Well boys and girls, I managed to find a working connection down here at the shore, so here's the new chapter a few days early. And I've three more already written so you'll see plenty over the next few days. Enjoy!

Chap. 7

Zuko's Decision

"How long has it been?" Katara asked, as she looked back at the door to the main room.

"Almost an hour." Luz replied, as she looked at the fading light coming in through the window. The group had been inside the kitchen, waiting for Zuko to work through his sorrows in privacy. Most of them felt sympathy for Zuko; having your darkest secrets revealed to you like that was something that no one could withstand. But there were a few in the group that didn't care about the inner turmoil that Zuko was going through…

"I can't believe that we're doing this." Sokka muttered.

"What, giving Zuko some privacy?" Aang asked.

"No, letting him stay in here in the first place!" Sokka yelled back, as he got his feet. Pacing around, he asked, "Have you guys forgotten what he's done to us? All the times he's chased us, the destruction he's caused?"

"Sokka, he chased us because he didn't have a choice!" Katara yelled back at her brother. "And can you actually think of any real destruction you've seen him cause? Even when we met him at the South Pole, he let us go once Aang surrendered. Maybe if you could past the fact he's a Firebender, you'd see that."

"Are you actually defending him?" Sokka snapped back. "Don't you remember when he kidnapped you at the river? When he threatened Gran-Gran? When he threatened you at the docks?"

"Yes I do Sokka." Katara answered, her voice becoming tinged with even more anger. "And I hated him too. But I seem to be able to remember what Fuego told us about him. And I seem to be able to remember what just happened out there that made him cry. He doesn't have anything Sokka; his home, his family, it's all gone, and now he can never get it back. Doesn't that make you feel even a little sorry for him?"

"It's no more then he deserves." Sokka cried back. But this time, it was Oscuridad that rebuked him. "And who are you to choose his punishment, Sokka?" the bat asked, as he leaned forward in his chair. "How many times have we had Zuko at our mercy? How many times have you, or I, or Aang been capable of leaving him to die?"

"It's a pity that we didn't then." Sokka answered.

"Pity?" Oscuriad repeated in surprise. "I can't speak for you, but it was pity that stayed my hand. It was pity that stayed Aang's. Many that live deserve death, Sokka. And many that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?"

Sokka didn't have an answer for that, so he remained silent. The bat shook his head, and said, "Don't be so eager to deal out death and judgment Sokka. Most of those choices cannot be taken back, and they all stay with you the rest of your life."

As Oscuirdad leaned back in his chair, Trueno leaned over and whispered, "Well said, Mithrandir."

"Don't tell the others that. I'd like them to believe I'm actually that eloquent." The bat whispered back.

"Indeed." The ram answered. "But there is something I want to know." The ram said, speaking normally now. "Was it really pity that made you stop me before?"

"In part." The bat answered thoughtfully. "But I also noticed how ragged and disheveled they both looked. Plus, Zuko did not instantly attack Aang, and Iroh only acted in self-defense. I wondered why such a headstrong boy like Zuko wouldn't immediately leap after his prey. Besides, I had enough faith in Fuego to know that even he wouldn't bring Zuko and Iroh here and feed them unless the situation had changed."

"Really?" the red man asked from his spot on the floor. "Then what was with the speech about our enemies?"

"Well I didn't know everything. I didn't want either of them to think we were just going to take your word for it, in case it really was a trick."

Fuego snorted at that, and as he finished, the door into the main room suddenly opened. Everyone stood up as Zuko and Iroh walked in. The former prince's eyes were red from crying, and his face was streaked with tears, but he carried himself as proudly as he could.

"You all right?" Fuego asked.

"Yes." Zuko answered. "My uncle and I have made our decision. We will help you with your quest. The two of us no longer have anything to gain by helping the Fire Nation, and we don't seem to do that well on our own."

"Well, at least not well enough to survive." Iroh added.

"I'm glad to hear that." Oscuridad said, as he got up from his chair. "And I think we can change your survival ratings. But I want both of you to know, this is not a one way street. Zuko, your uncle has promised to train Aang in Firebending, but that time has not yet come, and you did not promise anything. Therefore, until that time comes, both of you are going to help us in smaller ways, and in our main quest at the moment."

"And what does that mean?" Zuko asked.

"Helping with cleaning, supplies, cooking, all the like." The bat replied. "Also, tomorrow, you will be searching the marketplace with us for Appa."

"What's an Appa?" Iroh asked.

"My bison." Aang answered, as he came to the front as well. "He was stolen in the desert and traded to someone here in the marketplace."

"I see. Well then our alliance is truly fortunate for you." Iroh said. "I am the best haggler in the Fire Nation. Once we find him, I'm sure I'll be able to get him back at a good price."

Aang smiled at that; the young Airbender knew that he and Iroh were going to get along great. But as he turned his attention to Zuko, Aang thought things were going to be more difficult with him. Zuko's face was drawn into a frown, and had been ever since Oscuirad had explained his duties to him. And as Bosque began to speak, that frown began to deepen.

"Well, now that's settled, I think it's about time for dinner. Fuego, you have enough stuff to feed all of us?"

"Plenty." The red man answered. "I should enough soup in about an hour. But I'm gonna need more kindling."

"No problem. There's a big pile of wood outside. I should have plenty of kindling for you." The squirrel said, as he drew his axe. "Hey Hierro, make Zuko an axe and send him outside in a minute."

"What for?" Zuko asked.

"You're going to start earning your keep." Bosque answered.

"I don't think so." Zuko replied. "I'll go into the marketplace, but I am not going to do servant's work."

"Look around you, do you see any servants?" Bosque asked, his voice tinged with anger. "We all do our part here Zuko, and if you want to stay with us, you will too. You're not a prince anymore, and it's time you realized that."

Iroh shook his head then, as he knew what Bosque's words were about to do. Sure enough, Zuko's temper flared and he yelled back, "How dare you tell me who I am! I was born Prince of the Fire Nation, and nothing you can do will ever change that!"

"I don't need to. Your father already did!" Bosque snapped back.

Everyone gasped then, as Zuko's eyes blazed. "That does it! I am not going to waste my time doing demeaning work, and I am not going to travel a filthy, disgusting marketplace looking for a worthless animal!"

Now it was Katara's turn to shake her head, as Aang's temper flared up. "You shut up about Appa!" the Avatar cried, leaping over to stand in front of Zuko. "He save my life more times then I can count, and he's the reason you could never capture me! He is not worthless, and you are going to help me find him!"

"Make me!" Zuko sneered back, as he held up his hands in a defensive stance. Aang met the stance and the two of them began to circle each other. But before they could come to blows, Iroh stepped in front of them and pushed them apart. "ENOUGH!" the former general yelled.

Turning to Aang, Iroh said, "You are the Avatar. You above all else know the importance of control. If you cannot control your temper because of the words of a foolish boy, how do you expect to control it long enough to find your bison? How do you expect to control it when you face the Fire Lord?" At that, Aang hung his head low, feeling quite chastened. Nodding, Iroh turned his attention back to his nephew. "As for you…" Iroh grabbed Zuko's collar and dragged the boy back into the main room, as if he was a small child. The door slammed behind them, as the group looked at each other in shock.

"Wow, he is good." Toph whispered.

"You should've seen him in his prime." Fuego answered. "Man could silence any dispute just by looking at the people involved."

"Let's hope he's still got some of that left." Bosque said, as he walked outside through the back door to begin his task.