Zuko tried to keep his crying quiet. He could hear Sokka and Aang on the other side of Appa, whispering to each other on what to do next. He could hear Iroh's voice. Now, my nephew, now is not the time to grieve. You must step up to your title…you must overthrow my brother. It was said the Avatar will bring balance to the Nations, and he has already played his cards: he brought you Katara, he put you in position to take the throne. Now go, Zuko…fight!
"Yes, Uncle," Zuko said softly. He wiped his face, stood up, and walked around to where the other two were sitting.
"…spirits told me all this. There are a huge number of people who can fight, they just don't have a leader. Everyone is calling out for Zuko to lead them. They want me to…" Aang saw Zuko standing to the side. "Hi," he said softly.
"Want you to do what?" Zuko sat next to Aang.
Aang looked at Sokka. "Uhm…the spirits are fighting amongst themselves. They want me to get you to the capital and then…go back to the spirit world and help."
"You mean you won't be up here helping me?"
Aang shook his head. "No, I guess I've done all I could do. I got you here, now I can help you by getting the spirits under control. I'm…sorry…to leave you…now."
"It's ok. I've got Sokka…right?" Zuko looked at him. He didn't know that Sokka knew about him and Katara, so when Sokka looked away from him, Zuko was surprised at the coldness.
"Sokka? Man, I need you…that's a big army…big group of rebels, I mean. I need a second in command."
"You have to ask for her hand, you know. You aren't engaged yet." The look Sokka gave Zuko could have thrown daggers. "Besides…what if I don't want you for my brother-in-law? For the past year, you've been trying to kill us. And now you want to marry her? Is this some sort of strategic plan? Are you still out for the Avatar?"
Zuko stood up. "I already got him. I really had no fight with you, I just needed Aang to get me back here…and he did. Just not the way I thought it would happen. And we can discuss Katara later…but she is almost 15, and then in a year will be 16, and according to the Southern Water Tribe laws if her father or brother has not promised her by then, she can choose who she wants. And I'm positive you won't find someone who can handle her by then. But right now I need to get back and bring order to my people. You can do as you please." He turned on his heel and climbed up into Appa's saddle. Aang looked at Sokka, shrugged, and airlifted himself up. Sokka grudgingly climbed up as well.
"Oh, so you're coming with?" Zuko said with a smirk.
Sokka was irritated. "Yeah, I'm coming with. You may be a military prince, but you have no idea how to lead rebels. You need someone to slap you upside the head when you make a mistake."
Zuko's smirk turned into a genuine smile. "Glad I have you then."
The guards had left Katara's door open. The rebels outside were getting stronger and more out of control, so the Fire Lord was calling all of his soldiers to help fight. Not knowing where to go, she, Kyna, and the kids stayed in the room to watch it all from her window. They had a good view of the Palace.
For an hour they watched in silence as the mob grew to the size of a small army. Although it was doing a lot of damage, it was obvious it lacked organization. Katara was trying to form a plan when Ronan cried out.
"Look!" He pointed to the Palace's front gates. "They made it to the Palace gates. I think they're gonna get in!"
Katara rushed over to see where he was pointing. The Fire Nation Capital was…on fire. Smoke rose from everywhere. The cries of the wounded and mourning could be heard mixed with the siren sounds as the Fire Lord tried to call support from the country side. In short, it was the perfect picture of the end of the world. Maybe the world is ending… Katara thought. She shook her head.
"I don't know what to do. None of you have seen Appa fly back?" The others shook their heads. She sighed. "Ok…this is what I think we should…AGH!"
Startling her, Appa popped up to completely cover her view for her window.
"Katara!" Aang called to her. "Bring Kyna and the kids here. They can get on Appa with me. Sokka and Zuko are coming in."
Sokka and Zuko jumped awkwardly through the small window then helped the others through to Appa. Aang urged Appa away with only a look at Katara. Confused, she turned to the other boys. "What is going on? Where have you been?"
"Too long…" Zuko snipped as he ushered her down the stairs. "Short version: Uncle, dead, but not really. Mob, out of control. Aang…no clue what he has to do. Us, we have to get to my father." They reached the bottom level and Katara started for the door that lead to outside.
"No," Zuko caught her arm. "If we go out there, we'll be killed for sure. I know a secret tunnel. I used to use it when I was little."
"But…the people need to know you are here," she said to him as they ran down a hallway.
"They'll know when Father…they can take care of themselves for now." He opened a small, hidden door that gave way to a tunnel. A ball of fire jumped into his hand. "Just stay close. There is no other light down here. If you lose me you won't be found again."
Katara took hold of his belt around his waste. Sokka grabbed her hood. Nodding, Zuko jogged, clumsily, down the tunnel.