I'm sorry about killing off Bato! Don't hate me! But I did get some pretty good reviews out of that chapter.

fireflower692: this has got to be one of the best chapters so far.

katara-water25: This is one of the best zutara stories yet...

I love you guys! Can't forget my most loyal readers, avatard05, moonwaterpetal, and my good friend Jason (not a fanfiction member). Thank you guys so much for reading! I think my story is almost done though. I still have to bring Jet back in and then after that, I might be done. Well, here's the well-anticipated next chapter!

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"Ugh, where am I?"

"You're in the infirmary on your ship."

"Where's Azula?"

The doctor looked uncomfortable and shifted his feet, but he told her, "Dead."

Mai's eyes shot up to him as if he were joking. "How- how did she die? What happened?"

"I'm not sure, I wasn't out there to see it. All I know is that her.." he paused for a second, dreading the next words, "..her face is almost unrecognizable because it's smashed in."

Mai looked sick. She had no friends left now. Azula was dead and Ty Lee was a traitor to her. She wanted to cry, but her eyes were dry and no tears would fall for her fallen friend. "How could I let this happen?" she thought out loud to herself. "She was my friend, she depended on me to help her and I let her down."

She tried to get up when a searing pain shot through her stomach and she yelped. The doctor put a hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn't get up until that's healed a little more. That was a nasty cut. Luckily we found you before you lost too much blood."

She growled and laid back, closing her eyes and hoping to drift off to sleep. Her wish was granted and darkness overtook her, the nightmare of watching her best friend dying filling the inside of her eyelids.

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"I thought Yue said there was going to be a battle?"

Sokka shrugged his shoulders and looked at his sister. "Maybe something happened that changed that, like.. you going crazy and killing Azula?"

Katara's cheeks felt warm with a flare of anger, but words wouldn't come to her. She calmed down and supressed the urge to scream at him. "What if that's not the battle she was talking about? What if something happens and there's still another battle that needs to be fought?"

"Then we'll fight it, but since Azula's dead I don't see who would fight it."

"Hm, is Mai dead?"

Sokka thought back to the gloomy girl he had sliced in the engine room whenever she tried to attack Ty Lee from behind. "Just as good."

"What do you mean 'just as good'? It's a yes or no question, is she dead or not?"

"I don't know! I got her in the stomach with my machete and she fell, but I guess there's a teenie tiny chance she could've survived but I doubt it. I got her good."

"SOKKA!"

"What were you thinking?" Zuko finally spoke up. "You should know by now that we can't just make assumptions, we have to have facts."

"Well, I'm sorry! I cut her, then we brought Azula to the deck, then Katara killed her and we left. I guess I just forgot about her afterwards."

Zuko looked between the siblings and pondered on his next question. "Um.. has his body been prepared?"

Both pairs of eyes shot up to meet his. Sokka's looked away quickly before quietly responding, "We're sending him off tomorrow."

Zuko thought about that for a second, then realized that the Water Tribe does their ceremonies differently. The Fire Nation burns the bodies and releases their souls to Agni and the spirit world, then buries the ashes. Zuko had his mother's own ashes preserved in a memorial next to the turtle-duck pond they had loved so much. He wondered suddenly if he had ever even taken Katara to see it. His mind quickly jerked him back to their conversation and all his mouth could muster was an "Oh."

"Where's Dad at?" Sokka asked, trying to change the subject.

"I think he's at the ship with the rest of the warriors."

"Good. I'll see you guys later," he said as he got up from the floor and walked out of the room.

Katara scooted closer to Zuko and he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. You know, about killing you."

"It's okay, really. You were just upset. People say things they don't mean when they're upset."

"It was still no excuse to threaten you the way I did. That could've easily been your head that was smashed by that ice. I'm surprised I even had the courage to do that."

"I don't think I've ever seen you move that fast. It caught her completely off guard, me too actually. Lightening quick reflexes. How often are you practicing?"

She laughed a little. "I hardly have time to practice anymore with the babies to take care of. Whenever we start training them though, I'll have a lot more time because I'll be practicing with them."

"Well, that was amazing for someone out of practice. La wasn't with you, was he?"

"Nope," Katara smiled proudly. "I did it all by myself. Are you proud?"

"And scared," he added jokingly. "I'll try not to make you angry unless I have a death wish."

He shot another flame into the fireplace they were sitting next to, heating up the room more. Katara smiled and looked around the room. She loved this room and wondered why they didn't spend more time in here. It was a big room with books almost covering the walls. There were two desks in the corners nearest to the door with gas lamps on them. The fireplace was directly across the room from the door and had four huge, comfy armchairs around it. There was a thick red rug in between the chairs and the fireplace, which was where they were sitting. It was almost like a hangout room. She hoped one day she would actually get time to read some of the books on the shelves.

"Are you okay?" Zuko asked suddenly, noticing her silence.

She was snapped from her thoughts at the sound of his voice. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just love this room."

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When she was sure everyone was asleep, she snuck out. She knew she had a job to do. When she entered the city, she didn't realize she was being watched. The man in the blue mask lept across rooftops and followed her the city.

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The roads were silent as Hakoda made his way back to the palace for the night. He had a long talk with his men about how the ceremony would go off tomorrow. Sokka had joined them a little ways through and left just before he had. Every once in a while he would see someone on the street, but most of them were home sleeping. He came upon some noise around a corner and saw drunks standing outside a bar. He thought maybe one drink would calm his nerves enough to make it back to the palace without freaking out. He stepped into the smoky atmosphere for a drink, sitting himself next to a young girl with dark hair and ordered. He didn't pay any attention to anyone in there, just had his drink and set off again. He had two pairs of eyes on him as he headed to the palace and somehow he felt he was being watched, but he kept moving.

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Katara woke up in her bed, the feeling of being alone had worked its way into her peaceful dream. She looked around and noticed Zuko wasn't there. She was scared and confused at the same time and decided to try to find him. She thought maybe he would be with the babies, he did promise to help with them. Maybe they woke up and she didn't hear them. No, surely he would've woken me up too, she thought.

She pulled back the curtains around her bed and slipped out her door as silently as she could, just in case something was wrong. She crept down to the nursery, waterskin at her hip, and silently dismissed the guards. It was times like these that she was glad there were competent builders in the Fire Nation. She silently cracked the door ever so slightly, just enough to see one of the bassonets. She didn't see Zuko anywhere and opened the door a bit further. She froze. Uncapping her waterskin, she drew water out quickly and hurled it at the figure standing over the blue bassonet.

"Ah!" the person yelled as they hit the wall.

That was a girl's scream, she thought. "Who are you and what are you doing in here!" she demanded. She ducked as a dagger was hurled at her face. Luckily for Katara, there were a few bowls of water in the nursery for exactly this kind of situation. The girl intruder hadn't even noticed. Katara moved her arms out and pushed her hands together as the girl was pinned to the wall with ice. Katara walked up slowly to her.

"Let me go and I'll spare you."

"You really expect me to let you go after you tried to kill me? And I can only imagine what you were about to do to my children!" She finally stopped in front of the girl as the moon came out from behind a cloud and illuminated her face. "I knew you weren't dead. My brother is an idiot like that."

Mai glared at her and repeated herself, "Let me go."

"Or what? You'll stare me to death?"

"Or I'll have to do this." She kicked her leg up hard and cracked the ice. Katara was about to use more to freeze her legs as well when Mai broke through. She lunged at Katara, making her drop the water. They fell to the ground, Mai pinning Katara's hands to the floor with one hand and reaching for another dagger with the other. Another figure jumped silently into the room through the open window Mai had come through.

"No! Let me go!" Katara screamed as Mai's dagger neared her throat.

"You stole Zuko from me. He was mine first. This is going to be my greatest victory yet. Then I'll take care of your children in honor of Azula."

"Didn't anyone tell you?"

Mai's dagger stopped inches from Katara's throat. "Tell me what?"

"How she died?"

"They were afraid to. How about you tell me before I kill you."

Katara's eyes flickered with something Mai couldn't read and a small, unexpected smile crept across her face as the moon disappeared behind the clouds again. She leaned forward, as much as she could without touching the dagger, and whispered in her ear, "I killed the bitch. I smashed her pretty little face in and I would've done more if it hadn't been for my wonderful husband."

Mai's eyes widened at the news and then took in the last bit of the sentence. This little whore is taunting me! "Well then, I'll do good in avenging her death."

Just as Mai's dagger was about to touch Katara's throat, it was knocked from her hand. Mai looked up to see a dark figure in a blue mask standing over them.

"Who are you and what makes you think this business is yours?"

The blue masked man drew two broadswords from his back and got into a fighting stance. Mai shot her arm at him, darts flying from her sleeves. The man moved his swords to block them. The moon came back out and Mai saw who was standing there.

"The Blue Spirit! No one has seen you since before the war ended!"

The Spirit only nodded, then moved back into his stance. Katara was staring up at him in shock. Mai jumped up quickly and ran for the window. The Spirit tried to run after her, but tripped over Katara as she attemped to get up. He caught himself before he fell, but the momentary loss of balance cost him his foe. He sighed and helped Katara stand up.

She was still watching him. "How long have you been doing this?"

"Every night. I can't help it, I love the feeling I get when I'm behind this mask." He pulled it off, revealing Zuko's soft face.

"Well, I guess I'm glad you never stopped. Who knows what would've happened tonight if I hadn't felt lonely and woken up."

She hugged him tight before running to the window and jumping out with as much grace as Mai had shown. Zuko went to the door and called the guards in to watch the children and kill anyone unfamiliar that approaches before pulling his mask back on and following Katara out the window. The guards looked at each other, confused.

"Was that Lord Zuko with the Blue Spirit mask on?"

"I think he was the Blue Spirit the whole time. It wouldn't surprise me."

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Mai was leaping from roof to roof under the moonlight, heading back for the dock she left her boat at. There were a few clouds in the sky but the moon was out in the open. Rain started pouring lightly from the clouds overhead, making the roofs slippery. She looked back and saw a figure chasing her a few houses back, then another one leaping out of the window she had just come from.

"Stupid rain," she whispered to herself as she slipped a little. She regained her balance quickly and continued running, but the first figure had closed the gap a little between them. She figured it was the waterbender when an icicle shot past her ear.

"Give it up, Mai! You're not getting away that easily!" she shouted.

Mai changed course and shot off to her left, jumping over the other side of the roof she was on and disappearing. Katara chased her that way and saw her running down the alley below her. She jumped down as agile as she could, right into a big puddle, but continued to chase her down the empty streets of the capitol. They were nearing the docks quickly. Mai smiled at the sight and an extra boost of energy ran through her, making her run faster. Katara sped up as well and her beloved Blue Spirit was still on the rooftops right above her.

Mai made it to the docks and jumped in her little boat and took off as quickly as she could before the other two caught up. There was a little water in it from the rain, but it was nothing. Katara pulled the water under her and flipped her boat over, spilling her out of it. Mai stayed under the water and swam as fast as she could back to her ship. She only came up for air once, but never looked back. She made it to her ship and climbed up the anchor.

"Wake up, everyone! Prepare for battle!" she yelled, running through the halls below the deck.

One of the men approached her. "Li said we're not fighting them."

"Li wouldn't kill you in your sleep. Now suit up and get ready!"

All the men on the ship were running around frantically trying to figure out what was going on, most of them half dressed and some in their full suits of armor. Mai was out on the deck, watching as a large and unfamiliar ship made its way out of the dock. She hadn't been there to see all the Water Tribe warriors on her ship earlier so she had no idea what was coming, but she knew that something was. As the ship approached, Katara couldn't wait any longer and jumped off the side, using her waterbending to hoist herself onto the other ship.

"Let's see how good you can fight a waterbender at night," she challenged. She looked up at Yue and smiled. "Oh, look at that. A full moon. Luck isn't on your side tonight, Mai. I wouldn't try it."

"I don't need luck," she stated coldly.

"You'll need whatever you can get to avoid the horrible death I granted your precious princess."

Mai snapped and threw darts from her sleeves. Katara pulled water from the ocean and froze it in front of her, catching the darts. She unfroze it, the darts falling on the deck, and threw it at Mai. She fell to her stomach to avoid it as the men on her ship came out to watch. Just then, the other ship finally reached them and the warriors, along with Kiatoh and the Blue Spirit, jumped over to the ship that the battle was taking place on.

Sokka lunged at one of the men that was approaching his sister from behind and knocked him unconcious with the dull side of his machete. The Spirit drew his swords out and was battling with three of the men, two of which were firebenders. Katara had glanced over at her father, battling side-by-side with Sokka. Glancing was a mistake. One of Mai's darts hit her in the leg. She hissed in pain and jerked it out. A giant stream of water knocked Mai up against the side of the ship, giving Katara the time she needed to heal herself. She looked over to her Spirit just in time to see him tossing something at her. She caught it and ducked as more darts flew at her head. She unsheathed the little dagger and called water to her, forming an ice ball around it. It went flying at Mai, but she ducked and missed it just in time. Katara caught the ice ball before it went flying into the ocean and brought it back, hitting Mai in the back of the head. She remembered the she forgot to turn it around, so the blade that was left sticking out of the ice ball didn't hit her.

Mai jumped to her feet, rubbing the back of her head, and carefully observed the war on her deck. She noticed the abundance of blue and knew something was going on. Her men were being pushed back. There was water everywhere. She noticed the Blue Spirit fighting a few of them. There were flashes of light from everywhere from the firebenders on deck. The Water Tribe boy, Ty Lee's boyfriend, was having to use his boomerang and machete to fight off a big man with a sword. She watched as Ty Lee ran up behind the man and poked a pressure point, rendering him immobile. A big splash of water flew across the deck from one of the men in blue. She knew Katara wasn't the only waterbender anymore. She noticed that she was glaring at her, water ready in her hands and a small smirk on her face.

"Are you going to fight or stand there and watch your little army get beat?"

Mai's eyes narrowed and she ran towards Katara head on. Katara was shocked, but regained her composure and thought on her feet. She ran at Mai as well and right before they hit, she fell and rolled, making Mai fall to her knees. Her hands flew out to catch her before her face hit too. She looked back and saw Katara melting the ice ball and retrieving the dagger from it. Her hand shot out, more darts flying at her.

"AH!"

Sokka landed on the deck on his side, the darts stuck into his leg. Katara rushed to his side but he pushed her away and pointed back to Mai, who was approaching fast.

"You'll want to work fast, that was my last set of poison darts."

Before Katara could do anything, Mai fell to her knees with a look of shock clearly written on her face. Ty Lee was standing behind her, all happiness drained from her eyes. The look worried Katara but she knew that Ty Lee meant business when it came to her brother. That much she was grateful for.

Ty Lee leaned down and whispered in Mai's ear, "I'm not afraid of you either, Mai."

Mai couldn't move. Ty Lee was excellent at finding those spots, which is one of the reasons that Azula recruited her to find Zuko. Mai glanced over to Katara, who was staring at her with a victorious smile on her face. The Blue Spirit had walked to them, Mai watching everything. She couldn't move or talk.

"Her punishment is your call this time, since banishment didn't keep her out."

Mai knew that voice, but it was muffled and hard to make out from behind that mask. Katara looked between Mai, then Ty Lee and her brother, then back to Spirit. "Let's take her back and put her in the dungeon until I can decide a suitable punishment. Death is too easy an escape. Let's go now and get Sokka somewhere safe so we can heal him."

Hakoda had just knocked out the remaining recruit for Mai's small army and he carried Sokka onto the other ship while Spirit hoisted a limp Mai over his shoulder and followed suit. Kiatoh had lifted the anchor of the ship and directed it elsewhere, away from the Fire Nation before jumping back onto the Water Tribe ship and heading back to the city.

They rushed him to the royal doctors as soon as they got back to the palace. Katara was more than capable of healing the wounds but poison was still pretty new to her and didn't want to risk his life to prove something. A couple warriors disarmed Mai while she was still immobile and carried her to the dungeon as Katara had asked, then they joined everyone outside Sokka's room. Ty Lee, Katara, and Hakoda waited impatiently while the doctors worked with him. The moon was slowly starting to fade, along with Katara's hope. She knew that Yue could watch over him at night, but she wasn't so sure about the day time. Katara realized she still had the dagger tucked away in her belt and she handed it back to an unmasked Zuko.

"I didn't get to use it," she said, almost sadly.

"That's okay. I'm proud of you anyway." He pulled her close and kissed her on the head. She jumped up whenever the doctor came out, followed by Ty Lee and Hakoda. The others slowly stood too, hoping for good news.

"I've got some good news and some bad news," he started. "The good news is that the wounds somehow healed quickly and I managed to get the poison out. The bad news," he paused and took a deep breath, "the girl hit a nerve in his leg and he won't be able to walk on it again."

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Oh no! Sokka's hurt! He did promise his father he'd look out for Katara, I guess that's why that happened. I didn't mean to write it like that, but when it came out it sounded good so I kept it. This one I finished in just a couple hours. Be proud! I'll update as soon as I can. Next chapter will have Mai's punishment and possibly Jet. R&R!

Jenn