To repeat the questions I left you with:
What will happen to Zuko, Iroh and Katara? Will they manage to defeat Azula and the Dai Li? Or will they have to create a diversion and escape?
Will Aang be able to find Appa in time?
What will they do once they escape? They have hardly anywhere to go, because the last free kingdom on Earth has fallen.
Will they return to the Air Temple and to Guru Pathik?
Will Aang be able to access the Avatar Sate, by opening the last chakra? If so, how will he forget Katara? If not, what will happen then?
What will Zuko do, now that he has no scar? Will he be on Aang's side?
What about Uncle Iroh's tea shop? Will ha ever be able to have another tea shop again?
Will Sokka see his dad again?
What about Toph, will anything happen to her?
What happened to Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors? Is our assumption correct that they were killed? Or were they captured and are alive in the Fire Nation?
What will happen to the people of Bae Sing Sae?
And the world?
Lastly, and MOST IMPORTANT, will there be a little more Zutara action? Why did Aang, not question Katara's deicision to heal Zuko further?
Also: I've received many reviews saying I mixed up Mai and Ty Lee. Many apologies. I checked on the ever reliable Wikipedia and have noticed my mistake. I will change the names as quickley as possible. Many thanks to the ATLA fans who told me about the mistake.
Katara eyed Azula as she advanced toward her with two bright blue flames dancing on the tips of her fingers.
"It seems that my dear older brother and uncle have allied themselves with the Avatar"
she sneered. "That shows that you are truly traitors to the Fire Nation."
"We have not allied ourselves with just the Avatar, but we allied ourselves with the world's last hope at freedom from the tyranny of the Fire Nation. The world is not meant to be ruled by one nation, but all four nations to live in peace and harmony." said Uncle Iroh, wisely.
"I don't care for your useless blabber, Uncle. I already had to listen to it for 13 long years.
That is until the buffoon standing next to year, spoke out in Fire Lord Ozai's war room. As you can see Father is still punishing him, just by giving him that scar..." Azula stopped talking, staring at Zuko's face which now was free of the punishment given to him by Fire Lord Ozai. "Where did that horrible...lovely mark go, Zuzu?" she said in her soft dangerous, mocking tone. "How did you manage to pull this trick, hmmm?"
Zuko was silent, staring at Azula defiantly, before answering in a stone cold tone, "My scar has been healed by Katara, using water from the Spirit Oasis of the North Pole."
Azula's eyes widened as she heard this. I can't believe that little Waterbender would heal that buffoon's scar. They're supposed to be enemies! Why isn't she afraid, why isn't he using her? She smilied and then addressed Katara, "Peasant, where is the Avatar? I wish to duel with him, I wish to kill him. Zuzu, if you help me kill the Avatar, I will help restore your honor and win you Father's favor...that is if you help me. Father once told me, he misses you and wishes that you were home. Will you come home, Zuzu? Will you come home with newly restored honor, your Father's favor, and the right to call yourself Prince of the Fire Nation?"
Zuko looked deep and thought and began to break his fighting stance. "No, Prince Zuko! Don't!" shouted Uncle Iroh.
But it was too late. Azula noticed this and lept forward shooting her blue lighting out of her foot straight at Prince Zuko. Iroh lept in front of her and used his hand, blocking her foot and directing the lighting towards the Dai Li, who lept out of the way just in time. They advanced towards Zuko and Katara, who while Azula was distracted by Iroh, had moved back to back and used their fire and water whips to fight the Dai Li.
"Uncle, we have to find a way out of here." shouted Zuko, to Uncle Iroh who was battling Azula.
Uncle Iroh nodded and created lots of fire which made the room entirely black with the smoke.
He and Katara, who had heard the conversation, and Zuko huddled in the middle of the thick black smoke.
"We need to escape through the tunnel that the Avatar and I came through, that is the only way. There are too many Dai Li around the entrance to the catacombs. I will create a diversion, you both run to the exit, use your bending to remove any obstacles that are in the way." said Iroh.
Zuko and Katara nodded.
Iroh took out a canteen, drank some of the tea that he always kept with him in an emergency, and then, blew fire, as Zuko and Katara ducked and made their way to the exit.
Suddenly rock hands wrapped themselves around Katara's hands,encasing them, so she couldn't bend. It seemed Azula might have been about half a step ahead of Iroh's plan.
She fell over and shouted, "Zuko!"
Zuko turned back, but before he could reach her, blocks of rock fell, hitting Katara and knocking her unconcious.
The smoke thickened again, as Iroh blew fire out of his mouth. Zuko picked Katara up and carried her to the entrance of the tunnel. Iroh joined him a moment later, there was no sign of Azula, or the Dai Li through the thick smoke.
They quickly hurried through the tunnel. "What happened to her?" said Iroh, concerned.
"During the commotion, a block of rock from the ceiling fell and knocked her unconcious." said Zuko.
"We'd better hope she wakes up, or the Avatar might be angry." said Iroh, quietly. "He must be great friends with her to be so concerned about her safety, to risk not being able to the save the world to get her."
Zuko gulped and nodded.
Aang used his whistle to call Appa. "C'mon boy, we need to get Toph and Sokka first."
He flew to the Earth King's Palace, and landed on the courtyard.
Sokka, Toph, the Earth King, and Basco the Bear came running out.
"Aang, we need to get out of here fast, when we broke out of prison, Azula wasn't in the Throne Room, so we think that Katara and Zuko are in trouble."
"Yeah, I saw them, they are fighting against Azula and the Dai Li. We need to go there fast, in case they are in trouble."
Aang yipped to Appa, who flew off, heading in the direction of the tunnel Aang dug to the crystal catacombs of Old Bae Sing Sae.
As they were landing, they saw Zuko and Iroh running out of the tunnel with Zuko carrying Katara.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER?" shouted Sokka.
"We did nothing, she was knocked unconcious as we tried to escape..." muttered Zuko, lamely.
Aang looked away and let out a breath. "Ok, as long as she isn't hurt." he said, gritting his teeth.
"She's just unconcious." said Zuko.
Aang nodded. Zuko and Iroh climbed on Appa, after Sokka helped lift Katara on Appa.
Aang yipped to Appa and they flew away.
To all people who R&R, many thanks and appreciative pats on the back! I love hearing other people's opinions about the story, both good and bad, because that'll only help me improve as a writer.
Anyways, on to the usual cliffhangers I love to leave, to add to the suspense and point you in the right direction (plus add some hints!)
Will they return to the Air Temple and to Guru Pathik?
Will Aang be able to access the Avatar Sate, by opening the last chakra? If so, how will he forget Katara? If not, what will happen then?
What will Zuko do, now that he has no scar? Will he be on Aang's side?
What about Uncle Iroh's tea shop? Will ha ever be able to have another tea shop again?
Will Sokka see his dad again?
What about Toph, will anything happen to her?
What happened to Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors? Is our assumption correct that they were killed? Or were they captured and are alive in the Fire Nation?
What will happen to the people of Bae Sing Sae?
And the world?
Lastly, and MOST IMPORTANT, will there be a little more Zutara action? Why did Aang, not question Katara's deicision to heal Zuko further? Will he be angry if Katara is permanently unconcious?
Till next time!