Appa growled and pawed at the pile of rock that blocked their path in the cave, trying to get out.

"We will be all right, Appa. We'll find a way out." [Y/n] reassured, gently, petting the large creature.

"All we need is a plan." Sokka said, "Chong, how long do those torches last?"

"Uh, about two hours each." Chong said.

"And we have 5 torches." Lily said and lit the rest of them, "So that's 10 hours."

"It doesn't work like that if they're all lit at the same time." Sokka said and put the fire out.

"Oh, right..."

Sokka climbed in Appa's saddle. "I'm going to make a map to keep track of exactly where we've been. Then we should be able to solve it like a maze and get through." He took out some paper and a writing utensil.

Sokka took the lead, walking through the cave while the others followed him.

~~

Soon, Zuko and Iroh made it to a small town in the Earth Kingdom, where they got Iroh's poison treated by a nurse. "You two must not be from around here." The nurse said, "We know better than to touch the White Jade. Much less make it into tea and drink it."

Iroh chuckled. "Oops."

"So, where are you traveling from?" The nurse asked.

"Yes, we're travelers." Zuko said and stood up.

"Do you have names?"

"Names? Of course we have names." Zuko trying to think of a lie, "I'm...Lee. And this is my uncle...uh, Mushi." Iroh glared at Zuko.

"Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior." Iroh said, and Zuko glared back.

"Mushi and Junior, huh? My name is Song. You two look like you could use a good meal. Why don't you for dinner." Song said slapping Iroh's hand to stop him from scratching.

"Sorry, but we need to be moving on." Zuko said, and Song's eyes saddened. "Oh, that's too bad. My mom always makes too much roast duck." Song said, which peck Iroh's interest.

"Where do you live exactly?" He asked.

~~

Sokka turned his map every which way to make sense of it. "Sokka, this is the tenth dead end you've led us to." Katara said.

"This doesn't make any sense. We already came through this way." Sokka said.

"We don't need a map." Chong said, "We just need love. The little guy knows it." He pointed at Aang.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't mind a map, also." Aang said.

"There's something strange here. There's only one explanation: the tunnels are changing." Sokka said with a serious look. On cue, there was another rumble.

~~

Iroh and Zuko were taken to Song's home, where they were fed by Song's mother. "My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves." The mother said.

"When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All of the men were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father." Song said, and Zuko felt empathetic towards her.

"I haven't seen my father in many years." Zuko muttered.

"Oh. Is he fighting in the war?" Song asked, and Iroh looked at Zuko.

"Yeah." Zuko muttered again and looked to the side.

~

"The tunnels. There a-changing. It must be the curse." Chong panicked. [Y/n] placed her hand on the stone wall and closed her eyes.

She could feel something moving somewhere in the tunnel. She couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from.

In the distant, she and the others could hear a faint wailing. Sokka stared out into the darkness when suddenly a wolf-bat came flying out.

"A Giant flying thing with teeth!" Chong shouted.

"It's wolf-bat..." [Y/n] said, standing between her friends and the creature. She was going to try to calm it down, but when the creature jumped in the air, Sokka stood in front of [Y/n], using the fire to chase the Wolfbat away.

The Wolfbat flew around them and knocked the torch out of Sokka's hand, sending it flying onto Appa's foot.

Appa roared in pain and ran around while the Wolfbat ran off. "Appa! It's okay!" [Y/n] tried to talk to him, but he was too freaked out to listen. Appa ran into the walls, knocking boulders down from the ceiling.

Aang used airbending to push [Y/n], Sokka and the nomads out of danger then ran to push Katara out of the way.

Sokka tried to dig to the other side, but it was no use. "Yeah, it's no use." Chong said, and Sokka glared at him. "We're separated, but at least you have us."

Then Sokka screamed, trying to dig more.

~~

After dinner, Zuko sat outside to clear his head. '...Your father had my father executed after he became Fire Lord.' Being here in the Earth Kingdom, hearing about what the Fire Nation has been doing, how many families' lives that they've ruined, it all reminded Zuko of what [Y/n] told him. About his father killing her father.

Both Ozai and Zuko knew how close [Y/n] was with her father, Hwa. Zuko was always jealous of their relationship, but to hear that his father killed him, Zuko couldn't help but feel a little guilty. He didn't even know why.

Was it because Zuko was related to the man that took [Y/n]'s happiness? Was it because Zuko dedicated his life to be like Ozai?

Zuko literally had to pick up the pieces of [Y/n]'s heart and help her put it back together. He remembered the days of her not eating from the grief of finding out that her father died.

Zuko remembered the night of [Y/n] sobbing in his arms, under the blankets so only he would hear. Those cries still haunted him even now.

Zuko sighed and place his hand on his bracelet.

"Can I join you?" Song asked as she came out of the house, "I know what you've been through. We've all been through it." She sat down next to Zuko. "The Fire Nation has hurt you." Song tried to touch Zuko's scar, but he stopped her.

"It's okay." Song said and pulled up her dress revealing her scars on her leg. Zuko's eyes widened as he looked at her.

"It happened while running from Firebenders." She continued, and Zuko fumbled with his bracelet. Song noticed it. "That bracelet is very beautiful."

"It belonged to my girlfriend..." Zuko muttered. "Did you lose her to the Fire Nation too?" Song asked, and Zuko stared at the floorboard for a moment then nodded. "Yeah."

~~

Sokka, [Y/n] and the nomads made their way through the tunnel. Chong continued to strum and sing his song while the others danced, and [Y/n] nodded along.

Sokka was the only one seeming like he wasn't having a good time.

After a while, they were led to another dead end. "Oh, great! Your plans have led us to another dead end." Moku said.

"At least I'm thinking of ideas and trying to get us out of here, Moku!" Sokka said.

"Whoa, Whoa. Wait a minute. We're thinking of ideas? 'Cause I've had an idea for like, an hour now." Chong said.

"Yes! We're all thinking of ideas." Sokka shouted.

"Well, then listen to this." Chong said, "If love is the key out of here, then all we need to do is play a love song." He began strumming his guitar again while Sokka facepalmed.

"That is a good idea." [Y/n] said as Chong led the way.

"No, it isn't!" Sokka said, "Can't you use Earthbending or something to get us out of here?"

[Y/n] looked down at her hands. "I... I'm not sure." She muttered, "I'm sure we will find a way out. We just have a trust in love. I know I do." She smiled a bit.

"Your love for Zuko...?" Sokka questioned. [Y/n] looked at him, and Sokka looked away, glaring.

[Y/n] looked down in shame as they continued to follow the nomads. She had forgotten that Sokka had a huge crush on her. "Yes... I trust my love for Zuko." She muttered.

"I don't understand." Sokka said, "He's chased us all over the world and has tried to kill us. How... could you still trust that?"

"If you're thinking I'm only holding on to my love because of Aunt Wu, you're wrong." [Y/n] said, "Zuko... feels that he needs to prove himself to the Fire Lord for his honor. I truly think he's doing all of this so his father will love him. The Zuko I fell in love with was kind and selfless. He stood up for what was right but doing that got him burned. Despite others not wanting Zuko and I to be together, we are still drawn to each other and cannot be apart."

Sokka looked a [Y/n] a bit surprised. He's never seen that look in her eyes. It told a whole story of love and a bit of sadness. Thinking back, [Y/n]'s never looked at Sokka with that gaze.

Her love for Zuko... just wouldn't die.

~~

"Thank you for the duck. It was excellent." Iroh said.

"You're welcome. It brings me joy to see someone eat my cooking with such gusto." The mother said.

"Much practice." Iroh said while patting his belly.

Iroh bowed while Zuko started to walk away. "Junior, where are your manners?" Iroh asked, "You need to thank these nice people."

Zuko bowed quickly. "Thank you." He muttered.

"I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned." Song said.

"I know." Zuko muttered and continued to walk. He looked at the Ostrich Horse and stole it.

"What are you doing? These people just showed you great kindness." Iroh said.

"They're about to show us a little more kindness." Zuko said and held his hand out to his uncle, "Well?" Iroh got on, and they rode away.

~~

[Y/n], Sokka and the other nomads stopped walking, suddenly hearing growling. Momo ran away.

Flying over them was a herd of Wolfbats. [Y/n] and the other normad ducked while Sokka decided to scream and swat at them.

"Hey! You saved us, Sokka!" Chong said after the bats left.

"No. They were trying to get away from something." Sokka said.

"From what?" Chong questioned.

A Badger-mole come bursting through the walls behind them then another come out in front of them. They used Earthbending to close off the exits.

[Y/n] tried to calm the Badger down that was behind them while the other on the crawling towards Sokka. He backed away and stepped on Chong's guitar, making the Badger's stop moving, and they tilted their heads.

Sokka grabbed the gutiar and started strumming. "Hey! Those things are music lovers."

"Badger-moles coming towards me. Come on, guys. Help me out." Sokka tried to sing.

Chong and the other stood up and started singing, "The big bad Badger-moles who Earthbend the tunnels, hate the Wolfbats, but love the sounds."

"They're blind and can only see through touch and sound." [Y/n] said while petting one. It licked her. "These were the original Earthbenders. Perhaps, they can make a way out for us." She suggested. The Badger-mole made a hole in the wall.

[Y/n] smiled. "I'm guessing he wants us to follow." She said. As they ride on the mole's back, [Y/n] studied the Earthbending of the moles.

She was so fascinated with their movements and how they bended the Earth. Soon, the Badger-moles led them outside where they met up with Aang and Katara.

"[Y/n]! Sokka!" Katara called to them, as they both waved. Sokka hopped down. "How did you guys get out?!" He asked while [Y/n] following behind him.

"Just like the legend says--" Aang said, "We let love lead the way."

"Really? We let huge ferocious beasts lead our way." Sokka said.

[Y/n] and Sokka waved the Badger-moles goodbye. Sokka and Katara hugged. "Why is your forehead all red?"

"Nobody react to what I'm about to tell you. I think that kid might be the Avatar." Chong whispered to them. Sokka facepalmed again, making his forehead even more.

[Y/n] giggled. Suddenly, Katara hugged her, making [Y/n]'s eyes go wide. "I was so worried." Katara said.

[Y/n] smiled a bit, "So was I."

After separating with the nomads, they made their way to Omashu. "The journey was long and annoying, but now you get to see what it's really about-- the destination." Sokka said as they walked up to the top of the mountain, "I present to you, the Earth Kingdom city of O-"

Sokka's eyes widened seeing the sight. "Oh, no..." [Y/n] gasped and covered her mouth. Omashu was taken over by the Fire Nation.

The team stood in disbelief.

"I can't believe it. I know the war has spread far, but Omashu always seemed...untouchable." Aang said.

"Up until now, it was." Sokka said, "Now, Ba Sing Se is the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left."

"Our only other choice is to press on. We cannot stay here." [Y/n] said.

Katara walked closer to Aang. "[Y/n] is right. This is horrible, but we have to move on." Katara said.

"No." Aang said, "I'm going in to find Bumi."

"Aang, stop! We don't even know if Bumi is still..." Sokka said.

"What? If he's still what?" Aang questioned.

"A-Around." Sokka finished.

"I know you had your heart set on Bumi, but there are other people who can teach you Earthbending." Katara said. "This isn't about finding a teacher. This is about finding my friend." Aang said.

They rode on Appa's back, and Aang led them to a secret passage. "A secret passage? Why didn't we just use this last time?" Sokka asked while he and Katara and [Y/n] dressed in pouches, and sewer water splashed on him.

"Does that answer your question?" Aang questioned.

The kids entered the pipe. Sokka gagged and covered his nose. Aang used his airbending to block to sewer water while Katara and [Y/n] used waterbending to do the same. Then they made their way up to the town.

"That wasn't as bad as I thought." Katara said as she pulled herself to the surface.

[Y/n] did as well and brushed some sludge off of her shoulder. "Agreed." [Y/n] said, and Sokka came out covered in the slime.

Katara used her waterbending to wash Sokka off, and Aang used his airbending to dry him. Two purple pentapi on his cheeks and be freaked out. "They won't let go! Help!" Sokka yelled, and Aang tackled him.

"Stop making so much noise. It's just a purple pentapus." Aang said, and [Y/n] walked over to Sokka.

She scratched the little creature's head, and it let Sokka go. Sokka did the same to the other one. "Hey!" They heard, and [Y/n] and Aang hid behind Sokka and Katara. Aang cover his arrow tattoo with a piece of his clothing, and [Y/n] hid her face with her hood.

"What are you kids doing out past curfew?"

"Sorry." Katara said, "We were just on our way home." They began to walk, but the soldier on patrol noticed the marks on Sokka. "Wait. What's the matter with him?" He asked.

"Hm? He has pentapox, sir." Katara said, and the soldier examined him. "Um, it's highly contagious." Katara warned.

Sokka groaned. "I feel awful! I'm dying." He whined.

"And deadly." [Y/n] added.

"Hey, I think I've heard of pentapox. Didn't your cousin Chang die from it?"

Sokka moaned and groaned while coughing on them.

"We better go wash our hands."

"And burn our clothes."

They ran away. [Y/n] smiled, triumphantly, and pet the little pentapus in her hand. Team Avatar continued to sneak around in search of Bumi. "Let's find Bumi and get out of here." Katara said.

"Where would they be keeping him?" Sokka asked.

"Somewhere he can't Earthbend. Somewhere made of metal." Aang said and led the way.

[Y/n]'s ear twitched. She could hear something approaching...fast. A large boulder came rolling down towards people from the Fire Nation. Aang used his Airbending to stop it.

"The Resistance!"

Arrows are thrown at Aang, but he swiftly dodged them. [Y/n]'s eyes widened as the precision. If Aang wasn't an airbender, he would have been stabbed. [Y/n] knew this skilled knife-thrower.

'Mai.'

~

[Y/n] watched Mai throw knives at a tree trunk in awe while Ty-lee braided her hair. "Mai is incredible." [Y/n] muttered and went back to reading her fairy tale novel, and Ty-lee smiled.

"I know. No one can throw a knife better than Mai." She said.

Mai didn't respond to their praise. [Y/n] always had a feeling that Mai didn't like her, and she kew why. But, [Y/n] always ignored that feeling always determined to be Mai's friend.

"What do you two think you're doing?" Azula asked [Y/n] and Ty-lee. The four girls were supposed to be training.

"I let Ty-lee braid my hair." [Y/n] said while smiling a bit. "Well, isn't that nice." Azula said and glared, "Now, get back to training. Our parents didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls just to sit around and braid hair."

Ty Lee stood up, but [Y/n] didn't move.

"I train every day at the palace. I need to rest." [Y/n] said and went back to reading.

Azula glared and use her firebending to set the book on fire, burning [Y/n]'s hand in the process. [Y/n] hissed in pain and stood up, trembling. She rushed over to a water fountain and stuck her hands in the cold water, using her waterbending to heal her hands while Azula and Mai laughed at her.

~

Team Avatar met the so-called Resistance in an underground tunnel, and they began explaining what happened on the day of the invasion.

"The day of the invasion, we were ready for battle. We were prepared to defend our city, to fight for our lives and for our freedom. But before we even had a chance, King Bumi surrendered." The leader of the Resistance explained, "The day of the invasion, I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do. He looked me in the eye and said, 'I'm going to do nothing.' Then he laughed. It doesn't matter now. Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom. And freedom is worth dying for."

[Y/n]'s expression saddened. She couldn't bear the pain of more people dying. It hurt her heart. "Actually, there's another path to freedom. You could leave Omashu. You're directing all your energy to fight the Fire Nation, but you're outnumbered. You can't win. Now is the time to retreat so you can live to fight another day." Aang said.

"You don't understand. They've taken our home, and we have to fight them at any cost."

"But, is your home worth more than your life? Especially if you may not live to see the war's end." [Y/n] said.

The men started muttering among themselves, talking about what Aang and [Y/n] just said.

"I don't know, Yalo. Living to fight another day is sounding good to me."

"Yeah, I'm with the kids."

Yalo hummed. "Fine." He muttered, "But there are thousands of citizens that need to leave. How are we gonna get them all out?"

"Suckers." Sokka said, and everyone gave him a questioning look. "You're all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox."

The soldiers used the pentapus to mark all of the villagers, and everyone was ready by morning. Sokka looked at all of them. "The marks make you look sick, but you gotta act sick, too. You gotta sell it." He said, and an elderly man came limping by while groaning. "Now, that's what I'm talking about."

"Years of practice." The old man said.

"Okay, everyone, into sick formation." Sokka said and began to follow the crowd, but [Y/n] and Katara noticed Aang not following them. "Where are you going, Aang? Aren't you coming with us?" Katara asked.

"No." Aang said, "I'm not leaving until I find Bumi." He took off.

Katara and [Y/n] gave each other worried looks and decided to follow the crowd. The fearful Fire Soldiers drove the "diseased" out of the city.

At night, Aang came back with Bumi's pet, Flopsy, and no Bumi. Katara, Sokka, and [Y/n] rushed over to him. "We looked everywhere. No Bumi." Aang said in disappointment, and Katara hugged him, and Sokka hugged Flopsy.

"We've got a problem." Yalo said, "We did a headcount."

"Did someone get left behind?" [Y/n] asked.

"No. We have an extra."

They looked at a baby who was hugging Momo. They were shocked for a moment, and [Y/n] picked up the baby. "These clothes... he's from a Fire Nation family." [Y/n] said, and the baby giggled at the girl. [Y/n] smiled fondly at the boy.

It was getting late, but the team still need to figure out what to do with the Fire Nation baby. "Oh, you're so cute." Katara cooed at the little boy as they sat around the campfire. The boy giggled while sitting in [Y/n]'s lap.

"Sure, he's cute now. But, when he's older, He'll join the Fire Nation army. You won't think he's cute then. He'll be a killer." Yalo said, and [Y/n]'s eyes widened a bit then her look turned grim.

"Does that look like the face of a killer to you?" Katara said while presenting the baby to Yalo.

There was a sudden squawking was heard in the distance, and a messenger hawk landed on a rock a few feet from them. Aang retrieved the message and opened it. "It's from the Fire Nation governer." Aang said, "He thinks we kidnapped his son. So, he wants to make a trade. His son...for King Bumi."

Everyone was in shock by that statement.

The next morning, Aang agreed to trade the baby for King Bumi. "You realize we're probably walking right into a trap." Sokka said as Aang walked closer to him, Katara, and [Y/n] with the baby in his arms.

"I don't think so. I'm sure the governor wants his son back as much as we want Bumi." Aang said and looked down at the sleeping little boy, "It's a new day. I have a good feeling about this."

~~

It was soon noon, the time for the trade. [Y/n] had an eerie feeling in her gut. Something wasn't right here.

[Y/n]'s eyes widened in horror when she saw the three girls she didn't want to see any time soon. Her heart rate increased rapidly as held the baby boy close. "Hi, everybody." Bumi said while chuckling. His metal casing landed behind Mai.

"You brought my brother?" Mai asked, and [Y/n] looked down the little boy. 'Wow, she has a brother now? Three years has been a long time.' [Y/n] thought.

"He's here." Aang said, "We're ready to trade."

"I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?" Azula questioned.

"Of course not, Princess Azula." Mai said.

"You're trading a two-year-old for a king-- a powerful Earthbending king. It just doesn't seem like a fair trade. Does it?" Azula said, and Mai looked back at the group, squinting her eyes. She was trying to recognize the girl who was holding her brother.

"You're right. The deal's off." Mai said, and Bumi was lifted away.

"Bumi!" Aang called and went after him. Azula tried to shoot fire out him, but Aang jumped and flew on his glider. Azula went after Aang.

"We've gotta get the baby out of here!" Katara said while Sokka was blowing the Bison whistle. [Y/n] tied the blanket, they provided, around her body to make a cradle. Ty Lee came running after her, but Katara tripped her. "Come on!" Sokka said.

"I cannot leave Katara! Without her bending, she's defenseless." [Y/n] said, and gave the baby to Sokka, "Find Appa, and get this baby out of here."

"But-"

"Now, Sokka!" [Y/n] demanded.

"Yes, ma'am." Sokka said and rushed away with Ty Lee following him.

"Katara! Water!" [Y/n] called out, Katara threw her canaster that held water. [Y/n] used her waterbending wrap the water around Ty Lee's ankle to trip her.

Once Sokka got away, Ty Lee turned to [Y/n] and tried to strike her, but she dodged her and deflected her hands. Ty Lee looked confused for a moment.

"[Y/n]?" She said, and [Y/n] smiled a bit.

"Hello, Ty Lee. You look well." [Y/n] said and caught the knife that was thrown at her, "It's good to see you as well, Mai."

Mai glared at her. "Did you find the fairy tale you were looking for?" She said, sarcastically.

Katara took this opportunity to freeze Mai in place. Ty Lee quickly turned her attention to Katara and blocked her chakra.

Katara turned to bend the water but failed. "How are you gonna fight without your bending?" Mai mocked and pulled out a weird knife.

[Y/n] stepped in front of Katara when suddenly a boomerang knocked it out of her hand. "I seem to manage." Sokka said, and Katara and [Y/n] smiled. Sokka landed Appa, and the Bison used his tail to blew Ty Lee and Mai away.

The girls quickly got on, and they went after Aang, who was being chased by Azula. They ended up losing him and Bumi, but when they did find him again, Aang told his friends that they'd have to find another Earthbender to teach him.