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Camp Old people

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We were woken up a bit later. Suddenly there was tremendous noise and a huge ring of fire appeared around us and Appa. We have gotten accustomed to springing into action at a moments notice, so everybody leapt to their feet. Even Toph, who normally likes a sleep in and takes a while to wake up in the morning, collapse her earth tent and was ready for action in only a second. Zuko put out the fire with one quick pass of his hand. As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see a little better. On the ridge over us were four people I was not expecting to see.

Pakku, Bumi, Jeong Jeong and Piandao.

What on earth were they doing here? How was this even possible? In two seconds Bumi had moved them all forward with his earthbending until they were all standing in a line in front of us. Toph was very perplexed by this development and she said what's going on? We're surrounded by old people. I told her they were our old masters excitedly.

I couldn't believe the wave of relief I felt at seeing them. They were master benders. They were grown ups! They were people who would know what to do! After a day without Aang and without really much of a plan aside from finding Zuko's Uncle, it was more that nice to see our old masters. If tomorrow was Sozin's comet, then having more masters by our side could only improve our chances.

I was so happy to see Master Pakku. But I knew how much he liked everything done 'the right way'. So instead of rushing forward and hugging him, I bowed as respectfully as I could. He smiled at me, a bigger smile than I'd ever seen from him before and said that it was respectful to greet an old master with a bow, but could he have a hug because he was my new grandfather.

Pakku and Gran Gran got married! Oh my goodness! I was so excited. For her, for him. They must have been so happy to have found each other again after so long apart. I said as much and Pakku smiled and said he'd made her a brand new betrothal necklace and everything. We hugged and it was nice. Pakku's not really much of a hugger, but he gave me such a squeeze then. Sokka barged in and threw his arms around the two of us and made it a group hug and said Welcome to the family grampgramp as he smushed his face happily against Pakku's. Pakku gently pushed him away and said he would prefer it if we just called him Pakku. Sokka thought for a second and said how about Granpakku? Pakku did not look amused and his face fell and he said No in a very deadpan tone of voice.

I have a sneaking feeling that Sokka will continue to call him Granpakku anyway.

Suki, Toph and Zuko were standing awkwardly behind us and I felt like we were leaving them out with our little family reunion. So I grabbed Zuko and pulled him over to introduce him to Jeong Jeong. Jeong Jeong had also tried to teach Aang firebending and been frustrated with him, so I figured they would have a lot to talk about. They bowed respectfully in firenation style at each other. Then Sokka cried (happily and loudly) Master Piandao? with some surprise. Evidently he had just noticed Piandao was there. He enthusiastically rushed over to master Piandao and shoved Zuko and Jeong Jeong out of the way in his haste to get to his old master. However as soon as he got to Piandao, he seemed to remember his manners and he copied the reverent bow and solemn voice I had used to greet master Pakku. He bowed forward and said Master Piandao with such seriousness that it was hilariously jarring with his eagerness from a moment a go. Piandao seemed quite amused by him and said why hello Sokka very cheerfully. Sokka adores master Piandao. Days after we left Master Piandao's all we heard from Sokka was Master Piandao says this, Master Piandao says that etc. While this was tiresome, I very sincerely respect Master Piandao because he showed such faith in my brother and his abilities and taught him so much and made him feel more confident. So it was very nice to see him again.

Toph was shaking hands with Jeong Jeong rather vigorously (Toph always shakes hands vigorously –I have a feeling she is always trying to subtly arm wrestle the person she is meeting). Suki was standing a little behind her and asked how they all knew each other. This was a very good question. I couldn't imagine a more unlikely assortment of people. Bumi cackled madly in response and said all old people know each other – don't you know that? Suki made a vaguely disgruntled face.

Piandao offered that they were all part of the same secret society, a group that transcends the divisions of the four nations as an explanation for their sudden appearance here. A secret society? This was the first we had heard about it. But Zuko seemed to know what he was talking about and he took a guess and said the Order of the White Lotus? Piandao nodded at him in confirmation and they saluted each other in greeting. Then Bumi got right up in Zuko's face and said that's the one.

When Bumi wants to emphasize a point or ask a question, he has a habit of putting his face right in yours, like literally nose to nose. Zuko was not used to Bumi's manner of speaking and seemed a bit startled by this. He took a step back and said Err hi. I'm Zuko. I don't think we've met and he held out his hand. Bumi ignored the proffered hand and did the face thing again and said I'm King Bumi and I know who you are! Zuko took another step back and said it was nice to meet him and then he awkwardly pointed at Toph and Suki and said that Bumi could meet them too, which I understood to be Zuko's polite way of saying get out of my face you crazy guy.

Jeong Jeong stared explaining more about the white lotus. It spanned the nations and was about philosophy, beauty and truth. About a month ago the entire society had been summoned for something important. Pakku interjected that the call had come from a Grand Lotus – Zuko's Uncle. I whipped round in surprise. Just a moment ago, I didn't even know there was a secret society and now it sounds like Zuko's Uncle is pretty high up in it. This information did not seem to surprise Zuko and he just nodded.

Toph said that we were looking for Zuko's Uncle and Piandao smiled at her and said that they would take us to him. Bumi interjected again and said that he had just noticed that someone was missing from our group. Aang. Bumi was his oldest friend, of course he would be the first to notice that he wasn't here. My heart sank. How could we even begin to explain that we had lost Aang to Bumi? He did the face thing again to Sokka (who had been expecting it and so he had already leant back at an unlikely angle) and asked where's momo? Sokka appeared as surprised as I was by this question and said simply that he was gone… and so is Aang Sokka added quickly. Bumi was unfazed by this and said that as long and Momo and Aang had each other, they would be fine. Then he cackled and launched himself into the sky with one of his rock pillars.

Zuko and Suki made confused faces at eachother – Bumi does take some getting used to. But it was Toph who said what they were probably both thinking when she said that guy is such a nutbag!

-?-

Bumi landed with a loud thunk next to us and we all started walking towards the wall, with the White Lotus members in front. Sokka asked Bumi how he had managed to escape his prison in Omashu. Bumi seemed confused by the question and said he didn't escape. This confused us all because he was ...ya know…here and not still in prison in Omashu. He said Everybody else escaped! by way of clarification and cackled loudly again. He told us the story of how he had single-handedly taken back Omashu on the day of the eclipse, which sounded very extraordinary and involved face-bending and lots of things going BANG. Suki was the most visibly impressed and remarked that it was amazing that he was able to take back his whole city all by himself. Bumi shrugged as if this was nothing, just a run of the mill day. He asked us if we had done anything interesting on the day of the eclipse.

Wow, where to start – our story was super long and I imagine Zuko's story of how he finally left his home would be pretty long as well. How would we even start explaining that to Bumi, who like Aang, does not have the longest of attention spans. The boys seemed to be of the same mind because they looked at each other, nodded and Sokka said nah, and Zuko said no, nothing much and this seemed to assuage Bumi.

Bumi then showed great interest in Toph, as she was who Aang had chosen to be his earthbending teacher. They got into a conversation about earthbending and started to stroll ahead. Bumi gave her some rock candy (which Toph seems to enjoy, judging from the gusto with which she is eating it. I hope she doesn't get too hyperactive or feel too sick tomorrow). They got into an unusual yet heated discussion over who was the more superior earthbender and were arguing/ talking with their mouths full at eachother. The end part of their argument went something like this.

Bumi: Well I liberated a whole city!

Toph : Well I have won every earth rumble I've ever entered!

Bumi: Well I can earthbend with my face!

Toph: Well I invented mental bending!

Bumi: Well I –wait-what?-you did?

Then Bumi cackled manically and wanted to know all about metal bending and Toph started eagerly explain the theory to him and frequently commented on her own genius.

Jeong Jeong wanted to talk to Zuko about Aang's progress with firebending. He wanted to know if Aang had ever gotten the correct stance and mastered his breathing and Zuko said that he had. Jeong Jeong then wanted to know exactly what Zuko had taught Aang and Zuko began to list firebending forms. Jeong Jeong would nod, or occasionally comment oh I would have taught him the blast shield before I taught him the rhino burst, had I been you. I could tell this belated backseat criticism was annoying Zuko slightly. And everyone now and then Zuko would say a form and Jeong Jeong would say loudly with dismay you taught him THAT!in a way that made us all jump in surprise the first time it happened.

Sokka and Suki and I ended up walking with Piandao and Pakku. Pakku kept talking to me and asking me questions, mostly on my own progress, but occasionally he asked about Aang's. I don't think Pakku was doing it deliberately. I mean he is new to being a grandfather after all, but he focused so much on me that I began to feel a little embarrassed. Gran Gran never played favourites with us, but Pakku was..well…quite dismissive of Sokka whenever Sokka spoke up and it made me feel unhappy for Sokka. I mean Pakku had always been a bit unconcerned with Sokka at the North Pole, because he wasn't a bender, but he should snap out of that now. He was grandfather to us both.

There was a slightly awkward moment Sokka introduced Suki to Pakku as he was our new grandfather, and Pakku did shake her hand and everything. I'm not saying he didn't or was rude or anything. I mean he said hello. But he wasn't that interested in her and it showed. And almost instantly he turned to me and asked if I had a boyfriend.

I heard Sokka start up behind me with Well she and Z… I had a feeling where he was going with that and I whipped around, quick as lighting, and said very forcefully Don't you say a word Sokka! Bloody hell, if Sokka started going on about how he thought Zuko was my boyfriend to Pakku, I don't think I'd ever recover. Suki giggled slightly but Pakku and Piandao were both raising eyebrows at my over-reaction. I said no, I'm not seeing anyone in a much more reasonable tone. Pakku said that was a good thing, because any boyfriend of mine will have to deal with him first. (Pakku and I will have to have a chat about why this is sexist later). We crested a hill and I could see a sizable camp hidden in the valley ahead, just a small distance off. That must have been where we were heading.

Piandao had been making vaguely disapproving faces whenever Pakku was dissmissve of Sokka, and he chose this moment to make a great fuss over meeting Suki. Then he engaged Sokka in a conversation about swordsmanship. Pakku raised an eyebrow and expressed a vague interest and Piandao explained how he had taught Sokka and praised how far he had come along in a short space of time. Pakku nodded. Piandao asked how Sokka's progress was going. Had he been practicing? Sokka said that he and Zuko sparred nearly everyday and he'd learned a fair bit, but it had been hard a first because Zuko was so used to two swords and Sokka had to learn how to adapt the moves for a single sword. Piandao expressed an interest in seeing what Sokka had learned and suggested the have a spar when we arrived at camp and Sokka readily agreed.

-?-

We arrived at a thick earth wall and Bumi made a door for us to walk through. He said welcome to old people camp quite happily. There were many tents and lots of small fires and many people (not all of them old) bustling back and forth. Zuko started looking around instantly for his Uncle before he asked where is he? in a hesitant voice. Piandao laid a hand on his shoulder and pointed to a big tent across the clearing and said his Uncle was in there. Zuko nodded at us and squared his shoulders and walked towards the tent.

And he nearly made it all the way!

But just before the tent door he gave a huge sigh and sat down and put his head in his hands despondently. I had been expecting something like this would happen. Zuko's just been so nervous about seeing his Uncle again that I knew it was only a matter of time before he had a little freak out. I gestured at the others to stay there and wandered over. I asked if he was okay but he said he wasn't okay quite emphatically. I sat close next to him and he said quietly that he was sure his Uncle hated him. I gave his shoulder a little rub and he kept talking. He said that his Uncle loved and supported him in everyway he could and Zuko had still turned against him. He looked right at me then and there was shame and guilt and sadness all mixed up in his expression. We looked at each other for a long moment, with all that had happened at Ba Sing Se just hovering there between us. Zuko turned away first and lowered his head and said (mostly to the grass) how can I even face him?

The thing is I was so mad at him about Ba Sing Se for so long, I almost smiled at the irony that I was here now, trying to comfort him and tell him that the other person he really hurt on that day would forgive him. I realized one day back at the Western Air Temple, that no matter how mad I was at him about it, I was never as mad as he was at himself. Somewhere along the way, I must have properly and completely forgiven him and it wasn't when I hugged him after facing Yon Rha. I think it happened almost without me knowing it, in some quiet moment when we were washing dishes together.

I asked him if he was sorry for what he did, but it wasn't really a question because I already knew the answer. He looked at me in surprise and said of course he was sorry, he was more sorry than he'd ever been about anything in his entire life. I knew that. I could see that. And I could forgive him what had happened. And if even I, who had been the angriest at Zuko when he first showed up, could forgive him, then I'm sure his Uncle could too. Zuko's just so… Zuko, it is literally impossible to stay mad at him. I know because I have tried staying perpetually mad at him and look at how well that worked out for me. Now I just adore him.

Whenever Zuko talks about his Uncle, you get the sense of how much they love each other. He never says it but I can tell. I just couldn't imagine his Uncle would turn him away now. So I told him as reassuringly as I could that I was sure that his Uncle would forgive him. He really would. He looked at me and gave me an uncertain smile and I beamed back encouragingly at him and tried to communicate all I was thinking with my eyes. He said okay, got up and reached down to help pull me to my feet. Then he nodded at me and took a deep breath and walked into the tent.

-?-

So I loitered.

Just a bit.

I wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything (okay that's a lie) but I couldn't hear anything. Pakku came over and gave me a bit of a fright because I didn't even hear him come up behind me. He wanted to have a bit more of a chat and properly catch up with me. He led me over to where the others were. Bumi and Jeong Jeong were having a deep philosophical conversation that I couldn't follow. Sokka and Piandao were sparring so Sokka could show Piandao all that he had learned. Suki and Toph were leaning on each other and yawning widely – but every now and then, one of them would call out to Sokka some encouragement (Suki) or heckling (Toph).

After Piandao and Sokka had finished they came over and sat with us. Piandao was very pleased with Sokka's progress and said that he had developed remarkably as a swordsman. Sokka blushed, embarrassed but thrilled. He said, trying for modesty, that he'd only developed so much because he had practiced nearly every day with Zuko or Suki. Piandao disagreed and said Sokka had a rare brilliance, and it was his resourcefulness and adaptability – apparently it is these qualities which help him adapt either Dao or Kyoshi moves to single sword wielding- that set him apart.

I don't think I have ever seen Sokka look prouder of himself. I was feeling proud too. So were Suki and Toph, from the looks on their faces. Suki reached over and gave his hand a squeeze and he smiled back at her. I've been concentrating so hard on training Aang that I haven't even noticed how much Sokka has also developed as a warrior. Piandao asked if Sokka still had the lotus tile he had given him. Sokka did and pulled it out of his pocket and then something clicked for him. He asked quite excitedly if Piandao wanted him to join their group. Piandao nodded and said that he thought that Sokka had all the excellent qualities that the Order of the White Lotus looked for in its members. If Sokka was willing, after tomorrow and the battle of Sozin's Comet, they could look at initiating him into the society.

Sokka is very willing.

-?-

Eventually the others trickled off to bed. Well Sokka and Suki went "exploring" first. But I'm sure they're in bed now. Piandao showed us the tent the Order had set up for us, apparently they had been expecting us for several days. Zuko still hadn't emerged from his Uncle's tent. Not that I was waiting up for him to see how it went or anything like that. Okay maybe I was a little bit. But I was so awake anyway because the full moon was approaching again, that's all. Pakku was awake too –however he probably wasn't waiting up for Zuko.

We were sitting together and he was telling me all about how he had finally gotten Gran Gran to say yes to him again (a very romantic story) and how surprised he'd been by the South when he first arrived. I had told him about there being no other waterbenders in the South but he didn't really understand what that had meant for our village until he arrived. I asked him about rebuilding the South Pole. Apparently our village is now four times bigger than it was and has canals and a system of walls and all of the igloos have been more solidly rebuilt. He said I would hardly recognize it when I got back. He said what the firenation had done to the South Pole, taking all those benders, was completely shameful and after the war, Iroh would have to make some sort of reparations and the people responsible should be punished. He said it quietly but with a great deal of force. He told me that he had never appreciated how it was for me, to be the very last southern waterbender.

I was reminded sharply of Hama. Before me, she had been the last. She'd believed in punishment too. I'd only really talked about Hama with Zuko. But here, with another master watebender who I trusted, maybe it would be okay. I didn't tell him the whole story, I just told him about running into her in the firenation and how she had developed bloodbending. I didn't tell him that I could do it too because I just wanted to see how he would react to the bloodbending first.

He was intrigued and said that bloodbending was a remarkable skill, but not one that he envied. I was surprised at this. Didn't he think that it was evil, especially after what Hama used it for? He looked at me simply and told me that no bending was bad, in and of itself, it is only the intentions of the bender that make it good or bad. Hama used this skill for evil purposes yes, but he was sure that it could also have remarkable medical benefits in the right hands. He did not know enough of healing to say for sure, but he was certain the ability to bend the blood could be advantageous in certain situations.

I nodded at him and found myself agreeing, to my own astonishment. I had never previously thought about that side of it before. Bloodbending has always seemed like such an evil and twisted thing. Hama used and abused it so terribly. I had never previously thought that there could possibly be anything good about it. Never entertained the idea that there could be a benefit to being forced to learn such a dark and horrid form of bending. I had promised myself to never ever use it again. But I had never considered that bloodbending could be used to heal and not hurt people. If I was in the situation where someone was bleeding out, I don't think I would hesitate to use it to keep them alive. I didn't say any of this to Pakku, but what he said helped me.

Master Pakku looked at the moon and said it was getting quite late and we should get to sleep. Tomorrow would be a big day after all. Then he looked at me gently, and in that moment I really believed that he was my grandfather and proper part of my family. He put a hand on my shoulder in blessing and said a warrior needs her rest. Then he got up, bowed at me and turned around to go into his tent.

-?-

I went into the tent they'd set up for all of us. The others were all still awake and had been chatting quietly about Sokka's white lotus tile. As soon as I walked in, Toph smiled cheekily and asked how did it go with your boyfriend and his uncle?

Gah! Enough already. I put my hands on my hips and said quite firmly (for hopefully the last time) that Zuko was not my boyfriend, but more importantly he was my friend and I could see that he was very stressed and the last thing he needed was all the teasing from his other friends, especially as I didn't know how it went for him with his Uncle (oh I hope it went alright) and if it went badly, he'd need our support, not our teasing and if they were really his friends too they'd cut it out.

The others looked suitably chastised and agreed to drop the boyfriend stuff. Though Toph has still reserved the right to point it out every time Zuko says fatherlord instead of firelord (he gets the two of them mixed up frequently. I find it endearing) Sokka was puzzled by the fact that we really weren't going out, but Toph confirmed for him that I wasn't lying (she must have known this whole time that we haven't been lying – could she not have spoken up sooner?) I clarified once again that we were not going out –for sure- and we hadn't even kissed, no matter what Sokka thought he saw. Sokka had the audacity to look really disappointed at this. After he interrupted us!

Boo Sokka boo!

-?-

We talked a little bit about how great it was to find the Order of the White Lotus and how much better everyone was feeling about tomorrow, now that we have found our old masters. We may not have Aang tomorrow, but we will have many more people on our side than we did this morning and I feel our situation has significantly improved. I'm still worried about tomorrow, don't get me wrong. But I was reassured enough by finding Pakku and the others again that I was able to sleep peacefully for the first time in days.

-?-

I was the first one awake. We'd passed a stream on the walk to the camp and since today was the day of the big battle, I had wanted to return to it and have a small swim. I wanted to wash off the worry and sadness of the last few days and I find swimming and being surrounded by my element so relaxing and soothing. I wanted to be soothed before the comet of doom arrived.

When I popped my head out of the tent I saw Zuko with his Uncle across the clearing and felt myself smile. They were both sitting around a fire while a kettle boiled. Uncle looked like he was talking animatedly and just at that moment Zuko threw his head back and laughed. Uncle seemed vaguely surprised but very happy with this development and laughed along with him.

Zuko noticed me leaving the tent almost as soon as I'd popped my head out. He waved at me and stood up and came over. He smiled at me and he seemed so much…what's the word …lighter, I guess, now that he and his Uncle had obviously made up. (yay!) He asked me how I had slept and I could truthfully say good. Then he asked if I had a second because he wanted to properly introduce me to his Uncle, considering we had never formally met. I agreed readily.

Zuko led me over and Uncle stood up and bowed at me while Zuko did the whole Uncle this is Katara, Katara this is my Uncle Iroh thing. Then Uncle Iroh took my hand and kissed it with great ceremony and said so this is Katara. The famous Katara! I have heard so much about you from my nephew that I feel we are old friends already! Then he kissed my hand again and Zuko muttered okay enough of that at him and the handkiss turned into a handshake.

I told Uncle Iroh I had heard a lot about him too and he waggled his eyebrows at me and said hopefully all good things? and looked fondly at Zuko. I did the same. So we were standing across from eachother, shaking hands and smiling fondly at Zuko- who was smiling fondly back at us and it was like this big moment of …fondness.

Uncle Iroh is not quite what I remembered from the North Pole. He seems shorter, less threatening and more irreverent that the fierce yet compassionate warrior I encountered during the Siege of the North Pole. The irreverence shouldn't surprise me, given all that I have heard about the incident. There is something in Uncle's smile that puts me instantly at ease but something in his eyes that tells me he is exceptionally clever and it would be foolish to cross him. I know he has a fearsome reputation as a General, but there is something about Uncle Iroh that is just so likeable that you can't help by smile back at him.

He was starting to make some tea and we all sat around the fire together. Uncle Iroh thought that a day that started with a laugh would always go well and he told me the proper version of the leaf me alone – I'm bushed joke that Zuko mangled so many times. It was actually quite funny, but now I am also afflicted with the inability to remember anything except the punch line. He was about to tell me another one (Zuko has already heard all his Uncle's jokes) when he saw Toph also stick her head out of our tent. Her hair was looking a fright and she wandered out rather blearily. I think, but this is just a guess, that for her to be up so early meant that she had been very politely kicked out by Sokka and Suki – who would have wanted the tent to themselves.

Uncle Iroh got up and excused himself and said he had to go say hello to an old friend and he wandered in Toph's direction. I was alone with Zuko and he was just grinning like the biggest, happiest idiot on the planet. I gave him a cheeky little nudge and said so I gather it went well last night? Zuko was elated and astonished and said his Uncle hadn't even been mad at him. Zuko couldn't believe how easily his Uncle had forgiven him. I could. I told him that I was so happy for him. He said that he thought he was happy too and added with some confusion that happiness must be what this feeling was.

Oh Zuko.

He's been truly happy so rarely that he doesn't know what to do with himself when he feels it. He looked serious again for a second and said he knew Sozin's comet was today and it was wrong for him to be happy today…. I cut him off there and gave him a quick hug and said that it wasn't ever wrong for him to be happy. It was only a quick hug because there were lots of other people waking up and milling about and this wasn't the time or the place for one of our long cuddles and we had to break apart because Toph and Iroh were coming back. I don't think Toph's willpower would be able to hold back her veritable flood of comments if she found us cuddling, even though she promised she wouldn't tease us today.

-?-

I stayed and chatted a little bit after Uncle and Toph came back over. And there was laughter and hilarity and Toph was recounting some of the shenanigans from our beach house to Uncle Iroh who was shaking with mirth. She told him all about my commonsense stick wielding ways. (oh the commonsense stick – I had to leave it behind when we packed up – but already I miss it). It was very good natured teasing and if Toph has to tease someone (this is her stress release), I don't mind being that someone for her. Better she tease me about the common sense stick than tease Zuko about anything this morning.

After I had finished my tea, I took my leave of them and got up to have my bath. I had washed and scrubbed everything and changed into my cleanest watertribe dress and even put on the fingerless gloves of my tribe. I wanted to be wearing my tribal colours for the battle. I was Southern Watertribe through and through after all. However, I fear this maybe the last time I wear this dress. It is getting a bit… err… small for me. Especially in the boob department. I am quite pleased over this development even though I know that this is not the time or the place to be pleased over this- what with Comets of Doom arriving and everything like that. But still, yay for me! I may have to revert to wearing my firenation clothes after today which allow for a little more room in that department.

I was walking back to camp when I ran into somebody I was not expecting to see at all. Aunt Wu? What on earth was she doing here? Not that I wasn't pleased to see her, but it was just such a surprise –was every person we had ever met since travelling with Aang going to pop their head out of a tent this morning? She saw me and smiled widely and said it why Katara, what a pleasure to see you again and she gave me a small hug. We had stayed in Aunt Wu's village for a few days after Aang had stopped the volcano and after I had stopped nagging her for readings me and Aunt Wu had gotten very close. She listened to me rant about the boys when they were annoying me and gave me tea and advice. I'd always liked her.

I asked her what she was doing here and she smiled benignly and said she was trying to help restore the balance with the gifts she had been given – also General Iroh had invited her along and he was a delightfully cheeky old man and she just couldn't resist. Oh wow. Um don't know what to think about that. Does that mean Aunt Wu and Iroh are… at their age! Anyway not going to think about that.

Aunt Wu offered that she had been consulting the spirits to find out the outcome of the battle. She could do that? She knew what would happen exactly! Aunt Wu smiled gently at me and said not exactly. No one could see the future exactly. The future is made up of a myriad of different choices by different people and was never certain, but always shifting. Still she used her gift to try and see what would most likely occur, but sometimes it was very difficult to interpret. The things she saw gave her the vague shape of things to come but nothing specific. But she could tell me with complete certainty that the Avatar would return again today and fight the firelord.

Oh.

I do trust Aunt Wu and her insights into the future and after she said this I felt relief, worry then, surprisingly, irritation. Relief that Aang would come back, after so much uncertainty, then that old fierce maternal worry at the thought of Aang in danger and fighting Ozai came to the forefront, but right behind it was a small wave of irritation. Aang was coming back at the last minute (Aang always does everything at the last minute after all). He had left us with no note, no explanation, no nothing – and we had all been so worried and spent so much time looking for him. Aang's presence would be a deciding factor in today's outcome and it had been uncertain until right at this moment for me. We hadn't even known if he 'existed' or not. Would it have been so hard for him to leave us a friggin note or tell at least somebody of what he was planning?

I asked her where Aang had gone and she said that even she could not see the answer to that – Her vision had simply showed her the young boy swimming happily with a giant, wise and ancient creature. Well that is fitting, Aang does like to swim with strange creatures. I pressed her for more details, but she shook her head sadly and had nothing more to tell me. I guess I just wanted her to reassure me that everything was going to be alright – that she had seen all of us alive and victorious and no one would get hurt. I think Aunt Wu sensed this and she stopped walking and took my hands and told me to take heart and have courage. She could not tell me the outcome of today for certain, but she could tell me one thing for certain. She told me I was a remarkable and brave young woman and she knew deep in her bones that I would be okay today.

-?-

When we got back the camp, the others were all awake and sitting around having breakfast. Someone else must have done the cooking because it smelled delicious and none of the others (bless their cotton socks) are capable of whipping up that much deliciousness. Sokka was explaining what our plan had been to Uncle Iroh and he was nodding along. I sat down across from Zuko and took a bowl.

Aunt Wu introduced herself to Suki and Toph and nodded tersely at Sokka and Zuko in greeting. So she had met Zuko before? Aunt Wu then went to stand over by Iroh. He stood up next to her and he gave her bum a gentle pat – that he thought we would not notice – but we all did. She giggled and swatted his hand away girlishly and said all the signs have aligned you cheeky bugger. Zuko muttered I don't even want to know and put his head in his hands to hide from the sight of Uncle Iroh and Aunt Wu swatting at each other's arses and whispering to each other in a very flirtatious manner.

Aunt Wu wandered off and Zuko expressed some confusion over his Uncle consulting a fortune teller. His uncle corrected him and said he had consulted many fortune tellers (though hopefully not in the same way that he is obviously consulting Aunt Wu) and they all said the same thing. Zuko espoused that he thought fortune telling was a big load of bison dung and Sokka nodded fiercely in agreement. I always had a sneaking suspicion that Sokka and Zuko would be in agreement in this regard.

Just at that point Aunt Wu popped up again behind Zuko and gave him a fright and said Ah yes, but because you were born under the sign of the mooncrab with your tangent in the ascending – I knew you were going to say that. Zuko said there was no way she could have known that and Aunt Wu cast a cheeky look at Iroh and said I knew you were going to say that too. Zuko protested some more and she simply said and that. Their conversation went something like this

Wait, you can't just …

And that.

This is ridiculous…

And that.

I can't believe this...

And that.

And so on and so forth. Iroh and Toph seemed to be enjoying Zuko's frustration the most and were giggling at each other. There was a small pause in which Zuko didn't say anything but looked to be thinking hard. Aunt Wu said, with a little snide grin ah, now you are thinking of asking me to tell you exactly what you are thinking at this moment and you were planning on thinking about something obscure. Fireflakes perhaps?

Zuko looked surprised and extremely irritated and didn't answer. Am I right? Aunt Wu prodded. Zuko grumbled that okay, fine she was right in a defeated tone. Aunt Wu smiled again in victory, gave Iroh a kiss on the cheek, handed him something and sashayed off like a fabulous thing.

Zuko continued to grumble that what Aunt Wu did wasn't fortune telling, it was just lucky guessing. He was joined in his grumblings by Sokka – who also believes that fortune telling was a pile of bison dung and they started a rant at each other about logical explanations and cause and effect and astrology is so stupid anyway etc etc. This could be a long rant and so Iroh gently interrupted them and brought their attention back to the matter at hand: Sozin's comet of doom.

He asked us what our plan had been for the day and we all looked a bit sheepish and Sokka said we didn't really have one now. We had been focusing so much on how to defeat the firelord with Aang that when he disappeared it really threw all our previous plans out. We would still try to face the firelord, maybe we could go to the airship base and attack there. Zuko explained that we had come to find Uncle Iroh after Aang disappeared because he was the only person other than the avatar who could possibly defeat the fatherlord. Toph pointed out that he had said fatherlord not firelord again and they had a small squabble.

Iroh looked deep in thought for a second and then said No Zuko. It wont turn out well solemnly. Zuko didn't understand why not and said that his Uncle could beat Ozai and we would all be there to help. Iroh said that even if he did defeat Ozai (and he took care to say that he didn't know if he still could) that it would just been seen as more senseless violence. Brothers killing brothers to grab power never went over well in the firenation. It normally led to civil wars in the firenation and if there wasn't peace in the firenation, there couldn't be peace in the world. The firenation do have the uncanny knack of making their problems the world's problems after all. Uncle Iroh said very firmly that he knew for certain that the only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the firelord.

Zuko gave a frustrated noise and pointed out that no one knew where Aang was and he had vanished and Jun said he didn't even exist anymore. Unlce Iroh told him that was why he had consulted the fortune tellers. When he had broken out of prison he had gone to err…visit…Aunt Wu. She had first noticed the signs that the avatar would completely disappear again before Sozin's Comet. Worried, he had consulted other seers and fortunetellers and slowly a pattern emerged. All the seers Iroh had consulted saw Aang return again on the day of Sozin's comet. He turned and said to all of us your friend Aang will return from wherever he has gone and face Ozai at some point during the comet, I am sure of it.

Uncle Iroh said that our destiny today was not about defeating the firelord, but stopping the war – I asked if that was the same thing. We had always seen the two as one and the same after all. Iroh smiled at me sadly and said that our situation was a little more complex than that. He was sure the war would end today. One way or another. He said this rather darkly and chill ran through our group despite the warm day.

Uncle Iroh spoke again and said that it would be up to us to make sure that the war ends in our favour, with as little destruction is done as possible. The Order of the White Lotus has been planning for this day for some time. They had decided as a group that the thing that must take priority is that was liberating and then protecting Ba Sing Se.

Sokka asked why Ba Sing Se, why not try and stop the airship fleet? Iroh signed sadly and said that Order Members were warriors and philosophers but regrettably none of them knew about engineering or the inner mechanics of the airships to successfully stop them after they have taken off. Because the window of opportunity was quite small for stopping the airship fleets and because no one knew how to prevent them from taking off and trying to do so blind would be very dangerous and time consuming – the order had decided it would be better to concentrate on protecting the airship's main target and to then try and bring them down from the ground outside Ba Sing Se.

Suki asked about the people of the Earth Kingdom who didn't live in Ba Sing Se because they were still in the direct line of fire. Iroh explained that according to their spies (they have spies?), the primary objective of the Airship fleet was to burn Ba Sing Se to the ground and only after the city had been reduced to ashes would they all fly off in different directions and wreck as much havoc over the earth kingdom as possible. On the journey to Ba Sing Se the Airships would actually stay in tight formation and leave one path of destruction. The planned route was the most direct path and went through the desert. They would actually only pass directly over a handful of villages and it would be mostly forests and farmland destroyed in the initial push. The villages in question had been sent hawks this morning warning them, but the Order could do little more for them. It will be up to them to evacuate and find safe ground. Suki nodded but looked perturbed.

Iroh said that the other crucial task today would be to stop Azula from being coronated, because if she ever became firelord...Iroh trailed off here and I think we all had a moment to contemplate the sheer terrible-awfulness of Azula as firelord. Iroh explained (his information coming from the spies again) that at this point there was no official firelord. Ozai had completely renounced the title in favour of the 'Pheonix King'. Zuko snorted derisively and mad a comment about his dad making up his own title. Uncle Iroh joined him in derisive snorting and muttered only Ozai… under his breath.

Apparently, while Azula was acting as regent at the moment, the firesages were exceptionally reluctant to coronate her because she had not yet reach the age of majority and…she's crazy? Zuko offered and Iroh nodded at him. He continued and said that despite their misgivings, the firesages had been explicitly ordered to overrule protocol and coronate her anyway this afternoon at sunset. But currently there was no official firelord. If we could stop Azula being coronated, then the position would be open for someone else.

Zuko nodded in comprehension and said so after the comet, and after we've stopped Azula and protected Ba Sing Se, you can come and take your rightful place on the throne. Iroh looked at him for a long moment and then said he couldn't be firelord. The earth kingdom would never accept peace with him as firelord. We all protested at this, especially Toph, as she was the only person from the earth kingdom with us. Iroh said that we were all forgetting about the siege of Ba Sing Se and how even if he managed to liberate and protect Ba Sing Se today, he doubted if the great earth kingdom city would ever forgive him for those 600 days of misery. He explained when he was younger that he had a vision that his destiny was to conquer Ba Sing Se. He had misinterpreted it at the time, and now he knew that all along he was meant to take it back from the firenation, so the earth kingdom could be free again.

He said that being Firelord was never his destiny and that someone new must come along. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. He was looking directly at Zuko and I think we all got his meaning pretty quickly, except for Zuko, who looked around with comic confusion behind him. Eventually Iroh clarified his little speech by saying it has to be you Prince Zuko.

Zuko looked beyond surprised and said Me! Unquestionable honour? Then he shook his head and said No, it can't be me. I've made so many mistakes. Uncle Iroh said Yes, you have... Oh so many mistakes in a teasing yet endearing tone. Then he said more seriously and persuasively that aside from making mistakes Zuko had also struggled and suffered and had always followed his own path. Uncle finished by saying you restored your own honour and only you can restore the honour of the firenation. Zuko looked like he wanted to argue more, but Uncle's gaze was so sincere and he backed down and said firmly I'll try Uncle.

Uncle said that Zuko would have to return to the firenation so that he could assume the throne when the Firelord falls and start to restore peace and balance. But Azula would be there. Zuko said that he could handle Azula just fine. Not Alone! Uncle said decisively and Zuko agreed and tuned to me and asked if I wanted to go with him instantly. Of course I did!

Team liquidy hot is back!

Sokka asked Iroh what he and Suki and Toph should do. What was their destiny today? Uncle asked him what he thought it was sagely. Sokka said that he thought that even though we didn't know where Aang was, and the Order would protect Ba Sing Se, they should still try and stop the airship fleet. He knew enough about the airships, and engineering, and with Suki and Toph with him he was sure he'd be able to stop them from ever taking off.

Suki agreed with him instantly and said that there was no guarantee those villages would get the hawks in time, and no guarantee that they will be able to find safe ground and protect themselves if they did. Also the Airship fleet would burn so much farmland if they didn't stop them and it was right before harvest season. To lose all those crops meant that even if people didn't die in a fire, they would certainly suffer in a famine. She looked at Toph and Toph nodded and said that the firelord would be on one of those ships. If they were there, then when Aang came to face him they would be close by to help him out, if he needed them. Iroh smiled at them and said they were very wise to choose this path. And that seemed to settle the matter.

But as I got up from around the circle, I couldn't help but think that we had all decided to split up (again!) I had always emphasised that all together we could do anything. And now we are all going into the greatest battle of our lives separately. I knew that our new plan made the most sense in theory, but I didn't want to split from Sokka and Suki and Toph. I felt a flood of worry for them going out there on their own to do a very dangerous mission. Zuko came and stood beside me and gave me a hesitant smile and I felt myself smile back at him. At least I would still have Zuko with me.

And I honestly can't think of a better person to have by my side today.

-?-

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Long Rambly author's notes: you knew they were coming!

Lovely wonderful readers! You have reached the end of camp old people! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! big giant thank you with oodles of hugs for my wonderful brilliant reviewers! You guys are seriously awesome and your comments make me smile and make my day and help keep my creative brain ticking over. So thanks and oodles and caboodles of it!

This Chapter was a little hard to write because there is so much going on in this little section of the episode at camp old people and I was trying to make sense of it in my head and I have rambly thoughts.

So not everyone is introduced properly when the old people show up around Appa – but I reckon introductions would have happened on the road to camp old people. I don't focus much on Bumi and Jeong Jeong this chapter, because they are much more part of Aang's story. They are Aang's mentors mostly. But we get more Pakku and Piandao and I find these two older dudes very fascinating. Anyway naturally YMMV on everything.

So a few things about them from my head canon (which colours how I write them)

Pakku: He has a good heart but he is very very set in his ways. Pakku does not adjust to change easily and is very stubborn. However there is a lot of passion and sadness and other emotions in Pakku that he keeps a tight lid on. I also subscribe to the theory that Kanna and Pakku did the nasty when they were engaged –before she ran away and she was actually pregnant with Kya when she left. Because bending is an unpredictable genetic ability, it skips Kya- but she passes it on to Katara. Katara's prodigal bending development, while it is mostly her hard work, also comes from the fact that she inherited a very highly developed natural talent for it from Pakku. Pakku now knows that he is in fact Sokka and Katara's natural grandfather, but he would be reluctant to tell them and have a big emotional scene at this point, especially in front of other order members and also because he is still processing the fact that he and Kanna had a child together and she was killed by the firenation before he even got to meet her. Sniff.

Pakku also thinks that Iroh should be the next firelord. While he hasn't met Zuko, he would be reluctant to see anyone under the age of 50 in charge of such a huge, powerful and problematic nation.

Anyway, I don't think Pakku would do it deliberately, but Katara would clearly be his favourite. In the show he is very dismissive of Sokka and not just in the North Pole but in this episode as well. I think that because Sokka wasn't really a bender, Pakku didn't have much time for him in the North Pole and he hasn't quite developed the relationship with him that he has with Katara. Also Katara is now a master bender and they have that in common. She is also apparently very similar to her mother, Pakku might subconsciously feel that bonding with her is a way of connecting with the daughter he has lost. So he's not playing favourites to be a jerk, but it will still bother Katara that he does it.

I also wanted them to have a small chat about blood-bending because that is such a huge deal for Katara. While she has confided in Zuko her various feelings on the matter, this would be the first chance she would have to talk to another waterbender about it and another waterbender would have a different take. Pakku would open her eyes to bloodbending as a medicinal treatment - as side that I think Katara would have completely overlooked because she sees it as such a dark art. Pakku doesn't have the emotional baggage that Katara does when he thinks about bloodbending and he can immediately see its positive potential. I also think that Pakku would very quickly figure out that Katara can do it too (despite how 'subtle' she thinks she's being) and he is trying to help her make peace with it.

Piandao is the non-bending child of an illustrious bending family and according to Avatar wiki – he was left at a firenation orphanage for this. Sad panda. It doesn't say any more about his family, but I think he would have found this out, tracked them down and met them and the meeting would not have been a fulfilling one. He would have channelled his disappointment into his superior swordsmanship in order to prove himself. I think that this would affect how he views the world and potential students. Potential students who think they are the best thing ever would hold little interest for him. But students with low self-worth after being overshadowed by benders in their family (Both Sokka and Zuko feel like they are in the shadow of their prodigy bender younger sisters) who are seeking to prove themselves would hold much more possibilities for him. He would see them as a reflection of himself.

I think that Piandao has a great deal of fatherly affection for his students, but he is more demonstrative with Sokka because Sokka is also very demonstrative back and is clearly craving the approval of a father figure. This is not to demean, in any way, Hakoda's role as Sokka's father – because I think he's a great dad – this is just to say that Sokka very much craves validation from older male authority figures who he respects. I think Zuko and Piandao know each other quite well, and respect each other but in a different way to Sokka and Piandao. I think that Zuko would have sought Piandao out, probably in the summer when he was off school after his mother left. Anyway they don't get to interact much this chapter because I felt that Sokka needed Piandao more and Zuko is much more concerned with finding his Uncle – but they'll hang out later.

I also think that Fat, Piandao's 'butler' is actually his long term partner. I think they've been together for years, living on that hill just the two of them. But that is just my opinion and YMMV. However this will come up in later chapters and I will have more to say about it then.

Piandao gives Sokka a white lotus tile in the series and it never comes up again. The Gaang do not understand the significance of this at the time because they actually don't deal with the white lotus at all until Sozin's comet. What would they think finding all their old master's together in this big arse secret society?

I actually think that the principle emotion they would be feeling is relief. Relief that they are no longer in this alone, no longer flying blind without a plan and they have competent adults who they both love and respect around them. I think there will be many more questions about the white lotus that will arise later – but right at this moment, on the eve of Sozin's comet, the gang wouldn't think about any of that. All that said, Sokka's lotus tile deserved a mention because it would re-inforce Sokka's self worth. Being the only one chosen out of all the Gaang as worthy of being initiated would be a big ego boost. And it also underpins the Sokka/Piandao relationship because Piandao really believed in and encouraged Sokka to be the warrior he becomes.

So the Gaang run into nearly every older minor character and mentor figure in Camp Old People and as a result I was possessed by the desire to have Aunt Wu here. Mostly because there were not enough Old Wise Ladies in the show for my taste. Also I think Katara would have bonded with Aunt Wu and her presence could help explain why the rather superstitious Iroh is completely sure that Aang will return. Because seriously when I watched it and Iroh was so sure that Aang would come back …I was confused. How did he know this, because the last I heard Aang didn't even theoretically exist. Iroh taking another spirit world journey is a possibility but I much prefer my version, with Uncle Iroh visiting Aunt Wu and consulting many fortune tellers.

Uncle Iroh …Aunt Wu… you know it makes sense!

Also Aunt Wu would have met Zuko during Iroh, Jun and Zuko's five days of fun. Zuko like Sokka thinks that fortune-telling is all bollocks. The and that scene is shamelessly borrowed form RTD's Casanova, starring David Tennant – which is a fabulous miniseries if you have never had the chance to see it.

And in this chapter Zuko and Iroh are reunited and Katara and Iroh are properly introduced and there is an overabundance of fondness. In my head canon, Iroh wakes up not long after Zuko sits down in that tent and they have their tearful reunion and then Iroh wants to know absolutely everything that his nephew has been up to. While the white lotus spies would be all over the place, I imagine details on what Zuko was up to would be sketchy at best and poor Iroh would have been just a touch worried. If I had a relative like Zuko, I would do nothing but worry about them.

Anyway Zuko would have told him all about running away from home and the Western Air Temple and the Beach House and all the various other shenanigans the Gaang got into etc. He would not have noticed he was doing it, but he would have talked about Katara. A lot. Zuko would have been all Katara said this and then Katara did that and Katara is so funny. Uncle is rather amused by this, finds it all a bit adorable and would be a bit excited (hasn't he always wanted Zuko to meet a pretty girl) – however he would keep his mouth shut about his suspicions because he has a bit of tact. Anyway when it comes time to actually meet the famous Katara he feels like he already knows her. Katara and Iroh will get a chance to hang out a lot more in later chapters, but this is just the first time they meet.

I also tweaked the conversation over the battle plans a little bit and tried to flesh out this scene more, because a lot is going here very quickly. And I wanted to look at why I think Iroh doesn't want to be firelord, why the order are so focused on Ba Sing Se and how the Gaang come to their mutual decision to split up.

Why Iroh Can't be firelord? Look this bugged me a little bit in the show. Zuko is a 16-year-old emotionally traumatized, impulsive teen who is a bit socially awkward. He is then handed an entire screwed up, war mongering nation and told to 'fix it'. He has to restore peace and balance after 100 years of war – on his own - because his esteemed wise Uncle wants to go and make tea.

Sucks to be you Zuko.

No wonder he's going nuts in the promise.

Seriously though, why can't Iroh be firelord? He is technically next in line, he makes the most sense, he is wise, patient and experienced. He obviously still commands a great deal of respect. He's smart enough, he's good enough and g*ddamnit people like him. I think Zuko would do his absolute best, but I think this is a HUGE responsibility to foist on him at this point. Zuko is really genuinely surprised that his Uncle thinks that he should be firelord. I don't think he ever entertained the possibility that he would assume power after he ran away from home. In fact when Zuko leaves the firenation, it is a very clear rejection not just of his father and sister, but of his position.

While Young Zuko, the one who wanted to go into the war meeting was eager to learn how to run the country, seemed pleased with the idea of being Firelord, This Zuko would see it for what it was – an incredibly stressful position fraught with problems and annoyances and arguments. He would not wish to be an authoritarian leader like his father, but he also would realize how hard it would be to get people in the upper echelons of society to follow him down the 'peace and balance path.' So I don't think Zuko, with all he's learned, would relish the chance at being Firelord, especially at this age. He'll accept it, if it is absolutely necessary, but he wont enjoy it. I think Zuko doesn't really think his Uncle is serious in Camp Old People, but he knows that time is short and they don't have time to sit about arguing over who should be firelord before they have even won – so he thinks: okay I'll go with this for now and after the battle I'll convince him to change his mind and assume the throne.

I needed a proper reason from Iroh as to why he couldn't be Firelord. A reason aside from 'someone new must come along' because that does not cut much mustard with me given the circumstances. And so I had a bit of a think and the best thing I could come up with was Ba Sing Se and the fact that Iroh is a big military figure in the war against the Earth Kingdom specifically. He lay siege to Ba Sing Se for 600 days and that would have left a lot of damage and a lot of unnecessary casualties in the Earth Kingdom. While Iroh's help in liberating the city during the comet will be appreciated, I don't think he would ever fully be accepted in the earth kingdom as someone to make peace with. With Iroh as Firelord the peace negotiations with the Earth Kingdom become much more problematic. It would be easier for the Earth Kingdom to make peace with a 'new' face than with an old enemy. While the Water Tribes and independent nations like Kyoshi Island will get a say in the peace process, the really hard issue are going to arise between the FN and the EK and as a result FN and EK international relations should be made as easy as possible.

*Shrugs* that's what I came up with.

Why do the entire Order go to Ba Sing Se? I was surprised that none of the adults would have wanted to go with either Zuko and Katara or Sokka,Suki and Toph. Both groups tackle extremely important missions and I was just surprised that the adults around them didn't offer their support. Why was it so crucial to keep and protect Ba Sing Se? Especially because I think Piandao at least, would have wanted to go with Sokka and in my head canon Pakku wanted to go with Katara.

Anyway I came up with some fanwank to explain why they would send teenagers (however competent the Gaang are, they're still teenagers and they are putting themselves directly in the line of fire) off on very dangerous missions on their own. All I could come up with is once again related to Ba Sing Se and its crucial position to the battle. I think the Order have had the plan for what they are going to do today down pat. It has been seamless planned and practiced and there is no room for last minute changes.

I also increased the importance of Ba Sing Se as a strategic location. I thought that the OtWL should have focused on the airships really, as they would be the source of most of the destruction – but I hand wave that by saying that none of them know enough about engineering and there would only be a small window of opportunity to prevent the airships from taking off – and they all felt that they would be better able to bring the Airships down from the ground outside Ba Sing Se. Aang pretty easily knocks one out of commission by throwing a rock at it after all. And as the airships will only fly over a handful of villages because they are taking the most direct route, the White Lotus warn the villages and then washes their hands of them. They are not trying to be heartless, but it is war and protecting Ba Sing Se with its extremely dense population and strategic value would take precedence over saving a handful of villages.

Sokka knows enough about engineering to be able to disable the airships before they take off and so he quickly volunteers that he thinks this is the best course of action. This is a destiny that he free chooses from himself, because I think Sokka would not be able to sit back and let those airships take off and rain fire down on anyone if he could prevent it. I think that once Sokka decided to go, it would make sense that Suki and Toph would go to protect him as well as for their own reasons. Suki has a point about how destroying large swaths of farmland just before a harvest would cause a famine and the villages might not be able to properly defend themselves from a rain of fire. Toph figures out fairly quickly that Aang will be near the airships if he has to face the firelord and therefore they will be close by to help him out when the time comes.

In the next chapter, the Gaang will say goodbye and split up (sniff) and Katara and Zuko will travel to the firenation capital together.

Til then lovely readers...