Ryoko could feel the wind against her cheeks as Aang guided her through Omashu on the roofs. It was an unfamiliar feeling, racing against the breeze to find Aang's old friend. As Aang wanted to help his old friend, Ryoko wanted to protect Aang from her own old friend. Seeing the four of them was an intriguing sight, Ryoko just hoped it wasn't enough to keep her attention. Ryoko had no doubts that Mai was close by with her family and that it wouldn't be an easy task to find Bumi alone, not by a large amount of soldiers. She didn't want to ask him if he thought they would find Bumi, wherever he could be. If Ryoko was honest, she didn't know what to tell him, if there were any right words. 

Aang stayed silent as well through their quest, Ryoko was unable to determine exactly how he felt now. Even through their strange connection, Ryoko couldn't help him so much in a time of need. The best she could do was be there for him and try to protect him when the moment calls for it, when others from her nation would come after him, even if they're an old friend. 

Aang lands on top of a stone roof, Ryoko following his movements and landing on her feet. Her heart beat fast as she tried to calm it down. Jumping was better than flying, she would admit. She strays forward over the edge and sees a large creature pushing a wheel, round and round without end. He wasn't as big as Appa, but still some would consider the beast to look dangerous. Ryoko just felt pity upon seeing the chains. 

Yet, Aang was the one who had shown the most excitement since they arrived to Omashu. He picks Ryoko up easily while Ryoko lets out a gasp and the two land down on the lower level where the animal was. "Flopsy!" Aang yells out with glee. Ryoko furrows her brows as she stares in between the two. 

"Is that Flopsy?" Ryoko questioned out loud through her many questions inside. The name did not match the intimidating look to him. 

"He's Bumi's pet!" Aang holds out his arms while Ryoko smiles kindly at Flopsy. Flopsy rushes forward but is stopped short from the chains around his neck. Ryoko moves closer, peering at the chains that held him by the wheel. 

"Do you want to do it?" 

Aang jumps up without answering her, landing on the wheel. His arms move elegantly and with ease, pulling water to the side out of its bucket and freezing it on the lock that held Flopsy there. He swings his staff and Aang breaks the lock with a crash. Flopsy envelopes Aang in a tight hug. 

"Flopsy, this is Ryoko!" He chuckles as Flopsy licks his face. "Come on, Flopsy. You gotta help us find Bumi!" He climbs onto Flopsy's back, holding out his hand for Ryoko. She places her hand onto his and grips tightly while she swings forward and lands behind Aang on Flopsy's back. "Yip, yip!" After the moment of silence from the three Aang realizes. "Oh, I guess that doesn't work with you. Let's go!" 

Without another word or sound, Flopsy takes off running through the city. Ryoko holds onto Aang while the two look around attempting to find sight of Bumi or any hints. But the king was nowhere to be found. The city wasn't familiar to Ryoko, as the firebender's eyes scrimmaged for a clue to finding Bumi. There was no use. They had to be keeping him somewhere secure, deep in the city with competent guards. 

"Maybe we should turn back, get back to the group," Ryoko suggests in a sympathetic tone, bringing a deep frown to Aang's face. He only nods as he grabs Flopsy's attention to get out of the city.

By the time they were able to make it out of the city and on their way to the rebellion's spot, the sun had set and Aang's disappointment grew. Ryoko sighs as she looks back at the great city now occupied by the fire nation. A part of her wondered where Mai was now, what she was doing while her family stayed in Omashu. She hadn't mentioned anything to Aang about seeing her childhood friend and hoped she wouldn't have to say it. Seeing the sullen look on his face because of his own friend being missing made Ryoko question whether to tell him. It would be better, she thought, to keep it to herself. 

In the distance, the camp for the resistance came into view, their fire illuminating the earth and people. Aang and Ryoko walk with Flopsy by their sides. Aang stops in his steps, causing Sokka and Katara to jump up and rush towards the three. 

"We looked everywhere," Aang tells the siblings, "no Bumi." Katara leans forward and embraces Aang, being a comfort to him while Ryoko sees a man coming towards them. Ryoko perks up, crossing her arms against her chest.

"We've got a problem. We just did a head count."

"Oh, no. Did someone get left behind?" Katara asks him. 

"No. We have an extra," he answers, pointing behind him at the stowaway. On the ground, being dragged with a disturbed Momo was a baby. Ryoko stared in confusion at the child. If he wasn't the child of one of the Omashu citizens, then there would only be one reason why he was there. Did Mai have a brother?

As they wondered what they would do with the boy, Ryoko zoned out, deep in her own thoughts. They must suspect by now that the resistance took their child, possibly in return for Bumi. It was the best assumption, Ryoko thought. It would be a decent plan if it didn't involve a child and wasn't an accident. 

Ryoko stared at the baby. So much time had passed since she left the fire nation. Her friends continued on with their lives while she changed through the short amount of time with the Avatar. Not so long ago she was prepared to take her friend to the fire nation and return home victorious with Zuko by her side. Now, everything was different, including her loyalties. 

The baby starts cooing as he grabs Sokka's club, teething on it. "No!" Sokka rips the club from him. "Bad fire nation baby!"

"Sokka!" Ryoko chastises him as the baby starts to cry. Katara slaps Sokka over the head. Sokka looks between the two girls who sat on both sides of him.

"Oh, all right." He lowers the club for the baby to play with once again. Ryoko grimaced at the fact that he was holding a weapon but still was able to bring a slight smile on her face. He was so bright and happy, even with strangers. 

He wasn't the only one who showed his excited expressions. "Oh, you're so cute!" Katara gushes over him, indulging in swarming the baby with compliments and attention while the soldier in front of them could only feel disgust with his origin.

"Sure, he's cute now," he says, "but when he's older, he'll join the fire nation army. You won't think he's so cute then. He'll be a killer." 

For just a second, Ryoko could feel his eyes glance to her. Ryoko wanted to tell the man different, that he was wrong for placing judgement on a child when he couldn't even speak yet, but a part of her knew there was some truth. Maybe he wouldn't be a killer, but even in her own youth she was taught that the fire nation was the greatest. She remembered still, the lessons about her home spreading their power and ideals to the other nations around them. Being on the search for the Avatar was when she started to realize and question, just how great was the fire nation? When they were feared and all the destruction she saw, all she was left with was an empty and guilty feeling in the pit of her chest. 

"Does this look like the face of a killer to you?" Katara asks him while holding the baby up.

Now looking at the young boy, Ryoko felt a surge through her. "He's just a child-" 

"From the fire nation-"

Ryoko interrupts him as he interrupted her. "You don't know anything about him." As her voice grows firmer, her friends start to feel the tension in the air. Katara, who would admit to hating Ryoko at first, still wouldn't place judgement on a young child.

"We know he's from the fire nation, that's good enough for me."

"You shouldn't judge him after just seeing him-"

"Like you're any better? We know where you come from. You're an Admiral's daughter, you're just as bad as them. You know nothing of what we've been through. Your people did this to us." 

Ryoko's frown deepens, taking his words into account. It wasn't like he lied, she knew that. But the truth was what hurt. "You're right, I don't know what you've been through. I've only seen a fraction of the pain that my nation has put everyone through. I've seen people lose their families, their people, and their homes. There's nothing I can do to make up for that fact except help the Avatar. I wasn't just an Admiral's daughter. And I hope I won't always be seen as only that." 

Before he could reply, a squawking noise drew them from the circle to a messenger hawk, perched on a rock for them to come closer. "A messenger hawk." 

Aang takes the message from the hawk and stands in front of everyone to hear what was written. "It's from the Fire Nation governor. He thinks we kidnapped his son." Ryoko looks down at her feet. So she was right, it is Mai's brother. "So, he wants to make a trade. His son for King Bumi!" Without even meaning to, they found a way to get to Bumi, yet Ryoko couldn't help but get a heavy feeling that weighed on her. Why did she feel that there would be repercussions? 

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A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for reading! I know this is a shorter chapter I promise the next one will be much longer. Thanks for all the support and thank you for 5.4k views, it means so much! <3