Hey guys, this is my final version. After writing the original and the alternate ending, I realized that both had strayed a little from my original intentions with the fic, so I rewrote it. Again, I've bolded the part that veers off from the first version. Here it is!


Sokka dies alone.

He has no idea why there was a single Fire Nation soldier out in the wilderness. He isn't sure if there are more nearby, but he hasn't been able to hear anything that would lead him to believe so. The soldier must have been a scout, then.

Good, he thinks firmly. The others will be safe.

He is shaking uncontrollably. The adrenaline is fading from his system. He is starting to feel panic, pain.

He wishes Katara were there. His fingers tighten over his stomach as he thinks of her, wishing she was there to comfort him. He wishes his mother were there, too, but it's sort of the same thing now, Katara and his mother.

He groans loudly through gritted teeth and tears leak out of his eyes. His body is tingling, his head swimming, and there is pain searing across his skin all over.

He wants Katara, but he has strayed far enough from camp in search of game that he doubts he will be heard unless he screams. He doesn't want to draw any soldiers that may be nearby, and he doesn't know if he even has the strength. Terrified, his mind and body wrecked, he begins to sob quietly; he cannot help himself. He is immobile, completely helpless, and he feels like a child.

He had heard the firebender coming and hid behind a tree, striking a surprise blow with his sword. He hadn't penetrated the armor, but he'd sent the soldier stumbling, giving Sokka the opportunity to crack his helmet. It fell apart, revealing the bender's face.

He had recovered quickly, leaping to his feet and throwing two streams of fire from his hands at the same time. Sokka attempted to dodge them, but the side of his face and neck were caught in one of the bursts of flame. Though the pain was immense, he managed to shake it off quickly and strike again.

The man blocked the blows, striking back with fists and fire. Sokka managed to dodge most of the attacks, sustaining minimal damage. Through soft spots in the Fire soldier's armor, he managed to inflict some himself.

And then the firebender's hands were hovering centimeters away from his chest and a thick shaft of flame hit him. He staggered back and, before he could even think of defending himself, his enemy had pulled out a dagger and plunged it into his sternum.

Sokka screamed. The dagger was pulled down his stomach, creating a long gash, almost down to his navel.

A pained noise was wrenched from his throat. He almost lost the grip on his sword. He wanted to fall to the ground and let himself die. But he couldn't let this Fire Nation scum go to find his friends, or to bring more forces here. He gripped his sword and steeled himself before pulling back and piercing the soldier's throat in one swift motion. He was showered with blood. The soldier fell, gurgling, his wide eyes locked onto Sokka's.

Trembling, pressing his hands over his wound, Sokka turned and took several erratic steps back in the direction of camp before hitting the ground with a thud.

Now, he lets out a shuddering cry, trying to express some of the agony raging through him. He wants Katara. He wants her to be there with him so badly he says her name. The cry is hoarse and quiet and he wheezes afterward, choking on blood.

He can't have her by his side as he dies; he knows this. There are more soldiers nearby, there must be, and to scream would be to draw them here.

He has to die in secret. Katara will be angry with him, but at least she'll be alive. Toph will be alive. Aang will be alive. They'll save the world.

They can do it without him.

He hopes, as he lets out a loud gurgling noise and blood spurts from his nose and mouth, that he will see his mother. He is afraid that when he dies, there will be nothing.

Tears are streaming down his face. He wants to let out a loud wail, he wants to whimper and sob, but he forces himself to stay silent, with the exception of his ragged breaths.

If Katara were here, she might try to heal him. But Katara can't heal this. This is too much. It's better that she's not here, so that she can't try, so that she can't fail.

He can feel the end coming. He is going to die, soon, too soon. He is terrified, but he keeps his jaw clamped tight.

He closes his eyes and forces himself to lay still, to drift, to let go.

He dies alone, dreaming of the South Pole, dreaming of Katara and Aang and his mother.