The sun hadn't awoken before Iroh the next morning. He obviously could not wait to begin the day, knowing the honour bestowed upon him. Lucky for Aiko, he was generous enough to share his excitement with them by making sure they were ready as well. It had to have been the equivalent of four in the morning when came barging into her room.

"Wake up, my niece! Today is a big day!" She continued to leave her eyes shut, hoping that by ignoring him, he would give up. Even still, she knew very well that he had his signature jovial smile on his face. "Come now, you are burning daylight! Up you get!"

She heard the door open and shut as he walked out. She smiled to herself tiredly and fell back asleep.

Sadly, it wasn't another five minutes before he came back in. "Come on now, Aiko. Zuko is awake, it is time for you to do the same."

Aiko snarled at her uncle as he lit the lamp next to her, blinding her through closed eyes and disturbing her rest. Instead of waking, she turned away. "All right, Aiko. You leave me no choice. I will simply have your brother wake you instead."

She listened as the elder man walked out of her room, but didn't quite believe him. He wouldn't let her be tortured like that this early in the morning, would he? Oh, who was she kidding, of course he would.

But, sleep was simply beckoning her once more. She would deal with him after a few more moments of shuteye.

However, her slumber was once again taken away as her mattress fell from underneath her. This time she shrieked as she hit the cold floor. Her eyes flew open and all she saw above her was the smirking face of a certain scarred boy already prepared for the day. "Get up, Aiko. Rise and shine."

Her only response was a kick aimed at his side. Problem was, Zuko's years of militant training allowed him to easily block it and use her momentum to spin her on the ground. Finally realizing her defeat, she stood and wiped herself off as she glared at the smiling boy. "I'm up now. You happy?"

He nodded and walked out of the room, leaving her to get ready.

☆¤☆¤☆

It was after breakfast and Uncle was preparing the tea that he would bring to the Earth King when Aiko pulled her brother off to the side. "Zuko, I don't think that I should go. . ."

He rose an eyebrow, but instead of the sarcastic look to it that she was used to, it seemed almost concerned. She was still getting used to his new attitude. "Why not?"

It was then that she realized that she really didn't have a reason to be so nervous about it. She could only shrug. "I don't know. It's probably just me being paranoid of adults. Nevermind, it isn't important."

His brows furrowed and she could see his thoughts churning. "This doesn't have anything to do with that show does it?"

His expression lightened slightly when she shook her head. "I don't remember anything from before I got here, not anymore. It's been way too long. I just have a bad feeling is all."

He didn't like her use of words. How could she not remember anything from before? He shook the thought away. "If you don't want us to go, then we shouldn't. Neither of us would want to make you uncomfortable."

Aiko glanced at her Uncle in the kitchen smiling as he worked. "Are you kidding? Look at him, Zuko, he's so excited." She made sure to look him in the eye. "You two go. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if he had to miss out on this because of me, and I don't want to make things worse by trying to go there. I'll make a fool of us. You know how I am, but I don't want him to go alone either. You get me?"

He sighed, but nodded in agreement. "Fine, if you're absolutely okay with it, I'll let it go this time." He smirked slightly, revealing some of his old self again. "But, you have to tell Uncle you aren't going. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news."

There was a moment of rare bliss between the siblings as she returned the look. "I suppose I can concede your point, Brother. It's a deal."

The two worked their way back into the kitchen just as the kettle began screaming. "Can one of you prepare some Ginseng while I make some Jasmine?" Iroh's voice rang over the squeals. "Or do you think he may be more of a White Dragon kind of man?"

Aiko rose an eyebrow at him and laughed. "You are, in no way, allowed to touch that flower. Remember last time?"

Iroh smiled. "I think you're right. I'll stick with Ginseng. One can never go wrong with it. Are both of you ready?"

The siblings shared a glance, and Zuko turned back to him. "Uh, yeah. About that. . . Uncle, I really don't think I should go."

"Nonsense! I would love for the both of you to come along with me."

Zuko cleared his throat to gain their attentions. "I don't know. She doesn't really like monarchs. Apparently she's had plenty of bad experiences with them."

Aiko furrowed her brow slightly at that. She had never said anything of the sort. Why was he lying? Was he really that concerned about me going?

Iroh glanced at the two, assessing the situation, before smiling. "Very well. I suppose I can let it slide the once. But, I'll be sure to give him your regards."

"Thank you, Uncle. Tell the Earth King I said to enjoy the tea."

☆¤☆¤☆

It had been more than two hours after the boys had left, and Aiko was beginning to worry. Were these visits supposed to take this long? Being in the upper ring, they weren't more than a fifteen minute carriage ride to the palace, and serving tea couldn't take longer than a half hour, could it?

It was that awful feeling again. The same one she had after Zuko had found that Bison flier, and when they first received this noticed. It felt as though she just had to do something, but she had no idea what. It came to a point in which she had to get out of the house to think. Sitting around was only making it worse.

Finally, she stood and walked out the door, meandering through the streets lost in thought. Was she really so paranoid as to think that they couldn't handle themselves? What could she do to protect them? She was still a novice and her noodle arms weren't exactly built to keep up in a fight.

Now that she thought about it, there were a lot of unanswered questions. Sure, they may have been passing thoughts in the past, but now it pounded in her skull, the longer she walked. What had brought her in and out of this world? What was it that Zuko had a nightmare about? What had started the nightmares? Why was she so bad at following through with getting this information?

Things were brought back into focus as her uncle called out her name. "Aiko, come with me. We need some help."

She blinked slowly as she looked at him. She hasn't realized it, but her wandering had led her right in the direction from which Iroh had come from. It took her a moment to realize what was missing from the picture. Her Uncle was already walking away, so she followed quickly behind. "Where's the moron? Where's my idiot brother? Where's Zuko?" When he didn't answer immediately, she grabbed him by the shoulders. "Please, Uncle. What happened?"

He looked at her, thinking of the times she had panicked for the boy's health in the past. He hadn't realized just how terrified of this visit she had been until then. He rose his vision to her eyes slowly. "Aiko, tell me why you were so scared of this visit."

She was taken back by his response. "What does that matter? I need to know where Zuko is!"

Iroh frowned. "This has nothing to do with previous run-ins with monarchs, does it?" It wasn't a question. It never was.

"N-no. I just didn't think I should go. I don't know why, nerves I guess. Did Zuko get himself arrested? Did the king not like him?"

Iroh shook his head. "I find it surprising, is all. We are gathering help." She followed as he began to walk in an unfamiliar direction. "The king did not show up at all. It was Azula."

He watched carefully for her reaction as they approached a door. Despite her attempt to remain emotionless at the new discovery, but he could tell her worry level spiked about 300 percent. "I would not worry much, my niece. We shall help him, but we had a stop to make first."

Her question of why was cut short when a certain young blind earthbender named Toph opened the door with a smile, "Glad to see you're okay!"

Aiko smiled awkwardly behind her Uncle as he remained unfazed. Well, she supposed that Aang would be a good reason to detour. "We need your help."

The two boys in the back were heard gasping in surprise, as Aang vocalized what both were thinking, "You guys know each other?!"

Still unsure of how to ask, Aiko left the talking to the others. What would they think? Would she still be a traitor? Would they be willing to help someone seen as the enemy (with good reason, she could admit)?

"I met them in the woods once and knocked them down. Then, they offered me tea and some very good advice."

"To be fair, Uncle Iroh did most of the talking," Aiko was sure to add, hoping to break some of the tension. It did little good as the comment seemed to go unnoticed. Not that it was entirely their fault as it had come out under her breath.

"May we come in?" Iroh asked the young one. They needed to get to business if they wished to make progress before it was too late. As the two stepped inside, they wasted no further time in explaining the purpose of their visit. "Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se."

"She must have Katara!" Aang intercepted, causing Aiko to notice the waterbender's absence. Wow, she was out of it if she couldn't realize an entire person was missing.

"She has captured my nephew as well."

"Then, we'll work together to fight Azula, and save Katara and Zuko." Had the young avatar not looked so calculating when he said that, Aiko's head would have spun. Why would they want to help her brother? However, Aang seemed to realize as much as her Uncle that working together was their best option.

Sokka had other plans, however, when he moved from him quiet place in the back to get into Aang's face. "Woah, there. You lost me at 'Zuko'."

Aiko nearly laughed at how Sokka that statement had been. "I understand how you must feel about my nephew," Iroh cut in. "But, believe me when I tell you that there is good inside him." He placed a hand on the Water Tribe boy's shoulder in reassurance.

Aiko could only frown as he shrugged it away. "'Good inside him' isn't enough. Why don't you come back when it's outside him, too?"

Aiko frowned even further when he uncle said nothing in return. "Please, if you don't believe him, then believe me." She took a timid step forward, unsure of how to respond to the new attention. "I know that we haven't all gotten off on the right foot. I understand what he has done and condemn it, but he has changed. . . in a weird turn of events. He is different--actually given up on this chase of his. When Uncle says that there is good inside of Zuko, trust that it is beyond that. As Sokka ever-so gracefully put it, it's 'outside him too'."

Aang nodded. "Even so, Katara is in trouble. All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance."

Iroh smiled. Help for any reason was better than nothing. And, he couldn't help but be proud of Aiko for what she said. He knew that she was protective, but actual words spoken so highly about him was a rare occurrence. "I brought someone along who might be able to help us."

Aiko frowned. No he hadn't, he was personless when she had met up with him. Did he come here before finding her? It wouldn't surprise her, the man was always three steps ahead of everyone else.

The group stepped outside and, lo and behold, in the corner a man sat bound and gagged. The first thing everyone had noticed about him, however, were his clothes. His dark green robes and hat dictated that he was a part of the Dai Li--the very same group that had caused the gang of teens problems since they had arrived.

Aiko quickly connected the dots. This man was one of those who worked with Azula to take her brother. A threatening growl worked its way up her throat as Toph forced him to stand with earthbending and Uncle ungagged him.

Absolutely terrified, the man wasted no time with confessions, "Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup. They're going to overthrow the Earth King."

Before Aiko could respond, Sokka pointed his weapon at the man, "My sister! Where are they keeping Katara?"

"In the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace."

None of them even glanced back at the Dai Li agent as they rushed up the back of the flying bison. Aiko, fully aware of the state's being sent her and her uncle's way, patted Appa's side before helping the elder man get up.

The ride to the palace was quick and completely silent in a sort of tense way. Iroh knew very well of the complicated past between his niece and the avatar, so he did not bother forcing conversation.

Aiko's mind continued to whir as they all climbed down the bison's back. Now that they were so close to getting her brother (and Katara, she supposed) back, she found that it had to have been too easy. She readied herself for the worst as Toph announced that there was, in fact, a cave system below the surface.

With a quick movement, the blind girl opened a hole that started the path needed to reach their destination. Immediately, Sokka jumped into his planning. "We should split up. Aang, you go with Iroh and Eden to find Katara and the Angry Jerk." There was a momentary pause as Aiko stopped herself from laughing at the title given to her brother. "No offense," he was sure to add, though Aiko wasn't so sure he meant it. It was true after all. "And I'll go with Toph to warn the Earth King about Azula's coup."

Each group was quick to get to work, and Aang began to bend the Earth beneath them, allowing the three of them to start their journey into the depths.

This chapter had been longer than anticipated, so I split it up into this one and the next. The rest should be up tomorrow. Again, sorry it took so long, but we are close! One more chapter left.