Jeong Jeong groaned deeply as he snapped his finger, making a little flame appear which he then used to light his long pipe. Sucking a bit on the pibe to make the tobacco take to the flame, and finally he inhaled a big cloud of smoke before exhaling blowing the smoke into the room inside their tent. "I can't believe you old fools got me into this."

"I had nothing to do with it." Pakku snorted as he crossed his arms. "The north pole has its own troubles. We were invaded."

"You can't be that surprised can you?" Jeong Jeong asked. "Ones the fire nation had taken the earth kingdom you would be the last ones on the list. The fire lord doesn't know when to stop, he is as arrogant and narcissistic as they come. Of course you were going to be invaded sooner or later."

"They hadn't taken the earth kingdom yet at that time." Pakku snorted. "And even if they had. The only reason they managed to gain an advantage was because their foolish Admiral decided to kill the moon spirit!"

Jeong Jeong glanced up. "Zhao?" he asked.

"Yes." Pakku replied in a snort.

Jeong Jeong shook his head. "Foolish boy. Somehow it had to end like that."

Piandao sighed as he shook his head. The trio was stationed inside of Pakkus private tent. Enjoying a bit of tobacco and a glass of something a little stronger, away from the more noisy colourful company outside.

"So then. What do you think?" Piandao asked.

"The boy?" Jeong Jeong asked. "It's hard to say. The Prince definitely has Irohs morals and perhaps even his spirit. But is that enough?" he asked as he put his pipe into his mouth. "I ask him what he wants. Is it to become the greatest fire lord in history? To rebuild the fire nation to be greater than we have ever seen? No… He wants to drink tea with his uncle."

"That is much like Iroh though." Piandao said. "Iroh found solace in admiring the smaller things in life, and being gratefull for such simple pleasures as the company of friends and a spot of tea."

"It was when he found that solace he stopped being the ones great General and Dragon of the west." Jeong Jeong pointed out. "He wouldn't even challenge Ozai for the dragon throne. He could have saved us a lot of mess by taking what was already rightfully his."

"You all ready know it's not that simple." Piandao sighed deeply. "He had to be broken before he could rebuild himself. And broken he was."

"Indeed." Pakku commented. "How I remember the first time meeting him. A sole fire nation man, sneaking his way into the north pole. Seemed like suicide." he rolled his eyes.

Indeed Pakku remembered, an odd man. Wrapped in furs to keep him warm from the bitter cold. He had managed to sneak himself into the city of the north pole, and even towards the spirit oasis. But as far as Pakku concerned. This was how far this man was going to go.

Pakku had taken a fighting stance in front of the sacred pond, his eyes narrow. "Not one step further stranger!"

The man obscured by a hood gritted as his hands tightened into fists. "I have come to far to be stopped now." he said. "Just one step more. And I can see my son! That's all that matters!"

"This place is the most sacred place to be found among the water tribes! You will not enter!" Pakku informed. "Be warned! I am Pakku a water bending master and you will not get any closer to this pond!"

Then a pair of hands reached up and finally grabbed the hood lowering to reveal a gaunt looking face.

The man looked starved, his eyes and cheeks sunken in, his hair looked poor around his face as it fell freely in long grey strains mixed only with a few hairs of brown.

Even so, there was fire in the mans eyes. "You will not stop me!" he stated. "I warn you now!" he took a stance of his own. "I too am a bending master! If you do not want to get burned. Step aside!"

Pakkus eyes widened. "Fire nation…" he whispered. Then his eyes turned cold. "Then there is no question!" he stated and raised his arms to send a wave of water towards the stranger who lifted his arms and from them sprung fire which pushed the water away.

Pakku seethed as he made attack after attack, but with an elegance that did not fit the appearance of this other man. The shorter man dodged and slid, coming closer and closer until he was right in front of Pakku holding up a fist filled with fire.

"How?" Pakku asked.

"I studied all four bending elements." The Stranger replied. "I found that to fight an earth bender it would beneficial to know exactly how an earth bender fights! And I would assume the same goes for a water bender. So I studied! Even to know how an air bender breaths has its benefits!"

Then Pakkus eyes turned cold again. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I am the dragon of the west!" The man seethed as sparks came from his mouth. "And you are in my way!"

Pakku was just about to answer as suddenly, the pool behind them erupted in a sharp white light! Wide-eyed Pakku turned around to see a pillar of light coming from the pool itself.

The stranger gasped. "So it's true… It's here." he stepped forward.

"Hey wait!" Pakku hissed. "Not one step further!"

The stranger didn't seem to listen as he kept walking towards the pillar of light. Then Pakku had to cover his own eyes as the light blinded him.

And then he swore he could hear whispers… Spirit whispers.

"It's time…. Iroh of the fire nation. Time for you to realize your true destiny."

Iroh? Pakku gasped as he looked up. Wasn't that the name of the bloody crown Prince?! And then suddenly, the shadow of the man just vanished into the light. And so did the light itself… And there was nothing.

As Pakku carefully stepped forward to look down at the two koi fish looking so innocent as they swam in their circle. And Pakku gasped… They had taken him! The spirits had taken this intruder!

Pakku swallowed as he backed away. It was better to not question the spirits wisdom. It had been said that Tui even had the gift of foresight, able to glimpse into the future and thus plan accordingly.

If Tui had allowed this then… Pakku swallowed then fell to his knees. "Forgive me spirits. I could not put up a better fight." he whispered, then shivered. He had no idea what the spirit world would be like, but he knew he would not want to be lost in there. Even a part of him hoped that the spirit would have mercy on this man.

Gently Piandao was taking a sip of his own drink. His favoured fire whiskey. A fire nation delicacy.

"Am I to understand you trained Zuko in his even younger days?" Pakku asked.

"I did." Piandao nodded. "He was a diligent and hard-working student. Who respected the blade and his master."

"And Prince Lu Ten?" Pakku asked.

"A bright young man. Eager to proof his worth. Proud and with much potential." Piandao replied. "Truly it was a shame."

"I never had children myself. Can't say I understand." Pakku shrugged.

Piandao smirked. "Seems to me though you took quite the shine to Katara."

"If I ever were to have a gran child. I could only hope she would be exactly like Katara." Pakku plainly stated. "There would be no better heir."

Jeong Jeong lifted an eyebrow. "Even if she's a girl?"

"I have no idea what you may be referring to. And if you know what's best for you. You will keep your mouth shut." Pakku stated in a sniff.

Piandao sighed deeply. Ah yes Lu Ten, he remembered those days. How could he not?

In spite of Irohs short stature, the man had seemed powerful. There was strenght in his steps, and his rich voice which would speak loudly.

There was though no question, that there was nothing Iroh loved more in this world than his children… yes. Plural. Children. Any idiot with two eyes would be able to see how Iroh dotted on the younger one and praised him to the skies at any oppertunities. Just like he would with Lu Ten.

Iroh would even send Piandao tons of letter pleading for Piandao to teach Zuko the way of the sword.

The general would be going to Ba Sing Se soon, and his little nephew needed a place to go! Somewhere safe! And Zuko was sure to be every bit the student Lu Ten had been. Well according to the letters.

And finally Piandao had given in and seen the boy for himself… honestly quite surprised to see this shy, rather nervous little thing whom barely dared look Piandao in the eye. That was much different from Lu Ten who had always been filled with confidence much like his father.

Piandao agreed, he would train Zuko. Offer the young prince a place to go if it was ever needed while Iroh was away with Lu Ten.

Iroh had been so sure he would return in triumph. He had seen it in a dream when he was just a teenager, a vision. The conquering of Ba Sing Se by him. It was his destiny… Or so Iroh believed.

Piandao found out through a newspaper… Lu Ten… Prince Lu Ten was dead. And so was Fire Lord Azulon… Ozai had wasted no time crowning himself fire lord.

Where was Iroh?

A year passed… Iroh was assumed dead. What else could it be… He was dead.
Zuko had not visited the mansion for that full year and Piandao had to believe this was it. He would no longer see the young prince or anyone from the royal family.

Then suddenly one night, a brilliant light shone in Piandaos garden and Piandao gasped. A light like that? It had to be the work of spirits!

Just in time did Piandao reach his front yard as the light went away and left behind a figure.

Piandao halted. The figure was wearing nothing but worn out rags. His hair was fully grey and his face sunken in and then slowly he lifted his head revealing his face.

Piandao gasped shocked! "Pri-Prince Iroh?" he asked.

It was hard to believe! Three years ago he had seen Iroh last, and the Iroh back then had been youthful and full of energy. His hair full and brown, his face shining.

Now it looked like all life had been sucked out of him, his eyes were filled with endless sorrow and it looked like he was carrying all the burdens of the world on his shoulders. "Where?" Iroh asked, his voice sounding unusually rasp and weak, then he glanced around before he looked at Piandao. "Master Piandao?" he asked.

"You… You're dead." Piandao gasped.

Iroh frowned slightly. "Not… Quite." he informed. Then shook his head. "Though I fear I'm." he held a hand to his head. Then stumbled forward.

"Prince Iroh!" Piandao gasped as he ran forward just as Iroh collapsed on the ground.

Piandao fell down to his knees as he grabbed the prince and turned him around. "Iroh…" he whispered then yelled. "FAT!" he shouted. "Fat I need help! Now!"

Together Piandao and Fat had managed to move Iroh inside and into a bed, then they managed to examine him though thankfully all that seemed to be wrong was malnourishment and exhaustion. Both fixable.

The next morning Iroh had woken up and seemed much more aware as Piandao offered him tea and broth.

"Thank you kindly for your hospitality." Iroh said as he placed a fist into the palm of his hand and bowed his head for Piandao as well as he could from his bed.

Piandao frowned lightly as he looked at Iroh. "It's not every day a dead Prince shows up at your door step."

"Dead?" Iroh asked.

"You have been gone for a year." Piandao informed.

"Oh." Iroh realized as he looked down. "I see. I suppose I should send word to my father then. It should be a relieve to him that I am well."

Piandao halted and Iroh glanced up.

"What?" Iroh asked.

Piandao swallowed. "I am unsure how to tell you this." he said. "Your father… Fire Lord Azulon." he hesitated. "He died shortly after you vanished. Ozai is now the fire lord."

Iroh silenced as he looked up. For a moment he looked shocked and then slowly he lowered his head. "I see.." he said. "And what of…." he halted. "Is Zuko doing well?" he asked.

"I have not seen him for over a year." Piandao informed. "But from what I hear he is doing well. Now he is the Crown Prince. The future of the fire nation is with him."

Irohs mouth thinned as he looked down at the broth. "Forgive me Piandao. You have been most kind. I would just… like to be alone. If that is quite all right."

"Of course." Piandao stood up. "Call if you need anything."

"Thank you very much." Iroh replied though he didn't look at Piandao, instead he closed his eyes and respectfully Piandao left the room.

Iroh had stayed at Piandaos mansion for the next couple of days to recover. Though one thing was clear. Iroh was not the same man he had been before Ba Sing Se.

And then finally Iroh came clean. "I was in the spirit world." he informed. "I've been given a mission. May it absolve me of my sins. Though I doubt that is possible."

Piandao looked seriously at Iroh and then Iroh reached into his pocket and pulled out a Pai-Sho tile. The white lotus tile. "Let's play a game. I have a proposition for you."

Piandaos eyes remained on Iroh and then he nodded. "I'm listening." he said.

And here Piandao was. Looking at the lotus tile in his hand, turning it between his fingers.

"Any word from Bumi?" Jeong Jeong asked casually.

"Not anything else than the usual." Pakku snorted. "Wait for the right moment. That crazy old fool."

"To think that Ozai renamed Omashu New Ozai of all things." Jeong Jeong commented as he bit on his pipe. "If I didn't already know he was a narcissistic fool. Iroh was a lot of things in his youth, but at least he wasn't that."

"Did you ever serve under Iroh?" Piandao asked interested.

"I'm his senior! The only reason he could command me around was because he carried the title of Prince." Jeong Jeong snorted. "When he was a Captain I was a General if you please. And ones he made it General I was about to make it Admiral."

"So you did know him back then." Pakku concluded.

"Oh yes. When we were both young and foolish." Jeong Jeong rolled his eyes.

Yes how could Jeong Jeong forget. The first time he met Captain Iroh… Oh excuse me Prince Iroh. As the young man that had a cheerful pep in his step blatantly walked unto Jeong Jeongs ship.

Jeong Jeong bowed as was the costume. "Prince Iroh." he greeted the younger man.

"No no." Iroh held up a hand. "When in the military. We only respect the ranks which has been earned. The title of Prince is what was merely given to me, it was never earned. Captain! I earned that by myself. And I will earn my future ranks as well."

"Huh." Jeong Jeong looked at the shorter man with new eyes.

"I heard a lot about you General Jeong Jeong." Iroh smirked. "And I studied your tactics! Your ambush on the south earth kingdom army. Brilliant."

Jeong Jeong smirked. "I'm glad to see it being appreciated."

"We are going to accomplish the impossible you and I. I can feel it." Iroh grinned as he stepped towards the railing and looked towards the ocean. "We'll conquer the world and safe it from itself! Then I'll be fire lord of a new and bright world and run a tea shop on my days off."

"Tea shop?" Jeong Jeong asked curiously. "May I ask why a tea shop?"

"Because I like tea." Iroh grinned. "You get to talk to so many interesting people by offering them tea!"

Jeong frowned as he looked at the young man. How old was Crown Prince Iroh supposed to be now? Around thirty he believed, just about to turn thirty at least. What a curious man.

"So let's drink a cup of tea!" Iroh then stated.

"Now?" Jeong Jeong asked.

"Is there any better time?" Iroh asked and Jeong Jeong shook his head. Well, Iroh sure was to make an interesting fire lord.

How times changed… Many years later. Decades. Jeong Jeong was running for his life.

"THERE HE IS!" sounded the shout. "WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO KILL! HE'S A TRAITOR!"

Fire and arrows flew towards Jeong Jeong, and then one hit him. "URGH!" Jeong Jeong hissed as the arrow had embedded itself into his back but he kept running. He didn't know where to go though… He was surrounded… Jeong Jeong closed his eyes. He had been prepared for this. Deserting meant death… Very well then. He did not regret turning his back on this cursed nation.

"Over here!" a voice suddenly called and Jeong Jeongs eyes widened as he turned his head to see a man in the bushes. Covered in a robe with hood. "Quick!" the stranger waved.

Jeong Jeong hesitated… Well he was already about to die so what did he have to loose really? And quickly he followed the stranger man.

Quickly the hooded stranger ran until they were by a river and there was a small vessel and they both jumped onboard as the stranger threw away the robe so they could sail to the other shore.

Finally Jeong Jeong got time to look at the other man, whom looked to be both shorter and more broad than himself. He frowned and then finally the other one let down his hood making Jeong Jeongs eyes widen.

"General Iroh?!" Jeong Jeong asked, then he huffed as he took a stance. "Came to finish me yourself?"

Iroh lifted an eyebrow. "Why would I do that?" he asked. "I spend all this time trying to save you just to kill you? That seems like a bit of a waste of energy don't you think?" he asked amused.

"Then what is your game?" Jeong Jeong asked. "Why are you here? I was lead to believe you were enjoying your pension cruising around the world."

"Is that what they call it?" Iroh asked. "Well. I I suppose I would call it spending some quality time with my nephew. He's a delightful young man!" he smiled. "When he's… erhm. Well. He's a troubled young man let's say."

Finally it became clear that Iroh was not going to take any stances and so Jeong Jeong stood back, looking honestly confused at Iroh. He really had no idea what this man wanted.

"Could I offer you some tea?" Iroh asked.

Jeong Jeong was quiet but then finally nodded. This meant that Iroh desired to talk, at least that was familiar.

"Don't look so nervous. Things may not be like they seem." Iroh said then his face turned more serious. "You realized the truth as well. Haven't you?" he asked. "The world is out of balance and everyone is being harmed because of it. And… It's the fire nation who is the culprit. The two of us, and so many others. We are at fault. We were wrong. I was wrong."

Jeong Jeong's eyes widened in surprise. This was the greatest surprise yet. To hear the great Iroh actually say that out loud.

"You're ready now too." Iroh said in a slow nod. "We must talk."

Now Jeong Jeong was looking at the tile in his hand. It was the same tile as Iroh had handed him that night and explained him everything. Since then they kept in contact through letters, coordinated. Delivered information to each other in secret… it had been essential to Jeong Jeong. That people would give him information on the movement of the fire nation so he could keep himself safe. So really, Iroh had been saving his life many times over by now.

"You really think it will be so different now?" Jeong Jeong asked. "We were young too ones. Young and utterly foolish."

"The spirits had a plan." Pakku said. "It was sat in motion years ago. And now it's time. It is coming to fruition."

Piandao shrugged. "I don't know about spirits." he said. "But I do know that giving up is never an option when in combat. You fight with what you have. And as for the future, if it will be any different. Only time will tell I suppose."

"It is remarkable though." Pakku commented. "This kids have collected allies from across the entire world."

"The Prince doesn't seem to mind walking among all these different kinds of people." Jeong Jeong admitted. "And he will make a point out of looking them in the eye while talking to them."

"So you noticed." Piandao smirked.

"I noticed. Little brat even looked me directly in the eye as we spoke." Jeong Jeong sighed. "He has principles."

"Iroh raised him well." Piandao said in a nod.

"He's not quite like Iroh though." Jeong Jeong stated. "Iroh was never shy like the boy is!"

"Nor as sensitive." Piandao nodded. "The kid was a wreck when I first taught him. Afraid of harming anything. He wasn't very keen on fire bending either back then. Afraid he would burn someone on accident."

"Really?" Jeong Jeong asked. "That's curious."

Pakku shrugged. "A bender must stand strong and trust his element. Well, hope the kid doesn't break. Even if we do win the war. That will only be the beginning for him."

"Iroh has always insisted that Zuko is stronger than we know." Piandao smirked. "That has been one conviction of his that has been consistent."

"Well then. Let's hope that's the case." Pakku stated.

"Indeed." Jeong Jeong nodded as he exhaled the smoke. "Would be nice if I could get to enjoy a good pension too!"