Hey guys, I'm back with a long overdue chapter. You didn't think I had given up on this one, did you? Anyway, on with the story:

I stood a short distance away, leaning on my walking staff as I watched Iroh instruct Zuko. It had been a long time since I had seen any kind of firebending training, and it was interesting to see how much the art had changed since the war began. Iroh's method of teaching seemed to be an art form by itself. Fire is the most aggressive element, yet he wasn't using aggression at all.

"There is energy all around us. The energy is both Yin and Yang, positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and in the moment the positive and negative energies come crashing back together, you provide release and guidance, creating lightning," Iroh instructed before he gave Zuko a motion to stand back.

The Prince took a few steps backwards as the old man began to move his arms in wide circular arcs. His movements were graceful, despite the extent of his injuries and bandages. Both Zuko and I watched in fascination as lighting began to build up around Iroh's fingertips. He did a few more circles before pointing his two fingers out over the cliffside. A massive bolt of lightning shot up into the sky, and thunder shook the ground around us.

"I'm ready to try it," Zuko said the instant the thunder died away. Iroh eased himself out of the stance he had been in and rubbed his bandaged shoulder.

"Remember, once you separate the energy, you do not command it. You are merely it's humble guide. Breathe first," he instructed. Zuko nodded before taking a deep breath. He began to repeat the same movements Iroh had been using, only lacking in the electricity around his fingertips. After a moment, he extended his arm, fully expecting to release a bolt of lightning.

Instead, the air in front of his face exploded.

Zuko was launched backwards several feet from the blast, landing flat on his back next to Iroh. I'm not going to lie, it looked painful. That didn't stop me from snickering to myself at the sight. I'll give the kid credit though, he didn't give up. Instead he got right back up and tried again, and again, and again.

Iroh and I moved to the shade of the shack, watching as Zuko tried and failed yet again to bend lightning. I frowned as I watched him get back to his feet and make another attempt. There was a scowl on his face, meaning he was getting more frustrated with every failure. According to Iroh, the ability to bend lightning required a calm mind. That was something Zuko most definitely did not have.

"He's too wound up to do it," I muttered. Iroh only hummed in agreement as another explosion knocked Zuko flat on his ass.

"Why can't I do it?! Instead of lightning, it keeps exploding in my face, like everything always does!" he fumed.

"I was afraid of this," Iroh said as he got back to his feet, "you will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside yourself."

"What turmoil?!" Zuko yelled.

"Seriously?" I deadpanned.

"Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away," Iroh said calmly, ignoring me.

"But I don't feel any shame at all, I'm as proud as ever," Zuko countered. I rolled my eyes. The idiot was still having trouble with humility. I'd have to deal with that later.

"Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but it's source. True humility is the antidote to shame," Iroh said. I wouldn't have worded it quite like that, but yeah, what Iroh said.

"Well, my life has been nothing but humbling lately," Zuko said.

"Yeah, and clearly it's taken root," I said sarcastically. The Prince glared at me, but I just cocked my eyebrows at him. After the incident back in the village with the soldiers, part of me doubted if he even knew the meaning of the word.

"I have another idea," Iroh said, "I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself." That brought a smile to the young man's face. Between that, and the cocky grin that Iroh had, I simply had to see what the Dragon of the West had in mind.

It started with another lecture. Iroh had Zuko take a seat before barrowing my walking staff to draw in the dirt. I also noticed that he was putting a lot of his weight on it when he wasn't drawing. He was getting tired from his injuries, but kept soldiering on despite it. I found my respect for the man growing because of that.

"Fire is the element of power," he began, drawing the symbol of the Fire Nation into the dust, "the people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and power to achieve what they want." With that done he moved above the Fire symbol and began to draw a new one, the symbol of the Earth Kingdom.

"Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring," he said. With this done, he moved back down to the side of the Fire symbol and began to draw a few swirls into the dirt. I recognized this as the old symbols of the Air Nomads.

"Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also they apparently had pretty good senses of humor," he said, ending with a large grin. Zuko remained unphaised, while I made a rocking motion with my hand.

"Eh, kind of. Depended on the Temple and how devout to their ways they were. No one beat them in pie making, I'll give that," I said. They both gave me owlish looks as an awkward silence descended upon us. After a few moments, Iroh went back to drawing, this time above the air swirls and next to the Earth symbol. It was the symbol of the Water Tribe.

"Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything," he said.

"Why are you telling me these things?" Zuko asked curiously.

"It is important to take wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes ridged and stale. Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole," Iroh answered, drawing a circle around the four elemental symbols.

"All of this four elements talk is sounding like Avatar stuff," the Prince noted.

"It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful too," Iroh said, poking Zuko in the chest with the tip of the staff, "you see the technique I'm about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders." Zuko's eyes lit up in curiosity, and it wasn't long before the two were up and moving through a new set of motions.

It wasn't the quick movements of firebending, but rather more of a flowing motion like waterbending. I recognized some of the basic movements. Iroh must have watched some waterbenders and then developed this from there, something which I had to admit I found impressive. A smart person studies the movements of their opponent, a wise one adapts them to their own advantage.

"Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy. A waterbender lets their defense become their offense, turning their opponent's energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning," Iroh said.

"You can teach me to redirect lightning?" Zuko asked with amazement as the realization of what his Uncle was saying came down on him.

"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your stomach. The stomach is a source of energy in your body, it is called the sea of chi. Only in my case it's more like a vast ocean," Iroh said, tracing out the movements on his body before laughing at his own joke. Before either one of us got a chance to reply, he went back to his lesson.

"From the stomach, you direct it up again and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical, you must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly," he continued, jabbing Zuko in the center of his chest to get his point across. With that, the two began to move through the movements of his technique. They traced the energy path across their own bodies, in the fingertips, down to the stomach, and out the other arm.

I studied the movements closely as they moved through them, watching and memorizing every detail. I'd seen some masters in the days of old preform a similar style of technique to direct heat, but never something like lightning. This was something new and impressive to say the least.

"Excellent, you've got it," Iroh finally said as the sun was half set over the mountains to the west.

"Great, I'm ready to try with real lightning," Zuko said enthusiastically. Iroh's eyebrows went up in surprise.

"What, are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous," he said.

"I thought that was the point, you teaching me how to protect myself from it," Zuko countered.

"Yeah, but I'm not going to shoot lightning at you! If you're lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all," Iroh said before turning away. In the distance, some black storm clouds boiled over the mountains. Thunder echoed like a beckoning call.

"If you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning," Zuko said before mounting the ostrich horse and riding off toward the storm at a fast pace. Iroh sighed as he watched his nephew go, knowing that nothing he said would be able to turn the young man from his course.

"He is one of the most stubborn people I have ever met," I said.

"It has been both a survival mechanism and the source of many mistakes," Iroh replied.

"I'm sure he'll come back in one piece."

"If anyone can come back, it is Prince Zuko. I just wish he wasn't so reckless sometimes," he said. I waited a moment before placing my hand on his good shoulder.

"Would you like some tea, General?" I asked. The gray haired man smiled up at me.

"I would be delighted.

It didn't take Iroh long to get the tea going. In fact, the small fire for the water hadn't been put out all day, indicating that he had kept it going all day despite the risk of it burning the shack down. He went about adding the different ingredients to the tea in a cheerful manner, but I could tell there was an underlying sense of worry for his young nephew.

"So tell me about yourself, where are you from?" Iroh asked as he poured the tea into a small pot.

"The Katso Peninsula," I answered.

"I'm not sure if I have heard of that place before," he said before handing me a cup filled with the steaming liquid.

"These days it's called Kyoshi Island."

"Ah. Prince Zuko paid that Island a visit some months back," Iroh said.

"Considering the fact that you're both here and alive, I'd say it wasn't a full invasion."

"The Warriors of Kyoshi were some formidable opponents. I pity the person who ever attempts such a thing." We sat in silence after that, enjoying our tea. After a while, I began to notice the signs that Iroh had a question for me, but felt unsure in asking it.

"Do you want to know something?" I asked.

"I must confess a curiosity to your age. Physically, you don't appear to be much older then my nephew. But your words and mannerisms all suggest that you are much older. And then there are your eyes," he said.

"They say that eyes are windows to the soul," I said.

"I see a very old soul behind those windows. Tell me, how does someone so young have eyes so old?" he asked. I sat in silence for a long time, staring at the flames of the small fire under the teapot, debating whether or not I should tell him the truth. Almost no one who did learn my story believed me. It was simply too fantastical to believe. In the end I was usually written off as being insane, and given a wide berth as a result. But Iroh, there seemed to be something different about him.

"Have you ever heard of a Ningyo, General?" I finally asked. He rubbed his beard in thought as he nursed his cup of tea.

"Only in legend, I'm afraid. A creature with the head of a monkey and the body of a fish that brings bad luck to those who capture it, if I recall correctly," he said. I nodded in conformation.

"That's a fairly accurate description," I said.

"So how does a legend such as that become entwined within your story?" he asked.

"Those who eat the flesh of a Ningyo become cursed," I explained, "that curse is life."

"Life is full of many hardships, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a curse," he said.

"Yes, but what makes life so special is the fact that it ENDS. When you take away that aspect what are you left with?" I asked. Iroh sat in silence, not coming up with an answer.

"Life becomes a curse when you are forced to go on beyond your time. When you watch all of your friends and loved ones wither and die, when you watch things that were built during your childhood crumble to dust, when you become a living relic in a world that no longer has any use for you, THAT is when life becomes a curse," I continued. We settled into a silence, lightly sipping on our tea and looking at the flames under the tea pot.

Zuko came back later that evening, and we ate a small meal, after which we all went off to bed. No one was really in the mood to talk, and so we were content with the somewhat awkward silence that had settled over us. We broke camp and set off at first light, heading north toward the edge of the desert.

The going was slow, considering the fact that I was on foot while Zuko and Iroh were on their mount. But despite this, we were making good time. The land became more arid, more and more desert plant life such as cactus began to surround us as we continued on. A sure fire sigh that we were getting closer to the desert, and the safety of Ba Sing Se beyond that.

That is, until Iroh's groans started.

The old man had been making little grunts and groans as we went, which were only increasing in frequency. As this continued, Zuko's scowl deepened, a sign that the young prince was starting to become highly annoyed at his uncle's antics.

"Maybe we should make camp," he finally suggested. After having walked all day, I wasn't about to complain.

"No, please, don't stop just for me," Iroh said, trying to show that he wasn't as bad as he was making out. This was immediately countered by the loud and dramatic groan he let out after he'd finished speaking. Zuko responded by yanking back on the reigns, bringing the ostrich horse to a halt. Iroh was off in a flash, sitting on a large rock and rubbing his shoulder. I happily sat next to him, savoring the feeling of relief that ran through my feet.

It didn't last, as the ostrich horse perked up in alarm. Instantly, Zuko fell into a bending stance, looking the direction the bird hybrid was. I felt the hair stand on the back of my neck and was instantly on my feet as well, hand gripping the hilt of my sword in preparation to draw it.

"What now?" Iroh asked in a tired, annoyed tone. From the trees around us came five men, each of them riding a kimono rhino and wielding a different weapon of some sort. They were Fire Nation based upon the color of their clothing.

"Colonel Monkey, what a pleasant surprise!" Iroh said as he got to his feet, his attitude having done a complete reversal. The old man's face had brightened considerably as he looked upon what I assumed were old friends of his.

"If you're surprised we're here then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps," a man with a nose ring and feathers on the crown of his head replied.

"You know these guys?" Zuko asked as each of the men began to ready their weapons.

"Sure. Colonel Monkey and the Rough Rhinos are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapons specialist. They are also a very capable singing group," Iroh replied. My grip tightened on my sword. I'd heard of these guys. Almost everyone in the Earth Kingdom Army had.

The Rough Rhinos were known to operate around the front lines in the south and west. They were used primarily as a terror tactic by the Fire Nation, raiding and burning down Earth Kingdom controlled towns and villages before slipping off again. Needless to say, the bounty on each one of these guys' heads was quite high.

With conformation on who these guys were, I focused my attention on the nearest rider. Out of the five, he was the only one wearing a helmet, which had a visor that covered his entire face. He was also strapped to the nines with all kinds of explosives.

"I believe the term you're looking for is infamous, General," I said, to which Iroh gave a simple innocent shrug.

"We're not here to give a concert, we're here to apprehend fugitives," the Colonel replied.

"Would you like some tea first? I'd love some," Iroh said, his happy tone not changing.

"Enough stalling, round them up!" the Colonel ordered. Immediately I went into action, drawing my sword and charging the explosive guy. I was on his rhino before he could react, swinging my sword. His helmet, with his head still inside, bounced away on the rocky ground with a clang. With a quick kick, I knocked the now headless body from the saddle and immediately took it's place.

Grabbing the reigns, I turned the rhino around and charged toward the group's archer with my sword held high. He was forced to shift his aim, switching from Zuko to me as I suddenly became the more pressing threat. A flaming arrow was shot my way, which I slapped out of the air with my sword. Zuko responded by firing a small fire bolt. It passed through the body of the bow, and snapped the draw sting in the process.

The archer had a look of stunned surprise on his face, but this didn't last very long as I was upon him a second later. I slashed at him, leaving him to fall from the saddle with a rather large gash across the front of his chest and stomach. Iroh easily handled the remaining three riders before swinging up into the saddle off the ostrich horse. Zuko climbed up after him, and the three of us were headed down the road at a very fast pace a second later.

"It's nice to see old friends," the old man said with a sly grin as he looked back at the carnage we had just done.

"Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you," Zuko said. A thoughtful look crossed Iroh's face.

"Hm. Old friends that don't want to attack me," he said to himself.

It was late afternoon when we arrived in Misty Palms Oasis. The name is deceiving, there is no mist, there are no palm trees, and there is barely an oasis. All there is are a few buildings and a cantina which made up the entirety of the settlement. Well, more of an outpost really. Misty Palms was pretty much one of the last places travelers could restock before heading into the desert.

Inside the cantina, we chose a small table in a corner and sat, getting some of the local drink to tide us over. Both Iroh and Zuko had put on their rice hats, making them blend in a little easier.

"No one here is going to help us, these people look like filthy wanderers," the Prince said.

"You haven't bathed in four days and your main travel destination has been 'east' for the past month. What does that make you, by definition?" I asked a little hotly. Zuko's attitude was starting to annoy me a little. Iroh raised his hand.

"Peace, Ryou. I think I have found our friend," he said, his attention focused on a middle aged man sitting alone at a Pai Sho table across the barroom from us.

"You brought us here to gamble on Pai Sho?" Zuko asked as Iroh stood.

"I don't think this is a gamble," the old man replied as he started across the room. Zuko looked at me, and I shrugged in response. Together we stood and went to follow Iroh across the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a man spring out of his chair. His friend put his hand on his shoulder and talked him back down. However their gaze never left us, and I found my hand inching toward my sword.

"May I have this game?" Iroh asked as he approached the middle aged man. He looked up at us before motioning toward the seat opposite of him.

"The guest has the first move," he answered. Iroh took the seat and immediately placed a single tile in the very center of the board. I moved around to the opposite side of the board from Zuko so I could watch the game better, and so I could keep an eye on the guys in the corner.

"I see you favor the White Lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways," the man said before bowing his head and opening his hands together with the palms facing upward.

"Those who do can always find a friend," Iroh replied, returning the gesture.

"Then let us play." Zuko took a seat, and I leaned against the wall, watching as the two men began to place different tiles at different points of the board. They kept going, until they had formed a much larger version of the White Lotus out of the entire board.

"Welcome brother, the White Lotus opens wide to those who know it's secrets," the man said.

"What are you old, gas bags talking about?" Zuko asked.

"Don't you know a secret handshake when you see one, Prince?" I asked. He looked at Iroh, who had a smile on his face.

"I always try to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game," Iroh answered cryptically before flipping a Pai Sho tile through his fingers like it was a coin. Across the room, the two men who had been watching us finally made their move. They stood and crossed the room, heading straight for us.

"Enough! You two fugitives are coming with me!" the man who was leading them yelled. Instantly Iroh's game mate was on his feet and between us and them.

"I knew it, you three are wanted fugitives with giant bounties on your heads," the man said loudly.

"I thought you said he would help!" Zuko hissed angrily.

"He is, just watch," Iroh replied, placing a calming hand on his nephew's shoulder.

"You think you're going to take them and collect all that gold?" the man asked loudly again, turning on the two men. Instantly every head in the bar turned and looked at the two men who had been advancing on us. It all went down hill from there, as a full on bar fight erupted. One of the onlookers jumped into the fray with a knife, intending to stab at one of the pair. A rock to the stomach sent him stumbling my way.

I drove my fist into the guy's jaw, knocking him out cold in the process. He turned and fell into the Pai Sho table we had just been sitting at, smashing it and sending tiles flying through the air. I made a motion to the others, and together we fled the cantina while everyone else was distracted. The man Iroh had played with led us toward the outlying buildings of the settlement, and into a flower shop of all things.

Once we were inside, he double checked behind us before closing the door, insuring that we weren't followed. I lowered my hat and looked about the shop. Personally, I thought that a flower shop being used as a front for an organization with the word Lotus in it's title was a little too on the nose, but that's just me.

"It is an honor to meet such a high ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus. Being a Grand Master, you must know so many secrets," he said before leading us toward the back of the shop.

"Now that you've played Pai Sho, are you going to do some flower arranging or is someone in this club going to offer some real help?" Zuko asked. I smacked him upside the back of the head, and gave him a glare when he turned to me in rage. Him being rude wasn't something I was going to tolerate.

"You must forgive my nephew," Iroh said, ignoring us, "he is not an initiate, and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts." Our new friend nodded in understanding as we came to a halt before another door. He knocked twice on the door, and a small slot opened in the middle immediately afterward.

"Who knocks at the garden gate?" a voice asked from the other side.

"One who has eaten the fruit and tasted it's mysteries," Iroh replied. The door opened, and he and our new friend filed inside. Zuko went to go after them, but was stopped when the door slammed closed in his face. The slot in the door opened again, revealing Iroh.

"I'm afraid it's members only. You two should wait out here," he said before sliding the slot closed again. Zuko looked a little frustrated at being left out, but folded his arms and leaned against a post regardless. I pulled a hunk of jerky from my pack, tore it in half, and tossed him one of the halves. He gave me a nod of thanks before he started to nibble on the dried meat. None of us had eaten since the previous night, and it was starting to show.

"What do you think they're talking about in there?" he asked. I gave a half shrug.

"You never know with these secret societies. It's best we just keep our mouths shut and see what happens," I answered. The sun was rising by the time Iroh's meeting came to an end. I had settled down onto a large overturned pot, while Zuko had dosed off leaning against the pole. As soon as the door opened, the Prince was awake and in a bending stance, acting like he had been on guard all night.

"What's going on? Is the club meeting over?" he asked as he rose out of his stance. Iroh and the shop owner bowed to each other.

"Everything is taken care of. We are headed to Ba Sing Se," Iroh answered with a warm smile.

"Ba Sing Se? Why would we go to the Earth Kingdom Capital?" Zuko asked.

"The city is filled with refugees, no one will notice three more," the shop owner said.

"We can hide in plain sight there, and it's the safest place in the world from the Fire Nation," Iroh added, "even I couldn't break through to the city."

"I can vouch for him on that," I said. At that moment, the door to the shop opened, and a much younger man came in.

"I'm sorry, but I was only able to get two passports for our guests. Also there are two men outside, looking for them," he said. Iroh frowned at that.

"Hm, that puts a damper in our plans. Unless you don't mind being left behind, Ryou," he said. I waved the old General off.

"Don't worry about me. I got a passport when I was discharged," I said.

"Now, about the problem with our unwanted admirers."

"We should split up and meet at the ferry. It'll be easier to give any unwanted attention the slip," I suggested.

"We can smuggle you two out using the plants," the shop owner added, motioning toward Iroh and Zuko.

"But what about him?" Zuko asked, gesturing to me.

"They're looking for you, not me. Give me an ostrich horse, and I'll make my own way," I said.

"Are you sure splitting up is what you want to do?" Iroh asked.

"It's the only way. They'll take you out with the pots, and I'll slip out the back. We'll meet up at Full Moon Bay. Sound like a plan?" I asked. Iroh and Zuko looked at each other before they each nodded once, agreeing to the plan. It was all set now, next stop, Full Moon Bay.

And beyond that, the Walls of Ba Sing Se.

And cut, that's all for this time around. Remember to drop a review, leave a PM, let me know what you liked or didn't like, and I'll see you all next time.