Heat- Chapter 66:
Zuko starts to rush forward but stands still when he realizes what had happened.
“Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know, I am so, so, sorry, Uncle. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you. I left you and betrayed you. But I'll-”
Zuko was sobbing at this point and feels them get harsher as Iroh pulls him close and hugs him tight, a few tears slipping from his eyes too.
“How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me,” Zuko says, choking on his tears.
Iroh clutches him tighter. “I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you might lose your way with me gone.”
Zuko looks off to the side for a moment. “I didn’t lose my way but that’s only because I had friends.”
Iroh lets him go to look him in the eye. “Friends can only help, Zuko. You did it on your own. And you did it by yourself. And I am so happy you found your way here.
Zuko lets out a wet laugh. “It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent.”
Iroh grins. “Like the scent those boys left on you, no?”
Zuko flushes. “Uncle, please no.”
Iroh laughs. “Just know if those boys ever hurt you, they will know why I am known as the Dragon of the West.”
Zuko smiles. “I would expect nothing less.”
***
A squirrel runs along a branch before cutting to an aerial view of the rock formation.
Birds fly past as Momo and Aang sleep on the rock formation.
Aang slowly wakes up and yawns.
He drowsily sits up and notices something.
Aang squints at something in the distance. “Wait. Is it just me, or are those mountains getting bigger?”
Momo chitters, grabbing a berry to eat it.
Aang bends down and uses airbending to launch himself up.
A tall tree that Aang lands on is his support to gaze across the vast forest.
As he looks forward, Momo flies around and lands on his shoulder.
Aang turns around to show a wake behind the ‘island’.
Aang jumps off the tree, panicking on his face. “They're not getting larger, They're getting closer! The whole island is moving!”
Aang leaps out from the brush and jumps into the water.
Aang dives down as Momo lands on a branch looking down at where Aang entered the water and chitters.
Aang swims down to inspect the ‘island’.
Suddenly, a giant paw moves past him.
Aang hovers for a moment in shock before swimming up to the surface.
Aang emerges, gasping for breath, and Momo lands nearby.
“It's amazing, Momo! The biggest animal in the world! I've gotta to swim around and find its face,” Aang gushes.
Momo flies above Aang, who is swimming in the water below.
***
Zuko sighs. “I hate to say this but Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord.”
Toph frowns. “You mean the Fire Lord.”
Zuko huffs. “That's what I just said!”
Iroh gives him a look before thinking. “Hmmm….”
“We need you to come with us!” Zuko insists.
Iroh puts down his tea cup. “No, Zuko, it won't turn out well.”
Zuko continues to speak. “You can beat him! And we'll be there to help.”
Iroh sighs heavily. “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.”
Zuko thinks for a minute. “And then….then you would come and take your rightful place on the throne?”
Iroh smiles at him. “No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko.”
Zuko briefly looks away. “Unquestionable honor? But I've made so many mistakes.”
Iroh nods. “Yes, you have. 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.”
Zuko looks down. “I'll try, Uncle.’
“Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?” Toph inquires.
Iroh purses his lips. “Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that 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.”
Realization dawns on Suki’s face. “That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus.”
Iroh smiles. “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.
Zuko huffs. “I can handle Azula.”
Iroh shakes his head. “Not alone. You'll need help.”
Zuko nods. “You're right. Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?”
Katara grins maliciously. “It would be my pleasure.”
Sokka interrupts them. “What about us? What is our destiny today?”
Iroh looks at him, knowing glint in his eyes. “What do you think it is?”
Sokka ponders it for a second. “I think that, even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet.”
Toph nods. “And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us.”
Jet grins. “We’ll kick some Melon Lord butt.”
Toph and Jet fist bump and the heavy mood lessens slightly.
Toph and Suki board an eel hound, careful not to make it angry.
Jet, Sokka and Piandao are on the ground beside it.
Piandao pats the Eel Hounds side before handing Jet a map. “Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel hound. The air ship base is on a small island just off the Earth Kingdom shore. You should be able to intercept the fleet within a day's journey.”
Sokka bows. “Thank you, Master.”
Jet salutes lazily before jumping on the eel hound.
Sokka hugs Piandao tightly.
Zuko watches from on top of Appa, next to Katara.
He was terrified.
What is he never saw these people again?
“Wait!” Zuko yells.
He jumps off Appa and goes to the eel hound.
He goes to Toph first.
He holds the young girl tightly in his arms.
“Please don’t die,” Zuko whispers. “I’ve always wanted a good younger sister.”
Toph smiles, but there are tears in her eyes. “Thanks for being such a good big brother.”
Suki grabs Zuko tightly. “I’m gonna miss you, princess.”
Zuko laughs wetly into her neck. “I’m gonna miss you too, Suki.”
And finally came the hard part.
He goes up to Jet and Sokka.
Sokka looks at him with one look and surges forward to kiss him. “We’re going to make it.”
“You better,” Zuko responds.
Jet hugs him and presses his lips to the top of his head. “We’re going to win, sweetheart. I know it.”
Zuko nods shakily, unable to say anything.
Piandao smiles at him gently as the rest get on the eel hound again.
Zuko walks over to Iroh after hugging Piandao.
Zuko clears his throat. “So if I'm going to be Fire Lord after the war is over, what are you going to do?”
Iroh looks wistfully into the sky. “After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to re-conquer my tea shop, and I'm going to play Pai Sho every day.”
He flips a pai sho piece into Zuko’s hand.
Zuko hugs Iroh close. “Good. You deserve it.”
Zuko gets back on Appa.
The two groups nod at each other, ready for what’s about to come.
Katara smiles gratefully down at Iroh. “Goodbye, General Iroh.”
Iroh smiles at all the children looking at him and feels his heart shatter.
Because they were all children in the end.
Orphaned, abused, neglected, and oppressed kids.
“Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it,” Iroh whispers.
The eel hound sets off followed soon after by Appa.
The White Lotus wave the kids goodbye.
“They’ll make it,” Piandao says to Iroh.
Iroh smiles.
“I know they will. They must.”