Okay, here's the latest chapter so far. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think of it. Am I going a bit weird with this?

The dragon arrives

Surprised silence followed my hushed words. All three men in the room looked at me, all equally surprised by my statement. I had spoken as one who is awed deeply, and awe still clung to me, while nervous anticipation drew ever closer to my being. I barely paid any heed to the people within the room anymore, the image I had seen still held my mind. I didn't know why it did, or why the sight of the Lotus was so incredible and wonderful in my head, but it was. Dimly I could hear the boy start talking.

"There's someone coming up the road. I don't know whether you waited for their arrival or not, but I was sent to bring tidings of it. They passed our village this morning, very early. And because we knew that this village would be the last before they reach the plains,we thought it would be better if we warned you. Is it really true? The Dragon of the West is upon us?" there the young man looked at me and smiling I met his gaze.

"Don't worry. He will not harm you. He came to help us. I called for him." I answered cryptically and already stood up. I wanted to go outside and meet the General outside of the village.

"Where were they when last you saw them?" I asked the boy.

"About two hours away from here, off to the south-east. I guess they came by the sea." he explained hastily, seemingly worried about my reactions.

I looked behind me to cast a quick glance to Chen, who already stood behind me, looking ready for anything. Without further word I stepped outside, going off towards the end of the village, presumably the way the young man had come. Ironically the way led towards the Wall, not away from it.

I still wanted to meet General Iroh outside of the village itself, which served two purposes. One, if it was really Iroh I could tell him of the village and counsel him to be very friendly to them (which shouldn't be a big problem, seeing as he always was polite and soft-spoken), and for the other, if it wasn't Iroh, we could stop them before they brought anyone in danger. I sensed Chen walking beside me, and heard another set of feet walking behind the both of us. Probably it was Sheng, he was the head of the village after all, so it made only sense that he would come with us.

We were silent as we walked, neither had any great urge to talk. The men just hurried after me, as I made my way down the path, ever closer to the Wall. First I was worried, that we could be spotted, but the rocks beside us prevented that. And even so, it looked like the Outter Wall had been forsaken from defense, probably Azula saw no reason to defend a second wall, who knows that.

After an hour had passed, I could make out small forms on the path ahead of us. Instantly I stopped, knowing that they had to come our way, they had to pass us by somehow, so we could very well wait for them here.

Warm storked the wind around us, and suddenly it seemed to me that hope had been reborn within me. Now we had a chance, now we were able to fight back.

We all didn't need to wait long before we spotted them away on the path, still more than a mile distant, but going at a quick pace. They would be at our spot soon.

Nervousness hit me at an alarmingly accalerated pace, and I started shaking before I even knew it. It must have looked as if I was shaking uncontrollable in fear, but in truth I had to restrain myself from running down this hill and greeting them all.

I started to concentrate on Irohs company a bit more, I didn't know why exactly he had brought friends (I just assumed they were friends, in the Fire Nation Iroh was an escaped traitor), but I assumed he had his reasons and when the time was ripe he would tell us of them. Both were about Iroh's age, at least from the looks of it. One was very tall, wearing his hair in a formal Fire Nation topknot, presenting the image of a noble perhaps or even a member of the royalty. He sat atop the ostrich-horse proudly, and each of his movements were in unison with the animal underneath him. All in all he looked like a man, who was swift and agile, moving with a grace and power that few of his age would achieve.

The other one wasn't as tall as the Fire Nation man, but still taller than Iroh. His long grey hair seemed shaggy and in dire need of a brush and some scissors and his eyes were practically all over the place, as if he felt hunted. Maybe he was, who knows. Yet the most remarkable thing was his face. Two terrible scars made their way across his cheek and right eye, one grazed it sligthly while the other was on his temple. I wondered silently where he got it.

While I had watched them, they had gotten surprisingly close and were riding more slowly now, perceiving us on the hill, looking in their direction. I saw the nervous man point towards us, his face full of wariness and wonder, while Iroh just smiled and waved his hand in a dissmissive pattern.

Slowly I walked towards them, making sure that none of my movements were too fast or too hidden from Iroh's companions, so that they always could see what I did and what I was up to. Chen walked close behind me and I could almost feel his anxiousness, slightly frightened, yet still willing to stand by my side.

We met on the one side of the road that was shaded by a row of trees, while on the other side churned a small stream, filling the scenery with his music. Iroh halted the ostrich-horse he was on and got down from its back, moving with a grace and agility that belied his age. Seemingly he had used the days in prison to bring out the dragon within the man again. I could see it in his eyes, the fire that lurked and burned underneath the surface, eager to break free from its bonds.

Now, as we stood, facing each other, I wondered what he might think of me and my company behind me. Courteously I bowed deeply, as I always did.

"General Iroh, it is a great honour to greet you here." I said, while I looked into his eyes.

"And a pleasure to see you again, Kyona." he answered, smiling kindly at me, making me see the man again that I came to know in Ba Sing Se.

"I knew you would be here awaiting us. I somehow had the feeling you would know of our coming." he evaluated further, showing a slightly playful grin across his features.

"Yes I knew that you would be here, yet I have known the exact time only about an hour ago or so. And I didn't know you would bring friends with you. But that isn't important now. You are here and that is all that matters now." I answered and started the neccessary introductions.

Chen bowed politely, but kept a wary eye on Iroh and his companions. Sheng did even less, he stood proud and tall, presenting an image of strength and power, when in truth he probably was very concerned.

Then we learned that the two which travelled with Iroh were famous in their own rights also. Their names were known throughout most parts of the world and I was awed and deeply honoured to be in their presence.

The tall man with the topknot was Master Piandao, renowned swordsmaster of the Fire Nation. It was very hard to become his student, he chose them very carefully. Most times he wasn't seen, living in a grand mansion on one of the islands of the Fire Nation.

And the other, the one with the shaggy hair, was Master Jeong Jeong. He had been the first high ranking officer of the Fire Nation to resign and leave the army entirely. And lived to tell, that is. When I had been young I had heard stories of the talent in Firebending he possessed. Though rumour had it, that the scars on his face were brought on by a student, which had been the reason of his departure out of the army. But again, I couldn't tell for certain.

Being among those great people from the Fire Nation I felt very small and unimportant. These were all renowned men, famous for their talents and I was just a plain Dreamseer, a fugitive and a traitor to the Fire Nation. Yet Iroh's smile showed me that he appreciated that I had waited here for him and was willing to risk my live in order to free a whole city. But if we achieved that, was still written in the stars for now.

While I still tried to calm down because of all these great masters surrounding me, I saw Iroh bowing to Sheng and took breath to talk with him. I concentrated on them, being ready to step inbetween, should they start to annoy each other or even worse, make one another angry.

"I greet you, Sheng, headmaster of this village. And I say to you now, that you have no reason to fear us. Nor do you have to feel the need to accomodate us. We have packed gear that allows us to camp outside of your village. That way you need not worry that we could draw attention of any sort to your village." Iroh explained to a stunned Sheng.

I have to admit, I was surprised also, but not more than Sheng. I could literally see the weight being lifted off his shoulders, obviously he had been worrying too much, mainly about Iroh. I could understand that, Iroh's name was still feared in most parts of this world. After all, he had laid siege to Ba Sing Se and even broke through the Outter Wall, and there were rumours of his ruthlessness and his unwillingness to make prisoners. And he had been that person once, before his son had died and he had been robbed of his throne.

Now that I thought of it, I wondered what would have happened if Iroh had become Fire Lord. Would he have been any better than Ozai was? Probably not, at least not much. Only loss changes a person, man or woman. If you have everything, you don't care about anything else other than yourself, for you have servants that will bring you anything the moment you speak of it. As Fire Lord you are not directly involved in battle, you can watch everything from a safe distance and order executions without having seen the poor soul even once.

When you have nothing, when you are in the foremost front (so to speak) you start seeing things differently. At least that is what I believe. When I had been a child, I had servants that beckoned to my every desire. When I had left my country, I had been forced to work for food, even been forced to do unspeakable things in order to survive and yet I never grudged fate for it. It had made me a better woman, one that is open to the concerns of the world, one that knows that there are other people out there which are equally as important.

It made me a better Dreamseer and in turn, a better human.

Concentrating on the people around me again, I saw that the tenseness was lessened and guessed that Iroh had managed to make them see his motives. Sheng agreed to show us to a secluded area, far away from the village, even behind the Outter Wall, where we could make camp.

Chen and myself followed them silently, walking side by side, as we always did somehow. Though I sensed that Chen was casting more glances than usual towards me. We were a bit behind the others, so they couldn't hear us talk, if we talked quietly.

"Chen, is there something on your mind?" I asked him and smiled up at him. I could see the turmoil in his eyes, but also his hesitation to speak out his thoughts.

"Well, it just seems strange to me. We walking with these great persons of the Fire Nation. Or I guess they are all great persons, I saw you as the General introduced them. You were positively stunned by their presence. It just feels weird for me, you know? You were the first Firebender that I came to know and now I'm surrounded by them. What if they attack us?" he asked, a little concern clinging to his voice. But I knew from experience that he wasn't really concerned about himself, he was concerned I could get hurt. And as heartwarming that was, it was pure nonsense.

"If they wanted to attack us, they would have done so already. Besides, see the robes they wear? And the standard they carry with them? I guess they belong to the Order of the White Lotus. I heard tales of them, when I was a child. They belong to each nation and seek peace and order. It is said, that great benders and masters of all four nations once belonged to the Order and that they were kind to each other, even after the war had started. No one can tell, who is the headmaster of them, they keep most things secret." I answered calmly, letting my gaze wander over the people walking in front of us.

"I guess that's for the best. I mean, if I was Ozai, and I knew of a secret society being against the war, I would do anything within my powers to find them and stop them. I think that is their main concern."

"I heard that no one except a member of the Order can find another member. They have codes and cryptic sayings that only make sense to one another if they are both part of the Order. Yet I had no idea that Iroh could be a part of this. I'm glad about it, but it was unexpected." I said, already seeing that we drew close to a group of stone cliffs, away from the fields, but not very far from the Inner Wall; surrounding a small clearing.

Chen also looked around himself as we reached the plain area.

"As a soldier of the guard, what is your opinion of this?" I asked him and watched his surprised gaze meet mine. Yet surprise only lasted for a minute, before gratitude came forth. He was happy he could be of some use, and if there was anything, he knew how to defend a camp. Sure, Iroh knew that also, but I wanted Chen to tell me, to make him see he was just as important a person to me as Iroh was.

"Only one way in, one way out. Three sides guarded by cliffs, and the walkway can be looked upon by one person only. Were not that far away from the city either, but I never saw this place when I was on guard duty, so I guess it can't be seen from the walls. And even if it can, the watchmen would think it's a small village. So all in all, its no bad place to make a camp. Look, there is even a small stream issuing from the hills. Yes, this is a good place." he explained and I marvelled once more at his intelligence.

Due to the fact he didn't talk as much, people often tended to deem Chen not smart, but he was a patient man, who learned by observing. Such it was that he had an intelligence the match of any noble in the Fire Nation. He didn't feel the need to share his intellect with everybody he met, so the few moments when he showed it, they were truly precious.

Yet I had not much time to think of it further, for General Iroh called to me and I walked over to him, while Chen said he would help the others in setting up the camp. Sheng had left towards the village again, probably to tell everyone of the new arrivals. I kept reminding myself that I should ask of him linen and wood to build my own tent with, for that was something we didn't have with us. But that would have to wait until after my talk with Iroh.

We left the campside again and he led me to a small hill out on the plains with several trees surrounding it. There we stopped, Iroh looking towards the Wall of Ba Sing Se, which loomed ahead of us like a dark menacing presence of rock, and I waited for him to say something.

Finally he broke the silence between us.

"Have you really seen me in your vision of Ba Sing Se? Do you have any information concerning this battle?"

Calmly I looked in his face. He didn't doubt the truth of my vision, but now I didn't talk to just Iroh, now I talked to the General he once was and this General needed all the information he could get.

"Unfortunately I don't know much of the battle itself. I know that it will take place on the day of the comet, because the sky looked as if it was burning, and that was no reaction to the fire beneath. I saw many benders, many members of the White Lotus, fighting within the city. And then I saw you, burning down the insignia of the Fire Nation. That is all I know for now. I haven't had any visions concerning the battle since." Presently I thought of my dream with the walll of flame again, surpressing a shiver as I did so. I still didn't know if it had been just a dream or if it was something that would happpen and if I truly was there when it happened.

Looking at Iroh again, I saw that he was looking towards the horizon with furrowed brows, he was thinking, but not concerned.

"Have you talked to my nephew?" he asked further and I could clearly hear his voice break a little at the mentioning of Zuko. I could understand that. Zuko had betrayed us all, but that didn't mean that we stopped loving him.

"I have talked to him in a dream. Although it was different from when I talked to you. Your mind had been open then, I could enter your dream with ease, but Zuko was a different story. I had to use a little force to make him talk with me. But he has chosen now and I believe he's with the Avatar now. He finally understood that the path he had walked for so long had been the wrong one. He wants to make it right again. I think your presence was a great factor also. He travelled with you for so long, he couldn't close his eyes from the sorrow around him anymore. And now he has finally seen the truth." I answered, looking away. I still felt guilty at what I did to Zuko within his dream, even if he deserved it. And even if he did, it had been nothing short of torture to him, brought on by me. I had reasons to promise myself I would never do that again to a person, whether I knew them or not. I just hesitated to tell Iroh the full truth of my encounter with his nephew and that we probably had both been exhausted afterwards, though he probably hadn't been on the brink I had stood upon. But even so, I didn't wish to tell Iroh everything, not knowing how he would react to the fact that I gave his nephew a mental beating so to speak.

"And I guess you had a good part in making him see it, am I right?" Iroh suggested, which made me flinch. I had forgotten how smart Iroh was and how easily he could read people's minds and intentions. Guiltily I looked to the ground.

"How do you know that?" I asked bewildered, still averting my gaze from him.

"I have had many a time to read old tales. I read once that a Dreamseer is powerful enough to change others minds by showing them the visions he had. I deem you did that to my nephew?"

Silently I nodded, no longer able to speak. It had been cruel of me to do that to him and if I ever saw Zuko again, I would beg his forgiveness for it.

"Yes. I saw no other way than to slam it into his head, quite literally. It worked and I'm not doubting my success, but it was mean. And dangerous. I will never do that again, not to anyone. I know I wield a great power, but that doesn't mean I should use it." Silence followed my quiet words, a long silence.

So long indeed, it made me look upon the kind old man again and I saw great wonder in his eyes.

"You are wiser than many a man in the Fire Nation. I knew many who wielded and still wield great power and they show no hesitation in using it to get what they desire. I'm glad now that you are here. Not only because your visions help us finding the right course to achieve our goal, but also because you are a good person. The spirits have gifted you with a mighty power far beyond any I have ever seen, leaving the Avatar aside, for no mortal person can get to the level the Avatar resides. But you are a kind woman and a strong fighter, and you trust in other people as well as you trust in yourself."

Iroh started to speak in riddles again and it took me a while to figure out the meaning of his words.

"You are talking about Chen, right?"

"Yes, I do." Iroh answered, showing his kind smile again, which made him so much more lovable. He almost seemed like a kind grandfather to me and I finally understood completely why Zuko loved his uncle so much. He didn't need to say anything, just being near Iroh gave you a sense of safety and understanding.

"Chen is a good man. He followed me when I left Ba Sing Se without hesitation. He stayed with me when I told him who I was and why I had been in the city in the first place. He even stayed by my side when I told him what has happened to me before that. I already cannot imagine being parted from him. His presence alone helps me to feel confident and self-assured. In his mind I'm not a Firebender, I'm just his friend. And I like being just that, being free of all this pressure about me, not having to care about the tomorrow all the time. I'm sure this is all very strange to you, that a Dreamseer; whose destiny it is to worry about the days to come; would actually enjoy not having to think of them, but that is the case. Besides, he knew the stories about you and Ba Sing Se, yet he stayed and valued my opinion enough to stay with me and await you here. I'm sure, in time you will see that he is a very good man and knows much about the city and its layout. At the very least he can help you planning."

I hadn't even known that I had spoken in circles, seemingly Chen's presence changed me more than expected. Only Iroh's smirking face stopped my rambling. Thankfully before I could say too much, though I supposed Iroh already assumed something like that. He was a very perceptive person, a trait he had somehow given to Zuko (or maybe he had just learned it by being around Iroh so long), but now it just provoked me to look down again, while I already felt my head getting hotter. I was embarrassed by my own words.

After a brief silence, Iroh started to question me again. He wanted to know what had happened since I had left the city, so I told him everything. Long we kept on talking like that, while I felt a drastic sense of confidence grow in me. Now we had the dragon with us and would follow his order. Whether I lived or died in the upcoming battle, I knew now that parts of my vision would come true. The Fire Nation would have to face us on the day of the comet, the day when fate was decided for an entire world.

As the sun set, we returned back to the campsite and were greeted by four tents, three of them in a pale blueish-gray, the fourth one green. Chen sat around a small fireplace together with Master Piandao and Master Jeong-Jeong. Briefly I was taken aback by the mere sight of it, it just seemed so unusual. Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom citizens sitting contendedly around a fire. Only now could I understand the confused glances that had been cast towards me and Chen in the village, it was just an unusual thing to see for anyone around us, even if we heeded that not.

We sat down to have our dinner, seemingly Chen had shown off his talent for cooking again. We talked for a while, and slowly even my nervousness around these high nobles from the Fire Nation (for in my mind, Master Jeong-Jeong was still a noble, no matter that he had been banished) dwindled until it vanished entirely. They were stunned by the fact that I was a Dreamseer and asked me to explain it to them. Slowly I felt like I was the marvel here, for while I told them what I was capable of, their eyes grew ever wider with wonder.

General Iroh also told me and Chen that he expected the other members of the White Lotus to arrive here in the coming weeks, for he had sent out a call for them to assemble here. Only then did I realise that General Iroh himself must have been a very high ranking member of the Order, if he had the authority to gather them for battle. I didn't dare to ask that, but I guessed it was true.

It seemed to me that he had made up that plan in his old head long before, before even I talked to him. He seemed so confident and self-assured that I could understand why people were once ready to die at his command. One could easily be drawn in by his presence, if he wasn't careful.

Even so, my thoughts started to stray, while I watched my new allies talk and starting to plan everything together, strategies, layouts, defense mechanisms of the Fire Nations, the best ways to attack, it was just so much for me.

I never was one for long plans, which is one of my bad habits. Usually I preferred getting pointed to the enemy and attacking him, without long planning. I guess that was because I never had received any military training so far. I only had to react to the best of my abilities and had seldom time enough to lay plans.

Absentmindedly I touched my left shoulder again, feeling once more the searing heat of the mark on it. Closing my eyes I reminded myself that I was different now, I wasn't a whore anymore. I'm not sure if I ever was. But I still felt horrible whenever I thought back to those years in the prison Yon had kept me in, like a wild beast locked in a cage, ready to strike, but unable to break free. Yet I had broken free, and like the beast he had turned me into, I had killed the human that dared lock me away.

And though I still felt guilty for it, I had forgiven myself for it. There had been no other way, for I had warned him, twice, and still he had attacked me.

Shaking my head slightly to rid it of these dark thoughts, I tried to focus on the conversation again, but found it impossible. It almost felt like one thought was chasing the next, while I slowly became worried my brain would overheat from too much thoughts piling up in it. Sensing I wouldn't be of much use anyway, I excused myself and went to the only green tent, somehow believing it must belong to Chen and me.

Upon entering I saw that indeed my assumption had been right. His bag and my small pack lay on the floor in front of two matresses that could be rolled together and stowed away in some corner when not needed, some woven carpets lay on the floor underneath it and in some corner I could even spot a makeshift bathroom, which only consisted of a bucket full of water and a small mirror. It was nothing big or luxurious, but to me, whom had spent almost two months in a cave together with someone else, it was pure bliss.

Frowning I looked into the mirror to study my face, once I was done unpacking what little clothes and supplies I had carried with me. My face was paler then usual and I looked as if I was in dire need of some sleep. I looked drained, almost as if this whole experience was slowly eating me up alive. Not that I started to wrinkle or anything of that sort, but the darker hues underneath my eyes certainly made me look older than I really was.

Dismissing the thought (for I had more urgent things to think of) I shrugged and started to undress slowly. I took off layer after layer of my clothing, laid my weapons aside, until I only wore my undergarments. Grimly I inspected the reddish burn-marks that covered my arms and legs, places where the skin had been twisted and healed again. Not too long ago a man had touched these parts of my body with a gentleness I still couldn't believe. It had felt strange, being gently touched where someone else had destroyed me. My long hair fell upon my white skin, presenting a sharp contrast of black against white, strangely making the two colours gleam ever darker.

I lifted my gaze off the burns on my arms and looked at my shoulder again. The mark was visible, a brutal angry circle, there to remind me always what I had done. And the most extraordinary thing was, I was almost glad of it. It showed me where I had been once and that I had posessed the strength to release myself from it.

Yet now I was someone else, I needn't be reminded of it. It was something that would linger in my memory for as long as I lived, even though it had happened long ago.

Knitting my brow confused I reminded myself that it hadn't been this long ago, barely half a year ago or so separated me from that time. It almost felt like it had been something in a past life, something that meant nothing anymore, yet meant everything. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am, whatever that was.

"I'm part of the resistance now." I said aloud, well aware that I was completely alone in here, for so far no one had come to look after me.

Staring into my own eyes in the mirror I silently marvelled the steely look I portrayed. I wondered if that was what others saw in me, the hardened gaze of a woman that had seen too much already. Fire smouldered in the depths of my own eyes, golden shining pools rippling under the surface, my previous statement giving me strength, lending me determination.

Before I could think otherwise, I grabbed one of the small daggers without even glancing down to look at it. The blade gleamed beautifully, a beauty so amazing I never saw the likes of it before. The lights of two small lanterns danced across the sharp edge, taking the fire in and reverting it back outwards.

Slowly I brought the keen blade up to my shoulder, pressed it into my skin. It hurt, but I didn't allow myself to flinch. I sliced through the burnt circle, setting cold steel onto burning fire, while little rivers of crimson leaked out of the wound.

I no longer was bound by the chains Yon had thrust upon me, I wasn't held down by the responsibilities of being a Dreamseer, I now was just a plain soldier, awaiting the battle ahead of us all. And even though I knew it would still take a while, at least three weeks for the comet to arrive, I felt like it was something that had to vanish from my thoughts now.

Silently I dampened a small cloth with water and wrapped it around my shoulder, knowing very well this wound would scar. And I wanted it to, I wished for it to scar. That way, everyone would be able to see that I had been freed from the grasp of men, had been set apart from being just a plain whore.

As soon as I had bandaged my shoulder and wrapped myself into my tunic again, I felt a grim smile caress my cheeks and lips.

I had freed myself and the weight was lifted off my shoulders. Through the actions I took, and through what I did now, I had redeemed myself, just like Zuko would. And I knew he would realise it, one day, just like I had this very moment.

Still smiling I laid myself onto the matress, covering me with a light blanket and my coat and slept the rest of the night away.

Okay, the ending of this chapter sort of just happened. I wanted her to do something to not only emotionally distance herself, but also physically. Maybe it sounds a bit weird, but I felt comfortable writing it and thats what counts, I guess^^

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