A/N: Ok so here's the last chapter. But I have something to say first. If I do something in one of my stories, that you don't like or have a problem with or something, don't bother saying anything about it. Or if you must tell me, then message me, don't put it in a review. I'm sick of people telling me to change stuff in MY stories, or that I shouldn't have done something because everyone else does it. Well I don't base events in my stories around what everyone else does. I make stuff happen because I want the stuff to happen. So if you don't like something I do, then don't read my story. It's as simple as that.
*sigh* Okay sorry for the ranting there, but I had to get that off my chest. Anyway, for those of you who are loyal to my story-and I thank you all very much =) -please enjoy the last chapter of this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, just Serenity.
"Why did they throw you in here?" Katara asked, as she paced back and forth behind us. I was kneeling next to Zuko, who was still sitting on the ground.
I sighed. "Katara-"
"Oh wait. Let me guess. It's a trap." She said angrily. "So that when Aang shows up to help me you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches!"
"Katara-" I said again, as Zuko glanced back at her, before looking ahead again.
"You're a terrible person you know that?" she continued, ignoring me. "Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care? You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your bl-"
"Katara!" I yelled, causing her to finally stop and look at me. "That's enough!"
"You don't know what you're talking about." Zuko said looking back at her.
"I don't?" Katara said, angry again, and I sighed annoyed. Did she ever listen? "How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through! Me personally!" she said, and I could hear the sadness in her voice as she crouched down on the ground.
This time, I couldn't tell her to stop or be quiet though. Because I knew what she was talking about. I stood up and walked over to her, pulling her into a hug. She hugged me back, burying her face in my chest, as she tried not to cry.
"The Fire Nation took our mother away from us." She said, pulling away slightly and touching her necklace, the one that used to be our mother's.
Zuko had already heard this story from me, not long after I had first started traveling with him. He had told me about his past with his father, so I felt it only right to tell him about what happened to my mother.
"I'm sorry." Zuko said and I looked over and smiled at him, as I held Katara close, trying to get her to stop crying. "That's something we have in common."
Katara and I gave him identical shocked looks. I had known part of this, that his mother had left, but he never told me what exactly happened to her. So the Fire Nation took her? But wasn't she part of the Fire Nation too? It didn't make any sense.
I stepped away from Katara, since she seemed okay now, and glanced between the two, waiting for more yelling. But thankfully, it didn't come.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you." My sister said quietly, and I looked over at her shocked. She apologized? To Zuko? Well…maybe we were starting to get somewhere after all.
"It doesn't matter." Zuko said looking away.
"Its just that….for so long now, whenever I would imagine the face of the enemy, it was your face." Katara said, and I looked over at Zuko.
"My face….I see…" Zuko said, touching his scar, and I walked over to him.
"Zuko…." I said quietly, taking his other hand in mine.
"No, no. That's not what I meant." Katara said walking over to us.
"Its okay." Zuko said. "I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny." He glanced down at me and smiled slightly, as I smiled back up at him. "Even if I'll never be free of my mark."
"Maybe you could be free of it." Katara said thoughtfully, and the two of us looked over at her confused.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, not sure what she meant.
"I have healing abilities." She said.
I sighed, knowing what she was thinking. "I have them too Katara. But…."
"It's a scar." Zuko said, finishing my sentence. "It can't be healed."
Katara reached into her clothes and pulled out a blue vile. "This is water from the spirit oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties so…I've been saving it for something important." She walked over to stand in front of us. "I don't know if it would work but…"
I stared at her confused and shocked. I didn't understand why she was willing to help Zuko this much, after she just finished yelling at him a few minutes ago. I watched as she reached up and touched his scar lightly. I smiled, hoping this meant she thought a little better about Zuko now.
Suddenly the three of us looked over, hearing a loud crash, to see the wall busted through. When the smoke cleared, we saw who it was that was there. Aang and Iroh were standing there, Aang obviously being the one to make the hole.
"Aang!" Katara said happily, running over and hugging him.
I smiled as he hugged her back, then saw the glare he gave Zuko. When I glanced up, I saw the prince was giving the Avatar the same look. That is until Iroh hugged him and me at the same time.
I stood next to Zuko as Katara hugged Aang again. "Aang, I knew you would come!" she said happily.
"Uncle! I don't understand!" Zuko said, causing us all to look at him, as he pointed at Aang. "What are you doing with the Avatar?"
"Saving you that's what!" Aang said annoyed, and I had to grab Zuko's arm, to stop him from lunging at the boy.
"Zuko don't!" I said pleadingly.
"Zuko…its time we talked." Iroh said, before looking at Aang and Katara. "Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you."
Aang bowed slightly before running off. Katara followed slowly, only pausing to glance back at us. I smiled at her briefly, before she ran off after the Avatar.
I looked back up at Zuko, as he turned away from Iroh. "Why Uncle?" he asked quietly.
"You're not the man you used to be Zuko." Iroh said. "You are stronger, and wiser, and freer than you've ever been. And now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny. Its time for you to choose. Its time for you to choose….good."
Suddenly the ground shook, and crystals grew out from the ground, trapping Iroh between them. "Iroh!" I yelled, before suddenly crystals came up around me, and trapped me just like Iroh was.
"Serenity!" Zuko yelled, as I struggled to get free, to no avail.
Three people then slid down into the room, two Dai Li agents and the third….Azula.
"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuko….Prince Zuko." Azula said, walking up to Zuko as I glared at her. "You're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?"
"Release them immediately!" Zuko said, glaring at his sister.
"Its not too late for you Zuko." Azula continued. "You can still redeem yourself."
"Zuko don't listen to her!" I yelled, still trying to get free.
"Shut up you Water Tribe peasant." She said calmly, and I growled glaring at her.
"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you." Iroh said to Zuko.
"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Azula said. "I need you Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history. And the only way we win, is together. At the end of this day, you'll have your honor back. You'll have Father's love. You will have everything you want."
At that last part, Zuko glanced back at me quickly. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but I wanted Azula to just shut her mouth! After Zuko had come so far, now she's putting all this crap back into his head!
"Zuko, I'm begging you." Iroh said, and Zuko looked over at him. "Look into your heart, and see what it is that you truly want."
"You are free to choose." Azula said raising her hand as the two Dai Li agents left. She walked past us, not saying anything, and disappeared.
I glared after her, then looked at Zuko pleadingly. "Zuko don't listen to what she says! You don't need to go back! What about…." I looked down, trying not to cry, as I thought about the life we were going to have. If he didn't choose right….then that life I wanted would never happen.
Iroh and I both watched, as Zuko stood there, doing nothing. "I'm sorry….Serenity." he said quietly.
My eyes widened. "No! Zuko!" he ignored me however, as he took off after Azula. "ZUKO!"
The tears in my eyes were making my vision blurry, so I couldn't see much of anything. Not that I wanted to anyway. I couldn't believe what just happened! Zuko….he left. He really left.
Suddenly the crystals around my body broke, and I looked up through my tears, to see Iroh standing there. I didn't bother asking how he got out of his, for at the moment I really didn't care.
"We must go. Quickly. The Avatar and your sister are in danger." Iroh said quietly.
I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to see Zuko again. But, if I didn't go…Katara could get hurt. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath and stood up. When I opened them, I had new determination. I nodded, and followed Iroh as we ran through the cave.
When we got to the scene, it was worse than I would have thought. Katara was holding Aang, who looked to be unconscious-or at least that's what I hoped was wrong with him. Dai Li agents were scattered all over the room. Zuko and Azula were stalking toward my sister and Aang, and I felt a great hatred to the Fire Nation princess. It was all her fault Zuko left. She took him from me. And one day, she was going to pay.
Iroh shot a huge thing of fire in between the four, then jumped down between them. I followed suit, standing next to him in a fighting stance. Zuko met my eyes for a brief second, and in that second, I thought I saw a hint of regret. But frankly, at the moment, I couldn't care less.
"You've got to get out of here!" Iroh yelled to Katara. "I'll hold them off as long as I can!"
I glanced back at Katara as she looked at me, a questioning look in her eyes. I wanted to go with her, and make sure Aang was okay, but I had to stay and help Iroh, so she could escape. She nodded slightly, knowing my choice.
"Serenity! You go too!" I looked at Iroh shocked. "Help your sister!"
I stared at him before nodding. "I will help her." Suddenly I moved my hands, bringing a big wave of water up from the surrounding water, and moving it towards Azula and Zuko. The two shot fire at it however, turning it to steam.
Iroh shot fire at the two again, but they deflected it and shot it at us. Iroh however deflected that, and we both stopped the rocks that were thrown at us by the Dai Li members. I glanced back, seeing that Katara and Aang had already disappeared.
I looked at Iroh and saw him give me a look, before he relaxed, and crystal was put around his body. Almost instantly the same thing happened to me. I sighed, thankful that my sister had gotten away safely. However…..I glared up at Azula, as she smirked at us. I couldn't remember a time when I hated anyone more than her right now.
On second thought, maybe I could. My gaze drifted over to Zuko, who I noticed was watching me. Again I saw the regret in his eyes, but chose to ignore it as I glared at him, showing him all the hurt and betrayal I was feeling. Every moment we've spent together, memories from the other night, all those feelings came back to me as I glared at Zuko, and I could tell from his eyes he was feeling the same. Everything that I had wanted for us, was gone.
All because of Azula. I glared at her, all my fury burning in my body as I watched her. She was the one who took Zuko from me. And no matter how long it took, I would make sure she paid, in more ways than one.
A/N: Alright, well that concludes this season! lol. Again, sorry for my ranting before. I'm better now and I'm not gonna let bad critisism get to me. But anyway, on a better note, there is one more story to put into this series! Which I promise I will get working on soon, even though its gonna be tough. It's probably going to be longer than this one too. Oh, and since obviously Serenity can't be with Zuko, I'm going to probably do some things in his POV, to show how he's feeling and stuff, along with flashbacks Serenity has of some of the times they spent together-which will be new, I won't make you read the same stuff again. Well, at least not all the time haha. So anyway, please review and let me know what you think! And thank you guys so much for sticking with this story for so long! I really appreciate it!