If we're going to do this, we've got to do it officially, Iroh had said. That way, no one will question us about why we're going or try to stop us from leaving. It made sense. Iroh's advice always did. Waiting to meet with the Water Tribe Council, however, was excruciating for Katara. Each moment that passed felt like an eternity, a moment that could have brought her that much closer to knowing if Zuko was alive and well. The waterbender paced Iroh's ice-chamber floor restlessly, until the old man joked that she'd turn the floor to water and be wading through it if she didn't calm down.

Finally the time for the meeting arrived. Toph, Aang, Sokka, Suki, the Kyoshi warriors and the Earth King sat around the central fire with the Water Tribe Council. The gathering waited in a perplexed hush until Iroh and Katara took their seats on the pelts.

"Now that everyone is here," Hakoda began informally, "will you tell us why you've called this meeting, Iroh?"

"Yes," the old firebender nodded. "Now that the South Pole has been secured and an entire contingent of the Fire Navy defeated, we need to look to the future. The Earth Kingdom is regaining some of its former strength and independence. This is being done covertly, so the Fire Nation does not know that they are losing control, even in the capitol of Ba Sing Se."

"How can that be?" Keuei wondered, his eyebrows arching above his glasses. "When we left, the Dai Li had taken over the city." Bosco whuffed, resting his fuzzy brown head on the Earth King's thin shoulder.

"Princess Azula betrayed the Dai Li and killed their leader, Long Feng. When that happened, the Dai Li turned against her," the Dragon of the West explained. "They have pledged themselves to a young freedom fighter who calls himself Lord Naga. With their help, he is planning to liberate the country."

"So Long Feng is dead," the Earth King murmured, clearly taken aback by the news. "But how did you learn all this?"

"While I was imprisoned in Ba Sing Se, Lord Naga found me and asked for my help. Now, I must ask for yours." Iroh looked purposefully into the other man's eyes. "When the war is over, will you go back to Ba Sing Se and reclaim your country? Will you take the throne again as the Earth King?"

Keuei paused, pursing his lips as he thought. "This Lord Naga doesn't want to be the Earth King himself?"

Iroh shook his head. "No. Lord Naga's only desire is to see the war ended, and balance restored to the world."

The Earth King rested his chin on his clasped hands. "Thousands of men and women and children are suffering, and it's because I was too blind to see what was really going on in my domain. I want to go back, but I don't know that I deserve to rule after I let my people down so grievously."

"You have a deep love for the Earth Kingdom and its people," the wise old firebender pointed out. "Since your eyes were opened to their suffering, in your heart you have suffered with them. They need a leader like you; someone who will put their best interests ahead of his own. At least consider it."

Keuei nodded. "I will. Thank you, Iroh, for your confidence in me."

Iroh smiled gently before moving on. "Now that the immediate threat posed by Princess Azula has been dealt with, I am returning to Ba Sing Se. There, I will serve as a military consultant to Lord Naga, and to the Earth Kingdom's army. They are off to a good start, but they will need your help, too. I called this meeting to find out whether or not the Earth Kingdom can still count on the Water Tribe's support."

"We don't know how much of the Fire Navy fleet has been lost at this point," old Paruda pointed out. "Is it wise to leave the poles unprotected?"

"Over half of the Fire Navy was taken out at the North Pole," Iroh informed the group. "Now, only the ships that stayed behind to protect the Fire Nation, and perhaps two or three others, are still in service. It will take them months to build new ships and replace the crews that were lost."

"But the Fire Lord thinks that the Earth Kingdom is under his control now. Without their army standing against him, he might presume that the Fire Nation is safe enough to leave its waters unprotected," Bato supposed. "If that's the case, we have no assurance that he won't use what's left of the Fire Navy to retaliate against us."

"Bato's right. We may have won this battle, but if we don't do something now, it's just a matter of time before the Fire Navy comes back and wipes us out," Sokka affirmed. "The fight isn't over yet. We have to help."

"I agree," Hakoda nodded. "We all have to do our part to end this war. What do you need from us, Iroh?"

"The Dai Li have been training groups of earthbenders in their techniques. While those earthbenders, the Stone Fists, spread out to support the army and take back the mainland, the Water Tribe can help by freeing the towns and cities along the coast."

Hakoda lifted his chin. What Iroh was asking of them wasn't so different from what Hakoda's fleet had been doing in the Earth Kingdom before. "What do you say, men? Are we in this together?" The Council's heads bobbed in unison, indicating their assent. "Then in three days, be ready to leave for battle."

"Count us in," Suki piped up, the other Kyoshi warriors nodding in accord. "We have a score to settle with the Fire Nation, too." Sokka eyed her protectively, but he knew better than to voice his concern in front of their companions.

"There is one more matter I need to discuss with you all," Iroh added. "When I return to Ba Sing Se, I plan to take a representative from the Water Tribe with me, to serve as a liaison between your Council and the Earth Kingdom resistance."

Master Pakku rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's a great burden of responsibility to place on one man's shoulders, Iroh. We would need to think carefully before appointing someone."

"Actually, I already had someone in mind," the retired general replied. "This person has worked with the Earth Kingdom generals before, and is familiar with the capital city." His young friends glanced around at each other as they realized who he meant. "I asked Katara if she would consider it, and she has accepted."

"Katara?!" Hakoda echoed incredulously. "With all due respect, Iroh, my daughter has just been released from the healing houses. She's still recovering her strength."

"I can do this, Dad," Katara assured him, her blue eyes wide and pleading. "Please. I want to go."

"We should all go," Aang interjected. "If the Earth Kingdom is getting ready to attack the Fire Nation, we need to be there."

"It is not ready yet," Iroh reminded him. "Remember, this reconstruction is being done behind the scenes. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention by taking the Avatar back into Ba Sing Se. The best way you can help us now is to master your Avatar State, so that you can defeat Fire Lord Ozai when the time comes."

"He's right, Aang," Sokka admitted, and Katara could tell by the way her brother was looking at Aang that they had cleared the air between them. "Even if this Lord Naga can whip the Earth Kingdom back into shape, they can't take the Fire Lord down on their own. We're running out of time before the comet comes, and you haven't even learned firebending. I hate to say it, but it looks like General Fong was right after all. You've got to find some way to glow it up, and fast."

"Oh, right, then I'll just do that," Aang snapped, suddenly sullen. "Maybe you forgot that I've still got a giant hole in my back and that my chakra is blocked. How am I supposed to get into the Avatar State now?"

"What about the guru who helped you before?" Toph suggested. "Maybe he can help you figure it out."

"I doubt it," Aang dourly replied, glancing sidelong at Katara.

"I am certain you will find a way," Iroh told him, although the boy didn't look reassured. "You are the Avatar. It is your destiny."

The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter. On their way out, Hakoda drew Katara aside and put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you sure you're up to this?" he asked quietly.

She nodded firmly. "I'm sure, Dad." The girl leaned into him and let him hold her close. "Iroh and I took Azula down together. I think we'll be okay."

While the waterbender was comforting her father, Toph fisted a light punch into Iroh's arm. "Hey. Take care of yourself, okay?"

The Dragon of the West smiled warmly. "What about you? I wondered if you might want to come with us. You haven't been happy during your stay with the Water Tribe."

"No offense, but nothing could be worse than going back to Ba Sing Se. I was more miserable there than I have been here, and that's saying something!" Toph declared. "But I've been talking to Suki. She says I can hitch a ride with the Kyoshi warriors when they go back to the Earth Kingdom."

Iroh nodded. "In that case, I wish you safe travels. And who knows? Perhaps we'll meet again in the Earth Kingdom."

"I'd like that," Toph grinned.

An hour and several tearful hugs later, Katara and Iroh were on their way. Bato and a small crew of Water Tribe warriors would take them as far as Tigerseal Island, near the southern tip of the Earth Kingdom. From there, the two would make their way across the remaining sea and upland until they reached the Impenetrable City.

ooo LL ooo

Zuko left just before dawn. He embraced his mother and Jee, whispering promises that he would see them both again as soon as he could, then mounted his ostrich horse and rode out of the garden gate. He'll be good to her, the banished prince thought as he descended the hill from the sanctuary of the White Lotus. No matter what happens to me, I know Mom will be all right.

He wasn't so sure, however, about a certain waterbender in the South Pole. Tai Lan's communique assured him that both the Water Tribe and his uncle were safe, but it seemed strange that he'd had no word from Iroh himself. Uncle promised he would get in touch with me. It's not like him to break his word. If everything is fine, why haven't I heard from him?

It occurred to Zuko that he might have answered his own question. Maybe everything wasn't fine. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that something was wrong. Zuko hadn't mentioned it to Jee, but ever since he'd had that strange pain in his chest outside the sanctuary gate, his feelings of anxiety had been steadily growing. And since Uncle was alive and Azula was no longer a threat to them, only one possible justification for his feelings of dread remained: that something had happened to Katara.

I have to go back to Ba Sing Se, his conscience harassed him. The Dai Li can't finish this without my help. I've already stayed away too long. But for the first time in his life, his honor was not the driving force that compelled him to act. This was a different compulsion; not unlike the one that had urged his uncle to abandon the siege of Ba Sing Se many years ago. Zuko vacillated for one more moment, his brow furrowed by conflicted feelings, before coming to a decision. He jerked the reins to one side and brought his ostrich horse to a gallop, digging in his heels to hasten their pace.

ooo LL ooo

It was late into the next night before Katara and Iroh could reach Tigerseal Island. They waved farewell to Bato and the other Water Tribe sailors, then made their way to the only inn on the narrow islet. The rooms there were predictably small, but at least they were reasonably warm and free of bedbugs.

Katara's sleep was restless. She dreamed she was back in the crystal catacombs with Zuko, healing his scar and being whirled into a grateful embrace, only to find her arms empty when she woke. Fighting back tears, she curled into a fetal position and lay very still. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to recall exactly how it had felt when Zuko had held her on the ship: the overpowering warmth radiating from his firebender's body, the strong scent of tea on his clothes, his hands locked firmly just above her waist.

"Katara?" The door opened, and Iroh came inside, letting in the pale yellow light of morning. He sat on the bed beside her and patted her arm. "You look as though you've barely slept."

She sat up and stretched, forcing a smile. "I'll be okay. Are we leaving soon?"

"Yes. Get your things and meet me outside. We're going to see an old friend of mine."

It turned out that Iroh's old friend was none other than the pilot of the old fishing boat on which he, Katara, and the Kyoshi Warriors had made their way to the South Pole. "Atsune," Iroh greeted the thin, balding old man, who was standing on a rickety wooden dock by the scrubgrass shore. The two embraced, and Atsune expressed his happiness that Iroh had made it through the battle in the South Pole in one piece. Iroh then explained their predicament.

"Sounds like you're in need of a lift," Atsune offered. "If you're not opposed to mangoes for breakfast, I have some on board, and we can get on our way."

In the wake of her capture by the Fire Nation and her newfound feelings for Zuko, Katara hadn't really noticed much about Atsune's boat the last time she was on it. Had she looked closely, as she did now, she would have seen what looked like a smaller version of a Fire Navy boiler and several coal-buckets in the hull, or the plank boards holding the vessel together that desperately needed a new coat of paint. She also hadn't noticed that it was a cargo vessel with a fairly deep holding bay. It was the kind of boat normally used by fishermen, but Atsune had refurbished it to haul fruits and vegetables grown in the southern Earth Kingdom to the surrounding islands. The smell of fresh produce overpowered even the industrial fumes of burning coal from below.

"How long until we reach the mainland?" Iroh asked. He glanced worriedly at Katara, who was staring absently over the bow. The wind blew through her hair, which she hadn't put into braids or loops since leaving the South Pole.

Atsune shrugged. "Depends. Which port are we headed to?"

Iroh tucked his hands into his sleeves. "Whichever one is closest."

ooo LL ooo

"Still waiting patiently for him to return?"

Mai glared over her shoulder as Tai Lan joined her on the sunset-reddened balcony. "What are you doing here?" she asked, rolling her eyes and looking away.

"Just taking in the view." The tall, broad-shouldered Dai Li agent glided forward and leaned his elbows on the balustrade. He eyed Mai's Earth Kingdom style dress, a form-fitting dark green with a mandarin collar, with satisfaction. "It's been a long time since I've seen anything quite so beautiful."

"It's just some houses and a wall," Mai replied cynically, stretching out a pale hand to indicate the horizon. "You've probably seen it a million times."

"That wasn't the view I was talking about." Her eyes widened as she took in his meaning, but he did not bother to hide the wolfish hunger in his gaze. "You look stunning."

Mai shuddered, then looked away. "No, I don't."

"Yes, you do." His movements were so trained, so silent that she didn't hear him until he was next to her. Tai Lan turned her chin with a finger and angled it so that their eyes met. "Does your beloved Prince Zuko ever look at you like I'm looking at you now, Mai? Does he ever tell you how much he wants you?"

Somewhere in Mai's head, it registered that this man frightened her, even more than Azula had. Her heart pounded, thudding wildly in her ears, yet she hadn't drawn her sharp senbon from her sleeves or even delivered a well-placed elbow. What's wrong with you, Mai? her mind screamed. Do something! But she was stuck, like a fly in a web, unable to move and barely to breathe.

"What do you want?" she managed, backing up a step so that she was caught between the balcony wall and Tai Lan.

"The question isn't what I want, Lady Mai. It's what you want. But I think we'll both know the answer soon enough." He surprised her then by withdrawing. The Dai Li agent looked at her one last time with so much heat it made her shiver, then retreated into the shadowy corridor.

"Where are you going?" she called after him.

He paused, grinning, but did not turn around. The strategy was playing out just as he'd planned. "To bed. I'm tired," he answered simply. "Good night."

ooo LL ooo

After a week's hard travel, sunset found Zuko at the village of Daopeng near the southern coast. He sincerely doubted any of the local boatmen would take him to the South Pole in the middle of the night, no matter how much money he offered them, but at least he could set out in the morning. It was probably for the best anyway. He hadn't had a proper night's sleep in days, and it was starting to catch up with him.

Bleary-eyed, Zuko raised his hood and made his way to the town's inn. There, he paid a few coins for a night's room, dinner and a stall for his ostrich horse. "Stable's over there, to the right," the old woman behind the counter pointed out.

"Thank you." He trudged toward the stable with his road-weary ostrich horse in tow, barely noticing the people who were passing by or their conversations. All he cared about was getting some sleep and making his way to Katara. He only hoped he wasn't too late.

ooo LL ooo

"Why can't we go now?" Katara wondered as they left Atsune's boat at the pier in Daopeng.

"Because I'm old, and you should never argue with an old man," Iroh teased. "Come on. We'll stay here tonight and leave first thing in the morning. The rest will do us both good."

"If you say so," she replied dubiously.

They made their way to the inn, where Iroh paid an old woman for a couple of rooms for the night. "What do you have for dinner?" the old firebender inquired.

"Sweet and sour chicken-pork with snow peas and rice, oolong tea and coconut-covered date rolls."

"Oh, that sounds scrumptious!" Iroh's eyes lit up, and his mouth practically watered. "What do you say, Katara? Join me for supper?"

The waterbender shook her head. "I think I'm going to go on and lie down. You're right, I am really tired."

Iroh shook his head. "All right, but that means you have to stop for breakfast in the morning. You've barely eaten. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Katara smiled softly at his persistence. He knew she wouldn't want to be held up when dawn came. "I guess I can stay awake long enough to grab a bite."

"Wonderful! Let's eat." Iroh put an arm around her shoulders and led her towards a table. They were served quickly, and though Iroh ate with gusto, he made certain to watch that Katara ate as well.

The young waterbender surveyed the room. There were several local fishermen at the tables around them, as well as merchants and tradesmen. Doesn't look like the Fire Nation occupiers made it this far south, she thought with some relief. There was one shady-looking character in the back of the dining area, who sat with his back to everyone and kept his hood raised, but Katara tried not to worry about him. She concentrated instead on eating to regain her strength, and thought of what she might say to Zuko when and if they found him.

"That was delicious," Iroh complimented, rubbing his great belly with satisfaction. He eyed Katara's plate and was happy to see that she'd eaten almost every bite. "And now, I think I'm ready for some rest."

"Me too." Feeling a little less anxious now that her stomach was full, Katara followed Iroh upstairs towards the bedchambers. Suddenly, however, she smacked herself in the forehead. "Oh, no! I forgot my bending water flask at the table. How could I have been so careless?"

"Do you want me to go and get it?" Iroh asked, concerned.

"That's okay," Katara replied, "I'll run down and get it. You go on and get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

"All right," Iroh yawned, already sleepy-eyed and stretching. "Good night, Katara."

"Good night, Iroh."

Katara hurried back down the steps. Most of the other patrons were leaving the dining area. She rushed back to the table, but the plates had already been cleared away, and her bending water was gone. Panicking, she started checking the nearby tables. She was searching the floor on her hands and knees when she heard a low, gritty voice speaking just above her.

"Here. I think this belongs to you."

It was none other than the hooded man that had been sitting alone in the corner. His face was still hidden in shadow as he stood next to her, holding the flask in one hand and reaching to help her up with the other.

Her face flushed at the rare display of chivalry from this stranger. After a moment's hesitation, Katara accepted his help and stood, then took back her water flask. "Thank you. You found what I was looking for."

"I found what I was looking for, too." The man lowered his hood, and as it fell away from his face, Katara gasped.

It was Zuko.