Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

Clearly being sick at home gave me the creative episode I needed. Anyways, hope you all like it!

-Ardala91

"Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all". -Alexander the Great

"Hey Zuko!" he cried out happily, rushing off of the air bison with a lightness of foot that had rightfully earned him the name of twinkle toes. Zuko couldn't help the grin splitting his otherwise solemn face. Even though it had been several years since he'd seen his friend, Aang was still the same. 'Not so much,' he corrected himself mentally, noticing with slight disgust that Aang was now taller than him. The childhood roundness had left his face, leaving the sharper details of a young man. The merry grey eyes had remained the same. Aang was growing up, recognized as a man now. 'A good thing too,' he thought rather sadly, 'he's been burdened as an adult for years and now he can truly look the part.'

Aang gave his once enemy, instructor, and now friend a warm hug. Aang noticed the strained face of his friend, but the content look in his eyes countered it. "I'm glad to be here," Aang stated, his eyes roaming his surroundings thoughtfully. They stood at the base of an enormous staircase that led to the great palace of the Fire Nation. It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining and a cool breeze. The white stones of the staircase almost blinded Aang's vision. Aang breathed in deeply. The very atmosphere of this place had changed for it spoke of peace and healing, before…before it had been of power. Fear. Hatred.

"I'm glad you're here too," Zuko responded, bringing Aang back from his thoughts."Come, we have lots of catching up to do."Aang started to follow him up the long trek of stairs, but a low bellow from Appa made him turn. Zuko smiled amused. At least Appa hadn't tried to lick to him death this time, he hoped it was the dignity he now carried with his status. Before he hadn't been Fire Lord. "The servants will take care of him, Aang." He said with a careless wave of his hand.

After a several minutes walk into the palace, they both strode down a long, but brightened red corridor that was lit by many flames. They were no decorations or blandishments. Simplicity had because it's new grandeur. Zuko guided Aang towards what he considered and treasured to be the most serene and beautiful place in the whole of the palace. The garden. While they walked, they conversed about old friends, Zuko's busy life, and Aang's even more busy one. Zuko was positive that they had enough burdens between the two of them that would drive most people raving mad. He almost chuckled. He'd felt he would go crazy from it two years ago and now…now he could handle it.

Aang observed his friend quietly. Zuko put on an amazing front; he'd give credit for that, but the young man he'd known a few years ago had changed. A lot. 'It's almost like I don't know him anymore,' he thought, 'He's the same, but not the same. He seems fine, but still…'

The cool scene of the green gardens greeted them as they travelled onto a pebbled path. There were various trees, shrubs, and flowers of colors and beauty. Zuko led Aang to the most private of spots that he'd always treasured. Aang had discovered it himself once, the last time he had been here. 'It has…memories for us both here,' Zuko remembered almost mournfully. He halted before the lapping water at his feet. His flaxen eyes looked at over Aang secretly. Aang stared at the water with placid eyes. His face was blank like an empty scroll. Zuko regretted his choice. Maybe he shouldn't have brought him here.

'Oh no,' Aang cried painfully, 'This is it…here of all places, why did we have to go here? What is his intention? This is too painful…'

"Aang?" Zuko asked him with a tense voice.

Aang shook his head slowly. "Why" he demanded horrified. He backed away slowly away from the pond. "Of all the places to go, why here?"

"I thought it best."

"Do you realize?...This…Zuko, this is where she died."

Zuko turned away from Aang. He spoke gently as possible but couldn't hide the forsaken gravity in his words. "This place was always important to me. When I was a child I would play here. Some of my only memories of my mother are here. And then there…are those memories, but still this place is a place of remembrance. It does me good to come here."

Aang's eye was drawn to a stone, a low marker that was infused with a pattern of blue stones that resembled a swirling wave. Only several characters that were spelled in a lost innocence of white… 'Katara,' Aang read in his shattered thoughts. He'd reached a certain peace finally, but this had just torn it apart. He wasn't ready to come here, to this spot, for here she had fallen…

He'd done it. He had walked out from the splintered throne room doors, battered, but triumphant. The Fire Lord had been left…well, he was no longer amongst the living to say the least. The battle was still continuing for those of the Fire Nation had yet to realize their leader had fallen. He went out and declared to the top of his lungs that he had prevailed. Many stopped in shock, but a few refused to stop, for them they could not believe what had occurred. They would go out the only way they knew how. Through the victory of death.

Then a flash of blue caught the corner of his eye. She was fighting outmatched, standing in the middle of the pond, surrounded by too many for her to handle. Her back was to him and he rushed over to help her. They had won. Everything was alright. Aang was aware of a sudden massive weight hitting him. He rolled onto his side and looked with surprise at Zuko. "Fire blast," Zuko breathed heavily with explanation. Aang looked over at the burned ground where he had been two seconds before.

"Thanks, Zuko." He said gratefully. He hurried to his feet. He had to get to Katara. She looked like she needed help. He heard a gasp from beside him. Zuko's face was wide with shock and mingled horror.

"No…" Zuko whispered.

Aang looked in her direction. She wasn't standing anymore.

"I'm sorry, Aang. Maybe I shouldn't have brought you here," Zuko said, pulling Aang painfully back to the harsh reality. Zuko looked at the tear filled eyes of his good friend. They would go, he decided. "C'mon, Aang…"

Aang looked at him with distant eyes. "I thought it was better, you know, but…do you think, could I have saved her? There was only a few seconds, if I'd been faster..If..If"

"You can never know. Maybe if I hadn't knocked you over, but then you might not be here if I hadn't either," Zuko said plainly with attempted calm. 'I would have saved her,' he thought darkly, 'if I hadn't saved you.'

Teary grey eyes meet bitter golden eyes. In that moment, it was understood. They could both blame each other, but they knew they could not know what could've happened. It was all ifs and what's, and still the end result was that she was gone. Nothing was going to bring her back.

A/N: I usually write tragic, but somehow this one seemed more harsh then usual to me. Comments? Questions? hopeful face...Reviews?