“Remember to be on your best behavior.” Katara told the kids while they waited outside দ্বারা the pond for Zuko, Mai, and Jin. Toshiro played with Momo.
“You know আপনি can trust me, Mom.” Haruki told his mother.
“Try to have some fun this time.” Katara told her son, kneeling down on the floor so their eyes were level and putting her hands on his shoulders. “I don’t want আপনি to just watch your cousins have fun, I want আপনি to have fun too.”
“Mom, আপনি and I both know there’s no time for fun when there’s a war going on.” Haruki told his mother seriously
“Kya’s almost of warrior age but she knows to have some fun.” ব্যক্ত Suki
“You’re still a kid,” ব্যক্ত Sokka, “How about having fun like a kid while আপনি still can? আপনি know, play games, run around, anything.”
Haruki looked away from his family, sulking.
“Fine.”
“Hi everyone!” yelled Jin, running outside, a big smile on her face.
“Hi, Jin.” ব্যক্ত Sokka, accepting a hug from the young girl, “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” Answered Jin, “Mom and Dad will be out here in a few minutes.”
“I don’t need a few minutes,” ব্যক্ত a voice, “I’m here.”
“Hi, Zuko,” Sokka and Zuko grasped arms.
“I’m sorry Toph couldn’t make it,” ব্যক্ত Katara, hugging Zuko, “She’s having troubles at home.”
“Her parents still don’t understand that she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.” ব্যক্ত Sokka, “They keep offering to take care of Rikiya for her.”
“Well I’m glad the three of আপনি could make it. The meeting will be set up in an hour. In the mean time I need to talk to আপনি privately.”
“Kids, why don’t আপনি go explore the palace for a bit?” suggested Katara
“Yeah, we get it,” ব্যক্ত Kya, taking Toshiro’s hand and walking away, “You guys wanna be alone.”
She and the other kids walked away from the adults and into the palace. Jin led them to her room. Haruki watched Toshiro and Jin play with Momo while Kya laid on Jin’s bed, deep in thought.
“I wonder what this meeting is supposed to be about.” ব্যক্ত Kya
“It’s about the war.” ব্যক্ত Jin, “My dad’s been pretty paranoid about it.”
“Too bad we can’t go to the meeting.” ব্যক্ত Toshiro
“Or maybe we can.” ব্যক্ত Kya, sitting up, an idea popping in her head.
“No, we can’t.” ব্যক্ত Jin, “We’re underage.”
“We can just sneak in.” ব্যক্ত Kya
“Bad idea.” ব্যক্ত Haruki
“Oh, Haruki.” ব্যক্ত Toshiro, annoyed, “Learn to have some fun for once. So how should we sneak in?” he added, looking at Kya.
“We’ll go into the সিংহাসন room where the meeting is before everybody goes in and hide behind something. This way we can hear what’s going on.”
“Sounds good to me.” ব্যক্ত Toshiro, smiling.
Haruki hesitated then shrugged, “Eh, why not? I just want to know whose winning.”
“Jin?” asked Kya, looking towards the silent princess
“What if we get caught?” asked Jin, “I don’t want him to get really mad at me.”
“I promise আপনি we won’t get caught. Mom taught me about stealth and how to be quiet and sneaky and everything. We’ll be fine as long as we stay well hidden and we don’t make a sound. We can’t even breathe loudly either!”

Haruki, Jin, Kya, and Toshiro hid behind separate pillars in the সিংহাসন room. In the middle of the room was a টেবিল where the admirals, war ministers, and generals of the আগুন Nation and Earth Kingdom sat. Zuko sat in his সিংহাসন while Sokka, Katara, and Suki sat at the end of the টেবিল in front of Zuko. On the টেবিল was a map of the Earth Kingdom. A general from the Earth Kingdom was giving his প্রতিবেদন to Zuko.
“The Chikara Army still has control over some parts of the Earth Kingdom here,” he pointed somewhere on the map, “Here,” he pointed again at another location, “And here. They’ve started to try taking over Omashu. They may succeed since their army is growing and we’re becoming আরো outnumbered.”
“What do আপনি suggest we do?”
“I suggest putting up আরো security in the Earth Kingdom where there are no benders. Ba Sing Se and Omashu are completely inhabited with earthbenders but they could use some আরো help. Perhaps have some waterbenders and firebenders help with the security.”
“Katara,” ব্যক্ত Zuko, looking at her, “What do আপনি think of that suggestion?”
“I agree with the general’s suggestion,” ব্যক্ত Katara, “As long as some waterbenders stay in the North Pole to protect their tribe. If the অবতার was born in the North Pole he অথবা she may need some protection.”
“You don’t believe that the অবতার was born in the South Pole?”
“There weren’t any children in our tribe born the দিন অবতার Aang died and some of us searched all over and did not find any newborns.”
“Forgive me but how do we know that there is a new Avatar?” asked a আগুন nation admiral, “How do we know the cycle didn’t end?”
“The অবতার wasn’t in the অবতার State when he died,” Zuko answered, glaring at the admiral that spoke out of turn, “If he died while in the অবতার State the cycle would be broken.”
The admiral remained silent after Zuko ব্যক্ত this.
“Katara, Sokka, you’ve been বন্ধু with the last অবতার longer, if the new অবতার is in the North Pole, what do আপনি suggest we do?”
“I think maybe we should send a message to the Northern Water Tribe,” ব্যক্ত Sokka, “Ask them if the অবতার is in their city and tell them they need to protect him অথবা her.”
At that moment, a servant ran into the সিংহাসন room. She ran to his সিংহাসন and bowed deeply.
“Please forgive me, আগুন Lord Zuko,” she said, looking distressed, “But it’s an emergency.”
“A message came from the leader of the Chikara Army.”


Sanosuke sat on the floor in his house, absentmindedly practicing his waterbending using a bowl of water. Khalil, a family friend and Sanosuke’s teacher, supervised him as he did this.
“Very good, Sanosuke,” ব্যক্ত Khalil, “I’d say in a few years you’ll become a master.”
Sanosuke sighed and stopped bending.
“Is something bothering you?” asked Khalil.
“I haven’t heard from my father in two weeks, Khalil.” ব্যক্ত Sanosuke, sadly, “Do আপনি think he’s all right?”
“You must remember, Sanosuke,” Khalil sat down in front of Sanosuke, “Your father is fighting in the war. He may be dealing with something right now.”
“I know,” Sanosuke looked at his reflection in the bowl of water, “It’s just that he promised he would send me a message at least once a week.”
“Just be patient, I’m sure he is fine.”
The eight-year-old boy smiled at Khalil and continued his bending.