I'll Follow You Home, A Zutara Story

by Meeoko

Sequel to EAI. After being captured by a group of Fire Nation radicals and uncovering a plot to destroy the Avatar Cycle, Zuko and Katara must work together to stop the Sila Vatra before Sozin's Comet arrives. But are they ready to face the Spirit World?

26. The Last Stand

I'll Follow You Home – A Zutara Story.

Meeoko

Summary : Sequel to 'Eventualities Are Inevitable'. After being captured by a group of Fire Nation radicals and uncovering a secret plot to destroy the Avatar Cycle, Zuko and Katara must work together to find a way to stop the Sila Vatra before Sozin's Comet arrives.

Spoilers : Puppet Master, Day Of Black Sun part 1 and 2, Western Air Temple, Fire Bending Masters and Boiling Rock part 1 and 2.

Author's Notes : Okay guys, this is it. The last chapter of I'll Follow You Home.

Before anyone starts blubbing, there is still the Epilogue after this, so yes, you will get to see what happens afterwards.

Before I begin, I just want to thank Zutara-for-the-win, who has created some fan art for the fic. It's of Kimochi and I swear to God, this person is psychic because it is EXACTLY how I pictured him! If you want to have a look before you have a read, the link is in my profile.

Okay, I'm sorry. I did exactly what I said I wouldn't do and didn't get this posted for three weeks. For once, I have no excuse. So I am SO SO SOOO sorry for the delay. Hopefully, the chapter will make up for it.

Anyway, this is it – chapter 26. The last stand!

---

"Azula is so fierce. But why is she angry?"

Feeling a nerve twitch in her face, Azula turned back around to stride up the path. Her limbs ached and her lungs felt as if they were on fire, but she kept on going. She had to.

The voices were beginning to sound more and more like her mother.

"You're so pretty, Azula. But why won't they love you?"

She threw her head backwards, grunting at the voices trailing at her heels. They fell silent for a moment, but not for long.

"Azula is so clever. But why can't she understand?"

"Shut up!"

Azula's shaking screams echoed over the mountain plains. She tore at her hair, shaking with rage and sadness. Why wouldn't they stop? Couldn't they see that they'd done their job already?

"Azula is so strong, but why is she so weak?"

"Shut up! Shut up, you wretched noise!"

Would this path never end? She'd been walking along the same mountain path for hours! Or at least, it seemed like hours. It was difficult to tell how much time had passed since she had been dragged down into the darkness.

There was always a large mahogany tree in the distance, standing at the peak of the hill. But no matter how long or fast Azula ran towards it, it never got any closer. And Azula was beginning to wear out.

"The Fire Princess is so brave. But why is she scared?"

"Silence!" Azula span around to face the voices. "Enough is enough! This has gone on for too long. I don't need to listen to any of you. I am the Princess of the Fire Nation, and I refuse to be talked about as if I were some common peasant!"

Azula couldn't run anymore. She was too exhausted.

The black shadow of her father loomed in front of her, never speaking, never moving. It only looked at her with critical eyes, as if they were burning deep into her soul. She could see images of those years flashing in her mind. Every time she got something wrong, every time she got a little too clumsy or lazy, he would strike.

"It's for your own good." he would say "There is no room for weakness in one such as you."

At first, she had cried and screamed and pleaded with him, when she was too young to understand. Then as she got older, she had lashed out at him, letting anger be her drive. But finally, Azula had learnt that there was no room for emotion. There could be no mistakes when she possessed so much power. Or at least, that's what her father used to say.

"Azula is so brilliant. But why doesn't she shine anymore?"

"Get out!" she screamed, lashing out at the air around her as if it would make them stop. "Get out, get out, get out!"

Azula looked up at the shadow of her father, seething with rage. She had never dared look at her father this way since she was a child. She knew perfectly well the consequences if she did.

"What are you staring at?" she barked at the shadow. "If you wanted perfection all these years, then why won't you help me!"

Ozai's shadow loomed over her, seemingly growing taller. Azula's eye widened. She hadn't expected it to retaliate! It wasn't real after all. It wouldn't hurt her, would it?
Instinctively, she cringed and closed her eyes, just like she had all those years ago.

He had wanted her to be perfect.
She was born stronger, faster and more powerful than Zuko. She had to be the Fire Lord where he would not. She had to uphold her father's honour!

"Azula is so rich. But why is she lacking?"

"Silence, damn you! Leave me alone!"

The marks were still there.
Not on the outside. No, he had been careful not to leave any marks. But on the inside, there was pain.

The Fire Princess fought to stand strong as the shadow of her father towered over her, like a cresting wave, ready to come crashing down. But it had been so many years since she'd needed to stand against his wrath. She couldn't remember how to make him stop.

She remembered the pain. It had never crossed her mind before, after years and years of training her mind to forget, to be perfect! But now she remembered. Thick currents of electricity passing through her veins, crumpling her into a weak ball on the floor.

"I will make sure that any weaknesses are dealt with." Ozai's words circled in her head. "I do this for you, my daughter. I will make you perfect, strong, resilient. And you will thank me for it!"

For years, she had resented him, feared him. But as the weeks and months of mistakes had passed with pain, Azula slowly began to forget. Of course her father was doing the right thing. He was doing it because he loved her!

Eventually, Azula had welcomed the pain. Surely if she made a mistake and her father punished her, then she would be able to correct it. She could change it and become the best! Then he would be proud of her. His teaching would not have been in vain.

Or was it?

---

"The humans, the humans! They survived the darkness! How joyous!"

Zuko grabbed Katara's arm, immediately spinning her away from the sight of the screeching monkey and the black looming figure at the peak of the mountain. He couldn't believe it! Why had they run into Koh now of all the times? It must have been that damn monkey! He must have let the Face-Stealer know that they were here!

Damnit! I'm going to get that monkey if it's the last thing I do!

For perhaps the hundredth time since they had entered the Spirit World, Zuko cursed his luck, along with the monkey. He would make sure the Trickster paid in full for his treachery!

He spoke quickly, aware that any second, Koh could be upon them. Just because they had turned away from him didn't mean they were safe!

"Don't look at him, Katara. Don't show any emotion. If he see's you showing any emotion – he's going to take your face! He can't hurt us if we don't look at him."

For a second, Katara's eyes went wide and she opened her mouth in evident panic, but she quickly shook her head, taking in a deep breath. As she let it out, she tried to relax her face.

Zuko had heard the stories, just like everyone else.

Koh the Face-Stealer, scourge and rogue of the Spirit World, who collected the faces of unsuspecting people not fast enough to conceal their emotions.

Just think back. Just be old Zuko. Just be old Zuko.

Taking in a deep breath, Zuko copied Katara's own movements, relaxing the muscles in his face as best he could. He tried to concentrate, to become the old Zuko that had pursued the Avatar all over the world, seeking to restore his honour. He needed that same emotionless, protective mask that had served him all those years.

He didn't like it, but it would protect him. Even if it meant having to become the old, lost, angry Zuko again.

"They have returned! Scar Face and Cry-baby! Scar Face and Cry-baby!"

What did he just call me?

Taking a sharp breath through his nose, Zuko ground his teeth together as hard as he could manage to keep from snarling. Katara squeezed his hand slightly beside him, her face an emotionless black.

"He's just baiting us." her voice was dull and flat, along with her face. "Don't give him the satisfaction."

Zuko nodded, reverting back into himself. He needed to be blank, like a page, or the sky. He couldn't afford to give anything away. If he did, then it would be Koh who would strike. He would lose his identity, lost forever to the will of the Face-Stealer, unable to control his own voice or face.

"Welcome."

The chilling voice echoed through the air, grinding against Zuko and Katara like a blade against stone. The eerie, booming voice needed no introduction. The were in Koh's domain.

Zuko thought quickly. Was he supposed to address this spirit? Or if he did, would it attack anyway? Should he ignore it and just hope for the best? If only Aang were with them, he would be able to ask!

Don't make this worse for yourself. What would Uncle do?

Zuko took a guess – hopefully, Koh wouldn't be able to come down into the Chi Field. If he did, he would undoubtedly knock into hundreds of Chi Flows and snuff them out! He was so large, it would be impossible for him to avoid the little balls of chi! He knew that the spirit's weren't allowed to tamper with mortal affairs, so if they stayed in the crater with all of the bobbing orbs they should be safe.

Should.

Taking in a deep breath and holding Katara's hand, Zuko turned back around towards Aang's Chi Flow to face his fear.

"Thank you. We've come-"

But when Zuko looked over towards the podium to address the Face-Stealer, he only saw the Spirit Monkey, grinning at him from its haunches. Zuko kept his face blank, his eyes searching for the dark, skeletal shape of Koh.

He was still haunted by the image of Katara, choking and cold in the grip of the Face-Stealer, shown in his dreams only a few days ago. Zuko would sooner be damned than see that happen to her!

Where is he?

"I know why you've come!"

Zuko felt Katara flinch as the harsh voice snapped behind them, the tight coiled black exoskeleton dancing around them as Koh's pincer-like legs clicked against the stone floor.

Swallowing a lump in his throat, Zuko took a deep breath. The insect body scuttled around them, seemingly tightening around them, just like in his dream, until he was looking down upon them.

Koh...

Katara's grip tightened on his hand as the giant eyelid snapped open to reveal the face of an old man. The Face-Stealer towered above them, scrutinising their every move, the wrinkled, aged eyes of the stolen face narrowing. The giant eyelid flickered over the face, snapping open again to the snarling face of a Komodo-Rhino.

Zuko could see Kimochi bobbing, an excited grin on his face, as he stood beside the podium.

"I wondered if I might see my old friend, the Avatar." Koh lulled, his voice low and calculating. The lips of the Komodo-Rhino moved as if it were speaking, but the same eerie distorted voice came out instead. "But instead, he sends me mere pups. How disappointing."

The sound of Koh's spindly legs clicked together and he weaved and looped, silently tightening the circle around Katara and Zuko. Zuko fought the urge to panic. How many people had the fearful spirit just killed, simply by standing in the Chi Field? At least he and Katara were small enough to avoid knocking into the orbs!

But Zuko was surprised to see that many of the little orbs that floated beside him hadn't gone out. In fact, if they bobbed towards him, instead of going out, they would just pass right through him! It was like he wasn't even there! Shouldn't the little Chi Flows be exploding into dust like Agni had said?

What was it that that monkey said? That outside influences can corrupt the balance of the Spirit World? Of course! That's why humans snuff them out but spirits don't! They're pure beings, just like the chi, so they can't be corrupted!

"Although," the spirit lulled, moving its head closer towards Katara. "it has been far too long since I have added a beautiful face to my collection."

Zuko's jaw tightened and he felt Katara's nails digging into the back of his hand, though he felt no pain. Looking over at her, he could see that though her eyes had widened just the tiniest fraction, her face was still passive and blank.

Don't you touch her, you slimy, disgusting son of a...

"We mean you no harm." Zuko spoke as calmly as he could, eager to take the attention away from Katara. "We're here to protect the Avatar's Chi Flow."

The eyelid snapped down and up again, a small, scared looking child replacing the Komodo-Rhino. Koh's body twitched and it circled around them, the thin legs clicking and twitching repulsively.

"Yes." the child replied, a concentrated frown replacing its look of terror. "From another, I understand. She has followed you here."

"My sister."

"But where is she?" Kimochi chirped, bouncing in position. "Lost her way? Lost to the darkness! Lost to the trials!"

Zuko stiffened slightly, grinding his teeth together. Azula was still in the trials? Or was the monkey lying? Had they come here for nothing?

"Then that leaves the question" the child's face lulled, rolling its eyes dreamily. "of what to do with you, dear humans."

"You can't hurt us." Zuko felt his confidence waning. Could the spirit still take their faces? "The spirit's can't tamper with the fate of humans."

The eye snapped down and open again, a screeching woman thrust in his face. Zuko flinched, but kept his face plain. The coils of the Face-Stealer began to wind round them again as Koh's newest face bore down on him, screaming.

"Is it tampering if one already knows ones fate, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation? Is it tampering if your path has already been sealed? Will the balance be upturned if you are already destined to die?"

Katara shook beside him and made a small noise in her throat.

Koh's piercing gaze immediately fixed to her, the eyes of the woman wild and furious. But Katara had already wiped her face clean of any emotion, her nails piercing into Zuko's skin with the intensity of her grip.

"Destined to die! Destined to die!" Kimochi squealed, jumping in the air and clapping his hands together. "Faceless and cold!"

Zuko felt like a tidal wave of freezing cold water was washing over him. Katara's hand was shaking inside his as the Face-Stealer's eyelid flickered back over to reveal a young man with a long moustache. The coiling body slowly relaxed and Koh began again to circle them, the spidery legs tickling the air above their heads.

"No, humans. It is not fate that will protect you, but destroy you." Koh lulled, calm once again. "It is fate that tells me what to expect, to maintain the balance and to upturn it."

"Please," Zuko's heart constricted when Katara spoke "we mean no disrespect. We only want to help our friend. If what you say is true and our enemy is lost in the trials, then we can leave."

"She speaks, she speaks!" Kimochi chirped, showing his pointed white teeth. "Cry-baby speaks!"

For a moment, Koh looked down at Katara, the scrutinising gaze of the young man replaced by an older one and then the painted face of a Kyoshi Warrior. Zuko's grip tightened on Katara's hand, warning her and feebly trying to protect her against the hulking spirit at the same time. The clicking legs stopped and the Kyoshi's head weaved closer towards her.

Don't touch her...

"What I said and what I know are entirely different things, child. You shall not leave until that has been recognised."

Kimochi began chirping and screeching loudly, jumping up and down in excitement. Zuko felt his eyebrow twitching, but took a deep breath and quickly forced it from his face. Never leave? How could he keep them there? What did he mean? Was Azula still alive?

"Where's my sister?" Zuko asked, tilting his head slightly to avoid the path of a small red orb that skimmed past.

Old Zuko was beginning to get easier to sustain. Zuko had forgotten just how easily the blank expression had come to him. He had relied on it heavily, not long ago, to protect him.

The giant eyelid flickered down and up again, the face of a Lemur-Monkey looking back at him blankly. It looked a lot like Momo. Taking a deep breath through his nose and forcing himself to stare blankly back at the large green eyes of the lemur, Zuko asked again.

"Where is my sister?"

---

Azula opened her eyes.

The darkness was towering over her, slowly blocking out the light of the mountain skies. Already she could feel small sparks of electricity shocking her skin, whenever the darkness would touch against her.

It was happening all over again. The fear, the panic. Why wasn't it adoration and thanks, like it used to be? Why wasn't she thanking her father for his punishments, his teachings?

"Azula is so observant. So why is she blinded?"

She looked up at the darkened figure of her father, blocking out the sun. Blocking out the world to make room for perfection. Her heart thumped a mile a minute and she twitched in pain as the sparks of lightning began to shock her.

Had it really been for her? Had it really been to help her? Was it pain that had made her stronger, or fear?

Azula shook her head, wincing as another little jolt of electricity ran through her head.

Why was she asking herself these questions? It was treacherous even to think them! Of course her father had been doing it to help her! It was all in her best interests! It made her stronger, fiercer, more lethal!

Hadn't it?

She remembered flickers of images, voices and shadows. She had been playing.....yes, she had been playing with Zuko. Their favourite game – Fire Nation and Air Benders. She had been the Air Bender's for once, so that Zuko could win. They were....they were laughing.

Had she laughed? She wasn't supposed to laugh, was she? The Fire Lord's daughter didn't laugh!

"Azula is so observant. So why is she blinded?"

A face. There had been a face, smiling at her. Her mother? No, not her mother. Someone familiar. She had known them once.

"Now Azula, are you playing nicely with your brother?"

"No! He's the Fire Nation! I'm the Air Benders! The bad guys are never nice to the good guys! It's the rules, right Zuzu?"

Dim memories began to take on a shape. A pair of eyes, a smile, warm arms. What was her name? What had it been?

Azula's eyes felt like they were pulsing as a fresh wave of electricity shot through her and she winced. Had it always hurt this much? The punishments?

"Toola, look at me! I'm a scary Air Bender!"

Toola – that was her name. The nursemaid that had laughed and played with her as a child. She had been like a second mother to her, always telling her stories and chasing after her. What had happened to her?

Feeling a fresh current of pain explode behind her temples, Azula doubled over. Her father – yes, he had gotten rid of her. He had her executed, didn't he? Not long after the 'lessons' started.

"You've grown soft and weak, Azula! You cannot allow yourself to connect with such...filth! Love is weakness, Azula! And weakness is a virus!"

Love....love was a virus?

Her body twitched under the weight of the pain, the darkness bearing down on her like a vengeful spirit.

Was love really a virus? But....but her country! She loved her country, didn't she? Did that make the Fire Nation weak? Didn't her father always tell her about the greatness of the Fire Nation? How could love be weakness, if he wanted her to love her country?

She had loved her mother. Hadn't she? She couldn't remember. What had Ursa looked like?

Was this...was this all backwards? Had she gotten it wrong? Why had her father taught her these things if they were wrong? Maybe she had misheard – maybe she hadn't understood. But she was perfect, her father had said so. How could someone so perfect make a mistake so simple?

He had only wanted to take away anything that would hurt her. He was protecting her, wasn't he? All the....distractions. To be normal meant you weren't good enough. She couldn't laugh and play like the other children!

Could she? Why not?

"Azula is so observant. So why is she blinded?"

"B-blinded." Azula repeated, her mind a mess of images and words. She couldn't piece them all together. They kept slipping through her fingers!

"Why is she blinded?"

"B-blinded."

Was there something she wasn't understanding? Why couldn't she find the missing piece?

"Why is she blinded?"

"B-blinded." she mouthed, the volts of electricity sending waves of pain through her muscles. "B-b-blinded?"

He had taken her mother away from her, telling her that her mother was useless. That Ursa didn't want to help her, only hold her back. Was it really pain and helplessness that had stopped her from saving her daughter, or jealousy as her father had told her?

He had taken her brother away from her. Her best friend and companion. He had said that he wouldn't let Ozai hurt her, but was it really fear and terror that had kept him from helping her? Or had it been weakness, like her father had said?

He had taken away Toola, someone who had been there for her as she grew up and become her friend and mentor. He had said that she was a weakness, a corruption. But was it....was it unworthiness and trickery that had made her love her...or was it real?

Was it lies that had made her love any of them? Was love always the enemy? Why had her father hated love? He loved her.....didn't he?

"Why aren't you good enough, Azula? Why aren't you good enough?"

The lightning coursed through her veins as the darkness got closer, forcing her muscles to clamp down together. Azula felt an angry, fearful tear fall down her face as she felt thought of her father's promises.

"I'm doing this for you, my daughter. I'm doing it all for you."

Was boiling your child's blood really supposed to help them? Would it really teach them to be the best? Or was it something else?

Azula felt her mind explode as she realised the answer.

Was it all just....a lie?

"Why aren't you good enough, Azula?"

She clamped her teeth down together as she struggled to rise. The currents flowed through her skin and danced at her heart, threatening to bring her back down again. But she fought it.

"B-blinded...."

It was all a lie! She wasn't perfect – she was the spawn of a monster! He had lied to her, tortured her and turned her against the people she loved! He had brainwashed her! And all for power. To protect himself against the outside world by turning his children into soldiers!

"Why aren't you good enough, Azula?"

Her mother – her mother was gone! And all because of him! And she, she had let him! What had she done to all of those people? Believing that she was on the right path....that she was saving them from themselves! That she too was making them perfect! What lies!

"B-blinded..."

Feeling the fresh tears falling down her face and sparking with pain as the electricity hit them, Azula forced herself to stand. The dark shadow of her father was completely around her, blocking out the light that should have been hers. The life hat should have been hers!

"Why aren't you good enough, Azula?"

Looking out into the dark, she could see the piercing amber eyes that had haunted her throughout her entire life. The eyes that had watched her screaming, crying. The eyes of a monster – her father!

"Why aren't you good enough?"

The currents slammed into her, her body convulsing and twitching as she fought to stand. She was doing it, she was finally standing against him! She was Azula, and she wasn't perfect! She was Azula, and she was proud!

"Why aren't you good enough?"

She was Azula – and she was good enough!

"I...AM!!"

Pushing with all her might, Azula screamed against the pain. She felt the currents of the lightning course through her body, setting her veins alight as her fathers hands struggled to keep a hold of her. The darkness licked at her body, grabbing at her hands and feet, threatening to pull her under. But still she screamed, reaching out.

She was Azula – and she was good enough!

Lashing out against the shadows, the currents of fire shot through her and finally tightened around her heart. It stopped beating.

The sunlight returned.

Azula fell, falling back onto the ground. Above her, the sun began to glow, it's warm rays caressing her skin. She could feel no pain. She could feel nothing at all. Only the light, numb feeling inside her heart.

Was this was freedom felt like?

"Daughter, born of Fire. Harmony has been your teacher. You may pass."

She smiled.

---

"Please" Katara begged again, though her face remained as motionless as stone "you don't need to do this. You could let us go."

"We haven't touched anything." Zuko added, inching slowly closer to Katara. "We haven't upset the balance."

Koh's gaze bore down on them as he swayed back and forth lazily. He was just waiting for them to slip up and though Zuko was perfectly equipped to hide behind his neutral mask all day, he worried about Katara. Would she be able to do the same for much longer?

"Your very being here has upset the balance, foolish human." he looked down at Zuko, who felt his jaw clenching. "Too many times have you evaded the Spirit World, Fire Bender. Too many barriers you have crossed. A foolish boy, from a foolish family."

Zuko felt his spine tense. Koh's lips curled into a smile. Oh, it was fun to toy with the humans!

"Yes, boy." he smiled. "I have had the pleasure of meeting many of your family before. Many foolish, some brave, three unlucky."

Katara's hand clamping down on his own still didn't deter Zuko. He felt the beginnings of a frown twitching in his muscles and he willed the old Zuko back into place, demanding more and more concentration.

Three? What does he mean, three?

Suddenly, a blinding flash of rainbow coloured light exploded in front of them, leaving them blinded. Koh's all-seeing eyes were quickly turned towards the source and both Zuko and Katara squinted against the light, almost blinded by its intensity.

Kimochi called, dancing and screeching before them, waving his arms in the air like a creature possessed (which technically, he was).

"The Avatar! The Avatar! He has awoken!"

Katara gasped, looking over to the Avatar's Chi, whose multicoloured flames had sprang into life, turning instead to an intense blue. Squeezing her hand, Zuko immediately forced his facial expression back into nothingness as Koh's head swerved back around towards them.

Zuko braced himself, taking a deep breath, as the spirit looked down on them, with the most intense and piercing gaze. As calmly as he could, Zuko looked over at Katara, but luckily, she too had also fixed her expression back into place before the eyes of Koh could fix on her.

"The Avatar! The Avatar!"

"He did it." Katara spoke softly beside him. "The Avatar State."

---

Sokka tried to keep a cool head and concentrate. But with the constant noise, scorching heat and blood, that was beginning to prove difficult.

A shower of dirt flew up into the air and he dove over his father, shielding him from the debris. Still, Hakoda made no move at all. He just lay there with his eyes wide open, but completely unmoving. At least he was still breathing!

"Aang!" he called through the chaos "Aang, you have to stop!"

But the young Avatar couldn't hear him. Torrents of earth pellets and sweeps of water flew through the air, showering the Fire Lord with every ounce of anger he possessed. A gale of strong wind swept through the courtyard, making the soldiers below brace themselves as the Avatar shot overhead, the eerie blue light of his eyes unmistakable.

"Aang, you're going to hurt someone!" he called, sweeping his blade in the path of an oncoming soldier.

If it were any other time, Sokka probably would have scolded himself for making such a stupid comment. Of course people were going to get hurt! This was a war! And Sokka did want someone to get hurt. He wanted revenge – he wanted the Fire Lord to get hurt!

But he didn't know how much longer the ground troops could withstand the onslaught! It was like the power of the Avatar State was only ever used for one thing – to destroy everything in its path! And it certainly was doing that! For a moment, Sokka even felt a little sorry for the Fire Nation troops that were swept underneath the ground in a pool of sand, though it quickly passed.

He didn't even know how Aang had managed to enter the Avatar State! One minute, he had been calling for his help and the next, he had seen his father lying on the floor, motionless and that was it. The shimmering, angry blue light had entered his eyes and he had gone right at the Fire Lord like he was a prize-winning fish!

"Dad, dad, wake up!"

Sokka shook his father, but still got no response. Tears were beginning to cloud his eyes, but he hurriedly blinked them away. Warriors didn't cry! He wouldn't let his father see him like this!

"Sokka!"

Bato's voice reached him over the screaming. Ploughing through the crowd, jabbing and sweeping with his polearm, he made his way towards the terrified young warrior and the still form of his father.

"Bato, you've got to help him! You've got to help my dad!"

Sokka's voice came out as a squeak, but he barely comprehended it enough to feel embarrassed. The elder Water Bender looked down on him, his breathing haggard and rough. He was drenched in sweat and though the old, red raw scar trailing up his arm seemed to scream through the din, he seemed mostly unharmed.

"I was afraid this would happen!" he grunted, hauling Sokka to his feet and forming a protective circle around Hakoda "Why now, Hakoda?"

"What? What would happen?" Sokka panted, raising his sword with shaking hands. "What's wrong with him? Why won't he move?"

The ground trembled beneath them and more chips of rock exploded into the air. Bato didn't reply, jabbing with his spear into a crowd of Fire Nation soldiers.
Ducking as a disk of earth came flying overhead, Sokka felt himself beginning to crack. The noise, the heat, the pressure – it was all just too much!

"What, Bato? What's wrong with him?!"

Clearing the way with a sweep of his spear, Bato bent down to his father and began to haul him to his feet.

"Sokka, take my spear!. We need to get him out of here! I don't like the look of his leg and he's not going to be waking up any time soon!"

Sokka could only gape and try to remember to breathe as Bato hauled his old friend over his shoulders and tossed his spear towards him. Grabbing it out of the air, Sokka tried not to let himself break down as he stared into the dark and empty eyes of his father.

"There's a healer at the far end of the wall!" Bato called over the din "If we can get him there, we should be safe for a while!"

Taking a deep breath and turning into the swell of blood, soldiers and bodies, Sokka began to clear the path. Jabbing, swiping and slashing, he began to make way through the crowd.

"Please be okay. Please be okay." he chanted, keeping his eyes only on the far wall, off in the distance. "Wake up, dad. Wake up."

Another explosion of fire lit up the sky overhead as the Avatar and the Fire Lord continued to fight.

---

For a moment, Koh looked murderous. The huge eyelid flickered down again and again, producing a variety of terrified, angry or saddened faces. But as quickly as it came, his apparent rage seemed to vanish and the same cool, sly expression returned.

The legs twitched irritably beside Zuko's head as the body continued to circle them and Zuko had to fight the urge to cringe.

"The Avatar! The Avatar! Oh, how he glows!"

Kimochi was almost singing with some sort of sick joy. Zuko really tried his best not to look over at the Spirit. He knew that if he did, the creature would only try to anger him and provoke a scowl or a frown. And if he did that, he would be lost.

Come on, Aang. Take him down while you still can!

Zuko wasn't entirely sure if the appearance of the Avatar State was a good thing or a bad thing. It meant that he would be at his most powerful and had more chance to take down his father, but it also meant that he was more vulnerable. If Azula turned up and destroyed his chi whilst he was in the Avatar State, he would never reincarnate and the world would be lost!

"Your Avatar shall fall." Koh hissed, almost lazily as the eye flickered down again. "As shall you, foolish humans."

Looking over at Katara to make sure that her face was as still as stone, Zuko shook his head, signalling her to remain silent. They couldn't continue to talk with Koh! If they did, they would only lose precious time and he would be watching for any possible mistake. No matter how small.

The face of a beautiful woman stared down at them, frowning as the eyelid flickered up once more. Koh's body began to sway once more, the vile bugs legs clicking on the ground as he circled them.

"Kimochi tells me of your quest." the eerie voice hissed "And already do I see what lays ahead. You shall not prevail. Human matters do not concern me, but if one enters my domain, then I shall see fit to take interest."

They remained silent, Katara's hand trembling slightly as a leg brushed past her head.

"War is a great business of mine." he continued, coming closer and closer with each circle. "It brings many people here. It brings many faces."

He stopped in front of Katara, leaning over her, far too close for comfort. Suddenly, the eyelid began to flicker up and down, showing a different face each time. The sad and lonely faces of Water Tribe men, women and children.

"It is your people who have suffered most." Koh snickered. "I have many Water Tribe faces. Many of them cried and screamed and ran. It was enjoyable to collect so many different expressions."

Katara's hand trembled inside Zuko's own and he looked at her in warning. Though she didn't look at Koh or any one of his Water Tribe faces, he could see her jaw, tight and stiff as she fought for control over her anger.

Don't lose control, Katara. Don't lose control.

The eyelid continued to flicker down and up again, so many wailing or crying faces taking the place of the previous one, all Water Tribe. But Katara's gaze held only the flickering blue flame of Aang's chi and she remained still.

"I am especially fond of this one." Koh sneered, flicking the giant eyelid down. "Avatar Korruk was indeed a great prize to be won."

A handsome looking middle aged man with tan skin and a large wolfskin crown looked down on them. His eyes were low and unforgiving. There were crowsfeet at his temples and he looked as if all of the sorrows of the world had fallen upon his shoulders.

Katara's hand clamped down even harder on Zuko's as she shook, trying to control her rage. Even if Korruk was an Avatar, he was still part of her people and therefore – connected to her. Zuko's hand felt warm and he was sure that Katara had drawn blood with her nails again, but he felt no pain. Only anger.

"Do the legends tell of my knowledge?" Koh asked, the face of the Avatar speaking for him. "Do they know that I can see into a persons ancestry? Into their heritage?"

They remained silent, though Zuko thought he saw Katara's mouth twitch ever so slightly. She seemed to understand exactly what Koh had implied.

Does that mean that Katara is a descendant of.....Avatar Korruk? Is that a lie, or is there really any truth to it?

Although she was trembling with withheld anger and sadness, Katara's face still stayed impassive. Her jaw muscles were tight and stiff as she clenched her teeth together in a force of will, but still her features stayed motionless.

Koh jabbed forward in anger, but still, Katara's face didn't move. The face of Avatar Korruk made a sour expression, like a child angry at being denied their favourite toy. He wouldn't be getting a reaction out of her, no matter how hard he tried.

Instead, he turned to Zuko, coming so close to his face that he could feel warm breath on his face. Breath that didn't belong to the spirit, but to the person whose face he had taken.

"And you, boy." he smiled. "How many have I found belonging to you? The lineage of the Royal Family? What of your ancestry?"

Don't listen! He's just trying to get you angry.

The eye came down and Zuko braced himself. He knew what he was going to see.

"One."

But it wasn't the face that Zuko expected. Looking back at him was a dark skinned young man, barely over twenty summers old, with long jet back hair covered by a crown of feathers and red paint staining his cheeks. Zuko tried to concentrate, forcing himself not to raise his eyebrows.

He looks like....a Sun Warrior. Am I a descendant of a Sun Warrior?

"Two."

The eyelid flickered down again, but this time Zuko wasn't surprised. Only saddened. Staring him back in the face was his cousin, Lu Ten. The spitting image of his father, with a long, wise face and large sideburns. His always joyous, cheeky mouth was drawn downwards and tight. Nothing like the smiling, laughing Lu Ten that Zuko remembered from his childhood.

So it's true.....he's really gone....

Once again, Zuko willed for his old self to take over. He tried to blank out the pain and keep his face still. He couldn't do that to Lu Ten. He wouldn't.

"Three."

Three?

Unable to contain his surprise and terror, Zuko gasped. Staring down at him with the same cold, hard, unforgiving eyes that he remembered from his childhood was his grandfather. Looking back at him was Fire Lord Azulon!

"Your mother did evil, treacherous things that night."

"He moves, he moves!" Kimochi screamed, laughing and pointing. "His face is for the taking!"

The face of Fire Lord Azulon snapped into a huge grin, showing teeth like an animal barred to strike.

"No!"

Zuko felt himself panic. What had he done!
Koh dived in, the slimy body circling around him as Zuko tried to turn away. The clattering legs snapped and clicked in excitement as the spirit began to circle.

"No! Don't hurt him!"

Feeling his eyes go wide, Zuko didn't miss Katara's terrified expression as she clung to him, standing in front of him, arms spread wide. What had he done? She was going to lose her face too!

"Katara, run! Get out of here!" he felt himself going cold. She was going to die because he was an idiot!

"Two for the taking! Two for the taking!" Kimochi was screeching like a primal beast behind them. "Take their faces!"

The coils of Koh's body wound round them faster and faster, blocking their escape as the spirit towered over them. The legs clicked in a frenzy as the circle closed. Koh's face changed so rapidly, it was hard to see who he was changing to! Katara and Zuko were forced closer and closer into the centre of the swelling body, Katara's arms still outstretched as she tried feebly to protect him.

"The faces! The faces! More for the taking!"

Drawing the two broadswords from the sheath at his back, Zuko swung wildly.

"Katara, run!"

"No, Zuko! I won't leave you!"

The twin blades slashed again and again as Zuko jabbed at the spirit's body. But they bounced off as if they were hitting metal, leaving no damage at all! Koh's face settled, letting out a long and bellowing laugh. The coils constricted tighter and Zuko was forced back to back with Katara. The swords fell to the floor, useless. How could he kill something that was already dead?

Kimochi danced and screamed as the coils wound tighter, jumping and leaping in victory.

"Eat the faces! Eat them!"

"No, no, no!" Zuko gasped.

The coils were winding tighter. It was crushing him! He couldn't breathe!

"Zuko!" Katara gasped behind him, struggling for breath and the life was crushed from her. "I...love..you!"

Her hand wriggled inside the crushing embrace as she reached for his. Feeling the air slipping from his lungs, Zuko entwined his fingers with hers. This was it. Katara was going to die and it was all his fault! There wouldn't be a comet to guide either of them back this time!

"I'm..sorry.." he struggled, wincing. "I love you...too!"

"Eat the Prince!" the calls of the spirit monkey were almost deafening. "Eat the beauty!"

This is it! This is the end! I'm sorry Aang! I'm sorry Uncle!

The dark shadow of Koh loomed over them, the eyelid again flickering too fast to see as the triumphant laughter echoed through the crater. He loomed over them, a shadow against the light. It was just like his dream! He would take their faces! They'd be lost to the darkness! Zuko could only think about what Fate had told him. At least if Katara was going to die, then he would die alongside her.

"Hey, Face Stealer!"

Koh froze, the darkness subsiding for a minute. The eye opened and the face looked out.

Standing behind them on the crater, holding onto the scruff of the Spirit Monkey, who had the Black Ice Blood lodged in its heart, was Azula.

"I've always wondered why everyone seemed to be so afraid of you." she smiled, dropping Kimochi's lifeless form to the floor, motioning to herself with the knife. "You have just had the pleasure of meeting a real demon. Now come and get it!"

---

Ozai was struggling.

What had happened?! A few minutes before, he had been beating the hell out of the insolent Avatar and now he was just fighting to stay alive!

Another bullet-shaped earth pellet grazed his cheek, making him hiss in anger and pain. He could feel it! Sozin's Comet was leaving the atmosphere! Soon he would be powerless to stop the Avatar! He had to finish off the little brat once and for all!

Sending scorching waves through the air, he sliced again and again at the Avatar, creating gigantic X shapes in the sky. With a sweep of his hand, the boy extinguished it, moving through the air towards him slowly, with the same unmoving blue eyes. They looked almost murderous!

"Fire Lord Ozai." the boy's voice spoke as if there were hundreds behind him. "Your tyranny has upset the balance of this world. You have taken the lives of countless innocents. There is only one way to amend the rift. You must pay the ultimate price!"

Feeling his eyes go wide, Ozai contorted his face into a snarl. Propelling himself forward, he engulfed his hand in the most intense fire and flew, faster and faster towards the Avatar. The boy was unmoving, waiting for him.

With a deafening roar, Ozai ploughed his hand into the side of the tower beside him, sending a tear throughout the surface. It cracked and broke away, sending the tower hurtling towards the Avatar. If he had to destroy his own palace to see that boy dead – then so be it!

The tower fell faster and faster, looming like a mighty dragon over the small boy. But with one thrust of his palm, the Avatar caught the wall, sparing the many people fighting below. With the crunch of his fingers, the entire tower crumbled to pieces, suspended in the air! Forming them all together into large circular disks, the Avatar skimmed them through the sky – right towards him!

Ozai ducked and swooped out of the way, but was barely able to escape the second two! Half a ton of earth crashed into his side, skimming the bone. Letting out an enraged, agonised grunt, Ozai clutched at his ribs. They were definitely broken.

"You insolent pup!" he screamed, pouring out all of the hate he had been taught to feel for the Avatar. "You disgusting, weak, sickening coward! Come and fight me like a man or die cowering like your pathetic race!"

Anger and hate coursed through his veins like liquid fire as the Avatar soared through the air, no emotion showing on his face. How he hated that boy! He would see his end!

Shots of fire came up through the air as some of the remaining ground troops still in line shot up at the Avatar, determined to take him down. With one sweep of his hand, the boy simply blew away the torrents of fire, slamming them instead into the walls of the palace!

Ozai felt his blood boiling. He would destroy this boy if it meant using up every last one of his men as a sacrifice!

Wincing as he shot himself forward once again, Ozai prepared for the attack that would make him the greatest Fire Lord in all of history, or destroy him completely.

---

Zuko kept expecting to hear Kimochi jumping and screaming hysterically as he begged Koh to finish them off. But no more screeching came, because the spirit lay crumpled and motionless on the floor, it's dark eyes finally growing dim and closing.

How had the spirit fallen? Zuko knew perfectly well after his excursions at the North Pole that spirits could be killed. But wasn't that only when they were in their mortal forms? How had Azula managed to kill the Trickster when his swords had just bounced off Koh like rain?

Zuko stared, feeling the pit of his stomach crushing together as Koh wound tighter. He looked over at his sister, so confident and deadly, as always, holding the Black Ice Blade in her hand as black liquid soaked up into its surface.

He should have been worrying about Katara.

He should have been worrying about Aang.

He should have been trying to breathe in as much precious air as he could.

But he wasn't. He was too busy feeling himself crumble.
Was this a good thing, or a bad thing? His sister had come to save them from Koh's grasp (he never thought he'd hear himself say that!), but if she won, they would have to fight her for Aang's life! And if she lost, they'd be right back where they started – with Koh crushing the life out of them!

And there were something strange about her. Something different. Something that nagged at his memory. But no matter how hard he tried, Zuko was too starved of air to remember.

"Foolish human!" Koh bellowed, settling on a face that looked both terrified and venomous at the same time. "Look at what you have done!"

Barely lifting an eyebrow, Azula looked down at the corpse of the Spirit Monkey, it's immaculate white fur mixing with oily black liquid that seeped from its back.

"Treachery doesn't go unpunished in my world." she replied, looking disgusted at the dead spirit. "If anything, I did you a favour. He was giving me a headache."

She looked up at Koh, staring at him directly with her own angry, piercing gaze. A small smirk made her look almost manic as she spoke again.

"And you wouldn't like me when I get cranky."

With a crackling hiss, Koh's grip slackened slightly, as both Zuko and Katara took in a great breath of air. His attention was directed away from them, but Zuko still couldn't see a way out. They were cornered, surrounded by the scaly body.

What is she doing!

"My Trickster is lost, because of you, stupid human!" Koh snarled. "But at least now he shall receive some penance. I shall take great pleasure in harvesting all three of your faces!"

A shiver went through Zuko's spine at the word 'harvest'. Azula however, seemed uncaring – almost as if she wasn't listening. But this wasn't the same mocking silence that he was so used to witnessing. It was unintentional, like she was thinking about something far more important.

"She's... she's going to go after the Chi Flow!" Katara whispered as she regained her breath. "We can't stop them both!"

"I..I don't think...she is." Zuko breathed, lavishing in the sweet embrace of the cool air. "She's standing right above it. If she...wanted to do something, she would have by now. There's something not right about her. She's different."

Azula yawned, though again, not with her usual mocking undertone. It caught Zuko off guard a little. This was the most......real...he had seen his sister in years!

"If you want my face," she mumbled irritably. "then you're going to have to come and get it!"

Switching faces so rapidly it was barely visible, Koh let out a long and aggravated call. Lunging forward, the scaly body slithered away from both Katara and Zuko, releasing them from his grasp. They fell to the floor, dizzy from the sudden movement, trying to regain their balance as quickly as they could.

A green orb floated so close towards Zuko's face that he had to fall back onto the earth to avoid touching it and turning it to dust.

"You will pay for your insolence, filthy human!"

The dark body of the Face Stealer zigzagged across the Chi Field, its many legs all working to gather speed as he shot towards Azula. She stood, waiting, barely one emotion showing on her face. But she wasn't trying to protect herself from the angry spirit, it was as if she'd simply stopped feeling.

"What's wrong with her?" Katara asked, picking herself up from the dirt carefully. "She'll be killed!"

"I never thought I'd see the day when you worried about Azula getting hurt." grabbing his dual swords up off the ground, Zuko looked over towards the glowing pedestal "Now come on, we need to protect Aang!"

Nodding, Katara took off ahead of him. Zuko wanted to slap himself for suggesting it, as he saw her dodging through the colourful chi. She had no way to defend herself and she was running right for the Face Stealer and worse yet – his sister!

Letting out an angry breath, Zuko charged forward after Katara.

Great. How does Aang make this saving the world stuff look so easy?

Ducking and weaving as he went, Zuko ran as fast as he could towards the pedestal where both Azula and Koh were now fighting. The Chi Flows bobbed and whizzed around him and more than once he found himself getting too close to touching one than he cared to.

Katara wasn't far ahead of him now. He was faster and she was being more careful of the colourful orbs that floated beside her.

"Stay still, worthless human! I shall feast on your soul!"

Zuko could see Koh's body, ducking and weaving around Azula, the legs working frantically and clicking noisily. He was trying to circle her and close in around her, like he had with them. But it wasn't working. Azula was just too fast.

It seemed that wherever Koh went, Azula was always one step ahead of him. She twisted, bounded and leapt out from between the grasp of the Face Stealer, not even allowing one second for him to gain the advantage. She hadn't even broken a sweat!

"She's a true prodigy – just like her grandfather!"

But Zuko didn't know what to think anymore. It was nearly impossible to take it all in!
He had always believed that Azulon had died peacefully in his sleep before today. Now, he felt as if his entire world had been turned upside down (although, considering their situation, he wasn't sure this was possible either).

"You know, for some reason, I thought you'd be better." Azula sighed, sweeping under Koh's grip. "What a disappointment."

Koh let out a bellowing scream, just as Zuko reached Katara. The Spirit was almost blinded by rage, lashing out and slashing at the Fire Princess with barely a thought to his actions. She was getting to him and the Face Stealer wasn't used to losing.

"Katara," Zuko reached out to touch her shoulder, stopping her. "have you ever used a sword before?"

She looked at him as if he had asked her to grow a third foot. There was no longer fear in her eyes, like he had been witnessing all day, but anger. Zuko was a little taken aback, but glad. Every time he had gotten her angry, she had beaten him – badly. They needed that same determination now!

"Uh, Sokka let me try his boomerang once."

Thrusting one of his dual swords into her hand, Zuko dragged her forward towards the battle.

"That's good enough! We've got to protect Aang! If Azula loses – run!"

"But she never loses!" Katara panted, lunging towards the brilliant blue, glowing chi.

I know....

"There's a first for everything." he panted, planting his foot against stone. "Now come on!"

Slotting the dual sword into his belt, Zuko grabbed onto the stones above and began to climb. They had to get there first! They had to protect Aang, no matter who the winner was!

---

She had started this with something in mind – revenge. Destruction. Vengeance. Maybe she was just doing it because she was angry.

But now it was for something entirely different.
Or at least, it seemed that way.

Azula hadn't expected to see her brother, or the Water Tribe girl. Surely she had been out of the trials before either of them? Perhaps it was Zuko's appearance that had disturbed her so. It wasn't supposed to be like this! Everything had been planned out.

But then again, after the events in the trials – everything had fallen to pieces as well.

Azula could see the Face Stealer growing angry. He wasn't used to having his prey slip through his fingers and now to enrage him even further, she was dodging every hit that he dealt. It was his own fault, of course. He had fallen for her baiting and let them go. He could have taken their faces first and been done with it. But then, Azula wouldn't have known what to do.

"Weak, misguided human!" the Face Stealer spat as she swerved away from his grasp once again. "You have dared tamper with forces you cannot comprehend and now, suffering shall be your teacher!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Azula thought that she saw her brother flinch as he pulled himself up over the rock face. How unfortunate that he should hear those words again.

It was strange, thinking of her brother in pity. Not mockingly, like she should have done.....but like she might have done once upon a time. After all – he was weak! He had allowed himself to be-

No! she scolded herself. Not....not weak. Those are lies.

It was as if Azula was seeing everything for the first time. Like her previous life had kept her from seeing things as they were, as if a large piece of glass made everything distorted and wrong. It scared her – and exhilarated her!

Koh was tiring. Not physically of course, but mentally. He was getting sloppier in his fury, making stupid mistakes. It was really beginning to get rather boring.

"Enough." Azula growled, drawing the Black Ice Blade. "I grow tired of this!"

Lashing out with the brilliant point, Azula aimed to injure, not kill. Why shouldn't she be able to have her revenge? Who was to stop her from blowing off a little steam? Some egotistical spirit bug? Of course not!

Koh's piercing scream ripped through the air as one of his spindly legs fell to the ground, leaking black fluid onto the surface of the rock. Jumping back out of his reach, Azula watched the giant eyelid come down again and again to reveal almost a hundred different faces, all screaming in agony.

"Disgusting, filthy human!" he hissed. "Look at what you have done! You shall pay!"

Azula was unaffected, at best.

The black fluid that was Koh's blood was already beginning to seep into the blade she held and she watched it drain away, speculating. It was more interesting than whatever Koh had to say, regardless.

Out of the corner of her peripheral vision, she watched as Koh began the advance again, barely hindered by the loss of one of his many legs. She looked at the blade, uninterested.

"You're afraid of this, aren't you?"

Although her eyes never left the surface of the Black Ice Blade, Azula's voice was carried to Koh. He immediately stopped in his tracks, as if he had been stunned. Yes, that was it. Azula had always prided herself on finding a person's one weakness and extorting it.

"How pitiful." she continued, barely sparing the spirit a glance. "The great and mighty Koh the Face Stealer, scared by a dagger."

Her head snapped up, looking directly at the spirit, though she barely took him in. She felt almost numb, with her new vision. This was all practice. A reflex action triggered by instincts, bourn into her by years of torture and pain. She would use it, for now. But still, Azula found herself looking over at Zuko more than anything else. Had he really aged that much since she had seen him last? When had he started growing so tall? It felt like the years had simply flown by, clouded by the hatred and the anger.

And the Water wench – no, woman. How had she never really seen her before either? Had she always been so focused on weak points, stances and abilities? Had she lost her eyes along the way? Azula had never noticed before just how pretty she was. Even as her eyes bulged, staring with terror at the darkened shape of Koh, there was something delicate there. But not only that. Azula had fought her before, hadn't she? Many times. It took her a moment to admit it, but she was....she was good. A good fighter. Were all members of the Water Tribe that dedicated? That fierce? What was her name?

Azula weighed these questions inside her head as she stalked towards Koh, barely even aware of her actions. It was as if she was on autopilot, looking at the scenery instead, rather than the controls in front of her.

"But I suppose I don't blame you." she continued, looking back up at the Face Stealer. "This is after all, a special knife. Sharper than razors and able to absorb blood."

She let herself smile. "I'm sure that Mai would have loved this knife."

Trying to ignore the pang of guilt and sadness as she thought of her friends, locked away somewhere in a prison. Because of her. That had always hit her hard, but only now was she really seeing it with new eyes. It wasn't necessary, like she had told herself. It was just what her father would have wanted.

Koh began to back away from her slowly, the spindly legs clicking against the rock face. Little orbs of colour bobbed about down below, mixing into one another. Every now and then, one would extinguish and fall to the floor, dust.

"I know why you fear it." Azula cooed, forcing the Face Stealer backwards a little further. "I saw that my brother's own swords failed to leave even a mark. But this, this knife is different. This is a spirit blade!"

Letting out a low laugh, Azula lunged forwards, striking out at the darkness, at the vision of her father. Koh reeled back, his legs working frantically as he scrambled to get away from the deadly point of the blade.

Faces flickered past at top speed, each person looking more desolate and terrified than the last. Azula could barely keep up with them all, but then again, she wasn't concentrating on his face.

"Die!" she hissed, plunging the knife into the back of Koh's shell.

The piercing scream shot through the air again as Koh wheeled round, lashing out at the princess with bared teeth. Caught off guard, Azula's grip faltered on the knife as she pulled it back out from the Face Stealer's back.

Letting out a mighty roar, Koh lunged forward, seizing his opportunity. One of the pointed legs shot out, jabbing Azula in the arm. She let out a cry, feeling it pierce her skin and dropped the Black Ice Blade as she clutched at it.

The knife bounced as it hit the floor, skipping from rock to rock as it failed to stop. Azula heard her brother and the Water Tribe girl gasp and her eyes went wide as the knife made the final leap through the air, falling down and down, into the abyss below. It fell from the mountain, becoming smaller and smaller as it soared down through the mist.

"No!"

She had lost it! The Black Ice Blade was gone and it was the only thing that had any hope of keeping them alive!

---

Zuko felt his heart stop as he heard his sister's cry. Koh had knocked the Black Ice Blade from her hand and it had fallen right off the mountain!

It had taken them the better part of two days (or at least he guessed two days) to climb to the top of the mountain – and it was only shortened because a giant dragon had given them a lift! There was no way they could recover the knife in time!

"Damnit!" he hissed, moving closer to Katara and holding his one dual sword before him. He avoided going anywhere near Aang's Chi Flow, which blazed brilliantly in front of them.

"It seems the tables have been turned against you, weak princess." Koh hissed above them, his many eyes mocking as he stared down at Azula.

Zuko knew that Azula was supposed to be his enemy. She had been since they were kids! But he couldn't stop the knot in his stomach from tightening when he saw what state she was in. Apparently, you could bleed in the Spirit World! She was clutching at her shoulder, which was seeping blood, though she barely seemed to notice it.

What's with her? Why is she acting so strange? Why hasn't she attacked us yet?

Instead of lunging forward like Zuko expected, Koh didn't attack Azula. He just stood there, swaying as he looked down at her. He could only see the back of the looming spirit, but Zuko was sure that he was smiling.

"Zuko," Katara hissed, elbowing him in the ribs "we have to help her! She's going to get killed!"

Reaching up to hold onto her arm, Zuko tried to compose his face into anything other than hopelessness – it didn't work.

"How?" he replied, feeling desperate. "The only thing that can hurt him was the blade, and now it's gone! There's nothing we can do!"

Katara's face looked stony. There was the same angered determination in her eyes as before.

"Since when did we start taking each other's advice?"

Without a glance backwards, Katara darted forwards, slipping away from his grasp and dodging past Aang's Chi Flow. She raised her single sword in front of her as she charged head-on for the Face Stealer!

"No! Katara, come back!"

Zuko clenched his teeth. No, since when did she listen to him?!
Fear clutched at his every breath as he saw Katara run towards the looming black shadow that would surely kill her, and the sister that had risked her life to save them.

The same ringing voice of his conscious spat at him, angered by his moment of hesitation.

Have you learnt nothing?! Didn't you too ask for a second chance long ago? And now Azula has risked herself to save you! Even Katara is trying to help her! Don't make the same mistake you did all those years ago! Don't abandon them when they need you, you coward!

Frowning, angered by the truth of the voice's words, Zuko drew his own sword and bellowed as he ran forward towards Koh. Rage pumped through his veins and he saw red flash in front of his eyes. If he was going to die here, he would die with dignity! He would deal as much damage as he could before he was killed! He would stir up almighty hell!

"Get back!"

Zuko almost skidded to a stop when he heard the desperate sounding call. It wasn't Katara, but Azula! His sister was trying to protect him?!

But, whether she was trying to defend them or not, Zuko wasn't going to listen! And neither was Katara! She had been their enemy for so long and still risked her own life to save them. Now they were going to return the favour – whether it killed them or not! Now, it was kill or be killed!

Katara reached Koh before he did. Raising the dual sword above her head, she brought the blade down as hard as she could, whilst his back was still turned. Taking Azula's lead, she aimed for the many scuttling legs. The blade connected and a loud metallic clanging rang through the air as it bounced harmlessly backwards.
Zuko's heart sank. He hadn't hoped for much, but it was still worrying.

Just do it, you idiot! The conscience screamed. If you die, you die with your honour! Now do it!

Feeling a wave of fresh anger wash over him, Zuko screamed and ran leapt into the air, swinging around to kick at Koh's spine as he brought the sword down at the same time. The same clanging rang through the air and he was pushed backwards as the blade bounced off harmlessly, quickly sweeping through the air to land back on his feet.

"Stop! Stop this, now!"

Azula's call bounced off him as easily as his blade had bounced from Koh's back. He couldn't even begin to register it. There was no time to wonder whether it was some sort of trick, or if his sister was delusional. He didn't have time to figure out why she was acting so strangely. He didn't have time for anything! Only for battle, and probably death.

Koh's attention was finally taken. No longer bearing down on Azula, he turned to look at them. The eye came back up to a smirking armadillo-wolf, the primal eyes almost as terrifying as the slimy, looming black body. Barking out a triumphant laugh, Koh lunged forwards.

Jumping out of the way just in time, Zuko slashed and jabbed with his sword, each time bouncing back off the hardened shell. The long body swerved past him as fast as a charging Komodo-rhino, the legs clicking horribly as they whizzed past. Black blood trailed behind him where Azula had made her mark, but it didn't slow him down.

Turning away from Zuko in the same single sweep, Koh thundered head-first towards Katara. She drew the sword behind her and swung as hard as she could, forcing Koh to turn away sharply at the last second. Her blade connected with the trailing legs and the impact sent her spinning backwards as she tried to keep her balance. Despite his terror, Zuko found himself laughing. It was just like the time he had taught her how to throw knives in the forest. She had nearly taken his head off with one of them, and he couldn't help but laugh at the situation. If it had been any other time, he might have told her that she was doing it all wrong.

"Run, Zuko!" he heard his sister gasping. "Get out of here!"

He didn't register it. Koh swerved backwards, immediately ready to strike again. Rearing up on his many legs, he snarled down at them before lunging. He swung in a circle around them, forcing them back into the tighter circle.

Not this time!

"Aim for his head!" Zuko called, taking a run and leaping over the blackened body into safety. "Go for the eyes!"

Following suit, Katara took a run and jump before the space around her was taken. But instead of leaping over, Katara grabbed onto the lengthy body as it swirled, holding fast onto Koh's back.

"Vile humans!" Koh hissed, coming to a halt. "Your efforts are worthless!"

Lurching, Koh swept his body like a wave, trying to dislodge Katara. She held on fast, trying desperately to pierce through the outer shell with her sword. But still it bounced off.

"Damnit, Zuko! Put the sword down! Run!"

Zuko had never heard Azula sound so desperate before. Not in a long time. Neither had he ever heard her swear.
Running towards Koh, he spared her a glance, immediately spinning his head back around to face the spirit. She looked pale. Her shoulder was still pouring blood, but she made no attempt to stem the flow. Her arms hung at her sides and she looked drawn and thin. It wasn't the fierce tyrant of a sister that he knew and Zuko didn't know whether to feel worried or elated!

Charging forward to the head of the beast, Zuko jabbed and lunged, aiming each time for the soft and fleshy faces of the Face Stealer's collection. The spirit stopped lurching, swinging away his head in time to avoid the blows. Zuko carried on the onslaught, but if ever he got close to stabbing at a face, the giant eyelid would come down faster than he could strike. The blade would bounce off harmlessly, just as it had before. Although the human faces could be attacked, Koh wasn't taking any chances. He was going to defend his collection to the death!

"Zuko!"

He ignored Azula, backing away and down as Koh forced him back, getting closer and closer each time to the peak of the rocks. If he fell back, he would land back into the Chi field! And if he did that, he would end up killing hundreds of people!

Zuko was forced backwards as the Face Stealer advanced, each step bringing him closer to the edge of the chi fields! Koh swung and lurched, jabbing at him with this pointed teeth of a moose-lion!

"Hey ugly! Up here!"

Koh stopped and looked upwards as his neck stretched behind. Zuko's eyes went wide. Katara was sitting on top of his head! Letting out an angry cry, Katara brought the sword down into the face that looked up at her.
A split second too late, Koh screamed in agony as the sword tip drove between the eyes of the moose-lion's face. He reared and swung, flinging Katara through the air with such force, Zuko was terrified she would fall from the mountain! She landed onto the rocks with a thud, rolling within five feet of the mountains edge!

"Katara! No!"

Zuko's stomach lurched as Koh's gigantic eyelid came down again, trapping the sword and pressing down with so much force that it snapped in half! The handle clattered to the ground as black blood continued to pour from the wound. The eye came down again and again, but the sword tip prevented him from changing faces. Koh was blinded!

Screaming in agony, Koh's thrashed around in every direction, advancing forward again and forcing Zuko towards the edge. He jabbed at the face, desperate to make a hit, but Koh was thrashing about too wildly.

Zuko felt rubble crumbling beneath his feet and looked behind him. He was on the very edge! Feeling his eyes grow wide, Zuko hesitated. A red-clad figure was shifting in the Chi fields, dodging between the orbs.

Azula! She's going for Aang's Chi Flow!

A sharp blow caught him in the leg and he lost his balance. Feeling his feet fall away from the rubble, Zuko let out a cry. It was a forty foot drop and when he landed, he was going to kill hundreds of people!
Twisting in the air, Zuko jabbed, the sword still in his hand. He lurched as the shrieking metal connected with the rock face. He drove it in deeper as he fell, sparks shooting out at his face. His stomach felt too light as the squealing sword dug into the rock face. He lurched as it finally caught and he came to a stop. Barely ten feet above the ground, Zuko held onto the sword as tightly as he could.
A red orb floated past his foot and he drew it away quickly, terrified of extinguishing it.

"Katara!" he called, looking up at the space where he had fallen. "Katara, say something! KATARA!"

He received no answer. But he could still hear the clear and deafening screams of the Face Stealer as flecks of black blood dripped down from the rocks. One fell onto Zuko's hand and it dribbled down the inside of his arm, making him sick to his stomach.

There was something else. The clanging sound. Metal connecting with spirit. Was Katara still fighting? Was she alright?

She has to be! This is the Spirit World! We can't feel pain unless it's by a spirit! But her blade broke in half! Is she only using the splintered half to stay alive?!

Darting his head quickly around, Zuko found a place to land. The only place that wasn't completely occupied by chi! But it was close. If he touched one, that was it! That innocent person would die – all because he was clumsy.

Taking a breath, Zuko swung his legs, gathering momentum. Concentrating completely on his landing spot, Zuko let go of the sword. Leaping through the air, Zuko made himself as small as he could. Landing with a thud, he immediately twisted away as another red orb bobbed incredibly close to his left ear. Losing his balance, he fell back into the dirt, narrowly avoiding the chi.

"Zuko!"

Feeling his pulse quicken, Zuko looked up. Katara stood at the edge, leaping away from the raging blows of the Face Stealer. The broken half of the sword was in her hand.

"Stop her!" she cried, narrowly avoiding a pointed leg. "She's going for Aang! Stop her!"

Jumping back onto his feet, Zuko darted his head around. Katara was right! Azula was staggering through the chi towards the brilliant glowing chi on the pedestal!

"Go!" Katara called down to him. "Don't worry about me! Just stop her!"

He hesitated, looking back up to the perilous climb that would lead him to Katara. If he left her, Koh would kill her! How had they moved so far away from Aang? That was never the plan!

"Go, Zuko!" Katara sounded angry as she dived away from view. "Go!"

Swallowing his heart back into his chest, Zuko ploughed through the chi, dodging, weaving and jumping out of the pathways of the chi that floated in front of him. He didn't like it, but Katara was right! If they died, that was it. But if Aang died, then the whole world died along with him!

If Katara dies, then I'll stay. I'll stay long enough to save him and then find her! I won't leave here by myself – I don't care about that stupid rule! I won't leave without her!

Zuko moved fast, driven on by terror and adrenaline. He was gaining on Azula! She had Aang's chi in sight, but she was moving slower than she should be. It looked like she was taking a stroll in the park! Had her injury really weakened her that much?

Thank Agni that you don't tire in this place!

He was close now. The sound of clashing metal and screaming echoed through the walls of the chi field, sounding even more terrifying as they bounced back at him off the walls. Azula was barely twenty feet away now and he was gaining!

She stopped.

What the-?

Zuko sucked in a breath as he lurched away from a blue orb that cut in front of his path. Why had she stopped? Aang's chi was right in front of her! Was she too weak to get up to the pedestal?

Clamping down on his lip, Zuko bolted forwards. This was it. He had to.....kill his sister. He had to do it now! Whilst she was weakened. He had to finish her off! If he didn't, then the whole world would be destroyed! But how? He had no weapons! And if she couldn't fight – would it be dishonourable to kill Azula when she was defenceless? Would the spirit's judge him for it?

Pushing forward, Zuko came to a stop in front of her and shifted into a fighting stance. She was a better bender than he was, but they couldn't bend now. And he had always been a better fighter.

"Azula!"

For a moment, she didn't look at him. Her breathing was heavy and she was leaning forward, but her eyes were glazed over as if she hadn't heard him. She had removed her shoulder pads, and the wound to her shoulder was pouring even more freely. She made no attempt to cover it or stem the bleeding. It was as if she barely knew it was there!

What is wrong with her? What happened to her in those trials that's made her act so strange?

"She's...pretty, you know."

Zuko did a double take. What did she just say? Had he heard her right?

"I think that she might make a fine...Fire Lady some day." Azula panted, still not meeting his gaze. "It's a shame that Fa-"

She stopped there, frowning. Zuko tried not to let his surprise show. Was she...was she scowling at the mention of their father? Her? The loyal subject, who idolised her father to the brink of insanity?

"What's this about?" he barked, feeling his confidence waver. Had she lost her mind! "Is this another one of your tricks?"

Azula let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. She still didn't look at him. The sound of clashing and metal continued to wash over them in waves.

"Oh Zuzu," Azula sighed. "it really is rather depressing to see just how much you distrust me."

WHAT!

"I think you've given me more than enough reason not to trust you!" Zuko screamed back, hysteria slowly kicking in. What was going on? "After all you've done, of course I can't trust you!"

She licked her lips, moving a strand of hair away from her face.

"I might have lectured you about all of the things that you had done to earn mistrust before, dear brother. But now, things are different."

Her tone wasn't mocking. It wasn't snide or malicious. It wasn't Azula!

"I don't know what you're game is," Zuko felt his voice waver. "but you're not getting anywhere near Aang!"

Finally, Azula looked at him. Her eyes seemed dazed and empty, as if she was somewhere completely different and seeing things through a sheet of glass.

"Who's Aang?" she asked.

"The-the...I – the Avatar!" Zuko screamed, flinging his arms in the air. "What's wrong with you?! Enough games, Azula! I'm here to finish this now!"

Azula smiled. Zuko felt his brain melting. Azula never smiled! She mocked and belittled! But this – this was none of those things! It was a smile! Just like when they were younger! What was going on?!

Why is she SMILING?!

"There's no need, Zuzu." Azula beamed, seeming barely aware of what she was doing. "Let us be frank – I'm not going to get out of here alive - in case you haven't quite noticed."

How could I not!

"But although I shan't be leaving with my life, I shall at least be leaving with my face." she continued, still smiling. "And perhaps the spirit's will have some mercy for me."

Zuko felt his words leaving him. Mercy? Hah, unlikely! Azula had been responsible for countless deaths throughout the world and even more injuries, pain and suffering! What could possibly excuse her from all that?

Another bellowing scream tore through the air and Zuko's heart clenched. He didn't have time for this! Every second he wasted was another second he could be helping Katara!

"Enough of this, Azula!" he growled, crouching back into his stance. "We finish this now!"

"Yes, dear brother. I think we shall."

Instead of leaping at him, or shifting to a battle stance, she looked away from him. She was still smiling. Azula grit her teeth together in pain as she reached out her bleeding arm. It was only then that Zuko realised why she had stopped and what she had been looking at this entire time!

A fiery red orb bobbed by her side, never moving away from her. It was brighter than many of the others in the chi fields and as the light caught against it, Zuko could see who it belonged to.

"I would hug you, Zuzu, but my arm is rather painful and I've never been one for displays of affection."

Zuko's eyes widened. He stopped breathing for a second.

"What are you doing?"

Azula laughed the same twinkling laugh he had heard so many times as a child. It was a laugh without malice, or without care. Just....laughter for the sake of laughter.

"Ever the pessimist. If you had read through those scrolls a little more, then you wouldn't be so reluctant. You never were patient enough for anything." she smirked, before letting out a sigh. "I was wrong, brother. I see that now. The damage that has been caused can never be unmade, but I will....miss you."

Azula laughed again. Her arm began to shake as the pressure to keep it suspended became too much and she grit her teeth together.

"I never though that I would say that again. But it's true, none the less. I suppose that I love you too, somewhere. It's all rather different now. "

"Azula, I-but you-I mean-don't-" Zuko couldn't get the words to leave his mouth. Not even he knew what he was going to say! Right and wrong fought for command inside his head as he struggled to find the words.

I...she's my sister.

But she'll destroy everything.

But she doesn't deserve this!

You were just about to kill her anyway!

Looking back at him with her clouded eyes, Azula smiled through the pain.

"Goodbye, Zuzu."

"No!"

Reaching out with her fingers, Azula's skin touched against the red of the floating chi. It exploded at her touch, crumbling to dust on the floor and she fell to the floor with it, completely still.

"Azula!"

Zuko ran towards his crumpled, lifeless sister, not even sure why he was doing so! This was what he wanted! This was what he had wanted for years! So why did it completely terrify him so much? Dodging through the chi, he ran the last few feet towards her.

A sudden, immense burst of light forced him back. The chi flows fled, retreating away from the brilliance of the light. Koh's screaming was quietened, as he felt something in the air begin to change and Zuko raised a hand in front of his face, to shield himself from the blinding white light.

"Zuko..."

He stiffened. No, no, it couldn't be! It wasn't!

Moving his hand away from the light, Zuko squinted and blinked as his eyes adjusted. It couldn't be right, it wasn't! How could that even happen? How was it possible? Was he already dead and seeing things?

"Zuko..."

His mouth hung open and he stepped back, not caring how his eyes stung against the brilliant white light. He heard footsteps running behind him as Katara ploughed through the crater, her path cleared by the retreating chi. The footsteps slowed as she approached and Zuko heard her take in a breath.

"I don't believe it...."

Suspended in front of them, with an invisible wind gently tugging at her pure white clothing and hair was Azula.
She towered above them, her brilliant light reaching far beyond the mountain top. She was smiling, with her palms forward in greeting and there was a marking on her forehead in the shape of a circle, one half white, and the other dark.

"My brother..." her voice was different, soothing and vibrant, like he was hearing her on the wind.

Zuko felt himself frozen. What...what had she done? She was here, but she was gone. How could that be? How could she have done that? Feeling the weight of it all come on top of him, he sank to his knees. He should have saved her. But he shouldn't have. Had he chosen the wrong path? Was there something else that he should have done?

What could you do when your sister also happened to be your mortal enemy? He couldn't be expected to make that decision.

"There is much you should have learnt, my brother." Azula said, smiling. "Self sacrifice is the greatest gift that can be given. I don't deserve this gift, but it is owed to the world. Balance must be restored."

Zuko felt a thud behind him as Katara also dropped to her knee's. He looked at the floor. He couldn't look at Azula. How could he? What was she talking about? How did you know all of this?
The doubt tore inside of him. He shouldn't be feeling as if he had lost someone. Azula had been dead to him for years! He was supposed to hate her.....but he didn't.

"Wh...what?" Katara mumbled behind him, her voice barely above a strained whisper. "Yue, s-she...but..you.."

"The balance has been left with death for too long." Azula chimed, her smile fading. "Without life, there is no balance. I shall offer that balance. I won't let him win.."

Zuko knew exactly who she was talking about.

"Two go in, one comes out..." Azula spoke, no longer looking at them. "...no longer."

Koh began to scream once more, hearing Azula's words. Nobody seemed to hear it.
Zuko felt numb. This wasn't happening. A spirit. This wasn't real. His sister couldn't be a spirit. And the spirit of life! It must be wrong. It was a trick....he was insane....he was dreaming....something!

A piercing whistling sound resonated through the air and a rush of wind blew through the chasm. Zuko barely noticed. A low growling noise came from behind him, and he found that he already knew what waited behind him.

I'm....going home? With Katara? But why?

His throat burnt and his chest felt heavy, but Zuko forced his gaze upwards. His sister, brilliant and beautiful, looked down on him. She no longer smiled, but looked sad. Zuko was past feelings. His heart felt heavy, but his mind was clouded. He wasn't supposed to feel what he was, was he? But Azula also wasn't supposed to sacrifice herself, become the spirit of life and then let them leave either...

...could she even do that? Weren't there some sort of-of spirit rules or something!

The chasm grew ever so slightly darker and Zuko turned his head. The brilliant blue blaze of Aang's chi had dimmed back to its original colour. The Avatar State was no more. Had he done it? Had he beaten Ozai? Or was he dead?

"The balance has been restored." Azula replied to his unspoken question. "The darkness is no more."

Her smile was beaming. The smile for the death of her father, and the smile for the rebirth of the world.

"He...he did it? Aang won?" Katara's voice was almost hysterical as she whispered behind him. "Ozai is..."

Azula nodded, her smile radiating through the light. "Dead."

"He...he did it." Katara breathed, almost as if she couldn't believe it. "The war is over."

Zuko's brain couldn't quite take it all in. He felt so slow, so sluggish. Like there was something stopping him from reacting the way he should have. Perhaps it was shock. Or sadness. But why would it be sadness? It felt like sadness...

"Zuko..."

He felt a tug at his clothing and took his gaze away from the light slowly. It was like seeing everything in slow motion. Katara looked back at him, dirty and covered in blackened blood. There was a small cut along her arm and the smile on her face was wary. Her eyes would flicker back and forward to Azula, as if she couldn't quite let her guard down. All these things Zuko noticed, without really seeing.

"Zuko, come on." she repeated gently, tugging at his arm.

He let her guide him. The White Dragon (or was it Fate?) sat in the clearing, waiting for them. The Black Ice Blade was at its feet and it bowed low upon seeing them. With a sudden burst of memory, Zuko's mind kicked back into place.

"It shall not fall to you, but to one you love."

It wasn't Katara. Katara had never been meant to die! It was Azula!
And...he did. In some strange, far away kind of dream, he did love her. She was his sister. That was bond enough! She had taken the wrong path, just as he had! She had been no different from him all this time! Only she hadn't found her way until it was too late.

Turning back towards the brilliant shimmering vision of his sister, Zuko swallowed the lump in his throat. It felt alien and strange, but he had to.

"I...I...thank you."

Azula looked down at him, and the corner of her mouth perked into a grin. Taking a deep breath, Zuko forced his mind to wake up. If this was the last time he saw his sister, then he wouldn't waste it. She had attacked him, hurt him, black mailed, bribed, threatened him and tried to kill him – but wasn't that exactly what he had done to Katara, almost a year ago?

She had forgiven him. She loved him. Was this so much different?

"I'll tell them." he mumbled. "I'll tell them all what you did for us. I won't let them speak against you ever again."

Azula nodded, still smirking.
She didn't reply as Zuko and Katara both turned back towards the White Dragon and climbed onto its back. Turning its huge head around the face them, Fate's eyes sparkled and shone in knowing. It smiled to them and nodded as it took off into the air.

Feeling Katara's arms tighten around him, Zuko looked behind him. Koh remained on the mountain top, no longer screaming, but moving backwards and forwards along the line. The colour returned to the mountain as the chi flows flooded back into the centre of the crater from the corners they had hidden in. And above the mountain, watching them as they soared away, was the Life Spirit, Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation and saviour of the world.

---

"Do you think Toph is ever going to believe this?" Zuko smiled to himself.

Katara let out a heavy breath and laughed. Her arms tightened around his waist and she leant forward to kiss his cheek.

"Not a chance."

Zuko slumped his shoulders, not realising until now just how tense they had been. He leant backwards, so that he too could kiss Katara on the cheek.

"Probably even less chance of telling Sokka that you almost killed Koh with a sword."

Her nervous laughter vibrated through his chest as she pressed closer to him again. It sent a warm thrill up his spine.

"He's going to be so jealous." she giggled. "Or angry."

The tree's and rocks and meadows flitted below them as they soared through the air. Zuko didn't look back, he didn't need to. He knew that she was watching them go. He would deal with it later, when everything was dealt with. Or at least, he would try.

I have the weirdest family on the planet...

"Katara?"

"Mhm." she replied, burying her face into his shoulder blades. Fate grumbled contentedly and they began to slow to a glide.

"Do you think my scar will come back, if we get home?"

She prodded him in the back.

"When we get home, Zuko."

He didn't bring it up again. The still skies still didn't whip wind around them, as it hadn't before. And although he couldn't bend anymore, Zuko felt himself getting warmer. Forests and meadows turned into marshlands below as the White Dragon continued to soar lazily through the clouds.

Home.

That was such a strange word. It seemed almost alien now. He hadn't had a home for a long time. But Katara had said it herself all those weeks ago. That he did have a home – with he did, in a way. Only now, there were so many things to think about.

He was going to be Fire Lord.
He had to remove his troops from the remaining nations and declare peace.
He had to....bury his father.

Unless Aang has...uh, well – I won't think about it.

He had to begin training again, but this time, he would need far more and far more intense training. He had a whole new style of bending to master now! White Fire. Would his subjects even believe him about that?

And Katara....

Zuko thought back to his promise on top of the war balloon. He still intended to keep it. One day, he would marry Katara. Whether she wanted to be Fire Lady or to stay in the South Pole, he would find a way.

"There it is!"

Zuko followed Katara's outstretched finger and saw it. The door, blue and glowing, sat in the centre of a green mound in the swamp. The same one they had come through. Their way home.

Fate landed with a splash, sending ripples of murky water across the tree roots. They dismounted, reaching up to take the Black Ice Blade from the dragon, who had it held in its mouth. Katara turned, if a little awkwardly, and bowed low to the dragon.

"Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might have lost him."

Fate nodded, smiling the same knowing smile. Zuko still couldn't quite get used to the idea of smiling dragon's.

"It was your belief and hope that guided you, young one. This is something that no one can teach you. Love is always strong enough to bring you back."

It turned to Zuko then, its big green eyes looking kindly as it spoke.

"I shall continue to watch you, as I have always done. But fear not, Prophet, times of joy lie ahead. Nightmares shall not plague you for many years to come. A prosperous time is ahead of you, humans. Rejoice in your new life and withhold the balance."

Zuko simply nodded, not entirely certain what the huge dragon was talking about. But he suspected that Katara would be able to tell him afterwards. With a final grunt, the White Dragon leapt up into the air, sending murky spray down onto their heads and showering them from head to foot.

They watched the spirit soar away into the distance before turning back towards the door. For a moment, they simply looked at it. So much had happened in such a short time, they wondered for a minute what life might be like in their own world. Who knew how long they had been gone?

Eventually, Katara lifted up her hand. She held the Black Ice Blade out to him in offering, waiting for him to take it.

"It's rightfully yours." she said, not once taking her eyes away from the door. "My dad meant it when he offered you the place in our tribe."

Zuko couldn't help but let a small smile creep over his face. Perhaps if he was an honorary member, things might work out after all. Stepping towards the door, Zuko plunged the knife deep into its heart. A tearing noise ripped through the air and a warm draft filtered through the doorway.

Coming to stand by his side, Katara took his hand in hers. He wouldn't let go of her ever again. Not even when they were on the other side.

"I'll follow you home." he smiled, turning to look down at her.

"You always do." Katara laughed, reaching up on her toes to kiss him.

Turning back towards the door between worlds, they gripped each others hands and jumped.

THE END

---

Author's Note's : Oh my God, it's really over! Man, this is so weird. This story has been going since April, I think. Wow....I'm going to miss it.

Don't forget though, there is an Epilogue after this. So if you want to know what happens to everybody after this chapter, look out for it. FYI, the chapter is going to be about Zuko and Katara's wedding day. :P

I bet you weren't expecting that ending! Azula saves everyone! Okay, I know that in the series, she's the bad guy. But I truly believe that she's just like Zuko – messed up by her crazy-ass father and just hasn't found the right path yet. Don't like the ending, then I'm sorry. To me, that was pretty decent.

Haha, Katara has better sword skills than Zuko! XD

Okay, brownie points to anyone who can guess who the Sun Warrior was that Zuko's supposed to be related to!

And if you want to know what happened to Hakoda, you'll have to read the Epilogue. Just in case you were wondering though – why wasn't he moving? Warriors Will. Injured. Pain. Etc.

Man, this is so weird. IFYH is officially over. Thank you guys so much for reading. This story wouldn't be anything like it is without all of your support, reviews, suggestions and idea's. This story was for all of you. Nobody else. YOU.

You are all wonderful! Give yourselves a pat on the back for just being who you are and for being die-hard Zutara fans! :D