As for all of the readers of this story, I am so sorry. I haven't updated in a long time. So please, please forgive me?

Don't forgive him.

You're supposed to be helping me.

You're supposed to be exercising, but I don't see much of that.

This is the only thing you're good at, insulting. You should get a life.

… shut up

Oh, hit a soft spot. How does that feel? Huh? A taste of your own medicine!

(Progresses into a fist fight.)

Okay truce.

Fine…

On with the story.

Zuko rose from his bed with the energy of the sun slowly diffusing into his body. He felt energy pour into his body rejuvenating his body. He pondered on how he was going to help save the prisoners, he pondered on whether he could help save the prisoners. He was going to get up, warm up and do his daily routine, but this time he laid there in his small, but commodious room enjoying his somewhat clean but fluffy bed. He had spent time dusting the cloth by doing various kicks and punches to air the blankets out. He sighed and put a pillow over his head.

Who's trapped in that prison? I wonder where uncle is. Will he forgive me?

A surfeit of unanswered questions filled his mind. He laid there for a couple minutes before deciding that lying in bed would not answer the majority of his questions. He raised his upper body up and placed his hands on his head then lowered his feet to the floor and leveled him himself up. He walked over to a simply made table and picked up his Dao swords which were laying abreast to one another and strapped them on his back. He picked up the picture of his uncle in one hand and the picture of his mother in the other.

Hope that you two will be proud of me one day.

Zuko took a deep breath in and let a sigh out. He mentally readied himself for a few seconds and went pushed his door open. As usual he practiced his morning regimen. Running for long distances, doing a ton of crunches, sit-ups and belly bottoms, Zuko did his usual, but for some reason he felt different today. He felt at ease. His mind, his body released themselves to the sanctity of nothingness and his head seemed level. He had finished his exercises and started his fire bending forms. Half way through the forms he did not feel light head, he did not feel weary and he was barely even breaking a sweat. He delivered the finishing moves to the form he had been doing and noticed that he executed them perfectly. Once realization had set in he was disconcerted. Had he just finished the form that gave him trouble just the day before without even the slightest bit of pain? He absently looked at his hands for an answer, when finding none. An obnoxious grin formed on his face and he shouted a chant of glory. Zuko couldn't believe it. His uncle was right. He smiled back at the thought of the stinky old sandals and old tea mug that so fervently reminded him of his uncle.

The prison…

His thoughts diverged to the prison break. He was going to prove himself. Prove to everyone that he could be trusted. That he had finally found himself. He then walked over to the barracks in search of a brush and some paper and he found himself in front of the young water tribe boy's room.

I don't like this idea…

He was going to steal some paper and a brush, or rather borrow a piece of paper and a brush. He couldn't believe that all this good had to start with something bad. He quietly pushed the aged door open and hearing the rusty old hinges creak, he stopped. He would have preferred to ask for the material, but the water tribe warrior was asleep and he couldn't really afford to get on anyone's bad side; though this time he felt different, he felt bolder. He thought for a second time and just decided that he didn't care. He pushed the door open and heard Sokka's incessant snoring and quietly laughed to himself. Zuko wondered – how heavy did Sokka sleep? He picked up a brush and a piece of parchment out of a pile of Sokka's stuff. Zuko looked over at the water tribe boy. He slept like a log. The water tribe boy truly distinguished what it meant to be lazy. If there ever was a kid who envisioned meat and sarcasm, it was Sokka. Just as Zuko was about to leave the room, a brush rolled into the path of the Zuko.

"Whooaa!" Zuko said in a loud tone.

He looked at the water tribe boy who had stopped snoring. Zuko stopped breathing to try to hear for any sign that Sokka was still asleep. Suddenly a loud booming snore came from Sokka's mouth. Zuko laughed openly, but as soon as he did, he covered his mouth while he snickered. A wide grin was plastered over Zuko's face. He pushed the door open without a care and walked over to the campsite then worked diligently on the plans for the prison break.

About one and a half hours later the gang had woken up and had begun to prepare for the day, mainly breakfast.

"Have you guys seen one of my brushes? I have two and I'm missing one." Sokka said.

The gang nodded in disagreement.

Teo came rushing down the flat-sloped stairs.

"Beat ya Duke" Teo said victoriously while grinning zealously.

"It's The Duke and you didn't beat me – you cheated. I woulda won if it wasn't for those downhill stairs." The Duke said.

Haru whispered quietly to Katara, "You'd kinda think he would have learned from that time he almost hit the side of the temple."

Katara laughed, Aang noticed this and grew a little anxious. Aang's noticeable smiled dropped.

"Well since you're here Teo, have you seen my brush?" the water tribe boy asked.

"Well, I saw Zuko writing something down near the campsite.

"That sneaky rat – oh well, I guess I'll have to teach him the Sokka law. If you mess with Sokka you're goin' down." Sokka said triumphantly.

The gang laughed at this comment as Sokka parade down to where the camp was.

"Zuko! What are you doing with that brush and parchment?" Sokka asked in a commanding tone.

"I'm writing something dimwit. What else would I be doing?" Zuko said mockingly.

"Something a jerk would do." Sokka retorted back.

Zuko gave the boy a sardonic look and remembered that he had taken items belonging to Sokka.

"Oh right – I'm sorry, I took this to write out a plan. I was going to ask you for it, but you were asleep." Zuko said apologetically.

"Oh right, you probably snuck inside my room while I was asleep and took it didn't you?" Sokka stated.

Zuko looked incredulously at Sokka, "Yeah – that's what I just said."

"Well – that doesn't justify stealing." Sokka said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You sounded like your sister there for a second." Zuko stated.

"Did not"

"Did too"

"Stop trying to change the conversation. You stole something of mine and I want an explanation." Sokka said.

Zuko stopped avoiding the topic and thought for a second, "Look I'm really sorry, I just wanted to help to plan the prison break that we're going to do"

Sokka looked at Zuko like he was judging him and then spoke, "Well – okay, I guess that's alright, but you should really leave the planning to the people that have brains."

"You have brains? Ha, that's a good one" Zuko said venomously.

"Ah, you're right you stole stuff from me to plan something out. That's completely well thought out." Sokka said sarcastically. "Good job!" Sokka said in a loud whisper while giving Zuko a thumbs up.

"I'm walkin' away. I'm walkin' away. Don't move, just going to make yourself look worse." Sokka said mockingly speaking in a tone that would fit speaking to a child.

Zuko was too angry to say anything when he noticed that Sokka was so intent on shoving his victory in Zuko's face that he had forgot to take the brush and parchment. Zuko laughed heartily at this and then continued on planning the steps.

Sokka walked back to where everyone else was gleefully.

"You shoulda seen it. I just laid down the law. Sokka style." Sokka said.

The group snickered at the comment.

Aang spoke up, "Well does he want some breakfast?"

Sokka continued on with his victorious demeanor and said "Well, you know he's probably pretty full – I fed him the law. Whoo! That was a good one. Oh, I still got it."

The group broke out into an all out laugh and when the group calmed down The Duke said, "I'll take the food to him."

"Man how come Zuko gets special treatment? I want my food served to me when I wake up next to my rock." Toph said.

"She's right, why should Zuko get special treatment; I mean he doesn't deserve it after all." Katara said to The Duke.

"I think he does." said The Duke.

"Oh, really, and for what might that be?" Katara asked nastily.

"For being nice to all of us when we're mean to him." The Duke said.

"Really when did we do that?" Katara said in a nice tone.

"I'm really starting to wonder…" The Duke stopped himself before he could finish his sentence.

"Ah, forget it. I'll tell him if he wants breakfast, he can come get it like the rest of us." The Duke stated.

No one spoke a word until Zuko barged in running from the campsite not too far away.

"I've got it!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Got what?" Teo asked.

"Okay, I've mapped out approximately where the prison is and where we should land and where we can get fire nation clothes." Zuko said hurriedly.

"Gre-" Aang said but was cut off by Haru.

"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Haru said calmly.

Zuko had prepared the plans for the prison break, but this caught him off guard. "I… uh… wait what?"

Sokka eyed Zuko, "You heard him."

"Haven't I…" Zuko seemed to be at a loss for words. "Look – I with Aang to the Sun Warrior Island alone. I didn't do anything. For all you know it could have been a surprise attack, but it wasn't. I've had many chances with Aang alone. Why would I do it now?"

"He does have a point…" Aang said.

"Yeah" said Sokka.

"So what's the plan?" Teo asked.

So Zuko spent a few minutes explaining the plan and explaining its setbacks, just to make sure that if the group encountered a problem they would know what to do. By the end of this even Katara seemed slightly appeased by this plan.

"It's alright." Katara stated.

"Pretty good for a seven year old. Sorta like your flaming dance steps." Sokka stated.

"They're not dance steps they're ancient Sun Warrior forms." Zuko shouted.

"Oh yes, because the dancing dragon is so manly." Katara said.

"And this time we're going to dance over to the prison and break them all free." Sokka said through loud whispers along with explaining gesticulations.

This all made them laugh.

Zuko barely managed to subdue his anger, and gritted his teeth while before speaking. "Fine – laugh it up, but I've been trying to get this plan ready for two days. I haven't been really able to sleep that well because I'm afraid that I might screw up somewhere, but I'm working hard so that we can get the people you care about out of that prison as soon as possible. What have you been doing?"

Just wanted to put a cliff-hanger, I don't know how well it turned out though. Thanks to all the reviewers who keep on encouraging me.

Kohana'sArrow – My main woman or man. Woman? I think… Sorry… not much of a compliment…

Wtfbrunteesoftball – Thanks for the reviews. Informative of what you liked.

mystery writer5775 – Thanks for commenting on the things that happen in the chapter.

kuzon234ray – Thanks for all the positive reviews. It's always helps me back up.

FireChildSlytherin5 – You're always questioning me. Why are you always questioning me? Jk. Lol. Thanks for keeping me thinking!

And because I have something that I wanted to add to this story, I don't know when it's going to end. So, on we go. Thanks to all of you once again. Also, I noticed that this story is sort of angsty, so should I put angst as a category?