Edit: So I realized that a big chapter some how got cut and that probably led to more than a little confusion so here's the missing chapter at the end of this one. Sorry!~C.C.

~Chapter 37/38~

Hakoda looked over at the two teens then back at his adult son. "And you sure it's a good idea to bring them along? Can they handle it? I mean they are still kids."

Sokka rolled his eyes. "They can totally handle a mission like this and we need little 'Roh since he and Toph are the only ones who can navigate these tunnels."

Iroh shoot Sokka a dirty look, as he finished putting on the bit of armor he deemed absolutely necessary which in this case wasn't much, mostly arm and leg guards sighting that anything more would impinge on him moments. He walked over to the two men. "Just because I'm shorter then you don't mean you can call me little or 'Roh, it's Iroh."

"Take it easy there Iroh, no need to get your heckles up." He patted Iroh on the head who just growled before going over to talk to someone else.

Korra looked over at Sokka. "He's in a bit of a bad mood. I don't think he slept all that well last night." She stifled a yawn. "I don't think I did either."

Sokka sheathed his sword. "Gee I wonder what you two where doing that would effect your sleep."

"Oh, you won't believe it! Once we're done here remind me to tell you."

"Ah! Korra! Too much info! I don't want to know!" He shook his head. "Who would have thought teen you was such an over sharer." He mumbled as her walked over to talk to Aang.

Hakoda looked Korra. "So my son said you guys are here to help but he didn't say where you are from or how you guys got caught up in this."

She smiled. "Oh we're from the future."

He chuckled. "Yeah, sure, you wouldn't happen to be my grand kid would you?"

She shook her head. "No." She grabbed Iroh and pulled him over to her. "But this is your great-grandkid."

Iroh waved. "hi."

Hakoda just waved. "Hi, are you descended from my son or daughter?"

"Son." Iroh said in a monotone before turning on his heel. "And now if you don't mind I need to talk to Toph."

Hakoda glanced over at Korra. "Is your boyfriend nicer when he's had some sleep? Cause if not, you should dump him."
Korra chuckled. "Yeah usually he's a lot more charming and usually he's not hormonal moody teenager with daddy issues which also makes him less fun to be around." She looked around. "Oh look! Everyone's gathering at the entrance!"

"Wait? What is he when he's not a hormonal moody teenager? Miss? Miss!"

.o.

Iroh stood next to Toph waiting for all for everyone to gather. "Ok, so these tunnels we're about to go into are very old and there are not doubt parts that have collapsed when you come to a dead end just turn around and try another route." He looked at the crowd of Fire Nation soldiers and a few Water Tribesmen. "We'll be splitting up into two teams one lead my me."

Toph stepped forward. "And one by me, so take your pick. Prince Charming over here actually knows the tunnels so with either of us you'll probably not get lost in the maze. Now our main objective is to find the missing kids, if you come across any of the people that took them subdue them so they can be arrested and questioned."

Iroh nodded. "This doesn't need to be a blood bath, we just want to save the missing children. Kill but only if you don't have another option." He looked over at Aang who didn't seem very happy at all with Iroh's statement. "Now it would be a good idea if a few of you stayed out by the entrance just incase someone comes out."

There was murmuring through the crowd but eventually they split into two big groups and one smaller company that would hang back. Aang and Kattara went with Toph while Korra and Sokka, predictably, went with Iroh. The other people splitting up how ever they pleased. Bato and Pakku both stayed behind at the entrance.

Toph used her seismic sense and took a tunnel to the left while Iroh headed right to where the cells were in hopes of finding the kidnaped kid's trail and fallowing it. Iroh looked back at his company most which where water tribe who had fallowed Sokka's lead. The prince gulped, in all honestly he would have preferred to go alone or just with Korra but they all wanted to help and he didn't know exactly how many people were behind the kidnappings so the more people probably the better.

Korra tripped over and rock and stumbled a few steps. She shook her head.

"Who would have thought I'd be more clumsy with sight. I miss just having perception." She whispered as they walked along.

Iroh stopped and held up his hand for everyone else to do the same. In the near distance voices could be heard. Adult male voices. Iroh looked over at Korra and signed.

Bad guys?

She made a knocking motion to signify yes. He turned back to press his fingers to his lips to signify silence. Sokka nodded while most of the other's just gave him the 'no shit' face. Iroh turned around when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at one of the biggest man he had seen. The man's belt buckle was at Iroh's eyelevel. Iroh smiled nervously. Shit, can I be adult now? Or can I have an adult? I need an adult.

The man looked down he smiled showing his jagged teeth. "What are you smiling at princess?"

"Heheh…oh shit."

.o.

Mako almost hugged Toph when he saw her but thought better and didn't. Bolin didn't and hugged the blind earthbender. "Oh, thank the spirits! Toph! Everyone one! We are so lost; please tell me you know a way out! I am so sick of this tunnel!"

Toph pushed him back. "Get off me. Yes, We know a way out, and we are going to lead you and, oh boy all these kids, out of here." She gestured to the group. "All right everyone this way."

Mako nodded and looked at Aang. "Really glad to see you guys, thought we were going to be stuck in here forever and end up in the spirit world…with Korra and Iroh." Mako bit his lip, he hadn't thought about the phantoms until now. He didn't want to seem weak but it really hurt to think they were gone.

Aang tilted his head to one side. "Spirit World? What are you talking about Iroh was the one who told us about these tunnels in the first place." He smiled. "Buck up, you're acting like they're dead."
"They aren't?"

"No…they went with the other team to try to find you guys. Last I looked they were alive and well. Maybe a little tiered and crabby but alive."

Mako looked stunned. "Oh, well then they have some explaining to do when I see them next. Like how they ended up at a phantom's ball." He looked up at Aang who now looked confused. "Never mind, it's probably weird Avatar stuff. You drag Katarra on your weird escapades in the spirit world all the time, right?"

Kattara shook her head. "No, I've never been to the spirit world."

"Well that's a surprise I always thought it was a avatar-mate thing that they got caught up in the weirdness too. I mean you talk to Iroh and sounds like he goes there often and actually has a fair grip on the layout of that place."

Aang frowned. "No, that's not how it's supposed to work. Being the avatar doesn't mean you automatically get a plus one. Maybe Iroh's just really spiritual and in tune with nature."

Mako snickered. "I highly doubt the man who taught Korra how to curse like a pro and can beat the living day lights out of people twice his size is all that spiritual."

Down one of the tunnels they could here the sounds of a fight. Aang frowned. "Toph you and some of the guards and get the kids out of here. Kattara and the rest come with me, they sound like could use some help." He looked down at Mako, Bolin, and Asami. "You guys up for a fight?" The three nodded.

.o.

The man fell like a sack of bricks. "Who's the Princess now?" Iroh taunted before dodging another attacker and kicking him in the head knocking out. He looked over at Korra who was holding her own better than she had in recent fights. Not having to haul heavy metal boots really freed up your stamina apparently. Suddenly Iroh was pulled down by his braid and almost smashed his skull opened on the dirt floor. "Damn hair." He mumbled under his breath before kicking the legs out from under the guy that had pulled him down. Like usual he was favoring hand to hand and knife throwing over bending. Probably for the best in the dim cave if he did bend he might actually blind himself with bright white flames.

When Iroh spotted Aang and the others he was relieved, there were just so many of these guys it was wearing even with being his energetic younger self again. Mako immediately jumped into the action using his firebending and to many of the people's surprise electricity. The others joined quickly after him assisting those who where starting to show fatigue.

The young prince turned back to find Korra again. His heart jumped to his throat, Korra was pinned against a wall by her neck, the goon leering at her as she had all but shut down. Iroh had learned along time ago you never touched Korra's neck and when you did it was with a kiss or you started on her shoulder and moved from there. He saw the glint of the knife in the guy's hand and didn't even think. The throwing knife left Iroh's hand before he realized what he had aimed at.

The man staggered back clutching his bleeding throat before falling dead on the ground. Korra just seemed to collapse like a rag doll. Iroh rushed to her pulling her close and shielding her face as the man bled out. The whole place went silent as the blood pool became bigger. Iroh looked up at Hakoda who just looked down at him in shock and all the rest just staring at him in disbelief. Iroh pulled Korra closer.

"He would have killed her." He looked down. "I didn't have a choice, he was going to kill her."

A/N: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter and just want to tell you that this story has over 11,000 views which is so crazy I can't thank all of you enough for reading and giving me your feed back. So as always comment if you feel so compelled and if you'd like check out my other stories they're all LOK and most are Korroh in some way, except Vacation which is a young Iroh and Bumi story which is just cuteness in writings. I'll see you all later have a great week everyone! Next Chapter (hopefully) The Red Dragon Fair…thingy ~C.C.

~Chapter 38~

For what seemed like hours nothing moved, nothing breathed, everything was as still as the body. Iroh could feel Korra trembling in his arms and all he eyes now looking at him. Like so many times before his mind started racing to all the things he could have done instead. His gaze drifted down to the body and he couldn't help but look away. That's number four. While it felt like forever only a few seconds pasted and Iroh was roughly pulled away from Korra by his hair. Damn braid!

"Get away from her you monster!" His attacker hissed pulling him further from Korra.

Iroh reacted quickly and pulled one of his knives and cut his hair to free himself. His actions must have looked more malevolent than they were because not a second after and arrow stuck his shoulder. Iroh dropped the knife and held back his cry of agony.

"Look, the little demon doesn't ever cry out in pain!" Yelled the man who had shot him.

Iroh looked up at the man in surprise to find it was one of the water tribe men. He backed away and looked at the rest of the people. One of the Fire Nation soldiers glanced down at the man then back up at Iroh.

"He killed one of his own kind for an outsider!"

"Fire Nation hasn't changed! He's not even a man and already there's blood on his hands!"

"Monster!"

Another arrow was loosed Iroh's direction but this time he dodged out of it's way but not before incinerating it with his firebending.

"White Fire? Demon!"

"Look at his eyes they're the gold of Royalty! How do we know that's not Ozia's bustard son?"

One of the other soldier's drew his own bow back. "I'd run if I were you boy. You're not welcome here."

Iroh glanced over at Korra and to his relief saw Hakoda holding her even if he was looking at him like he wasn't human. Another arrow was launched in his direction but missed.

"That was a warning shot kid!" He pulled the arrow back. "Next time I won't miss."

Iroh backed away in to the tunnel that lead to a different exit from the one they parties had entered. He took one last look at the room before turning on his heel and running. One last arrow flew through the air and caught him in the leg. This time he cried out only to hear the low sound of men laughing. Iroh bit his lip and kept moving. He tried to maintain his own adult mind set, stay the general, stay the warrior that was trained to ignore pain, but he couldn't he was back to being his fifteen year old self. He couldn't help but choke back a few tears whether they was because of the pain or that so much of his family was there and did nothing didn't matter.

Iroh leaned against a wall with his good shoulder. He could hear footsteps approaching in the distance. Iroh gulped unsure if it was friend or foe. He slid down the wall. Did he even have and friends now? Was the person approaching Korra? Probably not, she had probably passed out or was so wrapped up in her own panic attack she had basically checked up of reality for a moment. There was only one set of footsteps so his wasn't Mako and Bolin. Iroh hung his head, it was probably one of he soldier's coming to finish him off. Slay the monster. The foot steps where closer now. No one's coming to help me. They were so close now. I'm a monster, a freak and I'm going to die because I wanted to keep my wife alive.

Even with the footsteps almost on top of him, Iroh burst out weeping no longer caring if he was seen as weak. He was in pain and at that moment the one person he wanted to see wasn't Korra it was his sister. He loved Korra but they couldn't both be crumbling down at the same time and be expected to hold the other up. He could show weakness to both women but right now the fifteen year old him wanted his sister.

The footsteps stopped and Iroh looked up and for a moment thought it was Lafey but quickly realized it was Suki standing there. She kneeled down and wiped the tears from his eyes.

.o.

The prince looked so small, so hurt, sitting in the almost darkness. His own blood glistening from the light Suki held in her hand. There was an arrow lodged in his left shoulder and one in his right thigh and he was crying. He looked up at her as she kneeled down and brushed the tears out of her grandson's face. She paused for a moment letting the realization kick in. Oh spirits this was her grandson, impaled with arrows and crying in a cave. Part of her wanted to turn right back around and help Sokka pummel the men who had done this but the other part knew she needed to help Iroh. She looked at the arrows, they needed to go, and go soon.

"Hey, I know you're in pain but I'm going to get these arrows out and then you're going to have to lead me out of here so we can get Kattara to heal you. Ok? Do you understand what I just said?"

Iroh nodded. "Yes."

"Ok, now which one of these arrows hurts more?"

"Shoulder but don't touch it, you could do more damage but trying to pull it out."

Suki nodded sadly. "Ok, what about your leg can I help with that arrow?"

Iroh looked down at his leg and nodded. "Yes."

Suki nodded and pulled out one of her fans. "Ok, this is going to hurt a lot so bite down on this and try not to jerk your leg away. Ok my brave little warrior?"

Iroh nodded and with his good arm took the fan and bit down on it. He flinched a bit when she broke the arrow in two and pulled it out the rest of the way. She smiled kindly at him. "Ok, hard parts over." Suki cut a long strip out of her skirt and bandaged the wound.