Chapter 91: When Worlds Collide
Katara was the only one to witness Zuko's return to the house, and thus the only one to see the look on his face. 'Stunned' was a good way to describe it, she thought.
He was pale and his face was blank, as if his mind were somewhere very far away.
It worried her.
She said hesitantly, "Zuko?"
That seemed to snap him back into focus. He said, "Sorry, what? Did you say something?"
She shook her head. "You just looked… I don't know. Like you were somewhere else."
A smile spread across Zuko's face. It was wider and filled with more joy than Katara had ever seen on him. She thought he had a nice smile, and she wished it made an appearance more often.
He said, "I found him, Katara. I found my Uncle."
Her jaw dropped. While Zuko had shared with her about his vision, and his belief that his Uncle could be in the city, she hadn't held out much hope of Zuko finding him, especially after she saw how big Ba Sing Se was. How could anyone hope to find anyone else amongst so many people?
And yet, Zuko had done just that.
She said, "Zuko, that's—Where is he? Did you talk to him?"
Zuko nodded, still smiling. Before he could respond, Toph and Aang came in from the back garden, where they'd been Earthbending.
Toph paused and tilted her head to the side. She screwed up her face. "What's going on with Sparky's heart? On anyone else I'd almost say he was… happy?"
Zuko laughed, though his cheeks pinked a little. "I met my Uncle today."
Aang frowned. "Your uncle? Wouldn't he be, like, Fire Nation royalty?"
Zuko nodded. "Officially my Uncle is General Iroh of Caldera, Prince of the Fire Nation."
Toph frowned. "Your Uncle is the Dragon of the West?"
Zuko frowned back at her. "How do you know about that?"
Toph scoffed. She waved her hand at Katara and Aang. "I'm not like these peasants, Sparky; I actually had an education. I might have even listened to some of it."
Katara remarked, "I'm guessing the bits that involved Earthbending and fighting?"
She grinned at the Waterbender. "Yup."
Aang frowned at them all. "Okay, so… why is your uncle in Ba Sing Se? How is he in Ba Sing Se?"
Zuko shook his head. "For the longest time I believed Uncle Iroh was dead. That an assassin killed him. Apparently that was a lie that my father made public. Uncle has been in hiding in the Earth Kingdom for the past few years. He runs a teashop not far from here."
Katara said, "A Fire Nation Prince running a teashop? Seriously?"
Zuko shrugged, still grinning. "My Uncle has always been a little… eccentric? It became more apparent after—"
Zuko paused, smile falling from his face. He shook his head. "Never mind. The point is, he's here, in the city."
"Who's in the city?"
They turned to see Sokka walking down the stairs, no doubt from his bedroom. That had been a novelty for both him and Katara; their own room. Something they didn't have to share with the other. They'd both become rather taken with the notion.
Zuko smiled at the Water Tribesman and explained what had happened to him.
Sokka scratched at his chin. "So, this Uncle of yours… I'm assuming he's not tied to the war effort?"
Zuko shook his head. "Uncle retired a couple of years before I was deployed. He's been away from the Fire Nation almost as long as I have."
Sokka nodded, still scratching his chin. "He a Firebender?"
Zuko nodded, starting to frown a little at the questioning. "Yes."
"A Master?"
Zuko nodded again. "My Uncle is easily one of the strongest and most skilled Firebenders you're ever likely to meet, short of my father and sister."
Sokka smiled. "Perfect!" he exclaimed. He turned to Aang and announced, "Aang, we've found you a teacher!"
Katara gasped. "I can't believe I never thought of that. Zuko, do you think your uncle would teach Aang Firebending?"
Zuko shrugged. "Honestly, I have no idea. I can't think why he'd say no."
Aang said, "Guys, let's just, I don't know, calm down a little. Do I really even need to learn, you know? We're attacking during a solar eclipse so Firebending is kind of useless, anyway, and—"
Zuko said, "Aang, you're the Avatar. You need to learn Firebending to become fully realised. Even if you won't need it to defeat my father, it's still important."
Aang sighed, deflating. Katara said gently, "Aang, I'm sure it won't be like what happened with Jeong Jeong."
Aang said nothing; he just looked away from them.
Sokka cleared his throat and said, "So, Zuko, when can we meet this apparently not-evil family member?"
Zuko rolled his eye. "Tomorrow. It's getting late."
Toph said pointedly, "Any plans this evening, Sparky?"
Zuko eyed her. "No, actually."
And it was the truth. Toph frowned when she realised this, but let it go. Katara's gaze darted between the two, trying to discern their meaning but getting nowhere.
Sokka said, "Tomorrow it is, then."
Katara hadn't known what to expect when meeting Zuko's Uncle. She'd heard a lot of conflicting stories, most from Zuko but a few from Toph (though, admittedly, her's were all things she recalled from history tutors).
'The Dragon of the West' suggested someone large, powerful, intimidating; 'General Iroh' suggested much the same. 'Prince Iroh' spoke of war rooms, politics, and warmongers.
'Uncle Iroh', however, was a relatively short man, heavy around the middle, with a large grey beard and kind eyes. He met each of them with a wide smile and a cup of tea, seemingly delighted to be introduced to them.
She watched her friends have similar reactions to the amiable man. Zuko seemed to enjoy their reactions.
They'd arrived early in the morning, before Iroh had opened up the shop, and before his servers had arrived. The former General had proceeded to send out messages to his employees informing them that the shop would be closed all day, but that they would be paid nonetheless.
Toph asked the question that had been plaguing Katara. "So, what's a Fire Nation General doing hiding out in the biggest Earth stronghold left?"
Iroh just chuckled. "I am retired, and have been for many years now. I am just a simple tea-seller."
Toph tilted her head to the side, considering the man. Katara did the same; Iroh was clearly amused, both by Toph's question and their examination. The smile never left his face and there were wrinkles around his eyes. There was something in his eyes, though, as if he were holding something back and daring them to spot it.
Toph eventually remarked, "He's not lying, but that don't make him honest."
Iroh laughed again. "You're very astute."
"For a blind girl?" Toph challenged.
"For anyone." Iroh corrected, smile never wavering.
Sokka leaned forward and asked, "So, what are you hiding?"
Zuko sighed and said, "Guys, can we not interrogate my Uncle?"
Iroh waved his Nephew's comment away. "Nephew, they are right to ask questions. These are dangerous times and they are no doubt concerned for your safety, as well as that of Ba Sing Se."
Aang asked, "So, why are you in the city?"
Iroh sighed. He seemed to consider his words before he said, "I came to Ba Sing Se looking for an old friend. I've not heard from them in a while and I grew concerned. However, I have had no luck in finding them. They seem to have vanished."
Katara frowned and said, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Iroh nodded. "Thank you. I've gotten in contact with others that knew them, but apparently they disappeared some months ago and the trail is cold."
The old man shook his head, the smile returning to his face. "Ah, now is not the time for such dark conversations. Surely there are more joyous things we can discuss."
The group exchanged a look.
"Well, we could talk about you teaching Aang Firebending?" Sokka suggested.
Iroh raised an eyebrow at the Tribesman's boldness. Katara couldn't help but notice that it was a very similar expression to Zuko's, even as she face-palmed at Sokka's complete lack of subtlety.
The retired General said, "We would have to see about that now, wouldn't we?"
Katara frowned a little. "What does that mean?"
Iroh turned to the Avatar, gesturing him forward. Aang walked over and stood before him; he looked nervous all of a sudden. Maybe even a little intimidated now that the old Dragon was staring directly at him.
Iroh eyed him for a long moment, eyes seeming to unfocus. Katara thought his breathing might have changed slightly, becoming deeper and more rhythmic.
Then he seemed to come back to himself and he said, "I don't think I can teach you Fire, young Avatar. Not yet."
Aang sighed, seeming both relieved and exasperated. "Let me guess, I'm not ready?"
Iroh nodded, ignoring the exasperation in the Airbender's voice. "You are not. But that is no fault of yours; the elements must be learned in their own time, and in their own way, before you can progress down your Path. You have mastered the way of Air, and appear to be well on your way to understanding Water. Earth feels new to you, am I correct? You have struggled with it."
Aang nodded, though he looked a little stunned. "How do you know that? Could you tell by how I walked? Jeong Jeong could do that."
Iroh nodded back at the boy. "In part, yes. Many skilled Masters can tell what a pupil knows from the way they move. It is my belief that it would be dangerous to teach you at this time; you could hurt yourself, or someone else, if I were to begin teaching you Fire."
Aang's eyes went to Katara. Iroh saw the look and commented, "I am guessing that was the case when you encountered Master Jeong Jeong and he awakened your flame?"
Aang nodded. He said quietly, "I burned Katara."
Katara reached over, grabbing the Airbender's hand. "Aang, I'm fine. If it wasn't for that, I might not have learned about my healing abilities."
Iroh nodded gravely. "It is not uncommon for a novice Firebender to burn someone, usually someone they care for. In some ways, it can serve to teach control. They learn that Fire must always be contained; it must never be allowed to rule them.
"However, the risk becomes greater when the novice in question is the Avatar. Firebending comes from chi, and you have access to a much greater supply than most. While a novice might accidentally summon a candle-flame, you could bring forth an inferno."
Aang said, "But I'm so close to mastering Water and my Earthbending is getting really good. Surely I'm close to being ready for Fire, or I should be close?"
Toph commented, "Eh, you're Earthbending could do with a lot of work, Twinkletoes."
Katara warned, "Toph."
She shot back with, "Sweetness."
Iroh answered Aang. "You have been burned by Fire. That is what is holding you back, more so even than your mastery of the other elements."
Aang shook his head emphatically. "No, I burned Katara, not myself."
Iroh shook his head as well. "I am not talking about physical injury. Your mind, your spirit; they have been touched by Fire. There is a part of you that fears the flame, that shies away from it and what it can do. Physically and mentally, you avoid Fire."
Aang couldn't help but nod. He'd known it, of course, but to hear it spelled out in such a way…
Iroh continued, "You have encountered the very worst of what Fire is, and that has left its mark on you. It scarred you."
Katara noticed that Zuko's face twitched slightly at that phrase.
Iroh kept talking. "Until that wound has fully healed, the scar faded, I do not believe I can teach you. You must cleanse yourself of your fear, lest it destroy you."
Aang nodded, resigned. "I understand, I think. I need to focus on Water and Earth before moving on to Fire. I'm not ready. I need to try and overcome my fear of Fire."
Iroh nodded again. He turned to Zuko. "Your training, however, dear Nephew, I believe has been neglected for far too long. We should begin at once."
Zuko seemed to almost recoil. He shook his head. "Uncle, my bending is… it's enough given what I have to work with. I was never that strong, you know that."
Iroh frowned. "I know that is what your father had the Palace tutors tell you. What he told you at any given opportunity. I tried to tell you otherwise, but I fear I spoke too late. His poison had already begin to seep into you."
Zuko looked away. "Azula has always been stronger than me, though."
Iroh shook his head, sighing. "Azula is a prodigy, this is true. Her Firebending is a talent that appears only once every couple of centuries. That is not to say that you are weak, though. Where she bends intuitively, you must put the work in. There is no shame in this. Skills must be learned, earned. You will have far more respect for Fire than she will ever have."
Zuko looked doubtful but he nodded nonetheless. "You're… you're right, Uncle. Of course. I would be honoured to learn from you."
Iroh smiled widely. "Of course, we will need to find somewhere secluded to begin your training."
Sokka chimed in with, "I think we can help with that."
