Katara hearing Iroh's desperation leapt into action. Taking Zuko's limp body from his arms, she laid him down and began to examine his chest. She could feel the water that filled his lungs, suffocating him. She reached out and without a word she began to bend the water inside. It swirled as she pulled and guided the water up through his throat. Soon Zuko's dry mouth began to part, a pool of water slithering out past his lips. And just as Katara bent it all out, Zuko violently coughed back to life. His entire body convulsing, shaking violently as he wheezed desperately for air. And just as quick as he sprang to life, he immediately passed out once more.
Iroh looked on with horror as his nephew's body went limp. "Zuko, Zuko! What's wrong with him?" Iroh asked frantically.
Katara leaned down pressing her ear to Zuko's chest listening and watching his chest slowly rise. She then sighed in relief as she turned to Iroh. "He's fine, he just passed out," she explained trying to ease the old general's mind. "I think... I think I can heal him, but we need to move him someplace safer. There is no telling when Azula may return," Katara said as she turned to Aang.
"I'll call Appa," Aang said as he pulled his bison whistle from his tunic. "Sokka when Appa arrives help me carry Zuko on the saddle," he said as he blew into the whistle, the faint squeal echoing through the forest, calling for his friend.
"Sure Aang," Sokka nodded in agreement as he watched over his sister. They all expected to hear Sokka argue or complain, but hearing him quickly agree showed them how serious he was taking this.
Katara then summoned some water into her hand, and began to circle and guide the water over Zuko. The water glowing brightly as she tried to mend his bruised skin and broken bones while she waited for Appa to arrive.
Iroh remained close to Zuko's side, his hand clutched in his own. But even though he was troubled, he was comforted knowing that the Avatar and his friends were willing to help. Even if they were former enemies to his nephew, they pushed that aside to come to his aid and Iroh couldn't thank them enough.
Soon Appa finally did arrive and Aang and Sokka carried Zuko on his back. And Just as quickly as he landed, they all loaded up and took off. Fearing Azula may ambush them at any moment. Iroh would not leave Zuko's side as they took off keeping his hand linked as they flew. Aang doing his best to keep Appa steady as they looked for a place to set down. They end up spotting a small abandoned town and landed by one of the shacks near a well.
They took Zuko inside so Katara could heal him, while Aang and Sokka helped fetch the water from the well. Iroh wanted to continue to stay by Zuko's side, but he resigned himself and remained out, letting the young waterbender work in peace. He decided to brew some tea to ease his anxious nerves, starting a small fire as he fetched his tea set. It didn't take long for the welcoming aroma to fill the air as he brewed.
Once Sokka and Aang brought over the water pails they set them aside next to Katara. "There you go you should be all set," Sokka said with a huff as he put the bucket down.
"Thanks," said with a soft smile but Aang and Sokka could tell something was wrong as she looked uneasy or uncomfortable.
"Is something wrong?" Aang asked concerned.
"No, well sort of," Katara admitted as she looked down at Zuko. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable looking at him. Whenever she did her eyes landed on his scar the only thing she saw was suffering. The suffering of her people, the suffering of everyone around the world at the hands of the Fire Nation, and the pain that his people had caused her and her family. She almost regretted agreeing to heal him. "Is this the right thing to do?" she asked regrettably.
"What do you mean?" Aang asked confused.
"I mean Zuko has hurt so many people, including us... I'm just not sure we should help him is all," she said averting her eyes knowing she was going to be judged.
"But you said you would," Aang retorted as he looked to Katara.
"I know I did, I just... apart of me just doesn't want to, apart of me feels like I shouldn't," Katara said as she still couldn't meet his gaze.
Aang could see the struggle Katara was in, the battle she was facing inside her heart between what was good and what was just. He sighed as he looked up to her. "Katara I know Zuko has done a lot of bad things. He's hurt us and hunted us around the world, but he's still a human being. A human being who deserves a second chance. A chance to make things right. And if we don't help him we are stealing that chance away from him."
Katara listened taking in Aang's words shaking her head as she looked to him. "How do you know he will?" she asked as she looked to Zuko her eyes meeting his scar.
"I believe there is good in him, we just need to give him a chance to show it," Aang said hopefully. He still remembered when Zuko saved him from Zhao, though that could have been for his own interests in capturing him himself. But he also remembered what he did at the north pole. Though he watched through the eyes of the ocean spirit. He saw him fight Zhao to protect the spirits and then reach a hand out to his enemy. He could have let the spirit take Zhao but he still offered his hand. Seeing this he knew there was good in him he just needed a chance.
Katara finally nodded as she turned back to Aang. "Okay Aang I'll help him," she said with a soft smile.
"Thanks, Katara," Aang said smiling gratefully.
"Don't thank me yet," she said as her smile turned smug. "You and Sokka need to remove Zuko's clothes and armor so I can heal him," she said making the two boys cringe. "Now get to it chop chop," she ordered making Sokka shiver as he glared at Aang. While he just gave him a sheepish grin as they did their best to remove the blood-stained armor.
Meanwhile, as Iroh finished brewing his tea he noticed the small girl who was sitting by the fire. Until today he had never seen her before. And looking to her face he noticed a similar annoyed look he's seen countless times gracing his nephew's face. "Would you like a cup? I find sharing tea helps bring people together," Iroh asked as he held the clay pot over the fire.
Toph was silent but nodded her head in response. Iroh smiled as he poured the tea into two cups and offered her one. Which she silently accepted. "You seem a little too young to be traveling with the Avatar," Iroh commented noting her noticeable young appearance.
"You seem a little too old," she retorted a little annoyed which just made Iroh laugh. "Perhaps I am."
Hearing him laugh put her a bit at ease as she turned to him slightly. "I know what you're thinking ... I look like I can't handle myself."
He shook his head as he looked to her. "I wasn't thinking that."
"You wouldn't even let me pour my own cup of tea!" she quickly argued.
"I poured your tea because I wanted to, and for no other reason," Iroh answered as he brought his cup to his lips taking a small sip.
Toph sighed her blank eyes looking down to the ground. "People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me, but I can take care of myself, by myself," she said for some reason feeling comfortable, able to open up to him.
"You sound like my nephew," Iroh said a sadness lingering in his tone that Toph easily picked up on. "Always thinking you need to do things on your own, without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you. Not that I love you, I just met you," He said with a soft chuckle getting Toph to let out a small laugh.
"Well umm tell me more about your nephew, what is he like?" Toph asked curiously not having much history of him like the rest of the team.
"He's a complicated man," Iroh said as he began telling the young earth bender what he could about Zuko. About his struggles and the difficult times he had faced, and how they changed him. Toph listened intently becoming more sympathetic to the banished prince. As she has only heard from her friends, that he was just a scarred freak that chased them around. But just like her, he was just misunderstood.
"So this was the first you've seen him in a while?" she asked as he nodded his head.
"I know he didn't want me around him right now, but if he needed me, I wanted to be there," he sighed as he turned to the shack where his nephew was getting healed in.
"Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it," Toph said as she finished her tea and returned the cup to him. "Thank you."
Iroh happily accepted the cup. "My pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights," he said which made Toph smile but she shook her head.
"No, thank you for what you said. It helped me," she corrected as she stood up feeling the trio leaving the shack.
"I'm glad," he said as he too stood up seeing the Avatar, the warrior and waterbender approaching.
Toph then turned around briefly to face him. "Oh, and about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him too," she said before jogging over to join her friends.
Iroh silently nodded as he braced himself for news about his nephew. Seeing them all approach Katara being the first to speak. "Zuko is going to be fine," she said those few simple words immediately eased his aching heart. "He was indeed badly injured... a lot of bruising, broken bones and many of them didn't look recent. But I managed to heal them" she said though she wasn't completely happy about it. Even after Aang talked to her she still had reservations, but she pushed that part of her down and healed him regardless.
"Thank you, thank you for helping him master waterbender," Iroh said a large grateful smile tugging at his lips as he bowed to her.
"It's Katara," she corrected but smiled and bowed back to him nonetheless.
"Thank you master Katara, Avatar and you as well young warrior," he said as he bowed to the rest of the team. "I also wanted to offer my condolences especially to you," he said turning to Sokka. "We never got a chance to speak after what happened at the north pole... I wanted to apologize for any part I played for what happened, and for what you had lost. I am truly sorry," Sokka was taken back at Iroh's apology, the wound of losing Yue hadn't yet truly healed.
Katara wanted to put a hand on her brother trying to comfort him but he refused her aid, shaking his head as he looked to Iroh. "No it's okay... you tried to protect the moon spirit, if it wasn't for you we wouldn't have one now," Sokka said still a little downcast. "You helped Yue fulfill her destiny and become the moon, and for that... I'm grateful," he forced himself to say, even though in his heart he would rather Yue by his side. He still deeply missed her and blamed himself for her ascension.
Iroh nodded his head in understanding, knowing too well the pain he felt. He reached out and offered his arm placing it on the boy's shoulder. Which Sokka was appreciative of. Katara then looked to her brother with sympathy, as she too hadn't talked much to him about what happened.
"You know general Iroh... umm Aang still needs a firebending master. Maybe you could come with us and teach him," Katara suggested to Aang's silent horror. Though it was true he needed a firebending master, he was still not comfortable yet. Memories of him burning Katara flashed in his mind.
"Thank you for the offer, but I must decline," Iroh to Aang's relief. The old general now approaching the young airbender. "My nephew needs me by his side, more than you need me," he explained. "I believe he still intends to capture you, and even though I don't believe that is the right path. I will still aid him on his mission."
Aang was not reassured by the thought of Zuko still hunting him. Even after what they did to help him it seemed nothing would change. Iroh saw his disappointment and placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a comforting smile. "But do not be discouraged Avatar, you have an important destiny. But one that you do not need to fulfill on your own. You have wonderful friends who can help you lift this heavy burden. And I know that you will succeed, where we have failed to bring peace... and an end to this war."
Aang smiled taking his words to heart. "Thank you, Iroh," Aang said as he looked to his friends that stood by his side encouraging him to keep going. "I just hope when I do begin my firebending training, that I have a wise master like you," he said as he bowed to him.
"I know you will," Iroh said with a knowing smile as his gaze turned to the shack. "Thank you all for your help, but now I must tend to my nephew. I just hope when we meet again it's on better circumstances," he said as they all said their goodbyes and he watched as they flew away on their bison.
Soon Iroh made his way to the shack still anxious to see his nephew. When he made his way inside he looked down at the young prince sleeping soundly, a sheet draped over his body. Iroh softly thankful that the Avatar and his friends were able to save him. He then knelt down by Zuko's side watching him over as he slept. The sun that once was high in the sky now setting beyond the horizon bringing darkness with it.
Iroh was now hunched over barely able to keep his eyes open. But as he continued to watch over Zuko, the young prince began to stir. His fluttering eyes open, an aching groan escaping his lips, trying to sit up. "Uncle? What's going on?" he asked his mind still in a daze as he held his throbbing head.
Iroh couldn't contain himself as he reached out grabbing hold of Zuko and hugging him tightly. Zuko at first was taken back by the sudden gesture. but feeling his Uncle's tears drip onto his skin everything started to come back. Zuko then wrapped his arms around him hugging him close, comforting him letting him know that he was here. No words were exchanged between them. The only thing that could be heard through their silence was the soft sobs that escaped Iroh's lips, for the son he had almost lost.