The crackle of Azula's fire meeting his warm flesh sizzled in the humid air. Katara watched cowering close to the hard ground and watched the act of disgust unfold. His body thudded against the dry cement and spasims erupted through his body as he trembled with shocking licking at his body. A piercing scream broke the sickening silence then she realized that the petrified scream was her own. Katara hurled her body across the space between them and covered his body with her own. Azula's fury deepened as Katara could feel her feet plant and flames shoot from her nimble fingertips. The thin line of fire shot across her leg, causing a scream of pain. Flesh burned, but Katara stood and faced the murderer across from her. The golden slits dancing in amusement as she calculated every asset of her situation.
"Poor Zuzu. Too bad you are going to be in the same position as him." Her evil snarl echoed across the fire lit sky. Far off in a distance behind her, Katara could hear faint booms and shouts where Aang battled. She just hoped he was doing better than them. Katara whipped her head around just in time to dodge an oncoming lighting streak hittng inches from where she now stood.
"It's over Azula." she said lowly and lifted water from a nearby well to snake around her lithe body. The feel of it cool against Katara's skin, soothed her till her heart pounded faintly and her breath was even. Katara blocked Azula's attacks and aims towards her tired body while trying to sheild the trembling Prince in the process. When she finally caught Azula's foot with her waterwhip and made her tumble was when Katara acted. The walls of water rose up around them and froze to their weary figures. Her moans of protest were muffled by the surronding ice as the water around Katara's body unfroze allowing her to tie the fire princess's wrists together. Then with a quick movement of Katara's wrist, the wall was gone and puddled at their feet.
"You little water bitch!" She screamed and thrashed on the ground as Katara raced to Zuko's side. His breathing was shallow and his chest was red and burning. Blisters were covering his glorious chest which would eventually turn into scar tissue like his god forsaken eye. Katara quickly pulled out her healing water to place on Zuko's chest. It soaked in to his skin and glowed, but it wasn't enough. His heart beat faltered as he looked up at Katara with tear filled eyes.
"Katara...I love you." He stumbled for the words as he took another ragged breath. Katara felt her heart give out and tears streamed down her cheeks. She knew he was giving up the fight. The fight he had fought for her and to save her life.
"I love you too Zuko. Don't give up! Fight! I need you, please. DON'T LEAVE ME!" Katara felt her self scream even as his chest left out one final breath and his hand fell limp in her own. She failed to save him. It was her responsibilty to look after him and she failed. Katara felt her heart breaking into small pieces as she laid her head on his chest and cried for the love she lost.
When the gang found her after successfully beating Ozai, they fell silent. There was the girl that cared for them all, crying over a burnt body belonging to Zuko. They had to pry her away wailing and fling water about her. His body was burned in a royal ceremony. Katara walked around, the light gone from her eyes and the cruelean blue turning dull and emotions gone. Toph found her laying facedown in her pillow that morning with a cold pulse. She clutched a red ribbon in her dead grasped with a symbol of love carved into the gold stone attached. It was the necklace Zuko had given to her before the battle, before the loss and nobody every knew.