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Iroh wasn't happy. On the small table in front of him was one of the most unappetizing things he had ever seen – a bowl full of boiled shredded cabbage.

Seated by his beside, Zuko couldn't help but notice his uncle's distaste. "Will you just eat it?" he said in a low frustrated voice. After a minute's stand-off between them, Iroh reluctantly gave in and began eating his meal.

At this, Zuko allowed himself to relax but only slightly. Unlike his uncle and Commander Jee, he didn't believe in the Avatar's assurances that they would be safe while on Kyoshi.

His uncle, seemingly able to read his mind, suddenly said, "Relax, Lord Zuko. If it were their intention to harm us, I think they would have done so already. However-" he inhaled deeply, stretched out his arms and exhaled, yawning. "-I've never felt better. The Lady Katara indeed deserves her reputation as an exceptional healer."

"It is not her I am worried about," said Zuko, a hint of impatience in his tone. "There is no sign of the pinnace we sent ahead of the fleet." At this, Iroh's face turned thoughtful. Though they had led the Avatar and the healer to believe that they hadn't anticipate the panic a fleet of seven Fire Navy warships would set off in Kyoshi (and elsewhere), they had in fact foreseen such an outcome and had sent a diplomatic delegation to Kyoshi even before the fleet had set sail from the Fire Nation.

Whatever could have happened to Ambassador Bei and his men?

"Perhaps they became lost?" wondered Iroh out loud; Zuko's opinion on this input from his uncle was divided between impatience and concern, for one thing it was clear that Bei couldn't simply had gotten lost otherwise they would have received messenger hawks from his ship. On the other hand, Zuko had increasing reasons to worry about Iroh's health in both mind and body. He couldn't, in fairness, continue to expect the elderly ailing firebender to be as quick-witted as before.

Zuko decided to not point out the obvious weakness in Iroh's suggestion and simply shook his head to indicate that it was unlikely the pinnace had just gone off-course. Iroh went back to thinking, eyeing his half-eaten cabbage soup while Zuko waited, forcing himself to be patient. Even though he had already thought of the most plausible explanation for Bei's disappearance, he wanted to give his uncle the chance to puzzle it through.

Iroh's eyes lit up. "Pirates," he said; satisfaction lighting his face when Zuko, who was trying to not look relieved, nodded.

"Of course," Iroh murmured. "Our spies have reported that it is in the Merchant Guild's best interest for our nation's relationships with the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes to remain sour so that we would be forced to continue trading through their middlemen."

Zuko felt disgust form on his face. His trade advisor had recently given him a report of the exorbitant prices some those merchants were charging his people on items as basic as fruits and vegetables from the Earth Kingdom. Even furs and seafood from the Water Tribe were being sold at inflated prices. He didn't relish discovering just how high goods from the Fire Nation were being traded for in the other countries.

All in all, there was much he had to do before he could even be a little satisfied of his overall performance as FireLord.

Footsteps approaching the room abruptly ended their discussion. Zuko lifted his hood over his head and stationed himself by the foot of the bed while Iroh returned to apathetically eating boiled cabbages. The door slid open; Katara entered with a boy and girl in tow, all three bearing covered dishes.

She smiled at them, asking how Iroh was feeling as she and the children placed the plates on the table beside the bed.

"I feel as fit as a rhino, all thanks to you, my dear," said Iroh gallantly. Looking pleased, Katara took over Zuko's seat and laid a hand on his brow. She asked the boy to remove the small table over Iroh's lap and the nearly empty bowl with it. After he complied with her request, she pulled off the cork on the waterskin she seemed to always carry around with her and guided a length of water out of it.

Iroh shivered involuntarily when the cool glowing water touched his skin. Katara made a reassuring sound and off-handedly introduced the children to them, whom they were startled to learn were her daughter and son.

"Oh, I should have realized. They do resemble you greatly," said Iroh, smiling at them. The boy, Lan, returned his smile; he looked quite friendly, but his sister, Tui, barely smiled back; her eyes, much to Iroh's amusement, were a suspicious green. She was clearly eager to leave, bolting out of the room when their mother thanked them for their assistance and told them they could go. Lan, on the other hand, was slow in taking his leave. He asked Katara if he could help heal Iroh; his request causing Zuko to freeze – he didn't want a mere child to be treating his ailing uncle. Fortunately, Katara just thanked her son again and told him she would be fine alone. They exchanged smiles, and the boy left the room, sliding the door close after him.

The room then fell into a somewhat uneasy silence. Suddenly restless, Zuko moved closer to them. Katara seemed oblivious to his movement. Her eyes were half-closed as she concentrated in her examination. Iroh watched as Zuko lifted the cover off one of the dishes on the bedside table and felt alarmed when his nephew made a face at its contents, whatever they were, and quickly replaced the cover.

Despite knowing that Katara had to concentrate while waterbending, Iroh tried to make small talk.

"Your children look very well brought up," he said and a second after belatedly realized that came out rather odd-sounding. Zuko thought similarly, for he threw a questioning frown at Iroh, who could tell despite the hood.

Katara murmured a thank you, and Iroh, for some reason unknown to his nephew, was encouraged to make yet another attempt at small talk.

"How old are they? I say they look about seven."

There was a slow nod from Katara, and a more frantic motion from Zuko who was signaling at his uncle to keep quiet. Or at least that was what Iroh interpreted from his nephew's neck-cutting gesture. He found it hard to tell what Zuko actually meant to say because of the hood.

Just in case Zuko actually meant otherwise, Iroh continued on conversing with Katara. "I love children. I'm always hinting at my nephew to settle down, take a wife, give his dear old uncle little nieces and nephews to play with-" Zuko pulled his hood off and glared at Iroh, who unashamedly went on about how little time he had left in the world.

"Don't say that," said Katara in a soft stern tone, finally looking up from her ministrations to give Iroh a mock frown. "I won't have any of my patients think like that. You have plenty of time. I'll even place a wager that you'll see your great-grand-nieces-and-nephews before you leave this world." She squeezed his hand reassuringly and stood to pick up one of the dishes behind her.

"Zuko, could you please put the- thank you." There was a rather smug look on his face as he quickly placed back the small table over his uncle's lap.

Iroh suddenly realized why when Katara, with much pride, revealed her alternative diet plan for him.

"Being firebenders, the two of you may not know this so I'll tell you – practically no water tribe member suffers from heart disease at either poles. Yugoda; she's the healer who taught me, once told me that it's because of our very healthy cuisine," said Katara, putting out portions for Iroh.

"This here is blubber. We usually eat it raw, but I've cooked it a little so you can get used to it first. This is innards of a caribou stomach – it's delicious. And this is barely boiled seal-turtle blood."

"Barely boiled seal-turtle blood?" mumbled Iroh, looking off-color. Zuko, still looking darkly pleased by his uncle's culinary dilemma. Katara, busy with the dishes, didn't notice and explained, "Yes, it shouldn't come to a boil otherwise the blood will coagulate or thicken at the bottom of the pot; it just doesn't taste as good. I've listed down the ingredients and exact instructions for these dishes and others." She reached into a pocket and handed a scroll to Zuko.

Iroh waffled. "It will difficult to find the necessary ingredients back home." Katara's face fell at this oversight, but Zuko with much certainty said, "Not to worry, Uncle. I'll have it all especially imported from the Water Tribes, just for you."

"I wouldn't wish to be of too much trouble, Lord Zuko."

"Nothing is of too much trouble for my 'dear old uncle'," Zuko immediately said, relishing each word, and Iroh fell silent, handing over the verbal battlefield to his nephew.

Katara, still oblivious to the underlying meaning of their exchange, gave Zuko an appreciative smile. His great concern for his uncle touched her immensely, and she offered to help him in procuring Water Tribe food items.

"My people are still… wary of trading with the Fire Nation, but I can send a message to my grandmother at the Southern Tribe. She'll understand, and your people shouldn't have trouble trading for the ingredients. Just have them ask for Kanna. That's her name."

"Kanna," Zuko repeated, committing the name to memory. Katara nodded at him, her smile widening. Then, her eyes focused on the large scar on the left side of his face.

He was startled when she offered to 'fix' his scar. Iroh, who had been discreetly looking around the room for vessels wherein to dispose certain unwanted victuals, turned his full attention to his nephew and the healer.

"Fix my scar?" Zuko said guardedly. Katara, noticing his reticence, quickly reassured him that the procedure was quick and painless.

"Believe it or not, most of the people who ask me to heal them actually only want me to remove scars, warts… pimples, even freckles. I refuse to remove freckles. Of course, I prioritize those who are seriously ill. Still, some pretend to be sick just so that I would see them first. It irritates me, but I have found it easier to get to the patients who really need me by just removing whatever imperfections it was that they wanted me to remove. It only takes me a few seconds, far shorter time spent than arguing with them to let the truly sick patients go first." Katara suddenly paused, as though realizing that she was rambling. She turned flustered and let out a short embarrassed laugh.

"I'm sorry. I guess I needed to say that out loud. I am bothered by people who would prioritize their physical appearance over another's well-being, but I supposed it is natural to wish to look nice. If I'm completely honest with myself, I would also admit I'm quite vain – sorry, I did it again. Spoke too much again. Your scar would have been gone in lesser time than I spent chatting." With that, she uncorked her waterskin and gestured for Zuko to take the seat she had vacated.

Zuko's refusal surprised her.

"I am not ashamed of this scar," he told her very solemnly. "It's part of who I am."

He expected her not to believe him and was quite taken aback when a warm light in her blue eyes showed that she not only believed him, but also appreciated his sentiment. She corked her waterskin, a grin, almost mischievous, lightening her face as she told him simply, "I think that's a wonderful attitude."

"Well, I think it's stupid," interrupted Iroh, sounding as though he had strong doubts about his nephew's sanity. Katara bit her lower lip to hold back a laugh as Zuko, with a frown, rounded on his uncle.

"Are you insane?" Iroh told him, "She's offering to remove your scar – Let her!"

"Uncle, I happen to like my scar. It identifies me," said Zuko in a dangerous tone.

Iroh wasn't intimidated in the least. "Certainly it identifies you - like how a bull's eye identifies a target. Everyone who sees that scar knows you are the FireLord. Remember what I once told you about the importance of being inconspicuous. You may not remember. It was years ago, before you got 'branded'."

"Uncle-"

"That scar is even more obvious than the Avatar's blue arrow tattoos. At least he can conceal them effectively. You, on the other hand, can't even wear a proper disguise – a mask or hood isn't a proper disguise. They are not inconspicuous. People seeing someone wearing a mask or a hood immediately think he's up to something. The only place you won't be noticed is during a masquerade ball or during the Fire Festival-"

"Uncle-"

"-and it only works until it's time for everyone to remove their masks. Zuko, what she is offering you is a godsend. Let her remove your scar!"

"Uncle, I don't need to disguise myself!"

"Oh… sure you don't. I supposed you've been covering your head up in a hood just to keep yourself warm."

Seeing his point, Zuko clamped his mouth shut, but he still wasn't going to do as his uncle demanded. True that his scar was an inconvenience sometimes, but it's been with him for so long – he simply couldn't imagine being without it, and he had been utterly serious when he said that he wasn't ashamed of being scarred. He had long stopped seeing his scar as a mark of dishonor and now considered it as an inherent facet of his character.

Realizing just how stubborn his nephew was about his scar, Iroh switched to another tactic.

"Nephew, I'll follow whatever diet you want me to follow if you have that scar removed." At this, Zuko's face fell, and he found himself thinking that his uncle wasn't playing fair, at the same time wondering why he ever doubted the wily firebender's mental faculties. It wouldn't be beneath Iroh to pretend to be slow-witted to make others, even his nephew, underestimate him.

A stifled giggle interrupted their repartee, and both firebenders turned to see Katara, covering her mouth with one hand and trying not to laugh. Realizing that her escaped laugh had drawn their attention to her, she tried to wave away their regard.

"I'm sorry." She coughed, clearing her throat. "I… may have other patients to attend to-"

"Wait. He will have his scar removed."

"This isn't your scar to decide whether to remove or not!"

"Note that I said 'you' will have 'your' scar removed."

"Gentlemen."

They both turned to Katara again, who said, "When you 'both' have decided, just call for me or my son."

Zuko stared at her. "Your son, Lan?" said Iroh.

Katara nodded, smiling with warm motherly pride. "He's a healing prodigy, and don't worry – he won't let anyone know about Zuko. Most people of course would be worried about a child treating them, but he's been screening my patients for me since he turned five years old. He's actually more suited to superficial healing than I am. Unlike me, he enjoys removing pimples."

Iroh nodded at her. "Of course, we understand," he said whilst giving an irritated glance at his nephew for missing such a rare opportunity when it had presented itself right in front of his face. He doubted there would be another waterbender, other than Katara and her son, who would be willing to offer such a service to a firebender. He misplaced his irritation somewhat when Zuko, with an odd look on that face of his, suddenly told Katara that she and her husband must be very proud of their children.

Katara's reaction made Iroh completely forgot about his nephew's stupid scar. She turned pale and looked away from Zuko. She slid the door open, stepped out and closed it behind her without a word of good-bye.

Katara felt cold all over despite that it was a warm sunny day and was utterly glad to discover that there were no other patients. Unsurprising, since the far majority of villagers were still jittery from yesterday's firebender-induced panic and not a single refugee ship has yet come back to the harbor, most likely since there were currently seven impossible-to-ignore Fire Navy warships within catapult-distance of it.

Through the backdoor, she came out into the secluded garden at the back of her clinic. Immediately, without thinking, she headed to the sole camphor tree and went behind its massive twisted trunk, which, when it was still a young sapling long ago, had been forced to grow round a boulder which had rolled down from the mountainside to lodge itself against its trunk. Now, the rock was gone, but the impression of it remained in the form of a hollow seat which allowed a person to seat inside of it comfortably.

There, Katara leaned against the rough solid wood of the camphor tree, brought her knees against her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She hugged herself tight, kneading her shoulders and willing for the chill to go away. Later, she would bemoan her wretched reaction to Zuko's courteous observation, but for now, she just wanted the pain of her loss to ease, go away and leave her be.

Though it had been already a year since Sokka brought Sacha's ashes back to her, the loss still sometimes felt fresh as though it had happened only yesterday. Try as hard as she could, Katara couldn't always control these sudden bouts of desolation, often triggered by a reminder of something her husband said, seeing foods he liked to eat and even when other villagers referred to his memory. Fortunately, such incidents were becoming rare; people had learned to be extra careful of what they say when Katara was around. She, in turn, had also learned to prepare herself. However, she just hadn't expected to be blindsided by a simple statement from the FireLord.

A humorless smile force itself unto her lips as Katara wondered what Zuko and Iroh was thinking of her, why she had just left them so suddenly. That she was now able to make fun of herself was a good sign. She began to breath easier and could again feel that today was indeed a nice sunny day in Kyoshi.

Jee was witnessing an event he never expected to see, at least in his lifetime – the Avatar making a pledge before the village elders that the firebenders would conduct themselves honorably while on Kyoshi and within its waters. Regardless of the Avatar's assurances, quite a few of the islanders still thought that the firebenders being only at Kyoshi to ask for their healer to cure the Dragon of the West of his ailment a hoax and mere stratagem to lower their defenses (despite that they didn't have any). Indeed, they also thought the Avatar and Lady Katara fools for believing the firebenders.

Jee's skin crawled; he found it extremely difficult to keep maintain a respectable silence while in their presence as a particularly obnoxious elder told the Avatar that he should have consulted with them before fetching Lady Katara to heal Lord Iroh, whom he referred to as 'an old fat has been'."

At this comparison, the Avatar chuckled; the light-hearted infectious sound lifting the tense mood in meeting hall immediately. At the sight of the Avatar, the most powerful and influential individual there, trying to maintain a solemn facade, the village chief and some of the other elders smiled, even Jee felt more relaxed as he realized that was probably how Lord Iroh would also respond, laugh away an insult and even try to make friends with whomever insulted him.

The elder who had insulted Lord Iroh became the one who looked insulted, and the next few minutes were wasted with the Avatar having to assure the bothersome elder that he had meant no insult. In the meantime, Jee entertained himself with drawing a mental picture of the elder as a vexed old rooster with ruffled, drab and thinning feathers.

Discovering that the Avatar also had to deal with such impertinence and stupidity raised Jee's already respectable regard for the young man, who looked no older than Jee's eldest son.

Later, after coming out of the stuffy meeting hall and into sunlit main thoroughfare, Jee, to show his thanks to the Avatar, offered to buy him a drink. The firebender was surprised when he received a very broad smile and a cheeky reply –

"Monks don't drink alcohol, but you can treat me to a fruit smoothie."

Jee blinked. "Fruit smoothie?"

The Avatar's face lit with the realization that firebenders, of course, wouldn't know about smoothies. You needed ice to make smoothies, and to get ice, you either needed a waterbender or have to get ice from somewhere cold like at mountaintops or at the poles.

"Let's go back to the clinic and find Katara," he said, pointing his staff in the direction of the healer's healing hut. "She can make smoothies for us, and you have to try one. Zuko and Iroh too."

Jee almost shushed the Avatar for saying the FireLord's name. They had agreed to keep it secret that Lord Zuko was on Kyoshi. Jee looked around quickly to see if anyone had overheard their conversation. The only person within hearing range was a man in blue Kyoshi garb. Jee watched him carefully for any reaction, and a frown soon wrinkled his brow when it became obvious to him that the villager was drooling a lot.

The Avatar noticed Jee's concern. His off-handed - Oh, don't worry about him. He's just crazy- gave Jee more reason to be worried, but he forgot about the strange villager when they were accosted by a gang of teenagers, led by a particularly vivacious young lady with a sprinkle of freckles across her nose.

"Hi, Aang-y," she greeted the Avatar with a flirtatious smile. Her companions chorused similarly, giggling and pushing at each other in a manner that strongly reminded Jee of his daughters and their friends whenever they were in the presence of a man they strongly fancied. FireLord Zuko, most notably.

The Avatar, startled by their sudden appearance, barely had time to say hello to the girl, whose name was revealed to be Koko before finding himself surrounded by girls clamoring stories, tricks and basically just for his time. As Koko and her friends led him away, he glanced back at Jee with an embarrassed, apologetic expression, turning relieved and amused when he found the older man doubled over in silent laughter at the Avatar's predicament.

After regaining enough control over his composure, Jee, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, made his own way back towards the clinic, only stopping just once more at a cart displaying cabbages. Remembering Lord Iroh's diet, he arranged with the cabbage seller for his entire stock to be delivered to their boat, which just happened to be the only vessel currently docked at Kyoshi.

The cabbage seller, unsurprisingly was suspicious and reluctant to do business with a firebender though he quickly to became very professional and accommodating when Jee offered to pay him in advance.

The day's afternoon followed uneventful except for five boats finally returning to the harbor; their captains having received dire warnings via messenger birds from the village chief that they would be fired if they didn't return the "borrowed" boats to Kyoshi within the day.

Evening was far more hectic for everyone on the island and offshore due to more messenger birds bearing news of a convoy of Southern Water Tribe ships heading towards Kyoshi.

"There they are."

Katara looked in the direction Aang was pointing and saw below them the unmistakable silhouette of water tribe ships on the moonlit ocean's surface.

"Yip yip, Appa," said Aang, and the bison obediently headed down towards the flagship, which was the largest of the ships and leading the fleet, which though two dozen strong, would still had been far outmatched in a direct battle with seven Fire Navy iron warships.

Crew members spotted them and began clearing the deck for the ten-ton flying bison. There was barely enough room to accommodate Appa, and the ship's stern sagged markedly, the bow rising up as the mammoth bison landed on the deck, which seemed to creak portentously under Appa's weight.

"Uhh… maybe you should just stay in the water, Appa," Aang told his animal guide after he and Katara got off and unto a considerably inclined deck. Appa snorted and lifted off; the boat's bow coming down with a sizable splash; its deck leveling off.

"Thank you, Avatar," said a familiar voice with much relief. They turned to see Bato walking towards them. After exchanging an embrace with Katara and shaking Aang's hand, he led them into the cabin where Master Pakku was waiting.

To say that Master Pakku was not happy that firebenders were on Kyoshi would be an understatement. He made his displeasure very clear to those who had allowed them on the island, which were Aang and Katara, much to his astonishment.

"You healed a firebender?" he said to Katara in a tone which couldn't be any clearer in putting forward his distaste for what he considered to be a complete waste of waterbending.

Katara, hoping she sounded at her most reasonable, said, "We couldn't refuse to help-"

Aang interrupted, "It was my idea, Master Pakku. If Katara had refused to heal General Iroh, the firebenders would have had held a grudge against Kyoshi."

At this, Pakku looked about to say something very witty and no doubt insulting but was held up by Bato, who like Katara, sounded at his most reasonable. "But he is well, isn't he, Katara? I mean your treatment was successful?"

"Yes, it was, Bato."

"Then, they should leave," said Pakku, frowning heavily at Bato for interrupting him. "We shouldn't trust them. They caused panic on Kyoshi by bringing seven warships just to deliver a fat old general for healing. How do we even know this Iroh is really ill?"

It was Katara's turn to frown, but Aang who answered Pakku first, "He is or I mean was really sick before Katara healed him. Zuk- ow!" Katara had deliberately stepped on his foot to keep him from revealing that Zuko was on Kyoshi, but it was too late. Pakku was staring at them, and Bato's eyes were wide with realization.

"Zuko? The FireLord is on Kyoshi?" Bato asked them in a very careful tone of voice. A grim smile came over Pakku's face as Katara closed her eyes and nodded wearily. Aang looked irritated with himself.

"I'm sorry, Katara."

She looked over Appa's saddle at Aang seated on the bison's head. He still looked aggravated for spilling the beans.

"You don't need to apologize to me, Aang."

"I know, but I need the practice. Zuko's going to kill me when he finds out."

"I'm sure he didn't expect you to keep the secret for long, besides he doesn't have to know Pakku and Bato found out from you," said Katara, trying her best to make light of the situation. It worked somewhat. Aang relaxed slightly and glanced back at her with a smile.

"Thanks, Katara. Yeah, you're right. Zuko doesn't have to know. Besides, it was obvious Pakku was going to make them wear Sintering Bracers whether or not Zuko was in Kyoshi." Then, as an afterthought, he said, "I'm that bad with secrets, huh?"

"Well… I consider telling you something a good way to spread it around. You're one of the most sociable people I know of. You think of everyone as a potential friend… even if it's obvious they're trying to do you harm. After all these years, I'm still debating with myself on whether I should admire or think you crazy for saving Zuko at the north pole."

He looked embarrassed, and for the next few minutes they just shared in a comfortable silence.

Katara checked the heavy bag beside her again, fighting a low feeling of dread. Some of this debacle if not most, she had to admit though only to herself, was partly her responsibility. After all, she had more than strongly recommended (practically commanded) the village chief to evacuate Kyoshi. In addition, she had wanted to be so certain of General Iroh's health that she dared to sacrifice the peace of mind of everyone else's on the island by asking him to stay for a few more days. In a matter of speaking, she cared too much for her patients, no matter who they were, at the risk of others.

Though it had been tactless and much more wrong than right for Pakku to point that fault out to her in front of Aang and Batu, she had to reluctantly agree that Iroh didn't have to stay in Kyoshi. He was as healthy as she could ever make him to be. Barring of an emergency, the firebenders no longer had to be the on island or within its waters. And despite her faith in them and Aang's insistence that they weren't up to anything, Pakku simply wouldn't allow the firebenders to stay unless they agreed to the condition which Katara was about to deliver to them.

"I should be with you when you tell them, Katara," Aang suddenly said out loud, as though in touch with Katara's thoughts. She looked back at him again. He was looking at her with a very serious gleam in his gray eyes.

She hesitated, seriously considering his offer, but Pakku had been insistent she did this alone, without Aang present. He wouldn't say why it had to be so when he demanded a promise from each one of them to do exactly as he had ordered.

"Aang, I think we better do as Pakku said," said Katara reluctantly. He let out a frustrated sigh.

"I don't understand why I shouldn't be there," he said, suddenly impatient. Katara blinked, a smile forming on her lips as Aang pursed his lips loudly. Though becoming set in the ways and mores of being the Avatar, he was still at his core his easy-going gregarious self, prone to question whatever he couldn't understand.

Katara thought about it carefully, wondering why Pakku wouldn't want Aang to present when the firebenders were informed they had to wear Sintering Bracers. Then, all of sudden, it became clear to her. Zuko would never allow himself to be restrained in Aang's presence, and Pakku had made it obvious that he wanted the bracers on the FireLord.

"If you want to stay at Kyoshi, you have to wear these." Katara laid out on the table several pairs of silver-colored bracers, which the firebenders eyed warily.

"Do you know what these are?" she asked them.

Iroh nodded. "Sintering Bracers" he said softly, "Made of a rare metal which only waterbenders can forge."

Zuko frowned at him. "What do they do?"

Iroh sighed. Katara answered him, "These bracers expand when cooled and contract when heated. If you wear these, firebending will be difficult and only a waterbender can chill them enough to allow removal." Her face turned apologetic. "I am very sorry, but I think you should leave Kyoshi. The village elders have unanimously decided to heed Master Pakku's advice to have all firebenders wear Sintering Bracers while on Kyoshi. There's nothing I can do about it. Even General Iroh must wear one of these." She lifted a bracer and let it fall back clanging on the others.

Zuko didn't look impressed, and neither did Commander Jee who, in a dry tone, wondered out loud, "The waterbenders think we'll be harmless if we wear bracelets?"

Iroh shook his head. "Do not underestimate," he said softly. He walked to the table and picked up two of the bracers, each of which he handed to Zuko and Jee to examine. "These 'bracelets' can cut off blood flow at the first hint of firebending. Just raising your body temperature slightly is enough to tighten them. I had comrades who permanently lost use of their hands because of these."

At Iroh's words, Katara's breath catch at her throat. Pakku hadn't told her and Aang just how dangerous the bracers were. He had only told them that they discourage firebenders from bending. Just made them uncomfortable, he had said.

"I've never heard of them," said Zuko, frowning at the somewhat innocuous-looking bracer in his hand. Jee nodded, indicating he was unfamiliar with Sintering Bracers as well.

Iroh was quick to answer, "That's because you are both too young to have been around the time the waterbenders would keep firebenders as prisoners." His voice was suddenly tinged with sadness. "Many of the people I know of who lost the use of their hands because of these either chose to end their life or went insane. They couldn't firebend anymore."

He turned back to Katara, his face old and somber. "I will forever be grateful to you for healing me. We will leave Kyoshi immediately."

Zuko looked as though he would protest, but Iroh suddenly made a gesture which caused Jee to move behind the FireLord. Before Zuko could even react, Jee knocked him out with a well-placed chop to the back of the head.

Katara, wide-eyed, looked on in shocked silence as Jee lifted Zuko's unconscious body over his shoulder before putting on a long flowing hooded cloak which shrouded his bulky burden.

"My nephew, though ingenuous and more than an able leader, is still even at his age a little naive when it comes to matters concerning his safety," said Iroh equivocally when Katara turned to him questioningly. Then, he smiled and added in a cheerful aside to her, "Also, he doesn't think too well when it comes to his dear old uncle."

Jee, on the other hand, still looked serious. "Lord Iroh, please hurry," he said, handing a spare cloak to Iroh.

Katara hesitated then said, "We wouldn't try to take Zuko." But Iroh's smile just widened at her uncertain-sounding words.

"You are like my nephew as well, a little naive" he said merrily, putting on the cloak. Just before they left, he asked Katara to pass on a message for him to Master Pakku.

"Tell him I would enjoy a game of Pai Sho with him sometime. It seems he would be a most interesting opponent."

When the Water Tribe flagship arrived at the harbor, Katara was on the dock waiting for it. She didn't wait for the crew to lower the gangway, but instead waterbended her own icy passage unto the ship. The crew, recognizing who she was and realizing she was furious, kept out of her way as she strode into the cabin to confront her old master.

Not a flicker of emotion crossed Pakku's face when she dump the bag of Sintering Bracers in front of him. Bato wisely left, shutting the door quietly.

Katara stared at Pakku, her ire ticking up a notch with every second he just considered her with a lazy and infuriating 'what can I do for you?' regard.

"How dare you," she finally said in a low dangerous tone. She fought the urge to kick the heavy bag at him. "You knew how dangerous these things are!"

Pakku shrugged. "They are only dangerous to firebenders and only if they firebend," he spoke in a tone that spoke unflatteringly of her intelligence. Katara's temper flared; outside, Bato and the others noticed that the waters around the ship was becoming choppy.

"You intended for them to get hurt."

"Oh please," said Pakku dismissively, "they clearly knew about the bracers, and even if hadn't known and put them on, they would have been perfectly fine so long as they didn't firebend. And even had they been foolish enough to do bending arts with Sintering Bracers on, you could just have healed them."

"They came to me for help, Pakku! You tried to have me hurt one of my patients!"

"That's 'Master' Pakku to you, Katara, in case you've forgotten how to properly address your elders."

There was a loud crash against the side of the ship and the deck tilted. Surprised, Katara almost lost her footing. Pakku; however, seemed to have expected it, expertly rolling with the ship while Katara struggled to keep her balance.

As the ship righted itself, the door swung open and Bato rushed inside the cabin, shouting at a bewildered Katara to calm down.

"You'll sink us if you don't control your temper!"

"W-what?"

Pakku harrumped. "What a waste. Clearly, you haven't been practicing in channeling your bending." Katara glared at him, and Bato quickly intervened.

"Master Pakku, please! Not on my ship! Katara, please come with me. I'll try to explain-"

"You don't have to explain for him, Bato-"

"I know, I know, but please just come with me."

Reluctantly, Katara followed Bato out of the cabin. At the sight of the deck drenched and disarrayed with soaked and disheveled crew members, she turned a deep red, realizing why Bato had yelled at her.

"Is everyone all right?" she whispered uncertainly to Bato. Reassuring cool relief came over her when he smiled and said, "No one was hurt or went overboard; we're from the Southern Water Tribe after all, but still... we didn't expect a big wave to hit us while in port."

He waved away her embarrassment when she tried to apologize.

"It's all right, Katara. Besides, Pakku should know better than to bait you like that." Seeing her eyes narrow at the mention of the waterbending master, he hurriedly tried to keep her calm.

"Katara, try to understand. There are some like Pakku who had yet to even forgive the firebenders a little."

"But the war has been over for years."

"I know. You don't have to tell me that," he said patiently with a slight smile, and Katara fell silent, suddenly feeling awkward in his presence as though she was a little girl again. Bato's eyes softened at her discomfort

"Just please try to understand. Yes, the war has been over for a long time, but that same war had gone on far longer. For more than a hundred years, our people had known only war with the firebenders. Whole generations had grown up knowing, believing and seeing that the Fire Nation was the greatest evil in the world, and some still do think and believe that they should be completely wiped out as they had destroyed the Air Nomads."

Katara found herself unwilling to look at him in the eye. "Are you telling me that what Pakku did was right?" As much as she respected Bato, she felt her esteem of him would fall if he said that it was right for one of her patients to be injured because he was a firebender.

"No, Katara. I'm not saying that," he said gently, "I'm not saying that at all. I'm just asking that you forgive Pakku for this, just you want him to forgive the Fire Nation."

Seeing his point, Katara turned contrite. "I'm not saying he should forgive every firebender, Bato. I was just angry that he tried to have me give those 'things' that would have hurt people who had asked me for help."

"Their actions were suspicious, Katara. Even I would have to agree with Pakku that using a fleet of seven warships to bring in one invalid is a ridiculous waste of resources, regardless of how important the person is. In addition, they should have sent word ahead to Kyoshi."

That is true, Katara decided with grudging reluctance, even she had thought similarly. Still, she found it difficult to believe that they had been up to something. Iroh had been truly sick; his illness simply wasn't a sham. Zuko could possibly had been pretending to be worried about his uncle, but his concern and that of Commander Jee's had seem so genuine.

---

Finished but probably will be continued.

Must write Sokka. Must at least submit one story chapter with a lot of Sokka in it.

Ficwriter's note: There were some points that felt niggly in the initial part since I had cut it just before the scene where pirates are mentioned. Sorry about that, I should have just polished everything up before posting, but this part really demanded a major re-write from me. Unfortunately, I spend a lot more time re-writing than actual writing (sighs).

By the way, March 17 and Avatar's second season is almost here! (insert multiple smilies)