"Come on Frisk! Talk to me!"

Frisk stared at her through the bars. Less angry and more like "are you serious?"

"Right. Can't talk. Ok. Well, you can move your hands, right?"

Frisk still did not do that. She had nothing left to say to this circus freak. She certainly had things she'd like to do.

"I know things went… bad. But that doesn't mean they have to stay bad! I can't imagine it's fun being cooped up in here. But I could try and make it somewhat manageable, you know?"

Frisk didn't know. She didn't know anything. Except rage.

Ty lee looked her "friend's face over but saw no indication that she had anything to contribute. She nodded her head in understanding and rose to leave.

"I'm sure this doesn't mean much to you. But I enjoyed what we had. It was nice to have new friends. Maybe this is naïve, but I hope we can have that again someday."

Frisk stared after with bewilderment. When were they ever friends? They were pretending in order to deceive her! Didn't she get that?

"You should be nicer to her."

Frisk stared with even more bewilderment at Toriel. Her guardian sat on her bed staring at her worried.

You're kidding right, Frisk asked with her fingers.

"I'm not. Besides me, she's the only source of kindness in this whole prison."

She's the enemy!

"A most curious enemy. She doesn't seem to regard you as one."

Lies! All lies!

Toriel chuckled.

"I've dealt with liars all my life, my child. That's no liar. She couldn't lie if her life depended on it. That princess and her father are both liars for sure. Not her."

So what would you have me do? Be her friend?

"Yes. What else can you do?"

Frisk leaned down and sat upon the ground. This was too much. All of it.

Maybe this was all a hallucination. Maybe she was imagining this, and she was really back on Kyoshi Island sipping tea and…

She felt Toriel's arms slip around her and pull her close.

"Oh my child, how you've changed. I remember when you were full of life and joy. How you used to just play on my island. Even without words, your face showed such joy. And now look at you. I don't think you've smiled once. Not even when we met again!"

If this was meant to make her smile, it did not.

"Come my child. Do it for me, won't you? I know things are bleak. Certainly not how I wished they'd turned out. But we're here together aren't we? Isn't that at least worth smiling for?"

Frisk pursed her lips. But eventually smiled. Toriel smiled herself.

"That's the child I know and love! Keep smiling. Keep happy. One way or another, we'll get out of here. You'll see."

….

"Sokka. How you holding up?"

"Suki! Damn, I didn't even hear you!"

"Well, that's good. It means my training is working!"

"Training? What the hell are you training to do?"

"I've been practicing bending the air about me to block my footsteps. Make it easier to take down an enemy from behind."

Sokka's expression showed clear alarm, forcing Suki to clarify.

"That doesn't mean you! Just other enemies. I mean enemies! Not friends! Which is you! You are a friend! Not another enemy! Ok."

"I know that! Come on, give me some credit. I'm not that stupid."

"I don't think you're stupid at all. Annoying sometimes. But not stupid!"

"Annoying?"

"Well…. Yeah. Kind of. With some of your jokes. But not all."

Sokka's face fell.

"Annoying. Figured. And I take it you'd like it if I just disappeared then. Is that it?"

"Oh come on! Don't be ridiculous! We've all got our flaws. But we're still a team right? We all find our ways to get along and help each other."

"Some more than others, apparently."

"See, this is one of the things about you I find annoying. You always dance around when something is bothering you rather than just saying it. What's wrong?"

Sokka rubbed his nose. He hated it when they were right.

"Fine. The truth is that up until now, I thought I wasn't the only one who was… Well, normal. You know. Non bender?"

"Ah. And now you feel… what? Useless?"

"Uh, yeah! Look what Katara and Haru can do! And they can do it so effortlessly! But I have to work so frigging hard to get anywhere or do anything! I thought- I mean I know you had to work hard but- Oh boy. I'm not getting anywhere with this, am I?"

"It's fine. It's the thought that counts."

"Thought? No, it's the action that counts! And I can't act! You can! I knew you were already a badass warrior before I learned you can airbend! It's just… You're amazing! And I'm not."

Suki leaned over and hugged him.

"You are amazing. You followed your sister away from home. You helped bust Haru's father out of prison. You saw the truth about Jet. You're special in your own way. We wouldn't have gotten this far without your help. I'm not just saying that to make you feel good."

"Hmph. Sure."

"I mean it, Sokka. I don't hand out compliments to those who don't deserve it."

Sokka didn't appear convinced.

"So, when did you learn you had this gift?"

"A long time ago. When I…. When I hurt someone by accident. We tried to keep it secret. But everyone found out eventually."

"That must've been uncomfortable."

"That's putting it mildly. Especially when some genius began spreading the idea that they turn me over to the Fire Nation. We had regular visits from a nearby base that robbed us of supplies. We were being stretched especially thin at the time and they thought they could get a favorable deal at my expense."

"What a stupid idea. You can't trust the Fire Nation. No matter what they promise."

"Don't I know it. But the rumors persisted to the point a few tried to actually haul me off. My own people! Some of them friends I'd played with since I was a child!"

She found herself shaking from the memory, until Sokka put his arm around her.

She stiffened in surprise. But eventually leaned in.

"Sorry. It's been so long since I've thought about it. Out here with you and Katara…. I didn't have to. Didn't have time to."

"I've had that same feeling. We're always bust and on the move. But it keeps our mind off the past. The stuff we don't want to remember."

"Yeah. I get that. Of course I wouldn't be traveling with you to begin with if not for those desperate people. So I guess I should be grateful."

"Heh. That's a weird way to look at it. But I guess there's some logic there."

"Right. If they hadn't tried it, I would have volunteered to leave with the Kyoshi warriors. And I wouldn't have met you."

"I still find it hard to believe that your parents let you go. Katara and I didn't get that choice, but you did?"

"I argued that I was putting them at risk. We didn't need to draw more attention than we had." She paused and thought it over.

"And honestly, we weren't doing anything being stuck there. We were warriors. It was time we started acting like it, damn it!"

"And here you are. Acting like warriors. And you're doing a better job than I could ever hope to. Even if you weren't an airbender."

Suki didn't respond. She just pulled away.

"Bending can't do everything, you know. It can't give you courage or smarts. And it can't bring family back. You're about to get part of yours back. I still haven't found mine."

"What do you mean? Isn't your family on Kyoshi Island?"

Suki turned back towards him, showing sadness.

"Not all of them."

….

"These are the airbenders?"

"Yes, admiral. Right through here."

Zhao walked into the cell with the mute girl and her guardian. Neither looked to be a genuine threat, but as a soldier he'd learned that appearances weren't everything. The guard right behind him was proof of this

"Sadly neither is the Avatar. He escaped with another battalion of airbenders."

"Figures. Don't worry. We'll get him sooner or later."

"I hope so. I hear the princess herself had been assigned to lead the hunt."

Zhao couldn't help himself from smirking.

"She already had her chance. Had the avatar under her nose for over a month and never knew! I hope the Fire Lord isn't letting his personal feelings get in the way of his judgement."

A nudge from the guard behind him made Zhao get back on track.

"In any case, we have to move them now. We need to better understand the possibilities of airbending. There must be more out there. More than we can imagine. We need to be prepared."

"There is logic there, I suppose. And the other prisoners?"

"We're running low on troops out there. Why risk our own men when we can send these traitors to take the fall?"

"Yes. I can see that. Very well admiral. Here they are. Please be careful with them. They're a high-level threat."

Frisk and Toriel looked at each other but followed them out.

As they marched out of the cells, they found themselves in a line of other prisoners, also marching out.

The prison they were currently in was known as the Boiling Rock. Apparently, the highest ranked security prison in the Fire Nation. The prison was situated in a crater surrounded by a boiling lake that would melt the flesh from anyone's bones.

She found herself dreaming now and then about a few people she knew falling into it.

They followed the line to the trolley that carried people in and out of the crater. The warden stood there to look over the prisoners. His eyes widened when he focused on one older prisoner in particular.

"You want Piandao? What for? Surely, he's beyond any form of redemption!"

"For most men, we would believe that. But Piandao is a uniquely skilled individual. Such skill is not easily replaced. We think he is deserving of another chance. He will be kept under strict guard. At the very least, he should be given a chance to die honorably in battle for his country."

The warden didn't seem convinced but accepted the answer and turned his attention to the airbenders.

"And these two? How do you intend to discover their hidden talents?"

Zhao smiled chillingly. "Against their will. I can be persuasive."

The warden looked at Zhao.

"I hope this isn't some kind of personal glory scheme admiral. Stories of your past attempts have reached even here."

That wiped Zhao's smirk from his face. He looked at the guard behind him with the visor over his face however and straightened up.

"Not for glory at all sir. When I gained the position of admiral, I made several vows. One of those was to give up selfish pursuits. I promise you. The prosperity of the Fire Nation is my one and only concern."

The warden still did not appear convinced, but the papers he'd received seemed to be proof enough. The airbenders, this Piandao, and some younger guards with helmets covering their heads were the first to go.

"This is quite strange," Toriel mused. "What do they want with us?"

"We wanna make things better for everyone," one of the guards said. "For everyone who deserves it. The water Tribe. The Earth Kingdom. Even traitorous ash makers."

The guard stared at the prisoner Piandao while he said that. He then turned to the airbenders.

"But especially for the air nomads. Who has more cause to hate the Fire Lord then you after all?"

Toriel and Frisk stared at each other confused. Then Toriel asked the question on both their minds.

"Who are you?"

The young guard smiled and pulled his helmet off.

Frisk's jaw dropped.

"Hey there, girl," Jet smirked. "Looking good."

Frisk just stared with her mouth open.

"Well? Got anything to say? Or are you just too stunned to talk?"

"Pardon me," Toriel intervened. "But… She can't speak."

"Of course she can't! She probably thought I was dead! Right! Right?"

She clenched her fist. Why did she hate him so much? Oh right.

"Seriously. Frisk. Say something. Frisk? Frisk!"

….

"This is stupid. I should be going with you."

"Sorry mate. But it's a metal ship. Nothing for you to bend."

"I can fight without bending! Let me show you!"

"Haru," Katara placed her hand on his. "Stay with your father. He'd be devastated if he lost you. Besides, I can't carry anyone else over to the ship."

"I… Fine. Just be careful. I mean it."

Katara nodded and raised her hands to bend the water under her. By doing this, she was able to stay on top of the water without sinking. With hesitancy, Sokka and Suki got on behind her and each placed a hand on a shoulder.

"For what it's worth," Sokka said. "I think this is madness."

"Thank you for that opinion brother. Now embrace the madness and hang on."

Haru watched them sail across the horizon. His father came up from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"They're quite the group aren't they? Sure glad you found them. Wouldn't have gotten this far without them."

"No. I don't suppose we would. We al owe them so much. Those three more than anyone else."

"I sense some sadness in there son."

Haru paused for a moment to think it over.

"Sokka's the one who's always questioning his usefulness. But I often wonder if it should be me doing that."

Haru's father laughed.

"Why? Because they left you here? You heard their explanation. Sounded reasonable to me."

"Is it? Or is it because I've yet to offer anything valuable to the team?"

Haru's father sighed.

"Everyone has their own role to play. Their own contribution to offer. Yours's may be different. But it's no less important."

"How do you think they're going to react to seeing their father?"

His own father mulled that over.

"No way to say. That all depends on what they were like before."

"I just… She had little to say about him. That can't spell well for them."

The lights on the other ship lit up. Indicating success.

"I suppose we'll find out soon enough. Let's go say hello."

….

"Frisk! Frisk, wait!"

She listened and turned around to face Jet. Spirits know why.

"Frisk, I realize you can't talk anymore but please hear me out."

She didn't respond. Merely wrinkled her nose as if to say fine.

"I get you're probably mad, right? You probably think we abandoned you or something. But we didn't! I swear! We thought you were dead! We looked all over for you! I swear!"

She didn't say anything. Not that she could.

"We didn't abandon you. We never did. You're one of us Frisk. If I'd known where you were I- "

Her expression softened.

"I wouldn't have stopped until I'd found you. I- "

"Ahem."

Toriel appeared from a nearby hall and glared at the freedom fighter.

"Oh. Uh… Hi… Maam."

"That's miss Toriel for you youngster. May I ask what further business you could possibly have with my dear Frisk?"

"Well, not much. We're just catching up, you know? I don't know if she told you about me, but- "

"Oh. She did. I know full well who you are. And that's why I'm going to have to ask that you keep your distance."

Both children raised their eyebrows. Only Jet could speak to that though.

"Hang on. We're old friends. There's no shame in- "

"There is danger, however. Danger that you may try to pull her back into your juvenile and dangerous ways."

"Wait. What? Juvenile?"

"Yes. Juvenile. Running around and putting anyone at risk including innocents just trying to make a life for themselves. She told me how you fought for "freedom."

Jet seemed angry about that.

"Well, sorry if you don't like us fighting for freedom. But freedom means everybody lady. You included. The guys in power aren't just gonna give it up you know. You have to take it. And sometimes that involves force."

"And sometimes that force is excessive. Or directed at the wrong people. And then, the instigators of that force are no better than those they fight."

"That's going too far! Worse than the Fire Nation? Not possible!"

"Maybe not that bad. But you hurt those whose only crime was being from the Fire Nation and not attacking you. You're a danger to everyone. Especially this child."

"How dare- "He stopped with one look at her face. Toriel didn't show anger often. When she did, you listened.

"I think that's enough from you, Mr. Jet. Why don't you give us some space?"

Jet looked at Frisk for assistance, but she couldn't bring herself to turn against Toriel. She loved her too much.

He relented and walked away to the end of the ship hallway where Smellerbee and Longshot were waiting.

"Let's go."

"Come on! You're not just gonna give up like that are you? I wanna speak to her!"

"Later. Let's give her some space. We need to think."

"Jet, I missed her too! I deserve- "

"Later. She's not going anywhere. Later."

His two comrades seemed incredulous but simply waved and smiled sadly at Frisk before following Jet.

"He's the antithesis to airbending. One who cannot let of of his earthly attachments. I'd like you to stay away."

Frisk must not have looked convinced.

"Not yet at least. Not until we know more about him. It has been some time since you last met. We don't know how he's changed."

Frisk nodded then heard a shout from the boat deck.

"This way. Move it."

"What are you doing? I'm friends with the princess! One of you!"

Frisk's face dropped as she saw the circus freak being dragged down. She saw Frisk.

"Frisk! What's going on? Why are- "

She was dragged into the nearby cell before she could say anymore. The guards walked back out.

"She tried to stop us. We had no choice."

"You know her! She's a friend of the fire princess! Can we really keep her here?"

"No choice. Can't have her running off and spreading the word. Besides, the princess is in the Earth Kingdom. She's got no one left."

Toriel kneeled in front of Frisk.

"I realize this is all a lot to take in but just remember you've got me Frisk."

"Child of air, beware."

Her eyes widened and she turned around to a boy with a doll in hand and his other hand over his face.

"Alone on this ship. Remember lest you take a dip."

She stared at Toriel to see if she could make out the horrible rhymer. She saw no indication she could.

….

"Pardon young lady. Are you Suki?"

The woman in question turned to Sokka's father. She could see the resemblance. He was essentially taller more muscular version of the sarcastic funny boy she'd traveled with. Seemed much more at ease with himself, however.

"Yes. That's the name they give me anyway."

"I think it's a wonderful name. A wonderful name for a wonderful young woman."

"I'm not sure wonderful is the word I'd give me sir. I haven't exactly done much wonderful."

"That's what the truly wonderful say. Those who can do wonderful things and still retain humility. Some would argue that we should let our achievements show on our face. They claim we should be boastful and rub those achievements in everyone's faces. I disagree. And I think you do too."

Suki rubbed the back of her head, unsure how to respond. So Hakoda did for her.

"And your achievements include defending roaming the Earth Kingdom protecting who you can. When you can. Saving and traveling with my children. Helping free Earth benders and myself. And all while keeping your secret. That's what I consider someone wonderful."

Suki smiled a little at that.

"May I see it? Your bending? I just…. I always heard such things about the air nomads. It's another to see though…"

Suki laughed.

"I'm no air nomad. I'm pretty sure they'd take issue with the way I do things."

Still, she relented and began moving her arms in a circle, building up enough speed to build up the wind. Not enough to go against it.

"That's it. Don't fight it. Be like the leaf."

Her concentration was totally broken form the boy's voice. She stared with fright at the strange figure. A look at Hakoda showed he hadn't seen anything.

"I'm sorry. I just lost concentration. New at this."

"Perfectly understandable. Still, quite something to see. I'm sure you'll do even more wonderful things with it."

"If you say so."

"I know so."

The man then leaned in and hugged her.

"Thank you for protecting my children. That makes you family in my book. And I'll never forget this. If you need anything."

When they pulled apart, Suki's sharp ears picked up movement. They both turned to see Hakoda's children walking by. Sokka waved while Katara looked… conflicted.

"Please excuse me. We'll talk later."

He smiled again and walked off to talk with his children. Leaving her alone.

"You're not alone."

She stared at the boy in shock. Could he read her thoughts?

"You've got me, right? You'll always have me. Me and the wind.