Author's Note: YES now I'm sure that most of you wish to kick me for hurting poor Zuko. I actually fancy him a bit myself. XD just kidding. Sorta.
Anyway, I'm hoping your spirits will become high when I end the chapter. I will confess, though, that I have nothing to really talk about in this chapter, seeing as Katara is gone, so this chapter will really just be filled with memoirs and thoughts from the characters. But otherwise, do keep in mind about how long Zuko's out for, and how long Katara is gone for. YES, I am indeed hinting something, but I won't say what. Making people's brains hurt is fun. : ) Enjoy!
Weeks and months passed by, and Zuko would not wake. The doctors had delivered devastating news to Iroh and Ursa that Zuko had fallen into a coma, and they were unsure on whether or not he would ever awaken. Zuko, on the other hand, had plenty of thoughts buzzing through his mind, making him unable to wake up with too much to think about. But the one thought that would never leave his head, was his only true love, Katara.
Meanwhile, Aang smiled. He was not planning on visiting Katara, but sending her a message, telling her how he couldn't spend a single day without her, and how he had fought Zuko for her. He even included a fire lily, injecting it with water so it wouldn't die during its trip to the North Pole. He slipped his message into a pouch for a messenger eagle to carry, and let it fly off into the mist.
He smiled at the eagle, which had just disappeared from his sight. He couldn't wait to have Katara love him again. He had waited much too long for her to love him only to let it all pay off for nothing.
It took a month for Katara to reply. She had written a short response:
Aang,
I wish you could leave me alone. I don't have feelings for you anymore, and if you can't accept that, then I'm not coming back. So far, from your story, All I can really see in you is a monster. You probably killed Zuko, and his child will grow up without a father, all thanks to the mighty avatar.
I have more important business to take care of, and you aren't apart of it.
Katara
Aang felt his hands burn up as the burnt the letter to a crisp. Katara had broken his heart numerous times. Ready to go after her, he remembered what the monks had taught him about life, being sacred. He knew that it was now best to leave her alone, and accept her as she truly was, and always would be to him: A friend.
Ursa was back at the infirmary, clutching Zuko's one good hand as she cried to herself softly. She couldn't afford to lose him now. Not now. Not after all the 2 had gone through to bring each other together. She could remember when Zuko had been a young boy, and how fond he had been of her. She loved him, and always cared for her two children.
Two children.
It began to remind her of Azula, being what seemed to be a sweet young, innocent girl, but she only grew up to be just what Ursa had predicted her to be: A monster.
Azula was the opposite of Zuko. She did not love Ursa as a mother at all, leaving her no choice but to be disciplined by her mother. She loved her father more, and always tried to understand how a war would work/ She was crafty and trick throughout the years, fooling people to do whatever she pleased. Using fear to control people who did not deserve to be treated the way she treated them. On the other hand, Azula was crafty, being able to plan things and think them through, unlike Zuko, who would carry out his plans in such a way, which resulted in him learning from them in the end. She snapped out of her thoughts, suddenly, hearing Zuko's heart rate pump faster. Delighted, she cried tears of joy for her son, until the heart rate grew slower again. Ursa collapsed to the floor, sobbing as a doctor came in and escorted her out.
Iroh sat in the kitchen, drinking tea and thinking about his beloved son, Lu Ten.
As a child, Lu Ten and Iroh were as close as Iroh was to Zuko now. He loved his son like no other father. Without a wife to bring up his son, Iroh found it slightly difficult, but Lu Ten made it easy for his loving father, making his life fun and stress less in every way possible. As the 2 grew older, Iroh grew old, while Lu Ten grew up to be a handsome soldier. Iroh, unhappy to see his son go to war, tried to think positively every night, until horrible news was given to him that his son was killed.
Crushed, Iroh was left with no wife or son. The closest he had to Lu Ten was Zuko, and the closest he had to his wife were memories.
"Excuse me, Doctor Yan?" Iroh asked, a few months later. Zuko, still in a coma, lay in the same bed, untouched and unmoved. Ursa had almost given up on hope for him to live, and so did Iroh.
"Yes, General Iroh. Is there something you would like to discuss?" The doctor asked, sitting down with Iroh in the infirmary.
"Doctor Yan, Princess Ursa and I have both agreed that Zuko can no longer lie in that bed. His nation is falling apart without him, and we need to find someone else to be the Fire Lord as a replacement. It pains me to do this, as well as it pains everyone else, but I don't think we can watch Zuko like this any longer. I think we should let him go, where he can be free in the heavens." Iroh said, biting his lip to hold back tears. Doctor Yan took a deep breath and nodded.
"Of course, General Iroh. I suppose it would be best for us, for our nation, for everybody. Unfortunately, there are much to many people in the infirmary now, so we won't be able to do so for a few months." The doctor said, apologizing. Iroh nodded. "Of course. Whenever you have time." He said, agreeing as he walked away with tears trailing down his cheeks.
Ending Note: Sorry, readers, but this chapter will be cut short. Apparently, I found this one to be a real toughie to write. There wasn't much to talk about, so yeah. Not to worry, the next chapter will be, as promised, REALLY good.
Expect it out sometime tonight or tomorrow morning.
Thanks For Reading! R&R!
Mica xx
