Chapter two

Aang led Appa towards the Earth King's palace with Toph, Sokka and Katara following close behind. Villagers gathered around to watch the young avatar make his way past them-they both admired and respected him. Villagers muttered 'avatar' as he passed each one and waited for his eyed to reach them. What they did not see in the avatar's eyes was pain though he felt it deep inside, where the wound had been. Azula had struck him very severely-Aang couldn't explain the amount of pain he suffered even when he tried.

When the four arrived at King Boumi's palace, they were told to bathe, dress and were now eating a big meal. King Boumi had been very pleaded to see his old friend again so he declared a celebration. Sokka was extremely pleased with the meal as he kept on commenting every second or so. "Hmm, guys this is so tasty, what do you call it?" He asked King Boumi.

And so for the sixth time King Boumi replied, "Hroar."

"And what's this called?" Sokka held up a piece of fruit. "I love this juice...it's so tangy and refreshing," Sokka began sucking the juice from the fruit.

King Boumi heaved a big sigh, "It's called a sloshi."

"What's thi-" Sokka did not get to finish the sentence since a huge boulder landed on his head.

"Now we can eat in peace." Toph smirked and everyone apart from Sokka silently agreed.

Meanwhile back at the Fire Lord's palace, there was commotion at the gates where Azula tried to calm things down. She wasn't doing a pretty good job since she was the one throwing fire blasts at the accused. Zuko heard all the rumblings and crashing outside as he made his way to the palace dungeons. Since he rejoined Azula, Zuko has been preoccupied physically and mentally. He was demanded to lock the captured Iroh away but that was not the only thing upsetting him – he was confused. In the cave where he was stuck with the avatar's friend (the water peasant) he had experienced sympathy for her and he had be able to think about his uncle's words of choosing his own destiny, but now all that had disappeared from thinkable to unthinkable. He kept on telling himself that he was doing the right thing-this is the only way to regain my honour, he thought.

Before he opened the dungeon door he muttered to himself, already feeling uncomfortable, "Come on, I can do this!" He told himself sternly. When he opened the door, he struggled to keep his resolve that his hands' were shaking at his side – this never happened to him. "Uncle?" He called into the darkened room. "Uncle, father wants to speak with you to see if he can make you see sense."

"Sense?!" A voice boomed from one of the corners. "I can see sense, it is you who is blind!" Iroh had finally lost it. He had tried to reason with his nephew earlier, explaining to him that what he was doing was wrong, the wrong choice. Iroh had told him that joining this fire nation was Zuko signing his life away but still Zuko was blinded by need.

"Do not talk to me like that old man," Zuko willed himself to remain calm. He kept his voice at a low even tone.

"I tried my best to guide you nephew but you ignore my warnings." After a long pause he added, "I do not wish to cooperate with any of you. I rather die with my honour than join this nation of chaos. You go tell your father that I will not see neither him nor you and wish to be alone until my execution."

At the word execution, Zuko felt bile rise in his throat and his fists clench up in anger and despair. But his actions showed no hint of his feelings as he left without saying anymore. He couldn't look at his uncle because it hurt. The man had become frail throughout the last couple of days, refusing to eat, hardly speaking to anyone who entered and discarding his lotus piece like it meant nothing to him. His face had become weakened from the hunger and his gray hair was thinning.

Zuko marched up to Lord Ozai's room in a silent rage. "He says that he wishes not to see you..." Zuko's voice trailed off. He had been hoping that his uncle would give in and join them but the old man was stubborn. Zuko did not want to see harm come to his uncle but he could do nothing or he would himself be punished by the lord.

"My brother is becoming a real pain!" The lord's voice thundered through the room, echoing off the four walls. "I am sick of that fool. He will get his wish and as for calling him my brother...it is nor MORE! I disinherit him and shall no longer have a brother." Zuko was rattled to the core but the Fire Lord's words but not at all surprised. "Tell the fool that his execution will be taking place tomorrow at noon in the centre arena."

Zuko was then dismissed with nothing but a wave of the hand. He entered his bedroom to gather his thoughts. "Guards you may leave."

At the King Boumi's palace, Aang was cheered up and relieved of his fear of pain. He and the gang had been walking around the palace and also taking part in King Boumi's eccentric games. This time Toph, Sokka and Katara all tried the sledge down the delivery posts. They were so happy that when the sun set they did not even realise until King Boumi announce that supper was ready. This meal was no different from the others in palace as Sokka kept up with his usual offhand questions and Toph shut him up. King Boumi soon came to find this highly amusing that he too began asking odd questions. Aang carried on being his lively self by showing his new air tricks while Katara joined in some of the time and sat silent for the rest. She was still upset about Iroh being captured because she believed he was a good man and did not deserve what he had coming.

When the time came for the four to go to sleep Katara voiced her thoughts to Toph. She and Toph were sharing a room separate to Aang and Sokka's room. Appa had bee given his own unique quarters-King Boumi gave him toys to amuse himself with.

"I understand what you're saying Katara but what are we going to do? Huh? I mean we can't go there and save him." Toph was upset as much as Katara about Iroh's capture. "I liked him. He was so kind to me when I was on my won after I left you guys."

"That's what I told Sokka this morning, that Iroh is a good person but he just said that he was probably deceiving us."

"Sokka likes to think like that."

"I know," Katara sounded exasperated. "I just feel helpless. The man doesn't deserve to die and I feel I owe him after he saved Aang and I. I just wish we could save him..."

"Save who?" Aang had heard voices so he came to investigate.

"I was talking about Iroh." Katara said. "I couldn't sleep."

"Oh."

"Katara wants to save him since he saved your lives." Toph finished for Katara.

"It's just that I feel guilty for leaving him behind. All day we've been having fun and I can't help wandering what they're doing to him Aang. I just can't." Katara looked very upset. "He saved us Aang. We have to do something. We can't leave him."

"What are we going to do?" Toph asked. "We don't know where he is or what's happening to him."

"I might have an idea..." Aang looked sheepish. "There was an announcement earlier. I just thought you guys heard it. Anyway it said that Iroh was due to be executed tomorrow at noon at the Fire Nation central Arena."

"We have to do something Aang. We have to!" Katara pleaded. She couldn't explain it but she had this awfully strong connection with Iroh. She didn't even know the man properly yet she felt strangely responsible for him. He was like a grandfather figure to her and when she remembered that look in his eyes when he told her to escape, she saw genuine concern. She felt she owed him something. She knew that she looked to stressed to Aang and Toph at the moment but she wanted to explain it all later.

"I agree. Tomorrow we leave for the Fire Nation." Aang held Toph and Katara's eyes.