To anyone reading. Second story I'm going to work on and I hope anyone who reads enjoys it. AU where one decision changed the course of destiny. How? Read and find out. :)

Fire Lord Ozai paced before his son who knelt at the floor to him. Finally his son had atoned for his foolishness and reclaimed his rightful spot by his side. "I am proud of you prince Zuko. I am proud because you and your sister conquered Ba Sing Se. I am proud because when your loyalty was tested by your treacherous uncle, you did the right thing and captured the traitor. And I am proudest of all of your most legendary accomplishment. You slayed the Avatar."

Zuko's eyes widened in surprise from the last statement. The Avatar escaped, he knew that. His father was proud of his actions but he wasn't. In all honesty what he did made him sick to his stomach. With time he hoped he could eventually live with it; but killing the Avatar wasn't something to feel guilty for because he didn't do it.

"What did you hear?" Zuko asked slightly alarmed.

Ozai looked at his son slightly confused by the panic in his voice. "Azula told me everything. She said she was amazed and impressed with your power and ferocity at the moment of truth."

Zuko was speechless. His father thought that he had redeemed himself in battle and that was why he was back. Just another lie his sister told, for what reason he did not know. However, he knew was the Avatar resurfaced from hiding his father would be enraged for the lie. Even if it was not one of his own.

Zuko contemplated what to do. If he just went with it he would get to stay home for a while. Yet if he told the truth, his father might exile him again until he actually killed the Avatar. Both were bad choices but one offered the slight hope of return. He knew if he lied his father would not forgive him. At that moment he made a decision that would alter the course of history more than he would ever know.

"Father…"

Ozai looked at his son with raised brows waiting to hear what he had to say.

"Azula lied… I didn't kill him."

Ozai stared at his son with rage. Each second that passed seemed like eons for each would not break the silence; Zuko out of fear and his father from the sheer anger bubbling beneath the surface, ready to explode at any second.

Finally after what seemed like eternity, his father spoke.

"You did not kill him?" Ozai said rather coldly.

Zuko's head slumped in shame. "No. Azula lied… I injured him but his water bender girlfriend saved him. I know she did…"

Ozai sat down and rubbed his beard a few moments before calling to a guard.

"Bring my daughter here. Now."

The guard bowed to him before racing off out of the throne room. A few minutes passed before Azula walked into the room with the guard in tow. The usual smirk she wore turned to a frown as she looked at her brother whose head was bowed in shame and her father who looked like he was going to destroy something at a moment's notice.

"Father, what seems to be the problem?"

Her father blinked slowly before completely focusing his attention on her. The normal rage in his eyes she had grown used to was but a candle light compared to the inferno she stared into at the moment. For the first time in her life, she actually felt a sense of fear.

"F-father?" Azula asked hesitantly.

Two tendrils of smoke billowed from his nose before he responded.

"Why do you shame our family?" A visible bead of sweat ran down her face before he continued. "You told me Zuko had slayed the Avatar."

Azula's eyes bulged as she realized the situation she was in. The whole thing had been to set Zuko up if the Avatar did somehow survive. What she had not counted on was her brother confessing the truth to their father. All she could do was breathe trying to calm herself to think of a way out of the situation she was in. Ozai wasn't going to let that happen.

"You lied to me to set up your brother. You lied to me about the Avatar's death. His survival puts my whole plan in jeopardy!"

Azula tried to defend herself. "But father, I didn't know."

Ozai cut her off. "Enough. You will not manipulate me as you do to everyone else, my daughter. I will not be made a fool of. You and your brother will set out and kill the Avatar. Kill his waterbender healer as well."

Azula and Zuko locked eyes for a moment as the animosity between the two grew. Whatever they thought of each other didn't matter anymore. If they wanted back in the good graces of their father, the Fire Lord, then they would have to work together.

Still, Azula tried to worm her way out of it. "Father, you surely don't mean to send me away like you did Zuko? I mean I did just capture the capital of the Earth Kingdom."

Ozai stood up enraged from his daughter's attempt to manipulate him. "Azula! Silence!" She backed away in fear as he continued. "The only reason I'm not banishing the two of you is for that very reason. I will not repeat myself. You two will take a few ships and kill the Avatar. Now leave before I change my mind and do something far more sever!"

Azula and Zuko both bowed before scurrying out of the room. Two guards outside escorted them each to their chambers to pack what they would need. Both grabbed their armor and a few sets of clothes. There wasn't much more they needed. After they prepared they were escorted to a ship and they boarded.

The captain of the ship didn't waste time and set off almost immediately with four more ships in tow. Azula just stared at the shoreline as they sailed away into the ocean. After a few hours had passed she looked at Zuko and commented, "When he wants you gone, he does not waste time, does he brother?"

Zuko turned and nodded. "This is the second time he's banished me. This time I can blame you."

Azula almost shot a lightning bolt at him for the comment. How dare he speak to me like that! It's his fault we're both her. I could be home but instead I'm on a ship with this fool!

Azula glared daggers at her brother before responding. "The only one to blame here is you, brother. If you could have remained quiet and stuffed your honor, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Zuko shook his head in disappointment at his sister. Why she despised him so, he didn't know. He had never done anything to her to deserve such spite and yet she was always trying to foil his life. "Azula, what did I do to you? Why can't you accept me as your brother?"

Azula snarled as she glared at him. "Accept you? Like how our mother accepted me? You were always her favorite Zuzu. She wanted nothing to do with me and yet she treated you like her only child. I finally had a parent all to myself after you left and now you come back and get us both kicked out. I didn't do anything to you, you did this to us!"

As she finished she stormed off to go below deck and left Zuko alone. Before disappearing below the deck she yelled out, "And he didn't even let me bring Mai and Ty Lee!"

He just shook his head as he leaned over the side of the ship, staring into the horizon. I didn't choose this life. I tried making the right choices… Even when they weren't clear. I failed uncle when I turned on them, but it's too late for me now. All I can do is try to finish what I started and reclaim my right to come home. I'm sorry uncle…

A few days later

Zuko stood on the deck of the ship watching the sea while his sister practice her firebending behind him. A small dot appeared in the sky and he watched it come closer to the ship. Becoming larger the closer it got.

A few minutes passed until he could make out what it was. "It's a messenger hawk." Zuko stated aloud. Azula quit her training to watch as it neared and landed on the ship. The captain rushed over and grabbed the message off of its back.

Azula snatched it out of his hands before he could open it to read it herself. If she was stuck on the ship until they got the Avatar, she was going to let them know who was in charge. A smirked crossed her face as she unrolled and read it.

Zuko walked over with his arms crossed, waiting to hear what it said. "Well?" he asked impatiently.

Azula laughed as she handed it to the captain before replying. "The Avatar was spotted at a hot springs north of us."

The captain read the message and nodded in agreement. "It's true. Should only take several hours for us to reach that location. We should reach there an hour or two after sunset."

Azula began to walk back to her cabin to prepare. At least she wasn't going to be gone for years like her brother. Only a few days and then she would be back in the good graces of her father. As she descended below deck she shouted, "Have everyone prepare. Every soldier on these ships is going in after them."

Zuko sighed before walking back over to the side of the ship. All he could do was wait for the battle he knew would be coming after their last fight. He just hoped he could finish it for good that time. Even if Azula hated him, he knew her urge would outweigh her feelings towards him.

Several hours later

Dusk had passed hours before as Aang and his friends slept. The day had been fun, something he had needed after everything that had happened in the Earth Kingdom. A day to be carefree and forget about the problems of the world, but it would not last.

Toph awoke as she sensed footsteps drawing near. Knowing the danger she awoke everyone. "Guys, you're all going to think I'm crazy, but it feels like a small army is coming."

Aang looked her Toph through hazy eyes before noticing the moonlight reflecting into his eyes. Rubbing his eyes he looked to see what it was only to see it was reflecting off of the gold on Azula's armor. Yelping he jumped up, much to the surprise of everyone.

The group got ready to fight as Zuko stepped next to his sister. Katara spotted him and began to shout. "You traitor! I believed you and then you almost killed Aang! Come back to finish the job?"

Zuko looked down in shame, knowing she was right. What he did was dishonorable, but what was worse? Turning sides to help the one person he had set out to destroy to redeem his honor? Or stay the course and kill him? He didn't know, but it was too late to turn back.

Zuko actually replied sincerely. "What is done is done. I can't take it back, and I'm sorry. But we have to finish this. One way or the other."

Azula scoffed at her brother. "Zuzu. Don't apologize to them. We were sent to kill them, or are you going to hesitate now when your honor is at hand and disappoint father?"

Zuko nodded grudgingly. The inner turmoil of his decisions was swirling inside and the only way he thought he could fix it was by finishing what he had set out to do all those years ago; whether it was right or wrong. He had already made his choice and it was time to follow through.

As if on cue firebenders came from seemingly everywhere and formed a ring around the perimeter of the area to surround Aang and his friends. Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph backed into each other taken back by how many soldiers that had been brought to stop them.

As everyone prepared to bend, Toph voiced all their thoughts. "There's a lot of them… I don't think we can take them all."

Azula laughed as she overheard her statement. "We brought five ships worth of troops. Surrender and we can make your deaths quick."

The only reply she got was a cold stare from Aang as he readied himself to fight the seemingly impossible battle. They could try to escape but with the number of Fire Nation soldiers surrounding them, he didn't like the odds.

Each second that passed became more agonizing as each side waited for the other to make the first move. The situation became more desperate as more Fire Nation soldiers poured into the area. Aang scanned the area looking for some kind of advantage without success.

In a hopeful yet serious tone Aang conveyed his thoughts to his friends. "Guys, we have to be careful. We'll have to hold them off until there's an opening to escape."

Each one nodded, determined to get out of the situation alive. Never before had they been faced with such difficult odds. Odds that made each of them afraid that it might be their last stand. Fortunately their fear did not cripple or hinder them, but fueled and pushed them to fight back. They knew it would take everything they had.

Aang and Katara looked into each other's eyes briefly. Each one had the burning desire to protect one another. Although it was a brief look, it was all they needed to find the extra strength within themselves to protect one another.

Zuko raised his hand high in the air with all eyes on him. Turning his head he scanned everyone that was there seeing they were waiting for the order. Taking a deep breath, he then exhaled as he brought his hand down towards the Avatar and his friends.

Immediately soldiers began shooting balls of fire towards the group while others began charging towards them with spears as Azula and Zuko stood and watched. They were confident that the Avatar and his group of friend could repel the troops for a while. Once there was an opening they would strike as well.

Katara used the nearby pool of water and brought it up as a shield to block the fireballs. Toph began to earthbend and fling rocks towards the soldiers surrounding them. Aang and Sokka began to fight off the soldiers that came near. Aang flung them back with powerful air blasts while Sokka smashed his club into the sides of soldier's helmets.

Azula watched disinterested with their effort. It was futile and eventually they would slip. If their soldiers didn't capitalize on a mistake, she would. Another factor boosting her confidence was that they had brought three tundra tanks they left back at the ships to prepare. Any moment they could finally come to the battle which she knew would be the end for the Avatar and his little friends.

She looked to her brother with a sadistic grin only to see his face was full of remorse and dejection. It greatly annoyed her to see he brother to be distraught about their mission. All they had to do was kill the Avatar and they could return home. Why he looked like a lifeless shell was beyond her. As long as it didn't hinder her from completing the task, then she didn't care.

"Zuzu, don't look so down. Soon the Avatar will be dead and we can return home. Is that not what you want?"

Zuko looked at her with serious eyes before responding. "Uncle will be disappointed with me when he finds out."

Azula waved him off as she scoffed because of the old man. "Why do you care about that traitor's opinion of you? Do you think of yourself so low that you care about him? He chose that prison cell he is in. If anything you should be disappointed in his actions. Without him, perhaps you would have killed the Avatar long ago."

Zuko turned from her to focus his attention on the battle below. In a defeated yet accepting tone he replied, "Maybe you're right…"

Azula laughed before responding, "Off course I am right little brother. Now present yourself like the prince you are. You are more dignified than that." Zuko just nodded in reply much to Azula's delight. Even now she could manipulate him and it pleased her greatly.

Katara wasn't having a joyous time as much as Azula. Between trying to block the fire balls hurling towards them she also had to keep blocking them from hitting Appa. Every time Appa tried to fly off the soldiers would concentrate their blasts on him forcing him back to the ground.

Aang was evading and hurling back the troops with ease but it wasn't really all that helpful. Each time they landed they would just get back up and charge forward again. Sokka was doing some damage with his club, but none of his strikes were fatal. He managed to knock a few of the soldiers unconscious but the rest were just a little dinged up.

Toph was having a hard time as well because every fire blast that landed near her would bake the ground. When she would move or dodge she kept scalding her feet on the hot crust. There were just too many for her and the rest to stop. Though blind she saw they needed to get out of there before it was too late. They were just prolonging the inevitable.

Aang attempted to enter the Avatar State. However all he felt was pain in his back where Azula struck him with lightning in Ba Sing Se. He didn't think it would work but he had to try. He saw they were losing and wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it up. If he tried to take the soldiers out for good then maybe they had a chance but he couldn't do that.

Sokka sidestepped a soldier, bashing him in his side forcing the soldier to collapse. A grin crossed his face momentarily before turning to pain as a spear sliced his arm. Trying to recover he tried to hit the soldier who got him only to have his club knocked out of his hand by another spear from another soldier.

Before one of the soldiers could pierce him he rolled over to his club and spun throwing his boomerang at the soldiers. It narrowly missed them as it soared through the air and hit Azula in her forehead.

Stumbling back she grabbed her head more annoyed than hurt. Opening her eyes she watched as the boomerang flew back towards the water tribe male. A low growl erupted from her throat as she clenched her fists, sprouting a bit of fire doing so.

"It's time Zuko."

He looked at her slightly surprised by the urgency in her tone. "I thought you wanted to wait for the tanks?"

Azula scowled at him before answering his question. "We'll finish this quicker. They'll reinforce us if anything." She slid down the embankment with rage in her eyes burning brighter than the fire sprouting from her hands.

Zuko just shrugged as he leaped down to join her. Figured he might as well join her so they could end it quickly. If he didn't and she killed the Avatar, he was sure she would take all of the credit when they returned home.

Sokka backed up to Katara as the soldiers attacking them began to back up and form another ring around them. Aang and Toph followed suit and joined them. The fire benders on the outside perimeter stopped hurling fire at them momentarily.

Toph kept her feet planted and became nervous as a vibration traveled to her feet up her legs. Nervously she spoke aloud. "Guys, I can feel something rolling towards us." A few moments passed before she finished, "There's three metal things rolling this way."

Katara used the brief respite to examine Sokka's wound. "This is bad Sokka. You won't be able to use your arm until I heal this."

Sokka held his club in his other hand as he straightened himself out. "We got other things to worry about now. Those are probably their tundra tanks rolling our way." He took a moment to examine the situation. They surrounded us down here with armed soldiers. Even if we break through the line the soldiers on the rim of this swimming hole will rain fire on us. And they got tanks on the way…

Usually Sokka could think of some way out of any situation. Aang looked at Sokka and asked what everyone was thinking. "Can you think of a way out of this Sokka?" Aang watched as Sokka glanced at him and a visible bead of sweat rolled down his head. That was the only answer he needed.

Azula and Zuko walked through the line the soldiers made to face the Avatar. Azula gave her trademarked grin as she motioned to all of the Fire Nation soldiers. In an arrogant tone she began to speak, "You know you cannot win. But… I am merciful. Surrender, Avatar, and you and your friends will be permitted to live."

Aang looked at his friends then back at Azula. "I surrender and they can go?"

Katara tried to interject, "Aang, you can't!"

Azula laughed. "Well, I wouldn't say that. You'll all still die. We'll just take you all to the Fire Lord so he can watch the executions himself."

Aang breathed in to calm and ready himself for the battle. Azula on the other hand just shrugged. "Guess that's a no then. Shall we start?" Instantly she moved her hand and shot a lightning bolt towards Aang.

Seeing the electricity hurling towards him, he quickly earthbended a wall to shield himself. As the lightning bolt impacted he felt relief for a split second only to see Zuko appear in his peripheral vision sliding past his makeshift shield.

Before Zuko could capitalize Katara used a tendril of water to grab his leg and throw him backwards. Aang looked back and gave her a thankful smile which she just nodded to. "Aang, I'll take him."

Aang looked at her surprised and slightly worried. "Katara, are you sure?"

Katara stepped forward towards Zuko with a look of intensity that Aang had never seen before. In a tone that matched her expression she replied, "He betrayed my trust back in Bae Sing Se. Because of him you almost died."

Aang glanced over at Zuko who was getting back up and then back to her. "Alright, Katara… Be careful."

Katara looked back at Aang and gave him a small smile. "I will. Azula is more dangerous. She's more unpredictable. Promise me if you get a chance to escape you will. Even if you have to leave me."

Aang's eye's widened in shock. "I wouldn't abandon you!"

Katara stared at him like a mother scolding a child. "Aang… You're the Avatar. You need to stop the Fire Lord."

Aang stopped her from continuing. "If I can't protect my friends then how can I stop him? I'm not leaving you." He let his rock wall recede back into the earth to see Azula staring at him impatiently. "Alright, I'll take her."

Azula got into her fighting stance readying herself to finish the fight. "Good, you're ready to fight. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it too easy for me." As she finished she leaped and kicked out a flame toward Aang.

He blew it away it a gust of air only to leap out of the way from a stream of lightning. Each one of his moments was to dodge and avoid her attacks. Aang couldn't help reverting to his airbending style. Avoid and defend was what he was used too. Even when he earthbended he used it mostly for defense.

Azula wasn't having it. Every blast of fire and streak of lightning she assaulted him with and he dodge only infuriated her further. "You can't dodge forever, Avatar!"

He knew she was right. Each blast got closer to actually getting him. To add to the stress, he looked over to see the soldiers were trying to take out Sokka and Toph. Thankfully they were holding them off but he could see they were struggling.

Toph was trying to block the blasts of fire the other soldiers were hurling at them. Sokka was struggling with one arm to hold back the advancing troops with Toph's help where he couldn't defend himself. Things went from bad to worse and Aang knew it would end soon. He just hoped it would end well.

Katara was the opposite of Aang. Her duel with Zuko, she was the aggressor. Zuko would fire a few blasts of fire at her only to try to dodge as she used tendrils of water to try to whip him. Seeing it wasn't working she tried to switch tactics and turned her water to ice and began to shoot out razor sharp discs at Zuko. At least Aang didn't have to worry about her.

Each minute that passed seemed like hours as it began to take a toll on everyone. Everyone was drenched in sweat from exertion. Their moves began to become sloppy as the battle raged on. Azula looked up and smiled as she saw the three tanks appear on the edge of the swimming hole.

"It seems your time is almost up, Avatar." She signaled to the tanks to begin their advance. Each death machine rolled down towards Sokka and Toph. Azula just smiled knowing that those two nuisances would soon no longer be a problem.

Toph immediately sprung to action and leaped towards one of the tanks and used her metalbending to tear it in two, causing the crew to fall out. The other two tanks seized on the opportunity and began to shoot blasts of fire at her along with the soldiers surrounding the swimming hole.

She looked up right as a fireball was about to impact her. It was too late to move or block it and she knew it was the end. Toph couldn't see it but she felt the heat radiating off of the massive ball of fire as it inched closer to her face.

Sokka moved quickly and tackled her to the ground, before rolling with her to dodge another blast. Katara saw all the soldiers and the remaining two tanks hurling fire towards her brother and Toph. She left Zuko and propelled herself with a wave of water over to them.

Using the water, she created more tendrils to bat away at the flames to protect them. Toph got back up and attacked another tank, ripping it in two as well, before retreating back to Katara and Sokka with a make shift shield of metal with her.

Aang continued to dodge Azula's relentless attacks as he glanced and saw Zuko staring at him. That same stare he had seen so many times through his numerous escapes from the banished prince. Except there was something different in his eyes. Like the light behind them was gone and he was now empty.

Zuko stared at Aang a few moments before looking back at Katara who was busy swatting away blasts of fire. With one last glance at Aang he ran towards Katara set on taking her out while she was preoccupied. There will be no redeeming myself after this…

Aang could only watch as Zuko sent a massive blast of fire towards Katara, striking her in her back. Immediately she let out a blood curdling scream as she fell along with her tendrils of water. She tried to stand back up but Zuko hit her with another blast, burning her further.

A new feeling came to Aang that he never experienced before. A sense of rage and what he thought was hatred swelled up inside him. The Avatar State tried to activate but again all he felt was pain from where Azula had injured him before.

Azula tried to use the moment he looked away from her to strike him with a downward kick of fire. He dodged it in time and sent a blast of wind at her that she had to raise her hand to try to block. The wind cut into her hand leaving a deep gash as it began to pour out blood.

"Finally using the airbending to injure? About time. Did it take your girlfriend getting hurt to do that?"

Aang barely glanced at Azula as he ran over to Katara. The one glance though sent a sick shiver up her spine. His eyes said everything he couldn't say at the moment. Though she needed to kill him, the amount of pain, sorrow, and rage was shining through his eyes. Azula had never seen anything like that and it actually stunned her for a moment.

Zuko looked to see Aang running straight towards him before raising his arms to block a gust of air that Aang shot out at him. What he didn't expect was the sheer power behind it as it launched him back into the wall surrounding the watering hole. Yet, Aang did not stop. He kept up the attack as it began to actually hurt Zuko.

Zuko kept his arms raised as the torrent of air bombarded him, leaving cuts all along his body. The pressure from the attack felt like it was crushing his body the longer it went on. Only when Azula tried to attack Aang again from behind did the assault stop. Zuko fell to a knee as he saw cuts with blood seeping out all over the front of his body.

Azula tried to hit Aang again but he countered it by pulling a small slab of earth behind her and sending a gust of air her way, knocking her down over the slab. She was momentarily dazed as she hit her head on the ground only to see Toph use her earthbending to propel Azula over to her.

Before Azula could react, Toph used her makeshift metal shield and split it in two. Each one she then bended and used them to clasp Azula's arms and legs. The metal went from her hands up to her forearm, pinning them behind her back like a pair of cuffs. The other piece of metal covered her feet up to her calf.

Toph then pushed Azula onto her knees as Sokka held his club prepared to strike her. Azula was dumbfounded as she tried to struggle against her bonds. She was trapped. They had actually stopped and immobilized her. Flabbergasted was an understatement.

Aang meanwhile, tried to attend to Katara. As he approached her she unsteadily stood back up. Aang stopped as he stared at her back. He could see her entire back had been burned. All of the skin had charred and was flaking off. If it had been anyone else he would have probably thrown up from the sight and the smell, but it was Katara.

She turned and saw the tears in his eyes were more than her own from the pain. Before he could say anything, she spoke first. "Get everyone on Appa."

Aang tried to protest. "What about you?"

Katara though saw they had a chance to flee, and she was going to make sure they took it. "Aang, get everyone on Appa now. Including Azula. They'll let you go if you take her prisoner. They won't hurt the princess."

Toph overheard and understood exactly what she was saying. Using her earthbending she threw Sokka, Azula, and herself on top of Appa. Aang wasn't getting what Katara was saying though.

"Okay they're on. So let's go."

Katara glanced back before slowing moving backwards towards them. "Alright, Aang. Time to get out of here."

Zuko stood up and walked towards them. Not too near so they could attack him but close enough to pose a threat. "You're taking my sister hostage?"

Sokka replied for the group. "Yeah, and if you try to follow us we'll dump her in the ocean!"

Zuko just blinked in response as Aang helped Katara walk towards Appa. Time seemed to stand still as Zuko looked at his dumbfounded sister and back at the Avatar. After a few moments Zuko made his decision. He had already strayed from the path his uncle tried to help him on. It was too late now.

Zuko began to move and swung both of his fists towards Aang and Katara, sending a ball of fire towards them. Katara saw it first and reacted before anyone else could. She shoved Aang forward as the blast impacted her back again.

Aang fell on his face before getting up to see Katara down again. As he moved to go to her she stood up, fueled only by adrenaline and the need to protect him. There was no other way she was standing beside that and pure willpower.

He tried to get to her but all of the soldiers began to hurl blasts of fire at them again. A wall of fire arose and separated the two as he tried to save her. Using what little energy she had, she waterbended all the water she could to swipe away the blasts of fire.

Glancing back at Aang she smiled at him, one last time. Aang stared in horror as a stray blast of fire hit her side. He tried to run towards her again but fire kept landing in front of him, blocking his advance.

All he could hear was Sokka screaming for his sister and Toph yelling as she tried to bat away fireballs with her earthbending. "Aang! I can't keep this up!"

He looked back at them and then at Katara. He couldn't leave her. He wouldn't leave her. She looked back and mouthed out the last word he would ever hear. Go.

Another blast of fire hit her as she began to gather more water and swat more of the fireballs. Aang looked back at Toph and Sokka panicking as they tried to survive. The most painful moment in his life happened right then. He took one last look into Katara's eyes as she turned and looked at him. He nodded and spun around with tears flowing from his eyes as he leaped onto Appa.

"… Yip yip."

Appa began to rise as he lifted them into the air. Zuko shouted, "Don't let them escape! Kill my sister if you have too! The Avatar can't escape her alive!"

All of the soldiers redirected their fire towards the flying bison as it took off. Katara saw that and used all of her water to block the blasts, leaving herself defenseless. Appa rose in the air leaving the battle behind.

Zuko watched and saw that Katara was defenseless and fired another blast of fire at her. She screamed in pain as she fell to her knees. Aang looked back to see something that would haunt him the rest of his life.

All of the soldiers sent blasts of fire at Katara as she screamed in agony. Those screams that he knew would plague him forever. Zuko just kept sending more blasts at her as she tried to crawl away. Aang's heart stopped as he saw her stop moving.

Appa continued to rise in the air as the battlefield turned into a smaller dot the further they got away. Aang sat down in the saddle heartbroken for what he just witnessed. Both he and Sokka were silent, for Sokka had lost his sister, and Aang lost the love of his life. Toph lost her friend and just stared down at the saddle.

They rode in silence a few minutes before someone spoke up. Azula talked to no one in particular, "Shame about your waterbender, but what are you going to do with me?"

Aang looked up at her and just stared for a few minutes. That stare went down to her core as she couldn't say anything. She couldn't say anything cruel or mean. His stare penetrated her and she couldn't move. Say something…

After a long silence Aang finally replied. "Please… Just… Shut up."