He did not get far before nails scraped his scalp and he was yanked by his hair out of the brush. He was pushed roughly onto his knees, but did not struggle. When his head was tugged back and he looked at his captor, it was an old man with an insane gaze. One eye was much bigger than the other and spots on his face revealed his age. The crown of his head was bald and below it was a wild tangle of white hair. He stared skeptically at Lu Ten, his mouth in a deep frown.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"I'm looking for General Iroh," Lu Ten explained.

"Why?" came the stern voice of a second man. This one was also elderly, but had dark skin. His silver hair was in a refined half-up style. He had clear blue eyes, so Lu Ten guessed he was Water Tribe.

Lu Ten didn't know what to say. Dare he reveal himself to these people? They were clearly not Fire Nation, but whether or not they would accept him was a whole other story. He looked hard at them. They donned blue robes with white collars. Could they be the Order of the White Lotus? He didn't know enough about the society to know for sure.

"Let me see his face," interjected another. This voice was familiar to Lu Ten. It had a soft rasp and an unmistakable rhythm. When he looked at the man, he saw his old sword teacher, Master Piandao. The one holding him shifted Lu Ten's head toward Piandao.

"It can't be…" he said almost under his breath.

"Master," Lu Ten replied.

"You know this man?" questioned the second one.

"Yes," Piandao said, and immediately, the pressure on Lu Ten's head lifted. "It is Prince Lu Ten."

"General Iroh's son?!"

Piandao nodded. "I thought you were killed in Ba Sing Se."

"I meant for that," Lu Ten replied. "But my father knows that I'm alive. I've come to see him and aid in his next attack against the Fire Nation."

"Well, that is a story that I'd like to hear," Piandao continued. "We can take you to your father."

Lu Ten stood up and offered a bow to his old master.

"Lu Ten, these are other great masters," Piandao said. "King Bumi of Omashu and Master Pakku of the Northern Water Tribe."

Lu Ten offered them polite bows as well. "It is an honor."

"Sorry to treat you so rough, kid," Bumi said. "We're very close to the Fire Nation so we can't be too careful."

"I understand," Lu Ten replied.

Pakku looked skeptical. "There was another former Fire Nation prince who aided in the attack on my tribe. Are we certain we can trust him?"

"I have not been the prince for a long time," Lu Ten explained. "I no longer want that life. I do hope your tribe is okay."

"We lost our princess, but we are mostly okay," Pakku returned. "I just hope you're more like your father than your other family."

"Believe me, he is," Piandao said. "They have the same obsession with tea."

"Hey, tea is one of the things that makes life worth living!" Lu Ten cried in protest.

Piandao met Pakku's gaze. "You see what I mean?"

With a sigh, Pakku had to agree.

They led Lu Ten through the woods. There was no path, and he guessed that was to keep the location of the Order's camp a secret from the Fire Nation. On the way, Lu Ten told Piandao and the others that he had abandoned the Fire Nation during the siege of Ba Sing Se, and that he had been living in the city ever since. He even told them about Cho and Malina. Now, it seemed, they fully trusted him. They told him that Iroh had called the gathering.

The Order had a fine camp set up. Bumi used earth bending to get them inside. There were sheltered tents everywhere with members going to a fro with supplies and news. There was laughter and friendship all around that went beyond nation divisions. Lu Ten smiled.

"Your father is in that tent," said Piandao, pointing to the tent at the end of the campsite.

Lu Ten nodded, and with one last bow, made his way to his father. He felt absurdly nervous. He was not ashamed of himself, but he had not seen Iroh in many months, since the latter was captured by Azula and Zuko. They had so much to catch up on. His hand was trembling as he went to push the curtain back. Whether it was from fear or excitement, he couldn't quite say.

"Dad," he said, and felt emotion well up inside him at the sight of his father.

Tears sprang to Iroh's eyes as he took in his son. "Lu Ten!"

Lu Ten was pulled into a warm and tight embrace. They held each other for a moment that passed like a century. Briefly, it felt like no time had passed at all. Lu Ten had never deserted the Fire Nation, Iroh had never grieved, they never lost all that time. It was so similar to the one Iroh gave him just before Lu Ten went to Ba Sing Se the first time and changed the course of their destinies.

"It's weird," Lu Ten remarked as they parted. "It feels like last time."

"Yes," Iroh agreed. "It makes you realize that what has changed is within us."

Lu Ten nodded. "So what is your plan now?"

"To retake Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation," Iroh told him. "I will use the power of Sozin's Comet against Ozai's forces. With the help of the Order of the White Lotus, we should be able to reclaim the city in the name of the Earth Kingdom."

Lu Ten wasn't sure about this. He wanted to be by his father's side and help him, but this meant danger for Cho and Malina. If fighting broke out in the city, they could be hurt, or worse. His expression must have given away his thoughts.

"You fear for your family," Iroh said simply. "Trust me, my son. We will do all we can to ensure the safety of the citizens of Ba Sing Se."

"But the Fire Nation soldiers will be just as powerful as any other fire benders on the day of the comet," Lu Ten pointed out. "How can you be sure you will defeat them?"

"They will still be outmatched by the masters," Iroh said. "I am the Dragon of the West, after all. And now, I have my son by my side."

"I don't know if I can stay," Lu Ten argued. "If I do, the temptation to see my family will be too strong, and I can't risk them being seen with me."

"If you love them, you will stay away from them," Iroh said, an uncharacteristic sternness to his voice. "You know the risks. But this is also your chance to ensure their protection. Join me in this fight, and you can personally keep them safe, along with many others. I know they are not the only people you care for in the city."

Faces swam in the front of Lu Ten's mind at these words. His wife and daughter. Yang and Lily, and little Ping, who was now almost five. His sister-in-law, Sun, and niece, Jin. The shopkeeper who always gave a flower to Malina when they passed. The children who played earth bending soccer in the alley. The faces of all the people he knew from his life there. This was for them.

"Alright," he said. "I'll help you. My people and I need our home back."