Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. However, I do own this story and the OCs created for it. Enjoy!

Prologue

It had been a long six months, and yet I couldn't believe Sozin's comet was about to arrive. So much had happened in that time, but between traveling, training, and helping others—especially looking after Toph, Aang, and Sokka… not to mention being hunted for much of the time—whether by Zuko, Azula, or Combustion Man—it left me little time for reflection. Sure, we had a few days of leisure here and there, but in those moments I preferred to relax instead of think. There wasn't time to dwell on the horrors of the war. We just had to help in whatever way we could.

So now here I was with Zuko, flying on Appa, heading toward the Fire Nation capital to face Princess Azula. It amazed me that we were now allies, but he had proven himself trustworthy and became someone I could truly call friend.

While flying, Zuko didn't say much, and it was obvious that he was trying to focus on the battle that laid ahead. But there was a sadness in his eyes, and it was then that I realized that she was his sister and what that really meant. He might have to kill his own flesh and blood. I tried to imagine being in that position, and I couldn't help but find disturbing and sad. I could never kill Sokka, even if he did turn into a heartless warmonger. I shuddered at the thought.

If Zuko changed, why couldn't Azula? They both have the same bloodline—descendants of not just the Fire Lords but of Avatar Roku. Aang had told us about Sozin's betrayal of Roku, but what he learned from that is that all people, even those of the Fire Nation, have the capacity for good and evil. So they should be given a chance, because they never could be completely evil. I wanted to believe that, but Ozai and Azula didn't seem to have one iota of goodness in them.

Zuko lost his mother at a young age. So did Azula. Maybe it affected her differently than it did Zuko, although it seemed to have not affected her at all. She was molded in her father's image. In those crystal catacombs of the Earth Kingdom, Zuko had told me what his father had said. Azula was born lucky. He was lucky to be born. But besides being a firebending prodigy, how was she really lucky? She had to use fear in order to get respect and loyalty from others, including her "friends" Mai and Ty Lee, but they did not love her. Not like true friends should, at least. Sure she had her father's favor, but it was clear that Ozai's love was not unconditional. I didn't have to look past Zuko's scar to see that. Despite that and his banishment, Zuko still sought the love of his father for a very long time. One slip-up, one sign of weakness or perceived disrespect, and I'm sure Azula would have suffered a fate similar to Zuko's.

I was sure she realized this, as she wasn't stupid. In fact, she was quite the opposite. She was able to take down Ba Sing Se in just a matter of days without actually having to take a single life, although she tried when she blasted Aang with lightning. Still, growing up in that family must have had its own share of hardships on Azula as well as Zuko.

I shook my head. Why should I even care? It would make the upcoming battle that much more difficult, and for the good of the world, Azula had to go down. What was that old saying? Know thy enemy. Cold, calculating, ruthless. That was Azula. Show any sign of weakness, and she will exploit it. Just like her father.

When we made landing in the Royal Plaza of the capital interrupting Princess Azula's coronation as Fire Lord, I couldn't help but notice that there was no one around to witness the occasion. Only the fire sages were present. Odd, I thought. Where were her subjects, her guards, her friends… her family?

As Zuko approached Azula, he declared that he would be Fire Lord. She challenged him to an Agni Kai, and to my surprise, Zuko accepted. The whole reason I had come was because Azula was too powerful for him to take down by himself. He said that he could take her, that she was slipping. As she moved closer, I could see plainly what he saw. Her hair and makeup were a mess and she had a crazed look in her eyes. Her voice sounded different too.

The fight between the siblings began and they appeared to be evenly matched. Azula's firebending was still as powerful as ever, her blazing blue flames contrasting with Zuko's golden red. With the comet approaching, their bending ability was getting stronger.

But Azula quickly began to tire and her movements were less controlled. Zuko noticed and made a comment meant to goad her into shooting lightning at him. I know he was planning to redirect it, possibly at Azula. Azula took the bait, but at the moment before she was to strike Zuko, I saw her gaze shift to me. I froze, knowing there was nothing I could do to defend such an attack. Zuko saw it too and put himself in front of it, attempting to redirect the lightning. But without his feet grounded, he was only partially successful, and he fell to the earth with a thud, his flesh burning.

I was distraught over Zuko but unable to help him because now Azula's focus was solely on me. I could see this wasn't the same Azula I had fought before. She had the look of a wild animal. Slipping was an understatement, she was losing her grip on reality all together. I didn't have time to think about it, as I braced myself for a fight with the firebending prodigy. All I had was my water pouch and Azula was doing her best to keep me away from a water source.

As I continued to evade her attacks, she taunted me—calling me a filthy peasant—and her brother—remarking that he didn't look so good. Neither do you, Azula, I thought.

Just when I thought there would be no way I could defeat the comet-fueled prodigy, I felt it, just underneath my feet—a canal.

I had a choice. And just like when I faced the Southern Raider who had killed my mother, I was finding myself unable to summon up an attack that would kill. I truly understood now the dilemma that Aang was struggling with before his battle with Ozai. There had to be another way. There had to be someway to turn her attack against herself.

As she was gearing up for what I could only assume was another lightning attack, I used my waterbending to create a huge splash from the underground canal and froze Azula and myself. I then unfroze myself, grabbing hold of a chain which I could use on her to stop her firebending and chain her to the grated floor beneath us.

I released the water and quickly moved away from the princess and back to Zuko. Without a second to waste, I drew the water from my pouch and worked to heal his wounds. To my relief, he had the strength to push himself up to stand with only a little help from me.

Upon seeing that he was still alive, Azula completely lost it—screaming, crying, thrashing, and breathing blue fire. I turned my head away, trying to ignore the obvious pain and insanity of Azula. And I found that I couldn't. I didn't want to ignore it.

I was wrong. Azula losing her mother affected her more than I ever thought. In those moments after the battle had ended with Azula crying and thrashing about, breathing blue fire, she finally calmed down, but was still sobbing. "Mother, why couldn't you love me? I'm not a monster. I'm not…" I heard her whisper, as she collapsed back on the metal grate I had chained her to and continued to softly cry.

My heart broke at the sight. For the first time, I saw her as a girl not so different than me—another victim of this senseless war. I turned to Zuko and saw unshed tears in his eyes as he looked at his sister. I could tell he wanted to help her. Maybe it wasn't too late for Azula.

"We should help her," I say, finally putting voice to my thoughts.

"How? Look at her…" Zuko's voice cracked as a lone tear fell down his face. "Her mind and spirit have been corrupted by my father…. by this war. I want to help, but I don't know if it's possible."

"I don't know," I sighed as I placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "But I am a healer. Maybe I can help heal her broken spirit."

I didn't know why I felt this responsibility to help Azula. I chalked it up to being a healer—it was simply in my nature—and the fact that despite everything, she was still Zuko's sister. And Zuko was someone I cared for.

Eventually, Azula fell asleep from exhaustion. Zuko and I took turns keeping a watch over her while waiting for Aang and the others to arrive. I prayed that they would all return safely. Trying to distract myself from worrying, I looked at the sky and for the first time, noticed the beauty of the comet.

About an hour later, I saw a small airship heading toward us. I looked over at Zuko and called out to him that someone was coming.

"It must be them," he said with a smile, and I knew he was right. The ship slowly began to descend and made its landing. I began to run toward it with Zuko trailing behind me, one eye still on Azula.

First off the ship was Aang followed by a noticeably limping Sokka, who was supported by Suki. An unconscious Ozai in chains rested on a platform that was earthbended by Toph. I was filled with utter joy and relief at seeing them all.

"The war is over!" Aang declared with a smile, his eyes locking on mine for a moment, and I felt a change in him. It was a good change, I decided.

Zuko and I took turns hugging and greeting everyone. Being able to touch them made it more real for me that everyone had made it back in one piece.

"How did you defeat him without killing him?" Zuko asked Aang, somewhat awed and bewildered. I wondered the same thing.

"I was able to enter the Avatar State and then took away his ability to firebend," he explained matter-of-fact.

"How were you able to take away his bending?" I asked.

"I met a lion turtle who taught me energybending," he replied, but his eyes were scanning over the destroyed plaza. "Where's Azula?"

Zuko and I both looked over to where her body laid and Aang's eyes followed. "What happened? I can tell you didn't kill her from here," he asked, a small smile shown in his eyes at the realization that neither Zuko nor I had to take a life.

We replayed the events of the battle to the gang. They all seemed shocked that Azula had seemingly lost her grip so quickly.

"Do you think you could take her bending ability away, Aang?" Sokka asked. Perhaps that was a good idea.

Aang walked closer to Azula, observing. "Careful, Aang. She can still breathe fire."

"Don't worry, Katara," he replied, turning to smile at me with reassurance. "I just need to get a little closer to her to read her energy."

After a few moments of Aang looking at the sleeping princess, I could see him shake his head slightly.

"What is it, Aang?" Zuko asked intently.

"I don't know. There's something there that I can't quite put my finger on. Something that tells me that I shouldn't take away her bending ability."

"But isn't it dangerous to let her keep that?" Sokka exclaimed.

"Maybe." Aang paused. "She'll need to go someplace where she can't hurt anyone, including herself. At least until she gets better."

"But, Aang, this is Azula we're talking about here. She's one of the most skilled firebenders in the world. Not to mention, she's completely lost her mind now," Sokka retorted.

"I don't think she's lost it. She may have lost everything she thought she was, but I think she'll be able to find herself again."