She is here again.

The palace breathes again. The walls that had been closing in on him return to their former shape and size.

Zuko can speak again and sleep again.

He had been working. For months and months, all he had done was work. It had gotten so that he could not read the words in front of him, could barely discern the shape of his own seal. Surely he had accomplished much in those months of endless work, endless flame-lit nights that bled into sun-drenched days, endless messages and envoys and treaties. The production of Toph Beifong's expanded holdings, the access to the markets she commanded, all of those projects had moved forward and become realized.

Perhaps Toph had noticed something. Zuko found himself writing to her at least once every week.

Perhaps Aang had noticed something. He had been here, last month or last year or whenever it was, overseeing the cultural exchange. In return for Earth Kingdom citizenship to Fire Nation colonists, the Fire Nation was to host a few generations' worth of Earth Kingdom dignitaries, artists, and scholars.

Zuko said yes, yes, yes, let the ministers grumble. Without Mai here to quiet them, let them grumble and sabotage and conspire.

They could not stop his work. They cannot stop the future.

These changes that Zuko is forcing upon them will take root. Even if the first efforts are destroyed entirely, the new way will grow again and it will bear fruit.

Perhaps Aang noticed something of his desperation. He must have sent her to him, because suddenly she is here.

Katara, arriving in a convoy of Water Tribe ships. A minor invasion.

She says that she is here to check on the healing centers and oversea their progress. She says that she is here to talk about how the Water Tribe and Fire Nation navies can work together in the interest of trade.

She stares at Zuko with her blue eyes, stares at him as she hasn't done in years and he has to remind himself that it isn't a dream.

She is here to crash into his palace and wash everything away.

She is here to relieve him, release him, end him, save him.