(Notice, I do not own the original Avatar: The Last Airbender characters or storyline. They are owned by Nickelodeon. This story and all character's else-wise ARE owned by me.)

((The name, 'Zhu', means "pearl" in Chinese-or so I was told. 'Zhen Mei' is supposed to mean 'Precious Rose', and 'Xi-feng' is 'superior pheonix' or something. The others I can't remember.))

Act V: In A Name

As the sun began to set, Iroh and Ora decided to walk along a path on the outside of the compound walls. Iroh hummed to himself as the two companions watched the leaves shift with the wind, but chose not to speak to the young girl. Ora's disposition had been proven to be very uptight in the past moments, something Iroh felt was better left un-enquired about.

Right after he had finished humming, however, it seemed that Ora need to express something of her attitude from earlier. "Iroh", she began, only to be immediately hugged by the old man, who chuckled lightly in the process. Iroh stood back after a few moments of this embrace and shook his head in disagreement.

"There is nothing you need explain, Zhen Mei." In response to this name, the girl gasped, and then carefully stepped away from the retired general.

"I haven't...I haven't been called that name since I was a little girl. And only by my father. How is it that you know my nickname?"

Iroh laughed heartedly at this, all-the-while grasping his stomach, as he was still a bit sore. Wiping the tears from his eyes, the old man explained, "When your father found out that he had finally been blessed with a child, the first person he sent a letter to outside the family was me. In the letter he wrote that in the surprise of finding out that he would have a daughter, Azadeh and he could not decide on a name. Your mother wanted you to be named after her mother, 'Kira'. Your father thought that the name 'Xi-feng' would have suited you. Your grandfather Niu wanted you to have the name 'Zhu' because he said that after all the trouble your parents went through to have you, the spirits had blessed them with the perfect child.

Hao-cun asked me to decide from these names, but I could not. Instead, I sent him the name 'Zhen Mei', because I thought it would suit you in your later years. And I was right. You have grown into a beautiful woman, but even my old eyes can see that you are not one to cross. Exactly like a rose. "

Ora smiled at this tidbit of history. "Father called me that, rather than the name I was given instead. I never understood why I was given the name 'Ora' instead."

"Because my father, Fire Lord Azulon, asked if you could be. Apparently he was very fond of the name, and your father did not want to cross him by denying his request. I think suits you, given the circumstances of– "

"Please, Uncle Iroh, let's not speak of that today. I do not enjoy it." Iroh nodded at this small request, and offered his arm out to the girl.

"And you have not called me 'Uncle' in a very long time either."

The young woman smiled at older man at his remark and then looked up to the sky to see the moon beginning to shine through the clouds. "Come", she requested, returning her gaze to the retired general. "It is time to eat dinner. Perhaps later you and I can play Pai Sho while Auntie Bone makes us some tea." At this offer, the retired general's face lit up brightly with a smile that seemed too big for his face, sending the solemn woman into a fit of giggles.

Slyly, the man leaned over to the woman, one eyebrow raised. "And what tea will this be?"

Ora covered her mouth, almost unable to contain the happiness she recieved from the man's joy over her offer. Coughing slightly in effort to regain face, she replied, "Why Manchu, of course, dear Uncle. Unless of course, you would rather have Moon Chai." The young woman almost swore that she heard a girlish squeal emitted from the man's mouth at this offer. The only reply she received, however, was the action of being dragged back into the compound by a newly spry older man.

And indeed, several moments later she found herself walking briskly towards her home, and then directly towards the table her guests had shared earlier at breakfast. Relishing in the shocked faces made by all who had already assumed their places around the meal, Ora watched as Iroh practically ran to his seat, a grin upon his face.

Unsure about why his uncle was acting this way, Zuko studied the man's face. "Uncle", he started, seeming almost afraid of the man's reaction to his question, "why are you so happy right now?" Iroh calmed down somewhat at this, then adjusted himself back into his normal behavior.

Rubbing his hands together, he looked over the food, at then at his nephew. "I am happy because as soon as we finish this wonderful meal our hostess has offered to serve tea and play a game of Pai Sho with me."

Ora, by now in her own seat, happily gestured for her guest to begin eating. As they did, she noticed that the young man simply sat in his seat, not bothering to eat. Carefully, she nudged Iroh's shoulder and then directed the older man's vision to his nephew. Iroh studied Zuko's behavior and then reached forward towards a bowl full of rice. Picking the bowl up, he held it before his nephew and began to pile the starch into the boy's separate bowl. As the young man began to protest, the older man set the bowl –now almost empty– back down and then grabbed a small piece of salted fish from a separate dish, dipped it into his nephew's now full bowl and then shoved it into Zuko's mouth.

Zuko choked slightly and then chewed on the food, the aggravation he felt from his uncle's action clearly written on his face. Then, as if he understood why his uncle had done such, he picked up his own pair of chopsticks and began to eat. Moments after, he heard a woman's laugh and looked up to find Ora covering her mouth the best she could, a glint of laughter still hidden behind her blue-grey eyes. Grumbling, he shifted his glare to his food, slightly embarrassed by being force fed.

Ora, seeing a new blush spread across the prince's cheeks, calmed herself down. "I'm sorry, Prince Zuko", she admitted softly, almost as if it was for the young man's ears alone. Zuko looked up to this admission, surprised.

"It's alright", he replied calmly.

The young woman bowed her head. "Perhaps tomorrow, once you have awakened, we could...that is if you feel like it...perhaps we can match our strengths tomorrow in a sparring match?"

Zuko studied the girl's appearance for a second before answering. His uncle had mentioned to him that she was the daughter of parents from both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom, so that would explain her dark hair. She was fair-skinned, another trait from the Fire Nation. What he couldn't explain however, were her eyes. Under the light from the surrounding torches, they seemed almost grey, a trait from neither lands her parents hailed from. This left him confused as to what bending the girl actually did. "Your are either a firebender or an earthbender, correct?"he inquired, hoping for the girl to correct him.

"Yes", was her simple reply.

"'Yes' to which?"

Ora shifted her eyes away from Zuko and looked to Iroh, who by now was sitting back, rubbing his stomach in contentment. "I was thinking we should duel with weapons opposed to bending."

Zuko growled at this answer. "You're avoiding my question. Which element do you bend?"

To everyone's surprise, Xiong answered this question. "You are avoiding accepting or denying her offer. Will you fight with her tomorrow or not, fire-boy?"

Zuko, angered by this interruption, slammed his fist down on the table. "It is my right to know what I will face tomorrow! Now, someone tell me what this girl bends!"

"Settle down young man", replied Aunt Bone, who's eyes remained on her food. "She did not challenge you to an Agni Kai. Besides, you will never know the true power of your enemy on the battlefield, why would it matter now to know the skills of this girl?"

"While I was an officer, at least I knew the source of which my enemy drew his power from. I know nothing of this girl's. Now, again I will ask this, is she a fire or earthbender?"

This time Aunt Bone did look up. Zuko, although keeping a fierce eye on the outside, fought off the inner fright as the old woman's hazel eyes seemed to bore holes through his skull. "You will calm yourself, young firebender", she demanded, her voice dark. "Or I shall duel you myself tomorrow, and from my estimations, you still have many things left to learn."

"There is nothing an Earthbender can teach me.", retorted the seething young man.

"Be careful, nephew...", came the calm voice of Iroh, "at this table, appearances are deceiving. The woman you know as Aunt Bone is not the earthbender you perceive her to be. Nor is Xiong or his wife."

"The only earthbender in this compound", commented Xiong, "is my daughter Hea."

Smoke shot from Zuko's nose as Iroh continued to explain. "'Aunt Bone's true name is Botan, and if I am correct, she is better known as ' the Sword Scar' a figure from your history lessons as a child. A very formidable firebender in my own opinon."

Zuko stared at the now grinning old woman, completely baffled as to how this small person could possibly be the same warrior from the stories he was told as a young boy. "Xiong is a waterbender from the Northern tribe, his wife Yumi, is an accomplished swordsman."

Zuko, once again confused by his uncle's explanations, merely decided to bring everyone's attention back to his original question. "All I care about is who I'm fighting tomorrow, Uncle."

Iroh, now rather irritated by his nephew's persistency, simply stood up and bowed to those left at the table, then waited as Ora excused herself in similar manner. Addressing the young man briefly before he turned to leave with the lady of the compound, the stout old man remarked, "If the person who you will be fighting tomorrow will not answer, it is not our place to do so instead." And with that, the two walked away, which eventually led to the entire dismissal of the dinner table.

Act VI: The Truth

When Zuko awoke the next morning, he found his Uncle had returned to their shared room, and was sleeping in the same spot he had the day before, yet this time he had somehow obtained a mattress and blankets to cover himself with. Zuko, on the other hand, had slept with his shirt as his cover, and now felt very jealous of this difference in situations. Before he could react to this, however, a shadow approached outside of the door, and soon afterwards the woman he now knew as formally as Botan slid the doors apart and spoke sternly into the crack.

"Breakfast is set", was all she stated before sliding the doors together again.

Iroh stirred at this news and began to slowly rise from his sleep. Zuko, already awake, simply slid his shirt back around his shoulders and stood, waiting for his uncle. The older man took his time, pacing himself until Zuko began to grow impatient and promptly walked around the uncle, careful not to step on the man's bedding, but not so much that when he slid the doors open enough to step out of the room, he slammed them together loudly.

Several minutes later, the now familiar group sat together for the third time as they ate their breakfast. All remained silent throughout the meal, until the dishes were being collected, when Ora began to speak softly. "Zuko", she stated calmly as she waited for his attention, "have you made your decision about my offer?"

"Yes", he replied. "I will take you up on your offer, regardless of my reservations towards it." Needless to say, this answer left an array of expressions around the table.

It was Xiong who spoke first. "Will you fight with your bending or with weapons?"

Zuko shrugged at this question, then directed his attention back to Ora, who now looked down in contemplation of the upcoming duel. Finally, after an inward deliberation, the young woman looked up to her audience. "This will be a bender's spar."

Botan had returned to the table by this time and Zuko noticed the worried look she flashed towards him. What did this decision entail for him?

Standing up from her seat, Xiong's wife bowed slightly. "I go will prepare the ring. When will you start, Lady Ora?"

The young woman breathed deeply and then answered. "Give Zuko and I until the sun is directly above us. That is when we will begin." Yumi bowed again and was off. Ora then turned towards Zuko and Iroh, who had by now directed their attention towards the young woman, ready for anything she might want to share with them before the rest of the table departed until several hours from now. "Zuko, I have decided that it would be best if we address this as an Agni Kai", she started, briefly to hear Aunt Bone's snort of disapproval. Continuing she instructed them, "Please take this time to meditate and prepare. Although I must make one distinction. While we will be performing the necessary steps of your common Fire Nation duel, neither of us is to attempt to take the other's life. This will merely be an exercise. Is that understood?"

Zuko shook his head in agreement. Iroh also nodded and then regained his feet, ready to return to their room. "We shall see each other at noon, Ora", the retired general offered as a goodbye, and then walked from the table. Zuko soon followed, leaving behind the young girl and her older guardian in peace.

Ora looked to Botan, who had crossed her arms and grumbled to herself since the girl's conclusion. "Auntie, this decision was made last night between Iroh and myself. I see no harm in it as long as the prince and I keep it within safe boundaries."

Again Botan snorted. "This is a foolish move, Ora. You take too many risks with this boy. I can accept the Dragon of the West because he has proven his loyalty to us tenfold, but I cannot expect the same with the boy."

"I will not try to sway you Auntie, but I feel otherwise. I believe Uncle–"

"Why do you keep addressing to him as such?"

Ora drew her eyes to the ground, "Because I never got the chance to call him 'Father'."

At this confession, Botan sat up and walked over to the young girl, encircling Ora's small form with her arms. "I see why you trust the boy, my strong one, but he will never replace the memory of others."

Ora simply sat there, silent and still, except for her right hand, which shook as she wiped the forming tears away.