AN:I don't know if any of you have noticed or not, but when looking through chapters, it will say—for example—Chapter 34: insertnamehere, but on the little bar to the left of the 'Chapter 34', it will say Chapter 35. That is because earlier in the story I took up a chapter for an author's note (which I regret tbh). Just to make it easier and simplier, for the remaining chapters, instead of changing it, I will just leave it the same, so it will be; 48| Chapter 48. I just wanted to put that out there in case any of you were confused (though, you guys are probably even more confused now lol). Anyway, enjoy the chapter! :)

Chapter Fourty Nine

Facing the Fire

My heart longed for Aang; or, at least, the answer to all of our shared question: Where is he? Of course, nobody could think of a logical answer. And if a suggestion sounded reasonable, we didn't have enough time to carry out the search. As, Sozin's Comet, was today.

It had been two days since I had last seen Aang, and those two days that seperated the Comet had passed quickly. My worry for the boy increased with each passing second, my vison blurred as he was all I ever thought about. But now, the worry was being gradually replaced by nervousness and anxiety for today.

It was going to be a long day.

What mostly occupied my thoughts were the following: What if we don't win? What if Aang doesn't show up? Doesn't defeat the Firelord? What if Olin gets hurt—killed? What if my friends get hurt or killed? Captured?

The questions were mentally draining.

Luckily, my time was consumed with the plan. Zuko, Katara, and I would be dropped off in the center of the Fire Nation capital, where Zuko would lead us to the palace, where he believed Azula would be. Zuko would do whatever he needs to do, while Katara and I would help. Sokka, Olin, Suki, and Toph, would fly Appa to the fleet of airships, where they would send Appa back to us.

I admit—it wasn't a very good plan. But what mattered most was that Aang defeated Ozai.

That's all that mattered, really.

"Vinca," Katara's gentle voice snapped me out of my worries, causing me to glance up at her in surprise. She was dressed in her original outfit—modified, of course, to suit her needs. I was wearing the outfit I was found in, modified as well. "Do you want to spar a little bit? To just practice—well, to get warmed up." she smiled half-heartedly, her brown locks flowing behind her.

I nodded, "Sure." I absently ran a finger down the three inch long bindings on both of my arms, before standing. "Did we pack everything?" I questioned as we walked to the courtyard. I had packed my glider, even, along with the ivory box. I kept my mother's golden necklace on. For good luck, I supposed.

The waterbender replied easily, "Yup." a long breath escaped her puckered lips as her cerculean eyes faced the ocean.

"Nervous?"

"Very. But I feel like...its time. I feel ready." a brief smile graced her lips as she turned to me. "How about you?"

I shrugged, running a finger through my hair, "I kind of feel the same—more or so worried, for the others, though." I told her.

There was a content silence, filled with doubt. Katara eventually spoke, "Ready?"

It took me a second to realize what she was talking about. "Hm? Oh—yes." I took a bending stance, my legs loosely parted, my hands rising up, my fingers curled slightly as I took peculiar notice of the warm air surrounding me, ready to bend to my will.

My friend also took a stance, her blue eyes studying me before her olive-toned wrist flicked upwards, drawing out a long whip of water from her pouch clipped to her waist. She moved her arms skillfully, slashing around the water as the tenctacles reached for me.

I glided away, raising my arms quickly to the left, taking a deep breath as I cut the water whips with percise lines of air. I easily dogded an oncoming water attack, countering it with my own.

After a few minutes of attacking and defending, we both found ourselves on the ground planted to our rears, and we both bursted out into laughter upon realizing that we both sent attacks that had sent us both flying backwards.

"Good job," I giggled, rising to my feet and airbending myself dry.

Katara laughed, bending the water from her clothes and returning it to her pouch. "You too!" she chirped, walking over to me and slinging an arm over my shoulders, "Today might go better than planned."

I let out a nervous breath, drumming my fingers subconsiously as I gazed out over Appa's saddle. My lips pursed as glances of the Fire Nation capital became clear through the wispy clouds. The sun was just beginning to descend—barely, though. Zuko predicted that the comet would be arriving in roughly an hour. My eyes drifted upwards as Appa let out a quiet rumble, his tail hitting the air hard as he propelled forward.

"Zuko," I breathed, looking at the firebender who was seated across from me. His arm was drooped lazily over the edge of the leather saddle, his raven black hair whipping around furiously as his golden eyes studied the world below. "What's your plan—with Azula?"

He blinked, golden orbs focusing on me. "I'm going to challenge her to an Agni Kai." he replied evenly, a calm essence settling over him. He seemed so sure about this, that it was contagious.

"An Agni Kai?" I repeated, staring at him. I knew what an Agni Kai was, but even Zuko had said that Azula could be more dangerous than his father. Was it really the best idea?

The former prince nodded, his lips forming a thin line, his brows etching together, "Yes. It's something I should've done a long, long time ago."

I didn't press anymore as Zuko turned away to his thoughts.

I watched as the flying bison smoothly took flight, my eyes not leaving until he was gone into the sun, leaving us three standing in the more vacant parts of the town. I finally managed to look away, my thoughts collecting into worry—for Olin, for my friends, for Aang, for the world.

"Let's go. We shouldn't have any problems." Zuko pulled me from my doubts, tugging Katara and I along through the empty streets.

My eyes grazed the streets in confusion, "Where is everyone?"

"In the bunker. You know, the one my father was in on the Day of the Black Sun." he said simply, brushing his hair out of his face as he walked calmly down the streets.

Katara was tense, her cerculean eyes carefully observing each home and back street, "And how exactly do you know this?" she inquired curtly.

"A meeting I attended before I...erm, left."

She blinked, relaxing slightly, but not before she could ask, "What if plans changed?"

Zuko sighed, ceasing to a stop, "I'm sure we can easily fight off anybody that comes at us. Considering that we have a master waterbender, a master airbender, and a master firebender here." he raised an eyebrow as his words were breezy and confident.

I almost chocked. He thought I was a master airbender?

Katara's shoulders slumped, "Fine. How far away is the palace?"

"Not long. Just past these gates." he replied just as he arrived to a huge set of gates, just as he described. They were surprisingly opened, so all we had to do was walk in.

The palace was huge—much larger than the Earth King's palace in Ba Sing Se. It was grand and beautiful; stained a blood-red color and decorated with a assortment of plants and trees.

The firebender drew in a deep breath as we approached the entrance to the palace.

"No guards?" I asked. This whole thing was rather suspicious.

"In the bunker."

I swallowed as we entered. I kept my eyes straight ahead. "What if she's not here?"

"She'll be here." Zuko stated direly, and soon we were standing in a courtyard, the sun blaring down. I absently rubbed at my eyes, looking up. The hour sure had passed fast. The comet blazed slowly across the now darkened sky.

The two individuals tensed up noticably beside me, causing me to advert my gaze from the comet to straight ahead. A familiar looking figure stepped forward, bluntly ushering the two persons around her away as she glided down the steps an onto the stone courtyard. A wicked smile played on her lips as she took the three of us in, a reserved look on her face.

"Nice seeing you, Zuzu!" she cooed, her black hair chopped unevenly as it framed her sharp features. "What brings you to the palace...hm, home sweet home?" a curling laugh floated out of her throat as she steadily looked at us.

"I'm not here to play games, Azula," Zuko growled, stepping forward. His two hands clenched together into fists at his sides. "You know very well why I'm here."

I dragged my eyes away from the siblings to Katara, whose eyes were narrowed. She motioned for me to retreat back into the overhang in the palace, leaving the two alone for their showdown. I was reluctant at first, but slowly obliged, joining her as we peered out at the awaiting fight.

The Fire Nation princess let out a long sigh, her face portraying her eagerness. She flicked off her cloak, her foot drawing across the ground as she stepped forward. As saphire flames burst from her fingers, I realized with a grim nod, that the Agni Kai had began.

I turned away, looking at Katara, who was silently watching the ordeal. The air around us intesified with heat as fire took up the space, buildings on fire, fire, fire everywhere. For me it was a terrifying sight out of the corner of my eye, yet soon I heard the threatening cackle of what could only be lightning. This very sound made my head snap back at the reality of the fight, my eyes widening.

My feet moved forward on their own, my heart catching. The older boy collected the lightning, but the look on his face was obvious that the amount of it was not what he had prepared himself for. His knees shook violently, a desperate look drawn on his face as he strugged to pinpoint the lightning in his hands. With a startling crack, the former prince gave a scream, the lightning that he had tried to redirect—the lightning that he was so close to redirecting—curling backwards into his body, piercing his flesh.

"Zuko!" Somebody yelled. Was that me? Or Katara? I wasn't sure. Zuko hit the ground hard, a groan reaching my ears as his back arched back, his limbs spraying out everywhere as the electric coursed through him. He was alive, yes, but barely.

Katara was fumming, but she seemed uncertain. To help Zuko, or to fight the threat?

"Get to Zuko," I hurriedly told her, "I'll take her."

Her eyes searched mine, and with a slight nod, she sprinted towards the fallen boy.

I breathed in, my eyes resting on Azula, who was cockily playing with her own azul flames.

It was time to face the fire.

AN: thank you all for the reviews, story/author alerts, favorite story/author, ect., addings. You guys are amazing. I wouldn't be anywhere without you fans, and I am so, so grateful for each and everyone of you. Thank you all. :)