"What on earth is that thing?!" Sokka gaped as the entire team Avatar finally stood a top the wall gaping as they were looking down at the monstrocity nearing the wall.

Then they all turned to look at Zuko.

"What?" Zuko asked. "You think because I'm fire nation I know? I have no idea what that is!" he exclaimed then looked at Sokka and everyone else turned to Sokka.

"Oh because I am the plan guy you think I have a plan?" Sokka asked. Then he looked at Aang and everyone looked at Aang.

"What? Just because I'm the avatar you think I know how to save everybody?" Aang asked.

"Isn't that how it is supposed to work?" Sokka asked.

"That's a lot of pressure!" Aang exclaimed loudly.

"What do you think you are doing up here?!" A new man asked and they all turned to see a middle aged man in uniform with a sour look on his face.

Zuko frowned as he looked the man over. The uniform was a guards uniform, the medals on him suggesting high rank, but the man underneath was pudgy and didn't have the posture of a warrior at all.

Yes Zukos uncle was kind of pudgy to, but his stands and way of moving was still very different and a dead give away to those who knew what to look for. Even when just dressed in rags Irohs stand would be firm.

This man while dressing like a soldier, even a commander. Was no fighter at all! There was no way he had ever faced a real fight by himself.
At best a pencil pusher who had been promoted over the years for his dedicated service… In the accountants office… And only promoted by those who wished to stay in power themselves so they made sure that those working under them were weaklings that would never cause trouble.

Zuko had grown up among military and soldiers, he had seen it all before. This guy probably thought he was a big fish, from a wealthy family which bought him his first position. But he was just a pawn in a game he probably didn't even know he was a part of.

"Who are you?" Aang asked innocently, unlike Zuko clearly taken back by the confrontational man.

"My name is General Sung." The man spoke in a very important voice.

Zuko couldn't help but lift an eyebrow… General? Really? Yes the fire nation had pencil pawns like him but they never made it to General. Like the fire lord would ever accept that kind of weak people to represent his army.

It just made Zuko wonder who was actually in charge around here and why they were playing this dumb game.

"I am the one in charge of defending and keeping order on the wall. And civilians are not permitted here." Sung spoke in a very important voice Zuko was only all to familiar with… Well. Usually the people speaking like that actually had combat experience to back up their claim to relevancy… Not this guy.

"Oh. That's great." Aang said still a little stunned. "I'm the Avatar! We can help you defend the wall against the fire nation."

"Defend the wall?" Sung asked then laughed a pompous laughter. "What for? No one has ever breached the wall."

"The Dragon of the west did." Toph pointed out.

"Well… He was dealt with. Obviously." Sung replied.

"Liar." Zuko said and Sung turned to him.

"Calling a General of the earth Kingdom a liar?" Sung asked. "Do you know what the punishment for that may be?"

"Don't know. Don't care." Zuko said. "You were loosing that siege. You lucked out that General Iroh abandoned it when he did. And it wasn't because he was loosing. He was winning."

"Then why would he abandon it?" Sung asked in an important voice. "That makes no sense."

Zuko shrugged. "Even if it was true that Ba Sing Se dealt with the near breach. You weren't part of it. You were in some basement signing papers."

"How dare you!" Sung spluttered. "What does a child know?" he asked.

Zuko was not impressed at all. He had faced actual threatening and dangerous men in his young life. Stood close to them. Sung was not one of them.

"Fine. If you are so great. You handle that." Zuko gestured with his head.

"Zuko." Aang gasped.

"No. Let him handle it." Zuko encouraged.

"Handle what?" Sung asked as he finally walked to the wall to have a look himself and then he paled. "What on the holy earth kingdoms throne is that?"

"That would be the fire nation. About to attack your wall." Sokka said. "Maybe you want our help now."

Sung huffed as he stood up and straightened out his uniform. "It is not needed! We have a defence force for exact circumstances like this. The Terra-team. They will take care of it."

"That…" Sokka halted. "Okay that's a pretty cool name."

"Will that be enough though?" Katara asked.

Zuko shrugged. "Let them have a go."

Sung snorted and turned around on his heel already dimissing them to get his strike force.

Aang though looked nervous as he glanced at Zuko. "Are… Are you sure?"

"I know his type." Zuko sighed deeply. "He wont be talked out of it. He has to be proven wrong. So well, let him send his team. Either they really are as good as he say and we are fine. Or he is going to be proven wrong which will be more efficient than us trying to tell him otherwise."

"Where have you met guys like him?" Sokka asked.

"Have you any ideas how many Captains, commanders, Generals and Admirals I had to deal with the last three years?" Zuko asked. "All trying to assert their own authority and proof that they are a somebody. And they like to proof that by gloating over those in a lesser position than themselves. Which would be me. So yes. Every time the ship needed some sort of maintainence or when I had to deliver report. It was such a joy." he drawled sarcastically.

"So they bullied you to make themselves feel better huh." Sokka commented. "That's kind of pathetic isn't it?"

"Yeah." Zuko sighed deeply. "Made me want to capture the Avatar just to proof those guys wrong."

They all looked up at Zuko.

"Well before I joined you guys! Obviously!" Zuko stated.

"You know what's weird about this?" Sokka asked. "I actually don't blame you at all."

Zuko looked back at Sokka. "Thanks I guess?"

"They were just bullying a kid!" Sokka continued.

"Look. You don't have to rub it in." Zuko groaned.

"Generals bullying a thirteen year old? Man, some fire nation army!" Sokka continued.

"Okay now shut up." Zuko groaned as he turned around and walked away.

"Heh. I think we wounded his pride." Toph smirked amused.

"That's so mean though!" Aang cried out. "A bunch of adult men just bullying a kid! No wonder he always tried to act scary!"

"Well Aang." Katara padded him on the head. "Now he's with us. So you can give him all the hugs and kisses he missed out on."

"But… Zuko hates hugs." Aang said making them all chuckle amused.


Ming gasped as she looked down the wall, holding her child tight. "Even here…" she whispered. "How ironic. We flee from our own nation and they come. Even here."

"They wont come inside. I wont let it happen." Zuko assured.

"But General Sung said." Ming gasped.

"If he can't handle it. We'll step in." Zuko said. "Right now. I need all of you guys to go down in the city and stay low. You have to remember you can't tell anyone that you are fire nation. And neither that I am here."

"We understand." The old man swallowed. "Prince Zuko. Thank you." he asked as he bowed and everyone respectfully bowed for Zuko making Zuko feel incredible self aware.

"It erhm… It's the least I could do." Zuko said. "A Prince's duty should be to his people. Not the other way around."

"Let me help you fight against these invaders." Zhau-Li asked.

"No. The Avatar, his teachers and I will have it handled." Zuko said. "Zhau-Li. I want you to take care of these people! That's the responsibility I give to you now. Take them safely to the city, protect them. I hope I can go see you soon." he said. "And then when the time comes to take Caldera and I do need your help. I will send a warhawk with a message."

Zhau-Li nodded seriously. "As you wish Prince Zuko."

Zuko nodded then seriously turned to the others. "Follow Zhau-Li." he asked. "And stick together. You can remember, that even though you are in the earth Kingdom you are still all fire nation. And one day you will be able to return. That's my goal now. A Fire nation you can be happy to return to as I will need your help to rebuild it."

They all nodded seriously and ones again all gave one last bow before they followed Zhau-Li towards the stairs where they could vanish down in the massive city and Zuko kept looking after them.

Just as they had gone Sokka approached Zuko. "Hey Zuko. The Terra team is back and… It's not looking good."

"Yup. That went about as well as I exspected." Zuko sighed deeply as he turned around to face Sokka.

"You expected them to fail?" Sokka asked.

"Yup. There is no way that Sung would have any team of actually competent soldiers. He's there for show, and so is his team." Zuko replied dryly. "So can we help now?"

"Yeah. He finally gave in." Sokka nodded.

"Sounds about right." Zuko nodded. "I wonder what fire nation General is inside that thing though." he frowned as he crossed his arms.

"I think I have an idea." Sokka said and Zuko looked up.

"Yeah?" Zuko asked.

"The Terra team they retrieved. They were attacked by a girl who was able to Chi-Block all of them." Sokka said.

Zuko looked up. "Ty-Lee." he breathed.

"And if Ty-Lee is there then." Sokka swallowed.

"Azula." Zuko whispered and he looked at Sokka who wide-eyed looked back at Zuko.

"So erhm Zuko… How deep shit are we in here?" Sokka asked.

"My advice." Zuko said. "Better pinch your nose and hold your breath. This will probably get really ugly."

And Sokka winced obviously not looking forward to this at all.