Hi everyone! I hope you're enjoying what you've read so far. It's taken me awhile to get this chapter up because it was more difficult to write - trying to keep pace with what happened in the show and how hectic everything was for everyone during that time. So I hope you enjoy it and please give me feedback, like I said, it was a difficult chapter to write so I'd like to know how you guys like it. Enjoy!
Zuko hurt. Every part of him hurt and he couldn't sleep. He wanted to pace but he couldn't get out of the bed. He had barely recovered from the wounds he had obtained from the fight on the ship when he battled Azula. He wondered if Katara was okay. He longed to see her, to know for certain that everything was alright.
It was like the spirits were listening, because the door connecting the two rooms opened. Katara slipped in and approached the injured firebender. "Katara, what's going on?" He wanted to hear about it from her.
"We're in the palace. You're going to become Firelord in a few days, once you've healed enough to handle it. I sent out a hawk to Sokka and one to your uncle. We should hear back soon. I told them you fought Azula in an Agni Kai, she cheated, she and I fought and you're injured. She's in custody now." Katara gave him a basic outline, not wanting to cause him any grief or stress over the details of the fight, how close she was to making it out alive… or how close he was to dying.
Zuko was still shirtless and shivered slightly when Katara removed the covers from his chest. "Katara –"
She shook her head. "Whatever it is can wait. You need to rest. I'm going to see what I can do for you. But I'm warning you, Aang still hasn't healed completely from his lightning shot. Although his was much worse than yours… yours should heal up in a week or two with continued care." Katara's hands moved over his stomach and chest, trying to heal the internal wounds and distract her from her worries.
"Uncle told me to make sure the lightning flowed through my stomach. If it went to my heart, it would kill me. This was the basic of learning redirection. It cannot go through your heart…" He trailed off, and Katara nodded.
"It doesn't seem to have gone through your heart, but it burned you inside some. I'll do the best I can. It will still take time." Katara was so grateful that Zuko hadn't been killed and a tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away, having finished doing what she could for the evening. Zuko was asleep, and she kissed his forehead. "Get better, Zuko."
Within the next two days, most of the allies of the Avatar began to arrive at the palace. Katara had spent the time working on healing Zuko, who was now able to mostly move about and do things on his own, as well as writing letters and directing allies to where they should be. Iroh had replied to her message about the battle with Azula with a recount of the recapture of Ba Sing Se. He explained he would not be able to make it to Zuko's coronation, which he was very upset about, but wanted everyone to come visit him in Ba Sing Se afterwards.
Zuko had understood, although it had saddened him. The palace was overrun with guests, however, and he had to tend to them. Katara had little time to do that, because when Sokka arrived the day before the coronation, she had to tend to his wounds in addition to Zuko's. She also did her regular healing sessions for Aang, whom she was very proud of. Zuko didn't like the attention Katara gave Aang, although he understood it. Aang was like a brother to him and he was proud of him, too.
The day of the coronation arrived and Katara was finishing up getting ready in her room, with Sokka laying on her bed. Katara glanced at the door connecting her room with the one next to it, and wondered how Zuko was doing getting ready by himself. She stood next to the door, about to go through when she heard a female voice on the other side. Her whole body stiffened, though her brother didn't notice. He was going on about how he had to have Toph help him find his space sword and boomerang after the battle.
She heard Zuko's happy exclamation at the knife-thrower's release from prison and glared at the door when she heard, "and it doesn't hurt when the new Firelord is your boyfriend." She waited for Zuko to correct her, that things were different now, but she heard nothing like that. She heard Mai speak and stiffened again, hearing, "And don't you ever break up with me again." She sighed, then turned around to her brother, still telling his tale.
"C'mon, Sokka! Let's go down to the courtyard and see who's there." She knew Aang and Zuko were going to be announced together so the Water Tribe siblings left. They saw Toph hug The Duke and talk to some of their friends. Katara couldn't help but smile when she saw them. They had been through a lot together and it was nice to see them all together, without worrying about fighting.
"Dad!" The two siblings had caught sight of Hakoda and the other men of the Southern Water Tribe, and rushed forward, Sokka hobbling after his sister. They hugged and cried until Sokka's girlfriend approached them, posse in tow. The exchange that followed had Katara trying her hardest not to laugh as Sokka tried to comprehend what he was hearing.
"The girls and I really bonded in prison. And after a few chi-blocking sessions, they said I could join them! We're going to be best friends!" The smiling Ty Lee hugged two of the girls and Suki lowered Sokka's crutch, smiling at his confusion.
The chattering was disrupted by the commotion on a balcony overhead. They looked up and watched as Zuko thanked Aang for his work before being crowned Firelord. The cheering was deafening in the courtyard, and Katara stared at the handsome man. A lone tear ran down her face and she wiped it away, trying to smile.
"C'mon, Katara! No need to get emotional on us." Her brother teased her and she pretended that was all it was. Aang caught her eye and smiled at her. She knew he had a crush on her and he was a sweet kid. She had noticed him maturing, getting more muscular and losing his childish ways, but hadn't thought about it too much until the invasion, and then everything was too overwhelming for her.
After the coronation ceremony, many of the allies prepared to leave immediately and return to family and friends at home, some who had not seen their homes for years. That evening was emotional as the Gaang said goodbye to many of their friends from around the world, reassuring each other they would visit soon. Sokka and Katara said goodbye to the men of their tribe, hugging each of them and promising to return home after they had visited Ba Sing Se and Omashu to visit with Iroh and Bumi.