AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 28

Katara and Dai moved toward the water buffalo, letting their water carry them. They went out the doors and seated themselves on Appa. Dai mounted the blue saddle of her white horse--one of the only horses that wasn't a bird, too. Her blanket, clothes, and food were all packed in the saddle bags.

Aang, Sokka, and Toph were shortly behind them. Sokka got on Appa and leaned back on the saddle with a pleased smile. "Where are those two?"

"Busy. They'll be here," Aang replied calmly.

"Just relax," Katara told Sokka. "It's been years. We don't need to rush."

The two finally came outside, hand in hand. Zuko pulled out a whistle, blowing into it; it didn't make a noise that they could hear, but Appa groaned. "Call Brasa?" he suggested to Athlea. "If we don't need her, someone else might."

"Mmm... yeah," Athlea said, pulling her own whistle out. Moments later a red and blue dragon landed in the clearing in front of the palace.

Dai's horse pinned its ears back and stomped a rear hoof. "Chill out, Isa," Dai murmured gently, stroking the horse's neck. She looked back at the firebenders. "Good idea. Meet you there," she said, jerking her head toward the square in front of the palace. She pulled the reins and Isa snorted, dancing his hooves for a second before loping off.

"That took a long while," Sokka commented.

"Yeah, we were busy resolving some... private affairs," Athlea said with a shrug.

Aang glanced at Zuko. "Do you have any location that Mai might live at?"

Zuko turned to Aang. "Fire nation. She'd never leave. Let's check with Ty Lee first."

"Yes!" Dai cheered. "I can test whose chi blocking is better."

Athlea got on her dragon and adjusted one of the golden pins in her hair for a second, her eyes moving to Dai. "We should only talk to her and find Mai's whereabouts," she said.

They eventually arrived at Ty Lee's place, a circus with housing. Appa and the two dragons settled on the ground, their riders sliding off. "So, we're here," Sokka said, looking around and clearing his throat. "Who's going first?"

Athlea looked at Dai. "We should all go." She walked toward the door of a large wooden tent-looking house. The others followed as she knocked on the door, a hand moving to her hip. She glanced at Zuko, then the ground, and then the door again, her chin high. She opened the door and peered inside, an eyebrow raised.

"You think she's home?" Sokka asked.

"Definitely home," Toph announced.

"Aah..."

"Just relax," Katara said gently.

Dai pulled up on Isa, dismounting and freezing his reins to a tree. She caught up to the firebenders. As Royals in their own Nation, they led the others, then Dai, then Aang, and the rest of the team behind him.

"Uhh... Ty Lee?" Athlea called as she glanced around. She turned toward the others.

"What is it?" Sokka asked.

"There's no one in it," Athlea responded.

Toph blinked. "Behind us."

The team whipped around, and sure enough, Ty Lee was standing there. "Well, looks like we found her," Aang muttered calmly. He glanced at Zuko. "I think... you should handle this." Athlea nodded agreement. Dai raised her hands discreetly, ready.

Zuko blinked, glancing at Athlea and walking forward. The team adjusted behind him. "Ty Lee," he greeted her curtly.

"Zuko," she responded. "Looking for Mai?"