Good grief. It's been awhile, hasn't it? Serious writers block lack of interest x life is the most disgusting equation I've ever encountered, but luckily I've removed some of the variables, so hopefully thats over with. You know how unreliable I am though, so I can't guarantee when the next chapter will show up. Anyway, if you're still reading I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter. Thanks. :)

Zuko had neglected his morning bending routine for weeks and getting some practice done felt good. Throwing the final flaming punch, he relaxed from his stance and stood upright in the sand. Looking out towards the water, he watched the sun glimmer over the calm water. It was the wrong time of the year for Elephant Koi and without their disrupting the ocean surface, the horizon was relaxing.

Turning from the sea, Zuko picked up his shirt and pulled it over his head as he made his way back to the village.

As he strode through the central street, he couldn't help but notice the sudden hush in the people that were out and about. Turning his head, he watched a group of men and women whisper among each other, shooting him worried glances.

Not watching where he was going, he bumped into a man and turned quickly to apologize, saying, "Sorry, I didn't see you—"

"Just take it and leave me alone!" the man cried out, dropping to his knees and holding up a flower pot in both hands, cowering before the firebender.

"I don't—"

"Don't hurt my dad!" a young girl shrieked suddenly, throwing herself between Zuko and her father, spreading her arms wide.

"I wasn't going to..." Zuko began before trailing off, seeing the girl's frightened yet determined expression as well as her father's general fear.

Frowning at both of them, Zuko snatched the flower pot with a muttered, "Fine."

He didn't understand it. The war was over. He had helped end it. Why were these people acting like he was going to hurt them?

Holding the tiny flower pot in one hand, three mangy, yellow petaled flowers sprouting from its center, Zuko approached the building where he and his friends were housed. It wasn't exactly an apartment fit for royalty, let alone the Avatar, but it was the best Kyoshi had to offer.

Katara, Anila, and Aang trooped at the front door in time to greet Zuko, all three pausing to look at the flower pot in his hand. Zuko looked at the flower pot as well, as if he too was wondering where it came from.

"Out picking flowers?" Katara barely managed, biting her lip to keep from laughing out loud while Anila and Aang snickered behind her.

Zuko threw the two airbenders a disgruntled look, causing Anila to cover her mouth with both hands and smiled shyly from behind while Aang folded his hands behind his back and whistled casually, avoiding eye contact with the firebender.

In a last attempt to save face, the firebender bowed and held out the flower pot to the still giggling Katara, saying , "For you, of course."

Katara blinked several times, her laughter gone, a blush appearing on her cheeks as she replied with an awkward smile, "Uh...thanks...Zuko." Taking the flower pot in both hands, she recovered quickly, smiling with amusement once again; he wasn't serious of course. As she set the pot on the deck behind her, she commented sarcastically, "There, now everyone can see the flowers you picked."

Zuko rolled his eyes in exasperation as both Katara and Anila walked off, both trying to keep from laughing. He should have known that carrying a flower pot was going to get him into another annoying situation. Stupid Kyoshi residents. This was their fault.

As the two girl's rounded the corner with Momo gliding with them, Aang, who had remained behind, shifted his gaze over to Zuko.

Zuko regarded the Avatar with a raised eyebrow, expectantly awaiting the younger boy to crack a joke.

Aang narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips suspiciously as he looked up at the firebender.

Sniffing suddenly, the airbender's face contorted and he turned his head way exclaiming, "Achoo!", sending a blast of air into the tiny flower pot causing it to smash into the wall of the building and fall in heap next to the door. Satisfied, Aang turned back to Zuko, rubbing his nose and giving an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I guess I don't know my own strength" he shrugged before ambling off after Katara and Anila.

Zuko only rolled his eyes and shook his head as he walked up the steps and passed through the doorway.

Toph sat a low table laid out with food, bringing a fruit tart up to her mouth but pausing as she felt the vibrations of another person across the wood floor. Recognizing the firebender as he let out a long sigh and sat down next to her, she put down her food and leaned back in her chair.

"Okay Princy, what's the problem,"

"I don't have a problem," Zuko growled.

"Woh," Toph replied in mock disarmament, "didn't mean to unleash your temper there, Hothead."

"What temper!"

"Hey, no need to get all worked up," Toph replied calmly, picking up a cup of tea and sipping carefully before continuing, "I'm just being my caring self and trying to figure out whats wrong."

"Nothing's wrong."

"I don't need earthbending to know that you're lying."

Exhaling in annoyance for what felt like the millionth time that day, Zuko began, "Fine. I'm frustrated that everyone here is afraid of me. Just walking down the street they scramble out of sight and those that don't watch me like I'm going to eat them."

Shaking her head and picking up her food once again, Toph replied, "Well what do you expect, you're Fire Nation, there's been a hundred year war; do you seriously think they're going to forget all that?"

"The Water Tribe did!" Zuko snapped, glaring at the blind girl.

"Some of them did," Toph corrected, turning to face the firebender, "You don't think Kinto was the only one angry and afraid of you, do you?

"Well, no, I—" he began, taken aback by her seriousness.

"Face it Zuko, not everyone is going to accept you as one of the good guys. The war is over but some can't forget what happened." Hearing another lengthy sigh from the boy, she asked again, "What, you don't believe me?"

"I didn't expect to hear that from a twelve year old girl," Zuko admitted, rubbing his forehead.

"Twelve year old girl? Listen up Sparky, you better not forget I'm the greatest, toughest earthbender alive or you'll be carrying me around all day, and not with that stupid chair you made Sokka and Aang build."

"Okay, okay," Zuko replied, holding up his hands to avoid the punch in the shoulder he knew was coming, "It's just surprising that you have answers to everything, thats all. Don't you have any problems of your own?"

"Hey, whats for breakfast?" Sokka asked, interrupting the conversation as he entered the room, striding purposefully toward the table laid out with food.

"Wow, Snoozles, you're finally awake," Toph greeted, holding up a plate, "I told them to double the food since you'd eat about five servings yourself. If you try the—"

"Okay, thanks Toph," Sokka said, ignoring her as he grabbed several items before turning to leave, "I'm going to see Suki, see you guys later."

Toph's expression fell as the boy left and she set the plate back down on the table dejectedly.

"It's always food with him," Zuko said, shaking his head with amusement before turning to seek Toph's downcast expression. "Are you okay?"

Looking up suddenly, having almost forgot Zuko was there with her, Toph replied, "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

Punching Zuko swiftly in the shoulder, Toph growled, "I warned you before. I hope you're feeling strong because you're carrying me around the rest of the day."

"Okay, ready to train?" Aang asked enthusiastically.

"Ready!" Anila nodded, holding out her staff.

"Alright, we're going to play a game called keep away, Katara and I—"

"Aang, we're supposed to be training, not playing games," Katara interrupted her friend, placing a hand on Anila's shoulder, "She's never going to improve if she doesn't practice."

"Thats the whole idea, Katara," Aang explained with a grin, "Just let me explain. You and I are going to pass bubble of water between ourselves, Anila's job is to pop the bubble with her airbending."

Holding a hand to her chin contemplatively, Katara nodded, "I have to admit, that does sound like a good training routine."

Momo flew down to land on Anila's shoulder, letting out a sharp chirping noise.

"Momo thinks so too," Anila laughed.

"No one ever said training couldn't be fun," Aang said excitedly as he whipped up the air under himself into an air scooter and zipped a short distance away.

"Wow!" Anila cried wide eyed, "How did you do that?"

"The air scooter is pretty advanced," Aang grinned, "I'll teach it to you later, right now lets work on the air blasts I taught you in the South Pole."

Standing between Aang and Katara, her staff at the ready, Anila watched as Katrara drew a long stream of water from her water skin and formed it into a small bubble like blob. Throwing her hands forward, Katara shot the ball of water and, not anticipating the speed, Anila could only watch as it sailed over her head to Aang.

The bald headed airbender, caught the water neatly in mid air, twisting it around himself with his hands before sending it back to Katara.

Ready this time, Anila raised her staff and swung outward, sending a swish of air straight into the bubble. But the blob of water continued to sail by unaffected to where Katara stood.

Anila through a worried glance to Aang, who responded with, "You'll have to bend harder than that!"

Determined to show both benders what she could, Anila widened her stance and arched her feet slightly, ready to bounce into action.

"Watch this Momo," the young girl said under her breath, "I'll get it this time."

Katara let the water fly, and with a quick underhanded swing of her staff, Anila projected a sharp gale into the bubble, popping it instantly and sending hundreds of tiny water droplets raining down on Momo.

The little lemur shrieked indignantly, shaking the water from his fur, too which Anila winced apologetically

"That was great Anila!" Katara shouted her encouragement, prompting the airbender to look up with a smile.

"Yeah, you're really getting the hang of it!" Aang added, "Think you can do it without your staff?"

Anila's smile shrunk but she spoke up timidly, "I can try."

Again Katara and Aang began passing the bubble of water between them, and Anila, now without her staff, began attempting some of the air punches and slashes Aang had taught her. Despite having a much harder time bending without her staff, she continued on without it, wanting to be every bit the airbender as her teacher.

Aang had to admit, he was proud of her. From the short amount of time since they had started training, already Anila was showing an incredible amount of improvement. It would still be awhile before she earned her tattoos, but she was definitely making headway.

Despite this, he couldn't help but grow slightly bored as he continued passing the water to Katara and watch Anila make an effort to pop it, only succeeding every long while. His gaze shifted from Anila to Katara, watching her receive the water and then toss it back. It reminded him of when they used to train and how much fun it had been sparring with her.

These thoughts in mind as he caught the water with a smirk and sent it back, this time with a slight curve in its trajectory.

Taken off guard by the change speed, Katara made eye contact with Aang, catching his smirk and the twinkle in his eye. Knowing a challenge when she saw one, her lips twisted into a smirk of her own as she twisted the water in her hands and slung it back at Aang, adding a back spin she hoped would catch him off guard.

Catching the water easily, Aang shook his head condescendingly and sent it flying back with a speed that changed the shape of the water as it traveled through the air.

Standing in between the two experienced benders, Anila watched helplessly as their training session turned into a sparring match. It wasn't long before multiple projectiles were being tossed back and forth and seeing no end in site, Anila sat down next to Momo.

The little lemur watched the flying blobs of water overhead attentively, barely noticing the airbender.

Assuming the lotus position, Anila sighed, "I guess meditation is important too."

"Gotcha!" Katara cried victoriously, splashing Aang in the face and pinning him to the ground with her body.

"Sorry Katara," Aang smirked, sucking in a long breath and exhaling sharply, sending himself flying out from under her grip and tumbling backwards before landing his feet, "It's not that easy to catch an airbender."

"That might be true," Katara said, dusting herself off as she got to her feet, "But we were having a waterbending duel. Airbending is cheating, so I win by default."

"But—" Aang started to protest, before Katara stopped him.

"Oh, Aang," she said in distress, looking over to where Anila sat in the grass with her staff lying next to her, "We forgot all about Anila!"

Looking to the other airbender worriedly, Aang replied, "Well, she seems okay. I mean, she is meditating, thats an important part of bending, right?"

"Well..." Katara hesitated, "Yeah. Yeah, of course it is. And we weren't sparring that long anyway, and I'm sure she needed a break after all the training we had been doing."

"Right," Aang agreed, looking to Anila again as she meditated silently, seemingly undisturbed by them. He hoped she wasn't upset that he had been distracted during their training again.

"Hey," Sokka said, running up to Suki from behind and slowing to walk beside her.

"Oh, hi," Suki replied, forcing a smile as he joined her.

After a moment of silence, Sokka spoke up again, trying to make conversation, "So, are you always up this early?"

"Sokka, it's almost mid afternoon," Suki answered, looking at him incredulously.

"That's pretty early by my standards," Sokka said with a grin, hoping to see her laugh but only getting another forced smile. Worry crossed his face and he asked, "So, where are we going?"

Suki kept her eyes ahead as she replied with a heavy tension in her voice, "I have to pay respect to my warriors."

Sokka nodded his understanding, and, trying too change the subject, began, "I've noticed you haven't been wearing your makeup anymore. You look good. Not that you didn't look good before! It's just, well—"

"I don't deserve to wear it after what happened," Suki interrupted Sokka's awkward compliment, causing him to stare at her in disbelief, "I'm not a Kyoshi Warrior anymore."

Turning to face Sokka, she spoke up again, "If you'll excuse me, I have to be alone."

Sokka nodded his head dumbly and watched as she turned away and entered the dojo.

Not a Kyoshi Warrior anymore? Sokka shook his head in an effort to expel the thought, but it remained. Something was definitely wrong.

He knew the loss of her warriors lay heavily on her heart, but there was more to it, he felt it just standing next to her and in the tone of her voice.

Staring at the porch outside the building, he recalled how just yesterday he had collapsed with grief at discovering Suki's injuries. It had killed him to realize the pain she had went through, but even more importantly than her lost arm, he worried that she lost something on the inside too. The Suki he knew was strong willed, fierce, courageous; but now she was...different.

Lost in thought, Sokka looked up suddenly as Suki reappeared in the doorway.

Noticing the shimmer of a tear in her eye, he waited for her to come down the steps before speaking gently, "Suki, we need to talk."

"I understand if you want to leave here," Suki replied, hanging her head, "You kept your promise and came back. You don't have to stick around if you don't want to."

"I'm not leaving you!" Sokka shouted, almost angrily.

Suki's face contorted with a fury of her own, but before she could reply Oyaji came ambling toward both teens, shouting, "Come quickly, there's trouble!"

Both Sokka and Suki approached the group, looking beyond them to see an short old man with a grubby gray beard. Aang, Katara, and Anila stood looking at the man curiously. Zuko arrived shortly after Sokka and Suki, carrying Toph on his back.

Sokka looked at the firebender amusedly, asking, "Lose a bet?"

"Might as well have," Zuko replied, rolling his eyes as Toph slid down from his back to her feet.

Suki seemed too bristle at Zuko's entrance and Sokka, taking notice of her apprehension, quickly stepped forward, saying, "Oh, Suki, I should introduce you—"

"Fire Lord Zuko," Suki nodded with distaste.

"Just Zuko, Kyoshi Warrior Suki," Zuko replied with a bow, refusing his title and ignoring the hostile spark in her tone.

"Just Suki," the girl answered, her face softening with hurt and her single arm crossing her stomach to hold her side.

Zuko looked at her, uncertain what he said to disarm her, but was interrupted from speaking as the old man pushed his way between them angrily.

"This is no time for introductions! Chin is in trouble! Something has to be done!"

"Woh, slow down, who's Chin?" Aang questioned.

"Who's Chin?!" the old man whirled around on the Avatar, "Do you have to hear the story again?"

"Again?" Katara asked, looking from Aang to the old man, "Have you two met?"

"Of course! Don't you remember?" the old man asked, folding his arms and frowning indignantly.

Aang looked at the grubby old man, who's right eye bulged noticeably on his wrinkled features.

Suddenly recognition dawned on him as he recalled the man shouting, "We used to be a great society before you killed our leader, now look at us!"

"I remember now! You're that creepy guy from the town of Chin!" Aang announced aloud.

"Of course I am!" the old man spat, "Wait, creepy?"

"What can we do to help you?" Katara said quickly, glaring at Aang for being rude.

"Yes, we need help!" the man confirmed, forgetting Aang's insult, "The town has been invaded!"

Everyone seemed awaken at this information, looking to each other with seriousness..

"Invaded?" Sokka asked, "But by who?"

"Azula," Zuko spoke up, earning glances from everyone, prompting him to continue, "When she escaped, she took enough firebenders with her to cause some serious trouble. She could have taken Chin easily."

"Firebenders?" the old man looked at Zuko incredulously, "Haven't you heard? The war is over! We've been invaded by earthbenders!"

"Earthbenders?" everyone shouted at once in confusion.

"Suki?" Sokka asked tentatively as he entered the girl's home.

She stood over a wash basin, furiously trying to scrub at dish with her single hand.

Crossing the room to her side, Sokka took hold of her arm gently, prompting her to stop her work as he said, "You slipped away while I wasn't looking. That old guy told us that a rebel group of earthbender's took over the city, though for what reasons, we don't know yet. We're getting ready to leave."

Suki avoided Sokka's meaningful gaze and held her silence, staring down at the dirty dish in the wash basin.

"I want you to come with us."

Shaking off his hand, Suki resumed he scrubbing at the dish, furiously stating, "Sokka, I told you, I'm not a warrior anymore. I'll just get in the way."

"That's not true!" Sokka quickly defended, his own voice rising, "You're one of the best warriors I know! It was you that taught me so much about fighting, it was you who-"

"Urgh!" Suki growled, throwing down the scrub brush she'd been using before shouting, "Don't you get it? I have one arm! I can't even clean this dish, how do you expect me to fight?"

Straight faced, Sokka replied, "You took me down with one arm when we first met."

"You still remember that?" Suki questioned quietly, her expression changing from anger to sadness, picking up a towel and squeezing it in her hand before she found her voice again, "Sokka, I failed. I fought Azula and lost and my warriors payed the price. By all rights I should be dead too."

"No!" Sokka spoke up quickly, "You did everything you could and so did they! They fought and died bravely, don't dishonor them by giving up the title Kyoshi Warrior."

Suki opened her mouth to reply but Sokka only continued, "There was a time when I wished you weren't a warrior, because I didn't want you to get into trouble if I wasn't around to protect you. I still want to protect you, but I never want you to stop being who you are, and Suki, you're a warrior."

When Suki didn't respond Sokka's hopeful expression fell.

Turning to leave, he paused in the doorway, saying without looking back, "We're leaving as soon as Appa is loaded up. If you don't want to say goodbye, I understand."

Suki only managed to look up after Sokka left. Dropping the towel she had been squeezing in agitation, she crossed the floor to the window. Looking outside for any sign of Sokka but not finding him, her gaze drifted to the town square where the statue of Avatar Kyoshi stood. Avatar Kyoshi, the founder of the Kyoshi Warriors, the woman every girl on the island aspired to be like. What would she have done in the face of failure?

"Everything secure?" Aang asked as he leapt aboard Appa.

"Yep," Zuko nodded, "We're loaded up and ready to go."

"Ahem," Toph coughed from the ground, "Forgetting our deal, Sparky?"

"My mistake, Lady Bei Fong," Zuko replied sarcastically, sliding off Appa to the girl's side to allow the girl to ride on his back.

"Lady Bei Fong?" Toph replied, her face contorting with disgust, "Never mind, you don't have to carry me anymore, just don't call me that again."

"Whatever you say, Lady Bei F—"

Using her earthbending to raise herself to Zuko's height, Toph prodded him in the chest and interrupted his humor, "Listen Princey, I'm the name caller around here, so if you don't learn your place I'm going to give you a royal butt kicking, understand?"

Pallid, Zuko nodded dumbly, stumbling through his response, "Yes, of course Lady B—I mean Toph! The greatest earthbender, the uh, the..."

Satisfied, Toph bent the earth below her feet to allow her to step into the saddle leaving Zuko on the ground below.

Walking over to Appa to climb aboard, Anila looked at the pale firebender with concern, asking, "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry about him," Toph answered for Zuko, "Earthbenders make him nervous and he's not looking forward to going to Chin."

Forcing an awkward smile at Zuko, Anila climbed aboard and sat next to Toph, admitting, "I'm kind of scared too. I've never fought anyone before."

"It's a piece of cake," Toph replied with a grin, "Stick with me and you'll be fine."

Anila smiled with her friend's reassurance and watched as Katara climbed up next to her with Momo on her shoulder.

"We should get going, has anyone seen Sokka," Katara asked.

As if in response, Sokka climbed aboard next to Zuko, speaking up unenthusiastically, "Yeah, I'm here, we can go now."

"Everything okay?" Katara asked with concern, noticing her brother's downcast demeanor, "Did you say goodbye to Suki?"

"Yeah," Sokka managed, staring at his boots, "Everything's fine."

"Aren't you coming too?" Aang called down to the old man, "We can take you back to Chin."

"Are you kidding?" the old man gawked, "I'm staying here where its safe!"

Shrugging, Aang took hold of the reins and cried, "Appa, yip y—"

"Wait!"

Everyone turned in the direction of the cry and Sokka stood to his feet, recognizing the voice. Running along side Oyaji, Suki ran forward in her Kyoshi Warrior regalia, her face painted in the traditional style of her warriors. Stopping short beside Appa, she looked up at Sokka, an apology written on her face.

"I'm coming too," Suki finally exhaled, looking up at Sokka meaningfully.

Ready to leap off Appa to help her aboard, Sokka stopped short at the saddles edge as she leapt up, catching the side of the saddle with her single hand, and teeth grit with determination, she levered herself aboard.

"I knew you'd come," Sokka said with a smile.

Smiling back, Suki replied, "Come on, we've got a town to save."