Hey everyone! Welcome to chapter 25 of Day's of Future's Past! Sorry for a bit of delay. My job scheduled for a couple days in a row so I didn't have time to work on this chapter. But I'm back with the next one! I hope you guys liked the last chapter! As always, I do not own Avatar or its characters but the world in this story is my own. Onto the story!

Katara is the most popular girl at Kyoshi High. She had everything she ever wanted. A boyfriend, tons of friends. But when she discovers a secret of her town that longed to be hidden, was it everything she wanted?

Let's find out!

Chapter 25: Rescue Part 2

Zuko knew he made the right decision. He had to protect Katara at all costs. And if his life could somehow be a payment for hers, he would do it. She had her entire life ahead of her. She would be able to grow old and have a life without him. But he would never be able to live without her. His life was never ending. He would have to live for eternity knowing…

But that wasn't going to be the case. He knew his father well. He lived with him for many years. He was also hunted by him for many years. He knew his father would never pass up for his head on a platter, even for a human. He had humans every day, ones that he even kept because he liked their taste so much. Katara did not mean that much to him and he knew it. He only wanted her to spite him.

In Zuko's heart, he had a feeling that whatever he had with Katara couldn't last. Humans and Ketsueki's just couldn't be together. That was something out of a fairytale his mother read him as a child. He was a hunter and she was prey. A lion and a lamb. Two opposites.

He stopped to watch the sunset over the ocean he had just crossed. Swimming had always been relaxing to him, when he didn't have to come up for air. Although water was his opposite, he felt a great peace when it surrounded him. He turned back towards his destination. He had arrived.

It felt like forever that they ran. Iroh ran as fast as he could to get to his nephew. They only hoped they wouldn't be too late by the time they got there. It was a long journey to Kasai. And their future was entirely unclear.

Iroh stopped at a blue and white cottage, after a moment Katara realized, it was a familiar one. Iroh knocked on the front door, clearly anxious and impatient.

Yue opened the front door. Iroh did not wait for re introductions, "Did you get my message?" he asked. Yue nodded, "Yes, come. We must hurry."

Iroh grabbed her and they ran a short distance to the waters edge. Katara gasped, "We have to cross an ocean to get to the castle? But how am I…?" she asked.

"That is why I'm where" Yue answered. She walked to the waters edge and gracefully held up her right hand. With a swift movement of her arm, a patch of ice formed, smooth but little grooves built in to hold onto. Yue climbed on first then reached out a hand for the old man and girl to come on.

"Hold on tight" Yue answered. With that small warning, they were flying across the water, almost as if a boat engine was attached to the back of their raft. Katara had to gasp for breath at the pace they were moving but she didn't mind. They had to catch up to Zuko.

It felt like too long before they reached a shoreline. Yue spoke up, "This is where I leave you" Iroh nodded looking back at her as he got off the raft. He bowed towards her, "It seems we owe you another debt of gratitude". But Yue, a woman of few words, simply nodded and continued back across the water. Iroh turned back towards the land "We're here…"

The land was so unlike Kyoshi. It was mostly rock from as far as she could see. And not too far north, Katara could see a large volcano soaring into the sky. "I take it that's where we're headed?" Iroh nodded, "Yes… And we must hurry. There may not be much time left."

Zuko had no trouble getting into the castle. Although he had been banished, as the Prince, guards were required to let him through on the grounds to see his father. As soon as he stepped through the lava into the volcano, he felt different here. It wasn't home, it was just a place he had lived. But he felt more like his father here, ruthless and cunning, and he didn't like it one bit.

He reached the doors of the throne room and took a deep breath. As soon as he stepped through these doors, he would be changed forever. He wasn't sure how yet, but he had an idea. He took one more deep breath, for it could be his last and stepped through the doors.

Iroh and Katara were running to the volcano. "It's best we go through the back entrance. Guards will bother us less. Because I am the Fire Lord's brother, we won't receive much trouble. But since you're an outsider and human…"

Katara quickly rebutted with "They may want to tear me limb from limb. Got it. Let's go" She did not want to waste any more time.

Iroh led her down a long passage way until they reached a glowing door. As they got closer, Katara realized it wasn't a glowing door at all. But a wall of lava. "How…?" was all Katara could say.

"You have to trust me and hold on tight" he told her. She nodded as he pulled her close to his chest. Katara closed her eyes tight, but Iroh guided them safely threw the lava wall where they reached the other side. They both let out a breath of relief. "Let's move." Katara said, again making their descent through the tunnel.

Zuko opened the throne doors wide and walked into the room. Ozai sat tall on his throne with a snarl on his face, "Prince Zuko… How lovely to see you. I was hoping next time I saw you, it would be with a certain vampire on your arm" he told him, standing from his throne, a wall of fire separating them.

"Sorry to disappoint. But she doesn't want to become one of us" Zuko told him, looking down slightly, ashamed. Ozai tsked, "Pity… Guess there are other ways to take care of her hm. I bet her blood tastes mighty fine now don't you think?" Ozai let out a small evil chuckle. The sound made Zuko's vampire blood boil.

"You're not going to do anything to her." Zuko told his father fiercely. "Well my son… A deal is a deal now isn't it?" Ozai told him, stepping from the flames. Zuko let out a breath. This was the moment that could make or break the rest of his life and Katara's. He fell to his knees in front of his father.

"I offer myself to you if in return you spare her life… We both know how much you've wanted to kill me all these years… I'm giving you the chance… As long as she is freed from your debt." Zuko told him, looking at his father's feet then closing his eyes.

Ozai laughed his evil laugh once again, walking forward, "Isn't this a turn of events… Do you love this human?" he said the word human with such disdain. Zuko paused for a moment, then spoke, "Yes" looking at his father from the top of his eyelids.

"Are you prepared to die for her my son?"

"Yes."

Ozai laughed once more and held up a hand, making a fireball in his palm.

"Stop!"

Dun Dun DUUUUNNNNNN! Hope you guys liked that chapter! It turned out to be super long but I didn't feel like splitting into two chapters. So there you go! Hope you enjoyed it! Onto the reviews!

Guest: Thank you so much for reading! I appreciate it! One of my favorite parts about this story is it is completely my own and my ideas translated into word format. It's something I have imagined and had dreams about for a while! And its cool to put my favorite characters in it. Keep reading!

Bloody arms: Thanks so much! Keep reading! ?

Gothic Girl: Praying for you and your family! Thanks for finding the time to read this!

Iroh Really Loves: I have always loved Zuko! He's one of my favorite characters because the writers in the show give him such a storyline that progression that no other character really has. He grows so much from beginning to end and I find it awesome to put into prospective in other stories! Thanks for reading!

Running from my: Glad you liked it! Thanks so much for reading!

That's it for the reviews! Until next time!