TLF - The Last Firebender

by Carrotine Clara

When all hope is lost, Aang is ripped from a dystopian world, only to find himself in a sick, distorted reality, forced to fight his friends alongside his foe. But can he really trust them? Trust people that destroyed his life? Trust those that don't even exist in his world? Against his own instincts, he may need to put his trust in one person above all: Azula, the last firebender.

13. Episode 13: Bad Girls

Fire. Earth. Water. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Water Tribes attacked...

Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished.

A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his bending skills are great, he is haunted by the memories of his world...

But I believe Aang can save this one.

---

Kanna stares down the waves in sorrow. While the sun sits firm in the horizon, a cold breeze sends shivers down the old woman's spine and builds up motion in the cold, blue waters. She curses at the spirits - a heinous act often punished by prison or worse. Yet she can't help herself. A meeting between the Vice-Chief and some of the most high-ranking military commanders. She knows it's not her place. Yet she feels obliged to join. To share her voice.

BATO: I will tell Puwati myself.

Bato tries fixing the sleeve on his fancy blue coat, a more official symbol for a more noble meeting. He stands quietly next to her, impatiently awaiting some sort of rebuttal. Yet the woman remains silent.

BATO: Do you have any advice for me, Chief Mother?

She scoffs, refusing to turn her view away from the sea. He suppresses a grunt.

BATO: Fine. I'll deal with it myself then.

He intends to walk off-

KANNA: Since when do you value my opinion, captain?

She finally turns towards him, sternly folding her hands beneath her sleeves.

KANNA: Am I not dismissed?

Bato chokes on his own words, the image of Puwati's crying daughter still edged into his mind.

BATO: I... am sorry.

This truly surprises Kanna.

KANNA: You are?

BATO: I should have listened to you. Many times.

She can't believe it.

BATO: I will make it up to you... Kanna.

And with that he leaves.

---

A large wooden village stretches across Mo Ce Island, the largest island within the Mo Ce Sea and only colonial territory of the Earth Kingdom's Yu Dao Clique. Bato paces up and down the corridors of the large governing palace, a structure more akin to that of the native Earth Kingdom peoples, then again, traditional Water Tribe architecture mostly involves wood and ice, not very durable or smart as a building material.

Bato finally dares to knock on the door to the governor's office, currently occupied by the highest-ranking Water Tribe official - Puwati.

BATO: Vice-Chief? The other generals are waiting.

He looks back at a corridor from which light and laughter emits. Bato knocks again, accidentally opening the door an inch. After a quick flinch, he dares to enter.

The room is trashed - papers ripped in half, ink on the floor, wall decorations ripped off, animal furs messed up and dirty - even the Vice-Chief's famous harpoon-hook sticks in the stone wall. Bato enters further, finding a knocked-over desk, a dead messenger-puffin and...

BATO: Vice-Chief?

Puwati barely notices Bato's presence. The large man seems small and helpless, cowering and slouched over in a chair, his left hand barely holding a letter.

PUWATI (weak): Vyke wrote.

His sharp eyes suddenly jump from the floor to meet Bato. The captain doesn't quite know what frightens him - the gaping scar across Puwati's face, his teary eyes, or the expression that signals an aura of violence. The Vice-Chief's voice turns sharp and raspy.

PUWATI: What... happened?

---

Avatar: The Last Firebender

Based on Distorted Reality by Ogro

Written by Carrotine Clara

---

Book 1: Fire

Episode 13

Bad Girls

---

Act I. – General gamble

---

The shadow mocks her, cackling with a vicious tone. Azula hides behind a pillar, finding the enormous red palace unfamiliar and scary. The sound of trembling boots get louder... louder... until they suddenly vanish, replaced by a deep snarl, one that shakes the earth and paralyzes the girl on the spot.

---

Upon opening her eyes, Azula tries to shake off the uncomfortable feeling, reacting as if she had woken up with the premonition of an upcoming illness. The cold wind breezes through her, as Appa soars through orange clouds.

And then she finally notices Ty Lee sitting next to her, staring.

AZULA: Morning?

Ty Lee shrieks and looks away.

AZULA: You're not-

TY LEE (nervous): Reading your aura? Me?

She scoffs.

TY LEE (nervous): No.

Azula nods her head, flicking her brows up, making Ty Lee rather uncomfortable. Ever since deciding to keep Aang's fever mumbling a secret, things have been, well...

AZULA: What's everyone doing? It's so quiet.

No one responds. Aang finds the silence more than relaxing. He too had been dreaming badly recently. He pictures Katara's face in one of the passing clouds. Azula taps her fingers nervously, finding the silence unsettling. She grabs Sabachi, petting her against her will.

AZULA: Zuko!

Her brother snaps comically from his doze.

AZULA: How much longer are we stuck here?

Her brother spreads the map, holding it on both ends, trying to prevent the wind from grabbing it mid-air.

ZUKO: Yu Dao should only be a few hours away.

AZULA: Alright.

The awkward conversation subsides and Zuko puts away the item. Ty Lee stares into the distance, her thoughts as loose and weightless as the clouds that surround them. She finally spots something in the distance, a blooming harbor town, with a dockyard as large as the city that surrounds it.

TY LEE: What's that?

She points ahead, grabbing Aang's attention. He doesn't recognize the city, but finds it familiar, nonetheless.

AANG: That's Yu Dao.

Zuko gasps, again, comically.

ZUKO: Oh.

Now everyone looks down in awe, finding the large metropolis intriguing by nature.

AZULA: How come it's so big? I thought the Earth Kingdom is at war.

A hint of spite hides in her question. Zuko flips pages in a notebook he carries with him.

ZUKO: Well, out of the five cliques the Yu Dao Clique is most effective at fighting back. It doesn't say here why.

Aang finds the new information more than intriguing. As he steers Appa closer, Aang takes note of a large section on the city's mountainside. Slums range across it, as does poverty. He is starkly reminded of Ba Sing See.

AZULA: Ew. It smells here. Let's land somewhere closer to the center.

AANG: These people are poor, Azula. You shouldn't judge them.

The sharp and quick response freezes her up like a cat, allowing Sabachi to finally escape her clutch. As they soar across the slums and unstable housing, Ty Lee's mind wanders to a weird place, a strange... déjà-vu feeling, although she can't quite pin it to a specific memory...

AZULA: Hey sleepyhead, we're here.

Azula mistakes the daydreaming for actual dreaming and softly shakes the acrobat back to her senses. Appa finally lands in the middle of a square, a busy marketplace, where its visitors gasp in wonder at the flying bison. Aang regrets listening to Azula, as he did not wish to evoke all this attention.

AZULA: Hello, citizens of Yu Dao!

The girl triumphantly announces herself and gets off the bison.

AZULA: It is my pleasure to introduce to you-

AANG: Azula!

His sharp interruption and the associated look gives her clear instructions.

AZULA: ...myself! Hi! We're only here for supplies, so...

She waves them away like cattle.

AZULA: Shush.

As the citizens disperse, a legion of troops encircles them, an action that creates panic in the crowd.

AZULA: Um... hi?

SOLDIER: Stand down and surrender! You are arrested under the orders of Governor-General Fong.

The name immediately rings a bell. Aang calms his scared bison and jumps off with his airbending skills, landing next to Azula and holding his staff like a flagpole.

AANG: My name is Avatar Aang. I demand to see Fong.

As if the bending wasn't impressive enough, his confidence more than surprises the soldiers, causing some of them to lower their stances. A bearded man, supposedly the regiment's commander, steps forth.

COMMANDER: We have heard rumors about the Avatar's return, yet are more than impressed to see you in person.

He signals his other men to stand down. Azula crosses her arms.

AZULA (under her breath): Guess you should've let me finish earlier...

AANG: Thank you. We do not mean the city of Yu Dao any harm. We came as allies.

Aang points towards his grunting bison, the curious lemur, a quiet Zuko, and Ty Lee, who too has been staying quiet. The kids blink at the soldiers like two meerkats.

COMMANDER: I do not doubt that for a second. But we must insist that you are escorted by us to the Governor's palace, and that your bison stays on the ground.

Appa growls loudly in protest.

AZULA: He doesn't like that.

COMMANDER: Don't worry, it won't be long.

Aang nods. His two human friends get off the saddle and join the caravan. Sabachi lands on Azula's shoulder and nibbles on some nuts.

AZULA: See? It was a good idea.

Sabachi chatters.

AZULA (to Sabachi): Oh, shut it!

There is one person that stands frozen on the spot. Of course, only Zuko notices.

ZUKO: Ty Lee?

The girl stares at a water fountain in the distance. The splashing sound is almost hypnotic to her. She focuses on everything, the shape, the sound - concentrating so hard that she almost gets a headache from it, trying to solve some sort of problem in her mind that she hasn't even found the question to. It-

ZUKO: Ty Lee!

He finally grabs her shoulder, shaking her back to reality once again.

TY LEE: Huh?

ZUKO: Come on, we've got to go.

She nods quietly, following Zuko, with two soldiers behind escorting them down the market.

In an alleyway close by, two grey eyes observe the events unfolding.

---

Bato enters the banquet hall with his hands behind his back, addressing the large dinner table with a a threatening aura, confusing and even upsetting the generals present.

VYKE: Captain Bato. Any news from the Vice-Chief?

Bato quickly clears his throat.

BATO: The Vice-Chief informs you that he cannot attend the War Council tonight. He will return to his quarters and postpone till tomorrow.

The generals and admirals mumble to each other, baffled by the news. The rough-looking Vyke can't help but scoff provokingly.

VYKE: Who made you his messenger, captain?

Bato holds firm, though his brow expresses his distaste of the question.

BATO: Circumstance.

Vyke rises from his seat, some of the other commanders seeing it as a threat and falling silent. The large man approaches Bato, trying to intimidate the hunter with his broad shoulders, blowing wind from his nostrils like a bull.

VYKE: See you tomorrow then.

Vyke is the first one to leave, the other generals and admirals follow suit, though no one else addresses or even cares about Bato.

---

The sun sets on the blooming city as Aang and his friends enter the governing palace courtyard, an ostentatiously expensive structure, meant to display the might of the Earth Kingdom, with the national symbol included everywhere in the architecture. This is where Aang takes note of another familiar face - right above the entrance to the palace proper hangs a gigantic, framed picture, a painting of the all-too familiar King Kuei. His stare, in the picture that is, seems much more formal and determined than Aang had ever known the ruler.

AZULA (cutting in from the left, whispering): Do we know the guy?

AANG: Hm?

Azula continues her weirdly soft and quiet tone.

AZULA: The general guy. Fong?

She finally notices Aang's fixation on Kuei.

AZULA: And who is he?

AANG: He's the Earth King. In my-

Aang makes sure Zuko and Ty Lee are far enough removed from them.

AANG: In my world he was a puppet-king.

AZULA: Oh. Yeah. I remember. Long Feng controlled him, right?

Aang nods. His focus finally shifts to Azula who... is a lot less... Azula-like. Rather than pouting through the conversation, scratching away information piece-by-piece, she seems rather forthcoming and... nice.

AZULA: Everything alright?

AANG: What?

AZULA: You're just... staring at me.

Aang, he curses himself, blushes slightly.

AANG: I was- no- my- forget it.

FONG: I have seen a lot in my years on this Earth...

The caravan stops as Fong, same beard, fancier clothes, greets them at the palace entrance.

Azula seems slightly nervous at the proud display of legions of troops, gathered left and right in the courtyard. She shares this view in an unnerved stare towards Aang, who reassures her with a nod. Yet he himself does not quite trust Fong.

FONG: If I had gotten my hands on an Avatar five years ago, we could've pushed the water savages as far back as Omashu...

The man walks down the mighty stairs barefoot. Aang tries not to frown too much at him. After all, under his command Katara almost died. Fong finally halts in front of Aang.

FONG: But then that is not how war is fought.

He greets him kindly with a gesture, completely subverting Aang's expectations.

FONG: In the name of our King and the Free City of Yu Dao - I welcome you, Avatar Aang. The world has long awaited your return.

Aang is genuinely a bit shocked, but in a good way.

AZULA: Well, Aang has been around for a few months now.

Azula is back to her sassy arm-crossing, yet now directed towards the general, who laughs with a deep howl at her comment.

FONG: This one I like.

Azula smiles at the compliment.

AZULA: As you should.

Zuko and Ty Lee finally step forward.

AANG: General-Governor, these are my friends - Azula, Zuko, and Ty Lee.

Appa grunts in the background.

AANG: And of course, Appa and Sabachi.

General Fong nods with a big grin.

FONG: I welcome all of you to our great city. You may join us for dinner tonight.

Aang nods at the general. Though his suspicions are not completely gone, the kind man did give him a different vibe than in his world. As the general leaves, Azula closes in on Aang, again, without the sass.

AZULA: That went pretty well. Right?

Aang nods, not letting joy take over his serious manner.

AANG: We will see.

With that he goes ahead, leaving Azula behind with a dissatisfied expression. As Zuko and Ty Lee pass by her, she finally remembers them.

AZULA: Oh hey, where have you two been?

ZUKO: Just behind you guys. Ty Lee isn't feeling well.

TY LEE: I'm fine.

Her cold tone and the fact that she literally leaves the conversation, following Aang and the general, deeply confuses the raven-haired siblings.

AZULA: I guess we will see, huh?

She taps her brother on the shoulder and leaves too.

---

Aang is mostly unimpressed by the lavish dinner party, suspecting it's another attempt to lull him and his friends into compliance, perhaps striving for a similar goal to what Fong did in his world. In retrospect, Aang regrets never freeing him or the other generals from prison. Katara had suspected that they were long dead anyways.

The thought of Katara sets off an uncomfortable jerk in his body. No one takes note of this and Aang excuses himself, walking over to the balcony section of the dinner hall, giving him some space and some air. He stares over the balustrade into the palace garden, finding the extravagance repulsive at first. Yet after not seeing so much green for years, Aang is glad to enjoy this hunch of nature, admiring the array of giant bonsai trees and artificial ponds. A part of him grows further jealous of this world.

AZULA: Everything alright?

Aang turns around, expecting another prancing game of personal questions with Azula, who of course noticed his disappearance.

Yet instead he is met with a very docile and timid Azula. Aang is immediately reminded of Ty Lee in terms of the body language. A part of him also sees Katara in her.

AZULA: What's up with this Fong guy? Should we not trust him?

Aang sighs, turning away from her and back towards the quiet garden. Azula follows him, leaning her arms against the balustrade in the same manner Aang does.

AZULA: Come on, talk to me.

Her tone, a weirdly intrusive soft pitch...

Aang doesn't quite know what to make of it.

AANG: Well, I don't want to bother you with all the things I have to worry about...

Azula turns, leaning her back against the railing now and allowing a pinch of her usual sass to seep through.

AZULA: Trust me, I don't want to know all the things you know.

He gulps. If only you did...

Azula turns back the other way, moving an inch closer when leaning on her arms again.

AZULA: Why don't you start by telling me about Fong?

Aang sighs, giving in.

AANG: Only because you asked so nicely.

She smiles very warmly. Aang pretends to not see her blush.

AANG: We met Fong when we arrived in the Earth Kingdom. He forced me to go into the Avatar State by almost...

Aang pauses for a moment, remembering his anxious ignorance of where or how his friends are now.

AANG: He almost killed my friends. I hurt a lot of people that day.

Azula calculates an appropriate response.

AZULA: Did you learn anything from it?

Aang shrugs. He decides to let her know.

AANG: If I die in the Avatar State, the cycle breaks.

AZULA: The Avatar cycle?

AANG: Yes.

He remembers the night he died. The night Azula's - no, the Fire Lord's lighting passed through his body. His skin crawls at the memory of the thunder sound. Azula seems nervous, as if not being able to make out what to say next. Aang decides to relief her, moving away from the balustrade.

AANG: But that's a long time ago.

He almost walks past the giant stone pillars back inside, when-

AZULA: Can I throw in a suggestion?

He stops, confused, well, mostly at the phrasing of the question.

AANG: Sure?

AZULA: I think we should stay here for a while. At least a day or two.

Now he's confused at the question itself.

AANG: Really? Doesn't that go against your plan?

Azula clearly suppresses a grunt.

AZULA: Sure, but if Fong has any devious plans or agendas, we should probably find out.

Aang nods to the side, finding her scheme actually pretty convincing.

AZULA: And if he's on our side, well, remember how we talked about finding allies?

Aang gives her half a smile.

AANG: Alright. We'll do it your way.

He walks back inside the dinner hall. Once he has left her field of vision, she performs a comical victory gesture in silence.

---

PUWATI: Say that again.

A single drop of sweat runs down Bato's face.

BATO: A Blue Spirit. That's what the men call it.

PUWATI: And what do you call it?

Bato finds the question confusing.

BATO: A... swordsman?

Puwati finally stops pacing up and down his office.

PUWATI: Swordsman?

BATO: Yes, it was quite proficient with the katana-

Puwati trashes one of his wardrobes, unique decorative objects fall to the floor and shatter.

PUWATI (angry): And why does nobody tell me about the bloody sword!?

He sits back down, trying to calm his anger.

PUWATI (mumbling): Incompetent. All of them...

BATO: You don't think it was a spirit?

Puwati scoffs.

PUWATI: The spirits don't get involved with human affairs, or else they would have ended this war decades ago...

Bato is shocked at this statement.

PUWATI: One of the most highly sophisticated fortresses in our possession and one guy with a sword manages to waltz in and kill a hundred men.

Puwati gets back to his desk, resuming his paperwork as if nothing happened.

PUWATI: Well, he likes the Avatar, that's all we know, or else he wouldn't have helped to rescue the firebender girl.

In a massive effort, Bato manages to keep his facial muscles relaxed.

PUWATI: What about the boy who travels with him? The one you met in Huoshan?

Bato's brow twitches at the humiliation.

BATO: No. He is not our culprit.

PUWATI: We have treated this Avatar thing far too lenient. The boy is clearly more capable than we suspected.

He starts scribbling Chinese letters on a piece of paper.

PUWATI: I will personally deal with the Avatar.

Bato protests.

BATO: But sir-

PUWATI: I'm sorry to hurt your pride, captain, however this little fetch-quest of yours has done nothing but waste our time.

The Vice-Chief falls silent for a second.

PUWATI: And it drove my daughter away.

Bato feels the urge to lash out, thinking of all the injustices he had to endure. Yet...

BATO: It's true.

Puwati stops his writing.

BATO: I have so far been arrogant. I took the Avatar and his friends as an easy target. Yet, they have proven to be more robust than I thought.

Puwati ponders for a few seconds, keeping Bato on edge.

PUWATI: It's not often that a man of our tribe admits his mistake. More often than not, men sink with their pride like a captain with his ship.

The large man gets up from his stool, pounding his chest, which is immediately imitated by Bato.

PUWATI: The right resources with the wrong captain are wasted. But perhaps you can prove me wrong.

He grabs his shoulder, frightening Bato for a second.

PUWATI: I will provide you with more ships and men.

After a rough pat, the Vice-Chief sits back down, leaving the hunter shocked and confused.

BATO: Um... sir, I'm a captain.

PUWATI: I'll deal with the paperwork tomorrow. You can leave now, commander.

Bato stands still for a few seconds, then thanks him with a greedy smile.

---

The early morning sun casts long shadows into the main hall, the same one Fong held his dinner party in last night. Ty Lee tries to walk on two hands, not managing more than three steps, before landing safely back on her legs. Zuko watches this with a clearly suppressed urge to speak up.

While this is happening in the background, Aang is looking at Fong, who is seated at a stone desk, similar to the one Fong had in his world, all those years ago. The general stamps a paper and then shifts his focus back towards the Avatar. Azula stands next to him, her arms crossed and with a poker face.

FONG: I'm very sorry I kept you waiting Aang. My duties as governor are far-reaching and time consuming.

AZULA: I was actually wondering about that.

Her tone seems more natural and cold.

AZULA: How does a general get to be in charge of a city? I mean, unless they conquer it.

Fong smirks.

FONG: Your girlfriend is very attentive, Avatar.

The comical blush shuts Azula down. The Governor-General sighs with a heavy heart, staring outside through the pillars.

FONG: A few years ago, the military was at war with a traitorous faction in Ba Sing Se. The Dai Li.

Aang and Azula share a serious look.

FONG: Your face tells me you heard that name.

AZULA: We've met their boss before. In Changchun.

Fong strokes his beard.

FONG: Interesting. So, you have met King Feng.

Aang scoffs at the title.

AZULA: Yeah, he wanted us to kill the Earth King.

All eyes, including the guards, are drawn towards the firebender.

AZULA: What? We said no, of course.

FONG: I believe you. After Long Feng fled, we re-established order in the capital and freed the King from his solitude.

Aang finds this more than suspicious.

AANG: So, the Earth King is your puppet now?

Fong finds the accusation insulting.

FONG: No! His majesty is more than happy to perform in the administrative process. He however agreed with the Council of Five, that the war situation has become desperate.

The general rises from his seat, shoves his desk aside and gestures for everyone to step back a bit. He creates a miniature map of the Earth Kingdom on the floor. He then proceeds to point at Yu Dao.

FONG: I have been given command of the north-west of our nation.

He points at the relative center, Aang remembering Jet's forest and the Great Divide.

FONG: The Gaipan Clique is currently taking the brunt of the war. They also suffer the most from rebel activity.

Aang and Azula immediately remember Haru. Next, Fong points at the Misty Palms Oasis.

FONG: Since the start of the war, a large settlement has formed in the Si Wong desert, which has grown to be larger than Omashu. The city is called Goldmouth.

Aang can't hold back the question.

AANG: Can you tell me what happened to King Bumi?

Fong raises both eyebrows.

FONG: How do you know who that is?

AANG: I knew him from... well, from before the war started. He was a friend of mine in Omashu.

Azula seems shocked, also a hint of anger, since Aang didn't tell her that before.

FONG: Hm. Well, then you should be relieved to hear he's still alive. He's actually the governor of Goldmouth

A big, bright smile appears on the boy's face. Fong continues, pointing at Ba Sing Se, the enormous capital city.

FONG: Ba Sing Se is under direct control of his majesty. Many sea invasions have been effectively repelled.

Lastly, he points at the north. Aang notices that the massive mountain range is partially under water, a stark difference to his own world and the first time he has noticed a big detail like this. Azula of course catches on to this.

FONG: Lastly, the Northern Clique is mostly this mountain range and a strip of coastline close to the capital.

Azula seems speechless.

AZULA: Wait. That's it? What about the rest? There was a whole bunch of land south of the desert you didn't even mention.

Fong hangs his head down low in shame.

FONG: That's all we have left. The southern coasts where the most vulnerable parts, we lost them decades ago, same as the Fire Nation.

Azula's heart skips a beat.

AANG: Why are you telling me all of this?

Fong crosses his arms.

FONG: Because I want to trust you, Aang. These days we need allies.

With a mighty push of his arm, the map disappears, being replaced by a giant stone circle, the shape of a star in the middle.

AZULA: The Liberation Forces.

The pure mention of the word seems to give the large general goose bumps.

FONG: I assume you have met them too then.

AANG: Only one fighter. He helped us liberate Musho Ichi.

AZULA: You know. The slaves?

FONG: I see. You guys seem to be responsible for a lot of news lately.

Azula smirks at Aang.

FONG: However, I'm afraid here in the homeland we don't see the Liberation Forces as very liberating. They disrupt supply, attack troops - they decimate our chances of winning this war.

ZUKO: Why?

Everyone is collectively surprised that Zuko gets involved in the conversation. Ty Lee continues to practice and fail at her acrobatics.

FONG: Well, according to some members we've apprehended, they blame the war on the King. They think the only way we defeat the Water Tribes is by overthrowing him.

Aang doesn't like his language, but finds the plan concerning, nonetheless.

FONG: This is actually why I have invited you to stay at the palace...

He gestures to his assistant, who hands him an already-opened scroll.

FONG: A few days ago, our spies have gotten some concerning news. The Liberation Forces plan to assassinate me.

Zuko's jaw almost drops.

AZULA: Assassinate?

FONG: Yes. Me and the entire Earth Kingdom administration.

He hands the scroll back to his assistant. Aang already starts to question the accusation.

FONG: I want you to stay in Yu Dao, for a few days at least. Perhaps you can strike a deal with the Liberation Forces.

AZULA: And if he can't?

Fong sighs.

FONG: Then I won't let my country fall into chaos.

He looks at Aang with a very serious expression.

FONG: Please, will you-

AANG: Alright. We'll stay.

Azula, Zuko and Fong are all shocked.

AANG: Only if you resupply us for our future journey.

Fong nods.

FONG: Very well.

Azula tries to hide her victorious smirk from Aang.

TY LEE: Ow!

Another unsuccessful stunt resulted with the acrobat landing inside the artificial pit, directly on to the circular symbol.

AANG: Are you alright?

Ty Lee, to his surprise, grunts angrily.

TY LEE (angrily): No, I'm not.

She jumps/hovers out of the pit and marches out of the room.

TY LEE (angrily): I need some air.

The kids collectively share looks of despair and confusion. Fong feels comically out of place.

FONG: Yeah. Fortunately, that does not fall under my duties...

---

The only thing giving Ty Lee any kind of joy right now is the fact her hair has grown back quite a considerable amount. Only a week or two and she could surely braid it again. Although it will take years before it reaches its former length. She sighs.

The sigh encompasses more than one upsetting circumstance, Ty Lee realizes, as she saunters through Yu Dao. While the city is sprawling full of life and joy, she finds her own aura to be miserable and grey, a damp towel whose colors have been washed off. She hugs herself, angry and confused, jealous of Mai for captivating Zuko more than she ever could, uneasy about the lie she's forced to carry. Also, a hint of fear, fear of what really slumbers inside the Avatar.

For now, she is mostly angry at her inability to do a proper hand-walk. She had been training her airbending well recently, however, it was at the expense of her former skills as an artisan with acrobatic choreography training. She halts at the square the gang was "greeted" at yesterday, trying her luck at the water fountain's edge. She gets on two hands, focusing really hard... too hard. She loses her balance - but is somehow repelled the other way, not landing inside the fountain. Ty Lee gets back on her feet. Looking around the square, trying to spot... well... who exactly?

TY LEE: Aang?

The acrobat could swear it was a random gust of wind that saved her from-

AKARI: No, just me.

She finally spots the girl, undercut and orange singlet with yellow bandages around her wrists and ankles. Ty Lee immediately assumes a fighting stance.

AKARI: You have nothing to worry about.

---

Act II. – The athlete

---

The smug smile mixed with the confidence of an athlete gives Akari a strange new vibe, a new aura that disrupts Ty Lee's radar. She shivers slightly.

AKARI: Are you alright? You look like you're freezing.

Akari walks up to her.

TY LEE: DON'T come a step closer!

AKARI: Woah! Woah! Alright, alright. I'm just going to stand here.

Ty Lee starts calming down a bit.

TY LEE: What are you even doing here?

Akari frowns.

AKARI: Well, there's not a lot of work left for a disgruntled champion...

Ty Lee finally lowers her guard, feeling sympathy for the disgruntled champion.

TY LEE: Oh yeah.

The athlete crosses her arms.

AKARI: You know, I could ask you the same question.

The acrobat, in a surprise turn, reflects the question, crossing her arms as well.

TY LEE: Avatar stuff. But that's none of your business.

Ty Lee is shocked to hear Akari laugh at that.

AKARI: I got to say - I did not expect that from you.

Ty Lee frowns.

TY LEE: You only met me once.

Akari shrugs.

AKARI: Fair enough.

With that, Akari ends the conversation, turning away and walking back into the alley.

TY LEE: Wait? Aren't you going to fight me?

AKARI: For what?

Ty Lee's inner processing breaks down for a moment.

AKARI: Do you want to come with me?

The acrobat flinches in an anime-fashion.

TY LEE: Huh?

AKARI: Come on, I'll show you my home.

Ty Lee is intrigued enough to follow her into the shady alleyway.

TY LEE: Your home?

AKARI: Yeah, I grew up in Yu Dao. In the Air Nomad village.

---

While Aang and Zuko considered going after Ty Lee, Fong insisted for the Avatar to remain on the palace's premises. Aang didn't like that one bit, but chose to comply, as playing the general's game is apparently the strategy now. He still can't quite figure out what's up with Azula, who now quietly practices in a small courtyard, a training space offered by the general. She shoots impressive flames into the air, showcasing her levels of precision and determination have improved. Azula finally notices the presence of two guard soldiers.

AZULA: What? Enjoying the show?

The guards exchange curious looks.

GUARD: Um... I guess-

AZULA: Well, it's a private performance, so...

She gestures for them to get lost. The guards seem unimpressed, but leave anyway, not interested in Azula making a scene. The raven-haired girl turns back towards Aang, her voice and body language changing immediately.

AZULA: So? Impressed?

Aang is a bit baffled still.

AANG: Uh... yeah. It looks better...

Aang realizes Zuko is with them.

AANG: I guess.

Zuko grunts in frustration.

ZUKO: This is a waste of time. We should be out there looking for Ty Lee.

Azula shrugs.

AZULA: We're not forcing you to stay.

Zuko chokes on his own angry rant.

ZUKO: Aang! Say something!

As both the siblings look at him, he too struggles with words.

AANG: Well...

AZULA: I'm doing whatever Aang does.

Zuko scoffs, daring to be a little direct.

ZUKO: Yeah, I wasn't surprised by that...

This clearly hits a nerve.

AZULA (angrily): Just go and look for your girlfriend! It's not like you can really train with us, sword boy!

AANG: Guys!

He literally and figuratively stands between them.

ZUKO: You know what? You're right. I'll look for Ty Lee while you two do your little bending thing.

He clearly didn't mean it but leaves anyway. Aang glares angrily at the raven-haired girl.

AZULA: What?

AANG: You should apologize.

AZULA: Why? He started it.

While the two are arguing, Zuko mumbles to himself in a nearby hallway.

AANG (in the distance): That was still mean. He's clearly upset, Azula.

ZUKO: "Maybe I should show you what these swords can do..."

AZULA (in the distance): Yeah? Well, he's not the only one.

AANG (in the distance): What do you mean?

Zuko turns around and walks back towards the courtyard-

AZULA: I don't know. Maybe I'm a little angry you didn't tell me about Bumi.

Zuko halts. He has not been spotted yet.

ZUKO (quietly): Huh?

AANG: What's there to tell?

AZULA: Well, a hundred-year-old ally might have been useful information. Wasn't he in your world?

Zuko ducks swiftly, getting closer to the courtyard's corridor balustrade, allowing him to listen in. His face expresses deep confusion and concern. Aang shushes her.

AANG (quietly): Do you want the whole palace to know?!

Instead of talking back, Azula sighs and accepts the defeat.

AZULA: No. Sorry. I just...

AANG: You know I won't tell you everything about my world, right?

Zuko almost gasps out loud at the revelation. Mai's words ring in his head again.

ZUKO (to himself): "Another world..."

AZULA: Yeah, I know. But this seemed important.

AANG: It is. To me.

Aang tries to change the subject by performing some complicated firebending forms, Azula already trying to memorize them.

AANG (while continuing to bend): He's a friend, from before the war. He's also a master of earthbending.

Azula claps her hands in a very grand gesture.

AZULA: See? That's the kind of important stuff I need to hear!

Aang doesn't respond, continuing to conjure flames.

AZULA: Well, we have fire marked down as soon as we reach the Golden City, water is still... complicated - but he could be your earthbending teacher.

He sighs.

AANG: I know. But...

AZULA: You still want to look for Toph?

Aang nods quietly.

AZULA: Well, you already know what my opinion is. How about we put Bumi on the waiting list just in case we can't find her?

Aang smiles slightly.

ZUKO (to himself): Toph?

AANG: That works for me. Now come one, try to repeat my forms.

She successfully replicates his firebending forms with a bit more grace rather than strength.

AZULA (while bending): It's a shame our Zuko can't do the whole bending-thing.

Zuko's jaw drops, his brows shoot up and his eyes dilate as if he had taken a bag of seaweed.

---

Ty Lee is both impressed and saddened at the sight of the Air Nomad village. On one hand, a part of the Air Nomad culture was able to survive, thrive elsewhere in the world when, according to Aang, they got almost wiped out a century ago. On the other hand, they seem to be only able to do that in a slum-like, remote part of the otherwise beautiful city. Houses are crammed together and in appalling condition, children run around with no supervision - it's the life Ty Lee had seen so often while travelling with the Northern Lights. She notices all of them wear yellow and orange clothing, most of the men shaved their heads, many of them wearing beards instead. Somehow all of this combined really enchants the acrobat.

AKARI: Well, someone is happy.

TY LEE: This place it's... amazing.

Akari crosses her arms.

AKARI: It can't be too different than the Air Nomad village you grew up in. It's not like there's many.

Ty Lee responds with an unsettling silence.

AKARI: What?

TY LEE: I... don't know where I was born. As long as I can remember, I was always a part of a travelling circus, or a dance group...

Akari drops her stern demeanor somewhat.

AKARI: Oh, I'm... so sorry.

She touches her shoulder, but Ty Lee backs away slowly.

TY LEE: It's... fine. I have a new family now.

AKARI: Is that where you learned your airbending?

Ty Lee glares at the question.

AKARI: Alright, I know. Trust goes two ways, huh?

She waves the acrobat down a small alley and eventually to a tiny amateur dojo on the left. A group of young kids is practicing self-defense in a rather basic attire.

AKARI: Lots of scum from Yu Dao creeps into the village and tries mugging the elderly. Since Air Nomads are pacifist, most of them just let it happen, so a lot of younger people take up arms and try to defend them.

Ty Lee is impressed by one kid, who performs martial arts with a stick, a fighting style similar to what Akari performed at the tournament.

AKARI: See? Both ways.

Ty Lee turns towards her, crossing her arms with a frown and finally asks...

TY LEE: Okay, what is this about?

Akari pretends to be confused.

AKARI: What?

TY LEE: I mean... you don't know me. Last time we met we we're fighting each other. Why are you showing me this place?

Akari takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh. Her voice takes on a smooth, silky note.

AKARI: This place is my home. I had nowhere else to go after I lost. When I saw you guys land here I...

She scratches the back of her head.

AKARI: I guess I just felt guilty. Your boyfriend-

Ty Lee shrieks like a mouse on which someone accidentally stepped.

AKARI: Sorry. Your friend with the swords beat me fair and square. I should have just accepted it, instead of working with the Water Tribe.

Ty Lee pouts her lips to the side.

AKARI: So, I guess I just wanted to apologize. You can tell the Avatar and your friend I'm sorry.

TY LEE: Is that all?

AKARI: Well, I was going to grab some soup down at Ping's. You're free to go... back or whatever.

Akari signs off with her back turned and her arm raised.

TY LEE: Wait!

Akari stops.

TY LEE: What kind of soup?

Humored, Akari scoffs at her.

AKARI: I don't know. Different stuff? Just nothing with meat.

Ty Lee sighs in relief.

TY LEE: Oh, thank the spirits, I hate meat.

Akari snickers a bit at the remark.

AKARI: Spoken like a real airbender.

---

As Bato walks back on his ship, he strolls past by Kanna, almost missing her entirely, his mind occupied.

BATO: Kanna? Where are you going?

KANNA: Out. I'm not going to sulk alone on the ship while you go have fun on your own.

BATO: Wha- No. Wait! Let me accompany you.

She nods.

KANNA: Sure. But just for company, not protection.

---

The two decide to sit down in a local tavern, mostly home to soldiers, few men taking note of the old lady, let alone recognizing her as the Chief Mother.

KANNA: So, how did it go?

Bato is observing the tavern, staring at different kinds of soldiers, like an animal of prey trying to spot its predator lurking in the shadows.

KANNA: Bato? Bato!

She has to physically shake him to get his attention.

BATO: Hm? I'm sorry.

KANNA: I guess the War Council meeting was quite interesting.

Bato wonders how much to tell her. He decides to go with his instinct.

BATO: The Council meeting was postponed. Puwati...

He sighs.

BATO: He didn't take Ae' Kiki's death so well.

Kanna nods.

KANNA: I understand. What did he say to you?

Bato scoffs in disbelief.

BATO: He made me commander. Not officially yet, but still.

Kanna almost chokes on her beverage.

KANNA: Congratulations!

BATO: Thanks.

Bato gets up from his seat.

KANNA: Is everything alright?

BATO: No. I- I'm terribly sorry, but I need to return to my ship.

Kanna gets up too.

KANNA: Would you like me to join you?

BATO: No. I appreciate your help, but I need to figure this out myself.

And with that, he leaves. At first Kanna is a bit confused, but ultimately glad that his tone and manner have improved. She takes note of something else, no, someone else in the bar. A young woman with black hair and dark makeup, able to take on a much larger soldier in an arm-wrestling contest.

---

TY LEE: So, are there many airbenders in the city?

Akari is almost caught off-guard by the question.

AKARI: Huh? No. I'm one of the first in many generations.

The two are standing alone in the gym Akari showed her earlier. The athlete finally assumes a fighting pose, bouncing quickly on her feet like a boxer.

TY LEE: How old were you when you discovered your bending skills?

Akari sighs in frustration, shielding herself from the friendly acrobat.

AKARI: Alright, let's put the questions on hold. Show me some of your moves.

Ty Lee takes in a deep breath, assuming a much different fighting pose, more relaxed, harmonious. She creates a tiny circle of wind around her by dragging her leg across the gym floor. Akari is already impressed. She decides to ignore her instinct and immediately throws some punches - literally - two wind blasts shoot at Ty Lee like fists. With grace, almost like a reflex, the acrobat dodges both a in a circular spinning-motion. Angry at her, Akari throws more punches, followed by a kick. The result is the same.

TY LEE: You move way too aggressively. Air bending is about peaceful motions, avoiding conflict and only defending yourself.

Akari sees this as a provocation, grabbing a training stick from a wall and blasting a strong air slash towards her. Ty Lee dodges with a jump and knocks her opponent down with two graceful wind blasts coming from both sides.

TY LEE: Are you alright?

She immediately rushes towards the athlete. Akari is confused by this.

AKARI: I'm fine.

She sits up, Ty Lee kneeling down next to her.

AKARI: I don't need your help.

TY LEE: Wh- why not?

Akari... genuinely doesn't know the answer to that, having to seriously think for a few moments.

AKARI: I- I don't know. I thought I would be better against another airbender.

TY LEE: Right. You've never fought one before, unless you count our fight in Huoshan.

AKARI: Right. I just... thought I was better.

Her voice cracks and so does Ty Lee's semi-tough facade she's been trying to keep up around her.

TY LEE: Don't be too hard on yourself. I had someone teach me this stuff - you had to figure it out yourself!

Akari... agrees. A strange feeling, and something she had decided she wouldn't allow herself to do, but here we are.

AKARI: I always thought I was talented.

Ty Lee does a cute giggle-shrug.

TY LEE: Talent doesn't exist.

The acrobat gets back up.

TY LEE: Oh - but don't tell Azula I said that. She'd be so mad.

Akari scoffs with a blushed smile.

AKARI: Sure.

She picks up the staff and gets up on two feet.

TY LEE: Aang said beginners use staffs to help them with their bending.

Akari comically drops the stick with a wooden sound.

AKARI (hesitantly): Yeah. I heard that too...

The girls take on fighting stances again. This time Ty Lee blows wind at her opponent, a soft but quick attack. Akari swiftly jumps aside, bouncing off the wall and retaliating with air punches. Ty Lee dismantles them once again.

AKARI: What am I doing wrong?!

TY LEE: You're attacking.

Akari seems to be rather frustrated about the feedback.

AKARI: What?! We're fighting!

Ty Lee shrugs.

TY LEE: Aang taught me that not every fighting style is offensive. Airbending is grounded in circular motions.

Akari crosses her arms. Ty Lee is offended at the gesture, a reaction she has expressed more often since journeying with the Avatar.

TY LEE: You can't just throw punches all the time. Sometimes the best way to defeat an opponent is to let them use up their strength and then counter.

With those words Akari remembers the tournament fight against Zuko, how the boy outplayed her by letting her attack, countered her staff swings in order to block her bending.

AKARI: Huh.

Ty Lee jolts up in excitement.

TY LEE: It's how I defeated an old lady!

AKARI: Oh... kay?

The athlete really takes the words to heart. She tries to move differently, relying on her feet and core to guide her movement rather than her forearms. She creates a powerful funnel of air, much more stable than anything she has ever created. Her eyes sparkle.

TY LEE: YAY! YOU DID IT!

AKARI: I did it!

TY LEE: Your aura is sparkling so bright now!

She gasps, hiding her mouth behind her hands as if she just used a swear word. Akari raises her eyebrow.

AKARI: Aura?

Remembering all of Azula's comments, she tries to end the conversational topic quickly.

TY LEE: Oh, forget about it, it's nothing!

AKARI: No, I want to know.

Ty Lee feels a mix of confusion and excitement.

AKARI: My... my mom used to read my aura a lot. That was many years ago.

TY LEE: Oh.

The acrobat approaches her, reaching her hand out slowly and carefully, finally touching Akari's very muscular arm.

TY LEE (with her eyes closed): I see... a very stormy aura. Like whirlwinds.

AKARI (mumbling): How fitting...

TY LEE: It's like you're trying to stay calm but... keep moving.

Akari finds the reading eerie, rubbing her arm on the spot as if Ty Lee's reading was a needle.

AKARI: Mom used to talk about colors mostly...

TY LEE: Oh. I'm sorry. You're blue. A really deep and rich shade, like the sky.

Akari smiles.

TY LEE: I do the color thing with people who don't know about this stuff, but since you knew it I thought...

She taps her index fingers against each other.

AKARI: Oh, no, it's fine. I really appreciate it.

Akari grabs her shoulder and... blushes a bit, something Ty Lee doesn't know how to respond to. Their somber moment gets interrupted when...

MAN (from outside): Help!

Akari reacts to the voice as if it were an alarm sound.

TY LEE: Did you hear that? Let's go!

Ty Lee storms outside.

AKARI: Yeah.

---

The girls run outside and spot an old man, who loses a bag of supplies to an armed thief. Notably, both the men are Earth Kingdom citizens.

TY LEE: Hey!

The acrobat immediately approaches the aggressor.

TY LEE: Why don't you pick on someone your own size?

KNIFE GUY: You're talking about yourself, sugar cone?

AKARI: How about me instead?

The much larger and athletic Akari seems to unsettle the attacker. The man being robbed flees the scene, leaving his failed robber and the girl with the undercut to face off each other like in a spaghetti western. Ty Lee watches this unfold closely, noticing the man hesitating to attack. Almost as if he expected her to strike first.

TY LEE (quietly to Akari): Remember - counter.

Akari nods. The man finally loses his nerve and charges with a howling roar, not a very scary one at that. Akari skillfully dodges, blowing the blade away and defeating the opponent with a knee to the face. The man finally runs away. The surrounding crowd of people cheer, though some seem to shake their heads at the violence and leave. The two girls share a warm smile, marking it as the first time in a few weeks Ty Lee has felt really happy.

---

This smile continues throughout dinner, which understandably confuses the other three.

AZULA: Well, someone is chipper.

TY LEE: Thanks! Today was great.

While the kids sit a small dining table (the airbenders on one side and the siblings on the other) Azula throws a taunting smirk at the acrobat.

AZULA: So... who's the guy?

Ty Lee crunches her dumpling with more force than she intended - its insides splatter all over Aang as a consequence.

AANG: Azula!

AZULA: Sorry. I meant to say - Who's the guy or gal?

Aang gets up, cleans himself with an air sphere, then sits back on his seat cushion.

AANG: We shouldn't get involved in Ty Lee's personal life like that. If she... found someone, then...

Ty Lee grunts comically.

TY LEE: It's NOT that. Okay?

Everyone sort of nods and mumbles in acceptance. Ty Lee notices that Zuko is awfully quiet in contrast to her bright spirit.

TY LEE: How about you Zuko? Did you do anything exciting today?

Zuko almost chokes on his dumpling.

ZUKO (exaggerated): Me? What? No.

AZULA: Weren't you going to find Ty Lee in the city while we practiced?

ZUKO (nervous): Um... well, no, I... just let her be. I went to see the harbor and stuff.

AZULA: Aha.

In their own little courtyard, part of their above average luxurious accommodation, Appa burps from his stack of hay. Sabachi is hiding under the table by the way, though only Azula noticed her grabbing a dumpling and chewing on it. Now Appa grunts.

AZULA (to Appa): That's great to hear!

Ty Lee flashes up suddenly.

TY LEE: Oh, I completely forgot to tell you - Aang, there's an Air Nomad part of the city.

Aang's grey eyes sparkle with joy.

AANG (sincere): Really?

He frowns at himself.

AANG: Why didn't Fong tell us?

AZULA: Well, we're obviously still unsure about whether or not to trust him-

The massive doors to their apartment open.

AZULA (mumbling): Speak of the bad spirit...

A messenger boy steps in, bowing respectfully.

MESSENGER: The honorable Governor-General was planning on joining you for dinner tonight. He apologizes, for he is not able to do so.

AZULA (sarcastic): News to me.

The boy is confused. Azula sighs.

AZULA: Tell the honorable Governor-General that we would love to see him again on another occasion and that we wish him great success in whatever endeavor he's currently dealing with.

The boy bows again and leaves, closing the gates behind him.

AZULA: Wonderful.

AANG: We need to go there tomorrow. I want to see it.

AZULA: Then we shall do that.

She carefully inserts a smaller dumpling with her chopsticks.

AANG: You could show us your friend, Ty Lee.

Ty Lee laughs nervously.

TY LEE: No... I'd better not.

AZULA: Why not?

AANG: Azula...

His somber voice glues the firebender to him like a moth to a flame.

AANG: We should give Ty Lee her space.

Ty Lee smirks, then gets up from the seat, intending to leave for her room.

TY LEE: Maybe I will introduce her to you tomorrow. We'll see about that.

AZULA (mouthing to Aang): "Her"?

ZUKO: Um... Ty Lee? Can we talk about something? In private?

His body language is that of a nervous wreck. Ty Lee sighs.

TY LEE: I'm tired, Zuko. Let's talk tomorrow.

She leaves for her room, closing the much smaller door behind her. Zuko stands frozen on the spot, then leaves himself.

ZUKO: Excuse me.

Aang and Azula are baffled for a moment. Sabachi finally crawls from under the table and leaves with half a dumpling in her mouth.

AZULA: It's not just me who finds that odd, right?

Aang sighs, getting up and leaving too.

AANG: Goodnight, Azula.

She remains seated for a while, poking her food in frustrated loneliness.

---

What ensues the next day is a montage of the two airbender girls roaming all over Yu Dao, set to punk rock music.

-At the piers Akari tries to shove one of the ships into the ocean by blowing air into its sails. She manages to do so once Ty Lee helps her. The sailors approach them with their fists raised and they run away giggling.

-At a food stand in the Earth Kingdom part of town Akari orders some (vegetarian) tofu sticks. While she talks to the vendor, she twirls her wrist in a circular motion, creating a little funnel that carefully levitates extra tofu sticks into Ty Lee's hands. At first the acrobat is hesitant about this, but she takes them either way and runs for it. Once the vendor realizes she's been tricked, Akari runs for it as well.

-After "lunch", Akari decides it's a good idea to slide down the arched Earth Kingdom rooftops, using the momentum to perform breathtaking stunts and loops in the air. Ty Lee too engages in the stunts, under everyone's nose. Though some curious eyes catch on to this.

---

Aang can't believe what he's seeing, and for once truly feels happy about the existence, or rather his presence in this world. A fully realized Air Nomad village, safely protected inside the gates of an Earth Kingdom city. Though apparently no one here is an airbender, he loves to see his people thrive no matter what way. After all, the culture of the Air Nomads was never just airbending. Azula almost feels bad about interrupting his awe.

AZULA: Everyone here seems so... nice.

She watches as two older men walk past by them.

AZULA: And... bald.

In a pavlovian manner he strokes through his hair, wondering if he should shave it. He feels happy enough to consult Azula.

AANG: Didn't you say once you liked me better without hair?

Azula pictures Hot Aang, which is what she calls the teenage spirit version of him, blushing immediately.

AZULA: Yeah, well, I mean it does have its positives...

She avoids his stare, and he switches the topic.

AANG: Do you want to try out some vegetarian cuisine?

Azula scoffs, though she tries to come off as nice.

AZULA: Well, I mean not really, but it's not often I get to see authentic food like that, so... yeah.

Aang nods with a smile, his eyes scouting a nearby place. Azula, feeling like she came off as a little too cold, tries to poke him further with questions.

AZULA: So... how does it feel to be here?

Aang, noticing how clumsily the question was asked, answers honestly, nonetheless.

AANG: I can't really describe it. One the one hand, I feel happy. Seeing all this life and prosperity...

Azula raises her eyebrow at the slum-like conditions of the village, deciding not to bring it up though.

AANG: But on the other...

He suddenly comes to a standstill. Images, horrors of the war he experienced for years, completely paralyze him. For once Azula actually knows how to react properly - she gets in front of him and grabs his shoulders, grounding him back to this reality.

AZULA: Are you okay? I asked the wrong question, didn't I?

Her frown, the most innocent expression Aang has ever seen on her, maybe even on anyone. The way her brows move down on both sides...

He reassures her by gently removing her from his shoulders. For a moment, the two hold hands.

AANG: It's fine.

In reality, it's not. This is not the first time he has experienced something wonderful in this world, a glimmer of hope that reminds him why he needs to continue his fight. His real anger comes from the fact that, for a brief, tiny little moment, Aang considered staying here. Saving his own reality, but then living his life out here. He feels awful about it, obviously, wanting to throw up at the betrayal of his friends and loved ones. Mostly Katara.

After sulking in self-doubt for a few more seconds, he finally realizes that he's holding hands with Azula, unceremoniously letting go of her, as she turns her blushing face away. He clears his throat.

AANG: Let's go grab something to eat.

AZULA: Yeah, totally.

After a while the two find a small little restaurant, not sharing a lot of words for the duration of their stay.

---

In a remote, desolate part of the city, Ty Lee and Akari share the last tofu stick while enjoying the view of the ocean.

AKARI: I never thought you'd go along with the vendor trick.

Ty Lee shrugs.

TY LEE: I didn't know what to do. It just seemed right at the moment.

The acrobat finishes her stick and Akari starts having a little bit of guilt.

AKARI: Tell me Ty Lee...

TY LEE: Hm?

Her eyes fixate on the athlete like a kitten.

AKARI: Why are you hanging out with me?

TY LEE: Well, we are staying for a bit and since everyone else is busy...

AKARI: Yeah, but like... why are you hanging out with me and not your friends?

Ty Lee giggles a bit at the remark, further unsettling Akari. After doing so, Ty Lee suddenly shifts into something of a somber tone.

TY LEE: I don't know to be honest. I feel like we've been growing apart.

A little more guilt seeps through the athlete.

TY LEE: Aang and Azula are... sort of doing their own thing and Zuko...

She lets out a deep sigh and Akari finally realizes.

AKARI: You're in love with the guy.

Ty Lee blushes profusely.

TY LEE: What? No, I- I agreed to myself that I'm leaving it ambiguous.

Akari throws the rest of her tofu stick away.

AKARI: Ambiguous? You're blushing from cheek to cheek. Your voice cracked when you said his name.

It did indeed. And so, Ty Lee finally cracks.

TY LEE (teary): YES, I DO, OKAY? I'M IN LOVE WITH ZUKO! ARE YOU HAPPY!?

She lets herself fall on her back, although this time it looks rather painful as she lands on ceramic roof tiles.

AKARI: Well, that explains everything, really. You always looked at him weird.

TY LEE (whining): I know. What am I going to do?

Akari seems oddly perplexed that Ty Lee doesn't figure this out herself.

AKARI (blunt): Nothing.

TY LEE: What?

AKARI: I mean, what are you going to do? Force him to like you back?

Ty Lee sighs again.

TY LEE: Of course not. Plus, he likes someone else. This badass assassin girl...

She angrily crosses her arms and Akari nods.

AKARI: I see. And helping me steal food and annoying people makes you more badass?

Ty Lee shrugs, angry at herself.

TY LEE: I don't know. Maybe. Maybe if I'm a little bit more like her, he'll like me back.

Akari gets really angry all of a sudden.

AKARI: Don't say that.

She has the acrobat's attention.

AKARI: It's not your fault that he doesn't like you. If anything, it's his.

She comforts Ty Lee, grabbing the girl on both shoulders and intensely looking into her grey eyes.

AKARI: Never blame yourself for things that aren't your fault.

This seems to genuinely cheer up Ty Lee. She gently touches the athlete's cheek.

TY LEE: Thank you.

Akari backs off, hiding her blush in a cough.

AKARI: Well, glad to help I guess...

Guilt creeps back on to her.

TY LEE: You should meet my friends.

Akari switches to disbelief.

AKARI: Wh- What? Already - I mean, like now?

Ty Lee jolts up with gusts of wind.

TY LEE: Sure! You're a different person now. They'll love you!

Akari tries her hardest to hide the grin and instead exerts a warm smile.

AKARI: Alright. Deal.

She offers her hand and Ty Lee shakes it.

A different set of eyes, hiding on a roof top not far away, find the scene more than unnerving. The set of curious eyes, attached to a man dressed in green and beige, waits for a few more seconds, until the girls have jumped somewhere else, they then climb down their own roof, landing via earthbending next to a colleague.

MAN: (to his colleague): Inform the general.

---

Zuko paces up and down a random street corner in Yu Dao, how he got there, he's not exactly sure, however it's not the main thing on his mind.

ZUKO (to himself): Other world. Other world. What does it mean? Why didn't Azula tell me? Should I confront them?

He stops himself.

ZUKO: Ty Lee.

He runs down a random street corner, finally realizing that he's sort of...

ZUKO: Where am I?

He spends a bit longer aimlessly wandering around the city, allowing his mind to calm a bit. He thinks about Mai, pondering one of the secret throwing weapons he carries on his belt. He wonders how she's doing, if she too thinks about him. A big bright smile appears on his face. Then a cackling laugh attracts his attention. In a sleazy alleyway he notices a few suspicious figures transporting barrels.

FIGURE (in the distance): Sh! Will you shut your mouth! Let's get these inside.

Zuko's inner drive for justice and distrust of behavior like this gets his attention. He decides to put some of the spying skills to use. After subtly checking if anyone watches him, he enters another alley right next to it, quietly climbing on the roof and sneaking towards a tiny courtyard hidden in shadow. Without being seen, he quickly deciphers the presence of four men, one of them smoking a yen tsiang pipe, overseeing the transport of a large number of suspicious-looking barrels. The pipe man appears to be from the Water Tribe.

FIGURE: Lee was drawing attention again.

LEE: No, I wasn't!

The pipe man shushes them. He takes a long draw from his pipe, filling the air with a spicy-smelling smoke.

PIPE MAN: Be careful with the merchandise. We don't want to blow a hole in the apartment complex.

Zuko raises his eyebrow.

LEE: Right, it's reserved for the Earth Kingdom flee-

PIPE MAN: Quiet! I know what they're for. This city is filled with spies.

Technically the truth, as the Fire Nation boy abandons his post, crawling backwards slowly and climbing down into the alleyway again. Ty Lee has to wait. He sprints back into a square, trying to remember how to get back to the palace. He decides to head to the pier, perhaps he can quickly recognize it from there.

SOLDIER: Hold it!

Zuko turns around, surprised to see Earth Kingdom soldiers aiming their fists and weapons at him.

ZUKO: There you are! Did Fong send you?

SOLDIER: In the name of the Governor-General, you are under arrest!

ZUKO: What?!

One of them tries to capture Zuko on the spot - the boy dodge-rolls, pinning the attacker against a wall with darts. He decides talking is no use and runs for it. He almost makes it to the pier when his feet are suddenly caught in the ground. Nearby passengers, already startled by the chase, scream out loud in terror. Zuko is now stuck in the stone ground up to his shoulders. He sees two feet coming to a hold in front of him, as he grunts and twitches in protest.

FONG: Resistance is futile. Tell me where your friend is.

ZUKO: This is a mistake! I just saw someone-

FONG: You think this is a game?

Fong bows down to Zuko's level, glaring at the boy with a frown.

ZUKO: Someone is going to attack-

FONG: Yes.

He grabs his face.

FONG: Which is why I need you to tell me where your friend is.

---

Gathered on the shore of the island, Puwati stares into the ocean with a deep sense of grief. He takes a breath, deciding to burry these feelings and continue his duty. Turning around, he faces a large number of high-ranking generals and admirals. Among them, Bato.

VYKE: Why did you bring us out here, Puwati? To admire the ocean-

PUWATI: That's still Vice-Chief Puwati to you, Vyke.

He leans in dangerously close. Vyke gulps, shuddering at the deadly stare made even more fierce by Puwati's relatively new scar, which burns across his face and through his nose.

PUWATI: I hope you're enjoying yourself in your nice little fortress. No longer impenetrable, unfortunately.

He turns around, letting his cape blow some wind in Vyke's face.

PUWATI: The rest of us are out here fighting a war. A war that cost us too many lives already. A war that may soon be decided.

The men mumble to each other. Bato raises an eyebrow.

PUWATI: For the past few weeks, I have coordinated a large number of ships around Yu Dao. The last fortress besides Ba Sing Se and Goldmouth. Enough ships to break their blockade.

UNNAMED ADMIRAL: Even with all the ships in the Navy, it would be a stalemate. A siege of Yu Dao would take months, maybe even years.

VYKE: I thought your goal is to stop the bloodshed?

BATO: That's clearly not all.

Everyone falls silent. Puwati smiles, an elegantly crested paper scroll in his hand.

PUWATI: For the past few days, a large network of spies has been smuggling in supplies and weapons. They have been given the task to depose the Governor-General. The ensuing chaos will give us an easy time capturing the city.

Puwati turns back towards his military personal.

PUWATI: So... should we set sail?

---

Aang has picked up on Azula's increased level of boredom, the fact that she's been able to hold it in as much as she has so far is something he greatly appreciates. Eventually, what gives it away is the yawn she can't hold back.

AZULA: Sorry, it's been... long.

Aang smiles.

AANG: It's okay. You can go home without me if you're bored.

She shrugs.

AZULA: What am I going to do there? Hang out with Fong?

They pass by a little dojo and see a group of kids train. Aang stops, his eyes drawn to the strange sight.

AZULA: I guess that answer's my quest-

She too stops, staring at the children, who now pause their sparring session, noticing the pair of eyes staring at them. One of the kids, a small boy with very short hair starts pouting.

BOY: We're not doing a performance here. Get lost!

Azula shrieks up, Aang stopping her from starting an argument.

AANG: We're sorry for interrupting your class.

He does a strange gesture that Azula assumes is custom in the Air Nation. The boy responds by imitating it.

AANG: We're simply curious.

The boy scoffs, but does not protest the entry of both strangers into the dojo.

BOY: It's not often that we see outsiders follow our customs.

AZULA (mumbling to herself): Yeah, a bit of loin meat wouldn't hurt those customs...

FU: I'm Fumiaki, but most people just call me Fu. These are the Blazing Winds.

He points to his students/comrades. Their ages seem to range from nine to 13, with Fumiaki, surprisingly, not being the oldest one.

AZULA: "Blazing winds"? That's a bit tacky, isn't it?

Fu and his crew quickly prepare an annoying tornado, one which twists Azula's outfit, brushing off her wrist protectors and completely messing up her hair. She leaves in shame while the children laugh. If an Air Nomad village wasn't enough, apparently a few of these kids are actually airbenders, a new generation able to flourish. Aang smiles profoundly, still concerned with Azula though.

AANG: She... didn't mean it. I'm Aang by the way.

FU: Nice to meet you, Aang. And your... girlfriend?

AZULA (from outside the dojo): I'm not his girlfriend!

Aang sighs.

AANG: That's Azula.

The raven-haired girl finally re-enters, her appearance back to the usual perfection.

AZULA: The only reason I'm not kicking your butt is because you're younger.

Fu scoffs.

FU (mumbling): Sure...

AANG: What are you guys training for?

The kids seem quiet, almost intimidated by this question.

FU: There's some dangerous folks that tend to pick on us, since you know... pacifism and stuff.

Aang can feel the anger boil in his stomach,

AZULA: So, you're like... a neighborhood watch?

FU: Kind of. We're trying to help whenever we see something suspicious. Which...

One of the Blazing Winds girls gestures for Fu to stop talking. Guess who picks up on it?

AZULA: What? Which what?

Fu sighs.

FU: We don't know if we can trust you.

Azula lets out the bitchiest sigh possible.

AZULA: Aang is the Avatar. If you can trust anyone, it's him.

Aang seems angry at first, but playing the Avatar Card seems to have worked. Fu nods.

---

In another alleyway behind the dojo, Fu removes a cloth tarp, revealing a skinny man, tied-up and gagged, his clothes indicating that he's an Earth Kingdom citizen. Aang is a bit shocked.

AANG: Take it off!

Fu removes the gag, allowing the man to speak.

KNIFE GUY: Please let me go! I swear I didn't do anything.

Fu scoffs.

FU: Yeah. This guy robbed an old man in broad daylight and claims he didn't do anything.

AZULA: Okay? Why aren't you handing him over?

KNIFE GUY: I didn't steal anything! It was all scripted and fake! They paid me lots of money to do it!

Fu looks over to Azula with a "well, that's why"-look. Azula continues the confused expression, transferring it over to Aang like a game of telephone.

AANG: Who paid you?

Knife guy is visibly nervous.

KNIFE GUY: I- I- I don't know. Some guy in a coat. He was smoking a pipe. I swear! Please, I need to see my family! I have a daughter!

Azula keeps up her poker face, yet Aang buys into it.

AANG: Why did they pay you to rob someone?

KNIFE GUY: I was told if rob some dude at the dojo, some gal was going to show up and blast air at me!

Azula's jaw drops.

AZULA: Ty Lee?

AANG: That girl that attacked you, was she wearing pink?

Azula joins in.

AZULA: With brown hair?

Knife guy shakes his head.

KNIFE GUY: No. But I- I think there was a girl like that with her. The girl who attacked me had-

AZULA: A side cut?

It now dawns on Aang too.

KNIFE GUY: Yes! YES!

Fu is impressed.

FU: You guys are good at this.

AANG: Fu, bring this guy home. Have some of the Blazing Winds scout the city.

FU: Got it.

The Avatar looks at Azula.

AANG: We'll go tell Fong.

---

Aang and Azula enter the palace courtyard running, with the firebender noticing the absence of the ornamental entry guards.

AANG: If Akari is in the city, why is Ty Lee hanging out with her?

Azula shrugs.

AZULA: Don't ask me-

They both notice the rumbling simultaneously. Azula is almost able to escape, getting her left foot caught in the ground, which latches at her like a viscous predator. Aang lands on two legs, but freezes at the sight of dozens on soldiers, who are beginning to flood the courtyard. Fong exits the palace entry with a captured Zuko by his side.

FONG: I really hoped I could trust you, Aang. I really did.

Azula is now completely buried up to her shoulders. Aang gets an eerie déjà-vu.

FONG: But I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you very directly now...

He grasps his fist and Azula sinks an inch into the ground.

AZULA: UH!

ZUKO: NO!

Aang decides to appeal to Fong's humanity. Even with all the mistrust, Aang hasn't let go of the feeling that this Fong is different. Perhaps hope is the better word. After all, Azula isn't the same in this world either.

AANG: This is a misunderstanding - we're on your side!

Fong laughs, hiding his anger.

FONG: Really?

AANG: I have prove! You just have to trust me!

Fong feels conflicted. He decides to trust his instinct too. By opening his clenched fist into a palm, Azula is pushed out of the earth a bit, though her arms remain underground.

FONG: How can I trust you if your friend is friends with a Water Tribe agent?

AZULA: Oh...

Her silly comment dissolves some of the tension.

AZULA: That's who she was talking about last night? At dinner?

ZUKO (mumbling): Not helping...

AANG: We don't know why they're hanging out! But we want to help!

Zuko decides to be useful for a change.

ZUKO: I saw some criminals in an alley pushing explosives! I think the Water Tribe is planning an attack.

Fong appears frozen on the spot, undecided about what to do.

FONG: Let's say I do believe you? Will you help me find Ty Lee?

---

Akari nervously taps on Ty Lee's mattress, the acrobat pacing up and down her room.

TY LEE: Where are they?

Akari looks over to the window, remembering the entry path for how they snuck in, contemplating if she should abort the mission.

AKARI: I don't know. Maybe we should go scout the palace.

Ty Lee sighs very nonchalantly, a big contrast to the unnerve that Akari is feeling.

TY LEE: No. I don't want them to stumble over you and freak out.

The acrobat falls on to the bed, Akari sliding aside. The athlete decides to be patient for once, distracting herself and her target. And so, she finds the perfect item - Aang's staff, which is leaning against a shelf.

AKARI: What's this?

She gets up, Ty Lee sits up.

TY LEE: An airbending staff. You can fly with it.

Akari doesn't seem to buy it but picks up the staff either way. She's amazed by how perfectly balanced and light it feels, despite being used as a formidable weapon. Ty Lee sinks back into her pillows, burying her face in them. Akari uses the moment to ponder the elegantly crested paper scroll hidden under her shirt. She wonders if she should read it again, feeling nervous and uncertain about the assignment.

TY LEE: Do you want me to show you how it works?

Akari quickly stuffs it back in her shirt, turning around in the most suspicious fashion possible.

AKARI: Hm?

TY LEE: The staff. Do you want to me to show you how to glide with it?

Akari scoffs, dropping the act for a second.

AKARI: Do you think that's a good idea?

Ty Lee jumps up, leaving a gust of wind to blow over her mattress.

TY LEE: Sure! We're friends! Why wouldn't it be?

Akari is frozen. A thump sound is heard in the distance.

TY LEE: Oh, I bet that's the earthbenders. Maybe Aang is there too, come on!

She runs for the door. Akari's grip over the staff tightens, as regret washes over her in one swift blow.

---

Act III. – The invasion of Yu Dao

---

Akari runs after Ty Lee into the dining hall.

AKARI: Wh- hold on! Are you sure?

Ty Lee stops.

TY LEE: Sure about what?

Akari scoffs in disbelief.

AKARI: That I'm your friend. We've only known each other for a day or so.

Ty Lee shrugs.

TY LEE: Who cares. I trust you, you're nice to me-

AKARI: No.

Now Ty Lee is a bit frozen.

TY LEE: No?

The doors get smashed in an instant - troops enter with Fong at the helm. Akari quickly realizes what's going on and escapes through the window and over the roof, staff still in her hand.

AANG: Ty Lee!

Everything happens at once - the soldiers enter, Aang, Azula, and Zuko rush towards her, Fong prepares to trap her in rock. For a brief moment it feels like Ty Lee's world is falling apart in front of her eyes. She has to make a choice.

A literal second before Aang reaches her, she jolts up like a champagne cork, rushing outside and swiftly managing to get on the palace rooftops, with Akari still in her reach. The athlete turns around in shock, commencing the chase.

---

Fong howls in disbelief, his rock trap having missed the acrobat only barely.

FONG: I want troops scattered throughout the city! I want those two now-

AANG: GENERAL!

Everyone in the room shifts their focus back on to Aang, whose voice cracked just briefly.

AANG: I think we have more important manners to attend to!

Fong grunts.

FONG: Not until the girls have been caught and questioned!

ZUKO: How is this going to save the fleet?!

Now everyone focuses on Zuko.

AZULA: Huh?

FONG: Say that again!

Zuko grunts too.

ZUKO: Those people with the explosives talked about blowing up the Earth Kingdom fleet!

Fong calms down, signaling some of his soldiers, who move out immediately.

AZULA: Could've brought that up earlier, Zuko.

FONG: Thank you for helping us out, Aang.

In contradiction to this, the general traps both Fire Nation siblings in the floor.

AANG: Hey!

FONG: You will come with me. Your friends stay here.

To Azula's surprise, Aang doesn't react angry or in opposition - he simply grunts and nods.

AANG: Fine.

AZULA: What?!

FONG: Let's go!

The military personel and Aang leave the room, the two siblings remaining like sticks in the ground, their limbs rendered incapable of moving. Azula twitches around a bit, giving up after a strand of hair falls into her face. Zuko remains completely quiet.

AZULA: Wonderful.

---

Akari leaps off the palace's rooftop, aiming to land on the neighboring buildings. She hasn't figured out how to use the glider part of the staff yet. And there's no time.

Ty Lee races across the roof tiles, her facial expression carrying an intimidating level of anger with her. Akari tries sweeping her off the building with a devastating air slash. The acrobat dodges only barely, allowing Akari to get a head start. The two airbenders leap from rooftop to rooftop, from house to house, jumping over marketplaces and street corners. The athlete always manages to stay ahead, occasionally using her newly acquired weapon to disrupt Ty Lee's path.

The acrobat has a hard time keeping her balance or landing on gutters with the same grace that she usually expects of herself. The sheer amount of chaos in her head is enough to throw her off course literally and figuratively.

---

Fong, of course, didn't keep his promise and ordered some of his soldiers to run after Ty Lee. Aang had not expected to leave this city trusting Fong, but for now he had to do everything in his power to stop the coup attempt. And if that wouldn't work out? Well, he was able to deal with Fong in his world and Aang wouldn't hesitate from doing it again.

They finally reach the pier, finding a group of merchants tugging back a ship with grumpy faces.

FONG: This way!

The suspicious man lights his pipe, eyeing the tied-up soldiers with a stern expression. Taking over the Navy section of the pier was a lot easier than he expected. As he takes a zip from it, Lee runs towards him, completely out of breath.

LEE: Boss! The army is coming!

The pipe man, Shu, angrily empties his pipe, stuffing it back in his coat pocket.

SHU: How is this possible?! The Vice-Chief assured me that the Governor would be taken care off!

A rumble in the earth alerts Shu - he jumps aside, as a pillar flings up Lee like a spitball. The skinny man lands in the water with a comical scream. Shu bends a body of water from his pouch, the Water Tribe men at his side prepare for battle, as they see countless Earth Kingdom soldiers surrounding them.

FONG: Surrender now and you may live.

Shu finally sees the Governor-General himself, a weird kid in Fire Nation clothes by his side. The waterbender lets out a smug scoff.

SHU: The governor himself. What an honor.

AANG: No one needs to get hurt today.

A lie, Aang thinks to himself. Shu finds the boy intriguing.

SHU: Suppose that's that Avatar then, aye? Fancy seeing you here. Now...

Two Water Tribe soldiers showcase a torch, which they hold close to a fuse leading to pretty much all of the ships. The bluff is powerful enough to seriously unnerve the Earth Kingdom troops.

SHU: Let's not blow things out of proportion.

---

It matters not how large the fleet is, how many ironclads are sailing towards Yu Dao. This is still risky. Too risky. It could cost him his career. More importantly, it would cost many lives if the invasion reveals itself as a mistake.

Bato, invited to ride on the Koriata, takes note of the tension boiling within the Vice-Chief.

BATO: We still have an hour till we reach shore.

PUWATI: I know. Tell me something I don't.

Bato decides to go with his gut.

BATO: Vice-Chief. If there is any cause of doubt-

PUWATI: Of course there is. There always is. You'll learn that when you become admiral someday.

Bato is glad to hear that but decides to keep his finger on the wound.

BATO: But... specifically today?

Puwati lets out a nervous laughter.

PUWATI: You talk a lot, Bato.

After pondering his harpoon for a moment, he lets out a scoff.

PUWATI: But fair enough. I have many doubts about this. Plenty of great men before me have turned their mission of glory and conquest into a waste of men and blood. Plus, those men didn't have to worry about an Avatar.

The word triggers something inside Bato's mind. Slowly at first, but the mechanism gets more and more complex. Eventually, Bato can perfectly picture a map of the western Earth Kingdom, figuring out the Avatar's path.

BATO: Puwati, we need to scrap the invasion! Abort the mission!

Puwati answers with a very angered frown.

PUWATI (through gritted teeth): What?

BATO: I believe the Avatar is in Yu Dao. If he works with the Governor-

PUWATI: We'd be doomed.

Puwati carefully processes the information, with Bato barely able to stand still, desperately awaiting his answer.

PUWATI: I hope you are right.

PUWATI (towards a soldier on deck): Stop the fleet!

The soldier is baffled.

SOLDIER: Wh- Vice-Chief?

PUWATI: GO NOW! I DON'T GOT ALL DAY!

The soldier runs inside. It takes a while, but with proper flag waving and whistle commands the orders are relayed. The fleet stops in the middle of the ocean. Puwati holds on to the railing, his sight glued towards Yu Dao, as if staring enough would make the coast somehow visible to him.

PUWATI: For your sake.

Bato gulps quietly.

---

As the troops try to close in in unison, the torch moves an inch closer to the fuse. Aang feels powerless and terrible about it. He wonders if he should just overwhelm Fong now and help his friends back at the palace. Then again, if this city is lost to the Water Tribes, so is the Air Nomad village. He can't give up yet.

SHU: How about we all just stay a little bit... chill?

He takes out his pipe again, trying to intimidate Fong with his calm demeanor.

FONG: How about you hand me over the torch?

That's it, Aang thinks to himself. He swiftly produces a gust of wind, aimed directly at the torch, yet Shu predicted all of that - grabbing the torch and saving it from the treacherous wind.

AANG: No!

Shu throws it at the fuse, which burns for a few seconds. Everyone present skips a heartbeat. And then it just stops.

SHU: Huh?!

One of the Water Tribe soldiers picks up the fuse, which appears to be cut. Then, right after that, the explosive barrels stacked inside the Navy ships all drop off deck, or out the windows. Little orange monk-like figures with staffs can be seen engaging in the sabotage. A smirk appears on Aang's face.

FONG: Attack!

The Earth Kingdom soldiers quickly and without bloodshed overwhelm the enemy soldiers. Shu manages to hold his own against Fong pretty effectively, with Aang helping out the ground troops. An incoming glider manages to be Shu's downfall.

FU (battle scream): AH!

The kid uses a glider similar to Aang, gently hovering down from an elevated position and then kicking Shu in the face mid-air. Fu lands nonchalantly in front of the Avatar and a baffled-looking general.

FU: It seemed like you guys needed some help.

Aang smiles, while Fong is stroking his beard in absolute confusion at what just happened.

---

A mean gust of wind hits Ty Lee directly in the chest and she fails to land on a roof top in the Air Nomad village, landing instead in a wooden cart filled with cabbages, which are subsequently squashed.

CABBAGE MERCHANT: My cabbages!

Dizzy and on the ground, for a few seconds, images and memories flash through Ty Lee's inner eye, most likely caused by her hitting the back of her head rather badly. She looks ahead, seeing Akari in the distance through an alleyway. It's not hatred or revenge that drives her to get back up, she doesn't know what it is, but it does give her the strength to perform her wow-maneuver from the Northern Lights performance. Getting launched straight up in the air with sweeping winds below does get her a lot of attention, including Akari, who comes to a hold on a roof top, staring at the acrobat in awe.

Ty Lee continues her momentum and switches into a somersault, bouncing gracefully on the side of a large building, sliding down an arched roof and launching over a massive market street. Akari snaps out of her admiration, trying to smack her down while she jumps on a house next to hers. However, combining her fantastic acrobatic movements and her airbending, Ty Lee is able to easily dissolve the otherwise powerful wind blast. The girl in pink lands and immediately rushes Akari in a straight line. The athlete finally identifies a weak point - she swings the staff like a bat and hits Ty Lee's legs, yet her opponent simply switches to her hands, using the momentum to blast wind from her soles. A direct hit that launches Akari down on to the ground level, landing in front of the same fountain that she found Ty Lee at yesterday. The few bystanders present flee the scene.

During her defeat, Akari drops Aang's staff, which Ty Lee now picks up, towering over the athlete as she sits up in pain. Ty Lee doesn't even know where to begin, her stern demeanor quickly transforming into confusion and sadness.

TY LEE: You lied to me. What happened?

AKARI (in pain): I didn't want this to happen. You were just a mission. My target.

TY LEE: What? Target?

Ty Lee's voice reeks of desperation. Akari laughs heinously.

AKARI: What do you think happened? I was happy being a champion. I was on my own. Then you clowns came along and ruined everything!

Ty Lee feels profound guilt building up inside her.

TY LEE: But... but this is your home.

Akari scoffs, leaning her head against the fountain's edge.

AKARI: I was born in the southern Earth Kingdom. My parents were rich merchants, good relations with the Tribe. Then one day, they discovered I had these powers. Some distant relative we never knew about.

Akari starts tearing up...

AKARI: They threatened to take me away. They-

...then abruptly ends her sentence and her display of emotions.

AKARI: I became a spy for the Tribe. I was good at it, always able to get away in time. Eventually, I felt it was...

Ty Lee is on the edge of her seat.

AKARI: I thought it was wrong. I started doing tournaments. I was also pretty good at that.

She glares at Ty Lee with her teary eyes.

AKARI: The rest is history.

Akari gets back up, this time Ty Lee doesn't let her guard down.

TY LEE: So, you ran back to them?

AKARI: Wouldn't you?

Akari remembers what Ty Lee said about, well... never knowing her parents.

AKARI: Oh. Right. Well, it's all I had. I got missions assigned again. I agreed to take out the governor. And you were the perfect way to get in.

Anger starts building up in the acrobat again.

TY LEE: Then why didn't you do it?

Akari shrugs.

AKARI: I don't know. Why don't you tell Zuko how you feel?

Akari can't hide the obvious blush on her face. She can however spot the Earth Kingdom soldiers that run towards Ty Lee and herself.

TY LEE: So did you lie? Was I... just a mission for you?

Akari takes a deep breath with her eyes closed...

AKARI: I'm sorry.

...then sucker punches an air blast against Ty Lee, knocking her over. One of the guards comes to arrest her, the other one chases after Akari, who slowly runs and jumps away in the distance.

---

The sun slowly sinks into the ocean as Puwati's fleet turns its back on the road to Yu Dao, returning to a nearby naval base. That is except for an ironclad and a few wooden boats, Bato's new arsenal, all under the leadership of the new commander. The Koriata triumphs over all of the newly acquired vessels, making them look laughable in comparison.

PUWATI: Very good.

Puwati reads yet another report delivered to him via adorable messenger puffin.

PUWATI: It appears the Avatar was there, and my informants didn't bother to disclose it.

He turns towards Bato, Kanna back by his side again. The massive man seems not to be bothered by the female presence.

PUWATI: Many people owe their lives to you today, Commander Bato.

Bato doesn't bother to hide his smirk.

BATO: I... always had an ear by my side.

Kanna gives him a nod of satisfaction.

PUWATI: That's good to hear.

The Vice-Chief bows elegantly in front of Kanna.

PUWATI: Chief Mother, take care of our new Commander.

KANNA: I will.

PUWATI: Who knows. Perhaps with an Avatar in his possession we can soon call him Admiral?

Bato's brow twitches greedily as the Vice-Chief departs back on his own ship.

KANNA: You did handle it yourself. I am proud.

Bato scoffs.

BATO: I am no boy, Kanna. No need to patronize me like that.

She finds his responds... rather odd.

BATO: You deserve some of the credit too.

KANNA: Don't get ahead of yourself. There's someone I want you to meet.

BATO: You do?

---

Below deck, Bato is more than impressed by the slim goth woman wearing leather and easily beating men twice her size in arm wrestling contests. In the back, Malu the komodo rhino is playing around with a horrifying creature, a third wolf, a third anteater and a third mole. The woman's dark eyes catch Bato with a smirk.

JUNE: So, you must be the guy in charge then?

---

Gathered in the (now partly demolished) dining chamber, Fong sits back at his desk, towering over the Avatar and his friends (and Fu) with a long face. He sighs.

FONG: I think we went about this whole thing the wrong way, Aang.

Azula emits the loudest and most sarcastic-sounding laugh possible.

AZULA: You think so?

Fong sighs again.

FONG: I tried playing a game with you when I should have just trusted you from the start. I'm truly sorry.

Aang... with all the trouble Fong has caused, can't fully accept the apology.

AANG: I suppose we owe you an apology as well. We... didn't exactly share everything with you either.

AZULA: To be fair, having guards watching over us while we train gave it a bit too much away.

Ty Lee can feel a slight shift in Zuko's aura, like the boy is trying to hold something back by force.

FONG: I guess that's true. I'm sorry to you especially, Ty Lee.

The acrobat is caught off-guard.

TY LEE: Hm?

FONG: I assumed you were in on it, working alongside the Liberation Forces, when really you were just tricked yourself.

The pain caused by Akari's memory startles her a bit, but she manages to power through.

TY LEE: Thank you governor. I appreciate it.

FONG: Where are you headed to, anyways?

Aang and Azula share a quick look.

AZULA: How much do you trust these men?

She refers to the guards present.

FONG: I trust them with my life.

Azula nods, having forgotten about...

FU: Um... am I supposed to hear this?

AZULA: Well...

AANG: Yes.

A surprising answer.

AANG: We are headed to the Golden City to find a firebending teacher for me and Azula.

Again, a weird twitch in Zuko's aura. Ty Lee begins to wonder.

AANG: In the meantime, you have to help the Air Nomads that live in Yu Dao. They're constantly dealing with criminals.

FU: Some better housing wouldn't be bad either.

The young boy crosses his arms, earning him a heartly chuckle.

FONG: We will make the city safer and more inclusive for everyone.

FU (towards Aang): And we'll look after it. Keep it in shape in case you want to make it your home someday.

Aang smiles, not knowing how else to respond. He feels guilt building up, Ty Lee again noticing the spike.

FU: This is for you, by the way.

Fu hands Aang his glider staff, a beautifully handcrafted piece, made with dark wood and equipped with yellow wings.

AANG: Thank you very much. But... I already have my own glider.

With a timid smile he walks over to Ty Lee, handing her the staff instead.

TY LEE: What?

AANG: I think you earned it.

Ty Lee nods, accepting the gift.

TY LEE: Thank you, Sifu Aang.

Azula pouts in the background.

FONG: I have already arranged supplies for you journey. Do you know where the Golden City even is?

AANG: Yeah. We had to go to Changchun to get the info.

AZULA: You know. Long Feng and everything?

Fong strokes his beard.

FONG: Hm. Curious.

AANG: What is?

FONG: Well, if you had just come to Yu Dao first, we could've told you instead. Could've saved you some time.

Kettle steam shoots out of Azula's ears as her head slowly takes on a red shade. Aang lifts her up and transport her out of the room like a package on a hand truck.

AANG: Thank you for everything Fong! I hope we meet again!

Fong cackles warm-heartedly as the quartet leaves.

FONG: No, Avatar! Thank you!

Aang smiles, glad that he decided to trust Fong. And glad he got to see his people survive.

---

Back at the fountain square a small crowd has gathered, presumably having heard the news of the Avatar's help. Azula pretends to be his manager, as the two unsuccessfully try to reach Appa.

A bit removed from this, Ty Lee stares at the fountain, reminiscing about Akari, wondering if the girl escaped. On the other side of the fountain, two girls try balancing on the edge, laughing and giggling as they succeed. Ty Lee finds joy in the sight.

Then, for a brief second, a memory flashes up, transforming the little girl balancing the fountain edge into... herself. She remembers now. She remembers the fountain, the Air Nomad village... hazy pictures that are almost completely blurred and deleted. But not fully. She sighs with shock at the discovery. Should she tell someone? Should she tell-

ZUKO: Ty Lee?

She reacts slowly, but turns around quickly, a thin film of tears on her eyes and a trembling in her voice.

TY LEE: Z- Zuko I- I need to tell you something.

She remembers Akari's words and wonders if should tell him everything.

ZUKO: I'd love to hear it, but not right now.

Ty Lee is confused, meanwhile the raven-haired boy peeks back at Aang to see if they are truly alone. Ty Lee remembers his aura spikes from earlier.

TY LEE: Zuko, wha-

ZUKO: Mai was right, Ty Lee. Aang is lying to us.

Her pupils dilate.

ZUKO: He's from another world. And Azula knows.