are not so different. Those like us have been hunted and killed just for existing, but something I have realised is that it's not enough to hide. The ones who fear and seek to hurt us, they are the ones in the wrong. You should not deny yourself just to appease them."

Ty Lee frowned at her hands.

"Come." He helped her back to her feet. "Let's try again, and this time don't let your fears get to you. Air is the element of freedom. Embrace your power. Enjoy the wings it will give you."

She bit her lip.

"You still hesitate?"

"I just … I don't understand why you're doing this. Why break the seal? How did you know I was a bender? How do you even know all these airbending forms? You're a firebender. You shouldn't know—"

"There are many things I've picked up over the years." He stepped back from her. "Now enough talking. Show me what you can do. See if you can make the ship move faster."

She almost flinched. He'd been kinder of late, but she had not forgotten his flashes of cruelty. She had not forgotten that he was holding her and Azula prisoner. Safety on this boat was only assured through cooperation. It was a warning in his eyes.

Quietly, she resumed a bending stance and guided the air into following the movements of her hands. It was as natural as breathing, as natural as walking on thin tightropes high up in a circus tent. Yet that was also the scary part. It was too natural.

"Don't be afraid."

She inhaled and closed her eyes. Shen was right about one thing at least: she would gain nothing by shying from her bending. Air was a part of her. Nothing was going to change that. She had to learn to control the wind. She had to learn to use her wings, as he called it. Maybe then she would be strong enough.

Maybe then she and Azula could escape … if Azula would even want to be around an airbender.

oOo

It was the cute boy who brought Ty Lee her meal later. Though she was allowed on deck to practice bending with Shen, she was still kept in the hold whenever she wasn't needed. Fortunately, the room had been made cosier for her with blankets and a lantern—rewards for being cooperative—but it was still lonely. She was glad to see the cute boy. He was much nicer than the others, even if they'd only met the one time.

"Hello again," she beamed. "Did Shen assign you to be Azula's jailor or something? I never see you down here."

He tilted his head. Right. He was deaf. That might be a problem. She'd been hoping to get information about Azula since Shen liked to keep her guessing and Hina was as tight-lipped as a doll, but Ty Lee had never learnt sign language. Unless …

She waited for him to place the tray of food down, then quickly held her hands up in a halting gesture so he wouldn't leave. He paused obligingly. His eyes were soft and curious—not like the hardened eyes of Hina or the deadened calm she often saw in Shen. That encouraged her.

"Hello," she wrote slowly on the floor, near the lantern's light. "Can we talk like this?"

His mouth lifted at the corners and he sat down next to her. "Yes. Though I can't stay long."

She nodded. "My name is Ty Lee. What's yours?"

"Atsuo."

"You healed my friend, right? Is she okay?"

His brow furrowed and he paused a moment before writing. "The wound was bad. I couldn't heal her arm fully. I'm sorry."

"But she's okay?"

"As okay as any of us can be with that thing around."

"Thing?"

Atsuo's finger paused on the first stroke of the character he'd been about to write. His hand trembled with so much force it was as if he was trying to push against an invisible wall. A muffled sound escaped his throat.

Ty Lee's eyes widened. "Are you okay?"

He let his palm fall flat against the floor. His cheeks were too pale and he seemed to stare at nothing. Seconds dragged and he still did not move. She tapped his arm, getting his attention before writing to ask if he was okay.

He met her eyes briefly. "I have to go."

"Hey, wait—"

But he had already fled and locked the door behind him.

oOo

"You're not going to watch the final round of the tournament?" Katara asked, coming to sit next to Zuko on the crate. "It's about to start."

He shook his head. "Aang will probably win anyway."

"Still could be interesting. The match is between him and Suki."

"It's just a fight."

She nudged him with her shoulder. "Is this because you got out in the first round?"

"What? No. And that was Azula's fault."

He'd been in the middle of a match with Tomoki when Azula had contacted him through the bond, making him lose his grasp on the fire shield he'd been forming. A second later he'd been knocked out of the ring.

"Sure, sure. Blame it on your sister."

He furrowed his brow. Katara's lips curved into a cheeky grin.

"What about you?" he said. "I don't see you in the final."

"Toph got me," she muttered, grin quickly twisting into a scowl.

He bit his lip so he wouldn't smile.

Katara sighed and leaned back on her palms. "Well, I guess we both lost in the end."

Silence settled between them, though it wasn't uncomfortable. There was no need to scrabble for words to keep the conversation going when they were together. It was something he appreciated about her.

"Hey," she said more softly. "About Azula … has she said anything else?"

"There isn't much she can tell us. Shen keeps her isolated. She doesn't see anyone except the chi blocker who brings her food."

"Have you wondered that she might be lying to you about her situation?"

He traced his finger along the cracks in the crate. "All the time."

The pause was much longer this time.

"Sorry." Her hand came to rest on top of his. "I guess you don't want to hear this from me right now. I know everyone has been giving you a hard time."

"It's fine. I can't blame you all for not trusting her. She is what she is."

Katara squeezed his hand. "At least we'll be at the island soon. We can save your mum."

"I don't even know what I'll say to her," he admitted. "So many years have passed since we last saw each other."

"Then just give her a big hug, like this." Katara's arms came around him, holding tight. Her voice softened to a whisper. "I think she'd like that."

oOo

They reached the island two days later. It was small, not even worth a dot on the map, but it had naturally-formed pillars walling everything off like jagged rows of teeth. A few smears of colour were glimpsed between the sharp points—scraggly shrubs that seemed on the verge of death.

"Looks cosy," Sokka observed.

Zuko's mouth had gone dry. He couldn't believe his mum had been living on this barren spit of land. How could anyone survive here, let alone for years?

"I, uh, think I've changed my mind about going ashore," Tomoki said. "This place gives me the creeps."

"Coward," Toph taunted.

"Or is it wisdom?" Shizue gazed at the island with an unreadable expression. "It would be better if most of you stayed on the ship. This is no ordinary place. There's something here that plays tricks on the mind, makes you do unthinkable things."

"Isn't that what baldie is for?" Mai said dryly. "The Avatar is supposed to have some special connection with the spirits."

Aang rubbed the base of his neck. "Uh, yeah, but I never got taught about the spiritual side of things. I kind of just wing it." He gave a sheepish grin.

Mai stared at him until his shoulders drooped and he fidgeted with the edge of his sleeve.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Katara said, always ready to be the optimistic one. "Aang managed to appease Hei Bai. He can do the same for whatever spirits inhabit this island. Besides, we're already here. We can't turn back."

Shizue frowned. "I'm not suggesting we turn back, but I warned you before that a smaller group is best."

"She's right," Iroh said. "There's no need for us all to go. Besides, we know from Azula that Shen is close. We need people to protect the ship and stop the Silencers from interfering."

Zuko stepped onto the ramp leading to the stony beach. "Well, I'm definitely going."

Aang and Shizue were also a given. Katara insisted on coming, which prompted Sokka (who didn't want to be left out) and Hakoda (who wanted to be with his kids) to join as well. The rest agreed to stay with the ship.

With that decided, the group of six headed for the pillars. The sharp little stones that speckled the beach crunched under their boots—the only sound to be heard aside from the waves lapping against the shore. Zuko swallowed, his shoulders pinching. Everything seemed so untouched here. So lifeless.

"Where would my mother even be?" he murmured, looking ahead to Shizue. "Do you know?"

She paused with her back facing them. "Probably at the centre of the island."

Hakoda moved to stand beside her. "Judging by your tone, it doesn't sound like that's a good thing."

"It's not. Plus, we'll have to pass through the maze to get there."

"Maze?" Sokka said.

She pointed to a gap between two pillars. "In there. The path is narrow and splits often. It's easy to get lost."

"You don't remember the way?" Katara asked.

"It's been years and my memories were rewritten. What do you think?"

"Right. Sorry."

Sokka grabbed Aang's shoulders. "Not a problem. Aang can just do his airbendy thing, get to the top of one of those pillars, and tell us the way!"

"On it!"

Aang was off with a blast of wind. The others coughed and waved the dust from their faces. They soon spotted him running up the side of the closest pillar.

"He's fast," Hakoda observed. "I never knew airbenders could run like that."

Sokka scrunched his nose. "It's all air. I bet I could take him if he used no bending."

Katara rolled her eyes. "I seriously doubt that. Even I'm faster than you."

"Are not."

"Are too. Don't you remember that—"

"Quiet." Shizue pushed them both out of her way as she stepped closer to the pillar. "Something's wrong."

Zuko's brow creased. "You're right. Why's he just standing there?"

"Ah, he's probably just taking a while to figure out our path," Sokka said with a careless wave of his hand. "Don't worry. He'll be down soon."

All the hairs on Zuko's arms prickled. "No, he's not moving his head or anything. He's just … standing."

Shizue let out a hiss. "We have to get him down. Get him down now!"

Zuko was already running. There was a chill pumping through his veins, urging him to move faster, faster, faster. Suddenly, Aang stepped off the pillar. No warning, no attempt to shift into a proper form for landing. Just walked right off and began to fall.

"Aang!" Katara screamed.

No wind to stabilise, no sound or show of awareness. Aang was going to make impact with the ground head first.

Zuko cursed and threw himself forward—just in time. Aang fell into his arms and was quickly scooped to his chest as momentum carried them forward. One breath, two breaths. It took Zuko a moment to realise they had stopped. Then the adrenaline faded and he was aware of the bone-deep ache in his arms and how much his back stung. He must have grazed it on the sharp rocks.

"Aang?" He raised his head to look at Aang, who was just a dead weight on his chest. "Are you alright?"

A small groan, a shift of limbs. "What … what happened?"

"You almost got yourself killed!"

That was Katara. She pulled Aang into a tight hug, even as she continued to scold him for trying to give her a heart attack. Sokka, Hakoda and Shizue also crowded around and demanded to know what had caused him to walk off the pillar like that.

"I did what?" Aang glanced up at the pillar with wide eyes. "But I was just …"

"Just what?" Zuko prompted.

"I … there was a path. It was solid and everything."

"Sure," Sokka said dryly. "Real solid. Except, you know, you just fell!" He waved his arms around as his voice got louder and more panicky. "What are we supposed to do? Aang is meant to be our spirit buster guy, yet he's the one seeing invisible paths and almost dying! This place is nuts!"

Some of the colour had drained from Shizue's cheeks, but she held her head high. "I did warn you. I warned you the island plays tricks."

Hakoda looked at her grimly. "You mean we can expect more things like this?"

"Whatever watches over this place knows we're here." She looked up at the towering pillars. "My guess is we just witnessed a punishment for trying to cheat the maze."

"Punishment?" Katara repeated. "Aang almost died!"

"What did you expect? An easy stroll? Spirits don't care about human lives. They don't care about any of us!"

Zuko stepped onto the narrow path.

"Woah, hold up there," Hakoda said, reaching to pull him back.

"Why?" Zuko turned to face them. "What's the point of standing around here and discussing this? We already knew coming here would be dangerous."

"That's true, but—"

"My mother has been trapped on this island for years. You can go back to the ship if you want, but I won't. I won't leave without her."

Aang straightened his posture. "I won't either. I promised I'd help. That promise still stands."

Katara slipped her hand in Zuko's. "Me too."

The three exchanged a strained smile. Sokka groaned and grumbled about how he thought the island was creepy and how they were all probably going to die, but he also agreed they should keep going forward. Zuko's mum was depending on them.

"Alright," Hakoda said, "but I suggest we stick together from now on. No more straying from the group. No more shortcuts. We don't want any more … punishments."

They all nodded in agreement.

Shizue led them into the maze, her face pale and her eyes as hard as granite. Zuko took one last glance at the ship before it passed out of view. Then there was only rock and a spider web of paths.

oOo

"That must be the healer's ship," Hina observed, peering through the telescope. "It would take more than a few people to run a ship that size." Her lips twisted. "The princess didn't mention anything about a crew."

"Mm, yes, I'm sure she thought she was being clever," Shen said placidly. "You see, this is where we're supposed to realise we're outnumbered and flounder in panic."

"Ridiculous. We'll just get her to tell us how many people are on the ship. Then we can make a plan."

"Oh, I wouldn't bother with that."

She lowered the telescope. "Why not?"

His eyes glittered oddly. "You've never heard the stories about this island, have you? People say it's cursed. Those who go near it are never seen again."

"You don't actually believe that, do you?"

He just smiled.

She frowned and peered back through the telescope, this time shifting her attention to the island. It looked normal enough, if a bit bleak. Then something greyish-white gushed from the pillars, thick and slithering around the island like a hoard of white snakes. Her heartbeat quickened.

"What … what is this?" she murmured. "The entire island is shrouded in fog. How is this even—"

"Perfect. We can go ashore now."

"What?"

He patted her shoulder. "Don't be afraid. The island is doing half our job for us, but it wouldn't be good if the healer got caught up in it as well. We need to retrieve him."

Fear crawled up her throat. "You mean the curse on this place is real?"

"In a way. The island is controlled by a spirit. A rather unpleasant spirit."

"And what's going to stop it from harming us?"

"That's a risk we have to take."

She tightened her grip on the telescope and her pulse throbbed uncomfortably in her neck. "Enough! We may be able to fight any number of humans, but not spirits! You're going to get us killed!"

"Hina dear, have you forgotten why I need this boy? Have you forgotten what it will mean for your friend if I can't reach him?"

She stiffened. "No, but—"

"But what?" He stepped closer and even though he was a whole head shorter than her, it felt like he was looming. "My power and knowledge is far beyond your comprehension. Trust me when I say we will leave this island alive if you listen to me, but only if you listen to me."

She swallowed and resisted the urge to step back. "Are you sure? Are you sure you can keep us safe?"

"One hundred percent."

There was a pause as they stared at each other.

"Fine," she said, looking the other way. "But what about Atsuo and the two girls?"

"They're coming as well. Our healer seems to have found a way to hide his energy from me; the princess can be used to locate him faster. As for Little Rainbow and Atsuo, they have their own uses."

She glanced back at the island, though all she could see now was fog and the jutting tips of rocks. Her heartbeat quickened again. Fear was sticky on her tongue, staining her lips with words she wanted to speak, but she held it all in. She and Shen had come this far together. It was too late to turn back now. Far, far too late.

oOo

Mai stepped onto the deck and saw only fog. It was thick and choking, blinding everything. Panicked shouts sounded from all over the ship, along with mutters about curses and ill omens.

"Oi, brat!" she called. "Where are you?"

A light went up a few metres away. Firebender. She moved closer and found herself meeting Yuzo's pale gold eyes.

"Knives," he greeted.

"Spare me the nicknames. Where's Toph? She's the one we need right now."

"Your guess is as good as mine. I haven't seen her since our rescue team left. Can't see jack in this fog either."

Another light struck up. Tomoki was soon at their side, cradling his own fire above his palm. Sokka's girlfriend stood beside him. "What's going on?" he asked. "Where did this fog even come from? It's like I just blinked and suddenly it was all around us."

Mai folded her arms across her chest. "Cursed island, remember? Seems staying on the ship wasn't so safe after all."

Tomoki turned to the cabins. "I'm going to find the lieutenant and general. They'll know what to do." He dwindled into an orange glow as he vanished back into the fog.

"I somehow doubt those old men will be able to stop this," Yuzo observed, waving his hand at the hazy cloak enfolding the ship.

Mai shrugged. "You're probably right." She glanced to her left, only to frown. "Where's that fan warrior girl? Wasn't she just here?"

"Fan warrior girl? And you complain about my nicknames."

She rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Toph's voice shouted from a distance away. "What do you think you're—"

There was a cry of pain. Yuzo and Mai exchanged a startled glance before rushing to the direction of the sound. They found Toph stooped on her knees, groaning and with one hand pressed to her head.

"What happened?" Mai demanded.

"Fan Girl. She was trying to leave the ship, but when I went to stop her she hit me with her stupid fan and ran off down the ramp." A small hiss. "Damn that hurts."

Mai's eyebrow rose. "You actually got hit?"

Colour bloomed on Toph's cheeks. "I'm allowed to have an off day, okay? Besides, there's something about this place that just … messes with everything."

"That I can believe," Mai muttered. "This fog is weird. Still, why would that girl run off? She must not be able to see a thing out there. We have to bring her back before she gets hurt."

Now it was Toph's turn to raise her eyebrows. "Didn't realise you two were so close."

"We're not, but see how much Sokka fusses if he learns we didn't help his girlfriend."

Toph pulled a face. "You're right."

Yuzo glanced between the two girls. "I suppose you want me to come."

"Obviously." Mai grabbed his arm. "You're going to be my light."

"Wait!" Toph suddenly thrust her arms out and managed to trap one of the Water Tribe warriors in metal before he could throw himself overboard. A split-second later she had to do the same for another. Her face was white and her eyes wide. That fall would have seriously injured both men.

"What the hell is going on?" Yuzo muttered. "Has everyone gone crazy?"

Mai gritted her teeth. "Seems like it."

She didn't know what to do now. The longer they stayed on the ship, the farther Fan Warrior Girl got away. But if they left, what would happen to everyone else? Were any of them really safe?

Toph stiffened. "I think someone just came onto the ship."

"Fan Warrior?"

"No … it doesn't feel like her." A tense pause. "Wait, I lost them."

Suddenly, there was a scream and a gurgling sound from up ahead.

Knives rimmed Mai's knuckles and her breathing sharpened. "I don't care if this person is one of us or not. I'm not dying today. Not here."

"Then maybe this will help," Yuzo said.

He let his flames expand in a rush, only to have them collide with another wall of orange. As the glow faded, a boy with long black hair turned to look at them. Blood smeared his cheek and dripped from the sword in his hand. There was a wounded man at his feet.

"Atsuo?" Yuzo whispered.

Atsuo stepped forward.

"I thought you were dead." Yuzo trembled all over. "I felt our bond get cut." He made a few complicated gestures with his hands before making a motion as if to throw himself into Atsuo's arms, but Mai held him back.

"Don't," she hissed. "Look at him, you fool. He just stabbed that warrior."

"No. No, Atsuo would never—"

"There's blood all over him!"

Yuzo's eyes widened as he finally seemed to register the dying man and the blood smears. He staggered back a step. "Atsuo?"

Atsuo threw flames at them. Toph quickly put up a metal shield.

"You sure this is your lost boyfriend?" she demanded. "Because judging by the heat of his flames, he doesn't seem too interested in a happy reunion."

Yuzo shook his head. "I don't understand. That's definitely Atsuo, but he would never—he hates fighting! He would never try to hurt us."

"Better rethink that, because that's exactly what he's trying to do." Toph paused. "Though it seems we're not his only target. He just ran off."

"Damn it." Yuzo dashed after him into the fog.

Mai blinked and then scowled. "I wish people would stop doing that." Not to mention she couldn't see again. "Well, what do we do now? Go after him or Fan Warrior?"

"Lovesick Boy is still on the ship … and he just bumped into Gramps. I think he'll be fine. Let's go for Fan Girl."

"Alright, but I have to warn you I can't see a thing without Yuzo."

A warm hand latched onto hers. "No problem. I'll be your eyes."

Mai was already being dragged down the ramp before she could protest.

Just gonna give a heads up now that while the island arc does get creepy, I promise it won't be full horror. I can't stand horror - refuse to watch or read it. So yeah. The island is creepy, but it's like Koh level. (Also gets resolved pretty quickly, so don't worry if you really just not vibing.)