Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: I don't know, would depend exactly who I was and what kind of bender I was (if I was one at all.)

Zigzagdoublezee: Yes, she's caught between maintaining her authority and her family. And considering the circumstances, it's obvious which she's going to pick.

As Always, Please Review!

Eventually, Kya disentangled herself from her children.

"You came home," she said tearfully, as Yue approached. Neither sibling could say anything in response to that, as they both nodded silently.

"How did you escape?"

"An Air Nomad got us out," Yue said.

"Oh," Kya blinked back tears. "Well, I am thankful to them."

She seemed to realise that Yue was there, and turned to her, smoothing over the new creases in her robe.

"Sorry about that," she said. "I'm Kya, regent of the South while my husband..."

She trailed off. Yue knew what she would have said.

"Pleased to meet you," Yue said, jumping in quickly. "I'm happy to be here."

"My name is Kanna," the older woman nodded politely. "But they know me as Gran-Gran."

Nobody noticed Pakku shift awkwardly behind her.

Yue greeted her politely.

"I'm happy you are here," Kya told her, "and I have to thank you. For bringing my children home."

"I think Rinzen did that more than me," Yue gestured to the Nomad, who smiled.

"So you're the Nomad she was talking about?"

"No!" Rinzen shook his head. "I only took them from the North Pole."

"Ah," Kya smiled. "Still, I can only thank you. Would you care to come in?"

She gestured towards the door.

"I think we have much to discuss."

"What about Gembul?" Rinzen asked.

"Who's Gembul?" Kya frowned. Rinzen gestured to the bison.

"You are far from the first Air Nomad to come this far south," Kya assured him. "We have stables. He will be well looked after."

Rinzen nodded as the group turned and began climbing the steps. As they entered the room they were greeted with a lavish interior, reminiscent of the decorations in the Palace in the north that Yue had grown up in but with their own distinctly southern twist.

Kya waited until the heavy doors had slammed behind them and then turned to them.

"I am glad that you are here," she said. "It... it hasn't been easy."

"The Fire Nation?" Sokka guessed.

"Not just them," his mother replied. "When their ambassador came to deliver the declaration of war to me... that was one of the worst moments of my life. It has stiff competition though, from the moment two days later when I found out that the North Pole had been attacked and you were missing."

She smiled.

"So I'm glad you managed to get away."

"Dad didn't," Katara said quietly. "He stayed behind."

For a moment, nobody said anything else.

"He did it for a reason," Kya said eventually. "He did it to get you home."

She turned away quickly, eager to change the subject.

"Which is good. Our fast ships have returned bearing news of a huge Fire Nation fleet sailing south. We think they mean to attack us."

"We know, we saw," Yue explained.

"You did?" Kya whirled towards her, grasping at hope. "Tell me everything!"

And so Yue did. The southerners and Pakku nodded thoughtfully, and when she had finished they looked at each other.

"If they haven't got a commander any more, then maybe they'll just leave?" Kya asked hopefully. "At least until they have a new one."

"They already have a new one," Yue told them. "His name is Zhao. I don't think we'll be that lucky."

"Then we will not rely on luck," Kya shrugged. "We have our own contingency plans, and I've already given the orders to put them into effect. When this Zhao arrives, the South will be ready for him. They aren't the only ones with tricks up their sleeves."

"We can help!" Yue said enthusiastically. "We've been training on our way south. Our waterbending, I mean! We just need a master, and then we can really help you!"

Everyone looked at Pakku, who smiled modestly.

"It seems like fate," he said. "Before all this started, your father entrusted me with the task of training the new Avatar, whoever they might turn out to be. And here, at the opposite end of the world, we are. I would be honoured to train you, Avatar."

He bowed, deeply.

"And Katara too!" Yue said.

The smile vanished from Pakku's face.

"Well..." he hesitated.

"Well what?" Katara asked.

"Look, the thing is..." Pakku looked uncomfortable. "That's not really how we do things in the North. You know that, Princess."

"Why not?" Yue asked. "I've seen Katara waterbending, she's really good!"

"She's a healer!" Pakku snapped. "That is her role. That is the way it has always been."

"Is being a healer my role?" Yue asked.

There was a pause.

"You're the Avatar," Pakku folded his arms. "That's different."

"It's unfair!" Sokka interjected. "My sister can fight!"

"I do not doubt it," Pakku said coldly. "But just because one can do something, it does not mean that one should. Our tribes have lasted for millennia, and through it all these rules have served us well. It is not in our best interest to start messing about with them with the Fire Nation bearing down on us! Our culture is endangered enough already. The North has fallen, our people are scattered. We must preserve what we can."

"But-"

"Why are you acting like being a healer is such a bad thing, anyway?" Pakku demanded. "The Water Tribes honour those who care for them, you know this. You must also know that there will be a battle soon. There needs to be someone to attend to the wounded afterwards."

"The Kyoshi Islanders have female warriors," Sokka pointed out. "I've seen them."

"How nice for them," Pakku sneered. "But do I look like a Kyoshi Islander to you, my Prince?"

He shook his head.

"I cannot train Princess Katara. My honour will not allow it. I'm sorry, Avatar."

"I am a Princess too," Yue pointed out. "And my father is not here. I can order you to do it."

"You can," Pakku agreed. "But you know the rules. The Avatar must forfeit any earthly ranks and titles they hold. You are beyond that now."

He turned to leave.

"Which means I am too. I will train you, because you are the Avatar and the world needs you to know how to fight. Now, more than ever. But I will not consent to go against tradition."

"If you will not train her, you will not train me." Yue folded her arms and stared at him stubbornly.

"So be it."

And with that, Master Pakku began to leave.

"Pakku." Kanna spoke for the first time since they had entered the building, her voice hard. "Stop this. You are being unreasonable."

Pakku stopped, and tensed up.

"I'm sorry," he said. "But that's just the way it is."

Then he left. The door slammed behind him.

"What's his problem?" Katara demanded. "Can't they see the city's in danger? They need everyone they can get!"

"Pakku always was fond of tradition," Kanna muttered. "Don't worry, I'll have a word with him. I might be able to win him around."

Kya nodded.

"Whatever you do, you should do it quickly," she said. "We won't have long before the Fire Nation arrives."

Yue nodded. Maybe getting training would be more difficult than she had anticipated.