I'm surprised at how quickly I wrote this chapter... a couple days ahead of schedule, woo! I hope I didn't sacrifice quality (or proper grammar) to post this early... let me know if you find any errors (or if you think it just suuucks haha).
Again, a huuuge thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed (or reached out to me by some other means) to share their thoughts! You guys really do keep me on schedule and, I have to say, this is the longest fanfiction I have written to date (by a long shot)! I'm a serial abandoner of unfinished stories - I blame my short attention span - and the support I've received really does keep me going and it means so so much!
This chapter was inspired by the song 'Sunlight' by Hozier from the 2019 album 'Wasteland, Baby!'.
It's a long one... I hope you enjoy! (:
Chapter 27: Sunlight
...
I had been lost to you,
Flew like a moth to you,
Oh, your love is sunlight
...
All that was shown to me,
Was something foreknown to me,
Oh, your love is sunlight
...
Know that I would gladly be
The Icarus to your certainty
Strap the wing to me
Death trap clad happily
With wax melted, I'd meet the sea
Under sunlight
...
The events of the previous night had done little to ward off the dreams of the Fire Nation prince and Katara spent much of her restless slumber basking in his heated gaze. Every couple of hours, she awoke; crestfallen to find herself alone, disappointment settling in as the details of her dreams steadily drifted away. It was still early, perhaps an hour or so before dawn, when a bell in the corridor outside her room splintered the blissful illusion once more. Disgruntled, Katara sat up in bed, scanning the darkness as she came to. The ringing was high pitched, bouncing off the iron walls of the ship so the sound reverberated, filling every nook and cranny with a distressing shrill that was not at all conducive to pleasant dreams.
After a moment of grumbling, it dawned on her that the bell must be some kind of warning. Her eyes widened, fighting off sleep, as her mind began to race. Were they under attack? Remembering the words she'd read the night before - any who encounter the former prince in Fire Nation territory… - she threw the covers off.
Toph was already in the hallway, her hands clamped over her ears, when Katara stumbled out of her room, hopping as she pulled on her boots.
"What's going on?" She yelled over the noise.
"It better be something important, otherwise I'm going to kick Princey for waking us up like this," The blind girl groaned.
A door down the corridor was thrown open and Sokka emerged, equally disgruntled, with Suki on his heels.
"What's happening?" Suki shouted towards them.
"It can't be good," Katara replied as her brother and the Kyoshi Warrior approached. "I'm heading up to the deck to check it out."
"We're right behind you," Sokka yawned, stretching.
The deck was bustling with crewmembers and soldiers alike. In the middle of the commotion, near the bow of the ship, stood Zuko, eyeing the misty horizon with a deep frown.
"Zuko!" Katara ran over to him, avoiding the crewmembers that muttered curses as she ran by. The others followed closely behind. "What's all this about?"
"A Navy blockade has been sighted ahead," He growled through gritted teeth.
"You don't think-… have they already seen us? Do they know we're coming?" Worry settled in her gut, a sense of foreboding that made her feel suddenly ill.
"I don't know," The banished prince replied darkly, not taking his eyes off the mist ahead of them.
"Prince Zuko," Lieutenant Jee strode forwards. "What are your orders?"
"Stay on course," Was his terse response.
"But, Prince Zuko-"
"Those are my orders, Lieutenant," Zuko spat.
"Trying to run a Fire Nation blockade," Iroh appeared from behind the captain, shaking his head, "Of all the foolish things you've done in your eighteen years, Prince Zuko… this is perhaps the most foolish."
"I have no choice, Uncle."
"We are sailing directly into Fire Nation waters," Iroh noted. "What if you're caught? Have you forgotten Ozai's decree? It will be your head-"
"I could never forget," Zuko hissed, then turned back to the Lieutenant. "Full steam ahead."
"Please, Prince Zuko," His uncle begged, "I urge you to reconsider. We can turn north and avoid the blockade."
"There's no time for that!" Zuko growled. "This is the only way."
"Maybe it's not," Sokka spoke up from behind Katara.
"What do you mean?" The prince scowled.
"I'm not saying that we shouldn't run the blockade," Sokka held up his hands. "Just that, perhaps we can get through undetected."
"And how do you suggest we do that?" Zuko's frown deepened in skepticism.
Katara was at a loss for words, unable to tear herself away from trepidation that was steadily burgeoning in her chest. If they continued forwards, they would surely be captured by the Fire Nation, and if they turned away, Aang may be as good as dead. She bit her lip, keeping her eyes ahead.
"Give me a minute," Her brother mumbled, scratching his chin. "It is pretty misty out…"
"We don't have a minute-" Zuko started to say, but was quickly interrupted.
"Katara," Sokka turned to her. "Do you think you could thicken the mist around us?"
"Thicken the…" She repeated, still gripped with worry over Aang. What would the Fire Nation do to him if he were caught? Would they truly kill him?
"Katara, I need you to focus!" Her brother pressed. "Aang needs us!"
Something inside her snapped, then. If she allowed her anxiety to incapacitate her, they were doomed. If she squandered her chance to rescue Aang and allowed him to be captured, the whole world was doomed. Katara shook away the paralysis, forcing herself to focus. "I could try."
She stilled her rapidly beating heart, pulled in a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Concentrating on the moisture that lingered in the air, the waves that sloshed against the hull of ship, she exhaled, shifting into a bending stance and lifting her arms, calling on the water around them. It was faint at first, the feeling of her element flowing around her, but she pushed on, mentally reaching outwards from the confines of her own consciousness.
Gradually, the feeling grew stronger, more prominent, until the particles of moisture in the air around her pulsed in time with the blood flowing through her veins. The roiling surface of the water around the ship, that had moments ago reflected her stormy headspace, seemed to calm as they, too, came under her control. Wispy tendrils of moisture danced up from the sea, extending into the air above. Katara opened her eyes, watching as the vapor swirled into the air, clouding the area around them with a thickening mist.
"Perfect, Katara," Her brother encouraged, "Keep it up. Focus on the water ahead of us."
"Even if they can't see us and we manage not to crash into one of their ships, they'll still be able to hear the engines," Toph commented, her arms crossed.
"Yeah, this ship isn't exactly stealthy," Suki added, frowning.
"You're right," Sokka sighed, turning to glance at the aft of the ship where the engines were housed. "But how can we keep the ship moving if the engines are off? There are no sails, no oars…"
"Princey," Toph straightened, as if in realization. "Does this thing have a propeller?"
"Yeah," Zuko replied, his brow furrowed.
"And am I correct in assuming that it's made of metal, like everything else?"
"Yeah… what are you-" He stopped himself, eyes widening as he caught her meaning. He grabbed one of the crewmembers nearby. "Take her down to the bilge, now! As close to the propeller as you can get."
"Wait, what's going on?" Sokka asked, watching as the crewmember led Toph below deck.
"I don't know if this will work," Zuko muttered, "But it's worth a shot."
"What is she planning to do?" Sokka persisted.
"Something that I thought was impossible," The prince replied, clearing his throat before raising his voice to bark orders at his men. "On my signal, shut off the engines!"
They were steadily approaching the blockade now. Through the thickening mist, Katara could make out dark shadows looming ahead of them. She frowned, exhaling through her nose as she pulled more water vapor up into the air.
Zuko threw up his arm, hissing, "Now!" And the engines quieted. The ship continued on its course, but was quickly losing momentum.
"What-" Sokka began to say, but was cut off when the ship lurched forwards, gaining speed once more. Whatever Toph had done, it seemed to be working.
Zuko smirked.
"We're getting close," Suki whispered, leaning over the railing, squinting into the mist ahead.
"Is this enough speed?" Sokka asked, "Will we make it?"
"I- I don't know," She frowned, "There's a ship ahead on the left that is heading towards us, closing the gap."
"Damn it," Zuko cursed under his breath. "We're on a collision course."
"We just need more speed," Sokka turned to him.
"It'll take too long to get the engines running again," The banished prince hissed.
"We don't need the engines," Sokka replied, "Just water." He turned back to his sister. "Katara, how much water can you control at once?"
"I don't know," She whispered back, "Quite a lot, I guess? I've never tested it."
"Well, now seems like the perfect time to push your limits," He replied. "Leave the mist, I need you to focus all your energy on making a strong current around the ship, get as much water as you can moving forwards."
"Do-… do you really think this will work?" She dropped her arms, concerned. Doubt was creeping in. Could she really control enough water to move a whole ship?
Before her brother could reply, she caught Zuko's gaze.
"You've got this," He quietly muttered to her with a nod. "I've seen how much you practice, how hard you work… You're going to be a waterbending master one day, remember?"
Somehow, his words held more weight than her own doubts. She did want to be master one day; she wanted to be able to teach others, to foster future benders from the south. She wanted to reestablish the waterbending prowess of the Southern Water Tribe. And it would all be a pipe dream if they were captured here by the Fire Nation.
I got to where I am by sheer force of will… Zuko's voice seemed to echo in her mind, I had no raw talent… I failed more than I succeeded, but I didn't stop…
The memory was a catalyst; reminding her of her resolve, instilling in her a sense of determination that had been wavering ever since her defeat at the hands of General Fong. She had come so far since she began her journey, leaving behind her old life in the southern waters to join Aang. And she couldn't stop now.
Katara turned back towards the bow, her mouth tightening into a thin line as she closed her eyes once more, feeling the water around the ship like it was an extension of herself. She beckoned it, calling it to her, to flow under her control. With calculated movements, swinging her arms back and forth, she pushed through the barrier, the burden of pressure that the sea exuded and that gravity reinforced.
Little by little, the ship picked up speed, sailing on the current she was generating. With each passing second, she could feel her energy draining; the amount of effort it took to continually move such a vast expanse of water tired her immeasurably, but she didn't stop.
"Yes, Katara," Sokka breathed. "You're doing great."
The mist around them was dense, but the looming shadows of the Navy ships were still visible as they approached. A suspenseful silence engulfed them as they quieted in anticipation, as though a single breath would alert the Fire Nation to their presence. They were passing between two hulking iron ships, much larger than Zuko's.
"What's with all this mist?" A disembodied male voice called out through the haze, and Katara realized that it was a soldier aboard one of the ships they were steadily floating by.
"It's just mist," Another replied. "Are you scared or something?"
"No, it just seems… kind of ominous," The first voice came again.
"Should I alert the Commander?" The other laughed.
Katara gave her brother and Suki a sidelong glance, which they returned, thick with trepidation.
"Don't be an idiot. The Commander would kill us for bothering him over something so trivial."
A sheen of sweat was forming on Katara's brow and her limbs began to ache, a dull pain settling into her muscles. They were close, so close. The voices dwindled in volume as they continued forwards.
Sokka sighed in relief as he watched the aft of the ship clear the blockade, but he urged her to continue.
"Just a little longer, Katara," Her brother whispered, "Until we can get out of range."
Her arms were on fire, now, heavy under the weight of the water that flowed under and alongside the ship. Her breaths were fleeting, shallow puffs of air that didn't seem to sufficiently fill her lungs. Her knees shook and her heart raced, but she continued.
Suki and Sokka leaned over the starboard and port sides of the vessel, watching the blockade fade into the mist at their backs, but Zuko's gaze remained on her.
Katara's mind was becoming clouded like the lingering mist that obscured them from the Navy blockade. Her eyelids felt suddenly heavy as her energy diminished and the impulse to rest grew stronger. Her muscles were ablaze, struggling just to hold her upright, let alone continue to move the sea water around them. A gasp escaped her lips as she tried to tell the others she was at her limit, but instead, her balance faltered and her knees buckled beneath her. The water left her control as she fell through empty air, bracing herself for impact with the cold iron of the deck.
Before her body hit the floor, however, strong arms came under her and she closed her eyes in relief, drifting from consciousness momentarily.
"Fire up the engines!" A familiarly raspy voice called out from above her.
"Is she okay?" Suki's voice was thick with worry.
"I'm fine," She mumbled, through the haze in her mind, inadvertently nestling into the warmth as she was lifted off her feet.
"Katara," The Kyoshi Warrior breathed, "That was amazing!"
She forced her eyes open and smiled, seeing her brother approaching. "Sokka, it worked."
"It sure did," He grinned back, "That was all you, sis."
"I guess I found my limit," She joked weakly, "I'm exhausted."
"You should get some rest," Suki suggested, brushing hair from Katara's forehead that had been matted with sweat.
"I'll take you back to-" Sokka started.
"Let Zuko take her back to her room," Suki interrupted, elbowing him affectionately.
Sokka frowned, glancing between them.
"Don't worry," Katara yawned, "I'm in good hands."
Her brother pursed his lips, brow still furrowed, but gave Zuko a terse nod. "Make sure she gets some rest," He instructed.
"I will," The banished prince replied. "Stay on the lookout up here, we're in Fire Nation waters now."
…
Katara shifted in his arms, still nuzzling into his chest with a content expression on her face, as he turned sideways to carry her through the door. He had kept an eye on her the entire time he walked through the dimly lit corridors, vaguely worried she would suddenly disappear from his grasp and he would wake up in the prison hold of his ship once more. The recent events of his life seemed so out of place; the whole thing felt surreal.
They had made it into Fire Nation waters. For a brief instant, he had been annoyed that Sokka had taken charge on his ship – that the water tribe boy was so quick to think up a plan of action when Zuko himself was prepared to charge head on and run the blockade, disregarding the potential consequences. But something about their coordination in successfully navigating a Navy blockade unscathed and undetected, left Zuko with a swelling sense of pride; a feeling that was topped only by his admiration of the girl in his arms.
Katara had been nothing short of breathtaking as she controlled the water around them with the composure and poise of a seasoned bender. To think she had come so far in a matter of months. Though he would likely never admit it, Zuko admired her tenacity and her resilience. She was persistent, even obstinate at times, but never let it diminish her empathetic nature. She had integrity. And the fact that she still doubted herself, opting for modesty rather than flaunting her talents, somehow only endeared her to him even more.
As he laid her down on her bed, her eyes fluttered open and met his.
"Thanks," She smiled weakly.
Zuko nodded. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell her that she had been spectacular – beautiful – as she bended them to safety, but the words would not form. Instead, he sat on the edge of the mattress and looked down at his feet.
"I can't believe how tired I am," She murmured, rolling onto her side to face him. "I didn't even think I could control that much water."
"You shouldn't doubt yourself," Was his quiet reply as he fisted the bedsheets in his hand, struggling to push out the words.
"But I'm still untrained," She yawned.
"Katara," His voice was unusually soft, but low nonetheless. "You were… something else back there… you've been working hard- harder than anyone… you should give yourself some credit."
Katara smiled at him again, reaching out to cover his hand that still clutched the sheets. "Thank you, Zuko… really. But… I don't think I'd be where I am if it wasn't for you."
His eyebrow shot up. "Me?"
"Yes, you," She sighed, closing her eyes again. "Maybe it's a little weird to think of it this way, but… ever since we met, I-… I've felt… I've been- I don't know…" A breathy chuckle at her own expense escaped her throat.
A warm, tingling sensation was growing in his chest. It felt as though his heart had stopped beating in anticipation.
She sighed and, at length, whispered, "Different."
"Different?"
"Before all of this… when I was living in the south… I had never fought before. That day when you showed up looking for Aang… when you told me to block and move my feet… that was the first bending lesson I ever had."
Zuko remembered the moment he first set eyes on her; the mixture of fear and determination in her sapphire eyes when she ran at him, the way she reluctantly followed his suggestions and used his lessons against him.
"Even though you were just toying with me… I learned something," She continued, "I learned that I could fight… that I didn't have to just sit around in my village, waiting for the warriors to return. I realized that I could… make a difference."
Zuko frowned. If he was honest with himself, he had been toying with her. He had found her amusing and his teachings – if they could even be called that – were entirely for selfish reasons. At the time, part of him wanted to humiliate her; show her just how inexperienced she was, how she stood no chance against him.
"I don't think that's anything to thank me for," He grumbled, pulling his hand away. "I attacked you."
"You did," Katara agreed, "But I think it was what I needed to improve. Sokka would never train with me or teach me anything about fighting. He always said that it was the men who fought to protect the tribe- that women had other duties. But the first time we met… you taught me more about bending and defending myself than anyone had before."
He felt his expression soften at her words. Though his intention had not been to galvanize her to join the war, to side with the Avatar, he was glad for the unintended consequences. He was glad that her fierce determination had brought her back to him.
"You deserve someone to teach you," He muttered.
"Will you?" She asked, opening her eyes to meet his gaze. "Teach me, I mean-… like we were doing before, when…"
"When you were my prisoner?" The self-loathing was evident in his tone.
"Yes," Color rushed to her cheeks as she propped herself up on one elbow. "Can we… do that again? Train together?"
"You really want to fight me some more?" It was almost a scoff.
"I do," She grinned back at him. "I did promise that I would beat you one day, remember?"
Zuko smirked at this. He hadn't forgotten. "I won't go easy on you this time, waterbender," He teased.
"You'll lose if you do," She shot back.
The tension between them was growing, despite their playful repartee, and Zuko leaned forwards, his lips still curled into a hint of a smirk. There was no doubt in his mind: he wanted her. He wanted to make her his. But it was also more than that; beyond a mere urge to possess her. He wanted to support her, foster her skills, reassure her when she doubted herself. He wanted to spend every waking hour in her company, hurling witticisms back and forth. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her. Katara looked up into his eyes, her cheeky grin fading under the warmth in his gaze. He was hovering over her, supporting his weight with a hand placed next to her elbow on the bed. His other hand reached out, his fingertips ghosting over her jawline.
"Katara," His voice was husky.
An almost inaudible gasp escaped Katara's parted lips at the sudden change of mood, and Zuko felt the urge to climb on top of her and crash his lips to hers; But something was holding him back – had been holding him back.
His hesitation stemmed from a deep-seated fear that he was certain had its roots somewhere in his childhood. He was afraid to get so close to someone, to fully allow them in, to relinquish control; worried, in part, that it would result in another devastating loss. Since his mother's passing, he had been alone. Though it was indeed a sad existence at first, he had quickly become accustomed to closing himself off from others. There was a strength in handling things on his own, bearing his own burdens, and he prided himself on that. Without ties to anyone else – with the possible exception of his uncle – he felt no moral or emotional obligation to others; he was able to focus entirely on his destiny, his honor.
With ties came obligation – sacrifice – and, inevitably, a forfeiture. If he were to truly allow Katara in, allow himself to love and be loved, he would not only be putting his fragile heart at risk, but also everything he knew. And it was that fear of the unknown that stilled his hand.
"Zuko-"
"You should get some rest," His voice was raspy, strained, as he pulled away from her. "We'll be at the Temple of the Fire Sages in a few hours."
He caught her frown from the corner of his eye as she flopped back onto the bed.
"Yeah," she sighed, turning away from him. "I will."
…
After an hour of drowsy contemplation, Katara did eventually get some rest, falling into a fitful sleep that felt much shorter than the position of the sun would suggest when she woke. When she sat up, light was streaming through the window in her room.
"Katara?" Suki called through the door, "Are you awake?"
"I am," She replied, stretching her limbs, "You can come in."
The Kyoshi Warrior opened the squealing iron door and glanced around the room, as if expecting someone else to be there. "Did you get some rest? We should be getting to that island soon."
"I did," Katara sighed, pushing down the disappointment she felt over her interaction with Zuko earlier. It seemed like every time they got close, he abruptly pulled away and she couldn't understand why. She thought that he felt the same as she did – that he wanted her too – but perhaps she was wrong. He had been oddly distant and short with her ever since he joined them; not at all what she had expected after the last time they saw each other… when they kissed.
Suki seemed to read her expression, crossing her arms. "Where's Zuko?"
"What?"
"You know, the angry prince who carried you here? I thought he must have stayed with you."
"He didn't," Katara exhaled, evidently doing a poor job of hiding her discontent.
"You seem… bothered," Suki noted, "What's up?"
"It's Zuko," Katara confessed, grimacing. "I don't know how to say this, but… it seems like he is trying to keep his distance from me or something."
"You think so?" Suki frowned. "He seemed pretty happy to carry you away before… well, okay, maybe happy isn't exactly the right word to use for him, but-"
"He's just been acting weird. I thought that he liked me, but every time we're alone together and I think something is going to happen, he flees… like, literally runs away from me."
The Kyoshi Warrior suppressed a laugh.
"What?"
"I think maybe he's just nervous," Suki suggested with a coy smile. "Or scared."
"Scared of what? Me?"
"Well, yes and no… maybe more like… scared of his feelings? Of being honest with himself about it?"
"Why would he be scared? I want him to be honest with me about how he feels," Katara huffed. "We still haven't talked about when we… kissed," Her volume lowered, as if someone else might hear. "I just don't know what to think anymore."
"Give it some time," Suki assured her, "I'm sure he'll come around."
Before Katara could respond, someone pounded on the door.
"Katara!" Her brother called from the corridor. "We're approaching the crescent island! Have you seen Suki?"
"I'm in here!" Suki responded, moving to the door before turning back to Katara, "Like I said, just give it some time. Right now, we have to focus on getting Aang back."
Katara nodded, standing. The older girl was right – now was not the time to worry about the prince's feelings for her. Aang was out there and he needed their help. She clenched her fists as she followed Suki up to the deck, her anxiety about Zuko now replaced with concern over Aang. As it turns out, her apprehension was justified. When they reached the deck, their destination was in view.
The crescent island was a volcano, and an active one, at that; rivers of lava flowed down the sides of the steep lifeless slope, turning to black rock as it met the sea, and gray wisps rose into the sky above. Katara bit her lip. This is the Fire Nation. She idly wondered if all the Fire Nation islands looked this bleak and perilous, devoid of plants and animals. Her train of thought was cut short when the temple came into view, seemingly teetering on the edge of a ridge, overlooking the choppy sea. Below the temple, anchored just offshore, was a large Fire Nation vessel. Katara's heart sank.
Zuko seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Damn it," He growled from behind her. "It's Zhao."
…
Zuko had been to the Temple of the Fire Sages a handful of times in his youth. His last visit had been for his father's coronation, the memory of which left a bitter taste in his mouth. Those previous visits did little to prepare him, however, for what awaited them now outside the doors to the sanctuary.
The banished prince had silently led the others through the opulent hallways, keeping close to the walls lined with tall marble pillars and Fire Nation tapestries. The décor and architecture reminded him of the royal palace – if not for the layer of soot that coated the floors – spurring memories he struggled to keep at bay. His caution turned out to be unnecessary; the temple seemed abandoned. They had not run into a single soul on their way up to the sanctuary on the top floor, which housed the golden statue of Avatar Roku. He was certain, nevertheless, that it was there they would find the Avatar, if Zhao hadn't already captured him.
He was simultaneously relieved and concerned when they reached the staircase to the top floor and heard voices echoing in the large hall above. He held up his hand to signal the others to stop. They complied, listening intently to the dialogue. Zuko inched up the staircase to get a better handle of the situation.
"Does anyone want to explain to me why the Avatar was allowed to enter the sanctuary?" The Commander's stern tone poorly masked the rage bubbling underneath.
Crouching in the shadows at the top of the staircase, Zuko peered into the hall. His gaze was met with a squad of Fire Nation soldiers – perhaps twenty of them – standing in an orderly formation behind their Commander. At Zhao's feet, knelt five of the Fire Sages, their faces pressed to the ground as a sign of respect to the Navy official.
"Well?" Zhao demanded, louder this time.
At length, one of the sages lifted his head, swallowing audibly.
"It- it was once the sage's duty to serve the Avatar," The elderly man began, his voice wavering under the Commander's glare, "It is still our duty."
"The sage's duty, you say?" Zhao scratched his chin, turning away from the old man. "And what of your duty to the Fire Lord? Is he not who you – the sages of the present – have sworn to serve?"
The sage appeared to be at a loss for words.
The Commander turned on his heel to face the man once more. "No?"
There wasn't a hint of mercy in Zhao's expression when a bout of flames shot from his fist at the old man. Zuko abruptly looked away as the flames collided with the sage and an earsplitting scream rang through the hall. He didn't need to see the damage, to smell the burning flesh, to know that Zhao had dealt out the same punishment Zuko's own father had all those years ago. The notion made him feel sick.
"Would anyone else like to explain to me why the Avatar was allowed to enter the sanctuary!" He was yelling now, no longer trying to contain the anger that was steadily boiling over. The other sages cowered at his feet, frantically shaking their heads as the burned man whimpered, dragging himself backwards away from the Commander, one hand clutching at the melting skin of his face.
"I thought so," Zhao growled, "Now stop groveling and open this door!"
The sages jumped up at the command, moving to line up in front of the large double doors that led to the sanctuary. Commander Zhao and his soldiers turned to watch, their backs facing the staircase, and Zuko saw their opportunity. He slipped back down the stairs to the others, a collective visage of anxiety.
"Listen," He began, his tone low, "When they blast at the doors, we're going to sneak up there. There are large columns on either side of the hall. Hide behind them and wait for my signal to attack. Katara, come with me, Sokka, Suki, and Toph, go left and keep the soldiers distracted."
"Attack?" Sokka repeated, "How many of them are up there?"
"About twenty," Zuko hissed, "There's no time for this, let's go."
They huddled at the top of the stairs, waiting for the blast to take their positions on either side of the hall.
"Now!" Commander Zhao ordered and the sages complied, shooting fire into the bronze tubes that served as a locking mechanism on the sanctuary doors.
Zuko nodded and they quickly split up, scurrying into the hall behind the large columns. When his back was pressed to the cold marble of the column, he glanced behind him to check that Katara was there. To his relief, she was, pressed against his shoulder, but her eyes wandered past him, further down the hall. Her brow furrowed. Zuko followed her stare and scowled. She was watching the burnt sage drag himself across the floor towards the edge of the hall.
"No, Katara," He hissed.
"We can't just leave him like that," She whispered, finally meeting his gaze, a fiery determination flickering in her blue eyes.
"We have to," He reasoned, "We're not here for him."
"That doesn't mean that we should let him suffer," She countered, "He helped Aang."
Zuko groaned, glancing around the column to check the sage's progress in opening the door. Before he could turn back to Katara, he saw a flash of blue in his peripheral vision and cursed under his breath when she slid behind the next column, making her way towards the injured man.
Normally, Zuko would admire her empathy, respect her determination to help others in need, but this time that was not the case. His fingernails dug into his palm as he clenched his hands into fists, watching Katara creep around the column, preparing to run to the next. If one of Zhao's soldiers spotted her, they would lose the element of surprise and Katara would undoubtedly be captured, if not worse.
"It's not working," One of the sages stated as they ceased their firebending and inspected the closed sanctuary doors.
"Again!" Zhao commanded and the sages nodded, preparing to try a second time.
Zuko exhaled, composing himself, and sprinted after Katara as the sages shot fire at the door once again.
Katara was standing on the opposite side of the column that the burnt sage was leaning against as he moaned in agony. Zuko slid in behind her, grabbing her upper arm as she tried to round the column. He yanked her and she stumbled back against him, colliding with his chest. Katara spun around, ready to admonish him for hindering her efforts, but stopped herself when he put a finger up to his lips.
"I got this," He whispered, still frowning before chiding her, "This better not blow our cover."
As the Fire Sages continued to blast at the door, he slipped around the column and hauled the old man to his feet, covering his mouth and cringing as he felt the charred flesh under his palm. The burnt sage flailed briefly in shock but calmed when his unburnt eye met Zuko's.
"Prince… Zuko?" The sage mumbled when he was released, slumping down the marble column.
Katara immediately got to work, coaxing water out of the skin at her waist and whispering words of reassurance to the old man as she carefully moved his hands away from his face and assessed the damage.
Zuko resumed his position, keeping an eye on the Commander. He glanced across the hall and saw Sokka peering around another column, scowling at him. His expression clearly communicating: this wasn't the plan. The banished prince grimaced in response.
The sages paused once more and turned to Zhao.
"Sir," One of them said, bowing his head in fear of the Commander's rage, "I don't think Avatar Roku wants us to enter the sanctuary."
"You don't think-" Commander Zhao roared in anger, turning to his soldiers, "Put these traitors in chains!"
"Please-" Another sage started, but was ignored.
"Looks like we'll just have to wait for the Avatar to come out," His tone was dark as he addressed his men, "Be prepared to unleash your full force once the doors open."
Hearing this, Katara glanced up at Zuko with a worried expression, the water in her hands glowing as she gently moved them over the sage's burned flesh.
"Don't worry," He muttered with a confidence he himself did not feel. Truthfully, he couldn't see how the Avatar would be able to get out of this situation with his life, and he cursed himself again for allowing the boy to slip from his grasp so many times before.
Some of Zhao's soldiers restrained the remaining sages as the Commander stood, waiting for the doors to open.
He sunk back behind the column, watching Katara work. The burn that Zhao had inflicted on the Fire Sage had been much worse than Zuko's and he watched in morbid fascination as the skin of the old man's face seemed to knit back together under Katara's touch. There would be a scar, no doubt, and the man may never see out of his right eye again, but Zuko couldn't help but idly wonder how different the outcome of his own burning may have been if Katara had been there.
His speculation was cut short when the dim hall lit up with a bright glow. Eyebrows raised, Zuko peered around the column once more. The doors to the sanctuary were emitting a brilliant, blinding white light.
"Get in position!" Zhao ordered his soldiers.
Another glance across the hall saw Sokka and Suki preparing to attack, waiting for Zuko's signal. The heavy doors creaked as they started to open and Zuko nudged Katara.
"Get ready," He hissed.
The tension in the room was palpable as everyone waited for the Avatar to emerge, squinting into the blinding light.
"Now!" Commander Zhao roared as Zuko gave the others the signal. The soldiers blasted flames into the open doorway as Zuko ran towards the Commander, hoping to catch him unaware.
The flames whirled into a sphere and dissipated. But it wasn't the airbending young monk that emerged from the temple's sanctuary. It was Avatar Roku himself.
…
Katara's eyes widened as she got to her feet, watching as what she could only assume was the previous Avatar floated through the threshold, eyes glowing. The Fire Nation soldiers stumbled back in shock.
With one swipe of his hand and a resulting wave of heat, Avatar Roku sent the soldiers flying backwards through the air, and Katara watched in a stupor as they went skidding across the floor and colliding with the marble columns.
"Avatar Roku," The burnt sage to her left breathed.
As if in response, the ground rumbled and the temple shuddered around them, raining bits of rubble down upon them.
"A- Avatar Roku is going to destroy the temple!" The sage grasped at Katara's arm, "It's the volcano! You have to leave!"
"Not without Aang!" She pulled her arm back and took off running towards the Avatar.
After a moment, Roku's eyes dimmed and a cloud of dust and soot swirled around him. As the cloud cleared, Katara recognized the familiar features of her friend.
The airbender slumped to the ground, weak from the effort of entering the Avatar state and triggering the volcano that resided below the temple. Katara had almost reached him when she caught sight of a bout of flames in her periphery. She halted, stepping back to dodge the fire and her eyes met the Fire Nation Navy Commander's.
"So, we meet again, peasant," He sneered, lighting his fists. "You will pay for your insolence this time."
Remembering their last encounter – how the cruel man had treated Zuko as she watched helplessly – Katara snarled at him, baring her teeth as she sent a water whip cracking at his face. He avoided it, jumping forwards with a kick that hurdled another blast of fire at her. They traded attacks back and forth to no avail, neither landing a blow.
"Put the Avatar in chains!" He ordered his troops who were just getting to their feet.
Katara ducked under another fiery attack and spun, slashing her arms through the air as she froze the water and hurled icy daggers towards Zhao. He moved to avoid them, preparing to return fire, but one snagged the uniform at his upper arm, ripping the fabric and drawing blood. Behind him, four of the soldiers were chaining up Aang as he struggled against them.
The Commander placed his hand over the deep cut on his arm, pulling it away and growling at the sight of the vivid red liquid staining his hand.
"Filthy peasant!" He roared, rushing towards her with a rage that made her hesitate.
That was her mistake. The fire that came blazing towards her was impossible to avoid and she reeled in her water to block. The force of the flames sent her stumbling backwards as she blocked another rapid attack, watching her water steadily evaporate into thin air with each blast.
Katara cursed herself for hesitating, for giving him even a moment to compose himself. That blunder had cost her a significant amount of water and she was too far from the sea and lacking the needed concentration to draw any more under her control.
As another bout of fire came darting towards her, she dove behind one of the columns, narrowly avoiding the attack as she felt the heat of the flames through her clothes. She pressed her back to the marble, chest heaving from a mixture of expended effort and terror. The Commander was clearly intent on making her suffer for biting him during their last encounter and, with her dwindling water supply, she was running out of options.
As if proving a point, the Navy Commander shot a wave of fire at the column she hid behind, the flames reaching around either side of the cool marble to lick at her sides. She ducked her head into her arms, trying to shield herself from the heat that stung her cheeks. The temple shuddered again with another earth rumbling jolt as the ceiling began to crumble. A large chunk of the ceiling, heavy stone, fell a couple feet in front of her, cracking the marble floor as she watched in horror, scurrying further into the column at her back.
Shit, shit, shit, she chanted expletives internally. She was in over her head. She had thought all this time that she was ready to go to war, ready to face the danger and the fear, but the utter disarray of her current situation was debilitating. She was running out of water with no source to replenish her supply, forced to flee and hide, while Aang was in chains being hauled off by Fire Nation soldiers as the volcano underneath them was about to erupt and boulders the size of Appa's head rained down from above. An ominous notion invaded her mind; is this how it all ends?
…
Zuko had been thrown backwards by Avatar Roku's attack. He collided with one of the columns and his head whipped back upon impact, striking the hard marble with a force that made his vision momentarily go black. The pain reverberated from the base of his skull and down his spine as he struggled to regain his bearings. Grunting and blinking away what was surely a concussion, he got to his feet and staggered, catching himself before he lost his balance.
Through his blurred vision, he could make out four of Zhao's soldiers restraining the airbender as he thrashed around. Farther back, Sokka and Suki were engaging another group of soldiers in hand-to-hand combat, deflecting the firebenders' flames up into the air above. Toph had coated herself in a thick layer of marble, using her element like a suit of armor, and cackled at the Fire Nation soldiers' fruitless attacks as she knocked one over with a large piece of rubble that rained down from the crumbling temple above.
The banished prince gripped the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb, squeezing his eyes shut as he fought to overcome the head injury and clear the fog from his mind. When he felt as though he had regained normal motor function, he opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings, pleased that clarity was returning to him once more. Zuko's gaze fell on the struggling Avatar and, without a second thought, he darted forwards.
The four soldiers that surrounded the airbender were entirely unprepared for his attack. When his foot connected with the back of one of their necks, the man cried out and went tumbling into the other in front of him, tripping over the Avatar in the process. Zuko quickly blocked an attack from a third soldier on his left, catching the flames in the palm of his hand before they could leave the soldier's fist, and used the man's lack of balance to throw him on top of the other two as they tried to get up. The fourth soldier grabbed the Avatar, pulling the airbender back and unsheathed a sword from the scabbard at his hip.
"Back off, traitor, or the Avatar dies right here," He warned, holding the blade to Aang's neck.
At this point, Aang's eyes finally met Zuko's and widened in recognition, as though he hadn't noticed him before. The boy looked exhausted, drained of energy and hardly seemed to put up a fight, shrinking away from the sword at his throat.
"I'll do it!" The soldier threatened and Zuko's gaze snapped back up to his face with a smirk.
In one swift motion, Zuko kicked the man's wrist, forcing him to release his grip on the hilt of the weapon and grabbed the collar of the airbender's shirt as he delivered a fiery fist to the soldier's chest with his other hand. The blade clattered to the floor as Zuko yanked the Avatar away from the choking man whose armor had caved in under the force of Zuko's fist, compressing his chest.
With the Avatar chained up in his grasp, he stopped. The others were occupied. The airbender was already restrained and weakened. Was this the opportunity he had been waiting for? Was this his chance to haul the Avatar away, back to his ship, and leave the others to their fates? A familiar voice in his mind answered, yes, this is it, the opportunity to finally regain your honor, but another notion – a newer voice that harbored a strong sense of morality – raised doubts. Guilt nagged at him. He gritted his teeth. It didn't feel right to abandon the others, to allow them to perish in vain under the crumbling temple.
He had promised himself that he wouldn't allow Katara to be hurt, and leaving her to succumb to the volcano that was preparing to erupt below them was a clear violation of that vow. He lifted his gaze, searching for the waterbender who he had lost sight of when the Avatar emerged from the sanctuary. A cruel laugh drew his attention to his right and he saw her.
Katara was crouched behind one of the marble columns, shielding herself from a torrent of flames that Commander Zhao directed towards her. He glanced back down at the Avatar, then towards where the others were fighting off Zhao's soldiers. He couldn't leave her to the mercy of the Navy Commander.
Cursing under his breath, Zuko dragged the Avatar towards the blind earthbender and, with a flaming kick, sent the soldier she was fighting skidding across the marble floor.
She turned to him in annoyance, "Ugh, I totally had him, Princey!"
The airbender looked between them, confusion written all over his face, "Wha-"
"Never mind that!" Zuko growled, shoving Aang towards her. "Get these chains off him!"
The ground below them grumbled and shook, freeing more rubble from the roof above to rain down on them. Toph deflected a large piece of falling stone and nodded, heading over to the Avatar.
"I'm going to help Katara," He informed her, "Get the others and head back to the ship!"
Placing her hands on the irons that bound Aang's wrists and legs, she pulled them apart, snapping the chains with ease. The airbender appeared to be in a shocked daze, watching in astonishment as the earthbender removed his restraints. Zuko turned to leave and the Avatar followed him with his eyes, pulling away from Toph.
"But Katara-"
"Let Princey take care of her," She interrupted, yanking him back, "We have to get you back to the ship before this whole island falls back into the sea."
"Appa..." Aang mumbled, before finding his voice. "We have to get Appa!"
"Where is he?" The blind girl inquired.
"This way!" His hands now free, he turned towards Sokka and Suki, calling forth a tornado that rushed around the two, sending six Fire Nation soldiers flying through the air.
With the others making their escape, Zuko rushed at the Commander. Zhao caught sight of him a moment too late as the prince's foot collided with his arm, sending the torrent of flames blazing up towards the ceiling. The naval officer sneered, grabbing Zuko's foot and throwing him backwards.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the banished prince," His tone was sinister, "Come to save your little water tribe peasant?"
Zuko landed on his feet and snarled, wasting no time as he lunged forward to attack.
The Commander blocked the oncoming blast as he turned towards his soldiers with an order, "Follow the Avatar! Don't let them escape!" Before pivoting and returning fire.
…
Katara was so consumed by her growing sense of dread that she didn't feel the heat from the flames subside. The ground shook beneath her again and the column at her back trembled, but it only served to solidify her paralysis. She was certain she was going to die here, crushed under the collapsing temple. She would return to the sea with the rest of the volcanic island, her body laid to rest at the bottom of Fire Nation waters, many leagues from home.
"Katara!" A familiar voice called through the darkness in her mind, breaking her trance.
She opened her eyes. The sleeve of her tunic was aflame and the fire climbed up her shoulder, lapping at her cheeks. As she scrambled to put it out, vigorously smothering the flames, she realized that fire that had previously been reaching around the column, forcing her to curl into herself, had ceased. Hesitantly, she peered around the marble pillar.
The Fire Nation Commander had turned his attention away from her and was now fighting Zuko.
"Katara, are you okay?" His tone was strained as he blocked an onslaught of flames.
Regarding the hall, she realized that it was emptying. The Fire Nation soldiers were running for the staircase. Aang, Suki, Toph, and her brother were nowhere to be seen. Only Zuko and Zhao remained, battling each other intensely despite the chaos that unfolded around them. A column to her left cracked and collapsed with another judder from the earth below and part of the roof caved in, sending dust into the air. The entire structure was on the verge of ruin.
She caught Zuko's gaze, biting her lip. Her limbs felt strangely heavy, so much so that any movement was an endeavor in and of itself.
"Follow Aang!" The prince yelled, "Get out of here!"
Aang. Had he escaped? Shaking her head to dispel her stupor, she got to her hands and knees. Why had she been so ready to give up? Suddenly frustrated with herself, she stumbled to her feet. Her remaining water supply had fallen from her control and pooled around her on the floor. It wasn't much, but perhaps it would do.
Calling her element back to her, she braced herself as another shudder wracked the temple, however, this time it persisted. She turned to see a large crack zigzag its way across the marble floor. Something in her mind flicked on, then. Perhaps it was instinct – a primal stress response triggered by the doom that surrounded her – but it wasn't borne of self-preservation.
Her heart was pounding so loud in her ears, she didn't hear Zuko yell.
Before she willed it, her feet were moving under her, and she watched as the fissure expanded into a crevice. A dry wave of heat filled the hall, burning her lungs with each breath, the smell of sulfur filling her nose, but she kept moving.
…
"Go, now!" Zuko roared as he dissipated another torrent of flames. The volcano was erupting. The temple was fracturing around them, long fissures climbing up the walls.
He caught a streak of blue in his periphery and was relieved that Katara had found her feet again. His outlook was bleak, he knew, and he had resigned to fighting Zhao to the very end. There was no way either of them would make it out of this alive and he tried to find peace in the fact that he would take the vile Commander down with him.
They were exchanging blows back and forth, neither gaining the upper hand. Each bout of flames that Zhao sent at him, he dispelled; each attack he directed at the Commander was either dodged or blocked. A deafening sound filled the dust laden air and he lost his balance as the ground shook violently beneath his feet. Then he felt the heat from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the floor of the temple open up, splitting the old building in half and exposing the stories below.
Seeing his opening, Zhao lurched forwards with a series of fiery attacks. Zuko turned in time to block, cursing under his breath, but his lack of balance and the force of the blows sent him stumbling back. Another shudder wracked the temple and he was drifting downwards, watching in slow motion as the hall fell away. Desperate to stop his descent, his arms flailed, seeking purchase and, against all odds, they found it. Catching himself on a jagged outcropping of marble that had once made up the floor of the grand hall, his body swayed, dangling over the precipice. Heat was surging up from below and a quick glance down confirmed his fears. A river of molten rock flowed below the collapsing temple, bubbling as it emitted a warm light and a putrid stench like rotten eggs.
Zuko grasped the marble with all his might, willing his muscles to flex and pull his weight back up. As he got one elbow over the edge, he was met with a sharp kick to the shoulder which sent him scrambling for purchase once more.
"I had intended to bring you back to the Fire Lord in chains," Zhao sneered from above, a murderous glint in his eye, "But I'm certain he will be just as pleased to be rid of his traitorous son for good." With that, he slammed the heel of his boot down on Zuko's hand, twisting it to grind his fingers into the rock. Crying out in agony, Zuko fought to keep his hold.
"Goodbye, Prince Zuko."
The roof of the hall behind Zhao collapsed with a crash, and Zuko scrambled to get his elbow back up over the edge as the outcropping that he clung to came loose in his hand. Gravity took hold of him.
He was weightless in that moment, and saw only his mother, smiling down at him.
Zuko, her voice drifted into his ears like a sweet song. Perhaps he would be reunited with her once more in death.
The weightless sensation came to an abrupt end as a hand grasped around his wrist, jolting him to a halt. His eyes shot open, squinting into the blinding afternoon sunlight that streamed in through the opening in the ceiling.
"Zuko!" Katara's voice came again, thick with desperation and strained under the effort of supporting his weight.
She was hovering over him, cloaked in light as if she had just descended from the heavens above – his salvation.
"Come on!" Her grip was slipping and her face twisted in a pained expression. "Please!"
He threw his other arm up, catching the jagged brink and pulling himself until his shoulders were level with the floor once more. Katara shuffled back, both hands clasped around his wrist, lending him all her strength. When he got his knee over the edge, he collapsed next to her, rolling onto his back. With almost impeccable timing, the other side of the temple groaned and began to fall, caving in on itself and tumbling down the steep cliff-face into the sea.
"We have… to get out… of here!" She coughed, her breaths shallow as she choked on the dense dust and smoke that filled in the air. "I can't… breathe!"
Zhao was getting up behind her, having apparently been knocked down as Katara ran over save him. The prince was on his feet in an instant, shooting flames towards the Commander as he helped Katara up to her feet. Her knees buckled as she coughed again, exhausted and unaccustomed to inhaling so much smoke.
Operating purely on instinct, Zuko threw her over his shoulder and took off towards a large hole in the wall where the stone had crumbled away. There was nothing but empty air below them, followed by molten rock sliding down the slope of the volcano.
"There!" He heard Suki's voice. "They're up there!"
To Zuko's relief he lifted his eyes and saw the flying bison drifting through the air towards them.
"Yip yip!" Aang called from atop Appa's head, his brow furrowed in determination, "Higher, Appa!"
"We can't land," Sokka shouted, getting prepared to stand in the saddle in case he needed to catch them. "You're going to have to jump!"
Aang guided Appa towards the trembling remains of the temple and yelled, "Now!"
Wrapping his arms around Katara as tightly as he could, Zuko jumped.
…
What little breath Katara had managed to inhale was immediately knocked from her lungs as they landed in Appa's saddle, rolling and colliding with the others into a crumpled pile. She sputtered and wheezed, heaving to fill her lungs again. Suki sat up next to her, rubbing circles into her back comfortingly.
At length, Sokka let out a long exhale, disbelieving. "Did we actually all just survive that?"
"Is everyone here?" Toph asked, pulling her leg out from under Zuko. "I can't see a thing on top of Appa."
"We're all here," Suki sighed in relief.
When Katara's eyes settled on the airbender as he turned around to join his friends in the saddle, she grinned through her persistent coughing and flung herself at him, "Aang! We were so worried!"
The airbender wrapped his arms around her, returning her embrace. She didn't see Zuko scowl and look away as she rested her head against Aang's shoulder and coughed again.
"I'm- I'm sorry I worried you," Aang's face fell. "I'm sorry to all of you… I shouldn't have left on my own like that…"
"We forgive you," Suki smiled as she joined the embrace, pulling Sokka along with her.
"Just don't do it again," Sokka chided, but his tone betrayed relief as he, too, partook in the hug.
"Get over here, Toph!" Suki called to the blind girl. Reluctantly, the earthbender crawled towards them and yelped when Aang grabbed her hand and pulled her into the mass of bodies.
"You too, Zuko," Sokka added.
"The firebender's eyebrow shot up, "I- I don't do group hugs."
"You didn't do group hugs," Suki corrected, "But now you're part of the gang and the gang does group hugs."
With a grimace he awkwardly leaned in and placed an arm around the back of Katara and Aang.
"Thanks, guys," Aang simpered, a tear glistening in the corner of his eye, "I honestly don't know what I would have done without you. You saved me. And Zuko…" He looked up, "Thank you."
Zuko grunted in response and they began to separate.
"Yeah, we couldn't have done it without you, bud," Sokka clapped the prince on the back and he winced, presumably in pain, "Sorry I doubted you before."
"No problem," Zuko mumbled, averting his gaze.
Katara smiled to herself, pleased that everyone was safe once more and getting along. Zuko was part of the team now and Aang was back with them.
"So, Aang," She inquired, "Were you able to talk to Roku?"
Aang nodded, "I was…"
"What did he have to say?"
"Well, a lot of things, really… but the most important thing-… what he wanted to tell me… it was a warning."
"A warning?" Suki sat back against Sokka.
"Explain, Airhead" Toph prodded his shoulder.
"Right…" Aang twiddled his thumbs, seeming to sink into himself. "So you know how I'm the Avatar and I have to master all four of the elements, and end the war, and save the world and stuff?"
"Yeah, we already knew that," Toph pressed him, rolling her eyes at his rambling.
"Well, so… I kind of have a time limit," He scratched the back of his neck, forcing a weak smile.
"A time limit?" Katara sat up. "To, what? End the war?"
"Yeah… so there's this comet…-"
"Sozin's comet?" Zuko interrupted, stiffening.
"You know about it?" Aang turned to him, eyes widening.
"Everyone in the Fire Nation knows about Sozin's comet," He replied, "But yeah, I do. It was named after my great-great-grandfather when he… started the war." Not proud of this fact, Zuko looked away again.
"Well, yeah, the comet is coming back… next year…" The airbender continued, "And the Fire Lord is going to use it to finally put an end to the war..."
"Next year?"
"I don't think I'm following."
The airbender let out a long sigh, "Long story short... I have to master all four elements and defeat the Fire Lord before the end of next summer when the comet comes…" He gazed down at his hands, as if expecting to find answers there.
They sat quietly under the weight of this revelation. Behind them, the distant volcano rumbled before a booming sound filled the silence as magma spewed out the top, followed by a thick dark cloud that surged up into the sky. It didn't take long for the airborne ash to obscure the sun, tinting the afternoon light an ominous red. The southern face of the mountain collapsed with a groan, bringing what remained of the temple of the Fire Sages down with it, sinking into the sea.
Ended on kind of a somber note there... I had intended to finish this chapter differently, but it got so long, I had to cut it off here.
This was a very long and action-packed chapter, so I hope it wasn't too much..
Also, I figured I should clarify, this is sort of an AU..? There are quite a few details (other than just the storyline) that I have changed to suit my purposes, like the age of some of the characters, the history, and the timeline. The series took place over a matter of months, but I intend for this story to take place over a year or so... I did say I was trying to write an epic, didn't I? So, yes, some details differ from the show and (most likely) are not mistakes.
Please please please let me know what you think! (Review?)
...
With love,
A Storm