A/N

These characters belong to Avatar the Last Airbender, Nickelodeon Studios. The plot- however sad it might be- is mine.

xxx

"Where are they?" Katara breathed. "They should be back already."

"Have patience." Iroh replied, grasping her shoulder.

She shook her head. "I can't just stand up here and watch. I can help, and I should."

Words of virtue that might have passed through Iroh's lips did not. He refrained from holding her back or even suggesting something that would occupy her more safely. Still, silence kept him.

"I'm going after Aang." Katara said experimentally. Against her will, her voice lifted in the last syllables, pronouncing a question to her companion.

Iroh only nodded and said, "Be careful."

Without another word, she left the elder man in his spot, flying through the balcony door and into the palace.

xxx

Unbeknownst to Katara, the streets outside had only gotten worse since Zuko and Sokka's passage. Debris and people littered the streets. Buildings were halved, and the broken edifices' entrails were strewn across the lanes, trapping the screaming citizens to what they presumed to be their deaths. Earth Kingdom soldiers ran across the roofs that were still in one piece, leaping from one to the other in search of firebenders.

Katara plunged through this mess. She had no idea where to start, so she finally settled on the wall. Once she reached there, she'd comb the city looking for her lost companions.

'Please be safe,' she pleaded with them.

Multiple obstacles barred her way. Several times over she helped rescue families from collapsing buildings or catch a rogue firebender. After an hour of distractions, she made her way down the main street and into the dead war zone, where the fighting had already ceased. There were some cowering people holed up in the buildings still, but no soldiers occupied that area.

It was even silent enough for Katara to call out for her group. "Sokka! Zuko! Aang!" Her voice echoed back to her. "Where are they?"

Water brushed her cheek, and she swatted it away in alarm, only to realize she was crying.

"I shouldn't have left Iroh…" she muttered to herself. "We both knew it was pointless."

Shifts in the rubble caught her attention. Katara stood rigid. The footsteps continued to work their way towards her. There were multiple sets.

"Who…Who's there?" Katara demanded. She flicked her water skin open and tensed herself for attack.

The strangers stopped.

"Come out! Who are you?" Katara repeated.

"You must be my late brother's girlfriend."

Katara reeled and sent ice spears through the dust without reason. She spun on her heel and crashed through the street, attempting to outrun Azula. How had she gotten this far into the city? Where was Aang?

Late brother?

Katara halted and turned to face them- she'd heard them follow lazily.

"I thought you might be slightly interested," Azula continued as she caught up.

"You hero-types are so predictable." Mai droned.

"Explain yourself." Katara snarled. "Where's Zuko?"

"Don't you understand what 'late' means?" The princess sneered. "He's dead; I can assure you."

Katara's voice dropped to a whisper. "You're lying."

"That's a chance you have to take, isn't it?"

"What… what happened?"

"Your brother sacrificed Zuko's life for his own. We gave him the choice. Your own family condemned your lover… Isn't that quaint?"

Mai and Ty Lee exchanged glances.

"Y-you…" Katara motioned to Mai. "You… Zuko told me you… How could you let him die? You loved him!"

"You answered your own question." Mai replied coldly. "Past tense. I loved him."
"I still don't believe you," Katara said hastily. "You're lying!"

Azula shrugged and let out a delicate sigh. "And you are wasting my time. Please allow us to kill you as well so we can get on with our tasks."

"I won't allow it." Katara said.

"I don't have time for this. Mai? You had a previous grudge against her. You take her out."

"Yes, Princess."

"Ty Lee and I have some errands to run. Let's go Ty Lee."

Katara and Mai stared down at each other as the others walked away. The Water Tribe girl was first to speak, and she did so slowly.

"You let him die?"

Mai narrowed her eyes. "I'd rather see him dead than mix in with you."

xxx

"All the balloons are down, Sir."

The general nodded and crossed the balcony to consult with the firebender. "All of the combat is now on the streets. It's impossible to regulate it and still conserve lives… I don't suppose you have any ideas?"

"A few," Iroh said gravely.

"And what of the Avatar?" Another general interrupted. "If he's gone-."

"He is not." Iroh shook his head. "Believe me; it will take much more force to bring the Avatar's will down."

A/N

It's basically the shortest chapter ever. Oops. Quick reads though, yes?