It was the opening day of the Jasmine Dragon, and the owners scurried around the shop preparing everything for the day ahead.

One of them was excited for the future he saw for them. The other was preoccupied with thoughts of the present.

"Uncle, can I talk to you for a second?" Zuko suddenly said, freezing in the middle of placing a bouquet of flowers on one of the tables.

"Of course Prince Zuko, anything." Uncle Iroh responded, making sure all his ingredients were in the cupboards. He sounded suddenly worried. Zuko felt bad for dragging his mood down, but he had held important information back from him for too long and anyway needed his advice.

"Azula, Mai and Ty Lee are in the city."

Iroh thought for a second. "Oh dear. How do you know?"

"I saw them come past our old tea shop several weeks ago".

"And you didn't tell me until now?!" Iroh sounded almost angry, and Zuko did not blame him.

"No, I did not. But I didn't think they would be bothering us. They were in chains when I saw them."

"Iroh's eyebrow rose. "You mean the prodigious Princess Azula managed to get herself captured? I hope you're not planning any rescue missions."

Zuko considered whether to tell Iroh. He eventually decided to do it.

"I am."

"Zuko, you can't. Azula is your sister, but she's also a menace who was up to her imprisonment out to get us! You'll throw this all away!"

Zuko bit back the urge to tell him that nothing of value would be lost if that happened.

"Not for Azula. For Mai. She and I were -are- very close, as you know, and she surely doesn't believe in Azula's goals."

"So it's love. At least you're doing what you want instead of what your father wants, and about time too, but what's your plan for this? This wouldn't be the first secret mission you've tried, and you keep doing them without a plan!"

Zuko had to admit that his uncle had a point, but stubbornness required he respond. "And yet they always work out, don't they?"

"They only work out because the people you consider your enemies take pity on you! I know about your adventures as the Blue Spirit; and how you nearly got captured rescuing the Avatar by Zhao. I know how you nearly died in the North Pole! And now you are going to do something insane, again, for a noble reason this time I admit, because you never learn! Say this plan of yours does succeed and you get Mai out. What are you going to do with her? We'll be harbouring a fugitive!"

Zuko had never heard his uncle speak to him like this, angry but also pleading at the same time. It took him aback.

"Zuko, this city took one of my sons before his time, and the loss has lived with me every day since. Please don't cause me to lose another."

With a jolt, Zuko realised he was talking about him. The anger suddenly evaporated. "I'm sorry uncle," he muttered.

"I promise you, we'll find some other way of getting Mai out. We'll appeal to the Earth King. Who knows, I might be able to pull some strings!" Iroh looked relieved. "Now, help me with this tea."

As the first customers began to arrive, Zuko thought over what his uncle had said. It made sense to him on one level, but on another he felt a need for urgent action. It had already been several weeks since he had seen them, who knew what could have happened since then?

It was as Zuko was serving a jasmine tea to a distinguished looking Earth Kingdom noble that he heard a voice.

"... you know, Aang's surprisingly good with that boomerang."

Zuko froze, and knew that if he turned around he would find that water tribe boy, Sokka, standing behind him. He had already had one run in with his sister and another girl he didn't know, and he hadn't enjoyed it. He didn't want another run in with one of the Avatar's travelling companions.

He made a dash for the kitchen. "Uncle!" He hissed, "Sokka is here!"

"Iroh looked out of the window. "So he is", he said, sounding very calm considering the situation. "And he's brought a lady friend."

Zuko quickly looked and saw that Sokka did indeed have a companion, a girl with large eyes and reddish-brown hair. When she spoke something about her seemed familiar.

"Uncle, how can you be so calm about this? He knows who we are! Never mind Azula, we could end up in an Earth Kingdom prison!"

Just then, the girl looked up- and noticed Zuko. A flash of distaste appeared on her face, and Zuko was left in no doubt that she knew who he was. However, instead of pointing him out to Sokka, the look quickly passed and she began chatting about her home, a place called Kyoshi Island.

And suddenly it all made sense.

Zuko had attacked Kyoshi island a few months previously, in his pursuit of the Avatar who had at that point only just reappeared. During his stay on the island he had burned the village. Zuko had always tried to keep the village burning to an appropriate minimum during his travels, but still the girl with Katara on the night they ambushed him had accused him of burning hers. This girl with Sokka was the one who had attacked him.

None of this explained why she hadn't immediately denounced him and revealed his identity to the entire group though. Indeed, now she got up and dragged Sokka out of the shop, complaining about something petty as she did so.

Zuko breathed a sigh of relief. At least for now, his cover was safe.

He had also made his mind up on the other matter; he was going to find out where Mai was imprisoned, and he was going to rescue her. He knew his uncle had told him that this was a bad idea, but even he had acknowledged that his intentions were good.

With his plan of action now secure in his head, Zuko smiled and poured another pot of tea.