Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.

Really sorry for the long wait, had a lot of things come up. But thanks to Celtic Goddess of Fertility and Luiz4200 I got this one done even if it did take forever.

Appa finally landed on an island that Yuo had told them to land on, it was surprisingly cold and covered in snow despite it's closeness to the Earth Kingdom.

"Crescent Island...dad used talk about this place and tell us about this place...and that the fire nation built a secret fortress here early in the war...but no one really knew for sure wether it existed or not." Katara says calmly as she looked around at the snow covered trees, gently being embraced by the morning sun and an ice blue sky.

"Whoa!" Sokka trip getting off of Appa and falls face first into the snow while Suki and Toph laugh.

"Are you alright Sokka?" Aang holds out a hand to help him up, tears in his eyes from trying to laugh in his friend's face.

Zuko steps off of Appa and stays quiet as usual, but this time is different or at least that is what Katara can't help but think.

"Come to think of it..." the water bender's gaze switched from the former prince to the so called commander of Ba Sing Se. "Niether of them has said anything since our run in with Azula I wonder...what's wrong...could it be because of Ty Lee?"

"Hey Katara." Aang says suddenly, breaking the water tribe girl's train of thought.

"What? Oh! Yes Aang?" she smiles, switching her eyes to him.

"Are you alright? You had that worried look on your face." Aang explains as he tries his best to imitate her.

She looks down. "It's Zuko and Yuo...it might be just me but I think their might be something going on between them."

"Like what?" Aang asks with wide eyes.

"I...don't really know."

"Want me to talk to them?" the young air bender asks, it was obvious he felt uncomfortable.

"No...if I'm wrong it might cause more trouble to bring it up...anyway if they really are friends...they'll work things out on their own." Katara says, putting on a more genuine smile this time.

"Phew!" Aang slouches in relief. "You're probably right."

"Besides we have a shelter to build."

--

Back on Kyoshi Island

At sunrise

"That's it! I've had it!" one very disgruntled soldier yells, his outburst is soon joined by many others.

"We've waited long enough I think it's time for action! Who's with me!?" the soldier raises his fist in the air.

"Is there a problem here?" Tali says as she walks towards the rebelling rebels, her unique sword ready for battle.

"It seems we all agree that...our time following the blue spirit is over...if you join us..." he is cut off by the captain.

"I'll give you one warning to get back in line or I'll personally put you back myself." Tali says sternly taking a step forward, fear clearly absent from her eyes.

"Think you stand a chance against us we'll just overpower you." the lead soldier bangs his fists together with a confident smile. His statement is join by a roar of voices cheering in agreement.

Tali quickly engaged in her fighting stance as the large group of disgruntled soldiers rush at her.

--

Back on Crescent Island

The moon is full tonight, the air is still for once and all is silent.

Katara is sitting outside in the snow unable to sleep. Looking up at the moon, her thoughts persisted on drifting to Zuko and Yuo.

As much as she distrusted them her, at times overwhelming, motherly instincts kept the possible conflict in her mind.

"Look like curiosity is getting the better of me." The young water bender says with a sigh as she leans back on her hands. "But who should I..."

Her thoughts are suddenly cut off by a sudden break of silence.

She quickly gets up and walks from the shelter and into the nearby forest where she heard what sounded like an argument.

It doesn't take long for Katara to find a clearing only to find the two people she had been unable to remove from her mind even for a second.

She is about to approach when suddenly.

"I'm sorry..." Yuo suddenly says peacefully. "That argument was a mistake...just like my decision to attack the North Pole."

Zuko actually smiles a bit, leaving Yuo with a very confused look on his face.

"Your right...I was angry." Zuko begins, his smile slowly fading. "That day you left...I could feel your drive for revenge."

Katara looked on, her focus fully set on what Zuko had to say. "Could this be the answer?" she wondered.

"Not long after I willed myself to do what I've always wanted to...but never had the guts to do...to join my father in the war council." The young prince clenches his fists and looks down at the untouched snow beneath him.

"As uncle would say." the former prince's smile returned. "Your departure planted the seeds of a beast...and the day I thought I had lost my honor was the day...those seeds budded into a monster." Zuko's head rises so that his gaze meets Yuo's.

"You think that not only is it my fault our friendship came to a halt...but that I indirectly caused your fall from glory." Yuo's eyes narrow.

Zuko shakes his head. "No...it's just..." his ability to speak suddenly vanishes.

"Just...what?!" Yuo asks sternly.

Zuko looks up, with tears starting to well in his eyes. "The day I lost my honor...the monster inside me took my heart! It was the Avatar..." he pauses, quieting himself a bit. "The Avatar...and his friends that helped me to win back my spirit...but ever since you came back."

"You felt that evil inside you begin to awaken again...didn't you?" Yuo looks down, guilt heavy in his eyes. "I see now...you did not bring me here to fight and argue about my mistakes...but ask a favor."

Katara watched with her mouth open, concentrating on every word the two say.

"You've focused all your anger and frustration towards me and now..." Yuo begins.

"Now...I want you to help me...help me get rid of this anger...or I may." Zuko pauses yet again, remembering his betrayal in Ba Sing Se and how easily he turned his back on Iroh and how he fought his own people for the Avatar's freedom.

"You wish to put your monster...against my demon and hope that you'll lose."

Katara puts her hand over her mouth and recalls Zuko's warning about how skilled the commander really is or supposed to be. That was when she felt a surprisingly cold feeling on her head.

She puts her hand out and lifts her head to find a gentle rain of falling snow blessing the night sky, moonlight glistening on the bits of descending frozen water.

Katara looks back at the two just in time to see them charge full force at each other.

--

Crunch! The last rebellious solider doubles over after receiving a powerful blow from Tali's sheathed sword, his armor shattered.

"Does anyone else disagree with how this operation is being conducted?" Tali says with a superior smile which almost matches Azula's.

"We disagree...now don't we boys?" came slowly approaching voice.

Tali looks over. "Who are you?"

"You mean you don't remeber? I'm Cho...this is Suzo...that Som and he's Gui." Cho says with raised eye brows, pointing at each man as he names them.

Suzo slumps. "Thank you Cho.."

"Oh yes...the four men that can't do anything right...I forgot all about you." the captain says, turning to the newcomers.

"The Blue Spirit owes us for going beyond what we were asked to do...and we're going to take it...preferably by force." Suzo explains with a dark smile, rasing his hand in the air and making a fist.

"You're tired and cranky from I long trip...I'll excuse your transgression if you decide to return to our group peacefully." the young warrior sternly delivers her ultimatum to the four.

"We're not afraid of one little girl." Suzo says, grabbing the back of Cho's armor as he tries sneaking off. "What are you doing you're embarrassing me!" Suzo whispers loudly.

Tali smirks. "And I thought he was the stupid one of the group...it seems things have switched while you were gone."

"How dare you mock us!" Som shouts. "We'll make you pay."

"Enough talk!" Suzo raises his voice so all may hear.

As soon as the leader of the four finishes speaking Tali makes her charge.

--

Gah! Zuko is sent flying into a tree after a very unique punch from his adversary.

"What...was that?" the former prince of the Fire Nation asks, gasping for breath and leaning back against a tree.

"The second...succession technique...fist of the wise owl." Yuo says, breathing heavy with one eye closed.

Zuko can feel his heart pounding, he know's he's tired and his body ached all over. Fatigue wasn't his only problem at this point. He feels the grip of the cold air mercilessly constricting his lungs.

Yuo felt restrictions of his own by this time. The fight has only lasted a few minutes, but again the time allotted in his warrior state of mind is quickly slipping away. "What happens...if I...can't beat him?"

The young commander feels his throat ache with guilt. His heart pounds dangerously fast as his time draws closer to an end. "What if I fail him?"

Yuo's thoughts are interrupted by the sudden sound of crunching snow. "Zuko...you will be free."

"I should stop them." Katara says to herself, trying to will her body to move. "I have to stop them...or both of them...could be seriously hurt!"

"This is it." Yuo thinks to himself, knowing only a few seconds remain. "Now is the time...I either prove myself as a friend or a complete failure."

Zuko stands ready, his whole body ready to give way. In fact if it were just him he knows the fight would be over, but this beast, this terrible monster will not let him give up until his opponent is down.

The prince moves his body into a stance and envelops his hands with flame.

"I hope you can forgive me...but it's the only way I can keep my promise." Yuo stands straight, closing his eyes and pressing his hands together palm to palm.

The two stand across from each other, motionless and still. The innocent flakes of newborn snow seem to carry the moonlight and illuminate their faces as they drift carelessly by.

"I can't let them do this!" with that Katara finally wills her legs to move and rushes as fast as she can towards them.

"Raaah!"

"Fist of the Eternal Spirit!"

It isn't until she is just a few feet away that she is stopped, by bright blue light.

Katara quickly covers her eyes. When she finally wrenches her hand from her face she sees Yuo standing where Zuko was and Zuko standing where Yuo once was.

They both have their backs toward each other, momentarily frozen in the attacks.

Zuko's right arm is in front, steam eagerly rising from it.

Yuo stands in the same position only his outstretched right arm seems to have a slight blue glow to it.

A mere moment passes and Zuko turns to face Yuo. The commander does the same and faces the former prince.

Katara's heart skips a beat as she takes a step in an attempt to start her body moving forward again in hopes that she may stop this terrible duel.

She is suddenly struck with surprise as Zuko slips into laughter with Yuo soon following him.

They laugh to hard that both of them fall to their knees.

"Is...it gone?" Yuo asks.

Zuko calms down, looking Yuo in the eyes.

--

Cho stands in a horse stance, his arms limp and mouth wide open. One can tell by looking in his eyes that he must be in disbelief.

Tali is kneeling on the ground, her hands up in the air and sword in front of her.

"You're smarter than you look." Suzo smiles arrogantly, signaling Som and Gui to tie her up.

The men Tali had previously defeated cheer at the top of their lungs, clapping and jumping with sheer delight.

"The Ba Sing Se rebels are now under our control!" Suzo yells into the crowd. "And I say we take action! We'll find that puny Fire Nation commander and take the map from him! Does anyone object!?"

He is met with only more mad cheering.

"But uh...Suzo...we don't know where he is." Cho adds from the side.

Suzo's eyes narrow. "I know that...but if they knew that...we probably won't stay in power very long now would we? If we pretend we have an idea and we look busy...they'll follow us blindly like they did the..." Suzo stops.

"Where's the Blue Spirit?!"

--

"Pretty." Ty Lee looks up at the moonlight sky, completely enchanted with the slow falling snow.

Azula's ship had landed at sunset and the passengers sleepily make their way to the mysterious Huo Du keep.

"Oof!" Ty Lee suddenly falls. "Oh...sorry Mai."

Mai rolls her eyes and sighs. "It's alright." she helps the young acrobat get to her feet.

"Thanks." Ty Lee says with a grin.

Mai starts walking again.

"Mai?" Ty Lee says meekly.

"Of course I am...why do you ask?" Mai stops, waiting for her friend's response.

"Well...when I left you still seemed kind of...you know...upset." Ty Lee responds, never letting a smile drops for a second.

Mai blushes slightly and turns, locking gazes with her flexible friend.

"I wasn't exactly upset." Mai averts her eyes. "I used that excuse to think of a plan."

Ty Lee raises her eyebrows, clearly unsure what Mai means.

"The truth is...I was never mad at Zuko...in fact I respected his decision...even choosing to leave me behind."

"So...you knew he joined the Avatar?" Ty Lee blinks, surprise still obviously present on her face.

Mai nods. "Of course Zuko said he left me behind for 'my own well being'...but there was no way I'd let him do whatever he planning to do alone."

"So you decided to join him...oh Mai that's so romantic!" Ty Lee closes her eyes and grins.

"Shhh!" Mai puts her hand over Ty Lee's mouth and looks around to see if anyone heard.

The confused young acrobat mumbles something.

Mai removes her hand when she sees the coast is clear.

"Why so secretive Mai?"

"I lied to Azula..."

"You lied to Azula!?"

Mai covers Ty Lee's mouth again. "Please stop yelling or I won't tell you." she steps back and folds her arms.

"Sorry." Ty Lee whispers.

"Let's keep walking...they might get suspicious if we just stand here."

Ty Lee nods and follows close to Mai.

"I know that if Azula knew about me wanting to go just to see Zuko...she'd make it as difficult as possible...so I told her that I wanted revenge instead."

There is a long silence.

"Zuko is...alright." Ty Lee breaks the silence a few minutes later.

Mai raises a brow and her heart skips a beat when she hears the tone in her friend's voice. "But..."

"But I could tell he was...sad." Ty Lee begins again. "I think he feels bad about leaving you."

Mai looks forward so her companion can't see her face and smiles. (Ty Lee is following behind her)

"Promise me that you won't tell Azula."

"Of course not...your secret is safe with me!" Ty Lee smiles again.

The promise is made as the Fire Nation group finally reaches Huo Du Keep not knowing the events that will unfold two days later.

Just to clear up any possible confusion. Tali's battle takes place the morning after Zuko's fight with Yuo and Azula's arrival at the keep.

Reviews really help motivate me to continue this story, but another thing that motivates me is reading others. I found a few notable ones that are really worth reading, in my opinion at least.

I'll start with ones made by reviewers.

One is "Kissed by the Sun" by Celtic Goddess of Fertility. It's well written and it has a sequel, but I haven't started that one yet.

Another notable one is "The Fan and the Crescent Blade." by Capricious Kiwi. This one is especially good for Suki fans.

Non reviewers

"Killer Queens" by Kohana's Arrow. If you're a big fan of Mai and Zuko you should check this one out if not, it's still a great story worth reading.

Another good one I liked was "Friends or Acquaintances" by MastaDrumma22.

If you're a fan of Avatar in general these are worth reading.