Team Avatar made their way through the forest until the boys found something. "Did someone lose something?" Katara asked as the girls made their way down the hill. "No, we found something." Aang said.

"What did you find?" [Y/n] asked.

"There was a battle here. Water Tribe warriors ambushed a group of Firebenders. The Firebenders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill." Sokka said and ran down the hill. The three benders followed him to the shore. "So, then what happened?" Aang asked.

"I don't know the trail ends here." Sokka said.

"Wait! Look!" Katara said while pointing at a boat.

"That's one of our boats." Sokka said, and the siblings rushed over. [Y/n] was a bit confused. "Is this dad's boat?" Katara asked.

"No, but it's from his fleet." Sokka said.

~~

Iroh sipped his tea and sighed. "See, Prince Zuko? A moment of quiet is good for your mental well-being." Iroh said while pouring Zuko some tea.

Zuko was about to take a sip until the boat suddenly shook, splashing tea all over him. The prince stood up and walked on to the deck of his ship.

"Get back! We're after a stowaway." A woman riding on a weird creature said.

"There are no stowaways on my ship." Zuko said, but the animal ripped a piece of the mental flooring and sniffed around. The stowaway came out and tried to run away, but the creature paralyzed him.

"He's paralyzed." Zuko said.

"Only temporarily." The woman said and picked up the man, "The toxins will wear off in about an hour, but by then, he'll be in jail, and I'll have my money."

"But how did you find him on my ship?" Zuko asked.

"My Xierxu can smell a rat a continent away."

"Well, I'm impressed." Iroh said, and the Xierxu ran away. "Very impressed."

~

Team Avatar sent up camp next to the boat. Sokka was deep in thought while the other slept until he heard a noise. "Who's there?" Sokka called.

A man came out from the shadows. "Sokka?"

"Bato." Sokka said, waking the others up.

"Who the what now?" Aang said, and [Y/n] rubbed her eyes while the two water tribe siblings ran over to Bato and hugged him.

"Sokka! Katara! It is so good to see you two." Bato said, "Oh. You've grown so much."

[Y/n] got up and walked closer. "Hi, I'm Aang." Aang said and bowed.

"I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm [Y/n]." [Y/n] said and bowed as well.

"Where's dad?"

"Is he here?"

"No, he and the other warriors should be in the Eastern Earth Kingdom by now." Bato said, and a gust of wind blew by, making everyone shudder at the cold. "This is no place for a reunion. Let's get inside." Bato said and motioned everyone to follow him.

Bato led them to an Abby where he stayed. "After I was wounded, your father carried me to this Abbey. The sisters have cared for me ever since." Bato explained to Katara and Sokka then looked at the head nun, "Superior, these Kota's children. They and their friend, here, have been traveling with the Avatar. I found them by my boat."

"Young Avatar, it gives me great joy to be in your presence. Welcome to our Abbey."

"Thank you. It's truly an honor to be here. If there's anything-"

"What smells to good, Bato?" Sokka questioned.

"The sisters craft ointments and perfumes." Bato said.

"Perfume?" Sokka repeated, "Maybe we could dump some on Appa. Because sinks so much. Am I right?"

Everyone gave him a blank look at his bad joke.

"You have your father's wit." Bato said and led them to the room he was staying in. The room had a small fire going with something cooking on it, was filled with animal skins and wood and stone crafted weapons.

"Bato! It looks like home!" Katara said as she and Sokka went in, looking around.

"Everything's here, even the pelts." Sokka said, sitting on the floor.

"Yeah. Nothing's cozier than dead animal skins." Aang said. [Y/n] knew how he felt about the water tribe attire. He hated animal skin.

Sokka and Katara sat down around the pot, and Katara lifted the lid. "No way! Stewed sea prunes!"

"Help yourself." Bato said.

"Dad could eat a whole barrel of these things." Sokka said.

[Y/n] and Aang were handed a bowl. Aang took a sniff and gagged.

"Bato, is it true you and Dad lassoed an Artic Hippo?" Katara asked.

"It was your father's idea. He just dragged me along." Bato said, "Well, the hippo did the dragging."

"Hey, I ride animals, too!" Aang said with excitement, "One time, there was this giant eel, and I--"

"So, who was it that came up with the great blubber fiasco?" Sokka questioned.

Bato chuckled, "You knew about that?" He asked.

"Everyone does." Katara said, "Even [Y/n]."

'I did live in a water tribe for about three years. They told me so many stories...' [Y/n] thought.

"What's that story?" Aang asked.

"It's a long one, Aang." Sokka said, "Some other time."

Aang pouted, and [Y/n]'s eyes softened. The young boy only wanted his friends' attention.

"You and Dad had so many hilarious adventures." Katara said.

"Not all of which were hilarious at the time, but everything's funny with hindsight." Bato said, "Aang! Please put that down. It's ceremonial and very fragile."

They noticed Aang messing with the decorations on the wall. Aang's look saddened as he walked away to the other side of the room. Then they went back to talking about Sokka and Katara's father, Hakoda.

"Was it you or Dad that put an octopus on your head and convinced Gran-Gran you were a water spirit?" Sokka asked.

"Your dad wore the octopus, but I did the spooky voice." Bato said.

Hakoda was all Katara and Sokka wanted to talk about which [Y/n] understood. She missed her mother and father every day. [Y/n]'s even met Hakoda. He's a great guy and even treated [Y/n] like his very own. He reminded [Y/n] of her own father.

~

"Out of my way! Step aside, filth!" Zuko said, pushing his way through the crowded building in search of the woman he saw earlier. "He means no offense." Iroh said, "I'm certain you bathe regularly."

"I need to talk to you." Zuko said to the woman from earlier, June. "Well, if it isn't my new friends, Angry Boy and Uncle Lazy." June said while arm-wrestling a strong-looking man, and Iroh laughed.

When she won, everyone in the tavern cheered and throw money at her. "Your beast trashed my ship. You have to pay me back." Zuko said.

"Well, I'd love to help you out, but I'm a little short on money. Drinks on me!"

Zuko grabbed June's wrist. "Money isn't what I had in mind." He pulled her outside.

"I need you to find someone." Zuko said while holding Katara's necklace.

"What? Your girlfriend run off on you?" June asked.

"It's not the girl I'm after. It's the bald monk she's traveling with." Zuko said.

"Whatever you say."

"If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for."

"Ha! Forget it." June laughed and climbed on her beast. "Plus, we'll pay your weight in gold." Iroh said. "Make it your weight, and we got a deal." June said, and Iroh laughed.

"You got it." He said.

June grabbed the necklace. "Get on!" She said. June held the necklace in front of her Xierxu, who sniffed it then got on her animal with Iroh and Zuko.

~

"There's something I should tell you kids. I'm expecting a message from your father." Bato informed them.

"Really?"

"When?"

"Any day now. Your father said he'd send a message when they found the rendezvous point. If you wait here until the message arrives, you can come with me and see your father again."

[Y/n]'s eyes widened a bit as she looked between Katara and Sokka.

"It's been over two years since we've seen Dad. That would be so incredible. Katara!"

"I do really miss him." Katara said, "It would be great to see Dad."

"It's been far too long. Hasn't it?" Bato said, "I'm not sure when the message will arrive, but when it does... you both could come with me."

But, they were so wrapped up in their conversation that they didn't notice that Aang left.

"But Aang..." [Y/n] muttered, "He has to go to the North Pol."

"[Y/n]'s right. It would be great, but we can't." Sokka said, "We have to take Aang to the North Pole first."

"Even if we had time to wait for the messages, who knows how far we'd have to travel?" Katara said, "We don't have time for a long detour."

"I'm sure your father would understand and be proud that his children are helping the Avatar." Bato said.

Soon, Aang came back. "Hi, everyone. Sorry I was gone so long." He said.

[Y/n] noticed that he was acting weird.

"Hey, Aang, I didn't notice you left." Katara said.

"Yep. But now I'm back." Aang said, "Sure could go fro some delicious sea prunes." He forced himself to eat then gagged and spit it out.

Sokka, Katara, Bato and [Y/n] gave him weird looks.

~~

Zuko, Iroh and June continued to ride on Xierxu's back and stopped at a village in the Earth Kingdom. The villagers ran in fear as Xierxu stopped at Aunt Wu, the fortune-teller's house.

"Why are we stopping?" Zuko questioned.

"Because the girl must have spent a lot of time here." June said.

"We have no time for this." Zuko said, snatching Katara's necklace from June and made Xierxu sniff it again. The creature growled and snapped its tongue at Zuko, who dodged it. "Hey, watch it!"

Iroh laughed. "Oh, look. He likes you." June said.

"Care to hear your fortune, Handsome?" Aunt Wu questioned.

"At my age, there's really one big surprise left, and I'd just as soon leave it a mystery." Iroh said, and Aunt Wu hummed, seeing Zuko get back on the Xierxu's back.

Zuko noticed the woman staring at him, and he frowned more. "Your wife is very lovely. I'm sure you'll be happy with her." Aunt Wu said.

Zuko gave a confused looked. "What? I don't have a wife."

"She just told your fortune." Iroh said with a grin, he had a girl in mind. If the Avatar had been here, then [Y/n] definitely was here.

"I don't need my fortune told; I need the Avatar!" Zuko protest.

~

[Y/n] gathered her belongings while Katara, Aang, and Sokka went down to Bato's boat to Ice Dodge in Bato's boat.

[Y/n] wanted Sokka and Katara to spend as much time with Bato as they could before they had to leave. They made a promise to get Aang to the North Pole. Not only that [Y/n] was sure that Zuko and the Fire Nation haven't given up their search for her or Aang. They could stay in on place for too long.

Soon, they returned to the Abbey, and [Y/n] was excited to hear about Sokka's Ice Dodging experience. Only to find out that Aang hid the message that came for Bato from Hakoda. Sokka told [Y/n] that they were going to find their father, and that she was to take Aang to the North Pole alone.

Katara and Sokka had the right to be upset, but they made Aang a promise, which disappointed [Y/n] that they didn't keep it.

Not even [Y/n], as the oldest, could talk reason into them.

Aang sat on top of Appa's head with a sad look in his eyes watching Katara and Sokka gather their things for their journey. "Good luck." Katara said to Aang.

"Okay. You too." Aang said.

"Guess we should be moving on." Aang said, and [Y/n] nodded while sitting in Appa's saddle. Appa began to walk. "I'm an idiot, [Y/n]." Aang muttered.

"It wasn't the best choice, Aang." [Y/n] said, "But they'll forgive you eventually."

Appa made it out the shore, and Aang looked back in hopes that Sokka and Katara would come for him. "Looks like we're going alone, guys" Aang said to [Y/n], Appa, and Momo.

"Avatar! You must leave!"

"Okay, I get it. Everybody wants me gone." Aang said while tightening the reins on Appa.

"A group of people came to the Abbey looking for you." A sister from the Abbey warned.

"Who?" Aang questioned.

"A fierce-looking woman with a horrible monster and a young man with a scar." The sister said.

"Zuko." Aang and [Y/n] said.

"The beast was using the scent of a necklace to follow you."

"A necklace...?" Aang questioned.

"Katara's necklace..." [Y/n] said, and Aang gasped.

"We have to go!" Aang said and opened his glider, "Grab on!" [Y/n] held onto the stick of his glider, and Aang lifted them in the air.

They flew all the way to the Abbey where they could see the beast that sister was talking about. [Y/n] and Aang landed on the ground, but before the Xierxu could attack Aang, Appa came to save him by knocking the creature and June into a building.

[Y/n] helped Sokka and Katara sit up while Aang fought Zuko. They were paralyzed. "Are you both all right?" [Y/n] questioned. "Yeah. Go help Aang." Katara said.

[Y/n] nodded and looked out at Zuko and Aang fight. Aang seemed to be holding his own. He didn't need [Y/n]'s help right now.

The ground suddenly shook. Appa was on the ground due to the Xierxu hitting him with his tongue.

"Appa!" [Y/n] yelled, and the Flying Bison opened his eyes. He stood up and growled.

An idea hit [Y/n]. She could use her talent with animals to her advantage. [Y/n] put her finger in her mouth and whistled, catching the Xierxu's attention. It went after her, ignoring the cracking of June's whip and her protests.

The Xierxu stared at [Y/n] for a moment and growled.

[Y/n] dodged its tongue. "You're an evil little thing." She said and dodged its tongue again then noticed the moment of its nose. 'It sees with its nose...' [Y/n] thought.

From the corner of [Y/n]'s eyes, she could see Katara and Sokka moving again. They thought of the same thing. [Y/n] dodged the beast's tongue once again.

[Y/n] ran to the other side of the Abbey, distracting the Xierxu while Sokka and Katara worked with the Sisters to gather all of the barrels of perfume.

Once they were ready, Katara gave [Y/n] the signal. [Y/n] nodded and jumped in the air, landing next to Katara. They used their waterbending to cover the beast, June, and Zuko in perfume.

The beast freaked out, hitting Zuko and June with its tongue, then ran away.

"Zuko...." [Y/n] wanted to run over there to make sure Zuko was okay. Then she huffed and clutched her fists. 'No...'

It pained her, but she didn't want to see Zuko until he changed. Aang and his friends gathered their things and hopped on Appa, who took off into the air.

"So... where do we go?" Aang asked.

"We're getting you to the North Pole." Katara said.

"Yeah. We've lost too much time as it is." Sokka said.

"Don't you wanna see your father?" Aang questioned.

"Of course we do, Aang, but you and [Y/n] are our family, too, and right now you need us more." Sokka explained.

"And we need you." Katara said. [Y/n] smiled a bit.

"I wish I could give you a little piece of home, Katara, something to remind you--" Aang muttered.

"I'll be okay." Katara said.

"Still, just a little trinket. Maybe something like...." Aang said and showed the necklace that he took from Zuko, "This!"

"Aang! How'd you get that?" Katara questioned and put it on.

"Zuko asked me to be sure I got it to you." Aang said.

[Y/n] raised a brow, "Really?"

"Oh, that's so sweet of Zuko." Katara said, "Would you give him a kiss for me when you see him?"

"Sure." Aang said, and Katara kissed Aang on the cheek.

They looked over to see [Y/n] frowning at that comment. "I'm hoping that was a joke." [Y/n] said.

Katara giggled. "Of course it was. You can have that manic."

"And I'll gladly take him." [Y/n] said with a smile.