Over the next couple of weeks, there were four more attacks. All of them were on small villages near the coast, but so far none of the outlying islands had been attacked. Fire Nation soldiers swarmed every hill and mountain searching for the Phoenix Initiative, but to no avail. They seemed to attack out of nowhere and then disappear like spirits, and it was causing a general unrest across the entire nation. The tension in the Capital was palpable, and the citizens began to suspect the city would be attacked any day.
Whenever an attack happened, Katara and Zuko would visit the village and do whatever they could to help the people. Zuko mostly helped by organizing soldiers and volunteers as well as getting his hands dirty and helping with the rebuilding of important structures, carrying injured people to the healers, and even helping care for the dead. The people were comforted and inspired by his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved, and it had certainly strengthened people's faith in him. Katara however, would work nonstop from the moment they arrived until the moment they departed healing the injured, and her very presence seemed to have a calming effect on everyone around her. She had already been beloved by the people, but her actions proved she was worthy of her reputation, and citizens all over the Fire Nation had already begun to call her "Fire Lady" even though she and Zuko were not yet married. Despite everything, it warmed Zuko's heart to hear that his people loved her so much. He even began to suspect that if it were not for her, the entire nation would be in a panic, though Iroh, Katara, and several of his generals had insisted that his actions were equally responsible for keeping the peace.
Ty Lee had been invaluable to them both, making frequent trips to the Palace simply to remind them to eat and rest, and she was doing her best to keep their spirits up. Zuko had been spending his time consumed by maps and meetings, trying in vain to locate the Phoenix Initiative or to discover where they might strike next. Katara had doubled her usual visits into the Caldera and Harbour cities and spent the majority of her time talking to the citizens and doing her best to keep the calm. If it wasn't for Ty Lee, neither of them would have stopped to rest at all.
One afternoon a couple weeks after the first attack, Ty Lee managed to convince Katara, Zuko, and Iroh to spend a couple of hours by the lake outside the Palace walls. She had made them a huge picnic lunch, and asked Iroh to bring his favourite blend of tea for them to enjoy. She had worked so hard to organize the afternoon for them that they felt obliged to go along with her plan, so by the time noon came around they found themselves seated on a large blanket in the shadow of the Palace walls, sipping on tea.
"I know you guys have been busy, but have you made any arrangements for the wedding yet?" Ty Lee asked, snacking on some homemade biscuits.
Katara shook her head. "No, not particularly. We have hardly seen each other, so there hasn't been much time to discuss it."
"Stopping the Phoenix Initiative is more important right now," Zuko added.
"It might cheer people up if they hear about wedding plans though," Ty Lee replied.
"That is true," Iroh said, "It would be a distraction from the fear."
Katara contemplated this for a moment before speaking. "I do get asked about the wedding about fifty thousand times a day… I just tell people that their safety is our first priority, but I still get pressed for details."
"Well… I suppose it couldn't hurt to work out a few details, or at least settle on a date. It could give people something to look forward to," Zuko contemplated.
"Sokka and Suki's wedding is in two months, so we should wait until after that. I don't want to have anything overlap," Katara said.
Zuko nodded. "Of course. Our wedding will be a huge event anyway, so we will need time to get everything in order. It will probably be a bigger affair than the Anniversary Ball."
Katara blinked at him and paled slightly. "You think so?"
"Don't forget… it's not just our wedding, but also your coronation. It's a big deal, and people will be coming from all over the world, not just the Fire Nation. Especially considering we are joining the Fire Nation and the Water Tribe with our marriage. It will be a historic event, and hopefully a final seal on the end of the war."
"No pressure…" Katara said, gulping back her tea nervously.
Iroh chuckled. "Don't worry my dear one, you will be magnificent."
"Yeah! Don't worry about all the political stuff… that will be easy compared to being stuck with Zuko for the rest of your life," Ty Lee said with a sly grin.
Zuko turned red while the others laughed at him. Katara leaned over and kissed him gently, then took his hand. "There is no one I would rather be stuck with."
"Why am I always the one who gets picked on?" Zuko muttered.
"Because you make it so easy," Ty Lee replied with a laugh.
"I'm not even sure what the Fire Nation wedding customs are, to be honest. I'm not sure what all needs to be arranged," Katara said.
"Don't you worry, most of the arrangements will be handled for you, and we can go over any important traditions with you long before the wedding day. And if you like, we can add in any Water Tribe customs you wish as well," Iroh replied.
Katara smiled at him. "I would appreciate that."
"Luckily the wedding will be more flexible with that sort of thing. It's the coronation that is the stuffy, traditional affair. But you were at Zuko's coronation, so that should give you an idea of what to expect. Yours will take place immediately following the wedding ceremony, and then there will be a grand reception afterwards."
Katara twisted her hair between her fingers nervously. Zuko looked over at her and rested his hand on her knee, giving her a small smile. "Trust me, if I can get through a coronation, you certainly can. You are way better at speeches and talking to people than I am."
"You do just fine when you are being all Fire Lord-y," Ty Lee shrugged.
"That's true. It's only when you are feeling vulnerable that you get tongue-tied," Katara agreed.
"Which is probably why it is a good thing we spent so long sending letters… It took me ages to stop putting my foot in my mouth around you," Zuko said with a slight blush.
Katara laughed and gave him another kiss.
As the afternoon wore on, the four of them were indeed feeling more relaxed and re-energized, much to Ty Lee's delight. They had to concede that once again, she had been correct in her insistence that they needed a break, and Zuko was especially grateful for it. They packed up their things and slowly made their way back into the Palace, chatting idly about the wedding. As they came through the main gate and headed into the Palace, they suddenly heard a man's voice calling out for Zuko. They stopped and looked for the source, spotting General Kohoku rushing towards them. He stopped before Zuko with a bow.
"My Lord, urgent news! We have intercepted a message that we believe holds information for the next attack!" he said, thrusting a piece of parchment towards him.
Katara, Ty Lee, and Iroh leaned in to read it as Zuko unfurled the paper. It merely said,
'Redmarch Village, dawn tomorrow.'
"Redmarch Village? Where is that?" Katara asked.
Zuko turned to her with a frown. "Just north of here… about an hour's ride by Mongoose Lizard. If this is true, they are growing bolder, attacking a village so close to the Capital."
"How was this intercepted?" Iroh asked.
"Our scouts have spotted messenger hawks moving through the mountains over the past couple weeks and have been trying to track them. They managed to catch one this morning, and this was the message it was carrying," Kohoku replied.
"They have been so careful so far… this may be a trap," Iroh mused.
"Any of the attacks could have been a trap, but I am not willing to sit here and do nothing while my people suffer. If this is real, and I have a chance to stop them before they carry out another attack, I will take the risk," Zuko said, handing the letter back to Kohoku. "I'm going."
"Zuko…" Iroh started.
"I know it is dangerous, and I know it is probably a terrible idea. But I am going."
Iroh sighed, and nodded. "Then I will come with you."
"I appreciate it uncle, but I need you to stay here. If anything happens to me, you are the only other person with a claim to the throne aside from Azula."
Iroh grimaced, but he knew his nephew was right and that he would never agree to allow him to go in his stead. He merely nodded. "What can I do then?"
"I need a small unit of our best warriors. We need to be quiet and fast, and if we go in with a full army, they will call off their attack. Ty Lee, I would like you to join us. Your ability to disable bending is a valuable skill, and you will probably be the most efficient when it comes to taking out Azula."
Ty Lee nodded emphatically, and gave him an awkward salute before he turned to his fiancee. "Katara…"
"I am going with you," she interrupted.
Zuko fought a smirk as he replied. "I wasn't going to ask you to stay."
"You weren't?"
"Of course not. I don't want you to get hurt of course, but I know you are an extremely powerful bender and a more than capable warrior. I would never ask you to stay behind just because I am scared you will get hurt. Plus, we have proven time and time again that we work better together anyway, so I'd appreciate having you watch my back."
Katara blushed slightly, embarrassed at her assumption.
"I was just going to say that there is a small river that runs through the village, so you can use that to your advantage. Though it would be a good idea to bring your waterskins just in case."
Katara nodded, and smiled at him. "When do we leave?"
"I'd like to go once it gets dark, so we have time to prepare. We will send word ahead to the village and tell them to evacuate as soon as and discreetly as possible, though anyone who wishes to stay behind and fight is welcome to. I will not order anyone to abandon their homes if they would rather stand and defend their village. Hopefully the Phoenix Initiative isn't watching the village now, or they might realize that we know their plan."
General Kohoku cleared his throat. "My Lord, what of the Council?"
"I will meet with them before we go. Please send word for them to meet immediately," Zuko replied.
The General bowed and turned to carry out his orders. Zuko turned back to Katara and took her hands. "Get plenty of rest now, and make sure you are ready to go. I'll come find you once I am done this meeting." He kissed her gently, then gave Ty Lee a nod, then he and Iroh marched off towards the Council room.
XXXX
Katara had spent the rest of the afternoon with Ty Lee, trying her best to quell the anxiety that grew as the day passed. After forcing herself to eat a hearty dinner, she finally allowed herself to venture back up to her room. She rifled through her closet and drawers, looking for something satisfactory to wear. She didn't want anything flashy, and she wanted to wear something that was comfortable to fight in. In the end she settled on dark brown leggings with a red, sectioned skirt overtop, comfortable red shoes, and a red and brown sleeveless top that was cropped short. It was similar to the outfit she had worn when she was in hiding in the Fire Nation so many years ago, and as she looked at herself in the mirror she realized that this had essentially become her 'default' outfit when she didn't feel like wearing anything fancy or flowy. She finished off her look by tying her hair back in a simple braid, then tightened her betrothal necklace around her neck. Once she was done, she wandered out onto the balcony and leaned against the rail, watching the setting sun reflected in the shadowy water of the lake below.
Her anxiety grew as the sky darkened, knowing that they would be leaving for the village soon. She wasn't sure what to expect, and though she kept herself in good shape and practiced combat bending often, it had been a long time since she had been in a fight that could potentially be fatal. She had almost forgotten how terrifying the moments before a fight could be. She watched in silence as the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the mountains of the caldera, allowing herself to feel the pull of the rising moon. It gave her strength, and she found both courage and comfort in it.
A knock at the door drew her attention away from the scenery before her, and she turned back into her room. "Come in!"
The door opened and Zuko walked in, shutting the door behind him. He gave her a small smile and strode towards her, pulling her back out onto the balcony without a word. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight for a few minutes, closing his eyes and merely enjoying her warmth. Finally he pulled away with a sigh.
"Are you okay?" Katara asked.
"Yeah, I'm just… anxious I suppose."
"I know the feeling."
Zuko reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair off of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Are you scared?"
"I am, though I'm not scared of fighting the Phoenix Initiative, or even Azula. I'm scared about what will happen if we lose. I mean, I am scared that I'll be murdered by your crazy sister, or that she will murder you, but what really scares me is what will happen after."
"You mean if she takes the throne?"
Katara nodded. "She would lead the Fire Nation into another war. During the Hundred Year War, the citizens of the Fire Nation were conditioned to believe the war was a good thing. That wasn't their fault… and a lot of the people suffered just as much as people in the Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe. Jang Hui is a perfect example of that; when I saw the conditions they lived in, I truly realized that the other nations were not the only victims of the war. I started seeing the Fire Nation differently, and realizing that the people living here were suffering too. But now… now they all know the difference. They all know that the war was awful, and it brought misery to everyone. They know what it's like to have music and laughter again… to have peace. If the Fire Nation started another war, they would suffer far more than they did before, and that thought scares me so much. I can't let our people have their freedom and peace stripped from them as they suffer under the rule of a tyrant like Azula."
Zuko listened to her silently, and when she finished he couldn't help but give her a loving smile. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly.
"What was that for?" Katara asked, smiling back at him.
"You called them 'our people'."
"Oh…" Katara blushed slightly.
"I love that you already think that way."
She shrugged. "I love the Fire Nation, and I love its people. If you had told me five years ago that I would say that, I would have laughed in your face, but it's true. Over the past couple of months I have really gotten to know more about your culture; I have learned so many wonderful things and met so many amazing people, and I really do feel like this is my home and that the people of the Fire Nation are my people. I will always be a part of the Water Tribe, and my roots are in the South Pole. But this is where I choose to be, and I will to protect the people I have come to love no matter what. They have embraced me so readily and have been so genuinely kind, even though I am a waterbender from a small village in the Water Tribe. They already call me Fire Lady, even though we are not yet married. So… I am terrified of letting them down."
"You could never let them down, Katara. Especially not if they knew how much you care about them all."
"If Azula defeats us and ends up on the throne, we will be failing them all."
Zuko smirked. "You are always telling me not to doubt myself so much… listen to your own advice and have some faith in yourself. Trust me, you are terrifying when you are angry, and when someone threatens innocent people or people you care about, nothing makes you angrier. I wouldn't be surprised if the Phoenix Initiative turn and run the second you come for them."
Katara laughed, shaking her head. "Let's hope it's that easy."
Zuko smiled down at her for a moment, his heart full of joy. After all the horrible things that had happened to him throughout his life, and after all the bad decisions and mistakes, he had a hard time believing he deserved everything he had now. It amazed him more and more every day that someone as kind, loving, and brave as Katara would even speak to him, let alone love him. Hearing her talk about the people of the Fire Nation as if she were already Fire Lady made him breathless, and made him love her all the more. He suddenly pulled her close, capturing her lips hungrily. She immediately returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around him.
All of their fears seemed to melt away as they kissed, replaced by a burning need for one another. Together they stumbled back into the room kissing frantically until they had reached the bed and tumbled onto the mattress. Zuko began kissing down her neck, letting his hands slide up her legs towards her hips. Katara moaned softly, grasping his hair as his mouth trailed down her neck and across her chest. His fingers worked at unfastening her skirt, and as it came free he flung it across the room. Katara's hand's drifted down the back of his neck, causing him to gasp softly, and then she began untying the belt holding his shirt closed. Once it was free, she tossed it out of the way and reached up once more to push his shirt off of him. He slipped it off, but while he was preoccupied Katara took the chance to push him onto his back. She climbed on top of him, straddling his hips. She moved against him teasingly, and a moan escaped his lips at the friction.
Just as Katara leaned down to kiss him once more, there was another knock at the door. They both swore, and scrambled off the bed to quickly collect the clothes they had shed.
"O-one moment!" Katara called with a shaky voice, scooping up her skirt and fumbling to refasten it.
"Way to be subtle," Zuko muttered with a chuckle. "They'll never suspect what we were up to now."
Katara grinned sheepishly, picking up his shirt and tossing it at his head playfully. He caught it with ease and slipped into it, quickly tying the belt as Katara crossed the room to answer the door. She opened it to reveal a guard, who swiftly bowed to her.
"Good evening, My Lady. I have been sent to inform you that the party heading for Redmarch Village is gathering…" the man trailed off as he spotted Zuko behind her, and he stared wordlessly for a moment, his eyes fixing on Zuko's hastily tied belt and Katara's messed up hair before forcing himself to continue. "Uh… they are gathering at the front gate…"
Katara bit her lip to stop herself from laughing, and she nodded. "Thank you, we will be right down."
The guard bowed again, then turned and strode down the hallway. Katara shut the door and burst into laughter.
"Well if there weren't rumours about us before… there certainly will be now," Zuko said with a chuckle.
Katara took a moment to fix her hair and re-braid it, then together they headed down to the gate to meet up with the group, both struggling to fight the heat that had rose up between them. When they arrived they saw ten soldiers, two healers, Ty Lee, and Iroh all waiting for them. Zuko frowned at his uncle as they approached, but Iroh waved his hand dismissively.
"I only came to wish you luck, nephew. Be safe, and remember your breath."
Zuko gave him a small smile, and nodded. Iroh then turned to Katara and gave her a warm hug, then did the same to Ty Lee. "Take care of yourselves, and watch out for Azula's lightning. Zuko can redirect it… you cannot. Do not let her target you."
Both women nodded, casting a nervous glance at one another. They had both seen how destructive Azula's lightning could be, and neither of them wanted to be on the receiving end of it.
Once everyone was ready, all fifteen of them mounted their mongoose lizards. Katara was unfamiliar with riding, but she faked it as best she could as the group of them headed out of the gate and down the path leading away from the Caldera city. She clutched at the reigns, terrified of falling off and getting injured before they even arrived at the village. What would the people think of her then? Luckily for her, the Lizards were well trained, and she hardly had to do much at all apart from hold on.
They wound their way down the road, and as they approached the Harbour City, they turned left and headed north away from the Capital. The night grew dark, the moon barely a sliver in the sky, but the terrain was easy; the same smooth, grassy plains that Katara and Zuko had snuck across the night of the fireworks. Katara looked east towards the ocean remembering that night fondly. It seemed like such a long time had passed since then, but in reality it had only been a few months. She couldn't believe how much had changed since that night. It was like she was living an entirely different life, though she certainly didn't regret a moment of it.
After about an hour of travel, the grassy plains turned soft, and they began to venture into marshland. They could see the village in the distance, lifted out of the marsh on thick stilts. It reminded her of Jang Hui, and it brought a smile to her face. In the distance she could see a thin, slow moving river snaking its way inland from the east, passing right under the village itself. 'Good,' she thought. 'Lots of water around here.'
They dismounted outside the silent village, then walked together up a wooden ramp and into the village outskirts. Katara looked around at the town; the whole village was lifted on ramps and bridges nearly ten feet off the ground, and between the wooden huts she could see straight down to the marshy land below. She could hear the sound of the river ahead, and as they made their way into the heart of the village she could see that the river flowed directly underneath a large, circular area that was the town square. There were many spots along the edges of the square that was open to the water below, and she could see signs that the villagers fished in the river without even having to leave town. She made a mental note to come back and go fishing once all of this was over.
Despite the silent, desolate feeling in the village, a small group of people waited for them in the middle of the town square. About two dozen villagers had remained, holding whatever weapons they could find. A few had swords or bows, more of them had axes or spears, weapons that were probably used more for fishing or logging than battle, and some few had makeshift weapons, such as kitchen knives and long, thick sticks that had been whitted into a point on one end. Katara admired the courage of these people, but cast a worried glance towards Zuko as they stopped and dismounted.
Zuko approached them, Katara at his side, and the villagers bowed respectfully before he spoke. "Thank you all for your bravery. I am honoured to fight beside so many courageous people." He smiled warmly at them all, then continued. "Are any of you benders?"
Two people raised their hands tentatively; an older man with a scraggly white beard, and a young woman who looked positively petrified. The man was carrying a sword, and stood as if he had once been a soldier himself, but the woman carried nothing but a knife. Zuko nodded. "And are there any other people left in the village?"
A middle-aged woman carrying a fishing spear stepped forward. "No my Lord. I checked every home myself, and there are none who remain."
Zuko nodded again. "You are the chief of this village?"
"Yes my Lord."
"Is there any building nearby where we can move any injured people if needed?"
"The town hall is just down that ramp there, and it is the largest building in town. But if I might make a suggestion…"
"Please do," Zuko said encouragingly.
"Well, I would think that the largest building would be a target, so we are to gather injured people anywhere, it should be at a less obvious location. There is a tavern just down that ramp, and while it not be as comfortable, it should be large enough."
Zuko nodded, smiling at her. "That sounds perfect. Thank you for your suggestion."
The chief bowed her head, smiling appreciatively, then rejoined the group. Zuko took a look around, assessing the area before speaking again. "Are any of you healers?" Several people raised their hands, and Zuko nodded. "I would like you to join our healers in the tavern. Spend the time between now and dawn collecting any supplies you might need and clearing room for any injured who may be brought in."
The village healers and the two from the Capital all bowed, and together they headed off across the ramps towards the tavern. Zuko turned to the two benders standing among the villagers. "I would like you two to go with them and keep the tavern safe."
They bowed as well, and followed the healers. Zuko split up the rest of the villagers, putting them into groups with the soldiers from the Capital and assigning them all to guard and protect different areas of the village. He, Katara, and Ty Lee stayed in the village square. He was certain that Azula would come straight for him or possibly Ty Lee, and he wanted them to be out in the open and easy to find. If he could draw most of the fighting away from the villagers, he knew his soldiers could keep the less combat capable people safe, and more than anything, he wanted to keep Azula occupied. He had faith in his soldiers, but in his experience, only Katara and Ty Lee had ever taken her down, and he didn't want anyone else to get caught in her path.
Over the course of the night, Zuko walked between the groups checking to see if they had everything they needed. But as dawn approached he rejoined Katara and Ty Lee, the three of them standing silently together, looking out towards the ocean as the sun slowly began to rise. Dawn broke, and the first rays of sunlight washed over the village. The morning light cast a red glow across the marshy terrain between the village and the sea, and Katara knew instantly why it was called 'Redmarch' Village. The sight was beautiful, but also filled her with dread. She couldn't help but think it looked like blood seeping across the land.
There was a stillness in the air, tense and silent as they waited for a sign of attack. But nothing came. Zuko turned slowly, peering out into the marshes beyond and into the shadowy corners of the village rampways. Nothing. He looked over at Katara, and though her face was fixed into a determined expression, he could see the fear in her eyes. Even Ty Lee, who was usually so cheerful and energetic even in the darkest of times, was tense and anxious as she wrung her hands together nervously.
Without warning there was a sudden explosion of fire, and one of the buildings nearby went up in flames. The three of them immediately jumped into battle positions, standing with their backs together. Another blast of fire came toward them, but Zuko blocked it with ease. Three armoured men came running out of an alleyway towards them. Ty Lee took the initiative, sprinting towards them before gracefully leaping up, twisting in mid-air, and landing behind the three men. She struck out at the man in the middle before they had even realized what had happened, and he fell to the ground limply. The two remaining men turned to face Ty Lee, stunned at how quick she had taken out their comrade, but quickly recovered as she gave them a friendly smile and started towards them.
Katara stepped forward, forming a tendril of water and using it to lash out at the man closest to her. It caught him off guard and swept him off his feet, but he quickly recovered and shot a blast of fire towards her in retaliation. She swiftly reformed the water to shield the attack, then froze the water before her into sharp icicles before firing them towards her attacker. Ty Lee had advanced on the other man, and the two of them were locked in hand to hand combat. He was managing to block her attacks, but couldn't seem to get an attack in himself.
Zuko stood his ground, confident that the two women could handle the men. He cast his gaze around the square, looking for any sign of his sister, when movement caught his eye. Two more people, a man and a woman, came running out from another walkway towards him, both firing flames in his direction. He summoned flames of his own to block them then ran forward to engage. He sent a fireball towards the woman, who lept and tumbled out of the way to avoid it then swiftly fired another shot at the man, who barely blocked the attack. The woman got back to her feet and ran at Zuko with another attack. He dropped, his forward momentum allowing him to slide across the ground as the flames ripped past overhead, then he lept back to his feet directly in front of the woman. She hesitated for a split second, and that was all he needed. He kicked her hard in the chest, sending her flying backward, then quickly turned to block a punch from the man as he approached.
As the man Ty Lee had been fighting fell in a crumpled heap before her, she did a quick assessment of the battle. Katara was still trading blows with the man she was fighting, and Zuko was currently engaged in hand to hand with a second man. The woman he had kicked back was staggering to her feet and summoned flames to fire at Zuko, but had to redirect as Ty Lee charged her.
Suddenly a cold voice called out over the sound of battle, loud and clear. "ZUKO!"
All six combatants were momentarily distracted and looked towards the source of the voice. Standing on a roof overlooking the square was Azula, the reflection of the flames burning in her eyes as she sneered down at her brother. Ty Lee recovered first, using the chance to strike out at the woman's pressure points and render her immobile. Azula's golden eyes shifted at the movement, and her sneer grew at the sight of her former friend. Ty Lee paid no attention however, and moved to engage the man Zuko had been fighting. Katara had resumed her battle with the other man, leaving Zuko free to face his sister.
Azula lept from the rooftop towards him, sending a ball of blue flame in his direction. He blocked and countered her attack as she landed, but she rolled out of the way and sent another shot back at him as she quickly rose to her feet.
"You should have killed me while you had the chance!" Azula shouted at him as her bright, blue flames met his attacks.
"Why are you doing this, Azula? You have already lost! The people will never follow you!"
Azula froze for a moment, throwing her head back in laughter. Zuko took the chance to fire off an attack, but she blocked it easily. "I don't care about the people! I want revenge! I want to take away everything you love, starting with that disgusting waterbending peasant!"
Zuko's blood ran cold, and he turned to look at Katara, who had just flung the man she was fighting against a wall and frozen him in place. There was movement in the shadows behind her, and Zuko saw a glint of light that appeared to be reflected off of a blade. The attacker emerged; it was Mai, her stare fixed on Katara as she took aim with her knife.
"Ka-" Zuko started, but Azula fired off another string of shots, cutting him off as he turned to block her attacks.
Katara turned to the sound of Zuko's voice just as a blade went whipping past her head. Startled, she turned to the source and saw Mai lurking behind her, readying her next knife. Katara took a battle stance and summoned a shield of water to block the second blade. Having downed the last man in the square, Ty Lee sprinted towards Mai, looking shocked.
"What are you doing Mai? How could you betray us like this?" she shouted, looking genuinely hurt.
"You are the traitor, Ty Lee! You have forgotten who your REAL friends are! If you were my true friend, you would help me take out this dirty Water Tribe slut once and for all, and stop Zuko from polluting the proud lineage of the Fire Nation!"
Katara felt as if she had been slapped across the face. She knew Mai didn't like her, and it was obvious that she still had feelings for Zuko. But the pure loathing in her voice was shocking. Ty Lee was shocked too, but her expression quickly turned to a steely determination. She took a battle stance, staring down her old friend with a ferocity neither she nor Katara had ever seen.
"So be it…" Mai muttered. She lifted her hand and gestured forward, and four more Phoenix Initiative soldiers emerged from the alley behind her and charged at Ty Lee.
Within a heartbeat, Mai had turned back to Katara and launched another knife. She was thrown off guard and barely blocked it, but recovered quickly and sent a strand of water whipping towards her.
XXXX
Azula charged forward, unleashing an onslaught of fire missiles towards Zuko. He redirected each one, but felt himself being pushed back by her attack. He changed his tactic; He leapt up into the air with a flip and formed a flame whip, lashing out at Azula who was forced to halt her advance in order to dodge.
"You cannot beat me, Zuzu! I have always been better than you!" Azula taunted.
"I've beaten you before, I can do it again!
"No, your Water Tribe pet beat me, not you, and only because she got lucky."
Zuko smirked, lashing out again with the fire whip.
"She didn't get lucky, Azula. She was better than you."
Azula sneered at him, then let out a scream of rage, breathing hot-blue flames at Zuko.
XXXX
"Do you really think Zuko will take you back if you kill me?" Katara called, sending another whip of water towards Mai.
"This isn't the first time we have broken up, peasant. We always end up back together."
Mai dodged the whip and threw two knives, causing Katara to duck low out of the way to avoid them. She took the chance to close the distance between them, tossing another knife at Katara who swiftly rolled to the side and back onto her feet, pulling a cascade of water out of the river below. She wrapped the water around herself, forming several tendrils of water as she took her Octopus Form. Mai faltered for a moment at the sight, remembering how truly terrifying a master waterbender truly was. But she was determined to win, and charged forward.
Katara lashed out with the tendrils, whipping the water towards her attacker. Mai dodged between the attacks, tossing knives toward the waterbender and forcing her to defend as well as attack.
XXXX
Zuko lashed out with his fire whip once more, but Azula redirected the flame and it dissipated before striking her. She formed a pinwheel of fire and hurled it towards Zuko, who quickly dodged it and countered with a spinning kick that shot an arc of fire at his sister.
"Captivity has made you weak, Azula. Do you need a break to catch your breath?" he taunted.
She let out another enraged scream, then leapt back and planted her feet solidly beneath her.
"I'll show you who is weak, you pathetic little child! The throne belongs to me!"
She took a deep breath, and Zuko knew immediately what was coming next. This is what he had been waiting for. He planted his feet as well, mirroring her deep breath and readying himself for the coming attack. Lightning formed around Azula's hands, and with a sadistic grin, she attacked.
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"You are just as crazy as Azula. Do you really think you can win?" Katara yelled, landing a blow and knocking Mai backward.
She got quickly to her feet and glowered at Katara. "We already have. You fell for our trap, didn't you? And once we destroy you and capture Zuko, we can focus on taking the Capital!"
Katara blocked another knife and countered with another water whip, which narrowly missed. "You'll never take the Capital! I know from experience that it is NOT easy to take!"
Mai laughed a cold, dark laugh. "We already have friends on the inside. All we have to do is kill you, take Zuko prisoner, and walk right in! You have already been betrayed!"
Katara froze at this, a feeling of cold dread running through her. She knew it must be true; the Phoenix Initiative had already infiltrated the Capital the night of the break out, and though they did a thorough investigation of their guards and soldiers, they easily could have missed someone.
Just as Katara moved to attack again a flickering caught her eye, accompanied by a deadly crackling sound, a sound that still haunted her nightmares. Mai had noticed too, and they both turned to watch just as Azula fired lightning towards Zuko. He thrust his arm out, two fingers extended, and pulled the lightning into him. It crackled around him for a brief moment, then he threw out his opposite arm and fired the lightning back at Azula. She attempted to mirror his move, and managed to successfully deflect most of the attack, sending a hot bolts of lightning sparking in every direction. But she wasn't quite fast enough, and was thrown backwards onto the ground as the lightning struck her. One bolt fired back towards Zuko, who was not expecting the rebound, and he threw up a fire shield to deflect the much weaker lightning attack. The lightning exploded as it hit his shield, and he was flung backwards into a nearby wall.
"Zuko!" Katara yelled, dropping her form and disengaging from her own fight.
Mai watched as the waterbender sprinted towards Zuko, cold fury burning behind her stoic expression. She swiftly pulled three thin, dark blades from her robes and hurled them towards Katara, who was too focused on Zuko to anticipate the attack. The first flew over her head, missing. The second hit the mark however, embedding itself into Katara's upper back just under her shoulder blade. Katara let out a cry, but before she could react the third hit, striking her in the back of her thigh. She stumbled and fell, hitting the ground hard. Mai smirked, then glanced over at Zuko, who was shakily getting to his feet across the town square. They locked eyes for a moment, then they simultaneously began to run, Zuko towards Katara and Mai to Azula.
Azula was feebly struggling to get up, but it was clear that she was out of the fight. Mai didn't want to retreat, but as she took one final look at Katara, she felt satisfied that she had accomplished at least one of her goals. She called for the other Phoenix Initiative members to fall back and then pulled Azula up, half carrying, half dragging the princess away from the fight.
Zuko reached Katara and fell to his knees beside her. She reached out to him, her arm shaking with the effort. He took a quick look at her wounds; they didn't look fatal and they weren't even bleeding too badly. He pulled the thin blades out of her back and leg, tossing them aside and pulling her close so he could put pressure on the wounds.
"Zuko…" she whispered hoarsely.
"You're going to be okay, Katara. The wounds aren't bad, just keep still, okay? We need to stop the bleeding."
"Zuko… I don't… I don't feel well…"
He looked away from her wounds and turned his eyes to her face, his brow knitting in worry as he caught sight of how pale and ashen she looked. He placed a hand on her cheek, and despite the warm morning, her skin was ice cold. Suddenly her eyes slid closed, and she went limp in his arms.
"...Katara?!" he shouted, panic rising in his voice. "Katara! Please open your eyes! Stay with me!"
Ty Lee suddenly appeared at his side, breathing heavily and with a few minor cuts and burns, but otherwise unharmed. She took one look at Katara, then searched the ground for the blades that Zuko had pulled from her. She gingerly picked up one of the delicate blades and inspected it. Her eyes grew wide, and she dropped the blade.
"We need to get her to a healer NOW," she said, getting to her feet.
Zuko didn't hesitate; he scooped Katara up into his arms and stood, fighting the panic that tore through his chest. He and Ty Lee ran towards the tavern as fast as they could.
"What is it Ty Lee?" Zuko called as they ran.
"She's been poisoned! I'll explain once we get there," she called back, leading the way down the walkway.
They arrived without issue; it seemed that Mai's order had been obeyed and the Phoenix Initiative had retreated. There was a flurry of activity within, with healers rushing back and forth treating cuts and burns. There were a couple of people laying further back who looked to be more seriously injured, but overall it looked like there were no fatalities, and only about a dozen injuries. But Zuko didn't care. He rushed in after Ty Lee, shouting for healers as he made his way over to one of the tables that had been cleared off and set Katara down gently. Two healers rushed over, one of the healers from the Capital and one of the village healers. Both women immediately started inspecting Katara.
"She was hit with a blade laced with a poison," Ty Lee informed them. She turned to Zuko. "I've seen Mai use it before… it's called… something…. Lily…"
"Morning Lily?" the village healer said, looking up at Ty Lee.
"That's it! She squishes up the petals into a liquid and dips those little blades into it."
The village healer immediately started rummaging through her bag while the other woman quickly began cleaning the wounds. Zuko felt like his heart was being squeezed, and he was so afraid for Katara that his whole body shook.
"What does it do?" he asked quietly.
The village woman replied, still rooting around in her bag. "It is a plant sometimes used to put patients to sleep, though in very small, diluted doses. Getting hit with a direct dose will render the victim unconscious within minutes, and if they are not treated right away, the poison will spread through the blood and they…" she paused, looking up at Zuko. "They will die within the day.
Zuko paled, unable to breathe. Ty Lee gently touched his arm. "But it's treatable?" she asked.
The woman held up a small satchel and nodded. "This is creeping moss. It grows in the marshes around here, and it can be used to draw poisons or venoms out of a wound. There are a lot of venomous insects and serpents in the marsh, and we use it to treat the bites."
She pulled the moss out of the satchel and tore off two large chunks. She placed the first in a stone bowl, ground it into a mushy paste, and then applied it to the wound on Katara's back. She repeated the process with the second clump, putting the paste on the second wound before placing a clean bandages over both wounds.
"With any luck, the poison hasn't spread too much yet and it will be drawn out. Unfortunately we won't know for sure until she either survives the day, or… or doesn't."
Zuko clenched his hands into fists, feeling his whole body go numb. "Is there any other cures for this poison?"
"Not that I am aware of, my Lord. Morning Lily is very deadly… especially when used as a poison. Normally we dilute one small drop in water and the patient drinks it, which helps them sleep. But we still don't like to use it unless we have no choice. Usually only if we need a patient unconscious to treat a bad wound."
"Do you know if this moss will work? Or are you just guessing?"
"...not purely guessing, my Lord. It has been used to successfully treat this poison before. It really depends on how quickly the patient is treated, and how resilient they are."
Zuko released a shaky breath, then collapsed into a chair next to the table where Katara lay. Ty Lee watched him fretfully, trying in vain to think of some comforting words. But she knew the only thing that would comfort him would be to know without a doubt that Katara would be okay. She pulled up another chair and sat next to him, taking his hand in hers. Zuko felt numb. He stared at Katara's unconscious form, every breath she took bringing him a brief moment of relief, only to swiftly return to unbridled fear. He felt Ty Lee give his hand a squeeze, and he glanced over at her. Her eyes were fixed on Katara as well, and the turmoil that ravaged his heart was reflected on the expression on her face. She turned when she felt his eyes on her and did her best to fix her features into a comforting smile, masking her own worry so she could be strong for her friend. In that moment he realized just how lucky he was to have a friend like her, and he was truly grateful that she was by his side.
"She'll survive this, Zuko. She's strong," Ty Lee said, leaning close and resting her head on his shoulder.
He nodded, then rested his head against hers, turning his eyes back to Katara. They sat together in silence watching the hours pass, fearing each moment that came next.