A/N – Well this is going to be a bit different to my normal fics but hey change is good: )
Disclaimer – I don't Avatar and neither do you deal with it bucko!
Six years had passed since the defeat of Lord Ozai, he had gone down with a thud and balance was restored among the world. Aang had been provoked into the 'Avatar State' by a single water bender falling to her knees in defeat. Even in this State Aang had felt burning tears well up in his glowing eyes, seeing Katara hurt was like being hit with a brick for him, but he knew the fight must go on, so it did, and he won. Many had died at the hands of War, but thankfully the Avatar ceased it Luckily Zuko the man who now held terrain over the Fire Nation had sought to aid Katara in time, forcing her to bend and heal her own wounds. Katara like Aang, Sokka, Toph, Momo, Appa and Zuko had all lived to tell the tail of the great, but menacing War. Aang remembered every second of the battle against Ozai, how he felt before and how he felt after, mainly after.
(FLASH BACK)
Zuko spotted Katara fall from the corner of his eye, she had been struck by a blast of fire at the chest and her legs suddenly caved in. He ran over to her, her burns were bad and most of which were bleeding rapidly.
"Katara, Katara wake up" he said kneeling in the dirt at her side, his hand now red with her blood which were now tapping her face, trying to wake her.
Katara's eyes opened slightly, all she could see were outlines of people moving and one which was quite near her face.
"Aang?"
"No it's me Zuko"
"Where's Aang?"
Zuko looked over to where Aang was fighting his father upon the now dismantled palace, his tattoo's were noticeably glowing bright blue and he seemed to be hovering above the earth, blow after blow he blocked or dodged tiring his opponent out and Zuko looked back at Katara.
"He's still fighting, my my father" he said brushing the hair out of her eyes. "Katara you have to listen to me, here's your pouch bend the water from here and heal your cuts, can you feel them?"
"Is Aang ok?"
"Katara please, heal your wounds" Katara steadily and weakly did as the fire bender told her. She slowly became more conscious of where she was and what was going on around her, she continued on concentrating on her wounds until they were closed.
Zuko pulled Katara to her feet and gawked at how thoroughly she had healed her wound.
"Thank you Zuko" At that moment a cry of pain was heard from there left, they both turned to see who it was to find Iroh had been killed and they could just see the light leave his old eyes. Katara gasped and pulled Zuko in to a tight embrace.
(END OF FLASH BACK)
Unfortunately, the day the war had ended was also the day Aang stopped believing Katara loved him.
(FLASH BACK)
Aang fell from the sky and his tattoo's returned to there neutral blue, he looked up to find Ozai dead, his head slumped on his shoulder and not moving at all. Aang had fulfilled his duty and he finally felt the weight of the world lift from his thirteen year old shoulders, but he still felt extremely heavy knowing Katara was hurt or possibly even dead.
He turned around hoping to see her running towards him unharmed with a smile on her face. He turned around to find her standing there unharmed but woefully in the arms off another man, he felt the exact same feeling as he had before he turned around except the feelings were replaced with jealousy and betrayal.
The words Katara had once said rang through his ears, At the end of the war all you can do is love, show love and be loved, She had also said that her Grandmother had once told her that, but that was irrelevant to the message before him. Katara loved Zuko and there was nothing he could do about it.
(END OF FLASH BACK)
Aang was confused and hurt, he honestly believed Katara loved Zuko and still six years later he believed it. After the war Aang had given Katara the cold shoulder, she didn't know what had changed. Katara was deeply and madly in love with Aang but he couldn't see it because he was blinded by what he had seen. Katara had hoped Aang felt the same way about her as she did him, and waited for him to say something. She acted like her usual self, flirting with him; they bended together as usual and she even wrote him a letter proclaiming her feelings for him. She never sent it. Aang slowly began to wonder if what he saw was a mistake, if he had the wrong impression. Roughly a year after the war Aang decided to ask Katara straight up. He had almost completely memorized what he would say. Still unsure how she felt, he had to know how she felt even if it did confirm his worst fears.
(FLASH BACK)
Katara was sitting on the brink of the Koi pond in the court yards of the newly built Fire Nation palace, feet dipped in the water and tears streaming down her face. The recent Fire Lord sat down next to her; they had formed quite the friendship over the year.
"Katara? What's wrong?" Zuko asked.
"Nothing, don't worry" She said wiping the tears away from her eyes and turned to face him and gave a weak smile, the feeling this fake smile gave her made her feel worse and she broke out in tears again.
"You can tell me Katara" He assured her.
"Alright but you can't tell anyone ok" she said holding out her pinky finger and her took it in his and they briefly shook. This childish form of pact brought up memories of Zuko's childhood.
"Heh this reminds me of when I was little, Mai and I use to always promise like this" He stated. "So what is it?" he asked suddenly remembering what he was promising about.
"Well…"she started and wiped a tear away from her cheek "It's about Aang…ever since before the war I have kinda liked him and I thought he felt the same. But after the war he seemed different and I knew he would be, but it seems like he doesn't like me anymore well not in that way anyway" She said sniffling.
"What makes you think that?" Zuko asked.
"Well I mean for one he doesn't look at me like he used to, he hardly wants to spend as much time with me its like he just wants to be friends. He's the avatar what more can you expect I suppose, he could have any girl he wants"
With that Zuko pressed his lips to hers. At first Katara was startled and then she decided what better way to forget than moving on so she adopted the kiss making it hers.
(END OF FLASH BACK)
Aang too had to stumble upon this and get it quite the wrong way.
(FLASH BACK)
Aang decided tonight was the perfect night; he heard her leave her room and assumed she was down at the Koi pond in the court yards.
"Pull your self together Avatar" Aang said to himself "What's the worst that can happen right". He tried not to think about that, he was nearing the gates of the courtyard where he spotted a bush blooming the most beautiful of flowers. He picked one of every color and continued through the gates to find Katara and Zuko kissing. Aang's heart dropped in union with the flowers and he ran back up to his room. Aang chose to leave the Fire Nation, he would write them a letter.
Dear Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko
Hey I'm sorry I had to leave in the middle of the night and without good byes.
Avatar stuff you understand, I will not be returning any time soon. I plan to settle down in the Earth Kingdom somewhere. Toph you have been such a great master and I thank you dearly, Sokka you are like a brother to me, Zuko thank you for being so accommodating over the year and Katara I'm glad I met you.
AANG
Momo gave a little moan. "I know I know, I lied but I had to, come on buddy lets go" Aang said soullessly and they left on Appa.
(END OF FLASH BACK)
After reading that letter, Toph had gone home, Sokka had gone back to his tribe for a few years, but he now lives with Aang in Omashu, Zuko continued to rule over The Fire Nation with his two children and wife, and Katara at being left (and not knowing why) by Aang decided to go back up to the North Pole and Learnt medicine, she now lives in Ba Sing Se healing.
The Team was all split up.
Aang paced up and down his small home that he shared with Sokka.
"What are you doing?" Sokka asked waking up on the couch.
"Nothing" He held the invitation in his hand and clenched it in frustration.
"What's that?" Sokka asked in demand pointing at what was in Aang's hand.
"Nothing, It's nothing" Sokka was too quick and reefed the invitation from his hands.
Sokka began to read aloud "Dear Avatar and Co, Hey Co that's me" he cleared his throat and continued. "You have been invited to a festival in honor of the Avatars at Ba Sing Se. The festival is spread over a period of five days, and on the last day will be concluded with a ball. You being our most honorable guest will have to present a speech, all the kings and lords of all the nations will be attending.
Yours truly The Earth King" Sokka paused for a second "This is great!" he beamed.
"How is this in the slightest bit great?" Aang asked frustrated.
"Ummm hello, festival, ball in your honor. Ring any bells?"
"Oh and I have to go this is terrible!"
"How is a festival terrible?" Sokka asked dumbstruck.
"Ok do you remember when I told you the real reason I left?" Aang asked.
"Something about Zuko and Katara being in love and it killed you inside" He stated casually.
"Right, and do you remember where Katara lives?"
"Ba Sing Se"
"Right, and do you remember the name of the Fire Lord?"
"Zuko"
"Uh huh and go back to why I left in the first place"
"It's because you can't dance isn't it?"
"No, I can dance!" He yelled, oblivious as to how dumb Sokka could get. "Zuko and Katara will be there, at the same place for five days! I cant stand that for five seconds let alone five days!"
"When Katara went up to the North Pole they didn't seem like a couple or anything are you sure about all this?" Sokka asked.
"Yes I'm sure" Aang said with a sigh.
"What do you care? You with Lai now"
"Oh right her…" Aang groaned sadly.
"What are you talking about? She's hot!"
"She doesn't put a dent in your sister" Aang said under his breath.
"Huh? So what are you gonna tell her?"
"I'm going to Ba Sing Se for Five days I guess"
"Yes!" Sokka cried jumping in the air. "I'll saddle Appa up"
A/N – Im going to try and update tonight! Hope you like it please review if so