Chapter 3


“Wake up Katara, Aang and Sokka will be back any minute.” said Toph, nudging her shoulder. Katara sat up and sighed, ‘so it begins…’ she could feel a headache coming her way and rubbed her head. They started down the hallway, walking slowly, not talking, until Toph said as they past Aang’s room, “So, any idea on what we’re going to say? I don’t know about you, but I think as soon as we say Zuko’s on the boat, we’ll have a bone-headed battle between boys.” She jerked a thumb at the door to the bedroom.
Katara had the same worries. “I know, I’m afraid that may happen too.” she said, scratching the back of her head.
“Pfft! I’m not scared,… but I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” Toph said in defiance.
They waited in the kitchen, tapping fingers and, every once in a while, looking out the window for any sign of her brother and friend. They finally saw Aang and Sokka coming on the bridge. Katara ran out and hugged both of them, happy to see their smiling faces and unharmed bodies.
“It’s good to see you back safety!” she said, smiling. She stalled for the right moment to tell them what happened there, ‘Or maybe I just don’t want to say it and am procrastinating…’ she thought.
“Find out anything interesting?” Toph asked, crossing her arms. Sokka smiled.
“Yes! Plenty, the Fire Lord is going down!” Sokka said animatedly. Aang nodded then looked at Katara.
“We also found you guys some new clothes!” he said, pulling out some cloth from behind his back, he grinned a crooked smile. Katara laughed and took the robes away from him to look at them. There were very pretty, Katara couldn’t wait to try them out.
“Thanks guys! Here Toph,” she said handing her the outfit in her size, “this one’s yours.” Toph took the clothes and swung them over her shoulder without much care.
“So, everything here was good? Nothing happened apparently?” Sokka asked. Looking around the ship with a still animated face. Katara’s face fell and she held the clothes at her side. She knew she had to tell them now. Toph cleared her throat and started.
“Not exactly…” she grimaced. Aang looked from Toph to Katara, looking for an answer. Puzzlement and worry showing on his face.
Katara took over, “ Well, you see,…we have a new member of the team.” Sokka and Aang looked at each other and shrugged.
“Well, who is it?” Sokka asked, almost worriedly.
Katara sighed, “Well, it’s actually two new people…” she rolled her eyes and tried to lighten the mood by laughing, but it didn’t work.
“Just tell them Katara.” Toph said, tapping her foot.
“Zuko and his uncle, Iroh, showed up here shortly after you left.” she said looking away, but mater-of-factly. The response was immediate. Sokka stood ridged, then pulled Katara up in front of his face.
“Where is he, Katara? Where is he?”
Aang didn’t move though, it was like he couldn’t comprehend it. When he suddenly pulled Sokka away and asked Katara, “Why did you let him stay? Why is he here?!” He was looking her straight in the eyes and Katara didn’t know what to say.
“Well, he’s hurt, Iroh and….Zuko just came up with his uncle, I healed him…Iroh I mean…He’s pretty bad guys.” Toph stood between them.
“Look, Iroh’s hurt. He’s getting better and don’t you worry about Angry Jerk. He hasn’t tried anything. We’ve got no choice but to help them.”
Suddenly, they heard a door creak open and Zuko came out to the deck and walked up towards them, resentment on his face, but also determined. Glares followed him. Sokka looked vivid, like a tiger ready to pounce on an enemy. Then Zuko bowed to each of them in turn, it was as if  everything had turned upside down. Sokka still stood in a rigid stance though.
“Look, you all have right to hate me.” he spoke slowly and clearly, as though it was hard for him to say, “ But I think I can help you-” Zuko started but was interrupted by Sokka.
“You have no right to come here and-”Sokka started to yell.
Zuko interrupted him. “Think about what you’re saying peasant! I’m royalty here, not just some refugee or banished prince. I CAN GET YOU LOCKED UP IN JAIL IF I WANTED TO!” Zuko bellowed. “That’s not way I came here though.”
Katara just stood there not knowing what to do, everything was quiet, no one moved, no one blinked, and everyone was staring at Zuko, who was staring at everyone in turn. When his glare came to her though, he quickly went back to glare at Sokka. Aang stepped forward, in front of Zuko.
“Why do you want to help? Why are you helping us?” he asked, as though this was some test.
“Because I’ve changed. I’m ashamed of what I did.” Zuko said, looking at the ground, but Katara swore she saw his eyes flicker her way.
Aang sighed. “Very well, you can stay here.” Sokka’s jaw dropped and Aang gave him a look of ‘we have no choice.’
“Thank you Avatar.” Zuko said, nodding his head again.
“My name’s Aang.” Aang said curtly as he turned to leave. Katara noticed the glare between the two as Aang passed.
Katara almost felt as if a weight had been lifted off her, that was over with. She knew tensions would still run high, but at least that was over with. She looked at her new clothes again.
“I’m going to change and then we can all eat breakfast together… Zuko,” she looked over at the prince. “Is Iroh well enough to come out and eat with us?” He seemed reluctant as he told her that his uncle would be able to join. She wondered why but didn’t ask. “Good, you go get him and everyone meet in the kitchen.”
Katara felt unease pick at her every step she took now. She had changed and was heading for the kitchen, when she heard Toph and Iroh laughing though, she relaxed. Maybe everything would turn out okay. She opened the door as Iroh was up making tea for everyone, he looked quite a bit better but she saw he had a bit a of limp and he looked in need of a good night‘s sleep, other than that though, he seemed fine. Zuko and Sokka were glaring at opposite walls. Toph was sitting by Aang who started to look as if he was glad the old man was with them. Aang looked at her and waved. She waved back, ‘Looks as though Iroh knows how to lighten up a mood…’ she thought pleasantly.
“So what’s for breakfast?” Aang asked, “Sokka and I hardly got a decent meal out there. Well, maybe Sokka did. Everything was meat!”
“Well, are pancakes okay with everyone?” she said, trying to keep a healthy conversation going. Sokka grunted and Toph and Aang nodded there heads.
“Glad to see the Lady in a good mood!” said Iroh, “It sure makes a difference. Pancakes sound great! Anything sounds great!” She smiled at him, he was talking about yesterday when she had her spat with Zuko. Iroh started pouring out the tea for everyone, humming slightly and being very polite. She was glad to have him there, he wanted to keep the mood light and healthy as much as she. Sokka looked at his drink closely, as if he expected it to be poisoned. Toph drank some and everyone seemed convinced that it wasn’t. Katara got to work at making the food.
“You look good in the new outfit Katara.” Aang said. Katara had put her hair down  and she wore the Fire Nation red silk skirt and the shirt, which showed some of her belly. She had also taken off her mothers necklace and left it on her dresser. It felt weird not having it around her neck. It reminded her of the time period when Zuko had it with him.
“Thanks Aang. Toph, you better go change too. The food will be ready by the time you come back.” Toph set down her cup and left, leaving a place for Iroh to sit down with a heavy grunt. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, with the exception of Zuko, even Sokka was starting to calm down and drink some of his tea. Zuko still was staring at a wall. His uncle noticed and nudged Zuko with his elbow. Zuko shrugged it off.
“You all seem to know Zuko and my names, but I’m afraid we don’t have the pleasure of knowing all of yours.” Iroh said, looking around the table, smiling. Then he turned to Katara, “I’m I right to think that your name is Katara? That seems to be what everyone calls you.” she laughed.
“Yes, I’m Katara. And you of course know Toph.”
“Ahh, so that’s her name. I never caught it before.” said Iroh.
“I’m Aang.” said Aang holding out his hand. Iroh took it.
“So the Avatar finally has a name!” Iroh laughed. He looked at Sokka, who was drinking tea. “And you young man?”
Sokka stopped, a little uncertain. Katara saw Aang kick his foot and Sokka finally spoke up. “I’m Katara’s older brother, Sokka.”
Iroh nodded and poked Zuko in the ribs again, this time harder, trying to make him interact with everyone. Zuko just nodded to everyone then stared at the table. Iroh rolled his eyes and sighed quietly.
Toph came in wearing her new Fire nation robes and took a seat on the opposite side of Aang and Katara pulled the pancakes from the fire and started passing them out to everyone.
“So, Sokka. What did you guys find out?” She asked. And she sat down in the only seat left, the one opposite Zuko.
“Well, we found a lot of citizens are under strict rules, including the students in the schools. We think we may be able to get some help from some of them on Invasion Day.” he said seriously.
She saw Zuko clench his fist, as though as was trying not to yell or stand up. Katara realized that Zuko still needed time and talking about the Invasion Plan wasn’t the best idea.
She quickly changed the subject, “Hmmm,….maybe, we’ll have to talk about it later. So Iroh,” she said, while Sokka gave her a raised eyebrow, “Aang still needs a Firebending teacher.” she implied. Aang’s head lifted and he smiled at the old general.
“Hey, yea! What do you say Iroh?”
“I would be honored.” He said with a slight bow. Suddenly Zuko stood up and stumped for the door.
“I’m finished.” he barked. Katara looked to see he hadn’t eaten any of his food.
“but,…” she said as the metal door slammed. Everyone, other than Toph, looked at the door. Sokka and Aang with impatience and anger. But Katara felt confused, ‘what’s his problem?” she thought. Iroh sighed.
“You’ll have to be patient with my nephew, this was a very hard decision for him. But I believe he’s changed for good this time.”
this time.
The words meant more to Katara than anyone else knew. She still hadn’t told anyone about what happened in that cave, and she planned to keep it that way. She did get questions though, from Aang. She had always excused them with answers like, nothing happened, or we didn’t talk to each other, and that doesn’t matter, you’re safe.
She expected Iroh to get up and follow Zuko, to go talk to him, but he sat there eating, as though nothing had happened. She looked at the door again then turned back to her plate, shaking her head. Katara only picked at what was left of her food though, and she found herself thinking of the what-if’s again;
What-if I had healed Zuko’s scar?
What-if Iroh joined Azula?
What-if Aang had died?
Those questions bothered her so often that she didn’t really think about them anymore…yet they scared her thoughts, she wondered if she would ever be able to rid of them.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by a hand on her shoulder. Katara sat bolt upright and looked at a blue arrowed hand, she followed it up to Aang’s face, he looked concerned.
“You all right? You didn’t say much during breakfast.” she glanced around and saw everyone else had left.
“I’m fine, just thinking.” she lied and he gave her a weak smile.
“Okay, well, if you’re sure, let’s go meet everyone out on the deck.”
“Alright.” she said reluctantly. He walked out to the deck and she followed, her mood slowly recovering.
As she made it outside, Sokka waved for them to join their group huddle. She could tell was still in a grumpy mood but put on a smile. She could tell cause he was being less over the top and optimistic about his plan. Which he was normally found his plans to be of utmost brilliance, now he just told it as it was.
He started to explain, “ Well, with Iroh here, we are going to need to get him a new disguise, everyone will be looking for him, and a think the Fire Nation are more aware of what the Fire Lords brother looks like than the people of the Earth Kingdom did.”
“Yes, I’m afraid Sokka’s correct. And if I’ll be teaching Aang how to Firebend, we may want to be off the boat with Aang having less experience.” Iroh said with a slight chuckle.
“Yeah, I don’t know about you guys,” Toph said jabbing a thumb at Aang, “ but Twinkletoes here may set something on fire and I’m sick and tired of smelling ash all the time.” Iroh laughed again at the name “Twinkletoes”.
“What about Zuko? Shouldn’t he get a disguise too?” she asked. Sokka folded his arms.
“Are you crazy Katara? There’s no way he can come out in public.” he said matter-of-factly. She was ready to smack the back of his head for being rude when he continued, “He’s the prince here, everyone knows what he looks like here, and he doesn’t exactly look like everyone else.” she knew he was talking about his scar, Sokka turned back to everyone else, “ So now we just need to figure out who will stay here.”
Katara knew Iroh had to go, and heaven forbid they leave Sokka there. Toph would be angry if she had to stay on the boat again, and Aang had to go because he knew the most about the Fire Nation from when he was there a hundred years ago. Which meant only one thing.
“I’ll stay.” she groaned.