Ryuki was conflicted. Craig was offering him a chance to get back home, but he had made a promise to help Aang, Toph, Katara, Momo and Sokka get back Appa and get them to Ba Sing Se. However, he did miss Jinx and his world and did feel homesick, but then…

'Hey, isn't this the guy who tried to kill us?' spoke a voice in Ryuki's mind.

"Huh?" Ryuki's head snapped up. He knew that voice. 'Ifrit?'

'That's right, kiddo,' Ifrit sneered, 'And now I'm ready to dish out some punishment!'

'Ifrit! Wait-" but Ifrit had taken control of Ryuki and now Ryuki's lips were curled into a cruel smirk.

Craig noticed something strange was going on and asked, "Hey, kid?" Craig reached over to place his hand on Ryuki's shoulder only for 'Ryuki' to slap his hand away. 'Ryuki' stared at Craig with cold eyes and a malicious sneer.

"Don't touch me," 'Ryuki' snarled. Craig was taken aback by this.

"Hey, what's the matter with you, kid?" Craig asked.

"Please, don't treat me like a friend. You tried to kill me before or have you forgotten?"

The GAang were surprised to learn of this.

"Craig…did you…?" Katara began to ask and Craig looked away shamefully.

"That's right. He just came into our home and pointed a weapon at me without any warning," 'Ryuki' replied coldly, sneering. "Why should I even go with you?" 'Ryuki' argued.

Brimstone was beginning to growl at Ryuki. It could smell there was something wrong with his master. 'Ryuki' looked over his shoulder and smirked before pulling out his Zodiac Deck and summoning his belt.

"I think it's better if we settle this now!" 'Ryuki' said before sliding his deck into his belt. "Dark Ice Form…Henshin!"

A dark light flashed out of his belt before his blank form armor covered over his body. Then, black and blue armor began to cover over his body. His gauntlets turned black and with blue trimmings. His Dragauntlet turned black too. The torso armor was mainly dark blue with a black chestplate and black dragon emblem. His helmet was also dark blue with a black grilled visor which hid his red eyes. In design terms, this armor resembled his usual red, black and silver one. He then summoned his Keyblade, which was all black and had a keychain resembling a sharp 'S' hanging from the end of the orange guard.

He appeared to dance over to Craig, snapped his fingers and then point at Craig with a finger. "Should I destroy you now?" 'Draco' challenged.

Sokka asked, "Did he just say 'destroy'?"

"This can't be good," spoke Aang.

"We have to stop this!" yelled out Katara.

Toph's eyes were narrowed. There was something off about Draco now and it wasn't the new armor.

"Kid, what are you talking about?" Craig asked, noticing Draco reaching down to the DRA-Blaster.

"I don't hear you!" 'Draco' laughed before pulling out the DRA-Blaster and then aiming it at Craig before firing. Craig jumped out of the way as the shot hit a branch and it fell, crashing to the forest floor. "I missed…" 'Draco' whined. "Oh, well," He chuckled before aiming the gun again at Craig. "I can just shoot you again and again."

"Ryuki! What are you doing!?" Craig demanded.

"My name…" 'Draco' began. "Is IFRIT!" He then aimed and continued to blast shots at Craig who dodged each one. Craig then returned fire by sending a green blast of necroplasm at Ifrit. Ifrit was sent staggering back by the blast but then recovered. Is that all?" Draco mocked. "Why don't you transform and show you what you got? You can even use your fancy new toys."

Craig looked down on both the Timefire and Full Throttle strapped to his writs. He stared up at Draco…or Ifrit as he called himself and got himself ready. "Looks like I got to beat the sense back into you."

"Like to see you try," Ifrit challenged. Ifrit then continued blasting.

Craig managed to activate the Full Throttle as he hurled himself over Draco. As soon as Craig landed his body was covered in the white Throttle suit. He then gave Draco a kick in the back and shouted "Face on!" summoning his helmet to finish the transformation.

Ifrit stared at the Throttle suit and scoffed. "That's it? You do know that you aren't supposed to wear white after Labor Day, right?"

"So says the psycho in black and blue," Mortuary retorted. Ifrit growled in response and fired at Mortuary. The white clad fighter dashed out of the way and towards Ifrit, aiming a punch to his head. The strike was too fast and Ifrit toppled over, dropping his gun. Mortuary grabbed Ifrit by the collar and shouted in his face, "Snap out of it!" The eyes on the helmet glowed and Mortuary was sent flying by a telekinetic blast and smashed into a tree. Draco got back up and dusted himself off. Using his power, he pulled the gun back into his hand and then slipped it back into its holster.

"Don't touch me," Ifrit warned, "Ever." He aimed his Keyblade, the Deathstroke, and the head of the Keyblade began to glow before firing off a beam of crackling black energy.

Mortuary rolled towards Ifrit, also dodging the shot as he did so. As Ifrit took the next shot Mortuary was able to twirl around it and his twirl ended with striking Ifrit the face with the backside of his fist. Mortuary through a few more punches across Ifrit's face before he drove both of his elbows in the space between Ifrit's shoulders and collar bone bringing the Dragon Knight to his knees. Mortuary kicked Ifrit across the face to the ground but before hitting the ground Ifrit was able to get a shot on Mortuary's chest. Mortuary hit the ground but was able to recover quickly as soon as he was on his feet he saw Ifrit getting back on his, Mortuary took this opportunity to stand on his hands and wrap his legs around Ifrit's neck, he then flipped over backwards to throw Ifrit a couple of feet over himself. As soon as Ifrit got back up he looked over at his friend and said, "Sorry about this," before running towards Ifrit and striking him in the chest with a devastating flying knee. As Ifrit hit the ground Mortuary found himself short of breath, soon enough he was on his knees the culprit being a necro-sickness attack.

Ifrit pushed himself up and grinned as Mortuary was overcome with his sickness. He rested his Keyblade on his shoulder and walked towards the Knight of Aries. "So strong, yet an illness can bring you down." He then kicked Mortuary in the chest and pinned him down with his foot. He pointed his Keyblade at Mortuary's throat. "Goodbye." He was preparing to shoot again.

"Ryuki!" Katara shouted, "Snap out of it!"

"This isn't you!" Aang added. "He's your friend!"

"Come on, Ryuki! Turn back to normal! Remember who you are!" Sokka shouted as well.

Somehow, their words were affecting Ifrit. "Shut…up…" he growled. However, his body suddenly stiffened.

'Ifrit, stop!' Ryuki shouted in his head. Ifrit tried to ignore him. 'DON'T even try it!'

"You shut up!" Ifrit snapped. "This is MY body!"

'Wrong! It's MINE! And I'm taking it back!' With a burst of his own will power, Ryuki was able to retain control and thus the armor shattered away. He collapsed onto his hands and knees, panting, as the Keyblade vanished.

The others watched as Ryuki smashed his fist into the ground. "G…Gomen!" he apologized profusely.


Meanwhile, there was a Fire Nation war ship cruising over the water. It was headed towards Ba Sing Se. The vessel was carrying the Fire Nation's latest weapon that would definitely bring down the so-called impenetrable wall.

Kat was bent over the railing of the ship, puking her guts out. "Ugh…" she moaned. "I…hate…water!"

"You don't look so good," Ty Lee observed. Over their short time, both she and Ty Lee had grown close. Kat also wore different Fire Nation garbs that suited her. She now wore tight red pants with black boots and a matching midriff top. She wore her whip around her waist and let some of it dangle to look like a tail. She also wore gloves with retractable claws near the knuckles. There were flaps of armor hanging down the belt and shoulder pads. Her wrist bands had spikes on them. She still wore her bow on her head but now her hair was in a high ponytail.

"Never liked boats or large bodies of water," Kat moaned as she leaned back on the railing. "Must be the feline in me. Remind why we're here again?"

"Azula wanted to look over the Fire Nation's newest gizmo," Ty Lee answered swiftly.

"Oh, yeah," Kat said. "If I had known we'd be going on a ship, I would've just flown."

Kat had revealed a few more abilities she had. She could retain the abilities she had stolen. So, right now, she was not only armed with Firebending, but also Earthbending, Airbending and Waterbending at her disposal.

"There, there," Ty Lee said sympathetically as she rubbed the Cat Knight's back. Kat purred at the contact and closed her eyes to enjoy it. It reminded her of how Rose would comfort her. Some part of her mind wanted to just throw Ty Lee onto a bed and…

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" they heard someone speak and they jumped in shock.

"Oh, Azula!" Ty Lee blushed.

"Azula-hime-sama!" Kat said as well. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, not much," Azula said. "Just wanted some fresh air." She then asked the Cat Knight, "How are you feeling, Kat?"

"Dreadful," Kat groaned.

"That's too bad." Azula spoke in her most sympathetic tone."Don't worry, once we get to Ba Sing Se I promise you'll have lots of fun."

"I'll be happy once I get off this floating piece of metal," Kat muttered. "So, what about this thing we're transporting? Is it any good?"

Azula gave a smile that made Ty Lee shiver. "Oh…yes."

Kat couldn't help but return the smirk. "So, where's Mai?"


Mai was in her room, retching into a bucket. She groaned as she rubbed her belly. "Why did I ever agree to this?" She proceeded to vomit again.


Kat chuckled, "Looks like I'm not the only one around here who gets seasick." Suddenly, her hearing picked up something and her expression turned serious. Azula picked up on this immediately and raised one perfect brow. Now what could have suddenly gotten Copycat bothered? Ty Lee noticed the change in expression only a little while later and her own face grew concerned.

"What's wrong?" Ty Lee asked.

"There's something in the water," Kat explained. "It's big, vicious…and hungry." All of a sudden, a large shape rose out of the water. The sudden appearance of it caused the ship to shake. Ty Lee was able to keep herself balanced as was Azula. Back in her room, Mai would be vomiting.

Kat's eyes gazed upon the creature. It was a massive looking green serpent with sharp teeth and looked similar to a dragon. She had a large grin on her face as she fished her Zodiac Deck from her pocket, summoning her belt.

"Finally, some excitement!" Kat said. Azula was about to order her men to fire at the serpent but Kat protested by saying. "Keep your men where they are, Azula-hime-sama! I'll handle this!"

"Well, by all means," Azula gestured broadly at the serpent, smirking as she did so. "Show these men what you can really do!"

With a wide and sadistic grin, Kat leapt out and called, "Empowerment of the Zodiac Cat!" This call was soon followed by her sliding her deck into her belt. "Henshin!"

In a flash of dark light, her black and red Cat Armor covered her. The men gasped in shock and watched in awe as the Cat Knight swung her long whip to catch the creature by the neck before swinging herself up to the serpent's snout. The serpent took notice of this intruder and tried to shake her off. Copycat held on firmly, digging her heels into its snout as she got ready with a new card.

"Sword Vent!" she called as her Psycho Slasher appeared in her hands. She then leapt up and stabbed the serpent between the eyes. The serpent roared and screeched in pain before it dove back into the water.

"KAT!" Ty Lee screamed as Azula watched with interest.

"Do you suppose she'll die down there?" Azula mused out loud, speaking to no one in particular.

In the water, Kat had put on the Psycho Mask. It granted her the power of her secondary Zodiac Beast Psychorogue as well as a more intense thirst for blood. While the serpent thrashed in the water, she twisted her sword causing it to roar out in pain. Blood began to pour out and pool around them. Copycat would not stop until the serpent was dead.

The serpent was unable to shake her off as she went for its eyes. The last thing it would be seeing would be her claws, gouging its eye out with her sharp claws. She was anything but gentle. She was cruel and vicious as she proceeded to dig her claws into its eyes socket and pulled the eyeball out.

'Time to finish this,' Copycat thought before she focused her telepathy into the serpent's brain. She once realized she could use her telepathic abilities to actually kill a person. It was not as messy as telekinesis which would cause the victim's brain to explode, but it was still more precise. She could literally send orders into another's brain and 'order' them to die.

She forced its breathing to stop and its heart to stop pumping. It then stopped moving as it sunk into the deep water, blood pouring out of its wounds. Satisfied, Copycat swam back up to the surface, carrying the eye she had claimed as her trophy. What she didn't notice was that a small ball of darkness leaving her body before it entered the dead serpent's body through the empty eye socket.

"Argh!" Kat yelled out as her armor vanished. She swung her whip which tied around the railing before pulling herself out of the water. She pulled herself up the side of the ship before the sailors helped pull her onboard. "I hate water!" Kat complained.

"Impressive, Kat," Azula complimented. "Is the serpent dead?"

"Sleeping with the fishes as we speak," Kat smirked. "I also got a trophy," she said, showing Azula the serpent's eyeball. Ty Lee backed away in disgust and looked green. Azula wore a different expression.

"Interesting…" Azula spoke as she stared into the eyeball. She could see her reflection staring back at her.

"I think we should put this in something to preserve it," Kat said. "You got anything?"

"I think we can arrange for something," Azula said. Copycat was getting more interesting by the minute… and that meant that she would really need a talk with the other girl… preferably sometime soon.


The GAang all sat around a fire as Ryuki finished his explanation. Sokka summarized, "So, you're telling us you're nuts?"

"Sokka," Katara spoke in a scolding tone.

"No, he's right," Ryuki said. "Ifrit is part of me. If I have a split personality, it's maybe because I am crazy." Brimstone tried to comfort his master.

"Well, you were about to kill your own friend," Sokka reminded but was slapped by his sister. "I'm just saying."

Aang was the most sympathetic and said, "I think I know how you feel."

"You do?" Ryuki asked.

"The Avatar State is also a part of me, but I know it can also hurt my friends if I lose control," Aang told him. Ryuki had seen the Avatar State in action and knew what it was capable of. That level of power was just frightening.

"I'm too dangerous to have around," Ryuki said. "Maybe I should just go back with Mortuary."

"Well, there's a bit of a problem with that," Mortuary sighed. "Interdimensional travel takes a lot out of the Full Throttle system. It needs to recharge with every trip. Until then, I'm stuck here."

"For how long?" Ryuki asked.

"A few weeks, maybe months," Mortuary shrugged. "So, looks like I'll be helping you guys out."

"The Fire Nation should be careful then," Sokka smiled. "We got two warriors with kick butt suits with a lot of power. Katara rolled her eyes.

"Well, we should get some sleep," Toph said. "Tomorrow we're headed for Ba Sing Se."

"Right," Katara said. "Goodnight."

"Oyasumi," Ryuki said.


Deep in the bottom of the lake lay the carcass of the slain serpent. However, before it could become food for hungry scavengers, it started to move. A dark aura began to pour out of its empty eye sockets as the body began to convulse. Its head then rose up with its eyes possessing an unearthly evil glow.

It was hungry…and waiting…


The very next day on a peaceful and sunny afternoon, the GAang (with the addition of Craig and Brimstone) were enjoying some off-time within a box canyon. A waterfall cascaded into a deep pool. Sokka was sitting on a rock, studying a scroll he'd gotten from the spirit library as Momo sat perched on his shoulder, observing the scroll as well. Toph was splashing her from the pool's edge while Aang swam on his back, encased in a block of ice via Waterbending and floating along peacefully. Brimstone was dogpaddling as Craig polished his Deathbuster. Ryuki, however, didn't go into the water. He was both hydrophobic and unable to swim. He did, however, free Overbite and allowed the shark Zodiac Beast to swim around.

Katara was at the highest point of the canyon, preparing to dive off, which she did. She shouted out, "Waterbending bomb! Yeah!" before performing a tumbling cannonball into the pool. She accidentally send up a massive column of water that washes Aang and Brimstone ashore, shattering the former's ice block. All of them ended up drench much to Sokka and Craig's annoyance. Despite his dislike of water, Ryuki was laughing with delight alongside Toph and Aang.

"Great, my gun's filled up with water," Craig grumbled as he drained the Deathbuster. "Nice going, Katara."

"Sure, 5000 year old maps from the spirit library, just splash some water on 'em," grumbled Sokka as he held out a dripping map.

"Sorry," Katara apologized as she emerged from the pool, wringing water out of her hair. She then performed a waterbending technique to draw the water out of the map Sokka was holding up. Everyone then gathered around as the Water Tribe boy spread the map out on the ground.

Aang asked, "So, did you figure out what route we're gonna take?"

"I hope it's the scenic route," Ryuki spoke up. Brimstone barked.

Sokka was pointing out map features and explained, "OK, we just got out of the desert, so we must be around here and we need to get to Ba Sing Se, which is here. It looks like the only passage connecting the South to the north is this sliver of land called the Serpent's Pass."

"Doesn't sound to inviting," Craig pointed out at hearing the name.

"You're sure that's the best way to go?" Toph asked. She was blind so she had to listen intently to what Sokka had to say.

Sokka replied, "It's the only way, I mean we can't always rely on Ryuki's Dragblacker and it's not like we have Appa to fly us there."

Katara spoke to Sokka in a hushed voice, "Shush about Appa. Can't you at least try to be sensitive?" The siblings glanced at Aang.

Aang stated calmly, "Katara, it's OK. I know I was upset about losing Appa before, but I just want to focus on getting to Ba Sing Se, and telling the Earth King about the solar eclipse.

Katara was surprised. "Oh, well, I'm glad you're doing better." Ryuki's eyes were narrowed in suspicion at the Avatar. There was no way someone could just get over losing their best friend like that. He didn't.

Sokka rolled up the map and said, "Then to Ba Sing Se we go, no more distractions." Just as he finished saying this, a couple of Earth Kingdom civilians appeared in the background.

"Hello there, fellow refugees!" One of them, Than, who was waving, was a man in his twenties. With him was his wife, Ying, who was a pregnant woman. With them was a teenage girl, Saya. Sokka's expression changed to that of consternation. The two groups then gathered in conversation after Ryuki discreetly called Overbite back into its card.

Aang asked, "So, are you guys headed to Ba Sing Se too?"

Than answered, "Sure are, we're trying to get there before my wife Ying has her baby." He affectionately rubbed her belly.

Katara smiled, "Great, we can travel through the Serpent's Pass together." However, this statement caused the three travelers to react with horror.

Ying fearfully spoke, "The Serpent's Pass!? Only the truly desperate take that deadly route."

"I thought there was something fishy about that name," Craig said.

Toph whacked Sokka, "Deadly route. Great pick, Sokka."

"Well, we are desperate," Sokka said as he rubbed the spot Toph whacked.

"But, if there is another way, we should take it just to be safe," Ryuki said.

Than suggested, "You should come with us to Full Moon Bay. Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba Sing Se."

Ying added, "And it's hidden, so the Fire Nation can't find it."

Katara weighed the two options, albeit in a sarcastic manner, "Hmmm, peaceful ferry ride or deadly pass?"

There was only one answer.


In a gloomy cavernous inlet was the Full Moon Ferry Landing, where three large wooden ships were anchored past a fortified wall. Behind the harbor wall, hundreds of people had gathered on a stone landing. Two Earth Kingdom guards were standing at attention. One of them bend down a wall section behind them to reveal a hidden tunnel. Our heroes and their new traveling companions emerged from the tunnel.

Katara said in disbelief and shock, "I can't believe how many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation."

"It's sad when you come to think about it," Ryuki spoke sympathetically as she looked to see a refugee camp where a woman was feeding a crying child. Because of this war, innocent people were suffering.

Than said, "We're all looking for a better life. Safe, behind the walls of Ba Sing Se."


Back at the three ships, lying side by side, as the center vessel launched. It emerged from the inlet and out onto the great lake. Iroh was standing on the ship's deck and looking out at the water.

Iroh spoke solemnly, "Who would have thought after all these years, I'd return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace," he suddenly grinned widely and put on a flowered straw hat, "As a tourist?"

Zuko, unlike his uncle, was grim. "Look around, we're not tourists, we're refugees." He sipped from a wooden bowl, "Ugh!" and then spat over the railing. "I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt…I'm tired of living like this." He leaned over the rail despondently.

"Aren't we all?" spoke someone who had a stalk of prairie grass in his sly grin. "My name's Jet and these are my freedom fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot."

"Hey," Smellerbee greeted while Longshot nods silently.

"Hello," Zuko said, looking over the lake.

Jet spoke to Zuko, "Here's the deal. I hear the Captain's eating like a king, while us refugees have to feed off his scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it?"

Iroh said, "What kind of king is he eating like?" He appeared interested.

Jet answered, "The fat, happy kind." Iroh's mouth gaped open, drooling. "Want to help us liberate some food?"

Zuko considered this offer for a moment as he stared down into the bowl of gruel before hurling it over the railing. He turned to face Jet. "Count me in."

"Hey, need some extra help?" A man offered with another youth who had a guitar strapped to his back. "My friend and I are kinda hungry and getting tired of this gruel stuff."

"Sure," Jet smiled. "The more the merrier."

"By the way, I'm Ant, and this is Ryan."


Back at the Ferry Landing stood a cruel-looking Earth Kingdom woman at a podium, stamping papers. She was the beureucrat.

She shouted angrily at a cabbage merchant, "I've told you already, no vegetables on the ferry! One cabbage slug could destroy the entire ecosystem of Ba Sing Se. Security!"

The cabbage merchant screamed, horrified, as an enormous platypus-bear in a uniform reared up and destroyed his goods, cart and all, "Dah! My Cabbages!!" The merchant fell to his knees, paralyzed in despair. Two guards picked him up by the arms and carried him away past Aang and friends.)

The bureaucrat called while stamping paper, "Next!"

Aang approached her hesitantly, "Um, four tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please."

"Passport."

"Uh, no one told us we had to have passports."

Ryuki slapped his face, "I knew we forgot something."

"Let me handle this," Sokka said as he stepped forward to the Bureaucrat. "Don't you know who this is? He's the Avatar!

The bureaucrat, however, was unimpressed, "Ah, I see fifty Avatars a day, and by the way, not a very impressive costume." She pointed over to the left, showing a motley group of boys in avatar costumes lounging together. Aang smiled and nodded in their direction as Momo jumped up on his shoulder. "Besides, no animals allowed." She added with a threatening tone, "Do I need to call security?"

The platypus-bear was munching on a cabbage, in which Momo responds by cowering on Aang's shoulder. Brimstone reacted badly as well and whimpered. Ryuki patted him on the head to calm him down.

"Daijoubu," Ryuki said, reassuringly.

Aang held up his hands, "That won't be necessary!"

The bureaucrat called, "Next!"

"OK, anymore bright ideas?" Craig asked Sokka.

Toph strode forward, "I'll take care of this. My name is Toph Bei Fong, and I'll need 6 tickets." She pushed up a document bearing a gleaming golden emblem. The bureaucrat is awed.

The bureaucrat responded, "Oh! The Golden Seal of the Flying Boar, it is my pleasure to help anyone of the Bei Fong family." She then bowed with a flourish.

Toph spoke arrogantly," It is your pleasure. As you can see I am blind, and these 5 imbeciles are my valets." She gestured back to the others, who are grinning foolishly in a group hug. Craig looked a little more strained.

Bureaucrat spoke hesitantly, "But the animals?"

Toph answered, "Are my Seeing-Eye Dog and Lemur." Momo hopped up on her shoulder as Brimstone padded over to her to allow her to pet him. Ryuki gave his pet a wink.

The bureaucrat said, "Well, normally it's only 1 ticket per passport, but, this document is so official, I guess it's worth 6 tickets." She rapidly stamped four papers.

"Thank you very much." Toph reached up and gathers them off the podium before walking off

"It was lucky we had Toph-san around," Ryuki said.

Sokka was in file with the others and said, "Yeah, we scammed that lady good!"

Sokka was suddenly grabbed from behind and spun around by an attractive young woman in Earth Kingdom uniform.

The young woman demanded firmly as she held out her hand, "Tickets and passports please."

Sokka looked intimidated, much to Craig's amusement. "Is there a problem?" Sokka asked.

The woman spoke menacingly, "Yeah, I've got a problem with you." She poked a finger at his chest. "I've seen your type before, probably sarcastic, think your hilarious, and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar."

"What did you do?" Craig asked. Sokka shook his head before turning his attention to the young woman. He narrowed his eyes at her.

Sokka asked, eyes narrowing, "Do I know you?"

The woman looked at him with hands on her hips, "You mean you don't remember?" She then yanked him close by his collar. "Maybe you remember this." She then placed a kiss on his cheek

Sokka, is shocked as he finally recognized her, "Suki!!" The two hugged.

The young woman, Suki, was delighted. "Sokka, it's good to see you!"

"OK, this requires a story," Craig said. "How do you know each other?"

"I agree," Ryuki nodded. "I wish to know as well."


At a covered tower on the harbor wall, overlooking both the landing and the harbor, Suki and the heroes continued their reunion inside.

Katara spoke, "You look so different without your makeup, and the new outfit."

Suki replied, "That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them. And look at you sleeveless guy. Been working out?" She looked at Sokka approvingly.

Sokka said as he flexed his arms, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then, nothing major." Katara rolled her eyes.

Aang asked, "Are the other Kyoshi warriors around?"

Suki explained, "Yeah, after you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees, and we've been here ever since." She looked out over the refugee camp, as Momo jumped up next to her. "Hi, Momo, good to see you too."

She scratched his ear. "And I see you've added new additions to the group," she said as her eyes fell upon Craig, Ryuki and Brimstone. She looked at the Kaiser curiously. She'd never seen anything quite like him.

"Call me Toph."

"I'm Ryuki, and this is my friend Craig," Ryuki introduced. Craig nodded.

"Nice meeting you," Craig said.

"They kinda dropped in on us and have been helping us since," Katara said to Suki who accepted the explanation.

"So why are you guys getting tickets for the ferry? Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?" Everyone else suddenly looked down.

Katara answered sadly, "Appa is missing. We hope to find him in Ba Sing Se." She looked over at Aang, who looked away.

Suki was sympathetic. "I'm so sorry to hear that." She looked at Aang with concern, "Are you doing okay?" Everyone now focused on him

Aang answered, annoyed, "I'm doing fine. Would everybody stop worrying about me!"

Ying suddenly called from below, "Avatar Aang, you have to help us! Someone took all of our belongings. Our passports, our tickets. Everything's gone!" Than and his wife were standing at the tower's base with Than's sister Saya. Ying began to cry as Than as Saya comforted her.

Aang called down to them, "I'll talk to the lady for you."


The bureaucrat scowled, "No passports, no tickets!!" before stamping the arrow on Aang's brow."

Aang pleaded, "But she's pregnant, and all of their stuff was stolen. You have to make an exception."

The bureaucrat shouted, "No exceptions! If I just gave away tickets willy nilly to anyone, there would be no more order, and you know what that means. No more civilization!"

Aang suggested, "What if we gave them our tickets?"

"No!"

"But?"

"NEXT!!"

Aang walked back to the waiting Than and Ying.

"Well, that went well," Craig said sarcastically.

"Craig," Ryuki said in a warning tone.

Aang said, reassuringly," Don't worry, you'll get to the city safely. I'll lead you through the Serpent's Pass."