"So you mean to say that the 'lady friend' you wanted to bring to the tea shop was Chiyo all along?" Iroh asked as he took a sip of his morning tea. "How fate truly played us!"

Kai nodded then looked at her with a smile. "She had been working so hard at the eatery, and when you offered the chance to grab some tea, I wanted her to be with me. We were about to go that evening, but a fight broke out between some guy and Lee, er... Zuko."

"Ah, yes." He set down his tea. "I must apologize for that scene. Though the young man spoke the truth, we had to conceal our identities as firebenders. We meant no harm to the people, as my nephew and I intended to start a new life in Ba Sing Se."

"No worries, Sir. I understand. Speaking of this new life... How's Jin doing by the way?" Kai directed his question at Zuko as he broke a piece of bread and handed half to Chiyo. "Last I heard was that you two were a couple."

The prince glared daggers at him and placed an arm around Chiyo as she ate. "We shared a meal at the eatery. That's all."

"Really? And while you were eating there, you didn't see Lily? At all?"

"I was distracted." He growled under his breath. "And her name is Chiyo, not Lily!"

Kai raised a brow at him. "I remember Lily telling me over dinner at our apartment that you gave her a huge tip for your dinner date, didn't you?"

Chiyo sensed that he was baiting Zuko so she tried to chime in, "Yes, but it wasn't—"

"You two shared an apartment?!"

"Zuko, that was all we could afford—"

"Yes, we lived in the apartment together. We ate, we bathe, we slept, in one apartment. Together."

"Kai, stop it!" She snapped at him, getting more and more uncomfortable each passing second as she felt Zuko's grip on her waist tightening.

He raised his arms in mock surrender. "I'm just stating facts, Lily. I didn't even mention the fact that we kissed once—"

"WHAT?!" Zuko stood up, having had enough. In his hand, a flame formed itself into a dagger and he was ready to lunge at Kai.

"ENOUGH!" Chiyo stopped him with a hand on his arm, while looking at Kai with pleading eyes. "Please, stop it!"

Zuko took deep breaths to calm himself and as he sat down, he pulled Chiyo to him and mumbled. "He started it."

"That's not the point! We have to focus on the situation right now." Chiyo looked to Uncle Iroh, hoping he could help her change the atmosphere of their breakfast. "Today's the arrival of Sozin's Comet. Our last shot. Uncle Iroh, you need to come with us."

"The young apprentice is right... about focusing on the situation. However, Ozai is not for me to defeat. It won't turn out well."

"But you can beat him! And we'll be there to help!" Zuko gestured to everyone in their circle.

Uncle Iroh shook his head. "Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it will be the wrong way to end the war." He continued as he saw the teenagers' confused expressions. "History will see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

"And then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" His nephew looked at him, eager to right his father's wrongdoing towards his uncle years ago.

"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor." He placed a firm hand on Zuko's shoulder. "It has to be you, Prince Zuko."

"Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes!"

"Yes, you have. You've struggled. You've suffered. But you have always followed your own path. You restored your own honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."

His words weighed down on his shoulder as much as the responsibility of becoming the Fire Lord once his father was defeated. Was he ready to become the Fire Lord at seventeen? "I'll try, uncle."

Iroh stood up. "Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord." He closed his eyes and breathed out. "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again. Now, Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there waiting for you."

"I can handle Azula—"

"Not alone." Iroh could only imagine the extent of Azula's firebending with the power of the comet. "You'll need help."

"You're right." The prince looked across the circle towards the waterbender. "Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"

She smirked. "It would be my pleasure."

"What about us?" Sokka asked Iroh. "What is our destiny today?"

Iroh gave them a knowing smile. "What do you think it is?"

"I think that... even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet!"

"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord," Toph cracked her knuckles excitedly. "We'll be right there if he needs us!"

"Where do you think you're going, Lily?!" Kai shouted as he saw her about to climb on the sky bison. "Don't tell me you're going with him!"

She slung her bag over on the saddle and looked back at him. "I have to, Kai."

"Why?!"

"Just know that I have to, please..."

He clenched his fists in anger, but before he could go up and pull her down from the bison, Zuko came back with Katara. "The delivery boy is right, Chiyo. You have to stay here."

It was now her turn to be furious. Her amber eyes burned as she got down from Appa and faced them. "Hey, I promised that I would remain by your side! Forever and always! And that includes this!"

"You'll be much safer here. And I can breathe easier knowing you are safe. Even if he's here with you. I promise I'll come back as soon as all of this is over."

Zuko reached out to cup her cheek but she swatted his hand away, refusing to be swayed by his reasons. "Zuko, I have to be there. You'll be facing Azula!"

"All the more reason that you have to stay here."

"Why can't you understand, Zuko?!"

Seeing the desperation in her eyes, a faint thought entered his mind. 'Maybe she's right'.

He remembered the relationship between her and his sister when they were young. He remembered the way Azula had actually softened back in Ember Island as she said her farewell. She was as fond of Chiyo as she was of Mai and Ty Lee.

And somehow in some way, he knew that Chiyo felt the same way.

Reluctantly, he acquiesced. "Fine. On two conditions: You will stay on Appa at all times, no matter how dangerous the situation seems, Katara and I can handle it. Second, if and only if the situation does get out of hand, I want you to escape on Appa and fly back here to Ba Sing Se. Can you promise me that?"

She nodded fervently. "Yes! I promise—"

"YOU IDIOT!" Kai ran towards Zuko, pulled his shoulder and landed a solid punch at his jaw. Zuko stumbled back, clutching his jaw. "You are not taking Lily with you and that is final! I won't allow it! Over my dead body!"

Zuko regained his footing, flames engulfing his right hand as he looked at Kai with burning eyes. "That can be arranged."

But before he could make his move, Chiyo placed herself between them and had thrust her fingers at Kai's neck, then targeted his shoulders and his sides. Kai fell down on the ground unable to move from the neck down. "L-lily... H-how could y-you?"

"You left me no other choice, Kai..." Tears fell from her eyes and she quickly swiped them away. She knelt on the ground and tucked the hair away from his eyes. "I have to go with them. I will come back, I promise. I can defend myself."

"Lily..."

Chiyo bit her lower lip to keep from breaking down and crying out. Seeing his emerald eyes filled with sadness and desperation broke her heart. The way he called out the name he had given her was painful, but she knew she had to go back to the Fire Nation and help Zuko face Azula.

She got up and turned away, taking Zuko's arm. "Let's go..."

The prince pulled her close, letting Chiyo's tears fall on his robes as he kissed the top of her head. "I can keep her safe." He said to Kai with a strained expression.

Kai looked into his eyes, conveying his frustration at his helplessness. "You better, scarface."

Katara helped him up and leaned him against the trunk of a tree. With the water from her waterskin, she tried to undo the chi-block. "It will take half an hour after this, but you'll be able to move again."

"Thank you, Miss Katara."

"Just Katara's fine." She smiled and let the water flow back into the waterskin. "We'll keep her safe. I have a feeling that she really does need to do this. She helped me once before, I guess it's my turn now."

He could only sigh in defeat and look over her shoulder at Chiyo and Zuko. "Does he really care for her?"

She nodded. "More than either of us could ever know."