Never Give Up

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction in nearly two years! I remember the old ones being really crappy, so hopefully this is one slightly better than before. Enjoy!

Blue and red.

These were them only words Katara could think of to describe the massive battle between the two Fire Nation siblings. Upon arriving to the palace, and thus interrupting Azula's coronation, Zuko challenged his sister to an Agni Kai for the throne. Katara had initially been weary of Zuko's chances alone against his sister, but he had reassured her that something was different about Azula and that he would be okay. Based on what was currently happening on the battlefield, Katara still couldn't see the 'difference' in the Fire Nation princess, as she continued to firebend with such finesse and power; however, Zuko also seemed to have elevated his skills (most likely due to the comet) as he quickly matched each fireball Azula threw at him. Katara held her breath as Zuko continued to seem to have control over Azula, and was patiently waiting for his opening.

"What, no lightning today? Afraid I'll redirect it?" Zuko taunted at his sister as he continually blocked each shot Azula gave him effortlessly, while she appeared to be tiring out.

Her face in a sneer, Azula replied, "Oh, I'll show you lightning!". She had her body in position, moving the lightning from hand to hand while Zuko got in his stance, fully prepared for the lightning attack.

Just as Azula was to aim at her brother, her eyes locked with Katara. For Katara, it felt like time had stopped as she immediately realized Azula's new plan and watched as the princess's lips formed a smirk and her crazed eyes had looks of determination.

Katara watched in horror as the streaks of white and blue came her way, too stunned to move away in time. She closed her eyes in defeat, waiting for the lightning to come at her heart and her short life to end. When the moment where she was supposed to be falling to her death didn't come, she flashed her eyes open, with a new horrible nightmare unfolding as she watched Zuko (the boy, no man, who fought for her acceptance and later friendship, in the meantime saving her life and surprising her countless times) make a thud noise to the ground as his body violently shakes in reaction to the lightning.

Despite her despair and fear of Azula's attack, Katara ran forward to the fallen prince, opening her water skin to begin healing the prince. Unfortunately for her, Azula saw her and began throwing fire balls at her.

"Zuzu, you don't look so good!" Azula sneered as she continually shot at Katara, leaving the waterbender out of breath and in need of a plan. Nearly out of water and forced to hide behind a pillar, she goes in a panic; luck seemed to be on her side as she sees the sewage and pulls the water towards her.

"Come out, you filthy peasant!" Azula screams as she finally corners Katara, almost hitting the girl with lightning when the waterbender pulls all the sewage water at her hands, encircling both the princess and herself in ice. As Azula gawked at her, still in shock from being tricked, but immediately attempts to heat her body up to melt the ice, becoming successful. Both girls gasp for air, then begin going at it again, Azula on offense and Katara in constant need to defend herself.

'I just lost my chance. I need to leave before she kills me.' Katara thought to herself as her fight began getting closer to Zuko frail body, which to continued to convulse every few seconds from the aftershock of the lightning. Thinking of a new plan, she waited for the right moment to corner the princess and freeze the princess to the wall, giving her enough time to call Appa and escape with Zuko. As Azula began unfreezing the large block of water around her, Apa quickly reappeared at Katara's side, helping her pull Zuko's body onto the saddle. Before Azula fully got herself out of the case of ice, Katara called for Appa to leave and the two teenagers flew away from the palace, unsure of where to go or what the future held for them.

Katara turned to Zuko, pulling him into her lap as she ripped off his shirt and began healing the spot where the lightning was hit. For some reason, the lightning would not heal and continued to gush out with blood. To her horror, his whole body seemed to have looked paler than usual and felt ice cold rather than his usual warm hand. She pushed on his chest and blew breaths in his mouth, feeling for his pulse.

There wasn't one.

"NO! Zuko! You can't just die on me, you stupid jerkbender! You promised me no one would get hurt!" she sobbed as she pulled his cold body to hers.

Although she was the last to forgive the prince and constantly fought with him, he had finally become one of her closest friends, someone she was eager to care for and protect.

'You finally showed me you could be there for me, and now you're just leaving me. I swear to you, Zuko, I refuse to have to tell the others you're dead.' she thought to herself with new determination, putting his body down and continually trying to heal him all over.

'Maybe if I...I swore to myself I would never do this again, but if it means your life then...' Katara wordlessly began concentrating on feeling for his blood within his body.

Using her bending, she started to manipulate his blood and heart to pump. It felt like hours before suddenly she heard a sharp intake of breath, and she fell to the side in exhaustion, feeling the power if blackness overtaking her.

"Zuko...?" was the last word she moaned as unconsciousness took her.

A/N: Please review for any suggestions or comments!