Katara
Zuko takes the reins and flies Appa away.
"We have his name. What now?"
"This is where it gets complicated. We have his name, last command, and the knowledge that he retired. That means he had what was likely a full career, and now has a full pension. The pension is sent to his home, and we can find that location in the pension office records."
"So, we just do what we did at the communications tower again?"
"This is where it gets complicated. THe pension office is in the Fire Nation capital. Much more heavily guarded. And I'm the real risk factor here. I'm more recognizable in the capital than anywhere else."
"I guess then we just don't get caught." I tell him. "How long until we reach the capital?"
"It would take a day's journey if we were able to fly straight there, but we both know Appa's running out of steam. We'll have to land soon an let him rest. I'm sorry Katara, I know that's not what you want to hear."
"Let me take care of that." I say and lean over the edge of Appa's saddle. I bend the ocean underneath us until there is a sizeable Ice slab large enough for Appa rest on. "It's okay, Appa. Down now, buddy." He groans and drops onto the ice. In less than a minute he's snoring. I get up and slide down his tail and urge a current of water to speed us forward.
"How long can you keep that up, Katara?"
"Long enough for Appa to rest. Any other questions?" He coughs and clears his throat.
"Yeah, actually. Just one. What did you do to the captain back there? How did you take control of him like that?" He asks nervously. I guess I'd be nervous too if I'd just witnessed blood bending. I sigh.
"It's called blood bending. There's a lot more water in the human body than people think. It's all at a waterbender's disposal, although it can't be done unless it's a full moon."
"How did you learn it? The Northern tribe doesn't know it, or they would have used the technique when they were invaded by the Fire Nation. And I can't imagine you taught it to yourself."
"Why? Because I'm too much of a mother? Too much of a goody-goody? Or do you think that I'm that incompetent at bending I can't figure out my own new techniques?'
"Of course not. You have a dark side, Katara. That's not a bad thing. There is no light without darkness. It just just doesn't seem like something you'd look to learn to do." I growl at him, though I'm not sure why.
"Her name was Hamma, okay? She was an escaped waterbender from a Fire Nation prison. She escaped by developing the technique. Instead of going back home to the Southern Water Tribe, she stayed in the Fire Nation to get revenge. Not on soldiers though, on civilians. She used blood bending to force people to their deaths. I didn't want to learn it, but she used it on me, Aang, and Sokka. If I didn't use it on her the boys would have killed each other." I let out a deep breath. "I swore I'd never use it again. I don't know what came over me. And it wan't even the man."
"That doesn't make you evil, Katara. Or even a bad person. Neither does this quest. Don't let Aang get to you. If revenge is what you need for closure, he deserves it."
"Thanks, Zuko. Get some Rest. I'll sleep when Appa's ready to fly again."