A/N: This story has been transferred from my now empty, but still active account, SmileForMe16, so don't be alarmed if you've seen this before. I don't publish what's not rightfully mine. I would pretty much be a disgrace to all of Fanfiction, because well, the objective of this site is to get people to be creative.

Anyways, enough of that, and if you haven't read this already, enjoy and review! :)

Aang! How much further do we have to go?" The brown haired ponytailed teen known as Sokka whined next to his sister, Katara, who in response, nudged him in the ribs.

"Stop complaining Sokka. We're almost there," She scolded him, annoyed at her older brother who had been complaining for last ten minutes. Aang shook his head.

"No worries Katara. I know this was a long should be there as soon as we pass over that big cloud over there," Aang said, pointing to a giant cloud that seemed to evaporate has they flew through it. Sokka and Katara's eyes seemed bulge out of their sockets as the Air Temple came into view.

"I-It's upside down how cool!" Katara said astonished as she peered from behind Appa's head. Toph, who was limited to seeing what Katara was so amazed at, stayed in her sitting position in the middle of Appa's back.

"That does sound cool. An upside down temple," Toph muttered. Sokka gawked at Aang and began studying him intently.

"How did you know we had to pass that particular cloud? Are you psychic Aang or are you some kind of alien? All these clouds look exactly the same," Sokka started. Aang laughed as he landed Appa on top of a grassy surface, just above the Air Temple. Appa landed with a thud and Aang hopped off expertly using air bending to bring him to the ground.

Katara and Sokka slid of Appa's back, as did Toph, and carried their supplies that they would have for the next few days that they hid from the fire nation. After their first mission to defeat the fire lord was unsuccessful, they knew the day would come where they would have to make up for their retreat. They would have to be prepared.

"Well," Sokka waited.

"Well, I didn't know. Lucky guess, I guess. I just told you that so you would stop complaining. Funny how that worked out huh?" Aang explained. Sokka gawked again and the others began laughing. Aang used the rope they had bought and tied it around a tree that was near the forest next to the temple and began climbing down. The others followed suit until they were all in front of the temple. Appa flew down to meet them.

" Ha ha ha ," Sokka muttered and set his bags down onto the ground, rolled out his sleeping bag and immediately fell onto his bed.
"We have to train Sokka. That means no sleepy time for you buddy," Toph said and kicked the bag that he placed as a pillow under his head. He groaned and stood up slowly.

" It's Appa's fault I didn't get enough sleep. I think I'm getting allergic. His hair kept making me sneeze!" Aang smiled apologetically to Sokka, who at that moment began to sneeze.

"Sorry about that Sokka,"

Suddenly, Toph tensed and got into a fighting stance, facing towards the forest.

"Hey guys, someone's coming," Then there was a rustle in the bushes nearby, and out popped someone they thought they would never see. He wore a nervous smile and waved partially, his eyes only on the Avatar. Too nervous to meet anyone else's glance, including Toph's.

" I mean you no harm Avatar, and the rest of you-," He started.

"We have names you know Zuko!" Katara sneered folding her arms. Sokka nodded in agreement.

"I-I know that, I just, uh. Okay listen. I know, I made some pretty awful decisions in the past. But, I'm willing to make peace with you. All I want to do now, is help take down Lord Ozai," Zuko stuttered helplessly. Toph snorted.

"Are you kidding me? I know your dad is evil and all but really? You want to take down your own father? I don't believe you. You're just as evil as him!" Sokka spoke, unfazed by Zuko's words. Zuko sighed.

"I'm telling the truth! His intentions and mine are not alike. At least not now. I realize now that what I did, and what he's doing, is wrong. Please, I want to help you win. I haven't come here to fight. My only wish is that you accept my apology and that you accept my offer, to teach Aang fire bending," Aang nodded at this. He seemed to be the only person right now that didn't hate Zuko.

" You destroyed our village Zuko! Me and Sokka's home is now in ruins because of you and your stupid fire nation!," Katara shouted angrily, her hands balled into fists at her sides. Zuko took a step forward and looked into Katara's saddened eyes. He was truly sorry for the pain he had caused her, all of them.

" I was young and naive. I'm truly sorry Katara, to all of you. I know you must hate me, for the wrong I've done these last few years,"
"May we have just a few moments to ourselves?" Aang asked politely, interrupting Zuko from saying anymore. He turned to his friends and whispered.

"I think Zuko was meant to be my fire bending teacher. I mean think about it. Do you think in a million years any other fire bender would welcome me as an apprentice? Zuko has offered to help. I think he's telling the truth. And besides, we don't have a million years,"
"He was telling the truth ever since he got here. I think we can trust him guys," Toph whispered. Sokka groaned, and Katara rolled her eyes.

"Okay, fine," Sokka said. Katara averted her eyes as the rest of the crew awaited her response. Aang put a hand on her shoulder.
"Trust me Katara. He is good. I sense it. I know it will take time to fully trust him again, but at least accept him into the group. What matters now is defeating Ozai and restoring peace to the world. Zuko can lead us there," Aang assured her calmly. Katara sighed and nodded slowly.

" Okay,"

The group turned to the lone fire bender who looked to them as nervous as before, shuffling his feet. Aang took a few steps forward.
"We have decided to welcome you to our group, however, if you betray us Zuko, we will not take it lightly," Zuko smiled and bowed to Aang respectively.

"I won't let you down. That's a promise," Sokka looked at Zuko with his nose up in the air.

"Good," He said.

"So, now that that soap opera scene is over and done with, where's the grub? All that talking and thinking and stuff made me hungry," Toph said. Sokka walked over to their bags and froze as soon as he looked inside.

"WHERE IS ALL THE FOOD?" He screamed. Toph began to laugh nervously and took a few steps back, prepared if Sokka tried to attack her.
" I was hungry," She stated plainly. Sokka groaned as did Katara.

" No worries. There's a small town just a few miles from here. We can travel on foot through the forest. I still have some coins left that'll feed us for a while," Aang said. Zuko retrieved some money from his pocket and held it out.

"You can use this too. It's Fire Nation money, but you can use it just about anywhere. Just make sure you say you found it lying around so they won't suspect you," Zuko finally spoke. Sokka's eyes twinkled in admiration and began shaking Zuko's hand.

"You're my new best friend," He stated. Zuko slipped his hand from Sokka's grasp uncomfortably, and looked the other way.

"What about your clothes? Won't they recognize you're from fire nation right away?" Aang asked.

" I have a bag I carry with me. I camped out in the forest last night while I was following you so that I could see you the following morning. I have some Earth Nation clothes I wore when me and Uncle served tea,"

" You were following us?" Katara asked.

" To beg for your forgiveness," Zuko countered just as quickly. He then ran into the forest to change, and then appeared in Earth Nation clothes minutes later. Then, they all set out on foot to head towards the small town, leaving Appa by himself. There was nothing but tall trees practically covering the blue skies, and every now and then they would see a Saber-Tooth -mouse lion, or a frog hopping about.

Suddenly, a still form caught Zuko's eye. It was a person lying on the ground about twenty feet away. Zuko picked up his pace and gasped when he realized what was on the ground. The others followed suit, and Sokka, being clueless ran with them in confusion.

"What is it?" Sokka asked. Katara gasped loudly, her eyes widened.

"It's a girl!"

She seemed to be unconscious, her hair splayed about. Aang kneeled down and put two fingers to her neck.

"She's okay, just unconscious I guess. I wonder how she got here," Aang said. Zuko looked to the ground in shock. Zuko kneeled down and picked up the girl, holding her securely in his arms. He didn't know why he did, just felt like it was the right thing to do. Sokka gawked wide eyes, staring at the mysterious girl in Zuko's arms, immediately jealous.

" She's beautiful," Sokka whispered, which earned an arched brow from Katara. And she was. Zuko swallowed not knowing what to do with the girl in his arms. He could could feel her heart beat rhythmically in her chest as he cradled had pale skin and long dark purple hair. Her face was really angelic, flawless. Her outfit was as interesting as her hair. Nothing they could really describe.

" W-Where do you think she came from guys?" Aang asked.

"From heaven of course!" Sokka gushed.

" Sokka snap out it! This is serious!" Katara yelled annoyed. That seemed to stir the girl awake in Zuko's arms, which startled him, and soon enough purple irises revealed and looked into his eyes.

" Who are you?" She frowned when Zuko didn't respond. She began to squirm out of his grasp all of a sudden and he let her. She fell to her feet and looked at each of the group.

"Sokka, nice to meet ya! You see, you were kind of unconscious on the ground where we found you. We were on the way to a small village just miles from here. I honestly thought you were an angel and I would have been holding you if Zuko hadn't got to you first-"
" I'm Katara, that's my brother Sokka, this is Aang, Toph, and uh Zuko," The girl looked into each of the five pairs of eyes confusedly. Her eyes lingered on Zuko's the longest. His face blushed slightly and looked away.

"What's your name?" Sokka asked.

"Rukia," She replied slowly, and she took a step back, cautiously.

"We won't harm you Miss Rukia. We are just confused as you are. Do you have any idea of how you got here? Where are you from?" Aang blinked.

" The Spirit Nation, and you must be the Avatar,"