Reunited
~~~
"If they aren't back in the next few hours, I'm going looking for them," Ivana concluded. She told the group about where Zuko and Sokka really were, and they weren't exactly happy with her hiding the information.
"So you just kept this from us?" Katara said, starting to boil over.
"I knew you guys would want to go after Sokka, but you don't understand how dangerous this place is. I wanted to make sure they were in trouble first."
"It's been days! I'm going after them now!" Katara huffed, getting up to get on Appa.
"We can't risk getting caught! Aang can't risk it! He's the world's last hope. You don't think I want to rescue them? I've been dying inside since they left. The fact is, we need to wait a bit longer. When the time they gave us is up, I'll be more than happy to go with you."
"You're just afraid," Katara shouted, turning back to Ivana.
Ivana growled, taking a few steps to get in her face. "I'm afraid of many things, but I'd do anything for Zuko safety. Don't pretend to know me."
Aang got in between them. "Ivana's right, Katara," Aang said. "We wait until the time frame they gave is up." Ivana huffed and walked away, steaming with anger. She pretends she knows, but she doesn't. She's infuriating!
~~~
Meanwhile, the boys decided to make their escape. They made their way onto the gondola with the warden in tow. Botan and Sokka pulled Zuko inside the gondola at the last moment after he broke the braking lever.
"Wait! Who's that?" Hakoda said, pointing to Azula and Ty Lee standing where they once were.
"That's a problem. It's my sister and her friend," Zuko replied, gritting his teeth.
Botan grinned. "It's been a while since I've seen Lala and Ty Ty." Zuko rolled his eyes at Botan's ridiculous nicknames. They watched as Azula snatched a pair of handcuffs off a guard and used them to propel herself up the gondola cable. Ty Lee jumped up and balanced on the wire. "Dang, they've gotten good. And blue fire? Dang Lala," Botan said, paling a bit.
"This is a rematch I've been waiting for," Suki said.
"Me too."
Sokka, Suki, Zuko, and Botan climbed up to the top of the gondola to meet the two girls. Ty Lee landed in front of Suki and Sokka while Azula pulled herself onto the roof in front of Zuko and Botan. "How's it going, Lala?" Botan teased as everyone took a battle position.
Azula growled, sending a fire slice at him with a kick of her leg. Botan blocked it while Ty Lee and Suki exchanged blows. Botan and Zuko traded blocking Azula's blasts. They each shot fire at her at the same time, but Azula dodged before sending a wide blast across the roof. She almost Ty Lee, Sokka, and Suki, but they avoided it. "Watch it, you almost hit Ty Ty."
"You love annoying her, don't you?" Zuko said, keeping his eyes trained on Azula as she shot a large blast at Botan.
"I love annoying everyone, Zuzu. Don't you know that?" Before Zuko could come up with a reply, the gondola shook, causing Sokka to lose his balance. He almost slipped over the side, but Zuko caught his arm and pulled him back up. Ty Lee jumped onto the line before shouting, "They're about to cut the line!"
"Then it's time to leave," Azula replied with a smirk. She propelled herself onto the other gondola. "Goodbye, Botan. Goodbye, Zuko." She gave them a sadistic smile while Ty Lee backflipped to her gondola. The four climbed back inside their gondola.
"They're cutting the line! The gondola's about to go!" Zuko warned. He couldn't help but think Ivana was right. This was too dangerous.
"I hope this thing floats," Hakoda muttered. They watched as the guards cut the line. Before they could blink, two of the gards were yanked away from the line by stilettos. It was Mai. She let kicked away the bar they used to stop the gondola, letting them escape.
Botan smiled. "I knew she was cool."
"Who's that?"
"It's Mai!" Zuko said, grateful. He couldn't believe she was going against Azula and hoped she'd be okay.
~~~
The group was finally able to relax as the airship flew through the sky back to the air temple. Zuko sat next to Botan, tired from their escape. "So... I'm glad your alive," Zuko said awkwardly.
"I'm glad your alive too. I'm not sure Ina could have handled losing us both."
"You're probably right."
"Soo... Are you dating my sister yet?"
"What!? Why would be dating?"
"Seriously? Well dang, she's normally so good at getting what she wants... especially when it comes to you," he laughed, elbowing him. He had forgotten how fun it was to tease Zuko.
"What? She.. wants me?"
"Well, wanted. She had a huge crush on you when we were kids." Zuko stared at him, different thoughts pouring into his head. Botan waved a hand in front of his face after a minute. "You okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. Well, yes. I don't know... I had a crush on her too..."
"Had or have?" The look on your face is saying have," Botan smirked.
"Don't tell her."
"Only if you do."
~~~
A few hours passed by slowly at the air temple. They were about to leave when they spotted a large fire nation blimp flying through the canyon. Sokka and Zuko waved at them from the deck. Ivana was filled with relief as they landed.
"What are you doing in this thing? What happened to the war balloon?" Katara asked.
"It kind of got destroyed," Zuko shrugged.
"Of course it did," Ivana rolled her eyes before giving him a hug. "I really want to be mad at you but I'm just so glad you're okay. Did you find their dad?"
"We did, and a few others," Zuko said, standing aside. He ended up moving her with him, her grip on his shirt too tight. She watched as Sokka and Katara's father exited, along with a girl and two men.
"I'm Chit Sang. I'm new. What's up, everybody?" Chit Sang said, waving.
Katara rushed to her father and hugged him. Sokka joined them. Ivana smiled at their happiness. She didn't notice the other man approaching her. "Ina?" She looked at him, his voice sounding so familiar. Then it clicked.
"Botan?" Ivana gasped, letting go of Zuko and rushing to hug her big brother. "They told us you were dead!" She squeezed him tight, tears starting to flow.
"I know, little sister," he said, hugging her back tightly. "It's been way too long. I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she said, her chest feeling tight from being so overwhelmed. "I missed you so much."
"Me too," he said, pulling away from her finally. "You're so grown. You were like this tall last time I saw you," he said, holding his hand to about half his height. "And this hair! It suits you," he grinned, ruffling her short locks.
"Uh, well look at you Mr. I Have a Beard Now." She tugged on it causing him to cry out. He waved her hand away and rubbed his chin. "You look like dad."
Botan smiled sadly. "I grew it for him and Quin."
Ivana returned the sad smile. "So you need to tell me everything. Why did they tell us you were dead? What did you do to get put in the Boiling Rock?" She found them a spot to sit down for the three of them to catch up.
"You first, Ms. I'm Helping the Avatar Restore Balance," Botan laughed. Ivana rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll start. My story is probably shorter anyway." Botan started telling her about the last three years. The military stationed him in the eastern earth kingdom. They ordered his division to attack a earth kingdom village. He followed through, but felt so guilty for what he did that he let the earth benders they captured go. For that he was imprisoned.
"Dad would be so proud of you," Ivana said, tears in her eyes. She was sure why exactly, maybe it was just the shock of finding him alive.
"Dad? No, I don't think so," Botan said, looking away ashamed.
"You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"Dad was executed for treason." Botan's eyes widened, in complete shock. "Zhao ordered it. That's why grandfather removed him from the family. Dad was trying to protect thousands of years worth of knowledge from being destroy."
"If I ever see that man again-"
"Don't worry. He's gone. My theory is a spirit drowned him, but I'm not sure," Ivana said before telling him about the invasion of the North Pole.
"I heard about that! I laughed when I heard it failed. Shows the Fire Nation right for trying to invade someone's home." Botan looked down at his hands, trying to process all of the information given to him. "Dang our family is so messed up, Ina."
"Yeah, a little bit. But it just got better. You're alive and grandfather will be so happy to see you. You wanna help us fix what the fire nation has done?"
"Gladly," Botan grinned. His stomach suddenly grumbled. "But first I need a decent meal." Ivana chuckled and pointed him in the direction of the fire where Haru started dinner.
Ivana turned to Zuko. Her tears didn't stop falling. She was happy and relieved to see someone she thought was dead. "You- you- Thank you!" she gasped out, throwing her arms around him.
"O-oh well, I didn't really do anything-"
"I know, but you brought him back to me. Thank you," she said, burying her face into his neck. Sooner than Zuko would have liked, she lifted her head up and smiled, wiping away her tears. "You're amazing." She gave him a kiss on the cheek before standing and running over to Botan, who was very obviously flirting with Haru.
"Wait... Are those my clothes?" Botan asked, looking down at Ivana. All she could do was laugh. Zuko watched her, completely lovestruck.