Zuko woke me up with a shake and I blinked quickly, groaning until Appa was standing up and I slid off him with a yelp, landing on my but as a ring of fire surrounded us, trapping us inside and I quickly stood up ready to water bend before I realised that there were four men standing on top of the rubble wearing these blue and white uniforms. Three of them I didn't know, but I straightened up and smiled when I saw Master Piandao. "It's Master Piandao! Look Sokka!" I pointed excitedly as an old and slightly crazy looking man spread his arms.
"Well, look who's here." He proceeded to chortle and snort as I looked to Sokka and Katara who were smiling, so I figured that they must know these people otherwise they'd be in their stances.
"What's going on?" Toph demanded, only she and Zuko remaining on guard. "We're surrounded by old people."
"Not just any old people." Katara informed us all as she walked towards them. "These are great masters and friends of ours." Having come down to greet us, Katara bowed before one man in particular in order to greet him. "Pakku." Wait, this was Pakki? Her master? I saw that guy in the Northern Water Tribe whilst I was escaping with Zuko! Oh dear, that might not exactly left a great impression.
"It is respectful to bow to an old master but how about a hug for your new grandfather?" Pakku said to Katara as he opened his arms with a smile. At first both Sokka and Katara were stunned before she dashed forwards happily to hug her master.
"That's so exciting! You and Gran-Gran must be so happy to have found each other again."
"I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything." Sokka came to hug him next, grinning like an idiot as he did so.
"Welcome to the family Gramp-Gramp."
"You can still just call me Pakku." Not enthused with the new name, Pakku pushed Sokka away as I curiously came a little closer, leaning to one side to get a better look at him. Yep. That's definitely the guy I saw in the north and who saw me bending water whilst wearing Fire Nation clothes.
"How about Grand-Pakku?" Refusing shortly, Pakku then looked to Katara as she took him by the arm and directed his focus towards me, making me jolt slightly and bashfully look away.
"Pakku, this is Kayo. She's another water bender I met. Her mother is a fire bender from the Fire Nation but her father is from the Southern Water Tribe. Kayo, this is my master who taught me how to master water bending." Katara introduced us so I respectfully bowed before the Grand Master to show my respect.
"Katara is the one who taught me how to properly control my water bending since I had never had a teacher before. You should be proud of your student, she's an excellent teacher." I said to him as Pakku tilted his head.
"I've seen you before. In my home at the Northern Water Tribe during the invasion, you were there with the Fire Lord's son." He remembered and I laughed awkwardly and rubbed my head.
"Yeah…that's a long story." I offered weakly but he nodded his head with a slight smile.
"I am glad to meet you, Kayo of my sister tribe. If Katara was in charge of your education in water bending, then I have no doubt you are a fine water bender just like her." Katara and I beamed at each other and I bowed once again in thanks as Katara then continued the introductions.
"And this was Aang's first fire bending teacher." Zuko and Jeong-Jeong faced one another with a bow of respect as Jeong-Jeong introduced himself. Oh so this is Jeong-Jeong. At least Toph and I finally know who he is. Master Piandao then greeted Sokka and I, smiling as he accepted a hug from me and a bow from Sokka.
"Hello, Sokka, Kayo."
"It's great to see you again." I said to him, pulling away as we all grouped together.
"So wait, how do you all know each other?" Suki asked in confusion, still sussing out who was who and who knew each other. The crazy looking guy was the one who answered, and with a quick question at Katara she told me he was King Bumi of Omashu, Aang's friend who knew each other from before the war. No way! That guy is over a hundred years old? In that case he looks great, though maybe with a few screws loose.
"All old people know each other, don't you know that?" He snorted with laughter as Piandao then spoke to explain exactly who they were and why they were all here.
"We're all part of the same ancient secret society. A group that transcends the divisions of the four nations."
"The Order of the White Lotus." Zuko guessed as he and I looked at one another with a smile. That means Iroh must have called them together, he really was here!
"That's the one."
"The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty and truth." Jeong-Jeong spoke with what sounded like a naturally grave tone, as serious and stoic as Zuko, which was impressive. "About a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important."
"It came from a Grand Lotus, your uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation." Pakku said to Zuko who looked up hopefully as Toph held out a hand in gesture.
"Well that's who we're looking for."
"Then we'll take you to him." We all started to follow the Grand Masters but all of a sudden, King Bumi popped up directly in front of us and pushed us apart by our shoulders, searching for someone.
"Wait, someone's missing from your group. Someone very important." He informed us, frowning as he looked everywhere before turning to me and pointing, getting so close to my face that I had to veer backwards until my back was perpendicular to the ground, freezing up with a squeak as King Bumi pressed his face right into mine. "Where's Momo?" Someone…please help me!
"He's gone, and so is Aang." Sokka supplied as I remained frozen in place, bent in a rather uncomfortable position as Bumi's face twitched before all of a sudden he relaxed and drew back, making my arms flail before I lost balance and hit the floor.
"Oh well, so long as they have each other I'm sure we have nothing to worry about. Let's go!" Suki and Toph helped me get back up as Bumi earth bended a column from the ground and propelled himself over the rubble of the wall, laughing like a total maniac whilst he did so and I rubbed my head.
"I think that guy has a few pebbles loose in his brain." I noted, dusting myself off before we all followed the masters to their camp with Appa. As we walked along, Sokka caught up with Bumi in order to ask him about how he got out of Omashu.
"So Bumi, how did you end up escaping your imprisonment in Omashu?"
"Escape?" Cocking an eyebrow at Sokka, Bumi shook his head. "I didn't escape, everybody else escaped. There I was, back in Omashu, waiting for just the right moment. I didn't know what or when but I knew I'd know it when I knew it." He explained a little too ambiguously, making Sokak from in confusion as he tried to figure out what Bumi was talking about until Bumi continued, cackling at leaving Sokka in suspense with a look of bewilderment. "It was then I saw it. The eclipse, and I knew that was the moment I had been waiting for."
"Wow, you took back your whole city all by yourself?" Suki asked, clearly impressed. I guess this guy might be a little crazy in the brain, but he sounded awesome and he'd taken back his entire city without any problems by the sound of it. Aang really knew how to pick interesting friends.
"So what about you guys? Did you do anything interesting on the day of the eclipse?" Sokka and Zuko shared awkward glances before shrugging it off and boycotting the fact that the eclipse had been a terrible day for us all.
"Nah."
"No, not really." Using earth bending to speed things up, we eventually came to the inner wall of Ba Sing Se where a camp had been set up with numerous members of the White Lotus were walking around, their tents all raised with a flag bearing the image of a white lotus tile fluttering in the breeze.
"Well, here we are. Welcome to old people camp." Bumi greeted as we all walked in and I eagerly started looking around for Iroh, my nerves twittering with excitement to see him again after these hectic past couple of weeks.
"Where…where is he?" Looking more nervous than anything, Zuko looked for his uncle as well until Piandao pointed out a large tent towards the end of the tent, clearly distinguishable from the others.
"Your uncle's in there, Prince Zuko." For a while Zuko just stared at it, freezing in place until he started walking towards it stiffly, looking hesitant and unsure so I followed after him, walking up to his side before putting my hand in his.
"Why aren't you going in? Your uncle is just inside." I said to him, tilting my head so I could see his expression better. "Are you feeling okay?"
"No, I'm not okay. My uncle hates me, I know it." Zuko worried, tensing up and I could feel him gripping my hand tightly from the emotions that were tormenting him. "He loved me and supported me in every way he could and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?" He looked like he was about to break down and even cry right there and then, so I reached up with my other hand in order to turn his face to look at me.
"Your uncle won't hate you Zuko. He'll forgive you. Do you know why?" He took a deep breath but shook his head so I smiled at him with a heart full of warmth and affection, as well as something more as I felt every fibre of my being seemingly pull itself towards him. "Because I forgive you." Lifting myself up I turned my face in order to reach his lips easily, pressing a sincere and loving kiss to his mouth as Zuko's eyes widened at me. Even with my eyes closed I could feel him staring as I kissed him, waiting for a moment or two before I pulled back and touched his face again with a firm hand. "You won't know until you face him. The first step to asking for forgiveness is to apologise, so get in there and talk to him."
I let Zuko go then, stepping around to give his shoulders a firm push, helping him to take that first step forwards. He stumbled, jerking forwards before he recovered and looked back at me as I blushingly hugged my arm against me and looked away, unable to help but smile to myself. Turning back to face the tent, I heard Zuko inhale deeply before pulling the flap aside and stepping in. I'd better leave them to it, they need to talk in private. I can always see Iroh once they were done talking, Zuko needs his uncle right now more than anything.
Turning around in order to walk away, I stopped when I realised everybody was smirking at me knowingly, making my cheeks flush further as I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me, Katara wiggling her eyebrows at me suggestively. "Stop it! Don't say anything you guys, now is not the time!" I squeaked in humiliation, having not realised that everybody had been watching when I kissed Zuko. Why did I do that? Stupid move Kayo, just stupid!
"Looks like somebody's got a little crush on Zuko." Katara teased me as everyone continued to smirk.
"I can't believe you two kept us in the dark, so when's the wedding? Do I get an invitation?" Sokka continued as Suki giggled and Toph grinned.
"I knew you had a thing for Zuko!"
"Sh! It's…it's not like that!" I panicked, quickly running over to them and pressing my hands against whoever's mouth I reached first. "It's complicated…I think…I don't know…I haven't really thought about all this yet, things have been a little too crazy to be worrying about personal feelings." I said with a glance at Katara, knowing that she would understand and I saw her face slacking a little. "We've got bigger problems right now. Aang's nowhere to be found, and tomorrow is the comet and the end of all life as we know it. What's the plan?"
"You're right, we should really focus right now." Sokka said, being momentarily mature and serious before he made a goofy expression at me. "But that doesn't mean we won't come back to the whole 'you and Zuko' thing." Getting annoyed, I slammed my hand down on his head to grip onto his skull securely, making him yelp and flail as I made him yield.
"There is no 'me and Zuko' and if you bring this up again, especially in front of or to him, I will personally make sure that you end up swimming with the fishes. Permanently. I don't like being violent, but for you I'd make an exception if you push the wrong buttons when I haven't had nearly enough sleep."
"Okay, okay I promise! I'll stop!" He vowed so I let him go, tittering my tongue as Katara made a calming motion with her hands.
"Maybe we should all get some rest first. We can't make any decisions or fight anyone if we're too tired to concentrate." We all agreed it was a good idea so Piandao showed us all a place where we could sleep, a tent all to ourselves where we crashed side by side and fell asleep almost instantly, Toph sprawling across me and Katara with Sokka's arm flopping over my face but I didn't care, I was too tired. We all slept until it was light out, rising one by one until Katara roused the rest of us, namely me, Toph and Sokka as people started to move outside. "Let's go check it out."
Groaning groggily, I dragged myself up and yawned, exiting the tent with a stretch and rubbing my eyes until I saw someone come out of Iroh's tent. First it was Zuko, then the flap moved again and was pulled aside to reveal Iroh himself. instantly I was wide awake and beaming, becoming full of energy to see Iroh again. He looked great, like he'd putting his time to good use keeping his body in shape and before I knew it, I was racing across the campsite. "Uncle Iroh!" He blinked as I flung my arms around him, catching my unexpected tackle before he laughed cheerfully and embraced me back.
"Little Kayo, look at you! You have grown up so much since last I saw you, in more ways than one. You are taller." He said to me and I started to cry when I heard his fatherly tone, sniffling as I rubbed my face into his shoulder, hugging him for all I was worth. "It is so good to see you again, you have done an excellent job."
"I haven't really done anything, I'm just drifting along for the ride." I answered weakly, smiling and crying all at once as Iroh placed his hand over my hair to pat my head tenderly. All those weeks missing his company seemed to catch up to me all at once, and the relief for finally seeing him free from danger and prison made everything seem completely right in the world, making me momentarily forget that soon the comet would arrive and the Earth Kingdom would be turned into an ashen wasteland.
"I am sure you are not giving yourself enough credit. Just by looking at how much you have grown, in your strength of character and spirit, I know that you have been working hard. I am very proud of you." Beaming I nuzzled my cheek into his hand before hugging Iroh again, already feeling the nostalgia wash over me as I held onto him and felt a strong sense of security and safety build itself around me. "Let's all sit down and have breakfast together. It'll be just like old times." Iroh invited as I dried my eyes and nodded my head, struggling to pull myself together but followed along anyway.
Sitting down beside Iroh who patted my hair and complimented the new hairstyle, the others soon joined us and bowls of food was passed around for us all to fill our stomachs, gathering together and Zuko quickly got to the point of why we had sought him out. "Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord." I choked on my food, spluttering with laughter whilst also coughing at Zuko's slip up and Toph had to thump me on the back to help clear my airways as she corrected Zuko.
"You mean the Fire Lord."
"That's what I just said." Not having realised his own mistake made it all the funnier and I giggled before carrying on eating as Iroh hummed with thought, stroking his beard which he had kept full and untrimmed, chopsticks still in hand. "We need you to come with us."
"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well." He decided firmly, putting his chopsticks down as Zuko then tried to reason with him.
"You can beat him and we'll be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it will be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord." He explained to us all, which didn't exactly instil us with hope since our Avatar was currently missing and according to a bounty hunter and her shirshu, didn't even exist.
"And then…then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko followed up a little hesitantly, only for Iroh to refuse again.
"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honour. It has to be you, Prince Zuko." Looking up with surprise, Zuko let his uncle's words sink in before he looked away.
"Unquestionable honour? But I've made so many mistakes."
"Yes, you have. You struggled, you suffered but you have always followed your own path, you restored your own honour, and only you can restore the honour of the Fire Nation." Somehow I had a feeling that Iroh would say this, since I'd given a thought as to who would take over the throne after we take out Ozai. There's no way we can let Azula take over, and I had a feeling that Iroh had spent so much time, energy and patience teaching Zuko so that he would one day be ready to take up this responsibility. Zuko looked a little overwhelmed, but he promised to do his best.
"I'll try, uncle." Wanting to lighten the mood, I leaned forwards with a wave of my own chopsticks.
"If you don't fancy the throne, I'll always give it a shot. Fire Lord Kayo, I think it has a nice ring to it." The guys all laughed lightly, lifting the heavy atmosphere before Toph pulled us back to reality.
"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?"
"Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord." Iroh said with confidence before lifting his face upwards with a pensive expression. "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."
"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus." Suki realised and Iroh gave her a smile.
"Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order." He instructed before giving a warning. "But Azula will be there, waiting for you."
"I can handle Azula."
"Not alone." Correcting his nephew before he could get ahead of himself, Zuko looked at his uncle quickly. "You'll need help." Pausing for a moment, Zuko then acquiesced with a tilt of his head.
"You're right." He then looked at me. "Kayo, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?" I blinked at him dumbly.
"Me? Are you sure you want me to go with you? The others are a lot stronger than me, I'll only get in your way…"
"I want you there with me. There's no one else I'd rather have by my side." Looking at me with strength and a resolve that made look Zuko seem far more like a prince than I had ever seen him before, my heart throbbed in my chest as my cheeks flushed slightly. "Will you come with me?" There was no way I could refuse a request like that, and I found I didn't want to. If Zuko said he wants me beside him to help take down his sister, then who was I to pass up the chance to put that spoiled royal brat in line?
"Then I'm with you." I relaxed, gazing at him warmly. "Azula won't stand a chance." Nodding to me gratefully, Zuko regarded me for a while and his staring made me feel self conscious so I turned my head to hide the colour of my cheeks, now bright pink and steadily turning red.
"What about us?" Sokka asked, looking at Iroh for advice. "What's our destiny today?"
"What do you think it is?" Iroh questioned, quirking his eyebrow so Sokka held his chin thoughtfully.
"I think that...even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."
"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us." Toph finished, everybody quickly getting on board as our plan began to form itself.
"We'll need to move fast." I noted, looking up at the sky as it started to brighten further. "We have long ways to go and not enough time to get there. Iroh, since we're splitting up, do you have anything that can travel as fast as Appa?" I asked but this time, it was Piandao who answered.
"It's already taken care of. Those who are going to stop the airships, follow me." I smiled to him gratefully and he nodded in my direction before turning away and everybody started to get up.
"Take care of yourself and be careful." Katara said to me, walking on over for a hug. "Make sure you teach that Azula a lesson for all of us."
"You got it." I promised, smiling into her hair as Sokka joined in. "So long as you guys wreak havoc on those airships and be a real pain in the Fire Lord's ass. Don't make it easy for him."
"We'll do our best." Sokka promised as Suki and Toph followed into the hug, all of us saying goodbye for the time being.
"I love you guys." I sighed happily as I reached out, groped at thin air then found Zuko, allowing me to drag him into the group hug as well. "You're all one of the greatest people I've ever met. We should be proud of ourselves, and once we win, we deserve medals. Massive medals made of gold and all the honour and glory this world has to offer."
"I like the sound of that." Toph grinned as we laughed together. "Alright, enough of this mushy nonsense. We've got airships to destroy and heads to bash. Let's go!" Moving us all aside so that she could follow Piandao, Katara and I held hands together and rested our brows against one another, feeling closer now than we'd ever seen before.
"Come back safely." I murmured before letting her go as she promised that she would, walking after the others after a final wave. Meanwhile Zuko had been talking to Iroh, asking him what he planned to do after the war ended.
"After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to re-conquer my tea shop and I'm going to play Pai Sho every day." Iroh informed him whilst flicking a lotus tile over his fingers. I gave him a great big hug goodbye, hearing him chuckle richly from the belly as he returned the affectionate embrace. "You must watch each other's backs and protect one another." He said to both Zuko and I after I stepped back, beginning to feel the pressure of the day starting to weigh itself down on my shoulders. Nodding our heads I turned and got up onto Appa first, taking the seat behind his head in order to take hold of the reins ready to take off.
"We'll see you soon, Uncle Iroh. Once you've taken back your teashop, put a cup of jasmine on hold for me." I said to him with a smile as Zuko climbed up as well.
"Goodbye, everyone." He nodded as we all looked across to each other, Sokka, Suki, Toph and Katara mounted up on a pair of eel-hounds. "Today, destiny is our friend. I know it." Going with the full force of Iroh's faith in us, I felt a little more confident as I flicked the reins and called for Appa to fly, taking off and quickly rising up in order to head west directly for the Fire Nation capital.
"It's going to be tough buddy, but you can do it. After today, you can rest as much as you like and I'll bring you all your favourite snacks. Just one last big push, can you do that for me?" I said to Appa who growled in response then flapped his tail with a powerful force, surging forwards to fly as fast as he was able through the air and carry us both to face Azula, who was waiting for us in the Fire Nation capital.
