1Well, all I can say is: Thanks for your support and reviews, guys! We are more than halfway through this story, so I hope to finish this bby New Years'.

And by the way, some of you were right. The surprise pairing is Ursa/Hakoda.

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Chapter 12: Keep The Faith

"Time to rock!" Toph sent a boulder at Aang. Aang dodged it and bended the boulder back at Toph. The two of them were training earrthbending.

"Hey, Toph!" Aang called out. "I've got a crush on you!"

Aang bent up two rock pillars and brought them closer to Toph. The blind earthbender thrust her fists outward, breaking the two walls.

"Gee, Twinkletoes, you sure do know how to sweep people off their feet!" Toph sent a massive shockwave at Aang. Aang jumped to avoid the hit. The shockwave ended very near Sokka, which made him jump.

"Glad to see you guys are having fun with earthbending, but we really need to work on a strategy to attack the Fire Lord!" Sokka threw up his hands in frustration. "Seriously, who's the Avatar here?"

Toph chuckled. "Sorry, meathead, but seriously, it's called relaxing before the pressure."

"We can't relax when there's a damn war going on!" Sokka cried. "Spirits, am I the only one who wants to freaking kill the Fire Lord?"

Katara walked into the campsite holding some fruit. "What's going on?"

"Meathead over here thinks he's the Avatar and wants to kill the Fire Lord." Toph explained airily.

"Trust me. If I were the Avatar, I would've killed the Fire Lord months ago!" Sokka stated. He sighed.

"Sokka, relax! We are going to be fine." Katara responded, frowning at her brother. "We're ready. We have surprise on our side this time."

"Well, Aang is the Avatar. Let's see what he has to say." Toph turned to Aang. "Twinkletoes?"

Katara turned to Aang. Aang was sitting against a tree with his knees curled up against his chest. He had a horrified expression on his face.

"I can't do it." He said quietly.

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Azula walked along another hallway of the palace flanked by two guards. She was talking to them.

"We don't know when the rebellion will hit. I need you two to move Suki- that Kyoshi warrior- back here in the dungeons. There's a good chance the Avatar's friend will rescue her. Make sure my brother is heavily guarded, and get rid of Mai and Ty Lee."

"But the girls' parents are-"

"I don't care." Azula intterupted her companion. "Those girls are traitors. Just put them under house arrest. If they leave...well...you know what to do."

"Yes, Princess." the guard said, bowing. "What should we tell your father?"

"Nothing." Azula said simply. "He is not to know any of this. If you tell him anything, I will kill you both. That is all."

The guards left, and Azula kept walking. No one noticed Ty Lee hiding just barely behind a pillar. She gasped quietly and ran as fast as she could to the dungeons.

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"Zuko!" Ty Lee exclaimed as she ran into his cell.

"Ty Lee?"

"Look...whatever Azula said to you is not true! Mai did not tell her about the rebellion, I did!:" Ty Lee gasped for breath. "I'm so sorry. You know how Azula is."

"I didn't think Mai did tell her." Zuko exhaled. "Did you tell Azula when the rebellion is?"

Ty Lee shook her head. "I better go. Good luck!"

Zuko gaped after Ty Lee. The acrobat hurried through the palace and macde it outside. She took a few moments to catch her breath, then headed over to Mai's.

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Back to the campsite, Katara, Toph, and Sokka stared at Aang. Katara sighed and knelt down next to Aang.

"Aang...you can do it." Katara said. "You know all four elements now. You know enough-"

"I failed twice, Katara!" Aang said, his voice breaking. "What if I fail again? I'm not ready to face the Fire Lord. I can't defeat the Fire Lord now!"

Katara sighed and looked at Sokka for help. He just shrugged. Katara turned back to Aang.

"Aang...do you want this war to end?" Katara asked kindly. "Do you want everyone you love to be safe and happy and healthy?"

Aang nodded. Katara continued. "Okay, the only way to do that is to defeat the Fire Lord. We are all counting on you, and we're all here for you. We're all in this together, Aang. The Fire Lord's defeat is for all of us."

Aang sighed and looked at Katara. "Katara, I just don't know..."

"Oh, come on!" Sokka exclaimed. Katara gave him a warning look.

"Sokka..."

"No! Look, we've come this far! I did not leave the South Pole just to hear Aang admnit defeat!" Sokka glared at Aang. "I want the freaking Fire Lord dead!"

"And I don't?!" Aang jumped up. "I want Ozai dead as much as the next person, but quite honestly, I SUCK!"

"You know what, Twinkletoes?" Toph jumped in. "You do suck. You suck as the Avatar. You're supposed to help people. And the way to do that is kill the Fire Lords!"

"Hey!" Katara yelled. "Enough! We're all a little stressed because this may be our last chance at defeating the Fire Lords. But we need to calm down and figure this out!"

"I will calm down! I'll calm down fifty miles away from Aang!" Sokka shot back. He growled and stormed off.

"Wait up!" Toph called after Sokka.

"Sokka!" Katara yelled after him. "You are acting immature."

"I'm acting immature?" Sokka whirled around. "I'm not the one putting off defeating Ozai and running away from every freaking problem!"

Katara groaned loudly. "You know what? That's it. Apparantly you don't think Aang can defeat the Fire Lord. So you know what? I'll do it!"

"Do what?" Sokka asked.

"I will kill the Fire Lord." Katara said, determined.

"What?!" Both Toph and Aang exclaimed.

Aang ran over to Katara. "Katara, think about this."

"I have thought about it, Aang." Katara replied. "I'll meet you guys at the capital."

Katara began heading in the direction of the capital. Aang's eyes widened in horror.

"Wait, Katara, you don't have to do this." Aang said. He put a hand on her shoulder. He swallowed. "I'll do it."

Katara turned to Aang. "You'll do what?"

"I'll defeat the Fire Lord." Aang replied. "I'm ready."

Katara smiled. "Good. Then my work here is done."

Sokka stared at Katara. "What?"

"Reverse psychology." Katara said simply. "Works every time."

Aang gaped and pointed to Katara. "You weren't really going to defeat the Fire Lord, were you?"

"Of course not!" Katrara shook her head. "That's your destiny, Aang."

Aang sighed. "I know. You're right."

Sokka just shook his head and laughed. "Katara, you surprise me sometimes."

Katara just smiled and shrugged.

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Back at Mai's house, Mai and Ty Lee were on the couch. Ty Lee told Mai about what Azula said earlier.

"Well, that sucks. Now what?" Mai asked.

Tty Lee sighed. "Sneak out tomorrow and help out?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a good plan." Mai replied. "One other thing though. We're breaking Zuko out of his cell."

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-sings Are You ready by Three days Grace- XD Yeah...