It was the year 100 AG, not that the spirits cared, and the Knowledge Seekers were on the hunt. It was their job, afterall, to sniff out things of interest for their master and the Avatar and his companions were definitely interesting. They would be at the center of a turning point in history but the nature of Zuko and Toph's power was also enticing knowledge. If only they could ghost through the material plane like the other spirits! That would make it so much easier to observe them.

The journey out of the Shi Tong desert was a long one, even if it was one the Seekers made often. The shifting sand made their paws roll when they tried to run and the beating sun made them tire quickly. Even the spirits could be worn out by the desert. They tried not to let it slow them. For the first time in a long time, the Seekers were in active pursuit of a piece of prey and, unfortunately for them, that prey was much faster than they were. Even with the storm and limited duration of Zuko's transformation, their quarry had a pretty hefty head start on them.

The Knowledge Seekers were determined though. This was the most interest Wan Shi Tong had shown in any mortals in a long time. This was an opportunity the Seekers could not afford to mess up. Channeling their strength into their top members, the Seekers split up into teams of three. They'd never be able to keep up with Zuko if they managed to reach them but however fast a dragon was, the Seekers could match that speed with wit. If they got this right, Zuko would need them at only a few pivotal points. The Seekers would be ready when he needed them.

The first skulk of foxes were steadfast and managed to catch up to Zuko and his companions in a matter of weeks. It would have been faster, only the humans found themselves inside the walls of the impenetrable city of Ba Sing Se. The Seekers were skilled but physical barriers were hard to overcome, especially ones as formidable as the ones around Ba Sing Se.

At least the humans wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. They seemed tired yet too restless to sleep at night. The loss of their bison was distressing, it seemed. One of the Seekers whined, earning a warning nip to keep quiet from another fox, but they all shared the sentiment. They likely could have helped the earthbender fight the sandbenders, or bit the bison free of the net themselves. That was not their role though. What they could do was collect, impose, and protect knowledge. An opportunity for knowledge was never a long wait.

"Yue first transformed without the moon when these spirits called the Kemurikage tried to take me back to the Fire Nation. The poles have long periods of darkness in the winter and it's nearly impossible for a firebender to survive that long without the sun," Zuko was explaining, "so she taught me how to transform to keep myself alive. Our connection to Tui was stronger at night but we could transform during the day. I know the others can't ride you in your serpent form but you should know how to transform on your own."

Toph nodded, looking excited. "Let's do this!"

"Not in the middle of our yard!" the waterbender girl– Katara, the Seekers had learned– called. One of the Seekers snorted, unimpressed by the patch of fenced in grass she'd called a yard. There was real grass outside the city. They could have however much they wanted if they just left. Another fox cuffed it over the ear with one paw and snarled for it to remain quiet. They'd reveal themselves when they were ready, not a moment sooner. "Joo Dee would be really upset if you destroyed the house."

"Fine," Toph whined but she didn't actually seem all that upset about it. "Hit me with whatever you got, Sparky."

The Seekers pricked their ears and leaned in, listening closely so they'd have every detail right when they reported back to Wan Shi Tong. Zuko's words made no sense to them though. Some parts they understood, parts about pulling on their spiritual power, but he was describing all sorts of sensations that the Seekers had never experienced. The Seekers probably would have declared this useless knowledge if Toph wasn't nodding along like she understood. So, they just committed Zuko's words to memory. Maybe Wan Shi Tong could understand better than they could. Afterall, they were just humble servants and he was He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things.

"Hey, whatever you're doing, I think it's caught some spirits' attention," the Avatar called out, gesturing loosely in the Seekers direction. Immediately, his companions' gazes snapped in their direction. One of the Seekers growled at itself under its breath. Their cover was blown. It wasn't a huge loss though. Now was as good a time as any to reveal themselves. Stepping out of their hiding place in the shadows under the house's porch, the Seekers prowled into the humans' 'yard,' earning a gasp from the Avatar. "Hey, you're the foxes from the library!"

"Get back!" Sokka threatened, leaping out of the house and brandishing a weapon at the newcomers. "I'm warning you!"

The Seekers, naturally, ignored him and turned their attention to Zuko and Toph. One of them, taking the lead, padded its way forward and let out a small yip. Zuko frowned. "I'm sorry. I don't understand."

The fox huffed and took another few steps toward, reaching up to firmly plant a paw on Zuko's chest. Drawing on its spiritual presence, it pulsed itself through that point of contact, heavily prodding the Blue Spirit within. Zuko made a choking noise and flinched back. Toph reacted immediately. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

Zuko waved her off as the Seeker retreated back to safety beside its companions. "It's fine, Toph. I think… I think they want to show me something."

The Seekers exchanged a glance, pleased smirks on their muzzles. It was so hard for mortals to understand. Normally trying to get them to listen was a huge hassle. And trying to convince them to do something? Near impossible. Maybe they'd have some good luck with this one.

"What could they possibly want to show us? The bottom of a sinkhole?" Sokka asked, eyes narrow with skepticism. "Because that's what they wanted to show us last time we saw them."

"Me, not us. They want to show me something," Zuko explained, sounding a bit distant. The foxes curled their tails in delight. He was getting it! "Something to do with fire?"

"Fire?" The Avatar perked up. "We did find those scrolls about this ancient civilization called the Sun Warriors in Wan Shi Tong's library. Maybe they know more about them. Ooh, maybe they feel bad about what Wan Shi Tong did and now they want to help and make up for it!"

Sokka opened his mouth to protest but Katara beat him to it. "Maybe but Sokka has a point, Aang. They work for Wan Shi Tong and he doesn't exactly like us."

"A lot of people don't like us!"

"You don't have to say that so cheerfully."

"If there's a chance they know something about my fire, I think I have to take it," Zuko spoke up, interrupting the two before they could start bickering. "We're preparing for a battle. I know I won't be able to firebend during the eclipse but it's only a few minutes. I need to be able to bend before it, and I still need to teach Aang."

Katara frowned but nodded. "I understand, Zuko. Is now the best time to pursue this though? I mean, we're still looking for Appa."

"I think we can make do without the boy who can't talk to a stranger to save his life," Sokka said dryly, a note of affection in his tone. "Besides, I'm sure after we find Appa we'll all split up and have our own little adventures anyway. I say let Zuko hang out with his spirit fox buddies if he wants to."

"Weren't you just saying he shouldn't a minute ago?"

"Zuko can do whatever he wants! If he dies, he dies."

"Zuko's not dying," Toph stated firmly, "because he's not going anywhere without me. You know I can handle these stupid foxes if they try anything."

"Maybe don't insult the spirits trying to help us," Zuko suggested, eyes glowing with amusement. He glanced down at the Seekers, tipping his head in question. "Is it okay if she comes with us?"

The Seekers nodded enthusiastically, not sure how to convey that they wanted her to be there. Zuko seemed to accept this though and dipped his head before looking back to his companions. "I guess we're off then?"

"Better hurry," the Avatar said, pointing in the Seekers' direction as they padded out of the yard, "or they'll leave without you."

"Hey, give us a moment to get our things at least!" Zuko cried. The Seekers ignored him, not caring about these humans' material worries. Besides, the other Seekers had probably reached the next checkpoint. They'd have to hurry or they'd miss their chance to catch a train ride out of the city.


Many centuries ago, long before Zhao came and ruined everything, humans visited the library frequently. Wan Shi Tong had brought his library to the space between realms: to have better access to more knowledge on either front. The Seekers could wander into the spirit world and the physical realm as they pleased and both humans and spirits alike could come to share knowledge. The Knowledge Seekers loved it. It was, as the humans said, a win/ win.

Some of the humans didn't like them, sure, but Wan Shi Tong was quick to chase out any who dared raise a hand to his beloved foxes. Most of the humans adored the Seekers anyway and the Seekers, in turn, adored their favorite humans. And they did have favorites. Wan Shi Tong had a number of favorite monks, loving their love of peace and respect for knowledge. The Seekers, on the other hand, favored the firebenders.

Granted, most of the humans who visited the library were either airbenders or firebenders. They were the only ones who could cross the desert to meet them. Waterbenders got too dried out too quickly and earthbenders were always upset by the shifting nature of the sand. Airbenders and firebenders, on the other hand, were well-suited for traversing the desert, with their air bison and machines. Plus, they had a natural resistance to extreme temperatures. Perfect for the desert.

Before the war, the firebenders had a healthy respect for life and culture, earning them Wan Shi Tong's favor quickly. They were also warm and knew how to give excellent belly rubs, which led to the Seekers' love for them. And then the war happened and both Wan Shi Tong and the Seekers lost their favorite visitors. They still got a few over the years though. A few of those visitors were real gems. If only Zhao hadn't ruined it… No matter. That stupid human wasn't about to ruin their reunion.

"Hello there, my friends," Iroh greeted, eyes crinkling as he smiled and bent down to rub a hand under one of the foxes' chin. The Seeker whined and waved its tail in pleasure. It was good to see Iroh again. It'd been sometime since they'd seen him. "What brings you to the Fire Nation? As wonderful as my friend Piandao is, I doubt you are here to visit him."

A couple foxes peered around Iroh to take in the massive estate behind him. Or rather, the massive estate they were in. The Seekers had enough knowledge of human property laws to know that the land that stretched around a human's mansion was part of the property. They'd been here once before, actually, curious about the legendary Piandao's swordsman skills. Not that he knew, of course, and the Seekers didn't plan to make Piandao or Iroh privy to that information even if they spoke the same language.

"Friends?" Piandao echoed, the question clear in his tone. The Seekers continued to ignore him. They understood he was the one hosting Iroh here on the porch of his estate but the foxes didn't particularly care for him one way or another. On one paw, he was a respectable man. On the other, he didn't seem like the type to scratch a fox behind the ears very freely.

"These are the spirit Wan Shi Tong's Knowledge Seekers," Iroh explained, briefly turning his attention from the fox he was scratching. It whined and pawed his knee, prompting Iroh to set down his tea cup and attend to the fox with both hands. The other foxes tried not to let their jealousy look too clear. "They wander the human realm and retrieve objects and information for Wan Shi Tong and his library. I met them during my journey to find myself after Ba Sing Se."

"I see," Piandao mused. "Do you know why they would come here? Surely they know the Fire Nation hasn't been very fond of spirits or animals as of late."

"Hmm. It does make me wonder," Iroh hummed and held out a hand for another fox to get his neck rubbed, an offer another fox took up gladly. "Are you here to learn about Piandao's swords?"

The remaining Seeker shook its head. They'd already done that, and they wouldn't have revealed themselves if they had. It was so much easier to collect knowledge from humans when they didn't know they were there.

"The White Lotus then?"

One of the foxes being scratched made a noise of interest but the other fox shook its head. It didn't know what this White Lotus thing was. It sounded interesting and it wanted to know but they were here on a mission. They could not afford to get distracted.

"Well, what could it be then?" Iroh wondered aloud. The Seeker took a step forward and planted a paw on Iroh's knee. Iroh chuckled in amusement. "I only have two hands, little one, and they're quite occupied with your friends here. I promise you can have your turn soon."

The Seeker shook its head. Yes, it did want to get petted but that wasn't what it was trying to say. Thankfully, Piandao seemed to get the idea. "I think they're here for you, Iroh."

"Me?" Iroh looked genuinely surprised. "I'm afraid I don't have anything to-"

The Seekers' heads all snapped up suddenly, sensing something. A moment later, the humans did too. "What is that? It feels like… There's something underground?"

A massive head suddenly peaked through the earth like a flying fish breaking the water's surface. Iroh and Piando were on their feet in a heartbeat, ready to flee from the creature suddenly towering over them. The Seekers didn't waver though, for clinging to the beast's facial fur was Zuko.

Toph spat on the ground, three more Knowledge Seekers falling from her mouth somewhat anticlimactically. The rest of the foxes winced in sympathy and were suddenly grateful they hadn't been selected for that portion of the task. It was the only way for them to travel but… bleh. They pulled themselves to their paws, shaking slobber from their fur, and glared at their friends, daring for them to comment on their current state.

"Uncle!" Zuko called, sliding down Toph's neck to run up to Iroh. In his shock, Iroh had hardly enough time to snap out of his stupor and catch Zuko as the boy hurled himself at the older man for a hug. "It's good to see you!"

"Z-Zuko?" Iroh stuttered, still looking gobsmacked. A couple of the foxes rolled their eyes. As much as they loved Iroh, human emotions were so annoying sometimes. It took them way too long to get out of their heads and back into the real world. "What are you doing here?"

"Zuko?" Piandao repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Your dead nephew?"

Zuko and Iroh turned, freezing in panic. Toph took this as an opportunity to shrink down to her human form and walk closer. "I can handle this. Wait, is he cool? Whatever. I'll beat him up if he isn't cool. Have fun with your uncle, Zuko! Don't forget to ask about the dragons!"

Toph marched right up to Piandao, grabbed his arm, and began pulling him away from Iroh and Zuko, completely oblivious to the man's shock. The slobbery set of Seekers trailed after her, not looking particularly worried but wanting to keep their human in their sights. The remaining foxes tucked in their haunches and got comfortable. They were in for what would likely be a long conversation.

"Dragons?" Iroh echoed, glancing over at Toph's retreating figure and then back at Zuko. "Also, who was that?"

"So, um, I don't remember how much you know but you do know that I turn into a dragon on the full moon and I met a girl in the Northern Water Tribe who could turn into a sea serpent? Well, that's Toph, our Earth Kingdom counterpart. She can turn into this snake- dragon- badger mole… thing. She's great," Zuko explained, skimming over the details in an effort to get to the important part quickly. Normally, the Seekers would complain about depriving someone of knowledge but they could understand Zuko's rush. "Yue taught me how to trigger my transformation at will but I haven't been able to since she died. I haven't been able to firebend either so Toph suggested I learn from the original benders like she did but dragons are extinct– the rest of them at least– so I didn't think that was a real possibility. But then at Wan Shi Tong's library, Sokka found something about some benders called the Sun Warriors who were trained by the dragons? We thought the Knowledge Seekers were going to bring us to them but instead they brought us to you."

Zuko gasped when he was finished, prompting Iroh to guide him toward Piandao's abandoned seat. "Breathe, Zuko. Take a seat. Piandao and I were just having some afternoon tea. I'm sure he won't mind if I pour you a cup. It's Jasmine. If I remember correctly, that is your favorite."

"It is," Zuko murmured. "Thank you, Uncle. It's been a long time since I've had tea."

"Not much tea in the North, is there?" Iroh chuckled as he prepared a cup for Zuko. Privately, the Seekers hoped he'd pour some for them. "Pakku gets his shipments though. Did he ever share?"

Zuko nearly spat out his first sip. "You know Pakku?"

Iroh nodded. "That's right. You didn't have the chance to spend much time with us after the invasion. Pakku, Piandao, and I… play Pai Sho together."

Zuko made a face. "That better not be code for something."

Iroh laughed. "It is but it is not what you think. We're allies. We… Well, we aim to do many things but ending the war is our main priority at the moment. The Fire Nation has walked this path far too long. People across all nations believe this."

"I know. I've seen it. I'm just surprised you have too. I thought you were all about the Fire Nation."

"Maybe once I was," Iroh admitted, "but I have disagreed with the Fire Lord's ways for a long time. Did I ever tell you the tale of how I got the name Dragon of the West when you were a boy?"

Zuko shook his head. "No, but my tutors did. You k-killed the last dragon, didn't you?"

"That is what I told Azulon," Iroh said, a ghost of a smile on his lips, "but that is not the reality of what happened."

Zuko visibly relaxed before straightening again, eyes wide. "Wait, does that mean-"

"There are indeed more dragons out there, Zuko. Two, as far as I'm aware of." Iroh reached out and put a hand on Zuko's, keeping him from reaching up to wipe his face. "You are not the only dragon left on this earth, nephew."

"I- I don't know what to-"

"Their names are Ran and Shaw," Iroh told him. "They live in a set of twin mountains protected by the Sun Warriors, who are very much still alive by the way. I will draw you up a map to their island. I hope you and your friend can find what you're looking for there."

Zuko nodded and swallowed thickly. "Thank you, Uncle."

"Oh course, Zuko," Iroh responded, smiling. He let go of Zuko's hand, letting the boy rub his running eyes and nose. "Now, tell me, how has traveling with the Avatar been?"


The final team of Knowledge Seekers had the most difficult task– namely, because spears were immediately shoved in their faces upon their arrival at the Sun Warriors' village. Explaining their reason for being there and convincing them to stop chasing them away took a few days thanks to the language barrier and humans' general wariness of spirits but the sight of Zuko and Toph finally arriving was worth it.

"There are a bunch of traps out there. They shot arrows at us," Toph complained once she, Zuko, and the rest of the Seekers arrived at the set of gates where the foxes were waiting. "Are you sure we're supposed to be here?"

One of the foxes barked and turned, waving its tail for Zuko and Toph to follow. Only, humans were limited in where they could travel so the Seekers had to wait for the humans to solve the puzzle to open the gate before they could finally lead them into the room that laid ahead.

"What is this place?" Zuko marveled, looking around. The foxes gathered close, sitting together and watching as Zuko wandered the room. There was a ring of statues around the room, the circle leading up to a pedestal with a round gemstone. Immediately, Zuko was drawn to it. He probably would've grabbed it if Toph hadn't slapped him away. "Ow!"

"There are pressure plates all over," Toph pointed out. "Remember what happened last time you touched one? Arrows!"

"Arrows aren't that scary, Toph."

"They are when you can't see them coming!"

One of the foxes stepped forward, tugging at the corner of Zuko's shirt, and tried to draw his attention to the statues. "Do… Do you want me to copy these statues?"

"You sound insane," Toph responded. "Don't do that."

"No. The statues are labeled."

"I can't read, Zuko! Come on, we just went over this. Explain this to me like I'm blind. Which I am!"

"You can sense all the statues around the room right? And that stone they're all leading up to."

"That's not a stone but yes. And I can sense all the pressure plates."

"This sign says they're doing something called the Dancing Dragon. There are two sides leading up to that stone thing. I think two people are supposed to do the dance and… I don't know. Maybe the pressure plates will trigger something at the end."

"So are you going to do it?"

"Don't you mean we?"

"I know you were trying to do something clever there, Zuko," Toph sighed, "but might I once again remind you that I'm blind! And the only other people we know here are foxes. I don't know what those statues are doing but I don't think these guys are up for doing it with you."

A couple of Seekers barked, voicing their agreement. Zuko let out a long breath through his mouth. "Fine. I guess I'll do it myself. All- all of you look away."

"What?"

"I don't want you watching me. This is embarrassing."

"For Yangchen's sake, I'm blind and they're foxes. No one cares. Just do it!"

The Seekers, for once, appreciated Toph's impatience and watched as Zuko began running through the motions of the Dancing Dragon. A few parts were a bit rocky, especially when he reached the end of the semicircle and had to switch to the half meant for the other person, but overall, Zuko did pretty alright. Even the Seekers were surprised when nothing happened when he finished. "See? Nothing happened. We need two people. If this is anything important, we'll have to come back with Aang when he starts firebending."

"Suit yourself," Toph responded with a shrug, turning to head toward the way out before realizing Zuko didn't intend on following her. "Zuko?"

"There's something about that stone…"

"Not a stone."

"I know, I know," Zuko said, drifting toward it with a glazed look in his eye. Slowly, he reached out. "It somehow feels alive…"

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," a foreign voice interjected and suddenly all nine foxes were on their feet. The Sun Warriors had arrived. "That is a dragon egg. The last one. Again, I wouldn't touch it if I were you."

Zuko flinched away from it, whipping around to see the giant Sun Warrior leader blocking the exit. "You're-"

"I am the chief of the Sun Warriors," the chief interrupted. "Your spirit friends came to us and made your case to visit the Masters."

Zuko looked faintly surprised, which the Seekers took some offense at. "Thank you. Both of you, Seekers and, uh, Chief, sir. You have no idea how much this means to me."

The chief dipped his head ever so slightly and waved for the group to follow him outside, which they did readily. "I can imagine. Firebenders only lose their fire after experiencing great distress or periods of turmoil."

Zuko's eyes flickered downward. "Yeah, I-"

"You do not need to tell me what it is," the chief interrupted. "When you present yourself to Ran and Shaw, they'll read your heart, soul, and ancestry. If they deem you worthy, they will teach you. If they don't, you will be destroyed on the spot."

"Dark," Toph commented, tone as cheerful as her tone got. The chief continued to ignore her as he began ascending a set of stairs, leading the group to the top of a building where many more sun warriors and a pit of flickering fire awaited.

"If you're going to see the masters, you must bring them a piece of the Eternal Flame. This fire is the very first one. It was given to man by the dragons," the chief explained, walking forward. "We have kept it going for thousands of years. You will each take a piece of it to the masters, to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending."

"Um, an earthbender, not a firebender," Toph spoke up. "I can't exactly carry a piece of fire around."

The chief turned and raised a brow at her. "Then you don't need to see them."

"I kind of do actually."

"Why would an earthbender need to see the Masters of fire?"

"Zuko's more than just a firebender who lost his fire," Toph said bluntly. The Seekers felt her pull on the piece of Oma and Shu's bond within her and scales quickly spread across her skin, coating parts of her face and the exposed skin of her arms. "And I'm more than just an earthbender who can't see."

Several of the Sun Warriors gasped, reeling back. They murmured amongst themselves, words indistinguishable. The Seekers stiffened ever so slightly, ready to jump to their humans' defense if necessary, but Zuko spoke before things could escalate. Raising a hand awkwardly, he announced, "I can turn into a dragon, by the way. I guess that wasn't really clear before now. I thought it was. I guess that'd be kind of a difficult thing for the foxes to tell you. Sorry about that."

The chief looked like he was about to faint. "...I'd normally tell you that you can take a piece of the Eternal Flame to the Masters at sunrise…"

"But we can go now," Toph finished for him, shoving Zuko toward the Eternal Flame. "Let's go meet some dragons!"