As soon as I finished speaking to the general, I realized where I had seen him from. He was in the meetings that my father held to talk about strategy in the war. As far as I could remember, my father always disagreed with the general's ideas and did not like him very much. I felt the general's angry glare piercing my back but I did not care. He was a coward; if he wanted to say something to me then he should address me to my face. Like his son, the man had no honor what so ever.

The following days after that encounter were dull and we were already begging to go back to the Capital. The day came soon enough. I was lounging on one of Lo and Li's couches when Ty-Lee came bursting through the front door and said, "The boat's docked on the loading bay. I think this means we can go back home. I am so glad to get away from here; I think I've had enough of the beach for now. I am so happy." She rushed up and hugged me. The next thing I knew I was lifting her up to a hug. I didn't even care that the boat was there to take us back to the Homeland; all I cared about was the girl I had in my arms.

The following day, I left the Capital to go to a look out station by the base of a crater hole. It was one of the jobs that my father has assigned to me. I was to go to different look out bases through out the Fire Nation and find out what was going on. These assignments came once every 6 months so I knew it was coming. It was about a day's journey to the crater and I took one of my father's Komodo Rhino's and set out for the base. When I made it there I went up to the little patrol shack and banged on the small wooden door. The two patrols immediately came out and bowed. One was fat and had a large nose while the other was skinnier and had to large front teeth coming out of his mouth. I could see why they were assigned patrol duty.

Before I could ask for their records, the fat one asked me, "Master Jang, are we ready for the war against the Avatar? Is that why you have come, to ask for our help in the fight?"

I looked at him, my face hard, "What are you talking about? The Avatar is dead. He had fallen in Ba Sing Se. Are you trying to joke around with important such as this?"

The skinny one replied hurriedly, "No, no of course not sir. We sent a messenger hawk to the Fire Lord. We saw the Avatar here a mere 2 weeks ago, we swear it. It was a black ribbon message; the mail offices would have known it was really important. We sent another hawk later that night after we saw a man with a metal arm and metal boots attacking the place where the Avatar was. The both of us heard the explosion and heard the groan of the flying bison as it flew away. That was also a black ribbon message. If needed be we can send another one, so that the Fire Lord will know."

My face did not betray the surprise that I felt when I heard that the Avatar was still alive. I told them, "No, there is no need to send another message to the Fire Lord; I shall relay myself to make sure that it will be known. You shall be rewarded by your hard work and dedication to this nation."

I walked back to my Komodo Rhino and wondered the whole entire time about what else Zuko has been hiding. I promised myself that those questions will be answered when I get back home.

When I arrived I went to the Palace and found out from the guards that the Princess and her two friends were away for the day and that the Prince was the only one left. I made my way through the Palace and said to the first servant that I met, "Go and find me Prince Zuko, tell him to go to the Tea Room, but do not tell him that it was I who summoned him. Do you understand? If he finds out there will severe consequences. Maybe you can say that Azula's back and wants to talk to him, I do not know nor do I care but you had better keep my name out."

The servant nodded fearfully, and scurried away to find the Prince. I made it to the Tea Room and leaned on the wall, waiting for the Prince. A few minutes later the Prince came bursting through the wooden double doors and said angrily, "What do you want Azula?"

I stood up straight and said in an expressionless tone, "Azula's not here Zuko, it's just me," his eyes narrowed when he saw me. "It seems that what you did in Ba Sing Se has really made the rest of the world give up hope in defeating the Fire Nation. I mean with the Avatar dead, the world has no living hope to defeat us. Well, that is if the Avatar is really dead. See Zuko, I went to one of the patrol bases by the crater hole just 45 miles south of here and seems that the patrols have seen the Avatar. They have sworn that it was him, tattoos and all and they also said that they saw a man with a metal arm and metal boots attacking the Avatar's camp. They said that this assassin also caused an explosion of high magnitude. They have also said that they heard the groan of the bison, and watched as it flew away. And for some reason their black ribbon messages have not made it to your father. So I came here today to ask you, is the Avatar dead?"

Zuko turned away and didn't reply. I smirked before I said, "Oh and that's not the last of it. A man with a metal arm and two metal boots and sent to kill the Avatar, well, there's only one person that can cause an explosion that big with the same description as the assassin, Ka-Lim the Third Eye. Have you heard of him? Well the people who've seen him say that he has the ability to Firebend using only his mind. A very powerful bender to say the least. I find it at such a big coincidence that he would know the Avatar was alive and that he chose now to pursue him don't you think," I looked at Zuko, his face still turned away. "Still not talking? Well then if the Fire Lord or Azula were to find out about this, it would bring your glory back to shame. I know I may have no evidence but you and I both know that Azula has some suspicions, and she can easily persuade your own father that you are a traitor. So I will ask again, is the Avatar alive?"

Zuko snarled at me, "Why do you care Jang? Do you want to join his little group of friends? If you want the answer, then yes he's alive! But if you tell Azula about me, I won't go down alone. You are coming down with me. I know about you and Ty-Lee. Do you think Azula would let that happen?! She likes you and what Azula wants, Azula can get! She won't like to know about you two, so she'll think of something to punish you. So I suggest you don't say anything about me and I won't say anything about you." He walked out the room, his fists clenched. He and I did not talk again for a long time.

It wasn't till a two weeks later that things started to change. There was a war meeting that all the major military leaders went to, along with the Fire Lord, his son and daughter, and me. We were all dressed up in our armor, sitting on the sides of a gigantic map of the Earth Kingdom. We were all waiting for the Prince to show up; it seemed that he did not know that he was invited. Ozai had just sent a servant to get him a few minutes after everyone else showed up. The Fire Lord would not start the meeting without his son. Azula sat to the right of the Fire Lord looking at me and smirking. I nodded my head slightly and turned away. A few more minutes later, Zuko entered the room wearing his armor his hair in a top knot. He ignored the looks from the other military leaders and sat to the left of his father. I saw Ozai give Zuko a small smile and said, "Welcome Prince Zuko, we waited for you. Sit. This meeting has started," he turned to one of the generals. "General Shino, begin."

General Shino stood up and bowed to the Fire Lord and said, "The Earth Kingdom is still under our control but Earth Kingdom resistance forces attack our soldiers and supplies everyday causing injuries and shortages of the supplies that we need. Since the Day of Black Sun is tomorrow, we need all the help we can get from our weapon storage to keep the people under control."

"That is a problem. Prince Zuko, you have been among the Earth Kingdom commoners how do we stop them," asked the Fire Lord.

Zuko looked down, his face deep in though and he responded, "The Earth Kingdom people are proud and strong. They can endure anything as long as they have hope. We―" Azula interrupted him, "I think we should take their precious hope and burn it to the ground along with their crops and fields. Then they shall see who the real leaders are."

Zuko looked ready to oppose but Ozai smiled evilly and got off his throne and walked down the stairs to the center of the map while saying, "Yes, yes you're right Azula. When Sozin's Comet arrives in a month's time, we shall burn the hopes of the Earth Kingdom and out of the ashes a new nation will be reborn for the Fire Nation. Then I shall be the supreme leader of the world. I shall rule it all!"

I felt my entire body freeze. My face showed my surprise. Ozai was taking it too far. He already had an occupation in the Earth Kingdom and imprisoned most of the soldiers and now he wanted to burn the entire Earth Kingdom to a mere oblivion, I couldn't picture it in my mind. I wanted to do something but I didn't know what I was going to do.

The Fire Lord looked at my face and saw my surprise. Ozai looked at me and sneered, "Is there anything you would like to add Jang?" I hissed and answered through clenched teeth, "None at all Fire Lord. Please continue."

The Fire Lord looked at me victoriously like he had already won the entire world. He continued, "That is all for today, everyone may leave except for you, Commander Lei Won."

I stood up and was one of the first people to leave the room. I passed by Mai who was waiting by a huge marble column for Zuko. I walked quickly to the room that the Fire Lord has allowed me to stay in. I slowly took off my armor, and laid them on my bed; I stared at it with disgust. I sat on the edge of the bed, my anger uncontrollable. I took deep breaths to help myself calm down but none of it worked. I was so angry that I did not notice the door open and silently close. I also did not notice that Ty-Lee had gone behind me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Almost immediately I calmed down.

I sighed and shook my head when she asked me what was wrong. Ty-Lee released her arms from my neck and went over to face me. I looked away and muttered, "Ty-Lee, I'm sorry but I just don't feel like talking today. And I have some things to get done today. Please."

Ty-Lee's face lost a bit of its happiness and showed some hurt but she complied. I felt so guilty and sorry but I had to figure some things out. I undid my top knot and walked out of the room and headed to Zuko's room. I burst in the door without knocking and I saw him writing something on a piece of paper. When he heard the door open, the Prince jumped, nearly causing the ink bottle to tip. Before he could say anything I closed the door to prevent anyone from listening. He said in frustration, "What are you doing here? I need to do something, and you're stopping me from doing it. The Invasion that the Earth King told us about is tomorrow and there's only a limited time left. So leave!"