Katara, of the Fire Nation

Chapter 16

The comet makes its appearance as Zuko and Katara fly over the Fire Nation and the whole world seems to burn hotter.

The sky turns red and the clouds turn black, the smell of smoke drifts on the wind as the Fire Nation comes alive.

"By decree of Phoenix King Ozai!" the sage's voice carries all the way up to where Katara and Zuko flyover, "I now crown you, Fire Lord..."

The sages notice the bison as it swoops down, landing in the courtyard with a groan.

"Sorry," Zuko says, from his place on the head of Appa, "But you're not going to become Fire Lord today," Zuko leaps off the bison's head and stands at the bottom of the steps, "I am."

Azula just laughs, she leans back on her knees and looks down on her brother, as if he were nothing but a peasant.

"You're hilarious," Azula crackles.

"And you're going down," Katara shoots back, taking her place by Zuko's side.

Azula looks down the steps to where Katara and Zuko stand, she regards them carefully, the wheels turning in her head, the sage steps forward, intending to place the crown on Azula's head, regardless of the situation.

"Wait," Azula commands, she rises to her feet and purses her lips, "You want to be Fire Lord? Fine. Let's settle this, just you and me brother, the showdown that was always meant to be, Agni Kai!"

Zuko's fire swells within his chest as he looks up to his sister.

"You're on," he agrees through gritted teeth.

Katara's eyes widen in shock, she looks to Zuko but he stares straight ahead.

"What are you doing?" she whispers, her heart racing as the fire prince stares down his sister, "She's playing you, she knows she can't take us both, so she's trying to separate us."

"I know," Zuko replies, still not looking away from his sister, "But I can take her this time."

Zuko sees the way his sister looks, how her mind is slowly cracking under pressure, she looks a mess, 'an easy win', Zuko tells himself.

"But even you admitted to your uncle that you would need help facing Azula," Katara says, her eyes darting back up to where the princess stands.

"There's something off about her," Zuko says, but Katara isn't convinced, "I can't explain it, but she's slipping, and this way, no one else has to get hurt."

Zuko finally looks to Katara, his eyes are filled with confidence and determination.

"Are you going to stand there all day and chat with your girlfriend, or are we going to do this?" Azula taunts, striding down the steps with a crooked smile on her face.

"I'm ready," Zuko snarls, "It's time to end this."

Azula scoffs and then strides past her brother.

"When I finish with my brother, I will come after you," Azula says, standing in front of Katara, "But I won't kill you, don't worry, I'll leave that to my father, after all, he did promise."

Katara ignores the sick feeling in her stomach, she sends the bison to the side and follows Zuko to the end of the field.

"Don't worry," Zuko says, stretching out his arms as he walks, "I won't let her hurt you."

Katara sighs and then stands aside, Zuko frowns at her as she stays rooted by his side. 

"You should leave," Zuko says, "Get to safety."