Chapter 8: Inviting Apocalypse

Little Falcon: So sorry for the long wait, guys. Lots of things to do. Thankfully, everything will play out well. Here's the update you've been waiting for. Read and review like always.

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

The enormous sky bison yawned while watching his master walking to and fro for several hours. Although, the young fire lord, Zukko, vanished after one night, he did managed to talk his wise uncle, Iroh, to take over the throne in his absence, or at least while this problem with the blood benders is resolved. Only the Fire Nation's trusted council knows about this arrangement and made sure no one else does. Truthfully, if it were someone other that the known Great War veteran, it would've caused quite an uproar even amongst the council but this was the famous Dragon of the West, they were dealing with.

Of course, this matter is no secret to the gang, especially when they were the first to discover Zukko's disappearing act. If there was no handwritten letter left in his bedroom then the avatar together with the others should've flown off to find him but its was in the young fire lord's directions for them to stay in the palace and wait for him.

He should've thought that waiting wasn't exactly his friends' greatest talent. "That's it! I'm going to find him," picking his favorite glider, the air bender hopped to his bison's saddle and took the reins.

"You're not leaving without us!" Aang wasn't exactly surprised to hear their protests.

"I won't be long. I'll be back before…"

"Didn't I tell you guys to wait for me?" Everyone's head turned to the large palace gates and saw the young fire lord approaching them casually like nothing happened. "Zukko!!"

"Where the hell did you run off to?" The pony-tailed Water Tribe warrior, Sokka, slapped his friend's back like he was no royalty. It's a good thing the fire lord didn't mind.

All their questions and nagging was cut short when he looked back at the entrance and upon reflex, so did the others. A lone figure stepped into the light and slowly stepped inside the palace grounds. Their eyes widened in surprise to see who it was.

"Kata- err- Azrael!!!" called the avatar.

It felt uncomfortable… like splinters in her heart. After regaining her memory and now, seeing her friends and family this time, it was harder to lie or even hold her cold façade. She was betraying them intentionally and each second was killing her. Somehow being around them became immensely unbearable. Her sapphire eyes met his but she averted her immediately… out of guilt… and something else that she continues to ignore.

"So, does this mean you're holding your part of the bargain?" the Kiyoshi warrior, now without her face paint, smiled brightly at her as she held her hand, like she usually does with Katara.

Mastering her self control, Katara pulled her hand away as if she was burnt and stepped away from her friends as if they had some contagious disease. "I'm only here because I HAVE to, no more no less," her words paralyzed each of them, enough to make them watch as she turned her back against them indifferently.

"Why do you try so hard to be who you're not?" He didn't know how or when… it was as if he knew where to find her. This time, she was by the pond where he and his mother used to watch the turtle-ducks swim. The moon was reflected on the water's glassy surface. Its stillness making anyone think it was solid but with only a gentle breeze, the water would ripple and the illusion would be broken.

For a long while, her gaze was fastened on the shining pond even as she heard his husky voice from behind. Discreetly, her hands elegantly unfolded and gestured for the water to take shape but nothing happened. A sigh escaped her lips; she shut her eyes while clenching her fists.

"Do you think I want to stay away from you? To be like this?" Spat the blood bender as her hands gestured violently for her body. Her sapphire eyes were burning as she glared at him. Guilt, hate, regret, pain… all evident in just one look. "What I would give… just to be Katara once more…" she whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Guilt formed a tight knot in his chest as listened to the torment in her melodic voice. How he hated himself instantly for causing her pain. And yet… the young fire lord found himself out of line at that time. Knowing that no words can ever make her feel better, he let his actions say what his words can't convey. Slowly, he closed the distance in between them, got lost in her misty eyes and gingerly wiped away her tears. I'm sorry.

For some unfathomable reason, Katara leaned in to his warm touch as her tears continually trickled down her face. Finally, reality struck hard. Her eyes snapped open and soon after, she pushed him away with the last of her strength. "It's a mistake to even be here," she turned around and tried to regain her composure. "Everything reminds of the life I chose to leave. It's a physical reminder of the dreams I can never have," without another word, the blood bender left Zukko alone, staring after her.

"Is that even possible?" the former fire lord's tone was both surprised and amused. His daughter stood beside him with the same incredulous look on her face.

"Y…yes, Fire Lord Ozai. W…we, ourselves, have confirmed it," one of the kneeling blood benders answered while his eyes were still on the marbled floor. Their clothes were singed, supporting their reports of his traitorous son's act of chivalry.

"Then this poses a big problem, father. Their magic tricks only happen under a full moon whereas my dear big brother has a blood bender who can bend anyone's will at anytime she chooses. I hate to admit it but we are not in a favorable situation here," Azula pointed out the obvious and was spouting curses when Ozai waved his hand, dismissing his three subordinates.

When they were finally alone, a malicious smirk appeared on his face that silenced even his daughter. "What are you thinking about, father?" prodded Azula.

"This Azrael surely is a formidable foe," his smirk grew.

"Err, yeah. Just like I said," she mocked with an irritated tone.

"If we can't handle her as an enemy… then we better make her our ally," Azula's sarcastic laughter echoed throughout the large empty room and continued for a while before she glared at her father like some idiot.

"What are you planning to do? Sweet talk her into changing sides?!"

"Actually, yes," Ozai rose from the make shift throne he was sitting on and looked out the balcony. "All we need to do is make her a deal she can't refuse…"

"I hate to burst your bubble father of mine but we're actually low on resources right now," the plan sounds appealing to Azula but she has to say these things.

"Haven't you been listening to our dear blood benders' reports? We already have what she wanted," the father and daughter shared a spine-chilling smile that somehow made the night darker.

"I thought you're finally sticking around?" Yawned Sokka before wiping sleep away from his eyes. His lover, Suki, was at his heel, also saying the same thing in a different manner.

"I am but I need to go somewhere to gather information," Azrael spoke while loading her stuff on a large lizard.

The ground trembled as the large sky bison landed only a few meters away from her. "Where are you going?" the avatar and the blind earth bender alighted from Appa and ran to her.

With a surrendering sigh, she gave up all hopes of leaving without explaining herself repeatedly. "I'm just going to get the information we need to know where to begin looking," incredibly, her energy was drained not by her packing but by answering their repeated questions.

"I'll go with you," Zukko was already packed, pulling his lizard towards the gate. He wasn't asking, he was telling and you can't say no to a person who isn't asking. Like a set of dominos, one by one the others did the same.

The blood bender raised her eyes to the heavens, praying for patience. From what her memory tells her, she would be wasting time and energy arguing with these people who are already mind set about going with her.

There was a great advantage with them coming with her: they get to fly, which means they'll save a lot of time from traveling. In the large saddle, Azrael sat quietly and only gave directions when needed. Any attempt to engage in any kind of conversation with her was proven failure.

"There! Land down there!" she pointed at a clearing in the middle of an expansive rainforest. Reluctantly, Aang took them down.

"Are you sure you'll gain any information here? I mean we are in the middle of nowhere," her brother complained automatically as they got off.

"No, wait! There's someone else here. People!" Toph was blind but she clearly heard the vibrations on the earth of footsteps belonging to several people. I've heard these footsteps before…

Suddenly, the bushes nearby shook. Everyone prepared for battle except for the blood bender, who stepped forward and motioned for them to relax. When they did, shadows shot out from the trees and landed nearby.

"Wait a minute… you're…"

"If you've regained your memory, Katara, why didn't you just hook up with me instead of these losers?" the leader stepped into the light.

Cocky attitude, Mane for a hair and a catnip in between his teeth. "JET! You're alive!"

Peep Squeak, Smeller Bee together with his entire crew came into the sunlight with smiles on their faces.

Zukko's amber eyes narrowed in intimidation as Jet's face came so close to Katara's. only a few more centimeters and…

"My name is Azrael…" she corrected her voice a little higher than the others' who were already catching-up to old times. "I'm only with them because I made a deal. Nothing more," she congratulated herself for sounding like the cold blood bender she was known to be. "I need information,"

"South Pole," Jet spat out his catnip as he replied. "You are looking for those damned will-stealers, right? Well that's where they were last seen. They've murdered an entire village just do they can use the chief's mansion for temporary accommodation,"

Little Falcon: read and review please…