Hey, guys! Because I really want to get this up soon for you guys, I'm going to respond to both your reviews at once in the next chapter! Right, now on to the news! First of all, HOORAY FOR CHAPTER 20! We've come far from the little experimental prologue I wrote for this. Awesome, isn't it? Alas, I also have some bittersweet news. We have arrived at the homestretch. Soon enough, you will be reading the final chapter of this story. Should I be sad or excited? Oh well…as we approach the finale, things will hopefully only get better. Thanks for your reviews…and patience! Let's begin. :)

Disclaimer: I refuse to say it! You should know by now! I'm not repeating myself! *sees Copyright police aiming guns at me* I - I mean, I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I'm not just saying that because of the guns!

Let us begin!

"Because if I can find them, then I won't be alone anymore."

Feng, having spent years in the field of psychology, could dissect so many emotions from that one sentence. There was desperation, fury, contempt, and...a piercing loneliness. It broke Feng's heart to hear such a need for people like him in Aang's voice. Aang was still trembling, but he didn't get back into his bed. He stood there and looked Feng directly in the eye, a desperate, slightly crazed look behind those gray orbs of his.

Feng shifted uncomfortably. What could he say? He knew exactly what Aang was talking about. He could picture it in his head right now! He could picture the camp, with its guards patrolling the large gate that formed the compound's perimeter, its occasional sounds of loud, broken cries, its surprisingly cozy cells, and its...unique prisoners. The hopeless cases.

"I - I -" Feng stuttered, unsure what to say.

"Feng, tell me," Aang commanded, his patience waning, "I have to know."

The Dai Li hypnotist was speechless. He'd never seen Aang so rash, so frantic. It was like something had snapped. Feng couldn't figure out what had snapped just yet, but he knew that whatever it was, it was going to be a huge hinderance in Aang's recovery.

Aang was taking deep breaths. He wasn't sure why, but he knew that for some reason, whatever it was, he needed to stay as calm as possible. It was extremely difficult, though. He just couldn't imagine a world where he was alone, without anyone to rely on. But he couldn't rely on anyone here, as they'd all done horrible, unspeakable things. Still, he needed to find someone. A world where he was alone….that was an all too familiar feeling. He didn't like it one bit.

Aang had considered the options, and deduced that the only ones he could truly trust were people like him. People whose minds had been violated, shattered, and….contaminated. These were the only people who he could trust, because they knew what it was like to be as confused, as broken as he was. Aang needed to meet them. He had to meet who he now considered kin!

"Aang...I don't know...I don't think you're ready…"

"Of course I'm ready! I deserve to meet them! I deserve to meet the other people whose lives you've ruined!" Aang snapped. He was so mad that he didn't even think his own statement sounded cruel. As far as he was concerned, he had only stated the truth.

Feng gulped. What do I do?! What do I do?! He was supposed to be turning over a new leaf! He was supposed to be doing what was best for Aang! Telling Aang where the others were...that couldn't yield good results. He didn't want to see Aang's look when faced with the, er, not so lucky ones. Sure, there were some that could function well enough, but the others…

The others were who the cells and guards were for.

"Aang, I just don't know. It's hard for even me to visit that place."

"Probably because you feel so guilty," Aang grumbled.

"Yes, I admit, partly because I feel guilty, but that place would be hard for an innocent man to see. It's horrid! Believe me, Aang, you do not want to go there," Feng wished Aang would get that message.

"I don't care how bad it is. Those people are all I have left."

The hard, resoluteness in Aang's voice chilled Feng. The boy seemed resigned to the fact that all he had left to rely on were a bunch of brainwashed strangers. It was this resignation that persuaded Feng.

"All right," Feng sighed, "I'll tell you, but only if you promise to not sneak away looking for the place."

"I promise!" Aang assured hurriedly, "now tell me."

Feng took a deep breath and began, "There is a small, remote island northeast of the Earth Kingdom called Uchiwake. Not many people know about it, but ask anyone in the Dai Li, and you'll get more information than you bargained for. Well, that is, if they're willing to talk about it."

Aang, having been extremely eager, or perhaps just desperate, was now completely enraptured by Feng's word. He plopped back down on the edge of his bed. He looked at Feng with childlike wonder. The hypnotist was almost tricked into believing that it was the same awe Aang once had for him, but Feng knew it wouldn't last. How could it? Aang would never look at him like that again. Feng had ruined that once and for all.

Feng continued, "The island itself doesn't have very many residents, thankfully. The only people there are the guards and...the people they are guarding. The guards patrol the perimeter of a compound on the island. They aid the people at the compound whenever necessary."

"Tell me about the people!" Aang pleaded.

"The people there are a...varied bunch. They range from the mild - yet still unable to manage - cases, to the...very, very unlucky ones. The guards are almost like servants, waiting on these people hand and foot. They're very well taken care of. In fact, some of the people stay there by choice."

"WHAT?!" Aang exclaimed.

"It's true. They could function in society, but it's very difficult, and so they choose to just stay at the compound and drop their worries once and for all."

At first, Aang had been shocked to hear that those people just gave up, but then he remembered; he had been close to doing the same thing at one point. He'd strongly considered just quitting altogether. He pulled through, but he'd come close to just being dead inside, without any hope left. It had happened because he had believed he had nothing - no one - to live for. No purpose whatsoever. He now realized that it was happening again. He had believed that he could rely on the people in this palace, but clearly he'd been wrong. So, he realized that if this new plan of his didn't work out, he really would be all alone, and he would finally just have to face reality and give up.

"Do you visit there often?" Aang asked finally.

"I hate doing it, but yes, I do. It's the least I can do for them."

"No kidding," Aang murmured bitterly.

The two of them stayed there for a moment, quietly reflecting on all that had happened in just that one day alone. Aang's bitterness had faded now, replaced with resolve. He had to get to Uchiwake. It was the only thing left that could give him a reason to live now. He had nothing else now. This was it. It was all or nothing.

Feng wasn't sure he had done the right thing, but Aang had deserved to be told. Would there be unfortunate consequences? As long as no one else gets hurt. No one else is getting hurt for my mistakes, Feng promised himself.

After a brief moment, Feng bid Aang farewell, during which Aang said nothing, and left. Aang was left alone, wondering what to do with this new information. There were people out there...people like him! But some of those people, he knew, had gone through the same hopeless state he had and had actually given up, where he had only considered it. He wondered what it would be like to meet those people. He also thought of those people who were there because they really couldn't go anywhere else. He had a feeling it would be terrifying to meet them. For people who weren't like Aang, it would be scary enough. To Aang, it would be a glimpse into the possible future.

That thought gave Aang shudders. He didn't want to end up like that.

As Aang sat alone with his thoughts, Feng exited the room to bump into the rest of Team Avatar, who just so happened to be standing right outside the room.

"Um…hello?" Feng said awkwardly. The Gaang was standing a little too close for comfort.

"Sorry," Katara apologized, "It's just, when Zuko came to get us, and you weren't there, we got really worried that Aang might've…you know…"

"Kicked your butt," Toph finished for her friend. Feng couldn't help but think that Aang "kicking his butt" was the least of his troubles.

"So, what did you hear?" Feng asked, wondering what Team Avatar's thoughts would be on the compound/prison used by the Dai Li.

"Everything," Zuko sighed.

"And?"

"Well, we aren't too big on the idea of innocent people going to a prison..." Sokka began.

"It's not a prison," Feng assured, "it's a compound!"

"You didn't let me finished, Feng. While we may not like it, we understand that it might be the only place some of them can go. It isn't pretty, but sometimes, it might be the best option. So…I guess we understand," Sokka finished. Feng beamed at the Water Tribe warrior. It was good to know that he wasn't about to get even more hate for sticking the victims of his brainwashing in a place like Uchiwake. It would just make him feel more guilty than he already was, not that he didn't deserve it.

"Thank you, all of you. That really means a lot to me. I was afraid you might have finally decided I wasn't worth the time."

"Look, as long as you can help Aang, you're staying, but believe me, you are out of here as soon as this is all over and done with," said Toph. Feng couldn't tell if the Blind Bandit was joking or not.

The group decided to relax in the garden for a little while, and the break did a lot to calm their nerves. They lounged about for awhile, enjoying the relaxing scenery, cool beverages, and delicious snacks. Zuko took to one of his favorite pre-banishment pastimes, feeding the turtle-ducks. Feng decided to feed them too, and it was during this peaceful activity that the two benders had a rather meaningful conversation.

"Feng, what are we going to do now?" Zuko asked the hypnotist.

Feng glanced at Zuko before turning his attention back to the turtle-ducks, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, with the new information. For some reason, I just can't let it go. I keep thinking about Uchiwake, and I don't know why. I think - I think going there might help us in some way," Zuko looked at Feng to see his reaction; Feng just so happened to be staring right back at him with wide eyes.

"Are you saying…you actually want to go to Uchiwake?"

"I don't know! It just seems like the right thing to do. Don't ask me why."

"B - but that's a terrible idea!" Feng protested. No one should go to Uchiwake. The strongest man would cringe at the sight of some of those people, feel sick at the sound of their moaning.

"Well…why don't we get everyone else's opinion?" Zuko suggested, then spoke louder to get the others' attention, "Guys! We need to talk to you!"

All the others left their places in confusion, wondering what was so important.

"What's the big idea? I was in the middle of picking my toes…for the second time!" Toph complained.

"Twice?" Sokka whispered to Katara, who happened to be standing near him.

"The second time's for the sweet, picking sensation," The waterbender explained.

"Oh, well, as long as it makes sense."

Feng decided to ignore Toph's remark about toe-picking, "Okay, everyone, Zuko's been thinking that, well, that we should go to Uchiwake."

There was an immediate uproar.

"Go to Uchiwake? Did you hear Feng earlier? That does not sound like a pretty place to be! I don't want to meet a bunch of hopeless -" Sokka received a fierce glare from Katara, "er - helpless sick people!"

"Yeah, sounds like a pretty stupid idea to me," Toph, for once in her life, agreed with Sokka.

"But - but I'm positive it'll help us out somehow!"

"Give us one good reason!" Sokka demanded.

"Well…um…I just have a good feeling about this place!" Zuko said, mentally groaning on how idiotic he sounded.

"Oh, well, sorry! I didn't know you had a 'funny feeling' about going there! That changes everything! I guess we should just pack our bags and hop on Appa all because of your funny feeling!" Sokka ranted.

"Katara?" Zuko turned to the one person who had been quiet throughout the whole conversation.

Katara gazed at Zuko with an unsure expression, "I - I don't know. I mean, I've been feeling the same way too, but it just doesn't seem like it will do Aang any good. Still, I can't shake the feeling that we need to go there. I just don't know why!"

"I feel the same way," Zuko agreed. Katara had put into words exactly what he had been thinking.

Everyone else stopped speaking for a second to ponder what Katara said. Could she be right? Could there really be something worthwhile to be found at Uchiwake? That could be the case, but…it just didn't seem likely.

"Look," Katara sighed, "I know it's illogical, but I really think we should go. Let me put it this way. Let's say you're right. The worst that could happen is that we'll see some things we wish we hadn't. We've already been through that because of the war. But…what if Zuko and I are right? If we don't go, we may miss out on a chance to possibly cure Aang once and for all! This might just be our only shot! Granted, that might not be the case, but we'll never know unless we try!"

Silence filled the aftermath of Katara's speech. Suddenly, Sokka, Toph, and Feng weren't doubting quite as much as they had been.

"O - okay," Sokka finally stuttered, "I'm in. Let's go to Uchiwake."

"I guess Uchiwake will be that mini-vacation spot I never got to pick before. I think I've worked long enough to qualify," said Toph.

All eyes, minus Toph's, were now on Feng. The earthbender sighed. He, more than any of the others, knew how scarring this could be for them all. There were many horrors with Uchiwake. That he was certain of. Yet, one sentence within Katara's speech stuck out above the others.

"We've already been through that because of the war."

The war…of course. Feng had been missing it all along. The whole time he'd been here, the hypnotist had been treating Team Avatar like children, but while that may be what they were physically, Feng now understood that wasn't what they were mentally. The war had changed these teenagers, matured them more than most adults. Each one of them had been affected significantly. The transformations they must have had to go through were probably astounding. It was incredible. This group of youngsters deserved more respect, and he was going to give it to them.

"If you think you can handle it, then all right. We'll go to Uchiwake."

The rest of the group beamed at him and cheered, before gracing Feng with a group hug.

"Right, I'll go let Aang know," said Katara, about to leave.

"Wait, before you go, there's something you need to know," Zuko stopped Katara, sounding more than a little reluctant.

"Um…okay, and what's that?" asked a curious Katara.

Zuko took a minute to figure out how to word his explanation before saying, "Do you, er, remember that time when we attended one of Aang's sessions with the Dai Li?"

"Yeah…" Katara was getting quite worried now.

"Well, so does Aang."

It didn't take Katara any time whatsoever to figure out what Zuko meant.

She felt as if time was standing still. Everything seemed to be frozen as she processed this news. She remembered that "unfogging session" all too well. That was when Aang had been brainwashed into hating Zuko. He - he actually hated a member of Team Avatar, his own family. And after that, Katara knew for a fact that Feng had managed to get Aang to hate Sokka and Toph. And…what about me? Katara wondered in terror. Does he - does he hate me? Does he think I tortured him, like the Rebels told him, or does he not remember that story? Will he ever talk to me again? Is that it for us until a cure is found? He just can't hate me, can he? Not Aang…not after all we've been through together…

It took what felt like years for Katara to finally come up with an answer. If anything, this only made her want to get to Uchiwake faster. She had to find a cure! She just couldn't live in a world where her true love, her best friend, her soulmate hated her! That was a world not worth living in. So, her resolve was strengthened. She would find a cure, or die trying. This was the final straw. She had lived without her Aang long enough! It was time to get him back.

Katara spoke, "If that was supposed to make me quit, then you did a lousy job."