As Zuko and Sokka returned to camp that evening. They were of course attacked by the others in a second.

"Are you all right?!" Katara shouted as she grabbed Sokkas face. "You were gone for such a long time! Was everything okay?!"

"How was it?!" Aang shouted. "What did Piandao say?!"

"You guys seem hyped!" Toph exclaimed. "It must have went well."

Zuko chuckled. "It's all okay. Things went really well."

"Yeah." Sokka grabbed Kataras hands to remove them from his face. "I'm all right see?" he asked. "Master Piandao is so cool! He doesn't support the war and he agreed to teach me! I have been doing stances, and new slashes all day." he grinned as he moved around slashing an invisible sword. "And tomorrow we are going to the mountain! To do some calligraphy!" he laughed. "Jokes on him I'm all ready really good!"

Zuko looked at Sokka… Sokka was good at a lot of things. And Zuko really had to come to admirer all of Sokkas mad skills.

But drawing and calligraphy really weren't one of them. Sokka was terrible at it.

Zuko shook his head as he sighed.

"How about you Zuko?" Aang asked. "How has your day been?"

"It was… Really nice." Zuko admitted. "It was actually really good seeing master Piandao again and… We talked. He told me a lot of things." he said. "About… my uncle. And my family." he said. "I didn't even know these things." he hesitated and then looked down.

"Zuko?" Katara asked. "Zuko are you okay?"

"Yeah I… Sorry." Zuko swallowed. "Today has been kind off… It has brought back a lot of memories. You know?" he asked. Wiping his eyes with his forearm.

"It's okay." Katara assured. "Come to camp and sit down. And if you want to talk about it, we'll all be happy to listen."

Zuko nodded. "Yeah. If it's okay... I just want to. Not talk so much. If that's okay."

"Anything you want Zuko." Katara assured. "Just say what you need."

Zuko was honestly stunned. This group had always been like this but it was still a surprise to him how much lenience and understanding they had in regard to... everything really and he nodded. "Thanks."

Zuko knew he wasn't supposed to be embarrassed. And no one was judging him. But he still hated that he couldn't stop himself from crying as he sat by the fire observing Katara preparing food.

Helpfully did Katara push a fish towards Zuko and invited him to help out by gutting it for her. Which Zuko was more than happy to do. Just to have something to do with himself and his hands.

"The nature of the fire nation is so rich." Katara smiled warmly. "It's incredible. All of these fruit trees and so many fish."

"Volcanic ashes are actually incredible good for the soil." Zuko replied as he worked. "For us it is considered a part of a cycle. Sometimes a volcano will erupt and everything around it does indeed burn but… Afterwards. As everything grows back. It always grows back better and stronger than before. It's always the places with active volcanoes that has the best nature."

"Wow." Sokka blinked as he laid on his back looking up at the sky. "That's wild. You would think a land filled with volcanoes would be a wasteland. But it's the total opposite."

"I do feel it." Toph informed. "The soils here are rich and filled with life. I also feel the heat, running beneath my feet. It feels alive."

"Cool!" Aang gasped.

Zuko squinted his eyes as he felt a new wave rush over him and he sniffed.

"Zuko… Zuko are you okay?!" Aang asked shocked. "What's wrong?"

"Sorry I just…" Zuko swallowed. "Piandao he told me. About a tradition that Sozin started." he said. "Sozin… Pitched his own children against each other. Made an environment where the ones who wasn't on top constantly lived in fear of being thrown out. Azulon did the same thing with Iroh and Ozai and… Ozai did it with me and Azula."

Everyone gasped as Zuko covered his eyes.

"That's horrible." Aang gasped.

"When I grew up… I was always told I needed to be as good or better than Azula. That if I weren't strong enough I would be cast out. And I thought… I really thought it was me. I was the problem." Zuko continued as he sniffed. "But… Don't you see." he looked up. "Ozai would have done it anyway no matter what I did! It wasn't me! I wasn't the problem after all!" and he broke down crying. "So-Sorry." he managed to gasp between breaths.

"No no. Don't apologize." Katara asked. "You have been carrying around with this for a long time haven't you? It's good you're getting it out."

"We're here for you!" Aang exclaimed.

"I know I just…" Zuko swallowed. "I was always told that showing weakness is bad! That you are never supposed to be weak."

"Zuko… " Aang looked him directly in the eyes. "Weak is the last thing you are. You are quite possible the strongest person I ever met!" he stated. "All the things you've been through. And you're still being true to yourself? I mean wow." he said. "You were strong enough to admit when you were on a wrong path and changed it all. You stood up for your own people and for the people of Ba Sing Se to King Kuei. And even when it seems like the entire world is against you, you're still standing up for what you know is right." he said. "You're not weak Zuko." Aang breathed. "You're incredible."

And Zuko just broke as he leaned over and hugged Aang while he gasped for breath.

It didn't take long for all the rest to join them in a group hug.

"It's okay. It's okay." Katara whispered. "Get it out. You'll feel better when it's out." she said. "You had a knife still stuck in your wound. Right now you're pulling it out. And it's going to feel so much better when that knife is out."

And Zuko nodded as he sniffed, allowing his tears to just flow freely here where it was safe to do so. "Have... Have I ever told you about my cousin Lu Ten?" he asked.

They all looked at Zuko then shook their heads.

"You only sort of briefly mentioned him and moved on." Sokka admitted. "He was Irohs son right."

"He was awesome!" Zuko gasped. "He was with me when Iroh first introduced me to Piandao! I remember this one time Lu Ten wanted to show off so he climbed this statue of Azulon. He just wanted to show me he could do it." Zuko grinned as tears ran down his face. "Iroh had a fit! He was so afraid that Lu Ten was going to fall. But he wasn't mad."

And everyone listened as Zuko started telling his stories. Somehow both crying and smiling on the same time. And as he poured it all out. He felt lighter somehow, as the tears themselves were a weight and as he shed them he did become lighter. Just like Katara had said.

When Zuko had just been eight. He was standing at the stairs of Piandos mansion as Lu Ten kneeled down so they were now face to face.

"You be good now." Lu Ten said. "You'll stay here for the next month and Piandao will look out for you. Then your mom will come get you."

"Do you have to go?" Zuko asked. "What's so special about Ba Sing Se anyway?"

Lu Ten smiled amused. "It'll end the war." he reminded Zuko. "It's going to be okay. When we come home my dad will finally become fire lord. And then I want to see what you learned with the sword! I expect a good match against you when I come back. So you better work hard!"

Zuko nodded. "Right."

Lu Ten smiled amused. "I'll see you after we won. All right?" he asked as he reached out a hand and ruffled up Zukos hair. "Little brother." he winked.

Zuko gasped as he looked up. "But… We're not."

"Well. Honestly. From where I am standing." Lu Ten hesitated. "I kind of always thought you were my brother. Feels that way you know."

And Zuko sniffed and then he ran forward grabbing Lu Ten in a big hug as he cried.

"You really are a softy." Lu Ten chuckled amused. "Remember what my dad told you all right? If you ever need a place to go. This place will be safe. You can trust master Piandao."

"Uhu." Zuko nodded as he sniffed as Iroh came.

"Lu Ten. We need to go now." Iroh said.

"Sorry Dad. Of course." Lu Ten let go of Zuko and stood up.

Only for Iroh to also sit down as he grabbed Zukos shoulders looking seriously at him. "Now listen closely Zuko." he said. "Always listen to your mother. Okay? And stay safe. That is the most important thing of all."

Zuko nodded as he sniffed and then ran forward to hug Iroh as well.

Iroh chuckled as he hugged him back and padded his hair. Then finally let go as he stood up. "You be good now." he smiled. "Come now Lu Ten."

"Yes dad." Lu Ten smiled and he smiled at Zuko. "I'll see you on the other side cousin." he said in a smile. "When the wall has fallen and we won."

Iroh smiled as he put a hand on Lu Tens shoulder "It'll be a great day." he said and then they both turned and started to walk down the stairs.

Zuko gasped as he stood in the door watching the figures of the two men just becoming smaller and smaller. Desperately Zuko wanted to run after them. Reach for them.. call out. But he wasn't allowed to.

And then… The figures were gone. Vanished from sight. Both of them.

Zuko laid on his futon with closed eyes. He was honestly exhausted. All of this emotion took a lot out of him.

Then he felt it. The weight of a twelve year old girl taking her favourite pillow into use… Zuko didn't react. Didn't say anything.

Neither did he say a thing when Aang joined her on the other side. And then Katara and Sokka pulled their futons closer as if forming a protective barrier around Zuko.

And as Zuko exhaled he had to admit. He did feel lighter somehow. Some scars would never vanish but at least festering wounds could be cleaned and closed up.

And having siblings was not about always fighting each other. It didn't have to be like that. Obviously! Like Sokka and Katara! Like him and Lu Ten like… This entire group.

"Zuko…" Toph whispered.

"Yeah." Zuko replied quietly.

"I wish you were my brother." Toph said.

Zuko smirked as he reached down a hand and toucher her hair. "From where I am standing. I am. Feels that way you know."

And Toph beamed as he moved closer.

"Awesome… Bro."

Zuko chuckled as he ruffled up her hair. Then closed his eyes as he sighed.

They were all okay. That's what mattered.