All right! I'm back, and I actually have a plan this time. I have most of the story fully outlined and the most important parts drafted. So, I don't expect anymore half-year delays. I expect the story will be around 20,000-30,000 words when finished. Short, I know, but my writing philosophy is not to include any scenes that don't advance the plot or develop character.

Don't be afraid to include criticism in your reviews. Tell me what worked and what didn't. Now, as an added incentive for fans, reviews that I enjoyed or found useful may be rewarded with a bonus scene of your choice. If the review only consists of "Great! I loved it." I'm not going to bother even if it flatters my ego.

-Also, be aware that some episodes from earlier in the season are not canon in this universe. The events of Avatar Day, The Serpent's Pass, The Drill, and Appa's Lost Days never happened in this story.

The Calm Before the Storm

Lake Laogai was on fire. The dying sun had thrown its last rays out onto the lake, illuminating the water with an iridescent white and orange glow. Or so it would appear to the average person standing on the shore. However, it was not an average citizen who stood on the lakeshore that evening.

Long Feng, Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, de facto ruler of the Earth Kingdom, had lost. The young Avatar had long ago escaped with his bison, its silhouette quickly diminishing in the glare of the setting sun. The creature was at this very moment flying westward. In that direction, lay the city of Ba Sing Se. As well as the Imperial Palace where the Avatar was sure to expose the Dai Li's treachery. Yet, Long Feng remained motionless, simply gazing at the lake with his narrowed eyes and set jaw. The aforementioned bystander would have been hard pressed to describe what Long Feng's expression meant. Resignation? For, naturally, his place at the king's side would be forfeit from this moment on. Anger? The Avatar's success was surely a blow to his pride. Or perhaps even sadness. It was impossible to say.

The sun began to sink below the horizon line. Its rays dimmed and changed color. The water turned to blood. Fire and blood. The elements of war.

A small island peaked out of the burning waters. It seemed a tiny point of stability in an unsettling world, a safe place where one could hide from that world and sort everything out. Gazing at the island's conical shape, Katara mused that it looked rather like an iceberg. She felt a pang of homesickness at the thought. She would give anything to be home right now. If only she could just fly away to Gran Gran's arms and leave this dark world usually wasn't like this. After all, Sokka always said she was the optimistic one, but Katara just didn't have the energy anymore. Ba Sing Se was wearing at her spirits. Such a horrible city.

And Sokka was saying that they should go back? Not if she had anything to say about it. Why was Sokka looking so cheerful anyway, even after everything that happened? Since when had he been the optimistic one? Aang, she understood. He had been reunited with his missing sky bison. Sokka, on the other hand didn't have that excuse. Sokka continued speaking. Great. Now her brother was saying that they were "on a roll." Katara felt obligated to bring him down to Earth.

"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll."

"We can build on it. If we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we need the Earth King's support."

Here, Toph interjected. "What makes you think we'll get it. I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't go that smoothly for our little gang."

She could say that again.

"I know, but I've got a good feeling about this. This time will be different"

Ugh. Katara didn't want to deal with this. Kings, invasions, conspiracies, She just wanted to get out of this awful city as fast as she could. To fly like a wolf-bat out of hell. She let her opinion be known. Toph seconded her. However, Aang conveniently hopped in at that moment, literally and figuratively.

"But now that we have Appa back, there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth, about the conspiracy and the war."

"See. Aang's with me." Sokka threw his arm around Aang and gave her a pleading smile. "It's the whole reason we came here in the first place. We have to try."

Well, when he put it like that… She would give her brother's plan a chance. Who knows? Things could work out for the better.

Stationed around the palace's perimeter were squadrons of the Earth King's most loyal guards. Each and every one of them possessed strength, determination (stubbornness, some would say), and courage. None would hesitate in the midst of danger. General How couldn't quell the feeling rising within him as he surveyed his troops. Here, before him stood the pride of the kingdom, the hope of the Earth Kingdom people. He turned away to face the palace. A shadow visibly crossed his face. If only their leaders deserved that sentiment.

The young King Kuei had hardly left his infancy when his parents died. At the age of four the naïve, guileless child had come into the hands of Long Feng. From that point onward, the Grand Secretariat possessed the real power of the throne. In fact, through his machinations, Kuei had failed to mature into a leader worthy of the people's trust. He remained in his infancy, doting on his pet bear and obeying every suggestion the Secretariat whispered.

General How saw the shadowy nature of the true ruler of Ba Sing Se. Yet even with the might of the army behind him, the Dai Li held too much power. Even his position of general would not stop the Dai Li from secreting him away to one of their lairs should he stray out of line. Yet, strangely enough, there had been little sign of the Dai Li today. Long Feng had vaguely mentioned a stay by the lakeside, but that was it. Had something happened? A sudden shout from a young Lieutenant to his side startled the general from his musings.

"Sir! Unknown being approaching from the East. Awaiting your orders, Sir!"

General How turned in that direction just to witness his troops pointing towards the Eastern sky. A large shape was visible in the distance emerging from the clouds. Worried murmurs erupted through the ranks. A bark from the general put a stop to that. After getting his troops in line, the general scrutinized the possible threat. The shape was steadily growing larger as it approached the palace. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the rock launchers getting antsy.

"Hold your fire until I give the orders" It was no use getting into a fight before they understood the nature of the threat. However, he would not be intimidated. He would face the intruders head-on if he had to, in order to stop them from crossing the threshold of the palace. Before long, it became apparent that the mysterious object was a strange animal of some kind. A group of what seemed to be children clung to the beast.

"Wha…What IS that?" the Lieutenant stuttered.

But General How had realized from the creature's markings who these strange characters were. He strode forward in greet them. "Avatar Aang, it is an honor to meet you." In spite of General How's confident and stalwart nature, the Avatar's response shook him to his very core.

"Excuse us but we don't have much time. We need to see the Earth King right away. Long Feng has betrayed him."

Kuei had been surprised when General How had burst into the throne room. He had been more surprised by the bizarre group of children and the giant monster at his add to the shock, the bald child revealed himself to be the Avatar. Not stopping there, the young Avatar started to relate an incredible tale of a hundred year war with the Fire Nation that he had been kept ignorant of, a war that was practically at his doorstep. Furthermore, the Avatar spoke of a secret conspiracy in Ba Sing Se that utilized fear and violence in order to manipulate the population and even Kuei himself. The one behind it all: his most trusted advisor, Long Feng. The king wasn't sure what to make of all of this. He didn't want to believe any of this but the boy's identity as well as the affirmations of General How convinced him of the occurrence of these incredible happenings. He had to say something.

"I want to thank you, young heroes for opening my eyes. All this time what I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of fools." The king lowered his gaze. "And that makes me the King Fool." Overwhelmed, he bowed his head and covered his eyes. "We're at war with the Fire Nation."

He almost couldn't believe it. Though his eyes had been opened, he felt as if he was still asleep. Surely, all of this must be some terrible nightmare. He would wake up in the morning, and the war and all it implied would dissipate in the sun's cheerful rays. All of his people relied on HIM to carry them through his, but the thought of war and violence frightened him. He wanted to be strong. He needed to be strong. He needed to be strong like the children who stood before him. All this talk of war and firebenders, comets and eclipses was filling him with trepidation. If only it were just a nightmare. But it was real.

His words reflected his fear. "I don't know… that would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se. We'd be completely vulnerable!"

"You're already vulnerable," Sokka's retort came quick. "The Fire Nation won't stop until Ba Sing Se falls. You can either sit back and wait for that to happen, or take the offensive and give yourself a fighting chance."

As Sokka spoke, his outward demeanor remained steady and determined, but on the inside he was a quivering mess. Excitement, fear, and hope boiled within him. This was it. This was the moment. If the king followed through with this, they just might stand a chance against the Fire Nation. He'd been waiting to dish it out to those fire-breathing jerks. However, the king first had to approve of his brilliant plan. Without that approval everything would be for naught. What would he do if the king said 'no'? No! Positive attitude, Sokka! Stay positive! Sokka watched the king who was holding his chin deep in thought debating the correct course to take. Then the Earth King smiled.

"Very well, you have my support."

Sokka jumped and cheered to the announcement. He threw his arms around Katara and Toph in celebration. They would be unstoppable.

Zuko, on the other hand, was not nearly so confident. The entire way to their apartment, he wrestled with his doubts. Should he have let the bison go? He wasn't so sure now. He wasn't so sure at the time he lay upon his futon facing the ceiling. Eyes. Wide. Open. His thoughts tangled and twisted within their confines, their relentless pace preventing him from reaching sleep. Well. That actually was pretty normal. Uncle's snores weren't conducive to a good night's sleep. Speaking of Uncle…

Zuko's mind kept returning to the questions Uncle had posed "Who are you? What do YOU want?" Zuko already knew the answers to those questions. He was Zuko, Prince of the Fire Nation. His one desire: to restore his honor and return home. Zuko weighed his own answer as his cynical side made itself known. Not much of a Fire Nation prince now. Are you? Lying in filth. Serving tea. For goodness' sake, you're posing as an EARTH KINGDOM refugee. But if he wasn't a prince, then who was he? His mother had told him "Never forget who you are." His thoughts lingered on that memory of his mother. Her kind voice, her warm embrace, her face… unclear, indistinct. He had been tired and only half awake that night. And then she was gone…

Zuko squeezed his eyes shut, as if in pain. He feared that. He didn't want to disappear. The thought of his father brushing away the memory of him… Unbearable. He didn't want that. What did he want? The answer didn't come to him that night.

Long Feng had not returned to the palace as some might have thought. By now, the Avatar would surely have returned to the palace and alerted the Earth King. His Highness' trust was not so blind as to completely ignore the words of the Avatar. From there, the situation would only have deteriorated. No, returning now was pointless. His leverage over the Avatar as well as the king's trust had evaporated into thin air. Long Feng had hoped to trap the foolish boy and his friends using his bison as bait, but that plan had failed spectacularly. Now there was nothing to gain. With the Avatar as his captive, he could've bargained with the Fire Nation. As a deterrent or as a gift, the Avatar would have served him either way. But that option was gone and there was no use dwelling on it.

But Long Feng was not a man to give up so easily. He still had one card left to play.