My jaw was aching when I woke up, I played with the lower part getting a feel for where it was the most painful. Wishing I had ibuprofen, I got up and started getting ready for the day. I began to make porridge for the others, adding in some of the blueberries we had gotten from the villagers where Hayby had been.

Katara was the first one up she gasped when she saw my face, with tears in her eyes. I guessed that the bruises had truly started to show themselves.

"I'm fine Katara," I reassured her offering her some of the food I had made.

"It looks painful," she whispered.
"It's ok, I have had worse," I promised reaching over the pot and squeezing her hand. However, this experience had made me excited for when she learns how to heal with her bending.

Sokka's reaction had been one of anger, he wanted to hit Zhau. I made the point of saying then his face would look like mine. "Good," he had grunted before stuffing his face angrily with my porridge. Aang, like Katara was close to tears. Once they had settled, and we had all eaten we put out the fire.

"Let's get flying," Sokka said, as he began to pack up the stuff we needed to take with us. "We should try and put as much distance between us and Zuko as possible."

Within half an hour we were in the air, we began to talk about where we were aiming to fly to today, when Aang's mind seemed to catch up with yesterday's events and he began to pace anxiously in the saddle.

"Would you sit down," Sokka called back. "If we hit a bump you'll go flying off."

"Aang you do it, you know you do it. I've seen it," I reassured, gently tugging him back down. "Katara why don't you teach him what you know."

"That's a great idea!" Aang said. Katara looked over the saddle.

"We'll need to find a good source of water first." she said.

"Maybe we can find a puddle for you to splash in," Sokka mocked.

We headed to the stunning waterful, and Sokka and I began to help clean Appa. I made sure that our items were safe from Aang's wave hiding it to make sure that they still went to town. I used my face as an excuse to not go into town with them so they could have the same experience.

While they were gone, I organised our supplies in what we needed to eat first vs what we could make last longer. By the time I had finished I still couldn't see any sign of them, I began to give Appa some cuddles. Knowing it would probably be a few hours, and knowing what was going to happen tonight, I decided to have a quick nap. I knew Appa would guard me and our things if anyone who wasn't us came by.

I wasn't sure how long I was asleep, but Appa nuzzled me with his face. A little drozy, I turned to look at what he was trying to show me. I could see Aang, his glider, and the two blue outfits of Sokka and Katara hanging on. I stroked him in thanks, then began to walk where the group had just landed by the water.

"So you got it then," I said to Katara as they readjusted from the glider. Her eyes widened, before she nodded, revealing the scroll.

"No way," Aang looked at her in amazement.

"No wonder they were trying to hack us up. You stole their water bending scroll." Sokka scolded her.

"No, it was some High-Risk Trading. Right Katara," I said winking. We all laughed bar Sokka. "If it helps Aang learn faster, and it means when we run into old friends, we have a stronger fight." I glanced at Katara. "It'll all be fine Sokka. Everything is going as it should."
"Well that makes me feel so much better," he said sarcastically throwing his hands up.

We spent the rest of the afternoon as they did in the show. Katara hogging the scroll until she snapped at Aang and nearly made him cry. After she handed it to him, I went with Sokka to get some herbs for dinner. We ended up with a nice soup, using rosemary and thyme as they main flavours, we had found some wild garlic too that made it extra yummy. With bellies full, we all set up camp and began to get ready to sleep. I lay awake waiting for Katara to get up, sneaking behind her and staying hidden nearby, I listened closely to the water, knowing the ship would be arriving any minute. Katara was talking to herself in frustration. I saw her turn as we both heard the scrapping of the boats landing on shore. Katara went to check it out, I knew some of them had gotten off earlier to surprise her, I dodged him easily, before running directly into Zuko. He held my wrists.

"I'll save you from the pirates," he said. It took everything I had not to squeal about living the dream fangirl moment. We were staring at each other, his eyes flickered to my bruised cheek, and jaw. I heard Katara struggling with the now soaked pirate.

"Pretty little things," he said, holding Katara closer.

"Leave her alone." I yelled at him, trying to turn, but Zuko kept his grip on me. "Prince Zuko, tell them they can't touch her," I whispered quietly. His eyes tighten as he glances at the pirate with Katara.

"Focus on the mission." He ordered him. "Help me tie them against the tree."

"Thank you," I whispered gratefully under my breath. He gave me a short nod, before walking with me to the tree to tie me up with Katara. By the time, he had the other pirate had finished, the others had met them on the beach. Iroh, standing slightly way on the pirate side, while Zuko's men stood near him. Katara was struggling against the binds, I stayed still. Trying not to lock eyes with any of the men. I couldn't help but occasionally glance at Iroh. He was a smart man, could he help with some of my plans to try and save lives?

"Tell me where he is and I won't hurt you two, or your brother." Zuko continued his interrogation. I looked at him.

"Go jump in the river!" Katara snapped.

"Try to understand, I need to capture him to restore something I've lost. My honour."

"You didn't lose it you gained it." I told to him as got closer to us. He stopped.

"What do you mean?" he said.

"I've told you before Prince Zuko. What would a monster know about honour?"

"Enough of this. You promised us a scroll." The head pirate said.

Zuko took it and lit his palm beneath it.

"I wonder how much this is worth."

They gasped.

"A lot apparently. Now you help me find what I want, I'll give this back and everyone can go home happy. Search the woods for the boy and meet back here."

"Fine," the pirate grunted.

"Why didn't you stop this?" Katara murmured under her breath.

"We all get out ok, and you kind of needed to learn the lesson." I said looking apologetic. She smiled.

"Ok, as long as no one gets hurt." She said.

"Besides if I change little encounters with Zuko, I could change the timeframe and the future so I can't risk losing the big stuff for –"

"What are you two whispering about?" Zuko demanded walking closer.

"Hair, clothes, girl stuff." I said, probably shouldn't, I knew it would anger him. Sure enough, he glared at me.

"Tell me!" he demanded.

"Just the White lotus title, I've been learning Pai Sho. It is a very valuable piece." I said looking at Iroh's surprise he stared at me. I stared back.

Zuko growled.

"Nephew, what does it matter. They can't get out." Iroh said.

His eyes fell back to my face, taking in the marks Zhao had left behind the day before. Without warning he turned to his Uncle talking quietly to him. I was guessing about a strategy for when they had Aang to make sure he didn't escape. The sun began to rise, I knew it wouldn't be long until they found the boys in camp. In the show it was early daylight.

Soon enough they returned with Sokka and Aang bound with rope, meeting Zuko and his men back at the beach. The boys saw us and looked in concern. Sokka's eyes flickered to me. I knew what he was asking. I blinked slowly, moving my head down a centimetre then back up again. He pressed his lips together and did the same. I knew, he knew this happened, and we would all be ok.

"Nice work," Zuko told them, beginning to move forward with the scroll in his hands. To make the swap.

"Aang this is all my fault," Katara said. Iroh close to the both of us. I know he was trying to figure out what I meant before when I mentioned the White Lotus. I knew it would be on his mind. I just hoped I could convince him later that my story is true, and for him to help us.

"No Katara, it isn't," he said to her.

"Yeah, it kinda is," Iroh said to her. I had to try so hard not to smirk or laugh. he just said it so deadpan.

"Give me the boy," Zuko said.

"You give us the scroll," the Captain said.

"You're really going to hand over the avatar, for a stupid piece of parchment?" Sokka said.

"Don't listen to him," Zuko said. "He's trying to turn us against each other."

"Your friend is the avatar?"

"Sure is, and I'll bet he'll fetch a lot more on the black market then that fancy scroll."

"Shut your mouth!" Zuko yelled. "You water tribe peasant."

"Yeah Sokka, you really should shut your mouth," Aang said.

"I'm just saying, it's bad business sense. Just imagine how much the Fire Lord would pay for the avatar. You guys would be set for life."

"Keep the scroll, we could buy a hundred with the reward we'll get for the kid." The Captain said, they began to walk away.

"You'll regret breaking a deal with me." Zuko launched forward and the fighting began.

When the smoke filled the area, and Momo cut the rope for us. I made sure to stay out of the way. Honestly, I was trying to avoid Iroh especially, I kinda forgot he could try and corner me here, I thought the earliest would be after the North Pole. I had a plan for the Chase episode.

Katara and I waited by the boat, the rest of the fight went pretty much the same as it did in the show with the boats, and then with Appa coming and saving us from the waterfall.

Katara and I napped on Appa, after being up all night; the boys stirring us North…