Chapter 8
The Fire Lord's chamber was grand. All around the fire-print walls were pictures of what Aang could only guess were previous Lords. The floor was marble, and Aang could see his reflection. At the far end of room, on top of a black throne, the great Fire Lord sat. His eyes looked as cold as ice, and his hair was worn the same as Zuko's. Aang turned his head to look at him. Prince Zuko looked scared, but he was trying to hide it behind his pride. Prince Zuko approached his father and looked at him, waiting for an answer. "I doubted you, son." His voice sounded angry and disappointed that he was wrong. Father and son stared at each other, eyes narrowed, daring each other to fight. "I'm not waiting for this," Aang mumbled to Katara. He slipped from their grasp, and was ready to fight. "The Avatar!" a guard shouted, for he was the first to notice. Zuko didn't move. He didn't give orders to capture him; he just stared at his father. None of the guards fought back, for they were not commanded to fight. They all just stared at each other in disbelief. "Get him!" the Fire Lord shouted. The guards obeyed him. They all gave chase to Aang, who without trouble knocked them off their feet with a simple gust of wind. Prince Zuko still didn't fight back. "You have betrayed again!" the Fire Lord rose to his feet. He drew back his hand to strike. "You need another scare to match," he roared. He brought down his hand. Zuko didn't move nor flinch, just stood their waiting for the pain to come. He felt nothing. The Fire Lord had fallen to the ground, and Aang stood next to him. He gave Zuko a grin, who returned it. The Fire Lord rose to his feet with rage, and attacked the Avatar. He sent fire ball after fire ball towards him who nearly avoided them. Then one hit him hard against the chest. "Ohhhhhh!" he cried as he was flung across the room. Sakka and Katara who until now, where standing still rushed to his side. "I'm okay, I'm okay." He announced. Meanwhile, father and son where having a battle of their own. This time no one was begging for mercy. Zuko rolled under his father's attack, and kicked him in the ankle. It didn't do much, he just stumbled back a few steps. He easily sent Zuko ground with several burn marks. But still no one gave up. Katara and Sakka fought back. Katara and Sakka together used the water-whip to extinguish the flames. Aang rose to his feet. "This is it," he mumbled. He sprung into the air but was knocked down my Fire Lord. "We have to fight together!" he cried. "Protect each other, and work together!" The four allies looked at each other, but didn't have a second to think. The Fire Lord was up again, this time aiming for Sakka and Katara. The flames came flying towards them. Zuko ran to help, sticking out his palm to catch the fire and repelling it back. "I could have done that," Sakka said. "Sure," Katara rolled her eyes at her brother but smiled. The Fire Lord grunted. "You think you can stop me." He put his hands together, and then brought them apart, roaring flames appeared. He put the fire above his head, and it grew until one whole end of the room was alight with flames. He launched the attack, standing their laughing. The others started to retreat to the other side of the room, but couldn't out run it. "Get down!" Zuko commanded, and the other obeyed. They flung themselves to the ground and covered their head. The flames barley hit their hands. When it was over the rose to be greeted by another blast of fire. This time, it was up to Aang. He jumped in front of everyone, and pulled the air in front of them to make a shield. The fire slammed against it pushing him back, but the shield held strong. "This is," Aang said as he struggled to hold up the shield. "One final attack. Cover each other weakness, and work together." One the last word, he pushed all his strength into the shield which pushed against the flames, and hit the Fire Lord. He was flung back against the wall. This gave the others to get ready. Once the Fire Lord rose to his feet, Aang ran around him, creating a wall of dust. This distracted him long enough for Sakka and Katara to get a water snake going. When the dust cleared, Zuko released a strong burst of fire. The Fire Lord staggered back. Followed straight by a powerful blast of air. The Fire Lord fell to his knees. The water snake whipped at his eyes, and was followed by a stream of water. The Fire Lord fell forward. "It's not working! We need all four elements to defeat him." He looked around. Through a window he could see large boulders. He blew the window down and concentrated hard. "I can do this. Come on." He willed silently. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the boulder. Meanwhile, Katara, Sakka, and Zuko were trying to hold him back, taking turns sending water and fire. "Look!" Katara pointed at Aang. Very slowly, a boulder outside was lifted into the air. "Aang, Aang, you did it!" she cried. She was not paying attention when the Fire Lord attacked. Once again he sent a stream of fire across the room. The others were ready to dodge it, but Katara didn't see it coming. She was swept off of her feet by the blaze and fell to the ground. "Katara!" here brother shouted. He rushed to her side, leaving Zuko to hold back the Fire Lord. "Katara, are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern. He opened the small bottle of water, and toke a little out to help the burns. "Ohhhhh!" she groaned when she tried to sit up. "I don't think so." She looked into her brother's tearing eyes. Her face was black with ashes, and burn marks were shown up and down her arms and legs.
Aang was finally able to get the boulder through and slammed it against the Fire Lord, and quickly sent a gust of wind. Sakka, getting the plan, was able to send a fair stream of water, and Zuko finished the attack with another burst of fire. When the wind and ashes cleared, the Fire Lord was laying on his back, eyes closed. "Is he-?" Aang stepped closer. The Fire Lords armored had fallen off, and his face was burned and bruised. "That's why I needed to know all four elements. That is really the only thing that can truly defeat him."
"Yes." Zuko said. A tear slide down his face. Fore once in his life, Aang truly felt sorry for Prince Zuko. He had helped them defeat his own father. That must have been hard. "Come on. We should be going," said Aang, eager to leave this place. He turned and saw Katara, laying on the floor, unmoving, Sakka still crying by her side. "No! What happened?" he demanded. He rushed over, Zuko at his heels. "She can't be-," he couldn't speak the word. Aang turned to the Prince, whose face was quite pale. "Was he that strong? Could that have-?" his voice trailed. Zuko looked stern. "I-I have seen that before, and- I'm sorry." He hung his head. "This is all my fault!" cried Aang. "I never should have let you guys come!" Sakka put out a comforting hand and shook his head. "No one could have stopped this from happening." The three of them just stood there, mourning Katara's death. Zuko, who didn't seem as hurt, showed his respect. "Let's go. I don't want to be here anymore." Sakka finally said. Crying, they brought her body back to Prince Zuko's ship, which was now abandoned. No one spoke. No one ate for days. The ship set sail for the North Pole, where Aang would truly learn the four elements. With some help from Sakka and Zuko, he would have a head start on fire and water bending. The summer was almost at an end. The comet would come, but the Fire Lord was already dead. There was nothing more to do. Katara and Apa were gone. The Fire Lord was dead. Zuko, Sakka, and Aang set out to finish the journey they started.
A/n: Well, there we go. I might add more about the North Pole, but that is the end for now. Maybe I will make a sequel. Please R&R.