The third day came as the sun rose over the hills. As usual Iroh entered Aiori's room, knowing that if his nephew didn't come back in soon, it would be the last time ever. He placed a hand on Aiori's and sat down in a chair. She seemed lifeless and looked like a porcelain doll. He sighed and watched her chest barely move up and down. "Hurry Zuko, you don't have much time."
At that same time, Zuko approached the base of the mountain. He looked up it, seeing that it was at least two hundred feet high and very steep. He sighed and looked at the wolf. "Are you going to abandon me now?" the wolf just gave a single nod, as if he understood what Zuko was saying, and maybe he did. It walked off, leaving Zuko on his own. "Thank you for showing me the way." He looked up and saw a cloud hovering over the peak and cracked his neck. "Here goes nothing." He began to climb the rocky mountain to retrieve the Curtilia Flower.
Aiori's breathing was so scarce that you couldn't even hear her. Iroh bowed his head and began to pray. It seemed all fortune had run out, and Aiori wouldn't make it. Thunder crashed just outside the ship and made the event even more dreadful. "I now know who you truly are, and your purpose in life." He spoke to Aiori. "If you die now, so does part of the legend. Please Aiori, fight it! Do not let that happen! You have so much to live up to!"
Zuko's hand slipped and he lost grip of the rock and went skidding down a few yards until he grabbed another rock and stopped himself! He was now almost half way up the mountain, still pushing himself further! He pulled his weight up onto another ledge and stopped for a breath. Then he gripped another rock and pursued his quest to the top! It got steeper as he went, slowing him down and wearing him out! The air got colder fast, and he wanted to turn back. He looked down and at the huge drop and gulped. He couldn't give up now, he was so close!
"General Iroh, we have a few hours left and Prince Zuko has not yet returned!" the doctor told Iroh.
"Well than get any medicine you've got! We have to try and buy him some time!" Iroh replied.
"How do you know he'll even be back?"
"Oh he'll come back! Trust me on this one. He will be back! Now go fetch the medicine!"
"I don't think we have what we need, sir."
"At least give it a try! We cannot let this girl die! Do you even know who she is?" the doctor shook his head. "She's what the world needs to end the war! She is the one destined to help the Avatar!"
"How do you know that?"
"I will tell you after you get the medicine! Now go, hurry!" Iroh swatted him off.
The air was now very thin and Prince Zuko could not catch his breath! But he went on up the mountain, digging his hands into the snow! He could barely feel the skin on his hands and face, and the wind and snow cut him to the bone! Hoisting himself up the last ledge, he collapsed into the snow and rested. He had reached the top! Get up, he told himself. He had to struggle to his feet, and then fell back down to his hands and knees! He opened his eyes slightly to see against the whirling snow…and to his shock, there was nothing there! No rock, no clovers, no Curtilia Flower…which meant no Aiori. "NO!" he yelled and his voice echoed through the air! "It has to be here! It must!" he pounded his fist down onto the ground! He hit something hard and rubbed his hand. He looked at it to make sure he didn't cut it and found a single tiny clover stuck to him. "Wait a minute…" and he dig his hands into the snow and tossed it to the side! More clovers were deeper down under the blanket of blizzard and then he spotted it! It was a single green flower, with big leaves and yellow petals with a black pollen face. "Finally!" he yelled and ripped it form the ground! Now to get back to Aiori! But he looked out and saw the sun setting over the water…time was almost up! Without thinking, he jumped off the ledge and slid down on his back on the steep end of the hill! He hit something and began to tumble down! He was so weak from lack of nourishment that he just let himself go down.
When his head hit the ground, he jolted up and ran as fast as he could back to the ship! He ripped through the trees and vines, jumping over rocks and roots! The sun was almost completely set! Time was against him, but he sustained his course! He spotted the ship, at last, and darted up the ramp and into the hallways of the ship! The crewmen watched as he ran, calling for him to stop, but he didn't listen! He saw the door and burst through it, throwing himself into the room! "Uncle, I have it!" he yelled! "I have the flower!" But his uncle turned to him with tears in his eyes and shook his head.
"I am sorry Prince Zuko." He said sorrowfully. Zuko's face dropped as he looked at Aiori, who was now as pale as paper.
"No." he whispered to himself.
"You are too late." Iroh informed him as he turned back to Aiori, "She is gone."