"Hiya… Ha… Ha." Sokka gasped as he made swing after swing with his sword. Sweat dripping from his forehead while the moon was shining above them.

Not far from them Aang and Toph was squeezing in a little earth bending training and and at the camp Katara was cooking a bit of rise.

"You're tense." Zuko informed Sokka putting hands on his shoulders pushing them down. "Lower your shoulders. Remember your breath." he said. "It's better to do it slow and do it right then just push through."

"Sorry." Sokka gasped for breath. "I just… I have to get stronger! Isn't there a way to do this quicker?!"

Zuko couldn't help it. He turned his head but still a snort escaped him.

"What? What's so funny?" Sokka asked.

"I.. I'm sorry." Zuko couldn't help but laugh. "But I am seriously turning into my uncle! You are acting just like me! And here I am asking you to relax and have a cup of tea! What's going on?!"

"Well." Sokka stood up. "That's not such a bad thing is it?" he asked. "I honestly like you way better this way anyway."

"I do too." Zuko commented standing with his hands behind his back. "I hope he's okay." he whispered looking up towards the stars.

"It'll be to risky for Ozai to execute him." Sokka reminded Zuko. "And ones you are fire lord you can just free him. It'll be the safest and easiest way to free him."

"Yeah… I know." Zuko sighed deeply. "Still. Even if Ozai can't execute him. There are so many other things he can do."

Sokka sighed deeply putting a hand on Zukos shoulder. "I'm sorry buddy." he said. "I'm sure your uncle will be all right though. He doesn't look like it, but he is one tough nut!"

Zuko smirked. "Yeah." he agreed.

Soon they all gathered around the fire and got a bit of plane rice. Aang was in a high mood as he had found a whole bunch of fruits which was very easy to gather at this very lustrous area filled with plants and trees and then he went through them one by one in front of Zuko. "Can you eat this?"

"No."

"How about this?"

"No."

"What about this one?"

"Yes. But you need to cook it first."

"How about this?"

"Yes. And you all ready showed me that one."

Aang grinned as he put his finds in three piles. Uneatable, eatable. And needs to be cooked.

Zuko shook his head as he reached out picking up a fruit with a prickly shell he started to peel off to get to the pink juicy meat inside only for Lin-Lin to squawk up and Zuko shook his head giving him the peeled fruit taking another one for himself.

"I wonder how dad is doing." Sokka suddenly commented out of the blue.

"He better take good care of Sparky junior." Toph said. "He's my spare!"

Zuko turned to Toph.

"If I loose my best pillow." Toph grinned as she leaned on Zuko only for Zuko to shake his head.

"How do you think Kuei is getting along? He's with the refuges and Smellerbee right?" Katara asked.

"Jet…" Aang breathed. "He didn't look good at all when we saw him last."

Zuko was quiet as he looked at a fruit in his hand and he swallowed.

"Thinking of Iroh again Zuko?" Sokka asked.

"Well him too." Zuko said. "And… Mai." he closed his eyes.

"Oh." Katara realized and they all silenced.

"Well. Ahem." Sokka cleared his throat. "She is one badass lady."

"Yeah." Zuko smiled lightly. "She knows how to take care of herself."

"Of course she's not as badass as Suki! But you know." Sokka silenced. "Suki…" and he swallowed.

"I… I'm sure they are all okay." Aang said. "And when we defeat the fire lord! We'll make sure that they are going to be okay! All of them!" he stated. "The water tribes men and Zhau-Li. Kuei, the refugess, Smellerbee Longbow and jet." he started to count fingers. "Mister Iroh. Suki and Mai! They are all strong and smart and they are going to be okay!"

"Yeah." Zuko sighed as he leaned back. "Still… Would be nice to know what they are doing."

"YAAAAAHHHH!" Sounded the yell as all the water tribes men cheered and clinked mugs of beverage together.

"For another successful raid!" Bato cheered.

"Another group of people free!" Tomkin yelled happily as earlier in the day they had raided a prison transporter ship that had transported earth kingdom prisoners and all had been freed while the fire nation ship had been left behind.

"And this guy!" Inuk one of the men cheered as he grabbed Zhau-Li and pulled him in, then gave him a big nookie. "This guy running circles around that commander! That's our guy!"

"Heh." Zhau-Li blushed deeply. "It was nothing." he said.

"Don't be modest." Bato asked as Zhau-Li was let go. "Without you addressing the ship first and making them lower their guards. It wouldn't have been possible to surprise them." he said. "In fact… I think it's only appropriate that..." he turned to Hakoda. "Don't you think chief?" he asked.

"I do." Hakoda said. "Zhau-Li. Please stand." he said.

Zhau-Li blinked but did as he was told and Hakoda stood up as well.

Then the water tribes men smirked as slowly they started to hammer their hands on the deck in the same rhythm and then chanted.

"Push and pull. Tui and La. Push and pull. Ocean and moon. Push and pull."

Wide-eyed Zhau-Li looked around and then Hakoda stepped forward until he was in front of Zhau-Li. He lifted a hand and every one quieted.

"Zhau-Li!" Hakoda proclaimed. "Today you showcased bravery and loyalty! We were able to depend on your skills and your attention. That is the mark of a true tribes man." he said as he picked up a bowl offered from one of the others. "In our tribe. Everyone must pull their own weight and we must know that we can rely on everyone around us. Thus we are brothers and sisters." he said. "Zhau-Li! I would like to offer you a mark! To you I would like to give the mark of the loyal! He who doesn't falter and will always be dependable. And thus even as we one day part ways, you will still carry this mark and you can consider yourself an honorary brother of our tribe!"

Zhau-Li gasped then nodded. "It would be my honor!" he stated.

And Hakoda smirked as he dipped a thumb in the bowl and reached up. "Then receive. The mark of the loyal." he said while painting on Zhau-Li's forehead. "Zhau-Li! Our newest brother!"

And everyone cheered as Zhau-Li blinked honestly stunned as he turned around then looked at Hakoda who smirked amused. "The mark washes off don't worry." he said as he reached behind his belt and pulled out a white dagger. "Take this. To remember these days." he asked offering Zhau-Li the white knife. "This knife is made from the tusk of a sabre-whale. If you would allow me I would like to engrave the mark of the loyal on it for you later."

Zhau-Li nodded as he held the knife. "Thank you." he whispered. "I'll keep it safe!"

Hakoda smirked as he put a hand on Zhau-Li's shoulder. "We want you to be our equal as long as we are together. Not just a trespasser. And as you leave to serve your Prince. we want you to remember what you learned here. May it serve you well."

Zhau-Li nodded. "It is a great honour sir."

And Hakoda laughed loudly. "Well I suppose ones fire nation always fire nation!" he shook his head.

And Zhau-Li blushed a bit embarrassed as everyone laughed, then invited Zhau-Li back down for another round and Zhau-Li grinned as he joined all of his new so called brothers while they all cheered.

"Auw!" Kuei hissed and then had to stick his finger into his mouth and sucked just as he had cut it all up why trying to chop up veggies. That made it Kueis sixth finger to get cut…. In a day.

Smellerbee groaned. "Stop putting yourself on kitchen duty!" she asked. "At this rate there will be more royal fingers than actual potatoes in our stew!"

"But I want to learn how to cook!" Kuei said. "Everyone cooks. All except me it seems." he sighed deeply.

"Urgh." Smellerbee groaned. "We don't have that much food! And so far you managed to burn the fish, turn rice into mush, used all our salt to make the stew uneatable, made soup crunchy, beef black on the outside but red on the inside. You're wasting our food!"

Kuei looked up at Smellerbee with shocked, yet innocent and honestly apologetic eyes. "I… I'm sorry." he whispered. "I just… I just." he swallowed. "I really want to learn." he said. "But everything I do I am terrible at." he squinted his eyes. "I can't build houses. I can't hunt or gather. I'm a terrible lookout. I can't even defend myself. I can't do anything. And I was put in charge of an entire kingdom? What kind of madness is that?" he asked grabbing his face.

Smellerbee quieted then she sighed. "I'm sorry." she said. "We are running a pretty tight ship here and it's just… You."

"I know. I'm messing it all up." Kuei said.

"Well you are trying. You are definitely trying." Smellerbee commented as she thought back on all the incidents in the past and then looked at Kui who turned his head away in shame. Smellerbee sighed as she sat down. "You need to be better at listening." she said. "You are not stupid. Clearly! You just need to learn that's all."

Kuei nodded but still looked away.

"Try cutting again." Smellerbee asked. "But this time…. Slowly. It's better we have late dinner than you loosing all of your fingers."

"Okay." Kuei finally nodded. "Thank you."

Smellerbee smiled as she stood up. "No problem." she said then continued her road through the little villages they had all managed to create together here in the woods. It was still pretty crazy. Here she was. Helping fire nation citizens to stay safe and somehow… Smellerbee had actually started to like all of these assholes.

It was like Aang had said. They were just people.

Then Smellerbee's eyes were drawned to Jet whom was mindlessly walking and Smellerbee sighed.

Jet had yet to speak a single word since the day she had found him being with the Avatar. His eyes were still empty and people had started to call him "The zombie."

Not that Smellerbee could really blame them there. And she walked over to Jet. "Jet." she took his hand. "We've been over this. Don't walk off again."

Jets face kept pointing towards the woods, his eyes just as empty. And then he took another step.

"Hey! No. We need to go back!" Smellerbee exclaimed only for Jet to shake his head. "Jet?" she asked. "Jet… Are you seeing something?" she asked.

Jet didn't reply but then took a step and Smellerbee hesitated.

"Okay… What-ever you're seeing. Let's check it out." Smellerbee whispered and she allowed Jet to take her into the forest.

They kept walking and Smellerbee actually started to feel nervous. But somehow Jet seemed to be moving with purpose. Which hadn't happened before while he had been like this.

And then suddenly Smellerbee heard it. It sounded like a bird but was actually a whistle, only one person could whistle like that and Smellerbee gasped. "Sne-SNEERS!" she shouted and turned to Jet. "You heard Sneers! That's what that was!" she cried. "Come on we gotta go find him!" she cried as she held Jets hand tightly and ran. "SNEERS!" she yelled. "SNEERS CAN YOU HEAR ME! SNEERS!"

And then a pudgy teenager appeared. "Smellerbee!" the boy gasped. "JET!" he shouted and Smellerbee let go of Jet as she ran into Sneers embracing him.

"How… How did you find us?" Smellerbee asked with tears in her eyes. "How did you know we were here?"

"I didn't! I was just practising my whistle." Sneers laughed. "Jet!" he looked up only to halt. "What's wrong with Jet?" he asked confused.

"He.." Smellerbee halted turning to Jet who still stood with empty eyes. "It's a long story. We were in Ba Sing Se. And these bastards took him and did something to his brain." she said.

Sneers was quiet as he looked up at Jet.

"Look I know it doesn't look like a lot." Smellerbee said. "But he has actually gotten better. In the beginning he wouldn't even walk on his own. And I had to feed him… But now he feeds himself."

Sneers looked up at the older boy and then his eyes watered.

"And.. And it was Jet who heard your whistling first!" Smellerbee exclaimed. "He came looking for you! I'm serious!" she said. "He can hear us Sneer. I know it doesn't look like it. But he can!"

Then Sneers sniffed and he ran forward. "JEEEET!" he cried and then embraced the older boy. "I'm sorry Jet! I'm sorry I ditched you!" he said. "That's not what I… I…"

And then Smellerbee saw it. Jets hand lifting and his hand touching Sneers hair and she smiled.

"Come to our village Sneers." Smellerbee invited. "We got a lot to tell you."

Sneers nodded. "Looks like it huh."

Smellerbee smiled as she nodded. "Come on then." she said taking Jets hand so she could guide them back.

And that evening… Smellerbee had a shock.

This stew… Wasn't terrible! It was actually eatable.

"You know you were right." Kuei smiled. "I needed to be better at listening! And I promise! From now on I'll listen and keep doing my best!"

Smellerbee smiled. "You know it's all right if you don't get it at ones." she said. "It's not your fault nobody taught you anything. Things are going to take their time, but we'll get there. Right Jet?" she asked looking up at the boy sitting next to her.

He didn't reply.

"We'll get there!" Smellerbee. "It is going to take the time it takes. But we are all going to get there!"

Iroh sighed deeply as he looked at the now empty cup in his hand. "We're in the finest city in the fire nation. And still no one knows how to make a proper cup of tea." he shook his head. "What is the world coming to?"

The cell Iroh was in was small and made of iron. Placed below ground where there was no windows to offer him the soft touch of Agni doing the day.

It was the prisons dedicated to royal and noble prisoners. A bit outside of the capital under one of their shrines.

Iroh sighed as he leaned back just as foot steps came down the hall and a man in uniform glanced down at Iroh. He didn't say a single word and then reached into his armour pulling out a little document which he quickly offered to Iroh. Giving a slow nod and walked off in his route.

Iroh was quiet as he quickly smoothened out the parchment.

"Not sightings of Prince Zuko or The Avatar."

And Iroh smiled warmly as he looked at the words before he allowed the small paper to light on fire and the words vanished with the ashes as Iroh leaned back with a smile on his face.

It was the same news every day and they were amazing news each and every time. "I'm looking forward to hear of all the things you are up to now." he whispered under his breath. "Nephew."

The same news were giving to another person at that time. Unlike Iroh though, to Azula these were the worst news.

"Where is he?!" Azula screamed as she flipped over her table.

Mai shrugged. "Maybe the ground swallowed him."

"I want every village searched! Burn down every forest if you have to!" Azula seethed at the Captain. "I am going to find little Zuzu and I will find the Avatar. Even if it's the last thing I'll do I'll find them!" she stated. "GET OUT OF HERE!"

"Yes Princess!" The Captain bowed and hurried outside.

And Azula screamed as blue fire came out of mouth scorching the room they were in.

Oddly enough Mai didn't feel scared. Her face was placid and then she stepped outside to allow Azula to rage. As Mai stepped out she allowed a smile to grace her lips.

"So you're not a total idiot huh Zuko." Mai commented out into the air as she leaned up the wall. "Good… I'm glad." then she smirked.

"AZULA! You're going to burn the house down!" Ty Lee shouted as she came running past Mai and was about to run into the room where Azula was. Only for Mai to grab her, stopping Mai for enter. "Mai." Ty Lee looked up.

"If she wants to burn it down. Let her." Mai said. "Let her scream, rage and shoot lightning. Come on, let's get out of here." she said taking Ty-Lee with her.

"But… Mai." Ty Lee tried.

"Seriously. I don't want you to get hurt." Mai instructed a bit more strictly.

"Oh… Okay." Ty Lee nodded allowing Mai to take her outside. "Thank you… I suppose. But Azula."

"I don't care." Mai plainly stated and Ty Lee wide-eyed looked up. "You heard me. I don't care about her or her shit. And neither should you."

Ty Lee gasped as she covered her mouth.

"The day she stops treating us like her god damn servants. And think it's okay to bully us and use fear. Then I'll might try to listen." Mai said. "Until then. She can screw me for all I care."

"Don't say that!" Ty Lee cried. "What if she heard you? What if she hurt you?" she asked her eyes filled with tears as her body was shaking.

"And you think this is okay?" Mai asked. "That she can control us with this… Fear?" she asked.

Ty Lee swallowed then closed her eyes.

Mai shook her head. "Come on. I saw they were making Miso noodles in the other camp. I'll get you a bowl."

"Tha-Thanks." Ty Lee sniffed as she dried her eyes. "Sorry I'm so… So."

"It's all right." Mai assured. "You know I'm your friend right?"

"Yeah." Ty Lee nodded. "I know. We'll be okay… We'll be okay."

Mai sighed as she looked up. Well maybe not. But in her own case it was worth it. It would be great the day she got to see Zuko again and this time could look him in the eyes without any shame or fear.

And it isn't even for you any more Zuko. This… This is all for me! I am doing it for myself.

Still… I wouldn't say no to a little thank you kiss.

Mai didn't know how. But she had a feeling that things would turn out fine. Somehow. And she kept her mind on that as she guided Ty Lee to the promised Miso Soup which tasted amazing and really did cheer Ty Lee up.

Yup. Azula could rot. They were fine.