AN: This is going to be a primarily SokkaxYue, KataraxZuko, and TophxAang story. There will be other mini couples too, probably because I'm a hopeless romantic and love for everybody to have somebody. But we'll see.
This story begins around the time of episode 19, when Zuko attempts to steal Aang while he's in the Spirit World. As for the story itself, it will describe yet another one of my visions of how the war ends. (If you like stories that involve how the war ends in general, then take a look at my other story, the nearly complete Encounter with Embers.) So, expect to have violence, some cursing, adult themes, etc. I hope you all enjoy!
The Gains of Enmity
KATARA VOWED TO protect Aang. So when Zuko startled her and Yue, she knew she would protect him to her last breath. But she didn't intend to lose to Zuko. Not here, not now.
"Hand him over and I won't have to hurt you." He threatened menacingly. He shot fire at her, and she used her water to block the hateful flames. Katara fought with all of her might, knocking him down.
He clenched his fists as he laid sprawled face down before her. "I see you've learned a new trick, but I didn't come this far to lose to you." He announced boldly, getting up to fight her once more. If there was one thing Zuko did have, it was perseverance.
She used all that Master Pakku had taught her to defeat him. Encasing him in a ball of ice, she only served to infuriate the banished prince more.
"You little peasant," he spat, "You've found a Master, haven't you?"
Katara didn't reply, and only proceeded to throw him across the Oasis against the ice wall. He stopped momentarily, then melted the ice with the steamy smoke of his breath. He attacked her again with his fire, sending her flying into one of the pillars in the Oasis.
Momentarily winded and in incredible pain, she looked up. And noticed the sun begin to rise, casting them in a pinkish-yellow light. Quickly, she Waterbended him against the rock wall once, twice, then three times. He slumped onto her sheet of ice, unconscious.
She remained tense for several seconds, then relaxed when he didn't move. Katara stole a glance at Aang, and certain that he was okay, she went to the fallen prince's side. He was breathing, slowly and labouredly. She winced, for she had probably broken a few of his ribs.
She studied his unconscious form, looking for any serious injuries. She didn't want to kill him, only disable him. Nothing seemed to be broken other than his ribs, and she rolled him onto his back.
She studied his face, and gasped at the cuts and bruises that marred it. What had happened to this poor boy, she wondered wordlessly. But he was handsome regardless of the cuts, bruises, and the angry scar on his face.
Uncertain as to whether she should heal him or not, she looked at him. This man-child had chased her and her friends across the world, and continually tried to capture Aang. He was a menace, and she shouldn't heal him. But why did a part of her want to?
She shook her head, fingers gently tracing the scar as Appa touched down beside her. Sokka, Yue, and Momo jumped off of the faithful stead's back and joined her immediately.
"Katara, are you okay?!" Sokka inquired. He touched her face, studying her, as if she'd break any moment.
"I'm fine, I knocked him out." She replied, her voice a mixture of relief and pride.
Sokka grinned, patting her shoulders. "That-a-girl." He commended.
Yue, kneeling beside her, also smiled. "Aang's safe." She seemed just as relieved as them.
They all glanced towards the small boy. His arrow marks and eyes still glowed. He was deep in trance, journeying throughout the Spirit World. They all leaned in closer to him as he sighed deeply.
"So, now what?" Sokka asked. He took off his parka, finally having noticed the abnormally warm weather of the oasis.
"We wait until he comes back to his body." Katara answered, looking back to Zuko.
"Let's take this good quality rope off his hands, shall we?" Sokka smirked as Yue knelt beside him and helped the remove the rope Zuko had wrapped around his torso.
They quickly and effectively tied Zuko up. If and when he awoke they wouldn't have to deal with bursts of flame or him escaping.
Soon enough, Aang jolted awake. "The Spirits are in danger!" he cried.
"You're right, they are." A voice called across the Oasis. They all snapped their heads up and collectively gasped as Zhao and his soldiers walking towards the small island they were situated on.
"Zhao, you can't hurt the Moon and Ocean Spirits. You won't be hurting just the Water Tribe. We all need them for balance." Aang tried to reason with the admiral, using the information he had just learned from Koh, the face-stealer in the Spirit World.
"He's right, Zhao, we all need the Spirits to survive." Another voice called out. They all turned to see Zuko's elder Uncle, Iroh.
"It's my destiny to slay the Moon Spirit and destroy the Water Tribes." Zhao argued.
Iroh immediately got into a fighting stance. "Anything you do to hurt that Spirit, I'll unleash on you ten fold, Zhao!"
Zhao softened momentarily, then grimaced and struck out at the circling koi fish with a blast of flame.
Iroh scowled darkly and attacked without reservation. He quickly took down the four Fire Nation soldiers as Zhao turned and fled.
In the commotion, Zuko came to consciousness and began untying his ropes. He ran after Zhao, hoping to gain revenge for Zhao's attempt on his life.
Aang's eyes glowed and he cried out in anguish. He stepped into the Oasis water and adopted the Water Spirit's form. He became a giant koi-man made of water and proceeded to attack all those of the Fire Nation.
Iroh turned to examine the white koi which flopped, panicked, on its side in the water. Katara, Yue, and Sokka crowded around the water to observe it.
"Oh no, it's going to die…" Yue lamented.
Iroh knelt beside them, and brainstormed quickly. "You, girl." He looked to Katara.
"Me?" Katara inquired, pointing a finger to her chest.
Iroh nodded. "You are a Waterbender, no?"
She nodded in affirmation.
"Use your healing abilities on the Moon Spirit." He urged her.
"I'll help you." Yue offered.
Katara nodded and the girls waded out into the Oasis water. Yue grasped the struggling fish and Katara utilized her healing powers, pressing her slim hands to its body.
The white koi fish's wounds were healed and Yue's eyes glowed mysteriously.
"Yue?" Sokka whispered. Yue had told him the tale of the Moon Spirit's gift to her, and he was concerned for Yue's life.
"She's been touched by the Moon Spirit." Iroh explained as he watched Yue conjoin with the Moon Spirit's mortal form of the white fish. She rose out of the water, glowing heavenly white, and sped off to join the Water Spirit in its vendetta against all those of the Fire Nation.
Together, the embodied Moon and Water Spirits defeated the Fire Nation's armies.
ZUKO FOUGHT AGAINST Zhao with every intention to end his life as he had attempted to do to him. As they sparred and threw flames at one another, a dark shadow and a white light loomed over them.
He looked up to see a giant koi-person and a glowing moon princess floating before them. The dark koi figure grasped Zhao, and Zuko narrowly avoided the angered Water Spirit.
"Give me your hand!" Zuko cried, his conscience getting the better of him.
Zhao's features shifted to that of stubbornness, and he withdrew his hand. He was dragged beneath the frigid waters.
Zuko sighed and he looked up at the glowing woman-child. She stood serenely before him and it dawned on him that she was the girl from the Spirit Oasis. "Come with me, Zuko. You need to be healed." She soothed.
She extended her hand to him, and he took it. And the world went black around him.
AANG APPEARED FLOATING in the water of the Spirit Oasis with the black koi swimming around him.
"Aang!" Katara cried, retrieving him from the water.
He coughed and opened his eyes weakly. "Katara." he smiled.
"Oh, Aang." She breathed his name and hugged him tightly.
Iroh gaped as Yue's glowing form raced across the sky, an unconscious man in her arms. She landed in the Oasis water, and suddenly separated from the Moon Spirit. Zuko, floating peacefully, glowed momentarily before the white koi swam to the black one, and they began a lazy encircling of one another.
Sokka helped Yue out of the water and she clung to him.
"Sokka."
He kissed her forehead and held her close. "Everything's going to be okay now." He whispered, relieved that she was still alive.
She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Iroh had fished Zuko out of the Oasis water and was amazed to find his unconscious nephew healed. "The Moon Spirit helped him…" he murmured in awe.
Sokka, Katara, and Iroh looked to one another and realized that they were enemies.
"Zuko can't have Aang. We won't let him." Katara announced fiercely.
"So don't even try it. Katara'll Waterbend him, Aang will Airbend him, and Yue'll will use her moon powers to kick his butt." Sokka threatened.
Iroh sighed heavily. "My nephew will not try to capture the Avatar. He needs to realize that doing so will not gain his honor back."
"What?" Katara questioned. She had no idea that Zuko's honor rested upon his capture of the Avatar.
Iroh glanced down at his nephew, his fingers brushing over Zuko's scar. It seemed the Moon Spirit had left that one wound behind. "Zuko dishonored his father by speaking out against the war in his father's war council room."
Sokka and Katara's eyes widened in shock. Zuko was against the war?
"His father then challenged him to an Agni Kai, and Zuko refused to fight his father. His father considered this further disrespect and cowardice. He burned Zuko's face to teach his respect and banished him. Zuko could only return to the Fire Nation once he captured the Avatar. But, he's been searching for two years already." Iroh explained. He looked to Aang, his voice tinged with grief. "Ozai didn't want his son. He knew sending Zuko out on a useless mission would ensure Zuko's banishment."
Sokka and Katara exchanged glances, and Katara especially, felt her heart breaking for this young man. "That's horrible, for a father to turn his back on his son." She murmured, hugging Aang tighter.
Iroh nodded. "My brother is not known for his kindness."
Sokka sighed, holding Yue closer. "So…now what?" it seemed like he'd been asking that all day.
Iroh looked down to Zuko. "I don't know how to break it to him, to make him understand how fruitless his chase for the Avatar is…"
Katara's eyes lit up. "You can join us." She exclaimed.
"Katara!" Sokka scolded.
Iroh blinked, confused. "Miss, do you know what you're saying?"
Katara nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I do. Aang needs a Firebending teacher, and you're more than able. You took out those four soldiers, no problem. And Zuko can travel with us…"
Sokka blinked incredulously at his sister's gall. "Katara…" he warned.
Katara ignored her brother and continued. "When we go to face the Fire Lord, Zuko can confront him and get the answers he needs."
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like the Fire Lord's brother and son are going to let us storm in and kill him." He stated sarcastically.
"Actually, I would." Iroh confirmed softly.
Sokka blinked. "Wait, what?"
Iroh sighed heavily, and seemed so suddenly weary. "This war has ruined too many lives. Once I fought for its cause, but no longer. My brother must be stopped at all costs."
Sokka's jaw dropped.
Katara smiled. "So please, sir, teach Aang to Firebend."
Iroh bowed slightly to Katara. "It will be my honor."
"Oh brother…" Sokka sighed exasperatedly. But he couldn't protest any further, for exhaustion rolled over him. He counted his blessings: the Northern Water Tribe had emerged victorious from the Siege laid upon it, and Aang had gained a Firebending teacher.
