disclaimer: Mike and Bryan own the ATLA universe; Mariko belongs to me (: enjoy!

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A low croak sounded from the rooster-frog seated next to her, speaking into the awkward silence that followed his trial-run speech regarding the Avatar.

She deadpanned. "Well it makes my speech look better, I'll say that." She mused, slouching in her seat.

"What speech? You haven't said anything about making a speech, too!" He snapped, irritated at his failure in the speech.

She sighed slightly, gesturing with a flourishing hand, "In a nutshell, all I'm going to say is that I feel bad for bailing and that now that they've regrouped for a second attempt –which will happen, I know that much; if anything, Sokka's ingenious mind will concoct another plan before the comet comes—I want to help again, or at least to help you help Aang master firebending." She smiled in spite of herself, looking up at his gold eyes.

He made a face and pretended she didn't chuckle, groaning slightly in irritation with his lack of tact. "Just don't give the puppy-dog eyes, it doesn't work with me, so I doubt it'll work with them." He inwardly smirked when she 'humphed' and crossed her arms, sighing and turning to pace before her. "How would Uncle handle this…?" He muttered to himself, trying to take on the imitation of his esteemed uncle and spouting words that didn't sound like they made much sense.

She snorted, covering her mouth with a hand to hide a giggle, seeing him pout at her, before he looked away curtly. "Almost there, except Uncle makes sense with his proverbs." She commented, watching him pace again.

"I wonder how Azula would do it, then." He wondered aloud, imitating his sister's voice as best he could (ignoring her unladylike snort) and looking to her as he finished with, "Your choice."

Mariko shook her head, straightening to her feet as he plopped down in reluctant defeat. "So long as you abstain from talking like your sister, I think you've got a shot. Slim, but the honest truth? Be yourself, Zu. Show them that you've changed." Like she was one to talk; she was lucky everyone had been intent on invading the Fire Nation otherwise she was pretty sure she'd have felt a dagger in her back the day of the eclipse.

"You make it sound so easy, though. How do you know they'll be able to trust you again?" Zuko snapped before curbing his tone as he counted from ten to one in the back of his head to calm his anger, scowling up at his girlfriend.

"I don't… that's the thing." She placed a fist on her hip and looked off to the trees surrounding their campsite, furrowing her brow in a concerned frown, before exhaling. "To be honest, I'm as nervous as you are. I can only pray that somehow they'll lighten up." She said the last sentence on a softer note.

He quieted as the silence stepped in, exhaling, elated on the inside that at least he wasn't the only one who was nervous.

Of course seeing her in a nervous light was something that unsettled his nerves just the slightest; she was always so calm and level-headed, so to see her in the opposite was something that never sat right.

::::::::dOb::::::::

Well, it was now or never.

"I think that'll have to wait."

She shifted her weight from one boot to the other, standing dutifully at his right even though the childish part of her conscience wanted to cower behind him; so she inhaled and squared her shoulders, standing tall.

She wasn't a child anymore, she could do this: they were her friends… she could do this… she had to.

The gawking faces of the quartet met her eyes and she had to blink once or twice to note that they looked like they'd matured; of course the battlefield would do that to you, whether you wanted it to or not…

And for once, ever since she'd known him, he attempted an airy greeting and waved slightly with a hand, "Hello; Zuko here." She wanted to slap her forehead and then whack him upside the head for his failed attempt.

As expected, the quartet got into fighting stances, and she had to bite down on her lower lip and fight the urge to mirror them, instead feeling her body stiffen slightly; fight first, ask questions later.

Yeah, that sounded about right.

"Um, so I heard you guys flying around, and uh, decided to wait for you here…" Zuko started, vainly hoping the tense silence would pass soon, before he was suddenly licked by a large tongue from the side; not wanting to incite further threat, he let himself be licked by Appa.

Mariko failed to keep a straight face and valiantly stifled a snort, giggling when the same tongue covered her in the bison's drool, patting his nose gently. "It's great to see you too, boy." She smiled up at the bison's large brown eyes and momentarily forgot the tension in the air, watching him draw back as she wiped the drool from her face as if it was nothing.

"I know you must be surprised to see me here." Zuko tried again after following suit and wiping the drool off, looking at the quartet.

Sokka, ever the pessimist, quickly countered, "Not really, given how you've followed us all over the world. The fact that you brought her with you is a low blow, even for a jerk like you." He glanced at the older girl with a hard blue eye that didn't deter her neutral expression.

"Sokka, I…" She exhaled steadily, regarding him with saddened eyes. "Go ahead, Zuko." She murmured, dropping her gaze; out of all of them, Sokka would be second-hardest to convince. Katara was the one who worried her, more than she'd let Zuko know.

"I didn't bring her just to worm my way in, she came because she feels horrible about what happened. I'll let Mari tell her part, but first, what I wanted to tell you about is that I've changed. I'm good now, and uh, I want to join your group. Oh, and I can teach firebending… we, can teach firebending, to you." He looked at the younger boy, instinctively taking his companion's hand when he corrected what he said about teaching. "Y'see, I um…"

"You wanna what now?" Toph's usually confident voice was filled with curiosity, wariness, and just the slightest bit of doubt.

Katara scoffed, "You can't honestly think that any of us can trust you, can you? How stupid do you think we are!?"

"Yeah, all you've ever done is try to hunt us down and capture Aang!" Sokka contributed hotly.

Zuko began to step forward, out of habit, "I've done some good things, though! For one, I could've stolen your bison back in Ba Sing Se, but I set him free; that's something!" Another lick from the aforementioned pet emphasized that.

"Appa does seem to like him, and he seemed happy to see Mariko, too…" A slim light of hope shone when Toph rationalized the facts given in the past few minutes.

Sokka was quick to counter again, "He prolly just covered himself in honey or something, so that Appa would lick him. I'm not buying it."

"I can understand why you wouldn't trust me, and I know I've made some mistakes in the past…"

"Like when you attacked our village?" "Or when you stole my mother's necklace and used it to track us down and capture us?" Both siblings bit out venomously.

Mariko had to flinch at hearing them sound so angry, hating that she was on the receiving end.

Zuko was getting exasperated, slowly but surely, "Look, I admit I've done some awful things; I was wrong to try to capture you, and I'm sorry that I attacked the Water Tribe, and I never should've sent that Fire Nation assassin after you; I'm gonna come up with…"

"You sent Combustion-Man after us!?" Sokka nearly exploded.

"You hired that freak?" Mariko joined in, her elbow stabbing into his ribs as she couldn't believe he'd actually sent that third-eye bending monster after her friends.

He ignored her outburst, faltering slightly under the heated stares from the quartet, "Well, that's not really his name…"

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to insult your friend!" Sokka cried sarcastically.

"He's not my friend!" Zuko almost shouted to quiet both the Water Tribe boy and his girlfriend, looking to them again.

"That guy locked me and Katara in jail and tried to blow us all up!" Toph barked indignantly.

Noticing he'd only been hearing three voices, he looked to the airbender. "Why aren't you saying anything? You once said you thought we could be friends… You know I have good in me." He added quietly.

Aang lowered his gaze after catching a shake of the head from Sokka before it lifted and he scowled at both firebenders. "There's no way we can trust you after everything you've done: we'll never let you join us."

"Aang, please, he's telling the truth. We both are! Sure, Zuko did some things that are cruel, but he really has changed. Can't you just give it a chance?" Mariko decided to speak, looking to her former friend imploringly, amber eyes pleading.

"Why should we give you another chance? You turned your back on us, on Aang, back in Ba Sing Se! You left us right when we needed you most, all to chase this jerk!" Katara was the one to answer, defending the airbender, glaring darkly at her.

Mariko winced and lowered her gaze, hating that this was backfiring so badly. "Because I want to help, just as I wanted to help before. I know what I did was horrible, I know you hate me for what happened, but please try to believe me when I say that I felt just as horrible about it, that I still want to help Aang master firebending… Katara, please." She was practically begging, distinctly feeling mistiness in her eyes, stinging at the backs of her amber eyes.

Sokka glared at her venomously, seeing she kept her eyes on his sister's stony face. "We were stupid to trust you then, so if you think we're just as stupid to let you crawl back, think otherwise. You're not welcome back." He stated coldly, perking her ears.

Mariko flinched and didn't dare meet his gaze, looking away and letting the pain envelop her, closing her eyes.

"I'm trying to tell you that I've changed!" Zuko declared, stepping closer.

"Either you leave or we attack." Sokka threatened as he drew his boomerang.

"Zuko, let's go." Mariko urged softly, looking at him, blinking once when he stepped forward and offered himself as a prisoner.

"No, we won't!" Katara lashed out with a wide arc of water, only to have it deflected with a sharp slap of light embers from Mariko, balking slightly.

"Get up; I'm sorry, Katara." Mariko kept a neutral face even though she felt hurt and kept it from showing, lifting him up with an offered hand, turning to retreat to where the campsite was. "I really am."

::::::::dOb::::::::

The flames crackled vainly, dancing in the darkness.

She tossed a twig to the hungry embers, exhaling and pulling the lapels of her cloak closer around her arms; sleep had evaded her, and even though he'd insisted she get some sleep, she wasn't tired.

Not entirely; she was still recovering from the meeting earlier that evening.

A crack of a twig sounded in the distance, perking her ears; she was on her feet in a second, a dagger from her wrist guards drawn and held in her left hand. "Who's there?" She called carefully.

"Sword Girl, is that you?" A familiar voice called back, and her heart soared.

"What's going on…?" Her companion demanded sleepily from the tent.

"Toph!" She breathed in relief as the earthbender came out of the darkness into the light of the campfire; instinct kicked in and instead of greeting her formally she hurried to embrace the younger girl. "I knew you'd believe us." She declared, pulling back after effectively surprising her former friend.

The earthbender huffed, crossing her arms. "What made you think otherwise? The guys are just being pig-headed about this… Honestly, I'm glad you decided to show up." She slugged her right shoulder hard, making the older girl utter an oath as she rubbed her arm, smiling proudly. "That was for ditching us to go chase after your boyfriend." She stated.

Mariko made a face and sighed in lament, rubbing her arm gingerly. "I guess I deserved that. I'm sorry for what I did, but you know why I did it; it was stupid and vain, but most of all, I'm not sure if they're going to forgive so easily like you did." She mused, lowering her voice in her shame.

"Don't think I forgave you so easily, Sword Girl; I only came to keep the peace and to prove to Aang that he does need you two to be his teachers. Between you and Katara, at least you were more fun." Toph pointed out, imagining the older girl had deflated at her first sentence.

"So you believe us?" Zuko asked, entering into the conversation after having gotten up once realizing they were safe, rubbing sand from his eye.

"My feet don't lie." Toph gestured to her bare feet, prompting a raised brow from the prince.

Mariko smiled and waved it off, looking to her friend. "So how did you guys survive living in the Fire Nation?" She asked, tugging her sleeve to gesture she get comfortable.

Toph shooed her hand off and plonked down, hearing them both sit down near her. "It wasn't much, actually; of course Sokka was the worrywart lunkhead he always is and…" She told them both, namely Mariko, of their escapades prior to the day of the eclipse.

Another explosion shook the rock roof overhead and made the fountain area tremble.

"Toph, cover the others; I've got this," she instructed over her shoulder as she sprinted past the girl's side to take off on her fire-rockets, summoning a fiery whip and cracking it, narrowly missing the assassin's head. "Oi, I'm over here you bastard!" She called, cracking the whip again, drawing back when he fired another explosion in her direction. "Come on, you three-eyed freak, fight me!" She barked, gritting her teeth and charging into the oncoming explosion, summoning a ball of fire to shield herself from the blast, grunting as her right boot kicked him in the chest and sent him back by a few inches, landing on the ledge.

He inhaled to fire off another explosion at his new target as she took a stance and summoned the energy, watching it circle swiftly infront of her; a bolt of lightning hit him straight in the forehead as it stopped the oncoming explosion, surprising her as she watched thin wisps of smoke rise from her extended fingertips.

She did it… she mastered lightning!

The assassin geared up for a counter-attack, seeming to aim it at her first before recalling his original target, aiming for where the quartet were.

"NO!" Mariko exclaimed, watching sparks crackle and flare around him, quickly reforming the fireball around herself just as his explosive bending backfired on him and sent him along with the piece of ledge he was standing on tumbling below; she caught sight of sunlight winking up at her from his metal gauntlet before it was shielded by the debris from the blast.

Zuko grunted as he clawed onto the ledge, perking up to see her extended hand; he held her familiar amber eyes in his gold stare before he took her hand, letting her heave him onto the remaining ledge. "Did you just… did you just use lightning?" He asked, looking at her in bewilderment, noting that underneath the concern and relief, she was happy.

"Yeah, I know… But I did it, Zuko, I used lightning!" She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck and embracing him, feeling his own arms squeeze on her waist, smiling brightly and watching him crack a likewise smile on his handsome face.

Using the fire-rockets they returned to where the quartet were, watching them come out from the hiding place (Toph had summoned a semicircle shield to protect them from the blasts) near the fountain to near the couple.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but… thanks, Zuko." Aang said, seeming to slowly overcome the shock, "You too, Mariko." He added at seeing she stuck to the prince's side, her fingers woven with his.

Zuko smiled slightly, now that he had the floor, "Listen, I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday; I've been through a lot in the past few years, and it's been hard. But I'm realizing I had to go through all those things to learn the truth; I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me. I know now that noone can give you your honor; it's something you earn for yourself, by choosing to do what's right. All I want now is to play my part in ending this war… and I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world." He glanced at the earthbender and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for believing not only my word, but Mariko's too." He added.

Realizing the truth in his words, Aang declared, "I think you are supposed to be my firebending teacher. When I first tried to firebend, I burned Katara, and after that, I never wanted to firebend again. But now I know you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love. I'd like you to teach me." He bowed slightly to his new teacher.

Both firebenders shared a relieved look before the prince replied, "I'm so glad you've accepted me into your group…"

"Not so fast; first I need to see if my friends are okay with it." The airbender reproached, looking to the trio behind him, firstly to the older boy. "Sokka?"

"Hey, all I want is to defeat the Fire Lord; if you think this is the way to do it, then I'm fine with it."

"Katara?" Zuko and Mariko stiffened slightly when he asked the waterbender.

"…I'll go along with whatever you think is right."

"Toph?"

"Fine with me; at least it won't be just Katara anymore, it'll be good to have Mariko back… And Prince Casanova, too."

Beaming, Zuko declared, "I won't let you down, I promise!"

Mariko grinned slightly and sighed as the group dispersed, nudging him. "Come on, Casanova, let's go get our things."

It was a little bit close to an hour later that they both were settled in the barracks of the temple, Mariko bunking with the girls and Zuko taking one room down the corridor from them next to Sokka's and Aang's.

Stretching her arms, the firebender sighed and bounced down the corridor to fetch her boyfriend for lunch, perking up as she heard a familiar voice in his designated room; she slowed her steps and planted her back against the wall a few feet away from his doorway, dropping eaves.

"…Because I'll make sure your destiny ends, right then and there, permanently." Katara's voice was icy before it was heard no more; the older girl slightly started when she stepped into the doorway on her way to join the trio for lunch.

Blue and amber held, one cold and the other concerned.

Katara kept walking as if she didn't see her standing there, her stride stiff, hands fisted at her sides.

Mariko watched her leave with a soft frown, exhaling and opening his door, stepping into the spacious bedroom. "Zuko. Are you okay?" She asked quietly, seeing him defrost from his stiffened stance near the window.

"Not really…" Zuko muttered, seeing the worry rising in her amber eyes; his shoulders slumped and he exhaled, putting on a small smile. "Come on, lunch should be ready." He urged, stepping forward to take her hand and lead her out of the room.

"Don't feel like you're the only one who got the cold shoulder; she's not trusting me anytime soon, either." Mariko assured softly as he paused at hearing her words.

Zuko lowered his gaze and smiled bitterly, weaving his fingers with hers again. "Well, it's a start." He saw her smile faintly, squeezing her fingers gently, sighing. "C'mon, Mari."

They walked down the corridor into the clear day in companionable silence.

A/N: okay so things haven't panned out well with Katara.. well do you think it'll work itself out? or will she hate both Mariko and Zuko forever..? stay tuned for the next chap~

preview of the next chap:
'Dragons... Tui and La, they were alive! Dragons!'