Iroh had stumbled upon Katara after an hour of wandering through the woods. His feet were weary and sore from tripping over roots and climbing rocky terrain. It had taken him quite some time to find a Fire Nation ship that was willing to take him to the Earth Kingdom for a good sum of gold. It was pure luck that he saw a break in the trees from where the sky bison must have hit it when landing. He had pushed his way through the underbrush to stumble across the young waterbender kneeling over the Avatar. She asked him something, but Iroh didn't answer Katara's question. He was too busy staring at the young monk whose chest was rising and falling with every breath. The Avatar was asleep.
"What are you doing here?" Katara demanded.
"Gods be praised," Iroh responded. "He's alive."
"I'm aware of that," said Katara flatly. "But what are you doing here? We thought you were captured! Or worse...Dead."
Iroh blinked and focused his attention on the young waterbender. "No, I'm not dead. I was captured though, but I escaped. That's why I am here. I need your help."
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, Aang is in no condition to travel. We have to get him well before we do anything," said Katara sharply.
"Please," said Iroh desperately. "It's urgent!"
"What can be so urgent that you have to drag yourself from the Fire Nation to find us? And about that...how did you find us anyway?" As Katara spoke, Sokka and Toph were returning from the stream, each soaking wet.
"Hey, what's he doing he-?" Sokka started, before Katara held up a hand to hush him.
"Oh, that wasn't as hard I expected," Iroh started. "Once I arrived in Ba Sing Se, I just asked around for anyone who knew which direction a large, flying bison went. After that, I found you within two days. But as for what's so urgent...It's my nephew."
"Zuko?" Sokka questioned, snorting. "Why should we care about what happens to him?"
"I understand you all have harsh feelings set against him, after what happened in Ba Sing Se and all but...please...I beg of you!" Iroh pleaded.
"He not only turned his back on us, but he turned his back on you. Why should we help him? Why should you?" Toph grumbled.
"Zuko was the one who freed me! I was to be executed and he took on a whole courtyard of Fire Nation to save me and was captured for it. He took on his father," Iroh told them in earnest.
Katara's water-blue eyes widened in wonder. "He did that? But I thought his entire reason for capturing Aang was-"
"To restore his honor from his father, yes," Iroh finished. "But Zuko gave the Fire Lord a nice burn on the face as to return the favor of what was done to him years ago."
"That's...Wow," said Katara, lost for words. She glanced to her brother.
"No, Katara," said Sokka sharply. "Absolutely not. How many times must a turtle-duck bite you before you realize you shouldn't have picked him up in the first place?"
Iroh and Katara looked at each other, unsure of what Sokka was getting at. "But Sokka," Katara said slowly, "Zuko isn't a turtle-duck." Toph and the Earth King chuckled from where they sat at Appa's feet.
"Perhaps that wasn't a good analogy," said Sokka, scratching his head thoughtfully. "What I meant was, we can help Zuko all we want, but he's never going to change."
"You don't know that, Sokka," said Katara sternly.
"Here we go again! Everyone's against Sokka!" Sokka cried, throwing his arms in the air.
"No ones against you, Sokka. It's just that no one understands you," Katara said in mock-sympathy.
"Hey!"
"How about this? Why don't we ask Twinkle Toes what he thinks?" shrugged Toph. They all turned to Aang's sleeping form.
"I don't think that's a good idea," said Katara. "Aang will probably end up killing Zuko instead of saving him."
"The less firebenders, the better," said Sokka optimistically. Katara gave him a sour look. "What?" Sokka demanded. "Besides, since when did you start sticking up for Zuko? What exactly, went on in that cave? Hmmm?"
"Don't be disgusting. We only talked." Katara turned back to Iroh. "I don't care what the other's say. I'm going to help you. In return, will you agree to be Aang's firebending teacher?"
"Sounds fair," Iroh mused.
Sokka sighed. "Well, if she's in, then I'm in."
"Likewise," said Toph, nudging Aang with her foot. "What about him?"
"He should stay here. He needs to get better," said Katara. She turned to look at the Earth King. "Could you stay with him?"
"I'd be honored," said the King.
"Good," said Katara. She knelt down next to Aang, a position she had grown used to over the past week. Aang's breathing became irregular as if he were having a horrible dream. His eyes flashed back and forth beneath his pale eyelids. Katara laid a cool hand on his forehead, noticing that he was still uncomfortably warm. Katara exhaled a great whoosh of air. "Oh, Aang," she murmured. "I hope you won't be terribly angry with me for leaving." Katara bent down and kissed his cheek before standing up and joining Iroh, Toph, and Sokka, all of whom were gathered around Appa.
"Your Majesty," said Katara, "I hope we will be back before you run out of fish, if my oaf of a brother caught enough."
"Don't even get me started," said Sokka, glancing at Toph before looking down at his wet garb. Both Toph and Sokka stank of fish and they both received several odd looks from the rest of the group. They shrugged innocently.
"It will take several days to reach the Fire Nation," Iroh pressed. "It would be best if we leave now."
"Yes, of course," said Katara, turning back to Toph and Sokka to bend the water out of their clothes. "Let's go." They grabbed a minimum supply of food, a few blankets, and their personal effects before climbing aboard Appa and murmuring the magic words: "Yip, yip."
As they ascended into the cool morning air, whipping across the clouds, Katara gave a forlorn look back at Aang. She truly hoped Aang would understand. Perhaps Zuko would react as last time and continue to resent Aang to the point where he would blow up in their faces; but they did owe it to Iroh after he helped them back in Ba Sing Se. Besides, Aang needed a firebending teacher.
Katara continued to watch Aang until he disappeared with the cover of silvery-white clouds. "Let him understand," Katara prayed. Please let him understand.
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It was happening again.
Aang glided down and landed gracefully on the ground before the great Fire Palace. The courtyard was silent...eerie even. Aang held out his staff cautiously, glancing around. There were no sounds, but there was an acrid smell in the air. He was instantly coughing as smoke spilled out into the growing darkness. Aang's eyes burned as he tried to make his way through the thick haze.
He found the source of the fire. There was a fight going on. He caught a brief glimpse of Sokka charging Ty Lee with his boomerang before smoke swallowed them whole. The flames were climbing high into the night. Once more, Aang couldn't see anything. But he heard a voice in his ear. A horrendous drawl that sent chills down his spine. He spun around to face the Fire Lord. "You're too late, Avatar." With a sweep of Fire Lord Ozai's hand, Katara collapsed among the flames in a heap of smoke.
"NOOOOO!" Aang shrieked as he shot up out of his slumber. Blinding sunlight met his eyes. He groaned as he covered his eyes with a sweaty hand. The Earth King was suddenly at his side.
"Avatar Aang, are you alright?" the King asked nervously.
Aang glanced around, seeing no one but the King and his bear. "Where's Katara?" he demanded harshly.
"She's, erm, down at the stream washing Appa with the others," the King replied quickly. "Please, go back to sleep. I'll wake you when she returns."
Aang listened intently to hear splashing from the stream. Nothing. He glanced, once more, around the campsite. "Where are all of the supplies?"
Katara had warned the Earth King that Aang would be very suspicious if he woke up and found that everyone had gone; but he didn't think Aang would be so persistent in finding out where they were. Aang was standing up, looking around anxiously. His mouth was set into a grim line and his eyes were blazing dangerously.
"Where are the supplies?" Aang demanded once more.
"I...They're...," the Earth King stuttered. He was afraid of the Avatar when he became like this. The King had heard of times when Aang had lost control and was pulled into the Avatar State where he couldn't take power of his actions. The King didn't want to be anywhere near Aang when he became like that.
"Don't lie to me, Your Majesty," Aang snapped. "Where are they?"
The Earth King forced himself to keep his hands from shaking. "T-they went to the Fire Nation!"
"WHAT?" Aang exploded. His tattoos began to glow an unearthly blue-white light. Wind whipped back the Earth King's braid and his glasses were tossed askew as Aang rose into the air in a whirlwind of color and leaves. Aang's brows were furrowed over his radiating eyes and his mouth was twisted into a horrendous snarl. The Earth King stumbled back, utterly terrified.
"Avatar Aang! No!" the Earth King screamed. "STOP!"
All Aang could think about was Katara falling in the rising smoke. He wouldn't let it happen. He couldn't. Aang was overwhelmed with fury and didn't even feel the Earth King tugging at his sleeve, pulling him down to the ground.
The Earth King felt the wind die suddenly. Aang slumped down the Earth King's robes and landed in the dirt. His face suddenly looked innocent as Aang opened his eyes; dazed. "Mhmm," Aang groaned.
"This is exactly why Katara told me not to tell you," said the Earth King, almost angrily.
Aang lifted his eyes to look at him. "Katara? She told you not to?"
"She left you to get better. If you found out, she knew you would become senseless with rage. They've gone to spring Zuko out of the Fire Nation's prison," the Earth King told him solemnly.
"I...I can't believe this!" said Aang. "I'm going t-to lose her!" Aang bent over in anguish, his face buried in his hands. The Earth King watched tears drip onto the dirt and listened to his racking sobs. Aang was suddenly crying out as if in agonizing pain. The Earth King couldn't imagine what was rocketing around the young Avatar's tortured mind.
"Lose her? What in the gods' name are you talking about?" the Earth King demanded.
"Katara's going to...die."
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Azula bowed before her father, the great Fire Lord Ozai. "You sent for me, Father?" Looking at her father, Azula was angry. There was an ugly dark scorch mark across his pale face, a sign of his weakness. How Zuko managed to injure the Fire Lord was anyone's guess; but it reminded Azula that now was the time for her to take her father's place. She knew that no one would be able to stop her once she became Fire Lord. The only thing that stood in her way was her good-for-nothing brother and her father's life. She smiled, knowing that they would both be taken care of. If she helped Zuko defeat the Fire Lord, she could then turn on her brother and take the crown for herself.
"Azula," said the Fire Lord, tracing his finger across his damaged face. "Azula, I am growing weary of sitting here waiting for this accursed thing to heal. I want you to arrange an Agni Kai within the next few days. It is high time I put Zuko -," he spat out his son's name in disgust, "-out of the picture once and for all."
"Of course, Father," said Azula, bowing her head to hide her smile.
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The cell was growing steadily colder. Zuko breathed into his icy hands, heating them up instantly. He had already tried melting his shackles with his fire breath, but having no suck luck. The metal proved to be fire resistant and only caused Zuko to burn the skin around his wrists. They were now raw and sore, the skin bubbling up with blisters. He didn't know how long he had been in the Fire Nation dungeons. He couldn't tell the difference between a day and a week and he was growing more and more agitated each moment. The more time he had to think, the more he realized how stupid it had been to take on the Fire Lord. However, Zuko didn't want to think about how foolish he had been. He didn't want to be afraid.
The one thought that Zuko kept drifting back to was what would happen when his father was dead. Would Zuko become the next Fire Lord? Would Azula try to steal the throne? Zuko burned with fury at the very thought. No, I will not let her. I could be the one to turn the Fire Nation around. I could be the one to stop this war. No one needs the Avatar any way; I could be the one to restore peace to the world. I can and I will. All Zuko wanted was to see his father burn, just as all of those innocent people had burned during the war. Zuko wanted vengeance. He wanted justice. And he swore he would have it.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed it! Please R&R, I need suggestions!