Chapter 2: The Day of Black Sun
"Dearest brother," Azula was saying to Zuko. It was mere hours before the eclipse. She had come to gloat of course. "Today, after we defeat the Avatar's band of peasants, I will get to celebrate becoming an only child. I wanted to come and say goodbye before the execution," she sighed. "Such a dreary thing. You know, I never wanted this to happen," She bent down, reaching through the prison bars toward him, her face sad. Zuko jerked away from her. Azula's face turned to a glare, and she stood back up quickly. "Do you have anything to say? You don't have much time left."
"The Avatar's group is stronger than you think," Zuko said, his voice coming out scratchy from disuse.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Even if they survive this day without getting captured, they will all die soon enough anyways, just like the airbenders."
"What do you mean?" Zuko said.
Azula laughed, "Oh that's right, I forgot for a moment that you don't have the privilege of knowing these things anymore. That you've been stripped of your birthrights. How sad that must feel, always seeing your little sister surpass you. Anyways, I'm talking about the comet of course." She examined her nails casually as though they were merely discussing the weather.
"What about it?" Zuko said.
"Impatient, aren't we? You never were good at patience Zuzu," Azula said, staring him down. Zuko huffed in annoyance, and Azula laughed again. "We will be using the power granted to us by the comet to finally destroy the Earth Kingdom and all those in it, just as our great grandfather Sozin used it to destroy the Airbenders." Zuko couldn't help the shocked gasp that escaped his lips. Azula smiled gleefully at his reaction. "I knew you would fear for them. You've spent the last few years among those peasants, maybe even have some little friends from Ba Sing Se you're worried about?" It disgusted Zuko how happy this was making his sister.
"We'll see what happens," Zuko said.
"You won't see anything," Azula snapped. "I just wanted to see your reaction. Too bad I won't get to tease you this way ever again. Don't be so sad Zuzu, you'll be reunited with your Avatar friends soon, and they'll get to watch your execution…from chains of course. Goodbye brother, Uncle," Azula said, turning swiftly away to exit.
After Azula was gone, Zuko lamented, "I can't believe this."
Iroh was smiling a wide smile, "I know, I never would have thought Azula with her cunning could make such a grave mistake. But she underestimates us greatly. To her, we are dead already."
"Uncle, what do you mean? This is horrible! They're going to kill so many innocent people."
"Make no mistake nephew, I agree that the plan is horrible," Iroh said, "But remember, knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested."
"Uncle," Zuko said, "this is no time for obscure proverbs."
Iroh said, "Azula just gave us valuable information. We must use it wisely."
ooo
"Everyone, listen up," Hakoda said. "The next time we resurface, it'll be on the beaches. So, stay alert and fight smart. Now break times over, back in the subs." Sokka, Toph, and Momo left Katara and Aang alone on the deck.
"Katara, I…" Aang said at the same time Katara said, "Aang, I…"
"You go first," Aang said.
"We've been through so many things together, and I've seen you grow up so much," Katara said. "You're not that little goofy kid I found in the iceberg anymore. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm really proud of you."
"Everything's gonna be different after today, isn't it?" Aang said.
"Yes, it is," Katara said. Especially after what she was planning on doing…
"What if ... what if I don't come back?" Aang said.
"Aang, don't say that, of course you'll-," Katara never got to finish the sentence because Aang suddenly kissed her. Katara felt her cheeks burning, and watched as Aang pulled away, snapped his glider open, and flew away. She was in shock. She had suspected Aang's little crush, but she couldn't believe what he had just done.
Sokka's voice brought her back to what was happening around her as he said, "Katara, what are you doing? It's time to submerge."
"What? Right, I'm on it," Katara said as she jumped onto Appa and waterbended a sphere of water around his head before they submerged.
ooo
After helping heal her father from his injuries, Katara had to move on to her own plan. Before the invasion, she had tried to talk Sokka into helping her with it, but he had refused. He said the most important thing was taking down the Fire Lord, how could she even be thinking of helping Zuko? But Katara knew it was the right thing to do. There were rumors of Zuko being executed, and she wasn't about to let that happen.
"Listen up, everyone," Sokka said. "I want the tanks in wedge formation. Warriors and benders in the middle. We're taking that tower, and heading for the royal palace."
Katara went to the middle of the formation, wishing she was with Sokka on Appa, but she didn't want him to get suspicious of what she was planning.
ooo
When Aang, Sokka, and Toph went off to locate the Fire Lord's bunker, Katara broke off on her own. She had put on a black cloak now, hoping it would help her blend in. She had done some of her own research to prepare for this day. She knew from her compass the general direction of the Capital City Prison, and ran toward the spot she had memorized from one of Sokka's maps.
The prison was a large fortified stone tower. Just being near it made Katara feel small. Maybe she had been a bit overly confident in coming here alone. It was a new moon; her power source was completely black, and the sun was blazing above her … until it suddenly wasn't. She smiled when the eclipse started. It was what she needed to push her forward with her full water skin. She was a master waterbender, and she could do this.
ooo
Iroh and Zuko ran down the hall, dodging attacks. Zuko had stolen a sword from a guard, and Iroh had a long pole he was using to knock out surprised guards. As they turned around a corner, a sudden volley of ice crystals zoomed toward them. Before the waterbender could see who they were, she was attacking, one of her ice crystals cutting Zuko's cheek.
The three stared at each other in shock for several seconds before Iroh broke the silence. "Miss Katara, how wonderful it is to see you!"
"Iroh! Zuko!" Katara yelled as she stopped her attack, the ice melting back to water. "I'm so sorry!" she said. I thought you two were guards!"
"Katara, what are you doing here?" Zuko said.
"I came to bust you two out but…seems like you already had that covered," she said with a laugh. As she examined his face, her eyes widened. "Oh no, I cut you! Here, let me heal it," she pulled water up to her hands that started glowing blue.
"Shouldn't we keep moving?" Zuko said. "More guards could be coming, you really don't have to … ahhh," he sighed as the pain from his right cheek went away, her gentle palms moving the blue glowing water around the cut and healing it.
"Amazing," Iroh said in admiration at the ability.
Katara smiled, "I wouldn't worry too much about any guards."
As they started walking again, Zuko said, "Why not?"
"You'll see," she said.
As they walked, the trio came across guard after guard, all frozen or knocked out … by Katara clearly.
Iroh and Zuko stared around at the devastation in awe. "Seems we didn't need to plan our escape at all, eh nephew?" Iroh said with a laugh.
ooo
"You…really came for us," Zuko said, looking at her with a surprised expression.
"Of course, I did," Katara said. "If it weren't for you two, I would be in prison right now too or maybe even dead, and the Avatar would no longer exist. There's no way I could let you be executed after what you did. I owe you two my life."
"We put your life and the Avatar's life in danger many times in the past," Iroh said. "You didn't owe us anything, but we are thankful for you coming here. It's an honor to have such a powerful and lovely ally. Isn't she lovely Zuko?"
"Uncle," Zuko said, looking embarrassed.
"Thank you general," Katara said with a blush.
"Call me Iroh," Iroh said. "Forgive my nephew, he comes from a time when war was taught more than flattering young ladies." Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, thankful when Katara changed the subject.
"I'm so glad I found you both alive," Katara said. "I was afraid … you know since I heard the execution was going to be today. I was afraid I might be too late, but I got here as quickly as I could."
"You came in perfect time," Iroh said as they exited the prison. As the trio approached the city, Iroh said, "I'm afraid I must leave you two now. I have some business in the earth kingdom to attend to. Remember nephew, the White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."
Katara stared between them, a bit confused as Iroh left. Iroh was nice, but he was sometimes a pretty cooky old man. She turned to Zuko as he started speaking.
"Katara," Zuko said. "If Aang doesn't succeed in defeating my father today, I want to join your group."
She blinked at him. "Okay," she said.
"Okay?" Zuko sounded surprised.
"Well, we'll have to talk to the group about it, but I'm sure it will be fine. Aang will need a firebending teacher either way, whatever happens."
"Before I join you, I need to take care of one thing," Zuko said, his eyes shifting to the palace. "Where can I find you if your group has to leave?"
Katara hesitated one moment. Zuko had been their enemy for so long, it was hard to trust him. But on the other hand, if he had wanted to harm her, he'd had plenty of opportunity already. He had saved her. He was the reason Aang was still alive. "The Western Air Temple," she said. "If things go bad, our next rendezvous point is the Western Air Temple."
Zuko nodded. "If things go bad, I'll see you there." He ran toward the palace. A small part of Katara wondered if she had just made a huge mistake.
ooo
Zuko confronted his father, declaring that his new purpose was to join the avatar in defeating him, and taking his place on the throne. Zuko headed toward the Western Air Temple in a stolen Fire Nation war balloon.
Author's Note: thank you so much for reading! Reviews are much appreciated. This story is very canon compliant in many ways, so some scenes do come straight from the show, but include character insight and thoughts. Many new scenes will include Jet being alive and Zutara. I'm going to try to stick with a weekly Sunday afternoon upload schedule. The entire story is done already, so no worries about starting a story that won't be finished, this story IS complete! Let me know if you have any questions, I'm open to doing a Q&A for updates each week if that's a thing anyone is interested in.