Hello again everyone! I wanted to apologize for taking a bit to upload the latest chapter. I know we're trying to get away from the events of the series, and we are almost there. However, THIS is where we are going to start seeing a change in the timeline that goes into the real story. Enjoy!

KATARA

Katara stared at the vivid flashes of blue and scarlet flame, their heat somehow not as intense as she expected it to be. The ground vibrated and shook with every blow that was traded between Zuko and Azula whom both passionately threw everything they had at one another. Katara watched closely at Zuko; his stance and the shift in his footing were calm and measured. To her, he almost seemed to dance with his firebending, each movement matching every flame like an extension of his body.

Azula was knocked to the ground, and as she slowly stood back up, her eyes widened as she saw herself losing. Katara grinned with a sense of satisfaction wishing she was the one humbling the fire princess.

"No lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?" Zuko taunted her.

Azula's face hardened as she yelled out, "Oh, I'll show you lightning!"

Zuko changed his stance and held out his arms in a way that was familiar to her. That's a waterbending stance! Katara narrowed her eyes wondering what it was he was doing just standing there like that. She hadn't ever seen him do that before in any of their past battles or even during their recent sparring session

Azula began to sway her arms as lightning began to form, first slowly, then with speed. The fire princess was almost surrounded by massive surges of energy that Katara had only seen during thunderstorms. The crackles and sparks spread throughout the air around them as Azula summoned more and more power. The comet really had magnified her strength beyond anything Katara could have ever imagined.

And in just a flash, Azula changed the direction of her attack. Katara was frozen in place; she did not expect the surprise attack; however Zuko had. Katara watched as he was sent flying to the ground and rolled halfway across the courtyard before finally stopping. Zuko barely conscious - motioned out his arm, and the lightning snapped out into the dark red sky above them. He lay there convulsing erratically as the remaining sparks left his body.

"Zuko!" Katara screamed out. Her body moved on its own now and she ran toward her friend. She was sure she had pulled a muscle in one of her legs but ignored it. She didn't get far when another wave of lightning shot at her, narrowly missing.

"It's just you and me now, girl." Azula spun into the air and then twirled her legs delivering out a series of kicks that were followed by waves of sapphire flame. Azula's moves were unpredictable and frightening; she mixed her attacks switching between lightning and fire as she closed the distance between them. Each time she had dodged an attack, it had come closer and closer to landing. Katara felt herself getting tired and knew she wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer.

Katara repositioned herself, snapped both arms out to her side and with a swift motion pulled as much water out of the moisture in the air as she could. Katara hardened the water into crescent discs of ice and launched them at the princess. Azula charged straight into her attack and one by one matched each disc with a kick and punch, melting them instantly.

I can't beat her like this...What do I do? What do I do?

Katara made a dash for the pavilion behind her and pressed herself against one of the supporting pillars. She tried to think of another approach and immediately felt a shockwave of heat behind her as the pillar she hid behind was bombarded. Katara fell forward on her knees and noticed she was looking at a water drainage system; and it was full, very full. Even better – on one of the pillars hung some chains. It was now or never she thought to herself.

Azula stepped into the pavilion ready to end this fight. Her face bore no expression as she looked at her. Katara snapped a few quick water whips, and Azula rolled herself away to avoid them right onto the grates of the drainage system. As her arms shot out with an intended lethal blow – Katara brought out all the water beneath them encasing them both in ice. Azula stood mid attack and could only watch as Katara used her breath of life technique to free herself from the ice, but not before chaining Azula to the metal fixtures they stood on. Once she was sure Azula was disarmed, she released the ice and ran to Zuko who laid motionless.

No, no, no, no, no. Why? Why did you do it? You idiot...You don't get to do that and leave!

Katara felt like all the air had been taken from her; as if her lungs were drying out inside her. She laid her glowing hands onto where Zuko had been hit. His abdomen had been burnt and he was badly hurt. Katara trembled as she tried to concentrate. She heard him take a sudden breath and he opened his eyes.

Tears rolled down her face and she could breathe again. Katara smiled with happiness and relief but could not stop her tears from falling.

"Thank you Katara," Zuko said weakly as he began to sit himself up slowly.

"I think I should be the one thanking you." Katara felt the color to her world return and stopped fighting what had been rattling around in her heart for weeks. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. His lips touched hers and she felt tingles in her stomach. She had been fighting this feeling for so long, for weeks now and tried everything not to think about it, but she didn't care anymore. He had saved her. Now she had saved him.

Azula watched them both still chained and, on her knees, began to inhale and exhale repeatedly with a hateful look in her eyes. She then began to sob hysterically. She screamed out, but her voice just carried pain and hopelessness to it instead of only rage. She rolled on the floor as much as she could due to the chains binding her. The princess shot a few weak bursts from her mouth and broke down into a full blown collapse. She continued to sob uncontrollably as Zuko looked at his younger sister. Katara placed her hand on his back, also feeling deep sorrow with him.

To Be Continued...

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Avatar The Last Airbender nor the characters depicted. Avatar was created by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko. All characters and settings are based off their world and is purely fan fiction made simply to entertain people as passionate about what they have created as I am.