Hello, everyone! I hope this chapter seemed to come faster, but I'm going to be honest and say that I've lost my sense of time.

We're about at the climax of the fic! I hope you all enjoy this chapter and don't hate me at the end...just keep in mind that there's still a few chapters after this and that I always have a plan ;)

Love you all!

- Aleviah

"You're joking."

Everyone crowded around Zuko, who set the egg down gently on the table. Toph stared at him, arms folded. "I don't believe you." She added.

Zuko rolled his eyes, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the table. "Here, feel it." Zuko laid her hand on the egg and watched with satisfaction as her eyes widened. She stood there in shock for a few seconds.

"I can…I can feel its heartbeat…" Toph whispered, putting her other hand on the egg as well. "This is a dragon?"

"Isn't it cool!" Kiyi pulled away from her mother, who she had been embracing. "They said the egg would hatch in a few weeks."

"That's amazing…" Katara put her hand on the egg as well, marvelling. Zuko smiled softly at her as she stared in wonder at the golden orb.

Zuko blinked, looking around toward Azula. "I'm so glad you're feeling better," He told her earnestly. "And I'm glad you got to see Mom!"

Utana smiled warmly at Azula, who hesitated a bit before smiling back. Utana sighed. "Could the three of you come with me? I'd love to speak to you in private."

Zuko nodded, and though Azula looked confused, she followed Zuko and Utana into a nearby room. Kiyi trailed behind them apprehensively.

Katara nodded to herself, grabbing a bowl of water she had been preparing before Zuko and Kiyi returned. "Now that Utana isn't fussing over him, I'm going to go try and help Jet some more. Toph," The earthbender looked up from the egg, which she still held in reverence. "Don't let anything happen to that egg. Sokka, for Agni's sake, stop eating all the cheese, you're going to get sick."

Sokka glared at his sister as she left the room, and Suki sighed, sitting down next to glanced over at the woman, who's eyes were fixed lazily on the door where Utana and her children had gone. Mai sighed loudly, pushing off from against the wall and grabbing her small bag of supplies. "Alright, tell everyone I said goodbye." She waved her hand impassively. "I'm heading back to Bhang Chi."

Suki and Sokka both stood up quickly. "What?"

"You heard me." Mai snapped. "I have a job to do - I have a district to govern, and it happens to be the most unstable district in the Fire Nation. A nation that just so happens to be experiencing a coup. They need me there."

"But, Mai," Sokka protested. "What if they found out you were helping Zuko?"

"Nonsense." Mai scoffed, opening the door. "I can take care of myself, and that includes talking my way out of whatever situations they try and throw at me." She threw a glance over her shoulder at Suki. "Look after Jet. And Azula."

She walked out into the cold, snow-covered city, and the rest of the room simply stared at the door as it closed.

An awkward silence hung over the remaining people in the room, only being broken when Katara walked out of Jet's room, dumping the bowl of water into the sink and plopping down onto the chair next to Sokka with a sigh. "So, Suki," She asked, drying her hands on Sokka's shoulder. "Jet tells me that you saved Utana from lightning...care to tell us how?"

Sokka went from swatting at his sister to staring at Suki with wide eyes. "You did what?" he gasped. Suki huffed.

"It wasn't that big of a deal." She shrugged, leaning back in her chair.

Okami raised her eyebrows. "I mean, it kinda sounds like you saved her life."

"Okay, maybe, but it wasn't anything spectacular or anything."

"Just tell us!" Katara begged, eyes flashing with interest. Suki could tell there was a darker motivation behind her eyes, but for the time being, decided to proceed.

Suki reached across the table and grabbed one of her fans, earning three confused expressions staring back at her. "Kyoshi fans are metal." She explained, opening the fan with a loud SHHWIINNGG. It was metal on metal, like a dozen swords being unsheathed at once, combined with the flapping sound of an elegant fan of cloth. "That's how they're able to block attacks," Suki explained, enjoying Sokka's goggling eyes as she fanned her face. "And cut people, if necessary. Though we have katanas for a reason."

Katara frowned. "What does this have to do with -"

"Hey, you're the one making me do this, so at least let me enjoy telling the story?" Suki gave her a side eye, barely holding back a smirk. Katara rolled her eyes but nodded for Suki to continue. "I appreciate it, thank you, Katara. As I was saying - our fans are metal. They have been since the founding of the Kyoshi Warriors, as the fans of Kyoshi herself were made of metal." Suki sighed, becoming more solemn. "It was during Kyoshi's time that bending lightning was discovered," Suki folded the fan shut, and the sound was just as satisfying as when she had opened it. "When she fought against a lightning bender, the energy was attracted to her fans, and because of this, the lightning went up her hands and forearms." Katara gasped, throwing a hand over her mouth. Okami simply nodded as if she were impressed. "Kyoshi wore gloves after that." Suki smiled, glancing over at the gloves of her own uniform laying on the table. "To hide her scars."

After Suki had stopped for an awkwardly long time, Katara waved her hand. "Well?" She asked. "Aren't you going to tell us how you saved Utana?"

"Oh, sorry, I thought it was obvious." Suki realized, chuckling to herself, that not everyone had grown up with this common knowledge as she had. "I knew that metal attracts lightning, so I threw my fan in front of Utana, between her and the lightning, and the energy latched onto the fan and followed it across the room."

"This is good to know."

They all turned around, having forgotten about Toph sitting in the corner of the room cradling Zuko's egg. "Metal attracts lightning," She mused, seeming more content than usual. "That sounds like something I could take advantage of, doesn't it?"

"Thats…" Okami frowned, eyes flickering back and forth as if in deep thought. "Throwing your fan to catch the lightning, that's actually pretty smart."

Suki smiled. "You sound surprised."

"That's my girl!" Sokka punched the air, grinning like an idiot.

Katara grabbed his arm and yanked it back down. "Sokka, she is a woman."

Suki laughed as the siblings bickered, and for the first time since she had reunited with her friends, it didn't seem like the world was crashing down. She wanted to treasure this.

A strange sound caused them all to look at the front door. The handle, which was locked from the inside, was jiggling harshly. Someone was clearly trying to force their way in. Suki's blood ran cold as bangs began to echo off of the door.

Real life was knocking.

O0o0o

Zuko sat between Kiyi and Azula awkwardly, feeling like a child about to be scolded. His mother looked between them absolutely swelling with pride before she slowly deflated into defeat and exhaustion. "I'm sorry."

Kiyi frowned. "What?"

"I'm sorry." Utana whispered, grabbing Azula's hands. Zuko glanced to the side, noting that Azula didn't pull away (although that had been her first instinct) and simply stared back at their mother with an unreadable expression. "I'm sorry that I left you there, I'm so sorry…" She pulled a hand away from Azula to touch Zuko's face, brushing his scar, tears welling in her eyes. "I should have tried harder," She whispered. "Your father, he was after the throne, and he was going to kill you, Zuko." Zuko felt a jolt of fear for his past self, but any surprise or betrayal had since left him in regards to the selfish brutality of his father. "If he killed you, Azulon would have given him the throne. But I made a deal with him - I made him a poison that killed Azulon to spare your life, but I had to leave the Fire Nation, never to see the two of you again. And if I caused any trouble, he would…you…" She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I'm sorry I didn't do more, and I'm sorry that I wasn't a good mother to you while I was there." She squeezed Azula's hand. "I know I was struggling - we all were - but it was my job to be there for my children, and I failed you. Azula, look at me."

Azula lifted her eyes, and Utana cradled her face in her hands. "I love you." She whispered. "I always will, and I always have. And I'm so, so sorry that I failed you, that you've lived all these years thinking that I hated you or that I didn't care. I'm SO sorry."

Azula closed her eyes, silent for a few moments before nodding. "Thank you." She said tonelessly. Utana gazed into her face with soft, heartbroken eyes before turning to Zuko. "I'm sorry for causing you so much grief, Zuko." She lay her hand over his. "And I'm sorry that I didn't come out of hiding when Ozai was executed. My paranoia had gotten the better of me, and it was foolish for me to think that I wasn't safe with my own son."

"But you weren't safe at the palace, mom." Zuko reminded her. "None of us were. I was never truly in charge - the Sages have had their hands on everything. They overrode my decision and executed Father despite my wishes to keep him alive."

Utana studied him closely. "About that…" she pulled away from him, fiddling with her hands in her lap. "...why did you want to spare his life? I'm not saying I think you were wrong," She added quickly. "It's not that, I'm just...surprised."

Zuko sighed. "I didn't." He replied honestly. "But it mattered a lot to Aang, and after all he had done for me, it was the least I could do."

Utana nodded silently and they simply sat there, awkwardly basking in each other's presence. Azula tugged on Zuko's shirt and leaned over, and Zuko fought back his fight-or-flight instincts as he allowed her to whisper in his ear. "Who's the kid?"

"Oh, right." Zuko wanted to smack himself in the forehead. "Azula, this is Kiyi. She's, um…" he glanced over at his mother, who smiled warmly and nodded. "She's our sister. Our half-sister."

Azula was stoic for a few moments before her eyes widened. "Sister?" She blinked. "A...a sister…"

Kiyi seemed as if she were going to burst, and she practically did, leaping to her feat. "I'm so excited to finally get to talk to you!" She blurted out, causing Azula even more confusion. "I didn't have any siblings, and now I have two! And Zuko is okay and everything but a sister is sooo cool! And-"

"I'm not…" Azula interrupted her, hesitating. "I'm not exactly a person who…I'm not a good…" She struggled to find the right words. Kiyi's face well, and Utana placed her hand on the youngest's shoulder.

"Kiyi, Azula is working through a lot right now. Give her time." She said softly. Kiyi stared dully at the princess before nodding, turning to exit the room. "Wait, Kiyi-" Kiyi turned to look at her mother. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth about my past...about our family." Utana continued, her tone growing softer. "I promise - to all of you - that I won't keep any secrets like that again. And I won't ever leave you like that again, either."

Kiyi nodded, smiling gently before turning back to open the door. She nearly got her head bashed in as the door swung into the room, revealing Sokka, who was in a panic.

Zuko immediately stood. "What's going on?"

"Mai was about to leave and go back to Bhang Chi but when she got -"

"Mai was going back to Bhang Chi?"

"That's not important, Zuko!"

"Then why did you say it?"

Sokka waved him off, his entire body jittering nervously. "She got to the docks and - Zuko - they're here."

The Fire Lord grit his teeth, dread rising in his stomach like bile. "Who." He asked, fearing that he already knew the answer.

"The Fire Nation. I mean - the Fire Sages. And some soldiers."

Zuko cursed, earning him a disapproving look from his mother. He pushed back Sokka and made his way into the other room. "Toph!" He called to the other side of the room, where the Earthbender was gently setting down the dragon egg. "Can you stay here and protect my family, Jet, and the egg?"

Toph grumbled. "That's boring!" She complained, but she sat back down anyway.

"Well, it's important, and I need my best on it." Zuko walked over and grabbed his swords, throwing the sheath over his back. "Did the others already go out?"

"Yeah, you should hurry."

"Okay, I'll."

"Zuko."

He turned at the sternness of his mother's voice and she stood, arms folded. "I am not staying here." she snapped, walking over to the corner and grabbing what seemed to be a rather long broom handle. "I can take care of myself."

"Me too!" Kiyi said, stepping forward. "You just took me to that island to learn more about firebending, what's the point in all that if you don't let me fight when it matters the most?"

Zuko scowled. "If either one of you gets hurt at all, you come back here and you stay here." He compromised, opening the door. Azula stood frozen as they all rushed out of the shelter, the door shutting behind them with a clasp.

Toph sniffed. "You're not going with them, then?"

Azula sat down slowly. "I'm not going to use my bending." she whispered.

"You seem pretty determined to get rid of it."

Azula glanced over at the short earthbender. "The avatar wouldn't have this ability if it wasn't supposed to be used," she replied, hugging herself. "If I want a fresh start, I can't...I can't have the temptations of power that I did before."

"Azula…" Toph shifted to face her. "Have you ever thought about the fact that you've changed? A lot? I don't think using your powers would undo the years that you spent processing your life, the journey you've had in your own mind to lead you to this point. You said so yourself - before, you had given into the temptations of power, just like your father wanted." Toph shrugged. "Now, your father isn't here. You know those temptations aren't good, and now you know what it's like to feel powerless. Don't you think that changes things?"

Azula stared at the dragon egg, biting the inside of her cheek. "Maybe." she admitted, bringing her feet up onto the chair and wrapping her arms around her knees. "But I can't seem to separate my firebending from who I was. I was firebending, and that was the only part of me that mattered. Doing it again feels wrong."

Toph nodded, thinking to herself. "You know, I think that makes more sense than thinking you're a danger to society."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not a danger to anyone," Toph crossed her arms. "Not anymore. But if bending is hard for you because of your past, I think it's totally reasonable for you to get rid of it."

Azula squinted at Toph. "...you changed your mind about that very quickly."

"I have one philosophy about life, princess." Toph leaned forward. "Live it while it's still there. What's the point of having bending if you don't love it? That's the reason Aang's ability is so terrifying - bending is usually a part of people, something that they cherish and love. But you don't have that because bending isn't a part of who you are...trying to become. And if you're trying to find out who you are without your father, it makes sense that you wouldn't want to continue bending, since that was his ultimate goal for you." Toph's voice softened ever so slightly. "It matters more that you're happy."

Azula thought for a moment, trying to ignore the faint commotion outside. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She finally relented, sitting more properly in her chair. "That was dramatic as fuck, though." She added. "I haven't known you for very long but if I didn't know any better, I'd say that you've gone soft."

Toph scoffed. "Thanks."

'That wasn't a compliment."

"I know, princess, I'm not stupid. It was sarcasm."

"Oh, right." Azula let out a puff of laughter. "Well, I suppose I haven't had a lot of time to engage with sarcasm in the last four years."

Toph resisted the urge to smile. "Well, you better pay me beforehand, because I don't give lessons for free."

o0o0o

Zuko ran up beside Katara, who was scowling toward the deck of the large ship, which was docking. The Water Tribe was evacuating to the shelters. This wasn't their fight, after all. Zuko followed Katara's gaze over to Saiko, and he immediately growled, bending his knees and spreading his feet, preparing for a fight.

The old sage simply smiled, raising his arms innocently as he exited the ship. "Hello, my dear friend!" He called.

"Cut the bullshit, Saiko." Zuko snapped. "What are you after? Other than my throne?"

The weasley man just laughed. "Oh, dear boy, you have no idea the extent of what you're dealing with."

"Then enlighten me."

Saiko sneered, his eyes flickering behind Zuko to Utana, who bared her teeth. "Ursa," He said in a soft, dangerous tone. "I was wondering when I would see you again."

"That's not my name anymore." Utana snarled, holding up her staff. "And you need to answer my son."

Saiko's face fell into a scowl. "You should be grateful to the Sages that you're even alive, woman." He jeered. Utana tried to hold back the shock from her face but failed. "If it weren't for your little business, we wouldn't have kept Ozai out of the loop about your...betrayal...of the agreement."

Utana lowered her staff slowly. "What are you after." She asked in a commanding tone.

"Why, Ursa," Saiko spread his arms wide. "We're after your services, of course!"

Zuko stepped in between them, eyes flashing. "Excuse me?"

"I'm sure you are aware, Zuko, that trade with the Northern Water Tribe relies heavily on the Earth Kingdoms."

"Yeah, Saiko, I'm not stupid. Get to the point."

"Well, ever since you took the throne and gave back the territories your ancestors worked so terribly hard to obtain, you've crippled certain parts of the industry your mother works in."

Zuko glanced back at Utana, who was still scowling. Saiko continued. "Now, this didn't impact dear Ursa, since she runs a restricted business. Some of the more moral minded nobles prefer her services because of this. You see, Zuko," He leaned forward, a wicked grin across his face. "Your mother runs things in a way that's FAIR. She doesn't make deadly poisons, she makes an incredible amount of health brews, and she doesn't deal with partners of...questionable business practices."

Utana stepped forward, teeth bared. "What he's saying is that I don't traffic people." Her voice dripped with discontent. "We rescue the girls they steal, give them a safe place to go. Help them get back on their feet. We make business deals with certain nobles and healing centers that allow brew prices to be lower for the care of the people. We work with the nobles to do the same with market owners, making the brews more accessible to average citizens. We-"

"I think the boy gets the idea, Ursa." Saiko interrupted in annoyance. "You've created a lovely humanitarian business."

"If you claim to know so much, Saiko," Utana stepped forward again, her hand gripping the staff. "Then you know I didn't start this. I inherited it. Just because you surround yourself with fellow despicable people doesn't mean there aren't plenty of good people left in the world."

"For Agni's sake, woman, I already have to listen to your son and his idiotic ramblings." Saiko rubbed his temples. "Spare me the-"

Utana growled, and Zuko felt anger rising in his chest. "Get to the damn point, Saiko."

The old man chuckled, which infuriated Zuko even further. "The point, my dear boy, is that the higher-ups rely very much upon the products that your mother and her competitors sell. And in order to create those products, they need spirit water. And in order to get spirit water, they need trade through the Earth Kingdoms."

Zuko folded his arms. "And why do people need those products?"

"To stay healthy, young, and agile." Saiko said as if it were obvious. "To protect from illness, disease, and heal conditions that otherwise were irreversible. To save lives."

"Nobles don't deserve any more access than the poorest of our people." Zuko snapped. "It was you and the council that have repeatedly denied my demands for healthcare across the Fire Nation, and now you're staging a coup because you don't have enough access to illegal brews?"

Utana scoffed. "It's their own fault they don't have access." She sneered humorlessly. "Business has been booming for us after Zuko began the reparations because we treated Earth Kingdom citizens with basic human respect. If they cared at all about other people, they wouldn't be in this situation! But it's all about their access, and when they suddenly don't have a product anymore, they -"

"We don't have enough access to anything!" Saiko replied, his tone biting. "The people of the Earth Kingdoms are rarely dealing with us anymore, and needs aren't being met!"

"Needs or wants?"

"They have no right to deny us!"

"Actually people have every right to deny you when you're an ugly ballsack who never helped someone a day in his life." Zuko knew it was unprofessional but MAN did it feel good. "I hope you don't represent most of the Fire Nation nobles because I would hate for so many adults to be so damn childish."

Saiko's eyes flashed. "You don't know how hard people have worked to be where they are, boy," He hissed. "You don't know the things they've earned that got taken away when you took that throne. Within a week of your coronation you had stolen millions of yuan worth of land from Fire Nation nobles to give to Earth Kingdom peasants."

"I didn't steal their money." Zuko snarled. "I gave back what our nation stole."

"And we continue to pay them?"

"Yes!" Zuko shouted, throwing his hands up. "We took their land, many of their people, burned down their villages, killed them, forcefully ruled over them and oppressed them! The very least we can do is give back what we stole and provide some monetary reparations!"

"You have no idea how to lead this nation, boy." Saiko's voice was lower now, and Zuko could feel a fight getting closer. "To be a leader you have to be strong. Not kind. Kindness makes you weak - you overlook what is necessary in favor of your emotions."

Zuko's hands formed into fists at his side. "YOU overlook the lives of people across the world!" He was practically shouting now. "You just want to go back to the way things were under my father, under my grandfather, but I won't allow it! Not only did we harm all of the other nations in irreversible and unforgivable ways, but we oppressed our own people! We brainwashed them and let them starve on the streets! We taught them to be slaves for the rich while never providing them with aid!"

Zuko felt a hand on his shoulder, and he nearly turned around to punch whoever it was, he was so tense, somehow he knew it was Katara. And he was right. She wasn't looking at him with concern or pity...instead she glared up at the Sage with her blazing blue eyes.

"Have you come here to fight?"

The question was simple, and Saiko turned to Katara with raised eyebrows as if surprised she had dared to speak. He recognized her and his frown of confusion twisted into a sneer. "Ambassador Katara," he said with discontempt. "A pleasure to see you again. I must remind you that I do not answer to you."

"You're right." Katara removed her hand from Zuko's shoulder. "You answer to Zuko."

"I answer to no one."

"Why are you here, Saiko?" Zuko demanded. "I'm tired of these games."

The old man's eyes seemed to gleam. "We are here to remove you from your position." He replied. "Permanently."

Utana snarled, stepping forward with her staff held at the ready. Zuko felt a jolt in his chest but kept his level glare at Saiko. "You're not telling me everything." He snapped. "There's more to this."

"I'll tell you what it is, Zuko." Utana seethed. "You've successfully restricted trade through the Earth Kingdoms from those who didn't show respect to the people of that land. As a result, the sages and most of the nobles are no longer getting their luxuries."

Saiko tensed. "You ought to-"

"They lost their supply of brews," Utana continued. "Brews that healed them or prevented conditions from spreading, suppressed physical effects of aging, counteracted the symptoms of different conditions, some made them feel euphoric. Others made it easy for them to solve their problems without a trace. They lost access to their concubines and other trafficked women and girls, as well as illegal slaves. Their businesses are crashing because of their reliance on that slave labor. Many of them owned brothels that have lost their supply of women. The enemies they've made who have been too afraid to take action are beginning to realize they no longer have the money or the resources to be as dangerous, and they're fearing for their lives. They-"

"That's enough!" Saiko roared, sparks flying from his fingertips. Zuko's stomach churned as he looked at the old man. He had been sitting in a room full of these men for years - men who were nothing but filth. No, they were worse than filth. Zuko felt as if his time in their presence had stained him forever.

"So, you've come here to kill me." Zuko said simply. "And, most likely, as many of my allies as possible. Because you want to retain control and revert back to your comfortable lifestyle."

The other sages, who had been looking on from the docks behind Saiko, began whispering to each other nervously. Saiko shot a glare at them before turning back to Zuko. "Sure," he replied smoothly, "If you'd like to simplify it."

Zuko nodded. "Then let me simplify something else for you." He leaned forward slightly, eyes flashing. "You will not succeed. You will not leave here with any power or freedom. And if you harm anyone - anyone at all - you won't leave here alive."

No one spoke. Zuko had managed to buy the citizens enough time to evacuate into their stone shelters, like the ones they had been living in. Apparently they had many of them for situations like this. Hopefully they would stay safe.

Saiko stood to his fullest height, sighing as he pulled his hands out from within his robes. "And so it begins."

o0o0o

Azula felt the lightning before she saw it. And they all saw it - the blue jet of light streaking across the open water. Toph had formed a window in the stone of their shelter, and Azula was watching the battle carefully. She felt her heart begin to thunder at the lightning, making the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. She could feel that it was coming before she had seen it, and then she had heard it. Then she had smelled it.

Toph had stood up, placing her hand protectively on the egg next to her on the table. "Who did it hit?" She asked, an unfamiliar edge of anxiety to her voice.

"I don't know." Azula replied, equally worried.

"Hopefully Zuko redirected it." Toph turned back to sit down. "It won't do us any good to worry until we have more information."

Azula nodded, but stayed near the window. Zuko's friends had managed to restrain many of the other sages and soldiers, but a few remained, including Saiko. The man was a powerful firebender and wielded lightning much like Azula had when she was...younger.

Azula's eyes widened in horror as two figures came around the corner of a building. Kiyi was holding Utana up, and her mother was limping, holding her lower side in what was clearly extreme pain. Smoke curled off of her clothes, which were damp with blood, and they were stumbling quickly toward the bridge.

Zuko told them to come back to the shelter if they got hurt, Azula realized, her hand flying up to her mouth. They're coming back HERE.

Frozen in shock, Azula almost didn't notice the figure chasing them from behind. The movement caught her eye and she stumbled back as she realized that the head sage, Saiko, was chasing after them, twisting lightning around his fingers.

"NO!" Azula screamed frantically. She threw open the door and sprinted down the side of the canal, skidding around the corner and onto the bridge. Her mother and Kiyi had just made it onto the other side, and Kiyi locked eyes with Azula, panic stricken. "Keep going!" Azula shouted, gesturing toward the shelter. "Toph will protect you! GO!"

Kiyi nodded and helped their mother forward. Utana resisted. "Azula…" She croaked, reaching out to her oldest daughter. "Don't...he…"

Kiyi pulled her away just as Azula turned to face Saiko. He was grinning from ear to ear, a strange, unsettling spark in his gaze. It wasn't the good kind of light in someone's eyes...this kind was bad. Very bad.

Azula felt it again - the lightning. She felt her heartbeat in every part of her body, thundering faster and faster, and she began breathing harder and harder, because what was she supposed to do? Was she supposed to use her...did she need to…

Was she going to have to fight?

"Looks like you've got yourself in a bit of a pickle, Princess Azula." Saiko jeered, playing with the lightning as if it were trivial. "You aren't quite ready to fight, are you? I'm surprised you're out of bed so soon."

Only one thing was keeping Azula from panicking - desperation. Desperation to somehow make up for all she'd done, to fix the past and take back all of the pain she had caused. She was so frantic to be better that she forced herself to stay even though every fiber of her being was screaming at her to run, get away, go hide so that no one can find you.

The very least she could do was buy them some time.

Azula felt bile rising in her throat as she fell into a bending stance, trying miserably to hide her pain from Saiko. Her vision swam with tears that burned her eyes and she blinked them away. She could see now, but the streaks that ran down her face were so hot they felt cold.

Saiko scoffed. "You're useless. Pathetic."

Azula was paralyzed as she heard the words in her father's voice. But no...he was dead. They had sworn to her that he was dead, and Saiko was turning to look behind Azula - to where Kiyi and Utana were scrambling along the edge of the canal, only a little ways to reach the shelter - only a couple dozen meters…

Saiko sneered at Azula before pulling the lighting back, getting ready to throw it. Azula rushed into his path in desperation, still partially in a bending stance. Saiko laughed. "I almost feel sorry for you," He jeered. His fingers pointed to Azula, steadying his aim, and orange flame flickered frantically in her hands.

She nearly lost consciousness and the fire puffed out immediately. She had barely looked back up at Saiko in time to see him move to strike, and she immediately closed her eyes and cringed away.

But a shadow fell over the cool glow of the lightning, and Azula's eyes opened in surprised. And then that surprise turned to terror. And then time slowed down to a crawl.

Katara didn't see when it happened, but she heard Azula's scream. It wasn't like the ones she had heard during the Agni Kai - this one was full of pain and desperation.

This scream was far, far more terrifying.

Katara swept a man into the canal and sprinted around the corner, skidding to a halt as she saw what lay before her.

No, this couldn't be.

The Agni Kai was over four years ago - she was past this.

But no matter how hard she blinked her eyes, she still saw Zuko laying on the ground with a bloody burn across his chest.

Katara was frozen. Blood thumped loudly in her ears and she looked over to Azula, who had collapsed to the ground and seemed to be crying. Katara could faintly hear someone screaming.

Her vision burned as Saiko…

Saiko…

...turned to look at her, a mocking glint in his eyes. Katara's throat began to sting and she realized she had been screaming, and Zuko was barely moving, and Saiko was moving closer to finish him off -"

Katara's senses flooded back. "No!" She cried in panic, her voice cracking and hoarse with exhaustion. Her hand flew out and she fell to her knees a few meters from Zuko. Saiko froze in place.

Katara wasn't sure if she could bloodbend and breathe at the same time. She let out a small sob, and her grip on the evil man slacked for a moment. She heard footsteps around her, voices, people shouting, whispering, talking-

"What is that?"

"She's bloodbending - Agni, I didn't think she could do that without the full moon…"

"We have to do something!"

The frantic whispers came from behind her, where she had come from, and she could still hear Azula's wracking sobs from over on the bridge. Katara couldn't hold him like this much longer - should she...should she move him? A conversation with Toph flashed through her mind.

"I mean, I get why you don't want to bloodbend, but no one says that there's only one way to use it." Toph had shrugged in her typical nonchalant manner. "There's probably way more uses to bloodbending than just turning people into puppets."

"Like what?" Katara had snapped. The subject always put her on edge in a way that she didn't understand.

"That's up to you, not me." Toph had sniffed indignantly. "All I'm saying is, you never know what uses a tool will have if you just ditch it right away."

Katara felt herself shaking, head spinning, stomach churning. What was she going to decide? What was she going to do? Never mind that - WHAT could she do? She had to save Zuko, but Saiko was struggling with every fiber of his being, and it was taking every ounce of Katara's willpower to hold him still. What other options did she have? How was she going to-

A blade emerged through Saiko's chest. The man stopped struggling against Katara just as she stopped bending, absolutely exhausted and nearly hitting her head on the stone walkway. As she blinked up at the old sage, she saw the last bit of life leaving his eyes before the blade was yanked out of him and he fell, crumpling to the floor. Utana breathed heavily, holding her bloody side with one hand and gripping the sword in the other. She had a crazed look in her eyes as she glared at the dead body that seemed to fade, and once it did, she gasped and fell to Zuko's side, crying out in panic. "Zuko!"

Kiyi sat next to Azula, trying to comfort her despite being just as distraught, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Katara scrambled toward Zuko, numb, holding her hands above his wound.

It's just like last time, it's just like last time, you can do it, you did it before - it's just like last, time, just get some water and -

As Katara pulled out her flask with both hands, shaking, Zuko moved. Katara looked up in hope and surprise and she watched as he lay his trembling hand over her own. And she met his eyes and he smiled such a genuine smile that Katara really thought he was going to be okay.

But then his hand went slack, slipping off of her own and thudding to the ground beside him. And that was the moment Katara felt her heart stop.

Utana began screaming but Katara simply sat there. She simply sat there limply, staring down at her flask, a dull ringing in her ears.

This isn't like last time.

Katara numbly opened her flask and bent out some water, coating her hands in it, laying them on the wound. She healed like she always healed, and that's all she did. It was just taking a long time, but it would be okay.

"Katara."

She felt a hand on her shoulder, but she didn't bother turning to acknowledge it. She was busy.

"Katara," Sokka knelt next to her, his face stained with tears. He looked into her face, grief behind his eyes. "Katara, he's gone."

"No he's not."

"Katara -"

"Let me heal him."

Sokka sat down next to her, hanging his head. Katara's eyes were working but she couldn't seem to see anymore. She just stared blankly down at her healing.

She felt someone gently hold her hands and pull them away, and she didn't have the energy to protest. "Come on, Katara," It was Suki. She sounded strange. "Come on."

The wails of his family had become ambience to Katara, but she was shoved back into reality when a new voice cried out in anguish. "No- NO! He's NOT dead! WHO DID THIS?"

Katara stumbled at her return to the present, Toph's scream ripping through her like a knife. The earthbender had only just reached them.

Katara felt her emotions rising with the bile in her throat. She was going to explode and yet collapse, she wasn't big enough to hold this much pain and anger. She couldn't live like this - she couldn't continue failing losing everyone -

I am a Master Waterbender, and my element is all around me

The world slowed, and for a brief moment of tranquility, Katara remembered where she was. Where they all were. And that hope gave Katara enough strength to bend over and lift him in her arms, ignoring the cries of shock of those around her, and she began walking.

She would not give up yet. She couldn't. She would fight every last person, every last spirit, to save the people she loved.

She would fight death itself.

That was super dramatic, right? I hope y'all don't hate me aaahh I promise things will make sense at the end!