This is my fanfic, "the Search for Katara". It's a Kataang (Katara+Aang) story with suggestions of Soph (Sokka+Toph), a Splash of one-sided Zutara (Zuko+Katara)… and some Mai lee (Mai+Ty Lee). Hee hee just kidding about that last one. Okay, in this thingy, Appa's safe, and THIS SITE HAD AN AVATAR RING ALL ALONG AND I HAD NO IDEA! Okay, um… here is me story.

Chapter 1: Tragedy

"Give it up, Avatar! It ends here!"

Zuko's challenge ran clear throughout Ba-Sing-Se. Aang struggled to avoid the blasts of fire that shot out at him in all directions, as he was chased across the rooftops of the city. Appa flew alongside him, carrying the rest of "Team Avatar". Katara had to pilot the giant flying bison, because Sokka, who felt especially clueless that day, had decided to shoot his boomerang and stop being the "plan guy" all the time. Toph and Momo sat in the saddle, doing nothing, because Toph couldn't feel vibrations enough to Earthbend while flying, and Momo… can sometimes be almost as stupid as Sokka.

Sokka peered over the edge of Appa's saddle, and saw Uncle Iroh running through the crowded city, trying to keep up. Sokka saw this as an opportunity to impress everyone, namely Toph. "Check this out! I'm going to take out the Dragon of the West!" he shouted. Sokka raised his boomerang and threw it directly at Iroh.

Instead of taking out Iroh, Sokka's boomerang swerved slightly and hit the cabbage merchant's cart square-on, making the contents of the cart and the boomerang almost like a bomb. Cabbages and boomerang fragments covered the marketplace, and the cabbage merchant. "MY CABBAGES!" he shrieked.

"Oops," said Sokka. Katara glared at him.

Meanwhile, Aang dodged blast after blast of uncontrollable fire. His Airbending was not enough to stop Zuko's exceptional Firebending. Then, a fireball generated from Zuko's fists hit Aang square in the chest, knocking him out cold.

Appa swerved to catch Aang's fall. Zuko fired a large blast in their direction, which Appa barely avoided. "Sokka! You steer! I'm going after Zuko," yelled Katara.

"What? Katara! He's been stranded on the roof! Why do you need to go after him!" said Sokka.

"He can't just keep shooting fireballs at us. If someone doesn't take care of him, either he'll shoot down Appa, or set a building on fire."

"But Katara! He's a lot more powerful now!"

"So am I!" And with that Katara handed Appa's reins to Sokka and jumped onto a nearby building that Zuko was standing on.

"Well, well. It's been a long time," said Zuko menacingly.

"Not long enough. I missed defeating you," said Katara.

And the battle began. Katara seemed to have an early advantage over Zuko, taking water from wells and fountains to use for bending. Zuko fell off the roof and fell in a wagon of feathers. Katara also jumped, bouncing off a merchant's tent and landing swiftly on the ground. Zuko jumped out of the feather wagon and started off… in the other direction.

Yes! I've got him on the run! Katara thought to herself as Zuko bolted through the gates of the city. But then, he stood at the edge of the serpent's pass, and beckoned for her to join him.

Stupid move, Zuko. You'll be surrounded by my element! Katara thought, and raced toward the serpent's pass.

There, the fight continued. Although they were now surrounded by water, Zuko's Firebending seemed to kick into high gear and overtake Katara. Soon, he had her up against the wall of the pass. His fists flickered with fire, but then… stopped.

Expecting the worse, Katara created a wall of ice as Zuko slowly advanced. "Finally, I've got you right where I want you," he said, the same menacing tone wavering in his voice.

Katara's eyes narrowed, and she moved into her best fighting stance behind her ice wall.

"You know, Katara, I've been waiting a long time for this… ever since I first met you, really…"

"Finish up your little victory speech, Zuko. It'll be short-lived," said Katara.

"Victory speech? No. I merely have something very important to tell you."

"Well, hurry up! That way I can defeat you again and get on with my life."

"You see, Katara, I know you feel the same way. For I have always… loved you."

"WHAT?"

Katara broke down her ice wall and hit Zuko with the biggest blast of water she had ever made. He washed up against the opposite side of the curve she was standing on.

"I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW FALSE THAT IS! LOVED YOU? NEVER! IS THIS SOME KIND OF TRICK? YOU NEARLY DESTROYED MY VILLAGE, MY BROTHER, AND AANG, AND YOU EXPECT ME TO LOVE YOU? YOU'VE REALLY MADE A WRONG MOVE THIS TIME!"

Katara grabbed the biggest amount of water she could bend, and fearlessly charged toward Zuko. Zuko stood up, and began meditating where he stood, trying to calm himself down, so he could let her go past, and keep the girl he loved from getting hurt. But something in his heart sprouted, and it seemed as though every fiber in his being was filled with uncontrollable anger, as if his very soul became a fiery monster, and anger flowed through his blood like poison. Zuko launched himself at Katara, and blasted incredible fire in her direction. The two's greatest bending skills had been unveiled, right then and there, in a fit of anger on both sides.

Meanwhile, Sokka, Aang, Toph and Momo approached the Serpent's pass on Appa. "Where are they?" said Sokka in his most warriorlike voice. Suddenly a wave of Tsunami qualities burst into the air. "Wow! Katara's gotten really good!" Exclaimed Aang. His face was like a kid on Christmas. But then a mushroom cloud of fire exploded in the same spot. "So has Zuko. Let's go!" yelled Sokka, and he veered Appa in the direction of the blasts.

With every fireball he launched, Zuko seemed to grow angrier and angrier. Then, as flames burst out of his mouth, he launched a massive fireball straight at Katara, which set fire to the rock. Katara couldn't control the flames, despite being a Waterbender, and she cried out in terror.

Aang heard her scream, and stood up immediately. "I'm not waiting any longer!" he shouted, and he thrust his gilder into the air and flew off. "Aang! Wait!" called Sokka. "Yip yip!" he commanded of Appa, who sped after Aang.

Katara was surrounded by flames, except for a small area where she stood. Smoke began to fill her lungs, and she fell from the top of a rock onto a lower ledge, where she lay still.

"Katara! No!" Aang cried. He landed his glider right next to her, and Appa landed on a larger ledge a bit away. Sokka jumped off, and Toph, who had been sleeping the whole time, climbed off.

Aang took Katara in her arms. Her eyes were closed. "Katara… wake up… please…" he said, almost like a prayer. As if on cue, Katara's eyes opened slightly, and she looked up at Aang. "I'm sorry, Aang. It doesn't look like I'll be able to finish teaching you Waterbending after all," she said in a small voice. "No… please…" said Aang. "Is she all right?" called Sokka, and he stopped short at Aang's side. Katara looked up at her brother. "Goodbye Sokka," she said. "I'll tell Mom you send your love," and her eyes closed. A small, weak breath of ice extracted from Katara's throat, and she turned limp and cold in Aang's arms.

That's all for now. Now don't you go crying in your pillows. Believe me, this is far from over. I'll be a postin' Chapter 2 sometime this coming weekend.