A/N: As always, don't own Avatar. Probably never will. Make no profit from it, only write in the world and with (a version of) the characters for fun and entertainment of myself and others.

Also, I'd like to note that I'm apologizing, (no, really, I am- right now, in fact!) for yet again being later than I said I would with an update. Normally, when a story's winding down, I tend to focus on it a lot to get it finished- and I expected to do so this time. I have it all planned in my head (and some on paper), and I know exactly (more or less) what's going to happen between now and the last word. (which is also planned, I think)

However, right after posting the last chapter (seven), I got inspired to start working heavily on one of my novels- so I did. I gotta work on the stuff that (may, eventually) make me money and an actual writer, not just a hobby like this, whenever I can. So I took advantage of it, and got down about 55 pages. Not a lot for a spurt from me, (I've been known to bang out 300- of not-crap- in three months or less, when I get going) but it was definitely worth having. So... my apologies, but I don't really regret it.

That being said, enjoy- the 'real' final battle begins in 9, but I don't anticipate it taking too long.

I was going to put in a secret- a 'builds hope' one, at the end. But I didn't think it needed it with a chapter name like this, so it'll be the start of the combat chapter instead. :)

Enjoy!

Chap. 8 Despair

Zuko, Fire Lord and master Firebender, was in serious trouble. The gout of roaring, incandescent purple flame blew through his own shield of fire and heat, a shield that had protected him from his very powerful sister's Firebending, as if it were paper.
Just before the lance of energy hit him, however, one of his Honor Guard kicked him in the knees and caused him to fall backward. The fire passed overhead, inches from is nose, the residual heat causing the skin there to redden and blister.

"Thanks," he mumbled quickly to the masked guard- the only one of his guard whose name the young lord didn't know.

In response, the slender man said in a coarse, gravelly voice, "My duty, my honor, my joy, to serve you, Fire Lord."

An attack by the few remaining officers of the loyal Fire Nation army gave the scarred man a few moments to glance around and take stock of the situation. From his vantage point near the top of the hill, he could see that their army- even lacking direct leadership as it had for most of the day- was holding it's own in almost every position. They hadn't been able to advance due to the lack of overall coordination, but the simple fact that they were still alive against a numerically superior foe without a functional command structure made his heart swell with pride at the discipline of his soldiers- and their allies.

For now, it seemed that the people had truly put the differences and struggles of the past hundred year's war behind them. At the urging of many of the oldest, wisest, or most influential members of each nation and city-state, nearly every nation in the world had sent at least some kind of military support. And to further that view that the Fire Nation had, at last, been forgiven for his ancestor's sins, Zuko was even further heightened to see Waterbenders, Earthbenders, and warriors from both of those kingdoms dressed in Fire Nation uniforms, though each style of combat was markedly different than his own country's to his eyes.

Still... in a sense, we have finally united the world under the Fire Nation banner... as allies, not as conquerers. Uncle... did you know this would happen when you asked the White Lotus to gather this army?

Zuko next spared a glance backwards, to where Iroh was being treated at the edge of the new clearing by medics. His left arm had been torn off just below the elbow by a stone about as big as his belly, hurtled with insane speed by the Avatar. I don't know if I can forgive him for that... even if he does come back to himself. Avatar... Aang... how could you hurt my uncle?

"Lord Zuko," the gravelly, cold voice of his guard said, "we must find the enemy general. We cannot succeed without it, the men grow tired."

With a nod, the man returned his eyes to the battle ahead of him, "Yes. But first we have to get past the Avatar." Zuko then turned his head to either side, looking for healthy, powerful benders within hearing range. There weren't many, but... it might be enough.

"Master Pakku! General Fong! Come, I need your help!"

The guard gave him a quick glance, but said nothing. Don't have time to worry about what that meant. We have to stop Aang!

After the two older men had arrived, the Waterbender nearly gasping at the strain he'd been put under this day, Zuko whispered the outline of his plan.

With a nod, both master Benders nodded, and the four of them turned to Aang just as his commanders were forced to retreat. "You men, stand down. We will stop the Avatar. Healthy survivors, take over command until you're given the order by myself or one of the ranking Lotus members- my uncle being the preferred choice."

Without hesitation, the seven Firebenders withdrew, leaving Aaang, barely breathing hard, to stand in the center of the clearing. His gray eyes found Zuko's golden ones at once, and the Fire Lord was shocked at the expression he could just barely see through them. For the first time, Zuko saw Aang in despair. His lack of hope was... overwhelming. Then... why is he still fighting us? He should help us!
But the ready stance Aang fell into, now long familiar to Zuko as the Airbender's style, told the young lord that there would be no help coming- at least, not until they beat some sense into the Avatar.

"Do it!" he said firmly, and began to stalk forward.

* * *

"Yes, that's it, my dear," Zhao said as Toph struggled to rise, "Your husband is in need of some assistance, it seems, and we're going to go help him out. It's not far, but we need to hurry. Can you fly there, if I direct you with my mind?"

Some part of the young woman's mind was surprised that Zhao even knew she could fly. But that part was tiny and insignificant next to the part that had been taken under the sway of the Face Stealer. As much as it railed and fought against his control, that part was on it's own... she knew there was no chance she could regain herself again. So, as he directed, she answered truthfully, "Yes, Lord Zhao."

"Excellent. Come, then, we will fly to your husband and end this struggle that much sooner. The world will know peace."

The dust around her solidified a bit more, and with a gesture of his hands, palms upraised and open, Toph lifted herself into the air and shot forward under Koh's mental instructions.

* * *

Got you!

At least, Zuko had thought they'd had him. A prison of ice and a sphere of stone surrounding it, each over a foot thick, had held the Avatar for over a minute with no signs of cracking.

Then the trap had blown apart without warning, shards of stone and ice penetrating the trees and men nearby indiscriminately. A gasp from an unfamiliar voice made Zuko look back and to the right, then his eyes widened in shock and amazement. J... Jun? What's she doing here?

Between her left arm and torso, just below her armpit, a four-inch-thick and two-foot-long splinter of jagged stone had buried itself into a tree, missing her by less than an inch on three sides.
Her free arm was holding a bundle of white cloth, and Zuko's surprise grew even further. What the... why did she bring a baby? How did she even get one?!

"Lord Zuko!" the woman cried out after a moment, "The Avatar's wife- Toph! She's coming, and Zhao is with her!"

Horrified, the Fire Lord followed her eyes upward through the remains of the trees to see a green and yellow meteor being followed by a black and red one. Like the Avatar had before them, both were streaking from the sky to land in the clearing.

As the dust settled from their impact, it revealed a strange tableau, one the young Firelord never thought he'd see. Two of his best friends, and one of his most implacable foes, standing united against him.

The stance of each was ready, but relaxed at the same time. The eyes of his remaining guard and command staff raced from the trio at the center of the camp, to each other, and to Zuko at a frenetic pace, though it was something Zuko took only the barest notice of.

Distantly, he was aware of Jun taking the final few steps needed to stand beside him, and he watched Zhao's sneer grow.

"So, my pet, you've returned to me at last."

Without warning, without giving the slightest clue to Zuko why she was behaving the way she did, the raven-haired woman lunged toward the speaker with a screech of savage rage, her hands extended like claws.
Her stop, no closer than five feet from Zhao's form, was equally surprising.

"J- Jun? Are you all right?" Zuko asked nervously.

The woman's response shocked him yet again. She stood smoothly and, apparently without embarrassment, then moved to Zhao's side and turned to face Zuko.

Her eyes... they're just as dead as the other's!

There was no hesitation in Zuko's voice when next he spoke, no emotion of any kind, except the clear tone of command. "Leave the area- everyone. Stop the army, but leave each of these people alone."

Most of his men hesitated, but after seeing the steel in his amber eyes, gave a unified salute and began to retreat, leaving only Pakku and the single, masked guard behind him. "Who... no, what are you, Zhao?"

All four of his enemies gave the same laugh at the same time, giving Zuko chills.

"Haven't figured it out, Zuko? I am the antithesis of the Avatar, though we have the same goal. We merely go about it in different ways."

"I... what?" An inkling of a suspicion began to grow, and he schooled his face into a dispassionate mask, which only made the group give that same eerie laugh again.

"Oh, it's far too late for that, Fire Lord. I could have taken your face in Gaoling, and many times since. It only takes the smallest of cracks in your emotional facade to be allowed through, and I can move in to take it's place."

Zuko's stomach plummeted past his feet as the man continued.

"You know how disciplined and strong the Avatar and Toph are. But it only took a few days for me to make them completely my own. There's nothing left to stop me, any more. We will have peace."

Unable to help himself, Zuko snarled, only to realize, half of a thought too late, that disbelief, derision, they were emotions too.

Zuko. We are one. You are us all.

The response came from himself, echoing throughout their consciousness, We are you.

Yes. Our plan is complete, but for two steps. Every remaining adult human must be brought into our fold our destroyed. The children younger than five will be allowed to live, raised to respect and care for the earth and it's inhabitants, as they should have been taught from the beginning of time. For six generations, we will control them directly, until they have replenished to a useful, safe number, and then we will leave, return to the planet, our purpose fulfilled.

Yes.

A/N2: So chaps 9, 10 are probably it. Short, for me, even in words, but the story's about done, so...