Things were certainly looking up.

Zuko smiled as and his uncle stepped out of the carriage that had brought them to the Earth Kingdom Palace, he helped his girlfriend down of it like the gentleman he is and the three walked towards the palace together. All wearing their finest Earth Nation robes. Iroh wore green, Zuko wore a reddish brown shade and Tsai's wore her trademark golden ochre.

"Many times I imagined myself here, at the threshold of the palace." Iroh commented as he held the basket of his tea supplies, "But I always thought I would be here as a conqueror. Instead, we are here as the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing."

Tsai always pictured herself here, but in her head she was welcomed as an honored guest and assigned personal guards amongst other luxurious goods. This wasn't quite what she had in mind, but it would do for now. She was excited to talk to the King. Maybe he'd listen maybe he wouldn't but she wouldn't lose anything trying.

"It sure is, Uncle." Zuko agreed with a slight smile.

Moments later Zuko sat quietly beside his uncle as he poured a cup of tea in the King's meeting room. The throne was elegantly decorated with golden figurines and a mural depicting Ba Sing Se in traditional ink brush art.

"What's taking so long?" Zuko asked warily. They had now been waiting for a while.

"Maybe the Earth King overslept?" Iroh suggested.

"No," Tsai said suddenly. "It is not customary of Earth Kingdom people to be unpunctual."

What kind of royal reception was this supposed to be? Tsai shook her head if her mother was in charge of this Royal Reception none of this would've been acceptable.

Tsai stood up and dusted her palms on her dress.

"That's it," she announced in a bored tone. "I'm sick and tired of waiting. This is unacceptable. I'm going to go find the Earth King myself."

"Have you lost your mind?" Zuko reached for her arm holding her in place.

"I'll be back soon," she simply said shaking his light grip off. "You don't even know where he is." He added crossing his arms over his chest in disapproval.

"Don't worry, I know my way around a palace." She said cockily before exiting the room.

Or at least attempting to. She was pushed back into the room when several Dai Li agents came into the room and surrounded the three.

Iroh's brow furrowed in suspicion.

"Something's not right." Zuko whispered.

Azula suddenly stepped into the room and she walked past the Dai Li agents, coming to standing in front of her brother just outside the ring of agents.

"It's tea time!" She chirped joyfully, however her tone was malicious and held a sharp edge to it as per usual.

Zuko jumped to his feet in surprise and anger, "Azula!"

Azula wore a uniform similar to the Dai Li agents including a matching emerald green bow at the top of her head.

"Have you met the Dai Li?" Azula asked lightly as she smirked, "They're Earthbenders, but they have a killer instinct that's soFirebender. I just love it."

Iroh calmly picked up his cup of tea, now standing up. "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname 'the Dragon of the West'?"

Azula rolled her eyes at her uncle, "I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle."

"It's more of a demonstration, really." Iroh replied and he calmly took a sip of the tea.

Tsai had heard this tale before, she knew what was coming. The three of them stood together backs pressed against each other. Zuko glanced over at his uncle in surprise then he smirked slightly and spun behind Iroh, Tsai quickly ducked and summoned her trusty hidden blades ready to attack if needed. The older man jumped to his feet and began breathing fire, scattering the Dai Li agents. Zuko quickly ran and kicked a fire blast at the wall, blasting a hole in it as Iroh continued to breathe fire as he walked backwards, then he ran down the hallway after his Tsai and his nephew.

Iroh ran in front of Zuko and threw his hand out, blasting another hole in the wall at the end of the corridor with a lightning bolt then he jumped out of the hole making a runaway opening and, landing in the bushes below. Tsai followed landing on a similar bush landing painfully on her bum.

"Come on!" Iroh shouted looking up when he saw Zuko had stopped at the edge of the hole in the second floor of the palace. "You'll be fine!"

"No! I'm tired of running!" Zuko shouted back in defiance and he turned slightly to glare down the hall with a determined expression, "It's time I faced Azula."

"Has he lost his mind?" Tsai said jumping to her feet and running towards the palace. Iroh smacked his head in exasperation at his nephew. He reached for the impulsive auburn-haired girl's hand and pulled her back.

"There' no time!" He said dragging her away with him.

xxx

"You're so dramatic." Azula sighed mockingly as she stopped between several Dai Li agents in front of her brother, "What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?"

"Yes!" Zuko snapped back and he shifted into a bending stance, "I challenge you!"

"No, thanks." Azula replied haughtily and she smirked evilly at her older brother.

Zuko growled and shot a fire blast at her, but two Dai Li agents intervened and deflected the blast by pulling up a section of the floor, creating a wall. The agents dropped the wall then shot their rock gloves at Zuko's feet, causing him to lose his balance and place one hand on the ground, which was quickly trapped by another rock glove. Azula smiled cruelly at her brother and turned around as the Dai Li agents captured him.

xxx

Katara scowled as she paced back and forth inside the Crystal Catacombs, stopping a moment later when she heard the hole above her open up.

"You've got company." A Dai Li agent stated then he threw someone down the hole and the person rolled forward until he landed in front of Katara.

"Zuko!" Katara gasped and her eyes widened in shock before they narrowed in anger when the scarred teen looked up at her just as the hole closed above them.

xxx

"Let's go and take Azula down once and for all!" Tsai stretched her arms dramatically ready to go and cut down Zuko's sister.

"I think if we are smart, we can take her!" She said aggressively clenching a fist against her chest. Iroh remained pensive as he processed his own very complicated plan.

"Besides," She spoke after a moment. "There's something of hers I'm itching to give back to her." She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She always kept Azula's knife hidden on her person and was more than eager to return it to its rightful owner. "Come on! What are we waiting for! There's no time to lose!"

"Tsai," Iroh said impatiently. "I thought you less impulsive than my nephew," he flashed her a rare glare that was borderline a scold. She lowered her head. She hated to disappoint him. "You're right," she sighed accepting her mistake. If they were going to do this it had to be done right.

It was then that both made eye contact and saw two Dai Li agents standing guard outside of the palace.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He said stroking his beard.

Xxx

"Are you sure they'll help?" Tsai questioned as they approached a nearby apartment. "How do you even know that they're in there? Have you known all along?!" She said tossing the body of the terrified Dai Li guard that was tied up to a corner of the hallway's balcony.

"Those who are quiet and attentive can see all, even what may be hidden right before them." Iroh spoke wisely. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. He really did sound like her grandfather. If Zuko knew that Iroh had known that the Avatar was in Ba Sing Se all along he would go fire bananas angry over this.

Iroh knocked on the wooden door and a moment later that onyx haired blind girl that they had encountered in the forest that one day opened the door.

"Glad to see you're okay," she said.

"We need your help." Iroh beat straight to the point. Tsai watched from a couple of feet away keeping watch over the Dai Li guard. Iroh went into the apartment and didn't come out until sometime later.

"I brought someone along who might be able to help us."

The door opened and outside stepped Iroh, Toph and Aang and Sokka who looked horrified when they saw the auburn-haired girl standing next to a kidnapped Dai Li guard with her arms crossed over her chest an annoyed look on her face.

"Sup," she greeted casually not particularly pleased to see any of them.

"Tsai!" Aang exclaimed his tone was more alarmed than pleased. She didn't flinch when the earthbender stomped on the ground and made two pillars rise from the ground and raise the agent up to eyelevel. He grunted and his breathing quickened. Tsai wasted no time in yanking the rag that kept him silent. He was sweating bullets and already had a cut on the side of his face that she had worked on him.

"Alright, sing," She threatened flickering her wrist and exposing her shiny blade again. The tip was still stained with his fresh blood.

He gasped and spilled all the information they needed. The guard spoke about how Azula and a man named Long Feng were plotting a coup to overthrow the Earth King. He also said that Katara was being kept in the crystal catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se deep beneath the palace. Which was probably were Zuko was being kept as well.

Moments later the gang had split up into two groups and Tsai was making her way with Aang and Iroh walking through a makeshift tunnel into the crystal cave. She had never regretted wearing a kimono dress more in her life.

Azula… She was truly vile. All this time she had been in control. Playing them like their little pawns. She wondered how long she had known that the three of them had been living in Ba Sing Se.

She wouldn't put it past Azula to betray the man she was working with and singlehandedly conquer the Earth Kingdom. Whatever was going to happen next was not good. She was much too distraught to listen to what Iroh and Aang were conversing about when Aang made a hole in a tunnel revealing a chamber filled with gleaming crystals.

"Aang!" Katara shouted happily and she rushed forward, hugging the bald boy tightly.

Aang smiled then glared at Zuko over Katara's shoulder, his eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance and distrust. Zuko glared back at him over his uncle's shoulder as Iroh and Tsai embraced him in a tight family sandwich embrace.

"Aang, I knew you would come." Katara said and she hugged Aang again.

"I don't understand." Zuko said in confusion as he looked from the Avatar to Iroh and Tsai and then he pointed at Aang, "What are you two doing with the Avatar?"

"Saving you, that's what." Aang replied snidely and Zuko growled, taking a threatening step towards him, but Iroh stopped him.

"Zuko, it's time we talked." Iroh said lowly then he looked at Aang and Katara, "Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you." He said.

"Tsai?" Aang called for her. "We'll be there soon-" she flashed him a small smile "-And ready to save the Earth Kingdom."

Aang smiled at her and Iroh and bowed down his head respectfully before exiting the chamber.

"Why?" Zuko observed the whole interaction between his uncle and the red head and the Avatar perplexed.

"Right," Tsai added softly. "You've grown so much and believe me when I say we are both extremely proud of you, but catching the Avatar is not your destiny and you have to accept that." She said in the most caring tone she could muster.

"You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been." Iroh stated seriously as he looked at his nephew. "And now you have come to a crossroads of your destiny. It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good."

Zuko's eyes went slightly wide as he gave a step back. His golden orbs bounced between Iroh and Tsai until they focused on her. He would expect this kind of thing from his uncle, but from her? He shook his head. He always forgot that they were both basically the same person. Tsai would always pick his uncle over him. Even now.

"What?" He repeated his eyes turning into slits and narrowing in anger.

"It's for the best," she reached for his hand, yet he stepped away defensively.

"You're supposed to support me Tsai."

Ah, there it was. That hot headed prickly side of the temperamental prince. She looked at him with hurt in her eyes.

"I am," she responded. Her mouth suddenly going dry, she didn't like where this was going. He shook his head rapidly from side to side in denial. She really didn't like were this was going.

"Why can't you be more supportive? Why can't you see this is the only way that we both get what we want?" He shot back angrily.

"Zuko!" Iroh growled out not liking the angry tone in which he spoke to his girlfriend.

"Not now Uncle!" He barked back rudely.

Even Tsai raised a low hand in an attempt to be polite in telling Iroh to momentarily shush and stay out of their conversation. She had a feeling that this was about more than his inner demons.

"I am trying to be supportive!" She tried to reach for his hands once again. Yet he pulled away again. Stepping away from them. Creating a small distance that suddenly seemed so great.

"I don't support this obsession because it is going to consume you alive," her tone kept increasing as her temperament reached the borderline of her already split thin patience.

Silence was his response.

"Fine!" She snapped angrily. Her head was pulsating with anger. Blood boiling.

"Fine!"She repeated. Both of her fists were tightly clenched at her sides.

"You know what?" She taunted. "The only reason your father sent you on a fool's errand to capture the Avatar was because he didn't want you. He sent you because the Avatar hadn't been seen in the past one-hundred years and he wasn't expecting you to see him for another one-hundred years- but you got lucky. You got really lucky and it spawned this unhealthy obsession that is consuming you alive!" She finished with more anger than concern in her straining voice.

"The past week- ever since you let go of-of all of this? Don't you realize how happy you were? How happy we were? Didn't you just feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders?"

Zuko face twisted into a nasty scowl his hurtful tone now matching hers. His tone just as strained, chest heaving as he felt the anger boiling inside of him ready to unleash his infamous temper.

"What about you?" He lashed out stepping forward in a threatening matter. She wanted to stand back yet managed to stand her ground proudly.

"You come down and judge me from your high ostrich-horse. You literally abandoned your family and for what? Why? Because a stranger asked you on a lame adventure?" He tossed a stretched-out arm to his uncle. "Because your grandfather kicked the bucket?" He scoffed ridiculing her life's story.

She felt a pang on her already aching chest. She fought so hard against herself to stand tall and proud. Her nostrils flared as she gave him a dark hurtful look. Her eyes dull and empty.

"And what about your plan?" He pressed on. "Your dream plan is never going to happen, and you know it," he paused for a moment and scoffed. "Not unless the war ends, and you know that soon everything the light touches will belong to the Fire Nation. The truth is you left because you were bored of your unassumingly dull life in the colonies and that's why YOU were so happy here. Because you could blame our current circumstances as your excuse to tell yourself why you are never going to accomplish anything extraordinary. That's why you abandoned your dream!"

"ENOUGH!" Iroh uncharacteristically roared stepping in between the two arguing teenagers. Both of his hands stretched out as he separated them.

Her eyes were dark, lips parted, her eyes welled up with hurtful fat tears as his words sank into her thick skin ripping into it like painfully dull knives. He had been more than mean. He had been cruel. It took Zuko a moment to realize just what he had done, the horrible things they had both said to each other.

A sudden explosion resounded in the crystal cave when Iroh was suddenly encased in a prison of crystal being unable to move. Zuko and Tsai were divided by a row of crystals with Iroh in the middle. Without a moment to react both quickly spun around and shifted into offensive stances. Zuko's eyes narrowing when he saw two Dai Li agents and Azula jump into the crystal cavern chamber.

"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle." Azula commented drily then she tsk'd, "But Zuko, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?"

"Release him immediately." Zuko snapped in reply.

"It's not too late for you, Zuko." Azula continued persuasively, "You can still redeem yourself."

"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you." Iroh said firmly as he looked at his nephew.

Tsai had been standing very still. Her heart aching. As she tried to stand her grounds both physically and emotionally.

"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Azula barked then she looked at Zuko imploringly, "I need you, Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You will have everything you want and have ever wanted."

It was completely the opposite of what his girlfriend and uncle had just said to him. He was stuck in the middle of two opposite ends. Stuck between good and evil. Right and wrong. Pinned between a wall and a sword.

"Don't listen to her!" Tsai suddenly stepped up. "You can't trust her!"

"Zuko, I'm begging you." Iroh pleaded from where he was trapped by the crystals and Zuko looked at him, "Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want." Iroh pleaded.

"Zuko please!" Tsai begged him. Literally pleaded to him her voice cracking "Please don't do this!"

Her voice wasn't the only thing cracking.

"You shut your mouth you colonial mongrel. Dare you speak to my brother like that!" Azula barked. "Your mere existence is a disgrace to the Fire Nation!" She made a gesture and before Crystals around her moved trapping her in a glass prison similar to Iroh's. She kept her neck raised up afraid that if she lowered it would puncture.

Azula gestured at the two Dai Li agents, who then Earth bended themselves out of the chamber while Zuko contemplated his choice.

"You are free to choose." Azula stated with a small smirk and she turned, following after Aang and Katara.

It took him a moment but Zuko lowered his eyes his eyes as he walked out of the chamber. A single tear slid down Tsai's face as he walked out. She felt all the air leave her lungs as if she had been punched to the gut. Her heart shattering at his betrayal. She swallowed her pride and her breathing became aggressive before her limbs went numb and cold, suddenly feeling as if they were made out of cinder and stone. Her heart shattering on the spot alongside any illusions of dreams of happiness in the future. She had lost everything.

Zuko had just abandoned the chamber betraying the two of them without turning back.

There was a moment of heavy silence in which the only sound that could be heard were the weak sniffles and cries of the broken-hearted girl.

"So that's what you're going to do," Iroh spoke after a minute of heavy silence.

"Just stand there and cry," he commented sadly. She tiptoed being able to speak properly. "N-No," she let out a weak howl.

"Let him walk away." He continued pressing on like her conscience.

She was quiet for a moment as she sniffled the incoming angry hot tears.

"You didn't ask me to come with you with the promise of adventure," she said. "You asked me so I could fall in love with him. Change him." The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She almost felt broken. A part of her shattering under the crushing cruel reality.

Iroh was silent for a moment.

"I thought he could change. That he would choose good. That he would choose you." He said, his voice soft.

Tsai nodded her head slightly, "Right…" She trailed off for a moment. "I have lost everything," she confessed. "My family, my brother, myself and most importantly my dream and for what?" She cried. Her voice louder angrier dripping with frustration.

"You have your own destiny to fulfil Tsai and it may or may not be alongside my nephew, but it you must keep fighting."

There was a heavy silence between them and Iroh lowered his head. Everything really was lost... It took her a moment for her tears to cease.

"You're right." She said determined. She rolled her eyes to look at Iroh who simply nodded at her, his eyes closed a faint smile on his face.

Feeling a sudden surge of inner empowerment and snapping out of her momentarily depression, a determined look blazed in her eyes. Iroh saw how she came back to life from her depressive wilt. She flashed a blade and began angrily chipping at the crystal that kept her prisoner. Some moments later she was free.

"Alright," she opened her palm stretching out her fingers they each let out a satisfying pop as she did. "Ready? Move aside," she said with a sly grin raising both of her hidden blades. Today they were going to take down the Fire Nation.

"Tsai," Iroh said her name sagely. "After you free me… I'm afraid I still have to ask more from you."

xxx

Iroh reached a clearing which was destroyed. Shards of crystal, rock, water and rock and other debris coated the clearing. At the end of one side opposite to a stream right under a prison of gleaming crystals kneeled a defeated Katara. Her eyes reflected a broken soul as she held the Avatar's limp, pale body in her arms. Zuko and Azula rounded her as they got ready to strike without mercy.

Suddenly, a burst of orange fire flashed before them shielding Katara and Aang from Azula's fire blast. Katara, Zuko, and Azula all turned to stare in surprise as Iroh leapt off a ledge on the chamber's wall, landing in front of the Avatar protectively.

"You've got to get out of here!" Iroh shouted at Katara who was struggling to carry Aang to the waterfall, "I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

"Very moving uncle," Azula said mockingly. "And your accomplice?" She looked around and did not realize the girl from the colonies was standing so close to her. Right in between the two siblings.

"Right here." She said darkly.

The siblings turned to face her, ready to attack. Her blades gleaming in the dim light reflecting off the crystals. Her eyes were swollen from crying and angry as she instead ran forwards towards the Dragon of the West. Behind them Katara carrying the Avatar in her arms climbed the waterfall in a body of water in an attempt to escape.

Zuko's jaw loosened when he saw her raise a blade at his uncle

"Go get her!" She cried out as she dodged a fire ball Iroh shot in her direction and ducked before sliding across the floor cooly and easily reaching her target.

Zuko's eyes went wide when she grasped Iroh's robe in a tight fist and brought the sharp blade to his neck. His Uncle opened his mouth and breathed a fierce stream of flames out from his mouth. Azula noted how she shiftily kicked one of his feet from underneath and using her weight pushed against his opposite shoulder while somehow ungracefully dodging the flames making the man quickly collapse on his back.

She had him pinned to the ground a foot stepping on his chest a sharp blade tightly pressed underneath his fat chin.

The Avatar had gotten away.

"Traitor!" She let out a heart splitting roar. Her shout echoing and resounding the nooks of the Crystal Cave. Her breathing hard as she painfully heaved over the older man. Her bottom lip trembled as a lost tear slid down the bridge of her nose. The pain almost too unbearable. Her hand holding the shaky blade trembling slightly.

She was hurt. His eyes were cold as they looked into her dark ones. Tears threated to once again spill from the windows of her soul.

"What are you doing?" Azula laughed cruelly.

"M-My best…" Tsai said in a whisper more to herself eyes wide in disbelief at what she was about to do. It took her a moment to compose herself before she stepped off the man's large body.

"He's a traitor!" She said louder finally turning to look at the Fire Nation siblings. Azula suddenly began to laugh and clapped her hands. "Very, very dramatic." She said with humor.

"He's a traitor to our Nation and must be punished!" Tsai spoke through a strained breath.

"And so are you." Azula snapped her fingers and both Iroh and Tsai were once again encased in two giant crystals prisoners of the Fire Nation. Iroh surrendered with honor lowering his hands while Tsai struggled.

Zuko's eyes darted from Iroh to Tsai in shocking disbelief. Iroh had his eyes closed and turned his head away from his nephew. The red head did the same not wanting to meet his perturbing gaze.

Xxx

"We've done it, Zuko." Azula said gleefully as she plopped herself done on the Earth Kingdom throne, Zuko standing quietly to her left, "It's taken a hundred years, but the Fire Nation has finally conquered Ba Sing Se."

"I betrayed Uncle ..." Zuko commented quietly as he stared at the ground blankly. "And Tsai…" he said a little more quietly to himself. He was… confused.

Her actions. It didn't seem like her. It went against everything she stood for.

The way she threw herself and attacked his uncle like some wild animal. He still found it hard to believe.

It wasn't her. Something wasn't right…

His heart clenched in pain when he remembered the pained look in her eyes as she stared him with a ghostly expression on her face.

"No, he betrayed you." Azula replied coolly as she stood and she turned to look at her brother, "Zuko, when you return home, Father will welcome you as a war hero."

"But I don't have the Avatar." Zuko stated in confusion and he glanced at his sister skeptically, "What if Father doesn't restore my honor?"

"He doesn't need to, Zuko." Azula said in almost nice tone and she put her hand on Zuko's shoulder, "Today, you restored your own honor."

Zuko looked away from her, his lips pursed with uncertainty.

"So," Azula said suddenly intrigued. "Your girlfriend-" She began.

"She's not my girlfriend." Zuko growled out through gritted teeth. At least not anymore. At least not after that fight… That betrayal.

Azula chuckled being the vile creature she was. "The way she came after Uncle. I really thought the fat man was done for."

Zuko remained silent. He didn't want to see her. He didn't even want to think about her.

"So what's her deal? Did she follow you around like a lost puppy from her pitiful colonial life? Hm?" Azula continued to press that hot red button.

"…Yeah," Zuko agreed after a moment. Half of him agreed in anger. The other half lied through his teeth. Despite their fight - he couldn't let Azula hurt her.

It was best to have her believe whatever she wanted.

"Pathetic." Azula scoffed cruelly.

Again, he responded with a heavy silence.

"At least she's got a good head. For a time, there I had her pegged as a traitor, just like uncle."

He'd had heard enough. It made him sick. His stomach twisted with ill feelings before dramatically storming off.

Xxx

The two most infamous traitors to the Fire Nation were being kept in separate cells in the Fire Nation's Royal Navy ship. Both of their hands and feet had been cuffed with Earth cuffs and Tsai's hidden blades had been taken away from her making her feel more naked and vulnerable than ever.

Because of this she kept her body pressed against one of the prison's walls making herself small. She knew that Iroh was doing the same on the other side.

Neither had said much throughout the entire night.

"Iroh?" Tsai suddenly asked.

She kept on replaying the events of the day in her head. Today had started as such a perfect day and had now ended… well like this… She didn't think she could reach an even lower, rockier bottom. "Are you sure what we did… Do you think we made the right decision?" She asked hesitation in her voice.

She remembered the little plan they had crafted in the spur of the moment.

Xxx

She raised an eyebrow, half not paying attention as she chipped away in an attempt to liberate his body from the crystal prison.

"I'm going to ask you to betray me." He said ominously.

"What?" She questioned an aghast expression of disbelief on her face.

Iroh was suddenly free from the crystals and calmly stepped out. She looked beyond confused and he pulled out a white Pai Sho chip from the inside of his sleeve. Suddenly it felt like they hadn't played in ages. She took her hand and placed it inside of her palm wrapping her fingers around it. It was the White Lotus, one of the rarest chips in the game of Pai Sho. A strong game chip that could change the entire outcome of any game if played well.

"I need you to return to the Fire Nation…"

"What?" Somehow, she hadn't been able to wrap her mind around the idea. Part of her felt as if she was hallucinating. Her mind and heart racing. This went against everything she stood for now. All of her growth, everything she had learned about the vile origins and horrible crimes that her people had done. How could she return back to that? She also doubted that they would receive her with open arms.

"What-but- how- I… I don't want to!" She cried out and suddenly felt like a very small child. "I don't want to!" She protested in a childlike matter. "I give up! I've lost everything already!" The hot rivers of tears began to once again spill down her face.

Breaking him out of a crystal prison was one thing but this-

"I-I can't do it," she spoke, her voice cracking.

"You have nothing to lose then…" he said sternly with a serious expression on his face. One that made her feel as if she had no choice.

"Do you want them to win?" He leaned in.

"N-No," she sobbed and began to aggressively wipe her tears again.

"Then listen carefully and do as I say…"

Iroh leaned in and together they concocted a plan to sabotage the Fire Nation. However, their meeting was interrupted by a horrifying scream echoed the chambers of the cave.

"That sounded like Katara!" She said and looked at Iroh with panic.

He gave her a knowing look and he sprinted out of the chamber leaving her truly alone.

Xxx

"Tsai," Iroh said ominously.

"There's something else you should know." He said quietly.

Again, he was silent for a moment. She heard him open his mouth and croak out two simple words.

"Your hair..."

xxxxxxxx

AN: Wow... This was more painful than I expected

I'll admit I debated whether Tsai should runaway with Team Avatar and go rouge but it was too predictable. I also considered making her turn evil but it goes against all of her growth so- here we are. Seems like we have a spy amongst our hands. Things should be interesting...