Warning: Tragedy.
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Zuko's eyes never left Mai's face, her skin pale in the moonlight and her grey eyes shimmering mischievously. Her mouth, red and curving, taunted him. She stared down at him, clearly savoring the image of Zuko on his knees in the cold water. "Get up," she said softly, "your girlfriend is about to die."
The words were barely out of her mouth when she was knocked over to land on the rocks by a whirling ball of air and a colorful blur that suspiciously looked like Aang. Unfortunately, with Mai's fall, Katara also landed face-first into the stream. Being as she was paralyzed, she obviously couldn't pull her head out of the water to breathe. Aang had forgotten this and was much too busy avoiding Ty Lee's graceful, yet dangerous, jabs, leaving Katara to drown in her own element.
Mai pulled herself up, spluttering. She wiped the wet, raven-black hair from her face, the twinkle gone from her eyes. Her mouth was set in a ferocious snarl as she jumped out, her brows furrowed. She snapped her attention to Zuko. He instantly reacted by jumping to his feet and kicking a spurt of fire at her. She dodged it, but only barely.
"I'm going to have that scar forever, Zuko. The one you gave me back in the Fire Nation," she told him, pulling daggers out of the air and hurling them at the firebender.
"I guess you're not one to accept apologies," Zuko grunted, hissing as a dagger sliced his upper arm. Mai flashed him a grin.
"I am going to get my revenge," she said lightly with a twisted smile.
"I have no doubt," Zuko managed, slipping on the slimy stones underfoot in the dark water. He searched frantically for Katara's still form. He had lost her in the gloom. Where is she?
"Looking for someone?" Mai asked coyly, glancing down at the water before her. She allowed herself another smile before stepping out. She pressed her foot down on Katara's back, bubbles escaping to the surface.
"Mai!" Zuko roared, lunging out and tackling her. He was on top of her, pinning her arms down in the icy water, only allowing her head up to breathe.
"Doesn't this remind you of something?" she asked, her voice like poisoned honey.
Yes, it does, Zuko thought, remembering the time his sister had set fire to an apple and placed it on Mai's head. He had tackled her and they had landed in the water. "Shut up," Zuko spat. "You're turning into my sister, you know that?" Those were the magic words. Zuko watched Mai's cheeks flush in anger and she knocked him off of her with her feet.
"Don't you ever say that," she said quite dangerously. "Don't you dare." Her hands were shaking in rage. She glanced to her right at Katara's still form. Mai kicked the body over and grabbed Katara up by the throat of her neck. "What are you going to do now, Zuzu?" she asked. "What will the Avatar think when he finds out you couldn't save her?" Aang, Jet, and Toph were all trying to corner Ty Lee, oblivious the fact that they had left Zuko and Katara unprotected. Zuko watched them out of the corner of his eye, impressed that Aang was using so much fire in his attacks...lashing out at the trees around him.
"He would kill me," Zuko admitted, "and think I was apart of some conspiracy in which I was hired by the Fire Lord to bring down the Avatar from inside of his little circle. He'll think I was with you."
"It isn't too late," Mai told him softly. "I could tell your father that that was your plan to start with."
Zuko smiled. "I've been down that path before, Mai. Frankly, my feet are getting a little tired of it."
"Then I will be forced to kill you," she told him, sighing.
"We've known that all along, Mai," he said.
She bowed her head in agreement. She dropped Katara with a loud splash. Zuko jumped out at Mai, his fists ignited. She unexpectedly caught him on the shoulder with a hidden blade. He then realized that she couldn't possibly be trying to kill them, for she could have easily stabbed him in the stomach. Mai took advantage of his hesitation by kicking him in the chest. He fell backwards and cracked his head against the sharp rocks. She looked down at him as his vision swam. The last he saw before he blacked out was her terribly pale face and the two things that struck him as odd were the wounded look in her eyes and the fact that there was no smile upon her lips.
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Toph had felt him fall, waiting a few moments for him to get up. When he didn't rise, she turned around and began to run, shoving Ty Lee out of her way and tripping Jet in the process. Aang and his twinkle toes dropped gracefully down beside her.
"Where's Katara?" she heard him cry frantically.
The water was cold; colder than Toph has expected. She felt footsteps to her left, those of her enemy. Toph slid out her foot, the rocks trembling underneath her. She listened to Mai collapse into the water. The blind earthbender started forward, her foot colliding with a body in the water. She snatched up the back of Katara's robes and pulled her up out of the water. Zuko should be nearby, she thought anxiously as Aang sped up to her, taking Katara in his arms.
"Where is he?" she cried, frustrated. "Why can't I see him? Why can't I feel him?" Wouldn't she be able to hear his heartbeat, thudding against the rocks? To feel his chest rising in and out like the tide? "Where is he?"
Then she felt them. Footsteps. Mai had risen and was dragging something in the water. Then a pulse was pounding in her ears, almost deafening her. It was Zuko. He was alive. "Zuko!" she cried, running after them. She was stopped short in her tracks as Aang called her back.
"I need you to get Sokka and Katara out of h-" He never got to finish his sentence; Ty Lee, a green blur, spun out and knocked him down, bashing his head on the rocks similarly to Zuko. He was out cold. It was just Toph and Jet against Mai and Ty Lee.
Zuko was half on the bank when Mai dropped him and walked slowly back to join the others. "This should be fun," she drawled. "I'll take the blind girl."
"No fair!" Ty Lee complained. "You got the easy one."
"Can it, Sugar Plum," Toph snapped, kicking up a boulder to stub Ty Lee's toe. The girl squealed as she tried to keep balance.
"Was it you, earthbender, that cried out, 'Why can't I see him? Why can't I feel him?'" Mai mocked, whining out Toph's words. "Tell me, do you love him?"
"Zuko?" Toph asked in disbelief. "You think I love Zuko?" She burst out laughing at the irony. "You're hilarious!" Being as she was blind, she couldn't see Mai's cheeks flushing.
"As much as I'd like to hear about Toph's love life," said Jet loudly, "I think we ought to get this over with."
"I agree," said Toph, sliding her feet out into fighting stance. "Unfortunately your love, Zuko, will have to wait."
"What did you say?" Mai snapped, stomping forward.
"Oh come on!" said Toph. "I'm not blind." She then laughed after she realized what she said. "You two obviously like each other, despite being on opposite sides of a war. This sort of reminds me of that Omashu song..."
"That's what I said!" Ty Lee exclaimed gleefully.
"Shut up," Toph and Mai chorused together, barely looking at her.
"Are you saying that traitor, has...likes..." Mai spluttered.
"I'm not saying anything," Toph denied. "Let's do this."
"Finally!" Jet exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "I hate girl talk."
A figure emerged from the woods. Everyone lowered their fists to face the newcomer. Toph recognized the footsteps instantly. The figure walked with confidence and pride, but also with anger; fiery rage that no water could put out. Princess Azula of the Fire Nation stood before them, a smile on her lips.
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"How did you get out?" Jet demanded hotly.
Azula strolled out to meet them, her eyebrows high on her forehead. She ignored him, but turned to face Ty Lee and Mai instead. "I didn't know you had Fire Nation troops in the woods."
"We don't," said Mai, still in shock. "They must have been sent out to join the Fire Lord."
"I see," said Azula, frowning slightly. "Well they attacked the small camp I was in, but there are still many other camps in the woods...I'm not sure how many troops there were total." Her frown deepened and she asked, "If you don't have any soldiers then how did you expect to rescue me?"
"I...We...," Mai started, tongue tied. How was she supposed to tell Azula that they hadn't come for her at all?
"We thought the less the better," Ty Lee offered. "That way we could sneak in undetected. As you can see we are dressed like Earth Kingdom fighters. We were hoping to be able to get close to you."
Mai breathed again and nodded weakly. She gave Ty Lee a look: thank you. Ty Lee nodded slightly and continued talking, "You don't know how glad we are to see you. I've missed you, Azula."
The delight was evident on Azula's face. It seemed as if she had been under a lot of strain lately and her entire face seemed to relax. She was even smiling a little.
Ty Lee and Mai glanced at each other, each cocking an eyebrow. What was wrong with Azula? Had the Avatar's team tortured her so much that she wasn't her old self anymore? Had she changed?
"So, what are you waiting for?" Azula asked, glancing around. "Keep the Avatar alive but kill the others. Kill them all." No, she had not changed, Ty Lee and Mai realized. She was only happy to see someone whom she might have remotely missed during her imprisonment.
Mai hesitated, glancing over at Zuko on the bank. Azula followed her gaze. "My brother," said the princess lightly. "Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure," said Mai truthfully. "He took a bad fall on the rocks."
"'Fall'?" Azula asked, frowning.
"I pushed him," Mai admitted.
Azula smiled. "Excellent. And the others? Dear, what happened to the Avatar?"
"That would be me," said Ty Lee proudly.
"Sokka looks like he met one of your little dart toxins, Mai. I congratulate you. What about Katara? She just looks dead."
"I believe she is," said Ty Lee. "Mai had her drowned."
"Interesting. It seems like you two have been having too much fun without me." Azula smiled icily at them as if she knew the real truth as to why Mai and Ty Lee had gone to attack the Avatar.
"Of course not, Azula," said Ty Lee sincerely. "If you want, we'll leave you either Jet or the blind girl."
"Why thank you, Ty Lee. What a generous offer."
Just listening to them made Toph sick. These girls talked of killing good people, people who want to save and help others. People like her.
"I think I'll take the boy," said Azula, smiling.
"I'm older than you," Jet protested, offended that he was called a boy. "You're what...fourteen? About the same age as Katara."
"Enough chitchat," said Azula. "Mai, do you mind if I use one of your blades?"
Mai tossed her a small curving knife. Azula caught it easily and turned to face Jet. He took out a Water Tribe dagger and held it up. Mai looked at the two of them, standing apart and looking focused. That's when Mai noticed something. There was a twisting scar on one of Azula's cheeks, red and raw. Azula noticed her looking and flashed Mai a look with her hard, golden eyes. Mai instantly averted her own to face Toph.
Jet swung his blade out at Azula. She easily stepped out of the way and set her own weapon on fire. "I could easily electrocute you," Azula told him. "You would be dead instantly. But I want this to be as painful as possible. After all, you were the one that led me to the Avatar. You got me captured. You made me lose valuable time in helping my father win the war. You made me doubt myself. You made Princess Azula doubt herself."
"I'm flattered," said Jet, eyeing the flaming blade with distaste, "but I don't think I have done all of those things. You were the cause of your own destruction. You made too many mistakes, Azula."
"That's Princess Azula to you, peasant," she snarled, her lip curling.
"Whatever you say," said Jet, slicing out at her face. Azula snagged his wrist and twisted it. He hissed and broke out of her grasp, cutting out at her again. Meanwhile, Toph busied herself in launching various rocks the size of Appa's head at Ty Lee and Mai. They were quick and easily dodged them. Unfortunately, Toph had trouble predicting when Mai would shoot darts at her so the earthbender constantly had to keep moving. She was exhausted.
The moon was high overhead. It must have been midnight and they were still fighting. Hadn't any of the Earth Kingdom soldiers in the woods heard them? Why weren't they swarming to the Avatar's rescue? A small gasp brought Toph out of her thoughts. Was that Jet?
"Goodbye," Azula had said seriously, just before stabbing him in the chest. The clothes around the blade burned furiously with blue flames, just above his armor. Jet looked down at his chest in incredulity, watching blood blossom from his shirt. He touched it gingerly, not believing the red stain on his hands were real. This couldn't be. It was impossible. However, it didn't matter whether Jet believed it to be true or not; he stumbled backwards and was falling, falling, falling...
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"JET!" Toph shrieked, racing over to him. She landed on her knees and put her hand to the ground beside him. "No, no, no," she moaned. "This can't be happening. Jet, you need to get up right now." She shook his shoulders gently, perfectly aware that her enemies were sneaking up behind her.
"Are you that uncivilized that you're going try to attack someone while their back is turned?" Toph snarled, unable to keep her voice from shaking. Mai and Ty Lee stopped in their tracks, but Azula kept going. She did not strike Toph but stood over her.
"If he's not dead already, he will be," Azula said softly.
"No!" Toph roared, unable to keep the tears from falling down her pale cheeks. "I shouldn't be the one doing this. It should be Katara. Why am I the only one that has to be here?" Everyone else was gone. All of her friends had dropped like flies and here she was, the only one left, crying over someone she hadn't taken the time to know. She shook his shoulders harder, sobbing aloud. She traced her hand down from his face to his neck to his chest, until she felt something wet and sticky. She sliced her finger on the blade that only stuck inch out of his chest, the rest buried into his flesh. She pulled his out, her hands shaking horribly. "No, no, no," she repeated. "No! Katara...Where is Katara?" It was true, Jet wasn't dead yet...His heartbeat was as slight and fluttery as a bird's.
"Get up," said Azula. "We've let you cry like a child, now it is time to face us like an adult."
"I am a child," Toph snarled. "But I don't know what you are."
Azula's cheeks flushed. "Enough. Get up."
Toph refused to move.
"Um, Azula? We've already got the Avatar. Why don't we stop while we're ahead?" Ty Lee asked nervously.
"Sugar Plum's got a point," Toph told the princess, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "You've caused enough damage already." She turned back to Jet, putting an ear up to the bloody mess of his chest. His heart still beat, though faintly. If only Katara was here, she could heal him.
"Get the Avatar," Azula commanded to Ty Lee. "Bring him over here."
"You might want to hurry," said Mai. "My darts wear off in about an hour. The Water Tribe boy should we waking up any moment."
"So kill him," Azula said simply. Mai stared at her.
"You want to kill him when he's no threat anyway?" Mai demanded, almost angrily.
Azula raised her eyebrows. "You just said he might wake up soon."
"If we leave first it won't matter," said Mai, narrowing her eyes.
"Are you going to argue with me?" Azula asked. "Are you going to challenge my authority?" Azula's eyes flickered to where Zuko lay. "We all know what happens when someone confronts the Fire Lord. Seeing as I will be one soon, how should this be any different?"
"I'm not afraid of you," said Mai heatedly.
"No?" Azula asked, smiling. "Were you before?"
"Once. But you've lost your touch. Say, where did you get that scar on your face? It seems like everyone in your family has one." Mai watched Azula's face transfigure horrendously.
"Shut up," Azula snarled, advancing on her.
"You also said that you would be Fire Lord soon. Are you planning to overthrow your father? Because Azula, that's treasonous," said Mai.
Ty Lee dragged Aang over by his arms, looking at the gnarled knot on the back of his head. She glanced between Azula and Mai nervously. "Okay, are we ready to leave? Azula, we have a ship waiting not too far from here..."
"No, I meant that my brother will be dead soon," said Azula, her eyes never leaving Mai's face. "What do you think of that?"
"Why should I care?" Mai said, never blinking.
"I don't know Mai," said Azula smiling. "Ty Lee, why would Mai care?"
"I...I...um," said Ty Lee, shaking her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Toph's eyes widened as she felt a small movement from the edge of the trees. Sokka was stirring. He would be fully awake within a few moments. Please, Sokka, don't make a sound, Toph begged. Don't you dare make a sound...
"Ughhhhh," Sokka moaned. Toph slapped herself in the face with despair.
Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee snapped their attention to the Water Tribe boy as he struggled to his feet. He looked around with a frown, noticing only Toph was conscious. "What happened...?" He then saw Katara. He rushed to her side, seeing how pale her skin was. She was cold, so cold. He pounded her on the chest. No response. "Come on Katara," he said weakly.
"Your sister's dead," said Azula smugly.
Sokka looked up in disbelief. "You...," he whispered. "How did you get out?"
"That's all you care about? Me getting out? Did you hear me? I said your sister is dead."
"No she's not," Toph cried. "I can hear her."
Sokka turned back to Katara. He tried to remember what Zuko had done back in the Fire Nation. He had tilted her head back and had breathed into her mouth. As much as Sokka was disgusted at the prospect of putting his lips on Katara's cold, possibly dead, ones, he did it anyway. He pounded on her chest again. "Katara, Katara, Katara," he repeated over and over again. "Katara, Katara, Ka-Katara?" Katara coughed up some water, her eyes streaming. Sokka pushed her wet hair from her face and hugged her. "Thank the gods," he whispered into her hair. "I had thought for a moment that you were..."
"Katara!" Toph suddenly cried, her voice cracking. "I need you. Jet's...Jet's in a bad way."
Sokka looked up. "What?" It had been difficult for him to see the blood that stained the front of Jet's clothes in the dark. The Water Tribe boy pulled his choking sister to her feet, smacking her on the back to get any remaining water out of her throat.
"Thanks," she gasped, her knees weak. "Wha-what's wrong w-w-with J-Jet?" Her teeth chattered. She must have been freezing. Sokka tried to keep her warm. He suddenly wished Zuko was there with his fire.
"I stabbed him," Azula said gleefully.
"A-Azula?" Katara stuttered. "W-what are y-you d-doing h-here?"
"Why is everyone so intent on knowing that? I said that I stabbed him!"
Katara's stomach seemed to plummet. She suddenly felt feverish, her mouth dry. "You're lying!" What was it that she constantly heard Zuko mumble while he slept? Azula always lies. This just had to be another one. Jet couldn't be...He just couldn't. He had been hurt badly before, but he had made it through, hadn't he?
"Come here Katara, he's going to bleed to death," Toph cried.
Katara didn't move. She couldn't. She looked around her. Aang and Zuko were out cold, their heads bloody. She knew she had to heal them all. So why couldn't she take one blasted step?
"You need to be brave," said Sokka. "Come on." He gently pushed her along. She stumbled once, twice, three times before she fell to her knees before Jet. Her lips trembled. "No," she said. "No."
"Hurry!" Toph said. "Sokka and I will draw them off!" Just as she said that a streak of lightning lit up the dark. It was a warning. Azula was going to attack them.
"IROH!" Sokka shrieked. "IROH! LONG FENG! YOUR MAJESTY! ANYONE? HELP!"
"They can't hear you," said Azula, smiling. "I'm afraid you're the only ones left. An army of Fire Nation troops attacked. That's how I was freed. Most of the Earth Kingdom soldiers are dead or dying. The others ran off. Sure there are several dead firebenders too...a small price to pay."
"No," said Sokka, shaking his head. "That's impossible. No one knew we were there."
"Obviously someone did," said Azula, with a soft laugh.
Katara knelt before Jet, pushing away the bloodied cloth. She didn't know what she could do. She no longer had the Spirit Oasis water to help. That's when she saw it. His eyelids moved, ever so slightly. "Jet?" she questioned. His eyes opened wider.
He smiled. "I was waiting for you," he said weakly, his voice barely audible. "No offence to Toph. She did a great job. I don't think I'll be getting up, Katara."
"You've done it before," she told him, her eyes shimmering with hope.
He laughed, slightly, his face twisted with pain. "I wasn't stabbed with a knife last time."
"No, you're going to get up and you're going to be fine. I'm going to heal you, and you're going to be fine. Did you hear me?" Katara bended some water over and made two shimmering gloves. She placed them over the wound.
"You can't always make everything better," said Jet, his eyes glazing. He blinked and tried to focus on her again. "Don't be so hard on yourself."
"Jet, please, you shouldn't be talking. This must be hurting you..."
"Oh it hurts a lot," he said truthfully. "I'm surprised I'm not dead yet."
"Stop showing off," said Katara, a tear dripping down her nose.
"Aw, don't cry Katara," he said. "Toph did enough of that for me. I..." He gritted his teeth and groaned. The pain was finally catching up with him. He struggled to stay alive, just so he could keep talking to her. Tears finally leaked out of his own eyes. He mumbled something; Katara had to bring her face close to his to hear. It seemed like he was speaking gibberish. Nothing seemed to make sense. Then a few words stood out amongst the rest: "A mountain divides them apart." And he died.
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A/N: Don't you just HATE Azula??? Wow this chapter was my longest one. I thought you guys deserved it because it has taken me forever to update. Oh yeah, happy belated Valentine's Day! Even though...um...this isn't a very happy chapter. But I warned you. Sorry to all of the Jet lovers, I've finally given him the proper death. (Don't eat me). Oh and always review.