Aang practices in front of the beach house with the rest of the Gang resting on steps in the background. Aang proceeds to fire bend arcs with his arms, right leg followed by his left leg. He walks forward as he does. Then he fire bends a flurry of small shot, circles rapidly with his arms.
Zuko is looking sternly at Aang's training with his arms crossed. "More ferocious!" He yelled.
Aang's fist fire bends with an intense look of concentration on his face.
"Imagine striking through your opponent's heart." Ari said from the steps.
Aang fire bends another big shot of fire away from Zuko. He then turns towards Zuko with his arms in a frustrated gesture.
"Ugh! I'm trying."
"Now let me hear you roar like a tiger-dillo!" Zuko said.
Aang turns away instantly, stretching his arms and roaring rather softly with weak streams of fire coming out from his palm and mouth. Aang grins sheepishly at his weak attempt.
"That sounded pathetic! I said roar!"
He turns around, roars ferociously and fire bends rather strongly out of both hands and his mouth. Momo scurries towards Zuko. Momo seeks refuge behind his legs. Zuko nods his head in approval.
Katara is holding two watermelons with straws in them as she walks up with Cadi beside her.
"Who wants a nice, cool glass of watermelon juice?" Katara asked.
Aang's eyes widen with greed. "Ooo, ooo, me, me, me!" He begins to run towards the house.
"Hey," Zuko's hand holds Aang back by his robes. "Your lesson's not over yet! Get back here."
Zuko pulls him up effortlessly with Aang looking rather disappointed.
"Come on, Zuko. Just take a break." Cadi said.
"Fine." He releases Aang and Aang dashes off, leaving a trail of dust behind.
"If you want to lounge around like a bunch of snail-sloths all day, then go ahead! I have better things to do. He looks at her with lustful eyes. He walks past Katara, who offers a watermelon, and picks up Cadi over his shoulder and walks off. Cadi laughs. Ari slightly growls.
…
Zuko gently put Cadi down on the sand. The group knows about what happened with Cadi and Zuko the first time she was captured, thanks to the Ember Island Players. Ari hasn't talked to Zuko yet and Cadi can sense the slight disappointment from almost everyone but it's not enough for it to affect her.
"Have they told you?"
"About what?" Cadi asked.
"What I said when we all cornered Azula in the alley and you disappeared for a few days."
"Nope. They haven't said a thing. Were they supposed to?"
"No." He laughed. "It wasn't bad. I wanted to tell you myself."
"When were you planning on telling me?"
"Now." He smiled. "Before you go off and ask me, no I haven't said this to anyone."
"Okay." She laughed. "Bring it on. What do you wanna tell me?"
"I Love you." He said. She looked stunned. She leaned in to kiss him and he gladly responded.
They separated. "I've only said that to family. I can't yet. I'm sorry. But I do feel like I feel that."
Zuko nodded, obviously hurt. "That's fine. Let's just sit here for now."
She nodded and looked up to the sky. "Remember how I said air, earth and fire (yes I know it doesn't but let's pretend for now lol) all had water in it?" He nodded. "Well, I've been working on moving air. That's how I got back to the temple. I floated on the water in the air and it took forever!" She laughed.
She pointed to the sky and moved her hand. Zuko looked to the sky and saw a chibi Zuko. He laughed.
"How'd you do that? I don't think Aang can even control the air from this far away."
"Lots of practice." She laughed. "Let's go back." She stood up and they walked away.
…
"Maybe Zuko's right. Sitting around the house has made us pretty lazy. But I know just the thing to change that. Beach party!" Sokka said after Zuko walked away.
He removes his outer coat, revealing a pair of brown undershorts underneath and he entered the water with a splash. Sokka surfaces with seaweed on his head and he blows water from his mouth. He grins goofily.
Katara jumps off the shore into the water as she water bends a surfboard made of ice. She proceeds to surf as the water displaced by her movements splashes everywhere.
Suki lies on a beach mat in her red beach outfit. She smiles as Sokka walks into screen carrying seaweed in his arms. She looks puzzled as Sokka grabs empty pails and leaves before coming back a spilt second later with the buckets full of water and a huge smile plastered on his face.
Aang is holding a big piece of wood in his hand. It was the horn to his sand Appa.
"Check out my Appa sand sculpture." Aang said.
"Not bad, baldy. But I've been working on my sand bending. You're gonna love this." Toph said.
She moves her hands and sends clouds of sand dust everywhere. The dust clears to reveal a miniature replica of Ba Sing Se in the sand. Aang walks towards it and kneels down, scrutinizing the details.
"Whoa. Wow, you even made a little Earth King and Bosco."
"Try and top that, Sokka."
"Ta-da!" Sokka and Ari reveal their sand sculpture with seaweed for hair, stones for eyes, a red starfish for a nose, and some stones and seashells as a smile.
"Is that a blubbering, blob monster."
"No, it's Suki." Sokka said. Aang has an animated look of shock and surprise on his face as both he and Toph burst into a fit of laughter.
"I thought it was a monster." Ari said shocked.
"Suki, we'll all understand if you break up with him over this." Toph said.
"I think it's sweet."
"But it doesn't even look like..."
A burst of fire hits the sand sculpture, sending waves of send everywhere. Aang yells in surprise and shields himself from the impact. The dust clears and Aang looks up at the cliff. Zuko runs and jumps off the cliff, fire bending at Aang at the same time. Aang narrowly misses the flames and jumps across Toph's sand sculpture.
Aang lands on the other side near his sand sculpture as he turns around and looks frightened. He then jumps over his sand sculpture.
He runs on the sculpture towards Aang. Aang peeks out from behind Appa's sand head. "What are you doing?"
"Teaching you a lesson!" He fire bends towards the Appa sculpture. Aang looks away and jumps away from the impact. The stream of fire "cuts" the Appa sculpture in half, destroying it into a pile of sand.
Zuko turns and fire bends towards Aang but he misses as Aang jumps onto the cliff. Zuko fire bends towards the cliff repeatedly as Aang struggles to run across the uneven surface. Zuko's last blast shatters the top part of the cliff into rubble. Zuko runs towards the cliff and proceeds to scale it.
Katara surfs back to shore. "What happened?"
"Zuko's gone crazy! I made a sand sculpture of Suki and he destroyed it! Oh, and he's attacking Aang."
"He's not attacking him." Cadi said. "Let's go watch!" Cadi backflips before bending the water in the air to lift her up the cliff.
Suki grabs Sokka and they run back to help Aang.
Zuko fire bends at him but Aang jumps out of the way in time. The fire clears and Zuko is still chasing after Aang angrily. Zuko sends strong blasts of fire at the rock, disintegrating it into pieces. Aang grabs onto the top of a trunk of a nearby tree as Zuko jumps off the rock and somersaults to the bottom.
Zuko lands on the sand with a roll and fire bending at the top of the tree. Aang jumps away. The tree has caught fire and Aang lands somewhere on the beach house's roof. Zuko jumps onto the beach house's railings as he scales and flips his way to the roof.
"Get a grip before I blast you off this roof!" Aang said.
"Go ahead and do it!" He replied. He then fire bends with his fists and feet one after another. Aang slides down the roof as jets of fire sets the path he was on alight. Aang reaches the end of the roof and he grabs onto the edge as he swings himself into a nearby room through the window. He slides across the floor on his knees to hide behind a drawer. A huge blast of fire through the roof sends some debris into the room and Zuko lands. He gets into a stance and looks around the room warily. Aang then kicks the drawer towards Zuko. He blocks it by disintegrating the drawer into pieces with a fire bending punch.
Aang runs out from the room followed shortly by Zuko. Zuko fire bends huge whips and arcs of flame around himself. Zuko sends the tunnel of fire towards Aang.
Aang looks back to find himself being slowly engulfed by the fire. He air bends the fire away, creating a safe space for him to land on without get burnt.
"Enough!" He air bends a huge tunnel of air towards Zuko, extinguishing the flames at the same time. Zuko yells in surprise as he gets pushed back by the strong air pressure. The side of the house gets ripped open by the visible tunnel of wind, throwing out some wooden debris along with Zuko. Zuko is sliding down some tree branches. Zuko lands on the grass and attempts to stand up, grabbing his head and moaning slightly.
"What's wrong with you? You could have hurt Aang." Katara said.
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with all of you! How can you sit around having beach parties when Sozin's Comet is only 3 days away!" He paused. "Why are you all looking at me like I'm crazy?"
"About Sozin's Comet... I was actually going to wait to fight the Fire Lord until after it came."
"After?"
"I'm not ready. I need more time to master fire bending."
"And frankly, your earth bending could still use some work too." Aang looks disappointed.
"So... You all knew Aang was going to wait?"
"Honestly, if Aang tries to fight the Fire Lord right now, he's gonna lose. No offence."
"The whole point of fighting the Fire Lord before the comet was to stop the Fire Nation from winning the war. But they pretty much won the war when they took Ba Sing Se. Things can't get any worse."
"You're wrong. It's about to get worse than you can even imagine. The day before the eclipse, my Father asked me to attend an important war meeting. It was what I dreamed about and wanted for so many years. My Father had finally accepted me back.
…
*Flashback*
"Ba Sing Se is still under our control. However, earth bender rebellions have prevented us from achieving total victory in the Earth Kingdom."
"What is your recommendation?" Ozai asked.
"Our army is spread too thin but once the eclipse is over and the invasion defeated, we should transfer more domestic forces into the Earth Kingdom."
"Hmm… Prince Zuko, you've been among the Earth Kingdom commoners. Do you think that adding more troops will stop these rebellions?" Ozai asked.
"The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong. They can endure anything as long as they have hope."
"Yes, you're right. We need to destroy their hope." Ozai said.
"Well, that's not exactly what I..." Zuko said before getting interrupted.
"I think you should take their precious hope and the rest of their land, and burn it all to the ground." Azula said. The princess crosses her arms and smiles at her own brilliant suggestion.
"Sozin's Comet is almost upon us and on that day it will endow us with the strength and power of a hundred Suns. No bender will stand a chance against us." Ozai said.
"What are you suggesting, sir?"
"When the comet last came, my grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, used it to wipe out the Air Nomads. Now, I will use its power to end the Earth Kingdom. Permanently. From our airships, we will rain fire over their lands. A fire that will destroy everything. And out of the ashes, a new World will be born. A World in which all the lands are Fire Nation and I am the supreme ruler of everything!" Ozai said.
*End Flashback*
"I wanted to speak out against this horrifying plan. But I'm ashamed to say I didn't. My whole life I struggled to gain my Father's love and acceptance. But once I had it, I realized I lost myself getting there. I forgot who I was."
"You didn't tell me." Cadi said from behind Zuko. She looked purely innocent but her voice, elegantly evil. "That's my family, and you decided to keep it to yourself. Whose side were you on back at the Fire Nation? Ours? How could you be so shallow as to keep that yourself if you were on our side?"
Katara drops down to the ground on her knees. Sokka grabs Suki by the shoulder in an assuring gesture.
"I can't believe this." Katara said. Zuko still looked at Cadi. He was more sorry then, than he could have been at any other given time.
"I always knew that the Fire Lord was a bad guy but his plan is just pure evil."
"What am I going to do?" Aang asked.
"I know you're scared. And I know that you're not ready to save the World. But if you don't defeat the Fire Lord before the comet comes, there won't be a World to save anymore."
…
"Why didn't you tell me about your Dad's crazy plan sooner?" Aang asked.
"I didn't think I had to. I assumed that you were still going to fight him before the comet. No one told me you decided to wait!"
"This is bad. This is really, really bad."
"Aang, you don't have to do this alone." Katara said.
"Yeah. If we all fight the Fire Lord together, we got a shot at taking him down." Toph said.
"Alright! Team Avatar is back! Air. Water. Earth. Fire. More Water. More Fire. Fan and sword!" Sokka said.
"Fighting the Fire Lord is going to be the hardest thing we've ever done together. But I wouldn't want to do it any other way."
…
"There's one technique you need to know before facing my Father. How to redirect lightning. If you let the energy in your own body flow," He stretches his left arm out and the fingers on his right hand touch the fingers on his left hand and swiftly trace a path down his arm, shoulder, stomach and back out the other side. "The lightning will follow it. You turn your opponent's energy against them."
"That's like water bending." Aang said.
"Exactly. My Uncle invented this technique himself by studying water benders."
"So... Have you ever redirected lightning before?" Aang asked.
"Once. Against my Father."
"What did it feel like?"
"Exhilarating. But terrifying. You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body. But you know that you make the wrong move, it's over."
"Well, not over over, right I mean there's always Katara and a little spirit water action... Am I right?"
"Actually I used it all up after Azula shot you." Katara said matter-of-factly.
"You'll have to take the Fire Lord's life, before he takes yours." Zuko said.
…
"Gather round Team Avatar. In order to take out the Fire Lord, or in this case, the "Melon Lord", our timing has to be perfect. First, Suki, Katara and I will draw his fire. Then Cadi and Zuko charge in with some liquidy hot offence and while the "Melon Lord" is distracted, Aang swoops in and "BAM!" He delivers the final blow.
"What about us?" Toph asked pointing to her and Ari.
"For now, you're the Melon Lord's forces."
"So I get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?"
"Whatever makes the training feel more realistic."
"Sweetness." Toph said.
…
"Muahahahahahaha!" Toph fake laughed.
Zuko and Cadi are hiding behind some rocks, looking at Toph. Zuko turns his head. Aang appears out from behind another hiding spot with Momo in tow. He looks to the side. Suki and Sokka peer out of their own hiding places. Sokka is wearing his Water Tribe wolf armor.
Sokka, Suki, Zuko, Cadi and Katara all make their way towards Toph except for Aang who stays put.
Sokka and Suki run before the ground shakes and pops up an army of Fire Nation soldiers made of rock charging at them. Sokka cuts the rock in half. Suki jumps and she spins and delivers a kick to another rock soldier, knocking it down. They continue to run before a flaming boulder drops.
Suki cart wheels over it. Sokka is lying on the ground with his face mere inches away from being crushed.
"Watch it, Toph!" Sokka said.
"I am not Toph; I am "Melon Lord"! Muahahahahaha!"
She earth bends a rock and it gets ignited immediately and she sends it towards Zuko and Cadi who dodge it. Zuko and Cadi run as a ring of rock soldiers surround them. The duo fights back to back with fire and water bending to destroy the rocks. Cadi stops and bends over.
"What's wrong?" Zuko asked.
"Nothing. Just go." Cadi said. Zuko reluctantly kept going and Katara follows him. Cadi sits on the ground and waits.
"Now, Aang!" Sokka yelled.
He propels himself from the rock with his arms holding his staff in a ready to strike position. Aang lands and brings his staff over his head but doesn't deliver the final blow. The staff pauses inches away from the watermelon head. He looks at the scarecrow before slouching and pulling his staff back.
"What are you waiting for? Take him out!" Ari yelled.
"I can't."
"What's wrong with you? If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now." Sokka said.
"I'm sorry, but it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself." Aang said.
…
"I have a surprise for everyone!"
"I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru!" She smiles while Katara gives an expressionless look in the background.
"Er, no. I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this. Look at baby Zuko! Isn't he cute?"
Katara coos as everyone gushes and laughs. Zuko's eyes are closed.
"Oh lighten up, I was just teasing."
"That's not him." Cadi said.
Everyone looked at her. "How do you know that?" Ari asked.
"I just do."
"It's my Father."
"But he looked so sweet and innocent." Suki said.
"Well that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster. And the worst Father in the history of Fathers."
"But he is still a human being." Aang said.
"You're going to defend him?"
"No, I agree with you. Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person and the World will probably be better off without him. There's gotta be another way."
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Maybe we can make some big pots of glue and then I can use glue bending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore."
"Yeah. Then you can show him his baby pictures and all those happy memories will make him good again."
"Do you really think that would work?"
"No!"
"This goes against everything I learned from the monks. I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like..."
"Sure, you can. You're the Avatar. If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the Universe will forgive you." Sokka said.
"This isn't a joke, Sokka! None of you understands the position I'm in!"
"Aang, we do understand. It's just..."
"Just what, Katara? What?"
"We're trying to help." Katara said obviously annoyed.
"Then when you figure out a way for me to beat the Fire Lord without taking his life, I love to hear it!" He got up and walked away.
"Aang, don't walk away from this."
"Let him go. He needs time to sort it out by himself." Ari said.
…
"Okay, that's everything."
"No, it's not. Where's Aang?"
Everyone runs up the steps to the corridor and looks around. Suki, Ari, Sokka and Katara head to the right of the corridor while Toph, Cadi and Zuko head in the opposite direction.
"He left his staff. That's so strange." Sokka said.
"Aang's not in the house. Let's check the beach." Zuko said. He turns his head towards the beach.
"Look! There are his footprints." Sokka runs up and stops at the edge of the water. "The trail ends here."
"So... He went for a midnight swim and never came back?" Suki asked.
"Maybe he was captured."
"I don't think so. There's no sign of a struggle."
"I bet he ran away again." Toph said.
"Ah-uh. He left behind his glider and Appa." Sokka said.
"Then what do you think happened to him oh sloozey one?" Toph asked.
"It's pretty obvious." He stands up and throws his hands to the side. "Aang mysteriously disappears before an important battle? He's definitely on a Spirit World journey."
"But if he was, wouldn't his body still be here?" Cadi asked.
"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Sokka said slumping down.
"Then he's gotta be here somewhere In Ember Island. Let's split up and look for him."
Toph grabs Zuko's arm swiftly and he blushed. "I'm going with Zuko!" The rest of them look at her curiously. "What? The rest of you went on a life changing fieldtrip with him. Now it's my turn." She hugs him tighter and he stands there blushing.
"Neither me or Ari went on a fieldtrip with him." Cadi said and Ari grunted.
"That's because Ari doesn't like Zuko and you two have had enough alone time as it is. No more. That's gross." Cadi face palms.
…
Toph and Zuko are walking around in disguises and Toph was telling her story. "And then when I was nine, I ran away again." She said.
"Uh-huh." Zuko agreed.
"I know I shouldn't complain, my parents gave me everything that I ever asked for. But they never gave me one thing that I really wanted. Their love. You know what I mean?"
Zuko drops his heads and sighs audibly. "Look, I know you had a rough childhood but we really should focus on finding Aang."
"This is the worst fieldtrip ever. You're not even thinking about Aang are you?"
"Of course I am."
"I can tell you're lying. Quit thinking of Cadi. That's all you think about. Most of the time."
"How would you know?" He asked awkwardly.
"Whenever you think of her, your heart races. I can feel the vibration through your body hitting the ground. You think of her most of the time except when you train with Aang, then about half-way through you think of her, I can't figure out why."
"She taught me some of the things I know." He closes his eyes. "She taught me how to relax during a fight and to stay light off the ground."
"Well stop thinking of it now and as soon as this war is over, you can be with her all the time. You'll be ruler and she can be your right hand woman." Toph smiled.
"This fieldtrip isn't so bad."
"I knew you needed a pep-talk." She laughed and they continued walking on to find Aang.
…
Judging by the looks on your faces, I'm guessing you guys didn't find Aang either." Sokka said jumping from Appa and landing in front of them.
"No. It's like he just… disappeared." Zuko said.
"Wait a minute; has anyone noticed that Momo's missing too?" Toph asked.
"Oh no!" Sokka yelled kneeling in front of Appa. "I knew it was only a matter of time. Appa ate Momo!" He screamed, opening Appa's mouth and looking inside. "I'm coming for ya, buddy!" Sokka climbs onto Appa's tongue and tries to crawl his way in.
"Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo. He's probably with Aang." Katara said.
"That's just what Appa wants you to think." He said turning to look at his sister. He climbs further in and Appa closes his mouth around Sokka's legs as they flail around.
"Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka." Zuko said not looking pleased. "We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is only 2 days away."
"What should we do Zuko?" Katara asked as Sokka slides out of Appa's mouth covered in Appa's saliva.
"I don't know. Why are you all looking at me?"
"Well, you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang." Toph said.
"Yeah, if anyone has experience hunting the Avatar, it's you." Ari said.
…
"Zuko, I don't want to tell you how to do your job but why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom. There's no way Aang's there." Sokka said.
"Just trust me."
…
Azula sits crossed legged and looking rather impatient as her eyes darts to the side. "Come on slowpokes, faster!"
The palanquin bearers pick up their pace but are visibly struggling with the weight. Azula doesn't look pleased.
Ozai stepped out of his palanquin.
"Sorry I'm late, Father. Good palanquin bears are so hard to come by these days. So, is everything ready for our departure?" She turns her head to the side leisurely.
"There has been a change of plans, Azula.
She turns her head back and her eyes widen in shock. "What?"
"I've decided to lead the fleet of airships to Sa Sing Se alone. You will remain here in the Fire Nation."
"But I thought we were going to do this together." She whined and she begins to act like a spoiled child.
"My decision is final."
"Azula stands up, unhappy. "You… you can't treat me like this." Her face scrunches up into anger and annoyance. "You can't treat me like Zuko!"
"Azula, silence yourself."
"But it was my idea to burn everything to the ground! I deserve to be by your side!
"Azula!" He raised his voice sharply. She stills her temper and closes her eyes and lowers her head in obedience. "Listen to me. I need you here to watch over the homeland, it's a very important job that I can only entrust in you."
"Really?" She looks up in disbelief.
"And for your loyalty, I've decided to declare you the new Fire Lord.
"Fire Lord Azula. It does seem appropriate. But, what about you?"
"Fire Lord Ozai is no more. Just as the World will be reborn in fire, I shall be reborn as the supreme ruler of the World. From this moment on, I will be known as… the "Phoenix King"!"
A large, maroon phoenix motif banner is raised behind him.
…
"And the reason you brought us to a seedy Earth Kingdom tavern is what now?" Katara asked.
"June." Zuko replied.
Raises his arm and points. June is sitting dismissively and sipping her tea as a huge burly man lunges as her. She stops him with her leg and pushes him down effortlessly as the man groans. The crowd gasps and is stunned. June smiles at her success. The gang looks across the table and see Cadi is already sitting down, chatting with her.
…
"Her shirshu. It's the only animal that can track Aang's scent anywhere in the World. It's the one shot we have of finding him." Zuko said.
…
"Hey Momo," He sits up and rubs his head. Momo is clutching Aang's head protectively as it looks around. "I just had the strangest dream. Wait… Where are we?"
…
"Hey, I remember her. She helped you attack us!"
"Yup, back in the good old days." Zuko said before walking up to her.
"Oh great, it's Prince Pouty. Where's your creepy grandpa?"
"He's my Uncle, and he's not here."
"I see you worked things out with your girlfriend."
Both Zuko and Katara blush and Cadi glares at June.
"I'm not his girlfriend!"
"Obviously." Cadi said and June looked at her and smirked.
"I was only teasing. So what you want?"
"I need your help finding the Avatar."
"Doesn't sound too fun."
"Does the end of the World sound like more fun?"
…
Appa and the shirshu are growling aggressively at each other. Appa then licks the shirshu's face and both of them quiet down. The shirshu turns to June and the group walking towards them.
"Nyla..." She throws the meat to Nyla who catches the meat in a gulp. June comes and affectionately strokes her shirshu. "Who's my little snuffly wuffly? Okay, who's got something with the Avatar's scent on it?"
"I have Aang's staff."
June offers the staff in front of Nyla's snout as she sniffs it. She walks around them sniffing the air. Nyla circles them again and then lowers herself in front of June, rubbing her snout.
"Well, what does that mean?" Ari asks, crossing his arms in front of him.
"It means your friend's gone." She said.
"We know he's gone, that's why we're trying to find him." Toph said.
"No, I mean he's gone gone. He doesn't exist."
"What do you mean Aang doesn't exist?" Sokka asked.
"We'd be able to find him if he were dead. It's a real head scratcher." She said before getting on her shirshu. "See ya."
"Helpful, real helpful." Katara said.
"Wait, I have another idea. There's only one other person in this World who can help us face the Fire Lord. I'll be right back." Zuko said.
…
"We're going to Ba Sing Se?"
"You're uncles somewhere past that wall. He can't be too far. Good luck." Nyla turned. "Be careful Cadi, I know you're a tough one but sometimes you get even too crazy for yourself." They rode off.
"It's been a long day. Let's camp and start our search again at dawn." Zuko said.
…
Zuko and Cadi sleep on Appa's side with their backs facing each other. Suki and Sokka sleep on Appa's tail. Ari is inside the saddle with Katara on the opposite side. Toph is snoring in her earth tent as she suddenly wakes up and touches the ground.
"Well, look who's here." Bumi snorts and laughs. Suki, Toph and Zuko look at the siblings, puzzled.
"What's going on? We're surrounded by old people."
"Not just any old people. These are great masters and friends of ours." She bows in front of Pakku. "Pakku."
Pakku bows in return. "It is respectful to bow to an old master but how about a hug for your new grandfather.
"That's so exciting." She opens her arms and embraces Pakku. "You and Gran Gran must be so happy to have found each other again."
"I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything." Sokka comically hugs Pakku by the neck.
"Welcome to the family Great Gramp."
"You can still just call me Pakku." He said pushing Sokka off of him.
"How about Grand Pakku?"
"No."
"And this was Aang's first fire bending teacher." Katara said introducing Zuko to Jeong Jeong. Zuko walks towards him and Jeong Jeong bows.
"Master Piandao." Sokka said.
"Hello, Sokka." He said bowing.
"So wait, how do you all know each other?" Suki asked.
"All old people know each other don't you know that?" Bumi said as he snorts and laughs.
"We're all part of the same ancient secret society. A group that transcends the divisions of the 4 nations."
"The Order of the White Lotus." Zuko said smiling.
"That's the one."
"The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty and truth. About a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important."
"It came from a Grand Lotus, your Uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation."
"Well that's who we're looking for." Ari said.
"Then we'll take you to him."
"Wait, someone's missing from your group. Someone very important. Where's Momo?" Bumi asked.
"He's gone. And so is Aang." Cadi said.
"Oh well, so long as they have each other I'm sure," He pats Sokka's shoulder. "We have nothing to worry about. Let's go."
Bumi slams his hand against the ground and earth bends a tall column of earth and propels himself over the gap in the outer wall, laughing maniacally at the same time.
…
"So Bumi, how did you end up escaping your imprisonment in Omashu?" Sokka asked as Bumi, him, Zuko, Suki and Cadi all walk together.
"Escape? I didn't escape, everybody else escaped. There I was, back in Omashu, waiting for just the right moment. I didn't know what or when but I knew I'd know it when I knew it. An eclipse. That would do it." Bumi said.
"Wow, you took back your whole city all by yourself." Suki said.
"So what about you guys? Did you do anything interesting on the day of the eclipse?" Bumi asked. Everyone looked at each other.
"Nah." Suki and Zuko said together.
"No, not really." Cadi agreed.
…
"Well here we are. Welcome to old people camp." Bumi said to them.
"Where... where is he?" Zuko asked.
"Your Uncle's in there." Someone said as they pointed to a large tent.
Zuko stares with disbelief and awkwardness. He walks towards Iroh's tent. He pauses outside the tent and sits down.
"Are you okay?" Cadi asked, walking up and sitting beside him.
"No, I'm not okay. My Uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"
"Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?"
"More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life."
"Then he'll forgive you." Zuko looks at her lovingly. "He will. If it makes you feel better, I could go with you."
"Wait outside, I'm sure Uncle would be glad to see you, but I must to the first part on my own. Thank you for the support. I don't know what I would even do without you." He kisses her passionately and turns his head back towards the tent and thinks for a while before standing up. He pauses and takes a deep breath before pushing the curtains aside and stepping in.
"Uncle."
A loud snore greets him and he opens his eyes and looks up. Zuko smiles with affection and he proceeds to sit down on the mat beside Iroh's sleeping mat.
…
"Hey, he's sleeping are you sure you don't want to come out here and wait until tomorrow?" Cadi said, poking her head in through the curtains.
"No, I'll be sitting right here when he wakes up. Care to join me?"
"I'd love to." She smiled at him and sat next to him and he leaned his head on her shoulder.
"This feels weird, how do you do it all the time?" He asked her.
"Simple. I'm like 8 inches shorter than you." She giggled and moved his head up and laid her head on his shoulder. He laid his head on her head and they both started to drift off.
…
Zuko is still sitting beside a snoring Iroh the next morning. He stops snoring and starts to get up. Iroh yawns and stretches. He turns his head slightly and notices Zuko's awake and Cadi's sleeping presence but he then turns his head back and does not say anything.
"Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want," Zuko's eyes are closed but tears are visibly brimming under both eye lids. His voice cracks slightly. "You to know, I'm so so sorry, Uncle. I'm so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you but I'll..."
Iroh pulls Zuko into a comforting hug.
"How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me."
"I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you lost your way."
"I did lose my way." They stop hugging and Iroh puts his hands on Zuko's shoulders.
"But you found it again. And you did it by yourself." He glances at Cadi sleeping and smiles. "Sort of at least. And I am so happy you found your way here.
"It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent."
Cadi makes a small sound that could easily be mistaken for purring. She rolled over and stretched and made a small squeaky yawn and looked at Iroh and Zuko looking at her weirdly while still hugging.
"What? Did I do something wrong?" She asked, awkwardly.
Zuko and Iroh relax their faces. "No, of course not love. You couldn't." Zuko said smiling at her.
"Aww, you're hugging! I wanna join!" She said and walked over to them and hugged them both and they laughed at her.
…
"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord."
"You mean the Fire Lord." Ari said.
"That's what I just said. We need you to come with us."
"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well."
"You can beat him and we'll be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could. It will be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."
"And then... then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne."
"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko."
"Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes."
"Yes, you have. You struggled, you suffered but you have always followed your own path, you restored your own honor. And only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation.
"I'll try, Uncle."
"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Ari asked.
"Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again." Iroh said.
"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus."
"Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there, waiting for you."
"I can handle Azula."
"Not alone. You'll need help."
"You're right. Cadi, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"
"It would be my pleasure."
"What about us? What's our destiny today?" Sokka asked.
"What do you think it is?"
"I think that... even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet." Sokka replied.
"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us." Toph said.
"No thanks. I'll beat people from the ground, or I can help Zuko and Cadi. Flying ships are NOT my thing." Ari said.
…
Suki and Toph are seated on a saddle mounted onto a green creature.
"Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel-hound. The airship base is on a small island just off the Earth Kingdom shore. You should be able to intercept the fleet within a day's journey." Piandao said to Sokka.
"Thank you, Master."
Sokka hugs Piandao by the waist to his surprise and Piandao lowers his arm to Sokka's shoulders assuringly.
…
"Goodbye, General Iroh." Katara and Ari said, waving.
"See you later Uncle." Zuko said.
"I'll make sure he kicks Azula's ass." Cadi said winking to Iroh.
"Goodbye, everyone."
…
"It's time for this World to end in fire and for a new World to be born from the ashes." Ozai said.
Sozin's comet brushes against Earth's Atmosphere and the whole atmosphere glows red hot while the comet burns a bright orange. Ozai looks at the horizon as it slowly turns red.
…