Zuko POV

I have got to be the luckiest, half dead man dead.

"I thought I'd lost you," She said, smiling through the tears.

"I'll never leave you, you'd find a way to bring me back and then kick my ass." I say as I try to sit up. "Oh God, not to mention freeze me to death, where the hell am I?" Whatever I was laying on was ice cold and it was driving me insane.

Katara's laugh was such a beautiful thing to hear. "Better than having Azula burn you to death," She smiled. "I'm glad you are back, Zuko."

"I'm glad to be back, but I really am cold."


Katara half caries me back to the throne room, and on the way she tells me what happened during the battle. I was surprised. I had always known Katara's was strong, but Azula never ran away from a fight. At the throne room I realize that I would have done the same thing in Azula's shoes.

I make a mental note never to die again when Katara is around.

We take the bodies outside where I burn them. Back inside we find that my uncle is awake, sipping from a tea cup.

Where he found the time and all the stuff to make tea is beyond me, but apparently Uncle always manages.

"Thank goodness, you are alive after all," He relaxes visibly. "Here have some tea."

An hour later everyone was conscious and full of uncle's best tea.

"So what's the plan now?" Sokka asked

Aang thought for a minute. "Well, the plans for the invasion are all ready so all we have to do is go through with them."

"There are a few problems with that though," Katara said. "Aang, you still need to learn firebending."

"I agree with Katara," Toph puts in. "and your earthbending is not the best."

"And there is also the matter of Azula getting away.." Katara continues. "I shouldn't have let her go, I think I could have gotten her."

I put my hand on her back to comfort her. "No, you did more than enough." I ran my hand in a small circle.

"You got burned! It's my fault." She said, tears building.

"Yes, Katara, it is your fault that I am alive." I say gently.

"Zuko's right," Aang says, eyeing me. "It is thanks to you that we are all alive."

Katara manages a weak smile.

"In any case I believe that it would be in your best interest to stay in Ba Sing Se until the invasion." Iroh says. "Then you will be able to train here, with the troops, while preparing for the invasion; As for Azula I am sure you will confront her when the time comes.".

"What will you do Uncle?" I ask.

"I will also stay here Ba Sing Se; after all I still have a tea shop to run!" Iroh said, grinning, but then it lowered to a minimal smile. "I will also help with the preparations, if needed."

So we all decided that we'd continue to train in Ba Sing Se until the invasion. Azula would be dealt with when the time came, and my father would be defeated by the time Sozin's Comet arrived.

Hopefully.