Katara
Blue and Gold, Part 1
Katara had gone to bed knowing that she would see Aang in the morning. When the sun rose, she was wrong. Aang's absence weighed on all of them, even as they tried not to acknowledge it. If the Avatar had abandoned their quest, then it really must be hopeless. Katara didn't believe that Aang had abandoned them. He wouldn't. He had run away in the past, when he was alone. Now he had his friends and he would never leave them. Never.
Zuko who stepped up and took control. Everyone had their tasks - Iroh and White Lotus would take back Ba Sing Se. Suki, Toph, and Sokka would ground the air fleet. And Katara - Zuko had asked her to help him face Azula. Katara could see why Iroh thought Zuko would make a good Fire Lord. He didn't give in to hopelessness.
They all agreed on the plan, though each knew that their individual tasks, even if successful, would mean nothing if Aang didn't return. They each had enough trust to face their own part of today. Some part of each of them still believed.
Katara tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach when he asked her to accompany him. It made strategic sense. Fire and water balanced each other out when set as opposites. Put together, the two elements were formidable. Would it be enough to equal Azula's strength?
Katara reflected that she should have kissed him on the beach.
Saying goodbye was the hardest part.
Sokka worked his jaw while he tried to come up with something to say. "You're gonna beat her. Of all the people in the world, you're the one that can do it," he whispered. "But - dammit, I'm your older brother. I'm supposed to protect you, keep you safe."
Katara pulled her brother close. He squeezed her back.
"You're an excellent older brother, Sokka. The best."
"I love you, Katara."
"I love you too."
"Tell Azula she's lucky I'm not coming for her," said Toph, smacking her fist into her palm. "And you know… look after yourself. Don't go getting struck by lightning."
Katara chuckled. "Okay, sounds like a deal. And you, let Sokka and Suki do something, okay?"
Toph nodded and hugged Katara too.
Suki stepped up last. "Don't go getting distracted on the ride over," she said, with a small smile. Katara laughed and promised to keep her hands to herself.
They left, Sokka glaring suspiciously at Suki and Katara. Katara watched her family and her best friends disappear. Then she went to find Zuko. He was saying goodbye to Iroh when she found him. She kept her distance. When Zuko left to join Katara, Iroh caught her gaze. It made her ache for her Grangran.
When they got to Appa, Zuko extended his hand to boost her up into the saddle. Instead, she took it in her's and they stared into each other's eyes. Blue and gold.
"I'm glad you're coming with me," said Zuko.
Katara's stomach jumped into her throat as they turned over the words she wanted to say in her mind. Finally: "It's where I should be."
Zuko smiled. Despite the chaos going on around them, despite the dread that threatened to overwhelm, Zuko smiled. Katara found that she could smile too.
Zuko
Blue and Gold, Part 2
Zuko should have kissed her. He should have left her behind. He should have been selfish. He should have been selfless. His thoughts warred as he steered Appa to the Fire Nation capital, back to his home.
Azula would be enraged to see Katara. The very waterbender that Azula had tried to weaponize against Zuko, now back to face her. Azula would be insulted. She would target Katara. It might be enough to unbalance his perpetually balanced sister, but Zuko knew he didn't care about the strategic advantage. Not when the cost was so high.
I should turn around.
Katara sat in the saddle. They didn't speak. What was there to say? They were headed to victory or death. No in betweens. If they won - then they would finally be together. If they died… I should have kissed her! Zuko should crawl back into the saddle and kiss her and not stop until they arrived. And if Appa got lost along the way, they would settle down wherever Appa landed and never face the world again.
Zuko didn't do that. He stayed where he was and aimed the air bison toward his sister.
When they landed, it was clear that something was wrong. They faced no opposition getting to the palace. There was no one there to offer opposition. There was no one there… period. Out of the corner of his eye, Zuko saw movement.
"Hey!" He yelled, but the figure just ran away, away from the palace.
Katara looked at him questioningly. "She's in there," Zuko said with certainty. "If Fire Nation citizens are fleeing the palace, there's only one person who scared them away." He took Katara's hand, squared his shoulders, and entered the home of the Fire Lord.
They moved through the cavernous hallways cautiously, but they were all empty. The torches in the sconces on the walls were unlit. There was complete, pervasive silence. Outside the throne room, Zuko motioned for Katara to stand back as he kicked open the doors. He whirled around in a fighting stance, but the throne room was as empty as the rest of the palace.
"Is she - Did she leave too?" Katara asked.
"I don't think so," Zuko said. "It wouldn't be like her."
"Is this some trap?"
"Maybe? But why didn't they attack as soon as we entered the palace? They have the numbers, the location…" That's when it clicked in Zuko's mind. His heart was heavy and Katara could see his expression change.
"What?"
"I know where she is. Come on." Zuko led the way to the Agni Kai chamber. Classic Azula. She never hesitated to use his own emotions against him. She wanted to make him mad by reminding him of his failure. It wouldn't work. He was here with Katara. The memory of that first Agni Kai, which had haunted him for so long, had no more power. It had faded behind more momentous - and joyous - events in his life.
Outside the door that would lead them into the open air dueling space, Zuko stopped and faced Katara. His chest filled with affection, admiration… love. He touched the sides of her face and closed his eyes, leaning down. His eyes shot open when he felt Katara's finger press against his lips.
"No," she whispered. "This isn't goodbye."
"But-"
"I know what might happen. But you aren't leaving me. We're going together."
"Okay," said Zuko, straightening.
"I want to kiss you," Katara said. She smiled nervously. "I guess we're both gonna have to survive."
"When you put it like that…"
"Let's go," Katara said, taking his hand.
Katara
Blue and Gold, Part 3
They emerged into corrupted daylight. The comet raged above, turning the sky blood red. Azula sat across from the door in a throne she had clearly dragged from somewhere else. She looked… different. Everytime Katara had faced off with Azula, whether it was after a night-long chase or in caverns deep underground, the fire princess' appearance was always immaculate. Everything from her hair to her clothes was perfect for the occasion. Katara had seen her dressed as a soldier, a commander, even as a Kyoshi warrior. She always looked the part she was playing.
But now, on the day that her family would conquer the Earth Kingdom and unofficially gain dominion over the world, Azula looked like she had just gotten out of bed. Her clothes were wrong. Her hair was a mess. The only thing that was recognizable was her smile - hateful and superior.
"Hello, brother."
"Azula. We have come to accept your surrender."
Azula laughed, long and hard.
"Give over control of the palace and capital to me, and there doesn't need to be any bloodshed. You have the opportunity to make peace." Zuko had to make the offer, if he attacked first he was no better than the rest of his family. Every moment they stood out here, Katara got more and more nervous.
"You brought a guest," Azula continued, ignoring her brother. "How rude of me. Welcome! You're both in time for my coronation. I would be honored, Zuko, if you would do the honors." She gestured to a crown on the ground. "Everyone else seems to have disappeared."
"They left," said Zuko, striding forward. Katara trailed him feeling exposed. But no one jumped out. They truly seemed to be the only three left. "The whole city is empty. Even if I put that on your head, you're not queen of anyone."
"No. I'm the lord. Fire Lord Azula"
"Azula," Zuko's voice was heavy. "This is your last chance to surrender peacefully. Please."
"Or what? You'll attack? You and your little sidekick." Azula twisted to address Katara over Zuko's shoulder. "Don't worry! There's water in the stadium." She pointed to the side. "We keep it here to treat burns." She said the last word to her brother.
"You're leaving us no other choice," said Zuko, extending his hands.
"There's one other choice," Azula said. "Agni Kai! You and me, brother. It was always bound to happen. Unless you don't think you can take me without some little girl's help."
Katara rolled her eyes. They couldn't take Azula alone. Neither of them could. That was why they had come together.
"I accept," Zuko said.
"What!" Katara's stomach sank and Azula laughed. Katara grabbed Zuko's arm.
Zuko glanced at his sister. Azula lounged on the throne. "Something's wrong, Katara," Zuko whispered. "She's not acting like herself. I can take her."
"But you don't have to! That's the whole point. You're not alone."
Zuko nodded. "I know I'm not. But she is. She's my sister, Katara. I have to protect her, even if it means fighting her. I can do it. I can take her down and get her somewhere safe. Somewhere maybe she can… heal."
Everything in Katara made her want to refuse. This was ridiculous, it was dangerous, and it was unnecessary. If Katara wasn't going to be useful here, she should have been with her brother and her friends! She should have been looking for Aang. Had she really come all this way for some boy who didn't even want her?
"I'll need you," Zuko said, as if he was reading her mind. He grabbed her hand. "Even if I win the duel, Azula's not going to submit."
"So then why even do it?" Katara hissed through clenched teeth.
"I have to."
"That's stupid! If you don't win the duel you die!"
Katara wasn't whispering anymore. Azula laughed.
"Fine." Fine. If the siblings wanted to fight like children, let them. Katara stalked off to the side, but she had no intention of letting Zuko fight alone. She would wait on the sidelines, let Zuko and Azula distract each other. Then she could trap Azula. Zuko didn't want his sister hurt? Fine. She would take Azula down peacefully while Azula did everything in her power to hurt, maim, and kill the person she had spent months loving in secret, who had just tried to kiss her. Fine.
The siblings lined up across from each other, and right as the duel started, Katara realized her plan was not going to work. The two firebenders were both masters, and the comet above only increased their power. Fire roared and the heat was unbearable. Azula wasn't only producing lightning, but gouts of blue fire as well. Brother and sister jumped and dodged and twisted. Katara never had the opportunity to subtly strike. Any water she tried to sneak between then would evaporate before reaching its target. Katara was stuck, on the outside of the blue and gold hellstorm.
She stood on the sidelines, ready to move, defend, or attack, as necessary. Then, she saw Azula pause to gather the electricity in the air. Katara was directly behind Zuko, but she could tell what he was doing. He was going to redirect the bolt. He was going to let Azula strike him.
No.
Zuko
Blue and Gold, Part 4
Zuko heard the crackle of electricity. He could do this. He prepared his body, visualizing how the lightning would travel down one arm, through his stomach, and then up his other arm, harmlessly dissipating in the sky.
Right as she let loose a bolt, her hips twisted. Zuko reacted without thinking. There was only one reason Azula would misaim. Zuko leapt in front of the bolt. It wrapped around his body like white hot wires. It sunk into him, piercing his skin, his eyes, his heart. Still in the air, Zuko pointed at the sky and pushed with all his worth. He saw lightning shoot up at an angle before the world went dark.
Katara
Blue and Gold, Part 5
Katara was shocked still as a statue. Azula laughed and approached her brother. She kept laughing as she stood over him, as she leaned down, as she slapped his arm. Then the laughter stopped, as abruptly as if all the air had been sucked out of her body. She touched Zuko again. And again, and again, and again. He remained motionless.
When Azula rose, she was glaring at Katara, her eyes bright with hatred.
"This is your fault!" she yelled.
Katara gathered water to her hands, ready for Azula's attack.
"He's dead!" Azula screamed.
No.
"Azula, get out of the way." She had to get to him, had to heal him.
"Because of you! It should have been you. It should have been you!" Fire poured from Azula's hands, taking up all the space, all the air. There was nowhere to duck or run or jump. Katara was trapped between two solid walls of fire. It hurt - so much. Katara gasped for air and struck the only thing she could.
Sudden cool air rushed in to replace the inferno and Azula lifted her hands furiously to see them trapped in ice. They were already dripping, already melting away. Katara screamed and launched all the water in both pools at Azula and frozen them solid. Azula glared through the ice, furious, melting the ice around her body. Katara froze it again, and again, and again. She remembered what Zuko had said - fire came from within. A cold firebender had nothing to bend. Katara also remembered that Zuko had wished to spare his sister. Katara didn't know how small the difference between a cold firebender and a dead firebender was - nor did she really care.
Azula was getting weaker and more frantic. She fought against the ice and her own diminishing strength. When her fire turned orange again, then petered out entirely, she screamed, slamming her fists against her icy prison. Blood bloomed on the walls of ice and still Azula didn't stop. She kicked and pounded on her prison. Katara had to get her under control. She would run out of air in there if she didn't calm down.
Katara looked around the space and found what she was looking for. She approached Azula with the chain outstretched, giving Azula one last chance to surrender. If anything, her frenzy ratched higher. Katara sighed, coated the chain in water, slipped it through the ice, and bound Azula's hands behind her back, then cinched it to the ground. Only then did she unfreeze the ice.
Azula took a huge gasp of air and screamed. And screamed, and screamed, and screamed. Fire surged from her mouth and she kicked wildly, sending orange fire, blue fire, and little wisps of electricity everywhere.
Katara didn't have time for her. She rushed to Zuko. He lay face down on the ground. He hadn't moved.
"No," Katara whispered. She gently turned him over and pushed off the smoking ruins of his shirt. In his chest was a nasty burn. It was raw, red, and still hot. When Katara bent water over it, it turned to steam. She preserved, pushing all of herself into her healing. She willed him to come back to her.
"No, no, NO! You can't die!
So he didn't.
Katara felt like she might have a heart attack herself when Zuko's eyes fluttered. A moan of relief escaped her lips and she clutched Zuko's shoulders. He smiled weakly.
"Katara?"
"Uh huh," she said, still too weak for words.
"Can I … kiss you now?"
She laughed and cried and leaned over.
It was a terrible kiss.
Zuko's lips barely worked and she nearly bit him trying to get as close as possible. But it was a kiss. A real, official kiss. It would always be their first kiss.
Katara helped Zuko sit up. He gasped and squeezed his eyes closed in pain.
"We need to get you help," Katara said. She had brought Zuko back, but he wasn't going to stay back for long unless they got him real help.
"Is Azula…?" His question trailed off.
"She's alive." Katara said.
Zuko smiled through split lips. "You did it. You beat her."
Azula had stopped screaming, had stopped struggling. She was murmuring something. Katara approached slowly.
"I didn't mean to hurt him." Over and over and over again. Even when Katara stepped in front of her, Azula didn't seem to see her. She was talking to someone else, someone in her memories. Katara had an idea. She had never done anything like this before, but she tried. She pulled out a fist-sized amount of water and split it, creating two rotating discs. Pushing forward with her healing powers, she held the water to Azula's temples. Azula flinched at the sensation, but then her eyes lost focus and her voice trailed off.
"Sleep," Katara whispered, and caught the girl as she sunk forward.
