The fireside meeting ends, as time is short. The Gaang does an "emergency repack," leaving their heavier stuff with the White Lotus. Zuko goes to talk with his uncle for a moment, trusting Katara with the packing. Katara's amazed at how far they've come since the Western Air Temple, although the main problem was her trusting him.
Katara does a basic repack and splits the first aid kit from the house into two. In spite of this, Katara's overcome with worry over being unable to help or heal them. She tries to convince herself that Toph and Sokka have Suki, but then worries about what will happen to them if something happens to her.
Katara acknowledges that splitting up is necessary; Zuko has to deal with Azula and Sokka has to deal with the airships, and Katara wants to ensure Zuko doesn't go alone while Toph and Suki help Sokka. Of course, Katara doesn't like it, and blames Aang for going off on his own, assuming that he chose to do so.
Katara realizes she has to be strong for the others, and notices that of the group, Suki is the only one actually packing. Toph's sitting around, unusually quiet, while Sokka's polishing his sword and muttering to himself, reminding Katara of BITI and Sokka's solo about sword polishing. So Katara decides to keep it together for them, and sits down next to Toph, who's looking at nothing in particular (make that nothing at all- she's blind) and "looks so young" before giving her a hand on the shoulder. Toph responds in kind, putting her arm around Katara's middle. Katara hugs her back but doesn't say anything, not seeing the need, and neither does Sokka when he joins in. Katara "mothers" those two the most apart from Aang (this again?) and tries to reassure them that things will be OK as she ruffles their hair, even if she doesn't believe it. Suki does, though, and backs up Katara, resulting in "a moment of understanding."
Zuko comes in, and despite his dismay at seeing the Gaang in another group hug, he joins in. Katara promises not to ask the spirits for anything if they all get through today, a common desperate promise from people that they only keep until the next time they need divine intervention.
Piandao comes in, but isn't invited to the broken group hug. He's here for business, giving Zuko some papers and telling him he's arranged for transportation so that Zuko and Katara can take Appa. He has them come outside and shows them the information he's gathered about the airship fleet, including a blueprint (which puts the lie to the claim that he doesn't know much about them) that Sokka uses to determine their weak spots. Piandao, impressed, shows them where they need to go, and says they can get there in time.
Of course, they'll have to leave soon, so Piandao decides to wrap things up. He's not much for inspirational speeches, but says that it's OK to be scared, and he knows that Sokka, his student and the one with the biggest responsibility, is courageous enough to overcome that. Sokka, evidently not fully convinced, asks what if he fails, and Katara notes that him confiding such a thing in Piandao says a great deal about their trust in each other.
Piandao says that Sokka has a big heart, and says that cowardice is due to not having enough love or not loving well- standard The Power of Friendship and The Power of Love fare, but it goes against the White Lotus' belief in removing attachments. Piandao believes that one man or women defending those he loves- he has Sokka in mind, and thinks of Suki and Katara as the people in question for him- is as strong as many people.
Piandao then shows Sokka his mount, a giant eel lizard named Doris that Piandao did not name.
Katara does a standard "I'm not saying goodbye; I'm saying see you later," internal monologue, and is astonished that it's already time for everyone to leave. Piandao gives them a moment to say their goodbyes, leaving under the pretense of getting one last map for Sokka.
Suki offers to look after Sokka and Toph for Katara, while Zuko lifts Toph off the ground while saying goodbye to her. After Zuko's done, Toph and Katara exchange a hug, and Katara notes that in spite of how frequently they argue (not so much in this fic or at this point in canon; I wonder if this means that Toph and Katara worked out most of their issues after "The Runaway"), at times, they understand each other without saying anything.
Suki gives Zuko a hug and Zuko and Sokka exchange a guy hug, which is a big thing for them. Katara then says goodbye to Sokka, and is unable to do anything but blink back tears as he hugs her. They then do the standard insisting to each other that everything will be fine.
Katara then thinks about Sokka, and how they've always been together except for two occasions- when the Hei Bai took him and when he stayed at Piandao's for a week- and how Sokka's been the only constant for Katara since they left with Aang, with Katara coming to appreciate even his quirks and flaws. Naturally, Katara's upset about being apart for the biggest day of their lives, even if her angst is somewhat overplayed.
Piandao returns with a map, which shows Sokka where the air force base is. Sokka, Suki and Toph prepare to climb on Doris, and before they do, Sokka says goodbye to Piandao with a Fire Nation-style bow, along with a hug, much to Piandao's surprise.
Sokka's group is ready to go, but they're waiting for Katara and Zuko to be ready. Katara and Zuko head to Appa, whom Iroh is affectionately patting.
Pakku insists that Katara say goodbye to her grandfather, so Katara gives him a hug and gets a tight squeeze in return. He reminds her of strong waterbending forms and helps her get on Appa, even though she doesn't want the help, since after a year, she's used to it by now. Elsewhere, Zuko and Iroh are talking and have a hug. Zuko asks Iroh what he'll do after the war, and Iroh says that he'll reconquer his tea shop, much to Sokka's amusement.
The Gaang's two groups say goodbye to each other, and Iroh declares that destiny is their friend before they part ways. Katara looks back at the White Lotus members, as well as her brother and her other friends, and prays to Tui and La that this isn't the last time she'll see them
Zuko, sensing Katara's worry (from Katara's internal monologue, it's to the point at which it would be evident in her body language, if not her actions), insists that everyone will be OK. Katara says she knows- in actuality, she chooses to believe, and is aware there's a difference- but finds saying goodbyes hard. Zuko agrees, noting that Fire Nation people aren't into hugging, and that if he seems "huggable" to Katara, it's because she and the others on him. Katara appreciates being teased out of worrying, and responds in kind about what Zuko caught from her, before bending a cloud around Appa to proceed undetected..
The fic has now gotten through "The Old Masters." Since it's a good stopping point, it's where I'll leave off for now.
What I liked
- The goodbyes were appropriately touching.
- So were Katara's thoughts about her brother Sokka.
What I didn't like
- Katara angsting about splitting up.
- Katara being quick to blame Aang for disappearing.
