disclaimer: Mike and Bryan own the ATLA universe; Mariko belongs to me (: enjoy!

I See Fire: Rising

"I think it's kinda sweet." Toph smiled lightly, whereas the rest of the group covered their noses at the smelly object in the prince's grasp.

Nyla sniffed the sandal briefly before shuffling to face a different direction; "Let's do this." Jun snapped the reins and soon they disappeared into the darkness.

"Hey wait up!" Zuko barked as he and the rest of the group scrambled onto Appa and took off after the shirshu.

Mariko felt the muscles in her jaw tense on habit.

The once mighty Outer Wall she had helped defend against her own people that had once stood strong and impenetrable now looked like a hollow shell of what it once was. Although she had a feeling the drill they'd plugged and caused to implode on itself like a stink-bomb was still there, a rubble-mound of good size of a wide opening that had probably been the result of the turned Dai-Li agents bringing it down, bore a scalding-hot reminder, a scar on her conscience, that reminded her of the fall of Ba Sing Se.

She recalled the shame and pain that had come with her fleeing the scene like a damn coward, the sight before them enough evidence that, even though it was inadvertent, it was her fault.

It was because of me that Ba Sing Se fell… and it's going to be me who rewrites history… This I swear.

"… Nyla's getting twitchy, so your uncle can't be too far off. Good luck." Jun informed the prince, having turned her steed in the opposing direction to start off away from the ruined Wall, leaving the teens be.

Zuko scowled in slight defeat, looking to their group gathered in the saddle and then to his side-seat driver, "It's been a long day; let's camp out here and start the search again at dawn." He advised.

Mariko nodded and slid off the bison's head to stretch her arms as the girls and Sokka did the same, shrugging her katana onto her shoulder. She looked at the rubble around them, looking up at the high rising reminder only yards from where she stood; her brow crinkled into a frown. "… 'My greatest shame'. I understand Uncle, now." She murmured bitterly, hands subconsciously curling and uncurling into fists as she sensed him come to her side.

Zuko uncurled her right fist, watching her fingers intertwine with his own and squeeze. "Don't act like this was all your fault… Part of this is because of me, too." He reminded quietly.

Mariko winced slightly before looking at the wall again and exhaling. "It's late, and I'm beat." She looked up at him and smiled softly, squeezing his hand on reflex before leaning up to kiss him.

He smiled against her lips and kissed back, pulling back a little to hold onto her, squeezing her waist tightly.

She pressed her cheek into his shoulder, feeling him pet her hair absently as she mentioned, "So what was Jun implying when she teased you and Katara about being together?" She asked innocently.

Zuko blinked at the random question before his ears burned and he scoffed, an indignant scowl forming on his face even though she didn't see it. "I sort of used Katara's necklace to track you guys down, a long time ago… It's nothing, really." He added off-handedly.

Mariko drew back a little in his arms to lightly smack his chest, exhaling patiently. "Now I remember. If you hadn't been hell-bent on hunting Aang at the time, I would've almost considered your chasing me down to be flattering, Zu." She looked up at him beneath her brow and smirked.

He smirked back, tugging lightly at her red sash around her small waist, "And what if I meant for it to be flattering?" He asked curiously.

She rolled her eyes and chuckled, smoothing out the lapel of his tunic. "The answer is going to have to wait until we get some sleep." She reminded patiently.

He made a sideways expression that made her giggle, deeming she was right.

After settling down into comfortable sleeping positions – both firebenders slept peacefully on Appa's left third leg—the night seemed to turn peaceful.

But of course peace didn't last long around them… Sometimes she wondered if it was fate's sick sense of humor or if it was some sort of bad karma come to bite her in the ass for something she did in a past life.

Toph's rock tent dropped as everyone present scrambled to their feet in time to see a high firewall rise up and fence them in.

"Well, look who's here!" A snorting laugh came from one of their intruders, making Mariko ease her stance as she immediately recognized three of the four men that had snuck on them, whereas Katara and Sokka seemed to recognize the fourth man present.

"What's going on; we're surrounded by a bunch of old people." Toph piped up, speaking for herself, Zuko and Suki.

"They're not just any 'old people'; these are great masters and friends of ours." Katara answered lightly, stepping forward to better address the older benders, bowing to her old waterbending teacher. "Paku," she welcomed with a grin.

Master Paku returned the bow, straightening, "It is customary to bow to your old master, but how about a hug for your new grandfather?" He said with a smile at the siblings' balking expressions.

"That's so great!" Katara beamed and embraced her new grandfather, "I'll bet it was exciting that you and Gran-Gran found each other after so long."

Mariko chuckled as Sokka zipped forward to also hug the older waterbender, tugging on Zuko's sleeve to lead him to the second old man present, releasing him to bow respectfully to the older firebender. "Jeong-Jeong, it's been a while. Zuko, this was Aang's first firebending teacher." She introduced with a smile.

Both firebenders bowed to each other before Jeong-Jeong nodded to the prince's girlfriend. "It appears you've matured since last we met, after all." He mused with a slight smile, seeing her smile humbly.

"Wait, so how do you all know each other?" Suki piped up curiously.

King Bumi answered with that odd twinkle in his eyes, "All old people know each other, don't you know that?" He snorted another laugh. The lesser-graying man named Piandao that stood at his right added calmly, "we're all a part of the ancient secret society, a group that transcends the four nations."

Only Zuko seemed to piece it together as he finished, "The Order of the White Lotus."

"The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty and truth. But about a month ago, a call went out, and we were needed for something important." Jeong-Jeong nodded, and as his words soaked in, Mariko began to realize the same thing that Zuko had come to the conclusion of only months ago.

Paku stated, "It came from a Grand Lotus; your uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation."

"That's just the man we've been looking for." Mariko found herself smiling even though a small nagging poking at the inner recesses of her mind began as she also recalled that not only had she failed Ba Sing Se, she had inadvertently failed the one man she respected more than her own father.

She knew Zuko felt the same, albeit she would bet her right arm that he felt a thousand times worse about the state of things than she did.

"Wait! There's someone missing from your group, someone very important… Where's Momo?" Bumi cut across Piandao's offer to lead them past the Wall, getting in Sokka's face and blinking once or twice.

The teens sweatdropped as said boy offered weakly, "He's gone… And so is Aang."

"Oh well, so long as they have each other, I'm sure we have nothing to worry about." Bumi shrugged and left the boy to flail to stand straight as he hopped into the air by usage of a pillar.

Toph shook her head as they started after his lead, walking next to Mariko, "Makes you glad Aang didn't keep him as a teacher, huh?" She mused quietly.

Mariko chuckled and punched her shoulder affectionately, "Dunno, your methods were pretty questionable too… The rolling boulder was enough to scare the crap out of anyone." She teased.

"A teacher's assistant questioning the almighty rule of the greatest earthbending teacher that I am? Lowly peasant!" Toph scoffed snobbishly and punched back, making her laugh, elbowing her ribs as they walked near the back of the group infront of Appa, "I swear, you and Prince Casanova must have a mirror thing going on or something… if he's mopey about his uncle, you are too."

She darted a glance at the front to see said prince walking next to Jeong-Jeong, dropping her gaze and folding her arms. "I think I was more mopey about Ba Sing Se than about Uncle… I don't know if he's proud of my sticking with Zuko after Ba Sing Se, or if he's still disappointed in what went down." She admitted, her voice quiet.

She rolled her eyes and bumped her hip with that of the taller girl's, making her slightly teeter before she regained her footing.

"Oi…"

"Look, if he's proud of him for finding his own path by this point and wanting to stop his dad from destroying the world, then I'm pretty damn sure he's proud of you too, idiot. Hell, you could've stayed in the Fire Nation living like if you didn't travel the world and make friends that stood against the Fire Lord, but you didn't… You came back, Sword Girl. You kept your promises even though you groveled to be accepted back into the gang, and now look at you." Toph stated sternly, surprising the older girl at her words.

"Toph…" Mariko's eyes gleamed in surprise and awe, before she calmed and her lips formed into a warm smile. She nodded slightly, looking forward, starting to feel a little better; she closed her eyes momentarily. "Thank you, Toph." She said softly.

The shorter girl huffed slightly, fighting the smile at sensing she had gotten her point across, looping her arm with that of her friend's. "Don't go gettin' all sappy on me now… Cripes, don't drop the lady-balls, Sword Girl! Not before the big day." She chided with a cheeky grin, milky eyes playful.

The taller girl felt her shoulders sag and she rolled her eyes, laughing quietly. "Yeah, spirits know you've got bigger lady-balls than me."

Both girls shared a laugh.

::::::::dOb::::::::

Mariko looked up from helping prepare breakfast as Katara nudged her, blinking past pesky strands of her fringe to see both uncle and nephew emerge from the tent in the middle of the encampment. Dropping the utensils, she straightened to grin and jog towards them to throw her arms around his uncle with a laugh. "I'm so glad to see you, Uncle!"

Once warm greetings were exchanged and breakfast was under way, the teens plus Iroh remained seated in a circle to discuss the reason they had sought out the retired general.

"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar that can possibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko began from his seat between Toph and Mariko.

Toph corrected, "You mean 'Fire Lord'."

"That's what I just said!" Zuko scowled slightly at her before adding to his uncle, "We need you to come with us."

"No, Zuko; it won't turn out well." Iroh reproached from having mulled over what he was asking.

"But Uncle, you're stronger than Ozai. You can defeat him, and we'll be there to help too." Mariko said.

"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and even though you believe otherwise, Mariko, I don't know if I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History will see it as 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." Iroh rationalized, nodding slightly at the crestfallen glimmer in her eyes.

"… And then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko wondered.

"No… someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart, and unquestionable honor: it has to be you, Prince Zuko." He stated.

He dropped his gaze and said, "'Unquestionable honor'…? But I've made so many mistakes…"

"Yes. You've struggled, and suffered, but you've always followed your own path. You were the one to restore your honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation." He said solemnly with a knowing look in his gold eyes.

Zuko nodded once, looking down again, "I'll try, Uncle." He glanced at his girlfriend as she took his hand that was on his right knee, squeezing her fingers gently when she offered a supportive smile.

"But what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asked for the sake of Katara, Sokka, Suki and herself.

Iroh turned his attention to the quartet, "Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies will be upon us… Aang has to defeat the Fire Lord." He added with a wistful and strangely determined twinkle in his eyes, "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would take Ba Sing Se… Only now do I see that it is my destiny to take it back from the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

Suki contributed, "That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus."

"Yes," Iroh nodded, looking to his nephew again. "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."

Zuko's gaze tightened at the mention of his sister, ignoring the reflexive squeeze on his knee from his fellow firebender, "I can handle Azula."

"Not alone… you will need help." Iroh reminded, throwing a look to his esteemed future niece.

"You're right. Mariko, you're coming with me." At said girl's slightly arched brow, he squeezed on her hand, "I've seen you fight, I know you can go toe-to-toe with her." The last thing he wanted was to endanger her, but reason dictated he wasn't to take on his sister with a light hand.

Mariko smirked impishly and released his knee, huffing, "If that's the case... Kat, you're coming with us." She ignored the bitter memory of seeing said princess electrocute the airbender, nodding to the waterbender. "I'm sure between the three of us we can knock Azula off her throne." She mused; a gifted healer like the younger girl would be needed if something were to go awry.

Katara recognized the fire in her friend's amber eyes and smiled ruefully at the notion, nodding. "It'd be my pleasure to help." She obliged.

"What about us? What's our destiny today?" Sokka asked, looking to Suki before resting his eyes on the apparent elder.

Iroh smiled in that strange manner that only elders could get away with, "What do you think it is?"

Sokka pondered before concluding, "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 that when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us." Toph agreed determinedly, pounding her fist into her palm.

It was after everything had been picked up and put away, bags packed and ready for departure, along with a few misty-eyed farewells mostly shared between the girls –Toph tried to worm her way out of getting in on the 'water-works', but Mariko knew her better to know she saw her milky eyes get misty once or twice between goodbyes—the group split into two. Sokka, Toph and Suki sat astride a green giant eel-hound, whereas Zuko, Mariko and Katara readied themselves to fly on Appa.

"So if I'm going to become Fire Lord after the war is over, what're you gonna do?" Zuko wondered of his uncle after saying goodbyes to the gathered members of the White Lotus, looking at him curiously.

Iroh smiled brightly, becoming his cheery self Mariko had grown accustomed to in the past, "After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to re-conquer my tea shop… And I'm going to play Pai-Sho there every day." He said, flipping one of the pieces he'd stowed in his sleeves, beaming at the two firebenders seated at the helm.

Mariko grinned lightly, nodding solemnly, "Good luck, and thank you, Uncle, for everything."

Katara chimed, "Goodbye, General Iroh."

"Goodbye, everyone; today, destiny is our friend… I know it." Iroh said quietly, even though his words confirmed her confidence that had won against her worry.

After sparing one final look between both parties, the teens dispersed, the borrowed eel-hound cantering away into the distance, and Appa flying high into the clear skies until he was only a speck marring the pale blue sky.

A/N: hey, second update within two months! that's something. lol.. sorry for the wait, guys. been juggling other things buzzing around in this cranium. -sigh- anyway, feedback is loved so feel free to express yourself. thanks, and later~

preview of the next chap:
"Your quarrel isn't with her, Azula… It's with me!"