Chapter 8- Phoenix

Katara stirred to find a young man standing over her. He smiled and offered his hand, a straw dangling precariously from his mouth. The water bender took his grasp and allowed the young man to pull her from the ground. Katara felt no pain and that surprised her, seeing as though she had been struck down by lightning. She couldn't feel any wounds at all.

" There aren't any pain or wounds here Katara," the young man explained as if he had sensed her thoughts" I've been waiting for you."

Katara grinned and so did he, she dove into his arms " Jet, I'm glad you're here." The water bender looked around " Um…where exactly is here?"

The former Freedom Fighter stared up into the whiteness " This is sort of a transit station…before you get to the after life," he explained " I'm here to pick you up…if you're ready to go."

" You mean I'm still alive back on earth?" she asked.

Jet grinned " Oh no, you're defiantly dead but someone loves you back on earth, they're going to try and revive you."

Katara hung her head sadly " ….She doesn't love me, I don't want to go back."

He frowned " Are you sure Katara? You cant change your mind once we get there."

The water bender nodded " I'm sure."

Jet smiled wide " Everyone is going to be so happy to see you!" he exclaimed " Especially your mom and dad."

" And dad?" Katara gasped.

Jet nodded " Yeah, but don't mourn for him Katara, he's with your mom now." " We're all happy."

" Jet can I ask a favor?" she inquired

" Sure Katara."

"…. Can I see her one last time before we go?"

Jet snapped his finger and they were instantly back on the bloody battle field " Sure Katara, just tell me when you're ready."

***************

" Don't touch her!" Azula screamed " Stay away from us!"

The fire bender clutched Katara's lifeless body protectively against her chest as the crowd began to thicken. Her father's last wishes seem irrelevant now that she knew Katara had to be sacrificed. Azula felt the barriers of her mind slipping uncontrollably. She was having a hard time keeping her sanity.

" Azula…she's gone, let her go," whispered Zuko kneeling beside his sister.

The prodigy shook her head frantically closing her eyes against the horrible truth as Katara's blood soaked through her dress. Azula laid the woman down gently on the earth and gazed at her sadly.

"….She's gone," the Fire Lord repeated in disbelief.

Zuko reached out and ran his hand down Katara's face closing her eyes. Azula leaned over the water bender and kissed her still lips.

" …I never got to make you that promise." Azula wiped her eyes and looked up at her brother " ….No, I'm not giving up on her."

Zuko shook his head mournfully " There isn't anything you can do."

Azula placed her hand over Katara's heart " Lightning killed her….and it will bring her back."

Zuko honestly thought his sister was just delusional with grief but he played along for her sake.

"….When I was 5 years old…father trained me so brutally…I died temporarily."

Zuko's face twisted with a mixture of surprise and anger " What?! Why didn't you tell anyone?!"

Azula laughed harshly " Tell who, mother?" she sneered " I don't want your sympathy Zuko, the point is that he brought me back."

Her features set in fierce determination, lightning formed in the center of Azula's palm. She pressed the hand to Katara's chest and sent a jolt to the woman's heart. Katara jerked violently but she didn't wake up. Azula forced herself to remain calm and she tried again.

" Come on Katara…please wake up."

Jet placed a comforting hand on Katara's shoulder " We should be getting back."

Katara nodded silently and they were instantly back inside the whiteness " What's going to happen to her?"

He shrugged " I cant see the future Katara, but if you love her…you should go back."

She sighed " I'm tired Jet, I want to see my family…I want to see Aang."

" You have family back on earth, what about Sokka?"

" He's going to die, because of me."

" You don't know that Katara," Jet explained " The future is never clear."

Katara hung her head " I don't know what to do."

The young man placed a hand on her shoulder " Do what your heart tells you to do," he assured her. " Either way…we love you."

Katara nodded and glance up at her white surroundings. The water bender made the hardest decision of her life.

"…Alright Jet, I will….."


Azula cried hard against Katara's shoulder when the water bender was unresponsive. She shook the woman violently, pleading for her to wake up.

Zuko could no longer take the scene, he grabbed his sister " Azula, stop it! She's gone, Katara is dead!"

The Fire Lord shoved the man aside determined to try one last time. She sent another jolt to the water bender's heart and held her own breath….

Katara coughed up blood and then took a painful gulp of air. The water bender felt the agony from her wound and she cried out.

" Help her!" Azula hissed. With only one good arm, there was no way she could carry the broken water bender.

Zuko hated to do it but he was forced to lift the woman off of her injury. The water bender couldn't help but scream as sharp pain shot up her injured back. Blood poured freely from her wound.

" She's going to bleed to death, we need to get her help."

Katara glanced at Azula through tears in her eyes "…I cant do it ."

Azula grasped the woman's hand " Yes you can! You're not giving up!'

" …Where is Haru?" asked the water bender

" He's going to make a full recovery," Zuko assured her " Worry about yourself now, you might die again."

" ..I need water," Katara groaned painfully.

Zuko shook his head " There isn't any water, we have to reach the Upper Ring."

" She wont make it, the Upper Ring is another full days journey!" Azula growled feeling frustration wash over her.

One of Haru's earth bending comrades stepped forward. The bender was a young boy roughly eleven years old " I know some place we can take her."

" Forget it, boy," Azula growled. " We're not going anywhere with you."

" Look, if this were you I would pretty much let you die," the young man spat " But, Katara is a war hero and we're not going to abandon her!"

Azula glanced over to Zuko who nodded. The Fire Lord was desperate to help Katara and there weren't very many options. She stepped forward menacingly looking down into the earth bender's light brown eyes.

" If this is some kind of trap, I will have you and your entire family burned alive is that clear?"

The young man's eyes widened and he gulped " Its not a trap, my mother and father treat wounded warriors all the time."

" We will need to wrap the wound before we move her," Zuko explained.

The former prince began tearing strips off Katara's dress and his own clothing to help wrap the water bender's wound. Katara slipped into unconsciousness while he was working, time was running out. Zuko carried the water bender against his chest following quickly behind the young earth bender. Azula walked beside them with her good arm used to grasp Katara's hand. The remaining royal guards followed obediently behind them.

The boy led them through the crowd and though the ruined streets of the Lower Ring. He walked into a small but cozy home that looked to have been rebuilt in a haste.

A middle aged man sat in the front room of his home watching his son and strangers pour in.

" Dad, there isn't any time to explain, she needs your help, " the boy said quickly.

Seeing Katara in the hands of Zuko, the man quickly stood up " Lay her over there," he directed. " Shen, go and get your mother."

Shen immediately agreed and disappeared inside while Zuko laid Katara on her stomach. The man shook his head " This wont be easy."

" We just need you to stabilize her, until we can journey into the Upper Ring," Azula ordered.

The man locked eyes with the Fire Lord after noticing that most of the people standing in his home were Fire Nation soldiers.

His eyes widened "…Are you?"

" Yes, I'm the Fire Lord," Azula answered him.

The man jumped to his feet " Shen! Wait don't bring your mother out!" he tried to yell but it was too late.

Shen came out with the last person the prodigy expected or wanted to see, Ursa.

" Mother?" asked Zuko and Azula in shock

The room suddenly became deadly silent as everyone was caught by surprise. The former Princess stood frozen in the doorway while Shen looked around unsure of what was going on.

" Son, come over here help me with this young lady," the man said quickly breaking the silence.

He features hadn't changed much over the years. Aside from a few grey hairs she almost looked the same. " Zuko….Azula?"

Zuko didn't hesitate another second, he crossed the room and embraced his mother. Azula grabbed Shen with her good arm and shook the boy violently " Did you know about this?"

" Know about what?" the boy asked fearfully

" …Forget it, Zuko we're leaving, " she snapped shoving the boy roughly into his father.

" Azula, if we move Katara she will die, you cant run from this."

" I'm not running!" yelled the Fire Lord.. "…Fine, we'll stay."

" …Azula…" started Ursa but the prodigy interrupted her.

" That's Fire Lord Azula now."

" Wait, you're my brother and sister?" asked Shen equally shocked.

" Half," Azula spat glaring at Ursa " …If I even consider this woman to be my mother."

" Azula, that's enough!" yelled Zuko.

Ursa smiled sadly at her only daughter " Its nice to see you too Azula."

The woman made her way across the room to examine to the injured warrior " …Where did she get these other lacerations?" the former princess asked noticing the scars on Katara's back.

The two other souls in the room who actually knew the answers became silent. Azula stared at the blood soaked dress of Katara and sadness washed over her.

She clenched her fist and a tear spilled down her blood streaked face "…I made those…just like I struck her down."

There was no doubt in Azula's mind what had to be done, Katara was better off without her. She spun around and headed for the door, Zuko scrambled to meet her there, he held both of his arms out blocking the only exit.

" You cant leave, Katara needs you."

" Move aside Zuko, its better for her if I'm gone."

" No, you're staying!" Zuko said defiantly.

Azula clasped Zuko shoulder " When she recovers, I'll have her family and friends released, put them on a ship anywhere they want to go."

Zuko continued to stand in her path " No, you stay by her side."

Azula's eyes narrowed " This isn't negotiable General, I am your Fire Lord and I gave you a direct order."

" I'm your older brother and you're not leaving this house without her."

Blue flames ignited inside the prodigy's palm " Are you prepared to stop me?"

The General laughed " Yes, you have one good arm, I don't think you stand much of a chance."

Zuko was of course right, she was in no physical or mental condition to fight. The two siblings stared each other down before the flames disappeared inside her palm.

" You don't understand, the only thing I can do is hurt her, she deserves better."

" She does deserve better," Zuko agreed " Now is your chance to straighten up and leave father behind."

The prodigy turned away " This has nothing to do with him," she lied.

" This has everything to do with him, you have always wanted his approval!" Zuko snapped " Finally, when you defied him and chose good, you have been striving for his approval again beyond the grave!"

" I killed him!" yelled Azula.

" He deserved to die!" Zuko countered angrily " He was an arrogant, cruel, soulless son of a bitch!"

"….You're right, " Azula whispered finally excepting the truth about their father. " I can't live in his shadow anymore…I have to choose my own destiny."

She planted her palm into Zuko's chest and gently pushed him aside. She strode back over to Katara's bed side " I choose her."

To Be Continued

A/N- There will be more in store for the couple. By the way, CONGRAGULATIONS TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA! GOD BLESS AMERICA!