XII: Points of Turn

Sokka found Zuko in the training chamber the next morning practicing his bending, he kept his distance and watched his forms; but once Zuko locked eyes with him, he paused to tell him: "I believe I've come up with a good move to signal you guys in case I have to turn against you."

"Great, I'll grab the others so you can show us." Sokka replied. He quickly got up and ran to drag them to the chamber, there Zuko performed a new move where he outstretched his arms, shot two jets of fire, he then brought his hands together and struck them upon the ground, wherein his fire shot across the chamber and flared upwards with a burst!

"I don't need to see in order to say that I don't want to be on the business end of that." Toph stated.

"It's certainly flashy enough to get our attention, Zuko… but are you sure that this is what you want to go with?" Katara asked.

"Yes, something like that should convince the Fire Nation that I'm on their side. You guys are good at avoiding my attacks, so I'm sure that you'll leave the battle in one piece." Zuko replied. Without another word, Katara got up and walked out of the chamber, and with nothing better to do, Toph followed after her.

Sokka got to his feet, and told Zuko: "Listen, Aang's going off to see that guru guy, and I'll be going off to see my dad for the first time in years. Do you want to come with me?"

"You want me the Fire Prince to meet your father?"

"Your uncle said that we were brothers now, you might as well meet the family." Sokka replied.

"Come on you guys, I really need to get going!" Aang told them, and so they ran for Appa.

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They landed at Chameleon Bay and the Tribesmen greeted Sokka cheerfully, before making way for him, gesturing for his father's tent with Zuko at his tail. Sokka stepped inside, and Hakoda looked up with a bright look in his eyes as he spoke his name: "Sokka."

"Hi Dad."

They embraced and they sat down for the moment.

"Who's your friend?" Hakoda asked.

"He's an ally to the Avatar and myself, he's the exiled Fire Prince Zuko." Sokka replied.

Hakoda and his friend, Bato, exchanged looks, but before they could voice an opionion, Zuko told them: "It's an honor to meet you, Sir; Sokka's been the first friend I've had in a long time."

"Hmm, Bato told me that you were traveling with the Avatar, Sokka, but he never mentioned anything about your wandering with the Fire Lord's son." Hakoda stated.

"Back then, he was still our enemy, until one day, when his uncle was wounded, Katara offered to heal his wounds, and Zuko let her. Once we'd helped his uncle, Zuko told us that he wished to join forces. He's been pretty useful too, in fact he's helped me to improve my fighting techniques." Sokka replied.

"Well then, Prince Zuko, if my son can put his trust into you, then I see no reason why I shouldn't. Tell me: how do you want this war to end?"

"With the Fire Nation defeated and with my Uncle or myself taking the throne. In my exile, I've seen that the rest of the world hates and fears the Fire Nation, and so I wish to restore my nation's honor. Perhaps I'd establish trade routes so I could send the nation's innovation and food to the rest of the world." Zuko replied.

"Hmm, I didn't expect the son of the Firelord to have a care about those his nation's hurt." Hakoda stated.

"I assure you that I'm not my father."

"If the time ever comes, Dad, he's willing to be our inside man in the Fire Nation." Sokka added.

"If the time comes?" Hakoda questioned.

"There's been a couple encounters with my sister. If she sees me fighting with the Avatar and his friends, then she'll know that I'm a traitor. If she ever approaches me with a chance to 'regain my honor' she'll expect me to turn against them. I've come up with a signal to let them know that they'll have to fight against me. Once I return to the Fire Nation, I'll communicate with them through messenger hawks."

"I see, well the idea of a Fire Nation spy on our side does have its appeal, especially when that spy is the Fire Lord's son."

"Perhaps I can offer up answers to any questions you may have about the Fire Nation." Zuko added.

"Yeah, that's good, because we've found out some information that we can use to our advantage to make an invasion! There's a solar eclipse coming up that would take away the Firebender's bending!" Sokka declared.

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Back at the Earth Palace, as Katara was discussing the plans for the invasion with General How, three young ladies had arrived, introducing themselves as Kyoshi warriors and friends to the Avatar. They were allowed inside when a guard brought news of them to the war room, and Katara confirmed that the Kyoshi warriors were indeed their friends.

However, without actually meeting them, Katara didn't know the full truth; for these girls were truly imposters! They were Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.

During the time that Appa was missing, the bison had an encounter with the Kyoshi warriors, where they helped him to get cleaned up after previous encounters since he was stolen. Only Azula attacked the Kyoshi warriors and had them captured.

During the time of their infiltration, Azula figured out that whomever controls the Dai Li can control the city, and started a plot to organize a coup. First off she allowed the Dai Li to find out that they were of the Fire Nation, and they brought her in to see Long Feng, for the Dai Li remained loyal to him.

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Aang met up with the guru, an ancient and bony man with a pleasant voice, and a slight touch of madness. A moment after they had met, the guru offered him up something to drink… A healthy dose of onion-banana juice!

The goal for Aang was to free his chakras of his pains, guilt, and other emotional ties.

They went about the old temple to free up Aang's chakras and become able to control the Avatar State.

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"Thank you, Prince Zuko, for this information." Hakoda stated, after hearing about the Fire Nation's capital city. Zuko bowed his head to him, when Bato came over and told Hakoda: "Chief, we could use some assistance with the tangle mines."

"Very well, I'll be right out. Sokka, Zuko, are you coming?" Hakoda replied.

Getting to his feet, Zuko asked Sokka: "Did that warrior just call your father 'Chief'? As in the ruler of your tribe?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you that my dad is the leader of our tribe?"

"You certainly did not. So, what, does that make you a prince too?" Zuko asked.

"Not in the same since that you are, or even with the leaders of our sister tribe. Although, being the firstborn to the chief does give me an advantage over other men of our tribe, I would have to prove myself worthy of leading the Water Tribe. I think that I might be cut out for the job, but I don't know what I'm going to do right after the war." Sokka stated.

They met up with Hakoda, who told them: "This bay leads directly to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se. We've been using these tangle mines to stop the fire nation ships from getting through."

"Your father invented tangle mines himself." Bato stated as he filled up one of the mines. Sokka stepped over to investigate: "Destructive, buoyant, and… terrible smelling!" He reeled back in disgust after getting a whiff of the fillings.

"Very perceptive. The mines are filled with skunk-fish and seaweed. When a ship detonates the mine, the seaweed tangles up the propeller, and the foul smell forces people to abandon the ship. I call it the stink-n-sink." Hakoda replied.

Sokka lost it: "Ha ha! Good one Dad!"

"You are definitely your father's son." Bato grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Hakoda, our scouts have spotted four fire nation ships!" A soldier called out.

"Bato, get these mines loaded up. The rest of you men, prepare for battle!" Hakoda ordered, and his men took off running to prepare.

"Uh, what should I do, Dad?" Sokka asked, uncertain.

"Aren't you listening? I said the rest of you men get ready for battle!" Kakoda told him. He looked over to Zuko and told him: "You can help out Bato, if you choose, but I don't think it wise for you to come with us. Your face is pretty distinctive, and you don't want to be labled a traitor yet, do you?"

"No, not yet, but it was an honor to meet you." Zuko replied, and he took up one of the mines.

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In answering to her mother's letter, Toph went into a house in hopes that her mother was finally ready to come to understand her. Only to find out that she had walked into a trap set up by Xin Fu and her former Earthbending teacher! They dropped a metal box over her, and began to drag her back home, where she feared that she'd be forced to a sheltered life as a fancy lady once again! She who was a brave warrior-type, forced to remain polite and seemingly helpless, when she was one of the greatest Earthbenders of her time! No, she wouldn't let that happen!

As the two men carried on to drag her back home, she tried to talk them into letting her out so she could go to the bathroom, but they didn't fall for her trick, and so she left to continue banging on the walls of her box, even though the men assured her that despite the big mouth she had as an Earthbender, even she couldn't bend metal!

Were they right?

She continued to bang about in her metal prison, until she noticed that metal was a part of earth! It was the most stubborn part of the most stubborn element, and that's what made it so hard for it to be bent. Still, she saw in the vibrations, there was earth within the metal, and she could bend earth! With another pound, she was able to make it move at her command!

The men heard the crunching of metal and stopped the cart to investigate the sound, only to find that Toph had escaped by discovering Metalbending! The shock of such a discovery had them stupefied, as she proceeded to attack and imprison them in that dreaded box! Those dunderheads would never learn her secret!

Now free, and those two out of her way, Toph made her strides to return to the city of Ba Sing Se. She didn't like the large city, but it would be better than going home!

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With the mines loaded up, Zuko had returned to the city on his own, where he ventured into the Jasmine Dragon to assist his uncle. He was quite busy, as rumors had spread quickly of a new master tea-maker with a stunning shop. He smiled when he saw how both worn-out and how happy his uncle was, and took up the role of waiting tables.

During the shift, one of the Kyoshi warriors had stopped in to place an order. It was Mai, and although Zuko didn't recognize her underneath all the makeup and the uniform, she certainly recognized him. She was there when he got his scar, and she had never forgotten his face when it was intact. Of course, when she had finished her tea, she took it upon herself to tell Azula that Zuko was in the city.

"Dear Zuzu, is here? This is perfect! He'll certainly be an asset once we're ready to take the city!" Azula declared.

"But, Azula, what if Long Feng tries to double-cross you?" Ty Lee asked.

"Don't worry, he won't be a problem, of this, I assure you." Azula replied.

She stepped outside their room to make certain that she knew the layout of the entire palace and its underground, only to have a chance encounter with Katara, the filthy Water-Tribe peasant!

Of course, Katara recognized Azula's voice, and neither of them could stand to lose against the other! So of course they broke out into a fight, but eventually Ty Lee was able to arrive in time to chi-block Katara to the point where she was defenseless!

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Just when Aang was about ready to master the Avatar State, he got a vision of Katara getting caught up in a fight, with her in danger, he turned away from the guru and set out to rescue her, stopping only to gather Toph and Sokka on the way back!

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Alright, well, I'm sure that some of you are about wet-your-pants excited for the next chapter.

Please review.