"Ha! Ha! HIYA!" Zuko shouted as with each kick and each hit fire flew from his fists and foot. "HAAAAH!" he jumped up into the air. Swung down and as the heel of his foot landed on one of the boulders in the big arena it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Calmly an older man of short stature walked in, he glanced at the now broken boulder then up at the sweating prince. "Don't overwork yourself Prince Zuko." Iroh said calmly.
Zuko hissed as he dried off his forehead with the back off his hand. "I know. It is important to take a moment to relax. But right now. We don't have a lot of time." he said.
Iroh frowned but then stepped forward. "Could you take the phoenix position for me?" he asked.
Zuko nodded and got into the right position as Iroh moved behind Zuko. Then lifted his elbow slightly. "You seem stressed Prince Zuko. Please now show me Tigress."
"There are a lot of things to do uncle. And if we loose. The world looses." Zuko said.
"It's not a burden for you to carry alone. For anyone to carry alone. Trust your friends." Iroh asked as he stood in front of Zuko and then raised his own hands. "Start with the left."
"They don't understand uncle. And I don't even blame them." Zuko hissed as his left hand hit Irohs right palm. And then his right hand hit Irohs left palm in a rhythm. "They don't know. How far Ozai is willing to go. What he will do and not even feeling any remorse!" he made a swinging kick which Iroh dodged. "I don't think they can even imagine that such a person actually exists." he said as he kicked again and Iroh blocked with his arm.
"Perhaps." Iroh replied holding up his hand. "But even so. You must have fate." he said.
"He can't afford to hesitate uncle!" Zuko said as he lowered his foot and then moved forward while Iroh dodged in a dance. "I know… I'm no better myself. But that's how I got burned and how I almost got killed." he swallowed as he was behind Iroh. "If Aang hesitates. He dies!"
"And you think he will hesitate?" Iroh asked as he twirled around and blocked Zukos fist so they now stood locked eye to eye.
Zuko swallowed, his eyes painful. "At this moment…" he whispered. "Yes." he said. "If he doesn't get it into his head. How serious this is. What Ozai really is… He will die."
Iroh stood stern as he looked at Zuko then let go of Zukos fist and they both stood back, respectfully bowing for each other.
"He's not ready uncle." Zuko whispered. "And time is running out."
Irohs lips thinned. He didn't open his mouth to dispute Zukos words. But listened intensely.
Then Zuko sighed as he turned around. "Any word of Azula?" he asked.
"No." Iroh said. "She has not been seen since the day of the eclipse. She has not returned to the Fire nation palace. Nor has she taken command of any faction of the army." he said.
Zuko lowered his head. "I must steel myself as well." he said. "And no longer hesitate. This is bigger than my feelings…. So many peoples safety rides on this... My friends... Mai... You. And all the people in this world." Zuko whispered as he wrapped his arms around himself. "I will not hesitate. Not any more."
Iroh moved forward, then put a hand on Zukos shoulder. "None of this should have been on your shoulders." he sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Hmm. So you're saying I shouldn't hesitate." Zuko smirked.
"I'm a selfish old man." Iroh said. "I know the dangers of war. And I want you to live." he said.
Zuko glanced up.
"I wish you didn't have to enter the battle field." Iroh admitted. "That scares me more than anything else." he sighed deeply. "But I also know that I have no right to stop you. You are now more grown than most men three times your age." he said as Zuko turned so they faced each other. Iroh smiled lightly by the sight of Zukos face. "I will never know how such a good and kind soul could be born into our family." he commented, fondness in his eyes.
"You're selling yourself short uncle." Zuko replied a little fondly, then his smile turned to a serious frown. "Don't worry uncle. I'll live. I promise." Zuko said. "There's far to much to do. Far to much to fix before I can just lay down and die…. I know what I must do. No more will I hesitate."
Iroh silenced.
"I'm going to take a shower." Zuko said as he turned around. "I'll see you later uncle." And as Zuko vanished. Iroh looked even smaller than usual.'
Far above them, up on the roof top. Sat a young air bender. Looking up towards the stars above him.
"Aang?" A young water bender. Katara asked as she crawled through the window.
Aang lowered his head.
"Aang listen." Katara tried. "I know Zuko has been a bit... You know... Recently." she said. "But you know how he is! He's all bark and no bite. That's nothing new. Don't worry about it."
"He's right though." Aang said.
Katara halted. "Right about what Aang?" she asked.
Aang was quiet.
"Aang?" Katara tried again and Aang squinted his eyes.
"Katara..." Aang swallowed. "I know what Zuko wants from me. And he's right." he said. "But I don't know if I can do it... This is why I didn't want to be the avatar." he hissed holding his face.
Katara hesitated. "Maybe... If you try to explain to me." she tried.
"Sorry... Not right now." Aang stood up. "Thank you for checking up on me. But I... I need to think." he said as he wiped out his glider and then flew away leaving Katara utterly alone on the roof.