Avatar: The Cycle Survived (compilation)

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 30: THE NINJA AND THE AVATAR
We continued to wander through Clazdian’s domain. There was nothing in site, but the flow of black, red, purple, and other darkness was swirling around us. We all were a bit insecure about what we were stepping on, as it looked like we were just standing on thin air. Nonetheless, we continued to walk calmly, as if there was no danger below us.
“Keep your guard up,” my mother warned, “this looks like a set up. It’s too deserted.”
“Kai,” said Toph, “you’re talking to the 4 most powerful benders in the world, and the avatar. We can take whoever this guy is, and anyone else he sends after us.”
Toph’s words were about to be tested. We suddenly found ourselves surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of Clazdian’s minions.
“Get in a circle,” I said, “I have a plan.”

The four of them closed me in. this had not been intended, but I suddenly had an idea. They were aiming their attacks straight forward leaving 4 openings at the diagonals. Thinking quickly, I began to use all four elements at the four diagonals, closing us in with elemental powers. As I did this, a vision of myself as Avatar Roku doing this by a beach came to my mind. Anyways, our attacks wiped out many of the front ranks, and then we split, fighting relentlessly. We were taking a lot of them out, since they were really weak, but then we suddenly realized what the intent of this trap was. This was likely made just to weaken us so if we did reach Clazdian we would have wasted all our energy.

“We need to make an escape,” I shouted, “This is obviously a setup to try and weaken us.”
“Aye,” said Sanaki, “we were just thinking the same thing.”
However, there did not seem to be an opening, so we did what any other smart people would do, and we continued fighting. It took a while before anything happened, and when it did, we were rather surprised. An old man, a Kyoshi warrior, Sokka, and a ninja had appeared.
“Iroh,” Toph exclaimed as she used her earthbending dash attack, “what are you doing here?”
“We have come to help,” Iroh replied, “after all, my nephew’s wife is here, and so is that supernatural. And now you all are too.”
Iroh was a big help. We recognized the Kyoshi warrior as Zuki, and she was laughing this entire time. She obviously had no clue where she was (knowing her, she probably had no clue WHO she was, but that was Zuki, and I still loved her like everyone else)

“Hey Toph,” said Sokka, “how are you holding up,”
“I’m fine and dandy,” said Toph, “and you,”
“I just got here,” said Sokka, cutting down Clazdian’s minions, “how’s your buddy Sanaki doing?”
“I’m good,” said Sanaki, blasting herself through the ranks of Clazdian’s armies, “It’s nice to hear your voice again, Sokka. It’s been a while since we last met.”
I knew that Sanaki was avoiding the word “see” because of her blindness, and Sokka knew what Sanaki meant.
“Everyone step back,” said Iroh, “and now we let our other friend finish the job,”
We all did so, knowing that Iroh probably knew best, save for perhaps my mother (according to what Iroh once said, but of course, my mother, being who she was, did not hesitate to follow Iroh’s instructions.)

All of a sudden, the ninja revealed his head, and we saw that it was a girl. Ty Lee gasped.
“Mai,” she exclaimed, “is that you?”
Mai said nothing. She merely glanced at us and nodded. She then began darting around at rapid speeds; knives, daggers, throwing stars and other small concealable weapons flying everywhere. It seemed that as swiftly as she was throwing them out, she was sliding back around and collecting them. She was deadly accurate, able to hit her enemies in the exact same place every time.
“Can’t we help her?” I asked; Mai may not have needed help, but we all felt sort of useless just standing there.”

“Actually,” whispered Iroh, “you five run. Zuki, Sokka, Mai and I will keep these folks occupied while you escape.”
“Will you be okay though?” Sanaki asked; Sanaki had a deep bond with Iroh, this being the man who had helped her with issues of becoming and being a good Fire Lady. By this time, Momo had jumped off of Sanaki’s head and was now on Zuki’s head, but Zuki did not mind.
“I will be fine, Sanaki, “said Iroh, “you must go with Avatar Kai Serenes II. She could use your help.”
“You’ll all come back with my sister,” Sokka reassured them, preparing to resume the fight, “and that supernatural. I’m fully confident in you all.”
“Thanks, Sokka,” said Toph, and she and Sokka exchanged a light husband-and-wife kiss before Toph went one way and Sokka went the other.
“So,” laughed Zuki, as we continued on our journey, “can Zuki go back into the fight now?”

“Have patience, Zuki Meisha,” said Iroh, putting his hand on Zuki’s shoulder, “let us watch Mai for a few moments like she wanted us to.”
I may not have been there, but I later learned that Mai had been incredible. She had killed over ¾ of the armies by herself, and out of all of us, she had been the only one not to take a hit. Iroh, Sokka, and Zuki watched as Mai shot around, hitting her targets with deadly accuracy, and dodging their attacks with speed and skill. They heard her muttering to herself about something, but they could not tell what.

“Sure Zuko might have betrayed me,” she was muttering, “but I knew we were still friends. Zuko, I’m doing this for your wife. I know you two were happy, and such love should not be torn apart.” Mai was often times doing flips for sliding upside-down towards her enemies, seemingly face-planting and then launching projectiles with both her hands and feet. This was probably the reason that she was barefoot. Mai was just as accurate at throwing knives with her feet as she was with her hands. How she was able to slip knives in between her toes and launch them, no one will probably ever know, but nonetheless, there she was, doing just that. It seemed that all of Clazdian’s minions were focused on killing her, but no matter how accurate they seemed to be, Mai seemed to be a split-second ahead of them, dodging even the attacked aimed at her back with precision and speed.

“Can Zuki join the fighting now,” Zuki asked Iroh,
“Have a little more patience, Zuki,” said Iroh, “Mai wanted to do as much of this as she could by herself, so let us grant her that wish as much as we can.”
This might have explained also why Sokka was not talking. He was simply staring at Mai.
“You know,” he said, “this reminds me of the old times when Mai, Ty Lee, and Azula used to try and kill us,” he chuckled at this.
“Times surely do change,” said Iroh, “I mean, Tera even changed. After meeting her for the first time, I never thought that someone that cruel and heartless could have such a soft heart and sweet mind.”

Suddenly, Mai made a sign that said she was willing to let the others join her in fighting.
“Does that mean Zuki can help her friend Mai?” Zuki asked,
“Indeed it does,” Iroh replied, “let us continue to help her, and let us hope that it helps Katara, Tera, and the avatar.”
Iroh and Sokka joined in the fighting, picking off anyone who tried to attack Zuki. Zuki may have been a strong fighter, but she was not very intelligent and not too alert either, so she had to be watched over closely. Luckily, Iroh and Sokka did not seem to mind. It seemed that all four of them (well, maybe not Zuki because Zuki seldom ever thinks) had their minds set with one objective: destroy as many of these enemies as they can in order to help the avatar.

Incidentally, they were able to wipe out every last one of the foul minions. Incidentally, when these creatures died, they just seemed to disintegrate rather than lay there dead. Therefore, once they had all been exterminated, the place was again deserted.
“What do we do now,” Mai grunted, talking to Iroh,
“We continue searching the area for more of Clazdian’s minions;” Iroh replied kindly, “anything we can do against Clazdian will help the avatar in the long run.”
The four of them took off, this objective now in mind. They would all wind up perfectly okay. Our case, however, was a little different...

~Mai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 31: THE SUPERNATURAL LORD'S DOMAIN
After we separated from Sokka, Iroh, Zuki, and Mai, we were again in a deserted area. Everywhere we looked all we could see was emptiness. We continued walking forward, my mother leading the way. Behind her was Toph, and then Sanaki, and then Ty Lee, and I was at the end. We kept walking until we saw something in the distance. It seemed to be some sort of door. It was sort of just in the middle of nowhere. However, when we reached it, we found that whatever was beyond it was out of our reach. It seemed that there were invisible walls around the area, much like the invisible floor we were standing on.

“What do you suppose is with this door?” Ty Lee asked,
“It’s probably to keep something in,” I said, “or something out.”
“Actually,” my mother commented, “it seems to be an invitation to those who have power. There’s an inscription above it.
“What’s it say?” Sanaki asked; her and Toph being blind and thus unable to read anything.
“It says “those with power may enter”.” My mother replied, “and there are four symbols here: a fire one, a water one, an air one and an earth one. And yet there seems to be an order. This seems oddly familiar.”

“What do you mean?” Toph asked,
“Basically,” my mother replied, “if we mess the order up, the consequences might be dire. Luckily I think I know the order.”
“What is the order?” I asked,
“I’ll show you.” My mother replied, “Sanaki, come here.”
Sanaki stepped forward, with the selfsame grace of an elegant Fire Lady. After all, she might have been a swift, rough, fighter, but she retained her nobility and respected her position which had been given her by her good friend Iroh. My mother took Sanaki’s hand and placed it underneath the Fire Symbol. The symbol suddenly glowed red, and the top-left part to the central lock on the door moved away.

“It is simple,” my mother said, “we just need the four most powerful benders, and it looks like we need someone else too—an avatar is I am not mistaken.”
“So,” I said to my mother, “that means you’re the one for water?”
“Aye, Kai Serenes II,” my mother replied, “and so be sure to help Toph find the place for her hand when her turn comes.” My mother put her hand beneath the water symbol, and it glowed blue. The bottom right side of the lock moved away.
“Ty Lee,” my mother said, you are next.”
Ty Lee skipped over and put her hand over the air symbol. It glowed orange, and then the top right part of the central lock moved away.
“I’ll find mine myself, thank you,” said Toph, and she began feeling around. However, this door was not able to be sensed by neither Toph nor Sanaki, so that meant that Sanaki was putting her faith in what my mother said.

“Toph,” I said, “let me help you.”
“No,” Toph snapped, “I can find it myself. I’m not a baby.”
However, she was unable to find it.
“Toph,” I said, “I am not trying to hurt your pride. Sometimes though, there are things that we cannot do for ourselves. For me, it is living without my mother. You are able to do that just fine. Toph, I promise I will not say a word of this. Please though, just let me help you.”
Toph growled.
“Fine,” she snapped, “but don’t you dare tell anyone or I’ll...”
“I understand,” I replied gently, “and I promise I will never tell anyone, not even Sokka.”
“You do know that if this was not absolutely necessary that I wouldn’t do it, right?” Toph said, as I placed her hand on the earth symbol. The symbol glowed green, and the bottom left part of the lock moved away, leaving a 5th opening, where all 4 element symbols were—the icon of the avatar.

“Yes Toph,” I said, placing my hand there, “we know.”
The symbols lit up, and suddenly, we were zapped away. We reappered behind the door. We looked back and saw the very same thing. We looked forward, and saw two very familiar figures.
“Katara,” Sanaki exclaimed,
“Tera,” Ty Lee gasped,
“You’re both alright,” my mother said calmly,
“Aye,” said Tera, “and we’ve been lost in here for ages.”
“What were you two doing here in the first place?” I asked,
“I joined Tera on her journey to go against Clazdian,” Katara replied, “you all here might help our cause a bit.”
“Avatar Kai,” Tera exclaimed, embracing me, “how you have grown... I’m so glad you’re alright. You’re here... and you can fight Clazdian, I... I’m sounding so selfish, aren’t I?”
“Never mind that,” I said, “I’m here for that reason alone. Don’t worry, Tera. We know you’ve changed.”

“So Katara,” said Ty Lee, “this is where you’ve been this whole time; you’ve been helping Tera?”
“It is,” Katara replied; she still had a depressed look on her face. Seldom did Katara smile after Zuko had died. Nonetheless, Katara was not mad at anyone here, she was just worn out.
“Well,” said Tera, “now that you all are here, I think we are able to move on.” Are you all willing to follow me?”
“Sure,” Ty Lee and Toph replied, shrugging, “I mean, I can feel a change in you, and Ty Lee sees it.”
“I trust you,” I replied, “and you know my mother does.”
“Sanaki,” Tera said, “how about you? I mean, you’re the one most affected by my evil deeds. You’re the one I’ve tried to kill several times before. Sanaki, I’m so sorry for everything. If there is anything I can do, please tell me now.”
I could tell that Sanaki was sensing Tera. I could see tears forming in her eyes. Sanaki was aware of this. She ran up and embraced Tera.
“Tera,” she said, “I’m sorry too. I forgive you for everything. Let’s go now and rid you of Clazdian’s menace once and for all!”
“Okay,” said Tera, and she led the way. We kept walking until Tera stopped us. Around us were hundreds of statues.
“What’s with all the statues?” Ty Lee asked, “Are these people you know? Are these the supernaturals?
“These,” I exclaimed, “These are the avatars.”
“Kai is right,” said Tera, “she probably recognizes some of them, these being her lives, past present and future.”
“So,” said Sanaki, “do these have to do with finding Clazdian in any way?”

“Aye,” said Katara, “they do. We need to find the statue of today’s avatar—that’s Kai—and that will lead us to Clazdian.”
“Okie,” said Sanaki, and all 7 of us raced off. We ran down the ranks and ranks of avatars until Kai saw some very familiar faces.
“That’s Yangchen” I said, pointing to one, “and this is Kuruk. So this is Kyoshi, then Roku then Aang, and this one,” I paused, looking up at the statue; it really was me, and was very accurately sculpted. I do not know what the material was, but it was hard and well-made.
“This one’s me,” I said, and then I looked to my right. (Aang was on my statue’s left) I saw some avatars that would come after me. Ty Lee was laughing at an earth avatar that was 5 avatars down (meaning the earth avatar of the next cycle)
“This woman looks like a man,” she giggled.
I glanced at it, and it sort of did. It was a very muscular woman with very large feet. She was not as tall as Kyoshi, but she certainly looked to be as strong.
“Anyways,” said Toph, “Tera, show us how to open Kai’s statue so we can get to Clazdian and kick his butt.”
“Okay,” said Tera, “what you do, Kai, is you put your fingertips on its eyes.”

I did as I was told. Suddenly the Kai statue came alive. It took a few steps back, and revealed another portal.
“This is the way to Clazdian,” it said with my voice. “You may enter.”
As we entered through it, the statue resumed its normal poison and remained lifeless just like all the others.
We had gone in and passed the final portal. The next thing that would lie in front of us would be our final confrontation with Clazdian, the Lord of the supernaturals and farther of malice, cruelty, hatred, and evil. This would be the most intense battle in avatar history—the avatar spirit was telling me that as I descended.

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 32: THE MASTER OF THE ELEMENTS
We found ourselves face to face with the supernatural lord himself, sitting on an enormous throne.
“Well, well, well,” he chanted, glancing at Tera, “look who decided to show up. And look, she lured the avatar here. I must admit, I was surprised when I learned that the avatar cycle had survived. Tera, you truly are a smart one. It’s a pity you switched sides, for now I will have to kill you.”
Tera closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.
“If that is they way it must be,” she said, “then so be it.”

“Tera, no,” I shouted. I knew that she was going to lose. The avatars had told me of his power, and that only the avatar state was capable of overpowering this being. Nonetheless, none of us had a choice. Some form of invisible wall similar to the one we faced with the door had appeared around us. We were trapped, with nowhere to go and nowhere to run.
The actual fight that took place between Tera and Clazdian though was absolutely incredible. They were both using bending in horrific yet incredible ways that I had never even imagined. Tera was very, very powerful. I was surprised that if she had wanted to kill us, that she didn’t. There must have been some good in her evil side after all. The battle continued to fiercely rage, but I could tell that Tera was getting overwhelmed. Slowly but surely, we all noticed she was weakening. Then something happened that we did not expect. Tera paused, but only for a second. During this moment, Clazdian vanished.

A split-second later, we all suddenly knew what had just happened, and it was not good by any means. Katara let out a real scream, and Sanaki broke down in tears and anger. Tera’s eyes had suddenly widened, and she was beginning to foam at the mouth. She lurched forward, and seemed to remain upright for an eternity. Then, slowly and horrifically, she fell forward, revealing Clazdian behind her, a long shaft of his anti-supernatural matter in his hand. He said nothing, and made the shaft in his hand disappear. He simply stood there, making no movements. I knew what he was waiting for—he was awaiting the next challenger. I would have gone up, but the shock from what had just happened was still affecting me. Here was Tera, the last of the supernatural race; a woman who had long been evil and had just finally found out who she really was, and now she was gone; gone forever. I closed my eyes.

Suddenly, I heard Sanaki spring up. I could do nothing to stop her either. Clazdian accepted the challenge coolly and began toying with her. Sanaki’s speed was overwhelming, but she was not the avatar, and so I knew it was futile.
“Sanaki,” I whispered to myself, “don’t do that...”
Sanaki actually held up a long time. She seemed to be constantly yelling something about Tera’s death. Eventually Clazdian got annoyed by it, and decided to end the process here and now.
“Come,” he said, grabbing Sanaki by her face and lifting her up. I saw her hands and legs latch onto his arm, trying to break her self free, but it was no use. Clazdian jumped up, and slammed Sanaki down so that she landed on her feet. Even Toph winced as they heard a sickening crunch come from Sanaki’s ankles. Clazdian released his grip on Sanaki’s face, and she crumpled. He picked her up and we all saw that she had tears of pain and anger streaming down her face.

“I will break you, Phoenix Queen,” he said, and he began choking her. Sanaki’s back was against Clazdian’s chest, meaning they were facing the same direction. My mother and I watched in horror as they saw Sanaki struggle, and then Clazdian laid her down, and she did not move again. We noticed that blood from her forehead was dripping down her face, as if she was still alive, but she made no motion to us that she was playing dead. Clazdian nudged her out of the way, for her knew that someone else was going to come at him. It was evident on her face.
“No,” Toph snapped, “you’re not killing Sanaki too!”
This time it was Toph’s turn. Clazdian must have sensed the ambition of Toph and Sanaki, and was exploiting it, feeling he could get in a couple of free kills.
“So,” he said, “you wish for me to break you too, Empress of the Mountains? So be it.”

Toph didn’t last as long, most likely because Clazdian seemed to want to cut to the chase. However, it seemed she had been spared one fate but cursed with another. Clazdian lifted up Toph by her face, and we heard a cry of pain. He held her there, and soon we knew what had happened. Blood was dripping from Toph’s eyes, and so we had only one conclusion: Clazdian had put Toph’s eyes out. He dropped her and kicked her aside. Toph was nowhere near dead, but for the time, he had broken her will.
“Oh wow,” Toph snapped, “you’re so big and tough for killing a human. Ooh, Clazdian, you’re a big man!”
Clazdian merely chuckled, ignoring Toph, who was crying blood from her destroyed eyes and examining Sanaki’s lifeless form.

“Your turn, avatar,” he said, reappearing in front of me and grabbing my hand. Katara was embracing my mother, who had stopped watching after Tera had died. Ty Lee was not smiling, which was one of the first times I had ever seen her do such a thing.
Clazdian took me to the center of his battlefield.
“We end it here, avatar,” he said. “It’s just you and me. It will be here where I end the avatar cycle forever.”
“You cannot end the avatar cycle unless I go into the avatar state,” I replied, “for even if you do slay me, the avatar will be reborn into the earth kingdom.”

“Ah, Kai Serenes II,” said Clazdian, “but that was basic information that I already knew.”
He put his foul hand on my cheek, and I could feel a burning pain there. When he took it off, I felt my cheek, but didn’t detect any damage.
“That is why,” he continued, “I plan to force you into the avatar state. After all, that is also the only way to defeat me.”
I suddenly knew what had to be done. I closed my eyes and clutched my right arm.
“If that is what it takes,” I said, opening my eyes and removing my hand from the tattoo on my arm, “that that is what I will do.”
I had known that was what it was the whole time, so I knew he was not lying. When I had opened my eyes, they and my tattoo were glowing.
“Not even the supernaturals have been able to defeat me,” said Clazdian, preparing to fight, “no mere human; avatar or not, will be any different.”

“Try me,” I said, a slight bit of anger entering in me after seeing Toph, Tera, and Sanaki. However, I managed to keep myself under perfect control... perfect control... I had heard that phrase before. Nonetheless, I was battling Clazdian using the moves that I had learned from my four teachers, and was holding out really well. Clazdian’s forms of bending were slow, but were raw power. It was crazy to watch one of his moves come at me, even though I knew I could dodge it. I knew if he used power moves on me that connected, I would be done for. Therefore, I continued attacking until he changed his strategy. He began imitating Sanaki, which meant that I was faced with overwhelming speed. This was where I realized why I was taught countering moves. I ended up repeatedly using my waterbending counter I had learned from my mother Kai I on him. It was during this that I began to pick up trace signs of a weakness. However, I had not been fighting him enough to learn what exactly I had to do, so I continued countering until he changed again. This time, it was Ty Lee. I used my earthbending counter against him, and then my firebending counter against him in my mother’s form, and finally my airbending counter when he took the form of Toph.
“Clever,” he said, “but now you will face my true might. Prepare to meet your formers!”
Clazdian vanished, and in front of me was Avatar Roku.
“So it begins,” he said, and we both took position.

~Azula~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 33: AGAINST THE AVATAR (I)
“And now,” said Clazdian in the form of Roku, “we shall commence battle. Which avatar is the better firebender?”
“Roku was a fantastic firebender,” I replied, “but you are not Roku.”
We commenced battle, and although we were both avatars, we were both only focusing on firebending.
“How can you, a water avatar, be a better firebender than a fire avatar?” Clazdian taunted,
“Perhaps because I was taught by the greatest firebender to ever live,” I replied, “the same firebender which you killed!”
“Clazdian just laughed. “Try me,” he said, and launched a stream of fire towards me. I was about to dodge it, but then I remembered one of Sanaki’s 4 Moves. I knew that even though she was dead, she was somewhere, aware that this was an opportunity to utilize her teachings. Sanaki always had wanted her legacy to be passed down. I conjured up the reflector shield Sanaki had taught me about and used it against Roku, blasting him back. The only reason I was so secure and okay with hurting Roku was because I knew it wasn’t Roku. This was Clazdian. After all, there was only one avatar at a time, and Roku was a former avatar. I was the avatar now, so it was my responsibility to defeat this supernatural lord.

Roku got back up and launched fireballs at me in succession. I figured that after launching my reflecting fireball out at him, that some offensive would be necessary. I began rapidly shooting fireballs—another of Sanaki’s’ 4 moves, but Roku seemed to pick up the reflector technique. However, his was different. His was more of a shield that he held, while mine was a spherical flame. We began exchanging firebending moves, my attack getting turned into his, and vice versa. Roku had a wide variety of moves, but I did too. Incidentally, we were both only using firebending. It was the ultimate test of who had more power. Was it in Fire Lady Sanaki’s abilities that she had passed on (especially now that SHE had passed on) or was it Avatar Roku himself?

“It seems that the late Fire Lady taught you well,” Clazdian taunted, “but no matter—I will still overpower you.”
“You have yet to lay an actual hit on me though,” I said, sliding out of the way of one of his attacks, my blue clothing clashing with the red flames we both were producing.
“That may be true,” he said, “but keep in mind that I am a supernatural and that you are merely human.”
“I guess we will just have to see how this fight plays out then, huh,” I replied, and then said no more. I resumed firebending, still perfectly calm and under control. My eyes and tattoo were still glowing, and it seemed that every time I paused, Roku was preparing for a powerful blast of my avatar state powers. I might have been in the avatar state, but the only way anyone could tell was because my eyes were glowing.

“Mark my words, avatar,” said Clazdian, “I will provoke you to use those avatar state powers. Just you wait,”
“I don’t think so,” I replied back, “for I only use them when I absolutely have to, not whenever I can.”
I knew that they were the key to finishing him off, but I first had to weaken him. Unlike Katara, Toph, Sanaki, or probably even Tera, I was able to leave damage on Clazdian. I was just able to tell by the way he behaved. It was not very much at the moment, but I was going to change that. As I was fighting, blasting myself around the arena, keeping Roku-Clazdian off balance, I thought of something. I really did have perfect control over the avatar state. I could choose just how much elemental power I had in all my attacks. It was incredible. Nonetheless, Roku-Clazdian still seemed bent on getting me to use my powers. It seemed I was angering him slightly, for, although I had not initially intended it, the fact that I was in the avatar state but acting normally was taunting him and everything he aspired for. However, I was never rude to people on purpose, no matter how evil and twisted they were.

Roku kicked a low wave of fire towards me, and I back flipped to avoid it. However, I landed the flip on my hands, and I had flipped too far back, so the palms of my hands were burned. I let out a small squeak of pain, and quickly began healing myself. I learned right then and there that this was where Katara’s techniques would be coming in handy. I began healing my hand with my other hand before switching, and while I was doing that, I was shuffling across the field, my bare feet avoiding his low shot flames and shooting flames out of my own. I dashed right through Clazdian back and forth to stall for time, though he was able to bend the fire that started on him off of him with no effort at all. Nonetheless, I knew I was damaging him. Every time I saw Sanaki’s dead body, Toph bringing in pain, and Tera’s lifeless form, it no longer made me angry. Rather, it pumped me up. It made me think “these people sacrificed what they had for me. I need to repay them.” As a result of this thought, I had full intention of making them proud. My firebending teacher might have been dead, but I still had my other three teachers—or so I thought.

“Look at what you have,” Clazdian taunted, “your teachers have broken down. One is dead, the other is suffering, and the 3rd has lost her will. What will become of the little maiden that they struggled to teach? Will she die here?”
“No,” I replied, “no I will not. Besides, even if what you say is true, I still have one other person who will cheer me on.”
I glanced over at Ty Lee, and she got the hint. My mother was still sobbing with Katara, Toph was still over Sanaki’s dead body, and Tera was dead as well, but she was still there to give me encouragement—though I didn’t need any. My cause was just and my thoughts were good.
“Take him down, Kai,” Ty Lee shouted, “we know you can do it. Your firebending skills would make Sanaki proud!”

“Thanks Ty Lee,” I whispered, and I again began attacking Roku-Clazdian. I began using some small, swift firebending attacks that I had seen Sanaki once use. They were not exactly the same as hers (for she had never taught me them too well—she was focused on more standard firebending to a certain extent) but they did the job. They were knocking Clazdian off balance. Every time I circled around, Ty Lee was there, smiling broadly at me. Suddenly, Roku did something that I had not expected, and yet was incredible at the same time. He suddenly began swirling his hands around, and so I watched, though I hiked up my guard. I didn’t want to try and interrupt him, for it could be a counter move. I waited until he finished, and saw that he had made an enormous dragon. He bended it towards me, and he made it spew some fire towards me. I bent the fire it shot around me, and then swirled it around to add fire of my own, so now I had a huge dragon of my own. The two of us—avatar and supernatural, were firebending enormous dragons that were fighting each other. As I was controlling my dragon to make it outlast Clazdian’s dragon, I suddenly realized that I could pull a low blow and attack Clazdian himself. After all, this was a being that fought dirty him self, so I knew that I could try something. I suddenly let his dragon conquer mine, and when he did, he looked suddenly towards me.

“You want my avatar powers,” I said, “well you’re in luck. Here they are.” I suddenly shot towards Roku-Clazdian, encasing him in a webbed sphere of flame. I began slashing him back and forth again and again with fire whips, relentlessly going at him. This time though, unlike with Katara’s, I was doing significant damage to him. I sensed him weakening. I decided to let up, for I sensed he was about to break out and turn my power against me. He was still in the form of Roku, but sprawling on the ground. He stood up and grinned at me.
“Impressive,” he said, “but now let’s see how you can handle an avatar of your own kind...”
Avatar Roku vanished, and in front of me now was Avatar Kuruk.
“So it continues,” I said, and we both got into position.

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 34: AGAINST THE AVATAR (II)
Clazdian, now in the form of Kuruk, laughed. “You see my pattern now, don’t you?” he taunted, “perhaps one of your past lives—that airbender woman Yangchen, hinted you about this. No matter, for you can only hold out so long; you are only human.”
“So,” I said, “you think you stand a better chance against me because of my native element? I am sorry, but you are sorely mistaken.”
Water was my native element. I figured that this fight would likely be easier than the one against Roku, which was harder because fire was my opposite element, but of course, I was not about to get c0cky.

“In that case,” I said, “let the battle of the waterbending masters begin.”
The battle did begin, and it was rather incredible. It seemed this time that Kuruk was watching my moves (after, of course, he launched the first one) and imitating them. I remembered Yangchen’s words. “He never fights the same way twice”. This must have been what she was talking about. Kuruk was also a slow and powerful bender. Of course, the fact that my eyes and tattoo were still glowing had him on edge, for Clazdian was slightly angry, and this was Clazdian, not Kuruk.

Kuruk began punching the air, launching water jets at me. I would have used my fire reflector, which indeed could reflect water and anything else, but I knew what he wanted, and I was willing to play his game. I was going to prove to him that today would be the day of his downfall, where he, Clazdian, the Lord of the Supernaturals, would be defeated at his own game by a 19-year-old avatar. It seemed that Ty Lee was thinking the same thing. I was glad she was there, just for her funny remarks.
“This should be funny,” she laughed, “an ancient immortal king of an immortal race being whipped by a 19-year-old avatar. Keep fighting, Clazdian, and don’t give up your day job!”

Clazdian was stirred by this, and tried to launch a huge water-based attack at Ty Lee, but I dove in the way to prevent it. Now, I did not take the hit. I simply dove in the way and made it into an enormous water bubble. This was one of my mother’s 4 Moves.
“You’re supposed to be attacking me, Clazdian,” I said calmly, my eyes still glowing, and he smiled, though I was about to attack him by smashing the bubble, “you leave the others out of this.”
“Oh,” he said, “but that would be too friendly,”
“And so would this,” I replied, and smashed the bubble around before it broke. Kuruk got up and grinned.
“Not bad,” he said, “let’s see how you can take a dose of your own water medicine now.”

Kuruk suddenly began spinning around, launching daggers of ice at me. I swiftly broke or melted every single one of them except for one which impaled me in the chest. Again, I used my healing abilities on myself, and used my twin water whips spun around at high speeds to defend myself. They ended up reflecting attacks as well, but Kuruk was dodging out of the way. Considering how slow most of his attacks were, he was pretty fast at actual movement. I saw his fist reel back from a distance, and he suddenly punched a huge ice bird in my direction. I flipped over it, and, while in the air, swung out a large mass of water, which stuck to Kuruk and pulled him upwards and me towards him. I was right up against him, and here I shot an icy wind at him and blasted ourselves apart. Kuruk retaliated by freezing my feet, but I broke them out as well. This had not harmed me, and so I continued fighting back, my feet doing just as much of the attacking as my hands.

“You’re a clever child, avatar,” Clazdian leered, “but how good are your reflexes?”
“That depends,” I said calmly, darting around, still avoiding his attacks, “are you trying to provoke me to use my avatar state powers? I mean, you already have me in the avatar state.”
“By all means you should be provoked,” said Clazdian, “I killed the woman you were trying so hard to save—and your firebending teacher as well. Who will be the next ruler of the Fire Nation?”
Clazdian’s words almost hit me, but I knew that he was trying to provoke me. I suddenly pulled out my whips to deflect an attack, I countered another one of his attacks, and then he struck. I was suddenly surrounded by huge ice columns. Suddenly a relevant memory of my mother teaching me waterbending came into view, where I saw her executing her 4th move on the ice columns. I figured if I knocked them down, I might be able to hit him with one or more of them. I began spinning around, crating a vortex. I was glad that she and Ty Lee had taught me how to withstand dizziness, for I had to spin around fast to retain speed and power. I knocked Kuruk off balance and crushed him with an ice column. However, he got right back up.

“Impressive act, Kai Serenes II,” he said, “but you will need more than that if you want to defeat me.”
Like Roku-Clazdian had done with fire, Kuruk-Clazdian was shooting around the battlefield launching blasts of water towards me, many of which I either countered or deflected. He slid towards me on a wave of water, and it was here that I decided to take serious action. I began bending an enormous mass of water above my head, and I watched as he stopped and did the same. It seemed that we made giant sea monsters out of the water and had them charge.
“Hmm,” I thought to myself, “this is very similar to his Roku form of battling. He must be planning something different.”

I almost learned the hard way that he was. As he charged towards me, he froze his sea monster and shattered it into millions of tiny shards which peppered my arms. I was again quick to heal myself, but kept myself protected using my legs and feet. It seemed that I was a better fighter than Clazdian was, for I was beating him at his own game.
“Hmm,” he said calmly, “still not willing to try that avatar state yet, eh? Perhaps something a little more deadly will have to suffice.”
Kuruk-Clazdian began moving his arms in intricate formations, and I realized that he was trying to bloodbend me, so I resisted. I knew that if he got a full hold on me that the results would be devastating. I knew what he wanted and so I had to give in. I unleashed some of my power, but only enough to break free.

“I don’t give in that easily, Clazdian,” I said smirking, “you should know about the stubborn nature of the Serenes Family before you make assumptions about them.”
“Clever,” he said, “and perhaps you should learn a little more about the Lord of the Supernaturals before you come and battle him.”
“Oh,” I said, “I know all that I need to know about you. Yangchen revealed your entire fighting style to me.”
“Ah,” he said, both of us still locked in combat of course, “then perhaps you will be aware that I was the one who killed your firebending teacher, and one of your best friends then?”
“Aye,” I replied, “and I plan to make you repay that with your own foul life. In fact, I’ll do it with a little gift that you yourself requested, Clazdian. Here is that avatar state power you wanted that I promised.”

I suddenly shot towards him, encasing him in ice and water, and began thrashing madly. However, despite my frantic attacking speed, I remained cool and calm, and retained that perfect control. I was using a move very similar to the one Katara had used a few months ago on Clazdian, but mine was much more powerful and had my little touch added. I mean, I was the avatar going berserk in the avatar state. There was logic behind why mine was more powerful. I blasted him out of it once I was done and sent him sprawling.
“Impressive,” he said, “but now let’s see how well you can handle an avatar closer to your own age...”
Avatar Kuruk vanished, and in front of me now was Avatar Aang.
“So it continues,” I said again, and we both assumed positions.

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 35: AGAINST THE AVATAR (III)
“Are you getting tired yet,” Clazdian, now in the form of Aang, taunted, “for regardless of what form I am in, you will never be able to fully defeat me.”
“I understand the limits of anyone,” said Kai, “but for your sake, I suppose we should talk later. Right now, we need to settle this.”
“And why is that,” Clazdian asked, “is it because you want to try and heal your little firebending teacher? You do realize that some things, such as supernatural damage, are unable to be repaired. For example, take the scar in that girl’s neck. She received it from Tera nearly 19 years ago. It has not been able to be removed.”
“You are trying to deter me,” I responded, “or rather; I believe that you see me as your downfall. Are you merely trying to delay the moment of your death, Clazdian?”
Clazdian said nothing for a second.
“You are right,” he said, “we must do battle.”

Having died at a much younger age, Aang seemed he would be an easier fight than anyone else. However, Aang had been a prodigy, able to successfully master the elements before he died—and he had not even been 16. It had taken him a summer to master what it had taken me 3 nonstop months of rigorous training to complete.
“Looks like it’s time that this little guy gives your airbending skills a run for their money, eh, Kai” Clazdian laughed, and I took it that he was ready to start the battle. I remembered what Ty Lee had taught me, and I kept light on my feet. Aang was a small, swift little guy, but I was gifted with lightning reflexes as well. The training I had received from my teachers helped. Every time I saw Sanaki, my hopes were lifted. Ty Lee was giving a lot more input during this fight, for this was airbending, and this was her specialty.

“Remember what I taught you,” she shouted, “take him out, Kai. I know you can do it!”
I blasted myself into the air and began flipping around dodging huge, powerful air spheres. The real Aang had been much faster (I may have never met him, but in essence, I WAS him), but this iteration was much more powerful. Clazdian did not use the techniques of the avatar he was imitating, rather, he gave them his own techniques, and by now, they were beginning to get predictable. Nonetheless, his power was so great, being a supernatural (the Lord of the Supernaturals to be exact) and all, that I could not just waltz in, use my avatar state power to defeat him, and leave. Clazdian had to be approached carefully, and the fact that I had perfect control over triggering the avatar state and idling with it rather than using it, like I was doing now, was key.

“Every time you defeat one form of me,” he said, “you revert to your normal abilities rather than retain that strength. What is the reason behind such a thing if you know that that is what will defeat me?”
“I have my reasons, Clazdian,” I replied, “and it is how I intend to diminish your power little by little and then suddenly change my tactic.”
“Change of tactics, eh, Kai Serenes II,” he exclaimed right as he launched an enormous attack at me, “perhaps some of my wisdom has rubbed off on you.”
Right as he said this, he slid by me, his arm rubbing against mine. He launched powerful attack which I countered, and then I created the tornado attack to throw him off balance. It succeeded, but he flipped back up, not to my surprise.

“I seriously doubt you have any wisdom,” Ty Lee shouted, “Otherwise you wouldn’t be challenging the avatar!”
However, it seemed that Clazdian had also learned from his mistake. Instead of trying to attack Ty Lee, he focused on me. I continued shooting around, launching the occasional air sphere at him. I retained my swift movements and was light on my feet, but somehow, Clazdian found an opening. I had blasted him off his feet, but then he had spiraled around and done the same thing to me, and his attacks were much more raw power. I lay there as he sent a huge cutting airbending move at me. I was able to dodge this one, for if I had not, it would have literally cut me in half.
“Is something wrong, Clazdian,” I asked, “you seem really fixed on killing me. Is there a grudge I don’t know about?”
Clazdian merely chuckled, “you play the game well,” he said, “that is all that I am going to say on the matter.”

He flipped backwards and then began flying using a glider his whipped out. I took to the skies as well, and knew that the time to end Clazdian’s Aang phase was drawing nearer. I would always wait until I found an opening in a weak point, but it would change each time Clazdian switched forms. The more I attacked him, the more apparent it became with each avatar form he took, so I continued my attacking. I had used 3 of the 4 Moves that Ty Lee had taught me, and the last one, the 3rd move, was the only one I was not too keen on using. It was a rather cruel move. However, I suddenly realized that I was about to have sympathy for Clazdian, a being so foul and evil that there was no good inside of him. I knew that he could not be spared, so I did what I had to. I shot towards him, turned my glider back into a staff and held out my palm. I used a very forceful blast of airbending to pull him in, and then launch him back out. When I did, I spiraled towards him and sent us both towards the ground. I launched a blast sphere (another of Ty Lee’s moves) at him to increase his fall, and then I landed. However, I made a bad landing on one of my ankles, and while I was healing it I got a face full of an air sphere of his. I was blasted off of my feet, but I was not about to quit there. I executed a move that I had learned from Sanaki. She had not taught me it, but I learned it by watching the Agni Kai she had had against Zhao. As I was getting knocked back, I spun around through the air and landed on my feet. When I did, I slid back a few inches, and then launched a huge blast of air that blew Clazdian off his own feet. He, however, was not able to imitate that move.

“That move,” I said proudly, “is the trademark of Sanaki Li Chan.”
“I guess it is yours now,” he chuckled, “for you have obviously noticed that she is no longer with us, correct?”
I said nothing, and we continued to battle.
“I remember how Aang used to get mad before he got into the avatar state,” said Clazdian, “it’s a pity he never fully embraced it.”
I knew what he was trying to do, and I figured that it was about that time again. Therefore, I decided to “humor” him.
“If you want me to use my avatar state powers,” I said, “instead of just lazing in the avatar state like I’m doing, then perhaps you should find a more convincing method. Nevertheless, I’ll humor you, for it is about that time again where I usually do go all out on you.”
“Indeed it is,” said Clazdian, “I see that we are both learning from the movements of each other.”
I made a movement that activated the powers of the elements, but since now he was more aware of my tactics; I decided to catch him off guard. I feigned an attack, which he tried to dodge and reflect. Since there had been no attack for him to counter, I was able to get at him during his slight recovery time. Again, I retained perfect control, but was focusing more sheer energy at Clazdian, hoping to weaken him as much as possible before he broke free. When he did, Aang-Clazdian was sent sprawling.

“Very clever,” he laughed, staggering, but standing up, “VERY clever; I never would have thought you would have to do that. Still, I admire how well you have been playing my game. Now, however, let us see how well you can fare against an avatar of your same gender...”
Avatar Aang vanished, and in front of me now stood avatar Kyoshi.
“Fascinating,” I said, assuming a position, “and so it once again continues...”

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 36: AGAINST THE AVATAR (IIII)
“Very clever,” I remarked, “so you’re going to run through all of the avatars back to Yangchen I suppose,
“Oh no,” Kyoshi-Clazdian laughed, “It will be far longer than that... you will never defeat me, Kai Serenes II. This is all merely a game... a game in which there is one winner and one loser—a game where the winner comes off alive and the loser remains here dead.”
“Interesting choice of words, Avatar Kyoshi,” I replied, “of course, you are no real Avatar Kyoshi. Come, let us do battle once again, Clazdian. Truly, you do not seem to realize the situation you have placed yourself in. However, I know already that you have no intention of letting up.”
“You know me so well,” Clazdian laughed through Kyoshi’s mouth, “you’re the one who is not letting up, young avatar. Now though, we commence battle.”

“There we go,” I replied, “now you’re speaking my language.”
Ty Lee laughed from behind me, “nice one, Kai,” she said, and then the battle of the earthbenders commenced. This time though, instead of focusing my sight on Sanaki, I looked over at Toph. Her face was covered in blood that was dripping from where her eyes had once been. Incidentally, Sanaki’s face was covered in blood too. Toph was dripping some onto her face, but she was bleeding rather severely from her forehead and her ankles as well. I turned to face Kyoshi-Clazdian. Kyoshi began throwing rocks at me. It was actually reminiscent of Zuki, except unlike Zuki, Kyoshi was not eating every 3rd rock she threw. However, Kyoshi was very powerful and strong as it was, but with Clazdian, who generally was a slower, more powerful version of whoever he was imitating was an incredibly powerful Kyoshi.”

“Zuki could whip you, Clazdian,” Ty Lee laughed,
“Ah,” Clazdian chuckled, as it was impossible not to laugh somehow when Zuki’s name came up, “that idiot... she truly is an unorthodox one; now come, Kai. We have been talking enough.”
“That we have,” I said, and I dashed towards Clazdian, knocking him down. However, I was a tiny bit too slow on my retreat, and so I received a kick in the gut. It blew the wind out of me, and I didn’t think that I would have time to heal it without getting blown off my feet with another attack. All of a sudden however, I had an idea. I crouched down, as if to heal myself, and Kyoshi came in for the attack. It was here that I used another of Toph’s 4 Moves. I slammed my fists into the ground and blasted Kyoshi-Clazdian off her feet. She flipped up and threw a rock at me, but I countered it and was able to resume my stance. I was still breathing heavily. Suddenly, Toph’s words of wisdom she had once shared with me came to mind...

“When you get into an earthbending fight,” she had told me, “it’s just like an Earth Rumble. Just throw rocks at the other guy until he or she drops. It’s that simple.”
As a result of this memory, I began throwing rocks like Toph had taught me to. This was her most versatile move, and so I was utilizing it. However, Kyoshi-Clazdian seemed more skilled than Roku, Kuruk, or Aang, and she was able to dodge my attacks, and deflect many of them back at me, which I had to counter quickly. I began to become a victim of a barrage of rocks, so I decided to charge right in. I blasted myself forward with the spinning flip move Toph had taught me and it “screwed up” Clazdian’s normal flow a lot more effectively than I thought it would. Kyoshi though, was about to introduce me to a technique that I thought would not be favoring me here. Using Kyoshi’s brass fans, Clazdian came in for Melee combat, smashing through the earthen defenses that I had shot up in hopes of blocking him.

I suddenly realized why my mother had me undergo swordplay training with Sokka. I drew out my blades (though in all truths, I indeed seldom used them) and began clashing against Kyoshi-Clazdian. The loud clangs and smashes of our weapons clashing was soon blended in with crazy dodges and flips that were enough to make even the likes of Zuki and Sanaki envious (if Zuki even knew what envy was).
“Clazdian,” I commented, parrying one of his attacks, “you seem to be faster in your Kyoshi form. I am surprised.”
“Life is full of surprises, he replied, still taking the offensive against my defenses, “surely you know that by now,”

“Aye,” I replied, jumping back and kicking a rock right into Kyoshi-Clazdian’s fans, which he effortlessly smashed, “such as the fact that you, the lord of the supernatural race, is still not able to defeat a 19-year-old waterbending avatar girl.”
“True,” Clazdian replied, making a defensive movement against one of my attacks, which I faked and used as a moment to heal my chest some, “perhaps I should begin trying after this fight should you last that long.”
“Ah,” I remarked, stalling for more time; we were now circling each other, the spirit water which I swallowed being redirected by my subtle hand movements into my internally damaged areas, “I can sense a little lack of truth in that remark, Clazdian.”
“But that is where you are wrong,” Clazdian retorted, “for if I were trying, you would already be dead now.”
“Really now,” I exclaimed, “for I would have thought that you would have killed me in your normal form. But alas, it seemed that I defeated that form. How many more do you plan to use?”
“If you live that long,” Clazdian replied, “you will find out...”

Our talk had ended and our battle had begun, and the Earth Rumble style of battling had again resumed. I was surprised at how much Kyoshi’s fighting style resembled that of Zuki’s; or, rather, how accurate Zuki’s fighting style really was. Now, I was not one to be rude, but even I and my mother were aware of Zuki’s unorthodox personality and her happy go-lucky way of life. We were both surprised when we saw how accurate Zuki was form watching Kyoshi. We both kept fighting and throwing rocks at each other until Kyoshi struck the ground. It shook, but I used earthbending to ride an enormous wave of rock towards my enemy. Incidentally, Kyoshi-Clazdian was doing the same thing. I decided to bail out at the last minute and use that time to crash my wall into hers full force. Kyoshi retaliated by blasting me off my feet. Here I used a move that was so familiar to me by now—Sanaki’s spiraling retaliation. Once my feet hit the ground, I punched the air simultaneously with both of my fists, sending columns of earth at her. This dislodged her, and she seemed now impatient.

“You are getting more and more stubborn by the minute.” He said through Kyoshi’s mouth, “nonetheless, I will still force you to use your powers, and when I catch you off guard, you will be doomed to condemnation and death by my hand.”
“You don’t seem to learn, do you Clazdian,” I remarked, “I only use my powers when I am sure that I am going to win. So, my suggestion is that you watch me closely.”
When I said this, I began to summon the elements for a powerful blow.
“Am I going to fake it again, or is this the real deal?”
I made movements as if I was going to fake it, and Kyoshi-Clazdian took this as an opportunity to lunge at me. However, I changed my tactic at the last second from a fake to something real, and vented out my powers onto Kyoshi-Clazdian, yet still retaining perfect control, still not expressing my anger at Sanaki’s and Tera’s deaths. I continued to weaken him and then made a remark.

“Perfect control,” I told him, “that is what it takes.” I then blasted Kyoshi-Clazdian off his feet, sending him sprawling, and waited for him to get up. I knew he wasn’t ready to die yet.
Kyoshi-Clazdian staggers slightly, but got up.
“Amusing words,” he said, but nothing more. Let us see how well you fare against someone who has encountered me before...”
Avatar Kyoshi vanished, and I was now looking at Avatar Yangchen.
“Ah,” I exclaimed, “so Yangchen is still involved.” I resumed my position once again. “This should be very interesting to see her fighting style... let the fight continue...”

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 37: AGAINST THE AVATAR (V)
“You, my young avatar,” said Clazdian in Yangchen’s form, “are about to meet someone with the tactics of a person who has met me before. Surely you remember these fighting styles from your past lives,”
“Indeed,” I replied,” “except you sacrifice some of their speed for more raw power. That was something distinct I noticed right off.”
“You are an observant one, he said, “but we need not bicker. We end it here, and we end it now.”

“You’re the one telling me,” I shrugged, and just as I suspected (because I knew Clazdian’s ways while watching him against Tera) he tried to pull a fast one on me. However, this time it was not another airbending battle. Rather, Yangchen-Clazdian was using a wide variety of powerful moves on me, and was aware of my surprise attacks. One thing I did notice was that he did not seem to have a counter move, and that would be something I would use to my advantage. Bombardments of water, fire, earth and air were coming towards me, and I was using everything in my power to avoid them hitting me. I was using counter moves, Sanki’s reflector, Toph’s dash attack, my mother’s water whips, Ty Lee’s blasting jump and various other moves, to keep myself out of harm’s way, and for a while, it was proving effective. Once again, I was retaining control of my actions, for my eyes were still glowing. The longer I held this off, the more anger I could sense growing in Clazdian. It seemed that he took this as me mocking him. I didn’t really care though, because he was pure evil. Anyone else, I probably would have shown concern for, as was my nature, but Clazdian was the exception.

“I’m gonna push your bending capabilities to the extreme,” he taunted,
“Thank you for the warning,” I smiled, “that will be useful to know.”
I was actually in all honesty telling the truth. The fight continued, and it seemed that this time around I was unable to gain the upper hand, like I had with the last 4 avatars. Was Yangchen really this good? I did notice that Yangchen seemed more erratic than the others. Was this some sort of subtle sign that Clazdian was losing it and that this could be the moment where I would finally be able to defeat him? I continued taking the defensive, trying to answer the questions about Yangchen-Clazdian that I still had. I drew my blades and kicked some melee combat into my game, which seemed rather effective against deflecting Clazdian’s attacks, but not too effective at trying to deal out damage. After a little more fighting, I suddenly noticed the look on Yangchen’s face. It was not the normal calm, relaxed face the real Yangchen possessed, rather, it was a manic expression that looked crazed and fixed on killing me. It was actually sort of creepy, especially considering that this was an airbender woman, and they were usually serene and gentle. I smiled, and this provoked him.
“You want a little fun, do you?” he said through her mouth (since he of course, was imitating her, as Yangchen was an avatar, and I was obviously the current incarnation) “let’s see how well you can handle this, Kai Serenes II”

Yangchen suddenly created an enormous tornado, which would have sucked me in if it were not for my earthbending skills. Luckily for Ty Lee, Katara, my mother, Toph, and even Tera and Sanaki’s bodies, there was some sort of invisible wall between Clazdian and I and the others. This was what prevented them, particularly Katara, from joining me in my battle against the supernatural lord. When the wall had first gone up, I had seen her furiously banging on it and screaming manically. Ty Lee had tried to comfort her, but her fury was not something to be messed with. Even now, as the tornado was approaching me and I was there trying to divert it with airbending of my own, I could hear her screaming about something.
It seemed that Clazdian became aware of this as well. He paused and laughed at her, and I could see the fury building in her reddening eyes, tears streaming down her bleeding cheeks. It seemed that she was seeing something in the tornado that I was not, so I zipped over there to get a better view, and when I did, I was horrified at what I was seeing as well. Yangchen had imitated a giant whirlwind Zuko.

“Don’t look at it, Katara,” Ty Lee pleaded, “he’s trying to do this to you.”
“and I’m going to take advantage of it,” I muttered to myself, and I suddenly let out a huge airbending cyclone that was going the opposite direction of Clazdian’s, and it blew it all away and knocked her form down. However, not to my surprise, she flipped back up and this time turned to face me, an enormous fireball in Yangchen’s hand. She swirled it around and I prepared attacks of my own. She formed an enormous flaming Sanaki face, and this affected not only me, but my mother and my other teachers as well. Surely we had all loved Zuko as well, but some of us, my mother included, had had an exceptionally close bond to Sanaki. I saw her menacing face towering above me, and I was ready for her. I formed an enormous fireball that ironically resembled him.

“Where have I seen this before,” I taunted, and our flaming combatants fought, mine taking the upper hand because of my still calm posture. Mine ended up picking up his and slamming it down upon Clazdian himself, and I dissipated it as soon as I could, not wanting to see any form of that foul being longer than I had to. However, Yangchen-Clazdian was not bout to give up, but I did sense her weakening. She this time formed an enormous earthen statue of none other than Tera. This time, I had to form one of Zuko. I realized that this had sort of been a bad decision, for I heard Katara’s relentless screaming of agony and anger once again. There was obviously something that had happened in her life that none of us knew about; either that or Clazdian had broken her down so much that she had lost sanity. I really hoped that that was not the case.

Standing at the shoulders of our stone fighters, we made them do battle, aiming for the parts where we were standing, but neither of us were able to wrestle the other down. Suddenly I decided to slip off of mine and grab onto his. I grabbed onto the stone Tera’s skirt and flipped up to where her belt was. I jammed my fist into the middle of it, and then flipped over to Tera’s right arm. He was aiming a punch at my stone Zuko, taunting “come out, come out, wherever you are, avatar,”
Suddenly, I bent the stone Tera’s arm so that her hand was in front of Clazdian, me standing on it.
“I don’t need to,” I said, “I’m right here.”

I bended my stone Zuko to tackle Clazdian’s stone Tera and we both drove each other to the ground, my earthbending nailing Clazdian before he could retaliate. We were again slammed to the ground, and I knew that Yangchen was going to pull one more trick. She had one more game she was going to play, and I knew that this one was the one I would never lose—waterbending. Yangchen summoned up a whirlpool, and this one was doing something to Ty Lee. I looked and saw that Clazdian had formed Azula. I decided to retaliate by forming Mai.
“This madness must end, Clazdian,” I said,
“And I suppose you’re the one that’s going to do something about it,” he leered, cutting me off before I could finish my sentence
“I am,” I said, and I formed a whirlpool Mai. This movement was as predictable as the airbending gig we had pulled, Clazdian must have overlooked it, because in a second I had overpowered him, and while he was down, I came at him.

“Perfect control, Clazdian,” I said, activating my power once again, “you are about to be the victim of it once again.”
Seconds later he was blasted away again, sent sprawling.
“So,” he said, “it comes down to this. I think what you need is an avatar that is just like yourself. You need to see just how you fight, Kai Serenes II. I am about to grant you that gift.”
Avatar Yangchen vanished, and in front of me was avatar Kai—myself.
“This is the moment,” I said, “it all comes down to this.”
I took my position, ready for this madness to end.

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 38: THE END OF THE AVATARS
This was it. I knew that Clazdian was not going to try and take this any further, for I knew that he was saving avatar Kai Serenes II—me—for last. This was ultimately where my skills would be put to the test. How well would I fare against someone who would be moving like I did?
“your time is about to end, Kai Serenes II,” he told me, “how is it going to feel, knowing that you were beaten by yourself?”
“Well,” I replied, “considering how you, an all-powerful supernatural lord who has lived thousands of years is almost getting bested by a 19 year old girl, I guess I would not feel too bad.”

Ty Lee laughed, and Clazdian said nothing. Even he could not deny that a 19-year-old girl (AKA me) was really close to ultimately defeating him. Of course, I was not about to give up. I was ready to end this. I was going to do this for Zuko; for Sanaki; for Tera; for my mother; for Ty Lee; for Katara; and for anyone else who had suffered or died under the hand of Clazdian.

From here began the greatest bending battle I ever experienced in my entire life. Clazdian was finally unleashing all of his power at me, trying to get me to provoke my avatar powers. I continued to “mock” him by remaining in the avatar state and yet refusing to use my power. I noticed that his eyes seemed to be following mine, and yet I made no indication that I was aware of it. I continued to take the defensive, but by now, our levels of bending had gone to levels previously thought impossible to anyone save the supernaturals. Huge mountains of earth, massive bodies of water, walls of fire, and enormous cyclones of air were being exchanged on both sides, and yet it seemed that each time an attack was passed to the other person it not only was taken in and used as the next attack, but it also was growing more powerful.

“You do realize,” Clazdian taunted, “that the only way to kill me is to create an absence of elements around me and finish me in the right place, do you not?”
“Indeed I did,” I replied, but that thought had sort of slipped my mind through all the fighting. The only way to end Clazdian’s reign was to remove his power. The only way to remove his power was to literally remove all power from around him—unless...

I suddenly had another thought come to my mind, and so I continued to press the fight. The methods of bending that we used were incredible, and many of them defy all description. The only remarks that I ever ended up collecting from any of my friends (Ty Lee to be exact) were these: “it was amazing to watch them—to see this young woman, though the avatar, but still only human; matching up to this great and terrible being; this supernatural lord. It was enough to make me fear all four elements and appreciate their true power and beauty.”

Even through all this fighting; through the columns of fire, the walls of earth, the tidal waves of water, and the explosions of air, there really was a hidden, serene beauty to the elements in all of their glory. Even though I had to manipulate them to keep my life intact, I could still feel the glory and the beauty that they held. I could tell from the look in Clazdian’s eye, however, that his views on them were not the same as mine. He saw them more as merely tools. I had noticed this when he fought against Tera. Even Tera had seen the same beauty and had appreciated it like I had. I knew after seeing her that Tera was not truly evil at heart, rather, that she had been confused and her soul poisoned.

“Come now,” said Clazdian, interrupting my thoughts, “for we will end this. You will be able to be with your precious Tera.”
During this split-second, I knew what I had to do. I pretended to take the blow, and my eyes stopped glowing. I blasted myself off my feet so that I was facing the same way as Clazdian, my back to him. Now normally this would have been a stupid mistake, but I knew how to play Clazdian’s game. I pretended to be hurt.
“And now,” he said, towering above me, “the avatar cycle will come to an end.” I heard him raise some sort of blade of dark matter, reminiscent of the one he had used to kill Tera, and I heard the screams of Katara, Ty Lee, and my mother. Of course, since I had only pretended to be hurt, I dodged out of the way, my head down.
“There is one slight catch to that plan, Clazdian,” I said, “even if I had been killed; the cycle would not have ended. You would have just had to scour the earth kingdom for the next avatar.”

I raised my head and faced him to show him that my eyes were no longer glowing. I grinned.
“But if you want power; and if you want me in the avatar state, then here I am. Let us see how well you can play your own game.”
My eyes flashed again, and suddenly I was using all of our attack power from this battle—the entire blast of elemental energy was focusing in on the spot where Clazdian stood. He was unable to move. However, I felt that even if what I was about to do didn’t hurt him, it made me feel better. I drew my blades and began slashing madly, the attacking elements directed only at him, and none back at me. I could sense Clazdian’s power rapidly diminishing. I saw through the water, fire, earth, and air, that I had forced him out of his Kai form, and back into his normal shape. I discovered that there was indeed another way to beat him. Instead of trying to take his power from him, I was giving it to him, only I had given him far too much, and it was overwhelming him. I was using the force of all the avatars before me, and it had worked. After the attacked ended, Clazdian was staggering. I glanced around and saw the selfsame sword he had used to kill Tera a few feet away. I was a little edgy though, for I did not want to touch it, for I was not sure what the effects of anti-matter were.

However, when I picked it up, a sudden vision came to me. I was not hurt, but I was able to see what damage this blade had done. This was the selfsame blade that Clazdian had used to kill the other 109 supernaturals, and its job was finished with Tera as the 110th; now though, I was about to add 1 more to its score. I plunged the blade into the back of Clazdian’s neck—a supernatural’s weak point. I heard an echoing yell; and Clazdian’s body fell and landed face down. When he did, his body disintegrated into shadowy specks that dissolved into nothingness. Clazdian was gone.
The invisible barrier subsided, and I was faced with Sanaki and Toph. Toph had finally regained enough of herself to stand up, but she seemed heavily disoriented, and looked rather disturbing without her eyes. Ty Lee was supporting both my mother and Katara; Katara sobbing into her shoulder, and my mother clinging to her, grateful I was still alive. She just shrugged and smiled at me, and I smiled back. I went down to look at Sanaki. Her ankles and her forehead were bleeding, and by now her face was covered in blood, some of which might have come from Toph. I repaired her ankles with my healing abilities, even though she was dead, but then suddenly, something happened that none of us had expected. Sanaki’s eyes opened, and she was breathing again.

“Sanaki,” Toph exclaimed, sensing that her friend had returned to life, “How in blazes did you survive that?”
“Well,” she said, “I never died in the first place. After Clazdian smashed my ankles and tried to kill me, I just feigned unconsciousness so he wouldn’t finish me off.”
“But how did you stop breathing for so long?” I asked,
“Well,” Sanaki replied, “I took a breath every now and then, but it was because of a boy back home named Saza. Let’s just say that we did certain... err, “activities”... that involved me holding my breath for long periods of time.”
We all laughed, and then I glanced over at Tera. She was still dead, and we all knew it. however, I was not sure if Katara, who was now weeping over Tera’s body, would be able to take it—or any of us at this point.

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 39: THE SUPERNATURAL'S LAMENT
I was in a different world now. Clazdian had truly killed me. For many, many years though, I had longed for this moment. I had been ready to die for such a long time. And yet, now that I was here, I was really sad. The family that I had loved was the one that I had left. Certainly I did not hate my real family, but all of them: Katara, Sokka, Toph, Iroh, Ty Lee, Mai, Sanaki, Kai I, Kai II, and Zuki; they were my family. They loved me during those 19 years where I was trying to turn my life around.
Suddenly, I was able to see my family, though I had been in the afterlife for a while. Clazdian was gone. I could feel it—like a heavy weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I let out a sigh of relief, but then I looked back. Being a supernatural, I could see things even if they were not directly in front of me. I saw them mourning my death. Katara in particular was wailing frantically over my body. However, I had to put that behind me, as I could not go back. I was finally able though, to see my mother Lautian and my siblings. I passed through into their realm, and despite it being the opposite of Clazdian’s realm (as Lautian is the opposite of Clazdian) I was still sad.

“Tera Mezhiak Altina,” said a soft, comforting voice, and I felt myself being embraced, “it has been so long since I was last able to see you.”
“I know mother,” I said, fighting back my emotions, “it has been a while.”
“And yet,” she said, smiling down at me, “you haven’t changed a bit. You’re probably still wearing the same thing I last saw you in.”
I chuckled at this, and looked down at my clothes. I had worn the likes of thee for long periods of time, and I don’t ever recall wearing anything different in the last 17 or 19 years. I still had my trademark bracelets and anklets, and my clothes were still green—my favorite color. I shrugged.

“So,” said Lautian to me, “the avatar was able to destroy him,”
“Aye,” I muttered, “I guess so. I mean, that was what was blocking me from the rest of you, and now I’m suddenly able to see you all again.”
I suddenly paused.
“So,” I said, “where are my siblings?”
“They are in the spirit world,” my mother replied, “they can come here, but only in spirit, and we will not be able to talk with them.”
“w-what,” I exclaimed, “I... I can’t see them again?”
“Clazdian had removed their souls,” my mother replied, “It was you that kept them from permanent destruction. The fact that you arrived here with yours intact is the reason they will be restored sometime in the future. However, my dear Tera, it is not now. I sense that this sorely grieves you. I am sorry.”

“But,” I said, “I...”
I paused, and then suddenly lost it and broke down sobbing.
“I don’t wanna stay here,” I wailed, “I want to go back. Please mother, I love you and all, but I want family. I don’t like to be so lonely.”
“I understand,” my mother replied; being opposite of Clazdian meant she was understanding and cared about the thoughts and hopes of her daughter.
“Tera Mezhiak Altina,” she told me, “you have suffered so much pain and trouble just to find out who you really were. You have gone through so much more than your siblings. I was weeping when I saw your behavior 19 years ago, for I knew that was not the daughter I had created.

I threw myself into my mother’s arms and began weeping again.
“Please,” I pleaded, “please don’t remind me of my past. I really hate it. I never want to be like that ever again.”
“I am sorry, Tera Mezhiak Altina” my mother replied, stroking my large, pointed ears; she reminded me of Kai Serenes—she was so loving, and she knew what I liked. She knew I loved to hear my name, and she knew that I loved when anyone stroked my ears.
“Its fine,” I said, trying to recover myself, but my mother picked me up and held me sideways like a child. Being a supernatural as well, she could increase her size, and it made me feel like a little child again. She ran a finger across my bare feet, and I giggled. I did love my mother, but I still longed to see Sanaki, Toph, Ty Lee, Katara, Kai I, Kai II, and all of the others again.

“Mother,” I said, “can you please send me back? I want my friends to be happy too.”
“Will you be happy there?” she asked me,
“Yes,” I said assuredly, “yes I will.”
“Then so be it,” she said, “remember, Tera: no matter what you do, I will always love you.”
“Just like Clazdian always hated me?” I asked,
“More than that,” she told me, “I love you enough that if you want to go back, I will send you back.”
“You will,” I exclaimed, “thank you, oh, thank you mother.”
“You are welcome,” she replied, “go now and make your family happy.”
She called them my family. I turned away and turned red. Then though, I asked her a question.

“Mother,” I said, “if my siblings’ souls were removed when they were killed, then why did my soul survive it?”
“Clazdian was not given enough time to kill you,” Lautian replied, “Kai Serenes II was too quick to jump in and attack. The removal of a soul is a long process, and since Clazdian usually ended up taking out the other supernaturals when they were alone, he had plenty of time by himself to remove their souls. Since Kai II was fighting him nonstop until the time where he was defeated, he obviously had no time to remove your soul, Tera.”
“Oh,” I replied, “thank you, Lautian.”
And with that, I left and returned to my body.

We were all incredibly surprised when we saw Tera’s eyes open.
“TERA,” Katara exclaimed, her tears all over my chest; she sat me up and embraced me. When they noticed, Ty Lee, Kai I, Kai II, Sanaki, and Toph all surrounded me.
“How did you survive?” they asked me,
“It’s a long story,” I said, “but to make it short, I’m here, right?”
“Well,” said Toph, “we have plenty of time now that Clazdian is gone. Why don’t you tell us what happened.
“Aye,” I said, “it would be nice to see how you came back.”
“Well,” Tera stammered, “It was kind of personal. I mean, there were some deep things that happened that I’d rather not share.”
“Okay,” I replied, “If it’s personal, we understand.”
“It is,” Tera replied, and then she saw Toph and Sanki’s injuries.

“Holy,” she exclaimed, “what happened to you two?”
“Long story,” Toph replied, “let’s just say Clazdian had some fun.”
“Well, sit back. I’m gonna do what I can to fix that.”
Tera began bending something in her hand, and then she split it into two, and then put her hands on Toph’s eye sockets. When she pulled them back, Toph’s eyes were back. Toph thumped on them to learn that they were made of glass.
“Supernatural damage is near impossible to undo, Toph,” Tera said, “but I will assure you that unless someone touches your eyes, they will not notice anything different about them.”
“Thanks, Tera,” Toph muttered, “I really wouldn’t want people knowing that you helped me. No offense, but I don’t like help too much.”
“Its okay, Toph,” said Tera, “no one will ever know.”

Tera then did her best to repair Sanaki’s ankles, but when Sanaki stood up, she was a bit unstable. We later learned that she would be like that for the rest of her life. She had weak ankles, meaning she could not stand up for extended periods of time. However, she could walk and run just like normal.
“Come on,” said Tera, also repairing any other damage the others might have taken, “let’s get out of here.”
Tera whisked us back out to the Western Air Temple, but she has warped us to the top of the canyon instead of the temple itself. We were looking upon a glorious sunset. It was incredible. Things were finally back to normal. Clazdian was gone, Tera was still with us, and none of us were dead. Iroh, Sokka, Zuki, and Mai were with us as well, just staring out at the sunset with us. My quest against Clazdian, my element mastery, and Tera’s turnaround from evil to good, was finished.

~Katara~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 40: HOW IT ALL TURNED OUT
The times that followed the downfall of Clazdian were “really dull compared to the old times” as Toph put it. However, though “dull” they may have been to some of us, we lived in peace, and everyone was happy.

Katara returned to the Northern Water Tribe. She is no longer depressed, but she of course still has (and will likely always have) a soft spot in her heart for Zuko. Her children, Sokka Hakoda and Katara Altina ended up growing up to be skilled benders and very fine adults.

Young Sokka Hakoda became a swordsmanship teacher, and he succeeded his mother Katara once she abdicated to live the rest of her life at ease. He was a very fine Water Tribe Chief, and had a fine wife and family. Young Katara Altina grew up to be a very attractive woman and a dangerously and seductively powerful firebending master. Being a firebender, she did not settle down in the water tribe, nor did she settle in the Fire Nation, for she looked a lot like a water tribe girl. She always seemed out of place, so she would wander around, making friends and never establishing a permanent residence anywhere. She was known worldwide for her skills and her good looks, and it is unknown to this day if she ever married, or if she ever settled down. Neither of these two is likely to have happened. Both children ended up going back with their mother, who taught them and raised them well, no longer being depressed. Nonetheless, they all still loved Zuki, and she visited Katara’s family quite often.

Zuki was still a vigorous Kyoshi warrior until she was in her late 110s. She may have been old, but she was still hale for much of her days. She became the notorious stereotypical “crazy old woman” but even to the day she died, everyone, (no one excepted) loved her and was her friend. Zuki’s personality never changed, and had been that way since she was born. She was still lacking in the intelligence department for the rest of her days, but her happy go-lucky attitude and her cheery, optimistic personality did indeed make her live a long life. Zuki ended up living to be 253 years old, surpassing the very same Kyoshi herself whom Zuki resembled both in attire and appearance.

Sokka continued to live in the Earth Kingdom as king, next to his wife Toph. He was still a master weapons trainer, and gave free lessons to anyone willing to accept the challenge of the blade; and, in some cases, the boomerang as well. He and Toph had several beautiful and strong children, and they lived the rest of their days (for like Katara, they abdicated somewhere down the road) in peace and serenity.

Toph continued to rule the Earth Kingdom as she always did, and no one ever found out about her glass eyes, not even Sokka. Sokka did, however, note that they seemed shinier, and Toph just laughed and elbowed him in the gut. They did on very rare occasions bleed though, and often times, tears would form out of nowhere, but Toph always seemed to have a plausible cover-up story for why they were there. She lived a good long life, and her days were happy, despite being “dull”.

Iroh continued to be a wandering Sage, and yet anywhere he could, he would make and sell tea. The day of his death was a day the world mourned, for a great and honorable man died that day. Like Zuki, everyone truly loved Iroh, for there was nothing about him no to love.

Ty Lee ended up getting married later in her life, and her legacy ended up bringing the airbenders back. Many, many years later, they flourished, and statues of Ty Lee were placed in the 4 air temples. The new Airbender race seemed a lot more cheery than the old one, which said something in and of its self considering who the airbenders originally were. They style of bending was also slightly different (not to mention more acrobatic) but considering it was a race that nearly faced extinction, no one complained.

Mai was a worldwide legend, about equal with my group in fame. She was a world-class ninja, and she ended up sharing her skills only to a very select few. She was generally in the earth kingdom whipping the Dai Li into shape, and the law enforcement of the world improved because of her doings. It is unknown if she ever married, and if and when she died.

I, Kai Serenes II, continued to fulfill my duties as the avatar, but it never stopped me from constantly visiting my friends Sanaki, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Ty Lee, Iroh, Mai, and my mother. When I died, the avatar spirit moved on to someone in the earth kingdom. In the meantime though, it remained with me, but I never had to use powers as extreme as the ones I had used against Clazdian. I was thankful for that. Incidentally, I did find myself a husband later in life; and, like my father, he was also surprisingly named Zihark. Coincidences happen, you know...

My mother, Kai Serenes I, followed Iroh around, and the two of them would travel together, for both of them were old and wise. When my mother died, there was an international day of mourning. It was here that I learned just how famous she had been. The earth avatar that succeeded me ended up asking me why she was so famous. They were talking about an “incarnation of Kai”. It was here that I learned about my fame, but, like my mother, I never really was into that sort of thing. I just told her that her heritage was very interesting, and that she sort of had a lot to live up to.

Sanaki ended up going back to the Fire Nation. It turned out that she had indeed been waiting for a man, and this man’s name was Saza. My mother said that he and Sanaki had met long, long ago, and that they had fallen in love then and there. Sanaki was loyal enough that she awaited her return, and when she next met him, they were married, and Saza became Fire Lord. Although there was the “Lord over Lady” principle, Saza would never make any verdicts without getting Sanaki’s consent, for the love that these two shared was mutual. Sanaki ended up one time referencing to me that it was something that she and Saza did that made her able to hold her breath for so long. Sanaki’s legacy was glorious as well, and she and Saza produced a fine family from which the future Fire Lord would come. Moreover, she also had a set of twins. Incidentally, they were both girls. To Sanaki’s great interest, one of the girls—the 2nd one to be exact—was born blind. Sanaki ended up teaching this one how to manage firebending despite being blind, and the legend of the blind firebending master continued.

Tera continued to wander the world. Like Iroh, Ty Lee, my mother, or any other wanderer though, she would pay us visits very often, and often times we all would make plans to meet again. She was immortal though, so after we passed away she remained. However, she would often vanish into the spirit world on “business”. This “business” was visiting us once we had all passed away, and her presence was welcomed. However, before we passed away, we learned something interesting. Tera had found love in a supernatural that had not been created by Clazdian. He had formed when the elements collided, similar to the old legend. He and Tera fell in love at once, for their past stories were actually very similar. They had a beautiful family, and soon enough, the supernatural race again began to flourish. People just began to accept them as people with yellow eyes and huge ears, and they only used their powers when they had to, or for practical uses. They became a liked race, and have lived happily since.

Like the avatar before me, I was simply a young avatar who had a great destiny sort of thrown onto my head. I might have done an incredible job in the eyes of some people, but I was merely doing my job. Of course, although some people called me perfect, I knew better. Like any human, I had flaws, and I acknowledged them. Like my mother, I was rather shy to the end of my days. People would sometimes playfully make fun of me for that, and I often just shrugged it off.

This is the end of my story. I guess the phrase “and they all lived happily ever after” really can happen sometimes. I guess we must have been some of the lucky ones. I mean, my very existence was proof that the avatar cycle had survived. My story though, was over.

~Kai~

[Teяa253]

CHAPTER 41: THE WATER CHIEF'S DREAM
I returned to the Northern Water Tribe a happier woman. Clazdian was gone, and I could feel that my husband Zuko’s soul was at peace. I was greeted a few days later by a familiar group. I saw Kai Serenes and her avatar daughter, Kai Serenes II. Accompanying them was Zuki Meisha, the 40-year-old former Kyoshi warrior who still kept her skills in shape. Behind them were two young children that I recognized immediately. After seeing Sokka Hakoda and Katara Altina again, the others excused me to be alone with them. After all, I had not told them what had become of their father. I had originally told them that he had gone to fight the evil supernatural, but I could hide the truth from them no longer. I had to tell them.

“Mommy!” little Sokka shouted, and ran into my arms. Little Katara Altina just stood there, looking back from me to Zuki. She looked confused.
“Mommy?” she said, looking back between me and Zuki again, and Zuki even motioned towards me—Katara—her mother. I was heartbroken. My own little daughter had trouble recognizing me. Had I really been stressful for that long? I picked her up and hugged her, and she sneezed. Her hands jerked and fire formed on them. I had forgotten that little Katara was a daddy’s girl. She was going to be so distressed when she learned the truth about what happened to her daddy—my beloved husband—Zuko.

“Mommy,” said young Sokka, “where’s daddy? Shouldn’t he be home now?”
“Daddy, daddy!” said Katara, jumping up and down excitedly. The look on her face forced me to bury my face in my ragged hair. They had no clue what had happened, and they had actually believed my story entirely. I was unable to bring myself to confess to them the truth.
“Daddy might be a little late,” I said, doing everything in my power to hold my tears back, “he’s... wounded. They’re going to heal him and he should be back soon.”
This shook them off for a while, and I was able to convince the young avatar Kai II to take them and play with them. Once I was alone, I again shut myself up in my chamber and let my tears flow. Unlike before, when they were tears of sorrow and anger, these tears were tears of sheer sympathy for my little children. I could not bear to think of how they would react—or the look on their faces once I told them.

“Sokka, Katara,” I pictured myself saying, “Daddy’s not coming back.” I could see Sokka then asking me what I meant, but I knew that Katara would understand right away. To her, it meant something bad had happened to daddy, and she would be devastated. She truly was a daddy’s girl, especially because it was Zuko that would amuse her with his firebending techniques. I just could not do this right now.
Later on that evening as I was going to sleep, I had a very interesting experience. Some would call it a vision; others would call it “Katara’s journey to the spirit world”. To me, it felt like a dream.

I was in the spirit world, and standing in front of me was Zuko. He did not quite look the same way I remembered him. It looked like he had perhaps aged a few years—something he would have naturally done of course, had he still been alive.
“Zuko,” I exclaimed, and threw myself around him. He seemed solid.
“Katara,” he whispered, “I know what Clazdian did to you once. I assure you, that this is me. His illusions and malice are gone from the world.”
I began sobbing from ecstasy and relief. “Why though,” I said, “why did you have to leave me so early?”
“Katara,” he said in the same tone as before, “I had no choice. Did you think that I wanted to be separated from you either? I am not going to be able to watch our little Katara’s reaction when you tell her that. She... she just meant so much to me—that adorable little firebender.
“Don’t,” I pleaded, “don’t remind me of that.”
“I’m sorry Katara.” He responded sympathetically, and held me tighter, “I know how hard this probably is on you—and I wish I could make it up to you. My leaving just seems so... so selfish. And yet, there is nothing I can do to fix the problem. To see my wife and children suffer like this—it hurts me more than anything you can possibly imagine.”
“How am I going to tell them?” I asked, “I can’t do it. I remember too vividly how hard it was on me when my mother died, but I think that little Katara’s bond with you was even stronger than that.”

“Just tell her that I’m happy,” Zuko replied, putting his hands on my shoulders, “granted, I’m nowhere near as happy as I was before I came here, but I have friends and family here too. No matter how distant I may seem, Katara, I’m always with you.”
“Always,” I exclaimed, “no matter what happens or who dies?”
“Always” Zuko replied, “Always and forever, Katara—until we meet again here.”
“and that is why I still go on,” I said, “I fight for my friends and family—and I assure you, that young Sokka and Katara will know you for the person you were—a very just, kind, and honorable man.”
“Thank you Katara,” Zuko said, “that means a lot. And granted, you will continue to be a great water chief.”
“Thank you,” I said, and embraced him once again. He put his hand into my huge mess of semi-curly hair and it stuck.
“Your hair,” he laughed, “even back in the day when you actually took care of it, it always amused me. Now, it almost scares me.” he pulled his hand free, chuckling.
“Heh,” I chuckled, “you think you’re scared, try having it stuck to your head.” I grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled on it. I felt no yanking feeling whatsoever.
“Katara,” said Zuko, still chuckling a little, “there is something that I want to tell you.”
“What is it?” I asked, waiting,

“I want you to have this,” he said, and he took out a Fire Nation hairpiece. It was the same one that had once belonged to Avatar Roku, which Iroh had given to him.
“You do realize,” he said, “that because you married me and because Avatar Kai is a reincarnation of Avatar Roku (with Aang in between) that you are related to that family now, correct?”
I had never really thought of it, and I was amazed
“You’re right,” I said, “I never thought of that.”
“Well,” said Zuko, placing it into my hand and closing my hand,” it’s yours. You can give it to Kai II if you want, or you can keep it, treasure it, or do whatever. Just remember me whatever you choose to do.”
“I will,” I replied, and pocketed the hairpiece. “Zuko, I will never forget you. Remember that until the day I die, okay?”
“I will,” he replied, smiling, “and of course, I’m saying goodbye now because I can feel that you are going back...”

Zuko was right. I jolted awake and was breathing heavily. That dream—that visit—had seemed so real. I had fallen asleep in my normal clothes, and for some reason, I was urged to feel in my pocket, just to see if it was a dream or not. I reached my hand in and I pulled out the same object that Zuko had given me—Avatar Roku’s Fire Nation hairpiece. I was so surprised. I had sort of taken Zuko’s words lightly, as I thought that it was symbolism instead. However, I now knew that he had meant it literally—that “dream” had somehow been real.
Avatar Kai suddenly stepped into my room.
“I heard a gasp,” she said, “are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said, still trying to piece everything together, “thanks for caring.” I paused and looked at what I was holding.
“What is that,” Kai II asked me out of curiosity,
“Well,” I said, “in essence, it’s yours. It belonged to Avatar Roku. Here, take it. It IS yours now.”
“Thank you,” Kai II replied timidly,
“No,” I said, “thank you. Thank you for helping to avenge Zuko. I am sure he looks upon you very highly from where he is right now.”
Kai II smiled at me.
“Thank you, Lady Katara of the water tribes,” she said, “thank you.”
I just smiled in return.

~Kai~

[Orophin]

Well, read 'em all. What now?

[Teяa253]

now onto the fics about Sokka and Katara...
I put them right after TCS for a reason.
~Azula~

[Orophin]

Ah, lol.