Zuko sighed deeply as he was sitting on the edge of the wall looking down at the broken drill far below them which had already been abandoned by the fire nation soldiers who were all retrieving.
Sadly he looked at it feeling oddly empty inside.
"What's with the long face?" Toph suddenly asked as she stepped up to Zuko. "We won! That's amazing isn't it?"
"Yeah…" Zuko sighed. "It's great."
Toph frowned. "Okay what's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing." Zuko replied.
"Lie" Toph simply said as she plummeted down sitting beside Zuko.
Zuko closed his eyes as he exhaled deeply. "Sorry."
Toph tilted her head. "So what's up then?" she asked.
"I just…" Zuko frowned. "The thing you taught us. About… Finding the weak spot and hit it." he chewed on his lip. "I honestly never thought that Azula had any weak spot but…" he swallowed. "I found it." he breathed. "And I hit it. Like you said… And I managed to hurt her. I never managed to hurt her before."
Toph was silent.
"I thought I would be happy the day I managed it. But I'm not… I feel terrible." Zuko said.
"Oh." Toph realized.
That's when Katara came and sat on Zukos other side. Putting a hand on his shoulder. Soon they were joined by Sokka and Aang as well who had all been listening in.
"You did the right thing." Katara assured Zuko.
"I know. I don't regret it." Zuko said. "But I still feel like dirt."
"You know. If I ever had to hurt Katara. I wouldn't feel great either. I would feel horrible." Sokka plainly stated. "I don't want to hurt her. Ever."
"Well… You wont ever have to hurt me." Katara said as she smiled fondly at him, while still looking sad.
"And thank Tui and Lai." Sokka sighed deeply.
"I can't even imagine." Aang said. "Having to fight your own family. Zuko it's okay if you're not okay about it."
"She doesn't deserve as great a brother as you." Katara stated simply.
Zuko winced. "That's the thing though… I'm not a good brother."
"Zuko." Katara breathed.
"No. When we grew up… I was always terrified of her." Zuko admitted. "I would avoid her when I could. I never tried to talk to her… We would be competing for fathers favour…. Always. We would try to undermine each other. But even then she would win in every single way and I would try to work harder to get back at her somehow. Even though she scared me… Now I finally got back at her. After all this time. And I hate it." he said.
"Did your father pitch you against each other?" Katara asked.
"Yeah. He would always compare us." Zuko sighed deeply. "Berate me for not being as good as Azula and tell Azula that if she didn't work hard she would end up as pathetic as me."
Aang swallowed. "The thing you told me at the north pole. It's true isn't it?" he asked. "Your father told you that.."
"Azula was born lucky... And I was lucky to be born." Zuko sighed deeply. "Yeah."
Everyone looked at Zuko, each one looking quite heart broken.
"And I hated her for it." Zuko continued. "She got to have it all. So I wanted to proof I could be just as good... And I was scared of her. Siblings are supposed to take care of each other right? That's what you guys do... I didn't do any of it. And now I hurt her. And it doesn't feel good at all."
"You didn't have a chance Zuko. It's not your fault." Katara said in a sad tone.
"Then why does it feel like it?" Zuko asked. "Like I let her down. My mother always said to me we needed to get along. That I needed to find a way to get along with Azula. But I didn't want to. And then mother went away… And it just got worse." he closed his eyes. "For the first time today." he whispered. "I saw Azula in pain… She never show her true emotions and I can't help but wonder. Was she in pain back then? Was that her true face?" he asked. "And… The truth is. I don't want her to be in pain." he laughed to himself. "Pathetic right? That girl has tried to kill me, actually tried to kill me! More than ones. She always did her best to scare me and make me feel like crap. And I still don't want to hurt her!" he swallowed. "This is why my father thinks I'm weak."
"It's why your uncle admire you so much." Aang replied and Zuko looked up. "He kept saying it. How you value life even above your own honour. And he was so proud every time he said it."
Zuko was silent, then he smiled. It was a real smile.
"It's true." Katara said. "Your father and sister may not like that aspect of you. Your uncle though, he admires it so much. And so do we! I didn't actually believe him back then. But I do now." she said putting a hand on Zukos shoulder. "You really are an amazing person."
Zuko closed his eyes but smiled. "I don't deserve this." he breathed.
"No you do." Aang smirked. "And your uncle is right! It's not a weakness not wanting to hurt anyone! It's honourable!"
Zuko sighed. "Even if that is the case… We still have to hurt these people. We are going to meet her again. And I will have to hurt her." he closed his eyes.
"No." Katara said. "You don't. We can handle Azula, you don't have to fight her."
Zuko shook his head. "No. I have to fight her." he said and he took in a shaking breath. "I don't want to fight my own people or her… But I will. It's my duty." he said. "And if there's any way to reach her at all. It has to be me… It's what I owe her. And my mother. And it's all I can do."
Suddenly Toph leaned over and wrapped her arms around Zuko in a hug.
"What?" Zuko looked down at her.
"You seemed like you needed it!" Toph exclaimed as she hugged Zuko and then Katara came from the other side hugging him to.
And then Sokka and Aang in a big pile of a group hug.
"Gu-Guys!" Zuko exclaimed.
"Just shut up and join the hug Zuko." Katara demanded. "This is how we do things."
Zuko halted then finally relaxed. "Thanks." he finally whispered and they all chuckled.