The waterbending master and pupils tensed when they heard the boy. Automatically, Pakku rose the ice from the ground, using it to create a protective barrier around them.
"Princess, we have to find somewhere for you to hide," he said, expression concerned.
"What about my dad?"
"We can get him back," Sokka assured her. "We'll be able to save him easier if you're not in danger too. The soldiers might kill you to get to him. At least if you're hidden, it's possible that they won't even know you exist."
The girl tried to take a breath and not panic. "Th-there's a place that's really connected to the spiritual world. It's where the moon and water spirits stay."
Aang's eyes widened. "Tui and La are here?"
"Yes, they took the form of koi fish. If we go there, maybe we could make sure they're safe. It's deep into the center of the tribe. It'll take the soldiers a while to find."
"Then, let's go there," Sokka said, taking Yue's hand again.
Pakku looked at the children. He felt unsure about what to do. Sending the princess off without anyone to protect her was irresponsible, but as the best waterbending in the tribe, he could not neglect his duties to protect the others. The master turned to his students.
"Go with them and protect each other. I can provide you with the cover you need so that you can get there."
Already, the people could hear soldiers on the other side of the ice, blasting it and yelling for the waterbenders to surrender.
"We have your chief!" one called out.
Glaring at the ice, Pakku melted a small portion behind them to let the group escape.
"Stay safe," he told them earnestly.
"You too," they replied.
The group had to build a shield of ice once they were out because the firebenders were everywhere. Luckily, this protection was not needed. Pakku drew their attention by using a water whip to catch several soldiers by their feet, flinging them so hard into walls of ice that one broke his back. The other soldiers joined their comrades in the fight, providing an opportunity for the children to follow Yue to where the spirits resided. They moved quickly and were able to encase the location's entrance with ice. To their surprise, Aang and the siblings noticed that this place was warm.
"Why isn't it cold?"
"It's because of the spirits," Yue explained. "Even in physical form, they have some powers. They're just weaker. Someone could kill them, so we have to make sure they stay alive or no waterbender will ever be able to use their powers again."
A pit formed in Katara's stomach. "What if the Fire Nation already knows about this place?"
The princess felt nerves coursing through her veins. "We can't let the soldiers kill them."
"We won't," Sokka said surely.
Aang turned his attention to the koi pond. Approaching it, he sat down and closed his eyes.
"What are you doing?" Katara asked.
"Since there's a lot of spiritual energy here, I might be able to connect to my past lives and enter the Avatar state. If I can, I can help get Chief Arnook back."
The other children got quiet so that Aang could focus. As he did, the royal siblings were spending time with Mai and Ty Lee. Since Azula was there, Zuko did not risk asking Mai if she had had any luck with speaking to her uncle. She wanted to tell him as much as he wanted to know, but they kept the topic of conversation focused on lighter subject matters. Unfortunately, this could not deceive the princess. When Azula glanced away from the cartwheeling Ty Lee, she turned her focus to the other two children.
"Are you two planning something?"
They looked at her, confused.
"No," Zuko said.
Azula gave him a cold smile. "Are you lying?"
The boy shook his head and the princess looked at her nails.
"Interesting," she said, walking away to sit down in a chair.
"Why is it?"
"Because I just heard word that the warden in the Boiling Rock was sending guards into our military. That's never happened before. Considering he's Mai's uncle, it just seems a little convenient that it would happen now that we're back and you two are talking." Her eyes were analyzing and peering into the souls of the other two Fire Nation citizens. "The servants like to talk as well. They told me that you went out to visit a few days ago, Zuzu."
Zuko frowned at her. "What's wrong with me visiting? I'm not a prisoner here."
"And in theory, Mai's allowed to talk to her uncle, but we all know that this is about a lot more than you wanting fresh air and her enjoying family time."
The prince felt the blood draining from his face, but he tried to look calm. He did not want to drag Mai into this and put her in danger. Azula's favor was unreliable at best. She did not view the other girls as friends or playmates so much as play things. They amused her in the same way a fire ferret amused someone. Only, the difference between a pet owner and Azula was that the owner might have an emotional connection to the animal. She just might feel annoyed at having to find a new source of entertainment once the other children were gone.
"I thought that he could help the Fire Nation," Mai answered.
Zuko glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Her expression was calm–emotionless. Her tone was the same.
"When Zuko told me that more people would be drafted, I realized that using the guards could give the military better warriors and maintain the numbers of our population."
Azula looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze. Mai was convincing, but it was in part due to her telling the truth. She truly wanted to save the lives of their people. If it was also to spite their cruel new leader, that was irrelevant. Bored, the princess turned her attention to Ty Lee.
"Show me some of the new acrobatic tricks you've learned," she instructed.
Nodding, the girl started to demonstrate. Mai silently released the breath that she held and watched as her friend executed the move. She could tell that Ty Lee was nervous. The girl's arms never trembled during handstands, but there was a slight tremor in her movements. Mai disliked how Azula could do that to them. She could turn Ty Lee into a ball of stress, make Zuko ashen-faced, and could make Mai need to ignore irritating emotions that were stronger than what she preferred to show. Few people frightened Mai, but the Fire Lord and the princess both did. Some of the reason was because though the young noble could have a cold look in her eyes, theirs held no love in them at all, not even hidden.
The three stayed careful with their speech around Azula and soon, it was time for the two girls to return home. When they were out of view, Ty Lee hugged her friend and they rode away from the palace.
"What if she thinks we're traitors?" she asked fearfully.
"We haven't done anything wrong," Mai stated, certain.
"But what if she thinks we have?"
The other girl had no answer for her. They rode in mild silence until Ty Lee was dropped off at her home. Mai was next and she went to the entrance of her home. The house was silent as usual.
"Mai," her father called.
The man sounded tense.
"Yes, Father," Mai answered, going to where his voice indicated he was.
The girl saw him standing by her mother. They both had frowns on their faces, but they looked equally scared.
"Someone came by while you were gone," the father informed her. "He said that guards from the Boiling Rock were being sent to the military."
Mai remained quiet, knowing that she was not yet meant to speak.
"He was upset," her mother said worriedly. "He said that the Fire Lord did not appreciate the implication that he wasn't building the military in the strongest manner possible."
The man's taut face began to have its expression change to a glare. "They are looking more closely at your uncle now. If he does anything else so audacious, he'll be removed from his position." He took a deep breath even though it did not calm him down. "I know that he'll never admit this, but it was because of you, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Mai answered quietly.
"Why would you try to disrespect the Fire Lord?"
"I didn't want to do that. I didn't want him to send anyone who's not meant to be a soldier to war."
"That isn't your decision. The Fire Lord will run the nation as he sees fit. You will not do something like this again, am I understood?"
Mai began to frown.
"Do not frown at me, young lady."
"Our nation is going to be in danger," the girl argued.
"The Fire Nation will be fine. We will not be fine if we lose the favor of the royal family."
"But it won't matter if we're all killed in the war–"
Mai lifted a hand to her cheek. The sting from the slap lingered on her skin as it turned red. Her parents had harsh expressions directed at her.
"We've worked hard to be considered respectable," the father said. "That work will not be undone by your self-righteousness. Now, go to your room."
The girl turned and went to her room, swallowing hard. She closed the door and took out her throwing stars. Mai needed to continue practicing with them. At the rate things were going, even she might be forced into the war soon. Mai did this while Iroh was keeping an eye on soldiers in Gaoling. There was a small group of them, each one looking like there was a sinister plot in mind. They stopped to discuss options, then decided on an inn. It was one that offered shelter to refugees of the war, but as numbers rose, their ability to stay secretive lowered. The soldiers lit their fists with fire, prepared to set the building aflame along with everyone inside. They moved to execute the blasts, but their fists got covered in earth, suffocating the flames. Before they could react, fire threatened to burn their backs and legs. Not knowing where the attack was coming from or the attackers, the soldiers fled. When they were gone, Iroh heard some laughter. He recognized it as belonging to the person he often noticed stopping soldiers as well, always just a little bit out of sight unless she wanted to be seen by the firebender.
"I could get used to them screaming like little babies," Toph said.
"I could as well," Iroh agreed, chuckling.
The soldiers never learned. For nearly the full duration of Iroh's stay in the city, he had been secretly stopping them from hurting people. For even longer, Toph had been doing that.
"Now that our work here is done, I am going to get some tea. Would you like some as well?"
"That sounds good to me."
Iroh bought them some tea and they sat down to enjoy the beverage.
"My parents would probably pass out if they ever saw me earthbending more than a pebble at a time," Toph said, taking a sip.
"Do you think you'll ever tell them?"
"I doubt it. There's not really a reason to."
Iroh's brows furrowed. "I hope that you can find people who you would feel comfortable being yourself around."
"It doesn't sound bad, but I'll manage if I never get that." Toph paused. "What about you? You never talk about your family. They must be pretty bad if they turned you against your whole nation."
"I'm not necessarily against it and they are not all bad," Iroh said, looking down at the cup. "In fact, I miss some of them very much."
"Then, why are you still here? Not that I'm complaining about having more help with taking down the soldiers."
The firebender paused, thinking over the question. "I'm not ready."
"How come?"
"I lost my son recently. I still have my nephew, but I want to find a better balance within myself before I am there with him."
Toph leaned back in her chair. "Does your nephew like you?"
"I believe he does."
"Then, I doubt he'll care if your 'balance' is perfect or anything like that. He lost a cousin. He probably misses you both like you miss both of them. The weird thing is that the two of you don't need to miss each other because you're actually alive."
Again, Iroh became silent. Toph's lackadaisical expression became warmer and she leaned forward slightly.
"Things are getting more dangerous. By the time you think you're ready, it might be too late."
Through the earth, Toph sensed her parents walking towards them. She quickly finished the drink.
"Thanks for the tea, Iroh. I have to go." She stood up from the chair. "I really think you should too."
Speedily, the girl headed off so that she would not be seen. Iroh thought over her words, holding the teacup between his palms. Maybe she was right. He wanted to help his nephew. Even if he could no longer do as much as he could as Fire Lord, surely, he would be able to do more when he was in his presence than while in the Earth Kingdom. It was time for his solitary mourning period to come to an end. Iroh still had family who needed him.
While the firebender made his decision, the firebenders in the Northern Water Tribe were headed to the center with Chief Arnook. Zhao led the way, his head held high and his smile cruel and sickening. All of the warriors knew better than to attack. If they did anything, their chief would be killed in front of them. The admiral stopped when he spotted a fearful member of the tribe.
"Where's the royal palace?"
The young woman's eyes moved to Arnook, asking for his order. With a slight nod of his head, the chief told her to provide the information. Zhao continued to lead the group deeper into the tribe, excitement filling his body. This only increased as he saw the large palace. With each step he ascended, Zhao felt more powerful. This came to a climax when he found the throne and sat. He had done well and completed most of his mission. If he could finish the rest, the Fire Lord might deem him worthy of having that throne. He could already imagine himself leading the savages in the North as their emperor. Seeing the Fire Nation man where their chief sat, more of the people gathered. Zhao waited until there was a large enough crowd before he spoke.
"We claim this land for Fire Lord Ozai, leader of the Fire Nation," he announced. "This is not the first nation we have conquered and it won't be the last." His smile returned to his face, filled with even more malice. "But today will be the last for your former chief. By dawn tomorrow, he will be publicly executed."
An uproar began in the tribe as the people heard this. Some of the warriors moved forward to fight, but the soldiers blasted fire at their heads and feet. This left nowhere to go to avoid being burned and some pained yells filled the air.
"There's no reason to be worried about losing him," Zhao assured them. "By noon, you'll all be reunited."