Chapter Thirteen: Bells and Burials

Ozai woke later that night in time for dinner. He had requested his new bride to be at dinner with him. As he sat and waited for her arrival, he rubbed his forehead to rid himself of the headache. He looked up as she walked in with her young guard. He smiled as the boy pulled her seat out and prepared to leave.

"Li, why don't you stay for dinner?" He smiled. "I wanted to speak with you."

Zuko felt his stomach tighten in fear thinking he had been found out. "Of course, sir." he looked at the seats unsure where to sit.

"You can sit across from Lady Katara." Ozai said as he called a servant in to bring an extra plate. "So, Li. I have been watching you. You are good at protecting my future wife. I was planning on making you her personal guard once we're wed. It includes an actual rank in the guards, a high rank that is, and better pay and lodgings. I won't always be able to be by her side and I'd prefer it to be someone I know won't try anything dishonorable. Do you except?"

Katara smiled brightly. "That's wonderful, Li! Now, maybe I can go into the capitol to look around if he's too busy."

"Indeed. And perhaps the lady can find him a suitable wife in the future." Ozai replied. "I'm sure you could agree to these terms. I see you two are very close and I don't want my wife to be lonely, but you must also long for a wife of your own."

"My duty is to my nation." Zuko replied. "If Lady Katara sees fit for me to marry, I will do it. I accept your offer, sir."

Ozai smiled as the food arrived. "Splendid. Shall we eat?"

"I am curious," Katara mused. "In the fact that you allow me and Li to remain so close. Most men get restless when their wife is around other men."

Zuko kicked her under the table. 'What is she doing? Is she trying to get us killed.'

Oazi looked up from his fish. "You are not foolish enough to give up all this. And as I said, I've been watching him closely. He's like a son I'd wished I had, instead of that failure I do have."

Katara allowed an inner smile. "Surely, Zuko wasn't that bad. We fought against him before, and he always gave me a challenge."

"Really." Zuko asked hiding his smile.

"I remember this one time in the north pole where I had just mastered water bending and he still beat me. He even beat the avatar a time or two." she stated. "At least he never cheated during the fights, he always fought fair."

Ozai watched her carefully. "You sound like you had a thing for him."

She rolled her eyes. "I only had respect for his abilities. He was a strong fighter."

Ozai nodded. "That was one of the only things I was proud of. He was a fighter, but he always let his heart get the better of him." he finished his meal and looked up. "How did the invasion go."

Katara sighed. "It was as pointless as I told them it would be. They retreated soon after the end of the eclipse." she said. "But, you should know, Azula was... taken down by her own lightening."

Zuko tensed as his father laughed. "I knew she'd get over excited. Is she in the healers wing?" he asked.

Katara stared at him. "My lord, she is dead." She waited.

"I see." he sniffed in annoyance. "No matter, I'm sure you can bare me a new heir."

She blushed. "Of course, but what if they turn out to be water benders? You won't kill them will you?"

He frowned. "Fire is stronger than water. I doubt we'll have water benders, but if you do, we'll send them away for safety. Maybe even have Li watch them."

She sighed and nodded. "Thank you." He rubbed his forehead again. "Is something the matter?" she asked in curiosity.

"I've had these headaches and the healers can't stop them." he grumped.

"I may be able to help." she smiled. "Li, can you get me some water."

Ozai watched her suspiciously. "How can I trust you not to kill me?"

"If I'd have wanted to kill you, I'd have already done it." she glared. "You better grow a little trust if you want the marriage or even children."

He sighed as Zuko sat a bowl of water down in front of her. "Thank you Li." He said quietly. "Do you really think you can get rid of these headaches?"

She formed her healing gloves with the water. "For now, all I know I can do is relieve the pain." she smiled sadly. "Once I figure out what is causing it, I can probably heal it completely."

He nodded. "I think I'm being poisoned." he said with a pout.

Zuko blinked. He had never seen his father act this way. Katara said it was the poison addling his brain, but he had a suspicious feeling his father was intimidated by the water bender.

"Sir? Are you sure you're being poisoned? When did you start feeling ill?" Zuko asked as sincere as possible.

Ozai gave a sigh of relief as some of his pain dissolved. "Since before this beauty arrived. I had thought Azula ordered it, but if she allowed herself..."

"Are you sure it's not stress?" Katara interrupted. "I'm not ruling out the poison, I'm just saying it could be stress. I'm finding a lot of damage to your nerves."

He sighed. "I'll just turn in for the night."

"Should we prepare Princess Azula's funeral service?" Zuko asked.

Ozai turned to look at them. "No. I'll have the twins do it. They were her mentors." he waved them off.

Katara and Zuko were silent until the reached her room and she saw a thick package on her bed. "Yes!"

Sokka went over the plans with Longshot and Smellerbee, who had managed to sneak out of the palace. Smellerbee laid out the blue prints of the courtyard the wedding would be in.

"Okay, she said when it's time she'll send a signal." Smellerbee pointed where Katara and Ozai would be standing. "Something about whine and fire. Ty Lee will be standing with Toph to signal her when to do her part."

"What about Zuko?" Sokka asked.

Smellerbee smile. "Ozai has adopted him as a son. And appointed him as Katara's personal guard."

Sokka scratched the back of neck with a smirk on his face. "That must be a nasty smack in the face for Zuko. To have his own father adopt him as a son thinking he's a perfect stranger." He let out a little laugh. "Boy, Ozai's going to be spittin' fire when he realizes the boy he took in was his actual son. We'll need to take extra care to watch Zuko's back."

Smellerbee nodded. "Well, I better get back. Xon only gave me a half an hour. He convinced them we were going on a date." Longshot raised an eyebrow and she shook her head. "Don't worry about him Longshot, he's got a wife. I'm the only one that knows."

"Wait, before you go," Sokka said quickly. "What exactly happened with the Jet situation?" Longshot nodded his agreement.

She sighed. "He almost blew everything. He thought she was being held there against her will and brainwashed. Azula was watching the whole thing, so she couldn't tell him what was actually going on. Zuko was guarding her door secretly, and I heard the yelling and ran back in to get some other freedom fighters. Zuko tackled him after she punched him. As far as I know, Zuko used some pressure point to knock him out. That's about all I know. I had to return to my work once Ozai got there, and that's the night Zuko became her personal guard." She took a deep breath and hugged Longshot before leaving. "See you tomorrow. Good luck."

Both boys spent the next ten minutes trying to decode everything the tomboy just said. When they finally did understand it, they just stared at one another.

Toph and Ty Lee were unsure where they were being lead to. Two guards came and retrieved them and told them they'd be staying elsewhere for the night. It was when they stopped outside the door, that Toph realized where they were.

The door was opened and they were shoved in roughly. "How rude." Toph sneered towards the closed door. "Sparky, where's sweetness?"

Zuko looked up from the desk he was sitting at. "Taking a bath." he smiled as Ty Lee bounced around the room. "Mudbug, how did you manage to not hurt her? My sis...sister used to shoot lightening at her."

Toph felt his unease. "Sparky? Did you get to watch the invasion? No one would tell us what happened. Obviously, we lost."

"Your turn Zuko." Katara called as she walked out.

"Thanks." He hurried into the bathroom.

"What's with him?" Ty Lee asked from an upside down position.

"And what happened with the invasion?" Toph snapped.

"The invasion was a success." Katara said as she brushed her hair. "For the most part. Azula died."

Ty Lee lost her bearings and crumpled to the floor. "W-what?"

"She shot lightening and it was rebounded on her. She didn't even try to get out of the way. I offered to heal her, but she refused. I ... I stopped her heart to lessen her suffering." Katara said looking toward the bathroom. "Zuko held her hand as I did it. He's blaming himself."

Toph frowned. "But, you guys didn't kill her. She could have moved."

"We redirected it." Katara sighed.

"Wait a minute!" Toph stood up. "You were part of the battle and I had to stay locked up?"

Katara placed a hand on her shoulder. "I needed you to be rested for tomorrow. The wedding is going to be stressful."

Toph and Ty Lee sat and listened to what they were supposed to do, and were amazed as she described the Black Sun Invasion. Toph kept shaking her head in disbelief at all the people Katara rounded up.

"And Aang has no idea what's going on, except for the fact that he has to deal with the fire lord?" Ty Lee asked cautiously.

"It won't work." Toph stated. "Twinkle toes won't kill him. He's an air bender."

Katara nodded. "I know that much. But he won't have to kill him. If he goes into avatar state, Roku will do it. Aang won't remember it."

Zuko stepped out of the bathroom. "How do you know he won't remember?"

She smiled. "I have my ways."

Aang was meditating. He was uncomfortable with the idea of killing the fire lord. He felt his spirit leave his body, and gave an inner sigh. Since he was able to go into avatar state again, his past lives had been nagging him constantly.

"Aang." he opened his eyes to see Roku in front of him.

"Hello Roku." he smiled sadly. "I take it you're going to lecture me as well?"

Roku gave a small smile. "No Aang, I'm going to help you."

Azula's funeral was beautiful. Ozai allowed her to go to it when she asked. In truth, she only went so Zuko could go. She was surprised when Ozai didn't show up, but he proved the night before he didn't care for his children. As they walked into her quarters, she was bombarded with women.

"What's going on?" Katara snapped pushing the women away.

"We're here to dress you, m'lady." One snickered.

Katara raised her eyebrow at the dress they were holding. "I'm not wearing that." she glared. "I have a dress."

"But this is a fire nation wedding dress!" An older woman scowled.

"Yes, of course it is." Katara snipped. "But I am having a water tribe wedding, you imbeciles. Get out!"

When they didn't leave she turned on her heel. "Li, take me to the fire lord."

They were outside the throne room in less time than Zuko expected. He wasn't sure what was going on, but decided not to ask. He cringed as she ripped the doors open and stormed in. The men in the throne room froze as she walked in.

"Ah, my bride," Ozai smiled. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Those women in my room! That dress when you know I have one!" She shouted.

Zuko saw his father cringe. "I sent no women to your room." he said nervously. "It must have been Lee And Lo. I will send someone to remove them."

She nodded and walked back out, with Zuko following her. He was about to ask what she was angry about, but she kicked her bedroom door open.

The women inside were trying to get Toph and Ty Lee down from the top of the bed. One woman had a hold of Toph's ankle and was yanking, and Ty Lee was jabbing at the hands as they reached for her.

"What are you doing to my daughter!" Katara bellowed.

The women turned around to look at her, but went back to what they were doing. Zuko walked forward and pulled Toph down, keeping her in his arms to keep the women back.

"The Fire Lord said he did not send you. What are you here?" He demanded.

The oldest looking woman crossed her arms. "We were sent by Lee and Lo. We can't have a savage as a fire lady. So we're are here to make her presentable." she stuck her nose in the air.

Water whips grabbed the woman by the throat and tossed her out of the room. "Anyone else?" Katara snarled. "I will dress myself. My wedding isn't until nighttime. Get out!"

The women ran from the room and Katara started pushing the desk toward the door. Ty Lee jumped down and helped her.

"So, what were they trying to do to you, Mudbug?" Zuko asked placing her on the floor.

"They were going to dress me up in some stupid dress, and when I told them only my mother dresses me they tried to pin me down." Toph kicked the bed. "Stretch over there knocked a few out and put me up there, but I couldn't see where they were coming from."

Katara wiped her face. "Don't worry, they won't be back." she huffed. "Now, let's start getting everything ready."

Zuko stood outside the room as the women prepared. They had dressed him first in traditional fire nation robes. He asked why she chose these robes when he was supposed to give her away in her father's place, but she just shook her head and laughed. He had been standing here for a half an hour, and the moon started rising higher in the sky.

"I thought you would be wearing water nation robes, Li." Ozai's voice came from the shadows.

Zuko glanced up. "I asked the same thing." he smiled politely. "She just shook her head and said she couldn't force someone from the fire nation to wear her nations colors."

Ozai raised an eyebrow. "I see. I just came to tell her everyone is ready when she is." he turned to leave and Zuko rolled his eyes.

Once Ozai was out of sight he turned to knock on the door. Ty Lee opened it and pulled him in. "Z.. You won't believe it! Wait till you see."

He rubbed his arm irritably. "See what? We have to go. He just came to tell me everyone is ready." he snapped.

Toph came stomping out of the bathroom looking none too happy about wearing a dress. "Well, the sooner we get this over with the sooner I can beat sweetness up for forcing me in this."

Zuko bit his lip to keep the smile out of his voice. "It's not that bad mud bug. I'm sure she picked that pretty pink dress for a reason."

"PINK?" Toph screeched.

Zuko started laughing along with Ty Lee. "It's not pink, Mudbug. It's dark blue and green." he snickered.

"And the reason it's so long is to hide when you earth bend." Katara said walking out of the bathroom. "Once it starts you can rip the skirt off so you can move."

Zuko frowned. "It starts?" He was silent for a moment and snapped his head up when realization hit him. "This is the actual invasion." he whispered. "I thought you had snapped and were actually going to marry..."

Katara rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, but if I did marry him I'd kill him before the honeymoon started."

He stared at her in surprise. "Oh. Er, what are you wearing?"

She looked down at her sea tiger fur dress. "It's a funeral dress we wear." she smiled wickedly. "I figured it fit." she lifted the skirt up causing Zuko to turn his head and blush. "Aw, don't be bashful. I'm only showing you where I hid your swords."

He blushed even harder as he turned an saw she had her brother outfit on under the dress with his swords hooked to her hips. He frowned when he looked at her hair, it was braided tight against her head.

"Are you ready?" he smiled weakly.

She nodded and they started towards the courtyard. Ty Lee and Toph walked down first to take their places, and the musicians picked up a bridal song. Katara made sure the musicians knew what type of song to play, even if they didn't know it was a funeral march. Ozai stared in awe as she and Zuko walked toward him slowly.

Positioned outside the walls of the courtyard, Sokka and the rest of the water tribe stiffened as the heard the funeral march. If Sokka hadn't know his sister's plan, he'd have thought she was being put to rest. He turned and signaled everyone to be ready. Toph would get the first signal, and she would signal them.

He only hoped this worked. He wanted nothing more than to see his little sister alive and well. He knew there was a chance she could die being so close to the target, but he hoped she would stay out of the way.

Aang sat crouched next to him. "A funeral march? That's her signal to be ready?" he hissed.

Sokka smirked. "She plans on giving Ozai a water tribe funeral. Be ready Aang. You know you have to..."

"Kill him." Aang sighed. "I know."

Sokka narrowed his eyes. "You know if you don't it will put everyone at risk, including my sister."

Aang looked at him angrily but said nothing. The funeral march ended, and they all sat with baited breath. Sokka saw Iroh giving orders out to the white lotus members that arrived a day ago to help.

Hakoda was briefing his warriors on the far side of the wall. Sokka was in charge of the swampy marsh warriors, earth benders, and the Kyoshi warriors, and Longshot was in charge of the Freedom Fighters stationed in the trees.

Sokka sucked in a breath as he saw the wine bending through the air high above the wall. He was curious as to why she was combining so many rituals in this so called wedding. This was part of a new chief being appointed. He smiled to himself as he saw the wine light on fire. It mean their signal was about to come.

Ozai watched in wonder as Katara moved the wine through the air. It was like a dance. He had thought of destroying the water tribes, but now, before he did it he would take all the water benders for his entertainment.

"You need to light the wine." she whispered to him causing him to jump.

She smiled brightly as the flames met the wine and she moved it faster through the air. He saw Ty Lee bend down and explain to the blind girl what was happening. Li stood on his other side, also entranced with the flaming liquid in air.

The next thing to happen, surprised everyone in the courtyard. The guards that were stationed around the wall stood in shock as the walls crumbled into the earth. Thousands of men encircled the now crumbled walls. Ozai looked to Katara to find her just as surprised.

"Li, get her out of here." Ozai hissed finding the boy staring in disbelief.

Zuko wasted no time rushing over to Katara. When Ozai had his back turned, Katara gave a signal only a sibling would catch. The battle started. Toph opened a hole in the ground and Katara and Zuko jumped in. Toph took the time to rip the skirt away from her and attack oncoming guards.

"Quickly." Katara hissed as she ripped the dress off.

Zuko stopped halfway undressed to gawk at her. "You stuffed your wig in your shirt to hide the fact that you are..."

"Shut up! Get undressed." she said placing her wig on her head and tossing his swords to him.

Outside Katara and Zuko's hide away, the battle was raging. Ozai was fighting his brother and the guards were trying to fight the invaders and failing. Ozai roared in irritation sending large fireballs randomly towards the intruders.

"Where are my guards?" he bellowed.

"They're a little busy, Fire Lord of Morons!" Came Toph's cocky reply as the buried yet another guard up to his neck.

"You!" he hissed ignoring his brother and turning towards Toph. "I should have killed you." A boy jumped in front of him. "Li! What are you doing? Why are you... where is my wife?"

"I think it's time you know who you took in as a son, Father!" Zuko said attacking with his duo swords.

"Zuko!" He growled sending lightening towards him.

ZXZXZXZXZ

Katara was bouncing between fights looking for her brother and Aang. She heard a familiar voice scream in pain and turned to see Haru bent over with a gash in his side. The guard responsible for the wound was readying to attack the downed boy.

She took control of the man's body as she ran to give her more time to get to Haru. Aang made it to the boy the same time she did. The young avatar watched as she killed the guard and turned to heal Haru.

"Katara!" Aang gasped. "Y-you just killed..."

"Is that better Haru?" She smiled as he stared at her as well. "Aang, this is a battle. People kill to protect themselves. If you feel you can't fight, then leave."

Aang blinked. "You need me here." he stated haughtily.

"I can kill Ozai." she snapped as she turned to block an attack. "I said leave if you want to be a coward. Roku said he'd take care of everything."

Aang watched her as she disappeared into the fight. He looked around to see fellow comrades fall at Ozai's hands. Before he knew what was happening, the avatar state began and Roku took his place.

"Fire Lord Ozai!" Roku's voice boomed throughout the courtyard causing everyone to freeze.

Katara worked her way around to be just behind the fire lord, and started healing the burns on Zuko and Toph. The battle was over, she could see the poisons had taken a lot out of Ozai. Every time he used his fire bending, it would force the poisons to get stronger. She looked around the clearing to find the only ones moving were Ozai and Roku. She was concentrating on healing, that she never heard the fight begin, nor what they were saying.

There was a flash of light and Ozai fell lifelessly to the ground. She heard gasps and looked up as Roku approached her.

"Princess Katara, you have done well." he said as he touched her forehead.

She felt all the stresses from the past few months finally catch up to her as she crumbled to the ground unconscious. Zuko was at her side in an instant. He cringed when he realized she'd been wounded sometime during the battle.

"She's fine, Fire Lord Zuko." Roku smiled before disappearing to be replaced by Aang.

The young avatar clutched his head and looked around, before following Katara into sleep.