A/N - I'm back and ready to rock. On to Ba Sing Se, Charge!! Katara is going to kick ass in this chapter I promise.

Chapter 7- Ruin Part 2

Katara would of given everything just to stay in bed, but she knew that would never happen. The ship had come to a complete stop and Azula was already gone. The water bender groaned inwardly and rolled out of bed.

" I might as well face this head on."

She opened the door to discover two masked guards already waiting on her. To her surprise they wouldn't let her leave Azula's room

" What's going on?"

" We have specific instructions for you to remain in this room until the Fire Lord returns."

Katara didn't argue with the men because she already knew Azula was up to something. The water bender walked back over to the bed and sat down. There was nothing to do but wait until Azula returned.

She didn't have to wait long for the fire bender to return. A few hours later the fire bender came back fully armored and carrying a strange box.

For as long as Katara had known her, she had never seen Azula wear an armored helmet. The situation in Ba Sing Se must have been pretty horrible.

" So, where have you been?" Katara inquired.

Azula pulled off her helmet and smiled " I was out getting a gift for you, my love."

" Is that why I couldn't leave the room?"

Azula nodded tossing her helmet on the ground " It was a surprise." She presented the box to Katara " Open it.."

The water bender looked at Azula cautiously before slowly opening the suspicious gift. Her eyes widened "….How?"

Azula grinned " I was waiting for the right time to give it back."

Katara lifted her mother's necklace out of the box with trembling hands. The water bender had thought she would never see it again and now it was back in her possession.

Even though she was happy to see her most prized possession again, she would not be easily distracted. Katara easily clasped the necklace and stared up at Azula.

" So, why are you giving this to me?"

Azula pretended to be hurt, " Cant I give you a gift of love, don't you trust me?"

The water bender narrowed her eyes " No, I don't trust you."

Azula nodded " You're learning….very well, once we get inside the city, you willwear the necklace at all times." The fire bender began to pace " You will address me by my title and you will not speak to any of the civilians of the city."

" Is that all your highness?" shot Katara.

Azula grabbed her helmet from the ground and tucked it under her arm " Let's go."


The two benders left from port with only a few of Azula's personal guards. They rode through the country side in complete silence. Another few hours rolled off the day until finally after all the blood, sweat in tears they arrived in Ba Sing Se.

Katara's breathe caught in her throat at the number of soldiers waiting for Azula in the Agrarian Zone. There was at least 300 strong.

" This is the royal guard?" the water bender asked.

Azula climbed down from her mount " Yes, each of these men are prepared to throw their lives before mine."

While Azula regrouped with her men, Katara took the time to survey the landscape. Although the Ba Sing Se Zoo was gone the land didn't look bad, maybe Sozin's comet hadn't demolished the city after all.

" But why would Azula bring me here?" she thought.

" Katara get over here!" the Fire Lord yelled as the water bender began to wander off.

" Don't wander off again, you'll get yourself hurt." Azula hissed.

" It almost sounds like you care," Katara shot back.

Azula glared at the woman " There is someone you have to meet, he'll be your ….guard of sorts."

The Fire Lord clasped her arms behind her back as a tall soldier came forward. The man saluted Azula and then turned to Katara and bowed.

" Take off your helmet…brother," Azula ordered.

Shoulder length raven hair spilled down as Zuko removed the helmet. The scarred man smiled warmly " Hello Katara."

The water bender was so shocked and happy to see the man alive, she flung herself in his arms.

" Enough of that, this isn't a social call, " snapped Azula, hiding her jealousy.

Zuko didn't seem at all troubled that his younger sister was handing him orders. Katara had a million questions to ask him but she forced herself to wait until a better time.

" Stay by Zuko at all times, if you get separated from me he'll know what to do." Azula replied " Now, leave us."

Azula waited until Katara was out of earshot until she began to speak"…You look well brother."

The former prince nodded solemnly " Thank you Azula, you look well also…love suits you."

Azula hid her surprise " How did you know?"

The man shrugged " I've known since the war, I just chose not to say anything."

" On to business General," Azula said quickly changing the subject " How is the situation here."

"…There isn't much improvement in the Lower Ring, the rebellion is still fighting strong."

" We will crush the rebellion!" Azula snarled " Father wanted this city to be rebuilt in the Fire Nation's image and that's what will happen."

Zuko placed both hands on his younger sister's shoulder " Azula, father is dead now."

" I know that! I'm not stupid!" Azula snapped shrugging him off. " Nevertheless, we will continue until every last one of them is dead."

" …Why have you brought Katara, I thought father gave her a life sentence."

" He did but I'll make an exception." " Besides, she's going to help me end the rebellion one way or another."

Zuko smiled sadly " I don't think she will."

" She will if she ever wants to see her brother again."

" I'll ready the men to start marching."

Azula nodded but grabbed the man before he could walk away " Protect her."

Zuko didn't need an explanation. " I will," he responded slipping on his helmet.


While Azula yelled out orders, Katara snuck an opportunity to talk to Zuko. The water bender felt a lump rise in her throat.

" ….I'm sorry," she whispered. " For everything."

" You don't have to apologize," the fire bender assured her " I'm not angry, really."

Katara shuffled her feet " How did you survive?"

" Isn't obvious…Azula saved me."

Katara eyes widened " How?"

Zuko opened his mouth to answer but a cold voice interrupted him " That's enough General, I told you both before, this isn't a social call." Azula retorted as she approached the two.

" I'm sorry, Fire Lord."

" Don't let it happen again, now let's move!"

Zuko nodded and the 3 bender's fell step behind the ranks of soldiers. Azula put on her helmet and blended in perfectly with the rest of the soldiers. With all the guards wearing armor, Katara felt naked wearing only a red fire nation dress and her mother's necklace.

As if reading her thoughts Zuko placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Azula glared at him and he quickly removed it.

" Brace yourself for this," Zuko whispered as they began to get closer to the Lower Ring. Katara's heart burned and beat painfully inside her chest as she tried to steel herself.

" Just breathe," he advised her but his words fell on deaf ears.

Complete and utter ruin. Those were the only words that could describe the Lower Ring of Ba Sing . The monorails were collapsed into broken off piles of burnt rubble along with the buildings that surrounded them. As far as building were concerned: there weren't very many compared to before. Many had been either completely destroyed or charred to the point where they were no longer livable.

Katara couldn't quite place it but something inside her died at that very moment. Tears began to pour down her face without restraint. Zuko reached out to comfort her but Azula shook her head dangerously " …Don't, brother."

Zuko nodded and kept his hand clenched at his side instead. He took a deep breath and prayed that his friend would be strong, because the worst was far from over.


" Food…water," groaned a young boy as the royal guard marched through the Lower Ring.

None of the soldiers looked at him or even acknowledged that he was there. He held out his hand hoping someone would pass him a coin, soon others came behind him.

" Help us! We're starving! You cant treat us like this!' a voice in the gathering crowd yelled.

Azula kept her heart cold and her guard up as the crowd thickened full of hungry citizens. Katara was no longer crying but she had become deathly silent. The fire bender now thought it was the right time to put her plan into motion.

" Prince Zuko…walk ahead."

The use of his former title surprised Zuko but he didn't say anything. The older man stared at his sister suspiciously before he followed orders and left the two women trailing.

" You could help them Katara," said the Fire Lord her voice calm and smooth " Help me end this pointless rebellion and life will be better, for everyone."

Katara didn't answer and Azula smirked " I knew you would react this way, you've always let your heart rule you."

"……….."

Azula shrugged " Fine, don't help…but know this ,until the rebellion is crushed…these people will not receive any food or water." " Their reserves are not infinite as you can see, soon everyone will run out.

Katara could feel her cold anger turning into rage. She tried to remain in control for Sokka's sake.

" What do you want me to do about it?!" the water bender growled " Do you think I have that much power?!"

Katara's questions were suddenly answered as a young girl wandered over. She kept silent because Azula had ordered her not to speak to any of the citizens.

" Could I have something to eat, please?"

The water bender closed her eyes as more tears began to stream down her face. A man came running and kneeled down to the young girl's level.

" Come away from them, I'll get you something to eat!" he promised standing up to address the crowd " Follow me and I'll get you all food and water, you don't have to beg these animals!"

His eyes snapped to the two benders " You heartless bi----" he began to growl but his voice suddenly trailed off. His eyes wandered down to the water bender's necklace and widened.

" K..Katara?" he whispered.

The man wore a green head band around his long brown hair. He took a step forward his green eyes wide in shock " Katara, is it really you…you're alive?"

The water bender nodded "….Haru, its good to see you."

Suddenly, Katara didn't care if Azula had ordered her not to speak. Haru was practically a brother to her and she was more than happy to see him. For the second time in a day, she flung herself into a man's arms.

Haru joyfully spun the water bender around in his arms until they both were dizzy. Azula stepped forward angrily as the earth bender kissed the woman fully on the lips.

" Put her down," she ordered and Haru cautiously complied. The Fire Lord removed her helmet and jerked her head towards the earth bender " Take him."

Her guards shoved Katara out of the way and grabbed Haru. The earth bender laughed as a few men bonded his hands together.

" No matter what they do, they can't break us!" he yelled out " They try to take food and water away from us but we're still ALIVE!" The crowds gathered around cheered loudly.

Azula was already angry because the rebel had kissed Katara. As her men held the struggling earth bender, the prodigy struck him across the face repeatedly.

Haru only laughed harder with each blow until Azula's men finally let him drop bounded to the dirt. He looked up and smiled at the water bender " Katara, I haven't given up hope and neither should you, look!'

Katara spun around to see the earth crack and tremble not too far away. An enormous marble object began to rise from the rubble of the destroyed buildings until it towered over them . The water bender felt her knees buckle as she locked eyes with the colossal memorial.

The memorial consisted of four perfectly sculpted figures standing together; Aang, Toph, Sokka and herself. In the center stood Aang and he looked exactly how Katara remembered him. From his bald head to the arrows on his body everything had been flawlessly sculpted. To Aang's left were the statues of Toph and Sokka. The earth bender was poised in a stance and Sokka's sword was drawn. Both had looks of fierce determination in their eyes. Finally, to the Avatar's right Katara gazed at her younger self behind tears. Her hand was on Aang's shoulder and her head was tilted to the sky. A look of sadness but hope shone in her eyes.

Just as quickly as the memorial went up, it quickly disappeared under the rubble again. Katara realized that somewhere along the line her friends and herself had become symbols of hope for the war. From running across the globe trying to help Aang learn the four elements or planning an invasion, they were always trying to keep hope alive.

Azula hoisted the woman to her feet angrily " I told you not to talk to anyone!" she snapped. " The next civilian you speak to dies!"

Although the crowd was angry, they didn't have enough earth benders to challenge Azula's elite royal guard. Haru was yanked roughly to his feet and shoved forward. He locked eyes with Katara and smiled ' Its alright, you don't have to speak…your eyes say everything."

" Get him out of my site," Azula commanded and men immediately dragged Haru away.

Later on that night, Azula continued her pursuits to end the rebellion. She knew that if Katara supported her, then all her pathetic little friends would fall in line. The only problem was trying to get the water bender to comply. Her plans had almost been ruined by that stupid earth bender and his war memorial.

" So, now you know the situation and the power you have over these pathetic fools," Azula hissed " Katara, help me end this."

Katara smirked staring ahead " I'm not helping you do anything…your highness."

" If you want your brother to stay healthy, you will."

The water bender glanced up at the darkened sky. The moon was close to being full " Go ahead, kill Sokka and everyone else too."

Azula had anticipated Katara to say anything except for that. She glared at the woman " Do you think I wont do it?"

Katara smiled but her eyes were sad " I know you will."

" So you don't care anymore?"

" I know Sokka and he would want me to keep hope alive…even if it meant his own life, so would Toph and Suki."

" Very well…I'll arrange for them to be executed as soon as we reach the Upper Ring."

Katara didn't mourn for her brother and friends. She felt like she would be joining them before the night was over.


" So what did she say?' asked Zuko walking beside his sister again.

" …..She said no, as you predicted, " Azula fumed.

Zuko beamed with pride but he hid it well " What will you do now?"

" I told the water bender that I would have her brother and friends executed once we reach the Upper Ring."

" ….And will you?"

"….No," Azula admitted " If I kill them, she'll never forgive me."

" You really love her Azula, I've never seen you give up on anything."

" I haven't given up!" the Fire Lord protested. " I just need to make another plan."

Zuko hesitated and he finally asked "…How did father die?" Since Azula had made it high treason to discuss Ozai's death, Zuko had been left in the dark.

"……I killed him, " Azula replied stoically.

The former princess nodded " Can I ask why?"

" You're pushing your luck Zuko," the Fire Lord snapped.

" I know…but he was my father too, I deserve to know."

Azula sighed inwardly " Do you remember when grandfather wanted to have you killed to teach father a lesson?"

" How can I forget, it's the day mom left."

" Father wanted me to kill Katara….but I couldn't do it…so I chose her."

" Does she know?"

Azula shook her head and the two siblings fell into silence. Zuko suddenly began looking around frantically.

" Speaking of Katara, where did she go?"

" YOU MORON!" yelled Azula " You were supposed to be watching her!"

" We'll find her!" Zuko assured the Fire Lord.

The two fire benders heard commotion coming from the front of the line. Brother and sister looked at each other for a brief moment and then ran to investigate.


Haru, now free of his bonds, fought the guards surrounding him with ferocity. Even though he was now a master earth bender, he was still vastly out numbered…until help showed up. An assault of rocks suddenly came from out of nowhere disabling many of the guards.

" We heard you were in a bit of a jam, Haru," replied an earth bender coming to his comrades aid.

Haru grinned " Thanks guys."

" Is there room for one more?" called a voice.

Haru grinned wider as the water bender came to stand at his side " Just like old times right Katara?"

" Yes…just like old times," Katara agreed as they faced the Fire Lord's guards.

Katara had decided that she wasn't going to be a fire nation slave anymore. She was going to make her final stand as a free woman amongst friends.

With the moon full, the water bender's strength heightened ten fold. She bended water from the air and used it to attack and defend herself against the royal guard.

Azula fought her way to the front as more earth bender's came from out of practically nowhere. Zuko followed closely behind his sister protecting them both from the barrage of rocks being fired.

Azula was desperately searching for Katara as the fighting became more fierce. She pushed both guards and earth benders alike trying to get closer. She yelled out the water bender's name but her voice was drowned out over all the noise.

Once the guards got over their initial surprise of being ambushed, they quickly used their numbers to overwhelm the rebels. Katara and Haru stood back to back as they were completely surrounded.

" This is it," the water bender thought.

Even though she was seconds away from being fire blasted into oblivion, the woman felt no fear. Finally, she could regain her honor after 5 long years.

" WAIT!" screamed Azula as she drew nearer but a few of the men didn't hear her and they fired.

Katara's eyes widened in shock and horror as Haru stepped in front of her and took the blasts full on. He managed to throw an arm up in front of his face but it didn't do any good. The earth bender screamed out as the flames engulfed almost his entire body, he rolled on the ground and lay motionless.

" Enough!" yelled Azula finally gaining the royal guards attention " At ease!"

The guards immediately replied but it was too late for Haru. Zuko ran to the man's side and checked for any signs of life.

Katara thought numbly "….First mom, then Aang…and now Haru."

Watching her friend being brutally burned made something die and ignite inside Katara all at once. The small piece of hope that she had been trying to hold on to since the war's end, died. In its place, a rage so powerful ignited inside the water bender that she could hardly begin to think clearly, let alone control it.

Katara's heart was pounding so fast it threatened to burst inside her chest. The rage boiled up to the surface like magma spilling out from a vessel that was too weakened to contain it. Her head snapped up to the moon and asked…no, she commanded the spirits to take vengeance with her. The spirits answered.


" Katara are you hurt?" asked Azula hurrying to the water bender's side. Katara's head was bowed and she didn't respond.

Azula placed both hands on her shoulder " Katara, look at me."

The Fire Lord regretted her words as soon as Katara glanced up. The water bender's once beautiful blue eyes were now a dullish orange, the same color as the moon. Azula jumped back and Katara took a menacing step forward. The woman strangely began moving her arms without summoning any water.

Blind panic washed over the fire bender as her limbs suddenly became paralyzed. Katara smiled as she twisted the prodigy's limbs in painful, awkward ways.

" Katara! Stop!" yelled Zuko as he heard a sickening snap and his sister's arm was broken.

Azula's arm hung useless at her side but the blood bender wasn't done. The Fire Lord heard screaming as guards began unsheathing their blades and running one another through. Zuko had no choice but to defend his sister as Katara sent many of Azula's own guards to kill her.

Katara felt as if she were outside her own body. She knew she was hurting Azula and killing men but she couldn't control herself. The spirits not only consumed her, they controlled her. They wanted revenge for all the souls lost to the Fire Nation's relentless quest to enslave the world. Katara was now only a tool in the blood bath. A tear slid down her face and the slaughter continued.

Katara advanced on Zuko her orange stare cold and merciless. She didn't see the warm hearted prince who threw himself in front of a lightning bolt to save her life, she only saw a fire nation soldier.

Zuko threw his head back and screamed as Katara squeezed his heart. The water bender raised blood from the ground and formed multiple sharp points aiming them at the former prince. Zuko shut his eyes waiting for the terrible death to come.

Azula didn't have time to even wipe the tears from her eyes. Zuko didn't have another second to spare.

" I love you Katara and I'm sorry…for everything," she whispered sadly, gathering lightning with one good arm. Just as the blood bender was going to make a human target out of Zuko, she struck.

Katara regained herself as a terrible pain struck through the back of her shoulder blades. The water bender's eyes returned to blue as her back arched in immense agony. She slumped to her knees and then fell face onto the earth.

Zuko took a long gulp of air and struggled to regain his footing. Tears poured unrestrained down Azula's face as she stumbled over to the motionless figure. The fire bender fell to her knees and gently turned the woman over. Both of Katara's eyes were still open but there was no sign of life.

Trembling, she gathered the still woman with her good arm and sobbed forcefully. Azula knew her entire world had ended…….

To Be Continued…

A/N- No, this isn't the end so don't worry. I hope everyone likes this chapter because I spent a lot of time on it. Will update ASAP.