Phoenix's Soul: Ok everyone it is now time for the real story to begin. By the way I do not own anything from the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. I do, however, own my original characters and this story plus my own original way on how Metalbending is performed as can be verified by KikoKamia even though she once told me it would never happen or wasn't allowed.

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-The Trio Cometh-

"Well, well, Uncle," Azula said with a sneer. "I knew you were always a traitor, but to choose to side with the Avatar. I would never have thought you would have sunk so low."

"If choosing to fight on the side that fights to end this war and its bloodshed makes me a traitor then so be it," Iroh responded his head bowed.

"So you admit what you have done?" Azula asks a twisted smile forming on her lips.

"If I were to lie now, I would be branded something far worse than a traitor to the Fire Nation."

"Oh, and what would that be, Uncle? Do tell us."

"I would be a traitor to….myself," I said looking up, but not at Azula he was looking at someone to her left.

Zuko looked into his Uncles' eyes. He had never seen this look in his eyes before. It sent a shiver down his spine. Azula laughed and had the guards remove Iroh from the chamber and down to the dungeons.

"Scribe!" Azula shouted to one of the scribes to the right of the throne. "I want you to write a letter to the Fire Lord, telling him that Ba Sing Se is now under Fire Nation control. Also I want a glowing review on how my brother and his son has aided in the capture of his traitorous brother, and in the defeat of the Avatar."

Zuko watched his sister as she spoke every word. He knew he should be happy, but for some reason he couldn't get the way his uncle had just looked at him out of his head. He would have his honor back. He would once again have the love of his father and his people. He was going to be welcomed back in honor.

The guards directed Iroh down a series of passages and tunnels to the dungeons. He realized something strange as he was placed in a cell. One of the doors in the cell block was completely ripped away from the wall. He thought for a few minutes and he began to wonder if it was that same Earthbender girl.

"Why, Zuko?" Iroh asked himself. "I thought that I had finally gotten through to you. I guess I have no choice now, but to summon them."

Iroh sat down upon the hard earthen floor, crossed his legs, raised his arms to about chest level and began to meditate. He began to search through the astral plain for the one he was looking for. The search did not last as long as he had thought it would. For the one he was searching for was also meditating.

An astral figure of a youth was floating, centering itself. Its eyes opened and the entire figure turned to face the astral being that was drawing nearer.

"General Iroh!" the Astral Youth exclaimed.

"Shuntoa," Astral Iroh greeted the youth

"What is wrong, General?"

"Shuntoa, how many times must I tell you that you do not have to call me General?"

Shuntoa chuckled. "Would you prefer I go back to calling you Master Iroh?"

Iroh shook his head and complied with the youth. He then began to brief Shuntoa about the situation in Ba Sing Se, with certain points accentuated with astral images of the past events. As he neared the end of his briefing Iroh could feel Shuntoa's temper flaring.

"Shuntoa, keep you temper in check, you must remain calm."

"Of course, General."

"So, do you know what you must do?" Iroh asked his face darkening slightly.

"Yes, it's time for us to make our stand in this war." Shantou agreed with a nod. "We'll be there soon, my old friend."

Iroh nodded smiling softly. Both astral figures shimmered and disappeared. Iroh opened his eyes and exhaled slowly. He had hoped he wouldn't have to call upon those three for many more years, but he knew there was no other way.

Shantou's eyes opened and stood from his usual meditation spot in the fire caverns. He walked to the entrance shielding his eyes against the bright midday sun. Marching down the trail he had walked countless times before he realized that the end of the war was near. The only problem was that he did not know how it was going to end, and he feared the worst for both himself and his….

"Chido, Kunlon," Shantou called as he entered the clearing where their home was.

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Phoenix's Soul: Well that's it for now. "Until the Next Chapter.