Beyond Airbending: Return of the Phoenix King

Chapter Two: The "War" Meeting

As soon as everyone had gone to bed, Katara stayed up. She found herself walking out of the cottage and into the cold snow. She had mixed feelings about going to the Fire Nation…but she had promised Suki that she would go. She didn't want to see Aang; she didn't love him. And as she walked her canoe, it hit her: she had never loved him. That kiss at Iroh's tea shop was out of impulse that was it. She didn't think she knew what love was. She suddenly had a reason to go to Zuko's party. She had to break it off with Aang.

The next morning, Suki, Toph and Sokka had all their baggage piled onto the canoe as Kanna and Hakoda said goodbye.

"Have fun at Zuko's party." Hakoda smiled as he hugged his son.

"I don't know why we wouldn't, dad." Sokka smiled. "You know just as well as I do that I am always the life of the party."

"Wait, where's Katara?" Suki asked.

"I'm here." Katara replied as she walked outside. "Well, are we going to go?"

"Just waiting on you, little sister." Sokka said.

The friends then got on the canoe as Katara bended up water a jet rocketed the canoe away.

&$#

With Katara using waterbending, the friends arrived at the shore of the Fire Nation capital in only an hour. Royal guards helped each of them out of the canoe as a palanquin bearer arrived at the sight.

Soon after, the friends arrived at the palace. Katara and the other stepped out of the palanquin to see a cheerful Iroh walk out to greet them.

"Welcome my friends!" Iroh exclaimed, giving each of them a big, warm hug. "I am so glad that you decided to come. I've missed you all, and I know my nephew has as well."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, Iroh." Toph grinned.

"But I must say…" Iroh continued. "You are quite early. The party doesn't start until tonight. You're the first here, even Zuko isn't ready."

"Where is he?" Suki asked.

"He's in a meeting." Iroh explained. "Everyone is so used to the meetings being about the war, but now that it's over, Zuko's been holding meetings to see how the world is recovering."

"And?" Katara asked.

"Things are going very well." Iroh replied. "The Earth King is back on the throne in Ba Sing Se, the South Pole is doing much better, my brother will go on trial in a few weeks and everyone seems to be a whole lot happier."

"What about Azula?" Katara asked, unable to shake a small feeling of sympathy for the fallen princess.

"She is actually doing quite well." Iroh explained as he led his friends up the stairs and into the palace. "She is responding well to her treatment and Zuko visits her every other week. He's even decided not to have her stand trial."

"About standing trial…" Sokka began. "Can't Zuko just condemn Ozai to death or something."

"He could…" Iroh's face turned grim. "But Zuko actually hopes for Ozai to find his way, which is why Zuko is sending him to stand trial in Ba Sing Se."

"But they'll kill him." Katara argued.

"Probably." Iroh replied hastily. "But I think that that it would be for the best. I don't hate my brother, I just think that the world would have been better off if the Avatar had taken his life. Now, Lo will be showing you to your rooms."

Iroh pointed to a wrinkly-er Lo and Li as they walked up to them, bowing out of respect.

"Come with us…" they spoke in unison.

"That's just creepy." Sokka said under his breath.

&$#

Katara and the others couldn't help but stare in awe at the inside of the palace as the twins led them down the halls. As Katara turned her head, she saw exiting from her room.

"Hello, Mai." Katara tried to be polite.

"Hey…" was all Mai said as she walked away.

As soon as the kids had been shown to their rooms and Katara was sure that Lo and Li were gone, she snuck out her door and quickly walked down the hall until she saw a room only with a veil as a door where she heard voices. Interested, Katara walked in, but immediately regretted it as she realized that every single general's eyes were on her.

"Katara?" Zuko's voice spoke. "What are you doing here?"

As soon as she heard her friend's voice, she looked up to see the Fire Lord sitting on his throne. Zuko had aged quite a bit in only a year. He looked paler and his black hair was now down to his shoulders. The Fire Lord was only 17 years old and he already had a wrinkle or two. Katara's eyes strayed away from Zuko and rested on Aang.

"What is this…this peasant doing here?!" rang Colonel Shinu's voice.

"Its okay, Colonel." Zuko growled. "She's a friend, she can stay."

"Whatever…" Shinu growled.

"Now…" Zuko continued on. "General How, please stand."

"I don't care about your little vow to the world!" How snarled as he reluctantly obeyed. "Because of you, the Earth Kingdom fell. We all know that you're going to send this world back into chaos! It's in your blood! You're just like your evil and conniving father!"

Her mouth wide open, Katara turned to see what the Fire Lord's reaction would be. She was somewhat surprised to see that Zuko wasn't frying How alive. Instead, Zuko stood up and walked over to the table.

"Do not tell me that I am like my father, because I'm not." Zuko's voice was cold, but not angry. "A man does not choose his father. This scar is the only thing that he ever gave me. He is a monster and I hate him, but that doesn't mean that I don't think he can't be redeemed."

How sank down to his seat, seemingly ashamed. "I apologize, Lord Zuko."

"Now…" Zuko sat back down. "Avatar Aang, there is no doubt that the world still has a long way to go before it has healed fully, so I am asking: what do you think we can do next to help?"

"You are doing an excellent job, my friend." Aang answered. "I would say that you should keep going the way you are now."

&$#

Six o'clock…visiting hours over…meal time. Ozai, formerly the most powerful fire-bender in the world sat in his cell, his stomach growling. After what felt like forever, the cage slid open and a plate of slop rolled in. Ozai threw himself at the plate and gobbled down every bit. The guard stood, amused.

"I can't believe that at one point, I actually though that you were a good leader." The guard sneered. "I actually thought your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom was a good one. Look at you now, how the mighty have fallen…"

"You are right about that…" Ozai looked up from his plate, the slop running down his chin with an evil grin. Before the guard could react, a dagger was plunged into his back and Shinu, Qin and Chan sttod behind as the body clattered to the ground. Chan grinned as he picked up the guard's keys and unlocked the cell door.

"It's about time…" Ozai growled as he slowly picked himself up.

"We told you that we would get you out of here." Qin smiled.

"I never doubted that." Ozai walked over to the three as they tossed him a cloak and the helmet of the Phoenix King.

"My son can have the Fire Nation, but that won't save him from me." Ozai grinned as the put the helmet onto his head once more. "But I know who the nation is truly loyal to: me. You can come out now."

As the words came out of Ozai's mouth, dozens more soldiers came out from the soldiers. Ozai laughed evilly as Qin, Chan, Shinu and the soldiers dropped to their knees.

"This pathetic prison could never hold me! And tonight, Zuko's party is going to be a blast!"

A/N: I hope you liked the chapter. I really do, because at first I was kind of getting bored writing it and then I thought that Ozai's rescue was like "umm, okay…". Anyway, I'm sorry it took me so long to update. It's just that lately, my OCD has been making my life. Damn these irrational fears of contamination!