Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.

Rewrite of "The Crossroads of Destiny;" originally written by Aaron Ehasz.

"Previously on Avatar, Aang master the Avatar State, but at a price. Will he be able to rescue Katara? Toph learned how to metalbend, while Sokka was reunited with his father. Then Aang arrived to pick up Sokka. Meanwhile, Princess Azula plotted a coup with Long Feng. Iroh received an invitation to serve the Earth King tea," said Avatar Roku.

Appa flew toward Ba Sing Se with Sokka and Aang on him.

"So what kind of trouble is Katara in?" Sokka asked.

"I don't know," said Aang worriedly. "In my vision, just knew she needed help."

"It would be nice if your Avatar powers could be a little more specific from time to time," said Sokka. They hear rumbling. "What was that?"

Aang brought Appa lower and they catch up with Toph who was riding an earth wave.

"Need a ride?" Sokka asked.

Toph was surprised. She said, "Ahhh!" Then she tumbled to the ground from the earth mound she had been riding, while Aang and Sokka watched and made faces to empathize her pain.

The Dai Li are present at a meeting Azula conducted. Mai and Ty Lee are also present in their Kyoshi warrior disguises.

"The Earth King and the Council of Five do not trust the Dai Li. They have imprisoned your leader, Long Feng. Soon they will turn on all of you and eliminate you. Seizing power today is a matter of life and death," Azula said as she moved from the pedestal closer to the agents. "The coup must be swift and decisive. The Earth King and each of the five generals must be taken out simultaneously. Long Feng has placed you in my command while we overthrow the government," Azula said as she walked toward a Dai Li agent with a scar on his left cheek and looked him in the eyes. "If I sense any disloyalty, any hesitation, any weakness at all, I will snuff it out. That is all."

The Dai Li agents left in pairs.

"Nice speech Azula. It was pretty and poetic, but also scary in a good way," Ty Lee said.

"Yeah, I thought that one guy was going to pee his pants," said Mai in an entertained voice.

"There are still a few loose ends. The Avatar and my brother and uncle," said Azula.

Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh arrived outside the palace.

"Many times I imagined myself here, at the threshold of the palace. But I always thought I would be here as a conqueror," said Iroh. He paused; then continued, "instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing."

"It sure is Uncle," Zuko replied cheerfully.

As Appa flew over the outer wall, Toph asked, "So How did it go with the Guru? Did you master the Avatar State?"

Aang has a flashback of telling Katara he's sorry. He sighed and frowned.

"Aang are you okay?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah, I mastered the Avatar State," said Aang. Then he mumbled, "But at a price."

Inside the Tea Palace, Iroh and Zuko sat at a table and waited for the Earth King. Iroh poured tea into a cup.

"What's taking so long?" Zuko asked.

"Maybe the Earth King overslept?" Iroh suggested.

Several Dai Li agents walked into the room and formed a circle around them.

"Something's not right," said Zuko.

Azula entered the room.

"It's tea time," said Azula mockingly.

Zuko stood up and said, "Azula!"

"Have you met the Dai Li? They're earthbenders, but they have a killer instinct that is so firebender. I just love it!"

Iroh took the cup of tea and stood up next to Zuko.

"Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname 'Dragon of the West'?" Iroh asked his niece.

Azula examined her fingernails and replied in a bored tone, "I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote Uncle."

"It's more of a demonstration really," said Iroh. He took a sip of tea. Zuko looked at his uncle and smirked. The Zuko ducked behind Iroh, while Iroh used firebending with his mouth at the Dai Li. Zuko blasted through a wall and Iroh followed breathing fire out of his mouth at the Dai Li. Then Iroh shot lightning through a wall to the outside and jumped through the hole he created and landed on a bush.

"Come on. You'll be fine," said Iroh.

"No, I'm tired of running. It's time I faced Azula!" Zuko replied.

Zuko turned around and walked back toward Azula and the Dai Li. Iroh slapped his head in frustration and made his escape.

"You're so dramatic. What are you going to do? Challenge me to and Agni Kai?" Azula said sarcastically to Zuko.

"Yes! I challenge you!" Zuko replied angry and determined.

"No thanks," Azula said as she smiled mockingly.

Zuko sent a fireball at Azula, but two Dai Li agents who were with her step between her and the fire and raise a large tile from the floor to block the blast. Then the agents pin Zuko's feet and hand to the ground with rock gloves.

Aang, Sokka, and Toph arrived back at the palace to talk to the Earth King.

"Katara's fine. You have nothing to worry about," said the Earth King.

"But, in my vision, I felt so sure she was in trouble," Aang replied.

"Well, she met with the Council of Five to plan the invasion. And since then she's been off with your friends the Kyoshi warrior."

"See Aang? She's with Suki. They're probably talking about make up or something," said Sokka.

"Okay, maybe you're right," said Aang.

"Believe me, if there was any danger at all, Bosco's animal instinct would sense it," said the Earth King. Bosco raised his head and blinked and grunted.

Katara paced around in the underground caves of Old Ba Sing Se, when a stone entrance moved by a Dai Li agent.

"You've got company," said the agent. Then another agent threw Zuko down the opening.

"Zuko!" Katara said surprised. Katara's expression changed immediately to one of hatred as Zuko got to his knees and looked at Katara as the Dai Li sealed the entrance.

Aang, Sokka, and Toph arrived at the house they've been staying at. Momo greeted them.

"Momo!" Aang said. They look around.

"There's no one else here," said Toph.

"Katara is in trouble! I knew it!" Aang exclaimed.

"Oh no!" Sokka replied.

"Wait, someone's at the door," said Toph as she pointed to the door. Someone knocked. "Actually, I know who it is. It's an old friend."

Toph walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Iroh.

"Glad to see you're okay," said Toph.

"I need your help," said Iroh.

"Huh uh!" Aang and Sokka replied.

Aang, Sokka, and Momo panicked and were shocked at the sight of Iroh, while Toph smiled and waved at Iroh. Sokka and Aang gawked at him.

Aang pointed at him and said shocked, "You guys know each other!"

"I met him in the woods and knocked him down. Then he gave me tea and very good advice," said Toph.

"May I come in?" Iroh asked. Toph nodded and he entered. "Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se."

"She must have Katara," said Aang.

"She's captured my nephew as well," said Iroh.

"Then we'll have to work together to fight Azula and save Zuko and Katara," said Aang.

"Whoa there. You lost me at 'Zuko,'" replied Sokka.

"I know how you must feel about my nephew. But believe me when I tell you there is good inside him," said Iroh as he placed his hands on Sokka's shoulder pleading with him.

"Good inside him isn't enough. Why don't you come back when it's outside of him too, okay?" Sokka replied as he moved Iroh's hand shoved him away.

"Katara's in trouble. All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance," said Aang.

Sokka closed his eyes and grudgingly nodded. Aang smiled at Sokka's resolve.

"I brought someone who might be able to help us," said Iroh.

Iroh lead them to the scarred Dai Li agent who was at Azula's meeting. He was bound and gagged. Toph earthbent slabs around him and Iroh ungagged him.

"Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup to overthrow the Earth King," said the agent.

"My sister! Where are they keeping Katara?" Sokka demanded angrily as he pointed his machete at the Dai Li agent.

"In the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se deep beneath the palace," replied the Dai Li agent.

"The movements of all the generals and the Earth King have been plotted step by step," said a Dai Li agent.

"Good. And the Fire Nation Princess is cooperating?" Long Feng asked.

"Oh yes! More than cooperating, she's really taken charge. She's terrifying and inspirational all at the same time. It's hard to explain," replied the agent.

The Dai Li agent left, and for a moment Long Feng was suspicious.

Zuko sat, while Katara paced in the crystal catacombs.

"Why did they throw you in here? Oh wait, let me guess, it's a trap. So when Aang finally comes to rescue me, you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches," Katara accused Zuko and shaped her hands into claws. Zuko looked at her, then turned back. "You're a terrible person, you know that? Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care? You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Zuko replied.

Katara grew angrier and said, "I don't?! How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me personally." Katara turned her back to Zuko and crouched down. "The Fire Nation took my mother away from me," Katara said as she placed her hand on her necklace and cried. Zuko turned his head further and looked sadly at her. Katara began sobbing and holding her head in her chest and burying it in her knees so Zuko wouldn't see.

"I'm sorry. That's something we both have in common," said Zuko as he made a full turn toward Katara. Katara stopped crying and wiped her tears away. She looked at Zuko surprised by his admission.

To Be Continued...

AN: Most of this is based on the transcript.

Also, much of this episode and it's rewrite is the basis for this story.