CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
( THE AVATAR STATE )

SLEEP WAS ELUDING HER once again. Flo laid in the fur-lined hammock on her side with shut eyes, and her cloak wrapped around her like a blanket. One might think that the steady sounds of the wind and the waves would lull her to sleep – she even hoped it would – but it didn't.

It was nothing she wasn't used to, but Flo did like her sleep and she was beginning to get frustrated. After everything calmed down after the siege, she hoped to finally get some good night's rest for once.

There weren't any threats. The Fire Nation got taken care of. Her friends were alive and okay and safe, and so were the animals. As of right now, the only thing they needed to worry about was to get to Omashu to meet up with King Bumi so Aang could learn earthbending.

And yet within the past three weeks, Flo merely got a handful of nights where she slept soundly. Sometimes the culprit was a nightmare. Other times a random sound would wake her up, causing her to momentarily think they were about to be attacked again. Then there were nights where she just couldn't fall asleep, and didn't until either well into the night or close to, or at, dawn.

A sharp gasp sounded through the small cabin of the boat. There was a moment of silence before someone stood and climbed the ladder to leave. Flo turned and sat up. She caught sight of the bottom of Aang's shoes right before he was completely out of sight.

Katara sat up in her hammock below Flo's. "I'll go talk to him," she said quietly, and stood.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. If he wants to talk to you instead, I'll come get you."

She nodded and laid back down, but didn't close her eyes. She stared up at the sky through spaces between the wooden planks above them. The stars twinkled as they sailed under them. Clouds obscured them occasionally. The light of the moon streamed through in faint lines, dimming whenever a cloud passed over.

Flo lifted her right hand. Her fingerless glove covered the very top of the burn scar; the rest of it was in full view. It wasn't as bad as it used to be. It's faded a little over the past few weeks, but not a lot.

With a sigh, she dropped her hand to her stomach. Her mind was now stuck on what happened. Zhao's hand gripped around her wrist; running from soldiers; an unrelenting, large blast of fire to her side; finding out Yue sacrificed herself to save the Moon Spirit...

Flo put her other arm over her eyes, and stayed that way until Katara and Aang came back down. She waited to make sure they both fell asleep again, then climbed out of the hammock and to the deck. She climbed the mast, and settled on the horizontal post at the very top underneath the small, white flag. With one leg bent and her foot settled on the post, she leaned against the top of the mast.

+++

Flo didn't fall asleep, but she did drift off a bit. That weird in between state of asleep and awake, where she was aware of whatever noises and movements nearby and around her, but not awake enough to open her eyes and cognitively do anything.

The white flag at the top of the mast whacked her in the face because of the wind, and that was when she blearily opened her eyes. The sun had risen and its warmth felt nice against the cool wind. She stayed there for a bit, and climbed down when the activity below became more lively.

"Good morning," Aang practically chirped the moment her boots touched the deck. He smiled at her as he handed over her cloak.

She rubbed her eyes and she took it. Then she put it on, and pushed the cloak to where it rested behind her shoulders rather than around them. It was beginning to be too warm for her to wear it how she usually did in the colder months.

"Morning," she mumbled. "Thanks."

He snickered, and she cut her eyes to him.

"What?"

"I like your new hairdo."

Flo glared half heartedly and went to fix her hair, which even felt like a mess because of the wind. She smoothed down the bangs and redid the half-up topknot. "Better?"

Aang nodded, then got a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's ask Sokka."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Uh, why?"

He waved a dismissive hand as he looked for the older boy. "Don't worry about it. Hey, Sokka! Come here!"

Sokka stepped away from the Water Tribe warrior he was talking to; the man wore a semi-bored expression on his face, and looked a bit relieved when Sokka left. "What's up?"

"Nothing, Aang's just being weird," Flo said.

Aang grinned. "Flo had to fix her hair because the wind messed it up, and she's wondering if it looks good."

"Oh."

Why was Aang doing this? "You don't have to–"

"You look great," he unintentionally interrupted her; she froze, taken back. Sokka immediately started to blush and began to ramble. "I mean, uh, 'you' as in your hair. It looks great! Not, uh, not that your face doesn't, or- or the rest of you. Because you do. Look great, I mean. Obviously."

"Obviously?" she echoed.

Sokka stilled. "Um. Yes?"

Flo was pretty sure her cheeks were turning red. Even still, the corners of her mouth threatened to turn up into a smile from both amusement and from feeling a little flattered. "Right," she said slowly. "Thanks, Sokka. You don't look too bad yourself."

He smiled. "Thanks." His voice cracked, which made him blush more and he cleared his throat. "Um. I'm going over there now." He motioned to Appa.

"Alright."

"Yep." He stepped back. "Bye." Then, he turned and hurried over to Appa.

With an involuntary yet small smile, Flo watched him until he got to the sky bison, then looked at Aang. His brows were knitted together and his eyes were narrowed as they went back and forth between her and Sokka. When he looked at her for the third or so time, he stared for a little longer, then gasped.

"Oh, my gosh, do you li–?!"

Flo lunged forward and covered his mouth. "Shut up! No!" she shouted.

His eyebrows moved wildly as he talked behind her hand. It was all muffled and she didn't understand a single word. He grabbed her forearm and tried to push her hand off. She didn't budge.

"I swear to the Spirits, if you shout or do anything, I am tackling you off this boat," she threatened.

Aang stilled. With his other hand, he made a cross over his heart.

Flo cautiously removed her hand.

"You know, telling me to shut up doesn't convince that you don't like him," he said.

She crossed her arms. "I don't."

He smirked. He started to step away. "Oh, so you love him?" he teasingly questioned.

"No." So, maybe her crush didn't go away by springtime like she thought it would, but she didn't love Sokka like that. Flo tried to step closer to Aang, but he kept moving away, laughing all the while. "Aang, I swear–"

"Flo and So– AH!"

Flo lunged forward and did as she promised. They both went tumbling into the ocean. When they popped back to the surface, he continued, "sitting in a tree! K-I-"

Flo shoved him down by his shoulders, then his head. Unfortunately, he was the Avatar and therefore a waterbender, and used his abilities to drag her back underneath the surface, too. They wrestled until she had one arm wrapped around his neck from behind, and he shot them back to the surface.

"Okay!" Aang laughed. "Okay, I'm sorry! Truce!"

"What just happened?!"

They both froze and looked up, wide eyed. Katara, Sokka, and members of the Northern Water Tribe were at the edge of the boat. Even Appa was looking over the railing, as were Momo and Sleemo who both sat on his head.

Flo and Aang glanced at each other, then back at Katara.

"I, uh, that information is classified," said Aang.

Katara deadpanned. "Really."

"Yep! Only members of the Arrow Club can know about it."

Flo's brows knitted together. "Arrow club?" she whispered incredulously.

"Just go with it," he said quietly through clenched teeth and a smile aimed at Katara.

Sokka began to snicker, and Katara just stared before she smiled, too, and rolled her eyes fondly. "Whatever. Get out of the water before some giant fish tries to eat you again."

"Again?" Flo asked.

"Oh, did I never tell you about Unagi trying to eat me?"

"I don't think so?"

Apparently they were taking too long, because Katara sighed and waterbended them out herself. They both fell onto the deck, along with a large puddle of ocean water. Aang then used his airbending to dry them both off. It caused Flo's hair to become a mess once again, and she huffed in annoyance as she pushed strands of her dark hair out of her face.

Sokka walked up with his arms crossed and a wide smile. "You know, I think I like this look better."

Flo slapped his shin, which just made him laugh. "Shut up."

+++

It was later that Master Pakku gathered them together, shortly before they were about to leave on Appa, and informed them that he wanted to give them all something before they parted ways.

Master Pakku pulled out a small vial from the bag he held. It was pretty, with two different blues painted on it and a crescent moon on the lid. "Katara, I want you to have this. This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis." Katara took the vial. "The water has unique properties. Don't lose it." The stern expression he wore as he explained what it was softened once he finished talking.

"Thank you, Master Pakku," said Katara, and hugged him. She pulled away and went to get on Appa.

"Aang," Master Pakku reached into a bag and pulled out a box, "these waterbending scrolls will help you learn waterbending. But remember, they're no substitute for a real master."

Aang looked over his shoulder at Katara, then back to Master Pakku. He bowed in thanks, and walked away.

Flo went to turn to follow, not expecting anything, but halted her steps as Master Pakku said her name. The bag looked empty, so she doubted she was going to get anything.

"Flo." He turned to one of the men, Ujaraak, who reached behind himself and procured a beautifully made Water Tribe bow. Master Pakku took it, then handed it over to her. "This bow was requested to be professionally made just for you," he informed her. "I am sorry you lost yours during the siege, and I hope this one lives up to your expectations."

She carefully took the bow. It was a lighter brown than her old one; the ends of it were painted blue, and the areas below and above the spot she placed her hand were carefully carved symbols of the Water Tribe, the grooves painted to be blue and white. She tested the strength of the string.

"We have some arrows for you, as well." He motioned to Ujaraak. The man now held a leather quiver full of arrows. "Feel free to take the quiver, if you feel inclined to do so."

She was unable to stop her grin. "Thank you," she said, and went over to take the quiver of arrows. Hers was getting old anyway, and had burn marks on it from the fight. The quiver matched the bow in color. It was painted blue at the bottom and top, decorated by swirls and waves of a darker blue and white. The arrows were well made, and Flo carefully counted them as she walked over to Appa.

A new bow and a quiver full of arrows? Right now, she couldn't be happier. Her old bow wasn't salvageable, and they left the Northern Water Tribe shortly after the siege so making arrows was out of the question. She's felt a bit weird without her bow. So having a new one brought on some excitement. She couldn't wait to test it out.

"And Sokka... Take care, son."

Katara leaned over the saddle to take the bow and quiver. Flo handed both to her so she could climb in by herself, then got to work on moving the few arrows from her old quiver to the new one.

"Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fung will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There you'll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi."

"Appa, yip yip!"

Katara shouted over Appa's groan as he soared into the air, "Say hi to Gran-Gran for me!"

Just as the boat became a speck behind them, Master Pakku's words repeated in her head. "Wait, he said the bow was requested to be made for me," Flo said. "Did one of you...?"

Katara turned around and sat with her back against the saddle across from Flo. She grinned knowingly. "Wasn't me," she said.

"It wasn't me, either," Aang piped up from where he sat on Appa's head.

Her eyes snapped over to Sokka, who looked like a goat-deer caught in carriage's torchlight. He chuckled nervously. "Yeah, wonder who did that. Guess it will remain a mystery since you can't ask Master Pakku."

As his sister rolled her eyes, Flo pinned him with a dry look of disbelief. "Sure, a mystery," she said sarcastically.

Katara got a somewhat mischievous glint in her eyes. "What we're going to do if we did know who it was?"

Flo shrugged. "Nothing," she said. Then, allowed a tiny smirk to show. "But I do have some seal jerky in my bag that I was gonna share as a thanks, but since it's a mystery..."

Sokka sat up. "Wait–"

Katara covered her mouth as she began to giggle, and Flo's smirk grew. "That just means more for me, I guess," she said.

"Hold on, wait–"

"Nope. Too late."

He hung his head. "Oh."

+++

"There it is!"

Flo jerked awake. Sleemo was lying on her side and Momo was curled in as tight as possible under her chin, and when she suddenly sat up, both of them went flying off. She sputtered as one of Momo's wings whacked her in the face, quickly followed by his tail. She frowned to herself as she looked down past the mountain and to the military base.

"When did I fall asleep?" she questioned.

"About an hour ago, I think," answered Katara.

She hummed an acknowledgment. She rubbed at her eyes, then fixed her cloak that got twisted around during her unintentional impromptu nap.

Appa landed on top of the tall building in the center of the base. They all climbed off with their things. Katara began checking hers, and Sokka stretched. Aang rubbed his butt, presumably because it was sore from the long ride, and Flo yawned, still partially waking up.

General Fung, a man with long hair pulled back into a partial topknot and a long black beard, chose that moment to greet them. "Welcome, Avatar Aang!" He and the Earth Kingdom soldiers behind him bowed. "I am General Fung. And welcome to all of you great heroes – Appa, Momo, Sleemo, Brave Sokka, the Mighty Katara, and the Courageous Flo, daughter of the late General Gang."

Katara smirked, pleased, and crossed her arms. "Mighty Katara? I like that."

Flo was shocked to hear that someone knew her dad. She didn't think many, or anyone, would, let alone know that she was his daughter.

Before she got a chance to express that, fireworks went off. It made all of them flinch in surprise and turn around. Earthbenders near the walls shot fireworks into the air, where they exploded into different colors.

"Not bad. Not bad," Sokka muttered.

+++

General Fung and his men led them inside. The many pillars inside were huge, and green, glowing crystals were mounted on each one. While General Fung sat at his large desk between two maps and with another on desk's surface, Flo, Aang, Katara, and Sokka sat on a platform. Behind them, soldiers stood in various places.

"Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole," the general said, running a hand over his beard. "I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility."

"I try not to think about it too much," said Aang.

"Avatar, you are ready to face the Fire Lord now."

"What?! No, I'm not!"

Katara spoke up, "Aang still needs to master all four elements."

"Why?" asked General Fung. He stood as he talked, passionate and eager. "With the kind of power he possesses, power enough to destroy hundreds of battle ships within a matter of minutes, he could defeat the Fire Lord now!"

"But, sir, the thing is, Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar State," Sokka told him.

"See, it's this special state where–"

"I'm well aware," General Fung interrupted. "Your eyes and tattoos glow, and you're able to summon unbelievable power."

"General Fung, being the Avatar isn't only about having power and wielding it," said Flo.

"But isn't it?" he questioned. He turned, hands behind his back, and walked to the map of the world. "Without you, Avatar Aang, we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores. But with you leading the way, as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation."

"Right... But I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar State," Aang said. "Much less what to do once I'm there."

"So it's decided then." General Fung turned back around to face them. "I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar State, and then, you'll face your destiny."

"No, nothing's decided," Katara argued, and she stood along with Flo and the boys. She crossed her arms.

"You can't just decide to do something like that when Aang hasn't even agreed to it," Flo said.

"Exactly. And we already have a plan. Aang's perusing his destiny his way."

"And he's not some ultimate weapon to be used," Flo added. "He's just a kid!"

"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?" General Fung led Aang to the window.

Out of her own curiosity, Flo walked up to a different one and looked in the same direction as she rested her hands on the bottom frame. Injured soldiers walked around, some limping and some with the help of a crutch. There were men with broken arms. Two were carrying another man on a stretcher, bandaged an absurd amount. It was a familiar sight that she hated.

"That's the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones. They came back," said the General. "Everyday the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang. You could end it – now. Think about it."

Flo clenched her jaw. She backed away from the window, and headed back to the others.

Just as they all started to leave, General Fung called out her name. "Flo, may I speak with you for a moment?"

They stopped. The others turned and looked at Flo, who Lee turned their gazes. "Go on," she said. "I'll catch up after." Her friends hesitated, but went on ahead after a short moment.

General Fung was back at his desk and sitting down. Flo walked until she got a few steps in front of the platform they were all previously sitting on, and stayed standing.

"How do you know my dad?" she asked before he could speak.

The man smiled. "Well, I only know of him. Many have heard of the courageous General who was the last to take action against the Fire Nation in the Six Hundred Day Siege of Ba Sing Se. General Gang was a great and honorable man and leader, I hear. My condolences for your loss." He folded his hands together on his desk. "Which brings me to what I want to speak with you about."

Flo's brows drew together. "How?"

"The war has cost you a lot," General Fung said. "I know you understand the importance of defeating the Fire Lord as soon and as quickly as we can. It would be beneficial for the entire world if Avatar Aang agreed to my help to enter the Avatat State."

She incredulously stared at him. "You want me to guilt trip my friend?"

"Now, I wouldn't put it like that. He needs to realize–"

"I'm pretty sure the sole survivor of a genocide realizes how important it is to take down the Fire Lord," Flo snapped. "All you want is a weapon, General Fung, and Aang isn't that. He's a twelve year old boy."

"Yes, but a twelve year old with an awesome and indescribable power." He frowned. "Forgive me, Flo. I believed because of who your father was and the loss of your family that you would understand, as well. It seems as though I'm wrong."

Anger flared within her. "I do understand," she said. "But because of how my dad raised me before he died, I also know that rushing into a fight that someone isn't ready for is a death sentence." She moved to leave. "Never talk about my dad again. A dishonorable man like you doesn't even deserve to speak his name."

+++

It was sundown by the time Flo found the room she and the others were staying in. She barged in and slammed the door shut, causing Katara and Sokka to jump in the beds they sat in. She took off her bow and the quiver of arrows and set them down beside one of the two empty beds. She sat down on the edge, and fell back, glaring at the top of the alcove the bed was in.

Her brain was running in circles, only able to focus on what General Fung just said and similar words that were spoken to her in the past.

"Forgive me, Flo. I believed because of who your father was and the loss of your family that you would understand, as well. It seems as though I'm wrong," the man's voice repeated in her mind.

"I'm starting to think you don't understand anymore!" Jet had yelled. "The Fire Nation is evil! Do I need to remind you of all they've done to us? They killed the Duke's parents, burned down my village, and that old General killed three of your family members! You're the Fire Hunter for a reason."

Flo threw her arms over her face and groaned.

"Is everything okay?" Katara asked.

"Peachy," she muttered.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay. Want to practice reading while we wait for Aang to come back?"

She didn't respond right away.

Truthfully, Flo wanted to just lay there and do nothing. But she also wanted to learn how to read. They all have been helping her in different ways – Aang randomly gave her a word to spell out loud, Katara taught her how to actually read the words, and whenever they had nothing else to do, Sokka helped her learn how to write. She didn't really want their help at first, having still been embarrassed about it, but they never judged her or made her feel stupid, especially if she mixed up a character or word.

And maybe it would be a good distraction from what just happened, and memories of her argument with Jet.

Decision made, Flo sat up. "Sure."

Katara smiled and motioned her over to her bed. "Great."

She stood, about to walk over, but paused. She reached into her bag where two small bags of seal jerky sat, and took one out. She tossed it at Sokka without even a second thought. He fumbled with it as he caught it, and then she made her way to Katara.

+++

"Okay, last one," said Katara. She flipped the paper around for Flo to see.

They've been at this for a good while now. Momo laid in Katara's lap, and Sleemo had been comfortably in hers until she seemed to get bored of them and went over to lay on Sokka. Aang still wasn't back yet, but Flo wasn't worried too much about it. Yet.

Flo stared at the word on the paper. At first glance, she didn't recognize at all. But after another second, it came to her. "Uh... Hope?"

Katara grinned. "Yeah! Good job."

The door to their room opened and shut quietly. They looked over to see Aang as he walked in with slumped shoulders. He went over to the last remaining bed and sat on the edge.

"I told the general I'd help him by going into the Avatar State," he said.

Katara moved from leaning against the wall of her bed. Momo moved from her lap to Flo's. "Aang, no," she said. "This is not the right way."

"Why not? Remember when he took out the Fire Navy?" Sokka said. "He was incredible."

Flo frowned a bit. She knew Aang had something to do with defeated the Fire Navy, but... "I thought that was a giant, glowing fish."

Sokka nodded. "No, yeah, that was Aang in the Avatar State."

"...What."

"There's a right way to do this – practice, study, and discipline," said Katara, not paying attention to the older two teens.

"Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord," Sokka said.

Katara stood, hands balled into fists at her sides. "If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine. Go ahead and glow it up!" She threw her arms in the air and walked away.

"Katara, I'm just being realistic," Aang called after her.

"Realistic?" Flo doubtfully questioned. "I think it's more realistic learning the elements than forcing to turn on a power you can't control."

"I don't have time to do that," he said. "Besides, General Fung said he's gonna help me figure the Avatar State thing out."

"Yeah, so he can use you as a weapon." She gently picked up Momo and set him on the mattress so she could stand. "I'm going to bed. You should, too."

+++

Flo did not want to be here – 'here' as in under a gazebo at the top of a mountain near the army base with her friends, the general, and some random man with a tea pot.

General Fung's words from the day before still made her angry. She didn't like that he tried to do the same thing Jet did whenever he so much as got an inkling that Flo might have been changing her mind about what they were doing. That was a large part of their last fight before he and the others left her behind.

But Aang wanted to try whatever General Fung's ideas were to potentially trigger the Avatar State, and so here she was. Figuring out how to control it was a good idea, but one Flo didn't expect to work all that well.

While Aang sat at the table with General Fung and the other man, Flo sat behind him with Katara and Sokka. Momo was in Katara's lap, and Sleemo was at the table beside Aang. She was curiously sniffing in the direction of the tea pot. When she got too close, Aang gently backed her up.

The man began to tell them about the tea as he poured it into a cup, "This rare chi enhancing tea is a natural stimulant. In an ordinary warrior, it improves strength and energy tenfold. In you, it may induce the Avatar State."

Aang picked up the cup. "Tenfold energy, huh?"

Flo, Katara, and Sokka all leaned around to see the tea. She was tempted to ask for some for herself; sleep didn't come easy to her again last night, so she was exhausted.

Aang took a sip.

Sleemo squawked and flew to Flo as Aang suddenly started speeding around on an air ball. He spoke loud and fast as he made circles around everyone, and went up a pole on f the gazebo and back down again, "Is it working? Is it working? I can't tell! Someone tell me if I'm in the Avatar State because I don't have a good view of myself. Am I talking too loud?!"

"I guess he could talk the Fire Lord to death," Sokka said.

Aang ran into a pole, consequently knocking himself out.

Flo looked at him, then at the tea. "Can I have some of that?"

Katara's response was immediate, "I don't think that's a good idea."

+++

"Maybe I can shock you into the Avatar State," Sokka suggested when they were back at the base.

Katara and Aang were sitting on the ground, and General Fung stood a little bit behind them with one hand behind his back and the other stroking his beard. Flo stood a little off to the side, her hawk-cat sitting between her feet and Momo perched on her shoulder.

"I love surprises," Aang said.

Once Katara covered his eyes with her hands, Sokka motioned Flo over to where he was standing in front of them. She had an inkling of an idea of what his plan was and walked over. He took Momo and placed him on his head, then adjusted his shirt so it looked like Momo's head had replaced Sokka's.

Katara removed her hands. Sokka lunged forward and Momo screeched.

Aang shouted. He stilled as he looked at his arms and hands. "Still not glowing."

Sokka began to lose his balance. When he almost ran into her, Flo stepped out of the way and he stumbled sideways, eventually falling down with a yell. She walked over and helped him to his feet, just barely dodging Momo's wing as he wiggled out of Sokka's shirt and flew off.

General Fung shook his head in disappointment.

+++

Next, the general took them to a temple-like place where there was an old man with various items from the other nations. As Aang stood in the middle of the room with the old man in front of him, everyone else stood off to the side and watched.

"Third time's the charm?" Flo muttered sarcastically under her breath. She crossed her arms. She expected nothing to happen just like the other two times.

Once Aang wore the items – an Earth Kingdom soldier's helmet, a cloak from the Water Tribe, a piece of clothing from the Fire Nation, and his Air Nomad clothes – the old man began to speak, "You are wearing a ceremonial piece of clothing from each of the bending nations. Now, I will join the four elements into one. Water, earth, fire, air!" He tossed each element into a bowl. "Four elements together as one."

He threw the mixed elements onto Aang.

"This is just mud!" Aang said incredulously.

The old man raised a curious brow. "So, do you feel anything?"

Aang held up a finger. Everyone leaned forward. Aang sneezed, and mud went everywhere.

General Fung wiped the mud off of his face. "We have to find a way."

+++

The attempts of triggering the Avatar State ended for the day after that last one. Flo left to get some alone time, and Sleemo came along. She soon found a large window to sit on. It was wide enough that she didn't have a major risk of losing her balance and falling. She stretched out her legs and leaned her back against the frame, and relaxed for a bit.

Sleemo sat in her lap. The hawk-cat was beginning to look a bit ruffled around the tufts of feathers that covered her ears, and in the inner areas of her wings. After a while, when she began to scratch at one ear incessantly with a back paw, Flo pulled her closer and ran her fingers carefully through the feathers. When she did a full body shake, an old feather came loose and floated down onto Flo's leg.

"Hey."

Flo glanced up and saw Aang walking over with a saddened expression. "Hey, bud," she greeted back. She shifted around to where she sat crisscross as he got closer, and was unsurprised when he climbed to sit the same way across from her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Sleemo's feathers are starting to molt," she explained. "I'm making sure she doesn't need help with any loose ones, and I'm checking if there are any pin feathers yet."

Aang curiously leaned forward. "What are pin feathers?"

Flo carefully separated some feathers and fur behind an ear. She pointed to what looked to be a few needles poking out. "They're new feathers that are growing in."

He made a face. "Those look uncomfortable."

"Yeah," she agreed. "Sleemo doesn't like me bothering them until the covering is ready to flake off. I think they're more sensitive than regular feathers."

Aang reached out and scratched under Sleemo's chin with a small smile. Abruptly, she did another full body shake after Flo smoothed down the feathers and fur she separated to see the pin feathers. Another small feather came loose but didn't fall, so Flo gently pulled from the others and let it fall into her lap.

Aang sighed. "Katara's upset with me."

"Because of the Avatar State thing?"

He nodded. "Yeah. And I know you don't like that I'm doing this, either."

She didn't say anything at first, trying to figure out what she wanted to tell him. "General Fung only wants to use you in the Avatar State as a weapon," Flo eventually said. "That's part of why I don't like it. That's all he sees you as right now. You're not a weapon. You're a kid. And you shouldn't be running into a fight you're not ready for yet."

"But I'm already a hundred years too late! What else am I supposed to do? People are dying everyday in the war, and more are going to die if I don't stop him now!"

Her brows lowered slightly. "I'm going to tell you what I told General Fung yesterday: it's a death sentence to run into a fight you're not ready for. I'm not saying this to be mean, but you're not ready, Aang. You haven't even fully mastered waterbending yet, and you know nothing about the Avatar State." Aang frowned and looked down. She couldn't tell if he looked mad or sad at the moment. "Look. The choice of what to do is yours, at the end of the day, so ignore everything I'm saying if you want. But my suggestion is to keep doing what we've been doing before we got here."

"But you know what I did at the North Pole," he said. "General Fung is right, I have powerful abilities. I can fight the Fire Lord in the Avatar State."

"That doesn't mean you're invincible, Aang."

"But I'm the Avatar–"

"Avatars still die. And they're still people." She repeated, "You're not a weapon." Flo didn't want him feeling like he was one.

By the time that last big fight with Jet happened, she felt as if that was all Jet saw her as – not his girlfriend. Just someone to take down Fire Nation soldiers, to make ambushes easier, to help him lead the Freedom Fighters. It didn't help that that was all she saw herself as, too, at one point.

She didn't want Aang thinking like that. She didn't want him treated like that.

He sighed and sagged against the frame behind him. "I'm not going to change your mind, am I?"

"Nope." She said, "I don't want anything to happen to you, or for you to do something that you'll regret later."

"Yeah, I know, but... I don't know what else to do."

"What about Roku? Maybe you can ask him."

Aang helplessly shrugged. "I've never contacted him on purpose. I don't know how, Flo."

Silence fell over them. Neither of them spoke; Flo didn't try to offer any other ideas, mainly because she didn't have any besides what she already said.

She frowned, and looked at Aang and his slouched posture. He looked tired and stressed and worried.

Flo opened her mouth her mouth, ready to suggest that they go back to the room to go to bed, when Aang spoke up before she could do so, "What do you remember about the end of the siege?"

"Not much," Flo admitted. Getting burned? Oh, yeah, she remembered that – a little too well, if anyone asked her. The nightmares were always too vivid; too real. The same went for being chased through the city. But everything else? Her memories were only bits and pieces, or blurry at best. "Why?"

Aang shrugged. "I was just gonna ask what you thought of me destroying the Fire Navy in the Avatar State."

Her response was immediate. She didn't even think before saying it. "I was relieved."

He looked at her, confused and surprised. "What?"

"I was relieved," she repeated. "I didn't know it was you, but at the time I thought I was gonna..." She trailed off, eyes lowering to her lap. "I was cornered. So, when the giant koi fish came through, I was just relieved."

"Oh... You weren't scared?"

"Not of you."

There was a stretch of silence again.

Then, Flo suddenly yawned and stretched, and slumped her shoulders as she rubbed her eyes with one hand. When she lowered it and looked to Aang, she saw him staring at her with worry.

"What?"

"You haven't been sleeping a lot," he said. "The last time that happened you shut down."

"I'm fine," she assured. "Just can't sleep. It's nothing new. You haven't been sleeping well, either."

Aang frowned. "I keep having nightmares of the Avatar State," he admitted. "It's- I'm scary. All those soldiers... I don't even know what happened to them!" He leaned forward and put his face in his hands. "I don't want to hurt anyone else."

Not knowing what to really say to that, she stayed quiet.

Flo's eyes traveled out toward the director the infirmary. It was further away, and a line of soldiers weren't headed to it. But the light of lanterns spilled out of the windows, and once in a while the figure of a doctor or nurse passed by.

She looked away and sighed, then got off the window's ledge; Sleemo was settled in her arms, purring away. "C'mon. Let's go back to the room. Katara and Sokka are probably wondering where we are."

Aang silently got up and followed.

+++

Much to her surprise, Flo ended up falling asleep earlier than she had been previously. It was still rather late by the time she did, though, and unfortunately it wasn't a pleasant sleep; her dreams were filled with her time as the Fire Hunter. One good thing was that she woke up later than usual, meaning she got more sleep. Not that she felt more rested or anything, though.

She just laid there once she woke up, processing her dream and the guilt she felt at having killed so many people, because she had molded herself into a weapon that Jet grew to love more than her actual self.

Those thoughts soon were interrupted, though. A heavy thud sounded in the distance. The building shook and rumbled with the force of it.

Flo sat up immediately, wondering what was happening. Sleemo woke up, then, and lifted her head, ears and eyes alert.

"I wonder what crazy thing they're trying now," she heard Katara say, followed by a chittering response from Momo.

"Are they trying to trigger the Avatar State again?" Flo asked. She got out of the bed to see Katara.

"I think so," said Katara.

More heavy thuds sounded and shook the room's walls once again. Flo frowned to herself. She and Katara looked at each other. The other girl looked a bit worried.

"Maybe we should just make sure Aang's okay."

Flo immediately nodded in agreement. She grabbed her quiver and bow, and the two left the room in a hurry.

+++

When they got outside, the thuds were even louder and the sound of pieces of earth hitting others and breaking was unmistakable. Flo slid down the railings of the stairs, while Katara ran down the steps. On the other side, Sokka did the same as his sister. Flo stood at the bottom and tried to make sense of what was happening.

Aang was running around and dodging attacks from multiple earthbending soldiers.

"What's going on?" Katara asked as she and Sokka made it down the stairs.

"The general's gone crazy!" Sokka said. "He's trying to force Aang into the Avatar State."

Flo scowled. She was really starting to hate General Fung.

He pulled out his boomerang and threw it at a soldier. It hit the man in the head and he went down, along with the large piece of earth he was about to roll toward Aang. Meanwhile, Katara ran into the fold to fight against the men with her waterbending. Flo knocked a couple of arrows and shot them to knock out two soldiers.

Katara used her bending to take down a soldier riding an ostrich horse. Sokka went over to it cautiously. "Good...bird-horse...thingy," he said.

Flo dodged a block of earth aimed at her, then retaliated with knocking the soldier out with another arrow.

The fighting went on for a few moments longer. Everything stilled, though, as the large earth coins formed a v-shape with Katara and General Fung in the middle. Katara was cornered. A bad feeling began to form in Flo's gut.

"Maybe you can avoid me, but she can't!" General Fung shouted to Aang.

Katara shot a stream of water at him, only for him to lift up dirt to soak it up halfway. When the dirt fell back down, it was all mud. Before she could do anything else, she was sunk down into the earth up to her knees.

Katara grunted. "I can't move!"

"Don't hurt her!" yelled Aang. He jumped from the top of the stairs and landed behind the general. When he airbended, General Fung erected a piece of the earth to block the air. He lowered it back down in once the gust of wind stopped, and immediately made Katara sink deeper into the ground, causing her to yell out.

"Katara, no!" Sokka, riding the ostrich horse, went to help her. But General Fung did the same thing he was doing to Katara to the ostrich horse, and Sokka went flying off. He landed in the middle of one of the large earth coins.

Flo shot an arrow at the general, only for him to block it with his bending. She ran towards him. She didn't have plan on what to do, but she had to try something. A large earth coin rolled in front of her, though, making her skid to a stop. Another from the other side came directly for her. Flo turned and ran, jumping through the middle of another one and crouching down. She covered her head with her arms as the two collided. Pieces of the earth fell on and around her. There were definitely going to be some bruises on her back now.

"Stop this!" She heard Aang plead. "You have to let her go."

Flo sat up, pushing away pieces of the broken earth coins to do so. Others were still preventing her from standing up. As she struggled to pushed a particularly heavy piece off, she saw that Aang grabbed one of General Fung's forearms.

"You could save her if you were in the Avatar State," General Fung said.

"I'm trying. I'm trying..."

"Aang, I'm sinking!"

"I don't see glowing!"

Flo rushed to push the remaining pieces of earth off of herself. The heavy one finally budged. She quickly did the same to the others.

Katara sunk even deeper. "Aah! Please!"

Aang fell to his knees. "You don't need to do this!"

"Apparently," General Fung said lowly, "I do."

Flo finally freed herself completely and got to her feet right as Katara was buried completely. Aang lunged forward to try and grab her, but missed.

"Katara!" She shouted, then turned to General Fung. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Flo didn't get an answer. She was ready to fight the man herself, but stopped. Flickering caught her attention. Her glare snapped to whatever was causing it, and it her eyes widened when she saw that Aang's tattoos beginning to glow.

Aang looked over his shoulder in a flash, eyes glowing with his tattoos and expression furious. Her mouth parted from shock, having never seen Aang that mad before, or even the Avatar State; seeing a giant and glowing fish when she was half-conscious didn't really count, she thought.

"It worked," General Fung said, and wickedly grinned. "It worked!"

The wind picked up. General Fung got pushed back by a large gust of wind formed by Aang. Then, in a tornado like structure, Aang went into the air.

Flo backed up a few steps. She had no idea what to do. Then, she spotted Sokka struggling to get unstuck from the middle of one of the large earth coins, and ran over to him. The moment she got there, he pushed himself out and tumbled to the ground in a heap. She fell on her knees and helped him sit up.

"Avatar Aang, can you hear me?!" General Fung's voice was faint underneath the roaring wind. "Your friend is safe. It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar State. And it worked!"

"Spirits, he's psycho," Flo said.

"Tell me about it," Sokka agreed. His eyes widened as Aang came down at a rapid pace. "Oh no."

Flo cursed, and the same time Sokka moved to yanked her down into a lower crouch and covered both of their heads, she lifted her cloak to block the dust cloud right before it got to them. The ground shook roughly and cracked beneath them.

It was over as fast as it started. Once the dust cloud receded and settled, both Flo and Sokka sat up and looked around. The base was destroyed. The ground was cracked and uneven. The buildings had debris and pieces of the earth coins in them, if not entire ones. The large earth coins were even lodged into the walls. And Aang was smack dab in the middle of everything. His eyes and tattoos were still glowing.

And then they weren't.

Aang swayed and fell to his knees. Katara ran over to him. She knelt down beside him, and they wrapped their arms around each other in a hug.

"I'm sorry, Katara," Aang said. He sounded exhausted. "I hope you never have to see me like that again."

"Ha! Are you joking?" General Fung walked up to them. "That was almost perfect!"

Flo glowered in General Fung's direction. She pushed herself to her feet and, careful of the new uneven terrain, jogged over to Katara and Aang.

"We just have to find a way to control you when you're like that."

Aang glared at the man. "You're out of your mind."

She put herself between the general and her friends

"I guess we'll figure it out on our way to the Fire Nation–"

Flo socked General Fung in the nose without any thought. The bone crunched under her fist, and it immediately began to bleed. The man stumbled back, stunned. Sokka came up behind him on the ostrich horse, then whacked General Fung on the head with his war club. He went down like a ton of bricks, unconscious.

"Anybody got a problem with that?" Sokka asked.

The three soldiers who walked over rapidly shook their heads.

Flo glared them. "Good."

Sokka steered the ostrich horse a few steps away. He then got off, and walked over.

The three soldiers bowed. One hesitantly asked, "Do you still want an escort to Omashu?"

"I'd rather eat glass," Flo muttered under her breath.

Katara crossed her arms. "I think we're all set."

Flo gently grabbed Katara's sleeve and turned the girl around to face her. Her eyes raked over the younger girl, then did the same with Aang. "Are you both okay?"

"I'm okay, Flo," assured Katara. "It was scary, being underground like that, but I didn't get hurt."

Aang gave Flo a tiny, tired smile. "Yeah. I'm just worn out, now. What about you? Those earth coins crumbled on top of you."

"I'm o–"

"They what?!" Sokka borderline shrieked with worry, causing the three to flinch and snap their eyes to him. He grabbed Flo by the shoulders, not harshly. With eyes wide and a wrinkle between his brows, he began checking her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

Flo was too stunned by his reaction to respond for a short second. "Uh. What? I- Sokka, I'm fine," she said. She didn't pull herself away as he turned her around in a circle. "Sokka," she tried again once they were facing each other. It didn't work.

He reached out, presumably to check for head injuries, but Flo snagged his wrist with his hand mere inches away from her head. She held on tightly, not enough to hurt but enough to get his attention. She grabbed the forearm of the one that still held one of her shoulders, and moved them away.

"Sokka," she repeated once his eyes were on her face. "Calm down. I'm not hurt."

Sokka stared. Then blinked. "Oh. Right." He stepped back and she let go. He scratched the back of his neck. "Um... Sorry for getting in your space." Before she could respond to that, he clapped his hands together and turned around with a smile. "Alright, now that that's settled, let's leave before General Psycho wakes up. Off to Omashu we go!"

Flo didn't move at first. She shared a look with Katara, confused. Katara shrugged, and then followed her brother. She then did, too, and Aang stayed at her side.

"That was weird, right?" Flo asked him in a whisper.

Aang shrugged and whispered back, "Everything Sokka does is weird."

***

A/N— And thus starts Part 2!!! I don't have much to say except for that I love the brotp between Flo & Aang so much 🥺 they're my little Arrow Buds