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 13: The End Approaches Like A Rising Sun Part 2

/. /. / KYOSHI ISLAND

Rage exploded in Katara's heart as she heard Suki's voice speak of her arrest and Zuko's return to prison. She looked to her companion. His face was livid, but he'd paled considerably at the thought of returning to Azula's clutches. "I will not let this happen…" She moved to untie the tent flap but he pulled her back.

"We are in their nation, on their land. Even if we fight, we are still going to face their judgment. We have to accept it. I'm sure you will be fine. You did nothing but your duty as a Waterbender."

"No! It's not me I'm worried about!" She hissed, moving to the tent flap again. She yanked it open. "He calls sanctuary!" She yelled at the gathered Kyoshi warriors, Suki in front. "Prince Zuko calls sanctuary here on Kyoshi, you cannot send him back!"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Sokka's voice boomed from the edge of the woods. He approached the circle of warriors around his sisters tent. "I cannot believe you kept this from me! Both of you make me feel sick! I don't know who to blame more! Katara for not being honest, or you, Suki, for knowing the truth and purposely distracting me from finding it out, then leaving a cowardly note beside me to tell me 'hey, I'm going to arrest your sister because she's hanging out with Zuko!' What is wrong with you!"

"Sokka, I-" Suki tried to speak but Sokka abruptly cut her off.

"I don't even want to look at you. Katara, you're coming with me, now!"

"I won't leave him!"

"Enough!" Zuko yelled, pushing past Katara and exiting the tent. He held his arms up in defeat. "I refuse to be spoken for and I will not be put in the middle of family members and used as a pawn to argue about when I am standing right beside you." He looked to Suki and the warriors. "I meant no harm in coming here. I was put on your island without any consent and I humbly ask to remain here. I just want to live as a quiet citizen."

"You cannot remain here… I have sent word to the Firelord and she is sending a ship to collect you."

"How could you do that, Suki! I trusted you!"

"Oh wow! Looks like we're both in the same boat now Katara! Looks like no one can trust Suki! What a great lesson we all just learned. Come on Katara, we're leaving!"

As one, the warriors drew their fans and took position. "No one is going anywhere. We have to do what is best for Kyoshi. Katara helped a known enemy and that cannot go overlooked. She must be brought to the prison to await further judgment. Prince Zuko must be secured safely to await his transport."

"The Fire Nation put him here hoping he would quietly die and never be found. He is no longer a prisoner when they are the ones that gave him up!"

"To protect Kyoshi from an invasion by the Firelord, sacrifices are necessary. The Prince is a sacrifice that must be made." Katara's eyes narrowed at Suki and she summoned the fallen rain water to gather around her arms, creating tentacle like extensions of herself. She charged at Suki.

"Not if I can help it!" The strike came from behind, a heavy metal fan from one of the warriors cracking hard on the back of Katara's head. She stumbled and fell, clutching her head. The water fell to the ground around her as tears welled up in her eyes. Zuko moved toward her when a long white, bone blade met his throat.

"Get away from my sister." Zuko looked to his side to see Sokka's face, dark with anger.

"She's hurt, can't you see that!" Zuko swiftly shoved Sokka away and hastily moved to Katara's side.

"Katara!" A youthful voice, full of shock called out as Aang landed beside her, his staff immediately folding up as he took on a fighting stance. He looked down at her, to be met with Zuko's worried expression. "…Zuko?"

"Aang, you don't know what's going on!" Suki stepped forward, but was quickly knocked back when a hollow column of earth sprang from the ground around the gathered three, rising over twelve feet into the air.

"You stay away from the Avatar and his friend." Kelyin spoke coldly, her arms extended toward the column as Appa came in for a landing. "I don't know what's going on, but until he knows, no one is going near him."

"My sister's in there! With Zuko!" Sokka screamed at her, suddenly pushed over the edge at the chaos surrounding him.

"That's really not my concern."

/. /. /

"Zuko… what are you doing here?" Aang's voice was more curious than angry as he kneeled beside the Waterbender, across from the Prince. "I'd heard you were dead. You've been missing for three years. Now here you are, on Kyoshi with Katara of all people."

"Long story short, Katara found me and saved my life. Unfortunately the guardians of Kyoshi know who I am and they want to arrest her for helping me." Zuko inspected the cut, blood seeping slowly into her long dark hair as the deep cut bled sluggishly. "Katara, can you hear me?" He carefully lifted her face. Her eyes were clenched shut in pain. "Katara?"

"I can hear you…" She opened her eyes slowly. "It just feels like my head is splitting in two." She looked to Aang. "Why are you here? Not that I don't appreciate your timing."

"The Outcasts were alerted of an attack by the Firelord here, on Kyoshi Island. I came here to warn you and Sokka of a coming fight. The ships aren't far off. We're pretty sure Azula is coming in person on the head ship."

"She's coming for Zuko." She put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "You cannot go back there." She looked to Aang once more. "We can't let her have him."

"You will do whatever is necessary for everyone's protection. I am too weak to fight, Katara, as much as I hate to admit it. My firebending is useless right now. I'm just not strong enough." He laid a hand on Katara's cheek. "I thank you for everything you've done for me, but you cannot fight Azula or anyone else for that matter on my behalf. I won't allow it." He gave a small smile. "It's what's best for everyone. I won't let another village be destroyed because of the Fire Nation." He looked down. "Because of me. She is only coming here for me. If we put up a fight, she'll declare war on Kyoshi and this island will be burned to the ground. Sometimes one sacrifice is necessary to save hundreds." Tears filled Katara's eyes as Zuko kissed her forehead then stood, facing Aang. "The Kyoshi Warriors are going to try to arrest Katara for helping me."

Aang gave an understanding nod. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen." Both young men helped Katara to her feet. She looked around at the circular encasing of rock that separated them from the others.

"Did you make this?"

"No, my friend Kelyin did. She's holding off the Warriors outside." He looked at Katara and Zuko, understanding clear in his eyes. "Do you want a moment alone before the ships come?"

"Please, Aang." Katara said softly.

"I'll go and explain the situation, that you are going willingly and that she is not to be arrested on any charge…" Aang leapt up the sides of the earth column and out the hole on the top. Katara grabbed the front of Zuko's shirt.

"It's not right, Zuko! It's not fair that you go back there and go through more pain!" She was crying. "When I found you in the woods, I was horrified that someone could be made to endure so much pain, and yet you're willing to do it again? No one should have to do that once, never the less a second time." She looked at his handsome face. Fear was clear in his eyes, though he kept his expression lax, smiling softly in some form of trying to comfort her. "Please don't go. If you refuse to fight, we can run, together… Aang will help us."

"Any scenario ending with me not going aboard my sister's ship will result in a war with Kyoshi. I must go, Katara…" He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. "Perhaps she'll make it quick this time… seeing as I survived the last time."

"Why are you so willing to die, Zuko?" She asked quietly, trying not to sob into his shoulder. Every fiber of her being was screaming inside not to let him go. This man she'd grown to love was going to be hauled to his death in a matter of minutes, and she could do nothing to stop it. It was killing her inside.

"I'll see Uncle, and cousin Lu Ten… and perhaps my mother… and someday I'll be with you again, Katara… I'm ready for this. It's what was meant to happen…" He kissed her softly, holding her close. "I love you Katara…" He whispered into her hair as he hugged her again, hiding the tears of fear that rolled down his pale cheek.

"I love you too, Zuko…" He took her hand and both turned to face the wall.

/. /. /

Sokka just stared at Suki as Aang explained what was to happen to the guardians of the island. He'd loved her for years now. She'd been his first. An amazing sparing partner, the best trainer he could have asked for, and beyond all, an incredible lover, yet there she stood; a traitor. She looked like a stranger all of a sudden, so willing to arrest his sister, harboring such an important secret from him. Zuko could have hurt Katara, or worse, he could have killed her, and Suki knew all along. She knew and did nothing, until now, when she'd betrayed everyone. Aang gave a small nod up at the girl sitting on Appa's back. She extended her arms and slowly brought the hollow column back down into the ground where it had come from. The rain kept the dust down. Zuko and his sister stood side by side, holding hands. Their faces were pale, and Katara's eyes were red from crying. Suki and the others approached and Zuko stepped forward. His hand slipped from Katara's and she wrapped her arms around herself, looking away as the guardians of Kyoshi fastened shackles around his wrists and ankles. Another of the Kyoshi Warriors ran in from the end of the stream, where it led to the ocean.

"The ships have landed and the Firelord is on her way to the camp."

"Thank you, Sooni." Suki spoke to her fellow warrior. She looked to Zuko. "Are you ready?"

His eyes were cold as he looked down at her painted face. When he spoke, it was a whisper only she could hear. "Would you be ready if you were about to die? I just wanted a life here… with Katara… thank you so much for your broken hospitality." Her face went slack and he looked up at the clearing of trees where the stream cut through. Several Fire Nation guards marched in and then parted as the Fire Lord emerged from the middle. Zuko eyes narrowed and his face distorted in smoldering hatred as she smiled at him.

"Oh Zuzu… I just can't seem to get rid of you. You linger through my abuse for three years, then when I leave you to die, in the middle of nowhere, you still manage to thrive, finding yourself a healer and everything." She moved her hand to cup his cheek, but he snapped his face to the side, avoiding her touch. "This time we'll do it quickly. I'm already tired of your face." She slapped him, her nails slicing his cheek. Katara moved forward, but Sokka grabbed her, holding her to himself from behind. "Guards, you know what to do!" The Fire Nation guards moved in and took him from the Kyoshi Warriors, marching him down toward the open beach where the ships waited. Katara was sobbing. Azula looked around at the Kyoshi Warriors, Aang, Kelyin, Appa, Sokka, and Katara, smiling cruelly. "You are very lucky he was really here and that you were able to persuade him into coming peacefully… though it would have been nice to see this place in flames…" She turned and was flanked by the remaining guards. "Good day to all of you."

/. /. / POST SCRIPT AUTHOR'S NOTE:

P.S.A.N. : Well, this was SUPPOSED to be the last chapter. How I thought I could wrap everything up in one more, I don't know. Beyond this chapter, there are two more; "The End Approaches Like A Rising Sun Part 3" and "The Beach", then that's it. The Final Scar is over… until the still untitled sequel…

The end of this story is why I stopped working on it over two years ago. I wrote myself into a corner regarding Iroh's survival, and how to really end this sucker with Zuko's capture and all. I have it all planned out now, and I'm really excited at the twist coming up in the final chapter "The Beach". I want to see how many of you can figure out where a certain someone is. I admit, I'm not completely happy with Aang in this chapter, but I rewrote his scenes a few times, and he always seems to come out 'Hey Zuko, funny that you're here, okay, bye!'. I don't know how to fix it being that I'm more focused on Zuko and Katara, so Aang is somewhat slow in this chapter. My apologies.