Iroh and Zuko landed on the floor on their backs.
Iroh sat up, coughing from the dust that now clouded the air.
He coughed, getting to his knees.
Zuko breathed heavily as he remained on the floor, freezing temperatures and blunt force were not a good mix.
Iroh touched his shoulder, kneeling next to him.
Zuko managed to wave his hand, despite the intense pain he knew he'd be fine.
Iroh looked at the pile of rocks and he felt his heart skip a beat. He ran to the wall of rocks, still coughing against the dust.
"Guys?" He yelled urgently, "Is everyone all right?"
"We're all fine! Everyone is accounted for on this side!" Pelo yelled. "How are you? Is the Fire Lord okay?"
Iroh breathed a sigh of relief at the report, "I'm fine. The Fire Lord is okay."
"Good," Pelo said, getting into a bending stance. "Let's get you guys out of there."
Iroh moved away from the wall when it began shaking.
He heard a crack and snapped his head to the ceiling.
What was left overhead was badly damaged.
Iroh's amber eyes widened, "Stop! Don't do that!"
Pelo stopped abruptly, "What's wrong?"
"The ceiling is too damaged, the movement will cause the roof to fall again!"
"What do we do then?" Sin asked, "We can't leave you!"
Iroh looked at Zuko, who was still on the floor. He bit his lip, remembering he still had to find Suki.
"You all need to get out of here," Iroh said, regaining his firm composer. "Find Commander Bumi if possible."
"What about you?" Cho demanded, walking to the wall of rocks. "I'm not leaving you. Closer than brothers!"
"Closer than brothers," Iroh agreed. "That's why I need you to leave. I'm not taking chances on your life."
"Iroh..."
"I know this building like the back of my hand," Iroh assured. "I'll meet you guys at the ship."
Cho balled his fists.
"Please guys, I have to find the princess anyway." Iroh said, "She snuck off the ship."
Cho sighed, "Fine..."
"Do me a favor," Iroh said. "Watch the Royal Girls for me until I get back."
"I will," Cho nodded.
"Thanks buddy," Iroh smiled faintly. "I'll meet you guys later with the princess and Fire Lord."
Cho nodded, "See you."
The group headed back to the opening they had come through.
Sin remained at the wall.
"Sin?" Cho asked.
"You better make it out!" Sin yelled. "I'm not going home without you!"
"I will Sin," He said. "I promise."
She nodded and walked to the group.
They carefully made their way out.
Iroh turned to Zuko and ran to his grandfather.
The man was still shivering terribly.
Iroh helped Zuko to his feet.
Zuko released a shaky breath, rubbing his arm and holding Iroh for balance with his free hand.
Iroh removed his jacket and placed it around his grandfather's shoulders.
Zuko slid his arms into the sleeves. He was shocked by how baggy it was on him. He remembered when Iroh was the one wearing his baggy clothes.
Iroh wrapped Zuko's arm around his neck.
"Come on," Iroh said, heading further down the hallway. "I've studied the layout of this building many times."
He knew about an emergency staircase on the other end of the floor.
They made their way down the hallway slowly.
Iroh was practically dragging Zuko.
"I'm going to get you to the ship, then I have to look for Suki," Iroh said, avoiding looking at his grandfather.
"S-Suki?" Zuko stuttered. "But she's--"
"No, Grandfather, she's not," Iroh said. "I don't know what happened, but she made it to my ship in the middle of the night about a month after you all were captured."
"She's alive," Zuko breathed. He smiled weakly, "Thank you Uncle! Thank the Spirits."
Zuko's eyes narrowed and he cursed. He shoved Iroh behind him, holding out his left hand as a bolt of lightning shot at them.
Zuko redirected the lightning into the wall.
He stood tall, but immediately collapsed.
Iroh caught him and held him up, glaring down the hall.
A man stood at the end.
He stood in a bending stance.
Iroh was sure he wasn't much older than him.
"Who are you?" Iroh demanded.
"You don't know me," He grinned. "But my father was the man your disgrace of a grandfather locked away for crimes against that revolting club you people call a military."
"Takai had a son?" Iroh frowned.
"Yes, and unlike you," Taru said. "I'm not a mutt."
Iroh lunged to the side, taking Zuko with him, when Taru shot another bolt of lightning.
Iroh could lightningbend, but he still had yet to master redirection and he wasn't taking chances right now.
"You're exactly how I imagined," Taru laughed. "Too pathetic to fight. That's why you don't crossbreed."
Iroh stood up, "I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be," Taru said, bending at Iroh.
Iroh caught the flame and swung it around himself before throwing it back at Taru.
Taru dodged it, "I see you learned from other elements. Too bad that's useless in a real battle."
Taru shot another stream of fire, directing it at Zuko.
Iroh did a spin kick, redirecting the fire away from his grandfather.
Iroh shouted, falling to the ground as electricity coursed through his body. He jabbed two fingers out, shooting the lightning back towards Taru.
Taru stepped aside grinning.
Iroh breathed heavily when the lightning stopped and he attemped to get to his feet.
Taru walked over and slammed his foot down on Iroh's back, pinning him down.
Iroh gritted his teeth.
Taru laughed, creating a fire dagger, "I'm going to enjoy this."
Zuko grunted, crawling towards them.
"Enjoy this meathead!"
Taru snapped his head up and shouted when he was hurled backwards by an invisible force.
Iroh and Zuko looked to the source of the airblast.
Suki stood in a firm bending stance.
Iroh looked at Suki wide eyed.
"You're an Airbender?" He shouted.
"I told you I know how to keep a secret," Suki smiled.
Iroh sighed, "I don't know whether I should be happy to see you or offended you never told me."
"Decide later!" Suki said, dodging a fire blast that came from behind Iroh.
Iroh whirled around, cutting Taru's feet out from under him.
He fell onto his back.
Iroh got to his feet.
Suki ran over and placed herself next to Iroh.
Taru stood up, "You mutts aren't getting out of here easily."
"Bring it," Suki spat, balling her fists.
Iroh placed his hand in front of her.
"What?" Suki growled.
Iroh pulled Suki towards Zuko as the sound of thundering footsteps approached.
"Taru!" Bumi's voice erupted and he approached with a hoard of soldiers, "By order of the United Forces. You are here by placed under arrest!"
"Apprentice Iroh," Bumi looked at him and Iroh stood at attention. "Escort the Fire Lord and Princess out of the building."
Iroh saluted.
He turned to Zuko and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, pulling him to his feet.
Suki stuck her tongue out at Taru before following her brother.
Bumi grinned at Taru, "Have fun in prison."