Hey dudes and ladies, Aleina here. Hopefully you liked that last chapter, and hopefully you were interested enough to come back! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Please review. Please. Thanks, and enjoy. Oh, and by the way, this is waaaaay longer than I thought it was going to be.

Chapter Two
The Ascent

Katara was drifting. She could feel everything around her swaying, and something inside her responding, whirling her around in senseless circles. But then she was numb, and all she knew was the image in front of her eyes.

All she could see was Zuko standing across from her, smiling gently and reaching his hand out towards her. But as soon as she moved to follow him, he turned away- right into a blade of blue lightning. She heard Azula's insane cackle rising above her own horrified screams, and she ran to him- she could save him again this time, she just had to-

But his body was gone. She fell to her knees, her head spinning, bile catching at the back of her throat and making her gag. She felt like her body was encased in ice, stinging and numbing her at the same time.

Warmth broke through her misery. She knew who it was, she'd felt that hand on her shoulder too many times to count. He was alive, helping her stand and brushing his thumb over her cheek, clearing her tears away. "Zuko," she whispered, and reached out a trembling hand to touch him. He closed his eyes, and she ran her fingers over the rough, papery skin of his scar.

"Katara," he groaned roughly, his voice echoing around her. He opened his eyes and looked down at her, reminding her of the time they'd thrown everything away for the sake of others- but then he was looking away, and his mouth was hardening into a determined frown.

He gripped her shoulder and pulled her down just as something exploded behind them. She gasped, heat searing across her face and body. He covered her with his body, trying to protect her, and she suddenly realized that something was different- Zuko had a rough beard, and he looked so much older. She looked down at herself, noticing the fine creases in her hands and the clothing she wore- it was the same outfit her mother had died in.

Somehow, Zuko knew what was coming. "Get back in the house, Katara! I'll hold him off, he wants me!" She cried out as he pushed her gently towards a door that hadn't been there a minute ago, as the scene morphed right before their eyes. Suddenly, she was surrounded by a village of people, screaming and terrified, watching as their homes burned down. She saw a wall of flames erupt in front of Zuko, saw a man step forward from within the inferno.

Ozai smirked and raised his fists, locking his eyes on Katara. She felt hatred burning in her veins, and heard Zuko's panicked shout when she stepped forward, out of the house and into the chaos. She was ready, she could feel the water in the trees and the grass, and she knew with one move, it would be within her control. She bent her knees and raised her arms, and-

"Mommy?"

She froze. It couldn't be. The voice came from behind her, high pitched and concerned. She saw Zuko whip around to look at her, his golden eyes blazing with an unnamed emotion. Then, she turned and looked at the little girl standing behind her. She looked to be about five years old, with long brown hair that was mussed, as if she'd been sleeping.

The girl looked up at her with golden eyes, the spitting image of Katara, except for the fair skin and the orbs of fire.

"No!" Zuko roared, and she whipped around, watching as he leaped in front of a speeding jolt of fire. She screamed. Ozai laughed.

Zuko died looking into his daughter's eyes.

"STOP!" she cried out as she wrenched up out of bed. Her skin was clammy and cold, and her breaths couldn't come fast enough. For just a moment, it still looked like everything was burning; shadows were seeping from behind the walls, baring their teeth and waiting to snap her skin between their jaws.

"Calm down, Sweetness, it was just a dream." The brash voice snapped her out of her horror, and she looked to the left, seeing a familiar exasperated expression on Toph's face. The younger girl hopped off a pedestal made of stone and stomped her heel, sending it back into the ground. "You sure can sleep, did you know that?"

Katara sat up, feeling sick and scared. "How long have I… was I out?" Toph sighed.

"You passed out after you got Mai's letter about Zuko. That was three days ago, and today is his funeral." Her voice broke on the last word, and Katara was surprised to see tears forming in her blind eyes.

"Oh, Toph," she murmured, and held her arms out. The girl shook her head and wiped the moisture from her eyes, then gave Katara a quick hug, something she'd never done before, and judging by the expression on her face, wasn't going to do again.

"It's just so weird. Sparky was just here, and now, he's dead." Katara held a fist to her mouth, biting her knuckles and trying not to cry out again as agony ripped through her chest. She doubled over, tears leaking from her eyes like rain from a sky.

"I miss him," she moaned, and Toph clapped a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll have time for this later- we need to get ready." Toph walked over to a chest of drawers, taking a linen bag off the surface and opening it. "How the heck do you put this on?" she mumbled, feeling the white dress for buttons. Katara got out of bed, each move Herculean, and helped the girl dress in the mourning outfit. She didn't have a white dress. She wasn't even sure she could go to the funeral.

Her pregnant silence seemed to tip the blind girl off. "In case you were wondering, there's a tailor's shop down the street. I asked, just in case, if we go there we can find you a dress." Katara nodded, and the two young women silently got ready.

Only an hour later, she was dressed in an unfamiliar gown. It cascaded over her body, tied with a simple sash at the waist and ending right above her feet. She wore gold sandals the tailor had recommended, and her hair was up in a bun, away from her neck. She'd taken her mother's necklace off- today was a day for Zuko, and him alone.

They made their way through the streets of Caldera, stopping only once to pick a bouquet of white roses from a street vendor. The palace rose up into the space before them, majestic and ornate. The courtyard was silent, full of soldiers, Fire Nation citizens and dignitaries from around the world. She could see Azula dressed in dazzling white armor, and beside her was Mai. The woman's shoulders were hunched, and she seemed to be staring down at the ground at her feet. Ty Lee was on her other side, rubbing her back in small circles, barely recognizable without her usual pink costume.

A loud groaning, creaking sound filled the air, and Katara turned around in her seat , watching as the great gates of the palace opened, revealing animals pulling a coffin behind them. The wheels turned silently, and she stifled a cry- Zuko was dead, he was in that box, and she'd never see him again.

The crowd watched as the coffin was transported to the platform they were facing, as it was set upon a huge pyre. She felt like the air had grown heavier, struggling to draw it into her lungs and fighting the urge to run away. Toph gripped her hand like steel and shot her a stern glance, and she nodded quickly, trying to calm down. She watched as Azula stood up from her seat and bowed before the coffin, then turned and addressed the crowd.

"We are here to bid a final farewell to Fire Lord Zuko, son of Ozai and Ursa and future husband to Mai. Even when he was a child, he was stubborn and determined. Although he often failed, he kept trying." Katara snarled quietly under her breath- Azula might have sounded like a mourning younger sister to anyone else, but she could see the glint of malice in her expression. She was mocking her own brother. Azula scanned the crowd, then locked eyes with Katara, and smiled cruelly.

"Zuko fought so hard through his years of banishment and shame. He fought the acceptance of his betrayal, and he always competed to become better, to be as excellent as those he was around." Katara felt heat burning through her resolve, she wanted to go up and knock the princess down and make her pay for humiliating Zuko. She snatched her hand away from Toph, ignoring the younger girl's annoyed huff, refusing to look away from Azula.

"My brother fought for so long to be the one to rule this country, and it's a shame he was only able to do so for eight months. Yet although he had few friends with which to share the glory, he always had one who was forever at his side. She accepted him for who he was, and I invite her to speak here today." Katara saw Mai stand up, preparing to speak, and felt a burst of pity for her. She'd thought that Zuko would be there forever, just as Katara had- but somewhere deep down, the waterbender had known that it couldn't happen. Mai had been the one to carry the weight of this on her shoulders- and it was Mai who everyone would remember as the one who loved Zuko.

"Katara of the Water Tribe, please share your opinion of my brother and honor his memory with your words." She saw Mai freeze, and heard a gasp throughout the crowd, followed by quiet mutterings.

"Katara, get up there!" Toph ordered her in an undertone, and shoved her up from her seat. Azula looked deeply satisfied at having shaken her- something she would never forget. But it was Mai who she was watching the hardest. The woman turned around and looked at her stonily, then sat down, never letting her eyes leave her face.

The walk up to the podium was the worst experience of her life. She felt shell shocked, as if she'd just survived an explosion without wanting to. Her feet carried her to the coffin's side, and she gazed at the white marble for a long time before she began to speak.

"When I first met Zuko, he scared me, and he angered me. That was before he found his way, before I even knew who he was and who he would become. So much anger in his eyes, but at the same time…" she hesitated, then looked straight at Mai. "At the same time, I believed that no one could be that lost for that long.

"As time went on, we found ourselves on opposite sides of the battle, never knowing exactly why we had to hate each other so much. But I knew that what he did was for his country- because he was loyal and brave, not because he was a monster. He told me once that he used to think his scar defined him as a traitor, but that he… he then knew that it was just something to remind him of everything that made him strong. Zuko was a dear friend of mine- he's saved my life on a few occasions, and he listened to me, helped me like the man I knew he was."

She saw Mai stand up, and immediately palace guards surrounded her and escorted her out of the courtyard as she fled with sharp, angry movements. What had she said? Katara blushed, wondering if she'd sounded too loving, wondering if everyone now knew exactly what was going through her mind- but one patronizing glance form Azula had her back on track, determined to leave these people with a positive opinion of their Fire Lord.

"Many people believe that Zuko betrayed his country by helping to stop the war, but that isn't true. All his life, he'd been brought up to believe that power and honor was everything, but that isn't true. He knew how to be a friend, and how to help those around him. Zuko was loyal until the end." Hot tears pricked behind her eyes, and her voice shattered like a mirror, sending her emotions out into the crowd.

But she still wasn't ready when Azula stood up and came to stand by her, looking out on the crowd and positioning herself in front of Katara so that she had to stay. This put her closer to the coffin, and she shivered.

"Katara speaks of loyalty, which is the highest honor of all," she said, daring Katara to call her on her taunts. "And loyalty is what, as the next Fire Lord, I will be expecting from all my citizens. The war is over, and the only way to preserve our integrity is to stay loyal to the Fire Nation. I ask all of my people to comply with my reign, and know that I will continue our country's glorious traditions. Thank you for coming." She turned and looked at Katara, who felt all the blood drain from her face.

Azula was going to be Fire Lord. She was next in line for the throne, and there was no way around it. She stepped down, going back to her seat and ignoring Toph's frantic whispers, asking her what had just happened. As she watched, Azula raised her arm and fire benders came forward, bowing to the coffin and then taking up their stances. The princess got into her own position, and brought her arm down. Flames engulfed Zuko's coffin, and she closed her eyes, not wanting to see anymore, wishing she was home in the South Pole, away from the suspicion and heartache.

"Come on, let's go," Toph said, and led her out of the courtyard just as the crowd began to wail in mourning.

They went back to her house, lighting the lamps with long matches and shutting the windows and doors, trying to block out the sound of grieving. She stripped out of the dress and took her hair down, folding a blue robe over her body and going into the small kitchen, searching for some tea to help her fall asleep. Toph kicked off her bottomless shoes and sank onto the couch, curling into a ball and staring off into space. Katara felt her foot brush against something, and saw an envelope on the ground with a black tie around it- it was an urgent message.

She picked it up, feeling something heavy clunking inside of it, and opened the seal. It was from Iroh.

Dear Katara,

I know you must be wondering why a man with his own life to lead asks to interfere with yours, but please indulge me. As you know, I looked at Zuko as my own son, and I often spoke with him about the events which led to his transformation into the man we knew. He only recently told me of everything that had happened between you in Ba Sing Se, about the offer you made to heal his scar in the Crystal Catacombs.

I want to thank you for extending such a kindness to him, and for being such a good friend to him. He spoke very highly of you- if I had not known better, I might have suspected that your friendship was only the door to much bigger things. Please accept my thanks, and as a token of my gratitude, a gift. Also, know that if you ever require an old man's outdated opinion, I am always open to company.

Sincerely, Uncle Iroh

The ink speared down the page, mixing with her tears as she set the letter carefully aside and reached once more into the envelope. There was a wood tablet, and as she drew it out she saw a piece of faded paper pasted to it. There was a drawing of Zuko as a child, looking straight into her eyes with a slight smile on his face.

He looked so innocent- too innocent to die when his life had only just started to mean something to him. His unscarred face was handsome, and she couldn't hold in the whimpers of pain as she set the picture down and fled to her room.

It felt like hours later when she heard her door open, and felt Toph sit on the corner of her bed. "I know this might not be the time to ask, but… Katara, did you… did you love Zuko? As in, were you in love with him?"

She closed her eyes, thinking back, knowing what her answer had to be, but not willing to lie anymore.

Zuko laid on his back in Appa's saddle, the wound on his chest still in the earliest stages of healing. Katara flew swiftly, looking back every so often, knowing she had to concentrate but wishing she could have done something more to help him. Azula was in a cell, surrounded by guards, and the comet was still blazing across the sky, turning the clouds blood red and reminding her that Ozai and Aang were changing history- unless someone had already lost the battle.

"So now that Azula's out of the way, I guess you have everything you want," she said quietly, trying to distract herself. Zuko smiled triumphantly, but with a hint of something hidden behind his eyes.

"It certainly seems that way. Fire Lord, a safer world… and thanks to you, my life. But you must feel pretty fulfilled too, right?" When she didn't answer, he pressed on. "You have everything you want- a better world to show your children, your victory tonight. You have Aang to love."

She jolted and stared at him, her eyes wide. His own were searching, flickering back and forth and revealing nothing but a slight sadness. He was waiting for an answer- something she couldn't give him, not without tearing down everything they'd worked so hard to build.

"I don't know what I want right n-" she started to say, but he cut her off.

"You're lying. You know exactly what you want," he challenged, and she felt herself being pulled into him, her heart pounding fiercely.

"I do? And what about you, Zuko? Are you sure you're totally content with everything you have? With being a ruler, and having Mai, and…" she trailed off, not believing she'd actually said the words. Maybe he wouldn't notice how bitter she'd sounded.

"Oh, Katara," he murmured smoothly, and then gasped, covering his chest wound and growling with pain. She pulled water onto her hands and tried to find the source of the pain, to draw it out, but the water went in and searched, finding nothing more she could heal. He put his hand over hers, and without another thought, she curled up beside him, staring up into his golden, gentle eyes. "I can never have everything that I want, not even close. And I know that- which is why I have to be content with what I already do have."

Her skin was alive, warmed by his body next to hers. Her stomach was jumping, and she knew that if she didn't ask now, the chance would be lost forever.

"Are you sure you can't have what you truly want?" she said quietly.

Zuko smiled. "Not without hurting everyone else who wants it," he whispered. With one fluid movement, he brought his hand up and stroked her cheek, sending shivers up her spine. Then, he closed his eyes, and his hand slid down to her neck, heavy as he lost consciousness and left her alone with her thoughts.

She whispered the words as quietly as she could, and couldn't stop the tears as they flowed from her eyes and onto his skin, leaving their impression long after she'd fallen asleep.

When she woke up, she was alone in Caldera, and her skin was still tingling from the memory of Zuko's touch. She'd dreamed about him before, but every so often, she was lucky enough to close her eyes and remember that night, knowing it had truly happened.

Toph had left. She knew it as soon as she sat up, a heaviness in her stomach that hadn't been there before. She walked through her house, wondering what the walls held for her, not knowing what secrets they'd chosen to keep for her.

It wasn't as if it mattered, anyways. The seventeen year old girl looked around her and didn't see anything worth anything. It was like the part of her that loved life so fiercely had died with Zuko.

It was like she'd perished along with him.

She stood by the window for a long time, looking out on the world, staying in her head. She didn't mind the loneliness so much. There was a hole punched right through her chest, right where Zuko had been struck with lightning, and she doubted it would close.

So she would wait, however long it took, to be with him again, to feel whole again.

Well this was depressing to write. Don't worry, though, it won't always be this… angsty. Please review!