Author's Notes: So I think an apology is in order for the tardiness of this chapter. I meant to release it much earlier, but set back after set back hit me. Then all the crap with the rest of the world started putting pressure on me and i found less and less time to write until eventually I lost my drive. So to help get over all that I took a two week long break from everything I could, just doing whatever I could to lower my already high stress levels.

And I am glad to say that, while I'm still stressed out and being pressured by work and the such, I've found the time and will to write again. The writing for this chapter may be sub par compared to the others because of the long period it took to write it, so I apologize in advance for any inconsistencies and errors I might've missed.

But besides everything else, I'm more than grateful for all your patience, and I'll try putting forward more effort to get the next chapter out sooner. So once more, I apologize for making you all wait, and thank you for all sticking with me. I hope you all enjoy reading and I'll see you next time!


The Waterbender's Heart.


The void that filled Zuko's mind had always been caught in an endless turmoil of sorts. New memories seemed to show up with each passing day, and yet it never seemed to be enough to fill that void.

So to have the empty space that flooded as it was listening to the old fortune teller, was almost disorienting. He'd been caught off guard the second he walked into her chamber, so it should have been expected.

Should have, but wasn't.

It was as if the world around Zuko had been swept away, leaving nothing but him and the pillar of fire that had sprouted before him.

" I see a path that splits into two roads… " She had said, paying no heed to the growing flames, flames that had Zuko on the verge of backing away. " Roads that lead to two different destinies...Destinies that you must choose from...One road leads you to a brazen throne, a world without war, but with fleeting peace…It is a lonely path, but one that paves the road for a unified future... " She'd paused momentarily, as if she couldn't exactly make out the "second road".

Zuko gripped at the fabric of his trousers absently, his body filled with anticipation. " ...And the second one..? " He had asked a little too impatiently, yet Aunt Wu didn't seem to pay heed to it.

" ...The second road… " Again she'd paused. " ...The second road, is a far more strenuous path, guided by the sword...While the world may never truly know harmony as it did one-hundred years prior, it is a world watched over diligently...Should you choose to walk this path, you may bring those closest to you in the ways of danger...But you will never truly be alone… "

Perhaps it was wrong of Zuko to make a decision right then and there, if it were even a decision that could be made. This was fate they were talking about, some spiritual predetermined path that everyone walked down. Just because he had two paths, didn't mean he actually had a say in the one he walked.

That was how Zuko found himself in his present state. Eyes shut tightly, head lowered and turned from the now dying flames.

" ...H...How…" He muttered just loud enough for the fortune teller to hear.

" Hm? "

" …How...How are you so sure...W...Why should I believe you...Why should I believe any of this?! " It wasn't that Zuko didn't want to believe the fortune teller, in reality he wanted to believe more than anything that whatever she said was real. And yet, some small piece of him, a mere sliver of his consciousness that existed in the darkest corner of his mind, held onto some semblance of skepticism.

There was a pause, a long one. It was as if the older woman was mulling over a response. He wouldn't have blamed her, a question like that could put anyone on the spot. When she'd finally chosen to speak, Zuko wasn't sure he was even ready to listen.

" Ah...A fine question, that is. " She shut her eyes and exhaled. " It's all a matter of destiny, which path you choose is up to you… "

Destiny

That was a funny word that seemed to pop up more than once in Zuko's pitiable life. A word he hated to hear. How was it fair for his fate to be predetermined by the very same spirits that regularly mocked and tormented him.

It wasn't. But this hadn't been the first time Zuko had been spoken to about the ever-turning wheel that is destiny. No, that honor was first bestowed upon him by Iroh.

Zuko could remember it vividly. It was no less than three weeks before Iroh's disappearance, they'd seated themselves around a makeshift fire in the deeper ends of Zuko's forest. He could remember the bruises and scrapes that littered his face, having just dealt with a sizable brigade of Fire Nation troops on his own hours prior.

His fists had been clenched, his eyes locked on the flames of their fire. " How long… " He'd muttered, grabbing Iroh's attention.

" What exactly is it that you mean by, how long? " Iroh had said, more concerned than curious, now that Zuko looked back on it.

With gritted teeth, Zuko brought his scuffed up hand down hard on the forest floor, ignoring the sting of pain running through the sore appendage. " How long will this go! This whole...Fighting in the forest...When Can I leave? "

" ...Leave? "

" Yeah! " Zuko had always seen his younger self as a boisterous hothead, even more so than his present self. And while he still held darker emotions for the kind old man, he'd often find himself cringing, remembering just how disrespectful he'd been towards Iroh.

" When can I leave this forest! I want to go out into the world! Make the Fire Nation pay for everything they've done! To the rest of the world! To the people! " Younger Zuko paused, having to catch his breath, his eyes slowly drawing towards the campfire, totally unaware of the anger filled tears welling up in his eyes. " ...For...For what they did to me… "

" ...Zuko… " Iroh spoke softly, carrying much pain in his heart as he looked on at the suffering teen. The older man knew that Zuko lived in constant anguish, plagued by not only nightmares, but by a seething hatred for the nation that wronged him.

" ...That is for you to decide, Zuko… " Iroh kept the softness in his voice, reaching across the fire to place his hand on the younger Zuko's shoulder. " ...It is your destiny afterall… "

Zuko had blinked the tears from his eyes, staring incredulously at Iroh. " ...D...Destiny..? What….What are you talking about..? "

" ...I am saying that it is your destiny to leave this place someday and spread hope to the hearts of those victimized by the Fire Nation...But when that is done, is for you to decide, Zuko… "

Something about what Iroh had said set something off in Zuko's thirteen year old mind. Something about being told that what he was going to do would be determined by something other than himself. He'd spent the next hour and a half ranting and questioning. If he could, he would've apologized for the tone he'd taken with Iroh then.

Still, even with Zuko's less than tasteful choice of words and attitude, Iroh had found himself laughing. " You seem to have a very interesting view on what exactly destiny is, Zuko...That is understandable...As, there are so few in the world that ever come to know what destiny truly is. " He'd stopped only long enough to smile warmly at the scarred youth. " Your destiny, whatever it may be, is a destination on the road to life...We all have one, but what happens between traveling down the road, and arriving, is all up to you, Zuko. "

" And...What if I try and avoid walking down that road? "

This earned another hearty chuckle from the rotund man. " One meets his destiny, often in the road he takes to avoid it. "

Back then Zuko wasn't entirely sure what he had meant. Iroh had a tendency to be cryptic, and younger Zuko wasn't the most perceptive individual. But now, he'd managed to piece together the little puzzle Iroh had laid out for his younger self.

After Iroh had left, Zuko made a vow that he'd never leave the forest longer than he'd have to; Ironic considering it all started with a conversion about wanting to leave. And so for the next two years, Zuko would only leave the forest if he truly felt he'd needed to, going to the nearest towns and villages in hopes of lending them a helping hand, only to return to the forest as quickly as he had arrived.

It was this solitary lifestyle that had eventually led him to meeting Katara, which sparked the journey he was on now.

" Destiny tends to work in mysterious ways! " Iroh had mused almost playfully.

And indeed, destiny did work in mysterious ways.

Why else would Aunt Wu say Zuko had more than one path if it didn't?

" ...What...What do I need to do…To choose that is..? "

A faint smile tugged at the elderly fortune tellers lips. That sceptic look had left Zuko's eyes, leaving only confusion and yearning in its place. She could see the anxiety welling up within him, presented by the bead of sweat falling from his forehead, his rigid shoulders, and his clenched teeth.

Aunt wu's mouth opened to speak, fully intent on giving the scarred youth his desired instructions, only for the door to her chamber to come opening violently*

" A-Aunt Wu! "

Zuko's body swiveled to meet the one responsible for interrupting at such a vital moment. His eyes narrowed as they fell upon the girl with pigtails, the very same one that had been eyeing him warily. But any hostility faded almost immediately as he took in her current state.

She was hunched over, panting in an attempt to catch her breath. Sweat soaked her face and her clothes were coated in a grey substance. The thing that caught Zuko's attention the most was Yuki, who was nestled securely in the girls arms.

" Meng?! " Aunt Wu shot to her feet, rushing over to her assistant. " What's wrong dear..? You look absolutely exhausted… "

Yuki squirmed free from the girl's arms, rushing to Zuko with what could only be described as urgency in his eyes. " Y-Yip! Yip yip yip! "

Meng tried her best to push the words from her mouth, trying to relay Katara's message, but the sprint to Aunt Wu's house ahd taken quite the toll on her young lungs. " Aunt...Aunt Wu...It...It's the...the… "

" The what, dear? Please calm down and tell me… "

But there wasn't a need for it, Zuko had figured out exactly what the problem was. He'd taken a quick moment to inspect the substance that clung to the girls clothes and Yuki's fur, a substance he quickly identified as ash.

" ...The Fire Nation… "

The fortune teller's head turned so that she could meet his gaze, watching him retrieve something from his side pouch. " The Fire Nation?! Out here..? But...They've never come this way..! "

Wasting no time, Zuko pushed past the woman and girl, only stopping to glance back towards them. " Yeah...Well the idea of invading a town at the base of an active volcano isn't exactly an appealing prospect...So maybe with this thing having already blown it's top, they finally found an opportunity to sweep through… "

" W...What are you going to do..? " Aunt Wu asked, still shaken by the knowledge that her home was being invaded by the Fire Nation.

There was no pause in Zuko's stride. He continued on his way towards the building's main door, placing his mask upon his face, and drawing his blades. Only when he had the door open did his stop, turning to face the fortune teller one last time, this time with the face of a blue demon.

" I'm going to put a stop to this… "


Two things were going through Katara's mind as she raced through the streets of Makapu village. Where was Zuko? And why the Fire nation had chosen now of all times to strike the village. After all, from what she could tell the village had no military presence, and if anything had looked as neutral as could be. Had they followed them? Had they followed Zu-

" No! I won't think like that! " Katara berated herself, pressing onward, the smell of smoke becoming ever more present the closer she came to the offending presence of the Fire Nation.

She came to a skidding halt, the unmistakable red of Fire Nation armor catching her attention from the corner of her eyes.

" N-no! S...Stay away! " a frightened, young voice cried out.

There was no hesitation in Katara's choice to take off in a mad dash, her feet carrying her with the swiftness of the wind, quickly catching sight of the source of the cry. A little girl, who kept herself pressed against the side of a building, trying to keep as far away as possible from the masked faces of the heinous soldiers. " I..I said go away! *she cried out once more, throwing a rock towards them, only to have it harmlessly bounce off.

" Now, now, let's make this nice and easy little miss...Come quietly like everyone else and you won't get hur- "

SPLASH!

Before the soldier could even touch the girl, he was swept to the side with a sudden torrent of water. " Stay away from her! " Katara roared out, calling the water back to her, fully prepared to strike again.

" Is that a waterbender?! "

" Out here? Now way! "

" Well if that wasn't waterbending then what was it?! "

Well that wasn't the best of choices. Katara's little blindside, while successful in protecting the girl, did little more than draw unwanted attention towards her. Glancing back, Katara's blue eyes met the little village girls brown eyes, giving her assurance that everything would be alright.

" ...I want you to run on the count of three...Alright? " A silent nod was all the confirmation Katara needed, turning her attention back towards the encroaching soldiers.

" I know who she is! " One soldier spoke up.

" So do I! She's the waterbender that Zhao caught a few weeks back! "

Well so much for laying low till they forgot about her. Either the soldier had been present when Zhao initially captured her, or there were wanted posters for her as well. " ...One… Katara started, drawing the water from it's pouch.

Gleeful chuckles came from behind the plated masks that the soldiers wore. " Well if that's the case then I bet she's got a nice price on her head! "

" ...Two… "

One soldier adorned with a red mask rather than a white one pushed forward, coming face to face with the young bender. A superior officer perhaps? " Enough blathering! Either deal with her or I'll roast you long before Zhao ever gets a chance! "

Definitely a superior officer, as once his threat had been issued, the other soldiers silenced, quickly running forward, taking their bending stances. Just what Katara wanted to happen.

With synchronized movements, the soldiers lunged forward, going through each fluent motion as they readied to fire a barrage at the lone bender. Zuko had once told Katara that firebending was somewhat akin to dancing in the sense that it sometimes involved a lot of fluent footwork and jumping.

So when Katara saw the soldiers jump in the air, preparing their attack, she struck.

" THREE! " She cried out, hearing the little girl take off behind her, drawing her water with adrenaline fueled reflexes, cascading it across the ground, quickly freezing it right as the Firebenders touched down.

There were no pauses in Katara's actions, as the soldiers footing was literally taken from beneath them, Katara lunged forward, retrieving the frozen water and using it to sweep the downed soldiers to the side. " I really have to thank Zuko for getting that scroll for me! I'd have been fried without it! "

But there was no rest for Katara, another soldier, this time brandishing a spear, came charging forward with the intent of skewering her!

" Remember! Flick of the wrist! " The water she controlled suddenly shaped itself into a thin curved current which she swung forward like a whip, striking the soldiers head with an audible crack! The force of which caused the spear wielders helmet to spin on his head as he fell backwards.

" That's one more for Katara! " She pumped her fist, wearing a smile that brimmed with confidence. " Yes! I can do this! I bet I can get this sorted out before Zuko even gets here! " Of course too much confidence is never a good thing.

That had been a lesson her Gran gran taught her when she was younger.

" Never let your perception of yourself blind you from what you can actually do. " She had said in response to Katara's growing confidence in her self taught abilities. Katara remembered it vividly; She'd started focusing on her bending sometime after her mother's passing, using any free moment she could to improve.

" I want to protect the village too! " Her younger self had exclaimed. " I'm getting better everyday! I bet I'll be a better warrior than Sokka or Dad when I grow up! " It had been a spur of the moment statement, she'd never had any true intentions of being a warrior, if her tribe would even accept a female warrior. It'd been something that came out in response to something Sokka had said to her.

" Keep your magic water to yourself, Katara! A real warrior doesn't need anything but a spear and his skills! " And while Katara would eventually learn that this was typical of Sokka, younger Katara saw this as a challenge. So every day afterwards she'd spend outside in the cold, pushing her little body to it's breaking point, with the seemingly harsh routine being brought to an abrupt end by her grandmother.

" Pushing yourself past what you're capable of will only end in your own destruction… " Katara repeated mentally. What sounded like a harsh reprimand as a child, was actually sound advice that Katara had recently started taking to heart.

Of course Katara could only take so long to reminisce as she narrowly avoided blast after blast of fire, and whether she liked it or not, was losing more ground the longer she fought. " ...There's just too many of them! " Her teeth ground against one another, her eyes cutting into a sharp glare, all a result from her building frustration.

" Keep it up boys! She's running out of room! " Another officer called out to motivate the present soldiers.

It seems that little push was all the footsoldiers needed to get serious. Without warning they let loose another volley of fire blasts, this wave more fierce than the last. Dropping to the ground was the only thing Katara could do to keep from being scorched, having the fire whiz harmlessly overhead, hitting a collection of barrels that had been stacked behind her, resulting in the contents to be spilled all around her.

Thankfully, luck seemed to be on Katara's side. Water poured from the busted barrels, drenching the ground and Katara in the process. " ...My turn… "

With a wave of her arms, the water sprung from the ground, sweeping the ankles of the nearing firebender's, knocking them all to the ground. There was no time to waste after that, something Katara knew, and so she made haste, picking herself up off the ground, gathering the water into it's pouch and pushing deeper into the town.

" Come on...Keep pushing, Katara...Keep push- "

FWOOSH!

With eyes widened, Katara dropped, narrowly avoiding a stream of fire from the side. But with one blast, came another, leaving Katara with only the option of rolling to avoid being burned to a crisp.

She hadn't even seen the soldier responsible for the oncoming attacks, and quite frankly, she didn't care. All that mattered at the moment was not getting torched.

" ..N..Not good! " Throwing her arms up, Katara pulled the water in her waterskin with them, shielding herself from being hit as she continued putting distance between herself and the assailant.

Katara's back hit the side of a building, effectively putting a stop to her "strategic distancing" and brushing away any plan of escape she'd previously made. While her makeshift water shield held for the moment, the heat coming from the other side was undeniably terrible. Sweat drenched her creased brow, and her breathing grew labored.

" ...S...So this...this is what it was like for Zuko when the forest…. No...No this isn't anything like that...Now think, Katara! Your water is boiling...But...But boiling water is still water! ...Just….Just gotta find a way to strike is all! "

Thankfully that moment came sooner than she'd hoped, as for the briefest moment, the onslaught stopped. So as to not waste the opportunity handed to her, Katara thrusted her arms forward, pushing the finley boiled wall of water in her attacker's direction.

Before the water could even make contact with anything, Katara had taken off, bolting to an opening in the buildings to her left.

FWOOSH!

Coming to a skidding halt by a wall of fire was not in Katara's improvised escape plan, nor was it anything she wanted any part in. However it seemed that going the other way was out of the question, as another blazing wall rose parallel to the first one, cutting off any route for escape.

As if being cut off by fire, surrounded by enemy soldiers hidden by said fire, and having her water supply robbed from her wasn't bad enough, the ground began rumbling, giving Katara something new to worry about.

" ...W..what now…? "

What could only be described as sounding like a living landslide came barreling towards the trapped waterbender. The quaking of the ground beneath her feet increased as the sound grew closer and closer, causing Katara to press herself against the side of the building, not only for stability, but out of growing fear.

It was when five massive shadows formed behind the walls of fire, that Katara could accurately scope just how big of a mess she was in.

Without so much as a warning, the fire was swept away, and in its place were the hulking bodies of five monstrous komodo rhinos. Massive mounts utilized in warfare by the Fire Nation, with bodies built like boulders and attitudes to match their riders. At least, that was how Zuko had described them, seeing them for herself quickly changed Katara's opinion of creatures which she had only ever seen from the safety of a wooden cage; even then she'd only ever viewed the creature from behind.

Seeing it from the front, and five for that fact, did not make for a pleasant view. Their bulky bodies were covered in thick grey skin, with heads that possessed three rather intimidating horns. And to tie it all together were their teeth; sharp, sharper than any tundra predator she'd ever seen.

The creatures themselves had been so frightening to Katara, that she'd initially failed to take notice of the actual threat. The rhino's riders.

Mounted atop the beasts were five men, each one far more unique than your average footsoldier. A ball, bearded man sat on the rhino to Katara's far left, a polearm at his side, and on the opposite side was a muscular, pony-tailed man, skin darker than the rest of his compatriots, having a chain wrapped tightly around his forearm. The two on the positioned next to the first two were perhaps the more unique of the bunch; with one brandishing a bow, adorned in rather traditional looking face paint, with his hair tied upwards, and the one to the right completely adorned in thick red armor, covering the entirety of his body.

And while the four of them alone would have been more than enough to intimidate Katara, it was the rider in the center that truly sent chills down her spine. He was dressed in a sleeveless version of the high ranking officer's uniform, with a bright feather pinned into his hair. But what unnerved Katara the most, were his eyes; the exact same eyes that haunted her dreams, that took her mother.

The eyes of a firebender...

" I don't know whether I should be impressed or disgusted to see a waterbender so far from home. " The center rider spoke in a condescending, mocking tone, the kind of tone you'd use with someone who was meant to be looked down upon. " Then again, seeing one of you waterlogged vermin out of your natural element is always so amusing. " He let out a venom-filled chuckle as he dismounted the beast beneath him, the outermost riders following suit.

His voice sickened Katara, so cold in tone, lacking even the slightest bit of compassion. Just like everyone from the Fire Nation. She mustered the fiercest glare she could, meeting the lead rider's gaze as best as she could. " ...W...Who are you supposed to be… " There had been an attempt made to build up a sort of bravado, something to scream "I'm not scared of you!" But she couldn't, every ounce of bravery she could muster, undone by one firebender.

" Who am I supposed to be? " He echoed with an almost playful tone. " Why, my dear savage, you can call me Mongke. And these are my rough rhinos. We travel from place to place, going wherever the Fire Nation is needed most, and as it would turn out, this stain of a village is one of those places. "

The heat was getting more intense with every passing moment, not being helped by the fact that the flames had spread to the buildings surrounding Katara. Her clothes were practically drenched in sweat by this point, far beyond what she deemed acceptable or even sanitary. " ...This is just getting better every second...First I get tangled up with captain monkey or whatever he said his name was...And to top it all off I'm absolutely SOAKED with sweat… "

Katara's complaints faded hastily as something dawned on her, something that just might save her. " Sweat's just water that's leaving the body...Isn't it? " Sure it wasn't the cleanest of strategies, nor was it one she would hope to replicate in the foreseeable future, but she was ready to accept anything at this point.

The leader of the Rough Rhino's grew closer with every passing instant, completely unfazed with the surrounding inferno. " Look boy's, look and see just how frightened she really i- "

SWISH!

Mongke's words and advance came to a sudden halt, having felt something graze his cheek, along with a sickening warmth following soon after. Slowly, Mongke ran his thumb across the side of his face, doing so in such a callous manner that even his subordinates stepped back.

What was one a dagger-like glare was little more than a blank stare, as burnt-orange eyes laid upon the source of his injury.

Knelt in the same palace she'd been, was Katara, who wore the most intense glare she could, pulling more liquid from her sweat soaked clothes.

Something snapped inside the Rough Rhino's leader at that second. But it wasn't brought about by the defiant glare the girl wore, nor was it the fact she'd cut his face, what set him off the most was, well…

" You filthy savage! " Mangke suddenly erupted, causing the nearby flames to shoot upwards. " I could tolerate your pitiful defiance, I could even tolerate your existence! But this! You attack me, with your disgusting sweat, you abhorrent little vermin! " Backed with all the rage his body could muster, Mongke thrusted both his fist forward, letting a massive jet of flames pour forward.

" Now! Do exactly what Zuko would do! " And that's just what Katara did, pushing off from her kneeled position into a sprint, ducking under the stream of fire, water ready to strike. A smirk tugged at Katara's lips as she caught sight of the shock in Mongke's eyes, he'd been completely unprepared from Katara to pull something like this.

" Someone might look unbeatable from certain angles, that might be true, but everyone drops their guard eventually, and the easiest way to do that,is to make them furious." Zuko had once said. " It's especially true for firebenders. The term, don't be a hothead, is more literal for them, and the easiest way to get off their game, is to tick them off. "

Looks like Zuko's advice was sounder than she initially thought. Not that she'd doubted him, but simply angering a firebender to throw them off their game seemed a little too good to be true. But true it was, and Katara was living proof of that, rushing forward with the swiftness of a running river.

" Just a little closer! " It was as if time was coming to a halt around Katara. She's gotten within striking distance of the firebender, all that was left now was to do it!

" I got yo- "

Then again, actually landing that potentially decisive blow was easier said than done, especially with the others present.

Katara had been so focused on Mongke, so zoned in on one target, that she'd completely ignored the others. She'd completely ignored the rapid swishing of a swinging chain, and more importantly, she'd completely ignored the sound of iron sailing through the air in her direction.

It was only when her legs gave way beneath her, and intense pain filled her leg did Katara realize what had happened. The darker skinned rider that had dismounted with Mongke had just slung his metal bolas towards Katara, slamming it into her shin with an inhuman amount of force, knocking her feet out from under her, causing her to go rolling.

Mongke turned to his subordinate and gave a grateful nod. " You have my thanks Ogodei...Now that I've cleared my head, I believe it's time we dispatch of this eyesore." He glanced back towards the archer. " Vachir, restrain her. "

With silent compliance, Vachir, once a member of the renowned Yu-Yan archers, let six arrows fly in rapid succession, easily pinning Katara's arms down by her sleeves.

Hot, exhausted, and now aching, Katara could do little more than wonder, just how could she save herself. " Come on...Come on, where are you Zuko?! " She cried out mentally, trying to find the strength to free herself. She wanted to cry, but refused to, not wanting to give the advancing firebender the satisfaction that would come along with her tears.

" Just stop it! " A voice, one that sounded like a more confident version of her own, suddenly shouted. " You can't always rely on Zuko! He's probably saving the rest of the village, so that means it's up to you to deal with these jerks! "

" But I… "

" But nothing! " Inner voice or not, the "confident" Katara's outburst caused Katara to physically flinch. " You gotta pull it together, what would Sokka do in this situation, huh?! Or better yet- "

" ...What would Zuko do…? " She mumbled to herself. First of all, Zuko wouldn't panic. Much. That much was simple for Katara to get across, what wasn't was the actual process of how he'd get himself out of a bind like this.

"...He'd probably tear his sleeves off, and then start swinging wildly with his swords...But even if I do get free..I don't have anything to fight back with...He'd roast me alive before i even got a chance to try "sweatbending" again… " She threw her head back in frustration and desperation. " So what am I supposed to d- "

That's when something hit her, or nudged her to be literal. Something that Katara had, to be quite honest, forgotten she had on her person. A dagger; one that had been entrusted to her by Zuko, and something she'd vehemently refused at first.

" But I don't need some knife! I'll be just fine with my bending, so thank you, but i'll pass, Zuko. " She'd stubbornly stated, as if she were a child refusing to listen to a parent.

It hadn't immediately dawned on Katara that Zuko was pushing the blade onto her for her own safety, at least not until he'd made it obvious.

" Katara, just listen to me… " He'd grumbled, managing to bite back and unwanted outbursts. Zuko never was good with other people as stubborn as himself. " You're an amazing bender, especially for someone who's only real teaching is from themself and some musty old scroll…" He'd seen her open her mouth to speak, and as rude of a gesture as it was, he stopped her by putting his hand over her mouth, of all things. "But bending alone can only get you so far...Because someday, whenever it may be, you'll run across someone or something that bending can't overcome...And if that were to happen, well… "

He never did finish, rather he opted to unsheathe the small blade, letting Katara's blue eyes scan over the engraving. She looked up to him with an arched brow, and Zuko knew exactly why.

" ...Read the other side… " He said with a pained sigh and a roll of his eyes.

And so she did.

" ….N..Never give up without a fight… " Katara recited, managing to find her inner will.

" What are you mumbling about over there you savage? " Mongke growled with irritation.

" ...I..I said… " Katara started tugging her arms upward, fighting against the arrows that had pinned her sleeves. " Never… " Katara's jaw clenched, her muscles burned, all from the effort she was bringing forward. " Never give up...Without a fight! "

With a vigorous battle cry, Katara threw herself forward, ripping her sleeves clean off and pushing herself to her feet. Using the momentary surprise, Katara shot forward, pulling the dagger from her boot, charging forward with a bright gleam of determination in her eyes.

Completely ignoring the pain in her bruised leg, Katara charged as fast as she could, hands tightly coiled around the dagger's grip. Without hesitating, Katara ducked left, narrowly dodging a hail of arrows, then to the right, doing the same, gaining more ground with each step she took.

And before Mongke knew it, the water tribe "savage" as he had dubbed her, was right upon him, and yet he only smiled.

But why was he smiling, he was about to be skewered by a dagger.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Well, it was because he could hear a fuse going off behind him. Without a second to spare, the cavalry leader leapt backward, pulling himself atop his mount, right as a small spherical object came sailing into Katara's view. She'd never seen an actual bomb per se, but she'd heard Zuko speak about them on a small number of occasions, which was all it took to get across to her just how dangerous they were.

Everything froze around Katara. Her heartbeat resonated in her ears, drowning out every last noise around her. The blood drained from her face as her eyes stayed locked on the explosive that was coming for her.

" ...No...Not now...Not like this… "

In her state of shock, Katara's mind went racing, searching and pulling forward every last regret she might have. There were obvious ones of course; never seeing her brother or father again, or never finding her mother's killer. But then a recent memory came into view, a very recent memory. The last part of her conversation with Aunt Wu…

" There wouldn't happen to be any other fortunes you'd like told. Like any pertaining to love, perhaps? " She'd asked with an arched brow and a knowing smile.

" L...Love..? " Katara had fumbled on the word, turning back to the elderly fortune teller.

" Yes. Love, because I can go ahead and do that for you...Consider it a kindness for everything you've done for that boy. "

Katara remembered swallowing hard, unsure if she actually wanted to hear whatever Aunt Wu had to say. And yet, at the same time she wanted nothing more than to know. " ….Y...Yes… " She'd quietly choked out, holding her hands out to the older woman.

With a gentle touch, Aunt Wu had taken Katara's hands into her own, slowly running her thumbs across the girls palms, looking them over meticulously. A smile spread across the woman's lips as her gaze moved to meet Katara's. " I see a blazing heart, one filled with passion, the likes of which only exist in one person. But I also see a crack, like a break in glass, one that you are destined to repair...I can only tell you so much without being vague, but what I can say is...He'll save your life one day, and when that happens, you'll know he's the one… " Aunt Wu had covered her mouth to stifle a sudden chuckle. " Although from what I can tell, that's already happened a few times, now hasn't it? "

The memory of how flustered Katara had been, how red her face had become, was one she was envious of now. How she'd rather be in that situation twenty times over, than be where she is now.

" ...I'll Never get to see him again...I'll never get to help him...I'll...I'll… "

" You'll buck up and pull yourself together is what you'll do! " "Confident" Katara pushed full force into Katara's psyche, "grabbing" hold and slapping some sense into her. " You're the daughter of Chief Hakoda! The strongest warrior in your whole damn village! You're a waterbender and a damn good one! So start acting like it! Don't let yourself die! Not before you can tell that masked idiot how you feel! "

That little kick from her inner confidence was all Katara needed to bring about a last minute response to the explosive. Using whatever energy she could muster up, Katara pulled any remaining liquid from her clothes, holding it forward in the shape of a shield, and shut her eyes tight.

" ...I'm sorry Zuko… "

THUD!

The sound of metal raking against the dirt, then against something small and solid invaded Katara's ears. Then she heard the nearby cries.

" Scatter! "

And finally…

BOOM!

There was no surefire way of knowing what exactly had just happened. No way of knowing if what Katara had heard was just part of her imagination and she'd been blasted to pieces, or if it was real and a miracle had come her way. Her eyes were clenched shut, and she wanted them to stay that way, and with how little strength she had, she doubted they'd open for anything.

" ..Hey, you alright…? "

Almost anything. The familiarity of that oh-so quiet raspy voice caused Katara's eyes to shoot open, not even thinking as she lurched forward, throwing her arms around the figure in front of her.

Tears built up in her deep cerulean eyes, eyes that she'd shut once more, pressing herself against the "stranger's" warm torso. " ...You came...You came for me… " She started to sob, grasping tightly as his tunic, only holding on tighter at the feeling of a hand being placed atop her head.

" ...You...You saved me...again...Zuko… "

Gazing upwards, Katara's blue eyes pierced through the veil of darkness that usually hid the swordsman's golden eyes, locking hers with his. They carried more worry that Katara could ever hope to comprehend, and all of it was for her. And yet, the second their gazes deepened, it all seemed to fade.

He returned her embrace, with his being even tighter. " ...I'm sorry I'm late… " Partially lifting his mask up, Zuko pressed his lips to Katara's forehead before letting go of her. With an outstretched sword, Zuko pointed to an opening he'd made in the inferno. An exit he'd made just for her.

" ...But...Zuko…"

But he didn't respond, not immediately. His focus was shifted to something else, something more important at that moment. The person who'd attacked the village and hurt Katara.

" ...Just run Katara… " He said with a degree of sternness. He started off walking away from her, and in the direction of the regrouped Rough Rhino's. He'd never personally come in contact with the group in the past, but knew who they were. And he could certainly say their reputations preceded them.

They'd come out of nowhere, blindsiding the defenseless village. Capturing the people, burning their homes to the ground and beating on anyone who even thought of opposing them. They were callous in how they did things, not caring for who or what got damaged in the process, they'd even done so to Katara.

And to be honest, the whole thing made Zuko furious. He gripped his swords as tight as he could, his hands trembling from the overflow of rage in his system. Zuko could see the smirk on Mongke's face, their eyes locked, letting Zuko see the cruel smile the man wore, only furthering his anger.

" ...I could've never forgiven you for assaulting this village and the people for living here...But I would've let you run away… " He stamped forward, completely unfazed by the mountains of muscle that made up the rhino's and riders he was nearing. " But then you went and hurt Katara...The person I said I'd protect no matter what… "

" So I went and hurt your feelings did I? And here I thought the infamous "Blue Spirit" was an apparition that brought judgement down on the wicked. " Mongke let out a bark of laughter. " Turns out, he's just some brat who gets mad when you hurt his verminous girlfriend! Well, "Blue Spirit" What exactly are you going to do about it? "

" ...What am I going to do…? Zuko echoed, a piercing glare adorned beneath his mask. With an almost inhuman burst of speed, Zuko rushed forward, swords held to his side, slicing through the air as he ran. Pushing off his foot and into the air, Zuko launched towards Mongke, ready to strike.

" I'LL SLICE YOU TO PIECES IS WHAT I'LL DO! "