The Gaang heads off for bed after Sokka and Suki do some exploring. Apparently, the White Lotus has been expecting them for several days (which seems highly improbable), and have a tent prepared. Zuko still hasn't emerged from his uncle's tent, and Katara is not waiting up for him.
Pakku is still up, but not waiting for Zuko. Pakku describes how he got Katara's grandmother to say "yes" to him this time, which Katara says is a "romantic" story, and offers no additional detail. Pakku also says that he's been to the south, and admits that he didn't truly understand what it meant for Katara to be the only waterbender until he arrived there (and notes that the place has been extensively rebuilt).
Pakku then gets to why there aren't any other waterbenders. He says that what the Fire Nation did is shameful, and Iroh will have to make sure that the Fire Nation pays reparations and punishes those responsible, saying this "quietly but with a great deal of force". He reiterates that he understands more about Katara now as well.
Katara's mind then goes back to Hama, and her desire for punishment sounds uncomfortably similar to Pakku's. Katara tells him part of the story about Hama and her bloodbending, save for the fact that Katara also knows it. Surprisingly enough, he's in awe of that power, even if he doesn't want it himself, and suggests that while Hama used it for evil, it might not be evil in and of itself, potentially being very useful for medicine. Katara's a bit surprised, having come to see bloodbending as evil as a result of Hama's atrocities, but realizes that she could use it to save a life. Of course, she doesn't share it with him just yet. Master Pakku, in a grandfatherly way, tells Katara to get her rest.
Katara goes into her friends' tent and gets some more teasing about Zuko being her boyfriend. She then not only vehemently insists otherwise, but adds that Zuko would be even less happy to hear this, since he's stressed over his impending reunion with Iroh. The others agree to cut it out, but Toph decides to point it out when Zuko calls Ozai "fatherlord" instead of "firelord." Sokka is confused that Katara and Zuko aren't going out (which isn't too surprising ,as a result of the author's almost obsessive desire to be canon compliant until something gets in the way, and the fic's glacial pacing). Toph, however, points out that Katara is telling the truth. Katara is annoyed at Toph for not speaking up sooner, and even more annoyed at Sokka for looking disappointed.
The Gaang talks about how glad they are to have powerful allies from the White Lotus, even if they don't have Aang, and Katara sleeps well for the first time in days.
The day of Sozin's Comet arriving comes, and Katara wakes up early for a small swim in a nearby stream so that she can cleanse herself of the worry and the stress. Katara notices Zuko and his uncle talking amicably. Zuko notices her and introduces her to Iroh, (resulting in a "handkiss" and handshake)who apparently knows her quite well from what Zuko told him about her.
Katara is somewhat acquainted with Iroh, but notices that he's not the same as the person she expected. He seems more irreverent, less threatening and even shorter than the warrior Katara met at the North Pole (which is quite an accomplishment, considering he'd been working out in prison). He has a reassuring smile, but Katara knows better than to get on his bad side. He's a general, but he's also quite likable.
Iroh makes Katara some tea and tells one of Zuko's jokes properly; it's quite funny, but Katara can only remember the punchline. He's about to share another when he sees Toph emerge from the tent, evidently having been "sexiled" by Sokka and Suki. I'm a bit surprised that Katara didn't make the connection (or at least, didn't share it out loud) between impending climactic battles in which death is a very real possibility and having sex with one's girlfriend.
As Iroh leaves, Zuko turns to Katara, telling her about the scene in which Iroh forgave him, and noting how Easily Forgiven he was. He feels less than completely at ease about being happy before the Final Battle, but Katara gives him a hug and says that it isn't wrong to feel that way. They break the cuddle before long, though, because the others are coming, and Toph likely wouldn't be able to resist teasing them, in spite of her promise (again, it's possible that Toph thinks she'll never get the chance again).
Katara stays and talks with the others when Iroh and Toph get back, and Toph reminisces about the beach house, including Katara's (ab)use of the commonsense stick, which she reveals that she left behind when they left Ember Island (perhaps a case in which an object is subject to Shoo Outthe Clowns). Katara's willing to be teased by Toph, since it's her way of stress relief.
Katara gets dressed in her Water Tribe clothes, including the Fingerless Gloves, but notices that they're getting small, especially in the "boob department." Katara's relatively happy about this, but decides to put it out of her mind for the time being, and consider wearing her Fire Nation clothes if she gets through this.
Katara sees Aunt Wu, and wonders if she's going to encounter everyone who she encountered in the past (incidentally, Aunt Wu was not present in this episode in canon). After they greet each other, Katara points out that she stayed in Aunt Wu's village for a few days after Aang stopped the volcano, and they became close once Katara stopped nagging her for fortune readings (perhaps a flashback to something that might have been shown, had the diary gone back to Book 1- if it had, the series would probably be millions of words long).
After Aunt Wu suggests she's here to "restore the balance," causing Katara to wonder if she and Iroh are going out, she says that she's been looking to see the outcome of the battle. Naturally, this is of great interest to Katara, so she's disappointed when Aunt Wu says that she can only see vague glimpses o the future. Aunt Wu does say that she knows that Aang will be coming to fight, and Katara's emotions are mixed- she's glad that Aang will be there to fight, worried about him, and angry that he didn't leave a note (Did it occur to her that he couldn't do that? This doesn't bode well for Aang's return).
Katara presses Aunt Wu for more details, but the most she gets is Aang swimming with a giant creature, which Katara supposes is quite like Aang. Katara had hoped to hear that she and all her friends will end up OK, and Aunt Wu, noticing this, reassures her that she'll be fine.
Katara finds everyone else sitting down to a delicious breakfast that someone outside the Gaang made. Aunt Wu introduces herself to those she hasn't met yet, a group that does not include Zuko, and she and Iroh "swat each other's arses," with Aunt Wu telling the "cheeky bugger" that all the stars have aligned. Zuko's confused about his uncle consulting a fortune teller, and his uncle says that he's consulted many of them (but Katara hopes that it's not the same way as Aunt Wu). Zuko considers fortune telling "a load of bison dung," and Sokka agrees.
Aunt Wu claims she knew Zuko would say that (those who announce their predictions after they come true should be taken with a grain of salt), and a long back and forth exchange at Zuko's expense ensues. Zuko ultimately concedes that her prediction is right, but calls it a lucky guess. Aunt Wu gives Iroh a peck on the cheek and leaves. Iroh cuts off Zuko's rant and gets back to the comet.
Iroh asks what the Gaang's plan is (honestly, they should have expected that the adults wouldn't have much more of an idea0, and Sokka says they no longer have one since Aang disappeared, although they're planning on attacking the air base.
Zuko tells Iroh that he's the only one who can defeat the "fatherlord," and Toph corrects him. Iroh then gives his canonical answer that it would lead to civil war, with Katara noting that the Fire Nation makes their problems the world's problems, and says only the Avatar can defeat the Fire Lord.
Zuko's understandably frustrated, since Aang's gone, but Iroh says that all the fortune tellers he consulted, including Aunt Wu, said that Aang will return, and that they'd even foreseen his disappearance. He says that instead of fighting Ozai, the rest of the heroes must stop the war, confusing Katara since she'd thought of defeating Ozai as the key to stopping the war. Iroh says that the war will end one way or another, but the heroes must stop the Fire Nation from destroying the Earth Kingdom, an effort that the White Lotus has planned for some time.
Unfortunately, the White Lotus won't be of much help against the airships, since none of them are very technically inclined (but neither are Sokka, Toph and Suki). Instead, the White Lotus decides to protect their main target first before taking down the airship fleet. Suki asks about the rest of the Earth Kingdom, and Iroh says that according to their spies (something Katara's surprised to hear that the White Lotus possesses), the fleet will head to Ba Sing Se first in tight formation, and once the city's destroyed (of course, thanks to Sokka, Toph and Suki, they never make it there), they'll fan out across the rest of the Earth Kingdom. Unfortunately, given how spread out the villages are, there's little Iroh and the White Lotus can do besides warn them with messenger hawks, a realistic complication. Suki's understandably perturbed at how desperate the situation is.
The other task is preventing Azula from becoming Fire Lord, which, thanks to Phoenix King Ozai, has become a meaningless title and a catalyst for Azula's heart-wrenching Sanity Slippage and Villainous Breakdown. Zuko, hearing about Ozai's ridiculous title, derisively says it's just like his father to do that.
According to Iroh, the fire sages don't want to coronate the too young and too crazy Azula, but have no choice, and will do so at sunset. Because they haven't done so yet, the position will go to someone else. Zuko believes Iroh will be the right person, but Iroh says that the Earth Kingdom would never accept him (a prominent general of the Fire Kingdom) as Fire Lord. The Gaang protests, especially Toph, the only person from the Earth kingdom. Toph' connection is weaker than Katara wants us to think, since Toph's never fought in the war, been to Ba Sing Se or even left Gaoling until Book 2, and is too young to remember the siege. Iroh reminds them of the Siege of Ba Sing Se, "600 days of misery," and he realizes that he wasn't meant to conquer the city, but liberateit.
He says that Zuko would make a good Fire Lord, since he has ideals, a pure heart and honor. Zuko says he's made mistakes, and while Iroh agrees in a teasing manner, he says that Zuko has the strength to remain true to himself and make amends, something he can do for the entire Fire Nation.
Zuko is willing to try, which involves facing and defeating Azula. Iroh's adamant that Zuko not do it alone, so Zuko enlists Katara's help, resulting in the return of "Team Liquidy hot."
Sokka, Suki and Toph volunteer to take care of the air ships, since Suki realizes that not all the hawks will get there in time, and even if they do, the airships burning fields at harvest time will have disastrous consequences. Toph believes Iroh will be on one of the airships, which means that the Gaang members who are on them will be able to help Aang (although it cuts both ways; Ozai can also fight against his attackers).
Katara angsts about splitting up the party, since the Gaang works best together. It's understandable, but it also misses the point; they all have their roles in one larger plan. Of course, she's happy to have Zuko on her side.
The third and final part of this chapter (I'm trying to do most Not Stalking Zuko chapters in three parts) will be devoted to the author's note.
What I liked
- Interesting look at punishing the Fire Nation
- Good examination of Iroh's duality.
- Convincing reasons why Iroh doesn't become Fire Lord.
- Realistic look at evacuating the Earth Kingdom.
What I didn't like
- Katara assuming the worst about Aang's departure
- Aunt Wu's presence was non-canonical and unnecessary.
- Katara angsting about having to split up.
