A/N: Yikes this was a loooooong wait. I apologize guys. I've had writers block and had to re-do this chapter from scratch several times because it just wasn't working for me. It's much shorter than usual but I figured you guys deserved something. Thank you as always for your patience. I recently got a new job that will allow me to have more free time to write. I'm so happy to finally have a more normal schedule. I was slowly dying, haha. In other news, check out the bottom note for a new fic announcement. Yes, that's right. ;) Enjoy!

Chapter 26 - 01172

The wait is tense as we stand in the courtyard awaiting Iroh's arrival. His letter was short and cryptic. Ursa was able to decipher that he would not only be bringing Lu Ten, but representatives from several provinces. I had no idea his spies were so vast, that there were people in other provinces that wanted to rebel against the Capital.

Zuko is stiff as a statue next to me. After the fourth hand clench I reach over and grab his hand. He laces our fingers and gives me a brief squeeze. I feel him loosen up slightly. On my other side, Bowen can barely stand still, the others on either side of us similarly restless. Out ahead of all of us, Ursa stands alone. She isn't much taller than me, and yet she stands with the authority and strength of a hundred men. A queen in her own right. She's wearing her mask, another measure of security.

Pakku and Asami had taken to the skies on Appa, scouting for their airship or unexpected company.

The rest of the Order remains inside. Ursa thinks it best, as a pre-cautionary, not to reveal all our faces. Especially since many are plastered on wanted posters. Only myself, Zuko, Asami, Bowen, Jeong Jeong and Bumi will attend.

Piandao, Pakku and my dad are busy with the maps, marking where the Fire Lord's armies are weakest, noting border patrols and stations, looking for the best path in which to strike. Toph and Shai will be on guard, hidden in the shadows. Nikka and Jin will watch the skies on Appa. Our last members, Tyran and Lee, are to remain in their sleeping quarters and stay out of sight.

I don't know how long we stand here in uncomfortable silence when Appa finally swarms into view, followed shortly by a Capital airship. It's not as regal as the ship we had stolen from Zhao, but it's still massive and long, a dark metal adorned with a golden dragon head on one end.

Appa lands first, allowing Asami and Pakku to hop off, before Nikka and Jin climb into the saddle. Jin casts a wide-eyed, nervous look our way, but does not panic. The past few weeks have made her braver. I think it might have something to do with Bowen, as I catch the tense, but reassured look on his face as he nods at her.

Appa lets out a roar and leaps into the air. Wind whips my braid across my shoulders as the airship descends and lands in the courtyard, nearly taking up the entire length. A metal door opens.

And then General Iroh descends the stairs.

He looks a little thinner than the last time I saw him. His gray hair is pulled in a top knot, his goatee neatly trimmed, and he's wearing traditional Capital armor. He greets Ursa with a hug, holding her close and murmuring something too quiet for us to hear. His warm eyes lift and land on me—then on Zuko. Iroh breaks away from Ursa as Lu Ten emerges next, followed by a trail of others that I ignore because my focus is now on the approaching general.

I have a sudden urge to force everyone back inside, to let this family have a moment of privacy and peace. But Zuko doesn't let go of my hand or make a move to meet his uncle, so I stay where I am at his side.

Iroh stops short, as if hitting an invisible barrier. His mouth works and I can tell he's fighting the urge to move closer, possibly to pull Zuko into a hug, but seems to think better of it. Instead he slides his hands into his sleeves and bows.

"Nephew," he greets, his eyes still on the ground.

"Uncle."

Iroh straightens and the smile he offers is more sad than happy. "I am…it is so wonderful to see you again. It has been too long."

"Yes," says Zuko, his voice soft. "Much has changed."

They share a look, one that has me glancing away. I only now notice that everyone else had taken a few steps back, leaving the prince and I out ahead. Bowen just shrugs when he catches my eye.

"Some things have not," says Iroh. He turns to me then and offers a warm smile. "Lady Katara. As always, it is a pleasure."

"The same to you. Thank you for meeting us."

"It is time for us to step out of the shadows at last."

Lu Ten approaches and offers a bow, the crown on his head gleaming. I expect Zuko to stiffen at my side, but he remains unnaturally calm—still. Completely unresponsive. Somehow, that seems worse.

"We meet again, Cousin," says Lu Ten. He straightens, his lips forming a small smile. "At least under better circumstances other than your heist and escape."

Zuko lets out a breathy laugh. The rest of the representatives begin heading our way and Shai motions for us to follow him inside.

In one of the sprawling towers there is a library. Most of the books are gone, the tower raided years ago, but few remain, along with wooden desks and few dusty armchairs. The desks have been shoved together to make one large rectangular table, the armchairs shoved off to the side. While we normally meet in the war room, the space would not comfortably accommodate our large crowd. So we've temporary turned the library into a temporary replacement. I also suspect Ursa does not entirely trust everyone here, and doesn't want to put everything we have out on the table.

Ursa and Iroh sit on either end of the table. Our group sits on one side. On the other, Iroh's guests range from army commanders to nobles. One delegate from Five, Six, Eight and Twelve. Ten and Eleven wanted to remain neutral and not involve itself in the conflict. I am surprised we have a fire province among us, and even more so when the delegate regards me with a lifted chin and says, "For staying with our Ty Lee."

I wonder who he is in relation to the fallen tribute.

After brief introductions, Ursa rises from the table, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. "Thank you for meeting with us today." There's a soft murmur from some of the representatives. I wonder if they are surprised to hear a female voice behind the mask. "As you know, we are here to discuss the threat the Fire Lord imposes on us all. Before we begin, I will need everyone who is not a member of the Order to agree to my terms. While the General is trusting, I am not." A bristle from the guests. "I do not mean to offend, but traitors often live behind masks of allegiance."

"An irony, coming from a woman in a mask," scorns the delegate from Six.

"We have traveled here at great risk," says Chen, from Five. "Is that not enough?"

"I am afraid not," says Ursa coolly.

"We will hear your terms," offers a tall, broad woman from Twelve.

"If we are to proceed with this discussion, you must all agree to compulsion," says Ursa.

The delegates react in a mix of outrage and shock. I shoot Zuko a sharp look.

But he's staring at his mother, concealing his surprise behind a mask of stone. This plan of hers…she hadn't discussed it with him, either. Judging by Asami's expression, she didn't know either. Zeong Zeong and Bumi hide their surprise as well. Only Iroh remains completely at ease and calm, like he either expected this or already knew.

Ursa holds up her hand. "It will be painless, I assure you."

I look at Bowen then. Had he learned this technique? Did he somehow mater it?

No…he looks as stunned as the delegates. I turn back to Ursa and ask, "How?"

She gestures to the chair at the end of the table, where a cloaked man sits. I don't remember him being introduced—I don't even remember seeing a man in that chair at all. That idea is frightening enough. As he reaches up and slides off his hood, golden light from the scones illuminate his face.

Every thought empties from my head.

"You…" I breathe.

Long Feng merely inclines his head, a glint to his green eyes. He's wearing the same heavy green robes I remember, balding, with a narrow goatee and sharp angular features. He has an oiliness to him that would make anyone find him untrustworthy.

"What is this?" Zuko demands of Ursa.

"The Dai Li—"

"The Dai Li's pockets are filled with the Fire Lord's gold."

"And now they are filled with your gold," says Long Feng. He grins, exposing crooked teeth. "You will find that loyalty goes hand in hand with currency, boy."

"Boy?" Zuko seethes. "I am your prince."

He glances briefly atop Zuko's head, the gesture somehow more insulting than words themselves. "Not anymore."

Silence. No one dares to say a word. Even Ursa remains quiet. I can't bear to look at Lu Ten.

Zuko somehow does not erupt in the explosive anger I know he's feeling. He simply leans forward, angling himself to better look at Long Feng down the table. I place my hand on his knee, as if the simple gesture will hold him back.

"I don't need a title, or a crown, to burn you alive and cast your ashes into the sea," he says with a deathly calm.

Long Feng has the sense to pale. Before things get worse, I turn to him myself. "You are a spineless snake. Why are you really here?"

He seems to notice me then and his smiles returns, turning predatory. "Ah, Katara. It has been some time, has it not? How I missed our time together."

Zuko scowls and faces his uncle. "Did you know about this?"

A pause. And then—

"I did."

"What?"

Lu Ten leans forward then and says, "It was my idea. I wrote to the Warden and suggested it. We're about to discuss highly classified information and the last thing we need is a leak back to the Fire Lord. Which means either we cut out their tongues, kill them, or we use compulsion. Take your pick."

Zuko just leans back, shaking his head, probably angrier that he was left out of this plan than the actual plan itself.

"I share concerns with the prince," says Jeong Jeong, lacing his fingers on the table. The use of Zuko's true title, the subtle compliment, has me looking at the old master with newfound admiration. He levels a look at Long Feng. "I do not trust the rats that survive off the Fire Lord's crumbs."

Long Feng's smug grin fades at that. "Careful, Jeong Jeong. I recall a time when you—"

"I do not trust you, Long Feng," Ursa interrupts, "but I trust that you wish to live." She delivers the threat casually, but Long Feng does not miss it. "Jeong Jeong, please escort our guest to another chamber for the time being. I'll send for you when we have use for him."

Long Feng has the audacity to look offended. "Is this necessary? My allegiance is to you, Lady."

"Your allegiance is, and has always been, to yourself." She nods at Jeong Jeong again. He wastes no time in roughly issuing Long Feng out.

Ursa waits a long moment after the door shuts to take a seat and gesture across the table with a pale hand. "General, please."

"Thank you," he says, rising. He casts a weary look around the table. "Several months ago, the Fire Lord invaded Province Nine in search for the Spirit Oasis. He succeeded. In doing so, he destroyed the moon spirit and brought upon us the blood moon."

"It was a lunar—" Chen begins, but Iroh cuts him off,

"It was no lunar eclipse, General. That is the story in which the Capital produced to keep their secret. The Fire Lord has not divulged his final plans even to me, but…"

Ursa jumps in then and begins to share what we know. Well, bits and pieces. The attack of Nine, the Fire Lord's hidden book, the reason behind the moon disappearing…too many voices start to clash. I suddenly wish Toph were here, if only to hear her snap and complain at everyone. She's probably banging her head against the wall outside as she hears us.

The thought makes me smile softly until Iroh's voice cracks through like a whip, "Make no mistake, my friends. The Professor's words are true: the Fire Lord seeks immortality and power from the spirits. He is a man that has all the power in the world. What else could he want?"

It's Zuko that fills in the silence, his voice oddly quiet. "To never lose it."

It's hours before the meeting concludes. The subject of mythology is not so easily debatable. I know Toph is either going to kill us or she found a corridor to take a snooze. Either way, I know this will be the end of her guard duty.

When the delegates leave, they are issued into a room with Long Feng—Jeong Jeong, Bumi and Bowen standing guard. I don't like Long Feng's methods, but I can't fault Ursa to agreeing to them. And having the Dai Li on our side gives us a huge advantage for infiltration. The question remains if the slippery snake can be trusted.

No, he cannot be trusted. But he can be threatened.

Currency could buy loyalty, sure. But there was no higher value than fear itself. I would know.

In the end, it is Bumi that makes the lasting impression on the delegates—and on the rest of us.

He's in the middle of a sentence when I interrupt him."You mentioned a harmonic convergence. What is that, exactly?"

Eyes shift to me, as if remembering I'm here. I have been mostly silent so far, letting the more experienced adults converse.

"It is when the planets align and spiritual energy is greatly amplified," says Bumi. "This causes the spirit portals at the North and South Poles to merge."

I shake my head. "What does that mean?"

"Finally, someone is asking the right questions." Bumi leans forward, his eyes glinting. "It means the Fire Lord is not limited to the spirits of our world. It means he can enter the Spirit World near the portals that connect the two poles of the physical world."

It dawns on me then. The cover of the book, the texts, the diary.

"Vaatu," I breathe. "He plans to enter the Spirit World during the next harmonic convergence and unleash Vaatu."

"Unleash, or more likely control, yes."

"But he's…he's locked in a tree." My voice sounds hollow. Terrified.

"With the energy amplified during the convergence, I do not know if the Tree can contain him. But if the story is to believe, Vaatu cannot leave the Spirit World unless the portals remain open."

"Who is this Vaatu?" asks the delegate from Twelve.

It is Iroh, surprisingly, that tells the story of this dark spirit. A myth he appears to fully believe.

"And when is this supposed Harmonic Convergence?" asks Chen, who has grown paler by the second.

I fight down a sigh of defeat. We might know the Fire Lord's plan, but little good does it do us if we don't know when it will happen. Are we supposed to just camp out at the portal entrance, assuming we can even find it?

After a long silence, it's Asami that surprises us with her quiet voice. "We do know when."

"What?" Bowen turns to her.

"Jin…those numbers." She rummages through her notes before settling on one piece of parchment. "01172. It wasn't a code. It was a date."

The plan sounds simpler than it actually is: try to stop the Fire Lord from entering the Spirit World during the harmonic convergence. Prepare for him succeeding, and be ready to defeat him if he kills Vaatu. Shut down the portals. Take control of his main army and use it against him.

There was no way, I thought, that the delegates would be joining us. No way, not after asking Bumi for more information on the dark spirit and learning of it's power. Long Feng's compulsion would erase our faces, voices, and location. It would erase our plan—it would only leave the barest remnant, of the knowledge of what the Fire Lord planned to do and if they wanted to stop him, they were to meet at a specific location with any numbers they could manage. A location, of course, that would change once we saw they were alone.

But we know when the harmonic convergence is happening. The first day of the first month of the one hundred and seventy second year of this era.

We knew the day, which was good. It gave us a slight advantage. The bad...it was less than a month away.

A/N: Thank you for reading! We are getting close to the end, my friends. I've already started on the epilogue and I can't wait to get there. :) As always, your patience and words of encouragement help keep me motivated. Thank you. 3

As mentioned, I do have a new fic announcement. This is something that has inspired me for a while and an idea I just couldn't get rid of. As a child, I was a huge fan of playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It's a classic, as you likely know. A few months ago I bought Breath of the Wild and GOODNESS is it amazing. I've beaten the game, and it was only when I started playing it on Master Mode was I hit with a strong need to tell a story in this world. I've never written in the Zelda fandom, and I'm always cautious of diving into a new one, but I couldn't shake this. I even stayed up until 2 AM last night (despite knowing I had to be up at 7) to work on it.

I'm happy to announce I will be writing The Hero of Time, a retelling of sorts of The Breath of the Wild. Without giving much away, the story will be told from Zelda's POV. The Champions will play a large role. Link will be a badass. Lynels will talk. Impa is a grouch. Baby Sidon.

I hope you'll join me on this adventure. It won't cause me to slow down with The Phoenix Queen, I assure you. If anything, this actually helped me finish this latest chapter. Inspiration works in wondrous ways. ;)