Leaving The Northern Water Tribe

Xiao opened his eyes. He looked over to see Yue sleeping peacefully next to him. He knocked on her head until she woke up.

"Hey! That kinda hurt!" Yue whined. Xiao just chuckled and ignored her.

"How'd it go?" Yue asked as they both stood up. Xiao dusted off his pants and put back on his kimono, which he had taken off before entering the spirit world.

"They told me something… I don't want to talk about what that something is, but let's just say it's a lot to take in…" Xiao said, his eyes becoming more distant.

"Ah." Yue said, nodding.

Xiao shook his head and looked up, smiling. "What's for dinner?" He asked her. "I don't know, wanna find out?" She asked. Xiao nodded excitedly and they ran out of the Spirit Oasis, startling the guards on their way to the kitchen.

——————

"Hey Yue." Xiao said.

Yue looked up from her bowl of seal broth. "Yes?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.

"I have to go soon." Xiao said.

Yue's face saddened and she smiled wryly. "I knew you'd half to go, after all, you told me so yourself, but I just didn't think it would be so soon." She said.

Xiao nodded. He reached over and patter her head. "Hey! I'll come visit! I promise! I just have some stuff to take care of!" He said, smiling.

Yue looked at him. "Promise?" She asked seriously.

Xiao nodded his head.

Yue smiled happily and they continued eating as if nothing happened.

A week later, Xiao was walking towards the docks with Pakku and Yue who were there to see him off.

"I'll miss you two, my time here was fun." He said, turning to face them when they reached the merchant ship he'd be riding on.

Yue nodded, her eyes watery, and shot forward, hugging Xiao and hurrying her face in his chest. Xiao reciprocated and then turned to Pakku. The man looked to the side with an annoyed expression on his face and let out a puff. Xiao grinned and hugged him too.

"What are you doing?!" Pakku shouted, shoving Xiao away angrily, but he had a tiny smile on his face that told Xiao he was actually happy.

"See you later!" Xiao said, jumping on the ship as it started to sail.

"Bye!" Yue shouted after him, waving.

"See ya… brat" Pakku muttered silently, before turning around and walking off.

'Master, here I come!' Xiao thought. He couldn't wait to see Zuko and Iroh again.

——————

The ship Xiao was riding on was a merchant ship that would sail through the Earth Kingdom upon leaving the Northern Water Tribe, buying and selling goods along the way before continuing on to the Southern Water Tribe to do the same. It then sailed back through the Earth Kingdom and finally arrived back at where it started in the North.

It was because of this that Xiao hitched a ride. The trip should take around four months.

During this time, Xiao spent most his days in the Spirit World hanging out with Tom and the others.

On one such occasion, Xiao was relaxing with Fu Tang the panda spirit when Tom came over.

"Did you find out about your mom?" He asked Xiao, sitting next to him and leaning back on Fu Tang's soft fur.

"Yeah. It's kinda crazy…" Xiao admitted with a smirk, staring up at the clear blue sky.

"That it is." Tom agreed, nodding his head.

"Actually, that's probably why adults Tang loves you so much. He used to be taken care of by your mother after all." Tom added.

Xiao's eyes lit up and he turned to Fu Tang. "You knew my mother?" He asked the panda. In response it licked Xiao's face.

"I guess that means yes…" Xiao said, giggling and rubbing the panda's belly.

"Well, now that you know, I could teach you how to be a spirit if you want." Tom said suddenly.

"You can do that?!" Xiao asked, shocked.

"Of course you can. You're half spirit after all. It really isn't that hard so I don't see why not." Tom replied, his eyes closed as he relaxed in the grass.

"Okay, so what do I do?" Xiao asked as he stood up. Tom continued to lay there and he waved his hand.

"Find your inner spirit." He said simply.

Xiao tilted his head. "Inner… spirit?" He asked.

"Yep." Tom said, popping the p. Xiao stood there, confused, before shrugging.

'I'll do it later. For now, I'm just going to relax on Fu Tang's fur.' He thought to himself, falling on the panda's belly and bouncing up and down for a bit before settling.

Suddenly, he felt a tug on his mind. This meant he had to return to the human world.

"I gotta go." He said to Tom. Fu Tang whined and Tom nodded his head. "Think about what I said." He called out as Xiao faded and disappeared.

When Xiao woke up, he was back in his little cabin he had on the merchant ship. Someone was knocking on the door.

"Hey kid! We're here!" A muffled voice called from outside.

"Alright!" Xiao yelled back.

'Finally, I'm here.' He thought excitedly, getting up and stretching.

——————

Two chapters back to back?!

Damn, the author sure is handsome! And tall! (Not really, but let me have my moment).

Xiao is technically a half spirit, and and therefore he is bound to have some abilities related to it.

He has finally reached the Southern Water Tribe! Canon starts next chapter! …I think.

Anyways, hope you have been enjoying it. I've been having fun writing this story so I hope you guys are having fun reading it as well.

And…

I'm gone.