Zuko was tired.

He had spent exactly three years in exile from his father, and had spent most of those days chasing the avatar. For two of those three years he believed that the avatar was dead. He thought that knowing Aang was alive would bring him hope, or at least lessen his agony a bit. As it turns out, it hurts more when you can't do something once you know it's possible.

While his uncle was getting a massage at a local Earth Kingdom spa, Zuko sat outside, watching the cherry blossoms fall. It was already spring. How could it already be spring?

He was so entranced in watching the petals that he couldn't help but let out a gasp of surprise when he noticed Sokka had plopped down next to him.

"Sorry! Sorry." While Sokka would've loved a calming massage, he could sense that something was up with Zuko. He was in a worse mood than usual.

Plus, all of the masseuses were working on straightening out Iroh's back. While they had managed to leave the Northern Water Tribe on one of Zhao's ships, which was equipped with enough supplies and food for weeks, and stop for a beach day along the way, the past month had put a strain on all of them.

"It's fine." Zuko didn't even bother to look Sokka in the eye. He didn't deserve to. He was just a failure. An exile, driven out by his own father.

Sokka thought for a minute. He wasn't good at remembering things, especially not since the past three years had practically been a blur. But he did remember that, when he was first leaving with Zuko and Iroh, the leaves on the cherry blossom trees had been this exact same shade of pink…

"Oh, man! Is it...y'know, your anniversary?" Zuko just grunted in response. He didn't want to hear any of Sokka's jokes, the jokes that Zuko knew he'd make because Sokka always tried to lighten the mood.

"Aw, I-I'm sorry. Life...life is hard, Zuko." Sokka didn't know what to say. He never knew what to say on The Anniversary. At first, he used to try and make jokes and lighten Zuko's mood. His jokes always made Zuko happy before he was exiled, but they only seemed to make him angrier when they were directed towards his father.

Iroh, who had finished getting his massage, sat down wordlessly and placed a comforting hand on Zuko's shoulder. He knew exactly what day it was; he could tell by Zuko's expression.

"You're right, Sokka. Life is hard." Zuko pulled his knee closer to his chest. "I just want my father to...to respect me. I want to be an heir he can be proud of."

"Oh, Zuko. I am sure he cares about you! Would he have banished you if he thought you were worthless?" At Iroh's slightly callous words, Zuko stood up and left. Sokka exchanged a grimace with Iroh before running to catch up with Zuko.

"Hey-wait up!" Sokka panted and placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder.

"What? Nothing you can say will make me feel better. Not unless you can tell me honestly that my father wants me back or that you have the avatar."

"Well, you know I can't do that. I don't know what Ozai's thinking or feeling. But I do know that we want you. You're great to have around, Zuko, even if you like to be all broody and focused most of the time. Ozai must have to be an idiot if he didn't want you around." Sokka spread his arms, beckoning Zuko in for a hug. Zuko, however, looked even angrier. "Now, c'mon, gimme a-"

"NO. No one talks about father like that. Especially not you. You don't know what you're talking about. Just keep your mouth shut and stay out of my way." Zuko resumed storming away.

Sokka didn't bother following him.

It had been years since Azula had seen Zuko, Iroh, or Sokka. She didn't care, really. In fact, she wouldn't have even sought them out if her father hadn't sent her on this mission.

She was practicing her lightning forms against the setting sun, trying to keep her mind from wandering to her imperfections.

Almost perfect isn't good enough. If I'm going to capture those buffoons, I need absolute perfection.

Azula redid her last form, completing it perfectly without a singular hair out of place. Lo and Li, who had been watching in the distance, began clapping softly before standing up.

"Alright, Azula. Get some rest," Lo said before entering the ship, "you'll need your wits about you tomorrow."

"You don't know what's best for me." Azula shot back, though the two older women were already out of earshot.

Azula did decide to sit down for a moment, just to reflect on her plan. Iroh, Sokka, and Zuko couldn't have changed too much from when they were exiled. They were still likely to be soft, naive idiots who had no idea what was coming to them.

Azula grinned at the thought of imprisoning her older brother. She didn't really care what happened to Sokka or Iroh after their capture, though she personally wanted to defeat Sokka in battle. She couldn't get the image of the scrawny little Water Tribe kid out of her head, running in circles around her and always claiming he could take her out with his boomerang.

Azula stood back up and took her first position, readying herself to perform her stances from the beginning.

Let's see what good your little boomerang does you now.

"Katara, Suki, I don't have time to master all four elements. The Earth Kingdom needs me now! This is the easiest way to defeat the Fire Lord!" Aang had agreed to help an Earth Kingdom general, General Fung, defeat the Fire Lord by going into the avatar state and wiping out all of his militia. Aang didn't want any more innocent people to die, and how could he reject the general's idea with good conscience if he knew so many people were being killed every day?

"Go ahead, Aang! Glow it up! It's not like we've been working for months and months on your training!" Katara stood up and started pacing. "What am I even doing here? You don't need me! You don't need the elements if you're just going to go into the avatar state."

She stormed away, mumbling something about needing a walk. Suki decided to let her breathe; Katara was vicious when she was angry, and she felt she could calmly talk some sense into Aang alone.

"Aang, we just met this guy. You really want to trust him?"

Aang shrugged, "I mean, he's on our side, isn't he?"

"He is…" Suki thought for a moment. "...you know, some people have good intentions, but don't really think things through. Our plan is really well thought out. How can you master the avatar state when you don't even have someone trained to guide you? Say you decide to go through with this. What if you're in the middle of the invasion and you snap out of the avatar state? Aang, you're still just a kid who, so far, has only mastered two types of bending. If you go through with this and then somehow lose touch with your avatar state, you're done for."

Aang wearily nodded along. Somewhere in his brain he knew she was right, but he couldn't admit it. He had already promised General Fung he'd go through with it. He couldn't back out now!

"Good night, Suki." Aang laid back down and pretended to fall back asleep.

Iroh had stopped by the beach again to pick up some pretty shells. He laid them out on the floor of the house they were staying in, much to the chagrin of Zuko.

"Uncle, we can't carry these around. We can only take what's necessary." It was enough of a hassle to carry food, water, and sheltering materials. "We have to keep moving. The avatar couldn't have made it far, we just have to keep searching."

"Aw, but Zuko, they're prettyyyy-" Sokka's whining was cut off when he noticed a shadow in the corner.

"Hello, boys." Azula stepped into the light, a mischievous smirk spread across her face.

"Azula?" Sokka hadn't seen her in three years! He couldn't help but feel more curious than scared. "What're you doing here? Shouldn't you, y'know, be doing scary Fire Princess business?"

"So quick to get to the point. Makes sense, coming from a Water Tribe peasant." Iroh had to hold Sokka back to keep him from lunging at her. "I'm taking you two home. Father has gotten wind of some plans to overthrow him, so he wants to make sure his beloved son and brother are home soon. After all," she shot a glare at Sokka, "family are the only ones you can really trust."

"Hey, watch it!" Sokka couldn't believe what he was hearing. Where would he be left without Zuko and Iroh? Would he be stranded in the Earth Kingdom, forced to move to the lowest ring of Ba Sing Se?
Or, could he finally return home, to the Southern Water Tribe?

A small part of him almost wished he could return. He wished his loyalty had an end, that he didn't care for Zuko and Iroh so much. If only he could just let them go and return to where he belonged…

"I will go if you are willing to let Sokka join me."

Azula just sneered at Iroh. "Really, Uncle? I mean, we can find you a servant as soon as we get back to the Palace. We don't need to keep this one around."

Iroh shook his head. He didn't just want Sokka around for himself; he knew that if Zuko returned home without Sokka, he'd regret it. However, he couldn't just admit that to Azula. "Sokka will be very valuable to the Fire Nation; his ideas are revolutionary." Iroh bowed to Azula. "Please, respect my wishes and allow him to come home."

"Fine. Zuzu, are you coming?" Azula turned to Zuko, who was staring out the window with a spacey look on his face. "You still haven't thanked me for telling you, you know."

"Father really wants me to come home? I can finally regain my throne?" Zuko couldn't believe what he was hearing. It almost sounded too good to be true! But why would Azula lie about something like this, something so important like bringing home two exiled members of the Fire Nation?

Once Azula had left, Zuko started pacing around the small, abandoned house while Iroh and Sokka sat on the floor.

"We're returning home! Father really does care about me!" This was the happiest Zuko had sounded in three years, which is why it pained Sokka to burst his bubble.

"Do you...really think Ozai regrets what he did? Like, he's had three years to think about how he exiled you. Three years! Did he just wake up today and think 'gee whiz, I really miss having my son around, even though I scarred his face and banished him'" Sokka winced, realizing how harsh his words sounded.

"Maybe! You don't know what he's thinking!" Zuko fired back, "all that matters is that father wants me home. If you don't like it, you don't have to come."

"Zuko, we care about you!" Iroh exclaimed, "besides, in our family...deception occurs more often that you may think. If my brother wants you home, I don't think it's because he regrets his decisions." Sokka nodded along with Iroh's words.

"You both have no idea what you're talking about." Zuko was fuming. "Besides, why should I listen to either of you? Uncle, you're just a lazy, gluttonous, shallow old man who's always wanted the throne for himself. And Sokka, nobody even wants you to come! Spirits, I'd be happier if you didn't come with us back to the Fire Nation!"

He shouldn't get emotional. Zuko was just angry, Sokka knew he was just angry. Even still, he couldn't stop the tears from brewing in his eyes. "Fine! Maybe I'll just stay here. Good luck without me, prince jerk-wad." Sokka stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him. Where was he even planning to go? Was he really going to let his only friends leave him? He had been so, so grateful for Iroh's suggestion to Azula to let him return. Why was he blowing it?

Whatever. Maybe-maybe I'll catch a boat to the Southern Water Tribe. He tried to convince himself of the plan while he walked off into the chilly night.

"Katara, you were right." Aang was sitting up in his bed, having just awoken from a nightmare. He'd dreamt that a version of him with glowing eyes and tattoos had just used water bending to haul him off of the ship. This alternate version of him had been aiming towards a scared Zuko when Aang woke up.

"Thank spirits, you've come to your senses." Katara sighed and woke Suki up, who was sleeping next to her. "Suki, Suki, Aang's not gonna go through with it!"

"Wh...but will he listen? General...whozit?" Suki tossed and turned while she mumbled, trying to go back to sleep.

"In the end, it's Aang's choice. And I think you're making the right one." Katara smiled at him before laying back down and wrapping an arm around Suki.

Both Iroh and Sokka had decided to bail on going home to the Fire Nation, much to Zuko's chagrin. He hated to admit it, but he would miss them both. As he walked towards the Fire Nation ship, he couldn't help but wonder what would become of his beloved uncle and his best friend. He was so engrossed in his thoughts he almost missed the voice coming from behind him.

"Wait, wait!" Iroh called.

"Uncle! You're coming after all!" Zuko couldn't help but smile. However, the sadness still didn't leave his eyes. Where was Sokka? Had he not returned the night before, had Uncle not been able to find him?

"Family sticks together." They looked at each other fondly for a moment before Iroh broke the silence, saying what they both were thinking. "I wish Sokka had decided to come."

Zuko nodded absently. He would miss Sokka, but he couldn't do anything about it now. "At least we're finally going home."

Unbeknownst to them, Sokka was hiding in the bushes that lined the trail down to the ship. Before he left for home-well, what he should consider his home-he wanted to see Iroh and Zuko off. He still didn't trust Azula, not after all of the stunts she's pulled in the past.

"Brother, Uncle. I'm so glad you could make it." Her smile actually seemed genuine to Sokka. Could she really be bringing them home for good?

"I'm ready to go home." Zuko murmured in a voice Sokka could barely hear.

"You heard him, Captain. Set a course for home!" Azula nodded to the captain of the ship, who was escorting Iroh and Zuko up the ramp to the ship.

"Alright, men! Let's get these prisoners on board and set a cou..." The commander trailed off once he realized his mistake. He had meant to say guests instead of prisoners, but it was too late. The secret was out.

"Please, your majesty, I-" Iroh immediately yanked the commander to the side and began to swing his fists towards the other soldiers, who had begun to close in on the two. Sokka saw the scene unfold and sprung into action. He hadn't heard what exactly happened, but he wasn't surprised. Azula was always up to no good.

Zuko began throwing punches as well, though he didn't need to. Right as he was about to throw a soldier overboard, a boomerang flew forward and hit the soldier in the head.

He's still here…? Zuko looked to the left and saw Sokka standing on shore, boomerang in hand.

He couldn't process that right now. Zuko was too focused on the anger beginning to fester, clawing its way from his stomach and spreading all throughout his body.

"You lied to me!" He spat at Azula, who simply scoffed.

"You're really surprised, Zuzu?" She backed onto the ship and the last of her soldiers began shooting flames towards him.

Aang had been running around all morning, trying to avoid the general's attacks. He hadn't listened to Aang's wants and still insisted on forcing him into the avatar state, this time using violence.

"Appa! We're leaving" Aang shouted and Appa appeared in the air and landed on the ground, waiting for Aang, Suki and Katara to stop fighting and to hop on.

General Fung had other ideas. He began to twist the ground around Appa, entrapping his paws in a layer of earth. The bison began to rumble and howl as he kept sinking lower and lower, until he was up to his stomach.

"Let Appa go, now!" Aang rushed over to the general and began to beg. "I'm trying to get into the avatar state, I am! But doing this isn't gonna help!" Tears flowed from the boy's eyes. He stared at Appa as he sunk deeper and deeper into the sand, his growls becoming increasingly more frantic.

"You could save him if you were in the avatar state," Fung sneered, "this is your last chance, Aang."

Aang sprinted towards Appa, though when he went to reach for the bison, he disappeared completely under the ground, and Aang's fingers only managed to grab air.

Zuko had managed to ditch the soldiers and leave the ones who were still standing for Iroh and Sokka to fight. He had climbed up the ship and managed to come face to face with Azula. He began to spin his arms, creating a swirl of fire, and directed it towards his sister. She easily dodged, and when he came lunging at her with fire in his hands, she was able to push him away.

"You know, father thinks you're a failure and Uncle a senile old bag of bones!" She grinned wickedly. "He only wanted to lock you two up so you'd stay out of his way for good."

Zuko continued to lunge and blast fire towards Azula, but it was no use. Every advance he made, every attack he planned, she was able to dodge and strike back threefold. Eventually, she was able to grab his wrist and throw him to the ground. While he lay in a daze, Azula began to create sparks from her hands: blue sparks. As the sparks turned to full rings of lightning, she aimed her hand towards Zuko. Before she could strike, however, Sokka ran up to Zuko and began dragging him away while Iroh stormed up to Azula and grabbed the lightning from her palms, redirecting it towards the shore.

Aang.

Was.

Pissed.

He had finally managed to get into the avatar state, but at the cost of his best friend's life. He wasn't going to use his energy to fight the Fire Lord for General Fung. No, he was going to go after the general himself.

"Aang, Aang! Your Bison is safe!" General Fung had rushed over and bended Appa back to ground-level. The bison shook out his fur and began panting before running away from General Fung. "I just wanted to trigger the avatar state!" Aang crashed back down to the ground and caused the earth below him to erode and rise, knocking soldiers off of their ostrich horses and General Fung off of his feet. He then sent out a strong gust of air which destroyed the surrounding buildings.

Aang stomped over to Fung and blasted him against the surrounding rock wall using a gust of air. Once Fung hit the wall, Aang collapsed. Katara was just barely able to catch him before he hit the ground.

"These three traitors must be found and reported to me. If you harbor any of them, you will face my wrath!" Azula towered over a group of Earth Kingdom citizens, a poster of Iroh, Sokka, and Zuko in her hand.

The trio had managed to flee the ship and put enough distance between them and Azula to be safe. Once they reached a nearby river, they decided to stop and rest.

Zuko took out his knife. They had all heard Azula's warning; her voice was as loud and as powerful as her actions. He knew that they all had to hide.

He ran the knife along the top of his head, cleanly slicing off his ponytail so that way only a square of hair remained.

Iroh took the knife next and cut off the section of his hair that was tied to the top of his head. It was a small knot, but it was enough.

Sokka's hair style was hard to miss. It signified who he was: an outcast who didn't really belong or come from anywhere specific. In order to blend in, he'd need to make some serious changes.

He pulled a spare hair tie from his pocket, took the top layer of his hair and tied it behind him. The rest of his hair he carefully sheared off with the knife, until all that remained was the ponytail. As the last of his hair fell into the river, he couldn't help but feel lighter, almost free. He could finally become whoever he wanted! No more "Sokka the useless one," or "Sokka, the one who doesn't really belong." Spirits, he didn't even have to stay Sokka at all.

"Hey," Sokka, turned to Zuko suddenly, a grin on his face. He was tired of all the angst and sadness that had been surrounding them recently. He hoped that with these haircuts could come a new chapter in their lives, a happier one. "You kinda look like an egg with only that square of hair on your head."

"Zip it, ponytail."

"Whatever you say, egghead."