Zuko had been traveling on his own and living sparingly off the bag of coins Chiara had given him. After going through an ancient battlefield, he eventually reached an Earth Kingdom village not far from the Si Wong Desert. His stomach was aching with hunger, so he stopped for food.

"Could I get some water, a bag of feed, and something hot to eat?" he asked the merchant as he held out his last two coins.

"Not enough here for a hot meal," the merchant replied. "I can get you two bags of feed."

As his stomach growled, Zuko gently touched his tunic where he kept Chiara's diadem. It was after his first few days of traveling on his own that he realized she had put it in with the coins.

He nodded to the merchant who disappeared to get the feed.

"Ow!" yelled an Earth Kingdom soldier.

"Hey! You throwing eggs at us, stranger?" asked Gow, one of the soldiers.

"No," answered Zuko.

"You see who did throw it?"

Zuko turned and looked at them. "No," he said as he placed his hand on his swords.

"That your favorite word, no?" asked another soldier.

"Egg had to come from somewhere," said Gow.

Zuko turned back around. "Maybe a chicken flew over."

The second soldier laughed and Gow glared at him. The merchant returned with the bags of feed and set them down.

"Thanks for your contribution," said Gow as he grabbed them. "The army appreciates your support. You better leave town. Penalty for staying's a lot steeper than you can afford, stranger...trust me." He patted his hammer threateningly before turning to leave with the other soldiers.

"Those soldiers are supposed to protect us from the Fire Nation," said the merchant. "But they're just a bunch of thugs."

As Zuko walked towards his ostrich horse, a young boy approached him.

"Thanks for not ratting me out," he said.

Zuko mounted the ostrich horse and began to ride away, but the young boy went after him and grabbed the reins.

"I'll take you to my house and feed your ostrich horse for you. Come on. I owe you."

That night Chiara sat alone by a river. Iroh was not far away sound asleep, but she could not sleep, and she stared at the moon as she worried about Zuko and wondered where he was. She and Iroh had been tracking him, but keeping at a far enough distance that sometimes they lost his trail for a while. As she looked at the moon, she thought about their separation when she was with the Avatar. She remembered how they had thought of each other when they looked at the moon, and she wondered if he still thought of her.

That evening as Zuko was laying on some hay in the barn, he pulled out Chiara's diadem. Bright moonlight was streaming through cracks in the barn and was reflecting off the gems as he held it. The whole diadem seemed to glow as the light struck it, and it reminded him of how Chiara seemed to glow in the light of the moon. He imagined her standing on the deck of his ship, the sky sparkling with stars and the bright moon shining down upon her as her beautiful long dark locks floated about her in the wind as if she were under water. He felt alone without her presence, and he would give anything to be back on the deck of his ship watching her. Her words came to his mind, If you ever feel alone on your journey, there is somebody somewhere that loves you and is thinking about you. He wondered if she really was thinking about him. But then he remembered how he treated her by the river and how he lost control and burned her. He placed the diadem back in his tunic and closed his eyes.

Iroh and Chiara had been tracking Zuko across the southern Earth Kingdom. One day, Iroh was resting next to a boulder when he found himself suddenly propelled forward.

"Oh, that really hurt my tailbone," he said as he rubbed it. He looked up to see a young earthbender standing on the boulder.

Meanwhile, Chiara was in the woods looking for dinner, and as she was walking through the trees a large shadow traveled across the forest floor. Too large to be a bird, she looked up and saw Aang flying east on his glider. She was curious as to why he was alone and without Appa, and she wondered if she should try to follow him, but she did not want to leave Iroh behind without telling him. She continued her search for their next meal.

Iroh was pouring a cup of tea for Toph.

"Here is your tea," he said as he held it out to her.

She did not move.

"You seem a little too young to be traveling alone," he said.

"You seem a little too old," she said dryly as she took it from him.

Iroh started laughing. "Perhaps I am. But I am not alone. My daughter is out hunting for dinner."

"I know what you're thinking," said Toph. "I look like I can't handle being by myself."

"I wasn't thinking that."

"You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea."

"I poured your tea because I wanted to and for no other reason," said Iroh.

"People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me, but I can take care of myself, by myself."

"You sound like my nephew—always thinking you need to do things on your own without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you...not that I love you, I just met you."

Toph laughed. "So, where is your nephew?"

"We've been tracking him, actually."

"Is he lost?"

"Yes, a little bit. His life has recently changed, and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is, and he went away."

"So, now you're following him."

"I know he doesn't want me around right now, but if he needs me, I'll be there."

"Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it." She stood up. "Thank you."

"My pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights."

"No. Thank you for what you've said. It helped me."

"I'm glad."

"Oh, and about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him, too."

Chiara was on one knee, her bow in her hands with an arrow aimed at a lop-eared rabbit. She could not help thinking how adorable it looked as she watched it nibbling on some vegetation. She hesitated. Then she thought of Iroh, and just as she was about to release the arrow the ground started shaking and the rabbit immediately hopped away at lightning speed. Wondering what was causing the commotion, she stood up and began looking for the source, but it did not take her long to discover it as she saw the mongoose lizard some distance away through the trees coming towards her. She quickly took cover out of its path, and she waited for it to run past her. From where she hid she could clearly see the rider, and as soon as it was out of sight, she started running back to where she left Iroh.

He was sitting alone drinking tea when she finally made it to him.

"General!" she said.

"Chiara, tea?"

"No. Azula's here!"

He sat up more alert. "Did she see you?"

"No. She's heading east. I think she's after the Avatar because I saw him flying earlier in that direction. We can't let her hurt Aang."

Iroh silently considered their options.

"We'll find Zuko later," he said. "We should follow Azula."

They quickly packed up and started east where they approached an abandoned mining town. They were surprised to see Zuko ahead of them riding the ostrich horse in the same direction.

"He's after the Avatar," said Iroh.

"And so is Azula," she said. "We need to get to him."

She was ready to run towards them, but Iroh held her back.

"No, we can't interfere unless it becomes necessary," he said.

Chiara felt it was necessary as soon as she saw Zuko enter the town after Azula. "He shouldn't fight her alone."

"You cannot always rescue him, Chiara," said Iroh. "He needs to fight his own battles."

She watched anxiously.

"Do you remember on the ship how you always conceded to Zuko when you sparred?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Why did you do that?"

"So as not to defeat him in front of his men."

"You must allow him victory over Azula. She will try to hurt him, but I do not believe she will try to kill him...I hope," he added softly.

He did believe that Azula would not hesitate to kill Chiara knowing how much it would hurt Zuko and him.

Down in the town, Azula stood facing Aang.

"Do you really want to fight me?" she asked him.

"Yes," said Zuko as he jumped off his ostrich horse and stood in front of her. "I really do."

"Zuko," said Aang in surprise.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Zuzu."

Aang covered his mouth as he started laughing. "Zuzu?"

"Back off, Azula," said Zuko. "He's mine."

"I'm not going anywhere." Azula looked around. "Your little Earth tramp isn't around to save you this time?"

"No. It's just you and me."

Azula stood ready to fight, and then she made the first move sending blue flames towards Zuko who raised a shield of fire but was still knocked backwards. Aang turned around and started flying off, but Azula fired a blue flame which he deflected with his glider as he fell to the ground. Running across a roof she attacked him again, but then Zuko stood up and sent fire at her as Aang weaved his way between their flames and got behind her. Azula defended herself against Zuko while trying to attack Aang at the same time.

As soon as the fighting had started, Chiara had been anxious to go to Zuko immediately, and seeing Aang there made her even more eager to help, but Iroh still held her back.

Zuko jumped up and leaped at Azula bringing down fire, but she countered it with her own. Then she ran after the Avatar who ran up the stairs into a building. Following him, she nearly fell down to the first level as there was no upper floor. Zuko had followed them, but running in, he fell to the first floor. Azula attacked Aang again, but he flew towards her and knocked her to the first level before running out. By then, Azula knocked Zuko through the wall and he lay in the street.

Chiara could no longer be held back; she broke away and ran into the town where she knelt down next to Zuko. After feeling his heartbeat, she took off after Azula. She turned the corner and saw Katara running out of a building being pursued by Azula, and then she saw Sokka swing his machete at her, but she evaded him, so Chiara ran towards her drawing her sword.

"Beautiful mystery girl!" said Sokka.

"Chiara!" said Aang excitedly.

Azula sent several fire blasts at her which she parried and dodged.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Earth tramp," Azula said to Chiara as they all approached her.

She began sending streams of blue fire at all four of them while they defended themselves and fought back.

Meanwhile, Iroh stood over Zuko who was still lying on the ground. Zuko opened his eyes and saw his uncle standing over him.

"Uncle...," he said.

"Get up," he ordered as he helped him. "Chiara has gone after Azula."

"You're more of a traitor than I thought," Azula said to Chiara as she threw fire at her. "You're always around to save Zuko, but now you team up with the Avatar too?"

"I told you before you'll have to go through me first to get to Prince Zuko," said Chiara deeply, fighting Azula's fire with her sword.

"And I told you I don't have a problem with that."

Suddenly, Azula was knocked to the ground and behind her stood Toph.

"I thought you guys could use a little help," she said.

"Thanks," said Katara.

Azula stood up and ran off down an alley where she unexpectedly ran into Iroh and fell to the ground. Now, all of them together cornered her.

"Well, look at this," she said, "enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done," she said as she put her hands in the air. "I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor."

Her eyes scanned them all, and then they locked on Chiara's. She smirked at her and then quickly took aim and fired lightning at Iroh.

"Nooo!" screamed Chiara who had been on Zuko's left as she immediately ran to Iroh but was too late to block it.

Zuko yelled when he saw his uncle fall to the ground, and then he and Team Avatar all attacked Azula while Chiara was on her knees at Iroh's side. All four elements were fired upon Azula and there was an explosion. Chiara could not hear a heartbeat, and a heartbreaking memory of her journey through the Earth Kingdom years ago resurfaced. After the smoke dissipated, Azula was gone. Zuko turned and knelt down at Iroh's side opposite Chiara. He was hurt and angry seeing his uncle lying lifeless on the ground while Chiara was crying with her head on Iroh's chest. The others gathered around feeling bad.

"Get away from us!" Zuko yelled at the others.

"Zuko, I can help," said Katara.

"Leave!" he yelled as he threw a stream of fire at them.

They all ran away, and as the noise died down Chiara heard a heartbeat.

She sat up, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Get the ostrich horse," she said.

Zuko looked puzzled.

"Now," she demanded as she was opening Iroh's tunic. "Go find it."

Zuko, a bit shocked by her demanding tone, stood up and went to find it. When he disappeared she pulled out her small vial of water which she poured over Iroh's wound and she began to heal him. She did not care if Zuko returned while she was waterbending; she refused to rush the healing hoping she would be successful this time. She held the water over the path the lightning took trying to heal all the damage. After she did as much as she could do, she put the water away, but Zuko still had not returned. She closed Iroh's tunic and was monitoring his heartbeat when he finally showed up with their transport.

"Is he alive?" he asked.

"Barely," she answered. "We need to find shelter for him."

They gathered their supplies together, and then they made a makeshift stretcher which they attached to the ostrich horse in order to transport Iroh. They traveled east of Tu Zin to another abandoned village, and they carefully moved him to a sheltered area where he could rest quietly.

"Will he be okay?" he asked her as he was kneeling across from her.

"I hope so." She continued kneeling by Iroh's side holding his hand. She looked up at Zuko, and noticing he looked a little gaunt, she tenderly lifted his chin looking for injuries. "I have some dried meat if you're hungry," she said softly.

"Not really," he said.

When the sun went down Zuko built a small fire. Neither of them ate that evening, but Chiara sat and mended some clothes by the firelight.

"I'm sorry, Chiara," said Zuko softly after what felt like a long awkward silence to him. "I'm sorry I left you...both of you."

"Don't apologize."

"I need to apologize."

"I forgive you."

"You can't just forgive me that easily," he said.

"Why not?"

"I don't deserve it. I shouldn't have...I shouldn't have treated you the way I did."

She silently kept working.

"Please say something," he said.

"You already apologized and I forgave you. What else do you want me to say?"

"I don't know. Yell at me. Hit me. What I did to you was...shameful."

She remained silent.

"I left because I didn't want to risk hurting you again."

"I understand," she said softly.

She started putting her sewing needles and thread away. Zuko was staring at Iroh on the other side of the room and watching his chest slowly rise and fall under the blanket.

"I shouldn't have gone. It wasn't worth this happening to Uncle."

"This isn't your fault," she said. "Who could've known which of us she planned on attacking first?"

She got up and walked over to Iroh where she lay next to him and placed her head on his chest as she did when she was younger.

"Are you going to sleep there?" asked Zuko.

"I'm monitoring his heartbeat," she said.

"How is it?"

"Steady."

The next day Chiara went out hunting. She brought back a small animal, but she was disappointed to see that Iroh was still unconscious. After preparing her kill, she and Zuko ate it. Having been on his own for so many weeks, he had missed her cooking, and he ate like it was the first time he had eaten in months. It frustrated Chiara that he had refused to learn how to dress a kill in the wild when she offered to teach him, and she was worried about him because he looked so thin. As they ate, she took less than she would have because she wanted him to eat more. Zuko noticed the small amount she had, and he was just as concerned about her.

"You need to eat, Chiara," he said.

"I did eat."

"You didn't eat very much. You need to eat more."

"I'm not very hungry," she said softly.

He assumed worry over Iroh was affecting her appetite, so he did not push her. She was not talking much, and he thought she might still be upset with him for how he treated her back near the river so he avoided being too demanding with her. After eating, he pulled out her diadem.

"Why do you still have that?" she asked.

"I couldn't trade it," he said softly.

"But...those are real gems. You should've been..."

"I mean I wouldn't trade it," he interrupted.

"That's why I gave it to you."

"But it belonged to your mother."

"You're more important, and you look like you haven't eaten in weeks."

He stood up and knelt down behind her, and then he wrapped the diadem around her neck.

"I managed to survive without selling it," he said.

He stood up and sat back down across from her.

"You shouldn't have given it to me," he said.

"Then you should've learned how to dress game."

"You're right," he conceded.

For two days they remained in the shelter watching over Iroh. They did not talk much except what was necessary to speak as Zuko still felt ashamed for his behavior towards her and did not want to push her into conversation. He also noticed that Chiara seemed a little distant which he thought might be because she was afraid to be near him, so he tried to give her some space. They took turns hunting, and whenever Zuko was out, Chiara would do a healing session over Iroh's wound. On the second day after she had gone out hunting, Iroh began stirring. Zuko decided to try to make some tea as he hoped it would help Iroh when he woke up.

"Uncle," said Zuko as he watched him stir.

Iroh opened his eyes and looked up at Zuko.

"You were unconscious," said Zuko.

He tried to sit up.

"Azula did this to you. It was a surprise attack."

"Somehow, that's not so surprising." Iroh sat up and leaned against the wall. "Where is Chiara? Is she okay?"

"She's out hunting. She should be back soon." He held out some tea to Iroh. "I hope I made it the way you like it."

Iroh took a drink. "Mmm...good," he lied. He tried another sip, but started to gag. "That was very...uh...bracing," he smiled.

Zuko handed him another cup. "So, Uncle, I've been thinking..."

Iroh dumped the tea out of his cup when Zuko was not looking.

"...It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her."

"No," said Iroh as he placed his cup on the ground. "She's crazy, and she needs to go down." He stood up and he looked at Zuko. "It's time to resume your training."

Chiara walked in the door and saw him standing. Her kill and bow fell from her hands, and she ran to him wrapping her arms around him. Zuko smiled, and Iroh laughed as he returned her hug.

"Why are you standing?" she asked as she released him from her embrace. "You need to lie down."

"I was going to help Zuko tra..."

"No, you're not," she said to their surprise.

Zuko wondered if she was so angry with him that she was going to insist Iroh not help him.

"You just suffered a serious injury," she said. "You're going to rest and eat first. Then you can help him."

"I guess I can't argue with that," said Iroh.

Zuko smiled to himself. Chiara helped him sit down, and then she picked up the tea pot and poured some tea for him. She tasted it to make sure it was hot enough, but then she spit it back into the cup.

"I think this went bad."

She stepped over to the window and dumped it all out.

"I just made that," said Zuko softly.

"It didn't taste right," she said as she started making a fresh pot for which Iroh was secretly thankful.

Afterwards, she went outside to skin her game and then she began cooking it. That afternoon after eating their meal, Iroh made some more tea and began teaching Zuko lightning bending. Chiara sat with them listening as she mended some of Zuko's torn clothes.

"Lightning is a pure expression of firebending without aggression," said Iroh. "It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way the other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire. It is precise and deadly," he said as he poured some tea, "like Azula." He handed a cup to Zuko. "To perform the technique requires peace of mind."

"I see," said Zuko. "That's why we're drinking tea, to calm the mind."

"Oh, yeah, good point...I mean, yes."

Later, they all went outside where Iroh began giving Zuko instructions.

"There is energy all around us," he said. "The energy is both yin and yang, positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and in the moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together you provide release and guidance creating lightning."

He had Zuko and Chiara step back, and then he began moving, creating lightning around him before sending it off into the distance. Zuko looked on enthusiastically.

"I'm ready to try it."

Iroh rubbed his chest.

Chiara immediately walked over to him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he nodded. "Remember," he said to Zuko, "once you separate the energy, you do not command it; you are simply its humble guide. Breathe first."

Iroh and Chiara stepped back. Zuko took a deep breath. He began going through the motions, and as he went to shoot out lightning, he only created an explosion. While he continued practicing, Chiara was worried about Iroh overexerting himself.

"Why don't you sit down," she said to him.

Rubbing his chest again, he nodded, and they sat down and watched Zuko. He practiced and practiced, yet he was unable to create lightning, and after a while, he became frustrated.

"Why can't I do it?! Instead of lightning, it keeps exploding in my face, like everything always does!"

"I was afraid this might happen," said Iroh as he stood up, Chiara helping him. "You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you."

"What turmoil?!"

"Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away."

"But I don't feel any shame at all. I'm as proud as ever."

"Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame."

"Well," said Zuko more calmly, "my life has been nothing but humbling lately."

"I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know because I made it up myself."

Zuko turned and smiled at him. Iroh picked up a stick and began drawing on the ground.

"Fire is the element of power," he said as he drew its symbol. "The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will and the energy and drive to achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance," he said as he traced its symbol. "The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom," he continued. "The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace in freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humor." He smiled at Zuko who looked impassive. "Water is the element of change," he said tracing its symbol. "The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything."

Chiara, sitting in some shade nearby, was listening to Iroh's teaching, and she perked up when he mentioned the Water Nation. They looked at each other.

"Why are you telling me these things?" asked Zuko.

"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole."

"All this four elements talk is sounding like Avatar stuff."

"It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful, but it can make you more powerful too. You see, the technique I am about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders."

The sun was getting low in the sky as they stood outside practicing Iroh's techniques.

"Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy," said Iroh as they went through the motions. "A waterbender lets their defense become their offense turning their opponent's energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning."

"You can teach me to redirect lightning?" asked Zuko.

Iroh nodded. "If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your stomach. The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the sea of chi. Only in my case it is more like a vast ocean," he laughed. "From the stomach you direct it up again and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart or the damage could be deadly. You may wish to try a physical motion to get a feel for the pathway's flow, like this."

Iroh began showing Zuko the motions.

"Now, are you focusing your energy? Can you feel your own chi flowing in, down, up, and out?"

"I think so."

"Come on," said Iroh, "you've got to feel the flow."

They continued practicing.

"Excellent," said Iroh. "You've got it."

"Great," said Zuko. "I'm ready to try with real lightning."

Chiara stopped her movements and looked at him.

"What are you crazy?" said Iroh. "Lightning is very dangerous."

"I thought that was the point," said Zuko. "You teaching me how to protect myself from it."

"Yeah, but I'm not going to shoot lightning at you. If you're lucky you will never have to use this technique at all."

"Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning."

Zuko hopped on the ostrich horse and took off riding to the top of a mountain covered by clouds of a coming storm.

"You've always thrown everything you could at me!" he yelled. "Well, I can take it! And now I can give it back!" The storm began raging around him. "Come on!" he yelled. "Strike me! You never held back before!"

No lightning came.

While Zuko was out, Chiara spoke to Iroh.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him. "Any pain?"

"Not much really."

"We should go inside. I'll do a healing session."

They went inside where she treated the injury as there was still some residual damage that she would have to continue working on.

"How were you able to do this without Zuko seeing it?" he asked her.

"I sent him for the ostrich horse when I realized you were still alive. The other treatments I did when he was out hunting."

Tears started falling down her cheeks as the memories of Azula's attack on him flashed in her head.

"It's okay, Chiara. You did good."

She was helping him put his tunic back on.

"It wasn't me. I'm sure if it wasn't for your ability to redirect lightning, I wouldn't have been able to help you."

He wrapped his arms around her and held her.

"It's not your fault if you can't save everyone."

"I was sure you were gone," she softly cried.

"It's okay. I'm here."