You readers continue to amaze me. We had 10 reviews for the last chapter within 17 hours of the chapter being posted, and the number has risen to 12 reviews. Thank you so much for the support!
I am already theorizing a sequel which could take place after Book 3. A short one, entitled: 'The Quest for Ursa' in which they find Zuko's mother. That is still just a dim lightbulb at the moment.
I am aware you are all upset that I killed Iroh. He was one of my favourite characters. However, I felt it would give the group some kind of motivation, like the 'death' of Coulson motivated and inspired the Avengers.
This was rather hard to write, considering I had to consider the characters of Sokka and Toph. In this, the Earth King and his bear have already been taken to some base Sokka and Toph found. They are coming back for Aang and Katara.
How will Sokka react to the newest addition to the group?
What will Toph say?
Read on to find out, apologies for the short chapter, I needed to get this bit done ~
I will update this weekend also to make up for the short chapter ~
Zuko knew that Azula expected this bolt of lightning to take him out. He knew she expected him to protect Aang, that she had anticipated his reaction to her strike towards the Avatar. She had been right in that respect, but what Azula hadn't even considered was Zuko channeling the lightning, and deflecting it back. Zuko had the advantage of surprise with him, and he was determined to use that. The cost of channeling the lightning would be taxing on his body, but this would prove to both sides of the fight where he now stood. As he watched the lightning crossing the distance between Azula and himself, Zuko swallowed. If not for Iroh, this lightning would be a death sentence.
In fact, if not for Iroh, Zuko would not have even considered changing his choice of side in the war. If not for his Uncle, Zuko realised, he would have been too deep down a dark path long ago. He owed so much to Iroh, and he would...never be able to repay him.
Shaking his head, Zuko smirked slightly, and cleared his head.
As the lightning made contact with Zuko's outstretched hand, Azula's eyes widened. Instead of the lightning scorching her brother, instead of making him writhe in absolute agony, the lightning seemed to envelop his body. As Zuko made small movements to keep the lightning contained, Azula's heart stopped, for just a single moment. She had not anticipated her brother having the knowledge to redirect lightning, had not expected him to have the strength to do so. It was when she saw the lightning in his very eyes, that she realised her mistake of not striking him as soon as he turned his back on her.
Katara and Aang were silent, and their jaws dropped, as Zuko turned violently, and sent the lightning roaring back towards Azula, pouring even more energy into it than the pyschotic princes originally had. The bright, fluroscent blue of the lightning contrasted with the dim glow of the cavern, and the powerful energy almost blinded Azula as it soared towards her, with such force that, even metres away, the blast began pushing her back. She barely had time to look at her brother's face...before everything vanished in a cloud of white, sparks flying as Azula blocked the lightning. Her scream of pain pierced the air, and her silhouette, illuminated by the sapphire blue sparks, finally fell to the floor.
As he looked up at Zuko, Aang felt a sense of awe. The power to redirect lightning was taxing, but to add fuel to the fire, and take down Azula, the proclaimed fire-bending prodigy, he could not help but see that his former enemy had strength beyond that of his maniac of a sister. Whilst it did, admittedly, scare him, he now had proof that Zuko had finally chosen the right side in this war. He was about to get up to voice his gratitude, but Aang found himself watching in horror as Zuko crumpled to a heap on the ground, curling up on his side, as he finally gave in to the pain coursing through his body.
Speechless, Katara rushed over, stumbling as she skidded on the ground, and knelt next to her former greatest enemy. His face was a sickening milky white, and sweat beaded on his forehead. His shaking hands were clenched over his heart, as he shook with sheer agony. His eyes were squeezed shut in an attempt to will away the pain.
Just as Katara gingerly reached out to Zuko, the former prince's eyes widened suddenly, and he began gasping for breath, clawing at his chest as he desperately tried to take in oxygen. The sudden actions shocked Katara for a moment, but she soon regained her level head, and turned Zuko onto his back, noting that his eyes closed once more, his breath coming ever faster, short, rasping breaths.
"Katara...what's...what's wrong with him?" Aang asked fearfully.
"I..." Katara swallowed. "It's a heart attack...I've never seen one happening before."
Katara tried using her healing to alleviate the pain, but all her efforts were fruitless.
"Why is he-" Aang's eyes widened. "The...the lightning." he swallowed nervously. "Can you save him?"
"I don't know, Aang...I just..." Katara's expression suddenly hardened.
"Katara?" Aang's voice was quiet.
"No, I will. I will save him." Katara glared over at Azula's body.
Which lay...
Motionless...
And corpse-like.
