Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or the characters! Nickelodeon does.

[Lightning]

"Zuko!" Katara's scream ricocheted through the vast hall, the echoes suffocating her.

As she reached his side she felt tears sting her eyes. No. Please don't die. I need you. I need you! Katara's mind was hazy.

As she prepared to heal him, she heard Azula cackle behind her, preparing to finish both of them off in one go. Anger fuelling her movements, she drew water from her water skin and her surroundings, getting ready to battle till Azula was unable to hurt anyone.

I have to do this quick. I don't know how long Zuko can last... Her thoughts trailed away into a whimper.

It was a long and bitter fight. Azula tried her best to corner Katara, all the while shooting fire and directing lightning at her. Oh no! Azula moves too quickly for me to attack her with my water. How do I defeat her quickly? Great. Another river of fire is rushing towards me now. I need to do something. I can't allow myself to die at her hands. I need to rescue Zuko.

At last, Katara managed to trap both Azula and herself by freezing both of them. Panting, she unfroze herself before chaining Azula's hands. i did it! i actually got her!

Slowly, she stumbled over to where Zuko lay prone on the ground. Summoning the last of her energy, she tried to heal him with her water. Seconds passed and still he did not open his eyes. Katara was devastated. Sweat dripped from the ends of her hair; she started tearing again. You can't die! Don't leave me alone!

As she fought hard to save him, the scar left behind on his chest grabbed her attention. When we arrived at the Fire Nation palace, Azula's coronation had just begun. Somehow, I have no idea how, Azula challenged Zuko to an Agni Kai. I didn't like the idea, no, not one bit. But Zuko insisted.

Then they started fighting. I watched from the side, keeping out of their way so that I would not distract Zuko. All of a sudden Zuko started mocking Azula for being afraid that he would redirect her own lightning at her.

The next instant, a bolt of lighting zapped toward me. I was so shocked I couldn't move. My eyes were entirely fixed on it, and my limbs seemed to have frozen. All I could do was close my eyes and wait for death's scythe to claim me.

And then he jumped in front of me. He tried to redirect the lightning, but didn't entirely succeed. Oh this is entirely my fault! What should I do if he dies? I love him. And I never told him so. If he dies I'll live my whole life in regret…

Katara started weeping over Zuko's limp body. It was at this moment that she felt his heartbeat return. It was weak, but it was there. Zuko painfully opened his eyes, only to see Katara bending over him, tanned skin as pale as it could possibly be, lips clenched together, tears falling freely onto his chest.

"Katara?"

"Zuko? You're alive!" Katara practically screamed.

"Thank you, Katara." Thank you for healing me. Don't cry. Please don't. It makes my heart bleed to see you weep like this. I would have gladly died protecting you. But I can't tell you that; you love Aang.

"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you" Katara tried to smile even as she sobbed. I'm so glad you're alive! Even though I know we can never be together. At least I will be able to see you; you will not be just a mere memory that haunts me day and night.

She inched closer to him; she wanted desperately to hug him, to really truly believe that he was alive and not dead. Soon, they were only separated by a thin strip of air. As she reached out to embrace him, Sokka burst into the hall, Suki and Toph close behind. They hastily drew apart from each other, to the joyous cries of "Aang's defeated Ozai!"

Though caught up in the joyous celebrations and the happiness radiating from their friends, their thoughts never left each other. Both were relieved that the other was alive, yet regretted the fact that they had obligations to their respective lovers, casting a wintry solemness on that day of glad tidings.

A/N: Hello there! This is my first avatar fic, so yeah, pardon me if it isn't good. I ship zutara, taang and sukka. Ehh i've read quite alot of fics, so i mayn't remember if i borrowed someone else's plot for my fic. So feel free to tell me if you think i wrote something similar to other fics, and if i did really take another's idea i'll definitely credit them! Rate and review if you want yupps. And anyway, this isn't a oneshot. I'll be adding new chapters soon yeah.

Thanks for reading ;D