Zhao's soldiers fired first. The whole clearing burst into flames. Karyuudo grabbed Katara and pulled her behind a tree, protecting them from the blast. Aang and Sokka hid behind another tree, but Zuko ran straight towards Zhao. The Blue Spirit loaded her bow with an arrow and took aim at Zuko, but he kicked her down when she fired, causing the arrow to shoot up into the air and disappear. Zhao shot fire at Zuko, but missed. The fireball hit the tree Karyuudo and Katara were hiding behind instead.

"Stay here," Karyuudo told Katara. She nodded and he jumped out into the clearing with his katana drawn. Together, he and Zuko were able to take down all of Zhao's soldiers that were there.

Zuko jumped up and kicked Zhao off of his rhino, which ran away from the fight. Zhao got up and fought back. While they were fighting, the Blue Spirit stood to the side and aimed her bow at Zuko.

Karyuudo tackled the Blue Spirit before she could fire again. He raised his katana and was about to slam it down into her chest when Zuko backed up into him, knocking him over onto the ground.

Zhao stood above them, with his fist aiming at Zuko's head. The Blue Spirit stood beside the admiral and aimed an arrow at Karyuudo's head.

Katara noticed a puddle leftover from the storm and used her water whip to hit Zhao in the face; he fell down and was momentarily blinded.

The Blue Spirit looked up at Katara and almost fired an arrow at her but she stopped. Karyuudo knew this was his chance; he tripped the Blue Spirit and kicked her down onto the ground. He stood over her and prepared to stab.

Zuko got up and went over to Zhao, who was still recovering. He then prepared to burn him.

"Everyone stop!"

They looked over and saw that the Avatar had shouted that.

He continued, "Is killing each other going to solve anything? Can't we resolve this in another way?"

Zuko looked back at Zhao and breathed deeply; he put his arms down and relaxed.

Karyuudo looked at Katara; she was shaking her head and muttering, "Don't do it." He sighed and sheathed his katana.

The Avatar smiled, "There."

Under her mask, the Blue Spirit smiled; she knew this was her chance to strike back, to finally achieve her goal. She drew a katana and jumped to her feet, then prepared to slice Karyuudo.

Katara's eyes widened and she shouted, "Karyuudo, look out!"

When he turned around, all he saw was a flash of silver. The blade sliced through his stomach and he fell to the ground holding the wound. He heard shouting from several people before his vision went black and he passed out.

When Karyuudo woke up, it was bright. The sun was right above him, so he knew it was the afternoon. He sat up and looked around. There were bandages wrapped around his stomach, which still hurt, and his shirt and cloak were hanging from a branch.

"Feeling better?" said a voice from behind him.

He turned around and saw Katara standing there with a look of hope on her face. "Uh…yeah," he replied.

"Good. Aang and Sokka are packing everything. We're leaving, and you're coming."

"I can't…I can't travel with you."

"Well, you have to get off this island somehow. We'll drop you off at the first stop."

"Fine," Karyuudo tried to stand up.

"Let me help." Katara started to move towards him but he waved her away.

"I got it," he said as he managed to stand up with minor pains. He grabbed his shirt and cloak and put them back on. Then he asked, "So, where's everyone else?"

"I think Prince Zuko left, he didn't want to fight. As for Zhao and the ninja, they might still be here."

"Where are my weapons?" asked Karyuudo.

"They're right over there," she pointed to his weapons. He walked over and put them back on. "Thanks for the save," he said.

Katara was about to say something but was grabbed from behind by the Blue Spirit. A katana rose to her throat. Karyuudo began to move but the Blue Spirit said, "Don't move or the girl dies."

Karyuudo looked at the fear in Katara's eyes and a single drop a sweat running down the side of her head. He had no choice but to stop and hope Aang or Sokka could come in; but they did not. "What do you want?" he asked the Blue Spirit.

"Your life. It's time for you to die," she replied.

Katara tried to break free but the katana only pressed harder against her neck.

"Why do you want to kill me so bad?"

"To avenge the death of one of your victims. You've killed too many people, now it's time that someone kills you."

Karyuudo stared at the mask for awhile, thinking deeply. Then he realized something. He took a step towards the Blue Spirit.

"Stop!" she yelled, "You'd better stop!"

He continued walking towards her, each step advancing him a couple feet.

"Stop!"

He continued walking. The katana pressed harder against Katara's neck, but still did not wound her.

"Stop or the girl dies!"

When he was close enough, he pulled out his knife and threw it. It hit the mask of the Blue Spirit and knocked her down. Katara felt the grip loosen and ran up to Karyuudo.

"Get out of here!" he told her. She nodded and ran to where Aang and Sokka were.

The Blue Spirit got up; her mask now had a dent in it. "You got lucky," she said.

"Right…luck…" Karyuudo pulled out his katana and raised it in front of him. The Blue Spirit raised her katana and charged towards him. The katanas hit, creating a loud noise that scared off all the birds of the forest; a loud wave of birds left, then everything was silent as the katanas were held against each other.

"Why don't you use your firebending now?" asked the Blue Spirit.

"I don't need it," replied Karyuudo.

"You sure?"

Karyuudo moved his katana and ran up to her; he thrust the katana towards her gut, but she dodged and managed to slice his wound. He cried out in pain and kneeled down onto the ground.

"Sad…I thought you would've put up more of a fight," said the Blue Spirit as she raised her katana above Karyuudo's head and prepared to strike.

"So did I," He pulled out his crossbow which was already loaded and aimed it at her head. He fired and the arrow went straight up through her chin and pierced her skull. She fell to the ground with the arrow stuck in her head and stopped moving. Karyuudo leaned over to her mask and pulled it off. He was right: it was his own sister.

Karyuudo sighed and left his katana at her side. He passed the corpse of Karasu, pinned to a tree, on his walk back to Appa. He looked at his old pet one last time before he got to Appa. He walked up Appa's tail and closed his eyes.

"What happened?" asked Katara.

Karyuudo was silent. He didn't even open his eyes.

Aang looked back at him and asked, "You're not going to turn me in are you?"

He took out the bounty and ripped it in half, then threw the halves off of Appa.

Aang looked as the pieces hit the ground. "Alright…hang on. Yip-yip!" Appa took off into the skies and flew away from the island. Karyuudo never looked back.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for a shorter and kinda rushed chapter. I've got an essay to write and my mom has been bugging me about it. Anyway, this is the last full chapter. Next comes the epilogue, then this story is done.