Aftermath (Katara)

[Ignis]

It had been at least a week or so scince the Devastation of Gaoling. Ignis had heard word that Gaoling had been conquered and most Earth Kingdom civillians had evacuated, though some surrendered, others imprisoned and some even executed or killed. Steel Mills and factories, hundreds of feet high had been built there or near there. A new Fire Nation colony had been born.

Ignis had recently discovered a minor problem, a few hours after the Battle of Gaoling. Ignis remembered it.

The skiff drifted along the massive lake. The vehicle was slower than Ignis had anticipated. Ignis rested, back laying on the steel floor. The clouds were grey and rainfall would soon shower the land. Ignis jet black hair, stroked against his skin as he lay in a peaceful nap. Ignis then heard a twig snap. His eyes snapped open immediatly like a bear trap. Ignis leapt up immediatly. A second after he leapt up, earth bullets lodged into the place where he was napping. There were five earthbenders who had obviously followed him. Ignis created a wall of fire to temporarily block the Earthbender's assault. Ignis got all his items in his sack and tossed it to land.

A large boulder then came with immense speed towards the Skiff, flying over hellish fire. Ignis jumped over the edge of the skiff just in time. The skiff was slammed by the boulder and earth, crushing it to a dented and flat chunck of metal. The other soldiers looked at the wreckage when the fire cleared. They assumed Ignis had been killed and they're fellow comrades avenged...They couldn't be more wrong. Ignis hide under the wreckage using a large dent going upwards to hide. The dent had enough air to last until they left. When they had Ignis emerged out of the dirty water. The water trickled down his flattened hair. Ignis looked at his expensive and signiture black coat which had been ruined. Ignis grunted in frustration.

Ignis took off his coat and clothes and threw them onto the destroyed Skiff, further supporting the illusion of his 'death'. Ignis quickly changed into his green and gold Earth Kingdom disguise. Ignis was still wet and dirty though and smelled bad. Ignis continued walking the whole way to the Fire Nation back on foot.

But recently Ignis had a new objective. Due to the stolen Earth Kingdom military scrolls he had aquired from the General who had been became his hostage and his key to escape, He had discovered that the monster who murdered his parents would be visiting a Ball in Omashu. The Colonol was celeberated just for slaughtering an innocent family... Ignis knew his objective instantly. Kidnap the murderer, confront him, make him beg for death, then finally grant him his request him the utmost joy.

Ignis had found a perfect campsite near the Sewer Entrance which he would use to infiltrate the Great Earth Kingdom stronghold. The campsite was in a field and not to far from the mountanous fortress. Ignis put down the scroll with a sketch of the Colonol and he then put the painting of his mother, father and sister all which were seperate paintings, not far from Ignis. Ignis stepped about ten or mabye twenty feet away making sure not to burn them. Ignis took deep breaths. Ignis then shot multipable fire blasts and streams into the air and onto manmade target zones. Ignis would avenge his parents tonight.

[Katara]

Stepping carefully on the gravel surface atop the small hill, Katara searched for anything that was edible. The disheveled young girl ran weary fingers through her long coffee tresses and paused to look about. Their small group had remained outside of Gaoling for nearly three days helping the ill and injured. Although the villagers had offered them food for their journey, they'd wholeheartedly refused. Images of the horror and devastation still remained burned in the water bender’s mind. How could they take what little food these people had? No, they’d all agreed to find food along the way..unforturnately she wasn’t doing so well at finding fruits or berries.

Katara sighed when she reached the bottom of the hill. “There has to be something around here” she muttered while pressing forward once again. She’d just noticed a red berry of some sort on a nearby bush when the air was rent by a loud explosion. Pulling the tp from her water bottle, Katara quickly pulled the liquid upward about her body and strode toward the area where the sound had originated. The bender followed the smoky clouds that were now visable above the tree line and eventually led her into an open meadow. Cerulean eyes opened wide at what she found. There, dressed in earth kingdom garments, was Ignis with a fierce expression on his face staring at what appeared to have been a very charred piece of paper.

‘What is he doing here? Where’s Mai?’ she thought while shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the next. Taking a deep breath, the young girl stepped lightly forward. “What are you doing Ignis? I thought you and Mai would have returned to the Fire Nation by now.”

[Ignis]

Ignis heard the all too familiar voice and turned to Katara. Ignis looked at the water bender, his fierce expression rapidly fading into a suprised one. "Uh...nothing..." Ignis said to Katara. "Me and Mai got seperated and my ship got busted." Ignis said before turning away and firing a powerful and roaring blast at the target.

"So, why are you here?" Ignis asked not looking at her just aiming at more targets and firing. "You probably would understand Katara, being damaged like me." Ignis said to her taking a glance at her before returning to his target practice. Ignis would kill the monster slowly without fail and make sure he payed dearly with his live and soul.

[Katara]

Giving a huff, Katara jumped down from the rock she’d been standing on and stood just off to the left of the Fire bender as he continued to send red gold flames at what appeared to be some sort of practice area. Her eyes narrowed while she followed his every move.

“Maybe you should be trying to find Mai instead of playing with fire. You tend to hurt a great many people when you do that Ignis.” she said sharply.

With slow measured steps, the water bender moved closer toward the young man. “I’m out looking for food. I NEVER thought I’d see you here…just outside of Omashu. You intending to burn another town to the ground Ignis? Wasn’t one enough..oh I know it gets a bit addicting right? The rush of burning all your anger out on others.” She added sarcastically.

At his comment on her understanding being damage, her head jerked upward and her eyes flashed. “What do you mean by damaged Ignis? I wasn’t harmed by those people.” Her brows furrowed in confusion. ‘Why is he out here practicing his fire bending and not on his way back to the fire nation? Where is Mai? She seems to be the only one who can control his terrible temper..'

[Ignis]

“Maybe you should be trying to find Mai instead of playing with fire. You tend to hurt a great many people when you do that Ignis.” Katara said. Ignis turned with an uninteressted and not caring expression. "Did I really ask for a lecture? No." Ignis said to her. Ignis then stopped fire bending. “I’m out looking for food. I NEVER thought I’d see you here…just outside of Omashu. You intending to burn another town to the ground Ignis? Wasn’t one enough..oh I know it gets a bit addicting right? The rush of burning all your anger out on others.” Katara continued to lecture as if he was her responisblilty. He wasn't.

"The only thing that's going to get burnt is...an old friend of mine, tonight." Ignis said to Katara emotionlessly, reffering to his parent's killer. “What do you mean by damaged Ignis? I wasn’t harmed by those people.” Katara asked. A small smile appeared on Ignis' face. "What makes you think I was reffering to the Earth Kingdom?" Ignis slowly replied to the waterbender. "I was reffering to the Fire Nation, my kind, who took your mother away from you, like the Earth Kingdom did too me." Ignis added. "You still remind me of..." Ignis quietly said. "Never mind." Ignis finished changing the subject.

[Katara]

Heaving a large sigh, Katara took a few steps and sat down on a nearby rock on which small yellow flowers seemed to flourish. She couldn’t argue with him. She had been lecturing him in a way but it was only because she didn’t want anyone else to be harmed …not even Ignis. When he said ‘old friend’ with such a frigid air, her azure eyes locked onto the young boy.

The water bender’s face grew pensive as he went on to clarify her misconception and she ground her teeth. Ignis had hit a nerve. One she couldn’t easily brush away…or hide. Yes, she hated the man who killed her mother and for the longest time she saw all the people from the fire nation as being just like him. Somehow traveling with Aang had taught her to look a bit deeper and think a little longer before dishing out judgments.

Cutting a look at Ignis’s back, the water bender clenched her right hand. She could still see his eyes as he ordered her from the tent. Black as the sealwhales and filled with hate.
She asked herself over and over if her mother would have lived if she hadn’t left her alone with that man? Surely she could have stopped him if she’d stayed? No matter how many times that moment in her life flashed before her eyes, the result was always the same; her mother was gone and would NEVER return. “Yes Ignis we do have that in common.”

Katara sat and stewed for a moment as the devastation of the last week slipped into her thoughts. While she understood his anger…and his desire for revenge, she couldn’t see it justifying the deaths of innocent bystanders who had no knowledge of his parents or what their military had done. But then would they have cared ? Would this hatred tearing the nations apart eventually destroy the world? It only took one person…one angry person to hasten the hatred and anger along didn’t it? Wasn’t that why their small gang traveled through the nations so that Aang could learn to bend all the elements and put an end to the rage, hatred and fear?

Maybe if she went with Ignis…kept an eye on him, he could find closure in killing this one man who taken his parents lives. Katara shook her head recognizing that her brother and Aang would never agree with such a rash proposal. “Will it end the anger…the hatred do you think Ignis? If you killed this man, will that put an end to your attacking even the innocent or is it something that controls you?” she asked in earnest.

[Ignis]

Ignis was silent and pondered the thought of Katara actually helping him. Ignis turned away from her, though still remaining in the same place. Ignis looked at the ground, hand rested lightly on his mouth, other hand supporting his other arm. Ignis then turned back to her. "Ok...but don't try to stop me at the last miniute Katara, this is my battle, not yours." Ignis turned to her and said with a serious tone. "Oh and as for those innocent people...You should know that I admitted my mistakes." Ignis added.

"I have a lair that's been set up with all the tools needed to kill him...and some accomplices that helped him murder my mother and father." Ignis said to Katara pointing further into the woods. "Just one thing Katara, if you truly do want to help me, I need to let you know there WILL be blood." Ignis said coming right up to her before backing off. "It's funny...I'm suprised you didn't jump to the chance to help slaughter someone like the cold hearted killer who...took your mother from you." Ignis said a small sarcastic smirk appearing on his face.

[Zuko]

Zuko stood with his swords drawn facing five Earth Kingdom soldiers that had their spears pointed at him. The girl that they had been picking on was huddling behind him. He glanced back at her to make sure she wasn't hurt. He then looked back to see a soldier lunge at him with a spear. He cut the spear in half and kicked the guard to the ground. He then made a swipe at the two closest guards leaving a deep gash in their chests. The others backed off as their expressions had turned from anger to fear.

"Forget my face or you-" Zuko started until a rock hit him in the head. An earthbender had arrived and decided to help his comrades out. Zuko fell to the ground and the only unscathed soldier made a lung downwards at him. He rolled out of the way, grabbing one sword and gave him a gash in his leg. The Earthbender shouted, "What the hell are you doing? Explain yourself."

"Your soldiers were harassing this girl. I asked them to stop and they attacked me." Zuko shouted. He sheathed his swords and put his hands up, "Why would I attack 5 armed guards in the middle Omashu?"

One of the wounded soldiers replied, "We caught her stealing sir and this punk came in and told us off!"

The Earthbender sent a rock at the soldiers head. "You saying she stole something, from who? There is nobody here."

The girl finally spoke up, "I was here in the shade trying to sleep when they grabbed me and pushed me around." Zuko could sense that everything was winding down.

"Alright... You guys come with me... and kid... try not to be a vigilante. Just report them next time," The Earthbender said as he herded the soldiers towards the barracks. Zuko turned towards the girl.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, thank you... I'm uh... Shana... who are you... um... if you don't mind me asking." Shana said. She looked tired after her ordeal.

"I'm...," Zuko thought, "Lee. Wanna go somewhere else..." Zuko looked on the blood stains on the ground.

"Yeah... I need to rest... I know the perfect place." Shana said as they started walking. After a while she leaned on him. Zuko felt awkward. They walked for a while. Zuko saw an open courtyard that was close to the outer wall. Shana sat down on a bench and Zuko, uncomfortably, followed suit. They watched people walk through the mostly abandoned courtyard. Zuko noticed a sewer entrance in the middle. He wondered if anyone had ever snuck through the sewers before.

[Katara]

[[OOC: Just so you know Ig, Katara was thinking internally about going with him. She never revealed that aloud.]]

‘Stop him?’ Katara gave a small shake of her head at the thought. She knew that once Ignis was lost to the rage that boiled below the surface, it took far more than a half trained water bender to bring him back to reality. Azula’s friend Mai certainly was helpful.
'I hope she got away.’ The brunette thought but then rolled her eyes at the irony at her helping the daughter of a fire nation aristocrat escape. But whatever Mai was…the girl had kept her word . That had surprised Katara and made her think about her previous images of all fire nation citizens. Her mother’s death and the capture of many of her people had made them ALL appear as the enemy. But on her travels with Aang, she found that things weren’t always as they’d seemed in her childish mind. Things were not so neatly separated into just good and bad. It was then that the image of Zuko flashed in her mind.. How he also had helped to fight even his own soldiers …to help her and the others.

She was so confused and Ingis’ desire for revenge tugged at the pain within her own heart..as well as the guilt and anger. Katara frowned when the fire bender spoke of needing tools to kill his parents’ murderer. “Tools?” she asked with a puzzled hesitant tone. “Help you?” her voice rose upward. ‘Had he sensed her thoughts?’ The teen wondered. Then he prodded deep into the wound that had never healed. Where hatred and guilt had festered for such a long time. "It's funny...I'm suprised you didn't jump to the chance to help slaughter someone like the cold hearted killer who...took your mother from you." Ignis said a small sarcastic smirk appearing on his face.

In instant reaction, without thought, she surged forward to push Ignis. “You think you know how I feel but YOU DON”T !! “ Katara screamed back at him. “YES..oh yes .. I want him dead…you have no idea how much I dreamed of doing just that…” She had to pause to take a deep breath, her hands clenched at her sides.

“And it wouldn’t be slaughter…no…” Her azure eyes glazed over and the images from her dreams since that day pushed into her mind, of the man and her battling. How many times had she killed him? By ice blade, drowning….even locked forever frozen in ice, his eyes wide in disbelief. “…I would make him think that he had a chance to save himself but in the end..I would fight him and he would loose…”

Katara’ voice drifted off as she spun away while wiping an angry tear from her cheek. “ I’m not as fortunate as you Ignis….No one remembers his name. “ She sighed and sent her fingers through her long tresses in distress. “ And I ‘m helping Aang now…When he defeats the Fire Lord, perhaps then I’ll find out his name. “

[Ignis]

Ignis when he was pushed back, allowed himself to fall a foot back but then he grabbed her tanned arms and gently pushed her back. "You think you know how I feel but YOU DON'T !!" Katara screamed back at him. Ignis watched with his small and slightly in a way sadistic smile. “YES..oh yes .. I want him dead…you have no idea how much I dreamed of doing just that…” She had to pause to take a deep breath, her hands clenched at her sides.

“And it wouldn’t be slaughter…no…” Her azure eyes glazed over and the images from her dreams since that day pushed into her mind, of the man and her battling. How many times had she killed him? By ice blade, drowning….even locked forever frozen in ice, his eyes wide in disbelief. “…I would make him think that he had a chance to save himself but in the end..I would fight him and he would loose…” Katara said.

Ignis' smirk began to slowly turn into a sympathetic and comforting smile as she talked. "There it is again...The anger, THE RAGE!" Ignis said his comforting smile quickly dissapearing. "I like the way you think..." Ignis said to her. "Well I want to play a little game with him...To test him." Ignis said. "I want to see if he can trade his own life for four others just like him..." Ignis said.

Katara’ voice drifted off as she spun away while wiping an angry tear from her cheek. “ I’m not as fortunate as you Ignis….No one remembers his name. “ She sighed and sent her fingers through her long tresses in distress. “ And I ‘m helping Aang now…When he defeats the Fire Lord, perhaps then I’ll find out his name. “

Ignis' comforting smile then returned as he hesitated to put his arm on her shoulder. She would probably shake him off anyway but he did do so. "It doesn't have to be that way until a destiny which may never come happens..." Ignis said reffering to his mother's killer and the, at the moment, unlikely event that the Avatar could defeat the Fire Lord at such a young age. "I know this probably too personal but...What do you remeber about the day...y'know..." Ignis said still trying to reason with her and comfort her.

[Katara]

Katara noticed that Ignis was nearly overjoyed by her anger and hatred for the man who killed her mother. Her brows furrowed when he spoke of playing a game with his adversary and four other men. “Four others? But …who are they Ignis? Did all of them kill your parents?” She asked incredulously.

“It only took one to kill my mother and….it was all my fault. “ [/colorTthe water bender breathed out softly while her eyes glazed. over in memory. “We were throwing snowballs at each other like we usually did…Sokka and I. Laughing and playing with the other kids when the fluttering ash of the fire nation ships drifted onto our cheeks like snow. I can remember being so scared. I screamed to my brother that I was going to find our mother. I can still hear my boots sinking into the deep snow…and the frosty air freezing my chest as I ran.”

Pausing for a second, Katara leaned her head back against a nearby golden oak tree. “ When I pushed the tent flap open, he was there. He seemed so huge..so hateful. My mother was kneeling on the floorand I could see the terror in her eyes. Not for herself…for me .ME!! She begged with him to let me go…said she would give him anything… and he agreed. I won’t ever forget her face pleading for me to go find my father.”

There was a long silence as the young girl slammed her fist into the rough bark behind her. “I did. I ran as hard and fast as I could to find him. He told me not to follow him when he left …but ..but I did anyway.” The water bender’s lips pursed in anger as she struggled to keep her tears as bay. Not sad tears due to the loss of a loved one. No,these tears were brought about due to unrelinquished anger.

“If I hadn’t left her… alone with that fire nation soldier.. If I'd stayed..maybe she would still be here!!”

[Ignis]

“Four others? But …who are they Ignis? Did all of them kill your parents?” Ignis asked. "Yes! The either did or allowed it to happen and didn't help them...or the other innocent people who drowned or were crushed by the rubble!" Ignis instantly replied loudly, briefly describing the worst and most horrifying day of his life.

“It only took one to kill my mother and….it was all my fault. “ [/colorTthe water bender breathed out softly while her eyes glazed. over in memory. “We were throwing snowballs at each other like we usually did…Sokka and I. Laughing and playing with the other kids when the fluttering ash of the fire nation ships drifted onto our cheeks like snow. I can remember being so scared. I screamed to my brother that I was going to find our mother. I can still hear my boots sinking into the deep snow…and the frosty air freezing my chest as I ran.”

Katara had described the event in detail. Ignis listened to every single word and then quickly thought about how damaged they both were and how deep deep inside, she was so...weakened...Like Ignis. Although Ignis was slightly unstable. Ignis looked sympathetic at her and wanted to make her understand that they were alike and that he could help her...and he didn't mean being there for her.

“ When I pushed the tent flap open, he was there. He seemed so huge..so hateful. My mother was kneeling on the floorand I could see the terror in her eyes. Not for herself…for me .ME!! She begged with him to let me go…said she would give him anything… and he agreed. I won’t ever forget her face pleading for me to go find my father.” Katara continued to talk, Ignis listening.

Katara then slammed her first into the wooden bark tree. Ignis watched her confess. “I did. I ran as hard and fast as I could to find him. He told me not to follow him when he left …but ..but I did anyway.” Katara said. Ignis moved a little closer to her. Katara then began to slowly cry in anger. “If I hadn’t left her… alone with that fire nation soldier.. If I'd stayed..maybe she would still be here!!” Katara shouted.

Ignis crouched down to her and gently put one arm on her shoulder and one very lightly on her right cheek. "Katara, you don't know that. I wonder the same thing all the time but I know the awnser. You were about nine years old when that happened you couldn't prevent it. Katara! We're both the same, can't you see!" Ignis said to her, looking in her eyes.

[Katara]

Somehow, even though she was deep within the pain filled memories and guilt, Katara felt Ignis’ hand on her shoulder. She lifted her tear-filled eyes to gaze into the fire bender’s and gave a small nod. “Some things are similar…yes.” she replied in a husky voice. “ ..but …I do still have my father ..and Sokka. You lost both your parents.”
Maybe that was why Ignis lost control. Because he didn't have the love of even one parent to guide him as her father guided her....

Shoving a strand of annoying hair from her face, she continued. “Where are they…these men who hurt your parents? Are they nearby? When are you going to face them?” The water bender asked while in her mind she wondered where her mother’s killer was and how she would take care of him if she found him.

Then it hit her. One of her greatest fears revisited as she thought on the loss of her mother. It peeked out from deep within where she’d kept it hidden . “Do you ever worry about your sister? “ she leaned her head against her knees to hide her eyes. “That somehow they will kill her if you attack these men? I think about loosing my dad all the time. He’s out there fighting against the fire nation now. “ Lifting her head she whispered, “ I’m so afraid I’ll loose him …and Sokka and Aang as well.”

[Ignis]

Ignis got a bit more defensive when she talked about her having one parent and him having none. Ignis knew she didn't mean it in a spitefull way but he got so insulted. "Yeah, we both know you still have one parent, Katara..." Ignis said to her. Ignis kept having mood swing after mood swing. Mabye it was because he had to guide himself in life and guide a thirteen year old girl as if he was her father.

“Where are they…these men who hurt your parents? Are they nearby? When are you going to face them?” Katara said. "Two are already locked up in a lair I made in the sewers." Ignis replied. Then Katara talked about his sister and how the five men may kill her. "Well they won't get a chance. Tonight five will become zero...though I'm going to make them think one of them has a chance at survival." Ignis said sadisticlly imagining the victory.

Then Katara talked about fear of losing her brother and the Avatar, from which it was obvious that the Last Airbender and this waterbender had 'bonded'. Ignis had another mood swing and became comforting and supporting. Ignis held Katara's hand tightly, with Ignis' two in a supporting manner. "I promise Katara, I'll do my best to protect you and your brother...I owe you that much." Ignis said. Ignis realised he was holding her hand and took them off. "As for the Avatar...I won't attack him but I'm not sure if I want to protect him...I've commited treason enough just by not kindapping or attacking you...Your lucky." Ignis said in a neutral tone.

[Mai]

It had been a week. A week since Gaoling. A week that Mai had been alone on unknown territory. Despite the fact she was by herself with no money, she was doing well for a girl that had been forced to stay in the palace for her whole life. On the day of Gaoling, Mai had escaped successfully and quickly. Earth Nation soldier came from left and right, but she had enough warning that she could take them down and escape Gaoling. Once Mai had ran two miles or so from Gaoling, she slowed to a walk and walked until night fell, where she spent the night under a tree where she stopped to rest.

She woke at dawn to a gentle hand shaking her shoulder. She blinked awake, her eyes focusing slowly on an young mans face. She tensed and felt her blades, ready to protect herself if needed. The teenager noticed, and smiled warmly at her, shaking his head. "I'm not going to attack you." The man said in a surprisingly deep voice. Mai didn't move, not convinced. He laughed, straightening up to a standing position. Mai slowly stood, seeing that the man was only inches taller than her. He frowned at her.

"What?" Mai asked the man, glaring slightly. "Your clothes are in rags and you're torn up more than my foot was after I stepped on a turtleduck last weekend." He responded simply. "Come, come, we'll get you some proper clothes and get those wounds tended to... uh... by the way, what's your name, Miss?" He asked her. Mai surveyed him. He was a few inches taller than her with dark, curly hair, but short. He looked strong, and seemed to have a permanent smile on his face. His eyes were a dark, emerald green like his outfit, which was darkened in places that got burned. He looked about her age if not older, and was obviously Earth Nation that didn't get killed in Gaoling the previous night, and her outfit was burned and torn so much that you couldn't tell she was fire nation. Now that was embarrassing.

"Uh - Hana. Charmed, I'm sure." Mai faked a smile best she could. She used the name of 'her' pet cowpig at her Uncles farm when she was five in the Fire Nation. He must have bought the fake smile, because she smiled a charming smile back to her. "Mine's Kichiro. Oh yeah, I'm so very charmed." He grinned at her, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. He stepped a few paces to the left, turning back and motioning for her to follow. She smiled at him again and started to follow after him. After a few hours of hiking through the woods, they came across a hidden hatch in the ground. Kichiro brushed the leaves away from the hatch and opened the doors, stepping to the side and letting Mai go first.

Mai stumbled inside, faking some clumsiness to make it seem she was just another non bending Earth Nation girl who spent all of her time working. Kichiro jumped in with surprising grace and closed the hatch behind him, heading down the underground hallway with the torches on the sides. The hallway was narrow, and Mai felt claustrophobic, taking deep breaths and feeling dizzy. Kichiro noticed her uncomfort, putting one arm around her and gently reassuring quietly that the tunnel would end soon. And soon enough, another set of doors headed into an astonishingly huge room. There must have been ten - twenty - thirty - forty - fifty - sixty - seventy - eighty - ninety! Ninety earth nation people that she could guess. Ninety. The room was so huge, you could barely see the top and you couldn't see the other side, despite the strange pure light in the room. Kichiro noticed her gawking and tapped her shoulder, grabbing her forearm and gently leading her through the crowds of people.

While she continued to gawk at everything, some Earth Nation villagers stared at her curiously, other glared, others moved out of the way, paying no attention to her. They stopped at what seemed to be an Earth building, where Kichiro let go of Mai and laid one hand against a stone in the side of the building. Almost immediately, the wall opened and Kichiro entered. Mai followed, not sure what else to do. Kichiro walked down another long tunnel and into a room, where Mai followed to see Kichiro being hugged by a grown woman tightly, fretting quietly despite Kichiros repeating of groaning the word 'Mom'.

When Mai entered the room, she stifled back giggles at the sight of the obvious embarrassment of the blushing Kichiro. The woman let go of her apparent son, and stared at Mai, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, well, you've come at just the right time then. Kichiro, get me some water, come here... uhum..." The woman looked to her son. "Hana." He finished for her. The woman looked back to Mai and smiled. "What have you been doing with yourself, dear? Those clothes of your are almost reduced to a single thread!" The woman exclaimed, smiling and grabbing a needle and green and gold thread. Mai blushed scarlet.

Kichiro left the room, and after many winces of pain from Mai, it was finished. The woman left the room and came back with a long mirror, holding it up for Mai to see her new garb. Mai grinned. It was amazing. It was a long, dark green dress with a pretty golden lace collar. It had golden designs weaved into the fabric, and it's length fell in a green and golden waterfall to the floor, slit on her right knee to the floor, showing off one of her legs and the golden and green matching flat shoes. Mai grinned at the woman. "Do I really look as great as I think I do? Thank you." Mai smiled. Kichiro walked in then, arms full of fabric before he looked at Mai. His eyes doubled in size and he dropped the fabric the floor. "I'm taking that as a yes!" Mai exclaimed happily. These emotions were mostly faked, but Mai couldn't feel as though she was actually a bit... happy.

For the next couple days, Mai stayed in the little Earth Nation village with the help of her new friend Kichiro and his mother Aya. But one night she woke in her beautiful new night gown at midnight. Mai walked over sleepily to the mirror and caught a view at herself. Her black hair was just so short. Well, it was actually long, but it looked short to her. It reached down to the ends of her shoulder blades, and her bangs were cut off just above her eyebrows. Mai touched her skin, feeling the softness and knew she faced a difficult decision. To stay with Kichiro and stay Hana for the rest of her life, remaining happy. She saw this future flash through her eyes; growing old in the Earth Nation, dating Kichiro, later having to black haired children running throughout a living room, Mai watching her children growing up, then finally dying happily and peacefully, having had a wonderful life.

But that was the thing. It wasn't her life. This was Hanas life.

Not Mais.

Mai packed a bag that Aya had given her along with other assorted things from Kichiros ever so wonderful family, along with the new clothes Aya had made her, and a necklace along with a charm made out of the precious stone Emerald that Kichiro had made her. Mai changed into the first dress Aya made her, pulled her hair up and wearing a pair of earrings Aya had taught her how to make, along with doing her makeup. She looked so different. Better different, she decided. Mai didn't have to loose everything of Hanas lifestyle. Mai walked out into the huge village, stopping by Kichiros house and leaving a farewell and thanks for everything and maybe we'll see each other again letter on his windowsill, smiling ever so slightly as she looked in at the snoring Kichiro.

Mai hiked out into the woods again, knowing her way around the village well now, and out into the Earth Nation wilderness. For the next few days, she had one specific task in mind; finding someone. Whether it be Katara, Ignis, or even Zuko, she had to find one of them. And that's what she did now. Search. Mai manged to find a spring and took a long wanted bath and changed clothes again, into an identical dress and redid her hair and makeup, heading out into the wilderness again, happy that Aya made room in the dress sleeves and a few hidden pockets for her blades.

It was a few hours after she found the spring that she heard voices. She knew those voices. She had no idea where she was, but she knew that she recognized these voices. Mai inches closer, stealthily and quietly, eavesdropping on the conversation. "I promise Katara, I'll do my best to protect you and your brother...I owe you that much." Ignis said. Ignis realised he was holding her hand and took them off. "As for the Avatar...I won't attack him but I'm not sure if I want to protect him...I've committed treason enough just by not kidnapping or attacking you...Your lucky." Ignis said in a neutral tone. Mai looked around the tree trunk from the shadows to see Ignis was holding Kataras hand. Mais eyes dropped into a signature glare.

"Of course, your girlfriend goes missing for like what, a week, and you go off and hold other girls hands. How touching." Mai said, her tone somewhat joking as she leaned against the tree, looking so much more different than before.

((that turned out longer than expected... o.o))