A/N: The long-awaited finale chapter. And I don't exaggerate when I say 'long-awaited'. Pardon the frequent breaks, I have difficulty writing action sequences.

Chapter 11: Tying Loose Knots

Appa had never carried this many people. Along with Toph's regiment, the Order had managed to offer four more warriors at Suki's request. They were trained extensively in archery and hand-to-hand combat, and the Kyoshi Warrior felt their experience would come to good use when facing the Fire Nation army. Nobu had pleaded with the Elders of the Lotus in order to be allowed to join them, because, feeling somewhat at fault for his comrades' capture, he believed he had a responsibility in helping to liberate them.

At first, Aang had been uneasy about asking so much from his sky bison. After all, Appa had only had a few days of rest since his excursion to the Eastern Air Temple. Suki quickly reassured him, however, that the large group would only be traveling with him for a portion of the way, and from there, he would proceed alone.

The weather was strangely calm; only a whisper of a breeze ruffled the airbender's tunic as the sun beat down upon the tan figure of the sky bison departing from Ba Sing Se's great, golden wall.

Just behind Aang, Toph and Suki sat with their arms curled over the lip of the saddle, as still as statues.

The earthbender blinked beneath her black bangs, and Suki thought she could detect a spark of anxiety glimmering in Toph's jaded eyes. Eager to break the silence, the Kyoshi Warrior turned to the warriors clustered together in Appa's saddle, nudging the young, blind earthbender with her elbow.

"Shall we go over the plan one more time?"

Toph straightened, earnestly pushing her swirling thoughts—concern both for Katara's situation and Aang's wellbeing in the upcoming confrontation with Ozai—to the back of her mind. "Couldn't hurt," she replied, giving the affirmative. "Go ahead."

"Okay," Suki bobbed her head, settling her gaze on the Lotus members sitting to attention beside them in Appa's saddle. "As a refresher, earthbenders," she looked to the six men who gazed at her with hardened expressions of determination. "You and Toph will tunnel beneath the earth, taking up positions underneath the most populated areas of the camp. Although most of you can't see as well down there as Toph can, you will wait for her signal and follow her directions—" at this, Suki glanced toward the blind earthbender, expecting some sort of clarification from her.

Toph didn't disappoint. "I'll place you where you need to be. Then you will hold your positions until I say. Once I give the signal, you will move the earth beneath the feet of the soldiers. The idea is to create as much confusion as possible so Suki and the archers," she turned toward the second group, "can do their thing."

"Yes," Suki elaborated, addressing her warriors, "Our 'thing' is to make sure our people can escape. We have no idea what kind of state the prisoners are in—some of them may have sustained serious injuries, so we need to be quick and cautious. This man," she glanced toward Nobu, who was sitting in rear of the saddle, "Has provided us with some intelligence as to the terrain and situation. Care to remind us of it, sir?"

The man bowed his head, and, clearing his throat carefully, he prepared himself to speak.

Katara was uncomfortable.

The sun was sweltering, and the air was thick with invisible vapors. Although the waterbender's clothes had long-since dried of the morning dew, they were now damp with a sticky sweat. Her throat was dry; her lips parched. Throughout the course of the day, her stomach had gone from emitting an occasional rumble of complaint to settling fiercely twisted knot, trembling with hunger. She gradually came to realize that she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday evening.

The bite of the tight cords securing her to the post had begun to dig into the skin at her wrists, chafing and blistering. They were strapped fast behind her, however, and she could do nothing to alleviate the throbbing pain.

Her muscles were sore, her joints stiff, and her left leg had fallen asleep hours ago. The ropes did their job well—they kept her virtually motionless, but they were far from tolerable. Biting her lip, the waterbender sorely wished that she could move her arms—then she could free herself in an instant. But Ozai's men had done well in preventing that—her full range of movement was limited only to the movement of her head and a slight shrugging of her shoulders, but even that was painful.

Katara was quite uncomfortable.

With the danger to herself temporarily withheld, the adrenaline in her system had subsided. Try as she might, she could not discover any possible avenue of escape. The posts she and her fellow prisoners were tied to were out in the open. Behind them several meters away was the steep hillock, shielding the camp from invasion, but also preventing any hope of escape. Guards patrolled nearby areas, and several guards stood watch. Katara's four guards switched shifts on occasion, but other than that, in her little corner of the universe, there wasn't much activity. The waterbender eventually decided to try and get some rest, and she drifted in and out of a sleep-state, half dozing for most of the time. But her mind wouldn't allow her any peace—it whirled like a frustrated hare-owl. Guilt, fear, and thoughts of her family and friends swirled through the murky waters.

Sokka would be angry with her, she speculated, for volunteering for such a precarious mission. He would probably also feel guilty, too, for allowing it. By now, the Lotus would have probably received their message, and her brother would be working like a meadow-mole, planning and scheming ways to rescue her.

Suki would be right there with him, Katara imagined, helping him to perfect his plans and compensate for any possible loopholes. Toph would be there too, simmering with anger and ready to destroy any mountains in order to get to her. Katara couldn't help but smile, realizing how much she had come to rely on the prickly little earthbender—as a fighter, yes, but as a friend too—and maybe even a sister.

Aang, Katara mused, would preside over the goings-on with a calm urgency. He would come, she knew. He would insist on doing what Ozai said. He would want to come by himself. Katara swallowed, and her swollen tongue jerked awkwardly in her mouth. But, she thought, Sokka wouldn't let him do that. Toph and Suki wouldn't let him do that. They would figure out a way, she felt certain. They would capture Ozai—he would pay for his crimes.

Katara sighed, and dimly felt the solid tap of a spear shaft against her arm. She blinked wearily. Aang would come. The tap came again, more severe this time—almost painful. Shaking herself out of her dizzy thoughts, the waterbender stared blindly up at the guard who had commanded her attention.

"…do you want water or not, you crazy witch?" The soldier held an animal-skin canteen in his hand, and a spear in the other.

Her ears finally working again, Katara stiffened. She was stung by the insult, but knew it would be stupid to refuse the offer. She nodded slowly.

The soldier uncorked the gourd and brought it forward, dumping the contents carelessly onto the waterbender's head. Caught off guard, Katara opened her mouth and tipped her chin upward, lapping what little she could before it ran down her neck and shoulders. She trembled, seething with disgust. If only she was free of these bonds, she would water-whip the reckless man to the other side of the continent!

Emptying the canteen, the soldier shook the last droplets out and recapped it. "Sorry, that's all," he murmured, a cruel lilt to his tone that made Katara shake with fury, "You'll have to be quicker next time."

Katara's teeth clenched, and she closed her eyes. Aang will come, she reminded herself.

The sound of armor clinking rubbed harshly against her ears as the soldier stalked away, leaving the waterbender very uncomfortable.

Ozai's camp was situated in the hollow of a grassy knoll facing the shoreline, protected on three sides by a steep slope covered with vegetation. Loose stones and soil made climbing the hill precarious, but the open shoreline made for an easy avenue of escape by ship. The Fire Lord's tent was situated in the center of the camp, surrounded by the similar shelters of his soldiers. Ozai's accommodations were luxurious, with silk floor cushions and several soldiers waiting on him. He sat in the center of his temporary abode, his legs crossed beneath him, sitting perfectly erect. His hands were clasped together, palm-down beneath his chin, in deep thought. At the moment, his appetite was appeased, and a half-eaten bowl of army-grade fire biscuits sat on a cushion beside him. Disgusting things, they were, but as they were the hard tack of the Fire Nation military, it was the best food Ozai's soldiers had among them.

Upon his return, the Fire Lord had demanded that food and drink be brought to him at once. His men had obeyed unfailingly, and brought him everything he so desired. It was hours until he had his fill, and the offerings became less sizable as the day went on.

They thought he wouldn't notice, but Ozai was no fool. The Fire Lord's amber eyes glinted as the image of his subordinate officer—the man called Akane—flashed in his mind. The General had appealed to him with the concern that the rest of the men had already given up their day's rations to sate their Emperor's hunger, and could not be expected to go for much longer with what little food that remained.

Chuckling quietly to himself, Ozai recalled the scorn with which he had regarded the General. No man could sacrifice enough for his King! He was sure Akane had learned that lesson, having paid tribute with his life for his insubordination. Now there was one less mouth to feed, and Ozai claimed all of the General's rations.

His dilapidated army was discouraged and disheartened from the long trek across the Earth Kingdom continent, and arrived only to discover the Fire Nation's occupation of Ba Sing Se had ended, the airship fleet that preceded them had been destroyed, and they were, in effect, all that was left of the invasion force. Their mission had failed, and the comet was past.

Ozai, on his part, had told his soldiers nothing of his defeat at the hands of the Avatar, only that his airship fleet had been decimated and he himself captured. He had escaped, however, with relative ease, and the former Fire Lord expressed a confidence that the Avatar, now lodging within Ba Sing Se's walls, would prove his weakness once more by bowing spinelessly to his demands, with the false hope that he could somehow rescue his pitiful friend.

The corners of Ozai's mouth turned upward in a cruel smirk. If his plan played out well—which the Phoenix King was certain it would—the Avatar would be dead, and himself long gone, before the rebels knew what hit them.

"Your Highness!"

Ozai's chin jerked upward, his eyes blazing with fury directed at the soldier who had disturbed his musings. The messenger bowed before him, face down on the floor. Checking his temper, Ozai bid him to announce why he had come.

The soldier sat up, still kneeling before his king, and reported, "The Avatar's bison has been spotted coming from the southeast, Sire. He seems to have honored your demand to come alone."

Ozai stood, his heavy royal robes swishing as he did so. "Assemble your men," he commanded, "Call in those who are searching the woods, and let us receive him as we would any enemy envoy."

Suki crouched at the edge of the forest behind a tall clump of bracken, all senses on high alert. Her archers had fanned out and hidden themselves in the trees, waiting for her signal. The trees rustled with anticipation, and Suki tensed as her eyes trained on a sentry standing at the tree-line not fifty meters away. He had half-hidden himself in the thick brush, and was hardly visible even in broad daylight. It had been a miracle that one of the archers had spotted him before they stumbled in. There were many like this one, scouring the woods for intruders, no doubt. Ozai was being cautious, but they would be stealthier.

The bracken stirred near the sentry's position, and Suki's keen eyesight snapped toward the movement. Before the Kyoshi Warrior could open her mouth to report this new happening, Toph shifted her palms in the leaf loam beneath their feet, reading the vibrations

"It's another one of his cronies," the earthbender hissed under her breath, "They're all heading back to the camp—they must've seen Aang by now."

Suki nodded the affirmative, observing quietly as the soldier briefly exchanged a word with the sentry and then continued on past him. Drawing back, the Kyoshi Warrior pressed her back against the trunk of the tree and turned her gaze upon the prickly little blind earthbender beside her.

"You ready?"

Toph leaned back on her heels and cracked her knuckles, leveling the Kyoshi Warrior with a blind stare. Several meters below her feet, she could feel the earthbenders waiting for her in the tunnel they had created. Each branch of the tunnel led to a different area of the camp, and each earthbender would take up positions in their respective tunnels when given the word.

"I was born ready."

"Remember what Aang said," Suki cautioned.

Toph waved her hand carelessly. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say."

Before Suki could protest the earthbender's dismissive attitude, Toph pressed her heel into the ground, opened a burrow hole in the soil, and jumped into it without a backward glance. The tunnel collapsed behind her, and Suki sighed, steeling herself for the battle to come.

Gripping a branch of the nearest tree, the Kyoshi Warrior vaulted herself into the canopy, disappearing amongst the leaves.

As he nudged Appa into a slow descent, Aang caught sight of her. Lined up with the other prisoners at the northeastern corner of the camp, Katara was bound hand and foot, her blue kimono soiled so thoroughly with ground-in dirt and sweat that it was almost gray. Her brown hair was undone and tangled, obscuring her face. She and the other prisoners were surrounded by skull-faced guards dressed in the uniform of typical Fire Nation foot soldiers.

The airbender's heart leapt to his throat, and he fought the yearning to run to her—to knock down every soldier in his path—and cut her loose from the chains that held her so mercilessly prostrate.

Aang blinked, swallowing the urge with severe difficulty. He needed to keep to the plan. It was the only way this volatile situation could end without any more bloodshed. The airbender's hands trembled at the reins, and Appa snorted, sensing the boy's discomfort.

"I—It's okay, Appa," Aang murmured, his voice shaking even as he gave the bison a reassuring pat, "Everything will be all right."

Despite himself, the airbender bit his lip, his gaze settling on the soldiers below, their hostile faces piercing his core. He pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off an oncoming headache, and sighed. If only he believed his own words.

Shaking off the despair that threatened to overwhelm him, Aang set his sights on the southeastern corner of the camp, where the ground was mostly bare, and soldiers were gathered around a cooking fire. Sizing it up, the airbender determined that it was a good landing spot, with no vegetation in between his feet and the earth below. His vibrations could be read much easier.

Aang took a deep breath and snapped the reins. Appa beat his massive tail to steady himself for touchdown. "Here goes nothing…"

Katara felt the disturbance in the air when Appa landed, and she strained to see, though the guards assigned to her blocked the view. It seemed that the entire camp had gathered for this event—even the men who were off-duty ventured out of their tents and dropped their food and stared. The entire camp had ceased all activity, waiting in silent anticipation for what was to come. Twisting this way and that, Katara struggled to catch a glimpse of who she knew had come—but to no avail.

Flanked by five soldiers, Ozai ripped the tent flap aside and strode out, a loaded spring. He came to an abrupt halt, digging his heels into the ground as his heavy robes rippled before settling out. The Phoenix King's expression was a carefully controlled blank as he lifted his cold amber eyes to the Avatar.

Aang pushed himself to his feet, carefully hiding a wince when the muscles in his back twitched. The airbender held his enemy's gaze with a squared jaw and a look that was much braver than he felt inside. Seeing the former Fire Lord for the first time since their battle brought bile to Aang's throat. He couldn't help but notice the way Ozai's rich, royal clothing seemed to hang off of him more loosely that before, and the gaunt look to the man's face was almost sickening. The Phoenix King's cheekbones were more pronounced, casting deeper shadows against his pale skin.

Ozai's piercing amber gaze burned with a fierce and desperate intensity. Inhaling slowly, Aang drew himself to his full height, squaring his shoulders. He looked out over the throng who had gathered to witness his arrival. The soldiers gazed back at him with expressions ranging wildly from mildly curious to angry, and Aang fought down the wave of nausea that threatened to overwhelm him. When his eyes found Ozai again, the Phoenix King lifted a hand in greeting. The gesture was neither welcoming nor discouraging.

Then, he spoke. His voice resounded through the camp, echoing oddly into the distance.

"Why don't you come down from your bison, Avatar, and let us speak on level ground?"

Aang knew he couldn't refuse. Toph needed to know where he was, and the ground was the best place for him, despite the fact that getting any closer to this monster made his skin crawl. He stepped forward, sliding from the bison's shoulders.

"Release your prisoners," Aang appealed, as soon as his feet were planted firmly against the soil, "They are of no use to you."

"You are in no position to negotiate, Avatar," Ozai snapped, a quiver of hatred leaking into his voice. "This meeting is on my terms. One word is all it takes; the order would be given for their executions. Every one of them would die—starting with the water peasant." He lifted his hand abruptly.

Suddenly, Aang heard a muffled cry of distress, and all eyes flew toward where Ozai had gestured. The soldiers watching over Katara had parted to reveal the guard nearest to her, who had turned, pressing the blade of his spear against her throat. Holding steady, the man glanced toward Ozai and waited for further directions. The other prisoners were held similarly immobile under the cruel instruments of death, trying desperately to hide their fear.

Aang's jaw clenched, and he painstakingly kept his expression neutral, recalling suddenly the twitching limbs and changing faces of Koh. "State your demands," the airbender replied, acknowledging the Phoenix King's control of the situation.

"You have taken something of mine," Ozai snarled, his eyes flashing coldly. "Give it back, or you forfeit their lives."

Aang stared in disbelief. He blinked, unsure of how to respond. Recalling his near-death experience wrestling with Ozai's energy, the airbender bit his lip. He had finally overcome its deadly influence…how could he possibly conjure it up again? The Lion Turtle hadn't prepared him for this possibility. Aang desperately tried not to despair.

The Phoenix King's expression hardened. "I thought so." Ozai expected this sort of resistance. He fought down a smirk of triumph, settling for a fake scowl. The Avatar was playing right into his hands. "Your only choice, then, is to give yourself up. Come with me, and your friends will be spared."

Aang blinked defiantly, his fists clenching. Try as he might to deny Ozai's demand, all it took to melt the airbender's defenses was a terror-stricken whimper from one of the younger Lotus prisoners. Aang lowered his fists, and his brow wrinkled in defeat.

Ozai couldn't contain the smirk any longer, and his features twisted as he gave the order. "Seize him."

Katara's eyes widened as she watched in horror. Several soldiers took Aang by the arms and shoulders, forcing his hands behind his back. The airbender allowed them to bind him with minimal resistance, but the expression on his face betrayed his simmering desire to fight back.

His frustrated gray eyes met hers for a brief, glimmering second, and Katara pressed her lips together in a brave half-smile, but Aang wasn't fooled. He knew she was afraid.

The airbender's gaze departed from her, settling fiercely on Ozai. "Well?" Aang demanded, his voice surprisingly steady. "I've kept my side of the agreement. Now tell your soldiers to stand down, and release the prisoners."

The Phoenix King's smirk tightened into a ghastly grin, his amber eyes blazing in a feverish light. "Oh, I don't know," Ozai mused aloud, crossing his arms and tapping his chin with an index finger. The gesture made him look strangely immature, but the crazed gleam in his eyes warped his entire persona demonically. Aang fought the urge to shrink back, and stood his ground, his heart thudding wildly in his chest.

The Fire Lord's demented expression wandered as he continued. "You took away something from me that was very dear to my heart, Avatar. Don't you think, in return, the only fair thing would be for me to take away something very dear to yours…?"

Aang's eyes widened in terror, but before he could utter a protest, Ozai lifted his hand.

"Kill her."

"No!"

The spearman at Katara's throat tensed, lifting his weapon to deal the fatal strike, but the waterbender's gasp of alarm was cut off by the whistle of an iron-tipped arrow.

Katara's would-have-been executioner suddenly crumpled to the ground, the shaft of the arrow lodged in between his eyes. His spear grazed Katara's shoulder and clattered harmlessly to the ground. The other soldiers surrounding the waterbender stared at their fallen comrade, opened-mouthed and paralyzed with shock.

Another startled cry of a wounded soldier came from somewhere within the ranks, and suddenly, the air was peppered with arrows. The camp erupted into chaos.

"They're in the trees!" one man shouted, ducking for cover. Many of his fellow soldiers followed him, deserting the prisoners for the relative safety of their tents. Several men were hit in the process, and in the confusion, a shaft embedded itself in the post beside Ichiro's head.

"Imbeciles!" Ozai roared, kicking viciously at a stone on the ground. Turning to the men who were restraining Aang, he shrieked, "Kill him! Run him through! Let him die, knowing his friends will soon follow him!"

Aang felt the soldier behind him heft his spear, aiming for his heart. Time seemed to slow down, and the deep-pitted vibrations in the earth only registered dimly to the airbender. Suddenly, the ground beneath Aang's feet exploded, and he was thrown into the air, his vision was obscured by a cloud of dust.

Emerging from the sinkhole she had just created, Toph braced against the earth in a deep horse stance, burying every soldier within her reach into the ground. Aang, his arms still tied behind his back, landed lightly on his feet a few seconds later.

"Nice timing," the airbender complimented breathlessly, then, shrugging his shoulders and shifting his bound wrists, he said, "Would you mind…?"

Toph pulled the space stone cuff off of her arm without hesitation and molded it into a crude blade, slashing at the tethers, cutting Aang's hands free. "C'mon, Twinkletoes, she took him by the arm and shoved him forward, "We have a weasel to catch."

With a nod of silent agreement, Aang cleared the cloud of dust with a blast of wind, dropping into a fighting stance.

Around them, dozens of soldiers were buried up to their necks in stone. Still more were pinned behind the tents by Suki's archers, and others were hard pressed, fighting hand-to-hand combat in and out of huge dust clouds with the rest of Toph's earthbenders. Appa was behind them, blinking his wide brown eyes as the cloud dispersed and his sight was restored to him. Ozai, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Aang spun in a full circle, his stomach wrenching. "Where'd he go?"

Toph tugged on the airbender's arm, pointing toward the cluster of tents. "Use your feet, Twinkletoes!" She could feel Ozai's pounding heartbeat as he ran, zoning in on it like a predator on its prey.

Taking off at a flat run, the earthbender dragged Aang along by the sleeve for a few paces until she knew he was following her.

Ozai knew he had lost, but he was not finished yet. He had shrugged the heavy outer robe from his shoulders and taken off, zigzagging through the camp. He set his sights on one of his ranking officer's basilisk mounts. The officer was sitting astride the beast, shouting orders amidst the chaos. A slab of earth erupted beneath his mount, but the man clung to the basilisk's back as it twisted lithely out of the way, hissing.

In two more bounds Ozai was beside the lizard and, dealing a swift kick to the officer's spine, removed him from the saddle and vaulted into his place, snapping the animal's reins and viciously dragging it around toward the open water, when the looming figure met his eye.

Aang spotted it just as Ozai did, the dark metal hull of a Fire Nation battleship. Its crimson and golden bowsprit glittered in the sunlight. It was the mark of royalty. A wave of panic washed over the airbender as the former Fire Lord gave the basilisk a vicious kick in the flanks, the signal to go! The claws of the beast skittered over the sand as he drew near to the water.

Aang clenched his fists in desperation. "I can't let him get away this time! Not now! Not again!" His gray eyes glittered with fear.

Toph raised a slab of stone to block a blast of fire that a disoriented soldier sent toward them. "Then what are you waiting for?" the earthbender backed into him, giving her friend a solid shove with her shoulder. "Get after him! I've got your back!"

Aang nodded the affirmative, and, encouraged by Toph's words, surged on into the fray ahead of his earthbending master, running with the assistance of his airbending.

Toph pounded after him, burying soldiers who leapt in front of them with the intent of hindering their movement. One soldier was quicker than she, and he swiped at Aang with a two-handed blade. The airbender leapt easily over his blow, plowing on past two more soldiers and onto the beach.

Meanwhile, Suki's troupe had descended from the trees, still firing as they slid down the rocky slope. Seeing the full extent of the meager squad, some of Ozai's soldiers surged forward in a coordinated stampede, determined to overcome the enemy.

Suki, heading the archers, slid down the last several meters of the hill and leapt on to solid ground. Already, her feet were moving. Right behind her, Nobu rushed straight toward the prisoners, deflecting a fire blast as a soldier stepped out from his hiding place in a vain attempt to defend the camp. An arrow caught the man in the shoulder, and he dropped to his knees with a moan.

Suki reached Katara first, dropping instantly into a crouch. A flash of steel in her hand, and the next instance, the waterbender's wrist restraints were severed.

Katara jerked upright with a nervous energy, already winded, and Suki moved with her, slashing at the rope that held her arms, knees, and ankles immobile.

Another torrent of fire blasted toward them, and, thinking quickly, Katara tore the water viciously from a nearby bush. With a spasmodic movement of her arms, the waterbender guided the water forward, where it met fire in a snarl of hissing steam.

Katara's cold muscles protested sharply against the sudden movement, and her face twisted in a gasp of agony.

Suki took hold of Katara's arm and protectively tugged the waterbender behind herself. The Kyoshi Warrior took a small wooden whistle from her tunic and put her lips to it.

Appa's ears pricked as he heard the distinct noise, and snuffed through his nose. Shooting a reproachful glare toward the half-buried soldiers, the bison took to the air.

Roaring as he landed, Appa batted the attacking soldiers with a punctuated snap of his tail, the blast of wind knocking several of them back.

Supporting Katara with one arm, Suki signaled to her archers, who had released the three other Lotus prisoners. They quickly moved in to cover the escapees as they clambered on to Appa's back.

Collapsing in the saddle, Katara grasped Suki's sleeve with a feverish vigor. Her voice was cracked and hoarse—from thirst or terror, Suki wasn't sure—when she spoke a harsh, single syllable.

"Aang?"

Truth was, Suki had lost sight of the airbender the moment he had been engulfed in Toph's dust cloud, and she feared the worst. But she didn't let a ray of uncertainty leak into her expression when she shook out of Katara's grip and patted the waterbender's shoulder reassuringly.

"Toph's got his back," she said by way of explanation, and, turning her head abruptly to look over her shoulder, shouted, "Nobu!"

The man in question, currently covering their sixes, let his bowstring snap, the arrow launched with such power into a crowd of organized soldiers that it made up for its inaccuracy. He turned then, and, catching Suki's eye, made a beeline for Appa's shoulder, scrambling to the bison's head.

The Kyoshi Warrior shoved the reins into his hand. "Take it from here!" she ordered, "To the wall, get them medical attention."

Nodding brusquely, Nobu stopped her with a hand against her shoulder as she turned away. "What about you?" he demanded, "Going after the Avatar?"

Suki leveled him with a look of steel that said, duh. Then she turned and leapt from Appa's head, yelling as she went. "Fall back! Fall back! Round to the beach!"

The Kyoshi Warrior's receding figure was the last thing Katara saw before the reality of her drained energy came upon her, her vision went black, and she slumped to the floor of Appa's saddle.

By the time Aang and Toph reached the edge of the water, Ozai had already driven his mount into the ocean, and the basilisk's claws were skipping over the water at a pace that would frighten most hardened warriors.

Toph felt the icy water lap at her toes and shrank back from the water, when Aang, without warning, grabbed her arm and hoisted her forward, drawing up a platform of ice in the breakers.

"Come on!" the airbender shouted as he leapt onto it, tugging his earthbending master up behind him and securing both their ankles to the surface with boots of ice.

Toph fell to a crouch as Aang dropped his arms in a fluid motion, sending the platform streaking out across the water, bobbing as it made its way past the breakers. Choking on her terror as she wrapped her arms around the Avatar's knee to steady herself, the earthbender fought down the fear that overwhelmed her as they left her element behind.

"Where is he going?" she shouted over the wind as it tugged at her hair and the tassels on her headband.

"To the ship," Aang replied, his voice tinged with determination as he guided the platform over the water with the skill of a master waterbender, "We have to catch him before he gets to it."

"Why?" Toph's question was dragged from her lips by the wind.

"We can't fight off an entire battleship," the airbender retorted grimly, shifting his weight into the bending movement to get the platform to move faster. His heart sank rapidly as he saw that no airbending skill could propel them fast enough.

Ozai was getting away.

Looming over him, the huge steel mass of royal battleship sliced through the choppy water. Ozai's eyes had a manic gleam as he spurred the basilisk on viciously. The animal surged forward, its webbed claws barely striking the water as it lunged, latching onto the starboard anchor, where it hung quivering for a brief moment before Ozai struck it again, and it began a tedious climb up the heavy chain toward the deck.

A flurry of activity erupted on the deck when the basilisk dragged itself and its rider onto the slick metal surface. Barely had the animal gotten to its feet again when it found itself surrounded by dozens of crimson-clad spearmen, their weapons brandished.

Ozai dismounted with a flourish, a thrill pulsing through him at his lucky escape. "Behold, men!" he shouted, "Your Phoenix King has graced you with his presence! All hands to your stations! Get this ship turned around, there's no safety for us on these shores!"

No one moved.

Ozai bristled. "Did you hear me? Your King gave you an order!"

One soldier moved forward menacingly. "Our King is made of better stuff than the likes of you."

"You know," came a familiar voice that made Ozai's blood run cold, "Forcibly boarding a ship, armed as you are, could very well be taken as an act of war."

To Ozai's left, the men parted, and he stared in open-mouthed horror as his branded son stepped forward, wearing the uniform of Fire Nation royalty.

"Hello, Father."

Katara awoke to the warm, pungent scent of poultices being mixed and the soft, pink light of a dying sun filtering in through the nearest infirmary window. She soon became aware of the soothing murmur of healers' voices as they went about their duties behind the dusky orange curtain that separated her bed from the others.

Shifting under the sheets, the waterbender felt the thick bandages around her wrists. A dull pain throbbed to life in her temples, and her sore muscles protested against the movement.

Katara bit her lip.

Aang. She thought suddenly. Toph. Suki. Nobu. An overwhelming sense of urgency hit her, and she sat up.

The waterbender's eyes widened with a sudden twinge of pain struck her, and she doubled over, gasping. Staring at her knees and bracing herself on her bandaged arms, she tried consciously to dispel her nausea.

That's when she felt his hand on her shoulder, steady and safe.

Lifting her chin, Katara looked up at him, and her heart leapt with relief.

Aang held her gaze with a tender expression. "Hey," he murmured.

"Hey," the waterbender replied hoarsely, blinking.

"You okay?"

She nodded slowly, but the twisted expression on her face betrayed her.

The airbender's lips twitched upward slightly, compassion in his eyes. "You should lie down."

Katara obeyed without protest, exhaling with discomfort as her muscles punished her once again. The pain faded slowly, leaving her breathless and exhausted. She stared up at the airbender with glazed eyes.

Aang disappeared from her view for a moment, and the waterbender heard the distinct sound of a wooden stool being dragged over stone as he pulled it from the foot of her bed and sat down beside her. He held a thin, delicate-looking stone vase in one hand that she hadn't noticed before. In it was a cluster of blossoms.

"Just thought you'd like to know," the airbender began slowly, "We got him." He played nervously with a flowerbud in his fingertips, and a few moments passed in silence before he looked up again, noticing that her eyes were trained on the white-and-blue petals.

"O-Oh," he stuttered in realization, holding it up for her to see better, "It's a snow-lily. They're blooming at the Eastern Air Temple this time of year. They're sort of rare and I-well, I thought you might like it."

Katara smiled.

The airbender turned aside to find a place to set the vase on the bedside table, which was cluttered with other healing materials. Finding a suitable place, he cleared a spot for it.

"Aang?" she ventured, her voice weak.

"Hm?" his eyes jumped back to hers.

"I'm sorry."

The corners of his eyes folded in a sad smile. "So am I," he murmured.

"So…" she began, and trailed off. Struggling, she propped herself onto her elbows, blinking until her vision cleared. When it did, she met his somber gray gaze. "Could you forgive me?"

Aang's expression morphed briefly into one of surprise, but then settled. "Always, Katara. But can you ever forgive me? I've been a real jerk."

Katara smiled, struggling to sit up. Aang moved to help her, his countenance intense. He sat tentatively on the edge of the cot, supporting her with a hand on her back.

The waterbender regarded him with a grateful look, her smile broadening. "Of course, Aang. Sokka always said you were a great jerkbender."

The airbender grinned, and, mindful of Katara's injuries, they embraced.

From outside the curtain came the curious and perky voice of a certain water tribe warrior, startling the pair.

"What's this I hear about jerkbending?"