Spring had arrived and Team Avatar was, once again, heading out. 
   "Nice campsite." Toph said. "The grass is so soft."
   "That's not grass. Appa's shedding."
   "Oh gross!" Katara complained.
  "That's not gross." Rose said. "It's a normal thing for animals to do."
   "Besides, it's just a part of spring. You know, rebirth, flowers blooming, and Appa gets a new coat."
   "Ah the beauty of spring!" Katara responded sarcastically.
   "It is beautiful." Rose grabbed a handful and tossed it into the sky. "It's like watching snow fall."
   Katara shook her head. "It's not that bad, Katara." Sokka said, scooping some up on top of his head. "It makes a great wig."
    "And a great beard." Aang said, using some as a beard.
    They laughed at their own jokes, Katara shaking her head. "I'm just glad we finally have more girls in the group because you two are disgusting."
    "Excuse me. Does anyone have a razor because I got some hairy pits." Toph joked, showing off well...
    "Rose, can you get them to stop?"
    "Hey, guys, I think I have a tail." Rose said, showing off a tail made of Appa's fur.
    All of them laughed, Aang sneezing from all the fur and flying into Appa. The others burst out into another fit of laughter.
    "Ugh! I swear I'm the only mature one here!" 
    "Because mature is boring." Rose said. "Sometimes, you just gotta have fun."
    Later that day, as the group made camp, Katara tried to get Toph to help but she didn't want to, explaining she carried her own weight and didn't need any help. Sometime that night, Toph awoke to a feeling under the earth. 
    "There's something coming towards us." Toph warned. "It feels like an avalanche but also not."
    "It's best to go just in case." Rose stated plainly.
    As they flew away, they saw something leaving behind a cloud of smoke. They traveled for hours and finally made camp far away. Once again, Toph refused to help unpack and an argument ensued between her and Katara.
     "The stars sure are beautiful tonight." Katara said. "Too bad you can't see them, Toph." 
    In response, Toph earthbended, making Katara fly into the air and land on Sokka. "Hey, how's a guy supposed to sleep with all this yelling and earthquaking?"
    "That thing is back." Toph said suddenly.
    "Well how far away is it? Maybe we could close our eyes for a few minutes."
    Rose looked up into the distance. "I don't think so, Sokka." 
    Again, they took off into the night. Deciding to forgo setting up camp, each member just found the most comfortable spot on their raised dais to sleep.
    "Who could be doing this?" Rose thought out loud, trying to keep Katara and Toph from fighting.
    "Maybe it's Zuko." Katara said. "We haven't seen him since the North Pole."
    "No it doesn't feel like something he would do." 
    "Who's Zuko?" Toph asked.
    "Oh just some angry freak with a ponytail who's tracked us all over the world."
    "What's wrong with ponytails, ponytail?"
    "This is a warrior's wolf tail."
    "Well it certainly tells the other warriors that you're fun and perky."
    "At least Zuko pulls off the ponytail!" Rose called.
     Sokka gave her a dirty look. "No. He. Doesn't." he said. "Anyway, whoever's chasing us, they couldn't have followed us here, so would everyone just shush?"
    Momo began chattering and Sokka groaned. "Not again."
    "That's impossible! There's no way they could have tracked us."
    "I can feel it with my own two feet."
    Rose and Aang ran forward to the lip of the plateau to find the machine that had been following them was catching up. From out of the machine came three familiar faces: Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.
    "It's those girls from Omashu."
    "We can take them--there's four of us and three of them."
    "Actually, Toph, there's five of us."
    "Oh, sorry, Sokka, I didn't count you. You know, no bending and all."
    "I can still fight!"
    "Ok three on four plus Sokka."
    Toph fought off the girls, giving everyone time to retreat. They took off once more. "I can't believe those girls followed us all the way from Omashu."
    "I still think we could have taken them." 
    "Are you kidding? The crazy blue fire and daggers are bad enough but the last time we saw them, one of those girls did something that took my bending away. That's scary."
    "Oh no. The sun is rising. We've been up all night with no sleep."
    "Sokka, we'll be ok."
    "Are you sure? I've never not slept before. What if I fall asleep and something happens? Something always happens!"
    "Sokka, calm down." Rose said. "It takes two weeks of not sleeping for you to go crazy. Besides, we've faced worse threats before."
    "We've just got to keep flying."
    "We can't keep flying forever." Aang bemoaned.
    "Maybe not. But, right now, we don't have a choice."
                       * * * * *
    Zuko had used his blue spirit mask and swords to steal things for him and his uncle. Yet, after awhile, when Iroh confronted him, he'd come to the conclusion they would have to go their separate ways. And they did, although Iroh kept track of his nephew as he continued his journey. 
    Zuko went through a lot alone. During the day, he traveled, his thoughts on a certain someone who seemed to control them. At night, his dreams were filled with her. Slowly, the line between what was real and what was in his head blurred.
    After an incident wherein Zuko fought a group of dishonorable earthbenders, those words from the kid he'd helped also seemed to haunt his dreams, giving him no peace.
    That's why he found himself following tracks left by his sister's machine. If he was right, she was hot on the Avatar's trail and he needed to find her first because, no matter what, he would protect that which he loved.
                          * * * * * 
     The journey coupled with the lack of sleep caused an argument to break out, leading to the revelation that Appa's shedding was how they were being tracked. That caused Aang to lose his temper, causing Toph to leave.
    Rose turned to her friends. "Do you see what you've done? We need her and because you can't shut your big mouth," she gestured to Katara, "she's gone."
    "You're blaming me?"
    "Yes I am. You sit there on your high horse when it comes to Toph but the truth is you act just as much a brat as her. You're bossy, you're self righteous, and you whine all the time because you lost your mother. Some of us have lost much more. I'll never see my family again and Toph probably never will either. Everyone I've ever loved has either died or is in danger. I can't even be with the one I love because his thoughts are too conflicted and he can't decide whether to love me or kill me. So kindly fuck off until you have something more substantial than disdain to throw everyone's way!"
     Rose clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing she just revealed a big secret and hoping her friends wouldn't notice. However, it seemed her words had cut deep and Katara was quiet. "Good to know how you really feel then." 
      "Well that was intense." Sokka said.
      "I'm sorry." Rose finally said. "It's just...I lost my earthbending teacher and I don't know what to do."
      "No you're right." Katara said. "I was acting like a brat. I was so mean to her and to you. I just...I didn't realize what you were going through. I didn't even know you loved someone. Who is it?"
     "I don't want to talk about it right now. I just want Toph back."
     "We need to find her and apologize."
     "Ok but what are we gonna do about the tank full of ladies chasing us?"
     Team Avatar cleaned Appa up, scrubbing out all the extra fur. Rose and Aang explained that they would leave a fake trail for the ladies to follow then rendezvous with the rest of Team Avatar later. With that, they put their plan into action, Rose and Aang hopping on Crystal and preparing for a long day.
                          * * * * * 
      Toph was wandering the woods when she heard a noise. Using earthbending she attacked the threat which turned out to be Iroh who wasn't a threat at all.
      Iroh was kind, however, and offered Toph a cup of tea so they could talk. "You seem a little too young to be traveling alone."
      "And you seem a little too old." Toph fired back.
      Iroh laughed. "Perhaps I am."
      "I know what you're thinking. I look like I can't handle myself."
      "I wasn't thinking that."
      "You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea."
      "I poured your tea because I wanted to and for no other reason."
      "People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me but I can take care of myself by myself."
      "You sound like my nephew, always thinking you need to do things on your own without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you. Not that I love you. Well, I just met you."
      Toph laughed. "So where is your nephew?"
      "I've been tracking him actually."
      "Is he lost?"
      "Yes a little bit. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is, struggling with a constant war inside him, between what he loves and what he believes his honor is telling him to do."
      "So now you're following him?"
      "I know he doesn't want me around right now but, if he needs me, I'll be there. And, hopefully, so will be the one he loves and that loves him in turn."
      "Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it. And this woman, who is she?"
      "Why, the Avatar of course." Iroh confessed. "It is a difficult path ahead for them. Just as he is struggling with his inner turmoil, she struggles with her feelings for him. But I believe they will find each other and be together soon."
     Toph thanked Iroh for the tea and the words. "Oh and, about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him too."
                            * * * * *
      After surveying the trail of Appa's fur, Azula reached the conclusion that the Avatar was trying to lead them down a false trail. "You two go that way and look out for the bison. I'll follow this trail myself."
     They split up to do as they'd been commanded.
                            * * * * *
    Rose and Aang lead the trail to an abandoned town where they could prepare for a fight with the girls if necessary. There, they sat and waited for the threat to arrive.
    Finally, Azula caught up with them. "Who are you and what do you want?"
    "You mean you haven't guessed? You don't see the family resemblance?" Azula did a pretty good impression of Zuko, making Rose angry. "It's ok. You can laugh. It's funny."
      "I think it's just you. I'm not laughing." Rose said.
      "Aw don't be like that."
      "Just get to the point. What now?"
      "Now it's over. You're tired and you have no place to go. You can run but I'll catch you."
      "We're not running." Aang piped up.
      "Do you really want to fight me?" Azula asked.
    Suddenly, Zuko appeared, jumping off his ostrich horse and standing in front of Rose, protecting her. "Yes. I really do."
    "I was wondering when you'd show up, Zuzu."
    Aang snorted in laughter. "Back off, Azula! She's mine!"
    "I'm not going anywhere." 
    The four prepared for a fight. Azula made the first move, attacking Zuko, but Rose portalled them into a different part of town. "Where'd they go, boy?" Azula said, then attacking Aang.
     When Rose and Zuko showed back up, they were distracted for the moment. "Rose, there's--that is, I wanted to say--"
     Rose shushed him. "I know. I feel the same." 
     With that, she kissed him. They broke apart for a second then Zuko pulled her closer and kissed her again. His fingers tangled into her hair and he held her as if letting her go would make her disappear. Her own hands were on his chest as she returned his passion.
     "I love you." they both whispered at once as their kiss drew to a close.
     "You cut your hair." Rose observed, stroking his hair, her hand then moving to his scar. He held her hand there, afraid to let her go and find out this was just another of his dreams.
     "There's so many things I want to say." he whispered. "So much I want to make up for."
     "And there will be time for that." Rose promised. "But, right now, we have to save Aang."
     "And Azula can't know about us. I'll have to--"
     "I understand."
     "Ok then let's go."
    They rushed back, Rose helping Aang, and everything turned into a three way fight with Rose and Aang fighting Zuko and Azula while they fought each other. Finally the cavalry arrived in the form of the rest of Team Avatar and Iroh.
    Soon, Azula was backed up into a corner, Iroh, Zuko, Rose, Aang, Toph, Katara, and Sokka surrounding her. "Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done. I know when I'm beaten." She raised her hands in surrender. "You got me. A princess surrenders with honor."
    Azula then made her move, proving she had no honor as she struck Iroh. The group bended together yet she, somehow, escaped. Zuko then ran to Iroh, Rose kneeling beside him. "Get away from us!" Zuko shouted at the rest of Team Avatar, not counting Rose herself.
    "Zuko, I can help." Katara protested.
    "Leave!" he shouted, firebending at them. 
    Team Avatar began running then, unaware that Rose had not joined them. She placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder, trying to calm him. "You have to go, Rose. Your friends will notice if you're not with them."
     "We can help."
     "Rose..." he trailed off, giving her a goodbye kiss, holding her close. "I love you but you have to go."
     "I won't stop fighting for us." she promised. "I know our love is stronger than anything. I will see you again."
     "I hope so." 
    Rose rushed off, jumping on Crystal and following her friends as they raced off into the setting sun. They found a spot to camp and finally, got some sleep.