Chapter Nine- Battle

They spent the night at the White Lotus campsite- all five of them in one tent, which turned out to be extremely awkward. Iroh spent his night planning with the other members and sleeping.

In the morning, Zuko and Katara got Appa ready to go to the fire nation to confront Azula.

"Hey, Zuko, can I talk to you for a moment?" Sokka called. Katara glanced at Zuko nervously, but he went to go talk to Sokka.

"Yes? Wha-" Zuko started, but Sokka cut him off.

"Listen, I was a really big jerk back at the air temple, and I'm sorry. I just am so used to being the one watching over Katara that I didn't really think of her, and she really likes you. So please, take care of her, alright?" Zuko was speechless. "Oh, and I'll kill you if you let her get hurt, man. I'm serious!" Sokka finished, then turned and walked off. When Zuko returned, Appa was ready, and Katara immediately asked,

"What happened?"

"He apologized to me." Zuko said, smiling, and Katara hugged him. They climbed onto Appa and, after saying goodbye and good luck to everyone, took off. They were silent for most of the ride, both of them nervous about Azula and worried about Aang. As they neared the palace, Katara kissed Zuko.

"This is it…" she murmured. Zuko nodded.

"Lets do this." They jumped off Appa, and straight into their stances.

"I'm becoming fire lord today, Azula, not you!" Zuko called, and she laughed, a bit crazily.

"Alright, Zuzu, let's do this! Agne Kai!" she challenged him, standing up and waving off the royal hairpiece.

"I accept!" Zuko called. Katara turned to him.

"What? I thought we were in this together!" she exclaimed, worried.

"It's okay, Katara. There's something…wrong with her- I can't explain it, but she's slipping. And this way, nobody has to get hurt." Katara took a deep breath and nodded, standing clear from their firing range. They got into their stances and the fight began, a deadly dance, red-orange and blue-white flames fighting, colliding, both people attacking and defending expertly. The fight lasted for what seemed like an eternity, probably only fifteen minuets. Zuko managed to knock Azula back, and she jumped up, furiously.

"What's the matter, Azula? No lightning today? Afraid I'll redirect it?" Zuko taunted, getting ready to redirect.

"Oh, I'll show you lightning!" Azula yelled crazily, Conjuring up the lightning, leaping crazily from her fingers. Katara stood behind Zuko, praying silently. She watched Azula's hands shoot and too late saw it coming toward her. Time seemed to stop as Zuko jumped sideways to take it.

I promise…

A silent scream escaped her throat as the lightning connected with his body and he fell to the floor, writhing and curling into a ball as little currents danced on his body. Katara ran to him but almost got hit by blue fire. She turned to see Azula laughing insanely, hair fallen down around her face.

"I'd like to be the one taking care of little Zuzu if you don't mind!" she yelled, shooting fire insanely as Katara took momentary shelter behind a pillar. Looking around, she realized there was water running underneath the grate she was standing on. She spotted a chain and a plan formed in her head. She ran and grabbed the chain and turned to see Azula standing just on the other side of the grate.

She grinned and started talking, swaggering forward, but Katara couldn't hear what she was saying. Her heart was pounding insanely, but instead of thumping she felt it was Zuko, Zuko, Zuko, Zuko. She stepped forward, and as Azula put those two fingers forward, ready to end it, Katara brought water around them , freezing them both into a miniature iceberg, Azula's fingers centimeters from her throat. Katara carefully bended the water around her, moving Azula's hands behind her back, and slowly chaining them there. Work was slow and her lungs strained as she urged them to hold for just a few more moments. Then she released her hold on the water and they both fell to the floor, gasping for air. Katara tied the chain to the grate and rushed over to Zuko. She turned him over and quickly slid his shirt down over his shoulders, bending her healing water over the gaping wound on his chest. He breathed out in relief and opened his eyes.

"Thank you, Katara…" he said, and a tear fell from her face onto his scar, and she smiled a bit as she wiped it away.

"I think I'm the one that should be thanking you…" She said, leaning down to kiss him.

She helped him up and they both looked at the sky, where a single blue light hat appeared, going straight up. "Aang…" Katara murmured, as an orange light appeared beside it. They were even, but the orange slowly over took the blue.

"Come on, Aang, fight 'em!" Zuko called, as if Aang would be able to hear. Katara squeezed his hand as the blue slowly disappeared, but suddenly it overtook everything, in a burst of blue. Zuko, kissed Katara on the forehead and they smiled as the lights slowly disappeared. They walked over to Azula, who struggled violently, fire shooting in all directions, until she fell down, crying miserably.

"Come on, Zuko. I'm betting the others are gonna need a ride." Katara said as Appa landed, and they climbed on. Zuko lay down while Katara's took the reigns, and they flew off toward Aang, and hopefully the others, all alive and well.

They flew off toward the light, and Zuko lay in the back, resting. Katara, steering Appa, glanced back nervously. They landed to find Aang and Toph kissing, Sokka standing on one leg using Suki as a crutch, and the fire lord in a heap, glaring furiously at them. Katara helped Zuko up and they clambered off Appa, holding hands.

"Aang took away his bending, Katara. He's somewhat safe now." Toph said, seeing her nervously eying the fallen man, who looked away.

"What happened, Sokka?" Katara asked, pulling out her healing waters, but he waved her away.

"I'm sure we all have amazing sides of the story to tell, but right now I think that all we need is a ride home, and to go to Ba Sing Se." He replied, and they all clambered up onto Appa. Aang put the fire lord's feet into rock shackles, tying him down.

"Don't worry. It's only until they come to take you to jail. You can think about the lives you almost destroyed in the meantime." Aang said, before propelling himself onto Appa's back. They flew in silence, everyone weary from the day's events. They all looked back as the horizon as the comet flew out of sight, and the moon rose into the sky. A flock of birds flew up around them and Katara rested her head gingerly on Zuko's shoulder. Peace at last.