Aang POV
Appa groaned. High up in the sky the white brown bison flew. An arrow on its head to mark him. On his back, he carried the avatar and his companions.
Socka sat with his head in his hands asking himself what he did wrong.
"I should have done something... anything."
"There was nothing you could have done socka," katara said sadly. "What happened is Zhao's fault. It's the fault of the fire nation."
"Not Zuko," Aang reminded. "He helped fight Zhao."
"What happened to Zuko anyway," katara asked.
"Yeah that was weird, he just showed up and helped us. Then he disappeared after Zhao."
Katar and socka voiced their confusion about the encounter.
"Did you hear what they said, Zhao, tried to assassinate Zuko!"
Socka nodded vigorously at his sister's comment. Stroking an imaginary beard in thought.
"Who knows," Katara said, "maybe he'll be on our side now."
"Uhhh about that," Aang turned to them rubbing his neck sheepishly. "Zuko's kinda already on our side."
"What!"
Socka's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"What do you mean!"
"Well remember that time I kinda made you suck on those frogs..."
"Yes! I had a wart on my throat flap thingy for a week!"
"Socka I checked, there was no wart."
"It's my throat flap thingy! I know the truth!"
Katara shook her head.
"You were saying, Aang."
"Well while I went to find the herbalist I was captured by Zhao. He chained me up."
Aang shivered in remembrance.
"Then this masked person came and saved me."
Katara and socka listened with rapt attention.
"At first it was scary, he had to grin mask and two big swords. He came right up to me! Then he cut the chains off and got me out!"
"Out," katara asked warily.
"Of the stronghold. He took off his mask and it was Zuko."
"Why though," socka cried in agitation.
"Aang, I hate to say it," katara started," but Zuko probably only freed you so he could capture you himself."
Aang shakes his head.
"That's not the point! Maybe he did want to capture me, but I told him you were sick and he let me go so I could save you guys.
"He said he had to capture me but that he didn't want to hurt us."
"Then why chase us in the first place?"
Socka folded his arms.
"Nothing is adding up and I don't like it."
Katara looked thoughtful.
"When Zuko had me tied to the tree during the pirate fiasco he said something odd. He said he had to capture Aang to restore his honor."
Socka snorted and folded his arms.
"Oh yeah, that makes perfect sense. Angry ponytail jerk needs his honor."
Katara scowled at her brother.
"I'm just trying to help!"
His sarcastic facade dropped.
"I know... I'm just still upset about..."
His sister rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Guys," the avatar spoke up. "Do you think maybe Zuko is done trying to capture me?"
Both siblings sighed in confusion and dejection.
"I don't know Aang," socka said, "maybe it's possible, but we can't get our hopes up. We need to just keep going and maybe everything will work itself out."
Katara put her hand up to her necklace.
"That's what mom used to say..."
A tense silence filled the air.
Time to mourn those lost. Both years prior and only days ago. Time to look back at everything they've done so far and think. If only we could change fate...
"We keep moving," socka insisted.
The others didn't care to argue.
Miles away a small raft wafted in the waves. Two men, one young and one old sat inside.
Far from any land adrift in the ocean two firebenders survived by cooking fish they caught with their bare hands and melting ice for water.
"That was a very brave thing you did my nephew," the older man said.
"I tried to help... the girl, the princess, didn't make it."
Iroh nodded.
"She gave herself up for her people. That kind of love and loyalty is hard to come by."
Zuko looked away.
"I guess uncle..."
They drifted in silence a moment.
"What will we do," the boy asked.
"Today I only slowed you down. We will head inland towards ba sing se. I am not as young as I used to be. I'll help you much better from the sidelines."
Zuko shook his head.
"I can't do this alone."
"You're not alone! I'll never stop helping you. I will provide a refuge for you.
"You have a long journey ahead Zuko, one I cannot take with you as much as I wish I could. But I will always be there for you when you need me."
The prince did something unexpected, he hugged his uncle.
"Then I will see you travel safely to ba sing se."
He paused.
"I love you, uncle... I know I don't always show it but—"
He was cut off by a squeeze from the older man.
"I love you too."