By the end of it. The team didn't really have much of a choice when it came to Lao. They couldn't leave him so they had to take him with them.
The irony wasn't lost on Zuko that they were basically a bunch of kids and the one adult with them was probably the least mature out of all of them. At least he seemed to have somewhat calmed down and acknowledged he needed their help to safe his wife.
Evidently the idea that she was now forced to mine ore really had given him an extra thing to panic over. And Zuko had to wonder if Laos worry about Poppy's health was legitimate or not.
Toph hadn't even commented on it, she had been oddly quiet ever since her and Zukos argument and just… kind of refused to talk to anyone.
Finally they approached what was clearly a huge mining site. A massive crater that went down below them and female prisoners being lead into small tunnels and coming out again with cards of stones.
Guards were standing around with crossed arms and it was all surrounded by a big tall fence, probably more meant to keep prisoners in than anyone out.
Lao released a scared whimper as he saw it. "They have Poppy working? In there?!" he asked.
"It's going to be okay." Sokka assured. "We're going to get her out."
"Why would they even mine here?!" Lao asked as he picked up a stone. "The sulphur concentration is at least above ten percent. This is very unclean ore and ones it has been processed the amount of iron won will be minimal. This amount of sulphur would also suggest we are rather close to a magma chamber." then he put both his hands on the ground and pressed his ear against it. "Maybe they are actually aiming for the magnesium ore deeper down. But it's so close to the magma."
Everyone just looked at Lao and Lao halted.
"Are you…" Sokka hesitated. "An earth bender?"
"No." Lao frowned deeply.
"Then how." Sokka began then shook his head. "Anyway. Here's how we go in. We'll wait for nightfall. Toph we'll make a tunnel under the fence. We'll sneak in, knock down the guards. Find Tophs mom and get her out through the tunnels we came from. And perhaps we'll grab another couple of prisoners too now we are at it."
"I will not have you make my daughter create tunnels into prison camps." Lao huffed.
"She's kind of the best earth bender we got." Sokka snorted. "No offence Aang."
"It's true." Aang smiled. "I'm not a very good earth bender."
Lao opened his mouth.
"I can do it." Toph huffed as she stood up.
"Someone should probably just stay here and keep an eye on Lao." Zuko commented.
"Fine! Why don't you do it. Since you like him so much." Toph commented and Zuko glared at her.
"He's giving you the stink eye Toph." Sokka informed the blind girl.
"I kind of figured!" Toph exclaimed.
"Fine! You don't need me for this one anyway." Zuko spat back. "I got to map so I'll be taking a break. Fine with me."
"Good!" Toph stated and walked away. Zuko groaned as he rubbed his head and of course Lao, the very man he had been standing up for was glaring at him.
"Zuko… Are you okay?" Katara asked.
Zuko glanced up. "You're not… mad at me?"
"Why would we be mad at you?" Katara asked.
"Because… I upset Toph." Zuko swallowed, honestly looking quite nervous in front of Katara.
Katara frowned. "So?" she asked. "Zuko. There's nothing wrong about having a fight. Sokka and I have fights all the time."
Zuko looked at Katara then slowly nodded. "Oh... Okay. I think I see." he said. "I… never had a fight with a friend before." he admitted. "It's not nice."
"What-ever you did. Do you regret it?" Katara asked.
"Not really." Zuko muttered. "I don't feel like I did anything wrong. I still hate I upset her though. But I don't know what to do."
"You will figure it out. The both of you." Katara said. "My mom always told me. The way you know you have a true friend. Is when you had a fight but can still be friends. True friends are exactly the kind of people where you don't have to agree on everything but can still care about each other."
Slowly Zuko nodded. "O.. Okay."
"And to be honest." Katara sighed. "I think it's healthy for Toph to have some push back from one of the few people she respects." she commented dryly.
Zuko was quiet then looked up. "You really think she'll come around?"
"Zuko… She adores you. Of course she will." Katara smirked. "And your friendship will be better for it. Trust me."
Zuko nodded. "Thanks." he whispered. And Katara smiled warmly in response.
"Any time Zuko." She replied.
Then Zuko turned to Lao who was now down on all fours examining the ground with squinted eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Zuko asked Lao.
"The earth groaning." Lao commented. "Like it is giving in. We are close to a magma chamber, those are delicate. They build up pressure." he stated then he sniffed. "The sulphur is in the air as well… It would be risky to go any deeper."
"You can tell all that by just sitting here?" Sokka asked. "Are you sure you're not an earth bender."
"Toph is the first earth bender to be born in my family for generations." Lao huffed. "It was quite a surprise. Poppy isn't an earth bender either or have any earth benders in her immediate family."
"You know." Zuko commented. "There are a lot of people with a lot of special talents in our world which aren't necessarily traditional bending." he said. "You're one of those guys too Sokka. You know."
"True." Sokka leaned back. "I am pretty great."
Zuko smirked. "Don't get to full of yourself."
"Hey what can I say. I'm an orange after all." Sokka smirked and Zuko chuckled.