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.

15. Episode 15: Captain

The drizzle hails down on the hardwood floor. The long gangplank bridge stretches across the frenzied river, holding a humbly impressive spa. A bundle of pink cherry blossoms blows across the river, forcing Aang to stop for a second. While the cherry blossoms mostly survive winter, the unusually uncomfortable weather ripped every last bloom from the trunk, leaving a series of naked dark wood piercing up from the ground like a set of demonic claws.

He reluctantly enters with a strange feeling in his stomach.

---

Avatar: The Last Firebender

Based on Distorted Reality by Ogro

Written by Carrotine Clara

Proofread by CowTrain

---

Book 1: Fire

Episode 15

Captain

---

Act I. – Zhao of the Fire Nation

---

Bato takes another peek through his spyglass, as if repeating the motion would somehow change weather conditions. He grunts. It did no such thing.

KANNA: My bones ache.

The old woman almost makes the commander flinch. How she can move around the ship like that without being spotted remains elusive to him.

BATO: Fell off your stout?

She scoffs.

KANNA: No. It means this storm is going to clear.

He raises an eyebrow, his left one, which was rudely cut in half by a certain firebender girl.

BATO: What makes you think that?

KANNA: My instinct. My bones ache from strong winds. The clouds are being pushed north.

He finally puts his spyglass away, frustrated and without answers.

KANNA: Patience, Bato. Don't let your temper ruin your chances. Remember the bounty hunter.

He almost loses his composure. It's been too long without leads. He had hoped to trace the Avatar after Yu Dao, yet... nothing.

KANNA: You still haven't utilized her. We're basically paying her a vacation.

Bato takes a calming breath.

BATO: Then perhaps it's time we interrupt her holiday.

---

Despite being a skilled warrior, Bato does look away at the extensive barfing noises. Leaned over the railing, June empties her breakfast into the ocean.

JUNE (under the weather): Eugh...

Kanna sips tea in a comfy chair, petting Malu by her side.

KANNA: You don't seem to be accustomed to the sea.

JUNE (sick): No. I already regretted taking the ferry over to that island. Was hoping that would be a lesson-

She releases a bit more. Her pet shirshu sits patiently by her side.

BATO: I was hoping to... talk to you about your... service.

She wipes her mouth with her black sleeves.

JUNE (sick): Sure. You've only been keeping me on this death trap for like a week without asking me. Thanks for that by the way.

The bounty hunter finally finds the strength to sit down across from Kanna.

KANNA: Here, take this.

She hands her a cup.

JUNE (sick): Thanks?

KANNA: It's a special mixture. It should help with your... troubles.

June gulps down the tea like a shot glass.

JUNE: More please.

Whilst Kanna refills her cup Bato clears his throat.

BATO: Anyway... the Chief Mother has explained your special talents.

JUNE: Yeah, yeah - Nyla is a shirshu - the rest explains itself.

She slurps down more tea, stuffs some of Kanna's cookies down, then burps. Bato is surprised and appalled by such "un-womanly behavior".

BATO: From what I hear shirshus have a very prolific sense of smell. Great hunting companions.

Nyla sniffs Malu's butt. The komodo rhino does not seem to mind this.

JUNE (with cookies in her mouth): Exactly.

She swallows very violently.

JUNE: But Nyla isn't just a companion. Apparently, she's a rare breed and, well, she can pretty much track down any target on the planet.

Her blunt confidence even surprises Kanna.

BATO: The planet?

She shrugs dismissively.

JUNE: All my bounties were in the Earth Kingdom thus far, including some of the occupied parts.

Bato almost calls her a name for that remark.

JUNE: But Nyla hasn't disappointed me this far, so I have no reason to doubt her.

She lovingly pets her terrifying creature with greasy cookie hands. After that she gets up.

JUNE: Alright. I'll try to lie down and keep all these baked goods inside.

JUNE (addressing Kanna): Keep an eye out for Nyla, will ya?

And with that the badass disappears below deck. Bato strokes his chin.

KANNA: Well, her manners are... strange, but I believe I speak for everyone when I say she is a valuable asset.

BATO: If she speaks the truth.

Kanna also pets the massive shirshu, who appears to have taken a liking to the old woman.

KANNA: I have no reason to doubt her.

BATO: Then neither do I.

Kanna smirks at the affirmative response.

BATO: But it only helps us in part.

He turns to the sea, eagerly staring at the storm clouds again.

BATO: We haven't got a single possession of the Avatar. No clothes, nor staff - nothing. How is this beast supposed to track him?

Kanna has no answer to that.

KANNA: We are unfortunately cornered.

She walks up to him, folding her hands beneath her sleeves.

KANNA: But as long as we have options, we shall not lose our determination.

He nods, a frown still carved on to his stern face.

---

Zuko is the only one visibly distressed over the sudden rainfall that has halted the trio's progress. While Ty Lee and Azula sit quietly beneath a palm tree, he frantically runs around in the rain, reading his map and desperately trying to orient himself.

TY LEE (monotone): You're going to get wet.

ZUKO (shouting, because rain is loud): Only a little bit!

Despite putting as much energy as possible into that statement, the sheer lack of response from his two (technically three) female companions cuts his own energy down by a long shot. Ty Lee sighs.

TY LEE (shouting): Come back here, Zuko! You're going to get wet!

He also sighs, taking a good, long look at his map. A small outpost is marked somewhere down the beachhead. They had only left the jungle last night, though clearly, they didn't leave their problems behind in it. He stares at the map again. It's so close. He then stares at the tired lemur, the slouching acrobat, and the awful state that Azula is in. He hasn't seen her this sad since their mother died. He takes a deep breath. A sense of responsibility rushes through him, or rather adrenaline, but this is how he interprets it. He finally grabs his head in annoyance.

ZUKO: Ugh... We're getting to this city, and we're going to do it together! Ty Lee, get up. Everybody, hold hands. We can do this. We have to.

They reluctantly agree. Since Azula remains silent Ty Lee has to chip in with the remarks.

TY LEE: Why do we have to hold hands?

ZUKO: Let's just do it!

As they stomp across the sandy beach, Sabachi licks Azula's face, concerned for her owner's wellbeing.

---

Quiet. Aang had missed it.

Too many times were his peaceful thoughts interrupted by a bumbling Zuko, an overly energetic Ty Lee, or a snarky comment. He had missed it. Just letting the wind gently wash over his face as he soars between clouds on his bison. He lets out a relaxed exhale.

AANG: I should've told you, buddy.

Appa only barely reacts.

AANG: I'm sorry I made things so difficult for us. We should've tried to do it our own way.

He scratches his head, finally taking note of Azula's headband again. He decides to keep it on for now

AANG: Our own way, huh? Yeah...

Appa grunts. What exactly he means by that remains hidden. So Aang just guesses.

AANG: I don't know exactly what it means either. Guess we'll visit Ba Sing Se first. We have a head start this time. Plus, there's no Dai Li around.

Appa grunts again.

AANG: Oh, that's right, you don't remember. You were never captured by Long Feng.

Saying those words out loud immediately reminds him of the guilt he felt for Azula. He shakes off the memory.

AANG: Whatever. All we need is an army. Reconquer the Earth Kingdom provinces in the south. Hey, maybe we'll see our old friend Bumi again!

Appa growls.

AANG: I'm sure you'd be happy to see him!

As he pets his companion his vision starts getting blurry. The headaches return at the same time.

AANG: Hold on, Appa. I think we need to land for a second...

The visions get more vivid. Shapes and colors that slowly start to resemble his old memories. His adventures from years ago. But also the bad ones.

AANG (faint) Just... take the reins for a second, buddy...

He can hear the bison grunt one more time before finally passing out.

---

Town? A bit of an overstatement. To be fair, Zuko's map only refers to the location as "place", therefore really anything could have been there. Yet a spa by the seashore was really not what he had expected. Thankfully the rainfall had drizzled out by now and as the three (plus Sabachi) enter the gates to the inviting location, they find themselves walking on a very smooth stone street. Rather than a town they find a complex of different bath houses and other wellness institutions closely next to each other. Fat men with towels wrapped around their waist walk in between petite servant characters.

ZUKO: Well... I mean, it is a place. We can probably find shelter for a day or two?

He looks to his female travel companions, hoping to get some sort of feedback.

ZUKO: It's a start, I guess.

Ty Lee finally dares to speak up.

TY LEE: I don't even know if it's a good idea to be here. This place could be full of Water Tribe soldiers for all we know.

ZUKO: I don't think so. Does this look like the kind of place that soldiers would go to?

MAN: Arrest these three immediately!

They turn towards a harsh voice, belonging to an older man with a hairy chest and bandages around his left shoulder. He points menacingly at the trio, yet after a few seconds Zuko finally recognizes the man and his distinct sideburns.

ZUKO: Zhao?!

The man lowers his hand, relaxes his posture and changes his expression to a warm smile.

ZHAO (joyfully): Arrest them immediately so that I don't lose them out of my sight again!

As Zuko rushes towards him, Zhao cackles with delight, stroking the boy's head like the fur of a dog.

ZHAO: You've grown quite a lot, haven't you?

ZUKO: What are you doing here? I thought you're traveling with dad.

Zhao tries posturing his muscles, though is clearly less capable of doing so with the bandage.

ZHAO: Yeah, you know how it is. Sometimes when you want to slice up an old waterbender, he ends up taking a slice of you instead. Your father sent me here to recover.

Azula finally steps forward timidly.

ZHAO: Oh boy, look who it is, our little fire princess. You look as dashing as-

To his surprise, she also rushes towards him, giving him a hug that's tighter than Zuko's.

ZHAO: Woah! That came out of nowhere.

Zuko looks away with guilt.

ZUKO: Yeah... we've been through some stuff...

As she releases herself from his sweaty gut the man finally takes proper note of Ty Lee.

ZHAO: And who might you be?

Ty Lee bows down respectfully, still able to display an honest smile.

TY LEE: I'm Ty Lee. I'm their... friend.

She timidly looks away from Zuko.

ZHAO: Ah... I see what's going on...

He crosses his arms.

ZHAO: You're the Avatar then, ay?

Ty Lee and Zuko exchange concerned looks.

ZHAO: Don't think that word doesn't travel of the airbender and his Fire Nation companions. Never would I have thought that you two...

Her face hidden behind her hands, Azula breaks into tears. Ty Lee immediately rushes to comfort her. Sabachi lowers her ears once again. Zhao looks with confusion at the boy.

ZUKO: Like I said, we've been through some stuff.

---

Aang's eyes snap open out of nowhere. He felt cozy in his sleep, yet a part of him suddenly remembered to get back up.

He finds himself surrounded by spiky mountains, a stark contrast to the woods he had previously soared above.

AANG: Where are we?

Not expecting an answer, he is still concerned about the lack of response from his companion. As he jumps down and pets his massive head from the front, he discovers that Appa is peacefully snoozing, exhaling from his snout in a soft fashion.

AANG: It's been a long flight, huh buddy?

Still getting no response, so he looks around. Finally, he suspects to have discovered the answer to why his bison brought him here.

A small circular temple with a green roof at the top of an elevated platform. He scoffs at the sight.

AANG: Maybe someone called to me. Wouldn't be the first time.

He gently cuddles the beast, a part of him expecting this to be the last time he may see this Appa.

---

After reaching the top of the stairs, Aang takes a moment to admire the structure, taking a deep breath from the cold, dry mountain air and wondering if he would find someone. Or something.

Preferably a door that would lead him back home.

The massive stone portal takes a good while to open. Inside he finds the temple crammed with all sorts of strange items and artifacts. At closer inspection they seem familiar to him. He broods on that for a moment and discovers the answer.

AANG: This must be an Avatar Temple.

To his confusion, he finds himself somewhat disappointed at the lack of order. Supposedly sacred objects are crammed and stacked in the corner, giving Aang the impression that this temple serves as a sort of storage unit for items that would otherwise have been destroyed in the war.

An oddly shaped door to his right grabs his attention, one could say it pulls at him, an invisible hand tucking him closer to the portal. It's unlocked. He opens it and gasps with excitement.

In the small chamber he finds a collection of items which belonged to Avatar Kyoshi. The painting celebrating the independence of Kyoshi Island, though it is partly destroyed. Her massive boots, or boot, as one of them is missing, and the statue he once saw on Kyoshi Island himself. Fun memories. Long gone. The pillar itself would have been too big for the room and so what remains is the actual statue part, a carving of his past life, in desperate need of a paint job and with mold growing on the bottom.

He feels relief, but also sadness.

---

Slouched over the Fire Nation table, Azula stuffs her face with all the traditional grub she can foster. Zuko and Ty Lee share a befuddled stare, having never seen Azula devour food like this. The raven-haired boy feels surprised to admit it, but he had missed sitting on proper chairs. Ty Lee stabs her dumpling with her chopsticks.

TY LEE: Do you... uh... have any vegetarian options?

Zhao, ripping flesh with his teeth off a poultry leg, swallows before answering.

ZHAO: Well... you got the dumplings.

She splits them open with her sticks, spewing out minced meat.

TY LEE: There's meat in it.

The grown man frowns in surprise.

ZHAO: Oh. Huh.

He continues his meal, leaving Ty Lee in comical silence.

ZHAO: So, this Avatar guy just left you stranded in the jungle?

Azula swallows in a very similar manner to Zhao.

AZULA: The Avatar is a jerk.

She grabs the other poultry leg. Ty Lee looks at the ground, bouncing her eyebrows up once. Zuko again takes the lead.

ZUKO: It was complicated. He... lied to us about something.

ZHAO: He lied to you? His own friends?

Azula buries her glance into her plate. Zuko notices this and decides to help.

ZUKO: Yeah, he lied to all of us. We never found out what he was lying about.

His sister quickly switches her focus on to him. Zhao grunts.

ZHAO: What a disgraceful friend. You'd think the Avatar would be a kind and caring person. But I suppose we have to deal with the Water Tribe ourselves, like we have for decades.

He gets up, his hand on his gut. He is wearing a shirt now.

ZHAO: If you'll excuse me, I'll be gone for a minute.

He takes a few steps, then stops, as if he had ruined his pants.

ZHAO: Uh... or a bit longer.

He comically waddles away.

The room is engulfed in silence for a moment, the wall torches brightly illuminating the Fire Nation memorabilia on said walls. Azula taps her fingers on the table edge for a few more seconds.

AZULA: Thank you for-

ZUKO: Tell us now, Azula.

His voice manages to be both firm and soothing. For the first time ever Azula does not merely recognize her uncle's behavior, the physical similarity is uncanny.

TY LEE: We deserve to know.

She frowns at the acrobat.

ZUKO: She does. After everything.

Azula stares back at her brother. She concedes with a long, long sigh.

AZULA: He's from a different world.

She frowns, as if trying to dismiss her intrusive friends. After taking another bite from her duck, she looks back up, Zuko and Ty Lee both comically shocked.

AZULA: Oh. You probably wanted to hear more.

TY LEE: Wha- what do you mean by that?

She grunts. Clearly this is not her strength.

AZULA: He went on a globetrotting adventure just like this. I mean, almost exactly like this.

ZUKO: So, he knew what was going to happen?

AZULA: We- no. Not precisely. But... somewhat.

AZULA (pointing at Ty Lee with her poultry leg): Remember how he was freaking out about the Winter Solstice?

TY LEE: Yeah.

Ty Lee follows her response up with a gasp that shakes the entire table.

TY LEE: He KNEW about that! He knew about a spiritual sight too! He knew about the ice temple-

She gasps again.

TY LEE: So THAT'S why you two were always plotting!

Her question came out as aggressive as Ty Lee can sound.

ZUKO: Let's calm down guys!

He manages to quiet down Ty Lee. Azula pouts with guilt.

ZUKO: You said, "a different world". What do you mean by that?

Azula shrugs.

AZULA: I don't really get it to be honest. He said in his world we're the bad guys.

The collective aura of the room turns black.

TY LEE: What do you mean?

The firebender sighs again.

AZULA: Not "us" specifically. But the Fire Nation. They're the bad guys in his world.

Ty Lee looks in shock at the swordfighter, who keeps his focus on Azula.

ZUKO: So, am I... a bad guy to Aang? Is that why he doesn't trust us?

AZULA: No. I mean, you were for a bit, but you eventually became his firebending teacher - look...

Zuko is speechless.

AZULA: ... I never asked him about everything. Okay? I mean clearly you guys are freaking out now, so imagine if he told us every little detail.

TY LEE: What about me?

AZULA: You're not an airbender, I think.

TY LEE: I'm not?

AZULA: No. Also, I don't exist.

Zuko is once again shocked. Azula once again feels the urge to sigh.

AZULA: Can we not talk about this please? I'm really trying to get over it...

Zuko is too stunned to speak. Ty Lee reads the room correctly.

TY LEE: You're... trying to get over Aang?

AZULA: Um. Yeah. What I said. Duh.

TY LEE: You know what I mean.

The raven-haired girl crosses her arms.

TY LEE: He trusted you more than us. And... apparently it didn't mean anything.

Azula can't repress the tears, allowing at least some of them to slide down her cheeks.

AZULA (teary): Yeah. My mistake, thinking I was special.

She manages to hold herself together, creating eye contact with her brother. She sniffs up her grief.

AZULA: I should've told you. I should've... made him tell you. I'm such an idiot...

TY LEE: You're not.

The acrobat reaches for her hand.

ZUKO: It's not your fault that he doesn't trust us.

TY LEE (soft): It's not.

Azula sighs, wiping her eyes with her free hand.

AZULA: I guess you're right. I just feel so powerless.

TY LEE: You shouldn't. Look at all the amazing things you did on our journey! You're the most beautiful, smartest, perfect girl in the world.

More tears on Azula's face. Tears of joy this time.

ZHAO: Hope I'm not interrupting.

Zhao walks back into the room and places himself on his chair like he owns it. An awkward frown is displayed on his face, implying he did not wish to intervene in the heartfelt exchange but did so anyway.

ZHAO: You kids went through a lot of trouble. But you should be proud of yourselves. You took down a slave mine, protected Crescent Island, Yu Dao...

The trio smiles. Even Sabachi quickly peaks up from under the table, a small, grilled bird in her mouth.

ZHAO: I spoke to the spa people. They said you can stay for a few days. Get some relaxation here.

Everyone seems excited, Zuko the most for some reason. Azula wipes the tears off her face.

AZULA: Alright. Let's do it. We could use some relaxation.

---

The low-level soldiers continue to cram in the ship's storage sector, Bato overseeing it with an impatient frown. Finally, one of the privates walks up to him, pounding his chest before speaking in a clear manner.

PRIVATE: We haven't found anything related to the Avatar, sir. The only thing we came across is this.

He shows him a wanted poster depicting Zuko.

BATO: You got the sword kid but none of the others?

PRIVATE: No sir.

Bato sighs.

BATO: Dismissed.

The soldiers leave Bato alone for a moment. Once they are gone, he gives a side of the pile a good old heavy kick. Some of the items wobble until a metallic clank grabs his attention. He decides to dig deeper - literally - sticking both his arms in the pile and pushing the items aside, allowing them to fall down with loud thuds. He finally found the source of the clank. With a sinister grin, he holds up Bone Crusher, Sokka's old sword.

BATO: Bingo.

---

After a very fun montage of various wellness activities, Ty Lee finds herself relaxing under a face mask next to Azula, both of them getting pedicures. Zuko already had his earlier, hoping not to get caught by Azula.

He now enters the bath hall with a beautiful mosaic, equipped with a small pool, from which steam soothingly rises to the ceiling. The boy takes a deep breath, before realizing someone else is already enjoying the naturally heated water. He only sees the guy's long hair from behind and he guesses that the person is approximately his age.

Oh. This is awkward. He takes off his towel and quickly gets in the water from an angle that can hopefully hide his... broadsword.

He quickly finds his relaxation though, closing his eyes and leaning back against the pool's edge. He lets out a happy sigh.

SOKKA: Well, who do we have here?

Zuko sits back up in shock.

---

Aang sits down quietly in a lotus position, shutting his eyes and pressing his fists together. There is not another more spiritual place he has been to in this world than here. As he meditates, his thoughts refuse to quiet down. Guilt and anger keep him from achieving inner peace, sort of a requirement for meditation.

But then he feels the energy surge. A bright light appears ahead of him. Perhaps he can finally return home.

---

Act II. – Avatar wisdom

---

As Aang enters the abandoned building, the storm outside gets worse. Wind howls against the spa's walls, open windows flap around, rainfall intensifies. Aang has yet to run into anyone.

A crack noise below his feet grabs his attention. Lifting his foot, he discovers a broken seashell. A few more are scattered across the table, as if they were picked up by some lucky soul ages ago, left behind in a chaotic escape.

A lighting flash briefly lights up the room. The sound alone is enough to make him relieve his own death. Caused by Azula's lightning, so many years back. He turns around quickly, surprised to find someone.

Could it be...

---

The light disappears and a blue ghost takes on the shape of a familiar man, sitting across from Aang in a Lotus position.

KAIYUKO: Yo... Aang! Wassup, dude?

Aang's brow twitches.

AANG: Kaiyuko? What- What are you doing here?!

KAIYUKO: Uh... I don't know dude. I guess you called out for my help, so I showed up. It's what we do for the Avatar homies.

He pounds his own chest with a bit of swagger. Aang slaps his forehead. He has seen enough faces from this world and was hoping for something else.

KAIYUKO: Yo, is this about the whole thing with how you abandoned your friends?

Aang's frustration turns to anger.

AANG: What? How do you know about that?!

Kaiyuko laughs nervously.

KAIYUKO: Dude, I'm like... a part of you. Not to sound like a crazy stalker but I totally get wind of all that stuff.

Aang sighs midway through his rambling answer.

AANG: Okay. Sure. I don't care. Just... please leave me alone.

Kaiyuko shrugs, moving his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

KAIYUKO: Aight bro. Let's talk when you're feeling better.

And with that the cloud fades away.

---

The metallic clang of Sokka's former sword gains Kanna's attention and a raised eyebrow.

KANNA: What am I supposed to do with this?

Bato removes the sword from her little tea table.

BATO: Track down the Avatar of course.

His smirk only gains him more confused looks.

KANNA: I suppose you're here to explain how this connects. Because unless my grandson has caught the Avatar already, we're not getting far.

Bato admires the hand-crafted bone hilt.

BATO: I wouldn't count on it. The way I see it, the prince continues to be on the Avatar's tail without success...

As he continues, Kanna's frown turns into a smile.

BATO: ...constantly chasing after him, always a step behind. Yet the prey remains free for the taking.

Kanna nods.

KANNA: Good.

She takes a sip of her tea.

BATO (addressing a soldier): Get the bounty hunter up here.

The soldier nods and leaves.

KANNA: What are we going to do about Sokka though? Will it not upset the prince if he is not rewarded for his endeavors?

Bato scoffs. His voice loses the charismatic touch and takes on a rather sinister note.

BATO: The prince is of no concern for my mission.

He leaves the Chief Mother with an ominous feeling in her stomach. She only barely swallows her tea.

---

Zuko nervously twitches around in the water.

ZUKO: What are you doing here?!

Sokka seems relaxed, one might even say a little confused.

ZUKO: Are you here to ambush us?! I need to warn the others!

He gets up, forcing Sokka to look away and shield his vision with his hands.

SOKKA: Um... maybe sit back down again...

After comically blushing for two seconds, Zuko sits back down again.

ZUKO: Is Kenora in the other room? Wait...

Zuko punches the water in excitement.

ZUKO: HA! Aang is not here! You came too late! You-

The boy calms down once he finally takes a good look at the prince's face. It seems tired more than anything.

ZUKO: Wait... where is Kenora? And where are your pirates?

Sokka sighs, sinking a few inches deeper into the pool and letting the tips of his long hair float on top.

SOKKA: She's... gone. They're all gone.

Zuko should feel profoundly happy about this fact, yet the sad expression and tone of the prince does bring up some doubts.

ZUKO: Oh. Why did they leave you?

SOKKA: Well, after our last... encounter, the pirates sort of got fed up with a lack of successful raids. Kenora blamed it on me. She also thinks it's my fault that we never caught the Avatar...

The facade breaks and Sokka's wild gesturing stops. The prince sighs.

SOKKA: Who am I kidding, she's right. I've been nothing but an obstacle to everyone around me. My first crew left me. The only girl who I ever really liked stole my ship and sailed off without me. I don't deserve a throne...

Sokka grabs his towel from the side.

SOKKA: Tell Aang I said "hi". Also... please look away while I get out.

ZUKO: Aang left us too.

The prince's departure is cut short as he puts his towel down and listens to Zuko's story.

ZUKO: He lied to us about...

Zuko decides not to rush the trust part.

ZUKO: Well, it's a long story. But basically... he didn't trust us from the start. He was happy to let us go. Azula is pretty devastated about it...

Sokka nods awkwardly.

SOKKA: Azula... she's the firebender girl, right?

Zuko frowns.

ZUKO: Yes. The one you kidnapped.

Sokka nods again.

SOKKA: Right. Well, you guys did burn down my ship so we're even, I guess.

The prince shrugs and Zuko scoffs.

SOKKA: What?

ZUKO: I don't know why but I always assumed you're the one who plans all of the invasions and stuff. We thought Kenora was your muscle.

His masculinity destroyed, Sokka has nothing left to do but to blush.

SOKKA: Um... I mean... I did... some stuff...

ZUKO: What are you going to do now?

Now Sokka scoffs.

SOKKA: Well, I was going to check out the steam sauna, then I have a pedicure at - I MEAN, a manly massage at sunset-

ZUKO: No, I meant in general. What are you going to do now? Try to capture the Avatar on your own?

Sokka is speechless. He tries to stumble on to an answer he hasn't asked himself yet.

SOKKA: Huh. Um. The thing is, and this might be hard to understand as a peasant...

Zuko crosses his arms.

SOKKA: ... but as a prince, I have special responsibilities. I can't just... do whatever I want. I have to do something important with my life.

ZUKO: Is that what you've been doing? Important things?

Sokka is unable to answer.

ZUKO: Also, aren't most princes back at home? Or in battle? Why aren't you doing that instead?

Sokka shrugs.

SOKKA: It's not really the noble way of a prince to attack innocent people, is it?

Zuko clearly sees the sincerity in Sokka's eyes and uncrosses his arms.

ZUKO: No. It isn't.

SOKKA: What about you guys? What are you going to do without the Avatar?

Zuko tilts his head to the side, weighing his options. He decides to tell the truth.

ZUKO: We haven't really talked about this, but I think we're going to find the Golden City on our own.

Sokka is shocked.

SOKKA: What?! Okay, first off - that was totally my theory where you were going...

Zuko is slightly amused.

SOKKA: Second, why are you going there now? I thought the point was to get a firebending teacher for the Avatar.

Zuko thinks about the "other world" and wonders if this other Zuko already taught Aang firebending.

ZUKO: Sure. But we also wanted to find a teacher for my sister.

Sokka raises an eyebrow.

SOKKA: Why? I mean, I'm not an expert, but it seems as though she's already kind of good at it.

ZUKO: Sure. But...

The swordfighter sighs.

ZUKO: Don't... tell anyone I said this but... I think she never really felt useful back at home.

Sokka very timidly listens to Zuko's explanation.

ZUKO: She could never really do what she wanted, none of us could, but at least I wasn't bad at my chores. She was never really that good at hers. It frustrated her.

Zuko really reflects, staring at the blurred reflection of his face in the water.

ZUKO: I think travelling with Aang, being able to plan ahead, firebend, kick your psycho helper's butt... that really made her feel complete.

SOKKA: Why?

Zuko takes a few seconds to respond.

ZUKO: Because she could do it on her own. If there's one thing she hates it's needing help. She didn't need any now. For the most part...

Sokka lets those words sink in and wonders if Kenora felt similar.

---

Aang's frustration causes him to get up. Kaiyuko was the last person he wanted to see. If anything, he would really like to avoid anyone from this reality. He grabs his temple and forehead, massaging one half of his skull as if it could switch on the right answers. This is when he once again notices the headband Azula gave him. He takes it off rather abruptly and tosses it in a corner. Somehow, this action causes his eyes to flare up again. Another specter of smoke materializes into the shape of Avatar Kyoshi who, like Aang, is standing upright. Though she is towering at an impressive seven feet tall.

KYOSHI: Hello, Avatar Aang.

Aang turns around and is relieved for a moment. Then he expresses his disappointment in a frown.

AANG: You're not my Avatar Kyoshi, are you?

Kyoshi's stern face glares at him in confusion.

KYOSHI: I suppose this is what Kaiyuko meant.

AANG: Kaiyuko? What do you mean?

She stems her arms against her hips like an angered soccer mom.

KYOSHI: What? Do you think us Avatars don't talk to each other? Let alone about such a curious case as you?

Aang scoffs dismissively.

AANG: Whatever. I don't want to talk to you unless you can help me.

Kyoshi, not taking his brattish behavior, crosses her arms.

KYOSHI: Is that what people are to you, Aang? Just tools? As soon as you're done with them you toss them away?

Aang turns back around with anger in his voice.

AANG: You don't know me! I'm not your Aang! I'm not even supposed to be here!

Kyoshi sighs with caution.

KYOSHI: You are right.

She uncrosses her arms.

KYOSHI: You are different. There's something wrong with you.

AANG: I know. I'm from a different world. I'm not supposed to be here.

KYOSHI: It's not just that. It's your Avatar Spirit.

With shock he looks at her.

AANG: My Avatar Spirit? What's wrong with it?

KYOSHI: What? Am I useful again?

He sits down with guilt. She mimics his behavior.

KYOSHI: I can't really say what it is. You've only ever connected twice with your Avatar Spirit. When you came into this world and when you suffered from all that smoke on that ship.

Aang vaguely remembers his miraculous escape from Sokka's first boat. Though technically it's far from the first.

KYOSHI: That's the first time the other Avatars... from this world... were able to connect with you. And we felt...

AANG: Like what?

KYOSHI: It's difficult to describe. But your connection is somehow... artificial.

AANG: Artificial?

KYOSHI: We do have a connection to you Aang...

Aang's eyes flicker again. He briefly loses sight of Kyoshi.

KYOSHI: But It's not... right. You're not who we're supposed to be linked to.

Aang sighs with contempt. This is just yet another problem in his long line-

KYOSHI: We're not just another problem Aang.

He frowns at her.

AANG: Wai- are you - are you reading my thoughts?!

KYOSHI: I just told you we're connected, kid! All of us can read your thoughts!

Aang shudders at the... well, the thought.

KYOSHI: You think we didn't see how you treated your friends?

AANG: They're not my friends.

KYOSHI: Then I guess I'm not your Kyoshi.

The light disappears and Kyoshi is gone, only her stature remains, staring at Aang with the same content the real version just showed.

---

Wind chimes give the small island of Port Monnaie an eerie feel. Kanna watches closely as a few shady figures around town quietly admire her and her company. June returns from her scout mission, riding her beloved Nyla and intimidating the townsfolk.

JUNE: The prince definitely was here, but that's it, really. Better luck next time.

She returns to the ship. Bato is still inside the pub asking around. A strategy that takes a while, but usually pays off. After all, information is key.

CAPTAIN: The prince you say?

A beat down captain sits quietly on a stool next to a vendor. His trusty iguana parrot, still missing some of his feathers, is also missing the energy to screech.

KANNA: How is that of concern for you?

The captain's devilish grin fades away and he lowers his pint.

CAPTAIN: Aye. I'm just a captain asking around.

Kanna raises an eyebrow, daring to come a few steps closer. The dozens of hidden pouches around her body should protect her just in case.

KANNA: A captain you say? You don't look like one.

CAPTAIN: You'd be correct. I was robbed by this prince of yours. Well, not really to be honest.

KANNA: How so?

She takes the empty stool next to him and sits down across.

CAPTAIN: They was messing with our crew. That prince wanted to leave us alone, but his little girlfriend insisted to take my crew with her.

Kanna raises her eyebrow.

KANNA: Girlfriend?

CAPTAIN: Aye. Though in all honesty I don't think the two really were an item seeing as she clearly told him what to do.

He takes a nut from a snack bowl, chews the whole thing and spits out the peel.

KANNA: That's... most interesting. Do you happen to catch her name?

He cackles heinously, the stench of his beer spewing out his mouth.

CAPTAIN: A mouth full. Kenora of the South.

Kanna tries to hide her shock. The former captain leans in a bit.

CAPTAIN: Daughter of the Vice-Chief.

Kanna nods.

CAPTAIN: That's what she claimed at least. Didn't look like much of a princess. And didn't fight like one either.

Bato finally exits the little pub with a frown.

BATO: Chief Mother?

He approaches the two of them with precaution.

BATO: Who is this?

The sitting man bows his torso to the commander.

CAPTAIN: An old captain telling tales.

Bato gave the iguana parrot enough of a reason to screech again. Kanna gets back up.

KANNA: We're just chatting.

BATO: We don't have time for that. We need to get going.

Bato dismissively nods at the captain, then leaves. Kanna's parting nod has a lot more gratitude.

---

Aang paces up and down the already small chamber of artifacts. His heart races while he tries to suppress the panic in his brain.

AANG (mumbling): What does it mean... what does it mean...

He finally comes to a grinding halt, frowning at Kyoshi's statue with the sudden realization that he can just call her whenever he wants. He angrily sits down in a lotus position.

AANG: Come on Kyoshi... we're not done yet...

To Aang's surprise, rather than spirit energy emerging from his body, a layer of sand falls off the wall, turning into a small sandstorm from which a mysterious figure emerges.

The woman wears mostly gold in a complicated array around her crimson dress. Her long, dark brown hair hangs down partially braided, partially straight. A judgmental glare hangs on her sun-kissed skin. As the sandstorm subsides, Aang finally gets up.

AANG: Who are you?

WOMAN: I am you from another lifetime.

AANG: I- I know. But-

WOMAN: Who did you expect? A Water Tribe Avatar?

She crosses her sleeveless arms. Aang takes a deep breath, scouting his inner spirit.

AANG: You're Avatar Lostris.

Lostris nods.

LOSTRIS: So, you do want to see me.

Aang sighs in discomfort.

AANG: I seek answers. Avatar Kyoshi told me my connection to the Avatar Spirit is... damaged.

LOSTRIS: That's strange. You are the Avatar Spirit.

Aang looks away in silence. Lostris crosses her arms behind her back.

LOSTRIS: But you are strange. Your energy feels...

Her unanswered sentence draws Aang back in again.

AANG: Feels what?

LOSTRIS: Dark.

The word sends a shiver down his spine.

AANG: Dark? What do you mean?

LOSTRIS: I can't say. But it's your aura. It feels poisoned.

Aang sighs, massaging his right temple with one hand.

AANG: That sounds bad. That sounds really bad...

He takes a few more seconds to let it sink in.

LOSTRIS: Oh, now you're feeling bad, huh?

Aang turns his face back towards the Avatar, whose tone and posture bears a striking resemblance to a certain firebender.

AANG: Are you doing that on purpose?

LOSTRIS? I don't know. Am I? Would it bother you?

Aang's fear turns into anger.

AANG: You don't know who she is in my world!

LOSTRIS: No. But I know who she is here - a helpless girl who you blasted off your bison without batting an eye.

Aang turns his back towards her.

LOSTRIS: A girl Aang! A girl who liked you! Your friend!

AANG: In my world-

LOSTRIS: Who cares about your world? Do you think that's the only Azula that exists? You don't think there's a million other realities with a million other Azulas? And what? Now you're treating this one - who helps you - like crap, because the one you knew is mean?

Aang turns back towards her with fury.

AANG: Know! I still know her, because my world isn't gone! I tried playing along with your games for long enough! I don't care what happens to this world and I don't need to care!

This genuinely seems to have struck a nerve with Lostris.

LOSTRIS: Why?

AANG: Because it's not my responsibility!

His anger tantrum ends, and he leaves the room with an aura dark enough even he can guess its color.

LOSTRIS: Is that how you see it? Do you think I kept the balance in my world, because it was my duty? My responsibility?

Aang tries keeping up his angry face.

LOSTRIS: I did it because it was the right thing to do.

She snaps her finger, and her body slowly gets engulfed by sand.

LOSTRIS: This is what "dark" means, in case you're still wondering.

The moment she disappears Aang, in his fury, blasts an air funnel at her, allowing the spirit sand to fade away even quicker. He sits down for a moment. A moment becomes minutes. Minutes continue to multiply. He tries meditating. With what goal? Not even he knows.

---

Bato spots the villagers of Crescent Island, as they flee in terror at the sight of the iron clad and the smaller Water Tribe ships circling their home.

KANNA: He won't be here. There's no way he went south after Yu Dao.

Bato aggressively collapses his spyglass with a grunt.

BATO: A waste of time.

June, feeling addressed by the comment, scratches her shirshu's neck.

JUNE: Hey, all I'm doing is following your clues. How about you give me something else?

MAI: How about you leave.

By the time Bato reacts to the voice, his deck is already overrun by a dozen Crescent Warriors, with their leader Mai leaning against a wall next to Bato. All soldiers prepare for combat, with the warriors drawing their blades and other throwing weapons, ready to strike at any moment. Tensions are high on deck. June remains calm.

BATO: Who are you?

MAI: We're the Crescent Warriors. And you are trespassing on our domain.

Bato tries intimidating the girl with his height.

BATO: All water is domain of the Tribes.

Mai gets up from her sassy lean. Her arms are folded, and she appears as though she couldn't immediately start a fight. June and Kanna are able to tell this as a facade.

MAI: Whatever, big man. What do you want here? The Avatar left weeks ago.

Bato cracks his knuckles.

BATO: Who says I'm here for the Avatar?

Mai shrugs.

MAI: Just a guess. You aren't the first Water Tribe people who showed up for him.

Kanna's brow shoots up. She suspects who might have been here. Bato has his own theory.

BATO: I suppose you mean the prince. No surprise he failed.

MAI: No. I mean, I think there was a guy here, but it was mainly this girl and her pirates.

Kanna smirks.

BATO: What? A girl?

MAI: And a waterbender. Pretty good one too. Bet she could beat you.

Bato frowns.

KANNA: Perhaps we shouldn't waste more time and get back to our mission, huh commander?

Her hand placed on his shoulder does significantly calm him.

KANNA (addressing Mai): My guess is that a fight with your warriors would delay us greatly.

Mai smirks slightly.

MAI: Sure. I guess we're done here.

The warriors throw themselves off board very quickly, dissolving the tension on deck in an instant. The ironclad sets sail north as the Crescent Warriors paddle back in their small canoes. June seems amused.

JUNE (addressing Kanna): I like her. She has guts.

---

Enjoying each other's company in two separate tubs of mud, Azula and Ty Lee quietly allow their bodies to be soaked and cleansed by the brown substance. Ty Lee, trying desperately to suppress her aura reading, can't help but to sense the turmoil in Azula. She taps her fingers on the tub edge, somewhat disrupting Azula's peace. After a bit, the firebender finally takes off the cucumber slices from her closed eyelids.

AZULA: Alright, what's bothering you?

TY LEE: Huh?

Ty Lee sits upright, the green veggies falling off her face in a less graceful manner.

TY LEE: I didn't say anything.

Azula sighs.

AZULA: Yeah, I just had a hunch like you were going to.

Ty Lee twiddles her thumbs.

TY LEE: Do you... want me to say something?

Azula shrugs, not really knowing the answer. She attempts to respond as honestly as possible.

AZULA: I... think I want you to be mad at me.

Ty Lee is once again shocked.

TY LEE: Why?

AZULA: I think... I think I feel guilty for not telling you.

Ty Lee gives her a sad smile and puts her hand on the firebender's arm.

TY LEE: Azula... it's okay. We understand why you-

AZULA: No, I don't mean you and Zuko. I just mean you.

Ty Lee takes her hand off in shock.

TY LEE: What? Bu- why?

Azula shrugs again.

AZULA: I've always had secrets from Zuko. He gets really upset and tries fixing everything. But you... you are... the nicest person I think I've ever met. You are always just supportive and full of love.

Azula feels a hint of repulsion at her own words but decides to stick to the landing.

AZULA: You would have understood. Instead, I tried keeping it my secret. Like Aang was my thing to take care of. It was selfish of me...

Ty Lee tries holding back her tears as best as she can.

TY LEE (teary): Thank you...

She comically swallows her sadness down.

TY LEE: I know you don't like the aura thing, but... this the warmest color I've seen on you so far.

This is also the second time Ty Lee's words have caused Azula to cry. If only a bit. She tries to hide her face and wipe it off.

AZULA (teary): Stupid cucumbers...

Ty Lee laughs at it, infecting her friend in the other tub.

---

Their small, wooden vessel anchored at the entrance of a dense jungle section, Kanna waits patiently on deck, alone. Bato had to detach a part of his crew to take a different route with the ironclad, as it couldn't possibly fit through the overgrown passage, which had only recently been added to Water Tribe maps. As she pets her komodo rhino and nibbles on some cookies, she already suspects what the outcome of this departure would be. Kanna had found herself pessimistic in recent times. Not just as to if Bato can catch this boy with a flying beast, but what would happen if he did. Would it change anything?

After a day Bato returns from his voyage with June. The sun is setting, yet storm clouds in the distance alert her.

JUNE: Yup. Nothing. If your little prince has found the Avatar he's certainly long gone.

She walks on deck on her intimidating pet, finally climbing down and allowing it to rest a bit. Bato's lower half is covered in mud and his upper body reeks of sweat.

BATO (exhausted): Still nothing. This has been a waste.

KANNA: Only if you see it as such. I believe it has taught us a valuable lesson.

Bato sits down across from her, though choosing to use a little stool.

BATO (sarcastically): Which is?

KANNA: Well, for one we know he's headed north. And unless he's trying to get to our sister tribe, he's heading somewhere we haven't discovered yet.

Bato's pupils dilate with excitement.

BATO: You don't think he's headed to the Golden City, do you?

Kanna shrugs.

KANNA: Who knows? All we heard about it is that it's supposedly a safe haven for firebenders. Ideal place to find a teacher for himself and the girl.

She takes a sip from her tea. Bato ponders on her words.

BATO: We need to alert the northern fleets. I'll write to Puwati.

He gets up, yet is stopped when Kanna-

KANNA: You can also tell him where his daughter is.

Bato turns back around in shock. Some of the soldiers are surprised as well.

BATO: You mean Princess Kenora? Hasn't she gone missing-

KANNA: A few months ago? Yes. And now everywhere we went to, we heard nothing about our famous prince but all about this wonderous waterbender. A girl who can take on the Avatar.

Bato strokes his chin. He vividly remembers the girl from that fateful night that the Blue Spirit slaughtered dozens. He tries to hide it in his expression.

BATO: But she has no formal training, as far as I know. Plus... she is a girl.

June scoffs very audibly with disgust, raising some tension on deck.

JUNE: Whoops. Seems like I plucked some feathers.

KANNA: She's right, Bato.

The Chief Mother gets up.

BATO: Wonderful. But how is that helping our situation right now?

KANNA: Maybe we have been looking for the wrong target.

Bato doesn't know how to answer.

KANNA: Maybe the spirits want you not to capture the Avatar, but to reunite a father with his daughter.

The commander is outraged.

BATO: So, you expect me to give up the mission? Give up my mission?!

KANNA: Bato, be honest-

BATO: We will double our efforts! We'll find the prince and squeeze everything out of him!

JUNE: Cool. I-

BATO (addressing June): And your services are no longer required!

June seems a bit insulted, but ultimately shrugs it off.

JUNE: Alright then.

She gets up on her animal companion and nods the Chief Mother goodbye.

JUNE: Good luck.

And with that she leaves.

KANNA: What was the strategic advantage of that?

Bato blows air from his nostrils like an overworked steam engine.

BATO: That's for me to decide. Good night.

The angered man and his soldiers leave. Kanna pets her Malu for a few more seconds before finally frowning with anger.

---

Wearing smooth, silky robes and towels around their heads, the two girls exit the spa area, giggling to each other about something Azula just said.

TY LEE: What are we going to do next?

Azula stops and assumes a thinking pose.

AZULA: We haven't checked out the massage parlor. I could go for a good back rub.

TY LEE: No, that's not what I meant.

Azula is curious.

TY LEE: I meant... after our spa trip. Are you going to... head back home?

The acrobat asks rather timidly, assuming internally that the journey back home would exclude her. Azula reassures her though, a bit clumsily, but hey, she's getting better at this emotion stuff.

AZULA: Nonsense. I didn't leave that boring island to end with a spa trip. And you didn't come with us just to be left behind.

Ty Lee smiles again.

AZULA: We're going to bully Zuko into getting us to the Golden City somehow. Trust me, I'm a pro at that.

TY LEE: Do you think he's going to listen?

Azula scoffs dismissively.

AZULA: Cut him some slack. He's not a complete idiot.

ZUKO: Guys, look who I found.

The girls turn towards the voice and are immediately shocked beyond repair.

SOKKA (timidly): Hello. Sokka here.

He gives the girls a little wave with his hand and immediately catches a fireball, jumping away in time to dodge it. Azula, who fired it, continues to aim her fist at the boy.

AZULA: What are you doing here?

She looks at her brother.

AZULA: Is he holding you hostage?

ZUKO: Mm... not really?

She correctly reads his back head scratching and glares at him.

AZULA: What is this about then?

SOKKA: Please, if I may-

She shoots another fireball in his direction, and he dodges. This time Zuko steps in, shielding the prince.

ZUKO: Stop! He's not here to hurt us!

TY LEE: His aura is different.

Azula shares a short look with the acrobat. To her own surprise, she completely trusts Ty Lee's judgment, switching from a combat stance to crossing her arms.

AZULA: I'm listening.

Sokka finally steps forward, clearing his throat.

SOKKA: Okay. Now that we can talk, I just wanted to quickly apologize.

He says it so bluntly and nonchalantly that no one believes him.

SOKKA: What? Isn't that enough?

His smugness tears apart Azula's patience and she charges him again.

AZULA: Enough? ENOUGH?!

Zuko tries shielding him, though the two boys end up getting pushed backwards by Azula.

AZULA: You raid our island, kidnap me, you betrayed Aang after he saved you, you constantly send your rabid lunatic waterbender bitch after me, and you expect all of that to be swept under the rug with a "SORRY"?!

She stops, Zuko sweating comically and Sokka stepping forward once again, finally a bit more earnest.

SOKKA: Look... I made a lot of mistakes. I thought I needed to do this-

AZULA: Yeah, no. I don't really care.

ZUKO: Azula!

AZULA: Don't "Azula!" me.

She lets the recent memories of injustice flow through her mind again. She follows it up by pointing her finger at the prince, directly at the tip of his nose.

AZULA: Zuko made mistakes. Ty Lee made mistakes. I made mistakes. You?

She scoffs.

AZULA: You're a prince. You made a million mistakes in your life but never got punished for a single one. If you think that you deserve my attention after your assistant almost chokes me to death, then you're simply delusional. Goodbye.

SOKKA: Well, technically she's not-

AZULA: GOOD. BYE.

The firebender clumps back to her private quarters, taking off her hair towel. Sokka sighs and lets his head down low.

ZUKO: Aw man. You didn't say any of the things you told me. We prepared this whole speech-

SOKKA: No, she's right.

Zuko is speechless, hoping to get some pushback from Ty Lee.

TY LEE: I'm sorry... but Azula is right. I'm sure you mean well Sokka, but you have to try another time.

ZUKO: Bu-

SOKKA: I'm going to grab my things and leave.

The prince steps away and Zuko's brain is overloaded for a moment.

ZUKO: Uh- bu- the-

Once again... Zuko and Ty Lee are alone. While circumstances are not ideal, what if now is the time for her to finally...

ZUKO: I'll try to convince him to stay. We'll need all the friends we can get if we want to get anywhere, and if the Great Chief's son is on our side-

TY LEE: Zuko?

Her very sudden and abrupt name calling puts him off course.

ZUKO: Yeah?

She stutters for a few seconds, then finally...

TY LEE: I... I'm in love with you.

As if his brain wasn't overloaded enough, her statement causes it to momentarily shut down. Ty Lee's heart beats faster than ever, her synapses are on fire and her breath quivers, desperately awaiting his answer.

Zuko nods like a badly oiled mechanical puppet.

ZUKO: Okay. Okay.

He has run out of words and screams internally until Ty Lee finally takes the lead.

TY LEE: I... thought because of how Aang treated us... it would be the right thing to finally tell you the truth.

She plays with her fingers as if not doing so would cause them to fall off. Zuko nods again, letting a breath of air out through his o-shaped lips.

ZUKO: "Finally"?

She nods, her cheeks blushing harder than ever. Zuko scratches the back of his head again.

ZUKO: Um... I... don't really know what to say...

She fears the worst.

TY LEE: It's okay if you don't-

ZUKO: No- no... um...

Is it a "no"? Zuko doesn't quite sure now. He finally makes a choice.

ZUKO: Um... I'll talk to Sokka... and... after we cleared that up... we'll... talk about it. Just...

He gestures wildly.

ZUKO: ...us.

She nods frantically.

TY LEE: Yeah. Sounds good.

ZUKO: Great! Great. Great...

He nods. Then pauses. Then leaves. After he is finally out of ear shot, she lets out a quiet screech.

---

Entering her room, Azula picks up a random item and throws it against the wall, causing it to shatter into smaller pieces. She lets out an angered grunt, even spewing a little fire from her nostrils.

A quiet knock on the door gives her the distraction she needs.

AZULA: Yes?

Zhao enters timidly, still wearing his bathrobe and showing off all the chest hair he can.

ZHAO: Hey... your... friend is standing frozen by the fountain and... someone said they saw fire?

Azula doesn't answer, giving him all the answers he needs. He enters and places himself on a chair with an "old man sitting down" grunt.

ZHAO: What happened? Did Zuko do anything?

She shakes her head, her arms crossed, expressing her inner turmoil more than trying to be sassy.

AZULA: I don't know why he would do something this... stupid. Why? Would he do something that hurts me this much-

She stops herself, trying to regain some of that confident facade in front of Zhao. She sighs.

AZULA: I don't really think I'm talking about Zuko. Am I?

Zhao shakes his head.

ZHAO: I don't really know what you're talking about at all, to be honest.

Azula takes a few seconds to process her feelings.

AZULA: Aang... the Avatar... was... really important to me. It's the closest I've ever been to someone since...

ZHAO: Your mother?

He notices his faux pas and reacts comically embarrassed.

ZHAO: Uh- I'm so sorry!

AZULA: It's fine.

Her calm look reassures him. He nods.

AZULA: It just sucks. I trusted him and... it meant nothing.

ZHAO: Look, I know how that feels, it's a big thing for soldiers.

That doesn't quite reach her and so he tries something else.

ZHAO: The important thing is that trusting him was the right thing to do.

AZULA: But it wasn't. I was wrong. What if I'm wrong again?

ZHAO: That will happen for sure.

The answer surprises her... but in a calming way.

ZHAO: You will never know for sure who to trust and who not to trust when you first meet them. But you have to make that leap of faith. Otherwise... you'll miss out on some great people.

Azula thinks of Ty Lee, who she initially disliked, and is happy she made that leap for.

ZHAO: Plus - you're Azula! The last firebender of our island! Great granddaughter of the Fire Lord! Don't be scared of a few bad people!

His blunt way of speaking truly touches her. As a kid, Zhao was to her what her uncle was to Zuko. She nods with a smile.

ZHAO: Great. Um... I actually came to you about something else...

He gets up and seems to express shame.

AZULA: What?

ZHAO: I spoke to the owner and... you guys have to leave tomorrow.

AZULA: Oh.

ZHAO: Yeah. Should I get someone to bring you back home?

She smirks with newfound confidence.

AZULA: No. We'll go to the Golden City to find a master for me.

He seems a bit baffled.

ZHAO: Oh. Really? Okay. Well... that's going to take me a while to organize...

He ponders for a moment.

ZHAO: You know what? We'll talk about it later.

AZULA: Right.

ZHAO: Right.

He, much like Azula's brother, leaves awkwardly. Once left, she makes use of the mirror in her room, taking a good look at herself and smiling again. She has found joy not in helping Aang, or practicing her bending, but just enjoying this little moment by herself.

---

Aang finally opens his eyes again, not knowing how much time has passed. He assumes it was a lot, since no sunlight enters the small window at the very top of the room. The room is shrouded in darkness and Aang sighs.

He has allowed his mind to wander freely for a while now, hoping to achieve some kind of clarity, yet all he saw was images of his former friends. Not Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko, but the others. This new Azula, who did open herself up for him, who did seem like she could overcome the evil that controlled Fire Lord Azula. This new Zuko, who lacked the edge and cunning skills of the prince, but who was filled to the brim with compassion and love. And Ty Lee. The kindest person he has ever met, and the first airbender he had interacted with in years. No, not years - a century. He decides to get up. No answers and no inner peace means returning to his old plan. Go to Ba Sing Se and develop a strategy. Train the elements by himself. Maybe visit the Air Temples.

The Avatar gets up, lighting a little fire in his hand to see in the dark-

GYATSO: Hello Aang.

Aang almost lets the flame extinguish in shock. The specter-like apparition of Monk Gyatso smiles at him in the corner. Aang proceeds with caution.

AANG: You're not real. I must be dreaming.

GYATSO: Strange. I recall you saying something similar when we told you were the Avatar.

Aang turns back around and takes a good look at the figure again. Gyatso has an almost transparent quality to him, though the warm smile is the liveliest thing Aang has seen in a long while.

AANG: Why are you here? And how?

Gyatso shrugs.

GYATSO: I have to be honest with you and say that I don't know the answer to that, Aang. Some mysteries never get resolved in this beautiful chaos we call life.

Aang turns his head away in shame.

AANG: It's too chaotic. I left my world out of balance. Now the Avatars banished me here with no answers.

GYATSO: Hmm...

AANG: What?

Gyatso strokes his long beard.

GYATSO: Fascinating choice of words. That's all.

Aang is a bit confused.

AANG: Do you mean... "banished"?

GYATSO: No. I meant "balance".

Aang steps a bit closer but stops abruptly as he is unsure if that would make his old master disappear or not.

AANG: What do you mean?

GYATSO: Well, you seem to think that balance and chaos are two separate concepts. Two beings opposed to each other when they are in fact one and the same.

Aang starts pondering about this.

GYATSO: That's not what we taught you growing up.

Aang turns his head away again.

AANG: Does it matter anymore? Our people were wiped out.

GYATSO: And that gives you the right to stray away?

His face still turned away, Gyatso grabs Aang's shoulder, turning him back and allowing him to look into his master's eyes again.

GYATSO: We did not perish because of a weakness. And it is not strength to detach yourself from your loved ones because you are hurt.

Aang starts giving in a bit.

AANG: But... what if I forget? What if I'm stuck here forever? What-

His next words get stuck in his throat for a second.

AANG: What if I forget them? My friends? What if I forget Katara?

Gyatso gently holds on to Aang's shoulders, grounding him back to the ground. His flame slowly dwindles.

GYATSO: As long as you keep their love in your heart, they will never leave your side.

Aang nods, a single tear rolling down his cheek. The flame loses more juice and Gyatso slowly fades away. Aang panics.

AANG: No. NO! DON'T GO!

Gyatso smiles and shakes his head.

GYATSO: I am never really gone, Aang. We're all connected...

He places his wrinkly hand on Aang's chest one last time, before finally fading away completely at almost the same exact moment the first sun beams illuminate the room.

A part of Aang believes this was simply a figment of his overstressed imagination.

A part of him believes the well-meaning old man was still wrong and that he needs to continue on his own.

But his heart remembers. His heart knows that, no matter what happens, his friends will always be a part of him.

And that includes his new friends.

---

Comically trashing the junk room, Aang finally picks up what he was hoping to find - an airbender head scraper and a mirror. He briefly flies back to Appa, who still snoozes next to a completely plucked berry bush. He returns to the temple with his water pouch, using its contents to help him complete his transformation. He picks up Azula's headband before leaving the temple, though he will no longer have to wear it. With an excited look and a hint of shame he confidentially looks into the old mirror.

He will have to do a lot to make up for his mistakes. But in the end, it will be worth it.

---

Zuko knocks for the spirits-know-how-many-eth time, still not getting a response from Sokka. It was a long shot either way. No! No use giving up now.

ZUKO: Sokka? Uh... your... highness? Can we please talk-

By complete accident he hits the doorknob and opens his abandoned bedroom. The only clue is an opened window, through which Zuko comically reacts to a fleeing Sokka, who runs into the nearby woods.

ZUKO: Uh- Wait. Wait!

He falls out the window and chases after the prince. After a short while he catches up to him, tackling him into a bush in between the nearby woods.

SOKKA (grunts): Get off of me!

ZUKO: What is wrong with you?!

Zuko gets off his minor majesty, allowing him to gasp for air again.

SOKKA: What is wrong with you?! I didn't tackle you down!

ZUKO: But-

Zuko grunts.

ZUKO: I thought you were going to make it up to the others.

SOKKA: I tried! But your sister was right...

The two boys get back up on their feet.

ZUKO: So that's it? You- you just run away?

SOKKA: Of course I ran away! Look!

He points at the coast, spotting an ironclad in the distance and several smaller ships on the beach head.

ZUKO: Oh no.

The realization really sinks in.

ZUKO: NO!

He makes the leap towards the spa, but is held back by Sokka, who covers Zuko's mouth.

SOKKA: Shush! It's too late!

Zuko looks in horror as Water Tribe soldiers approach.

---

Ty Lee stands like a road deer next to a small fountain pond, her arms crossed and her left foot tapping the ground.

AZULA: Did you lie again?

Ty Lee quickly turns towards her friend, who nonchalantly points at her foot. The acrobat finally realizes and shakes her head.

AZULA: Oh. Well, maybe we do really need that massage, huh? Where's Zuko? I need to talk to him.

TY LEE (extremely high-pitched): Um...

AZULA: What?

Ty Lee's face reeks of pure panic.

AZULA: Oh no, what now?

TY LEE: I... sort of... told him I'm in love with him?

Azula's jaw drops.

AZULA: No way.

She grunts.

AZULA: Finally!

TY LEE: Yeah well, we were alone, and I was holding it off for so long...

As Ty Lee continues Azula notices something is off with the otherwise hectic spa. It's quiet.

TY LEE: And with everything that happened I thought being honest-

A small smoke bomb drops next to her and Azula pulls her away.

AZULA: WATCH OUT!

The bomb goes off and the girls get ready. Though not ready enough, as a series of wateracles rises from the fountain and grabs them both. Azula is able to break free with a fire swipe, but is promptly hit by a powerful water blast, which pushes her against a stone wall and almost knocks her out. She sees the invading blue figures in her semi-conscious state.

Bato personally freezes Ty Lee on the spot, only allowing her head to poke out. When the acrobat takes a deep breath, preparing an attack, he is quick to freeze her mouth over too.

ZHAO: LET THEM GO!

Bato notices the shirtless man with a bandage and a dao sword.

ZHAO: FOR THE FIRE NATION!

He charges Bato, who easily counters the slow attack with a slope of water, launching Zhao into the pool and rendering him no longer a threat.

SOLDIER: Commander, we searched all rooms. The Avatar is not here.

Bato almost pops a vein.

BATO: What?!

Azula cackles heinously on the ground, too much in pain to get up. Bato glares at her.

AZULA (in pain): The Avatar and us split up.

Bato approaches her with murderous intent.

BATO: TELL ME WHERE HE IS!

Azula manages to get on one knee, glaring back in defiance.

AZULA (in pain): I don't know where he is, and I seriously don't want to know.

Bato grunts.

BATO: Fine.

Two soldiers freeze her hands and feet over. She loudly protests.

AZULA: No! NO! HE WON'T COME TO SAVE US! YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TI-

Her mouth is also shut with a coat of ice. The soldiers lift her to Bato's height and the commander grabs her face.

BATO: Then you shall beg the spirits that you're enough. Because if there's no use for you, you're as good as dead.

Azula's confidence briefly shatters, replaced by utter horror.

---

Act III. – Après moi le déluge

---

Appa joyfully celebrates the return of Aang, whose appearance reminds the bison of the old Aang, before he got stuck in that rock. The beast groans happily, jumping up and down, playfully knocking over Aang, who laughs at the overly joyful animal.

AANG: Hey, buddy!

Aang manages to get back up after a few licks from Appa's massive tongue.

AANG: We need to go find the others.

Appa seems quite happy about this announcement too. As Aang pets him he feels the weight of his mistake pulling him down.

AANG: I hope they can forgive me...

Appa grunts in response.

AANG: Let's worry about that later. We'll have to find them first.

Appa blows air from his nostrils, leaving Aang to figure it out by himself. Gyatso's final words echo through his mind.

AANG: "We're all connected..."

A few seconds of pondering and he remembers his encounter with the swampbenders and the Banyan Tree. Back then, years ago, he was able to track down Appa with the roots of the massive life form spanning across miles.

AANG: If Gyatso is right, and we're all connected...

It's worth a shot. The Avatar kneels down and grasps the earth with his fingertips.

The sensation rushes through his body, briefly expressing via the light returning to his eyes and arrow. He can't... see it but he can feel it - a stream of energy that leads away from the temple and further north, then across the coast. His eyesight returns in the form of a blurred vision.

Azula and Ty Lee, getting chained to a wall by soldiers of the Water Tribe. Azula obviously tries to resist, while Ty Lee sits next to her quietly.

Aang's vision ends abruptly, and he reacts as if his head had been dipped under water a bit too long. As he gasps for air, Appa looks at him with concern in his eyes.

AANG: They're in trouble, Appa!

Appa grunts with upset.

AANG: Come on!

The boy jumps on Appa's back, grabbing his reins and getting ready to defeat Bato once and for all.

---

Azula continues to struggle in her restraints as if the most aggravating prisoner would be granted his or her freedom.

AZULA: No! They can't... do this!

Ty Lee suddenly looks up with a frightened expression.

AZULA: What? Did you see a ghost?

TY LEE: No. I just had this odd... feeling...

She's unwilling to utter it, but for a moment she could feel Aang's aura.

AZULA: Great. Isn't going to help us though.

KANNA: Nothing can help you now, dear.

They look towards the kind old woman at the door. The girls are not tricked by this facade.

AZULA: Is this some kind of thing for you? Does it help you fall asleep at night, when there's innocent little girls locked up in your dungeon?

Kanna feels an ounce of guilt but is able to scoff it away.

KANNA: I suppose I'll have sleeping problems tonight then.

Azula is truly terrified for a moment.

AZULA: What? Wh- wh- what does that mean?

Kanna, without saying a word, closes the door on the two.

AZULA: Hey, come BACK!

For a moment the firebender feels truly alone.

TY LEE: Calm down. Everything is going to be fine.

Azula sighs with disappointment and suppressed rage.

AZULA: I can hardly believe you, but thanks.

Ty Lee begins to question her own words of encouragement.

AZULA (sarcastically): All we can hope now is that they didn't get Zuko.

---

Zuko looks in horror at the camp being looted. This includes his broad swords. He still carries the boomerang and his hidden throwing weapons on his person.

SOKKA: Hey, is that my boomerang?

The prince intends to grab it from Zuko's back pocket, but the raven-haired boy turns away.

ZUKO: Hey! That's mine!

SOKKA: That's a lie!

Sokka tries to grab it again, but Zuko takes it out instead, aiming it at the prince.

ZUKO: We can fight over a stupid weapon, or you can help me save my friends.

Sokka crosses his arms, very similarly to Azula, Zuko notes.

SOKKA: And why would I do that?

Zuko quietly backs down.

ZUKO: Because if you told me the truth then you are sorry for what you did. Now, my sister may not accept empty words...

The prince looks away with an angered pout, but quickly returns his focus to the silver boomerang, which Zuko offers him.

ZUKO: But she does accept good deeds.

Sokka is intrigued. Would he so easily betray his nation? He sighs, arms still crossed.

SOKKA: Keep it. For now.

Zuko puts it back on his holster.

SOKKA: I will help you.

ZUKO: That's great!

Sokka smirks.

SOKKA: It's the noble way of a prince. I guess...

Zuko smiles briefly.

ZUKO: But how are we going to get there?

The ridiculously loud chatter of a little lemur in the bush distracts them both.

ZUKO: Not now, Sabachi. Anyway, how are we-

Zuko notices his blunder in a comical fashion.

ZUKO: Sabachi!

The little primate creature chirps again, then rushes away, causing Zuko to chase after it...

ZUKO Wait!

...and Sokka to chase after Zuko.

SOKKA: Wait!

---

Reaching the beach head, yet still hidden in the leafage, the two boys see the lemur sitting in the sand in front of a two-person Water Tribe canoe, two soldiers guarding it.

SOLDIER 1: I can't believe the commander made us stay here.

SOLDIER 2: Hey, don't look at me. An order is an order.

SOLDIER: Yeah, but right next to the spa? It's torture...

Soldier 2 finally notices the presence of Sabachi.

SOLDIER 2: Aw, aren't you a cute little thing?

Sabachi hisses at him and the grown man flinches. Soldier 1 laughs hysterically.

SOKKA (keeping his eyes on the men): How quickly can you take out the guy on the right? I'm probably better off taking the left one.

Soldier 2, the one on the left, is significantly smaller than his comrade.

SOKKA: What do you sa-

He looks to his side. Zuko is gone.

SOLDIER 2 (enrage): That's not funny, Nuk! You know how I got mauled by that seal lion once!

SOLDIER 1: That's why it's so funny!

Nuk's laughter quickly stops as he is pinned against the boat's side with pin-needles. Soldier 2 takes out his club and prepares for an incoming attack but is knocked out by a series of precise hits from behind, ultimately succumbing the same fate as his comrade. Sokka's jaw drops.

SOKKA: Huh.

ZUKO (to Sokka): Come on! Let's go!

Sokka hesitates for a few seconds.

SOKKA (mumbling to himself): I'm glad I only had to fight the Avatar...

---

A few hours pass and Zhao still sits next to the fountain, his head lowered as he sighs in shame and defeat. He doesn't even notice the two Water Tribe soldiers without their armor sneaking into the spa. His hand holds on to the hilt of his sword, which is pointed into the ground.

What finally gets him to look up again is a strange growl and the shadow that follows it. He can't believe his eyes.

Neither can Aang. It's Zhao. The man who killed- whatever, that's his world.

Aang jumps off his bison, staff in hand, approaching the confused man.

ZHAO: Wha...

AANG: Hello? Can you help me?

Aang almost said the man's name.

ZHAO: You...

Zhao gets up.

ZHAO: You must be the Avatar.

Aang nods.

AANG: I came to save my friends. Have you seen them?

Zhao frowns, suspicious of the bald boy.

ZHAO: Last I heard you left your friends. They seemed rather upset. Especially Azula.

Aang winces in disgust at himself.

ZHAO: But you still came back. Why?

Aang doesn't linger around for too long with his answer.

AANG: Because I made a mistake. And now they're in danger.

To his surprise, Zhao expresses profound sadness.

ZHAO: Yes. They were captured by some waterbender with a scar.

AANG (to himself): I knew it.

Zhao sighs.

ZHAO: I should have saved them. I left our village to fight the Water Tribe. But now look at me.

The sad, old, hairy, bandaged and wet man hangs his head down again. Aang manages to see through the memory of his own Zhao, compassionately touching the man's (non-injured) shoulder.

AANG: You did your best. And they know it.

He convinces Zhao to give him a smirk.

ZHAO: You better say sorry to them. Not just once.

Aang nods.

AANG: I will.

He stares at the ocean for a moment. Heavy storm clouds encroach from the sea.

AANG: You don't happen to know where they went, do you?

Aang had assumed that they were taken on board a ship, as his vision of the girls was blurry and quickly cut off. He takes a guess that the roots stop at the ocean and are therefore unreliable. Zhao strokes his beard.

ZHAO: There's a Water Navy outpost 200 miles east.

Luckily for Aang, Zhao points where that is.

ZHAO: Stay on the coast and you'll find it.

Aang nods.

ZHAO: I'd come with you, but... I'm afraid with my injury still acting up I'll only be a liability.

Aang tries to play it cool. He takes a guess, based on the sword, that Zhao is not a firebender in this world.

AANG: Thank you.

He does the Fire Nation gesture, intending to leave already.

ZHAO: Wait! Are you just going to trust me like that? You only just met me. I could be lying.

Aang agrees, and he knows that, and a part of him does think that Zhao is lying. But he needs to stay level-headed. For his friends' sake.

AANG: You're a friend of my friends. I don't have a reason to mistrust you.

Zhao smiles.

ZHAO: Alright. If you find this waterbender, tell him Captain Zhao sent you.

He winks at Aang and Aang winks back, ready to race to the skies and kick ass.

---

After hours of flight the clouds seem to build up more and more, making Aang ever more nervous. Appa's yawning doesn't necessarily help with the situation. Would he get there in time? Would he-

A thunder in the distance turns his attention to the coast, where he spots an oddity. A river flowing from the forest, eventually ending in a short waterfall. On the edge of it, a small complex of buildings.

He had been here before. It was an abandoned hiding place back in his world, and it served its purpose for a few months. He remembers escaping one day, fighting The Fire Lord and her lightning.

He decides to land. Appa, confused but also tired and happy about the short break, blows wind in the boy's face. Aang, his staff behind his back, gives the bison another pet.

AANG: I have a strange... feeling. This place...

He gazes at it as if it were haunted.

AANG: Maybe it's an Avatar thing. Go back to the spa if I don't come back.

Appa's upset growl does not stop the Avatar, as the boy opens his glider and sails to the long gangplank bridge.

---

The ironclad cuts through waves like a knife through butter, though it has no defense against the storm that's currently attempting to flood the deck. Most of the soldiers, Bato and Kanna don't mind. Who it does concern are the two prisoners, who are forced to kneel in the cold water. Ty Lee stares at Azula with the eyes of an injured puppy and the firebender tries to give her strength with a nod, not even believing it herself. The ship finally stops, and the anchor is released, amplifying Azula's stomach pains.

AZULA: What now? Got a leak?

Bato tries intimidating her via approaching. Azula tries to keep her cool.

AZULA: Oh, so just kill us then, huh? Will that bring you further to victory? Getting rid of two kids?

Bato takes a few seconds to stare into her honey-colored eyes.

BATO: That is not for me to decide.

Azula raises an eyebrow at the comment, but as the commander backs off again, she can see the entire deck clouded in shadows. Turning around, they spot an even larger ironclad, halting next to them. A wooden drawbridge docks on board and the sound of large leather boots stomps into Azula's mind like a heartbeat. The large man, wearing a coat and carrying a strange staff weapon, finally takes a glance at them. It's the same man they saw a while ago, when breaking through the blockade headfirst.

Puwati says nothing. He too approaches them, much slower and much more intimidating, mostly due to his size, but the harpoon-hook also helps. He stares, first at Azula, then at Ty Lee, then at Azula again. Standing a bit in the back, Kanna can feel her own heart racing with unnerve. Puwati finally turns towards Bato in a cold, precise manner.

PUWATI: Where's the boy?

Bato clearly holds back his own anger.

BATO: The Avatar wasn't there. Her friends claim he left them.

AZULA: He did. We have nothing to do with him!

Puwati slowly turns towards her, taking his weapon and holding the hooked part an inch in front of her mouth.

PUWATI: You're pretty ballsy to shout at a man holding a giant fishhook.

He turns back towards Bato and Azula shuts her mouth indefinitely.

PUWATI: I didn't say Avatar. Did I?

Bato internally panics for a few seconds.

PUWATI: I said, where's the boy? The lad with the broadswords?

Azula and Ty Lee exchange quiet but dreadful looks. Puwati immediately catches on to it. He points at Azula with his harpoon from a safe distance.

PUWATI: Her brother.

Azula gulps inaudibly. Bato scoffs.

BATO: The boy is of no concern. He's a peasant with butter knives.

PUWATI: Oh, but he did almost beat you in Huoshan, didn't he?

Bato panics even louder. Even Kanna seems nervous. Bato had not mentioned his misadventure at the Pit in any reports. Puwati turns his head towards the girls, then back at Bato. Rainwater hitting him directly in the face does not even make him blink.

BATO: He... did. With help.

PUWATI: Yes.

The Vice-Chief looks back at Azula.

PUWATI: With help from the Avatar.

The metallic clank of his heavy boots sends a shiver down everyone's spine. Puwati walks up to Azula again.

PUWATI: Let's hope our commander is right.

Bato grows nervous at the pronunciation.

PUWATI: This is how we'll do it...

Expecting to be questioned again, Azula mentally prepares to show her best poker face. To her surprise and shock, he does not continue, instead picking her up with his hook, using the large chain spun all around her torso to lift her up like fish bait. Her arms tied behind her back, her legs also wrapped together, she is unable to resist at all, and hoisted up into the air with relative ease.

PUWATI (addressing Ty Lee): ...I will count down from ten and you will tell me where the Avatar is.

He keeps laser sharp eye contact with the heavily breathing acrobat, while finally lifting Azula over the raging sea.

PUWATI: Ten...

AZULA (panicked): She doesn't know! The Avatar left us!

PUWATI: Nine...

AZULA (angry): Are you listening to me?! WE DON'T KNOW!

PUWATI: Eight...

AZULA (furious): I'm going to get off this hook and when I do, I will BURN YOUR FACE OFF!

PUWATI: Seven...

Azula looks at the dark waters below and starts fearing for her life.

PUWATI: Six...

TY LEE (panic): Please! Let her go! We don't know where he is!

PUWATI: Five...

Ty Lee starts crying.

PUWATI: Four...

Kanna wonders if she should intervene.

PUWATI: Three...

TY LEE (crying): PLEASE! PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU!

PUWATI: Two...

Bato wonders if he will really do it.

PUWATI: One...

He fake-out drops her, still holding on to his hook. Azula screams with terror.

TY LEE (crying): STOP! I'LL TELL YOU! PLEASE!

Letting the traumatized teen dangle over the edge for a few more seconds, Puwati finally hoists her back on board, smacking her on deck nonchalantly like a caught trout. To his surprise, Kanna walks up to the girl and checks if she's injured. Azula is bawling her eyes out. The Vice-Chief on the other hand walks up to Ty Lee, who too is crying.

PUWATI: You'll tell me what?

Ty Lee swallows her fear and talks with a trembling voice.

TY LEE: When we we're chained up on Bato's ship... I felt... Aang's aura.

Everyone but Puwati seems shocked.

PUWATI: His... aura?

Ty Lee nods.

TY LEE: I can feel auras. He- I don't know why or how but I think he could feel us.

She looks over at Azula.

TY LEE: He'll come for us. I'm sure of it.

A moment of silence, though waves, rain and the dread of what unfolded is anything but silent. Puwati finally scoffs.

PUWATI: What do you know...

He smirks at Bato, who doesn't quite know how to react to it.

PUWATI: Bring the airbender on my ship.

Two of his soldiers pick up Ty Lee and carry her over the drawbridge, much to Azula's weak protest.

AZULA (panic): No. No-no-no-no! NO! NO!

PUWATI (addressing Bato): You can keep the firebender as a trophy.

AZULA (panic): NOOOOO!

BATO: Bu- the Avatar?

PUWATI: I'll take care of it.

It takes four of Bato's soldiers to get Azula down below deck. Kanna looks after her with compassion.

BATO: What are my orders? What am I to do with her?

Puwati admires his hook, staring out into the ocean.

PUWATI: Do as you please.

Bato nods reluctantly, leaving the deck as well.

Kanna spends a moment of silence next to the Vice-Chief.

PUWATI: Is there something else you want to talk about, Chief Mother?

He stares out into the vast sea. The storm continues to rage.

KANNA: I know about your daughter.

---

A second lightning strikes, brighter and louder than the prior one. Hidden in shadow at first, the figure steps into the light, revealing her blue pirate coat.

AANG: Kenora?

Her eyes are sharp and focused, not looking away from Aang for a second. With a sinister tone she answers.

KENORA: Captain Kenora.

Another lighting flashes dramatically in the distance behind her.

Aang does not let his guard down, holding on tight to his staff.

AANG: What are you doing here?

KENORA: Could ask you the same question.

A few seconds pass with nothing being said.

AANG: Are you here with your pirates? And Sokka?

KENORA: No. I no longer travel with them.

Aang wonders if this is a trick.

AANG: Why did you come here then?

She finally takes her eyes off him for a second, picking up a shell from the ground and admiring it.

KENORA: I was hoping to find some supplies up here. Then I saw your bison.

Aang is briefly scared she's serving as a decoy.

AANG: So, you're alone and without supplies. Why fight then?

KENORA: Who said anything about a fight?

She drops the shell again.

KENORA: But since you're here, let me ask you a question.

Aang nods reluctantly.

KENORA: How do you know my gran-gran?

The somewhat comical question dissolves some of Aang's anticipation.

AANG: What?

KENORA: When we fought in the woods, you called me Hama. Why?

The dots connect in his head, and he finally spots the similarity. Kenora looks like a younger, darker Hama with curvy hair and freckles.

AANG: I-

Aang ponders how to respond to that one properly. He scoffs, having made his decision.

AANG: I'm from a different reality. One in which the Fire Nation started the war.

Kenora is, of course, quite baffled.

KENORA: Excuse me?

AANG: She was a waterbender from the south pole in my world. She was captured by the Fire Nation and kept as a prisoner.

Kenora scoffs and laughs in disbelief.

KENORA: Gran-gran? A waterbender?

Her amusement turns to anger.

KENORA: I don't believe you. How do you know her?

Aang finally takes on a fighting pose.

AANG: I just told you. Can I go now?

Kenora smirks, then frowns.

KENORA: No.

Without warning and with a very quick Tai Chi move, Kenora thrusts a wave through the window and at Aang, who can barely stop the attack with his staff. While he's busy, Kenora takes water from her pouch, letting it spin faster and faster, eventually shooting the projectile at Aang, who dodges. She follows it up with a water whip, turned sling, which she spins around a bunch, building up enough speed to finally hit Aang from above. He blocks, though the blow is more powerful than he thought. His left hand blocking, he uses his right to punch fire forward, though Kenora spin dodges, immediately switching into a capoeira water stream barrage. Aang has to keep up a very fast tempo. Eventually he fails a dodge and is hit pretty hard in the shoulder. Kenora uses her momentum to charge with her knee, missing this time. Aang dodges another blow, an ice punch to his head. Kenora tries again, yet this time the Avatar holds on to the frozen glove, melting it with his firebending and blasting Kenora out the door with a shout. No time to think - where is his staff? He dropped it when his shoulder got hit. As he tries picking it up, a wateracle from outside snatches it. Aang runs after it, halting at the sight.

Kenora has managed to blast up a whole series of water pillars from the stream below, her stance the exact same as Master Pakku. She throws his staff into one of the empty outdoor pools. Aang glares at her.

KENORA: I see you've learned a new trick, but I didn't come this far to lose to you!

She commences what can only be described as liquified artillery shelling, with Aang having to muster all the blocking and dodging skills he can conjure. Kenora finally switches it up, opting to create a spherical projectile, which she shoots straight into the air, where it explodes and unleashes a series of comet-like debris, hailing down on the ground and creating holes in the wooden floor. Aang creates his airball scooter, managing to barely evade all the incoming attacks, and managing to race towards Kenora, who builds up a small, concentrated stream holding massive amounts of water, preparing to counter. Aang gets off his ball and counter-counters with an effective wall of air - the result is Kenora being catapulted onto one of the house rooftops. As Kenora gets back up, lifting her head and groaning, she gasps, spotting Aang charging her with a line of fire coming from his fist and sending it towards her. She dodges only barely, immediately countering with a capoeira stream pushing Aang towards the same exact spot. When attempting another water stream, Aang blocks it with a shield of wind, though what he can't block is the girl straight up charging him with the force of her entire body. The two crash through the paper window behind Aang, landing in a partly emptied storage room on a large wooden crate. The two groan and wince with pain, yet they still get up.

Aang tries a short series of fist punches, creating tiny air funnels and fire balls. Kenora switches her strategy up entirely - using no water she simply dodges - up-close - blocking Aang's attacks and shoving them away before they can hit her. She lands a blow directly in his face and he stumbles for a bit. He tries a second series, this time entirely made of fire. Once again, Kenora simply dodges, blocks and pushes his arms away before they can aim correctly at her. She lands another punch in the face. This time Aang holds firm. He tries the exact same thing again, with the exact same results, yet as Kenora tries another punch, he blocks her attack, countering with a massive stream of air, which catapults her back onto the wooden bridge.

He uses her momentary dizziness to jump back towards the emptied-out pool, picking up his staff. Hearing his opponent approaching him once again, he opts for his final move - jumping out the pool and briefly surfing on his extended glider staff, he finally builds up enough momentum to shoot up in the air and hold on to it normally. As Kenora tries to hit him with small water projectiles, he starts circling her in the air, increasing his speed with every lap he takes. The already pretty strong wind starts spinning exclusively around the waterbender, who looks in awe and in concern at the massive tornado the Avatar is creating. As he finally soars back down, he collects the entire air mass, directing it towards Kenora. She reacts quickly and creates a final water pillar beneath her, crashing through the wood and lifting her up in time so as not to get hit by the air blast. She still does get hit, though only by her legs, it's still strong enough to catapult her across the bridge and towards the edge, where she finds herself down in the mud.

Aang lands in front of her.

AANG: You have lost! Give up!

Despite being definitely injured, she still gets back up, grunting and moaning.

AANG: You have spirit, I give you that.

She launches a final, desperate attempt at a blow, another ice punch, which Aang blocks, letting the ice on her hand melt off and drop below. He would lie to say that he himself isn't also in pain.

AANG: I underestimated you, Kenora! I really did.

Kenora cackles.

KENORA: Yeah, you did.

Aang looks in shock at his feet, which are frozen to the ground, done by the water which had just melted off her glove. He quickly tries melting it with fire, as Kenora prepares a massive wave, sucking the water up from the muddy ground surrounding her. As Aang finally breaks free, it's too late.

The wave hits him, and he is knocked out.