First off, I want to thank everyone who has followed me from chapter one and has come back for more. You guys are amazing and with your help these first nine chapters have racked up 37 reviews, 21 favs and 42 followers, as well as over 700 views. You guys are truly amazing and knowing that there are people out there reading means so much and is such good motivation.
Disclaimer: I don't own anybody. Well that's not true. I own a few people. What I don't own, is Avatar the Last Airbender or any characters from it.
Lu Ten: You're late.
Me: I know. Between getting ready for college, having my sisters down and trying to work on Zutara Week stuff, I haven't had much time to work. A large part of the wait is because I had to do some major edits and rewriting for later chapters. There was a part that was going to be in this chapter, but while writing it I could not get it to fit logically and keep everyone in character. So I ended up scrapping that part, without realizing how bit of an affect it had on something in the later chapters. So I had to do a bit of tweaking in order to move things about, and I didn't want to upload this without being set with the rest of the plot line. But edits to storyline are done, and I am back on track.
Now onto the reason everyone is here. The long overdue chapter ten.
-oOo-

Noon had peaked and passed, the sun now working its way into the evening. Sokka looked down at the map on the table before him. He cupped his chin as his eyes followed over the roads painted into the chart . "Without Ba Sing Se, it will be kind of hard to have the full Earth Kingdom support. We just lost a great deal of our troops. I'm not sure how to bounce back from that."

"Who all do you have left?" Jet glanced down at the map, not fully understanding the markings that the Water Tribe boy was making on it. He placed markers; consisting of scraps of paper and rocks, over different sections of Ba Sing Se; ranging from the swamp regions and into the Northern Air Temple. Each marker had a string attached, the other end leading to a few different ports; all meeting at a single island just on the outskirts of Earth Kingdom waters.

The Freedom Fighter raised his eyes, taking note of the way Iroh, sitting beside Sokka, was looking at the map; engrossed in watching as the pieces were moved and replaced. Beside the general, Lu Ten sat watching at well. To Jet's right, was the Earth King, looking a bit dishearten, and Hiruko; the village elder.

Jet was having a hard time dealing with the presents of the famous Dragon of the West. His mind was still caught up in the old man being Mushi; the firebending tea maker. The fact that he had been right about the man's secret had filled Jet with much joy. It proved that he wasn't actually crazy. Yet, Mushi and Lee's true identity was not something that Jet expected to play out the way it had. Discovering them to be the banished prince Zuko and retired General Iroh, had nearly been a breaking point for shoving Jet over the edge. Added to the fact that Lu Ten was also a royal fire breather, just made him all the more unsettled about the trio. He did not like firebenders, and he especially did not like the royal ones which seemed to desire bothering and confusing him.

"We still have the Southern Fleet; which we need to get in contact with soon." Sokka's voice broke through Jet's fantasizing. Shacking himself, he refocused on what the teen was discussing. The Water Tribe boy's finger was planted firmly on the island on the map that Jet could not name. "Plus while in Ba Sing Se I started to send out letters to some of the people we've met along the way, informing them of the invasion."

"And how many people replied back?" Lu Ten questioned.

Jet wasn't sure how exactly he felt on Lu Ten and Iroh being included in on this discussion. Sokka had deemed it necessary to inform both firebenders about the upcoming invasion while the four of them had been searching for Zuko and Katara. The Water Tribe warrior; much to the dismay of the Freedom Fighter, had filled them in on what was to take place, expressing great trust in them whenever Jet had questioned the safety of them knowing. After having taken the older boy to the side, Sokka had explained his reasoning behind trusting them. The North Pole and something about being shot by a princess came up several times, and by the end of it Sokka had been even firmer in his beliefs of trust.

"I only got to send out two before we had to leave. The mechanist was the first and most important." Sokka's finger landed on the Northern Air Temple. "He sent back a letter saying he'll gather as many people as he can and help. They're not much of actual fighters, but they're a pretty scrappy group. I also sent down some plans for a few things that might help us in the invasion. So we've got that on our side."

After a moment, Sokka moved his finger down into the swamps. "This was my second message. I got a reply back from the swamp benders saying that they're all in. That should give us a large number of waterbenders."

"And the rest of these markers," Iroh motioned towards the mess of points on the map.

"Still trying to get in contact with them," Sokka answered.

"And the Southern Fleet is where?" Iroh looked deep in thought.

"Chameleon Bay." Sokka stated simply.

A silence sank over the group as they looked at the large number of possible help that were still uninformed. The question of getting in contact with all of them was a simple one. It was just the time constraints that were placing pressure on getting the news out to them. Both Iroh and Jet opened their mouth to speak. The two noticed and stopped to allow the other. After an encouraging nod from Iroh, and a deep frown in response by Jet, the Freedom Fighter spoke. "How long until the invasion?"

"Five months from next Tuesday," Sokka answered, having the date set in his mind.

"If the Freedom Fighters ran messengers and got the word out about the invasion," Jet locked his eyes on Sokka, the other boy picking up the meaning easily, "would the Southern Fleet pick us up on their way to wherever we're supposed to meet?"

"Ya," Sokka answered eagerly. "Would you guys really be willing to do it?"

"Sure." Jet shrugged. "Shots, Bee and I should have no problem rounding up some Freedom Fighters and sending out news. Just need to know where we're going and who we're looking for."

"That's easy," Sokka gestured towards the map before him. "Do you have a spar map they can borrow?" The Water Tribe boy turned his gaze towards the elder, who nodded back in confirmation. "Good, I can map out where we need the news delivered for you guys to follow."

"If you are going on message runs," Iroh looked at them with a smile. "I believe I have some friends who could help you during travels."

"Friends?" Jet raised an eyebrow. "No offense old man, but what friends do you have to help."

"Are you aware of a society called the White Lotus?" The general smiled.

-oOo-

Zuko didn't know what to think of the blind earthbender sitting on the steps before him. The girl downed her drink, set the empty glass down beside her, and turned her gaze onto the prince. He tried to keep his heart rate calm, as she narrowed her eyes onto him. Her head lowered and lifted, as her eyes followed a similar path as if she were inspecting him. Despite the fact that he knew he could not see him, Zuko still felt as if the child was looking straight into him. It was a crazy feeling, but after three years of being out in the war torn world, he had learned to trust his instincts. Instincts that were screaming for him to watch his back around the young child.

"You must be the infamous Zuko." She smirked. "I've heard a lot of bad things about you from Katara."

Zuko wasn't even sure why he was sitting here with the demon child. He had been on his way to following Lu Ten and Iroh to wherever they had been going, whenever she had grabbed hold of his sleeve and pulled him away with her. He had been unable to break free of her grip than, and he was sure he was unable to break free from her now. Instead, he just sighed and tried to not let her gaze unnerve him. "And you are."

"Toph BeFong." The girl smirked. "I'm sure you've heard of me. After all I am the greatest earthbender in the world, teacher of the Avatar, winner of Earth Rumbles and still the spoiled brat I always was. You can bask in my awesomeness. If you're lucky I might brush some of my awesome onto you."

"Thanks." Zuko replied, filling the word with sarcasm. "So you're the Avatar's earthbender teacher than?"

"Ya," Toph looked at him in a challenging fashion.

"And how old are you?"

"I'll be thirteen soon." Toph puffed out her chest, and Zuko couldn't help but stifle a chuckle behind the back of his hand at the action. She narrowed her eyes back in return. "Don't laugh at me. I will kick your ass."

"Oh really?" Zuko couldn't help but to push farther in the banter. By the grin taking over the corner of both of their faces, it was obvious that the mockery was indeed friendly. The playful teasing they were doing startled the prince. He had only met the girl a few hours ago, and sitting on the porch was the first time he had actually met and learned her name. But the blind twelve old had gone from intimidating him, into smiling and joking as if it were the easiest thing in the world. It confused Zuko, but he wasn't one to question things. "And how would you do that."

"I am the greatest earthbender in the world." Toph rolled her eyes.

"Can I ask about that?" Zuko bit his lip, looking once more at the sightless eyes. "It's just… you're blind."

"Really." Toph rolled her eyes; Zuko was beginning to wonder if sightless eye rolls where common with her. "Here I just thought the world was black. Thank you for clarifying that fact. But seriously, I see with my feet."

"You're feet?"

"Yep. I feel the vibrations in the earth. Whenever something moves, or there's something on the ground, I can just feel it, and it lets me see the world around me."

"Like sonar?"

"What's sonar?"

"It's something animals like wolfbats can do. Since they have little sight ability, they send out this sound wave and judging by how long it takes to come back, they can picture what's ahead of them."

Toph's face lit up. "Cool. My feet have sonar."

"So what's it like?" Zuko felt comfortable talking with the child. He'd never seen anything like the blind earthbender, and he was truly curious about what she could do. "Can you picture the world, or is it just shapes."

"Just kind of shapes," Toph shrugged her shoulder. "Like I can feel you next to me, the people in the building behind us, Aang asleep in the hospital, and even the little kids on the outskirts of the town who are jumping into some lake. I can feel where everything is."

"Doesn't that get to be annoying?" Zuko asked. "Feeling everything."

"At first I was kind of hard. But it's just something I've learned to do, and it's just natural now. Do you ever get tired of seeing everything around you?"

"Good point."

"It pays off too. Being able to tell what's coming towards us saved our butts a few times. And I never would have been able to metalbend if I couldn't feel the earth like I do. So I'm perfectly fine with seeing like this."

"Metalbend?"

"Yep." Toph's smile grew. "You are looking at the world's first and only metalbender."

"How is that even possible?" Zuko forgot where he was. He forgot that he was talking to a little earthbender, who months prior he would have seen as the enemy. He was wrapped in the conversation he was having with the girl.

"That's classified info. All you need to know is that I just keep getting more awesome as the days go." Toph smirked. Silence sank over them, as they watched the town move about them.

"So can you see faces?" Zuko broke the quiet. "I don't mean to be asking all these questions it's just…"

"I get it." Toph responded. "And no. I have no idea who anybody look like."

"Then how can you tell the difference between everyone."

"A lot of things. Heartbeat is the main one. Everyone's heartbeat is slightly different. I use them to tell the difference between people, and stuff like that. Voices are another one. That's where I picture what people look like. That's not two voices that are alike. And last, the vibration people give off."

"The vibration?"

"Ya. That's how I figure out who a person really is. It doesn't matter how good of a liar or actor someone is, you can't fake your vibrations. I kind of feel the vibes that they give off."

"And what's the vibe you get from me?" Zuko looked a bit hopeful as he asked.

"You have the weirdest vibration I have ever felt." Toph answered shortly, getting a frown from Zuko. After a moment's hesitation, she continued. "That's not a bad thing. I can tell you're trying and you do want to help. You're not a bad person. Trust me, I have a talent for knowing people."

"Thanks," Zuko smiled sadly, "Toph."

"No problem." Toph punched him in the shoulder. The muffled 'Ow' she heard in response brought a smile to her face. "That's how I show affection."

"That was a lot of affection." He muttered as he rubbed the forming bruise.

Toph grinned. "You're alright with me Princess."

-oOo-

"So now that that is settled we need to start working on leaving." Sokka rolled up the map in his hand. He cast a glance around the room at the other's in it, before his eyes landed on King Kuei. "Are sure that is what you want to do your Highness."

Kuei nodded. "Yes. I am afraid I don't have much experience in this field, and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm terrified at the thought of even getting into a fight. Besides, I do not wish to be a burden and a problem."

"That is alright." Iroh laid a hand on the king's shoulder, startling the young man. "Not all of us are made to be fighters, and that is a good thing. Without the level headed, the rash would bring about their own demise."

"Besides," Lu Ten added, "they're gunna need ya on that thorn when this is ever. Getting you killed in combat would not do us any good."

"Lu's got a point." Sokka included. "We're going to need you to help bring about peace after the fighting is done."

"Thank you." Kuei bowed his head in thanks. "And I wish you the greatest luck in your mission." With that, Kuei exited the room, followed by Hiruko.

The four remaining men stood in the room. After a moment, Jet dismissed himself to search for his comrades and fill them in on their part. After Jet stepped out, Lu Ten patted them on the back and left to make sure that Zuko had not gotten in trouble while they were working. Only Iroh and Sokka remained. The Water Tribe warrior took the chance to ask the general the question that had plagued him for a while now. "So this means you are fully on our side?"

"It does." Iroh answered with a slight nod.

"Then can I ask you a question?"

"I believe you just did." Iroh chuckled. The annoyed frown that sat on Sokka's lips silence the older man's chuckled. "Sorry, it's a force of habit. What is your question?"

"Would you be willing to teach Aang firebending?"

"Can I ask why you are asking me?"

"Why?" Sokka was a bit startled with the need for explanation. "You're the best firebender that we know. Plus you don't want to kill us. That makes you more than qualified for the job."

Iroh smiled. "I will have to think upon it."

"Is that a no?"

Iroh smiled, the action not extending fully to his eyes. "There are just a few things I need to get in order and one condition that I ask concerning my sons."

"Lu is more than welcomed to join us." Sokka answered instantly. "Wait. Did you say sons? Is there another one running around?"

Iroh's smile grew. "Zuko may not be my son by blood, but by all other means he is my own. Just as Lu Ten is. I will not abandon either of my children. I will teach the Avatar everything I know, but not without both of them with me."

Sokka looked unsure how to respond. After a hesitation that seemed to stretch on for minutes, he sighed and looked at the general. "Fine. Zuko can come to if he wants. But if he gives me a reason to think he's a threat, I will hurt him."

"I assure you, he will behave."

-oOo-

Katara tightened her grip on Aang's hand, the young child sleeping soundly on the bed. His chest rose and fell, but other than that, the twelve year old did not stir. Katara had made up her station beside his bed the moment they had laid him in it, and had not left since. The other's had left the room, to destinations in the town she did not know.

A sense of precaution sank into her, as at the moment she realized she had no clue as to where the members of their tightly knit team where. Katara liked to keep a watch on them, it was a habit she had picked up whenever it had been just her, Sokka and Aang. After including Toph into their group, Katara had found her protective habits growing. Despite Toph's independent and stubborn nature, she was still a twelve year old girl, something they all tended to forget from time to time. With the new size of the group; grown to include not only the three Freedom Fighters, but also the royal trio, Katara was finding herself having a hard time keeping eyes on everything.

What unsettled her more than not know where everyone was, and if they were safe, was the presence of Prince Zuko. The firebender had disappeared with Iroh and Lu Ten shortly after they had arrived, and she had not seen any of them since. Katara tightened her grip on Aang's hand as the event of Ba Sing Se flashed one more in front of her eyes. It was the prince's fault that they were in the situation they were in. If he hadn't chosen that moment to side with his sister. If she had only seen through his lies. The ifs of the situation continued to play; despite the fact that Katara knew thinking on them would change nothing.

The sound of an opening door behind her drew Katara's head up ever so little. Her eyes caught the movement of Momo; the lemur cleaning himself beside Aang's pillow, as she shifted to look at who had entered. Spotting a familiar shade of blue, Katara turned back to look at Aang as her brother's voice came into her ears. "Aang will be fine. You stressing like this can't be good. You need to eat something. Your friend, Lana, made us some late lunch, early dinner. I brought you a bowl.

Katara took the bowl of soup her brother offered. Katara asked as she took a bite. The broth was thick and felt so good going into her empty stomach. "Where is Zuko?"

Sokka pulled up a chair on the opposite side of the bed. "Zuko was with Toph last time I checked. Lu left to look for him earlier though, so there's a good chance he's with him. Why?"

Katara glared back at him. "I don't think it's smart to let him run around unwatched. What are we going to do with him? I don't want him anywhere near Aang."

"I don't think we really have to worry about Zuko," Sokka chuckled.

"You don't trust him, do you?" Katara looked at her brother in concern.

"I don't trust him," Sokka answered. "But Toph does, and I trust Toph. Plus, Iroh and Lu seem to be on our side, and from what I've seen, Zuko follows the two of them like a lost polar bear-dog. As long as they're with us, I can't see Zuko running off and doing something stupid that could get us killed. So I'm giving him a chance. Despite my instincts telling me not to, I'm giving him one chance. You've got to give him that chance too Katara."

Katara looked at her brother in frustration as she set the half eaten soup on the nightstand. When she spoke, it was with a scathing tone; an angry and fiery one. "A chance? He had a chance. Under Ba Sing Se and he blew it then. I just… I just don't think I can do it again. He broke my trust, I just can't forget that."

"Look Katara," Sokka ran a hand through his hair as he spoke. "I don't like seeing you like this. It both kills and scares me. Something went down between the two of you in that cave that really stirred you up. I think the two of you need to talk about it."

"Talk?" Katara frowned. "Can't I just kill him and hide the body?"

"No." Sokka answered quickly. "Aang needs a firebending teacher."

"And you want to ask Zuko?" Katara's frown turned into a smirk of amusement.

Sokka chuckled. "No, I asked Iroh. But if you go off and kill Zuko, I don't think they will be too willing to stick around afterwards."

"Will he do it?" Katara asked in all seriousness. "Teach Aang?"

"Ya," Sokka shrugged, deciding that now was not the time to worry his sister about the little details. "But if he does, than Zuko is part of the deal."

"I don't like it," Katara grimaced. "I'm fine with Iroh and Lu, but I don't like Zuko."

Sokka nodded in response. "I know. But if he really is on the rebel bandwagon, having his fire power would be nice. Besides, it can't be a disadvantage to have the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation on our side."

"But how certain are you that he is on our side?" Katara absentmindedly spooned herself a bit of soup.

Sokka offered a smile; pinched at the corners and didn't quite reach his eyes. "Not as certain as I would like to be, but sure enough that he won't kill us in our sleep."

"I just don't want to put Aang in danger." Katara lowered her eyes down to the sleeping child. "I didn't protect him as well as I should have in Ba Sing Se. I let my guard down. I wanted to believe that there was good in Zuko. That he wouldn't turn on us, and that trust nearly got us killed. If you want to give him the chance, then I'll be behind you. But I don't care if Aang needs a firebending teacher or not, if he makes one wrong move, gives me any reason to think he's a threat, I will kill him."

-oOo-

Lu Ten had found his cousin sitting with Toph outside what seemed to be the village's tavern. Upon Lu Ten's request for him, Zuko had all but fled from the presents of the blind earthbender, while rubbing his shoulder. Zuko had followed behind him without question was to where they were going. The two were silent for the first few moments.

Zuko kept his eyes ahead as he spoke. "Do you think the Avatar will be okay?"

Lu Ten narrowed his eyes at his cousin, curious as to how he started the conversation. He was still trying to piece together the full events as to what happened in that city, but the pure regret and concern in Zuko's voice told Lu Ten that simple events wouldn't tell the tale. "Aang should be fine. A little rest and some burn aloe should do wonders for him."

The young prince didn't seem to know how to answer. He lowered his eyes. "That's good." His words were low and soft.

"So what happened under that city?" Lu Ten questioned, looking sidelong at his as they walked.

The expression on Zuko's face was one of quilt and dread. He lifted his eyes, and they seemed to shimmer with a memory he wished better forgotten. "I made the wrong choice. I fell for Azula's lies and false promises. I helped her take over Ba Sing Se, the only place in three years where I have actually felt like I didn't have twenty people pulling me in every direction. But I gave it all up and handed it all to Azula."

Zuko's voice grew grim, and he once more lowered his gaze. "I almost got Uncle killed because of my selfishness. I chose her and going home over him. I can't believe I fell for her fake promises again."

"What exactly did she promise you?" Lu Ten asked. He motioned Zuko towards the set of benches to their right.

"A chance to go home," Zuko shrugged. "She said if I helped her, that I could forget all of this and return home. I haven't been home in three years. Not since…"

A silence sank between them once more. Zuko groan, not sure how to continue, sat down beside Lu Ten and turned his head away. Lu Ten used the silence to take in his cousin's appearance.

He did not like the way he continued to spot scars over his cousin's face and bear arms. The teen was covered in little white scars, and light pink remnants of burns. It appeared to his eyes as if someone had attempted to play connect the dots using the burns as points. What else he did not like seeing, was how small he appeared to be. Lu Ten prayed that it was merely an effect of the baggy shirt he had borrowed due to his own being charred that made Zuko's frame look so thin.

Along with the white scars that lined across his body, Lu Ten's eyes drifted to the scar on Zuko's face. He tried to keep himself from looking directly at it, but with the story his father had told him, the prince couldn't help but stare. Zuko didn't seem to react to his cousin's gawking, and Lu Ten wondered if the teen didn't notice as he continued to speak, or if he had just become used to stares.

A sigh escaped Lu Ten's lips as he pondered the question. The noise seemed to have gotten the attention of Zuko, who looked up from his place leaning against a fence behind him. Lu Ten took this moment to break the silence. "You should never have been put in that situation. You shouldn't have been put in any of this. I'm sorry for not being there when you really needed me."

"It's not your fault," Zuko shrugged, picking up his cousins underlining thoughts. "None of this is your fault. If anything, I'm the one to blame for this mess."

"It's not your fault either," Lu Ten looked at the boy with a stern gaze. "I may not know all the details of the past few years, but I have picked up enough to know that they haven't been easy for you. Jumping at a chance to go home, with everything I have heard, is understandable. Hell, I would give anything to be back home right now."

Zuko took in his cousin's words. A spectrum of emotions dashed across his face. The prince's hand lifted upwards in habit, but whenever it became level with his chest, Zuko let it fall. He noticed where his cousin's eyes were located. "How much do you know about the past few years."

Lu Ten dropped his gaze upon realizing he had been caught staring. After a moment, he looked back at the boy and answered. "Dad's filled me in a lot. He told me about you two traveling through the Earth Kingdom, and your hunt for the Avatar. He also told me why you were out here and how you got…"

Lu Ten's voice trailed off, and Zuko didn't need him to finish to understand.

"I want you to know though," Lu Ten directed his gaze straight onto his cousin, "that I couldn't be more proud of you for what you did in that war room."

Zuko was taken back. "What?"

"You standing up for those men," Lu Ten answered, "it was something that any one of those stuffy generals should have done, yet they were all too scared to do it. But you stood up. It took a thirteen year old boy to stand up for those below him, to show them what courage is. And that is why I am proud of you. You did what was right, when everyone else was too afraid to."

"A lot of good it did," Zuko shrugged, turning his gaze away.

"Do you regret it?" Lu Ten suddenly asked. Zuko turned sharply to look at him in confusion. "Do you regret standing up for those men? Even though they were sent out anyways, would you have still spoken out for them if you knew what that action would lead to?"

"I don't know," Zuko shrugged.

"You do know," Lu Ten smiled.

"Look," Zuko sighed, "I don't know okay. I want to say yes, but if I had known that standing up and questioning the morals of society and war would lead to everything that has happened, I just don't know if it would have done it again. It's been Hell for the past three years. I just don't know if it was really worth it."

"To those men," Lu Ten said simply, "you standing up for them most likely meant more than any medal of honor or praise they could have received. The rest of the war committee seemed to have had only the win on their mind, but you Zuko, you had the soldiers' lives at heart. I can tell you that even though what you said didn't have any effect outside of that war room, they still knew that you tried to save them."

Lu Ten's voice trailed off and his hand fell from his cousin's shoulder. He let a deep breath leave his lips as his own time in the Fire Nation army came back to him. He could have easily skipped the earning ranks; a privilege to royals in the army, but instead the man had decided to start from the trenches. He had seen his share of deaths, many of which should have been prevented. He knew from personal experience the way soldiers were sometimes used as target practice.

Under his father's command, he had not seen any of the sacrifice that other generals had done. The Dragon of the West had kept his men as safe as possible, but Lu Ten hadn't always been in his father's divisions. General Zafeer's strategies had led to many victories and many deaths for more years than Lu Ten wished to count back.

It pained Lu Ten, to think of a young Zuko standing up to that devil of a man. He was indeed proud of his cousin for his actions, but that didn't mean that he should have taken them in the way he did. More to the point, he should have never had to have taken those actions. Thirteen was too young to realize the horror of war.

"Let me ask you another question than," Lu Ten spoke, pushing down the dark thoughts in his mind. "Where would you be right now, if you hadn't gone through all of that stuff."

"Back home I guess," Zuko shrugged. "Wouldn't have had a reason to leave. I never would have had to worry about getting back."

Lu Ten placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. The younger male felt almost frail under his touch, and as Lu Ten gave him a reassuring squeeze, he found himself frowning at how thin and tense he was. The dark pain that laced through Zuko's golden eyes, combined with rigidness of his body and movements, laid out the toll the past years had taken on the boy. Neither of them were strangers to war, and Lu Ten quickly realized that whatever had occurred in his absence had left deeper scars than he knew how to fix on his young cousin. "Yet when you were so close to going back, you traded it to save my dad's life."

"Are we on the same conversation here?" Zuko raised an eyebrow. He looked at his cousin skeptically. "Because I feel like we've been jumping around a lot. If you're trying to create some giant lesson, you're missing a proverb of two in there. Try, 'one does not chose his own destiny, but his destiny choses him'. Uncle's used that like six times on me by now. I'm surprised he didn't sew that into a pillow and leave it on my bed with all the times I've heard it."

"Good to see you never lost that spunk," Lu Ten chuckled, the sound just passing his lips before dying away. "But on a serious note, I am proud of you. I am proud of what you have become while I was gone. You've grown to be a strong, compassionate and honorable young man, and I couldn't be more impressed."

Zuko couldn't hide the blush that form along his pale cheeks.

Lu Ten smiled as well, his eyes crinkling with the gesture. "So what do you plan on doing now?"

"I don't know," Zuko shrugged, his voice a lot lighter than previous. "There aren't many options left at this point."

"The world is full of possibilities and chances," Lu Ten smirked, "for those who fish for them."

Zuko shot his cousin an annoyed glare. "Alright Mr. Proverb, what are you going to do. What is your fishing trip going to bring for options."

Lu Ten threw back his head in a chuckle. "I think you were trying to insult me there. We'll work on that. But seriously, I think this is my chance to make a difference and actually do something worth doing."

His mind drifted a bit, remembering the reasons behind the choices he would now make. His subconscious recalled the pain and destruction he had seen during his time as a soldier. So much of which had been caused by his own hands. The faces of the men who had gone down into those cells with him and had not returned played behind his vision. Huogh, the youngest among us, had received a letter from his wife telling him he would be a father just an hour before they had left for the wall. Somewhere in the Fire Nation, a child; like so many, grew up fatherless because of this war.

It had been in those cells that he had really started to think upon the reasons as to why so many young men and women had to die. And as he had the many times he had asked himself that same question, he could not come up with a good excuse.

Lu Ten sighed, pulling himself from his memories. "This war has gone on for far too long and caused too much destruction. I know you may not quite feel the same way, but I need you to cons-"

"Then I'm helping too," Zuko looked up at his cousin, a spark in his eyes dancing over the golden lens.

"Are you sure about this?" Lu Ten raised an eyebrow.

Zuko shrugged. "Uncle's been trying to convince me to do something like this since the two of us started in the Earth Kingdom. Besides, you're doing it."

"I also don't have much to lose at this point," Lu Ten shock his head. "Except for you and my dad, there isn't much for me to come back to at this point. You're sister made that point clear in Ba Sing Se."

Zuko rolled his eyes. "There isn't any going back or changing things for me either. If you two are staying with these people, than I'm going to suck up my pride and make this work. Besides, my dad declared me a traitor a long time ago; it's about time I took up the title."

"That a boy," Lu Ten chuckled as he patted the exile on his back. "Remember that in a few minutes."

"Why?"

"Because there is an angry waterbender stomping in our direction." Lu Ten nodded just behind Zuko. The boy flinched, doing well to suppress the sudden flash of fear on his face as Katara and Sokka stopped beside them. "How have you been today Katara?"

"Can I borrow Zuko," the waterbender growled through gritted teeth.

Lu Ten sent an encouraging smile towards his cousin. Zuko shot him back a frown; desperate and pleading for assistance. Chuckling, Lu Ten nodded. "Of course. I expect you to return him when you're done. Don't leave too many bruises."

Zuko stood, casting a glare down at Lu Ten. "Thanks," he whispered sharply before following behind the waterbender.

-oOo-

"So you talked to Zuko then." Sokka casually said. He had sat down on the bench after Katara had lead Zuko a bit away; in what appeared to be a quickly heated argument. The Water Tribe Warrior was surprised at how quickly the two of them boiled at one another.

He himself wasn't completely over all the frustration and danger Zuko had put them in, but he found himself unable to stay furious about it. He didn't know if it was because of what he had learned concerning the other males past or not. Or if it was the way that the prince had acted in the last twenty-four hours that caused him to reconsider his views on him. Prior to this, the only interactions the two had had were combat, and one on one between the two had been far and few between. It had been easy to peg Zuko as the enemy and leave it at that. But that was before he had been forced to see the human side to him.

Sokka would never forget what he had seen flying out of Ba Sing Se that second time. He had been too busy trying to get them out and away from there that he hadn't even realized that his own sister was in danger of falling before it had been too late. Zuko had caught her before he could. As he had reached to grab her from Zuko, the flash of lightening had caught his eyes. There was no denying it, Sokka knew and realized in the instant that Zuko's hand let go of its grip in Appa's fur that he had just saved Katara from being struck. If they had been dangling there a moment later…

"Ya. I talked to Zuko about it." Lu Ten's nodded his head towards the prince, who despite the vivid insulting hand gestures Katara was giving him, was managing to keep his calm. "He's in on the idea."

"Really?" Sokka drew out the word in curiosity.

"Zuko's not a bad kid," Lu Ten answered. "A bit misguided in a few things, but he's a good kid. One who realizes what he has to do."

Sokka looked at his curiously. "A good kid? I'll take your word for it. With that answered, I have another question for you. How is your firebending."

Lu Ten crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "I used to be one of the best. Can I ask why?"

"What do you mean 'used to be'." Sokka's face look defeated as he narrowed his eyes.

With a sigh, Lu Ten raised his left hand up into the air. His pinky finger was smaller than it should have been, and bent sideways overlapping the finger beside it. Along with this, his middle finger was missing the nail to it, the one between that and his thumb completely missing the tip of it. All five of his fingers were a sick shade of grey around the knuckles, and curled in slightly towards his palm. "Hands are essential to firebenders."

"Spirits," Sokka hissed as he took in the sight. "What happened? More importantly, how did we not notice that before?"

"Most people don't look at hands when they first met." Lu Ten answered and he let his hand rest by his side. "As to how, the Earth Kingdom has a cruel way of dealing with dangerous firebending prisoners. Crushing their hands not only destroys pretty much any ability to firebender. The Dai Li took up the method to deal with me and a few others before they put us underground."

"But Aang said you firebended under Lake Lougi. Right before we came in." Sokka inquired.

"They thankfully messed up while doing my hand. By some miracle the rock must have slipped or something." Lu Ten replied. "It hurt like Hell, all the bones in my hand shattering at once. But luckily for me, it didn't completely destroy them. My thumb, pinky and tips of all my fingers had been pretty well beyond repair, but my palm and the main joints had not been completely destroyed. It took a bit to reset them myself, but I am no doctor. I have enough function in them to get through everyday life, but I am afraid that writing a letter is something that will take me a long time to complete.

"As for firebending, I don't know how well I will do. I have spent since than sitting in a cell, where getting caught firebending was not wise. I can't image I can put much strain on them in fear of damaging or rebreaking. Any firebending I have done since then has consisted of small and quick burst. What firebending I did while escaping from both the Dai Li headquarters and Ba Sing Se, has been along those same lines. I can't imagine I'm anywhere passed able to do basic forms at this point. Why do you ask?"

"Iroh agreed to be Aang's firebending teacher." Sokka withdrew his gaze from Lu Ten's hands and looked towards him. "But he said you and Zuko were part of the deal. So I was wondering just how helpful you'd be."

"I'm still pretty useful" Lu Ten smirked.

"Aha." Sokka smiled. "You just make sure you keep up. And tell your cousin to behave. I know Iroh said that Zuko would be a ball of sunshine, but make sure you keep him in line."

A smirk sank over Lu Ten's features as the two of them looked off at Zuko and Katara. "Like I said, he's not a bad kid. Just give him the chance. I assure you, you'll be amazed at what he can do."

-oOo-

Katara wasn't quite sure what she wanted to say to Zuko now that the two were alone. Save for Lu Ten and Sokka a couple dozen of feet away, the area was free of any villagers. She had wanted to take this moment to vent all of her frustration out onto him. Unsure how to begin, Katara hissed sigh through her teeth and narrowed her eyes at the firebender.

Zuko cast a strange stare back at her. "I'm sorry." He was the first to speak, his voice full of sincerity and remorse. "For what I did under Ba Sing Se. I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn't really think it all through."

Katara was startled by the sudden apology he was giving. She hadn't expected him to apologize so easily, and so earnestly. For a second she wanted to accept his words as they were, but stopped whenever she recognized that tone. He sounded just as he had in that cave; lost, confused, betrayed and hopeful, right before he had turned on her.

With this in mind, Katara chuckled darkly and remembered why she was so angry to begin with. "You didn't think it through? Spirits, well that just makes it all better doesn't it? You didn't think that maybe siding with your evil sister was a bad move? That what, she would just let us all leave after a nice little tea party? You could have put an apron on while making tea and she could have regaled us in the battle strategies that your father probably read to you while in your nice little bed. And for desert, Azula would make a nice lightening charred Avatar! Then the two of you could have went home to your nice little palace where all your problems are solved by people who wait on you hand and foot."

"Will you stop yelling at me!" Zuko said it with so much venom and disdain; enraged that his genuine apology had been turned against him so easily and harshly. "I am trying to apologize."

"I am not yelling!" Katara snarled back, her voice louder than it had been. "I'm just trying to make my point clear."

"And what is your point?" His words came out with a scoff, giving him a snobbish attitude. Zuko crossed his arms over his chest. "Since you seem to know everything."

"My point is," Katara's eyes narrowed as she leaned in closer, "that you are a selfish, arrogant, back stabbing ass, who would turn on the people who, despite you trying to kill them for month, showed you a kindness and willingness to take you in. You had a chance to do what was right down in those caves, but you didn't. Instead, you took my trust and shoved in back in my face. You betrayed me. You betrayed all of us! All for a chance to return to the land of EVIL so you could play Prince Zuko. You sold us out for hot baths and foot rubs."

"That's what you think?" Zuko narrowed his eyes at her. "That I chose to join her because of a little pampering? Shows how much you don't know me, despite the fact that you clearly think you do."

"Of really. Then tell me, your highness," the amount of sarcasm contained in that one word was impressive, "what exactly prompted you to make that decision. What voice in the back of your mind told you that siding with the homicidal princess was a good thing to do. What made you think it was the right chose, as you put it earlier."

"My reasons are my own," Zuko snarled. "That is both none of your concern nor is it your business."

Katara flinched at the verbal back lash. "Everything is my business when it comes to this group and its safety."

"I am not a threat." Zuko sighed. The crease of his brow softened slightly.

"You're not a threat?" Katara didn't pick up on the sincerity in his voice as she continued to press into him. "Oh, so I just forgot about everything that has happened the past few months?"

"Look," Zuko growled. He bit his lip, as if trying to suppress his anger. "I've done a lot of bad things, I know I have."

"That's an understatement." Katara jeered with a roll of her eyes.

"Will you listen to me," Zuko barked. "Could you just get out of whatever little paradise you live in inside of your head and listen to me?"

A silence sank over them. Both benders glared into the other, a silence challenge for control playing. With a residual sigh, Zuko continued. "I'm not proud of any of it. I didn't stop and think about what I was doing, I just did whatever I wanted in order to get the Avatar. But I'm not going to do that anymore. I'm done chasing after you all, and I'm done trying to take the Ava-Aang."

Katara looked at him with a softened stare. Her eyes relaxed from their glare, and her lips loosened from the frown they had been holding. Her tone was unsure as she spoke. "Why should I believe you? What reason do you have for all of a sudden changing sides?"

"Because there's no point to it anymore." Zuko sighed. His voice was soft and wretched, but it wasn't looking for pity or empathy. It was the voice of defeat; of a soldier who could no longer be a target. "Going home is no longer an option I have. And even if it was, I'm not abandoning my Uncle to do it. I made that mistake once and I won't do that to him a second time."

A stony silence sank over the two of them, as neither knew how to respond. Katara huffed, and crossed her arms over her chest. She opened her mouth to retort when a young voice drew her attention away. Katara spotted Smellerbee, who was running towards them. Her words came out breathless. "There you guys are. I've been looking everywhere for you all. Aang's awake."

-oOo-

All frustration and anger dissolved the moment they stepped through the door and into the infirmary. Kiko stepped aside as Katara and Sokka were the first to burst into the room. Their eyes first spotted Toph; the earthbender sitting on the edge of the bed with her back towards them. Just passed her, was Aang, awake and blinking at the large group. Katara nearly toppled Jet, Smellerbee and Longshot, who had already been in the room, over as she pushed towards the bed.

"Thank Goodness you are alright." Katara sat on the edge of the bed beside him. Aang seemed to brighten up at her presents, as his face grew into a large smile. After a moment, he looked away, a hint of sadness in his eyes, and he looked over the rest of the group.

The airbender jumped in the bed when he noticed the two stranglers entering into the room. "Guys watch out!" Aang attempted to climb out from under the blankets. "Zuko's behind you!"

Sokka reached down and did well to restrain the boy. "It's alright Aang. They're with us."

Aang resettled into the bed. He cast a curious gaze between the Water Tribe siblings before looking to Toph to confirm. "Really? Are you sure."

"Yes Twinkletoes," Toph sighed. She dug into her ear and let her blind eyes roll with her words. "Baby Sparks in with us."

"Baby Sparks?" Zuko's voice held a chuckle as he eyed the earthbender with a comical glare. "I am not a Baby Spark."

Toph locked her unseeing eyes on him. She smirked at the way his heartbeat jumped under her gaze. "Can it Baby Sparks. You should feel lucky that I gave you a nickname to begin with."

"Go easy on the kid, Toph," Lu Ten chuckled, earning a glare from Zuko.

"If you three are done with the tea party?" Jet voiced, narrowing his glare directly at Zuko, who merely brushed it off.

The firebender glanced around the room, taking note of a missing presence. "Where's my uncle?"

Sokka answered, looking at the firebender from the corner of his eye. "He's talking with Hiruko at the moment. He said not to wait up for him, he'll be here as soon as he can." He turned his attention onto Aang, who was still staring blankly at Zuko. "How are you doing? Are you up for flight?"

Katara's jaw dropped. "He just woke up Sokka. He's in no condition to be flying about."

"He's also in no condition to take another Azula attack," Sokka countered. "The rest here was nice, but we can't stay in one place too long. Not this close to Ba Sing Se, and not with this big of a group. It's not safe and we have to keep a move on. We can't let Ba Sing Se stop us from planning this invasion."

"What invasion?" Zuko's voice was curious. The group's eyes came towards the firebender. Upon seeing everyone looking at him; with mixed emotions in their gazes, Zuko crossed his arms over his chest as if from a bit of protection. "I was just asking."

"We don't have time to explain all the details," Sokka shock his head. "And frankly, I don't trust you enough yet to tell you everything. Lu will give you the basics of it later. For now, stand there and try to keep up."

"Wait." Katara looked between her brother and Lu Ten. "He knows about the invasion. Who told him? And when?"

"Whenever we were looking for you and Zuko," Sokka deadpanned. "I felt it was best to inform him and Iroh so we wouldn't have to later."

"Why were you looking for Katara and Zuko?" Aang looked once at Sokka before casting a deep glare towards Zuko. At this point, the prince just rolled his eyes.

"A bump in the plan," Sokka waved it off. He turned and narrowed his eyes towards Zuko. "You better be one hundred percent about you're loyalties though. We're trusting you not to run off and get us killed. Be warned though, we will not hesitate to hurt you if we think you're a threat."

Zuko rolled his eyes at the warning. "Whatever you say Captain."

"Dragonfly," Lu Ten chuckled, "was that an attitude I heard there?"

"Probably." Zuko nodded his head while looking at his cousin. A smirk played over his features. "Uncle says I have a slight attitude problem."

"Just be warned," Sokka shock his head. He turned back to Aang. "Now how about that flight."

"I think I should be okay." Aang attempted to sit back up, a grimace sinking over his face at the effort. Katara's hands were on his shoulders instantly, helping him back down. "I'm fine Katara. Just a little sore."

"Do you even have an idea of where to go?" Katara asked her brother. "We can't just fly around blind. We'll get ourselves killed."

"I take insult to that," Toph declared, momentarily stopping in picking in her ear.

Sokka cast the earthbender an annoyed smile, but continued. "I was thinking about meeting up with dad and the Water Tribe fleet. They need to know that we won't have the full Earth Kingdom army behind us. And there we can find out any new news that we don't already know. I talked with Iroh about the plan, and he agrees that it's the best move."

"You talked with…" Katara trailed off for a moment. "When did you do all of this planning."

"While you were sitting here with Aang." Sokka answered his sister than turned his gaze onto Aang. "I did ask Iroh to be your firebending teacher."

"What did he say?" Aang looked at his friend; hope and eagerness written on his young face.

"It was pretty much a yes." Sokka answered.

"Wait," Zuko interrupted, scratching his head. "My Uncle's going to teach you firebending?"

Sokka nodded. "He also invited you and Lu along as well. Hope you can keep up."

"It would be nice if he could share his crazy ideas before drafting people into them." Zuko frowned, the corners of hips loose.

"Back on track though," Sokka shock his head as he turned back to Aang. "As soon as you're ready for flight, we're heading out."

"So are all of us going to meet up with your dad?" Aang cast an unreadable stare towards Zuko.

Sokka sighed. "Not exactly. We're doing a bit of a split here."

"Who's all splitting?" Aang asked.

"I'm taking Bee and Shots to round up some Freedom Fighters." Jet's voice came a bit off from where they sat. "We figured without Ba Sing Se, we could use as much help as we can get in taking on this invasion."

"Okay." Aang nodded, taking in the plan he was hearing. "So what are we going to do after we met up with Chief Hakoda?"

"We'll wait until you feel better to fill you in more." Sokka gripped Aang's shoulder in a reassuring manner. "We have to get to the Southern Fleet first."

-oOo-

And that is the end of chapter ten. I don't want this author's note to be long, so just a few things left to say.

This chapter was really difficult, despite the fact that there really wasn't much to it. The desired plot of this chapter was really just to deal with the transition between Ba Sing Se action and leading into reuniting with the Southern Fleet. What needed to be covered and planned out was easy. What was a bit of a challenge, was keeping everyone's words and actions in character. I wanted Sokka to take that charge, push them ahead but not lose his sense of humor in the job. Toph, I wanted as more of a comic relief, as I can't imagine her as much in the planning. Aang was lost in this, he's newly wakened up and I didn't want him to play too large of a roll because he is still recovering. Jet, Smellerbee, and Longshot played as kind of the background characters in this. They have their part, but it doesn't do much for overall. Lu Ten became not like a foil to Zuko, but more someone to balance and keep him in check. He also played the role of being the one to open Zuko up into what he was thinking, and about joining up with Team Avatar. Iroh was kind of Iroh. He did his Iroh thing.

Zuko stumped me a bit, because I didn't want him to lose his Zuko attitude, but I couldn't have him being all crabby and angry. But along with that, it was difficult trying to balance and counter that with his more soft side. The conversations he has in here were troubling for me, because they really could have gone either way, depending on how I wrote him. I chose to try and do like he is whenever he returns to the Fire Nation. Unsure, confused, and still a bit angry at the world. In the end, that was how I decided how to do him.

Katara also was a bump in doing this. I need her to be the strong voice of protection, but I can't have her being so strong that it drives Zuko away from them. She jumps his case quickly whenever the two get to talk, despite the fact that he just apologized. One of the things I found entertaining about Katara was her ability to keep that grudge against Zuko. In "Southern Raiders" she pretty much blows up at him for making a comment around the fire. After he saved her from being crushed, and she stopped him from falling to death, mind you. So it didn't seem too unrealistic that she would spring on him so easily. It was her feelings about Lu Ten, Zuko and Iroh being with them that really was a wrench in my mind. We know how she feels about Zuko, that's obvious. After Iroh saved them, I can believe that she trust him. Lu Ten was a wild card. I imagine she trusts Lu, it's just the fact of who he is that stumps her. One moment he was a tag along, than he was the missing prince... that's a lot to take in. Plus, he's so close to Zuko. Close to the point that the deciding factor for Zuko in where he's to go, rests largely on where Iroh and Lu are going. It's kind of hard for Katara to see and trust Lu Ten, whenever he is that close to her greatest enemy. But as she sees that Lu Ten holds such a powerful influence over Zuko, she should hopefully calm down a bit.

Invasion in like five months. Did a bunch of math; which involved counting how long I thought each episode was, the down time in between, the changes of the seasons and staring at the rough time line of the world on the Avatar website (It was useful. I found out what year Kyoshi died, and what year Lu Ten died, and what year Toph was born… but didn't really map out the episodes for me. Learned a bit about births, deaths and other cool things like that, but none of that is really useful. Well, the Lu Ten part was helpful. According to the site he died roughly six years prior.)

The date of the invasion was based on two things. How long I figured the season lasted (figured there was a month/two with the Southern Fleet, and then three months of running about before invasion. Followed by a month of Zuko being with Team Avatar prior of the comet, but that's a different topic.) as well as how much I wanted to write to space out before the invasion. So five months, of wacky, crazy shenanigans to cause trouble.

Invasion is where we're heading. There was no way to remove the invasion. I mean, they worked so hard for it, and just because Lu Ten is alive don't mean that the eclipse just doesn't happen. It's a force of nature, I can't just forget about it. The actual invasion, as well as everything leading up and everything after, will not be like the show. I'm not going to just implant Lu, no I'm working with a completely original plot/story-line.

Kuei has left about now. He's off on his journey, and should be at Song's place in a few months.

With that said, what to look for in Chapter 11:
Radioactive- Imagine Dragon:
The team separates, but not before old rivals go for one another's throats. The Southern Fleet is filled in on current news, Fire Nation ships are taken, trust is earned, and fathers grow suspicious. Azula picks up a certain group of prisoners on her way back home.