AN: pour ira: 1. you'll find out what happened to Zuko's mother l8r. 2. Zula is Zuko's sister, she's a year younger than he is, and yes, he knows about her.

For all the rest of you, thanks for reviewing. I just wanted to let you know that this is almost over. ...Shhh...Khazia...don't tell them.

Chapter 18: The Release

The horses behaved rapturously that day, and every day after until they reached Omashu, amazingly uneventfully. Just when Sokka and Aang had begun to believe that Katara and Zuko had reconciled, over the few weeks they traveled the two grew even further apart. King Bumi was delighted to see Aang, and the first night threw a large feast in their honor.

Sokka was happily digging into a flavorful meat pastry, and Zuko tended to either watch him, for they were seated across from each other, or glance warily towards the exits. His welcome to Omashu had been lukewarm if not plainly cold, and he knew it. He looked at the food on his plate bitterly, and forced himself to take a bite. The warm curry chicken should've been delicious to him, but he couldn't have told the difference between it and the napkin. A servant girl came over to him. "Sir, would you like some more wine?"

He smiled at her gently. "No thank you, I'm fine." She smiled and nodded her head.

The servant girl scooted back to her peers. "What was he like?" She smiled softly. "He was very polite." "Polite? A fire-bender?" "I think His Majesty is right. Not all fire-benders are the same."

Katara watched Zuko anxiously, for once she'd noticed it, and it was terribly obvious how little he ate. He'd take a bite, and then it'd be several minutes before he'd even look at his food again. She even thought she could see the lack of food affecting him. He seemed listless, the high cheekbones and strong jaw-line becoming more and more prominent. But she refused to accept what was staring her in the face.

After the feast, one of Bumi's guards escorted them to a room. It was much like one they'd stayed in last time, except it had four beds. Zuko waited until they'd each chosen a bed before taking the remaining one. They all went to sleep quickly.

Then next morning, Katara woke up alone. She decided to clean herself up before going out. After a light bath, she sat on her bed with her hair down and she was brushing through it when the door was opened forcefully and then slammed closed. Zuko was back.

She watched, frozen where she was, as he paced back and forth in front of the door. It was clear he was angry, and it wouldn't do much to say anything. After a moment, he stopped pacing, but didn't sit or say anything, so she moved up behind him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and had to repress a gasp and work hard not to recoil from him. His skin was scalding hot. He seemed to know it hurt her, for after a moment, his body cooled down.

Feeling the tension in his shoulders, without even thinking she began massaging the tight muscles. Zuko moaned softly and gave in to her touch.

"What happened Zuko?"

"Got in a fight with a bunch of teenage earth-benders. Stupid elder said it was my fault when it was 7 on 1. Told me I should leave, so I did. Managed to keep from telling them that rock burns if the fire's hot enough. Assholes."

"Language Zuko."

"Well, they are."

She smiled softly even though he couldn't see it. Zuko needed her to be calm right now, even though she was angry that they treated Zuko that way. Katara took him by the elbow and led him to the nearest bed and sat him down then got up on the bed behind him and continued her work on his back. So much tension, so much frustration, soon Katara was so caught up in her task, she didn't notice when a guard came in, looked stunned for a moment, chuckled, and then left.

When she had worked all the knots out, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. The silk held the sweet charred scent she'd always associate with Zuko. She'd never known fire could smell so good.

Meanwhile, Sokka and Aang were with the warriors-in-training. Aang was working with Bumi, and Sokka was training with an earth-bender, whose name was Tami. They worked through a few sets before taking a break. The two warriors then went and sat on the sidelines of the training arena.

"I'm surprised by your skills Sokka, since you've had no decnt teacher since your father left."

Sokka looked at him strangely.

"No, actually, like I've already told you, Zuko taught me much of what I know."

Tami looked at him and then grinned. "Like I said, Sokka, you've had no decent teacher since your father left."

Sokka was on his feet before you could blink.

"What exactly are you saying Tami?"

Tami stood up, equally quickly.

"Are you defending that deceitful backstabbing fire-bender?"

"That deceitful backstabbing fire-bender is my friend!"

By now everyone in the arena had stopped what they were doing and were watching things unfold.

"You actually trust him?"

"With my life! And my sister's and the Avatar's! And I have since he joined us!"

"I heard his story! He had no choice but to join you after you stole him from his home!"

"He was going to die! And he's never done anything against us since then!"

"And what about before? Are you so willing to forgive him for past crimes?"

"After what he's been through, yes! I know exactly how he feels!"

Nobody noticed that Katara and Zuko had just walked in.

"I'm sure that stupid fire-bender hasn't gone through anything the rest of us haven't."

"Oh really?" Every eye turned to Zuko, who had just spoken. He had every right to be angry, but his golden eyes only reflected pain. Tami turned to him defiantly.

"Try me, fire-bender."

"You have someone you care about dearly no doubt? I mean someone you'd die for if the chance presented itself without hesitation?"

"Yes, my little sister. She's three."

"That makes things much easier. Imagine her being torn limb from limb in front of you by someone equally dear. Her screams torment your dreams every night, and every morning you wake expecting it all to be one terrible nightmare, but it's not. She's really dead. And the worst part is, if I hadn't been so stupid as to speak out in that damned war chamber, she'd still be alive."

Tami had been growing extensively paler as Zuko spoke. Tears spilled freely from Zuko's eyes as they slipped from Tami to the ceiling of the arena.

"Imagine having to tear her from your neck because she doesn't want to let you go, but you don't know it will be the last time you ever hold her. Imagine having to worry if she has someone to go to if that monster in her closet ever comes back or if the nightmare sneaks in among her heavenly dreams once more. Imagine a point when you are so consumed by grief and guilt that food loses its taste, sleep loses its gifts, and even your element loses its appeal. When death seems like your only option but you can't end it all because of a promise you made."

Zuko returned to earth and his and Tami's eyes met.

"Multiply that by infinity and take it to the depths of forever and then you will understand what I feel."

He then turned and walked out. Katara glanced at Sokka before following him.

She caught up with Zuko as he walked out onto an empty balcony, drying his wet cheeks. They stood there a moment in silence before Zuko broke it.

"Katara, you remember the first time we met? At the South Pole?"

"How could I forget?"

"Well, that wasn't my first visit to the Southern Water Tribe. I was there when I was nine, with my cousin Saiza."

Her eyes widened.

"Saiza? I remember him, he was trying to forge a surrender so the Fire Nation would leave us alone."

"It was actually my idea. My father was planning on annihilating the rest of the Water Tribes. I didn't want that to happen, so I came up with a plan. He couldn't kill them off if the Tribes surrendered to him. Saiza helped me, taking it on as his plan, taking the full risk if we were discovered. I'd have been banished at 10 instead of 14 if it weren't for Saiza, for we were discovered a little while after that. You probably don't remember what happened while we were there, but I'll never forget."

"Tell me."

"I was there with Saiza, but Ediera had tagged along as well. She was five. Your people had loaned us fur coats to help us keep out the cold, and she looked like an overstuffed penguin in hers. Little doubt that I looked worse. But we went walking out on the ice one day. Negotiations weren't going well, and Saiza had sent us out. Well, to make a long story short, Ediera fell through the ice. I could barely swim, but I shouted and dove in after her. It was cold, oh so cold, beyond anything I've ever known, but all I could think about at the time was Ediera.

In the end, we both owe our lives to one of the Water tribesmen. He grabbed me by my coat and pulled us both out. I was nearly frozen and Ediera wasn't breathing. I don't remember much after being pulled out of the ice, just that the man revived Ediera and took care of us. I swore to her that day I'd always protect her and I'd never let anything happen to her."

Suddenly, the railing Zuko was gripping began to glow with his anger.

"It's my fault! The one time in her life she really needed me and I wasn't there! I promised I'd protect her and I failed! I failed her! I failed her. God Dammit, Ediera is dead because of me!" All the grief Zuko had held back since finding out about Ediera's death came bursting forth. He sank to the floor, buried his face in his arms, and sobbed.

Katara had never seen Zuko like this, and for a moment she didn't know what to do. Then she knelt beside him and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't acknowledge her presence at first, but then he wrapped his arms around her, and she pulled him close.

"It's not your fault Ediera died."

Katara opened her eyes and she saw Sokka coming out onto the balcony.

"Listen to me, Zuko, it is not your fault."

Zuko's only response to her words was sobbing.

Sokka went to them and knelt by Zuko, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Is that what you're upset about, Zuko?" At the sound of Sokka's voice, Zuko immediately tried to pull away from her, but she refused to let him go. Sokka's grip on his shoulder tightened as well.

"It's ok to be upset Zuko. You're among friends."

"Neither of you understand. If I hadn't been banished, Ediera would've never said anything. Ozai wouldn't have fought her, and later killed her. She'd have been able to grow up normal and happy, if it weren't for me."

Katara sighed.

"That's not true Zuko. I don't know what it was like between Ediera and you, but Sokka and me? Sometimes he drives me crazy, and sometimes he nearly gets us caught by the Fire Nation, but I've never stopped loving him. He's my brother, and I don't care how much he messes up or gets me in trouble, I'll always be there for him."

"As Ediera will always be there for you."

Aang had joined their group.

"Zuko, as Avatar, I'm the link between this world and the Spirit World. I've met and talked to Ediera, and she's always around here with us. She doesn't blame you. In fact, she blames Ozai. Ozai's the one who banished you when he could've forgiven you, and Ozai's the one who couldn't take her rebellion. It's his fault, not yours."

Aang placed his hand on Zuko's other shoulder and smiled. "Ediera's always with you, and so are we. We're your friends Zuko."

Zuko looked down, trying to wipe away his tears, and failing miserably because they kept falling.

"We're friends? I've never had friends before."

Sokka laughed.

"Yep, Zuko, we're friends. And friends look out for each other, and friends lend shoulders to cry on." Katara hugged Zuko tight to her, Aang hugged them both, and then Sokka hugged all three of them together. Then Bumi walked out onto the balcony.

"Ahem."

Sokka grinned and hugged them tighter.

"Can you give us a minute? We're having an intimate non-gay moment."

"I can see that, but three boys to one girl? That seems a bit unfair."

Zuko, Sokka, and Katara all split away faster than you could think, and left Aang sitting where he was looking confused. Then they all started laughing. Bumi grinned.

"Now who's hungry?"

Captain Hezier stood in the dark room, waiting for his meeting to begin. So in truth, he was waiting for whom his meeting was with. And then he was just there.

"So, Hezier, how are things coming?"

Masking his surprise, the captain began his report.

"The Fire Lord believes us to be little more than a political party, so that aspect of the plan is working well. Each day, another captain requests a ship and transfer to Earth Kingdom or Northern Water Tribe waters. It seems the Fire Lord is pleased with this seemingly enthusiastic ardor for the war. He is proud of his captains, with no idea that they mean to betray him."

"Then things are going well."

"Yes sir, very well."

He heard a chair scrape against the floor and then footsteps, though he could not see his companion. It was another rule of the Guerriers Réels.

If you do not see your companions' faces, you cannot know their names, and you cannot betray them.

It went right along with trust no one, but now he had to listen, for his companion was speaking.

"Ozai seems to think that once someone is banished, they disappear off the face of the planet. He's soon going to learn he's wrong. He may not have heard from me in nearly 8 years, but I haven't gone anywhere. And I'll restore my cousin to his rightful place."

"Of Course Commander."

Hezier didn't know much about the Commander, only knew that he would answer to only one man. He knew that like he knew the white armband on his right arm. In the end, they would all only answer to one.

Remember Hezier? He's the guy that stopped Zuko in the first chapter. I wonder who the Commander is?