Disclaimer: Don't own Avatar or Cruel Intentions

Note: The last chapter. Enjoy. Also, I don't know any medical stuff, so this chapter will be a little outta tune.

Chapter 17

The Final Countdown

You are one of God's mistakes,
You crying, tragic waste of skin,
I'm well aware of how it aches ,
And you still won't let me in.
Now I'm breaking down your door,
To try and save your swollen face ,
Though I don't like you anymore,
You lying, trying waste of space..

Katara stood there, talking to the doctors in a blur motion. Every so often, Katara would steal a few glances at Zuko. There was barely enough energy for Zuko to keep his eyes open. As his eyes were unreliable at the moment, he depended on his hearing. The clacking footsteps from her shoes became more distinct. He could feel a warm hand on his forehead as he lifted his achy eyelid to look at the person.

Before our innocence was lost,
You were always one of those ,
Blessed with lucky sevens ,
And the voice that made me cry .
My Oh My.

Katara looked at Zuko's body quite a number of times, examining his bandaged burns, especially the one on his face.

You were mother nature's son ,
Someone to whom I could relate ,
Your needle and your damage done,
Remains a sorted twist of fate.
Now I'm trying to wake you up ,
To pull you from the liquid sky ,
Coz if I don't we'll both end up ,
With just your song to say goodbye.
My Oh My.

"I really am fucked up," Zuko breathed between tiny gasps, his hazy vision focusing on the redden eyes of Katara.

"I know, but just get well first, and then we'll talk about forgiveness."

"It really hurts..." He complained as his eyes felt a stinging sensation.

"No more talking Zuko, just sleep."

A song to say goodbye,
A song to say goodbye ,
A song to say...

"Please, just one more thing," Zuko barely managed an audible whisper. Katara placed her ear closer to his mouth as she intently listened to him. After listening to him, she pulled back to listen to Zuko once more heave a heavy sigh.

Before our innocence was lost,
You were always one of those,
Blessed with lucky sevens,
And the voice that made me cry.

"Katara, I'm sorry..." Zuko whipsered before he closed his eyes for a long time. Katara could feel tears sliding down her cheeks as she clutched onto Zuko's hand. A doctor walked over and laid a hand on her shoulder as he flipped Zuko's life support off. The sound of a hollow beep and empty silence filled the room.

It's a song to say goodbye.

A few days later, on the beginning of the first day of school, Azula caught Katara sitting alone in the auditorium.

"How are you doing, Katara?" Azula asked as she took a seat beside Katara.

"It's been hard without Zuko here..." Katara softly whispered.

"Don't worry, I'm sure he's in a better place now," Azula said without any change of emotion in his voice.

"Didn't you ever care about him at all?!" Katara asked, her voice growing stronger. Azula radiated a morbid smirk.

"Do you really want to know the truth?" Katara's face hardened more into a you-better-tell-me-now-or-burn-in-hell stare. The mistress of evil's hand covered her mouth, trying to cover up what was either a scoff or cough.

"Alright, fine. The truth is I could give a shit about him. We both live in a world of deceit and manipulation. And he used you. Every single one of those goddamn morons who are so desperate to be my 'friends' and you are just tools-if you will- which lie in the palms of my hands. I control everything. But now that Zuzu's gone, I'm in charge. Nothing. Will. Stop. Me." Azula declared in her self-imposed speech.

"No, you're wrong. It's already too late."

"What?!" She yelled, standing up as fast as the speed of light.

"That's right Azula," Katara said. She walked over to the podium and revealed a hidden microphone taped under it. Azula stood there stunned as she bolted towards the auditorium doors.

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah,

The whole student body crowded by the entrance, only a few feet from where she stopped. The once perfect girl was now a complete mess. She breathed short, rapid breaths as she jerked her head in every direction, eyes staring at her with shame.

No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

"She's right Azula, give up. You've lost." A raspy voice echoed from behind a door, revealing Zuko all bandaged up and limping; he leaned on Katara for support. Haru and Teo stood on the roof as they fluttered copies of papers from Zuko's journal to the students. Everyone reached towards the sky to grab the papers. At the back, where people were too far away, Ty Lee and Jet handed out some, giving Azula a death glare as they made contact- she was surrounded by the very people she had ruined. Everyone was now reading the truth.

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

"But...how?" Azula managed through all the tears and hiccups."I-I saw Zuko in the hospital and th-the doctor!"

"Simple," Katara began, "As I talked to the doctor's, they explained to me that Zuko was going to be okay. He just needed to rest and heal up. He didn't need the machine anymore." Katara said, remembering clearly the details Dr. Yugoda told her.

"Doctor...Zuko won't ...will he?" Katara wavered, unable to bring herself to say 'die'.

"No." She said softly, "Thankfully, your friend was wearing a thick layer of clothes, which would have taken a few seconds longer to burn through." Katara relaxed her shoulders back from the excellent news. "He has a few minor burns, but the one that covers a part of his face has done some damage and will remain there for the remainder of his life," Dr. Yugoda ended, flipping through another patients chart.

No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change

"And before Katara left, I told her where I hid my house and room key - what she did was up to her. Though it was quite impressive of what she came up with," Zuko's face lightened up a bit as he gave Katara a quick glance.

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
Try to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the things meet yeah

"But the one thing that we both compromised on was that you needed to be stopped; every person here deserves to know the reality of your world." Katara spat as if she tasted something, sour, bitter, poisonous and all of the above.

You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

"I think it's time for a talk," Head Master Hakoda proclaimed from the crowd as he went to snatch the crucifix from Azula and emptied its contents.

I can't change my mold
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
no, no, no

Sorrow filled tears fell from Azula's face as she lost everything now. She was ruined. Forever.

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you've ever been down?

--

"And so it seems, the good guys always win," Katara said later that day, leaning her head against Zuko's shoulder. The Sun's glows started to fade as the two sat on the very hill that they gazed at stars together.

"Yes, but there's still another matter to attend to." Zuko said, sullenly.

"Hmm?"

"You're pregnant, remember?"

"Oh, right." Katara whispered as she straightened her posture.

"Have you thought about abortion?" Zuko inquired.

"Zuko! How can you think that?!" Katara scolded him, infuriated.

"I'm sorry! But what if we don't want the baby?"

"No, I'm keeping the baby no matter what!" Katara shouted stubbornly.

Zuko smirked as held Katara's hand. "If you want the baby, then I'm here for you. I promise," Zuko swore.

"Promise is a big word, Zuko,"she forewarned.

"I know, that's why," Zuko stood in front of Katara now, "Katara, marry me," He knelt on his knees as he took out a ring from his pockets. Katara was wide eyed. The only thing she did was grab the sides of his face and kiss him. This is how the rest of their lives were going to be. But how it will end is up to them.

In the past few shortly lived months, alot of things changed. For one, Azula was sent to a drug rehabitation centre.

Ty Lee and Jet ran away together as a young couple, making a living as music teachers while Ty Le is still in school.

Haru and Hahn are having a secret affair, while Teo stays as Zuko's right-hand man for the next two years.

Speaking of Zuko, he did get a scar over his left eye, though Katara wouldn't give a crap if he did have on in the beginning.

Once Hakoda and Ursa found out, they practically went insane. The baby is supposed to be due by graduation for the two.

Of course this means now that Zuko and Katara are getting married. And so this world may be filled with cruel intentions, but may also containa veracity of intentions.

I'm thinking some of you knew this corny ending was going to come. Thanks for sticking with me all the way.

Sorry if any of you guys wanted a sad ending like in the original story. But Thanks again!

A/N: I forgot to credit the songs, so yeah... (Thanks to gokusgirl for reminding me).

Every You, Every Me- Placebo

Sugar, We're going down- Fall Out Boy (Thanks Avatargirl92!!)

Stop and Stare- OneRepublic

Song to Say Goodbye- Placebo

Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve

I would've added Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved, but 3 songs in one chapter is too much.

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If you wanted a bitter sweet ending, please tell me in a review. I had one figured out, but I forgot it . I'll try to remember it though.