It had been a week since team Avatar had sat up new camp in a new location.

The place they had found was quite breath taking. It was an island in the middle of a lake, filled with forest and animals for Sokka to hunt.

The lake offered plenty of opportunity for water bending practise. And even fire bending as the water was shallow at the shore.

This evening as the sun had sunk down and the sky was filled with stars. Katara was standing at the shore holding her breath. Afraid of interrupting.

Aang walked up to her. "Hey Katara what are you looking at?" he asked only for Katara to shush him and point.

"Wow." Aang gasped.

For there standing where the water reached him to the ankles were Zuko. Standing with closed eyes as a single fireball had formed in his hands, then he moved across the water moving the fireball around his body in a showcase of absolute control and elegance.

The fire itself reflected in the water surface beneath him and lid up the night sky.

"It's funny you know." Katara commented. "Before we became friends with Zuko I… I could never have imagined how beautiful fire bending can be." she had to admit just as Sokka joined them as well. AndToph who was right behind Sokka.

"You know. That makes two of us." Sokka then admitted putting a hand on Kataras shoulder as Zuko moved around in a continues flowing motion shifting the fire from one hand to the other.

His breathing constant and controlled, following the movement of his body. It was the breathing of a fire bender but the movements of a water bender and the results spoke for themselves.

Aang had pointed out as well that the breathing technique Zuko had used to breath fire was a lot like the air bending techniques the air nomads would use to blow winds.

It looked like that Iroh had probably been inspired by the air nomads when he had invented the move in the first place.

Toph sighed deeply. "I usually don't miss being able to see." she commented. "But I kind of wish I could see what you are all awing about."

"Well." Katara commented putting a hand on Tophs shoulder. "You get to see a lot of things we don't. So I think it works out."

"True." Toph agreed, even smiled a little just as Zuko finished his set and distinguished the fire making Katara sigh disappointed.

Shocked Zuko looked up, and then his eyes widened as he saw all of the others just standing there on the shore.

Sokka couldn't help himself. "Nice Dancing Zuko. You could make bank at the carnivals."

Zuko pouted as he walked through the water and up on shore proving that his feet were bare.

"Don't listen to him." Katara said. "It was just… So pretty to look at."

"Can you teach me that?!" Aang asked. "It was so cool!"

"If anyone ought to be able to do it." Zuko said his voice still a little raspier than normal. "It ought to be you Aang. You already know water bending."

"Right." Aang commented crossing his arms.

"The power of the Avatar." Zuko said. "Think about it. It's not just being able to bend the elements separately. If that was it. Having a master of each element present should be just as good as one Avatar. Your real power is that you're the only one truly able to combine the elements."

Aangs eyes widened.

"I think you should consider that when trying the different elements. How can you use it to combine with the others." Zuko said then grabbed his throat.

"No more talking Zuko." Katara lectured. "You still can't strain your voice!"

"It's been over a week." Sokka commented. "Training with Zuko is more difficult when he can't speak! When will it be okay again?"

"A few more days." Katara stated. "Hopefully Zuko learned his lesson! He needs to be more careful when pulling stunts like that!"

Almost in response Zuko made a small cough into his hand then closed his eyes. Breathing had been a little hard this week. His lungs really hadn't agreed with that absorbing of fire… That technique required some fine tuning.

Still. Zuko couldn't help but being incredible pleased with himself! This was his technique! Always had he counted on his uncle to teach him more advanced set and learn the things Azula had already learned.

But now Zuko was developing a brand new style of his own, using everything that Iroh had taught him combined with the teachings of those around him.

As well did he include a lot of the none bending combat he had been taught. Zuko had noticed and he now understood. In the past he had relied on his fire bending and used none bending combat as his fall back.

It was time to switch it around! He would rely on his none bending combat and have fire bending be the thing he fell back on! His trump card. Just like Uncle! And combining it all in all of these new techniques!

This was his, no one elses. It was new and unique and Zuko had never been so proud of himself before.

What would Uncle Iroh say?

Zuko couldn't wait until he saw the look on Irohs face when Zuko showed him! Just thinking about it he was smiling in anticipation and felt the fire flare up inside of him with an excited impatience.

"What are you so excited for Sparky?" Toph asked with a lifted eyebrow.

"Heh." Zuko spoke in a low voice to spare it any strain as he slipped a bit of hair behind his ear. "I hope my uncle will like it. I hope… I'm making him proud. I think I'll just might."

Aang smiled. "He's already proud of you. But yeah, I think he is going to love this! He'll be even prouder!" he cheered reaching his hands up in the air in a excited jump. "He'll burst from pure pride!"

"Really?" Zuko asked.

"Definitely!" Aang grinned.

Zuko couldn't help but smile amused as he kicked off the water from his feet and then took a breath, soon his feet were steaming.

"Man that's so unfair!" Sokka pouted. "Zuko never ever have to bother with having cold feet!"

"Huh?" Zuko turned to him.

"You know, when you need to sleep but your feet are just super cold! And for some reason they just wont become warm even if you're in a warm sleeping bag and the rest of you is doing fine. But the feet never will!" Sokka complained. "Of course you wouldn't know. You don't have the cold feet issue."

"I can… Warm up a stone for you to put at your feet when it's cold if you want." Zuko offered.

"You know. That would be really really nice." Sokka blinked. "Thanks Zuko."

"Now. No more talking. But more chamomile tea!" Katara instructed as she pushed Zuko in the back, back towards their camp where their three resident animals were chilling out around the fireplace.

Appa was just laying with closed eyes. Momo was on his head and Lin-Lin seemed like he had been making a nest from Appas fur.

Zuko walked over to Lin-Lin and then plummeted down to sit with crossed legs as he gently scratched Lin-Lin on the head with a finger making the turtleduck make a pleasant purring sound.

Without a word Katara started on the tea and soon everyone was sitting with each their own cup.

Toph exhaled a satisfied sigh as she sat with her own cup. "This is nice." she couldn't help but comment.

Zuko nodded, feeling a drowsiness coming over him.

"Yeah. In spite of everything. Of all the bad out there… It's really nice that things like this can never go away." Aang smiled.

Zuko smiled as well, then his smile faltered. "Erhm… Listen."

"Zuko. What do I keep saying?" Katara asked.

"Sorry. But I really need to." Zuko cleared his throat. "We need to stop this war and… The sooner the better. It needs to be done before Sozins cometh falls, in just a few months. Right?" he asked.

"Yeah that pretty much sums it up." Sokka nodded.

"I was just thinking." Zuko wet his lip. "We should take advantage of… The day of the black sun is coming up."

Everyone turned to Zuko.

"The day of the what?" Toph asked.

"Black sun." Zuko replied. "Ones in a while… The moon will cover parts of the sun. It's called a solar eclipse. When that happens fire bending will be weakened significantly… This year though. It is going to be in the middle of summer.. before the cometh. The solar eclipse is going to be total." he said. "Which means that for just a short window… There will be no fire bending at all. Not even the fire lord will be able to fire bend." Zuko sucked in a shaky breath. "If you ask me… That is our chance. Maybe our only chance. All the fire benders guarding the palace will have no power. The fire lord relies solely on the bending he will be defenceless. That would be the day to end it."

Everyone turned to Zuko.

"You're serious?" Sokka asked.

Zuko nodded. "The time of the solar eclipse is a secret only shared between the fire sages who observes the sky to figure out when it will be… And the royal family they give the information to. I only know because my uncle told me when it would be. And taught me to be on guard that day." he breathed deeply. "Not even the guards will know that they are going to loose their fire bending for a short amount of time."

Everyone was silent. Sokka frowned as he held his chin.

"It does sound like that is our chance." Sokka said. "We have to take it if we want to defeat the fire lord before the cometh."

"But… Even if all the fire benders loose their bending. We would still need to storm a palace. In the fire nation capital." Katara pointed out. "We're strong but we're not that strong. And Zuko wont be able to fire bend either! Not that you can't fight without it, obviously. I am just saying that… I mean."

"I know." Zuko assured cutting Katara off. "It's true, that would be loosing a good portion of our power. And even if it wasn't… You're right. We can't storm the palace by ourselves. We need help."

"We would need an army. Or at least an attack force." Sokka said. "An attack force for a frontal assault to draw attention while Aang needs to find a way inside of the palace for the eclipse. That would be the only way to make it work with such a short time window."

Zuko nodded. "You're right."

"But… Where would we get an attack force?" Katara asked. "Omashu has been conquered we can't ask King Bumi. The Norh Pole is to far away, we can't transport so many water tribe warriors without being discovered. Also I doubt they would even agree to be part of such a force, the still want to stay out of the war."

"The Kyoshi warriors?" Sokka suggested.

"Would be a good start. But we need more than that." Zuko said. "I'm afraid only one place is left standing who would have the numbers we are looking for."

"What place is that?" Aang asked.

Zuko sucked in a deep breath before he spoke. "The capital of the earth Kingdom. Protected both by a massive desert and the worlds greatest wall surrounding the massive city. My uncle…. He laid siege to that city ones. For 600 days and it did not fall. The home of the Earth King himself… Ba Sing Se."

They all looked at Zuko.

"That's it isn't it?" Aang asked. "We have to ask the earth King for help!"

"It might not be so easy." Zuko said. "To get inside of that city is difficult to say the least."

"I'm the Avatar though. They have to let us in." Aang said. "At least we have to try."

Zuko nodded. "Yeah. We have to try at least." he agreed. "And…. I would like to meet the earth king to." he admitted.

"Why?" Katara asked.

"Because…" Zuko swallowed. "One thing is defeating the fire lord to stop the war. Another is… To cease hostilities between leaders. I want to talk to him. I want him to know that… The people of the fire nation wants peace. And maybe if we defeat the fire lord he would be willing to enter peace talks. There might be a higher chance if I see him face to face before the attack."

There was quiet as all looked at Zuko who averted his eyes away.

"That's very wise." Katara whispered. "Yes. You're a prince of the fire nation. Someone who represents potential peace from the fire nation should talk to the earth King."

"I don't think anyone would call me a prince any more." Zuko blushed as he looked down at his tea cup. "And they probably shouldn't anyway. I'm not really a Prince."

"I have to disagree. I think you've been a pretty good prince lately." Katara smirked.

"Your royal highness!" Toph added in a smirk.

"Please don't." Zuko asked making Toph chuckle.

"So how long to this eclipse Zuko?" Sokka asked.

"Two months." Zuko whispered.

"Good. That gives us time." Sokka said.

"I guess that's settled then." Aang commented. "Tomorrow we will be heading for Ba Sing Se! So I guess we should all get some sleep tonight."

And everybody nodded in agreement. Ba Sing Se it was.