Bri: Yay!

Tawny: What are you so happy about?

Bri: New chapter!

Tawny: Oh.

Ru: Well reviewers, like we promised, here is a new chapter!

Bri: Bring it on!

Chapter 4: The Plan

Zuko woke up deep in thought. He rubbed his eyes, it wasn't even light yet. Quietly, he left the tent so not to wake his uncle. Those girls are probably watching. That's why I couldn't sleep. He sighed, it was too early to be thinking about them, but that was the reason he had woken up. He had to address that problem sooner or later. How about later. He walked to the stream; some water would probably clear his head. He didn't see the shadows following him.

He rounded the trees and came to the stream, when the three girls jumped from behind him. They had identical blue-green eyes with a hazel outline and brown hair, they also wore green outfits, but each of them was different. Bri had on a green top with slight tan undertones and no sleeves that stopped at her waist. Her pants were tan and went all the way down to her ankles with a skirt that covered the pants to her knees and had two slits up to her hips, and since her pants started at her hips just a little bit of skin showed. Her hair was loose and ran all the way down to the middle of her back. Tawny had on a similar green top but she had large sleeves that slightly hid her wrists. Like her sister her shirt also cut off at her waist. She also had on pants that started at her hips; they were slightly puffy but tightened at her ankle. Her brown hair was put up in two braided loops that fell on her back, she also had a few hairs that were lose and framed her face. Their leader, Ru, was more conservative than her sisters and wore a dress with no sleeves and two slits that started at her hip and revealed a pair of pants that stopped at her knees while the skirt continued to about the middle of her lower leg. Her hair was in a simple braided bun on the back of her head.

"What do you want now?" Zuko sighed; he was not in the mood to deal with these three.

"We just want to talk, cutie!" Bri giggled in excitement, Zuko sighed again. Could she be anymore annoying?

"Bri compose yourself!" Ru snapped annoyed. After she was sure Bri would not have another outburst she turned to Zuko and said, "Your Highness, we just-"

"Don't call me that!" Zuko said his voice dripping with venom. The memory of his former position cut deep and he did not like the pain.

"Is that why you're here? To make fun of me? Is that the reason your King sent you?" He yelled in anger.

"Will you just listen to us?" Tawny yelled back at him. She had had enough of his assumptions. "I don't think I have ever met anyone with as bad a temper as you! You assume too much! So just calm down so we can talk to you!"

"Speaking of a bad temper." Bri muttered to herself.

"Tawny? TAWNY!" Ru had to yell to get her attention. Tawny stopped immediately.

"Sorry." She said quietly, she looked over at Zuko. He had a shocked look on his face; he had just met someone with a temper as bad as his.

"Will you please just listen to us?" Ru pleaded, she looked tired. I be tired too if I had to put up with those two.

"Fine." He said. They're gonna tell me anyways. Ru smiled.

"Please sit down." She said. He complied and sat. The three girls sat down in front of him and Ru began to talk.

"We were sent here on a mission by King Sujin of Ba Sing Se. He said that the mission was of top importance and he was sending us to bring you back to the city." At that Zuko shot up with every intention of running.

"But wait don't jump to conclusions!" Ru said quickly. "Please hear the rest of the story first." She motioned for him to sit back down, Zuko sat but he did not let his guard down. Ru continued.

"You see we have a mass of warriors at our command, but we need someone who knows the Fire Nation and their tactics. Without a suitable leader we will lose the war." The realization dawned on Zuko. They want me to lead their army?

"We understand if you don't want to come with us, we can't make you come. Well, we can, but we're not going to do that." Tawny said.

"But please think about it." Bri pleaded.

"We'll give you time to think it over, and don't worry, when you've made up your mind we'll find you, you don't have to come looking for us." Tawny said, and without another word they were gone, like they had vanished into thin air. They had left him with his thoughts.

The sun was just peeking up over the trees when Zuko wondered back into the camp.

"Where have you been?" Sokka asked.

"It's none of you're business." Zuko snapped; he didn't feel like dealing with him right now.

"Touchy, touchy jeesh." Sokka rolled his eyes.

"Morning Zuko, morning Sokka." Katara said cheerfully as she stepped out of her tent. At the sight of her Zuko's mood improved.

"Morning Katara." Zuko greeted her softly.

"Yeah, sure, you're nice to her." Sokka said annoyed.

"Where are Toph and Aang; are they awake yet?" Katara asked curiously.

"Yeah they went to go practice earthbending." Sokka told her. Zuko didn't stick around to see if they were going to go watch or not. He went to go find his uncle, and if he knew Uncle Iroh he would probably be somewhere drinking tea.

Zuko entered their tent and just as he had thought, there was his uncle, sitting in front of a table, drinking tea.

"Ah, Zuko, I was wondering where you were." His uncle said happily.

"Hi, Uncle." Zuko greeted the old man and sat down.

"Zuko is something troubling you? You look tired." Iroh asked confused.

"You know those girls that we met yesterday?"

"Yes, did you see them again?"

"Yeah, and they want me to lead the Earth Kingdom forces against my father, and I don't know what to do." Zuko looked very sad, his uncle noted his confusion.

"Ah, you don't want to fight against your father."

"No, Uncle, I don't, but part of me does and I don't know what to do!" Zuko said and put his head in his hands in frustration.

"Zuko, sometimes we have to make decisions that are hard. I know that you want you're father to love you and look at you as his honored son, but I don't know if that will happen. But if it makes you feel better I love you as my own, and I will always be here for you." Iroh put a hand on his nephew's shoulder. Zuko looked up at him; in the old man's eyes was immense respect and love for his nephew. Zuko could feel his eyes well up with unshed tears.

"Thanks, Uncle, I think that I've made my decision." Then, releif poured over him and he cried. He knew that he could trust his uncle with anything andit felt so good to be able to trust someone. He could feel the warm tears run down his face and for the first time since he was banished, he was happy.

Bri: (sniff, sniff) That… was… so… happy! (cries)

Tawny: (sniff) I don't want to cry! (cries)

Ru: We hope you like it, (sniff) another one coming soon. (cries)

Tawny: (mutters) Stupid tears.

Bri: (in between tears) What does he decide? (sniff) I want to know! (cries harder)

Ru: (sniff) Please (sniff) review! (cries some more)

-Directochic16