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.

39. Episode 19: Crossroad of Worlds Part 1

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

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

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

But I believe Aang can save this one.

---

Avatar: The Last Firebender

Based on Distorted Reality by Ogro

Written by Carrotine Clara

---

Book 2: Earth

Episode 19

Crossroad of Worlds Part 1:

Earth crumbles

---

Act I. – Reunited

---

A glimmer of morning penetrates her tent. The gleam of sunlight kisses her skin in a kind but firm sensation. Azula enjoys this very much as a firebender. She's also reminded of Kenora's soft touch, a fact she enjoys even more. That's when the raven-haired girl snaps her eyes open again.

AZULA: I dreamt about her.

Ty Lee stops her motion, gently removing the brush from Azula's gorgeous mane.

TY LEE: About Kenora?

Azula nods quietly. The acrobat merely guessed, though her intuition was spot-on. With a supportive smirk she continues doing her friend's arguably very short hair.

TY LEE: Wanna tell me about it?

The firebender scoffs a little.

AZULA: Sure. It wasn't... that kind of dream. I drowned in a river. I think it was the one I actually drowned in, back in that swamp? She saved me.

She lets the memory play out a little more, although it's fuzzy at best, as it was just a dream.

AZULA: Kenora was acting insane. Dragging me all over the place, telling me to hide and such. Told me she was keeping me save.

While her true feelings on the waterbender have not changed, the acrobat still tries her best to be supportive of the couple. If only for Azula's sake.

TY LEE: That... doesn't sound too far off from the real Kenora.

Azula chuckles. What Ty Lee meant as a slightly concerning comment only makes the raven-haired girl smile. She then frowns again.

TY LEE: There. All done.

While her growth is immaculate, the girl is still ultimately rocking very short hair, much to her dislike and to the headpiece's misfortune, as the item is currently serving as a dust collector. The airbender at least managed to come up with some kind of nice cut back in Goldmouth - with her bangs having been split down the middle hanging from both sides in an arc.

A shudder creeps down Ty Lee as she watches her friend get up.

TY LEE: Azula-

AZULA: The leg is injured, not missing.

She says this through slightly grinned teeth, the pain from her gash still immobilizing her somewhat, forcing her to walk with a limp.

AZULA: I'm fine.

Absolutely unconvincing. The firebender reaches her destination, kneeling down at a part of the tent harvesting all of Kenora's stuff that the others eventually snuck in from the cave. As the girl admires the belongings, her right hand instinctively grabs onto the necklace that she now calls her own. Clearly sensing the distress within her friend, Ty Lee gets up with her arms crossed.

TY LEE: Honey, listen... don't beat yourself over this. She's probably fine.

AZULA: She hasn't come back yet. It's been two whole days now. Plus tonight.

TY LEE: We're talking about Kenora. The girl is... a little mad.

This gets her a bit of a harsh glare from the firebender.

TY LEE: Sorry. But you know how I mean it, right? She's incredibly driven, to the point where she was hunting us all over the world. If Kenora put it to her mind that she'll come back to you, then she will. I promise.

One hand on the raven-haired girl's shoulder later and her inner turmoil is quenched a tiny bit.

AZULA: You're right.

With a pained sigh, she gets back up.

AZULA: I'll still be worried, obviously. She might've gotten hurt or captured or... worse. But... it's Kenora. She promised to come back to me.

Finally, Azula turns around, hand still firmly on her necklace.

AZULA: She will. I'd do the same for her.

This gets Ty Lee to respond with an earnest smile.

AZULA: Let's go grab breakfast with the other dorks. I'm sure they've messed up something without us.

---

Seated on a crate and with the lemur at his feet, Sokka and the creature both engage in eating, though one might call it stuffing. Across from him, a worried frown finally sits down, the boy on which it is plastered letting out a sigh.

SOKKA (with a full mouth): No sign of her?

Zuko shakes his head. Something about camp today seems off in general, though his focus was on something else entirely.

ZUKO: We need to apologize to Bandit. I think... she might think we kicked her out of Team Avatar.

The prince finally swallows. Beneath him, Sabachi lets out a hearty burp.

SOKKA: I don't think she thought that. She's pretty smart for someone so young.

He takes another spoon of sludge before continuing.

SOKKA (with a full mouth): But we were kind of mean to her. It's understandable that she'd want some time off.

Zuko crosses his arms, showing zero interest in his own breakfast.

ZUKO: We weren't mean to her. Azula was-

SOKKA: And we didn't stop her. We allowed her to. That's just the most recent one. We tend to ignore her a lot, don't you think?

Another bite is accompanied by a cartoonish munching sound. Soaked in shame, Zuko uncrosses his arms again.

ZUKO: I guess we do tend to do that sometimes...

A jolly chirp from Sabachi announces the arrival of someone else. The boy turns around as Sokka almost chokes on his food.

ZUKO: AZULA!

He storms the two, immediately latching onto the firebender girl, who reciprocates with slight discomfort, before the boy lets go again, briefly smooching his girlfriend next to them.

ZUKO: I thought you weren't ready to go out yet.

AZULA: Oh, hog monkeys. It's only a gaping cut across my leg that was done to remove an evil spirit blob. Nothing major.

Her sarcasm breaks his stern demeanor as he launches another hug, this time Ty Lee and even Sabachi joining in.

Now only Sokka remains removed. The boy has managed avoiding asphyxiation, standing a tad bit removed with a bittersweet smile.

AZULA: What are you doing?

Her harsh words cut him like knives.

SOKKA: Me? Oh, I was just-

AZULA: We're doing a group-hug, dingus. Come and join now.

With that weight dropping from his heart, the prince practically runs towards the other three (plus lemur), partaking in their exchange of comradery and love.

AZULA: Alright. Enough of that.

Everyone separates except the couple, Azula taking a bit longer than the others to reach her crate-based seating option.

SOKKA: Do you want me to get a bowl for you?

AZULA: No thanks. I'd like to keep at least some of my independence while I'm on sabbatical.

She grabs an empty bowl and makes the perilous journey towards a community pot filled with some kind of... stew... thing? Azula is unsure and unwilling to ask.

AZULA (mumbling to herself): At least it's free.

While she grabs the ladle and scoops in some hot sludge, she absentmindedly listens in on some small talk between the random groups of Earth Kingdom soldiers surrounding them.

She freezes in her tracks as she hears someone utter the word "waterbender girl".

SOLDIER 1: Really? A waterbender girl?

Azula drops the ladle back inside with a splash, her head quickly trying to align in the correct direction, like a compass needle. It eventually, does exactly that.

SOLDIER 2: Yeah, my cousin is LF. Says some of their guys caught this waterbender girl in the woods last night.

SOLDIER 1: What do you mean "their guys"?

Azula takes a few more steps closer, her heart pounding alongside her injured leg.

SOLDIER 2: Those kids that call themselves "Vulture Clan". They did it. They got her locked up at the edge of camp. Apparently it's a nightmare to keep a waterbender as a prisoner.

SOLDIER 1: I'd think so. Just surprised that it's a girl waterbender. Didn't think those were real.

SOLDIER 2: This one is. Cousin Lu says she looks like a pirate. So maybe that's why.

The firebender halts, the strength leaving her right hand as her breakfast bowl simply drops into the dirt.

---

The first thing piercing Yue's eyes as her blindfolds are removed is a drowning, green light emitted by crystals. She looks around hectically, trying to pick up as many details from her environment as she can, one of the few lessons taught to her by Mai during her pajama phase. It's her, the three men that captured her, all dressed like earthbenders or such, one holding a book, hers to be exact. The newest rendition of "The Adventures of Noatak", one in which the swashbuckling hero travels to the Earth Kingdom in order to rescue a former flame of his, despite how the dame in question has stated that she has no feelings for the man. He went regardless. Yue hasn't finished it yet, so who knows if his efforts are successful.

The four are standing on a round platform appearing to grow downwards at a slow pace, an evenly paced number of light crystals in the wall drenching them all in an obnoxious green color. Two of the men appear to be doing the actual lifting, or, lowering, while the largest of them is skimming the Noatak novel with curious eyes. He finally shuts it, his sharp gaze wandering over to her with precision right after. With him approaching, Yue readies herself. She might be tied up, but none of the men bothered to search a frail little princess for any hidden throwing weapons.

With a smirk, Vaas removes the piece of cloth preventing her from speaking. She thanks him with the meanest look the girl can conjure.

VAAS: No need to have 'er restrained that much. No' loike she can scream for help, or anythin'.

As he walks back into his spot in the middle, she keeps her calm and her angry expression. The earthbender meanwhile taps the cover of her novel with his right index finger.

VAAS: Really intrestin' tha' one. Did'n' know that the Troibe lets little dolls read loike that.

He snaps it open again at a random page, clearing his throat.

VAAS: "Cutting the ropes in a swift motion, the mechanism allows him to shoot upwards, avoiding any incoming goons while they're hopelessly in chaos. As Noatak swings across the docks, explosions go off beneath him in an almost rhythmic pattern, the cargo of his enemies used against them as he makes his daring escape, the wind flapping in his hair as he thinks of his love waiting for him."

Vaas snaps the novel for a second time.

VAAS: Is a bi' cheesy, but I loike it. Again, impressed that they're lettin' girls read it.

The man turns the item around, reading the cover-

YUE: We're a lot smarter than we look.

The princess makes her best attempt at trying to sound like Mai, her voice a smooth blend of cool and cold. This causes Vaas to turn towards her again, another creepy smirk growing on his visage.

VAAS: Oi. So she can talk.

Yue can't make out if he's enjoying his power over her or genuinely trying to appear as sympathetic. She decides to remain stern regardless.

YUE: Where are you taking me?

VAAS: Well, I s'ppose you being smart and all, you're able to make out that we're goin' down.

Yue eyes him sharply, her mouth forming a thin line in between her every sentence.

YUE: You're not here to kill me.

VAAS: Correct. No use in that. Even when I despoise the royal toypes, I go' a thing against harmin' defenseless children.

Letting her simmer for a second, the girl puts two and two together on her own.

YUE: You're using me. I'm a hostage. For... the Tribe?

The other two earthbenders shoving down rock exchange brief looks of concern. Vaas reacts with the polar opposite.

VAAS: Bloo'y brilliant. You are a smar' one.

Her fierce glare returning, Vaas only appears more impressed.

VAAS: You do realize wha' tha' means though, roight? You're goin' home soon.

This is what finally shatters her emotional wall, utter despair creeping onto her features instead.

YUE: What...

VAAS: I go' somethin' planned. Somethin' big. Need to be on good terms with the Troibe for that. One of the stipulations is your safe return back home. Crown Princess herself is coming to pick you up in a few days. Oi think. Timetable isn't set precoisely.

All these words and their meaning make her entire body shift in between cramping up and feeling soft like jelly. Her mind goes to Shahar immediately, Mai as well, but obviously the smart, elegant, brilliant earthbender girl is her first instinct. Is she going to lose her now? After all this time? And not even at her own choice, but once again it is the world around her that is making big decisions for her?

Is this really all that life has to offer for a princess? Perhaps the brave women engaging in swashbuckling and heroics only do exist on the page.

VAAS: Boy the way - what's tha'?

Distracting her inner turmoil, he holds up the little tin inhaler they took from her earlier. This is when an idea starts to form within Yue, her stern expression returning alongside her determination.

---

With all of the Vultures chatting and preparing to leave for... something, it is only Bandit who can sense the arrival of someone. She chooses not to speak up, leading to Jet only learning of Azula's arrival when it is too late.

JET: Hey, it's my favorite firebender. I heard about your leg. How-

Death carried with her stare, the limping girl shoves him against the tent pole, a blue fire in her palm merely inches away from his nervous face. The boy is even forced to drop his wheat straw as it catches fire.

AZULA (cold): Where. Is. She.

JET: What?

Longshot attempts to intervene, but is quick to back off once Azula showcases her bending.

AZULA: NO ONE STEP ANY CLOSER!

Not having been informed of her plans, Azula's friends only now arrive. Sokka appears to be the only one catching on to the fact that all of the Vultures react... ready, gearing up as if... expecting them.

ZUKO: What's going on? What did you do, Jet?

JET: Me?! Your sister is the one to barge in here-

AZULA (angry): STOP WASTING MY TIME! WHERE IS KENORA?!

Bandit's eyes flash up, the earthbender remaining a bit removed with her arms crossed and with a wheat straw of her own.

JET: Who!? What she she talking about?!

AZULA (angry): I overheard some soldiers earlier. You guys captured her in the forest last night - and you DIDN'T bother telling us!

JET: I don't know what you're talking about! She's crazy!

TY LEE (cold): He's lying.

As the airbender gives her two cents, tensions seem to rise rapidly. Once again it is only Sokka who catches some details, like Longshot's new quiver, or a strange device around Teo's arm.

BANDIT: Yes, we caught her.

As Bandit makes herself heard, a layer of tension seems to melt down a bit. It is only now that Azula lets go of Jet, even if it's just because she's directing her anger towards the girl now.

AZULA (anger): And you didn't bother telling us this?

Bandit shrugs, a glare of her own forming.

BANDIT (angry): What? I thought Team Avatar kicked me out. I don't need to tell you anything.

ZUKO: We didn't kick you out, Bandit! We wanted to apologize!

Hearing this seems to make her a bit uneasy. The look cast onto her by Jet right after isn't helping either.

JET: You told us you don't know her.

Bandit is forced to sigh before responding.

BANDIT: I don't trust her. And I do think that she might be a spy. But... yes, I knew her.

This little mini-betrayal seems to trigger something deep inside Jet.

SMELLERBEE: What's so important about that little waterbender girl regardless?

Azula's arms are crossed as her breaths become louder.

SMELLERBEE: Why does she wanna see her so badly?

AZULA: Because she's my girlfriend.

Shocked reactions follow from everyone but Ty Lee, who only seems nervous at this finally being uttered. Bandit snorts before Jet approaches the firebender, who seems smaller and frailer than ever.

JET: So... in cahoots with the enemy then?

Once again, distrust and an aura of violence spreads throughout the tent, Azula and Jet engaging in an intense stare-off.

BANDIT: Just take her to her.

Her matt tone and averted eyes seem to give Jet even more stress. Bandit shares a look with Azula that reeks of honest sympathy, even despite everything.

BANDIT: Come on. Let's not be like this.

A few seconds of silence pass before Jet finally sighs.

---

A bone-dry cube at the edge of camp, situated on the parts of the canyon lacking any vegetation. The only source of light are a few holes in the wall, not even big enough to fit a hand through.

Kenora sulks in her misery and in darkness on an elevated stone bench, inhumanely meant as a sleeping option. She has failed. Katara could've killed every single one of them in the time she was rotting in here. She failed Azula. After everything...

With two consecutive rumbling sounds, the door opens, then closes.

KENORA (matt): I answered all your questions. Go away.

The girl refuses to turn her head.

AZULA (emotional): I don't think you have.

The waterbender snaps towards her in an instant. The firebender is limping, on the verge of tears and with a smile of relief carried on her face.

AZULA (teary): I still have a few I wanted to ask.

The waterworks breaking on the Pirate Princess, Kenora leaps towards her in an instant, the two reunited like puzzle pieces refusing to separate for a very long time. As Kenora showers the girl in cheek pecks, Azula finally allows herself to cry as well. A long, soft kiss is shared. Then, Kenora breaks down sobbing, leaning her head on the firebender's shoulder.

KENORA (sobbing): I never should've left. I should've stayed with you. I'm so stupid.

Azula gently strokes her back as she gives her a peck on the cheek as well.

KENORA (sobbing): I'm so sorry I took so long to get to you.

Finally, Kenora moves her head back, allowing the girls to gaze into each other's eyes, honey meeting the ocean.

AZULA (teary): You're here now. That's all that matters.

Calming her somewhat, Azula and Kenora touch foreheads, both their hands holding onto each other's cheeks. A moment that feels divine, eternal. Like all the pain and loss and bad stuff that they went through is no more.

They are complete for they have one another.

---

The platform stops and the rock walls are raised, Yue frantically scanning her new environment in the process. She has figured out that they're somewhere in the sewers, and that whoever Vaas is working for, plus the Water Tribe, has access to it. As they enter this massive hall, it becomes clear what it was that Shahar and Mai were so desperately looking for these past few weeks.

The two earthbenders close the wall again, only Vaas and Yue entering this next part.

VAAS: 'ello, mates!

The workers clad in blue turn to the man, their faces expressing distrust and dislike. Apparently they're in a cargo bay area. On one side, several water slides transport crates into the room, wherein it is sorted, evaluated, and cleared for further distribution somewhere into the city. There's even a metal crane dangling from the ceiling, making the princess question just how long it took to get all of this running and operational.

Then, three men appear. Soldiers, two with bone clubs, one with water pouches. The waterbender doesn't bother hiding his disgust from Vaas.

VAAS: Roight. You must be some kind of militry man in charge then, ay?

WATERBENDER: Right. Is that really her?

He carefully studies Yue, who has just finished calculating her escape route. Vaas picks up on this curiously.

VAAS: Oi believe so. Would be a bi' embarassin' if Oi hadn't found the roight princess up there.

The waterbender grunts, ignoring his earthbending counterpart. Yue doesn't recognize the man, which doesn't mean much, though she suspects that a northerner would've reacted quite differently to seeing her.

WATERBENDER: Almost can't tell with that hideous outfit. You don't look like a princess at all.

Referring to her plain green shirt and her, Sedni forbid, blue pants, Yue actually stands her ground and frowns back at the man.

YUE: And you have no idea how to properly address a princess.

The waterbender finally shudders. Vaas smirks.

WATERBENDER: Alright. Take off her cuffs. She'll come with us.

Her cue. As soon as the shackles are off Yue's breaths turn gasps so suddenly that it throws everyone off. Everyone but Vaas. As the princess collapses, the mistrustful military man howls at him.

WATERBENDER: What have you done to her?!

VAAS: Nothin'. She said she had a breathin' problem earlier. Here.

He takes out the tin inhaler, the waterbender snatching it up right away.

WATERBENDER: Somebody bring me a torch!

Every second that passes is being counted carefully. In her brief time taught by Mai, there was major element that the Crescent Warrior spoke of more than any other...

WATERBENDER: Hold on, princess!

As he heats the contents, Yue nods, keeping up the breathing act. Sensing something incoming, Vaas takes a precautionary step back.

Oh, what was the main thing Mai taught her about?

Yue smirks.

Timing.

As soon as the liquid inside her inhaler reaches its boiling point, Yue, with a fast smack, shoves it against the waterbender, burning his visage as the man howls in pain. His two lackey soldiers are baffled and powerless at first, then one is quickly pinned against a crate behind his person, a few of the knives missing or launching into non-lethal parts of his body. The other man finally draws his club, dropping it the second a sharp shuriken cuts his wrist, then his legs, causing him to stumble as Yue throws it against a mechanism situated at the end of the crate slide system. After picking up the torch and her inhaler, a few of the workers rush to her, though quickly stop when a crate entering the room launches from the slide, crashing into other cargo, creating dust and noise and chaos. The mechanism she aimed at earlier would've prevented this, though now, as it is turned off, another, larger crate does much the same, even slamming into some of the workers as they run around hectic and disjointed, barely paying attention to Yue anymore.

Vaas smirks in a safe corner.

The girl runs over to the crane, grabbing onto the metal chain as she carefully aims another knife at a box floating in the air, a simple rope holding it in place acting as counterweight. She tosses her first knife, missing. She squeaks nervously. In the distance, while the other men attempt to contain the ongoing destruction caused by her, the waterbender has gotten back up again.

WATERBENDER: Get the princess, now!

Footsteps rush towards her. She takes a calming breath, trying to relax her system as she tosses another blade. Direct hit - the crate smashes to the ground as she holds on to the metal chain, getting pulled up rapidly just as one of the soldiers was about to grab her. To make sure her escape succeeds, she left the torch from earlier by a stack of boxes, the fire spreading as the men only now come to realize what is happening.

As Yue swings across the room, explosions go off beneath her in an almost rhythmic pattern, the cargo of her enemies used against them as she makes her daring escape. The wind flaps in her hair as she thinks of Shahar.

---

Aang rips open the flaps of his tent excitedly. He can't wait to see his friends again, tell them of his spiritual journey. For once in a very long time he is genuinely excited and optimistic.

He also can't wait to see Azula again. She deserves to finally hear how he truly feels.

Unfortunately, it is empty. No Sokka. He goes to check on Zuko's and Ty Lee's tent next, with similar results. Then, Azula and Bandit. Negative.

AANG: Huh. Where is everybody?

SOLDIER: Uh, excuse me?

In the tightly organized camp, a massive bison isn't exactly... parked right. A young soldier comically slides next to Appa, his fur stuck in his face as the beast growls.

AANG: Sorry. I know I'm not supposed to keep Appa here. I'm just looking for my friends. You... don't happen to know where they are, do you?

The soldier reacts as if Aang is deliberately trying to provoke him.

SOLDIER: No? I don't know who your friends are. I don't even know your name, Avatar.

His chipper side resurfaces, talking to this stranger with the warm compassion he had back in the day.

AANG: Well... I'm Aang. Nice to meet you.

SOLDIER: Okay. Nice, I guess? Now please look for your friends elsewhere, Aang.

Leaving the airbender with this, the boy naively turns to his animal companion.

AANG: I guess we could fly over the woods. Maybe they're practicing Bendi-Go again.

His creature burps affirmatively.

---

The wind soaring across his scalp, Aang flies over the training spot with disappointment.

AANG: I can't see them down there. Any luck with you, buddy?

Joyfully petting Appa's forehead, the bison growls.

AANG: Guess that means no. Maybe we have to-

His voice and chipper tone subsides, having finally spotted something. A strange, blue figure dashes across the ground, running into some kind of cave. With hesitation, Aang lands his ride a bit removed, hidden in trees as he stares at the vine-covered entrance.

AANG (quietly): Stay here for a bit, will ya?

His answer is a worried nudge.

---

Hands firmly clasping his staff and with a fierce bending stance, the jolly airbender boy is switched out for the war-torn Avatar.

AANG: Who's here? Hello?

Part of the mossy cave is covered in shadow. Finally, the figure turns around, walking towards the light.

AANG: Don't come any closer! I'm warning you-

KATARA: Please don't hurt me! I come as a friend!

As soon as the sensation of her voice reaches him, his stance breaks apart, the boy going through a whole array of emotions within the span of a few short seconds.

Katara finally emerges into the light. Her choice of clothing is simple, as is her hairdo. She smiles humbly, appearing frightened, yet still endlessly hopeful that Aang will back down. And so he does.

AANG: K... Katara?

Her smile turns more open and joyous, as if the girl has been waiting to see him for months.

KATARA: Nice to finally meet you.

Aang remains completely and utterly speechless.

Good. He's totally yours. Have fun, princess.

KATARA: I was hoping we could talk.

---

MAI: Why not?

Shahar grunts for the sixth or seventh time as the two girls strive aimlessly through yet another corridor. The dark green stones of the lower levels have meanwhile been replaced by a beige tone.

SHAHAR: I can't just... bend a hole straight up! It's impossible to maintain and entirely reckless. I could bring down a hospital on accident!

Mai shrugs with her arms crossed.

MAI: They said bending metal was impossible and you invented that just a few hours ago.

The kimono girl sighs.

SHAHAR: Sure. But I didn't bend metal support beams from beneath anything - LIKE A HOSPITAL!

MAI: No one said anything about hospital!

SHAHAR: That is not the POINT-

YUE (distant echo): Shahar!

The two girls stop their bickering as they stare down a corridor leading them Bendigo knows where.

SHAHAR: I think that Dai Li agent hit my head harder than I thought because that sounded like Yue-

MAI: YUE!

A few seconds pass. The Crescent Warrior holds back a grunt from the swollen part of her pelvis that was hit earlier.

YUE (distant echo): Mai!

This is when the earthbender girl entirely forgets her own injuries.

SHAHAR: YUE!

YUE (echo): Sha-HAR!

SHAHAR (teary): Yue!

Neither wastes any more time rushing down that hall, taking some more turns before a certain princess pops out from a shorter hall to their right, almost bumping into Mai.

YUE (teary): Shahar! Mai!

SHAHAR (teary): Yue!

As the pair reunites, they share a hug first, then a kiss, then another, even longer hug. Yue has in the meantime found a way to make a practical ponytail, a single bunch of strains hanging down the side of her face.

MAI: How did you get here?

The knife girl receives a tight hug before she gets an answer. Behind her, Shahar is clearly on edge wanting to tell the girl what she promised to tell her earlier.

YUE: I was kidnapped by some... earthbenders. They work for the Tribe. They wanted to give me back to the Tribe for diplomatic reasons.

Mai's brow shots up uncharacteristically loud.

MAI: They wanted to send you home?

With clear hesitation, Yue turns towards her girlfriend, who gives off the impression like she is about to combust.

YUE: I... I don't want to. At least... not like this.

Despite being the earthbender of the two, Shahar reacts with far less sturdy as her girlfriend gently grabs her hands.

YUE: I want it to be my choice. I want to go after the war is over. And... I want you to go with me.

Mai waits this out patiently with her arms crossed and a soft smile. The kimono girl is meanwhile absolutely speechless.

SHAHAR: Y- yes. Yes, I will go with you. Wherever you want to.

With a thin film of tears, Yue lays her hand on Shahar's cheek, the girl putting her own on top.

YUE: Sedni, you're injured. Pretty badly.

A smoker's cough escapes her mouth in response.

SHAHAR: I've been worse.

As the princess lets go, she turns to Mai.

YUE: You too. Both of you need a hospital right away.

Oh, as if the Crescent Warrior could hold herself back from this one.

MAI (smirking at Shahar): Maybe will find one if we dig straight up.

The earthbender reciprocates with a glare-

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Within the span of a few seconds, the corridor Mai and Shahar came from, the one Yue came from, and a third one are shut off by massive earthen walls shooting up from below. All the girls get ready.

SHAHAR: Wasn't me.

MAI: I figured.

VAAS: Sorry, that one's on me.

With the creepily relaxed bravado of a street thug, the strange man walks around a corner from the only path not shut off. Yue flinches as she spots him.

MAI: Making a guess here that you're the earthbender that took Yue.

VAAS: And the one workin' with the Wa'er Troibe that you girls have been huntin' for the past few months, Bob's your uncle.

Shahar's eyes flash up big time. Even Mai shows a reaction.

MAI: Vaas.

SHAHAR: You're the leader the of the Liberation Forces?

His bare feet loudly tap on the stone as he approaches, hands in his pockets.

VAAS: S'ppose you girls did'n' ge' the memo. Oi was workin' with ol' Bumi down south to libera'e Gaoling.

Mai, and for some reason Yue both look to a nervous Shahar.

SHAHAR: That... might've been mentioned.

MAI: We lost our position a while ago. Might not be up to date.

VAAS: Roight. So Oi've heard. Suppose you two moight share moy sentiments on the king then.

The kimono girl scoffs in defiance.

SHAHAR: We haven't sunken that low yet.

MAI: Wait, but if you hate the King, why did you work with one of his Generals?

This is when Vaas finally comes to a hold.

VAAS: Means to an end. Same goes for working with the Troibe.

YUE: And what is that spectacular "end" that you're chasing?

Expecting more aloof sarcasm, the man instead takes on a serious frown.

VAAS: Ending the war.

Now none of the girls knows what's going on. And so, Vaas continues monologuing, pacing left and right as he does.

VAAS: Oi was captured a whoile back. Figured Oi was done fo'. Then, the Crown Princess approached me with a proposal.

Yue reacts with the most shock.

VAAS: They set me free. Oi was to overthrow the Earth King with their help and in return for some ceded territory, we would soign a peace trea'y. The war would be over.

SHAHAR: We would lose! Sacrifice everything just so they attack us again in ten years or so!

MAI: The Fire Nation would continue to be occupied!

YUE: The Tribe wouldn't stop at that. They're using you.

In response to all this, the man simply shrugs.

VAAS: Maybey. Doesn't ma''er. What ma''ers is that we get to build a be''er cuntry. One in which the corrupt rule of that inbred bloke isn't carving up socie'y and making him and his friends richer. We'd be buildin' a be''er socie'y. One in which we're all equal, all happy. No unelected toyrants, no injustice. Give it a few years and the people of the Wa'er Troibe and Foire Naytion will roise up and do the same. Then, borders won't be a thing anymore regar'less.

As his rant is over, he can already tell where this is going.

Calmly, he removes his hat and glasses.

MAI: Sounds very idealistic.

VAAS: Go''a start somewhere, roight? Oi mean, we go' an earthbende', a Foire Naytion warrior, and a Wa'er Troibe princess - all working toge'her. That's the future Oi invision.

The girls all get ready, even an uneasy Yue. Vaas takes off his jacket next, showcasing just how buff he really is underneath all that. Only his white tanktop remains.

VAAS: This is the way to do i'. And Oi'd hate to foight you girls. Goes against my ususal mantra.

Mai scoffs as Vaas takes on a bending pose.

MAI: We all break the rules sometimes.

In response, and with a fat smirk, Vaas scoffs right back at her.

Yue is the first to attack, launching a series of hidden darts that Vaas easily blocks with his impressive wrist protectors. He dodge-rolls next as giant square pillars shoot from the right, then the left, right again - the final one tries to squash him from above as he holds up his arm, blocking it. Mai charges him with a series of shuriken. Vaas smirks once again.

He drops the pillar himself after stepping back, blocking the incoming shuriken with it. Then a simple motion crushes the rock, shattering it into tiny bits that he lets fly at Shahar and Yue, the former raising a square block to protect them, to some success.

Mai avoided the attack via wall jumping around the man, launching another knife, dodged, before sliding under him and landing a mean cut at his shin. Vaas grunts before catching her attempted stab. She can wrangle herself free, yet is catapulted backwards as Vaas smashes the entire ground with a few janky swings from his arms.

Another pillar attempts to crush him - yet he smashes it with only one hand. Immediately after, a mean pile of stone smacks Yue in the side, smashing her against a wall.

SHAHAR: YUE!

Vaas doesn't play around - a number of complicated maneuvers later and a series of rocks floats around him, then towards Shahar, the girl turning them to dust before trying another rectangular pillar.

Her efforts are cut short as a dynamic kick moves up rock and crashes it into Shahar, bursting her through the wall to her right and into a room on a much lower level.

The girl looks around for a second, making the chamber out to be some kind of... whatever, it's filled with kettles and boilers and such. The walls are made from crimson brick and the biggest kettle on one side casts a deep red over her as Vaas lands in an impressive thud, stirring up some rock and dust.

VAAS: You're stoyle is intrestin'. Oi thought you were gonna use sandbendin' against me.

Despite her inner need to stay down, Shahar gets up regardless, her face bruised and her lip bleeding.

SHAHAR (in pain): I'm... full of surprises...

VAAS: Well, it don' ma''er. Your earthbenin' won' do you much good 'ere. Oi've studied Yu Dao stoyle, Si Wong stoyle, even dir'y tournament stoyle.

SHAHAR (pain): Well, then get ready to learn SHAHAR STYLE!

Powerful swings from her arm later and some of the metal pipes above suddenly screech and bend and break towards him. Vaas moves quickly, though does get hit by one metal part, burned pretty badly. Shahar next punches towards a boiler to her right, carefully moving it in Vaas' direction before punching again, shoving the object towards him. The man blocks the attack, a massive pillar shattering as the projectile is stopped in its track. The earthbending man gasps violently as he glares her down.

VAAS: No' bad.

Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!

Smoke bombs hail from above, Shahar's opponent temporarily blinded. Mai continues this for quite a while as Yue rushes towards her girlfriend.

YUE: Shahar!

A brief hug is exchanged.

SHAHAR: Yue! Are you hurt-

YUE: Listen, we don't have much time. If we want to stop this - you have to get back to the palace. Warn the King and Madame Tamao. Me and Mai will try to stop him for as long as we can.

SHAHAR: Absolutely not! I won't let you do this-

YUE: Shahar!

Heavy breathing from both. And some tears from the earthbender.

YUE: They'll listen to you. Go get help and come back.

SHAHAR (teary): Bu-

YUE: It's my choice, Shahar. Please. Just... for once in my life, let me make some kind important choice.

Now the waterworks break with the princess too. After a desperate kiss, Shahar takes a deep breath.

SHAHAR: I love you.

With that, the earthbender smashes into the wall next to her, beginning her ascent via digging a hole upwards, no matter where she might end up. As Yue looks after her, she can feel a deep sense of both fear and pride.

Then, a rock smacks against her stomach, launching her across the room.

With anger in his heart and violence in his eyes, Vaas remerges from the smoke.

VAAS (angry): You girls got me good. Especially you, princess.

As he walks closer towards Yue, index finger pointing at her, the girl desperately tries crawling backwards.

VAAS (angry): It seems Oi underestima'ed you three. You pack more of a punch than Oi-AAARRRGGGHHH!

He sinks to his knee for a moment, clasping his right wrist with his left hand, staring at it with pain and horror.

Stuck in the stone ground, one of Mai's knives. Next to it, his severed finger in a pool of blood. Yue stares behind him, Vaas getting back up.

Mai too emerges from smoke, both that of her bombs as well as the dark clouds burning inside the boilers. Her hair flaps as she takes out yet another set of throwing weapons.

MAI: If you're impressed by her, then you're gonna love me.

Vaas grunts, nay, straight up roars as he rips up the ground, Mai dodging skillfully as she hops from pipe to pipe. A shuriken Vaas dodges was actually meant to bounce off something behind him, flinging against a boiler before almost getting stuck on his shoulder, the man blocking it with a crude figure of earth, before using that same object as a punching bag, chunks of rock flying off at such an intense interval that Mai is forced to drop back below. She is now down to her last knife and her last resort - close combat.

Her attacks are fast and ruthless, punching and slicing with the ferocity of a firebender, Vaas able to nullify her blows with his wrist protectors or outright block them. He tries some counter punches, a sloppy right hook retaliated with the one attack that lands - a kick to the face. Sensing her upper hand, Mai finally launches the knife for his face-

The man grabs it. Sure, it cuts into his flesh and hurts like hell. But he can take it. A cold stare is the face that the Crescent Warrior meets at what feels like her final moment. Few things ever broke her facade. Vaas does.

Her emotional facade at first, then a quick, precise, and brutal jab knocks her backwards, blood streaming from her nose as she loses any sense of direction, or being.

A second jab, his bleeding hand covered in rock this time. It knocks her clean out, if not worse.

---

Act II. - Katara of the Water Tribes

---

Disassociating from her surroundings, Suki is completely and entirely focused on the work at hand - packing her things, of which there are not many, as their departure from Omashu is imminent. In the corner of her small little room stands a tall figure with crossed arms and a pout that expresses deep discomfort.

Finally, once her metal fan finishes off her trunk, the swordfighter turns to the patient athlete.

SUKI: You're just going to keep standing there, aren't you?

Akari scoffs with as much befuddlement as she can conjure.

AKARI: And you're going to go with her? After everything you told me?

A pinch of rebellion tingles inside Suki, yet is put out quite effectively.

SUKI: After everything I told you, you should be able to grasp why I'm going with her, Akari.

The girl slams her trunk shut as Akari sighs.

AKARI: Suki, whatever Katara was for you, that's gone now. This... dark spirit is in control now. She's using you. She's using the friendship you two had to make you do her bidding.

Clearly this hits a nerve, as Suki turns away from the airbender, staring out her room's window with her arms crossed.

Distant memories resurface. Happier times, her and Katara on vacation in the warm colonies. The howling of children. The crush she had for a while on Sokka, who seldom even acknowledged her existence.

The bright smile of the Crown Princess. Who would always listen, always hear her out on her pain and her struggles to adapt being a warden - who would always find the right words of compassion, comforting her and everyone when they most needed it.

Comparing this to the present, to Katara now, seems like night and day.

SUKI: She used to console me. Tell me what I needed to hear to feel better.

Finally, Suki turns back around, the otherwise brash athlete listening carefully.

SUKI: Now she just says what we need to hear to shut up. Go with whatever she wants us to do. Whatever... she wants me to do.

AKARI: If you're able to figure that out already, why aren't you leaving her?

Her voice reeks of a calm sense of sympathy that Suki has been missing dearly. The swordfighter hugs herself a bit more firm as the waterworks break.

SUKI (teary): We're not just friends. She's... everything I have. I'm nothing without her. We're... we're sisters.

A snivel later and Akari's hands both find their way onto Suki's shoulders.

AKARI: You're not no one. You're Suki of Kyoshi Island. The last Kyoshi Warrior.

In tears, the girl thinks to her past, to her family lost, and to the statue of an Avatar hauntingly glaring down at her.

SUKI (quivering): All of that is... it's so long ago.

Now Akari's hands wander up to Suki's face, firmly but gently holding up her friend's head despite all the pain trying to pull her down.

AKARI: And it's still a part of you. You think it makes you weak, but it makes you stronger. Makes you who you really are.

Somehow, may it be her hands or her words, but it gets Suki to stare back at her with a feeling that she's a bit more sure of herself.

Akari eventually takes off her hands, placing them on Suki's.

AKARI: If you want to go with Katara, then I'll come with you. I'll look out for you, make sure you're safe. I-

As Suki's features flare up more and more, Akari finally knows the right thing to say.

AKARI: I'll be your sister.

Suki lights up brighter than ever before, though she doesn't seem much surprised.

SUKI: I... I think you already are.

A profound sense of joy and purpose manifests as a smile on Akari.

AKARI: Your aura looks much healthier already.

SUKI: Aura?

The airbender scoffs a bit at herself.

AKARI: I can... sort of read them. Mom used to do it. It's how I could tell Katara was lying.

Trying to move away from that topic, Akari closes her eyes while taking a deep breath. Upon opening them again, Suki appears more than a little excited.

AKARI: Yours is green. A deep shade. Very pretty.

This is quite possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever said to Suki in years, at least the girl thinks so. Sorrow is what follows.

SUKI: We... can't stay with Katara, right? We'll have to leave her eventually.

Akari can clearly feel her sister's hands grasping tighter onto hers.

AKARI: I think that's probably for the best. We'll get help... somewhere. I promise we'll safe her.

Despite her uplifting statements, Suki breaks down sobbing all the more, sinking to the ground alongside her tears. The athlete follows, engulfing her in a strong hug, allowing the girl to fully rest against her back.

AKARI (quietly): It's okay. Don't push it away. Allow yourself to feel it. Even if it hurts.

And so, Suki of Kyoshi Island, rather than waiting till it's over, truly allows herself to feel the weight she was forced to carry on her shoulders since being taken away as a little girl.

---

AZULA: Hold still.

Kenora holds back her painful wince as Azula continues bandaging her injured fingers. Obviously the LF didn't allow her to have water to heal herself, so now the firebender girl is forced to act as doctor.

KENORA: So you had it twice?

Azula nods subtly, still focusing on her work.

AZULA: I assume it infected me back in that fortress. I didn't start hearing it until after Dibuang though.

KENORA: Dibuang?

AZULA: I said, hold still.

Her firm but caring tone gives Kenora mixed feelings.

KENORA: Sorry.

Obviously the raven-haired girl picks up on it.

AZULA: It's what we call the Golden City. But yeah. I got it out of me after we went into the Great Swamp. Then Katara probably infected me again when she cut my leg in Omashu.

Hearing all of this is rather concerning, making Kenora seriously question why Azula is able to remain so calm.

KENORA: But why does she want to infect you so badly?

A single sharp look and the waterbender tries holding still again. Azula now moves on to her second hand.

AZULA: Don't know. Maybe the first time was an accident. It felt more like she wanted to kill me. That hideous scar on my stomach would suggest that. Maybe she changed her mind after.

Kenora immediately focuses on the wrong detail.

KENORA: Is it really hideous? I thought I did a good job healing you.

The firebender's response is a rather flirtatious eye roll.

AZULA: You're only asking because you want me to take my shirt off.

Kenora quiets down as her cheeks flare up red.

AZULA: Maybe later.

Now the rest of her face takes on the same shade.

AZULA: But only if you hold. Still.

Immediately the color vanishes and Kenora remains practically frozen long enough for Azula to finish bandaging.

AZULA: There, all done. Soon we'll have matching finger scars.

As the waterbender reacts with a soft smile, Azula goes on to her next task - using a dry towel to clean Kenora's face, which does have a significant amount of shmutz on it.

KENORA: What's our next move?

Azula scoffs quietly.

AZULA: We are on our day off. Both of us are injured and still need to recover.

Wiping a strain of dirt from Kenora's chin down her neck gives the Pirate Princess a few tingles.

AZULA: I'll catch the others up on everything in a second. They can handle it from there.

Kenora reacts with a soft smile, making Azula blush for once.

AZULA: How did you get your fingers injured like that by the way?

The waterbender reacts with aloof shame.

KENORA: Um... well, there was this little girl, Katara wanted to slice her open, I... held the blade and saved her.

Surprisingly, Azula reacts with quite a critical frown.

AZULA: And you didn't use bending to stop it?

A sense of regret washes over her.

KENORA: Yeah... it was... in the heat of the moment. I don't know.

Expecting more criticism, the raven-haired girl merely smiles.

AZULA: Alright.

Kenora's face is now almost completely clean. Well, as much as you can make it without water.

KENORA: Did you use lightning in Omashu?

Azula briefly stops.

KENORA: Just that I... heard a loud bang. Thought it was you.

Somehow a very, very arrogant smirk is what makes Kenora flush with color once again.

AZULA: You betcha that was me.

Kenora giggles, turning Azula red all the same.

KENORA (blushing): I would've been toast if you did that during our last fight.

AZULA (blushing): Oh, absolutely. Consider yourself lucky.

The girl finally puts the now-dirty towel away with a content expression.

AZULA: Here we go. All cleaned up.

KENORA: Well, it was hard to-

Azula cuts her off quickly via pressing her lips against hers. Proceeding their separation, intense eye contact is only broken off when Kenora spots the nazar hanging around the firebender's neck.

KENORA: You kept my necklace.

The waterbender gently holds onto it.

AZULA: Yeah, the thing is, I was kind of thinking of holding onto it? If that's okay.

The turn tables as Kenora now gives Azula a flirtatious look, making her blush.

KENORA: Only because it looks really good on you.

The firebender desperately tries going back to a serious tone.

AZULA (blushing): Alright. I'll just quickly go and-

She is unable to move away, for someone is still holding onto her necklace. Pulling her in closer, the two girls exchange another passionate kiss before finally letting go. Kenora smiles like a dork when staring after a limping Azula.

AZULA (blushing): You're so kitschy, you know that?

---

TY LEE: So it is Katara.

A few feet away from Kenora's prison block (literally), everyone seems rather horrified at the news. Even Bandit is present, as she decided to accompany the gang for now, making Jet and the Vultures react rather uneasy.

Sokka is, naturally, the most shocked out of all of them.

AZULA: Yes. That... goo... Onryō... thing is in complete control of her. It's how she was able to do all these sneaky things while keeping up her appearance as a princess.

BANDIT: Are we sure this dark spirit is really controlling her? What if she is the one in charge?

Even more terrifying to consider.

AZULA: Doubt it. From my own short time with this lodger I can tell you that it very much likes to be in control of things. Still, Katara is incredibly dangerous.

Sokka quietly crosses his arms as Zuko puts a hand on his shoulder.

TY LEE: So, what's our next move?

Azula reacts, to everyone's further surprise, with quite apparent annoyance.

AZULA: Why do I have to come up with everything?

---

Despite being shut in and a bit away, Kenora can catch glimpses of the conversation in her cube.

---

ZUKO: I don't know. You're the idea gal. Your plans are always pretty good.

Azula scoffs with appropriate arrogance.

AZULA: I know. But I'm also here to tell you that I'm going to sit this one out. At least for today.

ZUKO: What?!

BANDIT: You think you can just walk away from this?

AZULA: I think, after having fought the Blue Spirit, almost getting taken over by evil spiritual goo, and having my girlfriend wrongfully imprisoned...

---

Kenora's eyes flare up briefly.

KENORA (to herself). "Girlfriend"?

---

AZULA: ...that I more than deserve some time off. I'm still injured, mind you.

With crossed arms, she looks to a collection of people who all seem very much incapable of making a decision on their own.

AZULA: Are you seriously telling me that if I take one day off, that none you can do Team Avatar stuff?

Thankfully Ty Lee has the brains to say something.

TY LEE: We'll be fine. You go ahead and rest for today.

Azula exhales with relief.

AZULA: Thank you.

She turns to Bandit next.

AZULA: Any chance you can ask your LF buddies to free Kenora? Since, you know, she's unequivocally fighting on our side?

The earthbender shrugs, turning the wheat straw in her mouth.

BANDIT: I can't promise anything. I bet if Aang can vouch for her they'll let her go.

As Azula limps back to Kenora's cell, she lets out a hearty grunt.

AZULA: Of course without the Avatar none of these buffoons will listen. Never mind the fact that we're all his loyal friends who are more than capable of doing things without him.

The others share some brief looks of concern, as they are genuinely clueless as to what they should do now.

---

With a loud earthbending thud, the door shuts close again. Kenora attempts to react as casual as possible, trying to hide the fact that she could hear in on parts of their conversation.

KENORA: So? How did it go?

AZULA: Ugh, I'm surrounded by idiots.

She limps over to the waterbender's bench, the imprisoned girl standing up as she approaches.

KENORA: Oh, oh-okay. What are you gonna do?

Azula finally reaches her, her brow dragged up as far as it can be. The firebender is only a teeny tiny bit taller than her counterpart.

AZULA: What am I gonna do?

A hint of fear rises inside Kenora, though is quenched effectively as the following happens:

First, Azula puts her hands on Kenora's shoulders, forcing her gently to sit down. Then, Azula kneels down over her, their faces inches away and with the firebender now significantly taller. Finally, Azula gives her a pretty intense kiss, the making-out continuing on like that for a few seconds. With her hands on Kenora's neck, she backs off again. Take a good guess what color their faces are.

AZULA (quietly, blushing): I was gonna do that for a while. Do you wanna join me?

The words having been taking right from Kenora's mouth, the waterbender can nearly nod. Needless to say, their off-day activity carries on.

---

Over the course of their conversation both Aang and Katara eventually sunk to the ground, both leaning against the stone slab in the relative center of the cave. It was mostly the Avatar explaining everything, the waterbender occasionally throwing in a question or two, seldom interrupting and steadily focusing on his words with a kind of intense curiosity.

KATARA: That must've been horrible.

Done with his tale, the boy lets out a tired sigh.

AANG: Which part exactly?

The princess takes a few seconds to respond, as if carefully measuring her words.

KATARA: Well... all of it. You went through so much pain. And that was just the war in your world. Now having to relive everything... I can't imagine what that would feel like if I had to do it.

Averting his eyes, Aang nods. Meeting her now, finally, after having been unsure of her nature for so long... it's confusing, to say the least.

He meant to return today to tell his feelings to Azula, and now... Katara is here. But, alas...

AANG: You sound like her a lot.

The girl gives a measured frown.

KATARA: Like who?

AANG: My Katara. Or... the one I know from my world.

As he scratches the back of his head, Katara strokes back the hair loops she made specifically for her encounter with the Avatar.

KATARA: I mean, she does sound pretty amazing. I can count myself lucky if I'm only half as good as her.

Aang merely nods, making the girl grow more impatient.

Be more direct. We have to sell you just right.

KATARA: Well, you're probably wondering why I'm here, right?

She tries sitting up more straight, smiling with a bit more joy than is required. Luckily, Aang reciprocates with a smirk of his own making.

AANG: I'm not terribly surprised. You wouldn't be the first enemy to switch sides. Plus...

Stopping his train of thought is of course enough to hook his conversation partner.

KATARA: What?

He wonders how much more he should spill. But, since he told her pretty much everything else, what's the worse than can happen?

AANG: You see... for a while, I thought a lot about who Azula is in this world...

Holding back a blush, he continues.

AANG: As in, the evil Fire Lord Azula. For a while... I thought it was Kenora. Though now I'm not sure.

Oh, this couldn't be more perfect...

AANG: The point is - I definitely don't think it's you. I have no idea who you would be if I had to compare you...

Katara giggles naively.

KATARA: I don't know either. I guess... I'm just Katara? You tell me.

Not knowing how to answer, their convo stops abruptly again.

Keep talking.

KATARA: To be honest with you... I don't really trust Kenora. It's part of the reason I ran away. I think she might be up to something.

Aang carefully considers her words.

AANG: Maybe. I'll definitely warn the others.

Now sell it.

Clearing her throat unnaturally, Aang looks to find Katara weirdly awkward, almost as if unable to continue.

KATARA: Um...

AANG: What is it?

Don't oversell it. Keep it subtle.

KATARA: Oh, this is embarrassing but... I couldn't stop thinking about you after we first met.

Appropriate shock that the princess tries to salvage.

KATARA: I mean - don't get this the wrong way! I just meant... you know, you knew my name and everything. I couldn't possibly forget about that.

Now.

She puts his hand on hers. All he can think about is just how cold it feels.

KATARA: I just had to see you. And I think it was worth it.

For a moment, the two stare into each other's eyes. Though... in a very... almost robotic fashion.

Wait for him. He has to initiate it.

Ultimately, while kissing Katara has been on his mind for years, helped him fall asleep at night...

He can't.

Dragging his hand out from under hers, the boy gets back up.

KATARA: What's wrong?

She gets up too. Wrestling with his emotions, he does manage to smile warmly at her.

AANG: Nothing. Just... a lot to think about.

What a wimp.

KATARA: That's fine. I know it must be a lot.

He nods.

AANG: I'll fly back and tell the others. You stay here. I'll bring them to you once I've been able to convince them that you're not a threat.

A mechanical smile is her best response.

KATARA: Thank you. I know this is all very strange but... I'm hopeful we have a common future.

While she doesn't show it on the outside, internally she is fuming that, before his departure, he gifts her a polite nod only.

As soon as he has left his cave and her vicinity, her joyful expression melts away.

---

As things heat up in Kenora's cell block (literal heat and literal block) Azula is the one to interrupt their intense make-out session, her breaths having become a bit more... intimate.

KENORA (whispering): What's wrong?

Not getting an answer, the waterbender makes the correct guess to move her hands away from the firebender. Azula gulps quietly before responding.

AZULA (whispering): Let's not... in here. Okay? Not that I don't want to, just...

Makes sense not to treat this prison cell that could be opened at any time the same way Kenora and Yue used their canal hideouts. Still, the waterbender can tell that unease is also a factor in Azula's decision.

Kenora nods, then the firebender moves in for another kiss, before sitting down next to the Pirate Princess.

AZULA (quietly): How about we rest? Just for a bit.

The nod serving as Kenora's response is filled to the brim with compassion and understanding. Truth be told, the waterbender is pretty tired herself after everything, gladly lying down, using Azula's lap as a pillow. The raven-haired girl begins to gently stroke the person below her while Kenora's mind can't be persuaded to not utter her next words.

KENORA: Can I ask you something?

Reminded of their Goldmouth encounters, Azula smiles.

AZULA: Sure.

The waterbender hesitates momentarily.

KENORA: Did you ever... you know?

Azula frowns naively.

AZULA: No, I don't know.

Oh well.

KENORA: You know. What you asked me in Goldmouth? What I did with my ex-girlfriend?

It takes the firebender a lot longer than she's proud of to answer. Her expression briefly reflects very apparent embarrassment and very comical shock.

AZULA: Uh... no. No, I haven't.

Kenora nods patiently.

KENORA: So... I'd be your first girl?

Azula pouts, briefly stopping her soft strokes.

AZULA: You'd be my first... anything. If we ever decide to... you know.

The girl on her lap turns her head briefly, staring up into her eyes.

KENORA: I won't push you. We'll only ever do as much as you're comfortable with.

The firebender nods.

AZULA: That's what I assumed from the get-go, but it's nice to hear you reaffirm it.

Kenora turns back sideways, Azula's strokes returning.

AZULA: Can I ask you something?

KENORA (softly): Mhm.

A quick sigh escapes Azula.

AZULA: I wanted to ask something... a bit personal. About your parents?

While the waterbender is uncomfortable initially, she does jump over her own shadow and nods.

AZULA: Okay, so... your dad is the scary guy with the harpoon, right?

Kenora surprises herself via chuckling.

KENORA: Yeah, that is actually an incredibly good description of dad.

Her laughter subsides as she remembers his recent, unexplained disappearance.

AZULA: Can I ask about your mom?

And then there's that. The Pirate Princess lets out a pained sigh.

KENORA: Not much there to talk about. She ran away when I was very little. I actually ran away myself a year ago to look for her.

Genuine interest is reflected in Azula's expression.

AZULA: Huh. Seems like you got a little side-tracked.

Another giggle from the girl resting on her lap.

KENORA: Right. But I think I made the correct choice.

A lot more questions from that response. For now, Azula focuses on just one.

AZULA: You wanna look for her again one day?

A few seconds of silence.

KENORA: I don't think I do. I'm happy without her. Don't want to change that.

Nothing but understanding from the firebender. She stares into the wall ahead of her for a few more moments, continuing with a sense of trust she has never felt before.

AZULA: My mom died when I was young.

Kenora's heart sinks to the floor at her words.

AZULA: Dad was horrible and abusive so we stopped talking to him. My uncle was there for us a lot more as kids. He's great.

The first time she has ever so openly used nice words to describe Iroh.

KENORA: I'm... so sorry to hear. Going through all that must've been awful.

She learned to accept it back when she told Aang about it but here... a sense of actual peace falls over her soul.

AZULA: You want to go ahead and ask something next? I don't want to talk about sob stories all day...

KENORA: No-no - it's fine. I love listening to you.

However...

KENORA: But... there is something I wanted to ask also...

Azula listens intently as Kenora thinks back the conversation she overheard before.

KENORA (emotional): Azula... are we... are... you and I... girlfriends?

Her immediate instinct is to react bluntly, though based on the waterbender's tone she chooses to respond more calmly instead.

AZULA: I'd say so, Kenora. I mean, we sure as hell went through a lot together. I trust you with my life and... I like you very very much.

She pauses briefly as Kenora lights up as brightly as she can.

AZULA: I'm not sure if I need anything else. So... if you don't have anything against me calling you my girlfriend, then you can call me your girlfriend as well.

If the waterbender was physically able to smile harder she probably would be now.

KENORA (blushing): I like that very much.

And so it shall be. Their peace and quiet is only interrupted when Azula lets out a very weird scoff.

KENORA: What?

AZULA: It's so strange how everything turned out. We're girlfriends now when only a few months ago I considered you the Azula of this world.

Kenora once again turns her head towards her with an aura of "What?".

KENORA: "The Azula of this world"?

The firebender rolls her eyes at her own imprecise speech.

AZULA: For a while we assigned roles on everyone based on Aang's world. Me, or, Azula there is a princess and like SUPER evil, and... for a while I thought that was you.

Filled with regret, she shrugs.

AZULA: Sorry.

KENORA: No, I was mean for a while. Just... baffled to hear... that. You're evil in his world?

AZULA: The Evil, apparently. Was kind of scary to figure out, honestly.

In an odd juxtaposition to her dark words, Kenora only smiles, continuing to pierce Azula's eyes with her own.

AZULA: What? I'm being serious.

KENORA: And I believe you. It's just... so unbelievable. You? Evil? Not in a million years. You're probably the... best person ever.

A mix of liking that and feeling pandered towards, Azula can't prevent herself from rolling her eyes.

AZULA: Like I said, you're extremely kitschy.

Kenora shrugs.

KENORA (blushing): What can I say? You're way too pretty to be the ultimate evil...

Damn, smooth.

Anyways, Azula, keeping her eyes pinned on Kenora's, moves down from under the girl, lying down sideways next to her, the bench giving them enough space to do so.

For a moment, it's nothing but her honey-colored ones meeting the waterbender's ocean eyes.

AZULA (quietly): Took a while for us to get here, huh?

Kenora nods quietly.

AZULA (quietly): Well, I for one think...

They share yet another wonderful kiss, of which neither could ever get enough of.

AZULA (whispering, blushing): ...I think it was worth it.

Very shortly after, Azula turns the other way, allowing Kenora to be the big spoon.

The waterbender wonders for a bit if she should say it. She has known since Kaofu that it's love to her. Is it the right moment though? And... does Azula really love her back? Love is a strong word, after all.

Alas, before she can figure it out, both girls have fallen asleep already. And despite their sorry excuse for a bed, it is by a long shot the best sleep they've ever had.

---

Sabachi coils herself around Sokka's leg, chirping with frustrations that her two favorite humans are locked away without her.

The Dream Team is back the tent shared by the prince and Aang, Bandit still with them, despite appearing very much disinterested at everything that's happening.

SOKKA: Alright, gang - here's the tea...

The boy stands almost like someone at a lecture, with the other three seated on little round rock shapes (thank you Bandit!).

ZUKO: We're having tea?

SOKKA: No.

The lemur attached to his limb finally has the decency to climb upwards and stay seated on his shoulder.

SOKKA: Aang is still gone on his spiritual journey. That takes away our leader.

His audience visibly frowns.

SOKKA: My estimation is that Azula has always been Team Avatar's number two. But, she's out of service for now as well - so...

He comes to a standstill after pacing up and down a bunch.

SOKKA: Who's in charge now? Who's gonna decide what we do about Katara?

Ty Lee can tell that his problem-solving attitude has some ulterior motives, mainly involving saving his sister of course.

ZUKO: Do we even... need a leader?

BANDIT: And who said anything about this dork being our leader?

Sokka reacts with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

SOKKA: D- I'm not saying it has to be me! I'm saying we should make a decision soon! Or do you have any better things we should discuss?

They all look to an indifferent Bandit, who takes out her wheat straw briefly in order to respond.

BANDIT: What do you guys think of Azula and that Kenora girl being a thing now?

Almost in unison, Zuko and Sokka begin gushing about the pair.

ZUKO: I'm so happy for them.

SOKKA: They're literally SO adorable!

ZUKO: It took Azula a while to get to this point.

SOKKA: I have been rooting for these two from the start!

ZUKO: And Kenora has come a long way too.

SOKKA: We need to make sure that they'll never do missions separated!

BANDIT: Someone here doesn't share your enthusiasm.

As the boys stop and turn to Ty Lee, they find themselves in a nervous state. The airbender finally looks back at them, reacting with unease as she tries faking a laugh.

TY LEE: No, I'm happy for Azula. After everything with Aang... why wouldn't I be happy for them?

Her weirdly stale tone already a red flag, Bandit lets out a quiet scoff of suspicion.

BANDIT: Her heart rate went crazy just now.

A moment of silence as Ty Lee averts her face in a pout.

BANDIT: That's if you couldn't tell already that she was lying through her teeth.

ZUKO: It's okay if you're still a bit uneasy about it, Ty Lee. No one is forcing you to be okay with it.

Trying not to come off as too aggressive, she still crosses her arms.

TY LEE: I respect all of your opinions. If you want to go ahead and trust Kenora, that's fine. But... I don't. I still worry.

Zuko and Sokka share a concerned look at that.

BANDIT: If it helps you at all - I agree with you, Princess Puff.

SOKKA: Maybe we should get back to the main issue here - what do we do without Aang?

AANG: Oh, there you guys are!

TY LEE & ZUKO: AANG!

The pair is first to engulf the airbender boy in a hug, Sokka following with a delay as Bandit remains on the sidelines, though she does get up from her seating option.

BANDIT: Way to make an entrance, twinkletoes.

As the quartet separates again, Aang smiles earnestly.

AANG: I missed you guys. I have so much to tell you. Did I miss anything?

SOKKA: Only life-altering twists and turns - nothing unusual.

TY LEE: You're probably tired from all that flying. Where's Appa?

Aang lays down the airbending staff on his bed before giving a response.

AANG: I left him to rest in the forest, soldiers kept complaining about his size. I have big news actually...

A devious smirk makes Ty Lee frown ever so slightly.

ZUKO: Oh, and do we have news...

SOKKA: Some... not so nice - but some of them great!

AANG: That's awesome. But let's wait for Azula first. Where is she, by the way?

Second weird aura shift, one that makes Ty Lee frown just a little bit more.

BANDIT: Probably still smoochin'.

As the corners of Aang's mouth go down, Ty Lee finally puts it together.

AANG: What?

ZUKO: It's the craziest thing - Kenora switched sides!

SOKKA: And now she and Azula are girlfriends! Can you believe it?

Now even Bandit raises an eyebrow at his lack of a response. The floor beneath him feels like it's turning to quicksand, a painful sting in his chest emerging as Aang's world collapsing just ever so slightly. It's not as bad as when he caught Katara and Zuko in his world, but still...

He didn't want this to happen again. He was ready to accept his feelings, accept liking a part of this world in that way. And now...

Before he can gag up fake joy, he gets smacked in the side. Ty Lee's expression has finally taken on complete and apparent fury.

TY LEE (anger): You asshole.

As the Avatar makes the harrowing realization that his aura is giving it away, the two boys watch in shock as the acrobat keeps hitting him repeatedly, every smack a bit more force put into it. Bandit can guess what this is all about.

TY LEE (anger): You break her heart in front of EVERYONE only to come back and have feelings for her NOW that she's FINALLY happy?!

ZUKO: Ty Lee!

As her boyfriend holds her back, preventing her from causing any more harm, so do the two boys finally figure out what caused her sudden burst of anger. Not that she didn't literally spell it out for them.

SOKKA: You like Azula?

Aang simply sighs and hangs his head down in shame.

AANG: Yes.

Ty Lee crudely rips herself from Zuko's grasp, walking over to Aang's staff and subsequently grabbing it.

TY LEE (cold): I'm gonna go get Appa.

AANG: Ty Lee, wait-

As Aang tries to reason with her, she opens the glider right in his face, blocking her mean look before she soars upwards in a straight line with a sharp woosh sound.

BANDIT: Well, that could've gone worse.

She places herself down on her rock again, trying to appear as casual as possible.

ZUKO: We're... sorry to break the news for you like this but... you had your chance before. And Ty Lee is right. You broke her heart once already.

The firm words of the swordfighter cause Aang to slowly sink to the ground. Any strength or hope or optimism he had felt in recent times crumbling into pieces like earth.

---

Somewhere in the middle ring, on a busy street filled with people, a weird rumble alerts most passengers. As the jabs and punches increase in radius and volume, people begin stepping back in a panic, some screeching in fear. Finally, the brick road bursts, birthing a hand at first, then the girl dressed in a kimono attached to it. Shahar pulls herself out of the ground covered in dust and blood and sweat, exhausted not even beginning to describe how she feels.

As she coughs and winces and gasps for air her head moves to her right. Only a few feet away from the whole she dug straight up stands a relatively large hospital. The girl exhales loudly.

SHAHAR (tired): Thank you, Bendigo.

Metallic hissing excites her at first, then alerts her as her sleeve gets stuck in the ground.

CRESCENT WARRIOR: What are you doing digging holes in the middle of the street?

As the unnamed boy approaches her, tears almost stream down her face.

AGENT: Wait!

Immediately after, an unnamed Kimono Agent appears by his side. Of course Shahar knows her, but for the purposes of this story her name is not relevant.

AGENT: Shahar? Is that you?

SHAHAR: You guys cannot believe how glad I am to see you.

The warrior and the agent exchange a curious look.

SHAHAR: You need to take me to Madame Tamao. It's about life or death.

---

With the boy sulking on the floor and the gang once again missing one of its senior members, Zuko and Sokka appear quite helpless in handling this situation.

SOKKA: Hm. It's getting pretty late now.

He stares casually to spot the sun pretty low.

BANDIT: What?!

This startles the earthbender for some unexplained reason.

ZUKO: Everything alright, Bandit?

The girl gets her act together as a stern glare hides her unnerve.

BANDIT: Everything is fine. How about we deal with sourpuss here first?

Her obnoxiously pointing towards Aang doesn't get a single reaction from the kid.

ZUKO: Listen Aang... we're not angry. Well, Ty Lee is. And... I'm not too happy about your timing either. But-

AANG (matt): I really don't want to talk about it. Please.

The swordfighter can't decide what's worse - a scenario in which Aang were crying, or the fact that he isn't now.

SOKKA: Well... I guess we can catch you up on everything else then. Huh?

Still, no response.

SOKKA: Let's see... right after you left, Kenora showed up. She's on our side now. We hunted the Blue Spirit in Omashu together...

This finally gets Aang to stand up.

AANG: What?!

SOKKA: Yeah. And... it turns out that...

Clearly uncomfortable, the airbender is on the edge of his seat.

ZUKO: This might be a little much after everything but... we know who the Blue Spirit is.

Aang's heartbeat is audible in his head.

ZUKO: It's Katara.

If his reaction to finding out about Azula was bad, this is times 100. It even gets Bandit to stand up with the others. His face tingling with fear, Aang grabs his head in horror.

AANG: Oh no...

SOKKA: Look, I know it's hard. It's hard for me too-

AANG: No, you don't understand.

The room's collective aura shifts to "Uh-oh".

AANG: I ran into her in the forest. She said she was looking for me. Told me she wanted to leave the Tribe.

Passing the torch, it is now Sokka who reacts with utter horror.

ZUKO: That must've been a trick. But how did she know she could talk to you?

SOKKA: Um...

One hand on his cheek, the prince gulps before responding.

SOKKA: I... ran into Katara in Gaoling. She seemed like she wanted to leave the Tribe there and I wanted her to so... I told her...

In the back, Bandit quietly smacks her forehead.

ZUKO: You told her that Aang is in love with her?!

SOKKA: I told her that Aang loves her in his world and that he probably trusts her already-

ZUKO (angry): You told her about the other world?!

Their tent may as well be falling apart to match the situation inside.

SOKKA: Aang... what did you tell her?

As Aang squeezes his eyes shut, tears finally appear.

AANG (teary): I told her everything.

---

With a sharp woosh sound Ty Lee lands in the middle of a forest, somewhere nearby camp and the cave but... at some point the girl stopped paying attention to her flight path and just spearheaded into the trees below. She spins the staff while closing it, all very precise and quick movements.

For a few moments she allows herself to take in the ambient tranquility, the soft sounds of the woodwork and creatures that surround her. An attempt to calm her soul after all these troubles. It is however, sadly, a failed attempt. The airbender sinks to her knees as her frowny face forms.

TY LEE: Why can't I just trust her? Why can't I be happy for them?

For as long as she can remember she only ever wanted people to be happy, especially those close to her. Zuko and Azula eventually became her main priority for that. For so long she kept her eyes on Aang, desperately waiting for his aura to shift, for his romantic feelings to finally emerge and to see him and her best friend become a proper couple. She never saw it, abandoned hope that it would ever come to fruition.

Now Aang is finally back - his aura appears brighter than ever before, no longer hidden by shame. His love is on full display.

And what about Azula? She's dating Kenora now. At the thought of the waterbender Ty Lee briefly allows herself to cramp up, her expression morphing into outright anger.

She can't have those thoughts, can't feel those feelings. Azula's love for Kenora is real and so is her aura. But... Kenora's aura...

It hasn't changed. The girl may claim to be on their side, but she... she's the same. Her lime color is the same. It doesn't matter that her love for Azula is real - who knows how it long will take before she changes her mind again?

A few tear droplets roll down her cheeks. Ty Lee wipes them off her left eye. On her right, they get soaked up by the patch. An eye she lost because of a fellow airbender that she once trusted... blindly.

Not getting anywhere with any of this, she gets back up again, holding onto her staff as-

Short chirps are emitted on a nearby tree branch as Ty Lee audibly gasps. A small monkey with white fur and geta shows tilts its head as it looks down at her.

TY LEE: A tengu? What are you doing here?

It squeaks again, akin to a "meep" sound. The chase ensues as the airbender rushes after the little spirit hopping from branch to branch, transforming into a cloud on occasion in order to cheat, keeping its head start. The girl doesn't see the need to shout after it, as it is most likely just leading her somewhere. But why now?

And where to?

---

Her question is answered after a short dash ends in a small clearing, rocks behind it with a quiet little waterfall, not much taller than Appa.

With yet another meep, the tengu bids its farewell to the acrobat before running away and turning translucent.

TY LEE (quietly): Thank you.

Her slippers trample on soft grass as she walks up the hill. The sun is setting in the distance, drenching the clearing in a fruity orange color, one that shines as brightly as artificial lights would. The sound of the cascade crashing down into a little creek moves closer. The body of water runs off somewhere down into the forest, probably forming the larger river they trained by a few days ago. Her eye sharply inspects the water, the illusion of an even surface reflecting her image presenting itself.

A strange thing happens next. As the girl moves in closer, caution replaced by curiosity, the reflection of herself appears to morph, dilute. Corrupt. Her custom-made orange/yellow airbender two piece erodes slowly, the fabric changing its tone to a dark burgundy mixed with pink. Her looped braid is replaced by a loose one, the strip of constricted hair hanging down the back of her head, dangling behind her back like a live creature. Her face shifts. It becomes stern, lean, with stronger cheekbones and a more pronounced nose.

As her one gray eye stares into the reflection two grey ones stare back. Both she and her mirrored self jump back with a screech.

KATARA: I'm so sorry - I didn't wanna startle you!

With her back turned and on her butt, Ty Lee firmly grasps onto her airbending staff.

The moment the voice echoes within her, the girl's features freeze up in horror.

Katara folds her hands in a friendly fashion.

KATARA: Aang told me to wait in the cave but... he's been gone for so long. Listen... I know this might sound like a lot but... I'm Katara. Are you one of his-

Slowly and with a cold shiver running across her entire body, Ty Lee gets back up, her glare and fighting posture indicating anything but trust.

That's when Katara's facade drops. Her high pitch lowers as her shoulders loosen.

KATARA: Oh right, you're the one who can read auras, I forgot. No need to uphold this charade then.

The waterbender sighs nonchalantly as Ty Lee is able to spit out a response.

TY LEE: Y-y- you're her. You're it. You're... you're the Blue Spirit.

KATARA: Mmm... not quite, but close enough. Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you. You'd be dead by know if that were the case.

As she circles the acrobat with her hands folded behind her back, something surprising happens, something the Crown Princess didn't really expect.

Ty Lee chuckles mockingly.

TY LEE (cold): You would certainly try. But I doubt you could.

Katara lets out a cold smile.

KATARA: Hm. More fire in you than I thought. Maybe some of that element rubbed off on you from Azula.

Hearing that name gives Ty Lee the chills.

KATARA: Yeah, that's right. Don't blame Aang, I did a great job deceiving him. And... he told me pretty much everything because of it.

Now it is her who chuckles. The girl finally stops, the waterfall behind her, Ty Lee also having turned around with her, Aang's airbending staff aimed steadily forward.

KATARA: I'm really embarrassed I didn't think of infiltrating Ba Sing Se like that. Would've been the easiest thing to steal some Crescent Warrior outfits and simply coup the government. Get in that Long Feng guy as a puppet ruler. Then again, only an Azula could've come up with something like that. My plan is much more complicated in comparison.

TY LEE (cold): What did you do?

Katara takes a deep breath, the voice inside of her praising the girl for how well its scheme has worked so far.

KATARA: That's the beauty of it - I can actually tell you. Not to stall you, or distract you, but because you need to know. You're part of it.

The airbender can barely hold back her fear as she keeps her guard up.

KATARA: You're my crown jewel in this plan. You're here to warn Aang and the others so that they are exactly where I want them to be.

TY LEE: Which is Ba Sing Se.

KATARA: Correct. Tonight, the Earth King dies.

For a moment Ty Lee can feel her own skeleton twitching inside of her.

KATARA: But you're not just heading there to clean up the mess. You're also there to rescue your friend.

A victorious grin grows on Katara's face.

KATARA: Oh, yes. I find Azula just way too fascinating to not take up the opportunity. I think she and I are going to be best friends.

While her emotions are still boiling and her body is as much an alert as it possibly can, Ty Lee ultimately drops her stance.

TY LEE (cold): Your plan has one flaw.

With a quick swipe, her glider opens.

TY LEE (cold): I can warn them now. You'll never get to Azula in time.

Now being the victorious one, Ty Lee prepares-

KATARA: That would be correct. It's why I have plan B.

As the acrobat stops, the waterbender smiles again. Behind her the cascade keeps crashing and splashing with no end in sight.

KATARA: I would prefer having Azula but... it's not strictly necessary. I could take someone else with me.

Aang's glider turns staff as Ty Lee reads a strange shift in the girl's aura.

KATARA: Have you ever wondered why Aang is this way? Why he's moody and grumpy and doesn't trust his own friends? Well, it all started... here, actually.

She points to the clearing as Ty Lee continues to be skeptical.

TY LEE (cold): What are you talking about?

KATARA: Oh, you know perfectly well that I'm not lying.

Her hands get folded in front of her as she lets out a sigh.

KATARA: He's obviously devastated at the fact that he lost the war. But it's more than that. I'm sure you've been able to read "heartbreak" all over his aura.

Ty Lee frowns in disgust, for it is the truth.

KATARA: It's all because of what happened here. This very clearing. It was me and Zuko and...

The airbender almost drops her staff in shock.

KATARA: It was apparently quite steamy. It broke the poor kid's heart when he found them like that. One of his best friends and the love of his life in the flesh and on top of each other?

She makes a hissing sound as Ty Lee shudders at the image, her insides spinning at the thought.

KATARA: Yeah, I would grow cautious too. Which brings us back to plan B...

Finally, Katara takes on a bending stance of her own, her face forming a frown as a smile taunts the airbender across from her.

KATARA: How about I take Zuko instead on my way to Ba Sing Se? I'm sure his company would be a lot more fun.

With a loud bang echoing like the blast of a gun, a current of wind is hurled towards the Crown Princess, who uses the waterfall behind her as easy coverage, redirecting it to form ice spears right after. Ty Lee dodges easily, the skill of her journey so far present in her movements while the anger in her heart is more than visible on her face. While Katara perpetuates her barrage, the acrobat collects streams of air all around her, concentrating them on the tip of her staff until-

ZWOOSH!

The combined air erupts in a powerful burst as Katara is forced to abandoned her favorable position, a film of ice serving as her escape route. Two incoming wind blasts avoided, Katara begins dragging water up from the grass below, forming razor sharp rings sliding towards Ty Lee with deadly force. With every water swipe closing in further and further, Ty Lee briefly loses her focus and Aang's staff with it.

Like a cleaver slicing butter, the weapon is split in half.

In a panic, a rush of adrenaline gives Ty Lee the necessary speed to dodge the deadly waves, closing in on Katara slowly as the waterbender starts to lose her own strength. She abandons the attack for a massive tidal wave, almost all off the grass surrounding them dried out and dead at this point. Next, she extends both arms, freezing a large number of trees in the distance while the acrobat still deals with the wave clashing towards her. The crescendo of her attack sees Katara hurling hundreds of frozen pine pieces towards the waterfall and Ty Lee.

To her shock, the girl can block this with an uncomplicated air dome before closing in on the Crown Princess and wiping that smirk off her face with a quick punch.

Katara stumbles. Ty Lee glares, both fists raised.

Before a jolt can lead to a kick, a series of water tendrils grabs the girl from below, constricting her as the vine ends slowly turn thin and sharp, cuts forming on her skin as Ty Lee howls with pain.

Luckily her hands are still free and so, with blood running down Katara's nose, the airbender forms a small dome of air around her opponent's face. A short contest follows to see if Ty Lee breaks first from her cuts or Katara from her lack of air.

The question is resolved unceremoniously as Katara's eyes suddenly turn pitch black and her hair starts to float as if underwater. The acrobat's constraints fling her backwards as the suffocation orb disperses. Freed again, the possessed figure slowly walks over to Ty Lee. The girl conjures up a quick series of kicks and swipes, the blasts following it all blocked by the enhanced speed and maneuverability of the crown princess. The acrobat tries another punch-

That's when her arm stops, not in a perfect standstill, but in a weird twitching as her body refuses to obey to her commands any longer. She winces in pain as Katara holds up both hands, getting the rest of her body under semi-stable control, dragging her left and right a bit before slamming her against the rock behind.

Gasping for air and crying from the immense pain, Ty Lee is unable to stop the body of water from engulfing her up to her nose and turning to an ice prison.

Katara gasps for air herself, recovering from the fight as her eyes turn normal and her hair adheres to the laws of gravity again.

I can't believe I had to step in. My powers are wasted on you if you can't even beat a little airbender girl.

KATARA: I had it under control. You can always rely on me.

We'll see.

Barely conscious, Ty Lee can only vaguely listen in on the conversation at hand. Whatever horrors the Crown Princess has in store now, she's absolutely powerless to stop it.

First, let's find the girl. It's time I finish what I started.

---

A sharp crescent rules over the clear night sky. Furiously and with her foot having been tapping the ground for almost twenty minutes, the King finally arrives two hours late. Even his ever-loyal generals appear annoyed, including the newly added General How, a quiet, stern looking man.

KUEI: I apologize for my late arrival. I was not made aware that a War Council session was scheduled for today.

Madame Tamao bows impatiently across from the King, the massive stone table showcasing his domain between them.

TAMAO: My apologies, your grace but-

KUEI: I would like to make it known to my council and my head of intelligence that in the future, such sessions can only be-

TAMAO: We don't have time for this!

Shocking the Council of Five and his royal highness King Kuei, Tamao seems to have dropped any pretense of calm perfection, of being the quiet figure in the background blending in. The unnerve is clearly visible beneath her powdered skin and her tied up hair includes loose strains marking her distress.

KUEI: You are in no position to address me like this-

TAMAO: The Water Tribe spy network is real.

The King's spectacles almost drop from his shallow expression. The other generals begin to whisper as Fong is the only one silent, his gaze shared with Tamao one of compassioned worry.

While this ensues, a dainty figure enters the room from the side, approaching Madame Tamao, who reacts shocked to the news.

KUEI: How can you be sure of this? You had both the Kimono Society and the Crescent Warriors at your disposal, yet only now can you provide evidence?

The woman and the agent appear to be in a strange argument, Tamao frustrated at something the young girl isn't responsible for.

TAMAO: Would General Fong be so kind and escort Shahar in here?

Like an air pump filling a tire, the room's pressure hardens. Fong complies with a bow, following the unnamed agent to the main entrance, where both disappear for a second.

KUEI: What is this nonsense? Now you're letting Shahar in here despite her questionable loyalties?

TAMAO: Shahar has been continuing to investigate the suspected network on her own. She apprehended a suspect who has been fully cooperating and who has given us a detailed description of this underground network operating in the sewers.

Triumphantly, she showcases Caraman's report, which a palace guard swiftly carries over to the King, who reads it with eyes that tremble with every new character.

KUEI: This... this is the end. All of our worst fears are present tenfold. We need to mobilize our entire army.

SHAHAR: I can help with that!

With Fong supporting the injured girl, the image of a powerful young woman entering these chambers despite everything fires guilt into every corner of Kuei's body. Shahar grunts in pain before continuing.

SHAHAR: Mai and Princess Yue were helping me with this investigation. They're still down there and we need to rescue them.

KUEI: Can you lead a military expedition down there?

The earthbender girl chuckles as Tamao is on the verge of tears.

SHAHAR: Maybe after a smoke break, yes.

The room full of men falls into laughter as orders are relayed. Kuei briefly gets out a silk tissue to wipe his forehead, pearls of sweat having sprouted on the fleshy canvas. Shahar finally takes the time to address her former boss, Fong still forced to help her stand upright.

SHAHAR: I'm sorry it took so long, Madame. Mai and I did our best while we-

The woman does not delay her any longer, allowing Shahar to be engulfed in a hug that feels as comforting as that of a mother. Tamao subtly removes a few tears from her face without ruining her make-up.

TAMAO: I'm very, very proud of you, Shahar. I want you to know that.

Shahar almost cries herself, though the stress of the situation prevents her from powering down like that.

SHAHAR: We need to rescue Yue. She was captured by Vaas.

Both Tamao and Fong frown heavily as the rest of the room is busy talking about something else.

TAMAO: Are you sure?

SHAHAR: Yeah. He says he works with the Water Tribe to overthrow the King. We also found...

In a moment of weakness, Shahar almost faints, Fong catching her as the girl manages to remain conscious. This is when Kuei pays attention to her again.

KUEI: Get some medical aid for Shahar. Our Kimono Agent needs to get well soon.

Shahar rolls her eyes, not very enthusiastic about being reinstated again. Fong meanwhile drags her to the side to speak to a guard, the man running off to get some medicine and such.

The two are now removed from the table as the girl groans.

FONG: Was it a tough fight?

SHAHAR (dizzy): No just... my head, it's...

Headache is the word for it. The same kind she...

The same kind she gets from certain smells.

Her nose starts to draw in air at the pace a dog would. Frantically, her breath becomes worse by the second as Tamao watches uneasy from a distance.

SHAHAR: It's here... they have it in here...

FONG: They have what here?

Smelling it too, Madame Tamao of the Kimono Society is the only one with the intuition to look under the giant stone table...

SHAHAR: Blasting jelly. They made a bunch of it in the sewers.

...the underside of which is completely covered in the highly explosive substance. Panic is shifted on again.

KUEI: We need to evacuate. Immediately.

As the men rise from their chairs, commotion is heard from the side. Three palace guards tackle down as a cylinder-shaped object bounces on the floor, hissing as it rolls towards the table. The one guard being detained smiles.

Fong glares with horror, holding the injured kimono girl in his arms. He does not look to his King or the other generals, but to Madame Tamao.

The fine lady nods to him once, then smiles at Shahar, before raising a massive stone wall around the two. Then she

---

Act III. - The Ballad of Vultures and Crescents

---

The sensation of touch awakens her. As her eyes slowly open, she spots the love of her life simultaneously shouting at the others as well as comforting her. Ty Lee tries to smile, which proves to be rather difficult when the lower half of her head is constrained by ice. It would not have been a long smile regardless, as Zuko's presence indicates that Katara went with the original plan. Above the kids, a bright crescent illuminates the woods ever so slightly.

ZUKO: We have to get her out of there!

SOKKA: Why don't you and Aang use firebending?

ZUKO: That would take too long! She's already freezing!

SOKKA: Then what do you expect me to do?!

Bandit makes herself heard via grunting, after which she stomps the ground, twisting her arms and a ring of earth beneath Ty Lee with it. With the end of her move, the ice finally shatters, and the acrobat briefly tumbles to her knees.

ZUKO: Ty Lee!

Her ice prison is exchanged for the tight hug of her boyfriend.

ZUKO: What happened? Was it Katara?

Finally, the girl looks up, tears in her eyes, both from the pain of her wounds and her shame. Bandit, Sokka, and Aang stare back in horror.

TY LEE (teary): We need to head back. Her target is Azula.

---

The girl could swear she heard something. Something silent. Something deadly. Her worries are buried briefly once she turns around, having woken up the waterbender next to her, though Kenora's eyes are still shut.

KENORA: Mornin'.

Azula snorts quietly.

AZULA: It's the middle of the night. We overslept a little.

An impish smirk acts as Kenora's response.

KENORA: Oh well. Guess we'll have to stay up all night then.

Azula responds with a flirtatious expression.

AZULA (sarcastic): Oh, how terrible.

Kenora chuckles-

Shouting is heard, making both girls flinch. The earth starts to shake, indicating that their earthbending guards are... fighting someone?

Kenora puts it together first - her eyes snap open as she rises from her bench, fists raised. Her girlfriend remains a bit startled on the bench.

AZULA (whispering): What's happening?

The sounds of battle outside are followed by a hurling death scream, the metal clank of a blade encompassing it. Both girls have the same reaction, exchanging horrified glances with each other.

AZULA (whispering): Get ready.

Her leg still injured, Azula gets up regardless. A second death scream is heard, this one much shorter.

Silence. Only the increased breathing of the firebender and the waterbender is audible. Kenora may have no water, but-

In an instant, that nightmarish sensation returns, much less refined in its execution than how it felt with Zorak. Her arm first, then her other, then her legs and torso. Before she can so much as protest, the invisible force lifts her up, smacking her from side to side as Azula is powerless to stop it. She prepares her attack instead. As Kenora is flung against the ceiling and close to unconscious, the firebender, having charged up her fingers, finally extends her right ones, the blue lightning that shoots from it a mighty display of her raw talent. The attack shatters the rock, though only appears to hit the nearby guard tent, setting it on fire. The girl uses up a moment of her time to check on Kenora.

That's when it grabs her too. Pulsating, aching pain shoots through her limbs as she is powerless to stop it. Tears stream from her as she finally spots the assailant entering.

The Blue Spirit appears to use up a lot of its strength to perform this terrifying skill. Azula attempts to push through one last time, though Katara simply retaliates with a mean kick to the back of her head, knocking her out for good.

Kenora, on the floor and still feeling the burning pain inside her body, can only watch as her love is dragged away by the masked attacker.

KENORA (weak): No... don't... don't take her away... from me...

As soon as it has left the cell, the girl finally slips into unconsciousness.

---

She opens her eyes again sometime later.

Dust and smoke poisons her lungs, coughs escaping her mouth repeatedly as the girl's vision remains blurry. She's partially covered in rubble and rocks. Shahar can finally remember. Tamao hoisted up an earthen wall around them. Then... then...

The earthbender remembers a sudden bang, the loudest noise she had ever heard. Next, something blasted against the wall, shattering it. Ultimately though, it saved her and Fong from the ball of fire. As she looks around the room again, she spots shattered pieces of stone and wood, ash and rock, rubble and... and...

...and bodies.

A grunting man next to her rises from the earth chunks, his face marked with soot as he makes loud gasps. He spots Shahar, crawling over to her.

FONG: Are you alright, girl? Can you hear me?

A well-placed question as her ears are indeed still ringing. She nods quietly as Fong gets up, rushing over to the part of the War Council Room that once hosted the other generals and the King.

FONG: Your grace? Your grace!

As his feet stumble through the destruction, Shahar looks to her left. With an aching pain in her hip and, like, twelve other places, she limps over to her.

Madame Tamao is still mostly intact, some burn wounds on her skin, parts of her kimono missing... other than that she looks fine.

Her eyes are closed, as if asleep.

SHAHAR: Madame? Madame Tamao?

As Fong stumbles in the background, shuttering and mumbling with horror, the earthbender girl begins to shove the body below her. As nothing happens, tears start streaming down her face.

SHAHAR (teary): No... no... Tamao... come on... please...

Realizing his own rescue attempt is in vain, Fong instead rushes back to the girl as she breaks down sobbing.

FONG: Oh no...

Her wailing only gets stronger, leaning onto the lifeless body of a woman she might have been able to call mother.

FONG: It's okay, girl. It's not your fault. It's okay...

He places his arm around her gently-

A loud thud announces the doors being opened as a number of soldiers enter, led by a certain bearded fella wearing glasses.

VAAS: Oi. Didn't ge' 'em all.

The General merely casts a glare as he continues to comfort the girl. Vaas identifies her right away, though keeps his mouth shut for now. He instead admires the destroyed room.

VAAS: Would you look a' tha'. No more king. Wasn' tha' har', roight?

As he looks to the other Liberation Forces members, he finds approving mugs and cackling. Two of them approach Fong and Shahar with the intend of apprehending them.

VAAS: Hold on! Lemme have a look a' 'em first.

He stumbles over some chunks of earth before towering above the scene. His right hand appears to be bandaged with a finger missing. There's also a pretty rough-looking burn mark going across his left cheek.

VAAS: Oi have to say, Oi'm glad you made it out aloive there, doll.

Shahar finally has the strength to look up, seething hatred mixed with grief meeting the man's face. He briefly shows some empathy.

VAAS: For the reco'd - she wasn' s'possed to be a par' of this. That's an unfortunate casual'y. I'll make sure she receives proper burial and all.

Her breaths sharp and quivering, the kimono girl gulps before responding.

SHAHAR (in tears): Fuck. You.

VAAS: Yeah, Oi'd say the sayme. Good news though - besides me ushering in the revolution and all - your friends? Those other two dolls? They're aloive. Had to lock 'em up of course, but they're fine. And you can join them.

Vaas crosses his arms as he looks over to a defeated Fong.

VAAS: Ah, Oi know who you are. Troibe troyde to have ya killed at the Earth Bawll. Sorry to hear that your personal loife was brought into your public one.

He turns to look at the destroyed room again. Fong's only focus is on Shahar, who breaks into tears once again.

VAAS: Don't worry though. Those vermin making your loife worse are gone. The new world will welcome people loike you.

Fong spitting on the ground gets Vaas to turn back around again.

FONG (angry): The only vermin I'm looking at is you.

Vaas flicks his eyebrows casually.

VAAS: Alroight. Get 'em chained up. Use ropes for the girl, she can bend me'al.

A comedic beat, as all of his LF subordinates freeze and stare at him in confusion. Fong looks at Shahar in surprise too.

VAAS: Wha'? It's true. Just... be careful, roight? Don't wan' 'em breakin' out.

The process of chaining up and tying up Shahar is tedious, especially as the girl has a hard time walking. As they are brought away, Fong looks one last time at the regime he believed in now being nothing but rubble. Shahar looks over to Tamao's corpse one last time before leaving.

VAAS: Today ma'ks the end of the Earth Kingdom. Long live the people! Long live the Earth Union!

Cheers from all around. A second in command of some kind runs up to Vaas, performing the LF signature pose briefly before talking.

SIC: Sir?

VAAS: Grand Secretariat is foine. Continue.

SIC: Well, what are your orders... Grand Secretariat?

Hands akimbo, Vaas stares out into the night sky.

VAAS: Re-establish contact with our forces in the south. They should be overthrowin' the Earth King's troops boy now.

The second in command nods.

VAAS: We need to secure the ci'y fast. Toighten our defenses on the ou'er wall.

His soldiers seem to be confused.

SIC: Sir?

The earthbender turns around quickly.

VAAS: Oi don't trust the Wa'er Troibe for a bloo'y second. We need to be prepared for an attack.

He addresses the room as a whole.

VAAS: Do Oi make moyself clear?

EVERYONE ELSE: Yes, Grand Secretariat!

They all perform the LF pose in unison, their right fist stuck to their left arm forming a right angle. As Vaas performs it too, he frowns with anger at his right hand balled up to a fist, as his index finger is now gone forever.

---

As the gang flies back towards Omashu on Appa, a strange glow shines from the valley below. The gang all exchange concerned looks, Bandit the only exception, as she begins to hug herself in discomfort.

ZUKO: What is that?

As they approach the valley in the cover of darkness, Ty Lee lets out a pained exhale.

ZUKO: What's wrong?

TY LEE: It's what Katara said. She said the Earth King was going to die tonight.

A tingling sensation creeps down their spines, Aang reacting with discomfort the hardest. For him, it feels like the beginning of the end.

ZUKO: If the Earth King is dead then...

His sentence is cut short and answered at the same time as the bison passes over the forests edge and into the valley.

Most of the tents are on fire. Below them, amidst the flames, soldiers of the Earth Kingdom take on those clad with the symbol of the Liberation Forces.

SOKKA: That's not the Water Tribe. Are they... fighting each other?

BANDIT: Yes.

Her eyes stare down coldly into the violence below. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

ZUKO: The Liberation Forces are trying to take over. It's a civil war.

Like a scene painted by Hieronymus Bosch, the horror and bloodshed below does not get less awful as they continue to soar in the cover of darkness, red flames illuminating the bison from below.

---

Within the span of a few seconds, Kenora's eyes snap back open as she jolts up. Still dizzy, she can barely keep her balance as she looks around the cell. How much time has passed remains ellusive, thought the bright crescent moon above is an indication that it hasn't been long. She catches her breaths in gasps as she is unable to spot Azula.

Her girlfriend, the one she loves. Gone. It settles in on her face quickly as the pit in her stomach grows.

HARU: Hold it.

Distracting her momentarily, a strange boy with green clothing holding up two hammers tries to intimidate her.

HARU: What happened here? Where is Azula?

A deep sigh escapes her mouth.

KENORA: Someone took her. I need to-

HARU: I said, hold it!

His fighting pose becomes even more cramped up. Kenora reacts with sass, her brow bouncing up in an annoyed fashion.

KENORA: Are you serious right now?

HARU: You're still a prisoner. How can I-

Bluntly and quickly his face catches her fist as he stumbles, allowing her to run outside. She looks around desperately for a water source as a line of rock creeps after her, shooting up in pillars as the girl gets jolted across the dry field. She turns around with a pain in her back and a glare on her face.

KENORA: I'm on your side, asshole!

HARU: You are not on my side. Now tell me-

They both get interrupted when a growling beast descends from the heavens, a quick snap of its tail creating a gust of wind that picks the earthbender up and smacks him against the stone block in the back, knocking him out for good. Kenora lets out a sigh of relief.

SOKKA: Kenora!

The prince rushes to her in an instant, giving her a hug as she gets back up.

SOKKA: Where-

KENORA: She has her already.

Aang, Zuko, and Ty Lee were about to rush her former prison, stopping as they hear her defeatist tone. Bandit hops off Appa quietly, eyeing the injured Haru as he lies in the darkness far away. To Kenora's surprise, both airbenders react with fury in their voice.

AANG (angry): Why didn't you stop her?

KENORA: Hm... I don't know. Probably because I was imprisoned. Without water.

TY LEE (cold): Hasn't stopped you before.

An unsettling cackle from her follows.

KENORA: What? I thought that was funny.

SOKKA: Guys, we need to put this aside for now. We have much bigger issues at hand.

TY LEE (cold): I'm not going with her.

AANG (cold): Me neither.

This again. As Sokka and Zuko look around, everyone fails to spot Appa in the background suddenly turning his head somewhere else.

KENORA: So, Azula gets captured by a bloodbending demon, and you guys want me to stay here?

AANG (cold): Yes.

KENORA: Absolutely not happening.

As she tries to walk over to the bison, Aang and Ty Lee get in front of her, Sokka and Zuko unable to intervene, though close by. For a moment the waterbender stares off against the airbenders.

Ultimately, she takes a very long, very heavy breath before starting off.

KENORA: Look, I am sorry for what happened. I am sorry that I was a bad person that did bad things to all of you. I truly am. Maybe I am still that person.

A short break to organize her next words.

KENORA: But we are talking about my girlfriend here. I gave up everything I had to do the right thing and to be with her. Do you honestly think that you can physically prevent me from getting on that bison with you to save her?

She moves her head in an inch closer, her glare meeting that of an Avatar capable of bending three out of four elements.

KENORA (quietly): Or do you want to find out?

As she, Aang, and Ty Lee get ready, a blast of fire separates them. An angry Zuko, partly ashamed, grunts before thrusting his anger upon them.

ZUKO (angry): What is WRONG with you?! My little sister has been taken by a PSYCHOPATH and you would rather beat up each other instead of working together!?

KENORA: I'm not-

ZUKO (angry): Shut up!

She does so as he points to Aang.

ZUKO (angry): I don't care how you feel about any of this. Not only do you need to save Azula as her friend - you're the AVATAR! Go and be of actual use instead of moping about how difficult you have it!

He breaths heavily as the others stare in shock. No one has ever quite experienced Zuko as angry as this, no one except Aang, on his own Zuko of course. Ty Lee makes the first step, towards her boyfriend that is.

TY LEE (cold): She can come help us save her. But she's never joining Team Avatar.

The waterbender throws her hands up in a gesture of insult, though ultimately accepts it. Aang doesn't share eye contact with the girl once, stepping towards-

Appa growls briefly, then rises into the air.

AANG: Appa!

For some reason the beast seems to ignore his pleading, soaring back towards the forest, leaving the kids behind and forcing them to chase after.

ZUKO: Where is he going?

In the middle of all this, Bandit carries a guilty expression on her face.

---

Unrest spreads throughout the city as the bang was heard across it. As a dozen LF soldiers transport Fong and Shahar through an empty street, torches and lamps are lit all over the place, panic perceptible as they march onward.

Announcing it with a grunt, Shahar briefly drops to her knees.

SOLDIER: Get up. Keep moving.

FONG: Can't you see that she's injured!? She's just a girl!

With those words causing at least some guilt, one of the soldiers, an older man, offers to help Shahar stand upright as they keep going down the upper ring street, passing over a small bridge.

SHAHAR (weak): Why did she do it...

The men continuing to ignore her, only Fong turns around.

FONG: Tamao made a choice. Try to save the King or... save you. She chose you.

While those words offer some comfort, it doesn't really cheer her up. At the moment the girl questions if anything could cheer her up.

FONG: I know you don't know me that well, kiddo, but I would've made the same choice.

He briefly gifts her a smile which at least helps somewhat.

SOLDIER: Alright, enough yapping. Keep it quiet.

FONG: The girl just lost the only parental figure in her life! Don't you swines have any sympathy?!

The convoy stops as the military man in charge glares at a defiant Fong.

LEADER: Not for anyone serving under the king. Or... former king.

Some chuckles as the General puffs his chest.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

The group gets surprised rather unexpectedly when smoke clouds appear around them. The men, some of them non-benders, form a circle right away. Fong and Shahar exchange brief looks as they make this perceptive trick out to be from a Crescent Warrior.

As one guy with a spear steps into the smoke, a hissing sounds pulls him aside rather quickly, the man screaming as he disappears. The others ready themselves.

Elsewhere, a shadow pulls an earthbender into the smoke as well, a few jabs and kicks later and the guy is gone.

FONG: Is that Mai?

SHAHAR (weak): I... don't know?

LEADER: Form a line! Don't let them-

More hissing as darts pin him against a house. As the soldiers guarding them are distracted, Shahar gets a brilliant idea.

SHAHAR (whisper): Gimme your hands.

Fong complies without question. Before any of the LF guys can spot it, she uses up her last leftover strength to grab his metal shackles, snapping the material, on his wrists first, then his ankles. One soldier finally has the brains to turn around, being hit in the gut right away by a chunk of earth. Fong continues to wreak havoc on their captors as occasional knives and shuriken pin random attackers against the side, reducing their numbers piece by piece. With a howl, the Governor-General finally launches himself towards four of them at once.

FONG: FOR THE KING!

As the brawl ensues, another soldier with a spear is knocked out by a precise jab as the shadowy figure is finally visible.

CARAMAN: Thank Agni I found you two.

Shahar almost weeps again, in relief, but also in surprise.

SHAHAR (weak): Caraman?

Dried blood present on the right side of his head, the boy briefly shoves his hair backwards, a single curl dropping on his forehead.

CARAMAN: The craziest thing happened. I was at Yue's, I got attacked, they thought I was dead cause I wasn't breathing for a while, then this loud bang woke me up and-

SHAHAR: Watch out!

Distracted by the sound of his own voice, Caraman manages to dodge an incoming rock blast, retaliating successfully with a set of throwing weapons launched at the assailant. Two guys with spears tackle him next, though the boy conjures up the necessary skill and agility to avoid their blades, launching himself over one of their swipes before jabbing the man's elbow, a well-placed cut from a shuriken forcing him to his knees as the second guy swings his blade, Caraman grabbing the spear and disarming his opponent, knocking him out with a mean head strike. Another earthbender launches a rock avalanche, the Crescent Warrior climbing over parts of the attack before launching the spear he'd been carrying, knocking out the bender. Finally, another earthbender is unable to toss the chunk of rock he aims at the boy as a set of knives gets him stuck to a rock wall created earlier by Fong. He knocks him out with a clean hit first, then the other guy from before still on his knees. As the final man drops and Fong returns from his own won matches, Shahar feels like fainting.

FONG: I didn't know you could put up a fight like that.

Caraman shrugs impolitely.

CARAMAN: Well, I mean, I am a Crescent Warrior.

SHAHAR (weak): We should probably leave soon.

CARAMAN: Right.

Fong picks up the girl, able to carry her with his hulking arms.

CARAMAN: Where to?

The General smirks.

FONG: I know just the place.

---

The Dream Team reaches a familiar location, though no one has been here at night. The river quietly washes past the valley, cutting through it like steel through flesh. There's even a round rock thing that Azula sat on a while ago. Above them all, the crescent moon shines brightly.

KENORA: Does he do that often? Just... run away? Or... fly away?

No answer as she dashes past everyone towards Aang, who is leading the group. Notably, neither he nor Ty Lee have their bending staff, since hers was on the saddle and Aang's is... well... kaput.

KENORA: Can't you do something to call him? He's your bison.

Aang's grumpy expression hasn't changed so far.

AANG (cold): I can't. Only with my bison whistle, which is on him.

Kenora halts...

KENORA: That means someone else has one.

...before everyone else joins her.

KENORA: Right? Why else would he run away?

As she utters the thought, both Zuko and Sokka draw their weapons. Bandit remains, like before, strangely quiet.

AANG: We're walking into a trap.

Growling in the distance gets his attention. Creating a tiny flame in his hand, he spots Appa a bit removed from the river valley, tied to some trees in a thick net.

AANG: Appa-

KENORA: Ah-ah-ah.

She firmly grabs his shoulder, causing him to stop. Bending a quick stream of water towards the patch of grass leading to the bison, it activates a complicated mechanism, a net catching nothing instead of the gang.

KENORA: I know who set this trap.

AANG: But that looks like...

The thought taking shape in his mind, the Dream Team forms a circle. Around them, in the darkness of the woodwork, rustling sounds alert them. A flick of his shoulders and Zuko's blades are engulfed in fire, the source of light enough to make out who is stalking them. One after the another, Aang is able to identify their opponents.

Longshot. Smellerbee. Pipsqueak. The Duke. Sneers. Teo. They're only missing...

JET: It would've been far easier for everyone if you had just gotten caught in that net.

Team Avatar turns to find the snarky boy, the rope mechanism apparently back on his waste. Jet's vision focuses on one thing primarily.

JET: Bandit?

The earthbender girl has her arms crossed, noticeably being the only one besides Jet not in a combat pose. Kenora grunts viciously.

KENORA: I'm an idiot - she's a part of them! She captured me last night.

Aang lowers his stance as he looks to his friend, his teacher. The girl avoids her face, blue-ish grey eyes covered in the tiniest film of tears.

AANG: Bandit... you know this is wrong. Look at all the chaos they're causing.

She remains silent, so does Jet. Sokka loosens his stance next, followed by Zuko, then Ty Lee. Kenora doesn't lower her posture for a second, eyeing her targets closely.

AANG: Come on Bandit... we're friends. Not because of Toph. You're my friend. And I'm happy to have you.

Jet's look crumples up at his weird speech. Ultimately, the earthbender girl sighs.

She then walks away from Team Avatar and over to Jet. The boy smirks victoriously.

BANDIT: I'm sorry Aang. You guys are my friends. But the Vultures... they're my family.

Breaking Aang's heart for a second time today, Bandit takes on a fighting pose once again.

BANDIT: And I can't betray my family again.

Tensions only stifle furhter as Kenora's howling laughter echoes through the night.

JET: At least we're not working with waterbender scum.

The girl walks forward, a step further than Aang.

KENORA: You guys are ridiculous. You know that, right?

As Jet draws his swords, everyone but Kenora and Aang ready themselves.

KENORA: Seriously? You guys are like what? Five kids with some knives and sticks? We're Team Avatar. Plus me.

Jet scoffs, spitting out his wheat straw.

JET: And you are?

KENORA: I'm the Pirate Princess, bitch. First female captain and waterbending master ever. I kicked the Avatar's ass, I slayed a giant bug monster, I even defeated Azula once. What are you going to do against us with your fishhooks?

He openly frowns as she holds her ground. Meanwhile, in the corner of his eye, Sokka spots one of the Vultures is reading something.

KENORA: Not impressed? Well, we also have the Avatar.

She points triumphantly to a defeated Aang, the boy looking anything but ready. He complies regardless, a bending pose following suit.

KENORA: I'm sure you've of him. Master of... three...

She looks to find reassuring nods.

KENORA: ...three elements. Three more than you have. The kid is a powerhouse. You stand no chance. So tell me, asshole...

She cracks her knuckles before finishing her speech.

KENORA: ...what are you gonna do?

A quiet hissing sound is followed by Aang flinching. He holds his hand up to his neck, three tiny darts...

He drops to the ground in an instant. Sokka looks to find Teo with some kind of mini crossbow on his arm.

Kenora's machismo melts in an instant.

Ty Lee is the first to act, a massive air dome disrupting the Vultures as they start regrouping. Sokka catches one of Longshot's arrows before retaliating with his boomerang. Zuko meanwhile charges Jet directly, a bending move by Bandit disrupting his path.

Finally, Kenora snaps back into action, a deadly and precise stream of water forming as it wanders across the meadow, hitting every single Vulture in the face, before arriving at Teo, where she bends it over his arm, trying to rip the dart mechanism from it. When he manages to resist, she simply twists her arms, causing the water to snap his arm as he drops to the ground in a painfull scream. She can manage to destroy the apparatus just as Jet launches a cable beside her, crashing into the girl as he drags her across the valley.

Zuko puts up an adamant fight against Bandit, despite his fiery swords proving to be difficult in use when an endless barrage of rocks and walls is hurled against him. A mean strike from below eventually forces him to drop his blades, the boy switching to regular firebending in an instant. His punches and kicks are mostly defensive at first, though as soon as he can get his footwork in order, Bandit is the one forced to defend herself, counter attacks and boulders disrupted by the heat put on her. Zuko eventually grunts, no - howls like a tigerdillo, spreading his fists forward as he puts all of his ferocity into a flamethrower that pushes the girl back a bit, her earth wall crumbling ever so slightly as part of the flame is redirected towards the forest, setting it ablaze.

Ty Lee meanwhile manages to dodge one of Pipsqueak mighty swings as she blasts a strong current towards him, lifting the giant and shoving him away. An arrow barely misses her, a second one cut in half by Sokka's sickle sword. Using her momentary panic, the tiny The Duke launches himself onto Ty Lee's head, pulling at her hair and shoving his boots into her face. Sokka meanwhile begins his three-on-one duel against Sneers, Smellerbee, and Longshot, the prince finding the incoming arrows the most difficult. As he can kick Sneers away, one of these arrows exlodes in front of his face, stunning him with flashing lights. Confused momentarily, Smellerbee can land a cut with her knife.

The Duke finally knocked against a tree, Ty Lee ducks under the weight of Pipsqueak's wooden trunk, maneuvering around the much larger opponent as she spots Sokka struggling. She briefly casts a gust against Longshot, who hides behind a tree, before Pipsqueak's final swipe barely misses the girl. The weapon's hollow inside now directly aimed at him, the acrobat uses up all of her strength to shove a massive amount of air into the trunk, the burst of wind coming out the other side like a small explosion knocking Pipsqueak over, though not quite out yet.

Kenora meanwhile is forced to dodge Jet's incoming strikes, the boy flying from tree to tree with his strange device, his swipes and kicks carrying a lot more force with him than the girl had anticipated. Still, she can successfully block his strikes with her ice-covered forearms. If only she could...

KENORA: HA!

She successfully catches his hooked sword with an ice glove before it can shoot another cable. His momentum seeing him stuck midair, the girl swiftly pulls him down, smacking him against the ground-

She howls in pain, having missed the incoming other cable retracting into his left sword. A deep gash on her cheek sees blood running from it. Jet snorts.

JET: You stand no cha-

He begins to gurgle as her ice glove quickly engulfs his throat, dropping him to his knees.

KENORA: Choke on that.

With the help of Ty Lee, Sokka can wrangle himself free from the unfair duel, yet another arrow redirected towards Longshot wherein it bursts in a loud flash. Zuko continues to be engaged in a spectacular duel with Bandit.

TY LEE: How are we going to deal with this?

Kenora slides next to them casually, looking like she is just about thinking the same thing.

SOKKA: Bandit is clearly the biggest threat. Zuko will keep distracting her while we take out the others, then we can help her.

A series of nods is exchanged. Ty Lee immediately dashes towards Longshot.

SOKKA: I'll deal with Jet.

KENORA: Hook guy?

SOKKA: Yes. Can you deal with the rest?

She nods, and so the prince runs towards a struggling Jet.

KENORA (mumbling to herself): It'd be an honor.

Smellerbee attacks her first, Kenora avoiding her with a spin as she launches water against her face. With a violent pull downwards, she can knock out the girl in an instant. Sneers tries his luck next, his blades only hitting ice as Kenora flicks them away, freezing her fist over before smashing it against his face three times, two enough to secure the K.O..

Jet, freed from his choker, spots his fellow Vultures currently being solo-ed by the waterbender girl.

JET (angry): No!

As Sokka charges him and the two exchange a few blade swings, Jet dashes away with a quick cable, making sure to drag the prince behind him before letting him crash into Kenora. Seeing as Bandit is still busy against Zuko's passionate flames, he targets Ty Lee instead, who is just about to disarm a struggling Longshot. He can only drag her a short distance before a sharp wind blast forces them to land on a branch, pine needles gently falling onto them like early winter snow.

As Kenora gets back up, she correctly predicts an arrow coming her way, freezing it in an ice wall as it tries to emit smoke. Pipsqueak lands a hit before Sokka can tackle him backwards, his sickle sword slicing his tree trunk in half.

KENORA: Can you deal with Hou Yi over there?

The boy nods, blocking incoming arrows as he takes on an archer hidden by trees. Pipsqueak gets back up again, raising his fists.

Bandit, still busy flinging rocks at the raven-haired boy, briefly spots the Kenora vs. Pipsqueak match.

PIPSQUEAK: You think you can win this fight, little girl?

Kenora reacts with insult, walking up to him slowly while dragging water up from below. She easily dodges two swings, then lands an ice punch to the face. A clean knock-out as boxing bells ring.

The earthbender gnashes her teeth. Zuko still bothering her, she can finally perform the same move on him that she used on the Blue Spirit - the loosened ground beneath him swallowing him up to his knees. He grunts as he tries to free himself.

Both Kenora and Bandit meet each other's eyes at the same time. While the earthbender launches herself forward on a mighty rock wave, Kenora sucks up enough water from the grass below to create massive pillars of water. The girls clash as they both roar.

---

JET: None of this is necessary. You could join us.

He spins his blades in a performative fashion, trying to impress his opponent more than to intimidate, he finds a strange mean look on her that he didn't quite think the girl could muster.

JET: Bandit wouldn't have to choose. And you wouldn't have to go down.

TY LEE (cold): I'm not the one going down.

He snorts, a serious tone returning to his face. As he snaps one of his cables forward, he abruptly stops.

Trapped in a sturdy dome of air, Ty Lee approaches him slowly, keeping the aero prison stable as the cable meant to pull Jet forward is retracted back inside his sword. The noise of the bending act drowns Jet's ears as if standing next to a wind turbine.

It happens quite fast. With the force of a truck, she smashes him against the tree behind them, his cable machine breaking on impact. She free him from the dome, though continues a series of attacks that smack him against the trunk or the branch they're standing on repeatedly, each hit more painful than the prior one. As he finally drops his swords, she proceeds to fling him straight downwards, the impressively large pine halting his fall very little, instead pressing its needles against him until he finally hits solid ground.

He coughs with pain as the acrobat lands next to him, a gust of wind conjured by her descent blowing him against the tree one last time.

TY LEE (cold): Don't get back up.

---

After a while, Zuko breaks free from his rocky shackles, his trousers scrapped and his legs bleeding. Seeing as Kenora is able to hold herself against the earthbender in an impressive match, he spots Appa in the distance instead.

---

With every new arrow, Sokka's breath becomes slightly more frantic. His opponent is somewhere hidden in the woodwork, arrows launched at him at random intervals, the boy barely managing to block or dodge. Only the nearby fire devouring the woods offers some light.

A mean hissing is blocked by his sword again, though with a number of loud bangs caused by the arrow, the prince is briefly stunned. Another projectile hits his hilt, Sokka forced to drop his weapon and seek shelter behind a tree himself. He takes a breather as the sounds of earth and water clashing echo nearby. He peeks his head out long enough to spot where the next arrow is coming from, a net sprawling from it as it misses the boy barely. He takes a deep breath, unsheathing his boomerang as he takes proper aim. Then...

With a mighty toss, his weapon flies. For his plan to work, he has to charge his opponent too. He briefly readies himself, reminded that he is genuinely happy in life, even if all hope seems lost right now.

With a ridiculous battle scream, he charges Longshot, a fake-out attempt to grab his weapon forcing him to let yet another arrow fly. The net that burst from the projectile captures Sokka and forces him to drop down. As Longshot steps forth and takes a breather, he is knocked in the back of the head by a certain silver throwing weapon. His conical hat flying off, the boy falls over, knocked out for good. The boomerang lands a foot or two away from a smirking prince.

SOKKA: Always coming back to me.

---

A massive wave of water crashes across the meadow as it washes towards Bandit, the girl creating a gigantic wall of rock to block it. Kenora meanwhile forms three orbs of liquid, tossing them upwards wherein they explode, the hailing shower of ice partially controlled by the girl herself in order to ensure a strike against Bandit. The earthbender grunts as she is pushed to her limit, attempting to disrupt her opponent with what can only be described as an earthquake, the waves of rumbling caused by violent wrist and knuckle movements. The Pirate Princess finds herself knocked back and into the air, though two wateracles hooked into the ground allow her to pull herself back, transforming her watery cables into ice chunks that Bandit can block somewhat, her wall shattering on impact as the second one breaks her defenses. As she prepares for another attack, a final air current knocks her over, dragging her across the ground and towards Ty Lee, who emerges silently from the woodwork. Her expression reminds her of herself back when she was an asshole, Kenora thinks.

Appa's growl announces his return and his liberation, Zuko with both broadswords back in his hilt at the helm.

ZUKO: Where's Sokka?

The prince emerges from the woods right after Ty Lee, wheezing for oxygen as he walks towards the bison.

BANDIT: This isn't over!

With all of Team Avatar and Kenora standing as one, Bandit breaks of a chunk of earth that... stops midair and turns to dust. The Dream Team is speechless.

KANNA: I think we've had enough fighting for one day.

The kids look in awe as a group of... old people shows up, all familiar faces to some degree. Bumi digs himself up from the ground, standing across from an angered Bandit. Jeong Jeong works on containing the forest fire as Master Pakku extinguishes the flames alongside him. All of them wear strange blue/white robes.

SOKKA: Gran-gran!

KENORA: Kanna!

Ignoring blood relations for a moment, both the prince and the princess gift a warm hug to the old woman.

KANNA: Oh, I am so happy to see you. Though I wish it was under better circumstances.

SOKKA: Where on Earth did all of you come from?

KENORA: And who are you?

Zuko hops down swiftly from the bison's head.

ZUKO: The White Lotus.

Another figure appears, Master Piandao, respectful bows exchanged between him and the swordfighter.

PIANDAO: You kids need to get to Ba Sing Se fast. We will stay here and try to protect Omashu and Gaoling. The Tribe will surely use our weakness to attack now.

Kenora briefly exchanges looks with Piandao, turning pale as she recognizes where she remembers him from.

Ty Lee is first to hover onto Appa, taking his reins without saying a word. Nods and hugs are exchanged before the process of moving proceeds. Sokka was the only one smart enough to remember that all of their stuff is still in the camp, though for now they haven't decided on whether or not they should head back.

Kenora, on the other hand, is the only one smart enough to remember a motionless Avatar. Despite their grievances, she approaches him with a friendly expression.

KENORA: Feeling better?

AANG: Sort of. I can move my face again.

She rolls her eyes and smiles a bit. Despite the rest of his body temporarily paralyzed, huge amounts of guilt still cause him internal pain. He's also surprised that the waterbender girl can so easily lift him up.

KANNA: What happened to the Avatar?

AANG: Shirshu darts. I think.

The old woman also gives him a warm smile.

KANNA: I suppose you ought to congratulate your friends for winning this fight without your help.

The boy looks up at Appa, finding exhausted companions, one very important individual missing of course. He even briefly looks at Kenora, who flicks her eyebrows as he finds the courage to smile.

KANNA: Your destiny lies in Ba Sing Se, Avatar. I know your journey so far has been marked by suffering. But I assure you that you will succeed in saving the world.

He doesn't quite know what to make of her words and merely thanks her with a nod. Only afterwards does he realize that the nod wasn't performed as that part of his body is still numb.

As Kenora walks up Appa's tail Aang spots Bandit in a show-off against Bumi, neither earthbender willing to make the first move. As she briefly meets his gaze, she averts her eyes in a sharp motion.

Tears stream down both their faces as the bison announces its departure with a growl.