Holy crap! I am uber sorry for taking so long. Tons of work and then I get sick on my days off. What the crap! Anywho, thankyou everyone for the reviews! I should get chapters up more quickly now that I don't have to follow any episodes. I hope you like this. Really hope you didn't wait all that time for nothing. Enjoy!
Sokkantylee: in the series it seems more like a mental breakdown, not true 'I'm going to be psycho forever' kind of deal. Thanks for the review because I never really thought about it. So don't get mad cuz she's going to be a bit crazy for a little while. But just for you I will see what I can do to bring her back. :D
Camillexelizabeth: you rock because you let me know! I tried to make sure everything was good in this one.
Love me: sadly, last lemon for a while. But I could just toss in some lemony like daydreams but may be a few chapters till then.
Zuko walked toward the back of the campsite. His Uncle's tent loomed ahead of him. Zuko paused outside of the tent. I can't. I just can't do this. He sat down without entering.
"Are you okay?" Katara came up to him. I've never seen him this upset.
"No," He turned his head away from her. "I'm not okay. My Uncle hates me, I know it. He loved me and supported me in every way he could and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"
"Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?" Katara asked as she crouched next to him.
"More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life." Zuko said quietly.
"Then he will forgive you," Zuko turned to her. "He will" she reassured. Zuko stared at the tent. Maybe Katara is right. Maybe he will forgive me. Or maybe he will tell me to leave. I don't deserve his forgiveness. I don't deserve to be anywhere near him. He sighed. I don't deserve him to forgive me, but the world deserves this chance. Zuko stood up and pushed the curtains inside.
"Uncle?" Zuko saw his uncles' back to him as snores filled the tent. Zuko smiled and sat on the ground. I will wait for you Uncle. It's the very least I could do. Zuko sat still, breathing in and out; he could feel the sun rising in his very body. He kept his eyes open now, waiting for any sign that his uncle was waking. Finally Iroh's snoring ceased and he moved into a stretch, his back still to Zuko. Iroh felt eyes on him and peeked out of the corner of his eye. Catching his nephew in his peripheral he turned away from him. Zuko winced at his uncle's actions. He does hate me!
"Uncle, I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know, I'm so sorry, Uncle. I'm so sorry and ashamed of what I did." Zuko closed his eyes has the tears flowed freely. "I don't know how I can ever make it up to you but I'll-" Iroh pulled Zuko into a tight embrace.
"How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious at with me" Zuko said shocked.
"I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you lost your way."Iroh said quietly.
"I did lose my way," Zuko moved out of the hug and Iroh placed his hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes.
"But you found it again. And you did it by yourself. And I am so happ you found your way here."
"It wasn't that hard, Uncle." Zuko hugged his uncle again. "You have a pretty strong scent."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Zuko felt cold. It wasn't because of the high altitude or the wind that rushed past him as Appa soared through the clouds. It was his destination that made him cold. He was heading toward his home. The place he had for so long tried to return to. This time it was to take the throne. The reins felt stiff in his hands, a part of him wanted to yank them in the opposite direction and run away forever. How will I be able to take on Azula? Will I be able to be a good fire lord? The only way I can even see Azula going down is…
"Zuko?" Katara asked worriedly. Zuko hadn't really moved or spoken for over an hour now. He just turned his head slightly to show that he was listening. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yes."
"Good, because Azula always seems to be one up on us. What's the plan?"
"We will fight her. Then…I will taunt her into using her lightning." Zuko said stiffly.
"Wait, why would you want her to use it?" Katara questioned.
"Because I'm going to redirect it."
"But if you redirect it won't it kill her?" Zuko didn't answer her. She cautiously moved from the saddle onto Appa's head with Zuko. His knuckles were white on the reins.
"It will." Zuko said finally. "If it doesn't kill me." Silence engulfed them. I'm off to fight my sister while Aang is off somewhere. Hopefully he comes back. Will he even be able to take my father? Do I want him to?
"Zuko, don't worry we can take Azula." Katara said sternly.
"I'm not worried about her, I'm worried about Aang. What if he doesn't have the guts to take out my father? What if he loses?" Zuko asked.
"Aang won't lose. He's going to come back." She said turning away. "He has to." Zuko turned away from her. "Why don't you rest for a little while and I will steer." Katara reached for the reins. He stared at her hands and slowly loosened his grip. He sighed and headed back to the saddle.
The water sloshed from the cup all down his front as he tiptoed through the palace. The thunder roared overhead and lightning illuminated the entire hall. Zuko didn't care. He had never really feared the thunder. It had always seemed soothing to him, a lullaby on summer nights. As lightning illuminated the hallway yet again he heard a squeak. He turned to see his sister's door nearby. He opened the door to see Azula staring at her window, her little mouth counting silently. As the thunder sounded she covered her ears and emitted a tiny squeak.
"Zula?" Zuko called. She straightened her body and unclenched her covers. Lightning illuminated her. She looked brave, all except her eyes. As the thunder roared she kept her compusure but her eyes screamed in fear.
"What?" She whispered. She was all of four years old, but she tried to act older and braver. Zuko thought for a moment; a way to help Azula without her looking scared.
"Want to hear a story." He asked her.
"Why would I want to-" the thunder roared even louder. The storm was right above them, "-ok" she squeaked. He set down his water and jumped onto her bed crawling over to her.
Sitting next to her, he tried to think of a good story. An image of his latest dream came to him. "Once upon a time, there was a man." He clenched his eyes trying to remember how the dream went. "He lived on an island. When suddenly there was a volcano!"
"There can't suddenly be a volcano, Zuzu!" Azula declared.
"Well, I mean it suddenly erupted." Zuko turned red. "He made everyone leave and began battling the volcano himself!"
"He was a firebender?" Azula's eyes shined.
"Yeah, and he was winning. He made the volcano's lava less hot and sent the lava away from his village. But then other parts of the volcano began to erupt. As he was losing hope another man came on a dragon to save him."
"There's no more dragons," Azula pointed out.
"There was then, 'Zula." Zuko said. Azula stuck her tongue out at her nickname.
"So this guy comes to save the day." she snuggled into him as thunder roared again. The storm was beginning to move away.
"The two of them take on the volcano. When all that could be done, they ran from it. They had done all they could." Zuko bit his lip. He could almost never remember the end. "One of the men fell."
"Why?" Azula asked curiously.
Zuko stopped. He couldn't remember. "He tripped. And the other man couldn't help him." An image of a man looming over another came to his mind. He couldn't remember if that was right. "The other man jumped on his dragon and flew away."
"What about the first man?"
"His dragon came to him and protected him from the lava." Zuko smiled at her. Suddenly a loud thunder ripped through the air. She squeaked and grabbed onto him. "Don't be scared, 'Zula."
"I'm not scared!" She said angrily. He just smiled at her.
"I'll be your dragon." Zuko hugged his little sister to him. "I will protect you."
"Really?" Azula said quietly.
Zuko smiled at her and then hugged her tightly so that their cheeks pressed against each other. "I love you 'Zula."
Zuko stared at the ground underneath them as he gripped the edge of the saddle. He wondered idly whether or not the fall would kill him. I'm in a nation that wants me dead to battle a sister who wants me dead and will probably end up killing her if she doesn't kill me. Meanwhile, my friends are off battling my father. So either my friends will die, or my father will. He sighed. And if my father doesn't die, he will just come back here and try to kill me himself. He almost wished some soldiers had been left behind so that they could battle them. Anything to take his mind off what was to come. He slowly let go of the saddle and made his way to Katara. She was looking uncertain as she turned her head in each direction. He smiled at her and took the reins.
"Sorry, Sokka was always in charge of the maps. " she said sheepishly.
"None, of it looks familiar?" Zuko asked.
"No, we also didn't travel by air either." She smiled at him. He looked down at his hands. His mind obviously preoccupied. "So, when did you realize you liked me?" Katara tried.
"Trying to distract me?" Zuko smirked.
"Is it working?" she smiled back.
"I didn't." Katara looked at him confused. "figure it out, I mean. Uncle did. Well, he figured out I liked someone. It was right after I found your necklace on that ship. I thought I kept playing with it because I was jealous that you had something to remember you mom by."
Katara immediately touched the necklace. "you don't have anything of your mother's?"
"No," Zuko frowned. "My father got rid of all her stuff. I think at some point he really did love her."
Katara looked down in thought; the redness engulfing them pulled her out of her thoughts. The comet was arriving. She jumped up and ran to the saddle, trying to get a better view.
"How can something so beautiful, be so deadly." She whispered.
"We're here." Zuko called. The city was oddly empty as they flew over. The only people who could even see were the fire sages standing around his sister. The men looked up at them in astonishment.
"What are you waiting for? Do it!" he could hear Azula demand. She turned and stared at the flying bison carrying her brother.
"Sorry but you're not going to become fire lord today," Zuko jumped off of Appa. "I am."
Azula began laughing, "You're hillarious."
Katara moved to stand next to Zuko. "And you're going down!"
"Wait." She stopped the Sages from bringing the crown. She turned toward Zuko. "You want to be fire lord? Fine. Let's settle this, just you and me brother. The showdown that was always meant to be: Agni Kai!" He stared into her eyes. They were different.
"You're on." Zuko said.
"What are you doing?" Katara whispered. Fear evident in her eyes. "She's playing you. She knows she can't take us both so she is trying to separate us."
"I Know. But I can take her this time." He stared at his sister. Her usually perfect hair was lopsided, messy and looked as if someone took scissors in anger at it. Her eyes danced in a weird unsettling way.
"But even you admitted to your uncle that you would need help facing Azula."
"There's something off about her. I can't explain it but she's slipping. And this way no one else has to get hurt." He turned toward Katara. She bit her lip. I don't need you to fight for me Zuko.
Zuko nodded toward his sister and the sages ran back toward the palace. The siblings moved to opposite ends of the courtyard, facing away from each other. Kneeling down Zuko breathed in. For the first time he allowed himself to feel the unmeasurable power of the comet flowing through his veins. He stood and faced his sister.
"I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother." She pulled off her fire lord robes.
"No you're not." He said in stance. Azula moved into an awkward stance. She spun and thrust her palms out; blue flames soared toward Zuko who jumped straight at them bringing his hands down to part the flames away from his body. Katara watched from several yards away. The blue flames engulfed the entire courtyard, but Zuko held his own. He had been right; Azula was off of her game. Is he really going to be able to get Azula to fall for his plan? Is he going to be able to follow through? She bit her lip as she watched the flames the sibling shoot out force past each other. She saw Zuko slipping slightly backward. Oh, Zuko can you really kill your own sister?
Fire was being thrust from his fist as Zuko battled Azula's own flames. The flames pushed past each other, blue flame shot past Zuko's right. He felt himself slowly moving backward. Through the flames he saw his sister's determined face.
"Zula!" Zuko laughed at his sister covered in flour.
"I can do this!" She ground out. Her face full of determination.
Zuko stopped to catch his breath as Azula turned back toward the palace that had caught on fire. That is not my sister. She turned back with anger and something else in her eyes. That is a monster. She charged him flying into the air on her fire and whipping it at him. Zuko began to spin his body in circles and thrust out his palms to create a wall of fire that split Azula's attack in half. Zuko punched the air creating a massive fireball. His eyes widened as he saw the fear in Azula's face as his attack. She's not moving.
"I'll be your dragon. I'll protect you"
Katara bit her lip as she watched Azula barely dodge Zuko's attack. Zuko was getting the upper hand. She watched the battle, her fists clenched. He can win this on his own, but would he want to. Katara gasped as she watched Azula fall to the ground. The princess gasped in pain and bared her teeth.
"What no lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I"ll redirect it?" She heard Zuko say. Zuko, NO! Katara ran forward to get a better view. Can you really take your own sister's life? Her heart ached for him.
"OH ILL SHOW YOU LIGHTINING!"
"I love you, 'Zula"
Zuko took his stance. That is not my little sister. He breathed out. That is some monster wearing her clothes. He watched as her fingertips made arcs, creating the lightining.
"I love you too, Zuzu." He barely heard Azula whisper. He smiled as he noticed she didn't even jump as the thunder sounded overhead.
Her eyes were locked on him. He could only stare back. Then her eyes darted behind him. No!
Katara watched the two, tears threatening to fall. Zuko, i'm sorry you have to do this. She watched the lightning forming from Azula's fingetips and felt a fear rise in her heart. Her eyes locked with Azula's and in that instant she saw the lightining coming from Azula's fingertips toward her. Katara tried to move but couldn't. She was frozen in place. Images began forming in her head as the lightning came closer.
"Katara look at me!" Aang moved the water around his body.
Katara couldn't breathe.
"Whenever I try to remember my mom, Katara's the only face I can picture," she oveheard Sokka say. She felt tears sting her eyes.
She couldn't even blink.
"Sugar Queen," Toph punched her in the arm. "You're all right."
Katara felt the static in the air intensify as the bolt moved in jagged arcs closer.
"I love you more than anything." Hakoda held her close.
Everything around her brightened as the bolt inched closer.
"This was once mine you know," Gran Gran pointed at the necklace that adorned the young girl's neck. "But it looks much better on you. " she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Fine hairs on her body began raising in response to the static.
"My waterbender," Zuko growled as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
It was going to shoot straight through her heart.
"Who's my little girl?" Kya held her arms out for the young girl. "Who's my special waterbender?"
The lightning roared in her ears.
I am doing to die.
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
Zuko's feet had begun to move before his mind finished figuring out Azula's intentions. With every second he wasted, it was another second closer to Katara's death. He had to stop that bolt. I'm not going to make it. In a desperate attempt, he threw out his hand to catch the bolt as he jumped toward it. He felt the heat enter his hand with such a force that his whole body was being thrown backward. At the same time his hand was thrown backward with such incredible force that it slammed into his chest. His eyes widened as that warmth that filled him, his inner sun, the steady beat that had always been there; stopped. The pain raged inside of him as the electricity engulfed him. He felt suspened in air. Everything was over. He was falling. As his body slammed into the ground, it jolted him bringing back an irregular beat, his arm flung out from the fall and lightning poured out of his body. He grasped his chest over his heart in pain.
Katara had been frozen when the lightning was coming for her. Out of the corner of her eye she had seen his sillouette running in front of her. Now he was on the ground dying. She screamed for him as her hand became covered in water. Zuko, why would you do this? Why? Blue flames engulfed her entire view. Azula! How can you do this? To your own brother? She turned on her heel and heard an insane cackling following her.
Somewhere, someone was screaming his name. At the same time he heard cackling. Katara? Zuko tried to move to look toward her. She was running. Running away from blue flames. NO! With all the effort he could muster, he turned slowly until he was on his stomach. His flesh screamed in pain from where the bolt had enetered him. He reached out toward where the waterbender ran for her life. Katara, please don't die. He collapsed onto the ground. His whole body was writhing in pain. The sounds of laughing and fire were dying out. All he could hear was the irregular beat in his ears. It felt like each beat was going to be his last. He closed his eyes, breathing in. It was as if everything was becoming quiet. Maybe if he lay still enough, the pain would go away. The world was becoming darker. He was falling into it. Falling slowly into the darkness. Hands touched his skin. No, please don't. There's no pain. He groaned in pain as the hands pushed him over. His body felt so light. The darkness began to engulf him again. He felt a coolness where the lightning had entered him. The beating slowed. His breath caught. The pain began to fade as the beat became stronger and regular. From his hooded eyes he could see a figure holding onto him.
"Thank you, Katara." He said weakly. He blinked a few times. The world was becoming clearer.
"I think I 'm the one who should be thanking you." She said as tears threatened to spill. She helped him stand up. He turned to see his sister chained down, her eyes full of anger. She was breathing heavily, angrily. She began screaming in anger and emitting fire from her mouth. After a few moments Azula fell and began crying uncontrollably
Katara stared in disbelief. She turned her head from the broken woman. She's too far gone. She looked up at Zuko who stared at his sister.
That is not my sister. That is not my 'Zula. That is a monster wearing her clothes.
Oh good lord that took a while. Please review I hope I did that justice. And sokkantylee I actually came up with an idea for Azula. Hopefully you will like it. My next day off is soonish and I don't have to mess with episodes so I should have it up much quicker.
