A/N. So, apparantly people can see the story, but I can't see any updates on it! So, here is a new chapter! Still no fighting, sorry! But no worry, next chapter is going to be only that.

I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Glancing over her right shoulder, Katara knew what was going to happen in the far distance, eastwards… There, a gigantic battle would take place today… Looking up, she saw that the sun had probably already started his descend. The sky was a sickening orange glow, probably heralding the comet that would come at any time… She and Zuko had travelled all afternoon, evening and night, only allowing themselves small pauses to give Appa a rest and go for nature calls. They had eaten in the saddle, slept by taking turns steering the bison and had only spoken a few words to each other.

Still keeping her eyes towards the east, she knew what she was missing… The battle that would decide the war. The air fleet of the Fire Nation, the cream of the crop of technological advances, against… Against Sokka, Suki, Toph… and Aang. Aang would be there, for sure.

But Katara also knew that her own battle was equally important. It wouldn't decide the fate of the war, but it would decide the future. Was it going to be more war, against Azula? Or would it be peace and reconciliation with Zuko? Tui and La, she hoped the latter.

Peace… It was such a foreign word, that she didn't really know what it meant. Aang had spoken about it often… But she could not imagine what it was. How would it be not to live in fear of the next raid on the shores of her home? Would peace mean no fighting? Or rather fighting against a different sort of enemy? Those who wanted to disrupt the peace would have to be dealt with. It would be strange, fighting to preserve peace, rather than fight to gain it…

But first, she would have to fight to stop this conflict, and to stop the war that could happen if Azula was allowed to have even the slightest hint of power. What if the princess expected their arrival, and come to realize that if her father fell, she would surely be next? In that case, Katara suspected Azula would hide for a few weeks, build up a power base to challenge Zuko and begin a civil war. And that, they needed to avoid by all cost. Even the Fire Nation deserved peace.

"Do you remember our deal?" the prince's voice suddenly sounded from the saddle, and, turning completely around, Katara could see the serious look in his ember eyes.

"Deal?" She asked, knowing he was probably referring to the one they had bargained before going to search for Yon Rha. The waterbender had agreed to leave Azula to Zuko… If he would give her the murderer of her mother.

"I get to kill Azula. Me. Not you." She was surprised by the hate in his eyes and voice. Katara had heard how he had talked about regret with his uncle, how he hated the fact he would probably have to kill his own sister… But here he was, sounding positively vengeful.

"I thought you hated the idea of killing her… But would do it for the greater good." Katara spoke softly, trying not to sound too intruding. She had discovered, in the few days she actually didn't hate him too much, that the firebender wasn't open about his emotions.

"I… I will regret it. Agni knows how much I will. But I'll have to mourn for the person she was years ago, not for whom she has become." Zuko sighed. Spirits… How messed up was this family?

"Has she ever been… good?" Katara asked, trying to sound gently. She couldn't imagine having to kill her own brother, so it was probably not a very pleasant time for the prince.

"Good… What is good? I'm not a good person. But Azula… well, she was nice. Until they discovered she was a firebender. Then, everything changed. My… Ozai. Ozai forced us to train together, against each other. She was not as advanced as me at first, so I held back… But she didn't like that. That was the first time she showed the cruelty she would later possess. She had trained in secret, night after night, just to show the Fire Lord that she could beat me." Zuko sounded bitter.

"Maybe… maybe she did it to impress him? Not to hurt you?" Spirits, was she… defending Azula? Katara had to physically refrain herself from showing too much surprise at that. And to have two siblings fight each other? Tui and La, that was so messed up. Sure, she and Sokka had their differences from time to time… But their parents had never built a rivalry between them…

"Yes, but every time Ozai encouraged her, she let go of the good-natured child she was… And became what she is now. Slowly, but steadily. But now… I don't think the potential of being decent is still in her. So yes, I hate having to kill her… But I know it is for the greater good." Zuko turned to the sky, and Katara also looked up.

The orange mist was getting thicker, and the air around them was insufferable and heavy, as if there was a storm coming after months of drought… And the waterbender didn't need to ask what it was. The comet was coming any minute now…

Judging by the sun, they were getting to the end of the afternoon. Iroh had said that the comet would appear around this time, and reports had suggested Azula wanted to get herself crowned as the new monarch of the Fire Nation as the comet was high in the sky. That would give them some time… But not much. Quickly glancing at the map that she had stuck against the saddle, Katara thought that Caldara was still an hour away… But it could be more. Map reading had never been her strong suit.

"How do you know Aang will fight Ozai?" Zuko asked, and turning back to the firebender, she saw that he still had his eyes fixed towards the sky, eastwards… Was it from there the comet would come?

"I just know. He promised, and I know him. He would never forgive himself if he did nothing… He already had that happen once to him. And once was more than enough." She answered. She hated the fact that again and again, she needed to tell people why she knew Aang would come back.

Why could people not just trust him?

"How do you do that?" Zuko spoke.

"What?" Katara answered, turning back towards the west. She heard Appa groan softly, clearly tired and at the end of his strength. Quickly stroking a hand through the soft fur, she whispered to him.

"Not far now… Then you can rest, I promise." The gentle mooing sound clearly meant I hope you are right, otherwise I'm kicking you off.

"Trust him like that. I… I have never been able to… To just trust someone without question." The firebender spoke behind her. The waterbender didn't turn around, for Zuko's voice had sounded rather thick with emotions.

"Not even… Mai?" She wasn't too sure what that relationship had been, but Aang had clearly been worried about Zuko when they had heard what had happened at the Boiling Rock. And from what she had seen of the knife throwing girl, it didn't inspire much confidence in a softer side.

"Mai… Yeah. She was someone who could have been that for me." The firebender was clearly not very comfortable with the emotions he was probably showing, for Katara could hear he was going towards the back of the saddle.

"Ehm… Sorry, but I was kind of angry with you when you talked about your own life with Sokka and Aang… Who is Mai exactly?" It seemed silly, but it was comforting to talk about anything else than what was going to happen in an hour or two…

"Mai…" Now, Zuko's voice sounded rather… longing? Yes, that was the word. Spirits…

"Mai w… is wonderful. I… I think she was the one to convince me to be a better person. Perhaps not intentionally… But I wanted to be a better person because I was with her." Ah… So that was it. Zuko really loved this Mai… But Katara had also heard the slight hesitation at the beginning. He had wanted to say was.

"That sounds… nice. I hope to be able to meet her in a more… friendly environment." Katara tried to reassure Zuko. It wasn't much… But that was the least that she could do.

"Me too… Event though I fear that it will not be possible. Mai may have survived her treason… But that would only be thanks to Ozai who wouldn't want to upset such a powerful clan. But now that he has apparently abdicated the throne… I don't know what Azula will have done. It is entirely possible Mai is… dead." The firebender sighed, and Katara turned towards him this time. The prince had his back towards her, staring at the eastern sky. Following his gaze, the kind and reassuring words she had wanted to say died in her throat.

For on the eastern horizon, there was light…

As they watched in silence, Katara looked at the giant fireball that was slowly making its ascend into the sky. The orange mist was dissipating in front of it, slowly. Sozin's Comet… And now, even she could feel the raw power radiating from it. It was as if the air around her had got several degrees warmer, and what was most scary was the silence.

She had imagined that it would be roaring through the sky at an unimaginable speed… but it was silent in the sky, slow and massive.

"Where are we?" Zuko turned around, and she saw that in those ember eyes, fear and awe were mixed together.

"I believe that we passed the Gates of Azulon a few minutes ago." She had not looked down, but it if her calculations were correct they had to be in the great bay in front of the Caldara…

"With Appa's speed, it will be half an hour… bit more perhaps. We'll be in time." Zuko nodded, before kneeling down on the bison's saddle and closing his eyes. Katara watched as he bowed his head, letting his forehead touch the wood. She could hear he was whispering, but it was probably something personal, so the waterbender quickly turned towards the horizon in front of her.

Knowing that Appa would know where to go, she also closed her eyes. If these were the last moments of silence she would get before the battle, Katara wanted to have a chance… A chance to say goodbye.

Spirits, how she regretted not having talked to Aang before all this… The last words she had spoken to him had been teasing and promising… Promising something that was far from her mind at this moment… Even though she would have liked to do that one more time…

Please my love, stay safe… At least, as safe as possible. I know you are at Wulong… I know you are. You have never disappointment anyone… Please believe that. People may blame you, but you can do this. And I know that you will have found a peaceful way to end the war. Please stay safe… We have plans. So many plans… And we can't do those if we are dead. I love you.

Katara hated to think like this, as if she was saying a final farewell… And perhaps, she was. But there was no way to be certain, and she didn't want to go into a fight without at least a semblance of a goodbye. Because she knew that, wherever the airbender was, he would have done the same. Ten months ago, they had found him in that iceberg…

So much had happened in between. Katara, still with her eyes closed, smiled. It had been eventful… But it had been good. She had learned so much, from waterbending to just… life. How to life, without having to constantly worry about the things like has there been enough hunting? Or Have all the clothes been washed?

No, travelling had given her the opportunity to think and do things that she liked… Her life had improved dramatically since travelling with Aang… If they managed to win this day, she would like to see what life with him was like…

Telling their friends that in fact, they were married… Introducing him to her grandmother once more, without the threat of he is an outsider, he can't be trusted looming over them. Telling her father that he had been wrong, and that everything had worked out in the end… And live life with Aang… That was a good general goal, no? The details, they could work out later… and together.

Opening her eyes, Katara could begin to see the outline of a coast on the horizon. She knew what that coast meant. It meant the Caldara, with its lower harbour city, its long road leading up the side of the mountain, to the crest that lay the inner city bare for anyone to admire. She remembered standing there, a lifetime ago it seemed, with her father, looking at the gilded buildings, the straight clean streets. And she remembered the great palace in the middle.

Would it be there the battle was going to be fought? Aang had told her that he had been in the throne room during the invasion, and how it had looked… Would it be there that they were going to confront Azula?

It wouldn't be a good place to fight her. Katara only had the water in the pouches at her hip, and she doubted that there would be any in the throne room of the Fire Nation. No… It would be better to fight somewhere near water. It was at this time she kind of envied airbenders and firebenders, who didn't need to rely on the sources of their bending. Air was everywhere… And firebenders quite literally made their own fire.

"It looks small from here." Zuko's voice sounded a lot closer now, and turning towards him, she saw that he was standing at the front of the saddle.

"It doesn't look that small when you have to invade it." She answered, "Do you think the turrets have been repaired?" The small, low towers on the side of the volcano had been where her father had been wounded, but they had managed to destroy them.

"Honestly, I doubt it. Ozai and Azula would have preferred to put every resource on the coming of the comet." Zuko spoke as the coast approached.

Katara nodded at that, relieved. They needed to approach the Caldara as rested as possible, and she had been afraid what would happen if the defences were all in order. So, the invasion had yet served a purpose… Not a great one, but anything that could give them an edge in this fight was welcome.

"Where should I land?" She asked the question, knowing that she could not ask Appa to also defend himself after flying them all over the world in just a few days. And she would prefer to keep the bison safe. It was not like he couldn't defend himself, for Katara had seen often enough that the pacifism of the Air Nomads didn't extend to the Sky Bisons… No, those were pretty dangerous when provoked. But still, it would be better to have him safe.

"Close to the Royal Plaza! It is there Azula will be crowned… We can approach as silently as possible, through the crowd. But we must reach her before the crown is placed on her head. If it is, she is the legitimate Fire Lord… Before that, the loyalty of the soldiers on guard can be questionable… But they will obey a legitimate Fire Lord." Zuko explained.

"Is that the square close to the palace? With on one side some sort of temple?" Katara had seen that place from the top of the volcano during the invasion, and it had seemed beautiful… And filled with little canals. Meaning that there would be water to fight with!

"Yes!"

The coast was close now, and raking her eyes over it, the waterbender was surprised to see that there was not a ship in the port. Nor was there any movement in the harbour, or on the long straight street that led to the volcano. It looked… deserted. Of course, that didn't mean anything. It had looked like that just before the invasion had begun, and just minutes later the street had been buzzing with activity…

But this was another kind of silence. There was a stress in the air, and it seemed that the population had barricaded themselves in their homes instead of abandoning them. Looking up into the sky, Katara could see the comet was slowly getting higher into the sky, burning bright. The sun itself was getting to the horizon, meaning that evening was close… It would be a rather beautiful night she supposed. Like the long midsummer night in the South, where the sun never set. Only this time, the natural light would bring immense power to their enemies…

"There!" Zuko said, rather loudly, and she saw a hand move past the corner of her eye, pointing to something. Following the gesture, she looked at the small towers sitting on the ledge around the Lower City. Most didn't seem repaired, but there was one with a light inside it.

Before she could even react, a slow, low trumpet sounded. A moment later, the sound resounded from a second trumpet, higher up the mountain. And a third, inside the Caldara itself.

They had been seen.

"They will suppose it is Aang!" The firebender shouted to make himself heard above the cacophony of low trumpets.

"Let them! It is not important at this moment! We need to ignore them and get to Azula! When we defeated her, you can call off the soldiers!" Katara shouted back, pulling on Appa's reins to make him fly higher. The bison had actually not needed her encouragement, but she felt safer doing it all the same.

From the tower, she saw a flicker of light, different than the one that had been there before. Squinting her eyes, she realized what it was. Pulling hard on the reins, making Appa veer to the left in one hard tug, she watched with astonishment what was coming towards them.

It was a fireball… Like the one she was used to see from firebenders. But this one was at least ten times bigger, and even from the good distance she had managed to create between the attack and the bison, she could feel the heat burning. Appa lowed loudly, clearly not a fan of what had happened, and he began to fly even higher.

"Was that one firebender?!" She shouted towards Zuko.

"I think so!" The prince sounded… awed.

That was one soldier…

One.

Her brother, Suki and Toph needed to face hundreds of those…

And Aang had to fight the best firebender in the world, at this moment… Katara felt her heart clench painfully at that thought, as if the idea was physically painful for her… Zuko had said that his father was better than Azula, and Iroh had not been sure if he would be able to defeat Ozai… How could Aang, with his three or four weeks of training, do anything? But she knew the airbender. He would come out on top and would be able to fight back. He had all four elements at his disposal…

Appa was beginning to climb slightly higher, so that they could fly over the edge of the crater. Katara looked down, seeing no other signs of soldiers of guards. That was good in some way, but that meant that they were concentrated somewhere… And she feared that would mean that all soldiers in the capital were guarding this Royal Plaza.

The city inside the crater should already have been in the shadows due to the position of the sun, but Katara could see that the comet was probably illuminating the streets. Glancing up, the waterbender could see that the ball of fire and light was dissipating the orange mist in front of it, just like it had done when they had been flying over the water… It was clear now that it would burn through the sky for the whole night, seen it slow ascend into the sky. It would mean that if they managed to kill Azula rather quickly… She could perhaps convince Appa to take her back over the ocean. If he was up for it. She could perhaps see the end of the fight between Aang and the Fire Lord… And be there if something went wrong.

It wouldn't. She shouldn't think like that.

"That's strange…" Zuko sounded surprised, "Normally there is a big crowd… When Ozai become Fire Lord, thousands of people lined the streets."

Letting her eyes go over the streets, Katara realized they seemed deserted, just like in the Lower City… Where was everyone?

"The Plaza?" She asked over her shoulder, knowing that if there were any people around, it would be there.

"Doesn't seem so…" The prince still spoke in a surprised tone, as if he couldn't understand what was happening.

But Katara had a pretty good idea. It looked like the night after the battle of the North Pole. During the day, people had helped clear the streets, tend to the wounded, and wrapped the dead for burial… But during the night after the siege, the streets had been deserted, everyone grieving someone in the privacy of their homes, leaving the city eerily silent. She had walked through the streets with Aang, because Sokka had been in the Palace with Arnook. And it had looked like this.

Silent, and as if everyone was waiting for the dawn that would free them from the horrors of the night.

Suddenly, realization hit her. The Fire Nation population was as afraid of the comet as the rest of the world had been… And Katara could think of a few reasons why. Many people were benders here, and that included small children… What would they do if they bend something, even if it wasn't on purpose? She had done it many times as a child, freezing the water under Sokka's feet when she had been angry with him… Or what would a violent person do to the people around him or her? Spirits… The comet was a much a menace to these people as it was to the world.

"They are hiding…" She whispered, feeling pity in her heart. It was strange… She hated the Fire Nation, with all her heart… But the people living in it… Those, she had come to pity. They had not asked for this war, and many sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, had gone to war and had never come back…

It was just the most wasteful thing in the whole universe. Why would people wage war? Why would countries encourage the senseless slaughter of their own subjects? For the glory of their leaders? And what did that bring? A footnote in a book?

Katara sighed. As much as she had grown up with violence and war, and even considered those things part of everyday life… She could see why Aang hated it so much.

"We can land there!" Zuko spoke, pointing a hand towards the broad street just in front of the palace. Raising an eyebrow, she turned around.

"Appa will be visible there! And will be attacked!" She protested.

"Do you see any guards around? Appa is smart, he will get out of the way of any danger!" The firebender answered with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Katara could really fight that logic, for she herself had always said Appa was capable taking care of himself. Tugging on the reins, she moved him towards the place Zuko had pointed to.

The bison landed, and she felt how, instead of landing on his six paws, Appa just landed on his stomach, as he always did whenever they had pushed him too much. Sliding off his head, she quickly let her hand ruffle the fur underneath a half-closed eye.

"Sorry boy… But normally, the coming days are going to be good for you!" She tried to reassure herself as much as the bison. Katara quickly turned to the sky, where the comet seemed even smaller than it had done so when they had been flying.

"Where are the crowds!" Zuko landed next to her, speaking with his harsh accent.

"You are sure this is the place we needed to be?" The waterbender asked. Azula had already tricked them once before, and it was entirely possible she would have relocated her coronation to the other side of the Fire Nation.

"This has to be the place! Every Fire Lord has been crowned here since Sozin began the tradition of doing it in front of the temple!" Zuko spoke quietly, turning in a circle. Katara also looked seeing the great gated that led into the plaza stand wide open. Pointing towards it, she nodded towards Zuko. They better check it in any case.

The gates led into a great square, flanked on either side by huge galleries. As Katara stepped onto the plaza, she saw the great marble floors, weaving intricate patterns all over the square, and the small canals running alongside the galleries. All in all, she admired it for a second, before her attention was drawn towards the other side of the plaza. There, on the steps leading to the great temple, stood a small group of people.

But there were no big, cheering crowds… It was rather lonely. As she looked at the group, she could make out one person with their back towards them, who was kneeling. In front of that person stood a rather old man, wearing the same robes as the Fire Sages had done in Roku's temple. The man, holding a golden glittering object in his hands, spoke clearly, his voice echoing over the empty plaza.

"By decree of Phoenix King Ozai, and by all the laws of the land, you are hereby presented to us all as our next monarch! In Agni's name, I, High Sage Pyuzu of the Temple of Hari Bulkan, crown thee-" The voice covered the plaza, clear as day. Katara saw the hesitation of the man, looking towards them. She couldn't make out the expression on his face sadly. Glancing towards Zuko, she saw he nodded.

She began to walk towards the temple, with Zuko next to her. The kneeling person said something, but it couldn't be heard at this distance. But Katara recognized the posture and the sound of the voice.

Azula.

Trying with all of her might not to go all berserk and just choke the bitch with her bare hands, Katara inhaled deeply. The people needed to see that Azula was cast down, so no one could ever claim the throne in her name. These Fire Sages would have to be enough, but still, she could not just kill Azula and be done with it.

However much she would like to.

"What are you waiting for?" Azula's voice could be heard clearly now as they approached the high steps leading towards the temple.

"You are not becoming Fire Lord today Sister." Zuko spoke formally, but Katara couldn't help but grin. That sounded good. At least a slap in the face. Even if they lost, she could say to the spirits that she had had the pleasure of interrupting Azula in her moment of triumph.

The princess turned around, standing up. The waterbender saw the intricate robes that she had been wearing slide of the armour that the woman wore underneath. But as her eyes looked up, to the face that she hated so much… She was shocked.

Shocked to see pure unleashed madness in the ember eyes. She had always looked composed and impossible to read. But now? No… Now, the princess was an open book. And very unpredictable open book by the looks of it…

A soft chuckle sounded eerily over the square, before turning into a crazed laughter. Katara opened one of the pouches on her hip. Any moment now…

"You? You?" The voice sounded surprised and amazed at the same time, and a hint of mockery could also be heard.

"Anything is better than you I suppose." Zuko answered thinly. Katara looked at him, and was taken aback at the sadness on his face. But then again, seeing your sibling like this… And knowing you had to kill them…

No. No pity for Azula.

"Fine. Come and take it then. But in the old way of the Fire Nation. Centuries ago, the heir was decided by battle. By Agni Kai." Azula smiled broadly, which was even creepier than her normal, controlled smile.

Zuko nodded.

"Step away Katara." He sighed.

"Oh Tui and La no! I came here to kill her. And I'm not stepping aside." She didn't move.

"Katara, an Agni Kai is sacred. The traditional rules are that two people enter the fight, and only one leaves." The prince protested.

"Fuck that sacred Agni Kai ostrich horse crap. She is going down." Katara protested.

"And she will… Remember our deal."

The waterbender knew that if she wanted peace… She had to accept it. But still, it felt bitter and acidly that she was being pushed out of the way of this fight as all the others risked their lives. She hated being sidelined. Even if it was in this moment.

Even more because she knew Zuko couldn't win.

"I'll make sure to leave you alive water wench!" Azula spoke in a higher voice than she normally did, "The Avatar wouldn't want his little doll dead…"

Katara watched as the princess smiled wickedly at her. Fine.

"The moment she breaks any rules, you say so. I step and wipe that asheater from the face of the earth." With that she began to walk towards the gallery, leaving Zuko and Azula on the Plaza.

Answers:

Jjsmith103: I can read your comment! I think it could have been Katara or Yue! My take is that you have the intention to be pure of heart. Aang is doubting himself, which makes him humble enough to be pure. But let's see where I take this lol! Thanks for every review, and for the P.M. reassuring me a few days ago!