A/N Yes I know people don't bleed when hit by lightning but I'm using my creative license!

Behind These Painted Masks

Chapter 18

Finale Battle

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"Zuko!" Katara had finished the stairs and the scene lay before her. Mai, dead and Zuko not much better. His shirt was ripped where the lightning had struck.

"Katara wait!" Toph reached out for Katara's hand but missed, "Azula's…" Toph stopped when Katara fell to her knees beside Zuko.

"You killed him…" Katara gasped, clutching Zuko's body. His eyes were half lidded and she could feel the blood soaking through his tunic onto her skirt.

Azula walked out from behind a pillar, leaning against it casually she said, "Yes. It was really quite easy."

"You're a monster." Katara accused through sobs, "You killed your own brother!"

Azula's fingers sparked with blue lightning, flashing in her amber eyes, "Don't worry, you'll join him soon."

No…I won't die like this…I need to avenge them both. Katara's mind gripped with resolve, her finger clenched around Zuko's shirt, ripping it further.

Zuko…

Aang…

The lightning flashed and Katara blocked it, absorbing water from the air around her, creating a frozen shield that shattered on contact with Azula's attack. Thousands of icicles when flying through the air, imbedding themselves in walls and the floor.

Toph and Sokka came running in through the door but Katara stuck out a hand and turned on them, "No…this is my battle." Sokka was about to object was Toph held him back placing a hand on his shoulder.

"But…" Sokka stammered, playing with the hilt of his blade, obviously gunning for a fight.

"No Sokka. She needs to do this." Toph squeezed his shoulder her pastel emerald eyes catching his; he sighed and picked up Sakora so she wouldn't run away from the upcoming battle, she clutched his shirt burying her face away from the two girls facing off.

Azula's laughter rang through the chamber, "Well, well, well the Water Tribe girl is going to take on a Fire Nation princess. Come now, we can all be friends."

Katara ran towards Azula, brandishing an ice sword, Azula created her own lightning sword. When the two met their faces were barely a hairbreadth apart.

"So you liked my brother." Azula hissed as steam started to billow from the blades, "But not just that. Your feelings for him were deeper than that. Don't you feel guilty? Abandoning your precious Avatar for my brother."

Before Azula could taunt her again an unknown force wrenched her forward, onto her knees. The force of the fall caused her hair to fall from it's topknot.

Katara forced my hands into the claws; Azula's blood was thicker thank Hama's Katara was disgusted to notice. For a moment she spared a glance at her brother. He was holding Sakora while Toph had lowered her head. Whether in shame or sadness Kataa could not tell. She was a master, this control was sickening, and she wouldn't wish this on her worst enemy.

Nevertheless there she was, the cold, ruthless Puppetmaster.

Azula was her puppet; Katara threw her against the wall, leaving a deep dent, she fell, twisted into a series of complicated forms, stretching her very being to the edge. Katara's eyes were narrowed, the tears leaking out while she focused on inflicting as pain as she could onto the Fire Nation Princess.

I could kill her right now...Katara considered. The thought made her cringe.

Azula was gasping heavily. "Please…" she held out a hand. A sign of submission.

Katara contemplated it for a second.

"Mercy…is that what you want?" Azula nodded, tears streaming from the pain she was in.

A groan come from behind Katara, Zuko squeezed his eyes in pain before opening them, "Katara…" his voice was faint.

With a quick movement Katara threw Azula against a pillar, from the shattering noise, Azula was silence forever. She fell to the cold marble floor, one pale hand still reaching for Katara's mercy.

"Zuko…" she was by his side in an instant. Toph and Sokka's footsteps could be heard echoing around the chamber.

A/N

I know, these chapters arn't long but still, at least I'm updating!