A flare shot up into the sky and Sokka was panicking. 

"This can't be happening. Where's Katara? She could be hurt. She could be fighting a bunch of firebenders. She-"

"Sokka," I placed a hand on his chest and felt his rapid heartbeat. he looked into my eyes and for the first time, he looked vulnerable. "Breathe, we can do this."

"Just promise me that you'll take care of the kids. Don't leave their side until the soldiers leave. No matter what." 

"I promise."

Then the kids yelled: "Yay! Aang's back!"

I suddenly ran over in worry. I grabbed Aang's face and turned it so many ways, inspecting every part. 

"Aang, you had me so worried. What happened? You know what, I don't care. Never do that again." 

He smiled softly at me until I calmed down. "I'm ok," he said.

"I knew it!" Sokka yelled, pointing a finger at Aang. "You signaled the Fire Navy with that flare! You're leading them straight to us, aren't you?"

"Excuse you," I yelled shoving him in the chest.

"Aang didn't do anything! It was an accident," Katara said.

Aang looked at me sheepishly before addressing Sokka. "Yeah. We were on the ship and there was this booby trap, and, well-we booby-ed right into it."

"I'm sorry you did what?" I looked at Aang with angry eyes.

"Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship! Now we could all be in danger!" Gran-Gran looked worried.

"Don't blame Katara," Aang said with sorrow filled eyes. "I brought her there. It's my fault."

"Aha! The traitor confesses! Warriors, away from the enemy." Sokka's words caused the kids to walk away. "The foreigners are banished from our village."

"Sokka, you're making a mistake," Katara said with irritability.

"Maybe you should listen to your sister," my voice came out with a bitter edge.

"No, I'm keeping my promise to Dad. I'm protecting you, from threats like him," Sokka's words were stopping to piss me off as he pointed at Aang.

"You know what I'm so tired of you accusing Aang of something he did nothing to deserve. Katara messed up just as much as him and I don't see you banishing her," I rolled my eyes.

" Aang is not our enemy!" Katara somehow managed to keep her cool. "Don't you see? Aang's brought us something we haven't had in a long time: fun."

"Fun?! We can't fight firebenders with fun," Sokka was slowly getting louder.

"You should try it sometime." Not the time Aang.

"Get out of our village," Sokka yelled. "Both of you! Now!"

"Grandmother, please," Katara begged her grandmother. "Don't let Sokka do this!"

"Katara, you knew going on that ship was forbidden," Gran-Gran said. "Sokka is right. I think it best if the airbenders leave."

"Fine! Then I'm banished, too!" Katara grabbed the both of us and pulled us away. I sent the villagers an apologetic glance while Aang just looked happy to be with her. "Come on guys, let's go."

"Where do you think you're going?" Sokka demanded.

"To find a waterbender. Aang is taking me to the North Pole."

"I am?" Confusion graced Aang's features. "Great!"

"No!" I yelled before taking a breath. "No. Everyone calm down. Aang, this is not a good idea. Katara, think about this a little more."

"Katara! Would you really choose him over your tribe?" Sokka sounded disbelieving. "Your own family?"

Katara stopped, looking sad. Aang looked back at me and I gave a supportive smile.

He walked to Katara and gave her an understanding look. "Katara, I don't want to come between you and your family."

"So, you're leaving the South Pole?" She whispered. "This is goodbye?"

"Thanks for penguin sledding with me," Aang said.

She still looked unsure so I spoke. "We'll be ok."

"Where will you go?" She asked

"Guess I'll go back home and look for the airbenders. Wow, I haven't cleaned my room in a hundred years. Not looking forward to that. It's a miracle Mayumi hasn't killed me yet." Using airbending he brought both of us onto Appa. "It was nice meeting everyone."

"Let's see your bison fly now, air boy." Sokka plucked my last string.

"Cover the kids ears," once they did what I said I continued, "Fuck you asshole."

Aang smiled encouragingly at Appa. "Come on Appa, you can do it. Yip-yip!"

He rose for one pitiful second before falling.

"Yeah, I thought so," Sokka mocked.

I scoffed in annoyance before a little girl runs up with tears in her eyes. "Aang, don't go! I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you too." I tried not to cry from the sadness in his voice. He had always been better with kids than others. "Come on, boy."

Appa walked down the hill and I sat next to Aang on Appa's head. He rested his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes, holding back the tears in his eyes.

...

We had been well on our way when smoke filled the air. We looked be hind this and a large ship was stopped by the tribe. 

We went as fast as we could to the tribe to hear a boy with a scar ranting about wanting to find the avatar. 

Aang rode in on a penguin and I came in behind, running in between Sokka and the boy.

"If you want to hurt them you'll have to go through me. I dare you." I took out two of my daggers to match him what had the same.

Aang slid over the boy, knocking him over. Aang jumped into the air, the villagers cheering. 

When I noticed Sokka was safe I took a look at him. He was looking at me in shock and I glared at him. "I'm still pissed."

"I figured you would be," he replied. 

"Hey Katara, hey Sokka," Aang said, happy as ever.

"Hi Aang," Sokka said in annoyance. "Thanks for coming."

The boy with the scar got up, gesturing to his men to surround Aang. I was ready to run after him but Sokka grabbed my arm, giving a look that it wasn't worth it.

Aang got into the fighting stance I had taught him and airbended snow into their faces. 

Heating himself up scar boy melted the snow off of him. 

"Looking for me?" Aang questioned.

"You're the airbender? You're the Avatar?" The boy questioned.

"Aang?" Katara exclaimed in surprise.

"Did you know about this?" Sokka asked me.

"What do you think?" I replied.

Zuko and Aang began to circle each other, preparing to fight.

"I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating. You're just a child!"

"Well, you're just a teenager."

Scar sent a series of fire at Aang and I quickly grabbed onto Sokka's hand in worry. He looked over in shock but still squeezed back in an attempt to comfort me.

Zuko then sent a blast at Aang but when he deflected it all of the fire went to the villagers instead. As soon as Aang noticed it he immediately stopped.

"If I go with you, will you promise to leave everyone alone?" He held his staff out as an offer and Sokka had to grab me to keep me from running and attacking.

"Aang it's not worth it. Please, don't leave me." The raw pain was evident in my voice and Katara attempted to do the same.

"No! Aang don't do this!"

" Don't worry, Katara. It'll be okay," he then looked at me and a tear fell down his face. "Mayumi. It'll be alright. I'm strong and I'm never leaving you. Take care of Appa for me until I get back."

Aang is shoved onto the large walkway and I fumed in anger. 

"Head a course for the Fire Nation. I'm going home," Scar boy said.

I looked away, unable to stay strong while seeing him being hurt like that.

"We have to go after that ship, Sokka. Aang saved our tribe, now we have to save him," Katara's words made me smile and she knew she didn't even have to convince me.

"Katara, I --"

"Why can't you realize that he's on our side? If we don't help him, no one will. I know you don't like Aang, but we owe him and --"

"Please." I cut her off. My voice sounded pitiful as I looked at Sokka with the same vulnerability he had shown me earlier.

Sokka gave me a smile then looked up. "Katara! Are you gonna talk all day, or are you comin' with me?"

"Sokka."

Katara gave her brother a big hug and it made me miss Aang even more. 

"Get in, we're going to save your boyfriend," as he gestured to a canoe in the water.

"He's not my --"

"He might as well be," I pitched in.

Sokka shrugged, nonchalant. "Whatever."

"What do you two think you're doing?" Gran-Gran questioned. "You'll need these." 

She held up their sleeping bags. "You have a long journey ahead of you. It's been so long since I've had hope, but you brought it back to life, my little waterbender. And you, my brave warrior, be nice to your sister. Aang is the Avatar. He's the world's only chance. You both found him for a reason. Now your destinies are intertwined with his."

I stood to the side with a small smile.

"There's no way we're going to catch a warship with a canoe," Katara said. 

"You know who could catch up with no sweat?" I questioned, looking between the two who looked at me in confusion.

...

"Appa, yip, yip!" I yelled.

"I told yo-" Sokka was interrupted by Appa jumping up and flying into the sky.

"Maumi, you did it," Katara cheered.

 "He's flying! He's flying! Katara, he's -"

Sokka noticed me smirking at him and immediately flushed the darkest red I had ever seen.

We neared the ship and I gasped in worry. Scar boy was hurling fire blasts at him as he was on the very edge. 

"Aang," I yelled, then he was pushed into the water. "Aang?"

With no hesitation I jumped into the water after Aang. The second I hit the water hard I had flashbacks to that night 100 years ago. 

For a moment I froze in fear as I felt transported back to that night but I shook it off. 

I swam deeper and deeper and deeper reaching out for him. The moment my hand touched his he entered the Avatar state.

He carried me with him into the air, a vortex of water surrounding us as we rose. He gently put me onto the deck before attacking the fire nation soldiers then passing out.

"Aang," I yelled, catching him before he hit his head.

I gently cradled him in my arms, smiling as he turned to me in his sleep.

"Aang! Are you okay?" Katara questioned as the two of them reached the dock. They ran over with haste.

"Hey, Katara. Hey, Sokka. Thanks for coming." He was barley able to speak due to the pain, holding my hand and squeezing it gently. "I told you so."

"What?"

"I'm ok. I told you so."

I let out a laugh and he smiled and Sokka spoke: "Besides, we couldn't let you have all of the glory."

"I dropped my staff," Aang said and Sokka went to retrieve it.

...

Scar boy tried to shoot us down as we flew away in triumph. While Katara and Aang talked the adrenaline wore off and I felt a rush of exhaustion.

"I'm just gonna," I said to no one in particular, "night-night."

I fell onto Sokka's lap but had not time to appreciate how good it felt under my head because I was already asleep.

The boy froze, not knowing what to do. A blush covered his face as he gently stroked my hair.

"Don't hurt her," Aang said to Sokka.

He finally realized why she had to hide her nationality. They had to hide her past if not for the mission, for her safety.

"What?" Sokka asked in confusion.

"I approve, just don't hurt her."

No more words needed to be spoken between the two before there was understanding.

And as they planned I slept, peace finally coming to me.