With the ruins of the summit behind them Renko, the swamp bender, and the two air benders waited in the palace stables as air acolytes and palace staff readied the saddles of three sky bison. Pāru stood to the side speaking with her mother. The rain had mostly stopped except for a few showers across the city. The evening sunset tentatively poked through the clouds.
"So that did not go well," Tiulo said aloud. He grabbed Renko's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"I've been better," Renko replied. He thought about telling him what he told Ahmad earlier in the day but he didn't feel like repeating himself. He didn't know what to do next. He supposes he did need to master air bending, he still felt like a beginner and had never successfully flown in a wingsuit. And he could learn to be more spiritual from the Air Nomads. His weird visions and dreams had mostly stopped but he couldn't figure out what they meant.
"I think I need to refocus on my air bending training," he added. "Air is the element of freedom but I've been trapped in my mind. Returning to the Western Air Temple could be for me."
"I think that's a good idea," Tiulo said. "But, a vacation could be good too. I have some vacation time saved up. I was thinking I might go home for a few weeks. You're welcome to join."
"I'd like that."
"What are you going to be up to Ahmad?" Tiulo turned to Ahmad next.
"I'm going to finish my training at the Northern Air Temple," he said. "In about a year I can take my test to get my tattoos. Renko, you could maybe take the test at the same time. Your air bending is a little rough but you can do it."
"I can't even fly..." he replied dryly.
"I'm sure it's just a mental block. You'll get it," he paused for a moment. "There's something at the northern temple that might help. I'll see if I can send it to you."
Renko wanted to ask what that something was but was interrupted by an alarm. The alarm rang across the palace followed by a siren that was so loud it felt as if he was getting hit in the head by a hammer. Everyone pressed their hands to their ears.
"What is that!?" Ahmad yelled over the noise.
"Idk! I think it's the air defense alarm!" Renko responded. "Let's check it out!"
The two of them climbed on Lhasa's back (one of the three sky bison in the courtyard) and with a "yip yip" from Ahmad the two were up in the air above the palace along with military and police airships.
"Something is coming," Renko said from the saddle. "I can't make out what it is."
"It looks...blue?" Ahmad responded from the reins.
Sure enough, rapidly approaching the palace was a creature glimmering sapphire blue in the fading light.
"It's a dragon," Renko said. He remembered visiting the dragon hatchery with Kuzo a while ago. He'd never forget the bright shining scales of the fully adult dragons and their massive wings.
"What's a dragon doing so far from the Fire Nation? I thought the royal family kept them secluded from the world?" Ahmad asked.
"Take us closer," Renko said.
"...you want us to get closer to a random dragon..." Ahmad replied.
"Yes."
"Well, I've made it this far in life I guess. Yip yip," he flicked Lhasa's reins and steered her closer to the winged serpent.
The closer they got the more they began to realize that someone was riding the beast. Someone who was slumped over the horns of the dragon with long tangled hair and wearing a tattered robe. The dragon itself looked worn out and tired. Its breathing was labored and the eyes that were normally the size of dinner plates were nearly squinted shut.
"Izumi?" Renko asked. Ahmad, not knowing who that was kept Lhasa steady as they got closer. Lhasa began to pull at the reins in fear of the dragon and Ahmad did all he could to keep her calm. Eventually, the dragon stopped flying towards them and hovered in the air.
"K..kuzo," Izumi tried but lacked the strength to say. The dragon slowly and weakly began to descend toward the ground. With a heavy thud that cracked the stone under them, the dragon landed in the middle of the square that spread out before the palace. Ahmad lowered Lhasa to follow. When they landed, Renko hopped off the sky bison to land squarely next to the dragon. He caught the Fire Nation princess just as she rolled and fell off the dragon's neck.
"We gotta get the princess inside and find a healer," Renko said as military personnel showed up. "Call her cousin Prince Kuzo. Hurry!"
She was quickly carried up the steps just as the Northern Water Tribe delegation was walking down towards their airship. Koyukie looked at her cousin passing by with concern. She quickly ran down the remaining steps.
"What happened?" She asked quickly. She looked at the dragon. "Is that my father's dragon?"
"No idea, she was already knocked out by the time we caught her," Renko said. "Even the dragon looks half dead."
Indeed, the reptile's head was rolled to the said and its jaw was open. It panted like a dog trying to breathe.
"Anyone know a dragon vet?" Ahmad asked.
Meanwhile, just before the commotion outside, President Ridhya finished readying himself for the long trip back to Zaofu. He was furious at his son for being so disrespectful and defying him. Avatar or no, Renko was a citizen of the Earth States and his son. He had no place in deciding global affairs. Ridhya sat down and massaged his temples. He wasn't even three years into his term and he had to face one crisis after the other. He had hoped for a boost in the polls after his diplomatic visit to the Fire Nation, it did open up further trade between the two nations, but shortly after that, there needed to be a military escalation on Whale Tail Island. Another crisis would tank his presidency. There was a knock at the door.
"Sir," the voice on the other side said. "There is an urgent message from the Fire Nation."
"Come in," he replied sternly. "What is the matter now?"
"I don't know but," the staffer handed him a document. "I was told by the radio operator that it was for your eyes only."
"I'm sure it's nothing..." he was interrupted by the alarms and sirens outside. "What is it now? I'll look at this later."
He handed the document back to the staffer, grabbed his suit jacket, and walked out the door. Secret Service agents quickly followed behind him as palace staff frantically ran around. Since the incidents with the sinkholes, the rabid monster, and the poor ending to the global leaders' meeting, everyone had been on edge. Now, there was evidently another threat outside. On his way out, he ran into Kuzo looking just as confused as everyone else.
"Prince Kuzo," he said greeting the prince as he quickly walked by.
"President Ridhya," Kuzo replied quickly walking to catch up with the president. "What's the situation outside?"
"I do not yet know," Ridhya responded. "What is the situation in the Fire Nation?"
"Situation?" Kuzo looked confused.
"I received a message. It was from your country."
"I...I...assure you-"Kuzo started to say.
"Drop it," Ridhya said harshly. "You have no idea what is going on. After my state visit to the Fire Nation, I thought you were well-equipped to lead in your father's absence. However, I have since been proven wrong. You crack under the slightest bit of pressure and you aren't even up to date on your nation's goings-on. You have a lot of maturing to do before you are ever qualified to be Fire Lord."
That stopped Kuzo in his tracks. His face was dazed and he tried to come up with something to say in response but he couldn't. Then, everyone stopped when they heard a heavy thud against the ground outside. What was that? Everyone tentatively headed outside. As Kuzo walked closer to the gates leading into the plaza, a group of guards hurriedly rushed an unconscious person inside. Once again, Kuzo stopped in his tracks.
"Izumi?" he asked. Renko ran up behind him looking worried and confused.
"She just showed up out of nowhere on your dad's dragon," Renko said hurriedly. "She barely had the strength to speak before she fell unconscious. What should we do?"
"I...," Kuzo started to say.
"We get her medical care and clear the area of all nonessential personnel," Ridhya responded. He turned to one of his secret service agents. "Get me my chief of staff. I want everyone else out of the palace. Including you." That last part was said to Renko.
"What?" Renko said. "I'm the Avatar. I have every right to be here."
"You are an Avatar in training," his father said firmly. "I am very proud of what you were able to accomplish in the Fire Nation and outside with the spirit beast. But this is out of your lane. I will handle this."
Ridhya turned and followed the unconscious Izumi as she was carried into a chamber down the hall. Kuzo turned to Renko and cupped his face in his hand.
"I'll keep you updated. For now, wait outside," he said and walked away.
Renko stood there until he saw Kuzo disappear with his father then he walked outside. He saw Pāru, Ahmad, and Tiulo waiting for him. By the way the young Avatar was carrying himself, they could tell he was upset about something.
"I think it's time to go," Renko said after a moment of silence.
"Don't you want to stay and see-? "Pāru began to say.
"No," Renko replied. "If I stay any longer I'll get more attached. I've tried to keep the world in balance but I can't do it yet. I need to be a fully realized Avatar."
He smiled at everyone to reassure them.
"I have to do this."
With that, everyone nodded and prepared to make their leave. Ahmad hop aboard Lhasa and took off with a couple of other Air Nomads to the Northern Air Temple. Tiulo called a taxi back to the White Lotus office. Renko, Pāru, and Baoshi took a sky bison for the Western Air Temple. It was a somber time but as the sun fully set, Renko felt that it was the end of another chapter and the start of something more.
Team Avatar wasn't the only one leaving the city. Ippei, wearing a backpack and a warm hoodie, boarded a train. He had a few options: Return to the Dark Hand and its leader emptyhanded, go after the Avatar or hunt down the deranged scientist. The Avatar was probably returning to the Air Nomads and would be unreachable and he wouldn't dare return emptyhanded. He decided to track down the scientist even though he knew deep down all three options led to the same result. He pulled his hood over his eyes and tried to sleep.