The Last Waterbender

Chapter 15: Choices: Part 1

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Into The Unknown" from Frozen II

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Author's Note: Part one of the two-part book finale! This story is by no means over, though - as I mentioned in the notes of the first chapter, this fic is composed of 5 books/parts, like the different seasons in the show. There isn't going to be a separate fic for the other books, though - everything will be on this fic. 

Chapter 15 - Choices: Part 1

What do you want? 'Cause you've been keeping me awake

Are you here to distract me so I make a big mistake?

Or are you someone out there who's a little bit like me?

Who knows deep down I'm not where I'm meant to be?

"I know, it was a bit of a surprise for me, too," Katara says quickly, seeing the shock on Zuko's face. "The Elders in my village were supposed to tell me, but then we were attacked by the Fire Nation and I was frozen in the ice. I didn't know until I was fending off the hurricane. I somehow ended up activating the Avatar State. Then I met my former reincarnation and she explained everything."

The surprise disappears from his face and he regains his usual neutral expression. "Are you sure you want to take on that responsibility?" he asks.

She nods. "I thought about it for a long time. I just can't stop thinking about the Earth village we visited. The people seemed so sad. They need me. They need the Avatar."

"What are you going to do, then?"

"Saura - the Avatar before me - told me I had to master the other three elements and then I have to use my power to end the war."

He stares at her intensely. "So you're going to fight my father, then."

She has to look away. That's the worst part of this whole Avatar thing. No matter what happens, Zuko's going to get hurt. He's already been through so much; he doesn't deserve this. But the world will never be in balance while the Fire Lord wages war.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I never wanted this."

"Me either." Zuko leans heavily on the rail. He seems so troubled right now. Katara knew he had some family issues, but she didn't realize he was this conflicted about his father.

"The last thing I want is for you to suffer more." She lays a hand on his arm. "But I can't ignore my destiny."

He looks up at her with such a raw sorrow in his eyes. "Why not?" he asks, his voice suddenly filled with energy. "Why can't we ignore our destinies? You said it yourself - why would the universe care so much about such short lives?"

His outburst surprises her. This is Zuko, the guy who has spent more than two years on a mission so that he can go home and reclaim his destiny. He's the one who refuses to start a new life because he doesn't want to turn his back on his fate.

What would make him suddenly change his mind?

"I thought you liked having a destiny. You said it gave you purpose."

He looks away. "It did. But everyone else manages to find purpose without having some grand destiny. Why can't we find our own? Why should we listen to a universe that doesn't care about us?"