Aang's flight on Appa seemed to take forever. He had nothing to distract him from his loneliness. Appa grunted sensing his masters sadness.

"Yea Appa, I know. It's only for now...still."

He came upon the fire nation palace not a day and a half later. Grand houses lined the street. Remnants of the former excessiveness of fire lord Ozai. It was easy to see how some people could have been upset with all of the riches that the fire nation had amassed. He shook his head, but seven years later? They had spent so much time worrying about the land that they had neglected the people. He landed Appa outside the palace doors airbent his way off his back and was immediately greeted by Sokka who was running towards him.

"Aang! Thank goodness you're here," he said. "Everyone's fine, my team has just apprehended a suspect. We believe that he's the leader of this rebel group. He's...well he's refusing to speak to anyone but the avatar."

Aang was tired from his travel but kept himself going in the hopes that this could be resolved by a simple discussion.

"Sure, I'll speak to him now."

Sokka led him into the palace down several flights and through many secret passageways before they came upon Zuko and Mai's personal quarters. .

"Zuko," Sokka called, "I have Aang here."

"Aang! It's good to see you, it's been...well it's been a while," he said.

Aang sensed the changed in his old friends countenance. Losing his child had changed him, hardened him towards the people he had fought to free. He put a hand on his shoulder, "You too Zuko. Let's go and see this man, I want to talk with him."

They continued to dark and distant part of the palace. There sat a young man, alone in the largest cell. An earthbender, he couldn't have been more than 16 years old and yet the hate emanating from him towards the fire lord was palpable. He looked up with narrowed eyes at the trio of men who approached him. In all of his 21 years Aang had never seen such anger, not even from Zuko, although something about the young man's age and way his mouth was set reminded him of Zuko at exactly that age.

"Avatar. If you wish to speak with me, you must dismiss your companion and that filth," he said a sneer in his voice.

Aang nodded at Zuko who, with Sokka, turned to leave, "We'll be right outside if you need us Aang."

After the door was shut Aang pulled up a stool and sat across from the assassin. He waited patiently for him to begin.

"My name is Sai, Avatar, and I suppose you think my men and I are all unreasonable, that we are horrible killers. We are not. We simply want to send a message to the fire lord, that he cannot rule us. We will not fall under a false security and be made fools of. The fire nation killed a someone dear to each and every one of us, surely you of all people can understand the importance of our vengeance, the fire lord wiped out your entire people."

Aang thought this through before responding, "It is understandable for sure. A human emotion. However I think that you've misunderstood my purpose as the avatar. My job is to bring balance, Zuko is doing everything he can to make amends for his father, and grandfather's failures and I am assisting him in these efforts. In other words, he has my full support. The way I see it is that an attack on him is an attack on the peace that currently exists between these four nations and therefore an attack on me. Now tell me, how, other than taking the life of Zuko, his wife, or his unborn children, can he make amends to you personally."

"He can't. His men killed my mother. That's not something you can forgive."

Aang's voice was soft and quiet when he responded, "They killed everyone that I ever knew. Every. Last. One. They killed my friends, mentors, and the man I considered my father...I'm telling you it's something you HAVE to forgive. Hate will eat you up from the inside. It will consume you until you become someone that your mother wouldn't recognize anyway. Do you understand? Even with all that they did to my family I couldn't kill Ozai. Why would you think I would help you kill Zuko?"

"You...traitor!" Sai was standing up now rattling the bars that contained him.

Aang diverted his gaze to the ground, "this is your last chance. If you want, I will grant you and your men pardon. I will arrange an audience with Zuko where you can air your grievances. Zuko is a kind and reasonable leader. I'm sure he would be willing to reason with you, regardless of the pain you have caused him and his wife. Do you understand what I'm saying? You killed his unborn child, and yet he would forgive you. You've gotten your vengeance tenfold."

"His wife...that sullen woman...she was with child?"

Aang's face was full of grief for his friends loss when he lifted his head to look at Sai, "Yes. She was. The trauma that you and your men inflicted upon her caused her to lose her child." His eyes and tattoos began to glow as his voice grew fiercer and fiercer, "you think that you can loose justice for the crimes of the last generation, you think that you are somehow restoring order. You have only caused more pain and suffering in this world, and you have murdered an innocent child. You are naive and childish and should be punished for your actions." The air in the room slowly stopped spinning as Aang descended from the Avatar state.

Sai was pushed up against the corner of his cell, eyes full of terror.

"Y-y-y-y-ou can g-go get the fire lord...I will apologize. I have failed you avatar."

Aang nodded and left the room. He found Sokka and Zuko just down the corridor waiting for him.

"He will apologise Zuko."

"What?" Sokka said incredulously, "30 minutes ago he was hellbent on killing him...what did you...what did you do?"

"I may have scared him a little...it wasn't intentional I assure you. Either way he realizes the error he made. I think he will be able to convince his men to desist. Zuko, you have to go to him and forgive him for what he has done. He's just as young and misguided as you were." Aang said with a smile, "I'm going to head to my rooms if you don't mind. We have much to discuss after this ordeal has ended."

Aang turned and left his robes billowing behind him.

"I always forget how incredibly wise he is," said Sokka, "just like when he was a kid and I would forget how powerful he is as well." He shook his head at the brilliance of his brother-in-law, "here I'll come with you Zuko, just in case the kid changes his mind."

Zuko and Sai were able to come to an understanding and he was set free. He remained at the palace at the request of the avatar though. To join in a conference that would take place the next day.

Aang roamed the halls in search of Toph. He eventually found her practicing earthbending in the courtyard.

"Toph!" he called.

"Hey twinkletoes! Think fast!" she said as she kicked a boulder at his head.

He lazily blew it to his side.

"You'll have to be stealthier than that Toph, if you want to actually suprise me. As it is, I'm only too used to you tossing large rocks at my head unannounced. I have a favor though."

"Sure, anything."
"Go to Katara, she's at the southern water tribe, tell her that I will be home in less than a week and that she can return to the air temple," he said.

"Right," she said, "I'll take one of those horrible balloons, but I'll take her to the air temple myself."

"Thanks, Toph. I can always count on you."

"No problem twinkletoes," she said with a smile.

Aang then went to find Zuko. When he did he began to tell him of his plan, "I need you to send word to all of the leaders of the nations. We need to create a large council. I have an idea...but I need everyone in attendance. Hopefully we can end the fighting for good."

"I will Aang and I hope you're right, because...because Mai is pregnant again."

Author Note: ahhh...I had such writers block with this chapter! Enjoy ;) peace! -the evenstar.