*To quote the greatest robot ever, "I'm back baby!" Same as the old disclaimer! I won nothing! No profiting here! Some OC-ness! Me and my muse Fairies have had a time out period and we saw other people... and it turns out we don't get along with other people. So we have reconciled and are happy once more! HERE'S AANGY! The start to the climax on his whineyness! All reviews are welcome as well as helpful idea's! Thanks for being patient with me loyal readers! you guys totally rock and i give you a sneak peak of my next chapter at the end of this chapter as a present! wish you all happy holidays!*

Katara felt hot and sticky. The weather in Blazing Palms was sweltering, the only relief really was the air conditioned buildings. Zuko was doing well in the competition, Lu Ten was injured in a match with an earth bender. The entire trip was lovely with the exception of Zuko's father and... Aang competing in the league. Katara had been shocked when she'd seen him on the screen. He had been a late entry but had been able to rack up enough points to be qualified. Katara felt her heart clench as she watched Aang battle a water-bender. 'How long has it been? Almost a year...'

Jun had noticed Katara's detachment, ever since that kid with Avatarism showed up. "Ok Tara, what is your deal! Zuko could be the champ and your not even excited." Katara sighed, she knew Jun was right, but Zuko also understood. His words before his next match had touched her so, 'Tara I know this must be hard... I understand if your conflicted and torn... (he scratched his neck nervously)...but that's OK. I want you to know its OK...' "TARA ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME! ZUKO MADE IT TO THE FINALE MATCH YOU BITCH!"

Jun startled Katara out of her thoughts. She turned towards the screen to see Zuko's picture at the top of the line up chart. Her lips turned upwards to a grin for a moment, only to drop again when Katara saw who he'd be fighting. 'Aang...' Apparently nothing would be simple for Katara."Zuko has hardly mastered basic fire-bending, and he expects to win against a kid who has mastery over all the elements, what a fool son I've raised." Ozai chuckled. Katara cast a glare at him, "Aang might know how to bend earth, air and water, but Zuko has the upper hand with fire-bending..." Katara retorted as she stood, Ozai glowered at her retreating form.

Zuko heaved a breath as he sat in the waiting room for the final match. The announcer would call his name any moment. A light knock at the door caught his attention, "enter...?" Katara opened the door, her mouth was smiling but her eyes held worry. "Tara, whats wrong, did my father..." he was silenced by her bone crushing hug. "I'm sorry Zuko, I should be more supporting, you've worked so hard for this. I couldn't let you go out without telling you good luck and how much I love you..." Zuko hushed her with his lips. "I know Tara, you don't have to explain anything." The announcer called Zuko's name and the other door opened to a cheering crowd. Zuko grinned at the girl in his arms, "I'll go easy on him I promise." His grin emitted a playful confidence that calmed Katara greatly, one last kiss and he left into the match.

The lasted at least an hour. Even with the two extra elements on his side Aang still had trouble landing a direct hit. His emotions seemed to be affecting his concentration. Zuko felt the sweat pouring down his back, he couldn't keep this up forever. Aang was good Zuko would give him that, but his bending lacked discipline. He was wasting his chi on many of his maneuvers. Earth-bending was particularly difficult for him Zuko noticed. Zuko blasted four small fire balls towards Aang to distract him as he advanced closer. He was going to have one shot at this. Aang knocked to attacks away with his air-bending and Zuko rooted himself. The commentator was at a loss for words at what Zuko did next. He began to stir the air around him, at first nothing happened.

Aang landed on a pillar of rock he'd made earlier, "trying to be like me Zuko? Not gonna happen, only I can bend all the elements..." Tiny sparks formed in the air Zuko was stirring. Zuko smirked, "I'm no copy cat kid, this is your last chance to back down gracefully." Aang's face hardened and he ran at Zuko with an "air sword" around his right arm. Zuko felt the positive and negative energies attempting to reuinite, he couldn't hold on much longer.

Lu Ten turned to his father worriedly, "dad is he doing what I think he's doing!" Iroh only nodded and Ozai began to cackle, "no way he can do it!" Katara turned to Lu Ten and Uncle, "what is he trying?" Iroh sighed and sipped his tea for a moment, "he is attempting a difficult maneuver, you see there is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang; positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few fire-benders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance and in a moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together. The bender provides release and guidance, creating lightning." Katara covered her gasp with her fingers. "Is it dangerous?" Iroh wanted to lie to the sweet girl he'd become so fond of but could not. "He could not only harm himself and the young Air-bender, but he could stop his own heart..." Katara felt tears well up in her eyes as she returned to the monitors.

Aang was at least ten steps away from Zuko and he had to do it now. As he stopped his stirring, Zuko felt the energies begin to reunite. Memories of his past failures at this move resurfaced but Zuko beat them down. This was about more than the title, Aang had said when they started their battle he'd take Katara back. That they were meant to be. Zuko would let her go if she wanted, but not before proving himself to her. Aang brought the gale blade down and Zuko released his hold on the energies. He could not feel his fingers as golden light shot from his fingers a hairline away from Aang's arm and straight through the blade. The force was so huge, the backlash knocked both benders back. Zuko skidded to a stop while Aang was hurled into the pillar. Aang slid down and softly landed on his feet, he breathed slightly for a moment before passing out from the force.

The crowd cheered loudly, the commentator exclaiming the most impressive technique he'd ever seen. Zuko felt tingly all over, but happy that he'd finally did it. He felt his knees give out and knelt down on them, his tingling fist held him still. Before he passed out Zuko saw his uncle, cousin and girlfriend dashing towards him. He saw the tears streaming down Katara's face, his last thought before the lights went out were, 'she is gonna kill me...' and Zuko passed out completely.

preview of the next chapter!

"Aang I am sorry... but I can't take it anymore! You're a good guy, but you blame everything on others! It's my fault YOU cheated on me cause I wouldn't go to Omashu with you! Zuko stole me from you because apparently I have no mind of my own! When are you going to grow up! I am with Zuko because I love him!" Katara yelled! Aangs big blue eyes wept, "no it's not true Kat you love me! You told me so!" Katara felt her anger lessen, he was going through so much all at once. Everything he'd never dealt with as a child and the vastly maturing world he'd been thrust into after graduation. "I did once Aang, apart of me still does. You were my first love..." she chewed her thumbnail slightly for a moment. "... but its different now. I'm different. Please don't make this any harder than it has to be. I still care Aang, but you have to let me go to save yourself..." with that Katara turned to the door and began to turn the knob. "Katara?" She paused for a moment knowing she should just keep going. "Yes Aang?" She heard him sigh, "thanks for being honest with me..." she released her breath she hadn't know she'd been holding. "your welcome Aang... if you need anything..." "I will. Thanks Katara." With that Katara left Aangs room and went straight back to Zuko's, 'he's not getting out of his lecture either!'