Chapter 28- Turns Out It Was Both

"We need to find the Fire Navy communication tower. All the navy's movements are coordinated by messenger hawk. And every tower has to be up to date on where everyone is deployed," Zuko told Katara as the two flew with Appa across the sky.

"So once we find the communication tower, we bust in and take the information we need," Katara concluded, the duo spotting the tower.
"Not exactly. We need to be stealthy and make sure no one spots us, otherwise they'll warn the Southern Raiders long before we reach them," Zuko piped in, pulling his mask up

"Yeah, like you two are so good that being stealthy,"

Katara and Zuko quickly spun around, prepared to attack, only to see you sitting at the tail of Appa, nonchalantly leaning against the saddle.
"How'd you-"
"I haven't just been spending five years wandering the world, I picked up a skill or two," You simply said and Twig popped out of your cloak with his own mask.

"Why are you here?" Zuko asked you.
"Because the author knew that if they just skipped this part of the episode, the readers will be mad," You said, and Zuko raised an eyebrow, not knowing what you're saying.

"Doesn't matter right now. We're here," Katara suddenly said and landed Appa near the water.
"Stay here," Katara said and the two hopped off to get the scroll. You furrowed your eyebrows and laid against the saddle, Twig rubbing his head against you.

"It's okay Twigster, Water girl is just filled with hate and anger. She's going to be fine," You whispered, and looked up at the tower.

"I hope,"
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You watched as Zuko slept, softly running your hand through his hair, turning to see Katara was still awake.
"You should get some rest. We'll be there in a few hours. You'll need all your strength," You whispered, scooting over to her.

"Don't you worry about my strength. I have plenty. I'm not the helpless little girl I was when they came," She sighed, looking down at her lap with bags under her eyes. You noticed that she was lost in thought, knowing that she was remembering what happened all those years ago.

"I ran as fast as I could," She muttered, staring into nothingness.
"But we were too late. When we got there, the man was gone... And so was she," Her voice bracket at the last part, pulling her knees to her chest.

You looked at her for a moment, before quietly placing a hand on hers.
"Your mother was a brave woman," You whispered to her, and she looked at for you a moment.

"I know,"

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"There! See those sea raven flags? It's the Southern Raiders," Zuko pointed at a ship sailing away. Twig bit your mask and pulled it up to cover your face as Zuko and Katara did the same.
"Let's do this," She led Appa into the ocean to hide, and bended water to grab one of the soldiers.

She then caused a huge wave to crash the other soldiers into the ocean, and knocked the last one in. Zuko led you both into the ship, locking one soldier in a room.
"This is it, Katara. Are you ready to face him?" Zuko asked her, and Katara quickly knocked the door wide open.

Fire was immediately sent your way, and you blocked it with rocks your had in a pouch. The captain glared as he got ready to fight.
"Who are you?" He demanded.
"You don't remember her? You will soon, trust me," Zuko said as he sent a fire wave.

Just as the captain was about to attack, he suddenly stopped and started to shake.
"What's... happening to me?" He asked as you saw that Katara started to bloodbend the man.
'Holy mother of Kyoshi,' You thought and took a step back.

"Think back. Think back to your last raid on the Southern Water Tribe," Zuko demanded of the captain as the man was forced to be on his knees.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Please, I don't know!" He pleaded.

"Don't lie! You look her in the eye and you tell me you don't remember what you did!" Twig hid behind you as Katara proceeded to bend the man and stared him in his eyes.
"It's not him," She suddenly said and let the man go.
"He's not the man," She looked down in disappointment.

"What? What do you mean he's not? He's the leader of the Southern Raiders! He has to be the guy!" Zuko said, but Katara just turned to you and laid her head against your chest.
"If you're not the man we're looking for, who is?" The prince growled and pushed the man against the wall.

"You must be looking for Yon Rha! He retired four years ago,"

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"Nobody sneaks up on me without getting burned!" Yon Rha shouted and sent a fireball behind him, but nothing was there. Just as he was about to turn, he tripped and Zuko sent a fireball at him.
"We weren't behind the bush. And I wouldn't try firebending again!" He growled as you trapped his hands with rock.

"Whoever you are, take my money. Take whatever you want. I'll cooperate," The old man pleaded as Katara walked up slowly.
"Do you know who I am?" She asked darkly.
"No. I'm not sure," Yon Rha stammered.
"Oh, you better remember me like your life depends on it! Why don't you take a closer look?" She glared down at him.

"Yes... Yes, I remember you now. You're that little Water Tribe girl," Yon Rha realized, gulping nervously.
"She lied to you! She was protecting the last waterbender!" Katara shouted with venom.
"What? Who?" The man asked in shock.

"Me!!"

Katara suddenly stopped the rain from falling and created a dome, forming the water into ice shards. You closed your eyes as she threw them at Yon Rha, but you didn't hear anything else. You opened them to see them inches away from him, and Katara then dropped the shards and it turned into water, soaking the man even more.

"I did a bad thing! I know I did and you deserve revenge, so why don't you take my mother? That would be fair!" The man pleaded for mercy, and Twig looked at you with sadness, and you rubbed his cheek.

"I always wondered what kind of person could do such a thing, but now that I see you, I think I understand. There's just nothing inside you, nothing at all. You're pathetic and sad and empty," She harshly told him, and Yon Rha bowed down.
"Please, spare me!" He started to cry as she simply stared at him.

"But as much as I hate you ... I just can't do it.

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"Water girl, you feeling okay?" You quietly asked her as she sat at the docks, Zuko and Aang following behind you.
"I'm doing fine," She mumbled.
"Zuko told me what you did. Or what you didn't do, I guess. I'm proud of you," Aang told her.

"I wanted to do it. I wanted to take out all my anger at him, but I couldn't. I don't know if it's because I'm too weak to do it or because I'm strong enough not to," Katara sighed and pressed her hand on her hand.
"Not being able to do it doesn't mean you're weak, you're a a lot stronger than other people who were more blinded by rage," You smiled softly at her.

"You did the right thing. Forgiveness is the first step you have to take to begin healing," Aang said as she stood up, but she shook her head.
"But I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him," She spat out, but her face softened as she looked up.

"But I am ready to forgive you," She smiled at Zuko, who smiled back. She then turned to you, sheepishly looking down.
"And (Y/N), I'm sorry for what I said back there. You didn't deserve that, and I was just lashing out. You deserve a mom just as much as Sokka and I deserved our dad. I hope you can forgive me," She bowed, and you just pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay, you really needed that," You grinned as she chuckled.
"Also, is Princey...?" You trailed off, fiddling with something in your pocket, and she nodded.
"Yay!" You beamed and walked to Zuko, pulling out a red ring with a Fire Nation symbol.

"Princey, welcome to the Gaang," You said as he pulled the into onto his finger, and smiled at you. Zuko pulled you into a kiss as you wrapped your arms around his waist. Out of the corner of your eye, you pulled Katara in the hug as she kissed your lips too, and then pulled Aang in the hug.

"Group hug!!"

"Ack- Boomerang! Tophy! Suki!"