Zuko opened his eyes and let out a yelp of surprise. He looked down at his own body and saw that he was transpartent and sparkly.

"Ok, I need to find Avatar Roku. He can help us," Aang said from behind him.

"How are you going to do that?" Sokka asked. "Yell for him?"

"I don't know. When ever I've been here before, he found me. I don't know how to find him."

Zuko turned around. "I don't need Roku. I need to find my uncle." Aang and Sokka stared at him. "What?"

"Uhm…" Aang said. "Come here." He took Zuko over to a nearby creek. "Look."

Zuko leaned over, expecting to see his usual reflection. But when he looked, he couldn't believe his eyes. The scar that marked half his face was gone. He brought his hands up and was surprised to feel the smooth skin where the roughness should've been. But then he looked higher on his face and noticed on his forehead a mark. Zuko leaned closer to the water to get a better look, but before he could make it out, a different face came into focus.

"Ah!" Zuko yelled. Aang and Sokka looked into the water.

"Roku!" Aang exclaimed. "Roku! Things are going out of control! The Fire Lord just executed his own brother, and now there is a rebellion force there without a leader!"

"I know," Roku said, as he took a human form out of the water. "I have already talked to Iroh."

"Uncle! Where is he?"

"I am here, Zuko."

Zuko turned around and saw his uncle standing under a tree. He looked the same as he had in the human world, but he was wearing a Robe of the Honored. Zuko ran to him and put his arms around him.

"Uncle…no, this means…you…"

"Silence, Zuko. There isn't much time. Aang is needed in the real world. The spirits are going to use him to…you will see. And you…the Fire Nation needs their new king."

"But Uncle," Zuko could feel his tears again. "I can't do it without you. You were to be my advisor, my Spirit! You can't…"

"But you already have a source of strength for you. Katara…your new bride."

Sokka started. He turned to Aang and whispered, "Did you hear that?"

Aang nodded. "I found out on the ship. I didn't know they were engaged…but I kept it from you because now is not the time to talk. 'Talk' also includes fight."

Somewhat subdued, Sokka nodded and turned back to Zuko and Iroh.

"But Uncle," Zuko was saying. "but…" He really had nothing else to say. He just wanted to prolong the moment.

"You must be strong, Zuko. You must be strong, and let me go. Nothing can stand in your way of the throne. It is yours."

"What is to stop my sister from taking it? Or my mother's brothers?"

Iroh smiled. "Look in the river again, Zuko." He walked over to the bank. "Look and tell me what you see."

Zuko knelt again. "My scar is gone. And…there is something…"

"That, my dear nephew, is the Mark of the Kings. That is what controls your destiny."

Zuko leaned over again to study it and saw that lightly enscribed in his head was the symbol of the Fire Nation. "Why can't I see this in the human world? How can I prove it?"

"Do not worry about that. Just know that this mark will protect you and your sons from any enemies. But you must go. The rebellion has started. More and more people are joining against the Fire Lord, and soon they will be in the palace. You need to find Katara."

Zuko looked up into his uncles face. "What about you?"

"I will find peace. But you must let me go. A long time ago I made a deal with the spirits. My debt has been repaid, and now I can be in happiness."

"What was the deal?"

"To guard you in return for this." Iroh spread his arms. "I can now live here forever instead of crossing over. I can now be there for you when ever you need me. Just ask for me, and I shall come."

"Zuko…"Aang said from behind him. "The spirits are pulling me. I have to take you back."

"Uncle…" Zuko cried. "Uncle!"

The spirit world faded. "Let me go, nephew. Live strong."

With a whoosh they were back in Appa's saddle. Startled by their sudden return, the bison landed instantly with a thud. Zuko opened his eye's, jumped down to the ground, collapsed, and started to cry…weep…

"Uncle…"

Katara knew Bree and Ronan were coming before they even reached her door. She heard their yelling from a floor down.

"Katara! Katara! Katara!" Ronan was yelling over and over again.

"Let us see her!" Bree screeched. Finally, the guards opened her door. The kids burst into the room to her arms with Kyna, Lorcan, and Jarlith behind them.

"Shh…" She tried to calm them. They were weeping hard, and all she could get out of themwere hiccups. Katara looked up to Kyna. "What's wrong? What happened? I saw Aang and Sokka…"

Kyna's face was white. When she had agreed to go get her sister-in-law's children, she hadn't expected this. "The general was charged…"

"Yes, I know that part. But is he dead?"

Kyna shook her head but couldn't speak anymore. Lorcan spoke up. "Your brother and the Avatar came down on that…thing…and swooped he and the Prince up. Soldiers have been searching ever since, but can't find them. And…" It was his turn to shake his head.

"And what?"

Jarlith took it upon himself to finish. "Have you looked out your window since then?"

Katara shook her head. "After I saw Aang and Sokka come down, the guards came in and bolted it shut. They mumbled something about not needing anymore to go off."

"Witnessing their leader be…executed…caused the rebellion to attack. There are much more peoplethan the Fire Lord expected, and many of the citizens are arming themselves as well and attacking the Fire Lord's army. Word is that he has sent for reinforcements already. Everywhere people are asking to find the Prince. The soldiers want to imprison or kill him…the rebellion want him as their leader. And having the Avatar around wouldn't be to bad either…after all, he is the one who is supposed to bring balance to the nations. He has to defeat the Fire Lord."

Katara's eyes got wide. "Sure, he is supposed to bring balance…but that doesn't mean he has to defeat the Fire Lord," she whispered in realization.