Chapter 4
The Rage
"Lady Ursa!"
Ursa jumped as a pair of guards suddenly barged their way into her private chamber. She whirled around, fixing them both with an uncharacteristically scary glare. "What on earth do you think you're doing barging in here like that?! Have you no-"
"Lady Ursa you need to leave with us immediately! It's not safe in the palace!"
A twinge of panic shot down Ursa's spine. "Are my children safe? What's going on?"
"They're fine, they've already been evacuated. The thing is… it's…" The guard shuffled and looked away, managing to somehow look awkward even in the imposing fire nation armour. "It's on fire ma'am. The palace I mean, the entire east wing is on fire."
For a second Ursa sat staring at him as if he'd grown a second head, then with one swift movement grabbed a nearby cloak and walked briskly out the door.
Within seconds Ursa arrived in the gardens and joined the throng of nobles huddled together gaping at the scene before them. The entire east wing of the palace was indeed consumed with a writhing mass of flames, sending thick clouds of black smoke snaking into the air as the inferno hungrily consumed everything in its path. The royal guard stood circled around it with their arms outstretched in a stance designed to quell flames, yet despite their shaking limbs and gasping breaths that showed just how much effort they were putting into it the flames continued to slowly creep further and further towards them.
"What in the world… How is this possible? She whispered to herself. One of the noble ladies besides her shot her a worried look.
"Apparently they're trying their hardest to put it out but something in there is overpowering them. Whatever is in there is blasting out fire faster than the guards can put it out, and it's all they can do to slow down its spreading as much as possible."
"But what could possibly overpower the entire royal guard?" Ursa replied, but as soon as it passed her lips a terrible though crossed her mind. A fire burns brightest in its middle, and judging by the looks of it the epicentre of the inferno was coming from the room of…
"Baelz!"
Quickly her eyes scanned across the crowd, searching for her stepsons tall frame. But there was no sign of his imposing figure or familiar black cape. It couldn't be… could it? What could cause Baelz to do such a thing?
"What is going on here?"
Ursa's head whipped around at the all too familiar voice. Striding forwards with an air of power and eyes surveying the scene with aloof disapproval Ozai made his way towards the crowd. The assembled nobles bowed, yet he didn't give them so much as a passing glance as he came to a stop in front of Ursa.
"Something's setting the east wing on fire, and the guards don't have the strength to handle it." Ursa answered. "I think… I think it's Baelz, the flames all seem to be emanating from his room. I don't know what could have brought this on though."
"Ah, I see" Ozai replied smoothly, not a hint of concern for his son showing on his face. "He must have received the news from this morning."
"News? What news?" Ursa replied. Without a word Ozai drew a scroll of fine parchment out of his robe and handed it to her. Hurriedly Ursa unfurled the contents and read the familiar scruffy yet somehow perfectly readable handwriting that could belong to no other than her brother-in-law.
To my Dear Father, the esteemed Fire Lord Azulon
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the siege of Ba Sing Se has ended in failure. I am aware that with the breaching of the outer wall recently things looked promising, however with the situation as it is further advance is impossible. My men are tired, war had burdened their shoulders and their hearts long for home, and I am unable to lead our forces following a terrible tragedy that has occurred.
It is on that note I must inform you of the worst of the news…
Ursa gasped and covered her mouth, tears of grief streaming down her cheeks as she read the next lines.
Lu Ten is dead, killed in an ambush on the front lines whilst leading an attack on the breach of the wall. He died heroically, buying enough time for his men to escape as hundreds of earth benders advanced on their position and fought bravely until the bitter end. We were unable to retrieve his body for a proper funeral.
As you read this my troops are heading back down our route to Chameleon Bay, where we intend to catch ships directly back to the homeland. I estimate our return in little over three weeks.
My Deepest Love and Regards
Prince Iroh
"No… Oh spirits not Lu Ten!" Ursa whispered, eyes glistening as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ozai said nothing, his eyes enough to show how little he cared for the news. In an almost bored manner he strode forwards, brushing past the guards and heading towards the inferno.
"My lord! Please stay back, it's dangerous over here!" One of the guards cried, but without even acknowledging his presence Ozai walked straight into the torrent of flames.
As Ozai came mere inches away from touching them the flames were suddenly shoved back as if the prince was surrounded by an invisible wall. Like a well-trained dog the fire slunk back from him, not daring to bite their all-powerful master, and Ozai strolled into the east wing as if the scorching air and blazing floorboards were no hotter than a slightly sunny day. He continued down the twisting corridors filled with smoke and flames until he reached a room where the fire was so thick that even the flames at the edges of his protective bubble flickered a bit under the force exacted upon them.
Everything in the room had been burnt to ashes by the hurricane of fire that swirled within its centre. Through the flames Ozai could just make out a kneeling figure in its eye, his giant figure and booming wails of grief clearly marking him as Baelz. By the looks of it Baelz wasn't even aware of the inferno blasting forth from him as he howled in anguish.
"LU TEN! LUUU TENNNNN! AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
The corner of Ozai's mouth flickered down in the slightest frown as he watched his son break down. Pathetic! This was all it took to bring a son of his down to his knees? Though Zuko was undoubtedly the worse of the two, it seemed that something had cursed him to only bear sons that possessed an inherent weakness. With seemingly effortless easy he stuck his hand through the swirling flames to grab his eldest son.
"DAMN THEM!"
Ozai's hand shot back sharply just in time as the flames directly around Baelz turned a deep crimson, like the colour of wine, and magnified tenfold in heat. The barest hints of shock flashed across his face as the crimson flames started to form into a figure.
"DAMN THEM ALL! THOSE FILTHY MUD RATS! I'LL MAKE THEM PAY FOR THIS! I WILL BURY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE FILTH LOVING RODENTS IN THE DIRT THEY ADORE SO MUCH!"
A demon made of pure deep crimson flames knelt around Baelz, its long spindly arms with clawed fingers rapped around him in an eerie embrace. Its entire body was lean, almost skeletal, and stretched out as if had been on a torture rack. From the top of its head two curved horns jutted out towards the sky, the tips of them flicking off like a small tick. Most disturbing though was the three thin lines of white fire on its face, two of them forming long squinted eyes that though apparently shut felt as if they looked everywhere at once and one long closed smile that stretched unnaturally far up its face and giving them demon an expression of malicious glee. It was both awesome and terrifying at once, and it seemed to relish in dark delight as Baelz wailed in anger in its arms.
"I'LL RAZE THEIR KINGDOMS TO THE GROUND UNTIL NOTHING BUT ASH REMAINS! I'LL HUNT THEM DOWN UNTIL NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM TAINTS THE WORLD WITH THEIR EXISTENCE! I SWEAR IT! I'LL WIPE EVERY LAST EARTH BENDER OFF THE FACE OF THE PLANET IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!"
A proud grin spread across Ozai's face as he watched all trace of the weakness in his son burn away in the hellfire that surrounded him. This was great! This was excellent! All that hatred within him was bringing out the full potential of his power, and all traces of compassion and mercy were shrivelling up and dying within him!
This was a son he could be proud of!