Ok, i'm really sorry i haven't updated recently. My life is so busy right now. Taekwondo rocks! (in case you're wondering, haha). anyway, i'll try to get another chapter up soon, i'm on a writing spree, lol, but i have no idea when the next one will be up.

in case you haven't figured, i don't own avatar, otherwise i'd be in it.

Chapter 5: Family Sticks Together

I looked through the bars, and saw Iroh across the hall doing the same. He had changed quite a lot since I'd last seen him, three years ago. A lot shaggier… a bit bruised… but on the positive side, a bit lighter than I had remembered him. "Uncle… whadthef---areyoudoinghere?" He started laughing at my unexpected outburst.

He briefly explained; finally coming to his arrest. (Author's note: Sorry, it would take way too long to explain all that. As long as you're seen book 2, last couple of episodes [i.e. Crossroads of Destiny, you know what happened.)

I listened, completely shocked. "So is the Avatar dead and is the Avatar Cycle broken? When I was at the palace, Azula said she killed him a few days ago. Is he really gone… you were there."

There was a moment of silence… I heard a deep sigh from across the hall. "No, I don't think so. Somehow, I think he has survived." He was quiet, deep in thought. "I had a dream, earlier… Avatar Roku ca-"

"-Avatar Roku? I had a dream earlier and he was in it…" A particularly long, bright flash of lightning lit up the prison hold for a few seconds. The tattoo on my right shoulder caught my eye… Gears seemed to click in my mind. "Did you see any… dragons?"

Iroh's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Yes- I saw Avatar Roku, and 2 dragons. One had gold eyes, and the other had red eyes. I think I was a… a dragon, as well."

"Seriously? Wow, I… think we had the same dream. I saw one with gold eyes, and the other had a long grey beard… That was yo-" I looked across the hall, and Iroh had closed his eyes. A strong wind went through the hall, kicking up a small cloud of dust. I closed my eyes as well. The wind moved past us like a shock wave, and I opened my eyes.

"Well done." Avatar Roku was standing in the middle of the hall; I could see him through the bars of my cell. "You have gained a connection to Spirit World. Use it wisely." He disappeared in a column of white fire.

I opened my eyes. Across the hall, Iroh had opened his eyes as well. He held up his hand- a white fireball lay in it… I held open my hands, and white flames grew from them. With a twinkle in his eyes and an eager smile, Iroh disappeared below the bars of his cell. I lay down on the straw mat, meditating.

A few minutes later: I looked around my cell. It seemed different. I looked down, and saw my body sitting against a wall, meditating. An invisible force seemed to pull me, and I shot through the roof above me. As I flew up in the sky, I noticed the dragon with the grey beard beside me. I blinked, and a moment later, we stood on an island in a swamp. As our feet touched the ground, we were no longer dragons. "Ah, I knew you would come." Avatar Roku rose from the water around us.

We both bowed. "Avatar Roku, it is a great honor to be able to enter the Spirit World. What have you called us here for?" asked Iroh.

"There are many things to be done and little time to do it in. The connection between Avatar Aang and the Spirit World survives by a stroke of pure luck. This connection must be restored. The Avatar must learn all the elements- he has or is mastering the elements, except fire. And you must protect the Avatar until he is ready. You have found one of your fellow shadows- you and your uncle will find a way."

In the back of my mind, I heard a door creak open, and footsteps on a metal floor. I looked at Iroh, and he nodded. We bowed to Avatar Roku, and closed our eyes. Immediately, Iroh and I swooped down on the small ship below us, in the forms of nearly-invisible dragons.

I opened my eyes and jumped to my feet. At the bars of my door, I saw Zuko walking towards our cells. He opened the door to Iroh's cell, and the door to mine. Both of us walked out. I held up a fireball so we could see around. Zuko was frowning, deep in thought.

"Uncle, you're going to be executed once we reach the Fire Nation. I found a letter from my da-, from the Fire Lord. He says that you must be sent home to face justice." Iroh's face remained impassive. "He told Azula to send me home too."

"Let me guess; Azula said that you killed the Avatar…?" said Iroh

Zuko nodded in surprise. "That could be trouble for you later on Zuko. Keep your head up and your eyes open. If there's ever trouble, come and find us… if not, we will find you."

Zuko paused for a moment. "This ship leaves tomorrow. Azula plans to come and see you one last time, Uncle; and I really doubt she's coming to say goodbye. Uncle, you need to escape when she's here, otherwise she'll think I helped you- which I did not by the way." He held up a ring of keys, "see," and he put it in his pocket. He pulled out two keys from another pocket and handed one to each of us. He smiled, and winked. "Just in case you can't think of any ideas. Good luck guys…"

"Wait!" Iroh's firm voice echoed through the cold prison hold. "Thank you, Zuko… Family sticks together." I stood to the side as the old man caught the young man in a gigantic bear hug. I closed my hand and extinguished the fireball in my hand, as a tear began to slide down Zuko's scar, towards the cold metal floor.

How's that for an ending:0) ok, so i'm not the greatest writer in the world. review are welcome!

More action in chapters soon to come.