Born of blood where death meets life; I am reborn, I've paid the price.
A nation cries, their kingdom dies. Their pain, my fame. Their plight, my flight.
Forged in fire, The Phoenix King passes; in his wake, hope burns to ashes.
Die to live or live to die, now Sozin's Comet claims the sky.

Ozai doesn't know how often a blood moon eclipse occurs, but Sozin's Comet only comes once every 100 years. He plans to reclaim his birthright. He is no longer cursed. And he plans to finish what his grandfather started. His family is no longer tainted.

So, the Phoenix King takes flight.

The power of the comet is such that Ozai can literally fly. He's never felt such heat before. The Avatar child doesn't stand a chance.

Except at some point, everything goes terribly wrong. Ozai can't figure out how he's lost this fight, but when the glowing Avatar touches his forehead, he feels a surging power of a different kind. It's all-consuming, like the rage he feels when he's angry. There's an odd tingly sensation, too, almost like the spasm before an orgasm. And then—there's nothing.

He is left with absolutely nothing.

Without his fire, he is reduced to ashes.

He would be better off dead, but the Avatar shows him mercy. Mercy in the form of drab prison walls, highly trained guards who won't dare to speak his name, and food that tastes like the ashes his life has become.

The only thing he has left are his words, and the only one who comes to visit who is still subject to them is Zuko.

He will tear that boy apart if it's the last thing he can do. Perhaps the Phoenix King will rise again after all.


A/N: Gah, I should probably get back to writing about Hakoda now. But the ideas just kept flowing here. I think it's because I rewatched the finale, and Ozai is just this generic bad guy in that episode. I probably have an unhealthy obsession with his character, but there is so much potential depth to his villainy. Granted, the way I've presented him is not kid-friendly in the least, but none of my stuff is, so there.