Author's Note: So this story kind of got me hooked. I'm actually working on it continuously, which hasn't happened in a while, so I'm having good feelings about it. I'm glad you guys responded so well to chapter one, so hopefully you'll like chapter two equally. Right now it's just in the beginning stages, kind of just explaining the plot but once it gets into it there will be more action and less thinking. I'm hoping you guys will be satisfyingly confused about this. It gives just enough information that you can sort of guess what's going on-but not exactly. More is coming!

Rumors, they whispered. He heard them. They couldn't be ignored—especially not by him.

"Did you hear? There's been an uprising in the Earth Kingdom. Some sort of rebellion group seeking revenge on the Fire Nation."

"I heard it's in the Water Tribe. They're plotting to overthrow the Fire Lord. They want to bring him down."

"I heard it's both. They're collaborating to defeat the nation once and for all."

"Either way, it's about time, don't you think? Ten years and they've done next to nothing to compensate for the destruction they've inflicted on us for one hundred years."

"Neither has the Avatar… I think it's about time he's stepped up and helped us out."

"But I heard the Avatar's retiring."

"Retiring? An Avatar can't retire! It's his duty to protect his people!"

"Some Avatar he is."

"So you're telling me that Azula… hugged you?"

"I know it sounds strange, but I think she's better now."

"People like Azula don't just get better. She's evil and she'll never change."

"But I think she did."

"She's manipulative! If you asked me, I'd say you should just lock her up for the rest of her life and make sure she never sees sunlight again!"

"Well I didn't ask you!"

Mai and Zuko were fighting again. He hated when this happened, but it was happened more and more often. He saw the anger glint in her eyes and he knew his eyes mirrored them exactly.

"Zuko, are you crazy? The ten years she's been gone must've made you forget everything she's done. She captured Ty Lee and me! Speaking of Ty Lee, she didn't come today! She didn't even reply to our message. Do you want to know why? She's afraid! I'm afraid. She hurt us, Zuko! She gave you this!"
Mai ripped open Zuko's robe. She revealed his chest which bore a painful star-shaped scar.

"She hurt you, too."

Heavy boots plodded through frozen snow. The water tribe girl was on a mission. Her brother was still inside their tent wallowing in self-pity. She didn't have to worry about him coming out and following her around anytime soon.

She knew where to find him. He always spent his time in the same place, too. His life was as lonely as theirs, nowadays.

She approached the snowy graveyard. Hundreds of ice-carved tombstones marked the graves of the dead water benders for generations. The entire plot was empty save for one speck of blue robes and chocolate brown hair.

She approached his hunched-over figure curiously. She knew who he was visiting. After all these years, the only people he wanted to talk to lately were two identical headstones marked, "Kya of the Watertribe" and "Kana of the Watertribe." Delicately, she placed her fingers on his shoulder.

"Dad."

The man turned around and a flash of recognition blazed in his eyes.

"Katara."

"I have a favor to ask you, Dad."

She sat around all day doing absolutely nothing. When she had signed up for this gig at the end of the war, she hadn't realized how much it depended on the war to be useful. How much good was a warrior when there was nothing to fight? Recently, all the girls had accomplished was sitting around. Back when the war had just ended, they had rendered themselves useful by cleaning up the mess the Fire Nation left behind. They reorganized towns, replanted forests, rebuild structures. Now, just as everybody else, they had slowly given up. One hundred years was too long to compensate. No one could erase the memories. No one could remodel Ba Sing Se. No one could bring the air benders back.

So they had tried something else. They had built Republic City. It was a place for all benders to mix and mingle. It was perfect. The Fire Lord exclaimed that it would be even more influential than Ba Sing Se. It was a turning point in history.

The Fire Lord.

Ty Lee sighed. Memories of the past flooded her mind. Back when they were kids, when the war had just ended, everything had seemed so simple. Zuko proposed to Mai and it was wonderful. Ty Lee had hoped that she might be able to talk to the cute water tribe boy now that she wasn't enemies with him anymore, but she was dismayed by the fact that he already had a girlfriend.

It was okay, though.

As she walked through the tiny village, bustling with tiny children and warrior girls with nothing to fight for, she was overwhelmed by the simple truth: there were no boys.

Well, of course there were. Just not cute ones. Not any that were fun to flirt with and show off her moves to, anyways. She felt selfish for thinking so, but it was true. She was born to attract guys. She loved it. She needed it.

So why was she here?

Toph crumpled the piece of paper in her hands viciously.

"They're my parents. They know I'm blind. Why, then, in Kyoshi's name, did they send me a letter?"

She was seething. She knew what it said. They were determined to have her inherit their estate. As the only child, it was her duty. They wanted their fortune to live on through her.

What was the point, anyways? Why not just let her live in piece? Who cares about titles when you're dead? That's why they wanted her to have it. So when they die, their precious house will still carry the Bei Fong title.

Pointless.

She threw the paper in the trash. She wished she could just run away again, like last time. But last time she had friends. Her friends were gone, now. Katara and Sokka were living in the South Pole again, and Aang and Zuko lived in the Fire Nation so they could collaborate to seek peace. Toph, of course, lived in the City of All Elements. She didn't want to go home. Not to her parents, anyways.

If only her friends were there to take her away.

Aang lazily spun an air ball around his quarters and watched with dead eyes as Momo chased it enthusiastically.

He had decided to stay in after too many crazed followers insisted that he answer their questions.

It wasn't fair. Every other twenty-three year old got to have fun and enjoy life. He had to be pressed with issues way over his head.

He sincerely dreaded the meeting that would be held that afternoon with every fiber of his being.

And he really dreaded hearing Zuko complain about it for the next week.

"Avatar Aang?"

A palace servant entered the room.

"Are you prepared for the meeting in two hours?"

Aang groaned.

"That soon?"

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, young Avatar."

"No, that's fine. I'm ready."

"Fire Lord Zuko expects you early. He wishes you not to be late like the last few times."

Aang winced.

"Yeah, sure…"

"Very well, then. Good day, Avatar."

"Likewise, Sir."

The door was slowly closed.

Aang sighed. He fell back on his palms and faced the ceiling. He decided to humor his friend and actually heed the time for once. After all, he was ordered to do so.

He still wasn't used to Zuko's official title. Or status.

Author's Note: Did I do good? :)

Okay, so just so no one's confused, here's everyone's ages: Zuko 26, Azula 25, Katara 24, Aang 23, Toph 22, Sokka, 26, Ty Lee 25, Mai 25... and I think that's it? That's just everyone that's been introduced so far, at least.

So if you liked, comment!