2 last reminders: Songs also have numbers in word forms and Aang can't airbend using his mouth. Or his legs when he can't use his arms. Oh and I don't really know what the mob was singing besides those 2 lines so I didn't put those lyrics is. I'm sorry that it took so long to write this, but this is the final chapter.
As Zuko walked/ran down the passageway with fire in his palm, Katara kept staggering. He crushed her arm in his hand so hard that it hurt her. As they came closer to the lair, Zuko sang
Down once more to the dungeons of my black despair
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind
Down that path into darkness deep as hell
He practically screamed the last word. He stopped, turned and stared down at her with his unmasked face and the worst anger in his eyes. The fire was still in his palm but he held her arm tighter and sang/said
Why you ask was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place
Not for any mortal sin but the wickedness of my abhorrent face
Katara could only try not to cry and stay calm. Up above there was an angry mob that was preparing everything they had to get rid of the dreaded Firebender of the Opera.
Track down this murderer he must be found
Track down this murderer he must be found
Back with Zuko and Katara, they had reached the lair and Katara wouldn't move so Zuko had grabbed Katara's waist and dragged her over to the wall singing
Hounded out by everyone
Met with hatred everywhere no kind word from anyone no compassion anywhere
Katara Katara
Why why
As he sang that, he had pushed her to the wall. He had his arms on her shoulders roughly and was still locking his eyes at hers. Katara was so afraid that tears streamed down her face. Seeing this, Zuko calmed down, turned, and walked away leaving Katara still sobbing on the floor.
Meanwhile, Aang and Mai were rushing down the steps of the trap door that Mai had found. Mai had a torch and kept cautioning Aang of the dangers that he might get into while Aang just focused on getting Katara back. Suddenly, Mai stopped and grabbed Aang
"This is as far as I dare go." She said barely above a whisper
"Thank you Mai!" Aang replied in the same tone
As Aang ran down the stairs, he tore off his shirt leaving him shirtless. Unfortunately, as Aang stepped on a trap door on the floor which opened the door and made Aang fall into it and splash right into a watery trap. He splashed into the water and as he came up for air, he realized that the bars above him were moving downward into the water. He was going to drown!
Since there was no way of earthbending or airbending, Aang decided to use waterbending, although he didn't even think he was as good as Katara. Aang took a huge gulp of air and swam under the water. He looked around and saw a metal lever. He swam to it and desperately tried to pull it, but he had no luck.
The bars were getting lower and lower and Aang knew that he didn't have much time. Using his waterbending, he froze the lever and pulled as hard as he could. The lever was pulled and the bars went up. Aang swam to the surface grabbed the bars that were going up and swung himself across the water and continued on.
Back at the lair, Zuko was making an engagement necklace for Katara. It was shaped like her mother's necklace but it was red and it had a fire symbol instead of a water symbol. He was constructing it carefully from the same material from Katara's mother's necklace as well. As he did this a voice came singing out
Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood
Zuko turned around and saw Katara at the top of the small set of stairs. To him, she looked like an angel from heaven. Although her striking blue eyes and light red lips showed that she wasn't the least bit happy, but he didn't care. He could only look and admire her.
She was wearing the wedding gown that used to be on the mannequin. It was a creamy color, it had no sleeves and it trailed behind her. She was wearing the same color gloves that went to her elbows and the gold bracelet that Aang gave her mother's necklace. She had also taken her hair down so her hair was very wavy from the braid. As she walked down the steps and in front of Zuko she sang
Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh
Zuko only looked at her with a smirk and sang
That fate, which condemns me to wallow in blood
Has also denied me the joys of the flesh
He tried to touch her cheek, but she turned away. He continued to sing
This face the infection which poisons our love
Katara turned to look at him
This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing
As Zuko sang, he walked over to the now naked mannequin and took off the beautiful veil that went down to its (and Katara's) back and walked back over to Katara, still singing
A mask my first unfeeling scrap of clothing
Pity comes too late
With half anger, he put the veil on her head and harshly turned her around to look at him.
Turn around and face your fate
An eternity of this before your eyes
He took her hand, gently pulled it open, placed the necklace that he made, in her hand and closed her hand with his. Katara only turned away towards a small, square, table and sang
This haunted face holds no horror for me now
She sadly took off the veil, her bracelet from Aang and her mother's necklace. She clutched her mother's necklace and Aangs's bracelet in 1 hand lovingly, while she held Zuko's necklace and the veil in the other hand before setting all of the objects on the small, square, table where Zuko's mask lay. She continued to sing
It's in your soul that the truth distortion lies
All of a sudden, Aang ran to the gate, looked in and saw Katara and Zuko. Unfortunately for Aang, Zuko heard him and turned to see him trying to get in. An evil smile crept its way to Zuko's face as he sang
Wait I think my dear
We have a guest
Katara turned and saw Zuko staring at……Aang? Oh no!
"AANG!" Katara cried, picking up her skirt and running down near the water as Zuko continued singing
Sir this is indeed
An unparalleled delight
I had rather hoped that you would come.
And now my wish comes true
You have truly made my night
He walked over next to Katara, grabbed her waist, and pulled her to him. Katara tried pushing him away
"Leave me alone!" she whimpered
Zuko only smirked and continued to as Aang began to sing
Free her
Do what you like only free her
Have you no pity
Zuko smirked and looked from Aang to Katara singing
Your lover makes a passionate plea
Katara got out of his grip and sang
Please Aang it's useless
Aang sang again while gazing at his beautiful fiancée
I love her
Does that mean nothing
I love her
Show some compassion
At this irony, Zuko shouted/sung
The world showed no compassion to me
Aang just wanted to see his beloved, so he sang
Katara Katara let me see her
Zuko's evil smile came back on as he sang
Be my guest sir
Zuko pulled a lever and with a creak, the gate opened. Aang cautiously stepped inside just as the iron gate closed. Katara was too afraid to go to him. She could only stand frozen in place as Zuko grabbed some rope(s), got into the water and moved closer to Aang singing
Avatar I bid you welcome
Did you think that I would harm her
Why should I make her pay
For the sins which are yours
With that, Zuko firebended a large fireball at Aang which startled him completely. He stumbled back against the gate, from the blow. Zuko grabbed Aang's arms and tied them to the gate as he was singing/yelling
Order your fine bison now
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyesNothing can save you now
Except perhaps Katara
Zuko now ran up to Katara, grabbed her wrists and shook her while singing
Start a new life with me
Buy his freedom with your love
Zuko pointed to Aang who was struggling to get free
Refuse me and you send your lover to his death
This is the choice
This is the point of no return
Zuko then let go of her and Katara staggered back against the wall. Zuko looked at her waiting for her answer. Katara walked away from the wall and sang quietly at first and then louder.
The tears I might have shed for your dark fate
Grow cold and turn to tears of hate
She screamed the last part while Aang began to sing
Katara forgive me please forgive me
I did it all for you and all for nothing
Zuko slowly made his way down into the water. All of a sudden, a huge wave appeared right in front of him. Zuko turned around to find Katara waterbending but just as the wave was about to crash into him, he flipped backwards on the land. He then felt a pain in his back. Katara was using the water whip and many other techniques that she knew from waterbending. She sangFarewell my fallen idol and false friendWe had such hopes and now those hopes are shattered
As Katara cried and sang, she stopped waterbending, thinking that Zuko would kill Aang too soon. Zuko had recovered from her waterbending and as he was walking towards Aang, he sang
Too late for turning back
Too late for prayers and useless pity
He walked down into the water where Aang, who was still singing and shot him with a fireball. Aang sucked in his breath as the fireball hit his bare chest and revealed a large burn on his stomach. The tears on Katara's face came down harder as she watched this. Despite the pain, Aang still sang the second 2 lines after Zuko sang
All hopes of cries for help
No point in fighting
Say you love him
And my life is over
Aang sang the first 2 lines while Zuko sang with him, but with the second pair of words.
For either way you choose he has to win/You cannot win
Zuko sang while hitting Aang with 2 more fireballs. 1 hit him on the abdomen and the other hit his arm.
So do you end your days with me
Or do you send him to his grave
Aang bit his lip in pain, but continued to sing
Why make her lie to you to save me
Zuko once again shot another fireball at Aang, hitting him in the shoulder. Katara who had been quiet for a while now sung the first words with tears running down her face while Zuko sang the second for 2 lines
Angel of music/ Past the point of no return
Who deserves this/The final threshold
Aang, not caring about his life anymore and only Katara's, sang
For pity's sake Katara say no
Don't throw your life away for my sake
Zuko shot a fireball at Aang's other arm. Katara, ignoring Aang's pleas, sang to/at Zuko
When will you see reason
Zuko, ignoring Katara's words, only sang right back to/at Katara
His life is now the prize which you must earn
Aang became quiet and still sang, but softly, almost whimpering
I fought so hard to free you
Katara sang the first set of words softly and Zuko sang the second words
Angel of music/You've passed the point of no return
Zuko stopped, but Katara continued quieter, but loud enough so Zuko and Aang could hear.
You deceived me
She stopped singing
"I gave you my mind blindly!" she said while the tears poured from her eyes and she looked at Zuko in rage
"You're wasting my time. Make your choice or I'll shoot him with lightening before you even decide." Zuko threatened
Zuko hurled another fireball at Aang. It hit near his neck and Aang groaned in pain before looking at Katara with sad eyes. Katara looked at him and then Zuko and she realized what she needed to do. She was going to do this for Aang. He might not care for his life, but she did and if she did this, she would be happy knowing that Aang was free and with someone who loved him just as much as she did. She looked over at Aang and mouthed I love you to him with a sorrowful face. She slowly looked back at the table and grabbed the necklace that Zuko had made for her. She then turned around and slowly began to walk down towards Zuko singing
Pitiful creature of darkness
What kind of life have you known
Katara walked into the water while the dress trailed behind her in the murky water. As she walked, she sang
God give me courage to show you
You are not alone
When she reached Zuko, she smiled at him with tears still in her eyes, and put the necklace around her neck. She then took his face in her hands and did the last thing he expected her to do. She leaned in and kissed him. At first, the kiss was hesitant, but Katara was actually the person who deepened it. She pretended she was kissing Aang and put 1 of her hands in his hair and kissed him harder.
They parted and Katara looked at him slightly smiling with the tears that were still glistening on her cheeks and he smiled back with happiness for the first time in his life. Katara stared at him lovingly and then she kissed him again. This time, Zuko wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled her closer and Katara put both of her hands on his neck.
They parted and when Katara looked at Zuko, she expected his face to be full of love, joy and maybe even victory, but instead she saw sadness, guilt, and defeat in his eyes which surprised her. Tears rained as he began to softly weep and the sounds of the mob came closer.
He slowly walked over to Aang and without warning, burned the rope that held Aang to the wall and Aang fell into the shallow water on his knees and he was too weak to stand up and slipped into unconsciousness.
"I can't do it! Take her and leave me!" Zuko sobbed as he dragged himself from the water.
Katara ran down to Aang and pulled him from the water. She waterbended the water from his mouth and he coughed and looked up at her. He smiled at her weakly and Katara's tears coursed down her face harder as she started to waterbend/heal his wounds. She then helped him up and they embraced happily and romantically. The mob was coming closer and Zuko needed to hide.
"Hurry, hurry!" he shouted
Zuko went and sat down in a chair staring at the dragon-figured, red velvet, jewelry box which sat on the table in front of him, and while it played the tune he sang softly
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you
He turned to find Katara looking at him. She had put Aang's bracelet back on and she was holding her mother's necklace. The tears were gone but her face was sad. He looked back with the same face and sang
Katara I love you
Katara only stared at him. She then slowly walked over to Zuko who looked hopefully at her. When she reached him, she carefully removed the red necklace from her neck and at that point, Zuko knew that it was over. She took his hand and gently put the necklace in his palm and folded his fingers around it. He looked at her desperately and she put her mother's necklace back on, bent down, kissed his cheek and whispered:
"I'm sorry!"
After she said that she looked at him sorrowfully and then she walked away. Right after that, Zuko wept for everything. His childhood, his bad decisions, his family that never loved him, and that the girl that had shown him kindness and true love was leaving him. He walked out in front of the lair to see Katara walking towards Aang who was in the boat waiting for her. She stepped into the boat and hugged and kissed him tenderly. Both of them began to waterbend and the boat pulled away from the shore. As they waterbended, Katara sang
Say you'll share with me one love one lifetime
Aang sang his lines
Say the word and I will follow you
They then sang the next pair of words together in a duet
Share each day with me
Each night each morning
After they sang, Katara looked back at Zuko for the last time and then the boat turned and they were gone. Zuko began to sing
You alone can make my song take flight
He then unveiled all the mirrors and half sang, half cried
It's over now the music of the night
After he finished singing, he struck fireballs at every mirror. The glass burned but didn't catch fire and Zuko unveiled his biggest mirror of all and burned it to the ground to ashes, along with the others. When the sounds of the mob got too close to Zuko, he hid underneath the blanket that remained on top of his now glass-less mirror.
The mob now came in consisting of all the cast members and most of the audience members. Toph was 1 of them. When they all got in from the open gate, Toph knew immediately that something wasn't right, but she wasn't sure if it was good or bad. As she set foot on the land of the lair she felt sadness and anger on it but yet nobody could find it. As the rest of the people looked around everywhere,
Toph went over to a table and sensed a strange object. The Firebender's half, white, mask lay on the table. Toph picked it up and though she couldn't see it, she could feel it inside and out. She looked around and something happened that had hardly happened before. A tear slid down her cheek! She looked around, put the mask back, and left with the others to go back and see where Aang and Katara had gone
Back in the present, the old Aang was at to the cemetery. Even though Aang was old, he was still in good physical condition so he walked slowly from the graves of many people to find his beloved wife's grave. He finally arrived at a small grave which was ice and shaped into a tombstone. Katara never really did want a huge grave like her mother. With care and love, Aang gently set the jewelry box on the front, left, corner of the grave and then stood to read it for one of the million times he had done. The inscription read:
Katara of the Water Tribe
The Avatar's Wife
Beloved Wife, Mother, Sister and Friend
Aang had cried for too long over Katara's death, so now he only looked upon her grave sadly. Despite that fact, he came here everyday to see her and he promised her that he would never love another. As he turned to leave, something caught his eye. An orange tulip with a black ribbon and a red engagement firebender necklace had been placed on the front, right, corner of Katara's grave. Aang looked around but there wasn't a single person at the cemetery except him. Aang just looked at the tulip and all its beauty. He then left knowing that he would someday join his wife in the heavens and he would be happy. Even if Zuko was there too!
THE END