"This is impossible!" You yelled.

"At least we have light." Katara remarked, gesturing to the glowing crystals.

You sighed, sitting on a rock. "We're never going to get out of here."

"Don't say that."

"Who's going to come for us?" You asked, looking up at her. "Aang's with some Guru, Sokka's with your dad, Toph's with her mom- we're alone down here. No one's coming."

You heard a shout and turned, seeing a figure stumble in. You looked over, standing suddenly.

"Zuko!" Katara exclaimed. Her face fell into a glare.

Zuko looked up at her, a worried expression on his face.

You glanced between the two with concern. You really weren't sure what to do.

Zuko turned away, sitting so that his back faced Katara.

The waterbender began pacing. "Why did they throw you in here!?" She demanded. "Oh, wait. Let me guess. It's a trap." She turned, walking away. "So that when Aang shows up to help me, you can finally have him in your little firenation clutches."

"Katara!" You scolded, glaring at her.

Zuko didn't respond.

"You're a terrible person, you know that!?" Katara shouted at him.

"Katara, leave him alone!" You yelled.

"Why should I!? He's always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace-"

"Katara, shut up! Just, shut up!" You hollered. You pointed a finger at her. "You don't know everything!" Your blood was boiling. You faced Katara, your back to a still-seated Zuko's back.

"Why are you defending him?!"

"Because, just this once, I know more than you do!" You shouted.

The cave fell silent.

Katara turned away.

You let out a strangled breath that was almost a cry.

Katara didn't stop. "What do you care? You're the Firelord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood."

Zuko finally spoke up. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Katara spun around, glaring at Zuko around you. "I don't?! How dare you. You have no idea what this war has put me through. Me, personally." She turned around, crouching and holding her knees to her chest. "The firenation took my mother away from me."

You rolled your eyes. "Not this again- look, Katara. We all lost something because of the war. You're not the only one who's suffered."

"What have you lost?" She snapped, still facing away from you.

"I lost my brother, okay!?" You yelled.

The cave fell silent again.

You looked between two backs before speaking again to Katara. "You're not the only one who knows loss, so how about you stop complaining, and start singing a different tune?" You chastised calmly.

"At least we all have something in common." Zuko muttered, finally turning to face you and, now, Katara's back.

Zuko and Katara had both stood, joining you.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you before." Katara told him softly.

"It doesn't matter." He muttered.

"It's just that… for so long now, whenever I pictured the face of the enemy, it was… your face."

"My face. I see." Zuko touched his scar.

You approached him, frowning. You took ahold of his hand that he had raised to his scar with your left one, bringing it away from him. You placed your other hand gently on the scar, framing his face. "I haven't pictured your face as the face of the enemy since the North Pole." You whispered.

His golden eyes widened slightly before closing. "I used to think this scar marked me… the mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever." He admitted, opening his eyes and looking at you, though he was speaking to both you and Katara.

You frowned, remembering how he received his scar.

"But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny." Zuko continued. "Even if I'm never free from my mark."

Your heart leapt for joy, but you did your best to keep your face mostly stoic.

"Maybe you could be free of it." Katara voiced.

Zuko turned towards her, forcing your hand to fall from his face. "What?"

"I have healing abilities."

You didn't try to fight the eye roll at the 'I'.

"It's a scar. It can't be healed." Zuko said.

Katara pulled out the vial that Master Pakku had given her, because evidently she's so good at what she does. Better than anyone, it would seem. "This is water from the spirit oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties, so I've been saving it for something important." She informed, walking towards him until stopping just a foot away.

Why were you getting jealous? And of what, exactly? Was it because Katara had the spirit water and not you? Or was it something else? You were pulled from your thoughts by a call of your name. You looked back over at the two, an eyebrow raised.

"Will it work?" Zuko asked you softly.

"You grew up in the North Pole." Katara recalled. "Would it be a waste?"

You looked between the two. "I-" You paused, sucking in a breath. You truly didn't know. But they were asking for your opinion. You were finally, finally, needed for something. You didn't want to just give them an 'I don't know'. And be proved worthless… again. Your gaze flickered between Katara's curious one, and Zuko's hopeful and pained one. You've never used spirit water. You looked at Zuko's golden eyes. "It might." You offered weakly. You were quick to offer more information so they didn't think you were stupid. "I know it can heal things like broken bones, but I don't know if it would heal a scar or not, since the wound would have happened a while ago."

"I can try." Katara offered.

You didn't tell her that you felt that you had a better chance because you'd been healing longer because apparently Katara's a master at everything she does. She must be better than you at this, too.

Zuko closed his eyes and Katara placed her hand on his scar.

You felt the strong urge to look away.

Dust filled the room as a hole bust open from the wall.

Katara drew away from Zuko.

Iroh and Aang were visible when the dust cleared.

"Aang!" Katara called, rushing towards him. She embraced him in a hug.

Aang hugged her back, only to throw a dirty look at Zuko over her shoulder.

You glared at him.

Iroh hugged Zuko as well, but the prince didn't return the display of affection.

Instead, he glared over his uncle's head at Aang.

You sighed, standing in the middle of a glaring war.

"Aang, I knew you would come." Katara told him.

"Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?" Zuko questioned, pointing.

"Saving you, that's what." Aang retorted.

Zuko lunged, but Iroh grabbed his arm and you placed your hands on his chest.

Zuko's soft nature that he displayed not long ago was slipping.

"It's time we talked." Iroh told Zuko, pulling him back. He turned to you, Katara and Aang. "Go help your other friends!" He urged. "We will catch up with you!"

Aang bowed, walking out of the tunnel.

Katara followed, though a little hesitantly.

You waited.

Looking between Zuko and Iroh, you approached them. "It was good to see you again, Zuko." You told him softly, looking up into his golden eyes. You cleared your throat uncomfortably. "I just… be alright. Okay?"

He looked away.

You frowned slightly before turning to Iroh. "It was good to see you again, too. Thank you for the rescue." You told him, also bowing.

"It was no trouble." Iroh assured.

You nodded, casting one more glance at Zuko before leaving the cave.

"We've got to find Sokka and Toph!" Katara yelled as you entered a large, mostly open area. It was quite lovely. There were crystals, a giant pool of water, and lots of room.

Perfect for a battle.

You heard a noise and turned around.

A blue fire-blast charged you, Aang and Katara.

Aang made a shield of rocks, but the blast destroyed part of it, sending you all backwards slightly.

Azula was at the entrance, where you just came out of, smirking. Her fingertips were smoking.

Katara rushed out, using the water in the pool and bringing it down on her.

Azula blocked it with more fire, but Katara brought it back.

You didn't see what happened, but steam floated up from where Azula was.

You and Aang joined Katara, all looking around for the firebender.

Azula leapt out of the mist, sending quick fire blasts at the three of you.

You all created a water barrier as Azula landed on a large pillar.

Aang used earthbending to bring the pillar down.

Azula gasped, jumping down and landing between Katara and Aang. She aimed a hand at each of them. She looked between the two as they took stances, occasionally glancing at you, who stood in front of her.

A fire blast landed in the middle, causing everyone to turn.

Zuko was standing at the entrance, his hands raised in a firebending position. He was looking around.

Your heart raced so fast it felt like it stopped.

Zuko shot at Aang, letting out a grunt.

Azula smirked, shooting at you and Katara.

You dodged, while Katara blocked with a water shield.

Zuko sent a flurry of fire attacks at Aang, which the boy evaded.

Aang knocked Zuko back, but the prince quickly got up to resume his attacks.

You couldn't think straight.

You barely blocked another of Azula's attacks, and she could tell you were struggling.

She smirked, charging you.

Your eyes widened. You shot water at her, but she moved out of the way, continuing to close the distance. You sent a whip at her, grabbing her around the middle with it.

She sent a blast at it, breaking the water up. She ran at you, fire-slicing at you.

You leaned backwards to evade the attack, but went back too far. You fell into the pool.

"I thought you had changed!" You heard Katara yell.

"I have changed." Zuko replied calmly.

Now that wasn't like Zuko. You didn't think the word 'calm' was in his vocabulary.

Zuko sent a fire-slice at Katara.

You jumped out of the pool, landing between Katara and Zuko. Summoning the water from the pool, you crashed it into Zuko.

He tried to block it with fire, but there was too much water.

You charged him, yelling. You jumped towards him, knocking him onto his back.

He grunted.

You pinned his arms with your knees, sitting on his chest. You waterbended the water around you, turning it into ice, like Katara had at the North Pole for some privacy. You leaned down. "Why, Zuko!?" You shouted at him, though your voice wasn't angry.

It was hurt.

"Why are you doing this?" Your eyes filled with unshed tears. "You were doing so well." You greedily took in several quick breaths. "You were happy."

"I'll never be happy until I have my honor back." He retorted sharply.

"Zuko, that's not true. You know it's not true!" You chastised. "Your honor can't be given to you, you have to earn it! By doing the right thing!" A few tears escaped your eyes, sliding down your cheeks. You were so preoccupied with Zuko, you hadn't realized that the ice ball had started to break. You leaned forward again. "Zuko, please, I-" You sat up suddenly, gasping as your back arched. Your eyes were wide as you stared ahead of you, and your mouth was open, but no sound came out.

You couldn't breathe.

The wind was knocked out of you.

Zuko stared up at you in shock and surprise.

You gasped for breath, collapsing.

Zuko scrambled out from under you, crouching next to you in an attempt to see what was wrong. He rolled you over on your back.

You let out a yell of pain, eyes shutting as you arched your back as high as you could off of the ground.

Zuko turned you over on your side. He moved, getting a better look.

Your back was burned.

He turned, seeing Azula still fighting Aang and Katara.

There were no other firebenders in the room.

It had to have been her.

His sister.

Zuko looked down at you, his golden eyes laced with concern.

You held his gaze, still crying from the pain. Both emotional and physical.

He began breathing more heavily, looking you over in a state of panic.

"Go on." You forced out. "Finish it. It's two-on-two, now. It should be easier for you. To get your honor back." You gasped as another wave of pain hit you. "Though, it's not like I made much of a difference, anyway." You choked out, looking passed Zuko to gaze at the wall.

Zuko wasn't sure what to do. Of that, you were certain.

You rested your head on the cool ground, trying to find some release. Your back hurt so much.

"Come on, Zuko." Azula prodded. "Do you want to see father or not?"

You looked up at Zuko, hoping he would do the right thing. Even now, you still wanted him to do the right thing. Be the better person.

Zuko stood.

You sighed, closing your eyes.

He wouldn't.

He cared too much about his father's acceptance.

You realized that, now.

Zuko helped Azula charge Katara, sending fire blasts her way.

She couldn't block them all.

She fell backwards into a collection of crystals, knocking her hair out.

You could hear some shifting in rocks, but you couldn't see what was happening. Your back was turned. You heard Aang let out a yell, and then a grunt. You lifted your head slightly, seeing Dai Li agents lining the walls.

They jumped down, disappearing from your view.

Katara and Aang were in trouble.

You had to get up.

Had to get- you let out a yell as you tried to stand. Tears blurred your vision. You let out a shuddery breath.

Zuko looked back at you, but remained silent.

You stood fully, almost falling over, but managed to stay upright.

You drew more water from the pool, sending a wave at the Dai Li agents in the back. You froze it, keeping them stuck.

Drawing more water, you grabbed other Dai Li agents, throwing them into walls and crashing them onto the floor.

Your form was sloppy because of the strain, and they realized this.

A dozen or so charged you.

You formed an ice ball around yourself before shattering it. The ice shards flew in every direction, pinning the Dai Li's clothes to the wall.

You turned, seeing a crystal tent glowing.

Aang must be inside.

It shattered, sending a large gust of wind everywhere.

Aang rose out of it, hovering in the air. His eyes and tattoos were glowing.

You looked to see Zuko and Azula's reactions, but- wait.

Where was Azula?

"Aang-"

Aang's mouth parted.

He'd been shot by lightning.

"No!" You yelled voice going hoarse.

Katara began to cry. She rode a wave over, catching Aang as he fell.

You charged Azula. Your brain was full of sorrow, and you'd been reduced to instinct. You yelled, but you couldn't see.

Your vision was blurry.

You sent waves at her, but she easily evaded.

She jumped behind you, kicking you in the back.

You yelled, falling forwards and landing on your face. You groaned as you tried to pick yourself up.

"My, my. You really are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?" Azula teased, raising a mocking eyebrow.

"That's right." You snapped back, rising to your feet. You sent a water whip at her, which she blocked with fire.

She didn't see the wave that you sent at her back.

You froze the water.

She gasped in surprise, looking down at it.

Zuko shot some fire blasts at you, but they were half-hearted.

You blocked, shooting more water at him.

He blocked the attack, unfreezing Azula with his other hand.

You glared.

"We're wasting our time." Azula noted. She turned, beginning to stalk towards Aang and Katara.

Zuko followed, occasionally glancing at you.

Whether it was to make sure that you weren't up to anything, or to check up on you, you weren't sure.

The siblings approached Aang and Katara, only to be blocked by fire.

Iroh landed between them, blocking their path. He glanced over his shoulder at you three. "You have to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

"Iroh, that's suicide!" You shouted.

"Go!"

"I won't leave you!" You yelled, standing next to him.

"They need your help." Iroh told you quietly.

"No they don't." You denied. "They've been just fine on their own. They don't need me."

"They do not see it yet, but they will." Iroh assured. "Now, go!" He pushed you towards the waterfall that Katara had gone up, taking Aang with her.

You sent one last look at the fight as Iroh shot fire at everyone. Your gaze drifted to Zuko.

Your heart was torn between anger and sorrow.

Deciding you would have time to think about it later, you waterbended yourself up the waterfall.

Katara laid Aang on Appa's head.

His eyes were closed, and he wasn't moving.

You looked on in worry.

Bosco growled softly and the king pat his bear's arm to try to soothe him.

Sokka chewed on his lip in concern.

Toph's face had fallen.

Katara pulled out the vial and held it out, making it glow.

It was especially bright in the dark.

She pulled Aang forward, putting the water on the mark where he got shot by lightning. She hugged him, crying.

His arrow lit up briefly before dying back down.

Aang groaned.

Your eyes widened.

He was okay.

You sighed, the exhaustion finally setting in after the shock dissipated.

Your mind traveled back to Zuko.

You're face contorted into one of displeasure.

He betrayed you.

He was working with Azula, now.

The more you thought about it, the worse you felt. You couldn't even help Zuko.

You let out a yell, voice going hoarse as you sobbed.

It began to pour, the rain landing on your head and sliding down your face.

Zuko was lost once again.