Avatar: The Kaiser Phoenix
Book of the Black Flame
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Summary: He thought that all it ever took to set things right in the world was the defeat of Lord Ozai; boy was he wrong! Azula usurps the throne in a brilliant coup, and the fallen prince is left with nothing... well, almost nothing. Something awakens in Zuko that world hadn't seen for centuries. An ancient power linked to the heritage of his ancestors that may very well save the Fire Nation... but he must survive first! Meeting new allies, trying to prevent a war that could very well engulf the world, rallying old friends, facing the darkness... Yep, it ain't easy being on the run – again. Action/Adventure
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Disclaimer: Avatar was an awesome show. The third season finale... not so much, but hey! Who am I to complain! Anyways, you know the drill: Only the OCs and the ideas are mine, the rest belongs to Nick.
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1. A Bad Day
"Bad day? Try yesterday: you know the day I practically lost everything? Now that was a bad day."
Zuko
He could feel it in his bones. It had probably something to do with his mood when he woke up, or the fact that he couldn't find his slippers, or that he remembered the nightmare he had; but whatever it was, that something told him it would be one of those days. In his young life, the young man had had too much of those. For a moment, he hid under his blankets: maybe he could just call in sick and sleep through it. He knew better though. One way or another it would come back to bite him in the ass: it always did.
The boy got out of his bed and dressed in sleeping robes, he stepped into his balcony. The sun had barely gotten up. The view was breathtaking; the touches of orange, red, and gold upon the city cloaked in shades of indigo and blue turned the boy's scowl into a small grin. A normal sunrise in a normal city for a normal boy… Except for the fact that he was the current Fire Lord.
It had only been six months since the crowning, but Zuko felt like he had been the head of his country for a lifetime already. A few years back, he would have hidden his doubts about the throne behind a curtain of anger and contempt. Back then, he himself didn't believe in his father's promise, but he still did everything he could. That's all he could do. And it paid, more or less; due to his fated encounter with the Avatar and his help in the war, he was now the most influent man in the world – besides Aang.
Yet after everything was said and done the young Fire Lord felt depressed. He had few people to share his joy with; uncle Iroh had returned to his tea shop in Ba Sing Se. As for the rest of the fire nation… he'd rather not talk about it. The worst part was the absence of his other friends: Aang, Sokka, Katara… he hadn't seen them since the party in Ba Sing Se. No news from them either. He had tried sending letters, but either due to their schedule or their indifference, no replies had come back.
He was brought back from his morose musings by the voice of his chamberlain.
"My lord, former general Iroh is waiting for you."
A pleasant surprise, maybe this day wasn't going to be so bad, after all. The boy quickly got dressed and greeted his mentor who was standing in the throne's waiting room.
"I hope you have slept well, my lord." said the retired general as he bowed curtly.
The teen made a face when he heard Iroh's tone. "Please uncle, call me Zuko."
Iroh looked serious for a moment. "Fire Lord Zuko, you know the imperial court has its etiquette; you more than anyone should abide by them."
The boy snorted, and his scowl deepened when he saw his reflection in a nearby mirror. "Do they include the clothes? 'Cause they make me look like an idiot."
His uncle couldn't help but smile at that. "I guess that's true." He led his nephew to the gardens. "So… what will you do today?" he asked as they walked.
Zuko sighed. "There is a council today. There was one only two days ago as well." Iroh raised an eyebrow, but the young man made no further comments.
His councils were… stressful to say the least. Every time, he had to deny war proposals and wade through hours of argumentation before they could come to the real issues. Problem was by the time they arrived there, there was almost no time left; which led to little deliberation, a few hasty judgments and many angered nobles. Take a wild guest who they were angry at.
"I don't think I can take much more of this, uncle." he admitted sadly.
The man put a comforting hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Hang in there, nephew; you are doing fine. You know that change will never come easily."
"Believe me uncle I know." He raised his hands helplessly. "But this is more than mere stubbornness. If I didn't know better..."
He stopped himself and looked around, slightly nervous. There had been attempts on his life already – poorly executed; they were underestimating him. In the end it was just another problem to add to his list of anxiety inducers. No use telling his uncle about this; he had deserved his time of rest. Besides, it was quite ironically the only situation he had under control, and that took his mind out of another more upsetting matter: if things were so bad within inside of the Fire Nation, what was becoming from the world outside?
Man, what I wouldn't give to see Aang again, thought the royal teen.
When Aang had finally defeated his father he had advised, requested, almost begged his allies to leave some of the earth kingdom and water tribes within the nation for stability purposes, but it was brushed away. Willing to work through that refusal, he tried to established good relations with the other territories, but all he got was the cold shoulder. He knew that they would need sometime for peace to truly set on the world, but after six months there wasn't even a shadow of step forward. Zuko had seen too many bad things happen around him not to suspect something more worrying going on. Not Aang though; he was too stu- naïve to have ill intentions against the Fire Nation.
Seeing his unease, his uncle's face darkened "Say no more, nephew: It seems we share the same worries."
Zuko looked a bit sad. Even so far away from here his uncle couldn't escape his duty: probably the White Lotus. They spent a few moments, both lost in their thoughts. "Any news from your friends?" asked the Fire Lord.
The retired general sighed. "I'm afraid not: and yet things are not as peaceful as they appear." His face was now completely serious. "I fear my suspicions were confirmed: Water and Earth did not withdraw for pacific reasons."
Zuke smiled grimly: his uncle voicing his worries so clearly and confirming his suspicions left him in bitter state. "Of course not; that would mean somebody out there actually likes me."
Iroh raised his eyebrows "Nephew!"
"It's true uncle!" whined the young man. "I have the whole nobles – not to mention the fire sages – against me; the outside world practically hates everything that has to do with the fire nation." He paused, trying to calm down. "Just saying the words 'Fire Lord' has them ready to draw blood." Zuko lowered his head. "Really uncle, if it wasn't for you and Mai..."
Iroh looked at the boy that was like a son to him. He really looked tired. Now that he thought about it, it was a heavy burden to put on the shoulders of a boy that went through so much already. And here he was relaxing and brewing tea. Well, not only that… still, perhaps he should think of prolonging his stay... maybe a couple of years. The Jasmine Dragon would understand, right?
In the mean time...
"And where is that charming lady today?" he asked, trying to find the future Fire Lady.
"She left to see her family." He answered.
Zuke gaze became distant. Mai had only left yesterday and already he felt she was gone way too long. She had become much more than a simple girlfriend during the last months; she was his pillar, the only person he could trust and confide in. When there was only one person in the whole fire nation that didn't think you were either weak or crazy, you tended to appreciate her.
Iroh sighed as he looked at his nephew. He could see this was hard on the poor lad. "Lord Zuko, stay firm. Right now is a crucial moment for the Fire Nation. After a hundred years of war, it's finally time to lower the arms and restore balance to the world. We must not let that chance slip."
"Yeah... now try to tell them that."
Iroh smiled. "They will be convinced eventually. Fortunately for us, we have plenty of time."
Zuko shrugged half-heartedly. "If you say so uncle."
Neither of them really smiled though; they both knew better.
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"Now is the perfect time to attack, my liege."
Zuko almost slapped his forehead as he listened to the high ranking officer. Was he a general or an admiral? He always forgot. Agni! What did I do to deserve this? He then remembered all the time he spent chasing the avatar. Oh, right...that must have pissed every spirit off.
"Our main forces only suffered a small loss, and even though Ba sing Se has been lost, we still hold a strategic position within the Earth kingdom." pressed "A double surprise attack against the Southern tribe and the western Earth dominions and...—"
"We are not declaring another war." Declared the Fire Lord for the umpteenth time
That remark effectively shut down the man, in question, but another one, not part of the military this time, furthered his predecessor's musings.
"My prince, I understand you did not want to act in front of our enemies, but now is the time to strike."
The young lord eyed the noble. "And go back on the truce? And go back on my word? And go back on my honor?"
The man flinched. Good, thought Zuko, at least the guy had some kind of shame. The prince had already given, sacrificed so much to regain that honor; there was no way he would that away again, especially for something he didn't believe in.
"The Avatar is my friend," he added, "I will not betray him."
This stopped any eventual suggestions... at least until the next council. He wondered what his men expected. Did they really think he would change his mind from one meeting to another? What would have changed by then? Unless... they knew something he didn't. He shook his head; his paranoia was acting again. While there were assassinations attempts, they were too sloppy to have come from people with such influence. If that was that case he'd have a lot more to worry about. Feeling he had gained the control of the flow, he changed topic.
Zuko changed the topic. "How about we focus on something more pressing? I want a third of our infantry around our borders."
"Are you planning an expansion my lord?" said a hopeful council member "That would be—"
"I am planning to defend our colonies against bitter Earth and Water soldiers who would think the war is not quite over yet." cut in Zuko, causing the man to blush and shrink on his chair. "In case you haven't noticed, the Fire Nation doesn't look so smug to the rest of the world. Let's try to focus on keeping our people safe from self-righteous avengers before anything else."
"My Lord, on that subject, what do you plan to do with our colonies? Surely the Earth Kingdom won't rest until they get their territories back."
Zuko glanced at the officer who had spoken. He knew the man, one of his father's partisans. He looked cool enough, but couldn't hide the small shadow of a grin that fought its way near the edge of his lips. It was obviously a trap in order to make him look incompetent. The Fire Lord gave him a smile of his own; if he thought this lord hadn't done his homework he was sadly mistaken.
"Those lands are neither the Fire Nation's nor the Earth Kingdom's;" Zuko replied. "It's the people's land. We'll let them decide where their allegiance resides."
The man's grin came out at last. "And you think those earth peasants won't choose their own country instead of the glorious Fire Nation."
"You'd be surprised." said Zuko indifferently.
What the Ozai supported ignored was that the young man had already paid a visit to the colonies. Preparation had even been made to settle the colony in a settlement in the outskirts of town, and both the Fire nation colony and the Earth Kingdom refuges would be getting their own guard. However, Zuko was relying on the difference between Earth kingdom culture and Fire Nation technology, which was frankly quite big. The earth villagers wouldn't have time to neither revert to their old farming methods nor learn the new ones before harvest; as such they would have to rely on the new residents.
"The men coming home will probably have no choice but to come themselves after us for our superior tools and metals once they try them out. And if they intend to make deals with us... let's just say they'll be soon requiring our protection as well." The former Fire Lord partisan scowled. Zuko smiled. "If you're looking for expansion, how about we do it the right way? It requires less bloodshed and is a lot more productive. They'll practically be working for us."
This time murmurs of approbation could be heard amidst the discussions. The Fire Lord couldn't help but smile. A small victory, but more importantly, it seemed he was starting to get through them. Maybe uncle was right.
This time another noble spoke. "My liege, if I may... what are your intentions towards the previous Fire Lord and lady Azula?"
For once, Zuko was stumped. "That's... an actually pretty good question."
Trap or not, the fate of his family was a delicate affair. While his Uncle was incarcerated, he had been a good prisoner, and nobody at the time expected him to cause an incident – big mistake there. His father however, was currently the biggest threat to the Nation. His nobles and officers might have world conquest issues, but even they were afraid of Fire Lord Ozai during his reign. That was probably the reason Zuko thought they wouldn't try to get rid of him. As for Azula, she was at least as dangerous as her father, but for different reasons. Since their Agni Kai, she hadn't been the same. She was an armed weapon ready to strike: nobody could even come close to her without risking their lives. He knew; he had tried.
"Might I suggest execution?" said the Ozai partisan from earlier.
Zuko smiled dryly. Of course you would: I'd be the one to get my hands dirty ."Not an option." He answered flatly. "Exile... that could be nice, but I'd pity the poor land they'd want to flee to."
This got a few chuckles and savage grins from the audience.
"My Lord, they cannot be kept in containment for long." reminded one of the council members.
"I know." He sighed. "Anything else?"
This time it was the Fire Sages delegate who rose. "We thought about the current situation and we thought it might best for you if you had a bodyguard."
The young man blinked. "A bodyguard?"
"Though it didn't look like it, lady Azula had many, and so did the previous Fire Lord." explained the sage. Zuko nodded: he remembered Ty Lee and Mai, and later on the Dai Li. "The times are changing, my lord, and some people could try to use this opportunity to... rise in position."
"And you wouldn't." he said mockingly.
There wasn't one person in this council who didn't think of themselves first – including him; at least he considered everybody else's concern as well. That, for some reason wasn't received as well he thought – which was poorly. What's up with them? he asked himself. The confusion probably reflected on his face, because an officer answered his musing.
"With all due respect my lord, you are quite young." The Fire Lord frowned, but the officer continued regardless. "Or maybe you haven't taken a good look at our archives: you have no idea of what was the fire nation during the era when Fire Sages were the rulers." The Fire Sage present huffed, but said nothing. "We need a Fire Lord, and Sozin's Line was amongst the most powerful firebenders ever recorded. Whatever happens, we will remain loyal to that dynasty."
That did sound true enough… though they never said they'd be loyal to him.
"Very well" conceded Zuko, "I will make arrangements and look for one."
"No need, my lord; we have found the perfect man for this position." said the same man.
He glanced through his council. Did all of them really decide on that bodyguard? He'd have to be on his toes. "Fine; I will see later. Anything else?"
Thankfully, the rest of the discussions went smoothly as well.
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Zuko was currently looking at a boy about his age. The young man was kneeling, his head down. He didn't really have any distinguishing feature aside from his sword. So not a firebender, thought the Fire Lord. Oh well; might as well interview him anyway; it's not like he would need anyone else firebending for him.
"So you're my new bodyguard, huh?" he said after some more thoughts.
"My lord." replied the boy as he rose.
"Let's get acquainted, then." said Zuko. "Who are you?"
The swordsman gave him a military salute before answering. "My name is Khan, my lord: I am but a soldier who participated in the war."
"Infantry?"
"Yes, as a swordsman."
Well the stupidly obvious was out of the way; it was time to really start the interview.
"Your credentials?" asked the royal teen.
"I am the most accomplished student of master Zhen, and I have been able to best him as of late."
"Is that so?" The boy had talent if he could beat one of the best swordsmen of the Fire Nation.
"I had the honor of crossing swords with master Piando as well." he added.
Zuko nearly jumped out of his seat. "Master Piando" the man of legends himself! "...And?" he pressed.
"I lost." admitted the bitter young man. "He said I showed promise."
Zuko smiled. "Any warrior praised by master Piando is more than qualified for the job. There is one more thing however:" he stopped smiling. "Can I trust you?" he asked more to himself than to his new employee.
The soldier looked confused. "Beg your pardon, my lord?"
"Your family, swordsman?" he asked more firmly.
He hesitated a bit, unsure of what to answer. "The Lao clan, my lord."
"Good." That clan was known throughout the Fire Nation as having few ambitions, but most importantly, a fierce loyalty towards the throne. "Who is the current Fire Lord?"
"You are my lord." he answered unwaveringly.
"'Just making sure." He paused thoughtful. "And who… who am I?"
The swordsman was even more confused. "You are... the Fire Lord?"
"No! I mean—" he stopped himself and took a deep breath; they weren't going to get along if he blew a fuse every time his bodyguard didn't get it. "Look. Do you know who I am?" he asked honestly. "The man behind the Fire Lord, I mean." Seeing no light in the young man's eyes, he added "Did you know I was... exiled?"
Khan understood meaning behind Zuko's words and tried to recall all the information he had on his future employer. "I know about the banishment. But the circumstances and what happened after that is unclear. Not many news get carried during the war, my lord."
Zuko sighed. "Of course." He looked at the man again. He did seem trustworthy, and was part of the Lao clan. "Listen, if we are to work together, you'll have to be more than a bodyguard to me. I'll have you be my arm as well. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes sir."
Zuko smiled. "Good. Let's talk."
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"How is he?" asked the Fire Lord.
"Still the same as usual." replied the guard. "Doesn't talk much, but he smiles; that he does a lot." The man shuddered understandably so.
"What about the other tenant?" He went on.
The guard shrugged. "Still... you know?" and lifted his hand to make a significant motion around his temple.
Zuko had to lower his head at the news. That his little sister, the genius, would end up like this... Still, "I suppose things are better this way." he admitted.
Without any other words, the guard motioned his coworker to open the gates, and the Fire Lord found himself immediately surrounded by soldiers. He didn't bother trying to visit his sister: last time they had nearly killed each other; even in that crazed state, she could still bend lightning. Instead, he was escorted to southern wing of the prison, the place where they kept the dangerous criminals – the ones who couldn't firebend. At the end of hall was a room specially made for prisoners of noble blood. Other than the fact that it was a single person cell, it looked like every other one.
A man was sitting there. Not on the small bed, but slumped against a wall. When he heard the footsteps his head shot up and he saw the royal procession. A derisive grin appeared on his face. He stood up, retaining a small portion of his grandeur even if the loss of his firebending had somewhat broken him.
"Well, Well, greetings, my lord." One couldn't help but notice the venom behind that greeting.
"Father." The lord then signaled to his escort to wait outside. "You know why I'm here." he stated flatly.
His father leisurely sat on his bed, ignoring the protocol. "Yes, I suppose I do, don't I? After all, you've been coming here quite regularly." His mocking quickly turned to contempt. "It would make any father proud, if you weren't such a failure!"
Zuko gave him a cruel grin of his own. "It seems you have been kept here for too long; you forget who is on the other side of those bars: the Fire Lord, with his firebending intact."
The older man suddenly grew impatient. "Yes, and what good will that amount to if you're not using it! You've wasted Sozin's comet!" he nearly shouted. "Power like which we will never have for another century to come, and you ruined it! Yet, even now you do not plan to invade or to conquer. It seems my brother's softness really rubbed on you."
The way he added that last part made steam come out of his son.
"I will not allow you to sully that name!" he said as flames came out of his mouth. "He has been a better father than you ever have!"
For a small instant, Zuko saw a flash of regret on his father's face. It was gone so quick the young man had to wonder if he hadn't dreamed. It would be the most plausible explanation as well; his father had always classified him a failure. He would die a thousand deaths before admitting he was wrong.
His father closed his eyes, pensive. "He has, I can see that."
Zuko nearly choked and stepped back. Did he hear what he had just heard from Fire Lord Ozai? That couldn't be! There must have been a trap laid somewhere. Maybe he wasn't even talking to his father, maybe there was a conspiracy going on and the self proclaimed Phoenix King escaped, leaving a double instead.
In any case, the man went on. "But it's not too late for you, son: let me guide you. The Fire Nation can rise from its ashes like the Phoenix."
No, there he was again with his phoenix talk: Definitely his father. Zuko narrowed his eye; the other one was always narrowed for obvious reasons. "What's in it for me?" he accused, rather than asked, "One step out of that prison and I probably won't make it through the day."
His father didn't seem to particularly care about that accusation and offered a compromise. "Then keep me here. I can live with being the shadow lord... for now." Zuko stiffened. "Just listen to me; you could—"
"The only reason I ever came here was to know about mother." Cut in Zuko, getting fed up with his father's schemes.
"And I could tell you everything you need to know about... her current whereabouts," he promised sweetly. "If you listen to me."
Zuko sighed. "I am tired of this game, father. I will not ask you again: where is Ursa?"
Ozai looked at his son with equal intensity. "Be mine and you will have your answer."
The Fire Lord stepped back, disappointed and emotionally drained, but still in control. "You had your chance." he said finally.
"So did you." replied Ozai.
The young man knew his father too well not to feel threatened by his father's last retort. Still he reigned in his emotions and headed for the door. "Goodbye father."
"See you soon, son." replied the man mysteriously. He was smiling.
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The time he spent in the company of his father was enough to throw Zuko in a foul mood for the rest of the day. He couldn't figure if he was more anxious about his father's parting words or more depressed he wouldn't have any further occasions of questioning him about his mother. Fortunately, his prison visit was the last thing on his schedule and so the Fire Lord could freely evacuate all that pent up anxiety on what he liked to do best: Fire Katas.
The Dancing Dragon was always the first set of forms he went through. Following suit were the traditional movements he had been taught by his uncle, and then came some things he wanted to try. His uncle had told him one day one couldn't call himself a true master until he improved on what he had learned; he hadn't the natural talent of his sister however, so coming with new moves was hard.
After working a considerable amount of sweat, Zuko retreated to his room. The day had been tiring. Not quite what he expected, but he had seen better days. He slept early that night because tomorrow he'd decide on what to do with his father. The day was probably more demanding than he thought because as much as he wanted, he couldn't seem to get some shut eye. After a while he got out of bed: maybe a walk would calm his nerves.
The first thing he noticed was the eerie silence. After a moment he was shocked by the absence of guards within the vicinity. Whatever was happening, it did not bode well. He quickly went back to his room in order to get his twin Dao – and change in something less cumbersome. Next he silently marched along the walls in order to find the source of his unease. He smiled bitterly: he wondered what people would say if they could see their Fire Lord moving like a thief in his own palace.
He was nearing the royal gardens when a hand closed his mouth and dragged him into a hallway. Zuko was already prepared to burn the fool to cinders when he recognized the familiar odor of tea.
"Uncle?" he said, surprised. "What—"
"Nephew! Thank goodness!" whispered Iroh.
Zuko was now even more worried thanks to his uncle's sudden relief. The boy lowered his tone. "What's wrong uncle? What the hell is going on here?"
A third voice filled with urgency joined the conversation. "We must, run! Now!"
"Khan!" Zuko was glad to find he could count on his new bodyguard, but he had hoped not to rely on his aid so soon.
"It's a coup, my lord:" explained the swordsman, "soldiers are camped at the exits and the guards are nowhere to be found. We must flee."
Well, it did sound like something was definitely going wrong, but it wasn't a coup d'état, that was certain enough. The Fire Nation's internal politics didn't dab in the subtle. No… this was too calm, too peaceful.
An assassination, thought the Fire Lord. And one well executed at that, if the perpetrators had the whole royal guard under their belt. Note to self: this is what it's like when powerful foes try to get rid of you. His uncle probably thought the same judging by the relief seen on his face when he found his nephew… alive. He glanced at his bodyguard: the chances he was part of this plan were pretty high. He shook his head; he'd just have to trust him… for now.
The trio stealthily crossed the garden and headed further in the palace. There was a secret exit behind the throne itself, an exit only the royal members knew of. Iroh and Zuko knew this was their only option if they wanted to avoid conflict. In order to be sure they wouldn't be followed, Zuko started a fire within one of the royal chambers; the room crumbled in a startling explosion. When they heard the footsteps of the soldiers they darted for the throne. When they entered they were welcomed by a group of cloak wearing masked men. They looked behind them: soldiers were blocking their only way to escape.
"Trapped." murmured his uncle before assuming a firebending stance.
The scarred teen and his bodyguard also got ready to fight their way to the exit. After a tense moment, one of the cloaked figures stepped up. He was smaller than the others, yet from the looks of it, this one lead the whole operation. His confident walk denoted noble birth.
Whoever that was Zuko wanted to know his name; he at least wanted to know who he'd bring with him to the spirit world.
"Who are you?" he shouted angrily.
The leader took off her mask. Zuko wouldn't have been more shocked if it had been Ozai himself under that cloak. Despite all his rage, he was forced to step back as an irrational fear overcame him.
"That can't be!" he managed to say.
"By the spirits!" let out his uncle.
The girl simply chuckled. "Zuzu," she slurred, "how mean of you! Not even bothering to greet your own sister."
There was no mistaking that dangerously sweet voice or that mocking tone. "Azula?" he said in disbelief. "That can't be! You're... you're...?"
"Unstable?" she finished for him, "Crazy? Mad? Oh poor, poor Zuzu;" her grin grew into a full blown malevolent smile. "always the empathic twat. How... pitiful. Of course I was faking it. Still you should have visited."
"I did; you almost killed me!" he said, rage steadily coming back.
"Oh yeah…" she let out obliviously, and then smiled again "What fun it was!"
"But our last duel—" tried Zuko.
"Was an utter shame." She tried sounding nonchalant, but the venom in her voice betrayed her emotions when remembering the day she failed oh, so spectacularly. "I wasn't in the best state of mind, I admit." She took a fighting stance. "How about we make up for it?
Zuko was more than happy to oblige; last time she had played dirty and he nearly died redirecting lightning that wasn't meant for him. Funny that same waterbender had now abandoned him to the Fire Nation wolves. He shook his head: he had to focus, one moment of distraction against Azula meant death.
The young firebender walked towards his sister and they both circled each other, waiting for an opening or an attack. Finally, Azula let out a blue streak out of her two fingers, proof she hadn't lost one bit of her edge. Zuko dispersed the flames and was ready to counterattack when he felt flames coming from his back. He only had the time to shield his face when the fireball connected.
"Zuko!" shouted his uncle.
The impact threw him against the wall where he crumpled. Iroh, now enraged, took his place and threw a huge fireball towards the cloaked men. The as soon as the flames came in contact with the ground it rose up, forming an impenetrable wall. Now sure there would be no interference, the retired general faced his niece.
"This stops now, Azula!"
"Really?" said the bender of the blue flame. "Humor me."
Meanwhile, Zuko was using the wall to get up, and the world was stopping its mad whirling. He tried to move, but found himself unable to: that blow really did a number on him. Why did believe for a second that Azula would play fair! Azula always lies.
As he looked ahead however, things didn't seem so bad: on one side, his uncle had Azula backed in a corner; from the other side of the room, Khan was keeping at bay any of the soldiers trying to lend a hand. The rest of the unknown assaulters were still trying unsuccessfully to breach through a fierce firewall. Now would be a great time to leave… if only his damn legs could move.
It was then he saw it. That evil grin on her face, the ominous glint in her eyes; the same expression Azula had bore at the time of their Agni Kai. He remembered that fight very well: the cowardly way she had acted and almost cost him his life. And now, she was ready to do it again, only this time, his uncle would be in his place.
The urgency of the situation increased to a whole new level once Azula started to separate the positive energy from the negative. Zuko's legs were still jelly. He looked towards the hallway: his swordsman was still holding the soldiers at bay. Feeling his options frustratingly limited, The Fire Lord did the only thing he could do; he positioned his hands in a defensive stance, ready to redirect his sister's next attack.
Blue sparks were swirling around her fingertips. The princess pretended to aim at her uncle, and then smirked. The old general realized in horror what her intentions were. He had to move: Zuko was in danger.
"Uncle! Don't! Please!"
But Iroh paid no heed to his nephew's plea. Ignoring Zuko's mastery of lighting redirection, he moved just as the lightning left Azula's fingertips. Electricity roared as it went in and of the old men back where it came from, barely missing its caster. Azula had stumble and feel on her butt, but a grim grin of satisfaction showed she had gotten exactly what she wanted.
Zuko's eyes watered "Uncle!" he cried. Of course now of all the times, his feet had suddenly become light and ready to obey his every whim. He darted as fast as he could, arriving just in time to catch his falling uncle. The fighting stopped; soldiers and conspirers alike simply stood and watched. It wasn't every day you could see the death of a royal member, especially the famed Dragon of the West. Even Azula had had an unreadable expression on her face.
The young Fire Lord laid his surrogate father gently on the ground and opened his robe with trembling hands. When he saw the burnt marks across his chest he knew there was nothing he could do: the lightning had gone through his heart. He himself would have succumbed to his wounds weren't for Katara. Unfortunately she wasn't here. No one was here, expect him and uncle. And now, he was leaving as well.
"Uncle…why?" reproached Zuko, pain in his voice. "Why did you teach me how to redirect lightning if it was going to end like this?"
Iroh could only smile at his nephew with a strange glint in his eyes. "Sorry… I didn't want… to lose… a second time…"
He didn't have to explain further; Zuko shed new tears remembering that the man he considered a father also loved like a son. Why? Why did he have to go now? Iroh took something out of his sleeve and put it in his nephew's hand. The boy looked at him in surprise, but the general simply closed Zuko hand around his parting gift. He had probably wished to see Zuko away with a smile on his face; unfortunately he had too much to worry about, so he settled for some last words.
"Zuko... run... live... I always… loved…"
The last words couldn't escape his lips.
Zuko' eyes widened at the sudden realization. "Uncle!" he shook him gently. "Open your eyes uncle. Uncle... Uncle!"
His heart broke. He couldn't breathe, yet something was desperately trying to get out. Tears couldn't stop flowing as he desperately shook his only ally and friend, the one who accompanied him through so many hardships. Finally, he let everything out. It was hard to describe what exactly came out of his mouth. It was not entirely a cry, nor a howl… whatever it was; it had an unmistakable dose of pain in it.
Nobody had dared move. Some of the cloaked figures took out there masks and saluted the departed; he might have been a traitor, but the Dragon of the West was one of the best strategists and firebenders the Fire Nation had ever known. Some had a shocked expression on their faces, as if this event wasn't part of the plan.
All shared the pain of the young boy kneeling besides his uncle… except for one person.
"Well, that didn't quite go as expected." she calmly noticed. "Oh well, don't worry dear brother, you'll be seeing him soon."
In that moment, Fire Lord Zuko made a startling discovery: he had never hated anyone before. Anger, yes definitely. In fact he had so much it had become unhealthy at some point.
He had never hated the avatar, though. His ignorance and naiveté frustrated him at first, but it disappeared quickly when he had more important things to do like, you know, staying alive. And besides Katara being a pain in the beginning – understandably so – the rest of the gAang was pretty alright as well once you got to know him. He never hated his father, instead he looked at him like one would a fallen enemy, with respect. He even Azula after all she had done, the ploys, the mocking the lies… he still— maybe not loved her that was too strong of a word, but he cared for her… until now that his.
He knew it was hatred the moment he felt it. Anger was passion, anger was also fire. Hate… was frighteningly cold. His tears had suddenly stopped. He almost forgot he was running for his life, that he was outnumbered and that Khan was on the verge of being overwhelmed, that the rest of the conspirers had finally doused the flames… that he was currently thinking of killing his kin.
"...able."
"Beg your pardon?" she asked sweetly.
"Unforgivable!" he repeated, barely louder.
For once in her life, Azula actually felt threatened by her big brother. The tone of his voice, and the darkness in his eyes gave her the impression that Zuko might actually want to kill her. That feeling vanished as she prepared another bolt of lightning.
"What's unforgivable, brother, his you usurping my throne." She smiled as her attack was ready. "Time to send you on your way, Zuzu."
That was more than the young man could handle. Hate and rage filled his mind. He didn't care about his sister, or his father, or the Fire Nation, nor is the rest of the world… the only thing he was sure of that something, or someone one was going to burn.
The last thing he saw was a world of blue; his last words, a curse.
"Azula!"
He put his hand in front of him, and then there was darkness.
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A/N: Shocking, isn't it?
Well, it's not that there isn't any good Zuko fics out there… Quite the opposite actually. However, I had the story in my head for a good time, and the more I read Avatar fics, the more I had ideas for this… That and the good ones I read usually dealt with Ba Sing Se / Western Air Temple... With my luck… this will have probably been done to death as well. Whatever I hope you enjoy!
You'll probably notice but I don't have a Beta reader for this fic yet. If you like the story and you're interested, please let me know.