The gang sped across the desert for a good half hour before they relaxed. Zuko wanted to put as much distance between the demolished Phoenix base and themselves as humanely possible. Believing that they were safe for the time being, Zuko told Aang to take a breather, to which the young airbender simply collapsed on the deck.
Zuko walked over to Katara. "Will she be okay?" Katara looked up from her patient. "I've been able to heal most of her injuries, but I couldn't do anything about the burns on her back," she said, rotating her patient so Zuko could see. "Fire whips," he said. "they tortured her." "Looks that way," Katara agreed. She laid her patient on her back. "Also," she began, "there was a pretty serious burn on the right side of her face." She saw a pang of guilt flash across the firebender's face. "I was able to heal most of the tissue damage, but the scarring was too deep for me to heal it completely." She moved so the Fire Lord could see. Zuko leaned over and stared into his mother's face. She was still unconscious, but she was just as beautiful as Zuko remembered. Then, he noticed what Katara was talking about. Starting at her right eye, a large burn mark stretched across her face, reaching toward her right ear. Zuko put a hand to his own scar. No, he thought. What have I done?
Katara placed a hand on the firebender's shoulder. "Do you have any idea how she got that?" she asked. Zuko fought back tears. He was silent for several minutes, not wanting to cry. Finally, he said in a remorseful tone, "I did it." Katara pulled her hand away in shock. Her jaw dropped, and she gasped. "Why?" Zuko's gaze didn't leave his mother. "I had no choice Katara," he said. "A guard was holding a knife to her throat. I had to get her away from him, so I-" Zuko choked on his next words, not wanting to admit what he'd done. "You did what, Zuko?" Katara prodded. After regaining some semblance of composure, Zuko said, "I blasted the guard's head with a fire stream. I tried to make it as narrow as possible! I didn't mean to burn her!" He slammed his fists on the deck. "Why do I always end up hurting the ones I love?"
By now, the others had heard the commotion and were moving to investigate. Katara shot them a look, then shook her head. The others understood and stayed in the background, but not out of earshot. Katara felt a pang of sympathy for the weeping firebender. She pulled him into a hug and comforted him. "Zuko, I'm sure your mother will understand," she said. "She knows you would never hurt her." "How can you be so sure?" he asked. Before Katara could answer, the princess began to stir. "Mmmn," she groaned. Zuko pulled free from Katara and wrapped his arms around his mother. "It's okay Mom," he said. "It's okay. I'm here." The princess's eyes opened. The first thing she saw was her son's face, looking back at her. "Zuko?" she asked. "Is that you?" Zuko held her close. "It's me, Mom," he said. "I've missed you so much!" "So did I Zuko," Ursa told him. "So did I." The two held each other, not wanting to let go, and not caring who saw. At that moment, Zuko wasn't the Fire Lord of the Fire Nation. He was just a boy who was happy to be reunited with his mother.
***
The next morning, the group sailed into the Misty Palms Oasis. They tied the sandsailer up at the OWL shop and went inside to report to Master Fung. "Um," Zuko said. "They only let members in, and the Avatar. The rest of you will have to wait outside." Zuko braced himself for their collective groan, and he wasn't disappointed. "Aw, come on! That's not fair!" Sokka whined. "Why can't I go in? Master Piandao even gave me a Lotus tile!" Sokka reached into his pouch and held up the aforementioned tile. "You still have that thing?" asked Toph. "Yes, Toph! I still have it!" "Sokka," Zuko explained, "just because a member gives you a tile, it doesn't automatically make you a member. You have to go through an initiation." "But why are you a member? Was it because your uncle is the Grand Lotus?" Sokka pouted. Suki rolled her eyes and elbowed her husband in the gut. "Ow!"
Zuko shook his head. "My uncle made me go through the initiation, just like everyone else," he explained. "In fact, he probably made it harder because it was me." Sokka opened his mouth to argue the point, when his wife grabbed him by the ear and dragged him outside. "Seriously, Sokka! Sometimes I wonder whether I married a man or a five-year-old!" Katara, Aang and Toph all laughed at that. Zuko just shook his head. Toph chased after Sokka, probably to entertain herself at the poor guy's expense. "I'll check up on Ursa," Katara said. "Thank you," replied Zuko. Katara nodded, then kissed Aang on the cheek and left. The airbender's cheeks flushed red, then he saw Zuko staring at him. "Uh, he-he," he said.
**
They walked to the back, and Zuko knocked on the door like he had before. "Who knocks at the garden gate?" "One who has eaten its fruit and tasted its mystery," Zuko answered. The guard opened the door and let them both in. "Have a seat," he said. "the Master will be with you shortly." Then, the guard left, and the two teens were left alone. After a brief, awkward silence, Zuko asked, "So, you and Katara are close?" "Yeah, we are," Aang answered, bracing for the question he was sure to come next. "How far are you planning on taking it?" Zuko asked. "NO WE HAVEN'T!!" Aang said. "Haven't what?" asked Zuko, a little confused. "Katara and I haven't slept together!" Zuko became even more confused. "Okay, nice to know, but that's not what I asked." Now it was Aang's turn to be confused. "It wasn't?" Zuko shook his head.
The airbender flushed red so brightly, he almost gave off a glow. "Then, uh, what did you ask?" "I asked you how far you were planning to take your relationship with her," Zuko replied. Aang paused. He never really thought about that before. He had just assumed the he and Katara would spend the rest of their lives with each other. Finally, he said, "I don't really know." Zuko nodded, understanding where Aang was coming from. "I never was any good at expressing my feelings either," he said. "Like you, I had just known that I'd end up with Mai. I had never thought about the how and when." Zuko could see the Avatar was comforted by his words, knowing that he wasn't alone.
Zuko continued. "Let me ask you another question. Do you want to marry her?" The question hit Aang like a ton of bricks. He thought about it for a while. He saw his future, and couldn't picture it without Katara by his side. "Yeah," he said. "I guess I do." Then he looked at the firebender. "I've got something to ask you." "Shoot," Zuko said. Aang pulled out a small round stone. It was flat and smooth, and was a cool ocean blue. He offered it to Zuko. "Could you carve this for me?" Zuko took it and stared at it. "I'd ask Sokka to do it, but, you know how artistic he is," said Aang, laughing nervously. "Doesn't Katara have a necklace like this already?" Zuko asked. Aang nodded. "Yeah, but that's her mother's. In the Water Tribe, they call them betrothal necklaces. The guy gives the girl he wants to marry a carved stone necklace, and if she takes it, then that means she says yes." Zuko nodded. The Fire Nation had its own proposal rituals, so it made sense that the Water Tribe would too. He looked at the airbender. "I'm sorry, Aang, but I don't carve things much better than Sokka would." Aang's head dropped. "Oh, okay." "But," said Zuko, and the Avatar's head shot up. "My uncle used to carve things all the time. I'm sure he'd love to help you." Before Aang could thank him, the door opened.
"Master Fung!" the two teenagers exclaimed. They quickly stood up and bowed before the OWL master. "Fire Lord Zuko, Avatar Aang. It's good to see you," Fung said. "I take it that your rescue mission was a success?" Zuko nodded. "It was, Master Fung. I am grateful for all of your help." Fung waved it off. "It is my duty to aid those seeking justice from the unjust, young one." He motioned for them to sit. "Your balloon and bison have been taken care of and are ready for your departure." "Thank you, Master," replied the youths.
Fung turned to Aang. "Young Avatar," he said. "I'm afraid that your bison is showing his age." "What do you mean?" asked the Avatar. "I mean," Fung continued, "that your bison is slowing down. He is nine years old, correct?" Aang nodded. "Well, when a sky bison reaches the age of nine, they begin to lose their endurance." Fung noticed Aang's concern. "Do not worry, young one. This does not mean that your bison is in any danger. He is completely healthy and will live at least fifteen more years. However, he will not be able to travel around the world any longer. His range will be limited. I estimate that it would be unwise to push him any farther than to Ba Sing Se." Aang looked defeated, while Zuko merely nodded. I guess I was right, he thought. Aang needs an airship. I'll have to tell Sokka to get things moving.
Zuko got up, and bowed. "Thank you, Master," he said, then he left. Aang remained where he was. "Something troubles you, young one?" Fung asked. Aang looked at him and asked, "If Appa can't fly across the world anymore, how will I keep balance in the world?" Fung placed a reassuring hand on the Avatar's shoulder. "You are correct in thinking that your duty has become more difficult, young one," he said. "But do not forget that you are not alone. The Sages are loyal to the Avatar, and you have friends in the Kyoshi Warriors and in the Order of the White Lotus as well. Use your friends' strength, Avatar, and your burden will become easier to bear." Aang cheered up with the advice. He stood and bowed. "Thank you for your advice, Master." "You are welcome, Avatar."
***
At camp, the gang planned how they were going to get back home. "Appa won't be able to go any further than Ba Sing Se, and that's pushing it," said Aang. Zuko stepped forward. "Listen up. Here's what we'll do. Aang, you and Katara will fly on Appa. The rest of us will disassemble the balloon and sandsailer, then build something vaguely airworthy out of the two. We'll all fly to Ba Sing Se. Then Sokka, Suki, and Toph can fly back to Gaoling and Kyoshi on our flying deathtrap." Sokka piped up. "Actually, I was thinking that Toph should come with us to Kyoshi." "WHAT?" "Trust me Toph." Zuko shook his head. "Fine, whatever. Aang, Katara and Momo can head wherever when Appa's up to flying again." "We'll probably take the long way to Kyoshi," said Aang. "I'll send a hawk home, and my mother and I will fly home in my airship," said Zuko. "Any questions?" Zuko paused for a minute, then said, "Alright. Let's move."
**
Two hours later, they were in the air, headed for Ba Sing Se. The skysailer, as they now called their pathetic excuse for an aircraft, looked like a jumbled assortment of parts, but it was sturdy. Basically, they took the main deck of the sandsailer, cut off the mast and wheelhouse, filled in the gaps on the deck and constructed a railing around the edge. Then, they placed the balloon's engine where the sail used to be. Positioned in front of the engine was the sail. Steam was directed towards it, going through a makeshift radiator, propelling the skysailer forwards. Lift was provided by the balloon, and the addition of two large wings.
That's gotta be the ugliest hunk of junk I've ever seen, Sokka thought about his work. But she'll get the job done. He looked at Zuko, who was maintaining the heat for the entire trip. "So," he asked. "I take it you want me to get with the Mechanist, huh?" Zuko nodded. "If Appa can't fly, then the Avatar needs something that can." "Don't worry, Zuko," Sokka assured him. "Between the Mechanist and I, we'll build the best airship Aang could ever want." He glanced at Toph's sleeping figure. "I'll also take Toph. Since she can metalbend, the building process will go much faster." Zuko nodded, then cast his gaze over the horizon. "Well, okay then," Sokka said, "G'night." Sokka lay down next to his wife, and pulled her in close to him. He gave her a soft kiss, and said, "I love you Suki." Then, following her lead, he fell asleep.
***
The next morning, the gang had arrived at the Jasmine Dragon without incident. Sokka and company and already left on the skysailer for Kyoshi, while Ursa and Iroh reunited. A couple hours later, a royal airship landed and picked up the Fire Lord and the Princess, leaving the Avatar and his group alone. "I'm going to the market to restock on supplies," said Katara. "Okay," said Aang, relieved that he'd get some time alone with Iroh. He wrapped his fingers around the stone in his pocket. "I'll just stay here and talk with Iroh." They gave each other a quick peck, then went their separate ways.
Aang stopped short of the teashop's doors. Come on Aang, he told himself. You have to do this. You love Katara, and she loves you back. You know you need to do this. Then, he smiled. No, you want to do this. He opened the door and walked in. "Well, if it isn't the Avatar," said the old man. "Back so soon?" Aang laughed. "It's good to see you too, Iroh," he said, with mock sarcasm. The former general laughed and asked, "What can I do for you, Aang?" He poured Aang, then himself, a cup of freshly brewed jasmine tea.
Aang sat at the table and pulled out the stone. He handed it to Iroh, and then gave him a drawing. "Could you carve this for me?" he asked. Iroh took the stone and the design. Realizing what the airbender meant, he smiled. "Ah. So, who's the lucky girl?" he asked, fairly certain of the answer. "Katara," Aang said proudly. Iroh put the stone in his pocket. "It will be my honor to carve this stone for you," he said. "I should be finished within five months." Aang thanked him, then dashed out the door, unable to contain his whoops of joy. Congratulations, son. You've earned it.
***
Zuko watched out the window as his airship descended over the Fire Nation capital. He scanned the crowd, looking for any potential threat. Then he saw her, at the front of the crowd. He gave his wife a small wave, and then heard his mother ask him, "Is that, Mai?" Zuko smiled. "Yes, she is." Ursa took a moment to process this, she still was recovering from whatever trauma the Phoenixes had inflicted. "So, you're the Fire Lord," she said. Zuko nodded. "And Mai's the Fire Lady." Zuko nodded. Then, the significance dawned on the princess. "So you two are-" Zuko cut her off. "Yes Mom, we are." Ursa wrapped up her son in a bear hug. "I'm so proud of you, Zuko!"
When they landed, Ursa gave her daughter-in-law the same bear hug she gave her son. "It's great to see you too, Mom," Mai said. "But, could you let go, please?" Ursa released her. Zuko led them to their ride back to the palace. Once they were in the palace, Mai put her hand on her husband's shoulder. "Zuko, there's something I need to tell you." She paused for a moment. "Actually, Mom, you should hear this too." "What is it?" asked Zuko. Mai took a deep breath, looked him in the eyes. "Zuko, I'm pregnant." Zuko stood there, dumbstruck. Mai grew concerned, and asked him, "Zuko, are you alright?" Then, a huge grin spread across the Fire Lord's face. He let out an excited whoop, and then pulled his wife in for a passionate kiss. When they broke for air, Zuko told her, "I'm fine."
Avatar: the Last Airbender belongs to Mike DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, and Nickelodeon