Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I'm sure you all figured that out by now.
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Chapter Thirty-Nine: Memories of the Family
Zuko looked over the railing of his ship. The Fire Nation was in sight.
"So…this is it…" Aang sighed.
"You aren't alone, we will defeat Ozai." Zuko said seriously.
"You're always so determined." Aang smiled at him. "You're so confident and sure that we'll win."
"Yeah…" Zuko faced his back to Aang. "I wish I was as sure as I sounded." He whispered as he entered his ship. He walked by his now door-less room, thanks to Toph, and walked inside. He pulled out his Blue Spirit mask from the drawer of his desk and traced his fingers around it. "After this, I don't think I'll need you anymore." He smirked.
"Yo, Sparky." Toph entered his room.
"What do you want now, to take down my wall?" He said angrily.
"No, but I could if I wanted. I just wanted to say good luck, I mean, tonight you'll be in palace with Dagger Girl, so be careful." She smirked.
"Thanks." Was all he said.
"So I go through the trouble of not making fun of you and wishing you luck and all I get is a sorry ass 'thanks'?" She glared. "Didn't we go over thanking someone right back in the temple?" She smirked and he turned around and smiled at her.
"Thank you, Toph." He bowed his head.
"That's more I like it!" She winked. He thought back to the promises she made that day. She said he wouldn't have to watch his back, which he didn't, she would help him out, which in her own twisted way, she did, and she would help improve his relationship with Katara. He crouched so he was at eye-level with her.
"For everything." He said. She smiled and quickly turned around. "Are you…ok?" He asked.
"I'm fine." She held her nose up as her arms crossed her chest.
"Toph…" He whispered. She turned around and he saw her glassy eyes. She was about to cry. She punched him in the arm.
"What the hell?"
"Listen to me, Sparky, if you let anything happen to you, you'll pay. You're my family now and I don't want you getting hurt." She said as she walked out. Zuko knew that was her way of saying she didn't want anything to happen to him because she cared. They had developed a brother and sister bond since he joined.
XXX
"Katara?" Zuko walked in her room.
"Hey." She smiled at him. "What's up?"
"I just…I want you to be careful…" He frowned.
"You're the one going in the palace tonight." She cocked an eyebrow at him.
"But when we battle, I won't be there to protect you…" He sat at the side of her.
"Zuko, do you honestly think I can't take care of myself after all the times I beat you?" She smirked.
"You never beat me." The ends of his lips twisted into a faint smile.
"What about the North Pole?" She smiled.
"Well…I beat you before, too…"
"When?" She layghed.
"Ba Sing Se…" He mumbled, realizing he brought up a bad topic.
"Zuko…why did you help your sister? You know she's evil…" Katara frowned. She never really got to talk about it with him.
"No she isn't!" He yelled, and then he calmed down. "All I could think about was my father accepting me. Him wanting me home. Things were supposed to go back to normal, but they didn't. I betrayed my uncle, I betrayed you…" He frowned and she kissed his cheek. "I told Azula I would take her to the palace walls." He said without looking at her.
"What? Zuko, are you crazy?" She said a little harshly.
"It will save us a lot of trouble, plus, I think she has a lot to think about, too." He looked up to her.
"I hope you know what you're doing." She hugged him.
"I never know what I'm doing." He smiled at her.
"Trust me, I know." She kissed his cheek.
"Oh…hey…you're here." Sokka smiled as he walked into the room and sat on the side of him on the bed.
"Hi…" Zuko looked to the ground.
"So in a few days, we'll be fighting Ozai." He smiled.
"Yeah." Katara said.
"Hey…I want you to know that we're….cool." Sokka looked to Zuko.
"Alright." Zuko nodded.
"It just…kind of sucks now." He frowned.
"Why?" Katara asked.
"Yo." Toph walked in and sat near Sokka.
"Why are you here?" He asked her.
"I don't know, I thought you were having some gathering or something."
"Oh, ok. It's just…." Sokke went to continue.
"Hi guys!" Aang smiled as he walked in the room. He sat behind Toph.
"Hi, Aang. Like I was saying…" He was a little agitated.
"Yay! A party!" Ty Lee smiled as she entered and rested her elbows on the floor and swung her legs over her head. Jet came in behind her and sat Indian style next to her.
"Ok, now…"
"Mai!" Ty Lee yelled.
"What?" Mai yelled from where ever she was.
"Come into Sokka's room, there's a party!" Ty Lee yelled without moving.
"I don't want to!"
"Please!" Ty Lee yelled. They heard Mai groan, but she came and sat on the other side of Ty Lee.
"Oh cool, can I come in?" Lee asked.
"May as well…" Zuko sighed. Lee plopped on his lap and Zuko tensed a bit. He was the closest father figure he had and Katara smiled at him. Jin came in and sat on the side of Jet.
"Anyone else?" Sokka asked impatiently.
"Oh, a group meeting; let me get some tea." Iroh smiled and left; Sokka slapped his forehead.
"Can I come in?" Jee asked with a smile.
"May as well…" Sokka sighed.
"Snoozles, push your lard ass over." Toph said as she pushed him a few inches over.
"Hey, I do not have a lard ass. I'm all muscle!" He huffed.
"And I waterbend." Zuko snorted.
"Back!" Iroh came in with a tray of cups and everyone took one, even Zuko. He sat down next to Jin.
"Now, what were you saying, Sokka?" Katara asked.
"I…don't remember." He frowned.
"Its ok, we know your mind can only hold so much." Toph laughed.
"I remember!" He said as he pointed his finger to the air and smiled. "I was going to say that after this battle…our family will be separated." He frowned again.
"Ah, yes, we have all grown so close." Iroh said.
"Don't worry, Sokka, you and Zuko will be brother-in-laws soon!" Aang smiled. Zuko and Sokka both gagged on their tea.
"What?" They asked in unison.
"You do plan on getting married, right Zuko?" Katara glared.
"Of course…just not soon." He said under his breath.
"You better marry her after everything you've done!" Sokka yelled.
"I think it's best you be quiet." Zuko glared.
"Gee, Sokka, I didn't know you were so eager to be related to Zuko." Ty Lee smiled.
"I'm not." Sokka huffed. There was an awkward silence.
"Let's have a toast." Sokka said.
"We all already took a freaking sip you moron." Zuko said.
"Let's do it anyway!" Lee said. "And what did you do with Katara?" He whispered in Zuko's ear. "At least what that would make you marry her?"
"Uh…nothing." Zuko blushed.
"I want to know or I'll ask your uncle." Lee smiled his toothy grin.
"I, uh…kissed her." Zuko lied and Lee gasped.
"I am never kissing a girl." He said out loud.
"I am never having kids…" Zuko sighed.
"Ok, a toast to every fight we've had, everyone has been in one…" Sokka started,
"Yeah we have!" Aang smiled.
"Jet, Zuko, and Katara's still dominated!" Toph shouted.
"To Zuko's negativity." Sokka continued.
"Yeah, you're so glum, Zuko, it doesn't set a good aura." Ty Lee said seriously.
"To our tribes and family we left behind." Sokka said and everyone took a moment of silence. "To Aang learning all the elements, even jerk-bending." Everyone clapped. "To everyone's loyalty."
"What about Isamu?" Mai asked.
"He was never one of us, anyway." Jet said.
"And you weren't either." Sokka said. "Well…now you are. To defeating the Fire Lord."
"Yes, it will be a great victory." Iroh smiled.
"And putting our fate into Zuko's hands." Everyone laughed.
"If you do anything wrong, I'll kick you ass, Sparky." Toph smiled as she leaned over and punched him in the arm.
"To all the good times we've had." Everyone applauded and shouted. "To the loved ones we've lost to the war…" He frowned. "And to the loved one we've gained. To our new family!" He stood up and everyone else yelled twice as loud. "After all this, we will still be a family."
"You can't get rid of me that easily." Jet smiled.
"Unfortunately…" Sokka and Zuko said together then looked at each other and smiled.
"My personal favorite fight was when Snoozle, Tree Boy, and me went into the woods because we thought Sparky was up to something with Sugar Queen and then Acrobat Princess showed up. You should've seen you're face when you snapped, Sparky." Toph laughed.
"Mine was when Zuko and Katara fought…because of me." Jet smirked.
"Mine was when Zuko punched Sokka in the nose and we couldn't understand him in that cave, remember?" Aang smiled.
"Gee, thanks Aang." Sokka said.
"I want a reenactment!" Jet yelled.
"I do not agree with fighting." Iroh nodded.
"What was your favorite fight?" Toph asked Zuko and Katara. Everyone went silent as they waited for aan answer.
"I liked every fight we had. We have the best stories anyone could ask for." Zuko smirked.
"I didn't like any of the fights. Well…a few were funny…" Katara smiled.
"You know you loved it!" Sokka smiled.
"Zuko was in almost every fight we had!" Aang smiled.
"Yeah, before and after he tried to kill us!" Sokka laughed.
"When are we getting to the Fire Nation?" Lee asked after a short pause.
"Tonight." Zuko whispered/
"I'm getting claustrophobic." Aang frowned.
"Ha ha!" Toph pointed a finger at him.
"At least you get a seat on the bed…" Mai said under her breath.
"So…what happens after we kill Ozai?" Katara asked.
"Well, you can all stay in the Fire Nation if you want…you will be Katara..." Zuko said.
"I'm not going to the South Pole without her." Sokka said.
"I'm staying with Snoozles." Toph smiled.
"I'll go where my family is." Mai said.
"Stay in the Fire Nation with me!" Ty Lee smiled.
"I thought you were going back to the circus?" She cocked an eyebrow.
"Nope, I'm going to live there with Jet!" She smiled.
"I need to stay to help restore peace." Aang said.
"I can do that…." Zuko mumbled.
"Because you're such a people person." Katara laughed.
"So…will everyone be in the Fire Nation?" Zuko asked.
"Well…Lee wants to stay with you, so I'll be there." Jin said.
"So we aren't getting separated at all!" Sokka smiled.
"Yeah, to family!" Aang yelled.
"To family!" Everyone yelled.
"Just think Sparky, now you can put up with us forever." Toph smirked.
"Freaking great." He said, but he couldn't hold back his smiled.
"So can I live in a palace?" Lee asked.
"Yup. You can have my old room." Zuko looked down to the boy who had his eyes filled with excitement. He nuzzled into Zuko's embrace.
"How cute!" Ty Lee yelled. "You will be such a great dad!"
"Yes, Nephew, when should I be expecting grandchildren?" Iroh winked.
"Uncle!" Zuko yelled.
"Zuko is kind of my dad now." Lee smiled and Zuko stared at him.
"This is such a sweet moment." Ty Lee smiled with tears in her eyes.
"I don't want kids." Jet said.
"Yes you do!" She grinned.
"So, Prince Zuko, I heard your plans for the princess…" Jee said.
"Yeah…"
"Whoa, hold up, what plans?" Sokka said.
"I'm taking her to the Fire Nation with Isamu."
"Are you crazy?" Aang said.
"Would you rather her be with us when we plan on attacking?" He glared and they looked to their feet. "Trust me on this."
"We do." Katara smiled.
XXX
That night, they docked in the Fire Nation. Zuko dropped Azula and Isamu in front of the walls.
"Remember what I told you, I will not hesitate to kill you if you get in my way." Zuko said with a stern face.
"Please, I already know exactly what my plans are for the battle. Stay out of my way, Zuzu." She smirked as she led Isamu through the walls. She knew she would get questioned for not having her ship, but she already knew what she would say.
XXX
Zuko walked back to his room without a door and threw on his black outfit. He pulled the hood over his head and put his sword over his shoulder. He carried his mask in his hand. He walked outside where everyone was greeting their friends and family from the other ships. He smiled as Katara hugged her father. She was hugging hers, he would be killing his. He shook his head and walked over to her.
"Are you ready?" She asked as she looked over to him. He could feel Hakoda's gaze on him.
"Yeah…" He frowned.
"Be safe." She kissed his cheek. Now he was uncomfortable. He wanted to just hold her tight but her dad was right there. Did he know about anything they did? He got nervous.
"You, too." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"So you're the Blue Spirit?" Hakoda asked.
"That he is!" Sokka smiled as he walked up from behind Zuko and swung his arm over his shoulder. "You owe me." He whispered in his ear and Zuko nodded.
"Are you ready?" Mai asked.
"I guess Mai doesn't need to changer her clothes because they're already so dark and depressing." Ty Lee smiled.
"Ha ha, very funny." Mai rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, let's go." He kissed Katara's forehead and walked away.
"Now don't go getting yourself caught!" He yelled and Zuko sighed, he was trying to embarrass him. "I mean it, I love you future brother!"
"And you called me gay…" Jet sighed as they noticed Zuko quicken his pace to get away.
"You're um…gay?" Hakoda asked Jet.
"That he is!" Sokka smiled as he swung his arm over Jet's shoulder.
"And your son is my gay lover." Jet winked as he swung his arm around Sokka's shoulder. Sokka pulled his arm away.
"Wow…Sokka…"
"I hate you." He said to Jet.
"Until tonight when we're alone." Jet winked.
XXX
Zuko put his mask over hiss face and they slowly walked through the opening in the walls. Ozai said he would be closing them tonight and Azula was already there, so why were they open? He pinned his back against the wall and Mai followed the suit. They entered the palace. Mai turned around and swinger her knives at a wall. Zuko cocked his eyebrow from behind a mask and they walked toward where she threw the knives and saw a man with a panicked expression staring wide-eyed at thm. Zuko immediately unsheathed his swords and crossed them at the guard's neck.
"We were never here." Mai glared and the man nodded.
"Where do you think all the guards are tonight?" Zuko whispered as they walked away.
"Ozai probably gave them a task, he is expecting Azula tonight." Mai said in a bored voice.
"We're almost at the war room." He frowned behind his mask. They saw three guards in the doorway, Zuko smirked; he could use a little excitement. He swung his swords in the air and ran at them at a speed they had never seen.
"The Blue Spirit." One whispered as he took his spear. He went to throw it but Zuko jumped in the air and threw his swords down. The spear was chopped in half. The man stood stunned, he barely got to life it. Mai took the knives from her sleeves and threw them at the second guard. He was dangling from the wall defenseless. Zuko knocked the guard he was fighting with out with a single punch. Ozai must've put his best soldiers on another duty. Maybe they were guarding his chambers. If so, he was the biggest pussy Zuko ever knew. They looked at the third guard.
"H-h-here are the keys." The man threw them and put his hands up as a sign of defense. Mai picked them up and Zuko knocked him out. They entered the war room.
"Where would they be?" Mai asked.
"I've only been here twice."
"Looking for something?" They heard a voice say. They saw a pair of legs crossed at the head of the table, but it definitely wasn't Ozai. Azula stood before them. "It's been too long, hasn't it, Zuzu. Oh look, you must not have wanted to sacrifice your waterbender so you brought Mai, how sweet." She heard Mai growl. "Here." She threw him a rolled up piece of paper. "The blueprints to every level of the palace. Now leave before I change my mind." She crossed her arms and looked away.
"Why?" Zuko asked.
"Father doesn't know I've returned yet, that's why the walls were still open to you, your welcome by the way, and I know why you came here. I catch on quickly; you should know that, dum-dum." She rolled her eyes.
"Thank you." He whispered.
"Whatever, now leave before I get some real soldiers after you." She grunted. He nodded and ran off.
"You did the right thing." Isamu came from the shadows and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I know." She pulled her shoulder away.
XXX
Zuko and Mai sprinted down the hallway as they could while being quiet.
"Hurry up." Zuko said.
"I'm sorry I didn't have military training." She spat.
"You two!" A man yelled from behind.
"Shit!" Zuko yelled.
"Oh yeah, because swearing will save us, stop and fight!" She yelled as she stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and shot a knife at the man. It hit his helmet and he hit the ground. "Why didn't you stop?" She yelled.
"Be quiet! Obviously, you could handle it yourself." He said as his masked face turned to her. She had a faint smile on her face.
"I guess I am just better than you." She smirked.
"Psh, ok."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"The gate is closing!" He pointed as they exited the palace. He wrapped his arm around her waist and ran.
"We aren't going to make it, Zuko, just stop!" She yelled.
"And I'm the negative one." He sighed and jumped through the crack of an opening. They just made it. Zuko landed in top of her as he took quick, sharp breaths.
"We…made it." She smiled.
"Not yet, come on." He offered her a hand and she stood up. They quickly walked to the area the group waited for them. They were gone a few hours now. They stayed in the shadows until they made it.
"Zuko!" Katara ran up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Did you get them?" Sokka asked.
"We got them." Mai smirked.
"We'll start planning it tomorrow. I need some rest. How about you?" He looked down to Katara.
"No." She yawned. "I'm fine."
"If fine means getting no sleep. Go ahead; you can sleep in his room if you don't do anything." Sokka smiled.
"I don't exactly have a door you know." Zuko sighed.
"So, that doesn't mean…never mind."
"You look wide awake."
"Yeah, well, your safety doesn't concern me." He said proudly. "You know what sucks about those jokes…we're kind of friends now, they don't work." He frowned.
"You'll always have Jet to make fun of." Zuko smirked.
"True." He smiled and Zuko put his arm around Katara's shoulder and they walked in the ship.
XXX
I did NOT forget about any of you! Honest to god! I went through the greatest writer's block of my life, and I didn't want to write a bunch of b.s. because I think the next chapter is the last one! NO! yeah, it is I think, though. So I will tell you now, you might need to wait a bit for it because I want this story to end well. Please review! XD