The Honor of Love (ATLA fanfic)

34: Forgiveness

It was early in the morning when I woke up. Zuko's arm was gently resting on my waist, and I felt his breathing in my neck. I shivered of the feeling and carefully put his arm on the floor. I looked around the group and saw everyone in a deep sleep. The campfire was sizzling quietly, the last sparks dying out. The sun was shining brightly, and the birds were chirping happily around the fountain.

I stood down on the edge of the platform, stretching out. I looked towards the sky as I saw something approaching us. I narrowed my eyes and it looked like a big barrel. "That's not a barrel!" I said panicky, looking at the bomb that was getting closer and closer. I gathered all my strength and shot a big wave of fire towards it, knocking it off it's course to let it explode on the side of the cliff away from us.

Everyone jumped up, sleepily looking around. Aang jumped on his feet and did some air bending, activating the metal shields that closed us in. More bombs exploded on the shields, almost causing the ceiling to collapse. I looked up, seeing the rumble coming down on me before being pulled away by Sokka.

"We have to get out of here! We'll get crushed!" I shouted, looking around to see if everyone's okay.
Haru and Toph created a tunnel. "Come on, let's go through here!" Toph said. As Aang tried to get Appa to go with him, he looked shocked at Zuko. "Go ahead, I'll hold them off!" Zuko yelled back.

"Are you crazy?" I said angrily. "I have to, I think this is a family visit." Zuko replied. Sokka ran up to me, grabbing my arm. "Istari, we have to go." Sokka said.
"No! If it's Azula, then I have to talk to her, she knows where my mother is." I replied, shaking my head.
"GO NOW, IZ!" Zuko yelled angrily before running towards the breaking shields.

I grunted and turned around, getting into the tunnel. The whole ground was shaking. The four of us tried to get Appa into the tunnel but there was no way he was getting in. "What are we gonna do?" Katara asked.
"We have to split up, Istari... You go with the rest into the tunnel and get to the stolen airship. Katara, Toph, Aang and I ill try to fly out."
"No, the Fire Nation can't separate out family again." Katara said, walking towards her father.
"It's alright, we're gonna see each other very soon." Hakoda replied. Katara hugged her father and so did Sokka.

Toph grabbed Suki's hand and pulled her with him. I ran up to them as well. "I'm your family too." I said to Katara before she could protest. We climbed into the saddle while Toph was trying to get us out safely. "I can clear that way and we ca fly out." Toph said before climbing into the saddle.

"There's an awful lot of fire in that general direction." Suki said sheepishly.
"We'll get through, let's go!" Aang said. We broke free into the sky, soaring towards the airships and flying over them. I looked down to see if I could see Zuko, and he was there. He was fighting Azula, as her equal. I gaped at him in awe. His firebending was so good. Azula and Zuko both gave their 100% and an explosion took place. Both of them fell down. Aang made his way down to get to him.

I extended my hand to grab his, and pulled him into the saddle. We turned around and watched her fall.
"She's not gonna make it." Zuko said, watching his sister fall to her death. But then Azula kicked a big shot of fire, and bumped up to the cliff side, holding down to it, and finally stopping. "of course she did." Zuko said, looking at the smirk of his sister.

We flew away and landed on a cliff next to the sea. We set up our small camp in silence and I went down the cliff to swim in the sea. I got undressed and stepped into the cold water. I took a deep breathe and dived in the waves. It was nice and refreshing. I floated in the water, looking up to the sky and watching the birds and clouds passing by.

I felt peaceful and enjoyed the quiet for a while. Until I heard someone calling. I looked up, almost taking a gulp of seawater from an incoming wave. Zuko was swimming up to me and stopped next to me. He pulled me closed and hugged me. "It doesn't feel the same when you aren't around." Zuko said, looking back up to the cliff.
"What's wrong?" I asked curiously. "It's Katara, she hates me. I apologized and I try to be good, but it seems like she can't stand me!" He said frustrated.