ATTENTION! THERE ARE NOW 37 CHAPTERS, NOT 24! I HAD TO REDO THE LENGTHS OF EACH, STRETCHING IT OUT MORE! THE NEWEST CHAPTER IS CHAPTER 37 (STRATEGY)! START FROM THERE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN READING THE NEWEST CHAPTER! IT WILL TAKE PROBABLY A FEW HOURS, POSSIBLY DAYS FOR ALL THE NEW CHAPTERS TO BE UPLOADED! PLEASE GO TO CHAPTER 37 AND READ THE NOTICE AT THE BEGINNING FOR EXPLANATION! MY APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender

XxXxXxXxXxX

Ozai groaned, standing slowly to his feet, body shaking from the immense effort to survive Vaatu's power, and he abruptly breathed easier when Vaatu left his body. His fingers coiled into the soil, the phantom grip of Hama's bloodbending on his heart still there.

He wasn't sure it would ever leave.

But it was a deeper pain in his heart—as Ursa betrayed him and left him, even going so far as to kill him, plunging a fire dagger into his chest. Then she did not defend him from Hama, letting Hama take control, and fleeing during the distraction.

He could win the war against The Avatar, but he knew he still had lost—because he lost Ursa, the only one whom he ever loved with all the passion, devotion, and conviction he was capable of. He always thought he would win and return Ursa to his side, beginning a new age, as they had always dreamed of and promised each other when they were young, but it was agonizingly clear that Ursa would not return to his side; there was no winning, even when he won—because she would not be with him, refusing to have part of the new age, refusing to have a place by his side, the only one who deserved to have a place by him.

Nothing went according to plan.

"That insolent bitch," he snarled, thinking of Hama, flames roaring out of his mouth, the heat all-enveloping. "I'll have her head! Ursa is gone! She stole her from me, turning her against me! And The Avatar's bastard is gone! How will I master airbending? We are alone! That bitch slaughtered all our allies!"

Vaatu had remained silent until now. "You raise just concerns, but we have currently more pressing ones. In my effort to save you, my scheme to strike a crippling blow to The Avatar was derailed. He is in the process of creating a spirit with Agni's flames that will nullify all the advantages we have had thus far, specifically with the chaos created by Fire's plague. The army of chi-stealers I anticipated will not be our army; The Avatar will liberate them, giving him a new army. I cannot return to sabotage the Phoenix. Koh is powerful. By now, I reckon that he has already gathered allies to aid him in guarding The Avatar's new spirit—if not taken it to a new location, unknown to me. I am nearly at full strength, but it is not enough, not yet. The Avatar is learning. It is a dreadful fact. I calculate that we have, at most, weeks until the spirit is complete. We must act swiftly; we must bond permanently."

Ozai inhaled slowly, digesting those terrible words, body aching—and he realized abruptly that he was naked, never having dressed after his last sex with Ursa. The sudden grief left him breathless because he knew—he knew!—that he would never experience Ursa again. For so long, he always knew that he would have Ursa again, and it acted as one of his motivations, one of his loves he strove for, but now that door was closed, never to be opened again. He had nothing left because of it.

All he had left was his crusade against The Avatar and to become his own Avatar—there was nothing else left for him, as Ursa left him, choosing The Avatar and their children over him.

It broke his heart, making his breaths rattle in his chest; his bones felt brittle, and he could barely find the strength to remain upright on his feet.

He wanted to sleep and forget the torment of his memories. "The Ascension?" he asked, rubbing his chest, trying to find the fire, fury, and ire inside him, but he continued feeling hollow; Ursa had left, taking with her his spirit and will.

He had never feared death, but he had never anticipated it—until now. To die would not be so bad. He would go to his death having lived his life his own way, daring stand against the ultimate tyrant, The Avatar, the ancient terror of the world.

But if he could bring The Avatar to his death, it would be even better—it would be!

Right?

"Yes," Vaatu confirmed. "We will go to the Tree- "

"Hama told me," Ozai interrupted, the hollowness spreading. "She said it will destroy me."

"And, thus, remake you."

For the first time, he understood what the Ascension would take, but it was the only time in his life he could go through with it—as Ursa had abandoned him, choosing to stand against him with their children, which included The Avatar, who was Azula's husband, according to Ursa. Previously, Ursa would have held him back from the Ascension; even the thoughts of his children might have held him back.

But now he had nothing left; he could, literally, lose nothing else—as he had already lost Ursa.

"The Harmonic Convergence will not occur for over 800 years, but you will mimic it with the help of spirits," he recalled, piecing together what Hama told him. "You will merge with me, I will drink the Tree's sap, and I will descend It's roots into the Void, where I will be ripped apart and destroyed a thousand times over."

Vaatu did not react. "Yes."

Ozai closed his eyes, wondering where his motivation lied; he could not find it at the moment, feeling only exhausted, worn, and heavy. "And my airbending? The Avatar's bastard is gone."

"I suspect she will be the answer."

His eyes opened in weariness and followed Vaatu's gaze to Ty Lee, who laid unconscious in the remains of one of the destroyed tents. "Why?"

"Her chi is an Airbender's."

Ozai's brows pinched, wondering if he misheard, but he knew he did not. "What? Ty Lee is not an Airbender."

Vaatu floated toward Ty Lee, and Ozai followed, unable to do anything else. "Her chi is an Airbender's; I feel it. Yet it has been sabotaged; its growth is like a child's, resembling a newborn's instead of a mature woman. Her chi is suspended in infancy, stunted of its natural development—intentionally."

"How is that possible?" he asked, staring down at Ty Lee's unconscious face, seeing the signs of mixture therein—and recalling the legends surrounding her noble house, which Jylzhol of Ishaner, an Airbender sired by the airbending Half-spawn Fire Lord, Fire Lord Zyrn, founded. But legends could not explain the source of her very present 'Air-ness,' which he had never noticed before until Vaatu pointed it out. She was a non-bender, never showing any sign of bending, but she—and her family, now that he considered it—had always been Airbender-like, resembling The Avatar.

"I cannot say," Vaatu said, sounding bemused and enticed—he enjoyed learning new things, likely. "But Indra will have the answer, and she will restore Ty Lee's chi; she will manifest Ty Lee's natural airbending. It is crucial that we find Indra. The Avatar destroyed Agni and Devi again, forcing them to reform."

Ozai sighed, unsurprised and resigned; for the first time, even including after The Avatar nearly killed him after he accidentally killed Azula, he felt like he was losing the war. The rage was gone, leaving only a withered sense of grim determination and sadness. "Of course, he did."

"This is fortuitous," Vaatu commended, sounding relieved, apparently not worried about Agni and Devi's reformations. "The plan must be adjusted, but it will be better this way. I had been willing to risk The Avatar's child, for she was the only one of Air save The Avatar, but now there is another."

He looked up. "Speak plainly."

"It was probable that The Avatar's child would have never survived the invasion of a new spirit, for she is a child. Her chi pathways would have been destroyed before the process would be completed. Now, we need not worry about it. This one is mature, an adult. It will be perfect."

"But how will we find Indra?"

"The Avatar is furious, and he will find Indra; he will lead us to her. Then we will take her, and she will not only be our ally but restore Ty Lee's airbending, giving us an Airbender in body. Then I will bring you an airbending master from the Gardens of the Dead."

Ozai narrowed his eyes. "You already have someone in mind?"

"Yes. He will be a worthy ally, the most loyal out of all the masters I have brought you. He has no resentment for your race. His hatred burns for The Avatar only."

"A kindred spirit," he murmured, thinking of Ursa and how she had once been a kindred spirit. "My wife is gone."

"You were never going to keep her," Vaatu intoned, almost gently. "Even if you kept her in this life, you would lose her in the next, living endlessly without her."

Ozai squeezed his eyes shut, pained. "One life with her was more than enough. I thought I would have more time—more years, a whole lifetime. But she is gone."

"Yes."

"I destroyed our army for her," he whispered as a terrible hollowness spread through him. "But it was not enough."

"You destroyed only those present. The rest of Chin V's kinsmen will find us, though our army is numerically deprived now, compared to what we were—though it is not a matter. They were expendable, too unintelligent to be useful as anything but grunts. We need deep intelligence."

Ozai glanced at Vaatu. "Where will we find an army that is intelligent?"

Vaatu seemed to buzz in pleasure. "We will find it soon; we will build it soon. I cannot foresee the future. Yet, I discern victory. The Avatar's reckoning is imminent. He owes us ten thousand years of imprisonment for what he did to us. Together, my friend, we will make our vengeance reality."

"If we win and Ursa is still alive, I will have her," he vowed. "I will not hurt her; I will not have you hurt her."

"I have no use to hurt her."

"I love her, which means you love her."

"That is one way to understand it."

He felt a laugh escape him. "I never thought a spirit would be my friend—I did not think it possible."

"I did not think a human would understand me."

Ozai looked to the wind, felt it brush against him, and for the first time ever, he wanted to reach out and touch it, letting it take him away—like Ursa vanished. "I want the Ascension, Vaatu. It is all I have left; it is the only joy left for me, if joy is still possible."

Vaatu's shadows darkened impossibly. "You are not alone—it is all I have left, as well."

XxXxXxXxXxX

Zuko saw a flash of color in the corner of his vision and whirled to face it, apprehension and relief swelling inside him when Aang stared back at him.

"Aang!" Katara cried out and ran to him, hugging him.

"If I was suspicious, that sight would provoke me to investigate," Azula's amused voice drifted into his ears, and he watched as she untied the rope surrounding her waist.

"Good to see you, too, Azula," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. He didn't know how to talk about what needed to be said, so he just decided to say it. "Aang, something happened."

"Yes, something did," Azula groaned out as she stood to her feet, wavering slightly. "My mobility has lessened; my body is weak. It needs sustenance. How long were we gone?"

"Over a week."

Aang moved away from Katara and pulled Azula out of the saddle, helping her down to the ground, patting briefly Appa's head. "Sorry. We had more to do than I thought. What were you saying, Zuko?"

Zuko tried to quell his nervousness and saw Katara looking down at her feet. "Something happened."

Azula rolled her eyes, lips twitching into a smirk. "You have spent too much time with Uncle, Zuzu. You have mastered the art of obscurity."

"We made it to Ba Sing Se, right?" Aang looked around, face slackening in confusion. "I don't recognize…"

Katara's breathing became more chaotic, and Zuko grabbed her hand, watching as Azula realized that something was wrong. "What is it? What happened?"

Aang turned to face him, panicked. "Zuko, what's wrong?"

Zuko closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them. "Chin V's invasion did its job."

Silence.

"Bumi?" Aang demanded, face twisting in desperation; his head swiveled, looking in every direction, paling when he realized they were inside the remnants of Ba Sing Se, which was destroyed completely. "Toph, Suki, Bor?"

Katara's voice cracked as she spoke: "Suki, Toph, and Bor escaped, but… I'm sorry, Aang. Bumi… he's dead."

Aang's features spasmed, and Zuko's fists clenched as he watched his best friend, devastated, collapse to the ground on his knees. "Bumi's gone?"

"I'm sorry," he whispered, not knowing what else to say.

Droplets of miserable tears spilled down Aang's cheeks, and Azula reached for her husband, drawing his face into her stomach. "I am so sorry. I know he meant so much to you."

"He was the last link to my past," Aang whispered, eyes scrunched shut, but Zuko heard him clearly, wounded by the pain in his voice. Katara's grip on his hand tightened painfully. "Now all I have is Appa and Momo. How… how many people am I going to lose? How many do I have to lose? Is that my curse? Is that The Avatar's burden?"

Azula slowly lowered herself to the ground, and Katara followed her lead, pulling Zuko down with her, and she grabbed onto Aang's hand with her other one.

"We're going to be with you for as long as we can be, okay?" he murmured, holding Aang's distraught, tear-stricken gaze. "I know The Avatar lives a long time, but so do powerful benders."

"You've chosen the right friends and wife," Katara said gently. "We'll be by your side more than anyone else can be. We're not going anywhere."

Aang sucked in a deep breath, and he exhaled heavily. "I never told him how much I valued his friendship—valued him. I never told him how much I loved him and wanted him to live as long as I do."

"He knew, Aang," Azula said fiercely, golden eyes mournful. Zuko did not feel surprised. For the brief time they knew King Bumi, Azula had cultivated a friendship with him. "He was so proud of you, of the man and Avatar you have become. But Bumi is now with his lost children. He is at peace; he lived a full life. He was a worthy king, and more importantly, a worthy man. It was my pleasure to have known him."

"It was my pleasure, too," Aang choked out, eyes squeezed shut.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Having finished eating, providing her body with much-needed nutrients, Azula exchanged glances with Zuko, worried. Aang had remained gone too long since he had abruptly abandoned them to fly to the rubble of the palace in the destroyed Upper Ring.

"I know he's grieving, but I hope he doesn't do something stupid," Zuko whispered, face pinched with tension. "Like, fly off to fight Vaatu and his entire army by himself."

"Aang wouldn't do that," Katara responded softly. "He needs time. He lost Bumi. As you said, he's grieving."

Azula shook her head, something inside her twisting. "I think he is re-grieving everything that he has lost, which now includes King Bumi. Now I understand what Vaatu meant."

Zuko looked at her, startled. "What? You encountered him in the Spirit World?"

"While Aang was preoccupied with a horde," she responded, tone curt. "He sought to inflict an unhealable wound against Aang, eradicating my spirit from existence. He failed, of course, but he said something."

Katara's brows furrowed. "What did he say?"

"He asked me, 'How much can The Avatar lose before he ceases to be as whom you know him?' Then he listed everything Aang has lost - 'first his entire race and master, then his daughter and mother-in-law and friend.'" Azula shook her head, angered. "I failed to grasp the meaning of 'friend.' I failed to take into account who could represent Aang's friend. Vaatu knew about King Bumi's death. He knew the whole time."

"He and Father are perfect for each other," Zuko growled. "More than kindred spirits."

"Which is why we must end their threat," she pointed out, refusing to think of Samir and Mother caught in Father's grasp—it would madden her forever! "They do not just threaten the Mortal Realm, they threaten the Immortal Realm, as well."

Katara nodded, face creased with anxiety. "I thought things were looking up after the North when we stopped Vaatu and Ozai from getting Tui and La and saved the North from extinction; I thought we were finally going to catch a break, but then we get here, back to the Earth Kingdom, to Ba Sing Se, and it all seems so much worse. For the first time, I don't know. Bumi's dead, Sokka could be, too, Samir and Ursa are with Vaatu and Ozai, and Toph could be anywhere with Suki. We have no idea where everybody is; we're fragmented, lost in the wind."

Azula watched as Zuko squeezed Katara's shoulder, pulling her closer. "I know, but we are near the end. Whatever happens, we'll be on the winning side."

"How are you so certain?"

Azula answered: "The Avatar is on our side. Aang will ensure victory—ensure peace and balance."

Katara wet her lips; her chin trembled. "But at what cost? We don't know what's happened to… to Sokka. And Suki and Toph. And all the others."

Zuko briefly closed his eyes. "We have hope. It's all we have."

"Don't quote that stupid actress who played me in that stupid play."

Azula had no idea what Katara was alluding to, so she cut in: "We have Aang. He is enough."

Katara nodded again. "I agree."

Zuko suddenly turned his head, glancing up towards the sky. "Speaking of…"

She followed his gaze and saw the streaking form of Aang approaching. When he landed, it was soundless, but that was not what concerned her.

Sheer exhaustion was carved into his sunken-looking, pale features. His hair was a mess, and she knew that shaking fingers had been tugging harshly at the strands. His beard hung off his face in a strange way, but that might be because he just looked so gaunt. Tear tracks stained his cheeks, and his lips were in a tight, unbending line. His gray eyes were red-rimmed, hollow, piercing, and cold as the North.

Azula was not the only one concerned, for Katara let go immediately of Zuko, reaching towards Aang. "Are you okay?"

"No," Aang informed, sounding stormy, and his throat worked hard, lips tightening into an even more tense line than before; there was a wild determination in his face that Azula had seen before and did not like it—she did not like it at all. "Bumi was killed, and I had no idea. I failed again. But I'm done failing."

Azula exchanged a glance with Zuko. "Meaning?"

Aang's jaw jerked with tension. "Even if it kills me, I'm stopping Ozai and Vaatu," he vowed, something in his voice upsetting her; it possessed a desperation that did not bode well. "I'm stopping all of them. This will never happen again. I won't allow it. I've let it get this bad, and I don't care what I have to do—I'm stopping this damned war. We think this war has only happened, but it's been going on for thousands of years, and we're only now aware of it; we're only now feeling it—because it's everywhere. I let it get everywhere, but I'm going to make it nowhere. We near the end."

Zuko nodded. "What do you want to do?"

"We're going to find Indra, who will lead us to Samir, which is where Vaatu and Ozai will be. After having Samir's location, we'll find Sokka's group and Toph's group. I'm not losing anyone else. We need to re-group, and then I'm finishing this new war; I'm going to rescue Samir and Ursa and throw Vaatu into the Void, locking him inside, even if I have to destroy the Tree's roots if I have to. I've been a fool—no more. Bumi's death won't be in vain—it won't be."

Azula shared a worried glance with Katara and found a kindred gaze in her; they both knew Aang could not keep that mindset.

"That is unwise," she said quickly, holding Aang's stormy gaze. "Samir and Mother are still gone, and if you want to get Vaatu, stop this new war, use Wan Shi Tong's scroll and go to the first Air Temple. Find Indra, and Vaatu will come to us. We will lure him into a trap, and with Vaatu returned to his prison, Father will not last. Neither will his army. Vaatu is the key to all of this. Vanquish him, and the rest will fall."

Aang wavered, voice catching. "I can't lose anyone else. I can't. I've lost too much already."

"You won't lose anyone else," Katara declared, looking at Zuko. "While you and Azula find Indra, Zuko and I will ride on Druk to find Toph, Bor, and Suki. Then we'll go to find Sokka, Mai, Ty Lee, and the Kyoshi Warriors. Hopefully, they never made it to wherever Ozai's at. We need to split up so we can all be together again."

"And Samir?" Aang asked desperately. "Ursa?"

Azula immediately grabbed his shaking hand, voice reassuring; her belief was certain. "Once we trap Vaatu, we will be able to rescue them because we will have Indra. We will have the advantage."

Aang was quiet for several moments. "I don't want to keep splitting up."

"It's the only way," Zuko said softly. "This is all we can do. And we have to accept it. You and Azula have your job, and Katara and I have ours. We're going to save everyone. We're going to get all of them back."

"And we'll stop Vaatu and Ozai," Aang murmured, nodding his head; his hand tightly squeezed hers. "We'll never be here again."

Azula recalled those very words she said to him in the Immortal Realm and believed them even more now. "Yes. It may not seem like it, Aang, but we have momentum on our side. It started with King Lonin's assassination, continued with the Sun Warriors and meeting Dru, built at the North with preserving Tui and La, and it crescendos with the Phoenix, who will save Fire from Jet's plague."

Zuko blinked. "What?"

She realized that she never explained the Phoenix, that Aang had only told her about it in the Immortal Realm, when they were alone, not at the North in front of the others. "Aang stole some of Agni's flames and is making a new spirit, whose purpose is to lure all the chi-stealers to it, putting them all in one place for Aang."

"Who will purify them," Zuko finished, glancing at Aang in gratefulness. "Thank you, Aang. Fire will not go extinct."

Aang stared into the distance, gray eyes bright with power. "Neither will the world, but Vaatu will—that is where our momentum will carry us. For so long, Vaatu has risen to his power at our expense, but we are rising now as Vaatu falls; we are catching up. I will banish him to nothingness."

Azula believed him.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Sokka stared at Ursa in disbelief, feeling horrified. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Do you know how long you were… captured?"

After crossing into Zaofu, having determined they had created enough distance between themselves and Ozai and Vaatu after nearly a week of nonstop travel, they finally slowed down, and while Sokka's arms were screaming in pain from carrying Hama's unconscious body for so long, he kept going and periodically chi-blocked her body, making sure there would be no surprises. Thankfully, he and Haru split the time carrying Hama along. He had no idea how she was still alive, but he knew that she was fading quickly. He just hoped that she'd somehow wake up so that they could get some answers to give to Aang.

That would be the only thing that would make the whole thing worth it—if it could be worth it. Well, there was also rescuing Samir and Ursa, who he had no idea were kidnapped, but so much had happened—too much had happened.

He failed and got Koko, the other Kyoshi Warriors, Ty Lee, and Mai killed. It was an agonizing realization, one he couldn't face, not now. To distract himself, and hopefully Haru from the fact that their friends and loved ones had been slaughtered by Ozai, he had begun to question Ursa how she and Samir had been captured at the North.

He recalled how Ursa and Ozai were with each other during that horrifying, unbelievable, massive fight—and didn't that explain a lot about Ursa, not to mention Zuko and Azula?—and had a terrible feeling what the kidnapping had been like for Ursa, who might have faced the worst of it all, losing her husband, forced to try to kill him, and feeling the guilt of all the deaths of those who rescued her.

Well, Samir had clearly faced the worst of everything, unfortunately, unable to make sense of anything.

Then there was the fact that Ty Lee, Samir's cousin, was dead with no one but him knowing of their special heritage—he was going to have to explain it to Aang somehow.

He really didn't look forward to that conversation.

"No," Ursa answered, voice sounding eerily similar to Azula's; Samir was asleep in her arms. Sokka couldn't blame her; she was so obviously exhausted and traumatized. He didn't envy Aang and Azula's job in having to deal with it on top of everything else they had to deal with. But based on how close Ursa and Samir were, bonded closer than most grandmothers and granddaughters, Aang and Azula would have some help. "I do not care. All I care about is returning to my children."

He nodded. "We knew the North had been attacked, but… we never imagined…"

Ursa nodded in turn. "Avatar Aang was moments away from saving us, but Hama froze him before he could reach us."

Sokka felt rage claw at his mind; he wanted to throw Hama's body down and just leave her to die, but his reason narrowly won out. "Toro was right; she is the bitch."

"Toro?"

"He was how we got into the camp. I tricked him."

"Well done, Prince Sokka." Ursa stared at him with such gratefulness that it moved him; his eyes felt wet. "Thank you for rescuing us. And I am sorry for the losses you and Haru suffered as a result."

The tears began to well, and he inhaled roughly, seeing Haru squeeze his eyes shut. "Mai and Ty Lee told me that I would live to make it back to see Suki, but they never said they would."

"What are you saying?" Haru immediately demanded, features raw and grief-filled; his eyes were distorted with fury. "You think they knew they were going to… to die?"

Sokka rapidly shook his head, realizing that Haru was unstable—rightly so. Right now, they were all a little unstable. "No, but if that prophecy came true for me, I wish they had mentioned that they'd make it back, too. Maybe… they wouldn't have died, then."

Haru's eyes looked like a Firebender's; it was disconcerting, especially when he stomped towards him. "They wouldn't have died if you hadn't been so stupid! You were so convinced that your master was alive that you overlooked the signs! You failed to realize that it was Ozai the whole fucking time!"

"Enough," Ursa hissed out, eyes dangerous. "I know you are grieving, but- "

"Let's not forget that you love the son of a bitch," Haru sneered, glaring at Ursa with poison. "We all heard you—heard what you said to him! You're never going to remember him with hatred, only love! What kind of- "

Ursa's face shuddered. "I am sorry about Ty Lee—I am. I was always fond of her. I do not expect you to understand—I do not ask that you understand. What I do ask is that you look at the evidence and realize that I made my choice. I stand against him; I tried to kill him." She wiped sudden tears from her golden eyes. "I revealed my loyalties, and he confirmed his. We will always love each other, but we will never have each other again."

Sokka didn't voice his very real suspicion that part of Ursa was glad to have been kidnapped so she could have Ozai again and say everything she never got to say, getting the closure she never received. "But Haru's right about me," he said instead, feeling choked up. The deaths of Mai, Ty Lee, and Koko and the Kyoshi Warriors were on his head. "It was all a lie that I couldn't see coming; it's my fault. My ass is beyond sore because I was fucked so hard by Ozai's deception."

Ursa stopped walking and whirled to face both him and Haru, features drawn with deep anger and truth. "The fault is none but Ozai and Vaatu's. Their memory will not tear us apart—we cannot allow it. We need to lean on each other as we venture back to Ba Sing Se. We are not enemies. We are allies—friends."

Haru swallowed thickly and looked at Sokka. "I'm sorry."

He nodded, understanding his eruption. "Me, too. We need rest. Based on what I remember, there should be a town up ahead. We'll rest there. We'll get a doctor for Hama and see what he can do; hopefully, we'll get answers. We need them."

XxXxXxXxXxX

Bor looked up at Toph as he finished peeling off the gauze and strips on her feet, which reeked of infection; he could smell it now—and the sight of her feet more than confirmed it, swollen and discolored with puss leaking everywhere through the blackened cracks.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I want to clean them, but- "

"It's no use," Toph said, blind eyes staring at nothing. "They're fucked up forever; they need to be amputated. Me being a bender isn't enough to stop the process anymore."

Bor swallowed and grabbed her hands. "I know."

Toph's blind eyes slowly filled with angry tears, and Bor felt helpless. "You have to do it," she gasped, trembling. "It has to be you—I don't trust anyone more."

He hesitated. "You're going to scream- "

"No shit."

"We may be kicked out of the inn," he pointed out quietly. "We're lucky we even have the room with no coins."

Stumbling into the town, the manager of the inn had shown mercy and offered them a room free of charge for several days, but Bor knew that if they were to stay, he would have to find a job to provide for Toph, Suki, and Jin. They were regrouping, trying to determine the best strategy, but since Suki was becoming more and more pregnant each day, and had been under such incredible stress in the past many weeks, it looked like they were going to stay in the town, stay at the inn as long as they could.

Toph sniffed and wiped at her face with a shaking hand. "I'll bite down on something."

Bor squeezed her hands gently. "It's going to be okay- "

Her breathing was rough. "I'm not getting my hopes up."

"Why not?"

"Because then I won't get my heart broken when I realize it's hopeless."

Bor kissed her forehead. "I love you, and I hate this."

"That's why I'm asking you to do it," she whispered, voice wavering, though her milky eyes were wide with conviction. "I'm going to die soon- "

His eyes widened. "What? No, you're- "

"The infection's already spread past my feet—it's inevitable. Amputating my feet will give me some time, but it's too late."

Bor recognized the look on her face. "How long have you known?"

Toph raised her shoulders slightly. "Since a week ago or so. The moment I noticed the smell of the infection in my feet, we should have amputated them—it was the only way. But I didn't have the courage to go through with it. Now it's too late, and I want a few more weeks or months with you before I did. I wanted to marry you before I die, say yes to that proposal I know you're going to ask."

He squeezed his eyes shut, in impotent despair, despite his best efforts; he recognized rationally that Toph was right, but he wanted so desperately—so hysterically—to deny it. "You want to marry me?"

Her hand patted his neck blindly. "I love you, too—I thought you knew that."

"I wasn't sure."

"Are you going to ask me or not?"

Bor's laughter was hysterical. "You want me to marry you after chopping off your feet?"

Toph's face was serious. "Yes. You're the only one I trust to do it; you're the only one who will get it—who gets me."

"I'll never marry another woman if you die- "

"When I die," Toph whispered in correction. "It's coming, Bor—I feel it. I think I have a few weeks. But don't be stupid—you need to marry again- "

"My line must stop," he growled, firm. "The only reason I would see it continue is if you're my queen. I don't say it to pressure you—it's a fact. In my blood is inbred rape and murder."

"I think your blood's pretty great if it made you."

"You don't see how ugly I am."

"I don't see how ugly I am—I think we both win."

Bor swallowed. "You're not ugly."

"Neither are you," Toph said, cracking a painful smile. "You'll still love me without my feet?"

"I'd love you without your breasts."

Toph sniffed and laughed. "I don't think I could love you without your testicles—you're better than me."

"I'm really not," he whispered. "I don't know if I can do it."

Her grip tightened almost painfully. "You have to," she hissed, angry tears swimming in her milky eyes. "Suki or Jin can't do it—I'm not going to ask it of them."

Bor shuddered in horror, feeling cold. "But you ask of it me."

"Because I trust you," Toph said simply in a wheeze. "You're the only one. I love you. I want to marry you, and only my husband has the right to do this- "

"No one should have the right to do it," he said, pressing his fingertips against his closed eyelids, pressing hard. "I know I have to do it—I know I'll do it. But now?"

"There's no better time. I don't want Suki and Jin to be here when we do it. They'll make it harder than it has to be."

Bor was powerfully tempted to make it harder than it had to be himself. "I know."

"You have to amputate them—use lava if you have to. You said you learned it."

Bor flinched violently at the image of his father amputating Grandfather's limbs with lava. "Right. I need a minute," he choked out, feeling nauseous; he might vomit. "I'll be back."

Toph nodded. "Okay."

He squeezed her hands one last time before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him, bracing himself on the inn's walls as he staggered outside, beginning to weep.

He was going to be his father reborn.

His footsteps were heavy as he trudged through the hall, into the lobby, and out of the inn. Fresh air assaulted him and he stopped, breathing it in, remaining frozen for several long moments, mind racing and slowing—a terrible paradox.

He didn't know what to do. It hadn't turned out as he had thought, and he had to adjust, but yet, while they were stuck in this town, Avatar Aang was somewhere having to deal with Vaatu and Ozai. For all they knew, enemies loitered in the town, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

The future didn't look good, but it became even worse as he prepared himself for what he needed to do. He had to amputate his, for all intents and purposes, wife's feet, her source of sight and vision. It became worse as he thought about Toph dying a slow, miserable death from an infection given to her by his father.

Bor returned to his slow pace as he walked towards the market, frustration and helplessness warring for control. He felt useless, like a failure. If he couldn't even make the most of this situation, couldn't rise above it, how could he possibly be King of Ba Sing Se, emulating Grandfather and be as great a king as he was? How could he be a good husband to Toph by not finding a solution? How could he be good at all? How could he live with himself?

He was barely able to take care of three—no, five because Suki's pregnant—people. How could he take care of the most populated city in the world?

If the past was the best predictor of the future, he was going to fail as king; he was a failure at everything else, including being a husband.

Toph was going to die, and he was going to have to watch her die, after amputating her feet.

Could he go through with it? He knew he had to, that too much time had passed, but could he live with himself if he did it, if he did such a thing to his own wife?

Shaking his head, he turned the corner, near the market, and he looked up just in time to avoid running into another man.

"Sorry about that," he said, stepping back.

The man grunted, his long beard swaying in the air. "That's the second time in the past five minutes someone almost runs into me. At least you're a better sight than the woman that guy was carrying."

Bor nodded, not really paying attention, beginning to crane his head to look for the forms of Jin and Suki; maybe they would have solutions. Toph didn't want them to know about the plan to amputate her feet, wanting to do it alone without any drama—or any more drama—but he had to get their thoughts. He hated betraying Toph, but it seemed like the only way. It was the only thing he could do to stop from going insane.

It seemed like something Grandfather would do, whereas amputating Toph's feet seemed like something his father would do.

How could he do it?

"Yeah," he mumbled. "I know what you mean."

"You've been in war?"

"No."

"Didn't think so. You don't look old enough. I doubt you even had any hair on your ass when the Great War ended."

"It's spooky you know that," he muttered, not seeing Suki or Jin yet.

"I played a small role in the Great War, but no one remembers me. You know what they say, right?"

"Not really," he said, still craning his neck for Suki or Jin, wanting the guy to go away. Could he not see that? Maybe he was blind like Toph. "Probably something memorable."

"Behind those with the power, the ones that are remembered, there are a bunch of nameless faces that will always be forgotten. And I'm one of those nameless faces. I did what I could to help Earth, to destroy Fire, but no one will remember me."

Bor nodded again half-heartedly. "It's unfair, isn't it?"

"Exactly. And that woman that Water Tribesman was carrying will probably be forgotten, too."

He snapped his gaze and attention back to the man. "What did you say?"

"The guy who ran into me before you, he was Water, it looked like. I think the woman, too, but she was injured bad."

Bor grabbed the man's arm, eyes desperate; frenzied hope bloomed inside. Was it Princess Katara and Prince Sokka? "Where'd they go?"

"They asked directions for the inn- "

He took off, dashing back towards the inn, mind focused on one thing. When he raced back into the lobby of the inn, he wildly looked around but saw no one. Cursing, he noticed that the manager wasn't at the desk, either.

Bor pivoted and ran down the hall, twisting and turning, looking for any signs of blood or something that would show him where the Water man and woman were, but before he could desperately shout, he collided with another man. They both fell to the floor, and Bor winced when he realized that it was the manager.

"Sorry about tha- " Bor cut himself off with a strangled gasp when he looked past the manager, for he was staring suddenly into Prince Sokka's stupefied eyes. Behind Prince Sokka, Dowager Fire Lady Ursa and Samir—Samir!—and another man who carried himself as an Earthbender stood.

"Bor?" Prince Sokka breathed out, and Bor finally noticed the Water woman—it wasn't Princess Katara—held in his arms.

Suddenly, the future looked a lot better.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Hey, Hitchhiker," Toph greeted, voice cracking to Samir as Samir walked into the room with Ursa and Sokka; there was no clear surprise on Toph's face as Bor had already notified her of the miracle, leaving quickly to go find Suki and a newcomer named Jin, based on what Sokka had put together in the chaotic rush of communicating a lifetime of information in a few rushed, frantic minutes. "I didn't think I'd hear you again."

"Toph!" Samir exclaimed and rushed at her, staring at her in confusion; it was the first time Samir had spoken since the ordeal with Ozai and fleeing the chaos and battle. Sokka had been becoming very worried about her, but now that she was speaking, her gray eyes were clear, shining with confusion. It was a mind-numbing relief. "You're hurt!"

"You should see the other guy."

It had been the third biggest shock of Sokka's life, randomly running into his wife, Bor, Toph, and a woman named Jin—third to after finding out that Piandao was actually Ozai and freeing Aang from the Iceberg and discovering he was The Avatar. But while Suki and Jin were at the market, Bor sent to find them and bring them back, Sokka felt sick as he looked at Toph, seeing the state she was in. Bor had pulled him aside and warned him of her condition, how it was severe and serious, inevitable to die because of terrible infection.

"Toph, I'm so sorry," Sokka whispered, finally having the courage to look at her, wincing. Here he was, perfectly fine physically, while Toph had lost her vision and, thus, her earthbending, and looked near death with how pale and sweat she was—and would die in the next weeks, according to Bor, who looked like he wanted to die, too.

Ba Sing Se had been hit, and Bumi was dead.

He had missed so much and experienced so much.

Toph hugged Samir, patting her head. "It's fine, Snoozles- "

Sokka sat Hama down on the other bed, to which his arms wept in relief, and approached Toph. "Toph, I'm sorry. Bor told me what happened."

Toph swallowed and pointedly looked down at Samir, who hugged Toph tightly, crying. "Did he tell you about the other thing?"

About her dying, obviously, which she didn't want to mention directly because of Samir's presence. "Yeah, he did," he confirmed softly. "We'll do something- "

"It's no use; it's bye-bye feet, followed by me."

Samir reached up and kissed Toph's cheek. "Daddy will get here, Toph! He'll help you!"

Toph smiled slightly. "Thanks, Hitchhiker. It's good to feel you."

"Samir, come here," Ursa said quietly but firmly. "They need to talk. We will talk to the manager about getting a connected room. Come, as well, Haru."

Sokka had just planned to bust down the wall connecting the room to the next, consequences be damned, but he supposed that wasn't good manners and watched as Samir bounded out of the room with Ursa, followed by a subdued Haru, leaving him alone with Toph. "You're going to die," he whispered.

Toph blew her bangs out of her eyes needlessly. "Yep. Do you want to see them?" Before he could answer, Toph ripped the blanket away from her feet, and Sokka flinched at the sight—and immediate smell. Her feet were rotting, discolored, and swollen to a massive degree; they looked like they might even possibly just fall off.

"Fucking cunt," he muttered, placing his face in his hands in grief, trying to wonder how it was all possible. "I'm so sorry."

"The Butcher's dead—Bumi got him."

"Good."

Thankfully, Toph put the blanket back over her feet. "Bumi's dead, too."

"I know. Mai and Ty Lee are dead, too—so are all the Kyoshi Warriors."

"I gathered," she replied quietly. "Samir feels all kinds of wrong; her heart goes way too fast, like she's stuck in fear."

Sokka winced. "She and Ursa were kidnapped by Ozai. Ozai and Vaatu invaded the North; Arnook's dead, apparently—so is Hahn. And Aang barely got there in time from what Ursa said, but he was too late to rescue her and Samir from Ozai and Vaatu. But Aang stopped Ozai and Vaatu from taking the Ocean and Moon, depriving them of powerful allies."

Toph's face slackened. "You're kidding."

"I wish," he agreed, worn. "So much has been happening to all of us. And just so you know—Piandao was Ozai; his identity was stolen."

Silence.

"Of fucking course," Toph mumbled, shaking her head. "I hate the world for letting this all happen."

Sokka felt similarly. "I know. Fire's near extinction, the North's near extinction, and Earth's probably near extinction by now. If none are near extinction, we're all at least endangered; this is a critical generation. It's all like Air. The only place untouched by this whole thing, as far as I know, is the South and maybe the Air Temples."

It was an unbelievable relief to know that his home was untouched after being so violated during the Great War, but he didn't have much hope that it would remain that way.

"I'm going to marry Bor."

Sokka was too tired to feel surprised. "Good for you."

"I want to marry him before I die."

Considering how he felt about Suki, he understood her instinct. "That makes sense."

Toph's head tilted, though her milky eyes looked at his general location from a strange angle. "Can you marry us?"

Sokka blinked. "Me?"

"You're the Chief of the North."

He had actually forgotten about that new fact with everything that had happened. "Right."

"Can you do it?"

Sokka saw the not-so-hidden desperation on her face and swallowed. "Yeah, I can do it; I will do it."

Toph sniffed and cracked a smile. "Thanks. When you see Katara again, just tell her I made it to be a proper girl."

He wanted to shout at the top of his lungs that Toph would live to see Katara and tell her herself, but he couldn't do it—because Toph was going to die before she would ever see Katara again. "I'll tell her a lot more than that," he promised.

"Tell her that she's a damn good mom, but she wasn't only that to me—she was a friend."

Sokka couldn't control his rising emotions and felt several tears leak out of his eyes. "I will."

"Tell Zuko that he's the best fucking Fire Lord the world's ever seen."

"I will," he said, agreeing with her estimation.

"Tell Azula she's worth the second chance she got."

He had started believing that himself and nodded. "I will."

Toph swallowed. "And tell Aang that I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend."

Before he could agree to her request, he heard footsteps outside the room, before the door opened.

"Look who it is," Bor called out as he entered the room, followed by three women and one child, one of whom he recognized instantly.

Sokka immediately threw himself at his much-more-noticeably pregnant wife when he saw her. Of course, Samir was poking at Suki's large, swollen belly, saying how big Suki had gotten, like it was an amazing, unbelievable thing, but there were an equal number of laughs and tears shared. Crowded into the room in the inn, Sokka learned of everything that had happened—both sides did. Tears were shed and vows sworn, but beneath it all, the happiness and relief of a reunion were ever-present.

Digesting the terrible news, one thing stood out to him above all others—besides, of course, the fact that Toph was dying. "We're having twins?" he whispered, holding Suki against his chest tightly, his hands gently cupping her swollen stomach. "I- I thought… just one."

"We're safe because of Toph," Suki murmured, remorse permeating the air. "I was captured, but she and Bor surrendered to save me."

Looking at Toph, how defeated she looked, a shell of the confident, boisterous woman he had always known, grief and unimaginable gratefulness filled him. "Thank you, Toph, for what you did for Suki. Because of you, my family's still here. How can I ever repay you?"

Toph's lips twitched into a familiar smirk, and he was so relieved to see it. "Let me name both your kids. Suki already promised me one."

Sokka didn't even have to think about it. "Done. What else?"

"Snoozles, I didn't do it because I wanted rewards or anything." Toph's milky eyes somehow stared right at him, and he stared back even though it was pointless. "I did it because… I love you guys. You're family to me. And that includes your kids."

"Suki's so big 'cause she has two," Samir said, nodding her head, like she just put it together.

Ursa smiled and combed Samir's long hair. "Yes, well said."

Suki chuckled. "How kind of you to notice, Samir."

"Thanks!" Samir beamed and curled into Ursa's side; it was something that Sokka had noticed. Ever since they had escaped Ozai, Samir refused to be separated from Ursa. He really didn't like to think about what that meant, but he had chilling suspicions.

"Where there's death, there's always life," Bor stated softly, eyes distant, clearly thinking about Bumi's death and Toph's imminent one. Sokka was still coming to terms with the fact that Bumi was dead; he didn't want to be there when Aang found out. "Even with all of this happening, all of this death and murder, loss of good friends, we have something to look forward to, it looks like—somehow."

Sokka swallowed, feeling wetness in his eyes. "They're my heirs. One for the North and one for the South. Yue knew what she was doing."

Suki nodded, her head pleasantly scratching against his chest; he had missed her so much. "She did. We owe much to her."

"I wonder how the North is," he said. "I hope… I hope it's not gone."

"I believe Avatar Aang warded it off," Ursa commented, poised. "Avatar Aang and my children would ensure the North survived—as well as Princess Katara."

Sokka looked at her, desperate. "How was she—Katara? Like, really? How was she? Was she okay the last time you saw her? Was she giving lectures? That means she has to be okay."

Ursa's eyes softened. "Yes, she was, Prince Sokka. She will be an excellent Fire Lady for my son; they will rule Fire with grace and order. They will help Avatar Aang ensure that no more wars will dominate the world."

Not really surprised at how far Katara and Zuko's relationship had progressed—and really, he was relieved that she was going to be with one of his friends, who he knew would always treat her right—Sokka nodded. Plus, she would be Fire Lady, and because of it, she'd be able to wield great influence with Fire and the Fire Lord himself, who, as much as it pained him to admit it, was the most powerful of the world's leaders, second only to Aang.

"We're all going to help with that," Bor murmured, determination tangible. "Our group consists of the most powerful people in the world—The Avatar, the Fire Lord, Princess Azula, the Chief of the Water Tribes, the King of Ba Sing Se, the future Queen of Ba Sing Se who's also the first Metalbender, the Dowager Fire Lady, the future Fire Lady in Katara who's a powerful Waterbender, and the heir to Chyung's throne."

While Toph's head bowed in clear recognition that she wouldn't be part of that list much longer, Jin, the widowed noblewoman from Ba Sing Se who was apparently the cousin of Chyung's murdered King and, thus the heir, looked up, startled. "Thank you, King Bor."

Toph grinned slightly, a vestige of her former self appearing as she punched her fist into her cupped palm, the sound loud. "And Queen Tough, remember?"

Jin looked grateful. "Thank you, King Bor and… Queen Tough."

Sokka tried to conjure outrage that Bor had listed Azula before him, but he couldn't; he just felt relief that, when outlined like that, their chances suddenly looked so much better—even though they had lost so fucking much and seemed to keep losing. "And not to mention, we can rely on Iroh back in the Fire Nation; he's the Dragon of the West. He's of Sozin's line."

"You have me," Samir protested, looking sullen. "I can help."

"You have helped more than you know," Ursa responded kindly. "You have given your father hope for the revival of his race. You are a piece of him that no one else will ever have. When this war is over, you are the start of Air's revival."

Samir beamed, unaware of whose blood flowed in her veins, unaware she had lost a cousin who wanted the best for her. Sokka closed his eyes at the reminder of Samir's special heritage that he would have to explain to Aang and Azula since Ty Lee was dead; he had to do it alone, sharing that heritage as an outsider instead of an insider—it was painful.

"This war better end quickly," Haru hissed, eyes squeezed shut. "I want it over."

"We all do," Jin said adamantly with an intense sorrow. "We have all lost much."

Sokka looked around, observing the faces of everyone, and realized that he had been the most blessed. He had lost nothing except friends; he still had his wife, children, and sister—and future brother-in-law in Zuko. Toph had lost her future father-in-law, and her vision since her feet were scorched—and soon her life once the infection took her. Bor had lost his grandfather, the man he adored and looked up to more than anyone. Jin had lost her husband and cousin. Haru had lost his father and all of the men in his village to who he had learned was the Butcher, and he had lost Ty Lee, his lover, to Ozai. Sokka was certain that Ursa, to spare Samir whatever agony she could, had given her body to Ozai—he would bet his life on it—and had to separate from Ozai, who she loved, and tried to kill him, putting an end definitely to any hope of reconciliation and love. And he was certain Samir had lost her innocence.

"We're going to rebuild," he declared softly, feeling the grief in his heart for everyone they had lost, and he was sure they would lose more before this new war with Ozai and Vaatu was over. "We will. We'll rebuild the Four Nations in a way that will make sure this never happens again."

Bor nodded, but his gaze slid to the still unconscious Hama, who Sokka had nearly forgotten about; she was laid on one of the beds, chi still blocked, and just in case, tied with rope to the bedposts. "Will she help us rebuild, or will she seek to destroy?"

Sokka knew the answer. "Destroy. She's too far gone. She saved us, but it wasn't out of the goodness of her heart; it was to get vengeance on Ozai—I know it was. It was for personal gain."

Ursa shook her head. "Do not be so certain. I conversed with her while there. She is more complex than you think."

As far as Sokka was concerned, anyone who had allied with Ozai was polardog shit. "I don't care. The only reason she's still alive is that she's a valuable source of information. Our entire mission was to get the informant in Ozai's camp, thinking it was Piandao. That backfired like a horrible disease, but we still got our informant—but in Hama. She's our informant—that's the only reason I don't kill her."

And there was that strange thing about Hama referring to him as her grandnephew. What was that about? Were they actually related? He didn't have any memory of Hama sharing such a thing all those years ago. Did Katara know? Had Katara known and kept it from him?

No, it was just a trick Hama was playing.

Toph's fingers jammed into the ground, harshly probing for vibrations. "I can't believe it's her. It is her, but she's different. The vibrations are hard to feel, but what I can feel, they're more vibrant than how she felt a decade ago even though she's also really hurt. I don't know how she's alive."

"It's because she's at least forty or fifty years younger," he said, still in disbelief how it was possible. He knew it was Vaatu, but he had no idea how. "She's not that really old woman she was back in the Great War; she looks like Ursa's age now—maybe a little older."

"Doesn't really help me, Snoozles."

He winced. "Sorry. But she's a lot younger. And I only know that Vaatu had something to do with it, but I don't know how he made her so much younger. It's insane. And she's alive because she's stubborn."

Ursa fingers gently wrapped around Samir's small hand. "We owe our liberation, our very lives to Hama. She joined Ozai freely, but it was a deception; she did not know his identity."

Sokka flinched at how similar he was to Hama, who may, apparently, be his grandaunt, possibly Gran-gran's sister if his math was correct.

"What are you saying?" Suki finally asked, and Sokka inherently knew that her amazing eyes were narrowed. "You wish to give Hama her freedom? I guarantee she will attack us; she will kill without hesitation."

"Of which I am aware," Ursa replied. "However, we are beholden to her, whether we like it or not. Samir will see her parents again as I will my children. Prince Sokka returned to you due to her interference."

Haru tensed, and Sokka prepared for an eruption but all that happened was a shutting of the eyes. "But she couldn't save Ty Lee or Mai or Koko and the Kyoshi Warriors."

Suki stiffened against him, and Sokka squeezed her gently, trying not to remember his friends' last moments. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," she whispered.

"It's hers," Haru responded for him, pointing at the unconscious Hama. "And Ozai's. And Vaatu's. Speaking of, how do we know that this isn't a ploy by Ozai? Maybe he knew we'd take her with us."

Sokka raised his brows, knowing that he had to play it carefully. Haru was irrational, filled with grief. "I don't think Ozai would have Hama kill all of his men- "

"Ozai killed the rest of his army."

That was true—all for Ursa, apparently, probably in some desperate bid to get her back on his side. It was really fucked up, but everything about Ozai was.

"But he wouldn't do that just so he could get a spy in our ranks."

Haru deflated, but his eyes remained piercing. "I still don't trust her."

"Don't worry about that," he assured. "None of us trust her. She's only still with us because she has information that she can give Aang—that's it, believe me."

Toph's face pinched. "What if she tries to use her bloodbending? She'll kill all of us. And Aang and Katara aren't here to stop her."

Sokka tried not to glance at Haru. "Ty Lee taught me chi-blocking. I'm keeping Hama's chi blocked at all times."

Jin leaned forward. "You said she's a… Bloodbender?"

"She's the most dangerous non-Avatar Waterbender in the world," he informed. "Even more dangerous than my sister. Because she'll use bloodbending without caring for consequences or anything. She can control the blood in your body; it's terrifying. She's done it to me before."

"And me," Toph added, shivering. "She's a total bitch."

"That's for sure," Sokka muttered. "The men at Ozai's camp were calling her the bitch. And they were right. But she's powerful. She was able to hold back the merged Vaatu and Ozai. It was incredible. I thought for sure he would immediately break free, but he didn't. She was injured; it was that energy blast that nearly disintegrated her. That led to her passing out."

"My husband is not Avatar Aang," Ursa cut in, voice certain. "I witnessed Hama hold both my husband and Avatar Aang in her bloodbending grip. She was only capable of holding Avatar Aang for mere moments at full health. I assure you, if the pain in her weakened body had not overwhelmed her, she could have held my husband longer and, I am certain, killed him."

Toph groaned. "That would have been so nice."

"Definitely," Bor breathed out, frustration on his face. Sokka couldn't blame him because he felt the same way. "This new war could have already been finished!"

"It will be finished," Ursa reminded. "It is inevitable. Ozai is inferior to Avatar Aang. Vaatu's power, I believe, is still incomplete. The only reason my husband survived was Vaatu's untimely manifestation."

After Ursa herself had plunged a fire dagger into Ozai's chest.

Sokka sighed, still having deep trouble processing everything; he really didn't want to remember any of it. "That's something we can tell Aang when we find him."

Bor leaned forward, a hand on Toph's arm, squeezing softly. "Speaking of Avatar Aang, do you have any ideas as to where he is?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "We knew he was going to the Sun Warriors, and then we assumed he went to the North, but then we thought he'd be at Ba Sing Se by the time we got back from our mission. I don't know where he could be."

"He may have ventured to the Fire Nation to meet with Iroh," Ursa mused. "Zuko might have wished to see how our race is faring with the plague."

"It's possible, but we just don't know."

Toph looked down in defeat, and Bor shook his head. "That's not good enough. We need to heal Toph's feet."

Sokka understood and then froze in realization, an idea coming to him; he was desperate enough to voice it. "Hama…"

"No," Toph growled, crushing the sudden hope on Bor's face; Sokka felt bad for voicing the idea, giving him that hope. "Not happening, Snoozles. I'd rather kill her than have her touch my feet—I'd rather die than let her touch me. And we're not splitting up again. We need to stick together. Besides, you said it looks like she's about to croak any moment."

"We're not losing anyone else," Haru vowed, but Bor flinched at the obvious reminder that Toph, actually, was going to be lost, particularly after Toph shut down the idea for Hama to heal her. "We've lost too much."

"And my… feet are a small price to pay if it means that all of us survive." Sokka knew she was speaking code to prevent Samir—and possibly Suki and Jin, for all he knew—from knowing the truth that she was dying with weeks to live—if that. "It's worth it—I have no regrets."

Sokka felt overwhelmed, knowing what Toph referred; tears were in his eyes, but his voice was clear. "Here's what we'll do. We'll stay here for a few days, rest up and recuperate, but then we're traveling again. All of us together. I've still got some money, and I'll buy an ostrich horse that Toph and Suki can alternate- "

Toph blindly waved her hand at him. "Give it to Suki."

"Alright," he conceded, not trying to fight her on it. "I'll buy an ostrich horse for Suki, and then I'll buy us a few more rooms, too. Because while we're resting, I'm gonna get a doctor to look at Hama, see what they can do. Maybe he could check on you, too, Toph."

"Wouldn't do any good."

Again, Sokka didn't try to fight her on it, but he damn well intended to have the doctor look anyway, even if he had to hold Toph down; by glancing at Bor, he knew he had a more-than-firm ally on his side for it. "Then Bor, Haru, and I can take turns carrying you and maybe Hama, depending if she's still alive when we leave."

Haru finally cracked a smile. "This isn't going to go well."

"Don't care. We're together and that's what matters. We need Hama, no matter how much I just want to leave her here to die."

"I believe this is our best course of action," Ursa commented, nodding her head. "Avatar Aang's sky bison- "

"Appa!" Samir supplied, gray eyes brightening in hope. "We're gonna see Mommy and Daddy?"

Sokka stared at her and tried to smile; it wasn't as hard as he thought. "We're gonna try. And we'll keep an eye out for Appa. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Samir beamed. "I miss Appa. And what about Druk?"

"What's a druk?" he asked, incredulous.

Ursa smiled kindly. "I suppose I did forget to mention that my son bonded with the newest dragon in existence—a male whom Zuko named Druk."

Sokka blinked before laughing. "Well, now Appa won't get tired from hauling our fat ass- our fat butts everywhere."

Suki's neck craned back, and she found his gaze, amused. "Nice save."

"I'll be a father soon," he said simply. "I figured I should try to clean up my language."

Ursa eyes crinkled with warmth. "I commend you, Prince Sokka. What is it, Samir?"

Looking at Samir, Sokka noted that she looked desperate, eyes wide. "What is it?" he echoed.

"What about Mommy and Daddy?" Samir asked, panicked. "What about Appa and Druk? And Aunt Katara and Uncle Zuzu?"

"We will search the skies for them," Ursa affirmed with determination.

Looking at everyone's faces, feeling Suki in his arms, Sokka nodded, resolute. "I think we're due for some luck."

XxXxXxXxXxX

The wind was rough as Aang urged Appa to fly faster, and Azula remained worried by his state of mind. He had yet to say a word since their departure from Ba Sing Se and Zuko and Katara. She had watched him, feeling something inside of her twist when tears streaked off his face, flicking into the rushing wind, lost forever until they made contact with the earth.

He had spilled so many tears, she had had the thought that somewhere, it was thought to be raining.

But now, his tears had dried; he could cry no more. His head was buried in Wan Shi Tong's scroll, silent. Not even Appa produced sounds, knowing of the solemn atmosphere.

Azula decided to act. "What does the scroll say?"

Aang's eyes flickered up to meet hers; they were still piercing and stormy—and brilliant in willpower. "It's in the Earth Kingdom on an island. Before Avatar Kirku built the four Air Temples, my people all lived in this single temple—the first Air Temple. But they were discovered by the Earth Kingdom, which the island was part of, and the Earth Kingdom wasn't happy about it because they assumed they were going to be conquered."

She remembered, nodding her head. "For Earth and Water were still living together. With the inclusion of Air, Earth was outnumbered."

"My people went to Avatar Kirku, who built the four Air Temples as a result. But while Kirku was gone, the Earth Kingdom was so frightened about the possibility of being conquered that they attacked Water, nearly driving them into extinction. That's when Kirku brought what remained of his race to the North, which he built that, too—and also convinced, or tricked, Tui and La to sacrificing their immortality to help Water rebuild."

"He was a remarkable builder," she observed. "Do you have that talent?"

"Only through The Avatar State."

"How far to this temple?"

"It shouldn't be too much longer. It's near the Cave of Two Lovers. I don't know how I missed seeing it the first time. It's not easy to miss seeing an Air Temple."

Azula pursed her lips. "Which does not allow us much time to converse."

Aang stiffened; his gray eyes flashed. "I'm not talking about Bumi. I failed. That's what happened."

"You may be The Avatar- "

"But I can't be everywhere at once, I know," Aang snapped, closing Wan Shi Tong's scroll, aggression highlighted in his movements. "I'm not all-knowing. But I should have known. It was Bumi. My… my friend." His face wavered, a devastation in his eyes that no tears could ever wash away, and Azula felt her features soften, debating inwardly her course of action. "I should have felt something. I felt it when my race died; when I went back and let it happen, I felt it; I felt everything. It should have been the same with Bumi. But I didn't feel a thing; I had no idea, unaware. While I was doing something else at the Sun Warriors or at the North, Bumi was being tortured and killed. And Bumi died because of it."

She reached forward and was relieved when he did not pull away from her touch. "That is how us mortals feel—limited."

"And I'm mortal, too—I know."

Azula smiled sadly. "Yes. Even prodigies are limited. In some ways, we are more limited than others, for when faced with hardship, it is unfamiliar and foreign. We do not possess the skills necessary to endure it and triumph."

Aang inhaled raggedly. "I know all about hardship—it's all I've ever faced."

"Yet you are still troubled."

"Hardship's always something you're troubled by. I've thought a lot about death. Those close to The Avatar are always at risk. This whole new war has proven I have enemies, and those enemies will attack those close to me to get at me. To harm me. To wound me." He suddenly clasped her hand with his, grip strong as steel; his breathing increased. "Like how Vaatu tried to kill you in the Immortal Realm."

"Yet I still exist," she reminded, the pain in her hand expanding, but she endured it.

"But Bumi doesn't!" Aang cried out, jaw fraught with terrible tension; his face spasmed with contradictions, eyes teeming with chaos. "All the times, in my fear, when I've imagined my loved ones dying, it was always everyone else."

Azula frowned, and she could not determine if it was a reaction to his words or the pain in her hand from the strength of his grip. "Meaning?"

The tears came, spilling down onto their joined hands, and Aang's face scrunched with raw devastation. "I never imagined Bumi dying. It never occurred to me. Never crossed my mind. Him and Appa were… they were…"

"They are your past," she finished softly in understanding. "They are integral to who you once were—and are. I understand—the past is how you determine who you are by cultivating your memories."

"Now it's only Appa and my memories." Her hand began to feel unbearable under the strength of his grip, but she allowed him to continue to speak. "My memories were never enough to begin with, but I felt at peace about it after I went back and saw Gyatso—I felt peace. I didn't think it was possible. But now I don't feel peace—I can't. It's all too much. I know everyone dies—I know it more than anyone to ever live and die. I watched my race die and let it happen because I understood it. But despite understanding it, for some reason, I thought Bumi would always be here. I thought… I thought- … I mean, the Great War couldn't kill him, nor all of the losses he suffered, including his many children's deaths, amongst which his daughter was raped. I thought he was invincible. I thought I'd always have him." He inhaled roughly, voice shaking. "I thought he'd beat Chin V's invasion."

Although Azula never knew one of King Bumi's daughters was raped, she was not surprised—the Great War was a dreadful thing. "I thought he would, as well."

"I thought I would get a break," Aang confessed. "Just once, I thought I would get a break; I thought I wouldn't lose him, my last friend from then, when I was the Boy. I thought something would go right for me just this once. I understood Air's murder, and I understand Bumi's death—I do. But that doesn't mean I like either. When will all this stop? I want it to stop—I want there to be peace."

"The chaos must run its course," she said after a moment. "To not let it will only produce more chaos in the long run and deny peace."

Aang laughed darkly. "Which is how we get in this position in the first place—and because I've never known what I was doing. Bumi paid the price—so many have."

"He died, yes, but he lived a worthy life, despite his horrors," Azula swore in a fierce murmur, trying to generate enough strength in her fingers to squeeze his hand, but Aang's sheer grip on her hand overwhelmed whatever bits of pitiful strength she could conjure in comparison. "Toph, Bor, and Suki are still living—where, we have yet to discern. Ba Sing Se will rebuilt again; Earth is resilient."

"But it was at the cost of Bumi's life, and Bumi was Earth's greatest hero."

"That is what a worthy king is willing to risk." She could not bear it any longer, so she pulled her hand out of Aang's, feeling the blood rush back into the affected areas. "And King Bumi was most worthy, Aang. I saw it. And you did, as well."

Aang stared at her hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was hurting you."

She waved him off. "I will be fine, but will you? Will you be able to reason going forward? Or will you act with a grieving heart?"

He was quiet for several moments, staring at her. "I've always acted with a grieving heart—I'm used to it. I know I have to do something. I'm finishing this war—I swear it on my essence."

"I believe you," Azula agreed. "We will be victorious, and you will survive. But your actions determine who survives with you."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you act rashly, you are The Avatar, so you will be unaffected. But everyone else will suffer, both allies and enemies. You cannot act rashly, for your decisions affect the course of events, affect the very future of the world. You must reason instead of feel."

Aang's jaw clenched. "I'm too raw. I don't think I can do that right now."

"You can. I firmly believe that."

"Why?"

"You have lost more than anyone, but you are still standing. Your strength is remarkable—extraordinary."

Irritation swept across his face. "I'm The Avatar."

Azula shook her head, realizing that his humble nature would never accept the truth of his prowess. "That is not the reason," she observed, lips pulling into a proud smile; her husband's fortitude surpassed anyone through history. She knew—she knew! "You are also Aang, remember? Not just The Avatar. What did you tell me about the nature versus form? The Avatar is your nature and takes on the form of Aang, and it is Aang's strength that allows you to persevere. It is you. This form you have taken on is the greatest in the history of the world—I am convinced. At the very least, it is the best since before Keska, when all of the chaos first started, yes?"

Aang nodded slowly, watching. "It's when Air began to fall, during Keska's reign."

"Could Roku have borne your burden? Kyoshi? Kuruk? Yangchen? Jinzhai? Boruk? Keska? What about Kirku? I would wager all the riches in the Fire Nation that they could not, that no Avatar before you could. But you can, for you are Aang. You can reason when all you want to do is feel."

Aang stayed quiet for several moments, not looking at her. "I don't want to," he whispered finally. "But I must reason. Because I'm The Avatar, too."

"Yes."

"I wish none of this had happened to me, to us," Aang admitted softly, looking back at her. "I wish it happened in another Avatar's reign. In another time. If I could have written my story, my life, my fate, I would have never written this—believe me, I would have written something else. I wish Roku or Kuruk or Yangchen and I could have switched. I never wanted this. I wish it happened to someone else."

"You desire many things," she observed with sympathy, watching him; he was all that mattered.

"I shouldn't, but… I have all this power," Aang whispered, eyes rooted now on the horizon, voice seeming to come from far away; his words drifted over and through her like clouds themselves. "You've said it yourself—I have supreme power. But it changes nothing. This is still my life. Bumi still died, my race still died and had to die because they fell so terribly, and even if I wish everything had happened to a different Avatar, I can't make it be that way. I'm powerless."

"I feel the same, but we can handle it. We are not vessels of mediocrity; we are extraordinary. We have the strength and inner fortitude to triumph when no others can." Azula leaned forward and pulled Aang's larger hands into her own, desperate for him to understand, to see—she needed him to! "We have suffered in our lives; it is part of our journey. It took me a long time to see it, but I was afforded much time to think in my cell, however disordered my rationale was."

Aang finally looked back at her, squeezing her hands, drawing strength from her; she could feel it. "To see what?"

"That suffering is integral to humanity; it is embedded within all of us, just as our senses. We can experience the world through suffering, however hard it is to accept, and it cannot be ignored."

He scoffed, looking disgusted. "I'm tired of suffering. I feel raw. And so tired."

Azula nodded. "I know—I know. Everything you feel, the depths of despair and the fury of helplessness, I feel—to a lesser degree, I am certain, but I still understand. But listen," she urged. "Listen, Aang. When this is all over, our suffering will have been the spark that vanquishes Vaatu and Father." Azula felt his fingers, felt the strength in them, and she tried to assure him through explanation. "I think we crave suffering, for why else did I walk the path I did during the Great War?"

Aang's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

Azula smiled serenely; she had found her peace. "I was a foolish girl, yes, but living under Father was a life of suffering. He was a monster. I could have rebelled, challenged him as I knew he was a monster, but I never did."

"You feared him," he pointed out. "That's why."

"I could have risen above it, drew on the strength of Sozin inside me," she retorted. "I could have conquered it, but I never did."

"If you fought him, he would have killed you."

"No, he would not have; he would have punished me. However, regardless, I could have escaped. It was within my capability. But I never did. I stayed. Why?"

"You wanted his love."

"Foolishly so," Azula dismissed. "I knew he would never bestow on me the love I desired—I looked always for something more than he was capable of. I knew, but I persisted. Why?"

Aang stared at her for several moments, stormy eyes roaming her face. "I don't know."

"For, I think, deep down, I recognized that I needed to suffer, to experience all the horrors I did. For all my suffering has made my joy more fulfilling." Azula smiled, serenity washing away, however briefly, her helplessness over everything—Samir and Mother, this entire new war, Aang's despair, King Bumi's death. "And I do know joy now due to you and Samir. And Zuko and Mother. I have felt it, experienced it. And it was augmented due to the suffering I have endured. It makes living possible; it motivates us. Suffering gives our lives meaning. Not because it is satisfying in any way, but it allows us to recognize, in contrast, the beauty and joy when they are present, when we are content. Only through suffering do we know what is truly valuable and meaningful." Azula stared back at him, locking her eyes with his own, willing his reason to digest what she was saying. "How do you know what Air is supposed to be if you did not see, with your own eyes, how Air fell and was not what Air should be? You need the contrast to understand. We will defeat Vaatu and Father, and we will suffer to do so—it is inevitable. We already have, which will continue, but it will lead to a life teeming with possibilities. It will lead to the revival of Air through me. And knowing of the hardships and suffering we have endured to reach that destiny will make our success and victory all the more fulfilling and grander."

Silence.

"You're right," Aang whispered; his grateful eyes possessed a lucidness that had been missing since they had learned of King Bumi's death. "You're amazing. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Spend all of your time with Appa and Momo," she responded, amused.

Momo chattered in agreement as Aang sighed. "Probably. But before we all separated, I was finally at peace with everyone. With Sokka, Toph, Katara, and Suki. I'm not angry at them anymore—I really haven't been angry at them since I came back from seeing the past and talking to Gyatso."

"I noticed." Azula nodded, a truth escaping her lips. "It had felt nice to speak with Mai and Ty Lee. I understand why they betrayed me. It took me a long time to see it—a decade—but I understand now. They chose to do what was right; it overwhelmed whatever compulsion they felt to be loyal to me. I am relieved they did."

"Why?"

"Zuko would be dead," she said simply, raising one shoulder in acknowledgement. "And so would Sokka and Suki, and those others. As a child, I imagined my life without Zuko in it, but now I find such a reality unacceptable."

"It will always be unacceptable," Aang swore. "We're not losing anyone else."

Azula hoped he was right.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Do you think Aang will be alright?" Katara asked behind him, barely heard in the wind, but he heard. "I'm worried about him."

"Me too," he called back, turning his body so they could communicate more clearly. "Aang was close to King Bumi; it was that connection to the past."

"Bumi was alive when Aang went into the Iceberg, and then he was there when Aang got out of it," Katara said, disbelief in her voice. "I know he was old, but I kind of thought he'd live a long time like Sozin."

Zuko nodded, his hair whipping in the wind; Katara's was doing the same. "Everyone dies—even The Avatar. But I thought the same. There were legends of King Bumi during the Great War; he was older than my grandfather, and Grandfather feared King Bumi the most out of anyone save for The Avatar."

Katara's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes. King Bumi was the strongest Earthbender in the world. When the Great War began, they say he trained for days at a time, never stopping until his strength was premier. I guess it was his grief about Aang's seeming death and Air's murder. It fueled him to become the best. During Grandfather's reign, at his peak, King Bumi tossed a small mountain on one of our legions."

"That's what Lao said in that meeting."

Zuko remembered back to so long ago—it felt like a lifetime ago. But it wasn't that long, only a year ago. "You're right. And grandfather was enraged when he heard about it. Uncle told me about it once. He said that Grandfather created his Great Gates for that specific reason—to ward off a potential invasion spearheaded by King Bumi."

"It says a lot for someone to be feared by a Fire Lord. I think that tells me how strong Bumi was more than watching him in action."

"I thought he'd be around for most of my reign as Fire Lord," Zuko admitted. "But I think Bor will make a worthy King, a worthy successor to King Bumi."

"And Toph will be his Queen—I'm certain of it," Katara said, amazed. "They love each other. She'll be his queen."

"I agree," he said, recalling King Bumi's own thoughts on the matter. "King Bumi was certain of it, too, from what he told me."

"I never saw Toph wanting to stay in a palace."

Zuko snorted. "Something tells me that Toph will be quite revolutionary when it comes to how queens should act. She'll be a great queen, though. She and Bor will make sure Ba Sing Se recovers from Chin V's invasion; they'll provide stability like King Bumi did."

Katara's face twisted. "Speaking of Toph, do you think flying around on Druk is the best way to find her, Bor, and Suki? What if they can't see us? Druk isn't a full-grown dragon."

He almost laughed when he felt Druk's displeasure through their bond, but narrowly held it in, recognizing that Katara was worried. "Remember, we go to Zaofu first because it's closer, and it's closer for them. If we can't find them, we go to Omashu. But I think they went to Zaofu—it makes more sense with all the chaos going on across the continent. They are vulnerable but also valuable, especially since Bor is the new King of Ba Sing Se. They need to be away from the masses fleeing to Omashu. Zaofu is the best bet. But if nothing happens, if we don't see any signs of- "

"What would be a sign?"

"Something like seeing the terrain all fucked up. Maybe mountains cracked in half or something."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Fine. And if we don't see those oh-so-realistic signs?"

"Then we'll fly from town-to-town, asking around if they've seen a blind woman, a pregnant woman, and a man traveling together. If that does not work, we go to Omashu and do the same thing, but I am certain they went to Zaofu."

"I guess that's the best plan we have."

"We'll find them," Zuko vowed. "This is our job. And we're going to make sure we complete it."

"I believe you."

XxXxXxXxXxX

The doctor's prognosis on Hama wasn't good. Miraculously, she was somehow still alive, which the doctor said was her will to survive. Remembering how Hama survived in those Fire Nation prisons during the Great War, Sokka reckoned her will to survive was insane, which was how she clung to the narrow wisps of life left inside her. But ultimately, as the doctor said, those wisps would fade soon, and Hama was going to die. The doctor did what he could, cleaned the wounds and stitched her up, but there was nothing they could do, and they couldn't wake her to talk to her, either. But just to be safe, Sokka chi-blocked Hama again—he wasn't taking any chances!

Through much persuasion of threats, Toph, whose condition had worsened noticeably, let the doctor look at her feet, but the prognosis was even worse than Hama's—she had days to live at the rate the infection was spreading. After Sokka paid the doctor, who took the money gratefully, it was clear that the only thing they could all do was make Toph comfortable during her last days. Toph couldn't move her legs at all anymore and had even given up on amputating her feet, letting the nature of the infection take her. Her face had a permanent pallor and sickness to it that was beginning to resemble what her feet possessed.

Knowing time was short, Sokka had married Toph and Bor in a small, somber, and intimate ceremony in their room at the inn, using his power as a leader of the Four Nations to do so, but it was only then that Samir seemed to realize the depths of what was happening—and was, of course, hysterical, refusing to let go of Toph, sobbing and screaming that she couldn't die.

It was too much for Sokka, Bor, and Haru, who left the inn, walking through the village, unable to bear the somber atmosphere.

"I would say congratulations, but I know you hate this more than I do," Haru said, glancing at Bor, who walked like he was the dead man walking rather than Toph, the dead woman deteriorating.

Bor laughed, and it sounded hysterical. "Thanks. I'm a married man now, and I can't even see my wife—I can't stand to see her like this because it's not her. She's been slipping further and further into herself, and I can't do anything about it. She knows she's dying, and I know she's dying, too. I married her only to bury her—what a fucking life I live."

Sokka winced, hating the thought of having to bury Toph, but it appeared inevitable at the rate she was deteriorating. "Well, we'll be burying two bodies," he said quietly. "I don't think Hama will last past the day after tomorrow. We have to bury her, too."

Haru nodded. "We do owe her."

And there was the fact that Hama called him her grandnephew, which meant it was his obligation to see to her last rites—if it was true. "What do we do after… Toph?"

Bor closed his eyes. "I'm thinking about just lying down next to her—I'm sick of everything. I just married her, and I should be happy, but I'm not—I'm miserable because I know what's coming. My wife, the girl I want to be my queen, the only one I can see as my queen, is dying before my eyes. This infection is wasting her body, ripping it apart. She doesn't even look like herself anymore."

Sokka understood Bor's miserable frustration. "We'll respect whatever you want to do. She's my friend, and I'm going to miss her, too. We're not going to bury her next to Hama."

"We need to bury her on a hill above wherever Ozai will be buried," Bor muttered with a dark look on his face. "Then she'd be able to look down on Ozai for all-time. She'd like that."

"We'll see," he said, non-committal because it was an impossible thing to promise. "Do you think we should stay here… after?"

Bor sighed, and Sokka noticed more than ever before the resemblance between grandfather and grandson, though it wasn't too strong. "I'm not leaving her here, at least not for a while. You may have to leave without me."

Sokka was afraid of that. "I get that—I do. But we could use you. I'm worried that we'll run into some of Ozai's people because I know that what we faced wasn't his whole army—it couldn't have been. Some of those fuckers are still walking around—I bet a lot of them are. Because the odds of running into them happening are so much greater than the odds of us running into you guys. Since we ran into you guys, I'm prepared to run into Ozai's people."

"We have to keep moving," Haru said. "We can't stay in one location for too long."

"Where's the destination?" Bor questioned tiredly, rubbing his eyes; he hadn't slept in days—possibly weeks. Sokka wasn't much better, and it looked like Haru wasn't, either. "Where would we go? We have to decide. We can't just… wander around the continent, hoping for the best. The continent is in chaos if you didn't notice. It's worse than it's ever been."

He pulled out his boomerang and rubbed his fingers over the smooth metal. "I know it's stupid, but 'stupid' is really all we have left. What about Ba Sing Se?"

Bor's head snapped to face him, gaze intense and penetrating. "What? Why would we go back there? It's gone."

Sokka held the boomerang out innocently, ducking his head slightly. "I know, but is it possible that Aang would be in Ba Sing Se? That he thinks that's the best place to meet back up because that's the last place we were all together?"

"It's possible," Bor admitted, but he didn't look convinced at all. "But Ba Sing Se is gone. I don't have a city to return to when I become king after all this is over. I'm going to have to rebuild it."

"Aang may already be rebuilding it," he pointed out.

Bor almost looked derisive. "He doesn't have time to do that; there's too much going on."

Sokka couldn't deny that. "Right. But I can't think of anyplace else. Maybe Omashu?"

"Anju has her hands full. Avatar Aang looks to Ozai, not to the continent. There's nothing on the continent anymore, anyway. Even walking through the woods the whole time, it was obvious that so much was destroyed. Zoafu, Chyung, and Ba Sing Se are in ruins."

Sokka stared at Bor, something twisting inside. "You forced my pregnant-with-twins wife to walk through forests?"

"I didn't say it was right," Bor said, exhausted. "I wasn't thinking clearly, which, believe me, your wife made clear eventually."

"You made Suki keep walking?"

Bor looked away. "I know. I was kind of hysterical."

Sokka grit his teeth, anger and protectiveness thrashing in his mind. "And you don't think that made Suki hysterical?" he demanded, throwing his arms in the air, feeling hysterical himself. "You're lucky she- "

"I know!" Bor snapped, eyes narrowed. "Okay? I fucking know. It was stupid- "

"That's not even half of it!"

"- but Suki's fine, now. She's a tough woman; she didn't lose the babies."

Sokka's eyes bulged from their sockets, fists clenching. "You motherfucking son of a bitch."

Bor smiled thinly. "Butcher, actually."

"What?"

"I'm the son of a butcher unlike any other."

Sokka blinked, not understanding the clear, dark allusion, before rapidly shaking his head. "Whatever. But don't think- "

Haru groaned, rubbing creases under his eyes. "Would you two shut the fuck up? We've all been better, but we're still breathing. I know about Toph, and I'm sorry about Toph—you know I am. But we can't let this all get out of hand. We just found each other, which is a fucking miracle I didn't think we'd ever get. And Suki's fine, Sokka—she is. I know you were going out of your mind about her while we were traveling, but now that you've seen her, held her, and from what it sounded like last night, had sex with her, you know that she's fine. You have nothing to worry about."

He kicked his feet against the ground. "Yeah," he muttered sullenly, thinking about how good he had it, with a healthy wife, pregnant with twins, compared to Bor, whose new wife was dying a miserable death. "Sorry, Bor."

A tired smile cracked Bor's face. "And I'm sorry about dragging Suki through the woods, but she's fine. You married one tough woman."

"I did," he agreed, grinning. "And I'm gonna have twins! Can you believe it?"

Bor nodded. "I've told Suki congratulations because I was there when Toph revealed that it was twins, but I haven't told you. Congratulations."

"Congratulations," Haru said, a small, sad smile on his face. "I know… I know Ty Lee would be so happy for you and Suki."

Sokka placed a hand on Haru's shoulder. "Thanks. And I know I've said it before, but I'm sorry for what happened; I'm sorry I fucked it all up. I can't help but feel like my happiness has come at the cost of yours. I got to return to my family, to my wife, but you didn't get to return with Ty Lee."

Haru's eyes watered. "She'd be happy that we're all together, that we've survived. And I know I'm looking forward to seeing what names Toph picks out for your twins."

Bor inhaled slowly, face ancient. "Those may be her last words for all I know."

Sokka sobered quickly, reminded of the very real death happening before their eyes—Toph was dying. "If one's a girl, if it's okay with you, if it's okay with her, I'll name her after her."

"She'd hate that," Bor said with a grieved, broken laugh. "She thinks there's only one Toph—her. She'd hate for there to be another Toph."

"Good point," he whispered.

"She said she's got a lot of names that she says will be memorable."

Sokka faltered. "Bor, please don't let her name my twins something horrible."

Bor shrugged, spirits looking brightened, if only briefly. "What makes you think she'd listen to me?"

"She loves you! She just married you! You're her husband!"

"Apparently, from how she describes it, I actually grew on her like a fungus."

He sputtered. "Bu- but couldn't you- "

"Whatever she names them, I already told her that they'd need to be Water names," Bor cut in, eyes serious. "I know they're your heirs. And she knows, too. She won't give them Earth names. That wouldn't bode well for your relations with your race. They'll be good Water names, okay? Toph understands."

Sokka sagged in relief. "Thank you, you amazing man. Toph's lucky she got you. You'll be a great king."

Bor's face spasmed with grief. "I'm lucky I got her. She's going to die soon, and after she dies, it will be her memory with Grandfather's guiding me."

"The memories of everyone we've lost will guide us going forward," Haru stated, eyes far away. "We won't forget them."

"No, we won't," he agreed, voice quiet. "They'll give us the push to finish this war. And if I know Aang, Bumi and Toph's deaths will hit him hard. It will motivate him even more."

Bor flinched, pale. "Toph said that Avatar Aang wouldn't blame me, but- "

"Aang won't blame you, Bor," Sokka interrupted, resolute. "He won't. When he finds out, if he doesn't know already, he'll blame Ozai and Vaatu. And the lava guy."

For some reason, Bor flinched even harder at the mention of the 'lava guy,' but Haru spoke first: "How'd they do it?" Haru wondered, and Sokka and Bor turned to him, confused. "They've made so much progress. They have three elements. They're close to becoming a new Avatar. It's scary."

"It is," he agreed. "We don't have all the facts, but it sounds like it was a three-pronged movement. They'd attack Fire, Ba Sing Se, and the North at the same time, knowing that Aang could only focus on one. And he chose the North because he had no idea about Ba Sing Se. We got lucky that Aang saved Tui and La, and I don't know how they plan to get the Air Spirit to complete it, but I don't think Aang will let it come to that."

"As Grandfather would say, Avatar Aang will kick Ozai's hairy ass," Bor declared. "Aang has the strength and knowledge of lifetimes past. Ozai's just a pretender."

"He's a fucking good pretender," Sokka muttered, remembering fighting against the monster. Even with just water, he had been so powerfully deadly—terrifyingly so. Then when Vaatu had returned, they would have all died; it had been horrifying, the realization that he was about to die and never see Suki again. But Hama had saved their lives. "He's powerful. And when I say that, I mean he's terrifying."

"Not more so than Avatar Aang."

"I agree with that," he acknowledged. "But the difference between Aang and Vaatu and Ozai is that they're cunning. Mentally, they'll go places that Aang can't even imagine. Like, evil places. That's how they've stayed ahead this whole time."

Haru suddenly stiffened, eyes panicked. "Wait. What if Vaatu and Ozai already have Air? I mean, we only got into the camp and encountered Ozai because Vaatu was in the Spirit World, remember? Why was he in the Spirit World? What if he secured the Air Spirit? What if that's the reason? You told me that Aang doesn't know where the Air Spirit is, but that she could potentially be in the Spirit World. What if Vaatu got to her, too, and secured Air to augment his power?"

Sokka was deprived of words, so furious and terrified at the thought that, to distract himself, he flung his boomerang into the air as far and hard as he could, watching it streak high into the sky, reaching its apex-

Suddenly narrowing his eyes, Sokka stared, riveted by what looked like a bird, but he wouldn't be able to see a bird from this distance. Whatever it was, it was a lot bigger than a bird.

"Hey. Do you see that?" he demanded, pointing at it. "Look where I'm- … Do you see it, too?"

Bor frowned, peering at the creature. "What is that? Do you think it has something to do with Vaatu?"

He abruptly, sharply inhaled at the thought of what was certainly bigger than a bird and visible from the ground. "Do you think it's… a dragon?"

Haru's eyes widened. "You think…?"

Sokka was about to speak but then he heard the whizzing sound of his boomerang returning; he reached out and caught it before it took his head off. "I've never seen one, but that looks like how Aang and Zuko described the dragons at the Western Air Temple. It's a lot bigger than any bird."

"Grandfather told me stories about the dragons," Bor murmured, grief in his voice, but his neck was craned as he looked at what they suspected was a dragon. "That looks smaller than what he described."

"What else could it be?" Sokka demanded, excitement bursting in his mind. "Maybe it's one of the Sun Warriors! He might know where Aang is!"

"But if it's one of the Sun Warriors, what if Vaatu got to him?" Haru asked. "What if we're just inviting more death to befall us?"

He paused. "You're right, but we have to take a chance. Quick! Both of you, heave boulders into the sky as far as you can. Make it rain boulders!" Sokka motioned for them to follow him; they dashed towards the woods outside of the town, footsteps pounding against soil. "That will get his attention. He'll come to check it out. We'll be hiding and go from there. If he works for Vaatu, we'll ambush him and kill him."

Bor's jaw jerked as he crouched down, prepared. "It might be better to be eaten by a dragon than keep living this joke of a life."

Haru stared at Bor, aghast. "I don't feel like being eaten by a dragon."

"I'm willing to risk it," Sokka said bluntly. "Are you guys?"

Haru hesitated before launching a boulder into the sky.

Bor followed Haru's lead, and Sokka stared into the sky, praying that the Sun Warrior on what he hoped was a Dragon saw the boulders.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Zuko saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned his head, dumbfounded when, in the distance, far away from Druk, he saw what looked like a boulder falling back to the earth.

Katara, who had followed his line of sight, gasped. "What was that?"

"A boulder," he answered, shocked, watching as other boulders sailed into the air. The brief thought that someone working for Father and Vaatu had found them crossed his mind, but the boulders weren't sailing towards them. They were just launched straight into the air and then fell back down to the earth.

What was going on?

"We need to check it out," Katara said urgently. "Someone could be signaling us for help! Maybe Ozai's down there!"

Zuko stiffened. "If he is down there, we are both dead if we leave the sky."

"It was wishful thinking!"

"You want to face him?"

"I meant that Ozai or someone working for him could be attacking innocent people!" Katara's eyes widened in realization. "It could be Toph! She can't see us, so that's why the boulders are so far away! Someone's pointing and telling her where to shoot the boulders, but because of the distance- "

Hope stirred in his heart, and Zuko directed Druk toward the ground, from where it looked like the boulders originated. "Come on, Druk. Be ready! If someone attacks us, you eat him, okay?"

Druk's agreement reached him through their bond, signifying that if it was an enemy, he, Katara, and Druk wouldn't go down without a fight.

"That goes for you, too!" he called out to Katara as they zoomed towards the ground, the wind painful in his face. "Have water ready just in case!"

When they reached the ground, dust covered the grass and trees from the broken boulders, but there was no one there.

"It's a trick," Zuko hissed out, looking around, senses sharp, prepared for an attack. "We need to leave!"

"I've got water here- "

"Katara!" a familiar voice suddenly screamed, and Zuko whirled around, astonished and frozen in place, for Sokka—Sokka!—was running towards them, Bor and another man with a mustache following him, such mind-numbing hope on their faces.

Was that Haru?

Zuko reacted finally, laughing in amazement as he felt wetness appear in his good eye. Things were looking up.

They had found their friends.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Aang understood how he had missed seeing the first Air Temple all those years ago. Above in the sky, the island looked like nothing, like any other island. It wasn't until he landed that he had immediately been bombarded with all the vibrations through his earthbending.

The first Air Temple was built like the Western Temple; it must have been from where the High Council received the idea in creating the second Western Temple after Fire Lord Houka destroyed the first Western Air Temple, built by Kirku.

It was also where his parents died, murdered by the High Council, according to Gyatso, whom he believed above all others.

Now, as he, Azula, Appa, and Momo walked around, he was struck by how different this Air Temple was when compared to the Air Temples he was used to. It was basic, almost childish in its simplicity. It was nothing like the other Air Temples that Kirku had built—or the second Western Temple built after Houka's assault. Where Kirku's Air Temples and the second Western Temple were majestic, the first Air Temple was modest, overgrown with thousands of years' worth of soil and grass and weeds, which Azula set alight with her sapphire flames to clear a pathway. There were no statues or magnificent murals; it was bare, barren of anything approaching life. No signs of anyone having ever lived in it.

"A mediocre Earthbender must have helped build this place," Azula murmured next to him. "The Air Nomads could not have built it themselves."

"I know."

"And this was not my expectation. I anticipated beauty."

"Nothing's going as we expected," he responded softly.

Bumi.

Aang shook his head rapidly; he couldn't think about his friend, not now. He would be overwhelmed, and he couldn't act rashly and emotionally.

To keep Azula from noticing his actions, he quipped: "Your beauty alone makes the place glow."

Azula glanced at him, unimpressed. He clearly hadn't fooled her, but she thankfully didn't call him out on it. "While you speak the truth, flattery does not aid us."

He nodded, observing their surroundings in disbelief. "You're right. I just can't believe it—can't see it."

"See what?"

"I can't see how my race lived here," he confessed, kicking his foot against the ground. "It's so different. So foreign to what I know of my race and culture. I can see vestiges. I see the roots, not the trees."

"The Air Nomads evolved in their teachings and lifestyle," Azula replied simply. "Consider this first Air Temple the foundation of what the Air Nomads would become. But foundations are always chipped away, certain parts used and others discarded. Avatar Kirku's Air Temples embody the Air Nomad's evolution of teachings and lifestyle—as does the second Western Temple. Your race thrived in those Air Temples for thousands of years longer than this one."

"I know, but… I'm seeing the roots of Air's culture, and I'm realizing that the roots are sparse." Aang raised his arms and gestured around, helpless. "I promised Gyatso that I would return Air to their roots, but there's not much—no trees."

"Perhaps there once was," his wife pointed out, golden eyes considering, challenging him. "Thousands of years have passed."

"But now it's barren. Lifeless." Aang felt the pressure build behind his eyes, and he sighed. "Just like the culture and race. It's all gone, eroded away by time."

Azula turned to fully face him. "But we will rebuild it. It will be reborn."

"Will we?" he asked, something stirring inside him—a terrible doubt. "Bumi died, and it made me realize that whatever plans we have, whatever we think is going to happen, they may be wrong. I thought for sure that we'd live to revive Air—I was certain of it after coming back from the past and seeing Gyatso. But now I'm not sure. We may die."

Fierce displeasure filled his wife's gaze, and he prepared himself. "I expect such pessimism from the unworthy. You are far from unworthy, Avatar."

"Bumi died because I was unworthy," Aang corrected softly.

"King Bumi would instruct you to remove your head from your ass," Azula snapped, eyes glowing with intensity.

Aang's eyes widened and anger swelled inside; it was a welcome reprieve. "Don't speak for Bumi! You hardly knew him! He was my friend. I knew him- "

"You know I speak the truth," she interrupted, staring at him. "It is why you reacted with anger."

"I reacted because you're wrong," he fired back, shaking his head, trying to control his emotions but failing to. "You know nothing about Bumi."

"Neither do you, Avatar, if you think he would approve- "

Aang hissed and turned away, the barren area inflaming his fury. "I don't care what he would approve! I care that he's gone, and I care that he can't be the one to tell me to pull my head out of my ass."

"If you could speak with him, what would you say?"

The silence of his race's former home enveloped him, and he closed his eyes, bowing his head. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I wanted him to live to see the end of this war; I wanted him to live in the new age, rewarded after all the horror he lived through; I wanted him to never die, not like everyone else. If it was anyone else except for you and possibly Zuko or Katara, I wouldn't feel this way, but it's Bumi. He was all I had left. I know the time I was born in was rotten and evil—I was there and saw it; I lived it. Gyatso verified it. But that time is closed forever because Bumi died; there's nothing left for me from then. I loved Bumi, and I learned to love him again—and now he's gone."

"Now imagine him here- "

Aang's laughter interrupted her, but it was painful and not at all amusing. "I don't need to. I could go visit him right now in the Gardens of the Dead if I wanted to, and I do want to. But I think I would break the Immortal Realm upon entering it. I don't think I could look him in the eye."

"I worry that when you spoke with the Face Stealer, he snatched the true Aang's face and supplied me with an imposter, for this defeated stranger before me is not Aang, nor The Avatar."

Aang grit his teeth and whirled around, glaring at her. "What is this? On Appa you were too scared to say what you really thought, but now that you're on the ground you feel safe to be accusing?"

His wife calmly met his glare. "This is a tactic."

"I'm grieving!"

"And in your grieving state, has your memory deteriorated? We do not have time! We need to find Indra. Have you forgotten so quickly our conversation on Appa? You must reason instead of feel."

"I am!" he cried out. "Why else am I still standing? Why am I here instead of scouring the world for Vaatu and Ozai?"

Azula's golden eyes were hypnotic, possessing an almost ethereal quality; he was mesmerized. "I will bear the Air Nomads; you will revive your race through me." She pulled his large hand to her stomach, over her womb. "This womb will be a palace for our children, for the future, new Air Nomads; it will be their first Air Temple. You will see your sons and daughters walk in the sky as you do, Aang. They will continue your race's legacy. You will no longer be alone. That is my promise to you; that is our shared destiny. Just as it is defeating Vaatu and Father. Just as it is restoring balance in both Realms, ensuring peace. Ensuring that no future wars ever ravish the world. That none of all that is wrong will happen again."

Aang swallowed. "It's hard to see the future. I can't look that far anymore. I think looking so far ahead blinded me to what was in front of me, so much so that I've failed to stop all of this from happening. I thought after talking to Gyatso, finally accepting everything that happened in my past, things would turn out well. That they were looking up. But I was wrong. I never fathomed any of this happening. Now Fire, Earth, and Water are endangered while Air is extinct—it's all a joke. But it's all my fault—I know it."

"Perhaps, but our victory is certain," she swore. "Do you believe that?"

"Not as much as I used to."

"Doubt is natural, Aang, especially after experiencing everything we have—the horrors and war. But do you remember what I said in the Immortal Realm? We will never be here again. You repeated it to Katara and Zuko before we went our separate ways."

"I don't know if I believed it," he admitted, leaning back against Appa, feeling exhausted. "Because Bumi died. And that changed everything."

"How?"

"It reminded me that everything is temporary and that my hopes for the world, my thoughts and plans, mean nothing. I don't control as much as I thought, even though I'm The Avatar."

Azula frowned. "You fear death?"

"No. I'm not afraid of dying; I've died before." Aang felt something inside of him crack precariously; it felt hard to breathe. "Dying is easy; I want to die—I look forward to it when it's my time. I'm afraid of surviving—because I've survived before. I'm afraid of reaching the end of this new war and finding that I'm all alone—that everyone I knew and loved is gone while I survived. Again."

Face softening finally, Azula's golden eyes trapped him, and he never wanted to leave; her fingers brushed against his, intertwining. "I understand."

The tears began to fall, and his breathing faltered. "I can't do it again—can't bear it. To lose you all, just like I lost my race and now Bumi, it would kill me. There'd be no coming back from it. I never destroyed this world, this time, when I hated it with the immortality of my spirit. It was a miracle that I didn't destroy it after losing everything and everyone that ever mattered to me. Somehow, I had the strength not to destroy, but there won't be another miracle if you all die—I promise you. I won't have the strength not to do it this time."

Azula nodded, eyes flickering with emotions. "Vaatu said something to me in the Immortal Realm, something that terrified me."

Aang stiffened. "What did he say?"

"He asked me, 'How much can The Avatar lose before he ceases to be as whom you know him?' Then he listed everything you have lost - 'first his entire race and master, then his daughter and mother-in-law and friend.' And then me. Whatever happened to Father saved me. I know there is an irony there." Azula looked at him, eyes tracing his face. "But it terrified me, for I knew he was right. For you are a man. And due to your mortality, you have a breaking point. You have endured more than any of your predecessors, but your endurance is not immeasurable. It has a limit."

"I think it's nearing its limit," he whispered hoarsely. "That's how I know I'd never come back from losing all of you. It's my biggest fear."

"I have a breaking point, as well," Azula admitted quietly, voice as soft as his. "The loss of our daughter and Mother would inflict an unhealable wound, but I would live. If you were taken from me, I would deteriorate. All the progress I made in recovering my mind and sanity would be revoked."

Aang pulled her into his chest, resting his chin on her head. "You don't need to worry about that happening. Avatar, remember? I'm not easy to kill. You know that better than anyone."

"Now who is comforting whom?" she asked, amused, a small laugh escaping her. "Perhaps we both needed relief."

He felt lighter, a burden leaving him; he was still raw from Bumi's death, but it was better. "I think we did."

Azula pulled away, a smirk on her lips. "Now let us provide Indra relief by ensuring we find her before Vaatu."

Aang pushed himself off Appa, nodding. "Wan Shi Tong said she sacrificed her immortality; he confirmed what I always suspected."

"But in what shape did she wrap herself? Is she a sky bison like Appa? A winged-lemur like Momo?"

While Momo chattered at the mention of his name, Aang stretched out his senses, intent on recognizing Air's energy, but there was nothing. "Because she's mortal, I can't sense her. It's how she's stayed hidden for so long. Agni and Devi can't sense her, either. They are too busy reforming to even try to sense her."

Azula motioned him forward. "Come. Let us find her."

Aang followed.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Bor couldn't stop smiling—it was a miracle! Watching as Princess Katara fussed over Toph, using Spirit Oasis water to heal her feet and body of the infection given to her by his father, things, for the first time in so long, felt normal.

Fire Lord Zuko was talking to Prince Sokka about the Northern Water Tribe, things that would probably need to be done when he ascended to its icy throne. In one hand, his heirloom, Embers, was held, having been gifted to him by his mother. Ursa was chiming in with sage advice, and Samir had latched herself onto 'Uncle Zuzu,' holding onto him by his neck in a fierce hug, crying, refusing to let go. They were on the other side of the room, immersed in their conversation.

Toph groaned in ecstasy on the bed, a sheen of tears in her milky eyes. "Katara, I take back every bad thing I've ever said about you."

Princess Katara continued to focus on Toph's feet, eyes squeezed shut in concentration. "How soon until you take back your take-back?"

"I'd give it a day."

"That sounds right."

"But this feels right," Toph breathed out, joy flashing across her face. It almost brought tears to Bor's own eyes—she was looking like herself again, and he loved the sight of it. It was probably the best thing he'd ever seen in his life. "I thought I was dead; I thought my days left were the number of fingers on one hand."

"I'm so glad we saw those boulders," Princess Katara responded, eyes opening, relief tangible; there were tears in her blue eyes that she did nothing to stop. "I can't believe you've lived like this. I can't believe that happened. I'm so sorry. I wish- "

"Blame that fucker. Bumi killed him, and Bumi deserved to be the one who killed him, but I wish I could have seen it—felt it, I mean."

Bor remembered those moments, Grandfather's pain and death. "No, you don't," he said.

Toph swallowed. "Yeah."

"I'm so glad you didn't amputate her feet," Princess Katara whispered, glancing at him, having told her of the plan before Toph lost her nerve—only because Samir had arrived, and Toph didn't want to traumatize Samir even more than she was obviously already deeply traumatized. "I don't how I would be able to heal the amputations if you did, even with this Spirit Oasis water. Hama somehow healed Ozai's amputated arm, but I don't know how she did it." Her eyes darted to Hama, still tied up on the other bed, unconscious. "I'll need to ask her."

"Where's Daddy?" Samir's loud whine cut through the room; there was a breathless sob and expectation in her voice. "Where's Mommy? Where are they? I miss them! I want Mommy and Daddy!"

"They are on a trip," Fire Lord Zuko answered kindly, patting Samir's head, gripping gently. "You will see them soon, okay?"

"But how long, Uncle Zuzu? I miss them. I want Mommy and Daddy!"

Bor saw Fire Lord Zuko glance at Princess Katara. "Since you two were kidnapped- … Sokka, whatever you want, it's yours. You saved my mother and niece. I owe you."

Sokka's eyes lit up. "I want the Dragon's Throne."

Fire Lord Zuko raised his only brow. "You really don't."

"You're right. I just wanted to see what you'd do. I'll get back to you."

Princess Katara spoke: "We are so relieved to see that you're alright, that you were rescued, but Aang and Azula don't know that you are rescued. They still think that you are with Ozai."

"Where are they?" Ursa asked.

"They're looking for the Air Spirit, Indra. They're going to the first Air Temple."

"Which one is that?" Haru rubbed his mustache. "The Western one?"

"It's a temple that precedes the building of the four Air Temples that we all know of." Fire Lord Zuko walked back over to the main area with Samir still latched onto him in a tight grip, Sokka and Ursa following him. "Indra sacrificed her immortality and, apparently, has been hiding there ever since from what Wan Shi Tong told them."

"Which is what Aang suspected, right?" Suki wondered. "It's like the Ocean and Moon Spirits."

"Exactly. It's how she's been hidden from Vaatu. Aang and Azula went after her because Indra would be able to tell them where Samir is, which would lead to a rescue—and there is the fact that Vaatu would somehow follow, and Aang could attack him. Either way, they are luring him into a trap."

Jin sighed in relief, though the mention of Avatar Aang had her face pale. "May this be over quickly."

"Quicker than this," Toph groaned out. "How much longer, Sugar Queen? I want to run around and crush some skulls! I need to live like I've never lived! I also need to really marry Bor and get to the fun part! It's been way too long since we've done the fun part!"

Princess Katara gasped, looking between them. "You're married?"

"Yep," Toph said with a shit-eating grin, like a devious plan was starting to work. "So hurry up, Sugar Queen! I got to get to loving my husband!"

Fire Lord Zuko inclined his head, not looking surprised. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Bor said, looking forward with great anticipation to the 'loving.'

However, Princess Katara's joy quickly faded for annoyance. "I know what you're doing. Azula and I are sisters now. I have experience now. Do you want me to do a good job, so that you have full mobility, so that nothing's wrong, so that there will be no complications, or do you want me to do it quickly?"

Bor almost agreed with Toph as he, too, wanted to get to the fun part of their marriage, but he shook his head. "She wants a good job. Take all the time you need, Princess Katara."

Toph shot him a dirty glare, somehow finding him despite her blindness, but Princess Katara smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you. You are so good for her. And please—just Katara."

"Oh, he's good to me, alright." When he noticed the wicked grin on Toph's face, he suddenly knew what she was going to say. "He knows just how to hit that one spot with his- "

Ursa interrupted: "Is this a subject appropriate for Samir?"

Toph deflated. "No."

"Suki, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to check on you, as well," Katara quickly said, eyes casting to her sister-in-law in the chair. "And I hear congratulations are in order. I'll be an aunt twice-over!"

Suki smiled. "Thank you, and I don't mind. I think it'd give me peace of mind."

"And me," Sokka added. "Can you tell if they're benders?"

Katara paused on her ministrations on Toph's feet, glowing hands resting. "I don't know…"

Fire Lord Zuko nodded. "Possibly. Though, considering that you and Suki are non-benders, it's more than likely that- "

Sokka shook his head, a certainty in his eyes. "I don't think so. I think they're both Waterbenders."

Suki raised her brows. "It hadn't occurred to me, but I think Sokka's right. Yue said something to me. I think they're Waterbenders."

Toph huffed. "Now I gotta make their names even more awesome. Two Waterbenders who've been touched by the Moon Spirit? Their names have definitely gotta be memorable."

"The good memorable," Bor reminded, noticing Sokka's pallor. "Two strong Water names."

"You take the fun out of everything."

"You married me."

"I was dying."

"You still love me."

"I'm not too good at removing fungus."

Bor grinned. "I hope I don't stink."

Katara scrunched up her nose. "I don't want to know what you're talking about."

"A wise decision," Ursa praised. "Another wise decision would be to deal with Hama."

Katara's blue eyes darted to where the unconscious Hama rested. "I'll heal her after I'm done with Toph- "

"Which is taking way too long," Toph called out.

"- but her chi needs to remain blocked at all times."

"Way ahead of you, Sis," Sokka said, holding a finger in the air. "I've been chi-blocking her regularly. I don't even care if I'm doing it wrong and killing her. She's only with us because she has knowledge about Ozai and Vaatu. Well, and she saved our lives."

Katara nodded and smiled, the glow from her water-coated hands fading. "Toph, you're all healed."

Toph grinned wider than Bor had ever seen as she immediately, with a dexterity that surprised him, leaped to her feet and shuddered in awe and relief; her milky eyes filled with tears as she hopped on her feet, extending her legs up and almost running in place—everything worked perfectly. "I think I decided on one of the names for your kids, Sokka. If one's a girl, name her Katara after her amazing aunt." Toph turned to Katara, features raw. "Thank you, Katara."

Katara's blue eyes shimmered with tears, and she subtly wiped them away. "You're welcome, Toph."

"It is good to see you able," Jin commented, smiling. "I now understand how you will be Queen Tough."

"And when we get Ozai, you'll see it in action!" Toph dug her feet into the ground, gasping in joy. "I can see everything. I can see again! Sokka, your kids' heartbeats are strong! And th- " Toph gasped, shock carved into her face and bulging eyes.

Bor felt panic. "What is it? What's wrong? Is it the infection?"

Features stricken dumb, Toph pointed at the unconscious Hama. "She… she's pregnant."

XxXxXxXxXxX

Everyone was silent as Katara healed Hama, but inwardly, Zuko's mind screamed at him. When Toph notified them that Hama was pregnant, he had inherently, instinctively known the identity of the father—and when he had looked at Mother, it was confirmed.

It looked like he and Azula were going to have a new sibling.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to Mother, placing a hand on her shoulder, not really knowing what else to say. "If you want- "

"Your father broke my heart long ago, my son," she murmured, a resignation shining in her eyes. "I am not surprised. I knew they laid together before he took us at the North."

Not for the first time, Zuko wished he had just gone through with Father's execution after the Great War. "Still, I'm sorry."

"What are you going to do?" Bor asked softly, eyes focused on Hama, who remained unconscious. "About the child, I mean. If Ozai's the father- "

"He is," Mother said flatly, adamantly. "The child will have a claim to the Dragon's Throne."

Zuko felt a fierce headache materialize in his skull. "His parents are the two most dangerous people I can think of besides Aang—and Azula."

Toph clearly retained her previous joy and awe about having her sight back; her feet kept moving, tapping the floor, registering everything, feeling everything. Samir sat in Toph's lap, overjoyed that Toph was healed and going to be okay, and she nested against Toph's chest, giggling as Toph kept moving her feet, which moved her knees, on which Samir sat. King Bor watched the scene with a small smile on his face, unable to be killed.

Zuko was still trying to absorb the fact that Samir knew about the source of his scar from Father, for she had whispered in his ear when she first ran up to him that she was 'so sorry Grandpa was mean and did his scar.'

He had just about dropped her in his shock.

"Will you kill the child?" Toph asked.

Katara looked sharply at him from where she was positioned over Hama's slouched, broken body—how had the child survived so far? Already, the child seemed to possess the same will to survive as his mother.

"What are you going to do?" Katara demanded when Zuko didn't answer, eyes shining with something he couldn't decipher.

All eyes were on him. While Samir looked confused, she seemed to understand the solemn atmosphere. The burden that he felt.

Zuko sighed, wishing Uncle was next to him. "If I was going to condemn a sibling to death, it would have been Azula after the Great War. I couldn't kill her, even when everyone except Aang and Uncle was telling me to, when Kuei was demanding it, and I can't condemn my new sibling to death, either. I can't do it—I won't do it. I'm not my father."

Mother looked like she wanted to say something, likely about Father but thought better of it, while Katara nodded, looking relieved. "And Hama?"

"She'll probably try to kill him when she realizes she's pregnant, for I doubt she knows," he stated bluntly, immediately wishing he had chosen his words better when Suki and Sokka flinched. "Sorry. I wasn't…"

Suki looked a little green. "That's alright."

Sokka looked irritated. "And the child? How's that going to work? What if Hama wants him?"

"I doubt it."

"But if she does?"

"It wouldn't matter," Zuko dismissed, harnessing his power as Fire Lord; his face was flat. His mind was made up and there would be no changing it. "She is dangerous; her feelings are irrelevant. From what you said, she held back Father and Vaatu. Right now, she's actually the most dangerous person in the world save for Aang. It wouldn't surprise me if she somehow tries to weaponize the child, use him as a pawn in the future. Use him as a puppet to gain the Dragon's Throne all so that she could destroy Fire from within. No one would expect a Fire Lord to destroy the Fire Nation. This is a political nightmare."

Sokka nodded. "Well, I think you're probably right. I doubt Hama wants him."

"But what of the child?" Katara asked, eyes flashing. "What will you do, Zuko?"

Samir suddenly pointed at Hama, frowning, head tilted; her gray eyes were confused. "Why doesn't she look pregnant? She's not big like Suki."

Suki huffed in amusement. "Thank you again, Samir."

"You're welcome!"

"Eventually, Hama's stomach will expand to accommodate the child," Mother answered Samir's question with patience. He didn't know how she did it. "But for now, you are correct. Hama does not appear pregnant."

Katara was still staring at him, waiting for an answer, and Zuko closed his eyes for several moments; he really, really—really!—hoped that he was reading her correctly. For if he wasn't reading her correctly, he wasn't confident that she'd still be his Fire Lady.

"I will raise the child as my own," he declared, opening his eyes and almost sagged in relief when Katara nodded in confirmation.

"We will, and as our own," she corrected, focusing on Hama. "I failed Hama once. I won't fail her child."

"That works well," Jin commented. "The child is both Water and Fire—like your children will be. He will blend in with your future children."

Sokka shuddered. "Hama called me something during the chaos at Ozai's camp. I think we're related to her; I think we're related; I think we're family to her."

Katara blinked, startled. "What?"

"You are," Mother confirmed, surprising Zuko; he turned to her, saw her looking between Hama and Katara. "She told me; she said Katara is her grandniece, which makes Prince Sokka her grandnephew."

Sokka groaned, annoyed, while Katara looked slapped. "What? She's blood?"

"She's family," Sokka grumbled, rolling his head back. "That's just great. Our family doesn't need any more Jerkbenders in it since Zuko joined!"

Zuko glanced at him, unimpressed, but looked at Katara; she looked frozen. "Are you okay?" he asked gently.

Something passed over her face, and she smiled tightly. "I'm fine. It doesn't change anything. We have to raise the child."

He was unconvinced by her performance but nodded. "Right."

"He will bear resemblance to Fire Lord Zuko, for they will be brothers," Jin added. "And perhaps a resemblance to Princess Katara since they are cousins."

"Or just siblings for Sparky," Toph added softly. "It'd probably be best for a girl, not a boy. It'd make things so much easier. You wouldn't have a true rival to your throne, Sparky."

"Very true," Zuko commented. "But I'm thinking of the child as a boy, preparing for the worst. And a Firebender."

"Fair enough."

"Well, nothing would be suspicious if you raised him," Haru said. "Since you've been gone from the Fire Nation so long, Fire will think that you married Katara during all of this and had a child with her."

Zuko nodded because it really did make a lot of sense and turned to Mother, questioning, and she nodded back at him. "I support your decision, both as your mother and your subject."

"You have a vested interest in this," he reminded, voice softening. "Can you deal with it? We can do something else. I can put the child in a family if you don't want- "

"Enough," she interrupted, eyes calm; she looked serene. "I have made peace with this; I was at peace the moment Lady Toph revealed it."

"Faster than me," he muttered, mind still raging and warring; parts of himself screamed at him about how bad of an idea it was, but he knew it was the only viable one.

Zuko refused to murder a child for the sins of his parents—nonetheless his own sibling.

"It is the wisdom of years accumulated. You must raise the child as your own—you and Katara. Tell no one the truth. If you must, reveal it only to those you trust implicitly. For if the truth of the child's identity is revealed, it might spark a rebellion against your reign. Advisors would flock to the child, glimpsing an opportunity to garner power. They would seek to replace you with the child as Fire Lord. While they refused to support Azula- "

"Because she was insane. And now, thankfully, Azula's not even interested in the Dragon's Throne."

"- the advisors would not hold the same reservations for a child whom they can shape into another monster, a puppet they would control. They would never fear the child, for they would dominate him. It would be a return to Fire Lord Zyrn's reign."

"We'll be careful," he promised. "All of us will. And you'll be there to help. Same with Uncle."

Mother nodded but said nothing further.

"This isn't how I expected things to turn out," Sokka said, eyes wide, hugging Suki. "Looks like there will be three babies born. Three lives we can look forward to. Even if one's Hama's child. At least he'll be Water."

"Uncle Zuzu, you're gonna be a daddy!" Samir said, beaming; she apparently understood more than he thought. "How does it feel?"

"It hasn't set in," Zuko answered, not feeling any different. "I don't feel anything."

"It will not set in until the child is born," Mother said, amusement flashing in her eyes. "Then you will experience it."

Sokka whistled. "Boy, that kid's gonna be something when he's older. I mean, look at his parents! Ozai and Hama."

"Looks like we'll be testing the limits of nature versus nurture," Zuko muttered, pinching his nose.

"You and Azula turned out well, eventually," Katara pointed out, focusing back on Hama, hands on the stomach now. "We will make sure the child turns out well, too."

Zuko thought about it. Currently, it was three versus three. Sozin, Azulon, and Ozai had all been followers of that dark path, but Uncle, he, and Azula had learned the true path, gained enlightenment. The child would help determine the legacy of Sozin's line, but a thought occurred to him.

"Is all of this moot?" he asked, pointing at Hama. "We don't even know if Hama and the child will live. Will they?"

Toph snorted. "Sparky, that kid's strong. It's like he's been unaffected by Hama's injuries, which makes sense since she was hit by Vaatu in the back—great survival blood. And Hama's holding on."

Katara nodded, hands leaving Hama's stomach, focusing on the back. "Toph's right. I can't feel anything wrong with the child. And you were right. I can feel that he's a bender."

Haru leaned forward, and Jin did, too. "Firebender?"

"Waterbender. It's like my own energy. I think he's a Waterbender—I'll confirm with Aang when he gets here."

Zuko blinked, relief sweeping through him. "Well, all threats he represents to the Dragon's Throne are gone. Fire will never accept a Waterbender as Fire Lord—the thought's an absurdity."

"We're still raising him," Katara stated, eyes flashing.

"I never said we weren't," he defended. "You didn't let me finish. I was going to say that the child may look similar enough to Father that ideas could be formed. Plus, only you would be a viable option to be a good mother to Hama's child, for you are a waterbending master and can teach him the true way of waterbending, for he will surely be very powerful, and you'll be his own cousin; he won't take after his mother or father. You'll know how to handle the 'Hama' inside him, and I'll know how to handle the 'Ozai' inside him."

Katara flushed lightly. "Sorry. And thanks."

Sokka hooted, jubilant. "Water Tribe rules! We got three future Waterbenders in here!"

"I still haven't checked Suki yet, Sokka."

Zuko rolled his eyes when Sokka dismissed Katara's concerns with a wave of his hand, confident. "Yue wouldn't let me down."

"You said the child was healthy?" Suki asked, cutting in, hands on her own stomach.

Katara immediately focused back on Hama. "Yes. He felt healthy and strong. If anything, I think he's been depriving Hama of whatever sparse nutrients she still had in her body during all of this. I don't know how she's still alive. She should be dead."

"Willpower," Sokka answered, thoughtful. "Remember how she survived the Fire Nation prisons? I bet she'd do anything to stay alive. And that includes holding on during this. It wouldn't surprise me if she had sold her soul to Ozai and Vaatu to get younger again, regain her former glory."

"Vanity," Jin murmured. "It can be consuming."

"Is that experience talking?"

"My mother. Her pursuit of vanity killed her. This Hama has fallen prey to it, as well."

"But how was she fooled by Ozai?" Haru demanded, bemused. "I don't understand. It's Ozai. Wouldn't she know him? You said she lived in the Fire Nation."

Zuko was surprised when Mother immediately answered, "Only the nobles of our race ever knew what Ozai looked like. Because of it, she believed Ozai was Piandao, a former non-bending Fire nobleman and swordsman. When I notified Hama of Ozai's true identity, she vomited on the spot."

"I nearly did," Sokka muttered, fact slackening and pinching. "I was blinded by wanting to see Piandao again and rescue him. I overlooked all of the signs. I should have seen it."

"Ozai fooled all of us," Zuko said, memories flashing before his eyes. "Believe me, it wasn't just you. We only learned in the North about Ozai's trickery from Jet."

Sokka's eyes burst from their sockets. "What?" he screamed, arms swinging wildly. "Jet? As in Jet?"

Zuko sighed. "You remember Lee?"

"The guy who unleashed that Fire-killing plague on Fire."

"Lee was Jet."

Toph's face slackened. "No. I felt Jet die. I was there. His heart stopped."

"Thank Vaatu," Katara said, face twisting as she continued to heal Hama. "He pulled Jet's spirit out of the Gardens of the Dead to wreak havoc against Zuko and Aang, and he put his spirit into a new body using energybending."

Sokka stared, flabbergasted, eyes finally blinking. "That's insane."

"Don't I know it?" Zuko ran a hand over his face. "I had to face him in combat; he almost slit my throat."

Mother's gaze snapped to him, concerned. "Really?"

Zuko nodded. "Katara healed me. He tried to infect me with the plague but since my chi is above his, since I'm a master, he couldn't do it. He wasn't at my level yet to be able to do it. Then I had to talk to him. Me and Aang did. You said that the whole resurrecting the dead thing was insane, well, Jet was insane—actually insane. He was a monster, and I didn't regret killing him for good this time."

Sokka threw his hands into the air in disbelief. "Woah. I never would have guessed."

"We've been deceived a lot," he said shortly. "Aang went into the Spirit World and spoke with Wan Shi Tong- "

"That owl's a jerk."

"- to learn and get an edge on Father and Vaatu. And he started the process of creating a new spirit—the Phoenix. And don't ask how; I don't understand it." Zuko stared at Sokka, connecting their eyes. "But don't blame yourself for being fooled by Father. We all were, including Aang."

"I should have questioned it," Mother said abruptly, looking disappointed. "Ozai always loathed the real Piandao, so much so that, in hindsight, it makes sense that he stole his identity, tarnishing the legacy of the real Piandao. The possibility should have occurred to me."

"We can't change anything," Haru said, eyes far away. "This is our reality. But in this reality, Ozai will lose."

"I approve of your conviction," Jin commended.

"Ty Lee will not have died in vain. Same with Mai and all the Kyoshi Warriors."

"And Grandfather," Bor added softly.

Zuko closed his eyes, still coming to terms with the fact that two people who he had known since childhood were gone—who he had even considered to be his friends. A girl to whom he had once been betrothed and briefly dated, and then a girl with whom he had never had problems.

He still wasn't sure how Azula was going to react to that news.

"No, they won't have died in vain," he promised, opening his eyes. "Whatever sacrifices we will have had to make to bring an end to Father and Vaatu won't be in vain, either- "

"Hey! Hama's waking up!" Katara cried out, panicked, and Zuko whirled to face the unconscious Hama, readying Embers, which was perfectly balanced. Flames surged up the blade, and he refused to be distracted, focused on Hama, who was twitching, body convulsing slightly. "Sokka, block her chi!"

Sokka bounded forward and, in an echo of Ty Lee's grace, causing memories to flash in Zuko's mind, he harshly jabbed Hama's body, blocking her chi. Bor and Toph had jumped to their feet, prepared. Suki had moved to the back with Jin, but in her hand was a knife. Mother had pulled Samir behind her, one hand curled into a fist ready to unleash flames.

Katara stepped back, healing finished, and Zuko saw Hama's eyes snap open—they were blue like Katara's, but they held none of the gentleness nor love that he cherished.

The Bloodbender, lover of his father, and mother of his new sibling gasped, arching her back, eyes landing on Katara; she went still unnaturally.

Silence.

"Katara," Hama hissed with such venom, like the name was something unholy, that Zuko immediately wanted to shoot lightning at her. Azula had rubbed off on him more than he realized.

"Hello, Hama," Katara said softly, warily.

"How generous. Now I get to torture and kill you for eternity in death!"

Zuko stepped forward, Embers blazing with hot flames. "Not quite."

"Pian- you're not Piandao."

Knowing of Father's trickery, he nodded. "No, I'm his son."

"You!" Hama's fingers lashed out, eyes teeming with volatile emotions, but nothing happened; her blue eyes widened in shock. "My chi. What have you done to me?"

"A chi block from yours truly," Sokka said, pointing to himself. "You're not hurting anyone. Get that through your somehow-young head."

Hama gnashed her teeth together and her eyes swept over all of them, stopping on Mother, behind whom Samir was hiding, bowing her head, shaking violently, terrified.

Zuko couldn't blame her.

"You did this, Ursa?" Hama demanded to Mother, betrayed. "You prolong my suffering? I told you about Katara, and you bring me to her! Piand- Ozai should have killed you!"

Mother remained poised, though there was sadness in her gaze. "You have information we must convey to Avatar Aang."

"I'm not telling you, least of all her, anything!"

"Not even to inflict devastation to befall Ozai? You hate him."

Hama's frothing eyes homed in on Katara. "Not as much as her."

"She's telling the truth," Toph informed.

Zuko saw Katara inhale sharply; her eyes were cautious but stubborn. "You hate me more than Ozai? The monster-heir to Sozin?"

"You doomed me to prison again! It wasn't until Vaatu freed me and restored my body that I felt the presence of the Moon, felt the power of who I am. You put me in the position to be betrayed by Piand- Ozai! You made me fall in love with him!"

Considering that they all knew she was pregnant with Father's child, it was not a shock to hear such a thing, but Toph snickered. "We certainly know how much you did."

Hama's glare was poison, directed at Katara. "I hate you."

"Are we really family?" Katara whispered, face flickering with remorse.

"You're unworthy of being family to me!"

"You're Gran-gran's sister, aren't you?" Sokka demanded, staring at Hama with narrowed eyes. "Kanna, right? She's your sister—younger sister, I'm guessing."

When Hama flinched, it was confirmed, and Katara's eyes watered. "I'm so sorry- "

"You're not sorry!" Hama howled. "But you will be! You took everything from me and made it possible for Piand- Ozai to take everything else! I'll take your life before my time is over. It's the death that's owed!"

"The only death owed is yours," Zuko snapped, furious that Hama was threatening Katara. "You allied with Father and Vaatu! You taught him waterbending and bloodbending!"

Hama's eyes were on fire as she glared hatefully at him. "You look just like him, you know that?"

Zuko scoffed. "I know. Don't pretend it's such a revelation."

"I would kill you all right now if I could."

Mother frowned. "That would contradict your actions in saving us from Ozai."

"My reasoning was flawed. It was a mistake."

Zuko noticed Toph's toes flexing against the ground. "You're lying."

"The blind girl," Hama murmured. "I remember you. It would have been so easy to stop your heart."

Toph smiled, but there was a viciousness in it that Zuko had never seen before; the ground shook ominously. "I've been through a lot lately. Don't mess with me, bitch."

"As you messed with my fitting death?"

"You were the one refusing to die!" Sokka exploding, arms thrown into the air, face red. "Do you know how long I had to carry you? And you're not exactly light after a few hours. I would have loved to have dropped your corpse, but you kept breathing!"

"Are you wanting me to thank you?"

Sokka sputtered, "Ac- actually, yes! I am! My arms are still sore! Come on—give you grandnephew a big, old 'thank you'! I'm right here!"

Hama's face twisted; her fingers twitched, and Zuko knew she was trying to kill them, but nothing happened.

Mother tilted her head, golden eyes considering. "With your aid, the Four Races, including Water, will be saved."

"I'm not interested in saving Fire. Lee's plague will make sure- "

"Lee's dead, and Avatar Aang is working on rescinding his plague," Zuko cut in, meeting Hama's rabid stare. He really, really hoped that the child inherited more traits from Father. At least with Father, he knew how to handle him, and thus, he would be able to better handle the child. "My race has been devastated, but they live. We will rebuild."

"No! I'll make sure you don't!"

"Threatening the Fire Lord is unwise," King Bor abruptly said, looking like the king he now was. Zuko was impressed. "He is second only to The Avatar."

Hama's eyes flashed like rotten sapphires, an eerie reflection of Azula's flames during the Great War. "I held The Avatar- "

"For mere moments," Mother finished, irritated. "Provide us with information, and your name will be remembered. We will- "

"I don't want immortality," Hama spat, disgusted. "I want revenge!"

Jin's eyes widened. "Then why is your body restored if not for the yearning to live a long time, to recover your former glory?"

"To regain my power, to augment it."

"What would it take for you to give us information?" Katara demanded, arms crossed. "Something realistic."

"Your life."

The flames on Embers burned brighter, but Katara sighed. "That's not realistic."

"It is. Unblock my chi, and your life will be mine." Hama's mad eyes gleamed with promise. "That is my price, grandniece."

While Katara flinched at the familial title, Toph growled. "My price for not crushing your skull to bits is going up."

"The only way you live is if you help us," Zuko lied, angry, ignoring Katara's sharp look. There was no way they were going to mention the child growing inside her. "Otherwise, you are dead."

"As I should have been already! Now I must live with my failure to kill your father! I was too weak!"

Mother shook her head. "You can help now. Ozai will be defeated by Avatar Aang —we both know it is inevitable. You can help secure the inevitable. Your information- "

"You know my price," Hama said, stubborn, glaring at Mother. Mother, at least, seemed to be the only one Hama actually respected, somewhat. "It won't change."

"You bitch," Toph hissed out, hands curled into fists. Zuko was certain the only thing preventing her from crushing Hama's skull to bits was the child—and Bor's hand on her shoulder. "You're so lucky that we can't kill you!"

Zuko's good eye widened, and he saw Katara stiffen, but Hama only laughed; it was maniacal. "You covet my knowledge that much?" Those crazed blue eyes locked onto Katara with a zeal that was more than unsettling. "If that's true, sacrificing Katara shouldn't- "

"Katara will be my Fire Lady," he snapped, and he narrowly quelled the urge to lash out. "She won't be sacrificed. You touch her, you die."

Hama froze before her face became a mass of depraved fury, hissing and gnashing her teeth at Katara like a rabid animal. It looked like the images he had conceived as a child when hearing stories of fearsome dragons, which Father threatened would eat him if he didn't master his katas.

"Filth!" Hama screeched, bucking on the bed in hysteria to break free, mania directed through her eyes at Katara. "That's right! I forgot! Ursa told me! And it's true! You're nothing but a whore! You spread your legs for him?"

Before Zuko could respond, Katara smiled thinly, replying: "You spread your legs for Ozai. Who's the real whore?"

Hama flinched like she was struck, face paling, while Toph cackled immediately in glee while Sokka howled with laughter, but while Zuko smiled, he watched Hama begin thrashing against the ropes binding her to the bed, snarling, spittle erupting into the air; she was so furious she was deprived of the ability to speak.

"I believe we need to keep this quietness for a little while," King Bor murmured, and Zuko nodded, grabbing a spare cloth and approaching Hama.

Hama thrashed even further as he approached, eyes bulging from their sockets with hatred, but Zuko pointed Embers at her. "You don't like fire. Try anything, and you'll feel it intimately."

"She already did," Toph muttered, to which Sokka snickered.

"There will come a moment when my chi is able," Hama swore, words floating in the air. "And when that moment comes, you will all feel my touch intimately."

"Like Ozai did?" Toph goaded, tears streaming out of her eyes again, but these were of sheer mirth; her howling laughter drowned out Hama's furious snarls.

But before Hama could respond, and she was foaming at the mouth, straining against the ropes, bucking and snarling like an animal, Zuko angled Embers until it was held against Hama's throat, flames licking her skin just narrowly. When she stilled, he was able to stuff the cloth into her mouth, wrapping it around her head, ensuring quiet.

Looking at Katara, whose beautiful eyes shone with sadness, Zuko knew there was much work to be done. Not to mention the child.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Ty Lee flinched when scraps of food were dropped in front of her by old Fire Lord Ozai, who loomed over her; she was bound to a tree, confined permanently in a sitting position. She had tried to escape, straining as much as she could, trying all her tricks, but she was trapped. And old Fire Lord Ozai never got close enough so she could somehow block his chi.

There would be no escape. When she had awoken to the sight of old Fire Lord Ozai and Vaatu, shocked that she was still alive, she had thought that she would be joining Mai in the Gardens of the Dead very quickly, but then she had learned the truth of her purpose, of why she was being kept alive.

Her soul was going to be exchanged for a dead Airbender's because they somehow figured out that her grandfathers were secret Airbenders; they planned to heal her chi of its stunted infancy, letting the natural process mature, granting old Fire Lord Ozai an airbending master.

Ty Lee had known of her airbending blood, of her grandfathers, for a long time, even knowing the legends surrounding her Noble House with Jyzhol of Ishaner, an airbending son of the airbending Half-spawn Fire Lord, Fire Lord Zyrn, born an Air nun, but she had never imagined that it would matter.

But it did—oh, it did! It was the key to Vaatu and old Fire Lord Ozai gaining all of the elements.

"Eat," old Fire Lord Ozai commanded, supreme; he wielded power, and she felt insignificant before him as she was supposed to feel before a former Fire Lord, but she hated it. He had murdered Mai! And Koko and the Kyoshi Warriors! Her only solace was that, from what she gathered, Dowager Fire Lady Ursa, Samir, Sokka, and Haru—oh, Haru!—had escaped with the woman known as Hama—the Bloodbender. They lived. "If you are to be the vessel for my airbending master, you must maintain strength."

"No." She gathered her courage to look up at him, shaking. "You will never have that power!"

"Through your body's aid, I will."

"I'm not helping you! Avatar Aang- "

"Do not speak of The Avatar!" he roared. "That boy has ruined everything!"

"He's not a boy anymore. He's a man."

Old Fire Lord Ozai's face twisted with loathing. "Yes. The boy has grown into a man—the natural cycle. But a man stronger than me! It's unacceptable. A distortion of- "

"Don't you know you can't win?" Ty Lee interrupted, a depraved sense of curiosity overwhelming her. "The Royal Academy taught us that to challenge The Avatar is to covet death."

"For a woman, yes. For the unworthy, yes. But for me, a great man, it is of the utmost importance. Killing The Avatar will herald my ascendancy as the new Avatar."

"The Dark Avatar," she said, voice tight.

"I will rule this world for centuries; I will spawn a new empire—as my grandfather did. My future children will ensure my line rules forever after I'm gone."

Ty Lee swallowed, recalling the tender display between old Fire Lord Ozai and Dowager Fire Lady Ursa—before Dowager Fire Lady Ursa plunged a fire dagger into old Fire Lord Ozai's chest. "Dowager Fire Lady Ursa left you. You will have no children- "

He smacked her face harshly. "I will," he hissed, something desperate and mad on his face—Ty Lee pitied him. "I will have Ursa again, and we will be as we should be."

"No, you're insane. And you killed Mai," Ty Lee whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. "She's gone because of you."

Old Fire Lord Ozai sneered. "My son's old betrothal. She was a failure; she deserved death. She did not deserve to live in this world, in the world I will rule."

"Zuko will help Avatar Aang defeat you. He's a better Fire Lord than you ever were." Ty Lee managed to stare into old Fire Lord Ozai's teeming, piercing eyes. "He and Katara will bring peace to Fire. They'll rebuild from the plague you helped unleash."

"Yes. From what I understand, a peasant is through whom my son has chosen to continue Sozin's legacy." Sheer disgust flashed through old Fire Lord Ozai's eyes, mixing with fury into something unholy. "He was always a failure; even when he is great and strong, he fails—he maddens me. Always weak. Both of my children are failures. One spreads her legs for The Avatar, and the other bows to him—pathetic. I will rectify that by having more children with my wife when it is time. We will make a glorious age. The Avatar will not be able to stop it." It sounded like old Fire Lord Ozai was trying to convince himself as much as he was her. "The Avatar's interference is despicable, but it will never succeed. Our time is now; the Ascension is near. There are only weeks until the culmination of everything toward which we have worked—the final battle. But The Avatar's new spirit has confined us to this pressing timeline. I expected months, possibly years." The water in the puddle near her exploded into searing mist, and Ty Lee flinched. "Damn The Avatar! And damn my daughter whom he fucks!"

"Focus your energies on more pressing matters," the terrifying Vaatu hissed, cold flooding the area as the spirit who Ty Lee remembered corrupting her appeared. "Keep training with Chin V's kinsmen who have returned. Preserve your intensity—we are close, Ozai."

Ty Lee watched, stunned as old Fire Lord Ozai stomped fearlessly towards Vaatu, fury drawn in his posture. "It will all be for naught if we do not get the Air Spirit! Where is Indra?"

"When The Avatar reaches Indra, I will convince him to surrender her to me."

"How are you going to do that?" old Fire Lord Ozai demanded, voice booming like thunder. "We have no leverage!"

"But we do, my friend. I have a plan. Deception is always useful and undeniable. Our supremacy is inevitable. We will match The Avatar."

"But we do not match him now! We have weeks until The Avatar's new spirit destroys all the chi-stealers!"

"It is not ideal- "

"Of course, it is not!"

"- but everything has a cost. The Avatar's frantic efforts will cause him to forget one crucial detail—his morality. His emotional state is fragile. We must bre- "

Suddenly, Vaatu whirled around, staring at something neither Ty Lee nor old Fire Lord Ozai could see.

"What is it?" Fire Lord Ozai demanded. "Answer me!"

"I feel Indra for the first time she sacrificed her immortality."

Old Fire Lord Ozai's eyes widened. "Go get her!"

"The Avatar is in the process of restoring her immortality." Vaatu sounded panicked. Ty Lee had thought it impossible. "He cannot continue; my deception will perish."

Before Ty Lee could blink, Vaatu vanished in a swirl of ominous shadows.

Old Fire Lord Ozai's lips stretched into something desperate and relieved as he stared down at her. "Your end is near."

Ty Lee swallowed. "It will be a better end than yours. When Avatar Aang defeats you, you'll wish you had quelled your ambition. Your path to power was always doomed to fail."

"Do not mistake me for the fools who aspire for aspiration's sake. I have reasons for this. I will destroy The Avatar's tyranny and make a better world."

"You do it out of stupidity," she dared, braving his enraged stare. The saddest thing was that old Fire Lord Ozai clearly, truly believed what he was saying about making a better world by breaking The Avatar's tyranny. "Zuko told me about it. You do it out of a need to prove your father, Fire Lord Azulon wrong—to prove that you're not nothing."

Pain exploded across her face, her head brutally snapped back, as old Fire Lord Ozai reared back and smacked her with vicious strength. Tears welled in her eyes and she knew, indeed, her end would be better than old Fire Lord Ozai's.

Avatar Aang will vanquish Vaatu and old Fire Lord Ozai.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Indra!" Aang called out, voice echoing, resounding through crevices and cracks. "We know you're here! We're not here to harm you!"

"It is Avatar Aang and his wife!" Azula added next to him, raising her voice.

Aang sighed. "Why isn't she answering?"

"Perhaps she fears our motivations," she said in consideration. Maybe Indra even feared The Avatar, but she refused to say it aloud. Not when Aang was already dealing with so much. "Perhaps she hibernates."

"To conserve whatever power she has," he murmured sadly. "Look at Agni. Look how much he's been weakened by a lot of his children being killed because of the plague. I can't imagine how weak Indra is. If Agni is that weak, she must be phenomenally more so."

Azula paused suddenly, wavering as she spied two strange mounds that had flecks of white stone arranged strangely—before she realized what it was, or who they were, when she saw the ancient dark bloodstains tinting the crumbled stone wall near the mounds.

Bodies.

"You said your parents were murdered at this place," she said quietly.

Aang blinked in surprise, approaching her; he had no idea what she had discovered. "Yes. Why?"

She said nothing and stepped to the side, revealing two skeletons, almost hidden by the overgrowth of wild grass, sticking through the skeletons' ribcages and other bones, but the closer she approached the bodies, the more discernible they came.

He froze next to her, body tightening in a painful way, and she watched the realizations sweep across his face, shining in his gray eyes—gray eyes that he had inherited from the two skeletons forgotten at the first Air Temple, murdered by Air's High Council. "Their blood," he croaked, shuddering. "I've been here before—I was here when it happened. I was there when they were murdered."

She was relieved powerfully that he did not remember it, though she suspected that he wished he remembered it. "Yes."

Azula imagined Aang as a toddler in his mother's arms as her and his father fought against the combined assault of the entire High Council, twenty elders in total, the most powerful Airbenders across their race—with Gyatso trying to stop the conflict but being wounded terribly by Tashi himself. She imagined the terror, confusion, and grief Aang felt as a toddler watching his father killed, followed by his mother, who died with him in her arms, after which he was stolen by the High Council—and given to Gyatso only because his later grief and distress at their deaths were too great for anyone else to raise him and survive.

She knew he was imagining the same things based on the dazed, pale expression on his face and laid her forehead against his shoulder. "I am sorry," she breathed. "They did not deserve this. They were real Air Nomads, unlike the High Council, whom led Air to their damnation and demise."

Aang crouched next to his parents' skeletons, swallowing; he reached into his garbs and pulled out one of the two scrolls he took everywhere with him. He opened it, revealing the familiar portrait of himself as a baby with his parents, named Tenzin and Jinora. Azula's eyes traced the portrait and compared the liveliness on his parents' faces to the stoic, silent, and featureless skeletons—and mourned.

"I wish I knew you," Aang whispered, eyes darting from the portrait of his parents to the skeletons of his parents. "I wish I remembered you. All I have is a feeling."

Azula kneeled next to him. "What feeling?"

Aang's grip on the portrait tightened, but he was clearly careful not to ruin the portrait as he handed it to her, trusting her, and she felt the weight of such an action; she accepted the portrait, watching as his fists clenched instantly. "I felt safe with them," he confessed. "I know I did—I just I know I did. I have no evidence for it- "

"You have evidence," she whispered, gesturing to the portrait. "This is the evidence, Aang. Look how happy you are in this portrait; look how safe you are with them—you loved them, and they loved you. You were a beautiful family—it is the most obvious conclusion."

"I remember that feeling," Aang breathed, staring at himself in that portrait, features riveted, cracked by grief. "It's all I have. I don't remember feeling them die or anything like that; I don't remember their faces in my memory, only from this portrait. But I remember feeling safe with them, which means love."

"It does."

Aang wiped several tears from his cheeks as he stood to his feet. "I need to give them their burials."

Azula stood, as well, and handed him the portrait, which he returned to his garbs. "Do you want me to help?"

He glanced at her with a smile, though it was grieved. "You're my wife. I think you should."

She helped him peel away all the grass from their skeletons, all the century of overgrowth, careful to keep their skeletons together. Aang constructed a pyre out of wood he took from trees in the distance outside the first Air Temple while Azula attended to the skeletons, and when the pyre was ready, Aang sat the skeletons on it, handling them with the utmost gentleness—the only physical contact he would ever remember between himself and his parents. He stared at their cleared skeletons, serene from the memory of their violent deaths, before he nodded at her.

Azula shot a smile blast of flame at the wood, and the pyre became alight with flames. Tenzin and Jinora, parents of Aang, were finally getting their proper burials, according to Air's face. The fire crackled in presence, and the bones popped and cracked, and she stood there with Aang for hours, watching as the skeletons were cremated, turned to ash, which the wind would claim—a return to their elemental essence.

Aang performed the ritual with a powerful grace when it was time. Azula watched as he swung each arm forward, the ashes of his parents rising slowly in the air, twirling in the dimming sky. He turned and started to rotate his hands with his arms going level with his shoulders. The air began to whip around, lashing out gently as it gathered power, blurring together faster and faster until it became a tornado. The ashes became one with the wind itself, after which Aang pulled his arms into his chest, and the air slowed down slightly. He curled his hands into fists and lowered them to the ground like he was stretching. The air rushed below him and swirled underneath his body for just a second before it exploded outward, dispersing into the open sky.

She followed Aang's gaze upward, staring at the impressive sky and the moving winds, to which his parents were returned after 120 years. "Be well," she whispered.

"I'm sorry I don't know you," Aang said, voice heavy. "But you can know me now. Watch over me—please."

Azula leaned her head against his shoulder. "They will."

He nodded, silent, before he destroyed the still-burning with his airbending, blasting it apart with violent power. With a wave of his hand, the pieces of the pyre were swept away, vanishing into the wind, going everywhere.

"Thank you, Avatar Aang," a whispering voice suddenly echoed in her mind, and Azula whirled around, hands alight with flames, noticing Aang do the same, but there was nothing there. "Above you, Avatar Aang and his wife."

Azula looked upward and there, floating in the air was a small creature, peppered with intricate, ancient markings that she recognized from the Eastern Temple.

Appa bellowed in greeting, air quivering from his joy, and Momo squawked in cheer.

"Indra," Aang breathed. "I feared I would never find you. If you didn't say anything, I fear I wouldn't have noticed you. I never would have thought to look for an eagle-rabbit."

"But you have found me. Thank you for giving them their rests. I have watched over their skeletons since I came here, keeping animals from destroying anything else, like taking their bones. It gladdens me they have peace."

Aang looked overwhelmed that Indra—the Air Spirit herself—had stood guard over his parents' skeletons for over a century, and Azula bowed her head. "Thank you, Air Spirit."

"Your presence is a joy, Avatar Aang. I feel my Children's energy once more."

"I can't feel you," Aang said, coming to his senses. "Not even when you're right in front of me."

"As you said, I am weakened. The slaughter of my Children weakened me tremendously. I tried to help them during Sozin's Comet when the armies arrived, but Agni attacked me, preventing my interference. With each death I felt, the links in my mind vanishing, I became weaker. I was being bombarded, and with Agni's relentless assault, I was helpless. I managed to escape by briefly overwhelming his flames, but by then it was too late. My Children were dwindling, dying until only you and Appa remained, and realizing that I could be hunted, I sacrificed my immortality and escaped into the Mortal Realm, wrapping myself in this form to stay hidden."

"I am sorry for my forefather's actions," Azula said. "But your Children will return through me. Aang will revive his race."

"It has already begun."

Her eyes widened while Aang inhaled sharply. "She's pregnant?"

"No. Three exist. Only three, though there are more I cannot feel since their births. Once, there were countless of my Children, human and animal, living in harmony in the heavens, roaming to experience life in all of its glory. For so long, there had been two constant links—you, Avatar Aang, and your sky bison—but then, on a joyous occasion, I felt it. A link in my mind of a new Airbender who was born, an awareness that there is another who is part of me, but unlike the others this link stayed open."

Before Azula could ask about Indra's suspicious references to 'others' and 'more', Aang looked relieved. "Then do you know where Samir is?" he asked, words tumbling frantically from his lips, and Azula felt hope stir inside her. "Can you feel her location? Sense it?"

"When I sacrificed my immortality, I sacrificed the ability to know where my Children are, to sense them. I know only of the links in my mind. It is all I have left of what I once was. All I know, Avatar Aang, is that your daughter, my beautiful Child of Air, is alive."

Azula did not let her disappointment overwhelm her. "Is there anything you can tell us about the link? Is Samir hurt?"

"I cannot say."

"What can you say?" Aang demanded, face tight. "Is there anything?"

Indra paused for several moments. "If you restore my immortality, I will be able to know where she is."

Azula's lips parted, and she looked at Aang. "Do it. Do you know how?"

Aang nodded. "I have to flood her with my primordial energy, supercharging her, which will return her to what she was—her true self and being."

The anticipation stole her breath. "Do it," she urged. "If we know where Samir is, we know where Vaatu and Father are. It offers us another ingress through which to defeat them in case our plan to lure Vaatu here fails."

Immediately, The Avatar's eyes and tattoos glowed a blinding light and Azula watched as The Avatar floated into the air before Indra, glowing hands outstretched towards her. A piercing glow enveloped Indra, and power hovered in the air, causing Azula to shiver in anticipation. The pressure around them expanded, thickened, but then a new pressure appeared.

Darkness.

Azula whirled around, hissing between her teeth at the sight of Vaatu. Behind her, she could sense that the process of restoring Indra's immortality had stopped. Appa bellowed in terror and bounded behind her.

But where was Father? Without him, their plan was not possible!

"Avatar," Vaatu called out, triumph emanating off him like his waves of darkness. "Now my supremacy will sooner be complete because you led me to Indra."

Her eyes narrowed into fearsome slits, but her voice was clear, powerful, and full of promise, knowing that she must wield all deception possible to prevent Vaatu from perceiving their ruse. The plan was not possible without Father's presence!

"You hold no sway here!" Azula called out, unwavering in the face of scorn from Vaatu. "The Avatar is supreme, not you. You will be vanquished! How easily he will banish you forever!"

"Your prison awaits, Vaatu," The Avatar hissed out in confirmation, the cacophony of past Avatars' voices booming with guarantee. "This was how it would always end."

Vaatu seemed to preen. "For your daughter, yes. If you do not surrender Indra, she dies."

The glow of The Avatar State faded, and Aang dropped heavily to the ground. Azula closed her eyes, realizing that they were beaten, cursing venomously, all her confidence vanishing. She had known that Vaatu would try to acquire Indra, and she had been so focused on the fact that if they trapped Vaatu and Father, they could determine where Samir and Mother were. Thus, defeating Father. However, Vaatu had been cunning and left Father behind, foreseeing such an attack, maintaining his leverage against them.

Damn!

Rationally, the correct choice was to sacrifice Samir and Mother, but she would never—never!—make that choice. And neither would Aang. It was an unacceptable outcome; it was a reality she would never—never!—allow to pass.

Aang stomped past her towards Vaatu, and Azula panicked, reaching out to snag his arm, nails digging into the Air Nomad fabric. "Think!" she hissed as he stopped.

"I am," he replied, glancing briefly at her; she watched his stormy eyes fill with fire that exceeded Agni's glory before he turned to look back at Vaatu. "I make a promise to you, Vaatu. When this is over, I'm going to throw you somewhere from which you will never escape! And I will purify everything you have marred."

"Empty promises," Vaatu dismissed, smug, secure in his triumph, and Azula had never wanted to unleash her lightning more. But she knew it would be futile and could only provoke them. And she was not going to do anything to risk Samir. "Will you attack me and condemn your daughter to death? This is not an empty promise. Ozai knows if I do not return that you have imprisoned me. He will kill the Airbender, and he will kill slowly. Your might is obsolete, Avatar; you have no power in this situation, no sway. Now surrender Indra to me. It is the only way your daughter lives."

"He may be deceiving us," Aang husband murmured, voice tight; his arm shook in her grip, restrained narrowly from action. "His essence is deception. It may be a bluff."

Azula looked at him. "I cannot take that chance—I cannot. Can you?"

"No."

Aang squeezed his eyes shut but before he could say something more, Indra did. "I was not there for any of my Children the first time—never again. I do this of my own will, Avatar Aang. Your daughter will not be harmed. I refuse to see it happen. This will culminate in Balance, which is needed—I will do whatever I must to see Balance, for only through Balance will my Children return."

"I'm sorry," Aang whispered, and Azula felt sorrowful relief fill her. "But thank you."

"Thank you," she said to Indra. "Your Children will be brought back through me."

"They will have a worthy mother."

Indra flew towards Vaatu, and Azula and Aang did nothing to stop it, for it meant Samir's death to interfere. She had believed their plan to lure Vaatu and trap him rational, precise, but attempting to deceive a being with eons of experience had been unwise.

Vaatu always had the advantage.

"Your contribution will not be forgotten, Avatar!" Vaatu promised. "When Ozai and I merge, and the end of all your strivings is near, we will slay you last—so you may look upon your slaughtered world and despair!"

Aang said nothing.

When they vanished in a wave of shadows, Aang did not explode with fury as Azula expected; he did not lose himself in The Avatar State.

Instead, he turned towards her, gray eyes heavy, burdened, and resigned. "The vision I saw will come to pass. I can't prevent it. I've tried. Vaatu and Ozai will somehow bond. There will be two Avatars—Light and Dark."

Azula nodded, sifting through everything she was feeling; she had to reason instead of feel. "We will still vanquish them. Our victory remains a certainty."

XxXxXxXxXxX

As they soared through the air on Appa, Azula had watched her husband as he stalked back and forth, balancing effortlessly in the saddle, pacing deliberate, energized, fury controlled. He had said nothing since they had taken off, refusing to accommodate her requests, and that had led her to try to spark him out of his mind. To keep him from regressing.

She had had a myriad of options—seduce him, slap him, cry, get angry. Really, anything.

Thus, she had immediately chosen seduction and knew it would be a challenge, for while Aang could never resist her body, she believed that The Avatar might be able to—plus, lovemaking on Appa while in flight was something not tried before. And she had been right. She had tried to seduce him, baring herself before him, but it was a farce—they both knew it. Arousal was impossible, and they both accepted it without awkwardness or embarrassment.

Now they laid on Appa's head, fully clothed, her head on his chest, determining what to do. To take a moment and calm down, to take solace and try to reason instead of feel as they traveled away from the first Air Temple.

"I hope our ability to lay together is not still compromised by the time this is all over," she mused softly. "That would not bode well for Air's future revival and my promise to Indra."

A small laugh, one pained but amused, ruffled her hair. "It won't be compromised," Aang vowed adamantly. "That's the only promise I'm comfortable making right now."

"Good."

"We have to find the others. Wherever they are. I think they're in the old Colonies—Zaofu and Chyung. We'll have to fly over the land and hope they see us. Maybe we'll run into Zuko and Katara still searching for Toph, Bor, and Suki."

"And Samir and Mother?"

Aang closed his eyes. "I don't know."

Her eyes ignited. "Do not say that to me."

His eyes snapped back open. "Vaatu gaining Indra, and thus an airbending master now, changes everything. Nothing's the same. I never thought it would reach this point. Everything I do doesn't help! Don't you understand?"

"What I understand is that both our daughter and my mother are trapped in the presence of great evil—not to mention Vaatu. And we must intend to rescue them before their usefulness to both Vaatu and Father father fades. We do not know the ramifications of pulling a slain spirit into a living body! What if there is nothing left of Samir? What if this dead airbending master whom Vaatu pulls from the Gardens of the Dead crushes Samir's spirit?"

Aang stiffened. "It won't come to that—I won't allow it."

"Then what is the second option, Avatar?" she demanded, pushing herself up, gazing down at his weary but fiery features. "Samir's spirit slumbers in her own body while someone else is in control? She will still die! Once Father learns airbending, even the basics, Samir will be killed, regardless of whatever dead airbending master is in control—all to inflict us with grief! Do you not understand that?"

"That's why we've already left the temple!"

"We need a plan, Avatar."

"Sokka is on his way to Ozai's camp because he thinks Piandao's alive. If he hasn't reached Ozai's camp yet, we can reach him first and then go with his group to rescue Samir and Ursa, and maybe keep Vaatu and Ozai from learning airbending. That's our only shot to make sure Samir stays alive. I can't think of anything else."

Azula nodded, a deadly calm passing through her—all she could do was hope he was right. "Then Appa must fly faster than ever before. His endurance must be inextinguishable."

Aang patted the side of Appa's head and she shifted, allowing him to grab the reins. "You heard her, Appa. Yip-yip!"

XxXxXxXxXxX

Indra was not what Ozai expected. He had always anticipated a powerful and violent spirit, even greater than Agni, based on his experience with The Avatar, born of Air. However, Indra, whom Vaatu had restored to her immortality, was gentle and unsuspecting of great power, despite her appearance. She was initially, apparently, an eagle-rabbit, before her body grew and regained its immortality, provoked by Vaatu pouring primordial power into her. Her body expanded and matched the size of Agni and Devi, made of multiple vortexes of air, somehow forming a body that could be perceived.

"You are an Airbender now," Indra said to him, staring at him, though it was impossible to tell at what part of him she stared—her features were almost invisible.

Ozai nodded in truth—Vaatu had oriented his energy to airbending, a very strange sensation. "Yes."

"You are one of my Children."

"Yes."

"You are not worthy of them," Indra judged but patted his cheek with a sudden hand that made Ozai flinch. "However, you are all I get—I accept you."

Ozai pulled back and gestured to Ty Lee, who Vaatu had forced into slumber. "But do you accept her?"

Indra's nearly imperceptive body moved to Ty Lee and kneeled beside her. "My Child," she whispered, invisible hands brushing over the chi pathways. "She is one of mine—she always has been."

"She is not an Airbender," he pointed out, curious as to Indra's answer.

"I know, but she should be."

"Can you restore her airbending?"

"I already am; I heal her of this enforced, unnatural affliction. It is not only her who has suffered unknowingly and been denied their heritages, their birthrights passed through eons; there are dozens more," Indra notified. "I felt all their births, but then the connection vanished as their airbending vanished."

"Why?" Ozai demanded, recalling Ty Lee's noble family and its massive numbers—possibly the most populated noble house in the Fire Nation with each generation having over a dozen members. But what had always been mystifying, not only to him but everyone, was that everyone in her family, stretching back to her long-lived grandfathers and granduncles, married all to the same seven sisters, were all non-benders—the only noble house that had no Firebenders at all, no hint of them. Then there was the strange practice of Ty Lee's noble house practicing inbreeding, marrying second or third cousins, all descended from those seven sisters and seven outsiders—as if, like Chin V and his sister, to preserve a presence in their blood, unknown to them.

Ozai had no proof but suspected that those seven strange-looking men, the outsiders, all of whom he knew when they were older and looked differently from The Avatar due to the presence of age and sickness, were Airbenders who survived Grandfather's attack against Air.

Indra continued her attentions to Ty Lee's chi. "I cannot say."

"Guess."

"My Children who survived the attack were terrified their own children would be hunted and used chi-blocking to such an extent on their babies that the effects became permanent, stunting their airbending chis, trapping them in infancy."

"The likely source," Vaatu intoned. "Can you heal her?"

"It will be my pleasure to."

Ozai smiled, glancing at Vaatu. "And my airbending master?"

Vaatu hummed. "He awaits."

XxXxXxXxXxX

New inclusions were rare in the Maze of Thorns. Ever moving, never ceasing, the spirits of the damned were eternally trapped, forever forced to stumble through the maze with abandon, incapable of escape, always trapped in agony. With weakened bodies, they were incapable of conscious movements, always stumbling and jerking, forever being pricked and slashed by the poisonous thorns.

It was a place with which he had been intimately acquainted for many centuries.

Thus, the appearance of a spirit, a vastly powerful one, was a riveting novelty. Darkness and overwhelming cold flooded the Maze of Thorns, and suddenly, an ethereal form of shadows and darkness floated before him, ancient and mighty, power permeating the area.

"Do you know who I am, human?" the spirit demanded in an ancient, powerful voice.

He cracked a smile, knowing there was only one spirit daring enough to enter the Maze of Thorns. "I have heard whispers of your name, even here in the Maze of Thorns," he greeted, intrigue stirring inside him. "Quite a reputation you have, Vaatu. I heard you vowed the destruction of The Avatar."

Vaatu laughed, and the Maze of Thorns ominously shook; it sounded like thunder. "Convince me you are worthy of me."

He had long since grown accustomed to the pain in his body, but he was still unprepared for the surge of agony when he tried to move closer to Vaatu, but instead lost his balance and fell into the thorns.

With features permanently carved with a grimace, he achingly picked himself up, trying again to reach his fellow spirit.

He succeeded.

"Foolish Vaatu," he derided, feeling a sneer form on his sallow face. "The Four Races once trembled at my name. I once had power. I was untethered, in harmony with the air. My dwelling existed in the heavens; stars were never more beautiful than when I gazed at them. I was apotheosized, for my home was the stars! I unleashed a calamity that forever changed the Water."

"And now?" Vaatu challenged.

"I am nothing now," he murmured, closing his eyes, waves of searing pain tearing him apart as the poison from the thorns spun through his spirit, forever there, forever inflicting maximum output of torture. "Someone forgotten and forced to rot by The Avatar. My mortal body was smitten by Keska with holy lightning, and the ashes of what I once had long since dispersed."

A sudden silence swept over the area, and he feared that Vaatu had left, but when he opened his eyes, he saw that Vaatu remained, watching him.

"I have a proposition for you, Airbender."

"You do?"

"I will vow it on your spirit's existence if you do not believe me."

"I do believe you vowed your vow, but I believe your vow impossible," he countered. "I know The Avatar's power; I know the wrath lurking in those glowing eyes. What I do not know is your power or wrath."

The shadows surged toward him, and he thrashed in agony, the weight of power beyond anything he had felt enveloping him, pressuring him, squeezing him.

Then the shadows were gone, and he was left panting.

"Does that suffice?" Vaatu asked.

He nodded. "You have my attention."

"As you have mine. You were killed by The Avatar in your lifetime. You were mighty for a human; you forever changed the course of human events with your actions. I can feel your desire for revenge against The Avatar; it burns inside you. I can ensure your revenge."

"What do you want?"

"You."

"I need more than that."

"I want you to teach my vessel airbending."

He narrowed his eyes. "Vessel?"

"I will become the new Avatar, and my vessel is most worthy."

"And if I requested to be your vessel?"

Vaatu laughed, the Maze of Thorns darkening further. "That is unacceptable. You hold no body."

He bristled at the reminder. "Very well. And in return for teaching your vessel airbending?"

"You get to live again—to experience all the pleasures of the flesh. I can give you a new life, another chance. It is an inferior body, one alien, impossible, and unnatural to you, but upon our victory, I will have another for you, one natural to you—that is my promise."

Zaheer felt a smirk form on his face for the first time since his death many, many centuries ago at the hands of Avatar Keska. "To feel the air again, to be able to control such destructive, unholy power, I will gladly teach your vessel airbending, Vaatu."

Shadows emanated off Vaatu in pleasure. "Good."

XxXxXxXxXxX

Well, that's all for this one, everyone! I hope that you all enjoyed it and I'd also really appreciate it if you left a review; it would help me out!

**Ozai and Vaatu recover and try to figure out how to recoup their massive losses. Aang and Hama's inadvertent but simultaneous attacks struck them a massive loss, leaving them with nothing but themselves and very, very, very limited options. Because Ty Lee is still alive, Vaatu reveals her value as a descendant of Air. That's their best option, and they go for it as well as they can.

**Well, this chapter is pretty much the Reunion Chapter, as so many reunions happen in it. Aang and Azula get back from the Immortal Realm and reunite with Zuko and Katara, and they learn of everything that's happened, including what happened in Ba Sing Se—meaning Bumi's death. Aang is understandably devastated by it, and his reaction may seem extreme in this chapter, but he still thinks that Samir, his daughter whom he loves, and his mother-in-law are trapped in Ozai and Vaatu's grasp—because he failed to save them. He blames himself for their capture, and he doesn't know that they were rescued because the Gaang is split up. Plus, he's stressed by the knowledge that Sokka and co. may have been slaughtered by Ozai. He really doesn't know much because Ozai and Vaatu have been so cunning. So, Bumi's death, which he thinks he could have prevented if he had known, is the final nail in the coffin that makes him snap. Bumi is his oldest friend (I'm not counting Appa for obvious reasons because Appa is different), that last connection to the old world that he knew. Now there's only himself and Appa, but that's not enough because Appa can't do much for him in terms of support and understanding that humans need.

Really, Bumi's death makes Aang realize that so much worse can happen to him. He thought he already went through Hell with Air's murder and being willing to let Air's murder happen, but he's made a good life for himself now, but all of that can be taken from him, especially since he knows that Bumi was killed and Samir is trapped in the presence of the two evilest bastards in the world. He is going through a new Hell, one he never imagined. Aang has good reason to unravel, for so much has been hidden from him, such as Piandao's identity that Ozai stole, which led to him endorsing Sokka's mission to "rescue" Piandao and get crucial information on Ozai and Vaatu. There's the critical question that Vaatu asked Azula in the last chapter when they were in the Spirit World and Vaatu was gearing up to destroy her spirit: "How many people can The Avatar lose before he ceases to be as whom you know him?" Aang has lost so much, and he keeps losing more and more. He's unraveling with good reason, but he learns in this chapter that he can't let himself do that. Azula keeps his head on his shoulders and supports him through both emotion and logic, which he desperately needs.

**Toph has reached her breaking point and demands that Bor amputates her feet because she's dying; too much time has passed—the infection's spread, and she doesn't have long to live. She is doing everything she wants to do, and she's going to marry Bor, but she asks him to amputate her feet so she has more time—with him, specifically. However, Bor can't psyche himself up to do it and has to leave and compose himself, where a miracle happens in which he runs into Sokka, Ursa, Samir, and Haru.

**Sokka, Haru, Samir, and Ursa (and don't forget an unconscious Hama, who is pregnant, though they don't know it) reconnect with Bor, Toph, Suki, and Jin's group! It was a very random moment, yes, but I figured they were all due some luck. Basically, it goes how you expect, sharing the stories and details of what happened, and simply basking in each other's presences, bitter by everything that happened, but thankful that it wasn't worse —because it could have been a lot worse. However, because Samir showed up, Toph loses faith in her amputation idea and lets nature take its course, not wanting to traumatize Samir even further.

**Aang and Azula talk about suffering while on the way to the first Air Temple where Indra is located. This part got quite philosophical, certainly, but it's something I do think is true, however bitter and unsatisfying it can feel at times. Hope it at least made sense.

**Zuko and Katara fly on Druk across the Earth Kingdom looking for the others. Really, those four (Aang, Azula, Zuko, and Katara) are all still reeling (although Azula less than the others, of course) from the news of what happened to Ba Sing Se. They intellectually knew that the destruction was possible, knew that deaths of their friends were possible, but they didn't think it would actually happen. This chapter is a lot of them, specifically Aang, reorienting in the face of all that horror.

**Toph and Bor get married, after which Sokka, Haru, and Bor have a talk before they see Druk in the sky and shoot boulders at what they hope is an ally. So, Zuko and Katara get in on the reunions.

**Aang and Azula reach the first Air Temple and continue their conversation, this time about death. Since Aang is an adult, he is infinitely more conscious of death than he was as a child, even in the Great War (since everyone he knew, besides Jet, survived the Great War, excluding, of course, the Air Nomads), for I wanted this to be more realistic. I've always been interested in how far Aang could be pushed, and he's reached his limit. While his limit is less limited than anyone else's, it's still limited, and he recognizes, and Azula recognizes, that he's reached that limit—and that reaching that limit has consequences in perception and belief. He no longer believes firmly that everything will turn out okay; he doesn't have rose-colored glasses on anymore. He is more pragmatic and is willing to act ruthless. In short, he's willing to take some plays from Kyoshi's playbook—because, honestly, Kyoshi's playbook is the right playbook in a time of war, and, as learned in the story, Kyoshi only learned her playbook after extensive suffering herself.

**Sokka, Haru, Samir, Ursa, Bor, Toph, Suki, Jin, Zuko, and Katara all reconnect, and Katara heals Toph's feet. (Who didn't see that part coming?) And they eventually learn, through Toph's healed feet, that Hama is pregnant with Ozai's child. Talk about a deadly combination. Anyway, they have an intense discussion about what to do, and Zuko (and Katara) decides to raise the child themselves, since it works out perfectly. The child will already look like Zuko and have Water Tribe features, which the people of the Fire Nation won't know well enough to differentiate between Katara and another Water Tribe woman. Then Hama wakes up and hell breaks loose, and it goes about as you expect. Threats. Threats. Threats.

**Ty Lee and Ozai have an unpleasant conversation.

**Aang and Azula find the skeletons of Aang's parents, who were murdered at the first Air Temple by the High Council, who wanted to control The Avatar, taking him for themselves. Aang and Azula give his parents their proper burials, after which they find Indra, and just as Aang is about to restore Indra's immortality, Vaatu senses it and shows up, blackmailing them with the promise that their daughter will die if Vaatu doesn't return (they don't know that Samir and Ursa were already rescued, remember?). Vaatu played it really smart because he didn't bring Ozai along, suggesting that he wasn't bluffing—even though he totally was. It's hard to outwit a spirit of eons, even if you're Azula. Indra agrees to go with Vaatu to save Samir, who she only knows is alive; having lost her immortality, she can't sense where Samir is, only that she's living. Otherwise, if Vaatu hadn't gotten there so swiftly, they could have called his bluff. But now Vaatu has all the elements for sure. There will be two Avatars.

You might think that Azula's plan to seduce Aang while flying on Appa is strange and out of character, but she's desperate, and she knows that Aang is desperate. And she knows that they can't be desperate if they are to save Samir and her mother, who they don't know are already safe with the others.

**Vaatu restores Indra's immortality, and Indra begins to heal Ty Lee's chi, which was compromised. Ozai will have his airbending master.

**The airbending spirit who Vaatu will pull from the Gardens of the Dead (specifically the Maze of Thorns since I figured there should be a "hell" section of the Gardens of the Dead) is Zaheer! I know Zaheer is in LoK, but I'm changing things. I sprinkled hints of his existence in earlier chapters, specifically when discussing the ability of true flight when Aang is investigating, via speaking with some of his predecessors, near the beginning of the story. Now, this Zaheer will not be the idiotic man-child from LoK who was an anarchist. This Zaheer will be different, someone who is an actual airbending master and is ruthless and hates The Avatar while holding no hatred for Vaatu and Ozai. In reality, Zaheer will be loyal utterly to Vaatu and Ozai because they gave him a second life.

I think that was everything so leave a review and tell me what you think of the chapter. I'd really appreciate it!

Stay Safe
ButtonPusher