Ty Lee misses traveling by balloon. It was faster, less bumpy and had a much better view than the boat. This boat wasn't even like Azula's royal barge. It was just the first boat she could find that would take her to the Fire Nation on what she kept calling, "Official Kiyoshi Warrior Business". Very few people questioned her when her hands traveled to the fan tucked in her belt.

Of course, by now, Suki would know that she'd shirked her duties to go home. She was supposed to be on her way to Ba Sing Se to help with the restoration efforts. But this was personal business. She'd work it out later. The longer she stayed on the boat, the more anxious she was to set foot on Fire Nation soil.

The lengthy letter that Teo wrote to Azula weighted down her armor.

Something made her feel that she had to hurry.

He had not planned any of this.

He hadn't planned anything at all aside from wanting to see Azula. He wasn't sure why.

Maybe it was just that he felt her connection to his son was stronger than his own.

Getting out of the asylum was the easy part. It was growing dark now. He ran with the former Princess in his arms until he couldn't run anymore. Now he was just walking, carrying her until he could find a river, stream or lake. He'd already used his entire skin of water, he'd just poured it over her head to try to cool her down.

She was dry now and still burning.

He stumbled across a small lake, tucked between two trees. It would be dark soon, he had to stop and just pray that those guards wouldn't go far from their base.

"Mechanist?"

"Yes Azula?" he continued walking, his footing sure in the darkening forest. It had been a while, but he'd had to survive in the wilderness before.

"Where are we going?"

"I haven't figured it out yet, Azula. I just couldn't leave you in there. Not in your condition," he said, edging down a small hill.

"It's hot. I think I'm burning on the inside," she wrapped her arms around the Mechanist's arms. It was nice to have someone hold her without holding her down.

"Here's a lake. I'm going to put you in the water. It should cool you down."

She just nodded. He put her down and helped her into the water. He then took off his boots and belt and waded in the water with her.

"You're going to freeze to death," she said, looking at him.

"The lake is getting warm already. Are you sure you can't bend? Release some energy?"

She seemed to concentrate and move her arms in a basic firebending form. Small sparks fizzled out from her fingers, but she couldn't produce more than that. "No. I can't." She looked so defeated, dipping down in the lake until her chin touched the water.

"Are you... chi blocked?" the Mechanist said skeptically. He didn't believe in chi and auras. That Ty Lee girl had mystified him the one time they had met, but he was sure that however the asylum has blocked her bending was the cause of her current state.

"They didn't do it right. When Ty Lee does it, my inner fire stays low, like... warm coals. It's... soothing. This is... this is like I drank molten rock and it's just bubbling up inside me."

"I don't know how to help you."

"I know," she said quietly. "Thank you for trying."

Aang didn't like all this official business. He thought that the end of the war would mean peace and parties. It turns out that the end of the war just threw everyone into chaos. It was like there was an egg thrown in the air and everyone was waiting for it to come down so they could try to catch it before it breaks.

"Thank you, Aang, for allowing me to accompany you," Bumi said from his seat beside him in the meeting room at the Fire Nation palace.

"Anything for you, Bumi." How could he say no to his only living childhood friend?

"I know it makes you uncomfortable."

"What does?" he had a feeling that his old friend could read him better than he thought.

"What I did to my son and grandson."

"I just don't... understand the... the politics of it. Why does everything have to be run like... a Pao Sho game. Strategy and making deals and breaking promises to make backroom deals and forming secret alliances. It's maddening! Why can't everyone just... get along?" he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn't mean to go off on his old friend like that.

"We were desperate and shortsighted. I underestimated Ozai's greed and my son's ingenuity. He was never meant to serve Ozai. The bargain was made with Iroh in mind. Still, my son is missing," the old king sighed, shifting in the uncomfortable chair.

"Aang, Bumi," the Fire Lord closed the door and smiled, happy to see friends after a long day of petitioners and advisors.

Bumi rose and bowed, "The King of Omashu humbly requests a favor of Fire Lord Zuko."

Aang tried hard not to roll his eyes at the formality of the request. He had already said enough on the matter.

Zuko rose as well. "The Fire Lord will hear your request, Bumi, King of Omashu."

Thankfully, they both resumed their seats. "I trust that you already know why I am here, Zuko. Lumi is missing. The prison says that he is not there."

"Lumi? Oh! The Mechanist! Yes, have you tried asking about the Mechanist?"

The Avatar put two and two together, the name finally clicked together. Bumi's son had made his new glider.

"I have, yes. It seems that overpopulation and missing documentation plagues the Fire Nation prison system," Bumi frowned.

"I know. Everything has been such a mess. The entire system was so focused on war, that there were so many things that were held off 'until the war was over' that they never got done. Like prison reform, tax reform, even renovating a park has now become such a mess that it would be easier to burn the park to the ground and let nature do the work for me." Zuko sighed. "I know that's not why you're here. I'll set some of my best men to locate the Mechanist. He has done much for our Nation."

"Other than building weapons?" Aang found himself asking.

"Of course. He designed an entire irrigation system for a previously uninhabitable island of ours. He made our ships safer and faster. And he and Teo invented air travel... for regular people that is. I have been trying to sell the idea of manufacturing commercial airships as a way to fund our reconstruction projects here but... the embargo that the Earth Kingdom wants to put on us will make that hard. No wonder it was just easier for Azulon to keep the war going."

"I understand what you mean, Zuko," Bumi said with a sympathetic look. "I will try to be patient. Though I do have another favor, but... I do not think you would grant it to me."

"What is it?"

"My Grandson wishes to return to his home," the words seemed to pain Bumi and Aang couldn't help but feel for him.

"He wants to come back? Why?" Zuko seemed genuinely surprised.

"He grew up in the Fire Nation. It is the only home he's ever known. Would you be willing to hire him on as an architect or engineer in one of your reconstruction projects? I could even quietly fund his salary, enough for a simple home and necessities."

"Bumi," Zuko started, "I will see what I can do. Though there was no official order of execution. In fact, Teo has no records at all. I'm sure if... he wanted... we could have him registered as a Fire Nation citizen since birth. But... we would need to manufacture such records."

"Isn't that illegal," Aang couldn't believe this line of thinking. He thought things were going to go right this time.

"It is an option. Since his enslavement was illegal in the first place, it would look bad for the both of our countries that he had been held here, against his will at all. I will make sure that none of his original documentation exists."

"Bumi? Why are you going to bring him back here?" Aang was rather exasperated, knowing how much effort Bumi had put into giving Teo a home in his palace.

"Because I want him to be happy, Aang. And the woman he loves is here."

The door to the meeting room was flung open.

"Zuko!" Ty Lee? Why was she here? "Zuko! Azula's escaped!"

"Well," Bumi rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled. "Perhaps she isn't here after all!"