"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko says over bowls of steaming mush, which I politely declined in favor of my slightly more appetizing coffee.
"You mean the Fire Lord," Toph corrects.
"That's what I just said," Zuko snaps.
I take a gulp of coffee. "Oh, would you two play nice? It's still morning."
Iroh contemplates his nephew's words.
"We need you to come with us!" Zuko insists.
Iroh sets his bowl down. "No, Zuko, it won't turn out well."
"You can beat him, and we'll be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."
"And then…" Zuko speaks to the depths of his oatmeal bowl, "then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?"
"No," says Iroh. "Someone new must take the throne: an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you prince Zuko."
"Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes!"
"Yes, you have," Iroh admits. "You've struggled, you've suffered, but you have always followed your own path. You restored your own honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."
"I'll try, Uncle," Zuko promises.
It was probably the best thing Iroh could say to Zuko, and the best thing for the Fire Nation. Zuko had changed from the pony-tailed crazy that chased the Avatar far and wide to please his unforgiving father. He is definitely the right choice for the ruler of a quarter of the world's population.
Toph interrupts my thoughts, "Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?"
"Sozin's comet is arriving," Iroh says, "and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."
"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Suki realizes.
Iroh nods. "Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation, so that when the Fire Lord falls you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there waiting for you."
"I can handle Azula," Zuko promises.
"Not alone," Iroh warns. "You'll need help."
I finish my coffee. "And he'll have it. It would be my pleasure to put daddy's little princess in her place." Zuko smiles and gives my hand a squeeze.
"What about us?" Sokka asks. "What's our destiny today?"
Iroh smiles. "What do you think it is?"
Sokka scratches his chin. "I think that even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."
"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord," Toph adds, "we'll be right there if he needs us."
Iroh smiles and nods. Everyone breaks up to split for the upcoming battle. Something's nagging at the back of my brain, but I can't quite grasp it. The nagging increased when Sokka said something about not knowing where Aang is, but how could I know the Avatar's location?