Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I do, however, own my OC's and everything they do. Riight…maybe I shouldn't be admitting that. Haha!

A/N: I split up the original story to create Book 1 and Book 2 so the story didn't end up so large. This book begins with just a handful of the last few chapters of the original story and then we'll move right into the new chapters; hang on to your seats!

"Recap...Zuko and Iroh are no longer in seclusion, Umi is no longer with them and they have just met Toph who is about to bring them to meet the GAang again after a long time between their last meeting. A lot happened in Book 1, I'd recommend scanning it real quick before reading Book 2 or it might be slightly confusing."

Zuko cleared his throat and coughed lightly in preparation to reply as they followed the young girl and reached a large open area. "Uh, this is Iroh and I'm…" he was interrupted by the short girl shouting to a young woman in water tribe clothing who was clearly preparing some kind of meal.

"Hey sugar queen!" the girl called out "these two guys want to see Aang. I'll let you entertain them while I go see where twinkle toes got to!" she hollered as she trotted off; not even bothering to look behind her.

Katara turned from her preparations to glance at Toph's retreating back and then finally registering her words, the water tribe bender whirled around towards them, and, upon seeing the two of them, immediately whipped out water from a nearby fountain and held it in front of her, ready to battle.

Iroh threw his hands up in surrender. "Ah, I'm so sorry my dear we had no intention of surprising you in this fashion. Our introduction was a bit…hasty."

Katara didn't change her stance but she replied in a neutral tone. "Toph doesn't care too much about the little things like introductions and warnings and etiquette." She glared in the location the small girl had been moments before.

"What are you doing here?" She glanced over at Zuko and did a double-take. She looked down pointedly at his leg and back to his face. "What…how..?" The young woman was surprised enough to allow the water she had picked up to slip back into the fountain. "I saw you…your leg..how?"

Zuko's face was burning at the attention and the memory of their last meeting, and the pity in her eyes. He cleared his throat. "It's..uh..it's a long story. Even I don't understand it entirely."

Katara blinked and shook her head in amazement. "That's one story I would very much like to hear."

"I'll be glad to share if…if you and your friends would be willing to let us stay." Stammered a still nervous Zuko.

The young woman before him narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't move to draw water.

"What reason could you possibly have for…" she was interrupted.

"Just look at this little whirly toy tha…." His sentence went unfinished as Sokka walked around a pillar to see one of the people he hated most standing a few feet from his sister; and she wasn't attacking.

It took less than a second for the boy to reach for his blade and charge the two fire nation men standing quietly without moving.

Iroh, being closest, sidestepped in front of Zuko and whipped a fan out of the sleeve of his robe, and flicked it open, allowing Sokka's blade to slice into the fan, then snapping it closed on the blade, using the boy's own momentum and the strength of his wrist to cause the fan to twist the blade right out of his fingers.

Almost faster than they eye can see, the angry boy was disarmed and Iroh held the weapon instead. Sliding it into the belt of his robe, the old general reopened his fan with a flick, and stared mournfully at the blade-sized slit and tear in his once-perfect fan.

He looked back to Sokka and shook his head. "This was my favorite fan." Iroh sighed sadly.

The boy stared back at him almost comically, seemingly too surprised to do anything but stand there with his mouth open. Finally, though, he found his voice again.

"Give me back my sword old man!" Sokka shouted crossly.

"ENOUGH!" Katara bellowed as she brought a large blob of water out of the fountain and released it directly over her brother's head.

Outraged and insulted, Sokka glared balefully at his sister from under the soaking wet tendrils of hair now adorning his face.

"Kataarraa…" he practically whined "why are you ruining my moment?"

"Because you're an idiot Sokka, they're not here to cause trouble. If they were, they would probably have done it already."

"You have to admit it is rather rude to interrupt people when they're having a civil conversation by attacking them." Added Iroh, still frowning at his damaged fan.

"No less than either of you would do, oh wait, have done in the past!" Sokka countered flippantly.

Zuko chose that moment to step out from behind his adopted father. "Times change. People change. We've changed. You've changed. Everything changes. Don't stay stuck in the past when the future needs you."

Iroh's head snapped to look at his adopted son in a new light; that was true wisdom, the kind of thing he would have said. He was so proud.

"Yeah, what he said." Interjected Toph as she walked up and sat down on the edge of the fountain.

"Is the food ready yet? I'm starved!" Aang hollered from above as he hovered down towards them on his 'air scooter', oblivious to the drama unfolding below him.

At the same time the rest of the group arrived, expecting chow but finding a surprise meeting instead.

Aang landed and walked up to Katara, the standoff, and visitors, unnoticed.

"Oh, it's not ready yet…" he muttered sadly and turned to go. "Hi, Zuko!" he chirped absentmindedly as he prepared his air scooter and hopped on it once more.

"Wait for it…" grinned Katara, and Sokka just rolled his eyes at Aang, finally relaxing a bit.

Suddenly the rapidly spinning ball of air dissipated with a whoosh, and Aang was unceremoniously deposited on his rump, staring up at Zuko and Iroh in disbelief.

"Uh…" Aang scrambled to his feet "did I miss something?" He look over at the fire nation royals standing quietly and calmly as if they were statues.

"Wait a minute, Zuko, your leg…how…?" He raised shocked eyes to look at Zuko's impassive face.

"OK before we go through twenty questions eight times, let's just review the facts!" Toph interjected. "One! Yes, they are Zuko and…who are you again?" the question was in Iroh's general direction and delivered in a deliberately loud stage whisper.

"Ah…hah, I am Iroh, young lady. Pleased to make your acquaintance. "

"Right" she continued "ok so, yes, they Zuko and Iroh, and yes, they are here to talk, no they're not attacking, I mean do they look like they're attacking to you?" Sokka made as if to answer but was cut off.

"I didn't say you could speak snoozles! As I said before I was so rudely interrupted, they're not attacking! I'm not sure I get the whole leg thing, but my feet are saying they're on the level. They're really just here to talk, they're not lying; so can we all just get past this so we can eat already? Maybe if you feed them they'll tell you what you want to know. Besides, I'm hungry!"

Katara shook her head slightly and turned back to her food preparation. "Sokka, why don't you go…"

"Oh I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right here so I can keep an eye on these two, make sure they don't do anything funny." He retorted defiantly with arms crossed over his chest.

"Don't look at me, I just got back and I haven't had a chance to talk to them yet!" chimed Aang.

"Ok, fine. You can stay! Who needs salt in our stew anyway?" huffed Katara.

"We have a little salt if that will help." Chimed in Iroh, hoping to gain a few points with the girl who was obviously in charge. He reached into the small pack Zuko was carrying and produced a small pouch; holding it out towards her.

She stared at the small pouch for a moment before stepping forward and plucking it gently from his grasp.

"Thanks."

"Of course." Iroh nodded.

She handed the salt pouch back quickly and Iroh tucked it away again in the pack and Katara declared dinner ready.

As she dished up stew to everyone gathering around with a bowl, Iroh pulled their bowls out of the pack. It didn't take long to reach the bottom of the pot, as she was accustomed she served herself last then realized there wouldn't be enough for Zuko and Iroh.

"Oh no, I'm sorry I…wasn't expecting two more." She looked at them apologetically. She held out her bowl towards them. Sokka wasn't having any of that and jumped up from where he'd seated himself to eat.

"Don't give them your food Katara, you need it more than they do!"

"Wow Sokka that's a bit harsh don't you think?" Aang chastised him.

Zuko held up his hands in front of him in a placating gesture. "Don't worry about us, we're fine."

Iroh nodded agreement. "Please enjoy your meal and we will answer your questions as you eat."

"Fine." Sokka mumbled and sat back down with his food. Katara nodded and did the same, allowing them to speak.

"I'm sure the question you most would like answered right now is why I'm no longer using crutches." Zuko began bravely.

There were nods all around from those in the group who had seen him in the mountains.

"Hey before we get the details, could someone explain to me what this is all about?" Toph interrupted with her usual directness. "I felt your stance, you're healthy and there's nothing wrong with you, why does everyone think there should be?"

Zuko began to feel the heat in his cheek again and his neck flushed slightly. "Aah…well.." he cleared his throat nervously and began again. "My sister hired an entire crew of pirates to blow up our ship." He glanced towards Iroh "my adopted father was out for a walk when the ship exploded but I was on board."

There was a small gasp from Katara.

Then Aang spoke what they were all thinking. "How did you survive an explosion that destroyed a whole fire nation ship?!"

"Ah..well, you see, I…didn't..entirely." Zuko stammered. "I figured out something was wrong but I was just moments too late to make it completely off the ship before it blew up. I protected myself with my bending, but it…wasn't enough."

"So that's how you lost your leg and why you were hiding like a coward in the mountains?" Sokka sneered.

"Sokka, one more comment like that and I'm going to freeze you in an ice block!" Katara glared at him irritatedly.

Face still red, Zuko simply nodded, despite the tenor of the question. "Yes, that's how it happened. I don't really remember much of anything besides heat and light and pain. I thought I was going to die. I should have died…but I remember a dream or a vision and a strange voice then waking up much later with Iroh there and not remembering who he was. I had lost my bending too."

Despite herself, Katara felt for him. No matter what he'd done to her, and to them, what he had been through was horrific. Her compassion showed in her eyes and Zuko, happening to glance her way, was momentarily distracted by the kindness he saw. It was kindness without pity this time, and he didn't want to look away from her soothing gaze; it almost reminded him of Umi, her cool, yet warm eyes. How he missed her.

"What happened next?" Toph spoke up when the silence had begun to stretch a bit thin. "And what strange voice did you hear anyway?"

Zuko coughed in embarrassment and shuffled his feet and looked out into the massive temple before beginning again.

"Ah, well that's really hard to explain…especially since I don't entirely know myself."

"Try, why don't you?" Sokka spoke up, earning a glare from Katara.

"I found myself in a forest glade and the voice told me they were the spirit of the forest. I was told how much I had lost physically and given a choice. I could simply die, or the spirit would bring me back no matter how badly my body was damaged."

Iroh's head snapped over to look at his adopted son. He did not remember hearing him speak of this. Such a choice to make. Zuku truly was an incredibly strong young man. He would make a fine firelord.

"Ok so obviously you chose to live since you're here, so let's skip to the part where you're not a cripple anymore." Sokka said in a slightly snarky tone.

The nearly dead cooking fire that Katara had been using flared dangerously high and Zuko fisted his hands at his sides, glaring directly into Sokka's hate-filled eyes with the heat of his fiery gaze. The entire group had reacted by shying away from the sudden flames but Katara jumped up and admonished her brother angrily.

"Sokka! That's about all I can take out of you!" she yelled, and immediately summoned water from the pool nearby, making good on her promise by encasing him in ice up to just past his mouth, so he could still breathe. Sokka struggled momentarily but then stopped, still glaring angrily at Zuko.

Zuko quickly allowed the flames to die from the cooking fire and relaxed his hands and stance.

"You know my sister called me that, when she finally found me." He continued, still looking directly into Sokka's eyes. "But she didn't stop there. She started making jokes about my disability, then her soldiers made jokes about me too, right to my face." He looked hard at Sokka with an unflinching gaze.

"I couldn't even stand without aid or crutches, I had done little firebending since my accident, and I was up against my sister who was trying to kill me, again. My sister who has never once spoken a kind word to me, she never made me meals, she never bound my wounds, she inflicted them, she never defended me, she only attacked me then teased and taunted me when I lost. You don't know how fortunate you are to have a sister like Katara." Sokka's eyes softened slightly and he glanced over at his sister, already regretting his hasty words.

Sensing a change, she allowed the water to thaw and drew it off him, dropping it back into the pool.

"It's easy to hate someone when you don't know anything about them or what they've been through." Zuko continued.

"Don't tell me about going through stuff. I lost my mother because of you and your fire nation." Sokka looked at his sister. "We both did."

"So did I." Came the quiet reply as Zuko's head dropped. He could no longer bear to see their faces.

"How?" was Katara's question, her voice again filled with compassion.

Zuko still was unable to meet anyone's gaze as he continued to stare at the stones on the floor.

His voice was quiet, almost strained. "I learned only a few days ago that when I was a small child my grandfather, who was firelord at the time, ordered my father to kill me. My mother, learning of his order, risked everything to stake a coup for the throne by somehow killing my grandfather, causing my father to become firelord and the order for my death, null and void. My mother was banished for her actions, and until just a few days ago, I thought she had mysteriously been killed."

Katara had her hand over her mouth, stifling a gasp, and Toph just whispered "wow..". Sokka was quiet and still. It was Aang who broke the silence.

"Zuko, a lot of wrong has been done by a lot of people and because of those people we have all been hurt." Aang looked around at everyone seated or standing nearby. "We've all lost people who were important to us."

Zuko finally looked up to catch Aang's gaze. He too, offered compassion, and for the first time, the abandoned fire nation prince felt like he was being accepted.

Even Sokka was quiet after Aang spoke. Peace was hard to come by in their world, and right now, peace was king and it was good.

Finally, Toph broke the silence, asking to hear the rest of Zuko's story. "You still haven't told us how you got healed." She prompted.

"Oh, of course." He nodded. "That is the part I really don't understand, and to explain it, I would have to go through a lot more talking than I really feel like doing…" he hesitated.

"We have nothing but time right now." Was the surprisingly non combative reply from Sokka.

Glancing around at their accepting faces he nodded. "I'll make it as short as I can."

"So many things that were connected happened out there in the forest of the mountains you found us in, but most importantly I met a water spirit there. One almost as old as the world itself. She was trapped but since she had spirit powers she was able to help save my adopted father Iroh, and in turn I was able to find and release her."

Aang interrupted. "I heard the monks talk about the original elemental spirits but I didn't pay much attention. Do you mean they're real?"

Zuko nodded. "Apparently so. She was very powerful, she could change forms, communicate with water, and through water if you were touching it. She could even take human form."

Katara was listening with rapt attention. "That sounds fascinating, I would love to talk to her! Does she bend?"

"She…she did." He hesitated slightly. "Uh…you know I mentioned that my sister Azula found me. Well she and her unit of soldiers tried to kill us, but I..accidentally almost killed her. At the time I thought I had killed her, but I also died doing so."

"Wait wait, how do you accidentally almost kill someone, and you don't feel dead to me?!" Toph interjected quickly.

"Yes…well that's where I honestly don't know what exactly happened."

"Perhaps I can help. I was there, and was forced to watch as she said and did horrific things to my adopted son." Iroh spoke up quietly. "He was indeed deceased from the injuries his sister inflicted, she destroyed his body almost completely; without some kind of supernatural help, he could never have survived."

"But you said you beat her…" Sokka asked.

"I did." Zuko answered. "We…both died in that Agni Kai. I don't know how she survived."

"How did you, then?" Toph asked. "Survive I mean."

"Like I said I don't entirely know. All I know is what the water spirit, her name is Umi, told me." He shook his head. "She was an immortal elemental spirit with power I never even knew about, but somehow she made a bargain and traded everything, her bending, spirit powers, immortality, everything, for me and Iroh. To save us."

"She gave it all up to save you?" Katara breathed in awe. "An immortal elemental water spirit, so selfless and kind…how I would love to have met her."

"Did she…die?" Asked Aang hesitantly.

"No, she didn't die." His voice trailed off. "She became human, mortal…" he stopped, unable to continue around the lump in his throat.

Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder for support. The young man looked over at him gratefully.

"Umi chose to stay with the kind people who allowed us to live and work on their farm while we decided where we would go." Iroh answered in place of Zuko.

"She's human now? Does she still remember her life from…from before? I would love to talk to her." Eager as ever to learn new bending, Katara couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, she is. I think she remembers some things, I don't know what. However, the farm is in the Earth kingdom in the country."

"Oh we have Appa, it wouldn't take so long."

"I hate to be the voice of reason, but we're not here on vacation, we still have to figure out how to defeat the firelord, and Aang doesn't even have a firebending teacher yet." This time it was Sokka, bringing them back to earth.

"Yeah yeah we know, but we still have time before the old comet drops by for a visit, it wouldn't hurt to…" Toph was interrupted by Iroh's loud "shhhh"

"Don't shssshh me!" she declared loudly.

"No, quiet, all of you, we are not alone!" he hissed urgently.

Everyone jumped up from where they were and assumed battle stances, looking around nervously.

Their peaceful evening was shattered with a zinging whoosh, followed by a massive explosion not far from their position.

All five benders reacted instantaneously with their respective elements to contain and deflect the blast, Zuko and Iroh managing the flames, Aang using air to help send them in a different direction, while Toph and Katara use earth and water to protect them.

It was a concerted effort that kept the damage minimal, but chaos ensued after that first attack.

"It's Sparky Sparky Boom Man from the palace!" Aang shouted as he whipped out his glider, "we have to move!"

Iroh and Zuko shared a knowing look. The assassin with the third eye was an incredibly powerful enemy. They were all in grave danger.

Everyone scattered and ran for cover; no one knew exactly where the man was. It soon became apparent, however, when tell-tale zing and whoosh came from outside the temple and exploded at the edge of the temple, breaking off some of the ancient architecture and causing it to fall into the ravine.

Aang used his glider to fly out of the temple and up onto the cliff where their attacker was sucking in a breath for another explosion. He fired off a blast of air towards the large man with the metal glove, but it was easily dispelled by yet another explosion; the force of the blast spinning the Avatar in the air causing him to lose control of his glider.

"Aang!" Katara cried as he tumbled through the air. Her relief was palpable when he regained his balance and once again controlled his glider.

"I'm ok!" He yelled as he flew back up. Shortly he was back. "I can't find him!" he said "I think he may be headed inside."

No sooner had he spoken the words when the man himself appeared around a pillar and reared back, sucking in a mighty breath.

Katara and Toph again created walls, which simply exploded out with the concussive force of the attacks. Zuko and Iroh went on the offensive, running at the assassin with combined attacks meant to slow and disorient him.

Katara switched from defense to offense and followed them, using her water to create steam to hopefully blind their attacker, or at least ruin his aim. They were partially successful; his next attack went wild, exploding harmlessly into the air outside the temple.

The battle continued in this fashion for several minutes, when Katara was able to blind him with steam, his shots would go wild, but his attacks were simply so powerful that they were slowly being over-powered. It was becoming more and more difficult to contain, or deflect the blasts, and they seemed to be coming faster and faster.

Iroh and Zuko, who had stuck together during the fight, once again shared a look in a rare moment while the assassin was blinded.

"Zuko, we cannot win this fight as we are now." Iroh said quietly. "I know you have the power within you to defeat him. Believe in yourself the way I believe in you."

Zuko's lips quirked in a tiny smile. "Thank you father."

He jumped out from where they had taken cover before the last wild attack and ran to Katara.

"Can you distract him?" he asked shortly, and she met his gaze, hesitating only a moment, before nodding. "Good, I'm going to try something and I need his attention elsewhere."

"Ok!" was her response as he ran for cover during another attack. "Aang!" She shouted.

He was by her side momentarily. "What's wrong Katara?"

"Zuko is planning something, help me keep Sparky Sparky Boom Man busy ok?" she whispered urgently.

"Let's do it!" Aang agreed, and both moved in unison to where Sokka was currently hiding. After a short detour in which they caused the assassin to miss again, consequently destroying another part of the temple, they reached Sokka.

"Sokka, Zuko has something he's going to do and wants us to distract this guy, got any ideas?" Aang asked quickly.

"What's he got in mind?" Sokka asked.

"No idea, but we don't really have the time to chat about it!" Katara yelled as they avoided another explosion.

"Well how am I supposed to come up with a plan when I don't know what he's going to do?" Sokka hollered.

"Just figure it out!" Aang yelled as he and Katara took off in the direction of Toph.

Sokka grunted in annoyance as he darted out from his hiding place over to where he could see the old man. He knew Zuko would be close by.

"Hey, I don't like you, but Katara says you have an idea, what do you have in mind?" he said all in a rush.

Zuko trotted over to him quickly. Speaking in a low voice he explained shortly that he needed a distraction and a bit of time to work up an attack that should at least disable the assassin.

Sokka nodded. "Got it, distract him for a bit. How will I know when you're ready?"

"Don't worry" Iroh spoke up "you'll know."

"Right" Sokka agreed, and sprang off in the direction of the rest of the gang.

As Zuko began to slowly build up his sphere of flames out of sight, Aang, Toph, Katara and Iroh engaged the dangerous assassin directly using the combined forces of air, earth, water and fire. While the large man was distracted with the benders, Sokka took the opportunity to make the most of an unguarded moment and toss his boomerang directly at the assassins' head.

Luckily for them, he didn't see the weapon until the last moment, and in the action of turning around to see it, he actually caused the boomerang to hit the man directly in the center of his third eye.

The assassin's head flew back and he gave a grunt of pain and staggered backward, a hand to his forhead. Completely open, it was the opportune time to overwhelm him, and they took it quickly.

Toph created shackles for his hands and legs from rock, Katara caused ice to encircle his head and neck, leaving only his nose exposed, while Aang and Iroh stood by ready to attack.

Suddenly the large man took a deep breath, and Katara realized her mistake. She should have blocked his nose. It was too late. She desperately threw up a wall of ice, Toph did the same with rock, as concussive force seemed to almost radiate from him.

The world exploded around them as they turned and ran, blowing them every which direction like so many rag dolls.

A/N: Dun dun dun…until next time!