Chapter One: Proposal

Aang landed Appa as quietly has he could, a few blocks away from former General Iroh's Jasmine Dragon tea shop. Leaving the avatar to tend to his mount, Zuko pushed open the door.

Iroh was sitting at a table by the door, sipping placidly away at a cup of steaming tea. Surprised to find his uncle already awake, Zuko started, and raised an eyebrow.

"I saw the sky bison landing outside my window," Iroh explained. "It's hard to miss him."

"Oh." Zuko shot a glance out the still-open door at Appa, who had rolled over on to his back and sprawled out on the pavement. "Yes, I suppose he is a bit…conspicuous. My apologies."

Getting to his feet, Iroh bowed, and murmured, "No apologies are necessary. Your visit is a great honor, Fire Lord Zuko. It is also an honor to see that your wearing my pajamas. You may have to grow into them, but it's a good look for you."

"These are yours?" Zuko held out one arm and watched the extra folds of fabric fall down over his outstretched hand. "I guess that explains the fit." Shaking his sleeve back, Zuko tried to come back around to the reason for his visit. "Uncle, I've come to make a request."

"Ask anything, Fire Lord. I am delighted to be of help to you."

"No…it's not a formal request. I want to ask you something as your nephew."

A slight smile creased the old man's face, and he made another short bow. "In that case," he said, "I am doubly pleased. First, however, I have a request for you."

"Name it," replied Zuko.

"I would ask," continued Iroh, "that you invite your friend in to have a cup of tea. There is no reason for him to wait outside for people to stare at, and I think it is going to rain tonight. We can have a nice friendly cup inside, and you can tell me what brings you all the way here at such an admittedly unreasonable hour." After a moment's pause, he added, "but the bison, I think, needs to stay out there. There are a lot of very delicate items in this shop, and I would hate to lose the beautiful new teapot that I received as a gift from the Earth King."

Zuko followed Iroh's gaze to an exquisite jade teapot, carefully engraved with the image of an exultant dragon. "You make friends wherever you go, uncle," he murmured, shaking his head in bemusement. "No matter what your past transgressions have been, you always manage to win the love of the people. That's why I need your help, you see, I want to-!"

"First," interrupted Iroh, "go get your friend. Then we'll talk."

When Aang, Zuko, and Iroh were all sitting comfortably around the table, Iroh turned and nodded at his nephew. "Now," he said, "what can I do for you?"

Zuko swallowed a mouthful of scalding tea, and tried not to wince as he felt it burn his tongue. "I'd like to make a pilgrimage," he said, "to the southern water tribe, and then to the northern water tribe, to tender a personal apology to the people living there, whom the fire nation has wronged."

Iroh nodded, looking thoughtful. "A very noble gesture," he murmured, "but you should be aware, Zuko, that no apology, even from the Fire Lord himself, will ever bring back the years, or the men and women whom those tribes have lost to the war."

"I know that, uncle," insisted Zuko, "but-!"

"But," Aang cut in, "a personal apology from the Fire Lord will really begin to cement the idea in people's minds that change is coming. Right now, the world is still full of such distrust…and I think it would be great if we could get one step closer to ending that."

"I know," Zuko added, "that there is a lot of lingering hatred in the world, particularly among the people of the water tribes. I need them to understand that when I say peace, I mean it. If my going there gives them a target for their hatred, that's fine, so long as they begin to realize that communication between our people might really be an option, someday."

Iroh nodded. "It is a beautiful thought, worthy of my nephew, and of the beginning of a new era. I am impressed. What do you want me to do?"

"I want," said Zuko, "for you to come with me." There was just a hint of pleading in his voice, the same note that his voice had contained long ago when, as a child, he'd petulantly begged his uncle not to take Azula's side in a game or quarrel. Iroh found himself inexplicably choked up for a moment, and he cleared his throat noisily as Zuko continued. "I will need your wisdom, and your appeal to the people. I'll also," he added in a lower, more abashed voice, "probably need some moral support."

Iroh shrugged. "How could I ever say no? It is a delightful idea. Count me in. After all, I miss traveling, and adventure. Perhaps the leaders of the water tribes and I could exchange recipes."

Zuko heaved a sigh of delighted relief, and Aang looked really pleased. "Thank you, uncle," said Zuko, "it'll be a really worthwhile experience, I promise."

"Although," remarked Iroh, "we'll still have to find someone to look after my tea shop. Business has been booming around here ever since the fire nation navy stopped trying to kill everyone."