Hi everyone! I hope you've all been having a delightful November!

Here's my next chapter, I hope you love it and send me lots and lots of comments!

~nightfall26

"Yes, I know, you don't want me going to the Fire Nation. No, I really don't care what you have to say. I totally have been there before."

"But Toph, you just came home!" My mother. Good gracious.

"Come on now, I've saved the world once, this is easy stuff."

Sass was easy for me, especially when it came to my parents. I was boarding a ship to the Fire Nation because my good friend Iroh had asked for my aid. Zuko and Katara were in danger, he said, as well as the entirety of the Fire Nation. What a battle.

I was excited, honestly, I missed a good fight. I liked chucking rocks at things and sassing Sokka around. But I was especially thrilled because Katara and Zuko were finally together. I would get to tease the hell out of them. After listening to their freakish heartbeats around each other, I couldn't stand that they were lying to themselves about wanting to be with other people.

Sparky and sweetness would have beautiful fire and water babies, I was sure of it.

katara.

I paced. I couldn't help it, it was a bad habit of mine. I paced endlessly, my hands in my hair, my eyes focused squarely on the ground in front of me. I was barefoot and wearing nothing but my wrappings, and my hair was dripping water onto the floor in little puddles that reflected my frustration back at me. My room was wrecked around me, the bedsheets tossed carelessly on the floor, my clothes strewn messily about, and water was everywhere.

This was what happened when I woke up at such an ungodly hour.

"I rise with the sun." I mocked Zuko's tone of voice viciously, snarling a little and turning on my heel to stomp back to the other wall.

I had gotten up so damn early, pinned my hair up, gotten in the bathtub to prepare myself for standing in front of a zillion people next to Zuko, and just as soon as I was about to stick my head outside to see if everyone else was awake, noticed that my door was locked.

That little Fire Nation bastard.

I could just see him in my mind, gleefully locking my door, dancing off to be the man or whatever and making sure I was safe at home.

"Like I can't fight in battles." I spat, growling in fury again and ripping at my messy hair. As I did so, I noticed something, something that my bonehead boyfriend hadn't thought about. The window next to my bed, albeit somewhat small, was wide open. I thanked Tui and La that I had such a small figure, because I was certain that I could easily squeeze myself through it.

I'd go to the square today, even if it meant risking Zuko's silly Fire Lord wrath. I gathered myself hurriedly, bending the water from my hair, twisting it so that it waved nicely and pinned back the sides. I wore one of the several blue dresses that Iroh had ordered made for me, making sure that it was pretty, but still easy to move in. If Azula attacked, I'd have to be able to defend myself.

I honestly couldn't wait to see the look on Zuko's face when I showed up. He'd be furious. Maddened, even, that I'd connived my way through his stupid little plan of protecting me. I scoffed.

"I don't need protection." I muttered to myself, pushing my end table right in front of the window and delicately springing up onto it. I stepped cautiously through onto the ledge outside, squeezing my torso through somewhat painfully and cursing the gods for making me such a woman.

It was easy to bend a stream of water from the gutters to make sure that I landed softly on the streets. The square wasn't too far off, and I was sure that I could make it there in a matter of minutes. I grinned as I broke into a dash. I'd missed this. Being stagnant, working peacefully, trying to find myself, all those things had been well and good. But I'd missed the thrill of adventure far too much to let it go. That was what I had been searching for. That was what Aang had never given me, nor had he wanted to- a thrill.

And every moment I was with Zuko, every time my eyes locked on his, every second that his fingertips so much as brushed me, a strange, electric, fiery thrill raced through my veins and made my heart pulse with heat.

So I pushed myself on, through the quickly emptying streets and on towards the man that irritated me, angered me, even, but even still made me feel more alive than anything in my life ever had.

zuko.

I'd gotten up early this morning. Early for me was before the sun had even risen, before even the flowers had started to bloom in the slight rays of the touch of dawn. I was taking Aang with me today.

There was just no way that I was letting Katara risk herself in that sort of a way. It didn't matter to me that she'd done so dozens of times before, that she'd placed herself in the very throngs of battle to risk everything for her home, her friends, her family- I wasn't letting her do that for me.

Not if I could do anything about it. So I'd locked her door this morning, which I knew would infuriate her, and asked my Uncle to make sure she didn't leave. He'd nodded slowly at me, understanding, and yet somewhat disapproving of the caging of my beautifully vicious phoenix.

"It's for the best." I'd reiterated, begging him to reassure me that I was doing the right thing with my eyes. But he only unclasped his hands and bowed his head a little.

"Whatever you say, nephew, but locking her up isn't going to stop her."

"I think it's a good idea." Aang piped, his hands twisted together nervously, sweat beading on his forehead because he hadn't acclimated to the way the sun was beating down on the palace as it rose. I glanced over at him, my eyes skimming up and down the boy for a second as I took him in. His eyes were big, innocent, and yet dewed with a painful jealousy as he realized he really had no say in what happened with Katara.

He'd had his chance to protect her, and in my eyes, he'd failed. So I let my lip curl a little as I stared at him, making his eyes widen even more as if he were startled. He was intimidated by me. Almost frightened. I reached behind me, checking to make sure I had both my swords belted to my back, and let a corner of my lip quirk up as I did so. For once, I felt like I held the power.

I'd gotten the girl. I was the hero for once. Aang had already had his time.

It was my time now. And Agni, it felt good to know that, even if it was just a small fact resounding in my head.

"Let's get going." The words rumbled in my chest a little, and I noticed that in the past few weeks that I'd been gone, my voice had deepened somewhat. I was also getting taller, which made my legs ache constantly. I wrinkled my nose at the idea of how short I'd once been. I now was starting to tower uncomfortably over the Avatar, having to clearly look down at him whereas once we had looked at each other levelly.

"Yeah." He said the single, unimportant word with a squeak, clearing his voice awkwardly and shuffling around to walk out. I tilted my head back up to nod once to my uncle before following the Avatar towards the exit.

True to his word, Uncle had announced that I was to be giving a speech in the main square today, and people were flocking. I clambered up upon the stone stage in front of the palace, leaning my arms on the wood of my podium. Several of my servants were hanging Fire Nation flags behind me, trying to cover up the destruction that blackened the back half of the square and the front of the palace. I frowned a little.

Covering things up wouldn't fix anything.

So I waited patiently, watching as the people poured in from all directions, their eyes all the same- darkened with a fear that had been imprinted there by my father's tyrannical rein. Some were disappointed, their sneers aimed at me for not being the Fire Lord they desired. But some were looking at me with faces open and free from judgement. I silently thanked Agni for those people.

I also secretly hoped that they would look with faces free from hate at Katara when I announced her as my choice for Fire Lady.

I wasn't dressed in my traditional, heavy robes today. I was simply wearing black from head to toe with a red overcoat that brushed my knees. My hair was swept about my head messily, not yet long enough for a top knot but long enough to flutter in my eyes and annoy me.

I wanted them to see me as a person, just like them, someone on their level. Someone they could relate to in this time of questioning and confusion. When the square was filled, and the people were murmuring in low voices that rippled about me, I cleared my throat to start speaking. The silence around me was immediate, as if they were worried I would explode in fury if they didn't quiet.

"People of the Fire Nation." I began, my eyes sweeping the area before me. Nerves were bubbling in my stomach and I could feel the ache in my legs making my knees weak.

"I come before you today to ask, humbly, for your forgiveness." I bowed my head a little, the square echoing with mutters that amplified the oddity of my statement.

"I am not the Fire Lord you wished for, nor the hero you deserve. I haven't been good to you in this time of trial. I come in front of you, today, with my heart laid before you and nothing but good intentions within it." I heard Aang's appreciative noise from behind me, which spurred me on somewhat.

"All I want from you is the chance to lead you through this with strength and courage, emerging from the flames of this tragedy a more powerful, unified Nation than before. We are resilient, we are roughened by battle and hardened by the flames of war. Which is why we can bear this."

My hands were outstretched, as if giving myself to them in all my wholeness and begging for their loyalty- their trust- in me.

"We can't cover this pain up anymore, we have to face it." I spun around, directing a clean blast of fire to the tops of the flags so that they fell uselessly to the ground, exposing the scorch marks beyond. The crowd gasped a little, in horror at having to face the ugliness of the front of the palace, and despair at not knowing what to do when our home was attacked so terribly from within.

"I can promise to you with the utmost certainty that I will do all in my power to meet this scourge head on and face it with bravery and honor." I lifted my head at this, my lips pressing together in a firm line. The last word I'd used echoed in my heart because Katara had made me feel honorable again, like I was worth much more than a scar and a sentence of exile. I was worthy for this reign, I was worthy to lead a Nation, and most importantly, I was worthy for her.

"All I ask is that you give me a chance to do so. Will you allow me to save our Nation? Will you allow me to pull us out of this terror?" I asked, stepping down somewhat to a lower platform and facing the people with vulnerability written across my face. I held my breath as the silence continued, my heart just about stopping with pure fear that they'd reject me, scorn me, make me cower back to the shadows with my head hung low and my honor bruised once more-

I didn't expect the cheer to ease over the crowd, or the applause, or the smiles on peoples faces.

Of course, not everyone was smiling, some were shouting against me or booing, but the majority were thrusting their fists high into the air with victory.

Hope swelled in my chest, and I heaved a giant sigh, my arms outstretched as the people- my people- accepted me for the very first time.

"Zuko!" I heard her voice echo across the square before I saw her, a figure clothed in blue, her face filled with horror and her hands fumbling at her water pouch. I didn't understand her distress for a moment, confused, looking down at her in dumb cluelessness.

And then I saw it.

The massive fireball directed straight at me, hurtling through the air in a way that made me sure that I couldn't avoid it. So I thrust myself backwards, curling myself inward, preparing myself for the blast that I couldn't redirect.

But the pain never came.

katara.

I held off the fire ball with a huge wave mustered from the water fountain in the center of the square, my brow focused in concentration as I diluted it, waiting for Zuko to get to his feet so he could extinguish it. He scrambled up, doing so effortlessly, and nodding to me in thanks.

He pulled both swords from his back in a smooth motion, twirling them skillfully and standing halfway in front of me. Half the audience had scurried away, and half of them were staying to watch the battle that was approaching. Azula was marching towards us, an army of soldiers at her heels. I narrowed my eyes at her and bent low, defensively, looking at Aang with an expression that shouted for help.

Fireballs were falling upon the people, and chunks of stone and dirt were falling all around us. Several people had already fallen, and others were sobbing and crying out for help. I deflected several of the blasts before reaching out to them to lead them away from this hell.

As I did so, I hurried to the people that were huddled around the fountain in the center with stark expressions of fear paling their faces. Children were screaming for their parents all around me, ultimate chaos surging in the air as people ran and stumbled over each other in pain, terror, and ultimate panic.

"Come on, everyone, this way." I called, waving my hand so that the remaining civilians would see the alleyway I stood in front of and ferry themselves through it to safety. A little girl, her face red from crying and her eyes pink and raw, clung to my leg in a sudden burst of emotion.

"I can't find my mommy." She hiccuped. I reached down, gathering her into my arms and dashing into the shadow of the alley where some other women were looking anxiously for their children. When she recognized her mother, she squirmed in my arms, and I released her to hurry back to my friends.

"Oh hell no, sweetness, there is no way yall are jumping into battle without us!" All of a sudden, I heard a familiar voice from the other side of the square, and I almost cried out of pure relief. Toph, accompanied by my brother and Suki, were running into the fray. They hurried to join us, out of breath.

"How did you get here so fast?" I asked, shocked but grateful, reaching over to embrace them hurriedly.

"Aang gave me a baby flying bison, don't you remember? Well, it sure grew up fast. We picked up Toph from her ship as she was sailing here yesterday afternoon." Sokka shrugged, pointing to the huge mass in the sky that was flying towards the palace. I let a grin slide over my face, edging closer to Zuko as I did so, and readying myself for the flames ahead.

"How quaint, you're all together again. Lovely to see you, Zu-zu, as always." Azula mocked, her hair flying loose from its bun as she stared us down.

"I'm here to reclaim my rightful throne. There is no way you were going to keep me in that hell for long, big brother." Her lips were twisted in a snappish snarl, her teeth bared and her mouth painted almost comically with red.

"The throne is mine, Azula, and I'm going to lead these people through the hell you've created." Zuko crouched, spinning his swords again and growling low in his chest. Azula threw her head back, laughing loudly, cruelly, motioning for her attack to commence. Huge fireballs spun themselves from the air, and I hurried to bend a wave up in front of us while everyone dashed to the sides. Toph lifted her hands high, a rock wall blunting the fire further before we attacked the masses of soldiers before us. By now, civilians had entirely fled the area, and we were spreading out to fight for a Nation we had once all loathed.

"Where did all these people come from, Azula?" Zuko called hatefully, spinning easily out of the way of her attacks.

"They came to me, Zu-zu, forming secret societies to raise me from the dead so that I could come back to them. They recognize who truly should be in power. Not my weakling brother, as most of these idiots believe, but me, the obvious choice." She lifted a hand to skies, watching with crazed giggles as a black cloud gathered and she called the lightening to her fingertips. Zuko redirected it with careful precision, and once again, I heard my fortune being read in my memories by a certain eccentric Aunt Wu.

I can see he's going to be a very powerful bender.

A part of my heart sizzled into flame as I fought alongside the man that I had waited a lifetime for, our styles entwining and looping about each other as we continued to fight with unified power and prowess.

Aang seemed somewhat put off by our joint efforts to stop Zuko's maniac sister. He settled for attacking the waves of benders that seemed to never end, spinning some into buildings, others up into giant balls of air that lifted them high off the ground.

Twin bursts attacked Azula, one a rush of blue, one a rush of orange- two bending styles, two elements, one strength. Zuko and I worked easily off of each other's energy, a habit we'd gotten from sparring together so often. Every so often, I'd feel his hand against my waist, pushing me gently behind him as he protected me from the blunt of the fire blasts.

I could see Suki leaping into the air with her familiar battle cry, her fan slicing through enemies with ease.

I could see Toph bending on the other side, rocks flying at her fingertips, sassy remarks flying from her mouth.

My brother was beside his girlfriend, his boomerang moving through the air as he concentrated solely on the enemies ahead and protecting his girl.

And Aang was there too, his moves quick and desperate.

We were all together again, in such a familiar way, but in such a different way as well.

We weren't children anymore.

Thank yall so much for reading, I love you guys (:

Please leave me a review! Your opinions mean so much to me!

Again, I'm hoping for five-ish before I update again (:

love,

~nightfall26