A/N: Sorry for the wait! I'd love to hear what you think of this one. Also: Mustang is not intended to be a jerk here. He's a guy who's very deeply focused on his goal, and willing to use whatever tools pop up.

The only thing in Ed's mind was fiery, irrational fury. The idea that Mustang would ask Ayonn to do anything like bloodbending pushed a button inside of him he hadn't even known was there. Besides, a little part of him pointed out, it was terrifying to think that Ayonn had that kind of power. Better to bash out any ideas of it before it really took root in Mustang's head.

And then Al was there, pushing him against the wall, holding him back. "Brother, don't." The look in the helmet's eyes was as neutral as ever, but Ed almost thought he could see a softening of the edges. "All it will do is let him know she lied." And he had to admit that Al had a point. Trying to kill Mustang would only reinforce the idea that Ayonn was a powerful weapon.

The soft hand on his arm made him look down. Ayonn was still seated on the floor, white hair swirling in a soft breeze around her. "It's all right," she said quietly. "It's…cultural, the taboo. I shouldn't have expected him to know anything about it."

Cultural. "Is that kind of thing only limited to waterbenders?"

"Yes." Ayonn fiddled with the hem of her shirt. Ed got the sense that she picked her next words carefully. "Every kind of bending has a…a subspecialty, you might say. Waterbending has two – healing and bloodbending, which are the same thing turned to different purposes. A good earthbender can bend metal, and a skilled firebender can bend lightning." She smiled humorlessly. "Makes a great signal."

Ed rolled the idea of subspecialties around in his mind. "So it's like alchemy, sort of. Most alchemists specialize in one transmutation circle, instead of using lots of different ones."

Ayonn shrugged. "Sort of, I guess. But you have to be very, very good at the basic bending before you can move on to more advanced substances, and learning your element's subspecialty doesn't lock you out of the element itself." She pushed herself up in a fluid motion. "I'm going to find somewhere to lie down and take a nap."

Ed had long since realized that "take a nap" was Ayonn's code for sitting with her hands pressed together and her eyes shut. She might be sleeping, but it looked very different from the way she slept at night. (He should know – Mrs. Hughes had sent him in to wake her up enough times.) But it didn't seem to hurt anything, and she always seemed calmer afterwards, so he nodded and watched her walk away.

Ayonn was quietly panicking. She trusted Ed and Al, but they were technically Colonel's subordinates. He could make them tell him everything she'd said. And a man like Colonel would realize two things: one, that she'd lied to him about bloodbending; and two, she'd neglected to mention airbending to the boys. He'd wonder why, she'd be dragged back into his office, and she'd have to keep her cool through hours of questioning. Maybe even something worse – Ayonn wasn't sure how they did things like that here.

She found a small alcove and slipped into it, bending the stone so she'd be hidden. Settling into the familiar posture of meditation, Ayonn closed her eyes and started breathing deeply, evenly, letting her body slip into a rhythm.

Korra sat down across from her next life, looking at the doorless little chamber they were enclosed in. Probably created by Ayonn, Korra decided. The girl said quietly, "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"I'm right here," Korra answered at the same volume.

The other girl's eyes popped open, and she frowned. "I can't see you, but then I can't feel you either, so you're not physical. What's the capital city of the Earth Kingdom?"

Korra eyed Ayonn. "Ba Sing Se."

The next Avatar beamed, brighter than anything Korra had seen even on Bolin's face. "You are Korra!" She reached out, hand patting the air, and Korra took it. Ayonn immediately latched on, holding tightly and smiling. "It's so good to see you!" She paused. "Um, figuratively speaking."

Korra smiled halfheartedly. Avatars didn't call their past lives up just to chat. She waited in silence for Ayonn to elaborate on her situation. The girl didn't disappoint. "Korra, did Raava ever…send you anywhere else?"

"Anywhere else?" Korra thought for a minute. "No."

Ayonn's face crumpled. "I don't know where I am," she confessed, panic seeping through her voice. "I can't reach her – this is the first time I've made any contact with the Spirit World – and I'm not at home, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do, and Korra, I'm scared!"

Korra looked at her reincarnation. She'd be panicking too. If only Aang were here; he'd been great at giving advice, much better than Korra ever was. Korra chose her words carefully, trying to be as helpful as she could. "I'm not sure where you are, but if Raava is blocked off it's because you're supposed to be doing this alone. As to what you're here to do, well, the Avatar keeps balance, right? This world must not have it." Korra gave the other girl's hand a final squeeze as she felt herself start to fade away.

Ayonn stared at the floor underneath her. Talking to Korra had been reassuring in some ways and terrifying in others. Knowing that she could reach Korra – that someone from home was available to her – brought a huge measure of peace. On the other hand, the prospect of helping this unfamiliar world attain balance was incredibly daunting.

But she was the Avatar. She'd just have to do it.

Ayonn stuck her chin up and restored the wall to its original position.

Mustang sat in his office, staring at the crumpled sheet of paper. She'd lied to him about controlling blood. He was sure of it. He just couldn't prove anything.

Until she decided to tell him the truth, he might as well put her to work. Besides, it was long past time the Elric boys had something productive to do. Mustang called Riza in. "Are there any leads on Solf Kimblee?"

She frowned. "We had a reported sighting in the south, sir."

Perfect. "Send the Elric boys after him, and tell them they can take the girl." Mustang looked down at his paperwork. "Whether or not they capture him, it should be an interesting test of capabilities."

He wasn't quite sure what to make of the look on Riza's face as she left the room.