His uncle had everything packed with precision. The soldiers were loading everything onto a battle airship; these were easily ten times the size of the one Lu Ten had commanded. Of course it would be what carried the Fire Lord into the North Pole.
That was one of the things, out of many to be sure, that was bothering Zuko. He had watched as his uncle smoothly talked about murdering a number of their own soldiers for treason and yet sought no active vengeance against the bandits who had kidnapped Zuko in the first place. Iroh was flying into the North Pole with an obvious example of Fire Nation might, and proving that the winter sea could no longer hinder them, yet he had stopped the ice raids and breached peace.
This Iroh, like his Iroh, attempted to commune with spirits.
Remembering the cut on his mother's arm, Zuko clenched his hands into fists, feeling the heat ball there.
"Are you feeling alright, prince Zuko?" Iroh's question pierced through Zuko's back, puncturing his lungs. He took in air but it had nowhere to go. He struggled to breathe as he turned around.
"I'm not sure Uncle." Zuko answered haltingly.
"You are unsure of how you feel?" Iroh asked, sounding amused. "Have you uncovered a new emotion?"
Zuko chuckled; a low, dry sound that stayed mostly in his mouth.
"I'm unsure of my path Uncle. Ever since I met," Zuko paused and glanced over at Iroh's calm face. "...the natives, I've felt, odd."
Iroh nodded and stroked his beard. It was shorter than his uncle's, but the action was so familiar it stunned Zuko. Still, he steeled himself, trying for a gambit that might get him more of what he needed.
"Young love will do that to you." Iroh said with a smile. Zuko frowned and recoiled.
"I am not-" He started but was interrupted by Iroh's laughter.
"Enjoy yourself while you can, prince Zuko. Once we find a suitable bride for you, I expect you to behave with honor." Iroh said. He patted Zuko's back and faced the airship, his hands held loosely behind his back.
"I am glad you are more open with me again. After the incident with your father, I had started to believe you mistrusted me." He went on.
Zuko now overcorrected and started to lean too far forward. He found himself unbalanced by the shifting conversation, which he had started. Cursing himself, Zuko grabbed at errant thoughts and assumptions.
"Uncle, I would never mistrust you. Especially when my mother is so loyal, how could I be anything else?" He asked.
"Naturally, as my nephew you have always been loyal. So you will have to tell me what happened in the South Pole soon. I have heard a few interesting stories about you." Iroh said. Zuko froze, standing straight up and feeling the hair on his arms do the same.
Iroh and Ozai had the same eyes.
It was too easy to forget that they were brothers.
"Of course Uncle. Nothing would make me happier." Zuko said and rushed into a bow. Iroh laughed again and patted Zuko's shoulder.
"We will board the ship now. We cannot keep Zhao waiting for his bride can we?" Iroh walked up while Zuko was still bent over. The ability to breathe again made Zuko heat up drastically and sweat ran down his sides and neck. As he stood, he tried to steady his breathing.
Zuko made it onto the ship without further incident. His mind was in full panic mode, and he knew he had to escape before someone figured out he didn't belong. And if the prevailing theory was that he was a spirit who had taken over Zuko's body, it didn't seem likely they would spare him. If the prince was dead, then it didn't matter if they killed him.
Knowing that Suki and Toph were together and fighting was helpful. If Zuko could somehow get him, Sokka, and Katara away, they could link up with the Kyoshi cell and do, something. Find Aang. If they found Aang they would be able to fix this and maybe even send him home.
He focused on his breathing. He felt it fill his lungs and refresh his blood. He felt the air travel through his limbs as he took in more. As he released a breath, it came slowly. It brought up heat from the soles of his feet and into his gut. It came from his fingers and swirled in his chest. It filtered through his throat, wanting to be ignited, but passing over his teeth without a cinder.
Inhaling fed the fire, but exhaling released it. And Zuko was full of fire at the moment. Self-immolation was becoming a very real concern for him.
Aang was probably somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. Zuko assumed, since there was no talk of a titanic Waterbender running around, that Aang was still alive. And if the Avatar was just a rumor now, it meant that he was most likely stuck in the Avatar state like he had been in the South Pole.
A landslide could easily account for that.
By the timeline, Aang was probably a teenager and had been schooled in at least waterbending. If they were lucky, he'd have earthbending mastered as well. If not, they did have Toph again. This would surely be easier.
All he would have to do is fight a man that looked exactly like the only family who ever truly loved him and possibly also his mother.
Losing control of his breath, Zuko shouted and fire erupted from his hands, scorching the walls of the hallway he was pacing.
"Woah there hot-head." Sokka said, coming down the hall toward him. "Katara doesn't have her magic water on her and I'm not fireproof."
Popping up from behind his shoulder, Katara smacked Sokka's arm.
"It's not magic." She stated.
Sokka rolled his eyes.
"I know, I know. It's an ancient art unique to our culture." He said gently mocking. He smiled as Katara smacked his arm again.
"So is something bothering you Sparky?" Sokka asked, focusing on Zuko.
"Is this going to be a thing? The nicknames?" Zuko asked in reply. Sokka shrugged.
"Until I find one that fits yeah." He said. Zuko sighed heavily and rubbed his face with a firm hand.
"I've just got a lot on my mind." He said. Pulling down on a cheek, he stared at Sokka. "And these are tight quarters."
Curious, Sokka looked around, but also sighed and nodded.
"Right." He said. "Well, since it looks like we're not under guard anymore, what do you want to do?"
"Prepare." Zuko said. Sokka looked confused and Zuko walked up to him with a grin.
"We gotta make sure you can do more than smack people with your boomerang." He said and tapped Sokka's gut with the back of his hand.
"Hey." Sokka retorted with a frown, pushing Zuko's hand away. "I'll have you know I am the fiercest wolf warrior in my village."
"Sokka, I've seen your village. You're older than the other wolf warriors by ten years." Zuko retorted. Katara snorted and Zuko smiled wider.
"Fine. But I'd like to see how you get anyone to let me do anything remotely violent." Sokka said.
"Obviously we can't let anyone find out. Especially if I'm going to be helping Katara too." Zuko replied. Katara perked up and leaned closer, bracing herself against Sokka.
"Really? With bending?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's the least I could do." Zuko said. Katara's eyes glittered with excitement and Zuko had to take a step back.
"For now, I think it's best if we get our bearings. Let's meet tonight at the prow of the ship." He added. Katara nodded vigorously and Sokka shoved her off.
Zuko was glad they were excited. It would be helpful if he faltered, knowing that these two had no issue with combatting either Iroh or Ursa. He would just focus on Zuri, because they certainly were the biggest threat to his continued existence. And they were a big enough threat to let him forget about the rest. So he hoped.