-One week later, Earth Kingdom-
An earthen wall suddenly rose, preventing her advance. Devilishly smiling, she ran forwards and somersaulted, blasting a pillar of blue flame through the rock, sending the earthbender behind it tumbling backwards. Azula scanned the perimeter, noting her soldiers finishing off stragglers in the compound. An explosion rocked the building in front of her, and through the smoke Yeh-Lu, the armored demolition man, strode out. He was joined by the other Rough Rhinos, forming a line in front of Azula. They bowed and Colonel Mongke met Azula's piercing stare. Screams of agony pierced the now still air, much to Azula's pleasure.
"It has been done, your highness. The Bei Fongs are no more. However, their daughter was missing."
Azula's temper flared and lightning began to crackle around her fingers.
"I believe it is time we expedited our departure. That blind freak is sure to have sensed our presence here."
Azula began spinning a ring of fire, accompanied by the other firebenders, until the blue flames dissolved into red. In an instant they were gone, and the light and noise emitted by the flame was replaced with the shine of green crystals and the trickle of flowing water. She paced through the main floor of the catacombs, before arriving at an imperial style throne, placed in the very place where she had once shot down the Avatar. Azula paused and was transported back to that fateful day. She remembered sensing Zuko's turmoil and knowing exactly how to get him on her side. The thought of her brother made her sick to her stomach, knowing he sat on the Fire Nation throne.
-Minutes later-
Running as fast as she could, her heart stopped as she sensed the pile of stones that was once her house.
She yelled, "Mom! Dad! Where are you guys?"
When no answer was returned, Toph stepped firmly on the ground, visualizing her surroundings. Her breath hitched when she sensed the bodies of her family guards leading up to the center of the house. She had known them as a child, yet here they were, lifeless and scorched. She noticed that the bodies followed a pattern, leading her down a path that she was mortified to reach the end of. Finally, the bodies stopped before a large pile of stones. Kneeling, Toph placed her hand on the ground, and sensed the outline of two people, glued together in a tight embrace. She recognized their shapes, and with a closing throat, she began to remove the stones, revealing her parents. What she couldn't see was that their eyes were shut and appeared to be sleeping peacefully. After a second, she found the delicate fingers of her mother and grasped them gently.
"I'm so sorry."
Toph emerged from the rubble, carrying her limp mother in her arms. With burning eyes, she laid her mother to rest, next to her father. Falling to her knees, she sobbed into her hands. In her agony she screamed, stomping the floor and filling the graves with earth. She curled up on top of their earthen tomb, crying as if her soul was ripped in two.
A light breeze picked up, comforting the pounding in her head as she lay on the earth. Pink blossoms from a nearby tree began to fall around her, draping her in a floral blanket.
"Mom and Dad…I…I know we didn't always get along…or even like each other at times. I know you were proud of me. I just wish…I wish you could've seen more. I'm so sorry."
She rose from the floor, jumped in the air before slamming down, driving herself forward.
"There's a port in the next town over. The others need to know."
-Back in the South Pole-
Aang wandered aimlessly in the moonlight, praying for some spiritual intervention. Since his last interaction with Katara, they had not spoken a word to one another. Her coldness was beginning to weigh on him. In their time apart, he did his best to focus on the task at hand, temporarily relieving himself of the heartache that plagued his subconscious. Now that he had seen her again, he was transported to their breakup. He was most haunted by her eyes, followed by her spoken fury and vitriol. After emerging from the ice, those blue orbs were the first things he saw. They guided him throughout the war, comforted him at his lowest, and illuminated his life when times were good. With his throat straining, he screamed, fracturing the ice beneath his feet. Looking down, the air began to blow rapidly, kicking up shards of ice and snow. Raising his tired frame, he met the eyes of his predecessor.
"Aang, your duty is to protect the world and the ones you love. I have just witnessed something indescribable in the Earth Kingdom. As the Avatar, you must work to restore balance." Roku sighed, before furrowing his brows. "My great-granddaughter, Azula, must be dealt with. It is your responsibility."
Swirling clouds overtook Roku's spirit, leaving Aang standing on the ice. His gaze turned to the moon, and a lone tear fell to the ground.
Sensing her, he turned to see Katara look at him with exhausted eyes. Her aqua irises shattered the tempered steel of his own. With his throat closing, he let out a stifled sob, before hanging his head low. In a moment, he felt tentative arms surround him, pulling him closer. He felt her head rest against his chest, slightly rising with each shuddering breath.
Katara mumbled, "It's so bizarre seeing another Avatar. I always forget you're this weird spiritual freak."
Aang was surprised by the teary laugh which escaped his throat. She giggled at his reaction, before pulling away and regarded him with caring eyes.
"I've really been beating myself up this week." He continued in exaggerated sadness, "Now I get bullied?" He sighed, "Poor little Avatar."
Katara rolled her eyes before taking up water from the snowflakes that began to cover their parkas. She passed a stream to Aang, who caught it gracefully before passing it back to her.
"I heard what Roku said. I wonder what happened…I hope Toph is alright."
"I wonder why he didn't tell me where he saw…whatever he saw. The way he started talking about how I need to protect the ones I love leaves me a bit nervous."
Katara noticed that he met her eyes when he said "love", which made her stomach jump ever so slightly. She thought to herself, "Yeah, still not fully ready for that."
Aang continued, "I'm going to meditate on it more…but Katara, I'm a little surprised to see you here. I didn't think you wanted to talk to me."
"Aang, I…I noticed how much stress you've been under and I felt a little bad for adding to it."
He gave her a half smile before adding, "You don't have anything to feel sorry for. I've been thinking about what you said." He swallowed, preparing himself. "During my days alone, I always pushed this remorseful feeling down while I tried to focus on the work. It made me realize that I've continued to regret what I did. It's never gone away. Nor have my feelings for you."
She was about to interrupt before he cut her off. "Katara, I know you likely feel different about me, and that's okay. I just want to let you know that I'm so sorry for everything I've done. I should've visited…or hand-delivered my letters since they disappeared."
She giggled, "Hand deliver your letters?"
Realizing his mistake, he laughed at himself. "Probably could've just talked to you at that point."
"Yep."
"Uh-huh."
Aang cleared his throat, "What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry…and I hope that at some point you can forgive me, and we can be friends again. I've missed you more than I could ever put into words and I'm the biggest idiot to have left you here. I'm sorry."
Tentatively, she replied, "Before I forgive you, which I'm about to…you need to know how I felt."
Aang braced himself and eventually nodded.
Her voice already breaking, Katara started, "Unfortunately, I'm no stranger to seeing you leave me…in one way or another. Seeing Azula strike you down, holding your lifeless body in my arms…I never fully recovered from that. When you left from the ship, you did it to prove yourself. But you didn't care about what I'd been through. That hurt, Aang. Before the fight with Ozai, you were gone too. I just had to hold it together the whole time. But when you left me here…I never thought you would leave me because you didn't want me. That you didn't care for me. That time hurt the most."
Aang felt the tears roll down his face, before nervously fidgeting his fingers. He never really considered his track record of disappearing before…or how it may have affected her. By repeating history, he continued to break her heart.
"It was so hard without you, Aang." Katara took a thoughtful pause before continuing, "Despite how mad at you I was…It's really nice to see you."
She embraced him once again, and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He hugged her gently, before planting a sweet kiss on the top of her head.
"It's really nice to see you too."
They both looked upwards to see the Southern Lights emerge, elegantly dancing and bathing them in light. The two shared a small smile, before turning and walking home, hand in hand.
-Fire Nation Royal Palace-
Zuko sat alert on the throne, stealing a glance at a very pregnant Mai. She was absentmindedly sharpening a knife with a stone, with a protective hand over her belly. Azula's attacks over the world, and not too long ago, in the Fire Nation, had left the couple on edge.
"Mai, do you want me to increase the guard rotations at night? I know you're feeling pretty worried." He sighed, before scowling, "It's just so crazy! When will my family leave me alone?"
Mai shot him an empathetic glance. "Her escape wasn't your fault. Azula has her ways. Honestly, Zuko, I don't exactly place the safety of our precious cargo in the hands of these idiot guards."
Zuko chuckled, "That makes two of us." He lightly gripped her hand before drawing small circles around her palm.
It was then that the ground began to shake, and from the center of the throne room, Toph emerged, brushing some rock off of her shoulder.
Zuko's face fell into his hands. "Toph. This is literally the fourth floor we've had to repair. Do you like making this so hard for me?"
Toph didn't answer, but instead walked slowly towards the couple, her head hanging low.
Panicking, Zuko said, "Toph, I was just kidding. You know it's okay right?"
"Zuko…your sister killed my parents."
"W-what? What do you mean?" Zuko asked, astonished.
"I was in the market by my home before I noticed something shaking in the ground. I recognized that my home was being attacked. I…I got there too late. There were burned bodies and I-"
Zuko bellowed, causing the torches in the room the erupt in flame. Mai walked to Toph and rested a hand on the earthbender's shoulder. After a minute, Zuko took a deep breath, and walked over to Toph, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry Toph. I've had enough. She needs to go down, for good."
Toph could only silently nod, before Zuko asked, "Have you heard from Katara recently? Or Sokka? Or Aang?"
"No, I haven't. As far as I know, Aang and Katara are still on bad terms. Sokka I imagine is still working in the Council?"
"Yes. I get to see him and Aang somewhat frequently. We need to get them involved before more people get hurt. As far as I know, Aang should actually be in South Pole with Sokka and Katara. We'll leave at first light."
Zuko walked off, signaling to his naval officer to prepare for their departure.
Mai cautiously approached Toph again. "Hey, Toph…I know I'm not really the type to do this, but if you want to talk…I'm here."
Toph weakly smiled. "Thanks Mai. By the way, your baby seems healthy. I'm happy for you. They'll be fire dancing like Sparky and Twinkletoes in no time."
Mai snorted, before relinquishing a rare smile.
YIKES, heavy chapter. This was actually my favorite to write so far. Let me know what you all think!
