A/ N. So… Last chapter of this story! The first chapter from the sequel, The Flowers of Summer, will be posted tomorrow or Saturday. Then, I'll have to leave you for a week!
Concerning this chapter, sorry. It will be messy… It will be sad.
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender
She had been in this cave for several hours now. Early this morning, Azula had come in Ty Lee's bedroom, with two Dai Li agents. Without a word, they had taken her to this cave, and abandoned her here. Katara knew that it could mean different things. Maybe the king and the council had remarked her absence and had begun to search the palace. Perhaps it was just so that Ty Lee could get a night sleep without being interrupted by loud, annoying singing.
Yeah… She had been a pain in the ass to them. At least she had that going on for herself.
But… maybe… The others were back? Katara knew it was a faint hope, and not realistic at all. Sokka and Aang were not expected for at least a week, and Toph… Well, maybe she was back from her mother, and the blind girl would move heaven and earth to find her, the waterbender knew that. For all her faults, Toph was loyal to a fault to her newfound friends.
The chi block had also faded, and she was now able to bend again. Not that it did her any good, because she was deep in the ground, surrounding by miles of stones… Why wasn't she an earthbender?
Just then, the rock slab in front of the hole that had been used to push her down this cave opened, and, looking up, Katara saw how someone was thrown down, like she had been.
When that person fell in front of her, she nearly scoffed. Of course, just her luck. It was Zuko. The scarred prince looked up, and Katara saw the flash of fear in the ember eyes.
Good.
"And why did they throw you in here?" Katara knew Azula and Zuko were not the best of friends, but still, they had to work together, no?
"Let me guess, you are also into this plan! So that when Aang comes to help me, you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches!"
She had spoken without thinking, and realized, too late, that she had given away some information. To Azula, she had never confessed that it would be Aang who would come and save her. It had always been "my friends". But Katara knew… Sokka would kill anyone in his path to help her, as would Toph. But Aang… He would destroy the world before having to let her go. Yeah, she knew. He had said Air Nomads only took one love in their life, and they would stick with that. Utterly and loyally.
Silence met her outburst.
"You are a terrible person, you know that? Trying to capture the world's last hope for peace!" Zuko turned his back to her, not speaking.
"But what do you care, you are the Fire Lord's son! Spreading war and violence and hatred, it is in your blood!" She shouted.
"You don't know what you are talking." Zuko spoke, for the first time.
"I don't? How dare you! This war had put me through so much! Your people nearly decimated my tribe! The Fire Nation took my mother away from me!" Thinking about all the horrors that had happened… About her mum… Katara felt tears flow from her eyes. It was not only that. The fact that she was stuck in this cave with Zuko… Her friends not being here…
"I'm sorry… That is something we have in common…"
His raspy voice sounded sad. As sad as she was feeling actually… Was it possible that he had also suffered? Maybe not in the same way, but all the same, suffered at the hand of the Fire Nation?
Aang would give him the benefit of the doubt. And… Well, they were stuck here together. Better to try and give him a chance.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." She spoke, but it felt wrong in her mouth. She shouldn't be apologizing to Zuko! He should me on his knees, begging her forgiveness!
"It doesn't matter." The prince sighed.
"It is just… Since that day at the Pole, when I imagined the face of the enemy, it was yours." That was true. It had never been Iroh's face, or even Fire Lord Ozai. Only the scarred angry look in Zuko's eyes.
"My face… I see." He touched his scar.
That was not what she meant!
"No, I-"
"It doesn't matter. I thought this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince. Cursed to chase the Avatar. But lately, I've… no, Uncle made me realize. I am free to determine my own destiny. Even if I'll never be free of the mark."
Did Zuko just… Make a good point? His uncle had always seemed… nice. And now, the scarred young man in front of her was admitting his mistakes… and freely, without threat. And… Maybe, just maybe, they would be able to have him on their side? As much as it pained Katara to think of this man as good, she had to admit, Aang's way of thinking had influenced her. Maybe she should give him a chance.
"Maybe you could be free of it. I have water from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole… With my healing, maybe… I could remove it?" It was the kind, and good thing to do… And removing the mark of the prince… maybe it would make him turn complete to the good side of this fight? And having the heir of the Fire Lord at their side couldn't hurt.
Zuko didn't say anything, so, Katara extended her hand, gently and cautiously. Just before her fingers could touch the scar tissue, the waterbender heard a rumble behind her. Turning around, she saw a wall of the cave beginning to crack, before exploding and revealing… Aang!
"Aang!" She didn't even think just sprinted to him and threw her arms around him. Feeling the airbender's slender frame in her arms made her sigh in relief. She felt how he was pressing his lips to her forehead.
"I… I thought I lost you." He whispered. Katara didn't know how he had known where to look for her, but now, she realized why Azula had moved her here. They had learned of Aang's unexpected return.
"I knew you would be here." She murmured back, still not believing that he, and by extent, she was safe now…
"Uncle, I don't understand…" She heard behind her.
Uncle?
Turning around, without releasing Aang from her arms, she saw that net to Zuko, stood Iroh. Aang and the old man had… worked together? "What are you doing with the Avatar?"
Yeah, what was Aang doing with Prince Iroh?
"Saving you, that's what!" Aang stated, in a clearly irritated voice.
The calm look Zuko had had when talking with her disappeared, only to be replaced by an angry gaze. Ah, there was the old Zuko!
"NO! Zuko! It is time we talked!Aang, go help your other friends. After our talk, we will both catch up with you." Iroh spoke, looking at his nephew. At those words, the airbender bowed politely, in the traditional Fire Nation way. That mark of respect surprised Katara.
Quickly grabbing her hand, the airbender pulled her to one of the tunnels.
"Where are the others Aang?" She asked, while they rapidly descended towards a greater cave in the distance.
"Sokka and Toph have gone to warn the king, Azula is plotting with Long Feng to overthrow the regime! We have to meet up with them! Then we can fight, and stop the coup before it even begins!"
So that had been the princess's plan! Azula had known Aang would be gone for two weeks, so she had planned around that timetable. And now, the airbender had returned, a week too early. Hah! Good luck with stopping them now!
As they emerged in the biggest cave Katara had ever seen, she saw how it was lit in a pale greenish light, coming from the crystals. Against the walls stood several buildings, and there were canals in the floor of the cave… The first Ba Sing Se… The ruins of the first people who had settled this place…
"Katara, before we go up again… I need to tell you, I lo-" Aang began, and she felt her heart nearly stop. But before he could finish the sentence, they heard a crackling behind them. The airbender sprung into action, bending a slab of rock in front of them.
Just in time, because a dim blue light lit the cave, and whatever hit the rocky wall in front of them, it made it explode. When the smoke cleared, they saw Princess Azula stand at the tunnel's exit, with a smoking hand… Had she done that? Spirits…
Quickly running to the canal, Katara pulled a large volume of water from the river and throw it at the princess. That girl had imprisoned her! Had tried to use her as a bargaining chip against Aang! And now, she would learn what that would get her!
Azula made a wall if fire in front of herself, and when the water hit is, both the fire and the water disappeared. At once, they were clouded in steam and smoke. Feeling Aang moving to stand beside her, Katara heard quick footsteps coming from the steam cloud. They disappeared, to be replaced by a hissing sound. Suddenly, Azula appeared above the cloud. How had she gone so high into the air?
Firing two fireballs towards them, the princess managed to land on a rocky pillar. Without thinking about it, Katara pulled the water out of the canal, and she saw Aang make the exact same movement. They worked well together…
The water shielded them both from the fire, and after having blocked it, Aang moved and stomped his feet down on the ground. A loud rumble could be heard, and a crack appeared on the ground, making its way to the pillar on which Azula was standing.
The princess managed to land between Katara and the airbender. For the first time, the waterbender saw the confusing in the girls' eyes.
She had probably been told, since she was little, that she was perfect in any sense of the word, that her firebending was exceptional. And now, she was confronted with bending to which she had no answer. A combination of water, air and earth… The powers of the Avatar, and his waterbending master. The powers of Katara and Aang.
As they stood, Azula pointing one hand at each of them, she saw the confusion.
But before any of them could move, a fireball exploded in front of Azula. From the tunnel emerged a shadow, and while they were all moving away from the fire that burnt on the ground, Katara saw it was Zuko.
He had attacked his sister! He was going to help them! He had to. With three against one… Azula would be beaten today! As they moved to form a circle, Katara was anxious. Zuko didn't move to attack his sister… rather, he seemed conflicted. His eyes moved from Azula, to Aang. And finally, they fixed Katara. And she saw, in his gaze, the decision he took.
"Aang!" She shouted, but the airbender had already seen it, and moved, turning around himself to create an air shield. Just in time, because Zuko's attack would have hit him.
Spirits… Why had she tried and trusted the firebender? Of course, he was not going to side with them! That man only wanted one thing! His birthright. And Aang was the only way he could get it. The waterbender didn't have more time to think about it, because Azula attacked her. Managingnto stop the fire with some well-placed water shields.
Katara knew Aang always tried to hold back in a fight. And she did the same when fighting innocent soldiers or guards. But this time… Azula was not innocent. So, she would get the full power of her waterbending.
Forming water into a fist, she threw it towards Azula, not even hoping to hit her. While the princess danced out of the way, Katara had already formed another fist, ready to throw it the way Azula would go. And this one hit the girl right against her head, slamming her down.
Good.
As Azula got up, Katara pulled water around her arms, making a sort of rope of water, extending from her arms. When the princess tried to get up, the waterbender caught one of the girls' hands in one water rope, and then , a foot.
Now… Just lift her and slam her against a wall. Hopefully, she would break something. Like an arm. Or a neck.
But before she could even try it, the same sort of ropes that she had made of water, but in this case, fiery, cut her connection to Azula.
Zuko.
He stood on the other side of one of the canals, throwing the fire towards her. Stopping it with her water, she managed to speak.
"I thought you had changed!"
"I have!" He answered.
Yeah not for the better!
She didn't have time to see what happened with Aang, but he was surely battling Azula… As she and Zuko exchanged blows above the canal, suddenly, the princess appeared on a crystal pillar.
Spirits… Aang!
The only thing she managed to see, was the triumphant smirk of the princess, and then, a wall of blue fire. She managed to pull water in front of her, but a fraction too late. Feeling it her, Her feet were lifted off the ground and Katara slammed against the wall of one of the buildings. Seeing white spots in front of her eyes, she tried to get up. The air around her smiled like burned hair and clothes. Looking down, she saw the seam of her dress smouldering, and her hair had been untied by the attack.
At least no fatal injuries.
But, as she tried to get up, Katara heard a growl. A growl, very familiar to her. The one Aang had made when confronted with the sandbenders… On no!
"I'm alright!" She shouted quickly, but she rather suspected Aang didn't hear her. A great dust cloud emerged from the building on the other side of the cave, with the airbender rising from it.
As he made his way to the two firebenders, Aang seemed to notice her, because the rumbling of the cave subsided. That, at least, was good news. His clothes were torn, and he saw a cut across his right shoulder, but otherwise, he seemed alright. Just before arriving in front of the two siblings, Aang's… rock? Exploded in a million pieces.
Dai Li agents emerged from the shadows…. Behind her, in front of them… Above them…. Standing up, Katara saw how several stood around her, while a whole regiment of the earthbenders came to stand behind Azula…
How were they supposed to win this?
Making an octopus form around herself, she knew she had to defend herself, at least for a while… As the first rock flew towards her, the waterbender deflected it without a second thought. As she did with the second… the third… the fourth.
Katara didn't know how long this lasted, but she couldn't keep up. Yes, she was a good waterbender, no use denying it? But even the best fighters could be overwhelmed… And there were just too many Dai Li…
And suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she saw salvation.
A great white-blue light blinded almost the whole cave. Katara knew perfectly well what that was.
Aang… He had learned to master the Avatar State! Of course, he had! Spirits, thank you!
An explosion could be heard, and small shards of crystal flew all around. The Dai Li shielded themselves, but Katara remarked that none of the shards hit her. Control…
A great beam of light emerged from the explosion, and the Dai Li ran. They just… ran. Of course, they had also heard the stories. The Avatar State was unstoppable. There was no hiding from it if that legendary figure used his immense power.
And now, they were confronted by just that. Avatar Aang, in his full power.
Good luck Azula. Hope you had a nice life. Because Aang will defeat you. Easily.
The silence was eerily. In this cave, deep beneath Ba Sing Se, where just a minute ago, explosions and shouts could have been heard… Silence reigned. With all eyes transfixed on what was happening. Quickly glancing towards where the firebenders stood, she saw how Zuko was looking at the figure emerging in the beam. With fear and panic. Yeah, he knew exactly what was happening…
Where is she?
Fear gripped her heart. Where was Azula?
In the silence, a crackling noise, the same as they had heard when Azula had attacked them, could be heard.
And the cave was now also lit with another light. Blue. Like… lightning.
Lightning.
Aang had told her that some firebenders could bend lighting.
No! No!
From behind a pillar, a great bolt of lightning sprang into action, flying towards Aang.
Katara didn't know if she shouted… But as she saw the lightning hit the airbender, Katara felt her heart stop. And it didn't beat again, at least for her.
Aang fell. The white-blue light subsided, and the cave returned to the pale green light of the crystals.
She had to get to him. Bending the water underneath her, she made it push her towards where the airbender was falling. Slowly, and at the same time, so, so fast… too fast.
Katara heard screams. She heard shouts. And she didn't care.
When she came to a halt, it was just in time to catch Aang. As he fell into her arms, Katara could feel the weight. An unnatural weight. Aang had always been light. Even when… When he had been on top of her, she had not felt his weight. But now, it was like a rock. Hard and heavy.
And… cold… so very cold…
Katara felt tears flow over her cheeks, but she didn't understand why. Aang was just injured. Only that. He had to be.
But even she could not deny… It looked horrible. His tunic was all but gone, with some tattered remains clinging on his shoulder… The cut in his shoulder had been bleeding, so that part of his chest was covered in blood… and Katara could feel something warm pool around her knees, where the airbenders' back was laying…
And the smell… She knew that smell all too well. It smelled like their home had… After… After…
No. Aang couldn't be dead. The spirits had to wait! First he had a life to lead! To love, loss and laugh. To be with her… No, please spirits, don't take that away from him… He has already lost so much… Did he have to lose his life?
And did she have to lose him?
New tears flowed over her cheeks. Her trembling hand moved towards his chest, to feel… To feel for something. A heartbeat… A small chuckle… anything!
But before she could even touch him, Katara heard a shout.
"You have to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!
Iroh. Iroh had come. And was fighting against his family… Against the Dai Li…
Katara managed to get up, with the… dead weight… of the young man in her arms. Slowly making her way to a waterfall, where a dim moonlight shone at the top. Bending them to the top, she emerged, drenched, from one of the fountains in the Earth King's gardens. Quickly pulling the airbender to the side, she searched through the pockets.
It has to be here, please, let it be here…
A small pouch? No, that was not it.
Ah, the whistle!
Blowing it as hard as she could, Katara hoped Appa would have heard it. And by extent, the others.
She moved water to her hands. Aang… Please, be there… Please, don't leave me.
Burned lungs… all the little veins, burned away… And… And his heart… Shattered.
And silent.
She didn't even scream. Or shout, or curse. Just silent tears… Katara did hear the loud bellow of the Sky bison behind her, but she didn't turn. Nothing could be more important than that gentle, handsome face… so still now.
"Katara!" She heard her brother shout, filled with joy. Of course… She was blocking his view…
"Where is Aa… No!" If she hadn't already heard her brother, she wouldn't have recognized the shout. It sounded so bloodcurdling sad.
"Where is Twinkletoes?" She heard Toph ask, in a very, so very small, voice. Another voice, not familiar enough to be immediately recognized, whispered something to the blind girl, who burst into tears.
"Katara, let me…" Sokka began, but she just pulled Aang closer to her.
"We have to get out of here… Just let me help you." He said, and again, she just shook her head.
"Then at least, come to Appa." Her brother touched shoulder, and Katara nodded.
She gripped Aang again, standing. It was a strain, but she didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. Not the war. Not the others. Only him. And the fact that he wasn't there.
The waterbender managed to get to Appa, who was just silently watching them. And she heard the low grumble coming from the bison. It sounded like a heartbreaking melody. One that only he could understand.
"Come on Appa… Yip Yip." She said. Katara didn't even recognize her own voice. It sounded so strange. How could she be speaking, while Aang lay there, silent and still?
As they took into the sky, she looked up and managed to see, through the mist of tears in her eyes, that the Earth king and his pet were with them.
"Katara… what happened?" Sokka was trying very hard to control his voice, but she heard the shake inside of it.
"A-A-Azula… s-she s-shot him… lightning…" Katara burst out in tears, gripping the cold slender fingers of the airbender in her hand.
"I'm going to kill her!" Toph yelled, before trying to jump down. The king snatched her arm, quickly yanking her back.
Kill Azula. Kill her, rip her in a thousand pieces. Make the world watch what happened when the Fire Nation took the man she loved from her. Then, kill the scarred prince. She would not say his name. Katara had tried to trust him. And in turn, he had betrayed her and caused this. Burn the other side of his face, and then, kill him.
Kill Ozai. If Aang couldn't, she would.
Flying over the city, Katara pulled Aang against her. She heard the sharp intake of breath from Sokka and the king, seeing his back. Looking down, she saw how an open wound cut across the middle of his back, cutting the blue tattoo in two. Even that had not been left alone… The Last Airbender.
"May the Spirits have mercy…" The king murmured.
"May the Spirits be damned!" She yelled, not able to stop herself before the words escaped her lips. Katara didn't accept it! Aang couldn't be dead! She would hunt down every Spirit before accepting that this was their wish. If they had wanted the airbender to suffer like this, they didn't deserve to exist!
Spirits… Spirit.
Spirit Water.
Please, let this work. Yue, if you hear me, please don't let this be the end of my Aang.
Pulling the small vial from its leather cord, her hand trembled as she uncorked it.
"Katara, it's too la-" her brother began, but one look from her made him stop, and nod.
Bending the small amount of water out of the flask, the liquid turned bright white-blue. The same colour as Aang's eyes when he was in the Avatar State… Putting her hand against the wound, the water disappeared inside of it, and nothing happened.
I'll kill Azula. I'll kill the prince. I'll kill anyone in my path. He didn't deserve this. And the spirits help anyone who would stop her.
Pulling him against her own heart, she let her tears flow freely. And just then, a small, weak flicker of white light lit up his tattoos. She felt the head move… And heard a small, painful groan.
"Ka..tara.."
His voice. Pained, strained and far away. But it was Aang!
Quickly pulling away from him, she saw the grey, wide eyes open. Just a little. The white of the eyes was bloodshot, and he didn't seem to recognize anything. But they were fixed on her.
Spirits thanks! I'll do anything! Just make him survive this. Please, don't give me hope and take it away immediately.
"Shush. Please, don't strain yourself." She spoke quietly. She heard Toph burst out in tears, again. But this time, it was pure relief. Sokka sighed in relief, and probably disbelief. And Katara shared it. Aang's wounds… no one could survive that. And he hadn't… Was Spirit Water so powerful?
Laying him against the bison's fur, she saw the small smile on his lips. Feeling tears flow down her cheeks, she just cradled his head in her hands.
"I'm here, you're safe." She bent down and kissed his forehead. When she straightened, she saw how the airbender was trying to lift his hand. Moving closer to him, Katara could feel the fingers gently caressing her cheek, wiping away the tears. In a very slow, pained manner. But he did it.
The energy it took had apparently drained him, and she saw his eyes close. But, with her hand on his chest, Katara felt his heartbeat. And his lungs working. The spirit water had repaired the tissue inside of him. And just before he fell in a deep unconsciousness, the waterbender heard him say, in a clear voice, for everyone to hear.
"Mero mana... timro ho... mero premakura… my Katara."
My heart belongs to you, my eternal love, my everything…. My Katara"
Answers :
Before answering the reviews, I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who reviewed this! I absolutely loved all the positive feedback, and words of encouragement!
Jjsmith103 : Yeah I agree with you! For the next part of the story, Sokka needed to know, you will see! And yeah, I didn't do that on purpose at all lol! And that is indeed often forgotten!
Chinmay : Don't forget, Sokka can be very mature in some cases, and this is an older Sokka, clearly distraught about his sister. So his reaction is kinda understable. And yes, he thinks it is!
CoyoteLemon : Yeah, that was something I really wanted to establish in this story!