Zuko was hit with several headaches during their journey to Omashu. It turned out that he had a fever and they had to stop by a small town. He struggled to get back up, " I am sorry for holding us back. "

June patted him on the head, "Don't apologize, just get better. We're going to do some bounty hunting while you hang tight here. Azula's going to watch over you for a bit while and then catch up with us."

The huntress shut the door on the former royals. Azula smiled, "Would you like some tea, Zuzu?"

"Y'know if you had said that over a year ago I would've thought you were trying to pretend to be Uncle or put poison in it." He forced a smile.

"Save up your strength. You've been through a lot, especially since your the weaker one."

"Weaker one?"

"You're the one lying on the bed sweating like a sabre-tooth moose lion in a desert. Just take your tea."

Zuko reluctantly drank the tea and closed his eyes from the terrible taste, "Wonderful."

"I must be getting so used to being a commoner. I'll make you another."

"No... no, that is fine. Just let me rest." Zuko relaxed and drifted into a deep sleep.

The former crown prince was sitting on the throne. Alone. The palace was empty. Then voices came. They were dragons just like the Masters. The Blue Dragon had a familiar voice, "Rest up Fire Lord Zuko. Be at ease, all is good my liege. You deserve some rest."

"NO!", the Red Dragon erupted, "You must not listen to the Red Dragon, Fire Lord Zuko."

Zuko's palace had started to crumble and his scar had returned as he entered the void. He had seen his mother leave, burning by his father, his own scar in the broken mirror glass, the Master's flames, Song's scars, Aang the Avatar and Zuko's own friends.

The chaos spirit appeared before his host, "Hmm... You're sickness... Something is stirring in you.. It's also been a year and you haven't learned Waterbending.."

"I have no doubts and i'll get to it!"

"Maybe deep down a part of you must have wanted to bow to Fire Lord Ozai?"

"No. He's not my Father!"

"Then face him now!"

An apparition in the form of Ozai with the markings of Vaatu spewed forth fire. Zuko blocked it with his own flame shield, but was knocked down by an attack from the side.

"Not too fair this time are you Vaatu?"

"A true waterbender lets the flow of battle work with him, the rigidness of your airbending is atrocious and you still haven't flown. Go with the flow."

"Let go of your earthly flow, enter the void and become wind." He almost countered the second blow, but was brought down once again.

Zuko picked himself back up again and said another mantra, "Join the flow, wander with the wave and become water."

He countered but was met with four hard hits sending him back to the ground. Vaatu replied, "The dark avatar creates chaos wherever he goes. He must live in it, embody it and even more."

Bruised and beaten within his own mind, Zuko uttered one last phrase, "Create the storm, close the void and become flow."

Azula, June and Jet saw their comrade's eyes light up with a red hue. "Are you in the Avatar State? It's us, your friends."

"Yes. I know." His eyes flickered back to normal as he collapsed backwards onto the bed, "I got a little bit stronger."

Jet grinned, "We're finally back on our way then?"

"No stopping us now."

"Good. Don't slow us down again, Scarface."

"I know you'll hold me to it, Leafmouth."

June piped up, "You're trying too hard, Blue. Leave it to the non-blue people."

"I dunno ask Nyla."

The shirshu growled back in reluctance and everyone laughed in unison.

Meanwhile... Atop a Flying Bison...

Katara turned around, "Hey Aang you've been to Omashu right?"

"Oh yeah! I had tons of fun there with my best friend Bumi! He was definitely a mad genius.."