Sorry for the long wait! I took the time to plan out what each chapter was going to say, so I would make a very good CLIFFIE at chapter 39, since chapter 40 will be Q and A! Prepare your questions (but be reasonable, I won't answer 'will Aang and Katara get married' or 'will Katara elope with Zuko'), and bombard me when the time comes!

Just when I had finished this chapter, the server says it's down. :(. I had finished it yesterday night, but…

5 DAYS TO SOFN!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The last Airbender

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zuko and Iroh stood amongst the crowd, but they didn't have their fire nation uniforms, and they both wore a badge, which said:

Special warriers, outcasts of fire nation. Proven loyalty to the earth kingdom.

Aang thought in his mind: What is he doing here? He's not supposed to be here!

Calm down, Aang. Give him a chance. His skills are admirable, and we may use him as an asset.

Alright, but if he steps out of line…

The general is here.

Oh!

Aang stopped his self-conscience talking and turned to face the general. The general spoke up.

"We are here to stop the fire nation at all costs. No exceptions. Losing is not an option. Avatar Aang will be the leader for this mission. He will divide all of you into platoons, each with a platoon leader." The general bowed to Aang, who bowed back in respect, and spoke to the crowd.

"Listen up! There's no time for me to see each and every one of your skill. So I want twenty groups, each with a leader, and ten sub-leaders. All sub-leaders will report to the leaders, and all the leaders will report to me. I will split up the group, and each group will consist of earth and water benders combined. Three groups will be the special stealth team. Two groups are waterbenders, and one group consists of earthbenders."

After five hours of busy work and division, Aang was finally finished, and he was satisfied with the result. The general wrote down a list to keep track of the leaders and sub leaders:

Platoon 1 Leader: Pakku

Sub- leaders: Ansha

Traku

Unaki

Loker

Trenton

Queta

Jet

Rajragal

Pktya

Bwyta

Platoon 2 Leader: Iroh

Sub-leaders: Gracker

Zuko

Qlooka

Osama

Irheta

Lhkmo

Astar

Hollaty

Wertyeb

Haru

The list went on. Although Aang still had an uneasy feeling on Zuko being part of the army, he assured himself it was going to be fine. Aang felt that Iroh would keep his nephew's actions to a minimum, and Aang had placed Haru in the platoon for a reason. Haru was more like Katara, more responsible, but willing to risk something for certain achievements (Katara used the stolen scroll to practice waterbending, even if she knew it was wrong. Haru practiced earthbending because it was the only way he could feel his father. He knew the consequences.) Aang knew that he was going to be a great sub-leader.

Although Pakku had requested both Katara and Sokka to be platoon leaders, Aang had denied his suggestion… partly. Sokka had been called from the group to join the army, and he was now one of the leaders. Katara had come with Sokka, saying that she should have a part in this war. Aang had not allowed her, and he would not explain why, for certain reasons. She had stalked off with hot air around her. Aang felt his heart crash to see Katara like that, but he knew it must be done. Pakku understood.

That night, the platoon leaders, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Wayjya had a feast with the king. They all ate hungrily, except for Aang and Katara. Katara just ate her small portion, not too much, and not too little. Aang, however, didn't eat at all, although his meal was vegetarian, as requested earlier. After dinner, the royal guards left the room, and the king spoke up.

"I have bold confidence that we shall win this battle, but I shall regret this, because some of the faces you see here today may not return. But we shall not think about that. Now, may our guests leave. We must discuss the war plan." Wayjya and Katara both stood up, but Katara shot a glance at Aang, whose heart broke again. The girls left.

"Now, with the matter at hand…"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aang headed towards Katara's room. Sokka and the other platoon leaders had headed the other way, still discussing war plans in whispers. They had insisted Aang should join them, but he turned them down. He needed to see Katara.

He knocked on the door, but there was no response. Aang opened the door slowly, only to see Katara sitting at the side of her bed. She did not look up when Aang had called her name.

"Katara, back at th-"

"Why, Aang?" Her voice was full of anger, just waiting to burst, and yet it was laced with sadness and fear.

"Katara, you must understand why, if I lose you I'll never be able to live."

"So you think that I will be able to live without you? I would rather die fighting with you by my side, rather then you dying and I still living." Her voice was shaky, but sturdy. Aang sat down beside her on the bed, and used his hands to gently turn her face toward him. He looked in her deep blue eyes.

"I don't care if I die or not. I just don't want you to die. Even if I do die, then you will be able to live on, have children with other people. People still need you in the world. You can do great things! Yo-

"But what if I don't want to do great things? What if I only wanted to be with you, no matter what the costs?" Tears finally streamed down her face, and her eyes were red. Aang put her head on his neck, and she cried silently.

"Katara, you know that I love you…"

"If you do love me, then why won't you accept me for who I am? I am a waterbending master, and I will fight for the freedom of my people!"

"I fight for the freedom of the people too, but I fight for you more than anything. You have to understand why I can't let you go."

Katara pushed him away, and shouted "Get out, Aang. I want to sleep. Please, get out!"

Aang hesitated, but left nonetheless. As he closed the door behind him, Katara laid on her bed, and cried.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aang walked down the chamber, misery flooding his body. He knew that Katara didn't like it, but it had to be done. Suddenly, the leaders ran down the isle, motioning Aang to come. "The fire nation is at the outer wall! We need to go, Aang!" Aang was surprised, he had not expected the fire nation to come during the night, as their powers are weakened. There had to be a catch. But as he ran with the leaders, Sokka included, he stopped. He stood there, and hesitated.

Finally, he made up his mind. He couldn't just leave her there. He had to make it up to Katara, somehow, after the battle. He turned back and quickly headed for Katara's room once again.

As he entered, he noticed that Katara was sleeping. The sheets were damp, and Aang felt ever so guilty. He hated to see Katara like this. He bent down, and kissed Katara softly on the cheek. He rose and left the room, quietly whispering as he closed the door.

"I'm so sorry, Katara. Please forgive me…"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's it for now. I'm trying to squeeze some fluff in before the battle. Review!