Note: I'm rewriting this because the first time, I had the technology all wrong for the year it's supposed to be. Now I'm writing it better (hopefully) and I hope to have steady updates. Hope you like it!

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Yu-Jin wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt. The healer was used to a much gentler climate than the Fire Nation presented in the late spring; she imagined her throat tightening with discomfort at the heat. Even by steam ship, her trip had taken a fortnight. All passengers had been given Fire Nation badges to distinguish themselves as welcomed guests. The bright scarlet insignia stood out against her white physician's hanbok. Yu-Jin tied her hair up in a bun to lift it off her sweaty neck. 

Her mentor had not accompanied her on the journey, instead having given her sealed papers for the Fire Lord with his mark upon them. Yu-Jin had never been so far from home, nor had she ever met such an esteemed person before. Butterflies kicked around in her empty stomach. She was supposed to be the Fire Lord's physician? She was far too young, with far too little experience, she thought dizzily.

The girl told a guard aboard her ship of her business and asked how long it would take to get to the palace by car. "A few hours," was his response. So, she would have to meet with the Fire Lord that very day. She thanked the guard and resumed her worrying. She had seen how tiny the Fire Nation was on a map, but a few hours by car was nothing. Yu-Jin supposed that was a large reason the lord had so much influence over his subjects.

She passed through customs without issue and was soon riding  inside a darkly tinted car through the outer city and up the mountain into the heart of the Fire Nation. The ride was steep at parts, and Yu-Jin needed reassurance from the driver that the car wouldn't tip over. The sun was just starting to dip in the sky when they reached Capital City. She paid the driver and he dropped her off directly in front of the palace with her luggage. 

This was it then. She couldn't believe how quickly the day had passed. The young girl briefly considered booking a room at an inn and consulting the noble in the morning, but she didn't see the point in waiting, and thought that maybe the Fire Lord would spare a room for her upon hearing her business. She wondered if her master had sent a telegram ahead of her, but figured that he had forgotten.

Yu-Jin approached the guards at the doors and showed them her sealed papers and visitor's pass, asking to be let through. One regarded her with hostility, while the other was more sympathetic. The second guard smiled after approving her passport and checking her for weapons (they of course confiscated the knife she had forgotten to present to them, which she hurriedly explained was only for harvesting herbs), and opened the doors. "Please wait inside, Miss Yu-Jin, and I'll escort you momentarily," the guard ordered. He followed her inside, and her jaw dropped at seeing the palace's interior.

Everything was shiny; tall obsidian pillars finished with gold filigree supported the mosaics of the ceiling, and the red clay floor tiles were polished to mirror finish. The drapes on the windows were blood-colored, adding to the height of the foyer as they matched the ceiling. Yu-Jin imagined that this was what a lit oil lamp looked like from the inside. The guard stepped beside her after she had taken everything in, introducing himself. "My name is Harai, and I will be your escort, Miss." He bowed to her and she returned the gesture, blushing. Harai walked slightly ahead of the doctor as they progressed toward the throne room. She kept falling behind as she admired portraits of past rulers and sculptures of fine metals on the way. She hoped that if the Fire Lord's palace was this fine, his kingdom was doing exceptionally well.

Finally, the pair stood before tall oak doors guarded by even more security. Harai produced Yu-Jin's papers and asked for entrance. The first guard denied them, because someone else was already inside, but the second guard opened the doors without a word. Yu-Jin held in a laugh at seeing the first guard's expression of exasperation.

Harai ushered the young girl inside, taking her bag and closing the doors behind her. Yu-Jin, suddenly feeling rather small and afraid, clutched her mentor's seal to her belly. She raised her eyes to the center of the room, where they came to rest upon Fire Lord Shyuya. She immediately dipped into the lowest bow she could manage, and rose again. The cavernous throne room swallowed her steps as she strode noiselessly toward the ruler.

Fire Lord Shyuya looked younger than she had expected; his hair was still long and black, his features sharpened by manhood but ungraced by the softness of wisdom. Harsh amber eyes bored into her soul.

"Your majesty," Yu-Jin bowed again slightly. "I am here on behalf of your physician, Fushu. He is my master." She gulped, expecting him to respond. He did not. "Master Fushu has fallen ill with a disease that is stealing his memory. He insisted that I replace him both as your physician and as head of our apothecary back home. I...I have his letter of recommendation here," she added, producing the sealed documents. A courier relieved her of them and delivered them to Lord Shyuya.

The monarch read the papers thoroughly, eyes scanning smoothly over the text. While he did so, Yu-Jin looked around, finally noticing the other patrons which the guard had mentioned. To her right stood, to her surprise, air nomads. Or at least, one of them was a nomad. An older woman with no hair past the crown of her head bowed politely in greeting. Her silver eyes were gentle, giving nothing away as Yu-Jin observed the mastery tattoos decorating her exposed forehead and hands. The second girl, closer to Yu-Jin's age, wore fire bender attire. Bangs covered her forehead, and she smiled at Yu-Jin with sleepy eyes and a kind mouth. Yu-Jin smiled politely back.

Finally, Lord Shyuya's gaze returned to the healer and he spoke, his voice a deep rumble. "If Fushu is unable to attend me, I shall gladly hire whomever he recommends. His letter praises you highly - I'm pleased to meet you, Yu-Jin. I hope I will not have need of you." The girl smiled nervously and bowed in acknowledgement.

His hawk's gaze switched to the air bender. Yu-Jin hadn't been motioned to leave, but the courier came and took her arm to escort her out. I needed to ask him about housing! She thought as he hauled her away. I'll just have to rent somewhere for the night, she relented. As they reached the door and pushed her out, she caught a snippet of the Fire Lord's conversation.

"- cannot thank you enough for this gift. The Avatar's whereabouts -"

Yu-Jin's eyes widened as the door slammed in her face. The Avatar? He's been found?  She honestly believed he was all but forgotten. There hadn't been need of an Avatar in a hundred years or so. Harai smiled at her and asked to take her back to the entrance if her business was concluded. Yu-Jin nodded reluctantly, lacking the strategy to make up an excuse to stay. Once she was back outside the palace doors, bag in hand, she decided to wait in the twilight. She wanted to speak to that air nomad.

Darkness had set by the time the doors opened once more. Yu-Jin straightened off the wall she'd leaned against, energized. Once the nomad and fire bender descended the steps, she called out to them. Thankfully, they allowed her to approach. Maybe because they recognized her from earlier.

"I hate to be rude," Yu-Jin started, "but is it really true?" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "You've found the Avatar?" The benders nodded solemnly.

"Yes, and it's quite important that we reintroduce him to society as quickly as possible," the air nomad divulged. Yu-Jin bit her tongue against the many questions she wanted to ask. The open street was not the place for such a conversation, nor would she have any right to ask such things. "Walk with us," the master invited. "My name is Master Yun. This is Romin." She gestured to the Fire Nation girl. "Have you got a place to stay tonight?" Master Yun asked thoughtfully.

Yu-Jin replied that she didn't, and Master Yun consequently insisted she stay with them. The physician glanced between the two travelers, looking for signs of distrust. Why would she divulge such crucial knowledge to a perfect stranger, and then invite them to stay the night? Yu-Jin certainly wouldn't have done such a thing. But then again, she had never met an air nomad before. She'd heard rumors of their strange hospitality.

The trio kept walking about the city for about fifteen minutes more. Yu-Jin tried to keep the turns straight in her mind, building her mental map of the city. Soon they came before a two-story building. It was homey-looking, with a hanging wooden sign naming it Gingham House. "This is where we'll be staying for tonight. Please allow us to rent your room as well." Master Yun held the door open for the younger women. 

"Oh please, I couldn't let you do that," Yu-Jin fumbled. "You've already been so kind to me, I can take care of it, really!" The master shook her head and approached the counter. 

"Could I book an extra room tonight, please? Close to the first one if possible." Master Yun produced the payment in Republic coins and the desk worker produced a brass key. She started up the stairs and the others followed her. Yu-Jin's ears glowed pink with embarrassment of the gift. The attendant showed them the two rooms, which were directly opposite each other in the hall, and gave them the key. Their checkout time would be ten thirty the next morning. Master Yun gave the key to Yu-Jin. "Would you two girls mind rooming together? These old bones of mine could use some solitude."

Yu-Jin searched the nomad's eyes for any double meanings, but the silver of them concealed all hidden thought. "No, of course not. Thank you again." Yu-Jin accepted the key and let herself in while Romin grabbed her clothes from the other room. They took their shoes off as soon as they entered. Thankfully, two futons were laid out neatly, and the attached bathroom contained a toilet and sink, but surprisingly no shower. Instead, a ceramic wash basin stood in the corner.

"You can wash first if you like." Romin's voice surprised Yu-Jin. It was soft and husky, carrying both an invitation and an order. The younger girl accepted hesitantly and closed the door to the washroom behind her. The water in the basin was clean, but cold. She wished she'd thought to ask Romin to heat it up with her fire bending first. She bathed quickly and dressed in her night clothes and brushed her teeth.

Yu-Jin emerged to see Romin leaning on the window sill, reading some book Yu-Jin couldn't read the title of. She didn't look up, or move at all except to turn the pages. The doctor took the chance to study her a little better. Her hair was dark brown and a little messy. Freckles sprayed her nose and her long fingers held the book delicately, as though it would take flight. She was at least two inches taller than Yu-Jin.

"I'm just finishing this paragraph. I know you must be tired, so I'll hurry up." Romin slid her book mark back into place and closed the book. Yu-Jin fluttered her hands around, stuttering about not having to hurry or anything, and busied herself putting her things in the corner next to the nearest futon. Romin gazed at her lazily, lounging comfortably against the sill. 

"Fire Lord Shyuya's physician, huh? You must be awfully skilled, then. You can't be older than what, seventeen?" Romin didn't break eye contact.

"Um, fifteen, actually," Yu-Jin corrected softly. "I'm not really the best there is, but...the Fire Lord trusted my master. If I can do him justice, then that is all the authority I need." Romin smiled slightly at the confidence in the other girl's tone.

"Of course." Romin stood and glided toward the washroom. "I was just curious."

Yu-Jin released a long breath after the washroom door closed. Why was that girl so intimidating? It was like every move she made had a purpose. The physician took out her journal and pencil and chronicled the day's events, doing her best to sketch the palace and Fire Lord Shyuya from memory. It wasn't a fantastic likeness, but enough to keep the images in her mind. She wondered if Master Yun had asked her to stay with them so that she wouldn't go blabbing about town that the Avatar was back. The light bulb ticked on in her head. Of course that's why they'd be so hospitable to her. They couldn't just let some stranger walk around with that knowledge.

On second thought, why not? Wouldn't the Avatar's return be cause for celebration? A positive snippet of gossip amongst the rest of the world's politics? No, she decided. News travelled too fast for that kind of optimistic thinking. She was sure that as many people would celebrate the news would go looking for the Avatar themselves for selfish purposes. Yu-Jin couldn't be entirely sure what these women's intentions were, but as strange as they were, she couldn't help but feel tender auras around both of them. She believed they were good people, and resolved to learn more about Romin when she returned.

As Yu-Jin kept writing, Romin finished and emerged in a short-sleeved linen shirt and matching pants. Yu-Jin stared. The fire bender was apparently not a fire bender, as blue air mastery tattoos snaked up her now-exposed arms and feet. The girl smiled. "So my ruse worked then." She grabbed her book again and flopped comfortably onto the second futon.

"But - why would you pretend to be a fire bender when travelling with your mentor?" Yu-Jin asked. 

"So that I could walk around freely. One of us needed to be able to ask the locals questions without being too obviously foreign." She licked a fingertip and turned another page.

"But you have a northern accent!" Yu-Jin protested.

"Only now. You didn't notice it earlier, did you?"

Yu-Jin scolded herself for not paying enough attention. "Tell me, Master Yun invited me to stay with you because I overheard about the Avatar, right?"

"That's the conclusion I came to, yes." Romin seemed entirely unbothered by Yu-Jin's growing frustration.

"You're a master too, though, right? Only masters get those tattoos." Yu-Jin thought about throwing Romin's earlier observation back at her. "You seem awfully young to be a master."

"Kids younger than me have received them," she replied vaguely. Her nonchalant air bothered Yu-Jin.

"Please look at me while we're talking." Yu-Jin squared to face Romin fully. The air bender's dark grey eyes reflected intelligence in the low lamplight. The corner of her mouth quirked up and she put her book down, sitting to face Yu-Jin. "Thank you." Yu-Jin straightened her nightgown and pulled her long hair over one shoulder.

"I think we're getting off on the wrong foot here. Why don't we start over, hmm? I'm Yu-Jin. I'm fifteen, I'm a healer from Ba Sing Se." She stuck out her hand, waiting for Romin to grasp it.

"I'm Romin" - she shook Yu-Jin's warm hand with her cold one - "I'm seventeen, and I'm an air nomad from Air Temple Island." Yu-Jin wanted to discuss more, as she was warming up to the strange girl, but the clock on the wall told her that it was too late for that. The girls agreed that it was time for bed. That night, Yu-Jin dreamed of the Fire Lord and her master.