A/N: So hey, it's been a while! Here's the epilogue that I promised like 5 months ago. I felt that since Zuko and Katara pretty much split this story that the final chapter should start with someone that bonded them together. Okay this might be confusing at the start but just keep reading!
I jump from rock to rock slowly while trying to make sure water doesn't spill out of my bucket. It's kind of hard but you get use to it after a while. Jumping to the next one I hear a loud boom in the background and bird scatter, crying as they flee into the air. Is the Fire Guard back?
Oblivion made our village there new base because the healer lives here. They're suppose to protect us but if the Fire Guard ever found out their base is here, it will be the people of the village who will suffer. I don't understand what they are trying to save us from though. Maybe it's because the Fire Nation won the war 12 years ago, the same year I was born, so I've never known what life is like without them. From what I do know though, I think life is fine. Perhaps that is only because the people of the village have worked so hard to keep our village so peaceful, especially mother.
Mother is the healer. They say that only very powerful water benders can heal, but I don't have the ability however I can bend. I pretend I can't though, and mother pretends not to notice. Not many people can bend in this village, so having the ability makes you different. In truth, I don't want to be different I want to be just like everyone else.
It's sad though, because I've never been treated like everyone else. They've made me an outcast for as long as I can remember. They treat me different because I don't have a father, mother has no husband. My mother lost her memories the year I was born, so even if she wanted to remember she doesn't remember who my father is.
Sometimes mother gets brief visions in her head. She always tells me how the vision in her head is her lover, she knows it. Once she told me how she saved him from getting his head cut off. I wish I could meet this man, and then I wouldn't have to listen to the villagers.
They call me a bastard and say awful things about Mother; sometimes they even make her cry. It's weird though, when I see her cry it's almost like she's not crying for herself but for me. I don't know why she helps them if they make her cry. When I asked her she told me, "With the world in as bad of shaped as it is we have to do anything we can to help each other."
I smile; when I grow up I want to be just like mother. Turning the corner I see the door to out home is open that means a we have a client. Carefully I run home making sure not to spill any water.
Walking into the house I see four men in the living room, three laying down and one prop up by the wall. We have three bed rooms, and all three doors are closed meaning they're being used. Why are there so many people injured?
Inching closer to the man who's sitting against the wall, I notices all the burn marks up his right arm. Observing the other three, they also have burn marks in various places. This must be the work of the Fire guard, have they finally caught Oblivion? My hands start to shake uncontrollably with fear. If anyone, mother will be the one killed. She's all I have.
The door opens and my heart skips a beat. Slowly I turn to see mother coming out of one of the rooms. She seems surprised to see me, but that instantly changes when she reads the look on my face. She knows I'm scared. Giving me a soft smile she walks towards me.
"Mommy… is everything going to be alright?" No words are spoken but she hugs me even with the bucket in my hands.
A man rushes in, "The Fire Lord himself is here!" My feet are wet. Looking down I see the bucket on the floor, water flowing everywhere. Without realizing it I had dropped the bucket.
Mother gives me a gentle glance before turning her attention back to the man, "On what grounds? Does he have any evidence that we've disturbed the peace?"
The man laughs a little, "Since when has he needed a reason to invade a village?" Regaining his composure he tells, "He's knows you're here, he's looking for you."
Tears start to form, but I won't let them fall. I knew this day would come. They know Oblivion is here; they probably always have but never attacked because they were testing her. Mother's abilities. Will they take her? She's the only one I have, if she goes then I'll be all alone. No one in the village likes me; they just tolerate me because of mother.
My mouth slowly moves it quivers as I ask a worthless question, "Is everything going to be alright?"
The answer is no. Our lives will never be the same after this, but I just need some kind of reassurance a simple lie to pleasure me for the moment. She nods. Then she turns her attention to the man, "Tell him to meet me outside of town in a half hour. These men might die if I don't treat them now. If he harms anyone in village, I'll kill him before we talk."
The man grins a little thinking it's a joke, "I'll tell him those exact words, Ms. Katara." I loathe this man. The village has found it to be some sick joke to call my mother Ms. Katara. They think of it as naming a black cat Lucky. Everyone thinks of my mother as the village whore, so they amuse themselves with this game of irony.
Mother bends the water out of my pants and the soaked floor. She gives me a smile before she walks over and whispers something into the man's ear. All I could hear was the words "take" and "safe". Then she returned into one of the rooms. She didn't even say bye to me. Maybe it's because she really does have confidence that everything will be okay. I hope so. I really do hope so.
The man signals for me to follow him. We leave the house in silence. I can hear him grumbling about something to himself. Looking up at him I decide to ask, "Where are you taking me?"
He looks surprised, almost like he forgot I was following him. I wouldn't doubt it either. Thinking for a moment he replies, "First I'm gonna find some one to relay the message to the Lord, then we'll leave the village for a few days till everything cools down. I still can't believe I gotta take a bastard like you with me. Gotta wet my own butt before I check if yours is on fire." He looks down every corner before we walk straight to make sure there are no guards.
"How noble, no wonder your head of the village." I knew our village is full of idiots, I just didn't know it was this bad.
"Well, if you're so brave then you tell the lord yourself," He says in a low whisper spotting a guard.
"Fine, I will!" Right as I start to run off the man grabs me.
"It was a joke. I'm not letting anything happen to you. If you and yer mom survive this in decent condition she's going to have to repay me mighty fine. I got a few ideas of how too." A lecherous grin pops on his face as I look disgusted.
"You have a wife and kids! Have some integrity, scum!" I step on his foot with all my might and he screams. Cursing at me, he smacks me across the face before I can run away.
"See what you made me do? Don't try anything like that again or else you'll have a lot more then a bruise." He grabs my wrist tighter almost like he's trying to cut off the circulation. Dragging me towards the edge of the village I start to think of a plan. There's no way I can let him win.
Out of the corner of my eyes I see men of the resistance group running on the rooftops: one heads towards the center of the village while the other head in the direction of my house. The Lord must be in the center of town. "Coward! Can't you at least pretend to be a man and use the main village exit instead of fleeing into the forest?"
His hands turns into a fist, "Shut up, I don't need a son of a whore like you telling me what to do."
Looking back, "Hi, mom." The man stops dead as he slowly turns. Now's my chance, I bite him in the arm and he punches me releasing his grip he launches me a few feet back. Before he gets a chance to grab me again or continue his beating I sprint towards the center of the town. He doesn't follow. It's weird how I'm safer with the Fire Lord than the village chief.
I'm not testing my luck though. I don't stop running until the market in the center of the town comes into view. Knowing the man isn't following me I slow my pace. My face still stings from both times that he hit me. Rubbing it with the palm of my hand I try to ignore is as best I can.
I heard the Fire Lord is the best Fire Bender in the world. This is going to be the first time I've ever seen him. Stopping right before I get to the center of the village I lean over the corner of the building to see if there's any fighting. There's none. Where is Oblivion?
I saw them pass by they should be here by now. The only reason he's here is because mother is healing Oblivion so much, so why aren't they fighting? Wait, were they ever going to protect the village in the first place? Or is all they wanted was mother's gift?
They must have taken her and ran off! I pound my fist against the wall. Bastards. My blood starts to boil. I have to go find her! Just as I start to turn around I hear a few screams, and I realize I can't just leave the villagers alone to deal with this. After all those years of helping Oblivion with hopes of help, Oblivion might turn their back on the village but I can't, I won't.
Searching the grounds I see three men trying to stand up to the Lord with petty farming tools and a few women stand in the back watching with anticipation.
Using a few boxes I climb on top of the house so I can get closer to the action. Coming almost directly above them the voices are soft but I can hear. "The healer is out helping others so please leave."
My attention turns to the Lord. My heart skips a beat for a moment. This is the first time I've ever met him, yet I feel like I know him. The Lord scowls, "Do you really expect me to believe such trash. I am your Lord and you shall respect me as such! Where is the healer?" His voice is cold, venomous.
"She's not here!" I don't understand why they're protecting her. Do they know she's not here? They can't! Why would they help a resistance group they knew would turn on them? So then why are they protecting mother? We're outcast. They should be happy to give mother up to protect themselves. I don't understand.
The Lord starts to grin; smirking with a cynical look on his face he grabs the man by the neck and starts to choke him. The two men behind him freeze in shock, scared for their lives. "Let's see how long your friend can go without air. Let's make this a game." If possible his smirk turns even bigger, it's sickening, "If you return with the healer and your friend is still alive you win." Sending a glare at the other two one man drops his weapon as he falls back helplessly. Turning around he begins to run away and the Lord lifts his arm. "No one leave alive until I get the healer!"
Just before he swings back his arm and fires it at the man I jump off the roof and push his arm just enough so it falls off course. Every stops breathing for a moment, even the guy who wasn't breathing at all stop squirming out of sheer terror. The Lord throws the man aside and grabs me by the back of my collar. "You dare attack me, boy?"
What did I just do? Why? I am so dead. "I'm a girl, for your information!" Mother always did tell me short hair looked good on me.
"Peasant, you have no place in this fight!" He throws me to the side and then turns his attention to the fleeing man. My lip is slightly bleeding now, there's a bruise forming at both of my checks, but I have to do anything I can to help some one out Mother said so. Just before he shoots I jump on him again causing him to miss again.
Everyone seems shocked that I'm trying so hard to save the life of a man who constantly harassed me. The lord punches me twice, the kicks me in the guts. Throwing me down in front of him I cough blood as I pant hard. "Fool, do you wish to die so soon? Do you wish to see your villagers live another day?" He aims at the women watching at a distance. The women freeze, they can't even move after knowing they're the next target.
"Only a coward would stoop so low." There's no way I can win this fight, but I can at least save their lives. If I bend I might be able to distract him long enough for them to escape.
He shoots and my heart stops. It's now or never. Millions of thoughts run through my mind at this second. I don't want to be different! I just want to be like everyone else! I want to be normal! This power is a curse! Why can't I be the same? Why can't I stop myself from using this power? Why does mother get the gift of healing? How come my eyes are watering so much? Why did I have to be a fire bender?
Using all the energy in my body, I can't control myself, and I fire at his attack. I stop his blast, there's huge explosion. Once again everyone stops. Even the Fire Lord is shocked.
Voices from the side suddenly appear, "Did you see that?"
"It was fire bending."
"You mean a monster like that has been living with us all along?"
I look around and it seems like all the villagers have gathered around by now. Water fills my eyes; I only did it to protect them. I'm alone. No one is siding by me. My heart breaks, I don't know where mother is and now I'm completely alienated. The Fire lord looks at me with pity yet almost sympathize as if he could relate.
Digging under my cloth I grab on to a small red pendant that rest laced upon my neck. Mother, I need you now. A sole tear runs down my cheek. I feel a hand on my head, the Fire Lord looks down at me, "Be proud of who you are."
I don't know why. How did these words of comfort from the enemy calm me down so much? All I know is I latch onto him and started crying. Even with all the villagers I known my whole life, for this one moment I knew I was closer to him, Fire Lord Zuko, then I had to anyone else before. Even if the feeling was fake, just for a moment I wanted to love you.
A/N: I don't know where all you guys got this idea that Katara was dead. MIA is not dead. But wow it's done. Not the neatness but done.
Still filled with so many plot holes like who was that girl in chapter 4 that told Zuko Katara had left? That actually was supposed to be Meng, I don't know how but that never actually found its way back into the story. Where's Iroh? I have no idea. Why did Katara lie so much? It made for a good story. Where's Aang? I meant to bring that up somewhere. Oh, well, I really don't know. Does Zuko know about his daughter or Katara? He's knows about healer, but he didn't know it is Katara. He's starting to get an idea though with this new girl though. Did I improvise this story and write it moments before I posted it? I'm sorry, but I did. That's how I came up with the random plot twists. I couldn't remember what I wrote about the previous chapter. I thought about this chapter though! Will I write a sequel? If I ever fix this one I might. I might fix chapter the 12 ending if I do. If some one wants to find out what happens next I guess so. It will be in Zuko or Katara's POV if I do make one though.
And one last thing chap 7-13 confused me. I don't understand what those chapters are about at all. I had to read the reviews to understand. It seems weird for me to say it because I wrote it, but I don't get it. I love this story though expect for the end of chapter 12. I needed something big to happen, but I still have no idea how I ended there. This is the first big story and still is the only story that I completed. Anyway, we made it! Thanks for reading!