Aang swept towards him, surrounded by the sphere of the Four Elements, his eyes and tattoos glowing with the Avatar State. His expression was difficult to read, but his mouth was set in a stern line.

Zuko raised his hands to shield himself, even though he knew the gesture was futile. "Aang, I know how this looks! But I swear to you, in my heart..."

He cut himself off with a sigh, smiled grimly and pulled off his helmet, letting it drop to the ground. "...None of that matters, does it? I'm doing exactly what my father would have done."

Closing his eyes, the Fire Lord waited for the blow that would end his life, that would split the earth open and drop him into the abyss. Tiny bits of debris caught up in Aang's whirlwind stung his face. But although the sound of the circling elements- the hiss of water, the wail of wind and the snarl of flames- came closer, its' pattern didn't change. He cautiously opened his eyes again. Aang had drifted down until he was hovering mere inches off the ground, eye-to-eye with Zuko. His glowing eyes were blank, but he lifted his staff and pointed it at Zuko, accusingly.

With the voices of all the previous Avatars magnifying his own, he spoke: "...You acted for a good cause. But your means to that cause don't allow the world to heal. Prove yourself worthy of the Avatar's trust, Fire Lord. The world paid the price, when your great-grandfathers broke their trust in each other. If you repeat Sozin's mistake, we will not repeat Roku's."

With that, he raised the staff, and a coil of all four elements reared into the sky, like a dragon's neck. It curved above the temple spires of Yu Dao, then turned and plummeted downward. Zuko flinched, but forced himself to hold his ground-

"Dad? Dad."

As Zuko's eyes snapped open, the vision of Aang was replaced by his daughter. Izumi was staring at him with a puzzled, slightly concerned expression. He forced a reassuring smile as he sat up. "I'm all right, Izumi, it was just a bad dream."

Izumi frowned. "About what?"

"Aang, at the Battle of Yu Dao."

"Pretty scary."

Zuko nodded as he swung his legs off the bunk and stood; faint morning light was coming through the window of the airship. "You bet. Especially considering, at the time..." He paused. "A year before, right after my coronation, I made Aang promise he would kill me if I ever started acting like a tyrant or started another war."

Izumi's eyes widened. "But you weren't starting a war at Yu Dao, you were protecting the colonials, Earthbenders and Firebenders alike-"

"But King Kuei didn't know that, at the time. When the citizens of Yu Dao refused to leave or accept Earth Kingdom authority, Kuei forced my hand by sending in his troops, and then I forced Aang's hand when I sent in mine. Thank the Spirits, Aang realized what I was trying to do." He sighed.

Izumi looked at him shrewdly. Although she had Zuko's golden eyes, her expression was just like Mai's, especially when she tilted her pointed chin forward. "So why's this worrying you so much? Aang hasn't gotten all scary and Avatar Statey since before I was born-"

"I know, and I hope you never have to see him like that. But this time... I don't think he'll be quite so understanding."

"'This time?'"

Zuko hesitated. He had never been sure, about how much to discuss military and political matters with Izumi. He and Mai wanted her fully prepared, so he had conceded to letting Iroh be her Firebending teacher and giving Mai full reign of her education. It wasn't a problem of her not understanding what she was told; she was remarkably intelligent for her age. But Zuko wasn't sure about introducing her to modern politics. They often irritated him, and Izumi had inherited his lack of patience. She was already pushing herself too hard over her Firebending, and he worried about causing her additional stress.

Then again, Izumi could definitely keep a secret, in spite of her youth. Whenever she was worried about or hiding something, almost no one, not even Mai, was able to coax it out of her; she would only confide in Zuko. According to Mai, she had opened up to a few more people since his time abroad, but nearly all of them were in on the secret Takeo standoff. Except...

"I have something to tell you, Izumi, and it's something you can't mention to anyone. Not even Bumi, when you see him."

Izumi's cheeks turned slightly pink. "Why... would I tell Bumi a secret?"

Zuko smiled. "I'm your father, I'm not blind. Every time Aang and Katara bring their kids to the Capital, you spend the entire time with Bumi, and your mother tells me the two of you are always writing letters."

Izumi reddened. "He listens to me. It's more than my classmates ever do-"

Zuko laughed. "I'm glad he listens to you, Izumi. Don't think that I disapprove of you having a crush on him. Bumi's a good kid, one of the best for your age, even if he's always getting into trouble." He gave her a small smirk. "It would be pretty funny if the two of you ended up marrying, though. That'd be the second time in two generations that the Fire Lord married a descendant of the Avatar-"

"Dad!" Izumi protested. "Back to that secret you were going to tell me?!"

Zuko's expression turned somber again. "What I meant to say is, however close you may feel to Bumi, this is something even he can't be told about. Understand?" Izumi nodded. "You remember the trials we held for the Southern Raiders, a few years ago?"

Izumi nodded. "I remember reading about it in the newspapers."

Zuko took a deep breath. " Yon Rha was one of them, before Katara testified against him. He led most of the attacks on the Southern Water Tribe to capture or kill its' Waterbenders-"

"Dad, I already know about what Yon Rha did." Izumi cut him off. "I discussed that newspaper article with my teacher at the Academy, and I heard more from Katara the last time she was visiting the Capital. What about the Southern Raiders?"

Zuko smiled wryly; although he'd been about to make a point, he was pleased she was refusing to be distracted. He clasped his hands behind his back and stared out the window at the rising sun, low on the horizon as the Winter Solstice drew nearer. "Those trials weren't just for the Southern Raiders, it was anyone who committed a war crime against the other nations. There's a general now, named Takeo, who I decided to give a... second chance, after the war was over. About seven months ago, your Mom found out Takeo was hiding escaped members of the New Ozai Society."

"You mean that group that helped Aunt Azula try to trick you into becoming a more ruthless Fire Lord?"

"Exactly."

"So, Takeo pretty much blew his second chance."

"Yes. And he's refused to stand down and answer the charges against him. He's holed up in a... border fort, with some troops who have decided to join him and the New Ozai traitors."

"Then you have to capture them?"

Zuko closed his eyes. "I wish it hadn't come to this, but he's left me no choice."

Izumi frowned. "...Is this why Mom was always meeting with the Generals and Admirals in the Throne Room?"

Zuko nodded. "We've been preparing an attack to storm Takeo's fort and capture him."

"Why did it take so long? And why is no one talking about this in the newspapers?"

Zuko hesitated again. He could tell her part of the reason, at least. "Because... I've been hesitating. I know if I leave Takeo alone, he'll just keep raiding passing ships and protecting traitors. But if I attack him directly, many of our people will call me a traitor for attacking a general I've already pardoned. Your Mom thinks we should capture Takeo as quietly as possible, then reveal his latest crimes to the Fire Nation."

"But why not reveal the crimes first?" Izumi pressed. "Takeo's the one who did wrong, not you. You already gave him a second chance-"

"I know. But as Fire Lord, you always have to remember the different ways people will think about your actions. When I announced a curfew during the Kemurikage crisis, before we knew we were fighting Azula, many of the people protested and rioted against my troops. The Capital was thrown into chaos. If I announce my intention to capture Takeo beforehand to the people, only to sacrifice soldiers' lives and fail to capture him, the Royal Family could lose much of its' support. People will say we're too ruthless or incompetent to rule." Zuko put his hand on Izumi's shoulder. "The elections in the Southern Water Tribe have shown the world that leaders don't have to be chosen by blood right, and I think that's fair, even though I do rule by blood right. People should be able to rise in the world based on what they can do themselves, not who they were born to. But our family is still able to do a great deal of good for both the Fire Nation and the world, and the best way for us to do so now is through the throne. The tricky part is always showing that we're worthy of it."

Izumi raised an eyebrow. "Now you sound kinda like Granduncle Iroh."

"Who do you think taught me almost everything I know?" Zuko smiled. He realized he had sidestepped the question of why Takeo's capture was being kept secret from the Avatar. But before he could continue, Izumi's eyes widened and she raced to the front compartment of the airship. "We're here!"

Sure enough, a mountainous island- shrouded in a thick layer of green vegetation and silver mist- was visible on the horizon. Zuko gestured to the pilot. "Land on the coastal cliffs, then bring out our Komodo rhinos. Izumi and I will continue to the Sun Warriors' city alone."

An hour into the jungle, there was still no sign of the city. Zuko began to wonder if he'd taken the wrong route, when he noticed a charred heap of vines at the foot of a tree. Someone had cleared a patch here, recently.

As they stopped at a brook to water the Komodos and let them rest, Zuko sensed movement in the trees behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, then relaxed when he briefly caught sight of a shaved head with a long tail of black hair. As usual, the Sun Warriors had been watching them long before they landed.

Izumi suddenly froze, then conjured a fireball around her left hand. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Good eye, Izumi, but no need for bending. They know who we are, they've been expecting us."

Seven Sun Warriors, three of them carrying Mak polearms, emerged from the forest. Their leader, a bronze-skinned woman in her late thirties with several gold rings in her nose and a serpent tattoo on her cheek, clasped her hands in the traditional greeting gesture. "Fire Lord Zuko. My father, High Priest Jayavar, invites you to join us for meditation before the Eternal Flame."

Zuko bowed. "I would be honored to accept, Chief Soma. However, that isn't the main reason we came. My daughter, Princess Izumi, is ready to face Ran and Shaw-"

"You know our laws." Soma's tone sharpened. "Outsiders are no longer allowed to face the Old Masters. You and the Avatar were the exception, due to the desperate circumstances. Sozin's Comet won't appear again for another eighty years-"

"I'm aware of that." Zuko suppressed the irritation in his voice. "But there are other dangers, ones Izumi may have to face one day. I want my daughter prepared-"

"As my father wanted me prepared, before he stepped down as Chief. I understand that sentiment all too well." Soma's tawny eyes were unsympathetic. "But the Fire Nation's Royal line has made connections with the dragons before, and then turned on them."

"You mean my great-great-grandfather, Sozin?" Izumi chimed in. "I'm not him. All I want is to learn."

Patience, Zuko wished she had added. You need to learn patience, Izumi... just as I did, and still do.

But Izumi's voice remained calm as she continued. "I know my ancestors committed terrible crimes against the dragons, against your people, and against the rest of the world. But they never learned what Roku, Aang and my father and granduncle learned, when they came here. As long as the next Fire Lord is always taught to respect the Dragons' ways, they will not turn to using Firebending only for destruction, the way Sozin did. I'm not here in search of a weapon. I only ask to learn from Ran and Shaw, so that one day I can teach whoever follows me to protect the light of the flame, but beware of its' heat."

Zuko was astonished by her eloquence. She was younger than Aang had been, when he came here, but already knew how to win people over with words. And unlike Azula, she could do so without using fear. She was growing up so fast, he thought, a lump forming in his throat. And she was still determined to be guided by her principals. He silently wished she would always be able to do so, difficult though it might be.

Soma, though more skeptical, also seemed surprised by Izumi's words. She peered intently at the girl's face. "Not much of a Firebender, from the eyes... but then again, neither was your father when he came here." She narrowed her eyes. "Don't take this lightly, Princess of the Fire Nation. Ran and Shaw will show no mercy if they sense any corruption in your heart when you face them."

Izumi's eyes widened slightly, but she bowed her head and made no reply. A smirk touched the corner of Soma's mouth. "She's less arrogant than you were at any rate, Fire Lord. Come, we'll escort you to the city." She shouldered her Mak and strode down the path. Her guards lined up on either side of the Fire Nation Royals, and they all fell into step behind her.

"Has Jayavar considered my suggestions about re-connecting with the outside world?" Zuko ventured cautiously. "My agents abroad hoped the Sun Warriors would seek connection with other nations, if not with us-"

"We have no interest in the outside world." Soma replied gruffly. "Our only goal is to preserve the creatures that your line nearly wiped out."

Zuko felt mildly irritated by that jab; after all, both he and Iroh had helped keep the Dragons' existence hidden. "I think it would be easier for the rest of the world to respect and appreciate your culture if they were allowed to share in it. Of course, if you wish otherwise-"

"I do." Soma cut him off. "My father asked that you and the Avatar be given access to the temple. Jayavar is High Priest, and both of you have proved yourselves worthy; I will honor his request. Provided your daughter is also deemed worthy, I'll make a similar exception for her. But none of us have forgotten how Sozin's desire to 'share' cultures with the rest of the world brought both the Airbenders and the dragons to extinction. And until the Old Masters tell us otherwise, we will keep our borders closed."

Zuko shrugged, defeated. Long after his coronation, he still honored his promise to the Sun Warriors to leave their civilization a secret from the rest of the world; it was the least he could do to pay back his debt to them. However, he and Aang each made occasional pilgrimages to Phleung Wōat, the Warriors' temple complex; it was there that his uncle had been able to enter the Spirit World.

Though the Sun Warriors refused to interact with the rest of the world, they no longer concealed their city beneath foliage and booby-trapped ruins. As Zuko turned a corner, and brushed aside a vine, he saw the statue at the peak of Phleung Wōat glinting in the distance. Izumi's eyes were fixed on the great step-pyramid in wonder, he noted. The Sun Warriors' settlement was far smaller than places like the Fire Nation Capital or Omashu, but its' architecture was still something to behold.

As they descended into the valley enclosing the city, Izumi glanced at a massive, double-peaked mountain beyond it. "Is that where they are? Ran and Shaw?"

Soma gave Izumi a withering look and stepped ahead, not bothering to reply. Zuko winced. Patience, he thought, and squeezed his daughter's hand encouragingly. "You'll see, soon enough. First, we need to meet with Jayavar."

Firebending was used instead of technology for many everyday tasks here, Zuko noted. Farmers cleared precise patches of land for crops by burning away undergrowth, then absorbed the flames to prevent them from spreading further. Families cooked by hand, burned trash and refuse rather than letting it pile up, depositing the ash into their fields- already enriched by volcanic soil.

Izumi's eyes flicked from side to side, taking everything in with wonder. "So many Firebenders! Have they all learned from the Dragons?"

"Most of them. It depends on the environment you're raised in. The more the environment is aligned with the Spirit World, the more people are born with bending, regardless of whether their parents can bend...though, of course their bloodline has some influence."

"So that's why Avatar Aang told me that all the Air Nomads could Airbend. They've always been the most spiritual of the Four Nations." She looked forlorn. "So why is my bending so weak? Iroh's been my only teacher, and he's actually visited the Spirit World, plus he's learned from the Dragons too!"

Soma glanced back. "You've only ever learned from General Iroh, eh? I was just starting to walk when he came to meet Ran and Shaw."

Izumi's eyes widened. "What... what was it like? He's never spoken of it with me..."

The corners of Soma's rigid mouth relaxed into a slight smile as they passed through the marketplace. "He didn't lose his flame before performing the Dancing Dragon, the way your father and Avatar Aang did. But there was one moment in step six where he stumbled. He would've lost his flame, too- but then Ran extended her tail, and helped him keep his balance."

"She helped him?" Izumi stared at Soma in amazement.

"The Masters see into your soul, Princess of the Fire Nation. The dance is a necessary formality, but it's not what they make their decision on. Ran knew that Iroh was worthy, he'd just lost his way after the death of his son. She knew he would find it again, with a little nudge."

They reached the foot of Phleung Wōat, and began their climb up its' three hundred steps. Glancing back, Zuko noticed more and more of the townspeople were gathering at the pyramids' base; children were whispering and gesturing at him and Izumi. We probably look overdressed, he thought with amusement.

As they reached the summit of the pyramid, a hot gust of wind struck Zuko in the face. Seven Sun Priests, their faces tattooed with crimson designs, were seated cross-legged around a huge, basalt dragon sculpture. At a teardrop-shaped fissure between its' claws, the Eternal Flame glowed steadily.

The stockiest of the priests, an old man with a short beard and a high golden collar around his neck, rose and approached. "Zuko. You are always welcome here."

Zuko clasped his hand. "I apologize for the intrusion, Jayavar. I know you told me-"

"That I'd have to imprison you here forever if you told anyone about us?" Jayavar chuckled. "I told you I was kidding. I knew you would keep our secrets."

"I'm afraid there is one other I would like to... let in on that secret." Zuko gestured to Izumi, who stepped forward and bowed. He would let her speak for herself.

Jayavar smiled. "Princess Izumi, welcome to Phleung Wōat."

"Thank you, High Priest Jayavar. I am honored to be here." Izumi kept her head bent. "I... come to humbly ask if I can meet with Ran and Shaw. My only Firebending teacher so far has been Iroh, who was taught by the Dragons. Now I ask if I can face them myself."

The High Priest's smile faded, but unlike Soma he looked more thoughtful than hostile. "... It is not up to us to decide if you can meet them. Ran and Shaw do not belong to the Sun Warriors; if anything, we owe far more to them, for they continue to teach and protect us. They gave the first Firebenders the ability-"

"I thought it was Avatar Wan who was the first Firebender?" Izumi interrupted.

Soma glared at her, but Jayavar smiled indulgently. "Technically, you are right. The ability to conjure fire was given to the early tribes of the Fire Nation by the Lion Turtles, but Avatar Wan- and shortly after, the Sun Warriors- became the first to bend and manipulate the Element, after watching the dragons. As more and more of the tribes became dominated by warlords who fought each other, the Sun Warriors kept out of the conflict, using their alliance with the dragons to protect themselves. One day, one of the warlords came to our shores and begged the Masters to teach him true Firebending. He promised he would use what he learned to create a better balance among the Fire Tribes, and ultimately he unified them into the Fire Nation and became the first Fire Lord. In gratitude to us, he declared our island sacred and forbade outsiders to go there or disturb the dragons. But, later..."

"Sozin became Fire Lord." Izumi looked downcast.

"Exactly. Over hundreds of years, Firebenders developed their own bending techniques, while most of the original forms- including the Dragon Dance- were almost completely forgotten. Sozin knew that dragons had Firebending, but he only saw them as another challenge for him to overcome. Unlike his old friend Avatar Roku, who came here to learn and befriended one of the dragons, Sozin tamed his dragon through cruelty. After Roku's death, Sozin began the tradition of hunting dragons for sport, and they became almost extinct. The Sun Warriors tried to protect the dragons, but many of us were killed. So we went into hiding, to protect the last two Masters: Ran and Shaw. And so it remained, until Iroh came, and later your father and the Avatar." Jayavar gave Izumi a grave look. "Whether you can go to the Masters is not the question; it is whether they are willing to share their secrets with you. But if Iroh has been your only teacher, I'm sure he's taught you what you need to know... and the secret you will have to bear, if the Masters decide you are worthy."

"I've known about Ran and Shaw since I first started learning to Firebend." Izumi replied, a little curtly. "I've never told anyone."

"For which we are eternally grateful." Soma muttered sarcastically. Zuko shot a glare at her.

"Very well. Then your journey begins." Jayavar made a sweeping gesture with his right hand. A thin tongue of flame extended from the fissure and leaped into his palm. He offered it to Izumi. For a moment, she looked startled; everything had begun so quickly. Then she took a deep breath and accepted the flame.

"Make your way to the the top of Dragon's Peak, alone, but don't let your flame go out. The Masters will judge your heart, your soul, and your ancestry. If you are worthy, they will teach you. If they deem you a danger, they will destroy you on the spot." Jayavar's voice sounded less harsh than Soma's, but Zuko still winced at the reference to ancestry. At least the High Priest added, reassuringly. "Though of course, they consider a Firebender's choices more important than their bloodline."

Izumi bowed over the flame, then turned and walked down the steps of the temple. Resisting the urge to follow her, Zuko unclasped the headdpiece from his topknot and let his hair fall past his shoulders. He removed his cloak and sank into a lotus position opposite the Sun Priests.

"What troubles your soul, Fire Lord Zuko?" The High Priest seated himself at Zuko's left side.

Zuko closed his eyes. "... I fear for my daughter's safety. I fear for the security of all four Nations, as long as General Takeo goes unpunished. And... I fear, selfishly, that my dishonesty may destroy my friendship with the Avatar."

"Why do you fear for Izumi's safety?"

"I know it's irrational of me to worry about her. She's much wiser than I was at her age, and much kinder than either of her parents. She's only beginning her education, but she already knows how to charm people. I couldn't be more proud of her, but... watching her face Ran and Shaw alone, knowing I can't stand beside her as I did with Aang, it makes me want to leap up and tear through the jungle after her, stand in her place."

"If Izumi is pure of heart, the Masters will see that, Zuko." Jayavar sounded mildly amused. "Trust me, I felt the same way when Soma faced them. I may not be able to see Izumi's soul as Ran and Shaw can, but her desire to learn balance is as strong as yours and Aang's was. The Masters will judge her worthy, I'm sure of it. Why do you fear for the four Nations' security?"

Zuko took a deep breath; this question was far more complicated to answer. "There are many officers in my military who committed terrible crimes, during the Hundred Year War. Some of them are still alive, and still called war heroes by many of our people. It's a question of who to punish, and how severely. On one hand, of course many people in the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes were angry. The ones who murdered their families, burned their homes and enslaved their countries were still walking around, free as birds. On the other hand, in at least some of these soldiers' cases, they were acting on Azulon or Ozai's direct orders. To disobey the will of the Fire Lord was treason, punishable by death; so how responsible can those soldiers be held? I punished unnecessary cruelty where I found it, but I can't see into the soldiers' souls; I couldn't always tell whether they hated, enjoyed or didn't care about their actions."

Jayavar shrugged. "Now you see why Soma and I don't want to engage with the rest of the world. Too many complications would be thrown at us at once."

Zuko smiled sadly. "Fair enough. As the calls for punishment and the calls for pardons grew over the first decade of my reign, I asked Aang for his advice- even though I knew it would be biased, since it was my great-grandfather who slaughtered Aang's people. The Avatar is a bridge between the nations, but they're also just a human being in the end, for all their power. Aang may be my friend, and I respect his commitment to keeping peace across the world, but he doesn't rule the Fire Nation. He and Katara urged me to bring justice by putting many of my officers under a special tribunal, with representatives from the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. I wanted peace between the nations, and I saw that this would help that peace, but I also knew it wouldn't be considered a fair trial by my own subjects. I knew our people would resent me for handing our former 'war heroes' over to foreign judges with revenge on their minds."

"So, what did you do?"

"I negotiated with the Earth King and the Water Tribe Chieftains, again with Aang and Katara's assistance. I agreed to have the accused officers stand trial, with witnesses from all three remaining nations, but the trials had to be held in the Fire Nation, with at least one Fire Nation representative among the judges. I pardoned those who were more than seventy years old, senile, or crippled by injury."

"Takeo was in his late fifties when the calls for punishment grew, but crippled by a leg wound, which his supporters used as an excuse. At first I was eager to bring him to trial. Takeo was always quick to crack down on civilians when resistance sprang up, and he did terrible things to the people of the Western Earth Kingdom, where Republic City now stands; I saw some of his work firsthand when I was in exile. But as I was preparing to arrest him, I received petitions from many of my own troops. Not just officers, but common foot soldiers who had fought alongside him. It wasn't just that Takeo was a great general- which he was, notwithstanding his crimes. It was the way he inspired his troops. He was always leading charges personally, visiting the wounded after a battle, sending personal messages of condolence to the families of the dead, mingling with his troops to cheer them up after a defeat. Even defeated Earth Kingdom soldiers spoke of him with respect, at the very least; Takeo might have been cruel towards civilians, but he always kept his code of honor with soldiers, whichever side they were on. That was when I realized why Ozai had relieved him of his command, near the end of the war: he was afraid that Takeo would overshadow him. Takeo always resented my father for demoting him, and I thought I could find common ground with him over that. I believed that, in spite of Takeo's past crimes, he might redeem himself through some kind of civil service under me."

Zuko sighed. "I... I closed my eyes to his past atrocities, until there was no way to ignore it. After we discovered he'd been sheltering the New Ozai Society for years, I knew I'd been deluding myself. Takeo's empathy for his troops was just a way of keeping political support- and now that I've finally ordered him brought to trial, he's persuaded them to mutiny, to use them as a human shield against me. Takeo likes to take calculated risks, because they force his enemies to do the same. If I do nothing, I've allowed one of my commanders to get away with treason, and left various trade routes open to pirate attacks. If I do attack, many of my people will claim I'm cruel for oppressing former war heroes- and I'm condemning some of my own troops to death in a battle I don't want to fight. But I can live with that. Plans have been laid to storm Omori and capture Takeo within the next week. I gave the garrison a final offer of mercy if they turn Takeo over or surrender, and Mai's been urging me to prepare an attack since day one." He smiled wryly. "She was right, I just kept hesitating."

"And what made you hesitate?"

Zuko inhaled deeply through his nose. This was the question that tormented him the most. "My dishonesty to Aang, and to the rest of the world. When the trials began, I didn't know Takeo was double-crossing me, and I pardoned him on the grounds that he was crippled and wouldn't survive in a foreign prison. I assured the other world leaders and my friends that Takeo would be dismissed from military service, and any civil office he held would be under my close supervision." He plucked nervously at his beard. "And I lied. Mai and I stripped Takeo of his formal rank, but we left him in charge of Fort Omori, in command of a garrison of similarly 'decommissioned' troops and officers. We even let them retain their outdated uniforms."

"Fort Omori was a lie as well. I assured Aang years ago, that all Fire Nation structures built on foreign soil would be torn down, if the local population objected. Of course, the Air Temple lands were uninhabited since the genocide; Aang never went back to any of them except the Southern Temple, after he settled down with Katara and their children. I told myself it seemed unnecessary to destroy Omori, especially since it was midway between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. I knew the Earth King and the Water Tribe chieftains both wanted to keep the peace with me, but I remembered how rebels from the Southern Water Tribe had tried to take revenge on Fire Nationals, during the building of Republic City. I told myself that leaving Omori intact was just to give the Fire Nation extra border protection. And now, it's given my enemy a stronger position." He closed his eyes. "If I tell Aang about Omori, he'll be furious, and rightly so. My justification for sparing Takeo and Omori was based on a feeble technicality, and on my own selfishness and paranoia. To Aang and Katara, this will be a personal betrayal. It will do terrible damage to the friendships I'm trying to build with the other nations. And I do have to tell everyone, before someone else finds out... I just haven't found the words to explain it."

"Explanations are not always needed, Zuko." The High Priest replied, after a pause. "Too often, they are seen as justifications or excuses for mistakes. Balance is what is needed. The balance may not occur exactly when you expect it to, but it will come in the end. Whenever the world becomes too chaotic and destructive, or one faction dominates too strongly, other forces come into play, to restore equilibrium. When Sozin's comet came, the White Lotus chose to reveal themselves and even the odds against the Fire Nation's army. When the Avatar found himself unwilling to kill the Fire Lord, even after he unlocked the Avatar State and overwhelmed him, the Lion-Turtle gave him an alternative, so that the crown could pass safely to you. Even this 'United Republic' that you built with your friends... it was created to balance the different desires of people in the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom and the colonies, and to fill the vacuum left by the Air Nomads' demise."

Zuko liked the old man's optimism, but as was often the case with his uncle, he couldn't understand most of it. As the ruler of a powerful nation that was spearheading the integration of a divisive world, he could not afford to seek enlightenment. It was something that had to be found, individually; it could not be forced on people by law or preaching.

"Envision the Eternal Flame, Zuko. Feel it constantly reaching out, seeking fuel, yet always falling back to its' boundaries when it finds none. It pushes and pulls, just like the tides under Tui and La. It balances, rather than creating or destroying. As long as we respect it, it will remain for all Eternity, as it is meant to."

Zuko closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He forced away his nightmares about Aang, his worries over the Takeo crisis, his fear for Izumi... that last one was nearly impossible to let go of. But the gentle waves of heat from the Eternal Flame were a comfort to him, giving him something to focus on. Rather than concentrating the energy into his stomach as he would when bending, he let it waft through his limbs and torso, sweeping up the tensions of his body. Then he exhaled slowly through his mouth, releasing them.

"I don't know the Avatar as well as you do," Jayavar continued. "But the philosophy of the Air Nomads has always advocated forgiveness. Aang forgave you for everything you did during the Hundred Year War, for your betrayal in Ba Sing Se-"

"But that was before he and I were friends." Zuko protested.

"And as your friend now, he will know your remorse is genuine. Forgiveness never comes when you want it to; you should know that."

Zuko winced. "Only too well."

"Reach back for the Eternal Flame, Zuko. Balance, forgiveness, truth... of these things, the if is not in question. It is merely the when."

Zuko inhaled again, exhaled, and opened his eyes. "I can bear that. As long as Izumi doesn't suffer for my mistakes."

Jayavar shook his large head ruefully. "When have children not had to suffer for their parents' mistakes, Zuko? Look at you, look at both your sisters." Zuko winced again. "But from trials and suffering can come knowledge. Izumi is like you; her struggles make her stronger. Speaking of which...We should be hearing results at any moment."

He rose, and Zuko and the others followed his example. Jayavar gestured, and one of his acolytes struck a bronze gong. As its' notes reverberated across the jungle, they were joined by the far-off sound of drums. Zuko craned his neck around to look. Small balls of flame, held by the Sun Warriors, flickered into life all along the path that lead to Dragons' Peak. At the mountain's split summit, the two caves were joined by a vast staircase. Between them, a tiny figure stood, illuminated by the fleck of light in her hands.

All Zuko's anxieties came back to him in a rush. If anything happened to Izumi now, he would raze the Dragon's Peak to the ground, promises and consequences be damned...

And then, there was a terrible rumbling sound from inside the mountain, a rising roar that shook the ground as far away as Phleung Wōat. Zuko started towards the steps of the temple.

Soma stepped into his path, brandishing her Mak. "Fire Lord-"

"I have no intention of interfering." Zuko cut her off, knowing that too might turn into a lie. "But I need to witness this."

Two gigantic, snakelike shapes erupted from the caves, whipping inches past Izumi's head in a blur of armored blue and red scales. Izumi's breath caught in her throat as she swung her head from side to side, trying to take in both creatures at the same time. The dark feelers trailing from their snouts, the gleam of their white tusks, the rolling golden eyes bigger than her head! They were a hundred times more beautiful and terrible than she had imagined, and she felt fear grip her as her flame flickered weakly in the breeze of their wings and coils. How could she possibly?...

She noticed that, although the dragons were still looping around her again and again, the blue one had fixed its' eyes on her. A rumble came from its' throat. This was Ran, the female... the one who had helped her uncle, Iroh, when he had nearly failed the Dance in this same place.

Iroh, the one who had told her stories to make her laugh since she was a toddler, who drilled her harder than ever whenever she wanted to quit Firebending, who never gave up on her. There was no way she was going to give up now. She cast her mind back to the Dragon Dance, the first Firebending form she had learned. Of course, she could create more flame if she really needed to, but she felt it would be better to keep drawing it from the Eternal Flame. She would just have to be careful not to use it all in one burst.

She made the first step, turning on her right ankle and extending her left arm to release a small burst of flame from her sphere. To her surprise, Shaw angled his neck and forelimbs to match her movement. She took the next step, ducking low and stretching her other leg to create a shield. This time, Ran mimicked her.

As Izumi went through the Dance step by step, she sensed the Dragons had stopped circling; they were hovering on either side of the staircase, waiting for her to make the next move so that they could follow. Was this how it had happened for Dad and Uncle Aang?

She made her movements bolder, feeding more energy into the Eternal Flame as she continued the Dance. A tongue of flame accidentally brushed Ran's blue scales, and her huge eye flashed disapprovingly. Izumi hastily contracted her flame-sphere, careful not to let it go out, and continued. Shaw gave a rumble of approval as he followed her next movement, the tip of his tail clipping her lightly on the shin. Izumi felt herself relaxing more as she continued through the movements that she had memorized since she was five. The Dragons were terrifying, yes, but they were simply dancing along with her, not barking out corrections the way Iroh did.

All too soon, she reached the final step. Izumi bent her knees slightly and thrust both fists into the air, putting all her energy into the final strike. A pillar of amber flame shot upwards from her hands, piercing through the fog. She held the pose, but relaxed her fingers; only a little wisp of the Eternal Flame was left in her palms. The Dragons were hovering on either side of her again, their heads level with the top of the staircase. What were they waiting for? Had she forgotten a step?

Then Ran and Shaw opened their jaws suddenly, and a double inferno came rushing out at her. From somewhere nearby she heard her Dad shout in alarm, and then the whoosh! of the dragonfire cut off all other sounds. Terrified, Izumi let go of her flame and raised her hands to protect her face, even though she knew it was pointless.

A second later, she realized, though the roar of the fire still came from every direction, she wasn't being burned at all. She lowered her arms cautiously.

The whirlwind swirled around her steadily, its' fire the same amber shade as the Eternal Flame. The Dragons had to have lit that flame originally, she realized. She made out Ran and Shaw's outlines just beyond; they were once again circling through the air, but angling their bodies in different shapes than before. With each movement, the flames around her were streaked with blue, purple, orange, gold... too many shades for her to count. Unconsciously, Izumi reached out for a tongue of sapphire-blue flame swirling past her shoulder. Instead of burning her, it broke away from the whirlwind and circled loosely around her forearm, taking the shape of a dragon. It looped once over her shoulder, then dived back into the whirlwind, dissipating.

This was Firebending like she had never seen before. All those colors... and such perfect control. Dragonfire burned much hotter than anything a human Firebender could hope to create, but the whirlwind around her felt no warmer than her Dad's throne room. If the dragons allowed that heat to expand, even for a moment... She shivered, then shook her head. If Ran and Shaw had seen her as unworthy, they would have just torched her instead of giving her glimpse of their power.

She would never be able to equal that kind of perfect control over the heat. No human could: not her father, her granduncle, not even her legendary (and supposedly crazy) aunt. But she would try anyway. Fire was life, and life was always a balance of creation and destruction.

Izumi closed her left hand into a fist, inhaled slowly, then snapped her fingers open. A bright yellow, almost white flame, danced around her hand like a wreath. She knelt and bowed her head, keeping her offering upraised. Unlike her previous bending, the flame did not expand or contract as she moved; it burned steadily. The Dragons rumbled in approval, and the dragonfire around her faded away. Ran and Shaw circled around her twice more, then disappeared back into their caves.

Izumi stood and let her hands drop, extinguishing her flame. Peering down the mountain steps, she saw the Sun Warriors gathered at its' base. Climbing towards her were Soma, Jayavar and her Dad. Neither of the Sun Warrior leaders were smiling, but Soma caught her eye and nodded in approval. Izumi felt a surge of excitement. She had done it.

Then she caught the look on her father's face: a mix of relief, and pride. Tears were welling in Zuko's undamaged eye, unchecked. Her frustration at her Dad for never dueling her, for staying away for a year, faded. He had spoken to her as an adult all the way here, he had told Soma and Jayavar she was ready no matter how much they warned him, he had let her speak for herself... and he had been watching, when she faced the Dragons.

He opened his arms as he approached her, and she ran into them. He lifted her off her feet, hugging her so hard she could barely breathe.

When Zuko finally spoke, his voice was tight in his throat. "What you did here today... I never dreamed I would be here to see this. What you've accomplished, Izumi, and what you'll be able to do with it in the future... I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you."

Two days later, when the airship touched down on a strip inside the palace grounds, Zuko knew something was wrong. Iroh and Mai should have been the ones to greet them, but instead Admiral Jee was standing at the gates, his brow furrowed in concern. He bowed hastily as Zuko and Izumi approached. "Forgive me, Lord Zuko, but Lady Mai asked that you be brought straight to the throne room. Apparently there has been some... loss of communication around Omori."

Izumi perked up. Zuko glanced down at her ruefully. "Later." He murmured, patting her shoulder. "I promise, I will discuss this with you later. Go challenge Kiyi to a duel for me, okay?"

Izumi looked annoyed, but the mention of a rematch with her aunt caught her interest, and she sped off towards the living quarters. Zuko turned to Jee. "'Loss of communication'?"

"That's putting it delicately, Fire Lord. Two of the Kiyoshi Warriors disappeared- a novice named Jeonsa, and Ty Lee. They told the others they were investigating information from a scout they captured- something about Takeo having a hidden escape route from Omori. But they failed to return to the Kiyoshi camp after the appointed time. We evacuated the rest of the Kiyoshi, of course... but no one's heard from Ty Lee or Jeonsa since."

Zuko slapped his hand to his forehead. "Spirits. Why does it always have to be Ty Lee?" He ran his fingers over his eyes. "How is Mai taking this news?"

Jee grimaced. "Not well. She's blaming herself for having authorized the reconnaissance in the first place."

Zuko winced as they passed down the corridor leading to the throne room. He was usually the worrier when it came to decisions; Mai simply analyzed them calmly and drew up her expectations of what would happen, and how to react. Besides, espionage work was nothing new to her; she had worked as a spy during Azula's conquest of Ba Sing Se, and during the beginning of Zuko's reign. But there were certain things that could catch her off guard, and her sometimes-irritating best friend was one of them.

The Throne Room was barely lit when they entered, but Zuko could make out Mai's silhouette standing on the edge of the dais, her back turned to him. As he approached and tossed a flame into the trench below, he saw several of her shuriken embedded in the map on the table- all clustered around the dot marked Omori. He noticed another shuriken rotating between her fingers and stepped back hastily.

"Er... looks like you hit the target the first time?"

Mai didn't turn around. "This isn't a laughing matter. Ty Lee is gone, Spirits knows where, and we have no idea where Takeo's exit from Omori is. And you can be sure he'll be on-guard against any future infiltration."

Zuko shook his head. "You shouldn't have sent the Kiyoshi on an infiltration mission behind my back. If I'd known, I would've left the Yuyan Archers behind, they could have followed her into the fortress and helped her-"

Mai spun around, her eyes flashing dangerously. "I specifically told her to observe only and nothing more. Infiltration was something I would only have discussed with you, and you know it. But Ty Lee follows her own initiative sometimes; at least someone did!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zuko heard anger building in his voice; the flames in the trench flickered ominously. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jee quietly edging out of the room. "In case you've forgotten, this is one of the best fortresses our people ever built, and I'm about to tell our troops that some of them may lose their lives in order for us to take it back!"

"Don't you throw that at me! Why do you think I was in favor of infiltration?! The less precise our information is, the more lives will be lost!" Mai swung her arm violently to the left, and her shuriken whizzed across the room. It impaled a silk hanging depicting a previous Fire Lord, right through the eye. "We're all making a huge sacrifice to deal with your treacherous warlord, Zuko, but none more than Ty Lee! She's the reason I survived, after I helped you escape the Boiling Rock." Her expression was still angry, but her voice was shaking slightly. "She chose me over Azula, and I may have sent her to her death... or worse. If Takeo got his hands on her or her pupil, alive..."

Zuko felt his stomach twist as he imagined that scenario. He remembered hearing how Ty Lee had chi-blocked Azula, when his sister had been about to kill Mai for betraying her. Ty Lee sometimes showed poor judgement, but no one could fault her loyalty. And Mai was beating herself up over that loyalty now. He came forward and wrapped his arms around her thin frame. "Ty Lee's a lot smarter than she was at fourteen, Mai. We all are. She went against your orders because she trusted her own initiative, like you said. If Takeo had her or Jeonsa, he'd make sure we knew. He's not subtle enough to hide a hostage from us. Is Suki on her way?"

Mai relaxed just a fraction and nodded. "Ty Lee's Kiyoshi team sent a hawk before we evacuated them. Suki's on the next ship to the Capital; she wants to lead the search party personally. How was Izumi's visit to the Dragons?"

"It went even better than mine and Aang's. You should have been there to see her."

Mai managed a small smile. "No, thanks. There are interests she and I have in common, but Firebending with dragons isn't one of them. Shoot the fire at me, and there's entertainment."

Zuko grinned and kissed her forehead. "So you enjoyed that time I accidentally burned your bangs off?"

"It was... memorable. Don't read too much into it." Mai detached herself gently from his embrace. "Besides, I knew Izumi could handle herself. She's always been able to."

"You're right. I guess I just needed a reminder, after being away for a year. She charmed the Dragons and Jayavar; she even made Soma soften, for a moment-"

The doors suddenly burst open, and Tomoru rushed into the throne room. Mai's younger brother by thirteen years, Tomoru served as their minister of intelligence. However, his usually rosy face was ashen as he came around the fire-trench.

"Tom-Tom?" Mai frowned. "What's wrong?"

Tomoru's eyes flicked back and forth from her to Zuko, fearfully- not of their reaction, but of the news he was carrying. "Something terrible happened-"

"We know about Ty Lee's disappearance already." Zuko replied impatiently.

"That's not it." Tomoru wiped sweat from his brow. "The attacks weren't at Omori-"

"Attacks?" Zuko turned around sharply. "What attacks?"

"First, there was an attempt to abduct our father from the compound where you've been holding him, yesterday." Tomoru's eyes swiveled back to Mai, whose expression was wooden. "I warned our Uncle in time, and he was able to stop it, but a few of the Imperial Firebenders were hurt pretty bad. We captured both the attackers, but they took poison before we could question them. They were both ex-Army officers, and one of them had a Kirin tattoo- the same as Takeo's personal standard. My guess is, they were sent by his informant in the High Command- the one whose identity we still haven't learned."

Zuko put his hand on Tomoru's shoulder. "...You said 'attacks', Tom. What else happened?"

Tomoru swallowed. "A group of Earthbenders appeared out of nowhere, at Hira'a, and... and flattened every building. Several people were injured, two were killed."

Zuko stepped back sharply, too stunned to speak. Earthbenders attacking unprovoked, at the quiet town where his mother and stepfather were living?

Mai came to her senses quicker. "Have you responded?"

Tomoru nodded. "I borrowed your personal seal and ordered supplies and repair crews sent by airship already."

Zuko finally found his voice. "My parents, are they...?"

Tomoru shook his head vigorously. "They weren't among the dead. Ikem is hurt pretty bad, though; he has several broken ribs. Ursa wants to take him to Republic City, to see Katara."

"Of course." Mai nodded. "I'll write to her. What were the Earthbenders wearing?"

"The only Home Guardswoman in Hira'a said they wore standard issue, Earth Kingdom Army uniforms. But their hat-brims and pauldrons were dark green, not yellow, and they had studs on their gauntlets."

"Omashu." Mai grimaced. "Just when I thought I'd finished with that awful place, it comes back to bite us. That new King must be more vengeful than we thought."

Zuko frowned. "King Ariq is hotheaded, but he's not foolish enough to attack the Fire Nation unprovoked. He knows that would drag Omashu into a confrontation with Ba Sing Se, the Fire Nation, Aang, or all three."

"Maybe Ariq thinks he doesn't need to fear the Avatar, since Aang's more and more tied to his responsibilities in the United Republic." Tomoru shrugged. "As for the Earth King, Kuei's a passive man, but he's more likely to side with his own vassal in a dispute with the Fire Nation, especially after that confrontation you had with him at Yu Dao, years ago. Unless we presented him with proof... which we don't have, because those Earthbenders vanished as quickly as they came."

Zuko climbed the dais, sat down on his throne and took a deep breath. "...Send in Commander Atsuro and General On Ji. And, Tom... does Kiyi know about the Hira'a attack?"

"Not yet."

"Tell her straight away. She'll want to be with our parents, but I want her and Izumi kept safe until this whole mess is straightened out. Take them to the Caldera Cavern; if there's an attack on the Capital, no Earthbenders will be able to reach them there."

Tomoru bowed and rushed out. Moments later, the Air Fleet Commander, Atsuro, entered, followed by On Ji, the Commander of the Home Guard. They both prostrated themselves before the dais.

"I have tasks for both of you." Zuko fought to control the anger in his voice, but the rising flames in the trench gave it away. "Commander Atsuro, you are to detach five of your airships from the siege of Omori and send them to Omashu. Have them patrol just outside its' borders, and send a message to King Ariq. I'm issuing complaints to King Kuei and the Avatar over the aggressive actions of Omashu's soldiers. I won't attack unprovoked, but I also refuse to negotiate with Ariq until I have the Earth King's reply and my investigations are complete. If there are any more attacks on Fire Nation soil or ships in that time, I will view it as an act of war."

Atsuro looked startled as he stood. "Between the Fire Nation and Omashu, or the Earth Kingdom as a whole?"

"Don't specify." Mai interrupted; she had moved silently to Zuko's side. "Let Ariq worry over that for a bit."

Atsuro bowed and strode out. Zuko turned to On Ji. "General On Ji, I'm entrusting you with protecting Hira'a, and joining Tomoru in investigating the attack further. Fortify all the roads leading in and out of the town, and make sure the civilians are safe and cared for. Arrange for Home Guard garrisons in all the other coastal towns; I don't want any more surprise attacks."

"Of course, Fire Lord." She saluted him and left.

Zuko stared into the blazing trench. "I just witnessed Izumi learn how to balance the power of her Firebending... and now, I'm being forced into multiple confrontations, where the only use for Firebending is destruction." He glanced at Mai. "I'm not letting my emotions run away from me, am I?"

"Maybe. But you've given Takeo a chance to come out of hiding and defend himself, and he scorned it. You're giving Ariq that same chance, now. If they push you up against the wall, it's only natural for you to come out fighting. At least you know where to draw the line." Mai squeezed his shoulder, then reached for a brush and ink. "Looks like we both have a few letters to write."

"I'll dictate mine to the scribe." Zuko stood up suddenly and started down the dais, gesturing to one of the Imperial Firebenders. "Send for my armor, and ready my airship. Mai, you have the throne."

"Where are you going?"

" I've been hesitating too long, over keeping the siege of Omori a secret. Let it come out; the world needs to know the truth about me, and the truth about Takeo. It's time to end this showdown- now."