A/N: Yep, early update and no waiting until December. However, no words of mine will do this chapter justice if I have written it well, so I will simply let your own emotions decide if my writing is worthy of the moments that follow. Special thanks goes to the marvelous and brilliant and amazing embodiment of talent that is Like A Dove, whose writing is stunning and must be enjoyed (she's the author of pieces like the highly praised "I Was Not Magnificent" and the hilarious "Come Quietly"). She has beta-read and stamped her approval on this chapter, and now it awaits your judgment. Read on.

Edit: Additional special thanks to JackieStarSister for pointing out typos in this chapter and many others and for her general awesomeness.

Of the journey to the lake shore, which we make first by monorail car and then on foot, I think I'll eventually remember little except for three brief snapshots of time.

The first moment came while Team Avatar plus Jin and the Freedom Fighters were waiting just outside the tea shop while Iroh arranged for some of the workers to care for Tayla in our absence. Jin sat down with her back leaning against the shop and held out her arms. Tayla climbed on her lap, folded her arms around Jin's neck, and rested her small head on her sister's shoulder.

The child's mouth was a pout. "How come you're going again when you just got back?" she complained.

"You goof, it won't be long," Jin said, ruffling her sister's thick hair. "And meantime you behave for these good people, got it? And don't sneak all the teacakes or I'll getcha when I get back!" Jin lifted Tayla's shirt and blew into her stomach. The little girl giggled and tugged on her sister's braids to get her to let go.

Iroh peeked out of the shop just as they looked ready to break into a wrestling match right there in the street. "Everything is arranged," he said. "Are we all ready?"

"Yeah, okay," Tayla groaned, "but just one more thing." She marched over to Zuko, who was chatting about something with Toph, and tugged on his sleeve. "Hey, you listen. Come down here."

Zuko smiled and squatted so they were on eye level. "Don't worry, we're all coming back soon. Me included."

"I know, but I have a job for you, mister. You look after my sister, you got it? Or when you get back you're going to be in big trouble with me!"

I'll give Zuko this: he kept a straight face as he placed a hand over his heart. "Don't worry," he said seriously. "I promise I'll keep her safe."

Tayla gave him a surprisingly long and penetrating look and Jin came over to join them. "You better," she said.

He pulled the child into his arms as Jin watched. "I promise," he said. Tayla nodded and clung to his shirt and buried her face in his neck, and seeing this made my throat tighten. The way she was holding on, you'd think she was scared she'd never see him again even though all we were taking was a quick trip to get Appa back. Tayla backed away into the doorway and stood there looking out. They say children have a much keener sense and insight into some things than adults, and to see her face so pale and serious was to have a cold fist clutch my stomach. I told myself it was only because, just a few hours earlier, we all wondered if Zuko would survive at all and she was afraid to see him go so soon.

Still, as Iroh took Tayla's hand to lead her inside, I couldn't help but remember again that in life there are moments you can never get over no matter how hard you try. They are moments like Zuko's hurt eyes by the creek the night I tried to freeze it without realizing he was afraid of cold water. They are moments like me and Aang and Sokka and Zuko standing over Toph when she slowly shook her head, silently confessing that sandbenders had kidnapped Appa and Iroh. They are moments like me watching Iroh pull Tayla gently into the tea shop. Her wide eyes swept over all of us, and then she broke out of Iroh's grasp and hugged Zuko and Jin at once because they were standing next to each other. She hugged them so hard and whispered come back soon, okay? like this promise might keep them safe.

Iroh taking her hand afterward and leading her inside, and the door closing on Tayla's ashen face, is a moment that will stay with me.

The second moment came during the monorail ride when I was alone with Jet. Actually, it began with me being alone with Smellerbee. She tugged me out of a conversation with my brother and asked for a quick private talk. "Sure," I said and followed her down the length of the car until we were out of earshot. "Everything okay?"

"Kind of," she admitted. "I just thought you should know that Jet's been acting a bit off since he got back, and something about his story isn't adding up. The way he tells it, he went to talk to the Dai Li and they told him about Appa and showed him the way to Lake Laogai. But that couldn't have taken three days, and that's how long he was gone."

Three days, just like Sokka, Toph, and Jin. "That's weird," I agreed, my original suspicion growing. "Something definitely doesn't feel right about this, but I don't think Aang's going to give up any chance of finding his friend. We'll just have to be really careful going down there."

Smellerbee sighed. "I'm just worried about him."

"Worried about who, me?" We both looked up and there Jet was, playing the cool guy with his shoulder leaning against the wall, though for once without the prairie grass stalk he might as well permanently fix to his mouth. "Longshot wants you," he told Smellerbee, a phrase which actually meant I get a private talk with Katara next.

When she was gone, he sat on the bench beside me. "Still mad?" he asked.

"What do you want now?"

"To talk. Or what, I'm not allowed that?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "I can't decide if you're actually on our side."

Jet raised one eyebrow at me. "I haven't proven that?"

"You know Zuko is the Fire Lord's son, and we both know what you think about firebenders. We trust you enough to check out this Lake Laogai place, but honestly, you have plenty of reason to mislead us."

"Me? Come on. You're so quick to forget how much I helped you out in the Serpent's Pass?"

No, and that's precisely the reason I was sitting next to him at all. I remembered Jet helping the passengers climb over the railing and distracting the serpent with his hook swords so Aang and I could help get everyone safely to shore. I remembered him joining us in a mission to take down the Fire Nation drill. Most of all, though, I remembered realizing my brother and Zuko were somewhere down with the sinking Titan, and Jet swimming down there with me through water like ice, and finding our friends trapped in a submerged kitchen closet, and him taking my brother while I took Zuko and us swimming to shore. What I remembered, and what I will always remember, is Jet wrenching the closet door open and scooping up an unconscious Sokka while Zuko lunged for me and held on tight. We swam up through water touched by a very distant light, and when my brother and Zuko depended on us for their lives, it was Jet who sent me a glance across the translucent space of sea between us because he was here to help me. In some other life, we would have made good friends. We still might once the war is over, especially since it seems he's really gotten over his hate for firebenders—or, at least, that he's keeping it tucked in some dark corner of his heart where at least it won't hurt Zuko or Iroh.

From the monorail ride, here is what I will remember: Jet smiling as he awaited an answer, and me nodding and saying yeah, I guess you're alright even though, somewhere at the very back of my mind, a small voice whispered remember what Smellerbee said.

The third moment—and this is the one I will probably remember clearest of all—came when the misty shoreline of Lake Laogai was maybe five more minutes of walking away. Jin was up ahead with Zuko, chatting about some upcoming city event. I had taken up the rear so I had a good vantage point from which to watch them. Zuko and Jin, talking. Great.

Iroh glanced back, saw me lagging, and slowed down to fall in step beside me. "And why are you so far behind the others? Tell me, why are you upset?

"Reasons," I said unhelpfully, hoping he'd leave me alone.

He chuckled. "Nonsense. There are not multiple reasons, only one. And even if you choose to remain stubborn about it, it's already quite clear."

I sighed. "We're going one a wild chase for Appa to some sketchy lake based on trusting Jet's word."

"Yes, and that has absolutely nothing to do with it. Believe me, in my long life, I have learned that sighs like yours can only mean one thing. Don't deny it."

I stared down very intently and focused on my feet taking long strides so I didn't have to look at Iroh and reveal my blush. "No, really. I'm fine. It's not important anyway."

"Hmm. I see," he said casually. "Well, regardless, I have a story that might cheer you up. Would you like to know more about my arrival in Ba Sing Se?"

What relevance that had to the conversation, I couldn't possibly imagine. "Sure," I said, not wanting to be disrespectful.

"After a very long journey, I was very tired," he began thoughtfully. "You can imagine how glad I was to sit down for a long, restful nap on the monorail car ride from the outer wall to the city. But do you know what happened? I was woken up right in the middle, and by tea! It was the scent of some of the finest tea I ever tasted. Do you know who I met on my monorail ride?"

"Uh . . . the tea shop owner who hired you as a server?" I guessed.

"Ah, yes!" Iroh said. "He was also taking the track that day to his home in the upper ring, and he tasted this tea and was very impressed. I prepared some of my own tea later in the shop and impressed him more"—he grins, pleased with himself—"but the tea that woke us both was fantastic and not my own. And it was prepared by our own Jin! We had stopped at a station in the lower ring to pick up passengers and she came onboard, too, trying to sell her tea to earn an income."

Hmm. The first day I met Jin, I remember thinking it odd that she was in the restricted upper ring even though she seemed dressed like a lower-class citizen. Probably this is how she got the invitation.

"The tea shop owner himself happens to be an old friend of mine. Having friends is very important," Iroh mused. "On my many voyages throughout the world, I have seen large ships and small ships and find that friendship is the greatest of them all."

Up ahead, Zuko chuckled at some joke Jin just made. I sighed again, though Iroh's words did make me feel a bit better since my friends are the best in the world. If only there weren't other important ships to think about, too.

"And do you know why I think it happens to be a wonderful thing that Jin was hired to work at the tea shop?" Iroh went on.

"Uh . . . better tea means happier customers?"

He smiled gently. "Because she met my nephew and opened his heart to love."

Oh, that's right. Of course. "Yeah. She's pretty amazing," I grumbled.

"Wrong! She could have been nearly anyone. What matters is she is not afraid to take initiative. She was not scared to arrange a date, although she carefully did this by speaking to me first. She admits what she feels, but gently, and this is what has warmed my nephew towards her. Katara, you must understand that he has gone through much and life has left him with more than visible scars. He will not reach out easily. It takes a wise woman to see that confession is always weakness for a man only beginning to heal. But if he will say nothing, then she must be the one to reach out slowly and carefully. Being too blunt and direct will also frighten a young man off. There is a balance to push and pull in love, as in all things."

Iroh paused long enough for me to realize there was pain building in the general region of my chest.

"When I was a boy, I discovered a beautiful turtle duck pond in the palace," he said. "Even as an adult, I often returned there to feed my friends. Do you know how to befriend wild turtle ducks? You begin by setting out bread. If you don't look at them, they will eat. After you do this for a few days you can begin making brief sideways glances, never facing the turtle ducks directly. If you make eye contact, you must look away quickly and always make soft eyes. Humility is the key to trust. Eventually, you can turn to look at them and, slowly, begin to make eye contact with your friendly gaze. Sometimes it takes a while, and you must continue to show yourself to not be a threat. You must always be humble, and if you are, you will find that the turtle ducks will come to you in time. When you finally open your palm to a wild bird and it willingly comes gently to your hand, and you look into one another's eyes, you understand that the long journey of trust has been for a precious and unbreakable bond."

We were nearly at the lake shore, but for a moment Iroh stopped and we looked at each other. I have learned that eyes are the language of intent, and his said you love my nephew and I have done what I can to help. Zuko's heart was open now thanks to Jin, who honestly did more than open his heart. She opened my eyes to my real feelings, ones it was time to act on in more ways than one stupid kiss that was more me attacking Zuko's mouth than anything. To befriend a turtle duck takes time, and patience, and a quiet moment alone. Next time Zuko and I are alone together, I'll bring up the restaurant night. I'll pretend to apologize for the kiss, but really it will just be me opening my palm to a wild boy to see if he will come willingly. They say if you want something from someone, give that person a way to give it to you. Iroh's right. I have to give Zuko a way and be the one to risk confession in an honest and gentle way.

The final of three moments I will remember is the thing Iroh said as he wrapped me in a hug. "Love grows from a single soul inhabiting two bodies," he whispered in my ear. "From what my nephew has told me about you, I have faith your love may become like a spirit bond in its strength. Kiss not to set fire to a moment but to speak when words fail to say that which you most want to express, and then you will be kissing not lips but a man's very heart."

Those three snapshots of time have brought us here, right now, to the misty shores of Lake Laogai where we are about to begin our descent.

"This is as far as the Dai Li showed me," Jet says. "I think we're supposed to figure out the rest on our own."

"Well, that's helpful," Sokka complains. "You couldn't have asked for a map of some kind? And are we supposed to swim down there or . . . what?"

Toph walks along the water's edge. "Hmm. We're supposed to get under the lake, huh? There's a tunnel right there near the shore." She leaps and lands with her arms swept out, completing an earthbending move that raises a stone pathway to the water surface. She walks along it to a disc in the ground, which she easily bends aside. We peer into the dark shaft beneath it where a narrow ladder leads down to a small circle of pale light.

She's grinning. "See, no swimming required."

"Nice, very nice," my brother says. They exchange a quick high-five.

"I'll go first," Zuko offers. He swings onto the ladder and starts to climb, followed closely behind by my brother. I wait for almost last to go since I made the brilliant move of strapping on the swords and they're throwing off my balance in action. I'm half-scared I'll fall off the ladder with them, but I couldn't leave them behind since I'm getting decently good and they might come in use. Jin doesn't go down right off, either, and we're both left standing at the top looking down into the gloom after everyone else is gone.

"You first," she says nervously.

"It's just a tunnel," I say for both our benefits.

"Yeah, but what about everything else beneath it?"

For the first time, I realize she's shaking. "Hey." I touch her arm. "We're going to be okay. Trust me. We've been through some crazy stuff on the way to the city, and we've always made it out just fine."

Jin looks back toward shore. "I want to go because I want to help you guys, but if something happens, who's going to take care of my sister?"

"You will, because nothing's going to happen," I assure her. "You really ask some stupid questions."

We're both smiling.

"Alright, but you watch my back," she says.

"With those knives of yours, you'll be one watching mine. Now, come on." I step down onto the ladder and feel the precarious pull of gravity on my swords, trying to unbalance me. "Let's go."

As we go down the ladder, I remember what Jin showed us back at the tea shop. Apparently, life in the lower ring for two young girls with no parental protection meant defending yourself a lot from creeps like the ones who attacked me when I got lost. Some street thugs who took pity on Jin a few years back taught her some tricks with knives. Now she's handy with a set of long sharp blades, serrated near the handle for close-combat cutting. Kind of like Mai, I muse.

Once we're both at the bottom, we see we're in a tunnel that leads two ways. Both directions are lit by green stone lanterns that cast a pale and sickly glow across the smooth walls and floor.

"We should split up to cover ground more quickly," Zuko says. "I'll take a team and Aang can take one. Uncle, will you come with me?"

Toph looks like she's about to make a lunge for Zuko, only Jin beats her to his side. "I'm on Team Zuko!" she says cheerfully.

Though I originally wanted to stick with my brother and Aang, that doesn't leave me with much choice. "Me, too," I say, joining the group of four. "I guess if we take one more," I realize, counting, "we'll be split even."

Jet sidles up. He leans in close enough that if he had his prairie grass, it would probably be poking in my face. "Today's your lucky day, sweetheart," he coos. "I'll do you the favor of getting on Team Zuko, too."

"Great," Toph groans. "Leave the rest of us to go off on a fun tunnel adventure with Twinkletoes. Come on, Snoozles." She grabs Sokka by the collar and drags him off after Aang, Smellerbee, and Longshot. Momo chirps from Aang's shoulder, his ears swiveled back. We watch them go, and then Iroh, Zuko, Jin, Jet, and I set off in the other direction. Surprisingly, Jin sticks close to me than to Zuko. Maybe something about me being the only other girl, or maybe just because I'm the one she confessed her fear to before we came down here.

We're not far in when we hear footsteps ahead. "Company," Zuko whispers. "Get down!" We hide in a shallow alcove leading off the main wide passageway and remain concealed in the dark as a pair of Dai Li agents walk past us.

"You know, we could just go ask them about Appa," Jet suggests when the guards are out of eartshot. "I mean, they did tell me he's here. Why shouldn't they help us now?"

We glance at each other. That's actually not a bad point, only I remember what Smellerbee said about something being off about Jet's story. "I don't know," I say. "How about we just look around first."

"Yes," Iroh agrees. "It is quite strange to have such a series of passageways hidden beneath a lake. With all of these agents around, I suspect this may be a headquarters for something more sinister than it seems."

We sneak ahead through another tunnel, until suddenly I realize Jin's no longer beside me. "Jin?" I call, glancing back.

"Guys," she whispers, waving us back. She's edged up to a partially opened door. "Check this out."

She scoots out of the way and I take my turn at peeking. Inside are rows of women dressed just like that Joo Dee who met us when we arrived at the city and tried to babysit us during our initial few days in the city until we met Long Feng. Their wide eyes stare blankly, without blinking, at a Dai Li agent instructing them in a certain speech.

"I'm Joo Dee," the agent says. "Welcome to Ba Sing Se."

"I'm Joo Dee," the women echo in unison. "Welcome to Ba Sing Se."

I pull back and swallow a gasp. With the eerie green light cast across their faces, it's like they're under hypnosis . . . or . . . being brainwashed? The rest of the city is practically brainwashed, made to believe they live in a world with no war. This would only be a slight extension of the concept. Hmm. While Zuko and Iroh check out the creepy Joo Dees, I think for a second about how despite being kidnapped, neither Sokka nor Toph nor Jin had any memory of that restaurant evening. I think, too, of how Jet's story didn't quite satisfy Smellerbee's timeline. And why would the Dai Li guide us down here, unless . . .

I suddenly realize Jet's no longer among us. "Where'd he go?" I ask.

"Over here!" he calls loudly. I whirl to see him standing between two Dai Li agents, who seem to be entirely unperturbed by our presence.

Zuko's mouth twitches. "I thought we agreed—"

"Don't worry," Jet says calmly. "While you guys were messing around, I asked these guys and they say they'll take us straight to Appa. See, I'm telling you. They're our friends." And I think by his genuine smile, he seriously believes that. Either way, we don't have a choice now. With a deep breath, I follow Jet and his Dai Li friends to a sealed stone door. They slide the door aside and lead us through. It's certainly a cell big enough to hold Appa. Maybe it's not a trick after all.

At least, this is what I think until we enter and the stone door abruptly slides shut behind us.

"Thank you, Jet, for leading not even one but two firebenders to me, banished son of the Fire Lord and the mighty Dragon of the West," Long Feng says grimly from where he stands by the far wall of the chamber. "Your assistance in capturing these enemies of the state is appreciated."

Jet blinks, genuinely surprised. "Huh? What are you—"

But Long Feng doesn't have time to listen. His eyes flicker towards the ceiling. "Once they're finished, take whoever is left into custody," he orders. I look up and only now do I notice Dai Li agents high above up, suspended from chains or clinging to the ceiling itself.

"Hey, listen!" Jet argues. "I was told to bring the Avatar down here so he could get his sky bison. What's with this custody stuff?"

But the pieces are coming together in my mind. As Smellerbee suspected, Jet did go to report the Fire Lord's son being in the city. When the Dai Li tried to capture him the first time after the restaurant, Zuko alone managed to escape—proving he wouldn't be as easy to catch as the rest of our friends. Of course, Jet only met Zuko and could only have reported him. He never saw Iroh, but it's clear how they found out about such a famous bender. Iroh himself suspected that since the Dai Li made the first move, they would be tracking our location carefully. Under careful observation, it would be easy to recognize a man whose title and status is very clear to Long Feng. Iroh would be even more difficult to trap than Zuko without a public showing. Luring us down here with the promise of Appa was a quick and clean way to lock both firebenders away for the rest of their days.

Only . . . the Dai Li aren't attacking. At least, not yet.

"Unfortunately, I have found the Fire Nation exceptionally unwilling to bargain," Long Feng says. "So I have no use for you"—he glances at Zuko, then at Iroh—"to clutter up my prisons. Instead, we shall play a game while my agents search the rest of this compound. I'm certain the Avatar is around here, too, looking for his precious bison. Perhaps we will get lucky and find his bison, or perhaps we will find the Avatar first."

"If you think you can intimidate us, you can't," Jin snaps. The knives are in her hands, shining even in the pale lantern glow. "We can take you and all your agents on. Just bring it!"

"My agents will collect what remains of your bodies when you have finished each other off."

Jin's face is all fire. I expect her to prove she's a bender after all any second now. "No way you're hurting my friends. Not on my watch."

Long Feng nods. "Of course I won't hurt them. You will."

"Are you crazy or what?"

"No, but I do think I'm about to enjoy watching faithful Earth Kingdom citizens fight for their beloved home against that very nation which believes it can own the world. Jin, Jet"—the very smallest breath of a smile tugs at the corners of Long Feng's mouth—"the Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai."

Two things happen at once. I yell what are you taking about as Jin and Jet, their pupils dilating, say I am honored to accept his invitation. The next thing I know, Jin is behind me and has cut through the strings keeping the water skin on my back. She throws it to Jet, who catches it on his hook swords and flings the skin to Long Feng with a great force of torque. The Dai Li leader catches it neatly. "Now this will be a more even game," he says. "Begin."

Jin goes straight for Zuko while Jet comes right at me. A trio of Dai Li agents drop from the ceiling to deal with Iroh, whose fists are already filled with flames. I only have time to see one of Jin's knives catch Zuko across the shoulder, opening a gash that sends a gush of blood running down his chest and arm, before I have to draw on the only weapons I've got left to protect myself from Jet. We stare each other down, hook swords versus dual dao.

He takes a slash at my neck. I deflect the attack and jump backwards. Quickly reversing my footing as Zuko has taught me, I charge and swing both swords at Jet's feet. He leaps back, landing in a crouching position, and returns the charge. We swing together and both pairs of weapons clash. His blank eyes don't leave mine, but I look aside just briefly to see how my friends are faring.

Two Dai Li men are already unconscious on the ground, though a few more agents have joined the fray to take down Iroh. He sends a fireball at the ceiling, coaxing another handful of agents down. With his bending, he's like a one-man army. I muse for a moment that, if Iroh were the brainwashed one, not even all of my friends together could probably take him down. Good thing he's on our side.

But right now, I have to focus on gaining control from Jet. He strikes again, and though I manage to block it our swords lock. However much Zuko has taught me, Jet's been doing this his whole life. I'm already starting to tire, my muscles meant for waterbending and not for swordplay. Jet shoves hard and sends me backwards, himself spinning and swinging his swords at my stomach. I deflect the strike, but the force of my momentum sends me spinning too far to the left. My whole right side is wide open, and Jet's blade is already humming at my ribs.

There's a clang of metal on metal, but this time it's Zuko whose blades have intercepted Jet's. He must have been using the swords to defend himself from Jin's knives without actively hurting her with firebending. "Get your water skin back," he hisses at me, then runs off with Jet in close pursuit. Oh. Well, duh. My eyes cut to Long Feng. As I charge, I form this realization: Zuko just saved my life.

I see the Dai Li leader glance to my left, and this also saves my life. Because when I follow his eyes, I see Jin running at me clutching three knives in her fist. The first knife goes in my left shoulder and stays there. I cut the second out of the air with my swords, though I gasp, the sharpness of pain from the first knife threatening to knock me out.

"Jin, stop it!" I yell desperately. "It's me, Katara. I'm your friend, and you don't have to do this."

Her response is throwing the third knife, which cuts a gash across my forehead. Blood blinds my eyes, and I stumble, the metallic taste filling my mouth. A body slams into me, knocking me flat on my back and the swords out of my grasp. Jin pins my arms down with her knees. I know what will happen next. She will rip the serrated knife from my shoulder, the knife wet and slick with my own blood, and cut into my throat. Already, her hand has grabbed the handle.

"Zuko!" I scream. At the end of everything, he's the only coherent thought I've got left.

She's ripped off my body by Zuko hurtling sideway into her, his swords now sheathed. I shriek as the knife is ripped from my shoulder by the force of Jin's grip. They tumble over on the cold stone floor until they roll to a halt, the firebender pinning her. "Jin, you have to remember you're not with them. You're with us."

She stabs the knife coated with my blood into his side. Tearing it back out so fresh blood courses over Zuko's shirt, she aims a stab for his heart. He catches her wrist, his face braced for agony or already in it, and suddenly he pushes her down and kisses her against the stone floor. He kisses her, and Jin drops the knife in surprise or shock.

He kisses her, and Jin comes back to us.

"Zuko," she murmurs when he pulls away. Something about their bond must have cut through the mental fog of brainwashing the Dai Li tried to cast. And if it worked on Jin—I try not to think about the image of Zuko kissing her, not yet—then there must be a way to bring Jet back by forcing him to remember.

I sit up despite the ripping pain through my shoulder. "Jet!" I yell. "Jet, we're your friends. They can't make you fight us."

His gaze cuts to me from where he, too, was trying to deal with Iroh. He raises his hook swords. "Finish off that waterbender," Long Feng instructs. Jet runs right at me.

Panting hard, Zuko skids between us. His swords are back out now, sparring with Jet to keep him back from me. I brace my hands against the floor to keep from falling. I wipe blood out of my eyes with the back of my hand. "Jet," I call weakly. Now I'm pleading. "Jet, please. It's me, Katara. I'm your friend, and no one can make you fight us."

From a distance, Long Feng smiles coldly. "I'm afraid you don't understand. He no longer has a choice."

"Jet, please," I beg desperately. "Don't you remember swimming with down to the sinking ship? You saved Zuko's life, too. Remember the serpent? Remember the Serpent's Pass?"

He's panting now, too, and though his eyes stay inky pools of shadow there's sweat running down his face. He's tiring, but so is Zuko. And even though Iroh has knocked out many Dai Li agents, there are still more to fight off and I don't know how much longer any of us can last—me included.

"Do your duty, Jet," Long Feng says.

"Jet, you're not on their side!" I shout. "You're a Freedom Fighter!"

But it's not enough. Not for Jet in this state. He comes at me and I'm forced to struggle to my feet and hold up my swords with shaking hands. I can't fight him for long. Not like this. His arms swing wide, and the swords come racing inward at my sides. I barely manage to block them. There's a wide gap between us, my swords pushing out and his pushing in, and suddenly all I can think about is the kiss that returned Jin to us. I close my eyes as the wound pulses in my shoulder and I know this is it, my last stand. There's only one chance. To bring him back, I have to risk it.

I break my swords out of the lock and drop them. Before Jet can strike again, while there is still empty space between us, I lunge forward and press against his body. My hands go to either side of his jaw, and I take his mouth with mine.

In a last desperate act, I kiss Jet to bring him home.

At this, he freezes and straightens up. I look into his eyes and see they're full not of darkness now but of fog. He looks startled, and the skin over his eyes sags down onto his eyelids. He looks down at the ground, and meanwhile I've backed up a few steps and am filling my lungs with air, just trying to steady myself. But I can't, and I drop to my hands and knees. I sit back. My hands go to my head and I lean forward, just trying to breathe. "Jet," I call, though it's probably too weak for him to hear. "Jet, you have to remember."

"Fight them! Fight them now!" Long Feng orders.

But with a snarl of rage, Jet whirls and hurls one of his swords directly at Long Feng. Another Dai Li agent intercepts the weapon with a fist of rock, though there are only two or three of them left to fight Iroh. The rest have been taken down by the one-man force that is the Dragon of the West. Zuko is helping Jin up, and Jet has kneeled down to help me sit. I pant against his shoulder like the wounded creature I am. And there's blood on my arm, on my chest, on my face, and still no water to heal myself or any of my friends.

While I hold on to Jet, I hear Long Feng say a very simple thing from a very long distance away. He says they say dragons are extinct, but there is one left . . . it is time for that saying to hold true in all case, and in a moment of sharp revelation I know what's coming. I yell Iroh as Long Feng's fist shoots straight out in the start of an earthbending move. Iroh looks at me, which is the exact opposite direction in which he should be looking, but either way an out-thrust of stone is already coming. Zuko sees it, too, and shrieks Uncle. But even before Iroh turns around, the accelerating force of the stone column has reached him.

A momentary wave of dust falls over Iroh. When it clears, I see that the full brunt of the strike has left him motionless on the ground. Zuko cuts down the final two Dai Li agents, one left and one right, and drops to his uncle's side. Long Feng lifts himself to the entrance of a high tunnel on a column of stone.

"Foolish firebenders," he says. "At least now the last dragon is dead." And with that, he turns and vanishes down the dark passage and leaves us alone in the blood and dust.

Everything that follows this moment comes to me in a great haze.

The blood loss from my shoulder and forehead has left me weak and unable to stand. Jet lifts me up, one hand beneath the crook of my knees and the other supporting my back. He follows Zuko out, who is carrying his uncle, with Jin right behind us. I swim in and out of consciousness as we run through the tunnels back the way we came, looking for the ladder and the way out. I roll my face against Jet's arm, my fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt, trying to hold on. I've got a lot of healing to do once we're out of here. I have to stay focused until we reach the lake.

In a few minutes, the feel of light on my eyelids pulls me towards awakening. The cold smell of water lets me know we're either out of the tunnels or nearly there. Someone is setting me down on coarse sand. This person is Jet, I remember. My mind is cloudy and it's hard to remember anything.

"Katara?" Someone else is shaking my shoulder. "Katara, there's water here. You have to heal yourself and my uncle. Katara!"

But I'm distracted by familiar animal grumbling from somewhere far off. I open my eyes and see, on a different shore of the lake, many Dai Li agents and a great white animal among them. "Appa," I murmur. Aang must have found him after all and freed him from the headquarters below.

Zuko lifts me up and carries me closer to the water. He helps me sit and lowers my hands in the water. "My uncle's hurt, and so are you." He places my hand on my own shoulder so I feel the open wound. "You need to focus. Please."

The simple fact of Zuko holding me is enough to leave me weak and dizzy, but I understand the urgency in his voice. Water flows over my shoulder, and I heal the gash. This doesn't restore my blood loss, though, and it's all I can do to cling to Zuko and not faint. He carries me over to his uncle and sets me down. "Now heal him," he says, choosing his uncle's injuries over his own.

Feeling just a little better, I smooth a layer of healing water over Iroh's chest to inspect the damage. I whisper you'll be okay as if the comforting words could change what my healing powers know isn't looking good at all. Zuko kneels beside me. His fingers touch my arm. His hands are shaking. He has to ask how is it several times before I hear it.

"This isn't good," I admit, quietly so only he hears.

His throat is tight with tears. He has to swallow twice to speak. "You're a healer."

For these brief moments I try not to think of the obvious, which is that if only I were a better waterbender and maybe not so tired I could answer with something more than: "I can only make this less painful."

At this moment, a great force of wind and dust sweeps over us. Appa has landed on the beach with all of our friends safely on his back. "Guys, come on!" Aang calls. "Guys—Iroh? Oh, no."

The Avatar helps airbend Iroh gently onto the saddle and we take off. I do what I can with my water to lesson Iroh's pain. Beside me, Zuko holds one palm open and looks hard at its creased lines. Maybe he's wishing for his fire to be more healing than my failing water. He gasps suddenly and grabs his side where Jin stabbed him. There's blood on his hands now, too.

"Spirit water," he says suddenly.

"Zuko—"

"You healed me with water from that vial around your neck!" He grabs my collar with his red-stained hands and drags me closer. "Where is it? Where'd you hide it?"

"I used it all on you," I remind him.

His eyes are fire. "What? No, you're lying! Give it to me!"

"I can't. I don't have any left."

Zuko's eyes narrow, and he's breathing hard, and suddenly I'm worried he'll grab a fistful of my hair or try to search me for the vial. He seems crazed with anguish, as if this loss is unbearable beyond any measure I can ever understand. Like he's reliving a pain he'd kept locked up all this time, but now it was set loose again. I'm again seeing into that dark doorway he keeps hidden in his heart, the black place he sealed up and we all thought he'd never return to again.

"Zuko," Iroh whispers urgently. His nephew pushes past me and bows low over his uncle's head. Aang and Sokka each sit on one of my sides, helping to keep me steady so I can keep my healing water over the internal bleeding I sense deep within Iroh's body.

"You're going to be okay," Zuko tells his uncle, trying to smile, but it doesn't take seismic sense for all of us to know he's lying.

"I have a few small requests," Iroh says, slowly. He seems more tired now than I have ever seen him. And beneath my hands, through the force of water healing, the bleeding shows no signs of letting up.

"Anything," Zuko says, tears flowing freely now.

"Try not to lose your way, because I sense it will be you that will restore peace to the world and honor to the Fire Nation. I only wish I could see the light coming off you the day this war is finally over. You also have a marvelous talent for music, and especially for singing, but you use your voice so little. Will you sing something for me? Will you sing my favorite song and promise to sing more often from now on?"

Zuko's mouth opens, but his throat must be so tight with tears that he can't even form one word. He's choking on grief, but for his uncle's sake, he nods and whispers I promise and begins.

Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile, tiny shells

Drifting in the foam

And Zuko's voice is more remarkable, more gentle than I would have imagined. It cuts right through my heart with its softness and pure life. The quiet lull of the melody flutters Iroh's eyes shut. His chest is moving only slightly now, fighting for a few more breaths so his nephew can finish the music that warms the world like candlelight.

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy—

But Zuko can't go on. He buries his face in his uncle's shirt, sobbing, letting the clothes soak up his tears like the sponge Iroh has always been for his grief. His uncle's hand moves into his nephew's dark hair and brushes it gently. I close my eyes because I feel like it's me who's dying. And then, with a voice so soft it almost seems to be coming from inside me, Iroh finishes off the song:

"Brave soldier boy," he whispers. "I'm marching home."

A/N: I only have one single request for some kind artist who may have some spare time. I wish someone with more talent than myself would capture this final scene in art so it may honor the memory of a man who has done so much and whose long journey is finally, sadly, at its end. I also hope you will leave a few words to tell me how you are feeling right now, at this moment. And in the meantime, I am off to cry. My own typing hands, what have you done?

P.S. "The Crossroads of Destiny" is exactly two chapters from now. Hmm . . .