Chapter 2

The Battle of Omashu pt. 2: The Folly

Aang and Zuko. Over Omashu

Aang lead the way down on his glider with Zuko following closely behind on his. They were in the heat of battle. Although their forces have landed and taken certain parts of the city, there were still many Separatist battlements in place, particularly the dozens of catapults that launched surface to air attacks on them.

A fireball was launched right at them. Aang took a deep breath to calm himself. He glared at it as it soared towards them. He airbended himself higher in the air and collapsed his glider. Moving quickly, he spun around and created a gust of wind powerful enough knock the fireball off course and send it crashing down onto the hapless Separatists below. With a flick, his glider snapped back open and he continued on flying.

More giant fireballs and cluster bombs flew randomly in the air. It was complete chaos and anarchy in the skies, but they had to do it. Aang decided very early on that as soon as they invaded Omashu he would go in and stop Azula. She was public enemy number one, and their biggest priority towards ending the war. The longer she remained free, the longer and more costlier the war would be.

A cluster bomb exploded fifty feet in front of them. Aang spun and evaded the pellets with ease. Zuko however, not used to flying, had some trouble maneuvering through the shrapnel. He made a couple jerky swerves and narrowly evaded the airborne pellets.

Zuko shook his head, surprised he wasn't clipped.

"Gods, I hate flying," Zuko grumbled to himself, then turned to Aang, "Why'd I decide to fly with you anyway? I hate flying."

"You know a better way to get to their bunker?" Aang shouted back.

Their intelligence forces managed to infiltrate Omashu a couple weeks earlier. They informed them of a series of caverns that were carved out below Omashu for what they could only guess was an escape bunker of sorts. If Zuko knew Azula, and he did almost too well, she would rather hide out in a bunker and escape than risk capture or death. Especially if the odds were against her. And today the odds were definitely against her.

They flew down and weaved their way around the building as they flew ridiculously low to avoid surface to air attacks. While some of the Coalition's Special Forces were already engaged in combat, the main infantry was still on the other side of the gorge. Aang weaved effortlessly out of the way of a rocket that was shot at them from a soldier on the surface.

"How much further?" Aang called to Zuko.

"They said the entrance was on the east side of the palace," Zuko answered.

Aang spied one of the rock slides the people of Omashu used to deliver their mail on his right. He followed the slide up and noticed it lead straight to the southern facing part of the palace. Being in an enclosed slide like that would allow them to fly faster and avoid any enemy fire.

Aang pointed up the slide and turned to make sure Zuko got the message. Zuko looked at the slide and turned back to Aang, then nodded once.

Aang hooked his glider to the right barreled down to the slide. He reached the base and pulled up, leveling himself out as he shot up through the slide, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

Zuko tried to imitate Aang's maneuver, but wasn't nearly as skilled a pilot. He scrapped the base of his glider against the sandstone slide, shooting sparks from under him. He grunted and pulled up for enough clearance between him and the slide.

He shook his head, "I hate flying."

They flew up and landed at the southern side of the palace. The Firebender Strike Force had already taken out the Separatists and Face Stealers that guarded the palace. Rozin turned as his dad and the Avatar landed at the base of the palace.

"What took you so long?" Rozin smirked at his father, "thought we were going to have to take down Azula ourselves."

"Is the palace secure?" Zuko asked, ignoring his son's instigations.

"Yes, Fire Lord Zuko," Tom bowed to his brother in law, "We captured thirty, or so, Separatists. The rest are casualties of war. Got the prisoners locked up in a dungeon below the palace."

Zuko and Aang walked forward and motioned for Tom to follow. Rozin, even though not invited, followed regardless.

"How many did you loose?" Zuko asked as he walked forward.

"Two were killed," Tom answered, "And five more were injured. Not a bad loss given the situation."

"Any word from the waterbenders?" Aang asked.

Tom shook his head, "Not yet. But don't worry, we're ahead of schedule. I'm sure both they, and the warriors, will be here momentarily. Hopefully soon. If we get another attack, we could very well loose the palace."

"Another attack?" Zuko raised an eyebrow.

Tom nodded, "That's were our casualties and most of our injuries came from. We got ambushed from west. Completely blind sided."

They came upon a small clearing behind the palace and near the base of a cliff leading down to the gorge below.

Aang held up a hand for them to stop. He stomped the ground and felt the vibrations below him reverberate through the earth under his feet. About six feet to his left was a covered opening to a tunnel that lead down, far beneath the city of Omashu. Aang swung his arm at the ground below and crumbled the clearing, revealing the gaping tunnel entrance.

"It's down there," Aang said and straitened himself up.

Zuko nodded then turned to Tom, "Stay here and watch the tunnel. If anyone is to come out, try your best to capture them, if not then, well…"

Tom smirked and nodded, "I gotcha, bro."

Zuko turned to Aang, "Alright let's go."

Aang and Zuko started towards the tunnel. Rozin walked forward to follow them, but Zuko turned around and held up his hand.

"No, son," Zuko shook his head, "Not this time."

"Why not?!" Rozin asked.

"It's too dangerous."

"I've faced Azula before, and I was only thirteen," Rozin exclaimed, "I'm seventeen now, and I'm the best firebender my age!"

"We've fought Azula multiple times," Zuko reasoned, "We know all of her tricks and her moves, and are better equipped to take her down. Let us handle it."

Zuko turned to join Aang inside the tunnel.

"She needs to pay for what she has done," Rozin stated, "What she did to Iroh."

Zuko froze and sighed, "She will."

And with that Zuko stepped into the tunnel and descended into the caverns with Aang.

Rozin turned his head and glared bitterly. It should've been him that took her down because it was because of him that his great uncle was killed. At the beginning of the war, it was Iroh who sacrificed himself so that he and Kya could live. It wasn't fair that this had to happen.

"Lieutenant Rozin," Tom ordered.

Rozin glared at him, "Are you really going to pull rank on me, Uncle."

Tom winced at Rozin's mentioning of him as an uncle, "Whoa, whoa, don't call me that, please. Remember I'm only two years older than you."

"The what should I call you?"

"As far as anyone's concerned, I'm your cousin."

Rozin rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I have a weird family."

"Uh huh," Tom agreed, "Now, here's what you're going to do. You're going to guard this hole, while me and the rest of the troops guard the palace interior."

"You mean relax in the palace, right?" Rozin raised an eyebrow.

"Yep," Tom beamed.

Rozin sighed, "I hate you."

"You're not the first," Tom said and walked off, "If anything come out of there, just kill it."

Rozin huffed and sat on a boulder a couple feet from the tunnel. First he can't exact his revenge on Azula, and now he can't even enjoy his plunders of war. For a guy born into royalty, he sure had the worst luck.

Jet. The Northern Cliffs.

Jet stood at the edge of the cliffs facing the main gates of the chaotic city before him. Pillows of smoke slowly rose into the air and was only accompanied by the booming echoes of explosions and earthbending, and the pungent smell of sulfur. The familiar setting of battle. How he loved it.

He looked forward and saw the metal gate get ripped apart as if it were tissue paper. He smirked. Good ol' Toph.

From the distance, he could see her tiny figure emerge from where the gate once was and extend the bridge, allowing the infantry to cross into the city.

Jet turned around to the 3,000 benders and warriors from each of the nations. He drew his hook swords and held one of them high in the air.

"Men," he shouted to his troops, "Today is the day the war will finally end! The Separatists in that city have long since feared this day. Let's not disappoint them!"

The soldiers cheered and raised a battle cry that shook the mountains.

"Charge!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

The soldiers yelled in response and charged forward in one, giant mass of human beings.

Jet turned back towards the city and sprinted forward across the bridge, leading the way to victory.

Azula. Caverns.

Azula sat in a meditative position, deep in a trance. She inhaled deeply, clearing her mind as she attempted to reach the spirit she wanted to communicate with.

A ghostly image of Koh the Face Stealer materialized in front of her. Azula opened her eyes and bowed before her master. Koh looked down at her with distain.

"What is it?" Koh asked in an eerily, echoing voice.

"Master," Azula raised her head, "The Coalition has invaded the city just as you had predicted. What am I to do now?"

"You have created more Face Stealers, yes?" Koh inquired.

Azula nodded, "Thousands. You have an army ready for your disposal. All they wait for is your command."

"Then you are to send them to the Chrystal Catacombs of Ba Sing Se to await my instructions," Koh ordered.

"Under Gao's command?" Azula asked.

"No, under mine," Koh corrected, "They will wait there until the time is right. Not to attack anyone. Let the world think they are gone for the time being."

"And what of me, my lord?" Azula asked nervously, "What of our agreement?"

Koh smirked, "You have been a faithful servant, Azula. Soon you will be able to reap the rewards for all of which you have sacrificed. A New World is coming, Azula. Once the world falls to my hand everything you know will change."

Azula looked up hopefully.

"And your role in this New World has been extremely beneficial," Koh smiled, "I trust you vow to serve me for all time?"

Azula nodded, "Of course, Master."

Koh grinned, "Good. Then you should have no trouble with your next task."

"Which is?"

"He's coming for you right now…" Koh said before dissipating into thin air.

Azula looked around, puzzled. What did he mean by that?

Her question was soon answered when she heard rushing footsteps approach the entrance to the Cavern. She turned and saw the Avatar and the Fire Lord enter the cavern. She smirked in amusement, realizing that her master meant for her to kill the Avatar. Too easy.

Her four Face Stealer guards turned and blocked the two men from entering any further. She clapped her hands in mock admiration of the heroes.

"It's about time you got here," Azula teased, "I was beginning to wonder if my brother and his boyfriend were going to make it to the party."

Zuko glared, "No more tricks, Azula. You're finished."

"In case you haven't noticed in your cave," Aang stated, "Omashu is under our control. The war is over. I suggest you surrender peacefully, or be destroyed."

"Hmm," she tapped her index finger to her lips, contemplating her options, "You know, this sounds all too familiar. I think you know how this ends."

She snapped her fingers at the Face Stealers and pointed at Aang and Zuko, "Kill them both!"

The Face Stealers unsheathed their swords and charged at them.

Aang sighed annoyingly. He's faced enough of these guys before and knew how to effortlessly take care of them. He swung his arms around, gathering air, and pushed forward, releasing a large gust of wind at the Face Stealers. The gust pushed them back further than expected and they crashed into the opposite wall and fell, screaming, down an unfathomably deep abyss.

Aang cringed, "Oops…"

Azula glared, "As always, I will take care of you myself."

And with that she shot a blue stream of fire at them.

Zuko and Aang jumped out of the way as the stream of fire hit the wall behind them and exploded.

Azula reacted quickly by shooting multiple fireballs at them at once.

Aang quickly jumped and dodged her attacks, seeing as they were mostly aimed at him. She seemed almost intent on killing him over Zuko. Most of the fireballs blasted into the wall behind him, while the rest he simply blocked.

Zuko quickly went on the offensive, taking advantage of Azula's concentration on Aang. He shot a low flying stream of fire at her feet. She jumped and shot a stream from her finger tips. Zuko rolled forward and recovered with a large flame blast from his fist. Azula ducked and kicked some fire at him, causing him to take a few steps back.

Aang jumped forward and assisted Zuko by earthbending a chunk of granite at her. She jumped back sent a wall of fire at him. Aang quickly earthbended himself underground and allowed the wall to sail harmlessly over him before leaping high into the air and landing beside her with a huge gust of air.

Azula flew back flew back into the wall, but managed to push off it with her feet instead of taking a more devastating blow. She rolled forward and emerged with a blast of fire back at Zuko.

Zuko deflected it and countered with a stream of fire, followed by three large fireballs. She, of course dodged it, but it didn't stop Zuko from attacking. He took a deep breath and shot rapid fireballs from his fists. His object, however, wasn't to hit her, but distract her as Aang jumped behind her and blew her away with a gust of wind.

She flew forward and hit the ground hard, sliding, and finally stopping dangerously close to the edge of the abyss. She pulled herself up and dusted herself off.

"Is this really how you want to end it?" she asked, "Not like you'll end up killing me anyway. Zuko, you had the water peasant finish me off and imprisoned me for thirteen years."

Zuko shot a fireball at her, but she jumped away and dodged it.

She smirked, "If you would've killed me all those years ago, this might've been avoided. Technically, this is your fault."

Zuko yelled and shot a wild fireball towards her. She was getting the best of him, getting inside his head and throwing all the things he did wrong in his face.

"Shut up!" Zuko shouted and shot another fireball at her.

She deflected it and returned to fire three of her own at him. He managed to deflect the first two, but the third one hit him straight in the chest. Zuko grunted and clutched his chest as he got knocked to the ground from the attack. It was right were Azula shot him with lighting during Sozin's Comet.

"Did I hit a soft spot, Zu-Zu?" she teased.

"Enough!" Aang shouted as he flew towards her with his staff raised.

She jumped out of the way as he came crashing down, creating a large tremor and air blast. Azula was knocked backwards several feet, but nonetheless recovered, staring ruthlessly at her sworn enemy.

Katara and Kya. Upper Level

Katara, Kya, and the rest of the Waterbending Infiltrators ran through the streets of Omashu. They haven't seen any Separatists for a while, but that hasn't stopped them from keeping alert.

They came up to a staircase made entirely of tan sandstone and ascended up to the palace. While going up, Kya turned and saw the true extent of the battle. It was the first time she had a clear view of the battle and was overwhelmed by the extent of destruction. Smoke rose up in black pillars from several buildings around them, and fires erupted which burned everything but the stone the city was made of.

In the distance, she could see the massive flood of their infantry pushing through the gates of the middle level of the main pyramid, while the eastern pyramid had already been conquered.

"Come on, Kya," Katara said down to her daughter.

Kya looked up, then took one last glance at the city below before continuing up the steps to the palace.

They reached the top and came onto the palace grounds. Katara raised her eyebrow at the sight. All the Firebender Strike Force soldiers were lounging about on the palace grounds, completely ignoring the fact that there was a battle going on. Tom himself was laying against a with his helmet covering his face.

"Major!" Katara shouted.

Tom stood up quickly at attention.

"What, what?! I'm up!" he raised his helmet and frowned when he saw it was Katara, "Oh, it's just you."

"Yeah, too bad for you," Katara scorned, "What if it were the Separatists? Or Azula herself? Urgh, just wait until I tell your brother in law."

"Hey, all the Separatists within five miles have either been killed or captured," Tom defended himself, "And right now Azula's getting her butt handed to her by Zuko and your loving husband, so… lay off."

Katara fumed and stormed off. She couldn't deny Tom was a great fighter and leader, but his sarcasm and cockiness rivaled even her brother. If she didn't know any better, she would think he was Sokka's own.

Kya scratched her head as she watched her mother storm off to the palace.

"So… long time no see, hm?" she tried making small talk.

"Not since Ba Sing Se," Tom shrugged and gave her a curious look, "But for some reason I doubt I'm the guy you want to talk to."

"Why do you say that?" Kya blushed.

"Maybe because I know you have a thing for a certain firebender…" he raised his eyebrow.

"What? Did Rozin talk about me?" Kya asked excitedly.

"Would it please you if he did?"

Kya nodded.

"Well, he didn't," Tom shrugged, "Not much anyway."

"He didn't?!" Kya asked incredulously.

"Well, it's not like he had much of a chance," Tom defended his nephew, "We were at war. He probably wasn't thinking about you with his other head, if you know what I mean…"

Kya glared and bent a water-whip and smacked Tom across the face.

"Ow!" he yelped and retreated back. He smirked and checked her out, "Not bad, not too bad at all. You've definitely filled out since the last time I've seen you. He'd be a fool to not go for you."

She faked an attack at him and he flinched back. Kya smirked and walked away to join her mother and the other waterbenders.

Aang, Zuko, Azula. The Caverns.

"Maybe it's not Zu-Zu's fault at all," Azula smirked, "Maybe if you hadn't run away a century ago, this war never have happened and I wouldn't have existed in the first place. Then all your people would've survived and you wouldn't be the last airbender."

Aang scrunched his face in anger and shot forward, releasing a large blast of fire from the palms of his hands. Azula tried to block it, but was mostly unsuccessful. While she avoided the majority of the flames, the force knocked her back twenty feet.

Zuko painfully rose up as Azula fell to his direction from Aang's attack. She landed only a few feet from him and pulled her up with a wicked grin on her face. Both Aang and Zuko ran up at her at the same time. Azula back kicked some flames at Zuko, pushing him several feet back and simultaneously charged and shot a bolt of lighting at Aang.

Aang extended his index and middle fingers and painfully absorbed the bolt of lighting through his arm, down to his stomach and up out his other finger tips, redirecting it back at Azula.

Zuko ran towards her with fire charging in the palm of his hand, ready to deliver the final blow to his demented sister.

Azula, however, was ready for it and quickly rolled out of the way as the lighting sailed right by her and towards Zuko.

Aang watched in horror as the deadly bolt of lighting sailed at him. Zuko, thinking quickly, mustered a fire shield and was able to block some of the attack. Unfortunately his shield wasn't any near powerful, and the majority of the lighting bolt crashed into him and sent him flying backwards. He fell hard on the ground and rolled several times and slammed hard into the wall. He tried to rise, but then went limp and appeared lifeless on the ground.

Rozin. Tunnel Entrance.

Rozin sat on a boulder looking down at the war ravaged city below him. The infantry has invaded and was making their way up to the palace. The lower part of the main pyramid was already under Coalition control by the looks of it, and they were close to taking over the middle level.

Infantrymen. Unlike him, and the rest of the Special Forces, they were more geared for mopping up and destroying anything in their path. It was anarchy. He really wondered why they even bothered having commanders. All they really needed to do was raid the outlying taverns and give the drunks and barbarians some spears and clubs, then let them have at it.

In all honesty, he would rather be down there fighting along side them instead of hanging around up there waiting for nothing to happen. What a way to spend the battle of the decade; bored at the top of a hill, watching everything from afar.

A clap of thunder echoed through the tunnel, catching Rozin's attention.

"What the…" he looked at the dark tunnel curiously.

A second, even stronger clap of lighting boomed out of the darkness.

"Ok, that can't be good," Rozin said and looked around.

He was the only one around. If his father and the Avatar were hurt, no one would be around to help them, save for him. And even worse, Azula would escape and more people would die just trying to capture her.

He sighed and got up to run down into the tunnel.

Aang, Azula, Zuko. The Caverns.

Azula looked at her brother with satisfaction, then turned to the Avatar.

"You really shouldn't hurt your friends," she smiled and shot a ball of fire at him.

Aang jumped out of the way and earthbended the rock beneath her feet, shooting her in the air, then blasted her into the side of the cave with a huge vortex of air. She hit the ground hard but instead of grunting in pain, she burst into laughter.

Aang jumped in front of her and reached down and grabbed her by her collar, hoisting her up and slamming her into the wall.

"Give it up, Azula," Aang said, narrowing his eyes, "it's over."

She cackled hysterically, "Oh, Avatar, if you really want to stop me, you know you got to kill me."

Aang gritted his teeth, "I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to do to you what I did to your father eighteen years ago."

Aang pressed one hand to her forehead and another to her chest. He inhaled deeply and prepared to bend her energy and take away her bending. Unfortunately, Azula had a lot more fight left in her. She inhaled and breathed a breath of fire at Aang's face.

Aang was caught off guard by her attack and flew back several feet, dangerously close to the edge. Azula smirked and a series of powerful fireballs at him. He deflected most of them, but one snuck in and hit him hard in the chest. The force from the attack pushed him back and he lost his balance and fell back into the abyss. She jumped forward to the edge of the cliff and shot a massive blast of fire down into the abyss, ensuring Aang could not fly back up. She looked down. The Avatar was no where in sight.

She smirked, "Too easy."

She turned to her fallen brother who was beginning to stir back to consciousness.

"And now for the last loose end," she charged a ball of fire in the palm of her hand.

An fireball exploded behind her and she turned to see who dared shoot at her. Through the smoke her nephew, Rozin, walked up to her.

"Well, well. If it isn't my little nephew Rozin," Azula grinned evilly, "Thought you would've stayed in Agnia with your mommy."

Rozin smirked, "Couldn't resist the chance of visiting my dear old Auntie Azula and take her down."

"Good luck," she glared and shot a quick blast of fire at him.

He deflected it and sent two fireballs at her which she leapt quickly out of the way. The two prodigies circled and stared at each other, sizing each other up.

"You've gotten faster," Azula noted.

She punched and kicked several blasts of fire at him. He reacted quickly, but instead of simply deflecting it, he used a tactic Kya taught him years ago and gathered her fire together and redirected it back at her.

Azula's eyes widened as her own blast of fire came searing towards her. She stuck her hands in front of her and blocked the attack. She stared at her nephew in shock on how good he was, even to her.

Rozin smirked, "You'll find I'm full of surprises."

With that he shot several fireballs at her, initiating the fight. She side stepped out of the way, blocking or dodging his attacks.

She was quick, he'll give her that. But he was determined to bring her down regardless.

He produced a pair of fire daggers and charged at her. She faced him with a wicked grin on her face and shot a stream of fire from her fingertips. He kicked and blocked the stream, and continued charging after her. He jumped up kicked a large blast at her. She hastily deflects it from her face and strikes back, shooting a blast at his abdomen. The blast knocked him back to where his father lied.

Zuko opened his eyes and glanced at his son, "Rozin? What are you doing here?"

"Trying to save you," Rozin rubbed his head from where he hit the wall.

Azula walked up grinning maniacally. Zuko looked up and glanced at her.

"Good job," he said sarcastically.

Azula began to swing her arms and charge lighting, but suddenly the cavern was filled by a bright, white light and the shudder of the earth around them. She was knocked off her feet and turned to the edge of the abyss where the light was coming from.

Out of the illuminated abyss, Aang, in a much more powerful form of the Avatar State, emerged and levitated out. He landed at the edge of the cliff and his eyes and tattoos reverted back to normal. He looked up at Azula, devoid of emotion.

Azula's look of fear turned into rage, "Don't you ever die!"

She quickly shot a bolt of lighting at the Avatar, but he effortlessly blocked it with a shield formed in his hand made of pure light. That only made her madder and she attacked again, shooting five fireballs at him, each with similar results.

Aang looked up, done with reasoning with her. He was now ready to end this, once and for all.

He reached up with his hand towards her. Azula stiffened up as an aura of white light formed around her. Her eyes widened with fear as he pulled her close to him. She was paralyzed and couldn't move a muscle, no matter how hard she tried.

As Aang reeled her in, he reached up with his other hand and holding it just in front of her face. Aang shut his eyes and took a deep breath. A bright light slowly emerged from the palm of his hand. Azula's eyes widened in fear as the white light filled the irises of her eyes. Her pupils dilated and a bright light filled the room.

As quickly as the light appeared, it was gone. Rozin and Zuko, who had shielded their eyes from the light, looked up and saw Aang holding her lifeless body in his arms. Aang turned to the abyss. He took one last look at Azula's body, then down over the cliff. Without a second thought, he released his grip and allowed her to fall through the endless, bottomless abyss; falling for eternity. Her soul and the very essence of her life, stolen by Aang's Life-bending.

Zuko and Rozin stared at him, shockingly.

"What did you do?" Zuko painfully stood up.

Aang himself was rather impressed by what he did, and stared at his own hands in awe.

"I- I don't know," he looked back at them, "but it did the job. Azula's gone. The war's over."

A/N: And here's the second half of the opening chapters. Hope you all liked it. The next chapter won't be up for a week or so. Family coming out and that will hold my full attention for the week.

Peace.