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I wake up to a beeping noise. I don't open my eyes for a moment. I feel around, I'm not on my usual mattress. I bunch up the cotton sheets as my eyes flutter open. My eyes sting from all the white fabric around me. There's white curtains, white beds covered with white cotton sheets. I sit up and there's slight pain around my waist. I'm in the hospital wing.

I look down at my waist, pulling up the hospital gown I'm wearing to see the wound, my stomach and hips are wrapped in bandages. My hands are wrapped as well, the bindings focusing on the palms of my hands and there's something wet on my fingernails- or where my fingernails used to be on some fingers- ointment or some tonic, I guess.

A young nurse with curly black hair walks in, when she sees me awake she smiles, "Glad to see your awake, Lady Katara."

I feel around for anywhere else I'm hurt, "Is there something wrong with me?"

The nurse looks up from clearing a small side table and laughs, "You're perfectly fine."

"Then why am I here?"

She sets a tray of food beside me, "You fainted from blood loss earlier, you mustn't have felt the wound around your waist, but it was legitimately bad," She hands me a glass of water and I realize how parched I'm feeling. I thank her and sip the water, feeling relief as it sinks down my throat.

"The Fire Lord himself carried you in," She side glances at me, "By the look on his face, we thought it was something more series."

I pull the sheets over my shoulders as I take in her words. I faintly remember the gentle sway sometime after I had blacked out- which could only mean he had been carrying me. I take the last sip of water and then set down the glass, getting up. She gives me a look, "Where do you think you're going?"

"You said I'm perfectly fine, I'm going back to my room."

She shakes her head, "I don't think so, you're to stay the night, until I'm positive you're perfectly fine."

I debate protesting, but I sit back down. I am awfully tired and I wouldn't mind taking a day off of training with Chan. I sit back down and begin eating as my stomach growls in response to the smell wafting over to me. I look up at the nurse as she hurries around my bed, arranging my bed, fixing the stand beside me, offering me more food.

"There was a boy here yesterday, one of the boys maids?" I ask her.

She looks up, startled from being disrupted, "Yes- yes, why?"

I cross my legs, "How is he? Is he still here?"

She pulls hair back from her face as a sad look crosses her face, "He's doing better, but won't be able to even think about getting out of bed for another week or so."

I smooth my hair down, "Can I see him?"


She leads me to his bed which isn't very far from mine. She pulls back the curtains swiftly. He's sitting up and his eyes flick up to meet our presence. His eyes are a dark hazel- just like Mei's. But that's were the similarities end. He's not round like she is, he's lean and even from where he's sitting, I can tell he's tall. His face is angular and his hair is black and short, cropped close to his head. He's still not wearing a shirt- bandages are wrapped around his entire upper body.

I smile at him and he doesn't make an effort to smile back. The nurse leaves us and pulls the curtains shut. I walk over to him and point to the chair beside him, "Can I sit down?"

He gives me a look that's almost a scowl before looking away. I clear my throat slightly and take a seat anyways, "How are you feeling?" I ask him.

He turns to me, "Who are you?"

I straighten out the hospital gown, trying to look presentable in the ridiculous attire. I look back up at him, "My name is Katara, I'm an elite soldier here."

He rolls his eyes, "So you work for them." The venom in his words strikes me.

"I-I guess-"

"Why are you even here? To watch me suffer? To go tell all your other senseless soldiers what they can do to their servants?" He snaps at me.

I swallow hard.

"Or are you here because my mom told you I needed company, well I hate to break it to you- but I don't need you- I don't need anyone."

I clench the gown in my fists, "That's not why I'm here." I say quietly.

He glares at me, "Then why?"

"I just wanted to see if you were okay."

"Well you've seen me, haven't you? Did seeing me in bandages make you feel better? Why am I even asking that- of course it makes you feel better!" He's yelling at me loud enough for me to cringe.

I look up at him and into the fire that's fueling in his eyes, "No- no it doesn't make me feel better seeing you this way. I came here to see how you were doing, but obviously you're not exactly someone who's capable of socializing, so fine- I will leave you alone," I get up as irritation fills me. I rip the curtains back and storm back over to my hospital bed.

I was just trying to be understanding and nice, but obviously he doesn't take after his mother in more ways than just his physical appearance. I sit down on the foot of my bed.

"You shouldn't take offence," The maid walks in, brushing back her curly black hair.

I look up at her.

"He's been like that ever since he was brought here, he refuses help from all the maids and he spends most of his time either yelling or brooding," She glances up at me, holding a bottle of clear liquid. I watch as she pours it into a spoon, "Drink this, it'll help with the pain."

I look down at the liquid and take the spoon and swallow the bitter medicine, gagging as it leaks down my throat. She smiles at me, "You should get some sleep."

I lower myself down on the bed, taking her advice.


The next morning, a soldier takes me back to my room. The wounds around my waist still sting as I change into my soldier suit but it's not comparable to my hands. The skin is still badly torn around my palms and I'm missing two fingernails on my left hand and half of one of my right hand. Mei enters my room with breakfast, smiling, "How are you feeling?"

She sets it down and grabs a seat across from me. I shrug, "There was never anything wrong with me."

She laughs as she glances down at my hands, "Modest, are we, considering you spent a night in the hospital wing?"

I devour the food, "I went to talk to your son yesterday."

Her face darkens and her eyes lower, "Zixin? What did he say?"

I half smile, "He yelled at me."

She sighs and smooths back her hair, "He doesn't realize what he's done. He thinks he shouldn't have faced the repercussions he deserved."

"You really think he deserved to get caned within an inch of his life?" I ask her without thinking it through.

"He deserved repercussions, and the choice wasn't up to him- or you. It was up to the general he disrespected."

I put down my spoon and it sinks back into the oatmeal, "How can you say that? He's your son."

She gets up suddenly, "I will not argue about this any longer. If he has any honour he'll deal with this like a real fire nation citizen would. He may be my son, but he is also a servant here."

She walks towards the door before looking back, "Do you need me for anything else?"

I lower my eyes and shake my head and listen as the door shuts, harder than usual. I get up after finishing my meal and push my tray aside.


I find myself standing in front of his hospital curtains once again, I pull them open gently. He's awake. He looks up at me and narrows his eyes, ever so slightly. I walk over to the chair and don't ask him as I take a seat, "Zixin," I nod at him.

He watches me, his lips set in a scowl.

"Before you ask me, I'll tell you I'm not here to see how you're doing," I cross my arms over my chest, "And I'm not here because your mother sent me to keep you company."

"Then why are you here?" He glares at me.

"I'm here," I lean forward in my chair, looking directly into his eyes, "To ask you what you said to the general."

He shifts and grits his teeth from the pain before looking back at me, "Why is that any of your business?"

I clench my hands, "It's not," I admit, "I was just hoping you'd tell me."

He looks at me before laughing, a short, and pained laugh, "Why do you even care."

"Because," I say, "Because I just want to know."

He inhales sharply before looking away from me, his eyes hardening as he stares at the white curtains, "His name is General Cheying, I was late in delivering his breakfast. He snapped at me and told me his food was cold, so I re delivered it. He then- he then said…something- about my father. And I dropped the pitcher of water over his head," He looks back over at me.

A small laugh escapes my lips before I realize it's not the time or place, "I'm sorry- I just," I shake my head, "And then what happened?"

He side glances at me, "What do you think?" He asks sarcastically, "He got a soldier to bring me down to the throne room; he made my mother watch while I was caned."

My stomach twists as I imagine Mei watching her son getting beat. I swallow hard and suddenly the curtains are pulled aside and a nurse walks in, carrying a vial of medicine. She looks at me in surprise before turning back to Zixin, "You were supposed to be getting some rest."

Zixin glares at the nurse, "I can do whatever I want." He snaps.

The nurse turns to me, "I think you should leave," Her voice is apologetic, but I stand up and nod, "Of course."

I turn to look at Zixin whose still glaring daggers at the nurse, "Bye Zixin," I say quietly. He glances up at me but doesn't say anything. I awkwardly wave and leave the hospital wing. I spend the rest of my day in the training room, vowing to try climbing the wall once more after my hands heal, before I turn eighteen.

I spend most of my day running around the track, wondering if the Fire Lord will show up. A small part of me stays in the training room longer than usual, hoping he'll show up. But he doesn't. I walk back to my room to find Mei setting dinner on my side table.

I stand in silence as she straightens out my sheets, not feeling my presence. I wonder if she's still thinking about our conversation this morning. I understand that she's loyal to her nation- but she's loyal to the point of uncomfortableness for me. She leans over my bed to fix the sheets on the left side of the bed. I hear her breathe heavily, pulling away and smoothing her hair back.

I walk over to my bed and she glances up at me. I smile weakly at her and she steps away from my bed, handing me the tray, "Thank you."

She sits across from me, leaning back in the chair, "Did you speak to him today?"

I nod, "I just wanted to ask him what happened."

"And he told you?"

I nod again and she looks surprised but doesn't say anything. She silent for a long time as she watches me eat the chicken. I allow the tenderness of it melt into my mouth as I savour the taste, it didn't take me long to adjust to Fire Nation food- but once I did, I savoured every single bite I took.

"There's someone here that wants to speak to you."

I look up at her.

"From the colonies."

My stomach sinks. Jet. I inhale deeply, I know I will have to talk to him soon. I know I will have to face him. I know I will have to make a decision. But now? It was too soon. I swallow the food in my mouth, scrounging up some amount of courage, before glancing at her, "Where is he?"

She pulls a strand of hair away from her face, "I can call him up here- if you want. Or you can meet him in the atrium."

I push the tray away, "Would it be too much trouble to call him up here?"

She smiles and shakes her head, "Of course not, you should probably change though."

"Why?"

She walks over to the dresser and pulls out the light blue dress I wore to the ball for about five minutes, "You wouldn't want to waste this dress, would you?" She smiles, making my nerves of her being angry with me melt away.


I change into the dress as Mei leaves the room. I don't wear a corset because it'll be close to impossible to put it on myself and I thoroughly enjoy breathing. I stare at my reflection, not nearly as nice as I looked the day of the ball, but I still straighten up. I smooth my hair back just as there's a knock at my door.

My heart leaps into my throat and I glance around the room wondering where it will be appropriate to sit. I sit down on the chair next to the long window, taking a deep breath, "Come in."

Mei opens the door and Jet follows with a safe distance behind her, his hands buried into his pockets. Mei doesn't say anything as she picks up my tray of finished dinner, "I'll leave you two alone," She says quietly, smiling. I watch as the door shuts, Jet stands awkwardly in front of the door, unsure of where to go.

I point to the chair, "You can sit down."

He nods and walks over to the chair across from me and glances up at me before sitting down. I work my jaw as his eyes focus on me, they travel down the length of my dress, "You look…nice." He says after a moment.

I sigh and lean back in the chair, "I guess it's useless to ask why you're here, and frankly I don't care how you got to the palace."

His emerald eyes gleam, "Katara," His voice is raw as he says my name, "I know you're angry, and confused. You don't know what to do, but, I need to know who's side you're on."

I massage my temples, blinking hard as the situation unfolds blatantly in front of my very eyes, "I- I don't know."

He lowers his voice, "You have to know."

"Well what would you do, Jet?" I snap, "Saving your father from death or doing what's right? And who's to know not killing the Fire Lord is right? How do I know I can even trust you?" My heart beats hard against my chest as I try to calm down.

"I understand how you feel Katara," He says quietly after a moment, "I know how hard this must be for you. And I can't answer your question, because I myself don't know what I would do. But the decision isn't up to me, it's up to you."

"Well that helps a whole lot," I say sarcastically.

He sighs, "I'm sorry, I know I'm really no use in this situation but," He rakes a hand through his hair, "You need to understand that if you do kill the Fire lord- your entire nation will be wiped out. The entire world will be forced to surrender to Commander Jane. And then together- everyone will take down the Fire Nation."

I smooth my hair back, "And what's wrong with that?" The questions slips from my mouth, "What if Commander Jane is right, maybe the reason there is a war is because of the fact that we're separated, what if it's a good thing that the nations will be wiped out. Maybe it's a good thing that we'll all live together."

Jet breathes heavily, "It's- It's not right Katara, and you know it. Our world was divided into these four nations for a reason and we can't just go against that-"

"Why? Why can't we go against it? Maybe they made a mistake separating us, maybe we were actually meant to live together- not as separate nations, but as a joined world."

"Well you tell me, will you be able to kill someone- will you be able to kill the Fire Lord?" His voice is soft but the words hit me like daggers.

I feel myself being strangled as I think about his questions. The day of the ball- I was so prepared to kill him. I was so prepared to end his life. But how could I? How could I just kill him when he's so helpless himself? If there's one thing I've found out about him all these past months I've known him, it's that he isn't cruel.

He's trying, he's trying to fix his own nation. How could I kill the only leader left that's not completely corrupted?

I touch a hand to my forehead, "No," I finally admit, the word shedding the layers and layers of guilt I've been building up ever since I stepped onto Fire Nation land, "No, I won't be able to kill him."

Jet's eyes meet mine and he leans forward slightly, "So you've already made you decision?"

I swallow hard, "I don't know, Jet- my father is still being held captive by your commander. If you can just try and find out where he is- how I can get to him- I'll help you- I'll do whatever you want." My voice is desperate.

He's quiet for a long time, "I-I can try and get you to him, but we have to think about what we're going to do to stop- to stop my mother." His words freeze on the word 'mother' and he swallows, "If you don't kill the Fire Lord, we'll have to get your father back before we carry out a plan on stopping Jane."

"We'll get him back and we can travel back to the Water tribe- your nation- and warn everyone, because I'm sure even if you don't kill the Fire Lord- the moment she finds out you're not carrying out your plan- she'll attack your nation anyways."

"She will find out," He says, his voice nothing but serious, "She's only using the Fire Lord's death to get the fire nation to do the work for her, but if it's absolutely necessary, she'll take down your nation and take anyone to her own nation who surrenders in less than no work, and then the same plan will follow."

"But if we can prepare your nation prior to the attack-"

"You're talking about evacuating them?" I cut in and he looks up and nods.

"We'll have to take them all to the Fire Nation, and both nations will have to join together, we can even get some of the few people left in the Earth Kingdom, we'll make an army of our own, there's no other way to fight Jane," He gets up and pulls out a map from his cloak and unfolds it, placing it down on the small, wooden table between us. I realize as I look at it- it's not a map, it's a calendar, written in a language I don't understand.

He points to a small section on the map, outlined with a red marker, "Sozin's comet arrives after the Winter Solstice, which is coming soon. It's a time where the Fire Benders are the most powerful, everyone who has surrendered to Jane has been stripped of their bending abilities, so if there's a time to attack- it's the day of the comet's arrival."

"Our main goal is to stop her from defeating the Fire Nation," He glances up at me, "If she defeats the most powerful nation- the rest of the nations are done for. If we can stop her- defeat her, we can bring this world out of the war it's in."

His eyes harden as they meet mine, "I'm hoping there's a reason you don't want to kill the Fire Lord, and I'm hoping it's because he's not as corrupt as his father was."

I blink, not getting a word in before he continues speaking.

"We bring the entire Water Nation into the Fire Nation and- the Fire Lord has to be on our side for this, which means you have to tell him. I will return to Commander Jane a couple of days before the comet arrives and inform her of what has happened. She will attack the Fire Nation on the day of the comet- if everything goes as planned, and then that's all- we win or lose."

His words sink into my mind. It's possible- it truly is possible that this could all work out. But there's just one problem, "And my father, how do you plan on getting him back?"

My stomach twists into a deeper knot with each second longer he's silent. His eyes are wide as he watches me, "Katara, this is…" He breathes heavy, "This is the fate of the world…" He finishes quietly, trailing off.

My stomach sinks and I feel nauseous as my vision blurs with tears. My voice is nothing but water as I speak, "You can't do that," My voice shakes pathetically, "I have to get my father back." There's no room for anger as I look up at him, the tears blurring his figure.

He leans forward, tension lining his forehead, "I promise you," He says, "I promise you I will try my hardest, I will. But there is no guarantee, but you will have to trust me, you will have to try and understand the position I'm in."

"If my mother gets suspicious at all, she'll know, and she won't hesitate to kill us all- me included," He touches my arm from across the table, "But I promise you, I will try my hardest to get your father back."

I blink the tears from my eyes and look up at the ceiling, trying to compose myself. If I lose my father, I'm not sure what I will do- how I will react, where I will go. I'm not sure I'll even be able to survive the grief of his loss.

I've been through so much in these past few months, but nothing will be able to compare to losing my father. Nothing at all. I've lost my mother- but I was young and pathetic and I couldn't fight back. But now I'm older, wiser, stronger. And lethal. I will not allow myself to lose anyone else.

I look up at Jet who's still watching me, a tenderness I've never seen before filling his eyes, "The comet will be here in approximately three weeks' time, so what do you say?" He asks in the softest whisper.

I take a deep breath, "I don't have a choice, do I?" I laugh, but it sounds strangled, "I'll help you, and try my hardest to fix whatever's broken in this world."

We're both quiet and then he leans forward, taking my hand in his, his eyes are sincere and his hand warm, "Thank you," He says quietly.

For a long time, neither of us moves and my eyes slowly lower to our hands, still intertwined on the table. I hold my breath as I slowly pull my hand away; his eyes remain lowered as I speak, "Where will you stay until then?"

He doesn't look up at me, and doesn't pull his hand back, "I'm staying near the palace, we'll have to meet a number of times to make this plan work before carrying it out, so I have to stay near you." He pulls his hand away and stands up, "I should go." His voice is slightly pained as he pushes the table slightly back.

He stands for a moment before nodding once at me and turning away. I get up and watch as his hand touches the doorknob.

"Jet?" My voice echoes in the air around both of us.

He stays still but turns his head slightly.

I take a deep breath and then shake my head slightly, "Nothing… good night."

He nods and I hear him suck in a breath and I shut my eyes, listening to the soft click as the door shuts. I slowly walk over to my bed and lower myself on it, pulling the covers up high to my chin. What I should be feeling is relief- relief that I've finally come to a decision. Relief I won't have to murder Fire Lord Zuko.

But there's still the possibility that Jet won't be able to get my father back, and in that situation- I'm not sure what I will do. I'm not sure I'll make the right choice in saying I would kill the Fire Lord to get my father back.

I shut my eyes.


Please, please, please tell me what you thought! Every single review means a lot to me. So what do you guys think?

What do you think of the plan? How about Jet, can he be trusted?

And I know this story doesn't have a lot of romance in it, but that's only because I don't want romance to be the driving factor in the story. So I hope you understand. I'm not saying there won't be romance, just not as much as is probably expected by some of you.

Anyways, leave a review with any questions, comments or future predictions! Thanks so much for reading!