Aaaaaaaand I'm back! Haven't abandoned this story, I promise.

Apologies for the delay, but I do hope this looong chapter makes up for it! First off, thank you so so much to all the reviews I received. They were so lovely to read, and a particular shout out to Mee-Mee who left such fantastically descriptive comments! So thoughtful of you! :D I've been meaning to get to replying, so please bear with me.

Just as a warning, I've dealt with rather serious topics in this chapter. I've tried to leave most of it to the imagination, but I figured a cautionary word was in order.

Happy reading!

The journey was short but draining.

After exploring the ship's depths with the two boys - where the most interesting discovery was the (lowest) level of sailor hygiene - Katara stood on its deck, struggling to keep her eyes open against the soaring winds.

The Western Air Temple had faded into the fog behind; she didn't dare look back.

There was an uneasiness amongst them. Sokka's back was turned to her, but she could sense his apprehension echoing across the ship. A low noise of idle chatter added the sullenness of Toph and the others, speaking of anything but the impending task ahead of them.

And though he wasn't present, still downstairs where he avoided them all, Zuko was almost impossible to ignore. She listened to his silence, there under the floorboards, heavy and fierce as the waves that smashed against them relentlessly through the night. A crash earlier had startled her, but she didn't check - and the quiet after seemed to warn her off a change of heart.

There was an uneasiness there, and as her eyes laid on the docks of the Earth Kingdom, as wide and looming as the starry sky it stood under, she took her breath.

As they approached, the chatter and laughter of Earth Kingdom sailors reaching their ears, Zuko emerged, a large rucksack heaved on his back. "We need disguises," he said.

He was met with a flurry of movement: Haru reached for his hood as Duke tucked his hair under a gigantic, floppy hat. Sokka took out a fake moustache and beard from his pocket and delicately stuck it to his face, adding a slight twist at the ends satisfyingly. Teo hid his black mop under a fluffy blonde wig he'd once found (Toph had mercilessly bullied him for days, but truth be told - he kinda liked it.) Toph wrapped herself in a satin robe, her unseeing eyes shrouded in shadow.

Katara was in the midst of letting her own hair down to cover her face when she caught Zuko's watchful eye. "What? What's wrong?" she asked him.

He glanced at Toph as he spoke, shrugging softly. "Just...keep close."

The waterbender opened her mouth to press him further, but was cut off by the sudden jerk of the ship creaking to a halt.

"Here she comes!" a voice bellowed beneath them. They scurried to grab their belongings as a metal ramp connected to the deck with a resonating clink. Zuko went first, tucked away in his own black hood. The others followed closely behind, careful not to look up in fear of eye contact with an unwanted stranger. Katara couldn't help herself. A glance and she had to quickly muffle her gasp.

In all the times travelling to the Earth Kingdom, they had always avoided the main square of the docks, preferring to lurk near the edges until they were well out of range. She had known the Fire Nation had renovated the place, but here, she was finally experiencing the full glory.

Enveloped by an orchestra of voices, footsteps, workers bustling away, she couldn't decide where to look. A patchwork of vast metal ships and hundreds of crates and merchandise, held together by the seams of sailors, scurrying around as they laughed and argued and instructed. Lights dazed her from all ends, arrogant and loud, demanding her attention. Above, below, to her sides. Welcome to the Earth Kingdom, they said, mockingly. It's too late to turn back now.

So captivated by her surroundings, Katara almost collided with Haru before she caught herself. They had stopped, for some reason. Stopped here, in the middle of the crowd?

"Psst. What's going on?" Katara hissed at the earthbender, craning her neck around to see what was happening.

"Zuko's gone to talk to the captain of the ship we just used," he whispered back at her. "Some sort of debt-settling. He told us not move."

What? Here? Now? Glancing over their heads, she caught a sight of Zuko with a tall, slender man, their heads bent in intense discussion. From the distance, she could see a distinct scowl etched on the firebender's face, whilst the older man smirked softly at him.

"Let's hope Sparky knows what he's doing," Toph muttered, shifting in agitation from foot to foot. "We don't exactly blend in."

Even behind the disguises, Katara felt vulnerable. She started picking out the nearest escape points, should they be recognised. There, between the two carts, where two young girls were standing. Not too many people there and the girls looked hardly threatening. It would be easier to push through and head straight for the bushes. That's a good exit too, next to the loaded crates. Toph could tip that over and delay anyone that was chasing them, even for a brief moment. Water was all around them, which was brilliant. She could flood the whole area and freeze everyone, if needed. Or how about -

"We need to go. Now."

Zuko didn't need to tell them twice. The group moved straight through the swarming centre, dodging trolleys here and men there, pointedly staring ahead. No one seemed to notice them, or cared enough to do so.

At last, they found a quiet alleyway adjacent to the docks, where the only other company was that of a straggly cat with one eye. The darkness provided a welcome cover, and everyone visibly relaxed at the familiarity of shadows.

"Well that went smoothly," Teo said, brightly, fixing his wig. "Sure is lucky we have you, Zuko. How'd you know that guy, anyway?"

Everyone's attention shifted to the firebender, who started to turn bright red. "We...had a run-in a few months ago. I did him a favour, and he owed me. End of story," he muttered curtly. "Now, we really need to get a move on. I know there's a couple ostrich horses back here we can use to get us to Mosho City - Katara, are you paying attention?"

Her eyes were transfixed. Zuko's "friend" had just sauntered over to the two young girls by the crates, only a few metres away, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. Under any circumstances, this shouldn't have struck her the way it had - but there was something in the smoothness of his step, the stiffness of the girls' bodies, the way everyone in the vicinity averted their eyes, seemingly finding themselves needed elsewhere, anywhere but here.

A hand on her shoulder. "Hey, we really need to go," Sokka said, gently, his eyes searching. "What's the matter?"

She twitched under his fingers, a frown on her lips. Something felt very wrong about the ship captain. Katara watched as he raised a hand and casually stroked the arm of one of the girls, moving closer and closer as he did so.

"Katara." A sharp tug and suddenly, she was staring into a pair of yellow eyes, hard as how her heart felt. "We're leaving. Right now."

She could hear Duke questioning Toph in a hushed whisper behind Zuko as she turned and faced the firebender head-on. "No," Katara said, firmly. "I think those girls need help-"

"Katara," he said again, a little harsher. "Not now. We need to keep moving."

"Can't you see how uncomfortable they are?"

"If you go out there, you'll blow our cover," Zuko hissed. "He's notorious around here - you get in his way, I can't help you. He's settled his debt, so if he sees me, he'll have us all arrested. Let this one go, Katara, you can't save everyone."

She opened her mouth to argue, but was shocked at the gentle tug of Haru, pleading with her to listen. Glancing at everyone's faces, her heart sank when she realised she was fighting a losing battle. The world slowed until time stopped, freezing her in the moment. Taking a breath, she calmed the rising anger, finally raising her eyes, vicious as blades.

"So that's it? You're all turning a blind eye?" Katara growled at everyone. "Good to know we're standing up for the common folk."

"Look," Toph interjected, albeit hesitantly. "I don't feel right about leaving them either - but we need to think about the greater good. Aang needs us now. We have to help him first and we're no use to him if we're in a cell, too."

But when did we stop helping the people who needed us most?

Refusing to reply, she pushing through them deeper into the alley. Katara tried to keep her face straight, but it crumpled when she thought no one could see.

Aang would have helped those girls. What would he have said to her walking away now?

She didn't want to think about it.

The light, bubbly smell of tulips and all things sweet hung in the air. Subtle and tangible, it danced through the delicate blades of grass, quivering where feet pounded through them.

"I can't believe it!" Aang exclaimed, colliding with the man in a tight embrace. A beat later, he came to his senses and stepped back to bow respectfully, gazing up at his old mentor's face with affection and longing. "I should have known you'd be here! I would have found you sooner!"

Gyatso gave the airbender a benign smile. "Well, you've found me now," he said with a wink, returning the bow.

"Aang!"

Roku's voice broke his reverie, and Aang whipped around with a grin on his face. "Isn't this great?" he told the other man, "With both of you here, I'll find Wan in no time!" It had been a while since he'd felt this elated, this hopeful. Katara is going to love this when she hears about it!

The old Avatar did not smile back. His body tensed, and a fire seemed to erupt in his eyes. "Aang, come over here," he said firmly. "This isn't who you think it is."

"I assure you, Avatar Roku," Gyatso replied calmly, "I am no danger. I simply heard Aang's voice and couldn't help myself! I had to see him!" He gave a small chuckle.

"You aren't fooling anyone," the other man said through gritted teeth. "Aang, I insist. You cannot fall for this treachery. Impersonating a loved one is the oldest trick in the book."

Treachery? Impersonating? Aang turned back and scrutinised the monk's face. How could it not be Gyatso? He had the same kind face, the promise of a laugh on his lips. Why, that air of wisdom and...and...familiarity just emanated off of him. Roku was probably as surprised as he was. Paranoid, is all. Aang reminded himself that it had been a while since Roku had seen the old airbender as well.

Shaking his head, he said, "Don't worry. I'd recognise Gyatso anywhere! This is really him!" He beamed at the monk. "Boy, do I have a lot to tell you! So much has happened!"

His mentor grasped by the shoulder and indicated towards the open field. "Then why don't we have a chat, you and I? I'm sure a few minutes of your time won't matter too much for an old friend?" His smile was bright.

Aang glanced at Roku, who gave him a distinct shake of his head. "There is no time to lose," the firebender declared, "We really must keep moving. Remember Yue's warning. These Dark Spirits will only delay you-"

"Really, Roku, must you always be so serious!" remarked Gyatso in exasperation. "I simply ask for a few moments with the boy. Is that so unreasonable?" He looked at Aang. "What do you think? Rest a little before your big journey?"

That was all the Avatar needed. "Just a moment won't hurt, will it?" They began walking towards to a shaded spot under a large, yellow leaf-tree. "I'll be right back!" Aang called out to Roku.

He missed the disappointed sigh and the soft mutter of, "I warned you."

Zuko sighed with relief when they turned the corner and - sure enough - three ostrich horses were nuzzling a barrel full of food. The night had already exhausted him and he wasn't sure if he could deal with a hitch at this moment.

"Wait, don't they belong to someone?" whispered Sokka, eyeing the rope tied around their necks. "I really don't think they're just up for grabs."

"You got a better idea?" Zuko replied with a raised eyebrow. "Because if we walk, we sure as hell won't reach the city by daybreak."

The other boy shrugged and leaped over the fence lightly. Clearly his guilt was crippling him.

"Wonderful - we're robbing a family as well? Gee, I wonder who else has to suffer because His Mightiness doesn't want to waste time."

Zuko suppressed a groan. She had pointedly refused to speak to all of them as they roamed the area looking for transport, but it looked like the blissful silence was only fleeting. Katara was eyeing him from the back with disdain. He ignored her.

"Right, let's go," he instructed, following the Water Tribe boy into the courtyard where the ostrich horses were standing. "Sokka and I will take one each. Haru, you have the other one. Pair up, everybody." He turned away when a clearing of a throat stopped him.

"Uh, Zuko?" Teo said, idly. "I mean, it's nice of you not to blatantly point it out and I really don't mean to be disrespectful and hold everyone up but, uh-"

"He can't ride," Toph put in bluntly. "because there's nowhere to put his wheelchair. So think of a new plan, Sparky, or we're walking."

Damn, he should have thought about that.

He opened his mouth but a high-pitched voice was heard instead.

"There's a cart over there. We can attach it to one of the ostrich horses and he can ride behind us," remarked Katara, walking past them. Teo beamed at her.

"Exactly what I was going to say," Zuko added, nodding. He pretended not to hear the scoff behind him.

They set about untying the animals and preparing the cart discreetly to avoid detection. Leading the ostrich horses by hand, they moved into the alleyway where they could speak freely and load their belongings. Katara was reluctant in the beginning, but gave in when she realised she didn't have much of a choice.

Sokka checked the security of the cart and helped Haru move Teo, before clambering onto the animal himself. "Duke, you should probably come with me," he said, "I don't want to place any more weight on this little guy and you're the lightest. Hop on." He jerked his thumb behind him.

"Katara, why don't you come with me?" Haru asked, brightly. Behind him, Toph rolled her eyes and made a face, which Teo made giggle softly. "If you want, of course," he added after.

The waterbender shrugged and nodded. Zuko raised an eyebrow at Toph, and indicated with his hand towards the last ostrich horse, before realising she couldn't exactly see it. "After you."

"What a gentleman," came the curt reply, "Now help me up."

"You should have seen Toph's face when I beat her in rock-sliding. Boy, I almost thought she'd cause an earthquake!"

Gyatso laughed once more, wiping away a tear. "Oh, Aang. I always knew earthbending would get you into all kinds of trouble! What a teacher you have!"

Aang grinned. He was having the time of his life! Here, in this world of spirits and harmony, with his old mentor and friend. It was almost too easy to just sit here forever, telling one another stories.

"Yeah, Toph is pretty great," the Avatar remarked, fondly. His smile faded a little. He'd give anything to know how she was at that moment. Which meant...

He sighed softly. "Gyatso, I really loved talking to you and it's been great to catch up - but I really should get going. Roku's probably been waiting for me for ages now and I can't keep him for any longer." He moved to stand up, but was stopped by a hand around his wrist.

"Oh Aang, you worry too much!" the monk said, with a gentle tug. "I'll help you find the First Avatar. I know this world well! So sit with me a little longer. Who knows when we'll see each other again?" He gave him a sad smile.

Aang was torn. "But...I guess...I really should..."

"Have you been penguin sledding recently?"

The Avatar settled himself down and began his tirade.

They travelled through the night, under a winking sky that seemed to move with the landscape, a dark miasma of forest and wastelands. He almost hated the silence amongst them - it only made the echoes in his heart and head that much louder. That much more unbearable -

He was desperate.

He was hiding from Azula. He didn't want to get involved. It wasn't his business.

But he was desperate.

Find the ship captain, they said. He's good with his word, they said. Give him what he wants, and he'll give you what you want, anytime, any place.

But what does he want?

The prettiest of presents, they said.

They began to see changes. An odd house here and there grew to a small neighbourhood, which grew into a small city of clustered buildings and uneven roads. There were few lights here, with the occasional passerby eyeing them distrustfully from a shadowed corner. Fire Nation guards usually patrolled the city, but Zuko had timed their arrival between shifts, in the rare few minutes before rounds began once more. There wasn't a moment to lose. Dawn was but a couple hours away, yet the night never felt so bleak, so creeping. Zuko shook off the uneasiness and pushed forward.

At last, they were here. A modest, dingy house with blackened, cracked windows. Moss and vines thrived across its walls and the squeak of rats declared that vermin do not care for the presence of royalty in its midst. Zuko dropped down from his ostrich horse and helped Toph to the ground as the others pulled to a stop behind them.

"And you complained about the Western Air Temple when you'd been staying in this?" Katara exclaimed incredulously when she saw the place. "It's far worse than what we were living in!"

He gave her a raised eyebrow. "I didn't have three years to decorate, unfortunately. Too busy trying to figure out how to save the world." He suppressed a chuckle at her dark expression, fishing for keys in his tunic.

"As long as it means we're safe, I'd even sleep with the badgermoles," muttered Sokka, lifting Teo's wheelchair off the cart.

Toph scoffed. "You say it like it's bad thing. What's better than falling asleep to the sweet, sweet smell of mud and earthy goodness?" She gave a satisfied sigh.

"Literally, anything else."

"Come on, quit dawdling, all of you. Get the ostrich horses out back and keep them out of sight, then hurry in. We've only got a few hours of rest before we move out again."

The ride had exhausted everyone, and no one could be bothered to argue with Zuko at that moment. He left them alone to sort themselves out, ignoring the niceties of a tour of the house. They could find a place to sleep without him. Instead, he went straight to his makeshift study, upstairs in the largest room.

The walls were lined with shelves upon shelves of scrolls, maps, notes - anything and everything he could get his hands on about the White Lotus. The maps were laden with pins and strings, marking the last known activities, attempts at trying to track down an organisation as fleeting as hope. The scrolls and notes were scribbled with his findings and thoughts - more often than not, bits of information he would recall from a random conversation with an uncle he hadn't seen in so long. Clues. There were so many, and he cursed his younger self for never listening hard enough.

He'd find Uncle again. That much Zuko had promised himself.

The prettiest of presents. A pretty thing of dreams and innocence; untouched and unbroken.

He found it. Hidden away in a tavern, waiting tables. A pretty thing of wide lips and bright eyes. She laughed at his jokes and blushed at his winks, never recognising the scars across his face. Innocence can make any monster into a man. I have a place to show you, he had said. Why don't you come with me tonight and see it?

And she did come because she trusted the boy with the damaged face but the charming smile.

A mistake. But he didn't have a choice. He was desperate.

Immersed in his thoughts, Zuko almost didn't realise the knock on his door until it rapped for a fifth time. "Come in," he said, clearing his head.

He cocked his eyebrow when he saw Katara cross the threshold, her eyes roving around his collection.

"Wow," she breathed, gazing at the papers sprawled across the room. "You've really been working hard on this, haven't you?"

Zuko shrugged. "It's only the world at stake, after all." He watched her warily. Dawn was beginning to creep through the window, and fatigue clawed at his eyelids but he couldn't afford sleep just yet. He quietly prayed this wouldn't take long. "Can I help you with something?" he asked, shortly.

Katara gritted her teeth, took a breath, and finally gushed out with: "I could have saved those girls if you'd helped me. How could you turn everyone against me like that?"

This was why he didn't believe in any gods.

Rubbing a tired hand across his face, he sighed and looked up at her from his chair behind the desk. "I thought I made it clear we would have been caught. Why are you still harping me about this? What's done is done."

"You don't know that! You're just assuming because you didn't want to take the risk!" she cried, throwing her hands in the air. "And I'm harping you about this, Zuko, because I need to know how human you are if I'm going to cooperate with you!"

He scoffed. "How human I am? Don't be ridiculous."

"Zuko, saving the world is more than just saving the Avatar," Katara managed in frustration. "It's helping the people who need us, and turning our backs on them kind of defeats the purpose of trying to be heroes." She folded her arms and glared at him.

A beat. He narrowed his eyes at her, and she shifted under his stare. "Tell me, O Righteous One, what exactly would you have done to that captain?" he asked, quietly.

She raised her eyebrows and shrugged. "Knock him out, I suppose."

"Oh, but he'd just wake up and carry on with other girls. Be honest, what were you thinking of doing with him?"

Katara's hands fell to her side, and he saw them clench and unclench. "I'd teach him a lesson, threaten him -"

"Like he's going to be afraid of some empty threats. No, tell me what you were really thinking -"

"I-I'd have made sure he couldn't hurt anyone again-"

"How? Were you going to kill him? Because that's the only way to stop people like him-"

"I...maybe, I think - "

"What was that? I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that. Maybe? So you had no idea what you wanted to do -"

"No, I didn't!" Katara yelled, angrily, pushing herself away from the wall she was leaning against. "Is that what you wanted to hear? I didn't have a plan, and I didn't want to kill him. Happy?"

The room fell into silence. Zuko half expected her brother to come storming in with blades and glory, raising all kinds of hell at the racket. But he heard nothing. Nothing but a small sniff as Katara furiously wiped her eyes away, breathing heavily. He regarded her coolly.

"You couldn't bring yourself to kill me," the firebender stated simply, "Or a man so vile he deserves nothing but death. You're not a killer, Katara -"

"- you don't know that -"

"I do." His voice was firm and unwavering. She needed to hear it. "Not everyone is born with murder in their veins. Consider yourself lucky."

She scoffed at his words, blinking furiously. "Lucky that I'm weak? That I can't protect people who need me?"

"Lucky that you'll never know what it's like to take another life." Zuko stood up and walked around the desk, fingering the parchments pinned on the wall, his eyes faraway. "It's almost beautiful, in a way. The power. You hold their future, their past, everything they were and everything they could be. It's all in your control. It's so easy to succumb to that kind of drunk insanity."

He drifted, his thoughts taking him away from the conversation, the room, the house, the city.

"They belong to you, in a way nothing and no one can. Because when their heart stops beating, because you commanded it - they take something of you. Something you can't take back. Whether you were the one to twist the knife, or you pulled the strings to have someone twist it for you - either way, a part of you leaves with them."

Knock, knock.

A pretty present for a pretty promise. An offering for a favour. Anytime, any place.

She went inside. She didn't come out again.

He was hiding from Azula. He didn't want to get involved. It wasn't his business.

He was desperate.

"And you belong to them. And they never leave you. Sometimes you see their faces in the shadows. Mocking. Taunting. Flaunting that part of your soul. Always. There's no escape."

"What did you do, Zuko?"

He snapped out of his reverie to see Katara's horrified face. She had backed away from him to the furthest corner, a hand halfway raised between them. There was a mix of fear and disgust in her eyes, and he turned away then, blinking away the nightmare.

Cool. Calm. Composed. "I think you should get some sleep," he said monotonously. He could feel her agonise over pushing him for more details or leaving blissfully ignorant, and he knew which one she'd choose.

The door slamming shut echoed for moments after. He pressed the heel of his hands against his eyes until he saw stars.

Until he saw the faces again.

"What a peculiar animal! Just a bear, you say?"

"Just a bear! Isn't that amazing? And he juggles!"

"Truly incredible!"

Aang chuckled to himself, shaking his head. The leaf-trees were gently swaying in the wind, and a sudden gust sent a shiver down his spine. A thought burst into his head, and he stopped laughing. What was he doing? The world needed him!

Leaping up quickly, he turned to the older monk. "It's been great seeing you, Gyatso - but I really, really have to leave now. I promise I'll find you again when this is all over!" Spinning around, he was about to sprint away when a hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Aang, please, I insist. You have a long journey, you really do need to rest!"

The Avatar shrugged and smiled at his mentor. "I think I'm pretty energetic now, thanks! I'll see you later - "

The hand on his shoulder tightened almost painfully and something felt very, very wrong. "Aang, there are great perils ahead of you. Please, take a moment here where you'll be safe. With me. Don't you want to spend time with your old friend?"

That's when Aang looked.

Really, really looked.

He looked into those warm brown eyes and saw...nothing. A pit, as endless and soulless as the chaos it created itself from. It threatened to swallow him where he stood and the realisation of what had just happened sent his heart into a frenzy.

Roku was right.

Pushing himself away, Aang made a dash towards the clearing where he prayed the old Avatar still waited. He had to get away. Get away before -

Gyatso - or whoever or whatever he was - stepped around a tree and blocked his path.

"Is that anyway to say goodbye?" he (it) asked softly, a smile on its face. The teeth were growing longer and sharper and hungrier.

A stab of fear surged through the Avatar (I'vefailedagain) before it pounced.

Your thoughts, as always, are much appreciated.