"You make no sense, girl," Lao Ge grimaced in confusion as he looked at his student meditating in front of him. They'd just arrived on the outskirts of a city called Senlin Village two days prior, and everyone else was passed out from the long flight from Youke. Lao Ge had secretly indicated to Kyoshi that they should continue their lessons that night, with a meditation session. Apparently it wasn't going well. "You're an absolute mess."

"I'm…sorry?" Kyoshi unfolded herself from her meditating position. She didn't know what she was doing wrong.

Lao Ge shook his head in exasperation. "I've just- I've never seen anyone's chakras like this. Or their chi pathways either for that matter. How are you functioning?"

Kyoshi blinked at him, she didn't feel like there was anything wrong with her. "I don't know what chakras are….or chi."

"Chi is the energy that flows inside of you. Chakras are pools or clusters of chi, and they are either opened or closed. The pathways are straight and connect from one to another," he grimaced. "You aren't following those rules."

I feel like I've been breaking a lot of 'rules' lately.

"Your pathways aren't straight, they are twisted and gnarled, your chakra flow is not flowing how it needs to!" He was looking her up and down, like a healer trying to diagnose an issue. "And the chakras themselves….. They are…. Ajar. Like a door. How can that be?!"

Kyoshi tried to feel these supposed chakras, but got nothing. Physically she felt fine, even her jaw felt better after Kirima's healing.

"In all honesty, I'm surprised you can still bend earth! This is probably why you're struggling with the other elements!"

Kyoshi was a little relieved, she may have just found out her underlying issue. But what sounded like a spiritual birth defect might be the worst news concerning it.

"How can I fix it?!" She needed to bend all four elements for her to have a chance to stand up against Jianzhu.

Lao Ge shrugged, "I don't know. You're a first, kid. In all the thousands of years I've lived!"

Great, fantastic. Kyoshi just had to be super special for the worst thing in the world. She put her head in her hands in dismay. What was she going to do?

Shuffling and rustling near her pulled her out of her personal despair. When she lifted her head up, she barely had time to catch something being thrown at her. It was a scroll.

Lao Ge plopped back down to where he was sitting before. "Eh, try that. It deals with chakra paths." He waved his hand dismissively, as if done with the issue for now. For someone who was just making a big deal about her chakra paths being a freak of nature, he seemed pretty calm about it now.

"Is this the only way to fix it?" she asked.

"Like I said, no idea! Normally, you would want to sit here and meditate and open your chakras up one by one. However, with how your pathways are mangled… I fear the flow might get stuck and you might POP!" He laughed.

Kyoshi pouted, it didn't seem like it was a laughing matter.

She unfurled the scroll, and realized it was one of the firebending scrolls she had placed on the bottom of her to-do list. It appeared to be more like a healing scroll rather than a combat one. It didn't seem to fix damage that she could see, like the waterbending ones she'd glanced at back in Yokoya. Because of that she basically deemed it basically useless.

But, it apparently had spiritual healing properties. She looked at the forms. It showed two people, one laying down and the other person performing small arm maneuvers around the body. It was a pretty simple looking form all things considered.

She looked at the bottom to read the text, hoping it would give some insight as to what it wanted her to do.

The words were faded but what she could make out was: "For Firebenders…. to other Firebenders…. Chakra flow….. Reignite."

Well that certainly didn't help her understand the context.

She looked up at Lao Ge, confused. He responded by patting the ground with his palm, which caused a human sized figure with indented grooves in the body popping out of the ground.

"I don't get it!" She held up the scroll to show him. "It's for firebender to use on other firebenders, right? What use is this going to do for me? I'm the only firebender here!" Barely one at that, since her fight with Jianzhu, she hadn't been able to produce flame again.

It's not like Rangi was there to perform whatever task this was on Kyoshi.

Lao Ge waved his hand dismissively. "Use it on yourself, figure it out. You can use the doll I made to practice the movements, it follows the chi pathways. I believe it's similar to how the Northern Water Tribe teaches healing."

Kyoshi wished she was learning water healing instead. Water healing would be a great move to learn, even if she couldn't bend water yet, but this? It was too specific and still didn't make any sense.

"But, why? This seems useless! What's so special about this that the firebenders had to invent it?"

Lao Ge cracked his neck side to side. "As you've probably heard before, firebending is the one element that's influenced the most by one's emotions. Partially because it comes from within." He stretched his arms over his head, and then stretched his back from side to side. "Sometimes, those emotions cause problems. Inner turmoil or stressful events can harm them. It's all spiritual and mental, but it can cause their flame to not produce, which in extreme cases, can put their life at risk."

Lao Ge stopped stretching and gave Kyoshi a long, patronizing smile.

"You've been in some stressful situations recently have you not? Perhaps that's why your bending is malfunctioning? Maybe if you get your firebending unlocked, you can unlock the other's more easily?" He gave her a wide, creepy grin. "Who knows? Maybe it'll come in handy. Maybe it'll save your life?"

Kyoshi furrowed her eyebrows at him and pouted, before dropping her gaze to the scroll.

Looking at it more closely, she saw images of fire in the "doctor" figure and no fire in the "patient". The doctor had his hands glow as he followed the pathways, the steps showed that the patient's chakra pathways light up with each touch. It followed a long patter with the final step ending at the mouth, the doctor would transfer the same soft fire from their gut to their mouth, and then press it into the patient's mouth. Like it was performing CPR. Kyoshi made the connection with what the "reginiting" part of the explanation on the scroll meant. They were sharing-no, transferring- fire.

But how was she going to follow through on that last step by herself? Inhale and gulp? Well, all she could do was try…..

"No, no, no, no, NO! Again!" Wong instructed Kyoshi to begin her fan-dance set again. He had promised to not only help her with her earthbending, but also to show her how to use her mother's fans. All it took was taking a few oaths and to become an official member of the Flying Opera Company.

Kyoshi gazed outward at the hills in front of her, she was able to see the city of Senlin Village on the other side of the hill easily without craning her neck. It amazed and surprised her how she was able to be on the complete opposite side of the Earth Kingdom when she used to be stuck in Yokoya. And they had achieved such a feat in only a few days.

It'd been about two weeks since they'd arrived. Two weeks since her initiation heist and they set up shop in the area…. Two weeks since she'd last seen Rangi. Not seeing her friend put her on edge.

To be fair, seeing her would put her on edge as well. Different anxiety for different situations. Kyoshi found it was less stress-inducing to be running for her life and knowing Rangi was right behind her, than it was wondering when and if Rangi would strike.

Knowing the military trained firebender, Kyoshi wouldn't be surprised if Rangi had beaten her to the city, inventing some new super travel fire bending just to perform the feat; and was now lying in wait for an ambush. If anyone could find a way to outrun a flying bison, it'd be Rangi. The thought of her dropping out of a tree like a webbed leopard kept Kyoshi awake most nights.

I hope she's ok. She thought, remembering her tired state the last time they'd met, as well as the injuries she'd received during their encounters. As her thoughts drifted to her friend's well being, she messed up a step, and Wong gave her leg a swift wack with a pebble. "Ow!"

"Again!"

Kyoshi inhaled, and started reciting the new poem she learnt after Wong had grown tired of her quoting all of Yuan Zhen:

When two people are at one in their inmost hearts

They shatter even the strength of iron

or of bronze

And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts

Their words are sweet and strong

like the fragrance of orchids.

As she finished the poem and set, she couldn't help but think of Rangi. She told herself it was only because the poem had the word 'bronze' in it, which reminded her of her friend's eyes.

Her mind wandered to the fourth line, and made her wonder if they'd be able to clear up this misunderstanding. Maybe even go back to the way they used to be? The possibility of it not happening made her heart sink. She knew the longer it took for her to tell her the truth, the harder it was going to be for Rangi to believe her.

"Yuck," Lek bared his tongue in disgust. He was kicking back on a mound of earth he had bent. He was waiting for Wong's turn to be over so he could help Kyoshi with her earthbending. His lessons dealt with precision and control, something she desperately needed.

"What?" Kyoshi asked, annoyed.

Lek rolled his eyes, "You're too lovey dovey." He grimaced, like a child having witnessed their parents sharing a chased kiss.

Kyoshi matched his eye roll with the same vigor, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "I didn't write the poem!" He loved to nitpick her, but this was ridiculous. He knew she learnt it from Wong! The damn thing had existed for centuries!

"Yeah, but you were totally thinking of someone right now! It was written all over your face!"

Kyoshi flinched back in shock. Can he read minds? Wait my face? She touched her cheek, confused. Had she been making a face? What kind of face?

"Ah! I knew it!" he teased.

Or he was just good at guessing, or Kyoshi had a horrible poker face. As an annoyed flush came to her cheeks, she resolved to work on developing an expressionless mask.

She felt another swift blow to her calf again.

"Again! Your left wrist was too loose!"

The mask would have to wait.

"So you step like this and move your arms here," Kirima instructed by the riverside. Kyoshi imitated her, but despite following the movements, she couldn't feel herself pulling the water. Not like she had with earth, or even when she dodged fire that Rangi had blasted at her.

Which was a shame, she had been planning to playfully waterwhip Kirima in the face as revenge for Rangi. Even if it did out her as the Avatar. The reaction would've been worth it.

Kyoshi's days for the past two weeks had been training, training, and more training. And waiting, lots of waiting.

She'd train with Wong and Lek to help her with her earthbending, then Wong would hit her with some fan drills, then Kirima would go through waterbending forms. The rest of the day Kyoshi would either practice forms from some of the bending scrolls she'd acquired, or get some cardio in. She had a feeling she'd need a lot of it.

At night, she'd meditate with Lao Ge as he imparted his wisdom on how best to end people's lives, and how to be spiritual. Two things that she felt didn't really go hand in hand.

The waiting was an entirely different matter. A whole new mess Kyoshi had created. Great for the team, but horrible ramifications for the Avatar's image if word ever got out. Oh, and probably the world! ….or at least the Earth Kingdom.

"So how does it feel, kid? Feel like you might start waterbending?" Kirima rolled her eyes, not noticing Kyoshi's small flinch.

Kyoshi recovered and then gave her a teasing smile. "I think my circulation has improved!"

Kirima groaned. "Guess you want to keep going? Are you sure this'll help your earthbending? You're fans seem to be better equipped than this."

Kirima was right in that regard. Sometime between the heist and Senlin Village, they'd found Kyoshi had a much easier time earthbending when she used her fans than if she did it freehanded. She was a lot more precise and could easily bend smaller objects now.

If only I realized that back in Youke. She winced, thinking back at how she hit Rangi with a giant earth pillar.

Sadly, it didn't help her with bending the other elements. Guess the fans were only a cheat to help with the chakra pathways that involved her earthbending? Or maybe they would be helpful to the other elements, she'd just need to fix her chakra and chi? Kyoshi still didn't understand how that all worked, so she would just continue to power through it until something happened.

Kyoshi shrugged at Kirima, and gave her the same explanation when Kirima first questioned her motives. "Wisdom can be gleaned from every nation."

Kirima rolled her eyes at the younger girl, again. She was the "older sister," and so she was beholden to helping the brotherhood. She had no reason to deny her new " younger sister" any help. Even if she did think it was a pain.

They went through a handful of more forms before Kirima stopped suddenly. "Finally that lazy ass is back!"

Kyoshi's heart sank as she saw Lao Ge's white hair slowly approaching them. He gave Kyoshi a wink, as Wong and Lek joined in after hearing Kirima's voice.

"Did you find a buyer?" Kirima asked expectantly.

"Why of course, my dear!" He gave her a wild grin. "Patience is a virtue, and now our virtue is paying off!"

Kyoshi's heart sank even deeper. It was on its way to reaching the earth's core at this rate. The rest of her team cheered, unaware of Kyoshi's spiraling mood.

Kyoshi felt a slap of appreciation hit between her shoulder blades. "And we have this kid to thank for our luck turning around!"

"I'll admit, I was wary of having you join, but who knew you'd be the golden goose chicken who'd lay a golden egg!" Kirima flashed a smile.

Lek grumbled, but the words sounded like they were in appreciation all the same.

Kyoshi forced a smile, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere with her new team. It's not like she could do much about the situation anyway.

How could she have known that some idiot politician would sneakily hide super top secret government plans inside a local, hole-in-a-wall bookstore? It was asinine! What were they thinking? Did they think they were in some spy thriller play?

Kyoshi thought they looked special, but she didn't realize they were that special. She was in the middle of committing a terrorist act at worst, and blackmail at best.

She could only pray that no lives would be lost, and it'd just be politicians falling on their faces. But she knew better, that kind of error always trickled down to the people that needed help the most.

Her only hope was now in the hands of an assassin!

Fantastic.

The small silver lining was that she was under the impression hated incompetent political figures and leaders who harmed the people they were in charge of.

Unfortunately, Jianzhu didn't fall into that category. A cowardly part of her did wish 'Grandpa could make the bad man go away,' but he'd made his opinions on the man clear. At least he placated her that he wouldn't take an active role in her quest for vengeance, which meant he wouldn't stop her.

That fact might've been the only run of good luck she'd had so far.

"You won't be coming with us to the trade off tomorrow."

"What do you mean I'm not going with you?" Kyoshi looked up from the firebending scroll and practice mannequin and glared at Lao Ge. "This is my error and I should witness it!"

"You really like punishing yourself, don't you kid?" Lao Ge scratched his back. He wasn't facing her anymore, instead he was laying on his side, hand propping his head up, and looked out on the hill at Senlin Village. "We need someone to watch over the camp. Plus, your time would be better spent practicing forms, doing push ups, or even meditating."

Kyoshi let out an annoyed huff. That's what she's been doing, for over two weeks! Not that she felt like she made much progress. Bending wise at least, well…. except for earth that is.

She definitely felt like she had more stamina thanks to her running around like a pig chicken with her head cut off, and Wong's fan exercises. Between the fan and form practices, she might even be able to hold her own in a fight…at least with an amateur.

But was it really that bad she might spend an hour or three watching some exchange happen once?

"Do you know what makes an Air Nomad an Air Nomad?" Lao Ge asked her abruptly.

Kyoshi looked at him confused. "Airbending and praying?" Being nice. Having a bison. Helping those in need. Being a nomad. NOT killing. She could go on and on.

"No. It's 'the ability to sit down quietly, wherever you are, and just...sit. To sit with yourself, without causing problems or hurting anyone else.'" He smiled in a jeering and unexpected way.

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"That's it. All you have to do is sit quietly with yourself, anywhere, any place, without want or plan," he said, back to sounding like a teacher scolding an unruly student. Well, she supposed he was, but she was still surprised by his tone. She didn't think her going was that bad. "This is a famous quote by Yangchen herself, in fact!"

Kyoshi stared at him even more confused, and briefly wondered what would make the Great Yangchen say that about her own nation. Seemed a little dismissive to her.

"So maybe," he continued, the slight annoyance still in his voice. "If you did that, maybe you could finally airbend."

Stay here and don't cause problems. She read his message loud and clear.

Kyoshi pouted at the dig, but conceded. "Alright," she mumbled. She had a feeling he'd pin her arms to her side and bury her up to her neck into the ground if she didn't just agree.

"Good girl," she could hear a smile in his voice. "Just keep practicing and meditating, I'm sure you'll get a breakthrough soon."

Kyoshi's face itched. Actually, just as she kept getting comfortable, something would itch. A breeze would tickle her, the grass would find exposed skin to lick. She couldn't get comfortable, and she most certainly couldn't just 'sit with herself.'

"Guess I'm not an Air Nomad," she sighed. Sorry mom. She sarcastically thought.

The sun had set and the Flying Opera Company still hadn't returned from their exchange. Did they get arrested? Are they dead?

Kyoshi considered leaving, maybe to go rescue them. But she wouldn't know where to look, they hadn't told her the meeting place.

Well at least I have Pengpeng and some supplies. She may have to find new bending masters, but at least she had a means of escape if it came down to it.

"Stay here and don't cause problems," she repeated to herself. Trying to settle herself back into a comfortable position to meditate. Lao Ge wanted her here, she'd be here. He wouldn't go down that easily, she was sure. And neither would the rest of her team.

Kyoshi had just readjusted into the lotus position, when she heard something. It was faint, but there was definitely a rustling sound. As she turned to look around, something hard struck her in the back of the head. Kyoshi fell to the ground, feebly clutching her head as her vision started to spot.

She struggled to look up, to see who her attacker was, and in the shadow casted by the tree and clouds, she could see fiery bronze eyes staring down at her.

"Ra-rang…." Kyoshi said weakly, as her vision started to multiply and blur.

"Don't worry, you won't be causing problems anymore," she said sweetly, her hand releasing an object as it thunked to the ground. Her figure moved, crouching down to Kyoshi, she felt her head being lifted up, and warm lips pressed against her ear. "Unfortunately for you, you won't be staying here," Rangi whispered.

A/N: The poem is "Excerpt from 易经 (Excerpt from I Ching, Book of Changes)"

What I find funny about the poem is…well..bronze…but also it mentions Orchids. Which is what Hei-Ran's name means kfljdalskjfkl;ajfkl;aj gdi can't escape the Rangi/Hei-Ran overlaps. TT0TT

The fire scroll is my evolution on the energy pathway thing that is seen by the Fire shaman in LoK/What Nyahitha used on Kuruk in Lost Friends(?). I thought "if they can read energy pathways and stuff, why not expand on it?" 8U

Anyway~! Uhhhhhh gonna try to get the next chapter out ASAP…..I may have gotten distracted…. ;U plus I have a feeling the next one is going to be LONG (if I cover what I want to cover)...so it's either going to be a very long chapter, or two fairly length chapters. I'm not sure yet.