Zuko didn't have long to wait. Azula jabbed forward and lightning snapped out. Zuko moved in smooth circles and redirected the bolt up into the sky. Katara whipped a hefty trunk of water at Azula, but the Firebender jumped away, pulling up a wall of fire with one hand while shooting a spout of fire at her brother. Water hit the fire wall and steam erupted, threatening the few villagers that hadn't run off. Cursing, Katara ran to Azula's flank and cooled down the steam, in turn making an isolated rainburst.
Much like the Agni Kai, Azula was keeping them separated and, while was predictable in her forms, was able to focus on powerful attacks toward the both of them.
Zuko meanwhile learned that he could not easily divert Azula's fire. Katara's hair whipped about her head as the jets of flame sucked in the surrounding air.
"Get out of here!" Katara yelled to the few people who were cowering in the falling rain. The people scrambled, grabbing small children and darted away from the village center.
Zuko had run at his sister and was attacking her head on. Azula swatted away his hands holding fire daggers and Zuko moved her around till she had her back to Dawa.
"You're too open Zuzu." Azula cackled as Zuko struck at her. Her left arm went up to block him and she turned on that axis to move Zuko so she was suddenly in the middle.
Her right arm swung in an arc from her chest out and a fan of blue fire came out. Katara pulled up a shield of ice as the fire surged toward her. She hated being on the defensive when she fought Azula, but the Firebender was too quick.
And Zuko had fallen for the attack and stumbled as he tried to change his turn to get to Katara. Azula slammed her left hand onto the center of his back and Zuko fell to the ground. He rolled onto his back as Azula shot a focused blast at him. His arms crossed over his face and he parted the shot, sending two streams to either side of his head.
"NO!" Katara and Azula both looked as Kiyi screamed, writhing in Noriko's grasp. Azula froze and Zuko took the chance, grabbing her ankle and wrenching it forward. Flailing, Azula toppled backward and Zuko scrambled to his feet.
Katara ran over to the others, waving her arms.
"Get on Dawa!" She yelled and Chang nodded as she grabbed Kiyi.
"Mama!" Kiyi screamed as Chang leapt onto the ladder and began to pull them both up to the saddle.
"You replaced me?" Azula shouted and clawed at the ground, dragging herself forward. Noriko, who had been following Chang to the ladder, paused and turned back.
"Azula, she doesn't know." Zuko said as he reached for her. Azula snarled, throwing fire as if it were dirt she had grabbed from the ground. Zuko jumped back and Katara snapped a water whip at Azula's legs. Straining, Katara lifted Azula and flung her backward.
"Why is she…" Noriko started moving forward, but Noren grabbed her arm. Noriko looked pained as she turned to her husband. "Noren, what is happening?"
Both Katara and Zuko made the mistake of turning toward the couple. Katara glanced back as she heard a loud rushing sound, and Azula barreled into her, fire trailing from her feet.
Katara cried out as she slid a few feet against the ground, Azula clinging to her. When they stopped, Azula opened her mouth wide, but Katara slammed her hand into Azula's jaw. Taking the advantage of Azula's stunned state, Katara rolled them over and froze the princess's hands. Katara leapt off as Azula burned through the ice with a yell.
"Azula, stop!" Zuko said as he shot fire toward the pair. Both Azula and Katara jumped back, putting more space between them. Azula pushed both hands out, sending an ill aimed blast at Katara. She then spun around to Zuko.
"She willingly forgot us and then sought to replace us." Azula spat. She then turned back to Noriko and Noren. "You think me a monster do you mother?" Noriko looked bewildered and Noren tried to pull her back. Azula jumped into a spin and fire arced toward the pair. Chang, leaping down from the saddle, pulled both of them down as she landed. Dawa, unfortunately, took the brunt of the hit.
Bellowing, Dawa charged forward, and Kiyi started screaming.
"I don't know what you mean!" Noriko cried. "Please! Spare my daughter!" Azula laughed, bitterly.
"Tell that to them!" Azula yelled and, just as she started to lean into a form, Katara grabbed her wrists with thin arms of water. She yanked down, bringing the Firebender to her knees. Zuko ran up to his sister.
"Azula, you need to stop this." Zuko said as Azula strained against her bonds.
"I will when she's dead." Azula hissed and kicked out one leg, sending out another arc of flame from her foot. Zuko jumped it, easily, but Azula took the opportunity to lean forward and break the water rope with quick blasts from her palms. Katara dropped the water and swung out more, but Azula had turned into a spin, circling flame at ground level.
Katara pushed herself up with a surge of water and Zuko had leapt again, allowing Azula to get back to her feet.
"Enough of the water bitch." Azula yelled and began circling her arms, pulling out crackling ropes of lightning. She aimed at Katara, Zuko darted toward her, and Azula turned back.
The lightning now shot toward Noriko.
Water rushed at Azula just as the bolt left her fingers. Noriko threw up her arms and someone screamed.
Chang, standing right next to Noriko, simply stepped in front.
Just like before, Katara froze Azula in a column of water, though she didn't have enough to cover her whole body. Azula was immobilized, but her head was free, and she had started to laugh.
Katara ran past and slid on her knees next to Chang's crumpled body.
"No, no, no, no." She murmured as she passed her hands covered in water over the woman.
There was no pulse.
"Chang, no." Katara heaved and stood slowly, Zuko suddenly next to her.
"Katara." He said softly, but she turned violently. The water holding Azula melted away, but the princess was rigid. Her body was lifted so that only the tips of her toes brushed the earth.
Katara held her stance, clenching her hands into fists.
"Katara stop!" Zuko yelled.
"She killed Chang!" Katara snapped.
"You can't kill my sister."
"I'd be doing you a favor." She glared at him and Zuko took a step back. Katara turned back to the gasping Azula. "I'd be doing the world a favor." Azula's eyes started to roll back into her head.
"I can't say no to you Katara," Zuko said softly. "So be careful what you ask of me." Katara's chest heaved as she took in quick, shallow breaths. Tears stung her eyes and her throat tightened.
"I worry about the princess…"
With a yell, Katara released Azula. The other woman fell, just as broken as Chang, and Zuko ran over.
Katara knew she was just unconscious. Azula's pulse pounded evenly.
As she started to cry, Katara felt arms go around her. Noriko held her gently as Katara sobbed.
Dawa had not gone far, and Noren had been able to retrieve Kiyi easily. Men had come, some to wrap Chang in a white sheet, while others brought rope to tie up the still unconscious Azula. Katara sat, wrung out and exhausted, looking at Chang's body. Noriko sat next to her, still holding her, and the older woman rubbed her arms slowly.
Zuko came and knelt on the other side of Chang, but Katara didn't look at him. Noriko did pause and lift her head, but stayed silent.
"Fire Lord." Noren approached them and Zuko looked up. "I think you should tell her." Zuko stood back up and now Katara looked. Zuko, while slender, was still tall, and he stood as an imposing force in front of Noren.
"I don't really care what you think." Zuko replied evenly. Noren looked uncomfortable, but he didn't back down.
"I think it will help you Zuko." Noren said.
"DO NOT PRESUME TO KNOW ME." Zuko roared and now Noren did step back. Noriko stood abruptly, but Zuko held up his hand. Still speaking to Noren, Katara watched his face twist into cruelty. "You may have lost your girlfriend for a short time, but I lost my mother." Zuko expelled a bitter laugh. "And not only did she chose to leave me, she also chose to forget me."
"Noren?" Noriko's voice was so small. Katara just watched the two men silently.
"I still think you should be the one to tell her," Noren said and then paused before adding, "Fire Lord."
"She made her choice. Now I'm making mine." Zuko turned and Katara saw Noriko move out of the corner of her eye.
"Did I," Noriko started, and Zuko hesitated. "Did I hurt you?"
Zuko sighed and his shoulders slumped.
"You married a horrible man and had two horrible children." He said and turned back. "You committed treason against the Fire Nation and you ran. You gave your face and your past to the Mother of Faces so you could be happy. I'm glad you're happy." Zuko's voice broke and he looked down. "But you are Ursa. My mother."
Noren now moved to his wife and reached for her.
"Remember Noriko? When I told you that one day we were going to have to talk about the past?" He said as Noriko stepped into his arms.
"I don't understand." Noriko murmured and Katara rose. Zuko caught her eye briefly, but they both looked away.
"We need to return the wolf." Zuko said to no one in particular.
"What in the actual fuck happened?" Katara turned and saw Sokka and Suki trotting up to them. Katara ran to meet him and grabbed him, unable to cry but suddenly shaking hard.
"Where's Chang?" Suki asked and Katara curled Sokka's shirt in her fists.
"Katara?" Sokka asked quietly.
"Oh no." She heard Suki gasp and Katara squeezed her eyes shut.
"We need to load up Dawa." Zuko said absently and people started moving with more purpose. Sokka hugged Katara and rested his chin on the top of her head.
"I'm sorry Katara." He said and Katara pressed her face into his chest. "I am so sorry I wasn't here."
With the help of the villagers, they got Chang's body into Dawa's saddle. Sokka had assisted Zuko in putting Azula on the wolf and Zuko pulled himself up behind her. She was still unconscious and draped over the spirit's back like a sack of potatoes. Katara, from her spot at Dawa's head, watched as her brother conferred with Zuko. Once again, Zuko caught her eye, but Katara felt herself harden.
He looked away.
Noren and his family had asked to go along to meet with the Mother of Faces, and Katara heard Noriko mention something about asking a favor. Katara didn't care enough to listen in.
She had seen Chang move when Azula had shifted around to shoot lightning at Noriko. The woman from Kyoshi had looked peaceful as she stepped into the bolt's path and it had hit her square in the chest. Chang hadn't called out, or even moved to shield herself. She simply had moved to protect the Fire Lord's mother.
And she was gone.
Katara felt the threat of tears again and hurriedly wiped her eyes with her arm. She waited wordlessly as Sokka climbed up the ladder and sat next to Suki, who had placed herself in charge of her fallen kin.
"Yip yip Dawa." Katara croaked and snapped the reins. As the Air Bison floated into the sky, the spirit wolf took off toward the woods.
They met next to the lake they had left only an hour earlier. Zuko jumped off the wolf, who lowered himself so that Zuko could grab Azula. The Mother of Faces still towered from her place within the water and her wolf ran out to her. He stood atop the water, and the surface didn't even ripple.
"You have brought the woman." The Mother of Faces said as Noriko, Noren, and Katara disembarked from off Dawa.
"Mother of Faces," Noriko started as she walked forward, but Zuko got to the water's edge first, holding Azula.
"I have already settled your boon human." The Mother of Faces warned, sensing both of their intentions.
"I understand that my lady." Zuko said and laid Azula down on the wet sand. "But I still need to ask for indulgence."
"You want your mother returned to you?" The Mother of Faces asked idly.
"Please-" Noriko started again but Zuko glared at her from over his shoulder. Noriko stilled and backed into Noren.
Zuko looked back at the Mother of Faces and held out his hands.
"As the mother of a misguided child, I ask for pity for my sister. She will never be free of our father's power and you know what he has done. You have seen my mother's memories. I ask that you give her a new face, take away her memories, and let her live a life in peace." He said. Katara sucked in a sharp breath and felt anger spike down her veins.
"I may be willing to help, but I will do nothing that goes against the will of the one who is to be changed." The Mother of Faces said and Zuko swore.
"You can't possibly be thinking of rewarding her for killing Chang." Katara said rancorously. Zuko turned back to her and he looked pained.
"Katara, she is never going to get better." He said.
"She is a murderer! She would have killed your mother!" Katara shouted and moved toward him.
"Katara, I know it hurts but-"
"You have no idea what this is like!" Katara ran her hand through her hair with a caustic laugh. "Chang was like, like.."
"Like a mother?" Zuko retorted darkly and Katara looked at him. "You think you were the only one she mothered? She has been with me for years. And yes, I do know what it's like to lose a mother." Zuko turned back to the spirit. "I need to save her." He knelt down and gently shook Azula. His sister groaned and shifted, her head slowly raising.
"Child." The Mother of Faces said. Azula startled and tried to move, but her bond hands and feet made her simply flounder. "They are offering you a chance to live." Zuko grabbed Azula's shoulders and helped her to sit.
"You'll make me forget?" Azula asked. The Mother of Faces stayed silent but her faces were tranquil.
"You can stay here with mother." Zuko said and Azula looked at him, her eyes wide. "You can be a family Azula."
"But the throne…" She said meekly. Zuko only looked at her and tears started to fall from her eyes. "Why?" Her voice was high and raspy and Katara turned away.
"Because I love you Azula. You're my sister and I want to help you." Zuko answered. There was silence and then Katara heard the sound of the ropes being cut. Cringing, Katara crossed her arms over her chest.
"Please, Mother of Faces. I want to be made new." Azula said and, against her better judgement, Katara turned. The Mother of Faces held out a hand, with a translucent blue face hovering in her palm. Azula stepped forward without a word and the face floated out and draped over her own visage. As it wrapped around her head, light shone from the eyes and mouth, and Azula started to scream.
Zuko held her and they both sank to their knees, Azula clawing at the face. The light turned blinding and Katara held up a hand to shield her eyes.
After it dimmed, she looked and found Zuko holding Azula. Noriko ran to them and a wave of water rushed at the three of them. The Mother of Faces and her wolf were gone.
"What, where am I?" Azula said. Zuko and Noriko helped her to her feet and Katara gasped in spite of herself.
Azula was unrecognizable. Her face and her eyes were rounded and she resembled Noriko, who she was know reaching for. Her golden eyes shimmered in fear.
"Mama?" Azula said. Noriko grabbed her and held her close, one hand on the back of her head.
"Riku. Do you know who you are?" Noriko murmured into her daughter's hair.
"Riku?" Katara saw Azula grab at Noriko's back. "Mama, I don't remember. I'm scared."
"It's okay love. I'm right here." Noriko said. Noren walked over, holding tight onto Kiyi's hand. Noriko released Azula - now Riku - and turned so that they faced the other two. "Riku, this is your father and sister, Kiyi." Kiyi looked to her father and Noren nodded.
Zuko walked over to Katara.
"Katara." He said and Katara glared at him.
"Go drown Zuko." She hissed and stomped back to Dawa.
For the sake of expediency, they all loaded back onto Dawa, though Riku curled into Noriko and whimpered at the sight of Chang's wrapped body. Now Katara kept an ear to the conversation, though she didn't join in.
Noriko, unsurprisingly, had planned on asking the Mother of Faces to restore her face and memories. Zuko spoke bitterly about that, saying that it wouldn't be fair to Kiyi for her mother to change her face. The plan now was to wait for the Mother of Faces to return, and Noriko could get her memories of Ursa back. They would raise Riku as their own, though both Noren and Noriko were concerned about how to handle the village. Zuko offered to move them to the imperial city, mostly so that Riku could be seen by the doctors at the mental hospital.
In order to excise Ozai completely, a lot of Azula's mind had been wiped. They agreed to test her Firebending skills, if any, once Riku had calmed down and settled. But otherwise, she had no idea who Zuko was and did not seem to understand the concept of what a Fire Lord was.
Katara thought, wryly, that Azula had unknowingly been renamed for another ancestor, but this time for Ursa's grandfather, Avatar Roku.
They left Noren and his family at Hira'a before hurriedly leaving. The damage done to the village would be covered by Zuko's funds, but there was nothing for him to do at the moment. They all wanted to get back to the palace.
Katara stayed quiet for the trip and though Dawa now knew the way, she did not retreat to the saddle. In the late evening, Katara huddled with her legs hugged to her chest and looked over as Sokka approached.
"How are you doing?" He asked and Katara shrugged.
"It hurts Sokka." She said.
"Yeah, Zuko is wrecked." He replied and Katara hissed through her teeth. Sokka ignored her and continued. "He told me what happened. I'm sorry we weren't there to help you." Sokka sighed and looked up at the night sky. A full moon loomed over them. "We got lost in the woods and couldn't pick up Azula's trail."
"It's not your fault." Katara mumbled.
"Katara, about Zuko."
"Oh I already know Sokka. You could forgive him anything." She interrupted derisively.
"Yeah, I could. But this isn't about me. I just want you to know that I understand why he did what he did." Katara looked at her brother and he was still looking up at the moon. "If you caused the death of someone I loved, I would still want to save you."
"Why?" Katara asked plaintively. Sokka finally looked back at her.
"Because I love you." He said. Katara shook her head and unfurled, leaning back on her hands.
"Exactly. We have always been close. Azula has been trying to kill Zuko for years."
"And Zuko chose to love her despite that."
"I can't forgive him Sokka."
"That's understandable. It's still fresh." Katara shook her head again, slowly this time.
"I don't think I ever will." She said. Sokka said and put a hand on her shoulder.
"You said the same thing about Yon Rha, but you let him go." She stayed quiet and Sokka retreated, leaving her alone.
Her mission to find her mother's killer had been the event that brought her and Zuko together. He had supported her through everything, going so far as to let her make her own decision about killing Yon Rha.
Sokka had believed, falsely, that her allowing Yon Rha to live meant that she had ultimately decided to forgive him. But Katara still held onto that bead of anger. Sparing his life was a mercy that Katara had found on her own, but there was no forgiveness to it.
Now Zuko had denied her the choice in Azula's reckoning. This was another bead that Katara held close and she knew she would continue to polish it for the rest of her life.
They landed at the palace some time after midnight. The full moon gleamed brightly in the cloudless sky, and it illuminated the grounds.
Katara had seen the figures gathered and, more telling, had seen the larger Air Bison already waiting. Taking a breath to brace herself, Katara lowered Dawa to settle on the ground. None of the waiting figures moved till the group had thrown over the ladder and started shifting. Zuko was first, but as Sokka and Suki spoke in low voices, Katara moved past and stepped carefully down the rungs.
"Katara." Aang called out and Katara, still facing Dawa, closed her eyes. She took another measured breath and, letting it out slowly, turned.
"Not now Aang." She said evenly.
"Not now? What makes you think we're not going to talk about all of this?" Aang shot back.
"Hey, how about you leave my sister alone and help us." Sokka called from the saddle. Aang looked up and his face froze. He looked back at Katara, his face softer.
"Someone died?" He murmured. Katara turned her face away and didn't respond. Pausing only for a moment, Aang went to help Sokka and Suki bring down Chang's body.
"Where is your sister?" Katara heard Iroh ask and she cocked her head up. A man seemingly only a few years younger than Iroh stood behind the portly general, his hands behind his back.
He had the typical Fire Nation look, his hair pulled back into a topknot and long sideburns kept trimmed neat. As Zuko approached the two men, Katara saw the man's eyes flicker and he straightened. As the man turned to Dawa, Katara pushed herself to walk over.
The man didn't see her approach, but startled as Katara threw herself to her knees and bowed over.
"Please, forgive me." She said, her voice tight with new tears.
"Chang?" The man drifted and Katara didn't dare look up. "Oh, no…" She felt him move past her but still Katara stayed where she was.
"Katara." Iroh said softly from beside her and gently urged her up. Kneeling, Katara kept her head down. "I'll get someone to take you back to your rooms." She didn't respond as Iroh helped her stand. It was when she heard Xue start to wail and Katara broke.
Arms went around her again and she could smell Aang's scent. He held her as she cried and rubbed her back. "Come on Katara, I'll take you back." He said soothingly. Katara shoved him away and took in a shuddering breath.
"I don't want you." She said and rushed toward the palace.
The others were occupied with Chang and the supplies so Katara ran off alone. The guards at the entrance to the palace just watched her, unsure if they should offer assistance. Ultimately, she made it into the halls by herself.
It was dark and, while there were torches lit along the walls, Katara quickly found herself lost. She had always been escorted by Chang, and had not memorized the winding paths through the different wings.
Opening a random door, Katara found herself in the study she had spent so much time reading in. She stepped into the dark room and, letting her eyes adjust, saw the stacks of books she had requested be left out.
Someone entered behind her and shut the door. Light flickered to life and she turned.
"I am not going to apologize for asking you to not kill my sister." Zuko said and Katara stayed silent, clenching her jaw. Zuko examined her face and sighed, looking away briefly. "You couldn't have struck her down any more than I could."
"You do not get to tell me what I'm capable of." Katara snarled and now Zuko went quiet.
"Would you really have killed her?" He asked.
"I don't know. But you didn't let me make that choice."
"That wasn't your choice to make Katara." He said forcefully.
"But it was yours to not punish her at all?" She shot back.
"Yes, of course. She's my sister and I am the Fire Lord. It was exactly my decision to make."
"You rewarded her Zuko. Yon Rha was miserable, but you gave Azula happiness."
"I had to make things right."
"Well what about Xue? Is letting his wife's murderer off making things right?"
"I don't know Katara." Zuko stated. "Ok? I don't know. I did what I thought was best."
"I hope this haunts you Zuko. And at the very least, know that it cost you me." Katara retorted. Zuko stared at her, his eyes flicking between both of hers. He looked pained and something sharp wedged itself in Katara's ribcage.
"Katara." He stopped, either not finding the words or choosing not to voice them. Katara shook her head.
"It's been a month Zuko. I'm going to the North Pole and you will never see me again." She said and pushed past him. She wrenched open the door and walked into the hall, pausing briefly. "I hope her happiness is worth ours."
Katara stalked off. Servants had been woken and one found her quickly and Katara followed him to her rooms. They were empty, thankfully, and Katara threw herself onto her bed still clothed.
Fitfully, she eventually slept.