You would think having Ty Lee and Mai present would be weird for the group. And yeah it was a little weird sometimes with Ty Lee running around.

But she was very nice and helpful. Also Katara couldn't help but be really grateful that for ones! Just for ones. There was someone else around able to cook!

"In the circus we would all take turns on cooking duty!" Ty Lee cheered happily while chopping up vegetables. "There was always something to do. So no excuses for not working on something! Mocking stables, putting up or pulling down tents, brush the horse-ostriches, wash clothes." she listed on her fingers. "And we all helped each other! Like one big family!"

"That does sound nice." Katara admitted. "And you performed?" she asked.

"Yeah! My stage name was the flying furry!" Ty Lee grinned. "I'm a trapeze artist! And acrobat! And martial arts artist!" then she sighed deeply. "I hope they are all okay… In the circus I mean. I wonder how they are doing."

"I'm sure they are doing okay." Katara assured.

"Yeah. Circus folks are a tough crowd. They are kind of used to the worst." Ty Lee sighed deeply. "I hope Pongi is all right."

"Pongi?" Katara asked.

"He's my best friend at the circus!" Ty Lee cheered with her arms up in the air. "And he's a lion-seal!"

"Oh. I see." Katara blinked.

"I love you have animals here!" Ty Lee cheered. "They are all so cute! You think they'll be my friends too?!"

"Oh… Sure. Our animal friends tend to be pretty friendly." Katara said. "Lin-Lin is kind of spoiled though. He's a picky eater and don't like it when his routines are interrupted. If you wake him up and he's unhappy he bites. Momo kind of only does what he wants, he doesn't take orders at all. Appa can be really stubborn when he doesn't want to do something."

And Ty Lee giggled happily as she finally finished cutting up vegetables and poured them up in the pot.

Soon a stew was bubbling and it honestly smelled delicious. So much so that everybody gathered around the fire all by themselves.

Even Mai who suddenly appeared, staggering out of the air temple.

Immediately Ty Lee jumped up to help her friend, grabbing Mais shoulder and let the girl over to the rest of them.

Concerned Katara looked at the other girl as she sat down, her pale face still looking a bit waxy. And her big dress seemed to pool around her right now. "How are you feeling?" Katara asked kindly.

"Like I almost died yesterday." Mai replied in a deadpan tone making Toph snicker.

Then Mai halted and she swallowed.

"Erhm. Thank you for saving my life." Mai bowed her head for them.

"Don't worry about it." Sokka shrugged. "You helped us saving Zukos life. So I think we're pretty even now."

Zuko blushed as he looked down at his knees.

"So we havn't really been introduced." Aang said. "Hi! I'm Aang!" he grinned. "You know… The Avatar."

Mai glanced at Aang then nodded. "Hello."

"Name is Toph! I'm the worlds greatest earth bender!" Toph proclaimed. "And that's snoozles! He's our class clown!"

"I am not!" Sokka huffed. "I am Kataras brother! My name is Sokka! And I keep us all alive!"

"You all ready met Katara of course." Aang beamed and Katara smiled sweetly at her.

"These guys have been so nice to me!" Ty Lee beamed. "We should totally stay!"

Mai glanced at Zuko who averted his eyes. Then turned back to Aang and sighed. "Well… I guess we are traitors to the fire nation either way now. We kind of turned on the princess and deserted the army. We're already screwed. How much worse can it get? The bitch already tried to kill me."

"Great!" Ty Lee beamed.

"That's great!" Zuko blurted. "We have been trying to collect help to… erhm." he swallowed. "All though… Now that we are all here." he sighed deeply. "I erhm. There's something I need to.. How do I say this?" he asked.

"Zuko. We talked about this." Sokka said. "We wont get angry at you for saying stuff. Even if we don't agree."

"This one is a bad one though." Zuko inhaled a breath then looked up. "I don't think we should use the day of the eclipse to defeat the fire lord."

There was stunned quiet.

"What?" Sokka asked. "Zuko are you hearing yourself? This is our chance! The fire lord wont have fire bending!"

"That's exactly it don't you see?" Zuko said. "In the fire nation. Honour is extremely important. And if we were to attack while the fire nation is defenceless. That would be considered an act of cowardliness and completely dishonourable! I would be viewed as someone who usurped the throne in the most cowardly way possible and there is no way that the fire nation would accept me as fire lord!"

"But… You'll free them! And do good things for them!" Aang said.

"But there'll always be that lingering feeling." Zuko said. "That the throne was stolen in a cowards way. And it will go down in the history books and haunt any descendants I might have. This has to be done right! I'm sorry. I know it was my idea in the first place but… It shouldn't be this way. The consequences going forward would be too severe and long lasting."

"Then what do you suppose we do?!" Sokka asked clearly frustrated. "We spend all this time. Travelling, finding allies! And you want us to ignore our chance?!"

"Well…. Not ignore." Zuko hesitated. "I thought that maybe instead we could use the eclipse to… break some people out."

There was quiet as they all looked at Zuko.

"There is still time." Zuko said spluttered unsure. "We can try to locate Suki and Uncle Iroh! And… And we can get information about people who deserted the fire nation army! Split up our troops and delegate at the different prisons!" he said. "Beside. Azula already knew what we were planning! That means the palace will be waiting for us right? They already know that we will be coming how-ever… They wont expect us to be breaking into prisons other places right? We could also try to locate the earth kingdom army they locked up. And Omashu! We can get Omashu back!"

"Bumi!" Aang gasped.

"I… I'm sorry." Zuko swallowed. "I want this war to be over as soon as possible too! But this just isn't the way." he said. "We also have to think about the aftermath. And us sneaking in and basically assassinate the fire lord it… It will have too many consequences. Like I said… honour is very important in the fire nation. There needs to be a good transition of power. And I can't… I just can't. This has to be done right. There's way to much at stake."

There was silence again as Zuko looked down.

"I'm sorry." Zuko muttered.

"No." Aang said. "Don't say that… You know the fire nation best. And you are the one we intend to be making fire lord."

"I think you're right." Sokka admitted in a swallow. "This has to be done right." he said. "Sorry. I guess I also just wanted all of this to be over with. But this new plan is good! I like this a lot! I'm all for freeing Suki!"

"And Iroh!" Toph gasped. "Don't forget Iroh!"

"I…" Katara halted then sighed. "I'm with Zuko too… What about you two." she glanced at Ty Lee and Mai.

"You're asking… us?" Ty Lee asked.

"You're not our prisoners. You can leave." Aang smiled amused. "We could really use your help. But if you rather go back to the circus that's fine too. I'm sure Pongi misses you too. And he'll be super happy to see you."

Ty Lee gaped. "Azula never asks us what we want."

"Well we are." Katara said.

"It erh… It would be great if you would stay and help though." Zuko whispered shyly.

Mai glanced at Zuko then she looked up. "I'll help." she said.

"Mai." Ty Lee gasped.

"We can't let Azula become fire lord in the future!" Mai stated. "You want help to break people out of prisons? You got the right person. My uncle is the warden of the boiling rock! I know a lot of insides about our prisons and where to get information. You bet I'm in."

Ty Lee gasped and then she smiled. "Yeah! Me too!" she said. "I'm not leaving my friend now! Oh and my new friends of course!" she grinned.

"That's great!" Aang grinned.

"Wait did you say the boiling rock?" Sokka asked. "That's where Suki might be!"

"And a bunch of other important war prisoners!" Zuko stated.

"You know I am starting to really warm up to this new plan!" Sokka grinned. "Though we seriously need to start planning and be ready!" he said.

"For now though. Let's eat. We can't work on an empty stomach." Katara said as she pulled out bowls and started pouring. Handing the bowls around as people cheered.

After dinner Zuko took a walk around the temple as he allowed the fresh night air to fill his lungs. Because of the high altitude it was colder here than it usually was at the fire nation.

He tried to go over events in his mind. And he was so glad the others had accepted his change of plans so easily. The more Zuko thought about it, the more he realized killing Ozai doing the eclipse would be a serious mistake. Even if the Avatar was the one who did it.

It would cement the Avatar as an dishonourable enemy of the fire nation. Zuko as coward who took the throne the cowards way and it just… It wouldn't be good.

And then there was Mai. Zuko swallowed as he looked at a long slim box in his hands… The box containing a black dagger.

She was going to hate it wasn't she? Who would be giving girls home made daggers? This was so stupid.

Then suddenly Zuko heard light foot steps behind him and he swirled around to wide-eyed seeing the thin girl coming walking his way.

Zukos eyes widened as he hid the box behind his back. Then suddenly became aware of his scar and pulled down his hair only to pull down too much and now it was covering both his eyes. So he could only hear Mai stopping right in front of him.

"Zuko?" Mai asked.

"Erhm… Hi." Zuko replied. "I erh. Didn't see you there."

"I can believe it." Mai replied. "Maybe you should just get that hair out of your face."

"Oh… Right." Zuko swallowed brushing his hair away from the right side of his face. Only to be faced with Mais pale face frowning slightly at him.

Her golden eyes seemed to be shining and her long black hair was still loose, now gently flowing with the wind.

"Honestly." Mai sighed as she stepped forward and removed the rest of Zukos hair from his face. "I kind of like it better when I can see all of your face."

Zukos eyes widened. "Wha-What?!" he asked.

And Mais eyes widened as she stepped back. "Nothing!" she said. "It's just… You know. It's rude to.. hide your face. Erhm."

Zuko bit his lip. "So erhm… I hear you saved me. In Ba Sing Se." he said. "Thank you for saving me. That was really dangerous."

"You saved me yesterday. So we are pretty even right?" Mai asked. "Just like Sokka said."

"Oh… Right… Sure." Zuko replied and then they just stood there. Looking pretty awkward. Zuko still with the package behind his bag and Mai glancing down. "So erhm. How have you been?" he asked.

Mai rolled her eyes. "Azula dragged me halfway across the earth kingdom and then back to the fire nation. I got a lot of dodging practise in avoiding fireballs."

Zuko dropped his head. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault." Mai said. "Azula just seriously lost her mind."

Zuko chewed his lip.

"Oh… erhm." Mai hesitated. "I'm sorry. I know she's your sister. But honestly… I can't forgive her for what she did to me. And I don't really want to."

"I understand. And you don't have to." Zuko replied. "It's really weird. I'm not sure I can forgive her either… And I'm not sure I should." he said. "But I still want her to be okay… Somehow. Pretty pathetic right?"

Mai halted then swallowed. "No." she said. "That's incredible." she moved closer to Zuko wide-eyed looking up at him. Zuko though was averting his eyes. "You still wont hurt anyone unless you really have too. That's… wow. After all that happened. And you're still exactly like that."

Zuko kept looking away.

"Hey." Mai lifted up a hand then gently touched Zukos cheek. "I really like that about you."

Zukos eyes widened and he turned back to Mai.

"I erh…" Mai retrieved her hand. "The truth is… back when I was a kid. I didn't really like going to the palace at all. But my parents said I had to. Being friends with a Princess was a big deal for them." she said. "But Azula was awful. She said we were friends but she was a bully… I hated her. I hated that place. I just had to bow my head and stay in line! She ruled us with an iron fist." she hissed then her eyes softened and she looked up at Zuko. "But I didn't hate you."

"Heh." Zuko smiled nervously.

"Going to the palace wasn't so bad after all. When I knew I got to see you." Mai smiled. A small blush covering her cheeks as she started to move closer, her lips slowly starting to perk.

"That erhm…" Zuko swallowed then suddenly took a step backwards and away from Mai as he blurted blurted. "This is for you!" Zuko exclaimed reaching forward the package and bowed a stiff bow.

Mai blinked clearly taken aback.

And Zuko just stood. In a completely static position. Holding out the package in a bowed position.

"Oh… Thanks…" Mai said finally taking the package allowing Zuko to stand back up.

"It… It's a one of a kind!" Zuko said. "Or well it should be. I made it… For you… and erhm."

Mai lifted an eyebrow. "You made it?" she asked.

"Yea-yeah." Zuko stammered his face rapidly growing redder.

"For me?" Mai asked. Now her head was red as well. "Oh." she looked down at the package.

"I… I hope you like it. I dunno. I thought you would! But now I'm not sure I…" Zuko tried.

Mai was biting her lip trying to hide her smile as finally she lifted the lid and was faced with… A beautiful slim dagger. The blade black at the darkest night and the handle in black leather to match with golden metals as decorations.

"It's erh… It's made from meteor. The same as Sokkas blade." Zuko explained. "Sokka had made his blade and I saw it. And I thought a dagger like that would suite you so much. And I asked if I could use the left overs for a dagger and he said yes and… That's it." he pointed. "I… I hope that's all right."

Wide-eyed Mai looked up at Zuko and Zuko looked back at her.

"Oh no you hate it." Zuko whimpered. "I knew it! I'm sorry I…"

Zuko didn't get a single word more in as suddenly Mai just thrust herself right on Zuko. Wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed Zuko deeply right on the mouth making Zukos eyes widen in surprise.

Then finally their lips parted and Mai smiled sweetly up at Zuko.

"So erh… You like it then?" Zuko asked.

"I love it." Mai smiled. "And I love you. And I love that I can finally help you with something." she said.

"Wha… What?!" Zuko asked and Mais eyes widened.

"I… I mean." Mai swallowed.

Zuko gulped. "I… erhm." he hesitated. Then slowly bowed down and kissed Mai too. And Mai smiled as leaned into Zukos embrace smiling happily. Then as they parted they smiled at each other.

Well Zuko supposed… This could have gone a lot worse.