Okay this takes place with the characters much older… Aang is at least 15 here so that makes Katara 17. Azula is still after the trio and makes a deadly mistake… R&R please…
On with the story!
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Dark, unnerving clouds covered the sky, blocking away any possible light from shining through this blanket of rain that had fallen. Thunder roared triumphantly over the land, and bolts of cold light struck the ground, illuminating two figures on the cool, damp earth.
One, lay sprawled on the ground, his dark, gray eyes hidden behind his eyelids which have been getting heavier by the minute. A slight smile tug at his lips as he lay unconscious; heart barely beating, breath hardly audible as the rain grew thicker by the moment.
The second figure was a young woman, her distress shown easily through her shaking body and sweat- despite the rain.
She sat beside the young man, hunched over his sprawled figure; her ice-blue eyes clouded with a parade of tears. Her hands traced the bruises and cuts on his body healing then as soon as they touched—second nature by now.
Her hair had come undone in the storm – dark brown tresses fell forward and stuck to her soaked and panic stricken face as she studied the body before her.
His heart slowed, ever so slightly, and his breathing was near stopped – coming in harsh, small breaths still quieted by the rain; he suffered.
At this, the young woman choked, and she placed her hands roughly on the young mans shoulders, shaking his body gently, yet firmly as more tears made their way down her soft skin. Voices were heard over the merciless rain-
"AANG! WAKE UP! PLEASE!..." the young woman screamed to him, "YOU IDOT! WHY DID YOU DO THAT! SHE WAS AIMING AT ME! ME AANG!
She shook him further, her shoulders caving in as she gave in to her sobs. Her eyes shut tight to erase the image of the suffering man before her, to no avail. The rain grew colder, pelting the figures wherever it could reach.
She sighed. "Why do you always have to play the hero… WHY?" He voice echoed through the trees.
Her arms fell around the dying boy as she hugged his delicate face close to her heart.
flashback
Aang, Katara, and Sokka were on their way to a distant earth kingdom city when they had yet another run in with Azula and her counterparts Mai and Ty Lee. They've run into them so many times in the past month it wasn't much of a surprise anymore. It was more like swatting away at a gnat that just insisted to keep bugging the hell out of you.
Dark clouds painted over the horizon as the wind picked up, toying with their hair and things while they walked. Slowly, Azula made her entrance, talking away at how she would finally capture the avatar once and for all, making choice threats and such.
Aang immediately took Azula on himself, creating whirlwinds and gusts to keep her at bay, and barely avoiding her countless powerful attacks.
Katara and Sokka took on Mai and Ty Lee, easily fending for themselves due to the large amount of times they've actually fought them over the years. Katara already had Ty Lee half frozen and was continuing throwing ice daggers at her that either barely missed or sliced the skin deep, leading to Ty Lee finally falling backwards after losing her balance.
Sokka was holding his own in his fight against Mai. She was strong, and proved to be a tough adversary for the non-bender, with her powerful jabs of her fists and swift leg movements. She had tripped Sokka once already, then backing it up with an arch or fire that spread and shot out just above his face, just missing him. Seeing him distracted Mai came in full speed ready to take Sokka out, but he reached back, grabbing his boomerang and thrust it to her stomach, doubling her over.
It seemed that once again the trio was winning this battle… until Azula came into view.
Aang had hardly thrown any blows at the woman; due to the fact all he could do was evade her wide assortment of attacks coming from all directions. A notable amount of sweat resided on his forehead. He needed to end this. And soon.
"Is this all you can do avatar? Avoid me? Well if you can't take me head on… I'll simply make you…" Azula smiled devilishly at the avatar before she turned around, facing an unsuspecting and rather innocent waterbender. She started to separate the positive and the negative energy with her fingertips, highly concentrating as blue sparks were emitted and cracked in the air.
Aang's eyes widened as he learned what Azula was about to do.
'No..' he thought.
Thinking quickly, he sped right in front of his Katara. He'd be damned if he let anyone touch her. He held a cold look in his eyes, which narrowed at the sight of the firebender, ready to kill him. Thunder could be heard in the distance.
Time slowed at this moment. Slowly, he looked over his shoulder, and his eyes lightened at the sight of the young woman he's loved since he was a boy. She looked confused.
Aang?
He smiled at her lightly. "For you, Katara" he whispered. He gave her a look of reassurance.
For you.
Time went back to normal and blue lightning made itself present in front of the two benders, one determined, the other in shock.
Azula chuckled. "Now, Avatar, Die! Die for the pitiful wench behind you…
(ahead of Azula, Aangs eye's started to glow and he growled, "WHAT?" )
despite the thousands of people you'll let down, this goes to your heart!" and she thrust her arm forward, a streak of blue emitting from her body, heading straight toward Aang's heart.
Katara's eyes widened at Azula's words, and her mouth opened to scream his name -- to run and get out of the way -- though no sound came out. It was as if a rock had lodged itself in her throat, making it impossible to even breathe.
Aangs arrow's lit up the dark, his eyes fierce and menacing. Azula had made her last mistake. Aang took the lightning head on, and to no surprise screamed as the lightning electrified his body. He could smell his own burnt flesh stench rise into the air, practically choking him. He quickly lifted his arms to reach toward the second half of the strike, redirecting it through his body and back toward a helpless Azula.
The dark clouds had made their way all around them by this point, and visibility was limiting itself. An ear-splitting scream rose into the air, none other than Azula's, and a loud thump indicated she had hit the ground.
In front of an emotionally shocked Katara, a low groan emitted out of Aangs half open mouth. It was light, barely audible over the rising thunder. He started to fall to his knees- the first half of the lightning strike hit him square in the heart, and now, it was taking its toll.
Katara, now breaking out of her paralysis, fell with him. Her brows were slightly scrunched together and her mouth was slightly open, she stared at the young man who indeed, had saved her life…. But…
Why… she whispered.
Surprised, his eyes half opened, he hadn't heard her well enough because the rain had started to make its was down from the clouds.
"Why?" She asked again, eyes starting to cloud with tears, watching him slowly advert his gaze to look her straight in the eyes. She dared not make a sound, just to hear the young mans answer as he slowly fell the rest of the way back and lie on the cold earth.
He gently rose a shaking hand to her cheek, and said, softly, "For you, my Katara…" and he faded, now unconscious, with a crying woman on her knees, watching him slowly fade as the sky grew darker..
"AANG!"
end flashback