"This is June," Zuko introduced us.

"I know her," Sokka stuck out his lower lip, "she helped you attack us."

"You gave her my necklace!" Katara pointed an accusing finger at Zuko.

"That proves what a good tracker she is," Zuko said with no emotion. He turned back to June. She was pretty; dark hair, blood red lips, narrowed eyes. She was tall and curvy, and had a killer smile. A tattoo spiraled around her shoulder.

She stood up, taking a sip of her tea, tripping a drunk man over her foot. Someone tried to punch her from behind, but she hit him squarely and easily in the nose before he could actually land a good blow.

"You grew out your hair, huh," she smirked, turning to Zuko. "Honestly, it's a much better look. Where's that creepy uncle of yours?"

Zuko's face turned white.

"Take this," I handed Aang's staff to her, trying to change the subject. I didn't know what their history was, but she didn't seem very welcoming. "Please. Help us."

She finished the last drops of tea, and then walked towards the door. "Follow me."

Outside, a giant beast that had a nose like a mole but a body like a bear and razor sharp teeth, bounded towards us. I almost screamed when it opened its giant mouth, roaring in my face with it's stinkbreath. Zuko pulled me back, into his chest.

"I thought the other one was your girlfriend," June gestured towards Katara with a teasing smirk. "Water Tribe, Water Tribe necklace. You see where I'm going with this?"

Zuko and Katara blanched. "No way," they said in unison.

"Yeah, she was too pretty for you anyway," June shrugged, and I felt my face heat up.

"Excuse me?" I put my hands on my hips.

June moved on, stroking her giant bear-mole creature. "Hey, Nyla," she crooned. "You ready to do this?"

Nyla's long tongue wagged out of her mouth. "That's poison," Sokka whispered in my ear. "It brought Appa down once."

"Her tongue?"

Sokka nodded. I shuddered.

Nyla sniffed the staff, and then commenced. She started running in circles, sniffing the ground, trees, us, and Appa, who licked her in return. Nyla hissed, pouncing away. At the end, she slumped to the floor, putting her paws over her eyes.

"What does that mean?" Toph asked. "Why did she just fall like that?"

"It means your friend doesn't exist," she said, getting to her knees next to Nyla, stroking her gently.

"Uh-oh," Zian whispered quietly. I elbowed him.

"You mean he's dead?" Sokka asked, horrified.

"Not dead, boomerang boy," June stood up, "not on this planet. If he were dead, Nyla would be found him by now. Sorry."

I looked at Zuko, who look just as confused as the rest of us. "Well, I have one more thing." He disappeared next to Appa, appearing with an old sandal. Flies buzzed around it. I pinched my nose shut, leaning away from him.

"What's is that?" Suko said, her voice muffled through her hands on her mouth.

"Help me find my uncle," he said to June. "I know he escaped. Maybe he can help us."

Zian's eyes widened. "You kept your uncle's sandal?"

June took the shoe, letting Nyla take a good whiff. "That's a good girl," she crooned. "She's got the scent." June hopped onto the big animal's back, and then she was off.

"Hey, wait!" I yelled, running towards Appa and leaping onto him with a burst of fire. When everyone else was on, we took off.

Appa followed Nyla as she ran. I crawled back. "Katara, take the reigns."

She nodded, taking my place. I sat next to Zian. "Is it always this hectic?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He was growing a little mustache. I supressed a laugh. 

"Oh, yeah, always. We're running all the time."

"That's how we used to be, remember?" he smiled, as if it were ages ago. "Me, you, and Zuko."

"We made a great team," I agreed. "What happened after you heroically carried me to safety? I never saw you after that."

"I could say the same for you. You looked dead when I heroically did so."

I punched his arm. "My bending was gone that time, and," I glanced at Zuko, "someone didn't help with that at all."

"So you two are . . . " he trailed off. I rolled my eyes. "Finally," he said with a laugh, "it took you guys long enough."

"I don't even care for this topic," I muttered, feeling heat creep up my neck. "I'm more focused on Aang. Zian, I want you to stick with Sokka the day of Sozin's Comet, okay?"

"Okay," he said with a shrug. "Whatever you want. Where are you going to be?"

"With Aang."

"You can't," he said, sitting straighter.

"Why?"

"Doesn't he have to do that alone? Why would you help him?"

"Because I promised him."

"It's too dangerous for you to fight the Fire Lord," Zian leaned back. "That's all."

"You don't need to worry about me," I assured him. "I know what I'm doing." He gave me an I hope so look.

We stopped at night, in a mountainous region. 

"Finally," I said, sliding off the saddle. I stretched, cracking my neck and back. "That was a long ride."

June was about to turn around and leave, but I saw Zuko walk towards her and tell her to wait. I walked closer, trying to listen in.

"That day, you could've turned me and my Uncle in. You're a bounty hunter, and we were Wanted. The posters were everywhere. Why didn't you turn us in?"

She smiled, a smile that people only smiled when they knew a secret. "Because I can read people through their eyes. And your eyes didn't say Wanted." She nudged Nyla forward, and was gone. Zuko turned around, seeing me standing there. 

"Are you okay?" I asked him, and he nodded, walking past me. Zuko looked so distant. Sometimes I wondered if he had multiple personality disorders. 

But then again, he was going to meet his uncle, who may or may not want to take him back after his betrayal.

Suddenly, the earth started rumbling under our feet. "Whoa!" I yelled, falling onto my knees. Earth wrapped around my hands, not letting me get back up. The same happened to my ankles. "Toph!" I looked up, strands of hair falling in my face. "Who is it?"

I felt heat around us. Fire, water, and earth blew around us. "Wait!" I heard Katara shout. "We're with the Avatar. Well not technically, but we were with him."

Sokka's voice rang through the air. "Master Piandao?"

"Master Pakku!" Katara squealed. "King Bumi! What are you all doing together?"

"Master Jeong Jeong's here too," Sokka pointed.

"I don't know any of these people and I am on the floor," I added. "Just in case we forgot." 

"Sorry," someone snorted, and the earth disappeared. I got to my feet, wiping dirt off my shirt. 

"Who are you all?" I asked, frowning. 

"We are the members of the White Lotus," they said. 

"I haven't seen you in so long, Master Pakku," Katara said with a bow. He patted her shoulder.

"It's respectful to bow to your old master and all, but how about a hug for your new grandfather?" I thought Katara was going to melt into her shoes.

"No way," Katara said with glee, "you and gran gran? Finally!" she threw her arms around his neck. I watched the scene unfold.

"Hi," I bowed to all of them. "I'm Ayame."

"I haven't seen you travel with the Avatar," Pakku said. "Who are you?"

"A new addition," I laughed nervously. "I'm a firebender."

"Ah, you're his new teacher?" Jeong Jeong asked. 

"No, Zuko is." I pointed. "I'm just here."

"She's special," Toph grinned. "She's a waterbender."

"You just said you're a firebender," Pakku raised his eyebrows. "What are you trying to say?"

"She bends fire and water," Katara beamed. "And she's my sister."

Pakku's jaw dropped. "Sister?"

"Water and fire?" Jeong Jeong said in disbelief.

"Yeah. We'll explain all that later. Right now, can you please help me find my uncle? Is he here?" Zuko asked, and the White Lotus members exchanged looks. 

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Bumi, the old man, jumped down from a large rock, "Your team is missing someone very important."

"No kidding," I whispered in Zian's ear. "Is he okay?"

"Momo! Where's Momo?" he yelled.

"Momo and Aang have disappeared," Katara explained. "We were hoping you could help."

"Follow me," Pakku said. "I know where your uncle is."

🔥🔥🔥

Zuko stood outside of the tent his uncle was staying in. His face was paler than usual. And I didn't need to say anything to him. I wrapped an arm around his waist.

"You'll be fine. You're on the path he wanted you to be on. That's all that matters."

He nodded, and disappeared behind the tent flaps.

He didn't come out till later, so I hung out with Master Pakku and Katara.

"So, how did you two meet?" I asked him. He chuckled.

"You don't even want to know."

"We had this giant duel over women being allowed to do things other than healing," Katara explained.

"She was a very good opponent," he shrugged. "She kicked butt." 

I laughed, about to add to his statement when suddenly Zuko walked out of the tent. His eyes were slightly red, but he looked happy. And then Iroh walked out smiling like it was his ticket to tomorrow.

I got to my feet hurriedly and tried to contain the excitement I felt. "Nice to see you again, Uncle Iroh." I still called him that because of the close bond we'd shared in our few weeks traveling together, plotting things behind Zuko's back and cracking jokes all the time. I slapped my fist against my palm, my arms out in front of me, and gave a crisp bow.

He pulled me up, squeezing me in a bone crushing, lung destroying hug. "How is my little dual bender doing?" A smile broke out across my face as I hugged him equally as hard.

"I'm doing great."

As he let me go, he out his hands on my shoulders. He looked older, his hair more white than gray now. "Thank you for helping Zuko," he said quietly, out of earshot. "I knew you had it in you. I'm glad he tried to capture you and make you prisoner."

"Trust me. It wasn't all me," I said modestly. "He did it because of you."

Iroh chuckled. "Would you like some tea?"

"You have no idea how much I missed tea," I laughed. He gestured towards the White Lotus members and the Gaang who were all sitting in a circle.

"Let's talk."

🔥🔥🔥

"With the Avatar missing, who's going to fight the Fire Lord?" Sokka asked.

"Uncle, I want you to take him down," Zuko interjected. "It's only fair if you're the next Fire Lord."

Iroh shook his head. "It will give the wrong image. A brother taking down a brother for the throne. A violent crime that will go down in history. No, it shall be someone who is brave, a good leader, and honorable."

"Oh, well kick Zuko out of that list then," I joked, but no one laughed. "I'm just kidding."

"And that is you, Zuko," Iroh completed. "You deserve it now. You must take the throne."

"Then who will fight the Fire Lord?" Toph asked. "Zuko has to fight Azula, with Katara. Me, Suki, and Sokka are going to destroy the airship fleet and buy some time. We're the defense. The White Lotus will take back Ba Sing Se. And the Fire Lord?"

"I'll do it," I volunteered. Eyes widened around the circle.

"No way," Zuko swiped his hand across the air. "I will never let you do that."

"You just volunteered as if you wanted a job at a chocolate factory. Where is your mind, Ayame?" Zian asked.

"She's being stupid. I'm sure she didn't mean that," Katara laughed nervously.

"I'm serious," I raised my eyebrows. "I'm going to fight Ozai."

Zuko look as if he was going to laugh and cry at the same time. His face looked like it was stuck mid-sneeze. "I'll lock you up forever."

"Zuko!"

"Don't you bother opening your mouth because I said no."

"Can I hold him off then until Aang shows up?"

"No."

"Zuko I'm not a child!" I yelled. The White Lotus members exchanged looks. Katara coughed. "What I'm trying to say is," I said more calmly, "I know Aang is going to show up. But I want to stall Ozai for the time being."

"And what if he doesn't show up?" Sokka asked, frustrated. "You stubborn kid, what if you're left alone?"

"Then I'll call for backup," I said, taking Zian's arm in mine. "I can do this. I can fight Ozai."

Zuko rubbed his face, exasperated. "Do you see what she's doing, Uncle?" He threw out his arms in my direction.

"I see you caring and that's all that matters. If she believes she can fight my brother, I believe she has a chance."

"She is kind of like the Avatar's second-in-command," Piandao pointed out. "She has half his powers."

"Her firebending is strong," Katara agreed.

"Then it's settled," Bumi cackled, much to Zuko's displeasure. "The girl is taking the Avatar's place."