Katara
When we get to the Fire Nation capital, We have Appa hide in a cave by the beach and take the rest of the way on foot. We get just outside the city walls when Zuko leads me over to a shadowed area, where we wait until nightfall. Once the moon rises, I feel it's strength empowering me.
"Are you ready?" I ask Zuko.
"Lets go." He says and I nod. We sneak around to a place with a break in the wall's security, and I pull water out of the humidity and use it to give us a lift to the top. Once over the wall Zuko takes lead and I follow him as he runs through the shadows, down streets and turning corners so fast that I can hardly keep up. He knows the way so well the darkness doesn't hinder him. I get the feeling he could run the whole city blindfolded. We finally get to the military pension office, and the architecture is crafty enough that Zuko climbs it effortlessly with me only a few steps behind him. We get inside the building, ducking in and out of various rooms looking for the right one and hiding from patrols. Finally we get to the records office. Zuko and I start tearing through the scrolls, looking for Yen Ra's information.
"Found it!" Zuko tells me. I drop what I was looking through and look at what he's holding.
"Yen Ra. Former leader of the Southern Raiders. Retired after full military career to his home island of Kuzin Cove." I read.
"We have his location." Zuko says. My resolve hardens.
"Kuzin Cove here we come."
We sneak back out of the office and over the wall, heading back out of the city. We're not moving as fast this time, though. Zuko seems almost hesitant to go.
"Let's pick up the pace. It's still a long flight untill we get to Kuzin Cove."
After several restless hours of flying, we finally land on the island of Kuzin Cove. After hiding Appa away, Zuko and I head to the village to start looking around. After not finding him for a while, I start asking around. Walking up to a fruit stand to get a papaya.
"Hello, Sir."
"Hello, young lady. What's your name? Mighty strange attire you're wearing."
"Oh-I'm Sapphire."
"And I'm Lee." Zuko says, stepping beside me. "Apologies for our attire. We're from the colonies, and coming from a funeral."
"Oh. I see. Who died?"
"My mother." I tell him. "We've come here to find someone. Do you know Yen Ra? He had some…shared history with her. Finding him would help me get some closure."
"Old Yen Ra. Sure, I know him. Not a pleasant fellow, that's for sure."
"Can you tell us where to find him?" Zuko presses.
"He lives with his mother up in the hills. I'll show you on a map here." He pulls one out and marks our location and then Yen Ra's. Zuko pays him a few coins and takes the papaya.
"Thank you. We'll be on our way now."
"Hope you get your closure, Miss." he says. We turn and start walking towards the hills.
"Oh believe me." I say under my breath. "I Will."
We follow the frail looking man from his house on the way to the village, waiting for a moment to see his face clearly. Finally, it happens. He turns around looking for us. And I see his eyes. They're as cold and cruel as they were all those years ago.
"That was him." I tell Zuko. "That was the monster."
As he walks home, rain starts to pour. Good. Before too long he becomes aware of our presence.
"No one sneaks up on me without being burned!" He declares and sends a blast of fire towards a bush. Zuko and I take the moment to move behind him. Satisfied that no one was there, he picks up his fruit and turns around again, falling over the trip wire we set up earlier. Looking up, Zuko blasts some fire at him to put him on retreat.
"We weren't behind the bush." He tells him. "And I wouldn't try fire bending again!"
"Whoever you are, take my money, take whatever you want. I'll cooperate." He tells Zuko. Coward. Apparently he only fights defenseless civilian women. Enraged, I walk up behind Zuko and pull down my mask.
"Do you know who I am?"
"No. I'm not sure."
"You'd better remember me like your life depends on it! Why don't you take a closer look."
"Yes. Yes! I remember you now. You're the little Water Tribe girl." He says in surprise. He goes on to tell what happened that day. The whole story. Grief, guilt, and fury overwhelm me.
"She lied to you! She was protecting the last waterbender."
"What?" He says in shock. "Who?!"
"Me!" I yell, and stop the rain around us to form a dome. Fueled by rage, I give up on the idea of a long punishment. I turn the water to ice chards and throw them at him with all my might. But right before they hit him, I stop. The ice melts, and falls over his body without any harm. He gets on his knees before me.
"I did a bad thing. I know I did. And you deserve revenge. So why don't you take my mother? That would be fair!"
"I always wondered what kind of person could do such a thing. But now that I see you, I think I understand. There's just nothing inside you. Nothing at all. You're Pathetic and Sad and Empty."
"Please! Spare me!"
"As much as I hate you. I won't do it. I won't let you consume me anymore. Your life is your own punishment. Go and live out every miserable day you have left." I say, and walk away. The monster falls into pathetic sobs. My emotions are tangled, but it's different. The anger, the hate, while not gone, is falling away.