Chapter Thirty:

-Zuko-

"Thank you all for opening my eyes today" The Earth King said to us. It had taken a lot of convincing – saying what we needed to get the point across of the hundred year war we are still in and how we were being blackmailed in order to keep everything a secret, proving the bite marks on Long Feng's leg were made by Appa and getting to the Dai lee secret headquarters before Long Feng could have it destroyed – in order for him to see the truth, but somehow we managed to pull it off. Long Feng naturally tried to lie his way out of it but he was only arrested and thrown in jail. We had arrived back at the palace where the Earth King was once again sitting on his thrown with his bear close by him as he talked to us. "I can't believe I was so blind to what was happening around me. We are at war with the Fire Nation."

"Technically your Majesty," Uncle spoke up; he had joined us shortly after we showed Long Feng's bite marks, "you are not completely at war with the Fire Nation."

"What do you mean exactly?"

Uncle looked my way before he said, "My nephew and I are fire benders who do not believe in this war and we both wish to do what we can to end it. Isn't that right my nephew?" For a minute I was too stunned to speak. My Uncle seriously just exposed us for being fire benders?! "You once said yourself that you thought that this war was…how did you put it exactly…idiotic?"

I grunted at my Uncle, trying to remember what I said a month ago, but regardless I turned my attention back to the King and replied, "He is correct. This war has gone on for too long and my Uncle and I will do what we can to help end this war if you will take our help."

The Earth King was a tad weary about us being fire benders but he nodded his head. "From what you have told me earlier and the fact that you are both willing then I will gladly accept your help." As if on cue Uncle and I bowed to him at exactly the same time.

"We do need to hurry though and it's why we came here to ask for your help" Aang spoke up. "There is a comet coming this summer. It's called Sozin's Comet and it will give all fire benders incredible power so they could win the war once and for all. Yes, we do have Zuko and Iroh on our side but I'm not willing to take that risk of innocent peoples' lives being destroyed that day." He's got a good point there, I thought sadly of what could happen.

"But we still have a chance to stop them" Sokka interrupted, basically taking over the conversation. "Before the comet comes we have a good chance of stopping the Fire Nation once and for all. In a few months a solar eclipse is coming." A solar eclipse? "The Sun will be blocked by the Moon and will leave the fire benders powerless."

"So what are you suggesting Sokka?" the King asked quickly.

"That is the day we need to invade the Fire Nation. The day of Black Sun." He spoke with finality and authority in his voice. Ok, I'll admit it, if this guy wasn't so much of a goof ball and was more serious at times he could make a pretty good leader; whether it be in the military or not.

As much as I disliked the idea of invading my homeland I had to agree that this was the only real chance we had to end this war before the comet arrives. The Earth King however seemed extremely scared by the idea of attacking another nation. "I'm not sure. We would be sending out our soldiers and would leave the city vulnerable."

"But you're already vulnerable" Katara stated. It was the first time she had spoken up within the past few hours. "You need to trust us. I may not know much about what's going on because of my amnesia but I do know that this is the only way. In the long run we will still be protecting Ba Sing Se when we go to fight the Fire Nation because I believe we can win. But not without your help. Do you want to sit back and just wait for the Fire Nation to come here or do you want to take the chance in order to protect your city and all of your citizens who depend on you? Please, help us to stop this war."

Katara really has been improving and she really is somewhere in there. Her voice was soft, gentle, but still rang with authority. Her strong – willed spirit with that slight hint of defiance is still there, it's just slowly making its way known. I could honestly say I was very proud of her comparing to how I found her in the woods; when she was practically afraid of just about anything that moved. She looked back at me briefly and I grinned at her, nodding my head in approval of what she said. The others seemed to be just as proud – if not more.

Then finally the Earth King spoke up again. "Very well, you have my support." Aang grabbed Toph and Sokka – who in turn grabbed Katara's wrist – and pulled them into a group hug. "Soon I shall speak with my generals on how we can organize a plan for the invasion. Iroh?" Uncle turned to him. "Would you possibly be able to help in this matter?"

Uncle nodded. "I know my way around the Fire Nation and I used to be a general until I retired so I don't see why I couldn't."

"It's decided then." With that they began to talk amongst themselves while Sokka pulled the rest of the group aside to talk. Not knowing what to do I joined in on the conversation.

Although I wish I hadn't.

The first thing I hear out of his mouth is, "I think we need to be leaving soon so we can gather more recruits as well."

"But we already have the Earth King's support. How many more people do you think we need?" Toph argued.

"Aang, Katara, and I have met a lot of people during our travels and some of them could be very helpful which is why I think we need to leave for now so we can recruit them and return with enough time to prepare to leave for the Fire Nation."

"And you want me to go with you?" I heard Katara accuse.

"Well obviously Katara! I'm not about to leave my little sister behind again."

"I thought I told you I'm not leaving until I'm ready!"

"Katara I don't want to argue with you! Like it or not you're coming with us!"

"No! It's not your choice to make!"

"I'm your older brother!"

"So I can't make my own choices?!"

They were going to argue like this forever if someone didn't intervene soon. And I knew that person had to be me. I didn't want her to leave me, but I can't force her to stay with me any longer. So with clenched fists I said, "Katara you should go."

My statement was met with a chorus of "Huh?!" Aang looked confused. Toph's eyebrows were furrowed; probably trying to read my heartbeat or something like that. Sokka looked skeptical. And Katara just looked hurt.

"You…you want me to leave?" she whispered.

No! I want you to stay by my side! I wanted to shout but I refrained myself. "Katara they need your help right now and your brother is right with the idea of finding others that can help during the invasion. Plus, for all we know, maybe being alone with them will allow you to regain your memories. And I also know you can take care of yourself, especially after what I saw today and from the way you spoke to the King."

Katara looked about ready to burst into tears, making my heart feel like it was about to tear apart. But she held them back and slowly nodded her head yes. "I'll do what you think is best Zuko."

"I guess I'll go tell the Earth King what we are going to do then" Aang replied quietly and walked over to them. Toph pulled me aside so Sokka and Katara wouldn't be able to hear us.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "I can feel your heart and it's going like crazy."

"I'm doing what's best for Katara. Not what's best for me." I left the discussion at that.

We were all standing outside as the Earth King wished Katara and her friends luck on their travels. Toph and Aang already said good bye to me. Sokka shook my hand and said, "See ya around" sarcastically. Finally Katara walked up to me, eyes focused mainly on her shoes.

"Are you sure you won't come with us?" she asked again for the third time.

I tried to keep my voice as light as possible, so she wouldn't see how much I was hurting as well. "You know most people still don't take too kindly to fire benders. Not to mention I would probably just get in your brothers way and he would probably leave me alone in the woods somewhere." I laughed once trying to cheer her up. It didn't really work.

"I'll always be grateful to you for what you did for me, despite how we first started…although that was mainly my fault for not wanting to trust you at the time. But I just want you know," she finally met my gaze, "you're my best friend Zuko. And I'm really going to miss you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat before I spoke again "I'll miss you too." Katara started to turn away but I stopped her. "Wait a minute" I said as I had a hold of her arm. "I have something for you. To remember me by." Holding out her hand I placed the bracelet I had been working on in it. She gasped and I took that as a good sign. It wasn't much really. I was just going off of the idea I had from looking over Katara's pendent and the carvings it had on it. "Toph found the silver part of the bracelet for me" I told her. Toph had found out and I was lucky she was willing to keep it a secret. The actual bracelet was just a simple silver band –not too thick, but not too slim either –that I cleaned up and I used my fire bending to mold the red stone I had found earlier onto it after I had finished carving my design. Her fingers gently traced over the flame I had carved into the stone; it was carved to look like the way the Fire Nation represented itself on their flags.

"Thank you Zuko" she finally said. "I'll always wear it." Then, as if to prove her point, she slid it on to her right wrist.

Before I had the chance to respond Sokka appeared by her. "Katara it's time to go."

I nodded my head towards Appa as Sokka wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulders and led her away. I turned away from them, my heart finally shattering into a million pieces. My hands were clenched into such tight fists that my knuckles were turning white. And then I felt a solitary tear slide down my scarred cheek. Before I could walk away and before Uncle could walk up to me I heard a "No!" and I turned just in time to see Katara running towards me with tears streaming freely down her cheeks.

She ran into my arms and buried her face in the crook of my neck as she continued to cry. One of my arms wrapped around her waist as the other patted down her hair. I closed my eyes and just breathed in her scent.

"Oh look, Zuzu has a friend" a cold, cruel, feminine voice spoke up. One voice that I knew instantly and wish I had never had to hear. Katara and I both froze.

Uh - oh! The Gaang is in trouble! What do you think is going to happen? Hope you are liking the story and please review. Until next time.