Hello FanFiction readers! I want to start off by saying that I just love the FanFic app on my phone that downloads the stories so that I could read them any time any ! I also want to add, thank you to Argon Naito for reviewing and that every review means so much to me! I also must say that I had an error on this story; it says that Zuko got his duo swords back but it was his dagger that the Fir Nation took, so I am going to make some changes in history. Iroh didn't give him the dagger, instead he gave him the duo swords with the dagger's words that were engraved. I am not sure if you understood that so if you have any questions then please review. Talking about reviews, I want to try something out, I want everyone, every single person who reads this, please review, absolutely everyone. The review could be a simple letter or word like pizza or what you thought of the chapter. Remember, no pressure added, I just what to see if you would review which I would really want you to. If you don't know what you would like to review, here are some suggestions:

What do you think about the chapter?

What are you looking at?

The color you would or wouldn't dye your hair.

Again, pizza.

What kind of Zutara moments you would like?

What was your last dream about?

I 3 Zutara!

Who do you thing the second bloodbender is? (hint: not Hama but from the South Pole although that person could have moved from there.)

Now, onward to chapter 12!

No one's POV

They have finally reached Ba Sing Se! After a about a month or three weeks traveling they have finally made it. Normally, It would have been longer if they had traveled by foot but luckily they fought other ways to travel. In many occasions Katara would have waterbended them in big lakes or seas, but they had also traveled by ostrich-horse, Earth Kingdom transportation and surprisingly some kimono rhinos. It may seem confusing, but it is easy to explain, they had at some moment met a guy named Jet. He was a green eyed teenage boy about Zuko's age, was skilled at fighting especially with hooked sword things and to Zuko's confusion, he always had a single straw of hay in his mouth. They came across in the western regions of the Earth Kingdom when the recently left the Fire Nation. He claimed to be a leader of a resistance team who settled in a Fire Nation forest but for whatever reason he ended up in the Fire Nation. Zuko was impressed until he found out that he didn't lead an army but a bunch of orphan kids.

Zuko didn't trust Jet as much as Jet doesn't trust him but thanks to Jet's attraction to Katara, (which annoyed Zuko) he let it slide for that moment and accept Zuko's claim of being from the Earth Kingdom with a Fire Nation descendent mother. Katara, who noticed the attention Jet gave her, tried to ignore it but couldn't help liking it at the same time. It was also very alarming finding out Jet's hate toward the Fire Nation even though the possible leader was just a few feet away. She might have considered being good friends with him, if only he hadn't gone crazy and tried to kill an innocent lost Fire Nation family who also lost their memories. They escaped with a kimono rhino they had stolen, hidden away in a place they were aware of. To Katara the month went by very fast and could hardly remember the past events. To Zuko how ever was a year than a month. But even after many problems that they had faced, they always stuck together. Zuko once again had a forced haircut that was shorter than last time, the front of his hair spiked up. A/N: His hair is like how it was in the episode Zuko Alone but just a bit longer. That also had to change out of their Fire Nation clothes into a brown tunic for Zuko and a green one for Katara. Zuko didn't think green was really for Katara, blue and especially red looked better on her. Throughout the journey Zuko and Katara grew bit by bit closer to each other. It although was unnoticed by them. Now, even though they haven't finished the journey, they made it to Ba Sing Se where Zuko remembered that his uncle had left to go.

Zuko's POV

I looked around the place and I confirmed that this was the lower ring of Ba Sing Se. Houses were terribly build, people and kid living on the streets, the terrible food that was being sold in the markets, you could tell it was the lower ring from miles away. I don't know how the so called Earth King can live in a huge palace with thousands of servant while part of his land is a dump. Although, he use to live in the same conditions back in the Fire Nation and he was sure that there were poor and helpless places in the Fire Nation but they were miles and miles away from where he live, here on the other hand, the King can just look out the window and see it from here.

"Wow, this place is very… sad." Said Katara. She had a sad face while seeing a little boy sleeping on some steps of a back door.

"No wonder this place is called the Lower Ring?" Katara just gave me a frown but I just shrugged.

"What? It's not my fault that the King is too busy to fix the dump he sees outside his window."

"Well, he might be busy… doing stuff."

"Oh yeah, like what?"

"Uh, Earth… King uh stuff… you know uh… well how am I suppose to know what he does!"

"Well, whatever he is doing I am sure that he would have at least some time in his busy schedule to at least provide a home for these people." Katara was about to responded but noted that there was no way to defend the Earth King and his ignorance. I just smirked at her before using my normal frown.

We started to walk around the place, I wasn't sure how uncle would ever want to come here but he did once say- 'You must judge a place depending how it looks, for one of the ugliest trees my produce the tastiest fruit.- Of course, I didn't understand how fruits fit in this.

"Why can't we stay in the Middle Ring? It has better food and possibly cleaner atmosphere."

Katara rolled her eyes and put her hand on her hips. "You're such a big baby, just because this place doesn't have the best…-"

"Everything."

"- yes… everything, doesn't mean it's a bad place to live in."

"yeah, it kind of does."

"Besides, we are running short on money since you bought the messenger hawk."

" Hey, the messenger hawk didn't cost that much."

"You bought the fastest."

"Well, I'm sorry." I replied sarcastically,

"Don't be." I raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was sweet what you did." She added with a smile. I could feel my ears and neck grow warmer.

"What? After what Azula did to us, I thought it was sweet."

It was the day before yesterday that I bought a messenger hawk and sent it to Azula with her birthday present. I know it must sound weird and it is. Ever since I could remember, Azula and I have been sworn enemies. We would call each other names, tattle on each other or get the attention of our parents. It was always a competition against each other. Our mother saw this and didn't think it was health so she made us give each other meaningful gifts on our birthdays. Of course, they weren't meaningful at all. Azula would give me a drawing that my mother saw it as a stick figure grabbing a lollypop but of course I knew the stick figure was Azula and the lollypop was me being choked by stick figure Azula. Even though we didn't have much interest in it, we still did it for our mother's sake. It was sort of a tradition. But then everything changed when my mother disappeared. Azula acted like she didn't care especially in front of father but when no one else was around, she would cry and curl up in a ball. I would be there to comfort her. She may be my enemy but she is still my sister. In honor of our mother, were gave each other truly meaningful gifts that weren't homemade. It was the only time we didn't fight; we wouldn't talk about it since there was really nothing to talk about. On one birthday, Azula gave me a small sculpture of two turtle-ducks and each with ruby eyes and swimming happily in pond. I gave her a marble made music box with a glass fire lily that spins slowly around, the music was a lullaby our mother use to sing. This time I wasn't sure if I should have sent her a gift since we were on really bad terms but I knew I keep my commitment toward my mother and Azula. And besides, I already sent the gift the day before and there is no turning back now. This year I gave Azula a golden necklace, it was a good thing that I bought it in the Fire Nation before I met Katara since we wouldn't be able to buy any gold what so ever. It was a locket, with a flower shape in front. In the inside there was a picture I drew of Aula and I as kids. W were next to each other with small smiles on our faces. I had to practice a million times until it was right. Any little mistake and I had to start all over. I would have either been that I had a smaller head, Azula being taller, Azula having a huge nose or my phoenix tale was a little to the left. On the left side of the locket I had engraved some words I wanted to tell her. I don't expect a gift from her but I hope my gift knocks a bit of sense into her.

"I know you did, you were practically throwing questions at me when I told you." She blush a bit making me smile automatic.

I didn't really tell her, she pretty much found out all on her own. I was kind of embarrassed at first but until I found out Katara was fawned over the subject that I wish she would have found out sooner.

"It still amazes me how you two practically hate each other, no offense, yet you do that." She started to do some gestures with her hands that I didn't know what they were but I understood what they were supposed to mean.

"But Sokka, my brother, and I are inseparable yet we do each other's chores as a present." She giggle, it made me smile. I don't know what is happening to me but I guess I'll get over it.

"Ironic isn't it." I just nodded. "You know, I never wou-"Something else caught her attention as a big smile grew on her face. "Zuko look!"

She pointed then walked to a small building that looked like a small restaurant with a sign at the front door. It had the words help wanted on it, it was a tea shop and they needed employees at any age and they don't need experience.

"We could get a job here and earn money. Don't worry if you don't know how to make tea." I thought back to the moment that I made that seaweed tea; I never knew how I burned it without evaporating the water. It looked like Katara was also thinking about that time. "It says that you don't need any experience so they would probably teach you." I nodded knowing that I can never win with her.

It turned out that there were no they, just him, the owner was an adult that looked desperate and stressed out. He immediately took us in saying that his most successful worker quit and business went down the drain. He showed us the basics about tea making. Katara had done a good job on her first try. The owner put her to work immediately; I on the other hand was not doing such an okay job.

"No no no! You must- No you-… put it over-… not that one-."

"I'm trying… Sorry I just… over were?... wait what?"

To make a long story short, I was put in dishwashing duty and along with Katara I was a waiter. More customers were popping in since the owner's tea was disgusting and Katara's had a 200% improvement. At least I wasn't alone when it comes to tea making.

"Zu- I mean Lee, I need more cups for the tea, I am running out."

"Katara, I am going as fast as I can! Why can't you help me? You being a waterbender and all." I must have offended her or something because next thing I knew I was being splashed by water.

"Sorry Lee but I am not on dishwashing duty." She smirked as I frowned.

We heard the owner of the shop talking very excitingly to someone. Then I heard a cheerful, big and very familiar laugh. I stopped what I was doing, almost dropping a cup that was in my hands. Katara seemed to notice as well, she stopped brewing the tea and listen to the sound.

"Is that-" I didn't hear the end of her sentence as I ran across the room and opened the kitchen door rather loudly causing a few people to give me glances but they didn't seem to really care. I looked around but I didn't see the owner or who he was talking to. I guess I must have let my hopes too high, I just turned around and headed back into the kitchen. I heard the door open but I didn't really care.

"Nephew?" My head swished around and my eyes widen.

"Uncle?" I heard the kitchen door open.

"Iroh?"

"Katara!"

The owner looked to and fro.

"Mushi, do you know Lee and Katara?" I smirked at the name Mushi.

"Why of course, he is my nephew and she is an old friend."

People must have been hearing our conversation because heads and chairs were turning as if we were some sort of play.

"Oh, do you think I could talk with my nephew and Katara in private."

The owner just nodded, probably shocked that I don't know how to make tea and yet I am nephew to the world's best tea maker. I rolled my eyes as we all walked in to the kitchen.

"Um, I just want to talk to them alone if you don't mind."

The owner looked like he didn't understand and then his face hit realization.

"Oh uh yes I-I will just go out there uh he. You know if you want you could prepare some tea if you like, some clients really miss you."

"Delighted." Uncle moved toward the tea pot and started brewing tea.

He was wearing clothing that showed status of being from the Upper Rings; he had a weird green hat and still had his facial hair just like how I remembered it. He didn't lose and weight but hasn't gained any either.

While the water was heating, uncle pulled a chair and sat down.

"So, Zuko-"

"Uncle, its Lee here."

"Oh uh sorry… Lee." He put on a ridiculous grin and almost looked like he was going to laugh.

"Yes Mushi." Katara giggled as my uncle stopped. "Nephew how was your journey, you did take longer than I expected."

"Well, there were some problems that we had to face but uh ye-yeah it was okay." Katara just glared at me knowing that it wasn't okay.

My uncle moved closer to me and whispered, "I trust that you have encountered Azula, yes?"

I just nodded and Katara took sudden interest with the cup in her hand.

"So Iroh, how was your journey?"

"Well, it probably wasn't as interesting you see, I traveled hidden and easily through the Earth Kingdom. Things got a little difficult when I needed a passport to travel to Ba Sing Se but with my mad lady skills I was able to get on board." The man started to chuckle as I got a little nauseous with my uncle's 'lady skills'.

"While I was on board I met a young man named… Jak? No, um Jem… ah Jet!"

My eyes widen and so did Katara's, I wonder if it's the same crazy freak Jet that we met and if so I wonder what happened.

"He was against that the refugees were given bland and rancid food while the crew ate like kings so, I joined him and his little friends to snuggled up some food. It turned out that they thought I was a helpless old man and that the only part I was capable of was being the look out. You should have seen their faces when I bested them." He started to laugh. I just smiled imagining the Jet's face when he got out beat by an ol- elderly man.

"The boy was so impressed by my actions that he even decided to let me join his little group of friends! Of course I said no since all I wanted was to have my own tea shop. Everything went fine until that Jet guy started to look suspicious about me." He started to rub his chin."He must have seen me warm up my tea on the ship." I mentally smacked myself. I should have known that he would almost blow up his cover all for one stupid cup of tea. I sometime wonder I he would prefer tea than living.

"I finally made it to Ba Sing Se but I had the feeling that I was going to come across Jet once again and I did, I caught him spying on me, probably trying to found out if his suspicions were correct. I just chose to ignore him and continue on my own path, I soon found a job here as a tea maker and the place was really successful considering the fact that the owner doesn't know how to make tea, but not as bad as you." I looked at him with a glare.

He got up and started to prepare some tea with the water he had boiled and continued talking. "That didn't explain why he opened up a tea shop. Anyways, One day I was cleaning a table; Jet came and started accusing me as a firebender. He started attacking me showing that a normal man my age couldn't defend himself as I can. I just let him attack me and faked being a helpless old man making the clients madder at Jet. The boy started to act crazy as the guards took him away, that was the last I saw of him."

"I then was working in the tea shop for some time when suddenly two noblemen walked up to me complimenting my tea and started offering me to work for them in the Upper Rings. The owner wasn't happy about that but the noblemen were going to give me my own shop and were going to let me name it! I couldn't let an opportunity like that waste away."

My uncle served the tea and the owner popped in and took the tea serving it to his clients, I was about to knock his teeth out for practically using my uncles tea skills for his own benefits, but uncle told me that he didn't mind. I sat back down till having second thoughts on whether I hurt him when uncle's back is tuned.

"So now I am the owner of a successful tea shop with servants and everything." He clasped his hands and worn a huge grin. I smile knowing how badly he wanted a tea shop even though in the Fire Nation a man his rank shouldn't have that and less when he became a prisoner. He deserved that tea shop and I am glad that he finally has one. "I named my tea shop the Jasmine Dragon."

Katara took a sip of tea." That is a beautiful name for a tea shop, but why do you come here?"

"It's good to walk down memory lane once and a while, it clears your mind." But even with that I knew that my memory lane wasn't a place to stroll along.

"Come now let's go and visit my tea shop, maybe you would want to come and own it with me."

Katara lift her hands up. "Oh but it's your tea shop, not ours although we could work with you if you want."

"I would be more than honored." He turned to face me. "What about you nephew? Would you like to come with me?" I just nodded. Then as if he were eavesdropping, the owner popped in the kitchen.

"No! Please no, I can't lose another employee. I will get bankrupt and I will live on the streets! Please, I have a wife and two kids." He man looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Part of me (the smaller one) felt that he didn't even have kids, the other part (the bigger one) felt that he definitely didn't have nor had a wife. I can obviously tell the guy was lying, it is one of my family traits, lying and knowing when people are lying.

"Well, if you need help so bad I could lend you two of my helpers to come and help you."

All I could think in that moment was that those helpers won't be pleased with the sudden change. The owner said his thanks and ran up to give my uncle a huge and very long hug. My uncle looked uncomfortable in the situation.

"Uh well, there, there," He patted the man on his back. "You are very welcome, now if you could just let go of me I would really appreciate it." He owner immediately let go and smoothed out my uncles clothes.

"Oh uh yes, sorry about that, he he."

"Well, we will be off. My helpers would be here in about three hours." The owner bowed. "And for times being I had made two pots of tea for you, use them wisely since no one makes it like me if I do say so myself." He laughed, I knew he was joking but it was actually the truth.

We left and visited my uncle's tea shop, It was much better than the one we were just at, there were servants everywhere and many nobleman and woman enjoying a nice cup of tea. We went straight to work. I started out as a waiter but as a week and a half passed I was finally able to prepare a decent cup of tea. Now all I have to do is explain to uncle that we must head to the North Pole. I hope he doesn't cry when he realizes that he would want to go with us and must leave his precious tea shop.

Well that was all for chapter 12, remember literally EVERYONE review. If you have suggestions or anything please review. I also want to say that I love the story Obsidian! I am also thinking about writing a new story, I just need a good title and summary plus I am terrible with ratings. Sorry if there wasn't enough Zutara, remember to suggest. Till next time!