A/N Hey lovelies, I am sorry this is late again. This chapter took FOREVER. The wording was giving me fits and it hasn't been super easy to write anyway. We are nearing the end, I can almost see the finish line! I hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 60

Captain Gu Long had joined the Fire Nation navy, like nearly every other young man from his village, as a fresh and enthusiastic 17 year old. He, like so many others, was eager for the perceived glory to be had fighting for his country. The Fire Nation was the greatest country on earth, it was an honor to be a part of the divine fight to spread that greatness across the world. Sadly, that eagerness was dashed against the cruel reality of an unjust and wasteful war waged for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful. Gu Long was witness to and part of more horrors than he cared to think about anymore. His anger at the Fire Lord for the callus way he sent his patriotic young men and women to their deaths, and the things he commanded of them before they met their ends simmered beneath a brittle mask of a faithful officer. With the Avatar lost once again, General Iroh in exile, and Prince Zuko dead, Captain Gu Long saw no end in sight.

"Attack the Northern Tribe."

Those orders had resulted in hundreds more pointless deaths before Lieutenant Jee managed to convince their commanders to abandon that fruitless venture. Before that he had been ordered to the South pole, finding nothing but an abandoned frozen wasteland. For the last year, the newly graying Captain had been under orders to sail up and down the Eastern Sea. Officially they were there to patrol Fire Nation waters, personally Captain Gu Long hoped there was something to the rumblings he'd heard about the Dragon of the West the last time he had been home.

As much as he could, he had tried to maintain position to the south-east. Everyone knew the mad King in Omashu was one of General Iroh's compatriots. It seemed likely, at least to Captain Gu Long, that if the General were to infiltrate the Fire Nation again he would set sail from the ports south of the Earth Kingdom city. All that meant nothing if the rumors he'd heard in the officer clubs and seedier sailor taverns were just that-hopeful ramblings of other soldiers just as worn down as he. Still, he kept his looking glass pointed towards the Earth Kingdom. The harder things became for his people, the more desperate for something to happen the Captain became.

On the last morning of summer, Captain Gu Long rose early for his usual meditation. After dressing and breaking his fast, he strode from his cabin up to the main deck of the ship. The sunrise that day was a brilliant kaleidoscope of color, the golden hue that drenched everything it touched felt like a sign from Agni himself. Smiling wistfully at the magnificent view, Gu Long took a few moments to savor the peaceful moment before pulling out his looking glass to once again sweep the eastern horizon. At last, to his astonishment, he saw something.

A dozen ships approached from the south-east, a mix of Earth Kingdom vessels and smaller ships that he couldn't identify. The small flicker of hope he nurtured erupted at the sight. The first flag he could see flying proudly above the deck of the lead ship was the black, five clawed dragon of General Iroh, the Dragon of the west. Then the wind shifted just so and he could make out the other flags and his initial feelings turned to confusion and curiosity. Below the dragon flew a black Flame on a red field, the flag of the Fire Nation. Two more were next that he had never seen; a golden sun and crescent moon wrought as one on a blue field, and a golden flame linked to the green and gold Earth Kingdom 'rock.'

Captain Gu Long lowered the looking glass from his eye in shock. Combined sigils, could this mean alliances? If so, how and who was responsible? As he peered again at the new flags sailing towards him, Gu Long became suddenly wary. He prayed that he had not been wrong in guessing General Iroh's intentions as he turned give orders.

He watched intently as his signal to parley was seen, their reply immediate. Despite the great distance between them, the winds were favorable so he did not have long to wait before his iron Fire Nation cruiser was angling alongside the Earth Kingdom ship. Bracing himself for the worst, Captain Gu Long and his first officer boarded the enemy ship together. They were both stopped short by what they saw. General Iroh was indeed on board, his deep red robes and burnished armor reminding Captain Gu Long of the proud commander the older man had been more than a decade before. It was the small delegation he stood with that had them so shocked.

Prince Zuko, whose supposed death Captain Gu Long had mourned in secret, looked every inch the Fire Lord he was born to be. He had never seen the young man in person before, but he looked nothing like the petulant boy in his wanted poster. His long hair in a traditional top knot, blood red military robes trimmed in gold fit across his broad chest. Rather than the ostentatious and ornamental armor favored by his father, Prince Zuko had clearly opted for function. It was clear that this young prince was nothing like Fire Lord Ozai.

Taking in the people before him, Captain Gu Long weighed his words carefully before speaking.

"Prince Zuko, my name is Captain Gu Long. I must say, I am surprised to see you alive, and back in Fire Nation territory. Forgive my frankness but, why are you here and with a foreign army at your back?" He indicated the five others that stood around the prince and his uncle, their coloring and dress giving them away as Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom. Prince Zuko gave a tight smile.

"You took a risk in deciding to parley instead of attack. I will repay that mercy with frankness. I have returned to defeat my father and claim my place as Fire Lord. For too long, he and his forebears have wasted our nations people and resources in an endless war. Worse, since the comet Fire Lord Ozai has callously discarded the lives of his loyal soldiers and taxed both the colonies and the home islands into poverty and starvation. I can not sit idly while he destroys my home." He turned to the young women to his left, raising her hand to his lips in a brief display of intimacy. She too was dressed in red. Her gold trimmed dress looked made for free movement with the joint sun and moon on her breastplate. "This is my wife, Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, former teacher to the Avatar." Captain Gu Long could not hide his surprise, his mouth opening in shock. Next, Prince Zuko indicated the two men behind his wife "Her father, Chief Hakoda and her brother, Sokka."

The two Water Tribe men wore traditional blues and greys, but wide red sashes bearing the same emblem master Katara wore hung from their right shoulders to their left hips. After Prince Zuko introduced them, the other men smiled stiffly.

"This is Toph Beifong, Master earth and metal bender, former teacher to the Avatar, and my trusted ally. Beside her is Commander Ludong, leader of King Bumi's military in Omashu." The middle aged man and short girl to his right wore green Earth Kingdom military fatigues beneath red sashes like the Water Tribe men. "Even in exile, my uncle and I have done everything we could to aide our people. We have worked these last months to gather allies and spread the word of my uncle's anger over our people's plight. It is not our intention to fight a bloody battle against the Fire Nation military, wasting more precious lives. We mean to take the throne leading a military coup."

As understanding dawned, the Captain had more questions. He held up a hand to interrupt.

"I have heard whispers that the Dragon of the West was stirring and many are saying he planned to depose his brother. Are you saying these tavern hall rumors were manufactured on purpose? How is that possible? Do you have supporters in the military already? If so, who?"

Prince Zuko grew solemn, so too he noticed, did the Water Tribe man called Sokka.

"Yes Captain, I have a loyal man, an officer that has been fanning the flames of decent my father ignites with his every breath. More than a year ago, my brother-in-law Sokka and I were at the North pole. By chance we arrived only days before the Fire Nation navy. Trapped there I watched for weeks, unable to help, as hundreds of soldiers drowned and froze. It was a nightmare, until finally I saw a way to end the suffering. Lieutenant Jee, who spent years commanding my ship when I was first in exile, took his rotation on the ice. He was always loyal to me and my uncle so I met him that night and asked for his help. I told him to convince the generals to abandon the North pole and he has been working for me ever since."

Captain Gu Long, for the second time, stood mouth agape. He had spent many nights wondering what he would do if he ever found General Iroh. Now that he stood faced with the decision, knew what he needed to do.

"I was there, I nearly died on that ice. Lieutenant Jee saved my life, pulling me and another man from the sea himself. We were so relieved when he was suddenly able to convince our commanders to leave. Lieutenant Jee cares deeply for his men and his country and he has my respect." Captain Gu Long sighed and briefly looked out across the western horizon before catching the eye of his officer. The younger man gave a slight nod and they both turned back to face Prince Zuko.

"A military coup you say? Treason is not something one can consider lightly, but Fire Lord Ozai has betrayed his people. If Lieutenant Jee believes you are a worthy replacement and has chosen to support your claim to the throne then so will I. I love my country Prince Zuko. My fire, and my ship, are yours." With that, both he and his officer bowed deeply.

When they rose, General Iroh was smiling broadly and approaching them.

"Welcome to the revolution Captain Gu Long. How about you join us for some tea and we can explain our strategy."

The now anxious Captain accepted, there was indeed much more still to discuss.

oOoOoOoOo

Katara rested her head against her palm as she leant against the forward gunwale. The sunset was nearly as magnificent as the dawn had been that day and Katara laughed softly to herself as she remembered Iroh's pronouncement that is was a sign of Agni's blessing. After the day they had had, she thought he must have been right. Captain Gu Long may have only been one officer, but his pledge to Zuko had bolstered her hopes for the coming days. She a thumb absently along the top of the heavy metal breastplate Toph had made her and thought of her baby.

It had been difficult to leave Kya with Ursa. She was still so young, not even a year old and Katara felt the separation keenly. They had only been gone a week but already she was desperate to hold her daughter in her arms again. Perhaps she had made a mistake coming with Zuko after all. Did he really need her there? What purpose had she served today when they met the Captain? She hadn't spoken a word, just stood at her husband's side. Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, Katara wondered how long it would take her to get back to Omashu if she bent the water beneath a raft.

"I thought I'd find you here, I was just thinking… Katara what's wrong?"

Katara had been so upset she hadn't even noticed Zuko approaching. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him and cupped her face in his other hand. His calloused thumb swiped across her cheek, wiping away her tears. She sobbed at his tender affection and clung to him, allowing the heat he always radiated to soothe her.

"I miss Kya, Zuko. I think it was a mistake to leave her. She's too young, she needs her mother. I want to go back to Omashu." Katara pressed her cheek to his chest, unable to look in his eyes while she asked to abandon him and their fight. "You don't need me here anyway. You swayed that Captain today all on your own, I just stood there looking pretty on your arm. Please, say you can do this without me, Zuko."

Zuko sighed into her hair and kissed her forehead. Gently, he pulled back and tilted her chin to make her look at him.

"Katara, if you are sure that's what you want, of course I won't stop you. I miss her too. But, you know that she is going to be ok while we're gone. She is with my mother, and Sitka is going to feed her while you can't. Between the two of them Kya is more than cared for." Katara knew he was right but it didn't ease her distress.

"And please don't make the mistake of thinking that I don't need you. Didn't you see Captain Gu Long's face when I introduced you as my wife? I know you weren't with us when we talked more but he was very impressed with you. Both by what he has heard about the "fearsome Master Katara, friend of the Avatar" and by the fact that you're my wife. He said, 'Master Katara looked as fearsome and beautiful as I'd imagined. I would be proud to have her as Fire Lady.' And that was only our first contact, there will be times when I will need you to talk to these people." She was smiling at him now, remembering why she had wanted to come in the first place.

"Don't forget you promised to help me take down my father. There isn't anyone I would rather have with me for that fight, Katara. I love you and I want you here with me. I need you, but if you really want to go back to Omashu I won't stop you." He kissed her softly and turned with her to lean against the rail. Katara laid her head against Zuko's shoulder as she contemplated leaving. She did miss her daughter, but her husband needed her too. The world needed them to be successful, and he needed her by his side to do that.

"I'll stay. If I wasn't with you I would be worried sick for you. Kya is with your mother and Sitka. I trained her myself, she will keep Kya safe. But the very second your father is dealt with and everything is done, I'm taking the fastest ship to Omashu."

Zuko let out a relieved sigh and took her hand.

"Thank you, I love you Katara, and Kya. So much. No matter what happens I need you to know that."

Despite what his words insinuated, Katara felt no dread. In her heart she knew they would be ok.

"I do know, and I love you too."