A.N.: I am truly ashamed that I let two years slip by without updating this! If you have read this story before, and are just coming here for the new chapter, you really might want to go back and read it again from the beginning. I have rewritten the entire story and 2,655 words were added throughout the chapters, which includes; extended scenes with Zuko and Katara, altered scenes with Toph and Ren as well as brand new content with Ty Lee. If you don't reread, you'll miss an important change in the situation between Toph and Ren, and you won't know what's going on with Ty Lee.
I thank you all so much for being so patient and all the comments you've left encouraging me to finish it. I will finish it, I promise, and this brand new chapter plus a complete rewrite, after over two years of nothing is proof of that. This is the first new chapter since January 2008, written on July 25, 2010
You guys know the drill: Of course I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or any of the characters except for Kelyin, Ren, Shaya, Ayash, and the Outcasts. Though you will later find out, I'll make it clear now that everyone is 3 years older. Zuko was 16, now 19, Katara 14/17, Sokka 15/18, Aang 12/15, Toph 12/15. Also, the events of this story were written after the second season, so please disregard all events from the final season of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
/. /. / CHAPTER 12: The End Approaches Like a Rising Sun Part 1
/. /. / Southern Air Temple
"Mai, are you sure you want to do this?" Iroh asked softly as the young woman tucked the remaining stilettos into the holder around her wrist. It was extremely early in the morning, the sun not showing any signs of rising soon.
"I have to, Iroh. I have to find him… I have to at least bury the body in a proper way…" Iroh patted her gently on the back.
"All those years, and not a kind word to the boy, but inside, you loved him, didn't you?" She kept her back to him, quickly wiping a tear from her cheek. "An incredible sacrifice for your act."
"I hated myself for it. I treated him like dirt because Azula did. It was the only way I could be her believable 'friend'. He was always so soft hearted as a child. Kind and innocent. Ozai and Azula destroyed him."
"I carry just as much blame as you, Mai. I thought I was done when they marched me onto the platform. I didn't know the Outcasts were there. The sword went through my heart, and I thought that was it. I didn't know they could bend blood, keep it circulating in me even with a wound so deep. I lost consciousness at the pain and they hauled my 'body' away. A water bender healed the cut before I even knew what had happened. I was miles away when I regained consciousness. It was too late to go back for him. I unwillingly left him to the cruelty of his sisters hands."
"Are you saying you would have preferred to die?" She looked at him.
"No, I would not have preferred to die, but I would have died for him to live though. I would have traded places with him in a heartbeat. I was more of a father to him than my brother, Ozai ever was. Zuko was like my second son. I love him and the thought of him laying, forgotten, makes my heart weep. I want to be in his place. I should have suffered, not him. He's suffered all his life, no one deserves that.
"We need you though, Iroh. Hopefully Azula will fall soon. Your rightful place as Firelord will be restored."
"Yes… but at what cost?" The old man whispered sadly. Mai picked up her bags. "Have you mentioned none of this to Jet?"
"I cannot. I asked if I could go, and he shot down the idea without a moment's thought." She turned to Iroh, tears in her eyes. "I may not be able to come back here, Iroh. I am putting aside the safety of my people, the search for one of my own, just to find the body of Zuko. If the rest of the tribe accepts me back, I will have no home with Jet."
"You are stronger than that boy, and far braver. You must follow your heart, Mai. If he turns his back to you, if any of them turn their backs to you, they are all fools." Mai hastily wiped at her tears.
"Iroh… I am with child…" Iroh's eyes widened. "Jet doesn't know… and I'm not going to tell him. He is a cold, ruthless man, willing to sacrifice anything at times for his mission to succeed. I only stay with him because some sense of honor tells me I owe him for my rescue." She looked away. "Aang told me of the town he flooded to send a message to the Fire Nation a few years ago. If the Waterbender's brother hadn't acted quickly, all those innocent people would have drowned for no reason." She laid a hand on her flat stomach. "I don't want my child to be part of his life… I don't even know if I want to be part of his life anymore." Her body tensed as Iroh gave her a fatherly hug.
"Your secret is mine, Mai. Be careful with yourself. The boy is a fool, but as you said, he is ruthless and very strong." The two stayed silent for a moment. "I'm coming with you."
"No, Iroh. You're safety is too impor-"
"My only care is my nephew. I have nothing here. I am too old to be Firelord anyway. If we can find Zuko, and he is alive, perhaps we can save him. Upon Azula's defeat, he will be the Firelord. I am coming, Mai. You will not persuade me differently."
/. /. /
Toph rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she stood beside Ren on the dock. "Is it here yet? I mean does it even look like it's coming any time soon? I could be sleeping right now." She spoke bitterly, her shoulders hunched, her eyes half closed, her cropped hair sticking up on end.
"Patience Toph. The boat to Kyoshi should be here any minute now."
"You said that half an hour ago!" She stomped her foot, sending a ripple of earth strong enough to uproot a nearby tree.
/. /. / A FEW HOURS LATER; KYOSHI ISLAND
Zuko woke with a start, looking around in confusion for a second. The rain was pouring, he was dry inside a tent.
He smiled as he looked down, a dark skinned water goddess curled up beside him. It had begun raining, just as Katara had predicted, and the two had retreated to the tent, falling asleep beside one another, her curling up against him, comforted by his radiating warmth.
The smile fell as he heard what had woken him…
/. /. / KYOSHI ISLAND VILLAGE
Sokka gave a small groan as he stretched his lithe form out in the bed, just waking up. With eyes still closed, he reached out beside him, but instead of Suki's hip, he felt only a cold mattress. His eye cracked open as he saw a piece of paper laying on the pillow. He propped himself up and picked up the page. The grogginess faded as his eyes scanned the words.
/. /. / SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE
Mai's face hardened as she heard Jet's footsteps approaching quickly behind her. He grabbed her arm. "Mai, you cannot do this! There are too few of us looking for Ren and Toph as it is!"
She turned on him, yanking her arm from his grasp. "I told you not to send Ren. I specifically said not to send him. If something happened, like it did, Ren's gargantuan size would slow Appa down. You sent him anyway. He is not my problem. If you had listened to me, the little girl would already be here safe and sound." She turned back to pick up her bags as the white, hot air balloon came in for a landing.
/. /. / KYOSHI ISLAND
Even through the heavy rain, he could hear it. Several people stealthy approaching the camp, maybe a dozen or more, coming from all sides. He ran his fingers down Katara's shoulder and bent over her, whispering in her ear. "Katara… I need you to wake up now." She gave a small stretch. Zuko laid his hand over her mouth.
/. /. / KYOSHI VILLAGE
Sokka jumped out of bed, throwing his clothes on as fast as he could find him. A sudden headache from the rush of information pounded like a kettle drum in his temples. He read the note again, fear, betrayal, and above all, anger welled up inside him as he rushed out the door.
/. /. / SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE
"He's dead, Mai! You and I both know it! The whole damn camp knows it! You go to Kyoshi and you'll find nothing but a corpse. I order you to come with the search party for Ren Nokura and Toph Bei Fong." She whipped around to face him, a stiletto jabbing him in the side of his throat. Her amber eyes were livid.
"You don't know a damned thing, Jet. I am not one of your soldiers, I am not your underling, and I am certainly not your cow tow wife. I have been a member of this organization for my entire life, and my lineage goes back as one of the Outcasts for many generations, far longer than you can ever hope to achieve. You hold no power over me, and have absolutely no authority to give me any orders!"
/. /. / KYOSHI ISLAND
Blue eyes snapped open, glaring at him. Zuko put his finger to his lips and pointed outside. Her eyes shifted to the tent flap as a barely audible whisper from uncomfortably close by made it's way through the rain. She looked back to him with wide eyes. He slowly and silently pulled his shirt on. Katara did the same, dressing in Water Tribe garb for the first time in months…
/. /. / KYOSHI VILLAGE
Sokka ran to the edges of the village, through the trees and into the deep forest toward Katara's camp. His mind was spinning through the last three months. Katara's requests to be alone… Suki's distractions… both of them had lied to his face. He didn't know who to blame more. His sister who left him in the dark by not telling him, or Suki who insisted he not go see Katara, who distracted him every time he insisted on it. He'd never felt so stupid in his life.
/. /. / THE SEA
Toph idly moved the small amount of dirt on the floor of the boat, arm propped on her knee, chin resting in her palm. Ren eyed the surroundings. "Driver… we should have been at the shoreline of Kyoshi by now…"
/. /. / SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE
The stiletto nicked his throat as the sharp smack of skin hitting skin echoed out like a thunderclap. She recoiled, but held her footing, looking at him wide eyed as her cheek began to turn red and a split lip began to bleed. He lifted his hand to strike again, but she grabbed his wrist. He tried with the other arm, but she grabbed that one too. She held his wrists tightly. He gave a frustrated yell, pushing forward, causing her to stumble back and hit her back against a tree. She cried out in pain. The lapse in concentration allowed him to grab her wrists.
/. /. / KYOSHI ISLAND
"Now!" The voice was sharp through the pitter pat of rain, yelling out and quickly followed by a racket of rushing footsteps. Katara looked at Zuko, panic clear in her eyes.
/. /. /
Sokka heard the command and picked up speed. His blood ran cold as he heard a familiar voice. "Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, you are under arrest for aiding a wanted prisoner of the Fire Nation! Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, you are to be returned to the prisons of the Royal Palace immediately, escorted by armed guards of your nation. Come out peacefully or force will be used!"
/. /. / THE SEA
The driver was silent for a moment. "My family is very poor… I'm sorry, but the reward money for your ward is just too appealing. My children are starving, Mr. Nokura." Toph looked up in horror as a deep guttural growl sounded from above them.
"Come now, Ren. Do you want to cooperate this time? Or shall I break her other arm." Jun yelled down calmly from the Wolcan hovering several yards above them.
/. /. / SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE
Mai swiftly brought her knee up into his abdomen. She yanked her wrists away and punched him square in the jaw. A stream of fire whipped past Jet's head as he brought his fist back to strike. "That is enough, Jet!" Iroh spoke angrily, still in position to fight. "Have you never heard that you are not to hit a woman? Have you no manners or respect of any kind? You do not deserve your position of authority among the young outcasts!"
"Mai!" The voice sounded alarmed as the air balloon landed in the small clearing. The pilot opened the side hatch and wheeled himself out. "Are you alright?" Jet was breathing heavily, his jaw line already bruising from the force of her punch. Iroh never took his eyes off the young man.
"I'm fine Teo. Just a minor fight." She wiped the blood from her lip onto her sleeve. "Are you ready, Iroh?"
/. /. / POST SCRIPT AUTHOR'S NOTE :
P.S.A.N. : Bet you never thought you'd see a new chapter, did you? This chapter may seem a bit piecy, but I wanted to really capture all the events happening at the same time. There's only one chapter left, and then this story is over, and I start the still unnamed second part. I thank you so much for reading this! Please leave reviews if you like the new installment!