Zuko tossed and turned in his bed in a fitful attempt at sleep. Finally, he opened his eyes and got up, grabbing his cloak from the hook as he passed it on his way out of his room. He quietly snuck out of the palace and began the long trek towards the prison that was located inside a hollow volcanic crater northwest of the capital city.

The Fire Nation prince stopped at the base of the stairs that led into the prison and looked up, focusing intently on of the many darkened windows.

"Who's there?" The guard that had been patrolling one of the prison's balconies called out loudly when he spotted Zuko.

Without saying a word, the scarred prince turned and walked away, the guard resuming his patrol behind him.

A large cloud sped across the sky at an abnormal speed, heading straight towards several islands. Suddenly a soft sneeze followed by a round of giggles came from the cloud as it began to descend from the sky and towards one of the islands.

"I think I see a cave below." Aang called out from inside the cloud as it hovered above one of the islands.

"Shh!" Sokka hissed in a commanding tone from inside the cloud as it moved closer to the ground, "Keep quiet! And stop giggling Xia!"

"Sorry!" Xiaodan stage-whispered as she and Aang Airbended the cloud surrounding them and Appa away after the sky bison had landed, "The cloud was making me sneeze!"

Sokka grumbled as he jumped to the ground and sneakily moved over to a rock, pressing his back against it warily as he briefly surveyed the area then he crossed his arms and looked at the four other teens as they jumped out of Appa's saddle.

"Great job with the cloud camo, but next time, let's disguise ourselves as the kind of clouds that knows how to keep its mouth shut!" Sokka griped in annoyance then he went back to reconnoitering, peering over the side of the rock cautiously.

"Yeah," Toph drawled sarcastically as she crossed her arms over her chest, "We wouldn't want a bird to hear us chatting up there and turn us in."

"Hey, we're in enemy territory." Sokka retorted as he looked back at the other four and he pointed at the four toucan-puffins perched on the rock he was hiding behind, "Those are enemy birds."

One of the toucan-puffins jumped onto Sokka's head and screeched loudly, causing the other four to laugh at his annoyed expression.

"C'mon, let's go check out the cave." Xiaodan said as she began walking towards the cave Aang had spotted, Katara, Aang, and Toph following after her while Sokka continued moved at a slower pace behind them.

Suddenly Sokka leapt over Xiaodan's head and dived towards the ground, shooting up into a crouch a moment later as he looked around suspiciously. The white-haired girl blinked and scratched her head, sharing a bemused look with Katara and Aang as Sokka ran into the cave ahead of them.

"Your brother is really weird, Katara." The white-haired girl commented in amusement as she and the other three followed the paranoid Water Tribe boy.

"Tell me something I don't know." Katara sighed with an exasperated shake of her head.

"Well, this is it." Sokka said as the other four came to a stop in front of him. "This is how we'll be living until the invasion begins. Hiding in cave after cave after cave after cave..."

Xiaodan covered her mouth with a hand to hide the smile that was slowing spreading across her face as Sokka's head drooped lower and lower each time he said the word 'cave'.

"Sokka, we don't need to become cave people." Katara stated in mild exasperation, "What we need is some new clothes."

"Yeah, blending in is better than hiding out." Aang agreed with a grin, "If we get Fire Nation disguises, we would be just as safe as we would be hiding in a cave."

"Plus, they have real food out there." Toph piped in from where she had sat down against a rock with her legs slightly folded beneath her, "Does anyone want to sit in the dirt and eat cave hoppers?"

The blind girl punched the cave wall and several cave hoppers jumped out of the rocks, prompting Momo to dive forward and catch one. The others watched with mild disgust as the lemur shoved the cave hopper in his mouth before turning around to look at them, spitting out one of the cave hopper's legs a moment later. Xiaodan cringed as she eyed the still twitching insect leg, sharing a disgusted look with Katara.

"Looks like we got outvoted, sport." Sokka stated to the lemur with sigh, "Let's go get some new clothes."

"I don't know about this." Aang whispered unsurely as the five teens hid behind stone wall in front of a cleaner's where clothes were hanging out to dry on several clotheslines over natural steam vents, "These clothes belong to somebody."

"I call the silk robe!" Katara shouted excitedly as she leapt out from behind the stone wall and snatched two outfits from one of the lines.

"I call the red one!" Xiaodan exclaimed gleefully as she followed after Katara and she grabbed three dark maroon pieces of clothing from one of the lines, ignoring Sokka's sarcastic grumble about all the clothes being red.

"But if it's essential to our survival...then I call the suit!" Aang called out as he jumped over the wall with Toph, both of them grabbing something from the clothesline.

Sokka heaved a sigh and jumped over the wall, sauntering towards a clothesline at the back. He pursed his lips as he stood in front of the clothesline, holding each shirt up to his chest before he finally found one that looked like it would fit. He grinned happily and snatched the shirt off the line then ran after his four friends.

"Ta-da!" Aang exclaimed as he tied a red headband with the yellow emblem upside-down in an attempt to resemble his hidden arrow tattoo, "Normal kid."

"Hm...I should probably wear shoes. But then I won't be able to see as well." Toph mused as she sat down on a nearby rock then she grabbed the sides of her shoes, "Sorry shoes!"

She pulled on the shoe which caused the sole to rip off and fly at Sokka, hitting him in the face. Aang covered his mouth to stifle his laughter as the sole fell off Sokka's face, leaving behind a bright red mark.

"Finally, a stylish shoe for the blind Earthbender." Toph said happily as she stood after getting rid of her other shoe's sole.

Xiaodan suddenly stepped out from behind the rocks she and Katara had changed behind, the other girl still dressing.

"What do you think?" The female dual-bender asked with a grin as she put her hands on her hips, her head tilted slightly to the side.

Aang and Sokka turned towards her with identical looks of surprise. She had used the special oils Pakku had given her to darken her white hair until it was a deep brown and the maroon halter top that she wore showed off her the intricate tattoos on her shoulders, arms, and stomach while a pair of loose, maroon pants that cinched tightly at the waist and ankles covered her legs and dark brown sandals adorned her feet.

"Wow, you look really...different." Sokka said and he picked up a strand of her darkened hair, looking at it in amazement.

Xiaodan swatted at his hand and scrunched her nose up at him, "Isn't that the point of having disguises?"

Aang grinned and bounced over to his sister, hugging her briefly, "I think you look great, big sister."

Xiaodan smiled in gratitude and affectionately rubbed the top of his head, but before she could verbally reply, Katara stepped out from behind the rocks they had changed behind.

"How do I look?" Katara asked with a smile as she held her arms out slightly, showing off the long skirt and one-shouldered, midriff baring top she was wearing with her hair done in a more traditional Fire Nation style.

Xiaodan chuckled lowly as she moved to stand beside Sokka and crossed her arms when she saw Aang blush brightly and scratch at his head as he looked at the dark-haired girl with a shy smile. The smile soon fell from Aang's face when he noticed her mother's necklace and gave her an apologetic look.

"Uh...Your mother's necklace."

"Oh," Katara murmured as she touched her mother's necklace with a vaguely sad expression, "Oh, yeah. I guess it's pretty obviously Water Tribe, isn't it?"

The others watched quietly as she took the necklace off and held in her hand for a moment before tucking it away into her skirt.

Katara smiled as she placed some money on the vender's table then she picked up a red necklace with three amber gems in the middle of it while Toph slipped on a new bronze headpiece, Sokka put a yellow headpiece with a small red flame design around his topknot and Xiaodan slipped on two bronze arm cuffs and a bronze neck collar. Aang smiled and patted Momo's ears then he tucked the lemur into his shirt.

"Xia and I used to visit our friend Kuzon here a hundred years ago. So just follow our lead and stay cool." Aang said then he grinned, "Or, as they say in the Fire Nation, stay flamin'."

Sokka looked at Xiaodan with a quirked brow as Aang walked around the corner, but the dual-bender just shrugged and followed after her brother.

"Greetings, my good hotman." Aang said as he walked past a man eating meat off a stick.

"Uh, hi?" The man replied in confusion as he watched the five teens walk past him, "I guess..."

Xiaodan sent the man a sheepish smile over her shoulder before coming to a stop beside Aang and the others, who were standing in front of a meat vendor.

"Oh, we're going to a meat place?" Aang questioned disappointedly and Xiaodan wrinkled her nose slightly in distaste.

"Come on Aang, everyone here eats meat." Sokka said excitedly and he pointed over to a hippo-cow eating a large piece of meat swarming with flies, "Even the meat."

"You guys go ahead." Aang said with a small grimace, "I'll just get some lettuce out of the garbage."

"I think I'm gonna go try and find a fruit vendor or something." Xiaodan muttered and she patted Aang's head affectionately, "Stay out of trouble and don't wander too far."

She waved over her shoulder as she headed further into the bazaar, leaving Aang standing outside the meat place as the others went inside.

Aang stared at the meat place for a moment then turned around, smiling slightly at the people that walked past, nodding and waving slightly in greeting.

"Hotman. Hotman. Hotman. Hotman."

Two men and a women dressed as guards approached him and Aang paused in his greetings to stare up at the older guard with slightly wide eyes.

"It's over." The older man stated blandly as he stood in front of Aang with his hands clasped behind his back, the other two guards standing on either side of him, "We caught you."

Aang looked up at the man with a guilty expression, "Who, me?"

"It couldn't be more obvious that you don't belong here." The older man stated, his dry tone becoming slightly sarcastic, "Next time you play hooky, you might want to take off your school uniform."

Aang looked down at his stolen outfit and he let out a nervous laugh as he looked back up at the guards, gasping as the guards grabbed him.

Xiaodan sauntered through the bazaar, eyeing the various stalls curiously and hoping to find a fruit vendor.

"Excuse me, miss!"

The dual-bender paused and turned on her heel towards the voice, tilting head slightly as she looked at the handsome, dark-haired young man standing behind one of the merchant stalls. The young man gestured her over and after a moment of hesitation, Xiaodan wandered over to him, her hands clasped behind her back.

"I'm Aki. Are you new to the island, you seem a little lost." The young man said with a slight grin, his bronze colored eyes bright with interest as he looked her up and down.

"I'm..." Xiaodan paused and pretended to look at one of the little baubles on display as she came up with an alias, a slow smile spreading across her face and she looked at Aki again, "Sonal, call me Sonal. And you're right, my family and I just moved here."

"Pretty name for a pretty girl." The young Fire Nation man said as he leaned slightly towards the girl with a girl.

Xiaodan stiffened slightly and took a small step back from the stall, a polite smile gracing her tanned and tattooed face.

"Thank you." She said forced graciousness, "If you'll excuse me, my family is expecting me back soon."

"Aw really, so soon?" Aki asked, his flirtatious expression morphing into a disappointed one, "Well, if you're ever in town, you should stop by again."

Xiaodan a noncommittal and with another polite smile, she walked back the way she had come, towards the meat place she had left Sokka, Katara, and Toph. Her shoulders itched with tension, but she forced herself to walk in a casual but hurried manner, as if someone was expecting her.

She paused for a moment and, unable to resist the urge, Xiaodan glanced over her shoulder towards the stall she had just left. Aki waved at her enthusiastically from behind the stall, a wide grin spreading across his face when he caught her eye.

Xiaodan quickly turned around and continued on her way, her heart feeling uncomfortably heavy in her chest as her mind decided to remind her forcefully of Zuko for no other reason other than to torment her.

"Ridiculous." She muttered drily to herself as she slipped out of the small village and headed towards the cave, "Absolutely ridiculous."

Aang stumbled slightly as the two guards pushed him into a classroom after opening the door. He stared at the other children sitting on cushions behind the desks unsurely while they stared back at him with wide eyes.

"Oh. Is this a new mind ready for molding?" The teacher, a strict looking, middle-aged woman asked with false lightness as she turned to look at Aang and the two guards standing behind him.

"That's right." Aang replied cheerfully and he knocked on his head, "Let the molding beginning."

Behind him the two guards that had brought him to the classroom turned to leave.

"Wait a minute." The teacher said sharply as she looked Aang over, causing the two guards to turn back around, "You're not from the Fire Nation!"

Aang stared up at the strict looking woman warily while the guards stared at him suspiciously.

"Clearly, you're from the colonies." The teacher stated as she walked around Aang.

"Yeah, the colonies, of course." Aang agreed readily, a grin forming on his face as he shifted to face the teacher slightly with his hands on his hips while the two guards left, "The Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom."

"Your etiquette is terrible. In the homeland, we bow to our elders." The teacher commented sternly as she moved to stand in front of her desk then she turned to face Aang again, "Like so."

She bowed over her hands, one hand raised flat while her other hand in fist and pressed against the very bottom of her palm.

"Sorry ma'am." Aang apologized respectfully and he bowed to her, his fist hand pressed directly against his palm.

The teacher tapped the wrist of his fisted hand with her pointer and he straightened, giving her a confused look. A girl sitting in the front row caught Aang's eye and she quickly showed him the correct way to position his hands. Grinning slightly, Aang quickly bowed to the teacher again, his hands in the right position.

"And we don't wear head coverings indoors." The teacher chided once Aang had straightened, tapping his head with her pointer.

"Um..." Aang faltered and he rubbed the back of his head in feigned embarrassment as an idea came to him, "I have a scar. It's really embarrassing."

The teacher eyed him for a moment then nodded briskly, "Very well. What is your name? Or should we just call you 'Mannerless Colony Slob'?"

"Just 'slob' is fine." Aang joked with a slight chuckle then he turned to face the rest of the class with a more serious expression, "Or, uh, Kuzon."

Xiaodan pursed her lips slightly as she walked into the cave she and her friends were staying in. Appa rumbled a greeting from where he was sprawled out on his side several yards away from the entrance.

"Hey Appa." The disguised white-haired girl greeted the sky bison with a warm smile and a pat on the nose, "Guess I'm the first one back, huh?"

Appa rumbled again. He rolled completely onto his back and wiggled his six legs slightly, politely asking her to scratch his belly. Xiaodan laughed lightly at the flying bison and began to rub his fuzzy belly, giggling in amusement when his back legs began to kick slightly in happiness.

"Well, at least one of us is having fun so far, eh boy?" She quipped with forced lightness.

As if sensing her emotions, Appa rolled back onto his belly and nuzzled the young woman, sticking his tongue out and nearly licking Xiaodan off her feet.

"Ew! Appa!" Xiaodan laughed, pushing his fluffy head away gently, "Now I have to go wash your spit off me, you silly sky bison!"

Appa merely stared at her with large brown eyes full of affection. The dual-bender chuckled and shook her head, patting the flying bison's nose once before wandering out of the cave and towards the water that was several feet away to clean the spit off herself.

Aang heaved a sigh of relief as he walked out of the school and into the courtyard after the bell rang. Momo chittered quietly and poked his head out of the collar of Aang's uniform.

"We made it through the day Momo," Aang said in relief and slight surprise, "And it was fun."

"Don't let the headmaster catch you with that monkey."

Aang jumped and hid Momo in his shirt again, turning around to face the girl that had helped him bow correctly.

"What monkey?" He asked with an innocent expression.

"Don't worry, I'm not a tattletale." The girl said with a small smile as she walked closer to Aang, "My name's On Ji. I like your headband, by the way."

Suddenly, a slightly older and taller boy bumped is shoulder into Aang and but his arm around On Ji's shoulder.

"On Ji, you don't have to babysit the new kid." The boy said snidely as he sneered down at Aang.

"Wow." Aang commented in surprise then he grinned and bowed towards the older boy, "You must be one of those popular kids I've been hearing about."

"That's right." The boy replied pompously, "Now listen, friend. I know you're from the colonies, so I'll say this slowly." He leaned in closer to Aang and began talking slowly, "On Ji is my girlfriend." He poked Aang in the chest, "Don't forget it."

Inside Aang's shirt, Momo lurched forward in an attempt to get out, but Aang quickly pushed him back against his chest. The older boy stared down at him suspiciously for a moment, then pointed his fingers at his eyes then at Aang before walking away with On Ji.

"It was nice meeting you!" Aang called out and waved at the retreating pair.

"I don't believe it." One of the boys in Aang's class said as he walked towards him, "He didn't beat you up, not even a little."

Aang shrugged slightly and smiled at the other boy, "I guess I'm just lucky."

The boy grinned back at him then gestured to the three other students standing behind him, "We were on our way to play hide and explode. Wanna come?"

"I'd love to!" Aang agreed happily, running after the other with a grin.

Aang slid down the hill, landing on the ground in front of the cave and he sauntered inside with a grin.

"Where have you been?" Katara demanded concernedly from where she as sitting in front of Appa's nose, a small fire in front of her, "We've been worried sick."

Xiaodan pushed herself up onto her elbows and peered curiously at Aang's black smudged face, "What's all over your face?"

"I got invited to play with some kids after school." Aang explained as he removed the headband, "And it's soot from the game."

Sokka sprung to his feet, his hands still behind his head as he stared at Aang in shock, "After what?!"

"I enrolled in a Fire Nation school." Aang replied matter-of-factly, taking a seat between Katara and Toph in front of the fire, "And I'm going back tomorrow."

"Enrolled in what?!" Sokka squawked with an exasperated expression before he fell onto his back in disbelief.

Xiaodan patted the Water Tribe boy's chest consolingly, snickering at the almost pained expression on his face.

Zuko walked slowly through the halls of the Capital City Prison, the hood of his cloak pulled low over his head. Ahead of him, the guard on duty stiffened at the sound of his footsteps and whirled around.

"You again?" The guard snapped furiously as he pointed his spear at the scarred prince, "Stop where you are!"

Zuko lifted his head and the guard faltered, his eyes widening.

"Prince Zuko..."

Zuko grabbed the guard by the collar of his uniform and slammed him against the wall roughly, his spear clattering to the floor.

"I'm going in for a visit. You're going to stand guard here, and no one is going to know about this." Zuko growled lowly then he released the guard and entered the cell.

His breath caught slightly in his throat when he saw his uncle sitting in the middle of the metal cell at the back of the stone room, his gray hair hanging in scraggly tangles down his back.

"Uncle," Zuko rasped as he approached the metal bars and lowered the hood of his cloak, "It's me."

Iroh shifted so his back was to the metal bars and his nephew, a faint scowl marring his face.

"Aang, I'm trying to be mature and not immediately shoot down your idea," Sokka said with strained patience as he, Katara, Toph, Aang and Xiaodan sat around the small campfire in the cave, "But it sound...really terrible."

"Yeah, we got our outfits." Toph agreed in bemusement, "What do you need to go to school for?"

"Every minutes I'm in the classroom, I'm learning new things about the Fire Nation. I already have a picture of Fire Lord Ozai." Aang defended himself then he held up a picture of a handsome man in his early-to-mid-thirties.

Xiaodan flinched slightly, her orange eyes widening in surprise as she stared at the picture of the Fire Lord. Her throat constricted almost painfully as memories of Zuko flooded her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled silently, forcefully pushing the memories away and refocusing on Aang, who had put the picture of Fire Lord Ozai away. She silently thanked the spirits that no one seemed to have noticed her momentary fit and crossed her arms over her chest, determined to not thing about Zuko or anything affiliated with him.

"And here's one that I made out of noodles!" Aang continued excitedly as he held up a piece of paper covered in noodles that vaguely resembled the picture of the Fire Lord.

Sokka rubbed at his chin as he looked at the noodle picture, "Impressive, I admit, but I still think it's too dangerous. Back me up here, Xia."

"Sokka does have a point, Aang." The white-haired girl commented slowly, her lips pursed in thought, "Going to that school could be dangerous, especially since none of us can be there. What if something happens and you need help?"

Aang heaved a sigh and slumped forward in apparent dejection, "I guess we'll never find out about the secret river then." He stated, slyly glancing at Sokka from the corner of his eye, "It goes right to the Fire Lord's palace. We were supposed to learn about it in class tomorrow."

"Hmm..." Sokka hummed in contemplation as he pressed his hands together and touched his fingers to his chin, "I am a fan of secret rivers...Fine, let's stay a few more days."

Xiaodan covered her eyes and shook her head with a quiet groan as Aang leapt excited to his feet, thrusting his fist triumphantly into the air.

"Flamey-o, hotman!" The young Airbender exclaimed before running off into the back of the cave.

Sokka turned to look over at Katara and Xiaodan with a confused expression, "Flamey-o?"

Xiaodan gave him the stink eye while Katara shrugged, just as confused as her brother.

"You brought this on yourself you know." Zuko stated as he stood in front of the metal bars that split half of his uncle's stone cell, "We could have returned together. You could have been a hero!"

Iroh shifted slightly on the thin mat he was sitting on, keeping his back to his nephew and not looking at him.

"You have no right to judge me, Uncle!" Zuko spat furiously, "I did what I had to do in Ba Sing Se, and you're a fool for not joining me! You and Xia!"

Iroh's shoulders tensed slightly at the mention of the white-haired girl, but he continued to ignore his nephew.

"You're not going to say anything?" The scarred prince demanded, his voice cracking slightly before he snarled and whirled around, kicking up a small stool before destroying it with a punch and Firebending.

"You're a crazy old man!" Zuko shouted angrily at his uncle's back, "You're crazy! And if you weren't in jail, you'd be sleeping in the gutter!"

Zuko stormed out of the stone cell, slamming the door behind him. Inside the cell, Iroh's lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes.

Aang sat down at his desk in the classroom with the other students. Teacher Kwan walked into the room and the students stood up, Aang getting to his feet a moment later.

"Good morning class." Teacher Kwan greeted coolly as she sat down at her desk, "Recite the Fire Nation oath."

The class turned towards a large painting of Fire Lord Ozai hanging on the back wall, Aang faltering for a moment before doing the same.

"My life I give to my country," The class chorused as they bowed towards the painting, "With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Ozai and our forefathers before him."

Aang glanced around the room as the rest of the class recited the oath and he tried to mimic them, "Fire Lord...Forefathers..."

"With my mind I seek ways to better my country, and with my feet may our March of Civilization continue..."

"Firebenders...Fire Lord..." Aang continued to sputter random things and the class faltered, snickering quietly, "Wah, bah, blah, blah."

Teacher Kwan narrowed her eyes and stared sternly at the back of the young boy she believed to be called Kuzon's head while the students sat back down on their seat cushions.

"Since it's obviously hilarious to mock our national oath, we'll begin with a pop quiz on our great March of Civilization." Teacher Kwan stated coolly.

The class groaned and picked up their pens in preparation for the quiz.

"Question one: What year did Fire Lord Sozin battle the Air Nation Army?"

Aang frowned and raised his hand.

"Kuzon?" Teacher Kwan called on him with an expectant look.

"Is that a trick question?" Aang asked in confusion as he stood, "The Air Nomads didn't have a formal military. Sozin defeated them by ambush."

"Well, I don't know how you could possible know more than our national history book." Teacher Kwan snapped stiffly after she got over her shock and her voice turned sarcastic, "Unless you were there a hundred years ago."

"I'll just write down my best guess." Aang said quickly with a nervous chuckle and he sat back down, quickly scribbling on the blank piece of parchment in front of him.

In music class, the teacher stood at his podium while the class sat before him, each playing an instrument with careful precision. Aang, sitting at the very back with a large tsungi horn in his hands, began playing loudly in very discordant notes while dancing in his seat. The other students faltered and stopped playing, turning to stare at him with dumbfounded expressions.

"Kuzon?" The music teacher called out drily.

Aang stopped playing the tsungi horn and looked at the teacher with a sheepish expression, "I know, I'm a terrible tsungi hornist."

"No, child." The teacher commented blandly as he waved his pointed at Aang, "That hullabaloo going on with your feet. Is that a nervous disorder?"

"I was just dancing." Aang replied in bemusement, his brow furrowing slightly in befuddlement, "You do dances here in the homeland, right?"

"Not really, no..." One of the students in front of Aang replied warily.

"Dancing is not conducive to a proper learning environment." The music teacher chided sternly, "Young people must have rigid discipline and order."

"But what about expressing yourself?" Aang asked with a slight frown.

The music teacher sighed in a put upon manner and took a few steps away from his podium, "I know sometimes we're so ruled by our love for our nation that we can't control our own bodies." The music teacher put his hand to his face in apparent distress at the thought before continuing, "If you must, you may march in place quietly next time the urge hits you."

The teacher returned to his podium and tapped his pointed against it. The students resumed playing their instruments and after a second Aang played a few notes while marching in place quietly. He stopped after a few moments, slumping over the large tsungi horn with a sigh of dismay.

Xiaodan yawned quietly as she lounged on the ground few feet away from the cave entrance, the sun warming her back and shoulders. Sokka, Katara, and Toph had decided to go to the market while Aang was attending the school, leaving the white-haired girl to herself at the cave.

Rolling onto her back, Xiaodan tucked her hands under the back of her head and stared quietly at the sky, the water gently lapping at her feet. She let the sun warm her face for a few more moments before getting to her feet.

"Let's see...What was it that Jeong Jeong taught Aang?" She muttered to herself, her brow furrowing in thought, "It was all about breathing or something..."

Xiaodan shrugged and shifted into a horse stance, keeping her elbows bent and her fists level with her hips, she closed her eyes and began to take deep, even breaths through her nose. Suddenly, Xiaodan snapped her eyes opened and punched the air with her right fist. A gust of air shot forward, creating a medium sized wave in the water in front of her.

"Arrgh!" Xiaodan growled in frustration and she tossed her head back to glare at the sun, her molten orange eyes narrowed, "What am I doing wrong?!"

She waited several moments, just in case the sun decided to miraculously answer her. When it became apparent that the universe was not going to oblige her, Xiaodan huffed and returned to her original stance with her fists level with her hips. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

Aang walked through the school yard, glancing at the groups of students that were whispering unsubtly as they stared at him.

"Uh, hi Kuzon." On Ji said shyly as she approached Aang, "I really liked that crazy dance you were doing."

"Thanks On Ji, I could show it to you again if you like." Aang replied good naturedly then he yelped and jumped in surprise when the book he was holding burst into flames, "Ah!'

"What'd you say, colony trash?" Hide demanded furiously as he glared at Aang, "You're gonna show her something?"

"Just some dance moves." Aang answered unsurely as he looked at the slightly older boy.

"Nobody shows my On Ji anything! Especially movements!" Hide snarled then he lunged at Aang in an attempt to strike him.

Aang easily sidestepped the other boy's attack, his hands clasped demurely behind his back as more students began to gather around him and Hide in a circle. Hide continued to try and hit Aang, but the younger boy easily dodged and sidestepped each strike, his hands remaining clasped behind his back. Aang twisted around Hide so they were back to back and he moved side-to-side, easily matching Hide's movements when he tried to hit Aang. Smiling slightly, Aang knocked Hide forward by nudging him with his backside.

Hide stumbled and whirled around with a furious look, lunging at Aang again only to have his next to strikes evaded effortlessly as Aang popped up behind him again by sliding through his legs. Hide spun around and tried to punch Aang two more times. Aang sidestepped the blows and stuck out his foot, tripping the slightly older boy. Hide fell forward and rolled a few times, before pushing himself to his hands and knees just as the headmaster arrived. Hide sniffled and looked up at the headmaster with watery eyes and a pained expression.

The headmaster's eyes narrowed and he looked up at Aang, "Picking fights on your second day? We need to have a conference to discuss your punishment. Bring your parents to my office after school."

Aang balked and stared at the headmaster with worried eyes, "Parents? But-"

"Don't be late!" The headmaster snapped furiously then he turned around and strode away.

Hide stood and smirked at Aang smugly before following the headmaster.

The headmaster rested his clasped hands on his desk and stared at the four people sitting in front of him, "Thank you for coming, Mr. and Mrs..."

"Fire. Wang Fire." Sokka supplied in a deep, slightly accented voice as he stroked the fake beard on his face then he pointed at Katara, who sat on Aang's other side and was disguised a heavily pregnant woman, "This is my wife, Sapphire." He gestured towards the Xiaodan, who had wrapped her hair and changed into a long sleeved tunic to hide her tattoos, "And that is our oldest daughter, Ruby!"

Katara blinked then smiled sweetly at the headmaster, "Sapphire Fire, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet your, sir." Xiaodan said politely, her eyes demurely focused on her hands in her lap.

"Mr. and Mrs...Fire, Miss Fire," The headmaster continued drily, "Your son has been enrolled here for two days and he's already causing problems. He's argued with his history teacher, disrupted music class, and roughed up my star pupil."

"My goodness!" Katara gasped in a high pitched voice, one hand coming up to cover her mouth slightly, "That doesn't sound like our Kuzon."

"That's what any mother would say, Ma'am." The headmaster replied coolly, "Nonetheless, you're forewarned, if he acts up one more time, I'll have him sent to reform school." The headmaster stood and rested his hands flat on his desk as he leaned towards the four slightly, "By which I mean the coal mines. Are we clear?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Headmaster. I'll straighten this boy out somethin' fierce!" Sokka said in his deep voice then he turned to Aang with an angered expression, "Young man, as soon as we get home you're gonna get the punishment of a lifetime!"

Katara and Aang looked at Sokka in alarm, subtly leaning away from him while Xiaodan bowed her head slightly and bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. The headmaster smiled thinly in approval as he sat back down.

"That's what I like to hear."

Sokka nodded once and the four stood, exiting the room in an deceptively casual manner. As soon as they were out of sight of the school, Xiaodan began to laugh loudly, nearly doubling over in her mirth.

"Oh Spirits, Sokka, you're face was absolutely hilarious!"

Sokka gave her an indignant look and pointed at the cackling girl sternly, "Young lady, don't mock me!"

Xiaodan just laughed harder.

Zuko lounged on the picnic blanket on a cliff watching the sunset over the ocean with Mai, leaning against him, a content expression on her usually blank face.

"Orange is such an awful color." Mai mused idly as she stared at the sunset.

Zuko forced himself to remain relaxed as his memories thrust an image of Xiaodan to the front of his mind, her orange eyes bright with mischief and humor. He watched as the molten orange color darkening to amber as betrayal and pain replaced the mischief and humor. The Fire Nation prince quietly cleared his throat and forced himself to snicker at Mai's words.

"You're so beautiful when you hate the world." He complimented her sweetly and he meant it, Mai was truly beautiful in her own way and it wasn't her fault that his mind was intent on sabotaging his life with memories of a different girl.

Mai tilted her head to look up at him with a soft expression, "I don't hate you."

"I don't hate you too." Zuko murmured back, leaning forward slightly to kiss her as her hand came up to cup his unscarred cheek.

"Ahem."

Zuko pulled away from Mai, ignoring the faint feeling of guilt he felt and turned to glare at his sister with an annoyed expression.

"Zuko, could I have a word with you?" Azula asked with false politeness as she stood near the couple, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Can't you see we're busy?" Zuko demanded sharply before turning back to Mai and kissing her again.

Azula narrowed her eyes then smiled slyly and said in an offhand manner, "Oh Mai, Ty Lee needs your help untangling her braid."

Mai pulled away from Zuko and reluctantly got her feet, "Sounds pretty serious."

She walked passed Azula, glaring at her from the corner of her eye as she passed. Azula glanced over her shoulder at the other girl's retreating back then turned to look at her brother with a sardonic expression.

"So, I've heard you've been to visit your uncle fatso in the prison tower."

Zuko surged to his feet with a furious expression, "That guard told you!"

"No." Azula replied flippantly with a thin smile, "You did. Just now."

Zuko heaved a sigh and sat back down on the blanket, his arms resting on his bent knees, "Okay, you caught me. What is it that you want, Azula?"

"Actually, nothing. Believe it or not, I'm looking out for you." Azula said, her voice actually sounding sincere, "If people find out you've been to see Uncle, they'll think you're plotting with him. Just be careful, Dum-Dum."

Zuko watched quietly as his sister walked back down the cliff then he turned to look at the setting sun, the brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds reminding him Xiaodan and he had to stifle the guilt that surged up inside him, making his throat close up and his chest feel heavy. Alone, he silently admitted to himself that he missed her then he buried the feeling deep inside him, locking it away.

Xiaodan leaned back against the rock Toph was sitting on beside the fire, watching as Sokka chewed out Aang.

"That settles it! No more school for you, young man!" Sokka ordered loudly, then he leaned back and stroked his fake beard.

"I'm not ready to leave. I'm having fun for once, just being a normal kid." Aang protested as he got to his feet then he walked over to Appa, turning to face his friends and sister slightly, "You don't know what it's like, Sokka. You get to be normal all the time."

Toph turned her head in Sokka's direction, "Ha ha!"

Xiaodan snorted and quickly covered it up as a cough when Sokka turned to glare at the two girls in irritation.

"Listen guys, those kids at school are the future of the Fire Nation." Aang explained passionately, "If we want to change this place for the better, we need to show them a little taste of freedom."

Sokka looked at him skeptically with his hands on his hips, "What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?"

"I'm gonna throw them..." Aang grinned and started dancing, "A secret dance party."

Katara, Sokka, and Xiaodan stared at him blankly while Toph turned her head to look at him with a skeptical expression on her face.

"Go to your room!" Sokka barked in his Wang Fire voice as he pointed towards the back of the cave, causing Xiaodan to laugh.

Xiaodan crouched on a ledge in the cave and lit the last of the many candles that were spread throughout the main part of the cave while Toph Earthbended a four platforms that would serve as a stage.

"I can't believe we're having a dance party." Sokka commented for the millionth time as he placed a candle on one of the smaller platforms Toph had Earthbended throughout the cave, "It seems so...silly."

Aang finished tying the school headband on his forehead and turned to Sokka with a grin, "Don't think of it as a dance party, but as a cultural event celebrating the art of fancy footwork!"

He started dancing in place and Xiaodan giggled as she landed beside Toph after jumping off the ledge. Toph paused and turned slightly to the cave entrance when she felt multiple vibrations coming from that direction.

"They're coming!" The blind girl called out, "Everyone stop bending!"

Aang grinned and hurried over to Appa, "Sorry buddy, you should probably wait out back."

Appa grumbled in mild protest as Aang herded him into the back of the cave.

"I know," Aang said apologetically with a sheepish grin as Appa lumbered further into the cave, "You got fancier feet than anybody. And six of 'em!"

Several kids arrived carrying various instruments and Xiaodan led them to the stage in the middle of the cave, a sweet smile on her face as she helped them set up. The small band began to play just as more of Aang's classmates began filling the cave. Aang leapt in front of the stage and held his arms out wide as he face the large group of kids.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Flamey-O's!" He exclaimed grandly, placing his hands on his hips with a smile, "Yeah, this ought to get everybody moving."

Xiaodan watched from one of the stone tables as the kids shyly stood in two groups near the front of the cave, unsure expressions on their face.

"Now what do we do?" Shoji asked as he came to the front of his group.

"This is when you start dancing." Aang said patiently, gesturing with his arms at the space around the stage.

"I don't think my parents want me dancing in a cave..." A chubby boy standing beside Shoji muttered nervously.

"Yeah!" Another boy squeaked as he ran in front of his group, looking around anxiously, "What if someone finds out?!"

"Oh boy..." Aang murmured and he glanced over at Xiaodan, who gave him an encouraging smile then he turned to look at the other kids again, "Listen guys, dancing isn't something you think about. It's a form of self-expression that no one can ever take away from you."

Shoji gave Aang a sad look, "Maybe it was different in the colonies, Kuzon, but we don't do that here."

"Sure you do, you have for generations!" Aang exclaimed with a grin, "It just so happens that I know several classic Fire Nation dances. A hundred years ago, this was known as the 'Phoenix Flight.'"

Aang crouched low to the ground and began running in a circle with his arms held behind his back, the other students oohing and ahhing as they watched him.

"And this was the 'Camelephant Strut.'" Aang said before he began jumping nimbly from side to side then he dove into a roll, coming to his feet in front of two girls, who giggled shyly.

Aang smiled at the girls briefly before doing a quick banded and ending the dance in a backflip, landing on one foot with his arms stretched out to one side, causing the boys to stare in awe at him.

"Who knew Twinkle Toes could dance?" Toph commented with a grin as she sat at one of the stone tables scattered throughout the cave with Katara and Xiaodan, the three of them drinking from ice cups while Aang continued to impresses the Fire Nation children with various dances.

"I did!" Xiaodan replied with a laugh, "I was the one that taught him several of those dances."

"Really?" Katara asked with a grin as she sipped from her cup.

The disguised white-haired girl nodded, "I love to dance, so I always made it a point to learn a new dance whenever we traveled with the monks."

"Like what?" Toph questioned interestedly, turning her head slightly to face the older girl.

"Well, there was this Earth Kingdom dance..." Xiaodan began with a grin, her whole face lighting up with joy as she spoke.

Zuko walked into his Uncle's cell and crouched down beside the bars, sliding a small basket of food between the bars.

"I brought you some komodo-chicken." He said quietly to his uncle's back, "I know you don't care for it, but I figure it beats prison food." He sat back on his heels and stared blankly at his hands, "I admit it, I have everything I always wanted, but it's not at all how I thought it would be. The truth is, I need your advice."

Zuko gripped the bars, his knuckles turning white, "I think the Avatar is still alive, I know he's out there, I'm loosing my mind." He stared at his uncle's back pleadingly and his voice turned desperate, "Please, Uncle, I'm so confused! I need your help."

Iroh didn't move and anger filled Zuko, burning his chest even as his heart pounded painfully against his ribs.

"Forget it, I'll solve it myself!" The scarred prince snarled as he stood up and stalked towards the door, "Waste away in here for all I care!"

Zuko hesitated a moment and glanced back at, but his uncle didn't move, so he slammed the door behind him. In the cell, Iroh bowed his head, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

Aang grinned as he continued to dance, jumping and spinning though the air. When he landed, he walked over to On Ji, who blushed as she took the hand he held out to her.

"And this is how they do it in the ballrooms of Ba Sing Se." Aang said as he pulled On Ji into the middle of the cave, where he began tapping his feet from side-to-side.

On Ji watched him for a moment then began copying him, a shy smile appearing on her face.

"Wow," Sokka commented in an impressed tone as he watched Aang dance with On Ju, "They look pretty good together."

"Eh, if that's what you like..." Katara replied with forced flippancy as she looked away from the dancing pair, only to glance back at them surreptitiously.

"Yeah, that's it! That's the sound of happy feet." Aang cried out excitedly as he watched the other kids began to shuffle the feet and dance, "All right go with that! Everybody freestyle!"

Xiaodan laughed lightly as she watched one student start to dance crazily, while another student standing in the middle of a group of non-dancers began to move his arms, and a third one began swaying his head to the rhythm of the song the band was playing. Aang suddenly ran over to where she and Katara were, holding his hand out to the Water Tribe girl with an inviting smile.

"I don't know, Aang." Katara said nervously as hse looked around, "These shoes aren't really right for dancing, and I-I'm not sure I know how to-"

"Take my hand." Aang stated with smile, causing Xiaodan to smile slightly at the two.

Katara bit her lip then smiled back at Aang, taking his hand, "Okay."

Xiaodan watched as Aang pulled Katara into the middle of the cave and whispered something into her ear, the other kids stopping to stare at them curiously. Xiaodan stood and made her way over to the loose circle that had formed around her brother and friend, folding her arms over her chest and smiling slightly.

Katara and Aang extended their arms to each other and began to circle one another, occasionally switching arms.

"Aang, everyone's watching." Katara murmured unsurely as she looked at the loose circle of kids.

"Don't worry about them." Aang replied encouragingly with a soft smile, "It's just you and me right now."

Katara blushed and the two began to move around each other in an elaborate dance, that almost looked as if they were fighting. They flipped and kicked, rolling and ducking and spinning around each other on nimble feet. At one point the two came together and looked as if they were going to kiss, but they just smiled and continued to move around the loose circle.

The girls in the crowd watched Aang excitedly, blushes staining their cheeks while the boys watched with mildly envious expressions. Xiaodan hid a smile behind her hand as she watched her brother and friend, her orange eyes bright with amusement and a small amount of pride.

Aang finished the dance catching Katara's hand and twirling her towards him, dipping her over his arm.

"Whoop!" Xiaodan cheered and clapped loudly along with the other kids, a wide smile on her face.

The headmaster frowned and narrowed his eyes as he and several guards along with Hide approached the cave where firelight and loud music could be heard.

"It is a dance party." The headmaster muttered in contemptuous shock then he turned towards Hide standing behind him, "You did the right thing by telling me, Hide."

Hide bowed, hiding the smirk that appeared on his face, "Anytime, Headmaster sir."

"This is incredible! It's like my inhibitions just disappeared!" The chubby student from before exclaimed as he waved his hands in the air, only to freeze and attempt to shrink into his uniform when he saw the Headmaster enter the cave, "Okay, they're back again."

Everyone stopped dancing and turned to stare at the headmaster with wide eyes, while Aang, completely oblivious continued to dance past everyone.

"He's the one we want!" The headmaster called out as he pointed at Aang, "The boy with the headband."

"Uh-oh!" Aang squeaked and darted through the crowd, the guards chasing after him.

The guard spotted a boy with a headband and grabbed him with a triumphant expression.

"Gotcha!" He said only to falter when the boy turned out to be the wrong one.

"Looking for me?" The boy asked with a grin.

"That's not the one!" The headmaster snapped angrily as he stood beside Hide, "He's here somewhere. Don't let him leave the cave!"

The headmaster pointed towards the back of the cave, Hide imitating him a moment later, and a guard hurried in that direction while two more combed the rest of the crowd.

One guard caught sight of another kid wearing a headband and he turned her around, only to stare in confusion at the young girl smiling at him.

"Yes?"

The guards continued to grab any student they saw with a headband, only to continue grabbing the wrong ones.

"Hi there!" One student said with a grin as he picked his nose when he was turned around.

"How're we doing?" Another asked with a snicker.

The headmaster growled and waded into the crowd when he saw someone with another headband. He shoved people out of the way and scooped the boy up, only to blink in surprise when a young girl missing a tooth smiled up at him.

"Looking for someone?" The girl asked, her voice lisping slightly.

The headmaster looked around in horror at all the children now where headbands.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Need someone?"

"Over here!"

The students completely surround the headmaster and the four guards, easily cutting them off from the rest of the cave.

In the back of the cave, Xiaodan grinned as she and Aang slipped out of the crowd and snuck quickly towards the back of the cave where Katara, Sokka, and Toph where waiting. Aang looked over his shoulder and Shoji winked at him, causing Aang to bow in gratitude before running after his friends, Earthbending the back of the cave shut.

Shoji's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped in shock as he stared at the wall of earth that had just appeared.

The headmaster clasped his hands behind his back and scowled at the group of students, his eyes narrowing when he saw one of his guards dancing slightly in place.

"Stop that!" He barked at her then he turned to the other guard who had started tapping her foot, "Stop that!"

Appa flew away from cave, Xiaodan giggled breathlessly as she laid in his saddle with a silly grin on her tanned and tattooed face. Beside her, Katara stared at her brother in amusement.

"We're safe Sokka, you can take off the mustache now." She said drily.

"Oh no, I can't." Sokka stated flippantly as he stroked the fake beard and mustache, "It's permanently glued to my skin."

"What?" Xiaodan choked on her laughter, covering her eyes with her hand and shaking her head slightly at the Water Tribe boy.

Toph snickered and turned towards Aang, "Way to go, dancy pants. I think you really did help those kids, you taught them to be free."

"I don't know," Aang said humbly with a small shrug of his shoulders, "It was just a dance party, that's all."

"Well, it was some dance party, Aang." Katara commented with a smile and she leaned over, pressing a kiss to Aang's cheek.

Aang blushed brightly and smiled shyly.

"Flamey-o sir, flamey-o." Sokka quipped as he clapped lightly, causing Xiaodan to giggle quietly.

Hiding in the shadow of his cloak's hood, Zuko walked silently down a dark alley until he reached the middle. He lowered his hood and looked around calmly, turning his head slightly when a noise reached his ears. He turned around completely and stared impassively at the large man with a metal leg and arm standing in front of him.

"You sure you weren't followed?" Zuko asked coolly and the man nodded slightly, "I've head about you. They say you're good at what you do, and even better at keeping secrets. The Avatar is alive. I want you to find him, and end him."

The man stared blankly at Zuko, the third eye tattooed on his forehead briefly illuminated by the light of the moon.