Hey, guys. Sorry I haven't updated ANYTHING since...God knows how long...Anyways, this is my final chapter of Liz. Enjoy...I hope.
R&R -KTBG
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Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. (Stupid Mike and Bryan. They won't let fans do anything...)
The End
Appa dove in, heading to the balcony. Landing with a hard thump, Liz hopped out, scrambling onto her feet as she hit the ground. "Liz!" Katara called, a muttered growl hidden in her tone. A light shock waved through Liz's mind. She'd never heard Katara mad before...
"Katara!" Liz called back. "Zuko's hurt, and I don't know how to heal!" A maternal mask flashed into Katara's features, causing her eyes to melt back to a warm glow. "He's up on Appa." Helping Katara onto the bison, Liz waited below, dreading the fact that Aang would be out any second to find out what all the noise was.
"It's okay," Zuko insisted as Katara laid a hand on his burn. "I'm fine." Katara grinned and rolled her eyes at the thought. Zuko was always trying to be a man...The soothing water settled Zuko's throbbing heart, and, soon, the muscles in his legs agreed with his need for movement. Stretching his leg and kicking the air to make sure, he flung himself off of Appa, helping Katara down afterwards. "Thank you," he mumbled to the waterbender. She nodded and stepped lightly to Liz, who was standing with Aang and Sokka, discussing the events of today.
"Liz, you look like you've just seen a ghost," Sokka stated in an interested tone. Katara figured he was wondering if the Spirits were up to their old tricks again.
"Worse," Zuko interjected, walking forward. "We were attacked by Azula." Sokka's face paled to bone, the blood fleeing from his pessimistic face.
"Wait," Aang started. "What happened, Liz? Why did you take Appa?" To Liz's amazement, there wasn't a hint of bad blood in the Avatar's sweet tone. Well, I did send Appa back...Liz mused. As she was about to begin, the corners of her mouth began tilt towards a smile of relief and black humor.
"I...I, uh, ran...away," the girl mumbled, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.
"Why in the world would you do that?" Katara asked, poking her head into the conversation.
"Because...I..."
"Hey! Fuzzles is back!" a rough voice shouted from the distance. Heads twisted to see Toph rubbing Appa's side. Immediately feeling her presence, Toph turned and asked, "Hey, princess, where'd you go?"
Liz groaned at the aggravating nickname and whined, "It's a long story, Toph..."
"Well," Sokka said, cocking his head to the side, "dusk is in an hour, so I might as well start the fire and get cooking." The group nodded eagerly.
- - -
"A piece of ice?" Haru asked, smoothing his mustache in thought. Liz shrugged it off, ignoring the attention.
"It was mainly Zuko..." she admitted under her breath.
"So, why did you run away in the first place?" Katara asked in her normal, peppy voice.
"I..." Liz stuttered, back to the beginning, "I...I'm leaving tomorrow, okay?" All eyes perked, widening in surprise.
Katara leaned over to her friend's side and whimpered, "Are you sure that's what you want, Liz?" The girl nodded solemnly, gulping down a lump in her throat. Staring at the ground, she pursed her lips.
"I think it would be best...My family is probably worried..." Zuko's brow furrowed in anger, and he began to grind his teeth. "Listen," Liz continued, "I'm gonna go ahead on to sleep." The others watched as she walked off in silence.
- - -
Lying flat on her back, Liz felt the breath move in and out of her lungs while she watched the unmoving sky of a crystal night. The thick summer air smothered her with its choking hold on the wind currents. The peppered starlit sky winked and flashed silently, waiting for the sun to move up in the east. Sighing, Liz's stomach swirled in a panic. What would her parents say? What would she tell her parents? "Hey, mom, I'm back from Avatar world."? A chuckle escaped as the thought comforted her in a strange way.
Of course, at this precise moment in time, nothing mattered to her, just as the morning sunrise had made her feel, the doubt and worry floating to the surface and fleeing with the wind. The way the sky had looked then, orange-drenched and pink-stained, and now, clear and dotted with diamonds with a crescent shining on her dim-litted face, gave her peace of mind. Capturing the moment in her head, she took another breath, one of desire (she wanted nothing more than to let this moment live on forever) and hope (she knew her family would at least be glad to see her back). Reluctantly closing her eyes, she quickly drifted off.
- - -
Tears dripped and flopped onto the hard, dusty floor of the temple and Liz's arm wrapped around Katara in a sisterly hug of goodbyes. Katara whispered to her friend, "We'll miss you, Liz. Thank you."
"Thank you, too, Katara," Liz whispered back, voice muffled by Katara's blue shirt. "I'll never forget this place." Tearing her arms away, she moved on to Suki, who stood with watery eyes. "Goodbye, Suki," Liz whimpered, giving her friend a goodbye hug. "I'll miss you." Pulling away, Liz added, "Make sure Sokka doesn't accidentally get himself killed." Suki giggled a bubbly laugh.
"Get over here, you water-logged flamingo!" Toph roared.
"I'll miss you, too, Toph," Liz said, stepping over to Toph who hand her arms tightly crossed over her chest.
"I never I said I'd miss you," she moaned.
"You didn't say you wouldn't miss me, either," Liz hissed, knowing she had Toph beat...A first. "I really will miss you, Toph."
"Yeah..." Toph dismissed.
Next was Sokka, staring at a map clasped tight in his tan hands. Hugging the warrior and moving back, Liz told him, "Take care of Suki, Sokka." He smiled, and she hugged him once more before visiting Aang.
She hugged the airbender and kissed him on the cheek as a farewell gesture. "Thank you for letting me stay, Avatar." He grinned that grin of eternal innocence, and she curtsied as a response. Lastly, she hummed, "Aang, take care of that Katara of yours. She needs you." A hint of crimson seeped into his cheeks.
Liz's head throbbed while the painful steps she took led her to Zuko, who she knew wasn't the friendliest of people. Standing in front of the boy intimidated her, and she could barely get her words up. Staring up at his rock-hard face, she could tell his pale arms were crossed in frustration. "Um...Thanks, Zuko," Liz mumbled. "So...I guess...Bye..." Her eyes stared up at the boy in hopes of a response. There wasn't one. "Okay..." she huffed. Turning away, she knew that she wanted to thank him in a better way, but...But he'd saved her, hadn't he? If he hadn't shown up, she would've been worm food by now...So, maybe...
Twisting around on her heels, she flung her arms around his shoulders and held him in an embrace before quickly releasing him and running off towards the awaiting Appa. "Goodbye!" she called, waving at the new friends she'd made.
After she'd climbed onto the giant saddle, she shouted, "Yip, yip!" and whoosh! Up into the air she flew like the Avatar had done so many times before. High in the fresh, summer air, she looked down at the children watching from below. "Bye, Katara!" she called. "Bye, Aang!" They were waving enthusiastically, wishing her well travels. Most were doing the same, but Zuko was staring blankly at the floor. "Bye, Zuko..." Liz whispered.
And the girl flew off, determined to reach her parents and to tell them the truth, whether that put her in an insane asylum, or not. Either way, when Liz left the Avatar's world, their adventure continued as we know it.