Hark! What's this! That's riiighht…. It's THE FINAL BATTLE! (well… part 1 of it anyway) I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 35 – The Final Battle. Part 1

The moon shone down brightly on the Fire Nation palace, completely deserted save for a few guards standing outside each entrance. From high above, on one of the surveillance walls, Katara, Zuko and Bato hid in the shadows. Along the other side, Aang, Toph and Hakoda stayed hidden in their own set of shadows. The guards that should have been responsible for the night watch on the wall were instead knocked out and tied into a large group with tight knots. Down below, one of the guards had just barely started to yawn before he was yanked away into the darkness. His fellow co-guard couldn't even turn his head all the way before he too was yanked away. Two soft thuds could be heard and then a low whistle, which signaled to those above that Suki and Sokka had succeeded in knocking out the guards and tying them up as well.

"So far…so good." Katara whispered.

So far their plan was going exactly as planned. It was just barely a week after everyone had reconvened in the original meeting place, and now they were invading. If everything went as planned, the Gaang would sneak in under the cover of night, taking out the guards on the walls first, before taking care of the few down below. So far, it was exactly as Iroh had described. Then, if Step One had succeeded, they would let in the rest of their ever growing group through the gates and over take the Fire Lord's home. Aang would go for the Fire Lord, alone as he insisted, while Zuko and Katara took care of Azula. As for the rest of the group, they were to fight off the firestorm of guards that was sure to come.

But for now, our friends continued to stand watch atop their hiding place, ready for the guard change Iroh had told them would come. The walls would be fine, these men stayed on all night, the ones below however, shifted every few hours, moving from one side to the next.

"Just a little further…" Katara murmured quietly as the next two guards marched their way to their post.

"Strange…shouldn't we have passed the other two by now?"

"Hah! They probably snuck off and took naps. Bunch of good for nothing, lazy-" his sentence was cut off as he was hit over the head with something very hard, knocking him out instantly, his friend soon following in the same manner.

The doors were kicked in with the great force of earth being thrown against them, the echo of sound sure to awake all that were in the palace. Barely a minute had passed before the troops came rushing out of the palace, heading for the invading group.

"Let's go!" Zuko tugged on Katara's hand, waving to Aang to get going as well. Aang turned to watch as the rest of their invasion force rushed through the doors. Water and Earth nations alike, as well as Iroh, hurried through, the battle beginning in a flurry of elements.

Aang, and Zuko and Katara broke off as they entered the building, headed off towards their respective enemy. Aang grew nervous the closer he got to where he knew the Fire Lord would be, noticing the deathly silence that surrounded him. It was quiet… too quiet. He entered the room cautiously, keeping his ears and eyes open. Before he had another chance to move a giant fireball landed just inches from his feet, sending him jumping backwards.

"Well Hello Zuzu…" the voice rang out through the silence as Katara and Zuko entered the courtyard. They wheeled around, searching for its owner in the dark. "How nice of you to come…you know for a second there I almost thought you wouldn't." in a flash of light the lanterns circling the arena they stood in lit up, illuminating the area.

"Azula." Zuko's voice was sharp as he glared at his sister. She had placed herself atop the beams over a row of seats on the edge of the arena, smirking at her enemies.

"and you've brought your little girlfriend, how sweet. Now the two of you can die together." With an evil glint in her eyes, Azula leapt from where she stood, flipping before she landed on the solid ground just feet away from her brother and Katara. She cast the first attack, Zuko blocking the blue flames that raced their way.

"Well well well…it's the ever elusive Avatar, come to defeat the Fire Lord."

Aang whipped around to face the menacing figure perched upon his throne, flames flickering behind him.

"It's quite the little party you've brought along with you. How does it make you feel…to know that everyone will die…just for you to die along with them?" he threw out another attack, Aang back flipping away from the flames.

"Hah! Too cowardly to fight back? Perfect…it will make it all the easier!" He stood from his throne, stalking towards Aang.

He threw attack after attack after Aang, who continuously backed away, throwing up defenses of earth and air. He took advantage of the few seconds he had of the Fire Lord regaining his footing from Aang's most recent air attack and kicked his foot forwards, sending the ground into ripples. The Fire Lord merely stumbled, laughing evilly.

"Is that the best you can do? I expected more from the Avatar."

"Think Aang… remember everything you've been taught up until now." He took a deep breath, slamming his hands down and then punched forwards, sending shards of glass at his enemy. The volley of rock and flame continued. The Fire Lord growled, sending a wave of flame at Aang, throwing the boy backwards. Aang skidded on the ground on his back, slowing to a stop. He opened his eyes up groggily, seeing the Fire Lord stalking towards him once more. Thinking fast he encased himself in an armor of rock, the mound completely protecting his body, giving him room to sit, his head brushing the top of his tiny cave. He both heard and felt the rumble of fire as it descended on his protection.

Cliff hanger! Much like the show, this particular part of my story will come in a couple parts. Why? You ask… because it if didn't it would honestly be about a 10page long chapter!