Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. This episode originally written by Michael Dante DiMartino.

Book 3: Fire; Chapter 15: Day of Black Sun, Part 1: The Invasion

Katara turned to talk with Aang and Toph, her back to the docks they had earthbent for the invasion ships.

"Hi, Katara," a smooth voice said from behind her. She turned to see a handsome green-eyed earth bender with a clean-shaven, angular jawline and long brown hair. He looked the same as she remembered.

"Haru!" she called in recognition. Katara ran to him and threw her arms around him. "It's so good to see you!" She felt his strong arms around her for just a moment before they broke the embrace, stepping back to look at one another with Katara's hands still on his shoulders. Katara dropped one hand and turned as she heard Aang and Toph approaching.

"Toph, this is Haru," Aang introduced her. "When we met him, his town was controlled by the Fire Nation. So he had to hide his earthbending." Hiding earthbending, huh? Toph thought. I can relate to that.

Haru smiled as he said, "Katara inspired me and my father to take back our village." He looked over at her fondly as Katara blushed and looked away.

Just then, Haru's father Tyro came up behind Haru and Katara and rested a hand on each of their shoulders, saying, "You helped us find our courage, Katara." They turned to look at him. "Now we're here to help you."

...

The submarine fleet surfaced in a cove, trying to remain hidden while they recovered more air for the final run to the beach. The Duke swirled water in his helmet, washing out Toph's sickness. Everyone stretched and looked out across the water, mentally preparing for the battle so close at hand. Aang flew down to a submarine on his glider and was joined by Katara, Sokka, and Toph.

"So, this is it, huh?" Aang said to them.

"Are you ready for the Fire Nation to know the Avatar is alive?" Sokka said, stepping forward and raising a fist.

"I'm ready," Aang answered with a determined look. The two boys clasped elbows, and Toph and Katara joined in for a group hug.

"I hope you kick some serious Fire Lord butt, Twinkle Toes," Toph said.

"Everyone listen up," Hakoda's command brought them out of their hug to turn to him. "The next time we resurface, it'll be on the beaches. So stay alert, and fight smart. Now break time's over, back in the subs." Sokka, Toph, and Momo headed into the sub, leaving Katara and Aang standing alone together.

They both started to speak at the same time, and then stopped with an awkward pause.

"You go first," Aang said graciously.

"We've been through so many things together," Katara began, "and I've seen you grow up so much. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm really proud of you." She would have ruffled his hair affectionately if he still had it. Rubbing his shaved head didn't seem the right thing to do, so she stood with her hands clasped together instead.

"Everything's gonna be different after today, isn't it," Aang said carefully.

"Yes, it is," Katara replied.

"What if ..." Aang took a breath and tried again. "What if I don't come back?" he blurted in a rush.

"Aang, don't say that, of course you'll come back," Katara reassured him. Aang leaned in to kiss her, but Katara dodged to the side and hugged him instead. She chose to ignore the kiss attempt and feign ignorance, saving that conversation for another time. Aang looked at her a little sadly as they pulled out of the hug, then recovered and snapped his glider open confidently to fly away to battle.

Sokka popped his head out of the submarine hatch as Katara watched Aang go. "Katara, what are you doing?" he called. "It's time to submerge."

"What?" She said, snapping back to awareness. "Right, I'm on it." Katara jumped onto Appa, waterbent an air bubble around his head, and submerged for the final leg of their underwater approach.

...

Zuko stood his in room, alone in the palace. There were no servants to help him dress this time, no one watching his every move. Standing at the foot of his bed, he removed his royal headpiece and let his hair fall down around his face. Then he lifted off his own armor, revealing the tunic and vest underneath. Next, he donned his traveling cloak and set his knapsack and dual swords down at the foot of the bed. He set up a portrait of his mother and lit a candle as a makeshift shrine and knelt before it.

"I know I've made some bad choices," he said to his mother's image, "but today, I'm gonna set things right." Zuko rose and slung his things over his back. With one last look around, he flipped up his hood and walked out the door.