Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar
The Butterfly Effect
Note: This is my first writing piece, ever. I have never seriously sat down and written a story, but I decided to after reading a few of the ones on here. I am a huge fan of Avatar and got addicted to the show.
Chapter 1
"Zuko!" cried out Katara. She frantically ran towards him, drawing water onto her hands to try to heal him.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck a few feet in front of her, she quickly stopped and jumped back. She ran and hid behind a column that was on one of the buildings surrounding the area. Azula was laughing hysterically.
"I'd really rather our family physician look after little Zuzu if you don't mind!" Azula maniacally shouted as she gathered more energy to release a lightning bolt at Katara again. She released it towards Katara. "Zuzu you don't look so good."
Katara bent up a wave of ice and slid across to the other side of the area, Azula was chasing her the entire way. She stumbled and fell to her knees, she quickly tried to get up but noticed something. There was a canal of water flowing directly under the grate she had landed on. She looked around for something useful. She saw a slightly long chain and grabbed it, hiding behind the pillar it was hangingon. She stepped out.
"There you are you filthy peasant!" cried Azula. Katara waited for the right moment. Suddenly she bent multiple water whips at Azula causer her to roll to the side, she compensated, placing them both standing directly above the water flow under the grate. Azula started bringing lightning up towards Katara's face, she had to act fast. She bent the water up from below the grate and put it around both herself and Azula. Too late, the lightning went off and electrified the water, it glowed.
She hit the grate and held her side, she could feel her body twitching as she tried to keep it under control. She felt herself fading in and out of consciousness as she tried to bring herself together. She bent the water around her hands and her hands healed instantly, then held her hands up to her heart but couldn't muster up the strength. She looked up to see Zuko walking towards her in a slow limp, he stopped just before her. She felt everything go black as she saw Zuko's hand spark with lightning. He place his hand on her chest.
She woke up. She looked around and saw she was in a room, laying on a bed. She removed the covers and tried to get up. She cringed as she realized how much pain she was in, she looked down at her legs and arms. She was covered in bandages and had many noticable burn marks all over her body.
She listened closely and heard voices coming from outside the door. She tried to make out what they were saying.
"She's doing well, Prince Zuko." she heard a woman say. She stood up and grabbed onto the door. She tried to open it but found herself unable use much strength. The lady must have heard some moving around because the door swung open and a nurse stood before Katara.
"Well, look who has finally woken up." said the nurse.
"Where am I?" questioned Katara.
"You're in the infirmary in the palace, you took quite a beating from what I hear. Why don't you lay down for a bit longer." suggested the nurse.
Katara looked down the hall, she saw Zuko talking to Aang. Suddenly she cringed and hit the floor. She watched as Aang and Zuko hugged, then continued out to the door. She got back up and saw the nurse with a concerned look on her face.
"I'm fine." stated Katara. She started walking down the hallway as she heard Zuko.
"Please, the true hero is the Avatar!" she heard Zuko yell.
She watched as Aang walked out and heard a lot of cheering. She walked down a staircase to the left and continued out into the crowd. She looked around until she spotted her father and Sokka standing next to eachother, clapping and cheering. It must have been Zuko's coronation.
Sokka caught her eye and crutch-sprinted toward her. He came to a quick halt as he neared her and gave her a hug.
"Are you okay? How are you feeling?" questioned Sokka with true concern in his eyes.
"I'm doing fine, I just want to know what happened." she replied.
She listened as Sokka explained how Aang had taken down Ozai and the last few days she had been out. She looked up to where Zuko was standing. She rememberd Zuko looming above her with his hand extended toward her chest.
"What happened to me?" she finally asked. Sokka gave her a grave look.
"...you died." he finally said. Katara's eyes widened and she looked at him with question. She was surely alive and felt better than... well decent.
"What do you mean I died?" she asked him, extremely confused.
"Zuko explained everything; after Azula's lightning went off while you guys were encased in water, the water amplified the lightning's charge tenfold. He said he got up to see both of you hit the ground."
Katara listened with amazement. How could she have been so careless to make a mistake like that. Then it hit her.
"Wait? I was dead?" she questioned.
"Zuko came up to you as you appeared to go unconscious," he explained. "he channeled the electricity into his hand and placed it on your heart, he said he was so afraid it was going to kill you." he continued. "Katara... he restarted your heart."
She looked up at Zuko in absolute awe. She couldn't believe what she was just told. How could she ever repay him for something like that. He already absorbed the first lightning blow for her and now apparently used it to restart her heart after what had happened.
"Well, wait. Where is Azula?" she asked Sokka, his head lowered as he knew this question was coming on.
"Zuko used the electricity on you, Katara. All of it." he looked down.
She was astonished. He had given her life over his own sister.
Suddenly the crowd was cheering again, Zuko had finished his speech and made his way back into the palace.
"Well well," Katara turned around to see Toph standing there with a huge grin on her face. "welcome back to the land of the living again." Her faced turned to real concern. "Wasn't sure I'd ever see you again, Sugar Queen."
"I'm just glad everyone came out of this in better shape than me." she said.
"Well, perk up! That's all in the past, let's forget about it." said Toph. "There's still a lot more to be done." she continued.
"Right," she cheered up a little. "I'm going to go find Zuko." She walked off and into the palace. As she walked down the hall she encountered the same nurse from before.
"Excuse me miss," Katara said. The nurse looked over her way. "do you know where Fire Lord..." she paused and thought. Fire Lord Zuko, that's right. He was the Fire Lord now, the thought somewhat amused her but she knew he would be an excellent Fire Lord.
"...Zuko?" replied the nurse.
"Oh yes, sorry." Katara answered, realizing she had gotten lost in her thoughts.
"He must been in his room at the end of the hallway." said the nurse. "He's been checking up on you every few hours or so for the past couple days, I think he would be happy to see you up and moving around."
Katara continued down the hallway trying to think of what to say to Zuko.
Zuko undid his robe and placed it on the end table next to his bed. He was deep in thought about what had happened a few days before.
"No lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?" yelled Zuko trying to provoke Azula. He knew his sister was never to be challanged and it had been a very intense match so far.
"Oh, I'll show you lightning!" exclaimed Azula. Zuko prepared himself to redirect it back at her. He watched as Azula went through the motions and brought up her hands. Suddenly her eyes shifted towards Katara. He knew exactly what she was going to do.
Time seemed to slow down, he jumped as hard as he could infront of the lightning headed straight for Katara. He stuck his hand out and tried to intercept it. He succeeded and brought the shot into his body and hit the ground. He blacked out.
He woke up and saw Katara bend a huge pool of water up and around herself and Azula. The lightning went off. The water glowed to the extent that Zuko had to look away because of it being so bright. He stood up. He tried to run towards the two girls but found himself severly off balance. He started walking towards them the best he could. He tripped and braced himself for the ground. He hit the ground and saw his hand, glowing with electricity. With incredible focus he stood back up and made his way to Katara. She gave him a look that was full of fear. He watched as she passed out. No movement or breathing.
He panicked. Then placed his hand on her chest, watching the electricity switch from his hand into her body. She came back in a sudden gasp for air and then lay unconscious. He looked towards his sister, who he now just realized was watching this scene play out.
She had a look of terror in her eyes, and was grasping her chest trying to breathe. He placed his hand on her neck, her heart was beating very rapidly. Then it started to slow, and eventually stopped beating. This was definately not how he wanted it to end. He sat for a minute, taking everything in.
It started to rain. He walked over to where Katara was and picked her up in his arms. He moved through the courtyard and into the palace. He placed her on one of the stone benches that lined the hallway and walked back outside into the rain. He looked to where Azula lay, covered in water. His heart sank. He walked over to her and picked her up. As he brought her inside a couple servants came out and assisted him.
He was strong, he thought. He was forcing himself to handle this situation. Although he had never liked his sister very much, he did love her. Family is family, he thought to himself.
He heard a knock at his door, he looked around and realized he was still standing next to his bed. He walked over to the door and opened it. He met eye to eye with Katara. Suddendly she lunged forward and hugged him.
"I heard what you did for me, thank you Zuko!" she said, practically in tears. Zuko held her and said nothing. He didn't even know what to say.
"You would have done the same thing in my position." he finally managed to muster. He watched as she forced a smile, she must have been really worried. "Come on," he said. "let's go out to the celebration and try to have a good time." he suggested.
He grabbed her by the hand and started walking down the hallway.
All things considered he thought the events of the last week went down pretty well. With his father out of the way and the Fire Nation headed back on a good path, Zuko was sure he could rectify the Fire Nation's status and reputation with some time of course.
"So, what's the plan now... Fire Lord Zuko." she teased.
He gave her a glance, "I think I'm going to meet with the Earth King and the Water Tribe cheif, a little face to face talking about the war will do some good. It won't be easy to get over this." he said. He believed it too, it wasn't going to be easy. I mean sure, he could convince everyone that the war was over but there will always be hatred towards the Fire Nation, at least for a while.
They made it outside to the raised platform Zuko had been standing on when he recieved his crown. People were no longer lined up, they were spread around chatting and having a good time. Zuko and Katara walked down into the crowd and ran into Aang and Toph.
"Well looky here," Toph said, turning around. "Fire Lord Zuko walkin' on his own two feet, where's the palanquin." she teased.
"Figured I come out and greet everyone, seems to be quite the celebr-" he was cut off by a loud explosion. They all turned to look. Behind a few buildings there was a cloud of smoke rising. Without a second word they all took off sprinting in that direction. Aang jumped onto the rooftops to get a better look.
He looked down and saw three or four guys firebending at civilians. He jumped down back with the group.
"There's a few guys terrorizing people a few houses over." he said. "They're firebending."
Zuko looked towards the smoke.
"Why would firebenders be attacking?" he wondered.
They reached the area where the men were all gathered around the same area, burning the buildings.
"Stop what you are doing immediately!" Zuko yelled. The four men looked in his direction.
Zuko braced himself, as well as the other three. One of the man started laughing, he walked out slowly and stepped infront of the others.
"Well if it isn't Fire Lord Zuko." said the man. Zuko recognized him somewhat but couldn't put the face to a name.
"You've got an awful lot of nerve kid." he said at Zuko. "Coming in here with your new ideas and think everyone will follow and believe you."
Zuko was staring at this guy. He couldn't believe what this man was saying.
"But the war is over!" excalimed Katara. "Aren't you guys happy there is no more fighting."
"Over? Ha. You are funny little lady." the man replied. "No, this war is far from over. We've been working for years to expand, and it is not going to end like this."
The man started laughing very sarcastically. He gave Zuko a final glare, then sprinted off down one of the alley ways. The three other men took off as well.
"Split up!" cried Aang, and they all took off after a seperate guy.
Toph chased down the guy who ran into the street. She caught up to him and tried to latch him to the ground with earthbending. He dodged it and ran into the alleys. Toph stopped moving, she put her hand on the ground and watched as the man frantically tried to take every corner he could to avoid... getting seen. She laughed a little, and bent a pillar of earth right under him, he flew twenty feet back into the street and hit the ground. She shackled him in place and went to find the others.
Katara was after the man who was near the back. He saw her ahead and sprinted after him. He ran up onto a bridge and jumped into a canal that was flowing through the town. She ran up to the stream and saw him floating down the canal pretty quickly. She started pulling the water back, backing up the canal a little bit in the process. The man was swimming as fast as he and was dumb founded when he found himself frozen to the side rails of a bridge.
The lead man and the last guy had taken off in the same direction. Aang and Zuko were hot on their tail. They dipped onto a side road and started running towards a wall. When they got to the wall the lead man jumped off the side walls twice and made it over the wall. The other man just stared and looked back as Aang jumped down ontop of him and burying him in dirt.
With ease Zuko and Aang jumped the wall. Zuko looked around.
"Where is he?" demanded Zuko.
"We lost him." realized Aang, "Let's head back and find Katara and Toph."
Zuko was furious. How could there be rebellion. People had actually wanted to carry out Ozai's wishes? He knew there would be some rebellions, but didn't think anyone would dare directly attack the palace on his coronation day.
"I'm going to get the Royal Guard to interrogate the three that we did capture." Zuko said as he approached the girls. With there being rebellions this early he wanted to make sure there wasn't a conspiracy. Then he thought for a moment. If there was a conspiracy the guard might be in on it. He would have to observe the interrogation and figure out what was really happening. He thought be was being a little paranoid, but with everything that's happened he was okay with it.