"We gotta find Sokka and Toph," Katara panted as she was in the lead of the other two.

The three ran through the old city next to a creek that split the catacombs but Aang heard someone behind them and saw flames coming their way, he put up an earth wall and everyone embraced for the impact when the flame burst the earth into shambles.

Azula stood there in a fighting stance and was ready to strike again.

Katara ran around the side and used the large creek to create a wave of water to crash down onto Azula but the princess used her hot blue flames to evaporate the water before it could hit her. Creating steam as a diversion.

They looked around to see where Azula would attack next but Jet saw her run up on a crystal to have the high ground, Katara saw where he was looking, her and Aang bended together large amount of water to cover the three of them while punches of fire came their way.

"Jet You need to get out of here and go find Sokka and Toph," Katara told him quickly.

"Are you crazy?!" Jet took out his hooked blades.

"No but she is!" Katara yelled pointing at Azula.

"Trust us Jet, this isn't a fight for non benders," Aang kept his eyes on the fire bender.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Jet glared back. But the non bender watched Azula create lightening and aimed it at them.

"Get down!" Katara screamed ducking as they all dropped when the lightening passed right above them.

Aang rolled to his feet to a crouching stance as he bended the bracing earth beam to collapse over Azula, she gasped and jumped out of the way only to land between Katara and Aang.

She held up both hands ready to fire as Aang and Katara waited for her to strike.

Only for a powerful strike of fire to land between Aang and Azula.

Zuko held up his fists looking between his sister and the avatar. Aang looked bewildered at him and almost fearful, Azula had a confident grin seeing him. This was the time to choose.

Azulas grin dropped when Zuko aimed his next attack at her. Sending the younger sibling flying back with a cry. Zuko ran after to attack again as Azula kicked a blue flame at him.

"Jet go now!" Katara snapped at the other teen. She couldn't be worrying over him when he can't win a fight with fire benders and dai lee, this was battle of long range, he wouldn't get close enough to strike Azula.

Jet finally listened, seeing he was right about the fire bender, he went to the tunnel they came in from to get Toph.

Katara turned her attention back to the two fire benders but saw Zuko slid back from azulas blow as he struggled to get back up. She raced to defend before the blue flames hit him, Aang at her side the two were ready to win the battle.

"Look at this," Azula smiled at them, Zuko panting on the ground while his friends stood their ground.

"Does the avatar know your a prince too? Or just the water peasant? I'm happy to keep telling all your new friends," she quirked a brow.

Aang looked at her like she was crazy and looked at Katara. She didn't have a reaction, she knew what Azula was doing. Aang didn't give any more than that as a reaction, this was not the time or place. Even if it didn't make any sense..

Azula knew she was losing and was trying to turn them against each other.

She had to split them up.

Without a second thought Azula created lightening and aimed it at Katara and as soon as it left her finger tips she kicked a wave of blue fire across at Aang to back them up.

Zuko lunged forward and yanked Katara down before she was hit, but they both gasped seeing blue flames aimed directly at them again. Zuko moved in front of her and blocked the fire even if it singed their clothes.

But the attacked never stopped, every attack got Azula closer and Zuko blocked them, but it pushed him further. Katara used the puddles of water around them to block the attacks and took charge before Zuko lost his balance.

Aang tried to come back but was blocked by ten dai lee agents. He gasped seeing Katara cry out when azulas flames were to hot and she couldn't keep up with how fast the princess was. Zuko tried to strike back but Azula was desperate, she kept aiming at Katara.

Azula sent a powerful blast at them both but it sent Katara back and she landed against a pile of crystals, she cried in pain as her braid fell out and her hair pooled over her shoulders.

Zuko felt embers burning against his skin but he didn't go down, he stood his ground in front of Katara, he could see she had small burns on her arms as well. And Aang was struggling to fight against the dai lee.

"Get up," Zuko gulped as the dai lee started to surround them instead and Azula went after Aang again. There was more than ten, there was so many more dai lee now. Probably closer to fifty almost.

Katara grunted standing again, she ignored the burning pain in her body, they were surrounded now. They were losing...

Zuko created long flame whips as Katara bended a circle of water and octopus arms around her as they had their backs to each other.

Aang held a fighting stance as he saw Azula leading the dai lee, Zuko and Katara were out numbered but were ready to die fighting. But he didn't want them to die today...

There's too many.

He remembered what the guru said, the only way to have control of the avatar state, was to let Katara go, he had to let her go.

"I'm sorry Katara," Aang felt tears burn his eyes before turning his back on them all. Bending crystals to cover him in a dome as protection, he got in position to unlock his final chakra.

The crystals glowed a moment later and familiar wind took over the cavern, the top of the crystals shattered and a light shined through. Aang was in the avatar state and levitated above them all, letting go and harnessing the energy.

Katara let her guard down seeing her friend reach his full potential, she felt pride to watch him fulfill his destiny of the avatar.

Till lightening made the entire room flash and thunder followed making their ears ring.

Tears fell down Kataras face when Aang was struck in the back by lightening, azulas fingers smoked from the power. Rage followed after the shock in her and made a tidal wave to quickly travel to Aang before he could hit the ground. Her wave consumed the dai lee agents as well as the princess when she went over them to catch her friend.

Tears streamed down her face as Katara held the avatar in her arms, he barely was breathing, if he even was...

Her jaw trembled seeing Azula still standing. The fire bender wasn't done. She wanted the avatar.

Katara held Aang closer to her body, she let the tears run but she would break yet.

Zuko punched a ball of fire at Azula to stop her from getting any closer.

"We need to go! Now!" Zuko backed up to Katara. Their fight was done.

They lost.

Zuko ran to her side and took Aang in his arms as Katara ran to the water fall on the side, using it as their chance to escape before Azula captured them all.

By the time Azula was able to attack again. They were gone.

-

"Sokka! Toph!"

They were outside the palace in the dark night, the earth king, bosco and Jet were with them and appa.

Everyone looked horrified seeing Zuko run with Katara, the avatar in his arms looking small, looking almost dead.

"Get on! We don't have time!" Katara yelled as she climbed on appa and Zuko handed her Aang to place on the bison.

No one asked questions, no one argued, they got on and they all took off within the minute.

The others were to afraid to speak, Zuko held Aang up against him as Katara took out the spirit water. Zuko turned aangs shoulder so Katara would have access to the wound. She bended the water in a small circle till the magic glowed and she pressed the water against the large sharp scar on the child's back.

The glow died down and they all waited, nothing happened.

Katara choked on a sob as she stared at the scar, she felt like she couldn't breathe. Until asngs arrow glowed and he inhaled a sharp deep breath. He was alive.

Katara broke down in sobs as she held Aang in her arms and bowed her head down crying. He was alive.

Zuko looked at the others looking defeated, they lost everything. Ba sing se, the earth kingdom, the avatar. They were at a loss...

"The earth kingdom has fallen," the king whispered with a single tear falling down his cheek.