Aang had returned with the frogs for Katara and Sokka. After which he sat there and began to think about what had just happened with Prince Zuko. He still wondered if they could have been friends.

Later, Katara and Sokka were well again.

"Aang what took you so long?" Katara asked.

"Yeah you did take a long time," Sokka said. "Where's Zelda?"

Aang told them the whole story about how he and Zelda were captured by the YuuYan Archers and taken back to Zhao's fortress and how they were rescued by whom they later found out was Prince Zuko. He also told how Zelda had possessed Zuko and left him with much of her spirit energy. Aang continued with the story and told how Zelda had ordered him to go back to the cave to heal Katara and Sokka. He told them how weak she was and then they began to worry, it was getting later and she still had not returned.

"Do you think Prince Zuko took her hostage?" Katara asked.

"Probably, she was very weak at the time. I had to help her just to stand up. Zuko probably took advantage of her weakness," Aang told the two. "I would've taken her with me, but she told me to go."

"Yeah that definitely sounds like something that jerk would do," Sokka commented, "Take advantage of someone who was weakened by saving his life."

"I hope she's okay," Aang stated with a worried expression on his face.

"I am sure she will be fine. Zelda is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She's a great fighter and can use her magic to defend herself. Once she regains her strength she could easily escape," Katara said trying to comfort Aang.

"Yeah, but when I was with her she had trouble using her magic. She wanted to get her staff to appear to help her walk, the first time it didn't work and the second time it seemed like she had to put a lot of effort into it to make it appear."

"That doesn't sound good. Well her energy has to come back, right? Once it does come back, she'll be fine. Zelda's wise too, she can take care of herself until her energy comes back."

"I feel bad for just leaving her there though"

"Aang, it's okay. She wanted you to leave her. Her duty is to protect you, she was just doing her job."

Aang nodded, comforted a little, but still feeling guilty for leaving her behind.

Prince Zuko was still walking with Zelda over his shoulder. She had been silent the whole time, but he knew she was awake because she shifted sometimes trying to make herself more comfortable.

"So you've been searching for the Avatar for the past three years?" Zelda said wanting to break the silence.

"…..yes." Zuko responded.

"And you've been searching for him to restore your honor correct?"

"…yes…"

"I guess I'd feel the same way you do if I was in your position."

"You would?"

"Yes, except I wouldn't want to go back because of my father or for myself. I would go back because of Hyrule and the people of Hyrule. I don't like being far away from home for long. I love my homeland," said Zelda as her eyes began to shine thinking of Hyrule, which she loved with all of her heart.

"You've been away for a long time protecting the Avatar, though."

"I miss my home dearly."

"Then why don't you just return home?"

"Because this is my duty. I must do my duties as Princess of Hyrule, but I also must complete my duties as Empress of Light. I often think about home though. I miss the lush green fields, the crystal clear waters of Lake Hyrule and I miss my people and my family. I miss being able to share my wisdom with the people of Hyrule. They would come from all over to have me help them solve their troubles and quarrels."

"You seem to love your land very much."

"Oh, I do. More than you will ever know. I always felt like I was the older sister of Hyrule. Guiding her, loving her, protecting her."

Zuko thought about what she had just said. She was always so brave. Princess Zelda was obviously deeply pained by leaving her homeland for such a long time, but she still came here just to protect the Avatar and complete her duties. To protect another land, instead of just protecting her own land, she comes to a far away land to protect it. He admired Zelda for that.

"We are almost to the ship," Zuko said.

"Thank goodness, my back is killing me."

Zuko smirked at this comment. Because he knew she must be in an uncomfortable position.

Instead of getting on his ship, Zuko stopped.

"Before we get on my ship, I just wanted to say…thanks."

"For what?"

"For saving my life."

"Oh yeah, it was no problem. I didn't have to think about it for a second. You were always there to protect me and help me when we were younger, I was just doing the same for you."

Zelda smiled and Zuko even smiled a little, but Zelda didn't see it because she was still slung over Zuko's shoulder.