Little Soldier Boy

"Azula!"

"...I know I've made some bad... Wait, no... Some really bad choices... But..." She wasn't able to finish before she was thrown off balance by the water peasant's bending. She sputtered and coughed before sitting up.

"Wait! I'm sorry! Please... Just listen to me!"

"Azula! Azula! Where are you? Azula!" She could faintly hear her brother calling her name.

"Why should we listen to you?" cried the water bender. Katara was her name.

"I... well... There isn't really a good reason for you to, but you should because I could be useful to you.." she rambled but was unable to finish her sentence, once again.

"No! Azula, please!" So he had found her. But there was nothing he, nor the water bender, could possibly do for her, now. There was too much blood. She was too far gone.

She glanced at her brother, her gaze unsteady. "Please, Zuko. I have nowhere else to go..." This got the entire group's attention.

"What do you mean you have nowhere else to go?"

"'Zula... No... Please... Agni... No..."

"Father," was all she said, staring down at her feet.

"Please, Avatar Aang..." she said, turning her attention to the young airbender. "I could... I could help teach you firebending..."

"Zu-Zu..." she muttered, barely able to speak as her brother took her in his arms. The fighting had long since ceased, and all was quite around them, except for the shaky breathing of the Princess herself.

"Don't speak, 'Zula," he whispered... his voice unsteady.

The young Avatar nodded his head. "Fine... But don't think that I, or anyone else here, has even the nerve to trust you..."

She nodded her head. "Of course..." she was able to get out... as the group walked away. "I won't let you down! I promise!"

She was left standing in the midst of the temple.

Her eyes were glazed, losing focus. Her brother had let small tears escape from his eyes. She reached up a shaky hand. "Don't cry, Zu-Zu. I chose to sacrifice myself. You did nothing wrong..." she mumbled, wiping away his tears.

"No..." he muttered, shaking his head. "I was supposed to protect you! You weren't supposed to protect me! You're my little sister!"

She was struggling to keep her eyes open now. "Zuko... Zuko, please. I don't have much time left..."

"Don't say that!"

It was her turn to shake her head now. "I'm not afraid of death, brother..."

He couldn't help but let the tears flow freely now.

"Can you do something for me?" she asked, her voice coming out as a rasp now.

"Anything for you, 'Zula," he spoke softer now.

"Sing."

He looked at her, confused through his tear. "What?"

"Please, Zuko..." Her eyes were fluttering now, her gaze even more unfocused.

"Okay..." he cleared his throat. He didn't know what to sing though. He had never thought music was an important part of his life. But now, it was the only thing he could pay attention to. Finally, he thought of something. A song he heard his uncle sing once.

"Leaves from the vine,

Falling so slow,

Like fragile tiny shells,

Drifting in the foam."

She smiled softly up at her brother, before closing those honey-colored eyes for the last time.

"Little soldier boy,

Come marching home.

Brave soldier boy,

Comes marching home."