This morning Zuko awoke to the sound of machines. Small ships that could swiftly move across the waters using the power of steam. Quickly Zuko jumped up on his feet and ran to the shores of the lake closely followed by all the others to true enough see the fire nation soldiers all ready on their way.

"They're all ready here." Zuko breathed.

"Like we knew they would be." Sokka said. "This time though. Guys. Stick to the plan!" he stated.

Katara smiled warmly at her brother. While Zuko had gotten his bath last night. Sokka had thought up a plan, like he always would.

And ones again his plan was mad yet brilliant and if anything it made Katara realize that working in secret had been their great mistake.

Both her and Zuko should just have been honest about what they intended to do whether Sokka agreed or not.

Zuko agreed as well when he heard the plan and they both apologized to Toph and Sokka.

They were all at their best… At their very best when they were open and honest with each other. And worked together!

And Sokka ones again proved himself to be an amazing tactician. As even when he didn't agree with the final decision he still made the very best out of it.

At ones everyone got to work! Zuko quickly pulled on his mask and Aang grabbed him to fly them both out to the back of the villages.

Katara hurried as well to apply makeup as Sokka positioned himself at the deepest echoist part of the cliffs surrounding them with a flute. Toph standing ready waiting for her signal. Also positioned exactly at a place where any noise she made would echo over the waters and easily reach the village.

Quietly did Aang and Zuko crawl on the rafts beneath the village to get to the front of it just as the fire nation soldiers finally arrived as well.

They both watched the small ships stop in front of the village and then, right above them the foot steps sounded.

They both looked up the cracks of the bridge they were under to see a couple of fire nation soldiers walk out.

Then one guy who looked bulkier than the rest. Fancier armour and a big scar across his face. Clearly the commander here and he yelled.

"GET EVERYONE OUTSIDE! NOW!"

And the soldiers rushed to pull people out of their houses, by force if they had to.

One guy though grabbed the commander. "Sir… I really don't think we should."

The commander huffed as he grabbed the poor soldiers hand. "I had enough of your insane rambles."

"You don't understand! He was walking through molten metal!" The soldier gasped. "Not even top level fire benders can do that! It was a spirit! These people are protected by spirits! Don't."

"How many times must I say it?" The commander asked. "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SPIRITS!" he roared as he threw the soldier out into the waters.

Boy… Zuko couldn't help but think. He really needed to spread the word about what had actually happened at the north pole.

Undoubtedly it was also this kind of thinking that made Zhao think he could totally kill the moon spirit and everything would be just fine.

Soon enough all the villagers were placed outside and forced to sit down on their knees, huddling in a group and the commander huffed as he stepped forward.

"We were showing you kindness." The commander huffed. "We could just be peaceful neighbours but you." he hissed. "You steal our food and our medicine! The destroy our factory which is essential in the war affords!"

"We didn't steal anything!" Dock shouted. "It was the painted lady! She gave us the food, medicine and healed the sick!"

"I HAD IT WITH THIS DAMN SPIRIT TALK!" The commander screamed. "That's it! You're done! This village will be burned to ashes! And you can all burn with it!" he shouted as he took a stance and send a burning blast towards one of the houses that immediately caught on fire.

At ones Zuko crawled at high speed to jump up behind the house and then spread out his hands making the fire disperse.

Back in front the commander blinked. "What the?" he asked and send another fire blast at the same house. Only to have the fire disperse and he snarled as he turned to hit one of the supporting pillars instead.

This time Aang was in range and blew the fire out with his wind.

Suddenly a soldier screamed as he pointed. "Up there! It's him!"

And the commander turned to see a figure sitting on top a house, tilting his head.

The commander hissed. "Idiot! That's just some dude in a mask!" he yelled as he send a fire blast at the figure. The fire seemed to hit as it erupted but then it was gone and so did the figure seem to be.

The soldiers all gasped as they started to look around. They all felt the wind coming from beneath them… There were strange sounds echoing from over the waters and a soldier screamed.

"The spirits! The spirits has come to punish us!" he cried as a deep fog seemed to come floating over the waters.

And then a figure… Graceful and slender came from the fogs. Gliding over the waters.

"The painted lady!" A child yelled. "It's the painted lady! I told you all!"

The commander was gasping. Stumbling backwards. "Do… DO SOMETHING!" he screamed only for the painted lady to hold up her hand and a great wind came from below knocking all of the soldiers back.

Then she raised her arms and the waters themselves rose. Tossing the small ships aside before she turned and the soldiers screamed.

It was enough. They turned around and jumped into the waters desperate to swim away. All except the commander he hissed. "No!" he hissed. "I'll deal with you myself!" he exclaimed as gracefully stepped unto the bridge.

The commander roared as he send his flame attack at her. Only for the painted lady to not even flinch and the fire seemed to harmlessly bounce right off her.

She just stood… And then from behind the lady came the blue demon figure. Jumping up from behind her and landed in front of the commander who screamed as he send blast after blast after the demon. But not a single one seemed to touch him until suddenly the demon grabbed the commander neck and held him.

The commander gasped as he swore through the eyeholes of the mask he could see some weird colour of gold. Burning like actual fire and then he found himself being thrust right into the waters.

Hopelessly the commander splashed around trying to get back up. Only as he was up a woman seemed to be standing on the waters above him. She rose her arms and allowed the waters themselves to pull him up to her eye height where he met a pair of brilliant blue eyes.

Never had he seen eyes like that before and they were filled with ice.

"This village… This river and lake is protected." The woman spoke. "Leave now and never come back!" she shouted and then allowed the waters to throw back the commander who screamed as he hit the waters again. The moment he did he started to swim for dear life.

Even if the fire lord himself asked this commander to return, there was no way in hell he ever would!

Katara smiled satisfied as she watched all the soldiers swim away as fast as she could, then she turned back to the village and saw a figure in black with a blue mask waiting for her.

The villagers all halted and then they cheered loudly as Katara returned, accepting Zukos outstretched hand to help her back on the bridge which she gracefully stepped unto and then turned to the villagers.

"Thank you… Thank you painted lady." Dock smiled as he stepped forward. "And who ever you are." he glanced at Zuko. Then back up at Katara and he blinked. "Wait a minute… You're not the painted lady." he realized. "YOU'RE THAT GIRL!"

And everyone halted Katara as well halted then removed her hat. "Yes." she admitted.

"You're a water bender!" Dock exclaimed making everyone gasp. "So that must mean you!" he pointed at Zuko. "Fire bender!"

And slowly Zuko removed his mask to reveal his face. "Yeah…" he admitted just as Aang crawled out from beneath the bridge and Sokka and Toph arrived in their little boat.

"How… How dare you?" Dock asked. "Pretending to be the painted lady!"

"HEY!" Sokka jumped up from the boat. "Those two idiots saved your ass's!" he said. "If anything you should be thanking them!"

Zuko blinked…. Was that a compliment?

"They destroyed the factory and made sure those soldiers will not be bothering you any more! So at least say thank you!" Sokka stated.

"Sokka." Katara looked fondly at him then at the villagers. "Look. I am really sorry for tricking you." she said. "But what was going on here… It was wrong. Something had to be done. And there are still things to be done." she said. "You can't just keep sitting here and hope that something happens. Someone has to be the one to do something."

Zuko looked at Katara then nodded. "Yeah." he said then turned to the others. "Look I swear. That factory is never going to run again. You have a chance now. But it's up to you to take it."

Dock squinted his eyes. "How can you promise such a thing."

Then a woman gasped. "That scar!" she exclaimed. "It's just like.."

Zuko swallowed. Now he had worn a mask his hair had become sweaty and slicked back. It wasn't covering half of his face any more.

"Yeah… I'm Prince Zuko." Zuko said quietly. "Look." he tried. "What the fire lord has done here is wrong… It's so wrong." he said. "His first priority should be the well being of his people! Not some pointless war which is ultimately a vanity project." he said. "A true fire lord should be serving the people! Rather than have the people serving him…. I know I haven't really done much." he said. "To earn your loyalty but… I hope you would be willing to give me a chance. To make things right."

"Not done much?" Dock asked. "You have done more for us in three days than Fire Lord Ozai has done in the six years he has been fire lord!" he exclaimed. "And Azulon before him."

"Heh." Zuko blushed. "Couldn't have done it alone though. It was a joined afford." he smiling putting a hand both on Katara and Sokkas shoulders as Aang stood in front while grinning.

Katara beamed then looked up. "Speaking of joined affords. What do you guys say that we clean up this lake?" she asked and everyone cheered.

As the day went on everyone went to work starting to clear up the lake. Using big nets to gather up the slug and deposit it in a isolated hole Toph had created.

Using Appa Aang had an easier time transporting down all the food and medicine they had stashed away.

In the evening they all partied and cheered in the village, inviting the Avatar gaang to party as well and they all joined in for the festive evening.

The next day the work continued, they were at a good pace with everybody helping each other. It first first though at the fourth day that finally the water looked clear again and Katara smiled as she looked down in the clear water seeing just one fish coming swimming.

"We did it!" Dock cheered and everyone cheered with him.

Zuko shook his head. "It's going to be a while before the fish and the nature will return. It is also going to take work." he said. "But at least now… This river and its nature has a chance. Please don't waste it."

"We wont." Dock assured. "Thank you. Thank you so much all of you! We will forever be in your debt!"

"Just take care of this river." Katara asked. "That's all we could ask for."

And Zuko nodded as he smiled in agreement.

In the evening Katara was sitting by the shore of the lake. Looking towards the fishing village where a warm light was shining and she smiled.

That's when Zuko approached. "Erhm… Hi." he commented.

"Hi." Katara replied as she allowed Zuko to sit down next to her.

"So… That was all pretty crazy huh." Zuko commented looking towards the village.

"Totally worth it though." Katara smiled.

"Yeah." Zuko sighed. "It has me worried though. There are more factories than just that one." he pointed out. "I wonder if my father ever bothered to visit the places where they placed the factories. I kind of doubt it."

"Well… I suppose it has to go on your to do list." Katara commented as she stuck her toe into the now clear water.

Zuko sighed deeply.

"Hey." Katara looked at him. "You didn't build that factory or any of the others. You didn't cause the war. If anything it's really unfair that you are stuck on clean up duty."

"Well… someone has to do it." Zuko commented. "Like you said… Can't just sit around waiting for someone else to rescue you. Sometimes you have to step up and do it yourself."

"But also… It's better to not do it alone. Right?" Katara asked in a smirk.

And Zuko looked at her then smiled in response. "Right."

Playfully Katara pushed Zuko on the shoulder and Zuko snorted as he pushed her back.

"Don't make me use water bending on you." Katara threatened.

"Please don't!" Zuko held up his hands. "I've been plenty on the receiving end of your water bending when you really meant to dish out the pain! I don't need that again!"

"Well. I think you're pretty safe in that regard." Katara smirked.

Zuko shook his head then he halted. "Urh… Katara."

"What?" Katara asked and Zuko reached up a shaking hand as he pointed.

Katara turned her head as well and then blinked rapidly as the mists seemed to collect itself and there… There was a woman. Her form though looked transparent as she was floating above the lake. Her garments gently flowing with the winds as she looked at them. A soft smile on her lips. "Thank you." she simply said and then simply vanished into the air.

Wide-eyed Zuko and Katara looked at the spot where the figure had been floating just a moment ago. Then slowly did they look at each other.

"Did you just see…" Katara began.

Zuko nodded.

"Wow." Katara breathed as she turned back to the lake.

Zuko shook his head. "We sure still have a lot of things to learn about spirits."

"Sometimes I don't think they have to be explained." Katara smirked. "They are part of nature. Just… Respect them and we're fine."

"Well… For the most part." Zuko commented as he shook his head. "But yeah. The fire nation sure has a lot of things it needs to re-learn."

"It'll get there." Katara smiled. "With you leading the way. It'll get."

And Zuko smiled as he with Katara just looked over the waters of the lake. "Yeah." he said.