Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Air bender. They belong to their respective creators, owners and licensees.
He could have made a very good villain.
The intimidating glint in his golden eyes against the scarlet blaze of his scar drew an image to be branded into many a reluctant memory. The subtle increasing and decreasing intensity beneath the velvet smoothness of his voice indicated a cruel yet, passionate nature. He wasn't one to be trifled with, that she knew from the very beginning.
He could have made a very good villain indeed, the firstborn son of the monarch whose troops bathed the seas and continents with the blood of war and conquest. She wondered, was he even ashamed at his aggressive legacy? Was his heart yet another Fire Nation block of coal blackened in the murderous ovens of his homeland, or was he another sort of man… as he had briefly made her believe?
Knowing she should forget, she struggled to resist thinking of him. He could have made a very good villain, but a villain he was not. He was something else, with such a sorrow locked away in the depths of his eyes that her breath was stolen right out of her lungs and words snatched right off her tongue. The world ground to a halt around her and suddenly Prince Zuko of The Fire Nation was no longer a villain. His skin, when she touched it, was warm. But then he made that fateful move on the board and transformed the kind warmth of their brief touch to a searing scorch of betrayal.
And she knew she should forget about him, even though she knew he was something else.
Slowly the stars drifted, circling the dark dome of the heaven and leaving wispy trails of blue fire in their wake. 'Twas a moonless night, and in the absence of their colossal lunar rival the constellations shone brighter than ever, or at least brighter than any other night her memory could provide her with. The water Tribe girl let her tired eyes trace the stellar chart of fates and omens, shapes and figures to which she was ignorant, although Gran-gran would have nodded her head wisely, pale gray eyes intensifying with unspoken words, unshared stories... Such stories were more than often cached away for the proper time of sharing, perhaps besides the glowing embers of a dying midwinter bone fire.
'Listen closely my children' her aged voice would rasp 'For a lot of tales are spun on earth but are lost to the heaven…' this was how it always started, these were always her words before she swept them away into a tale rich with trials and triumphs. She and her brother, the scruffiest pair of all the village's ruffians, would huddle beneath the soft pelts and furs and they would listen, listen and imagine the glorious and exciting adventures that one day they would surely partake in themselves…
Katara sighed bitterly; Thinking of the old days made her heart ache and twist with longing to her home village, and Gran-gran. How she missed her great grandmother. She yearned for her gentle counsel, for the aged wisdom in her gaze. If she couldn't have that… at least, she prayed to the Moon and Ocean, at least just one more time she would want to feel her Gran-gran's warm and soft fleshed hand on her face – caressing her brow and smoothing away the lines of worry and agitation.
Though her wish was simple, the times were not.
Curled against his flying bison's white coat, Aang groaned and mumbled in his sleep, sweaty palms clenching and unclenching at his sides. Four hours into the night that saw the fall of Ba Sing Se and the young Avatar was still weak and trembling with fatigue. Distracted from her midnight musings, Katara rushed to his side, to straighten the blankets over him and replace the wet cloth on his forehead. Ocean be her witness, he was the cause of her restlessness. He was the reason she could find no comfort in the warmness inside her bedroll tonight. Her concern for him was overbearing, and it was tinged with guilt.
"Hold on Aang… don't give up…" she whispered into the enveloping silence, her dark toned hand reaching to grasp his paler one.
Holding his frail form she couldn't help but rally at the injustice of it all. He was so young, not a man, barely even a teenager… still they were all counting on him. He was just a kid… still they were pushing him forward, deeper and deeper into the harshness of this war-plagued era, so that he could descend all the stairs into the bowels of hell and extinguish the flame of which its' fires fed.
And even though she knew it was his destination and predestination, and even though she knew he had the heart and spirit and strength to topple and turn the tables… even though she knew 'twas his fate written up there in the stars … She didn't want to let him go. She couldn't let him go there. He was her friend, she wanted to protect him… damn the struggle, she wanted him to be safe.
It's not that she didn't believe in Aang, no, it wasn't like that. In the emerald glow of the underground city, she uncovered the horrible truth that even he, Aang the Avatar, could be lost to her. That moment the fire princess's lighting pierced his chest and he started falling…
She couldn't lose him, like she lost her mother; she couldn't lose him and let him become nothing more than a hallucination to be glimpsed in the murky depths of a swamp in her memories.
"Can't sleep?" A tall silhouette stumbled over to her across the small camp occupied clearing, his dark countenance brash against the starlight. His eyes however, were as starkly pale as hers and shone silver in the darkness. "Neither can I."
She nodded at her brother, silently welcoming him to sit with her and share the comforting warmth steadily radiating out of Appa's snowy fur-coat. He eased himself down besides her with a grunt, his tired yet watchful eyes trailing a path from the concealing shadows of Toph's rock-tent to where the dethroned King leaned against his most loyal subject. Both man and bear were deep in slumber.
Too many things had gone awry all in one day. The young Water Tribe warrior didn't know whatever he should expect next, now that Earth Kingdom's last stronghold had fallen to the greedy clutches of the Fire Nation princess and her outcast brother.
"How is he?"
"I don't know Sokka…" she sighed again and turned to face him fully, letting him read the rare helplessness stressing her features. "I just don't know…"
His casual frown softening, Sokka wove his arm around her shoulders and held her to himAt times like this he wished he possessed his father's strength and leadership, though more than once now it seemed that they were Katara's inheritance more so than his. He leaned his head on top of hers. After all they have been through, she was still as strong and filled with the hope and honor they were handed down in their childhood.
"Don't worry sis'." He whispered as he gazed ahead over the fading glow of the sleepy campfire. Somehow, he knew, his baby sister would make the world a better place.
It was but a hint of dissatisfaction, a deformation darkening the otherwise content glimmer in her disregarding amber stare, slightly angling her full and rosy lips to a feline snarl. Though however subtle an expression it was, it was still more than enough to impress anxious wariness upon the green clad Dai Li standing in attendanceBeyond the tall pillars surrounding the Earth Palace's war room the night stretched black to the unperceived horizons.
"Six of you are to secure the area around his quarters." She instructed, her frown notable in her inclinations more than it was on her face. "My brother is free to wander around as he pleases. However, he's not to wander out of your sights. Shadow him, spy on him. I want everything unusual to be immediately and directly reported to me."
The first six stone-faced warriors of the first row nodded their heads in compliance, proceeding to smoothly dissolve into the shadows of the surrounding corridors. The Dai Li worked with doubtless precision and without delay.
"At all times, he's not to be left alone. Six at a time will carry this duty. Assign your shifts…" back straight, and head held high, she turned her back to them and her face to the night. "You are dismissed."
There was no uttered word, not even a swish of cloth or a scratch of metal. Still she knew they were no longer there. Given that they just transferred their loyalty to their former master to her, the hour was too early for double crossing, and anyway, it's not as if there was anyone to challenge her rule in Ba Sing Se. At least not for the time being, she reflected.
Her Uncle posed a threat, his power and wisdom were considerable and he turned both against her without hesitation. But the man was old and softhearted. Perhaps she could bend him, twist him and break him like a bamboo stick. Or perhaps her dear brother had already seen to that. Zuko's decision to side with her in the tunnels of the old city seems to have thrown Iroh into a dungeon lower and deeper than the one he already inhabited at the recesses of the palace.
And there was Zuko himself, willingly come to her side… he was definitely more powerful than the last time she had encountered him. Although he was still unable to wield the blue fire, his growth in strength and skill pushed her to question her own training methods. It was also painfully obvious, at least to her, that without his aid she would have been defeated.
He was also different. Whatever had pushed the passionate and duty-driven Prince Zuko to forsake his quest for honor and redemption and be content serving and attending tables at a Tea Shop? Was he truly happy living a detached and insignificant peasant life? Not that she thought the occupation unsuitable for her undeserving brother, but the fact was there and so was the scarred young man in Earth Kingdom greens, a stranger.
Still, a part of the old Zuko she knew so well was still there, powerful enough to reclaim within one single moment of doubt.
He couldn't forsake his honor.
Not that any of this mattered; his inner conflicts only served to magnify the caution with which she treated him all along. Just as she knew he would never trust her, she couldn't be asked to trust him back. They were locked in this game, in which no one must appear neither too interfering nor dominating or otherwise, too caring and falsely attentive towards the other. Grandchildren of Fire Lord Azulon, Children of Fire Lord Ozzai… their birthright has played them into this rivalry.
Few things were never certain, but this much she knew, that by the end one of them will have tasted and swallowed the bitter blood of betrayal. And damned she be should this one be her.
"Mai. Ty Lee." She called from her position; Her raised voice didn't break an octave and was just as calm and measured as a whispered threat.
Across the hall, two graceful figures rose to their feet. The one on the right made an exhibition of stretching her arms and legs, whipping her long rope of a braid around and over her shoulder and yawning shrilly. "Finally!" she complained, wearing an annoyingly childish pout. "I was getting bored, and Mai here wasn't helping either…" the other girl, pale and raven-haired, merely raised one carefully arched eyebrow at the mention of her name. The rest of her face remained otherwise expressionless.
At last the fire princess turned to face them. A secretive smile defining her full and seductive lips.
"Before the Dai Li issued here", Azula began. "A messenger hawk arrived, bearing news of our troops' advancement. As for the hour they are crossing the outer walls and should start arriving within the city by daybreak. The moment they'll march in they'll secure Fire Nation hold on the city and we'll no longer depend on the Dai Li alone." There she paused and chuckled menacingly.
"I would sooner leave the city and return to trailing the Avatar, but I must remain here and await the instructions my father will surely deliver regarding the governing and management of external and internal affairs in the Earth Kingdom's capitol…", Her voice was tinged with none-to-carefully suppressed resentment as it caressed the words 'father' and 'instructions', it wasn't in her nature to bow down and please, even though she was obliged to do a remarkable amount of both when regarding her noble father.
"Still there's much to be done and much to be taken care of and for that," she nodded at her lifelong comrades. "Your help will be required."
In the center of the room there stood a great stone table, on which a map of the world was illustrated. Azula approached and let her calculating eyes roam its' generous expanse. Scattered on the painted surface were distinctly colored pieces, identifying wherever troops of the various nations were gathered. Her eyes delayed on a certain Earth Kingdom harbor to the southwest to Omashu, a cluster of blue painted pieces surrounded it. She pointed a single slender finger at it.
"Water Tribe ships have been attacking our forces docked at Jiao-Cha, I hear that a peasant uprising started there as well, enforced with rebels from the surrounding villages and the Water Tribe naval assaults. Our hold on the bay is weakened daily… You two are to head to Jiao-Cha tomorrow and aid the troops in dealing with the situation." She paused for a moment and the silence stretched and intensified as the fire princess bit her bottom lip, deep in contemplation.
Zuko and Iroh… brother Zuko and uncle Iroh… there was no use to Uncle, the Tea Loving geezer could very well rot away in a cell for all she cared, however, she also kept in mind that his presence was bad influence on the duty torn Zuko. If she wanted her brother whole with his decision to fight alongside her, then his connection with Uncle had to be severed. And this, as she would admit to no one but herself, was her underlying intent in all of this. At last, she spoke.
"My brother shall go with you."
There was a soft rustle of garments and a swift movement in the darkness, taking the three girls by surprise; a young man of uncalled presence emerged from behind one of the tall pillars and stepped into the flickering torchlight. Dark, heavy locks of his black hair fell over his golden eyes, throwing shadows over the angry red of his scar.
"And leave you here?" his hiss was low and spiteful. "I don't think so."
Proud mountain peaks touched the rice paper white sky, their angling slopes beautifully tainted with dark shades of green and blue, which appeared even darker against the occasional pale brush strokes of the wind herded mists. Through the sheer fog one could only speculate whether the source of each distant color was a rock, a tree or a flower. Only the chilly wind seemed to wrap and entwine the scattered fragments of this vision, the wind that was everywhere.
It beat at his face and tugged the cape tightly around his shoulders, slipping and stumbling he ran the length of a boulder and clumsily skidded to a halt near the skinny guru standing there. The old man's gray unblinking eyes stared into the distance.
"Pathik?" the young boy whispered uncertainly. "Guru Pathik? It's me! Aang!"
The old man didn't stir, blink or betrayed any other little sign that could have indicated he acknowledged the young Avatar's presence there beside him. Aang saddened at this, but he had already learned to accept the man's odd behavior. Gurus were sometimes like that, by growing blind and in one world, they were enabled to see in another.
Now Aang's eyes tried to follow the old man's gaze, eager to decipher whatever fog-veiled source attracted the guru's attention.
And then… he saw it.
There on the top of the highest mountain peak, drawing their gray lines against the clouds, were the arches of the Western Air Temple many stone domes.
"Why are we here?" He murmured into the short-lived silence that was torn, in the space of a single breath, by a savage, thundering roar.
Scales blazing black and scarlet it descended from the heavens, roaring out for blood. It reached down one vicious sickle shaped claw as it dove, mighty wings tearing through damp clouds and haze. The clouds shifted, swirled and changed as suddenly another serpent of brilliant silver shot out of the misty vale in a tangle, his toothy mouth agape, sending a note as high and clear as an eagle's cry to challenge the scarlet dragon's deep carnivorous growl.
His heart drumming in his ears, Aang almost fell and lost his balance if not for the strong hand that suddenly gripped his shoulder, steadying him. Man, he didn't know the wizened old man had such an iron grip. He breathed out thankfully under the weight of Pathik's hand. Something in the guru's manner and countenance slowly made him realize that while the old man was supporting him, he was also forcing him to stay.
So then, if he was to think like an old guru - this was a vision to be shared only by the two of them. It had spiritual significance. Perhaps it was enlightenment come to serve him, the Avatar, with guidance.
He shouldn't let his fear control him.
The Silver made a swipe of its own with a foot armed with gold tipped talons, it drew blood, and the Scarlet roared for vengeance as the dark red liquid rained down from the heavens. He tried and failed to measure his breaths. Both predator's eyes locked on one another as their enormous bodies flew away and started circling each other in a barbarian ritual of death. His heartbeat quickened again. The Scarlet launched itself across the perimeter, the cruel fork of its tongue flicking against the bared sharp teeth. He choked back a cry. The fog rolled in and he was blinded.
And the world was filled with a silent, yet lamenting sadness that touched and echoed in every fiber of his being. Slowly, softly, a body sank in the shifting whiteness, an enormous, powerful body, glinting silver in the mist. The Scarlet cried triumphantly and breathed flames redder than the blood dripping down its muzzle.
Aang turned sad gray eyes. The guru was facing him now, his ancient gaze boring into his.
"Why did I have to see this?" asked the young boy, feeling weak and dizzy. The dragon of red slaughtering the dragon of silver in front of The Western Air Temple was a bitter analogy to the brutal massacre of his people, the Air Nomads by those of the Fire Nation.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Pathik's heavy hand left Aang's shoulder… and took his hand instead. He held it carefully, as if seeking the young airbender's permission. The young airbender squeezed the elder's hand weakly, but reassuringly. Agreeing that one shall lead while the other follows. Then, together as ones sharing a dream would, they stepped into the chasm.
But it was rough rock that greeted their footfalls.
And forward they went, forward and downward in a steep stone staircase that curved with the mountain.
Azula raised a challenging black brow at that, a subtle implication that he was clearly risking his recently retained position. It wasn't to her liking that he was stalking her from shadowy corners, questioning her decisions as if he held the power to make any himself. Someone, she vented in her venomous mind, Needs be reminded who father's favorite IS.
Zuko however, remained unfazed by her silent threatening. "Why shouldn't I stay here and help carry out father's instructions? I've obtained this victory, why should you enjoy the spoilsplaying governor while I run about and trifle with… with stupid peasants!"
She paused a mere second to marvel at his nerve before retorting, "Simply because I am father's favorite. I was named an heir after you were exiled.And, most importantly, I command the Dai Li."
Both sets of eyes were narrowed as the siblings glared at one another.
"Would you want me to call them?" she suggested sweetly, "They overpowered you once, as you recall…" she smiled as the memory slipped before her mind's eye, "They can do that again."
Zuko growled, tilting his head forward so that his face darkened behind the black fall of his longish bangs. The only points of light on his face were his striking golden eyes, and they flared with fiendish fury. She knew… she knew he knew he stood no chance against her. But it wasn't like him to back down and obey her; it wasn't even in him to fake such obedience, the stupid fool.
"You may be under the impression I have a use for you."
His eyes widened, she smirked.
"I don't."
He seethed. "You expect me to buy that? I saw you fight against the Avatar, Azula, you're no match for him and his allies by yourself. You know that, you needed me then and nothing changes now. You won't be able to capture him without my help."
"I won't?!" she snarled, his stubbornness having finally succeeded in driving away her patience. "You are replaceable Zuko. Turn against me and I'll find myself another ally. But this isn't about me Zuko…" the edges around her tone softened there, "There's so much to do in the other parts of the kingdom. We haven't won this war. It'll be a long time even after we capture the Avatar before Fire Nation rule becomes absolute. Yes, I have duties here and no," her brow hardened "I will not share them."
She sighed then, and arched both her brows at him, feigning sisterly concern. "But what about you Zuko? Will you throw away your regained honor, will you turn your back on your own nation… and your chance to go back home?"
Throughout her whole speech, he glowered at her; his mouth set in a harsh and very displeased line. She recognized the angle, even as a child, Zuko would always set his mouth like that when he was mentally arguing with himself. Oh, she would give her weight in gold to know his thoughts, she knew he could never trust her, yet he was desperate to win back that image of a fire nation prince, heir to the throne. His despair turned him reckless; and into recklessness she couldn't read.
At last, stiff arms loosened at his sides, fists unclenched and shoulders slumped in unspoken defeat. Golden eyes, however, were still trained on her with unwavering fire.
"Give me one day before I leave. And when I go, I shall go alone."
Somehow, he knew he was there before he saw his fallen form, large and foreboding even while it lay lifeless and broken at the feet of the towering mountain.
Aang drew nearer, near enough that he could see the silver glimmer under the mounting layers of dirt and blood. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the lonely form, lying there in the bleakness of its doom. Why did this blood have to be spilt? To what cause or end? Unbidden, flashes of the shattered Southern Air Temple came to his mind. Nameless bones scattered amongst the ashes.
Behind him, an almost forgotten presence answered his musings.
"I know what it is you've seen at the Southren Air Temple."
Aang gasped upon recognizing the voice of the formerly silent Guru Pathik. He didn't turn, however. His eyes locked on the image of the dying serpent.
"You saw death, and sorrow… and hopelessness. You saw the ruined remnants of your home, of your family. You saw the ashes of the fires against which they struggled… and within you also struggled. And then, you gave up on them. You gave up on your people, just like this world and era gave up on them long before. You saw them fallen, they saw them fall. For a century, they've been dead and lost. And now they call you the last one. "
Aang felt himself shivering as the guru's word slowly drifted around in his mind, reforming as questions and absurd implications. "I don't understand…" He whispered weakly. "Are you saying…" he closed his eyes tightly, trying to fight back his overwhelmed tears. They died… the Fire Nation burned them… surely Pathik couldn't mean that… surely he couldn't be saying that….
His fists clenched at his side with bitter determination. He would ask now, before that mad sort of hope came to dominate his heart. "Are you saying the Air Nomads survived?" No! His mind protested. They couldn't… they couldn't have survived and left me all alone…
"Look." Came the old man's answer.
And Aang lifted his bewildered gray eyes, but it was his ears that sensed it first. A chorus of weak, squeaks and caws, and scratching feet on mossy rocks as slowly, a small flocking of dragon hatchlings crawled away from behind the fallen adult, their oversized wings dragging in the mud. Amazed, he watched the deeply mourning, yet odd acceptance that shone in the brilliance of their serpentine emerald eyes. Their eyes, that found his and held them.
"I give you this hope." He heard Pathik say. "To heal and strengthen your heart. The Avatar State is a path closed for you; it is another path you must tread. A harsher trail, where the earthly boundaries and attachments you so dearly embraced will be your companions. Pleasure, Love, Lies, Illusions, Guilt..."
"But I give you this hope to be a light in your heart", he rasped softly. "And in your heart it will stay. Even though you'll forget the dream once you waken."
A deep rumble resounded in the heavens, around them the healing rain started to fall.
"Know, Avatar, that in due time you'll be reunited with your family."
One by one, the hatchlings spread their wings and took off into the storm, seeking shelter in the nearby cliffs.
The sun was rising in the east when they came marching through the surrendered gates and into the sleepy city, throwing shadows long and black under the blood red sky.
Slowly, gradually, the Earth Kingdom people opened their eyes to the murky grayness that seeped in through their windows and breathed in the unfamiliar stench of gunpowder. Slowly, gradually, Doors were thrown open only to be bolted and shut close as the steady, drumming beat of falling feet and growling metal machinery advanced through the sprawling maze of main streets and avenues.
There was a new day in Ba Sing Se, the first day of a new order.
A/N: This is the first piece of fanfiction I've ever written, please be kind with your reviews but don't hold back any criticism or other necessary feedback. English, as you might have already noticed, is not my first language. I'll be forever grateful if someone could volunteer and beta-read the next chapter so that there aren't any grammar mistakes.