At the top of my lungs in my arms she dies
She dies
If I fall
If I fall
Down
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are never coming home
Never coming home

When i stepped off the boat, onto the iciy walkways of the  northern water tribe i kne immediatley that something was up. I was greeted by sokka,
wearing full battle gear and facial paint. his men were arrayed behind him and the look he gave me was far less than friendly. "Zuko,"he said curtly, his hand
on his sword. i stopped in front of him quickly, putting my hand up to signal that the men on the hsip come no further. they obeyed.
"Lord Sokka, brother to Lady Katara, Heir to throne of the water tribes. i do not come with hostile intentions, why am i greeted in such a manner?" i asked
pompously, as was expected of me. his lips twitched as if he was trying to not to smile, i knew i was, but we both had to retain face in front of our respective troops.
"you have come, in a time of peace with no warning, bringing a ship full of fire nation soliders, leaving your lady wife, my sister katara alone at the fire
nation palace. We have no reason to distrust you, but your soldiers come fully geared. state your reasons." his voice was low and even, dangerous. I closed my eyes, my
resolve almost wavering, but behind my tired eyelids i saw the face of my wife, round with our child, and knew that as long as the avatar was around, peace would be
denied us. i opened my eyes, and looked straight into his.
" reports that the rouge Avatar, Aang, has been seen here, i have come, with a hastily gathered troupe of soliders to see if these rumors were true, My lady wife
is at home, awaiting my return. she is unfit for travel so close to the time that our child will be born. i deemed it safer that she stay behind with my sister as her bodyguard
to keep her as safe as possible. Lord Sokka, warrior of the water tribe, first heir to the throne of the water tribes, brother of my lady wife, are these rumors true?" i said in my
most regal, booming voice.  He looked at me in a studious manner, not something he had really ever done before.
`"These rumors are unfounded,"he spoke just as pompusouly as i had, but i noticed flinching around his eyes as he said it. "My warriors and i will escort you to your rooms, under
full guard until this matter can be settled fully." he finished quietly, motioning his fellow soldiers with his sword. they marched forward, thier faces grim and flanked my men and I.
the walk to the palace was cold and uneventful, no one spoke a word. none were needed.

Several days (and many discussions and political loops and arguments) later.
i sat on the edge of my bed, in the suite Katara and i shared when we visited here. it was built (literally) to be as comfortable for her and i as was humanly possible. It had
to be, Katara had built it herself. The ice was  coverd in furs and leathers, and oddly it was very warm and comfortable, decorated in the deep reds and blues that we both favored. It
saddened me to be in a place the reminded me so of her, i longed to be at her side, as we anticipated our child. Instead i was here, sitting on the edge of our grand four poster, rubbing
my temples in frustration, and trying not to scream at my "advisors". Zhao stoood pacing back and forth his arms folded behind his back.
"Lord Zuko, they are hiding him from us. they are lying, i know that you are related but we must at this crucial times, put such things aside, we must find the Avatar!" he said
his eyes burning, with an ill disguised physchotic passion. i rubbed my eyes, trying as hard as i could to not think of Katara, and how sweet it would be to be home cardling her in my arms,
as we gently stroked her belly and felt our child kicking within.
"Commander Zhao, they have graciously allowed us free range of the entire city, your men and i have explored every inch, every nook and cranny of the enitre place, there is nowhere
that we have not checked. I am not allowing my familial connection to cloud my senses, the Avatar is simply not here." Zhao grinned at me, leaning forward a little as he stopped in front of me,
the grin was as wicked as could be. it gave lie to the gray in his hair that made him seem like an wise older man. the shark like way he smiled however told me that for some reason this was
personal for him as it was for me. that sent warning bells off in my head, why would it be personal for him? hmm.
"ever nook and cranny? ever SINGLE place? i think not." he sai smirking and throwing his arm out with a fluorish. "
what of their inner sanctum?" he hissed," what of the one place they never allow outsiders to go?" he said slyly he was doing his best to circle me, but it was made diffcult by the fact that i was
sitting on a gigantic bed that was about as twice as wide as i was long. what he was suggesting was completely undeard of violating another nation's spiritual place. he knew it to, he watched my
face as he paced, looking for a favorable reaction. well, he got a reaction at least.
the next time he paced by me i stood, making him instinctively freeze in place, it left us standing far too close to each other, most men would back away. Zhao stood his ground but he
looked alarmed, as i stared him straight in the eye. We were the same size now, and being this close made him realize it, forcibily. i saw him swallow hard and he backed away but the sly look in his
eye told me that he would not stop pushing at this. "are you suggesting that we violate another nation's holy place?"i said quietly,"are you trying to get me to force my way into thier most inner sanctum,
using the rouge Avatar as an excuse?" i finished it in a low hiis, allowing some of my anger to leak, along with a little bit of steam issuing from my clenched teeth. He backed away very quickly, doing almost
everything with his body language but bowing, to keep my temper down it was too late. i was pissed i'd begun to think that i was drug here away from my  fire-lily, and our soon to be child, away from my
home on a wild goose chase that had huge political repricussions.
"no, My Lord!!" Zhao said, waving his hands disarmingly in front of himself. "not at all!" he said in panic,"i had only thought that, because you have been there once already you might be allowed to
obtain acsess, to it once more. that is all! please, i did not mean at all, that we should force our way in." by the time he was finished he was clearly shrinking away from me. it could have been that i was scary
enough on my own to have that effect...or it could be that the room tempature had suddenly gone up several degrees, and steam issued from the billowing lengths of water and fire tribe robes.  It was a mixture
of fire nation and water tribe cultural, beautiful and layered, long sleeves, lined with fur, wine red and white. a second layer closer to the body hugging it tight, made of animal skin, that i could not identify, and
the darkest blu, it peeked out at the edges of the outfits at the ankles, to the floor and from the wrist to the 2nd joint of the fingers. it was striking and imperious, and with steam curling out the edges, frightening.
"I was allowed inside, oce, it was the greates honor an outsider can ever recive, it was an ancient water tribe cermony, that linked My Lady Katara together in legal matrimony as well, as spiritually. i will
never allow such a holy place to be descrated for mere curiostity, nor will i ever allow anyone to do so. i, like any water tribe member, like anyone who has brushed the spirit world, will defend it with my life. i will
only ever enter there again if there is beyond a shadow of a doubt that The rouge Avatar Aang dwells inside it, and only then will i bring him out." i was pissed but i toned it down a bit, no need to get angry enough
that the ice might melt. though, granted i would have to be very, very, very, angry to do so. Zhao stared at me silently, rubbing his sideburns,  trying to comfort himself.
"yes, Fire-Lord Zuko." he said humbly,"I completely understand, forgive me for suggesting such a thing." he was saying all the right words but his tone, did not have me fooled. i watched him as he walked toward
the door, no longer comfortable around me.
"have i given you leave, commander Zhao?" i asked coldly, folding my own arms behind my back and glaring him down. it worked wonderfully.  He snapped his heels together and stood stiffly, anger etched on
his face, though he tried not to show it."where are you hurrying off to, Commander Zhao?" i said smiling at him, which threw him off. he gave a half-assed smile, then straightened his face.
" I was going to go back to my rooms, Fire-lord Zuko. I am sorry, i should have asked for leave." he said bowing his head, and usign my full fire nation title, as i had used his. i looked at him giving him an impersonal
look, the kind you would give any one on the street. just another person, nothing importaint about you. he was so pissed. his teeth were clenched and i would have bet anything that his fists were clenched behind his back.
"see that you do." i said, trying my hardest not to grin and stick my tounge out at him. i resisted the urge. Katara would have been so proud. Zhao bowed his head again and stood stock still. i moved away, toward the desk
straightening things on it, then moving to the window, glancing down at the ice garden below, remembering a diffrent time. i put one hand on the wall leaning and looking out.
Sokka and Yue strolled in it, holding hands and smiling at each other softly, and watching their small, 3 yr. old son run around. throwing snowballs and giggling at the noice the icicle flowers made against each other.
Little daisuke stopped and started batting the large iciles back and forth in his hands, they swayed making a tinkling noise, he gigled, and his parents stood watch smiling indulgently. there was nor worry that the little tyke would be
hurt, he was only 3 or around it, and could already bend a little bit. i sighed, my fire-lily told me that he would grow to be an amazing bender, and she was one to know. i stood for a while, watching the happy little scene, thinking
of Katara, and what our little family would be like? a boy or a girl? i wondered? and would they be a bender, if so, which kind? either way they were bound to have an amazing teachers. there was no doubt that our childern would
inherit the bending , gene the only question was which it would be. i stood contemplating for ahwile, until i heard the uncomfortable rustling of clothing, and shifting of feet. Zhao was getting impatient.
"oh?" i said turning slowly,"are you still here, Zhao?"i asked, moving lazily. "you may leave, now. Zhao." i told him, picking up a sculpted round ice ball that lay decoratively on my desk. he saluted and marched out the door.,
as stiffly and loudly as possible. childish. i griined wickedly once he had left, i'd known he was there the entire time. i strode to the window once i heard his footsteps recede down the hall, and without a second thought i thrust the hand,
ice-ball and all out the window, throwing it high over the Sokka and Yue's heads. i tossed a nearly invisble jet of flames at it, and it melted,  drizzling a slight spray onto thier heads. Sokka looked annoyed as he glared up at me, but Yue
just smiled and went to grab her son by the hand, picking himn up and balancing him on her hip. they waved at me and little Daisuke giggled., reaching his hands out waving them around and making every bush and flower in the place
chink against eac other.  Just like that i knew Sokka had one of the waterbenders silently following Zhao.  Secrecy at it's best. they walked forward, toward a door that would eventual lead them to me.  If Zhao had been watching, it would
look like ii had invted them up to my room, to the water-bender that Sokka had stationed, it was a signal. Little daisuke's water-bending was the confirmation.
it took a little while before they reached my rooms, but once i heard the knock i answerd, pretended reluctance, and stiffness, on letting them in, and escorted them into my rooms. once in however, my attitude did a complete
round-about. " iis everything alright?" i asked swiftly, motioning toward the cahirs and, bed. Sokka and Yue sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, little daisuke ran around like children are want to do. Zuko took the chair leaning forward, so
that, in case, any ears were listening in, they wouldnt hear anything.
"everything's fine." Sokka said, in a low voice. "we have someone tailing him now, making sure he doesn't do anything." Daisuke started banging things around, playing. Yue watched over him, and leaned conversationally over to me.
"Why did you allow Zhao, and so many soldiers that you didn't know come along?" she whispered conspiritaorily.
"i was only thining of revenge." i said quietly, turning my face away in shame. there was an almost painfully awkward silence. then Sokka spoke, his voice almost inaudible.
"i understand what that is like."  recently, the excution fot those who had caused the destruction of the souther water tribes had been held at the north pole. Sokka had made sure to personally attend them all. he changed the subject
quickly. "you are sure about meeting with the Avatar, tonight then?" he whispered. i clenched my fist, and stared up at him from my leaning possistion
"i am." i had found where he was the second day i was here. it had taken me a very long while to be calmed down, eventually though i had come to my senses. eventually, it had been explained to me, the Avatar was here to protest his
innocence, and give full and valubale proof that Zhao was a traitor. i felt a tic start just above me eye, however. either the Avatar would explain quickly, or there would no longer be any need to protest anything.
"tappity tap" there was a light tap on the door, and in walked Master pakku. i stood quickly, and inclined my head in respect. he smiled gracefully, but the look he cast me was worried. "Yue." he said gravely,staring into her blue eyes. She
looked at him puzzled, but stood and took Daisuke by the hand. "come with me." he said moving toward the door. Yue obidently followed him, Daisuke trotting happily at her side. She did not even turn and say good-bye as Pakku guided her out. I
looked over at Sokka, very puzzled. he shrugged, one of those moments were nbeither of us new what was going on. We sat in silence for ahwile, not really knowing what to do, when i stood up, and moved toward an open table, my state robes swishing
around me.
"Pai-Sho game?" i asked. i was bored and playing Pai-Sho. Uncle would have been do proud Sokka study it boredly for ahwile then shrugged.
"meh. sure thing." he got up and started to walk toward the table, when an ear-splitting screech rent the air. we shot each other a look, we had a moment of perfect understanding. we both raced out and into the hallway. Pakku,Yue, and Daisuke
were nowhere to be seen, Water-Benders had there own way of getting around in this palace, a much quicker bit of movement than Sokka and i could ever manage. there were  more screams and this time from more than one person. we raced down the hallway
our robes flowing behind us, slowin us down just that extra little bit. we took so many turns to get to the sounds of the screams, that i thought i would be well and truly lost.  when we arrived on the scen, i wished we had been.
the charred remains of what had once been a human woman lay on the floor, the smeel of burnt hair and flesh making me choke and gag. i had only seen something like this once. i shuddred at the memory, my beautiful mother running toward me
screaming my name, arms flung over me, the feeling of being trapped, then warmth like you would never belive...and then... i shoook myself, of the memory tears cousring down my face.  i stood and removed the black cloak that i had been wearing, tossing it
over the burnt form, covering her. honoring her. Sokka was throwing up behind me almost making me do the same, the sound of the liquid hitting the floor mad one of the water tribe girls who had been screaming hurl. i placed my head against the cool icy walls
trying not to do the same. Sokka moved behind me, i heard the rustling of cloth and the sound of him kneeling on the floor, a chink. he'd found something. i turned swallowing hard, to see what it was, and avoided the screaming tearfull eyes of the girls who'd
found the body. Sokka knelt holding a blus scrap of cloth with a symbol written on it. there was anger and despair in his eyes.
"i sent her out." he said, in a dead-pan voice. "i knew it was dangerous, and still i sent her." i knew immediately who he meant. the woman he had told to follow Zhao, and now she was dead. i knelt beside Sokka and put my arm around his shoulders,
trying to do the best i could to comfort him. i looked up at the two girls who were standing clutching each others hands, staring at me in fright. i glared up at them and they shrank back in terror.
"you, there what is your name?" i snapped, the older looking one blinked at me thru her tears.
"lee...llleeetttahhh...sssiirrr." she managed to stutter out.
"find Lord Pakuu imediately." i said a little softer this time. the other girl, looked at me still crying. my tears had dried quickly, i knew what had to be done.
"Master Pakuu, Lady Yue, and Prince Daisuke went to the spirit pond." she said in an almost whisper. my mind raced. "find the highest ranking offical, then mobilize every water-bender possible i snapped. Protect your people, and find Zhao." they hesitated
and stared at Sokka for a bit he nodded, putting a hand on one knee to pull himself up. the girls took off running, as a shadow cast itself over me.
"there will be no need to look for me, Fireee....LOOOrd Zuko." he drwaled disrespctfully, grinning at Sokka. i jumped up moving as quickly as i could. every thing seemed to slow. all i knew is that i would not let this happen again.
Sokka stared up in astonishment, as Zhao flung his hand toward him. luckily, this time, i made it. A burst of fire erupted from my palms barely deflecting  the fire ball that was meant for him. time returned to nromal and i began the deadly dance that was
fire bending. i heard more than saw Sokka draw his blade. "no!!" i screamed at him, "find Yue, and Pakku!!" he looked at me a biit startled wavering, trying to decide who to help. a fireball brezzed by ruffling his hair and singe-ing the tips. i snarled over my shoulder
at him as i cast a whip at Zhao. "GO NOW!!!" he ran. i fought.
Fire bending is a bit like dancing you have to move in tune with the person you are fighting with or you'll be killed, that and whoever moves fastest usally lives. usally. i ducked as Zhao's falming fist swung overhead, it was too close for whip fighting, so i had
taken a leaf from My Katara's book, and surrounded most of my body in a small shield of flames. i pusjed it out just enough so that it didnt burn my robes but it would catch Zhao on fire if he threw a punch. he'd taken the bait. the flame-covered fist was un harmed, the
clothes however caught on fire. Zhao screamed lashing out, flames spewing out from his hands and feet,  we had been fighting long enough that the 6foot thick ice on the walls had begun to sweat and drip.  zhao Screamed ripping the upper torso of his uniform off leaving
him in a black long sleeved undershirt. his hair had come loose and he looked like a crazy disheiveld homeless man. he roared sending a jet of flame at me, and i backed away, it hit the wall and sizzled. the floor eall began to creak, as the ice cracked, Zhao continued screaming
running down the hallway, away from me. the ceiling began to fall, and  a large shard seperated me from him. i turend on my heel angry that the coward had gotten away, but i rushed  toward the spirit pond, and my wifes family. hoping that i could reach them before anyonelse
did.
i was nearing the pond, the snow crunching under my feet when i reached the bridge that Katara and i had first met at. I tripped up, it made me stop a little. i looked out over the city and what i saw made me cry out in shcok amd pain. the beautifully sculpted buildings
were damaged, and fights had erupted everywhere. warriors fought other warriors, fire-benders and water benders where everywhere, but what was the worst was the earthbenders, clothed in firenation garb. "the dai-lee!" i hissed. things began to click, and my eyes went wide, pupils
dialating in shock.
"hello Zuko...wheres that bitch of a sister that you have?" a voice at the other end of the bridge said. Long-Feng. he was garbed as he always was in earth kingdom greens and browns his long hair tied behind his back in a tight braid, smiling wickedly. "have you figured it out
yet, Zuko?" he asked snidely. indeed, i had from the moment i saw him i knew.
"you killed my father." i whispered, it did not even make me angry, just a stirring of pain and regret.
"indeed, i did." he said smiling at me still, "in fact, i had hoped to catch your sister as well, but somehow she was not there. oh..well." he said shrugging. he lifted his arms, and a huge chunk of earth, and ice-crusting the top of it, came loose. another fight. This time, however i
knew, that i could win. i swung out, arms whipping back and forth, attacking him not, the giant boulder coming at me. i dodged out of the way rolling, still lashing out at Long-Feng. he moved aside, but just barely. his robes singed. his face angry as hell. The boulder he was throwing at
me, plopped into the river, useless now. the trick was to make him move, to not give him time to protect himself. i was succedding. i heard him scramble out of the way, and run forward, toward me. i whipped around casting my arm out, trying to wrap it around him.  he dodged, but
flung himself to far to the left, and his waist hit the edge of the bridge. there was a moment where he registered what was happeing his face registered pure astonishment. i dont know what motivated but i jumped forward, trying to grab his hand. he pitched forward and into the icy canals
of the city. i looked down at where he fell, not even wrinkle of water. i sighed. and straghtened up dusting off the fron of my loose robes. i looked down once more, shrugged and moved one. cruel? maybe but war, is not ever kind.  i felt regret that i could not help the other battlers but my
heart was tugging me toward the spirit pond, and i knew it was where i had to go.
i rushed down the corridor, and slipped left down the small out-of-the-way hall that hid the real entrance to the pond. it was sealed with a semi-circular block of ice at least  eight feet thick. then the large, dead-end looking wall of snow. i snarled in frustration, and shot a jet of flame
at  the wall, it sluggishlyy began to melt, i roared and the stream of yellow-red-lightorange fire blasted outward the heat causing my hair to flow outwards, and the ice and snow to melt very quicklly and puddle at my feet. i sloshed thru it lifting my robes a little, glad that no one could see me
acting like a lady.  The hole i had created  leaked fog outwards like i had open the flood gate of the heavens. i walked forward, letting flame slither up my hand, i held it up to light my way and walked carefully forward.
it was un-nerving to not be able to see anything but a thick fog, i could hear the snow crunch under my feet, as if it were fresh, my breath snaked out, literally steaming from my mouth. it seemed like i was walking forever before i noticed that the fog was dissipating around me. i looked
behind me and noticed that it was simply lifting as if by some giant hand. Sun streamed down and left me blinking, putting my hand at my side gently shaking off the flames, as if they were drops of water. i was standing on the little walk that was in front of the spirit pond, adn i was shocked once
again.
There was a dragon perched up on the huge ice-wall, watching the procedings below, next to it was a giant fat, furry bison. mi blinked. an air temple nomad...The Avatar! i turned taking it in all at once, but also slowly. Sokka stood next to his grandfather, a striking contrast. Pakku wore his
normal robes, hands wrapped in the sleeves watching the proceding sagely. Sokka stood next to him a few inches shorter dressed in his thick coats, one hand holding on t Daisuke, who was sucking his thumb and also watching. Sokka's other hand was gripped around his toothy sword, his eyes staring
intently, worried.  in front of them and slightly to the left, more in frontr of the gate stood two women, one i knew too well..one i knew not at all. the older lady was tall, about the same size as i, dressed in long dark green flowing robes,her robes tucked in her trailing sleeves she stared blindly, peacefully,
in the sam direction as the woman next to her, my sister Azula.
To say that i was shocked to see her would be a very mild understatment. she was dressed in an older version of a soliders uniform upturned shoulders and sharp angles, she leaned forward very slightly, two normal fire nation curved swords, both unsheathed and at the ready, trembling in
anticipation. i knew, without a doubt, i knew, that Katara was here. my head turned slightly, the next figure i took in was the Avatar. it was obviously him, dressed in the richest of Air temple robes, golden yellow and orange, "prayer" beads wrapped twice around his neck, another one wrapped around his
wrist his head was thrown back to the heavens, eyesglowing an unearthly white, his arrow tattos glowing the same color, his arms were spread out in a  welcoming gesture, framing the two women who knelt in front of him.
Yue, hands folded prayer like around Katara's. YUe's eyes glowed a light golden color casting a shadow across her face, it was she that Sokka's eyes were trained on. my eyes however, were on the one person i did not want to see at this place. KAtara. oh, my wife katara, my love, my beautiful,
strong and fragile fire-lily. please i almost cried. please let my eyes be playing tricks on me. i closed them and re-opened them. she was there her eyes were wide open but unseeing, they were completely flooded with a deep navy blue. she was dressed in her long fur lined light blue robes, bulging at the
front withour children, she looked so peaceful, yet eerie, her hair pulled back into a carved ponytail clip, cascading down over it in a waterfall of soft brown curls, her hair loops pulled back into, gently hangin over her face. noo...she can not be here i thought sadly. too worried to even cry, or talk. i just stood,
and like everyonelse i watched the spectacle before me.
at first nothing semmed to happen, the three just remained still not a hair on thier bodies stirred though, a chill wind was blowing everyonelse's  hair up and back from their faces. then the pond began to glow as white as the avatars marking's, and something began to rise out of it. Tui and La.
the black and white fish at first  just floating above the pond in thier eternal circle. then, at first they began to trail something behind and slowly i realized they were forming something, melding, coming togehter. Yin and Yang. the symbol hung in the air for all to see. the wind that had been blowing outwards
had stopped and my haird and robes settled back around me with a soft rustle, several people looked at me, then turned back without a word.
The Avatar was moving, stepping in front of the floating glowing fish. YUe stood slowly leaving katara seated on her own, i moved forward to help her, to save her, to do anything i could. The older lady grabbed my writ in a vise-like grip. i blinked hard. I had not even noticed her move, but apparently she
had. "Do not touch her."she whispered urgently to me, not prying her eyes off the spectacle at hand. "if you touch her, move her, disrupt her, in any manner she will not ever return." i stared at her, pain stabbing thru my heart. my eyes begged her to tell me more, to help me save katara.
"please....."i said, my voice barely audible. Even though we were the same height when she looked at me i felt smaller,  her eyes held sorrow and she placed one of her wise old hands on my shoulder "my name, is toph. that man there.."she said motioning toward the Avatar,"is my husband." i looked at her,
biting back a cold reply. as if she snsed my thought she continued,"as a wife of such an influential man, i have learned many things. not the least of which is duty." i must have still looked confused because she sighed, and continued. "what your wife is doing is out of duty, not only to her people or yours, but to the
entire world, it is a heavy thing to bear, even heaveir on the hearts of those of us who watch." she said, looking away from me, toward her love. i almost grasped what she was saying but i still looked at her imploringly, needing her to continue. she stood in silence watching him, i watched katara, then turned to Toph
again, my eyes heavy with things i did not quite understand. she did not blink or move her head what so ever. "it is our duty, yours and mine. to wait. their destiny is entertwined withours, but also, it is thiers alone, all we can do now is wai." a tear snaked out of her sightless eyes as i watched, she made no move to wipe
it away,"we must support them, by letting them do as their destiny commands." her tears fell heavy and silent, i felt them prickling at the edge of my own eyes. but i placed my hand on her shoulder as hers dropped from mine. she sunk to her knees tears still flowing and ocverd her face with one long sleeved hand, the other
balancing herself. i knelt beside her whispering over and over,"it'll be alright. it'll be alright. it'll be alright." trying to convince myself as well as her. i looked up and saw that katara had risen her robes floating around her knees showing off her bare  calves, her sleeves were pushed back back to the elbow dangling loosely,
preetily from her gently floating form. At fisrt i had thought that she was indeed floating like an airbender, but i glanced down and noticed the litlle wave at her feet, pushing her up and forward, toward the Avatar.  HE half crouched in front of her and she reached one finger out slowly gently touching the tip of the glowing
arrow on his forehead. At the contace, a violent misty wind blew outwards, gently wetting us all. the Avatar raised upwardthe water that surrounded the spirit pond moved forth in giant waves circling around him forming.....something. we all stood mouths gaping open at the spectacle, but before the thing could fully form itself
Toph screamed.
"GEt down!" i barely had time to duck as a gian fireball hurled itself over my head, slamming and sizzling into the avatar/creature. Toph moved into an instan crouching bringin one hand up forcefully, bringin up a huge sheet of solid, ice-encrusted rock,shielding us all from Zhao, and Long-Feng's forces.  i jumped up
and back trying to manuver so that i was protectively in front of Katara, Sokka did the same, thrusting Daisuke into his great grandfathers arms. Pakku knelt and began whispering to the boy, but i had no time to figure out what was happening. loud booming echoes came from the other side of the wall, The Dai-Lee were at
work, it wouldn't take long for them to get thru.  
"how many people?" sokka hissed at Toph, holding his sword low at his side, in a disturbingly similar gesture to Azula's. she held both Swords how ever and a large devious smile crossed her face, her teeth bared a small growl trickling from her throat. Toph stood stock still moving her arms up and then down adding
layers to the wall that she had built, finally she stopped and stood next to Sokka, her breath coming out in small puffs. Pakku came and stood at Azula's side in his normally stoic gesture. Boom. BOOM. BBOOOOMM. the noises were getting louder, and quicker. my heart punded in rythm with them, the only sound except that of
the rushing water. i galnced aroun and saw little daisuke standing near his mommy, wavering at the edge of the pond his mom stood in, galncing up at the glowing moon spirit. "moomy!!" he cried, plaintively his little hands outstretched reaching for her. it pulled at my hearstring, and i was glad to see that Yue's glow was fading
slightly, as she moved away frm the moon spirit, until she no longer glowed, and stood on land next to her son. "MOmmy!!!" he said happily, and she knelt to pick him up, and she moved away from the glowing moving fish. KAtara still stood one finger pointed outward, water rushing up covering the Avatar. It was a gaint fish in
blues and white like light playing on water.
BANG!!!! the earth exploded towards us, and we covered our faces as the rubble blew inward. Dai-Lee moved in ward, jumping up then down sending earth rocketing into the air and toward us, behind them were men in fire nation garb, most of them were warriors. (i had never like to place any Fire benders with real talent
under Zhao, and now i was glad of it.) they rushed inward and the  fight began, Toph took on a good half of the Dai-Lee, earth flying around crashing and lifting. Pakku knelt and water crashed up in a wave of great crushing power, Azula moved forward laughing almost physchotically, I grabbed her wrist as she tried to move smoothly
past me. she glared up at me, anger flaring in her eyes "what is it that you want?!" she snapped. i knew what i was baout to do was petty and wrong, but Azula had to know, she ad been as close as anyone could get to father. It wasn't close like mother and i had been, but it seemed that it had been enough for her. "long-Feng." i said, "he.."
she looked up at me a emotions raced confusedly on her usally passive face."i know." she said finally. "why do you think we were here?". i looked at her, the horror of it all dawning on me. KAtara had come to warn me..to protect me..to save me once again. my jaw fell open a little, and Azula looked up at me, her face almost crumpled
in the face of such raw pain. "thank you..."she hissed her wrist slipping out of my grip, i heard the end come whispering  back to me as she engaged a solider in battle"...brother." i coughed. hard, and was almoost imediately attacked by a blade weilding female fire-bender. i smniled and moved my arms up, acroos, over and back whipping up a storm
of flames. she blinked at me in alarm and i surged froward forcing her on the defensive. she blocked left then right, i hesitated moving slightly to the left, trying to get a view of Katara, to make sure she was safe. The woman's hand thrust out and a medium sied ball came whizszing out of her palm and straight at me. i simply moved an arm upward
and deflected it easily, it dissipated at my slightes touch. her Bending was platry at best. i Smiled an threw and over-sized ball straight at her head, she doged as i expected her to, and i slithered sideways, and got behind her as she straigthened up. i reached behind me and grabbed the up-raised sword of an attacking solider, and wrapped her on the
head with it, knocking her out. I turned around quickly and the solider stared at my offending arm in alar, Sokkaa who had been fighting near me took his opurtunity and slashed the man across the belly, he fell to his knees trying to hold his guts in as they spilled steaming from his body. i looked away disgusted but i knew this was war, there was
not time for anyone to feel queasy about what had to be done. There was ma sudden scream high-pitched and painful i whirled knowing that voice.
Long-Feng had Azula entombed in rock, nothing but her head showed, and she struggled screaming and roaring insults at the man Zhao stood nearby pacing around the still unmoving avatar. i lunged forward to defend my sister, and got right next to him. then Zhao did the unimaginable, he crouched down then moved upward at an incredible
rate, he leaned forward and shot a long stream of flame straight upward at the circling fish. it hit the Moon spirit straight on, and i wasnt the only one who screamed in outrage. The now risen moon seemed to sink a little and the world seemed to be encased in a deep blood red. i looked around and even the DAi-lee stopped, one or two of the Fire-Benders
stopped as well, and i made sure to memerize thier faces, the rest kept fighting, Pakku was in trouble, his water-bending failed him and he backpedaled just in time to avoid being hit by a  large ball of fire. Sokka moved in slicing the mans arm, and he scremed going down trying to staunch the flow of blood. Toph was Earth-Bending with all her strength,
bringing absolutely giant chunks of rock down on offending fighters heads, the resulting crunch and splash of gore, made anyone near by back away quickly.
"AAAAAAAiiiii----EEEEE!!!!" a high pitched scream rent thru the air. The avatar had begun to move, he lifted one Dai-Lee into the air and flung her off, out of sifght, everyone began to scramble running away from it as fast as they could.he attacked everyone indescriminately, wether they attacked or not. Zhao roared in protest, as the AVatar moved away from him.
Katara was standing still silently under the arch, and Zhao moved forward. Yue, who had been  huddling in a corner craddling daisuke away from all the sights and noises moved forward, Sokka dropped the body of one of the DAi-Lee he had been fighting, his sword sticking out of the chest, and turned trying to reach her. Toph dropped a considerably large rock
on a soldier, and a earth-bender. She brought her arms up trying to bend a wall between Katara and Zhao. Even the avatar in his watery from had moved to save her. we all had the same thought, but none of us could save her.
Zhao cast a fireball bigger than she was at her and it clashed against something a wave of navy blue like lighting crackled around her, and seemed to absorb the blast, at first i dared hope that she was safe. She stumbled forward, and the lighting-water struck out at Zhao, His mouth opened in a silent agaonized scream and he fell on the ground rolling back
casting frie out wildly, KAtara had moved forward, her Blank navy blue eys were still blank consumed by the spirit with in her, she stood at the edge of the pond, her arms flung out, and a fireball hit her in the back. She pitched forward, the blue in her eyes fading out leaving them blank. Dead. all of this happened in the blink of an eye.  the ocean spirit/Zhao bent
forward and grabbed Zhao. what happened next is something that us survivors will never talk about. not ever.  at first i felt nothing, i fell to my knees still reaching out to protect to catch her. i can never clearly remember what happened then, only that it was wrtten down by everyone there as the most terrifying thing ever seen or heard of, more powerful than even
the avatar in his Avatar State. Fire boiled out from every placec conciveable, my palms shot continuous streams of the hottest concievable fire, and every time my legs every time they moved up, fire roared from my mouth like a dragon, my eyes lost thier whites the pupil and iris, lost in a golden yellow and orange flow, like slow moving molten lava. i was dying inside,
my heart shattered, dorwning in memories.
holding her tenderly in my arms after we had made love, she lay snoozing on my chest arms wrapped tightly around me.
walking on the beach off for once alone, no guards, holding hands, and playing like kids, with no one to censor or judge or interupt us.
laughing at the ridiculous antics od some of the turtle ducks on the pond.
eating a quiet dinner in our suites.
getting into childish fights just so we could make up afterwards.
the anouncment of our child.
reading stories to her belly.
My body fought on with out me, i was told that the slaughter was great, most of those who had attacked us that day were slain. the carnage, unimaginable, blood and darker , heavier lumps were scattered everywhere, some of the body parts, didn't seem to belong to anyone. afterwards they had gathered all the pieces and unidentifiable lumps, and burnt them.
they did not evn try to identify the remains or piece them together. it went down in the history books as the worst thing in history, even worse than the sozin's Comet. i was never aware of any of the mayhem i had casued.
i felt as if i were floating in a peaceful place. everything was serene and perfect, i seemed to be surrounded by cool water, and felt as if someone was cradling my head, talking to me, i couldn't understand what was being sai, but the sound was comforting but sad. i winced inwardly, it felt as if it were raining, little splashes, landing on my cheek and forehead. It
wasn't rain. it was tears, someone was crying. it was katara, i struggled to move or at least open my eyes, sure enough,i did, though i felt something tugging me, trying to pull me back. i did not want to go back, i was here with my Katara, nothing else was importaint. "...for our twins.." i heard Katara's voice say. i opened my eyes, finally and saw her face, it was poulled up in
it's normal style but she was garbed in  ghost-like mermaid like dress, of whites and blues. i tried to reach up and touch her face, but my body was too heavy. " my mind was confused but i puzzled it out finally.
"twins?" i said she smiled at me, tears coursing down her face. my eyelids tugged closed, the last time i saw her face, she was smiling at me, sadly, gently. I came too, laying flat on my back, Sokka bent over me, a look of naked terror in his eyes. "are you...okay." he said looking at me masking something.
"i'm fine, the moon-spirit is it...? i started to ask. Sokka shook his head, and i noticed that his face held dry tears. i sat up with his help, and got a bearing on my surrondings.
Yue was nowhere in sight. Little Daisuke was kneeling over the spirit pond, his little palm moving in a circular motion following one of the fish, Pakku was cradling katara. Lady toph was at her side, kneeling next to her and placing her hand on Katara's belly, Aang knelt on the other sighed, tearing out strips of his robe, a weary look on his face. "what..?" i started to say.
"you know Yue's story?" Sokka asked quietly. i shook my head yes. "she ...became the moon.." he said, his eeys saddening, he turned his head, covering the tears.
"why is everything still red.."i whispered, not unkindly. he looked back at me tears pricklingat his eyes...
"umm..zuko, you might wanna take a look in ..."sokka searched around him and finally groped a piece of clear reflective ice chunk "this.." he said handing it to me. i took it and brought it up to study my face, and dropped it immediately only to pick it up again. My eyes had not changed back, they remained, a slowly moving color pit of lava. i looked at Sokka in horror. he
shook his head silently. and offered me a hand up. i took it, pulled my self to my feet, then stumble ran to where katara lay, shoving Pakku out of the way and drawing her into my arms. her chest moved ever so slightly.
"Fire-lord Zuko."Aang said looking ast me gravely.
"Zuko." i said. he hesitated an almost smile on his lips, he looked down, and lost it.
"we can save the children."Aang said. i frowned at him, tears already spilling out of my eyes, falling silently down my face.
"...and Katara?" i said bending kissing her cool forehead.
"her soul, is already gone..." he said sadly, his eyes showed only pity.
"do as you must." i said. i turned my head awya and was astonished to see the apparation that floated in front of Sokka and Daisuke. Yue floated ghostly, and sad the same type of robes that had bedecked Katara, were on her as well, only in whites and gold. i couldn't hear what she said at first but she, bent and kissed Daisuke on the forehead ruffling his hair. then she
turned to Sokka, sunk in sadness. i turned away, trying to give them privacy but her voice carried.
"i will always be with you..." i heard her say, and tears flowed from my eyes relentlessly, my worl forever scarred red.
"wagghhh..." i heard a loud, lusty cry and wiped my head around tears splashing onto katara. Lady toph was holding a small ugly wrinkled thing in her hands. Azula materialized out of nowhere with water and ripped up pieces of her uniform. She cleaned the child off, a boy, Toph swaddled him in the ruins of Azula's red shirt and handed him too me. i cradled him above his
mothers head which was still in my lap. everyone stared at me quietly, even DAisuke, he and his father had rejoined us, fresh tears racing down their cheeks.
"Ur-Sai. my son, the next fire lord." i said gravely looking down at his little face, steam curled out of his nostrils, as he shook a little fist at me. .."and his sister?" i asked looking at the Avatar.
"Sister?!" came several yelps, then a quick whisper from Azula..."twins..." i looked at Azula and she stepped froward taking her nephew in her arms, the strangest tenderes look passing across her face. i heard the Avatar shifting around sickeing sounds coming from his movements. We all looked away, trying to give an illusion of privacy. Azula smiled at the baby, for once it was
a completely san smile, soft and almost femeine. she moved forward and Sokka reached out to take him.
"oh..great just what we need.."sooka said sarcastically, "another fire-bender.." he said and smiled waggling his fingers at Ur-SAi.
"a daughter." i looked back, toph had already cleaned the baby, and was wrapping her in a navy blue cloth, part of her mothers underskirt.
"Tui-La." i gulped and reached my arms out. she was light in my arms, and quiet, the lusty cries of her brother where not echoing in this place,i looked at the Avatar in alram. he stared back his eyes soaked with sorrow. was there nothig i could do?  sorrow and anger threatend to choke me again, but a noise cut me off. it was at first a scraping noise, and we all looked around to
see the cause of it. in a day filled with atrocities, this was the candle on the cake. A charred body, torn nearly into was flopping closer, half it's face burnt nearly unrecgonizable, the other half still untouched. it was horrible to see, horrible that we had not noticed, horrible that after all this he still lived, horrible that children had been borne amongst such carnage. it was Long-Feng.
Azula screamed, her eyes going completely feral, her smile was physchotic. she  cast around looking for a sword, the rest of us were moving slowly back in horror, i was immobile cradling my wife, and holding our too-quiet baby girl.
Long-Feng was holding a wicked looking sword, it was what he was using to help himslef move, and i knew i could not get up and leave Katara's body in the path of such a monster. The avatar Stood, slowly interposing between me and Long-Feng, his arms thrust out, his power spent.
"no!!!" i cried out trying to one-handedly pull him away, so that he too, would not have to die.  
"i knew my fate long before this." he said his voice carrying only to me. " I have fufilled my destiny, and now i have only one more thing to give..." as he finished, the swrodtip, burst thru his back, splattering me with blood, as i coverd both Tui-La and Kataras face from it. there were no more final words, he simpl fell to his knees, then the ground driving the sword further in. The
Long-Feng creature tried desperatley to tug the swrod out, and very nearly succeded. there was a bloody scream of triumph. Azula had found a sword, she rushed forward, and stood over Long_feng who stared up at her in hatred.
"i told you i will always be better than you."she spat on his face and then plunged the blade she had aquirred into his chest, he spluttered coughed up blood and died.
"anyone who is still alive and able to work, you will carry your fallen comrades, and those in need of healing away from this place." Sokka's voice rang out. he commanede the suvivors and the water tribe warriors that had gotten there somwhere near the end of the battle, all the while holding Ur-Sai in one arm and Daisuke's hand with the oother. " no-one will be charged with any
crime, or be treated specially until everything has been sorted out."
Pakku moved, and knelt by my side looking at my baby girl.
"what if we dont want to?" said a deep male voice. i could only imagine the withering looks he was getting.
"then we will jail you, if you resist we will kill you and leave your corpse hear while we care for your comrades." sokka told the voice coldly. strangely, after that, there were no more arguments.
"she is just like Yue was..."Pakku whispered in alarm gently stroking the baby's fore head. i was fighting back tears again, and gently stroked her cheek with my bare hand, suddenly, her ilmy eyes gained life, and she let out a squall that made several people jump. my eyes dialated in happy shock and i clutched the baby to mychest, hugging the little screaming form to me for all i was worth.
it was ahwile before i relinquishe my hold on her or my son, who Sokka had handed back to me. Finally a water tribe lady,Lady Kanna, herself, had approached me.
"we have a mother, who is just weaning her son, she will nurse them until you can find a fire nation lady to help you." Lady Kanna said in her odd clipped speech. i handed Tui'la to her, and Azula stood above me her arms and eyes demanding she be allowed to hold her nephew. I hesitated, remebering the merciless way she had thrust her sword thru Long_feng's heart. i stopped hesitating
when i glanced around and really saw what my revengd had casued.....bodies..pieces..blood everywhere. Azula looked at me kindly, tenderly, and i handed Ur-Sai to her, it was going to take a bit to get used to seeing that look on Azula's FAce. I watched them as they  walked away, stroking Katara's hair, until they were finally out of sight. then i turned and looked at my wifes face.
Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted a rattling breath coming out of them, and i cried fresh tear traced my cheek,until i heard tha last hiccuph of breath then nothing. i did something then that i will never do again.
I screamed, loud the sound tore itself from my loungs, ripped out of my throat leaving it soar. i cried my pain to the top of the world, my wife would never be coming home.
i would never be coming home.