Chapter 20: Life and Death

"I will overcome.

In violence there's silence,

Oh no, it can't be undone.

I will overcome.

Knowing that I'm not the only one.

I will overcome.

It's the only way to carry on."

From "Overcome" by Within Temptation

The fight was not going in Aang's favor when the tired and in some cases injured group stepped into the room. His staff lay on the floor, a thin line of ash on an already torn up floor. Ozai had an almost feverish look in his eyes and smoke puffed out with his every breath.

Ozai grinned at the Avatar. "The comet has finally arrived. Ready to die little airbender?"

"Come on guys!" Toph yelled and started forward.

Ozai heard and looked over with a sneer. With a stomp and a raising of arms fire shot out of the ground in a thick wall, effectively cutting Aang's friends off from him.

"Zuko! Get this wall down!" Sokka said.

"Working on it." He stated trying to part the flames.

"Come on man! What kind of firebender are you!?" Sokka yelled.

"One who does't know how to use the comet's energies now shut up!" Zuko snapped back.

With his newest hope dashed Aang looked back at the Fire Lord in time to avoid a new barrage of flames.

Sokka did his best to watch the fight from behind the fire wall. Stupid comet just had to make it in time for the stupid Fire Lord. Why couldn't it have been helpful to all benders or even the Avatar? The Avatar was a firebender to after all!

Sokka's brain froze on the thought. Slowly the reality dawned on him causing him to smack a palm to his forehead. "Idiot!" He snapped.

"I'm almost done Sokka shut up." Zuko said automatically assuming the water warrior was meaning him.

"No that's not...never mind!" Sokka pulled on his hair in frustration. "I need to talk to Aang for like five seconds! You guys gotta give me that."

"What are you babbling about?" Toph asked in confusion.

"I don't have time to explain." Sokka stated.

"We'll give you time Sokka but hurry." Katara stated.

Mari took a breath and looked at everyone. "Zuko's almost got it. You guys ready?"

Everyone nodded as Zuko broke through. "GO!" He yelled as he pushed the flames away.

The four benders all but leaped onto Ozai. Where he dodged a boulder he ran into a gust of wind that knocked him off his feet, where he got out of the way of a fireball there was a stream of water snapping at him.

Sokka ignored the fight completely and ran for Aang, who was groaning from the impact he'd had with a wall. He'd just managed to get a fire shield in place before the blast had roasted him.

"Aang." Sokka said helping the Avatar up.

"No, you guys need to get out of here Sokka." Aang told him sternly. He'd never forgive himself if any of his friends got wounded or worse trying to help him.

"We'll be fine." Sokka stated. "You need to figure out how to tap into that comet."

"What are you talking about?" Aang asked in confusion.

"Sen said that the comet enhances firebending. All firebending. Which means you should be able to tap into it too." Sokka scowled. "I just don't know how you'd tap into some fancy cosmic star thing."

Aang blinked at Sokka. "Cosmic? Cosmic! Cosmic energy!"

"Uh yeah I just said that." Sokka stated now looking at Aang in confusion.

The little monk opened his mouth to explain to see Ozai launch waves of fire in multiple directions. "Look out!" He yelled jumping in front of the water boy.

The blast was fierce and though Aang managed to keep Sokka from serious harm the water warrior took a nasty hit to the head from flying debris, knocking him out for the moment.

Aang looked around. Mari was also out of the fight. Katara was attempting to heal her arm which looked like it had gotten blackened from fire. Toph and Zuko were doing their best to keep Ozai occupied in the mean time.

It was all senseless to Aang. So much pain and death for foolish things. For people to say they were better then another when in reality there was no difference. Bending a different element or no element at all, didn't make one any better or worse. They were all one people living behind imaginary walls as it was. Imaginary walls that one built around oneself over the course of a lifetime.

That was why he was friends with everyone there. Each of them had open minds that would bring change to the world. They couldn't die here.

I won't let any of them fall here. Everyone is in this together, we are all connected. Aang thought to himself.

Just breathe Aang.

He closed his eyes and took a breath. When he opened them he didn't see the battle before him.

He saw himself. With white eyes.

"Will you help me with this? Please?" He asked the spirit.

The white eyed spirit blinked and bowed. We are with you.

It was an odd thing to Aang. He suddenly seemed so much more then himself yet still just himself. He saw Ozai knock away Zuko and Toph and turn to him only to go white and wide eyed in panic.

As he stepped toward Ozai he could feel the man start to bend flames at him, just the slightest raising of temperature. The Fire Lord seemed so slow, so inexperienced. Aang felt like he was watching a small child just starting to play with matches instead of a man who was a master firebender.

It took just a thought for the fireball Ozai shot to split in half before him. Just a thought for the earth under the lord to shake and upset his footing. Another to blow him another direction with a gust of air. Aang barely needed to move as blue fires jumped from him to dance around the disrespectful child before him.

Ozai had never felt such raw power, and started to plead.

Aang heard him. Pleading for the Avatar to spare his life.

Looking past him the monk could see Katara healing Sokka's head injury. One of his friends apparently grabbing the warrior in the confusion. All of them had minor injuries and were exhausted. Each to Aang represented the suffering of all the Nations due to this man and his ancestor's greed.

Your wish is to kill him then?

Aang thought a moment. No. No, I can't kill him.

Why? The spirit in him asked.

Because we're all connected. While he's has been a horrible person, other's stepped in and were good. Aang couldn't help but grin a bit. We all depend on the balance, and we all are the balance at the same time.

He sensed the spirit in him hum it's approval.

Aang looked down at the grovelling Fire Lord. "It is over." He stated flatly to the Fire Lord who stayed face down in front of him.

Katara smiled as the monk stepped past Ozai. His eyes still glowing white with a smile on his face.

Zuko stared at his father. It struck him as odd that his father would suddenly surrender like he had...

Then he saw the slightest glint of steel.

"Aang!" Zuko yelled, but all to late.

White eyes widened as the knife invaded. For all the power Aang had felt suddenly there was nothing but pain. The pain of thousands of lifetimes being stabbed in unison. A most unholy shrieking erupted from him and rang through the Palace causing those standing there to cover their ears in pain.

Even outside the Palace people could hear the unholy noise. People only became more panicked when an air bison's roar echoed across the valley as well.

Iroh was pale under the dirt, sweat, and blood on his face. That cry couldn't mean anything good.

"Aang! Aang! Please Aang no..."

Aang could only blink up at Katara. He didn't need to be told the situation. He could feel his own blood leaving him and the pain had all but faded away.

Sokka was standing over his sister. There was tears in his own eyes as well as he could do nothing but watch his little friend slowly die from a cowardly knife to the back.

Aang could hear fighting. Earth crashing, wind blowing, and fire blasting. He'd bet Zuko, Mari, and Toph had all charged Ozai hoping that Katara could help him.

This time however, there truly was no hope.

That was when he saw her. There was blood on her mouth and she was bent over a bit as if in great pain.

"Sen?"

He could see through her. He must have been crossing into the Spirit World. "Sen I failed...It's over..."

Katara looked about hoping to see the spirit Aang was suddenly talking to but saw no one.

Quite suddenly her and Sokka were blasted away from Aang. Ozai stood over the monk with a sickening smile on his face. His fine robes where rags, there was a number of wounds on him, and he looked as exhausted as they all felt. In one hand he held the knife he'd stabbed Aang with while the other held a long vial.

Zuko lay nearby wheezing. He was pretty sure there was a couple broken ribs in his chest. Toph was going her best to crawl forward with a broken leg. Mari was cradling a broken arm and panting.

Katara herself was now out of water again and exhausted, as was Sokka who had lost his weapons.

There was no one else who could stop Ozai now.

The Fire Lord smiled at his victory as he blended the airbender's blood in the vial. It went black with just a tint of crimson. He picked the Avatar up by his collar, the monk's head lulled forward and Ozai could see the white glow of the spirit struggling like a candle to stay lit.

"Foolish Avatars. None of you willing to kill for your beliefs. Now that spirit's power will be mine to wield as I see fit!"

He brought the vial down, intending to smash it into the Avatar's skull.

"NO!" Katara screamed.

Aang's hand suddenly shot out and grabbed Ozai's arm. Without a word or even another breath he twisted and the vial twisted away from it's mark and the Fire Lord grunted in mild pain.

Then Aang's other arm swung up from underneath. There was a sickening pop as the Fire Lord's elbow suddenly bent back wards. Ozai couldn't help but scream in pain and the vial of blood tumbled from his fingers to shatter all over the floor. The blood soaked into the dirt as the earth beneath the monk cracked and shattered. Lightning was dancing across the small boy's skin burning the Fire Lord and making him step back even as the wind pushed him away. He swore it felt like his own blood was trying to get away from the Avatar.

Even through the commotion of cracking earth, thunder, and howling wind everyone in the room heard it. Just the faintest whisper.

Never again.

Everyone could only watch in horror as the Avatar looked at Ozai with eyes of jet black. There was still blood pouring from Aang's wound and now his mouth as well. "Never again." He said again. The voice coming form him sounded like Aang but was twisted much like his face in an expression of pain and rage none had ever seen.

Ozai sneered and went to blast the boy only to have his other arm caught, twisted, and then his other elbow forced in a direction it was not suppose to go. He cried out again and glared. "Without me there soon will be no balance spirit at all!"

Quite suddenly Ozai found he couldn't breathe.

"Then allow me to grant your version of balance. No air for you to breathe to start with."

Ozai's eyes went wide and he started shaking his head in fear. "Ava..." He tried to say before he lost all air.

Aang snorted at him with a sneer. "And no water of course. No earth. No blood. No body. Just a burning soul."

Ozai couldn't even scream as the black eyed being slowly pulling the most basic elements from his body. Zuko, Katara, and the others could only close their eyes and pray that whatever beast had possessed their little friend would not see them. Fear and terror were all the five of them could feel.

Finally the horrible sounds of a body being systematically dissected came to an end. Almost fearful they looked up, each fearing the gore that would surely be there.

There was nothing there but a slight red smear and the black eyed Aang who turned and stared at them. Then he sighed and they were all shocked when the boy's body suddenly tumbled forward while the ghostly image of Sen fell back wards.

Katara immediately grabbed Aang. "Aang? Aang!"

"He's gone."

Katara glared at Sen. "No he's not your still here!"

"Not for long."

The evidence of the spirit's words rang true as they watched. Her feet had disappeared.

"Do something!" Sokka snapped at her.

"Like what? I have no power in the physical world unless I possess Aang, who's gone which puts a damper on things." Sen snapped back as she laid down. She was so tired that she closed her eyes as she started to fade more.

"There has to be something we can do." Toph said with tears in her eyes.

Sen suddenly opened her own eyes again and sat up. "How did Ozai know of the blood?"

Everyone looked at Zuko, who shrugged.

It was Sokka who thought to go check around the dais. He found the journal and brought it before Sen.

The spirit blinked at the book and laughed. "Zairia you idiot...you didn't learn a thing from my mistakes." She whispered before looking to Zuko. "I want you to swear on your honor to burn that book Zuko."

Sokka was looking at the pages, an idea tugging at his brain. "But..."

"Nothing good can ever come from chaining spirits. Any spirits." Sen stated. "Burn it to ash. Never again."

Everyone's eyes closed as the spirit finally vanished completely away. Her last words drifting on the wind.

Never again.

Tears rolled and Katara rolled him over and closed Aang's now sightless eyes. Zuko held out a hand to Sokka and started glaring when the warrior ignored him.

"What?" Sokka said not even looking up from the pages as his brain worked.

"Give me the journal Sokka." Zuko said. "We should honor Sen's dying wish."

"In a minute." Sokka stated.

"Sokka." Mari said in a warning tone.

"No, listen guys. There might be a way to fix all this." Sokka said holding up a hand while reading.

Katara simply looked at her brother with tears flowing. "You shouldn't give false hope Sokka."

"No I'm serious guys." Sokka said. "Look I know Sen said Zairia didn't learn anything but actually she did. The last pages here explain it." He held the book out for them all to read.

"What's it say?" Toph asked.

"It says that one has go forth with a clear goal. The blood works like the spirit caves we passed through do. It goes off what your heart and soul want. In Sen's case the journal says she was divided between wanting peace and wanting to destroy." Sokka explained. "We all want Aang back. Aang is tied to the Avatar Spirit which is tied to Sen! Bring one back and we can bring them all back!"

"Sokka this could go horribly wrong! We shouldn't mess around with this." Katara snapped.

"Maybe we're suppose to though." Zuko stated.

Katara stared at Zuko. "What?"

Zuko frowned a bit, trying to think of how to explain it. "There's one of each bender here. With the journal after the Avatar had been killed. It's like..."

"It's like it's fate, or destiny." Mari said realizing Zuko's train of thought.

Everyone went quiet again looking at each other.

It was Zuko who decided first. He simply took a breath and looked at Katara. "Do you still have that dagger I gave you?"

"You gave that to her!?"

"Not now Sokka!"

Katara ignored Toph and Sokka and nodded, handing the dagger to Zuko.

The prince pulled it out and grinned as he read the inscription on it. If this didn't count as not giving up without a fight he didn't know what would.

Taking a deep breath he grabbed the blade and pulled it across the skin of his hand. It didn't cut far but it was enough so the wound bleed freely.

"Think of your clearest memory of Aang and let the blood drip onto him." Sokka told them.

Without a word Zuko handed the dagger to Mari. The blood dripped onto the bald monk's body and Zuko could almost hear Aang in his mind.

If we'd known each other back then. Do you think we could've been friends too? He could all but see Aang with that little hopeful smile on his face.

Mari followed Zuko's lead and took the dagger. Cutting her hand and sticking it out without much thought. She had only a few memories with Aang sadly but there was one that she'd always have in her heart.

You're an airbender... She could almost feel that desperate hug he'd given her.

Toph took the knife next and almost slit her wrist before Sokka stopped her and simply cut her hand. She couldn't help but smile smugly again at her memory. She could just almost hear him yelling at her.

Enough! I want my staff back!

Sokka looked at his sister. She looked utterely frightened of the dagger suddenly. "Katara?" He asked.

She took the blade and stared at it. So many memories shifted through her mind, she couldn't seem to settle on one. Katara found herself ponder why they had to do all this, none of them had ever asked for this...

Why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?

Because I never wanted to be.

A small, sad smile crept across her face. As usual Aang helped those in need... even from beyond.

With a slight hiss of pain from the knife cutting into flesh Katara extended her hand over Aang.

There was a bright flash as the blood mixed and none of them could see a thing.

Zuko realized where they were first. He didn't quite understand why they were standing between the Worlds though. He also didn't know how Sokka had come to be there.

"Ok, does anyone have a clue what happened back there?" Sokka asked.

Everyone simply shook their heads in confusion.

"We do."

Everyone jumped but looked over and saw a pair of smiling familiar faces.

"Aang!" Everyone cheered and mobbed the little monk.

"It worked! It worked!" Sokka cheered.

"Not entirely the way you wanted it though." Sen stated.

"What do you mean?" Toph asked.

Sen looked at Aang who sighed.

"I can't go back into my body guys." Aang told them.

"But...but that's what we were trying to do." Katara choked out through tears.

Aang looked apologetic. "I'm sorry Katara, but we really can't fight nature's laws anymore then you have. I'm here in the Spirit World now instead of some void and we'll all be together again soon enough."

"What he means is that our spirits and that of the Avatar owe you five alot. We would've all been erased if Sokka hadn't been all sneaky...again." She sent the warrior a mild glare. "I still think you should destroy that journal though."

"I swear I'll do it once we get back." Zuko told her.

Sen nodded seemingly satifided with the promise. "We don't want this happening ever again. Once was bad enough, twice as well. No more."

All of them nodded in agreement with her.

"What happen to the Avatar Spirit?" Mari asked curiously. "Did it go back to the Spirit World?"

"For a bit anyways." Aang told them with a smile. "It'll return to the Physical World eventually to continue with the cycle. You guys will just have to hold the fort till then."

"Can't just give us a clue as to how long?" Sokka asked.

"No." Sen stated when Aang opened his mouth. "I'm not sure the Spirit even knows that one. It needs time to finish healing. You brought it back from the brink of death but it's a little weak and needs time."

"The new Avatar will be born to the Water Tribes though right?" Katara asked.

Sen let out a rude snort causing even Aang looked at her curiously.

"You people." Sen grumbled. "Must you divide everything?" She let out a long suffering sigh and finally answered Katara. "The cycle will pick up where it left off and the next Avatar will be a water bender Katara no need to fret."

Katara simply nodded and clung to her now dead friend.

Sen looked at the lot of them. "You do not have much time. I would use it to say goodbye." She told them as she backed away.

Mari sniffed a bit and wiped at her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better Aang."

Aang simply smiled at her. "It was better then no time at all. At least I know the future of the airbenders is in good hands."

"Who am I gonna yell at now though Twinkle Toes?" Toph asked as she punched his arm lightly. She didn't wipe away her tears but the look on her face dared anyone to say anything.

"You can yell at Sokka." Aang told her with an evil smile. After all he knew that eventually she'd convince Sokka that she wasn't going to die on him like Suki and Yui had.

"Remember to act like a man Aang." Sokka told him with a smile and a firm handshake before dispensing with the 'manliness' and crushing the former airbender into a bear hug. "I'm gonna miss you!"

"Take care of Appa and Momo will you?" Aang manage to say while having the air crushed out of him.

Turning Aang blinked at Katara and Zuko. She was sobbing hard into Zuko's chest and the firebender was rubbing soothing circles into her back.

"Come on Katara. We need to say goodbye." Zuko coaxed pulling on Katara's hand gently.

With a sad smile Aang took their joined hands in his own and squeezed them together. "You two." He choked and fumbled for words. There simply wasn't any for him to say though. "Take care of each other?"

Katara nodded through her tears as Zuko stared.

"Hey Ava...Aang." Zuko said. "To answer that question you asked. Yes, I think we could've."

Aang grinned. He didn't need to ask what question Zuko meant.

"Aang please don't go." Katara croaked out.

The monk gave a sad and understanding smile. "Don't worry Katara." He said as he gave his friend one last hug. "We'll be together again one day. You'll see."

Still Katara hugged him until Zuko touched her hand. Then she clung to the prince like her life depended on it.

As the five faded from Aang's sight he knew in his heart he'd see them again. His head however suddenly had a thought that made him jerk and stare at Sen with wide eyes.

"No way..."

Sen grinned. "Figured it out did you?"

"Oh I can't wait to see their faces when they realize that!" Aang said with a mischievous grin plastered to his face.

Thought the five of them knew what they did for the Avatar they all decided not to mention anything. Zuko burned the journal to ash and all five of them reported that the Avatar had died defeating Ozai. They mentioned nothing of Ozai's backstabbing or the Avatar Spirit's close call with death. They wanted nothing for people to look in to.

No one asked where Ozai's body was and eventually it was thought that the royal family cremated him. Iroh and Ursa certainly gave no other impression and never asked Zuko what really happened.

As for the body of Aang. It was decided by his friends that he would be cremated and his ashes throw to the wind, as free as he'd always wanted to be.

In the territories of the Water Tribes people went on the look out for the next Avatar.