June kicked her chair and sat back.
"Oh, great, it's Prince Pouty. Where's your creepy grandpa?"
"He's my uncle." Zuko replied. "And he's not here."
"I see you worked things out with your girlfriend." June said, referring to Katara.
"I'm not his girlfriend!"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"Okay, okay." June says. "Sheesh. I was only teasing. So what do you want?"
"I need your help finding the Avatar." Zuko mumbled.
"Hm." June scoffed. "Doesn't sound too fun."
"Does the end of the world sound like more fun?" Zuko growled.
"Alright. Alright." She sighed and eyed Sokka and I.
"You dating this chump?" She asked. "You're way too pretty to be dating him. Maybe you should get with me."
I blushed. "I-"
"Let's go." June stood up as we followed her out.
"Can you believe what she just said?" Sokka mumbled. "I'm obviously the hot one in this relationship."
I playfully rolled my eyes. "Yeah, you are."
We walked out to see the shirshu and Appa growling at each other.
"Nyla." June called out, feeding her a steak. "Whose my little snuffly wuffly?"
"Okay," June says. "So who's got something with the Avatar's scent on it?"
"I have Aang's staff." Katara said, handing the staff to June, as June held it out for the shirshu to sniff.
The shirshu smelled the staff as she started walking around in circles before stopping and covering her nose.
"Well, what does that mean?" Zuko asked.
"It means your friend's gone." June replied.
"We know he's gone." Toph says. "That's why we're trying to find him."
"No, I mean he's gone gone. He doesn't exist."
"What do you mean Aang doesn't exist?" Sokka asks. "Do you mean he's, you know, dead?"
"Nope," June replies. "We could find him if he were dead. Oh, it's a real head scratcher. See ya."
"Helpful." I scoffed. "Real helpful."
"Wait," Zuko stopped June. "I have another idea. There's only one other person in this world who can help us face the Firelord. I'll be right back with a smell sample."
Zuko came back with Iroh's smelly sandal.
"You saved your uncle's sweaty sandal?" Sokka asked.
I covered my mouth, trying not to throw up.
"I think it's kind of sweet." Toph says.
The shirshu smelled the sandal. "Let's do this."
We flew on Appa and caught up with June and the shirshu.
"We're going to Ba Sing Se?" Zuko asked.
"Your uncle is somewhere beyond the wall. Nyla is getting twitchy, so it can't be too far. Good luck." June winks at me. "My offer still stands."
"Sorry, I'm sticking with my boyfriend." I smiled.
"Suit yourself." She said as she left.
Sokka slid next to me and kissed my cheek. "Best girlfriend ever."
"It's been a long day." Zuko says. "Let's camp and start our search again at dawn."
We laid on Appa as we got some rest. I was on top of Sokka as he snored very loudly in my ear.
We woke up to a ring of fire surrounding us.
"Well, look who's here." Bumi callled out.
"What's going on?" Toph asks. "We're surrounded by old people."
"Not just any old people," Katara says. "These are great masters and friends of ours."
I ran up to Master Pakku and hugged him.
He chuckled. "It's nice to see you Soul."
"How's my dad?" I asked. "Is he having any trouble? Is he mad at me that I didn't come back home that day when I got the letter? Is he-"
"Soul, breathe," Pakku chuckled. "He's not mad at all and he's doing great."
"Good." I sighed in relief.
"Pakku." Katara bowed.
"It is respectful to bow to an old master. But how about a hug from your new grandfather?"
"That's so exciting!" Katara beamed.
Sokka gasped.
"You and Gran Gran must be so happy to have found each other again." Katara said hugging him.
"I made her a new betrothal necklace and everything."
Sokka ran over and hugged him. "Welcome to the family, Gramp Gramp!"
"You can still just call me Pakku." He pushed Sokka off him.
"How about Gramp Pakku?"
"No." He responded.
"And this was Aang's first firebending teacher." Katara introduced.
"Jeong Jeong."
"Master Pianadao." Sokka and I both bowed.
"Hello, Soul, Sokka."
"Gramp Pakku!" Sokka screamed. "Soul and I are dating. That means you guys are related too."
Pakku eyed me. "You're dating him?"
"Yeah." I goofily smiled.
"Good luck." He responded.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Sokka yelled.
"So, wait," I asked. "How do you all know each other?"
"All old people know each other." Bumi answered. "Don't you know that?"
"We're all are part of the same ancient secret society," Pianadao says. "A group that transcends the division of the four nations."
"The Order of the White Lotus." Zuko answers.
"That's the one." Bumi says.
"The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty, and truth." Jeong Jeong says. "About a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important."
"It came from our Grand Lotus," Pakku said, looking at Zuko. "Your uncle, Iroh of the Fire Nation."
"Well, that's who we're looking for." Toph says.
"Then we'll take you to him."
"Wait," Bumi says. "Someone's missing from your group, someone very important. Where's Momo?"
"He's gone," Sokka replied. "And so is Aang."
"Oh well," Bumi says. "So long as they have each other, I'm sure we have nothing to worry about. Let's go." He launched himself up in the air as he laughed away.
On our way to the campsite. Sokka asked Bumi how he ended up escaping his imprisonment in Omashu.
Bumi explained that he single handedly liberated the city in Omashu during the Day of Black Sun, with his amazing display of earthbending, he freed himself from his cage and casted out Fire Nation buildings, laughing and eating rock candy as he launched Ozai's gigantic statue out of the city. The Fire Nation soldiers were powerless due to the eclipse, and helplessly fled.
Bumi asks us what we did on the day of the eclipse; Zuko and Sokka look awkwardly at each other and said we didn't do anything.
"Well, here we are. Welcome to old people camp."
"Where? Where is he?" Zuko asked.
"Your uncle's in there, Prince Zuko."
Zuko walked up to the tent but stood outside it, Katara walked over to make sure he was okay.
I turned to Sokka. "How's your ears holding up?"
"Hurts a bit but I'm good." He replied.
"I'm glad." I said, going on my tippy toes and planting a soft kiss on his lips.
"Can you guys stop!" Toph yelled.
We pulled apart startled.
"First the tents, now old people camp?"
I rolled my eyes. "We're just kissing Toph."
"We're just kissing Toph." She mimicked and walked away.
Sokka and I walked into our tent, I quickly ran out to get blankets and placed it on Sokka.
"Thanks." He grumbled.
"Tired?" I asked, crawling onto his lap and wrapping my legs and arms around him.
"Not anymore." He smiled and kissed down my neck.
I let out a soft moan.
"After the war is over what are we gonna do?"
"What do you mean?" Sokka asks kissing my shoulder.
"You know, I have to go back to the North Pole for a bit and I know you want to go back to the South for a bit."
Sokka hands went up my top, rubbing my back soothingly.
"We'll figure it out." He replied.
"Promise."
"Promise." He said connecting our pinky's together.
I looked into his eyes. "I love you, Sokka."
"I love you too, Soul."
The next morning, the team and I sat in a circle with Iroh as we had breakfast.
"Uncle, you're the only person other then the Avatar who could possibly defeat the Fatherlord."
"You mean the Firelord?" Toph corrected. "And you know Soul is the second most powerful bender right?"
"That's what I just said." Zuko angrily replied. "And Soul wouldn't kill the Fatherlord, she obviously has a crush on him."
I spit my food out. "Me? What! Like older men? Ppft nooo."
Iroh groaned.
"We need you to come with us." Zuko demanded.
"No, Zuko." Iroh replied. "It won't turn out well.
"You can beat him and we'll be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai," Iroh says. "And I don't know if I could, it would be the wrong way to end a war. History will see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only war for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the FireLord."
"And then...then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko asks.
"No." Iroh says. "Someone new must take the throne an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you, Prince Zuko."
"Unquestionable honor?" Zuko looked at his uncle. "But I've made so many mistakes."
"Yes, you have. You struggled and 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."
"I'll try, Uncle." Zuko responds.
"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asks.
"Sozin's comet is arriving and out destinies are upon us." Iroh says. "Aang will face the Firelord. 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."
"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus."
"Yes." Iroh answers. "Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation, so that when the Firelord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there waiting for you."
"I can handle Azula." Zuko says.
"Not alone." Iroh says. "You'll need help."
"You're right." Zuko says. "Soul-"
"No way," Sokka said, pulling me closer to him. "Take Katara."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Katara, how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"
"It would be my pleasure." Katara smirks.
"What about us?" Sokka asks. "What's our destiny today?"
"What do you think it is?" Iroh asked.
"I think that even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."
"And that means, when Aang does face the Firelord, we'll be right there if he need us." Toph adds.
Iroh nods his head.
I squealed. "Let me go change."
Everyone groaned.
"Is she always like this?" Iroh asks.
"Yes." Everyone grumbled.
Toph and I were put on an eel hound. "Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel hound." Pianadao says. "The airship 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."
"Thank you, master." Sokka bowed and hugged Pianadao.
"Bye, Pianadao." I called out. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too Soul, don't forgot to visit."
I blushed. "Oh, I will." I smirked.
Sokka jumped on the eel. He then slapped my thigh. "After this war is over, we are so having kids." He growled in my ear as he observed my outfit.
My face and ears turned beat red.
"So, if I'm gonna be Firelord after the war's over, what are you gonna do?" Zuko asks his uncle.
"After I reconquer Ba Sing Se, I am going to reconquer my tea shop and I'm going to play Pai Sho every day."
Zuko looked at Sokka and I as we nodded at each other.
"Goodbye, General Iorh." Katara says.
"Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it."